South Africa: Education system must provide learners with more choices President Ramaphosa President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for the broadening of learner access to technical and vocational subjects in order to provide them with more choices and better guidance, as well as mitigate the dropout rate. The President said providing learners with more choices and better guidance should make an impact on the number of learners who drop out. He said the improved matric results must encourage stakeholders in basic education to redouble efforts to address the extremely serious problem of learner dropout. President Ramaphosa was delivering the keynote address at the Basic Education Sector Lekgotla at the Sandton Convention Centre, in Johannesburg, on Thursday. The three-day lekgotla is held under the theme: 'Equipping Learners with Knowledge and Skills for a Changing World in the Context of COVID-19'. In many respects, the problem of learner dropout makes the theme of this years lekgotla even more relevant. The theme, which focuses on equipping learners with knowledge and skills for a changing world, raises the important issue of whether all learners who enter the basic education system are able to follow the educational paths that best suit them and their aspirations, he said. The President emphasised that the three-stream model (academic, technical vocational and technical occupational) is critical if the country is to adapt and thrive in the new world of work. The strategic objective of the model is to increase the quality and access to quality education through increasing learner access to technical, vocational and skills (TVS) subjects and schools. The skills that our country needs, the jobs that can grow our economy, and importantly, the avenues for entrepreneurship that are so sorely needed, can best be achieved by increasing learner access to technical and vocational subjects. I am pleased to hear about the progress that we are making in institutionalising the three-stream model, President Ramaphosa said. Various technical vocational specialisations have already been introduced in more than 550 schools, and a growing number of schools are piloting the subjects in the technical occupational stream. President Ramaphosa said subjects, including Agriculture, Maritime and Nautical Science, Electrical, Civil and Mechanical Technologies, are among the types of subjects he wants to see being offered at many schools. These are all vocations our economy sorely needs. They are the kind of vocations that we need to promote and develop if we are to tackle unemployment. The high numbers of unemployed young people is something no country can afford, but it is even worse if they are also not in education or training, he said. The President told the lekgotla that inclusive growth and shared prosperity can only be achieved when more people are working. He emphasised that a productive workforce cannot be achieved if South Africa does not evolve into a nation committed to lifelong learning in various forms. If the economy is not creating enough jobs at scale to support the growing numbers of the unemployed, we have to think creatively and innovatively. This starts with developing skills for a modern and dynamic workforce through basic education. It cannot be emphasised enough that the greater the scope of basic education streams, the better our learners prospects are for securing employment and for self-employment after school, the President said. Rising performance of learners in poorer schools The President further lauded the class of 2022 for their remarkable 80.1% pass rate, despite the impact of lockdowns, school closures, learning disruption, curriculum trimming, rotational timetables and numerous hurdles. This years results, particularly the performance of learners from poorer schools, show the deepening impact of education spending and the social wage more broadly. We congratulate all the learners. The rising performance in poorer schools is like touching the Holy Grail. As we are improving particularly in poorer schools, results are becoming more and more positive. This is a sign of a revolution we always thought we want to achieve and I dub it 'touching the Holy Grail', the President said. The President also congratulated and thanked all those who contributed towards this outcome, including Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga and the respective MECs and their teams. Meaningful development President Ramaphosa said the Basic Education Sector Lekgotla is one of the most important events on the countrys calendar. Officials, educators, teacher unions, policymakers, the private sector and civil society use the platform to chart the course for basic education for the next 12 months and beyond. Beyond reflecting on the issues facing the basic education sector, our expectations are that the collective expertise at this Lekgotla will help us consolidate what has been achieved so far to strengthen basic education outcomes into the future. We know that education involves more than the skills needed to work; it is also about developing the capabilities needed to participate in a democratic society, the President said. He called for schools to become places that are free of corporal punishment, sexual abuse, gender-based violence, racism, substance abuse and other ills. The President said just as education fights inequality and poverty, improves a nations health outcomes, and contributes to economic growth, investment in quality education extends beyond learning itself. We are working hard to ensure that learners are able to receive education in dignified conditions that support their health and well-being. Through the Sanitation Appropriate for Education programme, known as SAFE, we have so far been able to construct 50 000 sanitation facilities at 2 388 schools, he said. A further 15 000 appropriate toilets were constructed at 1 047 schools as part of the Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Delivery Initiative (ASIDI). The Department of Basic Education assures me that all remaining SAFE sanitation projects at approximately 1 000 schools are scheduled for completion in the next financial year. We know that conditions of learning are seriously constrained in many of our schools by high learner-teacher ratios, amongst others. The burden of expectation on our educators to teach, do administration and meet the needs of their learners is stressful, he said. President Ramaphosa said the introduction of learning assistants in classrooms, as part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus, has been a blessing for many educators and schools. The third cohort of participants will be starting early this year to provide the much-needed support to educators across the country. Building resilience and promoting success in basic education is a firm foundation for economic growth, social progress and tackling inequality. I look forward to todays deliberations and to the outcomes of the Lekgotla, the President said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-01-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. China key contributor to Cambodia's development: Cambodian senior official Xinhua) 10:32, January 26, 2023 PHNOM PENH, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- China is a key contributor to Cambodia's socioeconomic development and poverty reduction, Cambodian Economy and Finance Ministry's Standing Secretary of State Vongsey Vissoth said here on Wednesday. "China is the largest source of FDIs (Foreign Direct Investments) to Cambodia, accounting for 42 percent of total FDIs to the country," he said at a forum on Cambodia's economic outlook for 2023. "China has played a key role in the investments in Cambodia's industries, agriculture, tourism, construction and real estate, and transport infrastructure," he added. China is also a major trading partner of Cambodia and one of the potential markets for Cambodian products, Vissoth said, adding that the world's second-largest economy is also the largest provider of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Cambodia. Meanwhile, the official said China's optimization of its COVID-19 strategy early this month would give a boost to tourism and economic growth in Cambodia and in the world. "China was the main source of foreign tourists to Cambodia in the pre-COVID-19 pandemic era, but during the pandemic, the number of Chinese tourists to Cambodia had sharply declined," he said. "So, China's reopening will be a good opportunity for us to attract Chinese tourists to Cambodia again." Ky Sereyvath, director-general of the Institute of China Studies at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said Chinese ODA and investment have played a crucial role in supporting Cambodia's socioeconomic development and poverty reduction, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs for Cambodians. China-funded mega-projects such as roads, bridges, airports, hydropower plants, economic zones, national stadium and expressway have provided and will continue to provide great benefits to Cambodia and its people, he told Xinhua. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Hongyu) A banner of Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen during a protest backing Burkina Faso's president, Capt. Ibrahim Traore, and demanding the departure of France's ambassador and military forces, in the capital of Ouagadougou on Jan. 20, 2023. (Olympia de Maismont/Getty-AFP) France has waged a counterterrorism campaign in the small West African country of Burkina Faso since 2018. But on Jan. 20, hundreds of protesters in the capital city of Ouagadougou waved Russian flags and demanded the French armys ouster. Days later, the countrys military government told the French to leave within a month. Burkina Faso is just the latest African country where the Wagner Group, a Kremlin-linked mercenary organization, has become the face of Russias foreign policy. The organization began in 2014 aiding Russias illegal annexation of Crimea, but its operations today span the globe. The Russian government denied its existence for years but has recently praised Wagners essential role in its war in Ukraine. Advertisement Wagner largely does Russias bidding but is motivated by profit. In Africa, it provides security services in exchange for money and access to mines. It uses propaganda to drive out Western influence so it can earn a quick buck without scrutiny, and a decade of failed Western counterterrorism campaigns gave it a lot of material to work with. Wagners return on investment is significant. In the Central African Republic, for example, it is set to secure nearly $1 billion in mining profits, which help pay for new weapons and fighters in Ukraine. Advertisement But the Wagner Group isnt bringing stability in Africa. With a track record of unfathomable cruelty, it will likely bring more suffering instead. The organization relishes in sharing torture on social media to help build its brutal brand examples include torturing and beheading a prisoner in Syria, executing a Russian deserter by smashing his head with a hammer and skinning another prisoner recruit alive. Wagner is directly implicated in civilian slaughter in Mali as well, but somehow Russia doesnt have a bad rap in West Africa just yet. Today France is the face of heavily criticized Western intervention in the region, but the Wests counterterrorism efforts there began with the United States after the Sept. 11 attacks. The United States wasnt acting against a specific threat, but rather to President George W. Bushs vague idea that the U.S. military must be ready to strike at a moments notice in any dark corner of the world. Efforts aimed to prevent wars where conflict didnt exist yet instead seemed to fuel future instability. When the United States began operations in Burkina Faso in 2009, the country was relatively stable and at peace. The United States poured millions into the countrys armed forces each year, providing weapons and training that beefed up the power of its military class. Accountability wasnt a priority, so the U.S. government took little effort to measure the impact of its support. As its military grew stronger, the government grew more corrupt, and little was done to alleviate the suffering of its people as resources diminished and poverty increased. When violence spilled over from neighboring Mali in 2016, the government responded with ruthless counterinsurgency tactics targeting the Fulani ethnic minority. This helped drive local recruitment to the insurgency, turning a border problem into a homegrown one. In 2021, Burkina Fasos security services were responsible for nearly half the people killed in conflict that year. The United States and France responded with programs to improve the justice system and provide human rights training, but it all looked like window dressing on a system embedded with impunity. The people had grown so tired of the violence and the governments inept response that many welcomed military coups the following year, coups led by U.S.-trained officers. Advertisement By the time Western partners soured on Burkina Fasos government and began restricting assistance, it was too late to shape its path. When the military government looked elsewhere for support, Wagner was ready. Wagners crimes will be far worse than the Wests ineptitude, and it will likely only enhance the cruelty of state security forces. But undemocratic leaders will welcome its help maintaining their grip on power, and Wagner will supply it as long as its paid. The West should play the long game. The United States should continue humanitarian and other nonmilitary support aimed at improving lives in countries where military cooperation is no longer possible. It can take the lead in enhancing cooperation with like-minded regional partners, like the Economic Community of West African States, which has taken a communal approach to pressing for greater stability and democracy in the region. Western countries should also use national and international tools to hinder Wagners growing global abuse. The U.S. Treasury Departments recent decision to designate Wagner a transnational criminal organization is a good step. Wagners illegal economic exploits enable its terror. International policing cooperation can help impede it. There are no quick fixes. Western countries are right to end support for abusive and unconstitutional military regimes. Continuing counterproductive campaigns wouldnt improve security or squeeze out Russian influence. We must stop overlooking abuse and ensure that our assistance doesnt entrench bad actors and undermine human rights, or we will lose what influence we still have in the rest of the region too. Advertisement Elizabeth Shackelford is a senior fellow on U.S. foreign policy with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. She was previously a U.S. diplomat and is the author of The Dissent Channel: American Diplomacy in a Dishonest Age. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. Jamia Millia Islamia University vice Chancellor Najma Akhtar on Thursday said that the varsity "completely foiled" the attempt made by some students to organise a screening of the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Nothing happened inside our university, an attempt was made but it was completely foiled. Whatever happened, happened on the streets. It was a small incident blown out of proportion. Our precautionary measures were good," Akthar told ANI. On Wednesday 13 students of the university were detained for creating a ruckus over organising a screening inside the campus of the controversial documentary on PM Modi. Delhi Police said the university administration did not allow the screening. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the university administration said that some students belonging to a political organisation (SFI) have circulated a poster about the screening of the documentary. The administration also warned of strict action against the organisers of the film. "It has come to the knowledge of the university administration that some students belonging to a political organisation (SFI) have circulated a poster about the screening of a controversial documentary film on the university campus today. The university administration has earlier issued a memorandum/circular and once again reiterates that no meeting/gathering of students or screening of any film shall be allowed on the campus without the permission of the competent authority, failing which strict disciplinary action shall be taken against the organisers," the administration said on Wednesday. It also stressed that the university is taking all possible measures to prevent people/ organisations "having a vested interest" to destroy the peaceful academic atmosphere of the university. On Wednesday, Delhi Police detained protesters who were sloganeering outside Jamia Millia Islamia. Students from a left-wing student organisation were also detained. According to the police, the commotion took place after the Students Federation of India (SFI), the youth wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) announced that it will organise a screening of the controversial documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi titled 'India: The Modi Question.' The action was initiated at the request of the Chief Proctor of the University after the students had announced the screening of the documentary on the campus at 6 pm. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi waved at the people who attended the parade of the 74th Republic Day on Thursday. Donning a multi-coloured Rajasthani turban to symbolize India's diversity, PM Modi arrived at the National War Memorial in Delhi. Along with the distinctive turban, he was wearing a white kurta with a black coat and white pants. The PM was also carrying a white stole around his neck. The Republic Day celebrations commenced with the homage ceremony at the National War Memorial where PM Modi paid floral tributes to fallen heroes by laying a wreath and concluded with the National Anthem. As India celebrated its 74th Republic Day with a spectacular presentation of unity, culture, and discipline by the Indian forces and participants as they marched at Kartavya Path in the national capital. President Murmu, who was elected last year at the topmost office of the country, unfurled the Tricolour for the first time at Kartavya Path, which was followed by the National Anthem. The President was given a customary 21 Gun Salute. Notably, it was for the first time that the 21 Gun Salute was given with 105 mm Indian Field Guns. It replaced the vintage 25-pounder gun. The Gun Salute was presented by the Ceremonial Battery of the 871 Field Regiment. The Ceremonial Battery was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Vikas Kumar, SM. The Gun position officer was Naib Subedar Anoop Singh. Following the ceremonial 21 Gun Salute, it was time for the military might of India to be showcased with the beginning of the parade in which the contingents marched past the dais giving a Salute to the President who is the supreme commander of the Armed Forces. With the beginning of the parade, Kartavya Path, which was unveiled last year by PM Modi, was a witness to the rising military power of the country which is making its way to self-reliance. On this year's Republic Day, the participants gave a push to the theme of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' by showcasing indigenously developed weapon systems. This year, only Made-in-India weapon systems were showcased at the Republic Day parade, which included ammunition showcasing India's indigenization power such as 21 Gun Salute through 'Made in India' 105 mm Indian Field Guns, recently inducted LCH Prachand, the K-9 Vajra howitzers, MBT Arjun, Nag anti-tank guided missiles, Akash air defence missiles, and the Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicles. Lt Cdr Disha Amrith led the Naval Contingent of 144 young sailors as Contingent Commander and Lt Ashwani Singh, Sub Lt Priyanka Sharma, and Sub Lt M Aditya as Platoon Commanders. It is pertinent that the marching contingent, for the very first time in history, consisted of 3 women and 6 men Agniveers. As the tableaux began to be presented at the Kartavya Path, the cultural might of the country was on display on the occasion. Women empowerment theme dominated the Kartavya Path as states including Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Tripura presented the theme. The regal Camels of the BSF under the command of Deputy Commandant Manohar Singh Kheechee marched on the Kartavya Path. For the first time, women riders on their decorated camels followed by the 'CARAVAN' participated in the Republic Day Parade 2023 showcasing the theme of empowerment of Indian women in various fields. As the tableaux came to their end, the Kartavya Path was a witness to some stunning motorcycle display and the sky above was a testimony of breath-taking airshows by the Indian Air Force jets. At the end of the airshow, there was the National Anthem marking the event's conclusion. President Murmu and the Egyptian President were escorted from the dais to the cavalcade. PM Modi waved and greeted the people who came to witness the occasion. (ANI) The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the project proponent (PP) to pay Rs 70 crore within one month to be utilized for the restoration of the environment in relation to Stone quarry collapses in Mizoram state where several persons had died. The Tribunal bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel viewed that the mining operations by the project proponent (PP) have been carried out in violation of environmental laws. Apart from compensation to the victims, the PP is liable to pay compensation on polluter pays principle for such serious violations, which have obviously degraded the environment. According to the media report, the operating Revenue of the PP is over Rs 700 crores, so we determine the liability of the PP at Rs 70 crores being 10 per cent of its revenue. The same be deposited with the Chief Secretary, Mizoram within one month to be utilized for the restoration of the environment in the State, said the bench in an order passed on January 23, 2023, the Tribunal's bench said. We also direct NHAI to take precautions in hiring mining operators (Contractors as well as Sub-Contractors) and ensure that they possess requisite Environment Clearance and consents, particularly when blasting is involved so that compliance of Environmental Law and safety can be ensured and degradation of environment prevented. If such precautions are not taken, NHAI's vicarious liability may have to be fixed, the bench added. Earlier the Tribunal had ordered to constitute a joint Committee to be headed by the Chief Secretary, Mizoram with other members in relation to Stone quarry collapses in Mizoram in which several persons died recently and said, "We express our regret that adequate sensitivity is not shown by the authorities in dealing with human tragedy of such magnitude". The Tribunal bench stated that the State Authorities may ensure disbursement of compensation to the victims by taking such coercive measures as may be necessary against the contractor firm, failing which the State itself will be liable for payment. State may also take appropriate stringent measures against violation of law. Action to be taken by the State Authorities should include fixing responsibility for violating environment and safety norms, including in handling of explosive for blasting, the bench said. Tribunal also noted that "in such serious issues, investigation cannot be long drawn and statutory regulators could at least give prima facie version. It is further surprising that compensation paid to the victims is ridiculously low. Compensation ought to have been paid at least as per scale laid down in Employees/Workmen Compensation Act, 1923, the bench added. Hearing in the matter was initiated by NGT after taking note of a media report titled "Stone quarry collapses in Mizoram, 12 feared dead" to the effect that as a consequence of the collapse of slope in Hnahthial District, Mizoram, 12 people, who were the workers engaged by ABCI Infrastructure Private Limited, died. (ANI) Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Thursday praised the state government led by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan for working on the vision of a 'Navakeralam' by addressing key areas like Agriculture and Environment, Housing, Health care and Education. "The completion of over 3.2 lakh houses under the Livelihood Inclusion and Financial Empowerment [LIFE] Scheme has added strength to India's dream of providing houses to over one crore beneficiaries, through the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana [PMAY] and related schemes," Khan said while delivering the Republic Day address at the Central Stadium here on Thursday. Governor Khan said that Kerala's top position in the latest Performance Grading Index (PGI) of the Union Ministry of Education, the progress in the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals and the effective management of decentralized planning have been widely appreciated. "This decade of India's projected demographic dividend calls for progressive qualitative transformation in Higher Education so as to limit the flow of our students to other States and countries. Given Kerala's high intellectual and technological potential, it is achievable through dedicated, focused efforts," Khan said. Kerala, he said has drawn inspiration from India's rise as the third largest Start Up ecosystem in the world and the Kerala Start Up Mission has been recognized in the Global Start Up Ecosystem Report-2022 as Asia's leading performer. The NITI Aayog Baseline Report about Kerala recording the lowest multidimensional poverty in the country, the third position in terms of employability of the youth as per India Skills Report 2022 and the appreciation received for Innovation Index and social security measures acknowledge the good performance of the State, the Governor said. Well in tune with the national goals on Health, Kerala's Aardram Mission has been re-engineering healthcare facilities from sub-centres to Medical colleges and ensuring patient access to quality healthcare services. More hospitals securing the National Quality Assurance Standard certification bears testimony to our efforts, he said. The Governor said that Kerala's 'Year of Enterprises' scheme resulting in the establishment of 1.23 lakh Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), an investment of Rs.7517 crore and an employment generation of 2.67 lakh have supplemented our national endeavours to promote the manufacturing sector. The NITI Aayog Baseline Report about Kerala recording the lowest multidimensional poverty in the country, the third position in terms of employability of the youth as per India Skills Report 2022 and the appreciation received for Innovation Index and social security measures acknowledge the good performance of the State. "As a nation, our diligence and tenacity have paid rich dividends, which are visible through a plethora of accomplishments proclaiming our robustness and philosophy of life and enhancing our prestige in the comity of nations," Khan said. The completion of cent percent seeding of Adhaar cards, training for the youth of Scheduled Castes and Tribes, the provision of over 15 lakh rural household tap connections under Jal Jeevan Mission, and promotion of Responsible Tourism to felicitate local economic development are some of our notable strides towards progress, the Governor said. The recently announced National Green Hydrogen Mission and India's rise as the third largest producer of renewable energy, he said, have boosted Kerala's hopes about a boom in e-Mobility in the coming years. We also hope to benefit from the improvements in road infrastructure and rail projects like Swadeshi Vande Bharat Trains. "Coming to agriculture, what emerges from our wheat fields is the scent of self reliance, as India becomes the second largest producer of wheat and the world's food basket, with a 42 per cent increase in the export of processed fruits and vegetables," he said. In the context of agricultural reforms, Kerala's Krishi Darshan, Millet Village, and other steps to ensure food security, higher income for farmers, and more jobs in the farm sector attain greater relevance, Kerala Governor said. The efforts for delivery of services through the Integrated Local Self-Governance Management System (ILGMS) in our Grama Panchayats which are empowering our villages in many ways, also deserve applause, he said. "It was Gandhiji who observed that the soul of India lives in its villages. Today, considering the national and state level initiatives in rural development and agriculture, we could see the future of India in our villages. "It is the perennial and ever-renewing sense of oneness that reflects in the message- One Earth, one family, One future- that our PM Narendra Modi ji has also proclaimed on assuming the chairmanship of G-20 nations," the Governor said. He further stressed: "Instead of fight for survival, India now guides the world with the mantra of act in unison in tackling global issues like climate change, terrorism, and pandemics." He said that the spirit of self-reliance (Atmanirbharta), has enabled India to confidently tide over the Covid-19 pandemic by ramping up the health infrastructure, producing medicines and vaccines and making them accessible and available to 220 crore people. "The economic reforms of the Union government led by the Prime Minister and guided by the spirit of Atmanirbharta has helped India emerge as the world's fifth largest economy last year. Today, 40 per cent of the world's UPI transactions are happening in India alone," he said. Earlier in the day, the Kerala governor unfurled the Tricolor at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. (ANI) Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge and said that if the Congress had respect for the judiciary, it would not have supported the BBC documentary. Singh told ANI, "Whatever Mallikarjun Kharge is saying is completely different from the reality. If he and his party men had respect for the judiciary, they would not have supported the BBC documentary." "I do not agree that the Judiciary itself had given a clean chit to the Chief Minister of the then Government of Gujarat regarding Godhra, so is this not a contempt of court, the kind of attitude they have, I think this is the doublespeak of the Congress." Citing the comment of Kharge, Singh said, "Congress President on Wednesday called upon the people to stand united against the attack on the judiciary and ensure the rights of the poor. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of doing nothing except giving speeches and campaigning. But they themselves don't respect the judiciary." He also slammed Digvijay Singh's comments on Article 370 in the valley. The Union Minister said, "Recently, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh while taunting the BJP, had said that terrorist attacks have intensified after the removal of Article 370. But whenever Bharatiya Janata Party's yatra used to go to Kashmir, whether it was Murli Manohar ji's 1992 yatra or Modi ji's yatra, Congress stopped the yatra on the pretext of terror, so how is BJP responsible for terror in the valley?" Singh further said that Congress is on Bharat Jodo Yatra but their own party is breaking every day. UK's British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) aired a two-part series attacking PM Modi's tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister during the Gujarat riots of 2002. The documentary sparked outrage and was removed from select platforms. In a strong rebuttal to the BBC documentary on Modi, more than 300 eminent Indians including retired judges, retired bureaucrats, and retired armed forces veterans signed a statement slamming the British national broadcaster for showing "unrelenting prejudice" toward India and its leader. (ANI) A Siddi tribe woman from Jambur village of Junagadh, Hirbai Ibrahim Lobi, has been honoured with the Padma Shri award, the fourth-highest civilian award by the government of India. A list of Padma Shri recipients was issued on Wednesday evening on the occasion of the 74th Republic Day. Hirbai hails from the African-origin Siddi tribe that resides in Jambur village near Gir forest in Gujarat, which is also the home of the pride of India, the Asian lion. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Hirbai shared her experience of working for the uplift and development of the Siddi tribal community. Hirabai Lobi has expressed special gratitude to the government of India, President Droupadi Murmu and especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi for honouring her with the Padma Award. She spent a large part of her life in the uplift of Siddi tribal women and for the education of children. Till now she has changed the lives of more than 700 women and innumerable children. Surrounded by Babbar lions, the livelihood of the women of the Siddi community depended on wood cutting, Hirbai told ANI. Being a radio enthusiast, she took it upon herself to support the women of her community. Since childhood, Hirbai used to get information about women's development schemes in Siddi through the radio. She first joined with Agakhan Foundation and then launched a campaign to make women self-reliant by associating with BAIF, a farmer's organization. So far, she has taught more than 700 women to open bank accounts and save money. She has played an important role in bringing women forward and also taught them farming. She provided employment to women with the help of social organizations through radio. Hirabai while speaking to ANI said, "I have not grown trees in the forest, but I have saved the forest from being cut." Hirabai lost her parents in childhood and was brought up by her grandmother. She has established several kindergartens with spirit of providing basic education to the children of the Siddi community. Apart from this, she established the Mahila Vikas Foundation in the year 2004 and has worked tirelessly to make Siddi women self-reliant. Due to these efforts of Hirbai, the women of Jambur helped their families by working in the grocery shops and tailoring. Till now she has been honoured with various accolades, but when she got the first prize of $500, she put all the money into the development of the village. So far she has received Real Award from Reliance, Janaki Devi Prasad Bajaj Award and the Green Award. (ANI) An 83-year-old tribal woman, Jodhaiya Bai from Umaria district in Madhya Pradesh, has been conferred with India's fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri in the field of art. Jodhaiya Bai, also known as Amma, is a resident of Lorha village in Umaria district, and she is a Baiga Art mural painter. Amma, who lost her parents in her childhood, has proved that there is no age bar for learning as she learnt painting at the age of nearly 70 years and her paintings are exhibited not only in the state or in the country but also abroad. Amma learnt painting from Ashish Swami, a well-known art teacher, who ran a studio 'Jan-gan Tasweerkhana' in the district. Unfortunately, Swami had died during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. Talking about her life, she told ANI, "My mother passed away when I was six months old and my father passed away when I was one-year-old. I had three brothers who brought me up and arranged my wedding. After that I lost my husband when I reached 40 years of age. At that time, I had two sons and I was pregnant with a six-month old daughter." "After that I had faced various problems. I somehow manage to earn my livelihood by working as a labourer and other works. Later on, my sons became older and they started becoming independent. When Guru ji (Ashish Swami) came here from Mumbai, he told my son to bring your mother here so she would work here and asked my son to do it as well," she added. "We both started working there. When guruji called me then I said that I could not work here as I don't know how to read and write. Then he asked me to draw on the floor with a thin wooden stick and I started drawing vegetables with the stick on the floor. After that he started giving papers and asked me to draw on paper. Later on gradually she shifted the painting to the canvas," Amma said. Reacting on being honoured with Padam Shri, she said, "I am happy to receive the award. I would like to thank guruji for the achievement. He has shown this dream to me and it has been accomplished." (ANI) Listing the recipients of this year's Padma awards on the eve of the country's 74th Republic Day, the BJP-led government at the Centre on Wednesday kept up with its transformative political culture of honouring leaders in the Opposition with the country's top civilian honours. And, the latest in the line of Opposition leaders to be honoured by the BJP government with a Padma award is late Samajwadi Party (SP) patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav. As declared on Wednesday, the former UP chief minister and Defence minister, who went by the nickname 'Netaji', will be conferred posthumously with the Padma Vibhushan, the country's second-highest civilian honour after Bharat Ratna, this year. A host of other Opposition leaders, including former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, former Congress leader and Jammu & Kashmir CM Ghulam Nabi Azad and the late former Assam CM Tarun Gogoi were honoured with Padma awards earlier. However, the family members of Bhattacharya, a CPM stalwart, refused to accept the award last year. While the late former Assam CM Gogoi was conferred with the Padma Bhushan in 2021, late former President and Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee with the Bharat Ratna in 2020. Ghulam Nabi Azad, who quit the Congress and floated a separate outfit, was confeerred with the Padma Bhushan last year. Former Maharashtra CM and NCP chief Sharad Pawar and former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma (posthumously) were also awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2017. Former Nagaland CM SC Jamir was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 2020 while Nagaland Congress leader Tokheho Sema also received the country's third highest civilian honour in 2016. Also among the Opposition leaders to be conferred with the Padma awards by the Narendra Modi government were former Rajya Sabha MP Tarlochan Singh and PDP leader Muzaffar Baig. In 2005, the then UPA governmnent led by the Congress, conferred the Padma award on the esrtwhile Janata Party leader and social worker Mohan Dharia. However, he was recognised more for his social work than being a leader in the Opposition. Not unlike previous years, the government this year will honour distinguished persons from diverse fields with Padma awards. They include MM Keeravani, the music composer behind the cult 'RRR' chartbuster 'Naatu, Naatu', which won the Golden Globe and the Critics Choice awards this year, and 102-year-old Sarinda player and one of West Bengal's most celebrated folk artistes, Mangala Kanti Roy. Both will be conferred with the Padma Shri this year. Also among the Padma recipients this year are 12 distinguished persons from the Northeast, which has been at the forefront of the Centre's 'Look East' policy. Retired Army doctor Munishwar Chanddawar (77), who treats his patients at a meagre fee of Rs20 in his native Madhya Pradesh, has also won a Padma award this year. A veteran of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War has been practising medicine in Jabalpur for over 5 decades. 98-year-old Tula Ram Upreti, a small farmer from Sikkim, has also been awarded Padma Shri for being a role model in Organic Farming practice over the past 70 years. The Padma Awards website says, "The Padma awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India announced annually on the eve of republic day. The awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service). The award seeks to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved." The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year. The nomination process is open to the public and even self-nominations are considered. The Padma Awards Committee is headed by the Cabinet Secretary and also includes Home Secretary, Secretary to the President and four to six eminent personalities as members. The recommendations of the committee are submitted to the Prime Minister and the President for approval. (ANI) Female cheetah Shasha, which is among the eight Cheetahs brought from Namibia, has fallen ill and reportedly suffers from kidney problem and dehydration, a forest official said on Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi released eight cheetahs, including three female cheetahs brought from Namibia at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district on the occasion of his birthday on September 17, 2022. The forest administration has taken out Shasha from the large enclosure and shifted it to a smaller enclosure for treatment. The cheetah has been kept under the observation of doctors and a team of veterinary experts from Bhopal has also been called for its observation. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Prakash Kumar Verma said, "A daily monitoring of eight cheetahs brought from Namibia is being done here. During this, it was found that the female cheetah, Shasha, was a bit weak. After that Shasha was kept under the observation of the doctors and she was fed, then it came to light that she is weak and needs separate medical tests." "After that she was tested. A case of dehydration as well as a slight effect in the kidney have come to light in the test. Besides, we did not have some machines, and had to get sonography done, so a team of doctors was called from Bhopal. The doctors arrived here with a portable machine and conducted the test. They will provide the reports of the test later," DFO Verma said, adding that its complete reporting would be done in Bhopal and his senior officers would be able to give further detailed information about it. Two local doctors and a doctor from WII (Wildlife Institute of India) are present at Kuno National Park in the district for the observation of cheetahs. After the information that Shasha fell ill, a team of doctors from Van Vihar National Park in the state capital Bhopal also reached the Kuno Park on Wednesday evening, in which Dr Atul Gupta, Chief Veterinarian of Van Vihar National Park and his associate doctors were present. (ANI) The Aam Aadmi Party has moved to the Supreme Court demanding an immediate election of the MCD mayor. In its suit, AAP has also sought the prohibition on voting by aldermen as per law. The Aam Aadmi Party's Leader of the House and Mayor candidate has placed these two major demands in the apex court. In a self-recorded video, AAP's chief spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj said, "Bharatiya Janata Party's MCD tenure ended in March 2022 itself. After that, MCD was put under the central government on the pretext of unification and delimitation works. Now the people of Delhi have given a majority to the Aadmi Party in MCD and elected 134 councillors of AAP." Despite that, he alleged BJP is not allowing the Aam Aadmi Party-led local body to be formed in Delhi due to its "conspiracy and dirty politics". He added, "Despite many efforts, they are not allowing the election of the mayor and the formation of the government to take place. Now the Aam Aadmi Party has gone to the Supreme Court through our Leader of the House and Mayor candidate." The spokesperson appealed that the court should now complete this process as soon as possible, claiming the Bharatiya Janata Party and the central government will not complete it. On Tuesday, the elections for the Delhi Mayor were postponed after the House was adjourned sine die following a ruckus between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillors. The house was adjourned after Presiding officer Satya Sharma said the proceedings cannot be conducted amid sloganeering from both AAP and BJP councillors. This is the second time in a month that the election to Delhi mayor was disrupted. On January 6, the mayoral elections at the MCD House were postponed after clashes erupted between AAP and BJP councillors. The AAP had fielded Shelly Oberoi as their candidate for the post of mayor while BJP nominated Rekha Gupta. Aaley Mohammad Iqbal is the deputy mayor candidate of AAP. (ANI) Cliff Panek, 69, votes at the Chicago Board of Elections' Loop Super Site on the first day of early voting on Jan. 26, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Voters across Chicago will be making their picks for mayor, alderman, city treasurer, clerk and, for the first time, representatives on police district councils. Some voters also will be asked local referendum questions. The battle for the fifth floor of City Hall includes nine candidates: incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot is seeking a second term, but, like many other big-city mayors, is facing headwinds over a rise in crime, questions about public schools, and the lingering impacts of COVID-19 on the citys business climate, public transit and other government services. Candidates have broadly criticized what they describe as her combative style and failure to live up to campaign promises. Shes argued shes making good on promises to make the city more equitable. Advertisement Lightfoot faces a diverse field of candidates, including U.S. Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia, former CPS CEO Paul Vallas, state Rep. Kabium Kam Buckner, business owner and perennial candidate Willie Wilson, Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, 6th Ward Ald. Roderick Sawyer, 4th Ward Ald. Sophia King, and activist JaMal Green. If by Election Day on Feb. 28 no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters will face off in a runoff election on April 4. The same is true for aldermanic candidates. Advertisement Two major factors affect this years City Council races: A wave of aldermanic exits due to retirement, criminal indictment, or candidates seeking higher office will guarantee several new faces come May. Wards also have brand-new boundaries following a bruising redistricting battle, meaning candidates may be campaigning in new territory and voters might be located in a new ward. The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners also cut the number of precincts by nearly 40% since the primary last year, meaning most voters polling places have changed. Max Bever, spokesman for the board, said that despite the big change in polling places, the board did not see any statistical anomalies that looked like people were prevented from voting after the changes. The canary in the coal mine about polling place problems would have been big changes in provisional ballots, he said. We had just over 6,000 provisional ballots for the last Nov. 8 election, which is a lot less than weve seen in other midterms, Bever said. Turnout was lower than wed like to see, but it looks like we matched that trend statewide. The vast majority of polling places for February are going to be the same as they were in November, Bever said. You can check your new ward and polling place below. Chicagos continued shift away from machine politics and toward progressive organizing could continue, as old-school politicians are fading from the limelight. Ald. Ed Burke, 14th, is not running for reelection for the first time in more than a half-century and former House Speaker Mike Madigan who held sway over many local elections over the years has stepped down amid federal criminal indictment. Long-serving council moderates are also heading for the exits. Meanwhile, groups aligned with labor unions and the Democratic Socialists of America are expanding their reach and seeking to boost their numbers. Voters in 11 of the citys 50 wards the 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 17th, 27th, 28th, 32nd, 35th, 42nd, 44th, and 47th have just one choice for alderman. City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin and City Clerk Anna Valencia, who ran unsuccessfully for secretary of state in 2022, are also running unopposed. For the first time, Chicago voters will see police district council elections on their ballots. Representatives in those districts will be responsible for collaborating with department officials on community policing issues. District members will also help select individuals for the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability. That body is tasked with helping select and remove the heads of the citys Police Department and police oversight bodies and setting CPD policy. Advertisement You can find which of the citys 22 police districts you live in below. This is unique in Chicago history and we hope voters step up and turn out to vote, Bever said. The candidates in each police district receiving the most, second-most and third-most number of votes will be the winners. But four police districts the 1st, 5th, 6th, and 14th have only two candidates on the ballot. That means write-in candidates could potentially for the first time in Chicagos history win municipal offices. Write-in candidates are eligible only if they submit a declaration-of-intent form to the city, according to Bever; if 400 voters in the 1st District, for example, wrote Mickey Mouse, he would not win, Bever said. The names of write-in candidates who have submitted their paperwork to the city wont be available until Feb. 22, six days before Election Day. If two write-in candidates in the same district receive the same number of votes, election authorities would choose the winner by lottery. In ballot referendums, voters in the 16th Ward will be asked whether they think the 63rd and Racine station on CTAs Green Line should be reopened for Englewood riders. And in certain precincts in the 5th Ward voters will be asked about housing affordability near the Obama Presidential Center. If you arent opting for vote-by-mail but find yourself unavailable to cast your ballot on Election Day, you can vote early. Find your early voting site information on the State Board of Elections website. Advertisement In Chicago, early voting began on Jan. 26 at the Loop Super Site at 191 N. Clark St. and at the Board of Elections office on the sixth floor at 69 W. Washington St. On Feb. 13, early voting expands to polling places in each ward. In Chicago, residents can vote at any early voting site regardless of what ward they live in. The Chicago Board of Elections also will take calls from voters looking for information at its Early Voting Election Central at 312-269-7900. What is early voting? Whether you travel for business, cant get to the polls on Election Day or simply prefer to get your civic responsibility out of the way, voting early is an option. Votes cast early arent counted until polls close on Election Day on Feb. 28. Do I need to bring an ID? If you already are registered to vote and your address is correct, you do not need to bring your ID, though its not a bad idea to bring it in case your signature doesnt match the one on file. Be sure to bring two forms of identification if you also plan to register on the same day you plan to vote or if you need to change your address or name. At least one of those IDs must list your current address. Advertisement How do I request a mail-in ballot? Anyone who has requested a mail-in ballot should receive it soon. Feb. 23 is the deadline to request a mail-in ballot, and Feb. 28 Election Day is the latest date a mail-in ballot can be postmarked to be counted. [ Chicago Board of Election Commissioners: Start an online application for a vote by mail ballot ] Where do I return my mail-in ballot? Chicago voters can mail their ballot or deposit it at any of the Chicago Board of Elections secured drop boxes. One important note: Each ballot must include the signed and sealed ballot return envelope with the voters name on it. Mail-in ballots can be returned to the drop boxes at: Chicago Board of Elections (Sixth floor, Board offices), 69 W. Washington St., Chicago. You can submit your ballots anytime at this site through 7 p.m. Election Day (Feb. 28). Chicago Election Board Annex (Loop Super Site), 191 N. Clark St., Chicago. 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday (Jan. 26-Feb. 19). 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Friday (Feb. 20-24). 6 a.m.-7 p.m., Election Day (Feb. 28). Any of the early voting sites listed below. 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday (Feb. 13-27). 6 a.m.-7 p.m., Election Day (Feb. 28). What if Ive already received a mail-in ballot, but want to participate in early voting instead? If you decide to vote early in person but already received a mail-in ballot, bring that ballot with you when you go to vote in person to have the ballot that was mailed to you canceled. What ward do I live in? The Chicago City Council adopted a new map of the citys 50 wards in May 2022. The map that passed has 16 Black-majority wards and 14 Latino-majority wards, one fewer Latino ward than the Latino Caucus wanted in light of Latino population gains citywide. It also includes Chicagos first Asian-majority ward. Advertisement [ Search to find out what Chicago neighborhood, community area and ward you live in ] Chicagos new ward map Type your address into the search box below. Source: City of Chicago Which police district do I live in? Type your address into the search box below. [ Chicago police districts: Search by home address ] Where can I vote in person before Election Day? Heres a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction look at where and when residents may vote in advance of the election on Feb. 28. Locations and hours of operation are subject to change, so check with your local jurisdiction for latest information. Early voting locations in Chicago Jurisdiction: Chicago Board of Election Commissioners Type your address into the search box below to find the one closest to you. Advertisement The BJP's Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai has reiterated his claim that the 'Sethusamudram' waterway project 'fails on multiple fronts', one of which is the potential damage to the 'Ram Setu' (bridge), which according to the epic 'Ramayana' was created to rescue Sita from the clutches of Ravana. In ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Annamalai said, "When the UPA government was in power, the DMK government wanted the 'Setu Samudram' project to be implemented. Under this project, ships can avoid a longer route around Sri Lanka and reach the Toothukudi port directly. The DMK said it (the project) will save money and attract cargo traffic towards India." The Sethusamudran project aims at creating a continuous, navigable route around the Indian peninsula, so that ships, instead of going around Sri Lanka because of the shallow water, can reach the Tamil Nadu coast directly, resulting in siginificant economic benefits to India, according to reports. "It is the Adam's Bridge in English and Ramarpalam in Tamil. It means Ram's Bridge. Also called the 'Ram Setu' in Hindi, the 58-km-long landmass bridge connects India and Sri Lanka," the BJP's Tamil Nadu chief said. He said the primary objection to the project is the potential damage to the 'Ram Setu'. "The DMK presented a drawing of an alignment '4A' for the Setu Samudran project, which breaks through the Ram Setu. In 2018, the central government submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court, saying that it had an objection to the '4A' alignment as it will destroy the Ram Setu and the Union government was considering other alignments where the 'Ram Setu' won't even be touched," he said. He further alleged that the stand of the DMK and the Congress-led UPA has been that there is 'nothing like' Ram Setu and it is all a figment of imagination. The central government has been saying that it is not against the project, but will find some other alignment for it, he added. "In January 2021, PM Modi set up a committee to scientifically study Ram Setu and the committee is functioning as of date," he said. The BJP's Tamil Nadu chief also pointed to Union Minister Jitendra Singh's reply in the Parliament regarding the Ram Setu. "Recently in Parliament, Union Minister Jitendra Singh replied to a question on whether the connection of Ram Setu with Ramayana is confirmed. He replied that 'structures' do exist, but since they are 18,000 years old, as of now, the Ram Setu 'bridge' is not confirmed. But the structures do exist. The committee is functioning and will submit a report," he said. Targeting the DMK government further, Annamalai said, "The Tamil Nadu government picked one line of minister Jitendra Singh's speech, saying that since the central government is itself saying that Ram Setu does not exist, we are implementing the project." "Even then, our members in the Assembly said we don't have an objection to the project, but they should not go for alignment '4A' as it will damage the Ram Setu bridge, and opt for other alignments," he added. The Tamil Nadu BJP chief said another objection to the project is that it will benefit only a few big DMK leaders and not the fisherfolk of the state. "This 4A is a very stupid project. I am using the word 'stupid', because former CM Jayalalithaa had also used the same word," he said. "The sea between Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu is a very peculiar and shallow area. We have coral reefs and 'Ram Setu' there. In some areas, you can see the land below the water for kilometres. Every time, a ship has to come, the sand will come and close the route. So, a dredging operation has to be done for the ships to pass through the area," he said. Further citing former CM Jayalalithaa, Annamalai said as the dredging operation has to be continuous, huge ships won't be able to come from this route and the project will fail. "She said that it will only benefit two people -- (DMK leader) TR Balu, who owns a shipping company and (fellow party leader) Kannimozhi, who owns the logistics. No fisherman will benefit from this. She also challenged them to put on record that they don't have any stake in the shipping business. Today, Kannimozhi is the Toothukudi MP, and TR Balu-ji is an MP in Chennai. But, they are yet to answer if they have any stake in the shipping business," he further said. Raising another objection, the BJP's Tamil Nadu chief said the shallow water in the region protects the coast from tsunamis. "A recent study says that when Tsunami came, a lot of damage happened, but the coastline between India and Sri Lanka didn't get damaged because the shallow water absorbed all the energy. Technically, it protects us from tsunamis because the Indonesian plate is also very fragile," he said. He further highlighted the RK Pachauri report which called the project 'unsustainable'. "The RK Pachauri report called the report 'unsustainable'. For a 25000 crore project, it will be sustainable only if it provides a 12 per cent rate of return. But, the project does not get even 4 per cent. There is no saving of cost and no saving of fuel. The cost of dredging will offset the saving that will be done by skipping Sri Lanka and coming inside," he said. Annamalai said the reason behind their objections to the project is that it fails on multiple fronts. "So, far we can see that the project fails on multiple fronts. So, if you want to go ahead with the project, you will have to work completely out of the box, along with the central government," he added. On January 14, Annamalai alleged that the Sethusamudram waterway project straddling India and Sri Lanka would benefit only a few shipping companies owned by leaders of the ruling DMK. A grand waterway project straddling India and Sri Lanka, the Sethusamudram project proposes to connect the Palk Strait with the Gulf of Mannar. The project is seen as key to bringing economic prosperity to the state and the country. Commissioned in 2005, the project came to a halt in light of protests by rightwing groups claiming that the project may harm the 'Ram Setu' bridge, which is believed to have been built by Lord Ram to reach Sri Lanka. Environmentalists and activists, too, had claimed it might pose a potential threat to the environment in Rameswaram, the southernmost tip of the country. In the resolution, the DMK government had promised to complete the project while campaigning for the upcoming Assembly elections. (ANI) Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party chief K Annamalai, who has faced attacks from DMK over his "Rafale watch", has said he has interest in fighter jets so he is wearing the watch out of passion and it represents him "as a nationalist". "I have interest in fighter jets so wearing it out of my passion. This watch is something which I wanted to wear because it represents me as a nationalist. The beauty of the watch is that the watch is of Rafale cockpit (theme) so what the pilot sees, it's designed like that," Annamalai said. DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji had last month targeted Annamalai for wearing a limited edition Rafale watch made by a Paris-based watchmaker. "Only 500 pieces of the Rafale watch were made for the French company, costing Rs 5 lakh. A man who claims to own only four goats is wearing this watch! Can he share the receipt of the watch he bought," Senthil Balaji had said in a tweet. Annamalai rejected DMK leader's criticism. In the latest episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, the BJP leader said he will show the bill of the watch on the first day of his padyatra slated to begin in April this year. He said this is for the first time that a ruling party is asking a commoner to show a bill. "DMK accuses that this watch has got some surveillance and I record all videos and photos with whom I am travelling, but it is a plain watch. This is for the first time that a ruling party is asking a commoner to show a bill. I will show the bill for this watch on the first day of my padayatra. It is so funny that they are asking for the bill. This is the level the state politics has come to," Annamalai said. The Rafale limited edition watch, made by Bell & Ross, was launched in 2015 in collaboration with Dassault Aviation, the company which makes the Rafale fighter jets. India has procured 36 Rafale fighter jets and all of them have arrived. "My fascination is not with Rafale but with a fighter jet. Probably the Indian jet. The day India manufactures its own fighter jet- Tejas is just taking off, the day we have cutting edge, maybe a fourth or fifth generation fighter jet, I will start wearing that too," Annamalai said. https://youtu.be/4EQJQeJWeak He said DMK's attack on him has helped make corruption in the state. "It has become a good occasion for me. Till now, people were not talking about corruption. People don't listen this issue. People say what's new in it, we have accepted this. I am happy that this incident has raised the issue of corruption in Tamil Nadu," he said. "The DMK's image of me is Annamalai has got two sheep and sitting inside a village and rearing it. In my IPS career, I earned money and now I run a farming business. I can afford a car, a shoe or something I want," he added. Annamalai is slated to start state-wide padyatra on April 14, the birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar. It will start from Trichindur in Thuthukudi district of the state. (ANI) Amid buzz that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may contest from Tamil Nadu in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, state BJP chief K Annamalai said PM Modi has transcended the regional barrier and is considered as an "insider' and not an "outsider" in the southernmost state. PM Modi contested the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from two constituencies - Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Vadodara in Gujarat. He won both seats but represented Varanasi. He was re-elected from Varanasi in 2019. In ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Annamalai said, "Modi ji is seen as an insider. In fact, if you look at the Tamil news for the last month, somebody has started a rumour that Modi ji is fighting from Tamil Nadu for one of the seats. Everywhere you go, people ask (whether PM Modi will contest from Tamil Nadu)." The BJP leader said the buzz about PM Modi contesting from Tamil Nadu has become a talking point. "Two days back, I was at a tea shop in Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu. Someone said to me, Anna are you sure Modi Ji will contest? This is becoming a talking point," he said. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EQJQeJWeak&feature=youtu.be Asked about the constituency from which Prime Minister may contest in the 2024 general elections, Annamalai said, "Ramanathapuram is what the rumour says. So people have picked up the rumour. It is all a rumour. But people are commenting...They are talking... They want Modi ji to contest. This is seen as a sign that Modi ji is seen as an insider and not an outsider from any distant part of India." Annamalai said PM Modi blurred the lines such as "outsider" and of regional identity. "Caste identity, Tamil-based identity and a lot of things go into people's minds in deciding who they vote for. But Modi ji has transcended everything. Probably he is the first outsider in Tamil Nadu. Nobody has done it. It is a sign that Modi ji has transcended everything. 2024 would be a very different election," emphasized the Tamil Nadu BJP chief. Asked that leaders from Gandhi family had contested from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh but had not gone to Tamil Nadu which has had strong state parties, Annamalai said PM Modi is seen as a unifier and there "is a wave" regarding him in Tamil Nadu. "Modi ji is seen as a unifier. Modi Ji is seen as the first person who took the effort to reach out to Tamil Nadu. This is the image of Modi Ji. His magic translating into votes in Tamil Nadu is an art. The important thing in the next 16-18 months, we are working like a wire now, putting people in the booth, they know which house to go to, which person to approach, and they know which voter is voting for us. This is something we have to do." Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had contested from Chikkamagaluru in Karnataka in 1978 after Emergency. In the 1980 general elections, Indira Gandhi contested from Medak seat in undivided Andhra Pradesh. Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi contested from Bellary in Karnataka along with Amethi in Uttar Pradesh in 1999. She had won both seats but represented the Amethi constituency. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also followed the footprints of his grandmother and mother and chose a southern state to contest the 2019 general elections. Rahul contested the Wayanad constituency in Kerala along with Amethi in Uttar Pradesh in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. However, he lost the Amethi seat that he held for three consecutive terms. Asked about the BJP's alliance with AIADMK, Annamalai said, "We are not against any party or person. We are very clear that BJP has to become very strong. It is not an alliance of convenience like DMK. It is an alliance of respect. We have many disagreements with AIADMK, but it is based on certain principal, we align with each other." He added that BJP has to have its own identity in Tamil Nadu and the party will work hard to translate PM Modi's popularity into votes. "We want to sit with alliance partners with strength and respect. That is why we want to change the public impression also. We contested alone in the recent local body polls. We want to see where the party stands. Local body polls were a great opportunity for our booth-level workers. Modiji's image is fantastic in Tamil Nadu. We have to make that connection and convert that into votes," said the Tamil Nadu BJP President. He said BJP has a strong presence at the grassroots level and the party is expanding now. "If you take 2019 as a barometer, or when Modi ji fought for the first time in 2014 for Prime Minister, Tamil Nadu BJP stood alone. We fought alone. The combined vote share percentage of our alliance was over 19 per cent. That was a historic number for us. People said Modi ji is coming. The wave was in Tamil Nadu since 2014," Annamalai said when asked about whether language can be a barrier for Narendra Modi as there is a Tamil sentiment and Prime Minister makes most of his speeches in Hindi. The BJP leader alleged that opposition parties in the state have run anti-Modi campaigns after 2017. He said the opposition has created a fake narrative that BJP is not concerned about Tamil sentiments. Referring to PM Modi's Madurai visit, Annamalai said, "When Modi ji last time came to Tamil Nadu and visited Madurai, people offered a grand welcome. No politician has got a Twitter trend that is 14 lakh per day. 'Welcome Modi' got 14 lakh views on social media. So, one can see a clear shift in public perception." Annamalai said BJP is emerging as a force in Tamil Nadu and it is a clear indication for the 2024 general elections. (ANI) After Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao skipped the Republic Day celebrations held at Raj Bhavan in Hyderabad on Thursday, Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party president Bandi Sanjay Kumar said KCR has no right to live in this nation. Telangana Chief Minister skipped the Republic Day celebrations held today at Raj Bhavan in Hyderabad, where Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan unfurled the national flag. "KCR, who insults the constitution, judicial bodies and the national flag has no right to be in this country. By not celebrating Republic Day at the parade grounds despite the court's order, CM insulted Dr BR Ambedkar," he said while giving a speech at the Republic Day celebrations. Accusing KCR of hating the nation, Bandi said, "The Chief Minister who does not respect National Flag, constitution and this nation have no right to live in this nation. Moreover, his love for Pakistan, Bangladesh China and Sri Lanka will boost the morale of the anti-national elements in the country." Further accusing the KCR, Bandi said that the CM does not respect the constitution, Dr BR Ambedkar, the courts and the woman Governor. "He wants to change the constitution to- 'By the son, to the daughter and for the family'," he said. "Republic Day celebrations are going on across the country. Josh among people is clearly seen through their chants of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai and Jai Hind'. Only our CM has a problem with it," he added. On Tuesday, Bandi termed KCR the 8th Nizam of Telangana and said that people of the state will soon be liberated from the autocratic rule of KCR. (ANI) Attacking Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief K Annamalai has said the Congress mass outreach programme lacks motive and vision. In the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Annamalai said, "Padyatra should have a larger perspective. It is just that you are upset with Modi ji and you started a yatra. It should have a motive."He said Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra is useless since it lacks a clear vision. The BJP leader said Rahul Gandhi himself had admitted that there is no atmosphere of hatred in the country, indicating that the yatra has no motive. "Rahul ji in one of the statements in Delhi said he did not see hate after walking this many miles, then why did he start the yatra..," questioned Annamalai. On December 24, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi held a mega public rally outside Red Fort in the national capital. Addressing the rally, Rahul Gandhi said, "In Bharat Jodo Yatra, dogs also came but no one harmed them. Cow, buffaloes, pigs, all animals came. All the people came. This Yatra is like our India, I have not seen any hatred or violence among people while walking 2,800 km, and I have not seen violence or hatred anywhere in the country. But when I turn on the TV, there is hatred all the time. 24 hours there is only Hindu-Muslim in media." Attacking the BJP government, Rahul Gandhi said Hindu-Muslim propaganda is being done to divert attention from the real issues. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EQJQeJWeak The Bharat Jodo Yatra, which started in Kanyakumari on September 7, will conclude on January 30 in Srinagar after covering 3,970 km, 12 states and two Union territories. The march has so far covered Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and is presently in Jammu and Kashmir. It is the longest march on foot by any Indian politician in the history of India, the Congress claimed earlier in a statement. Bharat Jodo Yatra has been receiving support from various political parties and social organizations across the country. The Congress suffered a debacle in the assembly polls held earlier this year and the Yatra is seen as an attempt to encourage the party rank and file for the upcoming electoral battles. (ANI) The police had constituted a special team to track the girl after her father, Mukesh Kumar registered a complaint that his daughter has went missing as she didn't return home from school. According to DCP Shahdara Rohit Meena, "On receiving information of the abduction of a minor girl, a case was registered at Anand Vihar Police station and a team was created which efficiently carried out the investigation and the girl was rescued." The sleuths said over the course of the probe, the girl was rescued from the Chandigarh City Railway Station on Wednesday on the basis of CCTV footage mobile phone surveillance, and local enquiry. The police further informed that counselling of the victim was done by the counsellor of the Delhi Commission for Women. Further investigation is underway on the basis of the statement recorded during the interrogation of the minor, police said. (ANI) Six persons were arrested for allegedly thrashing a youth after tying him to a tree in Madhya Pradesh's Narmadapuram district, a police official said on Thursday. In a video of the incident, which went viral on social media, the accused are purportedly seen thrashing the victim, identified as Prakash Yadav. The incident tok place in the Makhan Nagar police station limits in the district on Wednesday. Prakash visited the local police station and lodged a complaint against the accused. According to the FIR, a copy of which is with ANI, Prakash said he is a YouTuber and content-creator from Khargawali village. According to the complaint, he was visiting the Managaon village for some work related to his YouTube channel on Wednesday, January 25. After completing his work, he left for Kotgaon village on his bike. On the way, he ran into one of the accused, Narayan Yadav, near Belia bridge, as per the FIR. "Prakash had a dispute with Narayan. Invoing the dispute, Narayan started abusing him. When Prakash protested, Narayan's brother Narendra Yadav and one more associate Omprakash reached the spot. They caught hold of him and thrashed him around. They also threatened to kill him if they found him in their village again," the FIR read. Makhan Nagar police station in-charge Praveen Kumre said, "On the victim's complaint, a case was registered against the three accused persons. Later, on examining the video, three more accused persons were identified. A total of six accused were identified and the case was registered under IPC sections 294 (obscene acts and songs), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention)." "All the accused persons were arrested and further investigation is underway," Kumre added. (ANI) Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Thursday while speaking about the Padma awardees said that the government is impartial in honouring people. The minister told ANI, "The government is impartial in honouring the people for their contribution. Like Mulayam Singh Yadav ji had a great contribution towards the socialist movement, so he should be honoured. It is the duty of the government to pay respect to the people who have dedicated themselves and worked hard." "I applaud the government for taking such a decision. We are not politicising the Padma awards. The government gives Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan to honour the people's hard work in different fields," added the president of the Republican Party of India (Athawale). On being asked about the Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), who didn't attend the Republic Day celebration at Raj Bhavan in Hyderabad today, Athawale said, "It is very surprising as well as a serious situation. Being the Chief Minister of a state, KCR should have come. When the CM of a state doesn't attend the Republic Day celebration, it is very insulting. I think his absence from the event should be investigated." Speaking about the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), Athawale stated that the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis has initiated a discussion about the same. "After a proper analysis on the subject, the government would take the work of OPS forward," added Athawale. The list released by the government of India includes the names of 106 recipients of the Padma awards which comprise six Padma Vibhushan, nine Padma Bhushan and 91 Padma Shri awards. Nineteen of the awardees are women. There are seven posthumous awardees. The Awards are given in various disciplines and fields of activities such as art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, and civil service. 'Padma Vibhushan' is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; 'Padma Bhushan' for distinguished service of high order and 'Padma Shri' for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year. The awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March and April every year. (ANI) Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai has slammed ruling DMK's role during the stormy proceedings in the assembly earlier this month which led to "walk out" by Governor RN Ravi from the state assembly. He said the Governor never insulted National Anthem and alleged that DMK insulted the anthem "by not allowing it to be played". He also said the Governor can't speak like a political person.The tussle between the MK Stalin government and the Governor escalated after January 9 proceedings in the assembly with the Chief Minister moving a resolution against the Govenor when he was seated in the House. In ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Annamalai said that the Governor was made to feel unwelcome by the ruling alliance in the state. "Need to understand what happened before the Governor's speech, Governor did not add a single word. Governor never disrespected the national anthem," he said. Chief Minister MK Stalin moved a resolution to reject "deviation" and to declare valid only the prepared text of Governor's address which was distributed to the members. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EQJQeJWeak "You have to understand the context. It was a very tense atmosphere. The Governor was made to feel unwelcome. If you look at the scenes unfolding before the Governor spoke, the Speaker even did not condemn the members who were shouting," Annamalai said. DMK leaders said that Governor in his customary address in the Legislative Assembly had skipped mentioning the Dravidian model of governance as well as did not name the leaders including Thanthai Periyar, BR Ambedkar, and even former Chief Ministers, K Kamaraj and CN Annadurai. Annamalai said that DMK leaders made a couple of statements in the last 20 months which must have "irritated" the Governor. "One DMK MP made a statement that conditions that existed in 1965 for demanding a separate state exist even now, I am warning the Central government. This is what a DMK MP said. Chief Minister MK Stalin was sitting on the stage," Annamalai said. "Then one DMK spokesperson said, Tamil Nadu is always separate. It will be separate. We met the Governor. We have given a memorandum, saying that the concerned DMK MP should be dismissed as he is going against the oath of the Indian Constitution. The moment the DMK came to power, they started to use a Tamil word translating into "how India was formed". The DMK believes that India was founded by the American way where all the states got together and formed the country," he added. "We disagreed with him. The country was there. In 1956, the boundaries were divided on the basis of language,' Annamalai added. He said that all these instances may have irked the Governor. Tamil Nadu state BJP president added that Governor suggested to DMK leaders to consider the word ''Thamizhagam' which would be more appropriate. "It was a suggestion. He never imposed anything. He never said that word Tamil Nadu is wrong...... DMK and CM have not come and said on record that Tamil Nadu is a part of India. We all are together and we didn't need any separation. Chief Minister has not clarified so far," Annamalai added. "For me, words like "Tamil Nadu" and ''Thamizhagam" are the same. I don't see any difference. I understand the spirit behind it. The Governor's speech was more for people who believed that Tamil Nadu was separate," Annamalai added. "Then confrontation took place in the assembly. The Governor went there after being invited. Even before he started speaking, the media was focusing on the Governor's speech. What happened before the governor's speech? When Governor was about to talk, except the DMK, all their alliance partners rushed to the well of the House. They spoke ill of the Governor. They said you have to apologize for using the word 'Thamizhagam' as they disagreed with the word. They were shouting very close to the Governor. Then Marshalls were called. The Chief Minister was sitting in the first row with hands folded watching this episode unfolding in front of his eyes. DMK's alliance partner Congress did a gherao and after a few minutes walked out," Annamalai added. He said no one could interrupt the Governor's speech as per rule. "When the Governor spoke, he was waiting for National Anthem to be played. When the National Anthem is played and once the Governor's speech is complete, Governor may walk away". Annamalai alleged that DMK did not play out the National Anthem purposefully. "CM suddenly stood up and passed a resolution about what the Governor had said...it will not go into the assembly record in Tamil Nadu's history," Annamalai said. "Then Governor walked off. DMK is setting two narratives. One that Governor insulted the National Anthem. The Governor never insulted the national anthem. DMK insulted the national anthem by not allowing it to be played," he alleged. Assembly Speaker M Appavu had alleged that Governor RN Ravi had insulted the entire nation by leaving the Assembly premises even before the national anthem was sung. The Governor did not even utter the name of the architect of the Constitution, BR. Ambedkar, during his speech, he alleged. Annamalai dismissed the DMK's allegations. "The Governor did not add a single word to the speech". Annamalai added that Governor did not read that one line. He maintained a steady silence. "They said Governor insulted Ambedkar Ji. You insulted.. Governor never insulted...", Annamalai hit back at DMK. "In a line, the Dravidian model of development was written. It was like a political statement...The vigour, valour and the great march of Dravidian development of the model," he said. "Governor can't speak like a political person. He does not have a problem with the Dravidian model of development. Governor said he is not reading the line glorifying the Chief Minister. The Governor skipped the entire para. Governor didn't add a single word. Any sane political observer will say what the Governor did was right," he added. (ANI) Justice Virender Singh, Judges of Himachal Pradesh High Court, Chairman and vice-chairman of various Commissions, Boards, Corporations and Vice Chancellors, senior State Civil, Police and Military officers, prominent citizens of the town and ex-servicemen were also present on the occasion among others. Earlier, in the day, Governor Rajendra Arlekar unfurled the national flag on the occasion of the 74th Republic Day. The Governor inspected the parade and took a salute from a march past, led by Parade Commander Lieutenant Karan Gogna from 22, Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was also present on the occasion. The contingents of the Army, Indo-Tibet Border Police, the Himachal Pradesh Armed Police, Uttarakhand Police, State Police, Home Guards, Fire Services and Himachal Pradesh Postal Services, Disaster Management, ex-servicemen, National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme Cadets, Bharat Scout and Guide performed the march past on the occasion of Republic Day. The troupes from Chamba and Hamirpur districts, Government Senior Secondary School, and a cultural troupe from Kinnaur were part of the cultural performances. The Governor also presented the prizes to all the participants in the presence of the Chief Minister. Giving the message of 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao', the Governor and the Chief Minister appealed to voluntarily contribute towards 'Sukh-Ashray Kosh'. (ANI) U.S. Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia, left, and Eddie Guillen appear on a Guillen campaign flyer. (Eddie Guillen campaign) As Chicago mayoral candidate Jesus Chuy Garcia fends off efforts by political opponents trying to tie him to indicted former House Speaker Michael Madigan, his campaign is calling on a Southwest Side aldermanic candidate who briefly worked for Madigans political organization to stop using a picture of Garcia on political flyers. The campaign brochures focus mostly on the race for alderman of the 23rd Ward near Midway Airport. But the mailers a well-worn tool for typically parochial races could have broader implications in the mayoral race and particularly for Garcia, a congressman who is one of eight challengers looking to upend Mayor Lori Lightfoots efforts for a second term. Advertisement The latest twist in the Garcia-Madigan saga is playing out on doorsteps and throughout much of the 23rd Ward where challenger Eddie Guillen said his campaign sent out thousands of flyers with photos of him and Garcia that urge residents to Vote Chuy Garcia for Mayor & Eddie Guillen for Alderman and elect New Leadership That Works for You! [ Search to find out what Chicago neighborhood, community area and ward you live in ] The mailers landed around the ward in recent days as candidates for mayor, particularly Lightfoot, stepped up their criticism of Garcia for his relationship with Madigan, who hails from the neighboring 13th Ward and faces a federal racketeering indictment alleging he and his associates participated in a range of corrupt schemes. Madigan has pleaded not guilty. Advertisement Guillen worked two months for Madigans 13th Ward Democrats last year, after Madigan was ousted as speaker and resigned from the House amid revelations he was ensnared in a federal corruption investigation. Guillen then took a job as chief of staff for state Rep. Angie Guerrero-Cuellar, who has Madigans support and shares office space in the building that has long housed the former speakers political organization In an interview with the Tribune, Guillen said he didnt receive Garcias endorsement or coordinate with the Garcia mayoral campaign before printing and distributing the flyers. He simply wanted to back Garcias mayoral bid, he said. I support (Garcia) and I see all the work hes been doing at the city level, so Im trying to get our Hispanic community to come out and vote for him, Guillen said. Garcia would rather not have the help. Chicagos new ward map Not sure which ward you live in? Type your address into the search box below. Source: City of Chicago Garcia mayoral campaign spokesman Antoine Givens said the campaign had no knowledge of Guillens brochures before they hit Southwest Side doorsteps. Our campaign did not approve the Guillen campaigns use of this image or any campaign related material and we are requesting that no more mailers be sent, Givens said in an email. Guillen said Wednesday that he would stop distributing the flyers if the Garcia campaign directly asked him, which he said it had yet to do. Advertisement If they contacted me, sure, Guillen said. They know where Im at. But Guillen said, until then, he would carry on passing out the flyers. Whether or not a connection exists between Guillen and Garcia, the campaign literature creates a link between the two in the eyes of voters who see it and in a way that could boost Guillens candidacy. Still, its easy to see why Garcia would rather not be associated with Guillens run against 23rd Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares in the Feb. 28 election. In addition to the two months he worked for Madigans political operation, Guillen also owes nearly all of his campaign cash to Guerrero-Cuellar. Shes contributed nearly $22,000 to his campaign fund, state campaign finance records show. The political campaign fund for Ald. Marty Quinn, 13th, a longtime Madigan ally, contributed nearly $20,000 to Guerrero-Cuellar last year and she also has received big contributions from several labor groups long allied with Madigan, according to campaign finance records. As Garcia has embarked in his bid for mayor his second after losing to former Mayor Rahm Emanuel in 2015 his ties to Madigan, the longest-serving speaker of a state House in the nation and the longtime leader of the Illinois Democratic Party, have become a point of contention on the campaign trail. Advertisement In 2016, Garcia endorsed Madigan in the then-speakers reelection campaign for state representative against a candidate who was viewed by many, including Garcia, as a front for then-Gov. Bruce Rauner, an anti-union Republican. Two years later, Garcia endorsed Madigan to remain as chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois even amid a burgeoning #MeToo scandal involving a top Madigan lieutenant. Garcia also received fundraising support from the Madigan-led DPI. Last week, the Tribune reported that Garcia is the unidentified member of Congress referenced in federal court filings detailing an alleged scheme by Madigan to appoint one of Garcias political associates to a lucrative position on Commonwealth Edisons board of directors. Garcia is not accused of wrongdoing and has denied he played any role in the push by Madigan to appoint Juan Ochoa to the utilitys board, which is one of the centerpiece allegations in the ComEd bribery conspiracy case set for trial in March. [ Shadow of Michael Madigan looms in fight for 23rd Ward alderman ] Ald. Silvana Tabares campaigns on Dec. 8, 2022, in the West Lawn neighborhood. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Challenger Eddie Guillen campaigns on Dec. 5, 2022, in his West Lawn neighborhood. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Guillen says his decision to run has nothing to do with the simmering feud between Madigan and Tabares on the Southwest Side. Tabares used to be aligned with Madigan but those connections have cooled in recent years. Garcia has made endorsements in a few aldermanic contests, but has not backed a candidate in the head-to-head matchup between Guillen and Tabares. And while Guillen says he backs Garcia, Tabares has not endorsed any of the nine candidates for mayor. Garcia himself remains overwhelmingly popular on the Southwest Side, where he won reelection to the U.S. House in November with 68.4% of the vote for a third term representing the 4th Congressional District, which includes much of the 23rd Ward. Garcia, meanwhile, has worked to distance himself from Madigan, saying hes fought the Chicago political machine for decades and that he had to work with Madigan to get anything done in Springfield. Advertisement Just because you swim with sharks, if you listen to the people that sent you somewhere, you dont become one, Garcia said when Lightfoot and mayoral candidate Brandon Johnson hit him over the Madigan relationship at a Monday Tribune Editorial Board meeting. And thats been my mantra. jebyrne@chicagotribune.com According to the police the deceased constable, identified as Devendra Kumar was posted in the Jaguar team Central District. "Devendra Kumar shot himself dead at the police station's barrack number 3. A suicide note was recovered from the spot in which the deceased has not blamed anyone and stated that he is commiting suicide due to personal reasons," police said. Police further informed that the body was sent for a post-mortem examination at Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC) after which it has been sent to his native place in Sonipat, Haryana. Further probe is underway. (ANI) One grenade was found near the outer wall of former Surankote MLA Choudhary Muhammad Akram's house in the Poonch area, the police informed on Thursday. Incidentally, there was a mild explosive blast at his house, four days back. Further investigation is underway in the case. The Indian Army on Wednesday busted two hideouts in the Poonch area in Jammu and Kashmir and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition. While one hideout was busted in Ratta Jabara forest, the other hideout was in the Dhoba forest. "The Indian Army busted two hideouts in Poonch. One hideout has been busted in Ratta Jabara forest and another in Dhoba forest. A large quantity of arms and ammunition have been recovered from these hideouts," the Indian Army said in a statement. To crackdown on terrorists, Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday accorded the sanction for the establishment of 'Terror Monitoring Group' and created twenty different posts under the squad. Meanwhile, J-K Police along with the 29 RR of the Army rescued five youths including two juveniles in Baramulla from joining terror ranks, said an official statement. According to the Home Department, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, under the 'Terror Monitoring Group' there will be a Senior Superintendent of Police, six Deputy Superintendents of Police, six Inspectors, six Head Constables and a Follower. . J-K Police said input received that some youngsters were enticed by terror handlers from Pakistan to join terrorist organizations. On receiving this input, security forces first traced these youths and they were subjected to sustained questioning with the help of their parents, added the statement.On youths' disclosure, it was learnt that they were in touch with terrorist handlers in Pakistan through social media to get recruited into terror outfits, as per the statement.Terror handlers were trying to radicalize these boys. These teenagers have now been handed over to their parents after proper counseling.(ANI) The Supreme Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the death of a 19-year-old MBBS student, who allegedly hung herself in her hostel room in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly in 2017. A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sudhanshu Dhulia directed the CBI to file a report before an appropriate court after the conclusion of the investigation. The order of the apex court came after the Uttar Pradesh Police and UP Crime-Branch Crime Investigation Department (CBCID) arrived at contradictory findings in the case. "A young girl child has died an unnatural death while pursuing medical studies and two investigating agencies have given reports, one in the form of charge sheet arraigning two individuals as accused and the other filing closure report," the bench noted in its order. It added, "In view of the fact that there appears to be a contradiction in the two reports filed by the two investigating agencies and also considering the nature of these cases, we are of the opinion that further investigation ought to be undertaken by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the two investigating agencies shall assist the CBI in this regard. On conclusion of investigation, the report shall be filed by the CBI before appropriate Court." The order of the top court came on a plea filed in 2018 by the father of the deceased MBBS student. The first-year student was found hanging from the ceiling of her hostel room at Shri Ram Murti Smarak Institute of Medical Sciences in Bareilly in 2017. Her two roommates had told the police that the Noida resident had been tense for the past two days and had not gone to college because of illness. The father had sought a CBI probe saying that though the student's death was made out to be a case of suicide, it was an unnatural death. After the FIR was lodged, police submitted a charge sheet in connection with the complaint in which two persons were arraigned as accused. Later, the investigation was handed over to the crime investigation division CBCID - another investigating wing of the State police. CBCID filed a closure report in the case. The apex court sending the probe to CBI said that "there appears to be a contradiction in the two reports filed by the two investigating departments. (ANI) Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief K Annamalai took a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is leading Bharat Jodo Yatra, and said the Wayanad MP took 3,000 km to understand that there is no atmosphere of hatred in the country. Attacking the Bharat Jodo Yatra, the BJP leader said Rahul Gandhi himself had admitted that there is no atmosphere of hatred in the country, indicating that the yatra has no motive. "Rahul ji in one of the statements in Delhi said he did not see hate after walking this many miles. Then why did he start the yatra? It took him 3,000 kilometres to realise that..," Annamalai said in the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash. Annamalai said Congress' mass outreach programme is useless since it lacks a clear vision. "Padyatra should have a larger perspective. It is just that you are upset with Modi ji and you started a yatra. It should have a motive," the Tamil Nadu BJP chief said. On December 24, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi held a mega public rally outside Red Fort in the national capital. Addressing the rally, Rahul Gandhi said, "In Bharat Jodo Yatra, dogs also came but no one harmed them. Cow, buffaloes, pigs, all animals came. All the people came. This Yatra is like our India, I have not seen any hatred or violence among people while walking 2,800 km, and I have not seen violence or hatred anywhere in the country. But when I turn on the TV, there is hatred all the time. 24 hours there is only Hindu-Muslim in media." Attacking the BJP government, Rahul Gandhi said Hindu-Muslim propaganda is being done to divert attention from the real issues. The Bharat Jodo Yatra, which started in Kanyakumari on September 7, will conclude on January 30 in Srinagar after covering 3,970 km, 12 states and two Union territories. The march has so far covered Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and is presently in Jammu and Kashmir. It is the longest march on foot by any Indian politician in the history of India, the Congress claimed earlier in a statement. Bharat Jodo Yatra has been receiving support from various political parties and social organizations across the country. The Congress suffered a debacle in the assembly polls held earlier this year and the Yatra is seen as an attempt to motivate the party rank and file for the upcoming electoral battles. (ANI) The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) on Thursday while continuing its rescue operation, retrieved a body of a woman, 48 hours after the collapse of the Alaya Apartment building in Lucknow's Hazratganj, said the SDRF on Thursday. The SDRF said that the woman's body found while removing the debris from Alaya's apartment is identified as 42-year-old Shabana Khatoon who was the resident of the apartment's flat number 201 the relatives informed. With this, the toll of death in the case has risen to four. The SDRF team further informed that on Tuesday bodies of three women were found during the rescue operation. So far, 16 people have been rescued from the debris created after the Alaya Apartment Building collapsed in the Hazratganj area of Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. According to an official statement, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognizance of the accident and instructed sending SDRF and NDRF teams to the spot. The Chief Minister also directed the district administration officials to take the injured to the hospital for proper treatment immediately. The police are present at the spot and rescue operations are underway. Earlier, on Wednesday the Uttar Police registered FIR against three people in connection with the case. They have been identified as Nawazish Shahid, Mohammad Tariq and Fahad Yazdani, the police said. As per the police, the search is underway to nab the other two accused. The FIR has been lodged by senior sub-inspector Daya Shankar Dwiwedi. The case has been registered under sections 308, 323, 420, and 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). As per the allegations, the construction was done without passing the map, and substandard materials were used in the construction. The three are also accused of cheating people in the greed of earning money. The police have said that the people complained of the building shaking due to the construction work going on with drilling machines. (ANI) Sikkim's lone pick for the Padma Shri this year, 98-year-old Tula Ram Upreti, from Assam Lingzey village in Pakyong district, has not only been associated with organic farming for the last eight decades but has also been championing the practice. She has been a pioneer in the cultivation of paddy and other vegetables organically, without using fertilizers, carrying forward the legacy of organic farming in Sikkim. Upreti has been continuing the legacy of his forefathers, when it comes to organic farming, even into his nineties. His family members said he stopped regular farming about 5-6 years ago due to recurring knee-related ailments. Prior to Sikkim's annexation to India, in the erstwhile kingdom, Upreti used to trade with Yatung in Tibet in the 1940s and 1950s. He said he had to travel with a cargo of rice, buckwheat, and maize on foot to Tibet, taking the silk route. He used to cultivate his field, spread over 12 hectares, with his bare hands and cattle, along with his helpers. The organic farmer from Sikkim also served as a local panchayat member from Lingzey ward under Assam Lingzey Gram Panchayat Unit for 25 years. He was also a two-time panchayat president and retired from social service in 1996. Tula Ram Upreti studied till the fifth standard at Tashi Namgyal Higher Secondary School (now TN Senior Secondary School). Upreti is survived by eight sons and seven daughters and has over 100 members in his family. One of his sons, KN Upreti, served as a minister and legislator from the Rhenock Assembly constituency from 1979-99. Owing to his age, the 98-year-old couldn't respond to media queries. One of his daughter-in-laws, Sunita Upreti said, "Upon hearing the news yesterday, we as a family wanted to be sure of his accomplishment before making him understand what award he would receive. We received a call from the Home Ministry on Wednesday afternoon. It was early evening when we received a word of confirmation from the Chief Minister's Office and later from Pakyong Distict Collector." The District Collector invited him to be a part of the Republic Day celebrations where he was felicitated. "We are jubilant on his achievement. Even at 98, he is championing organic farming in the state and making us proud. He is giving us a legacy to build on and carry forward," added his daughter-in-law. His accomplishment and contribution to organic farming have been appreciated by the state government. Many call him the 'Father of Organic Farming' as he adopted the practice years before the 'Organic Mission' was initiated in Sikkim, 20 years ago. Achievers from a range of professions and diverse areas of the country figure in the list of 106 Padma awardees this year, with the majority picked from the field of Arts. The list comprises six Padma Vibhushan, nine Padma Bhushan and 91 Padma Shri winners. Nine of the awardees are women while seven will receive the award posthumously. The awards are conferred by the President at a ceremonial function held at Rashtrapati Bhawan, around March or April every year. (ANI) West Bengal Leader of Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday announced that he will not be attending the 'Hatey Khori' event in Raj Bhavan, and called the event a "cunning" attempt by the Bengal government to "wash off its stains" of corruption allegations. "I have been invited to the Raj Bhavan today to attend the Hatey Khori event, however, I won't be attending the event," he said in the letter. Praising the West Bengal Governor, he called him a true patriot and called his decision of learning Bengali 'impressive'. "His Excellency Dr C. V. Ananda Bose; Hon'ble Governor of West Bengal is a highly educated person and a true patriot. His distinguished career as an eminent Civil Servant was decorated with many prestigious National and International awards and accolades for his outstanding contributions in different fields. A prolific writer and renowned orator; he has authored many books in more than one language. "It's appreciable that His Excellency is striving for an immersive experience of the rich culture of Bengal, so he has decided to learn the Bengali language," he added. The Bengal LoP accused the Bengal government of "exploiting" his wish as political posturing. "However his wish has been exploited by the State Government as an opportunity for political posturing. Ms Nandini Chakravorty (IAS); Principal Secretary to the Governor, acting as a 'special' emissary of the State Government latched on this chance to execute the hidden political agenda of the Chief Minister by artfully using the Office of the Hon'ble Governor," he said in the letter. He further alleged that the state government is trying "wash off" its corruption allegations through the event. "At a time when the image of the Education Department of West Bengal has been tarnished due to the gigantic "Cash for Job" Teacher Recruitment Scam and the Former Education Minister along with most of the important office bearers are languishing in prison; the State Government has cunningly orchestrated this event to wash off the stain," he said. The BJP leader said that the event does not glorify the dignity of the Raj Bhavan. "It seems the event has been planned and engineered by the discredited state government to act as a glossy book-cover on an obscene book. Thus, in my view, today's event which is to be held at 5 pm doesn't elevate the height of the Chair of the Hon'ble Governor and doesn't glorify the dignity of the Raj Bhavan," he said. He also attacked Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee over the bill replacing Governor as the Chancellor of the Universities. "The Guest in Chief of the event; is Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who time and again has expressed her unreasonable opinion that the post of Governor should be abolished as it is irrelevant and adds to the financial burden on the State. In an autocratic move, she even made an attempt to replace the Governor as the Chancellor of the Universities so that she is able to grab the position," he further said. Taking his attack further, he called Mamata Banerjee the "Queen-pin of Corruption". "She is also the "Queen-pin" of the Corruption which infested the Education Department. Meritorious candidates were deprived & unworthy ineligible candidates were selected as Teachers in exchange for truckloads of cash under the aegis of the Chief Minister. These scamsters were handed over the mantle to impart education to the future generations of the State of West Bengal. How unfortunate!" he said. Suvendu Adhikari said that he won't be able to witness the situation in the event. "Hatey Khori is a Ritual to signify the formal introduction of Education. I apprehend that the Guest in Chief may not be able to refrain herself from introducing the knowledge of impropriety to the aspirant who is willing to take the first step in learning the mellifluous Bengali language in her presence. So I can't bear to witness such an inappropriate and laughable situation, which has been arranged by spending the taxpayers' money," he further said in the letter. (ANI) Ladakh Lieutenant Governor RK Mathur unfurled the Tricolour in Leh, setting off the Republic Day celebrations. L-G Mathur, along with Major General Manjeet Singh Mokha, Chief of Staff, Fire and Fury Corps, paid tributes to fallen bravehearts by laying a wreath at the iconic Hall of Fame War Memorial in Leh. He reiterated the 'Panch-Pran' message of Prime Minister for a developed India, removal of the colonial mindset, taking pride in our roots, unity and instilling a sense of duty among citizens. The L-G lauded the Army's devotion to duty and indomitable spirit while serving under trying and difficult conditions. He acknowledged the Army's invaluable contribution to maintaining sanctity of the borders in the Ladakh region with "fortitude and courage". On the youth potential of Ladakh, the L-G informed of the assistance being provided by the administration for their employment, handholding in entrepreneurial sectors and skill development. The L-G took the occasion to express gratitude to the armed forces and police personnel for their service to the nation and to Ladakh, in particular. (ANI) A commandant-rank officer of the BSF, along with other personnel, gave sweets to the Pakistan Rangers at the joint check post. Officials of both forces shook hands and exchanged pleasantries for a few minutes. The border guarding forces of India and Pakistan exchange sweets and wishes on various national and religious festivals such as Independence Day celebrations of both countries, Diwali and Eid. Instituted on December 1, 1965, the BSF, which is known as India's first line of defence, is mandated to guard the 3,323 km India-Pakistan border. Currently, the BSF is holding 192 Battalions and seven Arty Regiments guarding International Border with Pakistan and Bangladesh. In addition, BSF is also performing an Anti-Infiltration role in Kashmir Valley, Counter Insurgency in North East region, Anti Naxal Operations in Odisha and Chhattisgarh states and security of Integrated Check Posts along Pakistan and Bangladesh International Border. President Droupadi Murmu led the nation on Thursday celebrating the 74th Republic Day from Kartavya Path in New Delhi. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was the Chief Guest at the parade. (ANI) After strong protests by the people in the Gudalur area in Nilgiris district, the Tamil Nadu forest department is chasing away a tuskless male elephant, also knwon as 'Makhna', into the deep forests in the Madumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR). Forest officials of MTR told IANS that the elephant, which is around 40 years old, has not yet posed threat to humans. But of late, there have been complaints from the local people that elephants have been creating havoc in their agricultural lands, causing damage to crops. While the Makhna has not been antagonistic towards human beings, recently it destroyed three farm lands, causing extensive damage to crops. A senior official of the forest department told IANS, "People have launched a campaign in Gudalur and other areas of Nilgiris to drive this elephant into the forest. Even though we know that it's a harmless elephant, we have now decided to chase it into the deep forest land in the MTR area." The official said that the forest department is driving the elephant into deep forests taking into account the safety of the tusker. It is to be noted here that the Palakkad Tusker 7 (PT7), which had killed a morning walker and damaged crops extensively in the Dhoni area in Palakkad district in Kerala, was captured a few days back by the Kerala forest department. Medical check-up showed that 15 pellets were fired at it from air guns. Kerala Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran had said that farmers should not resort to such cruel acts against elephants. Tamil Nadu forest department officials are hence driving the Makhna into the deep forests to prevent it from the wrath of the local people. --IANS aal/arm ( 298 Words) 2023-01-26-19:16:03 (IANS) A Chicago Public Schools official informed Mayor Lori Lightfoots campaign team that it cant recruit students for political work on campus or offer extra credit hours before the mayors campaign released a statement defending it as a common practice done for decades, emails obtained by the Chicago Tribune show. Lightfoots campaign emailed CPS teachers earlier this month asking them to help recruit students for her reelection campaign in exchange for class credit. Advertisement The Lightfoot campaigns effort to recruit students is under investigation by CPS Inspector General Will Fletcher and Chicago IG Deborah Witzburg. Lightfoot has apologized for the emails, calling them a mistake while downplaying them as an error in judgment by a staffer. Records released to the Tribune show the principal at William Howard Taft High School received the email and forwarded it to a supervisor, who forwarded it to top administrators on Jan. 11. Advertisement That afternoon, at 1 p.m., Chuck Swirsky, a senior adviser to CPS head Pedro Martinez, emailed the districts chief ethics adviser, Jennifer Chan, and others, This has been resolved. They will stop. At 3:16 p.m., Swirsky emailed Lightfoot campaign staffer Megan Crane to document their earlier discussion. Thanks for chatting before. Just to reiterate our phone conversation, no recruitment for interns or vols can be done on campus or by staff/teachers. We also can not provide any classroom credit, Swirsky said. Any questions can be directed to me or Jennifer Chan, ccd here. Thanks! Hours later, just before 6 p.m., the Lightfoot campaign released a statement denying any wrongdoing and characterizing the email as a typical learning opportunity offered by campaigns. Later, the team released an amended statement saying it would stop out of an abundance of caution and later released another statement saying that all campaign staff members have been reminded about the solid wall that must exist between campaign and official activities and that contacts with any city of Chicago, or other sister agency employees, including CPS employees, even through publicly available sources is off limits. Period. Its not clear why the Lightfoot campaign would defend the practice even after being told it was improper. The Lightfoot campaign declined to address specific questions but released a statement: As the Mayor has said, once she found out about the email recruitment on January 11th, she directed her staff to cease the efforts. Our campaign issued an updated press statement in order to clarify that we had taken her directive and halted the effort. Lightfoot has worked to make amends for the scandal but questions remain about her campaigns efforts to recruit students from educational institutions that she controls from City Hall. Last August, Lightfoots campaign also contacted City Colleges of Chicago educators to recruit students. The City Colleges, which make up a city of Chicago sister agency controlled by the mayor, released a statement earlier this month saying it had told the Lightfoot campaign that they do not coordinate with political campaigns. Advertisement City Colleges also said it notified the campaign of CCCs ethics policy and purged the emails from CCC accounts. Since then, City Colleges has not addressed questions about why it purged the emails. A spokesperson said the Colleges actions were in compliance with the Local Records Act, but did not provide documentation the Tribune requested of the approval public agencies need to dispose of documents. The Colleges inspector generals office did not respond to requests for comment on whether the agency is investigating. At a news conference last week, Lightfoot said she had no knowledge about the City Colleges statement. The City Colleges said they purged them? I dont know anything about that, and we have no written record of contact from City Colleges, Lightfoot said. What I said, and I think I addressed this last week, is the same issue: It was a mistake for the campaign worker to reach out to City Colleges just as it was a mistake to reach out to CPS. Asked if City Colleges called the campaign in August, Lightfoot reiterated it was a mistake for our campaign worker to reach out, we said that very clearly, I stepped out and I own that and I dont have any further information at this time. After the emails came to light this month, the union for City Colleges of Chicago faculty, the Cook County College Teachers Union, issued a statement expressing its disappointment over the emails, which it called a flagrant ethics violation. Advertisement For a mayor who promised to clean up corruption, these emails show an astonishing lack of judgment, said union President Tony Johnston said. Many of Lightfoots opponents in the Feb. 28 election for which early voting started Thursday also took the opportunity to blast the mayor and call for investigations. Chicago Tribunes Sarah Macaraeg and Alice Yin contributed. Shaunak Sen's Oscar- and BAFTA Awards-nominated 'All That Breathes' traces the story of two brothers, Mohammad Saud and Nadeem Shehzad, who make it their personal mission to take care of raptors, especially black kites, literally falling off the sky because of polluted air. 'All That Breathes' producer Aman Mann spoke to IANS about the movie and the challenges the makers had to deal with when they were shooting the injured birds. The documentary feature, co-produced by Sen, Mann and Teddy Leifer of Rise Films, has already won the prestigious Golden Eye at Cannes 2022 and the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance 2022 World Cinema Documentary Competition. Recalling how the film came about, Aman saidsaid: "I think we are still wondering about it because the film's journey has been beyond our wildest expectations. It all started with a thought process. Shaunak was pursuing a fellowship in the UK in 2018 when he became very interested in human-animal relationships, particularly in spaces such as the city. "When he returned to Delhi, one day, he was sitting in traffic, and he was looking at the sky, and he saw birds circling above as if they were about to fall off. Just that image got him to do research about birds in Delhi." Sen, incidentally, is an alumnus of Jamia Millia and received his Ph.D. from the School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal University, and got interested in human-animal conflicts in cities when he participated in the Cambridge University's ERC Urban Ecologies Project as visiting scholar in 2018. This research led Sen on to the two brothers operating out of Wazirabad in North Delhi, who took care of black kites that fell off the sky. "When we went to their facility, it was really fascinating," recalled Mann, a maker of ad films, documentaries and video installations. "Their day job is to manufacture soap dispensers. For that, they have metal cutting machines lying around the basement from where they operate, but then on one side is a tiny room where they treat the helpless raptors." Continuing with his description of the place where the two brothers operate, Mann said: "That space by itself was so cinematic. And then on the roof of their house, they had a big cage where the birds that were undergoing treatment were housed. You can walk into that cage. There were at that point 70-80 birds in there, and it was really amazing. "So, from that point on, we knew that there was a compelling story to tell through them. And then we never looked for any other characters. We just began shooting." Mann pointed out that these birds are not among the endangered species, nor do they face any imminent threat. Aman said: "That's actually the interesting thing because these birds are not endangered. There is a very large volume of them in Delhi. So, it's not a story of them being under any imminent threat." He described the exact plight of the birds and said: "What happens here is that because of the sheer number of them, there are a lot of injuries and accidents. That is why the birds suffer. Particularly as Delhi's pollution gets more extreme. And there's nobody else who takes care of them, other than these two brothers when it comes to these birds. So now over the past 20 years, they've treated more than 25,000 birds." But it is not easy to make documentaries in India. "There's always a problem finding funding for documentaries in India," Mann said. "So, initially, we were shooting ourselves with a tiny crew. And maybe we were fortunate enough to get some grants from organisations that then helped us find co-producers from the US and UK. "That also took a long time, like the first year and half, we were shooting on a very limited scale. Then Covid happened. For a long period, our shoots were stopped because of the waves of the pandemic." But filming 'All That Breathes' did have its lighter moments. Recalling an incident that is now a part of the film, Mann said: "One of the great moments happened early on. It's actually in the film, where a kite stole a character's glasses on camera. And that actually went into the film. It's one of those moments we couldn't believe was actually happening. "And it almost ended up being a problem because our associate camera person, who was shooting that day, started laughing. We were terrified that the giggling would ruin the shot, but thankfully, it did not!" --IANS ila/srb ( 776 Words) 2023-01-26-19:24:02 (IANS) In response to a tweet by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Modi said: "Thank you Prime Minister @AlboMP. Greetings to you and to the friendly people of Australia on Australia Day." In response to a tweet by French President Emmanuel Macron, PM Modi said: "Grateful for your warm greetings my dear friend @EmmanuelMacron on India's Republic Day. I share your commitment to work together for success of India's G20 Presidency and 25th anniversary of India-France Strategic Partnership. India and France together are a force for global good." Modi also thanked Nepalese Prime Minister Prachanda for his wishes. "Thank You @cmprachanda ji for your warm wishes!" Modi tweeted in response to Prachanda's wishes. Responding to Bhutan Prime Minister Lotay Tshering's wishes, Modi said: "Thank you @PMBhutan Dr. Lotay Tshering for your warm wishes! India is committed to its unique partnership with Bhutan for progress and prosperity of both our nations." In response to a tweet by President of Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the Prime Minister said: "Thank you for your warm greetings, President @ibusolih. Glad to see the sustained progress achieved by India-Maldives partnership, underpinned by common democratic values." In response to a tweet by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Modi tweeted: "Thank you for your warm wishes for India's Republic Day, PM @netanyahu. Look forward to further strengthening our strategic partnership." Responding to Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth's wishes, Modi said: "Thank you, PM @KumarJugnauth. In our shared journey as modern Republics, our two countries have been partnering closely in people-centred development. Looking forward to taking our cherished partnership with Mauritius to even greater heights." --IANS ans/pgh ( 299 Words) 2023-01-26-22:20:02 (IANS) Google on Thursday announced to comply with the Competition Commission of India (CCI)'s recent directives for Android, saying it will allow Android users in India to use third-party billing options starting next month. Indian users will now have the option to choose their default search engine via a choice screen that will soon start to appear when a user sets up a new Android smartphone or tablet in the country, the tech giant said in a statement. "The CCI's recent directives for Android and Play require us to make significant changes for India, and we've informed the CCI of how we will be complying with their directives," said Google. The original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) will now be able to license individual Google apps for pre-installation on their devices. "We're updating the Android compatibility requirements to introduce changes for partners to build non-compatible or forked variants," said Google. User choice billing will be available to all apps and games starting next month. Through user choice billing, developers can offer users the option to choose an alternative billing system alongside Google Play's billing system when purchasing in-app digital content. The changes come as a Supreme Court bench said that the findings by the CCI cannot be said to be "without jurisdiction or with manifest error" and affirmed the NCLAT order, declining to grant interim relief to Google. The bench directed the NCLAT to dispose of Google's appeal by March 31, and granted Google seven days to deposit 10 per cent of the Rs 1,337.76 crore penalty imposed by the CCI. Google had alleged that the CCI copy-pasted parts of a European court order without examining associated evidence in India. The CCI has also imposed a penalty of Rs 936.44 crore on Google in a separate case for abusing its dominant position with respect to its Play Store policies. --IANS na/vd ( 325 Words) 2023-01-25-23:02:01 (IANS) A new report by a rights group details fresh evidence of destruction of religious heritage sites and the mistreatment of Tibetans by China in eastern Tibet since October 2021 in what locals say is a second Cultural Revolution, RFA reported. Among the religious sites and objects destroyed in Drago county were three colossal Buddha statues, a Buddhist school, a building housing with 45 giant prayer wheels, the home of a revered spiritual leader and Drago Monastery's prayer flags, which were removed and burned, the report by London-based Free Tibet says. The report details previously unreported detentions and torture of locals as well as the destruction of Tibetan heritage sites in Drago. The county is called Luhuo in Chinese and lies in the Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province. The report by Free Tibet and its affiliated research arm Tibet Watch shows that Chinese authorities have ramped up measures to repress Tibetans by razing significant religious structures while committing serious human rights violations in Drago county in the historical Tibetan province of Kham, RFA reported. "What we're seeing in the report is a huge assault on every facet of Tibetan life, from their religion to their day-to-day lives, and we know that this has been replicated all across occupied Tibet," said John Jones, campaigns and advocacy manager at Free Tibet, RFA reported. Since 2008, Drago county residents have participated in acts of resistance against the Chinese government, prompting interventions by authorities, including significant crackdowns in 2009 and 2012. Beijing views any sign of Tibetan disobedience as an act of separatism, threatening China's national security. Authorities subjected 10 local Tibetans detained during the period covered in the report to interrogations and beatings for minor infractions, such as expressing distress over the demolitions, with some falling unconscious due to the severity of the torture, the report says. They drenched one female detainee with cold water during the winter. The report also documents a new extrajudicial facility used for political "re-education", and information about a military base and prison. Detainees arrested since late October 2021 were taken to the "re-education" center in the northeastern suburbs and subjected to interrogations and beatings, says the report, RFA reported. Satellite imagery shows the presence of an abandoned building that has been repurposed as a military base on the northwestern outskirts of Drago, so that the country is now surrounded by three security facilities, the report says. "As with other areas in Tibet, the main reason for increasing Chinese repression in Kham (County) Drago is first to eradicate Tibetan identity and Tibetan culture," the report quotes a county monk now living in exile as saying in January 2021, RFA reported. "Secondly, to eliminate those influential Tibetans who are conscious of freedom and rights of Tibetan people and thirdly, to abolish Tibetan language and education centres," he says. --IANS san/pgh ( 488 Words) 2023-01-25-22:36:04 (IANS) His eight-day physical remand was dismissed by the district and sessions court as it asked the authorities to present the leader in court on January 27, Geo TV reported. Earlier, the Islamabad Police had sought an eight-day physical remand of the PTI leader. During the time that the verdict was being reserved, the police took Fawad to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), where he underwent a medical examination and was declared fit. Following the order, the former federal information minister was transferred to the Counter-Terrorism Department's (CTD) complex in Sector H-11 by the capital's police. However, Chaudhary has denied all charges and demanded the case's dismissal as it is "fraud and the FIR is a sham", Geo TV reported. Fawad's lawyers told the court that the charges were politically motivated, and that because the PTI leader made the statements in Lahore, his case should have been filed there rather than in Islamabad. Chaudhry was arrested from his house on Wednesday morning. His arrest came amid the nightlong turnout of PTI workers who descended upon party chairman Imran Khan's house to ensure his security. A case was registered against Chaudhary last night at the Kohsar police station in Islamabad on the complaint of Election Commission Secretary Umar Hameed, Geo News reported. (ANI) Criticising the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhary, former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday called on the judges of the apex court to protect the fundamental rights of his party members. In a televised press conference, the PTI chairman addressed the Supreme Court judges, saying they had been entrusted with upholding the rule of law, as he questioned the judiciary for Fawad's crime for his arrest, according to Dawn. The senior vice president of PTI, Fawad Chaudhry was arrested from his house on Wednesday morning. Chaudhry's arrest comes amid the nightlong turnout of PTI workers who descended upon party chairman Imran Khan's house to ensure his security. Taking to his social media, Imran Khan stated that, "Red lines can't be drawn against people's will and red lines aren't any sort of solution to political problems." The statement notably came amid the ongoing political turmoil in Pakistan and a constant clash between the PTI and the PM Shehbaz Sharif-led ruling coalition. Imran claimed that the ECP was in charge of holding free and fair elections in the country, reiterating his criticism of the commission's decision to appoint media mogul Mohsin Naqvi as Punjab's caretaker chief minister, Dawn reported. He claimed that police had already started to harass PTI workers, adding that whatever was happening was being carried out "according to a plan". A case was registered against Chaudhary last night at the Kohsar police station in Islamabad on the complaint of Election Commission Secretary Umar Hameed, Geo News reported. PTI leaders and workers in large numbers gathered outside Imran Khan's residence in Lahore's Zaman Park as rumours of an impending arrest of former Pakistan PM circulated in the early hours of Wednesday, as per the news report. PTI leader Asad Umar took to Twitter to urge all party workers to reach Zaman Park. PTI in a tweet wrote, "There are reports that the puppet government will try to arrest Chairman Imran Khan tonight Tehreek-e-Insaaf workers are reaching Zaman Park to protect their leader." (ANI) Calling the China-India border situation "stable at the moment", Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong told Indian Ambassador to China Pradeep Kumar Rawat that the two sides should stand high and look far, and view bilateral relations from a comprehensive and long-term perspective. Sun said that as the situation at the border is currently stable, both India and China should implement the important consensus between the leaders of the two nations, and also strengthen communication, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China said in an official statement. "The China-India border situation is generally stable at the moment, and is switching from emergency response to normalized management and control," Weidong said. Sun Weidong, took the position of deputy foreign minister of China in November after completing his tenure in India as China's Ambassador for three years. Sun met Indian Ambassador to China Pradeep Kumar Rawat on January 18 and briefed him on the great significance of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). During his meeting with Rawat, Sun also called for properly manage differences, and jointly promote the stable and sound development of China-India relations, the official statement read. "The two sides should stand high and look far, view bilateral relations from a comprehensive and long-term perspective, implement the important consensus between the two countries' leaders, strengthen communication and coordination, properly manage differences, and jointly promote the stable and sound development of China-India relations," Sun said according to the release. Meanwhile, Rawat congratulated Sun Weidong on the success of the 20th CPC National Congress. He said that India is glad to see China realizing national rejuvenation and is ready to develop sound relations with China. "The international situation is turbulent at the moment, and enhancing coordination between India and China is beneficial to the two sides, and both sides should view bilateral relations in the long run," the release of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China said quoting Rawat. Sun, who assumed office in July 2019, left India at a time in November last year when the two sides were trying to manage ties via multiple channels, following the Ladakh border clash in 2020 that has remained the dominant issue between the two sides. In his farewell address, Sun Weidong stressed the need to manage and resolve differences between India and China and uphold the principle of non-interference in each other's internal affairs. "...the two sides should strive to manage and resolve differences, and look for a proper solution through dialogue and consultation, instead of defining China-India relations by differences. The two countries need to respect each other's political systems and development paths, and uphold the principle of non-interference in each other's internal affairs," he had said. Before his departure, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar met the Chinese envoy, as he emphasized that peace and tranquillity in the border areas are essential to maintaining bilateral ties. Since April 2020, India and China have had several rounds of diplomatic and military level meetings on the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), in the India-China border areas. India has repeatedly said that bilateral relations cannot be normal unless the border situation is and added that if China disturbs the peace and tranquillity in border areas, it will impact the relations further. (ANI) US President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that he would provide 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, reversing the administration's longstanding opposition to Kyiv's requests for the highly sophisticated but maintenance-intensive vehicles, according to CNN. On the same day, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also announced sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine in order to help them fight the Russian aggression in the ongoing conflict. The simultaneous announcements marked a watershed moment after weeks of intense pressure on Berlin from some NATO allies to aid Ukraine with armoured vehicles. Citing Biden's statement from the White House, CNN reported that the tanks would "enhance Ukraine's capacity to defend its territory and achieve its strategic objectives" in the short and long term. "This is not an offensive threat to Russia. There is no offensive threat to Russia if Russian troops return to Russia, where they belong," he said. According to the government statement, Germany's goal is to assemble two tank battalions of Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine. In the first step, Berlin will provide a company of 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks from Bundeswehr stocks, with training for Ukrainian crews to begin in Germany as soon as possible. In addition to training, the package will include logistics, ammunition, and system maintenance, CNN reported. Furthermore, as Biden has given his approval for the vehicles to be sent, the 31 Abrams will constitute an entire Ukrainian tank battalion. (ANI) As India celebrates its 74th Republic Day on Thursday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is all set to attend the parade as the chief guest. It is for the first time that an Egyptian leader has been invited on India's Republic Day. El-Sisi, who is on a four-day visit to India, and accompanied by a high-level delegation will witness the Republic Day Parade, following which the Egyptian President will attend an 'At-Home' reception by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Later, El-Sisi will be called on by the Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and the two sides will hold a meeting. El-Sisi was elected as the sixth President of Egypt in May 2014. He graduated from the Egyptian Military Academy in 1977 and was appointed to the post of Director of Intelligence in 2010. In August 2012, he was appointed as the Minister of Defense and the commander of the Egyptian Armed Forces where he remained until his resignation in March 2014 to run for the Presidency. During the Republic Day Parade, a military contingent of the Egyptian Army will also march on the Rajpath along with other contingents. 160 Egyptian military personnel would represent the country's armed forces at the Republic Day Parade. "This is for the first time that the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt has been invited as Chief Guest on our Republic Day. A military contingent from Egyptian Army will also participate in the Republic Day parade," the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official statement. Colonel Mahmoud Mohamed Abdelfattah Elkharasawy will commander the Egyptian Army contingent. Currently, the special forces of the Indian and Egyptian armies, are engaged in the first-ever joint exercise named 'Exercise Cyclone' at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. The exercise kickstarted on January 14. Since time immemorial, India and Egypt have enjoyed strong defense ties. There was close cooperation between the Air Forces, with efforts at jointly developing a fighter aircraft in the 1960s. IAF pilots had also trained Egyptian pilots from the 1960s until 1984. As India and Egypt are celebrating 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations this year, New Delhi has also invited Egypt as a 'guest country" during its G20 Presidency. Moreover, the visit of El-Sisi is seen as a visit to bolster ties between India and Egypt and further deepen them. India and Egypt have "warm and friendly relations marked by civilizational, cultural and economic linkages and deep-rooted people-to-people ties", as per the MEA statement. El-Sisi, who arrived in India on Tuesday, received a warm, traditional welcome. According to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs, the Egyptian President was accorded a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday. He also laid a wreath at Rajghat and paid his tribute to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who will be the chief guest at the Republic Day Parade, held discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday and the two countries decided to take bilateral trade to 12 billion dollars in the next five years. The two leaders also held extensive discussions on strengthening the food and pharma supply chains affected by the COVID and the Ukraine conflict. India and Egypt also exchanged MoUs in the fields of cyber security, culture, information technology, youth matters and broadcasting. During his visit, El-Sisi will also interact with the business community in India. The ties between the two nations are based on shared cultural values, commitment to strengthening economic growth, and cooperation in various sectors, including defence, security and convergence on regional and global issues. The bilateral trade between India and Egypt reached USD 7.26 billion in the financial year 2021-22, according to an MEA statement. India's exports to Egypt were worth USD 3.74 billion while Egypt's exports to India were worth USD 3.52 billion. Over 50 Indian companies have invested around USD 3.15 billion in Egypt's various sectors, including chemicals, energy, textile, garment, agri-business and retail. Egypt has traditionally been one of India's most important trading partners in the African continent. The India-Egypt Bilateral Trade Agreement has been in operation since March 1978 and is based on the Most Favoured Nation clause and the bilateral trade has increased more than five times in the last ten years. During this period of 2021-22, the top Indian imports from Egypt were Mineral Oil/Petroleum, Fertilizers, Inorganic Chemicals, and Cotton and the main items of export to Egypt from India were Buffalo Meat, Iron & Steel, Light Vehicles, and Cotton Yarn. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has threatened Egypt with a shortage of wheat, 80 per cent of which is imported from Russia and Ukraine. On 14 April 2022, the Egyptian Cabinet announced the inclusion of India in the list of accredited countries which can supply wheat to Egypt, thus ending a long pending Non-Tariff Barrier. India and Egypt, two of the world's oldest civilizations, have enjoyed a history of close contact from ancient times. Both countries share a close political understanding based on a long history of contact and cooperation in bilateral, regional, and global issues. Egyptian President El-Sisi, after concluding his India visit will emplane for Cairo on January 27. (ANI) The United States government is a partner to the people of Afghanistan and supports them in a number of ways, said US State Department spokesperson Ned Price during a regular press briefing on Wednesday. During the briefing, Price further said that the US in its humanitarian efforts has helped the people of Afghanistan through its leadership and has also provided an assistance of more than 1.1 billion dollars that bypasses the Taliban. "We have made very clear decisions that the US govt is a partner to the people of Afghanistan. We are supporting the people of Afghanistan. We are doing that in a number of ways. We are doing that through our leadership when it comes to humanitarian assistance providing more than 1.1 billion dollars to the Afghan people in a way that bypasses the Taliban...that is directly to the Afghan people," he said. The State Department spokesperson also said that the US has consistently voiced for Afghan people, and their rights as well as the women of Afghanistan. Earlier on Monday, the US said that it is reviewing its approach and engagement with the Taliban in the context of many human rights violations that are taking place in Afghanistan under the atrocious regime and it is actively evaluating with the allies and partners to take the next appropriate steps towards it. US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price, in a press briefing, underlined that the US continues to be the world's leading humanitarian provider to the people of Afghanistan, and is not providing the Taliban with any support. When asked about former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's book, Price responded by saying, "He is expressing the view as a private citizen as his right." In his new memoir titled "Never Give an Inch, Fighting for the America I Love" Pompeo detailed a conversation with the North Korean leader during his first trip to Pyongyang on March 30, 2018, ahead of the US-North Korea summit held three months later. Pompeo also notes how India and Pakistan were on the verge of nuclear war in 2018 and that the US had to intervene to de-escalate the situation. The former US Secretary of State claimed that the world was not aware of the situation between India and Pakistan. "I do not think the world properly knows just how close the India-Pakistan rivalry came to spilling over into a nuclear conflagration in February 2019," Pompeo wrote in his memoir, "Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love." Responding to a media query on the Russia-Ukraine war and the supply of Abrams tanks to Kyiv, Ned Price stated that every single element of security system that the US has provided is for Ukraine's self-defence. US President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that he would provide 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, reversing the administration's longstanding opposition to Kyiv's requests for the highly sophisticated but maintenance-intensive vehicles, according to CNN. As Biden has given his approval for the vehicles to be sent, the 31 Abrams will constitute an entire Ukrainian tank battalion. (ANI) Mayor Lori Lightfoot and U.S. Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia debate alongside other mayoral candidates at Morningstar Auditorium on Jan. 26, 2023, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) An often-combative Mayor Lori Lightfoot once again took the offensive against her leading challengers, repeatedly interrupting rival candidates and even the moderator during a forum Thursday as she defended her mayoral record. As it has during much of the mayoral election, crime became a main focus of the discussion as Lightfoot attempted to portray herself as the one person actually addressing the issue while her opponents were coming at the topic from different sides of the political spectrum. Advertisement Turning to U.S. Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia, a progressive congressman from the Southwest Side, Lightfoot labeled him as a supporter of the defund the police movement, declaring: This man is a (police) defunder, pure and simple. Dont let him fool you. [ Want to vote early in Chicago? Heres how and where to cast your ballot before Feb. 28. ] Then on the other side, speaking of former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas, Lightfoot focused on Vallas time as the citys budget director under former Mayor Richard M. Daley, saying, This man has no plan to keep Chicago safe, and hes embellishing all the other parts of his so-called public safety bona fides. Advertisement She also slammed both Vallas and businessman Willie Wilson for seeking the endorsement of Chicagos Fraternal Order of Police, noting it is run by controversial President John Catanzara, who Lightfoot called repugnant. Vallas received the FOP endorsement. Then she later smirked when Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson said hes the only candidate who has presented a budget plan. Youre not the only one whos actually passed a budget, Lightfoot said. We do that every year. At one point in the forum, hosted by WCPT 820-AM, Lightfoot tried to inject an attack on Garcias relationship with indicted former House Speaker Michael Madigan into the conversation about crime as host Joan Esposito tried to keep them on topic. Whos moderating here? Garcia asked, with a shrug. We love a spirited, passionate give-and-take, Esposito said. To which Johnson quipped, especially between allies in reference to Lightfoot and Garcia. WCPT divided its forum into two fields of candidates, with Lightfoot, Garcia, Vallas, Johnson and Wilson participating in the first half. The second, which featured state Rep. Kambium Kam Buckner, Ald. Sophia King, 4th, Ald. Roderick Sawyer, 6th, and activist JaMal Green, was far calmer. All nine are running in the Feb. 28 election. If no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters will face off in a runoff election on April 4. Advertisement During the first session, candidates debated the mayors public safety plan and her hand-picked police Superintendent David Brown. Lightfoot tried to turn the tables on crime, saying the city is succeeding in reducing street violence. Shootings and homicides are down year over year, Lightfoot said, though both categories are significantly up from when she took office in 2019. David Brown has been through hell and back as we all have, Lightfoot said. He is, in this moment, leading our department and I stand by him. [ Lightfoot campaign defended emails seeking volunteers after CPS raised alarm; memos now subject of watchdog investigations ] She also turned to Garcia and called him the OG of defunding police, a charge that drew a chuckle from Garcia as he accused her of distorting his record. Earlier in the debate, he said that, I have not supported any such movement in reference to the activist calls in the wake of George Floyds murder to reallocate law enforcement funding and spend it on other social services. Johnson deflected a question about his support for taking money from police budgets and putting it into other programs by telling a story about other suburbs that have more robust plans for children. You can sign your child up in Oak Park for hula hoop class, just little white kids just walking in a circle, Johnson said. But we cant invest in the children of the city of Chicago? Under my plan, we invest in people. Advertisement While discussing crime, Vallas invoked his history as Chicagos budget director and said his programs under Daley led to historic decreases in homicides. You had nothing to do with that, Lightfoot said. For his part, Wilson reiterated that the Lightfoot administration has put too many constraints on Chicago cops and defended his comments that suspects fleeing police should be hunted down like rabbits. While Wilson said he should have elaborated further, he noted that a son of his was murdered and is concerned about criminals not being held accountable. To be honest with you, look, you dont understand, Wilson said when asked to respond to the rabbit remark. When you lose a 20-year-old son, get killed by gun violence, its emotion. I am tired of people making excuses out here for these people committing crimes. He also drew chuckles during one of his several vows to never raise taxes, saying, I wouldnt support taxes on nobody. Im sick and tired of taxes. And I can afford to pay them, but Im sick and tired. Near the end of the first half of the forum, the candidates were asked who they would vote for, if not themselves. Advertisement Lightfoot declined to answer and said she would vote for herself. Garcia said he would vote for Buckner, who was participating in the second half of the forum, since he isnt on this panel. If you were on the panel, who knows, Garcia joked. Wilson too dropped a joke, answering the question with, I would vote for myself and if I didnt vote for myself, I would create another name and vote for myself. Johnson said he would vote for the people of Chicago, and Vallas quipped, The only person that I would not vote for is Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Lightfoot asked for more time and rebutted, Ive listened to Mr. Vallas many times. And what I feel like is Im listening to a version of Extreme Makeover, Paul Vallas edition, because he doesnt know the facts. Vallas responded that the two of them participated in dozens of forums when both ran for mayor in 2019 and that she must not have been paying attention four years ago. Youve sat beside me in 40 forums where we were running together, and the things that I said then are the same things Im saying now, Vallas said. You just havent learned anything. Advertisement Mayoral candidates Mayor Lori Lightfoot, from left, U.S. Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia, Paul Vallas, Willie Wilson and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson attend a mayoral forum at Morningstar Auditorium on Jan. 26, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Johnson and Wilson shared a fist bump after a question on what each candidate admired about the person next to them, to which Johnson said, I believe that Dr. Willie Wilson is one of the most sincere individuals in all of the city of Chicago. Lightfoot, however, did not quite return the favor during her turn to compliment Johnson. He spins a good story, Lightfoot said. You can tell that he was a preachers son. [ You brought chaos: Mayor Lightfoot defends record against challengers Chuy Garcia and Brandon Johnson ] During the second half of the forum, the biggest divide among those four candidates came when Green spoke out against aldermanic prerogative, vowing to amend the practice in which aldermen retain an unspoken final say over projects in their ward. He also accused some City Council members of abusing it. Whats been happening is in the city of Chicago is you have a lot of aldermen that are holding on to land, Green said. And the reasons why, obviously we know, when we look at some of the indictments that are coming down. King took umbrage to that comment, saying she doesnt look good in orange or black and white and decrying Greens false narrative as akin to Lightfoots controversial inauguration speech in which she turned to City Council and implied they were corrupt. Advertisement Chicago mayoral candidates Ald. Sophia King, from left, state Rep. Kam Buckner, Ald. Roderick Sawyer and Ja'Mal Green attend a mayoral forum at Morningstar Auditorium on Jan. 26, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Without aldermanic prerogative, we would have had a casino right in the middle of Bronzeville, which was a nonstarter, King said. My community did not want a casino. It was planned to be there, but because of aldermanic prerogative or as I like to see it, the voice of the community who elected me I chose to use that voice to fight. Though Lightfoot was not on the stage, Buckner kept his sharpest comments for the incumbent mayor. When asked about a Tribune story that found her Invest South/West program was taking credit for projects started under former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Buckner said, I think the young kids call it swagger jacking. Sawyer, who raised eyebrows when he, during the last debate, declined to commit to not raising taxes, said, I stand by that, leading to Green ripping into him for what he said was leaving behind struggling Chicagoans. In response, Sawyer attempted to water down his stance. I wasnt talking about raising taxes, he said. Im talking about a responsible tax plan. Thats two different things. When asked during the lightning round to say something nice about the Lightfoot administration, King hemmed and hawed as the crowd chortled. Advertisement One nice thing? King began. I think that her heart is in the right place, I hope? After King hesitated to say more, Esposito decided to wrap it up: Just 15 seconds. The forum took place on the same day early voting began in Chicago for the Feb. 28 election. Voters can cast their ballots through Election Day at the city of Chicagos supersite at 191 N. Clark St. and on the 6th floor of 69 W. Washington St. Those who applied to vote by mail will soon begin receiving their ballots in the mail, city election officials said. Max Bever, a spokesman with the Chicago Board of Elections, said the board had received more than 180,000 applications to vote by mail so far, which is the most amount of vote by mail applications the citys ever seen for a municipal election. A majority of those nearly 120,000 are Chicago voters that are now signed up for the permanent vote by mail roster, which has been a big success so far, Bever said. In recent elections, Bever said, about 25% of voters have done so by mail, 25% have voted early in-person and about 50% cast their ballots on Election Day. Advertisement So were curious to see if those statistics hold up now for this municipal election, especially now that vote-by-mail has expanded greatly, Bever said. In addition to mayor, others vying for public office include members of the City Council and representatives on police district councils. ayin@chicagotribune.com gpratt@chicagotribune.com aquig@chicagotribune.com Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah on Thursday extended Republic Day gretings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said he looked forward to further deepen the bilateral ties with India. "I am very pleased to send my warmest congratulations to Your Excellency and to the Government and people of the Republic of India on your Republic Day," read a press release addressed to Prime Minister Modi from Brunei's Sultanh. Brunei is a country located on the north coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. The Sultan talked about the longstanding friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of India. "I look forward to exploring more opportunities to further deepen our bilateral ties," said the release issued on the official website of Brunei's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "India is a long-standing partner of ASEAN, and I am pleased that we celebrated the 30th Anniversary of our Dialogue Relations last year. Throughout the years, our partnership has seen immense growth. Therefore, I look forward to strengthening the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership toward achieving our shared goals for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region," Brunei's Sultan said in the release. "With my kindest regards and very best wishes for your continued good health and happiness, as well as peace, progress and prosperity for the people of the Republic of India," the release further read. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday extended greetings to the nation on the occasion of the 74th Republic Day. "We wish to move ahead unitedly to make the dreams of the great freedom fighters of the country come true." (ANI) Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal extended best wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India on the country's 74th Republic Day. Taking to the Twitter handle, Prime Minister's office stated, "On the occasion of the 74th Republic Day of India, I extend warm felicitations and best wishes to Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, the government and friendly people of India." Former Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba extended greetings to the people of India on its Republic Day. Taking to his Twitter handle, Deuba stated, "On the occasion of India's 74th Republic Day, we extend our warmest wishes to the people of India. May this special day bring prosperity, peace and progress to all." Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Nepal celebrated India's 74th Republic Day and it started with the unfurling of the national flag by the Ambassador of India to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava on Thursday. During the celebrations, Naveen Srivastava read President Droupadi Murmu's address to the nation. President Murmu's address noted the encouraging progress made by India, on the economic front to achieve Mahatma Gandhi's ideal of 'Sarvodaya' or the upliftment of all, despite global economic uncertainties. The President's message also underscored that India's Presidency of the G20 is an opportunity to promote democracy and multilateralism for shaping a better world and a better future. Sharing glimpses of Republic Day celebrations, the Indian Embassy in Nepal tweeted, "The 74th Republic Day of India was celebrated at the Embassy today. The celebrations began with unfurling of the national flag by Ambassador of India to Nepal Shri Naveen Srivastava who then read out address to the nation from Hon'ble President of India." During the celebrations, India's Ambassador to Nepal felicitated war widows and kin of deceased soldiers by disbursing their dues of Nepalese Rupee (NR) 4.60 crore and blankets. Reiterating its commitment to helping the retired soldiers, the embassy unveiled the Bhu Puu-2022 magazine covering the welfare initiatives of the government of India for ex-servicemen domiciled in Nepal. Naveen Srivastava also presented books to various institutions. The Embassy is gifting books worth NR 16 Lakh to 23 institutions on the occasion of India's 74th Republic Day. The celebrations witnessed renditions of patriotic songs and performances by students of Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre of the Embassy and Kendriya Vidyalaya School of Kathmandu. India marks its Republic Day every year on January 26. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday extended greetings to the nation on the occasion of the 74th Republic Day. He called the occasion "more special" as India is celebrating it during the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. "Many wishes for Republic Day. This time the occasion is more special because we are celebrating it during the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. I wish we move ahead unitedly to make the dreams of the great freedom fighters of the country come true. Happy Republic Day to all fellow Indians!," PM Modi said in his tweet in Hindi. (ANI) The Islamic world is worried about the Taliban's interpretation of Islam as it poses political challenges. The Taliban has enforced Sharia laws based on their own interpretation of Islam, according to Dubai-based media network Al Arabiya Post. Taliban leaders, however, insist that their policies are based on Islamic jurisprudence. Columnist Mohammed Amir Rana, writing for the Dawn newspaper, claimed that Pakistan is among those Muslim countries that have distanced themselves from the Afghan Taliban's conception and enforcement of Islamic laws. The ideological influence of the Taliban, a hard-line Sunni organization in Pakistan, is today visible in the form of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Every step that the Taliban has taken to enforce Sharia and make the women of Afghanistan outcasts in their own land, pushes Pakistan further away from its historical links with the Taliban much to its discomfort, according to Al Arabiya Post. Even the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), took notice of the Taliban's actions against Afghan women and reminded the Taliban to mend its ways. The 57 OIC member countries in December 2022, held a special meeting on Afghanistan and urged the Taliban to abide by the "principles and purposes" enshrined in the United Nations Charter. The OIC also called on the Taliban to reconsider the "un-Islamic" ban on women's education and launched a campaign to teach the Taliban the real Islam that encourages education for women, according to the Al Arabiya Post. It said that the OIC Executive Committee, headed by Saudi Arabia, met again in January 2023 to discuss Afghanistan. The meeting inter alia recalled that "the right of women and girls to access all levels of education, including university level, is a fundamental right in keeping with the teachings of the noble Islamic shariah". The Taliban's ban on women's education contradicted Islamic law, according to the Grand Imam of Egypt's Al-Azhar University. According to the Al Arabiya Post, the Islamic world is thus rightly worried about the Taliban's interpretation of Islam as it poses a political challenge. Today, many Islamic societies have developed compatibility with modern values of freedom and human rights. However, the Taliban leaders insist that their policies are based on Islamic jurisprudence. Earlier, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called on the Taliban in Afghanistan to reverse the ban on girls' access to secondary and higher education. Calling education a fundamental right, Guterres said that now is the time for all nations to ensure actual steps to develop welcoming and inclusive learning environments for all. "Now is also the time to end all discriminatory laws and practices that hinder access to education. I call on the de facto authorities in Afghanistan in particular to reverse the outrageous and self-defeating ban on access to secondary and higher education for girls," the official spokesperson of the UN Secretary-General has said. (ANI) Only Pakistan and the handlers sitting outsise Pakistan are considered guilty of the media war against India. The reality, however, is that many media organizations of Turkey and Qatar have also become partners in the campaign, writes Dilshad Noor in a report for Indian non-profit fact-checking website, Digital Forensics, Research and Analytics Centre (DFRAC). According to Noor, a research fellow at DFRAC, India needs to understand the alliance between journalists and media organizations settled in Turkey and Qatar, as they provoke both the countries to oppose India. "It is unfortunate that such widespread disinformation is being spread about India in the Gulf region," Noor wrote. Pro-Pakistan or pro-China groups are often responsible for spreading disinformation targeting India in the Gulf region as these groups seek to undermine India's relations with the Gulf countries. Disinformation often includes false claims about India's human rights record, its treatment of minorities, and its foreign policy. Disinformation refers to spreading false or misleading information to influence public opinion or policy regarding India. This type of disinformation can take many forms, such as fake news, conspiracy theories, or edited photos and videos, Noor said. The Muslim Brotherhood is banned or suppressed in many countries, including Egypt, where it was designated as a terrorist group in 2013, while many other countries view it as a radicalized and extremist organization. Turkey today is working as the international headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood and is supported by Emir Tamim of Qatar. The Muslim Brotherhood is a political and social movement founded by Hassan al-Banna in Egypt in 1928. Its stated goal is to promote traditional Islamic values and principles, and it has had a significant impact on the political and social development of many Muslim-majority countries, writes Noor for the DFRAC report. According to news that came out in February 2021, Turkey along with Pakistan had formed a media front against India. The claim was made by an organization called Mediterranean-Asian Investigative Journalists. The news was reprinted by the Research Institute for European and American Studies (RIEAS). It was reported in the news that TRT World and Anadolu Media have associated several Pakistani and Indian Kashmiri journalists with this campaign. Turkey's intelligence agency MIT started working closely with Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI's Pakistan Army's media wing, ISPR i.e., Inter Service Public Relations, the DFRAC report said. TRT World has been criticized for being biased in its coverage of India and for spreading misinformation about the country. In some cases, the channel has been accused of spreading misinformation about India's human rights record and the situation of minorities, particularly Muslims, in India. The channel has been criticized for promoting a pro-Pakistan view regarding the dispute over the territory of Kashmir. TRT World shows news in many languages including Turkish, English, and Arabic, the DFRAC reported. TRT World is a 24-hour English-language international news channel owned and operated by the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT). (ANI) As India celebrates its 74th Republic Day, United Kingdom Foreign Secretary James Cleverly extended greetings to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the people of the country. Taking to his Twitter handle, Cleverly stated that the UK looks forward to another year of "friendship and cooperation." James Cleverly tweeted, "Happy Republic Day to my friend @DrSJaishankar and the people of India. We look forward to another year of friendship and cooperation! #RepublicDay2023." In response, Jaishankar tweeted, "Thank you for your good wishes @JamesCleverly." UK's Minister for Indo-Pacific at Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Anne-Marie Trevelyan extended greetings to teams working on UK-India Free Trade Agreement. Republic Day is being celebrated across India with great fervour. On this day, 74 years back, India officially adopted its Constitution following its Independence. Anne-Marie Trevelyan tweeted, "Happy Republic Day to the amazing teams working on our UK-#India FTA as we deepen our relationships @PiyushGoyal @tradegovuk @KemiBadenoch @AmandaBrooksDIT @harjinderkangUK." Notably, India and UK are working to conclude a Free Trade Agreement. Earlier, Britain's High Commissioner Alex Ellis highlighted that after covering a lot of ground now the question is down to not just the technical details but political will on both sides to push for an early conclusion of the deal. In the latest episode of ANI 'Podcast with Smita Prakash', the British High Commissioner underlined the benefits of the India-UK free trade deal, which he says is underpinned by the mutual trust between the two countries. "We are getting towards the end of this negotiation I would say. It's a long ascent up to any mountain, then you go through the valley for a long time, then you go up to the base camp, and then you do a short sharp ascent. That's what we are trying to do. Both countries want to do the deal and that's a big change," he said in response to a question on the FTA. (ANI) Earlier on Thursday, President El-Sisi attended India's 74th Republic Day parade as the chief guest. He is the first Egyptian premier to have been invited to the Republic Day parade. Apart from President El-Sisi and PM Modi, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, former President Ram Nath Kovind, former Vice President Hamid Ansari, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, EAM S Jaishankar, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Union Ministers and other dignitaries were also present in the 'At Home' reception. During the Republic Day Parade, a military contingent of the Egyptian Army marched towards the saluting dias on the Kartavya Path for the first time. The Egyptian military contingent, led by Colonel Mahmoud Mohamed Abdel Fattah El Kharasawy and consisting of 144 soldiers, represented the main regiments of the Egyptian armed forces. The Egyptian forces considered it an honour and privilege to participate in India's Republic Day parade. The Egyptian contingent carried the legacy of one of the oldest regular armies known to humanity. The history of the Egyptian army goes back to 3200 BC when King Narmer unified Egypt. The old Kingdom was considered to be the height of Egyptian civilisation. The modern Egyptian army was established during the rule of Muhammad Ali Pasha, who is widely considered the founder of modern Egypt. He formed an army with soldiers mainly conscripted from modern Egypt. Earlier, PM Modi thanked the Egyptian President for gracing the Republic Day celebrations. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said, "I am grateful to President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for gracing this year's Republic Day celebrations with his august presence.@AlsisiOfficial". India and Egypt are celebrating 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations this year. India has also invited Egypt as a 'guest country' during its G20 Presidency. The visit of President El-Sisi is being seen in New Delhi's power corridors as one to bolster ties between India and Egypt and further deepen them. India and Egypt have "warm and friendly relations marked by civilizational, cultural and economic linkages and deep-rooted people-to-people ties", according to the statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs. (ANI) The Embassy of India in Thimpu on Thursday celebrated the 74th Republic Day of India at India House. "A great honour to unfurl Tiranga at India House in Thimphu and celebrate #RepublicDay with fellow citizens and friends of India. Serving the nation in #AmritKaal. Committed to work together and taking India-Bhutan partnership to new heights!" tweeted Indian Ambassador Sudhakar Dalela. The ceremony was attended by a number of Indian nationals, diaspora members, and friends of India. Ambassador Sudhakar Dalela led the Indian community in unfurling the national flag at the India House, which was followed by the singing of the National Anthem, read the Indian Embassy press release. "Celebrating the 74th Republic Day of India at India House, Thimphu with fellow Indian citizens and friends from Bhutan: unfurling the national flag, singing the national anthem, reading the President's address to the nation, a medley of patriotic songs," tweeted India in Bhutan. Dalela also read out excerpts from the President's address to the nation on the eve of Republic Day. Addressing the gathering, the Ambassador mentioned that India and Bhutan share exemplary ties of friendship and cooperation that are underpinned by utmost goodwill, mutual trust, and understanding at all levels. He emphasized that India is committed to expanding its partnership with Bhutan into new areas of cooperation that align with the vision of the King of Bhutan and the priorities of Bhutan, added the release. The Ambassador thanked members of the Indian community for their contribution towards strengthening the ties of friendship with the people of Bhutan. He congratulated Prof Sanjeev Mehta of Royal Thimphu College who was conferred the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award at the PBD Convention held in Indore earlier this month. The celebration concluded with a melodious rendition of patriotic songs by an ensemble of Indian and Bhutanese musicians. This event was a part of the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebrations to commemorate the historic milestone of 75 years of India's independence. To mark the year 2023 as the 'International Year of Millets', which was spearheaded by India at the United Nations, a variety of Indian millet products were also displayed. Bhutan was represented by senior officials including Dasho Ugyen K Namgyel, Gyalpoi Zimpon (Royal Chamberlain), His Majesty's Secretariat; Aum Kezang Deki, Cabinet Secretary, Ambassador Pema Choden, Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade; and Pema Tshomo, Officiating Chief of Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, added the release. (ANI) Leaders from across the world extended their warm wishes to India on its 74th Republic Day. On this day, 74 years ago, India officially adopted its Constitution following its Independence. France's President Emmanuel Macron conveyed his Republic day wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said he is looking forward to setting new ambitions for G20 and Indo-French "strategic partnership". "As India celebrates Republic Day, I convey my warmest wishes to my dear friend @NarendraModi and the Indian people. I look forward to setting new ambitions together for the G20 and for our Indo-French strategic partnership as it turns 25 this year," Macron said in a tweet. Interestingly, Macron also extended Republic Day wishes in the Hindi language as well on Twitter. Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, United Kingdom Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, Australian PM Anthony Albanese and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong also conveyed wishes for the Republic day. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu extended his wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indians on Republic Day and said that the relationship between the two countries would grow stronger. Taking to Twitter, PM Netanyahu said, "I wish my dear friend Prime Minister @narendramodi and all Indians a very Happy 74th Republic Day of India. I am sure that the close ties that already exist between our countries will continue to grow stronger every year." Russian President Vladimir Putin extended greetings on Republic Day. In a statement shared on the Kremlin website, Putin lauded India's "substantial contribution to ensuring international stability and security" and addressing issues related to regional and global agenda. The Russian President was quoted as saying in the statement, "India's achievements in the economic, social, scientific, technological and other spheres are widely known. Your country is making a substantial contribution in ensuring international stability and security and to addressing vital issues on the regional and global agenda." Meanwhile, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal also extended best wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and fellow Indians on the country's 74th Republic Day. Taking to the Twitter handle, the Nepal Prime Minister's office posted, "On the occasion of the 74th Republic Day of India, I extend warm felicitations and best wishes to Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, the government and friendly people of India." Former Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba also tweeted his greetings to the people of India on Republic Day. "On the occasion of India's 74th Republic Day, we extend our warmest wishes to the people of India. May this special day bring prosperity, peace and progress to all," tweeted the former Nepal PM. United Kingdom Foreign Secretary James Cleverly also extended greetings to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the people of the country. Taking to his Twitter handle, Cleverly stated that the UK looks forward to another year of "friendship and cooperation." UK's Minister for Indo-Pacific at Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Anne-Marie Trevelyan extended greetings to teams working on UK-India Free Trade Agreement. Republic Day is being celebrated across India with great fervour. Anne-Marie Trevelyan tweeted, "Happy Republic Day to the amazing teams working on our UK-#India FTA as we deepen our relationships @PiyushGoyal @tradegovuk @KemiBadenoch @AmandaBrooksDIT @harjinderkangUK." United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has extended greetings on India's Republic Day. According to the statement released by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, "President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a message of congratulations to President Droupadi Murmu of India on the occasion of the Republic Day, which is observed on 26th January." India is celebrating its 74th Republic Day with great fervour. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was the Chief Guest at the parade. Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for gracing the Republic Day celebrations. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said, "I am grateful to President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for gracing this year's Republic Day celebrations with his august presence.@AlsisiOfficial". During the Republic Day Parade, a military contingent of the Egyptian Army marched towards the saluting dais on the Kartavya Path for the first time. The Egyptian military contingent led by Colonel Mahmoud Mohamed Abdel Fattah El Kharasawy consisting of 144 soldiers represented the main branches of the Egyptian armed forces. (ANI) Pakistan on Thursday said that it is yet to decide on India's invite to Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Goa from May. "Pakistan and India are members of SCO. India is holding the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2022-2023. These invitations are being processed as per standard procedures and a decision will be taken in due course," said Pakistan's Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson. India has invited Pakistan's foreign minister to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting scheduled to take place on May 4-5, 2023 in Goa. SCO is an important transregional organization that aims to strengthen economic linkages and cooperation among its Member States in different fields. Every year, SCO develops a calendar of activities, which include the Meeting of the Foreign Ministers," added the spokesperson. India has formally sent invitations to all members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) including Pakistan and China for the upcoming foreign ministers' meeting which will be held in Goa from May 4-5. The invitation includes invites to the new Foreign Minister of China Qin Gang and Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto. India took over the chairmanship of the 9-member mega grouping in September last year and will be holding key ministerial meetings and the summit this year. Relations between the two countries have been precarious for many years with regard to issues of cross-border terrorism from Pakistan, even as Islamabad has been seeking the restoration of Article 370 for the former Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir for any talks. Besides, FM Bilawal's remarks at the United Nations (UN) last month on PM Modi have cast a shadow over any improvement in ties between the two countries. The 20-year-old organization has Russia, India, China, Pakistan, and four central Asian countries - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan as its members. Iran is the latest country to become a member and under Indian Presidency will for the first time attend the grouping's meeting as a full-fledged member. The last meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Samarkand in Uzbekistan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit. The 22nd Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO is the first in-person summit since 2019. Notably, this year's SCO foreign ministers meeting comes in the wake-up of escalating Russia-Ukraine war and India's G20 Presidency. (ANI) As India celebrated its 74th Republic Day on Thursday, a flag-hoisting ceremony was also held at the Indian Embassy in Washington on the occasion. During the celebration, Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu emphasised that India is seen as a country that can be relied upon to bring stability and security on multiple counts during these uncertain and complex times by highlighting India's G20 Presidency and other crucial initiatives at multilateral fora like the Voice of the Global South Summit held earlier this month. Taking to Twitter, Sandhu wrote, "On #74thRepublicDay of #India , unfurled the tricolour at India House in #WashingtonDC." The ceremony at India House in Washington was attended by friends of India from diverse fields, including the US Congress, Business, Media, Students and members of the Indian diaspora. Congressman Ro Khanna as well as Shri Thanedar were also present during the celebration alongside Sandhu. "Delighted to celebrate #RepublicDay in India House along with Congressmen @RoKhanna@RepShriThanedar, members of Indian Diaspora and Friends of India," Sandhu tweeted. In his address at the occasion of India's 74th Republic Day, he also noted that India and the US, are benefiting from mutual exchanges, across domains including healthcare, clean energy, security, education, and technology, translating the vision of PM Modi and President Biden into action. "He noted that Mr. Srinivas Varadan, an Indian American Mathematician and a distinguished diaspora member, has been conferred the Padma Vibhushan, one of the highest civilian awards by the Government of India," according to an official statement. At the event, Congressman Ro Khanna, Chair of the House Caucus on India and Indian Americans, also addressed and recalled the sacrifices of his own family members during India's freedom struggle and pointed out that countries across the globe drew inspiration from India's freedom struggle. He also expressed happiness in seeing both India and Indian Americans thriving in the world, the official release added. In another statement, Congressman Shri Thanedar emphasised that being the fifth representative of Indian descent in the United States was a turning point for Indian Americans and that he and his congressional colleagues will fight to improve relations between India and the United States. During the ceremony, Gandharva School of Music, Richmond students performed patriotic songs in tune as part of a cultural performance. India celebrated its 74th Republic Day with great fervour. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was the Chief Guest at the Republic Day parade in the national capital. Several world leaders extended greetings on India's Republic Day. (ANI) A six-bedroom Lincoln Park mansion that once was listed for $50 million had its asking price reduced on Wednesday to just under $30 million. (Miller & Miller Architectural Photography) A six-bedroom Lincoln Park mansion that once was listed for $50 million the Chicago areas highest asking price ever had its asking price reduced on Wednesday from $45 million to just under $30 million. The $15 million price cut, which amounts to a 33% price reduction, surely is the largest single price reduction for any house in Chicago-area history. Advertisement Situated on fully eight city lots on North Burling Street, the mansion is owned by United Automobile Insurance Co. Chairman and CEO Richard Parrillo and his wife, Michaela. They built the mansion more than a decade ago after paying $12.5 million in 2005 to purchase the site from the Infant Welfare Society. Even at $30 million, the Parrillos new asking price still far exceeds what the Cook County assessor believes the mansion is worth. The assessors office values the mansion at $16.2 million. Advertisement The Parrillos former listing agent told Elite Street in 2016 that the asking price was so high because the couples cost to build the mansion was $65 million, including land costs. The couple first listed the mansion in December 2016 for $50 million, and they took it off the market in 2018 before relisting it in early 2019 at $45 million. Now, the Parrillos have gotten aggressive with their asking price. The limestone mansions size remains an open question. Listing information states that the mansion is 25,000 square feet, while the Cook County assessor measures the mansion at 15,533 square feet. Regardless, the mansion has 11 bathrooms, an entryway with inlaid, precision-cut marble from the French Pyrenees, custom-designed bronze entry doors, Italian plaster ceiling work and reliefs, custom millwork, 18th-century light fixtures, a game room, a media room, a project room, a sitting room, two guest bedroom suites, a second-floor living room, a library, a music room, a kitchen with custom cabinetry and professional-grade appliances and a 2,000-square-foot wraparound terrace with an outdoor kitchen. The mansions third level has the primary bedroom suite, which has a hand-carved English marble fireplace and a custom dressing room, while the lower level has a 5,000-bottle wine cellar and tasting suite with 14-foot ceilings. Outside on the property are a gated motor court, an arbor, a hand-forged pavilion, decorative fountains and a reflection pool. The mansion also has an attached three-car garage. The owners are relocating out of state and have improved the price drastically to garner a sale, listing agent Tim Salm of Jameson Sothebys told Elite Street. The scale and quality of both the land and home are unsurpassed and offer an opportunity drastically below replacement value for the next owner. Salm is co-listing the mansion with R. Matt Leutheuser. The mansion had a $326,275 property tax bill in the 2021 tax year. Advertisement Bob Goldsborough is a freelance reporter. Join our Chicago Dream Homes Facebook group for more luxury listings and real estate news. The Telegraph The precise veracity of the large cache of intelligence documents that have apparently been leaked from the Pentagon might be open to question, but there can be little doubt about the negative impact that they are having on Ukraines war effort. Even if the release of the documents turns out to be part of a clever disinformation campaign by the Kremlins cyber-trolls, it could nevertheless prompt Ukraines high command to rethink its long-planned counteroffensive against Russian forces. Two men were arrested after Hall County Sheriff officials accused them of breaking into a Gainesville home. Deputies said they received reports of a home invasion that occurred at a home on Dennis Drive off Mountain View Road the night of Jan. 18th. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The caller, who authorities confirmed was someone who lived at the residence, told deputies that two men forced their way into their home and had a pistol. According to authorities, the suspects told the victims they were looking for someone and later claimed they were searching for a package. The two suspects then left the home without taking anything. TRENDING STORIES: Deputies confirmed at least four people were inside the home during the incident. Officials confirmed that no one was injured. The identities of the victims have not been released. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Investigators later identified 29-year-old Kevin Almanza and 34-year-old Luis Alejandro Rivera-Orta, both of Gainesville, as the two suspects. They were taken into custody at a location on Monroe Drive. Both suspects were charged with felony home invasion and are being held without bond at the Hall County Jail. Deputies added that Almanza also faces a charge of methamphetamine possession. IN OTHER NEWS: MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Four people were kicked out of the Australian Open after displaying Russian flags which have been banned from Melbourne Park and threatening security guards, police and Tennis Australia said Thursday. A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the four have not been charged but were evicted from the site. The flags, at least one of which included an image of Vladimir Putin, were being waved during a gathering outside of Rod Laver Arena after Novak Djokovic beat Russian player Andrey Rublev in straight sets in the quarterfinals of the year's first Grand Slam tennis tournament Wednesday night. A small group of people displayed inappropriate flags and symbols and threatened security guards following a match on Wednesday night and were evicted. ... Players and their teams have been briefed and reminded of the event policy regarding flags and symbols and to avoid any situation that has the potential to disrupt, Tennis Australian said in a statement. We continue to work closely with event security and law enforcement agencies. On Jan. 17, the second day of the Australian Open, flags from Russia and Belarus were banned from Melbourne Park after more than one was brought into the stands by spectators the day before. Normally, flags can be displayed during matches at Melbourne Park. But Tennis Australia reversed that policy for the two countries involved in the invasion of Ukraine that began nearly a year ago, saying the flags were causing disruption. Athletes from Russia and Belarus were barred last year from competing in various sports events, including the men's World Cup in soccer and Wimbledon, the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup in tennis, because of the war in Ukraine. Russia invaded, with help from Belarus, in February. Russian and Belarusian players have been allowed to play at the Australian Open, French Open and U.S. Open, but as neutral athletes, so their nationalities are not acknowledged on any official schedules or results for the event and their countries' flags are not displayed on TV graphics. Story continues At the Australian Open, two women who represent Belarus Victoria Azarenka and Aryna Sabalenka and one man who represents Russia Karen Khachanov reached the singles semifinals. On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee said athletes should not be penalized for their nationality and made clear it wants Russians to be able to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics as neutral athletes. ___ AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Activists hold photos of Tyre Nichols as attorney Ben Crump speaks on a monitor The Washington Post / Contributor/Getty Images Five Memphis police officers who were fired last week for their actions during the arrest of Tyre Nichols have been arrested and charged in connection to his death following a confrontation during a traffic stop, The Washington Post reports. The officers were fired last week following the beating death of the 29-year-old Black man, and were jailed on Thursday and charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, and kidnapping, according to booking information. Shelby County Jail booking information cited by CNN shows that Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III, Justin Smith, and Tadarrius Bean are all in custody. The arrests and criminal charges come three weeks after Nichols was hospitalized following a traffic stop that ended in what his family's attorneys described as a "nonstop beating." According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Nichols died from his injuries three days after the arrest on Jan 10. In a video statement, Memphis police chief Cerelyn Davis denounced the actions of the officers as "heinous, reckless, and inhumane" while urging residents to protest peacefully when body cam footage of the arrest is released Friday evening. "This is not just a professional failing. This is a failing of basic humanity toward another individual," Davis said. Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, the family's attorneys, praised the news of the arrest. "The news today from Memphis officials that these five officers are being held criminally accountable for their deadly and brutal actions gives us hope as we continue to push for justice for Tyre," they wrote in a statement. "This young man lost his life in a particularly disgusting manner that points to the desperate need for change and reform to ensure this violence stops occurring during low-threat procedures, like, in this case, a traffic stop." You may also like Democrats Schiff, Omar, and Swalwell unleash on Speaker McCarthy's committee rejections The big debate about alcohol Egypt's mummified 'golden boy' digitally unwrapped 2,300 years after burial Five fired Memphis officers involved in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols have been charged. Nichols was hospitalized in critical condition after a traffic stop on January 7. He died three days later. The former officers are facing charges of second-degree murder and other offenses. The five fired Memphis police officers authorities say were involved in the arrest and fatal beating of Tyre Nichols earlier this month in Tennessee are now facing murder charges. Nichols, 29, was beaten by police and sent to the hospital in critical condition after a traffic stop on January 7. He died three days later. The Memphis Police Department said last week that it had fired the five officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Justin Smith, and Desmond Mills Jr. after an administrative investigation into Nichols' death. Two firefighters who treated Nichols after the beating were also relieved from duty. The city is still actively reviewing if any additional charges will be filed against the firefighters, according to Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy. Jail records from the Shelby County Sheriff's Office show that Bean, Martin, Haley, Smith, and Mills have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct, and official oppression. On Monday, law enforcement officials allowed Nichols' family and their lawyers to privately view body-camera footage of Nichols' arrest. After seeing the footage, which has not yet been released to the public, attorney Antonio Romanucci said Nichols was "defenseless the entire time" while the five police officers, all of whom were also Black, beat him just 80 yards from his home. "Frankly, I'm shocked. I'm sickened by what I saw," David Rausch, the Director of Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, said during a press conference this afternoon, about what he saw in the video. "In a word, its absolutely appalling." The city of Memphis will be publicly releasing the video sometime Friday evening, Steve Mulroy said at the press conference. Story continues All five officers were part of the SCORPION Unit meant to fight violent crime on the street, Mulroy confirmed. A portrait of Tyre Nichols is displayed at a memorial service for him on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023 in Memphis, Tenn. Nichols was killed during a traffic stop with Memphis Police on Jan. 7. Adrian Sainz/AP Photo Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is also representing the family, said Nichols was shocked, pepper sprayed, and restrained during the encounter. The attorneys compared the beating to that of Rodney King in 1991. Crump also said an autopsy commissioned by the Nichols family shows he "suffered extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating, and that his observed injuries are consistent with what the family and attorneys witnessed on the video of his fatal encounter with police on January 7, 2023." Nichols' death has sparked outrage in Memphis and across the country. The city is preparing for large-scale demonstrations when police body camera footage of the incident is released Friday afternoon. President Joe Biden released a statement on Nichols' death on Thursday, calling it "a painful reminder that we must do more to ensure that our criminal justice system lives up to the promise of fair and impartial justice, equal treatment, and dignity for all." "Public trust is the foundation of public safety and there are still too many places in America today where the bonds of trust are frayed or broken," Biden said in the statement. "We also cannot ignore the fact that fatal encounters with law enforcement have disparately impacted Black and Brown people." A representative from the state's sheriff's association emailed the national organization warning of "responses outside of traditional protest," News Channel 5 in Nashville reported. Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis on Wednesday called the "physical abuse" of Nichols during the traffic stop "egregious," and said the five Memphis officers were found directly responsible for it. Davis spoke directly to the community, noting that outrage is expected, but urging against violence in the streets. "This is not just a professional failing, this is a failing of basic humanity toward another individual. This incident was heinous, reckless and inhumane," she said. "I expect you to feel what the Nichols family feels. I expect you to feel outrage in the disregard of basic human rights, as our police officers have taken an oath to do the opposite of what transpired on the video," the chief added. "I expect our citizens to exercise their First Amendment right to protest, to demand action and results," said Davis. "But we need to ensure our community is safe in this process. None of this is a calling card for inciting violence or destruction on our community or against our citizens." Civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton called the charges "a necessary first step in delivering justice for Tyre and his family, although nothing will ever be enough to fill the void that his loss has left." He added, "There is no point to putting a body camera on a cop if you aren't going to hold them accountable when the footage shows them relentlessly beating a man to death." Read the original article on Insider It looks like the Oregon Ducks will have more than one 5-star recruit in Eugene over the weekend for a visit. I am now able to confirm multiple reports that 2025 WR Dakorien Moore, a 5-star wide receiver from Duncanville, Texas, will be taking a visit to Eugene to see Dan Lanning and the staff. The first report came from 247Sports Steve Wiltfong. Moore will be one of the top prospects on campus, joining 2023 ATH Nyckoles Harbor as the other 5-star recruit on the list. Moore is rated by the 247Sports Composite as the No. 1 WR in the 2025 class and No. 8 overall player in the nation. Moore holds offers from some of the top schools in the nation, including Alabama, Ohio State, LSU, USC, and many others. Dakorien Moores Recruiting Profile Ratings Stars Rating State Projected Position 247Sports 4 91 TX WR 247Sports Composite 5 0.9966 TX WR Rivals 4 N/A TX WR ESPN N/A N/A TX WR On3 Recruiting 4 90 TX WR Vitals Height 6-foot-0 Weight 180 pounds Hometown Duncanville, Texas Projected Position Wide Receiver Class 2025 Top Schools Oregon Ducks Tennessee Volunteers Alabama Crimson Tide Florida Gators Miami Hurricanes Michigan State Spartans LSU Tigers Ohio State Buckeyes USC Trojans Texas Longhorns Oklahoma Sooners Recruitment Received Oregon offer on May 23, 2022 Will Visit Oregon on January 28, 2023 Highlights Story originally appeared on Ducks Wire Its been six years since Kamiyah Mobley was reunited with her parents. Kamiyah was found safe in South Carolina in early 2017 when she was 18 years old, after being kidnapped from a Jacksonville hospital as a newborn in 1998. PHOTOS: Whos who in the Kamiyah Mobley kidnapping case Kamiyah Mobley/Alexis Manigo. Kamiyah was kidnapped as a newborn in Jacksonville in July 1998 and lived her life as "Alexis" in South Carolina. Gloria Williams. Williams is a South Carolina woman who took Kamiyah from a Jacksonville hospital room in 1998. She pled guilty to the kidnapping. She has been jailed for the last 17 months. Shanara Mobley. Shanara was only 16 years old when she gave birth to Kamiyah. She screamed "I am your mother, Kamiyah!" in court during Gloria Williams' most recent court appearance. Craig Aiken. Aiken is Kamiyah's biological father. He was in jail when Kamiyah was born. He said that guards told him, "Good news, your child, Kamiyah, was born. The bad news, she was kidnapped." Velma Aiken. Craig's mother. News crews in Jacksonville captured her jubilation the day JSO announced Kamiyah had been found. Iyanla Vanzant. In 2018, Kamiyah appeared on her show "Fix My Life." Her on-screen confrontations with Kamiyah were featured on the show. More than 2,500 tips were given to officials that led to the arrest of then-51-year-old Gloria Williams. Pretending to be a nurse, Williams kidnapped Kamiyah just hours after the little girls birth at University Hospital, which is now known as UF Health Jacksonville. The only picture of Kamiyah was a composite because she was abducted just hours after being born. Police were able to compile a few sketches of Williams. This composite image provided by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office in Jacksonville, Fla., shows a photo of Kamiyah Mobley, an infant girl who was kidnapped by a woman, seen in separate sketches provided by police in 1998 during the initial search. On Jan. 13, 2017, police tracked down Kamiyah, who was going under the name Alexis Manigo, in Walterboro, South Carolina. Police in Walterboro matched up the birthday of the missing girl with a different name and fraudulent documents. DNA tests confirmed that the girl was the missing newborn. The fake birth certificate listed that Kamiyah was born at Trident Medical Center in Charleston. Kamiyah Mobley Fake Birth C... by ActionNewsJax Kamiyah was reunited with her mother and father, Shanara Mobley and Craig Aiken, just a day after being found. Williams was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the first charge of kidnapping and five years for the second charge of interfering with custody. The sentences run concurrently and Williams received credit for 511 days of time served. In 2019, Kamiyahs father Craig Aiken said that Kamiyah was moving with him in Jacksonville. The story got national coverage and was made into a Lifetime movie, Stolen by My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story. The family told Action News Jax that they did not have a big part in helping with the film. The movie premiered in January 2020. RELATED STORIES: 1998 missing Jacksonville newborn found in South Carolina; 51-year-old woman arrested READ: Kamiyah Mobleys fake birth certificate Story continues Teen abducted from Jacksonville hospital at birth reunited with parents Kamiyah Mobleys dad on Lifetime movie about daughters kidnapping: This is not us. This is not our life. Woman who kidnapped Jacksonville newborn Kamiyah Mobley in 1998 wont have sentence reduced Gloria Williams sentencing hearing: Kamiyah Mobleys mom testifies, says I am your mother Kamiyah To get a sense of who is truly in control of National Grid plc (LON:NG.), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 77% to be precise, is institutions. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk). Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of National Grid. Check out our latest analysis for National Grid What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About National Grid? Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices. We can see that National Grid does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see National Grid's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in National Grid. The company's largest shareholder is BlackRock, Inc., with ownership of 8.1%. With 5.0% and 4.6% of the shares outstanding respectively, Capital Research and Management Company and The Vanguard Group, Inc. are the second and third largest shareholders. Story continues Our studies suggest that the top 25 shareholders collectively control less than half of the company's shares, meaning that the company's shares are widely disseminated and there is no dominant shareholder. 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. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily. Insider Ownership Of National Grid 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. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. Our most recent data indicates that insiders own less than 1% of National Grid plc. Being so large, we would not expect insiders to own a large proportion of the stock. Collectively, they own UK20m of stock. Arguably recent buying and selling is just as important to consider. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership With a 22% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over National Grid. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Next Steps: I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Be aware that National Grid is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis , and 1 of those shouldn't be ignored... Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here This rendering shows the proposed design for a house in the Habitat for Humanity subdivision planned for the far West Side of Aurora. (Habitat for Humanity / HANDOUT) The Aurora City Council Tuesday night approved a preliminary plan for Habitat for Humanity to build a 17-house subdivision on Auroras far West Side. The Habitat Green Subdivision at 1921 Jericho Road would feature 1,700-square-foot houses. The homes would be heated with natural gas, but have solar applications that should make the houses cost neutral for energy, Habitat for Humanity officials have said. Advertisement The Habitat for Humanity development would be next door to a longtime subdivision that is in an unincorporated part of Aurora Township, on property originally annexed to Aurora in 2004 to be a church and daycare facility. The church decided not to build on the property, and it has been vacant since being annexed. Advertisement Habitat officials have said its estimated the houses would be valued at about $325,000, but would cost prospective homeowners at least 30% less because Habitat for Humanity is not only the developer, but the mortgage holder too. The funding for the development is coming from a grant from Nicor, as well as a federal Housing and Urban Development grant Habitat obtained with the help of U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville. That kind of funding allows Habitat to offer 0% interest mortgages. And as is always the case, homeowners in Habitat properties do sweat equity, working on other homes the not-for-profit organization builds. The houses would have three bedrooms and two-car garages, according to plans. Habitat already has six families interested in houses in the new development, officials said. The organization wants to break ground for the subdivision in the spring. slord@tribpub.com Africa is now less safe and less secure than it was 10 years ago, hampering continental progress toward effective governance, according to a new report by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. The 2022 Ibrahim Index of African Governance found that almost 70% (69.3%) of Africas population lives in a country where the security and rule of law environment is worse in 2021 than in 2012, mostly driven by a worsening security situation. Read more It attributes this trend to increasing levels of violence against civilians and deaths from armed conflicts across the continent. Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Eritrea, Somalia, and South Sudan are the least secure countries to live due to prolonged armed conflict, terrorism, and organized crime, according to the report. The most secure countries to live in are Seychelles, Mauritius, Botswana, Cape Verde, and Namibia. Seychelles has seen the highest improvement in its security over the study period. Bloodshed across Africa Numerous countries and regions across the African continent are beset by conflict, making any progress toward improved quality of life and better government near impossible. There have been 23 successful and attempted coups on the African continent since 2012, the report notes. The war in eastern DRC between the government and M23 rebels, for instance, has consumed the attention of multiple governments in the region. Rwanda, widely blamed for supporting M23, escalated the conflict further when it downed a DRC fighter jet on Jan. 25, claiming DRC violated its airspace. Thousands were killed in the conflict over the course of 2022, and several hundred thousand others were displaced. About 300 people died in the conflict last month alone. Meanwhile, a fight over the breakaway region of Tigray in northern Ethiopia, which began in 2020, has displaced a record 5.1 million people (some 2.5 million people in 2021 alone), according to UN estimates. Some 60,000 people fled to eastern Sudan which faces its own national security vulnerabilities before a tenuous peace deal was struck between Ethiopia, Eritrea and the Tigray rebels last November. Story continues Over the past 12 years, Al-Shabaab militants have been the biggest security threat in eastern Africa. The group has orchestrated a series of terror attacks, killing civilians in Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. In northern Nigeria, more than 35,000 people have been killed since 2009, when the militant group Boko Haram launched an insurgency to overthrow the countrys government and establish an Islamic state. At least 3 million people have fled their homes. Other violent extremist groups like Daesh, Al-Qaeda, and their affiliates continue to exploit instability in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea to expand their influence. Since 2008, in South Africa, multiple deadly waves of xenophobic violence against Africans from other nations have caused increased conflict, leading to criticism of the current South African government for inciting attacks against the migrant population. Anti-migrant discourse from senior government officials has fanned the flames of violence, and government actors have failed to prevent further violence or hold perpetrators accountable, reported Special Rapporteurs, an independent coalition of UN-affiliated human rights experts. More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. As of 12:15, air-raid sirens have been cancelled almost all over Ukraine; they lasted more than four hours, and Russian forces launched several dozen missiles on peaceful Ukrainian cities. There were strikes in several oblasts, and one person was killed in the city of Kyiv. Source: air-raid siren map; Belaruski Hajun, an independent Belarusian military monitoring media outlet, on Telegram Details: At 12:06, air-raid sirens were cancelled in Vinnytsia Oblast, and a few minutes later, they were cancelled almost all over Ukraine. It is still on in Mykolaiv and Kherson oblasts at the moment. On the morning of 26 January, Russia carried out a large-scale missile attack on Ukraine; presumably Tu-95 strategic bombers launched more than 30 missiles from Murmansk Oblast of the Russian Federation. About 20 of them were shot down over Kyiv Oblast. Nevertheless, there were strikes and damage in Kyiv city and the oblasts of Odesa and Vinnytsia as a result of the attack. One person was killed and two more received injuries in the capital. Belaruski Hajun has reported that the MiG-31K of the Russian Aerospace Forces, an interceptor jet, landed in the Machulishchy airfield (Belarus). Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Jan. 26ALBANY The Albany Police Department is seeking the public's help in locating a rape suspect. Anthony Latroy Reeves, 33, is accused of raping a sleeping victim, police said. His last known address was in the 1900 block of Keystone Avenue in Albany. Police request that anyone with information about the incident or Reeves' location call Albany Area Crime Stoppers at (229) 436-TIPS (8477) or the police department at (229) 431-2100. Pastor James Pitt was praying about serving teens when he felt God talk to him about starting a church in Ottawa County. Here, he stands with his wife, Amber Pitt, inside the Sutton Center, where they have their church, the Anchor of Hope Church. PORT CLINTON - When Pastor James Pitt was attending a youth conference and praying about how he could better help teens, God led him in another direction. Pitt followed where God was leading, and today he heads The Anchor of Hope Church, which meets inside the Sutton Center. I was praying for youth specifically, and God talked to me about Ottawa County specifically, he said. Little did I know that someone from Michigan was praying, too. He would come to Port Clinton on vacation, and he really wanted to see a ministry started here. At the time, James was serving as a youth pastor at New Life Community Church, a United Pentecostal Church in Fremont. The Michigan man, who is now a parishioner at Anchor of Hope, visited New Life Community Church and connected with James and his wife, Amber Pitt. We started doing outreach in Port Clinton, doing Bible studies, James said. A revival service began in a Port Clinton woman's yard in 2020 In August 2020, Port Clinton resident Lorie Anderson invited the Pitts to hold revival services in her yard and services in her garage. At our first revival, we baptized four people in Lake Erie. After that, Lori opened her garage to us, James said. She actually opened her whole garage. We drywalled it and heated it and turned it into an actual church building. When the church outgrew the garage, Pitt reached out to Brian Snyder about holding services at the Sutton Center. We couldnt find anything. I called Brian, and he let us come here, James said. He loves us. Hes been a major blessing. He said he would absolutely love to help a first-time church. Anchor of Hope Church moved into Sutton Center in 2021 The Anchor of Hope Church moved into the Sutton Center in August 2021. The church is still a sister church of New Hope Community Church in Fremont, but is on our way to becoming autonomous, James said. The Sutton Center, which houses several social service organizations, has been an ideal location for the church. Story continues Were tied to multifaceted resources for the community, James said. The church does not yet hold Sunday morning services. It meets at the Sutton Center on Sundays at 6 p.m. and Wednesdays at 6 p.m. The evening services have been welcomed by locals and summer tourists. Pastor James and Amber Pitt started a church in Port Clinton to spread a message of hope. The tourists can swim and boat during the day, and at night, were open, Amber said. The Fremont church comes on Sunday nights to support us. Amber said the name for the church is based on Hebrews 6:19 in the Bible which says, This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and reliable and one which enters within the veil. This verse kept popping up in mind. Its what God wanted, she said. The name epitomizes the heart of the church. We want everyone to know that theres hope. Thats what brought us here to Port Clinton, James said. Theres so much gloom and doom, but as long as theres breath in your lungs, we have hope. More information can be found on The Anchor of Hope Church Facebook page. Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at sheritrusty4@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Anchor of Hope Church holds evening services at the Sutton Center Lawyers for Andrew Gillum want potential jurors in his upcoming trial to be questioned about news they have consumed in the case to make sure they haven't been "unfairly tainted." In a motion filed Wednesday, Gillum's lawyers suggested sending out a nine-page questionnaire to prospective jurors or alternatively the morning of April 17, when jury selection is scheduled to start at the U.S. Courthouse in Tallahassee. The filing cites coverage by the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Tallahassee Democrat and numerous others and notes that "such coverage will no doubt intensify as the trial date draws closer." It includes a nine-page questionnaire asking whether jurors have heard anything about the case in the news and formed any opinions as a result. More:Andrew Gillum legal team demands court hearing, citing Donald Trump rant on Ron DeSantis Subscriber exclusive:Torn from the Andrew Gillum indictment: Five key takeaways from the federal corruption case "The questionnaire seeks to ensure that potential jurors have not been unfairly tainted by exposure to such reports, which necessarily are based on scanty and unreliable information, much of which would be inadmissible at trial," wrote lawyers David Markus and Katherine Miller of Miami. Gillum, former Tallahassee mayor and Democratic nominee for governor, and Sharon Lettman-Hicks, a longtime friend, were indicted in June on federal charges that they illegally funneled campaign donations to themselves. More:Federal prosecutors want Andrew Gillum, Sharon Lettman-Hicks tried together on corruption charges From 2018:FBI revelations late in the campaign dimmed Andrew Gillum's chances Lawyers for Gillum also filed a new motion asking U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor for separate trials for the pair, saying Lettman-Hicks is needed as a witness in Gillum's defense but would invoke her right to remain silent at a joint trial. Winsor denied a similar request in November. Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com and follow @JeffBurlew on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Andrew Gillum lawyers want jurors quizzed on media exposure to case Orland Park citizens have a very important vote before them on April 4: Should the village retain the council/manager form of government? On behalf of the Illinois City/County Management Association, we urge you to vote to retain this form of government for the following reasons: Advertisement 1) The council/manager form of government provides strong administrative leadership with equally strong political leadership. The council sets the policy; the manager is charged with implementation. This is much like a school superintendent and a school board. It is hard to imagine a school system operating without professional expertise. It is equally hard to imagine a municipality operating without the same type of professional expertise. 2) The manager serves at the pleasure of the council. If the manager does not perform to the councils expectations, then he or she can be terminated. While the Illinois state statutes define the position; the council can set parameters such as whether the manager is required to live within the city limits. A residency requirement can be made part of the employment agreement. Advertisement 3) A professional local government manager has the educational background and experience to run the daily activities of the village. It takes the politics out of running the village. The professional manager has been trained in finance and budgeting, personnel management and economic development. 4) The manager abides by the ICMA Code of Ethics which includes standards beyond those required by law. The code requires managers to affirm the dignity and worth of the services rendered by government and maintain a deep sense of social responsibility as a trusted public servant. In these difficult times, it is crucial that the village is well managed. A vote to retain the council/manager form of government will help to ensure that the village services of the Orland Park continue to run efficiently, effectively and equitably. Randy Bukas, president Dawn S. Peters, executive director Illinois City/County Management Association BEIRUT (AP) Scores of protesters Thursday scuffled with riot police in Beirut as they tried to break into the offices of Lebanons judiciary, after the countrys chief prosecutor filed charges against the judge investigating the massive 2020 port explosion and ordered the release of all suspects in the case. The probe has stalled for years, as it threatens to rattle Lebanons ruling elite, which is rife with corruption and mismanagement, and has helped push the country into an unprecedented economic meltdown. Among those released was a U.S. citizen whose detention without trial had drawn threats of sanctions from American officials, and who promptly left Lebanon, circumventing a travel ban. Port official Ziad Auf, a dual U.S.-Lebanese citizen, was detained three days after the Aug. 4, 2020, explosion of hundreds of tons of highly flammable ammonium nitrate, a material used in fertilizers. The blast killed 218 people, injured over 6,000 and damaged large parts of the Lebanese capital. U.S. authorities considered Auf as unlawfully detained without trial for two years and almost six months, said Nizar Zakka, president of the U.S.-based Hostage Aid Worldwide, which represented Auf. Zakka added that even if Auf was to be charged, he would have been freed as his period in detention amounts to Lebanon's maximum punishment for the charge of negligence that he faced. American officials threatened Lebanon with sanctions if Auf was not released, Zakka said, noting that a section of the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act named after a retired FBI agent who vanished in 2007 and is now presumed dead authorizes the U.S. president to impose sanctions, including visa revocations, on people believed to be involved in the wrongful detention of Americans. Shortly after Auf was released he was briefly taken to his Beirut apartment to collect some of his belongings before he was escorted by U.S. embassy officials to Beiruts Rafik Hariri International Airport where he boarded a plane out of the country, said Zakka who was in contact with the family. Story continues A U.S. embassy spokesperson declined to comment on the case. According to documents seen by the AP, Auf had been working at the port for more than 22 years but in January 2020 he was temporarily assigned as a caretaker of the ports safety and security department after the person who was in charge retired. Since Auf had no experience in security and safety issues he raised the matter with the head of the port who allowed him to take three training sessions with a U.S.-based company specialized in port security. The training never took place because of the coronavirus lockdown after which came the blast. The documents show that on May 28, 2020, members of Lebanons State Security intelligence agency questioned Auf about the ammonium nitrates stored at the port and he told them that he did not know about the presence of such material. The release of the port probe detainees drew protests from family members of those killed in the blast. Lebanons chief prosecutor Ghassan Oweidat ordered the release Wednesday and filed charges against Judge Tarek Bitar, the top investigator in the case. Lebanons highest judicial body, the Higher Judicial Council, was scheduled to meet Thursday afternoon to discuss the latest developments in the inquest. Advocates for Bitar, who include many of the families of the blast victims, feared the council would issue a decision to remove the maverick judge from the probe, but the session was canceled due to a lack of quorum. Oweidat was in the building but failed to join the council and stayed in his office guarded by armored security forces, who later escorted him out. Ahead of the canceled session, several demonstrators were wounded as police pushed the crowds back from outside Beiruts historical Palace of Justice, and beat some people with batons. Bitar on Monday had resumed the investigation based on his legal interpretation, following a 13-month halt over legal challenges raised by politicians accused in the probe. He also charged over a dozen senior political, judicial, and security officials, including Oweidat. The recent developments have led to a standoff between the two judges, who each claim the other is breaking the law, crippling the countrys judiciary, as its cash-strapped institutions continue to decay. Valerii Zaluzhny, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, had a telephone conversation with Mark Milley, United States Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The generals discussed providing Ukraine with new models of military equipment. Source: Zaluzhny on Telegram Quote: "I maintain a constant dialogue with General Mark Milley. During today's telephone conversation, we discussed the announced package of military aid to Ukraine and mutual steps for the fastest possible acceptance of new models of equipment into service. I sincerely thanked General Milley for his powerful support and leadership. We are focused only on victory." Background: Valerii Zaluzhny has called for thorough scrutiny of the corruption allegations against the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. He advised those involved not to shift responsibility from subordinates to their leader, saying this harms the common cause and goes against NATO principles. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Two members of a white supremacist prison gang will spend more time in prison over the brutal beating of an inmate suspected to be gay, federal prosecutors said. William Glenn Chunn, a high-ranking Aryan Circle gang leader also known as Big Head, ordered Matthew Rentfrow, also known as Mongo, to attack the inmate as a rite of passage while they were both imprisoned at a penitentiary in Yazoo City, Mississippi, in 2017, according to officials. The Aryan Circle is one of the largest white supremacist prison gangs in the U.S. and has a significant presence in Texas, according to the Anti-Defamation League, an international Jewish civil rights organization. A judge sentenced Chunn, 40, of Humble, Texas, and Rentfrow, 42, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, to 10 years in prison on Jan. 25 in connection with the attempted murder of the inmate in Mississippi, the Justice Department announced in a news release. The inmate was chosen for the beating because Chunn believed the victim was homosexual, prosecutors said. Chunn and Rentfrow were both convicted of violent crime in aid of racketeering attempted murder at a trial in the Southern District of Mississippi in October, prosecutors said. Scott Gilbert, Chunns attorney, placed some of the blame on the prison guards and said in a statement provided to McClatchy News on Jan. 26 that the victim was put in a housing unit where he would predictably be in danger of being attacked because of his sexual orientation. As much as this case was about a prison gang, it was equally as much about the ways in which prison employees can manipulate the unregulated self-governing that prison gangs are allowed to carry out within their housing units, Gilbert said. McClatchy News contacted attorneys representing Rentfrow for comment on Jan. 26 and didnt immediately receive a response. A U.S. Penitentiary Yazoo City spokesperson told McClatchy News in a statement on Jan. 26 that it supports its prison staff as they perform difficult and often dangerous work. Story continues The jurys verdict in this case took the very necessary steps to identify and prosecute members of an extremely violent prison gang that sought to harm other inmates, the spokesperson said. The attack on the inmate The Aryan Circle enforces its rules and promotes discipline among its members, prospects, and associates through threats, intimidation, and acts of violence including, but not limited to, acts involving assault and murder, according to the Justice Department. On Aug. 17, 2017, Rentfrow, a then-gang prospect, beat and stabbed his fellow inmate to become a member of the Aryan Circle on Chunns orders, prosecutors said. At the time, they accused Chunn of ranking among the top five Aryan Circle leaders in the U.S. As a result of Rentfrows beating, the inmate had a collapsed lung, rib fractures, chest puncture wounds and cuts on his face and head, officials said. After surviving the attack, he needed a chest tube for his collapsed lung. Gilbert said the prison guards stationed in the housing unit failed to notice two separate attacks on the victim, and subsequently failed to observe the victim standing directly across from the guard office covered in blood, two separate times. When the guards responded to Rentfrows attack on the inmate, Gilbert said he wasnt brought to a medical office until nearly 20 minutes later. Despite a paramedic being present, no medical care was provided to the victim until he was turned over to the ambulance crew, because the medical staff do not work at night at FCI Yazoo, Gilbert said. He added that the facts presented at trial are in many ways much more troubling than the conduct that the Department of Justice charged and prosecuted. While the penitentiary spokesperson said they cant comment on the conditions of inmates confinement for privacy and security reasons, they emphasized that the facility is committed to caring for those placed under its custody. U.S. Penitentiary Yazoo City is committed to confining individuals remanded to custody in a safe and secure environment that provides meaningful reentry opportunities, the spokesperson said. Chunn had previously been sentenced to life in prison in a separate case prosecuted in the Eastern District of Texas, according to officials. The Aryan Circle started in the Texas prison system in the 1980s, according to the Justice Department. Although its members still have only a crude understanding of white supremacist ideology, the theme of white supremacy is used to increase group solidarity, the department reports. Yazoo City is about 45 miles northwest of Jackson. White supremacist gang leader burned tattoo from mans skin, feds say. Hes prison bound Riot at juvenile treatment center ends with 3 hurt, 8 on the run, Florida cops say 3 prison guards covered up unprovoked inmate assault, New York prosecutor says (Pixabay) An asteroid is hurtling towards Earth and is expected to make one of the closest passes ever, Nasa has said. The object is expected to pass by safely. But it will do so incredibly closely: coming nearer to Earth than the orbit of many asteroids. The object will make its closest approach on Thursday night or Friday morning, depending where people are. It will arrive at 12.27am on Friday UK time, or 7.27pm on Thursday evening in eastern time. It is thought to be roughly 3.5 meters by about 8.5 meters. And it was only spotted days before it makes it approach. It was found by amateur astronomer Gennadiy Borisov who also detected comet 2l/Borisov, an intriguing object that is thought to have visited us from outside of the solar system on 21 January. Within days, other astronomers had not only confirmed the existence of the object but also made dozens of observations of it, which helped scientists predict its orbit through space. After it was detected, Nasa examined it with its Scout system, which is intended to predict the hazard from possible collisions. It said that it would miss the Earth but only nearly. Scout quickly ruled out 2023 BU as an impactor, but despite the very few observations, it was nonetheless able to predict that the asteroid would make an extraordinarily close approach with Earth, said Davide Farnocchia, a navigation engineer at JPL who developed Scout. In fact, this is one of the closest approaches by a known near-Earth object ever recorded. Nasa says there is no risk of the object colliding with Earth. But even if it did, it would be unlikely to cause any significant damage. The asteroid would turn into a fireball as it hurtled into the atmosphere, disintegrating and leaving behind some small asteroids at most. It will however come so close to Earth that it will have its course significantly altered by the gravity of our planet. Before this pass, it was travelling in a roughly circular shape, similar to Earths orbit, taking 359 days to go around the Sun. After it has made its pass, however, scientists believe that it will have its route through the solar system stretched out, making it more elongated. At its furthest point from the Sun, it will now be roughly halfway between the orbits of the Earth and Mars, and it will take about 425 days to make its journey around our star. By Joseph White DETROIT (Reuters) - The surprise leadership shuffle on Thursday at Toyota Motor Corp, renewed urgency at Renault and Nissan Motor Co to restructure their alliance and Elon Musk's declaration that Tesla Inc will be the world's No. 1 automaker by a wide margin have one thing in common: What once defined the global auto industry's center is no longer holding. The announcement that Akio Toyoda will step down as chief executive of the world's top-selling automaker on April 1 came just hours after Musk used a quarterly earnings call to declare that Tesla was now the auto industry's leader in profitability and manufacturing efficiency - the crown Toyota held for three decades. Toyota's incoming CEO, Koji Sato, faces a daunting task. He must accelerate the Japanese automaker's efforts to develop more competitive electric vehicles. But he will get little breathing room from Tesla or the Chinese EV manufacturers who are using their leads in EV technology and production costs to slash prices. Tesla already earns roughly seven times as much per vehicle as Toyota. Its 17% pretax margins are roughly double the average for the rest of the industry. And after a rough 2022 for the company's shares, the stock has gained 28% to open up 2023. Musk hinted again on Wednesday that Tesla is working on a new vehicle that could sell profitably for under $30,000 - which would compete head-on with mass market models from Toyota, Volkswagen AG, Ford Motor Co and General Motors Co. Musk has in the past teased products that took far longer to deliver than he initially promised, such as the long-delayed Cybertruck. But the Tesla chief's ambitions are clear: To reorder the auto industry hierarchy that for decades had Toyota at the top. "I don't think you could see a second place with a telescope, at least we can't," Musk said when asked how the auto industry could look in five years. THE SHIFTING GROUND Story continues Global automakers are experienced with periods of feast and famine that come on roughly seven-to-ten year cycles. What is happening now is different. The shocks of the pandemic, two years of supply-chain chaos and possibly a recession this year are colliding with a once-in-a-century shift of the industry's fundamental technology. As combustion vehicles give way to electric vehicles with high-powered computer chips for brains, many of the advantages of incumbency that Toyota enjoyed are withering away. The shift to electric, computerized and software-driven vehicles has opened the door for Tesla and other startups, particularly in China, to re-set the ground rules for competition. Tesla's price war could be just the start. "We question whether competitors can keep up in this EV race," Morgan Stanley auto analyst Adam Jonas wrote in a note this week. Incumbent automakers can no longer count on refinement of mature vehicle technology to stay competitive. Established automakers are investing heavily in EVs - some faster and with more success than others. South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co on Thursday reported better-than-expected results powered in part by strong sales of its new EV lineup. Hyundai forecast its EV sales would grow by 54% this year - a faster growth pace than Tesla has forecast. Chinese manufacturers pouring EVs into Europe have as much as a 10,000 euro cost advantage ($10,600), Patrick Koller, chief executive of auto supplier Forvia, said earlier this month. The intensifying competition puts pressure on Renault and Nissan to resolve negotiations to restructure their alliance. The companies are now aiming to announce a deal - including an investment by Nissan in Renault's EV unit - by Feb. 6, sources told Reuters. Renault and Nissan once argued that their alliance gave them significant advantages in economies of scale. That potential still exists. But first they will have to fight to stay at their current size as Tesla and Chinese manufacturers try to strip away their sales. "Even though the market is shrinking, we're growing and EVs have doubled almost year-over-year," Tesla Vice President Lars Moravy told analysts on Wednesday. "We always look at it as how much of the total vehicle space do we have, and we're just going to keep growing in that space. There's 95% for us to go get." (Reporting by Joe White in Detroit; Editing by Matthew Lewis) Azov Regiment becomes assault brigade and already fighting in Bakhmut Our combat path begins with the most difficult area Bakhmut, he said. Read also: In latest attacks, Russia launching Iranian suicide drones from Azov Seas eastern coast, says Air Force Biletsky said that Russian conscripts, convicts, Wagner mercenaries, propagandists, and milbloggers would have something to make up fables and legends about. Were preparing many surprises for them, he said. The winter will be hot. The Azov Regiment, formerly known as the Azov Battalion, is a favorite target of Russian propagandists, due to its former links to the far-right in Ukraine. Biletsky, a far-right politician, and many of the soldiers with far-right political leanings left the unit before it was officially incorporated into the Ukrainian armed forces. Some of the symbols incorporated in the regiments insignia are used by neo-Nazi and far-right groups, but regimental spokespeople deny the unit has any political ideology. Read also: Ukraines SBU detains collaborator in Donetsk Oblast The regiment, which was stationed near the city of Mariupol in southern Donetsk Oblast, was involved in the bitter fighting for the city, holding up Russian forces in the south until finally being surrounded in Mariupols Azovstal steel mill and being ordered to surrender to Russian forces. Read also: Ukrainian forces withdrawal from Bakhmut out of question, says General Staff U.S. think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believes the Ukrainian defense of Bakhmut is likely a strategically sound effort despite its costs for Ukraine. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Bella Hessey went into cardiac arrest when she was 11 months old (Collect/PA Real Life) A mother-of-two who watched her 11-month-old daughter take her last gasp of air before going into cardiac arrest and was told by doctors she would not make it has expressed her immense gratitude after her child survived and celebrated her third birthday last year. Abby Hessey, 26, an operations executive who lives in Bicester, Oxfordshire, said she was preparing for the worst when her daughter Bella, now three years old, was rushed to Southampton General Hospital, in Hampshire, in an ambulance in 2020. After Bella went into cardiac arrest, Abby said she watched as approximately 30 medical staff tried to resuscitate her baby, and she was given the devastating news that her daughter might not survive the night. But now, nearly three years later, Bella, who has been described as a bubbly, talkative and happy girl, with a lot of sass, is living a normal life. I had no hope, didnt think that we would ever make it, didnt think that I would ever be the same because I thought I was going to lose my baby, Abby said. Its just been a complete 360 life change to be honest just living a normal life now is amazing compared to what it was going to be. Bella was born a month early, but she was a healthy, happy, normal baby. When she was 11 months old, however, she started to develop a rash all over her body and stopped eating and drinking. Abby took Bella to the Horton General Hospital in Banbury, Oxfordshire, on multiple occasions, but she said Bella was initially misdiagnosed as having an ear and throat infection. It was not until the fourth hospital visit that Abby was told her daughter had Kawasaki disease, which, according to NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), can be fatal if not treated in time. NHSBT says Kawasaki disease is one of the main causes of acquired heart disease in children under five in the UK. No one knows what causes Kawasaki disease, but scientists dont believe the disease is contagious from person to person, according to the Mayo Clinic. Story continues Abby said she was gobsmacked when she received the news. (PA) We stayed at the Horton that night and they gave us an ambulance to the John Radcliffe Hospital very early in the morning to give her the immunoglobulin (the medicine used to treat Kawasaki disease), she said. It literally worked instantly her rash had completely gone, she was eating fine, drinking fine, playing, laughing, speaking, which she hadnt done for a week prior. Once she had that, we were allowed to go home. Abby took Bella for a check-up two weeks later and was told she would need another dose of immunoglobulin a solution of antibodies taken from healthy donors as the disease had not been fully cured. However, by this point, Bellas heart complications had worsened, and she was suffering from multiple aneurysms bulges in the blood vessels around her heart. (PA) Abby explained that Bellas arteries should have measured 1mm or 2mm in diameter, but Bellas had swelled to 14mm. Bella was given steroids, blood thinners and injections to prevent blood clots, and at one point, Abby said Bella was taking 12 different medications. At the next hospital visit, Abby was told Bella would need to be taken to Southampton General Hospital as a matter of urgency and that is when she feared the worst. Being taken off in an ambulance to Southampton, it was just heartbreaking, she said. Obviously my partner wasnt allowed to come with us (due to Covid restrictions); he was constantly calling. He saw us off in the ambulance, crying, and his parents were there, crying. It was just awful because he thought he was potentially not going to see his little girl again. (PA) Abby said she had so many things racing through (her) mind in the ambulance, but she tried to stay positive and said the medical staff were amazing. Bella remained in hospital for approximately three weeks, and it was during the first week that Bella went into cardiac arrest a moment Abby remembers vividly. Abbys partner Luke called the hospital several times, asking if he could visit Bella, and they allowed him to come in just days before it happened. She was in her high chair and I could see her head going back, her taking a last gasp of air; it was just awful, Abby explained. They pressed the panic alarm, and then in this tiny little private room in this ward, there was probably 30 people in there trying to get her heart started again. We went into intensive care once they got a really low heartbeat, and the doctor came over to us and said, Im really sorry, but I dont think shes going to make the night. Just prepare yourself that this is going to be your last day with her. (PA) At that point, we were like, oh my goodness, this is it. Weve lost our little girl. The couple stayed with Bella overnight and, despite the severity of her condition, somehow, she made it. Bella is now living a normal life, is healthy and happy, and is taking only two medications. Abby explained that Bella has had several scans since being discharged from Southampton General Hospital, and they have shown that her aneurysms have shrunk and she has no blood clots. Abby continued: She is almost back to normal; her arteries are just a little bit weaker and slightly deformed, and theres a bit of wall damage in her arteries. She added: Its amazing. If it wasnt for the immunoglobulin, (I dont think she would) have made it. Abby would encourage other parents to follow (their) intuition when it comes to their childrens symptoms, as she knew something was wrong with Bella and she is glad she pushed for a diagnosis. As a mum, you know whats wrong with your baby, she said. You know if your child has a cold, or if its something more, and dont feel like youre pestering the doctors or healthcare providers if you know somethings wrong. Just keep going and going and going because, at the end of the day, its your child thats going to be affected by these choices. Abby and her partner Luke, 29, a painter and decorator, would also encourage anyone to donate plasma, as immunoglobulin, a medicine made from plasma, can help to treat Kawasaki disease. The pair are going to donate plasma themselves, as they want to continue to raise awareness and try to help others. Abby believes the medicine gave Bella an extra chance of survival and she feels extremely lucky that she did pull through and make it. Kawasaki Disease Awareness Day is being held on January 26 2023, and to find out more about plasma and blood donations, visit the NHSBT website here: www.nhsbt.nhs.uk BBC home editor Mark Easton sparked a backlash over his comments on child refugees. (Twitter) A BBC journalist has sparked a backlash after he suggested that young refugees are "willingly trafficked" to the UK with the promise of work. Mark Easton, the BBC's home editor, was discussing a letter sent by more than 100 organisations to prime minister Rishi Sunak, calling for an independent inquiry into how more than 200 asylum-seeking children have gone missing from Home Office hotels. Describing the situation as a child protection scandal, the charities warned that the children many of whom had been living in southern seaside towns were at risk of exploitation. Easton highlighted how nine out of 10 unaccompanied children in UK hotels are Albanian males who "claim to be 16 or 17". A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel on Wednesday. (PA) But he then appeared to claim that many youngsters arriving in the UK were doing so at their own choosing. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "These young people are often trafficked, sometimes willingly to be honest. They come knowing that they are going to be employed by criminal gangs in the UK. "They disappear from the hotels as soon as they are able and they are often found working in car washes or cannabis farms." Zehrah Hasan, advocacy director for the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), told Yahoo News UK that Easton's comments were "shocking and disgraceful". Watch: Government's handling of migrant children 'sickening' "We are talking about children here kids who deserve the same love, care and protection as we would want for our own children. "It is shocking and disgraceful that, this morning, the BBC implied these children were somehow guilty of their own exploitation. It is not possible to be willingly trafficked. "We know that predatory networks target vulnerable children, luring them in with false promises, and then subjecting them to forced labour with physical abuse, no pay and degrading working conditions all commonplace." Story continues Zoe Gardner, who works to protect refugees at the European Network on Stateless, tweeted: "Sixteen year olds are still children to whom the government has a duty of care. I ACTUALLY CANNOT BELIEVE WHAT IM HEARING YOU CANNOT BE WILLINGLY TRAFFICKED #r4today Zoe Gardner (@ZoeJardiniere) January 26, 2023 I am absolutely reeling. Mark Easton usually displays some semblance of knowing what hes talking about. That intervention was SHOCKING. Im making a complaint right now. #r4today Zoe Gardner (@ZoeJardiniere) January 26, 2023 "Kids who have been tricked into thinking theyll have a well-paid job in the UK being trafficked to work in modern slavery on cannabis farms or other illegal businesses is not their fault." She added: "I am absolutely reeling. Mark Easton usually displays some semblance of knowing what hes talking about. That intervention was shocking." Labour MP Debbie Abrahams wrote: "How can you possibly say someone is 'willingly' trafficked? Especially if they're a young person? Really unfortunate use of words. I'm sorry #Markeastern but how can you possibly say someone is 'willingly' *trafficked*? Especially if they're a young person? Really unfortunate use of words @BBCr4today Debbie Abrahams MP Blue Tick (@Debbie_abrahams) January 26, 2023 So disgusted by coverage @BBCr4today - making out that children are willingly trafficked here, trying to make out that Albanian teenage boys arent really vulnerable. These are CHILDREN. This government narrative theyre repeating is disgraceful. nadia inha (@nadiaiona) January 26, 2023 Lawyer Gemma Abbott described Eaton's comments as "absolutely appalling", while Nadia Inha, who works for the JCWI, tweeted: "So disgusted by coverage @BBCr4today making out that children are willingly trafficked here, trying to make out that Albanian teenage boys arent really vulnerable. "These are CHILDREN. This government narrative theyre repeating is disgraceful." Immigration minister Robert Jenrick told MPs in the House of Commons on Tuesday that more than 4,600 unaccompanied children have been accommodated in hotels since July 2021. He added: There have been 440 missing occurrences and 200 children remain missing, 13 of whom are under 16 years of age and only one of whom is female. The Maidenhead Holiday Inn is just one hotel that has been closed to the general public and used to house asylum seekers. (PA/Alamy) The letter sent to the prime minister this morning condemns the governments reported failures to protect vulnerable children from harm, and highlights how housing young refugees in hotels was intended to be used only as a short-term emergency option. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said there is a pattern of young asylum seekers being trafficked to the UK before criminals, likely to be from the same gangs that brought them to the UK, pick them up from outside Home Office hotels. Cooper told the BBC Breakfast programme on Thursday: The Home Office is taking no serious action on this and I do think the Conservatives have just turned their backs on this serious action thats needed to go after the criminal gangs and thats what Labours saying we will make a priority. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said there is a 'pattern' of young asylum seekers being trafficked to the UK before criminals. (Getty) It came as Labour said it would set up a new National Crime Agency (NCA) unit of more than 100 officers to pursue criminal prosecutions and track down and seize the assets of the criminal gangs. Cooper added: There is a pattern here around 40% of those missing children are from one hotel alone. "There is a pattern, and it is most likely the same criminal gangs that are operating that have brought the children and young people there in the first place and are then picking them up again. Yahoo News UK has contacted the Refugee Council, Refugee Action and the BBC for a response to Easton's remarks. Joshua Fourdyce was sworn in Monday as the new East Dundee deputy police chief by Clerk Katherine Diehl as Police Chief James Kruger and attendees at the East Dundee Village Board meeting watch. (Village of East Dundee / HANDOUT) East Dundees new deputy police chief was sworn into office at this weeks village board meeting where four new police officers also were introduced. Joshua Fourdyce is a 19-year veteran of the Woodstock Police Department who, during his tenure, climbed from patrol officer to detective sergeant. He also served as a school resource officer, investigator and patrol sergeant. Advertisement I cant express to you guys how excited I am to come to the village and for the opportunity given to me by Chief (James) Kruger, Fourdyce said. Im really looking forward to the future. The Woodstock resident has a bachelors degree from Knox College and a masters degree from the University of Phoenix and is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army National Guard with the rank of sergeant. Advertisement East Dundee police started their search for a new deputy chief last fall after Schenita Stewart left to become Evanstons first black police chief. Fourdyce was selected from a field of 34 applicants. Im very excited to have Josh with us and have him part of our organization, Kruger said. The department is moving forward with a proposal to purchase body cameras for all officers, the chief said, and Fourdyce will be involved in that effort. All police departments will be required to have the cameras by December 2024, he said. Theyre also working on converting to a full-time staff and (reducing) part-time positions as the state-mandated training requirements, body worn cameras and continued advancement of professional standards demand it, Kruger said. Attracting qualified part-time sworn staff has been difficult, he said, and in the past they relied on retiring full-time officers to fill those part-time positions. Retirees, however, are no longer interested in holding those jobs, he said. The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board is also increasing standards, as they should, so that moving from one agency to the next is a more stringent process, Kruger said. Money for two new full-time positions was included in the 2022-23 budget so they now have 15 full-time officers, including Kruger, and six part-time officers. Officers Ryan Fleury and Jose Feliciano joined the force as full-time officers in June and September respectively. Advertisement Fleury has a bachelors degree in criminal justice from Illinois State University and is a U.S. Army veteran. He grew up in Wheaton and owned a construction firm. Feliciano, who as an associate degree, was a Chicago police officer for 10 years and served on the departments tactical, riot and active shooter teams. Sarah Donnellan and Robert Sarra were hired as part-time officers to fill vacant positions. Donnellan was a Chicago police officer for two years and has a law degree from John Marshall Law School. Sarra worked for the Cook County Forest Preserve District police for 17 years and previously for the Roselle Police Department. He is a 10-year U.S. Marine combat veteran, Kruger said. Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News. I wore these winter boots during Alberta's cold snap in December and they actually kept my feet warm. If there's one wardrobe staple that's always (always, always!) worth the investment, it's a good pair of winter boots (and a coat!). And since this week's winter storm in Canada is a reminder that cold, snowy days are far from over, it's a great time to snap up a pair of boots for remaining wintery days and beyond especially if they're on sale. Over the years, I have tried nearly every boot brand you can imagine and while they all have their silver lining, there's one that I always seem to come back to Cougar. While the Canadian shoe brand is best known for its iconic Pillow Boot, its trendy Shani Boot is what's keeping my toes warm this winter and right now, they're 55 per cent off at The Bay (40 per cent off + an additional 25 per cent off applied at checkout). Shani Leather Waterproof Boot with PrimaLoft (photo via Cougar) $86 CAD $190 CAD at The Bay $160 USD at Nordstrom The details These mid-height leather boots have a chunky rubber sole and a two-inch heel, keeping your toes well away from ice, slush and snow. They're temperature rated at -24C/-11F and feature 200g of PrimaLoft Gold Insulation. The boots are lined with polar plush, have a removable moulded foam footbed and are waterproof for maximum wear. The Cougar boots are available in three colours: cream, olive and black, which can be found at The Bay, Nordstrom and directly from the Cougar Shoes website. Best women's winter boots: Cougar Shani Leather Waterproof Boots My review Before we get going, here are two relevant facts about me: A) I grew up in Alberta and B) I walk 10,000 steps a day outside (almost) 365 days per year. Relevant why? A) I know cold weather. Like, bone-chilling, don't leave your house, -50C with the wind chill kind of cold. And B) I have worn, and worn out, a lot of winter boots. While there is a bevy of winter boots on the market, it's rare to find a pair that is both warm and stylish. This is why, surprise, surprise, I have fallen in shoe-love with Cougar's Shani waterproof boots. I was initially drawn to the shoes as I thought they were a spot-on dupe for a pricier pair I had my eyes on, Ganni's Two-Tone Leather Ankle Boots. Ganni Two-Tone Leather Ankle Boots (photo via Farfetch) $368 $575 at Farfetch Price aside, when it came to decision-making, I have worn (and loved) Cougar for years (this was my go-to pair last winter), so I opted to try the Shani boots. And trust me, after a two-week stint in Edmonton during the province's record-breaking cold snap, I'm glad I did. The boots kept my toes warm and my feet firmly planted on the ground despite sketchy stretches of ice and deep freeze conditions. My nose is cold, but my toes aren't! $86 CAD $190 CAD at The Bay $160 USD at Nordstrom Beyond their practicality, I love the look of them. They're definitely chunky, which may or may not be your thing, but considering how many compliments they've earned me from neighbours, strangers (and my mom), they're a crowd-pleaser. One thing to note: I wear a size nine and find they fit a bit large. If you're in between sizes, I would recommend sizing down. What reviewers say "They are perfect!" according to one Cougar shopper. "Nice sturdy leather and incredibly comfortable. No break-in time whatsoever." "I live in NYC but rely on Canadian brands to deliver quality," writes another. "These boots are perfect. Warm, comfortable, without a break-in process." 'Best boots I have ever bought' A third reviewer calls them the "best boots [they have] ever bought." "They are the comfiest boots right from the start [and] didn't need to be broken in at all," they say. They keep your feet at the "perfect temperature." Cougar has "great quality" shoes, writes one shopper. However, "the sizing varies greatly between styles." They're "super stylish and super practical," but they "fit big, so go down half a size," echoes another. Are they worth it? I know I've said this approx. five times in the paragraphs above, but it bears repeating: I am a big fan of Cougar winter boots. If you're looking for a pair of chic and practical shoes this winter, the brand's Shani Leather Waterproof Boots have earned the recommendations of myself and several reviewers, all of us praising their style, comfort and warmth. However, the boots fit large, something to remember when placing your order. Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota is one of the most popular wilderness areas in the U.S. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota is one of the most popular wilderness areas in the U.S. The Biden administration imposed a 20-year ban on new mineral development across 225,000 acres of national forest land adjacent to Minnesotas iconic Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The order, which Interior Secretary Deb Haaland signed Thursday morning, delivers a potentially fatal blow to Chilean mining giant Antofagastas plans for a $1.7 billion underground copper-nickel mine on the doorstep of the 1.09 million-acre Boundary Waters one of the most visited wilderness areas in the country. Biden administration officials told reporters during a briefing Thursday that the withdrawal addresses public concerns that mining in the region could forever spoil the vast network of federally protected rivers, lakes and creeks, and harm the areas thriving tourism industry. Protecting a place like Boundary Waters is key to supporting the health of the watershed and its surrounding wildlife, upholding our Tribal trust and treaty responsibilities, and boosting the local recreation economy, Haaland said in a statement. With an eye toward protecting this special place for future generations, I have made this decision using the best-available science and extensive public input. The decision follows a 15-month study of potential impacts to natural and cultural resources, during which time no new mining activity was allowed. The U.S. Forest Service submitted an application to the interior department last year seeking a 20-year mining ban. No existing mineral leases are impacted by Thursdays order. The Biden administration previously canceled a pair of mineral leases held by Twin Metals Minnesota that dated back to the 1960s, concluding that the Trump administration skirted legal obligations when it renewed the leases in 2019. Twin Metals is a wholly owned subsidiary of Antofagasta. The Trump family has ties to Andronico Luksic, the Chilean billionaire behind the mine. Story continues The process of extracting sulfide-bearing minerals like the copper and nickel eyed by Twin Metals can trigger the release of toxic sulfuric acid that can persist indefinitely. Twin Metals has maintained that its design and the unique geology will prevent such acid mine drainage from occurring. The Interior Department said its decision was informed by more than 200,000 public comments and in consultation with area tribes. An agency official stressed during Thursdays briefing that the Boundary Waters is irreplaceable and that the risks from upstream mineral development are simply too high. The Biden-Harris administration has been clear in our commitment to ensuring this country can mine for the minerals that are necessary to shift to a clean energy economy, the official said. But we have to do so in a responsible manner, and that includes balancing our commitment to ensure we protect some of our countrys most spectacular outdoor places for future generations. The Boundary Waters and its surrounding watershed are one of those places. Twin Metals Minnesota said it was disappointed and stunned by the decision. This region sits on top of one of the worlds largest deposits of critical minerals that are vital in meeting our nations goals to transition to a clean energy future, to create American jobs, to strengthen our national security and to bolster domestic supply chains, the company said in a statement. We believe our project plays a critical role in addressing all of these priorities, and we remain committed to enforcing Twin Metals rights. Democratic lawmakers and environmental groups applauded Haalands order. Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) said the move will safeguard the area from toxic pollution and preserve Americas most visited wilderness area for the next generation. But she noted that a future administration could reverse the ban and pledged to reintroduce legislation this Congress to permanently protect the site. Becky Rom, national chair of the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters, called the order a massive win for Boundary Waters protection. You dont allow Americas most toxic industry next to Americas most popular Wilderness, she said. The Boundary Waters is a paradise of woods and water. It is an ecological marvel, a world-class outdoor destination, and an economic engine for hundreds of businesses and many thousands of people. Related... By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two senior Biden administration officials got behind the wheel of new electric vehicles (EV) Wednesday at the Washington, D.C. auto show to urge Americans to consider buying a zero-emission model. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and White House climate adviser Ali Zaidi took spins in a Ford F-150 Lightning and a Chevrolet Bolt as they touted revamped $7,500 EV tax credits and new $4,000 second-hand EV credits. The pair also sat and walked around other EVs produced by Toyota Nissan, Subaru, Hyundai and others. They also highlighted that since President Joe Biden took office, companies have announced nearly $130 billion in U.S. EV investment including $56 billion in EV manufacturing and $72 billion in battery production. "All these companies announcing they are locating now in the United States," Granholm told Reuters. "It's electric vehicles, it's the guts to the electric vehicle, it's the guts to the battery - the whole supply chain now locating in the United States." Part of that shift to U.S. production is because new restrictions on EV tax credits are prodding automakers and battery makers to rethink production plans. Zaidi noted hundreds of school districts are using federal funds to help buy EV school buses and the Postal Service has ramped up EV delivery vehicle purchases. "We're going to see more and more parts of the economy align around this ambition," Zaidi said. Congress has approved billions of dollars in new incentives, low-cost loans and other funding for EV production and $5 billion for charging stations. The administration has come under criticism from some automakers and foreign governments for restricting credits to North American-made EVs and imposing new battery sourcing rules. Some consumers are still confused about whether they will qualify for EV credits. President Joe Biden has set a goal for 50% of U.S. auto production by 2030 to be electric or plug-in electric hybrid vehicles but has not joined California and others in calling for phasing out the sale of new gas vehicles by 2035. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Christopher Cushing) WASHINGTON President Joe Biden is considering a trip to Europe next month to coincide with the anniversary of Russias invasion of Ukraine, said three administration officials and a person familiar with the discussions. Multiple locations are under consideration, including Poland, two of the sources said. The White House is exploring ways Biden might mark the milestone in the Ukraine war, the sources said. The goal, they said, is for him to use the moment to draw attention to Ukraines resilience against Russias brutal military campaign and to reaffirm U.S. solidarity with the Ukrainian people as the conflict enters a new phase. Biden administration officials have also discussed announcing another major military aid package for Ukraine to coincide with the anniversary, three U.S. officials said. No final decisions about on the presidents travel have been made, the administration officials and the person familiar with the discussions said. Asked about a potential presidential trip to Europe next month around the Ukraine war anniversary, a spokesperson for the National Security Council said in a statement, We dont currently have any travel plans for the anniversary. An administration official said, Planning for the anniversary is underway, and of course we are exploring a variety of options that the U.S. can do to support Ukraine, but nothing is set or decided upon yet. A Ukrainian soldier of an artillery unit fires towards Russian positions outside Bakhmut on Nov. 8, 2022. (Bulent Kilic / AFP - Getty Images) Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. Just weeks later, in March, Biden made a hastily planned trip to Brussels and Poland in an early attempt to show the U.S. would stand united with Ukraine and Americas allies against Russia. The U.S. and Europe have since largely remained in lockstep on a response to isolate Russian President Vladimir Putin and squeeze Russias economy through economic sanctions. But none of those steps have coerced Russia to pull back in Ukraine, as Putin continues to target civilian areas and Ukrainian infrastructure. A visit to Europe next month would allow Biden to engage in personal diplomacy with key leaders on the continent as he works to maintain unity within the U.S.-European alliance while the war continues for what some U.S. officials estimate could be many more months. Story continues The Biden administration has significantly ramped up the scale and scope of its military aid in recent weeks to help the Ukrainians prepare for a new offensive against Russia expected this spring. On Wednesday, Biden reversed his administrations position on sending Abrams tanks to Ukraine, although the tanks are not expected to arrive for months, if not a year. The move was designed to maintain unity among the U.S-European alliance and help secure a decision by Germany to send its own Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. Already this month, the U.S. has provided Ukraine with more than $6 billion in military aid. Bidens announced the Abrams tank decision after he decided this month to send Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine. And last month, he announced the U.S. would provide Ukraine with a Patriot missile defense system. That announcement coincided with a dramatic visit to Washington by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who met with Biden at the White House and addressed a joint meeting of Congress. Should Biden decide to visit Europe next month, one goal would be to create a moment similarly as symbolically meaningful and strategically effective as Zelenskyys visit to Washington was in maintaining momentum for supporting Ukraine, the person familiar with the discussions said. Among the ideas being considered is for Biden to deliver a speech that captures this critical point in the war and outlines the need to remain united going forward, this person said. When Biden traveled to Europe last March, he delivered a speech in Poland, where he said controversially that Putin cannot remain in power. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The Biden administration extended a program on Thursday that protects Hong Kong residents in the U.S. from deportation, less than two weeks before it was set to expire. The two-year extension of the program the Deferred Enforced Departure for Certain Hong Kong Citizens means that Hong Kongers who would otherwise be deported for having overstayed the duration of their original visas can remain in the U.S. until Jan. 26, 2025. The DED had been set to expire on Feb. 5, and the administration had been under pressure from a number of Democratic lawmakers in recent weeks to extend the program due to concerns about worsening repression in Hong Kong. The White House has also expanded the number of people who may benefit from DED by allowing any Hong Kong residents present in the U.S. today, Jan. 26, to apply for the program. With this action, we are demonstrating again President Bidens strong support for the people of Hong Kong in the face of increasing repression by the PRC, the National Security Council said in a statement. U.S.-based pro-democracy activists who have been lobbying the White House for months to extend DED welcomed the White House decision. Hong Kongers in the U.S. can breathe a sigh of relief, said Samuel Chu, president of the nonprofit The Campaign for Hong Kong. The expanded eligibility criteria means that even more lives will be preserved and protected from persecution, rigged trials, long jail sentences, and loss of freedom, Chu said. The Chinese government has bristled at the deportation protection provided to Hong Kong residents in the U.S. "The U.S. provided so-called 'safe haven' for anti-China insurgents fleeing overseas under the pretext of democracy and human rights, further exposing its sinister intention to jeopardize the peace of Hong Kong and to use the 'Hong Kong card' to contain China's development," Chinese embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said in a statement earlier this month. Story continues The Biden administration first issued the deportation reprieve in August 2021, due to concerns about the significant erosion of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong. It granted an estimated 3,860 Hong Kong citizens present in the U.S. on that date the right to live and work in the U.S. for 18 months. But repression in the territory has worsened during that time as government authorities have launched a prolonged crackdown to silence democracy activists and muzzle media. Police enforcement of the National Security Law,which imposes severe penalties for ambiguously defined crimes including subversion and collusion with foreign countrieshas led to the arrests of more than 160 people since June 2020 for crimes including organizing informal public opinion polls. Lawyers who represent victims of human rights abuses are fleeing the territory in the face of threats and intimidation. The NSC said in its statement that Beijing is using the National Security Law to deny the people of Hong Kong their human rights and fundamental freedoms, undermine Hong Kongs autonomy, and chip away at Hong Kongs remaining democratic processes and institutions. House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) urged the White House earlier this month to take immediate steps to extend the program. Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) called for a DED extension of another 18 months at a minimum, in a letter last week. Hong Kong pro-democracy activists are seeking congressional support to grant Temporary Protected Status to Hong Kongers to eliminate the uncertainty of DED extensions. Renewing DED is the bare minimum, said Anna Kwok, executive director of the nonprofit Hong Kong Democracy Council. It resets a countdown clock for Hong Kongers in the U.S. until the next wave of uncertainty and anxiety inevitably hits. President Joe Bidens decision to send tanks to Ukraine marked a new chapter in the United States commitment to Kyiv, one reflecting a growing belief that the war could stretch years and require extraordinary measures to hold an alliance together to repel Russia. The 31 Abrams tanks that Biden pledged Wednesday underscore where the conflict stands as it approaches its one-year mark. It also gives hints as to where the administration sees it going. The American vehicles may not be usable on the frontlines for nearly a year, but they helped push a reluctant Germany to send its own tanks that could arrive sooner to help counter an expected Russian spring offensive. Maintaining diplomatic ties with European allies, American officials have realized, will take on paramount importance as Russian president Vladimir Putin shows no signs of relenting despite repeated setbacks. The punishing conflict appears poised to last long into the foreseeable future shadowing Bidens likely reelection campaign and testing Europes resolve in the face of compounding economic woes. Putin expected Europe and the United States to weaken our resolve. He expected our support for Ukraine to crumble with time. He was wrong, Biden said Wednesday. We are united. America is united and so is the world. Yet, with Biden potentially weeks from announcing his reelection bid, a war with no end in sight threatens to loom over him on the trail. Bidens national security team including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and national security adviser Jake Sullivan are all remaining in their posts, for now. His incoming chief of staff, Jeff Zients, is preparing to take over his new job shortly after the State of the Union early next month. Biden aides see the war as a winning 2024 issue for the president, who has framed the conflict as a battle for democracy. Though Biden aides dont expect the war to be one of the top issues heading into the next election, polling suggests that the public backs the president. A new Ipsos poll released this week shows that a majority of Americans favor keeping the weapons supply line to Ukraine open while keeping the U.S. military off the battlefield. Story continues In last years congressional lame duck session, the White House secured funding for Ukraine that should last for several months. Although the new GOP House majority has threatened to cut off or curtail future aid, the West Wing is already plotting to lobby mainstream Republicans to vote for future assistance. Opposing aid to Ukraine may help you win some votes in a Republican primary. But its still a terrible way to win votes in a general election, said former Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.). To this day, there are a heck of a lot more Ukraine flags flying in my New Jersey district than Trump flags, even in the more conservative areas. Still, some senior congressional Democrats fear that conditions on the ground in Ukraine could eventually hurt Biden's narrative. They worry that if Russia makes gains, or if Ukraine simply fails to advance further by the fall, voters will wonder why the administration expended so much money, weapons and time propping Ukraine up at all. All the talk of standing up for democracy, they fear, will mean little if Kyiv is on the back foot while Moscow gains strength. The tanks, therefore, represent the wars short and long-term realities colliding. Deploying the Abrams pried Leopard tanks from Germany, beginning their journey to Ukraine. The decision to send tanks comes as Russia is mobilizing more troops, safeguarding supply lines and refining their tactics. A new victory in Soledar on Wednesday put Moscow one step closer to seizing the strategic eastern city of Bakhmut. Biden will have to, at once, manage a long-haul war and a two-year campaign. Senior administration officials arent too worried about the politics part. Opponents are saying were doing too much or not enough. That suggests our approach is just right. Were confident in our approach, and this is a debate were ready to have, one of them said. But the military components will be far more tricky to manage. American officials estimate that it could be many months, and potentially a year, to fully get Ukrainian troops to use the Abrams, signifying the expanding belief that the war will still be raging at that time. The German-made Leopards, however, could be in Ukraine within three months. The more powerful vehicles may also, U.S. officials believe, help Ukraine to tilt the fighting in the east and mount its own counteroffensive. But Russia still controls about 20 percent of Ukraine, and the officials believe the Ukrainian goal of retaking Crimea, which Russia took by force in 2014, remains unlikely and may deter Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from sitting across the table from Russian negotiators. A prolonged war and a lack of clear progress could threaten to tear European unity apart and cause public support for Ukraine to fall on both sides of the Atlantic, administration aides fear. For now, Bidens decision to tie the Abrams transfer to Germanys Leopards decision has kept the allies in lockstep. German chancellor Olaf Scholz had been reluctant to unilaterally send the tanks, which can be deployed much more quickly than the Abrams. For weeks, Washington and Berlin held secret talks, trying to push Scholz to send the tanks, which would also allow other European nations to deploy Leopards from their own arsenals. Poland, along with the Baltic States, stands closer to the fighting. They had said they would send their own tanks if Scholz approved, throwing a normally technical dispute into an open, bitter diplomatic melee. Biden, meanwhile, moved on two tracks, according to two U.S. officials. He knew Ukraine needed Leopards on the battlefield immediately, but no one would see them on Ukraines muddy terrain unless he gave Scholz the political cover he needed. So after a final recommendation from Austin whose Defense Department had previously called sending Abrams to Ukraine a bad idea Biden moved to approve the tanks and linked the announcement with Scholzs own declaration. Scholz agreed to send his tanks Wednesday morning in Berlin. Hours later at the White House, Biden did the same. The Abrams tanks are not going to be in Ukraine in time for a spring offensive. So it seems we're ready to commit to Ukraine for the long haul, said Rachel Rizzo, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Europe Center. But you can see the importance, too, of the U.S. role in managing the relationship with Germany and also Germany's relationships with its European allies. Biden, who entered office determined to rebuild trust with transatlantic allies and was scarred by four years of Donald Trumps treatment of Europe, has long backed Scholz. When the new chancellor visited Washington last February, just ahead of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Biden defended Scholz from sharp questioning during a White House press conference over the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline project that was nearly complete. And since the war began, he has made it a point of incrementally escalating the Wests involvement in the war, hand-in-hand with NATO allies. Scholz is afraid of escalation by Russia, and if it's clear these German tanks are being sent with the U.S., then the U.S shares that risk, said Thorsten Benner, director of the Global Public Policy Institute, a think tank in Berlin, who warned that the next American election may change the support from across the Atlantic. Europeans should remember that the Biden administration will probably be seen as the last truly transatlantic minded administration. We'll never have it as good as we have it with Grandfather Biden taking care of our needs, and that has to sink in in Europe. On today's episode of the 5 Things podcast: Biden announces US will send Abrams tanks to Ukraine, signaling new phase of war USA TODAY Pentagon Reporter Tom Vanden Brook explains what the U.S. decision to send dozens of modern tanks to Ukraine means for the war. Plus, the identities of several California shooting victims have been released, opening arguments were given in the double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, Meta says it will reinstate Donald Trump on Facebook and Instagram, and Pope Francis says that homosexuality is a sin, not a crime. Podcasts: True crime, in-depth interviews and more USA TODAY podcasts right here. Hit play on the player above to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript below. This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text. Taylor Wilson: Good morning. I'm Taylor Wilson and this is 5 Things you need to know Thursday, the 26th of January 2023. Today, what this week's US tanks announcement means for the war in Ukraine. Plus, the latest on a murder trial of a prominent former South Carolina lawyer, and Pope Francis says homosexuality is not a crime. The US is preparing to send frontline battle tanks to Ukraine and it could signal a new phase of the war. For more, I'm now joined by USA TODAY Pentagon correspondent Tom Vanden Brook. Tom, thanks so much for coming on the podcast. Tom Vanden Brook: Good to be here, Taylor. Taylor Wilson: So President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that the US will send these frontline battle tanks to Ukraine. This is a reversal from his previous reluctance to send the vehicles. So I guess the most sensible question here is, why is the Biden administration changing its mind now? Tom Vanden Brook: Well, I think what's going on is there's some changes on the battlefield that they're reacting to. And there's a concern that Russia has been sending tens of thousands of conscripts and reinforcements to the frontline in Eastern Ukraine. And there's a concern that they'll break out sometime in March with an offensive, and that the Ukrainians won't have the armor to defend themselves. So now is the time to move tanks there. And in doing so, in pledging Abrams tanks, it gives the Germans cover to provide their top version of a tank called the Leopard 2. They were waiting for the US to send Abrams tanks before doing that. Not coincidentally, the Germans announced today that they're doing that. So it's all of a piece with that. Story continues Taylor Wilson: Tom, tell us a little about these tanks themselves. For those of us who maybe don't know a ton about military technology or vehicles, how sophisticated are they and what do these tanks mean for warfare there on the ground in Ukraine? Tom Vanden Brook: Well, at the moment they mean a lot. There's like about a 600, 700 mile front that they're fighting along and it's mostly open rolling terrain, and they've been just having an artillery duel between the two sides, firing thousands of shells at each other each day. Really fierce fighting. But to make a movement out of that, they need to have armored vehicles that aren't going to get necessarily blown up by artillery shells. And they need to be able to maneuver on the ground with armor. And the way to do that is with tanks. And the best tanks out there are Abrams and these Leopards, which are sophisticated and fast and are an overmatch for what the Russians are fielding. Taylor Wilson: So what does this new commitment mean going forward, specifically for the US involvement in this war? Tom Vanden Brook: Well I think what it shows, Taylor, is that unfortunately there's no real end in sight to this. There's going to be fierce fighting. It's going to get worse in the spring, and we are making sure that the Ukrainians have the ability to fight back what looks to be a major offensive by Russia. And also it will give them the ability, the Ukrainians the ability to take back some of the territory that Russia seized beginning last February. By sending tanks, US tanks, it deepens the US commitment to Ukraine and further pushes them away from Russian tanks that they used and brings them closer into using Western equipment, NATO equipment. So it deepens those ties with the West. Taylor Wilson: Tom Vanden Brook covers the Pentagon for USA TODAY. Thanks so much Tom, great insight and really appreciate your time. Tom Vanden Brook: Thanks Taylor, appreciate it. Taylor Wilson: A farm worker accused of opening fire at a pair of Northern California mushroom farms has been denied bail and charged with seven counts of murder. The 66 year old, if found guilty, faces life in prison or possibly even the death penalty. The identities of six of the seven victims were released yesterday by the San Mateo County Coroner's Office. They are 74 year old Ai Xiang Zhang, 73 year old Zhi Shen Liu, 66 year old Qi Zhong Cheng, 64 year old Jing Zhi Lu, 50 year old Marciano Martinez Jimenez, and 43 year old Ye Tao Bing. They were all farm workers. You can read more about their stories and the investigation after this week's multiple shootings in California at USATODAY.com. Opening arguments have been given in the double murder trial involving prominent former South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh. Prosecutors allege that he killed his wife and son. In an opening statement, lead prosecutor Creighton Waters went through evidence that the state will present, including cell phone data, ballistic evidence and video statements from Alex Murdaugh himself. On the other side, defense attorney Dick Harpootlian began his arguments by saying his client is innocent, and that a Snapchat video taken by his son an hour before the killings showed the pair having a good time and that it wouldn't be believable that Murdaugh killed him a short time later. In addition to the double murder, Murdaugh has been indicted on more than a hundred alleged crimes including money laundering, drug trafficking, and a botched life insurance scheme. For more, go back and listen to the Monday episode of 5 Things where we outline the trial and some of the Murdaugh family's backstory. Facebook's parent company Meta says it'll reinstate Donald Trump's accounts on both Facebook and Instagram in the coming weeks. The former president has not been allowed to post on either of the platforms since his accounts were shut down after the January 6th capital attack. Twitter previously lifted his ban there in November, but he hasn't tweeted since. Instead, Trump has relied on his Truth Social app, which has a more limited reach. It's not clear if he'll continue to primarily use Truth Social, though he has contractual obligations to first post on there with some exceptions. For now, Trump also remains banned on YouTube. Pope Francis says that homosexuality is not a crime. In an exclusive interview with the Associated Press, he said that homosexuality is a sin for Catholic worshipers. But that laws that criminalize being gay are unjust. Speaking in Spanish, the head of the Catholic Church said that it's important to make a distinction between sin and crime. He also said that Catholic leaders around the world should choose tenderness, as he said "God has for each one of us." And the Pope said the church should work to end laws that criminalize being gay. 67 countries and jurisdictions do so. And in the US, more than a dozen states still have anti-sodomy laws, though the Supreme Court ruled in 2003 that the statutes are unconstitutional. Pope Francis has previously endorsed civil unions and last year he called on parents around the world to never condemn their children if they're gay. His comments yesterday were praised by several LGBTQ advocacy groups. Thanks for listening to 5 Things. We're here every morning of the week, right here, wherever you're listening right now. I'm back tomorrow with more of 5 Things from USA TODAY. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden pledges tanks to Ukraine, Meta to reinstate Trump: 5 Things podcast WASHINGTON The White House relented Wednesday after months of pleas from Ukraine for the Pentagon's most lethal armored vehicle: the Abrams tank. President Joe Biden announced the transfer of 31 Abrams to thwart an anticipated Russian spring offensive and galvanize European allies. Fighting this winter has been described by a senior U.S. military official as "savage," likening it to World War I trench warfare. Analysts expect Russia to mount what could be a fierce offensive in a campaign to end Ukraines string of battlefield successes in recent months and reverse the heavy troop and territorial losses Russia suffered in the first year of fighting. Ukrainian servicemen attend combat training in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. Since the war began, the White House and Pentagon have sought to supply Ukraine with the weapons it needs to resist President Vladimir Putin's aggression without sparking a wider war in Europe. Yet Biden's announcement Wednesday also signals that the war, launched with a militarily unprovoked invasion and soon to enter its second year, shows no sign of ending. After more than 100,000 casualties on each side, it's about to get even bloodier. "From a military standpoint, this is a very, very difficult fight," Army Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said recently. "This fight stretches all the way from right now ... from Kharkiv down to Kherson, and there's significant fighting ongoing." How did we get here? In the fall, Ukrainian forces, using sophisticated, accurate rocket artillery supplied by the Pentagon, chased Russian forces from large portions of land seized in the early the war. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed Congress in December, thanking the United States for its contributions but stressing more was needed. Abrams tanks have been near the top of the Ukrainian wish list. Some in the Biden administration had resisted sending the tanks, fearing it would provoke Putin, said Seth Jones, senior vice president and director of the international security program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Those concerns were misplaced, he said, and have been overtaken by the concern that Russia is poised to make significant gains this spring. Story continues "It would look really bad if Russia makes advances on the ground, and we could have helped by supplying tanks," Jones said. What do Abrams and Leopards provide? Biden said that sending the 31 Abrams tanks is the equivalent of one Ukrainian battalion. M1 Abrams tanks, and the near-simultaneous commitment of western allies to provide their own advanced armor, including, importantly Germany's Leopard 2, almost assures that. Germany and other European allies will outfit two Ukrainian battalions with tanks. A U.S. tank battalion has about 60 tanks. The Abrams, with a 120mm cannon, robust armor protection and mobility will outgun and outrun Russian and many of its Soviet-era tanks. Germany's Leopard is also a modern, highly capable tank. "They are better than Soviet tanks, plus the Ukrainians will be trained better," said Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow and director of research in foreign policy at the Brookings Institution. Putin 'wont stop' with Ukraine: Why Americans should care about Russia's aggression against its neighbor What's happening in Russia's war in Ukraine? Conditions on the battlefield have changed in recent weeks, John Kirby, the National Security Councils coordinator for strategic communication, told reporters Wednesday. For months, the Ukrainian and Russian forces have waged a deadly artillery duel along a mostly static front that stretches about 700 miles in eastern Ukraine. During that time, Putin has sent tens of thousands of conscripts as reinforcements and for what is expected to be a new offensive this spring. These tanks are meant to help Ukraine fight effectively on open terrain, to defend their sovereignty and their territory and to win back territory that the Russians have taken from them, Kirby said. 'Senseless barbarism': Russia pummels Ukraine's power and water sectors: Live updates Will the war in Ukraine end soon? Help is on the way. But it will take months to arrive. Unlike many recent announcements of military aid to Ukraine, including last week's batch of $2.5 billion in arms, the Pentagon won't rely on its existing stocks to supply Abrams. The $400 million package of Abrams tanks, recovery vehicles and spare parts will be procured through contracts. That will take time. The process will take "many months," Kirby said, although the Leopards will arrive sooner. Meantime, Ukrainian soldiers will train to use the Abrams so they'll be able to take them into combat soon after they're fielded. Which is to say, there's no end in sight to the war. I think we need to prepare ourselves to have to continue to support Ukraine for quite some time, Kirby said. Along with Abrams, the Pentagon has recently begun sending Bradley and Stryker armored personnel carriers the vanguard of U.S. ground attack forces. 'There are no minor incursions': Ukrainian president rebukes Biden over remarks on Russian invasion Will Putin retaliate against U.S. for sending M1 Abrams tanks? How Putin responds to Russian tanks being shredded by U.S. heavy armor will be closely watched. The White House and Pentagon have calibrated aid to Ukraine, gradually increasing the lethality and sophistication of the weaponry it has provided. The weapons need to pack enough punch to help Ukrainian soldiers resist Russian advances but not too much to prompt Putin to lash out a NATO ally in Europe, potentially widening the war. U.S. aid began with shoulder-fired anti-tank and aircraft missiles, ratcheted up last summer to highly accurate rocket-assisted artillery and is being capped off now with top-of-the line American armor. Since Feb. 2022, the U.S. has provided nearly $28 billion in military aid to Ukraine. Putin's potential response is factored into all types of lethal aid provided to Ukraine, according to U.S. official who described the administration's approach on condition of anonymity. Abrams tanks have not been deemed overly provocative, the official said. The tanks, Biden said, won't challenge Russia's sovereignty. "There is no offensive threat to Russia," Biden told reporters. Abrams and Leopards, however, will raise the stakes for Putin of continuing the war. "The costs for Russia most likely will only continue to mount, whether because a lack of boots on the ground, further economic decline from sanctions, or outright political protest," said Will Pomeranz, director of the Wilson Centers Kennan Institute, a think tank dedicated to Russian and Eurasia research. "If this is a war of attrition, then the arrival of new equipment from the U.S. and Germany can only be cause for optimism for Ukraine. Propaganda machine: Russias firehose of falsehood in Ukraine marks latest use of propaganda to try to justify war This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Delivery of M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine pushes Biden closer to conflict A new bill is being proposed through Kenyas senate to block employers from interfering with the work-life balance of their employees through calls, text messages, emails, or assignments past working hours, weekends, and public holidays. The Employment (Amendment) Bill, sponsored by Nandi senator Samson Cherarkey, seeks to give Kenyan workers the the right to disconnect in the digital age and protect them against employers who subject them to extra work without pay, this year. Read more The bill states: Where an employer contacts an employee during the period when there is no mutually agreed out-of-work hours, the employee (a) shall not be obliged to respond and shall have the right to disconnect; and (b) may choose to respond, for which the employee shall be entitled to get compensation. Inside Kenyas Employment Amendment Bill As Kenyas future of work keeps drifting to online spaces thanks to lower cost of internet and devices, the bill notes that constant digital connectivity is eroding leisure time for employees hence affecting their work-life balance. To correct that, the bill aims to create a much needed balance between work and private life to allow digital technology to have a positive effect on workers quality of life. Firms with over 10 employees shall be required to consult their employees or trade unions when formulating their out-of-work policies. Employers who breach the law will be fined $4,000. The earliest the bill can be tabled to the senate is on Feb. 13 when lawmakers resume from recess. As per Kenyas law making procedures, it will go through all readings at the senate for 90 days. If approved, it will be tabled to the national assembly where it will take another 90 days before presidential assent. If passed into law, Kenya shall become the first African country to protect employees against burnout, fatigue, and hours of unpaid work, allowing them more time with their families. France effected a similar law in 2017, with research showing that more leisure time translates to higher productivity during working hours. Story continues The challenge with the right to disconnect in Kenya But those who fight for the right to disconnect can easily slide into quiet quitting and get earmarked for the next wave of retrenchments among Kenyan companies, which tend to promote employees who go above and beyond the outlines of their job descriptions. With the countrys economy wobbling amid rampant inflation and soaring youth unemployment, the right to disconnect may not work as there might be many Kenyans who are ready to work for free during overtime as long as it attracts future employment. Those already under-employed see it as an opportunity to rise to get better employment terms in future. Such a Bill in a country that is struggling to attract investments? Paul Momanyi Nyaosi (@paulmoms) January 25, 2023 On Fridays, I carry files home to work on during the weekend. Im not paid for it but I know my diligence will earn me better pay in future, Susan Gituku, a credit officer at a Nairobi-based microfinance told Quartz. Kenyan law allows a maximum of 40 working hours for a five-day week (eight per day) but some companies extend that to 12 hours a day in pursuit of profits. Another hurdle is that such a law can never be universally applied across all sectors, with people working as emergency medical staff, journalists, electricians, plumbers, fire fighters, security personnel, and drivers being forced by the nature of their jobs to work during odd hours, sometimes to save lives and livelihoods. Executive director of the Federation of Kenyan Employers Jacqueline Mugo disagrees with the tenets of the right to switch-off from work, saying the bill will create indiscipline among employees, hurt the countrys micro-economy, and prevent the creation of new job opportunities in the public and private sectors. [It will] introduce new stringent measures that will curtail the prerogative to manage enterprises by the owners. This will automatically pose a challenge to industrial relations in Kenya, she says. More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Some sex offenders in New Mexico could be required to undergo chemical castration as a condition of their parole, under a bill proposed by state lawmakers there. Chemical castration involves taking medication to reduce testosterone, hormones and other chemicals that drive libido. The bill's sponsors include freshman Republican lawmaker John Block, who told USA TODAY Thursday House Bill 128 would be a "commonsense step" to protect children from pedophiles. New Mexico marks the latest state to propose using drugs in an effort to reduce recidivism among child sex offenders. More than a half-dozen other states already have similar laws in place. What New Mexico's chemical castration bill says The proposed legislation would require sex offenders, convicted of crimes involving children, who are eligible for parole to pay for their own chemical castration. If a person cannot afford the treatment, the fees would be waived. Here are the details: A person required to undergo the treatment would begin the process at least one month prior to their release from a correctional facility. The treatment would continue until a court determines it is no longer necessary. The therapy would be administered by the New Mexico Department of Health and parolees would be required to allow the Health Department to share their medical records with the state Parole Board. Criminals who stop the process before a court determines it is no longer necessary will be charged with a fourth-degree felony for being in violation of their parole. The Prison Policy Initiative found that New Mexico incarcerates 773 people per 100,000 total population, and if one imagines the state as an independent country, it would have the 19th highest per capita incarceration rate in the world. Who sponsored it State Rep. Stefani Lord, who cosponsored the bill, said the proposed legislation was aimed directly at offenders who have sexually abused children. "Since pedophiles are eligible for early release in New Mexico, for that privilege, they will need to agree to be chemically castrated as a condition of their parole," the Republican lawmaker said Thursday. "If they don't agree to these terms, they can stay in prison, away from society, and do their entire sentence." Story continues Block added: "With clear science and support from experts in favor of chemical castration of pedophiles, this is the most commonsense legislation to ensure the threat of these criminals is dramatically reduced. What states is chemical castration legal in? Several other states have already passed chemical castration laws including California, the first state to legalize the measure. The state's 1996 law applies to sex offenders who victimize children under the age of 13. Most recently, in 2019, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed the measure into law. Also on the list: Florida Iowa Georgia Louisiana Montana Oregon Texas Wisconsin More: Violent West Virginia prison plagued by officer shortages, pushing staffers to exhaustion Chemical castration may violate constitutional rights, critics say Colleen Glenn, a criminal defense attorney Florida, told USA TODAY there could be a challenge in the state under the Eighth Amendment, as the measure may be perceived as cruel and unusual punishment for someone who has served their time. "The use of chemical castration, while seemingly effective for those with uncontrollable sexual desires, is still controversial, and is associated with harmful side effects in addition to blurring the lines between punishment and treatment," Glenn said. Despite the Eighth Amendment considerations, Glenn said, some defendants actually request chemical castration in exchange for reducing their sentences. "Numerous states have passed legislation allowing chemical castration for sex offenders but the issue becomes more complicated for those defendants whose crimes were not motivated by an uncontrollable sexual desire," Glenn said. Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chemical castration for sex offenders in New Mexico proposed in bill Elgin resident Aaron Madrid writes down an idea Tuesday for how city-owned land along North Grove Avenue might be used at a community meeting to discuss redevelopment of the 38-acre site. (Gloria Casas / The Courier-News) Robin Migalla sat at a table Tuesday night watching a slideshow on how 38 acres of Elgin-owned property on North Grove Avenue might be redeveloped and realized just what a big project the city was undertaking. This could transform Elgin, said Migalla, who has lived in city for 50 years. Advertisement Her opinion is it should be a mixed-use development, with residential and retail on one side and open space preserved for public use along the portion facing the Fox River. I like the concept of mixed use where you have a neighborhood grocery store that meets your needs so we dont have to have cars to live, Migalla said. Lets take the world back to before fossil fuel and the automotive industry had control over our lives. Advertisement The meeting held at the Edward Schock Centre of Elgin was the first in which community input was solicited for the North Grove Avenue Redevelopment Area. Residents were asked to share their opinions with city leaders and consultants from Lamar Johnson Collaborative, hired to assist the city in the planning process. Interactive stations were set up to show different aspects of the property, which includes several properties north of Kimball Street, and to obtain feedback on different ideas for possible development. Themes centered on things like site anchors, housing, open space, connectivity, mixed uses and the Fox River. It could be something no one else has, Ferhat Zerin, of Ginkgo Planning and Design, told attendees. She was helping guide discussions on a plan in which conservation would be the focus and uses could include a park or some sort of destination for residents and visitors. Prayag Bagde, a Lamar Johnson urban designer, was at another table where residents were directed to use stickers to vote on the uses theyd like to see be part of the new development. Its important to bring residents together and give them a way to voice their concerns and ideas, which they seemed to appreciate, Bagde said. Aaron Madrid said he was intrigued by a note someone posted with the word badeschiff. He learned its a German word that means bathing ship and refers to the floating public swimming pool set up in the River Spree in Berlin. An Elgin native, Madrid said he thinks its important the site include open land because he doesnt believe theres enough in the city. Retail and dining should remain in and around downtown, he said. Advertisement There was a lot of interest, based on the informal votes, in using some of the land for a new grocery store. Shared Harvest, a community-owned co-op, is hoping it might be able to open a store within the North Avenue area and has been urging supporters to say they want a grocery business there when they fill out the citys online survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/FXMDRZV. The survey deadline is Jan. 31. Migalla supports the idea, saying she want to see the area developed in such a way it moves Elgin toward more sustainability. Im hoping enough people understand that we are in an environmental crisis. We cant continue to ignore it. ... Let us set the precedent. Let us be leaders. Along the riverfront, she said shed like there to be a locally owned kayak rental business so the waterway can be enjoyed for recreation. The area needs to belong to the people. I dont want this turned over to some corporation, Migalla said. Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News. A bipartisan group of House lawmakers introduced legislation on Wednesday to designate Russian mercenary company Wagner Group as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). The Holding Accountable Russian Mercenaries (HARM) Act, sponsored by nine members of the lower chamber, would require the State Department to designate the Wagner Group an FTO within 90 days of becoming law. The lawmakers cited the paramilitary companys history of human rights violations in Africa and ongoing deployment of private soldiers in Ukraine to fight with Russia, adding that the Wagner Group has received weapons from North Korea, a U.S.-designated state sponsor of terrorism. Where the Wagner Group operates, atrocities follow, said Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) in a statement. The HARM Act will identify Putins private mercenary group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and let the world know that its activities are both malign and illegal. The Biden administration designated the Wagner Group as a transnational criminal organization last week and announced countries and entities supporting it would run afoul of the U.S. government. But an FTO designation would authorize the U.S. to slap criminal penalties on entities supporting Wagner Group, according to the lawmakers sponsoring the HARM Act. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) said in a statement the Biden administrations designation does not go far enough against Wagner, adding it should use the FTO label to expose them in their true state as a murderous, criminal enterprise. The Wagner Group has been engaging in nefarious atrocities around the globe, all at the behest of war criminal Putin and his cronies, Wilson said. Legislation to designate the Wagner Group an FTO was also introduced last year in both the House and Senate. There was a standoff between the Biden administration and some U.S. lawmakers last year over designating Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. Story continues The administration said the designation, which comes with a raft of restrictions and penalties, could do more harm than good for Ukraine. Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, formed the Wagner Group in 2014. The mercenary outfit has since meddled in conflicts across the world, from Africa to Syria and now Ukraine, where Wagner forces are fighting alongside Russian soldiers in the eastern Donetsk region. In November, the European Parliament passed a resolution urging the European Council to adopt a measure that would place Wagner Group on an EU terrorist list. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), who is vying for a Senate seat in 2024, also sponsored the HARM Act and called for rebuking mercenary terrorist organizations like the Wagner Group. While Ukrainians stand up for freedom and democracy, the Wagner Group stands with authoritarian regimes like Russia, Gallego said in a statement. Declaring them a Foreign Terrorist Organization is a commonsense step to hold them accountable for their atrocities in Ukraine and across the globe. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Simon Lewis WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Washington is concerned the security situation between the Israelis and Palestinians could worsen ahead of a visit to the Middle East by Secretary of State Antony Blinken starting on Sunday, a U.S. official said, after a deadly raid by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank on Thursday. The top U.S. diplomat will travel to Egypt, Israel and the West Bank amid spiraling tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. The visit was announced just hours after Israeli commandos killed seven gunmen and two civilians in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian officials, the largest single death toll in years of fighting. The top U.S. State Department official on the Middle East, Barbara Leaf, said the reported civilian deaths were "quite regrettable." "And then obviously there is the potential for things to worsen in security terms," Leaf told reporters on a telephone briefing, adding she had spoken several times to U.S. ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides, as well as to Israeli and Palestinian officials, on Thursday morning. The United States was urging de-escalation and coordination between Israeli and Palestinian security forces, Leaf said, even as the Palestinian authority said it was ending cooperation with Israel in the wake of the raid. Blinken's visit is his first since Netanyahu's new right-wing government came to power after elections in November, stirring concern at home and abroad given some coalition members' opposition to Palestinian statehood and other hard-line views. Announcing Blinken's visit, the State Department said that in meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Blinken will discuss the importance of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, among other issues. Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement that Blinken would also discuss the importance of upholding the status quo around the Haram al-Sharif or Temple Mount, where a visit by Itamar Ben-Gvir, the new far-right security minister, recently stirred outrage among Palestinians. The decades-old status quo allows only Muslim worship at the compound, a site also revered by Jews. Story continues Blinken's trip comes on the heels of a visit by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan to Israel last week, where he discussed the war in Ukraine and concerns over U.S. regional adversary Iran's support for Russia's invasion through the provision of drones. While Israel has condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it has limited its assistance to Kyiv to humanitarian aid and protective gear. In Cairo, Blinken will meet with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and other Egyptian officials, aimed at strengthening the two countries' strategic partnership and bolstering their shared support for elections in Libya and talks to form a civilian government in Sudan after a 2021 military coup, Price said. (Reporting by Simon Lewis; Additional reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Jonathan Oatis and Daniel Wallis) (Bloomberg) -- Brazil will punish all those involved in the Jan. 8 insurrection against the new government of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to ensure attacks against its democratic institutions never happen again, according to Defense Minister Jose Mucio Monteiro. Most Read from Bloomberg Latin Americas largest democracy is still healing after supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro, unwilling to accept his narrow defeat in last years election, vandalized congress, the top court and the presidential palace in Brasilia just a week after Lulas inauguration. The episode triggered international outrage and a crisis between the government and Brazilian security forces, including the military. The rioters attacked our democracy, Mucio, a seasoned politician whos always had a good relationship with Lula and many generals, said during an interview in his cabinet Wednesday. All those involved will be punished, and need to be punished so such episodes do not repeat themselves. Mucios emphasis on the need for punishment contrasts with his initial and softer strategy to deal with anti-Lula protesters and Brazils military an institution that became deeply involved in the government of the previous president, himself a former army captain. Since Bolsonaros defeat last October, his supporters had been camping in front of army headquarters across the country, demanding a military intervention to stop the new government from taking office. Read More: Lulas Ties With Military Are Strained by Crackdown on Rioters Mucios appointment by Lula marked the return of a civilian to the defense ministry, which controls the armed forces. Yet he didnt immediately order the army to disperse pro-Bolsonaro campgrounds, betting they would die down with time. His non-confrontational approach was heavily criticized within Lulas coalition when it became clear that the camps were also sheltering radicals plotting to unseat the president. Story continues Mucio survived calls for his resignation with Lulas public support, and on Jan. 21 fired the head of the army, General Julio Cesar de Arruda. He declined to comment on the criticism from Lulas allies but described the dismissal of Arruda as necessary to reset relations between the new government and the military. Lula had complained publicly that the army, under its former chief, had done nothing to defend the presidential palace from rioters. His criticism, coupled with the potential punishment of military officials involved in the riots, risks further straining ties with the armed forces. Mucios strategy to reduce tensions relies on his new pick for commander of the troops, Tomas Miguel Ribeiro Paiva, a general who has been vocal in his defense of election results and the apolitical role of the armed forces. Paiva is being instrumental to reorganize the relationship between government and the military, Mucio said, adding that those changes will take some time to consolidate. We are now in a process of pacification, he said. I am certain that what happened on Jan. 8 will not happen again. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Rege-Jean Page is an actor best known for his role on "Bridgerton." Mitch Haaseth/Getty Images According to a UK-based plastic surgeon, Rege-Jean Page is the most handsome man in the world. Dr. Julian De Silva measured Page's face against the "golden ratio." However, there's no scientific evidence that the ratio signifies beauty. According to a UK-based plastic surgeon, actor Rege-Jean Page is the most handsome man in the world, given his face's alignment with the Greek "golden ratio." Dr. Julian De Silva, whose website describes him as a facial cosmetic surgeon, has posted similar claims in the past. He measured several celebrity faces against the mathematical ratio, including Page, Harry Styles, and Chris Evans, in his most recent round of posts on Instagram. "The 34-year-old British actor actor - Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings in the hit Netflix series - was found to be 93.65% accurate to the Greek Golden Ratio of Beauty Phi - which measures physical perfection," De Silva wrote in the post. De Silva wrote that Chris Hemsworth came in second with 93.53% accuracy to the ratio, while Michael B. Jordan was in third with 93.46% accuracy. De Silva has repeatedly conducted such studies over the years, using the ratio to claim in 2016 that Amber Heard had the "most beautiful face in the world" and in 2017, George Clooney. He also concluded in 2018 that Daniel Craig was the least attractive actor to play legendary spy James Bond. Per the Encyclopedia Britannica, the "golden ratio" is an irrational number that's approximately equal to 1.618. As Insider previously reported, the idea of applying the ratio for aesthetic purposes traces back to 19th century German psychologist Adolf Zeising. However, as mathematician Keith Devlin told Insider in 2015, there isn't evidence that the "golden ratio" occurs naturally in humans, nor that it signifies aesthetic beauty. And as Insider reported in 2016, mockups of faces that are perfectly accurate to the ratio can, in fact, come off as a bit creepy. Still, that doesn't mean that Page isn't handsome. Fans of his work can next check out the "Bridgerton" alum in the film "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves," set for release on March 31. Read the original article on Insider Britney Spears attends the 2019 premiere of "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" in Los Angeles. (Jordan Strauss / Invision / AP) Britney Spears has issued a statement after fans called 911, sending police officers to her house on Tuesday night. In a message posted Thursday on Twitter, the pop musician said her "privacy was invaded" when the Ventura County Sheriff's Office conducted a wellness check at her Thousand Oaks home "based on some prank phone calls" from worried fans. "I love and adore my fans but this time things went a little too far," Spears wrote. "The police never entered my home and when they came to my gate they quickly realized there was no issue and left immediately. This felt like I was being gaslit and bullied once the incident made it to the news and being portrayed once again in a poor and unfair light by the media." In a statement to the Los Angeles Times, Ventura County Public Information Officer Cameron Henderson said that around 11 p.m. the sheriff's office "received some calls from concerned fans simply because [Spears] had deleted her social media account." "Out of an abundance of caution, we responded to her home for a check ... and determined she was safe and in no danger," Henderson added. On Wednesday, a Spears fan account shared a TikTok video of other Spears fans contacting the police and shamed them via Twitter for calling "the cops on Britney because she deleted her Instagram account." In the TikTok video posted by @josiahsinanan, one fan asks a police dispatcher to send officers to "check on" Spears, citing "suspicious activity online" and the "Circus" singer's deactivated Instagram account. "Please share this video after concerning activity on #BritneySpears account tonight," @josiahsinanan captioned the clip. The TikTok user has since set the account to private mode amid backlash to the video. Story continues It's worth noting that this isn't the first time the Grammy winner has deleted her Instagram account, which tends to be heavily scrutinized. Her Instagram page was still deactivated as of Thursday afternoon. "During this time in my life, I truly hope the public and my fans who I care so much about can respect my privacy moving forward," Spears continued Thursday in her statement. "All the love, B." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The Vermont State Auditor's Office revealed Monday that there have been years of sloppy record keeping and mismanagement of the tax mechanism used to fund Burlington development projects including Waterfront Park and the bike path. The audit, which was done on Burlington's Lakefront Tax Increment Financing District, reported Burlington underpaid its share to the state education fund (an assertion the city is disputing), funded an ineligible project with TIF funds, and used $1 million more in TIF funds than Burlington voters had approved. The mismanagement, according to the report, stemmed from the compounding factors of bad recordkeeping and communication, project management turnover, and not following strategies put forth by Burlington's own auditors in time to fix errors. Docks for the new Burlington Harbor Marina lie in place beyond the U.S. Coast Guard station on Dec. 25, 2018. Advocates for the TIF program frequently suggest it is a straightforward and effective tool for municipalities to fund public projects. This audit paints a much different picture," State Auditor Doug Hoffer said in a press release Monday. "Despite the best efforts of City staff, millions in errors were made, and the City has had to hire two different consulting firms to help clean things up." Main findings and city response The main findings of the report showed that Burlington owes nearly $200,000 to the state education fund and $1.2 million to the TIF fund after using more TIF money than what Burlingtonians voted to allow and spending nearly $200,000 in TIF bonds on a bike trail project that they did not prove was in the TIF district. But the mistakes will not impact taxpayers or city operations, said Mayor Miro Weinberger in a press release responding to the State Auditor's report. Weinberger acknowledged the financial issues the city faced early in the audit period when he took office in 2012 and how they affected the management of TIF funds. Though it was too little too late, the city has been addressing project accounting system problems since they were found in a city audit in 2018, the press release said. Story continues Burlington's Waterfront TIF District shown on a city map. The district was created in 1996 to fund improvements to Lake Street. The city will transfer the nearly $1.2 million owed to the Waterfront TIF District Fund from the city's general fund and either pay the nearly $200,000 for the bike path project, submit proof that it was within the TIF district or let it be debt. The city will also work to resolve the underpayment of education funds, which they are disputing with the state. "Though the Auditors report characterizes certain increment calculations as City 'errors,' many of these calculation differences arose due to programming problems within the States property tax data system, administered by the private contractor New England Municipal Resource Center, and the balance stems from an unresolved dispute over how a former garage should have been taxed," the city's press release stated. The city's budget is flexible enough to handle unexpected expenses like this because of its unassigned fund balance, which always must contain 5-15% of the city's annual operational expenses. Even with the withdrawal of money to resolve audit findings, the city's fund remains above 10% of its expenses, according to the city's official response letter to the state auditor. A late-summer sunset over Lake Champlain, viewed from Waterfront Park in Burlington in September 2020. What is tax increment financing? Tax increment financing is a way for municipalities to make large infrastructure improvements through taking on debt that is eventually repaid by capturing the natural property value increases in the area where infrastructure was improved. Normally, on land that isn't in a TIF district, the property value growth is taxed by the municipality for property taxes and the state for the state education fund. This additional revenue is called the "tax increment." In TIF districts, the municipality is allowed to take all of the municipal property tax increment and 75% of the state education tax increment and put it toward paying back debt incurred by development in the TIF district. Vermont municipalities are now required to allocate 25% of the education tax increment generated in TIF districts to the State Education Fund. Burlington has two TIF districts, one on the waterfront and one downtown. The waterfront TIF district was established in 1996 to redevelop Lake Street and was expanded in 1997 to include a few blocks of Cherry Street to support development. So far, TIF financing along the waterfront has supported work on Waterfront Park, the bike path, Lake Street, the Moran Frame, the skate park, the new Community Sailing Center, the ECHO Sustainability Park, and the Burlington Harbor Marina. The city also expects to use it to fund $15 million of work on the blocks surrounding CityPlace in the coming years. Andy A_Dog Williams Skate Park along the Burlington Waterfront Park on March 27, 2020. Hoffer argued in his statements that TIF financing was expensive compared to taking advantage of the current bounty of state and federal funds for infrastructure. "It isnt a cheap way to pay for infrastructure," Hoffer said. "We estimate Burlington will pay more than $11 million in interest for $32.6 million borrowed to pay for improvements." The state audit of Burlington's Downtown TIF District will begin in eight to 12 months. Contact Urban Change Reporter Lilly St. Angelo at lstangelo@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @lilly_st_ang. This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Burlington TIF audit: Mismanagement of funds leads to over $1 million owed How far off is ArcelorMittal S.A. (AMS:MT) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward. We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for ArcelorMittal Crunching The Numbers We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$3.25b US$3.76b US$2.83b US$2.35b US$2.07b US$1.89b US$1.78b US$1.71b US$1.67b US$1.64b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x5 Analyst x4 Est @ -24.60% Est @ -17.16% Est @ -11.96% Est @ -8.32% Est @ -5.77% Est @ -3.98% Est @ -2.73% Est @ -1.86% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 7.9% US$3.0k US$3.2k US$2.3k US$1.7k US$1.4k US$1.2k US$1.0k US$933 US$841 US$765 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$16b 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 0.2%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 7.9%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = US$1.6b (1 + 0.2%) (7.9% 0.2%) = US$21b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$21b ( 1 + 7.9%)10= US$9.9b The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is US$26b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of 28.7, the company appears about fair value at a 3.2% discount to where the stock price trades currently. 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. dcf The Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at ArcelorMittal 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 7.9%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.283. 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 ArcelorMittal Strength Debt is not viewed as a risk. Weakness Earnings growth over the past year underperformed the Metals and Mining industry. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Metals and Mining market. Opportunity Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Threat Annual earnings are forecast to decline for the next 3 years. Looking Ahead: Whilst important, the DCF calculation ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" 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. For ArcelorMittal, we've compiled three fundamental aspects you should explore: Risks: Case in point, we've spotted 1 warning sign for ArcelorMittal you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does MT'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 Dutch 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 How far off is Fu Yu Corporation Limited (SGX:F13) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine. Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for Fu Yu Crunching The Numbers We have to calculate the value of Fu Yu slightly differently to other stocks because it is a machinery company. In this approach dividends per share (DPS) are used, as free cash flow is difficult to estimate and often not reported by analysts. Unless a company pays out the majority of its FCF as a dividend, this method will typically underestimate the value of the stock. The 'Gordon Growth Model' is used, which simply assumes that dividend payments will continue to increase at a sustainable growth rate forever. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a company's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In this case we used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (1.9%). The expected dividend per share is then discounted to today's value at a cost of equity of 9.1%. Compared to the current share price of S$0.2, the company appears about fair value at a 19% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. Value Per Share = Expected Dividend Per Share / (Discount Rate - Perpetual Growth Rate) = S$0.02 / (9.1% 1.9%) = S$0.3 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 Fu Yu as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 9.1%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.203. 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 Fu Yu Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Debt is not viewed as a risk. Dividend is in the top 25% of dividend payers in the market. Weakness Earnings growth over the past year is below its 5-year average. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Singaporean market. Current share price is below our estimate of fair value. Threat Dividends are not covered by cash flow. Moving On: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. 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. For Fu Yu, we've put together three fundamental elements you should assess: Risks: Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Fu Yu , and understanding these should be part of your investment process. Future Earnings: How does F13's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Singaporean 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 By Brendan O'Brien (Reuters) - Los Angeles-area investigators have found no connection between the victims of a mass shooting at a Monterey Park, California, dance hall and the elderly man who carried out the massacre last weekend, authorities said. The 72-year-old assailant, Huu Can Tran, on Saturday killed 11 people and wounded nine others at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio, a venue just east of Los Angeles that is popular with older patrons of Asian descent. The attack took place during the two-day Lunar New Year celebration, one of the most festive events on the calendar for many Asians. "Based on interviews the investigators are still conducting, they have not been able to establish a connection between the suspect and any of the victims," Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said during a news conference late on Wednesday. The Monterey Park rampage was the first in back-to-back mass shootings in California in the past few days. On Monday, a gunman killed seven people at two mushroom farms in the coastal Northern California city of Half Moon Bay. Investigators have been unable to tie Tran romantically to any of the victims and have determined that he had not frequented the dance studio in the last five years, despite earlier reports that he was a regular at the establishment, Luna said. In addition to conducting numerous interviews, investigators have searched Tran's home in Hemet, about 80 miles (130 km) east of Los Angeles. They have yet to identify a motive, he added. "It's frustrating when something like this happens that is so tragic. We are trying to understand it, and it doesn't make sense," Luna said. Investigators did find a motorcycle registered to the suspect parked one block from the dance hall. It was parked there just before the shooting as an alternative getaway vehicle, Luna said. After carrying out the shooting at the dance hall, Tran drove a short time later to a second dance hall in Alhambra, where that club's operator disarmed him before he could open fire. Story continues The next day, Tran shot himself to death behind the wheel of his vehicle as police closed in on him south of Los Angeles. Tran used a MAC-10, a semi-automatic gun, in the shooting. He purchased that gun in 1999 but it was not registered with the state of California, Luna said. Police recovered two other weapons, the pistol Tran used to take his own life and a rifle at his home. Near San Francisco, Chunli Zhao, a 66-year-old immigrant farm worker, was formally charged with premeditated murder on Wednesday in the shooting at Half Moon Bay. The Chinese citizen faces seven counts of murder and a single count of attempted murder, and could be sentenced to death if convicted. (Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Chicago; editing by Jonathan Oatis) Over 1 mln tourists travel in Cambodia during Chinese Lunar New Year: minister Xinhua) 10:34, January 26, 2023 PHNOM PENH, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia recorded about 1.04 million domestic and foreign tourists during the celebrations of the Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival, Tourism Minister Thong Khon said on Wednesday. Some 1 million locals and 42,056 foreigners travelled in the Southeast Asian nation during the festival from Jan. 21 to Jan. 24, he said in a report. The country's three top tourist destinations are Preah Sihanouk coastal province, Siem Reap cultural province, and Battambang province, Khon said. "For tourists to Preah Sihanouk province, most of them travelled to the province in the morning and returned home in the evening by traveling on the [Chinese-invested] Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway," he said. "Security, safety and public order during the festival had been well maintained, and there were no remarkable problems during the celebrations," he added. Although it is not an official holiday in Cambodia, the Chinese Lunar New Year is widely celebrated in the kingdom. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Hongyu) Northwestern University film professor Spencer Parsons is looking for answers after potential criminal charges were announced earlier this month against actor Alex Baldwin, who shot and killed a cinematographer on the set of a movie Baldwin was filming in New Mexico. Charges were officially filed on Jan. 31. I think that procedures were not followed, Parsons said of the shooting. Thats the baseline. The chance that one of these prop weapons could ever possibly be loaded with real live bullets, this is obscene. Advertisement Baldwin, 64, and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, were each charged with involuntary manslaughter on Jan. 19 in the October 2021 shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, during a rehearsal for the movie Rust. Baldwin is an actor and producer on the movie. An armorer sometimes referred to as a weapons master supervises the use of weapons on movie productions, television sets or live performances to ensure the weapons are safe, used properly and do not pose any risk to the actors or crew, Parsons said. Advertisement Baldwin was using a prop handgun in the rehearsal and somehow a real bullet ended up in the gun and Baldwin mistakenly shot and killed Hutchins and wounded Joel Souza, the movies director. Baldwin has repeatedly claimed he is not to legally responsible for the shooting, and instead says that Gutierrez Reed and others were at fault in a chain of mistakes that led to the shooting. I really have big questions about using an actual weapon for rehearsals, said Parsons, associate professor and head of production at Northwestern University in the School of Communications Department of Radio/Television/Film. Im racking my brain for why this makes any sense in a rehearsal context. Parsons says he has worked on productions where both prop and replica guns were used. He explained that prop guns are real and shoot blanks to simulate the firing of a real bullet but replica guns are essentially fake weapons that do not shoot blanks and are much safer than prop guns. He also said directors and actors often prefer to use prop guns because when fired they have a recoil and muzzle flash which closely resemble the firing of a gun loaded with real bullets. A real blank will give the actor a kick that resembles what happens when firing a real bullet, and thats important for certain authenticity, he said. At the same time, I think about shooting and cutting my own films that have used these weapons. I think about how to shoot and cut so that kick is not as big an issue. Parsons doesnt understand why a dummy weapon wasnt used in rehearsals as crew isnt paying the same amount of attention to a rehearsed scene as they would in the real thing. He also said that in the past, like in the case of actor Brandon Lee during the filming of The Crow in 1993, people have been killed and injured by prop guns on movie sets and said that in the wake of the shooting on the set of Rust the movie industry should take a hard look at using such pyrotechnics. In general for the industry, we really have to consider whether pyrotechnics are a last resort in this kind of work, he said. When things like this happen we really need to pay attention. We also need to pay attention to our working hours and schedules and the way the larger production is structured. This is across the board. Advertisement Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press. The California State Bar is seeking disbarment of attorney John Eastman, who crafted memos for the Trump campaign encouraging Vice President Mike Pence to buck his ceremonial duty to certify the 2020 election results. Eastman crafted two memos for the Trump campaign outlining strategies for reversing then-President Trumps loss to President Biden, including another encouraging states to certify Trumps loss as a victory. The filing notice for disciplinary charges points to false statements regarding voter fraud and his comments at the rally near the White House on Jan. 6 as the basis for the disbarment. The 11 charges arise from allegations that Eastman engaged in a course of conduct to plan, promote, and assist then-President Trump in executing a strategy, unsupported by facts or law, to overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 presidential election by obstructing the count of electoral votes of certain states, the State Bar of California wrote in a press release announcing the move. Eastman has since March of last year been under investigation by the State Bar, which is a regulatory agency housed within the California Supreme Court. The charges against him will now be heard in disciplinary proceedings, at which point Californias State Bar Court will determine whether to revoke his law license. An attorney for Eastman said he stands by his legal advice and that he was being targeted by the bar for providing legal advice they may disagree with. Any lawyer engaged to provide his or her legal assessment in a dynamic, consequential, and often emotional arena should be deeply troubled by the notion that a licensing authority (bar) can take their license if they do not like the lawyers advice, or find the advocacy distasteful, attorney Randall Miller said. The foundation of any engagement is that the lawyer shall protect the clients interests, at every turn. This is includes raising all viable options. The attorneys role is as an advisor, the client as the decider. Story continues Eastman was subpoenaed by the House Jan. 6 committee early into its investigation and challenged the compulsion for documents and testimony, teeing up a case that would result in a key ruling. Judge David Carter ruled that Eastmans work for the Trump campaign could not be protected through attorney-client privilege, determining he more likely than not engaged in criminal activity in seeking to unwind the election, invalidating the protections of the privilege. The bar also cites Eastmans Jan. 6 speech as a factor, noting his comments around fraud shortly before a mob of pro-Trump supporters descended on the Capitol. Eastman knew, or should have known, that the factual premise for his proposalsthat massive fraud was at playwas false, and that Trump had lost his bid for re-election, a statement by the association said. Eastman ignored these truths when he spoke at the Save America March on January 6, 2020, inciting the crowd to take action when, with the intent to convince them that the outcome of the presidential election had been affected by fraud, he said that dead people had voted in the presidential election, that Dominion voting machines had fraudulently manipulated the election results, and that Vice President Pence did not deserve to be in office if he did not delay the counting of electoral votes. These statements contributed to provoking the crowd that participated in the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol that occurred after the rally, the association concluded. Eastman is one of several lawyers associated with the Trump campaign to face repercussions for their false statements relating to voter fraud. Former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani has already had his law license temporarily suspended in New York, while the bar association disciplinary panel in D.C. has likewise forwarded a finding that could result in the loss of his law license in the nations capital. Those matters cited Giuliani submitting lawsuits based on faulty claims of election fraud. And Texas authorities are also still mulling whether to disbar Sidney Powell, another attorney who aided in Trumps efforts after he lost the 2020 election. Eastman, a former professor at Chapman University, has previously defended his actions. Every statement I have made is backed up with documentary and/or expert evidence, and solidly grounded in law, he wrote in a statement in January of last year announcing his retirement amid pushback from university colleagues. I participated in a peaceful rally of nearly [half a] million people, two miles away from the violence that occurred at the capital [sic] and which began even before the speeches were finished. Updated at 6:38 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Reuters) - Back-to-back mass shootings in California have claimed the lives of people who loved to dance at a studio in Monterey Park and farm workers in the coastal community of Half Moon Bay. MONTEREY PARK VICTIMS Eleven people were killed when a 72-year-old gunman opened fire late Saturday during a celebration of the Lunar New Year at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, east of Los Angeles. The Los Angeles County coroner's office has confirmed the names of the victims. There were six women killed: My My Nhan, 65; Lilan Li, 63; Xiujuan Yu, 57; Muoi Dai Ung, 67; Hongying Jian, 62; and Diana Man Ling Tom, 70. The five men who were killed were identified as Yu Lun Kao, 72; Chia Ling Yau, 76; Valentino Marcos Alvero, 68; Wen Tau Yu, 64; and Ming Wei Ma, 72. The Chinese consulate in Los Angeles said Chinese citizens were among the dead. Taiwan's de facto consulate in Los Angeles said two Taiwanese expatriates also were killed. Yu's niece, Kathleen Fong, said on social media that her aunt emigrated from China more than a decade ago and was working hard with her husband and children to create a new life for themselves. "Now to have that journey suddenly interrupted is heartbreaking," Fong wrote on a GoFundMe page created to help pay for her aunt's funeral. "She will never be able to witness what she dreamed of for all these years." Yu and her husband worked multiple jobs and just managed to get by, Fong wrote, laboring so that their three children, two of whom are in college, could have better futures. Tom's family said she died on Sunday after being taken to hospital in critical condition following the shooting, according to a statement seen by ABC News. Tom was remembered as a "hard-working mother, wife and grandmother who loved to dance." "To those who knew her, she was someone who always went out of her way to give to others," the family said. In a statement on Twitter, Alvero's family said he was a devout Catholic who loved ballroom dancing and was the life of any party. Story continues "Overnight, we became unwilling members of a community who has to mourn the loss of our loved ones due to gun violence. We are left frustrated, stuck with this vicious cycle," the family said. HALF MOON BAY VICTIMS Seven people were killed and one person was in critical condition after a 66-year-old man on Monday attacked two mushroom farms near the resort town of Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco, police said. The victims - six men and two woman - were all Asian or Hispanic adults, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. Jose and Pedro Romero, brothers who migrated from Mexico two years ago and worked at Mountain Mushroom Farm, were among those shot, their cousin Jose Juarez told Reuters. Jose died and his younger brother Pedro is hospitalized, Juarez said. Jose has a wife and children back in Mexico, he added. "You look to improve your life and then you end up with this," said Juarez, quiet and sullen as he took a break from cooking at a Mexican restaurant in a Half Moon Bay strip mall. The family is looking for financial help in order to repatriate Jose's body to Mexico, he said. Farm worker Marciano Martinez-Jimenez was one of three people shot dead at Concord Farms, his nephew Carlos Martinez-Maya told ABC7 news. Martinez-Jimenez's death was confirmed to Reuters by Antonio Perez, who works at a Latino grocery store in Half Moon Bay and was schoolmates with him in their village in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Perez was stunned when, upon arriving in Half Moon Bay in the late 1990s, he saw Martinez-Jimenez again at a party. "I was so happy. We spoke about when we'd arrived here. And he said, 'Come sit down with us'," Perez recounted. Martinez-Jimenez was hardworking, quiet and sought to avoid conflict, Perez said. "Last Thursday or so, I saw him for the last time in the store," Perez said. "He came to buy cheese." The San Mateo County Coroner's Office declined to comment on the identities of the victims in the Half Moon Bay shooting. (Reporting by Alexandra Ulmer, Rich McKay, Brad Brooks, Sharon Bernstein, Kanishka Singh, Brendan O'Brien and Engen Tham, Ben Blanchard and Andrew Hay; Editing by Colleen Jenkins, Nick Zieminski and Daniel Wallis) Electrifying trucks and cars and shifting to renewable energy are crucial for California's zero-emissions future. Sergio Pitamitz / VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images California is embarking on an audacious new climate plan that aims to eliminate the states greenhouse gas footprint by 2045, and in the process, slash emissions far beyond its borders. The blueprint calls for massive transformations in industry, energy and transportation, as well as changes in institutions and human behaviors. These transformations wont be easy. Two years of developing the plan have exposed myriad challenges and tensions, including environmental justice, affordability and local rule. For example, the San Francisco Fire Commission had prohibited batteries with more than 20 kilowatt-hours of power storage in homes, severely limiting the ability to store solar electricity from rooftop solar panels for all those times when the sun isnt shining. More broadly, local opposition to new transmission lines, large-scale solar and wind facilities, substations for truck charging, and oil refinery conversions to produce renewable diesel will slow the transition. I had a front row seat while the plan was prepared and vetted as a longtime board member of the California Air Resources Board, the state agency that oversees air pollution and climate control. And my chief contributor to this article, Rajinder Sahota, is deputy executive officer of the board, responsible for preparing the plan and navigating political land mines. We believe California has a chance of succeeding, and in the process, showing the way for the rest of the world. In fact, most of the needed policies are already in place. What happens in California has global reach What California does matters far beyond state lines. California is close to being the worlds fourth-largest economy and has a history of adopting environmental requirements that are imitated across the United States and the world. California has the most ambitious zero-emission requirements in the world for cars, trucks and buses; the most ambitious low-carbon fuel requirements; one of the largest carbon cap-and-trade programs; and the most aggressive requirements for renewable electricity. Story continues In the U.S., through peculiarities in national air pollution law, other states have replicated many of Californias regulations and programs so they can race ahead of national policies. States can either follow federal vehicle emissions standards or Californias stricter rules. There is no third option. An increasing number of states now follow California. So, even though California contributes less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, if it sets a high bar, its many technical, institutional and behavioral innovations will likely spread and be transformative. Whats in the California blueprint The new Scoping Plan lays out in considerable detail how California intends to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 48% below 1990 levels by 2030 and then achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. It calls for a 94% reduction in petroleum use between 2022 and 2045 and an 86% reduction in total fossil fuel use. Overall, it would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by 2045 relative to 1990 levels. The remaining 15% reduction would come from capturing carbon from the air and fossil fuel plants, and sequestering it below ground or in forests, vegetation and soils. To achieve these goals, the plan calls for a 37-fold increase in on-road zero-emission vehicles, a sixfold increase in electrical appliances in residences, a fourfold increase in installed wind and solar generation capacity, and doubling total electricity generation to run it all. It also calls for ramping up hydrogen power and altering agriculture and forest management to reduce wildfires, sequester carbon dioxide and reduce fertilizer demand. This is a massive undertaking, and it implies a massive transformation of many industries and activities. Transportation: Californias No. 1 emitter Transportation accounts for about half of the states greenhouse gas emissions, including upstream oil refinery emissions. This is where the path forward is perhaps most settled. The state has already adopted regulations requiring almost all new cars, trucks and buses to have zero emissions new transit buses by 2029 and most truck sales and light-duty vehicle sales by 2035. In addition, Californias Low Carbon Fuel Standard requires oil companies to steadily reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels. This regulation aims to ensure that the liquid fuels needed for legacy cars and trucks still on the road after 2045 will be low-carbon biofuels. The Port of Long Beach opened the nations first publicly accessible charging station for heavy-duty electric trucks in November 2022. Brittany Murray/MediaNews Group/Long Beach Press-Telegram via Getty Images But regulations can be modified and even rescinded if opposition swells. If battery costs do not resume their downward slide, if electric utilities and others lag in providing charging infrastructure, and if local opposition blocks new charging sites and grid upgrades, the state could be forced to slow its zero-emission vehicle requirements. The plan also relies on changes in human behavior. For example, it calls for a 25% reduction in vehicle miles traveled in 2030 compared with 2019, which has far dimmer prospects. The only strategies likely to significantly reduce vehicle use are steep charges for road use and parking, a move few politicians or voters in the U.S. would support, and a massive increase in shared-ride automated vehicles, which are not likely to scale up for at least another 10 years. Additional charges for driving and parking raise concerns about affordability for low-income commuters. Electricity and electrifying buildings The key to cutting emissions in almost every sector is electricity powered by renewable energy. Electrifying most everything means not just replacing most of the states natural gas power plants, but also expanding total electricity production in this case doubling total generation and quadrupling renewable generation, in just 22 years. That amount of expansion and investment is mind-boggling and it is the single most important change for reaching net zero, since electric vehicles and appliances depend on the availability of renewable electricity to count as zero emissions. Electrification of buildings is in the early stages in California, with requirements in place for new homes to have rooftop solar, and incentives and regulations adopted to replace natural gas use with heat pumps and electric appliances. Two microgrid communities being developed in Menifee, Calif., feature all-electric homes equipped with solar panels, heat pumps and batteries. Watchara Phomicinda/MediaNews Group/The Press-Enterprise via Getty Images The biggest and most important challenge is accelerating renewable electricity generation mostly wind and utility-scale solar. The state has laws in place requiring electricity to be 100% zero emissions by 2045 up from 52% in 2021. The plan to get there includes offshore wind power, which will require new technology floating wind turbines. The federal government in December 2022 leased the first Pacific sites for offshore wind farms, with plans to power over 1.5 million homes. However, years of technical and regulatory work are still ahead. For solar power, the plan focuses on large solar farms, which can scale up faster and at less cost than rooftop solar. The same week the new scoping plan was announced, Californias Public Utility Commission voted to significantly scale back how much homeowners are reimbursed for solar power they send to the grid, a policy known as net metering. The Public Utility Commission argues that because of how electricity rates are set, generous rooftop solar reimbursements have primarily benefited wealthier households while imposing higher electricity bills on others. It believes this new policy will be more equitable and create a more sustainable model. Industry and the carbon capture challenge Industry plays a smaller role, and the policies and strategies here are less refined. The states carbon cap-and-trade program, designed to ratchet down total emissions while allowing individual companies some flexibility, will tighten its emissions limits. But while cap-and-trade has been effective to date, in part by generating billions of dollars for programs and incentives to reduce emissions, its role may change as energy efficiency improves and additional rules and regulations are put in place to replace fossil fuels. One of the greatest controversies throughout the Scoping Plan process is its reliance on carbon capture and sequestration, or CCS. The controversy is rooted in concern that CCS allows fossil fuel facilities to continue releasing pollution while only capturing the carbon dioxide emissions. These facilities are often in or near disadvantaged communities. Californias chances of success Will California make it? The state has a track record of exceeding its goals, but getting to net zero by 2045 requires a sharper downward trajectory than even California has seen before, and there are still many hurdles. Environmental justice concerns about carbon capture and new industrial facilities, coupled with NIMBYism, could block many needed investments. And the possibility of sluggish economic growth could led to spending cuts and might exacerbate concerns about economic disruption and affordability. There are also questions about prices and geopolitics. Will the upturn in battery costs in 2022 due to geopolitical flare-ups, a lag in expanding the supply of critical materials, and the war in Ukraine turn out to be a hiccup or a trend? Will electric utilities move fast enough in building the infrastructure and grid capacity needed to accommodate the projected growth in zero-emission cars and trucks? It is encouraging that the state has already created just about all the needed policy infrastructure. Additional tightening of emissions limits and targets will be needed, but the framework and policy mechanisms are largely in place. Rajinder Sahota, deputy executive officer of the California Air Resources Board, contributed to this article. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation is trustworthy news from experts. Try our free newsletters. It was written by: Daniel Sperling, University of California, Davis. Read more: Daniel Sperling receives funding from several foundations and government agencies, is a board member of the California Air Resources Board, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, an NGO. By Maiya Keidan TORONTO (Reuters) - Some of Canada's top investment banks plan to maintain staffing levels to meet client expectations for the same level of coverage through the ups and downs of business cycles, head hunters and industry executives said. U.S. investment banks, including Goldman Sachs, began cutting over 3,000 employees on Jan. 11 citing a challenging macroeconomic environment, raising fears Canadian banks may follow suit. Like their global peers, many Canadian investment banks had staffed up during the pandemic only to see dealmaking slow last year. At Royal Bank of Canada, the country's biggest lender, for instance, headcount at its capital markets division jumped by 71% over the two years ending Oct. 31, 2022 to 6,887 employees. But in the meantime Canadian dealmaking fell 39.7% last year to $89.7 billion. That is more than the 36% drop in global deal values to $3.8 trillion following a stellar 2021, according to data from Dealogic. Yet, Canadian banks have not announced layoffs and some even say they may increase headcount, though dealmaking in the new year is down nearly 50% to $3.2 billion from a year ago, according to Dealogic. "Right now there is a sense that there isn't a need for cuts in the system," Dominique Fortier, partner at recruitment firm Heidrick & Struggles' Toronto office, told Reuters. "When there was an upswing in 2021, it happened so quickly that there was no corresponding increase in hiring and so I don't see that we'll have the same decrease in terms of headcount coming." Toronto Dominion Bank, which last year agreed to buy New York-based boutique investment bank Cowen Inc, expects to continue to grow its global investment banking business as it work towards closing the deal, a spokesperson said. Desjardins, another Canadian lender, will continue to invest in its growing capital markets division, a spokesperson said. EXPENSIVE PROPOSITION Bill Vlaad, a Toronto-based recruiter who specializes in the financial services sector, said that while there was some nervousness around the stability of investment banking teams, Canada is unlikely to see U.S.-level redundancies aside from the annual cull of poor performers called "maintenance layoffs." Story continues "The U.S. is very nimble. They will go in and out of hotspots very quickly. Canada doesn't have that same luxury and has to stay relatively consistent in coverage," said Vlaad. "You have a consistent group of people working...and they don't fluctuate all that much year to year, decade to decade." But another down year for dealmaking could see bonuses taking a hit. RBC, which was ranked No. 2 in Canada M&A, equity capital markets and debt capital markets last year according to Dealogic, has no layoff plans for investment banking in Canada, a source with knowledge of the matter said. Spokespeople for JP Morgan, which topped the M&A league table last year, Scotiabank and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce declined to comment. BMO did not respond to requests for comment. Headhunters and lawyers say it's less expensive to lay off bankers in the United States compared to Canada. Howard Levitt, senior partner at employment law firm Levitt Sheikh, said Canadian investment banking employees would be entitled to somewhere between four and 27 months severance with full remuneration depending on their status, re-employability, age and length of service. (Reporting by Maiya Keidan; Editing by Denny Thomas and Deepa Babington) Leopard 2 Anand stressed that the Canadian government was responding to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy specifically underscoring Kyivs need for modern Western heavy tanks. According to her, the tanks will ensure the Ukrainian troops hold a tactical advantage on the battlefield, and will enable them to liberate for of Ukraines territory. Read also: Canadian Defense Minister announces transfer of 200 Senator armored vehicles to Ukraine The minister concluded by saying that the supply of tanks to Kyiv could increase in the future, but that decision would have to be taken in coordination with Canadas allies. The Canadian military will assist in training the Armed Forces of Ukraine in operating Western military equipment. Read also: Ukrainian military training on Abrams tanks may kick off in weeks, not months White House On Jan. 25, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced Germany will deliver 14 Leopard-2 tanks to Ukraine and allow other countries to do the same. German newspaper Der Spiegel reported Ukraine could be getting a total of 80 Leopard tanks from Berlin and its allies. The United States and the UK previously announced plans to provide Ukraine with 31 M1 Abrams and 14 Challenger-2 tanks, respectively. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Canadian TV host Dina Pugliese spoke about self-esteem and social media. (Photo via Instagram/dina.pugliese) Dina Pugliese is getting real about the impacts of the online world. On Wednesday, the "Breakfast Television" host took to Instagram to share a photo of her 12-year-old self alongside a caption about self-esteem and social media. The Toronto-based personality has been vocal about perfection and beauty standards in the past, and this post is no exception. In the photo, a young Pugliese wore round, clear-framed glasses, dangling earrings and a white T-shirt. In the caption, the 48-year-old opened up about the pressure many people face amidst the social media era, and how it can affect mental health. "This is 12-year-old me. Weird glasses. Even weirder hair. Riddled with low self-esteem (even with a super loving family). Now take whatever self-critical thoughts I had in my head back then and multiply it by about 10,000. That number is still not enough to explain what kids (and we adults) take on mentally today," she penned to her 139,000 followers. Pugliese went on to explain that although social media can be "amazing," it can also be "taxing, draining and toxic." She went on to encourage her fans to disconnect and ask for help if needed. "We are who we hang around. We are what we eat. And we are what we consume here too. If you feel you need a break (digital or otherwise). Please take one. If you think you need help. Please ask for it. The world can be so hard. And it can also be so beautiful," she wrote. The TV host ended her caption with an inspirational message. " ... Things will get better even if they feel impossible right now. Choose to be kind to others. And remember to be kind to yourself," she said. "For all of the self-doubting kids and teens and tweens (and adults) who need to hear this today, youre going to be ok. Reach out to one person. Its a start." Story continues In the comments, fans praised Pugliese for "keeping it real." "The pressure is real. Dont let it define us and protect our mental health," commented a follower. "This message is crucial for all of us," shared someone else. "You are amazing! Such an inspiration to so many of us. Thanks for everything you do and always keeping it real," added another. "You remind me there is hope, and it's important to love myself," wrote a fan. In November, Pugliese spoke about the importance of body positivity in the media and the impact it has on the public. In the Instagram video, she gave an important piece of advice for women trying to love themselves and their bodies. "...Share your story but we have to be careful about beauty ideals were putting out there because theres a lot of young impressionable people who are trying to figure stuff outyou dont have to deprive yourself to be cover worthy," Pugliese explained. Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Which foods do celebrity chefs avoid at restaurants? From fried eggs to Caesar salads, chefs share what they believe they make better at home. (Photos: Getty; designed by Nadeen Nakib) Celebrity chefs are known for wowing fans with meals cooked in their famed restaurants and recipes shared during their many television appearances. But when a chef like Bizarre Foods host Andrew Zimmern or Dominique Crenn, the only female chef in the U.S. to earn three Michelin stars, head out for a meal with friends, what do they order for dinner? At Cayman Cookout, an annual epicurean festival at The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman, celebrity chefs rub elbows with ticket holders curious to learn more about their favorite culinary personalities. The intimacy of four days of beachside cooking demonstrations, barefoot barbecues and dancing in the lobby bar breaks down barriers and opens up candid conversations. While attending Cayman Cookout, I chatted with celebrity chefs like Top Chef icon Tom Colicchio and restauranteur Daniel Boulud, to ask what dish they'd never order at a restaurant because they're so partial to the way they make it at home. Their simple answers show anyone can cook a delicious meal in their own kitchen, without fancy ingredients or labor-intensive recipes. And, to make cooking celebrity chef-loved foods at home even more simple, the masters themselves were willing to spill about how they've perfected dishes like the perfect fried egg or mouth-watering paella over the years. Antonio Bachour Antonio Bachour will never order scrambled eggs at a restaurant. (Photos: Getty) Though Antonio Bachour is a famed pastry chef, his answer isn't a sweet item. The Puerto Rican chef shares that he never orders eggs out. "I love to make eggs," says Bachour, whose favorite is a "very simple" scramble with clarified butter, ham, tomato and onion, served with a piece of toast. Bachour says the trick is to beat the eggs in a separate dish and, unlike many hacks suggest, not to add water or cream to make them fluffy. "The problem with scrambled eggs is they often burn," he explains, "when I order them out, they're not yellow, they're brown." Bachour says this is typically because restaurants reuse pans and the eggs take on on the blackened color from a previously burnt batch of eggs. Story continues "You want them fresh so they're soft, not overcooked, because you'll lose the flavor," he says. Andrew Zimmern Andrew Zimmern says he makes a really good Caesar salad. (Photos: Getty) "Caesar salad is one of those combinations that's just insanely good," Andrew Zimmern says. "But, I'd like to tell a lot of young chefs that you can open a restaurant without a Caesar salad on the menu." The chef, restaurateur and television personality says it all comes down to freshness, starting with the dressing, which he stresses, "should be made to order." "It should not be made in a five-gallon batch twice a week with an immersion wand with commercial oil," he says, adding that at home, he uses a big wooden salad bowl he doesn't wash only treats and has had forever. He adds the egg yolks directly to the bowl, mashes in some anchovies with a fork, adds lemon juice then olive oil. "You don't emulsify those things together because the olive oil will turn bitter," he says. Next, he adds lettuce (he strays from the classic romaine, opting for baby heads of gem lettuce due to its better flavor and texture) tosses the salad and adds cheese on top. Zimmern clarifies he's not against romaine and advises if you're going to use it, opt for hearts of romaine and use the bigger crunchier ribs of it. Dominique Crenn For Dominique Crenn, there's nothing like a home-roasted chicken. (Photos: Getty) "My mother roasted chicken with roasted apple so it's something I'm always wary of when I go to a restaurant," says Dominique Crenn, the chef behind three Michelin-starred restaurant Atelier Crenn in San Francisco, Calif. Crenn says roasted chicken takes time, despite what some recipes might suggest. "I don't just put a chicken in my roaster pan and leave to walk the dog," she says. "It's a process you have to watch it, you have to love it and it's all about the timing of the flavor." Tom Colicchio For Tom Colicchio, Sunday gravy made at home brings back childhood memories. (Photos: Getty) Cofounder and former executive chef of New York's Gramercy Tavern, Tom Colicchio also chooses a dish based on nostalgia. "Sunday gravy is something I'd never order out," he says of the traditional Italian-American recipe of meatballs in a hearty tomato sauce with a pasta. "When I was growing up it was meatballs and macaroni ... every Sunday that's what we had for dinner." Colicchio says there's nothing that makes his Sunday gravy truly special, it's just a simple dish his mother made and "something he only associates with eating at home." Jose Andres Chef Jose Andres says he's perfected the fried egg. (Photos: Getty) Even a chef as multi-faceted as Jose Andres brings it back to the basics sometimes. "Nobody knows how to make fried eggs," he says. The founder of World Central Kitchen teases that the secret to a successful fried egg is "me making them," but gives a few tangible tips. "Talk to the oil," he says, meaning listen to it and make sure it's warmed before adding the egg. Then, "add salt around the edge of the egg white that's in contact with the egg yolk. It's where the coagulation happens with more difficulty and the salt allows the coagulation to happen quickly." Adrienne Cheatham Top Chef runner-up Adrienne Cheatham says salads are best when dressed with a pinch of salt. (Photos: Getty) "A house salad usually has the least amount of love than anything else on the menu," says Adrienne Cheatham, Top Chef runner-up and author of Sunday Best: Cooking Up the Weekend Spirit Every Day. That's why she'll only make a basic salad at home. To start, Cheatham suggests roughly chopping the lettuce then giving it a toss with seasoning. "Most people don't season their salads, but every salad needs a pinch of salt before you add the dressing," she emphasizes. Be sure to add the dressing right before serving, and use vegetables that are either partially cooked or delicious raw. "Radishes raw [are a] yes," she explains, "but don't give me thick, raw carrots, that just messes up the eating experience." Eric Ripert Eric Ripert says paella is a simple dish that requires a lot of attention. (Photos: Getty) French chef and host of Cayman Cookout, Eric Ripert points to paella as a dish he enjoys making at home. "At home in the summer," he adds, because the typical Valencian recipe of rice, saffron, chicken and mixed seafood cooked and served in a shallow pan is, "something that looks simple, but that needs a lot of attention." Ripert also notes you don't make paella for just one ... or even two people. "It's really a dish that brings people together," he says. "It's very interactive and it has something festive about it." The Le Bernadin chef advises that beyond ambiance, paella requires high-quality ingredients from the most basic, like the olive oil, to the rice, protein and vegetables. He notes the quality of the pan and fire is "essential," too. Daniel Boulud For Daniel Boulud, soup is a dish consumed at home only. (Photos: Getty) "Soup," says French chef Daniel Boulud. "I love to make soup." The restaurateur says the best soups have a combination of vegetables and texture. He says one of his favorite things to do is grab a pot and walk around the kitchen adding "all types of things" to it. Boulud mentions spinach, fresh herbs, grains, meat or seafood, crab, shrimp or lobster, as examples of ingredients he'll add. "I have no recipe, no idea where I'm going," he says. Boulud also shares his love for moqueca soup. The Brazilian fish stew made with coconut milk, peppers, fish or shrimp and served over rice combines all the ingredients he enjoys in a soup. He advises that, "you have to add the dende oil (a bright red-orange oil made from the fruit of the dendezeiro tree) ... to give that certain je ne sais quoi to the soup." "I make it for my friend who's Brazilian," Boulud adds, "and he says it's better than what his wife makes." Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Lifes newsletter. Sign up here. Waukegan Public Library Executive Director Tiffany Verzani, right, and Isaac Salgado, the librarys information technology manager, talk about the 450 electronic devices the library received through a grant. (Steve Sadin / Lake County News-Sun) One of the stumbling blocks to giving underserved people in Waukegan affordable internet access is about to become less tricky through ConnectWaukegan and one of its community partners, the Waukegan Public Library. After receiving a $360,000 grant last year to acquire 450 electronic devices through the $1.2 trillion 2021 federal infrastructure law, the library and ConnectWaukegan are working together to put them in the hands of qualified individuals. Advertisement While ConnectWaukegan is helping people get internet access, Elizabeth Ramirez, a digital navigator for the organization, said helping those people obtain an electronic device to navigate cyberspace is a separate challenge. Ramirez said few people in the area can use the $100 credit provided by the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to purchase a device, even though they are eligible to receive low-cost or possibly free internet service. They are entitled to a monthly credit of $30 under the law. Advertisement This is a big step, Ramirez said. Affordable service is a big part, but this goes beyond that. If they need a device, they have to purchase it from their internet provider to use the $100 credit. Most of the people we help use AT&T or Xfinity, and they dont accept the credit. ConnectWaukegan has regular hours at the Waukegan Public Library to assist people with internet access. (Steve Sadin / Lake County News-Sun) New ACP participants in Waukegan can now acquire one of the free devices after working with a representative of ConnectWaukegan to contract for internet access to help them with education, health care, a job search or a variety of other uses. Tiffany Verzani, the librarys executive director, said the device mix includes 150 Chromebooks, 150 tablets and 150 laptop computers, being prepared for use by the librarys technology staff. She anticipates they will be ready in the next few weeks. Verzani said the library will keep 60 for library cardholders to check out for a three-week period. They can also take one of the librarys hot spots home to get onto the internet. The remainder of the computers will be distributed through ConnectWaukegan. This is an amazing opportunity to support one of our agency partners to provide the community with these devices, Verzani said. This will help support our education department to provide support to the community. Isaac Salgado, the librarys information technology manager, said his department is preparing the 60 devices the library will be lending so people can start checking them out. Unlike books, movies and other items the library loans, Verzani said the device borrower must be at least 18 years of age. Those who want to take advantage of the ACP, with or without the free device, can start by visiting Ramirez or other ConnectWaukegan personnel during regular hours they keep at the library. They can learn if they are eligible, and how to become a participant. Ramirez said anyone who is on some form of government assistance like Medicaid, Social Security through a disability, food assistance; or has a student on a free school lunch program, or is below 200% of the federal poverty line can qualify. All families in Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 are on the free-lunch program. Advertisement An individual earning less than $27,180 a year, a couple making less than $36,626 annually or a family of four with a $55,500 annual income qualify. Ramirez starts by talking to each person to make them comfortable with the process. She also lets them know how access can help their daily lives. We will assess their needs for the device through the ACP, she said. Well complete the ACP application, and find the provider of their choice. We will help them through the entire process, and help them communicate with the provider. While Ramirez said she does not know at this time if 390 devices will be enough to meet the communitys needs, ConnectWaukegan will assess the program as it unfolds and decide what else might need to be done. ConnectWaukegan has a representative at the library from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m. Mondays. Someone from the organization is also there on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon and on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Verzani said the library also offers free classes to help people develop their digital skills. Cheslea Handler at the 28th Critics Choice Awards on Jan. 15 in Los Angeles. (Jordan Strauss / Invision / Associated Press) Chelsea Handler said she unknowingly sampled the injectable diabetes medication Ozempic, which has reportedly become Hollywood's new favorite weight-loss drug. In Wednesday's episode of Alex Cooper's "Call Her Daddy" podcast, the "Chelsea Lately" comedian explained how she ended up using the medication, which is also known as semaglutide. "My anti-aging doctor just hands it out to anybody," she told Cooper. "I didn't even know I was on it." Handler alleged that her doctor said to use Ozempic "if you ever want to drop 5 pounds." After receiving her doses, Handler injected herself and went to lunch with a friend a few days later. "[My friend's] like, 'I'm not really eating anything, I'm so nauseous. I'm on Ozempic.' And I was like, 'I'm kinda nauseous too,'" Handler recalled. She first dismissed the nausea as jet lag and told her friend she's on semaglutide, who said it's the same thing as Ozempic. Common side effects for those using Ozempic include nausea, stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea and vomiting. "I'm not on it anymore. I stopped taking [it]," Handler said on the podcast. "That's too irresponsible." Earlier in the podcast, Handler claimed that "everyone is on Ozempic" and called the medication a "miracle" that's "too good to be true." "I'm an irresponsible drug user, but I'm not going to take a diabetic drug I tried it and I'm not going to do that," she said. "That's not for me, that's not right for me." Earlier in January, the comedian joked about Hollywood's alleged love for Ozempic as a new weight-loss drug at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards. "Gaslighting is when someone tries to convince you that your own perceptions of reality are wrong, like when celebrities say they lost weight by drinking water but really it's because everyone's on Ozempic," she said during her opening monologue, earning laughter and applause. She told Cooper during the podcast that she's "injected about four or five of my friends with Ozempic," but that she didn't want to keep using the drug due to its limited supply. "It's going to backfire," Handler said. "Something bad's going to happen." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. XPeng's P7 car. Wang Gang/VCG via Getty Images Shares of Chinese EV makers rose Thursday after Tesla reported record quarterly profit. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said he believes his company's biggest rival could come out of China. "They work the hardest and they work the smartest," he said of Chinese electric vehicle makers. Shares of Nio and other US-listed Chinese electric car makers revved up Thursday as Tesla CEO Elon Musk said its largest rival will likely come from China. "[The] Chinese market is the most competitive. They work the hardest and they work the smartest," he said during a call with analysts late Wednesday after Tesla reported record quarterly earnings. There is "probably some company out of China as the most likely to be second to Tesla," he added in venturing a guess about which company could be Tesla's largest competitor. Alongside a rally in Tesla shares, Nio stock gained 3.2%, Li Auto charged up 7%, XPeng advanced by 3.4%, and BYD gained 4.8%. Investing legend Warren Buffet has a stake in BYD, whose models include the Song compact SUV. Tesla, whose lineup includes Model Y and Model 3 vehicles, jumpstarted a price war in China, the world's largest auto market, by reducing prices in October and in January. The price changes "really make a difference for the average consumer," Musk said in his call with analysts. Tesla posted a record fourth-quarter profit of about $3.7 billion. Its per-share earnings of $1.19 were higher than a Refinitiv consensus forecast of $1.05. Tesla shares climbed by more than 10% during Thursday's trading session to surpass $161 a share. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives raised his Tesla price target to $200 from $175 and said Tesla has a beatable vehicle-delivery target of 1.8 million in 2023. Read the original article on Business Insider During a rally held in the Florida state Capitol building on Wednesday, civil-rights attorney Ben Crump threatened to sue the DeSantis administration if Governor DeSantis does not reverse course and allow a newly proposed Advanced Placement African-American Studies course to be taught in the state as proposed, without the modifications that Florida Republicans have demanded . Were here to give notice to Gov. DeSantis that if he does not negotiate with the College Board to allow AP African American Studies to be taught in the classrooms across the state of Florida, that these three young people will be the lead plaintiffs, Crump told the crowd gathered at the Stop the Black Attack rally. Crumps threat comes just days after DeSantis decided to reject the pilot AP program because it was inexplicably contrary to Florida law and significantly lacks educational value. A draft of the curriculum first obtained by National Review revealed that the draft promoted the idea that color-blindness is a form of covert racism. News of the DeSantis government withholding approval of the courses curriculum drew the ire of the Biden administration. Karine Jeanne-Pierre, the White House press secretary, called the decision incomprehensible. Lets not forget, they didnt banthey didnt block . . . AP European History; they didnt block our music history; they didnt block our art history. But the state chooses to block a course that is meant for high achieving high school students to learn about their history of arts and culture, Jean-Pierre said during a press briefing last week. A similar sentiment was echoed by Florida representative Fentrice Driskell. By rejecting the African American history pilot program, Ron DeSantis has clearly demonstrated that he wants to dictate whose history doesand doesntbelong, Driskell said during the press conference. However, Floridas commissioner of education, Manny Diaz Jr., dismissed such allegations, stating that the proposed curriculum was filled with Critical Race Theory and other obvious violations of Florida law. Story continues We proudly require the teaching of African American history. We do not accept woke indoctrination masquerading as education, Diaz tweeted last Friday. The College Board released a statement earlier this week stating that it would release a revised version of the AP African-American Studies curriculum on February 1. Despite the lies from the Biden White House, Florida rejected an AP course filled with Critical Race Theory and other obvious violations of Florida law. We proudly require the teaching of African American history. We do not accept woke indoctrination masquerading as education. pic.twitter.com/Anw7Ui2JJv Manny Diaz Jr. (@SenMannyDiazJr) January 20, 2023 The move has been in keeping with the DeSantis administrations handling of educational policy more broadly. In April 2022, Florida passed the Stop WOKE Act which bars schools and workplaces from promoting ones status as either privileged or oppressed is necessarily determined by his or her race, color, national origin, or sex. Crump has established a reputation as a prominent civil-rights attorney by representing mostly black victims and their families in high-profile police shooting cases. More from National Review Gov. Gavin Newsom's CARE Court plan will order mental health and addiction treatment for thousands of Californians. (Office of the California Governor) A coalition of disability and civil rights advocates filed a lawsuit Thursday asking the California Supreme Court to block the rollout of Gov. Gavin Newsom's far-reaching new plan to address severe mental illness by compelling treatment for thousands of people. In their filing, representatives from three organizations Disability Rights California, Western Center on Law and Poverty and the Public Interest Law Project asked the state's high court to strike down as unconstitutional the program known as CARE Court (for Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment). The groups argue that the sweeping new court system will violate due process and equal protection rights under the state constitution, while "needlessly burdening fundamental rights to privacy, autonomy and liberty." Newsom announced CARE Court in March as a new strategy to help an estimated 7,000 to 12,000 Californians struggling with severe mental health disorders like schizophrenia access housing, treatment and mental health services. It was signed into law in September as Senate Bill 1338. In a statement, Newsom's deputy communications director Daniel Lopez said efforts to delay or block the law's implementation "would needlessly extend the suffering of those who desperately need our help." The governor along with the majority of Californians are beyond frustrated by the conditions seen daily on our streets. Theres nothing compassionate about allowing individuals with severe, untreated mental health and substance use disorders to suffer in our alleyways, in our criminal justice system, or worse face death," Lopez said. "While some groups want to delay progress with arguments in favor of the failing status quo, the rest of us are dealing with the cold, hard reality that something must urgently be done to address this crisis." CARE Court is scheduled to be rolled out in two phases: Orange, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Stanislaus, Glenn and Tuolumne Counties have until Oct. 1 of this year to begin implementation, with Los Angeles County on track to join two months later. The rest of the state has until December 2024. Story continues A funding measure for CARE Court initially set aside $88 million to begin implementation. Newsom included an additional $52 million in his budget proposal this year to help counties and courts kick start the program, with the eventual plan to ramp up funding to $215 million by fiscal year 2025-2026. The governor's office has also pointed to billions of dollars more available in existing state spending accounts for housing, homelessness, behavioral and mental health programs, though counties have long questioned whether that will be enough. Dozens of cities and mayors supported the plan, along with business organizations and groups representing families of affected loved ones who said CARE Court might finally offer them another option for help. The new law will allow family members, first responders, medical professionals and behavioral health providers, among others, to petition a judge to order an evaluation of an adult with a diagnosed psychotic disorder. If a person qualifies, a CARE plan could include medication and treatment services and housing if needed. Newsom has been careful to distinguish CARE Court from the more restrictive conservatorship, because those who qualify could still technically refuse to participate. But those caveats have done little to soften strong opposition from the coalition that filed the lawsuit, which joined the ACLU and several other racial and civil rights groups, homeless advocates and affordable housing organizations in trying to block the measure last year. Critics argued that CARE Court was a misguided approach for solving an issue that needed more significant investments in permanent housing and voluntary treatment services. "The proposed solution is court orders that rob unhoused Californians of their autonomy to choose their own mental health treatment and housing and threatens their liberty," the filing stated. "This 'solution' will not work and will deprive thousands of people of their constitutional rights." The coalition said it filed the lawsuit directly to the state Supreme Court in an effort to expedite timing for a decision. Lawsuits initially filed in lower courts can take more time given that rulings are often appealed. But the groups could still refile their petition in a lower court should the Supreme Court decide not to take the case, said Sarah Gregory, senior attorney at Disability Rights California. "[Disability Rights California] has considered all options on the table since the beginning," Gregory said, "and it will continue to consider all options depending on what the Supreme Court decides." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. UPDATE @ 6:10 p.m.: The case accusing Noel Coles Jr. of murder and aggravated murder in the August 2021 killing of his estranged girlfriend rested largely on circumstantial evidence and that led to Thursdays plea agreement to reduced charges of voluntary manslaughter and aggravated burglary, Clark County prosecutors told News Center 7s Mike Campbell. Coles, 48, avoided saying anything to Jacqueline Coles family when Common Pleas Judge Douglas Rastatter gave him the opportunity. Members of her family said his decision to remain mute was no surprise to them. Noel is a liar, murderer and a coward, said Belinda Hall-Morris, Jacqui Coles sister. Hall-Morris, wearing a sweater bearing a picture of her sister, told the court that Coles Jr. made Jacquelines life miserable, broke into her home and killed her -- all the while ignoring a protection order. It was obvious she had been surprised and fought for her life, Hall-Morris said of her sister. The homicide of Jacqueline Coles, 43, in her Park Layne home shocked the New Carlisle community. Hall-Morris said it tore her family apart, that their father died nine months after the killing. She was shot to death by her estranged boyfriend in August 2021, according to the Clark County Sheriff's Office. (Courtesy: Family of Jacqueline Coles I blame the defendant for sending my father to an early grave, Hall-Morris said. He didnt just kill my sister. He destroyed her kids lives. Jacqueline Coles was the mother of two sons. The plea agreement to the reduced charges meant that the judge could sentence Coles only to a maximum of 15 to 20 1/2 years in prison. Jacqueline Coles family expressed disappointment at that, but said they are glad Noel Coles Jr. is headed to prison. Prosecutors told News Center 7s Campbell they felt the outcome of the case was good because it rested mostly on circumstantial evidence. In this case, were pleased that Mr. Coles has a conviction and will remain behind bars, county Assistant Prosecutor Erica Lunderman said. Jacqueline Coles family told News Center 7 they have seen no sign of remorse in the almost 18 months since she died. Story continues Noel Coles Jr. will be credited for the time he has spent in jail, 521 days, as part of his sentence. That means he could be considered for release in about 13 1/2 years. INITIAL REPORT: Noel Coles Jr., accused of killing his estranged girlfriend in her Park Layne home in 2021, changed his plea to guilty of voluntary manslaughter and aggravated burglary Thursday afternoon in Clark County Common Pleas Court. The change of plea, which occurred during a hearing, resulted in the prosecutors office asking that all other charges against Coles be dropped, according to News Centers Mike Campbell. Coles had been formally charged with murder and aggravated murder in the death of Jacqueline Coles, 43. Her body was found in her home on Weinland Street in August 2021. >> RELATED: Hearing in Park Layne, Clark County murder case postponed An autopsy showed that she was shot at least six times. Noel Coles Jr. was arrested in Indiana hours after the womans body was found. He was returned to Clark County initially on a charge of violating a protection order. WASHINGTON (AP) On a winter's day in 1984, a briefcase stuffed with classified government documents showed up in a building in Pittsburgh, borne by someone who most certainly wasn't supposed to have them. That someone was 13-year-old Kristin Preble. She took the papers to school as a show-and-tell project for her eighth grade class. Her dad had found them in his Cleveland hotel room several years earlier and taken them home as a souvenir. As a different sort of show and tell unfolds in Washington over the mishandling of state secrets by the Trump and now Biden administrations, the schoolgirl episode from four decades ago stands as a reminder that other presidents, too, have let secure information spill. The Grade 8 escapade and one known as Debategate both involved the mishandling of classified documents that Democratic President Jimmy Carter used to prepare for a debate with Republican rival Ronald Reagan in Cleveland on Oct. 28, 1980. In the latter instance, the Reagan campaign obtained some said stole Carter's briefing materials for the debate. In today's docu-dramas, special counsels have been assigned to investigate Donald Trump's post-presidential cache of classified documents, which he initially resisted turning over, and Joe Biden's pre-presidential stashes, which he willingly gave up when they were discovered but did not disclose to the public for months. With classified material also found at former Vice President Mike Pence's home, there is now a palpable sense in the halls of power that as more officials or ex-officials scour their cabinets or closets, more such oops moments will emerge. On Thursday, the National Archives wrote to representatives of all ex-presidents and ex-vice presidents back to the Reagan administration to ask that their personal records be checked anew for any classified documents, according to two people familiar with the matter. They were not authorized to speak about document investigations and spoke on condition of anonymity. Story continues The Carter files fell into Kristin's hands through a somewhat meandering route. Two days after the 1980 debate, businessman Alan Preble found the papers in his Cleveland hotel room, apparently left behind by Carter press secretary Jody Powell. Preble took them to his Franklin Park home, where they sat for more than three years as a faintly appreciated keepsake. We had looked through them but didnt think they were important, Carol Preble, Kristin's mother, said back then, apparently unimpressed by the classified markings. But for social studies class, Kristin "thought theyd be real interesting. I thought theyd be great, too." Off the girl went to Ingomar Middle School on Jan. 19, 1984, with the zippered briefcase. Teacher Jim DeLisio's eyes popped when he saw the warnings on the documents inside. Among them: Classified, Confidential, Executive and Property of the United States Government." I truly didnt want to look at it, he said then. I was just too scared. I didnt want to know. Curiosity got the better of him. That night, he said, he and his wife and daughter pored over the documents, containing everything youd want to know from A to Z on world and U.S. developments. One folder was marked Iran." Libya was also in the mix. Unable to reach Kristin's family by phone, DeLisio the next day called the FBI, which swiftly retrieved the papers. A Justice Department official who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity at the time said the bundle of documents was 4 inches (10 centimeters) thick. Despite steering the secrets back to their proper place, DeLisio was reprimanded by school officials for calling the authorities before reaching the Preble family or them. The discovery fed into a broader investigation by a Democratic-led congressional committee of the official Carter papers obtained by the winning Reagan campaign. The Reagan Justice Department declined calls by the committee to appoint a special counsel in that matter. A court case trying to force that appointment failed, and no criminal case was brought. Debategate faded, but not the concern over how classified documents are handled by those in power. As for Kristin, she earned a niche in history and a B on her school project. ___ This story draws on one by Associated Press writer Marcia Dunn in January 1984 and on research by Rhonda Shaffner in New York. Watch the Cocaine Bear trailer The story behind Cocaine Bear sounds too unbelievable to be true. Elizabeth Banks' gory new horror-comedy tells the tale of a black bear that goes on a murderous rampage after eating huge amounts of cocaine. The film's tagline claims it's "inspired by true events", but how much of Cocaine Bear actually happened? As it arrives in UK cinemas, here's everything you need to know. The true story behind Cocaine Bear The story of Cocaine Bear is loosely based on the events of a drug-smuggling operation that went badly wrong in September 1985. Andrew Thornton, a former US narcotics officer, was dropping duffel bags of cocaine into Georgia from a light aircraft while on a smuggling run from Colombia. After reportedly having issues with the engine, he jumped out, but hit his head on the tail of the aircraft and his parachute failed to open. Read more: Alden Ehrenreich pays tribute to late Cocaine Bear co-star Ray Liotta The 40-year-old died on impact on a driveway in Knoxville, Tennessee, 50 miles away. He was wearing night vision goggles, a bulletproof vest and Gucci loafers, and carrying guns, knives, thousands of dollars in cash, plus packages of cocaine worth $15m. The auto-piloted aircraft was later found crashed in Hayesville, North Carolina. Cocaine Bear tells the tale of a drug-fuelled black bear that goes on a murderous rampage. (Universal Pictures) Three months later, a 79kg black bear was discovered dead in Georgia's Chattahoochee National Forest, having eaten cocaine from a bag dropped off by Thornton. Gary Garner, an official from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), said: "The bear got to it before we could, and he tore the duffel bag open, got him some cocaine and OD'd. There's nothing left [of the bear] but bones and a big hide." It's unclear how much the bear ingested. All 40 bundles of cocaine 40kg in total, valued at $20m had been ripped open and were empty. An autopsy found that the animal absorbed only three or four grams of cocaine into its blood stream, although it could have eaten more. Story continues Cocaine Bear stars the late Ray Liotta in one of his final performances. (Universal Pictures) There is no evidence, however, that the bear went on a rampage, as portrayed in Cocaine Bear. In reality, the animal likely died quickly after ingesting the drug. "It wouldn't have taken very much to kill him," said another GBI official, Fran Wiley. "He could have eaten a half pound and that would have killed him." The animal's stomach was "literally packed to the brim with cocaine," according to the medical examiner who performed the autopsy. "There isn't a mammal on the planet that could survive that. Cerebral haemorrhaging, respiratory failure, hyperthermia, renal failure, heart failure, stroke. You name it, that bear had it." Cocaine Bear plot and cast Keri Russell in Elizabeth Banks' new film Cocaine Bear. (Universal Pictures) Cocaine Bear stars the late Ray Liotta in one of his final performances. The Goodfellas actor, who died last year aged 67, plays drug kingpin Syd Dentwood, whose cocaine is dropped into Chattahoochee National Forest by smuggler Andrew Thornton (played by Matthew Rhys). Dentwood tasks trusted drug dealer Daveed (Straight Outta Compton's O'Shea Jackson Jr) with recovering the cocaine to avoid violent repercussions from Colombian associates. Daveed enlists the help of Dentwood's son Eddie (Solo: A Star Wars Story actor Alden Ehrenreich), who is grief-stricken over the recent loss of partner Joanie. The Americans star Keri Russell plays a worried mother, Sari, who searches the forest for her missing daughter Deirdre (Brooklynn Prince) and her classmate Henry (Christian Convery). Park ranger Liz (Margo Martindale) and a wildlife inspection rep (Modern Family's Jesse Tyler Ferguson) join the hunt for the youngsters. The comedy-thriller is loosely based on real events. (Universal Pictures) Meanwhile, Detective Bob Springs (Isiah Whitlock Jr) and partner Officer Reba Mitchell (Ayoola Smart) are despatched to search for the cocaine which happens to have been consumed by a huge bear which is attacking anyone in its drug-crazed path. According to director Elizabeth Banks, the message of the film is simple: "If you f*** with nature, nature will f*** with you". She told Total Film magazine: "I thought this bear was collateral damage [in] a broken war on drugs. I had a lot of empathy for it. I felt like this film could be the bear's revenge story." Read more: Cocaine Bear cast recall the weirdest on-set moments with fake bear Cocaine Bear was produced by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller best known for their work on animated hits The Lego Movie and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and written by Jimmy Warden, who penned Netflix horror-comedy The Babysitter: Killer Queen. Cocaine Bear is out in UK cinemas now. DENVER (AP) A year after the most destructive wildfire in the state's history scorched nearly 1,100 homes, Colorado lawmakers are considering joining other Western states by adopting artificial intelligence in the hopes of detecting blazes before they burn out of control. A Colorado Senate committee on Thursday unanimously voted to move forward a bill to create a $2 million pilot program that would station cameras on mountaintops, and use artificial intelligence to monitor the footage and help detect early signs of a wildfire. The bill will move to the state Senate Appropriations Committee next. It can detect just a wisp of smoke and its that type of situation in remote areas that could save forests and homes and properties and lives, Democratic state Sen. Joann Ginal, one of the bill's sponsors, said in the hearing. The deployment of AI is part of an ongoing effort by firefighters to use new technology to become smarter about how they prepare and better position their resources. Fire lookout towers once staffed by humans have largely been replaced by cameras in remote areas, many of them in high-definition and armed with artificial intelligence to discern a smoke plume from morning fog. There are hundreds of such cameras scattered across California, Nevada, Oregon and a handful already in Colorado that allow even casual viewers to remotely watch. Vaughn Jones, who heads wildland fire management for Colorados fire prevention agency, said the technology allows us to take very aggressive early action and keep the impact down... not waiting until the end of the day to start playing catch-up. A historic drought and recent heat waves tied to climate change have made wildfires harder to fight in the American West and scientists say warming weather will continue to make fires more frequent and destructive. Record-breaking storms that drenched California with more than 11 inches (27.94 centimeters) of rain in recent weeks and big snow dumps in other states have improved conditions in the short-term, but the drought persists across many western states, according to a Tuesday report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Story continues The Colorado program would support 40 fixed camera stations and six more mobile stations that can be moved to monitor ongoing fires, Ben Miller, the director at the Center of Excellence, which researches technology for firefighting, said at Thursday's hearing. The AI algorithm behind the camera would try to detect a plume of smoke and alert first responders early, said Miller, who pointed to a structure fire caught by AI technology near the city of Boulder in December as an example. Boulder County had partnered with an AI wildfire detection company called Pano AI, and the software had alerted authorities of the fire around the time the first 911 call arrived, Miller said. One home was destroyed and another damaged before the fire was contained a far better outcome than a year before when the Marshal Fire, also near Boulder, burned over 1,000 structures. The more you train the model, the better and better it gets, said Miller, who added that his agency is very interested in the technology but that it's still burgeoning and that a pilot program is a good place to start. Pano AI began working with cities, including the ski resort town of Aspen, Colorado, and has expanded to cities, counties and even Pacific Gas & Electric in six states. Kathryn Williams, Pano AIs director of government development who testified at the hearing, said AI machine learning is new, its exciting, its glamorous but it isnt perfect, adding that the company uses employees to vet alerts from the AI. Their stations include two cameras mounted on a high vantage point, rotating at 360 degrees with 10-mile (about 16-kilometer) radiuses and connected to the company's AI software. Each station costs roughly $50,000 every year. It's unknown whether the company would be hired for the pilot if the bill passes. Arvind Satyam, the chief commercial officer at Pano AI, said in an interview that the artificial intelligence uses a data set of over 300 million images that teaches it what is smoke billowing up from a fire and what isnt. Once a camera signals that there could be a fire, the photos and information are run through the companys intelligence center for human vetting the algorithm couldve mistaken a tractors dust cloud for smoke before its sent along to fire agencies, he said. Satyam added that the benefits go beyond detection, allowing fire agencies to pinpoint a blaze's location and monitor a live feed of the burn. AI has gained notoriety for breaking into a number of fields from creating propaganda and disinformation to writing essays or cover letters about whatever the user requests. David Blankinship, senior technology advisor for the Western Fire Chiefs Association, said in an interview that fire agencies have come to rely on this type of detection technology, especially in California where the programs have been put to wider use. Still, Blankinship noted that these cameras, even with AI, are only one component of the actual solution that is working." When a vote was called to send the bill forward, committee member Republican state Sen. Rod Pelton was enthusiastic. "I do not want to be the bucket of water on this bill so I will be a fiery, Yes'," he said. ___ 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. By creating a new salary structure for principals, assistant principals and coordinators in Waukegan Community Unit School District 60, administrators hope to improve their ability to attract and retain the people responsible for overseeing the districts 24 campuses. The District 60 Board of Education unanimously approved three measures during a meeting Tuesday at the Lincoln Center administration building establishing the salary structure, reclassifying some job descriptions and increasing nine salaries to eliminate inequities. Advertisement Making the move after receiving a comprehensive study about the districts pay structure from a pair of outside consultants, LeBaron Moten, the districts deputy superintendent for operations support and programs, said there is now more consistency in the compensation for those jobs. We want to make sure we are consistent and compensate appropriately for the work they are doing, he said after the meeting. This will help us with retention, and when we need to fill vacancies. Advertisement Moten said there is consistency for teachers and other employees whose compensation is governed by collective bargaining agreements. Their precise pay is memorialized. Now the same is true for principals, assistant principals and coordinators. All principals and assistant principals are now treated alike depending on years of experience and the type of schools they oversee. Pay ranges from $68,600 for preschool principals with 0-3 years of experience to $197,600 to the most experienced high school leaders. Principals and assistant principals are grouped into high school, middle school, elementary school and preschool categories, plus experience levels. Those levels are 0-3 years, 4-6 years and more than six years at each level. There are ranges within those levels. While consultant Laura Morgan of MorganHR was conducting the study assisted by Rick Harris of RJ Harris & Associates, they learned nine principals were currently being paid less than they should receive under the proposed schedule. As one of its three pieces of legislation, the board unanimously raised the aggregate pay of those nine principals $117,197 annually. Of those principals, three are men and six women. The inequity did not go unnoticed by Superintendent Theresa Plascencia. Plascencia said at a Jan. 17 meeting of the Student Achievement and Operations Committee it was important to properly compensate those nine individuals once the difference was revealed by the study. We noticed some people may have been in the district longer, but were paid less, Plascencia said at the committee meeting. Women of color were not at the rate of their counterparts in the same job, or even in cases where they were at larger schools. Nick Alatzakis, the districts communications director, said of the 69 positions reviewed by the consultants, 48 are filled by women and 21 men. Advertisement Board President Brandon Ewing said at the Jan. 10 committee meeting, at one time the hiring rates for principals and assistant principals were flatter than the schedule approved Tuesday. The three measures were approved Tuesday without discussion. We had individuals we didnt credit for their years of service, Ewing said at the committee meeting. This gives much more range and credit to those individuals. By flattening the rate at which we brought people (to the district), we created a bigger pay equity issue. Harris, who was critical of the districts human resources department when he learned of the inequities, suggested at the committee meeting the board review hiring and promotion decisions for the next six to eight months to assure the success of the new program. The board ought to review all internal and external offers prior to making them so you all understand this model in motion, and so you bring efficacy and trust among your 2,000 employees, Harris said. Along with the salary structure and adjustments, the board also approved a reclassification of two coordinators to managers. Moten said the Illinois State Board of Education requires a license for coordinators, but not for managers. Jan. 25SAN BENITO A San Benito school district online auction sold thousands of computers and tablets, some of which contained employees' and students' personal data, a computer store owner said Wednesday. South Texas Auction Co.'s records show the district sold more than 2,000 computers and 1,500 tablets during a July 23 online auction, David Avila, co-owner of Brownsville-based RDA Technologies, said. Avila said he bought about 700 district computers before discovering at least 11 hard drives contained district data including employees' and students' names, phone numbers, addresses, students' grades and some bank account information. Of the 11 computers in which he says he discovered personal information, one has been destroyed, he said. Now, he is offering to sell the 10 computers along with 503 computers which he has not inspected to the district for $99,579.04, a figure based on the computers' brands and models. "They asked me to sell them the equipment back," he said. "They've been insisting on a quote. If they want to buy our stock, they can buy it. We're not demanding you asked for a price." However, he said about 200 computers, which he has refurbished after inspections failed to uncover district information, are not for sale to the district, adding officials can rely on his inspections because school districts contract his company to destroy their computers' hard drives. "We have a good reputation and that speaks for itself," Avila said. "Why do people trust us for data destruction?" Company's offer During about three months of discussions with the district, Avila said officials had offered him $138,619 to buy the computers he purchased for about $29,000, a claim district officials have denied. Meanwhile, Avila said he turned down the offer because he did not want to sign a nondisclosure clause, which was part of the agreement. "We will sell only if there's no nondisclosure agreement," he said. "We don't want to be part of hiding the truth." Story continues Computer buyer Meanwhile, a Utah woman says her husband also bought district computers during the auction before they discovered the district had not wiped clean at least one computer's hard drive. "We have only been able to look at one of the computers so far and its hard drive was not wiped," the woman stated in a private Facebook message. On-site inspection Earlier this month at Avila's offices, the Valley Morning Star inspected a computer, which Avila selected, finding a teacher's bank account number; a teacher's partial bank account number; a teachers list including names, user names and emails; students' names, identification numbers and grades; a students failing list including names; a migrant students list including names, student identification numbers and grade levels; and IP and MAC numbers to district copiers and printers. Proposed contract debated Last Friday, Superintendent Theresa Servellon posted a statement on the district's website in which she stated Avila had offered to enter into a contract which specified he would wipe clean the computers' hard drives while signing a nondisclosure agreement. On Wednesday, Avila denied he offered to enter into such a contract. During an Oct. 31 meeting with Servellon and district technology director Todd English, the terms of such an agreement were "mentioned," Avila said. "That was mentioned," he said. "We mentioned the type of services we provide but we never offered them as a solution." District questions data Last month, district officials first posted a statement notifying the public about the computer sale. "San Benito CISD previously provided public notice that a local electronics recycler, RDA Technologies, purchased computer devices from the district that may have contained historical data of the district," Servellon stated last Friday. "When the district learned of this, it reached out to RDA Technologies in an effort to reacquire the involved devices and determine what information, if any, is contained on the devices." "For several weeks, Mr. Avila repeatedly refused to provide additional details to the district regarding the information allegedly contained on the purchased devices so the district attempted to reacquire the laptops and CPUs to conduct its own analysis," she stated. "Despite multiple efforts to come to a reasonable resolution with RDA Technologies, the district has not been able to independently corroborate any of the allegations of the presence of sensitive personal information on these devices," she stated. "Unless and until the district is able to conduct a thorough analysis of the devices purchased by RDA Technologies and identify the specific individuals whose sensitive personal information may be involved so appropriate services can be offered to those individuals, any publicized assertion that the sensitive personal information of district employees or students would be misleading and irresponsible," Servellon stated. "The district has also reported this matter, as well as the conduct of RDA Technologies, to the consumer protection division of the Texas Attorney General's Office." Avila: Company offers inspection Meanwhile, Avila said he has given district officials opportunities to inspect the computers. On Oct. 28, English reviewed the computers at the company's offices, he said. "At that time, RDA Technologies only permitted district personnel to briefly review two devices, neither of which contained any sensitive personal information," Servellon stated. "Moreover, the representations personally made by Mr. Avila did not include reference to any sensitive personal information being resident on the purchased devices." Avila said he also offered officials the opportunity to inspect computers on Jan. 11. ------ PREVIOUS COVERAGE: HONG KONG (AP) About 20% of the Americans in Hong Kong have left for various reasons over the past two years, the U.S. consul general in the semi-autonomous Chinese city said, drawing harsh criticism from Beijing for allegedly interfering in its affairs. Hong Kongs strict anti-COVID-19 measures and diminishing freedoms have clearly impacted the city and the people in it, Greg May said, citing the departure of roughly 15,000 Americans as one of the outcomes. He said about 70,000 Americans and 1,300 U.S. companies are currently present in Hong Kong. In a video address late Wednesday to the U.S. Center for Strategic & International Studies, May also said worries remain over Hong Kongs reputation as a business center which depends on adherence to international standards and the rule of law. Among those concerns was an interpretation last month by the standing committee of National People's Congress, China's legislature, that could further undermine the independence of Hong Kongs judiciary system by expanding the Hong Kong executive branchs authority to make decisions affecting cases without judicial oversight," May said. The standing committee ruled that Hong Kong's courts need the approval of the territory's chief executive or a separate committee to allow foreign lawyers to take part in national security trials. That came after Hong Kong leader John Lee, who is under U.S. sanctions, asked Beijing to make a ruling that could effectively block jailed pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai from hiring a British lawyer to represent him. Lai was arrested in 2020 during a crackdown on the citys pro-democracy movement that led Beijing to impose a sweeping National Security Law on the city. He is fighting collusion charges and faces up to life in prison if convicted. May said that in light of the standing committee's ruling and other developments, companies should be aware that the risks faced in mainland China are now increasingly present here in Hong Kong." Story continues The National Security Law and actions taken by Beijing and Hong Kong authorities may negatively impact company staff, finances, legal compliance reputation and operations," he said. Hong Kong's reputation as a free global financial center could be further harmed if more of the best and brightest" leave the city, he said, referring to the decision by many Hong Kong citizens to move abroad after 2020. The city's government should cease its dismantlement of Hong Kong's democratic institutions, autonomy and rule of law, release those held unjustly and respect human rights for all, May said. In a response, the Chinese Foreign Ministrys office in Hong Kong said May slandered the rule of law and freedom in Hong Kong and deliberately discredited Hong Kongs business environment. May recklessly trampled on the basic principle of not interfering with a places domestic affairs under international law and international relations, it said in a statement posted online. He supported those who have opposed China and disrupted Hong Kong, and also badmouthed Hong Kongs development prospects," the statement said. The U.S. and other major democracies have been critical of Chinas crackdown on political freedoms in the former British colony, which was handed back to China in 1997 with a promise by Beijing to keep Western-style liberties under a one country, two systems framework. Hong Kong is among a raft of issues that have sent ties between Beijing and Washington to their lowest level in years, including technology and trade, human rights, threats against Taiwan, and China's claims in the South China Sea. What began as a peaceful protest and vigil in Atlanta honoring a slain activist ended in property damage and several arrests Saturday. The chaotic night came after nearly two years of organizers and activists imploring city leaders, raising awareness and protesting the citys plans to build a sprawling police training center in a forest near Atlanta. Weve tried everything. We went through City Council, weve taken the legislative route, weve done tons of advocacy, weve sent in letters, and all weve been responded with is force, said Matthew Johnson, a supporter of Defend the Atlanta Forest, one of the movements opposing plans for the new Atlanta Public Safety Training Center. This wasnt just people breaking s--- to be breaking s---. This was people who have run out of all options. Keisha Lance Bottoms, who was mayor of Atlanta from 2018 to 2022 and is now in the Biden administration, has defended the project, saying in September 2021 that the forested land was the only viable location for such a facility. A protester holds up a sign that says Ive not been a part of any discussions on any major redevelopment in the city where theres not been criticism on the process, Bottoms said then. This is not something that happened overnight. This has been several months in the making, and I know that everybody is not going to be pleased. After the anti-police violence protests of 2020, Atlanta officials promised that a sprawling police training center would be integral to the reforms residents had been demanding. The City Council voted 10-4 in favor of the project, with Bottoms saying a new facility for police is something that cant wait. But the site, dubbed Cop City by opponents, has faced local opposition for its potential environmental impact and concerns that it will do little to address police violence. It has become the focus of protests in several cities across the country to Stop Cop City. In recent weeks police shot and killed an activist, demonstrators destroyed property, and several protesters were arrested and face steep charges. Story continues Here is how the tension over Atlantas Cop City reached a boiling point. How a protest to mourn a slain activist turned violent Officers fatally shot a 26-year-old nonbinary environmental activist who went by the name Tortuguita, or Tort, the morning of Jan. 18 as Georgia State Patrol troopers and other law enforcement officers worked to clear protesters from the site of the future police training center. Protesters hold a candlelight vigil for an eco-activist who was shot and killed during an incident near the site of a proposed Atlanta law enforcement training center on Jan. 18, 2023, in Atlanta. (Collin Mayfield / Sipa USA via AP) Tortuguita was one of several organizers who had been camping out in protest in the area of the DeKalb County forest scheduled to become Cop City. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, officers shot Tortuguita, who was in a tent, after they did not comply with law enforcement's commands and allegedly shot a state trooper. Just three days later, on Saturday, demonstrators marched down Peachtree Street around 5 p.m. to mourn Tortuguitas death and protest the police training center. The evening ended with Atlanta police arresting six people on a variety of felony charges, from unlawful assembly to domestic terrorism, police said. All but one were from out of state, police said. Hundreds gathered to mourn the death of an activist Tortuguita was killed during one of the Georgia Bureau of Investigations many operations to clear protesters out of the forested area. The trooper was recovering after surgery, State Patrol Col. Chris Wright said at a news conference. Defend the Atlanta Forest said its sources on the ground heard 12 continuous rapid fire shots, not an exchange of gunfire. Bureau investigators declined to comment on the report of rapid-fire shots. A demonstrator holds a sign protesting the death of an environmental activist, who went by Tortuguita, in Atlanta on Jan. 21, 2023. (R.J. Rico / AP) Organizers with Defend the Atlanta Forest said law enforcement authorities routinely move through the woods with their weapons drawn to clear out protesters. In fact, officers arrested eight protesters after someone allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at police as they tried to clear the area, WSB-TV of Atlanta reported in May. The overall movement to stop Cop City underscored the reason for the gathering Saturday: Tortuguitas death. But what began as a peaceful march eventually turned violent. Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said at a news conference that protesters damaged the windows of three buildings and set a police car on fire Saturday night. Tunde Osazua, an organizer with the Atlanta chapter of the Black Alliance for Peace who was at the protest, said the violence was provoked after police arrived and began using intimidation tactics. Firefighters work to extinguish a fire after an Atlanta police vehicle was set on fire during a From what I saw, they were trying to corral folks into areas and restrict peoples movements, Osazua said, adding that he left the protest when police began making arrests. It seemed like they were just using intimidation tactics to try to demonstrate their relative power in the space we were in. Atlanta police did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the claim. I think that tragic murder that took place last week is just a harbinger of what is to come if they build this facility, Osazua said. The training facility was considered 'sensible reform' by city officials Tortuguitas death was a violent turn after nearly two years of mostly peaceful opposition to the training center. The city and the Atlanta Police Foundation are working together to build the training center, which is set to be a sprawling $90 million campus stretching 85 acres into the DeKalb County woods just outside Atlanta city limits. The land is known as the Old Atlanta Prison Farm, where prisoners labored in poor working conditions for much of the 20th century. The new project would be a training site for members of the Atlanta Police Department, Atlanta Fire Rescue, the citys 911 call center and K-9 units. It would also include an administrative building, several acres for farming, a shooting range and a mock city where law enforcement could conduct burn building and urban police training. As plans for the center progressed in 2021, Mayor Bottoms lauded the project as a sensible reform necessary to boost morale, retention and recruitment in the citys law enforcement agencies. If we want the best, most well-trained officers protecting our communities, then we have to make sure we have a facility that offers that, she told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in spring 2021. Incarcerated persons work with farm equipment at the Atlanta Prison Farm in December 1953. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) City officials, including the current mayor, Andre Dickens, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. City officials have said the training center would be funded in part by the Atlanta Police Foundation through philanthropic and corporate donations, with the city contributing $1 million a year to the project for about 30 years beginning in fiscal year 2024 or a single contribution. According to an investigation by NBC affiliate WXIA, 80% of the foundations money comes from private donations, and the foundations board of trustees includes executives from Waffle House, AT&T, Delta Air Lines and other companies. Public outcry leads to protests in Atlanta and beyond The project quickly drew criticism from a variety of wary residents. Some are concerned that a training center would do little to grapple with police-spurred violence. Environmental groups say destroying a large part of the forest could negatively affect surrounding communities, as well as the nearby South River, which is endangered. Opponents also say residents have not adequately been part of the sites development process. Residents have urged city leaders not to lease the forested land to the Atlanta Police Foundation, delivered public comment against the project, canvassed to raise awareness and even called on investors to pull their money from the project. Opposing the training center is an extension of the work members of the South River Watershed Alliance have done for years to preserve the South River. In a city planning proposal from 2017, authorities had promoted plans to invest in a more than 1,200-acre park around the rivers tributaries, not a police facility. Demonstrators protest the death of environmental activist Tortuguita on Jan. 21, 2023, in Atlanta. (Elijah Nouvelage for The Washington Post via Getty Images file) I remain steadfast in my belief that the desired training can be accomplished without destroying the acreage at the prison farm, Jacqueline Echols, the board president of the South River Watershed Alliance, said in a statement. Echols added that the organization supports a thorough investigation of last weeks shooting of Tortuguita by police. Balanced and equitable consideration must be given to the protection of the local ecosystem, the cultural and historical significance of the property, and health and wellbeing of the residents of the surrounding neighborhoods, she said. The Atlanta Police Foundation said in a September Q&A that it went through an exhaustive review of its properties and that the area is the only city-owned land large enough for such a project. As for environmental concerns, the officials said there is not much tree cover in the area, as much of the land was cleared for crops decades ago, but they vowed to replace any hardwood tree destroyed in construction. They also said the center will be built with 21st century EPA standards and controls to mitigate pollution. Foundation officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In 2021, Atlanta residents called in at least 17 hours of public comment as the City Council weighed whether to lease 85 acres of the forested land to the Atlanta Police Foundation for the training center. The response was overwhelmingly against the project, including opposition from several community groups representing southeast Atlanta neighborhoods. The council still ended up approving the lease. A protester wears a shirt that says These were comments from Atlanta residents that overwhelmingly opposed the project. We wanted to see the City Council vote down the project, said Osazua, the Black Alliance for Peace organizer. So when they did vote in favor, it was quite shocking. People were hoping the public disapproval of the project would be enough to win the vote. Advocates said that instead of a massive police training center, they would like the city to both make good on its promise to transform the deteriorating area into a park and reserve and invest in a facility for affordable housing, mental health services and basic social services for Atlanta residents. Still, the movement to Stop Cop City has drawn support from outside Atlanta, with vigils for Tortuguita popping up from Florida to California. Johnson says that is proof that people are desperate for change as news of police violence consistently makes headlines. There have been people throughout the country and even the world at this point that have demonstrated showing solidarity, Johnson said. People havent seen anything change. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he and other Republicans will hold up President Bidens nominees until the administration shares with Congress the classified documents seized at Bidens Delaware home and Washington office and former President Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate. Cotton vowed there will be pain until the Biden administration shows lawmakers what classified documents the president and former president held outside the proper security protocols and warned that Republicans could also hold up federal funding as leverage. The administration is stonewalling Congress on the classified documents present at President Trumps residence and President Bidens residence and office, which is totally unacceptable, Cotton told reporters Wednesday. The members of the Intelligence Committee for that matter, the members of Congress have an absolute right to this information so we can make an informed judgment about the risk, if any, these documents have posed to our national security by being improperly handled, he said. Cotton rejected the administrations claims that the sensitive information cant be shared with Congress while special counsels Jack Smith and Richard Hur are investigating Trumps and Bidens handling of the documents, calling it a farce. Until the administration stops stonewalling Congress, there will be pain as a consequence for them, he declared. Whether its blocking nominees or withholding budgetary funds, Congress will impose pain on the administration until they provide these documents, he said. Cotton argued that Congress had access to many sensitive documents during former Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation into allegations that Russia colluded with Trump campaign advisers during the 2016 election. Theres no reason that standard shouldnt apply now to the documents present at President Trumps residence and President Bidens residence and office, he said. Story continues Im prepared to refuse consent to fast-track any nominee from any department or agency and to take every step that I can on every committee on which I serve to impose consequences on the administration until they provide these documents, he added. Cotton said he also wanted to review the classified documents found at former Vice President Mike Pences Indiana home. The Arkansas senator held up a group of U.S. attorney and U.S. marshal nominations last year to demand information from the Justice Department about why it didnt do more to defend U.S. marshals who were being sued for their role in defending a federal courthouse in Portland, Ore. during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. He lifted his holds in April after he felt confident Congress would get the answers he wanted. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said Cottons latest threat to hold up Biden nominees is a replay of the same old movie. Ive seen this movie before, he said. [He] held up the U.S. attorneys who were enforcing the law across America for a matter of weeks and months. Ive reached out to Sen. Warner this morning, Im going to talk to him to see if theres a way to satisfy Sen. Cottons concerns, which are shared by some people, he added, referring to Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.). Updated at 1:43 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. DETROIT (AP) A federal appeals court has ordered a Detroit museum to hold onto an 1888 painting by Vincent van Gogh amid a Brazilian collector's dispute with the museum over the painting. Wednesday's order from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati comes days after U.S. District Judge George Caram Steeh in Detroit dismissed a lawsuit filed by collector Gustavo Soters art brokerage company, The Detroit News reported. The suit claims Soter bought the painting of a woman with a book, titled The Novel Reader, in 2017 for $3.7 million, but that a third party took possession of the artwork and it has been missing for nearly six years. The oil-on-canvas painting, which the suit says is worth more than $5 million, was part of the Detroit Institute of Arts' recent Van Gogh in America exhibition. Steeh said in his Jan. 20 ruling that the painting could not be seized because it was protected by a federal law granting immunity to foreign artwork on display in the United States. The appeals court judges ordered the museum to retain possession of the painting, saying that an appeal filed by Soter's brokerage firm, Brokerarte Capital Partners, LLC, raises issues in its motion that deserve full pleading and reasoned consideration." Brokerarte lawyer Aaron Phelps declined to comment Thursday. Detroit Institute of Arts spokesperson Megan Hawthorne said in an email that the museum will fully comply with the order from the U.S. Court of Appeals regarding the custody of The Novel Reader and will be responding on January 30 to the plaintiffs recent pleading. She said the museum would have no additional comment prior to a ruling by the court. Attorneys for Soter filed their lawsuit in early January, seeking a court order directing the museum to surrender the painting. The monthslong van Gogh exhibition ended Sunday at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Dozens of paintings by the Dutch master are on loan to the museum. The museum hasnt publicly disclosed how it obtained the painting for the show, saying only that it came from Brazil. The painting was not listed as stolen by the FBI or the international Art Loss Register, the museum said. Criminal charges are pending for a male who allegedly called Lawrence County 911 and said he placed a bomb in Neshannock High School. According to a news release, the call came in at 8:46 p.m. Wednesday night. Police, school security and school officials removed employees from the building immediately. All schools in the district were searched. After a thorough search of all schools in the Neshannock School District, nothing was found. The district did remote learning Thursday as a precaution after the threat. The investigation is still being conducted. No information on the suspect is available at this time. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Customers struggling to get jewelry back after local store closes Lawsuit: Mini bottles of Fireball Cinnamon do not contain whiskey 1 killed in crash on Pennsylvania Turnpike ramp VIDEO: Homicide detectives, Allegheny County DA continue investigating death of Brackenridge police chief DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts A boy stands on the bank of the Salado River in Buenos Aires Province looking at the dead fish on January 22, 2023. Thousands of dead fish washed up along the shore of a river in Argentina this weekend, in the latest symptom of the extreme drought and heat that has gripped the country in recent months, the AP reported. In addition to high temperatures, the country is in the middle of a punishing drought that began in May. The drought is one of the worst to hit the country in decades, officials say. Read more Months of Extreme Weather People look for live fish among the washed-up dead ones on the Salado River on January 22, 2023. People living along the Salado River in the province of Buenos Aires searched for fish that were still alive among the carcasses that washed onshore. The fish die-off is just another symptom of the extreme weather that has gripped Argentina for months. Drought Wreaking Havoc on Crops Cattle graze on a sparse field in Santa Fe province, Argentina, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023. Argentina is one of the worlds top producers of staple crops; its the worlds third largest exporter of corn and soy, and the sixth largest producer of wheat. The severe weather conditions have wreaked havoc on this years harvest. Thousands of heads of cattle have also died in recent months thanks to a lack of water. Water Deficits Abound A farmer stands near the corpses of cows that died in his fields in Santa Fe Province, Argentina, on January 18, 2023. We have been experiencing a water deficit for the last two years and this year we have not even reached 50% of the average for this area, a farmer outside of Buenos Aires told Reuters in December, mentioning that most of his wheat plants would have to be repurposed for cattle feed rather than fed into the market for human consumption. Some ReliefBut Not Enough An aerial view of a water reservoir and dead cattle in Santa Fe Province, Argentina, on January 18, 2023. The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange said Thursday that rain could alleviate the worst of the drought as soon as next week, although a return to normal wont be immediate. Precipitation will pick up, improving soil moisture reserves and moderating the intensity of heat waves, but the process will be slow, the organization said earlier this month. Only towards the end of March will the soils replenish their moisture reserves in most of the agricultural area. Story continues Other Fish Die-Offs Worldwide Dead fish on the shore of the Salado river on January 22, 2023. Its not unusual for fish to die off during extreme heat and drought conditions. Last summer, fish die-offs were reported in Poland and Germany, Canada, the UK, Louisiana, and Utah due to a combination of factors related to heatwaves and low water in those locations. La Nina to Blame A man looks for live fish along the Salado River on January 22, 2023. The dire weather conditions in Argentina are made worse by a third La Nina in a row. La Ninas are natural weather phenomena that have a variety of impacts on the tropical west coast of South America, including limiting rainfall to Argentinas most crucial agricultural areas. Climate Impacts A farmer stands in a field overgrown with weeds in Santa Fe Province, Argentina on January 18, 2023. La Ninas arent caused by climate change, but they can exacerbate conditions already made more severe by climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has found that extreme heatwaves that used to happen once every half century now occur five times more often thanks to climate change; extreme droughts that used to happen once a decade, meanwhile, are now 70% more likely. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. An adjunct lecturer at Hamline University recently lost her job for showing an image of Prophet Muhammad in an art history class, which some students and administrators considered to be Islamophobic. The university later retracted the accusation of Islamophobia and said in a statement, It was never our intent to suggest that academic freedom is of lower concern or value than our students, but still insisted that care does not supersede academic freedom, the two coexist. An earlier statement from Hamline President Fayneese Miller had noted, Students do not relinquish their faith in the classroom, which suggested that classrooms need to be visually tailored to a specific faith. As a historian of Byzantine art familiar with the fierce debates over sacred images in the 8th and 9th centuries, I consider Millers statement a challenge to how students might study religious imagery at all. The very example of the debates in the Byzantine Empire shows how hard it is to design a space that caters exactly to the specifications of any particular faith. The debates over images in Byzantium In Greek Orthodox Christianity, which was the official religion of the Byzantine Empire that lasted from 312 to 1453 A.D., some factions were against sacred images and some in favor of them. The factions that were against images claimed that the image of Jesus Christ was unacceptable, since his nature was both divine and human. An icon of Christ being effaced, from 9th-century Byzantium. Chludov Psalter, State Historical Museum, Moscow, via Wikimedia Commons This position argued that an image of Christ, therefore, either showed only his divinity which was impossible, since divinity cannot be depicted in ordinary, human-made materials or that such an image claimed Christ was not divine at all - also considered a heresy. An image of Christ could not be produced or displayed, since it put the artist and viewer in a false position regarding the Orthodox faith. However, those who were in favor of images countered this stance by arguing that God, or divinity, had taken human shape in the form of Christ. The incarnation, meaning enfleshment of Christ, thus legitimized the making of images, since it made Christ accessible to humankind. This faction also argued that sacred images were necessary, as they served to remind viewers of the sacred beings they depicted, such as Christ, the Virgin and the saints. Story continues Contradictions acknowledged on both sides The differences between the two factions became clear in the Council of Hiereia, which was called by Emperor Constantine V in 754 A.D. to lay out the terms of those who were against images. However, despite affirming that sacred Christian imagery was blasphemous and should not be produced, this faction still stated: we ordain that no one in charge of a church shall venture to lay his hands on the holy vessels because they are adorned with figures. The same is in regard to the vestments of the church, cloths, and all that is dedicated to divine service. Example of a vessel for holy bread used in the sanctuary. Metropolitan Museum, New York. Gift of Mrs. Hayford Peirce, 1987 The above statement was at odds with the general stance of the council against images. It meant that the already existing sacred images were still considered holy, and vessels containing sacred images were permitted to remain intact. These vessels were in all probability used at the altar table in the sanctuary, the holiest part of a church. The faction in favor of images won the debate in 843 A.D. That was the year when the Greek Orthodox Church officially ruled that sacred images, or icons, were essential to that faith. But despite the victory, that side made an implicit concession to its opponents. It was decreed that the sacred icon was not to be venerated for the materials of wood, wax, colors, or other matter it was composed of, or even the image it showed. There was a general idea that venerators, by lighting candles in front of icons and kissing and touching them, were directing attention to the materials and not to the holy subject. Instead, the image was supposed to lead the viewers mind to the holy subject, which was Christ, the Virgin or the saints. In the 11th century, Symeon the New Theologian, an Orthodox monk, came to disregard this definition. A historian of Byzantine art Charles Barber argues that Symeon, despite being in favor of images, sought a spiritual experience during his prayers that went beyond the matter of the image. Thus, each side of the Byzantine debates implicitly acknowledged the impossibility of any watertight, consistent theory regarding sacred images. By the same token, both sides indicated the impossibility of fashioning spaces that catered exactly to any Orthodox Christian position regarding such images. Visual sanctity in the classroom Returning to the contemporary classroom, to what extent can this space be visually controlled? All art history instructors can certainly curate their lectures. Curation here inevitably means the inclusion and exclusion of certain things. However, it is unlikely that any degree or kind of selection would completely satisfy any single position regarding sacred images. To demand that a discipline like art history maintain visual sanctity in the classroom is, I believe, tantamount to demanding the impossible. This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation has a variety of fascinating free newsletters. It was written by: Paroma Chatterjee, University of Michigan. Read more: Paroma Chatterjee does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. China is a key contributor to Cambodia's socioeconomic development and poverty reduction, Cambodian Economy and Finance Ministry's Standing Secretary of State Vongsey Vissoth said on Wednesday. "China is the largest source of FDIs (Foreign Direct Investments) to Cambodia, accounting for 42 percent of total FDIs to the country," he said at a forum on Cambodia's economic outlook for 2023. "China has played a key role in the investments in Cambodia's industries, agriculture, tourism, construction and real estate, and transport infrastructure," he added. China is also a major trading partner of Cambodia and one of the potential markets for Cambodian products, Vissoth said, adding that the world's second-largest economy is also the largest provider of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Cambodia. Meanwhile, the official said China's optimization of its COVID-19 strategy early this month would give a boost to tourism and economic growth in Cambodia and in the world. "China was the main source of foreign tourists to Cambodia in the pre-COVID-19 pandemic era, but during the pandemic, the number of Chinese tourists to Cambodia had sharply declined," he said. "So, China's reopening will be a good opportunity for us to attract Chinese tourists to Cambodia again." Ky Sereyvath, director-general of the Institute of China Studies at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said Chinese ODA and investment have played a crucial role in supporting Cambodia's socioeconomic development and poverty reduction, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs for Cambodians. China-funded mega-projects such as roads, bridges, airports, hydropower plants, economic zones, national stadium and expressway have provided and will continue to provide great benefits to Cambodia and its people, he told Xinhua. The company plans to replace the ride with Tianas Bayou Adventure, modeled after the 2009 animated film that established Tiana as the first Black Disney princess, at its Florida and California locations in 2024. Splash Mountain, a popular ride operated at Walt Disney World in Florida for over 30 years, has been removed from the park, and fans are now selling its water on eBay. According to NBC News, while some guests were sad to experience the Magic Kingdom attraction for the last time on Sunday, other enthusiasts reportedly referred to as Disney adults sought to profit. More than 70 Mason jars, bottles and plastic bags allegedly containing Splash Mountain water hit eBay, with some potential purchasers willing to pay more than $50 for mementos of the ride, which opened in 1992. I will miss you forever, read the caption of a TikTok video with more than 1,300 likes Tuesday afternoon. Goodbye, Splash Mountain. In this Nov. 2001 photo, people scream as they ride on the Splash Mountain water ride at Walt Disney Worlds Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida. The attraction, which launched in 1992, closed Sunday after being criticized for alleged racist tropes. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images) The Splash Mountain shutdown follows years of calls for modification due to the rides inclusion of many characters from the 1946 Disney film, Song of the South. In the movie, set on a Georgia plantation after the Civil War, an elderly Black man known as Uncle Remus entertains white children being looked after by Black servants by telling them classic African American folktales. The TikTok hashtag #goodbyesplashmountain had 1.6 million views by Tuesday featuring tribute videos to the water ride set to Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, the Academy Award-winning song from Song of the South. Some of the clips claimed to show visitors final experiences riding Splash Mountains log boats over its waterfall with a 45-degree drop. According to another video, there was a two-plus-hour wait to board the ride before its closure. NPR reported that Disney announced in 2020 it would redesign Splash Mountain in response to growing criticism about its connections to Song of the South, including a Change.org petition with more than 21,000 signatures claiming the film was embedded in extremely problematic and stereotypical racist tropes. Story continues The petition demanded Disney replace the ride with one honoring The Princess and the Frog, and the company complied. Pictured is the drawn concept for a new Disney park attraction, a ride called Tianas Bayou Adventure. Fans of Disneys Splash Mountain, which will be replaced by the attraction inspired by The Princess and the Frog, took their final ride on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. (Photo Credit: Disney) Tianas Bayou Adventure, modeled after the 2009 animated film that established Tiana as the first Black Disney princess, will open in 2024. The Splash Mountain rollercoaster at Californias Disneyland, which debuted in 1989, will likewise be discontinued and reopened. According to NBC, more than 99,000 people signed a counter-petition, Save Splash Mountain, to no avail. Splash Mountain has never included depictions of slaves or any racist elements and is based solely on historical African folktales that families of all ethnicities have been enjoying for nearly a century, that petition reads. It is absurd to pander to a small group of Disney haters that dont understand the story, and re-theme such a nostalgic ride. According to NPR, Disney has not addressed the version of the rollercoaster that also debuted in Japan in 1992. Disney CEO Bob Iger has admitted that Song of the South will not be available for streaming on Disney Plus because it is not appropriate in todays world. The new concept is inclusive one that all of our guests can connect with and be inspired by, Disney said in 2020, NBC reported, and it speaks to the diversity of the millions of people who visit our parks each year. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Disney shuts down Splash Mountain for its racist tropes; fans selling ride water on eBay appeared first on TheGrio. A doctor in Maryland prescribed large doses of opioids to rehab patients who overdosed and died, according to federal officials in Maryland. The doctor, an 84-year-old resident of Towson, was the medical director and part owner of a rehab and pain management center with an office in Towson, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney for Maryland. He held the philosophy that the patient was always right and regularly prescribed high doses of oxycodone and other opioids despite a number of red flags, officials said, citing his guilty plea. An attorney for the doctor could not immediately be reached for comment by McClatchy News. Patients who routinely failed urine tests tests which revealed traces of heroin and cocaine were given prescriptions, officials said. On one occasion, he ordered large doses of oxycodone and clonazepam for a patient who had tested positive for cocaine eight times and had lost custody of her children because of drug use, officials said. Additionally, patients were seen nodding out in the waiting room, and there were reports of drug transactions occurring in the practices parking lot, officials said. Multiple pharmacies refused to fill orders from the doctors practice because of the large quantities of drugs being prescribed, officials said. Eventually, officials said some of the practices patients overdosed and died. Still, the doctor did not make changes to his prescription regimen, officials said. The doctor later admitted that he issued prescriptions to some patients outside the bounds of the usual medical practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose, officials said. He pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to distribute and dispense oxycodone in June 2022, according to WBAL. I took patients other doctors rejected, he said, according to WBAL. Im very sorry for any pain that may have occurred. He was sentenced Jan. 24 to four months of home detention, which is part of an 18-month probation term, followed by three years of supervised release, officials said. Story continues Two of the practices other employees, a doctor and a physicians assistant, previously pleaded guilty to similar charges. Towson is about 15 miles northeast of Baltimore. If you or a loved one shows signs of substance use disorder, you can seek help by calling the national hotline at 1-800-662-4357 or find treatment using SAMHSA's online locator. Woman found dead in canvas sack 52 years ago has been identified in Arizona, cops say 76-year-old woman freezes to death after fall in her driveway, Vermont police suspect Leftover change after grocery shopping turns New Zealand dad into multi-millionaire The Department of Justice announced on Thursday that it dismantled an international ransomware group responsible for extorting more than $100 million in payments from organizations based in the U.S. and around the world. The ransomware group, known as Hive, has targeted more than 1,500 victims around the world since its operation began in June 2021, the department said. At a press conference, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the group has targeted critical sectors including hospitals and schools. He noted a 2021 incident where Hive hackers deployed ransomware on computers of a hospital based in the Midwest. At a time when COVID-19 was surging in communities around the world, the Hive ransomware attack prevented the hospital from accepting any new patients, Garland said. The hospital was forced to rely on paper copies of patient information [and] was only able to recover its data after it paid a ransom, he added. Garland also said the hackers employed a double extortion model against its victims, where they not only stole the data but also encrypted the information and threatened to publish it until a ransom was paid. The DOJ also revealed that last summer, FBI agents infiltrated the hackers network and began disrupting their operations to extort victims. For instance, FBI agents were able to disrupt a Hive ransomware attack that targeted the computer systems of a Texas school district. The department said it provided the school district with decryption keys, saving it from making a $5 million ransom payment. Simply put, using lawful means, we hacked the hackers, said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. Garland added that since last summer, the department has helped over 300 victims around the world and prevented them from paying about $130 million in ransom payments. Ransomware attacks have dramatically increased over the last couple years with hackers targeting critical and vulnerable industries such as the health care sector. The Biden administration has also made it a priority to counter ransomware globally. Last year, the White House held its second International Counter Ransomware Initiative Summit, in which it invited more than 30 countries to discuss steps they can take to curb the rise of ransomware globally. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Department of Justice (DOJ) said that there is reasonable cause to believe that prisons across the state of Louisiana hold their inmates beyond their release dates. In a news release, the DOJ said it found that the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections (LDOC) denied individuals due process rights to a timely release from prison and it failed to implement adequate policies and procedures within its corrections facilities, causing systemic over-detentions of individuals. The department also said that LDOC had been on notice for more than ten years over its over-detention problem; failing to take adequate measures to ensure the timely release of individuals in custody. In a four-month period between January 2022 and April 2022, 26.8 percent of people released from LDOCs custody were held past their release date, according to the news release. Out of the over-detained individuals, 24 percent were held at LDOC correctional facilities for at least 90 days and the median number of days inmates were detained past their release date was 29. In just this four-month period, LDOC had to pay parish jails an estimated $850,000, at a minimum, in fees for the days those individuals were incarcerated beyond their lawful sentences, the DOJ news release says. At that rate, this unconstitutional practice costs Louisiana over $2.5 million a year. The Constitution guarantees that people incarcerated in jails and prisons may not be detained beyond their release dates, and it is the fundamental duty of the State to ensure that all people in its custody are released on time, DOJs Civil Rights Division Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said in a statement. Our investigation uncovered evidence of systemic violations by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections that have resulted in the routine confinement of people far beyond the dates when they are legally entitled to be released. We are committed to taking action that will ensure that the civil rights of people held in Louisianas jails and prisons are protected. We stand ready to work with state officials to institute long overdue reforms. Story continues The department provided LDOC with a written notice of their findings and the minimum remedial measures necessary to address them, in accordance with the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA). The news follows a lawsuit filed in 2018 by criminal justice advocates which alleges that inmates at the David Wade Correctional Center near the Louisiana-Arkansas border were held in isolation for full days, sometimes for months and years on end, resulting in inmates who had mental health problems to resort to self-mutilation and suicide attempts. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Department of Justice, FBI and international law enforcement partners mounted a major cyber crackdown against the notorious Russia-linked ransomware gang the Hive on Thursday, seizing its website and dismantling much of its digital infrastructure. "The Federal Bureau of Investigation seized this site as part of a coordinated law enforcement action taken against Hive Ransomware," a note on Hive's leak site, shown in English and Russian languages, said Thursday. Hive ransomware actors have "victimized" over 1,300 companies worldwide, and are believed to have received approximately $100 million in ransom payments, according to information previously released by the FBI, authorities said. MORE: Feds anticipate ransomware attacks against schools could increase as new year begins "Last night, the Justice Department dismantled an international ransomware network responsible for extorting and attempting to extort hundreds of millions of dollars from victims in the United States and around the world," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement Thursday. The Hive gang is known to threaten companies they target by warning they'll leak their information on the internet, according to bulletins released by law enforcement. Their hackers typically leave a ransom note with instructions on the network. PHOTO: FILE - The Department of Justice logo hangs in Washington, Aug. 4, 2017. (Anadolu Agency/Getty Images, FILE) In one instance last month, Hive hackers allegedly took the data of 270,000 people from the largest medical complex in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The information they stole included full names, addresses, medical records, payment info and in some cases social security numbers of patients at the hospital. MORE: Why ransomware cyberattacks are on the rise "The coordinated disruption of Hive's computer networks, following months of decrypting victims around the world, shows what we can accomplish by combining a relentless search for useful technical information to share with victims with investigation aimed at developing operations that hit our adversaries hard," FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement. DOJ seizes notorious ransomware group's website originally appeared on abcnews.go.com (Bloomberg) -- Donald Trump doesnt always get his calls to Iowa returned these days. Most Read from Bloomberg The former president, itching to seal up support early in what remains a key state in the Republican presidential contest, has checked in with Iowa influencers who have stood by him in the past. Senators Chuck Grassley and Governor Kim Reynolds didnt answer when he telephoned recently, and neither of them are willing to give their partys former leader their nod this early, according to people familiar with the matter. Nor are Joni Ernst or other top state elected officials. Trump, 76, is the only Republican to declare his candidacy for 2024 so far a move he hoped would clear the field of serious opponents and lead to the entire GOP falling in line behind him, despite his 2020 defeat, his instigation of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol and his deep unpopularity among most Americans. But instead, hes finding that some leaders in Iowa are staying neutral and open for alternatives, such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The former president still enjoys allies in many places, including South Carolina, where hell rally on Saturday, after visiting New Hampshire earlier in the day. Hes expected to be joined by Governor Henry McMaster and Senator Lindsey Graham, both of whom have endorsed his return to the White House. Senator Tim Scott, a Republican seen as a potential 2024 contender himself, has not. Iowa has never been especially friendly ground for Trump. He finished second in the states 2016 caucuses to Senator Ted Cruz, fueling the Texas Republicans ultimately failed upset bid. Story continues But even longtime Trump allies are on the sidelines this time around. Former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, who served as Trumps ambassador to China, wont be on the former presidents team in 2024. He has said he cant be political because of a new post running the World Food Prize. Branstads son Eric, who was the Trump campaigns state director in 2016, continues to support the former president but is unlikely to work for his campaign in this cycle, and may step away from his role with the pro-Trump Save America PAC to focus on his private-sector career, according to people familiar with his plans. A Trump spokesman didnt immediately comment. Matt Whitaker, whose political profile was elevated by Trump naming him acting US attorney general in 2018, wont immediately endorse his former boss. Hes told people close to him that hed field calls from other 2024 GOP candidates, including DeSantis. Sherill Whisenand, a GOP activist from Des Moines who caucused for Rick Perry in 2016, said Trump and DeSantis were topic number one at inauguration events after Reynolds, the governor, was sworn in for a second term on Jan. 13. I can assure you most Republicans I know are not jumping on board with the former president, Whisenand said. The diehards are still there, but rank and file Republicans are definitely keeping their options open. Trump hasnt hired an Iowa campaign team yet, making his pursuit of the first-to-vote state more leisurely as he strives to conserve money, people familiar with the matter said. Tana Goertz, who was one of Trumps Iowa organizers in 2016, so far isnt returning for 2024, but said she is still behind him. Talk show host Steve Deace, who is closely plugged-in with Christian conservatives in Iowa, said Trump alienated some in the party over his support for lockdowns early in the Covid-19 pandemic and other health care freedom issues. The Florida governor has subtly drawn contrasts with Trump on those topics, noting that he re-opened Florida schools and businesses far earlier than most states and calling the early pandemic lockdown a mistake. DeSantis, Deace said, is basically a progeny of Trump but a lot more likeable and a lot more electable. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Joshua Browder tweeted on Wednesday that "it seems likely they will put me in jail for 6 months" if he deployed his company's AI "robot lawyer" in an actual courtroom. Stephen Lam DoNotPay's CEO says he will hold off on deploying an AI 'robot lawyer' in traffic case hearings. Joshua Browder said that he received 'threats' over the plan and feared facing 'jail for 6 months.' He drew attention to his app, which uses Chat GPT tech, with tweets about its possible use in court. The DoNotPay app's so-called 'robot lawyer' won't be making its stealth appearance in court anytime soon. The company's CEO Joshua Browder tweeted on Wednesday that he got "threats from State Bar prosecutors" and that "it seems likely they will put me in jail for 6 months," if the app doesn't rein in its courtroom ambitions. He added that the firm would focus on its bot offering that purports to help customers challenge their bills. Browder had previously tweeted that he planned to test the app at a traffic hearing in February, with DoNotPay's AI program quietly advising a defendant through ear pieces. He didn't disclose the case or venue at the time, citing the furtive nature of the planned experiment. The ploy always carried a risk, as states closely regulate who can practice law. Regulatory bodies known as state bars, which can license and discipline attorneys, have oversight powers in this area. Giving legal advice, especially in court, can be deemed the "unauthorized practice of law," a violation that some states consider a crime, said Ellen Murphy, a professor of practice at the Wake Forest University law school, who co-wrote the 2018 book, "The Unauthorized Practice of Law for Nonlawyers." Browder's tweets didn't identify where he received the threat of jail time. Legal industry regulators don't carry out criminal enforcement, which would be a separate matter for the criminal courts, Murphy told Insider. Browder did not immediately respond to Insider's Twitter DMs seeking comment ahead of publication. Story continues The idea of experimenting with legal advice isn't new. States like Utah are relaxing some restrictions, to potentially allow non-lawyers to try new ways to provide legal services. But regulators may still be a while away from contemplating a full-fledged AI lawyer in court. "We're seeing some reform in regulations around the unauthorized practice of law, and we're becoming less rigid," said Murphy. "But are they going to extend that to non-humans?" Read the original article on Business Insider Facing a tough advertising market, Dotdash Meredith is cutting 7% of its staff, the digital publisher's chief executive told employees on Thursday. CEO Neil Vogel said in an email around that the company's business leaders and human resources staff had scheduled one-on-one meetings with 274 workers who would lose their jobs at the company, which publishes titles like Better Homes & Gardens, People and The Spruce. The move comes as other media companies have made similar cuts. The Washington Post laid off 20 employees and closed 30 open positions Tuesday. Vox Media, AdWeek, NBC News, Vice Media and CNN also have cut jobs in the last two months. "We are not immune to the broader challenges of the ad industry and of the economy as a whole," Vogel told employees in his email. Dotdash Meredith lays off 45 Des Moines workers Neil Vogel, CEO of Dotdash Meredith, at the company's Des Moines offices. A company spokesperson did return an email asking which positions will be impacted by the cuts, how many of those jobs are in Des Moines or the current number of jobs in Des Moines. But according to a notice that the company filed with Iowa Workforce Development, Dotdash Meredith laid off 45 local employees. The company is the product of the former Dotdash's $2.7 billion acquisition of Des Moines-based Meredith Corp. in December 2021. A month before the merger, according to a letter submitted to the Iowa Economic Development Authority, Meredith employed 870 workers in Des Moines. More: MidAmerican ordered to release studies, reaches settlement on $4 billion plan A division of the technology incubator IAC, New York-based Dotdash financed the deal in part by borrowing about $1.6 billion. Since the merger, Dotdash Meredith has faced a tough advertising environment; fears of a recession motivated clients to pull back on marketing. Dotdash Meredith estimated in December that its year-over-year revenue for the month declined by 28%. Annual comparisons to the pre-merger time are inexact, as accountants have to compare the performance of two separate businesses to that of the new, combined organization. Story continues In August, the company rescinded Iowa tax credits that required managers to hire 41 employees. The company also sold one of its two downtown Des Moines buildings to MidAmerican Co. in December. "With the difficult market environment and economic uncertainty that lie ahead, we must prioritize our biggest opportunities and make sure we have the proper cost structure in place to pursue them," Vogel wrote to employees Thursday. "Today's actions provide the most effective and focused use of our resources and put us in a position of strength as we look toward the future." Vogel said the company will provide severance and the option for continued health insurance. Employees can also opt to receive help from an outplacement service. More: Iowa judge tosses negligence lawsuits against Tyson Foods over COVID-19 deaths This story has been updated to include information provided by Dotdash Meredith's layoff notice to Iowa Workforce Development. Tyler Jett covers jobs and the economy for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at tjett@registermedia.com, 515-284-8215, or on Twitter at @LetsJett. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Dotdash Meredith lays off 45 Des Moines workers amid cuts The deaths of two young children and a subsequent apparent suicide attempt by their mother have prompted conversations about postpartum depression and psychosis as the "unthinkable tragedy" leaves people across Massachusetts searching for answers. Police responded to a 911 call from a man at a Duxbury home Tuesday evening where his wife, 32-year-old Lindsay Clancy, had jumped from a window, the Plymouth County District Attorneys office said. Inside the house, children ages 7 months, 3 and 5 were found unconscious with obvious signs of trauma. The 3-year-old boy and 5-year-old girl, Dawson and Cora, died from apparent strangulation. Clancy is being charged with two counts of murder and remains hospitalized, as does her 7-month-old son. Flowers were left outside the Summer Street home in Duxbury where two children were strangled on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. Postpartum psychosis can 'hijack' a mother's brain Historically, cases of women who have killed their children have often involved postpartum depression or psychosis, the latter being a condition that can severely alter a persons mental state after giving birth. If left untreated, it can pose serious dangers to both the mother and her child. Nancy Byatt, a perinatal psychiatrist at the University of Massachusetts Medical School who is an expert on maternal depression, said postpartum psychosis can "hijack the brain." In a nationally known case, in 2001, Andrea Yates drowned her five children in the bathtub of their Texas home. Yates had been suffering from severe postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis and schizophrenia. She was later found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a medical treatment facility. District attorney:Children strangled inside Duxbury home, mother to be charged with murder Law enforcement has said the Duxbury investigation is active and ongoing, and few details have been publicly released about the Clancy family and what exactly occurred that night. Massachusetts General Hospital confirmed Wednesday that Clancy is employed as a nurse there. Clancy's Facebook page is full of photos of her three children, portraying a mother who deeply loved and cared for them. Experts say, most of the time, mothers who kill their children are dedicated parents who do love their kids. But conditions like postpartum depression and psychosis can significantly alter their perception of reality and, left unaddressed, in some cases can lead to the unthinkable. Story continues "They do it because they believe it's best for them, their baby and the world, and it's often coming from a place of love and attachment," said Byatt. Remembering the Clancy family:Vigil to be held for Duxbury family Thursday; neighbor remembers 'nice young couple' What is postpartum depression? Many mothers experience postpartum depression and mood changes after giving birth. According to the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program for Moms, 1 of every 7 women experience depression during pregnancy or in the postpartum period. Byatt called postpartum depression "very common." The postpartum period is the year after giving birth. For some women, it can be the happiest time of their life, and for others, the worst. Symptoms of postpartum depression can include sadness, mood swings, anxiety, crying spells and difficulty sleeping. Byatt said these symptoms can start during pregnancy too. "These disorders are linked with negative outcomes for mom, baby and family," she said. "Mental health and substance use disorders combined are the leading cause of maternal mortality in the United States." What is postpartum psychosis? Postpartum psychosis is a more rare, severe condition. Its beyond the baby blues, experts say. Symptoms can include feeling confused and lost, having obsessive thoughts about your baby, hallucinating or having delusions, sleep problems, paranoia and, at its most severe, making attempts to harm yourself or your baby. It can lead to life-threatening thoughts or behaviors and requires immediate treatment. What's working in New England:Fighting to prevent drug overdoses in pregnant women, new moms Postpartum depression and psychosis typically can occur in women in the one-year period after giving birth. Gazi Alam, istockphoto.com/Taws13 (courtesy) "With psychotic symptoms, that's when you get really concerned," Byatt said. "People may hear voices other people don't hear. They may see things other people don't see. They may hear voices telling them to hurt their baby. These are altruistic delusions." According to Postpartum Support International, a nonprofit organization educating the public about emotional changes in women during and after pregnancy, of the women who develop postpartum psychosis, there is an approximately 5% suicide rate and a 4% infanticide rate associated with the illness. Women with bipolar disorder are at higher risk of developing postpartum psychosis, research shows. Resources in Massachusetts: How to get help with postpartum depression and psychosis Health care providers say signs of postpartum psychosis require immediate attention, and help is out there. Treatment can consist of therapy or medication, Byatt said, and often a combination of both. Mindfulness, nutrition and peer support are also important. "People often think, 'I'm pregnant or postpartum and I'm going to focus on my baby and ignore my own needs,'" said Byatt. "It's total nonsense. The best thing that we as mothers, as parents, can do for ourselves and our baby is to get the mental health support and treatment that we need. That is the most important message to get out there. We need to change the conversation around this." Massachusetts General Hospital runs a Postpartum Psychosis Project, which includes research, resources, survivor stories and a consultation line for medical providers treating patients with the diagnosis. An infographic from Massachusetts General Hospital shows data points about postpartum psychosis, a severe condition that can develop in women the year after giving birth. The hospital encourages individuals and loved ones dealing with signs of postpartum psychosis to reach out to Postpartum Support International, which has chapters in nearly all 50 states, including Massachusetts. The organization has a help line (1-800-944-4773), access to various support services and a provider directory for each state. The state of Massachusetts' website also offers a resources page on the topic. A new federally funded maternal health hotline launched last year. The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline can be reached via call or text at 1-833-943-5746. People in crisis can also dial 988, the new three-digit dialing code that connects callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: What is postpartum depression, psychosis? Questions amid Duxbury case Alex Quaresma and Rudy Mori were friends and co-workers. Alex had just gotten engaged and Rudy had only been working for the trench-digging company for four months. They left home on a hot July morning. They were on the last stage of a job, digging to find a sewer line in a 10-foot trench. It was supposed to have safety measures in place but it didn't. The trench collapsed and filled with dirt. Co-workers called for help and rushed to save them. Alex and Rudy were buried alive. The state agency that investigates workplace injuries and fatalities found Construction Specification Solutions, the company they worked for, had broken safety laws. The company also known as Turnco was fined a mere $8,000. Its a slap on the wrist, said Deanna Mori, Rudys younger sister. Arizonas worker-safety program is supposed to protect the welfare of 3 million employees. But during departed Gov. Doug Duceys eight years in office, the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health known as ADOSH for short has been more concerned with the growth and profitability of Arizona's companies than holding them accountable for safety violations. The number of unannounced inspections and financial penalties plummeted. The Arizona Republic spent more than a year examining the states worker-safety program. It attended hours of board meetings of the Industrial Commission of Arizona, the state agency that oversees health and safety in the workplace. It read thousands of pages of fatality and injury investigations, lawsuits and state and federal audits of the program. It spoke to workers, company owners, lawyers, safety experts and industry representatives. Among the findings: Arizonas governor exerts a powerful influence over the regulatory board that oversees workplace safety. The governor hires the head of the Industrial Commission and appoints the five commissioners. The commissioners then appoint the ADOSH director, who hires inspectors and decides how many inspections to conduct. When Ducey took office in 2015, ADOSH had 25 inspectors on its payroll. That number has dropped to as low as 14. Today, commissioners say the number is 15 and another 6 are being actively recruited. ADOSH has also hired eight technicians to help with inspections. The lack of staffing is the main reason that compliance inspections have fallen by 54% since 2014. Fewer inspections have resulted in fewer financial penalties imposed on companies that break the law. In 2020, a total of $505,800 was collected, down markedly from $1.1 million in 2017. The commission has the ability to raise revenues through an annual assessment on workers compensation premiums. It could use the money to beef up compliance staff. But instead of increasing revenues to hire staff, the commission slashed the assessment in 2018 and revenues have fallen. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has repeatedly criticized Arizona for failing to impose adequate financial penalties on companies that break safety laws and for dragging its feet putting in place new federal safety standards. It got to the point where the feds in 2022 threatened to revoke the states ability to run its own safety program. This lengthy series of shortcomings in the Arizona program demonstrates fundamental deficiencies, OSHA wrote last year. Meanwhile, the number of Arizona workers who have been injured or who died on the job climbed steadily during Duceys tenure. In 2020, there were 97 workplace deaths, up from 69 in 2015. Injuries at private employers have risen from 54,100 to 59,800 over the same period. When Ducey took office, the rate at which workers got hurt on the job was lower here than it was nationally. Between 2018 and 2020, however, the rate in Arizona grew to be significantly higher than the national average. Even in 2021, despite a slight decline in the rate, Arizona workers remained more likely to fall ill or get injured on the job than Americans in general. Arizona reported 67 fatalities in 2021, though the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics noted that because of challenges obtaining key source documents for Arizona, case counts may be underrepresented. Story continues 69809769007 Authoring Type Embed Credit / Byline Not set Created By: Source Phoenix Classification Not set Initial Publish 01/14/23 10:17:53 PM Embargo Date Not embargoed embed: ADOSH Inspections Return to Asset Tab SEO Warning Layout Priority 69809762007 Authoring Type Embed Credit / Byline Not set Created By: Source Phoenix Classification Not set Initial Publish 01/14/23 10:08:47 PM Embargo Date Not embargoed embed: ADOSH Fatalities Return to Asset Tab SEO Warning Layout Priority Arizona is headed in the wrong direction by doing fewer inspections and giving companies fewer financial penalties, according to a safety expert. Its basically a signal to the business community that health and safety compliance is not important, said Peter Dooley, a Tucson-based certified industrial hygienist and safety professional who has studied ADOSH for more than a decade. While the Industrial Commission acknowledges that inspections and penalties have dropped over the past eight years, it says those metrics dont take into account the myriad ways in which ADOSH helps to make Arizona workplaces safer. The state has increased consultation visits with businesses from 300 to 1,200 a year and considers its engagement with business as more of a partnership than a policing function. Were really proud of the positive impact that ADOSH has had for the state of Arizona and for every employer, every worker, said James Ashley, who was appointed Industrial Commission director by Ducey in 2015, in a recent interview with The Republic. James Ashley, director of the Industrial Commission of Arizona, attends a meeting in Phoenix on July 14, 2022. Arizonas economy boomed under Ducey thanks to his push for a pro-business regulatory environment. The state added more than a half-million private sector jobs during his tenure. But relations with OSHA have been tense. As to the threatened federal takeover, the commission says thats unfounded and arbitrary. In a written response to the feds, the commission said it strongly disagrees that Arizonas worker-safety plan is less effective than federal OSHA. It emphasizes that it takes a collaborative approach to safety that includes building partnerships and alliances with industry groups and companies. Commission Chairman Dale Schultz said he has emphasized developing collaborative, cooperative programs with businesses and industry since being appointed a commissioner in 2015. To me, it's always a balance, he told some of ADOSHs newest employees at a recent meeting of the enforcement unit. I have always enjoyed the role of being a consultant, rather than being the law. He said he doesnt measure ADOSHs success by fines or citations. He instead focuses on how collaborative partnerships with companies improve safety within the companies and industries. Unlike OSHA, the commission has chosen not to publicize in news releases when things go terribly wrong. The result, however, is that some companies ignore safety laws because they dont feel the pressure of being publicly outed. And ADOSH reports are riddled with horrific events that could have been prevented. Take the man who died from bee stings and the nine others who were injured at a citrus farm near Yuma in 2019, after the employer didnt check the field for hazards first. Or the man who fell through a skylight and plummeted 40 feet to his death at a Goodyear construction site in 2017 because there was no proper safety protection in place. Or the two men who died at a truck wash in Avondale in 2021 after breathing in a hazardous chemical, after the employer failed to provide training and did not assess for hazards. The families they leave behind are devastated. Unlike a long illness where people have time to prepare, workplace fatalities happen suddenly. Families never expect their loved ones to walk out the door and not return. Andreina Ramirez Cabrera was killed in June when the forklift the 25-year-old was driving before dawn tipped over and crushed her at a Tempe lumberyard. An ADOSH inspection found no evidence that the company violated safety laws. But her sister, Stephanie Soto, is searching for answers of what went wrong. She wonders if the tragedy could have been prevented perhaps through better lighting. I dont see the world the same anymore. It feels like something is missing, like it just doesnt feel right, Soto said. Few requirements to be on worker-safety board A few times a month, the Industrial Commission of Arizona gathers in a cavernous auditorium at commission headquarters in downtown Phoenix. Outside the auditorium is a wall-size mural titled The Spirit of Arizona, depicting the states past, present and future with Arizona icons of cowboys, a saguaro and a hot-air balloon under a soaring rainbow. The governor personally visited the Industrial Commission in June 2018 and was photographed with the commissioners, smiling in front of the mural. Ducey clutched a framed replica of the mural in his hands. The commission is in charge of administering and enforcing workplace safety laws. But its public meetings draw few visitors. Its mainly commissioners, staff and grim-faced officials from companies facing possible fines for safety violations. Their voices echo through the nearly empty room. Under state law, the governor appoints the five commissioners who are confirmed by the Arizona Senate and serve staggered, five-year terms. The governor also appoints the director of the Industrial Commission, and commissioners hire the ADOSH director. 10065158002 View Live Edit image Authoring Type Image Credit / Byline Cheryl Evans/The Republic Created By: Last Updated By: Source Arizona Republic Classification Not set Initial Publish 07/14/22 8:10:10 PM Embargo Date Not embargoed image: News Adosh Worker Safety Return to Asset Tab Industrial Commission of Arizona Chairman Dale Schultz attends a meeting in Phoenix on July 14, 2022. SEO Warning Layout Priority Industrial Commission of Arizona Chairman Dale Schultz attends a meeting in Phoenix on July 14, 2022. There are few requirements on who can be a commissioner. They have to be Arizona residents for at least five years. No more than three can be from the same political party. There is no requirement that the commission include a representative from labor or union. Photos of past commissioners fill the wall of an upstairs conference room; they are nearly all men. The current commission has three Republicans, one independent and one seat that has been vacant since 2021. The current chairman, Dale Schultz, works as a risk manager for Valleywise Health, Maricopa Countys safety-net health system. His roots with the commission date back to the 1970s, when he served as an intern to the director. An ethics expert interviewed by The Republic said political pressure could come into play because the governor appoints the Industrial Commission director, rather than commissioners hiring the person. It strikes me as unusual that the board doesnt have their own authority to hire their executive and then hold that person accountable, said John Pelissero, a senior scholar in government ethics at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University. Duceys office did not respond to an interview request and did not provide responses to a list of questions submitted by The Republic. The new governor, Katie Hobbs, issued a statement saying workplace safety is a priority for her administration. "Every Arizonan deserves to go home safe from work at the end of the day, she said. Jessie Atencio, director of the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health, speaks during a July 14, 2022, meeting at the Industrial Commission of Arizona in Phoenix. The Industrial Commission director and the ADOSH director said they didnt feel political pressure from the governors office to go easy on companies. Never, ADOSH Director Jessie Atencio said. My degree is in environmental, occupational health and stuff. Were firm and were fair. And we also make sure that if there's any education that we can provide, we provide that. But it doesn't absolve us of what we have to do. The commission has many duties. One key responsibility is to review fatality investigations conducted by ADOSH. When a worker dies on the job, ADOSH does a fatality investigation to find out what caused the death and whether the company violated safety laws. ADOSH has jurisdiction over most private and public workplaces in Arizona. But other agencies handle fatality investigations for workers killed in mines or on Indian reservations or federal employees. The commission cant shut companies down. But it can give citations for safety violations and financial penalties. Industrial Commission of Arizona Director James Ashley (from left), Commissioner D. Alan Everett, Chairman Dale Schultz, and Gaetano Testini, chief legal counsel, attend a meeting in Phoenix on July 14, 2022. The commission usually hears one or two fatality reports per meeting. The ADOSH director reads a summary of the fatality investigations and outlines any alleged safety violations that were found. Common violations include failing to train workers for the job they are doing and not ensuring they have or use safety equipment. Its also common for workers to be killed or injured because companies fail to have safety procedures to prevent dangerous equipment such as electric saws from starting up unexpectedly. At a November meeting, the commission heard about three fatalities: A worker was shocked to death when a repaired electrical cord came into contact with water at a Casa Grande tile manufacturer. Another worker fell off a ladder at a home construction site in Gilbert and was impaled on rebar that wasnt covered with a protective cap. The third worker at a Phoenix company that builds wooden pallets lost his footing and fell backward into an electric saw that was in the process of being shut down. The saw should have had protective guards in place. In meetings, the ADOSH director shares with the commission any alleged safety violations and proposes financial penalties. The commission can follow, modify or reject the recommendations. Sometimes the family of a worker killed on the job will attend commission meetings to hear the results of the fatality investigation. They are often searching for answers about what happened to their loved one. Thats what the families of Rudy Mori and Alex Quaresma did after the men died in a trench. Cave in, your guys are buried Working in trenches wasnt the first job choice for Quaresma or Mori. But it was hard to find work because they had served time in prison and had felony records. Pipelayer was one of the jobs available. They were part of a construction team that installed underground utilities for housing, often working as subcontractors to housing developers. Mori was a buff guy, 6 feet tall and 204 pounds. His shaved head gave him an imposing look. But he liked cupcakes, sometimes polishing off a dozen at a time. He went by the nickname Butch to avoid confusion with his father, who was also named Rudy. He was generous with his time. His three sisters said he would help wash dishes and take out the trash without being asked. He worked on his sister Jessica Moris house once for nine hours straight, removing the popcorn ceiling. He had a wife, Christie, and two stepchildren. Quaresma moved to Arizona from California. He was divorced with two teenage children and was engaged. He met Tara Macon at a Walmart. She was on her way to her car when they saw each other, and their eyes locked. She kept moving. I dont want to seem rude, he told her. But Id love to exchange numbers. Impressed with his confidence, she agreed. They lived a few blocks from each other, so it was easy to hang out every day. They both liked hiking, antiquing and eating at roadside diners. They took road trips, sometimes driving to Tucson just for dinner. Quaresma seemed to be trying to make up for the freedom he lost in prison. Quaresma popped the question during a trip to Las Vegas in June 2020. Macon was surprised when the chocolate cake she ordered as dessert was brought out with an engagement ring on top. Then he got down on one knee and proposed. Less than a month later on July 23, 2020 they got up as usual around 4 a.m. and kissed each other as he headed to work. As was his habit, he sent her the location where he would be working that day, an upscale housing development near State Farm Stadium in the West Valley. They spoke again by phone later that morning. Everything was fine. The crew was working in a series of trenches, trying to locate sewer pipes. Trenches pose a hazardous work condition if the contractor does not use the recognized and accepted safety measures. A trench wall can collapse without warning, trapping and killing workers. Theres no time to react. A small amount of dirt may not seem dangerous. But a cubic yard of dirt can weigh as much as 3,000 pounds the same as a small car. When a trench collapses, thousands of pounds of dirt can and will pin and normally kill the trapped worker. When a worker is in a trench that is more than 5 feet deep, the contractor is required to make the trench a safe work area. The contractor has a few options: The sides of the trench that are more than 5 feet deep can be sloped or laid back or the trench can be shielded with a steel trench box. The last trench that Quaresma and Mori entered that day had none of those safety features. They were working in ground known in the industry as Type C soil, a sandy mixture that carries a greater risk of collapse than a soil classified as a Type B soil, which the foreman thought they were working in. The foreman took a photo around 10:30 a.m., showing two men working in a deep trench without a protective system. Quaresma and Mori were inside the trench as noon approached, using hand tools to dig for a sewer pipe. Suddenly, the walls collapsed. Soil poured in. Workers outside the trench called 911 and phoned the crews foreman who was not on site then. Cave in, your guys are buried, one of the workers told him. The Phoenix Fire Department arrived and saw co-workers trying to rescue the men. Fearing another collapse, they ordered them out of the trench. Quaresma was buried. They could see the top of Moris head. More:Arizona's worker safety program puts workers at risk. Here are 7 ways to fix it Fewer inspections, less enforcement ADOSH had not inspected Construction Specification Solutions in at least the last three years. Most workplaces go years without an ADOSH inspection. The state doesnt have many inspectors. ADOSH on its website addresses why it doesnt inspect more workplaces. In a word, resources, it says. A compliance officer can only conduct so many inspections during a given period. If we had more compliance officers, we could conduct more inspections and that would make everyone happy. OK, maybe not quite everyone. While no state has the money to inspect every workplace every year, Arizonas inspection record is especially poor, according to the safety experts and federal audits. The most recent Death on the Job report by the AFL-CIO found 17 states where the ratio of inspectors to employees is greater than one per 100,000. Arizona had the highest ratio at one inspector per 201,697 workers. When asked about the ratio, the Industrial Commission in a statement said that number seems to be dated. The commission instead pointed to the states fatality and injury/illness rates, which consistently show that Arizona is one of the safer states in the nation to work. As a matter of fact, Arizona has been one of the safest 20 states every year over the last five years when it comes to workplace fatalities. Federal audits have repeatedly faulted ADOSH for not doing more inspections. The compliance unit which conducts unannounced inspections based on complaints and other factors is chronically short-staffed. ADOSH has trouble filling and retaining inspectors. A federal audit found that the number of compliance officers able to conduct independent inspections declined from 13 to five in 2021. The short staffing means fewer inspections at Arizona workplaces and less enforcement of safety laws. ADOSH conducted 486 compliance inspections in fiscal 2021 less than half of its goal for the year, according to a federal audit. While ADOSH is doing fewer inspections, the agency has emphasized free consultation visits for workplaces. These are voluntary safety reviews requested by a company and scheduled in advance. ADOSH then prepares a report of any hazards that were found. Hazards must be fixed but dont result in violations or financial penalties. Ashley, the Industrial Commission director, said consultation visits are a proactive effort to prevent injuries. Under his leadership, consultation visits increased from about 300 to 1,200 a year. But unlike inspections, consultation reports arent available for the public to review, according to the Industrial Commission. Not even if the same employer later has a workplace injury or fatality. The Republic requested a copy of a consultation report for a company that had a consultation visit in March 2022 and had a workplace fatality three months later. The consultation report made recommendations for correcting hazards, according to a letter sent to the company from ADOSH. But the list of hazards or what the company did to fix them was not in the public file. The Republic wanted to know whether the hazards identified as part of the consultation visit were related or not related to the workplace fatality that later occurred. The Republic argued that without the report, the public cannot evaluate the effectiveness of ADOSH oversight with voluntary inspections. But ADOSH wrote that it was following federal policy designed to encourage workplaces to allow consultation visits. Making the report public would create a chilling effect on the consultation program, leading to an increase in unsafe working conditions, ADOSH wrote to The Republic. Fewer inspections have meant fewer total fines against companies. Money collected from financial penalties declined from $1.1 million in fiscal 2017 to $505,800 in fiscal 2020. Even when a company is penalized, the fine is likely to be less than the national average. The average fine in Arizona for serious penalties for large companies was just $2,109 compared with the $6,575 national average, according to a recent federal audit. Peter Dooley, the Tucson-based safety professional, has followed ADOSHs activities for more than a decade. He calls Arizona a lowball underachiever when it comes to enforcing safety standards. He cites as one example what he calls ADOSHs deplorable record of not doing much follow-up when workers complained that their employers werent providing them with protections such as enough personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers were desperate for better protection, Dooley said. But ADOSH either lacked the capacity or the motivation to respond, he said. The Republic reported on how ADOSH received more than 300 complaints about COVID-19 safety measures from March 2020 to March 2021 and issued citations related to the pandemic in only three cases. The Republics analysis found that few workplaces were inspected, with ADOSH closing about seven of eight cases with no site visits, relying instead on employers that described their compliance efforts in letters to the agency. Industrial Commission officials dispute criticism that the state is headed in the wrong direction. They say critics are not taking into account the agencys broader safety program, which includes consultation visits, training and partnerships with companies and industry groups. They say the decline in financial penalties happened because the agency hasnt been able to fill all the inspector positions. To try to fill gaps, ADOSH and some other states have created a new position called technician for applicants who may not have been eligible for jobs as inspectors in the past. The new position includes people with degrees in chemistry or biology, which are fields conducive to working with health and safety standards, ADOSH officials said. Eight technicians had been hired so far since August, though as of late December none were far enough along in training to conduct independent inspections. I do not wish this upon anyone Deanna Mori, Rudy Mori's younger sister, was in the middle of an appointment when calls flooded her cellphone. Something happened to your brother, her mother told her through tears. We think he passed away at work. On this day July 23, 2020 the trench he worked in collapsed shortly before noon, burying 33-year-old Rudy Mori and his co-worker and friend, 36-year-old Alex Quaresma, under tons of dirt. Their families rushed to the construction site at a new housing development in the West Valley. Police cars and fire trucks filled the area, cordoned off with yellow tape. They couldnt find out whether their loved ones were still alive. A couple of tearful co-workers approached. They were sorry, they said. They couldnt get them out. Tara Macon got a call about Quaresma from his mother. She rushed to the work site. All she knew was there had been an accident. She saw Quaresmas co-workers hugging. She asked what was happening. An emergency worker told her it was now a recovery mission. She wasnt sure what that meant. Were trying to recover their bodies, the worker told her. Construction worker Mario Nodal (center) embraces two co-workers after learning his uncle died alongside another worker who died at the site of a trench collapse near North 109th and West Marshall avenues in Phoenix on July 23, 2020. Nodal was working with his uncle and others near the trench when it collapsed. On the other side of the construction site, Rudy Moris family clung to each other as they learned the tragic news. His wife, three sisters, parents and other relatives decided to wait in the near-triple-digit temperatures for the bodies to be recovered. A company working in the area lent the family a canopy for shade, a cooler full of water and chairs. An inspector with ADOSH, the states worker-safety program, arrived to interview witnesses and investigate whether safety laws were broken. The family waited for hours in anger, shock and disbelief. It was a complicated recovery. Phoenix Fire Capt. Rob McDade told the media that rescue workers had to take precautions to avoid the trench collapsing further while they recovered the bodies. Rescue workers recovered the mens bodies long after dark. The Mori family was still there. Emergency personnel work to recover the bodies of two construction workers killed at the site of a trench collapse in Phoenix on July 23, 2020. A medical examiner later ruled their deaths accidental, the result of suffocation and smothering. Moris family clung to the hope that cuts the medical examiner found on his scalp may have meant he lost consciousness before he died. OSHA officials said last year they were seeing an alarming rise in trench deaths around the country. OSHA stepped up enforcement after 22 workers died in trench-related accidents in only the first six months of last year. That was more than the 15 who died in all the previous year. "Every one of these tragedies could have been prevented had employers complied with OSHA standards," Assistant Secretary for OSHA Doug Parker said in a statement issued in June. OSHA said it was directing inspectors to make more than 1,000 trench inspections as part of increased safety measures. OSHA also encouraged states like Arizona that run their own worker-safety programs with permission from OSHA to consider additional safety measures, including criminal referrals to prosecutors for trench-related incidents. In Arizona, ADOSH inspectors have the authority to stop and inspect if they see an unprotected trench. Since 2015, there have been seven trench fatalities in Arizona. During that time, ADOSH has conducted 393 trench inspections and, of those, 106 were the result of safety complaints. ADOSH officials said the agency has not referred a work-related trench fatality to the Arizona Attorney Generals Office for possible criminal prosecution in recent memory. But that remains an option if warranted. An ADOSH investigation into Mori and Quaresmas 2020 deaths led to safety violations and financial penalties against Construction Specification Solutions, the company the men worked for. The ADOSH report concluded the incident could have been avoided if the employer had taken safety measures such as installing a metal protective system or sloping the soil back to prevent a cave-in. The report also stated the company did not properly train workers on excavation hazards and safety precautions. The crews foreman told ADOSH he was not on site when the trench collapsed. He said he had been in the trench when it was about 7 feet deep without a protective system and felt it was safe as long as someone was above, keeping an eye on workers below. We certainly think this is a tragic situation, send condolences for the family, said Travis Vance, an attorney who spoke on behalf of the company when the Industrial Commission discussed the fatalities in early 2021. First and foremost, we want to keep everybody safe. He said the crews foreman told workers to stop digging and went to get them drinks because it was a hot July day. The foreman was not there when the cave-in happened. He was not on site when the trench was as deep as the final measurements, he said. Vance told commissioners it was possible the ADOSH trench measurements were made after more dirt had been removed in the recovery mission. Our position would be that there would be no knowledge on behalf of the company of the conditions that have been cited, he said. Construction Specification Solutions, in a written response to ADOSH, said it conducted companywide retraining in trench safety and a group safety discussion within a few days of the incident. The foreman also completed a 30-hour OSHA course. The company and Vance did not return calls from The Republic seeking comment.John Wittwer, an attorney who currently represents the company, said the company wont have any comment because of ongoing litigation. J. David Gardner, a civil engineer expert with Robson Forensic, examined the ADOSH report at the request of The Republic. He said, in his opinion, the accident was easily preventable. All indications are that the contractor blatantly disregarded the recognized and accepted industry safety standards and regulations associated with trench work, he said. ADOSH determined that Construction Specification Solutions committed four serious violations. ADOSH said the company did not properly train employees and failed to install a protective safety system in the trench. The proposed fine was $20,000. But under a formula allowed by federal OSHA, Construction Specification Solutions was eligible for a discount. Because it had 18 employees, it was deemed to be a small company and its discount was set at 60%. The fine was therefore reduced to $8,000. I dont know, Commissioner Joseph Hennelly Jr. said during the public meeting. This whole thing seems light to me. He said the lack of safety systems on the trench was a terrible oversight. Thats being kind. In the end, though, the commissions vote was unanimous. Construction Specification Solutions was fined $8,000 with the discount. Dave Wells, research director for the Grand Canyon Institute, a nonprofit think tank based in Phoenix who has studied ADOSH, called the $8,000 fine appallingly small. Two men died. Thats really disturbing. Thats a significant safety violation that led to their deaths, he said. A similar trench accident in Missouri killed one worker in 2022 and resulted in four serious citations issued to the company, similar to Arizona. That company was fined much more: $58,008. The disparity is not lost on the families of the Arizona men. Its a slap in the face, said Macon, who was engaged to Quaresma. He loved his job. He believed in the company, and he was there whenever they needed him to be and his life was gone because of it. And they get a discount. When asked about the disparity between Arizona and Missouri, ADOSH officials told The Republic they would have to study the Missouri case to see what factors were used to decide the steeper fines. Each fatality case is unique, they said. Fines are based on several factors, including whether the company has a history of safety violations. OSHA: Arizona has history of shortcomings Arizona is one of 22 states that has permission from OSHA to run their own worker-safety programs for the private sector, state and local government workers. OSHA audits the programs, and state's safety protections must be at least as effective as federal ones. OSHA says Arizona has a history of shortcomings in this regard. As a result, OSHA last year threatened to strip Arizona of its ability to oversee workplace safety. Arizonas program has routinely failed to maintain its commitment to provide a program that is at least as effective as the Federal OSHA program in providing employee safety and health protection at covered workplaces, the federal notice said. Among the examples OSHA gave: OSHA accused Arizona of repeatedly failing to adopt safety standards and directives in a timely manner. For example, it took Arizona more than six years to raise its maximum financial penalties to match federal ones. Arizona ran afoul of OSHA in 2012 when its state standards to protect construction workers from falls didnt match federal ones. OSHA required safety protection at 5 feet while Arizona only required it at 15 feet. A state law was eventually passed in 2014 to match federal standards. The Industrial Commission in 2021 failed to adopt OSHAs emergency temporary COVID-19 standards for health care workers. The standards dealt with personal protective equipment and other safety measures. It also would have given health care workers paid sick time if they contracted the virus. Ducey called the threatened federal takeover nothing short of a political stunt and desperate power grab. The Industrial Commission responded to the threat with a 51-page letter to OSHA filled with strident language. The commission accused OSHA of relying on inaccurate data and using ill-defined and ever-shifting standards to evaluate whether Arizonas program was as effective as OSHAs. OSHA continues to advocate a theory that State Plans must rubber stamp everything OSHA does, the commission wrote. The Industrial Commission blamed delays in adopting federal standards on having to change state laws something that is outside the regulatory boards authority. The commission also suggested the threat of a takeover was retaliation for the commission not adopting the COVID-19 standards for health care workers. Arizonas business community lined up to oppose a federal takeover of the worker-safety program. The companies writing support letters to OSHA are among the states most influential business and industry groups, including Arizona Public Service, Salt River Project, several chambers of commerce and construction and housing associations. Unions and safety advocates generally supported the federal takeover. The public comment period on the possible federal takeover has since closed. OSHA did not respond to calls and emails from The Republic, requesting an update. The Industrial Commissions director said in a December interview with The Republic that he was optimistic that the outcome would be favorable to Arizona. We have a strong expectation this is going to be successfully, officially resolved very soon, Ashley said. Its like a slow suffering Two years later, the families of the Arizona men killed in the trench grieve and remember their loved ones. Tara Macon keeps Alex Quaresmas car in the garage. She rarely drives his red Cadillac Eldorado but cannot part with it. Joanna Noriega, one of Rudy Moris sisters, cannot bear to look at construction sites. Workers are building a new apartment complex near her job. Looking at the dirt mounds triggers bad memories. Its like a slow suffering were all dealing with, she said. His older sister, Jessica Mori, avoids driving on Camelback Road. The name reminds her of the Camelback Ranch development where her brother died. His sisters formed a text-message group with Macon. They send each other encouraging messages. Its how they get through the tough days. The family considered suing the homebuilder at the construction site and the subcontractor Rudy Mori worked for. But attorneys told them they didnt have much of a case. Ironically, workers compensation laws provide companies with broad legal protection. Quaresmas mother is suing the homebuilder and related entities for negligence. They have denied the allegations. Ducey left office in early January after two terms. Arizonas new administration is faced with a choice: Continue on the same path or take federal threats seriously and reform the states worker-safety program. Lawmakers will get a chance to weigh in soon. The Industrial Commission is due for a state audit and legislative review this year. Its part of the review process for regulatory boards called Sunset Review, where lawmakers look at the purposes and functions to decide whether to continue, revise or terminate the boards. That outside review cant happen soon enough for the Mori family. And they hope for substantive change. They would like an overhaul of Arizonas worker-safety program: new commissioners, more inspections and higher financial penalties for companies who break the law. 10997710002 View Live Edit image Authoring Type Image Credit / Byline Joe Rondone/The Republic Created By: Last Updated By: Source Arizona Republic Classification Not set Initial Publish 01/05/23 3:54:53 PM Embargo Date Not embargoed image: Deanna Mori 7 Return to Asset Tab Deanna Mori shows a tattoo of the last thing she texted her brother, Rudy Mori, before his death. The text said, "just ...thank you." She was thanking him for running errands with her. SEO Warning Layout Priority Deanna Mori shows a tattoo of the last thing she texted her brother, Rudy Mori, before his death. The text said, "just ...thank you." She was thanking him for running errands with her. Deanna Mori keeps a photo of her brother in her living room. It was taken a few years before he died. Another picture on the refrigerator shows him snuggling and smiling with her 3-year-old son, Rome. Rome is now 5, and he often begins his day by looking up at the photo and saying good morning to his uncle. I speak for my whole family, that I do not wish this upon anyone, she said. I do not want anyone elses family to go through this. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ADOSH under Gov. Ducey failed to protect Arizona workers: Here's how House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) addresses reporters during a Jan. 20 news conference at the Capitol. (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press) After he was elected speaker on the 15th ballot, Kevin McCarthy promised that the U.S. House under Republican leadership would protect the national economy, saying that the party was committed to stop wasteful Washington spending, to lower the price of groceries, gas, cars, housing, and stop the rising national debt. But there is more to sound economic stewardship than controlling future spending. The government must also pay the bills Congress has run up in the past, even if that means further borrowing. McCarthy and his fellow Republicans need to recognize that reality and stop politicizing the issue. Last week the Treasury Department announced that the U.S. had hit a congressionally mandated limit on how much the federal government could borrow to satisfy its financial obligations the so-called debt ceiling. Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen is taking extraordinary measures that are likely to forestall a crisis until June. But Congress needs quickly to raise the debt ceiling to make it clear that payments including to Social Security recipients will be made. Unfortunately, House Republicans are essentially threatening to hold an increase in the debt limit hostage to concessions on future spending from the Biden administration and congressional Democrats. Never mind that Republicans dont seem to agree on what sort of cuts they want to make, with some eyeing potentially politically perilous changes in Social Security and Medicare. President Biden has insisted on a clean increase in the debt ceiling from the current $31.381 trillion, but he muddied his message by agreeing to meet McCarthy to discuss the debt ceiling among other subjects. McCarthy pointedly told Biden: I accept your invitation to sit down and discuss a responsible debt ceiling increase to address irresponsible government spending" seeming to assume that the two issues would be linked. (White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre issued a statement saying that Biden continues to believe that "raising the debt ceiling is not a negotiation; it is an obligation of this country and its leaders to avoid economic chaos.") Story continues Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, sometimes the Republican adult in the room, seems reluctant to play an active role in resolving the impasse. This week McConnell unhelpfully said that any solution to the debt ceiling crisis will have to come out of the House and that it was entirely reasonable for the new speaker and his team to put spending reduction on the table. As a matter of raw politics, Republicans may think that they can use action on the debt ceiling to force the administration into a corner. There is some precedent for such a strategy. In 2011, the Obama administration agreed to a deal in which the ceiling was raised in connection with the adoption of legislation that placed some limits on spending. But that doesnt justify brinkmanship in 2023, when policymakers are striving to head off a recession. Nor is it clear that McCarthy, whose speakership depends on the support of extremists in his conference, is in a position to credibly negotiate with the administration on any arrangement that would link an increase in the debt ceiling to future spending cuts. Republicans in the House are free to advocate policies designed to address what they consider wasteful spending. But politicizing the raising of the debt ceiling is dangerous. Ideally, the ceiling would be abolished. As we have said before, raising the federal debt limit should be a routine, obligatory act by Congress to discharge the governments basic duty to pay its bills. But at a minimum Congress must raise the limit periodically to ensure that the government can borrow what it needs to meet its obligations. If McCarthy and other House leaders arent willing to endorse an increase, Biden must appeal to responsible Republicans in the House and there are some to put nation above party. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. (Bloomberg) -- Elon Musk made a surprise visit to Capitol Hill on Thursday and met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Most Read from Bloomberg He came to wish me a happy birthday, said McCarthy, who turned 58 on Thursday. Weve been friends for years. Asked if he had discussed the debt ceiling with the billionaire Twitter Inc. and Tesla Inc. chief executive officer, McCarthy responded no. He ignored other questions as he entered the House chamber to vote. Musk wasnt immediately seen leaving McCarthys office suite on the second floor of the Capitol. On Twitter afterward, he said he had met with both the speaker and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries to discuss ensuring that this platform is fair to both parties. It was not clear where the encounter with Jeffries took place. Jeffries office declined to comment on Musks tweet. Musk is a longtime McCarthy donor and urged voters last year to vote Republican. He attended a conference with McCarthy last year and recently tweeted his support for him to become speaker. McCarthy has joked about not being able to afford test driving a Tesla. Most of the Tesla drivers in Congress, however, are Democrats. Read more: Tesla Drivers in Congress Like Their Cars, Split on Elon Musk Musk, who in 2020 announced that he had moved to Texas from California, has become more involved in politics over the past few years, and been critical President Joe Biden and Democrats, claiming last year that the president was beholden to organized labor and that the party was damaging his businesses. Musk has also praised Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a possible Republican presidential candidate in 2024, and predicted that he could defeat Biden, who rarely mentions Musk or Tesla when he discusses electric vehicles and the automobile industry. Story continues (Updates with Jeffries office declining to comment, in sixth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Elon Musk is reportedly looking to get $3 billion in funds Twitter CEO Elon Musk is reportedly looking into raising $3 billion to offset the recent debt the company has accrued since he took over in October. The company is currently $13 billion in debt, according to people familiar with the matter, and Musk said in December that he planned to sell $3 billion of his Twitter shares, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. Musks apparent endeavor to secure funds comes after approximately 6,000 employees at the company were laid off. The company has also been dealt a blow in the form of filed lawsuits from building management companies that claim Twitter breached its contract by not paying rent, and the company is facing legal implications with the Crown Estate in the UK for failing to pay rent in its London office space. Read more Three months into his Twitter takeover, Musk has been finding additional ways to cut costs, including auctioning off furniture, office supplies, and even an iconic blue bird statue, which sold for $100,000. When Musk completed his $44 billion buyout of the social media platform, he also acquired $1 billion in annual interest. As Musk has reached out to new and existing investors to raise additional funds, some of them have expressed disdain and concern over Twitters future, the Wall Street Journal reported. When asked on Twitter if the Wall Street Journals report was true and if he will be selling up to $3 billion in his Twitter shares, Musk simply responded, No. Twitter has seen a substantial loss in income as around 500 of its top advertisers have pulled back on the platform, resulting in a loss of more than $4 million a day, bringing its revenue down by 40%. In November, Musk went so far as to offer doomsday prediction, saying that bankruptcy could be a possibility for the company. He later backtracked following the mass layoffs, saying he expects Twitter to break even financially in 2023. Story continues More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Second gentleman Doug Emhoff will bring his work fighting antisemitism to the international stage this week, traveling to Europe amid a global rise in hate against Jews and other groups. Emhoff will travel Thursday to Krakow, Poland, and will spend Friday visiting the Memorial and Museum at Auschwitz-Birkenau, one of the most notorious concentration camps from World War II. He will mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day there by attending a wreath-laying ceremony. The second gentleman, who is Jewish, will visit Oskar Schindlers enamel factory museum. Schindler saved hundreds of Jews during the Holocaust. Emhoff will also attend a roundtable with community leaders about the rise in antisemitism and how to fight it. Emhoff on Sunday will tour the historic Jewish quarter of Krakow before departing for Berlin, where he will attend meetings with international leaders tasked with combating antisemitism. Emhoff will be joined by Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, the administrations special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism. Emhoff has used his platform as the first male spouse of a president or vice president to elevate the issue of antisemitism and talk about the importance of his Jewish faith. The trip is about reflecting on what we know is a dark difficult history and then renewing our commitment to take action in current times, a senior administration official told reporters. Throughout his engagements, the second gentleman will make clear that President Biden and Vice President Harris are fully committed to countering the rise in antisemitism. Emhoff has become more outspoken on the issue in the wake of several high-profile instances of antisemitism. Former President Trump in November hosted the rapper Ye and Nick Fuentes, an avowed white nationalist and Holocaust denier, for dinner at his residence. Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, then went on the right-wing radio show of Alex Jones and espoused antisemitic rhetoric attacking Jewish people and expressing appreciation for Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. Story continues In recent weeks, Emhoff has attended a White House roundtable on the issue, met with students in Arizona on the topic and spoken with members of a White House task force focused on formulating a strategy to fight antisemitism. The Europe trip reflects how there are broader concerns about antisemitism on an international stage, however. Administration officials noted how Russia has manipulated Holocaust history and used antisemitic tropes to further its agenda in its invasion of Ukraine, where the president is Jewish. One senior administration official also pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic led to a proliferation of conspiracy theories targeting Jews. Administration officials said there are not likely to be major policy developments out of Emhoffs travel this week, but said the trip is more about sharing best practices and having an honest, frank, candid exchange of ideas. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Jura Energy Corporation (CVE:JEC) by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple! Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for Jura Energy 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. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$1.39m US$1.25m US$1.16m US$1.11m US$1.09m US$1.07m US$1.07m US$1.07m US$1.08m US$1.09m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ -15.38% Est @ -10.26% Est @ -6.67% Est @ -4.16% Est @ -2.41% Est @ -1.18% Est @ -0.32% Est @ 0.28% Est @ 0.71% Est @ 1.00% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 14% US$1.2 US$1.0 US$0.8 US$0.7 US$0.6 US$0.5 US$0.4 US$0.4 US$0.3 US$0.3 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$6.2m Story continues After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (1.7%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 14%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = US$1.1m (1 + 1.7%) (14% 1.7%) = US$9.2m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$9.2m ( 1 + 14%)10= US$2.6m The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is US$8.7m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of CA$0.1, the company appears about fair value at a 14% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. dcf The Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Jura Energy 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 14%, which is based on a levered beta of 2.000. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for Jura Energy Strength Debt is well covered by cash flow. Weakness Interest payments on debt are not well covered. Opportunity Has sufficient cash runway for more than 3 years based on current free cash flows. Current share price is below our estimate of fair value. Lack of analyst coverage makes it difficult to determine JEC's earnings prospects. Threat No apparent threats visible for JEC. Next Steps: 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. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For Jura Energy, we've compiled three additional aspects you should further research: Risks: We feel that you should assess the 3 warning signs for Jura Energy we've flagged before making an investment in the company. 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! Other Top Analyst Picks: Interested to see what the analysts are thinking? Take a look at our interactive list of analysts' top stock picks to find out what they feel might have an attractive future outlook! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Canadian 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 CAIRO (AP) Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed held talks with various Sudanese leaders in Khartoum on Thursday, a sign of rekindling ties between the neighboring African countries, authorities said. For several years Sudan has been at odds with Ethiopia over border disputes and its construction of a massive dam on the Blue Nile that also has caused tensions with downstream Egypt. According to Sudans official news outlet, Suna, both the "Renaissance Dam and the border were discussed in a meeting between Ahmed and Sudans ruling general, Abdel-Fattah Burhan. Ethiopia says the multibillion dollar Renaissance Dam is needed to bring electricity to millions of Ethiopians who lack power. Sudan and Egypt fear it will reduce the amount of water they receive from the Nile River. During his visit, Ahmed met with various other Sudanese political leaders, many of whom are participating in talks seeking to end more than a year of military rule in Khartoum. Sudan was plunged into turmoil in October 2021 after Burhan led a coup that derailed the countrys democratic transition. The ruling military and a number of other political forces signed an initial agreement last December vowing to install a new civilian government. Talks to reach a final more inclusive deal are ongoing. In a tweet published on his official Twitter on Thursday, Ahmed said Ethiopia was non-interventionist and that he encouraged the people of Sudan and all political parties to find homegrown solutions. Sudan has hosted tens of thousands of refugees who fled fighting that erupted in northern Ethiopia between government forces and Tigray rebels in late 2020. The two sides signed a peace deal last November. KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Ethiopia's prime minister Abiy Ahmed visited Sudan on Thursday for the first time since border clashes between the neighbours, amid tensions heightened by the filling of a giant hydropower dam. Abiy and Sudan's leaders discussed Ethiopia's Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, a Sudanese statement said, a project on the Blue Nile that has alarmed the downriver countries of Sudan and Egypt who fear it could threaten their water supply. They also discussed clashes that flared in late 2020 between the countries in the fertile al-Fashaqa border region, according to the statement from Sudan's sovereign council. "With regards to the border between the two countries, [Burhan] confirmed that technical mechanisms and dialogue are the basis for this issue," the statement said. Abiy "confirmed that the Renaissance Dam will not cause any harm to Sudan but will have benefits for it in terms of electricity," the statement said. There was no immediate statement on the meeting from the Ethiopian delegation. Ahmed met Sudan's Sovereign Council head General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, as well as General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, and other Sudanese political leaders, the statement read. In 2019, Ethiopia's leader played a key role in reaching an agreement between Sudan's military and civilian protest groups following the ouster of former leader Omar al-Bashir. Sudan has played host to tens of thousands of refugees who crossed the border after the eruption of fighting in Ethiopia's north in late 2020. (Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz, writing by Nafisa Eltahir) LONDON (AP) A lawyer for Eva Green alleged Thursday that producers of a collapsed film tried to damage the French actress reputation by depicting her as a diva. The performer, who played Vesper Lynd in James Bond thriller Casino Royale, is suing producers for a $1 million fee she says she is owed for A Patriot." Green, 42, was lined up to star in the sci-fi thriller alongside Charles Dance and Helen Hunt, and was also an executive producer on the project, which collapsed in late 2019. Production company White Lantern Film is fighting the claim and is countersuing, saying Green made unreasonable demands and undermined the production. Hearings in the case opened Thursday at the High Court in London. Greens lawyer, Edmund Cullen, said the movie had been a passion project for Green and she had bent over backwards to get this done. He said Green loved the script and wanted the film to be made, but the financial plan was never going to work. This case is designed to paint my client as a diva to win headlines and damage her reputation, the lawyer said. Lawyers for the production company argue in written submissions that Green had expressed a lack of confidence and dissatisfaction regarding some of the production team and had grown increasingly reluctant to be involved in the project. White Lanterns evidence includes expletive-filled text messages in which Green called one of the films executive producers, Jake Seal, evil a devious sociopath and a mad man, and branded production manager Terry Bird a moron. Max Mallin, a lawyer for the production company, said that in the messages Green accused Seal of wanting to make a cheap B movie and called local crew members at the production facility in southern England peasants. Mallin said Green had a vitriolic aversion to making a film that White Lantern could and was going to make. We have got a critical split between the expectation of Eva Green and the film she wanted to make and what the budget could afford, he said. Story continues Greens attorney, Cullen, said the text message had to be seen in context as an informal venting of a stream of consciousness during a tense stage of the films production. He accused the production company of seeking to lay every failure of the production at Ms. Greens door. It seems to be designed to blacken the name of an actor who has not breached a contract or missed a days shooting in a career spanning 20 years, he said in written arguments. Green is scheduled to testify on Monday. The case is due to last for about two weeks. [Source] Chinese engineer Ji Chaoqun has been sentenced to eight years in prison for spying in the United States for the Chinese government. Ji, 31, was a Chinese national who came to the U.S. under a student visa to study electrical engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology in 2013, according to reports. The former Chicago graduate student later enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves under a program in which foreign nationals with skills considered vital to national interest are recruited. In the programs application and interview, Ji reportedly lied about not having any contact with a foreign government within the past seven years. More from NextShark: China Mac Joins Artist Mistah F.A.B. to Promote Unity Between Black and Asian Communities The 31-year-old was eventually arrested in September 2018 after meeting with an undercover law enforcement agent who posed as a representative of Chinas Ministry of State Security. He was accused of making false statements to the U.S. Army and of providing information to the Jiangsu Province Ministry of State Security regarding eight scientists and engineers for possible recruitment. The eight individuals are all naturalized American citizens who are originally from China or Taiwan, with some working as defense contractors. More from NextShark: Asian mother in critical condition, yanked down NYC subway stairs in botched robbery with son On Wednesday, Ji was sentenced to eight years in prison for acting illegally within the U.S. as an agent of the Peoples Republic of China. Jis case was linked to Chinas efforts over the years to steal trade secrets from aviation companies. He intended to obtain access to advanced aerospace and satellite technologies that are being developed by companies in the U.S. More from NextShark: Foxconn apologizes after violent protests erupt at its iPhone factory in China According to the Justice Department, Ji worked for Xu Yanjun, who was a deputy division director in the Jiangsu unit. Xu who was convicted of conspiracy, attempted economic espionage and theft of trade secrets by a federal jury in November 2021 became the first Chinese spy to be extradited to the U.S. for trial. In November 2022, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for trying to steal trade secrets from a U.S. and French aviation company. More from NextShark: GoFundMe created for Filipino father who drowned rescuing autistic son in Canada lake By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) -A former Deutsche Bank AG trader whose conviction for rigging the Libor rate benchmark was overturned has begun a $30 million legal action in New York accusing the German bank of malicious prosecution for making him a scapegoat. Gavin Black, who worked on the bank's money market and derivatives desk in London, said Deutsche Bank and others conspired to commit "malicious prosecution and abuse of process," leading to his unjustified conviction. Black wants at least $30 million plus punitive damages from Deutsche Bank and other defendants, according to a summons filed on Wednesday in a New York state court in Manhattan. A formal complaint has yet to be filed. Deutsche Bank said in a statement: "We will vigorously defend ourselves against these claims." Seth Levine, a lawyer for Black, declined to comment. The legal action came two months after Matthew Connolly, who lead Deutsche Bank's pool trading desk in New York, filed a $150 million lawsuit also accusing the bank of malicious prosecution. Deutsche Bank asked a judge on Jan. 13 to dismiss Connolly's case. Black and Connolly were convicted in 2018 for rigging Libor, but the federal appeals court in Manhattan overturned both convictions last January, citing a lack of evidence of guilt. Libor, short for London interbank offered rate, underpinned hundreds of trillions of dollars of financial products including credit cards and mortgages before being phased out last January. Investigations worldwide into Libor manipulation resulted in about $9 billion of fines for banks, including $2.5 billion for Deutsche Bank in 2015. Three individuals are also defendants in Black's case. They include Timothy Parietti, a former managing director of Deutsche Bank's money markets derivatives trading desk in New York who testified against Black and Connolly after pleading guilty to a conspiracy charge. Last August, a judge exonerated Parietti in the "interests of justice" because voiding Black's and Connolly's convictions meant there was not enough evidence to support Parietti's plea. Larry Krantz, a lawyer for Parietti, declined to comment. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Alexander Smith) Photo: Win McNamee (Getty Images) In one of the FBIs most sophisticated cybercrime operations to date, agents infiltrated and spent approximately six months embedded in a prominent ransomware gangs network, Justice Department officials announced Thursday. That gang, known as Hive, was disrupted earlier this week when agents seized its server infrastructure and also took down its website. Speaking Thursday, Attorney General Merrick Garland characterized Hive as an international ransomware network responsible for extorting and attempting to extort hundreds of millions of dollars from victims in the United States and around the world. Read more A Ransomware-as-a-Service provider, Hives business model has been to license its malware to affiliate hackerscontract cybercriminals, essentiallythat would carry out attacks on targets and share profits from successful extortions with the gang. Since Hives emergence approximately two years ago, the online gang and its affiliates have targeted a vast array of victims, including U.S.-based healthcare facilities and hospitals during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Garland said. In an effort to disrupt its activities, agents from the FBIs Tampa field office infiltrated (read: hacked) Hives network in July of 2022. Since then, the government has been monitoring the gangs activities, in an effort to identify its victims and gather information about how it operates. The infiltration of Hives network allowed the government to ascertain the encryption keys necessary to decrypt victims of its attacks, officials said. Altogether, police were able to provide some 300 decryption keys to victims who were actively under attack from Hive. Another 1,000 decryption keys were provided to previous victims of the gang, officials said. How, exactly, the keys were collected by agents wasnt directly explained. Story continues In a 21st-century cyber stakeout, our investigative team turned the tables on Hive, swiping their decryption keys, passing them to victims, and ultimately averting more than $130 million dollars in ransomware payments, said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco Thursday. We will continue to strike back against cybercrime using any means possible and place victims at the center of our efforts to mitigate the cyber threat. No arrests were announced in connection to the operation, and officials wouldnt comment on whether any would be forthcoming, citing an ongoing investigation. While a takedown of a major ransomware gang is obviously welcome news, Thursdays press conference was most interesting for what it revealed about the bureaus increasingly sophisticated cyber tacticswhich include hacking and Monacos 21st-century cyber stakeouts. FBI Director Chris Wray characterized the recent investigation as involving clandestine, persistent access to Hives control panel, which allowed the bureau to monitor the gangs activities and identify victims of ransomware attacks as they were being hacked. Garland characterized this as court-authorized access to electronic systemsa reference to the increasingly routine procedure in which the bureau will secure a warrant to hack a network if it is suspected of being involved in criminal activity. The FBI replaced Hives website with a gif. Once embedded in Hives network, the FBI apparently sat back and watched as the gang carried out its attacks. Garland said: We hide [in the network], we watch as they proceed with their attacks, we discover the keys, and we deliver the keys to the victims so that they can decrypt their systems and dont have to pay the ransom, he said. Finally...we take down the infrastructure. We take down the servers that power Hives ability to go ahead. We can only do that once were able to locate where the servers areand thats what we were able to do only very recently, and we resolved the matter last night. A reporter present at Thursdays press conference asked Wray how common operations like this one are, with Wray responding: We have started to have more and more...Im not sure weve had one of quite this scale. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Three Florida nursing schools sold thousands of fake nursing diplomas worth millions in a scheme that allowed aspiring nurses to bypass the required training to become licensed in the profession, federal prosecutors alleged Thursday. In Delaware, a combined 26 active registered nurse and licensed nurse practitioner licenses were annulled or voided through these findings, according to the Department of State. Spokesman Rony Baltazar-Lopez said there are 35 more nurses on the FBI list who have expired Delaware licenses. Siena College, Palm Beach School of Nursing and Sacred Heart International Institute all based in south Florida combined to distribute more than 7,600 fraudulent diplomas worth over $100 million or roughly $15,000 per diploma, federal prosecutors said. All schools are now defunct. Twenty-five defendants, including school directors and diploma recipients, were charged in the scheme and each face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Attorneys for defendants were not listed in a federal court database Thursday. Delaware licenses impacted; local business named One of the people named in the federal indictment is Stanton Witherspoon of Burlington County, New Jersey, who was the founder and president of Nursing Education Resource Center, a Delaware limited liability company, located at 102 Larch Ave., Suite 203, in Newport. The indictment claims Witherspoon entered into an agreement with another person in late 2018 to become 50% owner of Siena Education Center LLC and Siena College. News of the indictment resulted in the Delaware Nurses Association issuing a statement Thursday acknowledging that Delaware has been named in filings and that the organization suspects numerous of these potential licensees are affiliated with the state. The statement added that "defendants may have obtained a license or have been potentially practicing in Delaware." We are deeply unsettled by this egregious act," Delaware Nurses Association President Stephanie McClellan said in the statement. "We want all Delaware nurses to be aware of this active issue and to speak up if there is a concern regarding capacity to practice safely by a colleague/peer. This act is not a representation of our code of ethics and standards of practice nor our commitment to patients and our community." Story continues Public meeting records from the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation identify that, in a closed session of the Delaware Board of Nursing in November 2022, 26 licensees were sent annulment letters. The letters, according to Baltazar-Lopez, make the licenses void "as it never should have existed," he said in a written statement Thursday. The state is "not able to share the names" of the nurses found with these licenses until they have all been given the opportunity to have hearings, he said. In three cases that have already been heard, Baltazar-Lopez said it was "determined the nurses committed fraud." More hearings are scheduled for February and March, he said. There is no concern that this issue is more widespread than what has already been identified, according to Baltazar-Lopez, who added that in 2018, a more secure process was adopted to "verify applicants for licensure by exam were graduates of a board-approved nursing program." Additionally, division staff are thoroughly reviewing all applications and flagging any in question to be brought before the board for further review. The Department of Justice along with the Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General carried out the investigation, dubbed Operation Nightingale. Prosecutors said the scheme put patient safety at risk as required training programs exist to protect the public from harm by setting minimum qualifications and competencies. The charges in nursing diploma case The DOJ is prosecuting participants in the alleged scheme in five separate cases. Defendants in each case face wire fraud-related charges. Wire fraud is charged when a defendant uses interstate electronic communications to commit a fraud and "to further the scheme," according to federal law. The alleged scheme According to the OIG, the scheme generally worked in three parts: Recruiters helped aspiring nurses obtain the fake degrees and transcripts Fraudulent degrees qualified recipients to take the national nursing board exam. After passing the exam, they became eligible to become licensed in several states, where they eventually found jobs as licensed nurses. Siena College Siena College was a school in Broward County, Florida that was licensed by the states board of nursing and its independent education commission to offer practical nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs, according to a criminal complaint. The college was run by Eunide Sanon, who allegedly worked with three people, who are also charged, in New York and New Jersey who recruited aspiring nurses. From about November 2018 to October 2021, Sanon allegedly sold 2,016 fake diplomas and transcripts that falsely purported that recipients had completed the necessary courses and training at Siena College to obtain such degrees when they never had, according to the criminal complaint. 'Producing the poison u0026 selling the cure': Group ranks health care industry's lowlights in 2022 Palm Beach School of Nursing From April 2016 to July 2021, at least seven nurses obtained fake diplomas from the Palm Beach School of Nursing, Sunshine Academy, Quisqeya and Florida College of Health, which were all owned by Johanah Napoleon. The seven nurses used the diplomas to become licensed nurses in Ohio, New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. With the help of the fake degrees the nurses found jobs at nursing homes that took in Medicare and Medicaid-eligible patients. One nurse worked at a Veterans Affairs-run home. Ten people helped recruit people looking to obtain fake degrees. Napoleon received large payments for providing the fake diplomas, in one case taking in a $30,000 wire transfer from a co-defendant in 2021. Napoleon already pleaded guilty to wire and health care fraud charges, the DOJ said. COVID vaccination: FDA vaccine panel to consider annual COVID shots Sacred Heart International Institute From November 2020 to July 2021, Charles Etienne, owner of Sacred Heart International Institute, and two others provided purchasers with 588 fake diplomas and transcripts, according to court filings. Two co-defendants, Geralda Adrien and Woosvelt Predestin, also completed online courses on behalf of the fake degree purchasers. Adrien and Predestin are also named as co-conspirators in the Siena College case. Sober home fraud: Florida doc sentenced to 20 years in prison This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Delaware nursing licenses voided after indictment over fake diplomas Tyre King, 13, was fatally shot on Sept. 14, 2016, by Columbus police Officer Bryan Mason after King reportedly reached for an air-powered pellet gun in his waistband during his arrest with another suspect. A federal jury has sided with a Columbus police officer in a civil lawsuit filed over the shooting death of 13-year-old Tyre King in 2016. The jury in Columbus ruled on Wednesday that Bryan Mason did not violate King's constitutional right to be free from excessive force. Mason fatally shot King as he ran from police after King reached for what police later found out was a BB gun in his waistband. The gun, found at the scene, was designed to look like a real firearm and equipped with a laser sight. Police officer Bryan Mason In 2017, a Franklin County grand jury chose not to indict Mason on criminal charges related to King's death. Kings grandmother, Dearrea King, filed the civil lawsuit in U.S. District Court in 2018. The lawsuit originally named the City of Columbus and then-Chief of Police Kim Jacobs but they were later dropped from the suit. In court documents, Dearrea King's attorney, Sean Walton, claimed a witness said he never saw King holding a gun and Mason used a racial slur after shooting King. The federal jury trial lasted six days. The 2016 shooting was the third Mason was involved with on the job in nine years on the force. The Columbus Division of Police cleared him of wrongdoing in all of them. In 2009 and 2012, Mason was involved in fatal shootings of men who first shot and wounded other officers. During a press conference on Sept. 15, 2016 at City Hall, then-Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs holds a photo of the kind of BB gun used by 13-year-old Tyree King, who was shot multiple times by officer Bryan Mason. Related:Officer who shot Tyre King returns to work on desk duty Court news:How Ohio laws make it easier to claim self-defense in cases like 13-year-old Sinzae Reed's death What happened the day Tyre King was killed? On the day of King's fatal shooting Sept. 14, 2016 police were responding to a report of an armed robbery. Franklin County prosecutors have said King and then-19-year-old Demetrius Braxton robbed a victim of $10 on the Near East Side. Prosecutors said Braxton was the one who pointed the fake gun at the victim, taking the money, before he and King ran away. Police said Braxton complied with a request from pursuing officers to get on the ground, but King appeared to reach into his waistband for the fake gun. Story continues Braxton pleaded guilty in 2016 to robbery and a Franklin County judge sentenced him to three years in prison. Court news:Multiple fatal shootings by officers among notable Columbus cases set for 2023 Both sides react to decision Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein, whose office represented Mason, gave this statement to The Dispatch Thursday: It is sad and difficult when any life is cut short, especially that of a 13-year-old like Tyre King. We thank the judge and jury for taking the time to hear and understand the facts of this case, and we respect their decision. Walton said his client respects the jury's decision but the City of Columbus went to great lengths to "protect their own version of the truth," including discrediting witnesses instead of investigating their claims. "From the day Tyre was killed, the City of Columbus has used every tool at their disposal to avoid being held accountable for killing a child," Walton said. "They blamed Tyre for his own death. They blamed the children who were with Tyre for his death ...." Braxton and three other then-teenagers who were with King in the hours before he was shot were added as third-party defendants to the lawsuit in 2019 at the City of Columbus' request. This means the teens could have been required to pay if the city or the officer had been found liable, but they were dropped from the lawsuit before the trial. Klein's office argued in court documents at the time that King's death was a consequence of their actions when the group drove around in a stolen car and decided to rob someone with the replica firearm that King had. Unlike Braxton, the other three teens were not charged with a crime related to the robbery. "We call on the City of Columbus to do what it takes to start protecting the people of this city and stop traumatizing families, witnesses and those who have the courage to speak truth," Walton said. Editor's note: An earlier version of this story did not mention the third-party defendants were dropped from the federal civil case before trial. jlaird@dispatch.com @LairdWrites This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Federal jury sides with Columbus cop who shot 13-year-old in 2016 Federal investigators are warning healthcare facilities nationwide after uncovering a scheme that sold thousands of fake diplomas to people looking to work as nurses. Prosecutors said this involved three nursing schools in South Florida. Photos: Feds investigate Florida nursing schools that sold thousands of fake diplomas More than two dozen people have been arrested in connection with the scheme. Watch: Classroom volunteer banned for OnlyFans, Twitter accounts files suit against Orange County schools Investigators said the now-closed schools sold more than 7,600 fraudulent diplomas, for about 15-thousand dollars each. The fake diplomas offer a dangerous shortcut into the nursing field. Watch: Report finds many states efforts to prevent tobacco use are lagging When we entrust the life of an elderly parent, to the staff of an assisted living or skilled nursing facility, the last thing we want to learn is that the nurses administering the medications are the ones charged with carrying out doctors orders, took shortcuts on their clinical training, said U.S. attorney Markenzy Lapointe. Prosecutors said in some cases, students would use the fake diplomas to get nursing jobs in other states, without proper training. Watch: Ben Crump threatens to sue DeSantis for rejecting AP African-American Studies course Officials said so far, they have not found any evidence of patient harm stemming from those people, potentially providing care to patients. A Florida woman was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for hiring a friend to kill her estranged husband during a child custody battle, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office Northern District of Florida. Gretchen Buselli, 48, of Tallahassee was also sentenced to three years of supervised release after she gets out of prison. During the trial, evidence showed that between approximately June 17, 2021 and Sept. 16, 2021, Buselli used the U.S. mail, a cell phone, texts and an encrypted mobile app to try and get a friend to kill her husband, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. This was an old high school friend with whom she was still in touch on social media, according to the criminal complaint reviewed by Oxygen.com in August. According to the friend, Buselli claimed her estranged husband had been sexually abusing the couples then-5-year-old daughter. She asked her friend, who she knew had a prison record, to kill her husband for $40,000, according to the criminal complaint. RELATED: University of Idaho Suspect Reportedly Sent Series Of Messages To Victim On Instagram Before Killings Federal agents had the friend download the encrypted messaging app Signal, and call Buselli while they were listening on July 9, 2021. She repeated her husband was physically and sexually abusing their 5-year-old, that the judge didnt care, and the system was corruptwith the only solution, she allegedly said on the call, being to kill her husband, according to the complaint. A police handout of Gretchen Buselli Gretchen Buselli Photo: Leon County Jail Buselli had reported the alleged abuse to Floridas Department of Children and Families, which decided the complaints were unfounded. No charges were brought against her husband by the time the criminal complaint against Buselli was filed, according to previous Oxygen.com reporting. The friend, at the behest of federal agents, continued discussing plans for the murder, suggesting he would likely dump the victim's body in the ocean. Buselli "became very excited and told [her friend] what a great idea this would be, because then there would not be an immediate homicide investigation, and instead would start out as a missing persons case," the criminal complaint stated. That, she allegedly claimed, would allow her to obtain full custody of their daughter, sell her house and thereby pay the hitman and move to Oregon. Story continues The friend then called Buselli on Aug. 21, 2021 and said that he was uncomfortable carrying out the crimesuggesting his friend "Paul, who was an undercover FBI agent, could carry out the hit instead, according to the complaint. Buselli continued discussions with the undercover agent, providing a description of her husband, his whereabouts and his routines, as well as negotiating a price for committing the murder, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Oxy App Buselli and Paul ultimately agreed that he would murder her ex-husband during a week she had custody and then dispose of the body for an up-front payment of $5,000 and another $20,000 after she sold her house in Florida, the complaint said.The U.S. Attorneys Office said Buselli dropped off the money at the amphitheater in Cascades Park, and agents also observed her throw out the clothing she had been wearing while dropping it off. After being told by the undercover agent that her husband had been killed, Buselli was questioned by law enforcement and made multiple false statements denying her awareness of the plot and her desire to have her husband killed, authorities said. This sentence not only punishes the malevolence of the defendant but should serve as a significant deterrent to those inclined to incite violence, said U.S. Attorney Jason Coody in the press release. Despite calculation and concealment, the defendants murderous plot was averted due to the exceptional work of a citizen and our law enforcement partners. They are to be commended. The court ordered all the money Buselli paid to try and get her husband killed be forfeited. USA TODAY reported recently that many security analysts believe it's likely former presidents, vice presidents and their senior staff ended up with classified documents in their possession after leaving office. So far, Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Mike Pence have all been found to possess such sensitive information. As property of the U.S. government, they pose a serious threat to national security if they fall into the wrong hands. Former security officials and analysts say it's actually not uncommon for such documents to show up in the personal files of former presidents and vice presidents, especially given the explosion of confidential, secret and top-secret information these days that is kept in both electronic and paper form. The problem is exacerbated by funding and resource shortages at the National Archives and Records Administration, which is responsible for safeguarding all former White House documents and declassifying some for eventual access by the American public under the Presidential Records Act of 1978. USA TODAY attempted to call all of the former officials to find out if they have any sensitive material that should be turned over, and to see if they are looking through their files to find any strays. This story will be updated as additional responses come in. Start Your Day Smarter: Sign up for our newsletter Donald Trump The former president's document retention issues at Mar-a-Lago are well known, including his evolving statements over whether he declassified them before leaving office and whether they're official documents and thus property of the U.S. government or personal possessions. The latter category would include correspondence with foreign leaders such as North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un. But Trump and his lawyers have not given a full public accounting of whether he has checked his many other residences, offices and properties for documents that should have been turned over to the National Archives as part of the transition of power to the Biden administration. That includes his sprawling penthouse apartment in Trump Towers in Manhattan and his Bedminster, N.J. estate and golf course. Story continues This photo shows an aerial view of former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. The Justice Department says classified documents were "likely concealed and removed" from former President Donald Trump's Florida estate as part of an effort to obstruct the federal investigation into the discovery of the government records. More: Biden and Trump documents expose wider problem: Missing classified records not uncommon Joe Biden President Joe Biden has said he asked personal lawyers with appropriate security clearances to check for documents from his time as Barack Obama's vice president, after some were found in his personal office and, later, at his home Wilmington, Delaware. He then invited the FBI and Justice Department to do a follow-up search, prompting the discovery of more classified material. It's not known if Biden found or is looking for other documents at other locations, including his Rehoboth Beach, Delaware vacation house. Biden was also a longtime U.S. senator who chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which also deals with classified information. The access road to President Joe Biden's home in Wilmington, Del., is seen from the media van on Jan. 13, 2023. The Justice Department has searched Bidens home in Delaware and located six documents containing classification markings and also took possession of some of his notes, the presidents lawyer said Saturday, Jan. 21. Barack Obama During his eight years as president, Obama pushed for improvements to the way the National Archives safeguards and declassifies presidential material. And a top White House information security official told USA TODAY that the Obama administration had very stringent controls on document security, including going through each bankers box of material packed by White House officials at the end of Obama's term to make sure no sensitive materials were about to be taken home. An aide to Obama told USA TODAY that former White House officials were not searching their offices for classified documents because those items had been turned over when they left office. "Consistent with the Presidential Records Act, all of President Obamas classified records were submitted to the National Archives upon leaving office," according to a statement from Obama's office. "NARA continues to assume physical and legal custody of President Obamas materials to date." More: Scribbled notes, classified materials and golf carts: Here's how the millions of White House documents and artifacts should be archived George W. Bush Former president George W. Bush generated a massive volume of sensitive information during his eight years in office, including internal deliberations about the global war against terrorism in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and diplomatic efforts with Russia and China. An aide to Bush said that they too were not searching Bush's offices for classified documents because those items were turned over when they left office. That search was conducted before he left the White House, when all of his Presidential records classified and unclassified were turned over to the National Archives," said a statement from Bush's office. Dick Cheney The father of former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, Cheney was deeply involved in all aspects of the Bush presidency, especially its very active national security portfolio. He also was privy to classified White House documents from his time in the administrations of Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, including serving as White House chief of staff from 1975 to 1977. Some documents that Cheney worked with or originated in his role as vice president are held at Bush's presidential library. But his official Vice Presidential records are preserved and made publicly available for research through the Archival Operations Division, a part of the National Archives and Records Administration. He did not respond immediately to a request for comment from USA TODAY. FILE -- In this June 1, 2009, file photo, former Vice President Dick Cheney speaks at the National Press Club in Washington. Bill Clinton One of the more globe-trotting of recent presidents, the Arkansas Democrat was known to be a keeper of mementos from his many diplomatic overtures. Those, just like Trumps letters with Kim Jong-Un that he didn't want to give up, would likely be considered classified and all of them are property of the U.S. government under the Presidential Records Act. The National Archives, though, routinely loans them to presidential libraries so the public can see them, including Clinton's in Little Rock, Arkansas. In a statement to Insider, Clinton's office said, "All of President Clinton's classified materials were properly turned over to NARA in accordance with the Presidential Records Act." Al Gore Clinton's vice president, Al Gore of Tennessee, was like Cheney a very active second in command, and likely generated a large volume of classified information as the administration's point person on numerous national security issues. Like other vice presidents, Gore's Vice Presidential are preserved and made publicly available for research through the Archival Operations Division, a part of the National Archives and Records Administration. A Gore spokesperson told CNN that, When leaving the White House in January 2001, Vice President Gore and his staff turned over materials to NARA in accordance with the Presidential Records Act. No classified materials have been discovered in the 22 years since VP Gore left public office. George H.W. Bush Bush, the father of George W. Bush and former CIA director, was another one-termer like Trump but with a broad national security portfolio. He also served as vice president to Ronald Reagan during a particularly controversy-laden administration, including the Iran-Contra scandal that sent some White House officials to prison. The majority of his presidential papers are stored at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum on the grounds of Texas A&M, in College Station, Texas. The elder Bush's handling of his presidential papers surfaced last October when Trump said at a Nevada rally that Bush "took millions of documents to a former bowling alley and former Chinese restaurant where they combined them. So they're in a bowling alley slash Chinese restaurant." The National Archives denied that and similar claims by Trump about other presidents' alleged mishandling of documents, saying in a statement that it had securely moved presidential records from the George H. W. Bush, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan administrations to temporary facilities it leased near the location of presidential libraries that "met strict archival and security standards" and were supervised and staffed exclusively by agency employees. Reports that indicate or imply that those Presidential records were in the possession of the former presidents or their representatives after they left office, or that the records were housed in substandard conditions, are false and misleading, the statement says. President George Bush meets in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, March 27, 1990, with former President Jimmy Carter. Dan Quayle Quayle, the elder Bush's vice president, told CNN everything was turned over to the National Archives and he never had any issues with finding classified papers after he left office in 1993. Jimmy Carter Even though Carter signed the Presidential Records Act in 1978, it did not apply to records of his White House and administration, instead going into effect when Ronald Reagan was inaugurated in 1981. Carter found at least one batch of classified materials at his home in Plains, Georgia and returned them to the National Archives, according to the Associated Press. Contributing: David Jackson This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Do other former presidents have classified documents? We asked them. Fontaines DC guitarist Carlos OConnell will not perform at the bands forthcoming shows due to the imminent arrival of his first child. The bass player is currently expecting a baby with French model and musician Josephine de La Baume. Because of this, he dropped out of the bands dates in Japan, Australia and New Zealand. The Irish band announced the news in an Instagram message and said that guitarist Cathal Mac Gabhann from The Altered Hours would replace OConnell for the shows. Its Carlos taking over for a brief second to check in with ye all to share a bit of news regarding the imminent Australian, NZ and Japanese dates, the guitarist wrote. I will not be attending these with Fontaines due to the little less imminent, yet a little more unpredictable, birth of my first child. I am truly in awe of the idea of a new life, this little one has become the reason why I do anything since I found out about her, continued the musician. In saying it all, I am more gutted than I expected to be at the prospect of missing these shows and I cannot wait for the day I get to go to that end of the world with my boys. The guitarist then joked that he would be replaced by a modified vacuum which has settings just right for most of the songs. Jk, he wrote, adding: Cathal from The Altered Hours has put in all the work I stretched out over a period of five years, into one stressful Christmas and hes come out sounding better than any hoover could have done. I have full faith in this mans talent, as a player and passion for music. Thanks Cathal. The band are due to perform at venues in New Zealand, Australia and Japan throughout February, with dates starting on Friday 27 January. Within 48 hours of a brutal hammer attack on Paul Pelosi last October, the case had become exploited by the same far-right ecosystem that fuelled it. Mr Pelosi, 82, suffered serious head injuries when an intruder, identified as David DePape, broke into his San Francisco home and beat him over the head with a hammer days before Novembers midterm elections. The details of the attack on Mr Pelosi are outlined in several court documents based on 911 calls, police video, surveillance footage and interviews with Mr DePape himself, who reportedly told officers that he was sick of the insane f****** level of lies coming out of Washington DC and intended to send a message to members of Congress that there were consequences for their actions. But in the conspiracy universe, there was no home invasion. Mr DePape was depicted as Mr Pelosis leftist gay lover, and a far-reaching plot involving Democratic officials and mainstream media is covering up the facts to protect Ms Pelosi. Those baseless claims debunked by Mr DePapes own alleged statements to police, as well as his own apparent online footprint and interviews with his family and neighbours have been widely shared by influential right-wing figures and media outlets. Other conservative influencers legitimised the claims by introducing questions that were either already answered in court documents or based on speculation from bogus sources. During a preliminary hearing last month, prosecutors played portions of Mr Pelosis 911 call plus footage from Capitol police surveillance cameras, and body cameras worn by the two police officers who arrived at the house, the Associated Press reported. Paul and Nancy Pelosi enjoying a night out at NYC restaurant Balthazar in January (Instagram / Keith McNally) Mr DePape, 42, has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder, residential burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, false imprisonment of an elder, and threats to a public official and their family. On 25 January, a judge ordered the release of a 911 call made by Mr Pelosi on the night he was attacked along with the responding police officers bodyworn camera footage. Story continues Prosecutors and Mr DePapes lawyers had objected to the release of the evidence, claiming it would hinder his right to a fair trial and fuel misinformation about the case. But San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Stephen Murphy agreed with more than a dozen media outlets who had sought their release, the Associated Press reported. The recordings could be released as soon as Thursday 26 January. David DePape has been charged with a slew of crimes in relation to a hammer attack on Paul Pelosi (ONLINE_YES) Almost in unison, rightwing commentators began laying seeds of doubt about what the footage would reveal. The San Francisco District Attorneys Office argued that releasing the Paul Pelosi footage would allow people to manipulate their quest to spread false information, wrote broadcaster Matt Crouch to his 560,000 Twitter followers. In other words... What you will see on the video isnt what really happened... Trust us, were Democrats. Rest assured this is NOT the genuine video, another account posted. It will have been edited and cherry picked to portray the narrative they want. Last week, the far-right news site The Gateway Pundit claimed that the Pelosis and police were engaged in a cover up. Rather than dismiss debunked conspiracy theories, right-wing media figures and GOP officials provided a platform to amplify them. Instead of condemning an act of violence and the potential assassination of an elected official, they openly mocked it. Mr DePape appeared to have been immersed in toxic, online-driven conspiracy theories, according to court filings and his own digital footprint. He appears to have published a subscription-based blog where he expressed a range of transphobic, antisemitic and racist views, alongside conspiracy theories tied to Covid-19 and QAnon, among others, according to posts reviewed by The Independent. A recording of Mr DePapes interview after his arrest on 28 October was played in San Francisco Superior Court on 14 December during a preliminary hearing in the case. Im not trying to get away with it. I know exactly what I did, he said during the interview. The lies are insane, he continued. People in Washington. It originates with Hillary. Honestly, day in and day out, the person on TV lying every day was [Nancy] Pelosi. Its f****** insane the crime spree the Democrats have been on, persecuting the rival campaign. Asked by a San Francisco Police Department lieutenant who was interrogating Mr DePape if he was referring to Mr Trumps campaign, Mr DePape said yes, Trump. Mr Pelosi told police he was able to call 911 from a bathroom, and appeared to try to talk with the dispatcher without alarming Mr DePape. He used the speakerphone so Mr DePape was aware that Mr Pelosi speaking to police, according to court filings. There is a gentleman here waiting for my wife to come, waiting for my wife to come back. Shes not going to be here for days so I guess we will have to wait, Mr Pelosi said. Roger Ailes on April 11, 2012 in New York City. Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images Laura Luhn has accused former Fox News CEO Roger Ailes of sexually abusing her for years. Luhn filed a lawsuit on Wednesday alleging Fox News enabled and covered up the abuse. In a statement to Insider, Fox called the allegations against the network "meritless." A former Fox News employee who accused Roger Ailes of sexually abusing her for years filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against the network, alleging it enabled and covered up the abuse. Laura Luhn, who worked as a booker for Fox, first came forward with allegations against Ailes, the former CEO and chairman of Fox News, in 2016, after other accusations against Ailes surfaced. The lawsuit filed Wednesday in the state of New York details the alleged abuse as well as efforts to silence and intimidate her. "Ailes's abuse of Luhn was among the worst he inflicted on his many victims," the lawsuit said, adding: "He physically forced Luhn to perform oral sex on him regularly. And he constantly reminded Luhn that he 'owned' her, that she was his 'sex slave,' and that she was forbidden from telling anyone about the abuse or he would make her pay dearly." The lawsuit also accused Ailes of "blackmailing" Luhn with photos and recordings that he made of their encounters: "All the while, Ailes held the photographs and videos he had of Luhn over her head, at various times describing them as his 'insurance policy,' telling Luhn that he kept them in a safe-deposit box and reminding Luhn of his 'loyalty requirement' and the fact that he 'owned' her." The lawsuit named Fox News, Twenty-First Century Fox, and William Shine, a former Fox News executive who also had a brief stint in the Trump White House. It accuses Fox News of "directly enabling" and "actively covering up" the abuse and alleges that corporate leadership knew of abuse committed by Ailes and others but "did nothing to stop it," instead engaging in "coordinated public smear campaigns" against victims. Luhn wrote a letter to Fox's general counsel in 2011 detailing her allegations against Ailes, eventually settling with the network to receive her salary until retirement age, or $250,o00 for 12 years, according to Wednesday's lawsuit, which claimed Fox withheld 30% of the payments as though they were wages. New York Magazine previously reported the settlement involved elaborate nondisclosure provisions and barred Luhn from ever going to court against Fox or speaking to government authorities like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the FBI. Story continues When reached by Insider Wednesday, Fox News said in a statement: "This matter was settled years ago, dismissed in subsequent litigation, and is meritless." Among the accusations regarding the network's handling of alleged abuse, the lawsuit said agents for Fox News would say Ailes was "just going through a rough time" or "boys will be boys." Luhn said that when she reported being groped by "a well-known political analyst" who regularly appeared on Fox, she was similarly told "boys will be boys. Bill Clinton is the same way." The years of abuse Luhn experienced led her to having a "mental breakdown" and she is still "unable to function normally in everyday life," with frequent flashbacks of the abuse, according to the lawsuit. In a statement provided to Insider, Barbara Whiten Balliette, a lawyer for Luhn and partner at Reid Collins & Tsai LLP, said: "This case is about finally securing justice for Ms. Luhn. The sexual abuse that she suffered while working at Fox News was some of the worst imaginable. This abuse went on for years and was known about by some of the most powerful people at Fox News, yet no one stepped in to help or to stop what was happening to Ms. Luhn." She also acknowledged the Adult Survivors Act, which was signed in 2022 and created a one-year window for survivors of sexual assault to sue their abusers regardless of the statute of limitations. "New York's Adult Survivors Act recognizes the lifelong trauma that sexual abuse victims can suffer. Its lookback window acknowledges this harm and allows survivors like Ms. Luhn to redress wrongs exactly like these," Balliette said. Luhn is one of several women who have accused Ailes of sexual assault or harassment, including Gretchen Carlson and Megyn Kelly. Ailes resigned from Fox in 2016 while continuing to deny the allegations, and died the following year. Read the original article on Business Insider (Bloomberg) -- Former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori criticized the governments supportive stance on Ukraine, Kyodo News reported, even as current premier Fumio Kishida considers a visit to Kyiv. Most Read from Bloomberg Mori, a veteran ruling party member known for his strong ties to Russia, expressed doubt about the degree to which Japan is throwing its weight behind Ukraine, adding Russia could not lose the war, the agency said. He was speaking at a reception in Tokyo on Wednesday evening, also attended by Kishida. Japans government has sanctioned Russia and provided various forms of aid for Ukraine, which have been backed by the public. Kishida told parliament Wednesday that he would consider an invitation to visit Kyiv extended by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, depending on the circumstances. The ruling party No. 2, Toshimitsu Motegi, said such a visit would be desirable. Japan PM Kishida Faces Pressure to Visit Ukraine Ahead of G-7 Mori served as premier for about a year and left office in April 2001 with some of the lowest support ratings ever for a Japanese prime minister. He gained global attention in 2021 when he was forced to resign as the chief of the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee after making sexist comments. Tokyo Olympics Chief Mori Steps Down After Sexist Comments Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Georgias former Lt. governor says he feels Fulton Countys district attorney has enough evidence to indict former President Donald Trump. A special purpose grand jury finished an eight-month-long investigation about two weeks ago which looked into possible criminal meddling with Georgias 2020 election by Trump. A report of what the grand jury found was sent to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who will now decide whether or not to pursue criminal charges against Trump and others from his inner circle. Former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, now a commentator for CNN, told the cable news channels Don Lemon on Thursday morning, he believes Willis could indict Trump. Do you think the former president will be indicted? Lemon asked Duncan. I think theres enough information for him to be indicted, Duncan said. RELATED STORIES Earlier this week, Willis and her office were in front of a Fulton County Superior Court judge asking that the report from the special purpose grand jury not be made public just yet. Attorneys for WSB-TV and other media outlets argued that, under Georgia law, the judge was required to release that report, and that the public had a right to know what was in it. The state understands the medias inquiry and the worlds interest, Willis argued. But we have to be mindful of protect future defendants rights. If that report was released, there somehow could be arguments made that it impacts the right for later individuals, multiple, to get a fair trial. Story continues But WSB-TV attorney Tom Clyde argued that there were no other potential defendants in the hearing arguing to keep the report sealed, only the DAs Office. He also pointed out that the special grand jurors specifically asked the judge to release their investigation. We acknowledge the operations of the grand jury, while it was ongoing, were subject to a veil of secrecy, Clyde said. But that has come to an end, and theyve issued their final report. And the jurors themselves have asked for it to be published. McBurney will have to decide if a special purpose grand jury is an instrument of the court system or an investigative arm of the District Attorneys Office. That decision will guide him to whether he will release the report. RELATED NEWS: By Tyler Clifford (Reuters) -Five former Memphis police officers were charged on Thursday with murder in the death of a Black motorist, Tyre Nichols, from injuries he sustained in a violent encounter following a traffic stop, prosecutors said. Nichols, a 29-year-old father, died while hospitalized on Jan. 10, three days after the confrontation during his arrest by the five police officers. Officials were expected on Friday evening to release police body-worn camera video of the incident, which a lawyer for Nichols' family likened to the notorious footage of Los Angeles police officers beating Black motorist Rodney King more than 30 years ago. "We're here today because of a tragedy that wounds one family deeply but also hurts us all," Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said at a news conference announcing the charges. The five officers, who are all Black, were each charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression, Mulroy said. The Memphis Police Department on Friday identified them as Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills, Jr., and Justin Smith. They range in age from 24 to 32 and each served on the department for about 2 1/2 to five years. They were dismissed from the force last Saturday after an internal investigation found they had violated multiple departmental policies, including using excessive force, failing to intervene, and failing to render aid. They were taken into custody on Thursday morning, county jail records showed. Despite the murder charges, the district attorney revealed few additional details known about the circumstances surrounding Nichols' fatal encounter with police. After Nichols was stopped, there was "an altercation" in which officers doused the motorist with pepper spray, and Nichols tried to flee on foot, Mulroy said, describing what followed in highly elliptical terms. Story continues "There was another altercation at a nearby location at which the serious injuries were experienced by Mr. Nichols," the prosecutor said. The initial Memphis Police Department statement about the death had said an ambulance was called because Nichols "complained of having a shortness of breath" and that he was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Mulroy said he would not comment on the legality of the initial traffic stop. He said the investigation would continue, and he would not rule out the possibility of additional charges. 'THIS WAS CRIMINAL' David Rausch, director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, said at the news conference that he was sickened by what he saw in the bodycam videos. "What happened here does not at all reflect proper policing," he said. "This was wrong. This was criminal." The former officers could not be reached for comment. Blake Ballin, a lawyer representing Mills, said at a separate news conference that his client was "devastated to find himself charged with a crime." Ballin was joined by William Massey, representing Martin; both lawyers said they had not yet seen the video and were still developing their defenses. Their clients were each posting a bond to be released from jail on Thursday, they said. Mills and Martin both intended to plead not guilty, their lawyers said. Ballin said it might be another two weeks before the defendants make their initial appearance in court because they were charged by grand jury indictment. Other Memphis officers remain under investigation for policy infractions, Police Chief Cerelyn Davis said. In a statement posted on YouTube, she asked for calm when the police video is made public. "I expect you to feel what the Nichols family feels," she said. "I expect you to feel outrage in the disregard of basic human rights." 'PAINFUL REMINDER' U.S. President Joe Biden, in a statement, said Nichols' death "is a painful reminder that we must do more to ensure that our criminal justice system lives up to the promise of fair and impartial justice, equal treatment, and dignity for all." Nichols' death marked the latest in a spate of high-profile cases of police officers accused of using excessive force in the deaths of Black people and other minorities in recent years, sparking public outcries against systematic racism in the U.S. criminal justice system. Protests against racial injustice erupted globally following the May 2020 murder of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for more than 9 minutes, after he was arrested on suspicion of trying to pass a counterfeit bill. The Nichols family viewed the police footage on Monday with their attorney, Ben Crump, who compared it to the 1991 videotaped Rodney King beating by four police officers whose acquittal of criminal charges the following year sparked several days of riots in Los Angeles. "This young man lost his life in a particularly disgusting manner that points to the desperate need for change and reform to ensure this violence stops occurring during low-threat procedures, like in this case, a traffic stop," Crump and colleague Antonio Romanucci said in a statement. The last words heard on the video were Nichols calling for his mother three times, Crump said. (Reporting by Tyler Clifford in New York and Brendan O'Brien in Chicago; Additonal reporting by Jonathan Allen; Editing by Lisa Shumaker, Daniel Wallis, Grant McCool and Leslie Adler) According to congressional records, on Jan. 23, former Savannah Police Chief Roy Minter's nomination to the United States Marshals Service was resubmitted to the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, meaning he is eligible again for consideration to the U.S. Marshals Service. Savannah Police Chief Roy Minter speaks at Mayor Van Johnson's weekly media briefing. U.S. Marshal nomination for former Savannah Police Chief Roy Minter expires Savannah Police Chief Roy Minter will resign, focus on U.S. Marshal confirmation In early January, Minter's nomination expired, making him temporarily ineligible for consideration to the U.S. Marshals Service. As a previously returned nominee, according to Senate Rule XXXI, Minter will go through the entire vetting and questioning process again. Despite calls to Sen. Jon Ossoff's office, no details were disclosed as to why Minters nomination didnt advance in 2022. Ossoff sits on the Judiciary Committee. Yet, according to reporting by Adam Van Brimmer, the other three nominees submitted by President Joe Biden along with Minter were confirmed. In fact, of the eight nominees submitted prior to Aug. 1, Minter was the only one not approved. Furthermore, six nominees sent to the Senate after Minter are now in federal posts. In late June 2022, Minter resigned as SPD Chief to focus on the confirmation process for his nomination to serve as U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Georgia. After Minter stepped away, City Manager Jay Melder appointed Lenny Gunther as interim chief. In late December, Melder named Gunther to the top position. This is a developing story. Adam Van Brimmer contributed to this report. Drew Favakeh is the public safety reporter for Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at AFavakeh@savannahnow.com. This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Former SPD Chief Minter eligible for U.S. Marshals Service again France will allocate 3 million euros to finance the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission at the Ukrainian nuclear power plants and facilitate safety at nuclear facilities. Source: Catherine Colonna, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, during her visit to Odesa on Thursday, 26 January, reports European Pravda "We are extremely concerned with the issue of nuclear safety and the safety of nuclear facilities. The IAEA recently visited Ukraine to facilitate the presence of its experts at Ukrainian NPPs," the minister stated. She added that this is a very important step for the facilitation of nuclear safety. "In this context, I am announcing that France is making a special contribution of 3 million euros to finance this mission of experts and facilitate nuclear safety at Ukrainian nuclear power plants," Colonna stated. In the middle of January, the IAEA stated that it would extend its presence in Ukraine in order to prevent a nuclear disaster during the ongoing war. In total, the number of the agencys experts in Ukraine will rise to 11-12. Colonna also reported that in April, France will supply Ukraine with the second DNA laboratory needed for the collection of evidence of Russian crimes in Ukraine. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The flag of France According to Gassilloud, the discussion of providing Kyiv with fighter jets is developing rapidly. Read also: RT France announces closure after sanctions We must study requests on a case by case basis and leave all the doors open, said Gassilloud, who chairs Frances parliamentary defense committee. We will see in the coming weeks what happens next as things are moving fast. Read also: France starts work on special tribunal on Russian crimes of aggression He added that France is unlikely to transfer Leclerc main battle tanks to Kyiv, as that would clash with already announced tank deliveries from the United States and Germany. They (Leclerc tanks) are not the best asset we can provide to Ukraine, notably because it will costly and complicated for the Ukrainians to deal with different types of tanks, Gassilloud said. Read also: France first to supply Ukraine with modern armored vehicles We are thinking for instance about surface-to-air capacities. The MP concluded that modern warplanes require extensive personnel training for every pilot, up to 20 ground crew are required to properly utilize the jets. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine By Iryna Nazarchuk ODESA, Ukraine (Reuters) -French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna arrived on Thursday in Odesa, the strategic port city on Ukraine's Black Sea coast, as part of France's efforts to boost its relationship with Ukraine and discuss its needs in the coming months. UNESCO, the U.N. cultural agency, on Wednesday designated the city's historic centre a "World Heritage in Danger" site. Colonna was in Odesa shortly after missile strikes hit crucial power infrastructure facilities in the surrounding region, causing blackouts in the city. She was due to visit one of the damaged sites. "It's been a year since Russia launched this war carrying out atrocities and crimes. What we saw this morning with strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure is not waging war, it's waging war crimes," she told TFI television in Odesa. The visit aims to send a message to Moscow amid Western fears that Russia, almost a year after invading Ukraine, may still want to launch an attack on the city to deprive Ukraine of its key maritime outlet for grain products. "If Russia's objective is really to deprive Ukraine of all access to the sea, one day it will have to go as far as Odesa, knowing that Odesa, moreover, is the gateway to destabilise even more Moldova, Romania, and the European territory as a whole," a French diplomatic source told reporters ahead of the visit. "The idea is to show that Odesa is not only a Ukrainian city, but a city designated as World Heritage," he said. As part of the trip, Colonna is due to meet her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, to discuss humanitarian and military aid. The discussion is likely to include the question of whether France is ready to supply Leclerc main battle tanks after the United States and Germany committed to send tanks, opening the door for other allies to do so. France has so far agreed to send AMX-10 RCs armoured combat vehicles, but stopped short of committing to sending the Leclercs. Paris argues that, unlike the German Leopards, which are omnipresent across Europe with as many as 2,000 available, there are only about 200 Leclercs. They are also no longer produced. Story continues French sources say the Leclerc is heavy on maintenance making it difficult to create a logistical chain in Ukraine and given Paris would only be able to provide a small number, making their value on the ground limited. The government has said it is studying the request and would make a decision soon. "I'm not saying it won't happen, but I don't think it would make a huge difference," the diplomat said, adding that Kyiv had made clear to France that its priority from Paris was air defence and radar systems as well as ammunition. "This is not a delivery competition," he said. (Writing and reporting by John Irish in Paris; Editing by Nick Macfie and Jonathan Oatis) Flash As the Chinese New Year of the Rabbit arrives, many foreign leaders have sent their Chinese New Year greetings to the country, the Chinese people and overseas Chinese, and expressed their hope for stronger cooperation with China towards a better future. "My dear brothers and sisters from China and all Chinese communities around the world: I wish you all a happy Lunar New Year and a prosperous Spring Festival 2023," South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement released by the Presidency. "As we enter the New Year, we are also celebrating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of South Africa and the People's Republic of China in 1998," he noted, adding that South Africa will succeed China as chair and host of the next BRICS Summit. "These occasions provide ample cause for celebration," he said. In a video message released on Saturday, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa extended his warm congratulations on behalf of the government and people of Zimbabwe, and on his own behalf, saying that "the new season offers an opportunity to solidify the strong bonds of friendship and solidarity that exist between our two countries and peoples." Wishing all the Chinese "good health, prosperity and every success (in) the new year," Mnangagwa concluded the message with the Mandarin Chinese "Chun Jie Kuai Le! (Happy Spring Festival!)" In a video message published Saturday, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe wished the people and government of China a prosperous Year of the Rabbit. Meanwhile, Dinesh Gunawardena, the country's prime minister, said in his video message that China is a "true trustworthy friend" of Sri Lanka. "Even in the present economic crisis in Sri Lanka, China has assured extraordinary special support for us to overcome economic challenges," he said, wishing the Chinese people "a very happy, joyous and prosperous new year." In his message sent Sunday to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih wished the Chinese people prosperity, progress, happiness and good health. He said he looks forward to working with China to continuously expand mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, and further enhance the already close cooperative partnership between the Maldives and China. "On behalf of our people I wish you (China and the Chinese people) good health, luck, and many new economic achievements," said Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic when attending the central celebration welcoming the Year of the Rabbit held at the Kalemegdan Fortress in Belgrade on Saturday. She pledged to further strengthen the "iron-clad friendship" between Serbia and China. In a letter extending her Chinese New Year greeting to the Chinese people in Denmark and China, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen noted that "the Rabbit symbolizes gentleness and kindness," to many people. "China and Denmark have many shared interests, not least when it comes to dealing with climate change. We are facing mounting global challenges that can only be overcome by joint efforts," she said, hoping that "this year we can further strengthen our relations in areas such as the green transition and trade." In a separate letter, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen also wished all Chinese people in Denmark and China a happy Spring Festival and Year of the Rabbit. Noting that Denmark attaches great importance to relations with China as the two sides have many shared interests, he said "I look forward to strengthening our trade relations, people-to-people ties, and cooperation on creating a safer, greener, and more sustainable world." In a recent video message, Lucie Milebou Aubusson, president of the Gabonese Senate, sent sincere wishes of health, happiness and prosperity to "the brotherly Chinese people" as the president of the Senate and on behalf of the upper house of parliament. As this year marks the 49th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, the top official said she is "delighted by our deepening ties and parliamentary diplomacy, marked by multiple visits and exchanges between our two parliaments." "May the Year of the Rabbit be the source of opportunity for our two peoples. May peace, harmony and equality be with us," she added. While celebrating the Spring Festival at the Chinese embassy in his country, Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape wished the Chinese people a happy and healthy new year, and hoped for sustained development of bilateral ties and practical cooperation in various fields. As rabbit symbolizes smartness and swiftness in the Chinese culture, Papua New Guinea hopes to swiftly grasp the opportunities brought by China in the new year and harvest more fruits in sectors such as bilateral high-level exchanges, trade and investment, and people-to-people exchanges, Marape said. Fijian Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sitiveni Rabuka also attended the celebrative activities organized Sunday by the Chinese embassy and overseas Chinese in the island country. He extended New Year greeting to the Chinese people, and said Fiji expects to set up closer and multiple cooperation with China. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has arrived in Odesa on a visit. Source: European Pravda Quote from Colonna's Twitter: "In Odesa! To celebrate France's support for Ukraine's sovereignty, today, just like yesterday". A Odessa! Pour marquer le soutien de la France a la souverainete de l'#Ukraine, aujourd'hui comme hier. pic.twitter.com/gdxaY60o4h Catherine Colonna (@MinColonna) January 26, 2023 The AFP news agency reports that the visit should last only a few hours. Background: On Thursday, Russia attacked Ukraine with missiles again. The projectiles landed in several oblasts, including Odesa Oblast. Maksym Marchenko, the head of the Odesa Oblast Military Administration said that three enemy Kalibr missiles had been shot down in the skies over Odesa Oblast. As a result of the Russian attack on Thursday, two critical energy infrastructure facilities in Odesa Oblast were damaged. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Jan. 25State Attorney General Gentner Drummond will take control from Oklahoma County prosecutors and decide whether to file charges once a criminal probe into Swadley's Foggy Bottom Kitchen's state contract, as well as a separate investigation into alleged improprieties at the Commissioners of the Land Office conclude. Drummond's office is taking over the cases from the Oklahoma County District Attorney's office, both agencies confirmed. This will make three cases involving state taxpayer money that Drummond has taken over from Oklahoma County since taking office earlier this month. On his first full-day on the job, Drummond took over the prosecution of Epic Charter School executives over alleged misuse of public funds. Last year, former Oklahoma Attorney General John O'Connor, who Drummond beat in the primary, punted the results of an investigation into Epic Charter Schools over to the Oklahoma County District Attorney's office to decide whether to file charges. O'Connor also declined to get involved in the Swadley's case. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation launched criminal investigations last year into Swadley's contract with the Tourism Department to run restaurants at state parks and alleged conflicts of interest at the Commissioners of the Land Office, both at the request of then-Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater. A spokeswoman for the OSBI said Friday the two investigations are still active and ongoing. The Oklahoma Attorney General's office will determine whether to file charges once the investigations are finished and would be in control of prosecuting any criminal cases. The Frontier first reported last year on millions of dollars in questionable spending surrounding the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department's contract with Swadley's Foggy Bottom Kitchen. Emails between Tourism Department officials and Swadley's executives revealed talks with the company to become the exclusive restaurant provider for state parks months before a public competitive bidding process began, The Frontier reported. The emails referenced a deal for Swadley's to "make money from day one." Story continues Swadley's founder Brent Swadley, former Executive Director of Tourism Jerry Winchester and a lawyer for former deputy Tourism Director Gino DeMarco did not respond to requests for comment. OSBI opened another criminal investigation at Prater's request into the Commissioners of the Land Office after allegations surfaced of misappropriation of taxpayer funds, conflicts of interest and improper use of office by a state official. The Tulsa World reported last year that then-Secretary of the Commissioners of the Land Office Elliot Chambers fired an internal auditor after she looked into potential conflict of interests with Victorum Capital, a company the agency hired to manage its direct investments. Chambers also had personal investments with the company, according to the report. Neither Chambers, who resigned in August, nor his attorney, responded to a request for comment. A Georgia man is heading to prison after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter in his fiancees bizarre 2020 death. Joshuah Fredette, 47, pleaded guilty to charges of voluntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence in Muscogee County, according to WTVM-TV. In September 2020, Emily McDaniel, 37, was found dead in a lawn chair from multiple gunshot and stab wounds. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan told WTVM-TV that McDaniel had been stabbed more than a dozen times at her home in Columbus, Ga. Fredettes son, then-14-year-old Hagan Fredette, admitted to police that he shot McDaniel in the head. The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reports that investigators said Hagan Fredette called his dad after shooting McDaniel and said she was still breathing. They say Joshuah Fredette told his son to finish killing her to leave no witnesses. Thats when he began stabbing her, according to WTVM-TV. TRENDING STORIES: Officials also confirmed to WTVM-TV that Joshuah Fredette was engaged to McDaniel at the time of her death. After her death, both Joshuah and Hagan Fredette were charged with murder. The younger Fredette is set to stand trial in March. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: AUSTIN, Texas (AP) DeYona Gaston scored 19 poi nts and Texas routed No. 14 Oklahoma 78-58 on Wednesday night as the Sooners went 1-for-17 shooting in the third quarter and missed 17 straight shots in the second half. Taylor Jones scored 16 points and Shaylee Gonzales 12 with seven assists, six rebounds and four steals for the Longhorns (15-6, 6-2 Big 12 Conference), who joined Oklahoma and No. 18 Iowa State on top of the league standings. Skylar Vann scored 13 points for Oklahoma, which shot 46% and had 24 turnovers. Oklahoma guard Taylor Robertson tied the Division I womens basketball record for 3-pointers as she made two. She now has 497, which matches the mark Ohio State star Kelsey Mitchell set from 2014 to 2018. Robertson is a fifth-year senior who reached the record in two fewer games than Mitchell. It was the worst offensive game of the season for the Sooners (16-3, 6-2), who had their five-game winning streak snapped. They entered averaging 87.3 points a game. Oklahoma's previous low was 69 points in a win. The Longhorns allow 57.6 points a game and improved to 14-0 when holding a team below 60. Texas hit its first eight shots to jump to a 17-7 lead but the Sooners stormed back and got a 3-pointer at the buzzer from Kennedy Tucker to tie the game at 20 after one quarter. Oklahoma was 8 of 16 and Texas 9 of 12. Both teams had five turnovers. Gaston scored the first seven points of the second quarter for Texas. Nevaeh Tot hit a 3-pointer and Robertson followed with a layup and the Sooners tied the game again at 33 but Gaston scored again and the Longhorns took a 40-36 lead at the half. Oklahoma trailed 43-40 when Madi Williams made the Sooners' only basket of the third quarter. When Liz Scott made the next OU bucket at 6:04 of the fourth quarter, Texas led 63-44. The Sooners play at Iowa State and Oklahoma State is at Texas, both on Saturday. ___ 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 By Alexandra Ulmer HALF MOON BAY, Calif. (Reuters) - When friends of farm supervisor Marciano Martinez heard of the shooting at the Half Moon Bay mushroom plantations on Monday, they had a sinking feeling. They knew he had to have been there: Martinez, a migrant from Mexico, worked every day except Saturdays. He rarely took time off for holidays like Thanksgiving. When an alarm went off at night, he'd rush on site. Even with friends in social situations, he'd lament when a crop didn't turn out well, blaming poor seeds, or he'd rave about a stellar harvest. "He took so much pride in his job," close family friend Alicia Ortega said in an interview, looking at the ceiling as she tried to hold back tears. "He used to send me pictures of mushrooms. 'Look how beautiful they grow,' he'd say. His phone was full of pictures of mushrooms." Martinez, 50, was among seven people killed by Chunli Zhao, 66, a fellow immigrant mushroom farm worker who appeared in court on Wednesday after he was charged with murder. Beyond his devotion to work, Martinez was praised as a fiercely loyal and good-hearted man. Unmarried and with no children, he gradually became a part of Ortega's family, she said. On Christmas Day 2020, she and her family even managed to drag Martinez away from the farm to open presents for just half an hour, before he went back to work. When Ortega's husband, Reyes Vargas, was ill, Martinez would rush to the hospital after work. He helped them fix their car even though, Ortega remembered with a laugh, he wasn't very handy. As Ortega's husband took a turn for the worse, he asked Martinez to look after his wife, Ortega recounted. Martinez promised. And after her husband passed away in 2020, a devastated Ortega said Martinez indeed became a rock of support. "Even when I was sad or crying, he made sure that I smiled. He turned my life around," Ortega said during the interview in her living room, the warm California sun hitting her face. Story continues Martinez loved romantic Mexican bands, and he played accordion at church and parties. In turn, Ortega, a talented cook, would prepare Mexican chiles rellenos, tongue tacos or her coveted homemade tortillas. On Monday, the day of the shooting, she had surprised him with one of his favorites for lunch: rib-eye steak, peppers and baked potato. "A coworker told me he enjoyed his meal like never before," Ortega said. She took a deep breath. "I had no idea it was going to be his last." (Reporting by Alexandra Ulmer; Editing by Mary Milliken and Sandra Maler) Rep. George Santos in the House chamber. Andrew Harnik/ AP Photo George Santos reportedly wrote Facebook comments over a decade ago joking about Hitler. Santos, who would later claim to be Jewish, has been the subject of a variety of scandals related to his past. Santos' office declined to comment on the Patch report. Embattled Republican lawmaker George Santos commented on a Facebook post over a decade ago joking about Hitler, 'the Jews,' and Black people, according to screenshots obtained by Patch.com. According to Patch, Santos commented on a friend's photo of an apparent military salute in March 2011: "hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh hiiiiiiiiiiiitlerrrrrrrrrrr (hight hitler) lolololololololololololol sombody kill her!! the jews and black [sic] mostly lolllolol!!! Dum" George Santos' office declined to comment. On Friday, Santos told NBC News reporter Kate Santaliz that the post was "not real." "I have a Black father and a Jewish ancestry," Santos told NBC. "Let's have a genuine conversation. It's not real." Santos previously claimed he was Jewish while running for office, but backpedaled after winning his race after reporters found he had no Jewish heritage. A former roommate alleged Santos used a fake Jewish-sounding last name to raise money on a GoFundMe page, thinking it would raise more money. Santos has faced numerous allegations of lying and has admitted he fabricated parts of his resume and background, including his work history and education. The swirl of scandals around Santos has grown so intense that a recent poll found that nationally he is more well-known than much more senior and powerful congressional leaders. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has stood behind the freshman lawmaker amid the litany of reports. McCarthy, according to multiple reports, did privately concede to House Republicans on Wednesday that Santos would be removed from his two committee assignments if he is charged with a crime. There are currently multiple investigations examining Santos' conduct. Santos has refused to resign in the face of such calls from both fellow House Republicans and senior party officials in New York. Read the original article on Business Insider Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency Thursday and activated 1,000 National Guard troops in response to ongoing violent protests in downtown Atlanta following a shooting last week near a controversial future law enforcement training site in which a Georgia state trooper was wounded and a man was killed. The state of emergency is in effect until Feb. 9, according to the document, unless renewed by the governor. The Atlanta protests center around the building of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, nicknamed "Cop City." Protestors have been at the site for months, but on Jan. 18, a protestor identified as Manuel Esteban Paez Teran was shot and killed by law enforcement after authorities said he shot and wounded a Georgia state trooper during a planned multi-agency operation to remove protestors from the area. The trooper was hospitalized and survived. On Jan. 21, six people were arrested after protests at "Cop City" led to property damage and a police vehicle being set ablaze. Some of the arrested protestors were found with explosives, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said. No one was injured. Police block downtown streets following a protest, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Atlanta, in the wake of the death of an environmental activist killed after authorities said the 26-year-old shot a state trooper. / Credit: Alex Slitz / AP Kemp specifically referenced the burnt car in his declaration of the state of emergency. "Masked activists threw rocks, launched fireworks and burned a police vehicle in front of the Atlanta Police Foundation office building," the declaration read, in part. "Georgians respect peaceful protests, but do not tolerate acts of violence against persons or property." The state of emergency declaration authorizes the Georgia National Guard to be used in response to continued protests. Activated troops will have "the same powers of arrest and apprehension as do law enforcement officers." The Atlanta Police Department also told CBS News in a statement that it is monitoring events in Memphis, and protests related to the death of Tyre Nichols, who died on Jan. 10, three days after a violent traffic stop. The five officers involved in the arrest were charged with second-degree murder Thursday. Video footage of the arrest is expected to be released Friday afternoon, officials said. Story continues "We are closely monitoring the events in Memphis and are prepared to support peaceful protests in our city," Atlanta police said. "We understand and share in the outrage surrounding the death of Tyre Nichols. Police officers are expected to conduct themselves in a compassionate, competent, and constitutional manner and these officers failed Tyre, their communities and their profession. We ask that demonstrations be safe and peaceful." Video released of Paul Pelosi attack Heart-related deaths rose sharply during first year of COVID pandemic Biden announces Jeff Zients as next White House chief of staff BERLIN (Reuters) -A German citizen was arrested at the Munich airport on suspicion of treason for allegedly colluding with an intelligence service employee to pass on intelligence to Russia, the prosecutor general's office said on Thursday. The man, identified as Arthur E., was arrested on Sunday upon arriving in Germany from the United States, the prosecutor said in a statement. He is said to be an associate of Carsten L., an employee of the German foreign intelligence service (BND) who was arrested in December on suspicion of spying for Russia. Arthur E., who is not a German intelligence employee, is believed to have passed on to the Russian intelligence service information he had obtained from Carten L., according to the prosecutor's statement. An arrest warrant had already been issued for Arthur E., who was brought before a judge of Germany's top criminal court on Monday and remanded in custody, the statement added. The investigation was conducted it close cooperation with the BND and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the prosecutor said. German authorities have warned of likely heightened Russian spying given the Kremlin's stand-off with the West over the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Writing by Rachel More, editing by Thomas Escritt and Miranda Murray) Flash Back-to-back mass shootings less than two days apart in California have claimed 18 lives, including those of Chinese citizens. On Monday afternoon, news broke of a shooting in Half Moon Bay, near San Francisco, that left seven dead in an attack that came as police were continuing their investigations into a Saturday shooting that killed 11 people at a dance studio in Monterey Park, southern California. On Monday evening, hundreds of people gathered at the Monterey Park City Hall for a memorial service for the victims of the shooting. For residents who live near the dance studio, the shooting has rattled a close-knit and peaceful community. "We have never expected such a tragedy could happen in such a peaceful community when everyone was enjoying the Chinese New Year holiday," said July Wong, a Vietnamese Chinese living in Monterey Park. People in the neighborhood condemned gun violence and urged that action be taken. "We have the highest rates of gun deaths in the world. We have more guns than people. ... We have more than one gun for every man, woman and child in America. That is insanity," said Paul Cole Padilla, an educational administrator. He held a poster that read "The Problem is Guns!" Consular assistance The Chinese Consulate-General in San Francisco said on Tuesday that some Chinese citizens were among the victims in the second attack, allegedly carried out by 66-year-old Half Moon Bay resident Chunli Zhao. "We are shocked and deeply regretted to learn about this severe shooting incident. According to various sources, Chinese citizens were among the victims," the consulate-general said in a statement. It is in further contact with the police and has contacted some of the families of the victims, the consulate-general said, adding: "We will do our best to provide consular assistance". A spokesperson for the Chinese Consulate-General in Los Angeles confirmed on Monday that at least one Chinese citizen died in the Monterey Park shooting. At 10:22 pm on Saturday, 72-year-old Huu Can Tran walked into Star Ballroom Dance Studio and began spraying bullets at the frightened guests, who were celebrating Chinese New Year. He killed five men and six women between the ages of 57 and 76. Nine people were wounded. Tran then went to a second dance studio in the nearby city of Alhambra, but Brandon Tsay, the 26-year-old operator of the club, managed to wrestle the gun away from Tran before he was able to harm anyone else. Tran died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his van at a parking lot the next day as police closed in on him. According to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner, the female victims were named as Xiujuan Yu, 57; Hong Jian, 62; Lilian Li, 63; My Nhan, 65; Muoi Ung, 67; and Diana Tom, 70. The male victims were identified as Wen Yu, 64; Valentino Alvero, 68; Ming Ma, 72; Yu Kao, 72;and Chia Yau, 76. Police said jealousy over a personal dispute might have been a motive behind the Monterey Park shooting. Less than 48 hours after Tran's rampage, Zhao opened fire at a pair of northern California mushroom farms, killing five men and two women, all of whom were Asian or Hispanic, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. Another male victim suffered injuries and is being treated in hospital. Zhao was arrested in the parking lot of the sheriff's Half Moon Bay substation more than two hours after the shooting. Authorities have yet to confirm the motive for either shooting. US President Joe Biden ordered flags to be flown at half-staff to honor the victims. California Governor Gavin Newsom said he was meeting with the victims of the Monterey Park shooting when he was pulled away to be briefed on the Half Moon Bay shooting. "Tragedy upon tragedy," Newsom said in a tweet on Monday. Johannesburg A German foreign ministry quip about leopards and an African tour by Russia's top diplomat has sparked a cool response on the continent, ranging from bewilderment to accusations of insensitivity. On Wednesday, Germany said it would deliver 14 of its top-of-the-line Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, bolstering support for the country in its fight against the Russian invasion along with the U.S., which promised 31 M1 Abrams tanks. The move was announced as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was in southern Africa on a trip aimed at drumming support for Moscow. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov meets South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor (not seen) during his official visit in Pretoria, South Africa, January 23, 2023. / Credit: Ihsaan Haffejee/Anadolu Agency/Getty U.S. "concerned" over South Africa's looming war games with Russia "Lavrov is in Africa, not to see (leopard emoji) but to bluntly claim that #Ukraine's partners 'want to destroy everything Russian'," the German foreign office tweeted. The Russian Foreign Minister #Lavrov is in Africa, not to see , but to bluntly claim that #Ukraines partners want to destroy everything Russian. Here is a with all of his evidence: 1/3 GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) January 24, 2023 Some were unimpressed by the pun and hit at the emoji as a stereotype of Africa as a land for little more than safaris. Ebba Kalondo, spokeswoman for the African Union's chair, replied asking whether German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had also "come to see animals" when she visited the Ethiopia-based AU headquarters this month. "Or is the Continent of Africa, its people & wildlife just a joke to you?" she wrote. Can the U.S. catch up with China and Russia's African outreach Zainab Usman, head of the Africa Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said the tweet was "not a good look." Story continues This is not a good look, @GermanyDiplo. Using terrible stereotypes of Africa (Africa is a vast landscape of wild animals in the bush) to score a geopolitical upper cut to an adversary in a European war will not win you any African friends. Tone deaf! Do better! https://t.co/YwOZopBg1M Zainab Usman (@MssZeeUsman) January 25, 2023 "Using terrible stereotypes... to score a geopolitical upper cut to an adversary in a European war will not win you any African friends. Tone deaf! Do better!" she wrote on Twitter. Later the German foreign office replied it was "sorry" and the tweet was "in no way intended to mean offense" but to call out "the lies that Russia uses to justify its war of aggression." "Point taken. Thinking of a different, German breed of leopards may have made us miss the connotation you are pointing out," it said in a reply to Usman. M&M's "spokescandies" removed from marketing in favor of SNL alum Maya Rudolph Colorado man arrested after police say he "intentionally" drove his truck into police station FDA advisory panel considers simplifying COVID-19 vaccination schedule BERLIN (AP) German authorities said Thursday that they have arrested a second person in connection with a high-profile espionage case that embarrassed Germany's foreign intelligence agency. Federal prosecutors said Arthur E., whose surname wasn't released for privacy reasons, was detained at Munich airport last month after arriving from the United States. Prosecutors said the suspect, a German citizen, is accused of treason for passing secrets obtained by Carsten L., an acquaintance working at Germany's BND spy agency, to Russian intelligence. Arthur E. was not an employee of the BND, prosecutors said. German authorities received support in their investigation from the FBI, they said. A sprawling new terminal at one of New York Citys top airports will be able to keep operating during grid outages thanks to a solar-powered microgrid thats scheduled to come online starting in 2026, the projects developer announced on Thursday. The 11.34-megawatt microgrid at John F. Kennedy International Airport is set to feature the largest rooftop solar array on any U.S. airport or in New York City. Some 13,000 solar panels will cover the $9.5 billion New Terminal One now under construction in southeast Queens, according to AlphaStruxure, a joint venture between Schneider Electric and Carlyle Group. Microgrids solve two of the most serious challenges, resilience and decarbonization, with a single solution, Annette Clayton, CEO of Schneider Electric North America, said in a statement. Along with the 7.66-megawatt rooftop solar array, the microgrid will include 2 megawatts/4 megawatt-hours of battery energy storage. Another 3.68 megawatts worth of fuel cells are intended to supply backup power and generate waste heat used for cooling or heating water. The equipment will be scattered across four power islands that, using microgrid control systems, can either operate independently or function as a single, interconnected system. While the microgrid wont supply 100 percent of the terminals daily electricity needs, it will provide enough continuous power for the 23-gate hub to keep functioning if the grid goes down reducing the risk of canceled flights and stranded passengers, and ensuring the airport can still support emergency-relief efforts after a natural disaster. The JFK project shows that Schneider Electrics microgrid technology is ready to transform our nations most critical infrastructure, including one of the busiest airports in the country, into a sustainable airport of the future, Clayton added. Airport operators nationwide are increasingly pursuing microgrid projects as power disruptions and extreme weather events become more common across the United States. Story continues Last May, JFK experienced flight delays and widespread confusion for hours when it lost grid power. However, the major turning point for airport microgrids came back in December 2017, when an 11-hour power outage at Atlantas Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport caused the cancellation of thousands of flights and left 30,000 passengers in limbo. Delta Air Lines, which is headquartered in Atlanta, said it lost $40 million in pre-tax income from the outage alone. The fact that Delta could put a number to it made [microgrid initiatives] more approachable, Meredith Pringle, a principal at the consulting firm Converge Strategies, told Canary Media. She contributed to an extensive 2021 report and toolkit on implementing airport microgrids. A common challenge developers face is being able to quantify what resilience actually means for a business or critical facility. Deltas example showed that it is worth investing in solutions to reduce an outage because now we know the cost and spending money on a microgrid solution is probably going to be less expensive than a $40 million loss, Pringle said. Along with JFK, at least seven other commercial airports have installed or are building microgrids, including hubs in Denver, Detroit and Chattanooga, Tennessee, as well as airports in the California cities of Redwood, San Diego and Santa Ana. Pittsburgh International Airport has the biggest microgrid of the group, with a 23-megawatt system powered by nearly 9,400 solar panels and five gas-fueled generators. (Around 60 military airfields also have microgrids.) Nearly every other airport relies on hulking diesel generators to provide backup power; some may also have small on-site power plants that generate power for particular buildings. A key difference between those systems and a microgrid whether it runs on fossil or renewable energy, or both is that microgrid operators can see where the power is being used and control how backup supplies are distributed. That might mean closing a concourse and prioritizing power for the traffic-control tower and the areas where aircraft are parked and serviced. Another potential benefit of ditching diesel generators is cleaning up the air for the people who live near or work at airports. AlphaStruxure estimates that the fuel cells used in JFKs new microgrid will reduce health-harming emissions of nitrogen oxide by 98 percent relative to running a generator. The entire microgrid will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 38 percent compared to grid-sourced energy. Still, despite the rising interest, airports remain particularly challenging places to put up a microgrid, Pringle said. Federal, regional and state authorities typically are involved in designing and approving systems, and, as an airports biggest tenants, airlines often have a say in the process. Its a lot of moving pieces to work through in terms of getting approval, understanding whos paying for it and designing it, she said. That causes a bit of a roadblock for some airports. AlphaStruxure said it overcame this particular roadblock at JFK by providing New Terminal One with an energy-as-a-service solution. AlphaStruxure is financing, designing, building and operating every aspect of the 11.34-megawatt microgrid. In return, the consortium of financial sponsors behind New Terminal One has agreed to make fixed payments to AlphaStruxure through a long-term power purchase agreement. Pooja Goyal, chief investment officer of Carlyles global infrastructure business, likened the approach to a residential solar lease, in which a solar company installs and operates rooftop panels at no upfront cost to the homeowner. In JFKs case, however, The financial technology is being applied at a much larger, and I would say a much more bespoke, scale because these kinds of infrastructure projects tend to be very, very complex, Goyal said earlier this week on a press call. AlphaStruxure CEO Juan Macias declined to discuss how much the microgrid will cost to build and operate, telling reporters only that it was a private transaction. He said construction on the first phase of the JFK microgrid is slated to start next year. Three of the projects four power islands, along with 14 airport gates, are expected to open in 2026. The remaining power island and nine gates will be finished by 2030. Although the microgrids fuel cells will initially use fossil gas, AlphaStruxure intends to shift those supplies to renewable natural gas which can refer to methane from landfills, livestock farms and wastewater treatment facilities or hydrogen made from renewable electricity as soon as those fuels become more widely available. That gives us a pathway to achieve net-zero emissions over the life of the project, Macias said. Buddy Carter wants to replace the federal income tax with a consumption tax of 30 per cent (AP) The Republican congressman who has proposed replacing the federal income tax with a national sales tax defended his plan by saying if people buy a boat, they would pay taxes and if they didnt, they would not pay taxes. Representative Buddy Carter is the lead sponsor of the Fair Tax Act, which would replace the federal income tax with a consumption tax of 30 per cent. Democrats have said the legislation would disproportionately hit the poorest Americans since a sales tax would eat more of their income than that of wealthier people. But Mr Carter defended his legislation to The Independent. Democrats want to have control over everyone, he said. They want to have control over your paycheck. The fair tax gives you control over your over your paycheck. Mr Carter said that his legislation is much fairer. That's what we're talking about a national sales tax or consumption tax where you decide if you want to buy a boat, youre going to pay taxes, he said. You don't want to pay the taxes, don't buy the boat. Many Republicans have not signed onto the legislation. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters he opposed it. Democratic senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia seemed incredulous when The Independent asked him about it. Are you serious, he said. Oh my goodness, 30 per cent sales tax will kill the average American. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticised it in a joint press conference on Monday and said it was important to highlight even if the bill couldnt pass in the Democrat-controlled Senate. It's very important, first, to make sure this plan dies, as I said. The right wing MAGA Republicans have a lot of power, certainly in the House, Mr Schumer said in response to a question from The Independent. But Mr Carter said those criticisms were unfair and said that families would get a prebate to cover basic expenses. Everyone gets a prepaid at the first of the month to cover the bare necessities to cover food, clothing, he said. To cover rent. Gov. Brian Kemp has declared a 15-day state of emergency in Georgia and deployed the National Guard in anticipation of continued protests over a proposed Atlanta police training facility. As part of the emergency declaration, Kemp has asked that 1,000 Georgia National Guard troops be made available by the Georgia Department of Defense. According to the order, the troops will be called to active duty as necessary. The State of Emergency will stay in effect until Feb. 9. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Last week, Georgia State Patrol and other agencies were at the proposed facilitys site, clearing protesters who had been camped out in the forest for months. TRENDING STORIES: The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says one of the protesters, 26-year-old Manuel Teran, shot a state trooper and was then killed by return fire. The trooper, who hasnt been identified due to safety concerns, is expected to survive. Friends of Teran, who went by the nickname Tortuguita, have repeatedly claimed since the shooting that they are peaceful protesters. On Saturday night, hundreds of protesters gathered at Underground Atlanta before marching downtown. Protesters then set a police car on fire and smashed windows out of several businesses. Six protesters were arrested. The state of emergency order grants the Governor the authority to empower the Georgia National Guard to subdue riot and unlawful assembly. The State of Emergency was issued moments after police in Memphis announced felony charges against five police officers accused of killing a man during a traffic stop on Jan. 10. Tyre Nichols died three days after authorities said he ran after being pulled over on suspicious driving. Police said officers had two confrontations with Nichols and that afterward, he complained of shortness of breath. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died, according to WHBQ. Story continues The Director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said the video of the confrontation is absolutely appalling, Officials announced on Thursday afternoon that the video would be released to the public sometime after 7 p.m. ET on Friday. Its unclear if Kemps state of emergency declaration was made in anticipation of the videos release. However, some groups have said they will protest in Atlanta after the video is released. Atlanta police released a statement on Thursday afternoon that read: We are closely monitoring the events in Memphis and are prepared to support peaceful protests in our city. We understand and share in the outrage surrounding the death of Tyre Nichols. Police officers are expected to conduct themselves in a compassionate, competent, and constitutional manner and these officers failed Tyre, their communities, and their profession. We ask that demonstrations be safe and peaceful. Channel 2 Action News has reached out to the Governors office for a response. IN OTHER NEWS: PHOENIX (AP) Gov. Katie Hobbs on Wednesday announced the creation of a commission to study problems in Arizonas prisons, including staffing levels and the health care offered to those behind bars. The creation of the commission by Hobbs, Arizonas first Democratic governor since 2009, came several days after she ordered a separate r eview of the states death penalty protocols. We cannot deny there is an urgent need to provide transparency and accountability in Arizona corrections system, Hobbs said. The commission will examine inmate access to food, medicine and sanitary products; whether prison staffing levels are adequate; conditions of the prisons, including security measures and whether they are crowded; rehabilitation and education programs for prisoners; and access to medical and mental health care and drug treatment programs. David Fathi, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney who represents Arizona prisoners who challenged the quality of health care behind bars, applauded the establishment of the commission. He said previous governors took a hands-off approach to prisons. They were disengaged and uninvolved, Fathi said. Gov. Hobbs seems to be charting a very different course. Last summer, a federal judge concluded Arizona had violated the rights of incarcerated people in state-run prisons by providing them with inadequate health care and that the states failures had led to preventable deaths. Before the trial in that case, U.S. District Judge Roslyn Silver threw out a settlement because the state wasnt following through on many of the improvements to prisoner care it had promised to make. She concluded that $2.5 million in contempt of court fines against the state didnt motivate it to comply with the settlement. In late 2021, then-Corrections Director David Shinn testified that prisoners often have greater access to health services than people who arent locked up, leading Silver to later say that the claim was completely detached from reality. Story continues The commissions members will include four state lawmakers, two people who previously served time in Arizona prisons, a physician, a mental health professional and a family member of someone who served at least three years in Arizona prisons. Last week, Hobbs ordered a review of Arizonas execution protocols, leading Kris Mayes, the states new Democratic attorney general, to hold off on seeking court orders to execute prisoners until the examination is completed. The review was announced just days after the governor appointed Ryan Thornell, a prison official in Maine, as Arizonas new corrections director. The review will examine, among other things, the states procurement process for lethal injection drugs and lethal gas, execution procedures, the access of news organizations to executions and the training of staff to carry out executions. Arizona currently has 110 prisoners on death row. The state carried out three executions last year after a nearly eight-year hiatus brought on by criticism that a 2014 execution was botched and because of difficulties obtaining lethal injection drugs. CHICAGO (AP) Illinois prosecutors told a judge Thursday that they are presenting evidence to a grand jury for a possible indictment against the father of the man charged with fatally shooting seven people at a Fourth of July parade in suburban Chicago. Robert Crimo Jr., 58, was arrested in December on seven felony counts of reckless conduct. He is accused of helping his son obtain a gun license years before the 2022 Highland Park shooting, even though the then-19-year-old had reportedly threatened violence. One count of reckless conduct carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison. Prosecutors told Judge George Strickland at a brief hearing Thursday in a Lake County court in Waukegan, north of Highland Park, that they were presenting evidence to the grand jury and expected a decision by mid-February. The next court date is Feb. 16. Crimo, a longtime resident and well-known figure in Highland Park, was released after his arrest last month on a $50,000 bond. Lake County States Attorney Eric Rinehart has said the accusations against the father are based on his sponsorship of his sons application for a gun license in December 2019. Authorities say Robert Crimo III attempted suicide by machete in April 2019 and in September 2019 was accused by a family member of making threats to kill everyone. Authorities say Illinois State Police reviewed the sons gun license application and found no reason to deny it because he had no arrests, no criminal record, no serious mental health problems, no orders of protection and no other behavior that would disqualify him. George M. Gomez, the fathers Chicago-area attorney, has called the charges against his client baseless and unprecedented. Legal experts have said its rare for an accused shooters parent or guardian to be charged in part because its difficult to prove such charges. A grand jury indicted Crimo's son, Robert Crimo III in July on 21 first-degree murder counts, 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery, representing the seven people killed and dozens wounded in the attack at the holiday parade in Highland Park. ___ Follow Michael Tarm on Twitter at @mtarm. Jan. 25The man charged with eluding police and causing the death of a West Virginia woman will now face possible indictment next month. David Maurice Reed, 54, of St. Petersburg, Fla., was arrested on Wednesday, Jan. 18 after a high speed pursuit on Interstate 75 southbound through Madison, Rockcastle and Laurel Counties. Once his vehicle was stopped and a search was initiated, the body of a deceased female was found inside a tote in the rear of the vehicle. Reed appeared before Laurel District Judge Wendell "Skip" Hammons on Tuesday for a preliminary hearing in the case. Det. James Royal with Kentucky State Police Post 11 testified regarding the circumstances of Reed's arrest. Royal said he was notified around 10:13 a.m. of a pursuit initiated in Madison County when a white SUV was stopped for careless driving. But when KSP troopers approached the vehicle, it sped off. The Rockcastle County Sheriff's Office and Mt. Vernon Police joined in the chase, which Royal said reached speeds of 120 miles per hour. "At 10:17, we were notified that the vehicle was entering Laurel County," Royal said. Laurel County Attorney J.L. Albright asked Royal to define the charges against Reed, with Royal stating that the wanton endangerment charges stemmed from Reed ramming into four KSP cruisers during the chase. He also is charged with criminal mischief for damages to the vehicles, although Royal said he was unsure of the severity and the repair costs to those vehicles. Once Reed was taken into custody, the vehicle was searched for any items of endangerment to the police officers. It was during the vehicle search that troopers found the body of a deceased female in a tote in the hatch of the vehicle. "There was substantial blood on her, on the tote and in the vehicle," Royal testified. Albright also questioned the charges of murder, tampering with physical evidence and abuse of a corpse, to which Royal said the death of the woman and moving the body from the crime scene and hiding it in a tote comprised those charges. Story continues Royal added that when interviewed, Reed said he and the victim, Rachel Carder of Seroto, West Virginia, which is near the Huntington area, had been acquainted for approximately a year. Reed told police that the two were in a hotel room, had argued and that disagreement elevated to a physical altercation in which Reed "put his arms around her neck." According to Royal's testimony, Reed said he took items out to the vehicle and when he returned to the room, Carder was not breathing. However, Reed said he didn't remember the location of the hotel room, other than that the hotel was a "small run-down hotel" and that he remembered driving through Lexington after that incident. Royal said investigators were contacting various hotels and motels along the route that Reed may have been traveling but had not determined any specific location as of yet. During the cross examination by Reed's court-appointed attorney, Royal testified that Reed said the argument occurred because Carder "found out he was seeing someone else." "He said she (Carder) had a knife and said he should have left her in the room," Royal said. The arrest citation states that Carder had injuries to her face and body, which were consistent with an "edged weapon." Under questioning, Royal said the primary reason Reed's vehicle was pulled over was because he was driving carelessly along I-75 and that the driver's seat was laid back far enough that troopers could not see either the driver nor whether a seat belt was being used. Albright said that Reed's charges of second-degree wanton endangerment, which is a misdemeanor charge, should be moved to first-degree, which constitutes a Class D felony (1 to 5 year penalty). Albright said the danger imposed upon other motorists and to police officers engaging in the chase should be more severe. Hammons sustained Albright's motion, meaning the charges would be moved to the higher level. He then ruled that probable cause existed, and told Reed to report in Laurel Circuit Court on Feb. 20 for possible indictment. Reed remains held in the Laurel County Correctional Center under $1 million cash bond. Across China: German man's first Spring Festival in a China village Xinhua) 10:57, January 26, 2023 Sebastian Hahn (L) and his girlfriend set off fireworks at a village in Danzhou, south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) HAIKOU, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- This is Sebastian Hahn's ninth Spring Festival in south China's island province of Hainan, but it's the first time that he spent the Chinese Lunar New year in a village. Hahn, from Berlin, Germany, graduated from Hainan University in 2020 and opened a cafe with his Chinese girlfriend Tina last year in Haikou, capital of Hainan. During this year's Spring Festival, Hahn visited Tina's hometown, a village in Danzhou City. "I used to spend Spring Festival in Haikou, which was almost empty during the festival. Restaurants and shops were closed because people who work here went to their hometowns elsewhere," he said, adding that he could see people everywhere in the village. In the village, Hahn experienced a totally different Spring Festival, including going to street fairs, making rice dumplings, and playing with fireworks and firecrackers. "The market is full of people, full of every kind of smell from fresh fruits to fireworks, and I think it is the atmosphere of the Chinese Lunar New Year," he said, noting that it's so traditional and lively that he never knew before. On the second day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, Hahn learned how to make rice dumplings from his girlfriend's mom. "Use sticky rice flour together with water to make little balls, and then boil them in water. It's interesting," he said. "The rice dumplings go well with sugar and taste delicious." Hahn's favorite thing was to play fireworks. "When I play fireworks, it reminds me of my childhood, because in Germany, we also have fireworks for the new year," said Hahn. He also visited the Dongpo Academy, a famous tourist scenic spot in Danzhou. "Su Dongpo was a famous poet who lived in China's Song Dynasty (960-1279), and he was very popular with Chinese people," said Hahn. "You can see his name quite often in Hainan. For example, at Hainan University, there's a big lake named Dongpo Lake, and there's also a big statue of him." Hahn noticed that besides some general customs and traditions like putting up spring couplets and playing firecrackers, Hainan also has its special local tradition. "In Hainan, people eat a lot of chicken. We ate chicken yesterday and today, and will eat again tomorrow. On the market, chickens are found everywhere, and everybody buys fresh chicken and even live chickens," he said. Hahn had prepared "hongbao," traditional red envelopes of cash gifts given during the holiday, specially for Tina and her family. "I think when you spend so much time in China, you need to adapt to local customs," he said. In Hahn's eyes, the Spring Festival is similar to Christmas in Germany. "It's the most important festival for Chinese people, and all the family members come together to reunite, the same like Christmas," he said. Sebastian Hahn (L) and his girlfriend set off fireworks at a village in Danzhou, south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Hongyu) Flash The German government has decided to provide Ukraine with 14 Leopard 2A6 battle tanks from its own Bundeswehr stocks. The aim is to "quickly assemble" two tank battalions with additional units coming from European partners, the government said on Wednesday. "This decision follows our well-known line of supporting Ukraine to the best of our ability," Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at a government meeting in Berlin. "We are acting in a closely coordinated manner internationally." Other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have recently put pressure on Germany to supply battle tanks to Ukraine. On Tuesday, Poland was the first country to officially request Berlin's approval to send tanks from its own stock. As Germany will now supply Leopard tanks to Ukraine, NATO partners were also given the go-ahead to do so. Ukrainian crews are also to be provided with training on the Leopard tanks as well as logistics, ammunition and maintenance for the systems, the government said. Shipments of Leopard tanks to Ukraine would "not bode well" for Russian-German relations and will "undoubtedly leave an unavoidable mark for the future of these relations," Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agency TASS on Tuesday. Last Friday, Germany's Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius postponed the decision and instead announced further deliveries of Marder infantry fighting vehicles, Gepard anti-aircraft tanks and a Patriot surface-to-air missile system to Ukraine. Germany's military support for Ukraine totals 3.3 billion euros (3.6 billion U.S. dollars), the country's Defense Ministry said last week. (1 euro = 1.09 U.S. dollar) By Steven Aristil and Harold Isaac PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) -Haitian police officers on Thursday blocked streets and forced their way into the country's main airport to protest the recent killing of officers by armed gangs expanding their grip on the Caribbean nation. Protesters in civilian clothes who identified themselves as police first attacked Prime Minister Ariel Henry's official residence, according to a Reuters witness, and then flooded the airport as Henry was arriving from a trip to Argentina. Henry was temporarily stuck in the airport, but returned to his residence in Port-au-Prince later on Thursday, followed by police protesters. A Reuters witness heard heavy gunfire near his home. Haiti's National Police and the Prime Minister's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Roads around Port-au-Prince and in several cities to the north were blocked by protesters. A group of U.S. government officials were visiting Haiti at the time, and a U.S. State Department spokesperson said all Washington's personnel were accounted for and they had moved some meetings as a precaution. Haitian human rights group RNDDH said in a statement that 78 police officers had been killed since Henry came to power in July 2021, averaging five each month, saying the prime minister and the head of the national police Frantz Elbe were "responsible for each of the 78 lives lost during their reign." "History will remember they did nothing to protect and preserve the lives of these agents who chose to serve their country," it added. Late on Thursday, The Bahamas' foreign ministry said the country's prime minister had ordered all Bahamians, including its diplomatic personnel, to leave Haiti as soon as security conditions permit. Haitian police had earlier in the day stopped the neighboring country's local charge d'affaires and taken their vehicle and weapons, it added, saying all its diplomats were safe, as well as five citizens who had been trapped around the airport. Story continues Last week, four police officers near the capital were killed by the Vitelhomme gang, while shootouts on Wednesday with the Savien gang in the town of Liancourt left another seven officers dead, according to Haiti's National Police and local media reports. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Brian Nichols expressed condolences to the families of police officers killed in the latest violence, and said the United States would continue to "impose costs on those responsible for this heinous violence." Asked how the developments could affect efforts to craft an international armed intervention, the U.S. State Department spokesperson told Reuters the United States was still working with international partners to develop "a framework" for a security mission to "provide security and stability." The United Nations is discussing sending a foreign strike force to confront the criminal groups. The proposal was originally made three months ago but no country has offered to lead such a force. (Reporting by Steven Aristil, Harold Isaac and Ralph Tedy Erol in Port-au-Prince, Brian Ellsworth in Caracas, Matt Spetalnick in Washington; Additional reporting by Sarah Morland; Editing by Sandra Maler and Christopher Cushing) Northern California prosecutors on Wednesday filed seven murder charges and one attempted murder charge against the man accused of gunning down farm workers Monday in the quaint oceanside town of Half Moon Bay. The suspect said he believed he had been disrespected by the victims. The San Mateo County Coroners Office has named six of the seven victims: Zhishen Liu, 73, of San Francisco; Marciano Martinez Jimenez, 50, of Moss Beach; Aixiang Zhang, 74, of San Francisco; Qizhong Cheng, 66, of Half Moon Bay; Jingzhi Lu, 64, of Half Moon Bay; and Yetao Bing, 43, whose hometown was listed as unknown. The charges filed by DA Steve Wagstaffe against suspect Chunli Zhao, 66, did include the name of the seventh victim, Jose Romero Perez, and one charge of attempted murder in connection to the shooting of Pedro Romero Perez. Chunli Zhao being arrested on Monday in the parking lot of the Sheriffs Office Half Moon Bay as a suspect for the mass shooting earlier that day. (Kati McHugh) We have not had in San Mateo County before, a case with one instance of seven murders at once, Wagstaffe said at a news conference. Zhao made his initial court appearance on Wednesday afternoon in Redwood City. He was shackled and in a red jail jumpsuit, and walked into court holding a yellow piece of paper that he at times used to conceal his face from cameras. Zhao, communicating through a Mandarin interpreter, confirmed his name and San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Susan Jakubowski appointed attorney Jonathan D. McDougall to represent him. Judge Jakubowski ordered Zhao held without bail and set his arraignment for Feb. 16. Investigators have labeled the slayings as acts of workplace violence, with Zhao having worked with some of the victims. Zhao worked at Mountain Mushroom Farm, one of two agricultural businesses where workers were killed on Monday afternoon, authorities said. NBC Bay Area cited police sources with direct knowledge of the investigation to report that Zhao had told investigators that he had been disrespected by co-workers in the years leading up to the shootings. Zhao was arrested about two hours after the shooting as he sat in his parked car outside the sheriffs substation in Half Moon Bay. Story continues The criminal complaint charges Zhao in the order that investigators believe the killings and attempted killing occurred, Wagstaffe said. The charges start with Qi Zhong Cheng, and end with Ai Xiang Zhang. This investigation is two days old, Wagstaffe said. Theres an awful lot more to learn. The charges allow for life without parole or death if convicted, but Wagstaffe said a decision on the death penalty has not been made. This story first appeared on NBCNews.com. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Sen. John Kavanagh sits at his desk during the opening session of the 56th Legislature on Jan. 9, 2023, in Phoenix. Corrections & Clarifications: A previous version of the column misspelled Phoenix New Times. To the chattering classes, Senate Bill 1001 looks like just another bigoted attack on LGBTQ people by one of the old reptiles in the Arizona Legislature. The Arizona news media have largely framed Sen. John Kavanaghs bill as an assault on school children who do not identify with their gender assigned at birth. Judging by the tone of coverage, the bill is transphobic on its face, and Katie Hobbs chief of staff has already tweeted that it is dead on arrival should it ever reach the governors desk. This is all muscle memory for liberal media and Democrats. Both have long regarded Kavanagh as the kook in the Capitol attic. Ten years ago, Phoenix New Times was asking in a headline, Is John Kavanagh Arizonas Worst Legislator? Thus, it will likely come as shock to all that Kavanagh is on to something important, and they (to put it in their own vernacular) are on the wrong side of history. Kavanagh's bill is about parental rights Kavanaghs bill isnt an assault on transgender youth, but a defense of parents rights to know when public schools start the process of transitioning their child to another gender. The bill would prohibit public school officials from referring to a student under age 18 by a first name or pronoun that doesnt align with the students biological sex unless and this is the key part they have written permission from the parent. As amended, nicknames associated with the students name of record would be allowed. 'Lives on the line':Students gather to protest anti-LGBTQ bills Further, school employees would never be forced to refer to a person by a pronoun that differs from the pronoun that aligns with that persons biological sex if it violates the employees own religious or moral convictions. More on this second part later. The first part of the bill on parental consent is not a solution in search of a problem. The problem is real. Parents across America have been cut out of the decision-making process when schools start calling their children by different pronouns and inviting them to use opposite sex bathrooms. Story continues This isn't a theoretical issue If you need proof, The New York Times no friend to Kavanagh and his strong brew of socially conservative politics talked to dozens of parents who were left in the dark when schools started helping children change their gender identity. This public school secrecy has provoked lawsuits in Massachusetts, Florida, Wisconsin, Kansas, Virginia and Maryland, the Washington Post reports. Kavanaghs bill would attempt to preempt the problem before it rises in Arizona. In other states across the country, parents of all political persuasions have found themselves unsettled by what schools know and dont reveal, The Times reported. Unsettled is putting it lightly. Many parents are furious that schools have decided they cant be trusted with information essential to the development and future well-being of their child. It felt like a stab in the back from the school system, one parent told The Times. It should have been a decision we made as a family. Approach to transgender care is changing No doubt, many of these public schools are well meaning when they defer to children who dont want their parents to know. They fear the child may face abuse at home. But they are wrong to cut out parents. What should infuriate everyone in our society and provoke much tougher coverage of the public schools is that modern medicine is moving away from the affirmative care model of treatment that undergirds schools foolish practice of leaving parents out of the loop. Affirmative care (as opposed to watchful waiting) assumes that if children say they are not the gender by which the world now sees them, thats enough to lead them to the on-ramp of gender transition, which can mean a lifetime of drug treatment first with puberty blockers and then cross-sex hormones and possibly body-altering surgery, such as double-mastectomies. Affirmative care is still the standard in the United States, but a number of leading authorities in U.S. transgender medicine, including doctors and therapists who are themselves transgender, have begun to cast serious doubt on its efficacy. Further, in western Europe, some of the most progressive nations in the world, including France, Sweden, Finland and England, have moved away from affirmative care to a far more cautious approach to treating youth who struggle with gender. Schools should not start a social transition Americans need to know this because it tells us why its wrong for public schools to begin without parental knowledge or input the social transition of a child who exhibits signs of gender dysphoria. The Mayo Clinic defines gender dysphoria as the feeling of discomfort or distress that might occur in people whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth or sex-related physical characteristics. Decades ago, advanced nations in western Europe and North America began following what is called the Dutch protocol after doctors in The Netherlands aggressively launched the treatment of gender transition with early childhood intervention and puberty blockers. In recent years the research behind the Dutch protocol and the affirmative care model have faced hard scrutiny from frontline doctors and therapists who are blowing the whistle on both. What they have found is that many of the children who were diagnosed with gender dysphoria were also suffering from a wide spectrum of mental and emotional problems that were going untreated and thus provoking doubts about gender. Many of these patients turned out not to be transgender. In other words, U.S. public schools that begin transitioning students with new pronouns could be working against the psychological and emotional needs of the child. To do that without the input of parents or their childrens therapists is an abomination. Wisconsin teacher says, 'I'm your mom now' Adding gas to the fire, The Times story described this evidence from a lawsuit filed against a Wisconsin school district: A teacher had posted a flyer at school that read, If your parents arent accepting of your identity, Im your mom now. To which every parent should respond, Great, you can start paying for her clothes and food and start saving for her college education. You can drive her to school and the pediatric clinic and hold her hand when shes sick. Oh, and by the way, we just spent $278 on new eyeglasses. Where do we forward the bill? The affirmative treatment of juvenile gender dysphoria in the early 21st century appears destined to become one of the great medical scandals of the century. Every year brings more and more young people who regret their transition. And theyre arriving with lawyers. The Times of London reports that as many as a 1,000 families are expected to join a medical negligence lawsuit alleging vulnerable children have been misdiagnosed and placed on a damaging medical pathway. U.K. whistleblowers and media are about four years ahead of the United States in exposing this scandal, but when it blows here the fallout is likely to strike the political left that has promoted the trans-activist agenda at every turn. The political implications of icing out parents To understand the political implications of this, read the comments on the aforementioned story in The New York Times, a newspaper whose readership is by-and-large liberal. Here are just four samples of what Times readers chose as the best reader comments: This is where you lose people like me, the self-identifying liberals. As a parent of young adults, I cant fathom the idea that I would not be included in the discussion of how my child identifies at school. Dear Fellow Democrats, Do you want to win elections? 1. We win on abortion rights. 2. But we will lose on gender identity. Especially if we allow the state (the school system) to trump the rights of parents over their minor children, and to hide things from parents. Concealing the name and pronoun changes of an 11-year-old from the parents? Utter madness. Id be homeschooling these days. Im on the left, live in a liberal borough, and have a non-binary child in a public school. Its laughable that school administrators and counselors think that they can (make) more informed decisions than parents. Their overreach is disturbing. I dont like (Florida Gov. Ron) DeSantis at all, and I will not vote for him, but hell win (the) presidency on this issue alone. Must employees be forced to use pronouns? The second part of Kavanaghs bill proposes that school employees should not be forced to use students new names and pronouns. I think Kavanagh should have left this out, though I understand the logic. Bill critics have argued this contradicts the first part of his legislation. If parents have granted schools permission to use the childs new pronouns, doesnt this violate the parents rights? No. Parents have the right to know the school is accommodating their childs change of gender. Parents should not have a right to compel school employees to use those pronouns. Why? Because transgender activists, a tiny fraction of transgender adults who represent roughly 0.5% percent of the U.S. population, demand that everyone bend the English language to accommodate them. This might have been practical had they proposed a simple way to do this. They have not. They want everyone to adapt to their garden of proliferating pronouns. To do otherwise is to risk misgendering them and causing grave offense. Kavanagh should've left this part out Nonetheless, if I were Kavanagh, I would have left school employees out of the bill. It complicates the issue of a parents right to know, which should be obvious. Schools should not be deciding that a childs gender dysphoria means the child is transgender. Its not up to schools to make those medical diagnoses and then begin the social transition to a new gender. That requires a professional therapist and, without question, the involvement of parents. Phil Boas is an editorial columnist for The Arizona Republic. He can be reached at phil.boas@arizonarepublic.com. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Sen. John Kavanagh is right about schools and pronouns Hawk AI, a German company developing anti-money laundering (AML) and tangential fraud prevention smarts for financial institutions, has raised $17 million in a Series B round of funding. Prior to now, Hawk AI had raised $10 million, and with a fresh $17 million in the bank, the company said that it plans to bolster its product development and global expansion plans. The Series B round was led by Sands Capital, with participation from Picus Capital, DN Capital, Coalition and BlackFin Capital Partners. It's estimated that up to $2 trillion of ill-gotten gains are laundered each year, representing as much as 5% of global GDP, with just 1% of these illegal profits recovered. And this is where Hawk AI is setting out its stall. Founded out of Munich in 2018, Hawk AI serves to improve how banks and payment companies manage their compliance risks through a cloud-native, modular AML surveillance system that promises the "highest level of explainability" in its AI-powered decision-making engine, which is pivotal for audits and regulatory investigations. "Financial Institutions and regulators need to be able to understand and trust AI-driven decisions," Hawk AI co-founder and CEO Tobias Schweiger told TechCrunch. "Full explainability of such an AI is the key to establishing trust and acceptance." Hawk AI AML transaction monitoring, explainable results. Image Credits: Hawk AI Hawk AI offers products such as payments screening, customer screening, transaction monitoring, transaction fraud and customer risk rating, which allows its customers to build their own risk-rating model by combining static data (e.g. product or geographical data) with dynamic data (e.g. transaction data such as suspicious activity reports). Among its customers are European spend-management platform Moss, U.S. payments processing company North American Bancard and Brazil's Banco do Brasil Americas. Black box Besides the legacy incumbents in the space such as Verafin, BAE Systems and Oracle, there are other notable newish-comers in this space, including financial fraud unicorn Feedzai and VC-backed Feature Space. However, Hawk AI is touting its cloud-native credentials and SaaS business model as one of its core differentiators, versus the clunky on-premise deployments of many of the legacy players. Story continues But the company is keen to stress its focus on addressing the "black box" world that AI and machine learning algorithms typically inhabit -- understanding why an algorithm made a specific decision is key, and companies need to be able to justify why one customer was flagged as a potential fraudster. Hawk AI: Customer risk rating. Image Credits: Hawk AI It's worth noting that other anomaly detection software do give insights into what factors led to a flag. But Hawk AI says that its patent-pending technology also tells users what the "expected range" of normal behavior is, giving a score for each risk-factor using natural human language. The company says that this context is essential in terms of evaluating whether a case qualifies as suspicious activity or not. "For Hawk AI, explainability is made up of two areas," Schweiger said. "What is the justification for an AI-driven, individual decision, and how were the algorithms that contribute to AI developed? Compliance officers need to have transparency over both." Russian forces have damaged 1,206 medical facilities and completely destroyed 171 of them, the Health Ministry reported on Jan. 25. First Deputy Health Minister Oleksandr Komarida said that Russia strikes hospitals and dispensaries to leave people without medical care. According to preliminary data, Ukraine will need around $1 billion to rebuild damaged medical infrastructure. So far, Ukraine has completely restored 143 medical facilities. Over 250 medical facilities have also been partially restored. After allegedly selling students homemade marijuana edibles, a high school cafeteria worker in Louisiana was detained last week. Superintendent Melissa Stilley of Tangipahoa Parish Schools said in a statement that the employee, identified as 45-year-old Tymetrica Cohn, was taken into custody by the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriffs Office on Friday after being removed from the Jewel M. Sumner High School campus, 25NewsNow reports. The substitute cafeteria employee allegedly sold homemade baked goods laced with marijuana also known as edibles described in the news release as a potential threat. Information was initially provided to law enforcement through the P3 anonymous reporting app. I want to commend this student who saw something and used the P3 app to bring this threat to the attention of our school officials and law enforcement, Stilley said. According to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriffs Office, Cohn was taken into custody and charged with a county of possession/distribution of CDS1 and a count of distribution of a CDS in a drug-free zone, WFTV9 reports. Twitter found it hilarious and tried to identify the snitch in the story. The cafeteria worker was arrested for selling homemade edibles to HS students. https://t.co/215vFr5pWY Complex (@Complex) January 24, 2023 Damn who snitched S (@aStarr_W_2Rs) January 24, 2023 Ok who snitched lmao FranTheThought (@fran_thought) January 24, 2023 Damn who the rat wtf Master_Fu (@WizzySmoke) January 24, 2023 According to WAFB, Cohn was said to be working as a temporary cafeteria worker at Jewel M. Sumner High School. She was recruited and hired by ESS, a company that helps schools find and place substitute teachers and other staff members. Investigations into the circumstances continue. There is currently no new information available. (Reuters) - Home Depot Inc's Canadian arm was found to be sharing details from e-receipts related to in-store purchases with Facebook owner Meta Platforms Inc without the knowledge or consent of its customers, according to Canada's privacy regulator. An investigation by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) found that by participating in Meta's offline conversions program Home Depot shared the e-receipts that included encoded email addresses and purchase information. The regulator added that the home goods chain stopped sharing customer information with Meta in October 2022, which was among the recommendations made by OPC, until the company is able to implement measures to ensure valid consent. Home Depot and Meta did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. (Reporting by Ananya Mariam Rajesh in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber) By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chair on Thursday said Republicans will not grant a waiver to allow President Joe Biden's pick to head the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Republicans have said Biden's nominee Phil Washington needs a waiver because he does not qualify as a civilian under the law. Washington, the Denver International Airport chief executive, was nominated in July but the Senate Commerce Committee has yet to hold a hearing. "The FAA is running on autopilot. You can only run on autopilot so long before you run out of gas, you wake up and your over Utah," said Representative Sam Graves, a Republican who heads the committee overseeing the FAA. Republicans have harshly criticized the FAA after the Notice to Air Missions pilot messaging database failed, which led to a more than 90-minute nationwide grounding of planes on Jan. 11 that disrupted more than 11,000 flights, the first such halt since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. "You want to talk about crippling the country and showing our enemies just how vulnerable we are," Graves said of the NOTAM outage. "They've got to get their act together, they've really do, they've got to modernize their processes and their system." The NOTAM system provides pilots, flight crews and other users of U.S. airspace with critical safety notices. Graves said the FAA needs to fill key leadership positions and said Washington does not have enough aviation experience to serve as FAA administrator. Before being named to run the Denver Airport in 2021 did not have any significant aviation experience, Republicans complain. The FAA has been without a permanent administrator since March 31, 2022. Senator Roger Wicker, the top Republican on the Commerce Committee, who earlier expressed "skepticism" about Washington due to his "lack of experience in aviation," told Reuters in December that he thought the nomination should not be approved. Story continues Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer earlier this month urged speedy action on Washington's nomination. "With recent events, including airline troubles and (the NOTAM outage), this agency needs a leader confirmed by the Senate immediately." Congress plans to take up the issue and whether the FAA needs more money to modernize various computer systems this year. Congress must reauthorize the FAA by Sept. 30. (Reporting by David Shepardson, Editing by Franklin Paul and Diane Craft) Paris Hilton (right) and Carter Reum have welcomed their newborn baby son who was born via surrogate. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle. Paris Hilton is officially a new mom. The media personality, 41, welcomed a new baby son with her husband, Carter Reum, 41, via surrogate. On Tuesday, Hilton took to Instagram to post a sweet close-up photo of her newborn gripping her thumb. "You are already loved beyond words," she captioned her post, along with a blue heart emoji. The news was confirmed by People, which spoke to the new mother in an interview. "It's always been my dream to be a mother and I'm so happy that Carter and I found each other," Hilton shared. "We are so excited to start our family together and our hearts are exploding with love for our baby boy." In December 2022, Hilton opened up about expanding her family with her husband, after the couple tied the knot in late 2021. The great-granddaughter of Hilton Hotel's founder Conrad Hilton mentioned that her and her partner began the in-vitro fertilization (IVF) process during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. "We started going and doing it like a few months in because the world was shut down," she explained. "We knew we wanted to start a family, and I was like, 'This is perfect timing. Usually, I'm on a plane 250 days out of the year, and let's just get all of the eggs stocked and ready,' and we have tons of them just waiting." But the famed socialite isn't the only celebrity who's been open about having a child via surrogate. Rebel Wilson denied rumours saying she was engaged to her girlfriend, Ramona Agruma, and followed up with news of her baby girl's birth via surrogate. (Photo by Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images) "Pitch Perfect" star Rebel Wilson announced in November 2022 the birth of her baby girl, Royce, after shutting down rumours she was engaged to girlfriend Ramona Agruma. Story continues Vancouver-born singer Grimes seemingly revealed by accident that she and Elon Musk had welcomed their baby girl, Exa, via surrogate during an interview with Vanity Fair in March 2022. She revealed that her first pregnancy with son X A-12 was difficult because he was pressing on her nerves, forcing her to keep "collapsing" and even hemorrhage. Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas also welcomed their baby girl, Malti Marie, via surrogate in January 2022. Talking to British Vogue this year, Chopra shared that surrogacy was a "necessary step" since she had "medical complications." Other celebrity couples who've welcomed children via surrogacy include Kim Kardashian and Kanye West; Hilaria and Alec Baldwin; Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick; Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade; as well as Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban. After developing placenta accreta following her first two pregnancies, Kim Kardashian (left) opted for surrogacy when she and ex-husband Kanye West welcomed their youngest kids, Chicago and Psalm. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images) While there are no precise global figures on how many children have been born through surrogacy, there has been a steep increase in the practice in the past two decades. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of births via gestational surrogacy in the United States rose from 727 in 1999 to 3,432 in 2013. A report from the University of Kent and non-profit My Surrogacy Journey also shows the number of parents having a baby using a surrogate in England and Wales has almost quadrupled in the 12 years leading up to when figures were released in 2020. What is surrogacy? Surrogacy is an agreement where a woman carries a pregnancy and gives birth for another couple or individual. The method is most often used when someone cannot carry a pregnancy themselves due to health concerns, or when a same-sex couple wants a baby. Typically, surrogacy is broken down into two types: Gestational surrogacy : Also called host or full surrogacy, gestational surrogacy is when the eggs of an intended mother or donor are used, typically through in-vitro fertilization. While the gestational surrogate will carry the pregnancy, they have no genetic relation to the baby. Traditional surrogacy: Also called straight or partial surrogacy, traditional surrogacy is when the eggs of a traditional surrogate are used to create the pregnancy. This means the surrogate is genetically related to the child, but they must surrender their parental rights. Surrogacy is typically divided into two types: Gestational and traditional. (Photo via Getty Images) What are the laws regarding surrogacy in Canada? In Canada, the Assisted Human Reproduction Act (AHR Act) became law in March 2004. Its first principle notes that the health and well-being of children must come first. It also protects the health and well-being of women, and ensures that consent must always be given and no one using assisted human reproduction can be discriminated against. It's illegal to pay a surrogate in Canada, but a surrogate can be repaid for out-of-pocket expenses provided there's a receipt directly related to their pregnancy, such as maternity clothes, food, travel for medical appointments and medications. This is called altruistic surrogacy, where a surrogate cannot benefit financially for their services. It's permitted in countries like the United Kingdom, Denmark, Ireland, Israel and the Netherlands. On the other hand, commercial surrogacy where a surrogate can be paid for their services is only permitted in some countries, including India, Ukraine, Russia and parts of the United States. Some countries have completely banned all forms of surrogacy, including France, Germany, Italy, Japan and China. If you break the AHR Act in Canada, you could be fined up to $500,000 or jailed for up to 10 years or both. A woman must also be at least 21 to be a surrogate. Surrogacy is usually an option for people who cannot carry a pregnancy themselves, such as people with health concerns or same-sex male couples. (Photo via Getty Images) How much does surrogacy cost? The cost of surrogacy varies across the world. It's also dependant on several variables, such as whether a person already has frozen embryos and if they require numerous cycles. In Canada, it's recommended that intended parents have a budget of roughly $80,000. But that cost can drop to $60,000 if you already have frozen embryos, or rise to more than $90,000 depending on certain factors like fees and potential problems. In other parts of the world, surrogacy costs can vary dramatically. In the United States, surrogacy can cost between $100,000 to $200,000. In countries like India, surrogate births can be as low as $30,000. What is a surrogacy agreement? To proceed with a surrogacy in Canada, it is legally required to have a surrogacy agreement. A surrogate must also have independent legal advice on the agreement; the intended family and the surrogate will usually have separate lawyers. These agreements will outline all aspects of a surrogacy, such as time period, parental rights and reimbursement. Not all aspects of a surrogacy agreement are enforceable. For instance, a surrogate has the right on whether to terminate a pregnancy and where they want to give birth. Regardless, a surrogacy agreement is still legally required. Up to four parents can be listed on a birth registration in Ontario, while up to five can be technically be added in British Columbia. (Photo via Getty Images) What happens after birth? Each province has its own rules regarding the birth registration process. Intended parents should speak with their lawyer in their own province. In Ontario, the "All Families Are Equal Act" makes this process simpler for families going through surrogacy, as they don't have to go through the adoption process to be recognized as parents. Up to four parents can be listed on a birth registration in Ontario. According to the Association of Ontario Midwives, a surrogate is the primary decision-maker for their health and that of the unborn fetus throughout pregnancy. Once the baby is born, the surrogate and the intended parents share the responsibilities of parenting until the surrogate provides consent to give up their parentage, which can only be done once the baby is at least seven-days-old. It's rare for a surrogate to change their mind after giving birth. There are also no cases of this happening in Canada. If a gestational surrogate changes their mind, they would have all rights to the child at birth and intended parents would have to pursue legally. In traditional surrogacies, a contract would also be unenforceable, and a surrogate would have to be proven unfit for the child to be removed from them. If the intended parents decide to change their minds, a baby would likely be put up for adoption. Are surrogates entitled to benefits in Canada? A maximum of 15 weeks maternity leave is available for mothers in Canada, including surrogates. However, surrogates do not receive parental benefits. Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. An M1A2 Abrams at Fort Benning in Georgia in April 2022. US Army/Spc. Joshua Taeckens The US, UK, and Germany have agreed to provide their tanks to Ukraine, as have some other countries. Those tanks now join hundreds of other armored vehicles delivered or promised to Kyiv. That armor will be vital against Russia when fighting intensifies this spring, US officials say. US-made Abrams tanks will join a wave of Western armor heading to Ukraine in the coming months to equip Kyiv to fend off looming Russian offensives, US officials said Wednesday. The 31 Abrams tanks the US will send to Ukraine likely won't arrive for months or longer, but the US and European countries have already committed to sending Ukraine several different types of armored vehicles. These include the French-made AMX-10 RC armored combat and reconnaissance vehicle, the US-made Stryker armored personnel carrier, and infantry fighting vehicles like the American Bradley, German Marder, and Swedish Combat Vehicle 90. And although Ukraine already had Soviet-era BMP infantry fighting vehicles in its arsenal, it welcomed the transfer of additional vehicles from NATO members like Greece and Slovakia. European countries have also pledged to send their own tanks, such as the German-made Leopard 2 and British Challenger 2. A German Leopard 2 in Munster in May 2019. Christophe Gateau/picture alliance via Getty Images The US and the Netherlands are also refurbishing 90 Soviet-era T-72 tanks that they pledged to send to Ukraine in November. "About half of those are arriving on the battlefields now," a senior Biden administration official said. "So you're going to see hundreds of armored vehicles, exceptionally capable vehicles, and tanks arriving in Ukraine, and importantly, they will be arriving with trained crews that are prepared to operate as part of a larger" operation, the official added, speaking anonymously to brief reporters on the US's Abrams announcement. The time needed to procure Abrams tanks will allow for training and logistics pipelines to be set up, a second official said, noting that the Leopards will arrive sooner. "So coupled with this near-term commitment that the Germans have made on Leopard, we think that this contribution by us with the Abrams represents the long-term commitment," the second official added. Story continues No silver bullets A Ukrainian soldier checks a wrecked Russian tank outside a village east of Kharkiv in April 2022. SERGEY BOBOK/AFP via Getty Images Alongside official debates about whether to send Western tanks to Ukraine, experts have debated the utility of those tanks in light of the new training and logistics networks that Ukraine will need in order to operate them. Western third-generation main battle tanks including Abrams, Challengers, and Leopards "are formidable weapons systems," but to use them successfully Ukraine will need new or revised doctrines for training, tank warfare, and fire support, Franz-Stefan Gady, a senior fellow at the International Institute of Strategic Studies, said this month. In addition to different spare parts and ammunition, supplies of which are limited, Kyiv will need repair facilities inside and outside of Ukraine, Gady said, adding that "operating 3 different Western-made [main battle tanks] will be a logistical nightmare (but doable)." A British army Challenger 2 tank during a live-fire exercise in Germany in December 2018. Mr Dominic King/Crown copyright 2018 Leopard, Challenger, and Abrams tanks weigh roughly 20 tons more than the Soviet-designed tanks that Ukraine has been using, and "there is little Ukrainian infrastructure along which such heavy vehicles can travel, while their engineering and recovery vehicles are optimised to support Soviet designs," Jack Watling, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, wrote this month. "Putting aside the training needed to maintain and fight with NATO-designed tanks, they would also need to be provided alongside combat engineering and mobility support vehicles if they were to be employable at any scale," Watling added. (On Wednesday, US officials said M88 recovery vehicles would be delivered with the Abrams tanks.) Experts have also stressed that the battlefield impact of new tanks should not be overstated. Western-made vehicles will give Ukraine a boost over the Soviet-era tanks that both sides have relied upon, but their utility may ultimately depend on how many are transferred they won't be a silver bullet, experts say. Other weaponry, including air-defense systems, artillery, and artillery ammunition, are also high priorities. The US and Germany have agreed to send M1 Abrams and Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. Elmurod Usubaliev/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images But armored vehicles and tanks are vital components of combined arms warfare, which depends on infantry, armor, artillery, and air forces working in coordination to move quickly and overwhelm resistance. "If you want to conduct offensive operations against entrenched forces, you have to mass combat power, and tanks are more likely to survive than the alternatives," Rob Lee, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, said this month. "The combination of armor, mobility, and firepower that tanks provide is still important in ground warfare." Ukrainian troops began larger-scale combined arms warfare training in Germany this month, and Western officials have reportedly been pushing Ukraine to adopt it more widely in the months ahead. 'Their sovereign territory' Ukrainian soldiers work on a tank in the Kharkiv region on January 23. Spencer Platt/Getty Images The second administration official said on Wednesday that the decision to send Abrams tanks to Ukraine now, after months of officials saying they weren't suitable for the conditions Ukraine faced, reflected US efforts "to evolve the capabilities we are providing to Ukraine with the war itself" in order to meet Kyiv's current and future needs. "I think we all look at what's happening now and what we expect to happen in the future, particularly in the Donbas area, [and] the kinds of capabilities that Ukraine really needs are ... combined-arms maneuver capabilities, the ability to fight effectively in open terrain particularly," the official added, "and armored capabilities are a key part of that." Asked if the US saw these tanks as a means with which to retake Russian-occupied territory, including Crimea, the second official stressed that the US doesn't tell Kyiv where to strike or "where to conduct offensive operations." "These are their decisions to make," the official added, "but we want to make sure that they have the right capabilities to not only defend themselves against the Russian onslaught and we do expect that Mr. Putin and the Russian military will try to go on the offense here in the coming weeks and months as the weather gets better but also that they have the ability to retake, to reclaim their sovereign territory." Read the original article on Business Insider THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) International Criminal Court judges on Thursday cleared the way for the court's prosecution office to resume its investigation into the so-called war on drugs in the Philippines. Prosecutor Karim Khan asked judges for permission last year to reactivate his inquiry into alleged crimes against humanity between Nov. 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019, which were linked to the deadly crackdown. The investigation was suspended in late 2021 after the Philippines said it already was examining the crimes and argued that the ICC a court of last resort therefore didn't have jurisdiction. Khan argued last year that he should be allowed to reopen the ICC investigation, saying Manila's request for the case to be deferred to authorities there is not warranted. A panel of judges agreed in their ruling on Thursday, after examining information from the Philippine government and Khan, and weighing comments from victims. The various domestic initiatives and proceedings, assessed collectively, do not amount to tangible, concrete and progressive investigative steps in a way that would sufficiently mirror the courts investigation," the judges said. More than 6,000 drug suspects, most of them people who lived in poverty, have been killed, according to government pronouncements. Human rights groups say the death toll is considerably higher and should include many unsolved killings by motorcycle-riding gunmen who may have been deployed by police. Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has defended the crackdown as lawfully directed against drug lords and pushers who have for many years destroyed the present generation, especially the youth. Duterte openly threatened drug suspects with death and ordered police to shoot suspects who dangerously resisted arrest, but he has denied condoning extrajudicial killings. Human Rights Watch's deputy Asia director, Phil Robertson, called the ICC investigation the only credible avenue for justice for the victims and their families of the crackdown. AMSTERDAM/MANILA (Reuters) - The International Criminal Court's decision to allow a probe into the Philippines' drugs war to resume is an "irritant", the country's justice secretary said on Friday, maintaining the ICC has no jurisdiction over the country's affairs. Jesus Crispin Remulla said the ICC should not impose on the Philippines, which is no longer a signatory to the international tribunal. "They are insulting us," Remulla told a media briefing after the ICC granted its prosecutor's request to reopen an investigation into the killings during former President Rodrigo Duterte's 'war on drugs' and other suspected rights abuses. Police say they killed 6,200 dealers who resisted arrest during anti-drug operations during Duterte's term. Many thousands more users and peddlers were gunned down during the crackdown, in what authorities said were vigilante killings. Rights groups and some victims accuse the police of systematic cover-ups and executions, which they deny. The ICC, which had suspended the investigation in November 2021 at Manila's request, said in a statement it was "not satisfied that the Philippines is undertaking relevant investigations that would warrant a deferral of the investigation." But Remulla said the timing of the ICC's move was "very wrong" since the country is "doing what it takes to fix the system," like improving law enforcement agencies, including the police. "I do not welcome this move of the ICC and I will not welcome them to the Philippines until they make clear that they will respect us in this regard," Remulla said. He said the country was open to dialogue with the ICC, and would provide the court with data if asked, but "they cannot come in here and impose themselves on us." Former police chief Ronaldo dela Rosa, who oversaw Duterte's bloody crackdown, had earlier said he would cooperate with the ICC if the government decided to participate. Story continues Current Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and the vice president, who is Duterte's daughter, did not comment on the latest ICC decision. He said in August he had no intention of rejoining the ICC after Duterte pulled out of the court in 2019, after accusing it of prejudice. Human Rights Watch said the ICC investigation was the only credible path to justice for victims and their families. "As the court's judges agreed, Philippine authorities are not 'undertaking relevant investigations' into these crimes or 'making a real or genuine effort' to carry these investigations out," Human Rights Watch said in a statement. "The ICC offers a path forward to fill the accountability vacuum." Families of many drug war victims are still seeking justice in long, drawn-out cases. In a rare conviction, a Philippine court in 2018 sentenced three police officers to up to 40 years in jail for the murder of a 17-year-old high school student. The teenager's death featured in a report by a former ICC prosecutor. (Reporting by Karen Lema and Enrico Dela Cruz in MANILA and Benoit Van Overstraeten in AMSTERDAM; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Ed Davies, Kanupriya Kapoor) The mother of slain University of Idaho student Xana Kernodle has claimed that she gave her power of attorney to the public defender now representing her daughters alleged killer. Anne Taylor, the chief of the Kootenai public defenders office, filed on 5 January to recuse herself from representing Xana Kernodles mother Cara Denise Northington in order to become the lead defence attorney for Bryan Kohberger. Mr Kohberger is accused of brutally stabbing Kernodle, her boyfriend Ethan Chapin and roommates Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen on 13 November in the college town of Moscow. He was arrested on 30 December at his parents home in Pennsylvania before he was extradited to Idaho earlier this month. In an interview with NewsNation on Wednesday night, Ms Northington spoke out over the sense of betrayal she feels after her attorney stepped down from her case, saying she had given Ms Taylor power of attorney over her. Id already signed over power of attorney so that she could help me with getting into rehab and whatnot, said Ms Northington, who has a long history of brushes with the law. I trusted her. She pretended that she was wanting to help me. And to find out that shes representing him I cant even convey how betrayed I feel. The Independent has reached out to Ms Taylors office for comment. Ms Kernodle said she had learned about the developments in her case online. The grieving mother also said that she was coping with her loss by watching TikToks of her tough and funny daughter. Honestly, I watch a lot of Xanas TikTok videos and that helps, Ms Northington said. I mean, Im managing as best as you can. Bryan Kohberger sits as his attorney, public defender Anne Taylor, right (Getty Images) She added: She just could make you smile no matter what and she just had a quirkiness about her that not a lot of people possess, that kind of talent to be able to light up a room like she did. I think you can see from her TikToks, you know, just how funny she was and how carefree and just funny. I guess Ive just got to take it one day at a time. I dont think Ill ever get over losing one of my children. That will never go away, I dont think that the grief ever gets any better really. I just think that she would want all of us to live our best life and remember the good things about her. Story continues Slain University of Idaho student Xana Kernodle and her mother Cara Northington (Cara Northington/Facebook) Earlier this month, a gag order preventing law enforcement officials, the defence and prosecution teams from speaking out about the high-profile case was extended until a verdict is reached in the case. The gag order, which was issued as Mr Kohberger was being extradited from Pennsylvania to Moscow to face charges, was broadly expanded to also ban any attorneys representing survivors, witnesses or the victims family members from talking or writing about the case. News organisations are asking a judge to pull back the scope of the gag order, saying that media access to officials can provide the public with important context in such high-profile criminal cases. The murder case will next be heard in court on 26 June, when Mr Kohberger is scheduled to appear at his preliminary status hearing. Last week, records were unsealed of a search warrant executed at Mr Kohbergers apartment in Pullman on 30 December, the same day of his arrest. Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20 and Kaylee Goncalves, 21 (Instagram/Kaylee Goncalves) A record of evidence recovered during the apartment search was unsealed, revealing the seizure of 15 items including hairs, receipts, a computer tower, a disposable glove and items with peculiar stains. The affidavit, released on 5 January, gave new details about what led investigators to the suspect but still offered no connection between the victims and Mr Kohberger. The bombshell documents did reveal that investigators believe Mr Kohberger may have stalked the student home in the run-up to the mass murder, with cellphone data placing him around the property 12 times before 13 November. Until his next hearing, Mr Kohberger will be held behind bars at Latah County Jail after he was ordered to be held on no bail for a second time. If convicted at trial, he is facing life in prison or the death penalty. The grieving mother of slain student Xana Kernodle has spoken out over the sense of betrayal she feels from her attorney after the public defender dropped her in order to represent her daughters alleged killer. I am heartbroken, Cara Northington told NewsNation on Wednesday. I trusted her. She pretended that she was wanting to help me. And to find out that shes representing him I cant even convey how betrayed I feel. Public defender Anne Taylor had been representing Ms Northington on drugs charges. Court documents, filed on 5 January, then revealed that Ms Taylor had dropped her as a client the same day that she took on Bryan Kohbergers case and represented him in court in Moscow, Idaho, for the first time on charges of murdering Kernodle, Ethan Chapin and Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen. The revelation has raised concerns about a possible conflict of interest in the case. It has also emerged that months before the killings Mr Kohberger met with Pullman Police Chief Gary Jenkins for an interview for a research assistant position in public safety. It remains unclear if Mr Kohberger was accepted for the role which started in August. Key points Xana Kernodles mom feels betrayed by attorney who dropped her for daughters alleged killer Suspects attorneys ties to victims family revealed Bryan Kohberger met local police chief and sent him gushing email months before murders Moscow restaurant where victims worked denies Kohberger claims Attorney debunks speculation about co-defendant discovery Chilling online comments from suspect as teen revealed Xana Kernodles mother says she feels betrayed by attorney who dropped her to represent daughters alleged killer 09:30 , Rachel Sharp The grieving mother of slain student Xana Kernodle has spoken out over the sense of betrayal she feels from her attorney after the public defender dropped her in order to represent her daughters alleged killer. I am heartbroken, Cara Northington told NewsNation on Wednesday. Story continues I trusted her. She pretended that she was wanting to help me. And to find out that shes representing him I cant even convey how betrayed I feel. Public defender Anne Taylor had been representing Ms Northington on drugs charges. Court documents, filed on 5 January, then revealed that Ms Taylor had dropped her as a client the same day that she took on Bryan Kohbergers case and represented him in court in Moscow, Idaho, for the first time on charges of murdering Kernodle, Ethan Chapin and Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen. The revelation has raised concerns about a possible conflict of interest in the case. Xana Kernodles mother Cara Northington says she feels betrayed that her public defender Anne Taylor dropped her case and is now representing Bryan Kohberger the man accused of killing Xana. Northington says she found out through social media. pic.twitter.com/aafWDf6Avw Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) January 26, 2023 Why did investigators seize Walmart and Marshalls receipts from Bryan Kohbergers home? 08:00 , Andrea Blanco According to the search warrant record, investigators also seized one receipt from Walmart, two from Marshalls and a tag from the clothing brand Dickies. But what significance, if any, can actually be gleaned from the list? The Independent spoke to two experts - Dr Monte Miller, a former crime scene investigator and forensic expert for the Texas Department of Public Safety; and former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer - for their takes on the items. Dr Miller said investigators could seek to prove that the items listed on those receipts, and whatever the tag came from, match with the clothing worn by the alleged killer. [The suspect] may have bought something to wear and discard, and then [law enforcement] found these receipts and asked Where are these clothes? he said. The receipts could also reveal how long in advance the clothing was purchased, Ms Coffindaffer noted. I think that those would indicate not only what was purchased which is relevant to the crime but also when, which I think is very important to see timing, to see a forethought that this was planned, Ms Coffindaffer said. Was this just one day? Several days before? The timestamp to me is as important as what was on those receipts. Bryan Kohberger attorney previously represented victims parent 06:30 , Andrea Blanco Concerns about a possible conflict of interest have been raised in the Idaho murders case as it has emerged that Bryan Kohbergers attorney previously represented a family member of one of the victims. Court documents, filed on 5 January, reveal that public defender Anne Taylor stood down as the attorney for Xana Kernodles mother. Ms Taylor is now representing Mr Kohberger as he faces the death penalty for the murders of Kernodle, her boyfriend Ethan Chapin, and two roommates Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen. Former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer tweeted that this marks a conflict of interest in the case. Cant understand how a conflict of interest didnt exist when AT took the case. IME w/the Public Defenders Office, when their office represented a client associated with a case they could NOT except the client, she said. Have never seen a conflict like this overlooked by a court. Bryan Kohberges is being represented by a legal team led by public defender Anne Taylor (Getty Images) Mad Creek, restaurant where Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen worked, denies Bryan Kohberger rumours 05:00 , Andrea Blanco The owner of a restaurant where two of the four University of Idaho victims worked has denied a report that suspect Bryan Kohberger ate at the business. Jackie Fischer, owner of the Mad Greek where slain students Madison Mogen and Xana Kernodle were servers spoke out in a strongly-worded Facebook post on Friday after an anonymous former staff member claimed to People that Mr Kohberger had visited the eatery in the weeks before the killings. According to the People report, Mr Kohberger visited the restaurant in Moscow twice in the weeks leading up to the murders and ordered vegan pizza. It also alleged that an investigator with insight into the case reportedly told the magazine that authorities knew about the visits to the restaurant, had seized footage and that both staff and owners had been interviewed by law enforcement. But within hours of the article being published, Ms Fischer slammed the claims and said they were unequivocally false. The Independent has the story: Restaurant where two Idaho murders victims worked denies Bryan Kohberger rumours Investigators found possible animal hair at Bryan Kohbergers Washington state home 03:30 , Andrea Blanco A possible animal hair was among the evidence seized from the home of Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger - sparking speculation that it could belong to victim Kaylee Goncalves dog. Records of evidence recovered from Mr Kohbergers home were unsealed on Wednesday, nearly three weeks after his arrest for the 13 November stabbings of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. Included on the list of seizures was a possible animal hair strand. While Mr Kohberger is not believed to have a pet, one of the victims he is accused of killing, Goncalves, had a dog who was at home at the time of the murders. The possible animal hair theyll try to connect that to the dog left at the scene, according to Dr Monte Miller, a former crime scene investigator and forensic expert for the Texas Department of Public Safety. If theres a root on that, if there is any skin on that hair, they could do a DNA test with that dog. If its just a hair thats been shed and there is no skin, they would still be able to do a microscopical comparison and exclude most dogs but they wouldnt be able to connect it necessarily to that dog. Former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer also explained that the suspect would have left behind evidence at the scene but also taken evidence with him before leaving. She said she was suprised by how little hair was listed on the search warrant record. I would expect those items to have been transferred to [the killer] and when he took off his clothing, that to then transfer to other clothing and items. So I was surprised not to see more items and more hairs, she said. VOICES: The eerie online world of the Idaho murders case and the countless conspiracies that have emerged 02:00 , Andrea Blanco While America has long been fascinated with true crime, the shocking brutality and seeming randomness of the Moscow murders sent the internet sleuth community into overdrive. Conspiracy theories and rumours have dominated the investigation with thousands of people joining social media groups to discuss their take on what transpired and why. The Independents Rachel Sharp writes: The eerie online world of the Idaho murders case ICYMI: Computer tower, hair, glove and stained items seized from Idaho murders suspects home 00:30 , Andrea Blanco Police investigating the murder of four Idaho students seized a string of items from suspect Bryan Kohbergers apartment, including possible hair strands, a disposable glove, items with red and brown stains and a computer, according to a search warrant unsealed last week. Investigators stated in the search warrant application that they hoped to find hair strands that could link the suspect to the scene of the horrific November crime in Moscow, Idaho. They said in the application that this could be either through the four victims or through a dog that was at the rental house at the time of the slayings, reported The New York Times. Police said that one of the items found at the suspects apartment at nearby Washington State University was a possible animal hair strand. In the documents, investigators said one item had a collection of dark red spotting, and that a pillow had a reddish/brown stain on it. Computer, hair, glove and stained items seized from Idaho murders suspects home Kaylee Goncalves was true crime fan, had reported sighting of missing woman a year before being killed Wednesday 25 January 2023 22:48 , Andrea Blanco In a sit-down interview with the YouTube channel Chronicles of Olivia filmed two days before Mr Kohbergers arrest and aired earlier this month the Goncalves remembered their daughter as a hardworking young woman who was not afraid to go after what she wanted. According to the family, they reached out to the YouTube channel because Kaylee followed the content creator on TikTok and would often watch videos by the true crime account. I started looking at the case that [she] was following with you, and then I said, Im going to reach out because maybe she can help resolve Kaylees story, Steve Goncalves, Kaylees father, told Olivia Vitale in the interview. She wanted to help other families find this justice. According to a Fox News report, the slain student had reported a sighting of a missing woman with the Moscow Police Department just a year before she was killed. The woman, Sharon Archer, was found dead inside her vehicle submerged in Fernan Lake. What was found inside Bryan Kohbergers home: Wednesday 25 January 2023 21:17 , Andrea Blanco Last week, police in Washington unsealed search warrants for Bryan Kohbergers apartment in Pullman and his office at Washington State University (WSU). The unsealed documents reveal that investigators seized a string of items from his home. This included: - one nitrite type black glove - one Walmart receipt with one Dickies tag - two Marshalls receipts - dust container from a vacuum - multiple possible hair and hair strands - one possible animal hair strands - two cuttings from uncased pillow of reddish/brown stain - two top and bottom mattress cover with multiple stains - items with a dark red spot - a computer tower - a Fire TV stick No items were seized from his office which he shared with other PhD students. Bryan Kohberger was interviewed by Pullman PD for internship months before Idaho murders Wednesday 25 January 2023 19:49 , Andrea Blanco A criminology PhD student accused of murdering four University of Idaho students was interviewed by a local police department for an internship position months before the slayings. New emails obtained by The New York Times show a brief exchange between Washington State University student Bryan Kohberger and the then-chief of Pullman Police Department Gary Jenkins regarding Mr Kohbergers interview process for the research assistantship for public safety position in April 2022. The Independent has the story: Bryan Kohberger was interviewed by police chief for internship months before murders Rumours about co-defendant are debunked Wednesday 25 January 2023 19:13 , Andrea Blanco Last week, Bryan Kohbergers attorney Ann Taylor filed a discovery request in the case, asking the judge to order the prosecution to hand over all discovery in the case within 14 days. Among the discovery requests were witness statements, digital media and police reports about the case. It also included a request for information about a co-defendant in the case. Statements of co-defendant. Any written or recorded statements by a codefendant, and the substance of any relevant oral statement made by a co-defendant whether before or after arrest in response to interrogation by any person known by the codefendant to be a peace officer or agent of the prosecuting attorney, or which are otherwise relevant to the offense charged, the filing reads. The request has prompted speculation of evidence suggesting that Mr Kohberger may have had an accomplice or that the defence could seek to argue that as part of their case. However, Mr Levin explained that this is just part of the standard requests for discovery in a case. These are just very standard requests as part of the defences discovery request, he said. While ruling out other individuals as possible suspects will likely form part of the states case against Mr Kohberger, he said that this does not indicate that there are other suspects. The probable cause affidavit makes no mention of a co-defendant and law enforcement officials have previously insisted that they believe the suspect acted alone. The request making mention of a co-defendant is also just one of 18 discovery requests made in the court filing. I dont think I would make much hay of that, Mr Levin said of the discovery request. Possible animal hair found at Bryan Kohbergers home after Kaylee Goncalves dog spared in Idaho murders Wednesday 25 January 2023 18:15 , Andrea Blanco A possible animal hair was among the evidence seized from the home of Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger - sparking speculation that it could belong to victim Kaylee Goncalves dog. Records of evidence recovered from Mr Kohbergers home were unsealed on Wednesday, nearly three weeks after his arrest for the 13 November stabbings of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. Included on the list of seizures was a possible animal hair strand. While Mr Kohberger is not believed to have a pet, one of the victims he is accused of killing, Goncalves, had a dog who was at home at the time of the murders. Read the full story. Kaylee Goncalves family says its almost like she knew she only had a certain amount of time on earth Wednesday 25 January 2023 16:55 , Andrea Blanco In a sit-down interview with the YouTube channel Chronicles of Olivia filmed two days before Mr Kohbergers arrest the Goncalves remembered their daughter as a hardworking young woman who was not afraid to go after what she wanted in life. Among other bittersweet revelations made in the YouTube interview was that Goncalves had taken summer classes to graduate ahead of time. Its almost like she knew she only had a certain amount of time on this planet and she was rushing towards [her goals], Mr Goncalves said. The family also spoke of the sheer fear and devastation they experienced after finding out that Kaylee was killed through a family member with connections in Moscow. They first tried to get in touch with both Goncalves and Mogen to no avail. When they attempted to call police in the immediate hours after the bodies were found, the family was told no information could be released at the time. An officer eventually showed up at the door to officially inform them that their daughter had been killed. I kept giving [my parents] hope, Alivea Gonclaves said. I kept saying If they were killed last night, you guys would know by now. I kept giving them hope. According to the family, they reached out to the YouTube channel because Kaylee followed it on TikTok and would often watch videos on the true crime account. Idaho murders suspects neighbour says he claimed to have submitted DNA to ancestry website in the past Wednesday 25 January 2023 16:00 , Andrea Blanco A neighbour of Bryan Kohberger has claimed that the murder suspect told him he had submitted his DNA to an ancestry website in the past casting new light on the revelation that investigators used a genealogy database to help match him to DNA evidence found at the crime scene. The 28-year-old PhD student was tracked down by investigators in part thanks to DNA that the killer is believed to have left inside the student home in Moscow, Idaho. According to the probable cause affidavit, a knife sheath was left behind at the crime scene on the bed next to the bodies of Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves. DNA found on the sheath was matched to Mr Kohberger, using DNA obtained from trash taken from his parents home, the affidavit states. Sources told CNN that investigators also enlisted the help of a genetic genealogy database. Now, Mr Kohbergers neighbour has spoken out to say that the suspect once brought up the topic of his ancestry and told him he had submitted his DNA for consumer genetic testing months before the murders. The neighbour, who was not named but is a fellow Washington State University graduate student who lived in the same on-campus apartment complex in Pullman, Washington, as Mr Kohberger, told the Idaho Statesman that the pair got to know each other after they both moved there in August. He said that they exchanged cellphone numbers and they went on a walk together chatting one evening in August. He talked about his ancestors, he said. He had some sort of DNA test. I dont know how he got to that point It was just interesting to him. Pullman PD refuse to reveal if Kohberger was given internship Wednesday 25 January 2023 15:15 , Rachel Sharp Bryan Kohberger applied for a research assistant position in public safety with the Pullman Police Department in Washington in early 2022 and was interviewed by Pullman Police Chief Gary Jenkins for the position. After the 12 April meeting, Mr Kohberger sent an email to the police chief saying it was a great pleasure to meet with you today and share my thoughts and excitement regarding the research assistantship for public safety. Mr Jenkins responded: Great to meet and talk to you as well. It is unclear if Mr Kohberger was offered the position, which was due to start in August. Pullman Police Department has not returned The Independent s request for comment. The internship had been previously mentioned by law enforcement in the affidavit for Mr Kohbergers arrest, released on 5 January. It stated that Mr Kohberger had written in an essay that he had interest in assisting rural law enforcement agencies with how to better collect and analyze technological data in public safety operations. According to WSUs website, the university offers two of the three-year positions in collaboration with the department of criminal justice and criminology and the cities of Pullman and Pasco. The purpose of these positions is to support each agency through data management and analysis, and to position them for success when they seek external funding, according to the page. What the newly-expanded gag order means Wednesday 25 January 2023 14:30 , Rachel Sharp A gag order was first issued earlier this month preventing law enforcement officials, attorneys for both the defence and the prosecution, as well as others involved in the high-profile case from speaking out about it. Last week, the gag order was broadly expanded to also ban any attorneys representing survivors, witnesses or the victims family members from talking or writing about the case. In the court order, Latah County Magistrate Judge Megan Marshall said that there is a balance between protecting the right to a fair trial for all parties involved and the right to free expression as afforded under both the United States and Idaho Constitution. To preserve the right to a fair trial some curtailment of the dissemination of information in this case is necessary and authorized under the law, she wrote. Now a coalition of news organisations is asking a judge to pull back the scope of the gag order, saying that media access to officials can provide the public with important context in such high-profile criminal cases. This order is unnecessarily sweeping and broad and severely impedes the publics understanding of a significant criminal investigation that profoundly impacted the community, said Josh Hoffner, national news director for The Associated Press. Conflict of interest concerns raised as it emerges Bryan Kohberger attorney previously represented victims family Wednesday 25 January 2023 13:45 , Rachel Sharp Concerns about a possible conflict of interest have been raised in the Idaho murders case as it has emerged that Bryan Kohbergers attorney previously represented a family member of one of the victims. Court documents, filed on 5 January, reveal that public defender Anne Taylor stood down from as the attorney for Xana Kernodles mother. Ms Taylor is now representing Mr Kohberger as he faces the death penalty for the murders of Kernodle, her boyfriend Ethan Chapin, and two roommates Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen. Former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer tweeted that this marks a conflict of interest in the case. Cant understand how a conflict of interest didnt exist when AT took the case. IME w/the Public Defenders Office, when their office represented a client associated with a case they could NOT except the client, she said. Have never seen a conflict like this overlooked by a court. Idaho murders (Idaho state records) ICYMI: Computer tower, hair, glove and stained items seized from Idaho murders suspects home Wednesday 25 January 2023 13:00 , Andrea Blanco Police investigating the murder of four Idaho students seized a string of items from suspect Bryan Kohbergers apartment, including possible hair strands, a disposable glove, items with red and brown stains and a computer, according to a search warrant unsealed last week. Investigators stated in the search warrant application that they hoped to find hair strands that could link the suspect to the scene of the horrific November crime in Moscow, Idaho. They said in the application that this could be either through the four victims or through a dog that was at the rental house at the time of the slayings, reported The New York Times. Police said that one of the items found at the suspects apartment at nearby Washington State University was a possible animal hair strand. In the documents, investigators said one item had a collection of dark red spotting, and that a pillow had a reddish/brown stain on it. Kaylees ex-boyfriend pens tribute posts on Instagram account for their shared dog Murphy Wednesday 25 January 2023 12:15 , Rachel Sharp Goncalves mother Kristi Goncalves shared that Jack DuCoeur is behind an Instagram account dedicated to Murphy, the pet dog found inside the home when police made the grim discovery on 13 November. The dog was handed over to animal services and was later released to Mr DuCoeur. Although the couple had recently broken up ahead of Goncalves move to Texas, they had remained friendly, their relatives have said. On the accounts first post on Monday, Mr DuCoeur posted a picture of the Labradoodle with the caption: Missing my mom every day, but trying to live my best life. I got to admire her beauty in the sky this evening. This is a throwback photo of me. My mom loved this one, another post read. Mr DuCoeur also posted a picture that Goncalves had taken of him and Murphy. The account already has more than 10,000 followers, with people commenting heartfelt messages. This hurts my heart. Youre a good boy Murphy. So happy you and your Dad have each other, an Instagram user wrote. Youll be best pals for life. Much love and sympathy to everyone mourning Kaylee. (Instagram) Restaurant where two Idaho murders victims worked denies Bryan Kohberger rumours Wednesday 25 January 2023 11:40 , Rachel Sharp The owner of a restaurant where two of the four University of Idaho victims worked has denied a report that suspect Bryan Kohberger ate at the business. Jackie Fischer, owner of the Mad Greek where slain students Madison Mogen and Xana Kernodle were servers spoke out in a strongly-worded Facebook post on Friday after an anonymous former staff member claimed to People that Mr Kohberger had visited the eatery in the weeks before the killings. According to the People report, Mr Kohberger visited the restaurant in Moscow twice in the weeks leading up to the murders and ordered vegan pizza. It also alleged that an investigator with insight into the case reportedly told the magazine that authorities knew about the visits to the restaurant, had seized footage and that both staff and owners had been interviewed by law enforcement. But within hours of the article being published, Ms Fischer slammed the claims and said they were unequivocally false. The Independent has the story: Restaurant where two Idaho murders victims worked denies Bryan Kohberger rumours Bryan Kohberger was interviewed by local police chief for internship months before Idaho murders Wednesday 25 January 2023 11:00 , Andrea Blanco A criminology PhD student accused of murdering four University of Idaho students was interviewed by a local police department for an internship position months before the slayings. New emails obtained by The New York Times show a brief exchange between Washington State University student Bryan Kohberger and the then-chief of Pullman Police Department Gary Jenkins regarding Mr Kohbergers interview process for the research assistantship for public safety position in April 2022. The Independent has the story: Bryan Kohberger was interviewed by police chief for internship months before murders Kaylee Goncalves family say slain student was considering rekindling relationship with longtime boyfriend Wednesday 25 January 2023 10:00 , Andrea Blanco Kaylee Goncalves family members have revealed a possible reason for the calls the slain student made to her former boyfriend not long before she was brutally murdered. In the early hours of 13 November, Goncalves and Mogen both made phone calls to Goncalves ex-boyfriend Jack DuCoeur, with whom she shares pet dog Murphy. Mr DuCoeur did not answer the calls. Just hours later at between 4am and 4.25am Goncalves and Mogen were brutally stabbed to death alongside Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. In a sit-down interview with the YouTube channel Chronicles of Olivia, the Goncalves family spoke out about the calls, saying that they believe their daughter was seeking to rekindle her relationship with Mr DuCoeur. Goncalves broke up with Mr DuCoeur ahead of her post-graduation move to Texas, but had later voiced concerns that she might not ever find another Jack and was considering getting back together with him, they said. Kaylees father Steve Goncalves said that the couple had remained friends and the slain student was looking for every excuse for [Mr DuCoeur] to pick up the phone. News outlets join to oppose gag order in Moscow murders case Wednesday 25 January 2023 09:00 , Andrea Blanco Twenty regional and national news organizations have formed a coalition to ask a judge to narrow a gag order in the case against a man accused of killing four University of Idaho students. The coalition, which includes The Associated Press, contends that press access to law enforcement officers and other officials involved in high-stakes criminal cases provides the public with important context and a better understanding of how the criminal justice system operates. This order is unnecessarily sweeping and broad and severely impedes the publics understanding of a significant criminal investigation that profoundly impacted the community, said Josh Hoffner, national news director for The Associated Press. Experts say reddish/brownish-stained wording in search warrant is a euphemism for We found something that looks like blood' Wednesday 25 January 2023 08:00 , Andrea Blanco In the search warrant record, investigators list several items with stains, including cuttings of a mattress cover, a reddish/brown stain on an uncovered pillow and a collection of dark red spot. But what significance, if any, can actually be gleaned from the list? The Independent spoke to two experts - Dr Monte Miller, a former crime scene investigator and forensic expert for the Texas Department of Public Safety; and former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer - for their takes on the items. Both Dr Miller and Ms Coffindaffer told The Independent that police likely believe the stains could be blood. A reddish or brown stain is a euphemism for, We found something that looks like blood, Dr Miller said. It might be blood from the victims, might be his blood. They dont know until they test it, but theyll be able to get DNA if it is blood. We dont know what the stains in the cover sheets look like, but again theyre looking for any kind of DNA, evidence that might have come from the crime scene. Bryan Kohberger is facing murder charges in the killings of four University of Idaho students Ms Coffindaffer added: They dont call it blood, but its definitely inferred that it was blood. Dr Miller noted that while stains on clothing and bedding are not necessarily unusual, investigators will try to link the evidence found at the Pullman apartment to the crime scene in Moscow. The likelihood that any of those stains came from the crime scene, is going to be dependent on how well he cleaned up, he said. The significance of the items seized from Bryan Kohbergers Washington state home, explained by experts Wednesday 25 January 2023 07:00 , Andrea Blanco A record of evidence recovered during the apartment search was unsealed last week, revealing the seizure of 15 items including hairs, receipts, a computer tower, a disposable glove and items with peculiar stains. The record reignited a frenzy of speculation online - despite its simplicity and lack of conjecture. But what significance, if any, can actually be gleaned from the list? The Independent spoke to two experts - Dr Monte Miller, a former crime scene investigator and forensic expert for the Texas Department of Public Safety; and former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer - for their takes on each item. Read the full story. VOICES: The eerie online world of the Idaho murders case Wednesday 25 January 2023 06:00 , Andrea Blanco While America has long been fascinated with true crime, the shocking brutality and seeming randomness of the Moscow murders sent the internet sleuth community into overdrive. Conspiracy theories and rumours have dominated the investigation with thousands of people joining social media groups to discuss their take on what transpired and why. The Independents Rachel Sharp writes: The eerie online world of the Idaho murders case Dickies tag and receipts from Walmart and Marshalls seized from Bryan Kohbergers home Wednesday 25 January 2023 05:00 , Andrea Blanco According to the search warrant record, investigators also seized one receipt from Walmart, two from Marshalls and a tag from the clothing brand Dickies. But what significance, if any, can actually be gleaned from the list? The Independent spoke to two experts - Dr Monte Miller, a former crime scene investigator and forensic expert for the Texas Department of Public Safety; and former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer - for their takes on the items. Dr Miller said investigators could seek to prove that the items listed on those receipts, and whatever the tag came from, match with the clothing worn by the alleged killer. [The suspect] may have bought something to wear and discard, and then [law enforcement] found these receipts and asked Where are these clothes? he said. The receipts could also reveal how long in advance the clothing was purchased, Ms Coffindaffer noted. I think that those would indicate not only what was purchased which is relevant to the crime but also when, which I think is very important to see timing, to see a forethought that this was planned, Ms Coffindaffer said. Was this just one day? Several days before? The timestamp to me is as important as what was on those receipts. Possible animal hair found at Bryan Kohbergers home after Kaylee Goncalves dog spared in Idaho murders Wednesday 25 January 2023 04:00 , Andrea Blanco A possible animal hair was among the evidence seized from the home of Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger - sparking speculation that it could belong to victim Kaylee Goncalves dog. Records of evidence recovered from Mr Kohbergers home were unsealed on Wednesday, nearly three weeks after his arrest for the 13 November stabbings of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. Included on the list of seizures was a possible animal hair strand. While Mr Kohberger is not believed to have a pet, one of the victims he is accused of killing, Goncalves, had a dog who was at home at the time of the murders. Read the full story. Why is Bryan Kohbergers defence requesting evidence about a co-defendant? Wednesday 25 January 2023 03:00 , Andrea Blanco Last week, Bryan Kohbergers attorney Ann Taylor filed a discovery request in the case, asking the judge to order the prosecution to hand over all discovery in the case within 14 days. Among the discovery requests were witness statements, digital media and police reports about the case. It also included a request for information about a co-defendant in the case. Statements of co-defendant. Any written or recorded statements by a codefendant, and the substance of any relevant oral statement made by a co-defendant whether before or after arrest in response to interrogation by any person known by the codefendant to be a peace officer or agent of the prosecuting attorney, or which are otherwise relevant to the offense charged, the filing reads. The request has prompted speculation of evidence suggesting that Mr Kohberger may have had an accomplice or that the defence could seek to argue that as part of their case. However, Mr Levin explained that this is just part of the standard requests for discovery in a case. These are just very standard requests as part of the defences discovery request, he said. While ruling out other individuals as possible suspects will likely form part of the states case against Mr Kohberger, he said that this does not indicate that there are other suspects. The probable cause affidavit makes no mention of a co-defendant and law enforcement officials have previously insisted that they believe the suspect acted alone. The request making mention of a co-defendant is also just one of 18 discovery requests made in the court filing. I dont think I would make much hay of that, Mr Levin said of the discovery request. Source familiar with The investigation says Instagram account linked to Bryan Kohberger followed female victims Wednesday 25 January 2023 02:00 , Andrea Blanco Bryan Kohberger is believed to have followed all three slain female University of Idaho victims on Instagram and repeatedly messaged one of them prior to the brutal stabbings, according to a report. An investigator familiar with the case told People that the 28-year-old criminology PhD student followed the accounts of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves and Xana Kernodle but neither of them followed him back. Then, in late-October around two weeks before the 13 November slayings Mr Kohberger allegedly messaged one of the victims repeatedly on the social media platform, the source said. The Independents Rachel Sharp has the full story: Bryan Kohberger is believed to have followed Idaho murders victims on Instagram Bryan Kohberger to appear in court again in June Wednesday 25 January 2023 01:00 , Andrea Blanco At his status hearing in Latah County Courthouse on 12 January, Bryan Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial - which would have set his preliminary hearing within 14 days. Instead, his attorney asked that the next court date instead be delayed until the summer, to give defence more time to review all the evidence in the case. The prosecution agreed with the request and the judge scheduled the preliminary hearing for the week beginning 26 June, setting aside the entire week for the hearing. Now, the victims families and the public will have to wait another six months to learn further details about the murders and the case against Mr Kohberger. Duncan Levin, a former assistant district attorney in the Manhattan DAs office who has no official connection to the Idaho murders case, told The Independent that a six-month time gap between a status hearing and preliminary hearing is somewhat unusual but its a marker of the complexity of the case. It is somewhat unusual to see such a long gap but then again nothing is normal in this case, he said. Death penalty cases do mean that everything will take longer and be done a little bit differently than one might expect to see on a typical case. The six-month delay is a benefit to both sides, he added. The defence wants as much time as possible to conduct their own investigations before they have the opportunity to cross-examine the states witnesses. So theyre eager to have more information in their hands before any testimony is heard in the preliminary hearing, he said. Similarly, the prosecution needs time to conduct further investigations. For example they will be likely doing a forensic examination of Kohbergers automobile and residence. And they are still yet to uncover a motive. They have a lot of work yet to do. He added: Both sides really need more time to review evidence and develop their cases. Kaylee Goncalves family says its almost like she knew she only had a certain amount of time on earth Wednesday 25 January 2023 00:00 , Andrea Blanco In a sit-down interview with the YouTube channel Chronicles of Olivia filmed two days before Mr Kohbergers arrest the Goncalves remembered their daughter as a hardworking young woman who was not afraid to go after what she wanted in life. Among other bittersweet revelations made in the YouTube interview was that Goncalves had taken summer classes to graduate ahead of time. Its almost like she knew she only had a certain amount of time on this planet and she was rushing towards [her goals], Mr Goncalves said. The family also spoke of the sheer fear and devastation they experienced after finding out that Kaylee was killed through a family member with connections in Moscow. They first tried to get in touch with both Goncalves and Mogen to no avail. When they attempted to call police in the immediate hours after the bodies were found, the family was told no information could be released at the time. An officer eventually showed up at the door to officially inform them that their daughter had been killed. I kept giving [my parents] hope, Alivea Gonclaves said. I kept saying If they were killed last night, you guys would know by now. I kept giving them hope. According to the family, they reached out to the YouTube channel because Kaylee followed it on TikTok and would often watch videos on the true crime account. Bryan Kohberger was interviewed by Pullman PD for internship months before Idaho murders Tuesday 24 January 2023 23:00 , Andrea Blanco A criminology PhD student accused of murdering four University of Idaho students was interviewed by a local police department for an internship position months before the slayings. New emails obtained by The New York Times show a brief exchange between Washington State University student Bryan Kohberger and the then-chief of Pullman Police Department Gary Jenkins regarding Mr Kohbergers interview process for the research assistantship for public safety position in April 2022. Mr Kohberger, 28, is facing four murder charges in the brutal stabbings of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin in an off-campus rental home in Moscow, Idaho, on 13 November. Mr Kohberger was arrested in Pennsylvania on 30 December before he was extradited to Idaho on 5 January. In his email to Mr Jenkins, Mr Kohberger wrote that it was a great pleasure to meet with you today and share [his] thoughts and excitement. Mr Jenkins replied that it was great to meet and talk with you as well. It is not clear whether Mr Kohberger was offered a position with the department. The Independent has reached out to the department for comment. Idaho murders suspects neighbour says he claimed to have submitted DNA to ancestry website in the past Tuesday 24 January 2023 21:31 , Andrea Blanco A neighbour of Bryan Kohberger has claimed that the murder suspect told him he had submitted his DNA to an ancestry website in the past casting new light on the revelation that investigators used a genealogy database to help match him to DNA evidence found at the crime scene. The 28-year-old PhD student was tracked down by investigators in part thanks to DNA that the killer is believed to have left inside the student home in Moscow, Idaho. According to the probable cause affidavit, a knife sheath was left behind at the crime scene on the bed next to the bodies of Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves. DNA found on the sheath was matched to Mr Kohberger, using DNA obtained from trash taken from his parents home, the affidavit states. Sources told CNN that investigators also enlisted the help of a genetic genealogy database. Now, Mr Kohbergers neighbour has spoken out to say that the suspect once brought up the topic of his ancestry and told him he had submitted his DNA for consumer genetic testing months before the murders. The neighbour, who was not named but is a fellow Washington State University graduate student who lived in the same on-campus apartment complex in Pullman, Washington, as Mr Kohberger, told the Idaho Statesman that the pair got to know each other after they both moved there in August. He said that they exchanged cellphone numbers and they went on a walk together chatting one evening in August. He talked about his ancestors, he said. He had some sort of DNA test. I dont know how he got to that point It was just interesting to him. DNA evidence of extreme importance in otherwise circumstantial case Tuesday 24 January 2023 20:36 , Andrea Blanco Based on the damning evidence outlined in the probable cause affidavit, the prosecution has a very strong case against Mr Kohberger, according to prominent defence attorney Duncan Levin. Mr Levin, a former assistant district attorney in the Manhattan DAs office who has no official connection to the Idaho murders case, speaks to The Independent about the strength of the criminal case and what to expect next as it makes its way through the courts. Its an exceedingly detailed probable cause affidavit and frankly its pretty surprising that the prosecutors would include the level of detail they included in it, said the attorney at Levin & Associates who has represented clients including Harvey Weinstein and Anna Delvey. He added: I have to say looking at it it is a perfect case of where theres smoke, theres fire. Theres so many damning pieces of evidence. The information here all points to Kohberger as the only person to have committed the crime. The suspect - who is presumed innocent until proven guilty - was tied to the murders through DNA evidence, cellphone data, an eyewitness account and his white Hyundai Elantra, according to the bombshell probable cause affidavit released earlier this month. The DNA evidence in particular is one very, very important piece of information, Mr Levin said. Victims father broke down and cried at news of suspect arrest Tuesday 24 January 2023 20:00 , Andrea Blanco The devastated father of slain University of Idaho student Madison Mogen has revealed that he just broke down and cried when he learned that his daughters accused killer had been taken into custody by police. Ben Mogen had been clinging onto hope that the murderer who violently stabbed his daughter to death alongside her friends Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin would be brought to justice. Finally, seven weeks on from the 13 November slayings, an investigator broke the news to him that a suspect Bryan Kohberger had finally been arrested and charged with their murders. The Independents Rachel Sharp reports: Madison Mogens father broke down when he learned of Bryan Kohbergers arrest Hit-and-run unfolded outside Bryan Kohbergers home on night of murders Tuesday 24 January 2023 19:30 , Andrea Blanco A hit-and-run unfolded outside of Bryan Kohbergers home on the same night that he allegedly murdered four University of Idaho students, it has been revealed. At around 11.40pm on the night of 12 November, police were called to a report of a crash in front of an apartment complex on the Washington State University (WSU) campus, in Pullman, Washington state, according to authorities. The apartment complex, which houses mainly graduate or PhD students, had been home to Mr Kohberger since August when he relocated from his home state of Pennsylvania to start a PhD program in criminal justice at the university. The Independents Rachel Sharp has the full story: Hit-and-run unfolded outside Bryan Kohbergers home on night of Idaho college murders What is missing from the affidavit? Tuesday 24 January 2023 19:00 , Andrea Blanco According to Mr Levin, the affidavit is unusually detailed in laying out the case against the suspect. Usually probable cause affidavits are very bare bones as at the early stage of the investigation the police and prosecution dont want to lay out the entire case to the defence, he said. Here it was unusually detailed. Mr Levin pointed out two potential reasons for this: to prove to the court that there is enough probable cause to believe that investigators have the right person and that he should be held behind bars until trial, and to correct some of the speculation around the high-profile case. I think they wanted to correct some of the narrative of whats going on, he said. This case has allegedly been cracked through old-school police methods and theyre trying to demonstrate how thorough it is. However, despite the extensive nature of the affidavit, Mr Levin said that there are gaps in the case so far laid out by investigators. Whats interesting is that there is no specific evidence that puts Kohberger in the house at the time of the murder, he said. Theres no actual footage of him entering the house, no cellphone data of him definitively in the house, he said. Theres no video of him behind the wheel of the car so its a highly circumstantial case. Its an extremely strong circumstantial case but as of yet nothing definitively placing him at the scene, he said, adding: But the strands of it all point in his direction with some of key damning pieces of evidence in the case. Kaylees longtime boyfriend creates Instagram account for their shared dog Tuesday 24 January 2023 18:20 , Andrea Blanco Goncalves mother Kristi Goncalves shared that Jack DuCoeur is behind an Instagram account dedicated to Murphy, the pet dog found inside the home when police made the grim discovery on 13 November. The dog was handed over to animal services and was later released to Mr DuCoeur. Although the couple had recently broken up ahead of Goncalves move to Texas, they had remained friendly, their relatives have said. On the accounts first post on Monday, Mr DuCoeur posted a picture of the Labradoodle with the caption: Missing my mom every day, but trying to live my best life. I got to admire her beauty in the sky this evening. This is a throwback photo of me. My mom loved this one, another post read. Mr DuCoeur also posted a picture that Goncalves had taken of him and Murphy. The account already has more than 10,000 followers, with people commenting heartfelt messages. This hurts my heart. Youre a good boy Murphy. So happy you and your Dad have each other, an Instagram user wrote. Youll be best pals for life. Much love and sympathy to everyone mourning Kaylee. (Instagram) Expert explains how airtight the case against Bryan Kohberger is Tuesday 24 January 2023 18:00 , Andrea Blanco It will be another six months before Bryan Kohberger and the families of his alleged victims come face to face in court again, after his preliminary hearing was postponed until the summer. The prominent attorney Duncan Levin speaks to The Independents Rachel Sharp about the case against Bryan Kohberger and what to expect for the next moves from the defence and the prosecution: How strong is the case against Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger? What forensic experts say about evidence seized from Bryan Kohbergers Washington state home Tuesday 24 January 2023 17:40 , Andrea Blanco Authorities have lifted the lid on alleged evidence found in the home of Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger, marking the latest development in a horror case that has gripped the nation for two months. A search warrant was executed at Mr Kohbergers apartment in Pullman, Washington, on 30 December, the same day he was arrested at his parents home in Pennsylvania on charges for the 13 November stabbings of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin in Moscow, Idaho. A record of evidence recovered during the apartment search was unsealed on Wednesday, revealing the seizure of 15 items including hairs, receipts, a computer tower, a disposable glove and items with peculiar stains. The record reignited a frenzy of speculation online - despite its simplicity and lack of conjecture. But what significance, if any, can actually be gleaned from the list? The Independent spoke to two experts - Dr Monte Miller, a former crime scene investigator and forensic expert for the Texas Department of Public Safety; and former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer - for their takes on each item. Read the full story. Why is there a six month gap before the preliminary hearing? Tuesday 24 January 2023 17:10 , Andrea Blanco At his status hearing in Latah County Courthouse on 12 January, Bryan Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial - which would have set his preliminary hearing within 14 days. Instead, his attorney asked that the next court date instead be delayed until the summer, to give defence more time to review all the evidence in the case. The prosecution agreed with the request and the judge scheduled the preliminary hearing for the week beginning 26 June, setting aside the entire week for the hearing. Now, the victims families and the public will have to wait another six months to learn further details about the murders and the case against Mr Kohberger. Duncan Levin, a former assistant district attorney in the Manhattan DAs office who has no official connection to the Idaho murders case, told The Independent that a six-month time gap between a status hearing and preliminary hearing is somewhat unusual but its a marker of the complexity of the case. It is somewhat unusual to see such a long gap but then again nothing is normal in this case, he said. Death penalty cases do mean that everything will take longer and be done a little bit differently than one might expect to see on a typical case. The six-month delay is a benefit to both sides, he added. The defence wants as much time as possible to conduct their own investigations before they have the opportunity to cross-examine the states witnesses. So theyre eager to have more information in their hands before any testimony is heard in the preliminary hearing, he said. Similarly, the prosecution needs time to conduct further investigations. For example they will be likely doing a forensic examination of Kohbergers automobile and residence. And they are still yet to uncover a motive. They have a lot of work yet to do. He added: Both sides really need more time to review evidence and develop their cases. VOICES: I lived through an attack similar to the Idaho murders. We must defend the survivors Tuesday 24 January 2023 16:30 , Andrea Blanco It was an amazing, fun, vibrant summer of 1992. I was living in a three-level house off campus from the University at Buffalo with five of my Chi Omega sorority sisters. Mine was the front room, a converted patio. The original entrance door was sealed shut and drywalled over, so you wouldnt know that from the inside. Alanna Zabel writes for The Independent: I lived through an attack similar to the Idaho murders. We must defend the survivors ICYMI: The items seized from Bryan Kohbergers home on 30 December Tuesday 24 January 2023 16:10 , Andrea Blanco Last week, police in Washington unsealed search warrants for Bryan Kohbergers apartment in Pullman and his office at Washington State University (WSU). The unsealed documents reveal that investigators seized a string of items from his home. This included: - one nitrite type black glove - one Walmart receipt with one Dickies tag - two Marshalls receipts - dust container from a vacuum - multiple possible hair and hair strands - one possible animal hair strands - two cuttings from uncased pillow of reddish/brown stain - two top and bottom mattress cover with multiple stains - items with a dark red spot - a computer tower - a Fire TV stick No items were seized from his office which he shared with other PhD students. Why did investigators seize Bryan Kohbergers computer tower and Fire TV stick? Tuesday 24 January 2023 15:50 , Andrea Blanco Last week, police in Washington unsealed search warrants for Bryan Kohbergers apartment in Pullman and his office at Washington State University (WSU). The unsealed documents reveal that investigators seized a string of items from his home including possible human and animal hair strands, a disposable glove, items with red and brown stains and a computer tower and Fire TV stick. No items were seized from his office which he shared with other PhD students. Experts Dr Monte Miller, a former crime scene investigator and forensic expert for the Texas Department of Public Safety and former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer spoke to The Independent about the items seized. They said that, in addition to physical evidence, investigators could be looking into Mr Kohbergers behaviour, including computer searches, articles he read and television he watched in the weeks leading up to and in the aftermath of the murders. They may be looking at what he watched. Did he watch the news? Did he watch anything connected to the murders? Did he watch shows about [crime]? Dr Miller told The Independent. Some of that might go with his PhD, or could be explainable to him. [Investigators] are just trying to put the whole picture together. Ms Coffindaffer echoed that assessment, adding that Mr Kohbergers Fire TV stick could have been paired with other apps and even social media platforms. There could be some very important information there related particularly to his searches and social media, she added. What sentence is Bryan Kohberger facing? Tuesday 24 January 2023 15:30 , Andrea Blanco In the state of Idaho, the maximum sentence for first-degree murder is death and the suspect is facing four counts of this charge. While the Latah County prosecutor has not yet confirmed whether or not he plans to seek the death penalty in the case and he is unlikely to show his hand over the coming weeks due to the gag order now in place. Goncalves parents have already said that they want their daughters killer to be sentenced to death saying he has to pay for what he has done. If you want to play gods role, youre gonna have to go answer to him, Steve told NewsNation in early-January. According to attorney Duncan Levin, in a death penalty case, the only possible plea deal would be for the suspect to be given life in prison instead. However, he said it is too early to tell whether this is likely in this case. At this point, it is too early for the two sides to have a discussion about a plea deal, he told The Independent. On a death penalty case, the only plea on the table is life in prison but both sides have too much investigating ahead of them to discuss that at this time. Idaho murders suspect should get an F in criminology,' attorney says Tuesday 24 January 2023 15:11 , Andrea Blanco Suspected mass killer Bryan Kohberger should get an F in his criminology class after the damning affidavit laid out evidence linking him to the murders of four University of Idaho students, according to a prominent criminal defence attorney. Duncan Levin, the former assistant district attorney in the Manhattan DAs office and attorney at Levin & Associates who has represented clients including Harvey Weinstein and Anna Delvey, spoke exclusively to The Independent about the strength of the criminal case against the 28-year-old PhD student. Based on the evidence outlined in the probable cause affidavit, Mr Levin said that Mr Kohberger did a poor job of covering his tracks and that the prosecution has a very strong case against him. In short, he should get an F in criminology class, he said. He did not do a good job of covering his tracks. Neighbour says Bryan Kohberger described murders as crime of passion before arrest Tuesday 24 January 2023 14:49 , Andrea Blanco Bryan Kohbergers neighbour has claimed that the murder suspect brought up the student killings in conversation one time. The neighbour, who wishes to remain anonymous, told CBS News that Mr Kohberger spoke to him about the quadruple homicide just days on from the 13 November attack. He brought it up in conversation, they said. [He] asked if I had heard about the murders, which I did. And then he said, Yeah, seems like they have no leads. Seems like it was a crime of passion. At the time of our conversation, it was only a few days after it happened so there wasnt much details out. Conflict of interest concerns raised as it emerges Bryan Kohberger attorney previously represented victims family Tuesday 24 January 2023 14:30 , Rachel Sharp Concerns about a possible conflict of interest have been raised in the Idaho murders case as it has emerged that Bryan Kohbergers attorney previously represented a family member of one of the victims. Court documents, filed on 5 January, reveal that public defender Anne Taylor stood down from as the attorney for Xana Kernodles mother. Ms Taylor is now representing Mr Kohberger as he faces the death penalty for the murders of Kernodle, her boyfriend Ethan Chapin, and two roommates Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen. Former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer tweeted that this marks a conflict of interest in the case. Cant understand how a conflict of interest didnt exist when AT took the case. IME w/the Public Defenders Office, when their office represented a client associated with a case they could NOT except the client, she said. Have never seen a conflict like this overlooked by a court. Court documents, filed on 5 January, reveal that public defender Anne Taylor stood down from as the attorney for Xana Kernodles mother (Idaho state records) Kaylee Goncalves previously called in missing person sighting to same police officer who then investigated her murder Tuesday 24 January 2023 13:45 , Rachel Sharp True crime follower Kaylee Goncalves previously called in a potential missing person sighting and spoke to one of the same police officers who then investigated her murder, it has been revealed. In September 2021, Sharon Archer, a 62-year-old woman who lived in Goncalves hometown of Coeur dAlene, went missing. An Idaho State Police incident report, seen by Fox News Digital, reveals that Goncalves called police on 5 October to report a sighting of a woman matching Archers description at the Walmart in Moscow. Kaylee told me the females name is possibly Sharon Archer, Sgt. Dustin Blaker wrote in the report. Kaylee told me the female was staring at her and her boyfriend when they were in the store and as they checked out. Investigators did not find Archer and it remains unclear if the woman was indeed her. She was found dead inside a submerged vehicle about three weeks later. Sgt Baker later became a lead investigator in Goncalves murder case. How strong is the case against Bryan Kohberger? Tuesday 24 January 2023 12:59 , Rachel Sharp Duncan Levin, a former assistant district attorney in the Manhattan DAs office who has no official connection to the Idaho murders case, spoke to The Independent about the strength of the criminal case and what to expect next as it makes it way through the courts. Based on the damning evidence outlined in the probable cause affidavit, Mr Levin said that the prosecution has a very strong case against Bryan Kohberger. Its an exceedingly detailed probable cause affidavit and frankly its pretty surprising that the prosecutors would include the level of detail they included in it, said the attorney at Levin & Associates who has represented clients including Harvey Weinstein and Anna Delvey. He added: I have to say looking at it it is a perfect case of where theres smoke, theres fire. Theres so many damning pieces of evidence. The information here all points to Kohberger as the only person to have committed the crime. The suspect - who is presumed innocent until proven guilty - was tied to the murders through DNA evidence, cellphone data, an eyewitness account and his white Hyundai Elantra, according to the bombshell probable cause affidavit released earlier this month. The DNA evidence in particular is one very, very important piece of information, Mr Levin said. The affidavit revealed for the first time that a knife sheath had been left behind at the crime scene on the bed next to the bodies of Mogen and Goncalves. DNA found on the sheath was matched to Mr Kohberger, using DNA obtained from trash taken from his parents home and a genetic genealogy database, the affidavit states. Bryan Kohberger is believed to have followed the three female slain University of Idaho victims on Instagram Tuesday 24 January 2023 12:15 , Rachel Sharp Bryan Kohberger is believed to have followed all three slain female University of Idaho victims on Instagram and repeatedly messaged one of them prior to the brutal stabbings, according to a report. An investigator familiar with the case told People that the 28-year-old criminology PhD student followed the accounts of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves and Xana Kernodle but neither of them followed him back. Then, in late-October around two weeks before the 13 November slayings Mr Kohberger allegedly messaged one of the victims repeatedly on the social media platform, the source said. The Independents Rachel Sharp has the story: Bryan Kohberger is believed to have followed Idaho murders victims on Instagram Kaylee Goncalves was no longer living at student home when she was killed Tuesday 24 January 2023 11:45 , Rachel Sharp Idaho murders victim Kaylee Goncalves had already moved out of the home where she and three other students were brutally murdered but tragically returned to Moscow to visit her best friend that fateful weekend. Goncalves parents told NBCs Dateline that the 21-year-old had recently left the student rental property on King Road, Moscow, ahead of her upcoming graduation that December and a move to Austin, Texas, for a new job at a tech firm. Then, on the weekend of 12 November, she decided to go back to the college town to visit her best friend Madison Mogen. The two young women had been inseparable since meeting in the sixth grade and Goncalves wanted to show Mogen her new Range Rover that she had saved up for and bought. The pair also planned to go to a party together on the night of Saturday 12 November. These girls were best friends since sixth grade, like inseparable, said Goncalves mother Kristi Goncalves. That was the last time that I saw Kaylee. Bryan Kohberger met local police chief and sent him gushing email months before murders Tuesday 24 January 2023 11:06 , Rachel Sharp Bryan Kohberger sent a gushing email to a local police chief months before he allegedly murdered four University of Idaho students in a brutal attack in Moscow, Idaho, it has been revealed. The 28-year-old PhD student applied for a research assistant position in public safety with the Pullman Police Department in Washington in early 2022 and was interviewed by Pullman Police Chief Gary Jenkins for the position. After the 12 April meeting, Mr Kohberger sent an email to the police chief saying it was a great pleasure to meet with you today and share my thoughts and excitement regarding the research assistantship for public safety. Mr Jenkins responded: Great to meet and talk to you as well. It is unclear if Mr Kohberger was offered the position, which was due to start in August. What was found inside Bryan Kohbergers home: Tuesday 24 January 2023 10:45 , Rachel Sharp Last week, police in Washington unsealed search warrants for Bryan Kohbergers apartment in Pullman and his office at Washington State University (WSU). The unsealed documents reveal that investigators seized a string of items from his home. This included: - one nitrite type black glove - one Walmart receipt with one Dickies tag - two Marshalls receipts - dust container from a vacuum - multiple possible hair and hair strands - one possible animal hair strands - two cuttings from uncased pillow of reddish/brown stain - two top and bottom mattress cover with multiple stains - items with a dark red spot - a computer tower - a Fire TV stick No items were seized from his office which he shared with other PhD students. Alessandro Menegazzi says he's worked in some of the world's most exclusive hotels, but the sea calls him back. Claire Turrell Alessandro Menegazzi has worked on cruise ships since 1997 and has always felt a call to the sea. He is now the general manager for the $450 million Regent Seven Seas Explorer. Menegazzi shares what it's like to work and live aboard what he calls a "floating five-star hotel." This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Alessandro Menegazzi, the general manager for the Regent Seven Seas Explorer, about his job at sea. It has been edited for length and clarity. One of my first jobs in the hotel industry was in Palma de Mallorca a popular tourist destination in Spain. Working by the waterfront, I would see these massive cruise ships coming in and out of the port. I was transfixed. I remember saying, "one day I will be working on one of those ships." Now I'm the general manager on the $450-million Regent Seven Seas Explorer. The Regent Seven Seas Explorer is called "the world's most luxurious" by the cruise line. Courtesy of Six Star Cruises The first time I joined a cruise ship crew was in Los Angeles in May 1997. It was a short cruise to Alaska, but the second I stepped onboard, I was amazed. I started as a junior purser in reception answering guests' queries. Over the years, I worked my way up the career ladder. I worked on MSC Cruises for four years until I became food and beverage director for Regent Seven Seas in 2014. I've always been drawn to the sea I left the cruise industry a couple of times for hospitality jobs on land. I worked at the iconic hotel Villa D'Este in Lake Como, Italy, but the sea was always calling me back. In Italy, we call it "iron fever" because the ship is like a magnet. In December 2021, I was promoted to general manager for Regent Seven Seas Explorer. The pool deck on the Regent Seven Seas Explorer. Claire Turrell On the Explorer, the captain is in charge of sailing and I am responsible for anything related to the hotel side of the ship, from customer service to food and beverage. I oversee about 75% of the 550-member crew. The Explorer is a floating 5-star hotel Our Regent Suite, the most expensive cabin on the ship, is decorated with works by Picasso and a Steinway piano and has an in-suite caviar service. In one of our restaurants, we use Versace tableware, and there are more than 500 crystal chandeliers dotted throughout the ship. Story continues My office is in the atrium the beating heart of the ship where the crew welcomes guests on board with a glass of champagne, and there are sweeping staircases that lead to one of our restaurants. The atrium in the Regent Seven Seas Explorer. Claire Turrell The ship does trips all around the world. This year we have traveled around the Mediterranean, through Asia, and are now heading to Australia. From there it will move on to Canada. I will be sailing with Explorer for the next two years. You can say which parts of the world you would love to work in, but you can never choose. There are two general managers on Explorer, and we alternate. I work three months on board the ship, and then have three months off. I leave the ship in Bangkok in January, then I will fly home to Japan to spend time with my family and enjoy my three-month break. When I go home to Tokyo, my wife and I usually go on vacation. She will sometimes join me on the ship. I will usually start my day on the ship at 7 a.m. I always get coffee from the onboard cafe for my breakfast. Then I will go to my office and check my emails. As our headquarters are in Miami, there will be plenty of requests that have come in overnight I need to action. However, my job is not 10 hours sitting at a desk. I need to be visible to the guests and crew. I will have meetings with the managers and say hello to the guests. In the evening, I will do a lot of hosting with guests, whether that's at dinner or for welcome drinks. All the senior crew members have to host guests. We will introduce ourselves and then sit down at a table and join them for dinner. We don't have a captain's table as such as we have so many restaurants. Compass Rose Restaurant in the Regent Seven Seas Explorer. Claire Turrell Tomorrow night, we will host a table in the Prime 7 Steakhouse. I don't tend to finish work until 9 p.m. Even then, I will sometimes go and watch a show in the theater, so I can tell the guests about it. My days are long, but I would rather socialize than sit alone in my cabin. Everyone I meet is interesting. It's not easy working aboard a luxury ship To work on one, you need to get experience working in a luxury hotel. You also need to have the willingness to live on a ship, it's not easy. When you work onshore in a hotel, you have your days off, and when you leave the hotel, it's done. On board a ship, we are on duty 24 hours a day. When we pull into port, I usually hop off the ship and go for a jog. I'll check Google for a good running route if I don't know the port. I have had many amazing experiences working on board the Regent Seven Seas like sailing into Rio De Janeiro and seeing the Sugar Mountains and visiting the company's private island, Harvest Caye in Belize. I stay in touch with the guests. We recently had a friendly couple stay in the Regent Suite. They are joining the Explorer in Tokyo in November. I asked them to contact me when they arrive and we will probably have dinner together, as I live there. Read the original article on Business Insider By Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) -An International Monetary Fund mission will visit Pakistan later this month to discuss the stalled ninth review of the country's current funding programme, the lender's resident representative said on Thursday, with the cash-strapped nation's economy in turmoil. Pakistan secured a $6 billion IMF bailout in 2019, which was topped up with another $1 billion last year, but the lender then stalled disbursements in November due to Pakistan's failure to make more progress on fiscal consolidation and economic reforms. "At the request of the authorities, an in-person Fund mission is scheduled to visit Islamabad January 31st February 9th to continue the discussions under the ninth EFF review," Esther Perez Ruiz said in a message to Reuters. A successful visit is critical for Pakistan, which is facing an increasingly acute balance of payments crisis and is desperate to secure external financing, with less than three weeks' worth of import cover in its foreign exchange reserves. Multilateral and bilateral financing pledges for Pakistan's effort to rebuild after devastating floods last year are also tied to the country getting the green light from the IMF. Ruiz said the mission will focus on policies aimed at restoring domestic and external sustainability, including to strengthen the fiscal position while supporting those affected by the floods, as well as power sector reforms. It will also look to discuss re-establishing a market-based mechanism to determine the value of the Pakistani rupee, she said. Such a mechanism is a key prior action for the country to receive IMF support, but which it had fallen short of until this week. In just two days, the Pakistani rupee has lost close to 10%of its value after the removal of price caps imposed by the government but which the IMF opposed. Ruiz said stronger policy efforts and reforms are critical to reduce the high level of uncertainty weighing on Pakistan's outlook and for it to obtain financing support from official partners and the markets. Market watchers said that the sudden removal of the price caps were an attempt to restart the IMF programme. (Reporting by Gibran Peshimam; Editing by Hugh Lawson) (Getty Images) Google will make a number of changes to Android in India, in response to the latest crackdown on the company. It has been forced to add a number of updates to the platform, including requiring it to let users choose their default search engine and allow device makers to license individual apps to be pre-installed on phones. The changes are the result of demands by Indias antitrust regulator, which has accused google of abusing the power it has over Android. The mobile platform powers almost every smartphone in India, with estimates suggesting that 97 per cent of such devices are running the software. India is just the latest company to crack down on Google, amid concerns over its dominance on smartphones and its use of that power. It comes just days after the company was sued in the US, by the Department of Justice, which also accused it of having abused its control over Android and smartphones. In India, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) said that it had been forced to take the step because Google had been treating smartphone makers unfairly when licensing apps. Google had initially challenged the CCIs findings that it had used unfair business practices, fined it $161 million, and required a number of changes to Android. It failed to have that decision overturned in Indias Supreme Court, where it had argued that the changes were unprecedented in their far-reaching nature. But Google announced last week that it would comply with the rules after all. And now it has posted a blog post laying out the changes it is intending to make. As well as licensing individual apps and choosing their own search engine, Google will change how partners built their own versions of Android, allow developers to offer alternative ways of paying rather than doing so through Googles own systems, and make it easier for users to install apps outside of the Play Store. It will also publish new information on its website about those changes. The company suggested that the changes could be difficult to introduce and may take some time. Implementation of these changes across the ecosystem will be a complex process and will require significant work at our end and, in many cases, significant efforts from partners, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and developers, it wrote in its announcement. Despite a 5.6% gain in Wells Fargo & Company's (NYSE:WFC) stock price this week, shareholders shouldn't let up. In spite of the relatively cheap prices, insiders made the decision to sell US$1.0m worth of stock in the last 12 months. This could be a warning indicator of vulnerabilities in the future. Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. Check out our latest analysis for Wells Fargo The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Wells Fargo The insider, Kleber Santos, made the biggest insider sale in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for US$1.0m worth of shares at a price of US$44.44 each. That means that even when the share price was slightly below the current price of US$45.34, an insider wanted to cash in some shares. We generally consider it a negative if insiders have been selling, especially if they did so below the current price, because it implies that they considered a lower price to be reasonable. However, while insider selling is sometimes discouraging, it's only a weak signal. We note that the biggest single sale was 51% of Kleber Santos's holding. The only individual insider seller over the last year was Kleber Santos. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Insider Ownership Of Wells Fargo Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. Insiders own 0.05% of Wells Fargo shares, worth about US$91m. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders. Story continues So What Does This Data Suggest About Wells Fargo Insiders? There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. Our analysis of Wells Fargo insider transactions leaves us cautious. The modest level of insider ownership is, at least, some comfort. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Wells Fargo. At Simply Wall St, we found 2 warning signs for Wells Fargo that deserve your attention before buying any shares. Of course Wells Fargo 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 BAGHDAD (AP) Iraqi Kurdish authorities on Thursday pushed back against a decision by Iraq's top court that blocked payments from state coffers funding the semi-autonomous region. Jutiar Adel, a spokesperson for Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government said in a statement that the unlawful decision from an illegitimate court will impact (the) mutual understanding between Kurdish authorities in northeastern Iraq and the central government in Baghdad. The Iraqi Federal Supreme Court issued a ruling Wednesday that invalidates a series of decisions by the government in Baghdad to transfer funds to the KRG to pay salaries in 2021 and 2022, arguing that the transfers violated Iraqs 2021 budget law and were unconstitutional. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by Mustafa Sanad an independent lawmaker who is allied with Iraq's ruling coalition composed of largely Shiite parties backed by Iran and by the governor of the Wasit province in eastern Iraq. Sanad praised the decision, saying it had stopped the financial bleeding. The decision cannot be appealed. It places in doubt both the future payment of salaries and the fragile relationship between the Kurdish regional government and Baghdad. Nechirvan Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Region, said in a statement that the decision targets not only the public employees and the people of Kurdistan who are Iraqi citizens, but also the entire political process and stability. A KRG official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the case publicly, said the KRG will be in talks with the federal government to find a way to bring back normality to the ground. Should those talks fail, he said, the people of Kurdistan region will be the victims. Greenville restaurant owner and head chef Dayna Lee-Marquez has been named a semifinalist for the James Beard's Best Chef: Southeast for 2023. Lee-Marquez, a native of Texas, is the owner of West Greenville's restaurant Comal 864, located at 1112 Woodside Ave. The restaurant brings a Southwest Texas flavor to the local food scene. Lee-Marquez is among 20 other finalists for the top chef award, including two others from South Carolina: Daniel "Dano" Heinze of Vern's in Charleston and Jessica Shillato of the Spotted Salamander in Columbia. "I'm just as surprised as everyone else is," Lee-Marquez said. "I'm not classically trained, I learned how to cook from my grandmother. The flavors I bring from South Texas are a fusion of border food." Across the South See the 2023 James Beard Awards semifinalists This is one of the Comal 864's burritos which is made of: rice, beans, cheese, chopped steak, pico de gallo, crema, with hot sauce. (Photo: ALEX HICKS JR./STAFF) Comal 864 is known for its Tex-Mex cuisine, as Lee-Marquez has introduced her South Texas ties and palate to Greenville, morphing her former food truck into one of the top Mexican menus within city limits. The menu includes the popular Birria Quesitacos with shredded marinated beef and a consomme dip, alongside their rendition of a classic flour tortilla burrito. The breakfast menu is well known for its seven different burrito options starting at $5 The restaurant also gives away at least 100 tacos per week, while hosting holiday lunches for those who are in need of food. Dayna Lee-Marquez of the Comal 864 restaurant in Greenville. Dayna Lee-Marquez, of the Comal 864 restaurant in Greenville, SC is a semifinalists for the 2023 James Beard Awards Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV) Lee-Marquez says she would not be nominated for this award if not for the Greenville community and her staff. "We are very community-oriented," Lee-Marquez said. "I have a very maternal energy, and when combined with good creative food, and service, I think that's the perfect equation." The James Beard Awards, considered to be among the nations most prestigious honors,recognize exceptional talent in the culinary and food media industries, as well as a demonstratedcommitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all canthrive, according to a statement from the James Beard Foundation. Story continues Another South Carolina James Beard Award semifinalist for 2023 is in the Emerging Chef category, Benard Bennett of Okan, a West African food experience in Bluffton. The award is presented by S. Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water. The City Grit Hospitality Group of Columbia is nominated for the 2023 Outstanding Restauranteur award due to its culinary and hospitality efforts at SmallSUGAR, CITY GRIT and Il Focolare Pizzeria. Dayna Lee-Marquez of the Comal 864 restaurant in Greenville prepares food for guests. The 2023 James Beard Foundation Awards are presented by Capital One a nonprofit and food culture enthusiast organization that has honored culinary talent and sustainability for the past 30 years. Nominees for the James Beard Foundation Awards will be announced on Wednesday, March 29 with the awards ceremony taking place on Monday, June 5 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Past Greenville nominees include Greg McPhee, owner of The Anchorage and Mr. Crisp; Jon Buck, executive chef of Husk Greenville; David Porras, co-owner of Oak Hill Cafe & Farm; and Adam Cooke, co-owner and executive chef of Topsoil Kitchen Market. A.J. Jackson covers arts, entertainment, food and more for The Greenville News and Anderson Independent Mail. Contact him by email at ajackson@gannett.com, and follow him on Twitter @ajhappened. This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Lee-Marquez of Comal 864 named James Beard semifinalist best chef Until she appeared on "Finding Your Roots," Jamie Chung had no idea that one of her ancestors is a pretty big deal in Korea. Growing up in San Francisco, Chung said her immigrant parents didn't talk much about their families history in South Korea. Her mother, who grew up in poverty, was especially tightlipped about her upbringing. Naturally, Chung was curious to know about her ancestors so she enlisted the help of "Finding Your Roots" host Henry Louis Gates Jr. and made some eye-opening discoveries along the way. In a recent episode of the PBS show, which aired on Jan. 23, Chung learns that one of her ancestors was tied to a "much celebrated moment in Korean history," as Gates puts it. Her distant cousin did something pretty heroic in the 1400s. The year was 1455, and at the time, Korea's king was a 15-year-old named Danjong of Joseon. His short-lived reign met a bloody end. The young king's uncle overthrew him, banished him to a village called Yeongwol and had him executed. Danjong's body was ordered to be thrown into the local river. His uncle threatened to execute anyone who gave him a proper funeral. Legend has it that Chungs distant cousin, who was from Yeongwol, retrieved the young king's body from the river to give him an honorable funeral. Instead of being executed, Chung's cousin fled his home and remained hidden for the rest of his life. "That's fascinating," Chung says as Gates tells her the story. "Did you have any idea that any of your ancestors would be famous for their actions?" Gates asks. "For their kindness," Chung replies, getting emotional. "No." Per Gates, Chung's distant cousin is revered by Koreans as a "loyal subject to the rightful king" and his act of bravery is still celebrated every year when Yeongwol residents reenact the funeral during a festival. The town also is home to a statue that depicting Chungs cousin holding the kings body. Story continues "No way!" Chung exclaims when she hears the news. "That's my cousin, 18th removed! Wow." During the episode, Grant notes that Chungs connection to the tale can't be independently verified. But the stories she learns from examining family records give her an idea of what her family believed about their origins. The host also explains that these are the sort of stories that Koreans would have passed down from generation to generation, and notes that they seemed to have gotten lost in her family's move to America. I think they left a piece of themselves in Korea, you know? But knowing now that we have such rich ancestry and amazing ancestors, its wow. This is priceless," she says. The show also traced her ancestry back to her paternal 18th great-grandfather, named Chung Geum-Gang, born in the 1300s. Gates aid he had a high position in the Korean government, equivalent to being a deputy prime minister. He was a big deal, Gates says. Its totally flipped my perspective of my family history, Chung says of that revelation. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Zero-waste restaurant Silo is serving up invasive species for a limited time (The Independent/iStock) Utter the words Japanese knotweed to a homeowner and all the blood is likely to drain from their face. They may break into a cold sweat, eyes darting around frantically as they grab your shoulders and shake you, shouting: WHERE?? The notorious weed was first introduced into the UK by German-British botanist Philipp von Siebold in the 19th century as an ornamental plant, for its large, heart-shaped green leaves and hollow stems, with clusters of small white flowers that bloom in late summer. Its import proved to be disastrous. aaWithout the checks and balances of its native land that kept it under control, the knotweed thrived in the UK, growing stronger, larger and more fiercely. The fast-growing plant can wreak havoc on a home, growing Jumanji-style under fences and between cracks in walls and patios. Even a small thumb-sized piece of its rhizomes, underground stems that grow horizontally, could sprout a whole new plant that can exert enough pressure on concrete to gradually prize it apart. The weed is so problematic that it can devalue a property by as much as 15 per cent or, in some rare cases, completely. Removing it is no mean feat either, and can cost as much as 10,000. Its fast-growing nature also affects ecosystems by crowding out native vegetation, which limits plant and animal species diversity. Today, there is barely a corner of the country that is untouched by Japanese knotweed, save for the Highlands. So fearsome is Japanese knotweed that seeing its name on a restaurant menu may send chills down the spines of anyone who owns or deals with property in the UK. But Im about to tuck into two spears of the stuff in zero waste restaurant Silo, Hackney Wick perhaps the only place in London where it may be conceivable to do so. The shoots of Japanese knotweed look like sinister asparagus. They have the same thick stem that tapers into the shape of a spear, but instead of the rubber-soft clusters we know and love, the tips of Japanese knotweed shoots appear distinctly spiky. The reddish-green hue doesnt do it any favours either. Story continues But when grilled and served alongside a salad of brassica and a cured egg yolk, Japanese knotweed takes on a more unsuspecting appearance. It is tender and tart, often compared to rhubarb in flavour but with more versatility, suiting both savoury and sweet dishes. Japanese knotweed served with brassica salad and a cured egg yolk at Silo, Hackney Wick (Kate Ng) Chef Doug McMaster, who founded Silo a decade ago this month, wants to show people a different side to Japanese knotweed and other invasive species such as grey squirrel, American signal crayfish, Japanese wireweed and pennywort. All invasive species that outcompete native animals and plants have a disastrous effect on the ecosystem. Grey squirrels breed quickly and bully their native red counterparts out of their territory, as well as spread a squirrelpox virus that is fatal to the latter, but not the former. American signal crayfish proliferate in the UKs river systems, eradicating native plants, small invertebrates and fish wherever they go. What Im trying to propose with this event is that we find a greater balance and harmony within the ecosystem Doug McMaster There are established methods to control these species. For pests, control strategies often involve trapping or hunting, contraception to stop them breeding and natural predation. McMaster takes a different approach: If you cant beat em, eat em. Its a radical act of sustainability, thats how I see it, he tells The Independent. Not only are we eating the problem, but we are also mitigating the energy and resources that would have been wasted if we let it go to waste. He points towards what he calls an atrophic cascade of environmental damage caused by invasive species as the main reason Britons should consider eating them. Squirrel kofte with black ketchup and chicken neck garum at Silo, Hackney Wick (Kate Ng) They are reproducing and destroying environments that other species cant live without, which causes entire ecosystems to crash and its a type of devastation that we often dont see, he says. What Im trying to propose with this event is that we find a greater balance and harmony within the ecosystem. Thats extreme sustainability and should be a positive thing no matter which way you look at it. The chef, who was named Great Britains best young chef in 2009, has dreamed up a dizzying array of ways to serve up the pests, such as a grey squirrel kofte, with black ketchup and chicken neck garum. The meat is tender and juicy, almost porky in flavour. The rodent is also used to make a rich broth, balanced with tangy pickled knotweed to wake up the tongue. A lions mane mushroom swimming in signal crayfish bisque almost has me licking the plate, while a creamy sauce made from hogweed that accompanies a cut of velvety venison is a revelation. And who wouldve known that Japanese knotweed compote would go so well with panela ice cream? One can only expect the unexpected with McMasters invasive dinner series. Lions mane mushroom in signal crayfish bisque at Silo, Hackney Wick (Kate Ng) Eating invasive species seems like a no-brainer. After all, eating invasive species is not a new concept in many other parts of the world. Even in the UK, its not so uncommon to consume grey squirrel in some parts of the countryside. In Cumbria, where former Masterchef contestant Kevin Tickle grew up, eating grey squirrels was a relatively normal part of life. He used to run Forest Side Restaurant in Ambleside, where he served customers The Little Critter Fritter, a croquette that combined pork, rabbit and grey squirrel. Personally, I do a lot of grey squirrel control because you get a lot of them up here, he says. This is a gross understatement grey squirrels are driving their native counterparts in the area to extinction, so much so that the red rodents are afforded the highest level of protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. Its never occurred to me that it might be unusual to eat invasive species, but I think it is important for city people to be better educated on their impact. It might be more commonplace to have squirrel on the table at some point in the future. Eating it would be like bringing a dustpan and brush to the aftermath of an earthquake... The ship has already sailed Kay Pemberton But could eating invasive species really help reduce their population numbers, and if so, why arent we doing it? The answer isnt so simple. Kay Pemberton, an expert on Japanese knotweed, tells The Independent that the plant is largely spread through ignorance or illegal distribution. This is due to people not realising they have Japanese knotweed in their soil, digging it up and dispersing it elsewhere, or some who purposefully get rid of contaminated soil by fly-tipping or hiding it in skips. She thinks that while the idea of consuming invasive species such as Japanese knotweed is interesting, its unlikely to become a widespread practice and really depends on which species youre eating. In the case of Japanese knotweed, farmers wouldnt go near the stuff because of how easily it can run riot, and an ordinary person would need a waste carrier licence in order to forage for it, because the plant is classed as controlled waste. Venison with hogweed sauce and mustard greens at Silo, Hackney Wick (Kate Ng) I think that eating it would be like bringing a dustpan and brush to the aftermath of an earthquake, Pemberton says. The ship has already sailed; it wont help to control or reduce the population. I truly believe that the only way to control it in a considered, appropriate manner, is herbicide treatment. Even if you eat it, the rhizomes will still remain. You can cut a shoot off, but the knotweed will keep growing more shoots; it wont stop it from living. It could only be a food source for three to four weeks out of a year, as it becomes unpalatable beyond the early growing stages. There is also the risk that putting invasive species on menus could downplay how dangerous they are for the native environment. Professor Helen Roy, an ecologist who specialises in the dynamics of invasive species and their effects on biodiversity and ecosystems, says that the environmental impact of consuming such species would be minimal. Japanese knotweed compote with panela ice cream and rose at Silo, Hackney Wick (Kate Ng) I think there would be concerns that this could somehow create a market for these invasive non-native species and so send confusing messages about the huge threat that is posed by the environmental issue of biological invasions, she tells The Independent. Of course people all around the world are living alongside invasive alien species and in some cases eating them but it would be far preferable to reduce the threat of biological invasions through enhanced biosecurity and prevention. However, McMaster is still hopeful that his dinner series will start further conversation about how consuming non-native species that pose a danger to British ecosystems could be viable or at the very least, palatable. And people are interested. Tickets flew out. We sold out in two hours; the level of interest has been pretty overwhelming, he says. The amount of energy going into these dinners is extraordinary: weve probably spent 200 hours on this labour of love. But Silo doesnt exist to make a profit, were here to change the world. It sounds hyperbolic, but we genuinely care and want to make a difference and talk about these things that no one else will Were doing our best. This article was first published on 2 May 2022. Silos invasive species dinner series is no longer running. Food waste is a huge global problem, with millions of tonnes of food being thrown away every year, accounting for eight to 10 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. The Independents series, The Clean Plate Club, explores what can be done about food waste as the world continues to face up to the climate crisis. By Satoshi Sugiyama TOKYO (Reuters) -Suzuki Motor Corp will invest 4.5 trillion yen ($34.8 billion) through fiscal 2030 in research, development and capital spending to make battery electric vehicles (EVs), it said on Thursday. The Japanese automaker known for making compact "kei" cars said it would invest 2 trillion yen in electrification and autonomous driving technologies, while allocating 2.5 trillion yen to build a battery EV plant and for renewable energy facilities. Of the money earmarked for electrification, 500 billion yen would be invested in batteries, it said. Suzuki's announcement comes after other Japanese automakers have rolled out similar goals to catch up with European and U.S. rivals in the fast-growing battery EV market. Mazda Motor Corp unveiled in November a $10.6 billion spending plan to electrify its vehicles. Suzuki said it would introduce its first battery EVs, including small sport-utility vehicles and micro "kei" cars, in Japan in fiscal 2023. With cost-conscious customers in mind, company president Toshihiro Suzuki said he wanted to sell vehicles for around 1 million yen. Suzuki plans to introduce battery EVs in Europe and India, and its first battery electric motorcycles globally, the following year. The company is aiming to leverage its cooperation with car giant Toyota Motor Corp to capture a bigger share of India's budding EV market, which is gaining momentum. Suzuki plans to learn from Toyota how to use EV technology to make small electric cars, Suzuki said during a visit to India this month. Still, Toshihiro Suzuki said on Thursday the automaker was not abandoning hybrid and internal combustion vehicle line-ups, pointing to a lack of charging infrastructure, high EV costs and concerns over limited battery resources. For India, Suzuki's key market, it predicted EVs would make up 15% of its vehicle line-up in fiscal 2030, while internal combustion engine cars using biofuels and ethanol as fuels would make up 60%. Story continues "We will put in vehicles for various price ranges, for various people, for various regions," Toshihiro Suzuki said. ($1 = 129.3500 yen) (Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama and Daniel Leussink; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Mark Potter) Jo can write her first and last name, but she does not know which letters to capitalize, according to her aunt. She cannot construct a paragraph. She struggles to add or subtract two-digit numbers, her grandmother said. Jo is 12 years old. Her peers are in seventh grade. But in Jo's whole life in Michigan, she has spent only about a week and a half in a classroom. Jo is 12 years old. She can write her first and last name, but she does not know which letters to capitalize, according to her aunt. Jos parents, Kally and Sean, have refused to send Jo to school over the years, according to Kara Stamiris, Kallys half sister and an aunt to the children. Kally and Sean said they have home-schooled and that their kids are not far behind academically. They dispute the accusation that their oldest daughter cannot read. The Detroit Free Press is identifying the children in this story by their middle names, and their parents by their first names, to protect the privacy of the children. Under Michigan law, children ages 6 to 18 must be educated. But there are few mechanisms or state agencies tasked to enforce that law: Neither the Michigan Department of Education nor Children's Protective Services plays that role. Local school districts can track absent children, but only if they are enrolled. Once, Stamiris said, she walked with Jo to a police station and shared her story. Officers were sympathetic, but told Stamiris and a tearful Jo that there was nothing they could do. There is literally no one to call in Michigan in instances of educational neglect, said Jeremy Young, former executive director of the Coalition for Responsible Home Education. There is no state agency tasked with dealing with this, Young said. In fact, no one is empowered to do so. So it is completely within the right of the parent to educate or not educate their children as they see fit. The battle over Jo and her younger siblings' education intersects with long-running national debates around school choice and the control parents wield. Home-school advocates have lobbied for as little oversight as possible over home-school parents. Story continues red2 But Young and Stamiris argue that Michigan has an obligation to ensure kids are being educated, particularly now, when home-schooling is more popular because of the pandemic. Its hard to pinpoint how many children in Michigan are experiencing educational neglect, or even what rises to the definition: Children's Protective Services, which is a division of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, does not keep data on how many children its agents encounter who are not receiving an education. The helplessness is maddening for Stamiris and Kathy Reeder, the childrens maternal grandmother and a retired Saginaw educator with more than three decades of teaching experience. She looks to us for help but I cant help her, Reeder said about Jo recently, through tears. First and last days of school Last spring, Jo attended public school for the very first time in a Saginaw school district during a brief window when her grandmother temporarily was appointed guardian for the children. Educators placed the preteen in the fourth grade where most kids are age 9 though Jo tested at the level of a second-grader in both reading and math, according to Swan Valley School District records. Administrators placed her in the higher grade so she would have an easier time socializing, Stamiris said. Jo wore a blue-and-white striped shirt on her first day of school. In one photo from that day, shes pictured sitting on a small square rug on her grandmothers living room floor in Saginaw, eyes wide at the camera as she pulls a shoe onto her right foot, a massive smile spread across her face. Two weeks after that first day, on the evening of May 26, Jo was in an emergency room in Saginaw, tearful and anxious. Her blood pressure was elevated, according to medical records. Her grandmother had brought her in for a mental health evaluation. The day before, the girl had learned her time in school would be short-lived: A judge ruled in favor of Jo's parents. The decision overturned Reeder's guardianship and removed the girl and her siblings from their grandmother's custody and out of school. Jo told ER officials she wanted to stay with her grandmother. She felt helpless about the prospect of returning to her parents' custody, medical officials noted in documents reviewed by the Free Press. With her grandmother, she was finally feeling happy, she said, according to a record of her ER visit. Doctors did not recommend hospitalization and sent Jo on her way. The parents long told family members and others in their orbit that they home-schooled the children, but family members and a former roommate say that was not the case. The absence of education has become too evident to ignore for some members of Jos family: She has begged her parents, aunt and grandmother to go to school. Jo's father responded to Free Press questions through text messages after multiple calls, emails and texts over several weeks. The father wrote that his wife has home-schooled their children for several years, but acknowledged that their oldest daughter fell behind academically through the "chaos of the pandemic." "We have kind of been in crisis mode since the start of the pandemic," he wrote. Stamiris spends her nights and weekends contacting state agencies, school districts and advocacy organizations to look for help for Jo. She carries a thick stack of documents in a blue binder and has saved dozens of videos and photos of the children to argue for their right to an education. Kara Stamiris, 42, of Ypsilanti photographed Oct. 18 at her home. She keeps a binder tracking her efforts to find schooling for her nieces and nephew. Every avenue turned up a dead end. Bob Wheaton, a spokesperson for the state health department, wrote in an email that CPS has authority over educational neglect only when paired with other allegations of abuse. A CPS investigator testified in May during a guardianship hearing that she was aware the children were not in school. The system that is supposed to be protecting her is so broken, Stamiris, the aunt, said. CPS doesnt help; all of the people I ask can't help. Stamiris is worried about what happens to the kids in the present, but she also worries about the future about grown-up Jo who cant count change for a job as a cashier, who cant read the menu at a restaurant. Shes worried her niece loses out on options every year she is not in school. I said to my sister a couple of years ago, What are you going to do when (Jo) is 16 years old, and she can't read?' And the response was, I guess we'll see. 'There was never a set plan' In high school, Kally, now 36, once had the third-best average in her junior bowling league, Reeder said. She was the kind of high school friend who didn't hesitate to offer support, once helping a friend get to and from school when there was no other way. But her eldest daughter has also always been a contrarian, Reeder said: If I said it was blue, she said it was pink. And shes struggled with mental health issues, according to court records, Reeder and Stamiris issues they believe havent been properly treated and are clouding her abilities as a parent. Jo was born in 2009, her sister Jean in 2015 and her brother Anthony in 2017. Up until 2021, Kally, Sean and their children lived on and off with Reeder in Saginaw, living other times in low-income housing and apartments in Detroit, Reeder and Stamiris said. The last five years, in particular, have been marked by turbulence. In June 2016, Seans mother called Livonia police to her home because of Sean's and Kally's behavior, according to a police report. An officer observed Sean acting very strange specifics are blacked out in the report, as are the items officers found and confiscated, some of the evidence deposited into the departments drug safe, the report notes. Alyssa Harris, the CPS investigator, testified that on that day the agency substantiated a drug abuse complaint against the parents. She did not specify what happened after the investigation. It does not appear any criminal charges stemmed from that visit. In March 2017, Anthony, the youngest child, spent 30 days in the intensive care unit at 9 days old, according to medical records. The newborn had severe hypothermia and a viral infection. A few months later, Anthony was brought into the ER with mildly elevated carbon monoxide levels. The ER doctor then was alarmed by the parents behavior (they seemed intoxicated) and filed a report with Children's Protective Services, according to medical records and CPS testimony. The parents maintained custody of the three kids. As the three children grew up, friends and family members around Kally and Sean became concerned that the children, particularly eldest Jo, werent receiving an education. Kally looked up crafts for the kids on Pinterest, but never seemed to move beyond basic planning, said Lucinda Clark, a friend of Kallys who lived with Reeder, Kally, Sean and the kids when Jo was younger. She kept in touch over the years. There was never a set plan of what to do to teach her, Clark said. It was winging it and they knew it. Clark said Kally sometimes talked about unschooling, a method of home-schooling where children are encouraged to explore their natural curiosities, dictating their path in education. The philosophy works for some parents and research has shown many students of the method felt satisfied with it as adults. But Reeder, Clark, Stamiris and others noticed the parents did little to encourage basic literacy or math. Kally remained firm in their decision not to send Jo to school. Reeder said she often argued with her daughter about sending the kids to school. Kathy Reeder of Saginaw sits March 2 in a room she redecorated for her granddaughter in hopes of her return to Reeder's home with her two siblings. She once told me, You'll never tell me what I can do with my kids,' Reeder said. Sarah Karl is Stamiris' half sister who is not related to Kally. But Karl has long known Kally and the kids, and said she became concerned a few years ago when she bought Jo a set of My Little Pony books. Jo seemed embarrassed and resistant around the idea of reading, Karl said, and struggled writing her name with sidewalk chalk, even though she was far past the age kids usually learn to read. A 'slap in the face' The parents insist their home-schooling approach is under attack by Kally's family, in part, because Kallys parents were both public school teachers. "They view our home-schooling of (Jo) pre-pandemic as a 'slap in the face' and seem to think the decision was meant as an attack on them and their careers," Sean wrote. The father wrote that the family was utilizing a home-school curriculum following the Waldorf School philosophy, which places an emphasis on creativity. Curricula based on the Waldorf approach can vary and also depends on how a parent approaches home-schooling. He wrote that the family wanted to permanently live in metro Detroit, a "paradise" for home-school families, "because of all the museums and cultural institutions." green book He could not describe what a day looked like while home-schooling. He said his wife would be able to but illness prevented her from answering questions. The pandemic, however, jettisoned the family into crisis mode, he wrote, along with the Edenville Dam collapse near Saginaw. The parents lost many of their possessions in Reeder's house because of the flooding, he wrote. "Concerning us 'not schooling,' yes, things keep getting interrupted by events outside of our control, like the pandemic," he wrote. But while Jo may be behind academically, Sean disputes the notion that she is as far behind as the Swan Valley School District assessment showed, particularly because home-schooling does not follow traditional grade level progressions. -- Last spring, a series of events briefly gave Jo the opportunity to become a student. In February 2021, while Sean, Kally and the children were still living with Reeder, the grandmother called the police. Sean and Kally were fighting, according to a Thomas Township police report. Reeder told an officer that while they were fighting, Sean demanded Reeder hand him his cellphone, even though the phone she was holding was her own. Before she could respond that she didnt have his phone, Sean pushed her with both hands and enough force for her to hit the wall before she crumpled to the ground, Reeder told police. Im 69. I've never been assaulted before, she told the Free Press. Reeder secured a court order preventing Sean from contacting her. A domestic violence case against him was pending in Saginaw County District Court. The prosecutor on the case did not respond to a voicemail. Sean did not answer questions about this incident. The family left Reeders, but it wasnt long before the children returned. Stamiris, who lives in Ypsilanti, got a frantic call from Reeder in late March asking her to pick Jo, Jean and Anthony up from an emergency room in Detroit. Stamiris said Kally had a mental breakdown and a court document describes the mother being found in a pool of blood while her children were present. Stamiris went to the hospital and met Karl, who had brought two car seats for the younger kids. None of the kids looked like theyd showered in many days, Karl said. Jeans hair was matted at the back of her head. Anthony, 4, clung to Karl like an infant. From there, the kids stayed at Reeders and the grandmother filed for guardianship in Saginaw County Probate Court. Judge Patrick McGraw heard Reeder's guardianship request on May 4, in a video-conferenced hearing. Harris, the CPS investigator, testified that the agency had instituted a safety plan for the children to stay with Reeder while the parents did not have stable housing, according to a transcript of the hearing. But Harris also said she had little jurisdiction over the kids because she worked out of Wayne County, where the case first arose. If Reeder's request for guardianship were denied, and the parents were to move to Wayne County, CPS would substantiate accusations of physical neglect, Harris said, and remove the children from their parents. McGraw granted Reeder's guardianship request, but said he wanted to see the family at another hearing to consider the matter further. Stamiris and Reeder raced to get the kids in school and took them to see doctors, because Stamiris said the children had not been medically evaluated for years. A doctor in Saginaw wrote in a May 12 report, The three children have unusual fears, including fear of getting into a bathtub, fear of going outside, fear of strangers. Reeder taught physical education for more than 30 years in the Swan Valley district, which is where she enrolled the three kids, enrollment letters show. yellow Jo was 11 when she joined fourth grade, about the age of a typical sixth grader, despite those district tests that put her at the second grade level. Jean was enrolled in an early kindergarten program. The 6-year-old loved school so much she asked to sleep in her classroom. Reeder lined up summer school for Jo, which she never ended up attending. Everyone returned to court a few weeks later on May 25, still over Zoom. McGraw terminated the guardianship. Kally and Sean regained custody. McGraw explained in the hearing that guardianship requests in Michigan must meet narrow criteria, including that the parents' rights must have been terminated already or the parents must have allowed the children to live with the guardian without giving the guardian the legal authority to do so. "CPS is involved. They know where the parents are living. They know where the children are. This is a decision that should have been made long before it came to me, from what I've heard today," McGraw explained. "That the children haven't been in school, they haven't done anything, and there has been no placement of these children." Afterward, Jo refused to go with her parents and begged to be back in a classroom in videos provided by Stamiris. I want to learn and I want to be a functional adult, Jo said on video. They wont send me to school. Theyre not home-schooling me like they say they are. Sean wrote that his eldest can read better than she's being portrayed. "She has been trying to pretend she can't ever since she was returned to our care," he wrote. "She definitely can read." He wrote that when his children were returned to him, they suddenly hated their parents and home-schooling. "We are all in family therapy trying to put my family back together again," he wrote. In a video from the day of the second guardianship hearing, Jo is crying on the phone, begging to stay with Reeder, a tissue in her hand. On the other side of the call was Kally, Stamiris said. Youre not committed to making this work because thats what you always say, Jo said in the video, tearfully speaking into the phone. All youve caused in my life is trouble and sadness. You never learn from your mistakes. Im finally in school, Im finally happy. Jo ended up at Seans mothers house in Livonia, Stamiris said. The paternal grandmother has not returned Free Press phone calls. The parents reportedly started living in a motel with the two youngest children. By fall, no one was attending school. Lax home-school law After the guardianship hearing, Stamiris contacted as many organizations and politicians as she could. She sent emails late at night and on the weekends. Her free time is spent looking for rulings that back up her most fundamental argument in this fight: that children have a constitutional right to education. She has repeatedly contacted CPS. Stamiris filed multiple complaints with the state Department of Education. She filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education. She has contacted state senators. She is in touch with Gov. Gretchen Whitmers office. Kara Stamiris, 42, of Ypsilanti photographed Oct. 18 at her home. She keeps a binder tracking her efforts to find schooling for her nieces and nephew. Over and over again, she has received some variation of the same response. An aide to state Sen. Ken Horn, R-Frankenmuth, who represents Reeder, wrote to Stamiris: I know that this is not the answer that you want to hear and I also understand your frustration, but the parents or guardians of children get to decide how their children receive an education. Michigan law requires parents or guardians to educate their children from ages 6 to 18, but the law empowers few with enforcement. Under state law, local attendance officers can seek misdemeanor charges on parents who fail to send their kids to school. But attendance officers typically track only children they know about those who are enrolled. Attendance officers have no power to investigate home-schooled children. Parents do not have to register their children anywhere if they choose to home-school, nor do they have to submit evidence that theyre home-schooling. Under the law, if a parent says theyre home-schooling, thats enough. Compared with other states, Michigans home-school laws are lax. Pennsylvanias home-schooled families are subject to some of the most stringent regulations: Parents of elementary school-age children must file an affidavit annually with their local district, must provide at least 180 days of schooling and must keep a log of the childs learning. Every year in Pennsylvania, a licensed psychologist, a certified teacher or a qualified private school teacher must evaluate the childs progress, and local school superintendents can challenge home education if they suspect its not adequate. In Ohio, a state with fewer regulations than Pennsylvania, parents must annually notify their public school district of plans to home-school, including an outline of the curriculum and a list of teaching materials the parent plans to use. Young, then with the Coalition for Responsible Home Education, said Michigans home-school laws leave a lot of risk for children particularly when they are kept from school where teachers can notice signs of abuse. blue book down There are just no guardrails when something goes wrong, he said. In many cases, parents conceal their children from Child Protective Services, or from mandatory reporters who would call Child Protective Services. State lawmakers briefly weighed more oversight in 2015, after a mother in Detroit brutally abused and killed her two children, 13-year-old Stoni Blair and 9-year-old Stephen Berry, stashing their bodies in a deep freezer. Before they died, their mother, Mitchelle Blair, removed them from a local school to home-school them. State Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit and then a state representative, introduced legislation after the discovery of the bodies. The proposal would have required parents and caregivers to register their children as home-schooled with their local school district and have the children meet twice a year with an adult outside the home, such as a pediatrician, licensed social worker, counselor or teacher. The bill fizzled after meeting heated opposition from home-school parents who argued instances like the Blair case were rare. There are some amazing home-schooling parents, Chang said in an interview. But the fact of the matter is there are definitely parents who are not providing any education. We have really no idea what's happening or if those children are safe so that's a huge, huge gap in the law. Nationally, the number of home-schooling families has grown. In Michigan, parents dont have to register their kids as home-schooled, but they can. In the 2019-20 school year, 290 students were registered. In 2020-21, that number jumped to 794, likely a very small fraction of the actual number of home-schoolers, given there are no incentives to register with the state. Michael Donnelly is an attorney with the Home School Legal Defense Association, a Virginia organization that opposes increased home-school regulations. The father of seven home-schooled children said guardrails to investigate abuse are already provided through Children's Protective Services. There are laws that exist to protect children from harm and abuse; they should be enforced, he said. We don't assume that parents who choose to home-school are abusing or neglecting their children. More oversight, he said, assumes theres a problem among home-school parents. There isn't a need for that kind of intrusive intervention in families without a reason to believe there is a problem, Donnelly said. People are innocent until proven guilty in this country. Sean wrote that if the state were to tighten its home-schooling laws the family would "probably just move elsewhere." There is no data that quantifies how many kids in Michigan are not attending school or not receiving an education. Wheaton, with the state, said his agency will get involved in education issues only when paired with other allegations of abuse and neglect. If someone is suspicious solely of educational neglect, the law dictates that they should go to a schools local attendance officer, Wheaton said. Stamiris has done that. In Saginaw, truancy officers told her there was nothing they could do because of the home-schooling exception. Even with CPS involved now, Stamiris said the agency has been sluggish in its response to education concerns, failing to ensure Jo and her siblings are enrolled in an education program. Mat McRae, superintendent of the Swan Valley School District, wrote in an email that, in general, the lack of accountability is a problem. red This is a big monster that has spiraled out of control since the pandemic. In my opinion, accountability for parents who choose to home-school needs to be in the legislators' hands. At 11:30 p.m. Oct. 17, Stamiris emailed U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell and Haley Stevens, and U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, outlining her nieces' and nephew's story in several long paragraphs. What a sad society we live in when all of the adults around her cant make this happen, she wrote of Jo. Its mind-boggling to me that its such a fight to help a kid go to school. The next morning, she wrote to the Free Press, I feel like no one cares. 'She just wants to be a kid' With every week that passes, the problem feels more pressing for Reeder and Stamiris. Anthony will be school age next year. Jean already is the age of a kindergartner, when kids explore storybooks and learn the alphabet. Jo is six years past when many children enter school. Kids her age read chapter books and prepare to do algebra. She just wants to be a kid, just a normal kid in a safe home, where people love her and take care of her and go to school, Stamiris said. In February, a Wayne County family court judge granted a CPS petition to sever Kally's and Sean's custody of the three kids, because the parents' circumstances had become so dire. In justifying the removal, a CPS official wrote in court documents that the parents had become homeless and were living out of their car, after placing their children with Sean's mother in Livonia. Before then, the family lived in a "dirty motel room," according to CPS, which found that the children were not bathing, and one of the children had untreated ringworm. Jo also told a CPS investigator that Kally had texted her that the three children would "be better off without" her. The kids still weren't in school, according to the petition, and CPS had never observed any "lesson plans, learning materials or computers to assist in home-schooling." A judge granted the removal Feb. 15, putting the children under care of CPS. Stamiris and Reeder believe Jo and her siblings are all living as foster children with their paternal grandmother as the custody battle plays out. The custody order is temporary, and the case is ongoing. For Reeder and Stamiris, there is a glimmer of hope. Foster children in Michigan are required to be enrolled in school. Jean, the middle child, was nervous about telling her mother the news, Reeder wrote in a text message. Stamiris, excited, went shopping for supplies. And on the last day of February, Jean and her big sister Jo once again stepped into a school. Contact Lily Altavena: laltavena@freepress.com or follow her on Twitter @LilyAlta. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan girl falls through cracks of home-school education system President Joe Biden said he joins the family of Tyre Nichols in calling for peaceful protest after five Memphis, Tennessee, police officers were charged with the 29-year-olds murder. As Americans grieve, the Department of Justice conducts its investigation, and state authorities continue their work, I join Tyres family in calling for peaceful protest, Biden said in a statement. Outrage is understandable, but violence is never acceptable. Violence is destructive and against the law. It has no place in peaceful protests seeking justice. The officers charged with Nichols murder pulled him over in a traffic stop on Jan. 7. According to his family, Nichols fled the scene because he feared for his life, but the officers caught up with him and beat him for three minutes. The familys attorney says police body camera footage shows the officers using pepper spray, a stun gun and restraint tactics on Nichols. He was eventually taken to a hospital, where he died three days later. A photo of Nichols a young Black man, father and FedEx employee released earlier this month showed him in a hospital bed with bruising and other injuries so severe that he was unrecognizable, his family said. An independent autopsy found that Nichols suffered extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating, family attorney Benjamin Crump said. The officers charged in Nichols death are Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmit Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith, who are all Black men who have been with the department at least two years. The former four have all been charged with one count of second-degree murder, two counts of official misconduct, one count of official oppression, one count of aggravated assault and two counts of aggravated kidnapping. Smith received the same charges, but the counts were doubled. In his statement, Biden said law enforcement officers must be held accountable when they violate their oath. He also called on Congress to send him the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act a police reform bill aimed at increasing accountability for law enforcement misconduct and restricting certain policing practices, including racial profiling. Story continues Public trust is the foundation of public safety and there are still too many places in America today where the bonds of trust are frayed or broken, Biden said in the statement. Tyres death is a painful reminder that we must do more to ensure that our criminal justice system lives up to the promise of fair and impartial justice, equal treatment, and dignity for all. Biden, who vowed to advance police reform during his campaign, signed an executive order on the matter last year that includes a new national database tracking police misconduct and a ban on chokeholds but both only apply to federal law enforcement agents. While the countrys 18,000 local police forces are encouraged to follow suit, theres little to enforce that, police reform advocates say. Since media outlets began tracking police killings in 2015, The Guardian noted, those deaths still hover at around 1,100 a year and havent decreased. Related... Grammy Award-winner John Mayer will be in Pittsburgh this spring for a stop on his new tour, Solo. The arena tour kicks off March 11 in New Jersey. Mayer will be in Pittsburgh March 18 at PPG Paints Arena with special guest Lizzy McAlpine. The tour will feature acoustic work special special performances on piano and electric guitar, according to a news release. Tickets go on sale Feb. 3 at Johnmayer.com. TRENDING NOW: Customers struggling to get jewelry back after local store closes Lawsuit: Mini bottles of Fireball Cinnamon do not contain whiskey Pine Township man accused of attacking woman with axe VIDEO: Homicide detectives, Allegheny County DA continue investigating death of Brackenridge police chief DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts STANFORD, Calif. (AP) Spencer Jones hit six 3-pointers and finished with 21 points, Maxime Raynaud had his second career double-double and Harrison Ingram scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half to help Stanford beat Chicago State 72-65 Wednesday night. Raynaud, a 7-foot-1 sophomore, had 17 points, a career-high 13 rebounds and two blocks. Jones, who went into the game tied with Casey Jacobsen for fourth on Stanford's career made 3-pointers list, has hit 228 3s for the Cardinal tied with Jeremy Green for third all time. Wesley Cardet made 9 of 12 from the field, 3 of 3 from 3-point range and 10 of 10 from the free-throw line and finished with a career-high 31 points for Chicago State (5-17). Jahsean Corbett and Elijah Weaver added 13 points apiece but combined for just 10-of-33 shooting. Corbett hit a 3-pointer to give the Cougars their biggest lead of the game at 52-40 with 13 minutes left but they made just 3 of 17 from the field thereon. Stanford scored the next 11 points to start a 16-2 run that gave the Cardinal a two-point lead when Michael O'Connell hit two free throws six minutes later. They never again trailed. Ingram hit a contested step-back jumper that gave Stanford a 66-59 lead with a minute to play. The Cardinal (8-12) have won three games in a row for the first time this season. UP NEXT Chicago State plays the last of two home contests in a 16-game span Saturday against Division-III Aurora Stanford wraps up a four-game home stand when it returns to Pac-12 play against California 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 After she was arrested for rioting at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and accused of demanding that then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi be dragged out so insurrectionists could hang her, Pauline Bauer told a judge that the law does not apply to her. "You don't have jurisdiction over me, a free living soul, a woman," Bauer, a Pennsylvania resident, said in June 2021, at her arraignment in federal court in Washington, D.C. "I stand above the law, because God gave man the law," Bauer also said, according to a transcript. Bauer will have to answer to the law nonetheless. Arrested in Capitol riots:Pennsylvania woman at insurrection called lawmakers criminals, saying: 'They need to hang.' The 55-year-old restaurant owner from Kane, in McKean County, has been convicted of all five felony and misdemeanor charges against her over the breach of the Capitol. She will be sentenced on May 1. Bauer was convicted at a nonjury trial on Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden presided over the trial, which started on Thursday. Bauer waived a jury trial and opted for a bench trial. Pauline Bauer of Kane, Pennsylvania, was captured inside the U.S. Capitol rotunda on Jan. 6. 2021, demanding that lawmakers be handed over to insurrectionists. She wanted them to be hung. She was arrested May 19, 2021, by the FBI. Bauer, who remains free on her own recognizance, was one of four people arrested in the Capitol riots who had their initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Erie, which covers seven counties in northwestern Pennsylvania and is about 90 miles west of Kane. The cases were transferred to federal court in Washington, D.C. Two of the other defendants, including Bauer's friend, William Blauser, also of Kane, have pleaded guilty. The case against the fourth defendant is pending. Bauer was convicted of the felony of obstruction of an official proceeding and the misdemeanors of entering and remaining in a restricted building; disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building; disorderly and disruptive conduct in any of the Capitol buildings with the intent to impede, disrupt, and disturb the orderly conduct of a session of Congress or either house of Congress; and parading, demonstrating and picketing in a Capitol building. Story continues Bauer faces a maximum of 20 years in prison on the obstruction charge and a maximum of another three years on the misdemeanor counts, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia said in a news release. The sentence she will receive depends on how the judge applies the federal sentencing guidelines and other factors. In September 2021, Judge McFadden ordered Bauer to be jailed for violating conditions of her pretrial release, according to the Associated Press. Bauer remained in custody for several months while awaiting a trial. The judge can give her credit for the jail time that she already has served. 'Bring Nancy Pelosi out here now' The evidence against Bauer included Facebook posts and police body-camera video, the government said. Bauer was among the mob that stormed the Capitol after attending then-President Donald Trump's "Stop the Steal" rally. Bauer and the others sought to disrupt the certification of the election for President Joe Biden. When Bauer was inside the Capitol shortly before 3 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021, another person near her said, "This is where we find Nancy Pelosi," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Bauer, the office said, was standing approximately 30 feet from Pelosi's office when she was recorded saying, "Bring that (expletive) (expletive) out here now. Bring her out. Bring her out here. Were coming in if you don't bring her out here." Bauer pushed a police officer who was trying to remove her from the area, screaming at him and telling him, "You back up. Don't even try," the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Police in riot gear eventually removed her from the rotunda of the Capitol. During the storming of the Capitol, according to the FBI, Bauer also told police officers: "Bring Nancy Pelosi out here now. We want to hang that (expletive) (expletive). Bring her out. We're coming in if you don't bring her out. What are you trying to do, protect a (expletive) Nazi?" Number of people charged in riots grows to more than 950 Bauer's friend, William Blauser, who was with her at the Capitol, was sentenced in February to pay a $500 fine and $500 in restitution. He pleaded guilty in November 2021 to parading, demonstrating and picketing in a Capitol building. Another defendant from northwestern Pennsylvania, Mikhail E. Slye, of Meadville, Crawford County, pleaded guilty in January to using a bike rack to trip a police officer during the riots. His sentencing is April 3. Rioters besiege the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The fourth defendant from northwestern Pennsylvania charged in the riots is Jeremy Vorous, from Venango, in northern Crawford County. He had status conference in his case scheduled for Wednesday. The four defendants are among the 950 people arrested in the breach of the Capitol, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. Nearly 500 of them have pleaded guilty, according to the Associated Press, which also said dozens of others have been convicted after trials decided by juries or judges. More than 70 of the defendants charged in the riots are are from Pennsylvania. Stephen Colbert jokes about rioter's sovereignty claims Bauer owns Bob's Trading Post, a restaurant in Kane, a town of about 3,500 residents next to the Allegheny National Forest. At her court hearings, she was combative with the judge as she espoused beliefs that she was a sovereign citizen who was not answerable to the U.S. government. In one document, in which she unsuccessfully tried to get he case dismissed, Bauer referred to herself as a "vessel" and "the Living Soul, a Creation of God, a Woman, as One of We the People." At her arraignment, at which she told the judge he lacked jurisdiction over her, Bauer also said, "Under God's law, I did not harm anyone nor did any damage to anything." Bauer's protestations drew national attention. She became a punchline for Stephen Colbert's late-night talk show on CBS. The host mocked Bauer for claiming to be a "divinely empowered entity immune from laws," according to the Associated Press. "Divinely empowered? So she's going to get away scot-free, just like Jesus," Colbert joked. "But it does raise the question: If you're chosen by God to be above the laws of government, why do you care who's in charge of it?" Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNpalattella. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Capitol rioter from NW Pa. convicted; she yelled for Pelosi to hang Jan. 25A plea deal in the case of a man accused of sexually assaulting four children fell apart for a second time Wednesday morning when the accused child molester told the judge he hadn't talked to his lawyer in person about possible defenses they could have used at a jury trial. "I've had opportunity to speak with her on occasions, not as I haven't asked the right questions of her," Robert Apodaca told Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer during the proceeding. Apodaca told the judge he had only spoken to his lawyer Julita Ann Leavell on the telephone and had not had an opportunity to throughly go over his case and explain, in person, any defenses he thinks he might have had. Sommer rejected the plea and rescheduled the case for March 9. However, she said she would not set it as a plea hearing until both sets of attorneys ask for one. "Certainly, I would think that an in-person visit over a phone [call] when you're looking at 45 years would just be a necessity," Sommer said. "Certainly, Ms. Leavell, you owe him that." Apodaca, 32, is accused of molesting four children and teenagers while working as a school health aide at Santo Nino Regional Catholic School and Gonzales Community School from 2018 to 2021. He was set to plead guilty Wednesday to three counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor in one of his three pending child sex assault cases in First Judicial District Court, which would have seen him face between 18 and 30 years in prison. This is the second plea agreement Sommer has rejected in Apodaca's pending cases since December. The first attempt to wrap up Apodaca's legal proceedings Dec. 7 which saw Leavell and prosecutors agree to a consolidated plea for four different cases was rejected after Sommer deemed Apodaca's no-contest plea was not in the best interest of justice. Chief Deputy District Attorney Anthony Long filed a motion Dec. 12 dismissing one of the cases against Apodaca "pending further investigation," according to online court records, leaving active three cases. Story continues District Attorney's Office spokeswoman JoHanna Cox responded to questions about the dismissed case and its future by pointing to a sentence in the motion indicating more investigation is needed. She did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday's rejected plea agreement. Attorneys Paul Linnenburger and Aaron Boland, who each represent one of Apodaca's accusers and their families, did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday afternoon. Leavell said she was surprised by her client's response to Sommer since, she said, they have spoken "voluminously" over the phone. However, she said she will speak with Apodaca face to face in order to gauge any anxieties he may have with future proceedings. "I want to get in his head find out what I need to do to allay his concerns because this is something he wants," Leavell said. "But if he has additional questions I need to figure out how I can answer those." Leavell, who represents Apodaca in all three of his active sexual assault cases, said Wednesday's proceeding leaves the status of the other cases "up in the air." "This was the big one we wanted to get out of the way," she said. "Once this was over then we kind of had it [would have been] a little bit clearer." A person in the courtroom gallery could be heard clapping after Sommer rejected the plea, leading the judge to tell Apodaca's family and relatives of the victims to leave the courtroom at different times to avoid "merging" in the hallway. The new Grand Central Madison station offers a new way for travelers to get in and out of the heart of Manhattan. Theres a new way to get to New York City from John F. Kennedy International airport thanks to a long-awaited train station now open in the middle of Manhattan. The Grand Central Madison station, which opened on Wednesday, will offer a new hub for both commuters and travelers via the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR). Travelers coming from JFK can connect to the JFK AirTrain, as usual but after arriving in Jamaica, Queens, visitors can now transfer to a train heading to Grand Central Terminal on Manhattans East Side, in addition to Penn Station. "Grand Central Madison is a game changer for New Yorkers, and I look forward to welcoming Long Island commuters to our tremendous new terminal," New Yorks Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. "Infrastructure is all about connections, and this project is an extraordinary step forward to better connect millions of New Yorkers with their homes, their families and their jobs." Roy Rochlin/Getty Images Trains will run in the new station between 6:15 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays and between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. on weekends. Trains will run every 30 minutes in both directions except during peak periods when they will run once per hour. The new station is the first expansion of the LIRR in 112 years, according to the governors office. "We are so excited to welcome the first generation of LIRR customers who will now have a choice about whether to go to the west side or the east side, LIRR Interim President and Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi said in the statement. This is the dawn of a new era for the railroad, no less important than [the] opening of the LIRR's service to Penn Station in 1910. The new station welcomes travelers with brightly-lit halls and glass mosaics, including an 875-square-foot abstract and figurative mosaic by Yayoi Kusama entitled A Message of Love, Directly from My Heart unto the Universe. Story continues From Grand Central, travelers can also connect to the 4, 5, 6, 7, and S subway lines and the Metro-North Railroad, which services areas north of the city, including Westchester. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Kansas City, Kansas police seized more than $100,000 worth of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl during a weekend sweep of a local shipping distribution center, the department announced Wednesday. The pills were seized during a routine sweep by narcotics officers who were assisted by the departments K-9 unit, police said. The KCKPD wants dealers and suppliers to know that Kansas City, Kansas is not the place to be doing business, said Capt. John Diaz in a news release. Diaz said the department is conducting routine sweeps in various facilities, including ones that process packages. The department seized around 150,000 pills last year and expect to find more in 2023. The pills seized are almost identical to those distributed by pharmacies, but contain potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. In 2022, Kansas City, Kansas recorded a record 174 overdoses, 40 of which were fatal. The majority of those cases involved fentanyl, police said, and represented a significant increase from the previous year when there were 111 overdoses and 23 deaths. Police urged anyone who sees a person exhibit symptoms of overdose, such as shallow breathing or loss of breathing, or who becomes unresponsive after ingesting or snorting a drug, to immediately call 911. Anyone with information on the sale of fentanyl or other illegal drugs is encouraged to call the anonymous 24-hour narcotics hotline at 913-573-6287. As VC activity slowed down globally last year, Kenya defied odds to record the strongest growth in funding raised in Africa. Reports show that the deal count and value to the country surpassed 2021 figures owing to increased investor interest. Data from market intelligence firm Briter Bridges, and The Big Deal shows Kenya raised $1.1 billion, more than double the funding that East Africas biggest economy got in 2021, when the continent raised about $5 billion. Another report by Partech, which excluded Sun Kings mega round, also shows that Kenyas funding spiked by 33% last year, to a record $758 million. Partech placed Kenya fourth in the list of the top VC destinations after Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt, respectively. The four markets account for over 70% of the total VC funding in Africa. Briter, which included country ranking this year, and Big Deal positioned Kenya as second in VC destination after Nigeria, which took the lead after raising $1.2 billion, despite the deal number and value dropping. When compared to the previous year, the amount invested in Nigeria dipped by over 36%, according to Partech, and 20% as per Big Deals data. South Africas funding stagnated as per Partech while Big Deal data shows a 42% decline. The reports show that Kenya recorded the strongest growth in the continent, as Egypt's VC funding grew slightly too. Overall, Africa reported an increase in invested amount last year; Partech put the figure at $6.4 billion, Briter Bridges at $5.4 billion and Big Deal at $4.8 billion. Clean tech and e-commerce Nearly all sectors in Kenya experienced increased VC interest; however, clean tech, e-commerce, fintech and food and agriculture verticals accounted for the bulk of the activity. The clean tech sector received the greatest VC interest in Kenya, as it accounted for nearly half of the total capital raised by Kenyan private venture-backed companies -- buoyed by Sun King's mega round and M-Kopas funding. Both PAY-Go scale-ups are providers of solar home systems, but M-Kopas platform now includes financing of a range of products and services. Story continues Other clean tech ventures that attracted venture backing include BasiGo, an EV startup trying to electrify Kenyas public transport sector currently dominated by fossil-fuel buses. Investor interest in clean tech ventures aligns to last years global trend that saw more capital injected into businesses that are mitigating climate change. It is expected that the clean and climate tech verticals, and more narrowly in Africa, will continue to pull VC dollars amidst slowdown in funding. Scale-ups in the e-commerce sector like Wasoko and MarketForce; B2B platforms enabling informal traders to source goods directly from manufacturers and distributors; and Copia, an e-commerce platform that taps its network of agents to serve customers in rural areas, also pulled in investors too. The aforementioned raised big rounds that saw the vertical emerge as one of the most positively impacted by VC funding. Fintechs also continued to attract most funding on the continent as Africa, the worlds second-fastest payments and banking market, grows. However, in Kenya, the vertical was third in VC preference, evaluated by deal value. On the other hand, the vertical experienced the most activity in terms of deal numbers. Meanwhile, despite Kenya experiencing the enormous growth last year, the market was not spared by the effects of VC slowdown, as some businesses like Kune and WeFarm wound up, as others like Twiga, Sendy and MarketForce cut their staff numbers as they adjusted to new fundraising realities. Ukraine knows the immediate plans of the Russian occupation army, and at the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief meeting, we discussed what to prepare for in the coming months. Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in evening address 26 January Quote: "No matter what the Russian occupiers are planning, our preparation should be stronger. We are talking about this with our partners. And we are discussing this at the Staffs meetings. Today was just such a meeting. We discussed the situation in Donetsk Oblast in detail. Bakhmut, Vuhledar and the battle for Donbas in general The Staff discussed in detail what we should prepare for in the coming months. We know what the occupiers are planning. We are counteracting it. This also applies to the supply of weapons and ammunition, as well as the overall strengthening of our defence forces." Details: The president thanked all the units that "are showing the resilience Ukraine needs, exhausting the occupier, and killing it". According to Zelenskyy, "the more Russia loses in this battle for Donbas, the less its overall potential will be". Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Editors note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal. Statewide aerospace development authority Space Florida is negotiating with an unnamed company to bring a $120 million facility that processes rocket payloads to the Launch and Landing Facility, the Space Shuttle programs former landing site on Merritt Island. Read: Mount Dora residents voice concerns over planned high-rise development The facility, dubbed Project Comet, would create 50 jobs by 2025 that pay an average annual wage of $120,000, according to Space Florida board meeting documents. At its Jan. 26 meeting, Space Florida staff will ask its board to approve the start of negotiations with the Florida Department of Transportation and Project Comet for unspecified financial agreements. Click here to read the full story on the Orlando Business Journals website. Lauren London and Jonah Hills first interaction was anything but smooth. London discussed the awkward exchange she had with her You People co-star during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday. The Without Remorse actor explained that she drove to meet Hill for the first time several weeks prior to filming their new Netflix movie, and that someone in a van had blocked the entrance to the valet parking area. Im trying to get in, Im honking like, Who is blocking the she said, while mimicking how she honked her horn. London then explained that she was shocked to see Hill get out of the van. Thats how we met, she said with a laugh. The actors clearly moved past the car-honking debacle because London told host Jimmy Fallon earlier in the clip that she and Hill have become good friends. Jonah is really my homeboy in real life, she said. I love me some Jonah Hill. Nia Long, Lauren London, Eddie Murphy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and David Duchovny at the Los Angeles Premiere of Netflix's Nia Long, Lauren London, Eddie Murphy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and David Duchovny at the Los Angeles Premiere of Netflix's "You People" on Jan. 17, 2023, in Los Angeles. Hill and London play a couple in You People who falls in love and begin their journey of getting to know each others families. The Netflix romantic comedy, which also stars Eddie Murphy, Nia Long, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and David Duchovny, will be released on the streaming service on Friday. Last week, London publicly shared her support for Hill, who has stopped promoting his films due to mental health concerns. London told Variety at the Los Angeles movie premiere she supported her co-stars decision. For us to pretend that were stronger than others and we can handle more, thats unfair, she said. I hold space for Jonah Hill. Thats my homeboy. I love him, and whatever he needs to do for his soul, I am there for it. Hill told Deadline in a statement in August that media appearances and public-facing events have exacerbated his anxiety attacks. Related... HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) Republican state lawmakers on Thursday filed an appeal with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, hoping to preserve elements of their impeachment case against an elected progressive Philadelphia prosecutor. The appeal asks the state's highest court to review last month's decision regarding the legality of the Legislature's impeachment and trial of Democratic District Attorney Larry Krasner. It seeks clarity on whether the trial can move forward with certain articles and takes issue with the court's decision that three of the impeachment articles allege ethics violations, which would put it under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to discipline Krasner. Republican lawmakers, rather, assert it is in their power to remove him. The two Republican members named to manage the impeachment case contend the court did not deal with the underlying allegations within those articles, which they said rise to the level of misbehavior in office, and they should be allowed to present the totality of their evidence to the Senate for a vote. That will be the linchpin of a portion of our arguments to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, said Republican Rep. Craig Williams of Delaware County, one of the impeachment managers, in a press conference. Spearheaded by the GOP, the House voted to impeach Krasner in November. In its seven impeachment articles, lawmakers asserted that Krasner should be removed from office for various reasons, including his failure to prosecute some minor crimes, his bail request policies and his management of the district attorneys office. Krasner has dismissed the House Republicans claims as targeting his policies. A divided Commonwealth Court panel issued its opinions earlier this month. In what was described by other judges as both the lead and the majority opinion, Commonwealth Court Judge Ellen Ceisler, a Democrat, said the allegations against Krasner fall short because they do not claim he failed to perform a positive ministerial duty or performed a discretionary duty with an improper or corrupt motive. Story continues While Democratic Judge Michael Wojcik agreed in his concurring opinion that lawmakers did not have grounds to remove Krasner on the three counts that accuse him of violating codes of conduct for lawyers, he said the other four articles present nonjusticiable political questions that must ultimately be resolved by the General Assembly pursuant to its constitutional authority. The Commonwealth Courts ruling is primarily based on the premise that impeachment proceedings cannot be used to discipline an attorney, when in fact these impeachment proceedings are not being used to discipline an attorney, said Republican Rep. Tim Bonner of Mercer, who is also serving as an impeachment manager. But rather the impeachment proceedings are meant to remove Mr. Krasner from office for misbehavior within his office. Bonner said they believe all the articles outline sufficient behavior to meet the legal standard for impeachment, and they also ask the Supreme Court to allow the Senate to conduct the full hearing and present evidence so the chamber may make the decision. It would take a two-thirds vote to remove Krasner. Jane Roh, a spokeswoman for Krasner, said that the appeal demonstrated House Republicans care little about our democracy, the Constitution, the law or the truth. The third impeachment manager, Democratic Rep. Jared Solomon of Philadelphia, called the new filing another attempt to overturn the results of our election. Solomon voted against impeaching Krasner, who was overwhelmingly reelected by Philadelphia voters in 2021. Its another anti-democratic move to deny the votes of thousands of Philadelphians, and its a dangerous turn, because if Trump Republicans can do this in Philadelphia, they will seek to do this in Erie, Scranton, Washington County, Harrisburg and everywhere in between, he said. He noted that while he has been open about needing more accountability with Krasner, he said, Where is one sentence in any of the articles that alleges that Mr. Krasner committed a crime?" Uncertainty about the practical effect of the court's ruling prompted the Senate to indefinitely postpone Krasners trial, which had been scheduled to start Jan. 18. Williams said the Senate postponed to allow for the appeal process. __ Brooke Schultz 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. After agreeing last summer to a $110 million one-year extension of a pandemic-era program, lawmakers, advocates and families are calling for the state to make school meals free for all Massachusetts students permanently. Supporters of the policy gathered in a State House hearing room Thursday to promote the benefits of a program that they say ensures students have the nourishment they need to learn while taking pressure off families. New legislation (HD 766 / SD 1013) filed by Rep. Andres Vargas of Haverhill and Sen. Sal DiDomenico of Everett would allow every Massachusetts student to receive free breakfast or lunch in school without providing income or other eligibility information. The pursuit of a permanent policy guaranteeing free meals for all students is prompted by the lapse of the national pandemic-era assistance program that guaranteed free school meals for nearly 30 million students. Former Gov. Charlie Baker and lawmakers agreed in July to a one-year extension of free school meals for all students to the tune of $110 million in the state budget, which campaign organizers said makes Massachusetts one of five states continuing to offer no-cost meals to all students after the expiration of federal waivers in June. DiDomenico said Thursday that the state would need to continue its commitment of $110 million -- if not more -- to continue the program. Obviously, you know, everything goes up year by year, so itll be a little more, but that is the baseline, DiDomenico said. The bill calls for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to fill in the gaps of uncovered costs from federal programs while encouraging schools to maximize access to federal funds. It encourages districts to adopt the Community Eligibility Provision -- a federal program that provides free breakfast and lunch for low-income students without collecting household applications. Schools that adopt CEP are reimbursed based on the percentage of students who participate in other social welfare programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Story continues Project Bread President Erin McAleer said Thursday that there are 56,000 more children eating lunch daily in Massachusetts schools today than there were in 2019 before the federal universal free meal policy began. Vargas said that prior to the universal program, more than a quarter of food-insecure students in Massachusetts did not qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Others who may have qualified did not apply to the program due to stigma or other obstacles, he said. Stigma prevented McAleer from getting the food she needed as a child, the Project Bread president said Thursday. She went from living in a middle-class home in West Peabody to facing food insecurity when her mother, dealing with domestic violence, decided to seek a divorce and became a single parent overnight, she said. No one knew about the violence that she faced or the financial difficulties before her. That was intentional. She didnt want anyone questioning the decision that she had made, McAleer said. She could have walked into my school, the Burke Elementary School in West Peabody, and asked for an application for free lunch. But she didnt. She was worried about stigma. Making universal school meals permanent ensures that no matter what home a child is coming from, they will be fed two nutritious meals every day without fear or stigma, Vargas said. Furthermore, universal school meals is a financial break for families providing upwards of $1,200 per child per year. Advocates said Thursday that nutritious meals ensure students are present and ready to learn in the classroom. We know that when kids are hungry at school they cannot learn, Vargas said. We know that hungry kids have problems concentrating, have lower academic achievement, suffer cognitive development impairments and exhibit more behavioral problems in their food secure peers. Maine, California, and Colorado have all made universal school meals permanent. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Legislators rejected a proposal from New Mexico Rep. Jim Townsend (R-54) to reclassify a form of natural gas-driven power as renewable energy, as a means he said would help the state meet electricity demands. Townsend of Artesia, whose district represents parts of the southeast New Mexico Permian Basin region where most of its fossil production occurs, said he did not believe combined cycle natural gas was renewable despite the language in his bill. He said the legislation was aimed at supporting natural gas production, which Townsend argued was necessary to meet power demands throughout the state and avoid blackouts as other New Mexico leaders, mostly Democrats, endeavor to shift the state toward less-pollutive forms of energy. More:Energy and environment bills to watch during New Mexico's 2023 Legislative Session But the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee largely rejected the measure, voting 7-4 to table the bill, meaning no action was taken and it could be brought up again by the committee via another vote. During the meeting, Townsend contended that classifying natural gas as renewable would prevent statewide blackouts and energy shortages as other New Mexico leader sought to transition toward actual renewable sources like wind and solar. The bill would have allowed New Mexico to include natural gas in its renewable energy portfolio, Townsend said, meaning its production would count toward benchmarks set by the state intended to increase renewable energy across the state. More:Lujan Grisham calls to spend big in State of State speech, as New Mexico rakes in oil money New Mexico Rep. Jim Townsend (R-54) Let me first say that I understand that natural gas is not a renewable. Thats readily apparent, Townsend. But I dont know of another tool that New Mexico power producers have to try to eliminate a problem that theyre faced with as they develop a system where those renewables that were currently dedicated to can be integrated and become dependable to New Mexico consumers. Story continues He said aside from nuclear energy, Townsend was unaware of any dependable source of energy that was low carbon or no carbon other than natural gas. He argued permitting for nuclear energy required significantly more time than natural gas which Townsend contended was readily dispatchable to meet New Mexicos power needs. More:New Mexico lawmakers advance bill to fund response to climate change, extreme weather My purpose is to try to fix a problem faced by New Mexico, he said. Its readily apparent too that adding natural gas to the portfolio would be good for our energy providers in New Mexico, and it would be one that I think they would all see as the most expedient fix to the problem we face. Combined cycle systems use natural gas to generate electricity through not only combustion, as in simple-cycle systems, but also by generating steam. Exhaust heat generated through the combustion of natural gas is sent to a heat recovery steam generator, where steam in pressurized for other turbines to drive additional electric power, read a report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). More:'Local control' of renewable energy pushed in New Mexico Senate bill, could lower rates Of the 491 gigawatts of natural gas-fired electricity generation in the U.S., more than half of 280 GW comes from combined cycle systems, the EIA reported. New Mexico ranks frequently in the top-10 natural gas producing states in the U.S., accounting for 6 percent of nationwide production, the EIA reported. Almost 300 trillion British thermal units (BTUs) of natural gas were consumed in New Mexico in 2020, according to the EIAs latest data, the most of any other sector including renewables like wind and solar. More:Pro-oil candidates lost out in New Mexico's 2022 election, as environment took center stage Jim Winchester, executive director with trade group the Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico argued in favor of the bill, testifying before the committee that natural gas energy was reliable and could prevent brownouts and blackouts. He said natural gas was also less pollutive than fossil fuel sources like coal. It gives us the opportunity to emphasize the fact that the reason weve seen emissions decline is because of the use of natural gas, and this is one of those bills that allows for reliability with a very clean-burning fuel, Winchester said. More:Oil money windfall pushes New Mexico spending proposals to $9.4B. Lawmakers warned of bust Luis Guerrero with the Sierra Clubs Rio Grande Chapter said the bill would wrongly classify natural gas, which he said produces pollution through methane emissions and was not aligned with statewide goals to address climate change impacts from energy. Methane gas is a nonrenewable fossil fuel, that when extracted, vented, flared, leaked and combusted damages our air, land, water, climate and health, he said. It doesnt matter where or how you burn fossil fuels, or how many cycles of power it has. It is a dirty, non-renewable fuel. Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Bill to classify natural gas as renewable energy rejected in New Mexico Vladimir Maraktaev, 23, and a 30-year-old man who asked to be identified as Andrey have been living in Incheon Airport for months. Michelle Ye Hee Lee/The Washington Post via Getty Images) At least five Russian men have been living in South Korea's Incheon airport for months. The men managed to avoid being conscripted to fight in Ukraine, The Washington Post reports. Vladimir Maraktaev, 23, told The Post he doesn't want to hurt people or be involved in Putin's war. Several Russian men who escaped conscription into the war in Ukraine have been living in Seoul's Incheon International Airport for months, waiting for the South Korean government to decide their fate. Vladimir Maraktaev, 23, a university student from the Republic of Buryatia in Siberia, told The Washington Post he was drafted on September 24 and fled the same day. Though they arrived in Seoul separately, Maraktaev and four other Russians have lived together in Incheon's Terminal One for weeks. The men told The Post their lives are hanging in the balance: Seoul could still reject their asylum appeal. Three of the five men will find out on January 31 if their applications are successful. "I don't want to hurt people. I don't want to die myself, as well. But I feel this conflict is extremely political," Maraktaev told The Post. "It's an imperialistic war in my opinion, conquering a neighboring brotherly nation." Speaking to The Korea Times in January, Maraktaev said he fled Russia by crossing into Mongolia by car. He flew from Ulaanbaatar to Manila first, where he stayed for several weeks. Maraktaev then managed to get a flight to South Korea, and he finally landed in Incheon on November 12. However, Maraktaev like the other Russians The Post spoke to were denied entry into Korea and not allowed to leave the airport. They remain stranded in the terminal, washing their clothes in a bathroom sink. According to The Post, the Russians are being held in a room in the airport's departure lounge. They are given three meals daily: a pastry and orange juice for both breakfast and dinner, and a meal of rice and chicken at noon. South Korea accepts just over 1% of refugees South Korea's refugee laws do not view avoiding the military draft as a valid reason to seek asylum, Lee Jong-chan, the Russian men's lawyer, told The Post. This has complicated their journey into the country, and they might be deported and repatriated to Russia. Story continues South Korea has a low acceptance rate for refugees. In 2021, only 1% of asylum seekers were accepted, per Statista. The pandemic years of 2019 and 2020 saw 0.4% of refugees accepted per year. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, most of the refugees given a humanitarian visa in South Korea are from Syria and Yemen. "If you look at how they interview the asylum seekers, it seems like the officials focus on screening them out," Kim Yeon-joo, a lawyer at Seoul-based refugee center Nancen, told The Korea Times. "In most cases, the applicants are deprived of opportunities to seek legal aid and are left on their own to prove the persecutions they would potentially face back in their home countries." Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 21 announced a partial military mobilization, drafting 300,000 Russian reservists to fight in Ukraine. The Associated Press reported in September that more than 194,000 Russian nationals fled to neighboring countries the week the draft was announced. In November, US Army General Mark Milley estimated that 100,000 Russian soldiers had been killed or wounded since the start of the war on February 24. The war has now stretched into its eleventh month. Maraktaev did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanese money exchanger Hassan Moukalled on Thursday denied that he or his company CTEX have financial ties to Hezbollah and said he would mount legal challenges to U.S. Treasury sanctions against him. "The claims are wrong - all wrong," Moukalled told Reuters. "We will take all legal measures to respond to this in Lebanon and the U.S." The U.S. Treasury said Moukalled was a financial adviser to Iran-backed Hezbollah and carried out financial transactions on its behalf that earned him hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Treasury statement noted Moukalled's business CTEX was licensed by Lebanon's central bank. Lebanon's central bank on Thursday said it had suspended that license and frozen accounts belonging to CTEX, Moukalled and his two sons, whom the Treasury also alleged were involved in the same financial dealings. Moukalled regularly appears on Lebanese television channels as a financial expert and has more than 50,000 followers on Twitter, making him one of the rare public-facing figures sanctioned by Washington for financial links to Hezbollah. Hezbollah is a heavily-armed and politically powerful faction founded in 1982 by Iran's Revolutionary Guards and classified by the U.S. and other Western countries as a "terrorist organization." The Treasury regularly issues sanctions against alleged members of Hezbollah's financial networks. (Reporting by Laila Bassam; Writing by Timour Azhari; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Christina Fincher) By Timour Azhari, Ahmad Al-Kerdi and Aziz Taher BEIRUT (Reuters) -More than 200 people protested outside Lebanon's justice palace on Thursday over efforts to derail an investigation into the deadly 2020 Beirut port explosion, as top judges cancelled a meeting to discuss the fate of the inquiry. Judge Tarek Bitar announced on Monday he was resuming his investigation into the blast that killed more than 220 people, after a 13-month suspension caused by legal wrangling and high-level political pressure. But Lebanon's top public prosecutor Ghassan Oweidat objected, filed charges against Bitar for allegedly mishandling the inquiry, and released the remaining 17 detainees still held over the investigation. On Thursday, Oweidat - himself charged by Bitar this week with unspecified offences - issued an additional decision telling the judiciary not to accept any orders, warrants or other documents issued by Bitar. "He is not above God," Oweidat told Reuters, referring to Bitar. He said he considered Bitar's actions this week to have constituted "a big mistake". Oweidat also said the Supreme Judicial Council would cancel its afternoon meeting to discuss the future of the blast inquiry due to the protests and "interference" by lawmakers, but did not set a time or date for a new session. Several members of parliament had earlier met with the justice minister and the head of the supreme judicial council. The explosion, one of the largest non-nuclear blasts on record, was caused by hundreds of tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been unloaded at the port in 2013. 'JUDICIAL SCANDAL' Families of those killed in the blast, members of parliament and other Lebanese flocked to Lebanon's justice palace on Thursday to demand Bitar be allowed to carry on. Some protesters tried to break in, but the doors were sealed and heavily guarded. Inside, Oweidat's office was blocked off by a cluster of police with shields and helmets. Story continues "This is a judicial scandal," lawyer Ali Abbas told Reuters. "Families of the victims are being wronged - there is complete disregard for this crime." To many Lebanese, the port disaster symbolised the wider corruption, mismanagement and unaccountability of a ruling elite that also steered Lebanon into a devastating financial collapse. In turn, they see in Bitar a flicker of hope that justice may one day be served in a country where impunity has long been the norm. George Bezdjian, whose daughter Jessica died when the blast ripped through the hospital where she was working as a nurse, pledged the families would keep protesting in support of Bitar. "We have nothing to lose. We already lost the most precious things we have," he said. Those protesting said they feared Bitar could be removed from the case or effectively sidelined if a supplementary judge is appointed to work alongside him. Bitar told Reuters he would keep working until he could produce an indictment report and that Oweidat "had no right" to file a charge or release detainees because Oweidat himself had been charged over the explosion. This week's developments have set up a tug-of-war in Lebanon's judiciary, where politicians have influence over many appointments. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Wednesday that splits in the judiciary could have "dangerous consequences" if left unresolved. (Reporting by Timour Azhari, Laila Bassam, Ahmad Al-Kerdi and Aziz Taher; Writing by Maya Gebeily; Editing by Christina Fincher) Then-L.A. City Councilman Richard Alatorre at a news conference announcing his retirement in 1999. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) To the editor: Gustavo Arellano left some facts out of his column condemning the "Eastside politico." Here are a few: Richard Alatorre persuaded Gov. Ronald Reagan to sign the first California Bilingual Services Act and fought to bring light rail to East L.A. Art Torres exposed the forced sterilization of Latinas at L.A. County General Hospital and did away with eugenics laws in California. Gil Cedillo made it possible for more than 1 million undocumented Californians to get driver licenses. Kevin de Leon passed transformative legislation to combat climate change. Antonio Villaraigosa helped pass $40 billion in new funding for rail, road and highway projects in Los Angeles County. Richard Polanco is the architect of the expansion of the Latino Legislative Caucus. California wouldn't be the progressive powerhouse it is today without his work. The Times should thank these men for their service, not imply they are criminals. Lettie Ibarra, Los Angeles .. To the editor: Former L.A. City Councilman Jose Huizar, who is pleading guilty to federal racketeering charges, is certainly not the first of his political type. And he definitely will not be the last. A million here and a million there soon add up to some serious corruption. Huizar's distinction is that of being caught. Let the rest be forewarned. Edward Duarte, Los Angeles .. To the editor: While Arellano's column was informative, it was too bleak and read like a put-down of all Latino elected officials in Los Angeles. Not once in this column did Arellano mention any of the hundreds of Latino leaders who have served the community honestly. A major oversight was not to mention Edward R. Roybal, who served on the L.A. City Council for 13 years and was a member of Congress for 30 years. Luis A. Carrillo, South Pasadena This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Courtesy of Sundance The phrase "Sundance movie" gets tossed around as a pejorative, describing a modest film with a recognizable blend of melancholy and quirkiness in which characters tend to achieve self-discovery in approximately 90 tidy minutes. A Little Prayer, which premiered at the festival on Monday, fits that reductive characterization perfectly, but it's capable of softening even the hardest heart. This is the right kind of Sundance movie, one whose low stakes yield high emotional rewards. A Little Prayer's closest analogue is another worthwhile Sundance prototype: Junebug, the 2005 charmer that accelerated Amy Adams' career. Both movies share a writer in Angus MacLachlan, who is an even-handed observer of small towns and the everyday people within them. MacLachlan also directed this one, and now that Sony Pictures Classics has acquired it for theatrical release, A Little Prayer is poised to be one of 2023's indie breakouts. Junebug and A Little Prayer share more than surface similarities. They are set in North Carolina, where MacLachlan lives, and depict upbeat women living with their troubled husbands' parents. In this case, Jane Levy steps into Adams shoes. She fills them extraordinarily well, albeit with a smile that isn't quite so perky. The Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist star portrays a Southern sweetheart named Tammy, first seen waking up next to a partner (Dickinson's Will Pullen) whose physical affection contradicts the fact that he is still fully clothed, having presumably stumbled into bed at some profane hour after heaven knows what. Tammy's closest bond is not with her spouse, David. It's with his mother, Venida (Celia Weston, another Junebug alum), and especially his attentive father, Bill (David Strathairn). They are her surrogate family. If her marriage falls apart, she risks losing them, tooa causality that would upend the comfortable life Tammy has built. Movies love to portray in-laws as pests (and they sometimes are), but A Little Prayer finds resonance in the profound bond that can form among the few people who intimately understand a loved one's complexities. As MacLachlan peppers in details about David's pasthe's a veteran with alcoholic tendenciesTammy's connection to his folks seems sturdier and sturdier. Story continues Stephen Dorff Wants More Than Marvels Worthless Garbage Some nuances of David and Tammy's problems are best left unspoiled, but the primary wedge between them concerns the affair David is having with a co-worker (Dascha Polanco) at his father's sheet-metal company. When Bill finds out about the affair, he wants to protect Tammy. "Straighten up and fly right," he instructs David, aware that his son's indiscretions could cost him the daughter-in-law he holds so dear. One of MacLachlan's wisest choices is to keep David at arm's length, not because he's entirely unsympathetic but because his stakes are lower. David gets to keep his family no matter how much he screws up, whereas Tammy will have to find a new support system if they separate. A Little Prayer isn't about conflict so much as it's about the ways conflict ripples out and changes the fabric of multiple relationships simultaneously. Why Everyones Talking About Jonathan Majors Chiseled Body and Performance at Sundance Lest you think we're dealing with some dour melodrama, know that A Little Prayer is lovely, restrained, and often quite funny. That's the MacLachlan touch. As he did in Junebug and 2017's little-seen Abundant Acreage Available, MacLachlan writes credible characters, quotidian middle-class souls weathering the passage of time. He may be one of the most underrated filmmakers working today. The tone he captures here is complemented by Scott Miller's lush cinematography and Greg Danner's gentle score. There's a bit more happening on the periphery, specifically regarding David's petulant sister (a hilarious Anna Camp), who has returned home in the midst of her own domestic turmoil. Blissfully, none of A Little Prayer's threads are wrapped up with the pat simplicity that can earn the "Sundance movie" reproach. Levy, Strathairn, and Weston submit career-epitomizing work, capturing as much in what goes unsaid as they do in dialogue. These are characters, and actors, who understand that heartbreak is merely a fact of life, evenespeciallywhen you're surrounded by those you love. Keep obsessing! Sign up for the Daily Beasts Obsessed newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 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. Love Island is back, for the second time within the space of a year. The hit ITV2 reality series is returning for a run of winter episodes, with the show relocating from its usual summer location of Mallorca, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. Beginning in January, the winter edition is expected to run for a similar length of time to the regular version roughly eight weeks. This would mean that the finale will air sometime in March. As usual, viewers are invited to vote during the course of the series, with the most popular contestants ultimately landing the chance to win 50,000 in prize money. LIVE BLOG: Follow along with all the live updates from Love Island season nine here. In an unprecedented move for the series, viewers will be able to vote for the first male or female bombshell to enter the villa. How do I vote? In order to vote on Love Island, you need to download the free Love Island app. The app is available for iOS (version 9+ or later) and Android (version 4.4x or later). It is the only way to vote. For a full list of the contestants appearing on this years winter Love Island, click here. The forthcoming series will also mark the debut of Maya Jama as series host, after previous presenter Laura Whitmore stepped down from the role. The 28-year-old TV and radio star is Love Islands third host after Caroline Flack, who died in 2020, and Whitmore. Love Island begins on ITV2 at 9pm on Monday 16 January on ITV2. Louisiana State University student Madison Brooks once worked at the bar where she met the four men accused of raping her shortly before her death, The Independent has learned. On the evening of 14 January, Ms Brooks was at Reggies bar in Baton Rouge, where she reportedly encountered the men now facing rape charges. Authorities say Ms Brooks - who was visibly intoxicated - was sexually assaulted by the suspects in a car after leaving Reggies. The suspects then allegedly dropped her off along a dark stretch of road in the early hours of 15 January. She was struck by a rideshare vehicle and killed soon after. Kaivon Deondre Washington, 18, and a 17-year-old male, unnamed because hes a minor, have been charged with rape in the third degree. Mr Washingtons uncle Everette Lee, 28, and Casen Carver, 18, have been charged with principal to rape and were released on bond on Wednesday. Kris Perret, an attorney for Reggies, has now confirmed to The Independent that Ms Brooks worked at the bar for a month, between 11 June and 11 July last year, as a door girl applying wristbands to patrons. She was terminated on or about July 11, 2022 after engaging in an altercation with another female employee, Mr Perret said. In the wake of the charges against the four men, the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control suspended the bars liquor license on Tuesday because of the seriousness of the allegations and the potential threat to public safety following the revelations in the case, The Advocate reported. Mr Perret addressed the suspension in his statement to The Independent. With regards to the current temporary suspension of Reggies license, the owners of Reggies will continue to cooperate with state and local authorities, as we have done since their first request for assistance in their investigations of this incident, he added. We look forward to meeting with State ATC and East Baton Rouge ABC officials as soon as possible to address their concerns and to insure they have all of the complete and accurate facts and all information they require to complete their investigation. Story continues Madison Brooks was allegedly raped before her death in Baton Rouge (Madison Brooks via Instagram) Agency commissioner Ernest Legier said the suspension would be in place pending a hearing in February. The president of STAR, a group that provides supportive services to survivors to reduce their experience of trauma, according to its site, told The Advocate that alcohol did not cause her rape or her death. The perpetrators caused her rape, which led to her being in a place that ultimately led to her death, Morgan Lamandre added. LSU President William Tate said in a statement earlier this week that Ms Brooks should not have been taken from us in this way, adding that what happened to her was evil, and our legal system will parcel out justice. He said that our collective grief and outrage must prompt action to be taken against underage drinking, The Advocate reported. Mr Tate said he plans to convene area bars and businesses for a meeting to discuss how their responsibilities directly impact the safety of our students. We will work openly against any business that doesnt join us in efforts toward creating a safer environment for our students, he added. Enough is enough. The LSU Democrats and Feminists in Action said in a joint statement that we are glad you are outraged ... but we insist that you direct this energy to fix the sexual violence our community faces instead of using alcohol as a scapegoat. The president of Feminists in Action, Myrissa Eisworth, told The Advocate that by making it about alcohol, in a way, he also blames her for the situation because she was drinking and underage. You should never blame victims in those situations. It was really hard to read, she said. Four men have been arrested for allegedly raping a Louisiana State University student before abandoning her in a dark road, where she was struck by a ride-share car and killed. Madison Brooks, a 19-year-old Alpha Phi sorority sister, spent the night of 14 January at Reggies Bar in Baton Rouge where she allegedly met her attackers. Investigators said Brooks was then sexually assaulted by the four men in a car before they dropped her off along a road in the early hours of 15 January. A driver then hit the 19-year-old and she died hours later in hospital. Kaivon Deondre Washington, 18, and a 17-year-old male who has not been named due to his age have been charged with third-degree rape. Mr Washingtons uncle Everette Lee, 28, and Casen Carver, 18, are charged with principal to rape they have since been released on bond. An attorney for two of the suspects has claimed to local outlet KSLA that footage of the alleged sexual assault proves that they are innocent and the late 19-year-old consented. However, at a hearing on Tuesday, a judge said that the footage along with other evidence actually proves a crime did occur. Key points LSU student Madison Brooks allegedly raped before being killed by car Four men charged with LSU students rape Footage shows Brooks fell over in bar and blood alcohol level was four times limit Suspects attorney claims video proves innocence of rape Three of four suspects appear in court where bond set Judge says footage meant to prove innocence actually shows crime occurred Earlier: Two suspects freed on bond 03:30 , Oliver O'Connell Two men accused of participating in the alleged rape of Lousiana State University student Madison Brooks before dropping her off on a roadway where she was later fatally struck by a car have been released on bond. Andrew Blanco is following the case and filed this report. Two suspects charged with rape of LSU student Madison Brooks are freed on bond ICYMI: Accused men claim video proves they are innocent of rape 01:30 , Oliver O'Connell Story continues An attorney for two men accused of raping a Lousiana State University student before dropping her off on a roadway where she was later fatally struck by a car has claimed that video of the alleged sexual assault proves she was in a coherent state and consented to the acts. Read on: Men accused of Madison Brooks rape claim video proves their innocence Suspects seen callously laughing at victim in video 00:16 , Phil Thomas Prior to setting bond, Judge Brad Myers said he had watched a video showing suspects callously laughing at Madison Brooks while she slurred her words inside the car where her alleged rape took place, according to reporting by WAFB9. However, he said the video did not show the alleged assault. The video was filmed by one of the suspects. The judge said he had also viewed video filmed at Reggies bar, where Madison met her alleged attackers, which is said to have shown her stumbling, falling over and needing help. Madisons state of mind, and her ability to have consented to sex, are at the heart of the case. Recap: Three men and one minor charged in rape case of Madison Brooks Wednesday 25 January 2023 23:30 , Oliver O'Connell Four men have been arrested for allegedly raping a Louisiana State University student before dropping her off in a dark street, where she was fatally hit by a car on 15 January. Andrea Blanco reports. Four charged in rape of LSU student Madison Brooks before she was killed by car Reggies Bar: Series of incidents reported before Madison Brooks alleged rape and death Wednesday 25 January 2023 22:00 , Oliver O'Connell A bar where 19-year-old Lousiana State University student Madison Brooks met three underage males accused of participating in her rape has a history of previous violent incidents. The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control announced on Tuesday that it was issuing an emergency suspension for Reggies bar in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, following the tragic death of Brooks on 15 January. Andrea Blanco has the story. Series of incidents at bar where Madison Brooks met alleged rapists Outraged community demands justice for LSU student Wednesday 25 January 2023 21:15 , Oliver O'Connell The city of Baton Rouge has been shaken by the alleged rape of Madison Brooks that led to her tragic death when she was struck by a car. Fellow LSU students, mothers and the universitys president demand justice for her, as Andrea Blanco and Rachel Sharp report. Madison Brooks was killed by a car. Now, four men are charged with rape Liquor licence suspended at bar where LSU student met alleged attackers Wednesday 25 January 2023 20:30 , Oliver O'Connell The bar where an underage Louisiana State University (LSU) student met her alleged rapists before she was hit by a car and killed has had its liquor licence suspended. The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control announced on Tuesday that it was issuing an emergency suspension for Reggies bar in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, following the tragic death of 19-year-old Madison Brooks. The agency cited the seriousness of the allegations and the potential threat to public safety. Rachel Sharp reports. Bar loses liquor licence over LSU student Madison Brooks alleged rape and death Suspects could face higher charges Wednesday 25 January 2023 19:40 , Oliver O'Connell Prosecutors in the Madison Brooks case have vowed to upgrade the charges against the alleged attackers. Prosecutor Stuart Theriot said at Tuesdays bond hearing that the state would seek upgraded charges of first-degree rape and planned to convene a grand jury in the case. Kaivon Deondre Washington, 18, and a 17-year-old male who has not been named due to his age have been charged with third-degree rape. Mr Washingtons uncle Everette Lee, 28, and Casen Carver, 18, are charged with principal to rape. Mr Washington had his bond set by 19th Judicial District Judge Brad Myers at $150,000. Mr Lee was given a $75,000 bond and Mr Carver was given a $50,000 bond. The 17-year-olds bond hearing has been postponed to February. Both Mr Lee and Mr Carver were released from jail under house arrest on Wednesday morning. LSU Alpha Phi sorority posts tribute to Madison Wednesday 25 January 2023 19:00 , Oliver O'Connell Full story: Two suspects freed on bond Wednesday 25 January 2023 18:15 , Oliver O'Connell Two men accused of participating in the alleged rape of Lousiana State University student Madison Brooks before dropping her off on a roadway where she was later fatally struck by a car have been released on bond. Kaivon Deondre Washington, 18; a 17-year-old male who has not been named due to his age; Everette Lee, 28; and Casen Carver, 18, were charged on Monday with the sexual assault of 19-year-old Brooks. Andrea Blanco reports. Two suspects charged with rape of LSU student Madison Brooks are freed on bond Timeline: What happened to Madison Brooks? Wednesday 25 January 2023 17:30 , Oliver O'Connell Police investigating the tragic death of Louisiana State University (LSU) student Madison Brooks have arrested and charged four suspects with rape. Brooks, 19, was allegedly sexually assaulted in a car on 15 January after a night of drinking in a Baton Rouge bar before being left on a dark road in the early hours of the morning, at which point she appears to have been struck by accident by a passing car, dying later in hospital of her injuries. Joe Sommerlad has pieced together a timeline of everything we know about the case so far: Madison Brooks timeline: From Baton Rouge bar to alleged rape and death Two suspects released on bond Wednesday 25 January 2023 16:57 , Oliver O'Connell Two of the four suspects arrested after an investigation into the death of LSU student Madison Brooks have been released from custody. Baton Rouge ABC affiliate WBRZ 2 reports jail records as showing that Everett Lee, 28, and Casen Carver, 18, were released from the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. Both were booked on Monday as principals to third-degree rape and must now wear ankle monitors and remain under house arrest as conditions of their bond. Two other suspects charged with third-degree rape, 18-year-old Kaivon Washington and an unidentified 17-year-old juvenile remain in jail as of Wednesday morning. The minor is being held separately at a juvenile facility pending a court hearing, and Washington is jailed on a $150,000 bond. Brooks called hero for organ donation Wednesday 25 January 2023 16:00 , Oliver O'Connell Madison Brooks sorority has called her a hero for arranging to have her organs donated in the event of her death. The Louisiana State University chapter of Alpha Phi released a statement last week that read: We are grieving the sudden and tragic loss of our sister, Madison Brooks, following the accident that took her life. The statement continues by saying that she made a lasting impact on the members of the chapter, adding: She was also a hero and was able to donate her heart and kidneys to save others. Judge says video intended to clear suspects actually shows crime occurred Wednesday 25 January 2023 15:30 , Oliver O'Connell A video that four men hoped would exonerate them of the rape of a Louisiana State University (LSU) student has instead proven that a crime did occur, according to a judge hours after an attorney for two of the suspects claimed it shows the late 19-year-old had consented to sex. Rachel Sharp has the details. Madison Brooks: Judge says video shows crime occurred in alleged LSU student rape Prosecutors vow to upgrade charges Wednesday 25 January 2023 15:00 , Oliver O'Connell Now, prosecutors in the case have also vowed to upgrade the charges against the alleged attackers. Prosecutor Stuart Theriot said at Tuesdays bond hearing that the state would seek upgraded charges of first-degree rape and planned to convene a grand jury in the case. Kaivon Deondre Washington, 18, and a 17-year-old male who has not been named due to his age have been charged with third-degree rape. Mr Washingtons uncle Everette Lee, 28, and Casen Carver, 18, are charged with principal to rape. Mr Washington had his bond set by 19th Judicial District Judge Brad Myers at $150,000. Mr Lee was given a $75,000 bond and Mr Carver was given a $50,000 bond. The 17-year-olds bond hearing has been postponed to February. Liquor licence suspended at bar where LSU student met alleged attackers Wednesday 25 January 2023 14:40 , Oliver O'Connell The bar where an underage Louisiana State University (LSU) student met her alleged rapists before she was hit by a car and killed has had its liquor licence suspended. The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control announced on Tuesday that it was issuing an emergency suspension for Reggies bar in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, following the tragic death of 19-year-old Madison Brooks. The agency cited the seriousness of the allegations and the potential threat to public safety. Rachel Sharp reports. Bar loses liquor licence over LSU student Madison Brooks alleged rape and death Autopsy shows injuries consistent with sexual assault, say authorities Wednesday 25 January 2023 14:20 , Rachel Sharp An autopsy confirmed that Madison Brooks had injuries consistent with a sexual assault attack, according to an arrest warrant. Investigators said that the victim and the four suspects met at a bar on 14 January before she allegedly asked them to drop her off. Mr Carver told authorities that Mr Washington and the unidentified minor asked the victim to have sex with them but admitted she was intoxicated, stumbling and slurring her words. The men then dropped her off in a neighbourhood near Pelican Lakes Parkway. While standing in a dark portion of the roadway around 3am, Brooks was hit by a vehicle and died hours later in the hospital. Footage from the bar seized by investigators reportedly showed her falling several times in front of at least one of the suspects before they left the business. Mr Carver told police that Brooks was very unstable on her feet, was not able to keep her balance, and was unable to speak clearly without slurring her words. Despite her state of intoxication, two of the suspects proceeded to have intercourse with her inside the car, Mr Carver told police. He later said that he felt uncomfortable and hated it. When asked by investigators if he believed Brooks was too impaired to consent, Mr Carver reportedly said, I guess. Sorority pays tribute to Madison Brooks Wednesday 25 January 2023 14:00 , Rachel Sharp LSUs Alpha Phi chapter paid tribute to its sorority sister Madison Brooks in a post on the groups Facebook page. We are grieving the sudden and tragic loss of our sister, Madison Brooks, following the accident that took her life. Madison was a sophomore and made a lasting impact on all of us, the statement read. She was also a hero and was able to donate her heart and kidneys to save others. We send our deepest sympathies to her family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. And we respectfully ask for time and space so we may support each other in our healing process. AOE Reggies Bar says it is cooperating with investigators Wednesday 25 January 2023 13:30 , Rachel Sharp The bar where Madison Brooks spent her last night has said it is cooperating with investigators. Madison Brooks, a 19-year-old Alpha Phi sorority sister, had spent the night of 14 January at Reggies Bar in Baton Rouge where she allegedly met her attackers. Footage of her at the bar shows her falling over several times, according to an arrest warrant. Investigators said Brooks was then sexually assaulted by the four men aged 17 to 28 in a car before they dropped her off along a road in a neighbourhood near Pelican Lakes Parkway in the early hours of 15 January. She was struck by a car and killed. Kris Perret, an attorney for the bar, said in a statement to NOLA.com: The owner of Reggies has fully cooperated with the East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office, Louisiana State Police and the East Baton Rouge ABC office since their first requests for assistance in their ongoing investigations and will continue to do so LSU president vows to investigate bar for underage drinking Wednesday 25 January 2023 13:00 , Rachel Sharp LSU President William F Tate has said that the university will investigate why the establishment where the victim met the suspects was serving alcohol to minors. Madison was a daughter, a granddaughter, a sister, a niece, a classmate, and a friend to many of you. By all accounts, she was an amazing young woman with limitless potential, Mr Tate said in a statement. She should not have been taken from us in this way. What happened to her was evil, and our legal system will parcel out justice. He continued: In the coming days, we will call a meeting with these business owners to discuss how their responsibilities directly impact the safety of our students. We will work openly against any business that doesnt join us in efforts toward creating a safer environment for our students. Enough is enough. A tragedy, definitely not a crime, claims suspects attorney Wednesday 25 January 2023 12:30 , Rachel Sharp An attorney for two of the suspects accused of raping Madison Brooks has claimed that what happened to her was a tragedy but definitely not a crime. Ron Haley, an attorney for Kaivon Deondre Washington and the unidentified 17-year-old suspect, claims that video of Brooks shows she was intoxicated but not to point that she could not lawfully give consent or answer questions during sex with the suspects. He claimed it proves she was in a coherent state and consented to the acts, before leaving the vehicle after an argument. Absolutely not a rape. Listen this is a tragedy, definitely not a crime, Mr Haley told KSLA . Can you tell, that she was intoxicated, yes. To the point under the law that you say youre in a drunken stupor, to the point that you cannot lawfully give consent or answer questions, absolutely that was not the case. Mr Haley also said that Brooks allegedly told the suspects that she was going to order an Uber after an argument unfolded. Based on a disagreement, she got out of the vehicle. She indicated she was getting an Uber, Mr Haley alleged. I want the public to know, these young men or really the driver of the vehicle and the young men that were in there, did not put her off on the side of the road. Liquor licence suspended at bar where victim spent last night Wednesday 25 January 2023 12:00 , Rachel Sharp The liquor licence has been suspended at the bar where Madison Brooks spent her last night. The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control announced on Tuesday that it was issuing an emergency suspension for Reggies bar in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The agency cited the seriousness of the allegations and the potential threat to public safety. This action immediately suspends the service or sale of alcoholic beverages at these locations, the statement said. An emergency hearing will be held next month to determine what penalties (if any) should be imposed following a presentation of the evidence. Brooks spent the night of 14 January at Reggies Bar and allegedly met her attackers there. Footage of her at the bar shows her falling over several times, according to an arrest warrant. Investigators said Brooks was then sexually assaulted in a car before they dropped her off along a road in a neighbourhood near Pelican Lakes Parkway in the early hours of 15 January. A driver then hit the 19-year-old and she died hours later in hospital. At 19, Brooks is under the legal drinking age of 21. Three of the males charged over her alleged rape are also underage. Judge says video intended to clear suspects in LSU student rape actually shows crime occurred Wednesday 25 January 2023 11:25 , Rachel Sharp A video that four men hoped would exonerate them of the rape of a Louisiana State University (LSU) student has instead proven that a crime did occur, according to a judge hours after an attorney for two of the suspects claimed the footage proves the late 19-year-old consented. The three adult suspects appeared in court on Tuesday where their bond was set and prosecutors vowed to upgrade charges against them. At the bond hearing, 19th Judicial District Judge Brad Myers said that he had watched a video filmed by one of the four suspects inside the car with Brooks. The judge said that the video shows the suspects callously laughing at the drunk 19-year-old woman as she slurred her words, reported local outlet WAFB. He also reviewed footage taken from Reggies Bar which showed Brooks falling over and struggling to stand in front of at least one of the suspects before they left the bar together. Her blood alcohol level was four times the legal limit at the time of her death and her autopsy shows injuries from a sexual assault, according to an arrest warrant. The judge concluded that based on the two videos and statements made by Mr Carver to investigators he said it was clear that a crime had occurred that fateful night. The Independents Rachel Sharp has the full story: Madison Brooks: Judge says video shows crime occurred in alleged LSU student rape Bond set for three of four suspects Wednesday 25 January 2023 11:00 , Rachel Sharp Three of the four males charged with the rape of Madison Brooks appeared in court on Tuesday where their bonds were set. Kaivon Deondre Washington, 18, and a 17-year-old male who has not been named due to his age have been charged with third-degree rape. Mr Washingtons uncle Everette Lee, 28, and Casen Carver, 18, are charged with principal to rape. Mr Washington had his bond set by 19th Judicial District Judge Brad Myers at $150,000. Mr Lee was given a $75,000 bond and Mr Carver was given a $50,000 bond. If they post bond, they are ordered not to make social media posts about the case or make contact with Brooks family, to submit for random drug testing and be placed on house arrest and wear an ankle monitor. The 17-year-olds bond hearing has been postponed to February. Footage from bar shows Madison Brooks falling as blood alcohol level was four times' limit Wednesday 25 January 2023 10:30 , Rachel Sharp Footage from the bar where Madison Brooks met her alleged attackers shows the student who at 19 is underage falling over several times, according to an arrest warrant. Investigators said that Brooks blood alcohol level was four times the legal limit at the time of her death. She fell in front of at least one of the suspects before they left the business, the footage allegedly shows. Suspect Casen Carver, 18, said Brooks was very unstable on her feet, was not able to keep her balance, and was unable to speak clearly without slurring her words, according to the warrant. But, despite her state of intoxication, two of the suspects proceeded to have sex with her inside the car, Mr Carver told police. He later told police that he felt uncomfortable and hated it. When asked by investigators if he believed Brooks was too impaired to consent, Mr Carver reportedly said, I guess. Who are the four men charged with her rape? Wednesday 25 January 2023 10:10 , Rachel Sharp Four men have been arrested for allegedly raping Louisiana State University student Madison Brooks before dropping her off in a dark street, where she was fatally hit. Kaivon Deondre Washington, 18, and a 17-year-old male who was not identified because he is a minor have been charged with third-degree rape. Mr Washingtons uncle Everette Lee, 28, and Casen Carver, 18, were also charged with principal to rape. LSU has confirmed that none of the four alleged attackers are students at the college. Casen Carver, 18, Everette Lee, 28, and Kaivon Washington, are charged in the rape of Madison Brook (Baton Rouge PD) What happened to Madison Brooks? Wednesday 25 January 2023 10:00 , Rachel Sharp Madison Brooks, a 19-year-old Alpha Phi sorority sister, had spent the night of 14 January at Reggies Bar in Baton Rouge where she allegedly met her attackers. Investigators said Brooks was then sexually assaulted by the four men aged 17 to 28 in a car before they dropped her off along a road in a neighbourhood near Pelican Lakes Parkway in the early hours of 15 January. A driver then hit the 19-year-old and she died hours later in hospital. Men accused of raping Madison Brooks claim video proves innocence Wednesday 25 January 2023 09:48 , Rachel Sharp An attorney for two men accused of raping a Lousiana State University student before dropping her off on a roadway where she was later fatally struck by a car has claimed that video of the alleged sexual assault proves she was in a coherent state and consented to the acts. Ron Haley, an attorney for Kaivon Deondre Washington, 18, and the minor, has challenged the charges, claiming that video of the incident showed Brooks was intoxicated but not to point that she could not lawfully give consent or answer questions during intercourse with the suspects. Mr Haley said she exited the vehicle after an argument. Absolutely not a rape. Listen this is a tragedy, definitely not a crime, Mr Haley told KSLA. Can you tell, that she was intoxicated, yes. To the point under the law that you say youre in a drunken stupor, to the point that you cannot lawfully give consent or answer questions, absolutely that was not the case. The Independents Andrea Blanco has the full story: Men accused of Madison Brooks rape claim video proves their innocence Four men charged in rape of LSU student Madison Brooks before she was killed by car Wednesday 25 January 2023 09:46 , Rachel Sharp Four men have been arrested for allegedly raping a Louisiana State University student before dropping her off in a dark street, where she was fatally hit. Nineteen-year-old Madison Brooks was killed on 15 January after a ride-share driver hit her while she was standing in a dark roadway in Baton Rouge. On Monday, local news station KSLA reported that Brooks was dropped off near the site of the crash by four men now accused of participating in or witnessing her rape moments before. Kaivon Deondre Washington, 18, and a 17-year-old male who was not identified because he is a minor have since been charged with third-degree rape. Meanwhile, Mr Washingtons uncle Everette Lee, 28, and Casen Carver, 18, were charged with principal to rape, an arrest warrant obtained by KSLA stated. The Independents Andrea Blanco has the full story: Four charged in rape of LSU student Madison Brooks before she was killed by car Wednesday 25 January 2023 09:45 , Rachel Sharp Welcome to The Independents live blog about the death and alleged sexual assault of Madison Brooks Jan. 25The number of Mainers enrolled for health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act declined slightly this year. But overall, the state is trending toward having more people covered by health insurance in some way, either through the ACA, Medicaid, Medicare or an employer-based plan. Maine's uninsured rate decreased from 8% in 2019 to 5.7% in 2021, according to the most recent data released last autumn by the U.S. Census, with experts attributing much of that decline to Medicaid expansion. ACA individual plan enrollment in Maine ticked down from 66,095 in 2022 to 63,388 in 2023, according to state and federal data. Nationally, a record 16.3 million people signed up for an ACA plan in 2023, after the Biden administration eliminated many of the program's disincentives that deterred some people from signing up. Aaron Child, 41, of Damariscotta, who is self-employed and owns a tree services business, said he first signed up for ACA insurance three years ago. It's helped give him peace of mind because he knows he can go to the doctor without worrying about exorbitant medical costs. "Before (the ACA), I was paying full price for bare-bones plans without any preventative or routine care," Child said. "I was scared to go to the doctor. But now these subsidies make it so I can get great coverage at an affordable rate." He said just in the past year, he's used his insurance to take care of what he originally thought was a broken wrist, and for tests related to a cancer scare. After a sudden, unexplained weight loss, he ended up testing negative. He said he didn't hesitate to go to the doctor, while previously he might have. Child said 10 years ago, before the ACA was enacted, he was paying $400 per month in premiums for a health insurance plan that didn't cover much, while currently he pays $110 per month for a plan that provides comprehensive services. Mitchell Stein, a Maine-based independent health policy analyst, said Maine people are taking advantage of the improvements to the ACA, including more generous subsidies. Story continues But he said a combination of factors such as Medicaid expansion have resulted in Maine's ACA marketplace enrollment flattening out over the past few years. Also impacting ACA enrollment is Maine's aging population, because when people turn 65 they become eligible for Medicare and no longer have ACA insurance. Changes in the unemployment rate also can affect the ACA. While many ACA enrollees are self-employed, those who start working a full-time job with employer-based benefits become ineligible for the ACA. The ACA is designed to fill in gaps for people who do not get coverage from an employer, such as the self-employed, workers at small businesses without insurance, or people who work part-time jobs. Before the ACA, many people in those categories would have gone without any coverage at all. "Changes in enrollment are complicated," Stein said. "Moreover, all these factors play out differently in each of the 50 states. We know that much of the national enrollment increase occurred in states that have not yet expanded Medicaid. It may be that here in Maine, enrollment in the individual market has plateaued, given our current population and economic conditions." STABLE PROGNOSIS Since 2020, ACA signups have fluctuated between about 60,000 to 66,000 enrollees, signifying stability in the marketplace, Stein said. Factoring into that stability, Stein said, is Maine's participation in federally expanded Medicaid benefits, a program that was implemented in 2019 by Gov. Janet Mills. It helped boost the number of people insured in Maine, but lowered ACA enrollment. Maine people newly eligible for Medicaid under the expansion those earning between 100% and 138% of the federal poverty limit went from zero enrollees in 2018 to 106,000 currently. Total Medicaid enrollment in Maine is about 408,000. In 2019, the last year people signing up for an ACA plan the previous fall would not have been eligible for Medicaid under the expansion, ACA enrollment stood at 70,987. The following year, with more people enrolled in Medicaid, ACA signups in Maine dropped to 62,031. Stein said if it weren't for the Inflation Reduction Act maintaining more generous ACA subsidies that began in 2021, especially for higher-income people who previously were paying expensive ACA premiums but now are paying more reasonable monthly premiums, ACA enrollment in Maine may have actually dropped off significantly during the past two years. The new rules ensure that enrollees are paying no more than 8.5% of their income on health insurance premiums, and also gave more generous subsidies to most ACA enrollees. Child, who owns Apex Tree & Earthworx, said it helps to know that if his business takes off, he won't suddenly be on the hook for expensive premiums. "I know I'm not going to go broke paying for my health care," Child said. According to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, 83% of enrollees received subsidies to make premiums more affordable, and 10,000 Mainers selected a plan where the monthly premium was under $10. Of those who signed up for individual plans, 21,157 chose a Community Health Options plan, 20,618 selected an Anthem plan and 20,157 picked a Harvard Pilgrim plan. Taro Health entered the marketplace for the first time, selling only in Cumberland County, with 456 choosing an individual plan. Taro Health plans to expand to other counties in 2024, company officials said. Taro Health primarily works with a network of direct primary care doctors. By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. jury on Thursday convicted a man who used a truck to kill eight people on a Manhattan bike path in 2017 on murder and terrorism charges, in the first federal death penalty trial of U.S. President Joe Biden's administration. After finding Sayfullo Saipov guilty of committing murder with the goal of joining the militant group Islamic State, also known as ISIS, the Manhattan jury will return on Feb. 6 to consider whether the death penalty is appropriate punishment. U.S. District Judge Vernon Broderick instructed the jurors not to talk about the case until they return. The only point of contention between prosecutors and Saipov's lawyers was whether the defendant carried out the attack in order to join Islamic State, which the United States brands a terrorist organization. Saipov, an Uzbek national who moved to the United States in 2010, was convicted on all of the 28 counts he faced. These included murder and attempted murder to gain entrance to Islamic State, providing material support to a terrorist organization, and damage or destruction of a motor vehicle. Saipov had pleaded not guilty. Wearing a mask and a headset to listen to an interpreter, Saipov looked downwards as the verdict was read, and then spoke with one of his lawyers. Jason Richman, a prosecutor, told jurors during closing arguments on Tuesday that Saipov had asked to hang the Islamic State flag in the hospital where he was treated after the Oct. 31, 2017 attack. "He was happy about the terrorist attack he had unleashed," Richman said. "He had done his part, he earned his way in, and he wanted to show the world." David Patton, a federal public defender representing Saipov, conceded in his closing argument that the defendant conducted the attack, but said he expected to die and become a martyr for Islam, not join the Islamic State. Patton also said Saipov was "steeped in ISIS propaganda" at the time. Story continues "He didn't expect to be here before all of you," Patton said. "And he didn't expect to be joining any organization. And that means he's not guilty." The U.S. Department of Justice said in September that it intends to seek the death penalty for Saipov, despite a moratorium on federal executions since July 2021 as the department reviews the practice. Saipov, who last worked as an Uber driver in Paterson, New Jersey, could also be sentenced to life in prison without parole. He has been jailed since his arrest on the day of the attack. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Leslie Adler, Bill Berkrot and David Gregorio) A man opened fire as an accused thief sped away in his car and was later arrested, authorities in Georgia say. The incident happened around 9:40 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 24, in northeast Atlanta, police wrote in a preliminary report. Investigators said a 28-year-old man stepped away and left his car running near the intersection of Third Street and Myrtle Street. Thats when an unknown man hopped in the vehicle and drove away. The owner fired his gun at the man trying to steal his car, according to police. No one was hurt. The 28-year-old was later arrested and charged with reckless conduct, authorities said. His car was found a short time later. Under Georgia law, a person can use force to defend themselves, their home and property other than a habitation. In a similar incident, a 26-year-old Illinois man was charged with murder in the death of a man accused of trying to steal his car outside a gas station in early January, McClatchy News reported. The cars owner chased the accused thief and shot him three times, killing him. Additional information about the Georgia incident wasnt immediately available, and police said theyre still investigating. Youth attempting to steal vehicle grazed by bullet as citizen intervenes, CMPD says Teen taking out trash is confronted and shot in head, Georgia family says. Senseless Thief poops in community center sink and did something even dumber, WA cops say BAMAKO, Mali (AP) A Mali court sentenced a man to death for the killings of three United Nations peacekeepers almost four years ago, the U.N. mission in Mali said Thursday. The court in Bamako imposed the death sentence for a February 2019 attack on five peacekeepers, three of whom died, the mission reported in a tweet. The slayings happened in the rural Siby area, which is about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the West African nations capital city, The death penalty hasn't been carried out in Mali since 1980 due to a moratorium on executions, according to the U.N. Thousands of United Nations peacekeeping troops have been in Mali for nearly a decade to protect civilians from extremist violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group that nonetheless has killed thousands. The country is one of the world's most dangerous places with a peacekeeping mission. For the ninth consecutive year, it had the most peacekeeper killed while deployed there, 14, the U.N. reported this month. The U.N. mission in Congo was next with 13, followed by the Central African Republic with four peacekeepers killed, the U.N. said. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric, asked for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reaction to the Mali court ruling, said: This is the second time that attacks against U.N. peacekeepers have been the focus of judicial prosecution, resulting in trials and convictions. I think this weeks trial, from where we stand, was a part of the efforts of Mali to improve their judicial response to attack against peacekeepers, he said. We welcome the accountability but our position against the death penalty remains. In March 2021, the court in Bamako tried and convicted nine people for an attack on peacekeepers six years earlier. Since mutinous soldiers ousted Mali's government in 2020 and again the following year, the relationship between the junta and the peacekeeping mission has become strained. The government has constrained the peacekeepers' ability to operate, and countries such as Benin, Germany, Sweden, Ivory Coast and the United Kingdom have announced troop withdrawals. Story continues Conflict analysts say the verdict is a sign of a better partnership between the two. During uncertain times in terms of relations between the mission and the Malian government, its good to see results of joint collaboration which led to bringing those responsible to justice and holding them accountable, said Rida Lyammouri, senior fellow at the Policy Center for the New South, a Morocco-based think tank focused on economics and policy. ___ Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report. A Massachusetts mother has been accused of killing her 5-year-old and 3-year-old children and is expected to face murder charges, according to authorities. On Jan. 24, NBC Boston reported that two young children were killed in their Duxbury, Massachusetts, home that evening. The next day, authorities told the NBC affiliate that they are currently seeking the arrest of the childrens mother, who has been identified as 32-year-old Lindsay Clancy. Police also revealed that in addition to 5-year-old Cora and 3-year-old Dawson, Clancys 7-month-old child was taken to the hospital as well. Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz said in a news conference the 7-month-old was rushed via helicopter due to evidence of harm and that the boy was still in the hospital on Wednesday, Jan. 25. The 5-year-old and 3-year-old were transported to a local Boston hospital after police arrived at their home and were later pronounced dead. According to NBC Boston, police originally went to the Massachusetts house to respond to the mothers suicide attempt. Cruz said that Clancys husband called the police to the residence after realizing she tried to commit suicide. Police said it appears the woman strangled her children and cut herself before jumping out of a window. NBC Boston reported the husband was not in the home at the time of the events but returned and discovered the tragic scene. Cruz shared that law enforcement found the mother, who is also currently in the hospital, and her three children unconscious when they arrived. As his office continues to investigate the deaths of the two children, Cruz said he plans to obtain an arrest warrant and charge Clancy with homicide. He said police will look into all possible motives. He added that the state medical examiners office is trying to determine the childrens cause and manner of death. This article was originally published on TODAY.com (WCVB) A Massachusetts nurse is facing charges for the murder of two of her children whom authorities say appear to have been strangled. Lindsay Clancy is accused of killing the children, aged five and three, while a seven-month-old boy was flown to a hospital in Boston after being found unconscious with traumatic injuries. Plymouth County district attorney Tim Cruz identified Ms Clancy as the suspect in the case on Wednesday and said that she had jumped out of a window at the family home in Duxbury. As soon as able, we will be arraigning her on the two charges of murder in the death of her children, Mr Cruz said. He identified the dead children as Cora Clancy and Dawson Clancy. Mr Cruz said the chief medical examiners office will determine the causes of death. This is an unimaginable, senseless tragedy, and it is an ongoing investigation, Mr Cruz said. The suspect was treated at the scene and taken to the hospital for treatment, where she remained on Wednesday. A spokesperson for Massachusetts General Hospital confirmed Ms Clancy is an employee, according to WCVB. Lindsay Clancy (WCVB) We are shocked and saddened to learn of this unthinkable tragedy, the hospital said in a statement. We extend our deepest sympathies to all those affected by these devastating events. Investigators are said to be looking into the possibility that Ms Clancy was suffering from postpartum anxiety. Ms Clancy had referenced postpartum anxiety in a Facebook post last July, according to the Boston Globe. She wrote that exercise and nutrition had made all the difference six weeks after the birth of her third child, the newspaper said. Loved ones described Ms Clancy as a devoted mother and shared their shock at the events. If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, the Samaritans offers support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are in the US and have thoughts of self-harm, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Estate attorney Lori Douglass says honest conversations about finances are essential before saying I do. In the event of divorce or unexpected death during the marriage, a prenuptial agreement may protect you. In the aftermath of rapper MC Lytes divorce from her husband of six years, John Wyche, the music great is highlighting just how important it is to have a prenuptial agreement in place. Despite some media outlets painting her divorce as a nasty battle dragging out in court since she filed in 2020, MC Lyte says that narrative is dead wrong. My divorce was not a battle, she wrote in a recent Instagram post. While I made public comments related to the delay in signing papers, I can state that any delay may have been connected to his desire to save the relationship; never to take any of my property. My divorce was not a battle, asserts Rapper MC Lyte (above) in a recent Instagram post. (Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images) Acknowledging the reality that divorce can lead spouses to lose valuable property and assets they earned independently, MC Lyte is advocating for the Black community, in particular, to embrace prenups. If you have anything to protect going into a marriage, get a prenuptial agreement so theres no confusion if it comes to an end, she wrote in her post, adding: As a matter of fact, make sure you protect all of your assets with proper insurance, financial and estate planning. Our people are far behind the wealth gap; get a financial education and do what is in your power to protect what God has blessed you with. If youre planning a wedding, the last thing you likely want to be thinking about is your marriage ending and how youd split up your assets in the fallout. But with more people getting married later in life and 50 percent of marriages still ending in divorce, the likelihood of entering a marriage with something to lose is very real. Recent polling reveals more Americans are getting prenuptial agreements before their big day. Married and engaged millennials who were surveyed 40 percent aged 18 to 34, to be exact report signing a prenup. Story continues A prenuptial agreement is a contract that parties sign before they get married. It often details what property or assets each person is entering the marriage with, and how they should be divided in the event the parties go their separate ways. Some recent high-profile cases have shown estranged spouses challenging or revisiting prenups, such as in the divorce of actors Tia Mowry and Cory Hardrict. According to legal documents obtained by Radar Online, after the couples 14-year marriage, Hardrict asked a judge to determine the validity of the prenuptial agreement dated April 14, 2008, and/or that any provisions are unconscionable. Prenups are legally enforceable and can only be challenged in cases when someone was forced to sign involuntarily, the prenup was executed without lawyers present or includes aspects that are unforceable, such as denying a child the right to child support, according to the Law Offices of John B. DAlessandro, a firm based in New Jersey. Estate attorney Lori Douglass, Esq. explained even couples who arent rich should plan as if they are. If youre really young and you dont have anything and youre just starting out, a lot of people probably wont have a prenup, Douglass told theGrio. And you cant tell whether you need one, other than later on when you are very successful. You see a lot of celebrities or athletes or people where, one persons profession make[s] a whole lot of money because of their personal skill, Douglass continued. When the divorce comes, that person sometimes feels, Well, wait a minute, why should you now get 50%? We have all this extra because of my talent. Douglass advises brides- and grooms-to-be to figure out the specific marriage laws for their states, which may impact how they design their prenup. Some states like New York have an elective share statute. The second you say I do, the spouse is automatically entitled to a minimum of one third of the spouses estate, Douglass explained. So if you say I do and die at the reception, that spouse still gets one-third, even if at that point you would have wanted it to go to your mother or your siblings, it happens instantly unless you have an agreement. Watch the full interview with Lori Douglass, Esq. above, and tune in to TheGrio Weekly Fridays at 2pm and 10pm ET on theGrios mobile app for the news and lifestyle stories you need to know. The post Follow MC Lytes advice: consider a prenup even if you arent rich appeared first on TheGrio. Speaker Kevin McCarthys (R-Calif.) vow to block Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) from sitting on the House Foreign Affairs Committee has hit an early snag: He may not have the votes to do it. Omar, one of three Muslims in Congress, has been a controversial figure on Capitol Hill for her sharp criticisms of the Israeli government and its human rights record. Republicans have said shes crossed a line into antisemitism, and McCarthys case for booting her from Foreign Affairs rests on that accusation. But McCarthy has a math problem to solve, one that could prove an early test of his ability to keep his narrow majority united and fulfill a long-running vow. Democrats are rallying behind Omar, which could force GOP leaders to rely entirely on their own members if theyre to succeed. Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the 12:30 Report newsletter Theres already two Republicans that have indicated that they wont vote to put her off, and I think others will come aboard also, said Rep. Gregory Meeks (N.Y.), the senior Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, who is lobbying Republicans on Omars behalf. So I dont think its going to be a simple vote. I think that she has a good chance of staying. Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) said this week shell oppose the measure, calling McCarthys move unprecedented while citing her opposition to Democrats successful removal of GOP Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.) and Paul Gosar (Ariz.) from committees in 2021. Two wrongs do not make a right, she said in a statement. As I spoke against it on the House floor two years ago, I will not support this charade again. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) has been similarly cool to the concept, also pointing to her criticism of the Greene and Gosar evictions under Democratic rule. Im not going to be a hypocrite just because Republicans are in the majority now, she told reporters Wednesday morning. Its not been a precedent in Congress to kick people off of their committees because of things that they say, even if you vehemently disagree with those things. Story continues Still, Mace said shes withholding final judgment until the final resolution is released. Adding to the mathematical headache, Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) said he will be sidelined in Sarasota for several weeks after falling 25 feet from a ladder on his property denying Republicans an easy yes vote if the resolution hits the floor soon. A wild card in the debate remains whether Democrats would vote unanimously to support Omar. The overwhelming majority are expected to do so, putting pressure on McCarthy to rally his own troops. But several Democrats arent showing their hands, including Reps. Josh Gottheimer (N.J.) and Jared Moskowitz (Fla.), two Jewish lawmakers who represent large Jewish constituencies. Asked Wednesday if every Democrat would support Omar, Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar (Calif.) was coy, saying only that its going to be a bipartisan vote to keep her on the committee. Omar hasnt officially been recommended for the committee yet and a House vote has not been set. For months, McCarthy has signaled he would block three Democrats from serving on certain committees should he win the gavel: Omar on Foreign Affairs, and Reps. Adam Schiff (Calif.) and Eric Swalwell (Calif.) on the House Intelligence Committee. That push began in 2021 after Democrats and some Republicans voted to remove Greene and Gosar from their committees as punishment for promoting violence against Democrats on social media. McCarthy began his house-cleaning effort on Tuesday night when he blocked Schiff and Swalwell from the Intelligence panel, accusing the pair of abusing their positions at risk of national security. Because of the special rules governing the Intel panel, he was able to do so unilaterally. The effort to block Omar from Foreign Affairs wont be quite as easy, since it requires a vote of the full House. Republicans are focusing on past comments from Omar that have been accused of being antisemitic and anti-Israel. In 2019, for instance, she tweeted that lawmaker support for Israel is all about the Benjamins, baby a remark that sparked immediate condemnation from Democratic leaders and forced Omar to issue an apology. More recently, she received widespread criticism for equating the U.S. and Israel with the Taliban and Hamas when it comes to human rights abuses. It would be odd to me that members would not support [the removal resolution] based upon her comments against Israel, McCarthy said Tuesday night. But Omar is defending her right to sit on the panel, arguing that she has already paid the price for her comments. I have addressed it, Ive apologized, the congresswoman told reporters on Wednesday. As the debate evolves, Democrats are seeking to distinguish between their decision to remove Greene and Gosar in 2021, and the Republicans targeting of Omar and other Democrats, arguing that the violence promoted by the GOP lawmakers put them in a different league. Suggesting violence against other members, your colleagues, is a much more serious offense, said Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.). I think we start to go down a dangerous path when you start to remove members because you disagree with their policies. Democrats are also pointing to a separate episode in the last Congress involving Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), who told a crowd in her district that sharing an elevator with Omar was alarming until she saw that Omar doesnt have a backpack. The implication was that Omar must be a suicide bomber because of her faith, and Democrats demanded that McCarthy condemn the remarks something he refused to do. Nothing. Not a word. Not a peep, Meeks said. Then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) also resisted efforts to have Boebert removed from her committees, infuriating liberals at the time. Thats assuming that all Muslims are terrorists, right? Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), another Muslim lawmaker, said Wednesday. All of this is so incredibly frustrating. McCarthy and Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the Foreign Affairs chairman, made their case for blocking Omar during a closed-door meeting with the House GOP conference Wednesday morning, when McCaul highlighted a number of Omars statements that have been cited as antisemitic. They went through em, Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), who was initially undecided but opted to support the effort following the presentation, said afterward. Because we need to remind people, this is what she said in the past. Other Republicans have remained mum on how they will vote, including Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), one of 11 Republicans who voted to boot Greene from her committees. Weve got to have consistent rules that apply to everybody, Fitzpatrick said Wednesday, adding that we havent even seen anything yet. Meanwhile, Omars allies say theyre eager for the battle to reach the floor to get everyone on the record. Im fully supportive of taking a vote I think its important, said Tlaib. Because if were going to continue doing this over and over again, I want to see where everybody stands. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) selected his close ally Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.) to be chair of the Elected Leadership Committee, resurrecting the role within GOP leadership. The selection was made official at Wednesdays House GOP Conference meeting, according to a GOP source. Punchbowl News first reported McCarthys selection of Graves on Thursday. The Elected Leadership Committee chair is an ad-hoc position that has not been filled in more than a decade. But resurrecting it has previously been floated as a fallback opportunity for rising stars in the House GOP. Former Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) was last appointed to the role by former Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) in 2010. In selecting Graves, McCarthy is increasing the number of his allies in House GOP leadership after making many concessions throughout a prolonged Speakership election battle at the start of the year. Graves was part of a small group of key negotiators, along with members like Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) and French Hill (R-Ark.), who helped craft a deal to sway 20 McCarthy detractors to support him for Speaker after multiple failed ballots. Punchbowl News reported that Graves will work to put further restrictions on earmarks, which were brought back in the last Congress as community project funding after a decadelong ban. Many members who opposed McCarthy pushed to again eliminate earmarks, but the House GOP Conference overwhelmingly rejected a resolution to ban the practice in November. Graves was previously the ranking member on the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis in the last Congress, and is a potential contender for governor of Louisiana in 2023. He was first elected to the House in 2014. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Atty. Gen. Merrick Garland, left, swears in Assistant Atty. Gen. for the Office of Legislative Affairs Carlos Uriarte. The office acts as the ambassador between the department and Capitol Hill. (U.S. Department of Justice) Assistant Atty. Gen. Carlos Uriarte has spent months preparing to face off against House Republicans as they unleash a gantlet of congressional investigations into the Justice Department. As the head of the Office of Legislative Affairs the Justice Departments liaison to Capitol Hill Bay Area native Uriarte will be thrust into a high-stakes but largely behind-the-scenes role in coming months as House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) leads a sweeping examination of the Justice Department and FBI. In readying for the challenge, Uriarte has studied congressional investigations in recent decades and quizzed his predecessors on what went right and wrong in their role as ambassador to Congress. "Frankly, I think it makes the department better when Congress is effectively doing oversight of the department, and so my view is, I want to be as cooperative as we can with them. I want to find those areas where we can work with Congress, because I know that it makes the department better when we do that, [and] are transparent, but I also recognize that there's some ways and times where we can't do that," Uriarte told The Times in an interview. House Republicans are planning multiple investigations, and have formed the select subcommittee on the weaponization of the federal government, which they say is modeled after the 1975 Senate select committee led by Sen. Frank Church (D-Idaho) that looked into intelligence agencies failures after the Watergate scandal. The newly created subcommittee is expected to launch an inquiry into whether federal law enforcement and national security agencies sought to censor conservative views at all levels of government, from the presidency down, as well as in private life, on social media and in school board meetings. The Justice Department is also expected to be pulled into an investigation led by House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) into the business dealings of President Biden's son, Hunter, and the family's finances. Story continues "The Assistant attorney general stands right between the executive branch and the legislative branch. There's pressure on both sides. The Department of Justice is reluctant to provide information about many matters, and the Hill wants information. It obviously is dramatically more difficult when one house of Congress is controlled by the opposite party," said Ronald Weich, who was assistant attorney general for legislative affairs under President Obama and is now dean of the University of Baltimore School of Law. Weich said Uriarte's background working in Congress and for the executive branch makes him exceptionally prepared for the onslaught of investigations, which he will manage alongside his office's other duties, which include responding to requests from members of Congress for information and help writing legislation, preparing Justice Department officials to testify before Congress and providing consistent messaging from the department to Capitol Hill. "Having been on the Hill, he's worked elsewhere in the Department of Justice, he knows the terrain. This is not a job for an amateur. It needs someone who has seen this process before, and Carlos has," Weich said. 'Obligation to give back' Born in San Leandro in 1979, Uriarte spent time in the Bay Area and in eastern Washington state while he was growing up. A framed photo of his grandmother's citizenship ceremony sat on top of the television in their home, a constant reminder of his sense of purpose. "In my family, there was always a deep sense of obligation to give back, that this country had given my grandparents just this amazing opportunity," he said. "[My grandmother] would talk about how important it was for her to be engaged civically, and how important it was for us to be giving back, and so I always had that sense growing up, even if I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do." Uriarte earned a bachelor's degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 2002 and a juris doctor from University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2005. After a few years in private practice he was hired as legislative counsel for Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) in 2009. She called him a "Californian through and through." "His counsel as I served on the Oversight and Judiciary committees early in my congressional career was invaluable, and the knowledge he gained here has served him well throughout his career to the present-day," Chu said in a statement. He served as counsel for Democrats on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from 2011 to 2013, including during the 2011 and 2012 Republican oversight of Operation Fast and Furious, in which federal officials allowed weapons to be sold to Mexican drug cartels in an effort to track down cartel leaders. In his current role, Uriarte will encounter several familiar faces from that investigation, when fights over documents and testimony led to then-Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder being held in contempt of Congress. Jordan has hired several Republican staffers who served then-committee Chairman Darrell Issa, including Steve Castor, who is general counsel for Republicans on the Judiciary Committee. Castor led Republican questioning during then President Trump's first impeachment. "You're going to see pros who know how to throw bricks," said Robert Raben, president of the consulting firm the Raben Group, who led legislative affairs during the Clinton administration. "The [Justice] Department enormously needs the advice and the steady hands of someone who knows the institution which is overseeing them." Uriarte also served as senior counsel in the Interior Department and as an associate deputy attorney general during the Obama administration. He returned to Capitol Hill in 2020 to serve as chief counsel for investigations for the House select subcommittee on the coronavirus crisis. The Senate voted unanimously to confirm him as assistant attorney general in August. "He's been on the other side of the subpoena wars," Weich said. "That's good. He understands the motivation of Hill staffers, and he is well familiar with limits of information that can be provided appropriately." Investigations underway House GOP investigations are expected to launch in the coming weeks, but Republicans signaled what they wanted months in advance by ordering the Justice Department to preserve hundreds of documents and prepare dozens of witnesses to testify while they were still in the minority. Jordan's committee has fairly open-ended authority to scrutinize any issue related to civil liberties, or to examine how any federal agency has collected, analyzed and used information about Americans. The authorizing resolution instructs the panel to obtain information about ongoing criminal investigations, which is expected to include the special counsel examination of Trumps attempts to overturn the 2020 election and his handling of classified documents. On Friday, Uriarte issued his opening salvo, a private letter to Jordan that was quickly leaked to the press, which outlined the standard processes the Justice Department intends to follow in dealing with the committee, such as how much time it needs to prepare witnesses to testify, and defining boundaries of what it will and will not do. For example, it won't provide the names of agents assigned to particular investigations or records from ongoing cases. Consistent with longstanding policy and practice, any oversight requests must be weighed against the Departments interests in protecting the integrity of its work, Uriarte wrote in the five-page letter. Longstanding Department policy prevents us from confirming or denying the existence of pending investigations in response to congressional requests or providing non-public information about our investigations. It resembles a 2000 letter the Justice Department first sent to then-Rep. John Linder, a Georgia Republican, which detailed the department's long-standing policies and procedures, including when the Supreme Court has said the executive branch can withhold information from Congress. That letter has been used by administrations of both parties to explain the limitations on congressional oversight. Raben, the author of the Linder letter, praised Uriarte's version and said it puts down a marker of the deliberate action the committee and the public should expect from the department. "They are doing something which the office doesn't normally do: They are telling a story," Raben said. "They are getting ahead of what they expect, which is constant demonization and undermining of their function." Since the Reagan administration, oversight investigations normally began with a broad document request by a congressional committee and then a lengthy negotiation over what the executive branch would provide. Most disputes are handled without fanfare. Issuing subpoenas and holding agency heads in contempt were rare, though impasses occurred in nearly every administration. The Trump administration largely refused to negotiate over documents and witnesses, which resulted in more court battles than usual. It remains to be seen how much negotiation will be sought by Jordan's committee. Uriarte said he wants to find common ground while upholding the Justice Department's ability to protect ongoing investigations, federal agents and prosecutors and national security information. He emphasized understanding why the department has certain traditions, specifically the prohibition against sharing information with Congress about ongoing investigations so that innocent individuals aren't harmed. "It's not ... about Congress. It's about the perception that we want to avoid of political interference in our work, and the importance of protecting those individuals who are involved in our investigations, too," he said. "Those traditions are long-standing, and I really think that those traditions are going to be important guardrails for us to rely on as we look ahead to this Congress." Weich said Uriarte is well prepared for the balancing act. "Carlos has a very calm and mature style, and that will serve him well. You can't panic. You can't sway in the wind. He will take each request as it comes and working with others in the department make a determination about what can appropriately be said. I'm sure he's going to respond to oversight requests respectfully," Weich said. "But respectful doesn't mean complying with every request." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A member of the Swinomish Indian Tribe was sentenced to six years in prison on Wednesday for dealing drugs on the Swinomish Reservation and elsewhere in Skagit County while carrying a gun. Case records said that on March 14, 2022, 28-year-old Robert Andrew Johnny was a passenger in a car where officers found 90,000 fentanyl pills, two kilos of methamphetamine, four guns and $10,000 cash. When police searched Johnnys home, they found more than 2,800 fentanyl pills and additional methamphetamine, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Washington. Previously, in June 2021, police searched a car that Johnny had been driving and found fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin. Also in the car was a backpack with a gun inside as well as items bearing Johnnys name, documents said. Last October, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Prosecutors highlighted the danger of the fentanyl and methamphetamine Johnny distributed on the Swinomish Reservation and elsewhere in Skagit County when asking for a six-year prison sentence. After he serves his prison sentence, Johnny must complete four years of supervised release. Family members and supporters hold a photograph of Tyre Nichols at a news conference in Memphis on Monday. (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press) Five former police officers in Memphis, Tenn., were charged with second-degree murder Thursday in the brutal beating of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, during a traffic stop, authorities said. Former Officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith, who are Black, were each charged with one count of second-degree murder, two counts of official misconduct, one count of official oppression, one count of aggravated assault while acting in concert, and two counts of aggravated kidnapping in the death of Nichols, according to the Shelby County Sheriff's Office. "I'm excited. It shows that justice is being served. It doesn't matter the color of the officers. The fact is, the officers did what they did, and it was unnecessary," Nichols' aunt Kandi Green said in an interview with The Times. The encounter occurred Jan. 7 and was captured on police body cameras. The Memphis Police Department and other law enforcement agencies across the country were bracing for reaction to the release of the video showing the beating of Nichols, who died on Jan. 10. The city of Memphis announced it would release video of the police encounter Friday after 4 p.m. Pacific time. Police departments including the LAPD were on notice as they prepared for demonstrations. "This is a failing of basic humanity toward another individual. This incident was heinous, reckless and inhumane," said Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis in a video statement Wednesday evening. "When the video is released in the coming days, you will see this for yourselves." Davis, taking an apologetic tone in her address, urged citizens to peacefully exercise their 1st Amendment rights, adding that the disturbing video must not be a "calling card for inciting violence." Benjamin Crump, a lawyer for Nichols' family, said the charging of the officers "gives us hope as we continue to push for justice for Tyre." "This young man lost his life in a particularly disgusting manner that points to the desperate need for change and reform to ensure this violence stops occurring during low-threat procedures, like, in this case, a traffic stop," Crump said in a statement. Story continues Shelby County Dist. Atty. Steven Mulroy announced the charges Thursday afternoon along with David Rausch, the director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. "Frankly, I'm shocked. I'm sickened by what I saw. ... In a word, its absolutely appalling, Rausch said of the video of the encounter between police and Nichols. "We should not be here. Simply put: This shouldn't have happened." Nichols, a California native and father of a 4-year-old son, grew up in Sacramento and recently moved to Memphis to work for FedEx. He loved to skateboard and practiced photography, according to family. Nichols was pulled over Jan. 7 and arrested on suspicion of reckless driving, according to Memphis police. Nichols' family attorneys say they believe he was stopped for driving the wrong way down a one-way street. Officers and Nichols were just 100 yards from the home of Nichols' parents during the encounter, according to Jennifer McGuffin, the chief spokesperson for Romanucci & Blandon, the law firm representing Nichols' family. When officers approached Nichols' car, a confrontation occurred, and Nichols ran off, police said. Attorney Antonio Romanucci who has seen portions of the police body-camera video said Nichols asked why he was being pulled over during the initial stop. Officers quickly used pepper spray on him, and he fled from his car, Romanucci said. The police officers pursued Nichols, and another confrontation took place, which led to Nichols' arrest and subsequent hospitalization, police said. "When he tried to leave, they caught up to him," Romanucci said. "They showed him who they are." The attorney described a "savage" beating that was more akin to the Rodney King beating that led to the Los Angeles riots in 1992 than the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020. "It was a severe beating," Romanucci said. He added that, although only five police officers were charged, there were more police on scene. He estimated that 10 to 12 officers were in the video. "Nobody I heard, no one said they should stop," Romanucci said. Nichols can be heard in the video screaming, "What did I do?" and calling for his mother, he added. Romanucci, who also represented the family of George Floyd, said the Nichols video was particularly "shocking and disturbing." This is who Tyre Nichols was a talented and dedicated skateboarder with SO much life left to live He didnt deserve to be tragically taken from his family and community! We will continue to fight for accountability for you Tyre! #JusticeForTyreNichols pic.twitter.com/hYwMnRRZEA Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) January 23, 2023 The video to be released Friday shows Nichols being tased, pepper-sprayed, beaten and restrained for three minutes, McGuffin said. She also said that Nichols called for his mother, and that he told officers he wished to go home. A day after the incident, while Nichols was hospitalized, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation launched a use-of-force inquiry at the request of the local district attorney. Nichols had a bright smile, his aunt recalled. "He just had one of those spirits, one of those personalities that would draw you to him," Green said. "He was a sweetheart. Every time you seen him, he had a smile on his face. ... Never had a criminal record. Never been in any type of trouble. All-around good kid." The Rev. Al Sharpton, the New York-based civil rights leader, said that he would be traveling to Memphis and that he had spoken with the Nichols family. "The fact that these officers are Black makes it more egregious to those of us in the civil rights movement. These officers should not be allowed to hide their deeds behind their Blackness," Sharpton said in a statement. "We are against all police brutality not just white police brutality." From left, former Memphis Officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith. (Memphis Police Department) Less than two weeks after Nichols' death, the Police Department announced the firing of the five officers who were involved in the confrontation. William Massey, an attorney representing Martin, said his client surrendered Thursday morning and was "resolved to put this behind him." "What police do is dangerous and difficult," Massey said. "And I think this is every policemans fear, that something like this would happen on their watch." A lawyer for Mills said his client was "shocked to have found himself in this position." "He dedicated his whole life to serving his community," attorney Blake Ballin said. The Memphis Police Assn., the union representing police officers in the city, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The five officers were part of the Memphis Police Department's Scorpion Unit, a 40-person team dedicated to fighting violent crime in hot spots in the city. "Scorpion" stands for Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods. "It is important to us that each member of the community feels like they can go to the grocery store or live in their house without their house being shot, or the shootings that are frequently occurring on the streets and in the roadways. So, for that reason we launched the Scorpion Unit, Assistant Chief Shawn Jones said when the unit was started in 2021. The unit identifies high-crime areas using data and then sends teams to those locations. It was not immediately clear why Scorpion officers were the ones who pulled Nichols over. But the unit has come under fire from activists who say it has not brought down crime and mostly targets low-income residents. "It essentially preys on Memphians in highly impoverished areas," said Amber Sherman, an activist who organizes with Black Lives Matter's Memphis chapter. "All weve seen when folks interact with Scorpion is violence. ... We're looking to end the use of the unit." In her video address Wednesday night, Chief Davis called for a "complete and independent" review of all specialized units in the department, including Scorpion. Nichols' death reignited public scrutiny of police brutality nearly three years after the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer set off nationwide protests and launched the #DefundThePolice movement. Police departments across the country were put on high alert Thursday with the announcement of charges against the officers, prepping for potential demonstrations, especially after the Nichols video is released publicly. LAPD spokesman Warren Moore told The Times the department was preparing for possible protests. "We're setting up different watches and making sure we have the proper resources out," the officer said. The department is "flirting with" going to A and B watch, which means every officer works a 12-hour shift followed by 12 hours off; it's an expensive action but ensures there are more officers on duty. Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The Dublin Police Department is investigating a local familys death as a possible murder-suicide. >> TRENDING: 4 people taken to hospital, some unconscious after hazmat, rescue operation at Dayton business Dublin Police were called to the 7300 block of Balfoure Circle at around 2 a.m. Wednesday, January 18, a spokesperson for the department stated. Officers responded after a friend of one of the residents requested a wellness check. Crews found parents and their son shot to death, the spokesperson informed. The initial investigation showed that the family was deceased for several days. Officers did not find any signs of forced entry, leading investigators to suspect the deaths were caused by a murder-suicide, the spokesperson continued. Rajan Rajaram, 54, Santhalatha Rajan, 51, and Anish Rajan Rajaram, 19, were identified as the father, mother, and son. Anish was a sophomore at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, a spokesperson from the college confirmed. He studied at the Farmer School of Business and was an active member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity and Pi Sigma Epsilon. We are devastated by this loss of life. Our hearts go out to Anishs family, friends, and all who knew him, the spokesperson said. Any students seeking support during this time can contact Student Counseling Services at 513-529-4634 or Dean of Students office at 513-529-1877. The H.O.P.E. (Help Over the Phone Everywhere) line, 855-249-5649, is also available 24/7 for students to call for immediate support, crisis intervention, and stabilization from a crisis support specialist. Dublin Police do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public. Officers encourage anyone having suicidal thoughts to reach out to the Dublin Police or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which provides 24/7 confidential support for people in distress as well as prevention and crisis resources. Clint Waatti of Michigan died in the Etowah County Detention Center, family members say, and their grief has been magnified by the inability to find out what happened to him. Clint Waatti planned to pass through Gadsden. The Michigan resident worked for a private trucking company, his sister Dawn Waatti said, and he expected to be in the city overnight. Instead, Waatti was arrested on Jan. 14 for possession of marijuana, and according to the Etowah County Sheriff's Office, he was found unresponsive days later in an overnight security check. Despite what a news release described as "lifesaving measures," he died. His grieving family wants to know what happened; the Etowah County Sheriff's Office has released few details because of the ongoing investigation, being conducted by the Marshall County Sheriff's Office. Etowah authorities have not released Waatti's name; family members identified the 47-year-old man. Dawn Waatti said she didn't learn of her brother's death until Etowah County Coroner London Pearce contacted the family the afternoon of Jan. 17. She had been calling the sheriff's office, trying to find out how to get him released on bond. Since then, she and her parents have been trying to find out what happened to her brother, who was strong and healthy, in the jail. She said they've left messages that have not been returned. It has made an already heartbreaking situation worse, Dawn Waatti said. She said there were news accounts reporting a death in the jail before family members were notified of her brother's death. Sheriff Jonathon Horton said his office is waiting for reports from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, and the results of the Marshall County Sheriff's Office investigation. He said he understands DFS is waiting for toxicology results. "It's a very sad situation," Horton said. However, Waati's parents, Paul and Denise Waati, said they had been informed of preliminary information from the autopsy, but it did not determine the cause of death. According to his parents, the autopsy found his major organs were in "great shape." They must wait now for toxicology reports, and they've been told it could be 30 to 60 days before that report is available. Story continues Waatti was arrested Jan. 14 at or near 2508 W. Meighan Blvd. for possession of marijuana, first degree for other than personal use, according to court documents. While he couldn't discuss the particulars of Waatti's arrest, Horton said that charge typically reflects the amount of marijuana a person has, or that it appears to have been packaged for resale. According to the Code of Alabama, a person can be charged with first-degree possession of marijuana if they have a prior conviction for second-degree possession of marijuana. Dawn Waatti said no one in the family got a call about the arrest, not from Clint or anyone else. It was something they learned about from his boss. He found out only because he couldn't contact her brother and started making calls to find his truck and driver. On Monday, she said, Waati's boss came to Gadsden to try to bail him out. Bond had not been set yet Monday morning, he was told, and he had to take the truck Clint had driven. When he was not able to get her brother released, Dawn Waatti said she started making calls to find out how to pay his bond. Instead, she was in Gadsden Wednesday, trying to get information about why her brother died, and to see his body. Dawn Waatti said her brother may well have had marijuana; it's legal in Michigan and he often carried marijuana in a cigarette pack. Asked if her brother might have been unaware that under Alabama law, it's illegal to possess marijuana, she said she didn't know. "It's something I wish I could ask my brother," she said. This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Michigan family seeks answers after man's death in Alabama jail The Michigan House and Senate easily approved similar bills on Thursday to expand a state tax credit for low-income workers, an idea championed Wednesday by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in her State of the State address. Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, also called the Working Families Tax Credit, passed by a 27-11 margin in the Senate, with seven Republicans joining the 20 Senate Democrats to ensure the bill's approval. A similar bill passed 100-8 in the House later Thursday night. It's an idea championed by Democrats, Republicans and hundreds of advocacy groups, and will likely be one of the first bills to become law in the new legislative term. Michigan State Capitol building in Lansing, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. More:People may not realize they're eligible for Earned Income Tax Credit on 2022 returns More:Buttressed by Democratic majorities, Whitmer lays out vision in State of the State speech What's in the bills? There are currently state and federal Earned Income Tax Credits aimed at helping workers who earn low pay. Currently, the state offers a credit that's 6% of the federal amount. Both the House and Senate bills would expand that to 30% for the 2023 tax year, while allowing for a 24% credit to be applied retroactively to taxes in 2022. Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, is the lead sponsor of the Senate bill. She explained the impact: a single mother earning about $17,000 a year who also has two children would receive roughly $350 from the current state credit. Expanding the credit to 30% of the federal credit would mean she'd receive about $1,800, the senator said. Democrats in the Senate originally proposed gradually increasing the credit to 30% over a number of years, but tweaked their bill so that the increase takes effect sooner. That mirrors a House Republican plan, including the retroactive component for the prior tax year. Who would this apply to? Eligibility for the state and federal credits are the same. In general, in order to qualify a person must be a U.S. citizen who worked. The actual income level that determines eligibility depends on whether a person is filing taxes with a spouse and if they are claiming any children. Story continues For example, a married couple with no children would only be eligible if they earned less than $22,610 in 2022, according to the IRS. But a married couple with three kids would be eligible if they earned less than $57,187. The Michigan League for Public Policy estimates nearly 740,000 families in the state claimed the credit for the 2019 tax year, receiving an average of $150. More:Tax rollback? Sweetened EITC? Pension tax repeal? Michiganders could get it all. More:House Fiscal Agency: Boom in state revenues will likely trigger income tax cut What were the arguments for and against it? Before Thursday's votes, a coalition of business, faith and community leaders advocated for expanding the credit. McDonald Rivet voiced many of their arguments in favor of expanding how much the state pays out based on the federal credit, noting the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated the federal credit kept more children living above the poverty line than any other similar program in the country's history. "This puts money in the pockets of working families now, when they need it the most," McDonald Rivet said. "Decades, literally decades, of research indicate that families mostly use the EITC to pay for necessities like repairing homes, maintaining vehicles that are needed to commute to work, and in some cases obtaining additional education and training to boost their employability and earning power." Several Republicans argued the credit doesn't actually achieve its intended goal, though. Sen. Thomas Albert, R-Lowell, suggested it may create a disincentive for people to earn more pay, because a salary hike could make them ineligible for the credit. "I admit it does help lift some people out of poverty, and I acknowledge and obviously welcome that. But I see little evidence that the EITC truly incentivizes people to get a job or work more hours," Albert said. All 20 Senate Democrats voted for the Senate bill. So did the following seven Senate Republicans: Sens. Joe Bellino, R-Monroe; John Damoose, R-Harbor Springs; Mark Huizenga, R-Walker; Ruth Johnson, R-Holly; Ed McBroom, R-Vulcan; Roger Victory, R-Hudsonville; and Michael Webber, R-Rochester Hills. The House measure passed with broad, bipartisan support. What happens next? Either the House or the Senate bill must pass through the opposite chamber and be signed by the governor to become law. It's unclear, as of yet, which chamber's version is destined to reach the governor's desk. Either version would support of two-thirds of the members of the Senate to take effect immediately upon the governor's signing it. The Senate bill's margins indicate it's likely to meet that threshold. Whitmer is expected to sign essentially any expansion of the EITC that makes it to her desk. Contact Dave Boucher: dboucher@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Legislature approves expanding tax credit for low-income workers The Democratic majority in the Michigan Senate approved a measure Thursday that would move the state's presidential primary earlier in the year. The 20-18 party-line vote to shift the primary from mid-March to late February every four years is favored by Democrats, but may substantially hurt Republicans ahead of what is anticipated to be a heated election to decide the party's nominee in 2024. "This bill uplifts the voice and vote of Michigan Democrats and Michigan Republicans, and gives every Michigander an early, deserving chance to choose the next president of the United States," said state Sen. Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield, the lead sponsor of the bill. A person stands behind a voting booth as they cast their vote inside the Central United Methodist Church polling place in Detroit on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. Right now, the state's presidential primary is set for the second Tuesday in March every four years. The bill would move that to the fourth Tuesday in February. That would make Michigan one of the first states to hold a primary. Supporters point to the national hoopla associated with traditional first voting states Iowa and New Hampshire, arguing the attention brings more focus to local issues and concerns. But Republicans noted that their national rules are different than those of the Democratic Party. If Michigan moves its primary earlier in 2024, the national GOP would likely penalize Michigan Republicans, explained Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, R-Porter Township. More:Michigan moves one step closer to becoming early primary state for Democrats More:Michigan Democrats argue case for becoming an early presidential primary state "If the Michigan primary takes place before March 1 of next year, Republicans would lose about 85% of the Republican delegates to the national convention. We had 72 delegates in 2020, and we'd go down to 13 delegates next year," he said. "This legislation ... will, I believe, disenfranchise Michigan voters if left how it is." The argument did not resonate with the Democratic majority, but the GOP may ultimately achieve the outcome they want. Under Michigan Senate rules, it takes two-thirds of the members to make sure a bill goes into effect as soon as it is signed into law. Without that level of support, the law does not take effect until 90 days after the end of session. Right now, Democrats do not have enough votes to get to that threshold, meaning the bill would likely not take effect until after the prescribed 2024 primary date. Story continues The legislation was prompted by the Democratic Party's decision to revisit its calendar for which states hold presidential primary contests first. Late last year, at the direction of President Joe Biden, the party's Rules and Bylaws Committee adopted a new primary calendar for 2024 that would put South Carolina first, to be followed by Nevada, New Hampshire, Georgia and then Michigan, upending the current calendar that begins with Iowa's caucuses and then the New Hampshire primary every presidential year. However, all of the states, including Michigan, have to enact laws ensuring they can legally hold primaries on the dates preferred by the party which still has to finalize the new calendar. The Republican Party, meanwhile, has said it would keep to the current calendar, raising questions about how this will work out between the parties come next year. While in the future moving the presidential primary may help the state, it's unclear how it would benefit Democrats in 2024. Biden has not officially said he's running for reelection, but many expect him to do so. If that's the case, it's unlikely a sitting president would face substantial opposition from his own party. But the GOP presidential primary is expected to be a raucous affair. Former President Donald Trump already indicated he's running, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence and a slew of others are expected to weigh their own bids. If Michigan is actually penalized by the RNC for shifting its primary, that would mean the state's votes during the contest would have far less impact at the GOP's nominating convention. The bill must still pass the House and be signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to become law. Free Press staff writer and Washington correspondent Todd Spangler contributed to this report. Contact Dave Boucher: dboucher@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Senate OKs earlier presidential primary, to dismay of GOP Two Michigan sisters, 8 and 10, survived a cold night huddled together in wet clothes Sunday after their father's car crashed into a Michigan lake. The crash happened around 2 a.m. Sunday at Lake Macatawa, just over 30 miles from Grand Rapids, according to MLive.com. After the girls spent about seven hours on a nearby porch huddled together for warmth, they knocked on one man's door. They were treated for cold exposure and released from the hospital, police said in a news release. About 12 hours after the car went into the water, authorities found the vehicle completely submerged in the lake. Inside was the body of the girls father, 52-year-old Jon Dowler, police said. Police also told the Holland Sentinel they believe the crash was an accident and speed may have been a factor. At this point, we believe that the father became disoriented, not familiar with the area, which ended up (with) him ending up in the water just because of the way that road is constructed there, Ottawa County Sheriffs Office Lt. Eric Westveer told the newspaper. Seeking help after the accident Kevin MacLeod was at home with his wife around 9 a.m. Sunday when they heard a knock at the door. The couple lives in a neighborhood with more than a few vacated houses, and most of the nearby homes are empty cottages or summer homes, according to the Holland Sentinel. "I go out through my front porch and I just see a little girl's face," MacLeod told USA TODAY. He opened the front porch door and saw a little girl standing there, shivering in a wet coat with one shoe on and one bare foot. She said she was in the car with her father and sister when somehow, the car ended up in the lake. MacLeod made sure the other little girl made it into the house. His wife called 911 and the girls were able to relay information to authorities. MacLeod said there was light covering of snow on the ground and records show the low temperature dipped to 32 degrees that night. . Story continues The couple gave them fresh socks, blankets and other items to keep warm once they were safely inside. How did the girls escape Westveer said the girls and their father were going home after visiting a family friend when the crash occurred. They (said) they kind of fell asleep and they (woke up) to the sound of the crash and then hitting the water, Westveer told the Holland Sentinel. They said the back hatched opened, Westveer said. What we dont know yet is how that back hatch opened because theres not a lever on it like a normal side door. But they stated the back hatch opened and they were able to crawl out of that and then they swam to shore." He said it could've been divine intervention," or perhaps their father hit the button to open it for them and free them. Since the accident, a GoFundMe has been started to support the family and raised over $13,000. MacLeod said helping them was a given. "I would hope that any person who was confronted with cold and shivering kids at 9:00 in the morning would've done the same thing," he said. Includes reporting from the Holland Sentinel and Rachel Van Gilder, WOOD TV-8. Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia the 757 and loves all things horror, witches, Christmas, and food. Follow her on Twitter at @Saleen_Martin or email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sisters survive hours in the cold after car drives into Michigan lake Jacksonville ranks third in the state for reported cases of human trafficking. Each year, on average, thousands of cases are reported and the leading demographic is women. The Villages of Hope Jacksonville is addressing the need to protect and empower these women with a 2-year healing program that includes safe beds so that they have the time and space to heal from the trauma. If they have a job, if they have trauma therapy, they can have all those things, but if they dont have a safe place to lay their heads at night, it can crumble really fast, Donna Fenchel of Villages of Hope Jacksonville said. This summer, the Villages of Hope will open 14 tiny homes in Jacksonville. To help raise money to furnish these homes, Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh and Traffic Anchor Marithza Ross are participating in The Hope Cup, a charity pickleball tournament happening January 28 and 29 at the Yards in Ponte Vedra. The public is invited to come out and cheer them on. To learn about other ways you can help the Villages of Hope Jacksonville, click here. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. A Cole County judge has sided with the Missouri House in a lawsuit over access to legislative records, allowing lawmakers to keep some documents confidential. After voters approved the Clean Missouri state constitutional amendment in 2018 extending the state Sunshine Law to the Missouri General Assembly, the House adopted a rule allowing lawmakers to withhold correspondence with constituents and documents about caucus strategy. Mark Pedroli, founder of the Sunshine and Government Accountability Project, sued in 2019, contending the rule was unconstitutional. Cole County Circuit Court Judge Jon Beetem ruled last week in favor of the House, writing in his decision that the Sunshine Law allows some records to be protected, and only gives access to open and public records. The Houses rule Rule 127 doesnt violate the Missouri Constitution, he found. Pedroli could appeal Beetems ruling, which may eventually send the dispute to the Missouri Supreme Court. Pedroli said Thursday he would review the ruling. House Rule 127 was made in response to the approval of the constitutional amendment, and states that legislators can keep constituent case files, and records of the caucus of the majority or minority party of the House that contain caucus strategy, confidential. The decision affirmed that nothing in the amendment prohibits closing legislative records through House rules. The ruling cites a 2016 Missouri Court of Appeals decision that allowed the Senate to create rules to avoid the Sunshine Law, as another precedent that backs up the legality of House Rule 127. But that decision was issued before voters changed the state constitution in 2018. I think the decision is quite plainly incorrect, said David Roland, director of litigation at the libertarian Freedom Center of Missouri. I am dismayed. Roland said when voters approved Clean Missouri, they intended for transparency rules to apply to the legislature. The existing constitution had been interpreted in such a way that transparency laws did not apply and you could avoid them simply by adopting a rule, Roland said. Story continues House Speaker Dean Plocher, a St. Louis Republican, didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. The lawsuit was spurred by a St. Louis Post-Dispatch story that reported that Missouri lawmakers were getting letterspurportedly from constituentsasking them to support legislation making it harder to file lawsuits against out-of-state companies. Many of the constituents later contacted by the newspaper said they never sent the letters, however. Pedroli sent Sunshine requests to Missouri House members, asking for emails similar to those sent to Missouri elected officials without the knowledge or consent of constituents. Some legislators produced the emails, according to the lawsuit. Others refused to produce the records without redacting email and postal addresses of the purported authors. ORLANDO, Fla. Lawyers for the mother who was banned from volunteering at Sand Lake Elementary School after an anonymous email pointed officials to her OnlyFans page filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Orange County Public Schools. The lawsuit, filed in Orange County and announced Wednesday, comes after Victoria Triece was told in October 2021 she would no longer be welcome in OCPSs ADDition volunteer program, which she was a part of for five years. Triece would organize parties and assist in lab assignments as part of her work with her now 11-year-old sons class. That was until an email sent by an anonymous concerned parent to Sand Lake Elementary Principal Kathleen Phillips revealed her day job creating and posting adult content on OnlyFans, a subscription-based platform popular among sex workers. She also manages publicly accessible pages on social media sites like Twitter and Instagram, where she posted less explicit content since 2016. Its kind of like having a scarlet letter on her head, said attorney Mark NeJame, who along with John Zielinski represents Triece in the lawsuit. What she does in her off time is not illegal, yet we have a morality police with the Orange County school board and whatever administrators made this horrific decision. Her content was not a secret, and Triece said she always dressed appropriately on school grounds but was still banned as a volunteer. Her lawyers said the only factor listed that disqualifies volunteers is a criminal record, which Triece does not have. They also claim the district never fully explained the reason for her ban. OCPS spokesperson Michael Ollendorff declined to comment on questions about the ban, citing district protocol to not discuss pending litigation. Its never been clarified to me. They never said what I could and couldnt do, said Triece, who added she now avoids activities like school sporting events as a precaution. NeJame said he and Zielinski interpret the ban from volunteering as a ban from any type of school function. Story continues The lawsuit is the second attempt to address the ban through the courts. Last January, lawyers for Triece filed a suit that sought to force OCPS to reverse the ban. That attempt failed as Circuit Judge Paetra Brownlee ruled Triece does not have an unequivocal legal right to participate in the school districts volunteer program. The latest lawsuit claims the explicit images attached to the anonymous email were circulated ... to OCPS staff and employees that were not in need of the information, including administrators, principals and others. Ollendorff declined to confirm whether the images were spread, citing district protocol, though he did say the district hadnt received the legal complaint as of Wednesday afternoon. I was a little bit in shock, honestly, Triece said. Youre already in a situation thats not fair to begin with and ... theres emails of your images being sent out not only within each other but also to media. Its just wild to me. Trieces ban made international headlines as the mother of two spoke out against what she said was unfair treatment by Sand Lake Elementary and OCPS. Since then, she said she received an outpouring of support from teachers, parents and others who have followed her case. Triece said she was inspired to volunteer by her own mother, who did similar work when she was a child. Though she cant volunteer in person, the 31-year-old still volunteers with her youngest sons classroom, this time online as he attends school virtually. I plan whatever parties they need done and donate whatever they need to the class, Triece said. I do it all, but I do it all like a robot, sitting behind a screen. Her goal through the lawsuit is to make sure other parents arent treated the same way she was. Its just not fair at all, she said. I dont want another mom, I dont another dad, I dont want anybody to have to deal with not seeing their child when you arent hurting anybody. By Lananh Nguyen and Saeed Azhar NEW YORK (Reuters) -Morgan Stanley has imposed financial penalties on employees who used messaging platforms such as WhatsApp for company business, according to two sources familiar with the situation. The penalties ranged from several thousand dollars for some staff to more than $1 million for others. The amounts were determined by factors such as the number of messages sent, seniority and whether the employees had already received warnings, according to one source familiar with the matter. The Financial Times reported on the penalties earlier Thursday. The move comes after the lender had agreed to pay $200 million to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in 2021 to resolve probes into employee communications on messaging platforms that had not been approved by the company. Wall Street's self-regulatory body the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority requires broker-dealers to keep records of all business-related communications. The SEC has been looking into whether lenders have been keeping a track of employees' digital communications. In September, the SEC fined 16 financial firms, including major global banks, a combined $1.8 billion after staff discussed deals and trades on their personal devices and apps. The probe has since expanded beyond broker-dealers to investment funds and advisers, according to four people familiar with the inquiry, Reuters reported in October. Some banks that were fined have told employees that future pay and bonuses will be docked for those who are found to have used unauthorized communication channels, said a source familiar with the situation. Financial firms are also scouring employees' phones and personal computers in a widespread effort to demonstrate to regulators that they are punishing breaches of communications policies, the source said. In 2020, two senior Morgan Stanley executives left the bank after unauthorized use of WhatsApp to discuss work matters. (Reporting by Anirudh Saligrama in Bengaluru and Lananh Nguyen and Saeed Azharin in New York; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri) Editors update: On Thursday, Breeana McClain of Charlotte pleaded guilty to the charge of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 2020 collision on North Tryon Street that killed Morgan Wetherbee, the district attorneys office said. In return, McClain received the sentence detailed below. She will not serve jail time. In a courtroom set aside for the legal reckoning of dozens of violent deaths, Melody Wetherbee will carry this question: What value does the criminal justice system place on a single, stolen life? Shes referring to Morgan, of course. Morgan Wetherbee, Melodys daughter, was 19 when she died on Dec. 4, 2020, seven months after police say a speeding car on North Tryon Street spun out of control, hurdled across a median and three lanes of traffic, and crashed head-on into Morgans Toyota. At 10:30 a.m. Thursday, the other driver, Breeana McClain, 27, of Charlotte, is scheduled to enter a plea on the involuntary manslaughter charge filed against her after Morgans death. At the time of the collision, police also charged McClain with speeding, driving recklessly, and having an open alcoholic container in her 2007 Nissan. She was also cited for failure to carry insurance, driving with a revoked license, and failing to register her car. Morgan Wetherbee with her mom. Outside the scope of legal charges and while Morgan was struggling for her life, McClain also copied a photo of the teens mangled car and used it to create a GoFundMe page. She asked for $2,800 while reversing many of the details of the crash. According to the GoFundMe post shared with The Charlotte Observer, McClain said that she, not Morgan, had been struck head-on by an uninsured driver. While police said in their original crash report that McClain had suffered only minor injuries, she claimed on her GoFundMe post that she had required multiple major surgeries that had kept her from working. When Morgans family members asked McClain to take the post down, they say, she accused them of harassment and said Morgan had caused the accident by speeding and talking on her phone. She also claimed that the crash had cost her the life her unborn child. Story continues Involuntary manslaughter is a criminal charge involving an unintentional death. In North Carolina, a person with McClains minimal police record who is convicted of the charge faces a maximum sentence of 23-37 months in prison or as little as 12 months of probation. The Mecklenburg County District Attorneys Office has offered McClain the chance to plead guilty to the charge in return for a 15-27 month suspended sentence and three years of probation, according to details McClains prosecutor shared with Morgans mother. The plea deal also carries a 30-day jail sentence. But since McClain already spent some five weeks in custody after her December 2020 arrest, its likely that Superior Court Judge Lou Trosch will reduce the jail time to time served, allowing McClain to walk out of the courthouse with a probationary sentence. Its unclear whether McClain will sign the agreement. Her attorney, Assistant Mecklenburg Public Defender Joel Adelman, did not respond to a Charlotte Observer email Wednesday seeking an interview about the case. Melody Wetherbee, still grieving the loss of her daughter, told The Observer in a phone interview Tuesday that she is shocked that a crime of such recklessness and irresponsibility on McClains part can steal a life and still lead to such a minimal punishment. Wetherbee, who lives in Concord, said she intends to represent her daughter by working to overhaul the states law on involuntary manslaughter so other families do not go through what she and her family have experienced over the past two years. I really want to honor Morgan by helping others, she said. Theres no way a year or two years of having to report to a parole officer measures up to losing a precious life, of taking someone who had the ability to see the world in a different way, with an artistic view. That all comes later. First, Wetherbee wants to have a word with the judge. No forgiveness The Thursday docket for Courtroom 5310 in the Mecklenburg County Courthouse includes procedural updates for 43 homicide defendants. Almost every case arose from the violent death of someones father, mother or child. Where murder convictions can carry even minimum sentences spanning decades in prison, vehicular homicide cases, such as McClains, generally feature punishments measured in years or months or even probation. McClain has one of 12 plea slots scheduled Thursday. Each is expected to follow the same script. First, if the defendant pleads guilty, the terms of the plea agreement are read aloud by the judge. The prosecutor then reads a detailed account of the crime. Afterward and under N.C. law, a member of the victims family is allowed to come to the front aisle of the courtroom to address the judge. If Melody Wetherbee, who has two living children, is given the chance to speak, heres what she wants Trosch to know: That Morgan was a truth-teller who spoke honestly but never to wound. That she worked three jobs to raise money for her Toyota, and still found a way to buy her mother the cello Melody could never afford herself. That she always took a second or third look at someones behavior before deciding if she had found a new friend. That a Facebook page Morgans aunt created after the crash to call for prayers to aid the teens recovery drew thousands of posts from around the world, and that Melody would have been surprised by all the interest. That Morgan cared far more about living up to her personal standards rather than being popular. That she was a beautiful spirit, a beautiful soul, a beautiful mind and body, and that She was taken too early. In most plea hearings, the defendants normally stand with their attorneys inside the railing, separated from the speaking family member by one or more armed and uniformed bailiffs. The judge routinely gives each defendant a chance to speak. Some apologize, some do not. Wetherbee says shes been told she can address only the judge and not McClain. Even if I could I dont know what difference it would make in her life. They would almost seem like wasted words, Wetherbee says. Ive always had the thought that mistakes will happen ... and that forgiveness is such an important piece of life, that we have to forgive to find peace. Wetherbee says she might have found the means to forgive McClain had she displayed one bit of remorse or ownership for what she has done. Instead, according to Wetherbee, her behavior has been revealed over time. And that is not something I can forgive. Correction: A version of this story said the Mecklenburg County District Attorneys Office offered Breeana McClain a plea agreement to avoid the time and expense of a trial. Bill Bunting, the DAs homicide team supervisor, says that is incorrect. He says decisions on offering a plea bargain vs. taking a case to trial are based solely on the strength of the evidence and the likely result and sentence at trial. By Alberto Fajardo MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A new museum and conservation center dedicated to Mexico's critically endangered axolotl salamander is highlighting the amphibian's remarkable story that has captured the attention of scientists and the public alike. With an impressive ability to heal itself, the axolotl (pronounced ah-sho-LO-tul) salamanders were showcased in the exhibit, which opened on Saturday, at Mexico City's Chapultepec Zoo. The center aims to raise awareness of the animal, native only to Mexico and which is dwindling in the wild due to dire threats to its natural habitat. For decades, researchers have marveled at how the axolotl can regenerate amputated limbs and damaged body tissue, even its heart and brain. Scientists also documented its ability to breathe with lungs and gills, as well as absorb oxygen through its skin, making it particularly vulnerable to polluted water. "They are one of the few animals that can regenerate their skin, muscles, bones, blood vessels, nerves, heart, brain," said Fernando Gual, head of wild fauna conservation at the zoo. "A hugely important part of this space is environmental education," Gual said of the new museum's exhibits, workshops and labs. In Aztec legend, the desperate rebel god Xolotl transformed himself into an axolotl to hide and avoid being sacrificed by his fellow gods. He was still discovered, captured and killed. They were also a mainstay on the banquet tables of Aztec kings. While the axolotl native to Mexico City's southern Xochimilco district is especially well-known, Gual points to 16 other kinds of axolotls that also call Mexico home, each one "like a wetlands ambassador." Axolotls once thrived in Xochimilco's muddy canals, the only remaining part of a once extensive system of Venice-like waterways dating back to Aztec times. But the urban sprawl, contaminated water and non-native fish with a taste for young axolotls have led to the salamander's near-total collapse, according to population surveys. Story continues Even so, Xochimilco still holds nearly 11% of Mexico's biodiversity, according to Gual, with the country's 370 amphibian species ranking it No. 5 worldwide. As the museum opened to its first visitors, the axolotl's celebrity status was easy to spot. "The truth is I'm very, very, very, very excited to be able to see how they eat, how they live, just how they are," gushed visitor Fernando, declining to give his surname but showing off a small axolotl tattoo on his arm. "I'm marked for life." (Reporting by Alberto Fajardo; additional reporting by Nina Lopez; Editing by Vin Shahrestani) Jose Damaso-Hernandez, 26, who was wanted on vehicular homicide charges after a fatal 2020 Nashville wreck, has been arrested in Bowling Green, Kentucky, police said Thursday. The head-on collision on Bell Road in Antioch that left two people dead and three injured including a 5-year-old girl happened at 12:40 a.m. on Aug. 16, 2020, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department. Police said a Ford F-150 pickup, driven by Damaso-Hernandez, crashed into a 2016 Scion. Dalton Williams, 21, and Samantha Peevyhouse, 25, were in the Scion and died at the scene. Both were from Centerville, Tennessee. Police said the 5-year-old girl was in a car seat in the pickup and was not properly secured. She received minor injuries. From 2020:Two face vehicular homicide charges after deadly crash on Bell Road How the wreck, search unfolded Police believe the pickup was traveling eastbound on Bell Road when it went into the oncoming lane and hit the Scion sedan head-on. Both Damaso-Hernandez and his passenger, Sadia Bonnilla-Gomez, sustained life-threatening injuries in the wreck. Damaso-Hernandez's blood alcohol content was 0.14% the night of the wreck, according to MNPD. The legal limit of blood alcohol content in Tennessee is 0.08%. Bonnilla-Gomez, 21, who owned the truck Damaso-Hernandez was driving and was his passenger, is also facing charges. She was treated and released after the crash. Police said she knew Damaso-Hernandez had been drinking alcohol prior to the crash. From 2020:Crash on Bell Road in Antioch leaves two dead, three injured including child Both Damaso-Hernandez and Bonilla-Gomez went missing after being released from the hospital, according to police. A U.S. Marshals Task Force joined the search. Damaso-Hernandez has six outstanding grand jury indictments for two counts of vehicular homicide by intoxication, vehicular assault, two counts of aggravated child abuse and possession of cocaine, MNPD said. It was not immediately clear if he was still in Kentucky or when he would be returned to Nashville. Police said Bonilla-Gomez also has six outstanding warrants for two counts of vehicular homicide by intoxication, vehicular assault, two counts of aggravated child abuse and an unrelated domestic assault charge. She is still at large. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville man wanted in 2020 wreck that left 2 dead arrested in KY Nashville police are searching for Keesan Campbell, 24, in connection with a fatal shooting at a short-term rental on Jan. 8. Campbell faces criminal homicide and robbery charges after gunfire broke out at a party in the 700 block of Douglas Avenue that night, the Metro Nashville Police Department said. The shooting left 18-year-old Taurus Oglesby dead and a 17-year-old seriously injured. Andre Johnson, 19, was later arrested and charged with criminal homicide in connection with the shooting, according to MNPD. A second suspect, who is 17, was shot that night and was being treated at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for wounds to his jaw and neck. He was charged with criminal homicide and three counts of aggravated robbery. Tennessean is not naming the two 17-year-olds because they are juveniles. MNPD asks anyone with information about Campbell to contact Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. Callers to can remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville police seek man charged in fatal short-term rental shooting This article originally appeared on Trail Runner Few trail runners have as inspiring and impressive of a story as Mira Rai. Born in the remote village of Bhojpur, Nepal (200-plus miles east of Kathmandu), Rai rocked the trail running world when she won the 50 kilometer Himalayan Outdoor Festival race in 2014. Not only did she win, but she did it without any fancy gear or hydration packs of energy gels bouncing around in her vest. Thats because she showed up completely unprepared for the race. As far as she knew, she was just meeting up with some new friends for another run on the trails. Rai quickly catapulted to the upper echelons of the sport, traveling across the globe to compete in some of the worlds most challenging races where she often found herself at the top of the podium. A ruptured ACL slowed her down in 2016, but she came back the next year to set a new course record for the 120-kilometer Ben Nevis Ultrain Race Race in Scotland. She capped that season off by winning National Geographic's 2017 People's Choice Adventurer of the Year. These days, the 34-year-old athlete spends most of her time in Nepal leading the Mira Rai Initiative, where she promotes trail running and works to empower female trail runners in the country. But the initiative also stresses the importance of education. "We support young female athletes to help them graduate from school and gain important skills, she explained from her home in Kathmandu. Its a very important thing to do, because in Nepal, its difficult to do sports. We dont have many opportunities. So Im glad to work to support our athletes achieve their dreams." WATCH: Running in Nepal with Mira Rai Reading Rai's story reminded me a bit of the Raramuri runners whose lives were so intertwined with running, they could hit the trail without worrying about having the latest gear or energy gels in their back pocket. Ive been interested in how different cultures fuel their bodies throughout history for feats of endurance, while trying to determine what trail runners might glean from those stories. I wondered if there was something within the Nepali culinary canon that helped fuel Rais impressive performances. So I called her up in Kathmandu. The answer: Daal bhat masu. Story continues Daal Bhat Masu: Breaking Down the Dish "Daal bhat masu" literally translates to lentils with steamed rice and meat, and it's the national dish of Nepal. The daal bhat at my local Nepalese restaurant in Berlin labels it as Daal Bhat Power 24 Hour, and thats precisely one of the reasons Rai turns to this dish for her nutritional needs. Daal Bhat is typically presented as a platter with several small dishes, like lentils, rice, steamed spinach, and achar--a kind of chutney made of pickled vegetables and fruits. Nepalese versions of achar are usually made with spices, like mustard seeds, as well as chili, coriander, cumin, and turmeric powders. Dr. Huma Bokkhim is a Nepali expert in food science and technology who breaks down the nutritional benefits runners can get from a daal bhat. "Rice, the staple food of most Nepalese cuisine, is a good source of easily available energy in terms of carbohydrates," she says. "For endurance athletes, it is a scientifically established fact that the human body needs to store glycogen in their muscle and liver so that they can perform for a longer duration. This process is termed "carb loading," which most Nepalese have been doing knowingly or unknowingly since long back. Rice provides the required, easily digestible carbohydrates for muscles and the liver to generate and store extra glycogen, which is later used by the body during strenuous activity in the absence of food. Burning glycogen requires less energy compared to other sources of energy such as proteins and fats." Daal Power Though rice is an obvious carb-loading staple, daal is arguably the star of any daal bhat. Bokkhim explains that Nepalese daal is a soup-like dish prepared by cooking pulses (think: chickpeas, lentils, dry peas, and beans). Pulses are tremendous sources of plant-based protein. "Though the bioavailability of plant proteins is lower than that of animal proteins, it does play an important role in fulfilling the protein requirements along with the important minerals, such as folate, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, phosphorus, and selenium required for proper functioning of muscles as they help in balancing the electrolytes in the body," she says. "During endurance sports, the body loses some of those minerals through sweat, and eating daal will help replenish them." Bokkhim adds that, although rice contains lower amounts of protein, it's still among the highest bioavailable protein sources among plant proteins. This means endurance athletes can stand to benefit with a little rice in their diet before training or a race. (Think of the popularity of rice balls among trail runners.) All of this is why runners like Rai will turn to lentil-based dishes like daal bhat to prepare for, or refuel after, a challenging mountain run. The combination of rice and lentils fulfills many of the nutritional needs trail runners have for their sport. But that's old news in Nepal. "Eating daal bhat has been our traditional way of loading carbohydrates by rural farmers for strenuous farm activities," Bokkhim says. "And by being able to work for long hours in the field, it's become an established fact that 'daal bhat equals power for 24 hours." RELATED: Ancient Endurance Fuels How to make Thakali daal Kathmandu-based Prashanta Khanal works on environmental issues by day. He's also a food writer and author of the Nepali cookbook Timmur: Stories and Flavours from Nepal. Khanal eats some variety of daal twice a day. He shared some of his tips for making this Nepali comfort dish, Thakali-style, from the Mustang District in Nepal. First, he emphasized that there are many different ways to make daal. If you have access to a pressure cooker, Khanal suggests using it, covering the daal with water to speed up the process. He also notes that you can use different types of lentils (Khanal uses split Mustang Simi, grown in the high altitude of Mustang), but to take note that the cooking time can vary among different lentil varieties. If using a pressure cooker, Khanal suggests cooking the daal for two to three "whistles." Once the daal is ready, add the aromatics, like fennel, garlic, chilis, and cumin. This recipe for Thakali daal is adapted, with permission, from Khanal's website, The Gundruk. Ingredients 1 cup or 200g of green lentils 4 1/2 5 1/2 cups water 1/2 thumb-size ginger (8-10g) 4 cloves garlic 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder 1 2 tablespoons ghee 2 3 dry red chilis 1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seed Instructions Rinse the lentils until the water is clear and place them in a stovetop pot. Add 2 1/2 cups of water. Smash the ginger and 3 cloves of garlic. Add them to the lentils along with kosher salt and a pinch ( 1/4 teaspoon) of turmeric powder. Cover and bring to a boil. Once it boils immediately lower to a low heat. Simmer for about 40 minutes. While your lentils are simmering, prep the rest of your ingredients: the ghee and the spices. Note: Can't find ghee? You can easily make your own while the lentils simmer. Once the lentils absorb most of the water and are tender, remove the garlic and ginger from the pot. Continue cooking over medium heat and stir frequently. This will help to ensure that beans do not stick to the bottom of the pot. After 5 minutes, add 2-3 cups of hot water (depending on how soupy you want the daal), and cook the lentils for around 8-10 mins on medium heat, uncovered. Taste and add more kosher salt, if desired, and remove the pot from the heat. Next, add the ghee onto a small saucepan over medium heat. When the ghee starts to smoke, reduce heat to low and add one clove of finely chopped garlic, dry red chilies, and fenugreek seed. After one minute, turn off the heat and add 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder. Pour this mixture immediately into the stovetop pot with the daal. This gives a hot sizzling sound while pouring and gives an aromatic, garlicky, buttery, and smokey flavor to the dish. Serve with rice, curry, and achaar to make a complete, everyday Nepali meal. For exclusive access to all of our fitness, gear, adventure, and travel stories, plus discounts on trips, events, and gear, sign up for Outside+ today. Julie Chrisley (left) and Todd Chrisley on season 8 of "Chrisley Knows Best." USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images Todd and Julie Chrisley reported to the Bureau of Prisons Tuesday to begin their prison sentences. Julie Chrisley is being held at an inmate medical center in Kentucky, officials told Insider. She was meant to start her sentence at a Florida facility. Julie Chrisley, the reality television star who was set to begin her seven-year prison sentence for fraud on Tuesday at a Florida prison, is actually being housed hundreds of miles away at an inmate medical center in Kentucky, prison officials told Insider. Todd and Julie Chrisley both reported to the Bureau of Prisons on January 17 to start their combined 19-year fraud sentences. The celebrity couple known for their USA Network reality show "Chrisley Knows Best," were convicted in June of defrauding banks out of more than $30 million by providing fake financial statements making them look wealthier than they were. The duo had requested to serve their sentences at two Florida prisons located about 150 miles from one another. But a spokesperson with the Bureau of Prisons told Insider that while Todd Chrisley had arrived at the Federal Prison Camp in Pensacola, Florida on Tuesday, Julie Chrisley was in custody at the Federal Medical Center Lexington in Lexington Kentucky and not at the Federal Correctional Institution Marianna in Jackson County, Florida. "While we do not share the reasons why a specific inmate was designated or transferred to a particular correctional institution, we can share general information about the [Bureau of Prison's] designation process," the spokesperson said. Factors that could have contributed to Julie Chrisley's last-minute locale switch-up include: the level of security and supervision an inmate requires; medical and programming needs; and proximity to an individual's release residence or court hearings. The Lexington medical center has an adjacent minimum security satellite camp. It is unclear how long Julie will stay at the medical center or why she arrived there first. Julie was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 and underwent treatment the following year. In March 2022, she celebrated a decade of being cancer-free, telling People that her doctor told her she could stop taking cancer-treating drugs 10 years after her double mastectomy. Read the original article on Insider Isla Bryson - Andrew Milligan/PA A transgender rapist is to be moved from a womans jail, Nicola Sturgeon has announced. The First Minister said that Isla Bryson, who was convicted this week of raping two women, would not be in Cornton Vale womens jail either in the short-term or long-term. Bryson, 31, was taken to the womens jail after being found guilty on Tuesday. Ms Sturgeon said that a risk assessment is currently being carried out, with Bryson currently being held in a segregated unit. However, she confirmed that Bryson would not serve the sentence in Cornton Vale, less than 24 hours after her Justice Secretary said that ministers would not intervene. Ms Sturgeon said that she agreed with the head of the charity Rape Crisis Scotland that she did not see how it is possible for a rapist to serve time in a womens prison. At Holyrood, she said: In the case that has been in the media in recent days, that risk assessment is underway. #NEW Nicola Sturgeon says that Isla Bryson, the transgender woman guilty of raping two women before transitioning, will not be imprisoned at Cornton Vale -- Scotland's only all-female prison.pic.twitter.com/3wCoBjReJZ TLDR News UK (@TLDRNewsUK) January 26, 2023 Given the understandable public and parliamentary concern in this case, I can confirm to parliament that this prisoner will not be incarcerated at Cornton Vale womens prison. She added: Let me be clear, this prisoner is not going to be incarcerated in Cornton Vale, either short-term or long-term. There is an importance of allowing the Scottish Prison Service to give effect, operationally, to what I have just said. These are operational matters for the Scottish Prison Service. I am setting out very clearly that I agree with the chief executive of Rape Crisis Scotland when she said I dont see how its possible to have a rapist within a female prison. Story continues Sturgeon 'hiding behind' prison service The First Minister later suggested the decision to move Bryson had been taken by the Scottish Prison Service, rather than her. Douglas Ross, the Scottish Tory leader, accused the First Minister of hiding behind the Scottish Prison Service and questioned why Ms Sturgeon had not used her powers to order that Bryson was moved to a male jail sooner. Ms Sturgeon refused to confirm that Bryson was currently being held in Cornton Vale, although it is widely known that this is the case. Mr Ross referred to Bryson as an absolute beast and referred to the 31-year-old with male pronouns. He claimed rapists were exploiting current laws. Bryson was previously known as Adam Graham and transitioned only after being accused of the sex attacks. The jury in the trial, at the High Court in Glasgow, was told that Adam Graham was the defendant's "dead name" and the judge referred to the rapist as "Ms Bryson". Women sharing prison with a 'beast' Mr Ross said: This rapist is in there now. Hes in segregation in a womens prison at the moment. The reality is this double rapist, this beast, is in a womens prison right now. We think its wrong that a rapist is sent to a womens prison. This double rapist only decided to change gender after he was charged by police. It took the threat of jail for this criminal to decide to change his gender. Thats not a coincidence, thats a conscious decision. He added: Nicola Sturgeon has seemed to reject... that he is currently there is not a risk to women. I cant agree with that. Will she go to Cornton Vale and personally explain to women there, who are sharing their prison with a double rapist, why on earth her government is allowing them to be in a cell next door. Chinese tourists to fuel global economic recovery, cultural exchange Xinhua) 11:12, January 26, 2023 * The comeback of Chinese travelers in the international market will fuel the recovery of the tourism sector worldwide and promote cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world, experts have said. * China's outbound travel reservations during this week-long holiday soared by five times compared to the same period last year, according to a report released by Ctrip, China's leading online travel agency. * As Chinese tourists actively participate in shopping and cultural tours, they are highly valued for all economies due to their large number and strong spending power, businesses said. BEIJING, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- "We cannot wait to have the Chinese back in our restaurants. We missed it so much," said Alix Pickard, a senior manager of a British restaurant corporation. China relaxed its outbound travel restrictions amid its recent overall COVID-19 response shift. Officials and tourism practitioners across the world are eagerly anticipating the return of Chinese tourists. The comeback of Chinese travelers in the international market will fuel the recovery of the tourism sector worldwide and promote cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world, experts have said. Lion dance is performed during the Chinese New Year celebration at Trafalgar Square in London, Britain, Jan. 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Ying) WORLDWIDE WELCOME In Hakkasan, a Chinese restaurant in London, guests were hanging their Spring Festival wishes to a wishing tree installed recently. The restaurant, like many others around the world, has put up traditional Chinese decorations and introduced a limited menu celebrating the Year of the Rabbit, the Chinese zodiac animal representing the year of 2023. Such a festive scene can be observed in numerous hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and attractions across the globe, which recently launched products and services with Chinese elements in a bid to attract Chinese tourists and facilitate their journeys. A giant rabbit is standing at the entrance of the Shangri-La Hotel in Istanbul of Turkiye, welcoming visitors amid a sea of red lanterns. In Greece, the authorities have prepared a "Chinese-ready" airport to create a feeling of home for travelers from China, according to Ioanna Papadopoulou, director of communications and marketing at Athens International Airport. Virtual assistants speaking Chinese are in place to provide visitors with information in their native language, while Chinese customers can use all payment methods they use back home in the airport's duty-free shops. Tourism officials and professionals are looking forward to the mass return of Chinese travelers as early as possible, after their absence in the global tourism market for three years. A light show is held to celebrate Chinese New Year in Recife, Brazil, Jan. 19, 2023 (Photo by Paulo Lopes/Xinhua) "We really missed the Chinese tourists over the last three years and we would like to welcome you back as soon as possible," Flemming Bruhn, director of VisitDenmark, the Danish national tourism agency, told Xinhua. For Pickard, whose company manages four restaurants in London, one of the greatest pleasure before the pandemic was to see her restaurants filled with Chinese guests in the afternoon. "We've really missed that," said the director of marketing at Tao Group Hospitality. "It's great to see everyone coming back again, it makes us so happy." DELIGHTFUL EXPERIENCE In the Chinatown of Bangkok, the young daughter of Liu Lingling, a Chinese tourist to Thailand, screamed with delight when she saw the 200 meters of Yaowarat road was lit up all of a sudden. The road, which gathers many Chinese descendants to live and do business, was decorated with a 45-meter-long light tunnel and lanterns of various shapes to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Liu and her family, who came from the city of Wuhan in central China, haven't travelled abroad since the pandemic erupted three years ago. "This is our first overseas trip since the outbreak of the pandemic, we are so excited and happy," said Liu. "Although it's in Bangkok, we can feel the atmosphere of Spring Festival." In Turkiye, Chinese tourist Yan Jian shared with Xinhua his joy of travelling in Istanbul, the nation's biggest city and a well-known destination for tourists. "I haven't gone anywhere for the past three years, it feels so good to go abroad this year." "The experience here is great," Yan said. "The view is wonderful, food is delicious and the local people are extremely hospitable." Like Liu and Yan, many Chinese travelers were impressed by the warm receptions from locals, the rich festive vibes and substantial facilitation throughout their first cross-border trips since the pandemic. Two Chinese tourists and local dancers pose for photos at the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, Indonesia, Jan. 22, 2023. (Photo by Dicky Bisinglasi/Xinhua) Lately, the famed resort island of Bali in Indonesia welcomed the first group of Chinese tourists who arrived by charter flight after China's COVID-19 response shift. The Chinese were greeted with local songs and dances, as well as the lion dance, a traditional Chinese performance usually staged during the Spring Festival. One of the tourists was given a flower garland from the governor of Bali, a gesture of welcome for esteemed guests in the local culture. In Labuan Bajo, an Indonesian town, visitors were immersed in the festive atmosphere of Spring Festival created by hotels putting up decorations of Chinese style and introducing special menus with Chinese cuisine. "It's surprising to me that I could eat Chinese food and hear an artist playing Chinese festive songs using the local instrument at my hotel. I felt really welcomed here," said Yang Miao, a Chinese tourist from east China's Jiangsu province. In Egypt, Fu Bo, a Chinese visitor from Beijing and a fan of ancient Egyptian civilization, was overwhelmed by the friendliness and hospitality from the Egyptians. "The Egyptians are generally friendly to Chinese tourists, they even greet us in Chinese," said Fu, after attending a reception hosted by the Chinese embassy and the Egyptian government at the Cairo International Airport. He noted that his entry to Egypt was fairly convenient as the North African country adopted a visa-upon-arrival policy for Chinese visitors, and there is also "no difficulty in customs clearance." An Egyptian artist performs a traditional folk dance to welcome Chinese tourists at the Cairo International Airport in Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) ECONOMIC BOOST Worldwide tourism bans since 2020 have dealt a severe blow to the business of Farag Mohammed, a local camel farmer working near the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. Mohammed, who makes a living by offering tourists a ride on camels' back, has been struggling to feed his camels and raise his family for the last three years. The camel breeder of 27 years pins hope on the return of Chinese visitors to boost his revenues and make his life easier in the future. "Chinese are fond of sightseeing on a camel's back," Mohammed said. "I like Chinese tourists." The last three years have been difficult for many people like Mohammed working in the tourism-related sectors, but some have already sensed a favorable turnaround as the number of their Chinese customers began to pick up this year. "Sales are already much better compared with last year. I'm so happy and grateful. Hopefully my fortune will keep coming," said Jelita Riyadi, who owns a shop in Glodok, a famous Chinatown in Indonesia's capital Jakarta. Over the past days, her stall, selling red envelopes, clothes and decorations featuring the image of the rabbit, has been frequently visited by Chinese people celebrating the Spring Festival. China's outbound travel reservations during this week-long holiday soared by five times compared to the same period last year, according a report released by Ctrip, China's leading online travel agency. The value of each cross-border booking increased by an average 32 percent year-on-year, said the report. The most popular destinations for Chinese tourists include Australia, Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, Britain and Indonesia. Bookings for Bangkok saw a year-on-year growth of more than 10 times. Lion dancers perform during the Chinese New Year celebration at Chinatown in Manila, the Philippines, Jan. 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) Officials and experts worldwide argued that China's resumption of outbound tourism, which used to be a considerable source of revenue for many economies depending heavily on tourism, would substantially accelerate the revival of the sector and promote cultural exchanges on the international level. As Chinese tourists actively participate in shopping and cultural tours, they are highly valued for all economies due to their large number and strong spending power, said Irfan Karsli, head of the Istanbul-based Ligarba Travel Agency. Chinese passengers are welcomed by Thai officials at the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, Jan. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak) "China's stable economic development and wider opening-up are of great significance to the global economic recovery. The long-awaited return of Chinese tourists has brought hope to the recovery of tourism industry in Thailand and other countries around the world," said Wichai Kinchong Choi, senior vice president of leading Thai bank Kasikornbank. John Grant, an analyst at the global travel data provider OAG, said that short-haul regional demand from China to markets like Thailand and Vietnam will noticeably grow in the second half of the year, followed by growth in Europe and North America. For Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias, the reopening of the Chinese market is also about cultural communications, as Chinese tourists are "deeply involved in finding out about Greek culture and civilization." Enditem (Xinhua reporters Xu Feng, Du Juan, Jin Jing and Huang Zemin in London, Wang Yaguang and Guo Xinhui in Bangkok, Wang Aona in Jakarta, Yao Bing in Cairo, Wang Feng in Istanbul, Lin Jing in Copenhagen and Yu Shuaishuai in Athens also contributed to this story.)(Video reporters: Zhou Xiaotian, Peng Zhuo, Yang Yunqi, Wang Feng, Sun Lei, Gu Lu; Video editors: Wu Yao, Wei Yin, Shi Peng.) (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Hongyu) By Michael Erman and Leroy Leo (Reuters) -Advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday unanimously voted in favor of targeting the same coronavirus strain for initial COVID-19 vaccine doses and boosters going forward, but some expressed skepticism about whether all Americans need to receive the shots annually. The agency is trying to simplify its COVID-19 vaccine policy as it considers whether to recommend Americans get an annual booster shot for the virus. But several members of the expert advisory group asked for more robust data on benefits of annual shots for younger, healthier people. "We're in a very different place. We have a lot of population immunity," said Hayley Gans, professor of pediatrics at Stanford University Medical Center. "Now that people are immune, how long does that last?" Vaccine makers Pfizer Inc with partner BioNTech SE and Moderna Inc introduced late last year updated versions of their COVID vaccines tailored to target Omicron variants as well as the original coronavirus. In the United States, those were used only as booster shots. The FDA advisory group unanimously backed using those shots for the primary series for those who have yet to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as well. The FDA said it envisioned holding a meeting later in the year to determine the composition of shots for the fall, although some vaccine makers might be able to produce updated shots more quickly. Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna were able to produce the currently available messenger RNA boosters in about three months last year, but Novavax Inc said on Thursday it would require six months to make a new version of its protein-based COVID-19 vaccine designed to match circulating coronavirus variants. FDA would consider an earlier timeline for vaccines like Novavax's following the company's manufacturing assessment, Peter Marks, director of the agency's Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, said. Health officials in the Biden administration have suggested that annual, updated COVID-19 booster shots could provide a high level of protection against severe disease. (Reporting by Leroy Leo in Bengaluru, Michael Erman in Maplewood, New Jersey; Editing by Bill Berkrot) Two local judges recused themselves from the petition seeking to remove Nueces County District Attorney Mark Gonzalez on Wednesday. District Attorney Mark Gonzalez takes notes during a trial at the Nueces County Courthouse on Thursday, April 14, 2022. Last week, Colby Wiltse, a Nueces County resident and the Texas state director for the conservative group County Citizens Defending Freedom, filed a 118-page petition contending the district attorney should be removed from office due to "incompetency, official misconduct and failure to give bond." More:Conservative activist files petition, seeks removal of Nueces County district attorney The petition alleges Gonzalez has mishandled murder cases and criminal dismissal rates, resulting in backlogged cases and a shortage of prosecutors. On Wednesday, 319th District Judge David Stitch referred a motion to recuse to Presiding Judge Missy Medary of the 5th Administrative Judicial Region. "I, the undersigned Judge of this Court, reviewed this case," the letter reads. "Having done so, I find it necessary to recuse myself from this case." Following his recusal, the case returned to Medary, who then recused herself in a letter to Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht. Medary requested Hecht assign a judge from outside Nueces County to preside over the case, as Gonzalez and his office practice in all district courts in the county. "Because the Petition to Remove Elected Official is concerning the Nueces County District Attorney, I find it necessary to recuse myself from taking any action in the above case other than to refer the case to you, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, for assignment," Medary's letter stated. More news More:After losing multiple local seats in midterms, Nueces County Democrats plan to 'regroup' More:Meet the newly sworn-in Corpus Christi City Council More:Residents, environmentalists condemn port authority's dredging proposal near Harbor Island This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Judges recuse themselves from petition for removal of district attorney Russia has launched a rush-hour barrage of missiles across Ukraine killing one person in Kyiv the day after President Volodymyr Zelensky secured Western pledges of dozens of tanks to help in the countrys war effort. Air raid sirens wailed nationwide, while booms were heard by The Independent around Kyiv, where the head of the city administration said that 15 cruise missiles were shot down. Air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said as many as six Tu-95 warplanes had taken off from the Arctic region of Murmansk in northern Russia and launched long-range missiles. He said there was a volley of more than 30 missiles. Follow the latest in our live blog here Officials in Kyiv said a 55-year-old man had been killed and two other people wounded when non-residential buildings in the south of the city were struck. Ukrainian officials said they believed the onslaught was Moscows furious response to announcements from Germany and the US that they would supply Ukraine with M1 Abrams and German-built Leopard tanks, significantly bolstering the Ukrainian ranks and offering. The Kremlin has previously launched waves of strikes deep into the country in apparent response to Ukrainian successes on the battlefield, pounding energy infrastructure and living millions without light, heat or water. Kyiv official Serhii Popko said Thursdays morning missiles were fired "in the direction of the city. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko meanwhile said explosions were also heard in Kyiv's Dniprovskyi district, on the east side of the river that divides the city. Ukraines state broadcaster Suspilne said that one person has been killed and four wounded after Russia shelled Kochubeivka, which is a settlement in the north of the Kherson oblast, in southern Ukraine. Suspilne reports that the administrative building was hit. Earlier the Ukrainian military said it had shot down all 24 drones sent overnight by Russia, with no damage reported. But as citizens were heading to work in the morning, air raid alarms sounded again across Ukraine, and senior officials said air defences were shooting down incoming missiles. Story continues "Missiles are flying inside the territory of Ukraine. At least two northwest through Mykolaiv region," Vitaly Kim, governor of the Mykolaiv region in southern Ukraine, said on the Telegram messaging app. An air force spokesman said impacts had been registered in the Vinnytsia region of central Ukraine. The news came shortly after the US and Germany announced plans to arm Ukraine with dozens of modern tanks to give its troops the firepower to break Russian defence lines and reclaim occupied territory in the south and east. It could be a game changer for the Ukrainians who are struggling to hold back an advance in the war-ravaged eastern region known as Donbas containing the areas of Donetsk and Luhansk that Moscow covets where Russian forces have punched through different lines, taking gateway towns such as the mining outpost Soledar in Donetsk. Germany is set to send an initial company of 14 tanks from its stocks, which it said could be operational in three or four months, but that it would try to speed up that process. It said it would approve shipments by European states with the aim of equipping two battalions - around 100 tanks - in the future. Despite the US being initially wary about sending tanks to Ukraine, US President Joe Biden announced his decision to supply 31 M1 Abrams tanks just hours later after Berlins promise. President Biden said the tanks pose "no offensive threat" to Russia and that they were needed to help the Ukrainians "improve their ability to manoeuvre in open terrain". But Sergei Nechayev, Russia's ambassador to Germany, on Wednesday called Berlin's decision "extremely dangerous", saying that it "takes the conflict to a new level of confrontation". Nato's secretary general Jens Stoltenberg told BBC Radio 4 on Thursday that said sending tanks to Ukraine will make a "big difference" to the country's ability to win the war. "This will help them repel Russian offensives, to help them to be able to retake territory, liberate more Ukrainian lands and to win this war to prevail as a sovereign independent nation. We will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes, he added. Kyiv has repeatedly called for 300 tanks to help it win war, but Mr Stoltenberg would not comment explicitly on that request. Since invading Ukraine in February last year, Russia has shifted its publicly stated goals from "denazifying" and "demilitarising" its neighbour to confronting what it claims is an aggressive and expansionist US -led Nato alliance. Since October it has launched waves of missiles on energy infrastructure, attacks which Ukrainian officials have likened to terrorism and say are the largest assault on energy facilities in modern history. It has plunged hundreds of thousands of households into darkness at various points and cut civilians off from light, water and warmth for long stretches. It has sparked concerns of humanitarian catastrophe as temperatures have dipped well below freezing. The government alongside international aid organisation and the railways service have constructed heat centres at key points like railway stations, where citizens can keep warm, charge their phones, get food and hot drinks. Western analysts say the attacks on Ukraine's cities are more an attempt to break morale than a strategic campaign. Dictator Alexander Lukashenko Read also: Ukraine would have enough time to react to potential invasion from Belarus The document specifies that both Russia and Belarus are responsible for the unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine and the brutal crimes committed by invading forces. The Assembly also notes that Belarus has participated in the Russian Federations aggression against Ukraine, as it has allowed its territory to be used by the Russian Federation for perpetrating acts of aggression against Ukraine, the resolution reads. Its role and complicity should be condemned by the international community and its leaders should be held to account. PACE has urged European Council member and observer states to establish a special international tribunal in the Hague to investigate the crime of Russias armed aggression against Ukraine, unleashed in 2014. Read also: PACE adopts resolution declaring Russian regime as terrorist one The resolution further states that Moscows official rhetoric used to attempt to justify the invasion has signs of public endorsement of genocide, and could signify an intent to perpetrate a crime of genocide against the Ukrainian people. Read also: Czech president calls for Prague to accept Russians fleeing mobilization On Jan. 26, representatives of 20 countries gathered in Prague, Czech Republic, to discuss ongoing efforts to establish a special tribunal to investigate Russian crimes in Ukraine. Read also: Ukraine plans to create Leopard tank brigade, FM Kuleba says On Jan. 19, the European Parliament adopteda resolution that calls for such a tribunal to be convened. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba earlier said that a special tribunal is the only realistic avenue for holding Russian leadership accountable for the apparent crime of armed aggression against Ukraine. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Pamela Anderson & Kid Rock during 44th GRAMMY Awards - Arrivals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, United States Gregg DeGuire/WireImage Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock had a famously on-and-off relationship from 2001 to 2006, resulting in an engagement, break up, reconciliation and a four-month marriage, all before they went their separate ways for good. The pair were first linked in 2001, and their fast courtship culminated in an engagement in April 2002 but by the following year, they had called it quits. But fate in the form of a mutual friend's yacht in St. Tropez brought them back together in July 2006. Anderson and Rock rekindled their romance and got married (on another yacht) later that month. "It was like we'd never been apart," Rock told PEOPLE afterward. Four months and as many wedding ceremonies later, their relationship ended in divorce that November, with the V.I.P. actress, later suggesting that her cameo in the movie Borat prompted the breakup. Both Anderson and Rock have confirmed over the years that they have never spoken since their final split. Anderson has gone on to have several other high-profile relationships among them, reconnecting with exes including Tommy Lee, Rick Salomon (in 2007 and again in 2014) and John Peters, before marrying her fourth husband, Dan Hayhurst, her former bodyguard whom she split from a year later. Rock, on the other hand, met longtime love Audrey Berry soon after his split from Anderson, going on to propose to her in 2017. The pair's current relationship status is unknown. From their early-aughts courtship to their broken engagement and their slew of back-to-back wedding ceremonies in 2006, here's a look back at Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock's relationship. April 2001: Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock meet at a VH1 Divas Live tribute to Aretha Franklin Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock during VH1 Presents: "Divas Live: The One and Only Aretha Franklin" at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York, United States KMazur/WireImage The Baywatch star first met the rocker backstage at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, at a VH1 tribute to Aretha Franklin, where Kid Rock performed alongside the Queen of Soul. The pair mostly chatted about their kids, Rock later told Spin magazine; he shares son Robert James Richie Jr. with ex Kelly South, while Anderson is mom to sons Brandon Thomas and Dylan Jagger with ex Tommy Lee. Story continues April 2001: Pamela Anderson sends Kid Rock Easter eggs Immediately following their first encounter, Anderson made it clear that Rock had left an impression on her: She sent him an Easter basket. "It was right around Easter the next day she sent me Easter eggs and a ton of s," the musician told Rolling Stone in 2007. April 2001: Pamela Anderson visits Kid Rock in Detroit After receiving her gift, Rock invited Anderson to visit him at his home in Michigan. "I was like, 'Why don't you come to Detroit?' " he told Rolling Stone. And she did. "It was fun, it was crazy, it was f rock & roll," he told the outlet. "It felt like I was doing exactly what I should have been doing, following the rock & roll handbook." November 24, 2001: Kid Rock says he and Pamela Anderson "want to be parents" Kid Rock & Pamela Anderson during "Spankin New Music Week" on MTV's "TRL" - November 9, 2001 at the MTV's Time Square Studio in New York, New York Kevin Mazur/WireImage A few months into their courtship, Rock mused how aligned he and Anderson felt in their approach to balancing partying with parenthood. "We're coming at it from the same perspective we both love our kids very much and we want to be parents," he told the Orlando Sentinel. "I didn't think there were any girls left out there especially with what I do who want to be moms anymore, who want to do the sewing and cooking and have me go out and fix the car and throw the kids around the yard," he added. "But that's what we have in common. And then when the kids aren't there, we like to whoop it up. Which I'm sure you've read about." December 2001: Kid Rock says meeting Pamela Anderson was "weird" "It was weird when we met," Rock told Spin of first connecting with Anderson. "I was thinking, 'Wow, here's someone who kinda thinks like I do. Let's go out and have a great (expletive) time and party like animals.' But there's a time and a place for that, and a time and a place for family." Rock also explained that the pair spent plenty of time with their kids together, though those outings rarely made headlines. "No one will ever see us hanging out with the kids and barbecuing all day," he said. "You only get what's flashy. It's understandable." April 11, 2002: Kid Rock proposes to Pamela Anderson Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock during 31st Annual American Music Awards - Arrivals at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, United States KMazur/WireImage Just a year after they first met, Rock offered up a rock of his own to his new love during a trip to Las Vegas. Anderson's then-publicist Marleah Leslie confirmed the engagement news to the Associated Press, noting they hadn't yet set a date for their nuptials. Leslie said Anderson was "elated" about the proposal. June 2003: Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock call off their engagement While the pair had been rumored to wed in Las Vegas in November 2002, they appeared to call off their engagement the following summer. When asked about the split, Anderson told PEOPLE in July 2003, "The word that best describes me now is 'free.' That's all I will say. I'm a mom, and that's where my life is at." Following their split, the two cut all ties. "I dropped all contact with her," Rock later told Rolling Stone. During the interview, he suggested that Anderson's decision to live in Malibu over Michigan and the various headaches surrounding their prenup were what ultimately drove them apart. July 2006: Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock reconnect in St. Tropez Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson arrive at the 29th Annual American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles Wednesdsay, January 9, 2002 Frank Micelotta/ABC/ImageDirect Three years after their initial split, the former couple reunited on a mutual friend's yacht in the South of France. Sparks flew and the pair quickly rekindled their flame: "It was like, 'Let's just f get married and get it over with," Rock told Rolling Stone. July 18, 2006: Pamela Anderson reveals she and Kid Rock are set to wed The Playboy model eagerly revealed that she was "in love" with Rock and they planned to marry. "I'm finally getting remarried it's been a whirlwind spontaneous but well thought through," she wrote on her website. She continued, "I've raised my kids alone in hope of a miracle. Well my miracle came and went. And came back and came back because he knew that I'd wake up one day and realize that I was waiting for nothing. I'm moving on I feel like I'm finally free I'm in love. I'm happy." July 29, 2006: Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock wed on a yacht The pair celebrated the first of several wedding ceremonies shortly after, on yet another yacht in St. Tropez. A white-bikini-clad Anderson said "I do" to her fedora-wearing, shirtless groom. On her blog, the bride described the ceremony as "the best most romantic wedding of all time." August 3, 2006: Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock have another wedding in Beverly Hills A few days later, the newlyweds made their union official (the St. Tropez ceremony was not a legally binding one) at a Beverly Hills courthouse. On August 2, Anderson announced the news on her blog, writing, "Just Married! It's official. Just left the courthouse!!!! Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie have left the building." However, sources confirmed to PEOPLE that the couple actually wed the following day. August 17, 2006: Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock say "I do" for a 3rd time in Nashville Two weeks later, the honeymoon phase was still in full swing when the pair jumped on stage at Nashville's Tootsie's Orchid Lounge and surprised guests by exchanging vows once again, according to Kirt Webster, Rock's Nashville-based publicist. Both the bride and groom both wore white, with Anderson clad in a Juicy dress and Rock in a tank top. The Grammy winner then serenaded his bride with a rendition of "Some Kind of Wonderful." November 27, 2006: Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock file for divorce Just four months after tying the knot, the pair filed for divorce. Anderson's rep confirmed the news to PEOPLE, saying, "Pamela filed for divorce last week. It wasn't a happy Thanksgiving." "Divorce," the former Baywatch star wrote on her blog. "Yes, it's true. Unfortunately impossible." The pair each filed divorce petitions, both citing irreconcilable differences. While Anderson listed their date of separation as Nov. 21, 2006, Rock put November 26. November 2006: Pamela Anderson says she and Kid Rock "just don't belong together" Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock during PETA'S 21st Anniversary Party and Humanitarian Awards at The Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, New York, United States KMazur/WireImage Soon after announcing their split, Anderson wrote on her blog that her soon-to-be-ex-husband "is great in many ways, we just don't belong together." She explained that they had decided to put their children first. "I love my children, he loves his son we both have wonderful family and friends as support going thru (sic) this time." September 9, 2007: Kid Rock punches Tommy Lee at the MTV Music Awards Nearly a year after their divorce, Rock famously got into an altercation at the MTV Music Awards with Anderson's ex Tommy Lee, whom Anderson had gotten back together with after splitting with Rock. After Rock returned from the bathroom to find Lee sitting at his table, he took it upon himself to punch the Motley Crue drummer in the face. "I don't got big guns, but I know how to throw a punch," Rock told Rolling Stone. October 10, 2007: Kid Rock says married life "sucks" The "All Summer Long" singer opened up about his thoughts on marriage to Blender for its November 2007 issue. "Getting married is a ball," he said, adding, "Getting married is the most fun you can have in life. Being married sucks." October 18, 2007: Kid Rock says his split from Pamela Anderson was "a very hurtful time" Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock at the The Gaylord Center in Nashville, Tennessee Kevin Mazur/WireImage Speaking to Rolling Stone about his incident with Lee at the MTV Music Awards the month prior, Rock explained that their issues stretched back to his split from their mutual ex, Anderson, the year before. Rock told the outlet that Lee took Anderson's cell phone and started harassing him over email from her device. "This m starts emailing me from her BlackBerry, saying, 'You're a f b, she'll always be with me, nobody wants you.' " The "Picture" singer added that the situation "was not easy," explaining, "It was a very hurtful time in my life, because I was in love with her. I wanted to roll on him right then, but I didn't see him until the MTV Awards." October 18, 2007: Pamela Anderson says she hopes Kid Rock is "happy in life" Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson Rick Diamond/WireImage In response to her ex's interview, Anderson wished him the best and asked him to please avoid discussing her. "I hope his album does well. I hope he's happy in life. We were married for four months. If he has nothing nice to say about me, then please tell him to stop talking about me," she told Rolling Stone. September 25, 2008: Kid Rock says he's "not really" friends with Pamela Anderson Nearly two years after filing for divorce, the rocker confirmed during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that he and Anderson were "not really" friends, but that they were reasonably cordial. "If I saw her somewhere I'd say hi, but I try not to go in the same circles," he told DeGeneres. "I try to avoid that." When asked why, Rock joked: "I touched stove, stove was hot, I think I not touch stove anymore." May 2, 2018: Pamela Anderson says Kid Rock wasn't conservative when they were together While Anderson hasn't spoken to Rock since their 2006 split a fact that she confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter in 2018 she was surprised by his increasingly outspoken conservatism and support for Donald Trump's presidency. "When he was with me, he didn't hunt," she told the outlet. "I don't think he was very Republican, but now he is. Oh well." MercyOne operates health care facilities in the Des Moines area. The parents of a baby held and fed by an intruder at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center have filed to dismiss their lawsuit against the hospital. The December 2021 incident provoked a public outcry and raised concerns about security at the hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. According to court filings, the intruder entered the unit through a secured door as a nurse was exiting, claimed to be the father of the baby, fed and changed the infant's diaper, and made "inappropriate comments" and asked nurses "inappropriate questions" about the newborn's care. The infant was being treated in the NICU for complications from their premature birth, and its parents were staying at the Ronald McDonald House in another wing of the hospital. They learned of the intruder when a nurse contacted them to ask if anyone was allowed to visit their newborn. Hospital staff escorted the man out of the unit and he fled the building. No harm was reported to the child. Previously:Man arrested after allegedly bottle-feeding someone else's baby in Des Moines hospital Two months later, the man was charged with misdemeanor trespassing. Court records show he was found guilty, fined $260 and ordered not to have contact with the family. He also was subsequently cited for trespass at Broadlawns Hospital after refusing to leave the premises in September, and currently faces unrelated felony charges for allegedly stealing a car and damaging a police vehicle. The child's parents subsequently sued both the intruder and the hospital, although the judge later dismissed the intruder from the case. The suit had been scheduled for trial in April 2024, but on Friday, the parents' attorneys filed to dismiss the case with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. Such filings often follow out-of-court settlements, but attorneys for the two sides did not respond to messages seeking comment. A spokesperson for the hospital provided a statement that "MercyOne is committed to the well-being and safety of our patients" but declining otherwise to comment on the legal dispute. Story continues More:Man who allegedly fed someone else's baby at Des Moines hospital found guilty of trespassing The hospital also did not respond to questions about measures it has taken to improve security. A state inspector who visited the hospital in February 2022, more than a month after the incident, reported that the hospital had created new policies to ensure that visitors to the NICU are properly screened and authorized, but that the hospital did not have procedures in place to ensure the policies were being followed. The report also noted that staff members had failed to properly screen the inspector during visits to the facility, and on one occasion didn't ask for the inspector's ID. William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com, 715-573-8166 or on Twitter at @DMRMorris. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Lawsuit over Des Moines hospital trespasser who fed baby dismissed By John Irish PARIS (Reuters) -France's foreign ministry demanded on Thursday the immediate release of Bernard Phelan, a Franco-Irish citizen detained in Iran, whose health situation has worsened with Paris saying he has been denied urgent medical care. Ties between France and Iran have deteriorated in recent months with Tehran detaining seven of its nationals in what Paris has said are arbitrary arrests that are equivalent to state hostage taking. Phelan, 64, a tourism consultant was detained in early October as anti-government protests spread across the country. Diplomats said he had recently ended a hunger strike that had hit his health, but he remains fragile. "We are extremely concerned given the extreme fragility of his health situation," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Anne-Claire Legendre told reporters at a news conference, demanding that he be released immediately along with six other French detainees. "The denial of medical access at this point from the Iranian authorities is completely unacceptable," she said, adding Paris held Tehran responsible for the health of all its citizens. The family of Louis Arnaud, a 35-year-old French national, who had been in Iran on tourism, on Thursday made public that their son had been arrested on Sept. 28 and was being held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison. In recent years, Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards have arrested dozens of dual nationals and foreigners, mostly on charges related to espionage and security. Rights groups have accused Iran of trying to extract concessions from other countries through such arrests. Iran, which does not recognise dual nationality, denies taking prisoners to gain diplomatic leverage. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna on Wednesday spoke to her Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian demanding the release of all the prisoners. Some 40 Europeans are held in Iran. Speaking in Brussels on Monday, Colonna said she wanted a collective European response to deal with the matter. (Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise) Photo: U.S. Army Spc. Jaaron Tolley The U.S. The Department of Defense has peeked into the future, and it sees a world rife with automated weapons of war. In its first update since 2012, DoDs guidance overseeing the development, testing, and use of autonomous and semi-autonomous weapons warned of artificial intelligences increasing role in wars to come. More than a decade has passed since the Pentagon last updated its policy directive on these weapons, titled Autonomy in Weapons Systems, but that changed this week. DoD officials expressed their commitment towards pursuing autonomous systems and integrating advanced artificial intelligence into future military efforts. With the policy update, U.S. military solidifies its stance as all in on autonomy even as other countries and activists band together to restrict its proliferation. Read more The new update takes into consideration advancements in AI over the past 10 years and introduces a new senior level oversight group. Now, in most cases, autonomous weapons will need to gain formal approval from the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, undersecretary of defense for policy, and undersecretary of defense for research and engineering before they can enter formal development. The directive now specifies that they, like any system that uses artificial intelligence, whether a weapon system or not, would need to follow those guidelines as well, DoD Director of Emerging Capabilities Policy Office Michael Horowitz said in a recent interview with Breaking Defense. This is part of what we view as good governance. What does the Pentagon think of AI-enabled weapons? The new directive also takes the Pentagons responsible AI ethics principles, first unveiled in 2020, and applies them to autonomous weapons systems. Those principles, in short, require DoDs AI tools to be responsible, equitable, traceable, reliable, and governable. The Pentagon released a follow-up document last year outlining the path it could take to make those principles a reality while remaining competitive with perceived threats from foreign global powers (read: China.) Outside of those and other oversight updates, the new directive mostly resembles its predecessor, with one DoD official calling it a clarification, not a major change. Story continues While not a complete overall, the update does state, in stark terms, the departments tech-focused vision for the future. In a statement accompanying the directive, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks said the Pentagon was committed to developing and employing all weapon systems, including those with autonomous features and functions, in a responsible and lawful manner. Looking forward to the future, Hicks acknowledged AI enabled systems are, likely to play an increasing role in a range of systems and capabilities. In a previous interview with Gizmodo, Hicks spoke about what she views as the importance of maintaining a human in the loop approach where a human operator still maintains a final role in deciding when an AI system carries out their objective. A world divided: Should we ban AI weapons and autonomous warfare? Not everyone shares the Pentagons rosy outlook towards autonomous weapons. In total, at least 30 countries have already voiced support for banning the tech outright. Those calls even gained the support of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who, in 2019 released a statement saying such systems should be prohibited under international law. Autonomous machines with the power and discretion to select targets and take lives without human involvement are politically unacceptable and morally repugnant, Guterres said. Similarly, a majority of the 125 states represented in the U.Ns Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons expressed interest in new laws essentially banning autonomous weapons development during a conference last year. Those efforts failed, CNBC notes, due to opposition from Russia, China, the United States, and a handful of other countries positioned at the forefront of autonomous weapons tech. Critics of autonomous weapon systems, from Amnesty International to Human Rights Watch, have compared their development to that of nuclear weapons and gunpowder before them. They fear its unchecked expansion could lead to a dangerous arms race that could increase the risk of geopolitical conflict. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. LIMA (Reuters) -A group of Peruvian lawmakers on Wednesday submitted a motion seeking to impeach President Dina Boluarte after a little over a month in power citing "permanent moral incapacity". The bid to remove Boluarte comes in the midst of violent protests following the impeachment and arrest last month of her predecessor, Pedro Castillo, in which dozens of people have been killed. The motion, a copy of which was reviewed by Reuters, was signed by 28 leftist members of congress who support Castillo. A minimum of 20%, or 26 signatures, was required to file the motion. The motion must now be approved by 52 votes before it can be debated in Congress where it must win two-thirds of the chamber's support. "Never in the history of Peru has a government in so little time - a month in governance - killed more than forty people in protests," the motion said, accusing Boluarte of allowing the abuse and disproportionate use of force, among other accusations. Boluarte's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. She has blamed Castillo, who is in pretrial detention, for promoting political polarization during his nearly 17 months in power. On Tuesday, Boluarte called for a "political truce". She has also accused drug traffickers and others of stirring up the violence on the streets. Peru's ombudsman office said there were more than 90 blockades across the country on Wednesday and one person was killed in Cusco city. At least 47 people have died in clashes since the protests began in December, according to the office, including one police officer, while hundreds have been injured. Human rights groups accuse police and soldiers of using excessive force, including live ammunition and dropping tear gas from helicopters. Security forces say protesters, mostly in Peru's southern Andes, used homemade weapons and explosives. (Reporting by Marco Aquino and Carolina Pulice; Writing by Sarah Morland and Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Robert Birsel) (Reuters) - Peru withdrew its ambassador to Honduras, Jorge Raffo, due to Honduras' "unacceptable interference" in the internal affairs of Peru, the South American nation's foreign ministry said on Thursday. The step is part of a deepening showdown between Peru President Dina Boluarte and her regional peers, including the leftist leaders of Mexico, Bolivia and Honduras. "As a consequence of the position adopted by Honduras, bilateral relations with said country will be maintained, indefinitely, at the level of charge d'affaires," the foreign ministry said on Twitter. At the summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Argentina earlier this week, Honduran President Xiomara Castro called Boluarte's ascension to power a "coup d'etat." "We condemn the coup d'etat in Peru and the aggression to which the Peruvian people are subjected, our solidarity (is) with the legitimate elected president, Pedro Castillo, and we demand his immediate release," Castro said. Boluarte became president in December after Castillo attempted to illegally dissolve Congress, was ousted and detained. Boluarte has struggled to calm political unrest as protests have left dozens dead, although she has called on Congress to move up elections. (Reporting by Raul Cortes; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by Mark Porter) Plane isnt stupid enough. The title of this Gerard Butler action thriller, which should only be said with the monosyllabic matter-of-factness of a toddler at an airport, is so boneheaded that it craves chaotic genius in return. But Plane is stifled by just how ordinary it is, and how closely it hews to the standard tropes of action films with longer, more descriptive yet less ridiculous titles. Here, Butler is parachuted into the exact kind of cheap, vaguely racist action flick that dominated the Eighties and Nineties. He plays Brodie Torrance, a commercial pilot heading up a New Years Eve flight from Singapore to Tokyo. Its a budget airline. There are only 14 passengers onboard plus, of course, a convicted criminal named Louis Gaspare (Mike Colter), whos being transferred between prisons. The plane (just a normal plane, remember) is caught up in a violent storm that Brodie is ordered to fly through. A single lightning strike later, and Brodie is guiding the aircraft back down to Earth for an impromptu landing on what turns out to be a lawless island run by separatists and criminals. The films by-the-numbers, macho mentality can be neatly summed up by the fact that when Brodie evacuates from the plane, director Jean-Francois Richet pointedly cuts away from his hero. You cant risk emasculating your leading man by capturing him slipping down one of those big, inflatable slides now, can you? Louis is supposedly the more experienced and ruthless of the two men hes at one point caught by Brodie near-skipping out of the jungle after executing a captured separatist, and the guilty look he returns is somewhat close to that of a dog whos just been found with his nose in the cookie jar. The ever-dependable Butler, one of the least self-conscious of todays crop of action stars, gives Brodie just a touch of panicked witlessness in contrast. But Brodie and Louis are conveniently both military veterans, so it doesnt make all that much difference. Plane, in fact, sees such little separation between their characters that it only bothers to offer a proper conclusion to one of their storylines. Whats important is that they are men, with sweat-soaked shirts and suppressed trauma. Theres also one woman onboard, with Daniella Pinedas stoic cabin crew member Bonnie being the character third-closest to having any discernible personality. Beyond a cross-cut series of shots between a guy in a plane and a guy in a jeep caught in a vehicular Mexican standoff, theres not much thats genuinely fun about Plane. It exists in that tiresome world of just-about-believability, with none of the gung-ho spirit that stops you questioning how any of this would work. Maybe Butler should make something like Truck next time see if he has better luck there. Dir: Jean-Francois Richet. Starring: Gerard Butler, Mike Colter, Tony Goldwyn, Daniella Pineda, Paul Ben-Victor, Remi Adeleke. 15, 107 minutes. Plane is in cinemas from 27 January MiG-29 The publication writes that this was done "after a big dispute" and in a "combined" way under the guise of spare parts. Read also: Slovakia ready to transfer T-72 tanks to Ukraine, MiG-29 jets are also in play "The fuselage or wings are also spare parts," sources in the Polish government said. On March 11, U.S. Republican senators demanded that the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden allow the transfer of Polish MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine to resist the full-scale Russian invasion. Read also: Russian MiG-31 catches fire while flying over Belarus, says local monitoring group The Biden administration initially indicated that the MiG-29s currently in Poland could be deployed to Ukraine to provide air support, but the Pentagon instead sent them to a U.S. base in Germany, believing that the planes are not the most effective weapon and that the Polish plan to send them to Ukraine could have a "high risk" of escalating the war. After a series of emotional statements by Kyiv and Warsaw, Washington, represented by Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, finally rejected the transfer of the Polish fighter jets to Ukraine on March 9. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Police arrested a burglar after they found him on the roof of an empty building in Greenwood, according to the Seattle Police Department. Tuesday afternoon, around 1 p.m., a witness reported the break-in in the 500 block of North 85th Street. When officers arrived, the man tossed down his tools and tried to escape. He climbed down a tree and ran into the street, but was soon caught by police, according to the report. The 47-year-old man said he was trying to steal copper from the building. He also had a small amount of what appeared to be methamphetamines in his pocket, police said. After he was cleared at the hospital, he was booked into the King County Jail for burglary. Police also requested he be charged with obstruction and possession of burglary tools. Story at a glance Findings are based on data from 161 pairs of mothers and infants. Higher levels of prenatal exposure were linked with lower cognitive outcome scores among children. However, the timing of exposure also played a key role. Children born to mothers exposed to higher levels of ambient air pollution during mid- to late-pregnancy tend to show deficits in motor coordination, cognition and language skills at the age of two, a new study found. Researchers assessed 161 pairs of Latino mothers and children. After participants provided detailed accounts of where they lived, researchers used data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys Air Quality System to determine exposure to roadside traffic, industry and wildfire smoke pollutants. They measured prenatal exposure to nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter smaller than 2.5 and 10 microns in diameter (PM 2.5 and PM 10 , respectively) during the first, middle and last three months of pregnancy. Children completed a series of neurodevelopmental tests at age two. Our findings suggest that pollution exposure, particularly during mid- to late-pregnancy, may negatively impact neurodevelopment in early life, senior author Tanya Alderete said in a release. Alderete is an assistant professor of integrative physiology at University of Colorado Boulder. Data showed infants prenatally exposed to PM 10 levels at the 75th percentile scored three points lower on cognitive tests compared with infants exposed at the 25th percentile. Findings were consistent even after adjusting for socioeconomic status, number of breastfeeding times per day and time of delivery, along with other factors. America is changing faster than ever! Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news. Timing of exposure played an important role in childrens developmental outcomes. During mid- to late- pregnancy, key circuits in the brain that support sensory, motor and communication systems form, explained author Zach Morgan. Story continues The brain develops differently at different stages of pregnancy and when you have a disruption at a critical window that can affect the trajectory of that development, Morgan said. Although more studies are needed to understand how the pollutants affect developing brains, researchers note inhaled pollutants may come in contact with the fetus, potentially causing inflammation and oxidative stress that could alter neurodevelopment. Exposure might also affect babies gut microbiomes in ways that promote inflammation, potentially impacting brain health. According to the World Health Organization, more than 90 percent of the global population is exposed to unhealthy levels of particulate matter. But in the United States, racial and ethnic minorities and low-income populations bear a disproportionate burden of exposure. Previous research has shown Black Americans experience 56 percent more exposure to air pollution than they are responsible for creating. For Latinos, that total rises to 63 percent. Our findings highlight the importance of addressing the impact of pollution on disadvantaged communities and point to additional steps all families can take to protect their health, said Alderete. She added that pregnant women should be vigilant about avoiding air pollutants when possible, especially in the later stages of pregnancy. These women could invest in in-home air filtration systems, avoid exercising outdoors on high pollution days and avoid second-hand smoke. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Progressives see a chance to make 2024 a year of expansion in the Senate, with a handful of Sun Belt candidates angling to bring more of their wing to higher office as Democrats face a rough landscape and uphill battle to retain control of the chamber. The election year has the potential to modify what the Senate looks like for the party. If progressives in Arizona and California are elected, each would help turn the moderate caucus more in their direction, while demonstrating that liberals from competitive districts are capable of winning statewide. But the caucus itself may shrink in the process. Several states, including Montana, Ohio and West Virginia, are on Democrats watchlists as in danger of going Republican, possibly blunting whatever traction the left makes with hypothetical pickups. Look, its a very tough map. It is going to be difficult for Democrats to hold the majority, said Joseph Geevarghese, executive director of Our Revolution, a left-wing mobilizing organization aligned with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). But even if Democrats dont do well, he said, I think progressives will. The progressive voting bloc in the Senate is poised to become stronger. This month, two House liberals Reps. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Katie Porter (D-Calif.) announced Senate campaigns, fueling optimism among progressives who want to see Congress reimagined into something that represents the countrys vast economic and racial diversity. Gallego and Porter are both young lawmakers and members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), where most of the lefts firepower is housed on Capitol Hill. Their personal brands are largely built on a shared desire to move away from the more traditional, centrist model of politics that Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) represent. Porter, a wonky anti-monopoly representative from Orange County, launched her bid even though Feinstein hasnt said shell step down, setting an early narrative into motion that a younger progressive woman can occupy that seat. Story continues Gallego, meanwhile, was widely celebrated when he made his plans for a Senate run public this week, energizing Democrats who are eager to oust Sinema, who made just a slight reference to her upcoming political goals via tweet. Ruben knows that most Arizonans arent on Twitter following politics because they are too busy working overtime or a second job, said Joe Sanberg, a liberal donor close to Gallego. This campaign is about the needs of working Arizonans. Max Berger, a Democratic campaign operative whos worked with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), said he believes the millennial Latino congressman has a real shot at taking Sinema down if she runs. But it probably wont be easy. I think Gallego can win even if Sinema doesnt drop out, Berger said. Obviously, our chances improve dramatically if she takes a job directly with her real constituents and becomes a lobbyist. But I think shes sufficiently alienated Democrats across the board, and no Republican voters want her brand of watered-down conservatism, he added. Progressives believe that adding two Democrats from their flank to the Senate could help reimagine whats possible in the notoriously formal, procedure-heavy upper chamber. Unlike in the House where liberals have grown in the past several election cycles, dating back to the emergence of the squad in 2018 the left has stayed more muted in the Senate. That started to change recently. In November, progressives saw one of their top stars from the midterm cycle now-Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) win an upstart campaign against his well-funded GOP opponent by running on a platform that included things like legalizing marijuana and a $15 minimum wage. It shows me that economic populists, candidates who put bread-and-butter issues at the center of their campaigns, can win. I think thats incredibly encouraging, Geevarghese said. We need more Bernies and Warrens and Fettermans. A Gallego or Porter win or a handful of other progressives thought to be considering California Senate bids like Reps. Barbara Lee (D) and Ro Khanna (D) would help expand that bench beyond Fetterman and the more prominent progressive senators Sanders and Warren. The few genuine economic populists in the Senate, notably Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, need many more allies among their colleagues, agreed Norman Solomon, who co-founded the grassroots community RootsAction.org. The base of the Democratic Party, including activists who work hard during campaign seasons, is very progressive on the issues, Solomon said, pointing out what many leftists see as key vulnerabilities among their establishment colleagues. Corporate Democrats like Feinstein can raise big money from special interests, but theyre out of step with the Democratic base, he added. Democratic primaries often pit the base of the party against big donors. Still, Democrats not just progressives will have to defend a lot of their turf this cycle, which has some in the party already on edge. Sinema, for example, who last year switched from Democrat to Independent, could theoretically take votes away from the Democratic nominee and help deliver the seat to the GOP. Arizona is anything but a slam dunk for a Democrat, said Matt Bennett of the centrist Democratic think tank Third Way. Democrats cannot count on a crackpot GOP nominee in Arizona, and even if it is, that person could win. Moderates like Bennett see more progressivism as increasing the chances that the Senate could ultimately turn redder. When the Dem caucus gets smaller (Senate or House) it moves to the left, he said. When it gets larger, it moves to the center. Do Democrats want small and left or large and center? Theres plenty of uncertainty to go around in other swing states. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), a Rust Belt progressive, is expected to face a tough reelection campaign after Democrats saw their longshot hopes of sending former Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) to the Senate fail against Trump-aligned Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio). In addition, the party will have to work to hold Sen. Jon Testers (D) seat in Montana, who only barely won his last bid during more favorable conditions to Democrats. Republicans have had success during the presidential cycles in both states, creating an uncertain climate before President Biden has even announced his intention to run for a second term. Former President Trump won both Ohio and Montana against Biden in 2020. And then theres Sen Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who, like his friend Sinema, is high on progressives target list. But with no liberal challenger in sight or with a reasonable shot of winning the red state, Democrats worry that Manchin may lose to a Republican a possibility that comes up each cycle with fresh intensity. Some of the speculation depends on Bidens reelection announcement. He is likely to give a signal to voters about running again in the coming weeks, The Hill has recently reported, but its also an ongoing question about his popularity. If the presidents approval rating sinks lower in the thick of the campaign season, Democrats are likely going to have a harder time defending a challenging Senate battlefield sharing a ticket with him. For now, progressives are hopeful they can break through. If something bad for the party happens namely, if they lose the Senate theyll still have more influence over the Biden White House if he runs and wins reelection. Theyll also build a more liberal chamber for future cycles, a longer-term goal that organizers and activists have accomplished with some success in the lower chamber. Ultimately what I think were poised to see is a growing progressive bloc in the Senate, which has been pretty small, Geevarghese said. Democrats didnt win the House, but the CPC got stronger. Well have more influence. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. When the elderly man approached after Bernard Wilkin had given a speech on battlefield bones, it's safe to say that Wilkin was not expecting the man's opening gambit. You should know that I have Prussians in my attic, the man told him, recalled Wilkin, an author and researcher, in an interview Thursday with NBC News. I was taken aback by that." Last week, forensic analysis revealed that the man was storing rare remains from the 1815 Battle of Waterloo, French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte's final defeat to coalition forces led by Britains Duke of Wellington and Gen. Gebhard von Bluchers Prussian army after dominating much of Europe. Basically he had them for decades, Wilkin said of the man, who has chosen to remain anonymous and did not want the bones to end up in the trash after he died. The skull of a Prussian soldier who fought at the Battle of Waterloo. (AWAP) Wilkin, a senior researcher at the State Archives of Belgium, said the man approached him in November at a conference in the town of Waterloo, around 20 miles south of Brussels, Belgiums capital. Wilkin said he had just finished talking about how common it was for farmers across Europe to dig up and sell bones to the sugar industry, focusing on how the bones were used to produce a particular kind of charcoal that would purify sugar. Estimates vary on how many died at the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815, but the number runs into the thousands. Many were buried in mass graves that were looted, plundered for bones for sugar production, Wilkin said. Only two complete human skeletons have ever been formally excavated from the Waterloo battlefield, according to the British charity Waterloo Uncovered. A few days after the conference, Wilkin visited the man's home in the village of Plancenoit, where he showed him the bones. Wilkin said the man was an avid Waterloo memorabilia collector, who had been in possession of the bones since the 1980s after they were given to him by a friend who had discovered them near a battlefield in Plancenoit. He added it was the site where French forces had fought the Prussians. Story continues As the director of a small museum about the Battle of Waterloo, the man wrestled with the idea of exhibiting the bones, but for ethical reasons, stored them away in his attic instead, Wilkin said. The man also told him about a friend who owns four British soldiers, Wilkin said, adding that the second man was a metal detector enthusiast who had illegally searched a second battlefield in Waterloo. Analysis of those bones by a team of anthropologists and forensic doctors confirmed last week that they were the remains of at least six British soldiers, not four as was initially assumed. Philippe Boxho, a professor in forensics who examined the bones, also discovered that one of the Prussian soldiers had suffered blunt force trauma around an eye socket, Wilkin said. There is quite clearly a sword that went through the eye, Wilkin said. The front was probably rammed by the butt of a rifle very violently. Ive been a historian for 20 years and I work only on battles, he added. To look at the soldiers and to then hear the explanation of how they died rather than reading it in a text, it makes a huge difference. I really fell for this poor guy. The remains are currently undergoing forensic analysis in the Belgian city of Liege, where Wilkin is based, to confirm the soldiers identity and provide facial reconstructions of at least one of the skulls, he said. A spokesperson for Waterloo Uncovered added that they hoped the bones will be able to shed new light on the dramatic events of the battle and the hardships suffered by those who fought in it. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com quantum-computers-IBM The chandelier inside a quantum computer is designed to cool its processing chip to a temperature lower than outer space. Credit - Thomas Prior for TIME One of the secrets to building the worlds most powerful computer is probably perched by your bathroom sink. At IBMs Thomas J. Watson Research Center in New York States Westchester County, scientists always keep a box of dental flossReach is the preferred brandclose by in case they need to tinker with their oil-drum-size quantum computers, the latest of which can complete certain tasks millions of times as fast as your laptop. Inside the shimmering aluminum canister of IBMs System One, which sits shielded by the same kind of protective glass as the Mona Lisa, are three cylinders of diminishing circumference, rather like a set of Russian dolls. Together, these encase a chandelier of looping silver wires that cascade through chunky gold plates to a quantum chip in the base. To work properly, this chip requires super-cooling to 0.015 kelvinsa smidgen above absolute zero and colder than outer space. Most materials contract or grow brittle and snap under such intense chill. But ordinary dental floss, it turns out, maintains its integrity remarkably well if you need to secure wayward wires. But only the unwaxed, unflavored kind, says Jay Gambetta, IBMs vice president of quantum. Otherwise, released vapors mess everything up. Photograph by Thomas Prior for TIME Its a curiously homespun facet of a technology that is set to transform pretty much everything. Quantums unique ability to crunch stacks of data is already optimizing the routes of thousands of fuel tankers traversing the globe, helping decide which ICU patients require the most urgent care, and mimicking chemical processes at the atomic level to better design new materials. It also promises to supercharge artificial intelligence, with the power to better train algorithms that can finally turn driverless cars and drone taxis into a reality. Quantum AI simulations exhibit a degree of effectiveness and efficiency that is mind-boggling, U.S. National Cyber Director Chris Inglis tells TIME. Story continues Read More: DeepMinds CEO Helped Take AI Mainstream. Now Hes Urging Caution Quantums earliest adopters are asset-management firmsfor which incorporating quantum calculations involves few increased overhead costsbut commercial uses arent far behind. Spanish firm Multiverse Computing has run successful pilot projects with multinational clients like BASF and Bosch that show its quantum algorithms can double foreign-exchange trading profits and catch almost four times as many production-line defects. Quantum deep-learning algorithms are completely different from classical ones, says Multiverse CEO Enrique Lizaso Olmos. You can train them faster, try more strategies, and they are much better at getting the correlations that matter from a lot of data. Tech giants from Google to Amazon and Alibabanot to mention nation-states vying for technological supremacyare racing to dominate this space. The global quantum-computing industry is projected to grow from $412 million in 2020 to $8.6 billion in 2027, according to an International Data Corp. analysis. Whereas traditional computers rely on binary bitsswitches either on or off, denoted as 1s and 0sto process information, the qubits that underpin quantum computing are tiny subatomic particles that can exist in some percentage of both states simultaneously, rather like a coin spinning in midair. This leap from dual to multivariate processing exponentially boosts computing power. Complex problems that currently take the most powerful supercomputer several years could potentially be solved in seconds. Future quantum computers could open hitherto unfathomable frontiers in mathematics and science, helping to solve existential challenges like climate change and food security. A flurry of recent breakthroughs and government investment means we now sit on the cusp of a quantum revolution. I believe we will do more in the next five years in quantum innovation than we did in the last 30, says Gambetta. But any disrupter comes with risks, and quantum has become a national-security migraine. Its problem-solving capacity will soon render all existing cryptography obsolete, jeopardizing communications, financial transactions, and even military defenses. People describe quantum as a new space race, says Dan OShea, operations manager for Inside Quantum Technology, an industry publication. In October, U.S. President Joe Biden toured IBMs quantum data center in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., calling quantum vital to our economy and equally important to our national security. In this new era of great-power competition, China and the U.S. are particularly hell-bent on conquering the technology lest they lose vital ground. This technology is going to be the next industrial revolution, says Tony Uttley, president and COO for Quantinuum, a Colorado-based firm that offers commercial quantum applications. Its like the beginning of the internet, or the beginning of classical computing. Quantum chips are extremely sensitive. This decade-old IBM quantum processor was used in an experiment that proved how background microwaves affect qubits. Thomas Prior for TIME If anything, its surprising that traditional computing has taken us so far. From the trail-blazing Apple II of the late 1970s to todays smartphones and supercomputers, all processors break down tasks into binary. But life is so complex that rendering information in such a rudimentary manner is like playing a Rachmaninoff concerto in Morse code. Quantum is also more in tune with nature. Moleculesthe building blocks of the universeare multiple atoms bound together by electrons that exist as part of each. The way these electrons essentially occupy two states at once is what quantum particles replicate, presenting applications for natural and material sciences by predicting how drugs interact with the human body, or substances perform under corrosion. Traditional manufacturing takes calculated guesses to make breakthroughs through trial and error; by mirroring the natural world, quantum should allow advances to be purposefully designed. Read More: Column: How Our Cells Strategize To Keep Us Alive While the worlds biggest companies, alongside hundreds of startups, are clamoring to harness quantum, IBM has emerged in recent years as the industry leader. Today, the firm has over 60 functioning quantum computersmore than the rest of the world combinedand a roster of collaborators that include titans of practically every industry from Exxon-Mobil to Sony. Its a welcome return to technologys zenith for the storied firm, founded over a century ago to produce tabulating machines fed with punch cards. In recent years, IBM had fallen behind rivals like Apple and Microsoft by not seizing the initiative with cloud computing and AI. Quantum offers some redemption. Its great to be back at the top again, says one executive. Its no secret that we let things slip by not jumping on cloud. In November, IBM unveiled its new 433-qubit Osprey chipthe worlds most powerful quantum processor, the speed of which, if represented in traditional bits, would far exceed the total number of atoms in the known universe. IBM has more than 20 quantum computers available on its open-source quantum tool kit Qiskit, which has been downloaded more than 450,000 times to date. In order to build an industry around quantum, some machines are free to use, while paying clients such as startups and scholars can access more powerful ones remotely on a lease basis. IBM has a bold road map to launch a 1,121-qubit processor this year and, by 2025, surpass 4,000 qubits by creating modular quantum circuits that link multiple processor chips in the same computer. Modularity is a big inflection point, says Dario Gil, IBM senior vice president and director of research. We now have a way to engineer machines that will have tens of thousands of qubits. Inside the IBM research lab in Yorktown Heights, New York Thomas Prior for TIME IBM research lab in Yorktown Heights, New York. Thomas Prior for TIME Quantums industrial uses are boundless. Inside BMWs headquarters in Munich there stands a wall that gives vehicle designers sleepless nights. Creating a new car model from scratch takes at least four years. First, designers use computer-aided styling to sketch an exterior that combines beauty with practicality. Next, a scale model is carved in clay and placed in a wind tunnel to assess aerodynamics. After countless decisions on interior, engine performance, and so on comes the ultimate test: a prototype is driven at 35 m.p.h. into that fabled wall to test how it performs in a crash. Should the car fail to meet various safety criteria, its back to the drawing board. This is where quantum can help by accurately predicting how complex materials of different shapes will perform under stress. Robust simulated crash tests can save up to six months in the whole process, says Carsten Sapia, vice president of strategy, governance, and IT security at BMW Group, which has partnered with French quantum firm Pascal. Quantum computing will also help us find the new optimum between design, maximum interior space, and best aerodynamics. Thats just the start. Modern business teems with optimization problems that are ideally suited to quantum algorithms and could save time, energy, and resources. Were not just building the technology, we have to enable the workforce to use it, explains Katie Pizzolato, IBMs director of quantum strategy and applications research. Sapia says finding uses for the technology is easy; the challenge will be ensuring that all divisions of BMW are able to utilize it. Already, BMW is unable to communicate from Europe to its cars in China for driving software maintenance and monitoring because of increasingly strict curbs on the transfer of data across borders. In the future, we will rely on everywhere in the world having access to quantum technology to run our business, Sapia says. So how can we set it up so no matter what happens on a geopolitical scale that we still have access to this technology? The full chandelier inside a quantum computer. Thomas Prior for TIME Over the past few years quantum has moved from a footnote to the top of the global security agenda. To date, 17 countries have national quantum strategies and four more are developing them. China has invested an estimated $25 billion in quantum research since the mid-1980s, according to Quantum Computing Report. Its top quantum scientist, Pan Jianwei, led the launch of the worlds first quantum satellite in 2016 and in 2021 unveiled a then record-breaking 56-qubit quantum computer. Chinas 14th Five-Year Plan, published in March 2021, made mastery of quantum a policy priority. The blurred line between industry and national security in China gives them an advantage, says David Spirk, former chief data officer at the Department of Defense. In response, the White House in May published a National Security Memorandum that ordered all federal agencies to transition to post-quantum security owing to significant risks to economic and national security. Given that upgrading critical infrastructure can take decades, and literally everything connected to the internet is at risk, the impetus is to act now. We realized that while [quantum is] wonderful for humanity, the first thing people are going to do is weaponize these systems, says Skip Sanzeri, founder and COO of QuSecure, a post-quantum cybersecurity firm enlisted by the U.S. military and federal government to handle what he says could be a $1 trillion cybersecurity upgrade. Still, Spirk worries that the U.S. risks falling behind and is calling for a Manhattan Projectlike focus on quantum. Of the over $30 billion spent globally on quantum last year, according to the World Economic Forum, China accounted for roughly half and the E.U. almost a quarter. The U.S. National Quantum Initiative, meanwhile, spent just $1.2 billiona figure Spirk calls trivial against $1 trillion in total defense spending. This is not a coming wave, he says, its here. Read More: The World Economic Forums Klaus Schwab on What Lies Ahead The stakes couldnt be higher. Today, practically all cybersecuritywhether WhatsApp messages, bank transfers, or digital handshakesis based on RSA, an asymmetric cryptography algorithm used to safely transfer data. But while a regular computer needs billions of years to crack RSA, a fast quantum computer would take just hours. In December, a team of scientists in China published a paper that claimed it had a quantum algorithm that could break RSA with a 372-qubit computer (though its conclusions are hotly debated). The race is now on to devise postquantum securitya job that falls to the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST. In 2016, NIST announced a competition for programmers to propose new post-quantum encryption algorithms. The results were mixed: one of the finalists announced on July 5, 2022, has since been cracked by a regular laptop in a little over an hour. In some ways, its already too late. Even though quantum computers powerful enough to crack RSA are a few years away from being openly available, hackers are already seizing and storing sensitive data in the knowledge that they will be able to access it via quantum very soon. Every day that you dont convert to a quantum-safe protocol, theres no recovery plan, Gil says. The glass shell around the quantum computer allows IBM to tightly control the temperature inside. This is critical for the quantum chip, which has to be kept at a fraction above absolute zero. Thomas Prior for TIME The war in Ukraine has also served as a wake-up call. It is historys first hot conflict to begin with cyber-attacks, as Russia targeted vital -communications and infrastructure to lay the groundwork for its military assault. Public services, energy grids, media, banks, businesses, and nonprofit organizations were subjected to a cyberblitzkrieg, impacting the distribution of medicines, food, and relief supplies. Modern warfare and nationalsecurity mechanisms are grounded in the speed and precision of decisionmaking. If your computer is faster than theirs, you win, its pretty simple, says Spirk. Quantum is that next leap. Read More: Exclusive: OpenAI Used Kenyan Workers on Less Than $2 Per Hour to Make ChatGPT Less Toxic But malign intentions are just one hazard. With the U.S. embroiled in a new Cold War, its also unclear if China and Russia would adopt new NIST protocols, not least since in the past, RSA cryptography has allegedly been breached by the U.S. National Security Agency. In September, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said quantum would have an outsized importance over the coming decade, adding that export controls could be used to maintain U.S. advantage. Competing post-quantum security standards across Washingtons and Beijings spheres of influence have the potential to cleave the world into divergent blocs, with grave implications for global trade. [The] balkanization of what we know today as a free and open internet is distinctly possible, Inglis says. The trepidation surrounding quantum doesnt stem solely from security risks. We trust classical computers in part because we can verify their computations with pen and paper. But quantum computers involve such arcane physics, and deal with such complex problems, that traditional verification is extremely tricky. For now, its possible to simulate many quantum calculations on a traditional super-computer to check the outcome. But soon will come a time when trusting a quantum computer will require a leap of faith. Trust building across the entire ecosystem right now is really important, says Uttley. Boeing, for one, has been working with IBMs quantum team since 2020 on designing new materials for its next generation of aircraft. But given the colossal reputational stakes, the firm is in no rush. The modeling tools that we use to design our airplanes are closely monitored, says Jay Lowell, chief engineer for disruptive computing and networks at Boeing. To turn [quantum] into an operational code is a huge, huge hurdle. One that IBM knows only too well. But by making its quantum computers open source, and welcoming academics and entrepreneurs from all over, the firm hopes to mitigate the hesitancy. As Gil puts it, this is a new frontier of humanity. With reporting by Leslie Dickstein Photograph: AP A dual citizen of France and Canada has pleaded guilty to mailing ricin to Donald Trump. Pascale Ferrier, 55, admitted to making the poison at her residence in Quebec in September 2020, the US Department of Justice announced. Ferrier placed the ricin in envelopes that included letters addressed to Trump at the White House and to eight Texas law enforcement officials associated with detention facilities where Ferrier had been held. Ricin, a deadly poison, can be made from waste material produced in the processing of castor beans. It can be produced as a powder, mist or liquid, or in pellet form. Related: These are conditions ripe for political violence: how close is the US to civil war? In each letter, Ferrier wrote that she included a special gift, adding that if it doesnt work, I will find a better recipe for another poison. She also wrote: or I might use my gun when I will be able to come and concluded: Enjoy. According to court documents, the letter to Trump also stated: You ruin USA and lead them to disaster. I have US cousins, then I dont want the next four years with you as president. Give up and remove your application for this election. The nine envelopes were intercepted in Texas and Washington DC. The Secret Service informed the FBI about the letter to Trump. Special weapons of mass destruction coordinators and hazardous material experts were required to deploy to various locations where the letters were received, due to the presence of the ricin toxin powder in the envelopes, court documents said. The letters were sent to a facility in Maryland for further testing. Shortly after the letters were intercepted, Ferrier drove to a border crossing in Buffalo, New York, where she was arrested. According to court documents, asked by border officials if she was OK, Ferrier said she was wanted by the FBI over the ricin letters. Authorities found in her car a loaded firearm, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, two knives, a stun gun, pepper spray, a truncheon and a false ID document. Story continues Ferrier pleaded guilty to violating federal prohibitions with respect to biological weapons. As part of a plea deal, she is expected to serve 262 months in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for 26 April. The case comes amid a concerning rise in political violence towards lawmakers which experts warn endangers the health of US democracy. There is no place for political violence in our country, and no excuse for threatening public officials or endangering our public servants, the US attorney for the District of Columbia, Matthew M Graves, said in a statement. We hope this resolution will serve as a warning that using our mail system to send a toxic substance and other threats of this type will cost you your freedom for many years. Last November Joe Biden urged Americans to take a stand against political violence. We are facing a defining moment, the president said. We must with one overwhelming, unified voice speak, as a country, and say theres no place for voter intimidation or political violence in America. Editors Note: This story is a collaborative project of the Kyiv Independent (Ukraine), Eesti Ekspress (Estonia), Die Welt (Germany), Lighthouse Reports, and The Investigative Desk (the Netherlands). Top findings: When Russia unleashed its all-out war in February last year, Ukraine urgently needed weapons and ammunition to defend itself. Desperate for arms, the country was ready to buy at any cost, a top-ranking Ukrainian official involved in the hunt for weapons in the first weeks of the war told the Kyiv Independent. European private arms dealers saw an opportunity and drove the prices of their services up. In one specific case, the Kyiv Independent and partners found that one broker took three to six times the market average for mediation. Increased prices affected Ukraine's allies spending power. The higher the prices, the fewer weapons Ukraine ends up receiving to defend itself, Ukraines military attache in the countrys embassy in Belgium told the Kyiv Independents partner in this investigation, The Investigative Desk. In mid-March, the price of one specific ammunition shipment had risen by almost a third after a complex chain of intermediaries was set in motion to get the arms to Ukraine. First a Dutch, then an Estonian, and finally, a Czech company got involved in providing Ukraine with much-needed ammo. The supplier that appears to be the final one in the chain, a Czech company called Excalibur International, is well known to Ukraines military industry. Ukraines state-owned arms company Ukroboronprom has been working with the company for years. Yet, in this case, Excalibur Internationals supplies to Ukraine have taken place through a chain of intermediaries. Story continues As a result of the deal, at least one broker received 2 million euros, 30% of the contract, in commission an abnormally high commission, according to industry insiders. Many companies around the world have earned excessive profits from the war in Ukraine, said Fedir Venyslavsky, a lawmaker with the Servant of the People ruling party and a member of the parliamentary committee for national security. Why involve brokers at all if they drive the prices up? The intermediaries normally make sure that the deal goes smoothly by guaranteeing payment. Additionally, in wartime, their presence can be justified by sellers fear of Russia. Bulgaria, for example, refused to sell to Ukraine directly up until December, afraid of repercussions from the Kremlin. The involvement of a middleman can often disguise the real supplier. But intermediaries can also be a cover to embezzle money. Ukraine has a long history of corruption in military procurement. Now, amid martial law, bidding is no longer public, which makes it almost impossible to trace where the money goes. It does not help that the European arms market is secretive, too, and provides full anonymity to traders eager to charge extra. The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine gave a new impetus to the global arms market, challenging brokers to find Soviet-era arms and ammo for Ukraine urgently, but also providing them with remarkable cash flow. Urgent order One particular deal took place on March 16, three weeks into the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. On that day, in one home in Bucha, Russian soldiers slaughtered three civilians, an elderly couple and a young woman. In Mariupol, Russian aircraft dropped bombs on the drama theater, killing, by various estimations, up to 600 people sheltering there. The same day, the Dutch broker Applied Research Laboratory Europe (ARLE) B.V. billed the Estonian company Bristol Trust OU, according to documents seen by the authors of this story. ARLE ordered RPG-7 grenade launchers and ammunition that were to be used in Ukraine. The arms were to be shipped to Poland, where they were handed over to Ukrainian representatives. An RPG-7 is a Soviet anti-tank grenade launcher type, first produced 60 years ago. One of the world's most widely used weapons, its popularity is largely due to its low price (around 1,500-2,500 euros before Russias war, and about twice as much now): One can destroy an enemy's expensive tank or bunker for a pittance. To this day, RPGs are produced in four or five European factories in countries like Bulgaria, Romania, and the Czech Republic. By that time, mid-March of last year, the prices of arms had already gone up. Arms shortage was among the reasons. Ammunition stocks in Europe have often been deliberately kept low in peacetime because of their obsolescence and maintenance costs. Governments, private companies, and non-profit organizations were all chasing the same goods, starting to outbid each other. We all unintentionally created a frenzy that heated up the arms market, and those who have been in this market for a long time understood this perfectly and took advantage of the moment to earn extra profits, Venyslavsky said. Some Western brokers compare the early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine to the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak. "Whereas in the early days of the coronavirus crisis, traders were looking for masks en masse, now arms dealers from all over the world are chasing weapons and ammunition to send to Ukraine," says one of the eight European arms dealers we spoke to for this story anonymously. "The current arms market is a f*cking mess. You have to go around and ask everyone: How much do you have in stock? It's a logistical nightmare," said another dealer who did not want his name mentioned. Arms for Ukraine were sought all over the world "from Kuwait to Kenya and from the Philippines to Sudan," one dealer said. Ukraines needs were also quite specific: Soviet-made mortars, grenade launchers, and ammunition, the stuff most used by the Ukrainian army but in short supply in the West. Only a handful of Eastern European countries had what Ukraine needed at the time. Some were reluctant to sell, fearing Russias reaction. Bulgaria, which is dependent on Russian gas, banned direct sales of its weapons to Ukraine back in 2016. But after Russia invaded Ukraine further, Bulgaria secretly sent arms supplies through intermediaries, according to Politico. Prices for Soviet-made arms and ammunition produced in Bulgaria increased three to four times following Russias invasion of Ukraine, according to a Bulgarian trader who wishes to remain anonymous, fearing for his safety. "This price is paid by the dealers. The price paid by the end buyer is likely to be even higher," he said. The desire to keep a low profile is widespread among brokers. It is not only geopolitics but also personal security. Some of the brokers told journalists that their colleagues had been threatened by the Russians. In Belgium and Norway, arms dealers claim to have been followed on their way home. A well-known Bulgarian arms dealer was poisoned by the Russian military intelligence agency GRU in 2015 and narrowly survived the attack. Hunt for grenades ARLE is a small company run by two former Dutch servicemen, a marine and a policeman. Since 2004, ARLE has reportedly been involved in bodyguarding VIPs in Iraq. Ever after, the company has represented foreign arms manufacturers willing to sell military equipment to countries like the Netherlands or Jordan. They initially received the order and began the search for RPG launchers and grenades for Ukraine in early March. In its search, ARLE came to the Estonian broker Bristol Trust. Bristol is an intermediary like ARLE. They are no strangers to one another: in their respective countries. Both represent the U.S. arms manufacturer SIG Sauer Inc. Neither stores arms and both work on a made-to-order basis. Having no RPGs in stock, Bristol Trust came to the Czech firm Excalibur International. Part of their business is precisely the old Soviet military hardware, something Ukraine was looking for. Excalibur, which is part of the Czechoslovak Group arms manufacturer, agreed to supply grenades to Bristol, according to the documents seen by the Kyiv Independent and partners. A soldier of Ukraine's 5th Regiment of Assault Infantry fires a US-made MK-19 automatic grenade launcher towards Russian positions less than 800 meters away at a frontline near Toretsk in the Donetsk Oblast on October 12, 2022. (Photo by DAVE CLARK/AFP via Getty Images) By March 27, the deal between ARLE and Bristol was locked in but in a different shape. The initial order for 100 RPG-7 launchers and 5,000 rounds of ammunition was replaced with another one: Bristol agreed to sell ARLE 12,500 RPG grenades for 6.8 million euros. According to documents seen by journalists, Bristol made 2 million euros on brokerage. Its unknown how much ARLE charged for its services. The price is hefty: each grenade turned out to be at least twice more expensive than before the war. Back then, they sold at 200-250 euros apiece, according to the arms experts interviewed for this story. Several European arms dealers and experts said the average commission in this business is between 5 and 10 percent of the deal value. The near 30 percent that Bristol claimed is "out of proportion," said one broker. Ants Poldsam, owner of Bristol Trust, neither confirmed nor denied the deal. "Due to the brutal war going on, for the safety of my family, my partners, and myself, I am not in a position to comment publicly on the alleged transaction or its existence. Describing similar transactions could put lives at risk," he said. However, Poldsam said that none of last year's deals earned him 30 percent of the deal. "Claiming a certain, but not unethical, profit in transactions is necessary," he said. The amount Bristol allegedly made on the deal would have been almost enough to buy the 12,500 grenades before Russias war. If the Dutch broker had purchased the grenades directly from the Czech company, it would have allegedly saved 2 million euros which could have bought 3,750 more RPG grenades for Ukraines defense. If Excalibur had sold directly to Ukraine, the price could have been even lower. Excalibur acknowledged being one of the weapons suppliers to Ukraine but refused to comment on the details of its involvement. The company only said it mostly provides Ukraine with artillery ammunition and heavy weaponry. Since the start of Russias all-out war against Ukraine, revenues of Czechoslovak Group, the mother company of Excalibur, doubled. The company said in November that it had made 580 million euros in the first six months of 2022, twice as much as the same period the year before. The conflict in Ukraine, as well as global demand for defense material in the last year, led to a substantial increase in prices because the demand exceeds the offer," a spokesperson for Excalibur said. Supplier with history Ukraines Ukroboronprom not only knows Excalibur but has had a memorandum on cooperation with them since 2018. In previous years, a sister company of Excalibur International called Excalibur Army had apparently repeatedly sold directly to Ukrspecexport, a state-owned company and then-subsidiary of Ukroboronprom. Between 2020 and 2021, Excalibur supplied Ukrspecexport ammunition for howitzers, mortars, and vehicle parts, according to the Importgenius database. Ukroboronprom actively cooperates with Excalibur, said Hlib Kanevskyi, chairman of Statewatch, a Ukrainian procurement and reform watchdog non-profit, so there should be no problem for the two to close the deal without intermediaries. Kanevsky sees two possible reasons why it didnt happen. The intermediaries may have provided cover for the supplier, if it was, for example, Bulgaria. Another possible explanation is corruption, Kanevsky believes. Ukraine has a history of defense procurement scandals. Unlike other state procurement, most of the defense spending is done in secrecy. The secrecy is often explained as being in the interest of national security but has been abused by corrupt actors in the past. One defense procurement scandal, where corruption was alleged but not proven, has shaken up Ukraine recently. On Jan. 21, the ZN.UA media outlet reported that the Defense Ministry had bought food for the army at inflated prices for a total amount of Hr 13 billion ($360 million). Journalists published a leaked procurement contract for 2023 with some prices two to three times higher than those at Kyiv grocery stores. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) said that it had been investigating the matter for some time, even before the journalists broke the story. The Defense Ministry called it a technical error of the contractor. Just days later, Ukrainska Pravda published a story detailing another alleged corruption scheme. Two Ukrainian businessmen acting on behalf of the Defense Ministry allegedly contracted bulletproof vests from a Turkish firm, then asked the firm to give them $580,000 or 3% of the deals amount for subcontracting. The vests were apparently never shipped to Ukraine. Ukroboronprom and its subsidiaries tasked with importing and exporting military goods for the state have attracted law enforcements attention in the past. Ukrainian soldiers practice operating a mortar on the Donbas frontline as military mobility continues amid Russia's war against Ukraine on January 19, 2023. (Photo by Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) In early March, Ukroboronprom handed over its subsidiaries, Ukrspecexport and Spetstechnoexport, to Ukraines Defense Ministry. Five months later, the Ministry fired the companies directors. The latest announcement by NABU from January says the agency had exposed Spetstechnoexport, then under Ukroboronprom, for embezzling $2.3 million between 2014 and 2015. According to NABU, the companys officials used a foreign brokerage firm affiliated with them to funnel money outside Ukraine as well as to purchase goods at prices inflated three and a half times. In November 2018, the anti-corruption agency charged three officials of Avikon, an aircraft repair plant under Ukroboronprom, with abuse of office, which allegedly cost the state Hr 13 million in damage. In 2014, the plants ex-managers decided to order a dozen fuel tanks for helicopters from an offshore company in the Caribbean. It later emerged that the company then ordered the tanks from Georgia at half the price, according to NABU. "Unfortunately, there have been cases where exporters artificially inflated these commissions to get more money from the Ukrainian budget before the full-scale invasion," Kanevsky said. A few scandals even involved Excalibur. The New Voice media outlet reported that in 2016-2017 Ukraines Defense Ministry paid ten times more than the sellers initial price for infantry vehicles. The machines came from Excalibur to Poland, where the intermediary firm Wtorplast dismantled their turrets. Armored chassis and turrets then arrived at the state-owned Zhytomyr Armored Plant, part of Ukroboronprom, where the infantry vehicles were pieced back together, raising in price from $20-25,000 to $205,000 apiece. Ukroboronprom denied the allegations. Another sale that involved Excalibur happened in 2017, according to the New Voice. A Cyprus firm, PetraLink Limited, registered in the premises of a laser therapy clinic, reportedly made $ 681,000 on brokering the deal between Real Trade, a subsidiary of the Excalibur Army, and Ukraines Defense Ministry. Who placed the order? Its unclear who ordered the 12,500 grenades for Ukraine in March, setting off the deal that involved the chain of intermediaries. Ukroboronprom told the Kyiv Independent that neither it nor its subsidiaries made the order. The majority of the orders come from Ukraines Defense Ministry, though, which now supervises two export and import companies that previously were under Ukroboronprom. The Ministry has not responded to the Kyiv Independents request for comment by the time of publication. The Dutch owner of ARLE said it was the Dutch Ministry of Defense that commissioned the grenades for Ukraine. However, in its official response, the Dutch government categorically and repeatedly denied being behind the purchase. The officials said that the Netherlands does not involve intermediaries to help Ukraine and has not purchased any RPG ammunition for the country. According to Venyslavsky, foreign companies driving prices up have sometimes tried to benefit from their countries military procurement for Ukraine. Business people who had lobbying relationships in those countries that help Ukraine also used their connections to receive orders for their companies within the framework of that financial aid or military-technical aid, to also make money from it, Venyslavsky said. ARLE did business with the Dutch Defense Ministry twice in 2022, according to the Ministrys spokesperson. In Estonia, the Bristol Trusts boss Poldsam is considered a well-connected arms dealer. He has repeatedly supplied material to the country's military and police. Bristol Trust shows a photo on its website of a visit by Estonia's then-defense minister in 2018. Growing rich To what extent has Russias war against Ukraine boosted the Western arms market? The profits that arms dealers declare speak for themselves. Estonian Bristol Trusts revenue in 2021 was 6.37 million euros, according to the numbers the company reported to the tax authorities. In the second quarter of 2022 alone, in the months following the start of the war, Bristol made 17.8 million in revenue. For the whole year of 2022, the Estonian broker claimed the highest revenue in its history, 27.6 million euros, four times more than the year before. In off-the-record conversations, representatives of European brokerage firms have confessed to driving up the prices. "Immediately after Russia invaded Ukraine, panic levels were high, and it was easy to drive up prices," one European arms broker said. "Delivery time was more important than the price at that moment." ____________________ Note from the author: Hey! Its Anna Myroniuk, head of investigations at the Kyiv Independent. I was a part of the international team of journalists that worked on this story for you. Investigating military procurement amid war is a challenging task, especially since the arms market is a secretive world. Please, consider supporting our work to allow us to do watchdog journalism that drives change. Samantha Lee/Insider It's normal to struggle with racing thoughts during sex, sex therapist Jennifer Faust said. Crystal Cox/Insider It's normal for your mind to race during sex and it takes practice to let those thoughts pass. Porn can be a helpful tool, not something to be ashamed of. Meditation, self-compassion, and a willingness to be uncomfortable are also important. Have a question for Julia? Fill out this anonymous form. All questions will be published anonymously. You can read more Doing It Right here. Dear Julia, I'm having a lot of trouble reaching orgasm with my partner. I've been having sex with my boyfriend for two years and I've tried everything I can think of. I've directed him, had him go down on me, tried fingering, penetration, breast play, and just clitoral stimulation. I even tried touching myself without him there. It all feels amazing, but I still can't orgasm. I've also noticed it's hard for me to orgasm on my own without reading erotica or watching porn. I've started weaning off of both, though. When we're having sex, I start thinking about how I'm taking so long to get there and how vulnerable orgasms feel in general. Is there anything else I can do? -Kansas Dear Kansas, Orgasms take work, contrary to what Hollywood sex scenes and mainstream porn would suggest. And the frustration you have over feeling at the mercy of your racing thoughts is a frustration I'm familiar with. Isn't it the worst? Your experience is a common one, Jennifer Faust a Philadelphia-based sex therapist told me. She said the key to an orgasm is staying in the moment and feeling connected to your body. But the brain can get distracted from stress over work and children, or anxiety over body image or the worry you're taking too long to orgasm. It takes practice to get your mind to let those thoughts go right after they pop up, Faust said. But with time and patience, doing so can lead to consistent orgasms. Practice self-compassion Like you mentioned in your letter, Kansas, you're having trouble with being vulnerable. That's very normal, and something you should give yourself grace for experiencing. Baring your soul (and naked body) is not always easy, even if it's with someone you love. Story continues Faust told me many women have trouble letting go and climaxing because they're bracing to experience vulnerability or shame they internalized from a young age whenever they do orgasm. When those worries are swirling around in someone's head, no type or amount of licking, kissing, or fingering will help them get there, she says. The thing is, it's OK to be afraid of orgasming in front of your partner. You're literally naked and making weird faces! But it's also a fear worth challenging, and one you can overcome with practice, according to Faust. She said it's worth exploring feelings of sexual guilt or shame, if you have them. (But if you don't resonate with those feelings, feel free to skip to the next section for advice.) Don't judge yourself, but consider the experiences that shaped those feelings and if it's worth challenging your own thinking about sex. Journaling, talking with a close friend you trust, or going to therapy can help you get there, according to Sara C. Flowers, a sex educator who runs Planned Parenthood Federation's educational and training programs. Start a mini meditation practice and don't abandon the erotica just yet You should practice staying in the moment, whether you're brushing your teeth, watching television, or sitting in bed before you start your day. Faust suggested setting aside 10 minutes every day for a guided meditation using the Calm app or something similar. As you continue this practice, you should start to find it easier to acknowledge intrusive thoughts as you have them, then let them pass. While you're having sex, both alone and with your partner, apply the same practice. When your mind drifts, notice it, then ask yourself what sensation your body is feeling right now. To focus on what is happening to your body instead of what's invaded your mind, describe the sensations you feel in your head, like hot, cold, pulsing, or a light brushing, Faust said. You also mentioned how you could orgasm after watching porn or reading erotica, but you were using them less, and I'm curious why that is. Stigma around porn can make us believe it's a crutch for our sex lives or an unhealthy vice. But if spicy videos or books help you get out of your head and into a sexy mindset, keep using them, Faust said. If you have trouble relaxing with your partner after a busy day, you could even watch together to transition into a more sensual mood, she said. Finally, think about what you need to feel safe while vulnerable. Remember that vulnerability requires some level of discomfort, but also the knowledge that you'll feel safe when you do something embarrassing or awkward. Even small steps, like doing a sex position where your partner can't watch your orgasm face, are a start. Faust suggested trying a 69 position with your partner. You can also tell you're partner how you're scared of embarrassing yourself during sex beforehand. Calling out negative emotions we typically ignore can make facing our fears easier, according to therapist Carla Marie Manly. Over time and with continued support from your partner, you'll build up the courage to be sexually vulnerable. It won't be a comfortable journey, but it will be one of personal growth. And on the other side are the most freeing orgasms you've ever had. As Insider's resident sex and relationships reporter, Julia Naftulin is here to answer all of your questions about dating, love, and doing it no question is too weird or taboo. Julia regularly consults a panel of health experts including relationship therapists, gynecologists, and urologists to get science-backed answers to your burning questions, with a personal twist. Have a question? Fill out this anonymous form. All questions will be published anonymously. Read the original article on Insider Authorities are advising the public to secure their gym lockers after a rash of car thefts in recent days. Boston Police say theyre investigating a series of incidents where cars have been stolen from health club facilities across the city. The typically juvenile suspects use a day pass with false information to gain access to the gyms and once inside, they steal from unsecured lockers, where most people keep their car keys, according to officials. The suspects then drive right out of the parking lot. Police are also looking at similar offenses that have occurred in surrounding towns, but they say its unclear if these incidents are connected. Anyone with information about these schemes are asked to call the Boston Police Auto Theft Unit at 617-343-4430. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW WASHINGTON Republicans, newly empowered with a House majority, are demanding spending cuts as a price for lifting the debt ceiling and averting a catastrophic default on U.S. debt. But theyre struggling to identify what to cut, complicating Speaker Kevin McCarthys task of passing a bill with his narrow majority. Theres gotta be cuts in spending. That has to happen, said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., an ally of McCarthy, R-Calif., and the far right. But she declined to get specific when she was asked what should be cut. I havent really formulated an exact list, she said. Republicans are divided over whether Medicare and Social Security spending should be on the chopping block. Theyre split over whether military funding should be on the table. Theyre firmly opposed to new tax revenues to reduce the debt. They say theyre willing to cut domestic non-defense spending, but thats a limited slice of the budget pie that wouldn't fulfill many conservatives demands to balance the budget. The looming June 5 deadline set by the Treasury Department presents a potentially career-defining challenge for McCarthy, who must balance a series of competing interests in his slim House majority with the need to ultimately pass a bill through the Democratic-led Senate and gain President Joe Bidens signature to avert dire economic consequences. The first question is what can get out of there with 218 Republican votes, said Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., who served with McCarthy in the House. And thats Kevins challenge. Well see what they can come up with. The burden of governing the weight of that burden is starting to be felt by people over there, Cramer said. But at the end of the day, wed rather have our fingerprint on a success than failure. Thats my hope. And I think Kevin should be given a lot of time and room to do that. Failure to act in time could mean a stock market crash and a recession, a weaker dollar and higher interest rates and a government forced to make grueling choices, like whether to pay creditors or fund the Defense Department and send out Social Security checks. Story continues House GOP hard-liners, including those who withheld their votes to make McCarthy speaker until they won a series of concessions and promises, are demanding fiscal discipline in the abstract. I have said since I first ran that I would not vote for a debt ceiling increase apart from the cuts in spending that would put us on a path to fiscal responsibility, said Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., who declined to elaborate on what specifically that would look like. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., who landed a seat on the powerful Rules Committee, said he wants to see a downward trajectory in long-term spending as part of any increase in the debt ceiling. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., another of the 20 initial McCarthy holdouts, said a debt limit bill should have an amendment to balance the budget over 10 years to win her vote. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., talks to reporters at the Capitol (Jose Luis Magana / AP) Luna said she wants to do it without tax increases or Social Security or Medicare cuts. Where theres a will, theres a way, she said. Experts say that if those programs, as well as Pentagon spending a sacred cow for many Republicans are untouched, it becomes practically impossible to balance the budget in a decade. If you exempted defense, veterans, Social Security and Medicare spending, youd have to cut everything else by 85%, said Marc Goldwein, an expert at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a think tank that advocates for reducing red ink. Its possible as a mathematical proposition. But the question is: Is it possible as a policy proposition? And the answer is no. McCarthy hasnt offered a plan other than to insist on a negotiation with Biden to cut wasteful spending. What I have asked for is to sit down, lets find common ground, and lets eliminate the wasteful spending to protect the hard-working taxpayers and to protect the future of America, he said. The White House has vowed that Biden wont grant concessions on the debt limit and that paying the countrys bills is non-negotiable. That position has the support of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who said Democrats have no intention of engaging until McCarthy shows what specifically can pass the House. Until Speaker McCarthy has a plan and a plan that can pass in the House with his Republican support his going to the White House is like going with no cards in his hand, Schumer said. Show your own caucus the plan and see if you have the votes to pass it. We have a plan. Pass the debt ceiling without hostage-taking, without any brinkmanship, he told reporters Wednesday. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., a McCarthy ally and veteran of past debt limit fights, said the House will most likely have to act first, agreeing with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. McHenry, now the chairman of the Financial Services Committee, which oversees Wall Street, has urged Republicans to be reasonable in their demands. At a news conference Wednesday, five of the most conservative GOP senators also sidestepped numerous questions about what spending should be cut to meet their demands of budgetary discipline. We need to attach to it fiscal controls or other spending cuts. Exactly what those are were not willing to lay out here today, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., told reporters. Were going to be doing that in consultation with the House. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said, It is incumbent on that Republican majority and on Republicans in the Senate to use every leverage point we have to stop the out-of-control spending. Some in the GOP have floated measures to manage a potential breach in the debt limit by prioritizing payments. Others say Congress could force lower overall spending levels and give agencies discretion about what to cut. Yet others say committees of jurisdiction should make those decisions. Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., who represents a competitive district, said Republicans are working actively right now to figure out what can get 218 votes in the 222-seat majority. Thats part of the challenge we have right now, obviously, with a thin majority. Weve seen thin majorities before, but the question is what that product looks like that we can get consensus on, he said. I think everything should be on the table. But I think weve got to also honor our commitment to Americans when it comes to Social Security and Medicare, Garcia continued. Now, that begs the question: Is that enough? Is there enough left to address on the discretionary side? Asked what the House will attach to a debt limit increase, Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas, a member of the Ways and Means Committee, said: Were definitely going to have to have some negotiations. She said she doesnt think a no-strings-attached increase can pass. I dont see the support for it, she said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The Republican National Committee is meeting in Dana Point, California, this week to select a new chair to lead the party's infrastructure going into the 2024 election cycle after the party's disappointing showing in the midterm elections. Ronna McDaniel is running for her fourth term as RNC chair, and for the first time since former President Donald Trump appointed her to succeed Reince Priebus in the job, she's facing a serious challenge. The race, which may be competitive, illustrates how the different wings of the Republican Party believe the party should move forward after the midterms, when Republicans won a slim majority in the House but failed to flip the Senate. Trump-attorney Harmeet Dhillon and Trump ally and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell are competing to unseat McDaniel. On Wednesday, the first day of the meeting, a debate for the chair race was scheduled, but McDaniel and Dhillon didn't show up. Lindell instead debated Caroline Wren, a GOP fundraiser who is supporting Dhillon's candidacy. FILE: RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel greets supporters at rally with GOP Senate candidate Herschel Walker on Nov. 29, 2022, Greensboro, Georgia. / Credit: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images While Trump has said he would "let them fight it out," a battery of Trump-era officials and allies Priebus, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins and conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt are part of McDaniel's "unofficial "whip" team, according to a source familiar with the chair race. Maryland committeeman David Bossie, who was Trump's deputy campaign manager in 2016 and is the head of the RNC's debate committee in 2024, is also part of McDaniel's "whip" team. Trump's former counselor Kellyanne Conway will also be attending the meeting. McDaniel heads into Friday's vote as the favorite. In November, 101 RNC members signed a letter saying they endorsed McDaniel. And she needs just 85 votes to win. Members praised McDaniel's work to open up community centers, "tirelessly working for the necessary fundraising," and the RNC's engagement in "election integrity" issues, supporting Trump's unfounded claims the 2020 election had been stolen. Story continues In addition to the 101 initial endorsements, McDaniel won the support of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and on Monday, picked up at least two other committee member votes in Wisconsin GOP Chair Brian Schimming and Vermont GOP Chair Paul Dame. But Dhillon has won over some members, too, from GOP activist Charlie Kirk, state GOP party chairs in Arizona, Massachusetts and Washington, and two notable GOP mega-donors: Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus and Uline founder Richard Uihlein. Uihlein's wife, Elizabeth, has backed McDaniel. The race has had its hostile moments. Supporters for Dhillon claimed there was a "whisper campaign" to attack her over her Sikh religion McDaniel has denied any involvement. Dhillon suggested to the Associated Press that members who vote out of "self-interest" or for McDaniel could have an "issue" the next time they're up for re-election, something one RNC member characterized to CBS News as Dhillon's "pressure tactics." State parties in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas have issued votes of "no confidence" against McDaniel, but they have no say in the RNC vote on Friday. Still, they're indicative of some of the grassroots' aggravation with McDaniel. The Nebraska Republican Party's steering committee voted last Saturday to support Dhillon over McDaniel. In Florida, where Republicans saw electoral wins during the 2022 midterms, a resolution of "no confidence" failed when not enough members showed up for a quorum. McDaniel is pitching herself as a leader who has a record of uniting the different wings of the GOP and has built the party's outreach to minority communities. She's also argued she has the experience with the party's infrastructure that will be needed in 2024. "My opponent has never run a state party. She has never run a campaign. It's easy to say all these things from the outside, but when you've never done that, it's really hard to run a national party in a year like this. This is not the time to be changing and putting it in the hands of somebody who's never done those things ever before," McDaniel said on the "Ruthless" podcast earlier this month. McDaniel has reportedly also told party members she can stop Trump from creating a third party if he loses the 2024 nomination, according to the Washington Post. But McDaniel has denied those claims. Lindell, an ardent supporter of Trump who qualified to appear on the chair ballot, has run a quixotic campaign so far and isn't expected to gain much traction, according to Vice News. Dhillon has pitched herself as the change in leadership needed for the GOP heading into the 2024 presidential cycle. "This is not about personal feelings, our personal preferences, our comfort zone, it is about doing what is right for the people who elected us to these positions," she said on Fox News last Sunday. In a letter sent to RNC members on Monday, first reported by Politico, Dhillon proposed the changes she would make, like auditing vendor and consultant relationships, revamping fundraising tactics to end the use of "excessive hype and pressure tactics on our donors," and exploring the creation of "regional offices" in battleground states, while keeping the RNC headquarters in Washington, D.C. Bill Palatucci, an RNC committeeman from New Jersey who is supporting Dhillon, said the RNC under McDaniel "owns lots of blame for failing to win back the Senate." He cited GOP candidate quality as a top issue for the party in the midterms, and said Dhillon agreed with him that the RNC has to be more "involved in putting forward good candidates so we avoid poorly prepared people like Herschel Walker and Doug Mastriano." But the RNC does not handle recruiting candidates that's a task left up to other party committees, such as the Republican Governors Association or National Republican Senatorial Committee. "A strong leader would speak up, and Ronna just sat idly by as Trump endorsed loser after loser," he texted CBS News during his flight to California for the RNC meeting. Palatucci added that the secret-ballot nature of the vote will help Dhillon pull off the upset and that "RNC members are political pros who will smile at you and then vote against you in private." Mike Kuckelman, chair of the Kansas Republican party, said he's planning to vote for McDaniel and expects her to win reelection. He disagreed with criticism leveled at McDaniel after the midterms, and said "all levels" of the Republican Party share the responsibility. "Part of my support of Ronna McDaniel is a push back against this mob mentality, that one person is responsible in some way for the losses in the election, I just don't buy into that theory," he said. Kuckelman said the midterm losses have to be looked at "individually" and that the RNC has to help grassroots level voters understand that "how electable" a candidate will be in the general election should be a factor in their primary vote. One RNC member from the Midwest who is supporting McDaniel compared the challenge against her to the 15 rounds of voting House Speaker Kevin McCarthy endured before he secured the position. "This idea that we need a scalp, we need to fire a leader ... It's a little bit like, 'I had a bad day at work so I'm going to come home and kick the dog.' It's like, what does one have to do with the other?" they said. "Our job is to help win presidential elections, and then it is to do things that help state parties. Neither the state party nor the RNC picks candidates, runs campaigns or does any of those things. The idea that somehow Kari Lake's loss is because Ronna was asleep at the switch, is just not true," the member added. When it comes to 2024, both McDaniel and Dhillon have pledged they would stay neutral in the presidential primary. McDaniel pushed for the party's breakup with the Commission on Presidential Debates, due to claims of bias with the moderators and disagreements on dates. At least one potential 2024 candidate, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, has called for a new RNC Chair. Dame, a McDaniel supporter, said the looming 2024 election was a factor in him choosing between her and Dhillon. "I just don't know if we have the time to wait for Harmeet to learn the ropes, meet new people and ramp up to what could be some great ideas when she just doesn't have the record Ronna has," he wrote in his endorsement of McDaniel. M&M's "spokescandies" removed from marketing in favor of SNL alum Maya Rudolph Colorado man arrested after police say he "intentionally" drove his truck into police station FDA advisory panel considers simplifying COVID-19 vaccination schedule The House on Wednesday overwhelmingly adopted a resolution commending protesters in Iran, with just one lawmaker Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) voting no. The concurrent resolution, which was approved 420-1, applauds the bravery, courage, and resolve of the women and men of Iran demonstrating in more than 13 cities and risking their safety to speak out against the Iranian regimes human rights abuses. The text of the measure points to the death of Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old Iranian woman who died in police custody in September after the morality police arrested her on allegations that she violated Irans laws that require women to wear headscarves or hijabs. She was detained for inappropriate attire on Sept. 13, then died on Sept. 16 after falling into a coma. A coroners report said she died from multiple organ failure, according to NBC News. Her family has said witnesses say she was beaten by officers. Protests broke out in Iran following her death. The resolution also lists instances of persecution of women by the Iranian regime through misogynistic criminal statutes. It says Congress condemns the brutal beating and death of Mahsa Amini and the violent suppression by the Iranian regime of women and men participating in the current demonstrations, including children, and calls for transparent accountability for all killings of protesters by Iranian security forces. The resolution also expresses support for those participating in protests and risking their safety to speak out against the human rights abuses committed by the Iranian regime. Additionally, it encourages continued efforts by the Biden Administration to respond to the protests, including sanctions against the Iranian morality police. A spokesperson for Massie told The Hill that the congressman opposed the resolution because it encourages the immediate imposition of sanctions. Sanctions generally do not hurt the repressive governments they claim to target. Instead, the burdens disproportionately fall on innocent people who are already suffering under those repressive regimes, the spokesperson added. Story continues The resolution encourages on the Biden administration to immediately impose, under existing authorities, additional human rights sanctions on officials and entities responsible for the repression of the current protests. House lawmakers on both sides of the aisle praised the resolutions passage. Iran is the worlds leading state-sponsor of terror. We must stand with the brave people of Iran as they fight back against the oppressive Iranian regime and their human rights abuses, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), who co-led the resolution, wrote in a statement. With this bipartisan resolution passing the House today, were making clear that we support those brave individuals committed to freedom and human rights, both in Iran and around the world. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the measure affirms the U.S.s support for Iranian protesters. I am proud that our bipartisan resolution has again overwhelmingly passed the House today. This resolution strongly reaffirms the American peoples support for the brave Iranian people speaking out against the Iranian regimes human rights abuses, he wrote in a statement. As the regime continues to escalate its violent crackdown, we must continue to do all we can to support the Iranian peoples right to self-determination and ensure the regime is held to account for its crimes. That means no sanctions relief for the regime, and fully enforcing all of our existing sanctions, he added. Updated 9:22 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Spoiler alert: J.Lo looks fantastic in a wedding dress. You surely knew that, given not only the plethora of wedding-themed movies Jennifer Lopez has made over the years, from The Wedding Planner to Monster-in-Law to the recent Marry Me, but also her own offscreen life, of course. And now comes Shotgun Wedding, where the ageless pop star and rom-com queen dons a pouffy white concoction that gradually sheds layers of tulle to become increasingly sexy as Lopez fights off not only cringey wedding guests but machine-gun toting pirates. She switches at one point to combat boots plucked from a dead guy! - over wedding heels, and heres another spoiler alert: if anyone can make combat boots work with pouffy tulle while running in slow motion, its Lopez. But all the charm and style in the world, and J.Lo has more than anyone, cant make up for the bizarre tonal imbalance of Shotgun Wedding, a movie too violent to be funny and too funny (in the odd, weird sense) to be fun. The movie, directed by Jason Moore, also commits the unlikely crime of under-using that other bulletproof Jennifer of the moment, Jennifer Coolidge, who often seems to be searching palpably for decent lines. Come on, people! You had BOTH Jennifers! This should have been a slam dunk. Kudos, though, to whoever picked the stunning resort for this particular destination wedding (the shoot took place in the Dominican Republic, standing in for the Philippines). It's here that we first meet Darcy, our bride, at the rehearsal dinner, already looking so much better than everyone else, in resort wear and turquoise chunky jewelry but we digress. Darcy is navigating a guest list filled with proverbial hand grenades, even before the real grenades start flying. Theres her icy mother (Sonia Braga, also sadly underused), who is divorced from her father (Cheech Marin) and appalled at the oddly ditzy new girlfriend hes brought to the wedding (D'Arcy Carden). Mom tells Darcy she should have accepted her dads millions (or billions?) to make the wedding perfect, but Darcy replies that the couple wanted to do it their way. Besides, theyre grownups. Story continues The groom, you ask? Were getting to that. Initially the part was to be played by Ryan Reynolds, a tantalizing comedic possibility. Then it was to be Armie Hammer, who stepped aside for obvious reasons, and now we have Josh Duhamel, perfectly handsome and agreeable but the chemistry rests with Lopez, and not between them. In a clever twist, Tom is the groomzilla, obsessed with wedding details, and spray-painting the pineapples all night long. As for his mother, well, shes the delightfully ditzy Carol (Coolidge), obsessed with South Pacific and eager to have a good time. (Coolidge, hot off White Lotus, knows her way around a resort). It must be said that Coolidge who at this point in her career would be anyones top choice to play any mother more than pulls her weight. But theres only so much she can do with dialogue that seems slapped together with minimum effort. True, Coolidge can make almost anything sound funny, but at times it feels like her script instructions said nothing more than Carol says something wacky. Anyway, things get wacky overall pretty fast, starting with the arrival of a surprise guest by helicopter its Sean, Darcys ex-fiance, a swaggering, shirt-unbuttoned, walking Y chromosome played by Lenny Kravitz. Tom is immediately perplexed by Sean's presence. But there's no time to fret. The next day, with everyone dressed for the wedding, more unexpected guests arrive and they definitely werent on the list. They're pirates, and theyre after Darcys dads money. The pirates take everyone hostage, confining them to, well, OK, an infinity pool, but still confining them! In a stroke of rom-com luck, the bride and groom are elsewhere, having a little talk about their relationship. Soon, though, the relationship is beside the point they have to save themselves and everyone else, too. And thats when the killing starts. Not to give away too much, but theres lots of automatic gunfire and grenade-throwing and other mayhem that feels out of place anyway you slice it oh yes, knives too! and this rom-com doesnt end up feeling very romantic OR comedic. Not to detract from Lopezs appeal, which is timeless. She's the one actor in the whole enterprise whose every line reading seems to ring true, no matter how silly on paper as when she says she cant breathe, and Tom assumes its, you know, the machine guns, but she says no, Its the shapewear. J.Lo makes it work. (She's also a producer on the film.) There is one charming scene, to be fair, where were all allowed to relax and have fun. People are singing and dancing and doing karaoke, and it feels like a blast. Finally these are people wed want to get to know. Unfortunately, its all during the closing credits. Stick around for them, though. It'll feel like a cool dip in an infinity pool. Shotgun Wedding, an Amazon Studios release, has been rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for language and some violence/bloody images. Running time: 100 minutes. Two stars out of four. SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Several demonstrators who were apprehended for publicly protesting China's then-ongoing zero-COVID policy remain in detention, face charges or have not been heard from, Human Rights Watch said in a report on Thursday. In late November, protests broke out in numerous cities across China calling for an end to the country's nearly three years of strict enforcement of the zero-COVID policy. Many demonstrators held up blank sheets of white paper, which became a symbol of their discontent. Some protestors also shouted slogans calling for the ouster of President Xi Jinping or the ruling Communist Party. The protests, unprecedented in Xi's decade in power, which has seen an increasingly heavy crackdown on dissent, petered out within days amid a heavy police presence. Numerous individuals were apprehended and subsequently released, protesters, lawyers and academics told Reuters at the time, adding that they were concerned that some could face consequences later. Human Rights Watch researchers cited four protestors in Beijing - editor Cao Zhixin, accountant Li Yuanjing, teacher Zhai Dengrui, and journalist Li Siqi - as having been formally arrested for "picking quarrels and provoking trouble", which can carry a sentence of up to five years. In Shanghai, the whereabouts of two protestors who demonstrated on Wulumuqi Road, Li Yi and Chen Jialin, are unknown, Human Rights Watch said. The group called on authorities to release all of the individuals immediately. Reuters could not independently verify the status of the individuals named in the report. Calls by Reuters to China's Ministry of Public Security for a comment were not answered. Human Rights Watch said "a few" protestors were released on bail. "More protestors are believed to have been detained or forcibly disappeared, though their cases are not publicly known, given the Chinese authorities' practice of threatening detainees' families to keep silent," it said. In early December, soon after the protests, China abruptly dropped most of its zero-COVID curbs, and the coronavirus has spread rapidly across the country. (Reporting by Josh Horwitz; Editing by Tony Munroe and Christian Schmollinger) WASHINGTON Russia responded with anger and scorn after Germany and the United States revealed that they would be supplying Ukraine with powerful, advanced battle tanks. Moscow invoked history and warned of a broader conflict. But in doing so, the Kremlin only highlighted its own political and military constraints. The move was a blatant provocation, said Anatoly Antonov, the Russian ambassador to the United States, ahead of President Bidens announcement on Wednesday afternoon that his administration would send 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in the coming weeks and months. Germany said the same day that it was sending 14 of its Leopard 2 tanks. President Biden announces plans to send Abrams tanks to Ukraine on Wednesday, as Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin listen. (Susan Walsh/AP) A losing scheme, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. We have repeatedly said that these tanks go up in flames like all the other armor, he boasted, even as Russian forces continued to experience astonishing battlefield losses, including an estimated 123,000 soldiers killed and some 3,100 tanks lost. NATO must be destroyed, there are no other options, mused Vladimir Solovyov, a prominent state television host whose impassioned tirades are valued by the Kremlin for their reach and visceral appeal. Of course this is an escalation, of course this is a movement strictly towards nuclear midnight, said another state television host, Anatoly Kuzichev, referencing the recent decision by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists to move its Doomsday Clock to within 90 seconds of an atomic-weapons exchange. For the most part, however, the warnings emanating from the Kremlin and its top media propagandists had a predictable quality and were tinged with resignation. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his top advisers were likely aware, given consistent and escalating NATO support for Ukraine throughout the last 11 months, that it was perhaps only a matter of time before Western heavy armor made its way to Eastern Europe. The White House appeared unruffled by the threats. The propagandists in the Russian media can say what they will, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told Yahoo News at a press briefing at the White House on Wednesday afternoon. Much as Biden had earlier in the day, Kirby argued that the tanks dont pose a threat to the Russian homeland. They are designed to help the Ukrainians. Story continues Russian President Vladimir Putin during a virtual Security Council meeting on Jan. 20. (Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik/Kremlin via Reuters) As Russia groused, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was already asking for fighter jets, confident such demands would at least be registered, if not necessarily honored. His confidence is not unwarranted. When the war began almost a year ago, American officials made distinctions between supposed offensive and defensive weapons, fearing that sending the former would trigger a damaging Russian response, perhaps against NATO itself. Germany was mocked for offering helmets to Ukraine. But as Russias bloody invasion persisted well into 2022, those distinctions began to matter less and less. And as Biden and his European counterparts accepted that Ukraines defense would be a prolonged affair, concerns about sending ever more powerful weapons to Ukraine subsided. Wednesdays announcement followed a meeting last week between German and U.S. military leaders at Ramstein Air Base that failed to produce an agreement on tanks. At the same time, the Ramstein talks made clear just how close Western leaders were in their view of the conflict. Once it became clear that an agreement had been struck, Russian media outlets effectively controlled by the Kremlin dutifully trotted out experts who said the tanks would not significantly change the course of the war. The arrival of the Wests most sophisticated armored equipment may not come in time to stop an expected Russian offensive, which may come before springs warmer weather turns frozen roads into boggy mud. Nor are the Ukrainians, who have never been shy in asking for help, getting as many tanks as they requested. Abrams battle tanks in Lithuania in 2019. (Mindaugas Kulbis/AP) The Russian military and their thugs are still pretty lethal, Kirby said Wednesday, referring not only to regular Russian troops, but also to Wagner Group paramilitaries who have made some gains around the city of Bakhmut. All the same, the U.S. and German tank announcements were a sign that the West was committing to Ukraines security in the long term, with the nation becoming a kind of bulwark against the territorial expansion Putin and his pan-Slavic ideologues have envisioned. We want to make sure that they have the right capabilities to not only defend themselves against the Russian onslaught, a senior administration official said on Wednesday, but also the ability to retake and to reclaim their sovereign territory, including the territory Russia conquered in 2014, during the first stage of its incursion into Ukraine. Nor are Germany and the United States alone in their commitment, even if the sophistication of the two nations tanks has dominated media coverage. France had already committed to sending its AMX-10 RC tanks; Great Britain said it was sending Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine earlier this month. With so many nations now putting heavy armor into play, Russia finds itself facing a united NATO resistance without any major gaps or disagreements to exploit. The return of German tanks to Eastern European soil is proving especially galling to Russians, given the heroic defeat of the Nazis during World War II. Among the Soviet Unions key victories during that conflict was the Battle of Kursk in the summer of 1943, the largest tank battle in world history. A Leopard 2 tank fires during a military drill in Latvia in September 2022. (Ints Kalnins/Reuters) Though little known in the West, the battle retains a mythic status in the collective Russian memory. A local official in southern Russia allegedly used 2.2 million rubles (about $31,700) to stage a re-creation of the battle in a university gym late last year. Kremlin propagandist and RT editor Margarita Simonyan joked on Twitter that come summer, Germany would be sending gas chambers to Ukraine, a reference to the Holocaust. Solovyov, meanwhile, said that the Fourth Reich has declared war on Russia, alluding to the Third Reich, as Germany under Hitler was known. While many Russians already seem to believe the Kremlins grievance-laden propaganda, Western officials continued to signal that there was a simple, if unlikely, resolution at hand. Wed like to see this war end today, and it absolutely could, Kirby said on Wednesday. All Putin has to do is pull his troops out of Ukraine and call it a day, and its over. Soledar on January 10, 2023 "In the area of Soledar, Russians losses were as big as in the two Chechen wars, Cherevatyi said. Read also: Ukrainian military says fighting continues near Soledar Mobilized soldiers are the only force that allows them to maintain an offensive," he said. On Jan. 25, Ukraine confirmed that its forces had withdrawn from Soledar after fiercely defending it from an attack that began at the beginning of the month. Read also: Ukrainian forces withdraw from Soledar, having fulfilled key tasks The Ukrainian military said it had left Soledar in order to save personnel after fulfilling its main task making the front line more even and preventing the enemy from achieving a breakthough. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov Russia is selling record amounts of crude oil to India to plug its shortfalls from the EU oil ban, according to Vortexa. Indian imports hit a record 1.2 million barrels a day in December, and 1.3 million barrels a day in the first two weeks of January. "Russia has done well in enticing Indian refiners to increase purchases of its crude," Vortexa's head of Asia-Pacific analysis said. Russia is selling record amounts of crude oil to India to plug the gap in its energy exports after the European Union banned imports in December, according to a recent report from Vortexa. The energy analytics firm said Russia handed off 1.2 million barrels a day of its crude oil to India in December, notching a new record high. And Russia is set to top that record in January, with nearly 1.3 million barrels a day already shipped in the first two weeks this month, Vortexa said. Russian crude now accounts for 60% of India's oil imports, compared to 48% in December. "Since the EU ban took effect last December, the reshuffle of Russian crude has been much smoother than many market participants had anticipated," Vortexa's head of Asia-Pacific analysis, Serena Huang, said in the note. "Russia has done well in enticing Indian refiners to increase purchases of its crude as the EU pivots away." While the volume of oil sold to India is up sharply, the revenue Moscow earns from it is limited by weak prices. In December, the EU banned Russian seaborne oil and imposed a $60 price cap, which prevents other countries from using EU shipping and insurance services, unless oil is sold below the cap. Those restrictions caused Russia's crude revenue to plunge $15 million in the last week of 2022, and the country has been forced to divert 90% of its oil to Asia to make up for the lost business. And while China and India have ramped up their buying of Russian crude, they have been able to demand heftier discounts, which is costing Russia around $4 billion a month, according to estimates from Bloomberg. Story continues Oil markets could be further disrupted when the EU bans Russian oil products, including diesel and fuel oil, on February 5. EU officials are also weighing various price caps with considerations for a $100-a-barrel price cap for Russian diesel and a $45 cap for Russian fuel oil. Read the original article on Business Insider Russian banks are still in Ukraine The financial sector has long been one of the main targets of Russian economic expansion in Ukraine. Both state and private Russian financial and industrial groups VTB, VEB, Sberbank, Alfa and others tried to establish their subsidiaries here. The plan to capture the market seemed to have succeeded. As of 2013, the share of Russians in the banking market reached 11%. But with the beginning of Russian aggression in the Crimea and Donbas, Russians began to withdraw from the market. The large-scale war unleashed last year further accelerated this process. Russian capital, both state or private, has no place in Ukraine, Chairman of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), Andriy Pyshnyy, told NV Business. The Board of the National Bank, as one team, will act in strict compliance with the law, public interests, the mandate of financial stability and the requirements of martial law. Thats it. Read also: When will Alfa-Bank Ukraine be nationalized, and how much could it be sold for later? Who is this message for? NV investigated which Russian banking and non-banking institutions are still present in Ukraine and what is happening to them. What was the share of Russian banks in Ukraine before the war? As of Feb. 1, 2022, there were five banks in Ukraine whose ultimate owners were individuals with Russian citizenship or Russian state structures. These are MP Bank (100% owned by Sberbank of Russia), Prominvestbank (99.77% owned by the state development corporation VEB.RF), First Investment Bank (PIN Bank, 88.9% owned by Evgeniy Giner), Forward Bank (the final key participant of Rustam Tariko), Sens Bank (formerly Alfa-Bank, key owners Andrey Kosogov, Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven). In terms of total assets, their combined share was 9.6%, as well as 6.5% in terms of the volume of clients funds, the NBUs press service told NV Business. MP Bank and Prominvestbank were the first to leave this list. The NBU decided to liquidate them on Feb. 25, on the second day after the start of the war. A total of UAH 17 billion ($464.8 million) were transferred to the state budget special fund from their accounts. Story continues After that, the share of the remaining banks Forward Bank, PIN Bank, Sens Bank decreased to 3.7% in total assets, and 3.2% in terms of the volume of clients funds. Sens Bank has the largest market share (3.2%), and it is this bank that is designated by the NBU as systemically important. In early 2023, Ukraines National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) transferred the shares of Prominvestbank and MP Bank to the state-owned National Investment Fund of Ukraine. What enterprises borrowed from Russian banks before the war? Before the war, Russian banks tried to lend primarily to state companies, such as Ukrzaliznytsia, Energoatom, as well as large industrial enterprises, says Mykhailo Zhernov, managing partner of the Millstone&Co international investment company. According to him, the Russian banks aimed at making the Ukrainian economy dependent on their loans, and gaining confidential information. A loan always means influence, and the bank knows about everything that happens in the enterprise and controls the financial flow, he said. In particular, it is known about the rights of claim under the loans of MP Bank to state-owned enterprises for UAH 5.8 billion ($158.6 million). What is the share of Russians in the market of non-banking institutions? During the martial law, the NBU prohibited Russian citizens who are owners of a significant stake in a non-banking financial institution from using the voting rights of the purchased shares and from participating in any way in the management of such a provider of financial services. Read also: No reason to nationalize former Alfa-Bank, NBU says Therefore, Russian citizens are banned from participating in the management and using voting rights of their shares in financial institutions, the NBU emphasized. Who does this concern? The insurance companies Motor-Garant and AlfaStrakhovanie operate in the market of non-banking financial institutions, as well as one financial institution and two lessors: Paritet Finance, Alfa-Leasing Ukraine and Invest-Region. Russian citizens are the owners of significant shares in all companies. Three companies from the list, namely AlfaStrakhovanie, Paritet Finance and Alfa-Leasing Ukraine, are owned by the already mentioned Andrey Kosogov, Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven who were sanctioned in accordance with the NSDCs decisions that were put into effect by presidential decrees. Russian citizens Fridman and Aven are also sanctioned in the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand, the NBU added. The imposition of sanctions involves a number of financial restrictions, in particular the blocking of their assets and a ban on conducting transactions, as well as a ban on entry into the relevant jurisdictions. In connection with the presence of Russian citizens in the ownership structures of these financial institutions, the business reputation of these companies was recognized by the NBU as impeccable. Accordingly, the companies faced a measure of influence in the form of a temporary suspension of licenses for the provision of financial services. The website of AlfaStrakhovanie states that the suspension of the licenses entails the obligation to current customers to continue fulfilling the obligations under the already concluded insurance contracts, which were purchased until Dec. 6, 2022. The NBU added it would consider measures of influence on the Invest-Region company in the near future. What else is the NBU preparing for? The NBU assured that the banks with Russian roots that are still present on the market are supervised by the regulator in accordance with the requirements of the law. Regarding the owners of a significant share of these banks (PIN Bank, Bank Forward, Sens Bank), measures of influence have been applied in the form of a temporary ban on voting rights, until the violation is eliminated, the prohibition of the use of voting rights by the owner of a substantial share in the bank, the NBU said. Read also: NEQSOL tells why they are not interested in buying Alfa-Bank in Ukraine According to NV Business, the state is currently preparing for the nationalization of Sens Bank. The procedure will be carried out in accordance with the Law on Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine and some other laws of Ukraine regarding the peculiarities of withdrawing a systemically important bank from the market under martial law. Initially, the bank will be declared insolvent due to loss of liquidity and transferred to the Deposit Guarantee Fund. The state, represented by the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, will then be able to become the owner of the bank by buying its shares for UAH 1. Unlike the PrivatBank case, nationalization will take place without recapitalization. According to the law, the relevant bank will continue to operate as usual under its own business model, so the banks customers will not be affected by this process. In peacetime, Forward Bank would have already been withdrawn from the market, and PIN Bank is gradually reducing its activities, said ICU financial analyst Mykhailo Demkiv. The NSDC also imposed sanctions on the key owners of both banks. Forward has negative capital, Demkiv said. In peacetime, the Deposit Guarantee Fund would have already dealt with it. But during martial law, banks will not withdraw their capital. The situation will change if it (bank) loses liquidity. Demkiv noted that there are no problems with the implementation of regulations at PIN Bank, despite the reduction of operations. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russian invasion forces being reinforced in Zaporizhzhzya area "If more forces and reserves are added, this group may become an offensive force," Yerin said. Read also: Russian forces likely preparing for offensive in spring-early summer of 2023, says ISW According to him, the core of the group is made up of mechanized units and territorial defense troops. Tavrisk Direction Defense Forces earlier reported there had been a minor Russian offensive effort, but that it had not been a success. Read also: Russia is preparing a new offensive: Where they are coming from and what to expect Yerin said that while the Russian army has been reinforced in the Zaporizhzhya area, it did not have enough resources to launch a massive assault. On Jan. 23, Ukraine's General Staff reported that Russia had attempted to assault in the Zaporizhzhya area and had suffered losses. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine A Russian MiG-31K interceptor jet that can carry Kinzhal hypersonic missiles took off in Belarus approximately at 10:20 on 26 January 2023. In addition, an AWACS [airborne warning and control system ed.] aircraft and a support fighter jet took off as well. Source: Belaruski Hajun, an independent Belarusian military monitoring media outlet, on Telegram Details: In particular, a support fighter took off in Baranavichy, Belarus, at 09:50, and then at 10:05, the A-50U AWACS aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces took off from Machulishchy airfield, Belarus. At 10:20, the MiG-31K of the Russian Aerospace Forces took off from Machulishchy as well. Background: When MiG interceptor jets take off in Belarus, air-raid sirens are activated in Ukraine, seeing as Russia launched missiles from the air space of Belarus multiple times before. At the moment, an air-raid siren has been sounding in Ukraine for three hours because of a Russian large-scale missile attack with the use of strategic bombers presumably from Murmansk Oblast of Russia. Previously: On the morning of 26 January, air-raid sirens sounded all over Ukraine. Natalia Humeniuk, spokesperson for the Operational Command Pivden (South), reported that another Russian large-scale missile attack is possible. Power engineers have implemented emergency power shutdowns in Kyiv city and the oblasts of Kyiv, Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk because of the Russian missile attack threat. The Air Force of Ukraine reported that the occupiers had launched over 30 missiles on Ukraine. Explosions rocked Kyiv city and Vinnytsia Oblast. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russia is trying to identify the positions of Ukrainian air defense systems She said that in addition to aviation, there was an increase in the activity of Russian warships in the Black Sea. Read also: About 15 Shahed drones downed over Kyiv overnight Humeniuk noted that Russia was attacking Ukrainian cities, in particular, with Kalibr missiles, which are high-precision weapons used mainly to strike critical infrastructure and specific targets. She also added that the Russians were attacking in waves to identify the positions of Ukrainian air defenses and coordinate the actions of various types of forces. "There are several aspects here the scale of sparing missile resources, and the coordination of actions of various units, when aviation, navy, and projectiles sent in barrages like drones are involved, the military spokeswoman said. Read also: German IRIS-T air defense system shoots down all targets during Ukraines first use This also suggests that after we said hello to those Russian airfields, they had to redeploy, and the estimated approach time is also a factor here. They need to coordinate their actions, measure their capabilities and combination of forces, and conduct certain training. According to the latest reports, the new Russian attack resulted in air strikes on Kyiv, where one civilian was killed and several others were injured, as well as on Vinnytsia and Odesa oblasts, where damage to energy infrastructure facilities was reported. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The Russian occupiers are trying to overload the Ukrainian air defence system, and aerial targets are already being shot down over Ukraine. Mykolaiv authorities report about Russian drones and the probability of missile launches. Source: Andrii Yermak, the Head of the Office of the President; Vitalii Kim, Head of Mykolaiv Oblast Military Administration; Oleksandr Sienkevych, Mayor of Mykolaiv Quote from Yermak: "Don't ignore the air-raid siren. The enemy is now trying to overload our air defence system, and aerial targets are already being shot down in several oblasts." Details: The head of the Mykolaiv Oblast Military Administration reported that three groups of Iranian-made Shahed drones have been spotted in the sky. Sienkevych added that there are also three Russian Tu-22M3 bombers in the sky. Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast State Administration, reported on the danger of missile strikes. As of 22:30, the air-raid siren is sounding in the east and south of Ukraine. Local Telegram channels in Dnipro report the sound of explosions in the city, but it is unclear whether it is the work of air defence or Russian strikes. The media outlets also report the sound of explosions in Vilniansk, a city in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! One person was killed and seven more received injuries in Russian attacks on Donetsk Oblast. Source: Pavlo Kyrylenko, Head of Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Quote from Kyrylenko: "Russians killed one resident of Donetsk Oblast over the course of 25 January in Bakhmut. Seven more people received injuries in the oblast." Details: As of the morning of 26 January, the Russians have killed at least 1,320 and have wounded at least 2,896 civilians in Donetsk Oblast. The head of the oblast military administration has stressed that this information is nor precise, as it is currently impossible to establish the exact number of victims in Mariupol and Volnovakha. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Restaurant chain Salata Salad Kitchen is planning to move into Las Cruces and the wider New Mexico region in 2023, bringing a new healthy food option to the restaurant line-up. LAS CRUCES Restaurant chain Salata Salad Kitchen is actively working to expand into New Mexico with its eye specifically on Las Cruces. Salata is a Texas-based business founded in 2005 specializing in customized salads and wraps. There are over 90 restaurant locations with a majority spread across Texas including one in El Paso along with locations in Louisiana, North Carolina, Georgia and California. Julie Davis, vice president of franchise development for Salata, said the proximity of El Paso to Las Cruces contributed to the decision to make the jump into New Mexico. Las Cruces just is such a natural extension, really, of El Paso, Davis said. Its part of El Paso but it's really its own standalone community. The proximity just made natural sense to bring our brand there. Davis said that the company strategized extensively in 2022 to identify target markets and intended to exceed 100 locations in 2023. There are currently 81 franchise locations and nine corporate locations. Salata is working to find a franchisee to partner with in Las Cruces. This person will have influence over where in town the restaurant lays down roots, though the company has already identified several areas that make demographic sense. Restaurant chain Salata Salad Kitchen is planning to move into Las Cruces and the wider New Mexico region in 2023, bringing a new healthy food option to the restaurant line-up. The business values and promotes healthy living in the communities it operates in. Davis said the many outdoor recreation opportunities in southern New Mexico are further reasons Las Cruces makes a nice fit with the restaurant. (Salata is) very simple, but what is amazing about our brand and what's happened with our brand since COVID is folks really love the customizable piece. People are really drawn to feeling in charge of small choices. And so we've really seen a huge shift towards health and wellness, she said. There are still months to go on the project, but Davis said the goal is to hire and train people for an opening in the latter half of 2023. A second location in El Paso is expected to open around the same time. Story continues Davis said that Salata planned to open at least 20 new locations in 2023 and sign 30 locations for 2024 growth. Davis said the company is currently recruiting across all of New Mexico. Locations in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Roswell and other metropolitan and seasonal areas may pop up in the future. Restaurant chain Salata Salad Kitchen is planning to move into Las Cruces and the wider New Mexico region in 2023, bringing a new healthy food option to the restaurant line-up. I think the restaurant industry comes with the impression that it's long, really gruelling work hours. The restaurant industry is definitely hard work very physical and you have to be there and you have to be focused in what you're doing. But one of the things about Salata with the lack of heavy equipment in the kitchen, from a prospective franchisees point of view, it's a much less labor intensive and simple operating system, Davis said. People interested in taking on a local franchise location are welcome to apply to Salata online or by email Davis at jdavis@salata.com. 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: Salata Salad Kitchen eyeing Las Cruces for expansion into New Mexico A California judge on Wednesday ordered the release of pivotal evidence related to the October attack on former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband, including a recording of his 911 call and police body-camera footage. David DePape is accused of breaking into the lawmaker's San Francisco home one early morning in late October and attacking Paul Pelosi with a hammer, fracturing the 82-year-old's skull and causing other serious injuries. A coalition of at least a dozen news organizations, including The Times, asked the court to order the San Francisco district attorney's office to release copies of the records already submitted into evidence, arguing that the news media and public had a right to review them. DePape's lawyers opposed making that evidence public, saying it could jeopardize his right to a fair trial and stir up more misinformation about the case. The attack on Pelosi spawned a flurry of unfounded conspiracy theories online, including on popular social media platforms. San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Stephen Murphy disagreed with those objections, dismissing them as speculation. He said that while the right to a fair trial is "certainly a legitimate concern in any case," the court couldn't withhold the release of records out of fear that they could be manipulated. During a preliminary hearing in December, several pieces of evidence in the case against DePape were played or reviewed in court, including the 911 call, portions of police body-camera video, portions of the police interview with DePape and footage from a Capitol Police surveillance camera. Murphy ruled that prosecutors had presented sufficient evidence to move forward with a criminal trial. DePape has pleaded not guilty. DePape, who attended Wednesday's hearing wearing a black mask, orange sweater and sweatpants and with his hair pulled back into a low ponytail, faces charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, false imprisonment, first-degree burglary and threatening a family member of a public official. Story continues In a court filing, the attorney for the news organizations had argued that the public and news media had a right to access the pretrial evidence submitted during the December hearing, and that because the records had already been played and reviewed and then reported on in the media, their release would not "identify sensitive witnesses or pose any privacy risk." "This is just such a case where the public interest in openness is paramount. Defendant is accused of entering the residence of the then-Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (second in the Presidential line of succession) with the apparent intent of, at minimum, grievously injuring her, and attacking her husband," the filing stated. "The nature of the alleged crime justifies a maximum amount of transparency. "As courts repeatedly have recognized, the right of access ensures that members of the public and their surrogates in the press are able to monitor and scrutinize the justice system and the performance of police, prosecutors, and judges as they carry out vital public functions." DePape's attorneys argued that releasing the records could taint the jury pool and threaten their client's constitutional right to a fair trial. "I dont think any of the cases are quite like this case with the amount of conspiracy theories already floating out there in this case," public defender Adam Lipson said in court. "Theres just been so much information out there, so many false stories published, the spread of the media, from mainstream media to fringe media to internet media to social media, is just so much greater today than even two years ago." The district attorney's office raised the same issue to the court, arguing that access to pretrial records is not an "unfettered right" and that 1st Amendment rights had "been well respected and are not implicated" in this case. With Murphy's ruling, the district attorney's office immediately handed over the exhibits to the court. The court's clerk is working on making the records available to the public. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Charley Liang gets her picture taken outside Griffith Observatory on Monday as parts of L.A. County were under a high-wind warning. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) A strong set of Santa Ana winds is expected to blow into Ventura and Los Angeles counties Wednesday evening, sending gusts of up to 75 miles per hour into the mountains, the National Weather Service said. The winds are expected to increase in strength overnight and peak on Thursday. "During the peak tomorrow, we are expecting, in general, gusts between 40 and 60 miles per hour over the coastal valley areas," National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Kittell said Wednesday. Gusts of 60 to 75 mph can be expected in the mountains. The winds will increase the risk of power outages and downed trees, especially for weakly rooted trees in soil that is still damp from the deluge of storms earlier this month. Santa Anas are not unusual at this time of year, Kittell noted, but the current system could be boosted by a high-pressure system that has parked itself off the coast. "We don't necessarily need to have that high-pressure area off the coast to get [Santa Anas]," he said. "That's probably playing a factor. But it's not the only thing at play." The high-pressure system is pushing low-pressure systems with rain and cooler temperatures to the north, leaving much of California and the West Coast dry and warmer than usual for the next few days. The event, called an "omega block," has brought warmer temperatures to the Bay Area, with San Francisco seeing a high of 66 degrees on Wednesday after several days of barely surpassing 60 degrees. "It does look like the winds will calm down pretty quickly Thursday night," Kittell said, adding that Friday and Saturday would be "pretty boring as far as weather is concerned." But things could get interesting Sunday, when another storm system is expected to move into Southern California, possibly bringing another bout of rain. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Long-time South Carolina defense attorney Jack Swerling said the jurors who will decide Alex Murdaughs fate are a good representation of the community, except he said it appears Black South Carolinians are underrepresented. He also said he believes it is unusual for so many on the jury to say they knew nothing about a case involving a well-known Colleton County family. Murdaugh is accused of killing his wife, Maggie and son, Paul, in 2021. Swerling was asked by The State to provide expert analysis as the case proceeds over the next few weeks. He is not involved in the case but is familiar with all the lawyers who are and once was a law partner of Dick Harpootlian, one of Murdaughs defense attorneys. Black residents make up 36% of Colleton Countys population, according to the U.S. Census. Two jurors are Black, or about 16% of the 12 jurors. Swerling said jury makeup is all based on the luck of the draw. He said he would expect more jurors would have heard of the case, which has garnered widespread attention, both in local and national media, podcasts and special reports by such entities as HBO Max and Showtime. Even if they dont follow the case in the news media, Im sure there have been conversations among many people regarding the highest profile case ever to hit the county and the Murdaughs are a well known family, he said. Four generations of Murdaughs have worked as lawyers in the area, and three have worked as the chief prosecutor in the 14th Circuit. Alex Murdaugh worked part-time in the solicitors office but was primarily a private attorney in the family law firm, which he is accused of stealing from. He faces dozens of counts of financial fraud involving clients and others. The jury is made up of eight women and four men from occupations such as retail, medicine, construction and education. It looks like the jurors have a wide range of occupations, which is good probably a wide range of educational backgrounds, also good, Swerling said. Story continues He said the balance in the jury would not tend to favor one side or the other. Jury selection began Monday. Some 900 questionnaires were sent out to prospective jurors and about 250 jurors were questioned in court. During the first two days, Judge Clifton Newman asked a series of questions to determine whether someone could be fair and impartial. He excused all but about 120 for reasons such as severe anxiety, planned surgery, age, financial hardship and family responsibilities. The court then cut the number to 80 for the defense and prosecution to select from. They were able to seat the 12-member jury after 17 people were called. Six alternates were also chosen from nine called. COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster vowed Wednesday to press forward with efforts to further restrict abortion in the state. The Republican governor announced he would file a petition next week for a rehearing in his State of the State speech delivered less than three weeks after the South Carolina Supreme Court struck down the state's ban as a violation of privacy. I remain optimistic that we will prevail in our historic fight to protect and defend the right to, and the sanctity of, life, McMaster said. McMaster also used the address to endorse an overhaul to the state's system of selecting judges that would give him more control over the process. South Carolina is one of two states where the Legislature selects members of the judiciary all the way up to Supreme Court justices. McMaster called for gubernatorial appointments with the advice and consent of the state Senate in a method that would resemble the federal government's model. A pending state Supreme Court decision also received attention. As justices weigh whether the electric chair or a firing squad are legal execution methods, McMaster tasked the General Assembly with passing a shield law to protect the identities of companies that provide lethal injection drugs. McMaster said doing so would free the companies to restock the state's depleted supply without fear of public pressure from activists against capital punishment. Other developments gave the governor cause to celebrate. McMaster touted the state's record budget surplus of more than $3.5 billion and historic levels of capital investment amounting to over $10 billion. The governor also took time in his speech to recognize guests present in the crowd, including business executives with RedWood Materials and BMW. The companies' respective announcements of new electric vehicle and battery plants both broke the previous record for the state's largest capital investment project. Story continues Still, McMaster criticized President Joe Biden's administration for run-away federal spending he said has threatened states with a potential recession in the coming year. The governor delivered the annual remarks before a joint session of the General Assembly. With state lawmakers present, McMaster pushed audience members to pass several policy goals. The speech featured support for education scholarship accounts. The Senate has spent the first weeks of session debating the program, which would provide public tax dollars for lower-income students to more easily pay for private schools with $6,000 vouchers. McMaster noted his budget proposal would set aside $25 million for the program. Democrats the minority party in both legislative chambers said to give credit where it is due. While excited by McMaster's projects expanding broadband and improving state infrastructure, state Sen. Ronnie Sabb of Williamsburg said those investments were made possible by the federal bipartisan infrastructure bill signed by Biden. Delivering the Democratic response to the State of the State, Sabb laid out his party's agenda. As the states economy booms amid record investments, Sabb said the minimum wage currently $7.25 per hour should increase. He also pushed for hate crime legislation after an attempt to make South Carolina the 49th state with such a law stalled last year. Sabb criticized the Republican priorities mentioned by McMaster. In the wake of renewed calls for an abortion ban, Sabb called for a ballot referendum allowing South Carolinians to decide the matter. He said the proposed education scholarship accounts amount to an unconstitutional plan to give taxpayer money to private, for profit schools. Both of these issues challenge how we currently view personal rights in our state, Sabb said. "But yet again, we see a renewed effort by factions of Republican legislators to actually strip your liberties away. - James Pollard is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues Mykola Tyshchenko, a scandalous lawmaker from President Volodymyr Zelensky's Servant of the People party, has been fired from the job of a deputy head of the party's parliamentary faction, according to a statement released by the party's spokeswoman Yulia Paliychuk on Jan. 26. Earlier on Jan. 26, Davyd Arakhamia, head of the faction, publicly called for firing Tyshchenko from the job and for expelling him from the party and the faction. "I see that not everyone understands what members of parliament must do during the war," Arakhamia said. The statement was Arakhamia's reaction to Tyshchenko's ongoing trip to Thailand. Eleven months into the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the country's embassy in Bangkok announced on Jan. 26 that Tyshchenko was going to meet with Thailand's Ukrainian community on the next day. Under martial law, Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 are banned from leaving the country during the war, except for cases when they obtain special permits from the government. Some Ukrainian state officials and businesspeople have routinely abused this system and bypassed the restrictions. On Jan. 23, the National Security and Defense Council banned state officials from leaving Ukraine, except for business trips. The ban was put in place after Deputy Prosecutor General Oleksiy Symoneko was caught vacationing in Spain in December. He was fired following the scandal. Tyshchenkos reputation has been blemished by numerous scandals. In July 2022, Tyshchenko was fired from the position of the party's chief in Zakarpattia Oblast. The party attributed Tyshchenko's dismissal to his bad reputation. In 2020, his Velyur restaurant in Kyiv violated a COVID-19 lockdown, with many politicians frequenting it. A Virginia school board has relieved its superintendent of his duties, after a 6-year-old student shot and injured a teacher earlier this month, prompting calls for the superintendents resignation or firing. The Newport News School Board, by a five to one vote on Wednesday, decided to remove Superintendent George Parker III from his position, effective Feb. 1. The decision to oust Parker comes as the school system has shaped sharp criticism from the community in the aftermath of the shooting. Abigail Zwerner, 25, was shot by a student in her first grade class as she was teaching at Richneck Elementary School, according to police. Police have characterized the shooting as intentional. After being shot once in the hand and chest, Zwerner was in the hospital for two weeks but has since been released, according to the Associated Press. But outrage grew after Parker revealed that administrators had been made aware on the day of the shooting that the child may have had a weapon. Although he said the boys backpack was searched and no weapon was found, police say administrators never contacted authorities when given the tip. At a board meeting last week, teachers floated concerns about misbehavior in schools and the way administrators were handling the disruptions, arguing that they had been giving too much slack in their discipline. The school board did not release terms of the separation agreement with Parker. It voted to appoint a new interim superintendent, Michele Mitchell, along a five to one vote margin. Mitchell currently serves as the executive director of student advancement for Newport News Public Schoolss special education department. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Senator Ted Cruz introduced a measure in the Senate Wednesday advocating for crypto payments within areas of the Capitol, a sign of Republicans continued focus on rules related to digital assets. The new directive would apply to officials tasked with overseeing day-to-day operations within the House of Representatives and Senate, encouraging them to work with persons that will accept digital assets as payment for goods and food services. The proposal references areas of the Capitol where digital payments could work, like at gift shops or vending machines. This past November, Cruz pushed for adopting cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin as a form of payment within Capitol buildings through a similarly worded document. The changes were put forth in a so-called concurrent resolution, generally used to make or amend rules that apply to both houses, according to the Senates website. While it doesnt need the presidents signature to take effect, the measure would still need to be approved by both the House and Senate. Ted Cruzs move Wednesday follows the creation of the Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion earlier this month. As a subsection of the House Financial Services Committee, one of its main goals is to establish clear rules of the road among federal regulators. Ted Cruz Aims to Repeal Crypto Broker Rules From Bidens Infrastructure Bill When Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC) was appointed as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee last month, he stated that developing a comprehensive regulatory framework for the digital asset ecosystem would be a central focus of his. Over time, Texas has become a hotbed of activity for mining cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, an industry that Cruz has largely embraced. After visiting a mining facility this past summer, the Senator said, I am proud to lead the fight for the crypto industry in the Senate. Today I had the pleasure of touring the largest #Bitcoin mining facility in North America in Rockdale! I am proud to lead the fight for the crypto industry in the Senate. Texas will continue to be the center for crypto innovation! pic.twitter.com/28BYfEhJzQ Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) August 30, 2022 His history of swinging for the crypto faithful goes back well beyond a year. In August of 2021, the Texan vocalized support for amending a $1 trillion infrastructure bill being passed at the time to exempt non-custodial crypto firmslike Bitcoin minersfrom an included tax reporting requirement. The effort ultimately failed, but Cruz later introduced legislation that sought to repeal the cryptocurrency provisions included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act entirely. Cruz is also one of the numerous elected officials, including Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), that have provided insight into purchases of Bitcoin through financial disclosures. A filing indicates that Cruz purchased between $15,001 and $50,000 worth of Bitcoin through the exchange River Financial almost exactly one year ago. WASHINGTON (AP) Members of the Senate intelligence committee said Wednesday that they should have access to classified documents that were discovered in the homes of President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence, arguing that Bidens administration is stonewalling them over the matter. Senators reacted with swift, bipartisan anger after a classified meeting with National Intelligence Director Avril Haines, insisting they need to see for themselves what documents the three men were holding. It is our responsibility to make sure that we, in the role of the intelligence oversight, know if theres been any intelligence compromised, said Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat. Warner and the panels vice chairman, Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, held a joint news conference after they walked out of the meeting. Members of Congress have sought access to the materials, or at least a risk assessment detailing what was within them, since the discovery of documents at Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida last summer. But they say the administration has objected, arguing they cant provide that access as two special counsels at the Justice Department are investigating Trump and Bidens mishandlings of the documents. Senators argued that this doesnt follow precedent. In the Justice Departments Russia investigation, for example, committees had access to classified materials that were also part of then-Special Counsel Robert Muellers probe. The administrations position is untenable, Rubio said. The information were asking for has no bearing whatsoever or would interfere in no way with a criminal investigation. The senators didnt say how they might retaliate if the administration isnt more forthcoming. But Rubio hinted earlier this week that they could withhold dollars from the intelligence community if Congress isnt given special access to the materials. Story continues Im not in the business of threats right now, Rubio said. But Im just saying every year this committee has to authorize how money is spent in (Bidens) agencies. Rubio noted that he and Warner also have responsibilities to authorize and move money around within the intelligence community. I think therell be a keen interest in looking at that if in fact we cant get the answers that we need, he said. Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, a Republican member of the committee, said he and others may move to block quick consideration of some of Bidens nominees in the meantime. Congress will impose pain on the administration until they provide these documents, Cotton said after Wednesday's meeting. The frustration in Congress comes after months of waiting for a briefing on the documents seized at Trumps estate. According to the government, those documents seized at Mar-a-Lago and papers the Republican former president had turned over previously included highly sensitive Special Access Program designations as well as markings for intelligence derived from secret human sources and electronic signals programs. Those forms of intelligence are often produced by the CIA or the National Security Agency, and the underlying sources can take years to develop. A review by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence was meant to determine the possible damage if the secrets in those documents were exposed. In a letter last year to Congress, Haines said the ODNI would lead a classification review of relevant materials, including those recovered during the search. But lawmakers are still waiting on the details from that assessment, and they say they want access to the documents themselves as well. Lawyers for Pence said this week that an apparently small number of papers were inadvertently boxed and transported to his Indiana home at the end of the Trump administration. That revelation came after Bidens lawyers said they had discovered documents from his time as vice president in his Delaware home and his pre-presidential think-tank offices. Special counsels are investigating the Trump and Biden episodes. In all three matters, the significance of the classified material and whether its mishandling breaches national security are not publicly known. Warner said the Senate may try to find a way to put more safeguards around presidential transitions and the handling of documents. Its unclear how they would do that, and those talks have just begun amid the Biden and Pence revelations. Some members have long talked about putting new parameters about what is classified, reacting to concerns that some documents are kept secret when they dont need to be. Weve got a broken system, Warner said. And we got to fix this for all folks leaving government. WASHINGTON Senators in both parties voiced frustration after they left a closed-door briefing Wednesday with National Intelligence Director Avril Haines, who declined to show them copies of the classified documents discovered at Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort and Joe Bidens office and Delaware home. Haines also refused to discuss the sensitive material, citing ongoing special counsel investigations, according to members of the Senate Intelligence Committee who attending the classified briefing. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., was so furious after the briefing that he threatened to block presidential nominees or funding for some federal agencies until the Biden administration shows key lawmakers the classified documents. Whether its blocking nominees or withholding budgetary funds, Congress will impose pain on the administration until they provide these documents. And that is coming from both parties, Cotton told reporters. Im prepared to refuse consent or to fast-track any nominee for any department or agency and to take every step I can on every committee on which I serve to impose consequences on the administration until they provide these documents for the Congress to make our own informed judgment about the risk to national security. Senators were told Wednesday that Biden administration officials cannot brief Congress about a damage assessment of the documents until the special counsels investigating the Trump and Biden documents give the green light. The bipartisan leaders of the Senate Intelligence panel emerged together from the secure briefing room and rejected the administrations argument. That is not a tenable position, said Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va. What I think the director heard is she didnt just hear it from Sen. Rubio and I. Literally every member of the committee, without exception, said this wont stand. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., the committees vice chair, called it a very unsatisfying hearing. Story continues The bottom line is this: They wont tell us what they have until the special counsel allows them to tell us. Thats an unacceptable position, Rubio said. Warner and others pointed out that the Senate Intelligence panel received regular briefings on Russian interference in the 2016 election at the same time a special counsel was appointed to investigate the matter. The senators argued that their committee has oversight responsibilities for intelligence matters and that they need to be able to assess whether the discovery of classified documents at Trumps and Bidens unsecure homes and office poses a threat to national security. On Tuesday, news broke that a lawyer for former Vice President Mike Pence had discovered about a dozen documents at his home in Indiana and had turned them over to the FBI. Weve got a job to do, and were going to do it, Warner said. Another committee member, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said there is a lot of concern about Haines and other intelligence officials deferring to the Justice Department on deciding who gets access to the recovered classified documents. Typically, in a criminal investigation or a law enforcement investigation, we wouldnt want to talk about that to protect the integrity of the investigation and the rights of the person being investigated, said Cornyn, a former Texas attorney general. But here, there are larger concerns, public safety concerns, national security concerns that make this an exceptional case. Wednesdays briefing with Haines had not been scheduled to focus on the documents; it was one of the regular updates she gives the Intelligence Committee. Haines made no public statements as she left the briefing in the sensitive compartmented information facility, known as the SCIF. Lawmakers in both parties and in both chambers expressed worry and exasperation that the governments system for labeling and tracking thousands of classified documents appears to be broken. It seems to be a problem that is unique to the executive branch, but well figure it all out. Its good that Americans are thinking about our national security, said Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee. Im not saying anything bad about the three [Biden, Trump and Pence], but classified information in the wrong hands can create problems for our country, put people at risk. Thats why this stuff is important. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com By Ngouda Dione and Bate Felix NOTTO GOUYE DIAMA, Senegal (Reuters) - As African heads of state gathered in Senegal's capital Dakar for a three-day summit this week to find solutions to food insecurity on the continent, 33-year-old farmer Mor Kabe had a message for them. "Make sure support reaches smallholder farmers." Smallholder farmers like Kabe are responsible for an estimated 80% of food production in sub-Saharan Africa. Around 33 million people on the continent are smallholders, according to the International Fund for Agricultural Development. Kabe said despite the vital role they play, they still struggle to get finance and fertilizer to grow crops. The outbreak of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, two major producers, disrupted fertilizer supply to the continent, and stop-gap measures have not been enough to curb high prices which smallholder farmers can't afford. "Access to finance is not at all easy," Kabe told Reuters as he and seven of his neighbours made their way to a two-hectare green patch to harvest egg plants as a cold dawn mist veiled their village some 50 kms (31 miles) north of Dakar. Banks only lend to those they trust the most, he said, adding: "Sometimes the repayment time is not convenient for us. And you can wait a long time before your loan application is considered." He urged leaders at the Dakar meeting to build infrastructure including roads and storage facilities to enable farmers easier access to markets and to preserve their produce. "We are always obliged to sell so they don't perish. If we had storage, we could keep our products when the market is saturated," he said as 15 bags, weighing around 60 kgs (132.3 lb) each filled with eggplants, were loaded onto a horse-drawn cart and taken to the market. Kabe is one of hundreds of smallholder farmers - the majority of whom are women and youths - in Senegal's Niayes region which produces the bulk of the country's fruit and vegetables. Story continues But the region lying behind sand dunes stretching along the Atlantic coast from Dakar to the city of Saint Louis around 200 kms north, is under pressure as the cities expand. Kabe has been farming on family land since leaving school at 15 but many smallholders near Dakar have lost their farms to urban development as the city expands beyond the peninsula. Senegalese President Macky Sall told the summit the sensitive issue of land reform was among the priorities for states, so as to guarantee access to land for smallholders. He added that support to smallholders, improving access to markets, building storage and processing units, were among key measures countries aim to put in place to boost food production and reduce the continent's reliance on imports. (Reporting by Ngouda Dione and Bate Felix; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise) ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Emanuel Sharp came off the bench to score 18 points and No. 3 Houston bounced back from a loss that knocked it from the top spot in the rankings, beating UCF 82-71 on Wednesday night. Jarace Walker added 17 points, Jamal Shead had 14 points and 10 assists, and Marcus Sasser also scored 14 for the Cougars (19-2, 7-1 American Athletic Conference), who lost 56-55 at home to Temple on Sunday. We challenged our guys (after the loss), Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said. Theyve been challenged since that game was over. Everything in basketball is a competition. Tonight we competed and when you compete you have a much better chance of success. Ithiel Horton scored 18 points and Taylor Hendricks had 17 for UCF (13-7, 4-4). Hendricks three-point play capped a 6-0 run that pulled the Knights within 67-62 with 7:02 remaining. Horton was called for a flagrant foul with 3:19 left in the game. Sharp made two free throws to extend Houstons lead to 74-64. We have to reset, UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said. Were going through a tough stretch right now. Tough games that were playing and the teams that were playing. We need to have a reset. Shead swished a contested 3-pointer to give the Cougars a 78-67 lead with 2:15 remaining and Walker sank a shot from the baseline to make it 80-67 with 1:25 left, matching Houstons biggest lead of the game. We had the best player on the floor, Jamal Shead, Sampson said. Jamal Shead was the best player. His leadership, his toughness, gave our kids something to follow. And the fact that hes at the point guard position makes it even more important. UCF took an early 8-2 lead before Houston responded with an 11-0 run. The Cougars led 38-34 at halftime. INJURY REPORT Sampson said Sasser hurt his knee in the first half. He sat for a stretch after halftime and Sampson said the senior guard was never right in the second half. ... UCF guard Darius Johnson (foot) started and had nine points on 3-of-11 shooting in 32 minutes. Story continues BIG PICTURE Houston: The Cougars controlled the paint and the pace of the game for stretches in the second half, but foul trouble kept them from pulling away until the final three minutes. ... The Cougars shot 50.9% from the floor. UCF: The Knights could not keep up the pace in the second half and struggled handling Houstons length on the inside. ... UCF hit just one of its final seven shots. UP NEXT Houston: Hosts Cincinnati on Saturday. UCF: Hosts Temple on Saturday. ___ AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 MONTEREY PARK, Calif. (AP) The 72-year-old gunman who sprayed bullets into a Southern California ballroom dance hall, killing 11 people, had no known connection to the victims and investigators are still trying to determine a motive for the massacre, the Los Angeles County sheriff said. Before the shooting Saturday night, Huu Can Tran parked a motorcycle just a block away from the ballroom in Monterey Park, which investigators believe he had planned to use as a backup getaway vehicle, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said during a news conference Wednesday hours after police seized the motorcycle. Tran opened fire on a mostly elderly crowd of dancers at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio, killing 11 people and wounding nine others, police said. The carnage, during what should have been joyful Lunar New Year celebrations, sent ripples of fear through Asian American communities already dealing with increased hatred and violence directed at them. Some reports said Tran frequented the dance hall and fancied himself as an instructor, but Luna said he hadnt been there in at least five years and did not appear to target the victims specifically. We have not been able to establish a connection between the suspect and any of the victims thus far, Luna said. Luna said it wasnt clear how long Tran had been planning the attack in the city about 8 miles (13 kilometers) from downtown Los Angeles or what prompted him to spray at least 42 bullets, taking time to reload his weapon, a variant of the MAC-10 semiautomatic machine pistol with a 30-round magazine. Tran's motive continued to elude detectives days after the tragedy as they searched piles of items and paperwork seized from Trans home and a van he used to flee, the sheriff said. It doesnt make sense, Luna said. It really doesnt. About 20 minutes after the attack in Monterey Park, Tran entered another dance hall about 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) away in Alhambra, where an employee confronted and disarmed him during a brief struggle. Tran later shot himself in the van where his body was found Sunday morning. Story continues Tran, who was originally from Vietnam, bought the machine pistol in Monterey Park in 1999, but it was not registered in California, the sheriff said. The gun and the high-capacity magazine are illegal in California. Luna said Tran used a registered semiautomatic handgun when he died by suicide, and a registered bolt-action rifle was found at his home in Hemet, about 70 miles (112 kilometers) from Monterey Park. His only known criminal history was a 1990 arrest for unlawful possession of a firearm, but there is no indication of whether he was convicted. Monterey Park Police Chief Scott Wiese on Wednesday defended his decision not to warn the public for hours that a killer was on the loose, saying he did not have enough information at the time to effectively alert residents. Wiese said police in the region were alerted but that it didnt make sense to send out a warning at night to residents in the predominantly Asian American city, even after learning that the suspect may have targeted a nearby dance club after the massacre. Im not going to send my officers door to door waking people up and telling them that were looking for a male Asian in Monterey Park, Wiese told The Associated Press. Its not going to do us any good. The shooting at 10:22 p.m. Saturday occurred just an hour or so after tens of thousands of people attended Lunar New Year festivities in the city. The public was not notified of the mass shooting for five hours, raising questions about why an alert wasnt sent to people in the area. Wiese, who was sworn in as chief two days before the shooting, said police were piecing together information from about 40 witnesses, including many who didnt speak English, and didnt want to broadcast incorrect information. He said notifying other local, state and federal agencies gave them the ability to get the word out. Less than 48 hours later, a gunman in Northern California shot eight fellow farmworkers, killing seven of them, at mushroom farms in Half Moon Bay. The shooter was of Chinese descent and most of the victims were Asian. Outside the locked gates of in Monterey Park's Star Dance Studio, a memorial grew higher Wednesday with mounds of bouquets and balloons. Hundreds of people carrying flowers, candles and incense showed up for a vigil. Marlene Xu gathered with fellow dancers by a row of flower-framed photos of the victims. Xu said she danced at the studio four times a week and spent an entire day and night in tears after the violence. Its hard for us because its a part of my life," she said. "Its like a part of your life is gone. Vice President Kamala Harris visited the memorial Wednesday, adding her own bouquet, before heading to a senior center to talk to relatives of the victims. She paused in front of each of the large, rose-framed placards that contained photos or names of the victims at the memorial. Speaking briefly to reporters, Harris relayed sentiments on behalf of President Joe Biden and called for Congress to enact stricter gun control laws. Tragically we keep saying the same things, Harris said. Can they do something? Yes. Should they do something? Yes. Will they do something? That is where we all must speak up. Pope Francis was among those who offered condolences, saying in a message to the Los Angeles archbishop that he implores the divine gifts of healing and consolation upon the injured and bereaved. Wiese said hes seen a lot during his three decade career, but some of the first officers on the scene were rookies who had never faced such carnage, and the trauma will be hard to forget. Paramedics were loading the wounded into ambulances and treating others inside when the chief arrived. There were bodies every 10 feet: some slumped over tables, others sprawled on the dance floor. Its hard to put words to it, he said. It takes your breath away when you see it. And it kind of burns the image into your brain. ___ Melley reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writer Julie Watson in San Diego contributed to this report. NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. A 29-year-old woman has been charged with providing false documents in an attempt to enroll in a New Jersey high school as a student. On Jan. 24, Hyejeong Shin, a New Brunswick resident, was charged with one count of third-degree providing a false government document with the intent to verify ones identity or age. Shin provided a false birth certificate to the New Brunswick Board of Education with the intent to enroll as a juvenile student at New Brunswick High School, according to authorities. While it's not clear why she tried to enroll at the school, students say she attended class and was at the school for four days, News 12 New Jersey reported. Once officials realized she wasn't supposed to be there, she was banned from district property, the outlet said. According to NJ.com, schools are required to immediately enroll unaccompanied children, even if records normally required for enrollment are not available. Uvalde: How three unlikely friends hatched a plan to seek justice Virginia: A 6-year-old shot his teacher in Virginia. School administrators 'could not be bothered' to heed warnings that day, lawyer says. Students raise safety concerns To know that a person with that intention was that close to me is even scarier, sophomore Rihanna Colon told the news station. Multiple protests were also held on campus to demand better school security. According to those protesting, the school is plagued with fights and other safety concerns, the station reported. New Brunswick Schools Superintendent Aubrey Johnson discussed the situation at a school board meeting Tuesday night. Johnson said the district would be reviewing its enrollment process to avoid anything like this from happening again, NJ.com reported. All appropriate authorities were notified, and the individual in question has been arrested for providing false documentation, Johnson reportedly said. Reach reporter Alexander Lewis: alewis@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: 29-year-old woman who tried to join New Jersey High School charged Ridofranz / Getty Images/iStockphoto One of the reasons Social Security checks can cover bills for some retirees and not others is because benefits are based on income earned before retirement. The more you earn working, the more you pay into the Social Security system, and the higher your benefit. Two retirees can work the exact same number of hours and years but still have drastically different Social Security checks. See: 6 Big Shakeups to Social Security in 2023 With a Recession Looming: Make These 3 Retirement Moves To Stay On Track This goes a long way toward explaining why the average Social Security check for women is much smaller than for men. As of May 2022, men received about $1,848 per month on average, USA Today reported. In contrast, the average monthly check for women was only $1,494 per month a difference of about $354 per month, or $4,248 per year. If you want to know how much that difference adds up over the course of a retirement, consider this: During a 20-year retirement, the average man will receive about $85,000 more in Social Security benefits than the average woman. Over 30 years, the difference is more than $127,000. You dont need an economics degree to figure out why: Its because women have consistently earned less than men over the decades and that pay gap still exists. Heading into 2022, women earned 82 cents for every dollar men, according to the Society for Human Resource Management, which cited research from Payscales 2022 State of the Gender Pay Gap Report. Women are also much more likely than men to leave the workforce to care for children. The result is that they dont earn nearly as much money as men over the course of their professional lives. This has a major impact on their Social Security retirement benefits, which are based on income during your 35 highest-earning. When someone drops out of the workforce for a substantial number of years, those zero-income years are factored into the benefit calculation, which shrinks checks even more. Story continues There have been some encouraging developments, however. The Social Security gender gap has been slowly narrowing over the last few decades as the gender pay gap shrinks as well. As USA Today noted, in May 2000, women received less than 77% of the average mans Social Security check. As of May 2022, the difference was closer to 81%. For women (and others) in the working world who want to help increase their Social Security benefits in retirement, the best strategy is to find opportunities to boost income. Consider asking for a raise, obtaining licenses and certifications that can lead to higher pay, or switching to a better-paying job. If you cant work outside the home due to caretaking responsibilities, look for remote jobs or side hustles that can bring in income. Just keep in mind that if you do get a side hustle that involves 1099 income rather than W-2 income, youll need to pay into Social Security on your own through estimated tax payments or on your tax returns. Take Our Poll: Are You Concerned About the Safety of Your Money in Your Bank Accounts? Its also important to earn income for at least 35 years, even if some of those years only involve working part-time or side gigs. If you can make it past 35 years while earning a high income, the higher-earning years will replace any lower-earning years that came earlier. Another way to boost your Social Security check is to delay signing up for benefits as long as you can. Although you can sign up as early as age 62, waiting a few years will lead to a higher Social Security check. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Social Security: Women Get $354 Per Month Less Than Men Heres Why Jan. 25SOMERSET, Pa. Somerset County is reverting to pre-pandemic procedures for scheduling criminal trials, abandoning "by-the-seat-of-our-pants" methods that have slowed the system, the county's president judge said. "Ad hoc" methods necessary during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic "may be acceptable in an emergency, but it's no way to run a court system for the long term," President Judge D. Gregory Geary wrote. Since a Pennsylvania Supreme Court emergency order was issued in 2020, defendants were excused in many cases from appearing for Somerset County's Call of the List dates, which occur five times a year. Their defense attorneys have been permitted to appear by themselves on the behalf of accused individuals. But those safety-minded efforts also limited interaction, trading in-person communication among attorneys, their clients and the courts for video conferencing and mailings. Beginning in April, that will change, Geary said. "The pandemic-driven practices of corresponding with incarcerated defendants by mail and utilizing video-conferencing for court appearances were never very effective to begin with, and have become less so the further removed from the pandemic we become," Geary wrote in his two-page memorandum. He cited the flow of important legal documents such as waiver forms and guilty-plea questionnaires as "substantially" slowing the process due to prison procedures, making moving cases forward efficiently a challenging task. "I'm convinced at this point that the only way to effectively move incarcerated defendants' cases through the system is to bring them to Somerset County where they can meet with their attorneys, execute their paperwork and appear before the court in person," Geary said. Geary's memorandum was issued to fellow judges, the Somerset County commissioners, the sheriff's office and others working in the court system. Story continues The decision was also sent to county bar association attorneys whose duties often require them to spent time in the courthouse. Somerset County Clerk of Courts Rose Svonavec welcomed the decision. Her office handles the ongoing caseload of hundreds of criminal dockets that move through the system each year. She said the move back to more in-person interaction will simplify the process of bringing cases to trial. "Cases are backlogged," she said. "And I think this will help." Somerset County Acting Sheriff Dustin Weir said the shift back to pre-pandemic procedures shouldn't be an issue for his staff despite their recent manpower shortage. He said he's hopeful one vacancy will be filled in the coming days and, separately, a current part-time deputy will be taking another full-time job in his office. Call of the List planning will need to be done several weeks in advance, Weir said. Deputies will be sent to other prisons to pick up inmates and bring them to Somerset County Jail days and possibly even a few weeks beforehand to ensure the everyone on the list is next door when the day of the criminal procedure arrives. "That way, we can bring everybody in at once from the same place," Weir said, noting that is a time-tested process. "We just have to plan for it." Somerset County eased other COVID-19 requirements in 2021, enabling trials to resume late that year. Cambria County's courts shifted back to pre-pandemic procedures more than a year ago, following a Supreme Court order lifting the statewide emergency in 2021, an order by President Judge Norman Krumenacker shows. Defendants continue attending Call of the List proceedings in-person, court administrator staff said. Geary's memorandum requires a change to Somerset County's local rules of judicial administration. The changes must be published in this case in the weekly government gazette, the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Geary said a copy of the changes are also being posted on the county's website and forwarded to the administrative office of Pennsylvania Courts. The Bulletin published the rule change in its Jan. 14 edition, making the change effective 30 days later. The changes will be in effect for Somerset County's next Call of the List in April, Geary said. ATLANTA (AP) Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency Thursday, giving him the option of calling in the Georgia National Guard in response to a violent protest in downtown Atlanta over the killing by authorities of an environmental activist said to have shot a state trooper. The declaration allows the Republican governor to call up to 1,000 Guard members over the next 15 days to help subdue riot and unlawful assembly. A Kemp spokesperson said later that there has been no mobilization so far and the order is a precautionary measure that gives the governor the ability to act if necessary. Protesters set a police cruiser on fire Saturday night and threw rocks and lit fireworks in front of a skyscraper that houses the Atlanta Police Foundation. Officials have said no citizens or responding officers were injured, but the windows of three businesses were damaged. In his State of the State address on Wednesday, Kemp decried the protesters as out-of-state rioters who tried to bring violence to the streets of our capital city. He said it was just the latest example of why here in Georgia, well always back the blue. Lawmakers also voiced outrage and disapproval, although some Democrats tempered their remarks with calls to look for solutions to violence as well. Authorities arrested six people Saturday night on charges including domestic terrorism and said unspecified explosives were recovered. The violent protesters were a subsection of hundreds of demonstrators who marched to mourn the death of the protester, who went by the name Tortuguita. Tortuguita, whose given name was Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, was killed Jan. 18 as authorities were clearing a small group of protesters from the site of a planned Atlanta-area public safety training center that activists have dubbed Cop City. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has said Tortuguita was killed by officers after shooting and seriously wounding a state trooper in the abdomen. The bureau says the bullet came from a handgun that Tortuguita purchased legally in 2020. Story continues Activists have questioned officials version of the incident, calling it a murder and demanding an independent investigation. Opponents of the training center have been protesting for over a year by camping out at the site and building platforms in surrounding trees. They say the $90 million project involves cutting down so many trees that it would be environmentally damaging. They also oppose spending so much money on a facility they say will be used to practice urban warfare. Police officials say the state-of-the-art campus would replace substandard offerings and boost police morale beset by hiring and retention struggles in the wake of violent protests against racial injustice after George Floyds death in 2020. Kemp called out the National Guard to guard the state Capitol, the governors mansion and other public facilities during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 and kept them mobilized and providing security at the Capitol well into 2021. They provided a very visible and heavily armed presence on some days, including after Jan. 6, 2021, when groups had threatened to send armed protesters to every state capitol. Racial justice demonstrators accused troopers and other state law enforcement officers of unjustifiably using tear gas on at least two different occasions in 2020. Pennsylvania state police are investigating a situation involving intimate photos of the former Baden Borough police chief, Channel 11 has confirmed. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Baden Borough police chief steps down suddenly after pending investigation Police said the images involving the former chief and another victim were disseminated. Channel 11 reported that former Baden Borough Chief David Christner abruptly retired amid reports of him being videotaped in compromising situations in Nov. 2022. RELATED >>> Internal investigation of former Baden Borough chief launched after reports of videos surfaced The solicitor confirmed at the time that the chief was being investigated after information came to their attention, but leaders did not answer questions on the matter. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Customers struggling to get jewelry back after local store closes Lawsuit: Mini bottles of Fireball Cinnamon do not contain whiskey 1 killed in crash on Pennsylvania Turnpike ramp VIDEO: Homicide detectives, Allegheny County DA continue investigating death of Brackenridge police chief DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett visited UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh on Wednesday. PHOTOS: Kenny Pickett visits UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh It just feels great to see the smiles on kids faces and get a chance to meet them, definitely a special opportunity, Pickett said. During his visit, Pickett hosted a game of Bingo that streamed to all of the hospital rooms. He also took the time to visit some children and their families individually. Got to meet a lot of really great kids, on all different units, Pickett said. Just seeing their smiles and hearing that they were talking a lot more than usual makes me feel good, you kind of change someones day, so it was awesome. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: School and Business Closings State police respond to head-on collision Greensburg police chief facing federal drug charges VIDEO:Post office employee steals mail truck, leads officers on wrong-way chase along I-79, police say DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Stephen Colbert is putting Fox News on blast for its latest attempt at trying to manufacture an outrage, this time over the Xbox video game system. A recent software update allows older models to go into an energy-saving mode when not in use as part of corporate owner Microsofts push to reduce carbon emissions. And Fox News has been melting down over it, with network host Ainsley Earhardt accusing Microsoft of going woke, too, because of climate change. They want us to turn off our Xbox? Colbert cracked in mock outrage. Whats next? Theyre gonna tell me to turn off my car engine when I pull into the garage? How am I supposed to fall asleep now? Colbert said Fox News went even further by making it about grooming kids. Jimmy Failla, a contributor to the right-wing network, accused Microsoft of trying to recruit your kids into climate politics at an earlier age. Youre right, theyre going after the children, Earhardt agreed. Colbert sarcastically agreed, too. Yes, why are they corrupting our kids innocent activities like Italian plumbers taking mushrooms and killing turtles or driving a stolen ice cream truck through a crack house, he said. See more in his Wednesday monologue: LAGOS, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The first phase of a China-built electric-powered light rail project in Nigeria's southwestern state of Lagos was officially open for service on Tuesday. Undertaken by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) since 2010, the completed tracks of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue Line project span 13 km in the first phase and cover five stations. The LRMT Blue Line project is the first rail infrastructure traversing Okokomaiko, a densely populated area in the western part of Lagos, and Marina, a business district on Lagos Island. Speaking at a banquet held by the Lagos state government before the inauguration ceremony, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari described the project as "historic," noting that the rail will reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, as well as improve the lives of locals. The president also attended the contract signing ceremony for the construction of the second phase of the LRMT Blue Line project by the Lagos metropolitan area transport authority and the CCECC. Cui Jianchun, the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, said the completion of the first phase of the project demonstrated the harmony of China-Nigeria relations. "It is a line of speed, line of sustainability, line of harmony," Cui said. The new light rail would reduce travel time, improve the quality of life of citizens and make Lagos one of the most resilient megacities in Africa that would compete favorably with other cities around the world, said Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos. The iconic Marina Station has the capacity to process about 25,000 passengers per hour, Sanwo-Olu added. Construction of the first phase of the Lagos Blue Line project started in July 2010 and was completed in December 2022. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images Over the course of his four-decade career, Stephen Dorff has made just about every type of movie imaginable, from dramas (The Power of One, Somewhere) and comedies (Cecil B. Demented) to thrillers (Judgement Night) and Marvel blockbusters (Blade). Nonetheless, hes never starred in anything quite like Divinity, a phantasmagoric sci-fi/horror saga in which he stars as Jaxxon Pierce, a mad scientist intent on completing his fathers (Scott Bakula) groundbreaking quest to achieve eternal life. On a barren planet suffering from a 97 percent infertility rate, Jaxxon has found the key to humanitys survival: Divinity, an elixir that prevents body and mind from aging. On the cusp of his breakthrough, Jaxxon is held hostage by two mysterious intergalactic brothers (Moises Arias and Jason Genao) who, with the help of a prostitute (Karrueche Tran), want to stop him from exacting his plans. At the same time, a group of otherworldly bodysuit-encased women on an alternate plane of existence (led by Bella Thornes commander) also strive to halt Divinitys commercial circulation. What ensues is a psychosexual head-trip of the craziest sort, full of hulking bodybuilders, supernova explosions, alien creatures, fantastical weapons and unholy mutationsthe last of which have to do with Dorffs megalomaniacal inventor. Executive-produced by Steven Soderbergh and written/directed by Eddie Alcazar (in his feature debut), its a surreal black-and-white fever dream about the high cost of beauty and longevity that melds live-action Lynchian insanity with stop-motion video game action. Premiering at this years Sundance Film Festival (in the Next section), the film is a uniquely out-there affair, and one that reconfirms its leading mans go-for-broke adventurousness. A respected Hollywood veteran whos expertly navigated both the mainstream and independent scenes, Dorff is a big-screen presence who invigorates even the most familiar of projects. In the case of Divinity, his frenzied intensity is an ideal fit for Alcazars flights of freakish fancy. Following its Park City premiere, we sat down with the actor to discuss Divinity and his wide-ranging body of work. He didnt hold back about his feelings regarding first-time filmmakers, the state of mainstream cinema and todays garbage superhero movies. Story continues Infinity Pool Is a Nearly X-Rated, Disturbing Romp That Has Sundance Clutching Its Pearls Divinity is a sci-fi/horror hybrid, and you have a history with horror dating all the way back to 1987s The Gate. Is it a favorite genre of yours? No. A friend of mine introduced me to Eddie on the phone during COVID, and I saw his short The Vandal [executive-produced by Darren Aronofsky], which did really well in Cannes. When you see that short, you realize this guy is an original filmmaker. Originality is definitely missing in our business. The movies this year alone were horrific. In general, I think its a tougher job to be an actor these days because there are less interesting filmmakers, there are less good movies. Scripts are terrible for the most part. When I see or read a gem, those are the ones Ill want to do, because as an actor, thats what you needI need my director, I need my script, I need my pieces, and then I can do what I fucking do. Without those pieces, an actors job is useless unless youre doing dinner theater or want to be in an off-Broadway play, and Im not that guy. I make films. Still from Divinity Sundance How did Divinity come together? I met Eddie over the phone, saw his short, and thought he was brilliant. Obviously, he has a huge fan base amongst really great filmmakers, because they put their names all over his movies. In this case, I knew Soderbergh wanted to make a picture with Eddie. We didnt have a script, we didnt have an idea. Through talking and getting to know him, I said, look, Ill go on this journey with you and be in your first bigger entry into cinema. But what are we going to do? He sent me a few things, but he basically just said he had an idea for this character, Jaxxon Pierce, who basically runs the world through this chemical hes created. Were somewhere in the future, but we dont really know, and Divinity has basically taken over the world, and hes doing it in an unorthodox way, and there are going to be a lot of secrets that are going to be unveiled. I said that sounds interesting, so what kind of character? He said like an Elon Musk with Aspergershes going to be very smart and confused and broken inside from his father. Wow. Elon Musk with Aspergers. He started giving me all this shit, and then he got into the prosthetics of it all. I said it sounds like A Clockwork Orange meets The Elephant Man. I think of him in a Kubrick-esque way, because I think hes doing things that nobody else is doing. I havent seen the other movies here, but normally at Sundance, its a lot of little movies, two people in a room talking, nice stories, heartfelt. This movie is for the world. This movie is going to be a juggernaut. Theres nothing like it. You really want to see it on a big screen. At The Egyptian Theatre premiere, somebody had a seizure during our credit sequence, probably because it was triggered by our sound design, and its all over the news. The movie rocked. Cat Person Devours Storys Viral Discourse and Coughs Up an Unwatchable Hairball Im surprised to hear Divinity was such a collaborative partnership from the get-go. Is that common? No, the whole thing was unorthodox. He built the part through me, and then built the story. I said, look, I dont want to improv this shit. I want to know what Im saying if Im playing a guy whos very different from who I am. I got to know how he talks, and Eddie would send me all these interviews of really intense back-channel web shit with these really smart guys in the Alex Jones world and beyond, and far-right, far-left weirdo tech guys. People Ive never heard of, and dont know who the fuck they are! [laughs] Im watching these tapes thinking, Jesus, Im going to talk like that? Im sitting on my ranch in Nashville trying to figure out, what the hell am I doing? Then Im four weeks out, then Im two weeks out, and Im like, hmm, I still dont know who the fuck this character is. I got to Joshua Tree, I bleached my head white, and I was still having a hard time locking in. I finally locked in once we started shooting, probably on the third day, so I wanted to go back and redo a few things. Wesley Snipes and Stephen Dorff in Blade Courtesy Everett Collection Do you ever have concerns about working with a first-time filmmaker? Its just different. I could be cast in a friend of mines movie or I could be cast in a big Michael Mann movie and go work for eight months with Michael on something, and ultimately, Im just there to act. On this movie, it was more collaborative. It was a little more work, because anything thats difficult in filmmaking, he put into this film and challenged himself. Whether its the rarest Kodak film stock on the planet, which has only been shot on for three movies ever: Pi by Darren Aronofsky, our movie, and a Japanese movie that I cant remember. Or its prosthetics in 120-degree heat shooting at Joshua Tree, because thats where the house was that he wanted to shoot at. Everything was a hurdle. It was an incredibly difficult performance for me in this movie. But I think the movie is really, really amazing, so its all fine and dandy if I can get through it. Sundance Hit Fair Play Sold for a Huge $20 Million. Is It Worth It? What was it like working under heavy prosthetics? Its not fun; its terrible [laughs]. Ive done prosthetics with the best. Mike Marino did me twenty-eight times on True Detective, and thats five-hour makeup every day to turn me into a 73-year-old man. This was a lot shorter but a lot more intense, because at one point in the later stages, it was like 45 pounds of prosthetics on my head, and I also cant see out of my left eye. I only have one eye of vision, so I have to be led to the set. I cant see where Im fucking going. It was a very discombobulating, uncomfortable, vulnerable performance because Im naked through the fucking movie, and Eddie bleached my fucking hair, shaved my eyebrows, put me in nude-colored spandex shots for the whole movie. It basically was a very tiring, intense performance. I probably wasnt in the greatest mood while making the movie, but I love the performance and I love the movie. Is it difficult to find mainstream projects that are as interesting and challenging as something like Divinity? I mean, mainstream moviesthe few movies that are coming out in theaters that are doing well, like Avatar and Top GunI dont even know what it all is. Its all stupid to me. I think film festivals are, in a way, kind of silly, with the exception of, it brings filmmakers and people together and gets an audience to see your movie and you can launch it and sell it there. But in general, most of the movies are selling to streamers anyway, so its not really about cinema. I think Divinity should be bought by the majors, and if the majors were smartif DC or any of these companies were doing cool thingsthey would look for the next Eddie Alcazar, because thats the future. Not making Black Adam and worthless garbage over and over again [laughs]. Ha! Black Adam Id do mainstream movies all the time if they were good. But if the one or two a year that happen dont, for whatever reason, cast me in a role, Im not going to lose sleep over it because I wasnt one of fifty people in Oppenheimer. I mean, it looks cool, but to me, unless youre playing Oppenheimer, I dont want to be in that movie [laughs]. Unless its my friends movie, and then Ill do a scene or pop up. I just did my first comedy. Im going to be with Danny McBride in the entire new season of The Righteous Gemstones, and thatll be incredibly cool. I play his nemesis in Season 3. That show is the funniest show on TV, and they spend a fortune on it! It felt like it was bigger than True Detective at one point. It was like, what the fuck is going on here? Were you looking to do comedy? Dannys a lovely dude, and I had so much fun with him. I just like doing different things. Nobodys ever really come to me with a lot of comedies. Ive obviously done comedy with little thingsSofia Coppolas Somewhere has some. But in terms of a comedic career, I dont have one. Danny really wrote me a fucking great part, and we just had a ball. Its the silliest shit youve ever seen. Its going to be awesome. Stephen Dorff and Elle Fanning in Somewhere Merrick Morton/Focus Features/Courtesy Everett Collection Howd Righteous Gemstones come about? I didnt even know Danny; he just called me. I was like, dude, Im so flattered, Im going to tell [Adam] Sandler. Sandler met Jackie, his wife, at my 25th birthday party, and Sandler is obviously one of the biggest comedians on the planet, and he never hires me, and I always give him shit. So I texted him, Hey Sandman, guess who Im going to be working with who wrote me a great part? McBride, buddy! And hes like, get the fuck out of here, thats awesome! All my friends are these big comedians, and in all my movies, Im killing people or crying or mentally breaking down in a corner, or Im naked in a chair in this movie being mutilated by two brothers from outer space. Are there other genres, besides comedy, that youd like to try, or revisit? My life is pretty weird, but look, I love all kinds of movies. If comic-book movies were more like when I started when we made Blade, or the few that have been decent over the years, like when Nolan did The Dark Knight and reinvented Batman from Tim Burton, whos obviously a geniuswhen they were interesting, like when Norrington did Blade, and Guillermo [del Toro] was fucking around in it. But all this other garbage is just embarrassing, you know what I mean? I mean, God bless them, they're making a bunch of money, but their movies suck [laughs]. And nobodys going to remember them. Nobodys remembering Black Adam at the end of the day. I didnt even see that movie, it looked so bad. Anne Hathaways Eileen Is Dark, Explosive, and Has One Helluva Ending Marvel is used to me trashing them anyway. Hows that PG Blade movie going for you, that cant get a director? [laughs] Because anybody who goes there is going to be laughed at by everyone, because we already did it and made it the best. Theres no Steve Norrington out there. Thats definitely true. What I love is, Eddie is the future, and that, to me, is important. As an actor, if I want to keep working, I need my guys. I need my visionaries. Hes my guy, and he called me out, I called him out, and we gave birth to this, and well do many more together, I think. Ive got to collect those guys, frankly, because the guys I came up with in my early years, theyre all too old or theyre not making movies anymore. Ive got to get to know these young new people. And the truth is, most of them arent good. Most of them have terrible taste in actors [laughs]. I dont really know how to work with those people. Ill just stick with the great artists. 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. Joe Avina prepares to dispose of flood-damaged furniture in bins in Planada, Calif., on Jan. 18. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) When Rudy Moreno first saw the texts from his relatives two weeks ago asking about the mandatory evacuation order in Planada, he didnt even know that one had been issued. Much of the small town, made up of about 4,000 people east of Merced, had been flooded due to a breached levee during the storms that deluged the state at the start of the year. But instead of joining the fleeing residents, the majority of whom had already left, Moreno headed straight to his childhood home on Amistad Street, where his older sister, Sylvia, still lived. They didn't have flood insurance, and the rain was coming down hard. Together, they worked on digging a trench from their backyard, which was already brimming with more than 2 feet of water, to their frontyard to keep the house from flooding. They used an electric pump and managed to keep the water at bay. "We have never had a flood like this one," said the 60-year-old Moreno, who moved to the town with his parents in 1969 and has remained ever since. "Planada has had some rain but nothing to the extreme that we had to evacuate. It was something out of the movies." Blanca Hurtado helps at the flood-damaged home of her son, Mike Hurtado, in Planada. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Right before the flood, the Morenos went into town to pick up some sandbags. When those ran out, they loaded up the truck with piles of the leftover sand and used plastic grocery bags to make their own. By the time the worst was over, the rain had weakened the fence in their backyard and battered some couches and chairs. Sylvia Moreno, 67, decided to evacuate sometime during the storm, but her brother stayed behind, going days without power and heat. At one point, the water supply was contaminated with sewage and he could no longer use the tap, relying on only bottled water. If he hadn't remained at the house, continuing to dig the trench deeper, he said the floodwaters would've seeped in through the back door and inundated the house. "Its a very sentimental thing for us because this is the home where all my brothers and sisters grew up," Rudy Moreno said. "I was doing my best not to leave, and I was gonna do whatever it took to try to stay and make sure that it was gonna be OK." Story continues During the storms, which drenched most of California, the rain breached at least one levee along Miles Creek in Planada, causing the floodwaters to flow into a drainage canal and flood nearby streets, businesses and homes. Planada, a tiny, mostly rural unincorporated community in Merced County, is majority Latino and mostly made up of renters, according to Merced County Supervisor Rodrigo Espinosa, whose district includes the town. Most of the residents are immigrants without documentation, live below the poverty line and don't have flood insurance, he added. Many of the people are also farmworkers and weren't able to work for weeks during the relentless onslaught of rain, Espinosa said. Some residents are behind on rent, facing eviction or living in moldy homes with nowhere else to go. Vicente de Landa Jr., right, volunteers delivering supplies from the Planada Community Center to the home of Carlos Green, a 60-year resident of the community. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) "The struggle is that this is a minority, low-income area, and we feel that people are going to forget about it and go away," he said. "We need more support. This is not one week, two weeks, three weeks. This is going to be for the next six months. People are going to be struggling." Most of Planada evacuated during the storms, but Espinosa estimated that about 20% of the residents stayed behind. "I think it's because they're not used to leaving," he said. "It's a sense of losing privacy or their personal rights. That's where your fortress is, and sometimes they don't want to leave they're so used to their area." Alicia Rodriguez, a longtime volunteer in the community, knew of at least 100 households that rode out the storms in their homes. All of them lived without power for days. Theyre helpless, scared and concerned for their families and how to feed them, she said in an interview last week. They dont have any hope. The evacuation warning, which was upgraded to a mandatory evacuation order during peak flooding, was downgraded and eventually lifted last week. Deputies had gone door to door to residents in the most affected areas and strongly urged them to leave, according to Merced County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Michelle Oliver. In some cases, displaced residents were put in high-water-rescue vehicles and dropped off near buses, which then shuttled them to an evacuation shelter at the Merced County Fairgrounds. We have never had a flood like this one. Planada has had some rain but nothing to the extreme that we had to evacuate. It was something out of the movies. Planada resident Rudy Moreno Miguel Hurtado, left, and son Mike Hurtado dump flood debris gathered from Mike's home into a bin in Planada. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Those who needed to retrieve medication or a pet from their homes did so by deputy escort. A few residents who evacuated decided they wanted to go back to their homes, Oliver said, and officers warned them they could be risking their lives. But she said she could understand residents' indecision. You spend your entire life to make this home into a home," Oliver said. "You have possessions, animals and family members, and when something like this happens, I cant imagine the amount of stress to decide whether to stay or go. One morning last week, 61-year-old Joe Avina drove his truck, filled with the waterlogged contents of his house, to a row of dumpsters in the middle of town. There, he threw out the weather-beaten remains of a wooden dining room table, several dining chairs, kids' toys and a twin-size mattress. It was the third time he had been there that week. Joe Avina makes his third trip to the trash bins in Planada with ruined furniture from his home. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) It was pretty bad, he said. We have no table to eat on right now. It was literally underwater. The flooding also ruined the carpet and some of the walls. He was without power for more than two days. Avina chose not to evacuate because he wanted to protect his home and possessions from possible thieves, he said. He was so worried that he'd be forced to evacuate that he hesitated to go get food. He drove a short distance, avoiding a main road, then made a long trek on foot in the rain for supplies. "This hasnt happened in the last 50 years I've been here," he said. "This is the worst. Its terrible." Other Planada residents spoke of their concern for their valuables as well as their pets. Vincent de Landa Jr., who has lived in Planada since 1973, gathers supplies to deliver to fellow residents. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Vincent de Landa Jr., 69, was asleep when the flooding started; he woke up, looked out the window and saw a "lake" outside his house on Stanford Avenue. "I got chills on my arms," he said. "The hair stood up." De Landa jumped into his car and tried to outrun the flooding but got stuck on a street near his house. About 3 feet of water filled his car. He waded through the waters and made it back home to take care of his dog. His home is high enough that it didn't flood, and he stayed there for the rest of the storm, even when the power went out, relying on canned chicken for food. He said he was scared during the ordeal and prayed for the people living in harder-hit areas. In the wake of the disaster, he's been volunteering at the Planada Community Center, helping distribute supplies and food to residents. "I was concerned about the elderly people of Planada," he said. "It came with no warning." Mario Cruz, 77, stayed in his house on Market Street as long as he could. Cruz has lived in Planada since 1948. Floodwaters had already drenched his living room and kitchen, but he stayed behind to protect his property. He left after sheriff's deputies started knocking on doors on his street, urging people to evacuate. Because it was no longer safe to drive, Cruz had to walk across the flooded drainage canal and was picked up on the other side. Mario Cruz inside his flood-damaged home. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Last week, he had to throw out his couch, refrigerator, stove and several tables anything that the water touched had to go. Cruz's neighbor Vidal Rosales, 49, also stayed in his house until the last possible second. Like many others in Planada, his family hadn't purchased any flood insurance because they didn't think they'd need it. Rosales lives with his mother and brother in a four-bedroom home on Market Street. His sister is next door and his nephew lives in the house behind his. After the rest of his family evacuated, he tried to move furniture and other valuables to his nephew's house, on higher ground. When the deputies from the Sheriff's Office knocked on his door a second time, he finally decided to go. Gene Benavidez, at home with his cat Milo, said he didn't want to evacuate the home his family built. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) "My instincts told me I had to put everything up tables, whatever I can," Rosales said, adding that he wasn't able to move the beds, couches, stereo, speakers and other large items. "They're gone," he said. Like many other Planada residents, Gene Benavidez said he was scared for his property and that someone would break in. He and his wife stayed in their two-story house on Amistad Street to look after their dog and nine cats. But mostly, he said, he feels a strong emotional attachment to his home and the house next door, where he grew up and where his brother still lives. Both houses were hand-built by family members. Benavidez, 59, said his parents moved into their first house, which they built themselves, in Planada in 1969. They wanted to build another house next door where they could grow old, so they took out a loan. Benavidez and his brother and father started building the house in 2010. His father died in 2011, but work continued on the house. After it was finally finished in 2017, Benavidez and his wife moved in. "The fact that Dad left that legacy and was thinking of his kids and not of himself," he said. "He said, 'Whoever doesn't have money in the family, if anyone's having hard times, go ahead and live in this house.'" Adam Gonzales walks along a flooded service road in the town of Planada. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The Duxbury Fire Department is offering support to first responders on the South Shore following the tragic deaths of two children who were found unconscious in their home on Tuesday night. DA: Duxbury mother under police custody for murder charges in deaths of her 2 children On behalf of the entire Duxbury Fire Department, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this tragic event, their family members, and all the members of our public safety community who responded, Chief Robert G. Reardon and Deputy Chief Brian J. Monahan said in a joint statement. Cora Clancy, 5, and Dawson Clancy, 3, were strangled inside their Summer Street home by their mother, 32-year-old Lindsay Clancy, Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz said Wednesday. Police officers and firefighters responded to 47 Summer St. on Tuesday evening after a man, later identified as Lindsay Clancys husband, returned home and called 911 to report his wifes attempted suicide. Cruz said Lindsay Clancy survived a jump out of a second-story window. She was taken to a local hospital. When first responders entered the home, they discovered three unconscious children suffering from obvious signs of severe trauma, according to Cruz. Cora and Dawson were rushed to the hospital, where they were pronounced dead. A 7-month-old infant boy survived and remains hospitalized at Boston Childrens Hospital. Reardon and Monahan said the horrible sights of the tragic event have taken a toll on the public safety community, including emergency crew members from Kingston, Marshfield, Pembroke, Hanover, Hanson, and Halifax who assisted Duxbury officials at the scene. Thank you to all the agencies who supported us during the last 12 hours. We used resources from six towns to help us in our response to this tragedy. Please keep the family and all the first responders in your prayers. pic.twitter.com/87mSDrwpED Duxbury Fire PIO (@DXFD_PIO) January 25, 2023 Tragedies like these are always difficult to comprehend and process. We are all left struggling with many emotions. Please know that all public safety personnel have been offered, and will continue to be offered, needed support, Reardon and Monahan said. We have brought in professional help for not only our first responders but also the neighboring towns first responders. To all those who responded - we care about you. If you or a colleague need support, please reach out to our department 781-934-5693. Story continues Lindsay Clancy remains under police guard at the hospital as she awaits arraignment on two counts of homicide, and three counts each of strangulation and assault and battery with a deadly weapon in the deaths of her children. Reardon and Monahan also thanked the residents of Duxbury and surrounding communities for the extraordinary care and compassion they have shown during this difficult time. You have all been helpers. We continue to respond to emergencies and your firefighters will always be here when you call, they said. The incident involving Lindsay Clancy remains under investigation. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW People take part in a demonstration as part of the campaign Stop Killer Robots organised by German NGO Facing Finance to ban what they call killer robots (DPA/AFP via Getty Images) AI researchers have warned MPs that the development of superhuman artificial intelligence risks human extinction. The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee heard from researchers at Oxford University, who advised that AI should be regulated in the same way as nuclear weapons. With superhuman AI, there is a particular risk that is of a different sort of class, which is... it could kill everyone, said doctoral student Michael Cohen. If you imagine training a dog with treats: it will learn to pick actions that lead to it getting treats, but if the dog finds the treat cupboard, it can get the treats itself without doing what we wanted it to do. It is not the first time AI scientists have warned of the existential risks posed by the technology, with the latest warning echoing that of a thought experiment put forward by philosopher Nick Bostrom nearly 20 years ago. The Paperclip Maximizer problem hypotheses that a super-intelligent AI would ultimately destroy humanity even if its initial goal of producing the most amount of paperclips possible was not explicitly malicious. Recent AI advances have resurfaced fears surrounding advanced artificial intelligence and how it is handled and developed, though it will take broad consensus from governments and institutions around the world to impose effective safeguards and regulation. The researchers said the AI industry had already become a literal arms race as competition mounts to produce both commercial and military applications with the technology. I think the bleak scenario is realistic because AI is attempting to bottle what makes humans special, that has led to humans completely changing the face of the Earth, said Michael Osborne, a professor of machine learning at the University of Oxford. Artificial systems could become as good as good at outfoxing us geopolitically as they are in the simple environments of game. There are some reasons for hope in that we have been pretty good at regulating the use of nuclear weapons. AI is as comparable a danger as nuclear weapons. Generative AI is the tech industry's buzzword of the moment. It's no wonder -- the VC firm Sequoia not long ago predicted that generative AI, which comprises AI that can generate text, art and more from prompts, could yield trillions of dollars in economic value over the long run. Is that simply the optimistic musing of a firm heavily invested in the space? Perhaps. On the other hand, generative AI has proven to be a labor savor. Supernormal hopes to demonstrate the value of generative AI with its tech, which creates meeting notes by integrating with Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Zoom and other conferencing platforms. There's lots of vendors in the meeting notes transcription space, which exploded during the pandemic as work-from-home setups became the norm. But Supernormal differentiates itself by extracting key details from meetings such as actions and decisions, relying on OpenAI's text-processing AI to do the summarization work. It's a strong sales pitch. Supernormal today announced that it raised $10 million in a funding round led by Balderton with participation from Acequia Capital and byFounders VC. The new cash brings the company's total raised to around $12.9 million, which co-founder and CEO Colin Treseler says is being put toward product R&D and hiring. "Currently, Supernormal has a small team of 5, which it expects to grow to 25 by the end of 2023 -- mostly across engineering, marketing and [customer] success," Treseler told TechCrunch in an email interview. "The new funding will be used to further the mission of delivering end-to-end workflow solutions based on foundational meeting data and develop next-generation tools that deliver actions and insights from conversations across the organization." Supernormal Supernormal automatically transcribes and summarizes meetings. Image Credits: Supernormal Treseler co-founded Supernormal with Fabian Perez, who he met while working at a Balderton-funded company 13 years ago. (Treseler has also held product manager roles at Meta and was the chief of staff in Klarna's risk management department, while Perez was the director of design at GitHub.) In 2020, the two spent two weeks brainstorming what to build next. After long sessions, they realized that they didnt have any notes from the conversations, and that well-documented discussions were going to be critical to their success. Story continues "At an organization level, our meetings are a significant part of our work product that, until now, were ephemeral or too unwieldy to consume -- who rewatches an hour-long meeting when the key notes are what are important?," Treseler said. "Weve heard in particular that for product managers, team leads and client-facing teams that this product is particularly transformative as it helps them keep track of key updates and milestones with ease." To that end, Supernormal's platform, powered by OpenAI's GPT-3 model, writes meeting and call notes across templated categories like "presentation," "customer discovery call" and "interview." Supernormal extracts details like customer objectives and goals, Treseler explains, and after a meeting attempts to automate action items like follow-up emails, scheduling and making introductions. Supernormal is self-learning -- as users edit their notes, they're improving the quality of notes that they get in their next call. But they can also delete any stored data if they choose for privacy reasons. Supernormal Image Credits: Supernormal "As companies contract, team members are going to be under pressure to continually hit deadlines and showcase value. A tool like Supernormal supports them at every stage of their job and takes that administrative pressure off them," Treseler said. "It also takes the pressure off employees to be overly communicative and transparent, with Supernormal easily enabling this -- helping to boost productivity and keep everyone connected regardless of location and time zones." It's here I should note that Supernormal's capabilities aren't super novel, no pun intended. Otter, a competitor, recently rolled out AI-generated meeting summaries. For transcribing and highlighting key moments in meetings, there's also Headroom, tl;dv, Xembly and Fireflies.ai. But Treseler claims Supernormal is more affordable than most solutions on the market -- less than $1 per meeting, on average -- and already has a growing paying customer base; 50,000 users across more than 250 organizations including Netflix, Airbnb and Snapchat are actively using the platform, he says. The trick for Supernormal will be achieving profitability given the high cost of relying on the OpenAI API. The most comprehensive GPT-3 plan costs around $0.02 per ~750 words, which sounds like a lot -- until you consider a 30-minute meeting transcript ranges between 3,000 and 6,000 words. Another, more existential business challenge is the desire among remote workers to move away from frequent meetings. In a July 2022 survey from RedRex, workers said they spent an average of 31 hours per month in unproductive meetings; 71% believed their work time was often wasted due to unnecessary or canceled meetings. Moreover, over half of the respondents said that they actively wanted to reduce how much time they spent in virtual meetings. Treseler admitted as much -- and was loathe to share Supernormal's revenue numbers. But he believes the growth is sustainable. "As more companies have gone hybrid or fully remote, Supernormal is becoming an essential tool for distributed teams," Treseler continued. "Weve seen explosive growth as teams try to figure out the hybrid or distributed model. As soon as one team member is distributed, a meeting documentation tool is needed." A 32-year-old man has been arrested on federal arson-related charges in connection with a fire that damaged a Planned Parenthood clinic in Peoria, Illinois, earlier this month, authorities announced Wednesday. Tyler Massengill was taken into custody Tuesday on charges of "malicious use of fire and an explosive to damage, and attempt to damage, property used in and affecting interstate commerce," according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court. The fire was reported in the late-night hours of Jan. 15. Surveillance cameras captured footage of an older-model white pickup truck with red doors parked nearby the clinic and a man approaching the building with a "laundry-detergent-sized bottle," the complaint reads. The suspect lit a rag on one end of the bottle, smashed a window and placed the container inside the building, per the complaint. The clinic sustained "significant damage," according to court documents, and has remained closed since. No one was inside at the time, and there were no injuries. Security video of a suspect outside a Planned Parenthood clinic in Peoria, Illinois, which was set ablaze on Jan. 15, 2023. / Credit: Federal Bureau of Investigation Two days after the fire, Peoria police investigators received a tip about the truck's license plate, prosecutors said, and the owner of the truck was identified as Massengill. Investigators learned that the truck in question had been taken to the home of an "individual" in Sparland, Illinois, which is located about 25 miles north of Peoria. The truck was placed in the individual's garage, and Massengill "arranged for her to paint the doors on his truck for $300," the complaint reads. FBI agents seized the truck from the Sparland home on Monday, by which time the doors had been painted white, according to the complaint. Massengill telephoned Peoria police on Tuesday, and then came to police headquarters for an interview, where he admitted to sparking the fire, the complaint alleges. He also told investigators that if the fire caused "a little delay" in a patient receiving services at the clinic, then it may have been "all worth it," the complaint said. Story continues The fire occurred just two days after Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law reproductive health care legislation that protects out-of-state abortion seekers, according to The Associated Press. If convicted as charged, Massengill faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. Google faces antitrust suit, accused of "monopolizing" digital ad market Rep. George Santos faces growing questions over campaign spending U.S. to send advanced battle tanks to Ukraine Switzerland introduced its new sanctions on the model of the EUs ninth sanctions package against Russia on Jan. 25. Restrictions will be placed on the export of goods and technologies that can contribute to the technological improvement of the Russian military sector. The sanctions will also target around 200 new individuals and entities, the statement read. The sanctions package extends the ban on exporting goods and technologies related to the aviation and space industry to Russia, including aircraft engines and their parts. This prohibition will apply to both manned and unmanned aerial vehicles, which means that the direct export of drone engines to Russia and any third country that may supply drones to Russia is now forbidden. New investments in the Russian mining sector will also be banned. Switzerland also granted exemptions from its arms embargo on demining equipment for Ukraine on a case-by-case basis. MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan police have arrested 10 people for involvement in criminal activities in Afghanistan's northern Balkh province, said a police statement Thursday. The arrested were involved in illegal activities such as robbery, murder, adultery, mobile snatching and creating law and order problems in the province, the statement added. In a similar crackdown, the police arrested over a dozen alleged criminals in Afghanistan's capital city Kabul last week. The Afghan caretaker government has vowed to crack down on criminal elements to ensure law and order in the war-torn country. Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C. Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images An independent auditor found "weakness" in how the Education Department calculated student-debt relief costs. GOP Rep. Virginia Foxx accused the department of "blatantly lying" in its estimates. The auditor did not make that accusation, and a department spokesperson said the court challenges blocking the relief have led to limited data. An independent auditor took issue with how President Joe Biden's Education Department calculated costs of its student-loan forgiveness proposal. On Monday, KPMG a public accounting firm released the results of its audit of the department's financial statements from fiscal year 2022. But for the first time in 20 years, as Politico reported, KPMG was unable to "obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence" to produce an opinion, citing "material weakness" in the department's financial reporting on its student-debt relief plans and was therefore unable to determine whether any adjustments to the department's balance sheet may have been necessary. While the auditor did not say that the department explicitly lied about costs of its proposals, Rep. Virginia Foxx, chair of the House education committee, accused it of doing just that. "The Department is blatantly lying about how much taxpayer money it is giving away," Foxx said in a statement. "Two years and a half a trillion dollars later, it appears nothing has changed. This auditor said it wouldn't touch the Department's shoddy guesses with a ten-foot pole let alone sign off on them. This is absolutely ridiculous." In September, the department estimated that its broad student-debt relief plan would cost $30 billion annually over the next decade, and that 81% of borrowers would participate in the relief. But KPMG said that those estimates were "not properly designed at an appropriate level of precision" to determine the take-up rate, or how many borrowers would actually take the necessary steps to get the relief. A department spokesperson told Politico that "the initial assumptions in the estimate were based on information available at the time that was applied to a new program that had not yet launched." Story continues "The ongoing court challenges to the program have blocked individuals from applying to the program, and therefore the Department has not been able to use concrete application data to demonstrate the accuracy of its estimate take-up rate," the spokesperson continued. As the spokesperson noted, Biden's plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student debt for federal borrowers is currently paused due to two conservative-backed lawsuits that blocked the relief late last year. Prior to the court challenges, over 20 million borrowers had applied for the relief, but the department is unable to progress with implementation until the Supreme Court rules on whether the plan can move forward. Both cases will be heard by the nation's highest court on February 28, and student-loan payments remain on pause until 60 days after June 30, or 60 days after the litigation is resolved whichever happens first. Read the original article on Business Insider Matt Baldwin, a homeless outreach case manager for Valeo Behavioral Health, helps a woman living in a camp off S.E. 15th Street and Adams, walk up a muddy hill to complete a point-in-time survey and receive supplies Wednesday afternoon. Baldwin says the camp has become a hotspot for those without housing in recent months. Low wind chills and 1.1 inches of overnight snow greeted city of Topeka employees and volunteers from sunrise to sunset Wednesday as they counted individuals experiencing homelessness in the capital city. The United States Department of Housing requires a count each year to ensure cities can obtain appropriate funding needed to provide programs and other needed services for individuals experiencing homelessness. "I think it's important to remember that this is a snapshot," said Kimberly Williams-Gatson, supervisor of homeless programming at Valeo Behavioral Health Care. More:We can each do a bit more to understand community members who are living in poverty Williams-Gatson said the snowfall creates an easier process to count homeless individuals, because one is better able to "see their footprints" and determine if they are present in their camps. "It's also an issue, because you can see a lot more of their camps," she said. "It alerts more people to what's really going on, but it's really been there all the time." Last year's Jan. 26, point-in-time count showed an increase in the percentage of the city's homeless population. Results showed "365 people were experiencing homelessness that day in Topeka, compared to 298 during the count conducted in January of 2021." Typically, total homeless numbers for a new year's count won't be available for about two months. More:Topeka has had 4 domestic violence deaths this month. Help is available, mayor stresses. More counting teams out than years prior for annual count Efforts to assist the homeless population have included launching the Equal Access Shelter in November 2022, a "one-stop shop" providing a single point of access for those needing rental help, along with launching MAP in 2021 a mobile access partnership that provides shower, bathroom and laundry access for the homeless population. Kent Ivey, a homeless man in Topeka, was housed until November 2022 but lost it due to unforeseen circumstances. Ivey previously lived in the once prominent Tent City in North Topeka. The city cleared Tent City on April 4 and May 10 in 2022. Story continues "Since COVID, things are OK but before that, if you went hungry, you were messed up," Ivey said. After the demolition of Tent City, homeless individuals spread across the city. On Wednesday, 10 zoning teams were out counting individuals, which was "more than normal" said Williams-Gatson. Generally, seven or eight teams are formed. Trauma shared within the homeless community, means there's still work to be done Matt Baldwin, a homeless outreach case manager for Valeo Behavioral Health, fist-bumps Kent Ivey, an unhoused man originally from Oklahoma, after promising he'll help him get into permanent housing and out of his camp near the Shunga Creek. Matt Baldwin, homeless outreach case manager for Valeo Behavioral Health, emphasized that more work remains to be done. "One thing everyone out there shares is trauma. So, what can we do to treat that more? What can we do with prevention with that? What can we do to support people more?" said Baldwin. "And obviously affordable housing is important, and it is a big deal, but if we can do more to treat people's trauma and help them get back to work, that'll just benefit this country as a whole." Baldwin said one of the things he would like to propose to the city is transitional housing because "there's people out there that want to work." A proposal for a $5.7 million tiny home transitional village that could hold up to 200 beds for the homeless at the former site of Topekas Tent City was proposed to the Topeka City Council by Barry Feaker, former executive director of the Topeka Rescue Mission in July 2021. More:How Kansans for Life plans taxpayer money to benefit anti-abortion pregnancy centers Marty Johnson, benefit specialist with Valeo, helps Matthew Jackson fill out the point-in-time survey outside of the Dollar Tree, 2630 S.W. 6th Ave. on Wednesday morning. Ten teams fanned across the city to complete the surveys, which are required by the U.S. Department of Housing to ensure proper funding is allocated to communities in need. Last year, Feaker told the Capital-Journal, questions had since been raised as to whether there might be better ways to approach the problems, and his idea hadn't gained much momentum. Matthew Jackson, a native of San Bernardino, California, said the process to receive housing in Kansas is easier than what he experienced in California. "Sometimes I'll get stuff, but I try not to have everything with me all the time," Jackson said. "Either it gets stolen, or I'll lose it. I just try to be lightweight, so it's more easy to do stuff." Jackson said, "Don't be afraid to ask for help, no matter what it is you're going through." Keishera Lately is the business reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. She can be reached at klately@cjonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @Lately_KT. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka has its 2023 homeless count for federal funding opportunities Photograph: Roberto Machado Noa/Rex/Shutterstock Toronto police has announced plans to deploy more officers on the citys public transport system as a transit workers union warned that a string of random attacks on passengers had brought Canadas largest city to crisis point. The citys police chief, Myron Demkiw, said on Thursday that 80 officers would be immediately dispatched to subways and stations to enhance the safety and security of transit users. Earlier in the day, police arrested one person following reports of teens shooting at a passenger with a BB gun. In recent days, police charged a woman with attempted murder after she allegedly approached another passenger on a streetcar and stabbed her repeatedly in the face and head. Separately, a 16-year-old boy was stabbed on a bus in the citys west end and left with serious injuries. Earlier in the week, a group of teens swarmed and assaulted two transit employees and two other employees were chased by a person wielding a syringe. The union that represents 35,000 transit workers in Canada warned that the situation had reached a crisis level in Toronto, amid a spike in assaults in other urban centres. The swarming, the unprovoked stabbings, [the] incident of someone running around with a syringe, its only a matter of time before these injuries become catastrophic and start to take lives. We need to act now, not tomorrow, John Di Nino, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union, told reporters. Over the summer a woman was stabbed to death at a subway station in a seemingly random attack and another woman died after she was set on fire in what police called a random hate-motivated attack. Rick Leary, head of the transit commission, said while incidents were up, the high profile nature of the assaults had drawn public attention. The transit commission has previously said more vulnerable people have used its stations and vehicles for shelter in recent years as ridership ebbed during the coronavirus pandemic. Story continues The Toronto mayor, John Tory, said the city was facing a broader mental health crisis and an emergency federal summit is needed, although it is unknown what role mental illness has played in the spate of attacks. Earlier this week, Tory said the mental health summit should have happened yesterday and leaders from all levels of government needed to meet to determine how care and assistance would be funded, but conceded there was no magic answer to the recent violence. More outreach and support workers will be sent to transit stations in the coming days. In early January, Tory announced plans to hire 200 new police officers in the city budget and 50 special constables for the citys transit system. The spate of violence on the transit system comes with the city still on edge after a group of teens girls allegedly stabbed a man to death in an apparently random swarming attack. Police suspect the group was also involved in a series of assaults at downtown subway stations before the killing. (Reuters) - Akio Toyoda, president and chief executive of Japan's Toyota Motor Corp for nearly 14 years, will resign from the top job in April to become chairman, handing over the reins to the company's top branding officer. Here's a chronology of key events and milestones in Toyota's history under Toyoda, the 66-year-old grandson of the company's founder. "CRISIS AFTER CRISIS" In June 2009, Toyoda became the president of the company his grandfather Kiichiro founded in 1937, replacing Katsuaki Watanabe. Akio was the first member of Toyoda family to take the helm since 1995. His appointment came as the then world's most profitable and valuable automaker, worth $115 billion at the time, reported its first loss in decades, after the global financial crisis forced it to idle the many factories it had built over a decade of relentless expansion. He pledged to steer the company out of its worst downturn in history, bring greater transparency to its sprawling corporate culture, and take the company "back to the basics" of building cars that made people happy. Barely six months later, the company plunged into its worst quality crisis in decades. Toyota faced a firestorm of criticism over the slow response to recalling millions of cars to check for faulty accelerators in the United States. The safety crisis, which forced Toyoda to testify before Congress in 2010, threatened Toyotas reputation and continued success in its most profitable market. Toyoda said on Thursday his term at the helm started with "crisis after crisis." In subsequent years, he had to battle disruptions caused by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan. SLOW EV ADOPTION During his more than a decade at the top, Toyoda also presided over the carmaker during a period of intense change in the auto industry and rising uncertainty about how legacy automakers such as Toyota can fend off the challenge from newer - and often nimbler - challengers such as Tesla. Story continues Toyota has said fossil fuels, not internal combustion engines, are the problem. As well as the hybrids it popularised more than two decades ago with the Prius, it also champions hydrogen technology, although that has so far not caught on the way battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) have. Toyoda has defended its strategy and electric vehicle development plans, which have been criticized by some environmental groups and investors who want the company to move faster to adopt BEVs. "Just like the fully autonomous cars that we were all supposed to be driving by now, BEVs are just going to take longer to become mainstream than the media would like us to believe, Toyoda told dealers in the United States late last year. He said at the time that "playing to win means playing with all the cards in the deck - not just a select few. So thats our strategy and were sticking to it." Toyoda compared the automaker to a department store selling a variety of vehicles to customers with different needs, and said its corporate vision "is to provide freedom of mobility for all ... and we dont want to leave anyone behind." Its "department store" approach, however, came with a heavy cost. Tesla netted $9,000 in net profit per vehicle in the past quarter, more than seven times the comparable figure for Toyota in the third quarter. (Reporting by Miyoung Kim; Editing by Kim Coghill) By Makiko Yamazaki and Kevin Krolicki TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota's chief executive will step down as head of the company his grandfather founded, the automaker said on Thursday, handing over to the leader of its Lexus luxury brand as the Japanese giant struggles to meet the shift to electric vehicles. The 53-year-old chief branding officer and president of Toyota Motor Corp's Lexus brand, Koji Sato, will take over from April 1 when Akio Toyoda becomes chairman, it said. The issue of who would take over the top spot at Toyota - Japan's biggest company and one of the world's most influential manufacturers - has been an increasing focus for investors. But the timing of the announcement was a surprise. Under the 66-year-old Toyoda, who led the company for more than a decade, the automaker has appeared reluctant to embrace electric vehicles, arguing the hybrid technology it pioneered with its once market-leading Prius was a better fit for many drivers. It also touted hydrogen-powered cars as the future, raising fears it would be left behind by the rise of electric vehicles, as the flashier and more nimble Tesla Inc eclipsed it in both innovation and share price. That insistence on hybrids and hydrogen also prompted criticism from investors and environmental activists who once widely praised Toyota's technology and emissions record. "No doubt Mr. Toyoda has been a competent CEO, but the whole auto sector needs to make disruptive change and Toyota has been lagging in this in our view, so this could be chance for a fresh start," said Anders Schelde, chief investment officer of Danish pension fund AkademikerPension, which has repeatedly pressed Toyota to accelerate its shift to electric vehicles. "We are hopeful this could help Toyota to set a new direction, but it remains to be seen." The succession announcement was broadcast on a webcast through the automaker's Toyota Times channel in what looked more like a stilted talk show with a host rather than a formal corporate announcement. Story continues "The timing of this was a surprise," said Seiji Sugiura, an analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Institute, who noted there may have been a "sense of stagnation" inside the company given recent pressure on the share price. "Probably, the day-to-day management will not change. Having Akio Toyoda step away from being CEO may increase his symbolism within the company and it may be hard for the young, new president to really show his hand." There was also little mention of concrete corporate strategy or investment priorities to come. Toyoda said Sato's mission would be to transform Toyota into a "mobility company," without specifying what that would entail. "The CEO needs youth, energy, strength," Toyoda said, saying that he himself was now a "relic" of an older generation. In Sato, too, he said, he had chosen a fellow car aficionado. 'BATON TOUCH' Toyoda described the hand-off as a "baton touch" in leadership, but the staged event highlighted his continued central role. He turned from time to time to offer instruction and reminders to Sato. Sato said Toyoda had offered him the CEO job at the end of the year when both were in Thailand for an event to celebrate Toyota's 60th anniversary of operations there. "I didn't know how to respond," Sato recalled. "I thought it was a joke." One Toyota executive, who asked not to be identified, said the automaker was headed for a period of "cloistered rule," referring to the period in Japan's history when a retired emperor continued to call the shots. During his more than a decade at the top, Toyoda presided over the carmaker during a period of intense change in the industry and rising uncertainty about how legacy automakers can fend off the challenge from newer challengers such as Tesla. Toyoda, speaking at a news conference, said his term at the helm of Toyota started in 2009 with "crisis after crisis" from the effects of a global recession, to Toyota's recalls and safety crisis to the disruptions that followed the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan. At a shareholder meeting in June last year, Toyoda said he was "thinking about timing and the selection of a successor" when asked about his future. On Thursday, he said Sato was chosen because he "worked hard" to learn Toyota's philosophy. Sato started his career at Toyota in 1992, before rising through the ranks to become chief engineer of Lexus International, a luxury auto brand of Toyota, in 2016, according to his profile on the company's website. He has held positions as the president of Lexus International and Gazoo Racing Company, Toyotas motorsport brand, since 2020. He also took on an executive role at Toyota and became its chief branding officer in January 2021. Philip Craven, a Toyota director, said in a recorded video statement that the board had reviewed and approved the succession plan put forward by Toyoda and the outgoing chairman, Takeshi Uchiyamada. (Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki and Kevin Krolicki; Additional reporting by Tokyo bureau; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Kim Coghill) Officials with the Texas Department of Public Safety have added a Trophy Club man accused of family violence to their Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List. The suspect is Zaed Fawaz Rashid, who has been wanted since November, when the Denton County Sheriffs Office issued warrants for his arrest on charges of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, continuous violence against the family, burglary of a habitation with intent to commit a felony and violation of bond/protective order. Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to Rashids arrest. Officials said all tips are guaranteed to be anonymous. The 46-year-old Trophy Club man was arrested In the spring of 2022 after he was accused of multiple violent offenses. He subsequently bonded out of jail, eventually removed his ankle monitor and fled, police said. Authorities did not release any details on the alleged family violence crimes. Rashid is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs about 165 pounds. In addition to Denton County, he has ties to the states of Virginia and Indiana. For more information or updates in the event of his arrest, view Rashids wanted bulletin. Texas Crime Stoppers, which the Governors Criminal Justice Division funds, offers cash rewards to any person who provides information that leads to the arrest of one of Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives or Sex Offenders. So far in 2023, DPS and other agencies have arrested two people off the lists. In addition, $3,000 in rewards has been paid for tips that yielded arrests. Officials said Rashid is considered armed and dangerous. (AP/Getty) After attorneys for former vice president Mike Pence discovered a small number of documents bearing classified markings at his Indiana home at the end of the Trump-Pence administration, people all over Washington have been asking if other former officeholders might be harbouring classified contraband from their time in power. The discovery of Mr Pences classified documents became known after his former top White House lawyer and current representative to the National Archives, Greg Jacob, sent a 22 January letter to the National Archives and Records Administration. Mr Jacob told Nara officials that Mr Pences personal lawyer had facilitated the transfer of documents with classification markings to FBI agents on 19 January, three days after Mr Pence discovered the documents and secured them in a safe at his home. The news that the former vice president had found classified papers among boxes filled with what Mr Jacob described as courtesy copies of Trump-era records was met with some surprise from Senate Intelligence Committee chair Mark Warner. Mr Warner suggested to reporter outside his office in the Hart Senate Office Building this week that anyone who served in any of these roles as president and vice president that are still living should go check your closets. A Democratic member of the House of Representatives, Richie Torres, said in a statement shared with The Independent on Thursday that he was introducing legislation to require former federal elected officials to certify, in writing, that they had no classified documents in their possession within a month after they leave office. Top archivists at Nara may have had similar thoughts to Mr Warner and Mr Torres. Archives leaders are considering whether to ask living former presidents and vice presidents to search their personal papers and certify that they havent inadvertently been holding onto any classified documents, according to one Nara official. (AP) The internal discussions at Nara over whether to ask the former presidents and vice presidents to do as Mr Warner suggested was first reported by The Washington Post. Story continues The request under consideration would only apply to three of the five living former vice presidents Dick Cheney, Al Gore and Dan Quayle and four of the five living former presidents, George W Bush, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. The other two former vice presidents are Mr Pence and President Joe Biden, who, according to a statement from his personal attorney Robert Bauer, authorised Department of Justice personnel to search his Wilmington, Delaware home on 20 January. After an all-day scouring of the sitting presidents longtime home, Mr Bauer said DOJ officials removed six items consisting of documents with classification markings and surrounding materials, some of which were from the Presidents service in the Senate and some of which were from his tenure as Vice President as well as personally handwritten notes from Mr Bidens time in the Obama administration. One former presidents, Donald Trump, is already embroiled in a federal criminal investigation over his alleged unlawful retention of hundreds of classified documents. Mr Trump reportedly had the documents as well as thousands of other government-owned presidential records at the Palm Beach, Florida beach club where he maintains his primary residence. Biden Classified Documents Strategy (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) But even though there are special counsels probing how sensitive documents got to the private homes of Mr Biden and Mr Trump, experts say Mr Biden is unlikely to face any legal repercussions as a result of the document discoveries. Nick Akerman, a former federal prosecutor who worked on the Watergate special counsel probe in the 1970s and as an assistant US attorney in the Southern District of New York, told The Independent in a phone interview that Mr Hur will face two nearly insurmountable hurdles in his way if he were to choose to pursue his investigation with an eye towards an indictment against Mr Biden. The first, he said, is establishing that the president had any criminal intent in keeping the Obama-era records in unauthorised locations. He also pointed out that the FBI search followed nearly a year and a half of negotiations between the ex-president and the government he once led, including the issuing of a grand jury subpoena compelling Mr Trump to return the classified records. If Trump had just given all his stuff back when he was asked, there would never have been an issue there. The issue is when he lied about it and concealed it. And that's what that case is about. It's completely different, he said. Mr Akerman also said there is a separate roadblock to a prosecution of Mr Biden that has nothing to do with his current role as president. A section of the federal criminal code, known as Section 3282, states that no person shall be prosecuted, tried, or punished for any non-capital crime unless charges are brought within five years of the crime being committed. The ex-prosecutor said the crime if there was a crime committed of removing the classified documents from their proper place would have taken place in January 2017, when Mr Bidens vice presidential office was packed up at the close of the Obama administration. Even if there were evidence supporting a criminal case against the president, Mr Akerman stressed that the crime took place far too long ago to prosecute. While Mr Biden and Mr Pence are dealing with the fallout from the discovery of documents with classified markings at their respective homes, some of Mr Trumps predecessors appear to have already checked under the bed and in their kitchen drawers for the sorts of records that could lead the 45th president to become the first ex-chief executive to be on the receiving end of a federal indictment. Biden Classified Documents (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) One of them, Bill Clinton, has most likely had ample reason to be wary of keeping old classified documents around. His wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, spent years as the target of an FBI probe looking into her use of a private email server, including whether classified data was improperly stored on it. In a statement, a spokesperson for Mr Clintons post-presidential office told The Independent: All of President Clintons classified materials were properly turned over to Nara in accordance with the Presidential Records Act. A spokesperson for Mr Clintons vice president Al Gore also offered assurances that no classified papers were mistakenly tucked into any moving boxes when he vacated his West Wing office at the turn of the millennium. When leaving the White House in January 2001, Vice President Gore and his staff turned over materials to NARA in accordance with the Presidential Records Act, the spokesperson said via email to The Independent. No classified materials have been discovered in the 22 years since VP Gore left public office. Since it became known that Mr Trumps Mar-a-Lago property was searched by FBI agents on 8 August of last year, the twice-impeached ex-president has suggested that other former presidents made a habit of taking material that was, by law, supposed to reside with the National Archives once their terms were over. In particular, he has alleged that Mr Obama violated the law by storing his former administrations records at a warehouse in Illinois, But in a statement, a spokesperson for the 44th president said his records have been handled properly. Consistent with the Presidential Records Act, all of President Obamas classified records were submitted to the National Archives upon leaving office. NARA continues to assume physical and legal custody of President Obamas materials to date, the spokesperson told The Independent. The Archives also denied that Mr Obama had hoarded any records in a statement made four days after the FBI searched Mr Trumps property. Nara moved approximately 30 million pages of unclassified records to a Nara facility in the Chicago area where they are maintained exclusively by NARA. Additionally, Nara maintains the classified Obama Presidential records in a Nara facility in the Washington, DC, area, the agency told The Independent. As required by the PRA, former President Obama has no control over where and how Nara stores the Presidential records of his Administration. Across China: Youngsters find niche in second-hand market Xinhua) 13:05, January 26, 2023 CHONGQING, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Located along the road leading to Nanshan Mountain, a renowned scenic spot in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, a 3-story old building with a signboard reading Yesterday's News intrigues people, who end up visiting to solve the mystery of its real function. "People thought it was a shop for liquor, cigarettes, and some other merchandise for passers-by," said Tian Wei, the 35-year-old owner of this shop. In fact, it is a second-hand shop with goods bought from all over the world, such as chairs from Africa, rings from India, clocks from Britain, and so on. Attached to such old stuff, Tian started to collect and sell second-hand goods during her world tour in 2013. At first, she had an online shop that sold accessories, clothes, and then paintings and furniture. Tian later opened a vintage shop for clothes in 2018. In 2022, Tian expanded the scale of her business and opened this shop, which has 7 rooms to accommodate her goods. On the first day after opening this new shop, Tian received orders worth of tens of thousands of yuan. "When I started selling second-hand things, many people disdained the old stuff. However, they gradually noticed that old stuff has a unique aesthetic, which spurred their interest to purchase," said Tian. The second-hand market has gained ground in China, increasing from 300 billion yuan (about 44.2 billion U.S. dollars) in 2015 to over 1 trillion yuan in 2020. Also, it is expected to reach nearly 3 trillion yuan in 2025, based on the report released in 2021 by consulting company Frost & Sullivan and the Institute of Energy, Environment and Economy at Tsinghua University. With the market thriving, many young people also spotted the niche and started their own businesses. In Daijiaxiang, an old community in Yuzhong District of Chongqing, Deng Qingqing, a 26-year-old postgraduate majoring in fashion design, opened a second-hand shop last September named 3Re Closet, which means Remake, Recycle and Reuse. In her shop, all decorations, the 300 different goods, and even the shopping bags are second-hand. "I just want to pass on the idea that fashion doesn't need to be brand-new, but also can be recyclable and sustainable," said Deng, whose goods are mostly imported from Thailand and Japan. Besides selling goods, Deng has also organized a second-hand bazaar on weekends and encourages others to sell, buy or exchange their unused stuff in her store. There are hundreds of people joining this type of activity in Chongqing. "I wanted to participate in this kind of activity a long time ago, but I didn't find a good option until this shop showed up. Sometimes, the things unwanted by others seem very fresh and interesting to me. Besides, it also provides a good platform to meet like-minded people," said Wu Jue, an 18-year-old student. Nowadays, buying second-hand goods is not only a personal inclination, but is also favored by some start-ups in the catering business. For Tian Wei, a very simple supply chain has been formed. She traveled to different countries and sent goods back to China. Many coffee shops, hotels and restaurants are buying stuff from her, trying to add a special vibe to their venues. "This will also enhance the public's understanding and awareness of second-hand goods, which is beneficial to the growth of this market," said Tian, who is going to travel to Southeast Asia in March to resume her hunt for suitable goods. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Hongyu) SYDNEY, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- While lion dances heated up the festive mood in Melbourne Chinatown, a memory-keeper of Australia's Chinese community offered a tranquil corner for visitors to explore histories, traditions, mythical stories and mouth-watering cuisines related to the Spring Festival, one of the most important dates for the Chinese people. This year, bunnies leaped into the level one gallery of the Museum of Chinese Australian History. A "Lucky Rabbit" temporary exhibition was held here to observe the Chinese Lunar New Year, which would run until March 14. With red lanterns raised high, yellow lion dance costumes sitting straight, and written tags hanging down from a wishing tree, visitors walked into a familiar setting of Chinese New Year celebrations after being welcomed by a rabbit print at the entrance. For Claire Martinez, who dropped by the exhibition during her midday break, some traditions and cultural taboos that she read on the display boards were already nothing new to her. Though Claire has never been to China, celebrating the Chinese New Year is a family tradition starting from her childhood. "We always came as a family to (celebrate) the Chinese New Year in my whole life growing up. I'm the youngest of four. My parents would always bring us to the Chinese New Year," Claire told Xinhua. Raised by her parents who "embrace all sorts of cultures," Claire and her siblings grew up absorbing a mixture of Chinese, Croatian, Spanish and Irish customs. When Claire noticed the "Unlucky Things To Do" section at the exhibition, a sense of deja vu pulled at her heartstrings. "My sister always reminded me of not cleaning the house and not showering. I just was refreshing my memory," she said. Moving through the gallery with one hand often resting on her belly, Claire was drawn to the "Lucky Rabbit" exhibition not only for her long-term interest in Chinese culture, but also for the reason that her baby will be born in the Year of the Rabbit. "I'm 28 weeks pregnant, and I have a baby rabbit. So I really wanted to come here and put a wish in the wishing tree for the baby," said the mother-to-be. Only days after the exhibition kicked off on Sunday, the wishing tree was already loaded with wish tags for a promising new year, mostly written in Chinese and English. Two of those tags came from a couple in their 20s, Leanne and Derrick, who migrated to Brisbane from Malaysia. "We celebrated the day (Chinese New Year) while we were in Malaysia. We ate 'Yee Sang,'" said Leanne, whose great-grandparents moved to Malaysia from China. "It's made out of a lot of stuff, like ginger and some other dishes, and then we just put them in one corner, one corner in one plate. After that, we will mix it together with chopsticks again and shut out some nice words and wishes like 'Good Health,'" Leanne said. For Leanne's partner Derrick, the Year of the Rabbit is a bit different from others. "My zodiac is the rabbit," said Derrick. "It's pretty interesting to see things especially about the race and stuff like that how the zodiac came to be." From the past when his Chinese grandparents settled down in Malaysia to the present when his parents moved to Australia, reunion still remains a critical part of the New Year celebrations in Derrick's family. Before heading to Melbourne, Derrick just had a family gathering in Canberra. In Derrick's eyes, despite some cultural differences and the availability of knowledge that can be passed down when it comes to the Chinese New Year, celebrations in China and Malaysia are quite similar. "So there are some things that are missing and some things they are, but basically I would say quite close, but with a bit of modification combined with the Malaysian culture," said Derrick. Trump Legal Troubles (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Former president Donald Trump demanded that a new House Judiciary subcommittee focus its investigative work on a series of his long-held grievances and oft-told lies about investigations into his conduct. In a video posted to his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, Mr Trump called the new panel, which will be chaired by Ohio Representative Jim Jordan, a rare chance to expose the breathtaking corruption of the security state, the media and the Washington swamp. He then launched into a list of questions which the panel should hopefully ... be asking. Trump issues a video today outlining the marching orders for his House Committee on Weaponization of Govt. Its a cornucopia of Trump grievances & conspiracies to launch his revenge tour: Obama, Mueller, J6, Biden, FBI, FISA warrants, media & much more. A few highlights pic.twitter.com/Lf4jXe5gcc Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) January 25, 2023 Mr Trumps first proposed line of inquiry was a years-old, non-scandal which came to light after the end of the Justice Departments probe into his 2016 campaign, led by former FBI Director Robert Mueller. When many of the outside prosecutors turned in their government-issued phones at the end of the investigation, the phones were reset to factory settings. Months later, the DOJ Inspector General asked to review the data on the phones, but it was already too late because theyd been wiped to prepare them for new users. The twice-impeached ex-president said the number one matter the House panel should look into is who on the Mueller witch hunt ... ordered dozens and dozens of cell phones to be wiped clear of all data after the phones were requested by the Office of the Inspector General. Such a probe would be short because the phones had been reset before the IG request was made. Story continues Mr Trump also said the committee should investigate whether someone on Mr Muellers team was in charge of leaking secret information and fake news stories to dishonest journalists ... to perpetrate the Russia hoax. Not only was there no hoax because Mr Muellers team found Russias government conducted a sweeping and systematic campaign to interfere in the 2016 election on Mr Trumps behalf, but the ex-special counsels team was known for its rectitude and lack of leaks from within the department. The disgraced former president also suggested that the panel should look into whether journalists have been paid or compensated by US government agencies, directly or indirectly, for their role in spreading domestic disinformation, though he did not say what he was defining as disinformation. In the US, journalists and news organisations do not take money or other benefits from institutions or individuals they cover, and they do not pay for information. Yet Mr Trump suggested the FBI also had paid social media companies such as Twitter to do bad things to our country, which was a reference to reports that the Twitter successfully sought reimbursement for the cost of complying with requests for information from law enforcement authorities, as is permitted under US law. Former President Donald Trump is unveiling a 2024 education policy plan, one focusing heavily on the culture war components that have animated conservatives. The plan, shared in advance with POLITICO, calls for cutting federal funding for any school or program that includes critical race theory, gender ideology, or other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content onto our children." It also calls for opening civil rights investigations into any school district that has engaged in race-based discrimination, particularly against Asian American students, and promises to keep men out of womens sports. The proposals are not focused solely on social policy and school curriculum. In a video unveiling the plan, which was shared by his campaign, Trump also calls for making significant cuts to administrative personnel and the end of teacher tenure and the election of school principals. As the saying goes, personnel is policy and at the end of the day if we have pink-haired communists teaching our kids we have a major problem, Trump said. We're at the end of the list on education and yet we spend the most, but we're going to be tops in education no matter where you go anywhere in the world." Though large swaths of education policy are dictated by state and local governments, Trumps proposals still represent a radical departure from long-standing approaches. Taken in full, they represent an attempt by the former president to put his own imprint on debates around the nations school systems that have popped up across state capitals. Conservatives, for example, have pushed for restrictions on transgender athletes, even though transgender women have been allowed to compete in womens categories in the Olympics since 2003 and the NCAA since 2010. Just days ago, meanwhile, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) a potential 2024 competitor blocked high schools in his state from teaching an Advanced Placement African American studies curriculum over what he described as the inclusion of topics like queer theory and movements that called for abolishing prisons. Story continues The White House and education groups, including the College Board , have pushed back aggressively on DeSantis, arguing that he has no basis or credibility to make such determinations. More broadly, school administrators and progressive activists have noted that most public school officials across the country do not teach critical race theory, even in districts where lawmakers are seeking to ban it. But Trumps policy proposal underscores how primed Republicans are for these types of fights. During his time in office, the main thrust of Trumps education platform was not so much on cultural elements as on a desire to expand school choice, including a federal tax credit to help parents pay for private school tuition. Now running for office again, Trump is calling for a certification program for teachers who embrace patriotic values and funding preferences and favorable treatment for states and school districts that follow his calls for abolishing teacher tenure. He also calls for cutting administrative roles, and adopting a parental bill of rights. Trump said he would also remove the radical zealots and Marxists he claims have infiltrated the Department of Education. A rabbi walks past a monument commemorating the victims of Babyn Yar in Kyiv A rabbi walks past a monument commemorating the victims of Babyn Yar, one of the biggest single massacres of Jews during the Holocaust, in Kyiv on Sept. 29, 2022. Credit - Oleksii ChumachenkoSOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images Theres a kind of background noise. A nasty little music orchestrated by Putinist propaganda and its band of useful idiots. Its the idea, broadly, that Ukraine at war and martyred is also one of Europes most incorrigibly antisemitic countries. So, once and for all: Whats the story with Ukraine and anti-Semitism? The truth is, of course, that Ukraine in the 30s and 40s of the 20th century was a bloodland for Jews. Soviet Ukraine, or Ukraine Sovietized, or, more precisely, Ukraine buffeted between Sovietism and Hitlerism, was one of the theaters of the Shoah by bullets, with, counting just the ravines of Babi Yar, 33,771 Jewish men, women, and children forced to dig the pits where their warm corpses would be piled, still shivering, not quite dead. And when I say Soviet or Sovietized its not to minimize the part played in the massacre by compatriots, in the countryside or the citiesbut it is to recall that there have been, and there are, two Ukraines. One that was yet to exist as a free and sovereign nation; which the Ukrainian-born Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko depicted, in his requiem to the dead of Babi Yar, as that of the barroom regulars thirsting for the blood of pogroms, stinking of vodka and onion, and, when the victims, kicked to the floor, begged for mercy, encouraging the assassins to Beat the Yids, Save Russia!yes, Russia And then another Ukraine; the one that liberated herself from that Russia; the one that, since the onset of the U.S.S.R., then the Maidan Revolution, and then the invasion of Putins army, refuses the status of vassal, of the humble twinned servant, of the Cinderella of the tundra, that the invaders, drunk on their Lebensraum, wished to relegate her to; and the one that, having become this young free country, having irrevocably fallen in line with the democracies of Europe, is now turning the page on its past. Story continues This Ukraine knows that she is one of the four countries to have counted, along with Metropolitan Archbishop Andrey Sheptytsky and many others, the greatest number of Righteous Among the Nations. This is the Ukraine of Uman, the city of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, where I filmed, for my upcoming film, Slava Ukraini, a rav, in a kind of echo of the Righteous, recounting how it was in his synagogue that the peasants of Cherkasy Oblast came to find refuge on the first days of the Russian attack. Hasidic pilgrims sing and dance during the annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage to the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov in Uman, Ukraine, on Sept. 27, 2022. Pete KiehartRedux Its the only country in the world where, on December 17, first day of Hanukkah, on the Maidan, that historic revolutionary square representing dignity and resistance, one could see the following: Hasidim raising a giant menorah; a whole people, starting with the mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, joining in on the lighting of this flame; and the flame shining brightly atop a city bombarded and deprived of electricitythe Russians send us ballistic missiles, joked a rabbi. Well send back Kabbalistic missiles! Its the country of the Azov regiment, one of whose commanders, Ilya Samoilenko, survivor of the hell of Azovstal and soldier of limitless audacity, is just back from Israel. He went to Masada to replenish his well of strength to return to combat; and the image of this brave soul treading the hot stones of that shrine to Jewish resistance while in cold Ukraine it snows, the idea of a Ukrainian zealot clambering over herbs and the rubble of the Judean fortress millenary twice over, carrying, in his head, the destruction of Mariupol, the bombs and the ruin that defiled the basements of the steel plant where he held out, he too, 40 days, are extraordinary. Is this visit not the most scathing retort against the idiots who promise, contra the winds of History, to return Ukraine to its demons? And this Ukraine is alsowe can never repeat it enoughthe homeland of Volodymyr Zelensky, the Churchillian president elected in a landslide, who is, also, a Jewish hero: the story of this descendant of survivors of the Shoah who had, at the outset, neither tanks, nor apparatus, nor apparatchiks to take on the Giant, but just his countrys hard-won liberty. Doesnt it seem straight out of a Biblical tale? In the face of the return of Goliath the Philistine, isnt this the rebirth of little David, master of truth and war chief, an artist who knows how to sing, and is also an incomparable strategist, who finds ways to use only the intelligence of his muscles and his guile to oppose the invasion? Isnt this the story of Abraham rising up alone, according to the Midrash, to battle the armies of the five kings who hold Lot hostage? And isnt this Judah Maccabee sealing the resounding victory of the weak over the strong, the humble over the proud, the few over the many, and, in the end, over the false brilliance of the desecrated temple, the victory of the tiny oil lamp whose light is not that of power, but of exception? Rabbi David Goldich blesses the wine during sabbath prayer at the Great Choral Synagogue in Kyiv on Dec. 10, 2022. Anastasia VlasovaThe Washington Post/Getty Images A cunning trick of reason. An adventure of memory. But the fact, whether we like or not, remains. History is not always a curse. It is not the eternal return of resentments and crimes. If there was ever a place, in this crazy war in front of Russian neo-fascism, barbarism, and terrorism, where one can hear the echo of the Jewish soul, its in Ukraine. Torontos Transit Commission, along with Mayor John Tory are facing a flood of backlash after a spate of violent attacks aboard various transport services over the last few months, as well as chaotic and severely delayed service during this weeks snow storm. The pattern of lacking services, combined with violence the TTC has faced recently has made many people fed up and unsettled using public transit. The most recent attack on Wednesday involved the stabbing of a 16-year-old boy on a bus, which resulted in serious injuries. Earlier in the week, one person was arrested for allegedly chasing a pair of TTC workers with a syringe. It appears even TTC drivers are fed up with the chaotic situation. Earlier this week, when Toronto was hit by a winter storm, a rider captured a subway announcement in which the TTC employee candidly relayed that there was no service between several stations, and to take up their displeasure with Toronto Mayor John Tory. I do apologize for the lack of communications from transit control. These guys really dont care what you guys are doing.TTC employee on speaker With TTC staff literally under attack, you cant blame operators for making sure passengers know its John Torys fault transit service is so bad. pic.twitter.com/8w9YfyjbiI Adam Chaleff (@AdamCF) January 26, 2023 The brave employee's actions were immediately praised by social media viewers who empathize with the staff struggle. I don't blame the operator one bit. They are showing up for work every day with a target on their back by wearing the uniform. TTC operators are being assaulted on a daily basis on the system, yet Rick Leary and @JohnTorysTO doesn't care.@ATUlocal113 #MentalHealthMatters Mike # (@mwright48) January 26, 2023 Kudos to that staff member for speaking up. Sometimes I think back to late 2018 when my councillor was elected as Torys transit tsar, ready to revolutionize transit in Toronto. What a load of lies we were fed. Kate (@DrKateTO) January 26, 2023 For those saying he should be fired - nope. He's telling them the appropriate places to address complaints to, and it's a matter of his own safety too at that point. I hope he is not disciplined for it, and that if he is - the people stand up for him. Eleanor Jean (@LadyHardcore) January 26, 2023 Many others took to social media to voice their concerns and frustrations with the delayed and cancelled services and crowded platforms that overwhelmed the system during Wednesdays snow dump. Story continues the TTC isn't the problem. housing is the problem. public washrooms are the problem. lack of mental health supports is the problem. funding the police is the problem. John Tory is the problem. asmaa malik | (@asmaam) January 25, 2023 This is what years of @JohnTory austerity has done to this city. He chose to reduce TTC service despite increasing costs. How are ppl supposed to feel safe? Tory purposely is causing more crowding on transit when ppl are already on edge & regular violence. #TOpoli #Toronto pic.twitter.com/xq1nNFy3eK Justice_Queen (@RE_MarketWatch) January 25, 2023 I know there is a storm and other challenges on the TTC today but it is appalling to leave hundreds of people waiting for a bus in the snow (southbound Dufferin Station) for more than an hour, with no updates or information. This is the only option many people have. Alyshah Sanmati Hasham (@alysanmati) January 25, 2023 - The TTC website is apparently down, there are subway closures, and right now, busses are running once every hour. Tell us again why we are going to be paying more for less? jessica neil (@jesslneil) January 25, 2023 John Tory @JohnTory good job reducing TTC service. How do you think ppls moods are going to be? Waiting longer for TTC, getting into over crowded vehicles, ppl feeling unsafe due to increased violence. You need to do a better job Mr. Tory, do not leave this as your legacy #TOpoli pic.twitter.com/Z95GkCA4Vo Justice_Queen (@RE_MarketWatch) January 25, 2023 They knew a snow storm was coming but Toronto doesnt care about lower and middle class folks who use the TTC. This is not a world class city stop claiming it is! And employers need to quit dragging ppl into work during storms let them wfh if they are able to #TOpoli #Toronto pic.twitter.com/Ra2WUZ1ZEW Justice_Queen (@RE_MarketWatch) January 26, 2023 Toronto's transit system is 'microcosm' for wider society Matti Siemiatycki is the director of the Infrastructure Institute and a professor in the Department of Geography and Planning at the University of Toronto. He says the feeling that things are falling apart at the seams when it comes to public transit stem from larger issues in the city, like lack of mental health services and the need for more affordable housing. Transit is a microcosm of wider society, he tells Yahoo Canada News. Transit is the focus point right now because so many high profile events have happened on public transit. He says the issues with the TTC also fall against the backdrop of the citys budget, which recently involved cutting transit services and raising fares. Theres concern that transit is going to enter the death spiral of lower ridership, then service cutbacks, raising fares and the spiral continues. Issues around safety and personal security are really just amplifying it. The safety and reliability of a transit system are critical to the functioning of a big city like Toronto.Matti Siemiatycki, Director of the Infrastructure Institute, Geography and Planning professor, University of Toronto He adds that a citys success is undermined once people start looking into other ways to get around, in order to avoid taking public transit. Central issues like housing for those without it and services for people struggling with addiction and mental health challenges are critical to address in order for things to shift. Its really imperative that solutions are found quickly, Siemiatycki says. We need to be thinking about the underlying causes here but there is an immediacy of a city thats frazzled and on edge. In response to the recent TTC safety issues, Toronto police are increasing 'daily presence' of officers on the city's transit system starting this week. Upwards of 80 officers will be present on all lines, and are encouraged to chat with passengers and staff members to catch "crimes of opportunity." Toronto Mayor John Tory also suggested a summit that would bring mayors, ministers, premiers and the PM together to discuss people living with mental health and addiction. He reassured the public that Toronto is doing everything it can. "The TTC must be safe for everyone, without exception," he said. With files from CBC News (Bloomberg) -- Most Read from Bloomberg Turkey is keeping up the pressure on Sweden and Finland, again telling the Nordic countries to do more to fight terrorist groups in exchange for allowing them to join NATO. It is mandatory for countries which want to join the alliance to take solid steps to meet their responsibilities under the agreement, the countrys National Security Council said after a meeting chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan late Wednesday, referring to a pact the three countries hammered out last year. Turkey says its main problem is with what it views as Swedens hesitance to wage a crackdown on supporters of Kurdish militants, considered as terrorists by Ankara. Recent tensions over displaying of an upside-down effigy of Erdogan and burning of a translated copy of Islams holy book of Koran in Stockholm sparked outrage in Turkey and other Muslim nations. That makes it less likely for Erdogan to give his consent to the Nordic expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as he seeks to consolidate support of his conservative and nationalist base ahead of elections slated for May. Turkey and Hungary are the only two of NATOs 30 members who have yet to ratify the applications. Hungary has said it plans to process the applications at the opening of parliament next month, though its timelines have shifted in the past. Approval by Budapest would leave Turkey as the lone holdout to the expansion, which NATO diplomats had hoped to finalize in time for the alliances summit in Vilnius in July. Finland still wants to join the defense bloc at the same time with Sweden, though earlier this week for the first time it indicated the applications could be decoupled should Sweden hit a permanent obstacle. Turkeys government has expressed satisfaction with Helsinkis cooperation. Story continues Last summer, Turkey agreed in principle to NATO allies including the US inviting Sweden and Finland to join the group, but went on to demand concessions from Sweden. Those included a broader crackdown on Kurdish groups alongside the extradition of suspects. Sweden has insisted that its in compliance with the agreement hammered out at NATOs June summit in Madrid last year, which allowed the expansion process to move forward. Both Finland and Sweden have approved arms exports to Turkey, which had been halted in 2019 when Turkey embarked on military operations in northern Syria. Theyve both also extradited at least one person each to Turkey. Even so, Swedens Supreme Court has blocked the deportation of Bulent Kenes, a former newspaper editor who was mentioned by Erdogan earlier this year as an example of a person that his country wants. Both Nordic countries terrorism legislation is on par with NATOs existing members, and they fulfill conditions the alliance has set for membership. --With assistance from Niclas Rolander and Ott Ummelas. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Mug shots, from top left, of Desmond Mills Jr., Demetrius Haley, Tadarrius Bean, Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith, the Memphis police officers who are accused in the death of Tyre Nichols. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Memphis Police Department) The five Memphis Police officers fired in the death of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man who died three days after a traffic stop earlier this month, were behind bars on Thursday. Last week, the five officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith involved in Nicholss Jan. 7 arrest were terminated. They were booked at the Shelby County Jail in Memphis and were each charged with second-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault acting in concert, official misconduct and official oppression, according to online records from the sheriff's office. During a press conference on Thursday, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said authorities met with Nicholss family to discuss the charges filed against the officers beforehand and he believes the meeting went well. While each of the five individuals played a different role in the incident in question. The actions of all of them resulted in the death of Tyre Nichols and they are all responsible, Mulroy said, adding the body camera footage would be released Friday after 6 p.m. local time. Tyre Nichols's stepfather, Rodney Wells, right, holds a photo of Nichols in the hospital after his arrest, during a protest in Memphis on Jan. 14. (Jordan James/WREG via AP) On Wednesday evening, Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn C.J. Davis said in a video statement, in which she braced the community ahead of the release of bodycam footage showing Nicholss arrest, that the beating he received was heinous, reckless and inhumane. This is not just a professional failing. This is a failing of basic humanity toward another individual. They failed our community, and they failed the Nichols family. That is beyond regrettable, Davis said. On Monday, Nicholss family held a press conference alongside civil rights attorney Ben Crump and their legal team after seeing the video footage for the first time. All my son was trying to do was get home. He was two minutes from the house when they stopped him. He was less than 80 yards away when they murdered him, Nicholss mother said. Crump described the video as appalling. It is deplorable, it is heinous, violent, and it is very troublesome on every level. Story continues Regrettably, it reminded us of the Rodney King video, and unlike Rodney King, Tyre did not survive, Crump added. Crumps co-counsel described Nichols as defenseless in the video. He was a pinata to those police officers. It was an unadulterated, unabashed, nonstop beating of this young boy for three minutes, lawyer Antonio Romanucci said during the press conference. Ahead of the body camera footage being released, the police chief urged the community not to respond with violence and destruction. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump speaks at a news conference with the family of Tyre Nichols in Memphis on Monday. (Gerald Herbert/AP) I expect you to feel what the Nichols family feels. I expect you to feel outraged by the disregard for basic human rights, as our police officers have taken an oath to do the opposite of what transpired on the video, Davis said. I expect our citizens to exercise their First Amendment right to protest, to demand action and results. But we need to ensure our community is safe in this process, she added. While the five officers involved in Nicholss death were terminated, his family says that is not enough they want first-degree murder charges. The Memphis Police Department says it is committed to transparency and rebuilding trust in the community. This is not a reflection of the good work that many Memphis police officers do every day, Davis said. I am not wavering in my commitment to you to have a police force that is here to serve and protect you. A portrait of Tyre Nichols is displayed at a memorial service for him on Jan. 17. (Adrian Sainz/AP) My heart went out to the family, Mulroy told the Associated Press. Im a parent. ... I cant imagine anything worse than losing a child, with the possible exception of losing a child under really violent, prolonged circumstances. As the investigation continues, the director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, David Rausch, said they plan to pursue truth and justice. Simply put this shouldnt have happened. Im shocked. I'm sickened by what I saw and what weve learned throughout extensive and thorough investigation. It's absolutely appalling, Rausch said in a press conference Thursday. Let me be clear. What happened here does not at all reflect proper policing." On Monday, the Nichols familys legal team completed an independent autopsy. Preliminary findings indicate Tyre suffered extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating, Crump said of the autopsy. The Rev. Al Sharpton said he will deliver the eulogy at Nicholss funeral and will stand by the family along with civil rights advocates to ensure they receive justice. Firing these officers for misconduct is not enough, Sharpton said in a statement. Justice will only be served when all five are charged with killing Tyre Nichols for the simple act of driving while Black. By Andrew Hay TAOS, N.M. (Reuters) -Environmentalists on Wednesday protested U.S. government plans to transfer an endangered Mexican gray wolf captured in New Mexico to Mexico, saying it should be allowed to roam free and repopulate the Rockies. The she-wolf, named Asha by schoolchildren, was captured near Taos, New Mexico, on Sunday after heading further north than any other Mexican wolf recorded since the species' 1998 reintroduction after near extinction. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) said its policy was to capture and transfer the wolves once they left a recovery area and trekked north of I40, the interstate highway running through the upper half of New Mexico. Environmentalists said the wolves needed to enter historic habitats north of I40 like the Grand Canyon and Southern Rockies for their U.S. population to further recover from a current level of around 200 in the wild. Ranchers have long complained the wolves eat their livestock and endanger their livelihoods. The species' recovery has been hampered by hundreds of illegal and legal killings, the Sierra Club says. "The Fish and Wildlife Service has pledged, by regulation, to remove all wolves north of Interstate 40, on behalf of the livestock industry," said Michael Robinson, senior conservation advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity. The tagged wolf left her pack in late 2022 and was tracked north, making it within 50 miles (81 km) of the Colorado border before being apprehended from a helicopter. "As it is breeding season and there are no other known wolves in the area, there was a high likelihood of a negative interaction or breeding with domestic dogs," USFWS said in a statement. Asha will be held at a facility south of Albuquerque before being paired with a male Mexican wolf and transferred as a pair to Mexico later this year, USFWS said. (Reporting By Andrew Hay in Taos, New Mexico; Editing by Sandra Maler) Tank Challenger 2 Read also: Rheinmetall ready to supply Ukraine with lots of ammunition for donated Leopard 2 tanks On the issue of training, I am pleased to say that is expected to start next week on Monday, said Chalk. He added that UK will continue to support Ukraine so it can transition from merely resisting the Russian invasion to liberating Ukrainian land. On Jan. 16, UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace confirmed that London will transfer 14 Challenger-2 tanks to Kyiv. London expects the tanks to arrive in Ukraine by the end of March. The UK will also donate more than 100 armored vehicles to Ukraine, including Bulldog armored personnel carriers. Read also: Ukraine to get 12 Challenger 2 tanks from UK, first four to arrive immediately The Sun Germany, the United States, and Poland have subsequently confirmed they would supply Ukraine with Leopard-2 and M1 Abrams main battle tanks. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Ukraines Security Service (SBU) reported on Jan. 26 that they detained a lieutenant colonel in their ranks on suspicion of high treason. The lieutenant colonel is accused of conducting intelligence operations and passing state secrets to Russian contacts. According to the SBU statement, he used his personal mobile phone to photograph documents with layout schemes of military checkpoints in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and sent the information via an email account registered on a Russian domain to Russian contacts. Ukraines Security Service also seized mobile phones, SIM cards issued by Russian mobile carriers, cash, and other evidence during the suspects detention. Their investigation is ongoing. Since the start of the invasion, Ukraines Security Service has initiated investigations into more than 2,000 criminal proceedings against suspected collaborators. However, there still remains the issue of routing out collaborators from within the ranks of the SBU itself and other government agencies. Back in July of 2022, the parliament voted to support President Volodymyr Zelenskys decision to dismiss the head of Ukraines Security Service, Ivan Bakanov, for failing to effectively perform his duties. Upon firing him, Zelensky said that after the start of the full-scale invasion, more than 60 staff members from the Security Service and the Prosecutor Generals Office had remained in Russian-occupied territory and collaborated with Russians. In August 2022, the Security Service detained a Russian spy in their Kharkiv office. He was accused of passing along information on the activity of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to Russian contacts. The suspect was also found to be coordinating a Russian attack on the Security Service facilities in Kharkiv. One of the stranger cases involving the SBU took place in March 2022. Denys Kirieiev, a Ukrainian businessman and a member of the Ukrainian delegation during negotiations early on in the invasion, was allegedly killed in Kyiv inside a Security Service vehicle. His death was initially reported as the killing of a Russian agent. According to recent interviews by Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian military intelligence, Kirieiev was a Ukrainian intelligence agent. Budanov openly claimed that SBU killed him, but couldn't say why. One advisor to President Zelenskys administration later said that Kireiev's death was due to poor communication between Ukrainian secret services at the start of the invasion. Tourists are seen at the ruins of Persepolis near the city of Shiraz in southern Iran, Jan. 25, 2023. Persepolis, a UNESCO world heritage site, was the capital of the Achaemenid Empire of Persia (550-330 BC). The importance and quality of the monumental ruins make it a unique archaeological site. (Xinhua/Gao Wencheng) Tourists visit the ruins of Persepolis near the city of Shiraz in southern Iran, Jan. 25, 2023. Persepolis, a UNESCO world heritage site, was the capital of the Achaemenid Empire of Persia (550-330 BC). The importance and quality of the monumental ruins make it a unique archaeological site. (Xinhua/Gao Wencheng) Tourists are seen at the ruins of Persepolis near the city of Shiraz in southern Iran, Jan. 25, 2023. Persepolis, a UNESCO world heritage site, was the capital of the Achaemenid Empire of Persia (550-330 BC). The importance and quality of the monumental ruins make it a unique archaeological site. (Xinhua/Gao Wencheng) Tourists visit the ruins of Persepolis near the city of Shiraz in southern Iran, Jan. 25, 2023. Persepolis, a UNESCO world heritage site, was the capital of the Achaemenid Empire of Persia (550-330 BC). The importance and quality of the monumental ruins make it a unique archaeological site. (Xinhua/Gao Wencheng) Tourists visit the ruins of Persepolis near the city of Shiraz in southern Iran, Jan. 25, 2023. Persepolis, a UNESCO world heritage site, was the capital of the Achaemenid Empire of Persia (550-330 BC). The importance and quality of the monumental ruins make it a unique archaeological site. (Xinhua/Gao Wencheng) Ukraine's Defence Forces repelled Russian attacks in the vicinity of 10 settlements over the course of 25 January. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 26 January 2023 Quote: "Over the course of the past 24 hours, enemy forces carried out 10 missile strikes and 37 airstrikes, in particular, on the civil infrastructure facilities of the cities of Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia. They deployed multiple-launch rocket systems [MLRS] to carry out 97 further attacks; residential buildings in Kherson were also hit. According to preliminary information, the enemy used 24 Iranian-made Shakhed-136 attack drones at night. Ukraines Defence Forces destroyed all of them. There is a high threat of Russian air and missile strikes across Ukraine. Suffering heavy losses, the Russians still do not relent with their offensive operations on the Bakhmut and Novopavlivka fronts. Offensive operations on the Lyman and Avdiivka fronts were unsuccessful. On the Kupiansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson fronts they are defending their positions. Ukraine's Defence Forces repelled the occupiers' attacks in the vicinity of Chervonopopivka in Luhansk Oblast and Verkhnokamianske, Spirne, Rozdolivka, Blahodatne, Bakhmut, Klishchiivka, Marinka, Vuhledar, Pavlivka in Donetsk Oblast." Details: On the Volyn, Polissia, Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna fronts the situation has not changed significantly. No Russian offensive groups have been reported. On the Sivershchyna front, Russian forces fired on the areas of Leonivka, Yasna Poliana, Mykhalchyna Sloboda in Chernihiv Oblast, and Budivelne, Volfyne, Tymofiivka in Sumy Oblast. On the Slobozhanshchyna front, 20 settlements came under Russian fire, including Budarky, Vovchanski Khutory, Lyptsi, Vovchansk, Krasne and Neskuchne in Kharkiv Oblast. On the Kupiansk front, Synkivka, Ivanivka, Kotliarivka, Tabaivka in Kharkiv Oblast, and Stelmakhivka in Luhansk Oblast were shelled. Story continues On the Lyman front, Russian forces fired on the positions of our troops in the areas of Makiivka, Ploshchanka, Chervonopopivka, Nevske in Luhansk Oblast and Veryhine forestry, Yampolivka in Donetsk Oblast. On the Bakhmut front, 22 settlements came under Russian fire, including Ivanivske, Krasnopolivka, Spirne, Bakhmut, Ozarianivka, Niu-York, Klishchiivka and Kurdiumivka in Donetsk Oblast. On the Avdiivka front, Avdiivka, Vodiane, Pervomaiske, Berdychi, Nevelske, Krasnohorivka, Marinka and Novomykhailivka came under Russian fire. On the Novopavlivka front, Russian forces shelled Bohoiavlenka, Prechystivka and Zolota Nyva in Donetsk Oblast. Russian artillery and tanks inflicted damage on 25 settlements on the Zaporizhzhia front, including Vremivka, Vilne Pole, Novopil in Donetsk Oblast and Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka, Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. On the Kherson front, the occupiers continue to shell peaceful cities and villages. Twenty settlements were affected, in particular, Beryslav, Antonivka, Dudchany, Kachkarivka, Bilozerka, Novokairy, Respublikanets and Kherson. There were casualties among the civilian population. Ukrainian aircraft conducted 14 airstrikes on areas of concentration of Russian occupation forces and 2 strikes on Russian anti-aircraft missile systems. Ukrainian defenders destroyed two Su-25 ground attack jets, a Ka-52 attack helicopter, four Orlan type drones, and a Supercam drone. Ukraine's Rocket Forces and Artillery struck a command post, 12 clusters of Russian manpower and 4 ammunition storage points. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov described Western tanks for Ukraine as an "iron fist" for breaking through the Russian defence lines and liberating the occupied territories. Source: Reznikov in an interview with CNN Quote: "We will use them as a kind of metal fist, or iron fist, to break through our enemy's defence line." Details: Reznikov added that Ukraine has to continue a counter offensive campaign on different fronts to liberate temporarily occupied territories. In addition, Reznikov said Ukraine's "wish list" includes Western jet fighters, although the priority for Ukraine is air defence systems. Quote: "We have to close our skies, protect our skies. That's the number one priority. Thereafter, we need to get more combat vehicles, tanks, artillery systems, UAVs and so on. We have the people, but we need the weapons." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ukraines National Guardsmen have destroyed a Russian ammunition dump and killed up to a unit of Russian personnel on the Bakhmut front. Source: Press service of Ukraines National Guard Details: It is noted that the aerial reconnaissance of the 3rd Operational Mission Brigade discovered an occupiers ammunition dump. The fighters deployed mortars to fire on the Russian ammunition storage point, which contained grenade launchers, automatic grenade launchers, grenades and ammunition for small arms. The date when the effective operation took place is not disclosed. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has urged a senior U.N. official to help find a way to resolve what Ukrainian authorities decry as a serious consequence of 11 months of war - the deportation to Russia of thousands of adults and children. Ukraine has for months denounced reports of mass deportations to Russia, often to remote regions thousands of kilometres from Ukraine. Russia denies any suggestion of mistreatment or criminal intent, describing the mass movements as evacuations. "The discussion focused above all on our people that the occupiers have deported to Russia," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address, referring to talks with U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi earlier on Wednesday. "These are adults, these are our children. A mechanism is needed to protect and bring back people and to bring to account all those who are guilty of deportations. I am certain the U.N. institutions can show leadership in resolving this issue." Zelenskiy described as genocide what he said were Russia's policies of captivity and forcing refugees to take on Russian citizenship. Ukraine's foreign minister has decried the "state-organised kidnapping of children". Grandi, completing a six-city tour of Ukraine, said he had been particularly moved by the aftermath of a missile strike that killed 46 people last week in the central city of Dnipro. "I have witnessed war in many places," he said in a video posted on the UNHCR Twitter feed. "But when I see those apartments that have been divided into two pieces ... when I learn that people have been killed in one hit, including six children under the rubble, I am left with little to say." Zelenskiy has criticised as ineffective the efforts of other international organisations to tackle the issue of the deportations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross and the 57-nation Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Story continues An official Ukrainian portal called Children of War lists 459 children killed and 916 wounded in the conflict as of Jan. 26. The site says 14,711 children have been deported, and 126 returned. Ukrainian human rights advocates speak of the possible deportation of hundreds of thousands of citizens. The U.S. State Department has cited figures of between 900,000 and 1.6 million deported Ukrainians, including 260,000 children. (Writing by Elaine Monaghan and Ron Popeski; Editing by Robert Birsel) In 2022, the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine purchased weapons and military equipment from domestic manufacturers, so Western tanks at the contact line will be supported by Ukrainian artillery, and soon Ukrainians will be presented with the drone developments. Source: Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov on Facebook Quote: "The Ministry of Defence has not demonstrated this, but over the last year we have not stopped the purchases of anti-aircraft weapons from domestic manufacturers. Wherever possible, within the limits of our competence, we promoted deployment in new locations and increased capacities. Likewise, last year, after a critical period when a significant amount of resources was spent on the import of defence equipment, the Ministry of Defence prepared a transition in order for the maximum amount of funds to be directed to Ukrainian manufacturers in 2023. This applies to all components, from uniforms, shoes, body armour and UAVs to heavy weapons and ammunition." Details: Reznikov showed a photo of the Ukrainian 155-mm Bohdana self-propelled artillery system. Oleksiy Reznikov on SAS "Bohdana" The minister reported that "one such artillery system successfully passed tests on the battlefield." According to Reznikov, the Ministry of Defence financed new artillery systems in spring 2022. Quote: "Western-made tanks, which will arrive in a few months, will be supported at the contact line by Ukrainian artillery, in all senses of the word. I have already voiced my approach. Ukraine should be as independent as possible in all components of defence provision, wherever possible. This makes our country a desirable partner and strengthens our position. That is why the Ministry of Defence will increase its efforts to stimulate Ukrainian manufacturers. We will soon present the first results of our UAV development." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ukrainian soldier fires a mortar at Russian positions near Soledar Our forces withdrew from there in an organized way and took up previously prepared defense lines, Cherevatyi said. Read also: NATO chief says situation near Soledar and Bakhmut shows Ukraine needs more help They didnt withdraw chaotically, there was no panic, no escape, no mass capture, which the Russians wanted and hyped up in their Telegram messengers. Fierce battles are underway there. There were 85 attacks and eight combat clashes in the Soledar area over the past day. Cherevatyi added that, in general, the Bakhmut area remains the hottest spot, as constant fighting continues there in particular near Soledar, Verkhniokamianske, Spirne, Rozdolivka, Blahodatne, Bakhmut, and Klishchiyivka. Our defense forces are constantly holding back attacks of the enemy, who is trying to strike with all types of artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, and aviation, he said. Read also: Fighting in Soledar and Bakhmut comparable to Battle of Verdun, Zelenskyys chief-of-staff says In total, the enemy launched 199 attacks in the direction of Bakhmut in the past 24 hours, the spokesman said. According to Cherevatyi, the defense line was evened out after the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Soledar, while the tactics of constant attacks, rolling in small groups and enemy shelling has not changed. The enemy is using the same tactics toward Vuhledar, as well as in the Avdiyivka and Liman areas, the official added. Russian troops focused on trying to capture Soledar, a small town adjacent to Bakhmut, starting in the first weeks of 2023, although they had been trying to take the settlement since May 2022. Read also: Capturing Soledar and Bakhmut wont help Russia turn the tide, White House says According to the Ministry of Defense, in January, the Russians deployed almost all of their main forces in this area, using both Wagner PMC assault units and other types of troops as cannon fodder. As a result of intense fighting with the active use of artillery and aviation, Soledar was almost completely destroyed. Story continues On Jan. 18, the UK Ministry of Defense reported that Ukrainian defenders might have retreated from Soledar on Jan. 16 and taken up new defensive positions to the west of the town. Read also: No signs of Ukrainian retreat from Soledar, CNN reports Cherevatyi officially announced the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Soledar on Jan. 25. According to him, the Ukrainian Armed Forces had fulfilled their main task: they did not allow the enemy to systematically break through the Donetsk section of the front and enter the rear, and then move into the operational space. Read also: Situation in Soledar remains critical, soldiers tell CNN Cherevatyi also noted that the Ukrainian army has depleted Russian forces in this sector. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Mykola Tyshchenko Earlier the factions head, David Arakhamia, announced the consideration of Tyshchenkos dismissal. He announced an urgent meeting over the MPs expulsion and addressed the partys head, Olena Shuliak, with a similar request. A few minutes later, the spokeswoman of the Servant of the People faction in the Verkhovna Rada, Yulia Paliychuk, announced Tymchenkos dismissal, while Shuliak announced his expulsion from the party. On Jan. 26, the Embassy of Ukraine announced Tyshchenkos trip to Thailand that he allegedly has a meeting on Jan. 27 to discuss issues of improving interaction with representatives of the Ukrainian community. This outraged netizens, journalists, public figures. Read also: Rada ticks all boxes needed to start EU membership talks with European Commission, says Stefanchuk Tyshchenko himself has not yet commented on the trip and did not respond to the expulsion from the faction and party. Read also: Rada drafts bill denouncing Russias encroachment on Ukraines statehood Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk, said he had not greenlighted Tyshchenkos trip abroad and business trip to Thailand. Tyshchenko was involved in scandals many times. In July 2022, he was dismissed as the head of the partys Zakarpattia regional organization. His powers were prematurely terminated after the appeal of MP Maryana Bezuhla, which, in particular, referred to his violation of the Servant of the Peoples statute. Other loudest scandals involving Tyshchenko include the work of his Velur restaurant during the COVID-19 lockdown, celebration of his wifes birthday during the lockdown, as well as a fight with MP Geo Leros. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine UNITED NATIONS (AP) The U.N. special envoy for Haiti said Wednesday she heard caution from the United States and Canada about possibly leading an international armed force to help Haiti combat gangs but not a definite `No. Helen La Lime expressed hope that the U.N. Security Council will deal positively with the issue of the force requested by the Haitian government. She said at a new conference that an international armed force would be a partner of the Haitian National Police that would go against the gangs. She spoke a day after the United States and Canada showed no interest at a Security Council meeting for deploying their security personnel despite renewed appeals from the U.N. and Haiti for help to end worsening violence in the Western hemispheres poorest nation. They are the two countries most often mentioned as possible leaders of an international force in Haiit. U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood told the council that Haiti must address its continued insecurity challenges, and he encouraged the international community to support its efforts. Canadas U.N. ambassador, Robert Rae, said the world needs to learn from all previous military interventions in Haiti, which failed to bring long-term stability to the country. He said it's key that in the future solutions must be led by Haitians and by Haitian institutions. Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry and the countrys Council of Ministers sent an urgent appeal Oct. 7 calling for the immediate deployment of a specialized armed force, in sufficient quantity, to stop the crisis caused partly by the criminal actions of armed gangs. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued the appeal, and La Lime repeated it Tuesday as more than three months later, no countries have stepped forward. La Lime said there was widespread concern in the Security Council on the worsening security situation in Haiti. She told the council Tuesday that gang-related violence has reached levels not seen in years. Story continues Homicides and kidnappings increased for a fourth straight year in 2022, she said. She said the 1,359 kidnappings last year was more than double the number in 2021, averaging roughly four per day. Killings were up a third to 2,183, touching all segments of society, including a former presidential candidate and the director of the National Police Academy. La Lime said the Security Councils unanimous adoption in October of a resolution imposing sanctions on individuals and groups threatening peace and stability in Haiti starting with a powerful gang leader, and sanctions imposed by the U.S. and Canada are having an impact. On the political front, she said, a National Consensus Agreement for an Inclusive Transition and Transparent Elections signed Dec. 21 by a broad range of political, civilian, religious, trade union and private sector officials was a positive development that calls for elections by February 2024. But she stressed Wednesday that the crucial missing element is a specialized international military contingent to support the police. In the Security Council there is a lot of concern, and I think there is recognition that help is needed, La Lime said. The sanctions continue to do their job, and there is a recognition that its time to sit down and deal with this issue of the force. So, my hope is that the Security Council will do that. The University of Wisconsin Law School building on the UW-Madison campus. The University of Wisconsin Law School won't participate in this year's U.S. News & World Report rankings, a decision made in protest of how the magazine prioritizes metrics that the school says conflict with its underlying values of accessibility and affordability. The school's decision, announced Thursday, follows more than a dozen other law schools in a cross-country revolt against the rankings. The withdrawals began last fall when Yale Law School, long ranked No. 1 in the country, said it would not participate because of how the rankings made it harder for schools to admit and support low-income students. Tokaji UW Law School Dean Dan Tokaji called the U.S. News rankings "problematic" for a variety of reasons. The rankings consider a range of metrics, with particular emphasis on median LSAT scores and undergraduate GPAs. "That causes law schools to spend a lot of their money, including scholarship money, trying to hit those numbers," Tokaji said in an interview. "LSAT and GPA are really useful and important tools. But incentivizing us to focus single-mindedly on those things is not a good thing for legal education as a whole." Also weighted into the rankings are individual deans' evaluations of peer schools, which Tokaji said has led to advertising dollars targeted toward other schools in order to drive up their own assessments. U.S. News responded earlier this month to the exodus of schools electing not to participate by changing some of its methodology for the 2023-24 rankings that are scheduled to publish this spring. Among the changes are less reliance on surveys of schools' reputations and the removal of per-student spending, a metric that favored wealthy institutions. But Tokaji said the changes didn't resolve the flawed methodology and, in one way, actually made it worse. The new methodology eliminated a metric on student debt, which some schools had criticized because it encouraged them to favor wealthy students over those with financial need. But Tokaji said it is UW's responsibility as a public institution to keep student debt manageable. Excluding the metric altogether doesn't help students in their search process, which, for many, is heavily weighted by cost. Story continues Tokaji also took issue with an "obscure change" in methodology last year that led the school's bar admissions metric to fall from No. 6 to No. 45. That's despite UW Law graduates having a 100% bar admission rate in each of the last two years, he said. UW Law School pointed out to U.S. News in a late November meeting that the change penalizes schools in states allowing law school graduates to receive their licenses without taking the bar exam. Wisconsin's "diploma privilege" reduces barriers to entry, especially for people from underrepresented backgrounds, but it disadvantages the school in rankings. U.S. News will continue to rank schools that have declined to participate by using publicly available data. But it will publish more detailed profiles of schools that respond. UW Law School tied for No. 43 in the 2022-23 rankings. Tokaji said he's open to participating in future rankings if "substantial and meaningful" improvements are made to the magazine's methodology. Marquette University Law School, ranked No. 105, will continue to participate. "We are deeply sympathetic to the reasons prompting the recent decisions by a number of law schools to proceed differently with U.S. News this year," Dean Joseph D. Kearney said in a statement. "In the limited time available to us and in light of the magazines intention of providing information about even 'non-participating' schools, it has seemed better this year to continue to provide accurate information, even without confidence in the overall merits of the ranking system. We are confident in the value of a Marquette Law School education and in our ability to demonstrate that value." Contact Kelly Meyerhofer at kmeyerhofer@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KellyMeyerhofer. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: University of Wisconsin Law School withdraws from U.S. News rankings NAIROBI, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Kenya has received 3,000 international cruise ship tourists in the past two months, a government official said on Thursday. John Ololtuaa, Principal Secretary at the State Department of Tourism, said that Kenya is benefiting from infrastructural development at the newly revamped cruise terminal at the port of Mombasa which has helped the destination tap into the cruise tourism segment. "Two more cruise ships are expected to call on the port before the end of this quarter," Ololtuaa said in a statement after receiving 800 visitors and crew aboard the MV World Odyssey cruise ship at Kenya's port of Mombasa. Ololtuaa noted that the development of the terminal was significant with more cruise planners now targeting Kenya within their itineraries. He also noted that the return of the MV World Odyssey cruise ship was a testament to the appeal Kenya has among international travelers. "This is a clear indicator of the growing interest by cruise companies in our destination and in particular the coastal region which forms a key component of Kenya's multi-dimensional tourism product," he added. Ololtuaa revealed that Kenya will capitalize on the niche cruise tourism market as part of the country's diversified tourism marketing strategy. He noted that cruise tourists form a crucial part of the tourism industry owing to their high spending thereby generating additional crucial revenue for the destination, adding that cruise tourism is a high-value market worth billions of dollars, especially for destinations that have invested heavily in the relevant infrastructure as well as marketing their destinations globally. John Chirchir, acting chief executive officer of Kenya Tourism Board, said that the return of MV World Odyssey to Kenya shows that the destination has tourism opportunities that suit every visitor who arrives in the country. "With the enhanced experiences at the Kenyan Coast and other parts of the destination, we take pride in being able to accommodate global visitors of diverse interests and tastes," Chirchir noted. The Wagner PMC is headed by Yevgeny Prigozhin (far left), who is a friend of Vladimir Putin According to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, the new sanctions will further damage Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's ability to support the Russian army. Read also: Tactics of Wagner PMC mercenaries in Ukraine revealed in intelligence report CNN "As sanctions and export controls on Russia form our international coalition continue to bite, the Kremlin is desperately searching for arms and support including through the brutal Wagner Group, Yellen said in a statement about the measures. Today's expanded sanctions on Wagner, as well as new sanctions on their associates and other companies enabling the Russian military complex, will further impede Putin's ability to arm and equip his war machine. The Wagner Group, headed by Yevgeny Prigozhin, is involved in Kremlin-backed military operations not only in Ukraine but around the world, the U.S. Treasury Department emphasized. Read also: 10,000 Wagner Group mercenaries remain at the front out of 50,000 recruited mass media Prigozhin is nicknamed Putin's chef as his companies are known to provide catering services for the Kremlin. The agency pointed out that the paramilitary firm is responsible for attacks, violence, kidnapping and forced displacement of people, attacks on schools, hospitals, places of worship or places where civilians seek refuge. Read also: Kremlin within reach of Ukrainian weapons, just like Engels airfield, Ukraines intel warns Putin According to British intelligence, Wagner PMC has engaged 50,000 mercenaries in the war against Ukraine. White House spokesman John Kirby said that 10,000 of these are contractors, while the rest are convicts recruited in Russian prisons. He also noted that Prigozhin spends more than $100 million a month on financing the operations of Wagner Group in Ukraine. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine U.S. forces have killed a key ISIS figure in Somalia who was involved in helping to grow the organization in parts of the world like Afghanistan and Africa. Senior administration officials said the U.S. military conducted an operation on Wednesday night in northern Somalia on orders from President Biden, resulting in the death of Bilal al-Sudani, who was an operative and facilitator for ISISs international network, and about 10 other ISIS operatives. The operation caused no causalities among U.S. service members or civilians. It happened in a mountainous cave complex. The officials said the U.S. prepared to capture al-Sudani, but a hostile response to the operation led to his death. They noted that they have informed key counterterrorism partners, including the Somali government, of the operation. Members of Bidens national security team were first briefed on the operation months ago, and the Defense Department briefed Biden and other top officials like Attorney General Merrick Garland and Deputy CIA Director David Cohen on it last week. The officials said Biden signed off on the operation after receiving answers to questions he had about the risk to U.S. forces and civilians were answered, and following a recommendation from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and advice from Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley. This action leaves the United States and its partners safer and more secure, and it reflects our steadfast commitment to protecting Americans from the threat of terrorism at home and abroad, Austin said in a statement. Officials noted that forces had planned to try to capture al-Sudani due to the challenging terrain, and in order to increase the amount of intelligence the U.S. government could gain from the operation. Officials said al-Sudani had supported ISISs expansion and activities across Africa and beyond through providing funding to sustain their operations. They said al-Sudani had engaged in terrorism for many years in Somalia and was designated by the Treasury Department in 2012 for his role in al-Shabaab. Story continues The U.S. officials also noted that he helped foreign fighters travel to an al-Shabaab training camp and facilitated funding for foreign violent extremists in Somalia. They said his operational and financial role made him a target for the U.S. Updated 5:05 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. KYIV, Ukraine President Bidens announcement on Wednesday that the U.S. will send 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in the coming months represents a watershed moment in Western military assistance to the embattled nation, which, just under a year ago, was all but written off for defeat. Abrams tanks are the best in the world, Biden said at a press conference in the White House today, flanked by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. This is a tremendous new capability that Ukraine will be getting to boost its long-term defenses. The emphasis here should be on long-term. And the unstated policy behind Bidens surprising reversal was how it was designed to bring Germany, a major European power traditionally soft on Moscow, in line with helping Ukraine not just fend off another large Russian attack but take the fight to its attacker. Main battle tanks are offensive rather than defensive weapons, an integral part of combined-arms warfare, which consists of infantry and the three so-called As: artillery, armor and air power. As of today, Ukraine has or is getting the artillery and armor from Western partners and only lacks the air power, although now even F-16 fighter jets are rumored to be on the table for future security assistance negotiations. The Abrams, generally viewed as trickier to operate and maintain by foreign militaries, was never meant to go to Ukraine; rather its German counterpart, the Leopard 2, easily adaptable and in service in over a dozen other European armies, was. Now Kyiv is getting both, though the Leopard 2s from Germany and third-party nations will arrive faster. President Biden announces additional military support for Ukraine. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) The story of how the U.S. and its allies coaxed, finessed and finally convinced the Germans to release the Leopards has as much to do with Berlin politics as it does with creative transatlantic statecraft. Ukraine has long needed to replace its aging fleet of ex-Soviet battle tanks either during or after the war, and for all practical purposes there were only two Western models available: the American Abrams and the German Leopard 2. The Biden administration had repeatedly resisted providing Abrams tanks to Ukraine, claiming the turbine-powered American vehicles were too complex to maintain and required too much fuel to be practical. Only a week ago, Defense Department official Colin Kahl ruled out supplying the tanks to Ukraine, citing exactly these reasons. Story continues The Abrams does have a larger logistical footprint than comparable vehicles, especially the Leopard, but for the Ukrainian military, any logistical hurdles are seen as worth surmounting to be on par with a superpowers armored divisions. Ukraines new Western tanks will not be a quick fix; crews and mechanics will need to be trained not just to operate the vehicles, but also to handle the specialized support equipment needed to keep such sophisticated military equipment in the fight. Eight M88A2 armored recovery vehicles, especially designed to tow the heavy M1A1 Abrams, will be provided as part of the American package. Washington has therefore unexpectedly and reluctantly decided not just to commit to defending Ukraine from a vicious ongoing Russian invasion, but to invest in its military future well beyond that. That future lies in one direction now: greater integration with the West and a bulwark against further Russian expansionism. U.S. Army Abrams tanks at a 2021 NATO exercise in Latvia. (Ints Kalnins/Reuters) Indeed, U.S. officials are now making noises about a newfound willingness to help Kyiv retake land not only lost in February 2022, but in February 2014, when Russia invaded and illegally annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. Gone or greatly diminished now are fears of crossing Russian President Vladimir Putin, though his nuclear arsenal still stands as a deterrent to a wider conflagration with NATO. The Pentagons plan for arming Ukraine is now believed to be driven more by accountancy and logistics than Russias vague warnings of retaliation. The outstanding issue for weapons systems now is our inventory and supply chain, not the Russian response to what we choose to send Ukraine, one senior U.S. official, requesting anonymity, told Yahoo News. That response consists of a lot of shouting and threats but no significant military retaliation. That assessment is no doubt undergirded by credible U.S. and Western intelligence about Russias true capability and intentions as opposed to its stated ones. Dr. Alex Crowther, a retired U.S. Army colonel and the former special assistant for Supreme Allied Commander of Europe, foresees an upgrade in Kyivs status with Washington in the near to short term. Ukraine will probably be treated like Taiwan after the war, Crowther said, unless the Ukranians can kick Russia out of their territory, in which case the U.S. will probably declare them a major non-NATO ally. Eleven months ago, U.S. intelligence assessments gave Ukraine a lifespan of about three days before succumbing to Moscows overwhelming firepower and technological advantages. A Leopard 2 tank in a demonstration event held for the media near Hannover, Germany. (Michael Sohn/AP) Yet another remarkable development in this war is the behind-the-scenes wrangle with U.S. allies that moved Biden to yes on the Abrams tanks. It was all about getting the Germans to jawohl on Leopards. Berlin had long resisted pressure to supply its main battle tank, the Leopard 2, to Ukraine, with the alleged fear being that to do so would be to act in a unilateral manner. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz originally said hed release his Leopards if other NATO allies also sent their main battle tanks. The United Kingdom obliged, agreeing last week to supply Ukraine with a squadron of 14 Challenger 2 tanks. Scholz then shifted his you-first condition, claiming only Washington agreeing to send American heavy armor to Ukraine would satisfy this requirement. Biden now has, and the Germans followed. Speaking in the Bundestag, or Parliament, on Wednesday, Scholz announced that Germany would send 14 Leopard 2A6 tanks to Ukraine, finally making the decision that seemed more and more inevitable. As significant as Germanys own pledge, Berlin also agreed to allow the numerous countries in Europe that operate the German tank to export the vehicles to Ukraine. Reporting suggests that the final tally of Leopard 2s destined for Ukraine will be close to 100, though the final details are not yet clear. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius added that a battalion of the newer German 2A6 models would arrive within a period of three months, after Ukrainian crews had been trained on their new vehicles, with a second battalion of the older 2A4s arriving later. Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaking to German lawmakers this week. At left is Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. (Markus Schreiber/AP) While this news was greeted with elation in Kyiv, the foot-dragging caused exasperation in European capitals, whose political establishment felt Scholz should and could have moved more quickly. Germany has become one of the most unreliable EU and NATO members, a senior European diplomat told Yahoo News, explaining how donations by smaller European countries such as Denmark, which donated its entire stock of brand-new Caesar self-propelled howitzers, and Estonia, which delivered the remainder of its FH70 155mm guns to Ukraine, were a way of cajoling the Germans to act. The Tallinn Pledge, made last week, was a joint statement signed by the defense ministers of several European countries including Estonia and the United Kingdom at a military base in the eponymous Estonian capital. The pledge emphasized the importance of supplying modern Western battle tanks to Ukraine, adding to the pressure on Berlin to follow. Poland, another signatory of the Tallinn Pledge, threatened to send 14 Polish army Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine if the Scholz government refused to officially approve the transfer a contract violation that would risk future arms deals with Berlin. Piotr Muller, a Polish government spokesman, alluded to Polands bad-cop role after the German decision in comments made to the Polish media: We are glad that our arguments and our common allies convinced the German government to change its mind. Polish Leopard tanks in a 2022 NATO military exercise near Orzysz, Poland. (Kacper Pempel/Reuters) Sawomir Debski, director of Polish Institute of International Affairs, told Yahoo News that without the pressure from Poland and others, the German action would have taken longer to arrive. A good segment of the German population sees any inclination toward militarism as an anathema, not just because of their countrys role in two devastating world wars but because Germany was long the epicenter of where a potential third one might erupt. Postwar Germany has always been under the umbrella of United States protection, Debski said. Wartime leadership is new to them. Poland understands the experience of fighting a war surrounded by enemies, running out of ammunition. Paradoxically, Germany has been surprisingly robust in its assistance to Ukraine. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, if the countrys commitments to Ukraine are taken together with its portion of EU contributions, Germany is second only to the United States, with 12.6 billion euros in aid pledged as of Dec. 7, 2022. (That figure does not take into account the Leopards 2 package.) Furthermore, Germany has been the second- or third-largest donor of military aid to Ukraine, depending on the calculation used, also behind the United States and nearly level with the U.K. Berlin has supplied sophisticated air defense systems, armored vehicles, and some of the best self-propelled artillery currently in Ukraines arsenal. The German-supplied Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun has been particularly praised by Ukrainian soldiers, who have used to great effect against the ubiquitous Russian Shahed 136 suicide drones supplied by Iran. Hours after speaking in the Parliament, Scholz announced that Germany intended to expand what we have delivered to Ukraine, in a press conference alongside Icelandic Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, right, with Icelandic Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir on Wednesday. (Markus Schreiber/AP) Scholzs position has always been Ukraine must not lose and Russia must not win, according to Roderich Kiesewetter, a member of the Bundestags Committee on Foreign Affairs. Kiesewetter, a former staff officer in the Bundeswehr, or Germany army, is critical of the chancellors approach toward Ukraine. He speaks in the language of armistice and frozen conflict, not Ukrainian victory, and this echoes others in Germany who would like for nothing more than to see Minsk III, Kiesewetter said, referring to the two ceasefire agreements implemented (with varying abidance) in 2014 and 2015, after the first Russian invasion of Ukraine. They still think we should end the war no matter what and begin new trade opportunities with Russia, Kiesewetter said. In June, according to Kiesewetter, Scholz told the Bundestags Committee on Foreign Affairs that sending Marder infantry fighting vehicles would be a horrible escalation. The chancellor claimed there was no intimidation from Putin against himself or against Germany, but clearly there had been. Our neighbors, including Spain and Poland, started asking in May or June of last year, to let us deliver Leopard tanks. So what changed? On Jan. 4, the same day he announced the delivery of light tanks to Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron publicly shifted his own outlook on the war, one that previously mirrored Scholzs in seeking merely to forestall Ukrainian defeat. Now Macron came out for Ukraines outright victory. Until victory, until peace is restored, Macron tweeted a quote from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. A Russian service member in front of an anti-aircraft missile system in the Luhansk region of Ukraine. (Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters) France, a longtime ally of Germany, thus found itself moving its narrative on the war and leaving Scholz alone among European leaders against Eastern European, Scandinavian and Baltic countries that insisted a more modern, agile and deterrent Europe should emerge, according to Kiesewetter. Macron thinks geopolitically. Germany he sees as not a reliable partner any longer. Scholz is still stuck in that world of yesterday, Benjamin Tallis, a senior research fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations, told Yahoo News. His approach has meant Germany, whilst giving a lot in absolute terms, is still having its reputation dragged through the mud. Scholz has hewed closely to the foreign policy legacy of his Social Democratic Party (SPD), once defined under former West German Chancellor Willy Brandt as Ostpolitik, the seeking of rapprochement with the Warsaw Pact nations. In recent decades the SPD, along with most other German parties, evolved into a more transactional and accommodating position to post-communist Russia. Angela Merkel, Scholzs immediate predecessor and a leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union, welcomed cheap Russian energy into Europe, overseeing the construction of the controversial Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines. Gerhard Schroder, a former SPD chancellor, remains one of Putins most outspoken defenders in Europe; he was pressured last spring into resigning his $600,000-per-year chairmanship of the board of Rosneft, Russias state oil company. Schroder continued to tout his friendship with Putin even as the bloody Ukraine war dragged on. The same cant exactly be said of Scholz. Protesters, many of them expatriate Ukrainians living in Berlin, protested last week outside the German Chancellery. (Maja Hitij/Getty Images) At the start of the war, he undertook a major about-face with respect to German policy toward the Kremlin. Speaking on Feb. 27 in the Bundestag, just three days after Russias full-scale invasion, Scholz gave what is now known as Zeitenwende speech, owing to his use of a German term for a major turning point. Whether we permit Putin to turn back the clock to the 19th century and the age of the great powers, he said, or whether we have it in us to keep warmongers like Putin in check. The speech heralded a marked increase in German defense spending, promising that it would soon be in excess of 2% of the countrys gross domestic product. Stalwart and militaristic though Zeitenwende sounded 11 months ago, it was still predicated on a prevailing German assumption that Ukraine would lose badly and swiftly to Russia, according to Debski, the Polish think tank analyst. It was an absolutely fantastic speech, Debski said, but as a curtain-raiser for a new era for Germany in which Russia was now seen as an aggressor nation and Berlin would be the natural leader of Europe around which all other nations would rally. It was not a speech about helping Ukraine through arms. What Scholz didnt count on, and what hes been reckoning with ever since, was the ferocity of Ukrainian resistance. Like many politicians, Scholz is closely tuned to public opinion in his country. His inner circle believes in forging a middle-ground consensus in the German electorate, according to Rebecca Harms, a former member of European Parliament from the German Green Party. Ukrainian citizens and supporters at a demonstration in Krakow, Poland, on Wednesday. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images) The chancellors nickname for many years was Scholzomat, Harms said. He is neither very emotional nor very charismatic. So after Merkel it seems that another careful actor has taken over power in Germany and that perhaps reflects whats going on with many Germans because they voted for him. And his election in December 2021 was not a given. By requiring America act first on sending tanks to Ukraine, Scholz indemnified himself to criticism at home, while beefing up Ukraines offensive capability abroad. It has also meant incurring the enmity of the Russians that Scholz once considered as partners in peace. Moscow responded to the news that German and American tanks would soon be en route to Ukraine with a mixture of fury, special pleading and grief. Anatoly Antonov, Russias ambassador to the United States, called the decision a blatant provocation against the Russian Federation, claiming it was obvious that Washington is purposefully trying to inflict a strategic defeat on us. Obvious indeed: Inflicting a strategic defeat on Moscow has been acknowledged American policy for months. On Russian state media, propagandists responded with characteristic bombast. Scholz and his government, they said, were Nazis scumbags and Russia would soon be bombing Berlin and Dresden. On unofficial channels, pro-war Russian commentators were a bit more nervous. Alexei Zhivov, a Russian military journalist, called the German and American tanks formidable and dangerous weapons that would likely be used effectively by the Ukrainian military in operations supported by Western intelligence just as the M142 High Mobility Artillery Systems (HIMARS) have been. Russian military analysts were now going through five stages of grief, Zhivov said. The United States of America will not have time to send M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine before the expected spring offensive of the defence forces. Source: US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland at a hearing in the Senate on 26 January; Suspilne, Ukraine's public broadcaster Quote: "Abrams, as you know, are very complicated tanks, they require serious training. Although we approved them yesterday, it will take some time to get them to the battlefield. They will not be there until the spring offensive ". Details: Nuland also said that auditors are in Kyiv this week to ensure accountability for American military and financial aid. She stated that the US was ready to consider the possibility of softening anti-Russian sanctions in the event of the withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine. Background: On 25 January, US President Joe Biden announced that the United States would hand over 31 M1 Abrams tanks and spare parts to Ukraine. Reference: M1 Abrams is the main battle tank of the third generation produced by the USA. The history of the creation of the machine begins with the creation of the MBT-70 tank, which was a joint project of the United States and Germany in the 1960s. It split into two branches: the German Leopard 2 and the American M1 Abrams. A tank is a well-armed, armoured, mobile combat vehicle designed for combat operations in various conditions of modern wars and armed conflicts. Important features of the tank are the use of powerful gas turbine engines (running on JP8 jet fuel), equipment with multi-layer anti-projectile composite armour, separate storage of ammunition in an isolated capsule compartment to separate crew members from the impact in the event of a projectile hit into the tank. The Abrams tank is one of the heaviest tanks in service at the beginning of the 21st century. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! There is a loneliness epidemic in the United States -- and experts told ABC News it may be triggering violence. In California, there have been three shootings in as many days, tied to a perpetrator who may have exhibited signs of social isolation and/or violent behavior, according to authorities. In Monterey Park, police documents revealed the 72-year-old suspect had been divorced from his wife since 2006, lived alone in Hemet -- about 30 miles Southeast of Riverside -- and was angry and resentful. MORE: Monterey Park shooting victims: Dance studio regular among those who died, family says A former tenant and longtime acquaintance of the shooter, who wished to remain anonymous, told ABC News that he liked to dance but that he didn't have many friends at either of the dance studios he allegedly targeted. The suspect "distrusted everyone," the acquaintance said, adding, "I wouldn't say he was aggressive, but he just couldn't get along well with people." In the Half Moon Bay shooting, the man accused of killing seven farmworkers had a history of making threats after losing his job at a restaurant, according to ABC News-owned KGO. According to court documents, a former coworker and roommate filed a restraining order against the suspect after he allegedly threatened to kill him. The suspect allegedly tried to suffocate him by putting a pillow over his face if he didn't help the suspect get his job back. Experts said although there is not a lot of research on isolation, there appears to be a link between loneliness and violence, experts said. PHOTO: First responders work one of multiple crime scenes where four people were shot and killed Jan. 23, 2023, in Half Moon Bay, Calif. (Nhat V. Meyer/MediaNews Group/East Bay Times via Getty Images) "Clearly isolation and loneliness are at play in a lot of violence," Dr. Edwin Fisher, a psychologist and professor in the department of health behavior at Gillings School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina, told ABC News. "They may be important red flags for us to recognize and trying to help people who are prone to violence." Fisher said there are many types of violence that social isolation and loneliness are related to, including sexually soliciting minors online, intimate partner violence, cyber bullying -- and homicide. Story continues "Grievance and perception of self as a victim, I think both of those are present in the mass murders in California these past few days," he said. "So, in addition to being socially isolated and feeling lonely, feeling grievance, feeling victimized, I'm going to finally pay them back, may be really important in some kinds of violence." Loneliness epidemic among men Loneliness perpetrating violence may be affecting American men more than women due to males suffering a "friendship recession." According to data from the American Enterprise Institute's Survey Center on American Life in 2021, the percentage of men reporting at least six close friends declined by half from 55% in 1990 to 27% in 2021. MORE: The psychology behind what comes over people to disarm shooters The percentage of men reporting no close friends rose five-fold from 3% in 1990 to 15% in 2021. What's more, one in five single men say they don't have any close friends. On the other hand, women are much more likely to report having close friends and relying on those friends for emotional support, the survey found. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, men had a suicide rate four times higher than women in 2020. Men make up 49% of the U.S. population but nearly 80% of suicides, CDC data shows. "One could speculate that there's something that ties male loneliness to violence," Dr. Nathaniel Glasser, a research fellow and clinical instructor of medicine at the University of Chicago Medicine, told ABC News. "That in situations where boys and men feel loneliness, they -- not always, but occasionally, arguably too frequently -- turn to violent mechanisms to reconcile or cope or otherwise deal with their loneliness." Glasser pointed to ads from a firearm manufacturer for an assault rifle, one of which read, "consider your man card reissued." PHOTO: A family gathers at a memorial outside the Star Ballroom Dance Studio, Jan. 24, 2023, in Monterey Park, Calif. (Ashley Landis/AP) "That's exactly the language that some gun manufacturers use -- or have used -- to speak to men, saying that guns are a way for males trying to reclaim some kind of image of masculinity to do so," he added. Dr. Elizabeth Tung, a social epidemiologist and assistant professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, agreed. "There is just so much speculation, but I think there's also like this threat of societal emasculation and men who are lonely and emasculated trying to recapture their masculinity in some ways," she told ABC News. Experts, such as Dr. Niobe Way, believe the rise of male loneliness may be a factor in the rise of violence. Way, a professor of developmental psychology at New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, has studied boys through adolescence. She said when they're younger, around age 12 or 13, they talk about wanting close friendships and emotional intimacy. However, as they get older and start experiencing expectations of traditional masculinity, "they start disconnecting form their desires and feeling much more isolated," she told ABC News. MORE: There have been more mass shootings than days in 2023, database shows "The disconnection, the loss that no one seems to care that our boys are feeling isolated," Way, author of "Deep Secrets: Boys' Friendships and the Crisis of Connection," said. "They start to disconnect from their own humanity because they're not able to find the relationships they want, and many are depressed and angry about it. Violence also leading to loneliness Tung said the opposite can be true as well, meaning being exposed to violence can also lead to loneliness. A study she co-authored in 2019 found that adults living in Chicago neighborhoods with high rates of violent crime are more likely to be lonely than the average American. "We found was that there's a really strong relationship between any kind of exposure to violence, whether it's direct or indirect police violence, community violence, and being more isolated, as well as being lonelier," she told ABC News. 'It's interesting, because the state of isolation and loneliness in the U.S. is already much higher than it was 50 years ago and so the fact that violence exposure is associated with an even greater augmentation of that statistic is pretty alarming." In this case, the theory is that community violence increases distrust and suspicion, leading to further isolation and loneliness. PHOTO: FBI officials walk towards from the crime scene at Mountain Mushroom Farm, Jan. 24, 2023, in Half Moon Bay, Calif. (Aaron Kehoe/AP) Access to guns This is all coupled with widespread access to guns in the United States, experts said. A Pew Research Center survey in 2021 found that four in 10 adults in the U.S. live in a household with a gun, while 30% said they own a gun. Federal data suggests gun sales have spiked, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. On top of that, just 21 states and the District of Columbia require background checks on sales of some or all types of firearms, according to Everytown for Gun Safety. Fisher said he is currently writing a chapter on social isolation and loneliness for the American Psychological Association, and one of the findings show the impotence of gun control. MORE: Monterey Park, Half Moon Bay mass shooting suspects in their 60s, 70s: What to know about older gunmen "One of the findings of the chapter is how global the research is studies from Asia, Africa, Europe, North and South America, all over the world, social isolation and loneliness are problems," he said. "Only in the United States are they leading to many mass murders." Solving the problem So how do we combat the problem of loneliness? The experts say there are a few ideas. "There's a lot of research about really pushing this idea of social prescribing," said Tung. "Helping older people make more social connections, we can prescribe like somebody going to a senior center and joining some kind of community activity." "But there is a broader cultural thing going on, especially with technology, and if more and more people are spending all of their time connecting through technology rather than in person, I worry that the idea of social prescribing or health care prescriptions for social activities is a little too simplistic." PHOTO: Investigators work at the scene of a mass shooting, Jan. 22, 2023, in Monterey Park, Calif. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images) There's also making sure that people are having robust and varied social interactions that might help pump the brakes on exhibitions of violent behavior, experts said. "So, when we're talking about people who are isolated, we want to try to be thinking in terms of encouraging varied social connections, and healthy social connections, if you will, as opposed to the community of, you know, child abusers that they're connected with on the web," Fisher said. He also added that being kind can be just as important as a long talk. "A really important point is that social connection does not necessarily need to be, deep, intimate conversations over hours and hours," he said. "Casual contacts can be very important in just making us feel connected. So, if you see people who seem to be lonely, who seem perhaps a little bit brittle or disgruntled, kind words can do a lot. It's far from a solution, but it helps." As US reels from multiple mass shootings in California, can loneliness be a trigger for violence? originally appeared on abcnews.go.com (Bloomberg) -- The top senators on the committee that deals with trade urged President Joe Biden to pursue enforcement action against Canada and Mexico in areas where the nations arent complying with rules in their free-trade agreement especially around energy and agriculture policies. Most Read from Bloomberg The Office of the United States Trade Representative must continue to pursue full implementation and, where necessary, robust enforcement of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, Ron Wyden and Mike Crapo, the leading Democrat and Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, wrote in a letter to the USTR Thursday seen by Bloomberg News. The pacts full potential remains unrealized, they said. The senators said the USTR must ensure that the United States gets what it bargained for and asked trade chief Katherine Tai to take decisive action to ensure full compliance with every chapter of the pact. Wyden and Crapo highlighted Washingtons dispute with Mexico over the southern neighbors nationalist energy policy, as well as compliance shortcomings by Canada over tariff-rate quotas on dairy products, among other issues. The letter comes a day after Deputy US Trade Representative Jayme White met with his Mexican and Canadian counterparts in San Diego and emphasized the the importance of making meaningful progress in the ongoing talks over Mexicos energy policy under the USMCA that went into effect in 2020, replacing the two-decade-old Nafta. The US has repeatedly urged Mexico and Canada to follow through on their commitments under the USMCA, including through the Rapid Response Labor Mechanism to enforce workers rights in Mexico and by requesting dispute consultations with Canada over its dairy policies, a USTR spokesperson said in a statement. The agency continues to seek resolution on those issues, including through Whites meeting this week, and will continue to implement the USMCA, the spokesperson said. Story continues Discussions between the US and Mexico on energy have largely stalled due to the departures of negotiators from the Latin American nations side and its reluctance to make concessions, people familiar with the matter said in December. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors policy privileges Mexican state-owned oil producer Petroleos Mexicanos and the electricity provider known as CFE over private companies in areas including natural gas distribution and power generation, including wind and solar companies. The US says this violates the USMCA, treats American companies unfairly, hurts US economic interests and discourages investment by clean-energy companies. Lopez Obrador denies that his policies violate the pact, saying that the US must respect Mexicos sovereignty. If a panel were to rule against Mexico, it might have to pay tariffs on as much as $30 billion in exports. The US first lodged the complaint in July, with Canada also protesting Mexicos electricity policy. USTR must use the USMCA dispute-settlement process to push Mexico to abandon these discriminatory policies, Wyden and Crapo said. On the long-running dairy issue with Canada, the US in December requested dispute-settlement consultations for a third time over Ottawas quotas that many American producers say shuts them out of the Canadian market, saying it has found more areas of deep concern and that the nations measures are inconsistent with its obligations under the trade pact. Wyden and Crapo commended Tais office for the follow-up and asked it to monitor Canadas compliance. The senators also pushed the USTR for resolution on Mexicos imposition of export tariffs on white corn, environmental, and digital-trade issues. (Updates with comment from USTR in sixth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. People wearing military camouflage look at drones on display in an exhibition in the 'PMC Wagner Centre', associated with the founder of the Wagner private military group (PMC) Yevgeny Prigozhin, during the official opening of the office block on the National Unity Day, in Saint Petersburg, on November 4, 2022. OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP via Getty Images The US government has taken aim at the notorious Wagner Group with sweeping new sanctions. The move comes after it labeled the mercenary group a "significant transnational criminal organization." Wagner appears to be the only force fighting for Russia that has found any kind of success in Ukraine lately. The US government has announced a sweeping list of sanctions aimed at the Wagner Group, a notorious Russian paramilitary organization that lately has appeared to be the only force fighting the Kremlin's war finding any success on the battlefield in Ukraine. The US Treasury Department on Thursday designated Wagner a "significant transnational criminal organization" and announced sanctions against a handful of individuals "cronies" of Russian President Vladimir Putin and entities involved in the mercenary group's global network. Among the targeted entities are companies involved in Russia's defense-industrial complex, such as those that repair aircraft or develop communication equipment and companies that support Wagner's international military operations. These include, for example, Russian and Chinese firms that supplies satellite imagery. In tandem with the Treasury's announcement, the State Department also moved to sanction entities and individuals linked to Wagner and its founder, Putin ally Yevgeny Prigozhin. These measures target "a range of Wagner's key infrastructure," including front companies, an aviation firm, and a propaganda organization the group uses. The State Department also sanctioned three officials of Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service who were identified as having helped facilitate the recruitment of prisoners into Wagner, an operation that began months ago. Prisoners who joined Wagner under the promise of eventual freedom have since been sent to the front lines in Ukraine alongside freshly mobilized Russian troops. There, these forces have at times served as sponges, absorbing heavy Ukrainian fire, clearing the way for better trained soldiers to move in behind them, US officials have said. Story continues A pedestrian walks past a mural depicting the logo of the Russian mercenary 'Group Wagner' and a slogan in Russian on January 20, 2023 in Belgrade, Serbia. Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images A defaced mural of Russia's mercenary group Wagner reading "Wagner Group - Russian knights" on the side wall of an apartment bock in Belgrade on January 20, 2023. OLIVER BUNIC/AFP via Getty Images The sweeping US sanctions against Wagner come as the mercenary group appears to be the only Kremlin-linked force making any gains, limited as they may be, in Ukraine. Britain's defense ministry estimates that Wagner has as many as 50,000 fighters in Ukraine and has become "a key component" of Moscow's military campaign. These efforts are currently focused around the war-torn eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, where intense fighting has raged for months. Just north of Bakhmut is the small salt-mining town of Soledar, where Wagner's forces have claimed victory over Ukraine. The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, wrote in a recent analysis that the town's capture was "not an operationally significant development" and that capturing it likely came at a high cost. The Russian defense ministry initially credited its forces with the capture of Soledar, a rare Russian victory initially disputed by Ukraine, but later backtracked, giving Prigozhin's paramilitary organization the praise after he criticized the ministry for taking credit for Wagner's achievements. Wagner's prominence in Ukraine has been underscored by rifts between the mercenary group and the regular Russian military. There have even been strange spats over rules about facial hair and cellphone usage. "We are seeing indications, including in intelligence, that tensions between Wagner and the Russian Ministry of Defense are increasing," National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby said last week. "Wagner is becoming a rival power center to the Russian military and other Russian ministries." Beyond Ukraine, the Wagner Group has been accused of carrying out atrocities in various countries across Africa, like Mali, Libya, and the Central African Republic. There, an independent United Nations report concluded that Wagner fighters committed violations of international humanitarian law like extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, and torture. Read the original article on Business Insider A Florida woman is accused of defrauding an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor out of his $2.8m life savings in a romance scam lasting years. Peaches Stergo, 36, of Championsgate, south of Orlando, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with one count of wire fraud, said the US attorneys office for southern New York. Today we allege the defendant callously preyed on a senior citizen simply seeking companionship, defrauding him of his life savings, said FBI assistant director Michael J Driscoll. Stergo, using the name Alice, met the victim on a dating website approximately six or seven years ago, said prosecutors. In 2017, they said, she asked him to borrow money for a lawyer after claiming funds from an injury settlement case never arrived. But prosecutors say no such settlement case existed. For years, Stergo allegedly deceived the victim for more money, often receiving monthly checks in $50,000 increments, reported CNN. Stergo, prosecutors said, would tell him that if she did not receive money, her bank account would be frozen and that he would never be paid back. Stergo is also accused of impersonating a bank employee and forging bank documents and emails to reassure the victim that he would be paid. Over a period of four years, the victim allegedly wrote 62 checks to Stergo, eventually losing his life savings of $2.8m and his apartment. Meanwhile, prosecutors said that Stergo used the victims money to live a life of luxury. She bought a home in a gated community, a condominium, a boat and several luxury cars, they said. Stergo, they alleged, also took extravagant vacations and spent tens of thousands of dollars on jewelry, gold bars, and designer clothing. The scam finally came to an end in October 2021, prosecutors said, when the victim confided in his son that he had given away his life savings but would be paid back. When the victims son told his father that he had been scammed, the victim allegedly stopped writing checks. Stergo could faces 20 years in prison, if convicted. She is expected to appear in a Florida federal court. Approximately 24,000 victims lost over $1bn due to romance scams across the US in 2021, said the FBI, noting that older people can be especially vulnerable. Intermountain Cedar City Hospital is photographed from its main entrance on Main St. in Cedar City. Utah's largest hospital system is changing its name. Intermountain Health, formerly known as Intermountain Healthcare, is dropping the "care" from its name as part of a larger rebranding effort that better matches its overall mission, hospital administrators announced Tuesday. The new Intermountain Health logo. Officials with the not-for-profit hospital network announced this week they are changing the name from Intermountain Healthcare, dropping the "care" part of the name as part of a larger rebranding effort. "The name change and updated logo are just a small part of an overall commitment to an increased emphasis on whole-health focused initiatives, and to be a partner in health, while staying true to Intermountain Healths rich foundation of providing extraordinary care for the communities it serves," an Intermountain Health representative said in an email. The Utah-based hospital network operates 33 hospitals and nearly 400 clinics across seven states, with 3,900 employed physicians and advanced care providers. It runs the major hospitals in both St. George and Cedar City, as well as clinics in smaller communities, and runs an insurance provider plan that covers more than 1 million people. Intermountain recently merged with SCL Health, a Colorado-based health network that closed last year. The move pushed Intermountain into additional western states, including Colorado, Montana and Kansas. The network reported a $2.7 billion income for the first six months of 2022. The name change goes into effect immediately, although it will take time to change out signage and other places where the former name has become common. The full change could take several years to phase in. This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: Utah's largest hospital system gets a new name People run to take cover during clashes with Israeli forces in the West Bank city of Jenin, on Jan. 26, 2023. Israeli forces killed on Thursday at least nine Palestinians, including an elderly woman, during a raid in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian sources said, amid escalating violence in the region. The violence took place in the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank, a flashpoint town that has been a stronghold for militants and a target for frequent Israeli raids for almost a year. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) JERUSALEM/RAMALLAH, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Israeli forces killed on Thursday at least nine Palestinians, including an elderly woman, during a raid in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian sources said, amid escalating violence in the region. The violence took place in the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank, a flashpoint town that has been a stronghold for militants and a target for frequent Israeli raids for almost a year. The Israeli military confirmed in a statement that it raided the refugee camp, saying it acted to foil "a major attack" by militants. The Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement that at least nine people were killed and 13 others injured, including three who sustained serious wounds. In a separate statement, Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila accused the Israeli forces of throwing tear gas into a children's ward in a hospital. "The occupation forces stormed Jenin Government Hospital and intentionally fired tear gas canisters at the pediatric department in the hospital," she said. Jenin hospital identified the elderly woman fatality as Magda Obaid in her 60s. The Israeli military said in a statement that the army and the national counter-terrorism force Yamam raided the refugee camp of Jenin in order to arrest "a terror squad" belonging to the Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian armed group. A gunfight ensued between the Israeli troops and members of the Islamic Jihad squad. The Israeli military said that the operation was based on "precise intelligence information" provided by Israel's Shin Bet internal security agency, which led the forces into the building in the Jenin camp. No Israeli injuries were reported. Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported that fearing a wider escalation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a situation assessment meeting with senior security officials. More than 170 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank in 2022, and at least 29 have been killed in January this year, according to figures from the Palestinian Health Ministry. According to a statement issued by the United Nations, 2022 was the deadliest year for Palestinians since 2006. The tensions have been further aggravated after Israel's new right-wing government sworn in in December last year. Israel said the raids are necessary to arrest suspects allegedly involved in attacks against Israelis. People run to take cover during clashes with Israeli forces in the West Bank city of Jenin, on Jan. 26, 2023. Israeli forces killed on Thursday at least nine Palestinians, including an elderly woman, during a raid in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian sources said, amid escalating violence in the region. The violence took place in the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank, a flashpoint town that has been a stronghold for militants and a target for frequent Israeli raids for almost a year. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) People carry the bodies of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces during a funeral in the West Bank city of Jenin, on Jan. 26, 2023. Israeli forces killed on Thursday at least nine Palestinians, including an elderly woman, during a raid in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian sources said, amid escalating violence in the region. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) People mourn during a funeral of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank city of Jenin, on Jan. 26, 2023. Israeli forces killed on Thursday at least nine Palestinians, including an elderly woman, during a raid in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian sources said, amid escalating violence in the region. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) Palestinians take part in a demonstration following the killing of nine Palestinians by Israeli forces near the Gaza-Israel border, east of Gaza City, on Jan. 26, 2023. Israeli forces killed on Thursday at least nine Palestinians, including an elderly woman, during a raid in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian sources said, amid escalating violence in the region. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinians take part in a demonstration following the killing of nine Palestinians by Israeli forces near the Gaza-Israel border, east of Gaza City, on Jan. 26, 2023. Israeli forces killed on Thursday at least nine Palestinians, including an elderly woman, during a raid in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian sources said, amid escalating violence in the region. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinians take part in a demonstration following the killing of nine Palestinians by Israeli forces near the Gaza-Israel border, east of Gaza City, on Jan. 26, 2023. Israeli forces killed on Thursday at least nine Palestinians, including an elderly woman, during a raid in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian sources said, amid escalating violence in the region. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) An Israeli soldier aims his weapon at Palestinian protesters during clashes in the West Bank city of Hebron, on Jan. 26, 2023. Israeli forces killed on Thursday at least nine Palestinians, including an elderly woman, during a raid in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian sources said, amid escalating violence in the region. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua) A Palestinian protester rolls a burning tire during clashes with Israeli soldiers in the West Bank city of Hebron, on Jan. 26, 2023. Israeli forces killed on Thursday at least nine Palestinians, including an elderly woman, during a raid in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian sources said, amid escalating violence in the region. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua) A Palestinian protester hurls a stone at Israeli soldiers during clashes in the West Bank city of Hebron, on Jan. 26, 2023. Israeli forces killed on Thursday at least nine Palestinians, including an elderly woman, during a raid in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian sources said, amid escalating violence in the region. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua) People take part in a protest against Israeli soldiers' killing of nine Palestinians in Amman, Jordan, on Jan. 26, 2023. Israeli forces killed on Thursday at least nine Palestinians, including an elderly woman, during a raid in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian sources said, amid escalating violence in the region. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) People take part in a protest against Israeli soldiers' killing of nine Palestinians in Amman, Jordan, on Jan. 26, 2023. Israeli forces killed on Thursday at least nine Palestinians, including an elderly woman, during a raid in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian sources said, amid escalating violence in the region. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) Nurses took to the streets at Atlantas VA Medical Center to protest staffing shortages they say limit their ability to do their job. Channel 2s Consumer Reporter Justin Gray was at the hospital when they marched on the sidewalk outside the hospital Thursday holding signs. Instead of taking a lunch break or going home after a long shift, they stood outside asking for help. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Their message was simple: Hire more people. Nurses say that veterans care at the hospital is being impacted by a lack of manpower. Staffing is not something that a nurse is in control of, nurse Yvonne Wheeler said. A nurse is just a worker, and we work with what we have. TRENDING STORIES: Its a message that the VA leadership hears loud and clear. In fact, when U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough was in Atlanta last fall, he told Gray that was the number one topic he discussed with management in Atlanta. What I heard upstairs was a very concrete, aggressive plan to fill those staffing slots because uniformly, we have a view that the kinds of wait times we are experiencing here are completely unacceptable, McDonough said. The VA issued a statement Thursday, saying One of the VAs top priorities is recruiting, hiring, and retaining our great nurses. To do that, the VA has advocated strongly for the PACT Act and RAISE Act, which has given us increased authority to raise pay caps for VA nurses across the country. We have also maximized bonuses and retention incentives. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The nurses protesting Thursday said they are the ones on the front lines seeing how the manpower shortfalls directly affect veterans. You want to do the best thing for your patient, do no harm, but you are restricted because you dont have resources, Dana Horton said. And we know the VA can do that. There are things they can do. The VA had special authority to speed up the hiring process during the pandemic that has since expired. Nurses say the long hiring process means many qualified applicants taken another job while waiting on the VA position to come through. A Florida classroom shelf emptied of its books following new guidelines issued by Duval County Public Schools. (Andrea Phillips ) Andrea Phillips, a Florida teacher for more than a decade, started her day on Wednesday with an act that went against every instinct she has as an educator. Following orders issued by her school district, she removed dozens of non-curriculum books from her classroom, stripping the shelves bare. The new guidelines, issued by Duval County Public Schools earlier that day, require teachers to remove all books that do not appear on the state-approved reading list pending a review by a media specialist. Ive never seen anything like it, Mrs Phillips, who teaches third grade in the county, told The Independent by phone. It feels cold without all my books. It doesnt feel like the classroom and the environment that I built. The book removals are the latest chapter in a campaign by Ron DeSantis, the Republican governor of Florida, to control public school education through his office by the banning of books, lessons and speech he deems to be objectionable. The new guidelines are being issued now as school districts rush to comply with a controversial Florida law , passed by Mr DeSantis in March last year, that punishes teachers with felony charges if non-sanctioned books are present in classrooms. That curriculum transparency law requires school book selections to be free of pornography and prohibited materials harmful to minors, and mandates the regular removal or discontinuance of books that do not meet state guidelines. But critics have argued that the law, coupled with similar actions taken by Mr DeSantis, targets the LGBTQ community , prohibits discussion about Black history and diversity, and is fuelled by Right-wing activists with an anti-LGBTQ agenda. Mr DeSantis, who is expected to run for president in 2024, has frequently used the governors office as a bully pulpit to stoke national culture war issues to aid that effort. In 2021, before the curriculum transparency law, Mr DeSantis also passed the Parental Rights in Education law, dubbed the Dont Say Gay law by critics. That law prohibits classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in certain grade levels in Floridas primary schools. It was followed by the Stop WOKE law, which restricts how colleges and universities teach classes on race and gender. Story continues In Duval County, where Mrs Philips teaches, a total of 176 books have been banned from a collection that features characters representing a variety of ethnicities, religious affiliations, and gender identities in response to the curriculum transparency law. Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at the Republican Jewish Coalition Annual Leadership Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, on November 19, 2022 (AFP via Getty Images) Similar guidelines were issued to teachers in at least one other Florida district, causing teachers there to lock away their books, according to Popular Information . That school system also warned its educators that they could face felony charges if they fall foul of the law. Since it was passed, the law has sown confusion in schools across the state. Seeking to clarify the new rules, Duval County School District sent a memo to teachers on Wednesday instructing them to temporarily store books until they are reviewed. The memo also notified teachers that plays and poems performed in class will also need to be aligned to state statute language. Mrs Phillips, like many other teachers across the county, stripped her classroom shelves bare in response. Its scary and its sad to me, she said. If I made a mistake and made a book available to a student and somebody objected to it, I could lose my teaching licence, I could lose my right to vote, I will be registered as a felon. Its absolutely ridiculous. Mrs Philips noted the irony that she was forced to remove the books from her classroom during Literacy Week in Florida, a state-sponsored programme designed to raise awareness about the importance of reading. The autonomy that has been stolen from me. Im a certified teacher, Ive been doing this for more than a decade. Ive done training after training. Ive worked with kids for years. I know what Im doing, she said. Its just a punch in the gut. I dont even really have the words for it because its so heartbreaking and heart-wrenching. Mrs Philips has now removed all the books not on the core curriculum from her classroom pending an audit, but it is unclear how long that will take. Under the new measures issued by the district, all books placed in classrooms must be reviewed by a certified media specialist to ensure they comply with state guidelines. We dont have enough media specialists to even vet these books, she said. Also, they dont even have a system in place right now to vet the books. So yeah, it may be a temporary situation, but it feels like temporary is going to drag on forever. In the meantime, she added, the intervention by the governors office in the classroom has made her question whether she wants to continue. I dont have a lot of things in life that I say Im good at that. But I know that Im a great teacher. Its my passion, and I love it, and I feel like its been ripped out of my soul. I really feel like its just a part of me is dying, she said. Both Duval County Public Schools and Governor DeSantiss office did not respond to The Independents requests for comment. Administrators at Richneck Elementary in Newport News, Va., were warned three times on the day of the shooting that left Abigail Zwerner in critical condition. The revelation has prompted Dr. Ebony Parker, the schools assistant principal, to resign, a school-district spokesperson confirmed Wednesday. Prior to Zwerner being shot by her six-year-old student on January 6, at least three employees had warned Richneck Elementary administration that the child had been in possession of a gun just hours before the attack. According to a press briefing given Wednesday by Zwerners lawyer, Diane Toscano, four separate reports were made to the administration the day of the shooting. Three times, teachers came forward with complaints that the student had a gun. On that day, over the course of a few hours, three different times three times school administration was warned by concerned teachers and employees that the boy had a gun on him at school and was threatening people. But the administration could not be bothered, Toscano said during the press conference. However, despite growing concern amongst staff that the student posed a threat to the school, many were advised not to worry. After one concerned teacher voiced their alarm, a senior administrator instructed them to wait the situation out because the school day was almost over, Toscano told the New York Post. Another report had a school official dismissing the allegation that the child placed the gun in his pocket. Well, he has little pockets, the administrator allegedly responded. Similar concerns were voiced in a group chat amongst teachers at the school obtained by the Washington Post, acknowledging that Zwerner had asked for help several hours before the shooting. James Graves, president of the Newport News Education Association, expressed dismay that school administrators had turned a blind eye to concerns raised by teachers. We want to know what happened so we can protect our members, Graves told the Washington Post. They believe and they know the administration should take their concerns more seriously than they did. This could have been prevented. Story continues Toscano echoed the sentiment during Wednesdays press conference announcing Zwerners lawsuit against Newport News Public Schools arguing that the shooting was entirely preventable. Were they not so paralyzed by apathy they could have prevented this tragedy, Toscano said. More from National Review [Source] An opinion columnist with the Wall Street Journal has been accused of racism after penning an article initially titled Are there too many Asians? In his piece published Monday, William Bill McGurn, who served as chief speechwriter for former President George W. Bush, describes ideas behind population control as a Western import, much like Marxism. His writing focuses on China, whose declining population in recent years has raised alarms over a demographic time bomb. The articles headline now appears to have been changed to China and the Population Bomb That Wasnt. However, McGurns tweet promoting the original headline remains live, and his subsequent posts do not reflect the modified title. More from NextShark: Democratic Presidential Candidates Answer Questions on the Asian American Community in Virtual Town Hall Meet @wsj allowing a racist to write articles and work for you? How many more of you are there at @wsj? one user questioned. No, another user wrote as a response to the original headline. But theres too many racists like you. Others took offense to the articles publication on the heels of the Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay mass shootings. More from NextShark: Looters Cause $300K Damage in 2 Minutes at Family-Owned Pharmacy in San Jose The incidents, which occurred on Saturday the eve of the Lunar New Year and Monday afternoon, respectively, left 17 Asian people dead. Incredible to write this after two mass shootings of Asian people, one user wrote. Another tweeted sarcastically, Thank god we had multiple mass shootings of Asians over the weekend to take care of the problem of there being too many Asians. More from NextShark: Conservative TV Host Calls Parasite Cast 'The Destruction of America' After Oscar Win absolutely craven to publish this headline after the murders in monterey park pic.twitter.com/Soes0F00fX alex (@alex_abads) January 24, 2023 More from NextShark: Woman Exposes NYC Man Coughing on Asians for 'Being Racist as a Minority Himself' This is the headline you came up with after two mass shootings that targeted Asians? And the other headline about a population bomb isnt any better. You should be reprimanded for your poor choice of words. Michael Lee (@IamMichaelJLee) January 25, 2023 This is a truly disgusting headline and question to posit. Courtney Brunelle Kim (@CB1231) January 24, 2023 After two mass shootings with Asians as the targets, and three years of Asian-biased hate crimes, is THIS the headline you're going with??? Kat Troche (@kuiperkat) January 24, 2023 I want you to look at the title you wrote. Then I want you to tell me, an Asian American, that you either stand behind it or you made a mistake. Just FYI, a mistake can take many forms. Like the one Im thinking of rn is when your mom decided to have you. That was a big mistake Pine Cellar (@PineCellar) January 24, 2023 Wow. Pretty wild to post this after the Monterey park shooting. This is becoming viral and I hope this disgusting article haunts the rest of your life and career. This is literally a hardlined fascist talking point. You should lose your career over this. Liberalism is the vibe killer (@b_ajab_last) January 25, 2023 Meanwhile, some users pointed to McGurns Wikipedia page, which noted that McGurn has adopted three children from China, and questioned how they would react to his original headline. Story continues You have 3 adopted Chinese daughters & you write this? Absolutely shameful & classless. Michelle (@kokeshidoll71) January 25, 2023 The daughters you adopted from Hong Kong will read this someday. (@shelby__welby) January 24, 2023 Coming from someone who 'adopted' 3 girls from China Barry Chien Music (@Barry23_888) January 26, 2023 McGurn has yet to publicly address the controversy. FRANKFORT - Want to make Kentucky's public schools safer? A team of high school students from across the commonwealth have a few ideas. The Commissioner's Student Advisory Council, a group of nearly 30 students that meets monthly to counsel Kentucky Education Commissioner Jason Glass, revealed their set of recommendations Tuesday following months of research and discussion. Missing from the students' list are things adults outside schools are quick to demand following a security incident, such as metal detectors or additional police. Instead, the students targeted things they believe will make themselves and their classmates feel safer before, during and after any potential incidents. Our main goal is to make sure that everyone's getting a quality education," said Joud Dahleh, a Boone County high school student and the student member of the Kentucky Board of Education. "You cannot have a quality education if you do not feel safe in your school building. More:Kentucky lawmaker wants to expand concealed carry laws, including guns at schools Before a school security issue To better prevent or minimize the chance of an event like a school shooting happening, the council recommended three things: Promote the STOP tipline: Students can already anonymously report classmates' concerning behavior through this tipline, but the council explained schools can do a better job of making students aware of its existence. Improve intervention rates: More should be done to address concerns reported through the tipline, the students said, including requiring a response to every complaint. Support gun control legislation: One specific piece of legislation recommended by students is requiring mental health evaluations before allowing someone to purchase certain guns. During a school security issue Active shooter drills are necessary, the council said. But the current design of drills can be traumatic and leave students feeling unprepared, the group said. Here's what the students recommend: Story continues Improve active shooter drills: Students advocated for more comprehensive and realistic drills, including ones with scenarios (what would you do if a shooter came into your classroom?). But more should be done to avoid traumatizing students, including providing more advance notice to students and families and allowing them to opt out of the drills. Improve training for first responders: All first responders, from educators and school police officers to outside law enforcement, should get more training to improve response times. Establish a clear notification system: Communication during and immediately after a lockdown can be delayed, sparking confusion and fear for families and students. One potential solution pitched by students is using schools' current communication systems to quickly blast texts and emails to guardians in case of an emergency or to teachers in case of a drill. After a school security issue "If/when the next school shooting happens in Kentucky," the council said, here are three recommendations for Kentucky to support the school and community: Provide mental health support: After an incident, the mental health of that school's students and educators should be the priority, the students said. Schools and districts can offer crisis intervention teams, short-term counseling and connections to outside mental health options. Host town-hall style meetings: Vigils, town-hall meetings or other group settings can help provide support and a sense of community during grief. Repair and rebuild the school: Officials should consider having plans to change elements of the school environment that may be triggering, the council said. Lawmakers return to Frankfort to continue the 2023 legislative session on Feb. 7. This year's session ends March 30. Reach Olivia Krauth at okrauth@courierjournal.com and on Twitter at @oliviakrauth. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky school safety: Students suggest gun control, 8 other ideas KHARKIV, Ukraine A cellphone video shared widely on social media shows a woman jumping up and down as she unwraps a gift. Inside the box is a red piece of paper, which she waves at the camera in excitement. Its a permit for Rynok Square for my Mercedes, she exclaims. The best present. The gift allowed her to drive through one of the main pedestrian squares in Ukraines western city of Lviv, a route usually reserved for emergency vehicles. And the gift came from her boyfriend the head of the citys traffic police the Police Patrol of Ukraine said in statement. Within hours of the video being posted on Instagram over the weekend, the womans boyfriend had been suspended from his duties, the statement said, adding that an official investigation had been ordered. The Lviv traffic police chief did not respond to a request for comment. He is now one of around a dozen officials who resigned, were fired, or were put under investigation this week as Ukraines government confronts an old enemy: corruption. Even as he fights against Russias invasion, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is eager to show his public as well as Western governments whose aid his country relies upon that he is also continuing to wage war on graft in Ukraines notoriously corrupt public sector. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Lviv on Jan. 11, 2023. (Presidential Office of Ukraine / DPA / AP) The scandal comes at a precarious time for Kyiv, with the United States and its allies stepping up their supplies of military and humanitarian aid as the war with Moscow nears the one-year mark. Ukraine is also seeking to join the European Union and NATO and will be hoping the wartime purge will help those bids and wont boost the Kremlins efforts to undermine its reputation. Any internal problems that interfere with the state are being cleaned up and will be cleaned up. This is only fair, it is necessary for our protection, and it helps our rapprochement with the European institutions, Zelenskyy said in his nightly address Tuesday. Among the officials who lost their jobs Tuesday were Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Vyacheslav Shapovalov and five regional governors. Ukrainian Deputy Prosecutor General Oleksiy Symonenko resigned after the country's media reported he went on vacation to Spain over New Years a move widely seen as decadent when many are struggling through winter with limited electricity because of Russian attacks. On Monday, Zelenskyy banned public officials from traveling abroad for anything other than work. Story continues Shapovalov and the ousted prosecutor did not respond to a request for comment. NBC News has not verified the reports of his travel. Kyrylo Tymoshenko, Ukraine's Deputy Head of the Presidential Office resignation. (AFP - Getty Images) Perhaps the most painful loss for Zelenskyy was the resignation of his own deputy chief of staff. Kyrylo Tymoshenko was a longtime friend of the president who worked with him in his pre-political career as a comedian, and his proximity made him one of Ukraines most powerful men. But he was also the subject of a series of embarrassing stories after he was photographed driving a new Porsche around Kyiv. Tymoshenko denied owning the car. In a social media post, he gave no reason for his resignation but thanked Zelenskyy for the trust and for the opportunity to do good deeds every day and every minute. The pursuit of corrupt officials has been led by Ukraines National Anti-Corruption Bureau, an investigative agency established in 2015. This week, the bureau announced that a deputy minister of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development had been detained while allegedly receiving a $400,000 cash bribe. The deputy minister could not be reached for comment. But Ukraine has a long and entrenched problem with corruption an issue Zelenskyy vowed to tackle when he ran for office as an anti-establishment upstart. President Joe Biden grappled with the issue as vice president. In 2016, he threatened to withhold a $1 billion loan guarantee if Ukraines government did not fire a prosecutor the U.S. considered soft on corruption. Im leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, youre not getting the money, Biden recalled telling Ukrainian leaders, speaking during a 2018 event. The prosecutor was fired soon after. U.S. lawmakers greeted Tuesdays latest corruption crackdown. Its a defining moment for Ukraine. Its a defining moment for all of us, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said at a news conference days after returning from Kyiv. Were confident this is a first step in a long journey to change the way business is done, Graham said. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who was also on the trip, said the personnel changes were important. It demonstrates what President Zelenskyy has told us, that there will be zero tolerance for fraud or waste, he said. However, the spate of firings this week appears to have been sparked by pressure from Ukraines own media and civil society rather than American intervention. The President sees and hears society. And he directly responds to a key public demand justice for all, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelenskyy, wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. There is still a long way to go. Ukraine is currently ranked 132 out of 180 countries on a corruption index compiled by Transparency International, a good-governance nongovernmental organization. Before entering parliament in 2019, Yaroslav Yurchyshyn was the executive director of Transparency International Ukraines chapter. In an interview with NBC News, Yurchyshyn said he was optimistic that Ukraine could fight corruption at the same time as fighting Russian forces. He pointed to what he saw as an uptick in anti-corruption activity since the fall, when a new prosecutor was appointed. I think that after the war, we will have a better Ukraine than we had before the war, he said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Sen. Elizabeth Warren, an outspoken critic of corporate consolidation, wrote to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to express concern about two pending pharmaceutical deals. In a letter dated Wednesday, Warren said that she was focused on Amgen's plan to buy Horizon Therapeutics, and addiction specialist Indivior's plan to buy Opiant for $145 million, which was announced in mid-November. "Given these companies' records of anti-competitive business practices, these acquisitions could cause further price increases on lifesaving drugs and prevent affordable alternatives from entering the market," she wrote in the letter to FTC Chair Lina Khan as well as Commissioners Rebecca Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya, all of whom are Democrats. Horizon Therapeutics closed down about 1.5% on Thursday while Opiant shed nearly 2%. Amgen closed down less than 1% on Thursday. The agency shares the job of assessing mergers to ensure they comply with antitrust law with the Justice Department. It can sue to block planned acquisitions that it believes are illegal. Warren said that both Amgen and Horizon Therapeutics "have engaged in brazen price increases," including on Amgen's Enbrel for arthritis and Horizons Krystexxa, a gout medication. Amgen said it disagreed with Warren's analysis of the deal. "We have been working cooperatively with the Federal Trade Commission and remain confident there are no anti-competitive aspects of this transaction," the company said in a statement. Warren noted that the FTC had settled with Indivior and its former parent over its attempt to protect its monopoly of the opioid addiction treatment Suboxone. Indivior makes Sublocade -- a slow-release treatment for opioid addiction that is administered monthly. Suboxone is given daily and also prevents an accidental overdose. Opiant, original owner of opioid overdose remedy Narcan, is working on getting approval for a nasal spray version of nalmefene, believed to be a more effective opioid antagonist. Story continues "The FTC should strongly consider Indivior's history of anti-competitive and deceptive practices when evaluating how Indivior might behave after this potential transaction is completed," wrote Warren. Indivior said in its comment that nalmefene would be an "important additional option" to help people who have overdosed on an opioid but did not address Warren's concerns. Warren noted that the FTC, which has long focused on healthcare mergers, said in 2021 that it would prioritize pharmaceutical acquisitions. She also asked the agency how it factored into its merger reviews efforts by the companies to extend patent protections, using strategies that are sometimes controversial. (Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and David Gregorio) WALTERBORO, SC - One of the most highly publicized trials in modern South Carolina Lowcountry history got underway Wednesday in Colleton County with strong, but graphicly descriptive opening statements from both the S.C. Attorney General's Office and Richard "Alex" Murdaugh defense attorney Richard Harpootlian. Chief prosecutor Creighton Waters told the court that the state has a variety of strong evidence that will prove that Murdaugh murdered his wife and son on the night of June 7, 2021, while Harpootlian questioned the reliability of that "circumstantial" evidence and insisted that Murdaugh was a "loving father" who is "innocent" of the murder charges. The trial continues Thursday at 9:30 a.m. with the first witnesses and testimony. Waters Wednesday afternoon indicated that the first witness would be the first officer on the scene the night of the murders, and the first exhibit of evidence would be the body cam footage from that officer. Analysis, replay of Wednesday's hearing:Alex Murdaugh murder trial opens with strong, graphic statements. Alex Murdaugh murder trial:Here's what they're saying on social media Who is the real Alex Murdaugh?The man who wrecked a South Carolina legal dynasty This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Watch: Attorneys lay out cases in Alex Murdaugh's double murder trial A federal watchdog agency for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) says in a report released this week that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) failed to carry out sufficient oversight into research conducted using millions in federal funds, including research carried out at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has been aggressively scrutinized amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for HHS said in its report that the NIH did not make enough of an effort to ensure that requirements tied to federal grant awards were complied with, despite the potential risks that were known and the monitoring procedures that were developed. The report focused on the awards that were distributed through the EcoHealth Alliance, a nonprofit non-governmental organization dedicated to protecting wildlife and public health from emerging diseases. The OIG looked into three NIH grants awarded to EcoHealth totaling about $8 million, which in turn were awarded to several recipients, including the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Other recipients included the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as well as the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control And Research in Bangladesh. The organizations each conducted research into zoonotic diseases, which are infections spread between animals and humans. NIH policies dictate that grant recipients adhere to certain requirements, particularly when it came to gain-of-function research, enhancing a pathogens ability to cause infection in order to understand its potential to cause outbreaks. Gain-of-function research has gained notoriety throughout the pandemic, with lawmakers such as Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) questioning whether COVID-19 could have originated from the lab in Wuhan. According to the OIG, monitoring of research was done by reviewing lab reports, performing audits and corresponding directly with the award recipients. However, it was found that EcoHealth failed to submit timely progress reports to the NIH, which in turn did not follow up with the nonprofit in a timely manner. Story continues EcoHealths failure to submit a progress report in a timely manner and NIHs failure to follow up on a missing progress report limited NIHs ability to effectively monitor its grant award to EcoHealth and evaluate whether the special terms and conditions were met, the OIG report read. These lapses in oversight were noted to be particularly noteworthy due to concerns NIH had previously raised with EcoHealth regarding the type of research being conducted. EcoHealth was also unable to provide scientific documents from the Wuhan Institute when they were requested by NIH. The OIG found no evidence that EcoHealth obtained these documents from the Wuhan Institute, and the organization confirmed the lab was not responsive to document requests. In April 2020, NIH directed EcoHealth to stop providing funding to the Wuhan Institute due to concerns the lab may have been involved in the release of the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19. Apart from these oversight failures, the watchdog agency determined EcoHealth had spent $89,171 of its grants in ways that fell outside of federal requirements and recommended that these funds be refunded to the U.S. government. In a response letter, EcoHealth President Peter Daszak said they have already reimbursed NIH for these unallowed costs. Going forward, the OIG recommended that NIH enhance its monitoring and documentation requirements for foreign grant recipients and define what is considered to be immediate notification. The NIH concurred with all of the OIGs recommendations. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. ISLAMABAD, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani rupee suffered a big decline against the U.S. dollar as the greenback was traded at 255.43 rupees in the interbank market on Thursday, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). The U.S. dollar closed at 230.89 rupees on Wednesday. On Thursday, the local currency depreciated by 24.54 rupee, or about 9.6 percent, to a record low against the U.S. dollar, official figures showed. Ismail Iqbal Securities, a local brokerage company, noted that this depreciation is officially the largest decline in the rupee, both in absolute and percentage terms, since the introduction of the new exchange rate system in 1999. It was expected for the rupee to undergo a significant depreciation in the coming days as the South Asian country began to take measures to meet the pre-conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to revive its bailout program, according to market analysts. Additionally, some analysts appreciated the government's policy to allow the market forces to determine the exchange rate, stating that it would help Pakistan revive the IMF program. (AFP/Twitter) Hustlers University is the greatest thing that exists on the planet for people who are trying to escape the Matrix. I will show you how, says Andrew Tate, standing beside the worlds most expensive car, a Bugatti Veyron. It makes it impossible to not make money, adds a recent graduate. When youre surrounded by millionaires money just falls into your bank account. You are finally in the right place at the right time. You are the only person who can make this work. And you are also the only person who can f*ck this up, says Tate, pointing at the camera. I paused the video. I had enrolled in the online business course set up by the controversial influencer accused of human trafficking and rape. For those unaware Andrew Tate is a former kickboxer, reality TV contestant and social media influencer, who gained notoriety over the years for peddling misogynistic views. Originally called Hustlers University, his online course is sold as an academy where members pay a monthly membership fee in exchange for advice on how to make a passive income from several online industries. The course was rebranded to Hustlers University 2.0, then 3.0 and then briefly shut down after Tates social media ban. It has since been relaunched, again, as The Real World. When you enter the site you are met with the slogan Join us. Amass wealth. Escape Slavery. After clicking through, you are asked to enter your bank details and escape slavery for 40 a month. Upon entering, users are given a choice of online courses including cryptocurrency, e-commerce and drop shipping for Amazon where you make money by acting as a middle-man between buyers and sellers without selling an actual product. A luxury vehicle which was seized in a case against media influencer Andrew Tate, is towed away, on the outskirts of Bucharest, Romania (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) The idea is members of the course will learn to make money through side hustles or having a passive income, where you can escape working the nine-to-five or as Andrew Tate calls it, escaping the Matrix. Tate frequently refers to the world of the Matrix, the alternate, fake reality of the Keanu Reeves film where computers control people through an intricate web of lies. Story continues There is also the option of the freelancing course, where you are encouraged to make fake Tiktok accounts and post videos of Tate. These videos, in turn, ask viewers to join The Real World with a small percentage of the course fee paid back for successful signups. Newly enrolled members of the course repeat this process. Despite being arrested for sex trafficking and being banned from multiple social media platforms, Tates misogynistic views continue to circulate just a scroll away from anyone with a smartphone. The Real World is run through the online instant messaging platform Discord, which has numerous channels where members of the course talk to each other about making money or their big wins. One member claimed he had as many as 1,000 fake Tate Tiktok accounts. Another said he had been posting videos of Tate on Instagram for months without success, until one of his videos eventually went viral and a viewer signed up to the course using his affiliated link. He posted his first big win into the Discord channel, as other members praised his achievement. Thanks guys, were all going to make it, he wrote. I remember yesterday thinking I will never be like those guys that get views. This first big win? $11. Police officers escort Andrew Tate outside the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) where prosecutors examine electronic equipment confiscated during the investigation in their case, in Bucharest, Romania (AP) If the claims of 200,000 paid users of the course are true, at 40 a month this would net Tate around 96 million a year. Members are encouraged to keep their identities secret, so they address each other as G. Tate himself is referred to as Top G. At its centre, the cult of Tate is governed by his 41 Tenets for men a set of laws that are a framework for any man to live a beneficial life. Principles include believing men have the sacred duty to raise strong, capable, and honourable sons, while having the sacred duty to raise kind, feminine and virtuous daughters. Other tenets make vague assertions about free speech, honouring your ancestors, and protecting the sanctity of your bloodstream. Such dog whistling has inevitably attracted members of the far-right into the course. In one message board, where members ask Tate questions, one member asked: When they kill you, do you want us to riot to attack the matrix and break it down? Or do you have any other plans in place for if they kill you? In reference to Tates imprisonment in Romania, another posted we soldiers need to help strengthen each other to prepare for the time when our commander comes back. A man stands outside the Court of Appeal during the hearings for the Tate brothers (AP) Another devotee goes on to say, Tate, first of all you are risking your life to fight the good fight against tyranny and we are all grateful for the opportunity you are giving us. I recently became so obsessed with the money, the matrix, all the people who are responsible for it and all the puppets involved that I went into a self-induced psychosis and spent nearly a week in hospital. On the fringes of the so-called Real World is a hodge-podge of misogyny, alt-right and conspiracy theory where members think he is an arbiter of truth who is standing up against the matrix. However, it would appear that many members are not trying to overthrow the world order, but simply seeking a way to make money. Some ask Tate how to make enough to cover medical bills, make their rent or what they can do about their feelings of loneliness and depression. Misguidedly or not, in the toughest economic times in recent memory, supporters are placing their hopes on their saviour Tate to help them, and the desperation is clear. Hey top G, one Real World user asks. I live paycheck to paycheck from my mum and dads low salary and Im just sick of it all. I dont want to live my life like that and I want to give back to my parents for their sacrifices and for my siblings. One Wharton professor allows his students to use ChatGPT, the AI chatbot that's gone viral. Getty Images UPenn professor Ethan Mollick now requires his students to use ChatGPT in their studies, per NPR. His new policy comes as educators grapple with the implications of AI. While some schools banned ChatGPT, Mollick said that it can serve as a useful learning tool. While ChatGPT may be getting heat from certain educators who worry it will facilitate cheating, one professor said that he is embracing the technology with open arms. Ethan Mollick, an entrepreneurship and innovation professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, told NPR on Thursday that he now requires his students to use ChatGPT to help with their classwork. "This is a tool that's useful," Mollick said during the NPR interview. "There's a lot of positives about it. That doesn't minimize the fact that cheating and negativity are there, but those have been there for a long time." His new AI policy which NPR reviewed calls AI usage an "emerging skill." The policy also states that students must check ChatGPT's responses and will be held accountable for any inaccuracies that the bot spits out. Mollick said that he's already seeing positive results. During class this week, nearly all of his students used ChatGPT to help generate project ideas for an assignment. "The ideas so far are great, partially as a result of that set of interactions," Mollick said. He also said it can help students, especially non-native English speakers, improve their writing and alleviate the burden of stressful writing tasks, such as writing emails and letters. Some of his students who have used the AI to do just that told him that they were "taken more seriously" as a result. Mollick did not respond to Insider's request for comment. The Wharton professor's policy comes after some schools decided to ban students and teachers from using ChatGPT out of fear that it would encourage plagiarism and cheating. Some professors have already caught their students using ChatGPT to write their essays, and one university student even made a tool to identify AI plagiarism. Story continues But Mollick is part of a class of educators who think that ChatGPT can actually be useful. He admits that it is "depressing" to know that cheating may occur at "an even grander scale" as a result of ChatGPT. But at the same time, he thinks that teachers must learn to adapt to new technologies as they emerge. "We've taught people how to do math in a world with calculators," he said, likening ChatGPT to that technology. Sam Altman the CEO of OpenAI, the firm behind ChatGPT echoed the sentiment. In an interview with StrictlyVC, Altman said that he understands why educators are worried about ChatGPT, but that ultimately, the benefits would outweigh the costs. He said that the chat bot can be "an unbelievable personal tutor." "Generative text is something we all need to adapt to," Altman said. And it's not like ChatGPT is perfect. "AI will never be as good as the best experts in a field," Mollick said. "We still need to teach people to be experts." Read the original article on Business Insider Whitney Sharpe, a business executive and former beauty queen, is being praised online after she called out a male client for making nasty comments about her when he accidentally shared his screen during a video call. On Tuesday (24 January), the former Miss Massachusetts winner posted a TikTok video of herself on a Microsoft Teams call with three male clients from a prospective vendor who were looking to sell their software to her staffing company, Mindlance. When one of the men accidentally shared his screen during the video call, he also exposed his group chat with his colleagues in which they made objectifying comments about Sharpes appearance. In response, Sharpe called out her male colleagues prompting women everywhere to praise her for standing up for herself. First of all, if were going to continue working together, I want to work with a woman sales representative because I dont want to have to see locker room talk about myself youre sharing screens, she said during the call, after catching a glimpse at their inappropriate messages. So, if were going to move forward, I would like to work with an account rep thats maybe a woman in the area so that we can move forward that way, Sharpe continued. The Boston-based executive gave her male clients the benefit of the doubt when she assured them that it was a mistake, but reaffirmed that she doesnt want to see locker room talk about myself especially while conducting business. I just want to work with a woman moving forward, if possible, she emphasised. @whitneyrose617 Its rough being a woman in a male dominated field original sound - Whitney One of the male clients on the video call apologised profusely to Sharpe, and said the nasty comments were inexcusable. She wrote over the video, When a vendor accidentally shares his group Teams chat and its all nasty things about me, and captioned the clip: Its rough being a woman in a male dominated field. Story continues Since it was posted, Sharpes video has been viewed 10 million times. But despite receiving an apology from one of the male vendors during the video call, she didnt receive a formal apology from the company which she didnt name until much later. In one follow-up video, which she captioned How not to apologize in corporate America 101, Sharpe shared a screenshot of an email she received from the companys vice president of sales one day later. Although the VP said there was no excuse for the mens lack of professionalism, he did admit that he couldnt reassign her to a female sales representative moving forward because there were no women skilled enough to assist her. Red flag! Red flag! Dont you see that as a problem in that statement alone? Sharpe filmed herself saying as she showed off a screenshot of the email. Why dont you hire someone? Theres plenty of talented women out in the field. Sharpe then posted a second update, revealing that the VP of sales finally called her over the phone not to apologise, but to do damage control and continue with the sale. Sharpe revealed to her followers that she ultimately dropped the company as a potential vendor because she cant work with a vendor and my company will not support a vendor that does not support women in business. After going viral, Whitney Sharpe received countless support from fellow women in the comments section. Thousands of users commended Sharpe for how she handled the inappropriate situation. @whitneyrose617 The saga continues. I cant thank you all enough for the love and support. Theres so many bad ass women out there original sound - Whitney Yeeees! You handled this so well! Im sending to my daughters! one person commented. You are AMAZING! The way you stood up for yourself right then too, said someone else, while another user shared, You handled this like a BOSS. Another user noted: The fact that you called them out so tactfully is so impressive. I hope they are embarrassed. Even Shark Tank star Barbara Corcoran commented, You rock! along with a clapping emoji. The Independent has contacted Whitney Sharpe for comment. Story at a glance Personal finance website WalletHub took a look at all 50 states to determine which are the best and the worst to drive in. To rank the states, WalletHub compared them across four key dimensions: cost of ownership and maintenance; traffic and infrastructure; safety; and access to vehicles and maintenance. Hawaii came in last while Iowa came in first. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Traffic, road conditions and the cost of vehicle maintenance are all things that can make drivers grip the steering wheel a bit tighter. These conditions vary across states for a variety of reasons including population, weather and government investments. Personal finance website WalletHub took a look at all 50 states to determine which are the best and the worst to drive in. Washington state landed second from last on the list. To rank the states, WalletHub compared them across four key dimensions: cost of ownership and maintenance; traffic and infrastructure; safety; and access to vehicles and maintenance. These housing markets could be a first-time buyers best bet in 2023 Researchers then broke those dimensions down into 31 relevant metrics, including things like average gas prices, the share of rush-hour traffic congestion, number of days with precipitation, road quality, traffic fatality rate, car theft rate and auto-repair shops per capita. Hawaii, one of the most desirable vacation destinations, came in dead last thanks to the high cost of car ownership, state of the infrastructure and limited access to vehicles and maintenance, the study found. While Hawaii may have unique challenges when it comes to traffic and infrastructure, the country as a whole desperately needs an upgrade, according to The American Society of Civil Engineers. The ASCE gave Americas roads a D grade on the societys annual report card, saying underfunding has led to 40% of the countrys roadways falling into poor or mediocre conditions. Story continues Washington took 49th place behind Hawaii. The state ranked 47th among all states for its cost of vehicle ownership and maintenance and 39th among states for traffic and infrastructure. Rounding out the worst 10, were, in order, Delaware, Rhode Island, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, Michigan and California. According to WalletHub, these are the 10 best states to drive in: Iowa Georgia Ohio Oklahoma North Carolina Idaho Texas Tennessee Kansas Indiana WalletHub asked experts how states can reduce the number of traffic fatalities. Arman Sargolzaei, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Southern Florida said the vast majority of U.S. traffic accidents are entirely or partially due to human error. A shift in responsibilities from the human driver to self-driving cars can potentially reduce accidents, he said. Shannon Roberts, an assistant professor in the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst also said the biggest risk for drivers continues to be not wearing a seat belt or being under the influence while driving. Whatever states can do to encourage seat belt usage and discourage driving after drinking/drug usage would help prevent traffic fatalities, she said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The police are inspecting the places in Kyiv Oblast where fragments of Russian missiles fell According to the head of the National Police of Kyiv Oblast, Andrii Nebytov, police are recording the consequences of enemy strikes and inspecting the places where the missiles fell. Read also: New Russian missile attack conducted in waves, says Ukraines military Earlier, Kyiv City Military Administration reported that Russia fired more than 15 cruise missiles at the capital. All of them were shot down by air defense forces. Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko reported explosions in the Dniprovskyi district and a missile hitting a non-residential building in Holosiivskyi. One person was killed and two more were wounded, reportedly by falling debris from a shot-down Russian cruise missile. Meanwhile, the head of the Vinnytsia Oblast Military Administration said that enemy missiles had found their targets, and it was reported that two critical energy infrastructure facilities were damaged in Odesa Oblast. Earlier, Russia also conducted an overnight attack on Ukraine with Iranian drones, with all 24 being shot down. Read also: About 15 Shahed drones downed over Kyiv overnight Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The Chicken Capricciosa entree at Catullo's Italian restaurant, 1650-2 San Pablo Road S. in Jacksonville. Seven months after cracking the Top 10 in Yelps first-ever guide to the Top 100 restaurants in Florida, a Jacksonville Italian restaurant has made Yelps Top 100 U.S. Restaurants for 2023. Catullos Italian, located at 1650-2 San Pablo Road S. in the citys Intracoastal West neighborhood, is the only Northeast Florida restaurant to make Yelps annual list and its one of just 13 from Florida on the list for 2023. The restaurant comes in at No. 64 on the list. In June 2022, Yelp ranked Catullo's at No. 10 on its list of top restaurants in Florida. Located at the Walmart Neighborhood Market-anchored Village Shoppes of San Pablo, the restaurant comes from brothers Carl and Dave Catullo, who literally rolled out their Italian concept in 2016 with a food truck. Three years later they opened their first restaurant, serving fresh-from-scratch Italian cuisine using authentic family recipes, including ravioli, tortellini, lasagna and pappardelle. Just in time for Valentine's Day:What are the best romantic restaurants in Jacksonville? Here are some favorites Scrambled or over easy? 5 best restaurants in the Jacksonville area for a great breakfast Coming soon:25 new restaurants are in the works for Jacksonville in 2023. Here's a list. Favorite dishes include Gnocchi Catullo, described as "fluffy little potato pasta pillows, cooked in our fresh sage and Calabrian chili alfredo sauce"; Chicken Capricciosa, described as the "closest thing youre gonna get to anything Parm here!"; and Pear Fiocchi, made with egg pasta filled with fresh pear along with three kinds of Italian cheese topped with a cream sauce including caramelized pear, Gorgonzola and goat cheese and fried Prosciutto di Carpegna. Other popular dishes, according to Yelpers, are Arancini, Creamy Chicken Pesto and Sea Scallop Risotto as well as desserts Limoncello Mascarpone Cake and Cannoli. The Pear Fiocchi is among the signature dishes at Catullo'sItalian, one of the first Jacksonville restaurants that started out as a food truck. And some good news for the restaurants fans: the Catullo brothers are planning to open a second restaurant at Nocatee Town Center in Ponte Vedra Beach. The restaurant is planned to occupy a spot in the Publix-anchored retail center near Dicks Wings and The Loop Pizza Grill. An opening date has not been announced. Story continues Other Florida restaurants on Yelps Top 100 U.S. Restaurants for 2023 This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Yelp's Top 100 U.S. Restaurants: Jacksonville's Catullo's makes list The New Yorker published the documentary short film "I Did Not Want to Make a War Film" by Ukrainian director Nadia Parfan. "Nadiia Parfan was abroad when Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. In this personal essay-film, she documents her painful return home", says the description of the tape. The duration of the short film by Parfan is 17.5 minutes. In it, the director tells that the news of the beginning of a full-scale war that Russia launched against Ukraine in February 2022 caught her in Dahab, where she and her husband go every winter. "My name is Nadiia. I'm from Ukraine. Back home, winters are dark and cold. I prefer to escape somewhere warm and return in the spring when life wakes up again. This year was different. The winter of 2022 never ended", Parfan says behind the scenes. In her film, she used parts of videos taken by eyewitnesses of missile strikes on Kyiv, the invasion of the Russian military in Kyiv Oblast, and rallies in cities that the invaders entered. There are also videos that she took on the way home; they were filmed in Bucha liberated from the Russians, and in Kyiv that suffered missile attacks. Earlier, it became known that It's A Date the short film directed by Nadia Parfan entered the Competition Program of the Berlin Film Festival. The film tells the story of the capital of the country where a full-scale war continues, but life still goes on there. Parfan will compete for victory in the Berlinale Shorts Short Film Competition Program. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Jahmir Young scored 22 points and Donta Scott recorded a double-double and Maryland distanced itself in the second half en route to a 73-55 win over Wisconsin on Wednesday night. Scott's jump shot with 9:10 remaining put the Terrapins up 59-49 and Maryland (13-7, 4-5 Big Ten) led by double digits the rest of the way. Scott finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds, Julian Reese scored 14 points shooting 7 for 8 and Hakim Hart 13 shooting 6 for 9. Maryland shot 56% overall on 28-for-50 shooting. Wisconsin (12-7, 4-5) defeated in five of its last six got 19 points from Connor Essegian, 13 from Tyler Wahl and 11 from Steven Crowl. After Essegian's 3-pointer with 6:01 before halftime, the Terrapins posted a 10-0 run in a little more than three minutes when Scott made a technical foul shot after Jordan Davis was called for a flop. Young scored a layup, and after Carter Gilmore missed a 3-point attempt for Wisconsin, Scott made a 3. Young added a layup for a 30-23 lead with 2:56 before intermission and the Terrapins led 32-28 at halftime. Maryland has played .500 in its last eight games but 10-1 at home. Wisconsin hosts Illinois on Saturday. Maryland hosts Nebraska 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 In a recent interview with Sky News, President Zelensky told British journalist Kay Burley that Russias Vladimir Putin is nobody to him following the full-scale invasion and that he has no interest in meeting with him. "It is not interesting for me," he said about a potential face-to-face meeting with Putin. "Not interesting to meet, not interesting to speak. Why? Because we had meeting with him in Normandy Format, it was before the full-scale invasion. I saw the man who said one thing and then did another." Zelensky and Putin first met during the Normandy Format summit in December 2019, seven months after Zelensky became president. The Normandy Format was launched in 2014 to find a peaceful resolution to the War in Donbas and the Russian annexation of Crimea. Ending the war was also one of Zelenskys main campaign promises during the presidential election in 2019. All parties agreed on the need for peace and the implementation of the political provisions of the Minsk agreements. However, Russias promises were short lived, as Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia briefly took place at the start of the invasion but have stalled. The first meeting was held on Feb. 28 in Belarus and consecutive meetings were held in Turkey. In December 2022, Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called for a peace summit at the United Nations on the condition of establishing an international war crimes tribunal for Russia. In January 2023, Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there is currently no prospect for settling the war by diplomatic means. Russia continues to occupy swathes of Ukrainian territory and launch mass missile attacks that have claimed numerous civilian lives and inflicted severe damage on Ukraines energy infrastructure. Intelligence points to a surge of Russian forces in southern and eastern Ukraine in the coming weeks. Zelensky also told Sky News that Ukraine is keeping track of the massive number of Russian casualties on the battlefield. He added that as a father himself, he couldnt understand how Russian families allowed their sons to be sent off to die fighting in an unjust war. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, has stated that he is not interested in a meeting with Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, as Zelenskyy does not understand who makes decisions in Russia. Zelenskyy also said that Putin is nobody to him after the full-scale invasion. Source: Zelenskyy in an interview with Sky News Details: Zelenskyy emphasised that Russian missile attacks evine that the Kremlin lies by stating the possibility of peace talks with Ukraine. When asked if a meeting with Putin could help resolve the war, Zelenskyy replied: "Not interesting. To speak? I really don't understand who makes decisions in Russia," Zelenskyy said, answering whether the meeting with Putin would help to end the war. At the same time, Zelenskyy emphasised that if Russia leaves Ukraines territory, the war ends. "I just want them [Russians ed.] to stop the war as quickly as possible, and leave our country as fast as possible," Zelenskyy added. Zelenskyy also answered whether it is not too late to hold negotiations with the Kremlin. "After the full-scale invasion, for me he [Putin ed.] is nobody, nobody," Ukraines president said. Background: On 19 January, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he is not completely sure that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is still alive, mentioning the use of a green-screen by the Russian President. Zelenskyy also said that Russia should first find someone and then suggest something to hold peace talks. On 22 January, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he believes that Ukraine can win the war with Russia in 2023 if Ukrainians remain united. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! DHAKA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh has strongly condemned the ripping of a copy of the Quran in the Netherlands, calling it a senseless and provocative Islamophobic act. In a statement on Thursday, Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the act hurts the religious sensitivities of over 1.5 billion Muslims across the globe. "Bangladesh strongly condemns the recent act of desecrating the Holy Quran by a far-right activist in The Hague," the statement said. Bangladesh expresses grave concern over such a heinous incident and rejects any act of insulting the sacred values and religious symbols of the Muslims, the statement said. Bangladesh urges all concerned to put an end to such unwarranted provocations and Islamophobia for the sake of harmony and peaceful coexistence, the statement added. Edwin Wagensveld, leader of the Pegida movement in the Netherlands, tore up a copy of the Quran in front of the Dutch parliament in the Hague on Sunday. The action has prompted criticism from some Islamic countries and a number of Muslim communities in Europe. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that the new Russian massive drone and missile attacks on Ukraine prove that Ukraine needs adequate weapons, as it is impossible to persuade Russia otherwise. Source: Zelenskyy in an evening video address to Ukrainians on 26 January Quote: "Today we have endured another massive missile attack by the terrorists. The attack, which fully confirms everything discussed with our partners, shows that Russian aggression can and must only be stopped with adequate weapons. A terrorist state cannot be persuaded by other means. We need weapons on the contact line. Weapons that protect our skies. We need new sanctions against Russia that are a political and economic weapon. And legal weapons: we must work even harder to create a tribunal for prosecuting the Russian crime of aggression against Ukraine and compensating all damage caused by this war at the expense of Russian assets." Details: The president reported that the Ukrainian air defence shot down the majority of Russian missiles and Shahed drones, but there were strikes and people were killed and injured. "It is hard to provide 100% protection by air defence alone, especially when the terrorists are using ballistic missiles," Zelenskyy stated. He added that "the Russian terror requires an asymmetric response and a new movement at the contact line". Zelenskyy stressed that every Russian missile launched at the Ukrainian cities, every Iran-made drone used by the terrorists are arguments as to why more weapons are needed. He believes that "only weapons defeat terrorists". The president reported that Ukraine is expanding the tank coalition: "Canada has made a corresponding decision, and I am thankful for this. There are already 12 countries in our coalition". Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! , Jan 26 ( The People ) - Leaving the ultramodern neon-lit streets behind us, we are entering Eastern Tokyo and getting close to an area called Sanya. This cheap housing district has the fame of the citys slums, but the truth is that it used to give shelter to day laborers who came to the city to claim menial jobs and were paid by the hour. We are now in the Kabuki-cho district. In an otherwise extremely law-obedient country, this district is considered among the seediest you can find. Not only does it harbor abundant criminal activity; it is also home to many Yakuza gangs, Japans organized crime syndicates. ...continue reading Hundreds of schools as well as universities across Japan received fax messages with bomb and death threats on Wednesday, stoking panic and subsequent closure of the schools. Most schools, however, were reopened on Thursday. According to an official statement, the threats were faxed to high schools and universities from a Tokyo-registered number. The authorities are yet to make any arrest(s) for the bomb threats. Police said that no explosives were found in all the school buildings that it investigated after receiving the complaints related to bomb threats. The threats shocked the nation known for its historically low crime rate. All the faxed threats used the name of a certain lawyer written in a unique font, according to the education ministry sources cited by the Japan Times. According to law enforcement officials, the schools in Osaka, Saitama and Ibaraki began receiving the first wave of bomb threat messages on Monday. Officials said that as many as 174 schools received bomb threats in Saitama prefecture, located just 31 km southwest of capital Tokyo. In total, threats were sent to about 300 senior high schools and universities across Japan, officials said. ...continue reading 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. DHAKA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Hindu community in Bangladesh on Thursday celebrated Saraswati Puja Festival by worshipping Saraswati, the Hindu Goddess of knowledge, wisdom, arts and music. The festival has brought together Hindus to the temples in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country since Thursday morning. Traditionally Hindu toddlers are introduced to education and learning on the day of Saraswati festival and this ritual is called "Hatekhori" in Bangladesh. Major Hindu temples, schools, colleges, universities and other educational institutions stage celebrations of the festival with traditional gaiety and religious fervor. Bangladeshi President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in separate messages, greeted the members of the Hindu community on the occasion of the Saraswati festival. UNESCO Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, stressed, on Tuesday in Paris, the commitment of King Mohammed VI to strengthening cooperation ties between Morocco and the UN organization. We know the commitment and importance His Majesty the King and the Royal Family grant to enhancing further the Morocco-UNESCO cooperation, said Ms. Azoulay during the signing ceremony, held under the chairmanship of Princess Lalla Hasnaa, President of the Foundation for the Safeguarding of Rabats Cultural Heritage, of the partnership agreement sealed between the UN body and the Foundation. Within the framework of cooperation between Morocco and the UNESCO, the North African Kingdom hosted last November the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, said Mrs. Audrey Azoulay, noting that this meeting was crowned with the royal announcement of the decision of setting up a National Center dedicated to intangible heritage. Mrs. Azoulay also hailed the commitment of Princess Lalla Hasnaa, President of the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, which has been accompanying UNESCO since 2016 in its actions aimed at safeguarding the Oceans. The UNESCO Chief praised the Princesss engagement and actions for the promotion of environmental education and the preservation of the cultural heritage of Moroccos capital city of Rabat. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Michele Sison has reaffirmed Washingtons steadfast support to the Moroccan autonomy plan offered for a lasting resolution of the Sahara issue, describing the plan as serious, credible and realistic. The United States continues to view the autonomy plan presented by Rabat as serious, credible and realistic, said Mrs. Sison at a press briefing held Wednesday in Rabat following her talks with Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. The priority of the United States is to support a credible process conducive to a lasting solution to the Sahara conflict, added the U.S. Assistant Secretary. She said her talks with Bourita focused on continued U.S. support for UN Sahara Envoy Staffan De Mistura, MINURSOs peacekeeping efforts and the UN missions importance in preserving the UN-led peace process. Morocco has condemned in the strongest terms the actions of an extremist who tore up a copy of the Holy Quran in The Hague, the Netherlands. The Kingdom denounces this new provocative act that offends the sacred symbols and feelings of more than a billion Muslims, said the Foreign Ministry in a statement. Morocco, while recalling the values of tolerance and coexistence and respect for sacred symbols, stresses the need to apply the law and act firmly to prevent any attack on religions and the feelings of their followers, the statement added. Last week, Swedish extremists in Stockholm had burnt a copy of the Holy Koran, an act that was strongly condemned by Morocco, as a move that can fuel anger and hatred between religions and peoples. The Kingdom of Morocco is shocked by the Swedish authorities authorization of this unacceptable act, which took place under the eyes of the Swedish law and order enforcement agents, the Foreign Affairs Ministry had said in a statement, urging Swedish authorities to intervene to prevent an attack on the Holy Koran and the sacred religious symbols of Muslims. The values of tolerance and coexistence demand that the logic of double standards be abandoned and that the same intransigence and firmness be shown in the face of any attack on the sacred symbols of religions and the feelings of their followers, the statement had said. King Felipe VI of Spain stressed on Wednesday that the upcoming high-level meeting between Morocco and Spain will be an opportunity to deepen the vast bilateral relations. This meeting, which has not taken place since 2015, will allow us to deepen the vast bilateral relations, to work together on a more solid basis, the Spanish sovereign said in an address at a function in honor of the diplomatic corps accredited in Spain. Morocco and Spain have entered a new phase in their bilateral relations, said King Felipe VI, noting that the high-level meeting is part of the roadmap agreed upon last April during the visit of head of the Spanish Government Pedro Sanchez to Morocco at the invitation of King Mohammed VI. The natural neighborhood of Spain and the very close ties that unite us in various fields should not be overlooked, said the Spanish monarch in front of the ambassadors accredited in Spain, including Moroccos Karima Benyaich. On the basis of their new roadmap, Morocco and Spain are committed, among other things, to address issues of common interest in a spirit of trust and consultation, while reactivating the working groups created between the two countries to revive multi-sectoral cooperation. Relations between Morocco and Spain improved significantly after Madrid acknowledged the autonomy plan as the only solution to the Sahara conflict, ending decades of ambiguity and opening new prospects in bilateral cooperation at the economic, security and cultural levels. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Michele Sison has commended the role played by King Mohammed VI in supporting peace and security in the MENA region and around the world. We highly appreciate the role of H.M. King Mohammed VI in supporting peace and security in the Middle East and North Africa and worldwide, Sison said at a news conference in Rabat Wednesday, following talks with Moroccan Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita. The meeting was also an opportunity to discuss Moroccos recent election to the UN Human Rights Council and the importance of human rights, she added. Sison announced an upcoming meeting with the UN country team to discuss how the organizations programs support regional economic development, the livelihoods of women and youth, and assistance to refugees and irregular migrants. These are issues that our Moroccan partners take very seriously. The U.S. official also praised Moroccos contributions to UN peacekeeping missions around the world, including MONUSCO and MINUSCA, and ongoing deployments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic. Sison also offered her sincere condolences to the families of Moroccan peacekeepers who have made the ultimate sacrifice during these missions. Senegals parliament has removed former Prime Minister and critic of President Macky Sall Aminata Toure from the house, upon a request from the ruling coalition. I have just learned of my exclusion from the National Assembly by Macky Sall in total violation of the law. I remain more determined than ever to continue my fight for the entrenchment of Senegalese Democracy and against his attempt at a morally and legally unacceptable 3rd mandate, the lawmaker said on Twitter. Toure had been an ally of President Sall until the latest legislatives held in July last year. She ran for election for Benno Bokk Yaakaar coalition supporting the President. She won her seat in the parliament but submitted her resignation to the House in October in reaction to Salls appointment of Amadou Mame Diop at her expense. She also announced her plans to run for 2024 presidential elections. The Coalition slammed her resignation and demanded the application of article 60 of the constitution. The article stipulates that any member of parliament who resigns from his/her party during the legislature is automatically stripped of his/her mandate. Toure however claims she has resigned from the party. The Nigerien army announced Tuesday it has killed 11 terrorists and arrested 6, in a restive region, near Burkina Faso, during offensive operations. The operations were conducted in the western Tillaberi region. The armed forces also seized weapons and more than 130 motorcycles, the army said. The region, near the border with Burkina Faso and Mali, has been plagued by insecurity sown by terrorist groups including al Qaeda affiliates. The ministry of defense of the West African country has recently multiplied offensive operations against jihadists in the area, with the backing of 250 soldiers from France. The army has indicated that anti-jihadist force Niya, which has been deployed in western Niger since February last year and has more than 2,000 personnel, suffered two injuries in the operations. The army also claimed to have dismantled a fuel-trafficking network suspected of supplying the armed groups. France will withdraw its troops from Burkina Faso within a month in response to the request from the junta-ruled Burkinabe government, the French foreign ministry said Wednesday, Jan.25. According to the terms of the accord, the termination (of the 2018 agreement on the status of French armed forces present in the country) takes effect a month after reception of written notification, a ministry spokeswoman said. We will respect the terms of the agreement by honoring this request. About 400 French special forces are currently based in Burkina Faso in a deployment dubbed Sabre, part of a broader military presence to fight jihadists across the Sahel region. Burkina Faso has followed a similar course to neighboring Mali, falling out with Paris after a military coup brought a junta to power and the French presence became increasingly unpopular among the public. Although the Burkinabe government has assured Paris it will not follow Mali by turning to Russias Wagner Group to back up its army, a liaison team from the mercenary group has already visited. Meanwhile, the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, has warned the departure of European forces from Mali has created a dangerous vacuum in the country. The French and European troops completed their withdrawal from Mali in November last year, ending a 14-year effort to keep the country safe from militant Islamist groups. UNHCR Representative in Mali Mohamed Toure says the impact of the vacuum created by the departure of Barkhane, the French-led counter-insurgency operation, is very severe amid the escalating violence and threats of armed groups. He says violence and threats by armed groups has triggered mass displacement in the region, including more than 3,700 local Malians and refugees from Burkina Faso who were forced to flee to the city of Gao in eastern Mali for safety. Top American, Chinese and Russian officials US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are all scrambling to visit several African nations in January to pledge their countries commitment to the worlds fastest-growing continent. As President Joe Biden prepares for a visit to Africa later this year, several of his top officials have recently visited Africa. Yellen has reaffirmed Washingtons commitment to deepening relations and trade with Africa during a visit to Senegal, Zambia and South Africa amid competition across the continent from China and Russia. The US must balance the desire to secure the continents support against Chinese ambitions and Russian aggression with their promise to work to benefit Africa. Russias Lavrov, meanwhile, accused the West of pressuring developing countries to align in favor of Ukraine. His remarks were made in Angolas capital city on Wednesday January 25 at another stage of his African tour openly seeking international support. On a visit to Zambia, meanwhile, Yellen said it was crucial for the country to address its heavy debt burden with China. Beijing responded by asking Washington to stop pressuring Beijing on debt relief for Zambia and instead focus on averting a government default at home, which could have repercussions for the global economy. As Washington and Beijing are vying for influence in Africa, where Chinese banks are major lenders, Yellen pushed to expand US trade and business ties. But African Union Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat says Africa, which was brutally colonized by European powers for centuries, is no ones pawn. Africa refuses to be seen as an arena for influence struggles, said the continents top diplomat. We are open to cooperation and partnerships with everyone, as long as they respect our principles, our priorities and our interests. Mauritanias former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz is on trial on corruption charges, accused of amassing a $72m fortune while in office, whereby the prosecution of a former leader is unprecedented in the country and extremely rare in Africa. Abdel Aziz, a 66-year-old former general, is accused of amassing an illicit personal fortune during his 11 years in power. He appeared in court on Wednesday, January 25 in capital Nouakchott, along with nine other defendants, including former prime ministers, ministers and businessmen. They face charges that include abuse of office, influence peddling, money laundering and illicit enrichment. Abdel Aziz, a traders son who came to power in a bloodless coup, stepped down in 2019 after two terms in which he defused violence from armed groups that has swept across other countries in the Sahel. He was succeeded by his former right-hand man, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, and within a month of the handover, allegations emerged of financial misdealing. Aziz is suspected of syphoning money from state contracts or the sale of real estate and amassing a fortune equivalent to more than $72m. The ex-president has denied the allegations against him but refused to answer investigators questions about the source of his wealth. He describes himself as the victim of score-settling and argues he has immunity from prosecution under the constitution. The prosecution is unprecedented in Mauritania and also extremely rare in Africa as a whole. ISLAMABAD, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) attributed the countrywide power outage on Monday to frequency fluctuation, the NTDC told media on Thursday. The NTDC's preliminary report read that the frequency fluctuation caused the tripping of 500 KV transmission lines, and resultantly, 11,356 MW of electricity was knocked out from the NTDC system. The report said that the fault had occurred as the system frequency surged suddenly to 57 MHz from 50 MHz, resulting in load and voltage imbalance in the system. Millions of Pakistanis encountered a power outage on Monday morning after the power distribution system broke down. All major cities including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta lost their power supply completely. The royal message was handed to President Macky Sall of Senegal on Wednesday by Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch. Akhannouch is leading a large Moroccan delegation participating in the Dakar 2 Summit on food sovereignty, which opened Wednesday in Diamniadio, 30 km from Dakar, under the theme Feeding Africa: food sovereignty and resilience. The Moroccan delegation includes Ministers of Equipment and Water, and of Agriculture, CEO of the OCP Group, Mustapha Terrab, President of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), Chakib Alj, and CEO of the Ithmar Capital Fund, Obaid Amrane. The event, which runs January 25 through 27, brings together delegates of governments, and representatives of the private sector, multilateral organizations, NGOs and academia to address the growing challenge of food security in Africa. Morocco has pledged to propose a roadmap for the renewal of international cooperation for the benefit of middle-income countries. The pledge was made in New York Wednesday after Morocco was elected, in the person of its permanent representative to the UN, Omar Hilale, chair of the Group of Friends of Middle-Income Countries at the United Nations (MICs) and after it took up the chairmanship of the group from Colombia. Duriung the ceremony, Hilale said the Kingdom will propose a roadmap for the renewal of international cooperation for the benefit of middle-income countries in light of the complex challenges facing the world today, especially the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic and the financial, food and energy crisis. Morocco takes over the groups presidency being determined to strengthen the added value of this group as a force of proposal and negotiation at the UN level, the Moroccan diplomat said. On the other hand, Hilale highlighted the five priorities of the Moroccan presidency of the group for 2023. These are, firstly, to rethink international cooperation frameworks at national, regional and international levels to support MICs, and, secondly, to ensure that the diversity of MICs is better understood by adopting methodologies and approaches that go beyond simplistic GDP criteria. These methodologies, he said, should be based on the multidimensionality of MICs vulnerabilities and, therefore, allow for inclusive and multidimensional economic, social and environmental tools and indicators. The third priority, according to the ambassador, is to mobilize predictable and sustainable financial resources for the development of MICs, especially by fostering partnerships with multilateral development banks, international financial institutions and the private sector. Fourth, it is about consolidating cooperation with and among middle-income countries, he said, noting that the Kingdom plans, inspired by the foresight of HM King Mohammed VI, to make the strengthening of South-South and triangular cooperation one of the pillars of the groups action plan in several key areas, such as health, education, food security, digital technology and climate action. Fifth, it will seek to make MICs interests heard and advanced in the framework of UN intergovernmental processes and events during 2023, especially the SDG Summit, the high-level event on Financing for Development, the ECOSOC Financing for Development Forum, the Climate Ambition Summit, Hilale stressed, adding that all these milestones represent key opportunities for MICs to advocate and highlight their interests and showcase tangible and positive progress on sustainable development. For his part, the President of the UN GA expressed his congratulations to Morocco, and welcomed the kingdoms ambitious and strategic vision for the work of this Group in 2023. It is a transformative path for MICs and for their development and economic growth and responds to the challenges of the current international context, he said. He also affirmed that he will work together with Morocco for the preparation of the high-level event of the General Assembly on middle-income countries to be held this year, which will focus on the environmental dimension of sustainable development. For her part, the President of the UN Economic and Social Council, Lachezara Stoeva, expressed her full support for the Moroccan presidency and her confidence in Hilales leadership to coordinate the group during 2023, while stressing that she will dedicate a special session, and for the first time, to MICs during the High-Level Political Forum to be held in July. The Group of Friends of Middle-Income Countries is an important group that positions itself within the United Nations to highlight the interests of middle-income countries, which represent 75% of the worlds population and 33% of the worlds GDP. To this end, the group advocates to heed the concerns and take up the challenges of these countries in UN debates and in the main intergovernmental processes and meetings focused on sustainable development in its economic, social and environmental dimensions. A Unicameral public hearing Wednesday on a bill tied to Nebraskas backlogged valuation appeals process ended with state Sen. Steve Erdman declaring the process needs to be scrapped. The Revenue Committee took testimony on the District 47 senators Legislative Bill 28, which would reset a protesting property owners taxable value to the previous years valuation if the Tax Equalization and Review Commission hasnt settled the owners appeal by the following spring. Erdman, a former Morrill County commissioner from rural Bayard, said he introduced the bill mainly to encourage talks to relieve the 28-year-old commissions overloaded docket while helping taxpayers as well. But after Nebraska Association of County Officials Executive Director Jon Cannon testified against LB 28, Erdman told the committee hed send it an amendment that would abolish TERC and send appeals of valuation protests directly to district courts. What we do in government as well as in business, most of the time is we put things in place (but) we never go back and analyze, Were they successful? he said. While he praised TERCs three commissioners and five staff members for their patience and diligence, weve put them in a place where they cant succeed. The 1995 Legislature established TERC to take over direct appeals of county boards valuation protest rulings. Decisions by its three members, who are appointed by the governor, can be appealed to district court. Valuation appeals had been handled by the five-member State Board of Equalization and Assessment, which voters abolished in May 1996. Former Minden Sen. Doug Kristensen said in first offering the change in 1994 that founding TERC would take politics out of valuation decisions, the Omaha World-Herald wrote that year. Four of the old state boards five members the governor, secretary of state, state treasurer and state auditor were elected on a partisan basis. The tax commissioner was the fifth member. A 2002 law added a fourth, at-large TERC member as chairman, a post that Republican Gov. Mike Johanns filled with then-Sen. Bob Wickersham of Harrison, a registered Democrat. It was abolished in 2011 after Johanns GOP successor, Dave Heineman, persuaded senators that TERC wasnt fulfilling its purpose of being a less formal appeals venue. Wickersham lost his job in the process. Erdman said LB 28 arose from complaints by protesting property owners that they have to pay property taxes based on the valuation theyre contesting while TERC takes as long as three years to rule. This is an opportunity for us to give the taxpayer a right to pay the right taxes, he said. The problem is that TERC has way too many appeals for them to handle in a timely manner. LB 28 won praise from Doug Kagan, founder of Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom, who said money refunded after a successful TERC appeal could have been earning interest in a taxpayers bank account. We believe LB 28 is a necessary solution to a continually aggravating problem, Kagan said. But Cannon, while calling Erdmans bill well-considered and well-intended, said its going to create a hole in the budget for local governments if enacted as is. LB 28s language would reset an appealing property owners taxable value to the previous years level if TERC hasnt ruled by the time the first half of the disputed tax bill would become delinquent if unpaid. Thats May 1 for Douglas, Sarpy and Lancaster counties and April 1 for all others. The NACO leader reminded committee members that state law requires counties to certify their valuations by Aug. 20 less than a month after county boards July 25 deadline to rule on protests. Local budgets under state law must be approved by Sept. 30. Cannon predicted that LB 28 would lead to some perverse incentives. He predicted it would prompt some property owners to delay TERC appeals until just before the first-half payment deadline itself six to 10 months into local governments varying fiscal years. With most of them highly dependent on property taxes, this is not tenable, he said. Erdman scoffed at Cannons alarm in his closing remarks. Morrill County commissioners would set their budgets 2% higher to cover possible refunds from TERC decisions when he served on that board, he said. Refund amounts due most protesting taxpayers are significant to them but minuscule for the local governments that spend their money, he added. If those counties are running on that thin a budget, they need to have somebody else doing their budgets, Erdman said. Fifteen-year TERC Commissioner Robert Hotz of Lincoln testified in a neutral capacity, saying Erdman invited him to provide perspective on his panels process. TERCs docket size can fluctuate quite a bit but averaged about 1,500 cases a year over a 10- to 12-year period, he said. Rulings roughly split evenly between the taxpayer and their county. Individual commissioners split up the dockets for evidentiary hearings, but we cant set all 1,500 appeals (for hearing) in one day, Hotz said. By the time TERC gets through each years appeals, the first delinquent (payment) date has already passed. LEWISVILLE, Texas, January 26, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Orthofix Medical Inc. (NASDAQ:OFIX), a leading global spine and orthopedics company, today announced the full commercial launch of, and first patient cases involving, the Mariner Deformity Pedicle Screw System. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005340/en/ Image of the Mariner Deformity Pedicle Screw System for complex adult deformity spine cases. (Photo: Business Wire) The first product launched since the merger of Orthofix and SeaSpine earlier this month, the Mariner Deformity Pedicle Screw System developed by SeaSpine is built upon the strength and versatility of the foundational Mariner Pedicle Screw System to address the unique clinical requirements of complex adult deformity spine cases. The full commercial launch adds advanced reduction and correction instrumentation, specialized implant technologies, and robust osteotomy tools to deliver efficient and powerful surgical intervention. "The Mariner Deformity System represents an innovative collaboration between surgical minds and a cutting-edge product development team," stated Dennis Cirino, SeaSpines Senior Vice President, Global Spinal Systems. "Combined with our market-leading biologics and 7D FLASH navigation with machine vision accuracy and segmental registration, this system is designed to deliver a full solution that meets clinical needs and advances the modular platform of the Mariner family." The Mariner Deformity System incorporates the strength of Mariners modular technology to provide a comprehensive implant offering while reducing the number of surgical trays typically associated with deformity surgery. This reduced physical footprint is intended to result in improved workflow, limited operating room clutter, and reduced sterile processing costs to the hospital. Furthermore, this system expands the differentiated capabilities of the novel "gimbal" technology incorporated into the Mariner family of products to enable more efficient placement of complex instrumentation. Story continues "The Mariner Deformity System has benefitted from both ergonomic refinement and strategic product differentiation," stated Pawel Jankowski, M.D., neurosurgeon at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, California. "The team has done a tremendous job in creating an inspired, comprehensive complex adult correction platform." About the Combined Company The newly merged Orthofix-SeaSpine organization is a leading global spine and orthopedics company with a comprehensive portfolio of biologics, innovative spinal hardware, bone growth therapies, specialized orthopedic solutions and a leading surgical navigation system. Its products are distributed in approximately 68 countries worldwide. The Company is headquartered in Lewisville, Texas and has primary offices in Carlsbad, CA, with a focus on spine and biologics product innovation and surgeon education, and Verona, Italy, with an emphasis on product innovation, production, and medical education for orthopedics. The combined companys global R&D, commercial and manufacturing footprint also includes facilities and offices in Irvine, CA, Toronto, Canada, Sunnyvale, CA, Wayne, PA, Olive Branch, MS, Maidenhead, UK, Munich, Germany, Paris, France and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "projects," "intends," "predicts," "potential," "continue" or other comparable terminology. Orthofix cautions you that statements included in this news release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements that are based on the Companys current expectations and assumptions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements related to: the objectives of product design and the ability of the underlying products to achieve design objectives, including the ability of the Mariner Deformity System to deliver a full solution that meets clinical needs, advance the modular platform of the Mariner family, and improve workflow, limit operating room clutter, reduce sterile processing costs, and enable more efficient placement of complex instrumentation. Each forward-looking statement contained in this news release is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statement. Applicable risks and uncertainties include, among others: the ability of newly launched products to perform as designed and intended and to meet the needs of surgeons and patients, including as a result of the lack of clinical validation of products in limited commercial (or "alpha") launch; the failure to achieve the anticipated benefits of new products; and the risks identified under the heading "Risk Factors" in Orthofix Medical Inc.s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 25, 2022, and SeaSpine Holdings Corporations Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2022, as well as both companies subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other information filed by each company with the SEC. The Companys public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission are available at www.sec.gov. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date when made. Orthofix does not intend to revise or update any forward-looking statement set forth in this news release to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date hereof, except as may be required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005340/en/ Contacts Alexa Huerta Investor Relations Tel 214 937 3190 Denise Landry Media Relations Tel 214 937 2529 Sherry Wiggins, mother of Amore Wiggins, has been paying child support for the past 13 years never knowing her daughter had been killed more than 10 years ago, she and police have said. Amore Wiggins, known during investigation as Opelika Baby Jane Doe, was recently identified after her remains were found nearly 11 years ago. Two arrests were made this week in connection to her death. On Jan. 28, 2012, Wiggins then-unidentified skeletal remains were said to be found in a wooded area behind a mobile home off Hurst Street in Opelika. Detectives believed she was killed in 2010 or 2011, was about 4 years old and was likely malnourished and physically abused before her death. The autopsy revealed Wiggins had fractures to her skull, arms, legs, shoulders and ribs, making a total of 15 individual fractures. Detectives also believe she was blind in her left eye because of a fracture to her eye socket. Through advanced forensic DNA testing, scientists and law enforcement officers were finally able to identify Wiggins and her biological parents. Amore Wiggins was born on Jan. 1, 2006, to Sherry Wiggins, now 37 years old living in Baltimore, Md., and Lamar Vickerstaff Jr., now 50 years old living in Jacksonville, Fla. In a Virginia court in 2009, Vickerstaff and his second wife Ruth were awarded legal and physical custody of three-year-old Amore Wiggins. Sherry Wiggins lost visitation rights and lost contact with her daughter. Opelika Police Chief Shane Healey said records show Wiggins continued to pay child support to Vickerstaff since 2009, and that she was also trying to go through the process of getting visitation rights back after the Vickerstaffs stopped responding to her. I think initially there was some communication and then the Vickerstaffs cut off all ties and blocked her and would not responded to her in any way, Healey said. Thats when Ms. Wiggins went back through the court system in Virginia to try to get the visitation order amended and fight the custody and child support. She exhausted all of her opportunities through that court process and was not successful in that court system of being able to have access to Amore. Healey said Wiggins had no idea her daughter was missing until the OPD contacted her in December. She thought her daughter was still in the care of her father, Lamar Vickerstaff Jr. Vickerstaff is a graduate of Opelika High School. He also served in the Navy and was stationed in Norfolk, Va., Honolulu, Hawaii, and Jacksonville, Fla. Wiggins stated that she believed Vickerstaff was in a more stable position to care for Amore along with his wife Ruth. Opelika Captain Johnathan Clifton stated at a press conference on Jan. 19 that Vickerstaff had friends and family that lived in the Opelika area where Amores body was found. Healey added that Opelika detectives along with the FBI Evidence Response Team executed a search warrant on Jan. 18 at a trailer near the area Amore was found to gather more information and evidence related to the case. Healey said he couldnt go into detail about what was or wasnt found at this trailer. On Jan. 17, police arrested Lamar Vickerstaff Jr. charging him with felony murder and arrested Ruth Vickerstaff charging her with failure to report a missing child. Both were arrested in Jacksonville, Fla., and will be extradited to Lee County on Thursday, Jan. 26. As this case is still under investigation, Healey said the Vickerstaffs could face additional charges through the OPD or other jurisdictions depending on whats found during the investigation. For Wiggins to receive restitution for paying child support to the Vickerstaffs, Healey said that would have to go through the Virginia court system that handled their child custody case. The OPD said there is still more work to be done regarding this case and bringing justice to Amore Wiggins. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Opelika Police Department Detective Division at 334-705-5220 or the Secret Witness Hotline at 334-745-8665. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the Opelika Police Mobile App. Wiggins has established a GoFundMe to assist with funeral arrangements and travel expenses to attend court in the future. Her goal is to raise $15,000. She also plans to arrange a memorial service in Opelika before laying her daughter to rest in Virginia where she is originally from. Healey said they are still at the beginning stages of planning some kind of memorial. State Sen. Randy Price and his wife, Lee County Revenue Commissioner Oline Price, were called for a hearing at the Opelika Municipal Court on Wednesday regarding the warrants filed against them by their neighbor David Morris. Morris stated that the Prices cows were found repeatedly on his property over the course of several months. Cameras on his property captured images of the cows, and he presented these to the court. Morris said he just needs the cows to stay off his land and he expects people to respect his rights and his property. In August, Randy and Oline Price turned themselves in at the Lee County Sheriffs Department after the warrants were filed against them. They were arrested and charged with three counts each of large animals running at large. Wednesday, after hearing the testimonies and looking at the evidence, Opelika Judge Wes McCollum found Randy Price guilty and Oline Price not guilty. Randy will have 14 days to decide to appeal the verdict or not. McCollum set a review date for May 24. Randy faces a fine of $50 plus $236 in court costs and a $60 bond fee in each case, unless he decides to go through the appeal process. Under no circumstances was it ever our intention to have any cows go on anybody elses property, Randy said. City of Opelika Ordinance 4-78, adopted from State Code 3-5-2, states that allowing large animals to run at large is prohibited by the city. It shall be unlawful for the owner or person in charge of any large animal to cause, permit or allow such animal to run or to be at-large, the Opelika Code of Ordinances states. The fact that any large animal has been kept on a particular premises, together with its subsequent appearance at-large, shall raise a prima facie presumption that the owner or person in charge of the premises permitted or allowed a violation and the burden of proof shall be upon the owner or person in charge to prove otherwise. The State Code of Alabama section 3-5-2 says that it is unlawful for owners of any livestock or animal to allow that animal to run at large upon premises of another without permission or upon public lands, highways, roads or streets in the state of Alabama. MANILA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' total external trade in goods declined by 9.9 percent in December 2022, with China contributing the highest trading value, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed on Thursday. The total external trade reached 15.93 billion U.S. dollars in December, of which 64.4 percent were imported goods, while the rest were exported goods. The PSA said the trade deficit amounted to 4.60 billion dollars, indicating an annual decrease of 10.2 percent. China remains the Southeast Asian country's largest trading partner and the biggest supplier of imported goods, the PSA said. The Auburn University College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environments 2023 Spring Seminar Series will feature Wayde Morse, professor of conservation social science in the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment at Auburn University. Morse will give a talk titled "Establishing study abroad programs: a wide array of options" on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 3:30 p.m. in Room 2217 of the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment Building. Refreshments will be available after the seminar. In Morse's talk, he will discuss how study abroad programs can be life-changing experiences for students and instructors. Additionally, he will share his experiences, perspectives and recommendations on developing and conducting popular and effective programs. Morse is a conservation social scientist who has lived, studied, researched, worked and taught internationally for the past 25 years. He began his international focus with a semester study abroad in New Zealand and then served with the Peace Corps in Panama. As a doctoral student, he was a fellow in a National Science Foundation Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Research Traineeship, or IGERT, involving research in Costa Rica on its ambitious conservation program of Payments for Ecosystem Services. In addition to his on-campus classes and research at Auburn, Morse has developed and taught courses including Watershed Services in Costa Rica, Nature Based Tourism in New Zealand, Cultural Tourism in Fiji and People and the Environment in Spain, as well as a pre-freshman study abroad to Belize on Sustainable Tourism for the Office of International Programs. He has developed and led his own programs and collaborated with the University of Georgia, Auburn's College of Human Sciences, the Honors College, the Office of International Programs and Auburn's Office of the Provost to facilitate programs. All are welcome to attend this program. Parking is available in the South Quad Parking Deck on the third and fourth floors. Advanced registration is not required. To receive announcements about future seminars, send a request to join the CFWE email list to cfwecom@auburn.edu. I watched this whole movie thinking it was set in the late 1960s [probably because of the use of Daydream Believer], and was shocked to learn afterwards that not only was the novel published in 2018, but it's set in 2011 and based on a real incident that happened in Bolivia in 2005. Reply Thread Link I read a YA book a few years ago that I won through LibraryThing that was about a teenage girl who fled a Bolivian Mennonite community and came to Toronto with her father, where she struggled with her background and why they left. It was the first time I'd ever heard of these Mennonite communities there. Reply Parent Thread Link I think you're definitely meant to be surprised when the guy drives through asking them to participate in the 2010 census. The way they're 'outside of time' is part of the point, I guess. Reply Parent Thread Link How...how did he not pick up that it was about a Mennonite community or at least an insular religious community of some sort? Reply Thread Link Right, like that's the first thing you get from the trailer if nothing else. Well, he clearly didn't, but yeah. Edited at 2023-01-26 01:42 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link I dont know film titles, so when I saw the headline I thought he was talking about that film about #metoo (the one w white michelle williams?)and figured the criticism was warranted and then I got to the summary and was like THE ONE WITH THE MENONITES?? Reply Parent Thread Link Apparently he cant read. Im a Black woman and it was in my top 3 film# of the year. He needs to have several seats. Reply Parent Thread Link we need less Men Talking Reply Thread Link In case anyone doesn't know, it is indeed based off the real story of the Manitoba Colony in Bolivia, where women and girls were drugged and raped for years before they finally escaped and went to the Bolivian police (even though none of them spoke Spanish, yet another thing that kept them isolated in their extremely insular colony) so here is some more info about the aftermath 10 years after the men were sent to prison. https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-48265703 Edited at 2023-01-25 11:19 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Holy shit, what those women and children endured is horrific. Reply Parent Thread Link these men should be put down Reply Parent Thread Link Ugh, I remember reading about this a couple years ago. It's so disturbing and has stuck with me. Reply Parent Thread Link I watched a vice clip on it and it's insane the authorities within community were more concerned about members having cell phones because rape /incest is just common occurrence one of the convicted rapists was like I'm in here but those ppl have their parents raping their own daughters still out there Edited at 2023-01-26 01:19 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Its amazing how often men completely miss the huge glaring points of movies and TV shows (and books). Reply Thread Link Once someone pointed out that it was based on real events, he should have just taken the L and bowed out of the conversation. Why did he keep doubling down on his opinion? Reply Thread Link Because there are quite a few people in the comments agreeing with him. Reply Parent Thread Link geez i love when men give their opinions on movies about women/for women. Reply Thread Link it's funny bc he totally thought he was doing something lol Reply Parent Thread Link similar to desantis trying to speak on african american studies in florida and restrict what is taught. fuck that man and his war on humanity. Reply Parent Thread Link Lmao he dumb or what Reply Thread Link Yeah, very. I've heard podcast interviews with him. Reply Parent Thread Link Men can't handle being told they're wrong about something Reply Thread Link Wendell, shut up. You sound like a moron. Reply Thread Link It's okay to change your mind with new information , sir. It takes a big person to say "Oh, I missed that." Reply Thread Link right point (so many lauded films about women have this issue), very much the wrong movie, lmao. take the l my guy. Reply Thread Link I know I was reading the initial post like "yeah, that's so true - wait it's about Mennonites? Okay, now hang on..." Like bare minimum just stop engaging, don't dig the hole deeper! Reply Parent Thread Link no there weren't any woc bc they're in an isolated ultraconservative mennonite colony. there aren't even any other white people who they aren't vaguely related to either at this point. Reply Parent Thread Link The kombucha girl is me. Ive never heard of this film, so I thought the title was about women literally speaking their minds and went oh no. Then his point about WOC, I thought fair point. But, then it went right back to the fuck when it was pointed out that the movie is about a certain group of women. How do you watch something for 2hrs and miss the entire point? AND google is right there ready to answer any questions you may have. Reply Thread Link same. I heard of the movie but had no idea what it was about until right now. Reply Parent Thread Link lol same. it actually sounds more interesting to me now, I might check it out. Reply Parent Thread Link Same here. He does have a point that most mainstream feminist discourse is white feminist discourse. Yet this movie, from what I read about the movie (I havent seen it), is not the time and place to make this point. Perhaps he got his movies mixed up and was talking about some Times Up/Me Too movie, and is now just doubling/tripling down. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I sometimes begin to question, maybe google is exclusively paid for some people Reply Parent Thread Link ontd, have you prepped your older relatives on FB to look out for misinformation? Thank God none of my older relatives are on facebook. Most of them are smart enough to not fall for misinfo, but idk.... there's an aunt that I think could potentially fall prey to it, but she's not on facebook so phew. Bullet dodged. Anyway, I think this is a precursor to a messy upcoming GOP primary. Trump is getting back on these social media platforms and I think it's going to be a platform for other rivals to bait him and shit. IDK. I am so curious to see how this primary shakes out. Trump obviously has the biggest share of supporters but idk. He's in a weaker position than he was 2 years ago, but also he came from behind to win the primary in 2016 so... idk!! I feel like anything could happen. Reply Thread Link Instead of hand-wringing with "oh I don't want to upset mee maw', block his account on your relative's FB pages. go behind their back if you're afraid of conflict. Reply Thread Link Zuckerberg and Musk are feckless pieces of shit who truly do not give a single fuck about anyone or anything other than money. Reply Thread Link I really hate this. I dont engage with most of my older relatives on Facebook (or anyone else actually) Why cant he just you know Reply Thread Link He keeps... not Reply Parent Thread Link Look at that liberal msm hard at work. Reply Thread Link Oh that cancel culture. Really showing those hateful blowhards whats what. Reply Thread Link F off. It is not about your new "guardrails". Just in time to support this flaming asshole's run for president. Reply Thread Link Ah man I loved this show. Reply Parent Thread Link they made a live-action sequel series, you should definitely watch that. /s Reply Parent Thread Link Perfect example of my comment in the Justin Roiland post. And like Bush's carefully orchestrated reputation rehabilitation the day Trump kikis with Michelle Obama while they share hard candy is not that far away. Reply Thread Link Well just as I thought traash Edited at 2023-01-26 02:06 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link Were headed for a recession and regular ad revenue is trending down. They want money and Trump drives anger which drives impressions and clicks. Also political ad spend is expected to be absolutely massive over the next 2 years. Just like everything else in capitalism, money matters more than anything. Reply Thread Link yep, let's spend on ads rather than putting the money into things like solving hunger or homelessness which would help people and also get tons of free publicity. yay logic /sarcasm Reply Parent Thread Link Its projected that political ad spend will be more than $18 billion over the next 2 years (most of that in 2024). Its absolutely insane. Reply Parent Thread Link I got shut down by my older relative yesterday who called me to help him understand the new "High Yield Savings Accounts". I was not even nice. "Remember back in your day when every American could earn a minimum of 5% at a bank, even if they only had $5? Then that western actor guy Reagan became President and gave America a reaming she still cannot stand up from? The savings accounts are just like that except they pay less than 5% and you have to start with $1,000 in a lot of them." My sister took the phone and said "He's tired, we're gonna go." Reply Thread Link I truly DESPISE this pus filled boil on the ass of humanity. He needs to just stop existing already! Edited at 2023-01-26 02:30 am (UTC) 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 ontd, have you prepped your older relatives on FB to look out for misinformation? I can't even get my dad to stop "buying" stuff from Facebook ads. He's gotten scammed 3 times and still keeps doing it! Idiot Reply Thread Link I gave my mom a long ass lecture, lol, and now she always asks me if a site is legit if she finds something she likes. Then, I usually tell her no, it's not. Reply Parent Thread Link Ughhhhhhhh. Ill just unfriend people if they start posting his shit or whatever misinformation is spread. Some people still just dont want to listen to reason! Also, the other day at work someone tried to cash one of the voucher coupons for those stupid ass coins. I guess they thought it was a check. But hey, with the voucher you only have to pay $10 instead of $70!!11 Reply Thread Link I'm so glad my parents aren't on Facebook. It's bad enough with the rest of my ignorant family that I unfriended. My mum got peer pressed into making an account one time but then freaked out when my dads distant cousin (who my mum thinks had a crush on my dad) sent her a friend request almost immediately and got me to delete the account lmaooo Reply Thread Link I'm so much happier without FB and Twitter. Reply Thread Link So the guy launches an insurrection, and tries to over throw the election results, but Meta thinks we need to hear from him? Reply Thread Link Worker Dies After Being Struck by Forklift, OSHA Cites Texas Company The agency proposed penalties of over $200,000 and issued citations for one willful and four serious violations. A Texas lumber supplier is facing citations following the death of a worker who was struck by a forklift. According to a news release, after operating and parking the forklift, the worker dropped the keys and searched for them. While looking, the worker was struck by the forklift, which had a makeshift brake instead of the original parking brake. OSHA found that the worker was not certified in forklift use yet was allowed to operate the vehicle. The agency requires forklift operators to be trained and certified before using the vehicle. A family, his friends and co-workers are left to mourn a young man whose life was cut short because his employer failed to follow safety requirements that would have prevented this tragedy, said OSHA Area Director Kia McCullough in Little Rock, Arkansas, in the news release. According to OSHA, Hixson Lumber Company LLC allegedly "failed to train the teen worker, left keys inside unsecured forklifts and did not make sure the forklift used by the teenager had a proper parking brake, working horn and backup alarm as required." OSHA issued citations for one willful and four serious violations and proposed penalties of $218,759. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, just over 9,000 workers were injured from forklifts in 2017. That same year, 74 workers died from injuries involving forklifts. For decades, Germany has maintained a love-hate relationship with nuclear power. Currently, Germany has three existing nuclear reactors that produce ~6% of the country's power supply, a far cry from the 1990s when 19 nuclear power plants produced about a third of the countrys electricity supply. The genesis of the current state of affairs can be traced back to 1998 when a new center-left government consisting of the Greens party and Social Democrats started demanding that the country moves away from nuclear power, a long-held objective of the Greens. The Greens became prominent in the 1980s after they started rallying against the dangers of nuclear energy and nuclear weapons against the backdrop of the Cold War. Indeed, the last new nuclear plants to be built in Germany date back to 2002 after which plans were put in place to phase out all existing plants over the next few decades. However, the tide turned again in 2010 after a coalition of the liberal Free Democratic Party and the conservative Christian Democrats rose to power and extended the use of nuclear energy in Germany by up to 14 years. But alas, the newfound love for nuclear power was not to last: a year later, explosions and meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan soured the publics mood on nuclear power and forced Germany to do another about-face on this policy. Berlin then returned to the original plan for a nuclear phaseout by the end of 2022. Related: Exxon Stops Flaring In The Permian, Urges Others To Follow Suit But Russias war in Ukraine is forcing a rethink of energy security not only in Germany but also by the entire continent. Up until last year, Germany and Russia were major energy partners, with the latter providing the country with the majority of its oil and natural gas. But Russias war has led to Europe and Germany scrambling for alternative supplies as winter looms. Germany is now rethinking its nuclear phaseout strategy, and the public is falling in line. "We will need more electric power in the future. That's a fact. And 6% can be a lot to miss when there is nothing new [to replace it]. We'd be losing 6% when we really will need more,"German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has told Deutsche Welle. Previously, the majority of the public was in favor of the nuclear phaseout in the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster; now over 80% are in favor of extending the lifespan of Germany's existing nuclear reactors. Nuclear energy is seen as a preferable energy source to a fall back to burning coal. According to Dutch-based anti-nuclear group WISE, nuclear plants produce 117 grams of CO2 emissions per kilowatt-hour, much lower compared to burning lignite which emits over 1,000 grams of CO2 per kilowatt-hour. Back To Coal But limiting greenhouse gas emissions is hardly a top priority for energy-starved Europe. According to a report by the Observer Research Foundation, energy supply disruptions triggered by Russias war on Ukraine took LNG prices even higher leaving coal as the only option for dispatchable and affordable power in much of Europe, including the tough markets of Western Europe and North America that have explicit policies to phase out coal. According to the Washington Post, coal mines and power plants that closed 10 years ago have begun to be repaired in Germany. In what industry observers have dubbed a spring for Germanys coal-fired power plants, the country is expected to burn at least 100,000 tons of coal per month by winter. Thats a big U-turn considering that Germany's goal had been to phase out all coal-generated electricity by 2038. Other European countries such as Austria, Poland, the Netherlands and Greece have also started restarting coal plants. Meanwhile, Chinas coal imports have been surging as power generators increased purchases to provide for peak summer electricity demand. China has the largest number of operational coal power plants with 3,037 while Germany, the largest economy in the EU has 63. The situation has led to soaring global coal consumption that could reach levels we havent seen in a decade, though there will be a limit to growth considering that investment in any new coal-powered plants has stalled. But that only makes the coal market tighter, pushing the energy source into an outperforming category. ADVERTISEMENT Thermal coal, which is the variety used to generate power, has seen a 170% rise in price since the end of 2021most of those gains made following Russias invasion of Ukraine. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been repeatedly criticised since winning its bid to hold the COP28 climate summit later this year, particularly for its ongoing dependence on oil and gas to sustain its economy. While some say it is vital that the oil powers requiring the most diversification to survive without fossil fuels, such as the UAE, be closely involved in the global climate talks, others are condemning the decision. Environmentalists worldwide worry that the UAE will not take COP28 seriously and will undermine the progress being made at the annual climate conference. And now that the UAE is suggesting that a major oil and gas representative run the summit, it is receiving even more criticism. So, will COP28 help advance climate aims or be detrimental to the green transition? The UAE was clear from the outset that if COP28 was to be held there that oil and gas companies should be closely involved, suggesting that including them in the discussion is the only way to bring about meaningful change in the energy sector. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, the UAE's Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology suggested, early last year, that We can't simply unplug from the energy system of today and we can't do this with a flip of a switch. We need to include the energy experts in the consultations and the discussions and we need to make economic systems work more efficiently with much less carbon. This decision is not surprising, as the UAE earns a high proportion of its revenue from oil and gas, as OPECs third-largest oil producer after Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The government has set an ambitious target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, while also striving to raise its crude output to 5 million bpd by 2030, from less than 4 million at present. The decision to include oil and gas firms in the climate summit reflects the balance that the government is trying to strike between climate policy progress and the ongoing production of oil and gas. Related: U.S. Natural Gas Prices Crash By 7% And now, this month, the UAE stated that the leader of the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) will head COP28. Climate activists around the world criticised leaders at COP27 for giving too much involvement to oil and gas representatives, suggesting that it undermined the fundamental aims of the summit. Lisa Schipper, the lead author of the 2022 U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report on climate adaptation, stated Putting an oil CEO in charge of the negotiations for COP28 is clearly a conflict of interest. However, Sultan Al Jaber, head of ADNOC, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and the UAEs climate envoy, believes that the inclusion of major oil and gas representatives will help encourage energy firms to take the climate situation more seriously and participate in the green transition. Further, he has experience in green energy as the founder of the renewable energy company Masdar and has overseen the acceleration of ADNOC's low-carbon growth strategy in 2022. The decision to give a leading role in the climate discussion to oil and gas companies has met a mixed response from different powers around the globe. Denmark has offered its support to the UAE over its decision to appoint Jaber as head of the talks, suggesting that oil and gas powers are key to a green transition. Dan Jorgensen, Denmark's minister for global climate policy and development, explained If we are to stay below 1.5 degrees in temperature increase, it is totally necessary that we have a transition of all societies on this planet, also the oil-producing ones. A COP28 spokesperson responded to the criticism by stating that Jaber is an energy expert and founder of one of the worlds leading renewable energy companies, a senior business leader, government minister and climate diplomat with more than 20 years of experience of taking climate action and that he is uniquely qualified to deliver a successful COP28. Jaber has been seen to take a hard stance on climate change, stating: We dont need to wait for the global stocktake to know what it will say. We are way off track, he said at the time. The world is playing catch-up when it comes to the key Paris goal of holding global temperatures down to 1.5 degrees. And the hard reality is that, in order to achieve this goal, global emissions must fall 43 percent by 2030. However, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg attracted global attention this month for calling the decision completely ridiculous. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, she stated, Lobbyists have been influencing these conferences since forever, and this just puts a very clear face to it... its completely ridiculous. Other activists at the Forum agreed with Thunberg, suggesting that the UAE choice reflects the Egyptian governments decision to involve oil and gas in COP27 and the direction in which the discussion is headed, favouring fossil fuel-producing companies. The UAE is facing criticism from around the world for its involvement in COP28 and its decision to appoint an oil and gas leader as head of the summit discussions. Yet, opinions are divided over whether the inclusion of oil and gas representatives in the climate talks is positive or negative. On the one hand, energy firms are key to a successful green transition, on the other, if oil and gas representatives are given the stage, they could advocate for the continuation of fossil fuel production. ADVERTISEMENT By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: China now appears to be distancing itself from Russia in a move to rebrand its foreign policy. China is aiming to improve relations with the West, particularly its ties with Europe, which have been hurt by Beijing's support for Russia throughout Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. But as I reported here, the Chinese charm offensive is getting a skeptical reception in Brussels. Finding Perspective: In a move that has been gathering steam since late last year in the aftermath of Beijing's Chinese Community Party congress, China is looking to mend fences as it emerges from the isolation of its strict COVID-19 policies and shifts from the aggressive "wolf warrior" rhetoric of recent years. This was on display at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where Chinese officials like Vice Premier Liu He offered a gentler tone as part of a foreign policy rebrand targeting Western governments and investors. On a similar note, Politico reported that Wang Yi, the former Chinese foreign minister who now oversees foreign affairs on the 24-person Politburo, is slated to go on a European tour in February that could also see a meeting in Brussels with the EU's top brass. Beyond that, there are also attempts from Beijing to signal disapproval with Moscow's war in Ukraine, including recent anonymous comments to the Financial Times from senior Chinese officials who called Russian President Vladimir Putin "crazy" and said that Russia will emerge as a "minor power" from the war. Why It Matters: Beijing faces an uphill battle in repairing its image in Brussels. EU officials who spoke to RFE/RL say that Brussels is in "wait and see" mode with China and so far hasn't seen much that signals a true change in policy or any new daylight between it and Moscow. That's not to say that the EU won't engage with China -- especially after years of limited contacts -- but rather that so far Beijing's rebrand is largely viewed as cosmetic with very little substance to it. This is particularly true for signals of newfound distance between China and Russia. Both countries' economies continue to become more integrated and a recent report from Bloomberg that the Biden administration confronted Beijing with evidence suggesting some Chinese state-owned companies may be providing assistance for Russia's war in Ukraine points to ties getting even stronger chains. Expert Corner: Ukraine And China After One Year Readers asked: "After nearly a year of war in Ukraine and China sticking with Russia, how has Kyiv changed its policy towards Beijing?" To find out more, I asked Yurii Poita of the Kyiv-based Center for Army, Conversion, and Disarmament Studies: "First, Ukraine's expert community and media have become more critical of China, especially over its so-called 'pro-Russian neutrality,' where China does not provide military and military-technical assistance to Russia, but still deepens relations and provides economic, informational, and diplomatic support to Moscow. ADVERTISEMENT "Second, there has been a reassessment of China as a driver of economic growth and a potential safety cushion for Ukraine. Despite a strategic partnership and growing economic ties between Beijing and Kyiv, Ukraine has not been able to change China's position on the war in its favor. Attempts by the Ukrainian leadership to reach China through diplomacy and the media and convince it to influence Russia or to act as a security guarantor in some sort of postwar deal have completely failed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has not even been able to get a phone call with Xi. "At the moment, the opinion that China cannot be a strategic partner is becoming stronger in Ukraine. A search is now under way for a new formula for relations with China that would meet Ukraine's national interests while also taking into account strategic competition between Beijing and Washington and China's position regarding the Russian-Ukrainian war. The office of the president still hopes to involve China in resolving the war, however, these hopes are gradually fading." By RFE/RL More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Exports of heavy Canadian crude oil to Asian refiners are expected to jump to the highest in a year as unplanned refinery shutdowns in the United States are stifling demand for Canadas crude in some North American refineries. Canadian heavy-sour grades of at least 7 million barrels have already been sold to buyers in Asia and are set to load in February, sources with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg on Thursday. This figure is the highest since January of last year, according to data from energy analytics firm Vortexa cited by Bloomberg. Some of the largest refiners in China and India have snapped up at least 7 million barrels of Canadian crude from the oil sands, while 1 million barrels will go to Europe to Repsol, according to Bloombergs sources. Sinopecs trading unit Unipec has purchased 3 million barrels of Canadian crude, and PetroChina and Indias Reliance Industries have bought 2 million barrels each, the sources told Bloomberg. The Cold Lake crude grade has been offered at around $22 per barrel discount to Brent for loading from the U.S. Gulf Coast, traders told Bloomberg. The jump in Canadian crude oil shipments to Asia follow disruptions at U.S. refineries that typically use Canadian oil. PBF Energys refinery at Chalmette, Louisiana, has closed its diesel-producing unit after a fire at the facility on Saturday, sources told Reuters earlier this week. In addition, some refineries are still recovering from the Winter Storm Elliott at the end of Decemberon Christmas Eve, as much as 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) of the U.S. Gulf Coasts refining capacity was shut down due to the freezing temperatures. Suncor Energy, for example, has said that it would shut down its Commerce City refinery in Colorado for as long as three months to repair equipment damaged by the extreme and record-setting weather just before Christmas. Lower refining capacity utilization and rising crude oil prices have driven U.S. gasoline prices higher in the past few weeks. ADVERTISEMENT By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Chevron will allocate $75 billion for share repurchases, effective April 1, without an expiration date, the company said, as it declared a quarterly dividend of $1.51 per share. The new share repurchase sums will replace the previous buyback budget of the supermajor, which stood at $25 billion and will be effective until March this year. Repurchases of shares of the companys common stock may be made from time to time in the open market, by block purchases, in privately negotiated transactions or in such other manner as determined by the company, Chevron said. Chevron is reporting 2022 financial results on Friday, but analysts have calculated that, together with peer Exxon, the supermajor could have raked in some $100 billion in profits on the back of robust oil prices. Chevron posted its highest-ever quarterly profits for the second quarter, thanks to high oil and gas prices and tight fuel markets driving multi-year high refining margins. For Q3, Chevron recorded its second-highest quarterly profit ever on the back of increased oil and gas demand and increased U.S. production. The supermajor has allocated $14 billion for capital expenditure this year, in line with its long-term plans to safely deliver higher returns and lower carbon, per chief executive Mike Wirth. These plans also appear to involve a concentration of Chevrons international operations at home and in South America. The company has been offloading assets in the UK, Denmark, and Brazil in the past few years, focusing on shale at home and activities in the Gulf of Mexico. Some $4 billion of its 2023 capex is earmarked for operations in the Permian. The supermajor is also planning to spend on operations in Argentina and Canada this year. Some 70 percent of its planned budget will be poured into the U.S. and these two countries. ADVERTISEMENT By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: ISLAMABAD, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan and Russia reaffirmed their commitment to continuing practical engagement with the Afghan authorities to ensure stability and peace in the war-torn country, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. The two sides also expressed their commitment to joint efforts to solve issues related to regional security, said the ministry in a statement. The statement came after a meeting between Russian Special Representative for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov and Pakistan's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar here Wednesday. Both sides agreed to remain actively engaged to promote peace, stability and economic development in the region for the welfare of the people. Underscoring that a peaceful neighborhood remained a strategic imperative for Pakistan, Khar stressed that Afghanistan, with its location as a bridge between Central Asia and South Asia, is central to achieving the full potential of socio-economic development and regional connectivity. The minister also reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to working with other regional countries to achieve the goals. He urged the international community to extend assistance and support in order to address urgent humanitarian needs and to provide a sustainable pathway for Afghanistan's prosperity and development. Europe is buying more diesel from the United States and Saudi Arabia in preparation of the EU ban on seaborne imports of Russian refined products, yet Europe still remains the biggest buyer of Russian diesel, data compiled by Anadolu agency showed on Thursday. The EU will baneffective February 5seaborne imports of Russian refined oil products and around 1 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian diesel, naphtha, and other fuels need to find a home elsewhere if Moscow wants to continue getting money for those products. More than half of those Russian fuel exports to the EU are diesel. Ahead of the embargo set to kick in in ten days, Europe continues to be the biggest buyer of Russian diesel, and it has been stocking up on Russian supply in recent months ahead of the ban. In December, for example, Russias diesel exports surged to a multi-year high of 1.2 million bpd, of which 720,000 bpd was destined for the EU, according to estimates in the latest Oil Market Report by the International Energy Agency (IEA). Europe is still estimated to import large volumes of diesel, of around 600,000 bpd, weeks before the embargo comes into effect. After February 5, the diesel markets and the product flows globally are set to change, with Russia looking to place its refined products elsewhere and Europe hauling in more supply from the United States, the Middle East, and Asia, analysts say. This month, Europe is expected to receive the highest volumes of diesel and gasoil from the U.S. in two years, per Vortexa data cited by Argus. Europe will enter the post-Russian diesel world relatively well supplied. A rush for Russian diesel imports in Q3 2022 combined with a warmer European winter and well supplied natural gas has softened the diesel supply shock and panic buying witnessed in October 2022, Pamela Munger, Senior Market Analyst at Vortexa, wrote in an analysis last week. Unlike the crude markets, where many European refiners started in advance of the Russian crude ban by testing non-Russian crudes, the cessation of diesel exports to its core markets could have significant impact on Russias energy flows, possibly shutting in refinery operations as Russia looks toward only a few regions for export outlets. ADVERTISEMENT By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Norway expects to receive a record $89.5 billion (884 billion Norwegian crowns) in oil and gas tax revenue for 2022, triple the previous record in 2021, thanks to soaring gas prices last year, the Norwegian Tax Administration said in an estimate on Thursday. The administration has revised up its estimates for the petroleum tax revenue by 20% from an earlier projection, and the latest figure implies the oil and gas tax revenue has tripled from the previous record year, 2021. The high natural gas prices drove the record tax revenue from petroleum companies which has never been anywhere near as high as it is now, the Norwegian Tax Administrations director Nina Schanke Funnemark said. In the previous record year of 2021, Norways petroleum tax revenue was $30 billion (295 billion crowns), the administration said. Norway, Western Europes largest oil and gas producer, has benefited a lot from the spike in oil and gas prices since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February last year. Most of Norways government revenues from oil and gas go into the $1.34 trillion Government Pension Fund Global, commonly known as Norways oil fund, which is the biggest sovereign wealth fund in the world. Going forward, Norway is determined to keep high production on its shelf to export more gas and oil to Europe, which is scrambling for supply from sources other than Russia. Earlier this week, Norway said it would offer up to 92 new blocks for hydrocarbon exploration in the new round of licensing in mature areas. Further exploration activity and new discoveries are important to maintain the production of oil and gas over time, both for Norway and Europe, Petroleum and Energy Minister Terje Aasland said. ADVERTISEMENT Norway will continue to pump the current high volumes of natural gas for at least another five years as operators have pledged $30.3 billion (300 billion Norwegian crowns) to develop new fields and extend the lifetimes of producing fields, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate said earlier this month. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Small volumes of natural gas started to flow via pipeline to the Freeport LNG export terminal in Texas, which has been shut down since June following a fire, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing flows data from Refinitiv. The flows are only a fraction of the pipeline gas feeding to the facility when it is operational. The last time Freeport LNG received small amounts of gas was early last week, and those flows were used to maintain a flare system, sources with knowledge of the operations told Reuters. Freeport LNG on Monday confirmed for Oilprice.com that repairs had been completed at its liquefied natural gas export facility, which has been offline since June, and that a request to restart by introducing LNG to the piping system had been filed with regulators. Analysts believe that Freeport LNG will not be able to restart until March. On January 11, Freeport LNG told Oilprice.com that there was no change to our restart timeline. We are still targeting the second half of this month for the safe, initial restart of our liquefaction facility, pending regulatory approvals. Due to higher export demand for U.S.-sourced natural gas, the restart of Freeport LNG is expected to raise U.S. benchmark natural gas prices, which have just plunged to a 19-month low to below $3 per million British thermal units (MMBtu). At the same time, Freeport LNG, whenever it resumes exports, would help Europes gas supply, where prices could ease. Europes benchmark gas prices have slumped this week anyway and have plunged by at least 25% so far this month amid high inventories, high LNG imports, and expectations of higher temperatures. The European benchmark, Dutch TTF, traded early on Thursday in Amsterdam near the lowest level since September 2021 as above-normal temperatures are expected across Europe next week, Ole Hansen, Head of Commodity Strategy at Saxo Bank, said. Total LNG imports averaged around 460mcm/day over the last week, up from 400mcm/d the week prior, while storage across the EU is at 76% full capacity compared to an average of 57% for this time of the year, Hansen added. ADVERTISEMENT By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: You walk into a local chain drugstore to buy shampoo and notice that the in-store health clinic is offering flu shots, and theres no wait. Youre overdue for that vaccination, so you get it and accept the clinicians offer of a blood-pressure screening. Youre done just 15 minutes after you walked in, satisfied that youve effortlessly received good care with little or nothing out of pocket, since the clinic accepts your insurance. Is there a catch? Maybe. Would your primary care physician, with your full medical history in front of her, give a different interpretation of your blood pressure numbers than the retail clinics nurse practitioner did? Did the clinic even send your blood pressure data to your doctor? If you dont have a primary care doctor, should you accept the nurse practitioners nonchalant remark that your blood pressure is a bit high? For every service you receive in a retail health clinic, similar questions might arise. But theres no denying that these clinics typically in pharmacies, supermarkets and other big-box stores offer something that too many Americans are short on: convenient access to some basic, high-quality health care services, often at lower cost than in a traditional doctors office, physician-staffed urgent care center or emergency room. Will retail health care promote your long-term health? The bottom line: If youre thinking about getting health services from a retail clinic, it's wise to consider how this mode of health care delivery will serve you in the long term not just how quickly you can cross off your to-do's. We have a plethora of care options now, says Dr. Ateev Mehrotra, a professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School and a hospitalist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Choice is a good thing, but it does cause new problems for example, patients have to triage themselves, to determine which care setting is best suited to diagnose and treat their minor illness or injury. There are also tradeoffs between cost, quality and convenience, and navigating all that is complicated, he adds. Retail clinics can offer good value for basic services As a popular entry point, retail clinics have become a major force in American health care. CVS, with more than 1,100 MinuteClinics, will treat a sore throat, might be able remove sutures or surgical staples, and so on. Walgreens has hundreds of clinics that can treat back pain, headaches and urinary tract infections, among other ailments. But what kind of value can consumers expect from a for-profit clinic with no physician on site? Typically youll find good care at a competitive price, researchers have found. For a select group of conditions, retail clinics deliver care of equivalent quality compared with other settings, a 2016 Rand Corp. report concluded. And researchers at Northeastern University reported in 2019 in the journal Medical Care that retail clinics on average charge less than other care settings for similar services. They're best for younger people without chronic conditions Whether retail clinics are a good option for you depends at least in part on your age and general health. People who go to these clinics tend to be younger, healthier and are less likely to have a primary care doctor, says Dr. Mehrotra. For what weve looked at in our research things like urinary tract infections, sore throats, sinusitis the care this population is receiving at a retail clinic is equal to, or in some cases, superior to what they might get at an emergency department or an urgent care center. But for older patients, especially those with multiple chronic diseases, continuity of care is really important knowing their history and medications, says Dr. Mehrotra. For them, this may not be the best option. Most retail clinics do not provide comprehensive primary care Physicians worry about the long-term efficacy of health care delivered in a retail environment solely by midlevel providers such as nurse practitioners. And only about one-third of retail clinic users reported that they had a primary care physician, according to the Rand report. Dr. Mehrotras research has shown that going to retail clinics leads to a negative impact on continuity of care seeing the same doctor over and over again, he says. And many studies show greater continuity of care is associated with better outcomes. Physician organizations agree. Family physicians build long-term relationships with patients and have a holistic view of their health, Rebecca Beeler, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Family Physicians, said in an email. This makes our providers uniquely positioned to provide proactive, preventive care that prioritizes long-term patient wellness. Unfortunately, in the U.S. over the last 10 or 15 years, people are going to primary care less frequently," says Dr. Mehrotra. In our research, most patients were telling us, I dont have a doc. But for patients, its easier said than done to get into a primary care practice. Indeed, more than 97 million Americans live in regions where primary care health professionals are in shortage, according to an analysis by KFF, a health policy nonprofit. Retail health clinics are expanding their service offerings Despite the shortage of clinicians, big players in retail health care are beginning to offer a broader range of health services by partnering with health systems and even by acquiring primary care chains. CVS, which has partnered with Cleveland Clinic and added the brand HealthHUB to 900 of its MinuteClinics, is providing services such as chronic disease management for people with illnesses like diabetes. And Walgreens is partnering with VillageMD to open full-service, physician-staffed primary care practices alongside some of its drugstores. Patients face challenges with integrating their health records Regardless of the type of retail clinic, its important for patients to ask how information about their medical conditions and care will be communicated between the clinic and other provider organizations. Even for the minority of health systems that own or partner with retail clinics, tracking patients personal health data over time is difficult, according to 46% of health care executives and clinicians surveyed in 2022 by the Massachusetts Medical Societys NEJM Catalyst. Ideally you want to have your medical records in one place all of them, says Kenneth Hertz, principal consultant at KTHConsulting, which provides advice on medical practice management. With your records being fractionalized in different locations, its hard to get the full story. Hertz and his wife have experienced fragmentation with their own medical records. At our local clinic, which is staffed with physician assistants and nurse practitioners, they have health records for my wife and me, but they dont send information over to our primary care physician, says Hertz. But my wife is that person who will always get printouts and bring them to our physicians office so they can scan them. She serves as her own health communications network. So integrating records is clearly an issue. Its unlikely that retail clinics will resolve issues of continuity of care and of health records anytime soon. But for millions of Americans who prioritize convenience or have limited access to medical professionals, the nurse practitioner at the back of the store can help fill some important gaps in care. John Rossheim writes for NerdWallet. Email: USexpansion@nerdwallet.com. The article Can a Drugstore Be Your Only Doctor? originally appeared on NerdWallet. One is hitting its numbers; the other keeps missing expectations. One is raising money at an ever-rising valuation; the other has been pummeled by the market. One has a highly capable No. 2 executive keeping it on track; the other is under fire about succession planning. Space Exploration Technologies Corp. and Tesla Inc. both count Elon Musk as chief executive officer. But whereas Tesla has withered since the boss embarked on his takeover of Twitter Inc., SpaceX is flourishing some even suggest that this is because of, rather than in spite of, its CEO playing a less-active role. SpaceX is preparing for a watershed year, aiming for as many as 100 flights. That pace of one roughly every three and a half days compares to the every-six-days clip the company pulled off in 2022. As soon as March, it will attempt the first-ever commercial spacewalk, where astronauts will dangle from a Dragon vessel approximately 435 miles above Earth. And it will soon try to reach orbit for the first time with what it hails as the most powerful rocket ever: Starship, the launch vehicle intended to one day reach the moon and Mars. The closely held company recently valued at around $140 billion has been girding for all this activity with its less-present CEO delegating more to Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceXs president and chief operating officer. Since closing his Twitter acquisition in late October, Musk has been preoccupied with fixing operations and engineering issues at the San Francisco-based social media company, diminishing his involvement in day-to-day matters at SpaceX, according to current and former employees who asked not to be identified. These people describe Musk as much more instrumental in setting the long-term vision for the company, including its goal to get to Mars. They say the CEOs daily attention isnt necessary work flow for Falcon 9 launches, for example, have become fairly standardized over the years and that when Musks focus is elsewhere, theres some semblance of calm. SpaceX and Musk didnt respond to requests for comment for this story. Extra work When Musk is hyper-focused on daily operations, it can often lead to extra work hes inserted himself in projects and demanded changes for sometimes arbitrary reasons, former employees say. For instance, current and former employees describe times that Musk has deemed certain hardware as having too many tubes, connectors, or wires, or just not generally fitting his preferred design aesthetic. Hes demanded that employees rework and simplify systems, leading employees to spend time justifying why certain parts exist or triggering major redesigns and work that can take weeks to accomplish. Sometimes, that work ultimately has to be reversed when components that were discarded ultimately are needed for the final design. One former employee said the company will sometimes go through periodic hiring freezes when Musk turns his attention to SpaceX, as hell want final say on all new personnel. Previously, hes required that hiring managers prove an applicants exceptionality, prompting managers to try various methods, including asking for applicants SAT scores. During these periods, people are rarely hired, as Musks approval can be hard to come by. The mission Given this history, some current employees expressed relief about Musks recent focus on Twitter. With the CEO away, most of SpaceXs executives report to Shotwell. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in December that hed spoken with the COO about whether Musks acquisition of Twitter would detract from SpaceXs work. She assured me that it would not be a distraction to their mission, Nelson said. That mission to make humanity multiplanetary has been progressing in Boca Chica, Texas, where SpaceX has been working on Starship. Shotwell has been overseeing the project to a greater degree in recent months along with Mark Juncosa, the companys vice president of vehicle engineering. In the early days of the Starship program, Musk was at SpaceXs Starbase production facility in Boca Chica constantly, at times personally overseeing schedules and insisting on design changes, some employees say. Now, Juncosa, who was previously in charge of SpaceXs internet-from-space initiative Starlink, has taken on that role, overseeing hardware development and the program schedule. Meanwhile, Musks private jet hasn't traveled to the airport near Starbase since Oct. 14, about two weeks before he closed the Twitter acquisition. Juncosas takeover of Starship responsibilities has coincided with an increased focus on launch reliability and more risk-reduction testing, according to current employees. Since a Starship flight in May 2021 that ended with a successful landing, SpaceX hasnt performed another test launch. The next major flight will be Starships first orbital launch attempt a major milestone that has been repeatedly delayed. Musk recently suggested this could occur as early as February or March, though his launch date predictions are often aspirational. Photos: SpaceX launches 3 paying visitors to space station A 68-year-old Omaha man was killed in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon at North 38th and Cuming Streets. Clarence Hadley was turning left onto North 38th Street from Cuming Street in a 2015 Ford Escape when a westbound Infiniti G35x struck the Ford, according to a press release from the Omaha Police Department. Both vehicles came to rest at the northwest corner of the intersection, the release said. Medics transported Hadley to the Nebraska Medical Center with lifesaving measures in progress, and he died shortly after arriving at the hospital, police said. The 20-year-old driver of the Infiniti also was transported by medics for minor injuries. Omaha City Council members unanimously approved a resolution that will pay an Omaha firefighter more than $250,000 to settle claims of sexual harassment and retaliation. Hunter Mathieu, who began her career as a firefighter in 2018 and was promoted to fire apparatus engineer in early 2022, filed claims in 2021 and 2022 that the Fire Department retaliated against her and failed to investigate in a timely manner after she reported sexual harassment. Details about the allegations made by Mathieu are scarce because the complaints were filed with the Nebraska Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which are not public record. A complaint filed with the commission is often the first step needed before moving forward with legal action. Council members spent about half an hour in executive session to review the complaint, including a confidential memorandum outlining legal details of the settlement. The payment will come from the citys judgment fund, which is funded through Omahas property tax levy. The city admits no fault in the settlement agreement and continues to deny the allegations. However, the agreement states that an independent administrative investigation into Mathieus complaints confirmed that violations of Omaha Fire Department policy occurred. The settlement will provide Mathieu with a lump sum payment of $253,000 to cover alleged damages and legal fees. She will be placed on administrative leave until December and be paid her full salary and benefits. When the administrative leave ends, the agreement stipulates that Mathieu must voluntarily resign, although she can apply to be rehired. Reached by phone Monday, Mathieu said she did not wish to comment on the settlement. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of January 2023 A $915,163 grant from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is allowing the University of Nebraska Medical Center to address a shortage of nurses at K-12 schools throughout Nebraska. The grant will place 25 nursing students from across UNMCs five campuses Omaha, Lincoln, Norfolk, Kearney and Scottsbluff at K-12 schools later this semester through the newly created School Nurse Scholars program. The grant has been awarded as a subcontract through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. On average, for every school nurse in Nebraska, there are more than 1,100 students. The CDC recommends a student-to-nurse ratio of 750 to 1. Students will focus on the specifics of nursing for school-age patients in four one-credit-hour scholar classes over the course of four semesters through spring 2024. Nursing students will be able to directly care for students, conduct school screenings and provide mental health education. The grant will cover participating students tuition, books and fees. Each student also will receive a $1,500 stipend for each semester theyre enrolled in the program. A students participation in the program will be in addition to their regular course load. Students interested in the School Nurse Scholar program can apply online at tinyurl.com/h9y2bzyx. They also can contact UNMC College of Nursing project coordinator/liaison Tyler Szymanski via email at tyszymanski@unmc.edu or by phone at 531-215-9353 for more information. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of January 2023 Students can take a break to visit a new vending machine at Westgate Elementary School, but they wont find any snacks inside. The appliance instead offers books that can be taken home permanently with the use of a shiny gold token. Westside Community Schools staff gathered Wednesday to unveil a new book vending machine, which was donated by the Christ Child Society of Omaha as part of a pilot literacy program. Students can earn tokens either by having positive referrals or by buying them with their gator bucks fake money given to students who demonstrate good behavior in the classroom. Sue Seline, vice president of the National Christ Child Society board, said Omahas pilot program will start with Westgate Elementary but could expand to other metro schools depending on its results. Besides the installation of the vending machine, volunteers will visit the school throughout the year to host reading events. Back when I was a kid, learning how to read it made a difference in my life. And so I hope that will happen here, Seline said. The Christ Child Society of Omaha, which has been around the metro area for more than a century, focuses on serving children in need. Seline said local members got the idea of the vending machine after the national organization introduced two others in different states. The Westside school district houses the third book vending machine so far. The machine itself cost $6,000, and the school also will receive up to $1,500 a year to fill it with books, Seline said. Breezy Parker, a Westgate Elementary reading specialist, said the books are picked out through Scholastic, a childrens book publisher commonly used in schools. Only time will tell how fast students will go through the books currently in the machine. Parker said all of her students have been excited while waiting for the installation of the vending machine. In the past few weeks, her colleagues would routinely ask when students can start getting books out of the machine. This is just a really special opportunity to get books in the homes of our students, Parker said. A small group of students helped unveil the machine by being its first customers. After sliding in the gold token, they punched in the combination of what book they wanted, and it was dispensed below, just like regular vending machines. Each student used markers to sign their names on the inside covers of their books, which will go home with them. Some of the students said they didnt know they were going to be chosen to receive a book until Wednesday morning. Others said the only time they get access to many books is at the school library. There are kids who dont have books in the home. You dont think that, but there are. And the teachers always know, Seline said. So if we can help get books in the homes, and especially books that they pick out I hope that will resonate. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of January 2023 Chinese procuratorates provide judicial assistance to 82,000 people in 2022 Xinhua) 13:18, January 26, 2023 BEIJING, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Throughout 2022, China's procuratorates provided judicial assistance to 82,000 people, up about 72 percent year on year, according to the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP). The SPP, together with the National Rural Revitalization Administration, has released a collection of typical cases to highlight efforts to assist eligible rural families facing hardship due to lawsuits. Over recent years, the SPP has also partnered with other authorities to crack down on illegal activities that infringe on the safety of agricultural products and the security of agricultural funds, among other issues. Last year, procuratorial organs across the country supported indictments in 89,000 relevant cases to guarantee the timely delivery of paychecks for rural migrant workers and the legitimate rights of people with disabilities. They also participated in campaigns to tackle elderly care fraud, which saw 9,447 people charged with offences in 2022. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Hongyu) Shovels in hand and blue hard hats on heads, Omaha city officials and Mutual of Omaha leaders gathered Wednesday to celebrate the groundbreaking of a skyline-altering project. Mutuals new headquarters in the heart of downtown will become the citys tallest building when it opens in 2026. Construction plans for the $600 million skyscraper call for it to rise 677 feet. Thats 43 feet taller than First National Bank Tower, which has been the citys tallest structure for the past two decades. This is very important for the future of this city, and were proud to be a part of that, said Mutual CEO James Blackledge. Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert also spoke ahead of the groundbreaking, which took place in a heated tent on a site just to the east of where the tower will be built. Today, we celebrate an investment that will create development, that will grow our economy and that will draw innovating talent to our urban core, Stothert said. Photos displayed at the ceremony depict a glowing tower of glass that will overlook a downtown core the city hopes will soon see expansive revitalization. The skyscrapers top floor will offer views in all directions from a two-story atrium and hold large conference rooms and other meeting spaces. The public street-level lobby will feature displays paying homage to the companys history, the services it offers and impact. A parking garage extending up through the 15th floor will be able to hold 2,200 vehicles. The city has agreed to pay nearly $100 million for the garage, recouping the expense by leasing the spaces to Mutual employees during the day and to downtown visitors during off-hours. At 800,000 square feet, the building is intended for a flexible in-person or remote work styles. Mutuals current Midtown campus is about 1.7 million square feet. Blackledge and Stothert were joined in breaking ground on the project by Mutual Board of Directors member Rodrigo Lopez, developer Jason Lanoha, lead architect Jon Pickard and Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Veta Jeffery. The new headquarters has been named Project Beacon, Blackledge said. It will be a beacon for inviting our employees to a new, modern workplace, Blackledge said. It also will be a beacon for vitality, development and investment in our downtown. The City of Omaha moved much more than dirt to break ground on the 44-story tower. It took the demolition of the citys main library, the assurances of a modern streetcar system and a land swap to bring the Fortune 500 insurers headquarters downtown. A year ago, Stothert joined Blackledge in announcing the project, and pledged her support for a $306 million, 3-mile streetcar line. The two projects are contractually linked by a development agreement signed by the city and Mutual that obligates the city to follow through on the streetcar plans. The streetcar is vital to making the finances of the project work for Mutual. Having the streetcar run by Mutuals current midtown campus enhances the propertys redevelopment value, helping defray the cost of building the new high-rise downtown. The development agreement places other obligations on the city, including the $99 million purchase of Mutual towers parking garage. Similarly, the agreement calls for the city to acquire and operate for public use the three parking garages on the current Mutual of Omaha campus in midtown. Redevelopment of the former campus is an important prospect of our plan, Blackledge said. From the University of Nebraska Medical Center to the riverfront, linked by the modern streetcar, the potential for development is virtually unlimited, Blackledge said. The projects development agreement and approval of about $60 million in tax-increment financing for the tower sped through City Hall with ease. But the citys move to demolish the downtown W. Dale Clark Library to make way for the new headquarters received more pushback. Mutuals original acquisition of the city-owned block where the W. Dale Clark Library sat was made through a deal with Lanoha Real Estate Co. In exchange for the library property and a site just to the east, the city took ownership of a Lanoha-owned site at 14th and Dodge Streets. Opponents of the library demolition, which the city paid just over $1 million to complete, raised concerns over a lack of transparency within the city and contended city officials were putting corporate interests ahead of a public space. Supporters of the project point to a need for redevelopment and job growth in the citys urban core, as well as the need for a modernized downtown library. The momentum that we have to forever change our urban core is undeniable, Stothert said. Creating an environment for business growth and job creation is a top priority of my administration. Other city plans call for opening a new downtown library branch on Jones Street and building a new main city library at 72nd and Dodge Streets. Mutual of Omahas tower represents the first significant addition to downtown Omahas skyline in a generation. It also may be the largest single infusion of workers into Omahas downtown core. The move of Mutual of Omahas metro workforce of 4,000 into downtown dovetails with an ambitious chamber of commerce goal of pulling 30,000 additional jobs and 30,000 new residents into Omahas urban core over the next two decades. Our success is tied to this citys success, Blackledge said. We are 100% invested in that. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of January 2023 A newly launched website aims to connect Omaha residents with information and updates on the citys streetcar project. The website was launched by the Omaha Streetcar Authority and created with the help of local marketing agency Emspace + Lovgren. The agency was hired through funding from the Greater Omaha Chamber to assist the authority with a communications strategy as the streetcar project moves forward. Jay Noddle, president of the Omaha Streetcar Authority, said the site is meant to outline frequently asked questions and provide updates on the projects timeline and design plans. It should also be noted that it will be monitored very regularly so for those who have questions or concerns about what life along the route will be like, thats the place to go, Noddle said during an authority board meeting this week. The website is omahastreetcar.org. The streetcars planned route runs east along Harney Street and then turns north along 10th Street up to about Cass Street near the CHI Health Center. The streetcars then would head back south on 10th to Capitol Avenue. From there, the route would run a couple of blocks east to Eighth Street near the citys riverfront before turning west onto Farnam Street. The cars then would travel to the routes western terminus at 42nd Street near the University of Nebraska Medical Center. If all goes as planned, the $306 million streetcar system would open for operation in 2026. The Streetcar Authority was created last year to oversee the design, construction and eventual operation of the streetcar. The board is made up of seven members: three appointed by the mayor and approved by the City Council, three appointed by Metro Transits CEO and one community member appointed by the Greater Omaha Chamber. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of January 2023 A woman was killed and a child suffered life-threatening injuries in a two-vehicle crash four miles north of Prague, Nebraska. About 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, the Saunders County Sheriffs Office responded to the crash site, which was on Nebraska Highway 79 south of County Road W. Investigators determined that a 2007 Toyota Camry driven by Payton R. Pruett, 20, of Lincoln, was northbound on Highway 79. It appeared that the driver lost control of the car, which entered the east ditch. He then overcorrected and the car crossed the center line, striking a southbound 2001 Buick Regal, the Sheriffs Office said. The Buick came to rest in the west ditch. The Camry ended up on its top in the highways northbound lane. All five people involved in the crash were taken to Fremont Methodist Health. Some later were transferred to the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. A woman who was in the front passenger seat of the Buick died at the Nebraska Medical Center. Two children who were in the Buick, ages 3 and 6, also were injured. The 3-year-old has life-threatening injuries, and the 6-year old has injuries that arent considered life-threatening, the Sheriffs Office said. Pruett suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening. The man who was driving the Buick remained hospitalized Thursday with serious injuries that also were not considered life-threatening. The Saunders County Sheriffs Office and the Nebraska State Patrol are investigating the crash. Prague is about 55 miles west of Omaha. NORMAL Well before the days of Bandcamp and social media, musical artists of Generation X were independently publishing records and digitally connecting with fans. You can read about how a computer programmer and orchestral violinist turned her sights to rock 'n' roll in a new book coming out next month, titled Play Like A Man: My Life in Poster Children. In last weeks BloNo Beats, I interviewed author Rose Marshack, professor and director of Illinois State Universitys Creative Technologies Department, and how her program prepares artists with career skills for a digital era. In this column, Ill share a sneak peek of her experiences performing in the late 1980s through early 2000s indie rock scene with Champaign band Poster Children. Speckled throughout the text are about 75 tour reports Marshack compiled, offering a range of insights from the perspective of a woman performing live music. They complement well her narrative of moving from indie record labels to a major one, while clutching artistic control. The reports recount pep talks from idols, begging onstage for a floor she and her band could sleep on that night. She also doesnt gloss over harsh moments, like getting booed opening up for Public Enemy in Lawrence, Kansas. For music fans in Central Illinois, I highly recommend Marshacks book, which she finished after five years of writing and editing. Its a phenomenal model of what music journalism should be, exemplified by comprehensive documentation and peer review plus just enough swear words to keep you chuckling as you reach for the next page. Play fast If, like me, youve spent time over at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, youll see many familiar names and places in the books first part. Meeting her academic colleague and longtime bandmate, Rick Valentin, at UIUCs Allen Hall dormitory, a magnet for creative students, was most apropos. Im honored to have followed her educational footsteps in my own college genesis of creativity. Marshack noted in her book how record store cats comfort customers (as attested by Jared Alcorn of Normals Waiting Room Records), and why the Pythagorean theorem once saved the "rear end" of a Champaign small venue owner charged with violating noise ordinance. After hearing post-show rants, Marshack wrote about how Heidi Ore, bassist for Mercy Rule, inspired her to play fast, jump high and sing loud. Her thoughts on gender norms in music ruminated further with examinations of the male rock-critic narrative of female bassists, and how her peers in music felt called to support their male counterparts in a less-desired band role. She also wrote that woman in rock were focused on musicianship. Marshack wrote: My story is not a top-down anointing of bass princesses, its a grassroots uprising where people happen upon interesting music, musical instruments and a community of open-minded musicians, and create their own paths. For Marshack, her purchase of a bass guitar was made to support Urbana-Champaigns music scene. She wondered later in Chapter 10, in a recap of a dinner with a Columbia Records representative, whether a female Kurt Cobain would have to wear eyeshadow. Listing the variety of ways male rock musicians were able to represent themselves, she wrote that women could only choose between sexy rock star and anti-sexy rock star. Going back to her childhood, she explained the title of her book originates from her father, a dentist and day gig trumpet player, who pressed her to stretch her hands more in playing giant piano chords by Chopin. Marshack wrote that his comment didnt insult her. She spread her shoulder blades apart and played louder. Posting presents Eloquently written on page 65 is her account of CBGBs, a New York City music club that helped popular acts like Blondie, The Ramones and Talking Heads become noticed. Symbolizing the site as both a cave and church, she wrote that puddles of urine peed by a gentle dog were, in a way, a holy water font and a lesson in Buddhism. Envisioning the sweat and heroin that has soaked into the wooden stage, she wrote: Im lying on a forest floor atop decomposed punk rock earth. Additional accounts of her life as a touring musician continue to live online in reports now hosted by the Internet Archive. Marshacks practice of those uploading posts to prairie.net began in college through use of Plato courseware, an early online teaching program. In a Jan. 19 interview, Marshack said could use that program to send questions to her teaching assistants by posting note files. In the morning, she said shed have an answer and it was like a present. She said students learned to write and post random content that wasnt related to course material, like show reviews, and the TAs would have to empty those files out. Through those tangential postings, she said people bonded and formed communities. They didnt have a homepage or social media profile, she said, but there were still total advantages to using the web to build a community. She said her band would arrive at a show, and everyone there already knew everything about how their tour was going. In an April 1992 report, she documented her band's signing to Sire Records in downtown Chicagos Le Meridien hotel, and the powerlessness she felt in setting contract terms. In the past, she said they liked having control over how their records were published and marketed. Yet a small part of Marshack was excited. She wrote that she could have instead been across the street in a fluorescently lit cubicle instead, programming an insurance database and waiting on a hamburger lunch. 10 iconic bands that have reunited in the past 5 years 10 iconic bands that have reunited in the past 5 years Guns N Roses My Chemical Romance Smashing Pumpkins Hootie & The Blowfish The Jonas Brothers Rage Against The Machine The Black Crowes Genesis ABBA The Fugees BLOOMINGTON An Illinois Farm Bureau employee hopes to increase diversity in the agriculture industry by offering a new scholarship for Illinois students. Sim Sandhu, director of strategy and innovation for IFB, founded the Sandhu Minority in Agriculture scholarship aimed at meeting the industrys demands for innovation. Agriculture was never an industry Sandhu planned to enter when he secured an internship at the farm bureau at 19. Now, 10 years later, he said his perspective has changed. I was just thinking about ways to give back to the ag industry and maybe support others, like myself, to get more involved in it, he said. His parents emigrated from India in the 1980s, leaving behind an agriculture-centric living, so it is definitely still something thats near and dear to our hearts, Sandhu said. And growing up, we always talked about the importance of giving back and felt like this was a way for me to give back while still kind of appreciating the roots that we came from. Sandhu said increasing diversity in the states largest industry could help to broaden the horizons of what agriculture has been. Agriculture is not representative of the world it feeds. It is predominately going to be older and white today; I think thats safe to say. I dont think were lying or trying to make anybody uncomfortable. Thats just the truth, he told The Pantagraph. Thats got to change as time goes on because now, as agriculture becomes more technology- and innovative-centric, we are going well beyond what I think folks view as agriculture. Its no longer just our farmers and all the folks that support them out in the field and getting their food and crops and commodities to the various points and destinations. The application window for the IAA Foundation, the charitable arm of IFB, is open until Feb. 15 for students to apply. It is critical that our next generation of leaders receive the financial support and resources they need to stay immersed in their education and build their career in agriculture, said Jennifer Smith, the IAA Foundation development manager who oversees the scholarship program. Sandhus scholarship is open to Illinois residents who are a racial minority and pursuing an agriculture or STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) major with the intent to pursue an agriculture-related career. As time goes on, were going to need even more of those (STEM) perspectives because the world is growing and theres a lot of people that are still hungry, and weve got to do a better job at supporting more, he said. The scholarship awards the selected applicant $3,001, an homage to Sandhus roots. In Indian culture, the extra one is to signify a gesture of good luck and good faith. Its a number thats indivisible, and so itll kind of always stay with that person, he said. Smith said the personal element of adding the $1 is one of her favorite things to share about the new scholarship. Its one thing to establish a new scholarship, but to put so much meaning into what youre doing with it, I expect no less from Sim, she said. Hes always 10 steps ahead of everybody else around him Its just another really unique, awesome aspect to Sim and his scholarships of bring good fortune and good luck to a student. How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region. 100 years ago Jan. 26, 1923: Walter Ulrick of Champaign is the latest to fall into the clutches of the law as a result of Sheriff Gray's war against moonshiners and bootleggers. Ulrick, heretofore regarded as a respectable, law-abiding citizen, it is said, is charged in a warrant with the sale of liquor and declared by the sheriff's men to be a rum runner. Ulrick and his wife move in good circles; consequently, there was no little flurry when it became known that he had been arrested. 75 years ago Jan. 26, 1948: H. Clay Tate, editor of The Pantagraph, returned last night from Washington, D.C., where he was invited to a meeting of physical scientists, social scientists, educators, press and radio representatives on how to inform the public on atomic developments. Tate was named on a subcommittee headed by Lyman Bryson of the National Broadcasting Company to draw up recommendations in light of the developments at the conference, which was attended by roughly 30 people from across the country. 50 years ago Jan. 26, 1973: Linda Goldberg is a relatively new instructor in sociology at Illinois Wesleyan University, but with her short-term course this month titled "Problems: Police Community Relations," she became acquainted with the Twin City police scene in short order. Eleven IWU students signed up for the sometime independent study course, designed to let them look into every aspect of police work. And Goldberg says, thanks to the cooperation of both police departments, her students did just that. 25 years ago Jan. 26, 1998: A Normal Girl Scout troop is betting town residents have really big appetites for their cookies. If the 12 girls in Troop 168, whose members attend Fairview Elementary School, can get people to buy 6,300 boxes of Girl Scout cookies during the sales period that ends Feb. 2, they will fully fund their last trip together. They are planning a last hurrah in Savannah, Georgia, where the founder of the organization, Juliette Low, was born. 101 years ago: See vintage Pantagraph ads from 1922 Gerthart's Union Gas and Electric Co. Hoover Dr. J.A. Moore Dentists Moberly & Klenner W.P. Garretson W.H. Roland Pease's Candy Thor 32 Electric Washing Machine The Kaiser's Story of the War Ike Livingston & Sons Gossard Corsets Cat'n Fiddle 'Stolen Moments' Case Model X The Johnson Transfer & Fuel Co. The Pantagraph want ads Franklin Motor Car Co. 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' Calumet Baking Powder Mayer Livingston & Co. Newsmarket 'The Emperor Jones' 'California Fig Syrup' I wholeheartedly support John Danenberger for Ward 4 city council member and encourage other Ward 4 residents to do so as well. John is a generous and strongly civic-minded member of our community who already devotes himself to public service, from his work on the City of Bloomington Planning Commission and the board of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival to the organizing of the annual White Center block party. Those who have met John know the great pleasure he takes in learning about new friends and neighbors, reminiscing about Bloomingtons past, and imagining our communitys bright future. I am confident that he will be a dedicated advocate for Ward 4 interests and issues as he already is and more so, that he will be there to listen to all residents when they have concerns that might be addressed at the council level. Local government matters, and it is important that Ward 4 be represented by someone who embodies the best our community has to offer. I cannot imagine a more perfect candidate for this position than John Danenberger. Daniel Platt, Bloomington A Madina District Court has sentenced Peter Michael Ifaenyi aka Peter Yaw Asare, a Nigerian Computer Engineer, to 450 days imprisonment for attempting to obtain a Ghanaian Passport twice. Ifaenyi, 26, who was charged with attempting to obtain Ghanaian passports by false declaration, pleaded guilty. The Court, therefore, sentenced him on his own plea and handed down a custodial sentence without an option of a fine. Prosecution led by Chief Superintendent of Immigration Adolf Assenso, informed the court that the accused person was known for his wanton disregard for authority. He, therefore, prayed the Court to hand down a custodial sentence on the accused without any option of a fine to serve as a deterrent to like-minded persons. The case as narrated by the Prosecution is that the accused person, now a convict, was arrested on January 4, 2023, at the Accra Passport Application Centre, around Tema Station in Accra. It said while the accused person was undergoing the process of acquiring a Ghanaian Passport, officials of the Ghana Immigration Service suspected that he was not a Ghanaian as he claimed. He was subsequently referred to the National Enforcement Section at the Immigration Headquarters for further investigations. The Prosecution further told the Court that at the National Enforcement Section, it was detected that the accused person had earlier on been arrested for the same offence on November 17, 2022, at the Premium Passport Application Centre (Premium PAC), Circle Accra. It said the accused person was granted service enquiry bail and was later charged with the offence of attempting to obtain a Ghanaian passport by false declaration contrary to Section 52 of the Ghana Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573) on December 8, 2022. The Prosecution said the accused person was to appear before the Kaneshie District Court one on December 2022 for prosecution but he refused to appear. It said the accused person managed to outwit officials at the Birth and Death Registry and the National Identification Authority to obtain again the same Ghanaian birth certificate with entry number 1867 and a Ghana Card with personal ID number GHA-728134693-3 which he used in his earlier attempt and which were in the custody of the Ghana Immigration Service. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The spokesperson for the National Chief Iman, Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu has noted worryingly the impact of politics of insult on Ghanaian society. The spokesperson lamented that politicians are misguiding Ghana's youth because they are increasingly coming to terms with insulting the elderly. He brought up the issue of some eight Chiana SHS students who insulted the president of the republic and were suspended. According to him, the late president of Ghana, John Evans Atta Mills, was opposed to the culture of politics of insults and organized a conference at Peduase for the religious bodies to counsel them against engaging in insults. Speaking in a panel discussion on GTV Breakfast Show, Shiekh Aremeyaw further voiced his deep concern that all of the former president's efforts had been in vain and he wishes he was alive to see how his colleagues have watched on for the canker to worsen. The young people who insulted the president were given some punishment. It is important for us to reflect on what could be the consequences and how did we get there. I remember his excellency John Atta Mills very well on this subject. And I keep on repeating this, when he took office, one of the major things that occupied his attention and gave him concern was the politics of insults. You know he was in office for a time. But the early part of his office was when he was concerned about this. I would have wished he lived longer today and witnessed. Even though he is out of office, he could be given the opportunity to give his reflections on this because is something that he spoke about for a long time. And he called the religious bodies both Muslims and Christians at Peduase and he was trying to use them as a way to really get into the mind of the public about how we should really handle this matter. Just because were in politics and we can really reduce ourselves to such levels, he narrated. 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 Having made substantial progress in the 2022 National Science and Math Quiz, Arla Foods, producers of Dano Milk has presented the coveted Inner Strength Award to Assin State College. The Award comes with Dano Products worth GH7000, a plaque, and a scholarship fund of GH10,000 - to be presented to Stephen Nyamekye, a contestant at the NSMQ, who represented the Assin State College. The Dano Inner Strength Award initiative has been instituted to honour the courage and resilience of one Less Endowed School that makes it to at least the money zone of the NSMQ competition. Arlas General Manager, Vytautas Petronis, who presented the award said, At Dano, we want to give the chance to all the children across Ghana to have access to good and affordable nutrition that our Dano Milk provides. He expressed his excitement about the Award stating, Your team has demonstrated the courage and resilience by taking-on the big and well-established schools in the competition. You have shown us, by example, that with hard work and determination, year after year, everything is possible. I urge you not to stop but keep on pushing yourself and your peers, he encouraged. Mr. Wilson, Agbeko, Marketing Manager of Arla Foods Ghana Limited, explained that the cash donation, which is the first of its kind in the Inner Strength Awards was added after the management of Arla Foods in consultation with the schools authorities decided to support the needy but brilliant student. We realised that if we do nothing about the situation, then Stephen, although brilliant, will not be able to continue his education after Assin State College, hence the need to step in. Mr. Agbeko applauded Assin State College and urged them on to greater heights. The headmaster of the school, Mr. Ohene Nyarko, revealed that Assin State Colleges journey in the NSMQ competition started in 2017 but the school, for two consecutive years, got eliminated in the one-eighth stage. However, in 2022, the school made massive progress by getting to the quarter final stage as a result of hard work by both student and teachers. He noted the challenges of the school, adding that with the provision of adequate infrastructure and resources, Assin State College will achieve greater laurels. He seized the opportunity to commend Arla Foods for the presentation to the school. Present at the ceremony was Nana Adaaquah Okumanini I of the Assin Traditional area, who was also the chairman of the occasion, the District Director of Education, representative of the District Chief Executive, as well as the headmaster, teachers, and Students of Assin State College. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Nigerians have questioned why presidential candidate Bola Tinubu is making claims that powerful people are trying to sabotage his electoral chances. Nigerians go to the polls on 25 February, with Mr Tinubu standing as the presidential candidate for the governor APC party. Speaking to a crowd on the campaign trail in Ogun state on Wednesday, Mr Tinubu said that a fuel shortage in the country as well as moves by authorities to ban old naira notes as legal tender, in favour of newly designed notes, at the end of the month were covert attempts to stop him from becoming president. President Muhammadu Buhari says the introduction of new notes will help to tackle corruption, counterfeit money and the illicit hoarding of cash. Mr Tinubu then accused authorities of "hiding" the fuel and the naira notes, but said his supporters would still vote and so he would win. However, people are questioning what a change in the naira design has to do with Mr Tinubu winning the presidency. In previous Nigerian elections there have been cases of politicians paying people to vote for them. "This is quite major," broadcaster Ayo Mairo-Ese said on Arise News. "How does the redesigning of the naira or the unavailability of the naira affect his particular campaign, or the presidential election?" Ms Mairo-Ese asked. "We have 18 presidential hopefuls. Why is it only the APC presidential candidate that is worried about the redesigning of the naira and saying that it is an act to sabotage his campaign? That's a question that he must answer." Mr Tinubu has always denied allegations of corruption and vote-buying made against him and says those accusing him of wrongdoing are just jealous of his wealth and success. He has been a longstanding figure in Nigerian politics for decades and assisted in President Buhari winning office. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Vaticans envoy to Kinshasa, Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, has told the BBCs Newsday programme that Pope Francis visit to DR Congo is a dream which is coming true which has made everyone in the capital very happy. Pope Francis will next week visit the country, which is home to the largest Roman Catholic community in Africa. It is more than 37 years since the previous Pope, John Paul II, visited the country - when it was called Zaire. However, the pope arrives at a time when DR Congo is facing escalating conflict in the east of the country as government forces battle against armed groups. The pontiff regularly talks about DR Congo and the terrible situation there which results in the slaughters of people, Archbishop Balestrero said. He wants to console people and condemn all the massacres that are ongoing and ask God to forgive all the blood that is being shed, the archbishop said. However, there has been some controversy surrounding the Catholic leaders visit. Some market workers in Kinshasa have been told to dismantle their stalls to make roads tidy before the popes arrival.This has left some people feeling aggrieved. The archbishop said he was sorry for this and that the Church had no role in the authorities' decision. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has said it is time for Africa to change the narrative of poverty and underdevelopment that has been fostered on the continent. According to the Vice President, Africa has every single resource needed to become a global superpower once its leaders find ways to unlock that potential. Dr Bawumia made these remarks whilst addressing the Africa Prosperity Dialogue currently ongoing at Safari Valley in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The time has come for Africa and Africans to define our own narrative. We cannot allow poverty and underdevelopment to be the destiny of Africa, a continent so blessed with every natural resource imaginable oil, gas, minerals, and sunshine, Ghanas Vice President said. We have approximately 65% of all available arable land available to feed 9 billion people globally by 2050 and we are home to the most youthful population in the world. We have everything we need to transform Africa into a global powerhouse of the future, Bawumia said the crux of the matter is that African nations trade so little between themselves, despite collectively controlling a significant enough portion of the world market to create a truly powerful bloc. He pointed out that Africa only accounts for about three per cent of global trade and intra-African trade is one of the lowest of any region globally, attributing it to what he described as largely colonial economic models characterised by small individual economies, fragmented and disconnected regional markets, over-reliance and low productive capacities that we have practised for 60 years. Bawumia said the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is the solution to this and its successful implementation would lead to Africa fulfilling its potential. As growing economies, we often struggle to attract much-needed investments. However, with the collaborated strength from all 55 Member States, we have a population of 1.2 billion, the majority of whom are young, and a GDP of US$ 2.5 trillion, making Africa the eighth (8th) largest economy in the world. With the right investment, we will be able to sustain economic growth and create the job opportunities that the continent desperately needs, he said. Bawumia called AfCFTA a real game-changer that once fully realised can increase intra-African trade by some US$ 35 billion and reduce external imports by some US$ 10 billion annually. This will mean more opportunities for growth for our small businesses and the potential to lift more than three million people out of poverty. Speaking further, Bawumia outlined critical areas African countries need to upgrade in to take full advantage of this new era of trade, including investments in his beloved digital sector. As a continent, we need to produce and trade our way out of poverty and underdevelopment, and we cannot do that without investing in smart infrastructure across the continent. While the last decades have seen some positive investments, there is the need for additional resources to finance the arteries for trade, which include the physical infrastructure such as roads, rail, and energy; digital infrastructure such as data centres to facilitate the digital transformation and financial infrastructure to allow for integrated financial markets. These investments will be critical to delivering the success of the AfCFTA We must create platforms for knowledge brokerage and access to information on critical products and services on the continent to allow 445 million small businesses across the continent to plug into the value chains of these mega industries. Dr Bawumia added. The Africa Prosperity Dialogues is organised by the Africa Prosperity Network, founded by Ghanaian legal luminary, Gabby Otcher-Darko. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video An old tweet of 30-year-old Botswana woman, Lesedi Molapisi, who is facing the death penalty for drug-trafficking in Bangladesh, has surfaced. In January 24, 2022, the Bangladeshi New Age reported that Molapisi was apprehended at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka after disembarking from a Qatar Airways flight that had arrived via Doha from South Africa. After scanning her bag, Bangladeshi customs officials seized over 3kg of a heroin-like granular substance. She denied having any knowledge that the drugs were in her bags. In a tweet dated January 10, 2022, few days before her arrest, she had written; "Catch flights, not feelings." Read Full Story .... akahinews.org >>> : 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 "We are now calling on a poor person to suspend his bond repayment while one person is gone with millions of dollars," bemoans NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Bortianor-Ngleshie-Amanfro, Sylvester Tetteh. The MP was reacting to controversies surrounding the National Cathedral project and the amount of money paid to Architect David Adjaye. Adjaye Associates led by Sir David Adjaye proposed the design for the National Cathedral project. According to the Executive Director of the National Cathedral Secretariat, Dr Paul Opoku-Mensah an amount of GH113m was paid directly to Sir David Adjaye. The total amount paid by the government of Ghana to the project is GH339 million. The amount is made up of the following; amount paid directly to the secretariat is GH225 million and the amount paid directly to the consultant, Adjaye Associates is GH113m. The two payments total GH339m, he said. Sly Tetteh speaking on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', described as "unfortunate" the amount of money "given to one person". Even though he "is not against the construction of the cathedral", he believes there are a lot of other architects in the country who would've done the architectural drawings for free. "I had my own reservation about this project especially the consultancy for the drawing, for David Adjaye. I've said it already and I'll repeat it again; if we need architects for the cathedral, there are lots of them in this country. Some can even decide to do it for free because it's for the House of God but look at the cost, the amount of money we've given to one person in the name of architectural drawing," he said. " . . I support the Cathedral but there are some of the things I think it is wrong and we've said it one too many. He's (Adjaye) gone with the money . . . we are now calling on a poor person to suspend his bond repayment while one person is gone with millions of dollars. Why doesn't he return the money since the Cathedral has not been built . . . that's how much we paid and that's unfortunate," he cried. Listen to him in the video below 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 Some irate supporters of the National Democratic Congress on Wednesday, January 25, 2022, assaulted the Deputy General Secretary of the party, Mustapha Gbande at the premise of Radio Tamale. This follows recent changes in the Minority Caucus in Parliament by the NDC. The National Executive of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Tuesday announced a decision to change the leadership of the Minority caucus in Parliament. They named Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson as the new leader of the Minority; taking over from Haruna Iddrisu. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has also been named as the new Deputy Minority Chief Whip. Kwame Agbodza takes over as Chief Whip. Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the First Deputy Minority Chief Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the Second Deputy Minority Chief Whip. This decision has, however, not gone down well with some of the members as they insist Haruna Iddrisu must be maintained as the Minority Leader. According to a report filed by Alhassan Abdul-Washeed, UTV Northern Regional Correspondent, the youth had warned him not to speak to the recent changes in Parliament but he refused. Mustapha who was speaking in an interview on UTV further stated that the Deputy General Secretary after addressing the issue on Radio Tamale decided to speak to the angry youth, justifying the party's decision; leading to the assault. Listen to the video below 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 Newly appointed Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has suggested in a Facebook post that there are cracks within the minority caucus in parliament after a sudden reshuffle by his partys national executives. According to him he has had a conversation with the immediate past leader, Haruna Iddrisu to commend his sterling leadership over the years. I have held fruitful and positive conversations with my senior brother Hon. Haruna Iddrisu. I commend him for his admirable stewardship when he was granted the opportunity by our party's leadership, he said. Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, however, expressed his appreciation to the leadership of the NDC for appointing him to lead the minority caucus in parliament. The Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam MP said hes humbled by his elevation in the House. "I am honoured and humbled to have been chosen to lead our illustrious and gallant caucus in Parliament. I thank the leadership of our party who have placed their trust and confidence in me. I am also deeply grateful to colleagues, the rank and file of our party, and the Ghanaian people for their profound support and solidarity," he said in a Facebook post. He is very optimistic collectively the NDC will achieve with the support of all party members. I have no doubt that with your support we shall succeed, he pledged to serve with "unwavering dedication and high integrity." 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 Governance Lecturer at the Central University, Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah has expressed disgust over the findings by the Auditor-General disclosing that the Ministry of Health paid UNICEF/AVAT over 120 million dollars for Coronavirus vaccines but failed to receive all vaccines from the supplier. "The Ministry of Health on behalf of Government of Ghana paid an amount of US$120,192,379.80 to UNICEF/AVAT for the supply of vaccines. However, 5,109,600.00 doses of vaccines valued at US$38,322,000.00 were supplied to the National Cold Room leaving a difference of US$81,870,379.80 with UNICEF/AVAT," the report read. Addressing the issue during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme, Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah called for sanctions to be meted out to the person(s) who made this blunder. He noted that if it had been an ordinary Ghanaian who had stolen a phone or something less, he or she would have been given a harsh punishment or sentence but there are government officials and leaders in the country who have embezzled huge monies and are walking free. To him, in any serious country, the authorities who were in charge of the vaccines and allowed this to happen would have faced a disciplinary action but here is a case where no penal action has been taken against those in charge. "This is bad. I feel so ashamed that we still touch everything. And if we can touch this too, then where are we going, Ghana?" He advised the leaders to make the right decisions stressing "let us be proactive". Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Head of Linguistics at the University of Ghana, Professor Kofi Agyekum, popularly called 'Opanyin Agyekum', has slammed government over the Auditor-General's report on COVID-19 pandemic. The Auditor-General has released a report on government's expenditure made during the COVID-19 pandemic from the period between March 2020 to June 2022 and according to the findings, some monies purposed for mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be accounted for. Auditor-General's Report Giving an overview of receipts and utilization of the COVID-19 funds, the Auditor-General revealed that records at the Ministry of Finance, Controller and Accountant-General and Ministry of Health indicate that "the Ministry of Finance mobilised a total amount of GH19,112,318,205.12 in 2020 to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The records showed that an amount of GH1,978,551,137.46 was mobilised in 2021 and GH753,319,842.66 (up to June 2022) to finance the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme and the implementation of the Ghana COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan. In all, a total amount of GH21,844,189,185.24 was mobilised to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana". The report also gathered that "the Ministry, without the approval of the Central Tender Review Committee, increased the cost of five contracts with total contract sum of GH24,256,500.00 by GH4,017,000.00 through variation orders" and recommended that the "Chief Director should seek retroactive approval to avoid disallowance of such variation amount". "The Ministry of Health entered into a 25-year Finance Lease Agreement at a total lease value of GH15,265,000.00 in 2020 to be used as a holding and isolation centre in Adaklu in the Volta Region. The works, we noted, include remodelling the existing buildings to be used as holding, treatment and isolation centres but could not use the facility for the intended purpose which resulted in an additional cost of GH20,382,247.70. We recommended to the Chief Director to consider outright acquisition of the buildings," it added. The audit further disclosed that the "Ministry of Health on behalf of Government of Ghana paid an amount of US$120,192,379.80 to UNICEF/AVAT for the supply of vaccines. However, 5,109,600.00 doses of vaccines valued at US$38,322,000.00 were supplied to the National Cold Room leaving a difference of US$81,870,379.80 with UNICEF/AVAT". Opanyin Agyekum Fumes Reacting to the report during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" discussion programme, Professor Kofi Agyekum wondered why there is no fear in people elected or appointed into public offices. He established that people are more afraid of owing a fellow person than embezzling government funds. This, he noted, is so because they know nothing will be done to them when they embezzle funds or in the worst-case scenario where they are caught and arrested, all they need to do is affiliate themselves with a political party and they will go scot free. "When somebody owes another person, the person fears more than he or she has embezzle government money because the person knows he/she can end up in the hands of the Police but with the government money, he/she knows it won't get anywhere. All he or she needs is to belong to NPP or NDC and that's it," he said. He condemned the blatant disregard for doing the right thing on the part of the public officials but advised them to develop a sense of responsibility for nation-building. "After you have done all these, then you want to touch pensioners' money and you think God will be watching you like that. What kind of country is this?", he subtly took a swipe at the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta in a reply to wit ordinary Ghanaians are made to suffer while government officials who commit wrongdoings are absolved. Meanwhile, the Auditor-General has recommended that "the Chief Director of the Ministry of Health should renegotiate with UNICEF/AVAT to recover the outstanding amount" paid for the COVID-19 vaccines which haven't arrived. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video China's Population Drops, So End the Three Child Policy NEWS PROVIDED BY Women's Rights Without Frontiers Jan. 26, 2023 WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2023 /Christian Newswire/ -- China has announced that its population declined in 2022 by 850,000 people the first such decline in 60 years, since the disastrous Great Leap Forward. Reggie Littlejohn, President of Women's Rights Without Frontiers, has been working to stop forced abortion in China for many years. She issued the following Opinion. Demographers have long predicted that, due to the demographic devastation caused by the One Child Policy, China would eventually suffer a demographic decline. This decline in work force will have devastating economic consequences. The decrease in the labor force will stifle China's ability to support its "severely aging society." Indeed, demographers forecast that by 2035, 400 million people 30 percent of the population -- will be 60 and above. Moreover, the CCP has no ability to support this swiftly aging population. That decline has arrived sooner than expected, for at least two reasons. First, there has been increased mortality due to Covid. Second, the Chinese Communist Party assumed that it could control the population at will, decreasing births through violent, murderous population control policies; then increasing births when it needed them by urging eligible married couples to have two, and now three children. In the CCP's view, a woman's body lies in the domain of the State. This attempt to "play God" is an act of profound hubris. Under the One Child Policy, the CCP's "Womb Police" succeeded in limiting births through forced abortion, forced sterilization, involuntary birth control, and even infanticide. Indeed, in 2009 they boasted that they had "prevented" 400 million births through the One Child Policy their contribution to the fight against global warming! I believe that the total number of forced abortions today is likely closer to 500 million half a billion! Because of savage son preference, the majority of babies aborted in China have been female, so that there are an estimated 35 million more males living in China than females. Not only will these forced bachelors, or "bare branches," be unable to reproduce, but this extreme gender imbalance is driving human trafficking and sexual slavery within China and from surrounding countries. The sex-selective abortion of some females leads to the sexual slavery of others. There is no more violent form of gender discrimination than gendercide, the real war on women. The One Child Policy shifted to a Two Child Policy in 2016 and to a Three Child Policy in 2021. Through all these policy shifts, the CCP has maintained the right forcibly to abort out-of-plan or "illegal pregnancies." Now, the CCP finds that it is facing a population decline that is as devastating as it is irreversible. Apparently, the CCP thought that it could simply relax the policy and count on people suddenly wanting to have more children. Not so. The Two and Three Child Policies failed to deliver the increase in births desired by the CCP, and now China faces a demographic disaster. Many couples are choosing to have no children at all. Indeed, the Zero Covid policy has driven some young couples to despair. One such couple in Shanghai was confronted by police dressed in hazmat suits, known as "Big Whites," who attempted to drag them away to quarantine camp because they had contact with one who tested positive. The police threatened three generations of their family, to which the husband declared, "We are the last generation." This desperate indictment of life under the cruel tyranny of the CCP has gone viral in China. Under the Three Child Policy, it remains illegal for women to have a fourth child, or to give birth if unmarried. Forced abortion remains legal in China today, especially among the Uyghur women in Xinjiang, where the CCP has been committing genocide. In the Chinese countryside, impoverished women are still being pressured to "give away" their baby girls or are struggling to feed them. China's message to the world is that the United States is a declining power, and China is a rising power. China's demographic implosion destroys this narrative. China is in a nosedive. This is a self-inflicted wound. Given China's desperation to increase the birth rate, maintaining the Three-Child Policy or any other coercive population control policy -- is preposterous. We call upon the CCP to end all coercive population control, to make forced abortion and involuntary sterilization illegal, including in Xinjiang, and to institute effective measures to save girl children, immediately. Women's Rights Without Frontiers has enabled hundreds of women in the Chinese countryside to keep and feed their infant daughters through our Save a Girl Campaign. We know it can be done. One fifth of the population of the world lives under the totalitarian boot of the Chinese Communist Party. The world will not be free until the women of China are free. SOURCE Women's Rights Without Frontiers CONTACT: Reggie Littlejohn, 310-592-5722, reggielittlejohn@gmail.com Share Tweet New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Akyem Oda Constituency, Alexander Akwasi Acquah has sympathized with the NDC MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu and Asawase NDC MP, Muntaka Mubarak for being kicked out from their positions in Parliament by their political party. The new NDC leadership led by Johnson Asiedu Nketia released a statement revealing changes in the Minority Caucus in Parliament. The party has removed Haruna Iddrisu as Minority Leader and handed it over to the Member of Parliament for Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam and a former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson. The statement also named a new Minority Whip in the person of Hon. Kwame Agbodza to replace Muntaka Mubarak. The new leadership would be charged to recommend consequential changes in the Ranking membership to the headquarters of the party for approval, the statement further stated. But to Akwasi Acquah, the NDC has ill-treated the two leaders, Haruna Iddrisu and Muntaka Mubarak. He referred the NDC to the sacrifices that these two leaders have made for the party, citing Muntaka Mubarak kicking ballot boxes in Parliament and Haruna Iddrisu 'fighting' fiercely for the election of Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin as the Speaker of Parliament. Akwasi Acquah added that Haruna Iddrisu is a whole insitution in Parliament, therefore "you don't remove an institution like him". "There is no justification for this. Although the party has the right to make changes in the leadership but we know there is an undercurrent which is aimed at removing all those who are rising to become shining stars of the NDC. This current crop of NDC executives want to use revolutionary spirit to win the elections and it is this revolutionary spirit that is at work," he emphasized. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Samuel Koku Anyidoho, a former deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has urged the leadership of the party to make ex-Finance Minister Kwabena Duffuor, the partys presidential candidate since they agree the 2024 election will be about the economy. Koku Anyidoho made this remark while reacting to the explanation given by the national executives of the NDC on their decision to change the party's leadership in Parliament. The National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah said in an interview with Joy News that the changes feed into the larger party reorganization plan that has seen the election of local level to national officers over the last year. On the specific reason why the NDC picked Cassiel Ato Forson (Ajumako Enyan Essiam MP) to replace Haruna Iddrisu (Tamale South MP) as leader of the Minority Caucus, he responded: We know for instance that going into election 2024, the economy is going to be the major battleground and so many of the debates and other discussions will focus on the economy. So, you better put your best man in the economy forward and that is what weve done, he stressed stating that it was not for the party to consult before ringing the changes. Reacting to this in a tweet shared on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, Koku Anyidoho posited that Dr Duffuor should be made flagbearer of the NDC if the 2024 election will be on the economy because he understands economic issues better than the other candidates who will be contesting for the position. I hear that the 2024 elections will be about the Economy & Energy, thats why Ato Forson & Kofi Buah are the leaders of the NDC Minority. Wow! If that is the case, then Dr. Dufuor shall be our Flagbearer since he is more knowledgeable than Dead goat in Economics & Finance, the tweet read. The NDC leadership appointed the former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, as the minority leader in the 8th Parliament of Ghanas Fourth Republic. According to the NDC, Kofi Armah Buah, MP for Ellembele, will take over as the Deputy Minority leader. While Kwame Governs Agbodza, MP for Adaklu, he will replace Asawase MP Muntaka Mohammed as the Chief Whip. Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the First Deputy Minority Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the Second Deputy Minority Whip. This was contained in a letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, from the National Democratic Congress dated January 23, 2023. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Board of Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Honours has shortlisted three Ministers of State who will be vying for Ghana's Minister Of The Year Award for 2021 and 2022 respectively. The 3 Ministers are Hon. John Alan Kyerematen, Former Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon. Dr. Owusu Akoto Afriyie, Former Minister of Food and Agriculture and Hon. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Minister for Energy. The 3 Ministers will be vying for the coveted and enviable crown as Ghana's Best Minister of the years 2021 and 2022. This is the 3rd edition of 'Ghana Minister Of State Excellence Honours' which is put together by Ghana's biggest event organising company, Big Events Ghana. GHANA MINISTER OF STATE EXCELLENCE HONOURS The event in its third edition will be held in February at the Movenpick Hotel in Accra. The event, which will award and celebrate only 5 of the over 120 Ministers of State, is seen as very competitive and honourable. The Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Honours celebrate the Most Competent, Most Hard Working and Most Influential Minister of State in the Republic of Ghana who has excelled in their mandate as Ghana's Best Minister of State. The event will be aired live on 3 of Ghana's top television networks, UTV, TV3 and Adom TV. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A group in Belgium was noisily playing Monopoly on the sidewalk at 5am, leading to a frustrated neighbour bringing out a Japanese katana sword. Nearly turned to a game of death 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: Summary of NPV for 10 000 50-year simulations for low (CV = 0.5, triangles) and high (CV = 0.1, circles) monitoring investment and across a range of maximum harvest mortality rate (proportion of H MSY : pH MSY ). Populations with higher maximum harvest rates spend a larger fraction of their time classified as overharvested. Generally, NPV increases as harvest rates approach (H MSY , p = 1), then declines as over-harvesting occurs ( > H MSY , p > 1). Return on investment is proportional to the length of the line connecting any two points harvested at the same rate (i.e. same color), which depicts how much NPV changes when you go from low to high monitoring precision. With ever more demands on the planet's natural resources, managing them carefully is ever more critical. But it can be challenging to make effective decisions for such complex systems. To do so, scientists and resource managers have to gather information, determine its importance and weigh possible outcomes. The key is figuring out how much information you need, so you don't spend more money monitoring than necessary. A team of researchers, led by scientists at UC Santa Barbara, investigated how ramping up monitoring efforts can be particularly valuable when resources are close to depleted. Their study, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, suggests that monitoring is extraordinarily valuable when fish populations are near the threshold of collapse. Their findings likely hold true for other systems as well, and could guide the ways in which we gather crucial information. Environmental monitoring is a tricky business. These efforts are often expensive, and the groups paying for monitoring are frequently not the stakeholders most impacted by the results. Accordingly, the expense and effects of monitoring can become contentious issues. In this light, it's useful to think of information itself as a resource with monetary valuenamely the price someone is willing to pay for that information prior to making a decision. Ultimately, stakeholders want just enough insight to make effective decisions without investing time and money gathering more info than they need. "Collectively, the value of information in fisheries management is related to its ability to inform decision-making processes, reduce uncertainty and risk, and inform trade-offs between different objectives," explained lead author Adrian Stier, an associate professor in the Department of Ecology Evolution & Marine Biology. Monitoring efforts can tighten the error bars on various uncertainties by providing information on the size and abundance of fish populations, the impacts fishing has on them, and the effects of environmental factors such as climate change. It can also provide a clearer picture of the risks involved, like the repercussions of overfishing and depleted populations on ecosystems and economies. Monitoring can also help stakeholders weigh trade-offs between different objectives, such as the trade-off between maximizing the economic benefits of fishing and conserving fish populations. The value of information is related to its ability to inform these trade-offs, balance competing objectives and facilitate decisions. So, how do you get the most bang for your buck? Stier and his colleagues propose three management principles: adaptive monitoring, defining a "safe space" and sharing risk. First, they suggest adapting monitoring efforts based on the value provided by that data. Monitoring investments often hinges on funding availability, technology, personnel logistics and perceptions of risk among managers and resource users. "We suggest managers take a precautionary and adaptive approach by investing in monitoring based on its value," Stier said. "In particular, managers should invest heavily in monitoring when a system is close to a management or biological threshold." In these situations, every bit of additional insight can have a big impact. Secondly, the researchers found that keeping parameters within a predefined "safe operating space" encourages positive results while reducing costs. By staying within these bounds, managers and stakeholders can be relatively sure that things will be okay without having to invest more money in monitoring. "If you know where you're at then you can be pretty sure you're safe and avoiding a meltdown," Stier said. Finally, the authors found that spreading the cost of monitoring led to better outcomes. Sharing the cost among multiple stakeholders avoids having these efforts supported by only one entity who might not be able to afford monitoring costs, especially if those funds come from money made by harvesting a resource. There are of course provisos to these conclusions, where the value of monitoring depends on who bears the brunt of the cost. Is it the fishing industry? The taxpayers? "Who is paying will determine whether an investment is worth the risk," Stier said. Commercial fisheries offer an interesting case study in placing the burden of monitoring on the industry, rather than the government. For a subset of fisheries in New Zealand, Canada and Australia, the fishing industry is primarily responsible for monitoring costs. The guiding logic is that the burden of proof for sustainability should lie with the stakeholder interested in exploiting a system. At the same time, it's crucial to ensure that funding for monitoring is independent from the resource itself. Consider the herring fishery in the Canadian North Pacific, where monitoring of spring herring spawns was historically funded by the fishing industry. The fishery dipped below an important benchmark more than a decade ago and has not fully recovered. As a consequence, monitoring efforts have declined, which impacts the precision of biomass estimates, and may prolong closures. This study shows the critical importance of monitoring harvested species, particularly when the population is close a tipping point. "Embracing these three principles will promote investment in monitoring when it is most valuable," Stier said, "thereby reducing the probability of collapse, promoting sustainable harvest and conservation of natural resources, and increasing food security." More information: Adrian C. Stier et al, Avoiding critical thresholds through effective monitoring, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2022). DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0526 Journal information: Proceedings of the Royal Society B 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: Artificial skin produced at the University of Copenhagen. Credit: University of Copenhagen By using artificial human skin, a research group from the University of Copenhagen have managed to block invasive growth in a skin cancer model. The study has been published in Science Signaling and looks at what actually happens when a cell turns into a cancer cell. "We have been studying one of the cells' signaling pathways, the so-called TGF beta pathway. This pathway plays a critical role in the cell's communication with its surroundings, and it controls e.g. cell growth and cell division. If these mechanisms are damaged, the cell may turn into a cancer cell and invade the surrounding tissue," explains Professor and Team Lead Hans Wandall from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Copenhagen. Under normal circumstances, your skin cells will not just start to invade the hypodermis and wreak havoc. Instead, they will produce a new layer of skin. But when cancer cells emerge, the cells no longer respect the boundaries between skin layers, and they start to invade each other. This is called invasive growth. Hans Wandall and his colleagues have been studying the TGF beta pathway and applied methods for blocking invasive growth and thus curbing the invasive growth in skin cancer. "We already have various drugs that can block these signaling pathways and which may be used in tests. We have used some of them in this study," explains Associate Professor and co-author of the study Sally Dabelsteen from the School of Dentistry. Hans Wandall and Sally Dabelsteen have worked together with Dr. Zilu Ye and Professor Jesper V. Olsen from the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. "Some of these drugs have already been tested on humans, and some are in the process of being tested in connection with other types of cancer. They could also be tested on skin cancer specifically," she says. Artificial skin is the closest we get to real human skin The artificial skin used by the researchers in the new study consists of artificial, genetically manipulated human skin cells. Skin cells are produced on subcutaneous tissue made of collagen. This makes the cells grow in layers, just like real human skin. Unlike mice models, the skin model, which is another word for artificial skin, allows researchers to introduce artificial genetic changes relatively quickly, which provide insight into the systems that support skin development and renewal. This way they are also able to reproduce and follow the development of other skin disorders, not just skin cancer. "By using artificial human skin we are past the potentially problematic obstacle of whether results from tests on mice models can be transferred to human tissue. Previously, we used mice models in most studies of this kind. Instead, we can now conclude that these substances probably are not harmful and could work in practice, because the artificial skin means that we are closer to human reality," says Hans Wandall. The artificial skin used by the researchers resembles the skin used to test cosmetics in the EU, which banned animal testing in 2004. However, artificial skin does not allow the researchers to test the effect of a drug on the entire organism, Hans Wandall points out. Skin models like the one used here have been used by cosmetics companies since the mid-1980s. "We can study the effect focusing on the individual organthe skinand then we reap experiences with regard to how molecules work, while we seek to determine whether they damage the structure of the skin and the healthy skin cells," he says. More information: Zilu Ye et al, Characterization of TGF- signaling in a human organotypic skin model reveals that loss of TGF-RII induces invasive tissue growth, Science Signaling (2022). DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abo2206 Journal information: Science Signaling This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Days after two California massacres involving the Asian American community, many are seeking to understand what drove two men to commit these crimes. Primary among questions are the role of culture and society, and whether mental health is a pressing issue in the Asian American community. Dylan Rodriguez, professor of media and cultural studies, sees mass shootings as a societal issue that affects all communities. The Asian American community is not an exception, he said. "Thinking of this as an Asian/American 'exception' to the overwhelmingly young white male problem of 'mass shootings' is a dire mistake and the wrong premise," said Rodriguez, the author of three books, including his most recent, "White Reconstruction: Domestic Warfare and the Logic of Racial Genocide," published in 2021. These most recent shootings are part of a national symptom; the aggressors are part of communities absorbing negative behaviors influenced by celebrities and politicians, all of whom contribute to the violence, Rodriguez said. "What happened in Monterey Park, Half Moon Bay, Oakland, and before that, Virginia Tech, should not be framed as Asian American exceptions, but rather as direct reflections of a national culture and climate that actively cultivates acts of repression and terror against women, criminalized and vulnerable people, and whomever else is deemed a target of resentment. Mass shootings are the horrific logical expression of this national culture and climate," Rodriguez said. The Half Moon Bay massacre involved Asian Americans farmworkers, a job many do not associate with the Asian community, said Carol K. Park, an ethnic studies doctoral student and staff with UCR's Young Oak Kim Center for Korean American Studies. "We often don't think of Asians as immigrant workers in the field like we used to do in the early-to-mid-1900s when Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, etc., all worked as farmworkers," said Park, author of "Memoir of a Cashier: Korean Americans, Racism and Riots." "But they are still here; there are still Asians working in California farms. In the case of Half Moon Bay, the attacker lived there." One reason for this lack of connection is the intentional omitted history in U.S. textbooks and Asian exclusion laws enacted in California and in the U.S., Park said. For example, in 1882 Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, limiting migration from China, and in 1913 California enacted the Alien Land Law, prohibiting Asian immigrants from owning land. The Asian American presence in the United States can be traced to the mid 1800s, when Chinese workers migrated to the United States. Their labor was first used in gold mines, and then in building the West, including working in agriculture, railroads, and the garment industry. In the Monterey Park shooting, it seems to be a case of ostracizing. The attacker lived in Hemet and drove about 80 miles to Monterey Park apparently in search of community and acceptance. "He ended up committing suicide. Obviously mental health plays into this," Park said. When it comes to mental health, seeking psychological services can be a cultural barrier for Asian Americans, said Kalina J. Michalska, assistant professor of psychology and director of the Kids Interaction and NeuroDevelopment Lab, or KIND Lab. In a 2021 study, Michalska found that Asian American students were less likely to seek mental health resources. Their reluctance can be a mirrored response to how their families perceive sharing their family issues with therapistssomeone families can consider a stranger. "There's a lot of stigma around mental health, for men especially," Michalska said of her study, titled "Shared Cultural Values Influence Mental Health Help-Seeking Behaviors in Asian and Latinx College Students." Asian American study participants indicated that cultural values were one of the reasons preventing them from accessing mental health resources. For those participants, beliefs such as putting others' needs above theirs and not deviating from familial and social norms, were priorities. Other barriers might be more related to language and access, such as not being able to leave work for an appointment, finding childcare or transportation, said Toshia Ann Yamaguchi, UCR health director of Student Mental Health and a health sciences assistant clinical professor with UCR School of Medicine. "There is a lot of stigma around mental health in Asian American communities. Many families might be inclined to avoid acknowledging mental health symptoms exhibited by their family members and dismiss the mental health treatment recommendations by providers," Yamaguchi said. "Many individuals may be inclined to deny symptoms they are grappling with themselves. Furthermore, there is a lack of psychiatrists and therapists who speak Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Korean, etc." Another aspect that does not get discussed often, is the sense of community and belonging. "A deficit in the sense that one belongs in one's community has been increasingly acknowledged in the literature recently as a profound risk factor for poor mental health outcomes, including suicide risk," Yamaguchi said. "Notably, participating in one's community traditions and feeling a sense of belonging are two modifiable factors that protect against the pervasive harmful effects of childhood trauma. In other words, a lack of community or sense of belonging can impair one's resilience in the face of other stressors." 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: Michigan State University postdoctoral researcher Mauricio Tejera-Nieves studies switchgrass near a rainfall exclusion shelter built by the Great Lakes Bioenergy Researcher Center at Michigan States W.K. Kellogg Biological Station Long-Term Ecological Research site. Credit: Mauricio Tejera-Nieves Michigan State University researchers have solved a puzzle that could help switchgrass realize its full potential as a low-cost, sustainable biofuel crop and curb our dependence on fossil fuels. Among switchgrass's attractive features are that it's perennial, low maintenance and native to many states in the eastern U.S., including Michigan. But it also has a peculiar behavior working against it that has stymied researchersat least until now. Berkley Walker's team in MSU's Department of Plant Biology has revealed why switchgrass stops performing photosynthesis in the middle of the summerits growing seasonlimiting how much biofuel it yields. This knowledge, published in the journal Frontiers in Plant Science, is a key piece to overcoming this quirk and getting the most out of switchgrass. "We want bigger plants, period, so being able to crack this and lift this limitation, that is the goal," said Mauricio Tejera-Nieves, a postdoctoral researcher and the lead author of the team's study. Tejera-Nieves, Walker and their colleagues discovered the explanation for this limitation in switchgrass's rhizomes. These are little knobby structures that live underground among the plant's roots. If you've ever sliced or shredded ginger, you've held a rhizome. Rhizomes store food in the form of starch to help plants survive winter, and that starch is made from the sugars produced by photosynthesis. Once switchgrass rhizomes are full of starch, they signal the plant to stop making sugars and adding biomass through photosynthesis. Tejera-Nieves compared the rhizomes to a bank, albeit a slightly unusual one. "Imagine getting a call from your bank and they tell you, 'Hey, your account is full. You can take a vacation, go on sabbatical, do whatever you want. Just stop working because we're not storing any more money,'" Tejera-Nieves said. "It's a very conservative strategy, but it's one that works for switchgrass. The longer it's doing photosynthesis in nature, the more likely it is that an animal will eat it or something else bad will happen." Although this evolutionary strategy has worked to the plant's advantage in nature, it is a disadvantage for humans who want to ferment switchgrass's biomass into biofuel. By understanding the root cause of this behavior, though, researchers can start looking for ways around it. "Now we can start looking for breeding solutions," said Walker, an assistant professor in the College of Natural Science who also works in the MSU-Department of Energy Plant Research Laboratory. "We can start looking for plants that have an insatiable appetite for photosynthesis." 'Why are you doing that?' Switchgrass has yet to join plants including corn and sugarcane as a commercialized source of biofuel. But that makes sense because those established crops have a huge head start, said the MSU team. Farmers have been selecting and reproducing versions of those crops that have qualities that are attractive to us, such as higher sugar content, for thousands of years. Humanity's interest in switchgrass as a biofuel source is much more recent in comparison. So, it's only natural that switchgrass exhibits some suboptimal behaviors that researchers would like to iron out, like stopping photosynthesis without explanation. "The plants get to about midseason and say, "Okay, we're done,'" said Walker. "As a researcher, you're literally asking, 'Why are you doing that? It's warm, the sun is out and your leaves are green. What is happening?'" said Tejera-Nieves. Tejera-Nieves joined Walker's team with a hypothesis to answer that, as well as the means to test it with support from the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, or GLBRC. He suspected that a lack of water might be playing a role. In addition to awarding Tejera-Nieves a fellowship, the GLBRC had built what are called rainfall exclusion shelters in the fields at MSU's W.K. Kellogg Biological Station. These do exactly what their name promises: They exclude rain. Plants underneath the shelters stay dry while their neighbors outside can freely soak up sprinkles, showers and storms. The shelters presented the perfect place to test Tejera-Nieves' idea, even if it didn't go exactly as he initially predicted. "If water limitation was the reason for the behavior, the plants under the shelters would do poorly," Tejera-Nieves said. "But they didn't. After six months of water limitation, the plants under the shelter were just as happy as the plants outside." So, he needed to dig a little deeperliterallyto look at what was happening in the rhizomes. He found that the starch levels of all the plants grew over time until they hit a peak level and then would remain flat. Once that happened, photosynthesis in the plants' leaves switched off. "Once the rhizomes are full, the plant just stops," Tejera-Nieves said. "You can see it so clearly in the data," Walker said. "The plants do photosynthesis in the summer to save carbon for the winter and, as soon as they've got enough, they shut down." One of the next steps for the team is developing a better understanding of the molecular machinery that coordinates this photosynthesis shutdown. That knowledge could reveal even more clues about how to override the plant's behavior and may prove handy for biofuel crops beyond switchgrass. "You see similar trends with photosynthesis across perennials," Walker said. "We'd have to look to be sure, but we think it could be the same mechanism." More information: Mauricio Tejera-Nieves et al, Seasonal decline in leaf photosynthesis in perennial switchgrass explained by sink limitations and water deficit, Frontiers in Plant Science (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1023571 Journal information: Frontiers in Plant Science This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Researchers have measured boron flux and the boron-to-carbon ratio in high-energy cosmic rays based on the data collected with the Calorimetric Electron Telescope over more than six years on the International Space Station. Credit: Yosui Akaike of Waseda University, Japan Cosmic rays (CR) constitute high-energy particles that mainly originate outside our solar system. These primary CR interact with interstellar matter to produce secondary CR. The secondary nature of their origin is reflected in the higher abundance of light elements, such as boron (B), in secondary CR relative to the solar system. Likewise, the primary CR can be quantified in terms of the amount of carbon (C) nuclei. Consequently, measurements of the secondary-to-primary abundance ratios (as B/C) are possible. This can help realize better galactic CR propagation models by constraining their parameters that are proportional to the average material path length () traversed by CR in the galaxy at high energies. Existing studies indicate that follows a power-law variation. It is inversely related to E raised to the th power, where E is the CR energy per nucleon and is called the diffusion spectral index. The galactic CR propagation can be investigated by precisely determining the energy dependence of . In this regard, a team of international researchers, led by Professor Emeritus Shoji Torii from Waseda University, Japan, has now extended the measurements of secondary CR in the tera electronvolts/nucleon (TeV/n) region with high statistics and reduced systematic uncertainties. Their work, published in Physical Review Letters on December 16, 2022, involved contributions from Dr. Paolo Maestro from the University of Siena, Italy, and Dr. Yosui Akaike from Waseda University. (a) Boron and (b) carbon flux (multiplied by E2.7) and (c) ratio of boron to carbon, as a function of kinetic energy, E. While the error bars of CALET data (in red) represent only the statistical uncertainty, the yellow band indicates the quadratic sum of statistical and systematic errors. Credit: Yosui Akaike of Waseda University, Japan Akaike briefly discusses the fundamental contribution of their study. "Our research presents new direct measurements of the energy spectrum of B and the B/C flux ratio in the energy range 8.4 GeV/n to 3.8 TeV/n, based on the data collected by the CALorimetric Electron Telescope (CALET) from October 13, 2015, to February 28, 2022 aboard the International Space Station. The C energy spectrum has also been updated. The measurements indicate excellent charge identification, accurate tracking, and good energy sampling of the CR particles up to the TeV region," he says. By analyzing the CALET data, the researchers observed that B shows a different energy spectrum from C in terms of its spectral index value: -3.047 for low energies. The index seems to harden (by 0.25) more than it does for C (by 0.19), albeit with low statistical significance, at a transition energy of around 200 GeV/n. The B/C ratio can be fitted with a single power law function with a spectral index of -0.366, even at high energies. Further, due to the slight difference in the hardening between B and C, the researchers tried to fit a "leaky-box model" of CR propagation in the galaxy to the B/C ratio. In this approach, the CR were modeled as "leaking" from the galaxy. Their results pointed to the possibility of a non-zero residual value of . Physically, this implies that the primary CR cross a column density of matter within the acceleration region. They then produce new secondary B nuclei near the CR source, hardening the ratio. "The presented results could significantly contribute to our understanding of cosmic ray propagation mechanism in supernova remnants and our galaxy. More importantly, however, pure science research can stimulate an intellectual curiosity about our universe and help us better comprehend what life might look like at places like the Moon and Mars," concludes Akaike. More information: O. Adriani et al, Cosmic-Ray Boron Flux Measured from 8.4 GeV/n to 3.8 TeV/n with the Calorimetric Electron Telescope on the International Space Station, Physical Review Letters (2022). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.129.251103 Journal information: Physical Review Letters 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: NASAs Orion spacecraft will carry astronauts further into space than ever before using a module based on Europes Automated Transfer Vehicles (ATV). Credit: NASA In 2033, NASA and China plan to send the first crewed missions to Mars. These missions will launch every two years when Earth and Mars are at the closest points in their orbits (Mars Opposition). It will take these missions six to nine months to reach the Red Planet using conventional technology. This means that astronauts could spend up to a year and a half in microgravity, followed by months of surface operations in Martian gravity (roughly 40% of Earth gravity). This could have drastic consequences for astronaut health, including muscle atrophy, bone density loss, and psychological effects. Aboard the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts maintain a strict exercise regimen to mitigate these effects. However, astronauts will not have the same option while in transit to Mars since their vehicles (the Orion spacecraft) have significantly less volume. To address this challenge, Professor Marni Boppart and her colleagues at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology are developing a process using regenerative cells. This work could help ensure that astronauts arrive at Mars healthy, hearty, and ready to explore. Boppart is a professor of kinesiology and community health at the Beckman Institute and the College of Applied Health Sciences (CAHS) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Before joining UIUC, Boppart was an officer and aerospace physiologist with the U.S. Air Force who specialized in high-altitude health hazards. Her current research is focused on muscle loss and gain at the molecular level, which she hopes will lead to strategies for recovering strength in circumstances where mobility and exercise are limited. This situation presents problems considering the impact time spent in microgravity can have on the human body. These physiological effects are well-documented thanks to ongoing studies aboard the ISS, such as NASA's famous Twins Study. As Boppart related in a recent Beckman Institute press release: A cut-away graphic of the Orion Crew Module. Credit: NASA "Astronauts can lose up to 20% of muscle mass after just two weeks, and 1-2% of bone mineral density every month. The longer the space travel, the greater the deterioration of tissues and physiological systems in the human body. But even the most intense [exercise] protocols performed in space are not sufficient to overcome the negative impacts of microgravity. Alternatives to traditional exercise, ideally based on exercise principles, are required." Boppart and her colleagues began investigating the regenerative power of cells for space exploration in response to a Biomedical Research Advances for Space Health (BRASH) solicitation by the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH)an institute funded by the NASA Human Research Program. The institute asked researchers to investigate new methods for ensuring astronaut health and performance by enhancing the human body's own maintenance and cellular repair abilities. These methods, they stated, would become part of long-duration exploration missions, including NASA's Artemis program and future crewed missions to Mars. The mission architecture for Artemis is the Orion spacecraft, which will transport crews of four astronauts to the Moon. This program will send two astronauts to the lunar surface (Artemis III) for the first time since the Apollo 17 mission landed in 1972. However, the long-term aim of Artemis is to establish a program of "sustained lunar exploration and development" that will include the creation of infrastructurelike the Artemis Base Camp and the Lunar Gatewayto facilitate missions to Mars in the coming decade. The Orion spacecraft has limited volume since it was designed to serve three functions, combining a dormitory, dining hall, and control room. Whereas its total pressurized volume measures 20 cubic meters (690.6 ft3), the habitable space measures only 9 cubic meters (316 ft3) in volume. This leaves little room for resistance and endurance equipment similar to what astronauts have access to on the ISS. Instead, Boppart and her team focused on the cellular activity that occurs within the human body during and after periods of exercise. When we engage in anaerobic (lifting weights) or aerobic (running, etc.) activities, our bodies react with a "stress response." This consists of chemicals like endorphins being released into the bloodstream to boost the body's ability to remain active. Some of these chemical payloads are wrapped in a protective layer of lipids (fatty cells) known as extracellular vesicles, which are named for their ability to transfer restorative chemicals from cell to cell. Boppart and her team theorize that extracellular vesicles and the chemicals they carry can trigger the restorative effects of exercise, even where no exercise has taken place. For their research, Boppart and her colleagues were awarded a $1 million grant by TRISH, to be dispersed over the next two years. The broad aim of their study is to use extracellular vesicles generated naturally (from volunteers) and artificially in a lab. When administered to astronauts, these vesicles will replicate the restorative effect of exercise in astronauts and combat the effects of microgravity, all without the need for heavy equipment that takes up a lot of space. As Boppart summarized: "When we exercise, it's not only our muscles that benefit, but all tissues, including the brain and skin. Our TRISH-sponsored work will directly test the ability of extracellular vesicles released after exercise to protect human health in space. Astronauts are the target population for this funded study, but the result could potentially be used to prevent, maintain, or treat a variety of conditions associated with inactivity and disuse, including aging, disability, or even disease, which would be exceptionally fulfilling." This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain When bacteria interact, they give off cellular signals that can trigger a response in their neighbors, causing them to behave in different ways or produce different substances. For example, they can communicate to coordinate movement away from danger or to emit light to ward off predators. In new research published by Biophysical Reports, researchers from Florida State University and Cleveland State University lay out a mathematical model that explains how bacteria communicate within a larger ecosystem. By understanding how this process works, researchers can predict what actions might elicit certain environmental responses from a bacterial community. "Typically, models of bacteria in synthetic environments have involved many, many equations describing many, many things, but they weren't really flexible for different applications," said co-author Bhargav Karamched, an assistant professor in FSU's Department of Mathematics and the Institute of Molecular Biophysics. "What my collaborators and I have done is to create a flexible mathematical model that can be applied to a variety of experimental settings." Models like the one developed by Karamched's team help to predict how those bacterial communities coordinate activity, allowing designers to adjust the parameters of a community, such as the population sizes of different types of bacteria or feedback loops, and tailor them for different purposes. For example, in a population of two kinds of bacteria, having more of one kind of bacteria can be dangerous for a host organism while having more of the other can be beneficial. Getting the right mix is crucial, and models help researchers design and analyze the bacterial communities they create. "What's lacking in synthetic biology right now are these general, flexible models that are ready off-the-shelf," Karamched said. "This may not capture all the details in a bacteria community, but it still captures the general framework of what's going on. Scientists and engineers can use that to compare against their experimental work and move forward." The researchers also tested their model against previously published research that examined how bacteria communicate across large spatial gaps. The previous research found that the bacteria only needed a positive feedback loop in order to signal to each other. But Karamched and his collaborators' model predicts that the rate of production of signaling molecules must also be within a specific range for coordination to occur. "This model lays the groundwork for a wide range of future experiments testing different strain interactions and geometries," said co-author Shawn Ryan, an associate professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics and the co-director of the Center for Applied Data Analysis and Modeling at Cleveland State University. Ryan Godin, a former Cleveland State University student and current Iowa State University doctoral student in chemical engineering, was the lead author on this paper. More information: Ryan Godin et al, The space between us: Modeling spatial heterogeneity in synthetic microbial consortia dynamics, Biophysical Reports (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.bpr.2022.100085 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: Effect of monovalent and divalent CuPS complexes on the swarming motility of P. aeruginosa PA14. Top row: Motility of P. aeruginosa PA14 in the presence of CuPS complexes. Bottom row: Controls. The bacteria were inoculated into the center of each plate consisting of M9 solidified with 0.5% (w/v) Difco agar and containing 0.1% of the relevant CuPS complex. Surface coverage was assessed after 24 h of growth at 37 C. All of the CuPS complexes contained 0.7% polysaccharide (w/v) and 500 ppm copper. For the control treatments, the copper concentration in the copper-containing plates was 500 ppm, and the PS plate contained 0.7% Porphyridium sp. polysaccharide (w/v). Credit: Marine Drugs (2022). DOI: 10.3390/md20120787 Antibiotic resistant bacteria are becoming more and more of a concern as traditional sources of anti-microbial treatments become less effective. Therefore, researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev are looking farther afield for promising compounds to treat wounds and infections. Prof. Shoshana (Mails) Arad and Prof. Ariel Kushmaro, Prof. Levi A. Gheber and Ph.D. student Nofar Yehuda joined a metal and a polysaccharide together and discovered the new compound worked well against bacteria and fungus (Candida albicans) because of the longer and denser spikes on its surface that poked holes in the membrane and killed off the bacteria and the fungus. "A polysaccharide is a carbohydrate with linked sugar molecules and by adding a metal (Cu), we were able to create an effective new material," according to the researchers. Their findings were published recently in Marine Drugs as the new compound is derived from marine red microalga Porphyridium sp. Commercialization of these new compounds could come sooner rather than later. "In light of the increased resistance to antibiotic and antifungal agents, there is a growing need for the development of new and improved treatments. BGN Technologies holds a patent application ready for licensing in the field," say BGN's Galit Mazooz-Perlmuter and Anat Shperberg Avni. BGN Technologies is Ben-Gurion University's technology transfer company. More information: Nofar Yehuda et al, Complexes of CuPolysaccharide of a Marine Red Microalga Produce Spikes with Antimicrobial Activity, Marine Drugs (2022). DOI: 10.3390/md20120787 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: 3D printed objects from English (left) and Tariana (right) prototypes (above). Credit: Mike Lucibella Half of the world's languages are endangered and more than a thousand are expected to be lost in coming decades. A team at UCL is using animation software to preserve these languages in an entirely new way. It's estimated that there are over 7,000 documented languages spoken across the world. Yet around half of these languages are endangered. Between 1950 and 2021, around 230 languages were wiped from human memory. About 1,500 endangered and rare languages are at a high risk of being lost in the next century. The consequences of language lossalso known as linguicideare felt around the world, affecting identity and well-being as well as culture and linguistic diversity. In response to this growing trend, an anthropologist and architect at UCL have come together to present and preserve some of these languages in a truly unique way, using inspiration and technology from animation in the gaming industry. Reimagining language Language is often only imagined in the shape dictated by our writing systemas words on a page or as sound. But the "shape" of humanity's natural languages and their high-dimensional form mostly remain to be fully explored and modeled as visual materialsimilar to how we envision the double helix of DNA. Rather than only listening to a recording, scientists have now made it possible to also handle a language excerpt physically, by building 3D printed models based on language patterns and grammar. As part of a study published in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, scientists explored how the structure of language can be represented in 3D using software commonly used for game, film and video animation. To create their 3D designs, they drew on the sounds of a languagethe number of syllables in a lineas well as its grammar, focusing on a particular grammatical system called evidentials. They gave a numerical value to "evidential weight"that is, the nature of the evidence being conveyed. In one of the languages they focused onthe Amazonian language Tarianaspeakers are grammatically obliged to indicate the nature of the evidence they're conveying at all times, unlike in English, where this isn't required. Tariana contains a hierarchy of preferred evidentials, ranging from information obtained through direct visual observation to the repetition of information related by someone else. They plotted points in three dimensions, with the numerical values derived from evidentials along the Z axis, the number of syllables along the Y axis and timeline on the X axis. The design software then turned these points into a 3D shape, virtually filling in the digital weave of warp and weft to appear as a smooth, woven undulating surface. The researchers were then able to create four prototypes and digital 3D images from this, which they printed as 3D objects. The first of its kind in the world, the project and its outputs not only enable the visual demonstration of the architecture of language, but also enables its preservation in a permanent, solid form. A nylon prototype made via the latest industrial type of 3D printing (Multi Jet Fusion), based on a language sample from an Amazonian language (Tariana). Credit: University College London Transcript of above sample, translated from Tariana to English. Credit: University College London Crossing boundaries The multi-disciplinary study brought together Dr. Alex Pillen (UCL Anthropology) and Ph.D. candidate Emma-Kate Matthews (Bartlett School of Architecture at UCL). Dr. Pillen explains: "The seed of the idea for this work came from our initial conversationswith each of us coming at this from our own different disciplines. "At the time, I was just finishing a book project, and I felt that I couldn't quite come up with a single image that would go on the cover. "And I thought, well, what if I could create an image that roughly would be the architecture of the Kurdish language incurred through an abstract design that could be used as the cover? "Then more people were saying, "Well, we should put in some comparative materials. It shouldn't just be about Kurdish." "We then contacted colleagues who are looking at Amazonian languagesand then I had a Ph.D. student who worked on Akkadian, an ancient language, who agreed to code it. Then a colleague suggested we could add English as well, which we did." Dr. Pillen explains: "We've focused on one single grammatical system that is most prominent in Native American, Amazonian and Aboriginal languagesevidentials. Grammar is complex in these languages, and these are precisely the languages that are under threat. "Many endangered languages have only a couple of hundred speakers left. We are now faced with a major loss for both marginalized communities and the history of humanity." A 3D model of a sample from an ancient Neo-Assyrian dialect, Akkadiannow extinct. Credit: Dr. Alex Pillen and Emma-Kate Matthews The researchers say that visualizing words and grammar in 3D offers a palpable new way to preserve languages that will not leave behind a written record, or whose complex patterns are often lost in translationdocumenting endangered languages and enhancing grammatical understandingand bringing to life ancient languages no longer spoken for future generations. "We do, of course, have recordings of these languages to preserve the way they sound, while the vocabulary can be preserved in a dictionary. But what is more difficult to preserve is the grammar, because this is often presented in a very dry manner by linguists. "You get transcripts, annotated with very technical terminology. But by producing the geometry of grammar in 3D, we allow people to have an immediate intuitive relationship to these languages that are under threator that might disappear." As well as its implications for recording language in an era of rapid loss of linguistic diversity, the scientists say that 3D printing words and phrases also enables them and their students to use spatial intuition to get to know the patterns of languages that we do or do not speak. "In terms of spatial intuition, you can immediately see in terms offor example, the Tariana exampleif you hold it in your hand, there is an immediate sensation of its complexity, which I would say the kind of books written by linguists, with all the technical detail about grammar, don't achieve," Dr. Pillen adds. Dr. Pillen also notes that it isn't just languages under threat of extinction that are experiencing linguicide. "This is not only about preservation of languages that are endangeredbut also about linguistic loss," she says. "Some Amazonian language, Aboriginal languages, North American languages are facing extinctionbut there are several other languages spoken by sizeable populations who have been faced with language loss, such as the Kurdish language. "In Turkey and Syria, where language policies obstruct the standardization of language, and schooling in the Kurdish mother tongue, communities suffer a loss of culture, and loss of linguistic heritage. "It's for people like that that these models are also important as a solid object to reflect that predicament of loss. Our method allows for aspects of an intangible heritage to become tangiblea rare form of solidity for people who have often lost so much." The researchers say that there is more they'd like to do with the technology they've developed to further enhance learning and language preservation. "At the moment, these are language excerpts that are frozen in time representing very short speech moments," Dr. Pillen adds. "Now, what would be amazing is to use larger datasets to create moving images of evolving shapes in natural language." More information: Alex Pillen et al, Natural language modelled and printed in 3D: a multi-disciplinary approach, Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (2022). DOI: 10.1057/s41599-022-01089-5 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The elusive Goodfellow's tree kangaroo is much smaller than the better-known Australian kangaroo species. Conservationists at a UK zoo have captured the moment a rare tree kangaroo popped out of its mother's pouch for the first time, part of research aimed at helping the endangered species survive in the wild. The elusive Goodfellow's tree kangaroo is much smaller than the better known Australian kangaroo species. It is native to the mountainous rainforests of Papua New Guinea, where they are under threat from hunting and habitat destruction. The species lives high up in trees and has lost more than half its population in the past 30 years. Dave White, team manager of Chester Zoo in northwestern England, said they had documented the marsupial's growth using a special endoscope carefully placed into the mother's pouch every few weeks since it was born last July. "By having these endangered species in our care we can learn so much about them and this sort of information that we are gathering is a small part preserving them in the wild," he told AFP. Since little is known about their development, scientists hope capturing the process on camera will improve conservation practices and help other similar species in southeast Asia survive in the wild. Tree kangaroos have one of the "most complex birthing processes in the animal kingdom", said White. It involves the youngster being born incredibly underdeveloped and instinctively following a path of fur, which has been licked by the mother, that leads to the pouch. Little is known about tree kangaroos' development. Once inside the pouch, the young kangaroo latches on to teats for nutrition. Then, slowly, it grows from the size of a jellybean, developing back legs and fur, until "around six months later it starts to open its eyes and pop its head out", he said. Over the coming days and weeks, Chester's new baby kangaroo, is expected to fully emerge from its mother's pouch and begin learning to hop and climb trees, White added. It is not yet named, but thought to be male. The Goodfellow tree kangaroo is one of 14 species of tree kangaroo. The others are found in the lowland and mountainous forests of Indonesia, the far north of Queensland, Australia and also in Papua New Guinea. 2023 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.adc9931 A collaboration between teams from the National Graphene Institute (NGI) at The University of Manchester, and the Ecole Normale Superieure (ENS), Paris, demonstrated Hebbian learning in artificial nanochannels, where the channels showed short and long term memory. Hebbian learning is a technical term introduced in 1949 by Donald Hebb, describing the process of learning by repetitively doing an action. The paper is published in the journal Science. Hebbian learning is a well-known learning mechanism, it is the process when we "get used" to doing an action. Similar to what occurs in neural networks, the researchers were able to show the existence of memory in two-dimensional channels which are similar to atomic-scale tunnels with heights varying from several nanometers down to angstroms (10-10 m). This was done using simple salts (including table salt) dissolved in water flowing through nanochannels and by the application of voltage (< 1 V) scans/pulses. The study spotlights the importance of the recent development of ultrathin nanochannels. Two types of nanochannels were used in this study. The "pristine channels" were from the Manchester team led by Prof. Radha Boya, which are obtained by the assembly of 2D layers of MoS 2 . These channels have little surface charge and are atomically smooth. Prof. Lyderic Bocquet's group at ENS developed the "activated channels," these have high surface charge and are obtained by electron beam etching of graphite. An important difference between solid-state and biological memories is that the former works by electrons, while the latter have ionic flows central to their functioning. While solid-state silicon or metal oxide based "memory devices" that can "learn" have long been developed, this is an important first demonstration of "learning" by simple ionic solutions and low voltages. "The memory effects in nanochannels could have future use in developing nanofluidic computers, logic circuits, and in mimicking biological neuron synapses with artificial nanochannels," said co-lead author Prof. Lyderic Bocquet. Co-lead author Prof. Radha Boya, added that "the nanochannels were able to memorize the previous voltage applied to them and their conductance depends on their history of the voltage application." This means the previous voltage history can increase (potentiate in terms of synaptic activity) or decrease (depress) the conduction of the nanochannel. Dr. Abdulghani Ismail from the National Graphene Institute and co-first author of the research said, "We were able to show two types of memory effects behind which there are two different mechanisms. The existence of each memory type would depend on the experimental conditions (channel type, salt type, salt concentration, etc.)." Paul Robin from ENS and co-first author of the paper added, "The mechanism behind memory in 'pristine MoS 2 channels' is the transformation of non-conductive ion couples to a conductive ion polyelectrolyte, whereas for 'activated channels' the adsorption/desorption of cations (the positive ions of the salt) on the channel's wall led to the memory effect." Dr. Theo Emmerich from ENS and co-first author of the article also commented, "Our nanofluidic memristor is more similar to the biological memory when compared to the solid-state memristors." This discovery could have futuristic applications, from low-power nanofluidic computers to neuromorphic applications. More information: P. Robin et al, Long-term memory and synapse-like dynamics in two-dimensional nanofluidic channels, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.adc9931 Journal information: Science 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: Extended summary figure of the article. Credit: Alex Argozino/Studio Argozino/Science magazine The Amazon rainforest has been degraded by a much greater extent than scientists previously believed with more than a third of remaining forest affected by humans, according to a new study published on January 27 in the journal Science. The paper was led by an international team of 35 scientists and researchers, from institutions such as Brazil's University of Campinas (Unicamp), the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM), National Institute for Space Research (INPE), and U.K.'s Lancaster University. It shows that up to 38% of the remaining Amazon forest areaequivalent to ten times the size of the U.K.has been affected by some form of human disturbance, causing carbon emissions equivalent to or greater than those from deforestation. The work is the result of the AIMES (Analysis, Integration and Modeling of the Earth System) project, linked to the Future Earth international initiative, which brings together scientists and researchers who study sustainability. The findings are the result of an analytical review of previously published scientific data, based on satellite imagery and a synthesis of published data outlining changes in the Amazon region between 2001 and 2018. The authors define the concept of degradation as transient or long-term changes in forest conditions caused by humans. Degradation is different from deforestation, where the forest is removed altogether and a new land use, such as agriculture, is established in its place. Although highly degraded forests can lose almost all of the trees, the land use itself does not change. Photo taken in 2015 of a burning forest in Belterra, in the Brazilian Amazon. In this photo, the flames are about 30cm high. The continuous fire line can be seen at the back of the photo, together with a lot of smoke. Credit: Adam Ronan/Rede Amazonia Sustentavel The authors evaluate four key disturbances driving forest degradation: forest fire, edge effects (changes that occur in forests adjacent to deforested areas), selective logging (such as illegal logging) and extreme drought. Different forest areas can be affected by one or more of these disturbances. "Despite uncertainty about the total effect of these disturbances, it is clear that their cumulative effect can be as important as deforestation for carbon emissions and biodiversity loss," said Jos Barlow, a Professor of conservation science at Lancaster University in the U.K. and co-author of the paper. The scientists assess that the degradation of the Amazon also has significant socioeconomic impacts, which should be further investigated. Photo taken in 2015 of a burning forest in Belterra, in the Brazilian Amazon. In this photo, the fire line is clear, as well as the smoke of the burning forest. Credit: Adam Ronan/Rede Amazonia Sustentavel Photo taken in 2018, three years after a fire affected this logged forest that was also affected by edge effects. Photo taken in Belterra, in the Brazilian Amazon. Credit: Erika Berenguer Photo taken in 2015 of a burning forest in Belterra, in the Brazilian Amazon. While the flames cannot be seen, the smoke coming out of the forest is clear. Credit: Adam Ronan/Rede Amazonia Sustentavel "Degradation benefits the few, but places important burdens on many," says Dr. Rachel Carmenta, a co-author based at the University of East Anglia, in the U.K. "Few people profit from the degradation processes, yet many lose out across all dimensions of human well-beingincluding health, nutrition and the place attachments held for the forest landscapes where they live. Furthermore, many of these burdens are hidden at present; recognizing them will help enable better governance with social justice at the center." In a projection made by the team for 2050, the four degradation factors will continue to be major sources of carbon emissions into the atmosphere, regardless of the growth or suppression of deforestation of the forest. "Even in an optimistic scenario, when there is no more deforestation, the effects of climate change will see degradation of the forest continue, leading to further carbon emissions," says Dr. David Lapola, leader of the study and researcher at the Center for Meteorological and Climatic Research Applied to Agriculture at Unicamp. However, "preventing the advance of deforestation remains vital, and could also allow more attention to be directed to other drivers of forest degradation." Photo taken in 2019, four years after a fire affected this forest fragment, which has been previously also affected by multiple anthropogenic disturbance, including selective logging, edge effects and fires. Photo taken in Belterra, in the Brazilian Amazon. Credit: Marizilda Cruppe/Rede Amazonia Sustentavel Photo taken in 2019, four years after a fire affected this forest fragment, which has been previously also affected by multiple anthropogenic disturbance, including selective logging, edge effects and fires. Photo taken in Belterra, in the Brazilian Amazon. Credit: Marizilda Cruppe/Rede Amazonia Sustentavel The authors propose creating a monitoring system for forest degradation, as well as prevention and curbing of illegal logging and controlling the use of fire. One suggestion is the concept of "smart forests" which, like the idea of "smart cities," would use different types of technologies and sensors to collect useful data in order to improve the quality of the environment. "Public and private actions and policies to curb deforestation will not necessarily address degradation as well," says Dr. Lapola. "It is necessary to invest in innovative strategies." More information: David M. Lapola, The drivers and impacts of Amazon forest degradation, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.abp8622. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abp8622 Journal information: Science Provided by Future Earth 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: Discover how a picture of the sky can become a symphony. Credit: Chandra X-ray Observatory, CC BY-SA A little over six months ago, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) delivered its first photographs, dazzling the world as it revealed the cosmos in glorious technicolor. The first picture transmitted in July showed a galaxy cluster located in the Southern hemisphere sky, 5.12 billion light years from Earth. In the words of US president Joe Biden, it represented "the deepest and sharpest infrared image of the distant universe" taken by humanity so far. But NASA didn't content itself with unveiling these first JWST images visually. Tapping into the long love story between music and astronomy, scientists mapped out the colors to different pitches of sound. Music and astronomy: An ancient love story Music and space might not seem like natural partnersafter all, no air means no sound. But to our forebears, the links were obvious. In Ancient Greece, thinkers such as Aristotle believed the Earth lay at the center of the universe. This didn't make it an unchanging ideal, however: to the ancients, terrestrial phenomena were ever-changing, a reflection of our planet's imperfection. The sky, by contrast, was seen as immutable and eternal, and so worthy of emulation. A few of the stars moved with respect to othersso-called "planets" in the etymological sense (for "planet" means "wandering star"). The ancients knew of seven of them: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, plus the sun and the moon. That number would go on to inform the composition of the days of the week as well as of the musical scale. Indeed, to the Ancient Greeks, each planet hung on a sphere, which, in turn, revolved around the Earth. Given that movement emitted sound heresuch as when two objects rubbed against one another or when feet hit the groundit made sense that the moving spheres in the cosmos should also produce sounds. Contrary to those heard on Earth, these were thought to be perfect, prompting the Ancients to use the stars as a template for terrestrial music. This is why in the Middle Ages astronomy and music were grouped together in the quadrivium, which also included arithmetic and geometry, and lay the foundations of the liberal arts education. The melodies assigned to the planets by Johannes Kepler, in his Harmonices Mundi. Credit: University of Oklahoma/Wikipedia, CC BY Plotting the stars on the musical scale But how to weave together notes and planets? This is admittedly the trickiest part. Some scientists have linked a sound's pitch to a planet's distance, others with its speed. To add more intricacy to the compositions, at the time perceptions differed in the relative positions of the planets in the solar system. The German astronomer Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) was one of the scientists to most notably draw on this Ancient Greek concept of "music of the spheres" (also known as musica universalis) to map out the planetary system. Kepler's findings would catapult us into the modern cosmos: he determined that not only was the sun not at the center of the solar systemas Nicolaus Copernicus had proposed in the previous centurybut also that the planets revolved around it in an elliptical rather than circular motion. As a result, distance and speed changed in the course of the orbit. It became impossible to associate a single note with a single planet, driving him to the conclusion that planets sung melodies. Three red giant stars reveal their pulsations in data from the Kepler space telescope. Their bright oscillation frequencies have been multiplied by 3 million to enter the audible frequency range. Note that the larger stars correspond to the lowest tones. Of course, all this had to remain harmonious: for a planet to produce a melody, the highest sound had to chime well with the lowest. Eventually, Kepler abandoned his tunes to concentrate on spelling out his third law on planetary motion in 1619. While we have long left the idea of planetary spheres behind, the "music of the spheres" left its markeven today, songs and albums continue to bear its name, including Coldplay's latest opus. The relationship between astronomy and music went on to develop further, with music inspired by astronomical concepts, objects or people, or alternatively drawing on real astronomical data. Kepler's heirs Rather than mapping the planetary systems, Kepler's heirs are now mapping the sky with sounds, following a few chosen rules. Intense light in an image translates into intense volume: a brighter object produce a louder sound. In turn, a sound's duration corresponds to the object's appearance: short for a star (which is basically a spot in an image), long for a nebulous cloud. The Webb telescope data, translated into sound For the pitch, it could directly reflect the light frequency (higher pitch if higher frequency) or be a spatial coding (the higher the object is in the image, the higher the pitch). In that case, the image of a nebular "mountain" will produce a sonorous rise and fall. In a picture of the center of our Galaxy released for Chandra space telescope, both methods are combined: spatial coding with different light frequencies represented by different instruments (bells for X-rays, strings for visible light and a piano for infrared). In 1606, the French philosopher Blaise Pascal wrote that "the eternal silence of these infinite spaces" terrified him. For modern day scientists, however, they're a playground of light and especially of music. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A cheetah from Namibia being released in India's Kuno National Park in September 2022. South Africa said Thursday that it had reached a deal to transfer more than 100 cheetahs to India as part of an ambitious project to reintroduce the spotted cats in the south Asian country. The environment ministry said an initial batch of 12 cheetahs would be flown to India next month, after eight cheetahs arrived from Namibia last September. "The plan is to translocate a further 12 annually for the next eight to 10 years" to help establish a "viable and secure cheetah population," the ministry said in a statement. India was once home to the Asiatic cheetah but the animal was declared extinct there by 1952, primarily because of habitat loss and deaths at the hands of hunters seeking their distinctive spotted hides. Efforts to reintroduce the animals gathered pace in 2020 when India's Supreme Court ruled that African cheetahs, a different subspecies, could be brought into the country at a "carefully chosen location" on an experimental basis. Negotiations for the deal with South Africa were long in the making, with the first cheetahs initially expected to be flown to India last August. They have been living in quarantine in the meantime. "The cheetahs in quarantine... are all still doing well," said Adrian Tordiffe, a veterinary wildlife specialist at the University of Pretoria who is involved in the project. Officials said the previous transfer from Namibia marked the first intercontinental relocation of cheetahs, the planet's fastest land animal. The Namibian specimens were released at Kuno National Park, a wildlife sanctuary 320 kilometers (200 miles) south of New Delhi, selected for its abundant prey and grasslands. 2023 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Location map of the Atlantic Forest biome in Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. The yellow line encloses Atlantic Forest as delineated by the WWF. Credit: Public Domain A new study published today in PNAS Nexus revealed for the first time that Indigenous peoples, with officially recognized rights to their territories in Brazil's embattled Atlantic Forest, reduced deforestation and improved forest cover, outperforming territories that lack formal tenure. "Our findings contribute to an environmental argument for recognizing the legal land rights of Indigenous peoples in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, an area that has faced such high development pressuresfrom urbanization, mining, agriculture, logging and other types of economic development," said Dr. Rayna Benzeev, a postdoctoral researcher at University of California Berkeley who carried out her research while a doctoral student in the Department of Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder. The new paper was released as pressure grows on President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, or Lula, to deliver on election promises to roll back policies that have weakened environmental protections and violated the constitutional rights of Indigenous peoples in Brazil. Brazil's second largest rainforest, the Atlantic Forest, covers around 90,000 km and spans 3,000 km of the Atlantic Coast. What remains of the biome is found in rural communities, as well as large urban centers, including Rio de Janeiro, Florianopolis and Sao Paulo. Deforestation in the Atlantic Forest biome has been prevalent since the early 16th century and rates were highest during the past two centuries, Benzeev said. "In contrast, deforestation in the Amazon started to intensify in the 1970s and more recently escalated again during the Bolsonaro Administration. "There has been much international attention and conservation funding directed towards the Amazon, while the Atlantic Forest is in some ways more threatened. It is also a biodiversity hotspot and a top priority ecosystem for reforestation," Benzeev said. An estimated 80% of the Amazon remains standing, while less than 12% remains of the Atlantic Forest. The region has therefore become a significant focus for reforestation efforts and a source of lessons learned for other reforestation movements around the world. To conduct their research, Benzeev and her co-authors looked at 129 Indigenous territories in the Atlantic Forest and found less deforestation and increased reforestation on lands where Indigenous peoples have formal tenure rights, in marked contrast to Indigenous territories where communities lack rights or are merely in the process of being granted formal tenure. Previous research has established the importance of Indigenous land rights in forest conservation efforts, especially in the Amazon rainforest. "Strengthening the self-determination rights of Indigenous peoplesrather than allowing invasions of their ancestral landshas now been shown to be important across the globe," Benzeev said. Indigenous peoples and role in reforestation in Atlantic Forest A recent paper describing successful conservation initiatives in the Atlantic Forest suggests Indigenous peoples have been absent from traditional conservation initiatives in the Atlantic Forest. Benzeev's paper reveals that forest protection and reforestation on Indigenous territories in the Atlantic Forest biome could contribute to conservation initiatives in the region. "Our paper shows that each year after tenure was formalized there was a 0.77% increase in forest cover, compared to untenured lands, on averagewhich can add up over decades," Benzeev said, noting the findings could strengthen global efforts to conserve the vulnerable biome that extends across 17 states and has been named a biodiversity hotspot by UNESCO. "In a biome that has become a model ecosystem for reforestation efforts, it will be important to acknowledge the role of Indigenous peoples in forest protection and reforestation," Benzeev said. "What support might be needed for Indigenous peoples to continue to maintain forested areas for the long term?" Land claims virtually paralyzed in recent years Currently, demarcation appears to have stalled for many Indigenous communities that had begun the lengthy process of demanding formal land tenure over their ancestral lands, a right granted under the country's 1988 Constitution. In fact, since 2012, only one Indigenous territory in the study sample had successfully been granted demarcation. Of the 726 Indigenous territories submitted to the pipeline for demarcation, 122 remain at the first stage of the process and approved to undergo an investigation by anthropologists; 44 territories are at stage two, which means they have been granted initial approved by FUNAIthe Brazilian National Indian Foundation; 74 are in the third stage of the processthey have been labeled "declared," but not approved by presidential decree, which is the fourth stage that leads to demarcation. In fact, in the study sample, only one Indigenous territory since 2012 had undergone all the steps necessary for demarcation. The Brazilian president has moved quickly to reverse his predecessor's development-first policies, which have included efforts to open Indigenous territories to mining. Brazil has some of the better legal protections on paper for Indigenous rights globally, but failure to enforce its laws, and lack of funding for enforcement agencies, has fueled deforestation. Dr. Peter Newton, Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, and co-author on the paper, noted that many indigenous and other traditional communities who live in and around tropical forests depend heavily on those forests, including for subsistence and for income-generation. "As such, these communities often have a strong incentive to conserve and restore forests," Newton said. "Institutional support and legal recognition can help them protect forests more effectively." The new findings from the Atlantic Forest expand the current body of research on tenure rights to cover this ancient biome, revealing that once Indigenous territories are demarcated the evidence shows a clear environmental benefit, according to Dr. Marcelo Rauber, a co-author of the PNAS Nexus paper. "Our study contributes to an emerging body of evidence suggesting that rights-based policy for Indigenous lands can improve environmental outcomes," said Rauber, a post-doc researcher at the National Museum of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. "Known in Brazil as demarcacao, the legal recognition of Indigenous Peoples' land rights provides Indigenous Peoples with territorial autonomy, which support efforts to address longstanding human rights violations, land grabs, biodiversity loss and climate change." More information: New study is first to reveal that Indigenous communities with strong rights to their territories can resist land grabs and better protect and reforest their lands in Brazil's fragmented Atlantic Forest, PNAS Nexus (2023). DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac287 Journal information: PNAS Nexus 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: Effectiveness and Price of Infantry Firearms. Notes: (a) The geometric mean of the range (in meters) and the rate of fire (in shots/minute) for infantry firearms. Data on range and rate of fire are for arms used by the Prussian/German army. (b) Prices are for guns procured by the US government. Credit: The Economic Journal (2022). DOI: 10.1093/ej/ueac073 Autocrats and dictators quickly acquire new arms technologies from abroad and often use them against their own citizens. Now a study of multiple nations during the period 18202010 shows that the spread of military technologies inhibits democratic reform. This raises serious questions regarding the future. The findings are published in The Economic Journal. Back in the early 19th century, a skilled soldier could fire a flintlock musket 2-3 times a minute if subjects rebelled against the king, and at best, hit the mark at a distance of 75 meters. During the Arab Spring, the Syrian regime used combat helicopters against protestors, and tanks rolled through the streets of Cairo. When autocratic rulers have access to modern arms that are both fast and accurate at long ranges, it allows them to suppress protests and riots more effectively and at a lower cost. Now a large study confirms that access to modern military technology substantially reduces the probability of democratization of authoritarian regimes. The study details the spread of 29 groundbreaking military technologies in all independent states from 18202010 as well as the forms of government in these states. Based on statistical analysis of the data, the study establishes connections among states' access to specific weapons, their economies, and their forms of government. According to the researchers, it makes sense that modern weapons play a key role in suppressing democratic movements. "In short, the more protesters a regime can kill using as few resources as possible, the stronger it will be. But this is the first scientific study to show that regimes' access to weapons [does] have a systematic, measurable effect on democratization," says Associate Professor Asger Mose Wingender from the University of Copenhagen's Department of Economics, who conducted the study with Professor Jacob Gerner Hariri from the Department of Political Science. Less chance of democratization Incumbent rulers often use violence, or the mere threat thereof, to suppress popular uprisings. Although such uprisings contributed to two of three successful democratizations in the period 18202010, many more were nipped in the bud. The study shows that the success of pro-democracy movements crucially depends on the incumbent rulers' (in)ability to inflict violence on protesters, and that this ability depends on arms technology. Overall, the study concludes that the chance of a democratic transition today is about 1.3 percentage points lower per year in the autocracies with the most advanced arms compared with the autocracies having access to the least advanced weaponry. A difference of 1.3 percentage points may seem small, but over many years, it becomes significant. Because modern arms technologies have become far more effective, the resources available to present-day autocratic regimes are radically different from those of their predecessors. The poorest countries in the world have access to potent arms technologies that are merely a few decades old, despite that these countries, by some measures, are less economically developed than Western Europe was two centuries ago. This is an entirely new situation, Wingender explains: "Historically, the development in military technology has run parallel to economic and other technological developments. It propelled the democratization of the Western world, because in order to wage war, the state collected taxes from its citizens, who in turn would often demand and be granted the right to vote," he says. "Today, there is less pressure on autocratic regimes. Weapons are more cost-efficient, and technologies have spread to poor countries, giving authoritarian rulers access to extremely strong means of repression. Consequently, an imbalance has emerged between military-technological development and economic development that inhibits democratization." Democratization does not occur automatically This imbalance between prosperity and democratic reform may be the most thought-provoking result of the study. Many Western economists and political scientists have suggested that a country's level of economic development is a deciding factor in democratic reform: When the wealth of the state and its citizens increases, many countries will move towards democratization. The new study confirms that economic modernization is indeed a key factor in democratization, but it refutes the idea that it happens automatically as authoritarian regimes' increased access to highly effective arms yields economic progress and prosperity. "Our conclusion is in fact rather pessimistic," says Asger Mose Wingender. "We have this idea in the West that the economic development of countries such as China and Russia will lead to democracy when the growing middle classes begin to demand a say. And it is true that the economic development has made people in general want democracy, but at the same time, the states have access to better means of repression. This makes revolutionary waves like the ones we saw in Europe, in e.g. 1848-1849 and after the fall of the Berlin Wall, less likely to succeed today, particularly in parts of the world that are less developed than Europe." A change in the balance of power Evidently, access to modern weapons does not entirely protect regimes against democratic reform. Nevertheless, Wingender believes it is important to acknowledge that many countries have seen a change in the balance of power between state and citizens to the advantage of the state. This may affect the way the Western world relates to autocratic regimes. "Our study suggests that we in the Western world may have been naive when it comes to modern dictatorships, and that we cannot simply apply Western European experiences with democratization to the rest of the world." More information: Jacob Gerner Hariri et al, Jumping the Gun: How Dictators Got Ahead of Their Subjects, The Economic Journal (2022). DOI: 10.1093/ej/ueac073 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 substructure consisting of rings of different sizes embeds itself seamlessly into a hexagonal structure. Credit: Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg The structure of two-dimensional titanium oxide breaks up at high temperatures when one adds barium; instead of regular hexagons, rings of four, seven and ten atoms are created that order aperiodically. A team at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) made this discovery in collaboration with researchers from the Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Microstructure Physics, the Universite Grenoble Alpes and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (Gaithersburg, U.S.), thereby solving the riddle of two-dimensional quasicrystal formation from metal oxides. Their findings have been published in Nature Communications. Hexagons are frequently found in nature. The best-known example is honeycomb, but graphene or various metal oxides, such as titanium oxide, also form this structure. "Hexagons are an ideal pattern for periodic arrangements," explains Dr. Stefan Forster, researcher in the Surface and Interface Physics group at MLU's Institute of Physics. "They fit together so perfectly that there are no gaps." In 2013, this group made an astonishing discovery upon depositing an ultrathin layer containing titanium oxide and barium on a platinum substrate and heating it to around 1,000 degrees centigrade in ultra-high vacuum. The atoms arranged themselves into triangles, squares and rhombuses that grouped in even larger symmetrical shapes with twelve edges. A structure with 12-fold rotational symmetry was created, instead of the expected 6-fold periodicity. According to Forster, "Quasicrystals were created that have an aperiodic structure. This structure is made of basic atomic clusters that are highly ordered, even if the systematics behind this ordering is difficult for the observer to discern." The physicists from Halle were the first worldwide to demonstrate the formation of two-dimensional quasicrystals in metal oxides. The mechanisms underlying the formation of such quasicrystals has remained puzzling since their discovery. The physicists at MLU have now solved this riddle in collaboration with researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Microstructure Physics Halle, the Universite Grenoble Alpes and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (Gaithersburg, U.S.). Using elaborate experiments, energetic calculations and high-resolution microscopy, they have shown that high temperatures and the presence of barium create a network of titanium and oxygen rings with four, seven and ten atoms respectively. "The barium both breaks up the atomic rings and stabilizes them," explains Forster, who heads the joint project. "One barium atom is embedded in a ring of seven, two in a ring of ten." This is possible because the barium atoms interact electrostatically with the platinum support, but do not form a chemical bond with the titanium or oxygen atoms. With their latest discovery the researchers have done more than just clarify a fundamental question of physics. "Now that we have a better understanding of the formation mechanisms on the atomic level, we can try to fabricate such two-dimensional quasicrystals on demand in other application-relevant materials like metal oxides or graphene," says Forster. "We are excited to learn whether this special arrangement will produce completely new and useful properties." More information: Sebastian Schenk et al, 2D honeycomb transformation into dodecagonal quasicrystals driven by electrostatic forces, Nature Communications (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35308-z Journal information: Nature Communications Provided by Martin-Luther-Universitat Halle-Wittenberg This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain With three mass shooting within a week leaving 24 Californians dead, public policy makers are searching for answers. Six people on Jan. 16 were found fatally shot inside a home in the Central Valley community of Goshen, Calif., in a case police believe could be tied to organized crime. On Saturday, Jan. 21, a 72-year-old man walked into the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park in Southern California and opened fire, killing 11. The gunman later killed himself. On Monday afternoon, Jan. 23, seven more people were killed in two shootings in rural farms in Half Moon Bay in Northern California that authorities say are connected. A 66-year-old man who worked at one of the farms has been arrested. For a perspective on what this most recent spate of deadly gun violence may mean for public policy in California and beyond, we asked University of California, Riverside, public policy associate professor Benjamin J. Newman to answer questions raised by the violence. Newman is a faculty affiliate at the Robert Presley Center for Crime and Justice Studies at UCR. Do you believe that this violence will spur legislation aimed at increasing public safety, such as more stringent background checks, limits on the number of bullets per reloading, and bans on kits that make legally purchased guns more lethal? Newman: The best answer is that it depends. My research analyzing the effect of public mass shootings over the past decade shows that the level of national news coverage given to a shooting makes all the difference. When the media pay a lot of attention to a shooting, we are more likely to see the American people engage with gun policy in a variety of ways, including signing petitions for greater gun control and donating money to gun safety political organizations that push lawmakers for more regulations. These behaviors by ordinary citizens can have downstream effects by pushing lawmakers to act for gun reform. However, when public mass shootings are given only a little media attention, we predictably see very little engagement among ordinary citizens. Why have so many past mass shootings faded from public consciousness with no or little policy changes aimed at making us safer? Researchers, such as Danny Hayes at George Washington University, suggest that mass shootings succumb to a process called the issue-attention cycle, where there are incentives for the media to cover shootings for a week or two, but then move onto other issues to keep the attention of their audience and avoid what other scholars have coined "crisis fatigue," whereby viewers avoid sustained attention to issues that are painful or depressing. We know from past research that certain types of mass shootings, such as those occurring in public venues (schools, grocery stores, churches, commercial venues, etc.) and with higher victim counts tend to receive greater media attention. Pro-gun politicians, many financially backed by the powerful National Rifle Association, have effectively blocked various gun control legislative efforts for decades. Do you believe this political logjam will persist for years if not decades to come? My research suggests the answer could be NO. The reason why is that my research has rendered two findings: (1) Americans' whose lives have been touched by mass shootings are more supportive of gun control, and (2) public mass shootings garnering a lot of media attention spur Americans into political action and the tilt of this action is toward gun control. Thus, with the increase in occurrence and deadliness of public mass shootings, more and more Americans will be touched personally by gun violence, and thus, the foundation of support for gun control will grow. All it may require is politicians who are brave enough to seize on this shifting climate of public opinion. Given the political climate, what can California do to reduce gun violence? Most of the credible research out there shows that imposing restrictions on access to firearms reduces gun violence. Very simple and very straightforward. Make it more difficult to obtain guns and there will be less gun violence. At least this is what the research suggests. 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: Trends in county-area water infrastructure spending. Data are presented as mean values with 95% confidence intervals. Top panel displays the trends in per cent of county-area budget spent on total expenditures and operational expenditures. Bottom panel displays the trend in per cent of county-areas which contributed any expenditures to water infrastructure construction. Credit: Nature Water (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s44221-022-00007-y A research study led by J. Tom Mueller, Ph.D., research assistant professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences at the University of Oklahoma, was published in the first issue of a new journal in the Nature series. The article, "The ethnically and racially uneven role of water infrastructure spending in rural economic development," was published Jan. 19, 2023, in Nature Water. Using 1980-2015 data from the State and Local Government Finance Surveys and the U.S. Census Bureau, Mueller and the study's co-author, Stephen Gasteyer, a sociologist at Michigan State University, analyzed local government spending on water infrastructure to determine whether it was associated with higher levels of economic development. "The core argument that we're testing is that water infrastructure is a built capital that is created through financial capital, but then can catalyze other forms of development," Mueller said. "Water infrastructure is a bedrock form of infrastructure and without it, you won't get businesses to invest or locate there. You won't get new housing developments built in. The whole area is just not going to function well, and so that's what we tested." The researchers compared local water infrastructure development across rural America with four economic outcomes: poverty, per capita, income, income inequality and unemployment. "Essentially what we found is that when looking over this whole time period across the United States, after about eight years, greater levels of investment in water infrastructure were associated with decreases in poverty, increases in per capita income and decreases in unemployment," Mueller said. "But the secondary part that was really important to us was that there's also this understanding that due to systemic racism, it's very likely that certain communities are going to be less able to capitalize on investments in water infrastructure." When factoring in demographic data, the researchers found that communities that had more Latino or Indigenous residents did not have the same positive correlation between rural local water infrastructure investment and economic outcomes. "We did start to see that in more Latino and more Indigenous counties, there weren't significant effects anymore, but we didn't find that to be the case for Black Americans. As counties in the United States had larger populations of Black residents, the effect either persisted or actually got stronger in all cases except for unemployment," Mueller said. He said that this finding suggests that communities composed of primarily white residents have a greater capacity to pull on other types of capital investment, like human capital through a highly educated workforce, or political capital to advocate for appropriations or other political investments, than do more diverse communities. "Structures and systems in the United States have historical legacies, so one way to think about it would be that due to the legacies of racism, and Jim Crow, and other factors, white rural communities have greater capacitymaybe through human capital, political capital, etc.to leverage those investments than do Indigenous communities, Latino communities, and in some cases Black communities." Another finding was that the effects took time to demonstrate correlation. The researchers looked at the relationship between rural local water infrastructure investment and economic outcomes at both three years after water investments and again after eight years. It wasn't until after the eight-year point that statistically significant results were present. "This is really good news for those advocating for greater investment in water infrastructure in rural America," Mueller said. "It supports the idea that investing in water infrastructure pays off in more ways than just the obvious ways of promoting health and making people's lives more immediately better. It has these long-run economic outcomes as well." More information: J. Tom Mueller et al, The ethnically and racially uneven role of water infrastructure spending in rural economic development, Nature Water (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s44221-022-00007-y Mueller will discuss his findings during a webinar organized by Nature Water at: bit.ly/OUNatureWater Journal information: Nature This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The Sierra Nevada red fox was spotted near Taboose Pass, on the eastern boundary of Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. Credit: California Department of Fish and Wildlife The sleek and tenacious Sierra Nevada red foxonce thought to have disappeared from the mountain range that bears its namehas been detected near the eastern boundary of Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. The discovery by scientists from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife gives them hope that the population of the small carnivore could be expanding, or at least occupying a broader range than previously believed, increasing the fox's chance of survival. "It's really exciting to find not only that they're still here, but that they're in many more places than we initially thought they were," said Julia Lawson, an environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The state agency detected the creatures on four occasions with three survey cameras near Taboose Pass, east of the John Muir Trail, between 11,400 and 12,000 feet of elevation. The sightings happened between April and June of last year, extending the known range of the animals more than 100 miles south. At 8 pounds, the fox is not much larger than a house cat. Its extraordinary hearing enables it to find small rodents, even when the prey is covered by a layer of snow. The fox's coat ranges in color from red to granite, with fluffy fur once prized by trappers, who would sell the pelts to be made into coats and stoles. Hunting and trapping of the creatures decimated the population to the point that scientists and conservationists believed for much of the 20th century that the species had been eliminated from the Sierra. Trapping was banned in 1974, and the fox was listed as threatened in California in 1980. In 2021, the federal government listed the Sierra Nevada population as endangered. (A distinct population of foxes in the Cascades continued.) The discovery of a small population of the foxes at Sonora Pass in 2010 alerted conservationists that the creatures still had a foothold in the Sierra, toward the north end of Yosemite National Park. Researchers have been working since then to better understand where the foxes live in hopes of designing a conservation plan to increase their chances of survival. In 2018, remote cameras detected foxes at six sites within the Mono Creek watershed, southeast of the town of Mammoth Lakes. Researchers collected scat samples, indicating the presence of two females and one male. The samples also helped determine that the male had traveled more than 70 miles south from Sonora Pass to the Mono Creek area. The California wildlife agency collaborated on the study with the UC Davis Mammalian Ecology and Conservation Unit, the California Department of Water Resources, Southern California Edison and officials in multiple national parks and national forests. "These new detections are very personally gratifying and are a real payoff for all the hard work our staff has put in," said Fish and Wildlife biologist Brian Hatfield, lead author on the research. "From a conservation standpoint, this shows that the Sierra Nevada red fox is more widely distributed than previously believed." Lawson said that wider distribution "means that they're more resilient to a catastrophe or diseasesomething that could wipe out a population in one place. With populations scattered throughout the mountain range, you have a better chance of the species surviving." 2023 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Methane is the second most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, contributing about 1 degree Fahrenheit of present-day global warming relative to pre-industrial times. One major source of methane to the atmosphere is the extraction and transport of oil and gas. Countries are obligated to report their greenhouse gas emissions to international bodies such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, but recent studies suggest that the current methods for calculating methane emissions rely on outdated and incomplete information and may not accurately represent actual emissions. A recent study from researchers at Princeton University and Colorado State University, published in Energy & Environmental Science, finds that the current method for estimating methane emissions from offshore oil and gas production in the United Kingdom systematically and severely underestimates emissions. The study finds that as much as five times more methane is being emitted from oil and gas production in the UK than what the government has reported. The researchers reached this conclusion by critically evaluating the UK's current method of calculating methane emissions, suggesting alternative, peer-review based methods and generating revised emission estimates. Since many other countries use similar methodologies to calculate methane emissions from oil and gas production, this severe underestimation is likely not confined to the UK alone. "It is critical to know when, where and how much methane is emitted from each of its sources in order to prioritize emission reductions," said Denise Mauzerall, a co-author and core faculty member of the Center for Policy Research on Energy and the Environment at Princeton University. "We hope our work will facilitate improved emission estimates and reductions not only from the UK but also from other countries producing methane from oil and gas extraction," Mauzerall said. Due to its climate and indirect health impacts (methane is a precursor for ozone, which is an air pollutant that damages human health and crops), methane mitigation has recently become a global policy priority. Its relatively short lifetime of about 12 years and high heat trapping ability per molecule makes reducing methane emissions among the most effective ways to slow the rate of climate warming. As a result, in 2021 countries signed the Global Methane Pledge, committing to reduce methane emissions by at least 30% of 2020 levels by 2030. To track progress, countries compile national emissions data into inventories, such as the UK's National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI), which are then reported to international monitoring bodies. This study focuses on methane leakage associated with discovery, extraction, and production of oil and natural gas. These methane emissions are typically calculated by multiplying the activity level of various processesnamely venting, flaring, processing and combustion activities on production platforms, offshore oil loading, and gas transfer by high-pressure pipelinesby "emission factors," which are standard estimates of the methane emissions associated with each activity. The researchers found that the emissions factors used in the UK's reporting are either outdated, rely on unpublished or publicly unavailable industry research, or use generic values recommended by the IPCC. Furthermore, these emission factors are usually "static," meaning that they are not sensitive to factors such as environmental conditions and management practices that could affect emissions from various processes. In addition, leakage can occur when the off-shore rigs are idlean "activity" that does not currently have an associated emission factor. Noting these shortcomings, the researchers updated and revised estimation techniques for each process, and wherever possible, used dynamic rather than static emission factor formulations that account for varying environmental conditions. They also incorporated direct boat-based measurements of methane concentrations around offshore gas platforms in the North Sea collected in summer 2017, documented in a study also led by the authors. These updates resulted in a total methane emission estimate more than five times larger than reported emissions. "Methane emissions from offshore facilities are currently largely uncertain, and because sources on facilities only emit for a short time period, using direct survey methods such as satellite or drones will probably only capture about 25% of the actual emissions," said Stuart Riddick, lead author and research scientist at Colorado State University. "To generate representative baseline emissions across the sector, we need to work with industry to develop practical, effective, and collaborative measurement strategies," Riddick said. Previous research has shown that reducing leakage across the oil and natural gas supply chain can advance climate and air quality goals while also being economically profitablea win-win opportunity for industry and climate. This study adds to a growing base of literature finding that current measurements of anthropogenic methane emission inventories are too low. With the world's first "global stocktake" on progress implementing the Paris Agreement concluding in 2023, the researchers argue that improved measurement of emissions deserves urgent attention. "We are hopeful that our work will facilitate more accurate emission inventory development and lead to critically important reductions of methane leakagea win for both industry and the environment," Mauzerall said. The article authors are Stuart Riddick (Colorado State University) and Denise Mauzerall (Princeton University). More information: Stuart N. Riddick et al, Likely substantial underestimation of reported methane emissions from United Kingdom upstream oil and gas activities, Energy & Environmental Science (2022). DOI: 10.1039/D2EE03072A Journal information: Energy & Environmental Science This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Urban inequality in Europe and the United States is so severe that urban elites claim most of the benefits from the agglomeration effects that big cities provide, while large parts of urban populations get little to nothing. In a study published in Nature Human Behaviour, researchers at Linkoping University show that the higher-than-expected outputs of larger cities critically depend on the extreme outcomes of the successful few. In recent years, researchers from across disciplines have identified striking and seemingly universal relationships between the size of cities and their socioeconomic activity. Cities create more interconnectivity, wealth, and inventions per resident as they grow larger. However, what may be true for city populations on average, may not hold for the individual resident. "The higher-than-expected economic outputs of larger cities critically depend on the extreme outcomes of the successful few. Ignoring this dependency, policy makers risk overestimating the stability of urban growth, particularly in the light of the high spatial mobility among urban elites and their movement to where the money is," says Marc Keuschnigg, associate professor at the Institute for Analytical Sociology at Linkoping University and professor at the Institute of Sociology at Leipzig University. In a study published in Nature Human Behaviour, the researchers analyze geocoded micro-data on social interactions and economic output in Sweden, Russia, and the United States. It shows that inequality is rampant in earnings and innovation, as well as in measures of urban interconnectivity. An individual's productivity depends on the local social environments in which they find themselves in. Because of the greater diversity in larger cities, skilled and specialized people are more likely to find others whose skills are complementary to their own. This allows for higher levels of productivity and greater learning opportunities in larger cities. But, not everyone can access the productive social environments that larger cities provide. Different returns from context accumulate over time which gives rise to substantial inequality. The researchers traced 1.4 million Swedish wage earners over time and find that those who were initially successful in large cities flourished to a greater extent than the successful in smaller cities. By contrast, the typical individuals in both smaller and larger cities experienced almost identical wage trajectories. Consequently, the initially successful individuals in the bigger cities increasingly distanced themselves from both the typical individual in their own city, creating inequality within the big cities, and the most successful individuals in smaller cities, creating inequality between cities. The study also finds that top earners are more likely to leave smaller cities than larger ones, and that these overperformers tend overwhelmingly to move to the largest cities. The disproportionate out-migration of the most successful individuals from smaller cities results in a reinforcement process that takes away many of the most promising people in less populous regions while adding them to larger cities. The biggest cities are buzzing because they also host the most innovative, sociable, and skilled people. These outliers add disproportionately to city outputsa "rich get richer" process that brings cumulative advantage to the biggest cities. From a policy perspective, the study considers the sustainability of city life against the backdrop of rising urban inequality. "Urban science has largely focused on city averages. The established approach just looked at one datapoint per city, for example average income. With their focus on averages, prior studies overlooked the stark inequalities that exist within cities when making predictions about how urban growth affects the life experiences of city dwellers," says Marc Keuschnigg. With respect to urban inequality, the study draws attention to the partial exclusion of most city dwellers from the socioeconomic benefits of growing cities. Their lifestyle, different than among the urban elite, benefits less from geographical location. When accounting for the cost of living in larger cities, many big-city dwellers will in fact be worse off as compared to similar people living in smaller places. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The Seahorse vessel has been deployed by the Sea Shepherd conservationist group to help save the endangered vaquita porpoise in Mexico's Gulf of California. Conservationists have deployed a new vessel in the fight to save the world's rarest marine mammal from extinction due to illegal fishing in Mexico's Gulf of California. The ship's arrival comes at a "critical time" for the vaquita porpoise, which counts Leonardo DiCaprio among its celebrity defenders, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society said Wednesday. A joint effort by the marine wildlife group, the Mexican navy and other partners known as "Operation Miracle" has reduced illegal fishing activity that threatens the vaquita by more than 70 percent in the past year, it said. "This is encouraging news, but we always have to do better," said Sea Shepherd chairman Pritam Singh, who welcomed officials and the media onboard the Seahorse, escorted by naval vessels, for a presentation this week. "We chose and refitted the Seahorse specifically for its design and capacity, both of which will dramatically increase our effectiveness and ability to protect the vaquita in 2023," he added. Known as "the panda of the sea" for the distinctive black circles around its eyes, the vaquita has been decimated by gillnets used to catch totoaba, a large fish whose swim bladder is prized in China thanks to its supposed medicinal properties. A handout picture released by the Mexican Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources shows scientists with a six-month-old vaquita porpoise calf in the Gulf of California, in Mexico, in 2017. Conservationists have previously been involved in a number of violent confrontations with fishermen while working with Mexican authorities to remove illegal nets. The vaquita, the smallest porpoise on the planet, has been listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature since 1996. There are estimated to be fewer than 20 individuals left in a small area in the Gulf of California, the only place in the world where the vaquita is found, according to Sea Shepherd. 2023 AFP GLENS FALLS Common Council members voted in favor of contracting with a longtime city clerk, now retired, to assist the Special Projects Committee. At the councils meeting Tuesday night, Resolution 11 on the agenda was passed with on a 5-1 vote. The resolution reflected a $5,000 increase to a contracted services budget line for former City Clerk Bob Curtis to offer guidance on upcoming projects by the committee. The $5,000 was moved from the General Government Aid line, also known as the citys ARPA, or American Rescue Plan Act, funds. Fourth Ward Councilman Ben Lapham asked that the resolution be pulled for discussion before a vote. Lapham was the single opposed vote, saying the time is not quite right to have Curtis jump in yet. Im on the Special Projects Committee. What we are doing right now is we are working on overnight parking permits and we have a number of items to consider regarding permit parking, he said. I dont think we are at a point yet to give work off to a consultant, and I dont think its the time to be doing this. Fifth Ward Councilwoman Mary Gooden proposed the resolution with the intention of having Curtis, with over 30 years of experience working for the city, help with the overnight parking and the findings of a downtown parking study. I think its a small consultants fee and it is put to good use. Bob is someone we are fortunate to have. He has worked for the city for 30-plus years and I know he knows inside and out of parking and codes, she said. He is the guru of this. Third Ward Councilwoman Diana Palmer expressed her concerns of spending money on consultant fees, when full-time staff is available to assist the committee. Consultant fees were a topic of concern Palmer had during the 2022 city budget workshops. I dont want to be paying consultant fees when we have a full-time staff, she said. Mayor Bill Collins clarified that the $5,000 would be held and dispersed in increments by the City Clerks Office following the logging of time Curtis spends attending meetings and working with the committee. The committee would say they want him to do this research and send the updates every now and then, he said. Following the meeting, Collins added that he believes the small sum transferred from ARPA funds is not a large concern. Heres a guy who is retired and ran the clerks office and is offering to share his experience with the committee and help move that information forward, he said. Lapham had a different opinion following the roll call vote. I feel like we havent really explored the use enough to determine if we need to use that, and if we use that we cant spend it anywhere else, he said. I dont have any problem with the individual or anything like that. I dont feel like it has been at this point demonstrated that this is a need. I think that theres concern that things might happen down the road. ... I dont think it was the appropriate time to make that resolution. The top local elected official in the town of Moreau, Town Supervisor Todd Kusnierz, has long vowed to help fill up the sparsely populated Moreau Industrial Park with new businesses. And during his 2021 reelection campaign he accepted thousands of dollars in donations connected to the controversial Saratoga Biochar Solutions project that could become the parks second-ever tenant. The donations including $1,000 from an Albany-based lobbyist working for Saratoga Biochar Solutions parent company flowed to Kusnierz even as Moreau Planning Board members he helps appoint through his role as town supervisor were in the midst of reviewing the companys controversial plans to turn sewage sludge into a new fertilizer product. A review of state campaign finance records by The Post-Star and the Lee Enterprises Public Service Journalism Team shows that about a third of about $20,000 in political donations Kusnierz received during the 2021 election cycle, where he ran unopposed, were from people and business entities connected to Saratoga Biochar Solutions. Those donations came from, among others, the Albany lobbying firm and the landowner of the Moreau Industrial Park site where the plant would be built. The connected donations flowed to Kusnierz in October 2021, in the midst of Saratoga Biochar Solutions starting to occasionally appear before the Planning Board for site plan and conceptual reviews of its project. The donations led one local resident, Craig MacEwan, to say that they lend credence to the perception of outside influence impacting the Saratoga Biochar project approval. The companys plans are currently under review by state regulators and the town is subject to an ongoing lawsuit by environmental activists who are trying to squash the project. But Kusnierz, the Republican elected town supervisor since 2018, has been adamant that he had no direct role in approving the project. For example, he pointed out that he voted to appoint two Planning Board members who eventually voted against the Saratoga Biochar Solutions project. As Im sure you are aware, it is not uncommon for individuals and organizations to support candidates they like, Kusnierz said. It is not only outrageous, but offensive to me if someone believes I exert any influence over appointed boards in the town. They are independent bodies and rightly so. Kusnierz, a powerful figure in Saratoga County through his role as chairman of the county Board of Supervisors who has also been named a rising star by his fellow Republicans, dismissed concerns about the donations as innuendo from my adversaries. However, his leadership in local politics has not been without controversy of late. The Albany Times Union reported earlier this month that county Board of Supervisors members claimed he was sidelining people who did not vote for his reelection to the chairmanship. And a Moreau Town Board member, John Donohue, said in the article that a similar dynamic was occurring at the local level. Kusnierz, meanwhile, has defended those moves to the Times Union. Kusnierz said his goal as town supervisor has been to help the town grow economically. When I ran for supervisor, the industrial park had one tenant for over 25 years and I committed to being an ambassador for marketing the park, among other issues such as reducing taxes, securing grants for town projects and increasing our towns recreational opportunities, Kusnierz said. All of which I continue to do successfully. Thousands in donations connected to landowner of future SBS site The political donations to Kusnierz include thousands of dollars from entities connected to the owner of the plot of land where Saratoga Biochar Solutions plans to build its sludge-to-fertilizer plant. The future site of Saratoga Biochar is owned by Moreau Industrial Park LLC, a company registered in the state of New York to D.A. Collins Construction Co. and its president and CEO Thomas Longe. Longe and his wife, Laurie Longe, each donated $1,000 to Kusnierz on Oct. 8, 2021. So did Daniel Galusha, a member of the business partnership that owns Moreau Industrial Park LLC. Galusha signed Saratoga Biochar Solutions application to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation for a solid waste facility permit. In addition, an entity called Ballard Road Development LLC donated a total of $2,500 to Kusnierz via two $1,250 donations on different dates in October 2021. The donations from Ballard Road Development are Kusnierz largest sum from a single entity in the 2021 cycle. Ballard Road Development is registered to the same address as Moreau Industrial Park LLC and the D.A. Collins group of at least six construction-adjacent companies, at 269 Ballard Road in Wilton, about 12 miles south of the Moreau Industrial Park. Ballard Road has also previously described itself as being affiliated with D.A. Collins Construction Corp. Thomas Longe, the D.A. Collins CEO, did not respond to our requests for comment. When asked about the donations, Kusnierz said they are a reflection of his efforts to help the industrial park. They own approximately half the lots in the industrial park and they support my efforts to market the park on behalf of the town, Kusnierz said. Who they sell their property to is up to them and does not involve me or the town. Robert Turner, a political science professor from Skidmore College, said the donations are a good example of the local growth machine that typically dominates the politics of local communities. It seems to be this battle between the local growth machine and the home voter coalition, with one group looking to make the land they own more valuable, and another group worried about quality of life and the long-term values of their homes and properties, Turner said. Turner said theres nothing fundamentally wrong with the political donations courts have ruled theyre a protected form of political speech. But the records give residents a valuable piece of information about whos funding local politics. Most of the research on campaign contributions suggests that money doesn't buy votes but it does go to people who are supportive of certain projects or interests, Turner said. Lobbying firm repping Biochar company donated to Kusnierz David Carroll of Northeast Government Consulting, the Albany firm which donated the previously mentioned $1,000 to Kusnierz campaign, was tight-lipped when reached about the purpose of the companys donation. I have no comment because I dont even recall it, Carroll said of the donation. We havent been involved (with Northeastern Biochar Solutions) in months. It was a very short engagement. Saratoga Biochar Solutions parent company, Northeastern Biochar Solutions, paid the consulting firm $6,000 per month starting in June 2021 to lobby local and New York state government officials, including the Governors Office, on its behalf, according to reports filed to the state lobbying commission. Carroll, the firms managing director, did not respond to further written questions sent by email. The scope of services included government relations representation in New York State and its various towns and counties, working with the state Legislature, regulatory agencies, and the Governors Office, providing strategic and political counsel relative to state and local governments, monitoring legislation related to sewer processing facilities and delivering political intelligence in order to facilitate the achievement of business goals and objectives. The firms bimonthly reports to the state lobbying commission show lobbyists made contact with Kusnierz on behalf of the Biochar company as early as June of 2021. They also lobbied a staff member for then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo and various state lawmakers for the Biochar company. Their engagement appeared to end in March or April of 2022, according to the reports. Ray Apy, CEO of Saratoga Biochar Solutions, declined to directly respond to a question about whether he directed his lobbyist to donate to Kusnierz to influence the approval of the project. Instead, he said, I have no knowledge of donations made by others and suggest that you direct your questions to those individuals or entities. Apy donated $500 to the Saratoga County GOP on Oct. 14, 2021. However, he stressed that no monetary (or other) donations were made to Supervisor Kusnierzs election campaigns by me or my family, or my business partners, or their agents, or by my companies. Kusnierz role and local reaction Kusnierz has been relatively tight-lipped on the Saratoga Biochar project since its approval in August 2022 by the Moreau Planning Board. For example, when the town of Moreau was sued over the project in fall 2022, he said it was in the best interest of the town to refrain from commenting. In August, he stressed the Town Board played no role in the projects approval, saying it must respect the decision of the Planning Board, according to a report in the Albany Times Union. However, Kusnierz also commended the Planning Board in August on its exceptionally thorough review of this particular $45 million project, according to the newspaper. MacEwan, the South Glens Falls resident who is opposed to the Biochar project, said Kusnierz should have made the public aware of the donations regardless. Anyone who is in a politically elected position in government should disclose right up front any donations they have received from any entity that has ongoing business with the town, MacEwan said. MacEwan acknowledged that Kusnierzs donations were reported to the state campaign finance system. But how many people go down to the Board of Elections and pull up paperwork? MacEwan said. It's about being open and if you're not, ... its the perception you leave in the residents eyes. Harry Gutheil, Moreaus former town supervisor who served in that role from 1996 to 2007, a fellow Republican to Kusnierz, said he would have been skeptical of accepting similar donations when he was serving in that role. I dont think small towns should be lobbied and influenced, Gutheil said. I would have declined any contributions of any nature that could have affected my decisions. Gutheil also said he has become more concerned about the project the more he learns about it. Air quality is my biggest concern on the Biochar (project) and certainly the local impacts, traffic and possibly noise and smells, Gutheil said. ATLANTIC CITY Residents came out to the first evening CitiStat meeting Wednesday to ask the city to slow down traffic near schools, fix problems with abandoned buildings and crack down on out-of-control parties. The biweekly CitiStat meetings were established to solve problems and hold municipal department heads accountable. They will rotate between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. this year, officials have said. The program is designed to use data on problems coming in and results going out to improve city services, according to the state Department of Community Affairs, which launched the program locally. At the last meeting Jan. 11, residents had complained that repaving parts of Melrose Avenue had left deep depressions around manhole covers, which were potentially damaging to cars. Public Works Director Crystal Lewis said the Engineering Department is working with the contractor to address the problem. She also said pet waste stations are being installed in all city parks and along the bay on Sunset Avenue to address reports of animal waste being left on city streets by pet owners. Neighborhood Watch signs that were reported as corroded and unreadable by a resident have been replaced, she said. All city signs are being reviewed, and those that are damaged or badly worn will be replaced. CitiStat reports on fixing Atlantic City problems get more extensive ATLANTIC CITY Every two weeks, city directors report to the public on how they have handle Director of Licensing and Inspections Dale Finch reported that an abandoned house on New Jersey Avenue will take a bit longer to demolish than he had previously said. The city needs to give the owner adequate notice, he said. American flags will soon fly at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, officials said, after a resident asked that flags be installed there. The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority has ordered them, officials said. New complaints also came in. Resident Deborah Parker asked the Police Department to crack down on speeders near schools at drop-off and pickup times, after two children were struck by a car. Police said the two children, 10 and 14, were taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Division, with serious injuries after theyd been struck by a car near the intersection of Maryland and Magellan avenues Wednesday morning. Parker said speeding is a problem on local roads and more needs to be done. I saw a car go down Martin Luther King Boulevard, had to be doing 70 mph near the MLK school complex, Parker said. There are no signs telling drivers to slow down. Improvements made to the Atlantic City Police Department in 2022 ATLANTIC CITY It was a pretty good year for the Atlantic City Police Department. Police Chief James Sarkos said the department has recently purchased radar equipment for patrol vehicles. Officers will be be trained on the equipment and begin using it for enfocement, the chief said. Jannet Amaro of Penrose Avenue complained about two abandoned houses in her neighborhood. Fifteen-nineteen has become a raccoon hotel, and those things are huge. Five came out of the chimney, Amaro said. With those two abandoned houses facing my house ... they are depreciating the value of my home. I put a lot of money into that house because I bought it when I was 24 years old ... working four jobs. A resident of another house near Amaro feeds feral cats, she said, and leaves food out for them. As many as a dozen at a time are on his property, and she has trouble keeping them from damaging her yard and flowers. Residents who live near the Caspian Avenue beach in the Inlet said the beach has been characterized by mayhem and lawlessness since the COVID-19 pandemic started, especially during the summer. John Rosnick said police enforcement of city ordinances must begin before the summer starts. Trash an issue for Atlantic City residents, visitors ATLANTIC CITY Thomas Brown says he witnesses littering all day, every day. He said problems include illegal parking on streets and sidewalks, all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes driving illegally, loud music into the evening, and parties on the beach and Boardwalk with blatant drug use, nudity and sex acts in public. Rosnick said fireworks caused a fire in a home last summer, and there was a stabbing there. Department heads will report at the next meeting on how they have either handled problems reported Wednesday or plan to handle them. Overall from Jan. 11 to 25 there were 114 problems reported to the city; 35 were closed and 79 are in progress. About 97% were responded to within 24 hours, according to the city. CitiStat meetings are held in the Fannie Lou Hamer Room in the Stockton University Academic Building, 3711 Atlantic Ave., and are open to all. The next meeting will be 10 a.m. Feb. 8. What's Happening in the Region Turkmenistans Former President is Back in Charge It has not even been a full year yet since Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov stepped down as Turkmenistans president and already he is back in charge of the country, with the title National Leader of the Turkmen People. Deputies in Turkmenistans bicameral parliament voted on January 21 to bestow the new role upon Berdymukhammedov. The same parliamentary deputies then voted to reconfirm Berdymukhammedov as head of the Halk Maslahaty (the Peoples Council) which had been the upper house of parliament since March 2021. Since Turkistan's independence in 1991, its country's Mejlis (parliament) had been unicameral and after March 2021, the Mejlis became the lower house of parliament. At the January 21 joint session of parliament, the deputies passed amendments to the constitution abolishing the Halk Maslahaty as the upper house of parliament and transforming it into a separate state entity. The Halk Maslahaty is now the highest body of power in Turkmenistan. As chairman of Halk Maslahaty, Berdymukhammedov is again the formal head of the country. The Halk Maslahaty is now responsible for domestic and foreign policy. Its members will include the chairman of the Halk Maslahaty; the president of Turkmenistan, who currently is Berdymukhammedovs son Serdar; the chairperson of the Mejlis; the Supreme Court chairman; secretary of the security council; Mejlis deputies; and members of the cabinet of ministers. The idea came from, you guessed it, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov. He proposed the constitutional changes on January 11. Why Its Important: Im tempted to say it is the first time any branch of power except the executive branch, had any real power in Turkmenistans governmental system. But unfortunately, this simply appears to be the former president regaining formal power by reinventing the ever-malleable Halk Maslahaty and putting himself at the top. Few believed Berdymukhammedovs son Serdar genuinely was in charge of Turkmenistan after he was elected president. Now we see Serdar never was and will not be the one calling the shots in Turkmenistan. Full Steam Ahead for the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway? On January 18, an office for coordinating construction of the proposed railway linking China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan opened in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek. It was the latest evidence that the project, which has been discussed for more than 25 years, might be realized. Russias war in Ukraine seems to be the catalyst that finally got the wheels rolling. When European countries imposed sanctions on Russia after the Kremlin launched a full-scale war on Ukraine last February, it complicated trade transit routes through Russia. That forced Central Asian countries and China to put new efforts into opening alternative routes that avoided Russian territory. Representatives of the three countries signed agreements on the railway on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Samarkand last September. The technical study of the route is planned to start in April. The route is less than 190 miles, but it runs through some formidable mountains in Kyrgyzstan and is expected to cost anywhere from $4 billion to $6 billion to build. On the Chinese side of the border, the railway will connect to Kashgar and from there link with Chinas domestic railway network. On the Central Asian side of the border, the CKU railway line will run to the area near the eastern Uzbek city of Namangan where a railway leading to the Uzbek capital Tashkent, and built with Chinese help, opened in 2016. Kyrgyzstan is hoping the route will help open up its mining industry at sites near the proposed railway line. Why Its Important: The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway had previously been viewed as a project that only benefitted the three countries involved. But because of reinvigorated work in Central Asia to open new trade routes after Russia launched its war in Ukraine, the CKU railway will be able to connect to railways leading to Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, and routes that lead through Iran and Turkey to Europe. The Latest Majlis Podcast This weeks Majlis podcast looks at Jahonghir Ortikhojaev, who was the mayor of Uzbekistans capital, Tashkent, until his unexpected dismissal on January 16. Officially, Ortikhojaev was sacked for failing to cope with electricity and heating problems in Tashkent, but he is a controversial character and there might be more to his sudden fall from grace. This weeks guests are Dilmira Matyakubowa, a Ph.D researcher in criminology and co-director of UzInvestigations; Navbahor Imamova, a veteran correspondent for the Uzbek Service at Voice of America; and Sirojiddin Tolibov, managing editor of RFE/RLs Tajik Service, known locally as Ozodi. What I'm Following Taliban Want their Electricity from Uzbekistan Taliban acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mutaqqi is calling on Uzbekistan to fulfill its obligations and send electricity to Afghanistan. Uzbekistan has been exporting electricity to Afghanistan for 15 years, continuing even after the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. The electricity went off on January 13, causing blackouts in provinces across Afghanistan. Afghanistans power company, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat, said technical problems in Uzbekistan led to the cutoff. The Asian Development Bank funded construction of power lines from Uzbekistan to Afghanistan and Uzbekistan now accounts for about 60 percent of Afghanistans electricity imports. Kyrgyz Authorities Move to Shut Down Azattyk Kyrgyzstans Ministry of Culture has petitioned a Bishkek court to terminate the operations of RFE/RLs Kyrgyz Service, known locally as Azattyk. Kyrgyz authorities have blocked Azattyks websites since late October, demanding Azattyk remove a video from RFE/RLs Current Time TV about the September conflict along the Kyrgyz-Tajik border. RFE/RL President Jamie Fly released a statement rejecting Kyrgyz authorities continued unlawful attacks against Radio Azattyk. The court date is currently scheduled for February 9. Fact of the Week According to the Kyrgyz news outlet 24.kg, as of January 23, there was only one day since the new year that the air quality in the capital Bishkek was rated clean enough to breathe. The increasing number of automobiles and use of coal for heating has turned Bishkek into one of the worst cities in the world for air pollution. Thanks for Reading Thanks for reading our Central Asia in Focus newsletter! I appreciate you sharing it with other readers who you think may be interested. Feel free to contact me on Twitter or by responding to this email, especially if you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or just want to connect with me about topics concerning Central Asia. Please consider filling out this brief survey so that I can better understand how this newsletter can be useful for you. See you next week for more on whats happening in Central Asia. Until next time, Bruce The actor has invited a Special Guest for the Republic Day Celebrations in Australia The Versatile actor Arjun Rampal was seen at the Mumbai Airport recently looking dapper in a blazer and that trademark suave with which he carries himself. Arjun was invited as a special guest for the Republic Day Celebrations in Australia. The streets of Sydney were packed and the patriotic spirit was in the air as Rampal hoisted the Indian flag. He took to his social media to say that, "Happy 74th Republic Day, celebrating with the wonderful Indian community in Sydney, the warmth of India transcends all boundaries #littleindiasydney #proudtobeindian #republicday2023 #australia #australiaday." Images of Arjun hoisting the Indian flag along with the Indian community soon flooded the internet and made one feel so proud of an actor who has always pushed the envelope when it comes to choosing interesting roles from Daddy to Rock On and made India proud on a global scale. Incidentally, 26th Jan also marks Australia Day. This is the official National Day of Australia. Observed annually on 26th January, it marks the 1788 landing of the first fleet at Sydney Cove. The event was organised by Vickyy Paul of Master Marketers Australia. The warmth and patriotism of the images were reflected in the videos as well. Jai Hind! Film is being screened without any trouble in other regions, including capital Bengaluru As many as 30 Hindu activists were booked for indulging in violence and attempting to stall the screening of Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone-starrer 'Pathaan' in theatres of this Karnataka district on Wednesday. The Hindu activists stormed Swaroopa and Narthaki theaters and torn the posters of the movie. They had condemned the release of the movie despite the boycott call and tore down banners. Security has been tightened in the surrounding areas of the theatres. 'Pathaan' has been released across the state and is being screened without any trouble in other regions, including capital Bengaluru. Khadebazar police in Belagavi have registered a case against 30 Hindu activists and detained a few. The police also deployed a platoon of the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) near theatres. Belagavi South constituency BJP MLA Abhay Patil condemned the release of the movie and urged to stop exhibition of the movie. ABHM activists booked for protest A case has been registered against activists of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha (ABHM) who protested at a cinema hall in Agra against screening of 'Pathaan'. IANS Cong lodges complaint against Bommai, Nadda and MLA The Karnataka Congress on Wednesday lodged a police complaint against Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, BJP President JP Nadda, state BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel and BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi in Bengaluru. The case has been lodged in connection with Rs 6,000 cash per vote announcement made by BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi at a public rally. Karnataka Congress chief D.K. Shivakumar has stated that the complaint has been submitted to file an FIR against BJP leaders and take up the investigation. It is an attempt to influence the result of elections by defeating the objectives of democracy, he said. The complaint has been filed with High Grounds police station in Bengaluru. Shivakumar, Opposition leader Siddaramaiah-led delegation submitted the complaint. Former Minister and BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi announced at a public rally on Tuesday that the opposition party candidates are distributing gifts worth a thousand and they will also give it in future. The total worth would not cross Rs 3,000. IANS The facility on the third floor of the main building is not yet ready and as per PMC, it will take some more time, until then lactating moms will have to share a room with specially-abled people (PIC: OSHWIN KADHAO) No dedicated facility for lactating mothers; civic apathy forces them to share room with specially-abled people Breastfeeding or lactating mothers have always been ignored by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). When it comes to their rights, the civic body very conveniently brushes aside the interests of mothers and their infants. Despite the Central government guidelines mandating that every government and private office should have a breastfeeding room, PMC has allocated a common room to the physically challenged as well as for breastfeeding, causing utter stress and embarrassment to female visitors and other women working for the civic body. It failed to offer the required infrastructure for lactating moms to breastfeed their newborns inside its main building, such as private, safe, and hygienic nursing or lactation rooms. The room, exclusively for lactating mothers, was recently shared with the physically challenged under the pretext that this breastfeeding room would be shifted to another area on the third floor. However, when Mirror investigated this, it discovered that no such room had been allotted as of now. When questioned, PMC officials said that they have put up the plan, and it will take some time before the mothers get the much-needed privacy to nurse again. The main PMC building had a separate private nursing room for women to breastfeed their newborns since 2016. However, in 2022, the same room - on the ground floor of the PMC main building - was converted into a facility for specially-abled persons. Since then, two signboards were hung outside the single room, one reading Hirkani Kaksh (breastfeeding cell), and the other as a room for the physically challenged. It is worth noting that the Central government has provisions relating to the requirement for nursing room accessibility in buildings. Despite that, the PMC has ignored the concerns of breastfeeding moms and their babies. Since there is no separate nursing area, the women working in PMC and visitors face a tough time. A single room cannot serve two functions, especially when it comes to womens privacy. According to Ranjana Gage, chief social development officer, the breastfeeding space would be relocated to the third floor of the main PMC building. Were looking into that, and there will be a separate nursing space for the women very soon. We are currently adjusting in the same cell that was previously dedicated entirely to ladies for breastfeeding. A PMC official, on condition of anonymity, told Mirror, I personally face a lot of challenges due to the lack of nursing facilities present on the premises. It has been months, and we dont have a separate cell for nursing. We are forced to share the room with specially-abled people. For breastfeeding we need privacy, and it becomes uncomfortable to share the room. Irked with PMCs negligence towards women, one of the visitors Priyanka Shinde said, I entered the nursing room but I saw a lot of people sitting there including men, and the room didnt have any curtains or any bifurcation. It was very awkward for me to feed my baby inside the common room thus I had to feed my baby inside the car. Railway police arrested a suspected businessman with a pistol from Pune railway station A businessman from Surat who appeared suspicious was stopped by railway police at the Pune railway station. He was taken into custody with a foreign-made pistol, 6 cartridges, and Rs. 3.5 lakh in cash. He may have been en route to murder Shyam Manav, the All India Superstition Eradication Committee's founding president. Anilkumar Ramayagya Upadhyay is his name (age 47, Surat, Gujarat). Nishikant Raut, a police policeman, has reported this to the Pune Lohmarg police station. As per reports, Shyam Manav reportedly challenged Dhirendra Maharaj to show that he was promoting superstition. In Nagpur, there has been a dispute for the past eight days. Additionally, Shyam Manav reported the incident to the police. They have also received threats as a result. The Lohmarg police were conducting a routine inspection of the Pune train station on the eve of Republic Day when they noticed a man leaving platform number 1 in a suspicious manner. Six pieces of ammunition and a Made in England revolver were discovered in his coat pocket when the police checked the man. A gold necklace with a pendant in the form of the sun and an image of the sun was discovered around his neck. The police recovered bracelets and laptops worth Rs 3 lakh 55 thousand from the accused. The defendant identified himself as a fabric merchant. He claimed to have received the pistol from Sharma in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh when questioned by authorities. His destination was Nagpur. Shyam Manav is being questioned by the Lohmarg police over the threats he received. Senior Lohmarg Police Force officials were contacted about this, but when questioned, they remained silent. Pune railway station has only 61 CCTV cameras while proposal for 58 more is pending with the administration since long Defunct CCTV cameras at Pune station do not augur well, administration yet to clear proposal for new ones The railway administration considers the safety of commuters as one of its top priorities. However, passengers security seems to have been compromised at the busy Pune railway station. The inordinate delay in procuring additional sets of CCTV cameras that are meant to be installed on the premises of the station points toward that attitude. What is worse, most of the CCTV cameras there are defunct as they were installed way back in 2015, according to railway sources. Railway officials had sent a request last year to increase the number of cameras and replace the non-functional ones located on the station premises, but the proposal is still awaiting approval. Given the large count of daily footfall at the station, the number of CCTV cameras is insufficient, sources said. At present, the station has 61 CCTV cameras, and a proposal to install 58 more had already been sent. Because it is pending with the administration, the railways is yet to complete the tendering process. The report about a suspicious object discovered on the station premises last year and the recent hoax call by a passenger threatening to blow it up, do not seem to have woken up the administration. This attitude, many say, is jeopardising the safety of railway commuters. Pune railway station caters to around 1 to 1.5 lakh passengers daily. Over 230 trains depart, arrive, and pass by on a daily basis. Most of the CCTV cameras installed in the railway station premises were found defunct after the suspicious object was discovered here last year. Mirror reported the story in its May 18, 2022 edition. However, Manoj Jhanwar, public relations officer of Pune railway division, assured the process will be completed soon. The 58 new CCTV cameras will also replace the installed cameras that have expired or are defunct, he said. The situation is no different at the other railway stations in the Pune division as the number of CCTV cameras installed is far less than what is required. Installation of around 580 CCTV cameras is underway and out of that, around 90 CCTV cameras have been already installed. The remaining CCTV cameras will also be installed very soon. This will cover the major stations in the division, Uday Singh Pawar, senior divisional commissioner of Pune railway division told Mirror. There are numerous entry and exit points at the Pune station, and all of them must be covered by CCTV cameras for passenger safety. However, based on the current state of affairs, the railway administration does not appear to be serious about it. The railway management previously stated that approximately 250 CCTV cameras are required at Pune station, however, the ground reality is much different. The present figure is much below the required number of CCTV cameras, said Harsha Shah, president of Railway Pravasi Manch. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Man held with pistol The Government Railway Police (GRP) detained Anil Kumar Ramyagya Upadhyay, 45, on the premises of Pune railway station on Tuesday and seized a pistol from his possession. GRP officers revealed that the accused is a Gujarat resident who arrived in Pune on Monday. On Tuesday, when he was returning to his hometown, police officers noticed him coming towards the platform from the main gate of the railway station. He was found to be in possession of a pistol and six bullets. He was produced before the court and was later sent to five days in police custody. A case has been registered under sections 25 and 3 of the Arms Act along with sections 135 and 37(1)(c) of the Maharashtra Police Act. After an argument between the two sisters, the younger sister rushed to the police station and filed a molestation complaint against her own sister A horrific instance in Pune where a sister sexually molested her younger sister has come to light. The authorities were perplexed when the victim went to the police station to report the incident. In this instance, the police have registered a case against the elder sister for molestation. Based on a complaint made by an 18-year-old girl at the airport police station, a case has been registered against the 24-year-old elder sister. The suspected 24-year-old woman and the 18-year-old girl are both sisters, according to the police. They share a row house in the Vimannagar area. On January 23, the older sister molested the younger sister while she slept in the drawing room of the house. She hurried to the police station, however, and lodged a complaint against her elder sister since she was being forced by her. The complainant is presently an XII student. The suspected accused's older sister is married. The accused sister is married and still resides with her father. The elder sister began to rub her hands over the younger sister's body and begin sexually assaulting her while she was dozing off in the home's hallway. The sleeping younger sister initially had no idea what was going on. She saw her older sister stroking her body when she opened her eyes, though. Following that, the two had a heated discussion. Even yet, the older sister made an effort to force on her. But the younger sister vehemently objected to this. The victim's body was being touched inappropriately and hugged by the older sister. The younger sister was terrified by the entire episode, and when she saw that the accused was unwilling to listen to her, she rushed to the police. Genesis Medical Center in Davenport has welcomed another hospital to its east campus. Select Specialty Hospital has a 17-year history in Davenport, according to CEO Codie Dillie. It currently is located at 1111 W. Kimberly Road, the former Davenport Osteopathic Hospital. Select is a critical illness recovery hospital, meaning it accepts patients that need continued, complex care. Dillie said these cases could range from needing a ventilator to surgical complications. By transferring to Select, acute-care hospitals, like Genesis, can free up space in the ICU. "They come to us and we can provide a higher level of medical care, and we get a little more time with them to allow them to recover," she said. Genesis Davenport President Jordan Voigt said the move had been in the works for some time. Weve always had ongoing discussions. However, about two years ago, we approached Select and pitched a vision on moving to the East campus," he said. Genesis reconfigured the space by moving the surgical specialty unit and adding a new orthopedic floor to the hospital. Select will now share a floor with the ICU, making the patient transition much faster. Voigt said part of the benefit of subleasing space to Select was it would allow Genesis to admit more critical care patients. In turn, it will benefit patients by allowing them to be transferred to a different side of the hospital, as opposed to being put in an ambulance and going off campus. "By having Select here, we will be able to expedite care for ... those patients down the floor," he said. "Really, it enhances the quality of care here." Dillie reflected that sentiment, saying the stability of being a "hospital within a hospital" means patients will no longer have to travel outside of the building for certain tests and procedures. Dillie said patients were already being transferred to Genesis locally, and moving into the building made natural sense. "Now, instead of loading them into an ambulance ... we will just put them in an elevator and wheel them down the hall," she said. Select accepts patients from as far as the University of Iowa, Dubuque, Cedar Falls and, on the Illinois side, all the way down to Peoria. By moving to Genesis, Select will decrease bed size from 50 to 35. The downsizing was based the the amount of space Genesis had available, Select not filling all 50 beds at its former location and the move being, "good for the community," Dillie said. Equipment is being moved in now, and patients will follow on Tuesday. A Davenport man incarcerated at Iowas Anamosa State Prison in connection with a Davenport shooting was sentenced on Tuesday to 20 years in federal prison after a federal jury found him guilty of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of intimidating a witness. During a sentencing hearing Tuesday in U.S. District Court, Davenport, U.S. District Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger sentenced Roylee Richardson Jr., 32, to 10 years on the weapons charge and a concurrent term of 20 years for the witness tampering charges. Richardson also will have to spend three years on federal supervised release after he completes his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. According to Iowa Department of Corrections electronic records, Richardson is due to be paroled from the Anamosa State Penitentiary on May 18, after which he will be sent to federal prison. According to U.S. District Court, Davenport, and Scott County District Court electronic records, the cases against Richardson began at 11:01 a.m. Feb. 7, 2021, when Davenport police were dispatched to the apartment building at 3348 Heatherton Drive to investigate a report of shots fired. While canvassing the scene, officers discovered spent casings and other evidence that a shots-fired incident had occurred. During the investigation it was learned that Richardson allegedly struck a woman several times in the head with a pistol, which caused visible swelling to the womans head. As the victim fled, Richardson allegedly fired the gun at her. Officers located Richardson attempting to scale off a second-story balcony. Officers then located his gun inside the apartment from which he fled. Ballistics testing confirmed the firearm was the same that fired the shot at the woman. Federal jury convicts Davenport man of weapons and witness tampering charges A Davenport man serving time in Iowas Anamosa State Prison in connection with a Davenport shooting was convicted by a federal jury Wednesday on weapons and witness tampering charges. Davenport police arrested Richardson on charges of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon, going armed with intent, willful injury causing bodily injury and possession of a controlled substance-second offense-crack cocaine. Man arrested for allegedly pistol-whipping, shooting at woman Davenport police arrested a man who allegedly pistol-whipped a woman and then shot at her as she tried to escape. During a hearing in Scott County District Court on Sept. 10, 2021, Richardson pleaded guilty to the charges of willful injury causing bodily injury, a Class D felony that carries a prison sentence of five years, and possession of a controlled substance-second offense, an aggravated misdemeanor that carries a prison sentence of two years. The other charges were dropped in accordance with the plea agreement. Richardson was sentenced Nov. 12, 2021, to concurrent sentences of five years for the willful injury conviction and two years for the drug conviction. It was Richardsons third conviction related to a shooting. The others were in 2008 and 2016. On Dec. 7, 2021, federal authorities charged Richardson with being a felon in possession of a firearm. After Davenport Police had arrested Richardson, he repeatedly called the victim in violation of a no-contact order. Federal authorities charged him with tampering with a witness. On Aug. 31, 2022, after a three-day trial in U.S. District Court, Davenport, a federal jury found him guilty of all of the federal charges. The federal case against Richardson was prosecuted under Project Safe Neighborhoods. Instituted in 2001, Project Safe Neighborhoods is a Justice Department initiative that brings together law enforcement at all levels to reduce gun violence. A Chicago man has been arrested in connection with the Dec. 5 shooting on Davenports West Columbia Avenue that left one man dead and another man paralyzed. Daveante Elijah Torrence, 23, is charged with one count of attempted murder and one count of second=degree theft. Attempted murder is a Class B felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 25 years, 70% of which, or 17 years, must be served before parole can be granted. Second-degree theft is a Class D felony that carries a prison sentence of five years. According to an arrest affidavit filed by Davenport Police Officer Grant Killinger, at 9:53 p.m. on Dec. 5, officers responded to the area of 2715 N. Pine St., for a report of shots fired. Officers located a shooting scene behind an apartment building at 2268 W. Columbia Ave. Offices found two victims at the scene. One of the victims, a 34-year-old man, was dead of a gunshot wound. The other man, 29, was found inside of Dodge Durango that was parked behind the apartment building. The man had suffered 12 gunshot wounds. The man was taken to University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, where he underwent surgery. The man is paralyzed as a result of being shot. The charges allege that Torrence shot the second victim in an attempt to kill him. According to an arrest affidavit by Davenport Police Detective Aric Robinson, after the shooting Torrence went to the home of his girlfriend in the 2000 block of Emerald Drive and took her car keys. Torrence drove the womans 2011 Chevrolet Equinox out of the area, presumably to Chicago. Surveillance footage captured Torrence at a Moline gas station with the womans car. The woman pressed charges against Torrence. Torrence was being held Wednesday night in the Scott County Jail without bond on the attempted murder charge, and on a $5,000 cash-only bond on the theft charge. He is expected to make a first appearance on the charges Thursday in Scott County District Court. School restrooms have long been a tempting hiding place for the undercover vices of teens. Vaping is not a new problem in Quad-Cities schools, but the resources to keep the habit off campus are new. Addressing what some experts deem a growing epidemic, five Quad-City area school districts have invested in devices to detect vape smoke, among other health and safety threats. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports more than 2.5 million middle and high school students across the nation used e-cigarettes (vape) in 2022 more than a quarter of them vaping daily. The statistic translates to about one in 10 students. In the quest to stifle student vaping, HALO Smart Sensors have become a favorite among local school districts. In addition to flavored vapors and/or THC smoke, HALO sensors can detect sounds that may indicate a safety threat, such as gunshots, loud crashes and certain keywords that may indicate violence. North Scott's HALO sensors, installed in junior high and high school restrooms a year ago, for example, will trigger if someone says "Help" or "Emergency." United Township High School in East Moline soon will equip about half of its bathrooms with HALO devices. "We plan to install 20 detectors; the install and first-year monitoring will be right at $40K," Superintendent Jay Morrow said. "That'll be directed by our Student Services. They know where to best position those." Prior to the beginning of the school year, Pleasant Valley High School installed HALO sensors in its first-floor restrooms at a cost of $19,080. District leaders hope to expand them to the second floor. "That will probably take place over the summer when it's a convenient time to install them," Superintendent Brian Strusz said. In August, the Davenport district bought 22 HALO sensors to place in high-traffic restrooms at Central, North and West high schools at a cost of $51,358.38. "All have been installed in a pilot phase, so we can measure how effective they are and how we utilize them as a system," said Superintendent TJ Schneckloth. "We're looking to expand our utilization of HALO, but we really have to look at the data and the impact it'll have to see if the investment is worth it." In addition to tracking data, such as related disciplinary actions, Morrow said he plans to use anecdotal evidence from staff to measure HALO's effectiveness. To many local school leaders, the devices are a multi-purpose investment. "Because of all the negative impacts vaping has on students, we're trying to find a way to encourage students not to do that, so the HALO devices would help there," said Pleasant Valley's Strusz. Before the school board approved the purchase in August, one Davenport parent expressed concern for her child's privacy, though school leaders say privacy isn't an issue. For example, HALO will notify only the schools' principals and assistant principals if the sensors detect a student vaping or possible violence. If triggered, Pleasant Valley and North Scott devices notify building administration and school resource officers. "What were trying to do is work with students to educate them and provide any kind of assistance about the dangers, and we will follow with the discipline procedures we have in place," Schneckloth said. At United Township, the devices will notify Student Services staff, which includes the dean of students and school security. "Those are the folks that are out on the regular beat, walking the halls and making sure students are getting where they need to be," Morrow said. "They'll be notified, most likely on their mobile device. We know there's going to be some trial and error with this." But the vaping trend isn't letting up on its own, he said. "We know this isn't going to be the 'cure-all' to solve student vaping," he said. "But we hope this curtails it. First, we hope it dissuades them from vaping at all. But also, if a student chooses to vape, perhaps they'll think twice if they know the sensors are there." Davenport schools' disciplinary position states that in all cases of possession or use of drugs, drug paraphernalia or inhalants (or look-alikes) on school grounds, students will be removed from school and subsequently suspended. First-offense suspensions can be reduced if the student enrolls in drug services or a substance-abuse agency at the expense of the student's family. Vaping nicotine or THC on school grounds also is prohibited student conduct at United Township. If a student is caught via HALO sensor, Morrow said, the discipline will depend on the situation. "With a regular vape versus if a student has one with THC in it there's different levels there," he said. "There'll be some standard punishments, whether that's an in-school suspension for a certain amount of time'; I think it really depends on the circumstance. But there will certainly be a consequence." Bettendorf High School will demo the Triton vape sensors and are in the process of receiving the units. Rock Island-Milan school leaders have discussed investing in vape sensor devices, but dont yet have a purchase or installation timeline. Photos: The E-Scape the Vape escape room 021320-qc-nws-escape-001 021320-qc-nws-escape-002 021320-qc-nws-escape-003 021320-qc-nws-escape-004 021320-qc-nws-escape-005 021320-qc-nws-escape-006 021320-qc-nws-escape-007 021320-qc-nws-escape-008 021320-qc-nws-escape-009 021320-qc-nws-escape-010 In the Iowa Quad-Cities, home to one of the state's largest public school districts and to 10 private schools, reactions to the governor's Students First Act are mixed. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds this week signed the bill, allowing public dollars to fund education savings accounts for private school tuition and other private education expenses. Iowa's Students First Act Under Iowa's Students First Act, students are now eligible to receive a $7,598 education savings account the same figure as Iowa's per-pupil public school funding from the state. The Act also gives public schools $1,200 for each former student enrolled in a private school. The program is expected to cost Iowa $107 million in its first year, and only the following are eligible: All entering kindergarten students All students enrolled in a public school A student enrolled in a private school with a household income at or below 300% of the federal poverty line ($83,250 for a family of four) By the program's third year, the money will be open to all students, regardless of income, and is projected to total $345 million annually once fully implemented. House Republican leaders worked to eliminate hurdles - namely, in bypassing the appropriations committee - to fast track the bill, which was signed to law nearly two weeks after it was introduced. Additionally, the bill was amended to extend a program allowing school districts to share some staff positions and access to teacher leadership supplemental funding, even if a district doesn't meet program qualifications. Davenport Superintendent TJ Schneckloth said the district will closely monitor its enrollment data, but won't know the bill's impact until the start of next school year much like Reynolds' changes to open enrollment last session. "What drives our budget is the number of students that we have and that's based on last year," Schneckloth said. "We'll continue to follow our budgeting process we have and make the necessary adjustments. Unfortunately, this has the potential to have a negative impact on the programs we have in this district, so we just have to be mindful of that." Pleasant Valley superintendent Brian Strusz's chief concerns lie with the bill's financing. "I think the question would be: Do you use public money at a tune of $300 million for private schooling, or could that be used to help fund other programs?" he said, using career and technical education as an example. "How could that money be used differently in the public school system?" Strusz said he's also concerned with the bill's accountability measures for private schools. Elisa Wingerd, head of school at Morningstar Academy in Bettendorf, looks forward to serving more Quad-Cities families who desire a classic Christian education. We are thankful that we live in a nation where private schools can thrive because of choice," she said. "I anticipate our families would grab onto it (education savings accounts). I anticipate waiting lists, and I anticipate growing pains. Autonomy has been a concern among some private school leaders, though Wingerd doesn't share it. If accepting state-backed funding came with strings attached that would require a school not to be true to its commitments, mission and vision then that would contradict the reason for the bill in the first place, Wingerd said. When asked what the best-case scenario would be for Davenport schools in terms of the bill, Schneckloth said, "We were hoping that this legislation wouldn't pass. But, now that it's here, we really have to dig in, ensure we're as competitive as possible and continue to provide the best education for our students." One provision of the bill would allow public schools more flexibility to use unspent categorical funding toward raising teacher salaries a concern previously listed by North Scott superintendent Joe Stutting and seconded by Schneckloth. "Flexibility to spend carryover dollars on salaries that's not a budgeting practice," he said. "Any time you're allowed to flex dollars from an account, it also doesn't increase your spending authority." Referencing the state's current method of rewarding higher teacher pay, the Teacher Leadership and Compensation System, Schneckloth hopes to see more clarity behind the bill. "The flexibility really didn't change; it just added another layer that allows us to flex," he said. "What we need to do is pay very close attention and utilize all our stakeholder groups to make sure we're maximizing those dollars and to really determine the true intent behind the flexibility of those dollars." Schneckloth said his district is focused on moving forward. "Our school board made its legislative priorities very clear and there was communication," he said. "I will say our local legislators did reach out to us; they called the schools for data, information and clarification." Given Reynolds' previously proposed school choice bills have failed to pass over the last three years and several other school-related bills are slated this session Schneckloth suspects education reform isn't over for Iowa lawmakers. "It'll be more important than ever now that we have a seat at the table and have our voices heard," he said. Locally, Rep. Gary Mohr, R-Bettendorf, was one of nine House Republicans to vote against the bill. He said he couldn't assuage his two chief concerns: the cost of the bill to the state government and any possible threat from future legislatures to private schools' independence once they begin accepting full per-pupil taxpayer funds to educate students. "As a fiscally conservative Republican, I've tried to limit government growth and new government expenditures," Mohr said. "My concern was we took a program being paid privately and is independent because of that and now we've made it a $350 million expenditure every year after full implementation." Democratic Reps. Ken Croken, Bob Kressig and Monica Kurth, all from Davenport, also voted "no." Republican House Reps. Mark Cisneros, R-Muscatine, Tom Determann, R-Clinton, Norlin Mommsen, R-DeWitt, Luana Stoltenberg, R-Davenport, and Mike Vondran, R-Davenport, all voted in favor of the bill. Vondran, CEO of TAG Communications Inc, served as the Davenport School District spokesman. Republican Sens. Chris Cournoyer, R-LeClaire, Mark Lofgren, R-Muscatine, Scott Webster, R-Bettendorf, voted to pass the bill, while Sen. Cindy Winckler, D-Davenport, voted against it. Close Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the Condition of the State address to members of the Iowa Legislature inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds hugs her husband First Gentleman Kevin Reynolds at the conclusion of the Condition of the State address, inside the Iowa House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the Condition of the State address to members of the Iowa Legislature inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the Condition of the State address to members of the Iowa Legislature inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Iowa Senate President Pro Tempore Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, applauds during Gov. Kim Reynolds' Condition of the State address, inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Attendees to Gov. Kim Reynolds' Condition of the State address applaud during the speech, inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the Condition of the State address to members of the Iowa Legislature inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the Condition of the State address to members of the Iowa Legislature inside the House Chamber on Jan. 10 at the State Capitol in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the Condition of the State address to members of the Iowa Legislature inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds is escorted into the Iowa House of Representatives, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, to give the annual Condition of the State address, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Photos: Gov. Kim Reynolds delivers the condition of the state address Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the Condition of the State address to members of the Iowa Legislature inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds hugs her husband First Gentleman Kevin Reynolds at the conclusion of the Condition of the State address, inside the Iowa House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the Condition of the State address to members of the Iowa Legislature inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the Condition of the State address to members of the Iowa Legislature inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Iowa Senate President Pro Tempore Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, applauds during Gov. Kim Reynolds' Condition of the State address, inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Attendees to Gov. Kim Reynolds' Condition of the State address applaud during the speech, inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the Condition of the State address to members of the Iowa Legislature inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the Condition of the State address to members of the Iowa Legislature inside the House Chamber on Jan. 10 at the State Capitol in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the Condition of the State address to members of the Iowa Legislature inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds is escorted into the Iowa House of Representatives, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, to give the annual Condition of the State address, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Scott County leaders say they are confident they can take on ambulance service without raising tax rates, at least for the next year. The recommended $124 million budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 would set aside about $850,000 for Scott County to take on MEDIC EMS, the ambulance service the county aims to absorb in order to shore up the nonprofit's funding shortfalls. The financing would cover salary and benefits for a new director and stop-gap funding until the fledgling department could apply for state and federal grants. It would not include outside consulting fees. Scott County's recommended budget does not raise the tax levy, which is $5.95 per $1,000 in assessed value for urban areas and $8.78 per $1,000 in rural areas. However, some property owners may see an increase in taxes if the value of their property stayed the same or went up in the last year because of changes to the state-set rollback percentage. "I am pleased to see Medic EMS included in the budget with minimal impact on taxes," Board Chairman Ken Beck wrote in an email. The $124 million budget also would fund federal COVID-19 relief-backed projects and completion of the Youth Justice and Rehabilitation Center, among other projects. The county and its consultant still are working on transition plans to present to supervisors for a final green light on making MEDIC a county department. Exact timing and how much funding the county could get from a federal program called Ground Emergency Medical Transport funding still are unknown, county staff said. Budget Director David Farmer said federal and state funding options are available and staffers are confident the county can absorb MEDIC without raising the tax rate or levying a new tax, which would require a voter referendum. That includes GEMT funding and a state program called Iowa Offset -- the latter, Farmer said could earn the county roughly $200,000. "We would look to new revenue sources and budget tools before recommending a new levy or property tax increase for MEDIC," Farmer said. Last month, the county supervisors approved a business consultant to prepare a transition plan for MEDIC. Then, County Administrator Mahesh Sharma told supervisors Davenport had "backed down" from offering city EMS and would back the county's plan. Mayor Mike Matson on Wednesday said he considered the city's plans "on pause" indefinitely while the county took action on a county-wide system. Matson said the city had wanted to be prepared in case a county plan never materialized. Confusion over rollback could impact next year's budget What could impact the county's budget, as well as those of municipalities and other taxing bodies, is confusion over this year's rollback a formula set by the state to determine the percentage of a property's value that can be taxed. Farmer on Tuesday presented supervisors with a budget that anticipated a 56% rollback, meaning a $200,000 home would be taxed on $112,000 of its value. But the state Department of Revenue has said that it made a mistake in calculating the rollback due to changes in tax law in 2013 that lowered taxes on multi-family residential properties and another change in tax law in 2021 that phased out multi-residential as a property tax class. The result is the rollback should have been 54% when accounting for the change in state law, which would mean the taxable value of that $200,000 home would drop to $108,000. System-wide, the discrepancy could mean millions in lost revenue from local governments at a time when they are forming their budgets for the next fiscal year. Farmer estimated it would take at least $1.6 million out of the next fiscal year's budget if the rollback is cut by two percentage points. The bulk of the county's budget funds capital projects like road repairs, and public safety and legal services. Farmer said he hadn't received any official word from the Department of Revenue. But Gov. Kim Reynolds and the department have filed a bill to correct the mistake and adjust the rollback to 54%. If it passes, the bill would put pressure on localities to cut positions or projects or raise taxes more than they wanted to without hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue they were counting on for the year. Cities and counties are required to have their budgets approved and certified to the state and county auditor by March 31. School districts are required to have their budgets set by April 15. Remaining COVID relief funds; new detention center The county's controversial Youth Justice and Rehabilitation Center, YJRC, 4715 Tremont Ave., is under construction and is set to be completed in summer of 2024, depending on availability of materials. With the new building, which has about twice the capacity of the 3rd Street juvenile detention center, comes new budget requests for additional staff. In the next two fiscal years, the county hopes to add seven new positions. In the budget year beginning July 1, the county recommends hiring a full-time assistant director of the YJRC to start mid-year. The following year, fiscal 2025, requests for new staff members include an administrative position and five detention youth counselors. Human Resources Director Vanessa Wierman wrote in an email that the number of youth counselors requested is based on current and past occupied-bed trends. Transparency is for suckers. Thats the message, loud and clear, from Gov. Kim Reynolds and her Republican enablers in the Legislature. Id suspect that this was another, particularly idiotic manifestation of the trans-phobia that has infected Republican officeholders the past few years. But no, Reynolds and GOP lawmakers are insisting on transparency through various priority bills in the Legislature while keeping the public in the dark. Everybody loves transparency as long as it required of other people. Reynolds recent interview with Amanda Rooker of KCCI-TV made that abundantly clear. Rooker asked Reynolds about the so-called transparency measures she is proposing for public schools. These may include ideas proposed in the past, like requiring teachers to post their lesson plans online or school libraries posting every title on their shelves. Rooker asked if Reynolds would also seek to impose those rules on private schools that receive taxpayer funds from her education savings account proposal. Reynolds stammered. Well, you know theyre held to you know, most of this would deal with public schools, would public schools right now. So you know, they it would just be public schools. That last phrase is the actual answer. Only public schools would have to post course details and library titles and whatever else the governor and GOP lawmakers can think of to demand from public schools. Why not private schools? If were going to dedicate hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to give parents a choice on where to send their kids, shouldnt that be an informed choice? But again, its the parent thats going to be making that decision. So if they feel that the school doesnt meet their expectations, or what theyre looking for, then theyre not going to transfer their child there, she said. So Im going to trust parents to do the research, to, you know, to make the decision of what environment is best for their children. Speaking of those taxpayer dollars that will be going to possibly secretive private schools, Reynolds said she is planning to hire a private company to handle the transfer of state money to parents and oversee how that money is spent. Lawmakers will not be informed about how that would be done and what company would be in charge until after the legislation has passed. And speaking of taxpayer money, House Speaker Pat Grassley told reporters last week that the House doesnt need to send the school scholarship bill through the Appropriations Committee to examine the spending. Why not? Because House Republicans have talked about the cost. Among themselves. In secret. I will tell you that, I probably talk so much about appropriations matters in caucus, I probably drive them nuts how much time we do spend on that, Grassley said. We take this very seriously, whenever we look at any sort of investment like this, and there has been significant time not only since we got to session, but leading up to session on what potential proposals would look like. So its not like we just started yesterday having that conversation. None of those conversations were in public, however. Neither the governor nor legislators discussed details of the current, vastly expanded, scholarship plan during the campaign. Republican and Democratic caucus meetings are held behind closed doors. The Senate did hold an appropriations committee meeting last week, but decided to push forward with the bill without a nonpartisan fiscal analysis. The chambers could send the bill to the governors desk as early as this week, without giving Iowans time to absorb the details. Then, theyll move on to talking about transparency for public school teachers, tax assessors, universities and all those other suckers. Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com. Follow Iowa Capital Dispatch on Facebook and Twitter. Close Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the Condition of the State address to members of the Iowa Legislature inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds hugs her husband First Gentleman Kevin Reynolds at the conclusion of the Condition of the State address, inside the Iowa House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the Condition of the State address to members of the Iowa Legislature inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the Condition of the State address to members of the Iowa Legislature inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Iowa Senate President Pro Tempore Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, applauds during Gov. Kim Reynolds' Condition of the State address, inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Attendees to Gov. Kim Reynolds' Condition of the State address applaud during the speech, inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the Condition of the State address to members of the Iowa Legislature inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the Condition of the State address to members of the Iowa Legislature inside the House Chamber on Jan. 10 at the State Capitol in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the Condition of the State address to members of the Iowa Legislature inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds is escorted into the Iowa House of Representatives, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, to give the annual Condition of the State address, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Photos: Gov. Kim Reynolds delivers the condition of the state address Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the Condition of the State address to members of the Iowa Legislature inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds hugs her husband First Gentleman Kevin Reynolds at the conclusion of the Condition of the State address, inside the Iowa House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the Condition of the State address to members of the Iowa Legislature inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the Condition of the State address to members of the Iowa Legislature inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Iowa Senate President Pro Tempore Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, applauds during Gov. Kim Reynolds' Condition of the State address, inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Attendees to Gov. Kim Reynolds' Condition of the State address applaud during the speech, inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the Condition of the State address to members of the Iowa Legislature inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the Condition of the State address to members of the Iowa Legislature inside the House Chamber on Jan. 10 at the State Capitol in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the Condition of the State address to members of the Iowa Legislature inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds is escorted into the Iowa House of Representatives, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, to give the annual Condition of the State address, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines. A Davenport man incarcerated at Iowas Anamosa State Prison in connection with a Davenport shooting was sentenced on Tuesday to 20 years in federal prison after a federal jury found him guilty of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of intimidating a witness. During a sentencing hearing Tuesday in U.S. District Court, Davenport, U.S. District Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger sentenced Roylee Richardson Jr., 32, to 10 years on the weapons charge and a concurrent term of 20 years for the witness tampering charges. Richardson also will have to spend three years on federal supervised release after he completes his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. According to Iowa Department of Corrections electronic records, Richardson is due to be paroled from the Anamosa State Penitentiary on May 18, after which he will be sent to federal prison. According to U.S. District Court, Davenport, and Scott County District Court electronic records, the cases against Richardson began at 11:01 a.m. Feb. 7, 2021, when Davenport police were dispatched to the apartment building at 3348 Heatherton Drive to investigate a report of shots fired. While canvassing the scene, officers discovered spent casings and other evidence that a shots-fired incident had occurred. During the investigation it was learned that Richardson allegedly struck a woman several times in the head with a pistol, which caused visible swelling to the womans head. As the victim fled, Richardson allegedly fired the gun at her. Officers located Richardson attempting to scale off a second-story balcony. Officers then located his gun inside the apartment from which he fled. Ballistics testing confirmed the firearm was the same that fired the shot at the woman. Federal jury convicts Davenport man of weapons and witness tampering charges A Davenport man serving time in Iowas Anamosa State Prison in connection with a Davenport s Davenport police arrested Richardson on charges of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon, going armed with intent, willful injury causing bodily injury and possession of a controlled substance-second offense-crack cocaine. Man arrested for allegedly pistol-whipping, shooting at woman Davenport police arrested a man who allegedly pistol-whipped a woman and then shot at her as During a hearing in Scott County District Court on Sept. 10, 2021, Richardson pleaded guilty to the charges of willful injury causing bodily injury, a Class D felony that carries a prison sentence of five years, and possession of a controlled substance-second offense, an aggravated misdemeanor that carries a prison sentence of two years. The other charges were dropped in accordance with the plea agreement. Richardson was sentenced Nov. 12, 2021, to concurrent sentences of five years for the willful injury conviction and two years for the drug conviction. It was Richardsons third conviction related to a shooting. The others were in 2008 and 2016. On Dec. 7, 2021, federal authorities charged Richardson with being a felon in possession of a firearm. After Davenport Police had arrested Richardson, he repeatedly called the victim in violation of a no-contact order. Federal authorities charged him with tampering with a witness. On Aug. 31, 2022, after a three-day trial in U.S. District Court, Davenport, a federal jury found him guilty of all of the federal charges. The federal case against Richardson was prosecuted under Project Safe Neighborhoods. Instituted in 2001, Project Safe Neighborhoods is a Justice Department initiative that brings together law enforcement at all levels to reduce gun violence. An 18-year-old man awaiting trial in Rock Island County Circuit Court on weapons charges was arrested Wednesday by Rock Island Police after a domestic and shooting incident. Jaiden H. Carver, whom Rock Island County Circuit Court electronic records has as living in Moline, is charged in Wednesdays incident with five counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm into an occupied building. The charge is a Class 1 felony that carries a prison sentence of 4-15 years. Carver also is charged with one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a Class 4 felony that carries a prison sentence of 1-3 years. He also is charged with two counts of domestic battery, and one count each of criminal damage to a building less than $500 and resisting a peace officer. Each of those charges is a Class A misdemeanor that carries a sentence of up to one year in the county jail. According to a news release issued by Rock Island Deputy Police Chief Timothy McCloud, at 2:35 p.m. Wednesday, officers were sent to the 500 block of 30th Street to investigate a domestic dispute. While in route to the scene, officers learned that the suspect, Carver, had left the scene on foot and was seen with a handgun. Moments later a call came in reporting that about four shots had been fired in the area and that a home in the 600 block of 28th Street had been struck by gunfire. During a search of the area, officers located Carver, who tried to run. He was taken into custody in the 2600 block of 5th Avenue. A loaded 9mm handgun also was recovered. Minor injuries were reported in the domestic dispute. At the time of Wednesdays incident, Carver was out on bond awaiting trial on two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. Each charge is a Class 4 felony that carries a prison sentence of 1-3 years. In that case, Carver is accused of carrying an uncased and loaded Glock PF90V2 "ghost gun" with no serial number in public without a Firearm Owner's Identification card, or FOID. The incident occurred March 18, 2022. Carver was arrested March 19, 2022, in connection with that case. He was released from the Rock Island County Jail in that case on March 28, 2022, after posting 10% of a $30,000 bond, or $3,000. A pretrial conference in that case is scheduled for Feb. 9 in Rock Island County Circuit Court. Carver was being held Thursday night in the Rock Island County Jail on a bond of $100,000, 10%. During a first appearance on the charges Thursday in Circuit Court, Circuit Judge Frank Fuhr scheduled a preliminary hearing in the case for Feb. 7. Davenport Police have taken into custody a man wanted in connection with Wednesdays fire at the Timber Knoll Apartments in Moline. Frederick Jermaine McKenzie, 36, of Moline, was being held in the Scott County Jail on an interstate warrant and $100,000 cash-only bond. Rock Island County States Attorney Dora Villarreal said that McKenzie is charged with one count of aggravated arson and one count of arson. Aggravated arson is a Class X felony that carries a prison sentence of six to 30 years, while arson is a Class 1 felony that carries a prison sentence of four to 15 years. Davenport police found McKenzie in the 2200 block of Telegraph Road. Moline Police said that McKenzie is a former resident of Timber Knoll. McKenzie will have a first appearance Thursday in Scott County District Court where he will either waive or fight extradition to Rock Island County. Meanwhile, Moline fire officials said workers who happened to be at the apartment building when it caught fire also happened to have ladders, which were used to rescue tenants. "First-arriving company reports several victims standing on their balconies, yelling for help," according to an accounting by the Moline Fire Department. "There were a few property-maintenance personnel working in the area at the time of the fire. "They, along with workers from Asplundh Tree Service, began using ladders to get victims from the balconies." Logan Latimer was on his way home Wednesday morning from Two River YMCA when he saw Moline police and fire vehicles roaring down 53rd Street. Almost instantly, the 20-year-old welding student learned the lights and sirens were headed to the Timber Knoll Apartments, where the building next to the one where he lives with his mother was on fire. I called my mom and, at first, she thought the ambulances and stuff were for one of the older couples who live near us, Latimer said. As I got closer on 53rd, the road was blocked and my mom said there were firetrucks everywhere. Then she saw the building next to us and she told me there were flames coming out of the building. I parked and grabbed my camera, because Im really interested in photojournalism. Fifteen of the 16 units in the building north of John Deere Road were occupied at the time of the fire, said Deputy Fire Chief Kris Johnson. At least five people were treated for smoke inhalation, including two who were transported to the hospital, he said. Julie, a mother of two who declined to share her last name, said she lives on the lower level of the unit that burned. She was at work and her children were out of the building when the fire started. She said she hoped it was not intentionally started. Ive lived here for, wow, going on 10 years, Julie said. There are a couple of older people who live here, and I hope they are OK. While some tenants boarded a MetroLINK bus that was sent to serve as a warming shelter, Julie said she was busy looking for answers about the fire. There are a lot of police officers around here, and I want to speak with them and find out what is going on, she said. Both the Moline police and fire departments are investigating the cause of the blaze, which started in a building on the southeast corner of the Timber Knoll complex. An official from the American Red Cross said an early estimate suggests 11 people will require the agency's assistance. Multiple agencies responded to the scene, where early reports indicated multiple people were trapped. Johnson said the primary fire was under control shortly before 11 a.m. Some tenants were evacuated and others were rescued from balconies. Moline firefighters were dispatched to the nearby Homewood Manor Apartments last week, where 11 people were temporarily displaced by fire. Photos: Fire damages Timber Knoll Apartments in Moline On this version of Hot off the Wire: President Joe Biden says the U.S. will send 31 M1 Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine, reversing months of persistent arguments that the tanks were too difficult for Ukrainian troops to operate and maintain. The U.S. decision announced Wednesday came on the heels of Germany agreeing to send 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks from its own stocks. An attorney says a Virginia teacher who was shot by a 6-year-old student during class plans to sue the school district. Diane Toscano, a lawyer for the 25-year-old teacher, Abigail Zwerner, said Wednesday that on the day of the shooting, concerned teachers and employees warned administrators three times that the boy had a gun on him and was threatening other students, but the administration could not be bothered. Spains interior ministry says one person has been killed and another severely injured in an attack carried out by a person with a bladed weapon at a church in the southern city of Algeciras. Chicago authorities say one person has died and eight others were taken to hospitals Wednesday as firefighters responded to a high-rise apartment building fire on the citys South Side. Jill Biden's Inauguration Day outfits are now at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. She says the two dresses one blue, one white with matching coats and face masks were her voice on one of the most important days of her life. Senators grilled Ticketmaster Tuesday about its spectacular breakdown last year during a sale of Taylor Swift concert tickets. Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee debated possible action, including making tickets non-transferable to cut down on scalping and requiring more transparency in ticket fees. The Carter Center said Tuesday that only 13 human cases of Guinea worm disease were reported worldwide last year. Vaccination rates for U.S. kindergarteners are down again, and federal officials are launching a new campaign to try to bring them up. CHICAGO - The residential high-rise in Kenwood where an extra alarm fire occurred Wednesday morning, killing one person, has a history of code violations and building inspection failures, city records show. Its been cited for fire-related code violations at least 11 times since October 2021, according to Department of Buildings records. The Chicago Fire Department said it took 300 firefighters and over 80 pieces of equipment to put out the blaze at 4850 S. Lake Park Ave. after they had responded to reports of smoke in the high-rise shortly after 10 a.m. Flames engulfed a unit on the 15th floor of the building and spread vertically to upper floors, officials said. One person died, and six other people were transported to hospitals in good condition, according to officials. Another person was taken to a hospital in serious-to-critical condition and a firefighter suffered an orthopedic injury, according to fire officials and Ald. Sophia King, in whose 4th Ward the building is located. Over 30 building residents refused treatment. They did an outstanding job because that fire did not go horizontally, Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon. They did everything they could to put that fire out and they were here for a long time doing it. According to Department of Building records, the 25-story building, which was built in 1970, was informed at least four times in 2022 to provide for an annual fire alarm/voice communication system test, after failing building inspections. Other citations referred to missing fire tags on doors and a defective fire pump. Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said that, as far as the department knows, both of those systems, the communications system and the fire pump, worked well today. Firefighters used the buildings communication system to alert residents to the fire. Most residents were able to remain in their units safely until the fire was put out, King said. Only 267 of the buildings 298 units were occupied at the time of the fire, Nance-Holt said. In 2022, city records show that the high-rise failed multiple inspections, including one conducted by the Fire Prevention Bureau on Dec. 1, 2022, when the building was cited for issues in its fire system. Violations from Nov. 7, 2022 which included violations for missing interior trash door tags, for the exterior masonry and for failing to file the required high-rise exterior wall report were referred to the Department of Law, which filed an enforcement action in the Circuit Court of Cook County. The case is scheduled to be heard Feb. 2. On Oct. 27, 2021, the inspection required the building to repair and maintain the automatic sprinkler system. The Department of Buildings (DOB) takes public safety and quality of life issues very seriously, according to an emailed statement by a DOB spokesman. Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of the resident who passed away, the residents and firefighter that sustained injuries, and all those impacted by todays tragic fire at 4850 S. Lake Park Avenue. At 1 p.m. Wednesday, countless emergency vehicles lined up on South Lake Park Avenue and alarms faintly blared from the building as smoke continued to billow. Approximately 10 floors were visibly affected, and debris occasionally fell. Firefighters could be seen from below working the scene. King hugged Jauntanne Mayes as she cried after finding out the person who died in Wednesdays high-rise fire in the Kenwood neighborhood was her close family friend, a retired schoolteacher who Mayes remembered as sweet, fun-loving and very generous. Mayes said she learned of the fire from the Citizen app and went to the building to check on her family friend because she couldnt get down the stairs by herself. But she wasnt allowed to go in, so she left, only to learn from the news that an elderly woman had died from smoke inhalation on the 15th floor. At that point, shed been trying to call her family friend to no avail. She will be missed by a lot of people, anybody that knew her, Mayes said. Shed tell you like it is, but it was all done in love. On Wednesday afternoon, displaced residents which included residents from the east side of the building were on the second floor with the Red Cross, which was working with them to find a temporary place, King told the Tribune. The Salvation Army provided residents with hot chicken biscuit sandwich meals, as well as emotional and spiritual support. Nance-Holt said at the news conference that fire officials didnt know whether smoke detectors went off. The smoke detectors in the units are battery-operated, whereas the ones in the hallways are hardwired, she said. Langford told the Tribune the person from the building who called 911 did not get alerted by a fire alarm, but by the smoke. Nance-Holt was unable to confirm whether the sprinkler system was activated. Fire officials continue to investigate the cause of the fire. DOB inspectors were on the scene Wednesday and will work with the Fire Department in its investigation and assessment of the damage. Chicago Tribunes Richard Requena and Deanese Williams-Harris contributed. 5 most common causes of reported house fires 5 most common causes of reported house fires #5. Smoking materials #4. Intentional #3. Electrical distribution and lighting equipment #2. Heating equipment #1. Cooking LE MARS, Iowa A Merrill, Iowa, man sentenced last fall to life in prison for killing his stepson has died in prison. The Iowa Department of Corrections said Thomas Knapp, 84, died Thursday of natural causes while in hospice at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center, where he had been housed for a chronic illness. A Plymouth County jury in September found Knapp guilty of first-degree murder and willful injury for the May 11, 2020, shooting death of 51-year-old Kevin Juzek in their rural Merrill home. Knapp also was found guilty of willful injury and two counts of domestic abuse assault for beating his now ex-wife, Darlene Knapp, just before the shooting. Thomas Knapp was sentenced in October to life in prison without parole. Darlene Knapp testified at trial that Thomas Knapp was mad at Juzek, blaming him for knocking over a birdbath in their yard. Later that morning, Darlene Knapp said, she went to Thomas Knapp's bedroom, where he punched her in the face and struck her with a wooden exercise bar, breaking her left hand. Juzek came to the door and closed it after his mother left and held it shut so Thomas Knapp couldn't pursue her. Knapp grabbed a 20-gauge shotgun he kept in his room and shot Juzek through the door, striking him in the abdomen. Juzek staggered into the living room and collapsed on the floor. Knapp came out of his bedroom, walked up to Juzek and shot him a second time in the chest while Darlene Knapp watched. At trial, jurors heard recordings of Thomas Knapp's interviews with authorities in which he told them Juzek had intentionally aggravated him for years. SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. A 14-year-old southeastern Michigan girl has been stabbed after refusing to have sex with an 18-year-old western Illinois man she met over social media. Deputies were called to the girl's Springfield Township home around midnight Wednesday where she was bleeding from wounds to her back and midsection, the Oakland County sheriff's office said in a release. She was expected to undergo surgery Wednesday. Deputies said the girl's younger sibling was asleep at the time of the attack and their parents weren't home. The girl contacted her parents after the stabbing and they rushed home and called 911. The man, from Monmouth, Illinois, fled but was arrested after he called 911. He told deputies he became angry when the girl refused to have sex with him, the sheriff's office said. Monmouth is about 470 miles southwest of Springfield Township, which is northwest of Detroit. Odds of 50 random events happening to you Odds of 50 random events happening to you Getting struck by lightning Winning an Olympic medal Being killed in a plane crash Having twins Dying in a tornado Winning the lottery Being saved by CPR Killed by a meteorite impact Finding a four-leaf clover Getting audited by the IRS Bowling a perfect game Living to 100 Earning a perfect score on the SAT Getting your car stolen Seeing your congressperson reelected Having food poisoning Getting into Harvard Losing something in the mail Becoming a bone marrow donor Dying in a shark attack Being named Emma or Jacob Having trouble hearing Becoming an astronaut Dying in a car accident Graduating from college within six years Needing long-term care insurance The person next to you being able to read this Being ambidextrous Dying in a hurricane Cracking open a double-yolked egg Your house burning down Being killed by falling furniture Playing for a professional sports team Becoming a millionaire Death by bees Getting lead poisoning Someone you know identifies as LGBTQ+ Dying on your birthday Being born with extra fingers or toes Being involved in a mass shooting Catching a Shiny Pokemon That your birth control fails Catching a foul ball Being dealt a royal flush Being born on leap day Keeping your wisdom teeth That there is alien life Giving birth on your due date Creating a perfect March Madness bracket Being born DES MOINES Delivery of a drug resulting in a death would carry up to a 25-year sentence under a bill proposed by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird. The bill passed subcommittees in both the Iowa House and Senate on Wednesday. Currently, the maximum charge that can be pursued against a person who sells a drug resulting in death is for the delivery itself, a class C felony. Prosecutors can pursue an involuntary manslaughter charge, but that penalty is a lesser Class D felony. The bill would make the sale of a drug resulting in death a Class B felony, putting it on the same level as attempted murder and killing a person while driving intoxicated. Marijuana is exempt from the bill. A class B felony is punishable by up to 25 years in prison. Bird, a Republican, said during a Senate subcommittee on the bill that the proposal aims to address a rising rate of overdoses in Iowa. Its so important that we can seek justice for those victims and their families, so Im very encouraged and looking forward to working with the governor and the Legislature as we move forward, she said in an interview. Iowa has one of the lowest overdose death rates in the United States Iowa ranked 5th-lowest of the 50 states in 2021 but the number of deaths has been increasing, following national trends, over the past several years. In 2021, 470 Iowans died of drug overdoses, according to Gov. Kim Reynolds office. Iowa elected officials have been sounding alarms about an increase in overdose deaths in the state in recent years, driven in part by an increased presence of fentanyl, a potent opioid. Bird said raising the penalties would bring the law into line with the severity of the crime. It is not dealt with the way that it should be, and the way that some other states and even federal law would deal with it, she said. But some lobbyists and advocates were concerned that the bill would be counterproductive, bringing harsh charges for situations that may not warrant it. Lisa Davis-Cook, a lobbyist for the Iowa Association for Justice, said the organization, which is registered against the bill, has concerns about whether the bill would act as a deterrent. What about that college kid who shares drugs with a friend then leaves, and that friend dies? So they cant report the overdose. Are those really the people that we want to be charging with a Class B felony? Davis-Cook said. Democratic Rep. Ross Wilburn of Ames was the sole lawmaker to not sign on to passing the bill out of a subcommittee. He said hes not opposed to the bill, but he would like to gather informaiton about the bills impact on minorities and see the details of a similar bill expected to come out of Gov. Kim Reynolds office. Responding to concerns, Bird said she thinks the penalty proposed in the bill is the right approach. She noted the penalty is lower than the federal charge, which carries up to a 40-year sentence. When someone provides illegal drugs to someone and those drugs kill that person, we need to have a law that takes account of that, she said. Mahaska County Attorney Andrew Ritland said hes been working to get the law changed for a few years, after a woman died of a drug overdose in his county. Ashley Shafer, a 24-year-old from Oskaloosa, died in 2019 after being injected with methamphetamine. Three men that gave her the drug took her body to a river and did not report the death. ( In that case, a Class C felony was the harshest penalty Ritland could pursue, he said. The Class D, involuntary manslaughter felony is also very difficult to prove, he said. It doesnt really even begin to reflect the amonut of harm thats done in these sort of cases, he said. The bill also creates an exemption for Iowas good samaritan law, which provides legal protections for a person who calls emergency services when they or another person are experiencing an overdose. Upcoming Reynolds bill addresses fentanyl Reynolds said in her Condition of the State Address she would be introducing a bill that would increase the sentences for selling fentanyl, and double or triple the penalty if the sale results in a death. Im calling on the Legislature to increase penalties for manufacturing and distributing fentanyl in any amount, she said during her address on Jan. 10. That means longer sentences and higher fines, even where the quantity is small. And when an overdose leads to death or serious injury, the sentences will be even steeper. Reynolds has proposed punishing the sale of 5 grams or less of fentanyl with up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000; between 5 and 50 grams with 25 years and up to $100,000; and more than 50 grams with 50 years and a fine of up to $1 million. If the sale results in a death, the punishment could be two to three times higher, and it would be two times higher if a person manufactures or delivers fentanyl in the presence of a minor. Reynolds Office of Drug Control Policy is registered undecided on Birds bill because Reynolds will be introducing a similar bill, but a lobbyist said the office is generally supportive of the measure. We are absolutely supportive of the concept of a stronger deterrent for those folks that are trafficking these extremely deadly drugs into the state of Iowa, said Susie Sher, a lobbyist with Reynolds drug control office. Tom Barton of the Gazette Des Moines Bureau contributed. SPRINGFIELD A Navy veteran from Lockport has been honored by the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs for his work with fellow veterans. Anthony Hernandez Jr., 48, was announced as IDVA's Employee of the Year in a press release Wednesday. In the release, department director Terry Prince said Hernandez serves "at the 'tip of the spear' of IDVA's services." Hernandez works as a veterans' service officer in the Cook County Lockport offices of IDVA. According to the IDVA website, a VSO is "trained and accredited by the US Department of Veterans' Affairs to provide free assistance to veterans and their dependents and survivors." The news release said Hernandez "is well known in the community through his regular attendance at local veteran events and works hard to find the right answers for veterans." "I'm very grateful for being nominated, let alone being selected," Hernandez said. "There's a lot of great VSOs throughout the state that deserve recognition as well." The release said his nomination cited his work traveling among several offices, and "his tenacious approach" to helping veterans and their families. "I truly love what I do for our veterans," Hernandez said. He said there are a lot of state and federal benefits available to military veterans and their dependents that, oftentimes, go overlooked or under-utilized. Hernandez said he wants to "spread the word to our veterans that there are resources out there that they can use." Hernandez said he served 24 years in the U.S. Navy, from November 1992 to November 2016, and retired as a Legalman Chief Petty Officer. He has been a VSO for five years. Best cities for military retirees Best cities for military retirees Highlights from the top 10 cities for military retirees Data and methodology Jurors spent Wednesday afternoon deliberating a triple murder case after the state spent eight days presenting testimony and evidence against a Bronx, New York man accused of shooting two people at a Rapid City park and then killing the only witness, who he and another man buried in a primitive grave near Sheridan Lake. The jury went home at 5:30 p.m. after deliberating for 4.5 hours and asking one question of the judge. They are set to continue their deliberation on Thursday morning as they work towards a verdict. During closing arguments Wednesday, the prosecution made their final push to convince the jury that 37-year-old Arnson Absolu is guilty of three counts of first-degree murder for the August 2020 deaths of Charles Red Willow, 26, of Rapid City, Ashley Nagy, 29, of Greeley, Colo., and Dakota Zaiser, 22, of Rapid City. If the jury returns with a guilty verdict on first-degree murder, Absolu will face a minimum of life imprisonment. Senior Chief Deputy Roxanne Hammond took just shy of an hour-and-a-half for the state's closing arguments. She recounted the case the prosecution had pieced together over the previous week. Absolu entered the drug scene in Rapid City a few months before the murders, she told the jury, "a man who thought he could be a big fish in a small pond." He recruited several people in the area to sell heroin mixed primarily with fentanyl, including two who testified in the trial. Red Willow ultimately owed Absolu money, which he was angry about and threatened to kill Red Willow over, according to witness testimony. Knowing that Red Willow wouldn't answer his calls, he asked Zaiser to contact Red Willow and set up a meeting on Aug. 24, 2020 after Red Willow was released from the Pennington County Jail at about 9 p.m. Zaiser talked to Red Willow several times after he called his mother, phone records showed, who was asleep and didn't answer the phone, a missed call that will haunt her forever, Hammond said. Cell phone towers then put Zaiser at a woman's apartment on East Watertown Street where Absolu spent time. The apartment would become the scene of Zaiser's murder, according to the state. Cell towers put Absolu in the area of East Watertown Street, but since he used a different carrier than Zaiser, the data was more general. The towers then put Zaiser at Thomson Park and Absolu in the park's area where they met Red Willow and Nagy, who had just had "a normal" evening, spending time at the J-Bar and stopping by a gas station for pistachios, a sandwich and soda. "The last purchase of their life," Hammond said. Red Willow thought he was meeting with Zaiser for a drug deal, Hammond said. Instead, he was shot seven times four times in the head and three in the shoulder. Nagy was shot once in the head because she was a witness, according to the state. Zaiser ran away, not having realized the murders would happen. He got into a blue Chevy Malibu. He made a loop in a cul-de-sac before Absolu got back into the car. "Why didn't he just leave? A question that will haunt his family forever," Hammond said. "(He was) probably afraid." After they drove a block, Hammond speculated that Zaiser got out of the vehicle and went back to the Chevy Tahoe to retrieve Red Willow's phone, "the only thing tying him to the scene." The theory was supported by a witness who said she saw a man matching Zaiser's description run in front of her car that evening. "Within a few hours, he's dead," Hammond said. Absolu killed Zaiser at the East Watertown Street apartment, both literally and figuratively stabbing him in the back, Hammond said. Zaiser's cause of death was never determined, but an examination of his bones showed sharp force trauma to vertebrae in his neck and more advanced decay in his neck and back. What ultimately led law enforcement to Absolu was the Blue Chevy Malibu. Luke Lang, who was one of the detectives on the case at the time, testified on Tuesday, the eighth day of the trial, that investigators were able to narrow down the type of vehicle in the footage by the park to Chevy Malibus of certain years. Lang said it made sense that the vehicle would have been rented, and there were two that met the criteria owned by Casey's Auto Rental on 5th Street. The vehicle had a tracker, which law enforcement traced to New York City, where they arrested Absolu. The vehicle had damage to its front end, consistent with pieces of plastic found at the scene of Zaisers grave, according to Rapid City Police Department Sgt. Barry Young, the lead investigator on the case. What ultimately led law enforcement to Zaiser's body buried under sticks. was a 25-year-old named Shamar Bennett. Bennett testified that he helped Absolu dispose of a rug and chair from the East Watertown Apartment that Absolu said had blood on them. Bennett also testified he helped Absolu dispose of Zaiser's body, which Absolu had placed in a plastic tote in the back of the Blue Chevy Malibu. The importance of Bennett's account was not lost on the prosecution of the defense in closing arguments. "More than anything, you have Shamar Bennett's testimony," Hammond said. "Shamar owned up to the lies he told and he had no motive to kill these three people, unlike Arnson Absolu." On the other side of the coin, Absolu's defense attorney, Timothy Rensch tore down Bennett's credibility, saying he counted 350 lies in Bennett's initial interviews with investigators before leading them to the body. "Shamar Bennett is not worthy of belief," he said. "How many times do people have to lie before they're unbelievable?" The defense, however, did not call any witnesses during the trial and waived their right to opening statements. Rensch relied on cross-examination and closing arguments. Absolu maintained his right to silence during the trial. The most expressive he got was shaking his head no when Hammond said out-right that he killed the three. Rensch's closing arguments were designed to sow seeds of doubt in the minds of the jury and discredit testimony and evidence the state says points to Absolu's guilt. He stressed that the burden of proof is not on the defense, and his client is cloaked in the presumption of innocence under the law. "He's in the weakest position in the world right now," Rensch said. "If he doesn't have that right, no one does." Rensch said he felt he is representing a "foreigner in a foreign land ... a Black man in South Dakota in a sea of white.". The first piece of evidence that Rensch pointed out was video footage near Thomson park that the state claims shows Dakota Zaiser and Absolu walking towards the park where Red Willow and Nagy were found dead. Rensch pointed out that in the video, which he showed to the jury on a screen not visible to the rest of the room, that one of the men in the video is "about a head taller" than the other man in the video. Rensch said that Absolu is five-foot-eleven-inches and Zaiser was either five-foot-ten-inches or five-foot-nine-inches, meaning the two should appear to be the same height. He also noted that Bennett is six-foot-one-inches, making him taller than Zaiser. He reminded the jury of the fact that none of Absolu's DNA was found either at the car where Red Willow and Nagy were found shot to death or at the north Rapid City apartment the state claims Zaiser was killed at. No blood evidence was found at the apartment either, according to expert testimony. Hammond pointed out that the woman who had the apartment on East Watertown Street reported that her rug and shower curtain had been replaced, her chair was gone and the apartment smelled like cleaning products. Hammond argued that the cleaning products ruined the evidence, Rensch said a trained criminologist couldnt do something like that. Rensch also showed the jury photos of what the state said was the murder weapon, a black and silver .40 caliber Smith and Wesson semi-automatic pistol found in Rapid Creek. He said it doesnt match the photo of a .40 caliber Smith and Wesson on Absolus phone the state says matches the Rapid Creek gun. Rensch singled out a scratch on the outside of the gun in Absolus photo, comparing it to an evidence photo of the Rapid Creek gun without the scratch. Hammond said the difference could be to lighting, and doesnt change the facts of the case. There is reasonable doubt in this case, Rensch said. I would ask that you find Arnson Absolu not guilty. The jury also has the option to convict Absolu of second-degree murder or aiding and abetting murder if they decide the evidence does not meet the requirement of first-degree murder. First-degree murder requires premeditation, while second-degree murder does not. An aiding and abetting conviction does not require Absolu to have committed the murders, only that the murders happened and he aided in its commission. ProPublica, a national investigative news organization, earlier this month released a database that shows which institutions report having Native American remains, including several in Montana. Public schools, museums and other institutions nationwide house remains and items affiliated with tribes. Sometimes the items are donated. Other times, a school or museum staff member may have bought or collected the items for archaeology or research purposes. But in the last few decades, there has been a national effort to return sacred items and remains to the tribes with which they belong. Passed in 1990, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, commonly known as NAGPRA, established a process for tribes to request the return of Native remains from institutions that have them. More than 30 years later, not all institutions are compliant. ProPublica reports that at least half of the remains of more than 210,000 Native Americans have not been returned. Aaron Brien is the NAGPRA coordinator and tribal historical preservation officer for the Crow Tribe. He said he hopes the database will show people that "this is still a problem." "Housing human remains is not unique," he explained. "But for Native remains, the scale of it is unique. The housing of Native remains keeps us in a constant state of curiosity. We are humans and should be treated as humans." Mike Durglo, Jr., who is in charge of the preservation department for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, said he's grateful for the database. "Any information that helps us return these items is appreciated," he said, adding that the tribes are working to verify the data. "We will continue to work with these institutions, and individuals, who would like to help us bring these items home." According to the database, institutions continue to hold at least 1,200 Native remains taken from counties of relevance to the Little Shell Tribe. Tribal Chairman Gerald Gray said returning such remains to tribes is long overdue. These are our members, and they should be treated with dignity and respect, he said. Instead, they are being kept in a box in some institutions basement. Its time to give these remains the proper burial they deserve. What does the database say about Montana? ProPublicas database lists five Montana institutions that have reported holding Native American remains, and it outlines whether those institutions have made the remains available for return to the tribes. Under NAGPRA, if an institution makes a connection between tribes and remains, the institution must publish a list of tribes eligible to make a repatriation claim. When authors of the database mention institutions that have made remains available for return to tribes, they are referring to this process. According to the site, UM reports still holding the remains of at least 25 Native Americans. To date, UM has made available for return 63% of the 67 Native remains it reported to the federal government. Specifically, UM has made 24 remains available for return to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and 18 to the Crow Tribe. Dave Kuntz, director of strategic communications at UM, said it is a top priority for UM leaders to work in partnership with regional tribes to repatriate artifacts and remains. The university hopes to hire a repatriation coordinator, whose full-time job it would be to work with tribes to return items of significance, Kuntz added. It is going to take time, he said, adding that UM will continue to identify artifacts and remains to ensure repatriation occurs. UM in August received $99,314 from the National Park Service to support documentation and repatriation of such items. Kuntz said the funding will support the new repatriation coordinator position. And earlier this month, UM was awarded $325,107 from the National Endowment for the Humanities to Indigenize heritage collections. The project aims to address challenges in determining cultural affiliation for objects with vague records. According to the database, the Montana Historical Society has made none of its reported 16 remains available for return. Eve Byron, public information officer for the historical society, said the institution has been working on returning the human remains and associated burial items for some time. She said that the historical society has deaccessioned all human remains and related funerary items, meaning the items were removed from the listed holdings of the institution. She added that the Montana Burial Preservation Board is tasked with returning remains and items to the appropriate tribe. The Montana Historical Society board of trustees voted unanimously in October to return ownership of Big Medicine, a mounted white buffalo, to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. CSKT Tribal Chairman Tom McDonald told the board after the vote the tribe was deeply appreciative. We will treat this animal with the respect it deserves, he said at the time. The Museum of the Rockies, located in Bozeman, made available for return 22% of the 18 Native American remains it reported having. The museum, according to the database, has made four remains available to the Crow Tribe. And the museum reported making none of its 97 funerary objects available for return to tribes. Representatives from the Museum of the Rockies did not respond to a request for comment. ProPublica found that Montana State Universitys Department of Sociology has made zero of 11 Native American remains available for return. It also has not made available any of the 49 funerary objects for return to tribes. Representatives from MSU did not respond to a request for comment. Carter County Museum, located in Ekalaka, has made all of the 15 Native American remains available for return. The museum made remains available for return to 20 tribes, including to the Fort Peck Tribes and Fort Belknap Indian Community. What about the tribes? The database is also searchable by tribe and reveals information on remains and funeral items affiliated with each tribal nation in Montana, listed below. Institutions have reported making 38 Native remains available to the Blackfeet Tribe. The tribe is eligible to claim 58 funerary objects. Institutions hold remains of five Native Americans taken from counties of interest to the Blackfeet. Institutions have made 43 remains available for return to the CSKT, and institutions continue to hold remains of 18 Native Americans from counties relevant to the tribes. Institutions reported making remains of more than 2,700 Native remains available to the Chippewa Cree Tribe. Institutions continue to hold remains of at least 2,200 Native Americans taken from counties of interest to the tribe. Institutions have made 51 Native remains available for return to the FBIC and continue to hold remains of at least 3,100 Native Americans taken from counties of interest to the tribe. Carter County Museum has made 14 remains available for return to the tribe. Institutions report making the remains of more than 800 Native Americans available for return to the Crow Tribe and continue to hold remains of at least 300 Native Americans taken from relevant counties. Institutions report making more than 1,400 remains available to the tribe and continue to hold at least 600 Native remains taken from counties of interest to the tribe. Institutions report making more than 300 remains available for return to the Little Shell, and institutions continue to hold at least 1,200 Native remains taken from counties of interest to the tribe. Institutions report making remains of more than 2,600 Native Americans available for return to the Fort Peck Tribes, and institutions continue to hold remains of at least 800 Natives taken from counties relevant to the tribe. To view ProPublicas database, visit projects.propublica.org/repatriation-nagpra-database. RAWLINS Prosecutors formally charged a Utah man with five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide on Wednesday in connection with a multi-car wreck that authorities say resulted from him driving the wrong way down Interstate 80 while intoxicated. Arthur Andrew Nelson, 57, of West Jordan, Utah, made his initial appearance Wednesday afternoon in Carbon County Circuit Court. During the proceeding, Deputy County Attorney Mark Nugent told the court Nelsons drivers license had been suspended at the time of the crash because of a prior DUI conviction. After the crash, Nelson failed a field sobriety test, according to a Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers affidavit. He also admitted to using methamphetamine on the previous day. At one point after the arrest, a highway patrol lieutenant told Nelson he shouldnt have been driving. Thats a lesson to be learned, Nelson replied, according to the affidavit. Nelson has been in and out of prison for over three decades. His most notable offenses were an escape and burglary in 1988 and aggravated statutory rape in 2008. Nelson now faces 11 charges, the most serious of which are five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide. Each carries a 20-year prison sentence if he is found guilty. He's also charged with driving while under the influence causing serious bodily injury, reckless driving, reckless endangerment, driving the wrong way on a highway, and driving with a suspended license. On Wednesday, a judge raised his bond, which had been set at $75,000, to $500,000 cash, citing the "severe aggravating circumstances" of the case, along with Nelson being considered a danger to society and a flight risk. Chain-reaction crash The Wyoming Highway Patrol says Nelson was driving a Dodge Ram pickup the wrong way along Interstate 80 near Rawlins on Sunday night. The pickup struck an Infinity passenger car and a FedEx truck. As the Dodge collided with the car, a tractor-trailer tried to avoid the approaching pickup by driving in the median. In the process, that tractor-trailer entered the eastbound lanes, where it collided head-on with a Ford F-150 carrying five students and recent graduates from Sylvan Hills High School in central Arkansas. All five died at the scene. The group of friends -- Salomon Correa, Andrea Prime, Ava Luplow, Magdalene Franco and Suzy Prime -- were on their way home after a trip to Jackson, where they spent one week visiting Jackson Hole Bible College. According to the arrest affidavit, a trooper observed several severely damaged cars when he arrived at the scene. The Ford F-150 carrying the five young adults was already engulfed in flames. The tractor-trailer, which was hauling a semi-trailer, was also badly damaged and beginning to catch fire. The Infinity passenger car had heavy damage to its front. Nelsons Dodge Ram pickup was severely damaged and appeared to have rolled over at least once. Identified as drunk A bystander approached the trooper, pointed at Nelsons truck and said, "I think that person [is] drunk." Bystanders and medics discovered there was still a driver trapped within the tractor-trailer that had caught fire earlier. The trooper ran back to his patrol vehicle to get a fire extinguisher. A woman from Mississippi was inside the burning truck. "I observed plastic begin to melt around her face, the trooper recalled. I observed the majority of her face and head to be burned. The woman had third-degree burns on her face, neck, back and torso, and she was flown from Rawlins to Colorado for treatment. She is believed to be in stable condition. There were also three people inside the Infinity passenger car who sustained non-life-threatening injuries. At the scene, Nelson identified himself as a roofer. He appeared confused about the direction he was traveling in, according to the troopers affidavit. When asked which direction he was headed, he responded west. But he also said he was traveling to Tennessee, which is in the other direction. Nelson refused to have his blood drawn to be tested, but one was taken anyway due to the loss of life and serious injuries, the highway patrol trooper said. Nelson appeared to nod off while being taken to the hospital. Nelson is scheduled to return to court at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 1 for a preliminary hearing. History of anti-drunk driving advocacy History of anti-drunk driving advocacy 1982 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2019 A proposed national sales tax is a nonstarter for three members of Montanas congressional delegation unpersuaded by the bills promise to abolish the Internal Revenue Service. U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, fellow Republican Sen. Steve Daines and Democrat Sen. Jon Tester said Wednesday that a federal sales tax has no place in Montana, one of only five states without a statewide sales tax. Tester, who pounced on the issue early, said in a letter to Senate leadership that he will kill the national sales tax if it survives the House. The Fair Tax Act of 2023 will receive a hearing in the House as part of the concessions made by Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Republican of California, to secure the necessary votes from hardliners in the House Freedom Caucus for his accession. The bill by Rep. Earl Buddy Carter, a Georgia Republican, would create a 30% national sales tax, to replace all corporate income taxes, the payroll tax, estate tax and taxes on gifts. McCarthy told reporters Tuesday that he would vote against the tax. It takes just four no votes from the Republican caucus to kill any bill. Along with Montana, other states without a statewide general sales tax are Alaska, Delaware, New Hampshire and Oregon. None of the five Republican reps from those states are listed as Fair Tax sponsors, including Freedom Caucus member Rep. Matt Rosendale, who didnt respond to questions about his position on the 30% tax. Friday, after this article appeared in print, Rosendale posted a Tweet saying that he opposed a national sales tax. A combination of three reps from the non-sales tax states of Oregon and Montana, voting with McCarthy, would kill the bill in a floor vote. Rep. Zinke is no fan of the IRS but also doesn't like the idea of a sales tax. He is not a sponsor of the bill. It has to go through regular order which means subcommittee and committee markups followed by floor consideration with open amendments process, said Heather Swift, Zinkes chief of staff on Wednesday. Whatever bill ends up on the floor will be very different than what was introduced today. We will track that closely. The proposal to abolish the IRS was triggered by the 2022 Democratic controlled Congress voting to boost IRS funding to increase the number of employees in order to close the tax gap. It's estimated that under-collected taxes annually amount to nearly $400 billion, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation. The hiring was quickly spun into a deployment of 87,000 tax agents, though the bill authorizing the hires calls for employees, not agents. Agents comprise about 13% of the IRS workforce, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Immediately after securing his speakership after a 15th round of voting, McCarthy announced the 2023 Republican majority would defund the 87,000 new IRS agents. The new conservative use of agents as synonymous for all Revenue employees wont to be letting up soon. A significant number of Senate Democrats would have to go along with House Republicans IRS defunding to make it happen. In the Senate, Daines spokeswoman Rachel Dumke said he would work to reduce taxes, but wouldnt be supporting a sales tax. Similarly, Tester said tax cuts for small businesses and families were the way to go. "As a Montanan, Sen. Daines is fundamentally opposed to a national sales tax while he works to reverse the tax hikes and the IRS' new, supersized power to audit everyday Montanans which Senate Democrats, Nancy Pelosi, and Joe Biden passed into law last year," she said. Tester began the week calling a national sales tax a regressive tool that would increase life costs for Montanans. His remarks were made in a letter to Republican and Democratic Senate leaders. We dont have a sales tax in Montana, and we dont need the federal government imposing one on us. I am not going to let politicians in Washington, D.C., raise taxes on hardworking Montanans, Tester said. Montanans voting in the 1992 election recall a governors race between Republican Marc Racicot and Democrat Dorothy Bradley, which gave full debate to a statewide sales tax with both candidates willing to consider one. Racicot the following year was unsuccessful in gathering support for a sales tax, which voters rejected by referendum 3 to 1. In the 30 years that followed, the sales tax became an election year weapon. In a 2011 poll commissioned by Montana Lee Newspapers, 64% of respondents opposed replacing the state income tax with a sales tax, while 25% supported the change and 11% werent sure. The opposition majority spanned gender and both political parties, plus independents. But Montanas population has increased by more than 300,000 people since the 1990 Census. The churn of people moving into Montana, while others exit, suggests a significant number of Montanans are accustomed to paying sales taxes in the states where they live previously. Richmond police have identified the person killed on the citys South Side on Tuesday. Police said in a statement Thursday that Tegene Birke, 56, of Richmond was shot and killed in the 3400 block of Maury Street. Officers were called to the scene at around 12:55 p.m. for reports of a person shot. They found Birke unresponsive in a parking lot. Richmond police seek tips in armed robbery Richmond police have released an image from a surveillance camera that they said shows an armed robbery suspect. Birke had an apparent gunshot wound and was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. The medical examiners office will determine his cause and manner of death. Anyone with information about the homicide is asked to call Richmond police at (804) 646-0423 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000. Photos: The aftermath of the violent arrest, death of Tyre Nichols in Memphis Richmond police said Wednesday that a juvenile male has been charged in a crash that killed a Huguenot High School senior. Josie Cox was killed Nov. 26 when the car she was riding in hit a utility pole in the 2200 block of Semmes Avenue. Police said investigators determined speed was a contributing factor. The juvenile male has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, reckless driving and driving without an operators license. Police announced his arrest on Monday. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call RPD Crash Team Investigator J. DeBoard at (804) 646-1709 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 646-1000. The P3 Tips app for smartphones also may be used. Honor Beauvais every breath was a battle as a snowstorm battered the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. The asthmatic 12-year-olds worried aunt and uncle begged for help clearing a path to their cattle ranch near the community of Two Strike as his condition worsened, his fragile lungs fighting a massive infection. But when an ambulance finally managed to get through, Honors uncle already was performing CPR, said his grandmother, Rose Cordier-Beauvais. Honor, whose Lakota name is Yuonihan Ihanble, was pronounced dead last month at the Indian Health Services hospital on the reservation, one of six deaths that tribal leaders say could have been prevented if not for a series of systemic failures. Targets of the frustration include Republican Gov. Kristi Noem, the U.S. Congress, the Indian Health Service and even for some the tribe itself. We were all just in shock, said Cordier-Beauvais, who recalled that when the snow finally cleared enough to hold the funeral, the family gave out toys to other children as a symbol of how he played with his siblings. He loved giving them toys. As the storm raged, families ran out of fuel, and two people froze to death, including one in their home, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe said in a letter this month seeking a presidential disaster declaration. The letter described the situation on the reservation in a remote area on the states far southern border with Nebraska, 130 miles southeast of Rapid City, as a catastrophe. And in a scathing State of the Tribes address delivered Jan. 12 in the state Legislature, Peter Lengkeek, chairman of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, accused emergency services of being slow to react as tribes struggled to clear the snow, with many using what he described as outdated equipment and dilapidated resources. Noems spokesman, Ian Fury, said the claims were part of a false narrative and couldnt be further from the truth. The Indian Health Services didnt immediately return email messages from The Associated Press seeking comment. Noem, who is seen as a potential contender for the 2024 White House, declared an emergency on Dec. 22 to respond to the winter storm and activated the states National Guard to haul firewood to the tribe. But by then the Rosebud Sioux Tribe was worn out from a series of storms starting about 10 days before that were so severe that its leaders ultimately rented two helicopters to drop food to remote locations and rescue the stranded. It all started on Dec. 12, when the tribe shut down offices so people could prepare for the first onslaught. The storm hit in earnest around midnight, dumping an average of nearly 2 feet of snow on the reservation, most of it in the first day, said Alex Lamers, a National Weather Service meteorologist. By the time the storm let up on Dec. 16, the reservation also was coated with one-quarter of an inch of ice and wind gusts as high as 55 mph had blown the snow into drifts of up to 25 feet. Starting on Dec. 18, soon after the blizzard moved out, there were 11 straight days with sub-zero temperatures. Wind chills were dangerous, hitting -51 degrees Fahrenheit at their lowest. Then a phenomenon called a ground blizzard hit the reservation on Dec. 22. Strong winds blew existing snow on the ground, and visibility fell to a quarter mile, Lamers said. The Bureau of Indian Affairs sent staff to help, and the White House said FEMA also spoke to the tribes president. But snowplows were paralyzed in the cold, with the freezing temperatures turning the diesel fuel and hydraulics into gel, the tribe said. The tribe also alleges Congress is at fault for not changing rules that allocate how money from a tribal transportation program is distributed among the nations 574 federally recognized tribes. OJ Semans, a consultant for the tribe, said the programs reliance on making determinations based on tribal enrollment hurts the Rosebud Sioux because while its enrollment of 33,210 members is relatively modest, its land base of nearly 890,000 acres spread across five counties is massive. That meant there simply wasnt enough equipment to respond, said Semans, who lost two family members in the storm. One of them, his 54-year-old cousin, Anthony DuBray, froze to death outside, his body found after Christmas. The other victim, his brother-in-law, Douglas James Dillon Sr., called for help during the first storm because his asthma was flaring up. But getting to the hospital would have meant being carried more than a quarter of a mile over snowbanks to a deputys patrol car. Semans said a glimpse outside showed it was almost impossible, so Dillon went to bed. He died Dec. 17 at the age of 59. Semans and his wife, Barbara, were snowed in for 15 days, using a propane space heater to ward off the cold after losing power. They were dug out just in time to make it to Dillons funeral 11 days after his death. The Supreme Court of Virginia on Thursday reversed a jurys decision to award $1 million in damages to the family of a Virginia Beach man killed three years ago during a standoff with police in his backyard. The courts ruling was issued in a 4-3 split decision, and involved the Feb. 9, 2019, shooting of Jeffrey Tyree by Virginia Beach Police Detective Bradley Colas. The incident was captured on police body camera video. Tyrees family sued Colas and another officer who tackled Tyree shortly before Colas fired his gun. But the jury decided only to hold Colas liable and awarded Tyrees family $1 million in damages at the end of a weeklong trial in Virginia Beach Circuit Court in July 2021. Tyree a 57-year-old Army veteran who was in a mental health crisis at the time was holding a large knife and standing in the backyard of his mothers house when officers were called to the scene. After hours of negotiations, Officer Nigal Tuft-Williams ran into the backyard and tackled Tyree from behind. Colas testified at trial that he shot Tyree after he saw him pick up his knife and raise it toward Tuft-Williams. Colas said he believed his actions were needed to save his fellow officer from being killed or seriously injured. Multiple other officers also testified at the trial and backed up his claims. Body cam video of the incident was played for the jury multiple times. In its opinion, the majority of the court ruled Virginia Beach Circuit Judge Kevin Duffan should have dismissed the case before it was sent to the jury for deliberations, or set the jurys verdict aside, because there was no evidence presented at trial that contradicted Colas claims. The dissenting justices, however, said that while its possible a jury could have found Colas was justified in shooting Tyree, a panel could also have decided that he wasnt. Colas still works as a Virginia Beach police officer. Separate investigations by the Virginia Beach Commonwealths Attorneys Office and the Virginia Beach Police Department determined the shooting was justified. Tuft-Williams left the department before the case went to trial to take a job with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Deputy City Attorney Christopher Boynton applauded the courts decision in an email Thursday. The City and Detective Colas are gratified the Supreme Court of Virginia recognized that Detective Colas was justified in shooting Mr. Tyree in defense of Officer Tuft-Williams, Boynton wrote. Kevin Martingayle, who represented the Tyree family, said they were disappointed with the decision and would be exploring further options, including the possibility of seeking a rehearing and reconsideration with the Supreme Court of Virginia. The Tyree familys lawsuit is one of at least three filed against Virginia Beach police following a fatal shooting of a citizen over the past several years. In August 2018, a jury awarded $800,000 to the family of India Kager, who was killed during a SWAT incident. In 2021, Wayne Lynch, the father of a man shot and killed by a Virginia Beach police officer during a chaotic night of violence at the Oceanfront, filed a $50 million lawsuit against the city and the officer. The incident involving Tyree was not the first time Colas had shot someone while on duty. In 2015, he shot a man involved in an armed robbery and hostage situation at a cellphone store. That man survived. In 2012, Colas was a rookie officer when he was involved in a bizarre incident on the Eastern Shore that landed him in jail for a few months. He was released after it was determined that his actions that day were due to an adverse reaction to an antibiotic he had been taking. Doctors hired by both the prosecution and defense determined that hed suffered from an involuntary intoxication and didnt understand the nature of what he was doing or the wrongfulness of his acts. Sometimes, the depths of a mental health crisis that spark a temporary detention order ease before a bed can be found for that person; sometimes, what looks like a psychiatric issue is primarily a question of intoxication. And both common emergency room situations mean a Virginian is in the wrong place at a bad time. A temporary detention order, commonly called a TDO, means a person can be detained for up to 72 hours, against their will, for treatment and an evaluation to see if they need to be committed to a hospital or outpatient facility, even if they object. State Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath County, wants to change that he says it is bad for people and is badly straining Virginias underfunded and long-troubled public mental health system, where many people subject to a TDO end up. Our state hospitals are overwhelmed, he said. Deeds is leading Democrats package of bills and a budget amendment to expand on Gov. Glenn Youngkins sweeping reform proposal. Youngkins measures would boost mental health spending by $230 million and serve as a first step to build up the states crisis response services, featuring expansions of mobile crisis teams, additional crisis centers and a push to set up psychiatric services in hospital emergency rooms. Democrats want to boost that by $162 million to help the states Community Services Boards fill thousands of vacant slots. Low pay and large caseloads have made hiring and retaining community mental health workers a growing challenge in recent years. We can provide all these services say we provide all these services but if we dont have the people, we cant, Deeds said. Deeds is also carrying a bill that would allow people under a TDO who are waiting for a bed in a facility that can evaluate and treat them such as an ER or jail to be released before the 72-hour TDO expires if they no longer meet the orders requirements. Requirements include substantial risk of self harm or causing harm to others in the near future, and severe distress that threatens the safety and life of the person under the TDO. Deeds said he expects such determinations will be made by mental health workers who requested the TDOs in the first place; those workers usually stay with the person in crisis until a bed is secured. Yet another bill says that when doctors cannot get an intoxicated person to accept treatment, they can seek a magistrates order to detain that individual for treatment in an ER or other facility. Deeds said he has been arguing for years that too many people are put under TDOs when they really need treatment for being too intoxicated to care for themselves. Other parts of the package include a measure requiring health insurance companies to cover out-of-network mental health care services for a covered person if they do not have an in-network provider who can administer the services. Another measure calls for a training program for teachers to make sure they can recognize and support students who are dealing with trauma. State Sen. Monty Mason, D-Williamsburg, wants the Department of Health Professions to stop asking license applicants about mental health conditions, saying many health care providers are reluctant to seek help for fear of losing their license to practice. Del. Nadarius E. Clark, D-Portsmouth, has a bill that would create a loan repayment program for people who have worked as mental health professionals in Virginia for at least five years. PHOTOS: Va.. General Assembly, January 25 On 9-5 votes, the Democratic-led committee defeated a measure from Sen. Travis Hackworth, R-Tazewell, to ban most abortions at conception; a bill from Sen. Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg backed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin to ban most abortions after 15 weeks; and a bill from Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant, R-Henrico, to ban most abortions after 22 to 24 weeks. The bills included exceptions in cases of rape, incest and when the mothers life is in jeopardy. Despite Gov. Youngkin and his allies relentless efforts to undermine our health and rights, today we reaffirmed that there is no place for abortion bans in Virginia, said Jamie Lockhart, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia. Dunnavant was absent during the time of the votes on the bills. After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Youngkin said he would seek consensus to bar most abortions after 15 weeks. Macaulay Porter, a spokesperson for Youngkin, said in a statement: Just days after unveiling a constitutional amendment that endorses abortion at any point during the pregnancy, including when a baby feels pain all the way up until the moment of birth, Senate Democrats solidified their extreme position this morning. Speaker of the House Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, said at the beginning of the session that he did not expect substantive action on abortion this year, because the legislative chambers are split, with Republicans in control of the House and Democrats in control of the Senate. All 140 legislative seats are up for election in November. In an interview after the committee meeting, Dunnavant said the vote you saw this year against my bill was political. I think it was a reasonable attempt to find consensus, she said. You shouldnt have an abortion when a baby can live outside the mom. After the committee meeting, the Senate Democratic Caucus hosted a news conference to celebrate the outcome. When asked why the legislators opposed Dunnavants bill, Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, said that after pregnant people have exams around 20 weeks and spot an anomaly, they may need a second opinion to confirm and that a ban after 22 weeks would be too close. McClellan disputed that Democrats support abortion up to birth. Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, who chairs the Education and Health Committee, alluded to Senate Democrats as the brick wall against legislation to restrict or ban abortions. She also brought a trash can to the gathering, adorned with pro-abortion stickers, that she said is where the voted-down abortion bills belong. It was met with laughter by the crowd. She also thanked people who testified before the legislature about their own abortion experiences. Having personal testimony reminds us of some basic facts that every pregnancy is unique and every person deserves access to the health care they need, she added. Olivia Gans Turner, president of the Virginia Society for Human Life, said her organization strongly backs the governors bill. Pro-life bills face uphill battles this year against the radical pro-abortion Virginia Senate members, but soon we hope to see these lifesaving bills get a proper hearing and the support they deserve, she said. Turner said the VSHL did not support Dunnavants bill, asserting that it did little more than to codify Roe v. Wade in the Code of Virginia. 17 archive photos of Regency Mall U.S. continues with extradition process after judge grants indefinite suspension to El Chapos son Mexico City, Mexico The recently arrested Ovidio Guzman, the eldest son of El Chapo, is able to remain in Mexico. At least for now. A Mexico City judge has granted an indefinite suspension against his extradition. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United States government are continuing with the processing of the extradition process. The Fifth District Court for Amparo and Federal Trials granted an indefinite suspension to Ovidio Guzman Lopez, son of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman and key operator of the Sinaloa Cartel. The judges resolution does not imply that he cannot be extradited to the United States where he is wanted for fentanyl trafficking, but rather that he must remain in Mexico until the end of the Amparo trial which they are challenging for violations of the extradition process. While awaiting the final ruling, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United States government can continue to process the extradition. Ovidio Guzman was arrested January 5 in Sinaloa in an operation by the Armed Forces. Unionized dump truck workers protest outside hiring for Tulum section of Maya Train Tulum, Q.R. Several dozen dump trucks lined a Tulum highway Wednesday in protest of the hiring of outside workers. The group from Quintana Roo parked along the shoulder of the highway, dissatisfied that other dump truck companies from outside the state have been hired for Maya Train work. The trucks began to line the highway south of Tulum around 5:00 p.m.. They were blocking access to the Maya Train work road of section 6, preventing two loaded trucks from being able to enter the site. The protest by the Untrac truck drivers lasted around two hours. According to Alfredo Solis, a Untrac representative, they left once an agreement was reached with the Secretary of National Defense (Sedena), who is in charge of the Maya Train construction. Solis said that they allowed the trucks to unload inside the Maya Train site, but are expecting them to leave the state and allow the local drivers to work. Untrac has the collective contract for this part of section 6 of the Maya Train between Tulum and Muyil. It is not clear why truck drivers from other states were brought in. A company that monitors environmental compliance by the Mountain Valley Pipeline has a conflict of interest caused by its work on separate projects by developers of the controversial pipeline, according to a government attorney. Cardno Inc. has a relatively small but continuing conflict of interest, Charles Beamon, associate general counsel for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, wrote in memorandum to two other officials with the commission. The memo, filed Tuesday on FERCs online docket, states that despite the conflict, Beamon found that it is appropriate for Cardno to continue its longstanding work. Since construction of the natural gas pipeline began in 2018, Cardno has acted as a third-party contractor for FERC, employing nine full-time inspectors to monitor the 303-mile long pipeline to ensure it complies with federal laws. In May 2020, the company submitted an annual conflict-of-interest form that contained new information: Cardno was acquired the preceding year by a larger company, Stantec, and together they had provided services for multiple projects by four of the five companies that are partners in Mountain Valley. Both Cardno and Stantec make money from the companies who want to build the Mountain Valley Pipeline, said David Sligh, conservation director of Wild Virginia, which has joined other environmental groups in fighting the pipeline. That should be enough to disqualify Cardno, because it means we cant be sure their actions as inspectors on the MVP, which should be done in the public interest, wont be influenced by their private profits, Sligh said. But in allowing Cardno to remain as FERCs inspector, Beamon noted that less than 1% of its and Stantecs total income over the last three years has been connected to the other projects by Mountain Valleys partners. Further, he wrote, Cardno has worked with FERC on the pipeline project since 2014, starting with its assistance in developing an environmental impact statement before it was approved by the commission. The company has developed institutional knowledge over that time, the memo stated. That knowledge and working relationship was cited by officials in FERCs Office of Energy Projects, who asked Beamon to authorize their decision to stay with Cardno. You state that changing contractors would increase the time and effort required to successfully complete the Mountain Valley project because a new contractor would require substantial orientation and training in order to assist staff, Beamon wrote to the officials. Cardno is, therefore, best suited to complete the work in the most expeditious timeframe. Asked for comment, a spokeswoman for FERC wrote in an email Wednesday that we dont have anything to add beyond what is in the memo. Efforts to reach Cardno online were directed to Stantec, a global firm that offers design, engineering and scientific consulting work in a variety of fields that include the environment, transportation, water, energy and community development. An email to Stantecs public relations department Tuesday and a telephone call the next day had not been returned by 6 p.m. Wednesday. Mountain Valley spokeswoman Natalie Cox provided the following statement: Cardno has been a third-party contractor for FERC and involved with the MVP project since its inception, from assisting FERC in its environmental analyses to its current compliance monitoring role. Cardno possesses a very comprehensive, historical, and in-depth knowledge of the project. Details were unavailable about the other projects the firm has been involved with that are connected to Mountain Valleys partners. We are unable to speak on behalf of Cardno or their affiliate company regarding their overall customer portfolio or project work, Cox said. Sligh said it is not uncommon to see conflicts of interest in pipeline projects, which often are funded by large companies with multiple needs that can only be met by a relatively small number of firms such as Cardno and Stantec, leading to overlaps. Its a pretty small ecosystem that they all exist in, he said. Nonetheless, he said, FERCs unwillingness to part ways with the firms illustrates what weve known all along that FERC sees its job as helping fossil companies do what they want to do, not protecting our environment and our communities. Pipeline opponents point to what they say are shortcomings in Cardnos work as a third-party inspector for FERC a job that is actually funded by Mountain Valley. Every week, the company submits environmental compliance reports to FERC, the main agency that approves interstate pipelines and oversees their construction. The most recent report, for the week that ended Jan. 14, includes a tally of actions taken since work began. There have been no serious violations, the most severe finding that could bring a civil penalty or a stop-work order. Inspectors have found 47 cases of noncompliance, which covers activities that dont follow the rules, and 38 problem areas that do not constitute noncompliance but are not considered acceptable. The document lists 3,772 communication reports, which involve meetings held to address an issue needing attention, and 19,534 acceptable reports that require no further action. By contrast, inspectors with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality have found more than 350 violations of erosion and sediment control regulations. Most of the cases involve muddy runoff from construction sites in the New River and Roanoke valleys, through which the pipeline runs on its path from northern West Virginia to connect with an existing pipeline near the North Carolina line. In 2019, Mountain Valley agreed to pay a fine of $2.15 million to settle a lawsuit brought by Virginia. There have also been enforcement actions taken by state regulators in West Virginia. Although the project is mostly completed, work is currently stalled by the court-ordered suspension of various government permits. On Tuesday, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in one of the legal challenges. The Sierra Club, Wild Virginia and eight other organizations are asking the court to revoke a water quality certification granted in late 2021 by the State Water Control Board. Approval from the board and other agencies is needed for Mountain Valley to cross about 230 streams and wetlands in Virginia, either by digging a trench through them or burrowing a tunnel below them for the buried, 42-inch diameter pipe. Pipeline opponents argued that the board failed to adequately review the water crossings, ignored scientific evidence about the problems they posed, and blindly accepted Mountain Valleys plans. The Fourth Circuit has overturned about a dozen permits issued to Mountain Valley since 2018. But unlike in the past, a three-judge panel posed few hard questions to either side during Tuesdays session. A written decision is expected later this year. A Christiansburg man was fatally shot by law enforcement officers during a standoff at a Craig County residence on Wednesday. Kyle Adam Mills, 22, died from injuries he sustained in the incident, which occurred in the 400 block of Johns Creek Road, Virginia State Police said. Craig County Sheriffs Office deputies and state troopers responded to reports of a domestic disturbance at the residence, a state police news release said Thursday. Once deputies and troopers arrived at the home, a firearm was discharged inside the residence, state police said. They stayed outside and attempted to contact the occupant, Mills. Information was obtained that the subject inside the residence was armed, and officers requested negotiators to speak with the subject and a tactical team, state police said. Shortly before 9 p.m., Mills came out onto the front porch. Officers fired their weapons, striking him. State police said Mills was armed when he was shot. Emergency medical care was administered immediately and was continued until paramedics arrived, police said, but Mills died from his injuries. State police said no officers were injured in the incident, but all involved officers, both troopers and Craig County deputies, have been placed on administrative leave according to both departments policies. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation from the state polices division headquarters in Salem is conducting an investigation of the shooting. At the completion of the investigation, all the findings will be turned over to the Craig County Commonwealths Attorney for adjudication, state police said. The officer-involved shooting was the second to occur in the Roanoke Valley on Wednesday. At an apartment complex in Roanoke that morning, a Roanoke police officer shot and wounded a man as he held a knife. An investigative unit called the Star City Drug and Violent Crime Task Force and Virginia State Police announced on Wednesday the seizure of a significant drug cache along with money and firearms. According to a news release, police learned that a package containing the opioid fetanyl had been addressed for delivery to an occupant of a house on Orange Avenue in Roanoke. A warrant was obtained and more than 2 pounds of fentanyl was seized from the residence, along with approximately 130 grams of additional narcotics, three firearms, and $13,431 in US Currency, according to a state police news release. The street value of all narcotics seized was $231,700, police added. Investigators arrested DeAngelo Omer Baker, 34, of Roanoke at the residence. He faces a number of felony drug charges, including posession and intent to distrbute, along with firearm possession by a violent felon. Baker was released from custody on a $10,000 bond, state police said. The drug seizure and Bakers arrest occurred Oct. 3. The state police news release did not indicate why it was being publicly announced three months later. The Star City Drug and Violent Crime Task Force is comprised of investigators from the Virginia State Police and police departments in Roanoke, Salem and Vinton. A Roanoke man was sentenced to an 18-month prison term Thursday for robbing and threatening to bomb the Kroger store in Daleville in May. Michael Thor Dricker, 46, was arrested in August and charged with three felonies threatening to bomb, robbery and constructing or using a hoax explosive device. He pleaded no contest to all three counts Thursday and entered a plea agreement with the court. On May 23, Botetourt County Sheriffs Office deputies were summoned at approximately 7:20 p.m. to the Kroger off U.S. 220 (Roanoke Blvd.) by a reported bomb threat, Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Marshall Lukacs said during Thursdays hearing. Deputies arrived at the store and spoke with a male employee, who said a man had approached him and placed a bag on the front counter. The employee said the man claimed the bag contained an explosive and the detonator was in his front pocket. The employee said the man demanded money from the stores safe. The employee told him that he couldnt access the safe, and instead he gave the man about $2,000 from a cash register. The employee told deputies that the person took the money, left the bag on the counter, and drove away in a gray, four-door sedan. The store was evacuated and a Virginia State Police bomb squad was called, Lucas said. After examining the bag, a black and green bookbag closed tightly with zip ties, authorities found that it contained no explosives. Surveillance camera footage depicted the sedan, which had a tag consistent with those used on cars that are for sale when taken on test drives by potential buyers. A Botetourt County deputy researched used car ads until a vehicle that matched the sedans description was identified at Local Auto Sales on Orange Avenue in Roanoke. The deputy went to the business and found a gray sedan on the lot. The car appeared to have been moved recently, Lucas said, in part because pollen had been swiped from the windshield. The deputy spoke with the business owner, who allowed a search of the car. Inside, the deputy found fresh grass in the floorboard, plus a bucket of black plastic zip ties, Lucas said. The deputy also found a piece of a black and green zipper consistent with those found on the bag abandoned at Kroger. A Local Auto Sales employee told the deputy he had loaned the car to his friend, Dricker, the night of the robbery. He said Dricker was gone for several hours, and he had tried to contact him by phone. Through a search warrant, deputies connected the phone number to Dricker, Lucas said. The car lot employee also identified Dricker in surveillance footage as the man who placed the bag on the Kroger counter. Drickers attorney, Ronnie Clay, said Thursday that Dricker recently pleaded guilty to additional charges including felony eluding and assaulting a law enforcement officer in Bedford County Circuit Court. Those charges date from June, a month after the Kroger bomb threat and robbery occurred. Dricker will serve a year in prison for those offenses, according to Virginias online court case information system. On Thursday, Botetourt County Circuit Court Judge Joel Branscom accepted Drickers plea agreement. On the bomb threat charge, he was sentenced to two years in prison, and both years were suspended. Dricker was also sentenced to three years in prison for the hoax explosive device charge, and all three of those years were also suspended. On the robbery charge, Dricker was sentenced to the minimum five years, suspended after he serves 18 months of active time. He will receive credit for time he has served in jail awaiting trial. Dricker will have to be on good behavior for 10 years, Branscom said, and a five-year probation period will begin once he is released from incarceration. Hell have to remain drug and alcohol free and pay court costs. Dricker continues to be held at the Boteourt-Craig Regional Jail. Things started slowly Monday at Al Bedrosians first meeting as the newest member of the Roanoke City Electoral Board. Just prior to it, in the Roanoke registrars office lobby, the former Roanoke County supervisor refused to say whether he still believes Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election, and probably by millions of votes. Bedrosian made those sincere-sounding statements at about 12 minutes, 14 seconds into a podcast titled U Cant Say That! The episode debuted two years ago, just a week after President Joe Bidens inauguration. Its still on YouTube. More recently, Bedrosian moved to Roanoke, and in December he was appointed to the city electoral board. Last week, I posed the same question by email, voicemail and text, and Bedrosian didnt respond, period. On Monday, he simply brushed it off. This has nothing to do with Roanoke city, Bedrosian said in the registrars lobby. Fact check: There was a 2020 presidential election in Roanoke. It was a part of a national election Trump lost by more than 7 million votes. And Bedrosians now one of three people on the board thatll oversee Roanokes next presidential election. If he believes the 2020 election was cooked despite zero evidence how is that not relevant given the office he now holds? Anyway, that was the precis to Mondays meeting. Then we moved to the conference room for introductions. Things started with housekeeping matters but later took an interesting turn. As its first order of business, board members elected Republican appointee Charles Shell as chair, with Bedrosian as vice-chair and Democratic appointee Anna Goltz as secretary. (After the meeting, Roanoke Registrar Andrew Cochran said the chair and vice-chair each earn an annual stipend of $3,049. The secretarys stipend is $6,102 because the position requires more work.) Next, the board agreed to convene monthly. The next meeting is 3 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Registrars Office at 317 Kimball Ave. Its open to the public. From a list of trained election officers, the board culled names of people who didnt show up to work in previous elections, and others who had died or moved away. And there was discussion about different categories of votes, such as vote by mail, early votes and Election Day votes, and when theyre counted in the election process. Probably the most interesting part was a three-minute segue near the end, when Bedrosian broached the subject of voter ID. He noted hed been reading an election handbook and it mentioned acceptable IDs. From there, things went a little off the rails. In minute detail, Bedrosian hypothesized a novel way to commit voter impersonation fraud by using a utility bill borrowed from Charles Shell, the electoral board chairman. No kidding. A bit of background: In the past two decades, Virginia lawmakers have battled back and forth over voter ID requirements. Many of those fights centered over whether Virginia should require photo ID when voting. It requires voters at polling places present identification (but not necessarily a photo ID), or sign a sworn affirmation of identity before voting. One form of acceptable ID (the law lists 10) is a current utility bill or bank statement bearing a voters name and address. Current means in the previous 12 months. Bedrosian seemed to be suggesting that type of voter ID is insecure, or ridiculous or maybe both. At least initially, others in the room seemed a bit puzzled by his thought train. At moments it seemed like a skit he was self-performing. Belows a partial transcript. You can listen to the whole segment on roanoke.com. Its true in our place that you can come in with a utility bill and vote, and not be a provisional ballot. Its a valid, youre just , Bedrosian said to Cochran. Yes, but the name on the utility bill and the address have to match your registration, Cochran replied. So I come in and I have Charles [Shell] gave me his utility bill. So I come in, I know where he lives, he, he wants me to come vote for him, he doesnt want to go vote, Bedrosian said. So he just gives it to me. I come in and vote. So I come in and give that utility bill. I know where he lives, I know that, and I can vote for him? Bedrosian continued: I mean technically or legally well not legally, maybe but technically I can, based on this, right? I just show a copy, youre going to ask me what my address is, I know his address. I give you the address and then I vote, right? Board Secretary Anna Goltz replied: Well, it needs to match what your voter registration is, so if youre not registered at that address and then Bedrosian interrupted: No, but Im voting for him [Charles Shell]. So he doesnt want to go vote. He, eh, I dont wanna, Ill give you my vote. Heres, heres the name and you just go vote. So Im giving up, just a maybe a far out thing but he just gives me his name. Obviously I know him, he gives me his name, I know his address, and I know I go to the thing [polling place] and I say heres the utility bill, he gives me utility bill, it doesnt have any picture on it. There it is, Im Charles and, um, I vote. So technically I mean its illegal to vote for someone else, Bedrosian said. It is, Cochran agreed succinctly. Bedrosian continued: But technically, you can do it. And no one would catch you, right? Goltz disagreed: No, she cut in. Bedrosian continued: Because hes [Shell] not going to go vote anymore, because hes gone, he just said Al, you take the vote. At one point later in the exchange, Shell said Bedrosian was technically correct. The conversation went on longer and got deeper. At another point, Bedrosian said: Just when I read [the handbook], thats all it said, just a copy of a utility bill, bank statement. So Im just saying like, what stops a person from voting for someone else? I urge you to watch the entire segment. Its likely Bedrosian meant to say theoretically, when he repeatedly voiced the term technically. Because at one point even he offered that his concocted scenario was maybe a far out thing. Not-so theoretically, voter impersonation fraud is a Class 6 felony in Virginia that could land someone five years in prison. Wouldnt that possibility deter anyone from borrowing someone elses water bill to cast a fraudulent vote for some politician? No election outcome in Virginia has ever been found to have been corrupted by a scheme like Bedrosian described. Thats because people who whove studied voter impersonation fraud say it hardly ever occurs. One expert at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles found 31 credible instances, out of 1 billion votes cast in American elections since 2000. Roanoke Commonwealths Attorney Donald Caldwell says he cant recall charging a voter impersonation case in his 44 years as the citys top prosecutor. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank in Washington, D.C., has tracked and categorized instances of Virginia election fraud dating back to 2007. On its list are zero voter-impersonation cases. As the back-and-forth wrapped up, Cochran said to Bedrosian: Im not aware that [voter fraud with a utility bill] has ever happened. It could, I suppose, happen. Um, obviously were not a legislative body so we dont have any control over those laws, but we have to follow those laws. Totally understand, Bedrosian replied. I always just go show my Ive a registration card and usually I was in the same precinct and they knew who I was, etcetera. He ended with: But, I was just wondering that. He was just wondering that. Its a hell of a thing. NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) Concerned staff warned administrators at a Virginia elementary school three times that a 6-year-old boy had a gun and was threatening other students in the hours before he shot and wounded a teacher, but the administration "was paralyzed by apathy" and didn't call police, remove the boy from class or lock down the school, the wounded teacher's lawyer said Wednesday. Diane Toscano, an attorney for Abigail Zwerner, said during a news conference that she has notified the school board in Newport News that the 25-year-old teacher at Richneck Elementary School plans to sue the school district over the Jan. 6 shooting, which left Zwerner with serious injuries. "On that day, over the course of a few hours, three different times three times school administration was warned by concerned teachers and employees that the boy had a gun on him at the school and was threatening people. But the administration could not be bothered," Toscano said. She said that Zwerner first went to an administrator at around 11:15 a.m. on the day of the shooting and said the boy had threatened to beat up another child, but no action was taken. About an hour later, another teacher went to an administrator and said she had taken it upon herself to search the boy's bookbag, but warned that she thought the boy had put the gun in his pocket before going outside for recess, Toscano said. "The administrator downplayed the report from the teacher and the possibility of a gun, saying and I quote 'Well, he has little pockets,' " Toscano said. Shortly after 1 p.m., another teacher told an administrator that a different student who was "crying and fearful" said the boy showed him the gun during recess and threatened to shoot him if he told anyone. Again, no action was taken, she said. When another employee who had heard the boy might have a gun asked an administrator to search the boy, he was turned down, Toscano said. "He was told to wait the situation out because the school day was almost over," she said. About an hour later, "Abby Zwerner was shot in front of those horrified kids, and the school and community are living the nightmare, all because the school administration failed to act," Toscano said. "Were they not so paralyzed by apathy, they could have prevented this tragedy," she said. School district spokesperson Michelle Price and School Board Chair Lisa Surles-Law did not immediately return calls seeking comment on Toscano's allegations. The shooting raised questions over security at the school and stunned Newport News, a city of about 185,000 people roughly 70 miles (113 kilometers) southeast of Richmond. Superintendent George Parker III, who has been sharply criticized by parents and teachers in the wake of the shooting, has said that at least one administrator was told on the day of the shooting that the boy might have a weapon, but no weapon was found when his backpack was searched. Police have said that school officials did not tell them about that tip before the shooting, which happened hours later. Police Chief Steve Drew has repeatedly characterized the shooting as "intentional," saying the boy aimed at Zwerner and fired one round, striking her in the hand and chest. Zwerner was hospitalized for nearly two weeks but is now recovering at home, Toscano said. "The road to full recovery will be long ... and the psychological scars will be lasting," Toscano said. The boy's mother legally purchased the gun used in the shooting, police said. The boy's family said in a statement last week that the gun was "secured." The family's attorney, James Ellenson, told The Associated Press that his understanding was that the gun was in the woman's closet on a shelf well over 6 feet (1.8 meters) high and had a trigger lock that required a key. The family also said in its statement that the boy has an "acute disability" and was under a care plan "that included his mother or father attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day." The week of the shooting was the first when a parent was not in class with him, the family said. The Newport News School Board will hold a special meeting Wednesday evening to vote on a separation agreement and severance package for Parker, according to a posted agenda. The board is also scheduled to vote on a new interim superintendent. A look at some of America's deadliest school shootings Intro Until the massacre at Colorados Columbine High School in 1999, the number of dead in U.S. school shootings tended to be in the single digits. Since then, the number of shootings that included schools and killed 10 or more people has mounted. The most recent two were both in Texas. In May 2022, an 18-year-old attacker killed 19 children and two adults at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. In May 2018, a 17-year-old killed 10 people at Santa Fe High School near Houston. Most of the victims were students. Columbine High School, April 1999 Red Lake High School, March 2005 Virginia Tech, April 2007 Sandy Hook Elementary School, December 2012 Umpqua Community College, October 2015 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, February 2018 Santa Fe High School, May 2018 Robb Elementary School, May 2022 In the wake of the holiday season, many of us made gift exchanges or returned unwanted presents to the store. Unfortunately, toys and T-shirts are not the only gifts being returned. According to the Humane Society of Southeast Texas, up to one-third of all pets adopted during the holidays will be returned to a shelter within the first three months of the new year. That statistic may be shocking to animal lovers, who cant ever imagine surrendering their furry friend, but thankfully, there is a solution to this problem. If we want to give all the animals in our community the best life possible, we must ensure that they are spayed or neutered. Spaying and neutering is the key to controlling animal populations and preventing unintended breeding. Every year, according to the ASPCA, there are an estimated 6.3 million pets surrendered to animal shelters, and only 4.1 million of these animals will be adopted. The rest of these animals may spend years waiting for their forever homes. Through spaying and neutering, we can prevent unwanted litters and reduce the number of pets without a family to care for them. In addition, spaying or neutering can also better the lives of pets we already have by improving their health and eliminating problematic behaviors. Early sterilization can prevent: Certain cancers. Serious health issues (such as uterine infections or stunted growth from premature motherhood). Roaming to find a mate. Spraying or marking urine. Fighting with other animals. Spaying or neutering can also increase our pets longevity. According to a study conducted by Banfield Pet Hospitals, neutered male dogs lived 18% longer and spayed female dogs lived 23% longer than their intact counterparts. And for cats, the difference was even greater, with spayed females in the study living 39% longer and neutered males living a whopping 62% longer than cats who were not sterilized. Despite all these benefits, convincing pet owners to spay and neuter their own pets is not enough the entire community suffers when animals are not fixed. In the next few months, spring will come to Southwest Virginia and bring kitten season. This time of year is incredibly challenging for shelters as they struggle to help dozens of neonates, the tiniest kittens, who require round-the-clock care from birth until 4 weeks old. Not to mention, an influx of kittens makes it less likely that older cats at the shelters will be able to find homes. Since 2010, Mountain View Humane in Christiansburg has addressed this problem through our Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) program. TNR is the humane alternative to taking homeless cats to shelters where they might be euthanized because they are unadoptable or the shelter lacks space. Even if you dont own any pets yourself, you can help us by trapping stray cats in your neighborhood and bringing them to Mountain View Humane. Here they will be sterilized, ear-tipped, and returned to their home outdoors. We provide free trap rentals and discounted services for feral cats. To that end, there are other ways that the community can help. Even something as easy as following us on social media makes a difference. Facebook gives us a platform to not only share our services and what we do, it allows us to help educate the public on why our services are so important to help keep pets healthy and happy. Through our page, you can share resources and upcoming events, such as pet vaccine clinics, or you can even start your own birthday fundraiser for Mountain View Humane, which has been a popular way for community members to show their support. The more people who can see our message, the more animals that we can potentially help. Talking about spaying and neutering may be uncomfortable, but many people do not realize how important it is. We believe that pet owners in the Roanoke and New River valleys will make smart and informed decisions for their pets when they are provided with enough information and resources. Whether you make the decision to spay or neuter your own pet, help our clinic with its TNR efforts, or donate money or pet necessities to a shelter, all of the animals in our community will benefit. If you added a new fluffy addition to the family this holiday season, remember that spaying or neutering is the greatest gift you could give them. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. U.S. economy continues to weaken Xinhua) 13:39, January 26, 2023 WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. economy continued to weaken in January, with the rate of decline "among the steepest seen since the global financial crisis," said U.S. financial information and analytics provider S&P Global in a press release published Tuesday. "The U.S. economy has started 2023 on a disappointingly soft note, with business activity contracting sharply again in January," Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, was quoted as saying by the release. According to the press release, S&P Global found the headline Flash U.S. PMI Composite Output Index, which measures certain aspects of the service and manufacturing sectors, up to 46.6 percent in January from 45.0 percent in December. However, the number remains under 50, the benchmark separating expansion from contraction, mirroring economists' expectations that the U.S. economy could be heading for a recession this year. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Hongyu) A Branford man is facing multiple fraud, larceny and identity theft charges after collecting more than $70,000 in unemployment benefits for his parents and grandmother who are all dead and for two other living relatives, officials said. Jason Turoczi, 40, is currently incarcerated and was scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday in New Britain but refused to attend the hearing, according to the Division of Criminal Justice. His rearrest was ordered by Judge Tammy D. Geathers, officials said. Turoczi, whose last known address was in Branford, was charged on Jan. 13 with more than 20 criminal charges stemming from an alleged scheme to collect fraudulent unemployment benefits through a fake company he created for the purpose of fraud, officials said. Turoczi allegedly created CCJ Property Management at a time when unemployment rates were significantly high due to the COVID-19 pandemic and used it in a number of fraudulent claims that he filed on behalf of the three deceased family members and two living ones, officials said. His fraudulent claims totaled $72,028. He also allegedly encouraged at least five other people who are also charged with filing fraudulent unemployment claims to commit fraud. Those five Otis Paramore, Christina DeBiase, Florida DeBiase, Camie DeMace and Bobby Wong allegedly collected about $108,567 in unemployment compensation fraud that Tuoczi advocated for, officials said. Paramore, DeMace and both DeBiases have been charged and have cases pending in New Britain court, while Wong is wanted on an outstanding warrant, the Division of Criminal Justice said. Turoczi was arrested as a result of an investigation by the Statewide Prosecution Bureau, Unemployment Compensation Fraud Unit, in the Office of the Chief States Attorney, following a complaint by the Connecticut Department of Labor. He is charged with five counts of felony unemployment compensation fraud, five counts of first-degree larceny by defrauding a public community, three counts of second-degree attempted larceny by defrauding a public community, two counts of first-degree identity theft, two counts of second-degree identity theft, three counts of third-degree identity theft and three counts of misdemeanor unemployment compensation fraud, officials said. First-degree larceny charges carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, the DCJ said. Felony unemployment compensation fraud charges have a maximum sentence of five years, and second-degree attempted larceny charges have a maximum of 10 years. In addition to the charges in this case, Turoczi is currently facing charges in 15 different cases in 10 of the states 13 judicial districts. Turoczi has an extensive criminal record that includes convictions for other incidents of larceny and identity theft along with narcotics crimes and violating probation. His bonds in those cases total over $270,000, officials said. After he failed to appear in court Wednesday, Judge Tammy D. Geathers ordered that he be rearrested and set another $35,000 bond, officials said. Even though women have been birthing babies since, well, the beginning of humankind, labor was especially difficult before modern medical advancements such as antibiotics, anesthesia and hygiene practices like hand-washing. When a woman suffered complications during labor, it could be life-threatening. A caesarian section was rarely considered because it was thought dangerous to both the mother and child because of the high risk of infection. So, doctors were forced to try alternative methods. Advertisement In the 1770s, French medical doctor Jean-Rene Sigault came up with a possible solution to delivering babies stuck in the birth canal. Sigault was inspired by the writings of Severin Pineau, a French surgeon in the late 1500s who had described a "diastasis of the pubis" (separation or dislocation of the pubic symphysis or joint) in a pregnant woman who was hanged. Sigault's idea was to surgically separate the pelvic joint to create a larger opening in the pelvis. If it was successful, it would allow the baby to pass through the birth canal. In October 1777, Sigault and his assistant Alphonse le Roy tested the method on the first patient. Madame Souchot was a 40-year-old woman with a contracted pelvis due to rickets that prevented her from delivering vaginally. She'd already lost four babies, and the medical community thought she had no chance of bearing live children without a caesarian section. But, a cesarean section would have likely killed her. With little to lose, Sigault cut through Souchot's pubic joint, successfully performing the first so-called symphysiotomy. Both the mother and baby's life were saved, and symphysiotomies soon became routine for women experiencing obstructed labor. CHARLESTON, S.C. The Right Reverend Ruth Woodliff-Stanley, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, will visit and worship with St. Bartholomews Episcopal Church in Hartsville on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. All are welcome. The occasion will be her first Episcopal visit to Hartsville since the historic parish returned to the Diocese of South Carolina and The Episcopal Church at the end of October following a South Carolina Supreme Court ruling. Bishop Woodliff-Stanley will lead the worship service along with the churchs interim priest-in-charge, the Rev. Michael Bye. Woodliff-Stanley expressed gratitude to the members and leadership who have begun a new season of ministry at St. Bartholomews Episcopal Church. I rejoice alongside the Episcopalians in Hartsville that their beloved St. Barts is part of The Episcopal Church once again, she said. I am grateful to the faithful and loyal members who are dedicated to the life and ministry of this beautiful church. I look forward to being with them on Sunday, and to the opportunity to experience their warm and inclusive congregation and exceptional music ministry. St. Bartholomews Episcopal Church was established in Hartsville in 1902, and in 1910, members began holding services at a church building at its current location next to Coker University at 103 Campus Drive. In February 1987, a fire destroyed the original church, and the current structure was built the following year and consecrated by the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina in March 1989. In 2012, a schism within the diocese caused some churches to attempt to leave The Episcopal Church, including St. Bartholomews, and they later joined the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). However, in August 2022, the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled that St. Bartholomews and seven other churches that left did not have proper ownership based on state trust law and they must be returned to the Diocese of South Carolina and The Episcopal Church. St. Bartholomews Episcopal Church remains a welcoming and inclusive church and invites all to join in worship and service to God and the community. Services of worship are held each Sunday at 9:30 am. Learn more at www.stbartsepiscopal-hartsville.org. Seguin, TX (78155) Today Mainly clear. Low around 60F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low around 60F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. 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. Deux eglises attaquees en Espagne : un sacristain tue et un pretre blesse Un homme a attaque mercredi soir a l'arme blanche deux eglises d'Algesiras, dans le sud de l'Espagne, tuant un sacristain et blessant un pretre avant d'etre arrete. Une enquete pour "terrorisme" a ete ouverte. Un sacristain a ete tue et un pretre grievement blesse dans une attaque a la machette dans la soiree de mercredi 25 janvier dans deux eglises d'Algesiras (sud de l'Espagne), qui a entraine l'ouverture d'une enquete pour "terrorisme", ont annonce les autorites. "A 19 h passees, un homme est entre dans l'eglise de San Isidro d'Algesiras et a attaque le pretre, arme d'une machette, le blessant grievement", a indique le ministere de lInterieur dans un message a la presse. "Il s'est ensuite rendu a l'eglise Nuestra Senora de La Palma ou il s'en est pris au sacristain, apres avoir cause divers degats", a ajoute le ministere. Le sacristain a alors "reussi a sortir de l'eglise mais a ete rattrape a l'exterieur par l'assaillant, qui lui a assene plusieurs blessures mortelles", a poursuivi le ministere, ajoutant que l'assaillant avait ete "immobilise et arrete" par la police. Ces deux eglises sont situees a quelques minutes a pied l'une de l'autre dans cette ville de la pointe sud de l'Espagne. Sur Twitter, le chef du gouvernement espagnol, le socialiste Pedro Sanchez, a "adresse (ses) plus sinceres condoleances aux proches du sacristain decede lors de la terrible attaque d'Algesiras" et souhaite "un prompt retablissement aux blesses". La police, qui avait evoque initialement un bilan de plusieurs blesses, indique toutefois maintenant que seul le pretre a ete blesse dans l'attaque. Selon une porte-parole des services de secours, le pretre a ete blesse "au cou" et hospitalise tandis que le sacristain est decede sur place. Le sacristain tue s'appelait Diego Valencia et le pretre Antonio Rodriguez, selon le maire d'Algesiras. Enquete pour terrorisme Contacte par l'AFP, le parquet a annonce qu'une enquete avait ete ouverte pour des "faits presumes de terrorisme". Elle sera menee par un juge de l'Audience Nationale, tribunal charge des affaires de terrorisme. Le ministere de l'Interieur a tenu a souligner pour sa part qu'il n'etait "pas possible pour le moment de determiner la nature de l'attaque". L'identite et la nationalite de l'assaillant n'ont pas ete communiquees par les autorites. Dans une video diffusee par la police, on l'apercoit de dos, pantalon noir et sweat a capuche gris noir et blanc. Menotte, il marche en chaussettes dans un couloir, encadre par deux policiers. Le maire d'Algesiras a decrete un jour de deuil et a invite les habitants a se rassembler en signe de "rejet" de cette attaque jeudi a 12 h devant l'eglise pres de laquelle a ete tue le sacristain. Condamnations de toutes parts Les condamnations sont venues de toutes parts, Juanma Moreno, president de la region d'Andalousie, qualifiant cette attaque de "terrible et insupportable" tandis que le chef du Parti populaire, principale formation de l'opposition de droite, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, s'est dit lui "consterne". "Ces actes criminels ternissent la coexistence dont notre societe a toujours joui a Algesiras (...) Ces actes reprehensibles n'ont rien a voir avec notre religion ou avec la communaute musulmane", a denonce pour sa part la communaute musulmane locale sur le compte Facebook de la mosquee Ishbilia de Seville, capitale de la region. "From Causal Mechanisms to Policy Mechanisms: Why Did Crime Decline and What Lessons Can Be Learned from It?" | Main | "Where people in prison come from: The geography of mass incarceration" This local article, headlined "Jury trials in New Orleans criminal court halted through February," reports on interesting development in the Big Easy. Here are the highlights: Criminal court judges in New Orleans decided on Monday afternoon to put all jury trials on hold until at least March amid allegations that the court has been illegally excluding people with felony convictions from serving on juries for the last year and half. In addition to delaying many criminal trials that were set to be held over the next five weeks, the decision is likely to bolster concerns over the legitimacy of dozens of jury trials in New Orleans dating back to August of 2021. In a letter on Monday, Chief Judge Robin Pittman informed a lawyer for Voice of the Experienced (VOTE), Emily Posner, that jury venires the legal term for the panel from which jurors are drawn would be deferred for the remainder of January 2023 and February of 2023. VOTE, whose membership consists primarily of formerly incarcerated individuals, first raised concerns about the summons process in a letter to criminal court judges earlier this month.... The decision comes after the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal halted the attempted murder trial of Samuel Preston in New Orleans midway through jury selection last week, and ordered the trial judge in the case, Rhonda Goode-Douglass, to hold a hearing on whether or not the court has been using an outdated summons process in violation of state law. In 2021, the Louisiana legislature changed the law to allow people with felony convictions to serve on juries as long as they have been off of probation or parole for five years, and are not under indictment. Prior to that, no one with any past felony conviction was able to serve on a jury. The new law was signed by Gov. John Bel Edwards, and went into effect on August 1, 2021. But despite the new law, defense attorneys have argued that the criminal court in New Orleans has been continuing to exclude anyone with a past felony conviction by sending out summons with outdated information and failing to update their online questionnaire for jurors.... In their letter, VOTE pointed to summonses sent to potential jurors as recently as this year that still indicated anyone with a felony conviction was barred from jury service. In addition, a questionnaire that potential jurors are required to fill out online asks about felony convictions, but does not inquire when an individual completed parole or probation. The organization urged the court to resummon a new jury pool before resuming jury trials in a manner that respects the rights of jurors as guaranteed by state law. But the judges at that time declined to do so, and moved forward with trials last week, including that of Preston. Lawyers for Preston with the Orleans Public Defenders Office, echoing the allegations made by VOTE, attempted to get his jury pool thrown out, arguing that excluding all people with felony convictions from potentially serving on his jury violated Prestons Sixth Amendment right to a fair trial. Goode-Douglass denied that challenge, but in response to a supervisory writ the Fourth Circuit sided with Preston and ordered an evidentiary hearing. In another case out of Orleans Parish criminal court, Michael Shorts, who was found guilty of second degree murder in July of last year, has challenged his conviction based in part on the same allegations that his jury was not summoned in accordance with the recent change to state law. Lawyers for Shorts filed a motion in his case last week arguing that the crucial legal error in the summons process entitles him to a new trial. It is set for a hearing in front of Judge Laurie White on Feb. 1. In addition to any individuals with felony convictions who received a jury summons since the law changed and did not respond due to misinformation on the form, or were excluded once they attempted to fill out the questionnaire, there are also open questions regarding how many people with felony convictions may have been permanently purged from the list of people who receive summons in the first place. If thats the case, lawyers for Preston have argued, then the systemic exclusion of those prospective jurors cannot be remedied by merely changing the language of the summons and the questionnaire. VERA Institute provides first-person accounts of "The Human Toll of Jail" | Main | Effective look at the many ugly realities of probation January 26, 2023 New year and new Congress brings a new effort to advance new EQUAL Act Regular readers likely recall some of my posts over the last two years about the EQUAL Act, a bill to reform federal crack cocaine sentencing by finally treating crack and powder cocaine the same at sentencing. In short form, passage of the bill looked somewhat likely when the US House of Representatives passed it overwhelmingly in September 2021; but, as detailed in posts here and here from the first half of 2022, opposition from some key Republican Senators prevented the bill from getting to the desk of President Biden. And, as detailed in this post, a lame-duck session compromise bill to the finish line. Of course, the start of 2023 means a new Congress, so there needs to be a new version of the EQUAL Act introduced. Interestingly, as this new FAMM press release highlights, there is already a "coalition of law enforcement, justice reform, and civil rights organizations urg[ing] Congress to pass the EQUAL Act" even before a new version has been formally introduced. As the press release explains: "Today, FAMM along with 20 additional organizations sent a letter to Sens. Dick Durbin and Lindsey Graham (the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, respectively) urging them to schedule a markup for the EQUAL Act as soon as it is reintroduced this Congress." Here are parts of the letter: We write today to urge you to schedule a mark-up for the EQUAL Act as soon as it is reintroduced. We believe that moving the bill early this year will help prevent the same disappointing fate the bill suffered last Congress.... Last Congress, the EQUAL Act was one of only a few pieces of legislation to enjoy clear bipartisan support. The House of Representatives passed the bill in September 2021 with an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 361-66. The Senate version of the bill enjoyed the support of more than 60 senators, but never received a vote in committee or on the floor. To ensure this strong bipartisan bill reaches President Bidens desk, we urge you and your committee to begin work on this urgent piece of legislation immediately. Notably, but not surprisingly, this letter to Congress makes no mention of the fact that, as discussed here, US Attorney General Garland released last month new federal charging guidelines that including instructions to federal prosecutors to treat crack like powder cocaine at sentencing. Though these new charging guidelines do not have the legal force of statutory reform, they might readily lead members of Congress to see less urgency in advancing reform or even to be more resistance to reform as we saw late last year. Fingers crossed that EQUAL can gather momentum again and actually finally eliminate the pernicious and unjustified crack/powder disparity once and for all. A few of many prior posts on the EQUAL Act: January 26, 2023 at 02:28 PM | Permalink Comments https://freebeacon.com/courts/ivy-league-lawyer-who-firebombed-cop-car-will-spend-a-year-and-a-day-in-prison/ Yeah!! Check out that white privilege . . . . Posted by: federalist | Jan 27, 2023 1:46:24 PM I read your blogs very often, I am not a lawyer nor am I a person with any criminal justice degree. I have a loved one who is incarcerated in the Fedral Prison for drug charges that the Fedral guidelines sentenced him22 years of his life. I read up on your blog to see if any laws have passed. Ive been looking for the Equal Act Law that has not been passed and never went in front of the senate. Thank you for updating your page and giving me and the public the information some of us are looking for. Posted by: Amie | Mar 5, 2023 8:09:42 PM Post a comment Jury trials on hold in New Orleans because of apparent long-running failure to comply with new law to allow certain persons with felony convictions to serve as jurors | Main | Latest CCJ accounting of crime trends shows mostly encouraging news from 2022 about violent crimes (but not property crimes) January 25, 2023 "Where people in prison come from: The geography of mass incarceration" The title of this post is the title of this new report from the Prison Policy Initiative authored by Emily Widra. Here is how the data-heavy report gets started: One of the most important criminal legal system disparities in the United States has long been difficult to decipher: Which communities and neighborhoods throughout the state do incarcerated people come from? Anyone who lives in or works within heavily policed and incarcerated communities intuitively knows that certain neighborhoods disproportionately experience incarceration. But data have rarely been available to quantify how many people from each community are imprisoned with any real precision. But now, thanks to redistricting reforms that ensure incarcerated people are counted correctly in the legislative districts they come from, we can understand the geography of incarceration in twelve states with up-to-date data. These twelve states California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington are among the states that have ended prison gerrymandering, and now count incarcerated people where they legally reside at their home address rather than in remote prison cells. This type of reform, as we often discuss, is crucial for ending the siphoning of political power from disproportionately Black and Latino communities to pad out the mostly rural, predominantly white regions where prisons are located. And when reforms like these are implemented, they bring along a convenient side effect: In order to correctly represent each communitys population counts, states must collect detailed state-wide data on where imprisoned people call home, which is otherwise impossible to access. These data also allow us to better understand how incarceration rates correlate with other community problems related to poverty, employment, education, and health. While the data is not comparable between states, it does show us meaningful patterns in incarceration and researchers, scholars, advocates, and politicians can use the data in this report to advocate for programs and services housed outside the criminal legal system in the communities that need them most. January 25, 2023 at 08:26 PM | Permalink Comments Any article on incarceration that does not take into account that incarcerating criminals allows the law-abiding to be safer is not worth reading . . . . Posted by: federalist | Jan 26, 2023 9:21:22 AM but hey, who's up for some sentencing bonuses: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-finds-louisiana-deliberately-kept-inmates-past-release-date-2023-01-25/ If prisoners are past their release dates, doesn't that mean that they get to insult guards with impunity, that the PLRA doesn't apply to them and have enhanced rights to self-defense . . . . would they have the right to use violence to escape? Posted by: federalist | Jan 26, 2023 9:45:17 AM If LA is unwilling or unable to compensate the illegally incarcerated, perhaps they should get "prison credits" that they then can market to wealthy defendants eager to pay their way out of on-going incarceration. A kind of "cap and trade" system for incapacitation to try to get at least those who've served months of extra (illegal) time some payback. I am joking, of course, but it will be interested to see if the over-incarceration get any recompense. Posted by: Doug B | Jan 26, 2023 10:18:03 AM We have known where the incarcerated one from forever, right down to the neighborhoods. https://crimeresearch.org/2017/04/number-murders-county-54-us-counties-2014-zero-murders-69-1-murder/ Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jan 26, 2023 2:47:35 PM Briefly read the report, and as a long-time attorney, there is nothing in the reports that is surprising. We all know that certain areas have a high prosecution rate. Whether the cause of that is poverty leading to a high crime rate or police focusing their resources on minority neighborhoods depends on your point of view. We also know that rural areas tend to be somewhat more likely (but not as much as many people think) to impose higher penalties or revoke probation sooner. So the report noting high total numbers from minority neighborhoods in urban centers but a high per capita rate from rural counties is simply confirming what most criminal law practitioners know anecdotally. Posted by: tmm | Jan 27, 2023 10:45:12 AM It is funny, Doug, that you don't grapple with the implications of what someone who is incarcerated can do. Would they have a First Amendment right to disrespect guards, and would the prison be liable for retaliation if there were consequences to that? Posted by: federalist | Jan 27, 2023 12:00:23 PM Federalist: I know many lawyers and professors who have spent their professional lives litigating and/or writing about prisoner rights. But this is not an area I have studied thoroughly, nor have I taught classes or litigated on this exact topic. Have you seen this resource: https://incarcerationlaw.com/? It might explore directly or via links to other resources the issues you find of interest. If those resources do not grapple to your satisfaction with your hypos, l can recommend other sources authored by those with more expertise than me. Posted by: Doug B. | Jan 27, 2023 2:48:22 PM Federalist, No, there is no 1A protection for disrespecting guards. Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jan 27, 2023 5:40:09 PM There is, tarls, if you're in prison past your release date. How can there not be? Posted by: federalist | Jan 27, 2023 6:05:54 PM Doug, the answer to this hypo doesn't depend on detailed knowledge---what possible justification can there be for curtailing the rights of those who are held in prison past their release date. In other words, does the 1A imply that those rights can be taken away merely by holding someone past his or her release date? Posted by: federalist | Jan 27, 2023 6:08:07 PM federalist: I am not sure I understand your hypo or the legal issues you are eager to engage. For starters, I am not sure a non-prisoner has any right to "insult guards with impunity." If I was visiting a prisoner, even one I thought had been held past their sentence, why should I be able to "insult guards with impunity" and claim First Amendment protection? I am not a 1A expert, but I know Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire, 315 U.S. 568 (1942), says there is no 1A protection for "insulting or 'fighting' words -- those which, by their very utterance, inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace." So it is not clear to me anyone ever has a 1A right to "insult guards with impunity." Next, it seems you are intimating that some prisoners -- seemingly "those held in prison past their release date" -- should get to exercise many rights that other prisoners do not in interactions with guards. But how are guards supposed to know which prisoners have "more insult rights" than others? Do you expect guards and other prison officials to have a handy list of which prisoners can exercise more/fewer rights? And can an orderly prison be run when certain prisoners have a lot more rights than others? And who makes the determination; if a prisoner claims to be held past release date, does a guard have to respect that claim in every case? Of course, unlawful imprisonment violates many constitutional rights. But I am struggling to fully unpack how to build a case that anyone, let alone a prisoner, has a constitutional right "to insult guards with impunity." What am I missing? Posted by: Doug B. | Jan 27, 2023 8:17:31 PM Post a comment Airline innovator will revolutionize the industry by leveraging FLYRs cutting-edge technology to improve profitability, optimize workflow, and provide more personalized offerings to travelers Azul Airlines FLYR and Azul Partner on Revenue Optimization Initiatives LOS ANGELES and SAO PAULO, Brazil, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FLYR Labs , the travel industrys leading innovator in Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven forecasting, pricing, and commercial-wide decision-making, today announced a new partnership with Brazilian airline Azul to deploy FLYRs advanced AI technologies as a way to optimize the airlines revenue management strategy, starting with fare bundles and ancillary product optimization, helping to meet a growing variety of customer demands. To help Azul achieve its goal of enabling total revenue management and dynamic offer optimization, FLYR will provide Azul with comprehensive data management, pricing, and forecasting capabilities that enable tailored offers for Azul's customers. The sale of ancillary products, such as seat selection, luggage, priority boarding, and fare families, is a key profit driver for Azul. FLYRs AI-based Revenue Optimization solution combines all available historical and ongoing data with deep learning algorithms to determine the optimal pricing and distribution strategy. FLYRs solution will enable Azul to generate real-time prices for each customer shopping request or as a scheduled continuous price, allowing the airline to offer travelers the right ancillaries at the right price with minimal change to the existing shopping infrastructure. At the same time, the solution forecasts expected revenues for each flight, all within an easy-to-navigate user interface. Weve long recognized that utilizing the latest technologies is a vital component of remaining competitive and providing an enhanced customer experience in a disrupted landscape, said Daniel Bicudo, marketing & ancillary revenues director, Azul. Were looking forward to transforming our approach to ancillary revenue through the use of FLYRs cutting-edge AI solutions. Story continues Azul has been the fastest-growing airline in Brazil since its launch in 2008 and currently has the largest airline network in the country in terms of cities served, with flights to more than 150 destinations. Were excited to partner with Azul and harness the power of AI to improve their revenue management and offerings for customers, said Alex Mans, founder and CEO of FLYR. The limitations of legacy technology mean airlines have historically struggled to understand how changes in fares can affect ancillary revenues. Through our partnership, we will provide Azul with a crucial competitive advantage when it comes to boosting profitability and enhancing the customer experience. About Azul Azul S.A. (B3: AZUL4, NYSE: AZUL) is Brazil's largest airline in number of flights and cities served, an average of 900 flights per day, to more than 150 destinations. With an operational fleet of more than 160 aircraft and more than 14,000 crew members, Azul has more than 300 direct routes. In 2022, Azul was voted the most punctual airline in the world, according to the OnTime Performance-OTP Review report by Cirium - the world's leading reference for operational data in the industry. In addition, in 2020, it received the award for best airline in the world by TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice, being the only Brazilian company to receive both recognitions. For more information, visit www.voeazul.com.br/ri . About FLYR Labs FLYR Labs, the pioneer of The Revenue Operating System, is focused on the relentless application of AI technologies that help transportation leaders unlock their highest potential. Its clean sheet, vertically integrated platform, brings data, forecasting, pricing, reporting, and simulation capabilities into a single pane of glass that informs and automates commercial-wide functions. FLYRs end-to-end platform can enable or automate all commercial decisions and eCommerce experiences, including those through its internet booking engine (IBE), offer management, customer messaging, customer management, and content management capabilities, resulting in improved revenue performance and digital customer satisfaction. FLYR Labs is headquartered in California with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Krakow, and Amsterdam. To learn more about FLYR Labs, visit flyrlabs.com or follow @flyrlabs on Twitter and LinkedIn . Media Relations Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras Press: (11) 98196-1035 imprensa@voeazul.com.br *Follow us on Instagram: @ imprensaazul FLYR Labs Jeff Tieszen media@flyrlabs.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c082e5c9-8d94-4617-b829-f44a41b6b4e2. A Hartford 19-year-old was charged with manslaughter in connection with the shooting death of a 17-year-old in East Hartford in 2022. Jahki Clarke, 19, of Hartford was arrested at Hartford Superior Court by members of the East Hartford Criminal Investigation Bureau on Monday. He was charged with first-degree manslaughter with a firearm, first-degree hindering prosecution, tampering with evidence and weapons in a motor vehicle. The charges stem from a homicide on Jan. 9, 2022. The East Hartford Police Department was dispatched to a residence on Westbrook Street for a report of a person shot. Responding officers found a 17-year-old victim, who was pronounced dead. During the investigation into the homicide, police determined that multiple occupants of a white Toyota Avalon that fled the area were involved in the shooting. Police reviewed footage from the towns street camera system that showed the suspect vehicle. The investigation led to the arrest of a 15-year-old, who gave police a confession, according to officials. Further investigation into the homicide led police to believe the 15-year-old was not the shooter. An arrest warrant was then issued for Clarke, police said. Officers found out that Clarke fled the state immediately after the shooting but had returned to Connecticut recently. Clarke is being held on a $750,000 court-set bond and is scheduled to appear in Hartford Superior Court on Feb. 8, according to court records. Barbara Bolton told her doctor she couldn't afford to heat her home. (Getty/stock photo) An elderly woman who died of hypothermia told her GP she couldn't afford to heat her home due to the cost of living crisis, an inquest has heard. Barbara Bolton, 87, was admitted to Fairfield Hospital on 11 December last year with the condition, as well as a chest infection. Her GP had admitted her to hospital after she disclosed that the cost of living crisis had meant she could not turn on the heating in her home in Bury, Greater Manchester, as temperatures in the country plummeted to below freezing. Ms Bolton died on 5 January while in hospital after a decision was made with her family to place her on end of life care. Police coroner's officer, Jane Scullion, told an inquest opening at Rochdale Coroner's Court: "Barbara was admitted to hospital on 11 December, 2022, with hypothermia, and a chest infection. "She was referred to hospital by her GP who said this was related to her not being able to afford her heating. "During that time she continued to deteriorate. After a discussion she was placed on end of life care and passed away." Barbara Bolton was admitted to Fairfield Hospital on 11 December last year with hypothermia, as well as a chest infection. (Google) Following the inquest, Ms Bolton's son Mark, said: "We were in contact with her every day and saw her and spoke to her. "We have to deal with the sad loss now and it's very hard for me and my family." The government introduced the energy bills support scheme last year in an effort to help Britons struggling to pay energy bills after prices shot up. The scheme was introduced to provide 400 for households to help warm their homes over winter, with many energy firms automatically applying the discount to bills, Customers with pre-payment meters, who are often among the most vulnerable in society, are either emailed or posted a voucher that have to be redeemed at refill points. However, well over 100,000 vouchers that were meant to help people to afford their energy bills in October expired without being claimed, according to figures from PayPoint. Story continues Assistant coroner for Manchester North, Julie Mitchell, adjourned the inquest and requested statements from Ms Bolton's doctor and asked for a medical cause of death to be provided. "Her death was particularly accelerated by hypothermia and there is a possibility of self neglect due to the lack of heating so her death has been referred to the coroner," she said. A full inquest, which will explore the circumstances which led to Ms Bolton's death, will take place at Rochdale Coroner's Court later this year. Such SMS messages sent by organisations not registered with IMDA will be labelled as "likely scams" from 31 January. (PHOTO: IMDA) SINGAPORE From 31 January, SMS messages sent by organisations not registered with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) registry will be labelled as "likely scams". In a media release on Wednesday (25 January), IMDA announced that all organisations using alphanumeric sender IDs must register with the Singapore SMS Sender ID Registry (SSIR). "This registration is to better protect consumers against non-registered SMS that may be scams," it said. As the system functions similarly to a spam bin, consumers receiving SMSes labelled as "likely scam" should exercise caution. If unsure, the consumer is encouraged to ask a family member or friend for assistance. IMDA said that all organisations that use alphanumeric sender IDs, which often contain brand names and may contain both letters and numbers, should register early with SSIR. Organisations from Singapore Business Federation, Singapore International Chamber of Commerce, and Association of Banks in Singapore are among those IMDA has approached to encourage them to join the registry. Registration with the SSIR can be done by contacting smsregistry@sgnic.sg or the Singapore Network Information Centre. In an attempt to reduce scam calls and SMSes, IMDA is introducing this new mandatory SSIR regime. (Photo: Getty Images) SSIR regime would aid in the fight against scams IMDA added that this new mandatory SSIR regime is part of its ongoing multi-layered approach to reduce scam calls and SMSes using telecom operators' communication networks. Singapore saw a 64 per cent reduction in SMS scams between the last quarter of 2021 and the second quarter of 2022, after the SSIR was formed in March last year. According to the authority, around 8 per cent of scam reports in the second quarter of 2022 were perpetrated through SMS, down from 10 per cent in the same quarter of 2021. Over 1,200 organisations have already signed up since registration started in October last year, with over 2,600 SMS Sender IDs registered. Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Also check out our Southeast Asia, Food, and Gaming channels on YouTube. ResMed Inc. Year-over-year revenue grows 16%, operating profit up 13%, non-GAAP operating profit up 14% Note: A webcast of ResMeds conference call will be available at 4:30 p.m. ET today at http://investor.resmed.com SAN DIEGO, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ResMed Inc. (NYSE: RMD, ASX: RMD) today announced results for its quarter ended December 31, 2022. Second Quarter 2023 Highlights All comparisons are to the prior year period Revenue increased by 16% to $1,033.7 million; up 20% on a constant currency basis Gross margin contracted 30 bps to 56.1%; non-GAAP gross margin contracted 80 bps to 56.8% Income from operations increased 13%; non-GAAP operating profit up 14% Diluted earnings per share of $1.53; non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $1.66 During the second quarter, we significantly increased production and delivery of flow generator devices to meet the incredible demand from customers, resulting in strong sales growth in the Americas, and solid overall performance for our business across 140 countries, said Mick Farrell, ResMeds CEO. Towards the end of the quarter, we cleared the final regulatory hurdles and closed the acquisition of MEDIFOX DAN, expanding our outside-hospital Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) business to its first market outside the U.S. We will deliver ongoing, sustainable growth through this exciting expansion of our business model in Germany, with strong links to both our global SaaS business and our market-leading German business in sleep and respiratory care. Looking ahead, we remain focused on delivering lifesaving therapy solutions and accelerating the adoption of digital health in sleep apnea, COPD, and out-of-hospital care. During calendar year 2022, we improved over 149 million lives, and we are well on our way to our goal of helping 250 million people sleep better, breathe better, and live higher-quality lives with outside-hospital care in 2025. Financial Results and Operating Metrics Unaudited; $ in millions, except for per share amounts Story continues Three Months Ended December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021 % Change Constant Currency(A) Revenue $ 1,033.7 $ 894.9 16 % 20 % Gross margin 56.1 % 56.4 % (1 ) Non-GAAP gross margin(B) 56.8 % 57.6 % (1 ) Selling, general, and administrative expenses 211.7 185.4 14 20 Research and development expenses 69.9 62.5 12 15 Income from operations 280.2 248.7 13 Non-GAAP income from operations(B) 305.5 267.7 14 Net income 224.9 201.8 11 Non-GAAP net income(B) 244.4 216.2 13 Diluted earnings per share $ 1.53 $ 1.37 12 Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share(B) $ 1.66 $ 1.47 13 Six Months Ended December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021 % Change Constant Currency(A) Revenue $ 1,984.0 $ 1,798.9 10 % 14 % Gross margin 56.5 % 56.2 % 1 Non-GAAP gross margin(B) 57.2 % 57.4 % Nil Selling, general, and administrative expenses 404.9 362.1 12 17 Research and development expenses 133.1 122.5 9 12 Income from operations 555.9 510.6 9 Non-GAAP income from operations(B) 596.3 548.4 9 Net income 435.4 405.4 7 Non-GAAP net income(B) 466.5 438.3 6 Diluted earnings per share $ 2.95 $ 2.76 7 Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share(B) $ 3.17 $ 2.98 6 (A) In order to provide a framework for assessing how our underlying businesses performed excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, we provide certain financial information on a constant currency basis, which is in addition to the actual financial information presented. In order to calculate our constant currency information, we translate the current period financial information using the foreign currency exchange rates that were in effect during the previous comparable period. However, constant currency measures should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to U.S. dollar measures that reflect current period exchange rates, or to other financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. (B) See the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures in the table at the end of the press release. Discussion of Second Quarter Results All comparisons are to the prior year period unless otherwise noted Revenue grew by 20 percent on a constant currency basis, driven by increased demand for our sleep and respiratory care devices as well as reduced competitive supply. Revenue in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America, excluding Software-as-a-Service, grew by 26 percent, primarily due to the factors discussed above and recovery of core sleep patient flow that was previously impacted by COVID-19. Revenue in Europe, Asia, and other markets grew by 8 percent on a constant currency basis. Software-as-a-Service revenue increased by 18 percent, due to our acquisition of MEDIFOX DAN and continued growth in our Home Medical Equipment vertical. Gross margin decreased by 30 basis points and non-GAAP gross margin decreased by 80 basis points, mainly due to unfavorable product mix and foreign currency movements, partially offset by an increase in average selling prices. Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased by 20 percent on a constant currency basis. SG&A expenses improved to 20.5 percent of revenue in the quarter, compared with 20.7 percent in the same period of the prior year. These changes in SG&A expenses were mainly due to increases in employee-related expenses and increases in travel expenses. Income from operations increased by 13 percent and non-GAAP income from operations increased by 14 percent. Net income for the quarter was $224.9 million and diluted earnings per share was $1.53. Non-GAAP net income increased by 13% to $244.4 million, and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share increased by 13% to $1.66, predominantly attributable to strong sales, partially offset by higher operating expenses. Operating cash flow for the quarter was $128.6 million, reflecting the impact of increases in working capital. During the quarter we paid $64.5 million in dividends. Other Business and Operational Highlights Completed the acquisition of MEDIFOX DAN, a German leader in software solutions for out-of-hospital care providers. Similar to the solutions of ResMeds leading U.S. SaaS brands, Brightree and MatrixCare, MEDIFOX DAN expands ResMeds out-of-hospital SaaS business into new health sectors and builds on its established healthcare business in Germany. Celebrated the grand opening of ResMeds new Advanced Manufacturing Centre in Tuas, Singapore. The 270,000-square-foot (25,000-square-meter) facility more than doubles the size of ResMeds footprint in Singapore and serves as ResMeds key manufacturing hub in Asia-Pacific. The facility has the manufacturing capacity and footprint to scale production for connected devices and mask systems to help people sleep, breathe, and live better lives. Dividend program The ResMed board of directors today declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.44 per share. The dividend will have a record date of February 9, 2023, payable on March 16, 2023. The dividend will be paid in U.S. currency to holders of ResMeds common stock trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Holders of CHESS Depositary Interests (CDIs) trading on the Australian Securities Exchange will receive an equivalent amount in Australian currency, based on the exchange rate on the record date, and reflecting the 10:1 ratio between CDIs and NYSE shares. The ex-dividend date will be February 8, 2023, for common stockholders and for CDI holders. ResMed has received a waiver from the ASXs settlement operating rules, which will allow ResMed to defer processing conversions between its common stock and CDI registers from February 8, 2023, through February 9, 2023, inclusive. Webcast details ResMed will discuss its second-quarter fiscal year 2023 results on its webcast at 1:30 p.m. U.S. Pacific Time today. The live webcast of the call can be accessed on ResMeds Investor Relations website at investor.resmed.com . Please go to this section of the website and click on the icon for the Q2 2023 Earnings Webcast to register and listen to the live webcast. A replay of the earnings webcast will be accessible on the website and available approximately two hours after the live webcast. In addition, a telephone replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after the webcast by dialing +1 877-660-6853 (U.S.) or +1 201-612-7415 (outside U.S.) and entering the passcode 13735371. The telephone replay will be available until February 9, 2023. About ResMed At ResMed (NYSE: RMD, ASX: RMD) we pioneer innovative solutions that treat and keep people out of the hospital, empowering them to live healthier, higher-quality lives. Our digital health technologies and cloud-connected medical devices transform care for people with sleep apnea, COPD, and other chronic diseases. Our comprehensive out-of-hospital software platforms support the professionals and caregivers who help people stay healthy in the home or care setting of their choice. By enabling better care, we improve quality of life, reduce the impact of chronic disease, and lower costs for consumers and healthcare systems in more than 140 countries. To learn more, visit ResMed.com and follow @ResMed. Safe harbor statement Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as contemplated by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements including statements regarding ResMeds projections of future revenue or earnings, expenses, new product development, new product launches, new markets for its products, the integration of acquisitions, litigation, and tax outlook are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to materially differ from those projected or implied in the forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties are discussed in ResMeds periodic reports on file with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. ResMed does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited; $ in thousands, except for per share amounts) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021 December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021 Net revenue $ 1,033,744 $ 894,874 $ 1,984,038 $ 1,798,890 Cost of sales 446,724 379,325 849,834 765,993 Amortization of acquired intangibles(1) 7,305 11,231 13,680 22,289 Total cost of sales $ 454,029 $ 390,556 $ 863,514 $ 788,282 Gross profit $ 579,715 $ 504,318 $ 1,120,524 $ 1,010,608 Selling, general, and administrative 211,672 185,362 404,860 362,082 Research and development 69,874 62,507 133,062 122,457 Amortization of acquired intangibles(1) 9,563 7,738 17,513 15,445 Acquisition related expenses 8,412 9,157 Total operating expenses $ 299,521 $ 255,607 $ 564,592 $ 499,984 Income from operations $ 280,194 $ 248,711 $ 555,932 $ 510,624 Other income (expenses), net: Interest income (expense), net $ (10,338 ) $ (5,948 ) $ (17,472 ) $ (11,308 ) Loss attributable to equity method investments (2,826 ) (1,914 ) (4,853 ) (3,300 ) Gain (loss) on equity investments 8,368 (4,404 ) 5,088 1,208 Other, net (1,707 ) 841 (3,211 ) (1,150 ) Total other income (expenses), net (6,503 ) (11,425 ) (20,448 ) (14,550 ) Income before income taxes $ 273,691 $ 237,286 $ 535,484 $ 496,074 Income taxes 48,777 35,535 100,092 90,710 Net income $ 224,914 $ 201,751 $ 435,392 $ 405,364 Basic earnings per share $ 1.53 $ 1.38 $ 2.97 $ 2.78 Diluted earnings per share $ 1.53 $ 1.37 $ 2.95 $ 2.76 Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share(1) $ 1.66 $ 1.47 $ 3.17 $ 2.98 Basic shares outstanding 146,704 145,990 146,568 145,835 Diluted shares outstanding 147,405 147,040 147,367 147,044 (1) See the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures in the table at the end of the press release. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited; $ in thousands) December 31, 2022 June 30, 2022 ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 253,199 $ 273,710 Accounts receivable, net 672,271 575,950 Inventories 988,955 743,910 Prepayments and other current assets 410,731 337,908 Total current assets $ 2,325,156 $ 1,931,478 Non-current assets: Property, plant, and equipment, net $ 522,745 $ 498,181 Operating lease right-of-use assets 128,222 132,314 Goodwill and other intangibles, net 3,354,036 2,282,386 Deferred income taxes and other non-current assets 345,945 251,494 Total non-current assets $ 4,350,948 $ 3,164,375 Total assets $ 6,676,104 $ 5,095,853 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY: Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 196,003 $ 159,245 Accrued expenses 312,169 344,722 Operating lease liabilities, current 22,429 21,856 Deferred revenue 133,909 108,667 Income taxes payable 58,304 44,893 Short-term debt 9,900 9,916 Total current liabilities $ 732,714 $ 689,299 Non-current liabilities: Deferred revenue $ 102,803 $ 95,455 Deferred income taxes 107,540 9,714 Operating lease liabilities, non-current 116,445 120,453 Other long-term liabilities 50,603 5,974 Long-term debt 1,790,689 765,325 Long-term income taxes payable 37,183 48,882 Total non-current liabilities $ 2,205,263 $ 1,045,803 Total liabilities $ 2,937,977 $ 1,735,102 STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY: Common stock $ 588 $ 586 Additional paid-in capital 1,710,766 1,682,432 Retained earnings 3,920,197 3,613,736 Treasury stock (1,623,256 ) (1,623,256 ) Accumulated other comprehensive income (270,168 ) (312,747 ) Total stockholders equity $ 3,738,127 $ 3,360,751 Total liabilities and stockholders equity $ 6,676,104 $ 5,095,853 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited; $ in thousands) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021 December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021 Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 224,914 $ 201,751 $ 435,392 $ 405,364 Adjustment to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 37,767 40,790 74,040 79,891 Amortization of right-of-use assets 7,772 8,817 15,533 17,334 Stock-based compensation costs 16,464 16,100 33,383 33,404 Loss attributable to equity method investments 2,826 1,914 4,853 3,300 (Gain) loss on equity investment (8,368 ) 4,404 (5,088 ) (1,208 ) Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable, net (19,585 ) 48,765 (75,823 ) 82,469 Inventories, net (86,020 ) (83,272 ) (233,116 ) (139,249 ) Prepaid expenses, net deferred income taxes and other current assets (29,862 ) (6,998 ) (66,646 ) (21,389 ) Accounts payable, accrued expenses, income taxes payable and other (17,271 ) (12,393 ) (9,230 ) (305,694 ) Net cash provided by operating activities $ 128,637 $ 219,878 $ 173,298 $ 154,222 Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of property, plant, and equipment (27,350 ) (30,406 ) (56,406 ) (57,747 ) Patent registration and acquisition costs (4,320 ) (9,284 ) (7,636 ) (13,737 ) Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired (992,125 ) (35,915 ) (1,011,225 ) (35,915 ) Purchases of investments (12,841 ) (5,764 ) (17,132 ) (12,364 ) (Payments) / proceeds on maturity of foreign currency contracts 10,223 (1,938 ) 7,181 (5,419 ) Net cash used in investing activities $ (1,026,413 ) $ (83,307 ) $ (1,085,218 ) $ (125,182 ) Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net 22,056 19,101 24,666 23,455 Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards (29,654 ) (49,830 ) (29,713 ) (50,025 ) Proceeds from borrowings, net of borrowing costs 1,020,000 10,000 1,070,000 160,000 Repayment of borrowings (15,000 ) (136,000 ) (45,000 ) (136,000 ) Dividends paid (64,500 ) (61,245 ) (128,931 ) (122,434 ) Net cash (used in) / provided by financing activities $ 932,902 $ (217,974 ) $ 891,022 $ (125,004 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash $ 10,910 $ (270 ) $ 387 $ (4,838 ) Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 46,036 (81,673 ) (20,511 ) (100,802 ) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 207,163 276,149 273,710 295,278 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 253,199 $ 194,476 $ 253,199 $ 194,476 Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited; $ in thousands, except for per share amounts) The measures non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin exclude amortization expense from acquired intangibles related to cost of sales and are reconciled below: Three Months Ended Six Months Ended December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021 December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021 Revenue $ 1,033,744 $ 894,874 $ 1,984,038 $ 1,798,890 GAAP cost of sales $ 454,029 $ 390,556 $ 863,514 $ 788,282 Less:Amortization of acquired intangibles(A) (7,305 ) (11,231 ) (13,680 ) (22,289 ) Non-GAAP cost of sales $ 446,724 $ 379,325 $ 849,834 $ 765,993 GAAP gross profit $ 579,715 $ 504,318 $ 1,120,524 $ 1,010,608 GAAP gross margin 56.1 % 56.4 % 56.5 % 56.2 % Non-GAAP gross profit $ 587,020 $ 515,549 $ 1,134,204 $ 1,032,897 Non-GAAP gross margin 56.8 % 57.6 % 57.2 % 57.4 % The measure non-GAAP income from operations is reconciled with GAAP income from operations below: Three Months Ended Six Months Ended December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021 December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021 GAAP income from operations $ 280,194 $ 248,711 $ 555,932 $ 510,624 Amortization of acquired intangiblescost of sales(A) 7,305 11,231 13,680 22,289 Amortization of acquired intangiblesoperating expenses(A) 9,563 7,738 17,513 15,445 Acquisition-related expenses(A) 8,412 9,157 Non-GAAP income from operations $ 305,474 $ 267,680 $ 596,282 $ 548,358 Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited; $ in thousands, except for per share amounts) The measures non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share are reconciled with GAAP net income and GAAP diluted earnings per share in the table below: Three Months Ended Six Months Ended December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021 December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021 GAAP net income $ 224,914 $ 201,751 $ 435,392 $ 405,364 Amortization of acquired intangiblescost of sales, net of tax(A) 5,494 8,564 10,329 16,999 Amortization of acquired intangiblesoperating expenses, net of tax(A) 7,192 5,901 13,222 11,780 Acquisition related expenses, net of tax(A) 6,782 7,527 Reserve for disputed tax position(A) 4,111 Non-GAAP net income(A) $ 244,382 $ 216,216 $ 466,470 $ 438,254 GAAP diluted shares outstanding 147,405 147,040 147,367 147,044 GAAP diluted earnings per share $ 1.53 $ 1.37 $ 2.95 $ 2.76 Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share(A) $ 1.66 $ 1.47 $ 3.17 $ 2.98 (A) ResMed adjusts for the impact of the amortization of acquired intangibles, acquisition related expenses and the reserve for disputed tax positions from their evaluation of ongoing operations, and believes that investors benefit from adjusting these items to facilitate a more meaningful evaluation of current operating performance. ResMed believes that non-GAAP diluted earnings per share is an additional measure of performance that investors can use to compare operating results between reporting periods. ResMed uses non-GAAP information internally in planning, forecasting, and evaluating the results of operations in the current period and in comparing it to past periods. ResMed believes this information provides investors better insight when evaluating ResMeds performance from core operations and provides consistent financial reporting. The use of non-GAAP measures is intended to supplement, and not to replace, the presentation of net income and other GAAP measures. Like all non-GAAP measures, non-GAAP earnings are subject to inherent limitations because they do not include all the expenses that must be included under GAAP. Revenue by Product and Region (Unaudited; $ in millions, except for per share amounts) Three Months Ended December 31, 2022 (A) December 31, 2021 (A) % Change Constant Currency(B) U.S., Canada, and Latin America Devices $ 345.5 $ 244.8 41 % Masks and other 269.7 242.0 11 Total U.S., Canada and Latin America $ 615.3 $ 486.8 26 Combined Europe, Asia, and other markets Devices $ 197.3 $ 207.7 (5 )% 5 % Masks and other 104.4 101.3 3 14 Total Combined Europe, Asia and other markets $ 301.7 $ 309.0 (2 ) 8 Global revenue Total Devices $ 542.8 $ 452.5 20 % 25 % Total Masks and other 374.2 343.3 9 13 Total Sleep and Respiratory Care $ 917.0 $ 795.8 15 20 Software-as-a-Service 116.8 99.0 18 Total $ 1,033.7 $ 894.9 16 20 Six Months Ended December 31, 2022 (A) December 31, 2021 (A) % Change Constant Currency(B) U.S., Canada, and Latin America Devices $ 685.1 $ 520.7 32 % Masks and other 508.3 457.1 11 Total U.S., Canada and Latin America $ 1,193.4 $ 977.8 22 Combined Europe, Asia, and other markets Devices $ 375.3 $ 426.0 (12 )% (2 )% Masks and other 192.8 198.5 (3 ) 9 Total Combined Europe, Asia and other markets $ 568.1 $ 624.5 (9 ) 2 Global revenue Total Devices $ 1,060.4 $ 946.7 12 % 17 % Total Masks and other 701.0 655.7 7 11 Total Sleep and Respiratory Care $ 1,761.4 $ 1,602.3 10 14 Software-as-a-Service 222.6 196.6 13 Total $ 1,984.0 $ 1,798.9 10 14 (A) Totals and subtotals may not add due to rounding. (B) In order to provide a framework for assessing how our underlying businesses performed excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, we provide certain financial information on a constant currency basis, which is in addition to the actual financial information presented. In order to calculate our constant currency information, we translate the current period financial information using the foreign currency exchange rates that were in effect during the previous comparable period. However, constant currency measures should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to U.S. dollar measures that reflect current period exchange rates, or to other financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For investors For media Amy Wakeham Jayme Rubenstein +1 858-836-5000 +1 858-836-6798 investorrelations@resmed.com news@resmed.com Japan Discovery Fair. (Photo: Shopee SG) Shopee Singapores Japan Discovery Fair is bringing shoppers various omiyage from Japan like food and snacks, health and beauty products, and items under the home and hobbies categories. Omiyage refers to a souvenir you buy for colleagues, friends and family after a trip. This act of gifting shows your appreciation for the people youve left behind while travelling. In other words, its like saying Thank you for covering me while Im away or I missed you. Happening right now till 31 January, you can expect to find top deals on Japanese food and snacks. Subsequently in February, Japan Discovery Fair will present more offers from health and beauty, and home and hobbies. In addition, Shopee Singapore is also giving vouchers of up to S$20 off a minimum spend of S$80, and various shops are giving 50 per cent off vouchers. Now, you can pretend youve just returned from a trip to Japan or comfort your wanderlust with these best-selling Japanese food and snacks. JAPAN Calbee Jaga Pokkuru Potato Chips Jaga Pirika 10 packs 3 box/6 box [Direct from Japan] S$20.52 S$42.12 at Shopee JAPAN Calbee Jaga Pokkuru Potato Chips Jaga Pirika 10 packs 3 box/6 box [Direct from Japan]. (Photo: Shopee SG) ITO EN, Oi Ocha, green tea with Uji matcha, premium tea bag, 50 bags S$18.14 S$29.05 at Shopee ITO EN , Oi Ocha , green tea with Uji matcha , premium tea bag , 50 bags. (Photo: Shopee SG) Nittoh Tea Royal Milk Tea Instant Powder - 280g S$9.50 S$16.20 at Shopee Delivery Directly form Japan Nittoh Tea Royal Milk Tea Instant Powder- 280g. (Photo: Shopee SG) ISHIYA Shiroi Koibito Chocolate Cookie S$27 S$41.04 at Shopee ISHIYA Shiroi Koibito Chocolate Cookie 12/18/24/27/36/54 pcs [Direct From Japan]. (Photo: Shopee SG) Japanese Matcha Green tea powder 30g with milk S$13.93 S$18.58 at Shopee Japanese Matcha Green tea powder 30g With milk etc.. [Direct from Japan] [Made in Japan]. (Photo: Shopee SG) HORI Corn Chocolate Milk Chocolate/White Chocolate/Yubari Melon/Caramel/Original 10 pcs S$9.50 S$11.88 at Shopee HORI Corn Chocolate Milk Chocolate/White Chocolate/Yubari Melon/Caramel/Original 10 pcs. (Photo: Shopee SG) Japan Ichiran Ramen Straight Thin Hakata Style For 5 Meals S$32.90 S$80.73 at Shopee Japan Ichiran Ramen Straight Thin Hakata Style For 5 MealsLowest priceDirect from JAPAN Made in JAPAN]. (Photo: Shopee SG) Kataoka Kyoto Tsujiri Matcha Powder Green Tea Houji Thick Latte Milk Powder 200g S$8.75 S$17.28 at Shopee DIRECT Japan Kataoka Kyoto Tsujiri Matcha Powder Green Tea Houji Thick Latte Milk Powder 200g. (Photo: Shopee SG) Kagoshima Ft. Hokkaido Southern country specialty Bontan Ame Hyoroku Mochi (Rice Candy) Anno potato caramel 120g S$8.21 S$10.91 at Shopee [Direct from Hokkaido, Japan] Kagoshima Ft. Hokkaido Southern country specialty Bontan Ame Hyoroku Mochi (Rice Candy) Anno potato caramel 120g kinako mochi Seika Foods. (Photo: Shopee SG) ROYCE Pure Chocolate Creamy Milk/ White/ Caramel Milk/ Creamy White/ Milk/ Venezuela Bitter/ Mild Bitter / Extra Bitter/ Colombia Bitter/ Colombia Milk 20 pieces S$14.36 S$20.52 at Shopee ROYCE Pure Chocolate Creamy Milk/ White/ Caramel Milk/ Creamy White/ Milk/ Venezuela Bitter/ Mild Bitter / Extra Bitter/ Colombia Bitter/ Colombia Milk 20 pieces No liquor. (Photo: Shopee SG) Hokkaido Limited Honey Mini Cake 18 pcs S$20.42 S$26.87 at Shopee [Direct from Hokkaido, Japan] Hokkaido Limited Honey Mini Cake 18 pcs Cheese Chocolate Flavor Pastry Honey Cake Japanese Snacks Exotic Snacks Cakes Desserts. (Photo: Shopee SG) Japan Hokkaido Calbee Potato Farm Series Potekotan Onion Flavour 6 bags S$12.96 S$43.20 at Shopee Japan Hokkaido Calbee Potato Farm Series Potekotan Onion Flavour 6 bags/Box jaga pokkuru. (Photo: Shopee SG) Japanese Fried Nori Snacks S$11.15 S$14.28 at Shopee [Direct from Hokkaido, Japan]Japanese Fried Nori Snacks Korean Sesame Oil Flavor Gorgonzola Cheese Setouchi Lemon Fried Squid Snacks Exotic Snacks Japanese Snacks Cookies. (Photo: Shopee SG) Kewpie Verde Dispensary Pack Chocolate Peanuts/Blueberry Butter/Honey Kinako/Strawberry/Green Tea/Matcha Chocolate Sauce - 4 pieces S$7.12 S$8.37 at Shopee Kewpie Verde Dispensary Pack |Chocolate Peanuts/Blueberry Butter/Honey Kinako/Strawberry/Green Tea/Matcha Chocolate Sauce - 4 pieces (Direct from Japan) (Made in Japan). (Photo: Shopee SG) The once-popular frozen yogurt franchise has finally made its long-awaited comeback in Malaysia. Yes folks, after having disappeared for quite awhile, the Californian frozen yoghurt store, Tutti Frutti has now opened an outlet in Plaza Damansara, Damansara Heights. The best part is that the old method of using weighing scales to measure the frozen yogurt and toppings has been removed. The prices are now fixed (I am personally pleased about this) so no more surprises await customers at the counter. The Naza group brought in the American frozen yogurt chain in Malaysia and opened its first store in Sunway Pyramid in 2009. Customers enjoyed that they had the choice to choose their own toppings to go with the yogurt of their choice. Tutti Frutti eventually grew to 119 outlets all over the country. However, complaints about its quality and price gradually saw all shops in Malaysia close around 2016. Whether its plain or flavoured frozen yogurt, with toppings ranging from fruits, chocolates, nuts or cereal, Tutti Frutti will fix all your sweet cravings. Head down to the Plaza Damansara outlet today! Other articles you might like: Roti Wap Bangi: RM2.50 roti kukus stuffed with oozing chocolate & kaya butter sells out in 3 hours Nasi Ayam Sungai Buloh: Killer Hainanese chicken rice & crunchy juicy bean sprouts draws lunch crowd The post Tutti Frutti makes a comeback in Malaysia with brand new outlet at Damansara Heights appeared first on SETHLUI.com. For the better part of 15 years, Google has seemed like an unstoppable force, powered by the strength of its online search engine and digital advertising business. But both now look increasingly vulnerable. This week, the Justice Department accused Google of running an illegal monopoly in its online advertising business and called for parts of it to be broken up. The case comes a couple of years after the Trump administration filed a similar suit going after the tech giant's dominance in search. Google said the Justice Department is "doubling down on a flawed argument" and that the latest suit "attempts to pick winners and losers in the highly competitive advertising technology sector." If successful, however, both blockbuster cases could upend a business model that's made Google the most powerful advertising company on the internet. It would be the most consequential antitrust victory against a tech giant since the U.S. government took on Microsoft more than 20 years ago. But even though the lawsuits drive at the heart of Google's revenue machine, they could take years to play out. In the meantime, two other thorny issues are poised to determine Google's future on a potentially shorter timeframe: The rise of generative artificial intelligence and what appears to be an accelerating decline in Google's online ad marketshare. Just days before the DOJ suit, Google announced plans to cut 12,000 employees amid a dramatic slowdown in its revenue growth, and as it works to refocus its efforts partly around AI. A new threat to search Google has long been synonymous with online searches; it was one of the first modern tech companies whose name would become a verb. But a new threat emerged late last year when OpenAI, an artificial intelligence research company, publicly released a viral new AI chatbot tool called ChatGPT. Users of ChatGPT have showcased the bot's ability to create poetry, draft legal documents, write code and explain complex ideas, with little more than a simple prompt. Trained on a vast amount of online data, ChatGPT can generate lengthy responses to open-ended questions, though it's prone to some errors, or answer simple questions "Who was the 25th president of the United States?" which one might have previously had to scroll through search results on Google to find. ChatGPT is trained on vast amounts of data and uses this to generate responses to user prompts. While ChatGPT's underlying technology has existed for some time, the fact that anyone can create an account and experiment with the tool has led to loads of hype for generative AI and made the technology's potential instantly understandable to millions in a way that was only abstract before. It has also reportedly prompted Google's management to declare a "code red" situation for its search business. "Google may be only a year or two away from total disruption. AI will eliminate the Search Engine Result Page, which is where they make most of their money," Paul Buchheit, one of the creators of Gmail, tweeted last year. "Even if they catch up on AI, they can't fully deploy it without destroying the most valuable part of their business!" Google may be only a year or two away from total disruption. AI will eliminate the Search Engine Result Page, which is where they make most of their money.Even if they catch up on AI, they can't fully deploy it without destroying the most valuable part of their business! https://t.co/jtq25LXdkj Paul Buchheit (@paultoo) December 1, 2022 If more users begin to rely on AI for their information needs, the argument goes, it could undercut Google's search advertising, which is part of a $149 billion business segment at the company. Media coverage of ChatGPT has doubled down on this notion, with some outlets pitting ChatGPT against Google in head-to-head tests. Not necessarily a nightmare scenario There are some reasons to doubt this nightmare scenario might play out for Google. For one thing, Google operates at a vastly different scale. In November, Google's website received more than 86 billion visits, compared to less than 300 million for ChatGPT, according to the traffic analysis website SimilarWeb. (ChatGPT was released publicly in late November.) For another, even in a world where Google provides specific, AI-generated responses to user queries, it could still analyze the queries to provide search advertising, just as it does today. Google has its own investments in highly sophisticated artificial intelligence. One of its AI-driven chat programs, LaMDA, even became a flashpoint last year after an engineer at the company claimed it had achieved sentience. (Google has disputed the claim and fired the engineer for breaches of company policy.) Google CEO Sundar Pichai has reportedly told employees that even though Google has similar capabilities to ChatGPT, the company has yet to commit to giving out AI-generated search responses because of the risk of providing inaccurate information, which could be detrimental to Google in the long run. Google's stance highlights both its incredible influence, as the most trusted search engine on earth, and one of the core problems of generative AI: Due to the technology's black-box design, it's virtually impossible to find out how the technology arrived at a specific result. For many people, and for many years to come, being able to evaluate different sources of information for themselves may trump the convenience of receiving a single answer. An ad sales machine under pressure All this has taken place against the backdrop of what seems to be an extended, multi-year decline in Google's online advertising marketshare. Google's position in digital advertising peaked in 2017 with 34.7% of the U.S. market, according to third-party industry estimates, and is on pace to account for 28.8% this year. Google isn't the only advertising giant to experience this trend. One-off factors like the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, as well as fears of a looming recession, have broadly affected the online advertising industry. Others, like Facebook-parent Meta, have been particularly susceptible to systemic changes such as Apple's app privacy updates restricting the amount of information marketers can access about iOS users. But the decline also comes as Google faces new competition in the market. Rivals including Amazon, TikTok and even Apple have been attracting an increasing share of the digital advertising pie. Whatever the cause, Google's advertising business, which is still massive, seems to face growing headwinds. And those headwinds could be exacerbated if some of the predictions about generative AI come to pass, or if the Justice Department's lawsuits ultimately weaken Google's grip on digital advertising. As part of the case, the U.S. government has asked a federal court to unwind two acquisitions that allegedly helped cement a Google monopoly in advertising. Dismantling Google's tightly integrated ads machine will restore competition and make it harder for Google to extract monopoly profits, according to the U.S. government. This and other antitrust suits though threatening in their own right simply add pressure to the broader dilemma facing Google as it stares down a new era of potentially tumultuous technological change. *** 15 things AI can (and can't) do AI and its limits Can: Be trained and 'learn' Cannot: Get into college Can: Perpetuate bias Can: Identify images and sounds Cannot : Drive a car Cannot: Judge beauty contests Can: Read and classify text and documents Cannot: Watch (and understand) a soccer match Can: Flip burgers Can: Make investments Cannot: Help itself from buying things Can: Raise billions of cockroaches on a farm Cannot: Be creative Can: Clean your teeth Can: Pollinate flowers DES MOINES The Iowa Court of Appeals has upheld the murder conviction of a Sioux City man who strangled a woman inside a hotel room before setting a fire inside it. A three-judge panel on Wednesday denied Jordan Henrys claim of insufficient evidence of malice aforethought to support his second-degree murder conviction for the Jan. 24, 2019, strangulation of Elizabeth Bockholt. The trial courts findings and inferences are fully supported by the record, Chief Judge Thomas said in the 13-page ruling, which also upheld District Judge Steven Andreasens rulings that Henry could not rely on methamphetamine-induced psychosis as a complete defense and had that Henry failed to prove his insanity defense. Andreasen, who heard the evidence and reached the verdict because Henry had waived his right to a jury trial, found Henry guilty in November 2020 of second-degree murder and first-degree arson. Andreasen later sentenced Henry, 33, to 75 years in prison with a mandatory minimum of 35 years before hes eligible for parole. Henry did not appeal the arson conviction. Henry was tried for first-degree murder, which carries a mandatory lifetime prison sentence, but Andreasen ruled the combination of Henrys meth use and psychosis prevented him from forming the specific intent to kill Bockholt, leaving the state unable to establish the necessary threshold to find him guilty of first-degree murder. On the night of her death, Bockholt visited Henry in a room at the Wingate by Windham, eight days after Henry had been paroled from prison after serving time for theft. Romantic partners prior to Henrys conviction, the two smoked meth in the room before Bockholt strangled her. He then set a fire in the room and left. Police and firefighters responding to the fire found Bockholt, 40, of Hinton, Iowa, unconscious and under a pile of bedding. She was later pronounced dead at a hospital. Henry was arrested about half a mile away by officers responding to a call of a suspicious person in the area. He was identified as a suspect on surveillance video and by witnesses who saw him leaving the hotel. SIOUX CITY A federal judge has denied a request made by Steve Kings attorneys to reduce the amount of damages a jury ordered the former U.S. congressmans campaign to pay for using a copyrighted photo in the Success Kid meme without the owners permission in a 2020 fundraising ad. U.S. District Judge C.J. Williams also denied a motion by the photos owner to amend the judgment and find King liable for his King for Congress campaigns copyright infringement. In denying Kings motion, Williams said the jury was not given instructions it could reduce damages to as low as $200, and Kings lawyers didnt object to the lack of the instruction during the trial, effectively waiving any argument that jurors should have been told they could award a lower damage amount. There is no guarantee the jury would have reduced the award below $750, let alone to $200, Williams wrote. Steve King book Former Iowa Rep. Steve King holds a copy of his new book, "Walking Through The Fire," while speaking to the Sioux City Rotary Club on Dec. 20, After a four-day trial in federal court in Sioux City in November, jurors ordered King for Congress to pay $750 in damages to Laney Griner, finding the campaign had infringed upon the Florida womans copyright when using the photo of her son Sam in the Success Kid meme, so-called because the picture of the then-toddler captured him with a determined look on his face and a fistful of sand raised in a triumphant motion. Griner sought $150,000 in damages. The ad was posted on a Republican fundraising site as King, a Republican from Kiron, Iowa, was running for re-election. He later lost in the primary to Randy Feenstra, who won the seat in the November election. Though the ad was taken down from the fundraising site and Kings Facebook and campaign pages hours later after Griner demanded its removal, she later sued King and his campaign for copyright infringement, and her son sued for invasion of privacy. Jurors determined King for Congress did infringe on the copyright, but did so unknowingly, and awarded Laney Griner the statutory minimum $750. The jury determined King himself did not infringe upon Griners copyright and also found in Sam Griners claim for invasion of privacy that King for Congress did not use the photo without his consent, though Griner and his mother both testified no one from the campaign had sought their permission to use it. After the trial, Kings lawyers filed a motion to reduce the amount to $200 because the jury found the infringement was committed unknowingly. Griners attorney also filed a post-trial motion, asking Williams to amend the judgment to find King was liable for the copyright infringement of his campaign committee. Griners attorney argued trial evidence proved King for Congress was acting on Kings behalf, making him liable for infringement, too. King testified at trial he was unaware of the photos use, and Williams said in his ruling denying Griners motion that Kings son and campaign manager, Jeff King, also testified to the separation of King from his campaign committee. Williams said it was a reasonable finding by jurors that King was not involved in fundraising decisions, though another jury could reasonably find otherwise. King has appealed the jurys judgment to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. James Conlan, 58, entered his plea in U.S. District Court in Sioux City to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Conlan and others conspired to sell more than 1 kilogram of meth from January 2021 through December 2021. Conlan further admitted to shipping meth from Las Vegas to Cherokee through the mail. A teen who was pulled from a burning home on Broad Street in Meriden Saturday is expected to make a full recovery, his family has reported, according to the spokesman for the city of Meriden. The teen, Mekhi McLean, 17, the brother of homeowner Shari Brown, was pulled unconscious from the house, and was initially in critical but stable condition when he was admitted too a Bronx, New York hospital, according to Meriden Strategic Communications Specialist Tony Terzi Terzi said Brown reports her brother will make a full recovery. The Meriden Fire Department responded to the fire that broke out in a three-story home at the corner of Broad Street and Bunker Avenue around 4 p.m. Saturday. Meanwhile, according to Terzi, Brown notes that she was away on a cruise Saturday but looked at her Ring doorbell app, and saw that her house was on fire with family members in it. Terzi said Brown owns the home and lived there with her two children, her mother and her brother. But, needing a break from an exhaustive work schedule, she went on a cruise by herself, leaving her mother to take care of the children and her brother, Terzi said in a statement, And on Saturday afternoon she watched on her Ring doorbell app as the three good Samaritans broke through a door to get most of her family out just before flames engulfed the first and second floors. Meriden Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Dunn has said that witnesses broke down a back door and were pulling people to safety and told firefighters that someone was trapped on the third floor. Mekhi McLean, 17, who injured Saturday in a house fire on Broad St. in Meriden. McLean was asleep on the third floor and after arriving firefighters were pushed back down the interior stairs by the fire, two firefighters on the outside climbed up a 35 foot ladder on the outside, breaking through a third floor window to rescue the unconscious teenager, Terzi said in the statement. Terzi said two firefighters suffered burns that will require further treatment, one suffered from smoke inhalation and a another experienced cardiac issues. He said the Meriden Fire Department reports all personnel were treated at and released from area hospitals. The communitys generosity has overwhelmed the family, who is living temporarily in a local hotel, while they secure housing, Terzi said in the statement. The Meriden Fire Department received assistance battling the fire from departments in Berlin, Middletown, New Britain, Southington and Wallingford. Dunn has said the people who broke down the back door and pulled people to safety were true heroes. The Meriden Fire Department thanks them for their brave assistance, Dunn said. OMAHA -- Another metro area school district is turning to retention stipends to hold onto employees. Employees of Papillion La Vista Community Schools who stick around through next school year will be eligible for a stipend up to $3,000, the school board decided Monday. Board members approved pretax recognition and retention stipends for everyone from teachers to food service workers and custodians. The stipends will be awarded in three equal payments in 2023 and prorated for employees who work less than eight hours a day. The superintendent, assistant superintendents, substitute teachers and student teachers are not eligible. The stipends will cost the district an estimated $4.6 million, officials said. The cost will be covered by using money the district saved during the pandemic, spokeswoman Annette Eyman said. The stipends are to recognize the difficult work that has been done on behalf of students and the difficult work that is still to be done as we work to close the learning gaps for students post-pandemic. Approval comes amid staffing shortages affecting schools in Nebraska and across the country. Kati Settles, the districts assistant superintendent of human resources, said officials have worked creatively to fill teaching positions, but they still have quite a number of open para positions. The payments will be made in February, May and December to employees who commit to stay with the district through the 2023-24 school year. Employees who promised to return but left would have to give back the money. In 2020, with the pandemic raging, the Millard Public Schools provided $1,008 stipends to teachers and salaried staff to compensate them for the extra work demands. The Omaha Public Schools, Council Bluffs Community Schools and Westside Community Schools have also awarded stipends. Also Monday, the board members approved pay raises for teachers in a new two-year contract with the Papillion La Vista Education Association. The base teacher salary will increase $400 each year. New teachers with a bachelors degree will start at a salary of $39,400 next school year. A teacher with a masters degree will start at $46,492. The average teacher salary in Papillion La Vista this year is $62,041, Eyman said. The average years of experience is 13.9 years, and 71% of the districts teachers have masters degrees, she said. SIOUX CITY The two finalists for the Sioux City Community School superintendent position, Rod Earleywine and Geovanny Ponce, took time on Wednesday to participate in public interviews. Earleywine currently serves as the districts interim superintendent while Ponce is the assistant superintendent of high schools for the Houston Independent School District in Texas. The two answered both prepared questions and questions from the community. Many of the questions surrounded the diversity within the district and how each would address issues such as achievement gaps, equity and inclusion and parental involvement. The board decided on Thursday to offer a contract to Earleywine in a 6-1 vote, with Perla Alarcon-Flory against. Earleywine Past history Prior to becoming interim Sioux City superintendent in July 2022, Earleywine served as superintendent of the Sergeant Bluff-Luton Community School District for 15 years and resigned in February 2022. Before that, he worked for 12 years as Sergeant Bluff-Lutons middle school principal. Earleywine holds a doctorate in education administration from the University of South Dakota, a specialist degree in educational administration and a bachelors degree in education from Drake University and a masters degree in education administration from the University of Northern Iowa. He said he officially applied for the superintendent position because of his experience so far with the Sioux City Community School District. What Ive learned over the past seven months is this is a very, very good school district, Earleywine said. We have great staff, we have people that truly care about the students and they want to see our students succeed. Superintendent candidates speak at community forum Rod Earleywine, interim superintendent, responds to questions from the audience during a community forum with the two candidates for superinte A community member asked if Earleywine saw the position as a short-term job or a long-term role. He said there is a misconception that he retired from Sergeant Bluff but, in reality, he resigned because he felt he needed to do something different. I never retired, Im not ready to retire, Earleywine said. He added he believes he is a good match with the Sioux City schools. Vision and strengths As for his vision for the district, Earleywine said the district should be a place where parents want their kids to go. He said this is a shared vision with the community and district staff. This is a great community, we have a lot of great things going on, he said. Having quality facilities, teachers, administrators and support staff creates a district where people want to go to and stay at, he added. He said his greatest strengths as a superintendent are his ability to work with a wide range of people, and being able to build trust or facilitate healing and mending. The way to build relationships is in person, not through emails, Earleywine said. Superintendent candidates speak at community forum Rod Earleywine, responding to questions from the audience during a community forum Wednesday, has been selected as the next superintendent of One of the challenges Earleywine said needs to be addressed immediately is the climate and culture of the district. He said before coming to the district as interim, he watched board meetings and knew the climate and culture needed to be addressed surrounding items such as trust and relationships. These are items he said he has already started working on as an interim. Within the district, he said the best communication is face-to-face. He said he currently meets with the building principals quarterly and travels around the district to visit classrooms and speak with teachers and students. I see great things happening, he said. Really great things are happening. With the community, he said the best communication is also face-to-face but it's also important to keep the website up to date for accessible information. Superintendent candidates speak at community forum Rod Earleywine, interim superintendent, responds to questions from the audience during a community forum with the two candidates for superinte Meeting needs The Sioux City Community School District is a minority, majority school district, meaning a majority of the students are from minority groups. The school is made up of 44 percent white students, 36 percent Hispanic students, 8 percent Black students and 3 percent Native American. The remaining 9 percent covers a number of groups. Were not going to be less diverse in five years, were going to be more diverse, so what are we doing, are we planning for that, or are we just waiting for that to happen? Earleywine asked. "I prefer to predict and plan and make sure we have the ability to me the needs of our students." Community members asked several questions about student diversity and achievement gaps within those students. Earleywine said the district already has a committee that is looking at equity within the district and subgroups. He said they use student achievement data and "disproportionalities" in the discipline referrals within the district. He said the first step is recognizing that there are issues within the district and not hiding them. We have to make sure were very transparent, Earleywine said. Superintendent candidates speak at community forum Geovanny Ponce responds to questions during a community forum with the two candidates for superintendent of the Sioux City Community School Di Ponce Past history Ponce is currently the assistant superintendent of high schools for the Houston Independent School District and oversees 52 different schools. Before that, he served as an area superintendent and middle and high school principal in Houston. He's also worked as a campus curriculum technologist and bilingual teacher. He holds a doctorate in public school administration from Texas A&M University, a masters degree in educational administration and supervision from the University of Houston, and a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from the National Autonomous University of Honduras in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Superintendent candidates speak at community forum Geovanny Ponce responds to questions during a community forum with the two candidates for superintendent of the Sioux City Community School Di Know how Ponce said he was shocked by how diverse the district is and he wants to be a part of it and part of the way the district embraces diversity. He said he wanted to find a community where his knowledge and expertise could be utilized. When asked about serving a property-poor district, Ponce pointed to the free and reduced lunch numbers, a measure of poverty. His current district's number is 78%. In Sioux City, it's 67%. Future plan Ponce said looking at his resume he is very stable and does not move from district to district. I want to retire from here, Im looking at this as my next home, he said. After retiring, he said he would want to be a substitute teacher in the district because teaching is his passion. If I am selected, you have Ponce for another 23 years, he said. He said he has spoken with his family and they are prepared to stay in Sioux City for the long term if he is selected. He said he loves the community and has felt welcomed. Superintendent candidates speak at community forum Geovanny Ponce responds to questions during a community forum with the two candidates for superintendent of the Sioux City Community School Di Strengths Ponce said his greatest strengths as a superintendent are his honesty, transparency and strong communication skills. He also said anything he preaches, he lives, he believes in teamwork and engagement, and every decision he makes is for the students. "Youre going to see me working with the community, engaging with the parents, with the students, with the teachers, I want to participate and be part of it, he said. Ponce said the Sioux City school district is growing and changing rapidly and he wants to see if the district is prepared to me the needs of those students. Are we ready to embrace that?" he asked. What to address Ponce said he has seen achievement numbers of the Sioux City district but wants to walk the district schools and see what the different needs are between the students, teachers and parents so he can build a plan to benefit the students. By having a strong curriculum and instruction plan, the district can focus on certain areas where learning loss is happening and modify it, Ponce said. He said at his current district he spends a significant amount of time in the schools and walks through classrooms to have conversations with students and teachers. Many of the questions Ponce was asked were regarding support for English language learners and diversity. Ponce said he has an extensive history of English learners and bilingual students. He was a bilingual teacher and when he came to the United States, he was an English learner and therefore has first-hand knowledge. Superintendent candidates speak at community forum Geovanny Ponce responds to questions during a community forum with the two candidates for superintendent of the Sioux City Community School Di Superintendent candidates speak at community forum Geovanny Ponce responds to questions during a community forum with the two candidates for superintendent of the Sioux City Community School Di A community member asked how he will make diversity, equity and inclusion a priority in the curriculum. Ponce said the programs need to include people who students of different backgrounds can relate to. He also wants to look at what education can be offered to the teachers to enhance their diversity knowledge, as well as find teachers that are of the same ethnicity and backgrounds of the students. Ponce said he plans to engage everyone in the conversation and decisions. He plans to have coffee with the superintendent to invite parents to meet with him and talk about student education. He said it will then cascade from the top to the bottom, from the superintendent to the teachers to the parents. The Texas Education Agency is attempting to take control of the Houston Independent School District --where Ponce is currently employed due to allegations of trustee misconduct and low educational performance at Phillis Wheatley High School, according to The Texas Tribune. Ponce said he is not in charge of Phillis Wheatley High School. He said all of the schools under his leadership have been excelling and moving in a better direction. Its not about me and its not a reflection of my leadership, Ponce said. The district received 23 applications for the position vacated by Paul Gausman in June 2022 for a job as superintendent of the Lincoln Public Schools. With the help of the recruiting firm hired by the district GR Recruiting school board members narrowed it to five candidates who they interviewed, eventually narrowing it down to the current two. The search began in the fall of 2022 with community surveys, followed by in-person input sessions with district staff, students and the public. Two Pennsylvania men were arrested on suspicion of possessing over 310 pounds of marijuana products when they were stopped by the Nebraska State Patrol just west of Sidney. Troopers stopped a Ford Transit cargo van that was speeding while heading north on a spur of U.S. 30 just before 4 p.m. Monday, a patrol spokesman said. The troopers searched the van after finding a fake driver's license belonging to the driver and detecting the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Troopers discovered 261 pounds of marijuana and 50 pounds of suspected THC hash. The 19-year-old driver and a 20-year-old passenger were taken to the Kimball County Jail. Sidney, in the Nebraska Panhandle, is about 70 miles west of Ogallala. Counties with the longest life expectancy in Nebraska Counties with the longest life expectancy in Nebraska #38. Saline County #36. Keith County #36. Brown County #32. Perkins County #32. Kearney County #32. Cass County #32. Seward County #30. Deuel County #30. Cherry County #29. Chase County #28. Knox County #25. Platte County #25. York County #25. Holt County #23. Garfield County #23. Cuming County #22. Lancaster County #21. Phelps County #19. Stanton County #19. Dixon County #16. Colfax County #16. Custer County #16. Otoe County #15. Buffalo County #13. Sherman County #13. Sarpy County #12. Fillmore County #11. Washington County #8. Boone County #8. Pierce County #8. Cedar County #7. Hamilton County #6. Valley County #5. Harlan County #4. Greeley County #3. Antelope County #2. Wayne County #1. Frontier County An Omaha man could be sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of the sex trafficking of a minor. Dalonte Foard, 25, who appeared Monday in U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska, also was found guilty of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor following a four-day trial in Omaha. He faces a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison when he is sentenced in April. Evidence at trial showed that in September 2020, two Omaha girls, ages 16 and 17, went missing from their foster home. Prosecutors said Foard picked up the girls and drove them to a hotel where codefendant Thomas Holbert, 34, posted online advertisements promoting the minors for commercial sex acts. Foard sexually assaulted one of the girls and then posted a new online commercial sex advertisement for her. A man responding to Foards ad came to the hotel and paid $60 to engage in a sex act. After the man left, Foard took $50 of the $60 for himself. Holbert pleaded guilty in 2021 to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. He was sentenced to 19 years in federal prison. PhotoFiles: The blizzard of 1948-49 in Nebraska Operation Snowbound Only way out Ghost Town Delivering Milk Pattern in the snow Providing Aid Cattle Graze Finding the chicken coop Lending a hand Stranded Locomotives Snow covered windmill An Omaha man will spend more than 10 years in federal prison for his role in a series of bank robberies that netted nearly $1 million. Kevin Brown, 34, was sentenced Tuesday to a total of 161 months on robbery and weapons charges, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Nebraska. Brown was previously convicted for one of the robberies that was part of the scheme, the release said. He received credit for the 33 months he previously served, so he will now serve 128 months. Brown and his co-defendant, Charles Ware, were part of a conspiracy to rob federally insured banks across Nebraska, the release said. Brown was responsible for 10 armed bank robberies, according to the release. In total, the scheme robbed banks of over $959,000 between June 2015 and June 2018. Brown and Ware used an old man mask that would give them the appearance of being an elderly man when first entering the banks, the release said. After the masked robber would enter the bank, the other man would rush in and take control of the employees. The men would then jump the teller counter and access the bank vaults, the release said, and they usually used stolen vehicles to flee the scene. Ware was sentenced on Dec. 15 to 170 months in federal prison, according to the release. The case was investigated by the FBI, the Omaha Police Department and the Lincoln Police Department. Restitution for the bank victims will be determined at a future hearing, the release said. Iowa House lawmakers advanced legislation supporters say could provide a financial lifeline to Iowas small, rural hospitals that face closure. The Health and Human Services Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to advance a bill to the House floor that would set up a state licensing process for rural emergency hospitals. New federal rules allow rural hospitals discontinue inpatient care and instead focus on providing outpatient service and emergency medical care through a stand-alone E.R. Once a critical patient is stabilized, they would be transferred to inpatient care elsewhere, while patients with less acute emergencies could be quickly treated and discharged. The bill also increases the governments reimbursement rates for Medicare and Medicaid patients treated at a rural emergency hospital. Anything that we can do to help rural hospitals keep their doors open, and I think this will help reestablish a facility in Keokuk as well as propping up other small, rural hospitals that are in danger of closing their doors, committee member Rep. Thomas Jay Moore, R-Griswold, said. Congress established the new Medicare provider designation in 2021 as means to preserve access to emergency medical care and other services in areas that otherwise would be without a hospital. Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley helped push passage of the bill. And, along with Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, pushed the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to move quickly in releasing final rules in the wake of a hospital closure in southeast Iowa. Quincy, Ill.-based Blessing Health closed its 49-bed Keokuk hospital last fall due to operating losses and low demand for inpatient care. The closure of the Keokuk hospital is just one of many hospital closures occurring in rural America and is not the last, Keokuk Mayor Kathie Mahoney said in a statement in October of community leaders exploring options to maintain high-quality health care services in the community, including as a rural emergency hospital. Creating the new licensing designation provides rural hospitals the option to right-size their health care infrastructure, while maintaining essential medical services for their communities, Grassley said in a statement at the time. Enacting the program, though, requires lawmakers in each state to establish state-level requirements and licensing regulations for the new provider type. The bill applies to a general hospital operating under a valid certificate of need with no more than 50 licensed beds in a rural area with a population between 30,000 and 35,000 people, according to the 2020 census figures. This is a great opportunity to support rural communities and keep rural hospitals open, HHS Committee member Rep. Heather Matson, D-Ankeny, said. Committee members also voted unanimously to advance legislation expanding the scope of a loan forgiveness program for mental health providers. Lawmakers last year allocated $1.5 million to the Iowa College Student Aid Commission to pay for a student loan repayment program for mental health care practitioners. The program was established to increase the number of non-prescribing mental health practitioners serving cities within federal mental health shortage areas in the state by providing loan repayment recipients for up to five consecutive years of full-time service, unless granted a waiver for part-time service. The bill advanced Tuesday expands the scope to all eligible, licensed mental health professionals who work in the state during a five-year period of full-time practice. The student aid commission would give priority to eligible students who are residents of Iowa upon enrolling in a university and who agree to practice in a service commitment area located in a mental health professional shortage area. The bill also requires recipients be enrolled as an actively participating Medicaid provider. This brings into Iowa a number of other mental health professionals that we need, said Rep. Mary Madison, D-West Des Moines. And it does give Medicaid patients care. 'MAYBE I DO' (Rated PG-13 for sexually suggestive material and brief strong language) Michelle and Allen are in a relationship. They decide to invite their parents to finally meet about marriage. Turns out, the parents already know one another well, which leads to some differing opinions about marriage. 'FEAR' (Rated R for bloody violence and language) A much needed getaway and a celebration weekend turns into a nightmare due to the contagious airborne threat. 'SHOTGUN WEDDING' (Rated R for language and some violence/bloody images) A couple's extravagant destination wedding is hijacked by criminals. In the process of saving their families, they rediscover why they fell in love in the first place. 'YOU PEOPLE' (Rated R for language throughout, some sexual material and drug content) Follows a new couple and their families, who find themselves examining modern love and family dynamics amidst clashing cultures, societal expectations and generational differences. 'CONDOR'S NEST' (Rated R for strong language and violent content) A decade after the fall of Nazi Germany, an American aviator travels across South America in search of war criminals and encounters more than he bargained for. NEW DVD RELEASES FOR THE WEEK Violent Night' 'Colosseum' 'Dynasty' 'Mind Cage' 'City on a Hill: Season Three' A convicted felon from New Haven was sentenced Wednesday to more than five years in federal prison after being found in possession of a ghost gun while out on probation, officials said. Shavarius Smith, 22, appeared in court in New Haven on Wednesday and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton to 70 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorneys office. On the night of Oct. 8, 2021, police in New Haven searched a parked stolen vehicle that Smith, a known member of the Bloods gang, had been driving. In it, they found a 9-millimeter ghost gun equipped with a 31-round high-capacity magazine along with large amounts of crack cocaine and heroin, according to court documents. Officers found Smith shortly after and took him into custody. He has remained in custody since his arrest, officials said. Smith was out on probation when he was arrested. He had been released from prison about a month earlier and was wearing a GPS ankle monitor as a condition of his probation, court records said. His criminal history includes state felony convictions for larceny and drug offenses, according to court records. Because he is a convicted felon, Smith is not allowed to possess a firearm. On June 24, 2022, he also pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition by a felon, federal officials said. This column is part of Advice Week, Slates celebration of all things advice. Few topics come up as often in our advice columns as dealing with an out-of-control in-law. So weve rounded up some of our favorite questions from through the years for you below. Dear Prudence, My future mother-in-law would like to wear her wedding dress to our wedding. Im less concerned about the dress and more concerned about what this says about our future relationship. She is a very kind, considerate person, and I am certain that she knows this is not a very nice thing to do. What could her possible motivations be and what should I do about it? Im inclined to let her wear whatever she wants, as it doesnt bother me as much as maybe something else would. Should I pick my battles, as they say? Or will not saying something make me seem like a pushover? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wedding Dress? Me Too! Dear Dress, Its not that this is a not-nice thing to do. Its that its a deranged thing to do. No oneno oneis going to be confused about who the bride will be. But the more literary-minded of your guests will wonder how Miss Havisham got an invitation to your wedding. I often advise that in the matter of in-law problems, the blood relation has first go at addressing this issue. Your fiance should tell his mother hes heard about her plan. He can say that shes a grown woman and of course can wear whatever she likes, but that hes worried she will embarrass herself by showing up to his wedding in her old wedding gown. Then if she decides to wear some puff-sleeved, high-necked horror from another era, just smile and tell her how happy you are to see her.Emily Yoffe Advertisement From: Help! My Future Mother-in-Law Wants to Wear Her Wedding Dress to My Wedding. (May 19, 2015) Dear Care and Feeding, Ive been with my husband for nearly 14 years. When we first got engaged, my mother-in-law, Barbara, told me to my face that shed been having a hard time accepting that her son was marrying me. Advertisement Things have never gotten better. She constantly makes offhand comments about my weight and appearance. Shes told me that she does not like my parents and that they never make her feel welcome. When visiting, she rifles through my bathroom drawers and uses things I consider personal (hairbrush, toothbrush). She goes through cupboards and takes unopened food items home with her. Barbara has also pulled these stunts with my sister-in-law. Shes taken food, clothes, and even pictures off the wall. She barges in and sits in the bathroom while my sister-in-law finishes showering. This behavior is ridiculous to me. Advertisement Advertisement My husband and I recently had a baby. Because she lives far away, Barbara doesnt get to see us often and announced she will be coming once a month to stay with us so she can bond with our daughter. Our place is small, and we only have two bedrooms. Weve suggested in the past that she stay in a hotel, but she is too cheap and finds that suggestion offensive. Her visiting for an extended weekend once a month sounds dreadful. While I want my daughter to have a relationship with her grandmother, I do not like the idea of spending time with someone who is so disrespectful and rude to me. During our last visit I ended up in tears. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My anxiety is through the roof when I spend time with this woman. My husband is no help. He is not good at communicating and normally brushes it off, downplaying her behavior. Ive tried on many occasions to get to know Barbara and be accommodating but she changes her attitude from fine to appalling with the flip of a switch. What do I do? Is there any way to prevent this from turning into a nightmare? Save Me From My Toxic MIL Dear Save Me, Your mother-in-law uses your toothbrush? This behavior is not ridiculous only to you. Curious as I am about your deranged mother-in-law, I wonder more about your husband and how he could possibly downplay the behavior you describe. Advertisement I understand that it can be difficult for us to confront our parents, but it is clear that this is your husbands responsibility. Please talk to him directly; if you think thats an impossible task, perhaps together you should see a therapist or religious adviser with the intent of handling this problem. Advertisement The behavior you describe feels indefensible, and your husbands reticence might be because hes been dealing with it longershes his motheror because hes ashamed. But often the birth of a child becomes the inflection point that helps us clarify our relationships with our own parents. So perhaps he can rise to the occasion now. Advertisement I applaud you for wanting your kid to have a relationship with this grandmother, and one solution obvious to me is to have her come but not stay. She might resist, or plead poverty, or just be insulted by the suggestion. But I think you need to insist. Its my hope your husband can get involvedbut if he cant, youre not really risking anything as this woman already doesnt respect you. Rather than give in to a long weekend of round-the-clock anxiety, just say, in no uncertain terms, Barbara, wed love to see you all weekend, but youll need to stay in a hotel.Rumaan Alam Advertisement From: My Mother-in-Law Uses My Toothbrush. (Feb. 4, 2020) Dear Prudence, My daughter-in-law enjoys knitting and crocheting. For her birthday, my husband and I gave her a generous gift card to a local yarn store, for which she thanked us and seemed very pleased. Imagine my dismay, however, when six months later for our anniversary she gifted us with a lovely bedspread, which she told me she made with yarn purchased from the gift card! I told my son that wed in effect paid for our own present and that he needs to communicate to his wife how improper and stingy this move was. He refuses, saying that her labor and time were also part of the gift. We havent spoken much since except to discuss our grandchildren, and our DIL has been outright cold. Im considering writing her a letter directly explaining why this was an improper gift and expressing my sadness that her own parents didnt teach her gift etiquette. My husband wants me to drop the whole thing and pretend like it never happened. Prudie, I dont like the idea of moving on as if nothing happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Gift We Gave Ourselves Dear Gift, But nothing did happen. You received a thoughtful gift that cost more time than money. Thats it! If someone gives you a present you dont like, you smile and say, Thanks, how thoughtful, and then stash it in the back of your closet. You dont ask your kid to complain to the gift-giver via backchannel. Its fine if you like to give expensive presentsand can afford to do sobut thats not the only way to show someone that you care. Even if you dont like knitwear, your daughter-in-law spent countless hours over the course of a half-year working on something very detailed for you, and you say yourself it was a lovely bedspread. Whether she got the yarn with the gift card you gave her or spent her own money is beside the point; youre acting as if she re-gifted something when that clearly wasnt the case. Your daughter-in-laws gift was thoughtful and intricate; yours was financially generous and relatively generic. There would be no reason to compare the two if you hadnt insisted on doing so in the first place. Advertisement Advertisement You are grown adults with plenty of money; if theres something you want for yourself, go ahead and buy itthis kind of petty scorekeeping around gift-giving is barely excusable when little children do it. Writing her a letter to express sadness that her own parents didnt teach her proper etiquette would be wildly inappropriate, out of line, and an unnecessary nuclear option. And its a guaranteed ticket to make sure you see and hear about your grandchildren way less than you do now. You still have time to salvage this relationshipdont die on this hill. Let it go, apologize for your churlishness, and take yourself shopping if you want a pricey gift this year.Danny M. Lavery Advertisement Advertisement From: Help! My Husband Wants Us to Host His Violent and Voyeuristic Brother for the Holidays. (Nov. 22, 2018). Dear Prudie, My husband and I live in a large metropolitan city, and we have a roomy house. I like cooking and entertaining, but we have intense jobs; consequently, our time together is very precious to us. My husbands sister and her family live across the state. Her children have attended school in our city, and we have been happy to be available to them. The problem is my sister-in-law. She announces that she is coming about once a month to visit the kids, get her hair done, or see an old friend. She (and sometimes her husband) stays in our extra bedroom. I cook breakfast and dinner for them. I enjoy their company, but the visits are too frequent and theyre a lot of work for me. In 10 years, the entire acknowledgment of our hospitality is that she took us out to breakfast once. When my husband and I met, his sister regarded his house as a big-city crash pad. My husband agrees that its a pain but says that his sister is too dense to take a hint. Otherwise our relationship is delightful and I want to remain on good terms with my husbands family. What are my options? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hostile Hostess Dear Hostile, Your sister-in-law is not dense, shes brilliant. Shes gotten a decade of accommodations and meals without even having to supply a bottle of wine. However you approach changing this deal, its bound to provoke outrage (But Ive been mooching off you for years!). Here are your choices: Goodbye Ritz, Hello Motel 6. Could you stand having her return to crashing in the bedroom and letting go of all the hostess duties? Give her a key to the house, tell her youre too busy these days to cook for a group, and suggest she bring her own groceries if she plans to eat in. Advertisement Were Fully Booked. The next time she tells you shes coming, you tell her this is not a good time for guests. Ask that she give you some notice for a future visit, and if it fits with your schedule, youd be happy to have her. Advertisement Airing the Laundry. Deliver a direct message, preferably from your husband. He tells her that having company so frequently is taxing for you and she cant come every month. He also says since you have cooked so many lovely meals for her over the years, the next time she does come, she needs to start reciprocating. Dinner at a restaurant would be a good place to start.Emily Yoffe From: Hes Just a Jealous Guy. (June 15, 2006) Dear Prudence, Second-time, sleep-deprived new mom here. About a month ago, I burned part of my body on a too-hot water bottle in bed that caused a painful 2-inch blister and now scab. Recently, embarrassingly, I picked at the scab (bad habit dating back to childhood) and needed to re-bandage it. Advertisement My mother-in-law, a former nurse, saw the bandage and asked what happened. I said, Oh, that happened a while ago, and changed the subject. Today, she saw the uncovered injury and again asked what happened. I said, Oh, nothing, I burned it. And she started talking triumphantly about how she KNEW it was a burn because of her years as a wound care nurse. I grumpily said, I dont want to talk about it. I was embarrassed that I had re-injured it and also that I hadnt covered it with clothing (after the previous comment) but she had shown up at our door that morning unannounced. After she left, my husband was angry with me for speaking to her so gruffly. He didnt agree with me that she had no business commenting on my body. What the hell? I lost my temper and yelled that just because you were once a nurse doesnt give you the right to make observations about other peoples bodies. This after a few days of my father-in-law joking that our baby girl was gaining too much weight and getting too heavy with every ounce of formula we fed her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Am I right to think they should both lay off commenting on female bodies?! (Anybody!) I wish I had calmly said to her, Id appreciate it if you didnt comment on my body. I also wish I had calmly shared my feelings with my husband rather than yell. I dont really want to talk to her about itIm hoping she got the hint even though I didnt handle it ideally. But what can I do about this fight with my husband? For what its worth, he is also sleep-deprived and definitely pulls his weight with the kids and the household, so thats not an issue. Fed Up With Body Comments Dear Fed Up, Advertisement I see these two kinds of body comments as very different and think your anger at your mother-in-law was misdirected, and that your father-in-law is weird, gross, and inappropriate for joking about your infant daughter gaining too much weight (and I think that would be the case regardless of her gender). But its not generally considered to be out of bounds to check on a loved one who is visibly wounded and bandaged. If you dont want anyone to say anything about your bodyif no questions or concerns are welcome even if you show up with crutches or a neck braceyou need to make that clear in advance, because its a bit unusual. So do that, whenever you feel up to it. Advertisement Advertisement In the meantime, tell your husband you wish youd shared your feelings rather than yelling. And just as important, tell him that this is a hard time and you need more supportand possibly even a check-in with your doctor about postpartum depression, just to be on the safe side. I hear you when you say he pulls his weight, but if you are injuring yourself, feeling shame about it, re-injuring yourself, and breaking down over relatively harmless comments, it could be a sign that sleep deprivation and hormonal changes are taking a bigger toll on you than you realize. And whether your mood is hormone-related or not, I cant imagine you enjoy feeling undone over a stray mother-in-law remark. Thats no way to live, and having some tactics to navigate conflicts like this could make your life happier.Jenee Desmond-Harris Advertisement Advertisement From: Help! Im So Furious at My In-Laws for Commenting on My and My Babys Bodies. (Jan. 19, 2022) Dear Prudence, My mother-in-law hates me and makes no bones about it when she and I are alone. My husband doesnt believe me, and she even gloats about that. We have to attend family functions at her home about once a month. (It used to be more frequent, but after I put my foot down, my husband agreed that monthly would be sufficient.) The problem is that after each visit, I wind up with a bad case of diarrhea; my husband does not. I dont know if the other in-laws are affected, because if I asked, it would get back to her. I suspect that my mother-in-law is putting something in my food or drink. Last time, I barely made it home before being struck down. Now I am considering getting some adult undergarments to make sure I dont ruin the cars upholstery on the ride home from her place. Do you have any other advice? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Running for the Hills Dear Running, In the great old Cary Grant movie Suspicion, director Alfred Hitchcock has a scene in which possible murderer Grant is bringing a glass of milk to his wife, played by Joan Fontaine, and no beverage has ever looked so malign. Just as Fontaine wasnt sure if she was being poisoned, you arent either. Its possible youve entered a Pavlovian cycle in which when you eat your mother-in-laws food your digestive tract automatically goes into overdrive, or that there is some ingredient she regularly uses which just doesnt agree with you. Its also possible shes trying to harm you. Ive been reading a fascinating book, The Poisoners Handbook, about poisoners in the early 20th centuryit was a popular way to off someoneand the new forensic scientists who exposed them. Peek at your mother-in-laws Kindle to see if shes downloaded this. The next time you go for dinner at her house, after the food is served but before you begin eating, you and your husband should agree to swap plates and cups. If you mother-in-law screams to her son, Dont eat that! case closed, Sherlock. Of course, this would require your husband to take your concerns seriously. Its alarming to think your mother-in-law might be deliberately sickening you. Equally distressing is the fact that your husband does not believe you when you describe her malicious behavior. You need to tell your husband that after becoming repeatedly ill at your in-laws house, you have become afraid for your health. Tell him you are also afraid for your marriage because he apparently believes you are a liarwhich you are notwhen it comes to his mother. Say that he needs to take seriously the fact that she says ugly things when you and she are alone, and you are not going to stand for it anymore. If that doesnt result in his attention and concern, then you may need to move to your mothers.Emily Yoffe Advertisement Advertisement From: Help! My Mother-in-Law Might Be Poisoning Me. (March 8, 2012). Dear Care and Feeding, My MIL lives several states away, so we see her just a few times a year. My 10-year-old daughter is her one and only grandchild. Of course, when she comes to town, I dont want to block access to my daughter, but it has always made me uneasy that her time with all my in-laws has to be alone, something my husband shrugs off. My husband and I are pushed far to the side of all time when they are in town. When she came up several years ago a few weeks prior to Christmas, MIL had my daughter for the weekend and threw a Christmas Morning with my daughter and her other son. My husband and I were not invited. I explained to my husband I wasnt OK with this for several reasons, including but not limited to: I want to see what she gets, and take pictures, and am not OK with being out of the picture. Advertisement I thought we were on the same page, but when MIL came in a few weeks prior to my daughters birthday, she gave her all of her birthday gifts in private, despite the fact that I was throwing a family dinner for everyone at the end of the weekend. Husband says its no big deal, but he also went and cleaned the chicken coop the minute his mom showed up for the dinner, so Im thinking hes out of touch on the issue too. Am I crazy, or is this weird? Advertisement Advertisement This Seems Wrong Dear This Seems Wrong, This is absolutely weird, and it ends today. Your MIL can get stuffed. Tell your wuss of a chicken coophiding husband to get in gear and back you up, youre tired of being treated like the nanny when his mother comes to town. Advertisement Advertisement That Christmas Morning shit she pulled? Not on my watch. From now on, you go where your daughter goes, you act pleasantly bemused when your mother-in-law tries to reinstate the old rules, and if she asks why things have changed you can say, Oh, they just grow up so fast, I want to be there for every minute, ideally while staring her dead in the face and channeling Charles Bronson. I insist you email me about developments in this situation.Nicole Cliffe From: When My Mother-in-Law Visits, She Insists on Keeping Our Daughter Apart From Us. (March 22, 2019) Dear Prudence, I recently got engaged to my wonderful fiance. Immediately after announcing the engagement to our families, my future sister-in-law sat me down for a serious chat. She says she is currently saving up for breast implants and doesnt want us to marry until she gets them done. She told me she wants to have one family wedding album where she looks perfect and will be heartbroken if I got married against her wishes. The trouble is, my fiance says we should hold off the wedding for this reason, too. He knows his sister will cause so much trouble and doesnt want to deal with the family drama. He thinks since we live together there is no hurry for marriage, anyway. I know how much he detests conflict and its true we are pretty much living as a married couple, but I feel like this is so wrong to postpone the wedding. He says the other option is to pay for his sisters breast implant ourselves! Am I crazy for marrying into this family? Advertisement Advertisement Boob Delay Dear Delay, Ive heard that people want others wedding dates moved because of their pending reproductive plans, or because its their anniversary which they think should be commemorated like a national holiday. But this is the first time Ive heard that starting a new life should be put off until someone can afford new breasts. I often tell brides to stop making themselves nuts in an attempt to create the perfect day. But its really something that your sister-in-law thinks the point of your marrying her brother is that she can show off her perfect breasts. I have every confidence that right now she can afford the most jumbo set of falsies. That means thats when its time for the photos her chest is front and center. Your fiance should be saying, Yeah, Stacy has always been a handful. The fact that she wants us to delay our wedding until shes more of a handful is an escalation of the crazy, so lets just ignore her. Instead he is actually considering footing the bill for the boobs, which is rather extraordinary. Its often the case that one family member is so impossible that everyone just gives in to make life easier, but its a little concerning that your intended detests conflict so much hes incapable of telling his sister shes being ridiculous. The advantage of this whole thing happening is that your fiance wants to postpone your wedding. So that gives you time to explore just how you two will handle this and other inevitable conflicts, which is crucial information you need before you tie the knot.Emily Yoffe Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From: Help! My Fiance Wants to Delay Our Wedding Until After His Sisters Boob Job. (Sept. 30, 2013). Dear Prudence, Recently my 23-year-old nephew asked if we could talk man to man. He told me he was marrying his college girlfriend. He said that if my wife ever treated her as badly as she has treated his mother and his other aunt, he would not be silent about it as my brothers have been. When I replied with shock, he ran down a list of statements, actions, and other offenses my wife has committed that he has witnessed over the past 15 years. My wife has gossiped to the church leadership about my brothers and sisters-in-law, losing them positions they should have had. She ruined family events with childish demands and outbursts when I was not in the room. He suggested failures in my career could be because of her. He ended by saying his mother and aunt have never once said anything demeaning about my wife in front of him or anyone. He told of a time when he was in high school and a lady from church confronted his mother about a lie my wife had spread that the church lady believed. I have been completely unaware of any of this. I talked to our pastor, my boss, and my brothers. All have told me stories that made me sick to my stomach about how she has flirted with them when I am not around, and the horrible things my wife has done to other women. They all have assumed I knew all about this and have been allowing it to continue. After we talked, our pastor agreed to talk to the other leadership and correct the lies that have tainted my sisters-in-law. My sisters-in-law are caring, compassionate, never judge, and put family above all else. I feel like trash having exposed them to 15 years of torture, and for believing for even one second some of the things my wife has said about them. While I am sick to my stomach and worry that my own children may see this behavior and copy it, I am torn about what do to. Our pastor feels that I should address the congregation and ask forgivenessour whole family attends the same church. He then wants me and my wife to enter counseling to repair our relationship so we can grow and she maybe can change. I want to grab my kids, hit the door, file for divorce, and then begin repairing the relationship with my family. What do you think? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stunned Dear Stunned, Theres a contradiction in your story. You say that you have been entirely oblivious to the behavior of the apparent sociopath youre married to. Then you note youre sickened that you believed any of the nasty things your wife told you about your sisters-in-law. So I think that while the worst things she did may have been behind your back, you willfully decided long ago not to turn and face them. I have to disagree with your pastors suggestion. I dont think its appropriate for you to stand in front of the congregation and say that youve come to realize youre married to the spawn of Satan but that you hope with counseling (and maybe exorcism) she can be remolded into a lovely person. Sure, now that you know about the lies shes spread, you should continue to do your best to address these and clear them up. I dont understand the silence of your sisters-in-law. Its one thing to turn the other cheek, its another to let someone claw at it for years without defending oneself. You may fantasize about fleeing with the kids, but it doesnt work that way. First you have to tell your wife about what youve discovered. Youve made a life and had children with her, and you have to find out directly what shes been up to. If she starts lying to you, say youve always found your pastor to be an honest person, and he has attested to her perfidy. If you do divorce, she is the mother of your children and will continue to be a major figure in their livesbeing scum is generally not reason enough to lose custody. I do agree that counseling is called forfor you. Whatever happens to your marriage going forward, you must address the fact that you have somehow sleepwalked through much of your adult life.Emily Yoffe Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From: Help! My Wife Flirts With My Brothers and Trashes My Sisters-in-Law. (May 14, 2015) Dear Care and Feeding, As a mother of boys, a daughter-in-law, and a reader of this advice column, I have one question: Do all mothers-in-law suck? Seriously, it is my fear that, no matter what I do, in the very distant future, my relationship with my boys will never be close if they get married. I know there are a few amazing mothers-in-law out there, but the vast majority of them seem to always be tolerated at best. Am I Doomed? Dear Am I Doomed, I think something very important to remember is that we do not see good mother-in-law relationships in pop culture because good mothers-in-law are dull as dishwater from a comedic perspective. We also do not see good mother-in-law relationships in advice columns because very few people are going to take time out of their day to say: Dear Abby, I am a woman with a warm relationship with my mother-in-law, who respects my boundaries and has made me feel included and welcome in her familys life. I hope you are well also. Advertisement Advertisement I have witnessed numerous functional, positive in-law situations in the wild. What may be helpful for you is to think about what those situations have in common! There are no guarantees in this lifepeople will experience friction and moments of conflict and misunderstandings and basic incompatibility, regardless of our best intentions. But there are absolutely some things you can do your best to control from your end of the bargain. Be kind. Be warm. Respect your adult childs choices. Dont complain about their partner to them. Dont complain about their partner to their partner. Dont wear white (or full black Victorian mourning attire) to the wedding. Dont keep a spreadsheet of visits to your home versus visits to their partners parents home. Dont keep score, period. Try to be open and interested in their lives without being intrusive. If they have children of their own, give them the freedom to raise those children in the way they see fit. Unsolicited advice in marriage or child rearing is rarely wise. Dont go through their personal possessions when you are in their home. If you return one of their children to them minus two fingers, do not push for future unsupervised visits until they are comfortable with that, which may be never. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of these are easier than others, but its almost always best to focus on what you can do than spend time worrying about the variables beyond your control. Things may still go pear-shaped, but being able to say well, I did my best and actually mean it is very important. I hope your sons partners will all think youre absolutely darling and also that you do not spook them by being overly concerned that they might not.Nicole Cliffe From: Does Becoming a Mother-in-Law Turn You Into a Monster? (June 19, 2020) Dear Prudence, A couple of months ago you answered my letter asking for advice regarding a situation involving my hateful mother-in-law, whom I suspected of tainting my food or drink at family functions at her home. You had suggested swapping plates with my husband to see if my mother-in-law would react. However, as you noted, that would have required bringing my husband into my confidence. I did not feel it was wise to do that, because he already didnt believe that his mother treated me badly. But the next function was at Easter. She provided a traditional prime rib dinner, set up buffet style, and I could see no way that could be problematic. However, when we arrived at her home, the dinner table was set with place cards and in front of each was a ramekin of horseradish sauce and a small pitcher of au jus. When nobody was looking, I switched the ramekin and pitcher between my husbands place and mine. After my husband and I returned home, he became wracked with diarrhea, but I was not ill at all. In the morning I told him that I had switched the horseradish and au jus. He looked at me with such hatred in his eyes that I knew he had known all along what his mother was up to. His only words were to accuse me of poisoning him! I quickly packed a couple of bags and raced out of there. I have hired a divorce lawyer and I wont be looking back. Thank you and your commenters for your advice and concern. Alive To Tell the Story Dear Alive, I so appreciate your giving us this chilling, stomach-turning update. Thank goodness you got out before your mother-in-laws condiments turned lethal. When you confer with your divorce attorney, do ask about the possibility of criminal charges. And Readers, on this coming Mothers Day, if your mother thinks youre beautiful just the way you are, and your mother-in-law is not trying to kill you, happily lift a glass of (unpoisoned) champagne and celebrate the women in your life.Emily Yoffe From: Help! My Mother Keeps Trying To Force Plastic Surgery on Me. (May 10, 2012) Even More From Advice Week Dear Prudie: My wife has developed a fear of driving. So much so that she actually sold her car. The thing is that I have to take her everywhere now. I am expected to cancel whatever I am doing or would like to do in order to accommodate her. And when she wants to go out with her friends, I am expected to not only take her but pick her up as well. It is creating a great deal of frustration for me, and I dont know what to do. On Tuesday, former Vice President Mike Pence was revealed to be the latest high-ranking government leader who turned out to be hoarding classified documents in his home. This follows several weeks of news about classified materials being discovered at President Bidens former office and home, and before that, Augusts dramatic FBI raid of Mar-a-Lago, former President Trumps Florida estate, which yielded its own trove of classified documents. Sensing a pattern here? When Trumps collection was discovered, we could understand itthe man is messybut clearly the problem is bigger than that. Is it possible that all our living former presidents and vice presidents might possess some documents that they shouldnt? (To say nothing of dead presidentsGerald Ford always did strike me as a little bit sketchy.) The answer to that is more likely yes than not, and as my colleague Fred Kaplan recently wrote, the fault may lie with our governments tendency to overclassify documents more than anything else. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regardless of the cause, at the moment its abundantly clear that this problem isnt going to solve itself. I cant claim Kaplans expertise on these issues, but Ive been thinking about what could get us out of this pickle, and it seems like perhaps its time to take a more proactive approach. Its possible that some of our ex-leaders are cleanI have a feeling Michelle Obama runs a tight ship and banished her husbands classified files tout de suitebut I cant imagine that guys like Bill Clinton and George W. Bush dealt with disposing of their top-secret documents properly. Those sloppy bastards? No way. So what do we do about it? A project like this calls for a world-class organization professional, someone whose name is practically synonymous with minimalism and cutting through clutter. We all know there is only one. Its time to call Marie Kondo. Advertisement Kondo rose to fame as the author of a bestselling book called The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and the star of two Netflix reality shows. Its true that she has, in recent years, faced some backlash and accusations of empty promises in the philosophy she espouses. But I really think shed be in her element here. She is known for the KonMari Method, which involves gathering absolutely everything one owns and asking of each item, Does this spark joy? I think Donald Trump should try this. Well, maybe illicit documents he knows he shouldnt have would spark joy for him but thats why we have special masters, right? Kondo is no public servant, so well probably have to pay her handsomely as a consultant, but what are our other options? Sure, we could try the Home Edit ladies, but we want someone who will actually get rid of shit, not organize it into color-coded jars. Theres simply no one on Kondos level. Its like in the movie Armageddon, when an asteroid was on course to destroy the planet, and everyone collectively decided that only Bruce Willis could save us. Only Marie Kondo can save us from the classified document madness threatening to bring our federal government to its knees. Advertisement Advertisement Besides, there could be ways to cover Kondos fee: Maybe we can get Netflix to pay for it if we agreed to let them film her tour of former leaders residences as the next season of one of her shows. That or we can take it out of our inflated defense budget, since, after all, this is an issue of national security. Ultimately, hiring Kondo will be more cost-effective than conducting FBI raids of the homes of every single former president and vice presidentand remember, most of them have several. Do we really want to waste resources sending an entire team to raid Al Gores summer house when we could simply dispatch Kondo, a master of efficiency? Do we want to subject poor 98-year-old Jimmy Carter to a bunch of scary guys in uniforms rifling through his stuff, or do we want to introduce him to one nice lady who knows what shes doing? The choice is clear. Marie Kondo, youre our only hope. The only hard part left is figuring out if anyone knows where to find Dan Quayle. In comments Catholic LGBTQ advocates described as historic, Pope Francis called for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexualitymaking him the first pope to ever take such a stance. Being homosexual is not a crime, he said in an interview with the Associated Press, which was published on Wednesday. Its not a crime. Yes, but its a sin. Fine, but first lets distinguish between a sin and a crime. Its also a sin to lack charity with one another. Advertisement And being homosexual is not a crime, he said again. Its a human condition. The comments, which were part of a lengthy and wide-ranging interview, did not establish any new doctrine or push any new theological territory. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that gay people must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity, and that every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. Nor is it counter to Francis previous stances on the matter: He has repeatedly urged the church to treat gay people with compassion. He famously said of gay priests, Who am I to judge? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in making comments about laws, Francis is speaking to some of his own bishops. Francis is about to embark on a weeklong trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. Eleven countries in the world have a death penalty on the books, and another 56 have other criminal penalties. These laws are concentrated in the Middle East and Africa. Advertisement When the AP asked Francis if the church should help to eliminate these laws, he responded, Yes, yes. It must do this. It must do this. He went on to blame the laws on cultural differences and called on bishops in regions with harsh views of gay people to rid themselves of that mentality. These bishops have to have a process of conversion, he said. Fr. James Martin, editor-at-large for the Jesuit magazine America and a prominent proponent of gay rights in the church, described the news as an immense step forward. In a statement, the executive director of New Ways Ministry, a Catholic LGBTQ advocacy group, praised Francis for helping save lives and promote respect for LGBTQ+ people, particularly in areas where law or social norms make them victims of fear, hatred, violence, and death. (Francis made news in 2021 when he commended the organization, breaking with the churchs earlier condemnation of it.) Advertisement Advertisement Already, there are rumblings of a conservative backlash. On Wednesday afternoon, Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, an outspoken Francis critic, retweeted a conservative Catholic account that quoted Pope John Paul II: Pressure for homosexual relationships to be recognised as a different form of family, which are also entitled to the right to adopt, is a violation of Gods law and an ideology of evilseeking to use human rights against humanity and the family. Strickland thanked John Paul for his clarity in the truth God has revealed to us. Advertisement Other conservative stalwarts, including the Catholic News Agency, a property of EWTN, argued that Francis comments may have actually taken a more conservative stance on homosexuality than the Catholic Church itself. Its a bit technical, but in short: The Catholic Church does not teach that being gay is a sin. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it is specifically homosexual acts that are intrinsically disordered; gay Catholics are called to chastity. Advertisement It is unclear from watching the video of this conversation whether Francis is actually agreeing that being gay is a sin or if he is pantomiming a rhetorical argument from the perspective of someone arguing with him. However, given that few, if any, LGBTQ advocates appear to have focused on this particular phrasing from Francis, it seems that most observers have assumed that Francis is conflating homosexuality and acting on homosexuality, or otherwise not dwelling on the distinction. Advertisement Advertisement Either way, Francis is not changing anything about the churchs stance, which he has long affirmed. Although Francis has emphasized compassion, as recently as 2021, the Vatican reiterated that Catholic priests could not bless same-sex unions because God cannot bless sin. Advertisement As for why these statements are coming out now: According to the AP, Francis has simply never been asked in an interview before. Francis willingly responded, citing even the statistics about the number of countries where homosexuality is criminalized, the AP reported. The interview covered a number of other hot-button issues in the church, including rumors about Francis health. (He said a fracture in his knee had healed and revealed that a highly common colon disease, which required colon surgery in 2021, had returned.) He also responded to speculation about his retirement, saying he had not yet thought about plans for stepping down. He also addressed the recent attacks by the recently deceased Cardinal George Pell and by Georg Ganswein, Pope Benedict XVIs personal secretary. Even though they say he criticized me, fine, he has the right. Criticism is a human right, Francis said of Pell. He was a great guy. Great. Advertisement Advertisement Deflating Gansweins narrative of tension between Benedict and Francis, the pope described his predecessor as a good companion. In the face of a doubt, I would ask for the car and go to the monastery and ask, he said. He also rejected the idea that any criticism leveled against him had anything to do with Benedict. I wouldnt relate it to Benedict, but because of the wear-and-tear of a government of 10 years, he said. They started to see my flaws and didnt like them. Francis papacy will mark a decade in March. He described the bishops and cardinals who oppose him as like a rash that bothers you a bit but called on his critics to speak openly. You prefer that they dont criticize, for the sake of tranquility, he said. But I prefer that they do it because that means theres freedom to speak. He added: The only thing I ask is that they do it to my face because thats how we all grow, right? Metas decision Wednesday to replatform former president Donald J. Trump on Facebook and Instagram is lamentable and ill-considered. The companys own standards required his continued exclusion from the social media platform so long as he remains a serious risk to public safetyand he remains one. After all, it was Trumps continuing election-denialist rhetoric that apparently led a MAGA-supporting New Mexico candidate last month to mastermind shootings into the homes of Democratic legislators. Millions of Americans continue to believe Trumps false claim of a stolen 2020 election, and some have taken violent actions and made threats against election workers and others involved in the election process. Advertisement The replatforming decision was the latest misstep by a company that did not even try to grapple with the risks of election delegitimization in 2020, according to a leaked draft report from the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the United States Capitol. But rather than wring our hands over mistakes Meta has made, we should focus instead on how the company can minimize the ongoing risk that Trump poses. The key thing that Meta can do now is escalate sanctions against him, such as demoting his content and blocking his expected campaign ads, if he continues to undermine the integrity of American elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To begin with, we must understand that Metas decision to replatform Trump is not the result of a real examination of the continued risk he poses to American democracy but a political calculation. Republicans have taken back control of the United States House of Representatives, and Meta executives were already threatened with being hauled before House committees to answer to spurious calls of censorship. Elon Musk has invited Trump back to Twitter, so we can already expect his content to recirculate widely; Trump also is an announced candidate (and current frontrunner) for the Republican nomination for president, and, ordinarily, social media companies should be very reluctant to exclude major party candidates from their platforms. Meta executives may have felt they had no choice but to bring him back. Advertisement So what should Meta do now that it has invited Trump to return? First, the company should understand it has significant leverage over him. Trump has used Facebook advertising as an effective fundraising tool in the past, which probably explains why he lobbied Meta to return to the platform, even as he has so far declined to return to Twitter. While Meta has said that Trump will face heightened penalties if he breaks the platforms rules, such as by creating a risk of civil unrest, it should go further. Mark Zuckerberg should call Trump directly and warn him that he risks having his posts demoted or removed and his advertising limited if he glorifies or encourages violence, especially election-related violence. We know from the draft report that Zuckerberg has called Trump about specific posts before. Zuckerberg should be firm that sanctions will come if Trump posts anything that could be interpreted as even an implicit threat of violence, given that Trump likes to use innuendo to make his threats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, Trump recently took to posting on the Truth Social platform (in which he has a partial ownership interest) to once again attack Georgia election worker Ruby Freeman. His earlier false claims against Freeman and her mother led to threats of violence against them and a climate of fear for election workers. Meta should not tolerate anything like these posts on Facebook or Instagram. Second, Meta should demote posts from Trump that engage in election denialism. While Meta has said that it may demote content that delegitimizes an upcoming election or is related to QAnon, it does not appear to be willing to take action on what will likely be a core part of what he posts: delegitimation of the last election that will cause continuing harm to faith in our democracy and democratic institutions. Advertisement This is a key failing on Metas part. Rolling Stone reports that Trump is planning to make his return to major social media platforms with posts about rigged elections. Demotion means that the material would remain visible to people searching for it, but the companys algorithms would be less likely to suggest the posts into peoples feeds. As a private company, Meta has the right under the First Amendment to promote or demote content as it sees fit. And just as Musk, as owner of Twitter, can decide to replatform white supremacists and neo-Nazis (as he recently did), Meta can be a more responsible corporate citizen and decline to amplify election lies that threaten violence and undermine democratic institutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Third, Meta can renew its commitment to protecting free and fair elections in the United States and around the world. It can begin by beefing up the election integrity team that it partially dismantled after the 2020 elections. The draft report of the Jan. 6 committee describes the weakening of election protections that the company had in place in the past. Advertisement There is an urgent need for the restoration of strong election integrity measures. Whether Zuckerberg likes it or not, social media platforms are one of the main ways people communicate about politics and elections around the world. And that means they also become major vectors of election disinformation. That was true not only of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, but also the recent attack on government buildings in Brasilia following the recent defeat of Trumpian candidate Jair Bolsonaro. As the Times Jack Nicas recently reported, the rioting was the result of social-media-fueled mass delusion focused on election denialism: Mr. Bolsonaros supporters have been repeating the claims for months, and then built on them with new conspiracy theories passed along in group chats on WhatsApp and Telegram, many focused on the idea that the electronic voting machines software was manipulated to steal the election. The political pressure from the right for Meta to keep Trumps posts and advertisements up, even if they continue to spew election denialism and include nods to violence, will be strong. But Meta has to be stronger in standing up for democracy and free and fair elections. When then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh was nominated by then-President Donald Trump for a seat on the United States Supreme Court in 2018, Christine Blasey Ford searched for some way to tell someone in power about her concerns. She was looking for some kind of mechanism that she could use to report the violent sexual incident she says had taken place between the two of them in high school. She mostly wanted to be sure someone else, someone with both power and investigative tools, would adjudicate it before he ascended to the highest court in the land, where he would serve for life. And really, you would think that in a country with a million tip lines and tens of thousands of lawyers and mandatory ethics workshops, there would have been a place to bring a set of facts she deemed material to the question of his fitness to serve for the remainder of his lifetime on the Supreme Court, where he now determines the future of womens liberty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there was no place to go, and no institution to receive or adjudicate her claims. As she later explained in a podcast conversation with Anita Hill, even after she had made the determination that she needed to come forward and report what she knew, they should have had a process in place for receiving complaints. They had none. Indeed, its not even clear, five years on, who the they doing the investigation would have been. Was it the FBI, whose supplemental investigation of Fords claims was limited by the same White House prepared to seat Kavanaugh at all costs? Was it the United States Senate, whose process for testing the truth of her complaints involved hiring a sex crimes prosecutor tasked with poking holes in her story? Who was the neutral fact-finding adjudicatory body here anyway? Advertisement No one. There was no system, no process, and indeed no serious investigating entity. Ford instead found that the U.S. government had, in her words, no HR department, no phone number for a citizen to call, and no fact-finders diligently at work. The sham investigation of her claims that resulted in both the Senate hearing and the FBIs supplemental probe had at least some indicia of being real and meaningful. There were, for instance, oaths sworn, questions asked, and, later, some interviews conducted. But the inquiries were, as we now know, Potemkin processes, without rules or resources or time or a mandate. Ford, in search of a formal process, was rewarded with a theater piece that had no conclusion. Advertisement Advertisement At this years Sundance Film Festival, director Doug Liman, in concert with writer-producer Amy Herdy, screened a new film, Justice, to much fanfare and surprise. Those who have watched it suggest that it contains some new facts but few smoking guns, though there sure is a huge amount of new reporting that will certainly outrage and infuriate us. Debbie Ramirez, who was not called before the Judiciary Committee and whose 20 corroborating witnesses were never contacted in the supplemental probe, is interviewed. So are her witnesses. There is a claim that a third assault occurred at Yale but no identified victim. Advertisement Liman, in a press release, described the project as intended to [pick] up where the FBI investigation into Brett M. Kavanaugh fell woefully short, and as the film was being shown, Herdy said that the process was not finished but only just beginning: Were getting more tips, she announced Friday night after the premiere. The team was preparing to restart investigating and filming anew, with the finished documentary reverting back, as the Washington Post described it, to a work in progress. Advertisement Instantly, the conventional wisdom went something like this: The case is open again! The FBI would be forced to spontaneously reopen its own shabby investigation; the third accuser, along with Ramirez, would be properly questioned, and the 4,500 tips that had gone to the FBI tip line in the week dedicated to that follow-up investigation in 2018 would finally be explored. Those tips, we now know, were largely ignored, and what little was unearthed went straight back to the White House. Yet the prevailing hope that was ginned up once the film premiered is that Liman and Herdy have created some kind of rolling national tip line, and so some institutionlets call it the FBI, which has still failed to account for its non-work in 2018will finally kick into gear and properly investigate what should have been rigorously examined five years earlier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The same magical thinking holds that, after this course correction, some other magical entity will then spontaneously rise up to remove Justice Kavanaugh, through some mysterious, as-yet-to-be-named process that cannot possibly be impeachment because, as you may have noticed, we just dont impeach justices. The reason the federal Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability, which had been tasked with investigating the allegations against Kavanaugh in 2018, stopped its probe in 2019, after he was sworn in at the Supreme Court, was because it no longer had any jurisdiction to examine his conduct. It had no authority to investigate a sitting justice, and so this machinery also ground to a halt. Another tip line to nowhere. Advertisement Advertisement All of which means that the Liman film, and whatever resultant probe it generates, actually only replicates the problem faced by Ford back in 2018, and by Anita Hill and the other Clarence Thomas accusers back in 1991: No matter how much evidence you amass, no matter how many tips you investigate, no matter how many people eventually turn up to corroborate your story, there is nobody to call. There is no entity in existence to properly evaluate the claims, and there is no instrument to test them and to bring about accountability. Limans rolling tip line may indeed be a welcome move to correct the factual record and to amp up a cultural conversation about judicial behavior, and that is not a trivial intervention. But what it cannot bebecause we havent yet built such a thingis a formal political or legal engine for actual change in the judicial appointment system, or to the judiciary. Advertisement Doug Limans intentions are surely good, but I cannot help but worry that the film will be retraumatizing for many of us. It will surface a lot of pain and fury. And once again, without actual rules and enforceable systems of accountability, it will be yet another reminder that the women who are abused have no power, and that once the justices are seated, their relative power is boundless. I confess to hearing from people who are worried that with Kavanaugh as the new median swing justice, it would be better not to antagonize him with yet another round of viral accusations that cannot be tested in any formal way. Isnt this just going to make him madder, further committed to his whole reap the whirlwind pledge about punishing his accusers from the bench? There is perhaps no better evidence that uncheckable lifetime appointments are the most dangerous and corrosive threat to the rule of law than Dont antagonize them, because they cannot be removed. But that too feels like a dynamic that cant change without massive formal system reform. Advertisement Advertisement Its certainly possible that Limans film, and the tips that continue to roll in as a result of his investigation, and the films that will come after, will start to change the culture in ways that eventually force the FBI and the federal judiciary and Congress and the legal profession to consider crafting a functioning system for the next Christine Blasey Ford or the one that follows her. I fervently hope that it does. But a tip line from the outraged to the outraged still operates in a closed loop. And until it connects to actual power and meaningful reform, it will also still roil us up to enrage us and then remind us that there is still, somehow, nothing to be done. Donald Trump is back on Facebook. Maybe. If he wants to be. Well see. On Wednesday evening, Meta finally announced its long-anticipated decision over whether to restore the former presidents Facebook and Instagram accounts, originally suspended by the company in the wake of the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. The judgment, as described in a blog post authored by Meta president of global affairs Nick Clegg, was that after two years in social-network jail, its finally time to replatform the former president. We will be reinstating Mr. Trumps Facebook and Instagram accounts in the coming weeks, Clegg wrote. However, we are doing so with new guardrails in place to deter repeat offenses. Advertisement The ruling, while sure to be controversial, wasnt necessarily a shock. Trump already regained access to his Twitter account thanks to CEO Elon Muskthough he has yet to return to tweetingand his 2024 presidential campaign had petitioned Meta to restore his Facebook and Instagram access just last week, according to NBC News. Whether this means Trump will move on from the alternate platform he co-owns, Truth Social, is unclear. Currently, he is contractually obligated to first share any of his thoughts/rants/conspiracies on Truth Social, with a six-hour exclusivity period before posting on any other outlets. That obligation expires in June, however. Two members of the former presidents circle recently told Rolling Stone that Trump may not renew that deal, instead posting on the mainstream social networks where for five years his every missive conjured up each days political weather. But its hard to say. Trumps own response to the Facebook news on Truth Social was characteristically befuddling. He wrote on Wednesday that Meta has lost Billions of Dollars in value since deplatforming your favorite president, me, and that such a suspension should never again happen to a sitting President, and also that Truth Socials GROWTH IS OUTSTANDING, AND FUTURE UNLIMITED!!! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres how we got here. In June 2021, weighing the timeline and conditions of Trumps post-riot suspension in consultation with its semi-independent Oversight Board, Facebook offered new enforcement protocols to govern potential future suspensions of public figures. Under this guidance, Trump was hit with the highest penalty available: a two-year ban from Jan. 7, 2021 onward. At the end of this period, we will look to experts to assess whether the risk to public safety has receded, Clegg stated at the time. If we determine that there is still a serious risk to public safety, we will extend the restriction for a set period of time and continue to re-evaluate until that risk has receded. Advertisement That timeline has indeed run its course. But has that risk receded? The normal state of affairs is that the public should be able to hear from a former President of the United States, and a declared candidate for that office again, on our platforms, Clegg wrote in his latest post. Our determination is that the risk has sufficiently receded. While he did not enumerate the specific findings that supported this determination, one can assume that the very fact the 2022 midterms did not witness a Jan. 6style eruption of violence (although it wasnt exactly free of the kind of election denial Trump has continued to peddle) provided enough reassurance to the Meta c-suite. Theres also the fact that Trump is, officially, a presidential candidate once again, complicating the question of what social media privileges he ought to be entitled to. Undoubtedly, it would be a knotty situation for only some potential 2024 contendersno matter how narrow the fieldto have access to Facebooks and Instagrams uniquely wide reach and advertising apparatuses while Trump is shut out. Advertisement Advertisement None of this means Donald Trump is less of a risk to American democracy; just last month, the House of Representatives Jan. 6 committee referred him to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution based on his actions leading up to and on that day. But the DOJ hasnt taken any action. As for Facebooks justice, the rules seem to have evolved. Clegg wrote in June 2021 that if Mr. Trump commits further violations in future, there will be a process toward permanent removal of his pages and accounts. A permanent option no longer appears to be on the table: In Wednesdays blog post, Clegg revised that earlier claim to declare that in the event that Mr. Trump posts further violating content, the content will be removed and he will be suspended for between one month and two years, depending on the severity of the violation. Although Trump faces heightened penalties for repeat offenses, there doesnt seem to be any harsher penalty than another two-year ban. It may be that this is enough for Trump to abide by the rules, should he return. Truth Social is flailing; Twitter may be of less appeal to him, since it has another main character these days; other right-wing social networks like Parler and Gettr arent looking so hot. That hell return to Facebook, Instagram, and probably Twitter too seems inevitable, even if his activity gets extra scrutiny. Well see how long he lasts once he starts posting again on his kids-table account. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Eleven years after he settled in Slovakia, Jeremy Hill said to himself that he no longer wanted to feel invisible in the country and launched a podcast to tell stories about how he sees this place, which is his second home. The American titled it Na Slovensku Aj Po Anglicky to challenge a deeply-rooted notion among Slovaks that theres only one right way of doing things: the Slovak way. It was during the time of pandemic lockdowns and no travel, when Hill felt most isolated, that he decided to put out the first episode, despite initial fears that he might offend some Slovaks as he set out to paint what he calls a not overly positive picture of their country. I've heard a lot of glorifications of Slovakia in English, the Trencin-based English teacher and occasional writer claims, But its kind of taboo to complain about Slovakia unless its politics or customer service. One sign of a successful program is when your assistant coaches and staff get poached for bigger roles elsewhere. That seems to have happened to Billy Napier this week when quality control assistant Deron Wilson left his role in Gainesville for an on-field position at Arkansas. Wilson will serve as the Razorbacks secondary coach. At Florida, Wilson worked with cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond in developing the Gators young secondary. Before his arrival in Gainesville, Wilson spent two seasons as McNeese States defensive coordinator. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at UTSA before being promoted to defensive coordinator. In his time at McNeese State, Wilson coached the No. 1 ranked defense in the Southland Conference. While at UTSA, he was a part of a defensive staff that saw the Road Runners defense finish in the top ten in 2017. He can also take credit for coaching two Southland Conference defensive MVPs, 14 All-Southland Conference players, and two All-C-USA players. He has also coached NFL defensive backs Jordan Moore and Tariq Woolen, who was a 5th-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft. Wilson played defensive back at Southern Miss from 2009-2012, starting in 39 games and earning multiple awards, including Freshman All-American Second Team honors in 2010. Related Florida drops outside top 10 in ESPN's 2023 recruiting class rankings Former Kentucky offensive lineman transferring to Florida Former Tulane running back transferring to Florida Florida add Houston transfer linebacker Mannie Nunnery Gators in the lead for top 2024 LB prospect, per On3 List Comparing Billy Napier to Florida's other first year head coaches throughout history List Florida vs South Carolina: Betting odds for Gators-Gamecocks basketball List Here are all of Florida football's 2023 recruits in final ESPN Top 300 rankings Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions. Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today! Story originally appeared on Gators Wire Oakland County Sheriff's badge While home alone with her younger sibling, a 14-year-old girl from Springfield Township was stabbed multiple times for refusing sex with an older man she met online, according to police. Oakland County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the 6000 block of North Bay in Springfield Township shortly after midnight on Wednesday, according to a news release from the Oakland County's Sheriff's Office. The juvenile victim was found on the floor of the residence, bleeding from several stab wounds to her back and midsection. Police said the suspect is an 18-year-old man from Monmouth, Illinois whom the victim met on a social media website, according to her statement. The suspect discussed coming to Michigan to visit her but became violent when she refused intercourse upon his arrival. The victim is in critical but stable condition; she was scheduled to undergo surgery Wednesday morning. The victim's younger sibling was asleep and her parents were not home when the stabbing took place. Although seriously injured, she was able to call her parents, who then rushed home and called 911. The suspect was arrested early Wednesday after fleeing the scene and calling 911 himself. He spoke with Waterford Township police, who responded to the suspect's location and arrested him. More: Whitmer to expand free preschool to all Michigan families More: Winter storm hitting Michigan: Weather radar, traffic updates The suspect was then turned over to detectives, to whom he admitted that he was angry with the girl for not having sex with him and therefore assaulted her with an 8-inch knife that he purchased on Tuesday in White Lake Township. "Oakland County Sheriffs Office Detectives are presenting the case to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office and seeking attempted murder charges against the suspect," according to the release. "He is being held in the Oakland County Jail pending arraignment." Contact Nour Rahal: nrahal@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Springfield Twp. girl, 14, stabbed by Illinois man for refusing sex Three Connecticut women were charged with scamming the state Department of Social Services out of more than $35,000, officials said. Raeann Gilbert, 35, of Bloomfield, and 34-year-olds Cassandra George of West Hartford and LaCoya Taylor of East Hartford each collected funds from programs financed by the social services department such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Care4Kids childcare that they were not eligible to receive, according to the Division of Criminal Justice. The three women were arrested on separate warrants by inspectors from the Statewide Prosecution Bureau of the Office of the Chief States Attorney. They were each charged with first-degree larceny and second-degree giving a false statement, officials said. Records show that between January 2020 and December 2022, Gilbert received $17,243 in SNAP benefits that she was not entitled to receive after she failed to report the income of a legally liable relative that she was living with, officials said. George is also charged with allegedly failing to report that she was living with a relative and not reporting their income. She received a total of $11,528 in SNAP benefits that she was not entitled to receive, along with another $4,000.76 from the Care4Kids program between January 2020 and November 2022, officials said. Taylor allegedly received $2,355 in SNAP benefits that she was not entitled to receive from June 2022 to October 2022 after failing to report income from her employer, officials said. Gilbert and George were both released on $10,000 bonds and were scheduled to appear in Hartford Superior Court G.A. 14 on Feb. 2, officials said. Taylor was released on a promise to appear and is set to appear in Manchester Superior Court G.A. 14 on Thursday, officials said. The Oregon State Beavers were arguably the biggest surprise in Pac-12 football this past year. Head coach Jonathan Smith was named the Pac-12 Co-Coach of the Year with Washingtons Kalen DeBoer. The Beavers then added Clemson transfer QB D.J. Uiagalelei, and things are looking good in Corvallis. Unfortunately, the schedule makers did the Beavers no favors when the 2023 schedule was released last week. Jon Wilner of The Mercury News gave a few notes. The start and finish to league play are daunting, Wilner wrote. The Beavers open with a trip to Washington State, then host Utah; and they finish with Washington at home and a visit to Oregon. In between, there is no cause for alarm for a program coming off a 10-win season. Even the back-to-back road games (Colorado and Arizona) are manageable. And whats more, they follow a bye. The Beavers begin with Washington State and Utah, and the end is Washington and Oregon. Thats a tough stretch. They do play Colorado and Arizona on the road, although both of those programs appear to be much-improved in 2023, especially the Buffaloes. The Beavers won 10 games and won the Las Vegas Bowl against Florida, so there is a lot of hope once again in Corvallis. Lets see if the Beavers can put together another strong season. List Comparing Utah's 2023 football schedule to USC Story originally appeared on Trojans Wire The Oregon Ducks are adding another high-profile visitor to the weekend guest list, with 4-star linebacker Justin Williams announcing that he will be coming to Eugene in a few days. Williams is rated by the 247Sports Composite as the No. 4 LB in the 2024 class, and No. 54 overall player in the nation. Williams also holds a Crystal Ball Prediction from 247Sports writer Steve Wilftong to commit to Oregon. Earlier in the year, Williams announced his top 6 schools and had the Ducks in the mix. He will be one of several top-rated recruits in town over the weekend, joining 5-star ATH Nyckoles Harbor and 5-star WR Dakorein Moore. Justin Williams Recruiting Profile Twitter I will be at the university of oregon this weekend yall tune in#Goducks Justin Williams (@Justinwilliamz4) January 26, 2023 Ratings Stars Overall State Position 247 4 90 TX LB Rivals 4 5.8 TX LB ESPN 4 84 TX LB On3 Recruiting 4 92 TX LB 247 Composite 4 0.9545 TX LB Vitals Hometown Conroe, Texas Projected Position Linebacker Height 6-foot-2 Weight 205 pounds Class 2024 Crystal Ball Recruitment Received Oregon Offer on June 2, 2022 Predicted to commit to Oregon on Oct. 24, 2022 Top Schools Oregon Ducks USC Trojans Texas Longhorns Texas A&M Aggies TCU Horned Frogs Auburn Tigers Highlights Story originally appeared on Ducks Wire Stephen Curry wanted the shot late on Wednesday night. After seeing teammate Jordan Poole take it, and miss it, instead of passing it to him on the logo at Chase Center late in their 122-120 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, Curry lost it a bit. The Golden State Warriors star took out his mouthguard and threw it down the court out of frustration as he was running back on defense, which led to a quick ejection. Steph was ejected near the end of the game for throwing his mouthpiece pic.twitter.com/7tGRMYvTVJ Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 26, 2023 While Currys reaction wasnt toward the officials, it didnt matter. They hit him with a technical foul and threw him out on the spot. He finished with 34 points and shot 10-of-19 from the field in 35 minutes. Poole didnt seem to realize why Curry was so upset after the game, either. "I didn't see what happened at the time," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said, via NBC Sports. "When the ref called it, I was confused. Then the coach told me he threw the mouthpiece down out of anger ... He knows he can't make that mistake again." The ejection came with the Warriors holding a 2-point lead and only 73 seconds left in the game. Though Curry didnt get to see it in person, Poole more than made up for his missed shot in the end. Poole sank a heavily contested layup on an inbound pass with just one second left to give the Warriors the 2-point win. Story continues Poole finished with 21 points, seven assists and five rebounds. While things were tense on the floor, the two seemed more than fine in the tunnel after the win. Jordan Poole threw his mouthguard when he saw Steph pic.twitter.com/hc2DX1GvQm Kenny Ducey (@KennyDucey) January 26, 2023 Ja Morant led Memphis with 29 points and 13 assists in the loss while shooting 10-of-20 from the field. Desmond Bane added 20 points, and Brandon Clarke finished with 19 points and eight rebounds. The Grizzlies have now lost four straight on the heels of an impressive 11-game win streak. Outside of Curry and Poole, Klay Thompson added 24 points for the Warriors. Jonathan Kuminga was their only other player to hit double digits with 13 points. The win lifted Golden State to 24-24 on the season, and was its fourth win in seven games. Coffee Design is proudly sponsored by Savor Brands , your boost in coffeedence through maximizing designs in packaging, sustainability and tech. If you need a friend, dont look to a stranger. Instead pay a visit to one of the most affable coffee roasting companys in all of San Diego. Were talking about Thankful Friend, whose small crew (Kelli Matheny, Wade Matheny, and their two-year-old Sam) has set out to create a visual guide to wonderful coffees. Kelli is the brand designer. Wade sources, roasts, and packages the coffee, while Sam, our two-year-old, helps collect beans off the roastery floor, they explained to us over email. Our mission is to positively disrupt the daily hurry of life by creating a momentary pause of joy, remembrance, and love for coffees and the producers behind them. Thankful Friend started out in March 2020 and have hosted and participated in a number of events and pop-ups along the way, including over a dozen in their garage last year alone. Theyve developed a reputation for coffee companionship that extends beyond the San Diego city limits through subscriptions, online sales, social media, and wholesale partners that extend internationally. Kelli also runs a design vertical on the side, with gorgeous work in their portfolio. It takes a village, and the Methenys would be remiss not to mention the kind friends that helped them along the way. We have had so much help, ideas, and feedback making this company possible, they write, to list a few: Jared Hamilton, Jeremy Ottens, and Leigh and Jared Smith. Thankful Friend stands out for its unique way of categorizing coffee, colorful packaging design, and passion for using coffee as a gateway toward healing. (And their plucky penguin mascot.) We spoke with the Mathenys digitally to learn more. Tell us about the brand design! Kelli Matheny: Our brand design is a collaborative expression of Wade and myself. I have worked vocationally in design for over a decade, working for boutique branding agencies, larger advertising firms, and in-house creative teams. In July 2022, I stepped fully into my own freelance design business while continuing to bring the Thankful Friend brand to life. You have a great way of categorizing coffeestell us about how the character, color, and categorization came about! The Penguin: Who doesnt love penguins? They are trustworthy and humble, making them excellent companions for a grand coffee journey. Our friendly penguin makes an appearance in all of our branding. You never know what situation the penguin will be in, allowing our brand story to be continually told in new and fun ways. Colors: Primary colors (red, blue, and yellow) resonated with us because they extend to our childhood. Not only are they the base of all color combinations, but they are also familiar and conducive to learning. We wanted simple, clear, and repetitive visual cues to create a bridge between what the customer is seeing and tasting. Each color correlates with a taste profile. While colors indicate a flavor profile, our layered categorization system allowed us to share more variations within coffee production. Standards: Our Standard line represents details executed well, such as the soil quality, timing of the pick, processing, and how the coffee is dried. They will always be washed, honey, or naturally processed, displaying the terroir of the farms, regions, and origins. Supers: Exhibiting the characteristics of its type to an extreme or excessive degree. (Merriam-Websters definition). These coffees experience unique fermentations, inoculations, and at times infusions. Naming these coffees Super and making our labels holographic was our way of capturing that nostalgic moment of visual delight (Super Street Fighter, Pokemon, etc.) and matching that visual to the coffees flavor profile. Rares: We want to embrace the earnest efforts of producers who prepare their coffees at the highest level. Showcasing these Rare coffees is an opportunity to grow the palate and give customers an ah-ha moment that stays with them. You mentioned branding helped the healing process tell us about that. Wade Matheny: Coming from working in all levels of the industry in Texas and New York City for 12+ years, you experience a lot of pain points. Some can be resolved, but most you learn to live with. Building this brand has caused me to deal with my anger, bitterness, and hurt. I had to believe that things could be better. I had to learn to tell a story of hope instead of critique and anger. Our penguin is alone in all of our illustrations, and thats how we felt during lock down. But over the last three years we have had so many people share how much our little penguin meant to them. Our desire to heal made others feel not so alone. Kelli Matheny: Our company was formed at the beginning of COVID in March 2020. It was a scary and isolating time, so daily thankfulness was a learned practice and a lifeline cultivated these last few years. Wade and I experienced burnout in our industries at one point or another. Working on Thankful Friend has been a cathartic and life-giving process of building something together slowly, embracing exploration/play vs. production, and being vulnerable enough to invite others to come along on this wild adventure with us. This brand has helped us discover and refine what we are about, what we want to bring to the table, and how we can tell the continual story of thankfulness through visual design. Where is your coffee available? How many pop-ups were yall a part of this year? We put on 12+ pop-ups this year, all from our garage. Whats next for Thankful Friend? We are looking to build out a roasting space, continue to partner with cafes that are thoughtful in their approach, and continue the conversation of how visual storytelling can positively impact the coffee industry as a whole. What are three books [any books] on your shelf? If I wanted to have a perfect day in San Diegowhat should I do first? Where should I eat? Do I need a car? A perfect day in San Diegoyou will need a car. Nothing is far and everything is 15 min. Brew a cup of coffee in a thermos, drive to Bird Rock, grab a croissant over at Wayfarer Bread & Pastry, and head down to Windansea Beach. Find a rock and sit and watch the world wake up, the seals playing in the waves, and listen to the sound of the water moving. From there, grab some tacos at Mikes Taco Club (we recommend the Special). After that, head over to the San Diego Zoo, and go on a long walk through the beautiful tropical landscaping. To close out the day, head down to Landinis in Little Italy, grab a box of pizza, and take it to Vino Carta (BOYF). This lovely bottle shop was modeled after our favorite spot in NYC, Chambers Street Wines. Pick out a bottle and enjoy the sunset over the bay. Last question does the penguin have a name?? We are so glad you asked! His name is Friend :) Thank you! https://sputnikglobe.com/20230125/a-clear-pattern-of-lies-fraud-deceit-dems-call-for-santos-to-be-barred-from-classified-files-1106708351.html A Clear Pattern of Lies, Fraud, Deceit: Dems Call for Santos to Be Barred From Classified Files A Clear Pattern of Lies, Fraud, Deceit: Dems Call for Santos to Be Barred From Classified Files Newly elected US Rep. George Santos (R-NY) has faced a slew of accusations in recent months that large parts of his resume are partially or wholly fabricated... 25.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-25T22:11+0000 2023-01-25T22:11+0000 2023-01-25T22:05+0000 americas george santos us classified documents /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/1b/1105805852_86:0:742:369_1920x0_80_0_0_7fe40baeb6a16f9f0b572a4d24e9e09d.png Two Democratic lawmakers urged US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) on Wednesday to block embattled Rep. George Santos from accessing classified documents.The numerous concerning allegations about his behavior over decades put his character into question, and suggest he cannot be trusted with confidential and classified information that could threaten the United States national security, the letter said.Morelle and Meeks warned Santos untrustworthiness might make US intelligence agencies more hesitant to share information with Congress, which could have profound implications for lawmakers working with classified programs.Santos has aroused fury across the political spectrum as one accusation after another has emerged that large parts of his resume and biography are either partially or wholly fabricated, including his alma mater, his alleged career as a Wall Street financier, and even his claimed Jewish ethnicity. More recently, Santos, who is gay, has denied claims he performed as a drag queen while living in Brazil, although he later confirmed that photos of him dressed as a woman were real while dismissing it as fun at a festival.While two-thirds of Democrats in a recent poll of New York voters said Santos should resign, so did almost half of Republicans, with majorities from both parties saying they viewed him unfavorably. Santos said he would only step down if all 142,000 people who voted for him said so.McCarthy said earlier this month that he always had a few questions about Santos resume, but said he would withhold judgment until the Ethics Committee delivers its conclusions. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230116/reports-us-congressman-santos-received-money-from-russian-businessmans-relative-1106413385.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Fantine Gardinier Fantine Gardinier 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 Fantine Gardinier george santos, classified documents, us democrats https://sputnikglobe.com/20230125/biden-administration-reportedly-urged-israel-to-transfer-hawk-missiles-to-ukraine-1106708830.html Biden Administration Reportedly Urged Israel to Transfer Hawk Missiles to Ukraine Biden Administration Reportedly Urged Israel to Transfer Hawk Missiles to Ukraine The Biden administration requested the Hawk anti-aircraft missiles in Israels stockpile in order to transfer them to Ukraine, Axios reported on Wednesday, citing three Israeli and one US officials. 2023-01-25T23:15+0000 2023-01-25T23:15+0000 2023-01-25T23:09+0000 military us israel biden administration missiles report /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/0c/1b/1091837153_348:0:1793:813_1920x0_80_0_0_81c6591e5c2022f64c0ac1c63fbea451.jpg Israel bought the Hawk system from the United States in the 1960s to defend against Egyptian and Syrian airstrikes, the report said. Two weeks ago, the US asked Israel for the missiles in its storage to be transferred to Ukraine for use on the battlefield now, the report said. Israel has so far declined most requests by the US and Ukraine to provide weaponry due to concerns about creating tension with Russia, the report said. Senior Israeli official Dror Shalom reportedly told US counterparts the requested Hawk systems have been in storage so long without maintenance that they are no longer able to function. However, other Israeli officials said that Shaloms answer to the US request was inaccurate, the report said. Israels Hawk interceptors could be refurbished and utilized, the officials reportedly said. The US made similar requests to several other countries with Hawk missile systems in active service or storage, the report added. Israels position on providing aid to Ukraine has not changed, with every request being reviewed on a case-by-case basis, the Israeli Defense Ministry is quoted as saying in the report. The request to Israel comes as the US, Ukraine and other partner nations seek to arm Ukrainian forces with further air defense capabilities in an effort to counter Russian airstrikes. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230125/white-house-confirms-sending-31-abrams-tanks-to-ukraine-1106700696.html 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 biden administration, hawk missiles, ukraine, israel https://sputnikglobe.com/20230126/berlins-decision-to-send-leopard-2s-to-ukraine-historically-wrong-german-mp-says-1106729958.html Berlin's Decision to Send Leopard 2s to Ukraine 'Historically Wrong', German MP Says Berlin's Decision to Send Leopard 2s to Ukraine 'Historically Wrong', German MP Says On Wednesday, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius made it clear that Ukraine will get the Leopard 2s not earlier than in three-four months. 2023-01-26T14:00+0000 2023-01-26T14:00+0000 2023-01-26T14:00+0000 world russia germany ukraine us lawmaker decision tanks leopard 2 m1a2 abrams /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/1a/1106729541_0:68:3401:1981_1920x0_80_0_0_322de335b3432577edcdc542d79ee3cb.jpg German lawmaker Sevim Dagdelen has lashed out at Berlin over its move to provide Kiev with the country's Leopard 2 main battle tanks.She argued that sending the German tanks to Ukraine is [] in the interest of the United States military-industrial complex, because their thesis, if they get lost, then they can supply their own tanks to Ukraine.Dagdelen added that she was very concerned that this is not the last decision taken by Berlin because sending the Leopard 2 tanks to Kiev is not a game changer.The remarks followed German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit telling reporters that Berlin would deliver 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.On Wednesday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced in the cabinet that Germany would further increase its military support for Ukraine. He said that the federal government had decided to provide the Ukrainian armed forces with Leopard 2 main battle tanks, Hebestreit pointed out.Later on Wednesday, US President Joe Biden signaled Washingtons readiness to send 31 M1 Abrams to Kiev, adding that the decision was endorsed by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and that the move comes as Kiev prepares to launch a counteroffensive against Russian forces later this year. Russia has been conducting its special military operation in Ukraine since February 24, 2022.The Russian Embassy in Germany slammed Berlins move to send the Leopard 2s to Ukraine as an extremely dangerous decision, which shifts the Ukrainian conflict to a new level of confrontation.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in turn said that the decision to supply the Leopard 2s and the Abrams to Kiev indicates the Wests growing direct involvement in the Ukrainian conflict.Russia has repeatedly warned the US and its allied against sending military aid to Kiev, something that Moscow says adds to prolonging the Ukrainian conflict. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230125/what-is-behind-scholzs-reported-move-to-send-leopard-2-tanks-to-ukraine-1106673453.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230123/what-is-the-leopard-2-tank-and-why-is-its-possible-delivery-to-kiev-so-explosively-contentious-1106621828.html russia germany ukraine 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 german lawmaker, berlin's decision to send leopard 2 tanks to ukraine, russian special military operation in ukraine, us military-industrial complex, new opinion polls in germany https://sputnikglobe.com/20230126/biden-says-tanks-for-ukraine-are-not-an-offensive-threat-1106709185.html Biden Says Tanks for Ukraine Are 'Not an Offensive Threat' Biden Says Tanks for Ukraine Are 'Not an Offensive Threat' On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including Donald Trump's reinstatement to Facebook*, and Adam Schiff's removal... 26.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-26T09:43+0000 2023-01-26T09:43+0000 2023-02-03T08:25+0000 the backstory maryland classified documents communism january 6 antifa tanks radio /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/19/1106709039_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_afcb591031a7d06d09c0888a335b46c3.png Biden says Tanks for Ukraine are "Not An Offensive Threat" On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including Donald Trump's reinstatement to Facebook, and Adam Schiff's removal from the House Intelligence Committee. Andrew Arthur - Former Immigration Judge, Center for Immigration Studies | Radical Left Immigration Policies, Polls on Legal Immigration, and Mexican Drug CartelsDavid Horowitz - Writer, Author, and Conservative | Biden's Border Crisis is Criminal, Trickle Down Communism, and January 6th LiesIn the first hour, Lee spoke with Andrew Arthur about the financial boom for Mexican cartels, MS 13 in Maryland, and Barack Obama's past immigration enforcement policies. Andrew talked about the Biden administration officials who have compared US immigration to Jim Crow and the humanitarian disaster at the Southern border. Andrew commented on Mayor Eric Adam's plea for federal help with migrants in NYC.In the second hour, Lee spoke with David Horowitz about his new book Final Battle:The Next Election Could Be the Last, California ruined by the left. David criticized President Biden for his crimes at the Southern border and how the left has normalized communist policies. David talked about the Democrats' hate for the US Constitution and violence on property.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.*Facebook is banned in Russia over extremist activities. maryland Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Lee Stranahan https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png Lee Stranahan https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Lee Stranahan https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png maryland, classified documents, communism, january 6, antifa, tanks, , radio https://sputnikglobe.com/20230126/canada-finds-new-potential-mass-burial-at-ex-school-for-indigenous-children-media-reports-1106717483.html Canada Finds New Potential Mass Burial at Ex-School for Indigenous Children, Media Reports Canada Finds New Potential Mass Burial at Ex-School for Indigenous Children, Media Reports At least 66 more potential unmarked graves have been discovered at a site of a former boarding school for Indigenous children in the westernmost Canadian province of British Columbia 2023-01-26T07:27+0000 2023-01-26T07:27+0000 2023-01-26T07:27+0000 americas canada mass graves indigenous peoples /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/06/08/1083102443_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_40ef39e52600f43673d1985a27a44399.jpg Schools of this kind were established in Canada by the Indian Civilization Act of 1819 and existed through the 1960s to culturally assimilate Indigenous children by relocating them from their families and communities and forcibly suppressing their native identities, languages and beliefs. One of the local tribes found a potential burial place at the site of the boarding school 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) away from the city of Williams Lake. The school operated from 1886-1981 under the control of the Catholic Church and later was managed by the federal government, the news broadcaster reported. More than 150,000 children studied in such schools in Canada. At least 3,200 pupils died as a result of ill-treatment and absence of care in these boarding schools. In May 2021, the remains of 215 children aged three and over were found in British Columbia at the site of a former Indigenous boarding school. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has condemned the practice of establishment of such institutions and called it a "tragedy." https://sputnikglobe.com/20210607/cultural-genocide-looking-back-at-canadas-indigenous-residential-schools-1083089913.html americas canada 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 canada, mass graves, indigeneous people, mass burial at canada https://sputnikglobe.com/20230126/death-toll-in-vessel-incident-off-japans-coast-rises-to-8-says-chinese-consulate-general-1106727162.html Death Toll in Vessel Incident Off Japan's Coast Rises to 8, Says Chinese Consulate-General Death Toll in Vessel Incident Off Japan's Coast Rises to 8, Says Chinese Consulate-General The number of crew members killed when a Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship sank off the Japanese coast has increased to eight, said the Chinese consulate-general in Japan's city of Fukuoka. 2023-01-26T11:59+0000 2023-01-26T11:59+0000 2023-01-26T11:59+0000 jeju island sinking investigation death toll chinese asia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107973/85/1079738549_0:102:2000:1227_1920x0_80_0_0_afcb99591cf6f80c019f090b05ab5701.jpg The incident occurred on Wednesday about 110 kilometers west of Japan's Danjo Islands in the East China Sea. The Jin Tian cargo ship with 22 crew members aboard 14 Chinese and eight Myanmarese was en route to South Korea's city of Incheon from Malaysia.Lyu confirmed to Chinese broadcaster that 13 crew members had been retrieved as of Thursday, five of whom were in a stable condition. Eight people have been confirmed dead, including six Chinese citizens, the official added.The consulate-general also expressed deep condolences to the victims and pledged to arrange the return of rescued Chinese nationals back home in the coming days. The Japanese Coast Guard and their South Korean counterparts continue joint search and rescue operations. Lyu asked Tokyo to make every effort to search for the other nine missing crew members. jeju island 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 jin tian cargo ship incident, jin tian cargo ship sank, jeju island ship incident 2023, how many died in jin tian incident, ship sank near japanese island why Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin announced two new funding programs aimed at promoting homeownership opportunities for city residents. Part of the new funding will aid senior citizens through a $1.25 million Homeownership Preservation Fund, which will provide forgivable loans of up to $10,000 to Hartford homeowners over the age of 65. We want to make sure that seniors who own a home in Hartford and who have given themselves to this community for so long, who want to stay in their homes but may just lack the resources to do the repairs, are able to get a little help. We dont want them to be forced into the choice of abandoning their homes or letting them deteriorate, Bronin said at a press conference on Monday in Hartford. Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, flanked by city leaders, announces two new funding programs aimed at promoting homeownership in the city. (Photo by Stephen Underwood) The initiative aims to help senior citizens remain in their homes by financing needed exterior home improvements. Were really prioritizing repairs to the exterior of homes, Bronin said. When a neighborhood sees a property in decline and the investment being made, it doesnt just make a difference for the home being fixed but for the whole neighborhood. Its an expression of confidence for that neighborhood and encourages others to make similar investments to their own properties. In order to qualify for the program, residents must be age 65 and have income up to 80% of area median income or around $24,000 for an individual or $36,000 for a household. Most seniors on a fixed income will be eligible for the program, Bronin said. We acknowledge the need for seniors to stay in their homes probably far exceeds what were able to dedicate to this program for now. But we want to build it, see if it works, and if we have the ability to expand it in the future, we will do that. In addition, a separate $1.25 million forgivable loan program has been established to provide up to $10,000 in down-payment assistance for municipal employees who purchase a home within the city. We want to make sure that those who are serving our community can live in our community, Bronin said. We hope this extra money will help get some families over that threshold to afford a down payment and buy a home in Hartford and make it their home. Bronin said both programs are critical to keeping homeowner occupancy rates stable in the city while making it an attractive place to buy a home. Hartford currently has around a 25% homeowner occupancy rate, according to Bronin. Its one of the lowest in the state and indeed probably the region. Thats why its so important for those homeowners that we have to keep them here by making it a little easier for them and for others to become homeowners in our community, Bronin said. The application will be rolled out later this week, according to Brian Mathews, director of Housing for Hartford. On the Hartford housing division site, the application will be listed under rehab programs, Mathews said. Under homeownership, in the same section, we will have the new program for city employees as well. So we will have everything up on the website in short order. Probably by the end of the week. Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com https://sputnikglobe.com/20230126/france-recalls-its-envoy-from-burkina-faso-for-consultations-following-decision-to-withdraw-troops-1106717081.html France Recalls Its Envoy From Burkina Faso For Consultations Following Decision to Withdraw Troops France Recalls Its Envoy From Burkina Faso For Consultations Following Decision to Withdraw Troops Earlier in the week, amid deteriorating relations between France and Burkina Faso, the official Burkinabe news agency said Ouagadougou had formally suspended a... 26.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-26T07:36+0000 2023-01-26T07:36+0000 2023-01-26T09:31+0000 africa west africa burkina faso france ambassador troop withdrawal /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/1a/1106717747_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_1e3595fb64b47b09bed4222b49fda270.jpg Paris has recalled its envoy from Ouagadougou for consultations, the French foreign ministry said on Thursday, one day after France announced its plans to pull out its military troops from Burkina Faso.On Wednesday, the French ministry said that Paris is going to pull out its military personnel from the former French colony in February after Ouagadougou suspended a 2018 military cooperation agreement that allowed French troops to remain.The ministry noted that Paris received the notification on January 24, which means that about 400 French troops have to be gone from the West African country as soon as February.The development came in the wake of demonstrations taking place in Ouagadougou demanding the departure of Frances envoy to Burkina Faso, Luc Hallade, as well as French troops stationed at the Kamboinsin military base in the Burkinabe capital. Demonstrators cited Frances involvement in the African nations affairs and its failure to improve security issues in the country. Frances Withdrawal From the Sahel Frances withdrawal from Burkina Faso comes about five months after the French government completed the pull-out of its troops from neighboring Mali, which is also situated in the Sahel region and shares Burkina Fasos jihadist security threat. In 2014, Paris launched an anti-terrorist mission in Mali called Operation Barkhane. Since 2014, the operation has expanded the French presence to approximately 5,500 troops in several of the former French colonies of the Sahel region, including Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania, and Niger. These nations have been worst affected by the jihadist insurgency that has plagued the Sahel region since 2011. Operation Barkhane was formally wrapped up in November 2022 after the withdrawal of French troops in August of that year in the wake of relations between Mali and France becoming strained after the 2021 coup in the West African state. The pull-out was preceded by protests against the French presence in Mali and accusations by the Malian government that Paris supported terrorist groups inside the African country by providing them with intelligence, arms and ammunition. Later, France's Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said that the French military had proved unable to successfully participate in wide-scale operations. Protesting France's presence in the region has recently become a regular fashion in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, where anti-French demonstrators believe that France is not the ideal partner to assist in their nations fight against terrorism. We are Burkina Faso, an independent country. Burkina Faso is a sovereign country, said a participant of a recent anti-French demonstration that took place in Ouagadougou on January 20, as quoted by local media.According to the demonstrators, Pariss failure to address the ongoing insecurity in the region and its involvement in the former colonies internal affairs have been reasons for rising anti-French sentiment among the public in the countries of the region. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230114/frances-10-year-war-in-sahel-colonialism-legacy-regime-changes--control-over-uranium-1106311201.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20221125/france-has-its-own-interests-in-sahel-doesnt-care-about-malians-security-historian-says-1104672734.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20221210/burkina-faso-to-employ-volunteers-raise-150-million-euros-to-fund-war-against-terrorist-insurgency-1105332665.html africa west africa burkina faso france Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Muhammad Nooh Osman https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/0e/1080170965_2:0:2050:2048_100x100_80_0_0_1de8233c87df0979e7e74f61b6ffacad.jpg Muhammad Nooh Osman https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/0e/1080170965_2:0:2050:2048_100x100_80_0_0_1de8233c87df0979e7e74f61b6ffacad.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Muhammad Nooh Osman https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/0e/1080170965_2:0:2050:2048_100x100_80_0_0_1de8233c87df0979e7e74f61b6ffacad.jpg west africa, burkina faso, france, ambassador, troop withdrawal https://sputnikglobe.com/20230126/group-suspected-of-operating-slave-labor-cannabis-farms-detained-in-london-1106711113.html Group Suspected of Operating Slave Labor Cannabis Farms Detained in London Group Suspected of Operating Slave Labor Cannabis Farms Detained in London The UK National Crime Agency (NCA) has apprehended a criminal group in London suspected of using modern slavery victims to operate cannabis farms, states agency's press office. 2023-01-26T04:45+0000 2023-01-26T04:45+0000 2023-01-26T04:49+0000 world uk uk national crime agency (nca) london cannabis slavery /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/04/0f/1094802035_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_80bdd473076dc45eed8baf698ac8b8df.jpg The NCA said that those arrested are suspected of setting up cannabis farms, and trafficking victims between them to work. They remain in custody and are being questioned. The agency added that the recent operation follows an operation in April 2022, when NCA officers uncovered a huge cannabis farm operating out of an industrial unit in Stroud, Gloucestershire. According to the statement, the agency's officers then found "three suspected victims of modern slavery, all Vietnamese nationals, working at the premises." The agency added that 500 cannabis plants worth some $496,000 have been recovered and destroyed. London police have earlier detained 170 people in the UK's capital in a three-day raid targeting criminal groups. The police seized 30 weapons, including 30 knives, 40 drugs, 66 cars, and 5,700 pounds (approximately 7,068) in cash. https://sputnikglobe.com/20220929/former-uk-slavery-tsar-warns-against-lifting-limits-on-foreign-fruit-pickers-1101341272.html london Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International uk national crime agency found cannabis farm 2023, nca cannabis case, cases of modern slavery in uk, vietnamese slaves growing cannabis london 2023 https://sputnikglobe.com/20230126/is-boeing-to-confront-fraud-charges-or-will-washington-intervene-at-the-eleventh-hour-1106737012.html Is Boeing to Confront Fraud Charges or Will Washington Intervene at the Eleventh Hour? Is Boeing to Confront Fraud Charges or Will Washington Intervene at the Eleventh Hour? Boeing is being charged with conspiracy to commit fraud related to the crashes of two 737 Max commercial planes in Indonesia in 2018 and Ethiopia in 2019... 26.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-26T17:12+0000 2023-01-26T17:12+0000 2023-01-26T17:44+0000 sputnik explains us boeing boeing 737 ethiopia ethiopian airlines crash fraud us government barack obama /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/1b/1105817708_0:140:3147:1910_1920x0_80_0_0_9961b9c954eb7f35bbff5f0e9d6e2066.jpg US airline maker Boeing has been forced to testify in a Texas federal court this January 26 over two fatal accidents from 2018 and 2019. It faces charges of conspiracy to commit fraud.The trial comes after District Judge Reed OConnor of Fort Worth overturned the planemakers January 2021 immunity deal with the US Justice Department (DoJ).On October 29, 2018, a Lion Air-operated Boeing 737 Max 8 ditched into the Java Sea just minutes after taking off from the Indonesian capital of Jakarta. The crash claimed the lives of 189 people.Five months later, a Boeing 737 Max 8 operated by Ethiopian Airlines crashed on March 10, 2019, after taking off from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, killing all 157 people on board. Both tragedies were attributed to flaws in the flight control system known as the maneuvering characteristics augmentation system (MCAS) on the 737 Max aircraft. MCAS was supposed to evaluate sensor data and push the planes nose down to keep it from stalling if it rose too high. Reportedly, in both tragic cases sensor failures sent the aircraft into a nosedive the pilots were unable to prevent.Boeing admitted in court documents that it deceived the Federal Aviation Administrations Aircraft Evaluation Group (FAA AEG) about the working of the MCAS. Because of this deception, a key document published by the FAA AEG lacked information about MCAS, and in turn, airplane manuals and pilot-training materials for US-based airlines lacked orientations about the system. Pilots flying the 737 MAX for Boeings airline customers were not provided with any information about MCAS in their manuals and training materials, either.Following the two crashes, the FAA AEG learned that MCAS may have played a role in the accident and also learned that Boeing concealed important information about the malfunctioning system from the regulator. To save face, Boeing entered into an agreement with the US DoJ in January 2021 to resolve a criminal charge related to a conspiracy to defraud the FAA AEG. The company was ordered to pay $2.5 billion in penalties and compensations.Two years later, US District Court Judge Reed O'Connor of the Northern District of Texas reopened the case, explaining his decision by the fact that the victims families were not included in the $2.5 billion settlement deal, which would be mandatory under the Crime Victims Rights Act.O'Connor also ruled that "the crime victims' representatives" would be heard "at or in advance of the proceeding." He also stressed that Boeing "has no right to waive its appearance," meaning that the company will be formally charged in court and will have to plead guilty or not guilty.Unusual Rebuttal from US GovernmentHowever, an unusual government rebuttal of the Ethiopian Accident Investigation Bureau's (EAIB) December 2022 report related to the 2019 crash popped up in the US mainstream media earlier this week.According to the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Ethiopian investigators report into the Boeing 737 Max crash outside Addis Ababa in 2019 falsely claimed the plane had an electrical failure.Even though US investigators generally agreed that a flawed design in the 737 Max pushed the plane's nose down, the NTSB insisted that the Ethiopian Airlines Group crew had been told how to counteract a failure of MCAS after the October 2018 crash of the Indonesian plane. According to the agency, the Ethiopian pilots failed to follow procedure.On top of that, NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy accused Ethiopians of "not operating in good faith with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) rules.""[W]e feel that we have to be very public where we think there were inaccuracies in the report and where we think it could be more comprehensive," Homendy told the US mainstream media.Earlier, the French Bureau of Investigation and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety which participated in the investigation into the 2019 crash also subjected the Ethiopian findings to criticism, accusing their African peers of allegedly erasing from its transcript of the cockpit recorder comments made by a copilot apparently showing he was confused.US-Boeing Special RelationshipIt's not the first time that the US government has stepped forward to shield Boeing. In September 2010, the World Trade Organizations Dispute Settlement Body released an interim report saying that Boeing had received illegal US government and state subsidies. The suit against Boeing was filed by the EU in October 2004 on the very same day that the US initiated a WTO dispute against the European bloc for subsidies granted to Airbus. The trade face-off lasted for 17 years until Washington and Brussels resolved the dispute in June 2021.The US government has a good reason to fight for Boeing. The company is one of the largest global aerospace manufacturers. It's also one of the largest defense contractors in the world, and the largest exporter in the United States. Boeing pays hefty taxes and spends a lot on lobbying. According to OpenSecrets, Boeing forked out a whopping $9.1 million for lobbying in 2022, while in 2019, it spent $15.1 million lobbying the federal government.Furthermore, Boeing has long maintained close ties with US top government officials. Speaking to Sputnik in November 2017, US peace activist Jan R. Weinberg lamented the US establishment's "revolving door" culture. To illustrate his point, Weinberg noted that then-US President Barack Obama assigned CEOs from Boeing, GE and Lockheed Martin to serve on his trade and employment advisory councils while they simultaneously served on the Business Roundtable, which is a very influential lobbying organization in its own right.Thus, Boeing CEO James McNerney, the Business Roundtable Chairman, served at the same time as a member of the President's Export Council, whose main purpose was to advise on trade agreements, under Obama.According to Weinberg, Obama's successor Donald Trump did virtually the same, opening the doors to US influential business contractors. For instance, Trump tapped a former Boeing executive, Patrick M. Shanahan, as acting defense secretary, and allowed Boeing chief executive Dennis Muilenburg to sit in on a phone call to an Air Force general managing the Department of Defense's (DoD) largest weapons program.In March 2019, a US mainstream outlet acknowledged that Washington had maintained a "special relationship" with Boeing. Equally, it affirmed that US presidents "advocated" for the interests of "the national champion" for decades by flying on primarily two Boeing VC-25As that serve as Air Force One.In addition, Boeing's role as one of the US largest defense contractors has taken on a new significance amid Washington's armament spree in Ukraine. In August 2022, the company received a $5 billion-worth Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) System Integration, Test, and Readiness (SITR) contract award from the Missile Defense Agency.Given all of the above, it raises questions about whether District Judge Reed OConnor will take a hardball stance with regard to the influential company's reported negligence or will let it off the hook. https://sputnikglobe.com/20220922/boeing-charged-with-misleading-investors-over-737-max-safety-fined-200mn-1101107081.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20210215/ethiopian-airlines-reconciles-on-737-max-deals-as-carrier-set-to-ink-amicable-settlement-with-1082081837.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20210622/boeing-737-crashes-us-reportedly-opens-500-million-victim-compensation-fund-1083213728.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20210109/a-timeline-of-the-ill-fated-boeing-737-max-1081715043.html ethiopia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova 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 Ekaterina Blinova boeing's fraud case, boeing 737 max crash, what is mcas, ethiopian airlines, lion air, crime victims rights act, district judge reed oconnor, boeing hearings in texas https://sputnikglobe.com/20230126/japan-successfully-launches-new-surveillance-satellite-into-orbit---mhi-launch-services-1106710969.html Japan Successfully Launches New Surveillance Satellite Into Orbit - MHI Launch Services Japan Successfully Launches New Surveillance Satellite Into Orbit - MHI Launch Services Japan's aerospace exploration agency JAXA on Thursday successfully launched an H-IIA Launch Vehicle to put the new IGS-Radar 7 reconnaissance satellite into orbit, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Launch Services said. 2023-01-26T03:27+0000 2023-01-26T03:27+0000 2023-04-12T16:58+0000 science & tech japan's aerospace exploration agency (jaxa) surveillance launch japan space /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107793/68/1077936853_1:0:1919:1079_1920x0_80_0_0_1fa057f7e650fea4d8fa55fd9ee0343b.jpg "Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has launched the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 46 at 10:50 [a.m. local time, 01:50 GMT] on Jan. 26, 2023 JST from the Tanegashima Space Center," MHI Launch Services tweeted. According to the company, the satellite has already successfully separated from the rocket. IGS-Radar 7 is a new reconnaissance satellite developed by Mitsubishi Electric. The satellite is a part of the Japanese government's Information Gathering Satellite (IGS) reconnaissance satellite launch program, the main goal of which is to ensure the country's independence in obtaining satellite information. Currently, Japan has several optical reconnaissance and radar satellites in orbit. Optical satellites survey the Earth, including military targets, during the day and radar satellites monitor the Earth's surface at night or in conditions of poor visibility. japan Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International japan, surveillance satellite, orbit, space, launch France to 'Respond' to Kiev's Request to Supply Air Defense Systems - Foreign Minister PARIS (Sputnik) - France will respond to Ukraine's request for the supply of air defense systems, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said on Thursday. "Today, the main need of Ukraine in terms of military equipment is air defense systems. This was again reminded yesterday by the Ukrainian defense minister. And I can tell you that we will respond to this request," Colonna said at a joint press conference with her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, held in the Ukrainian city of Odesa. On Wednesday, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that air defense systems were Ukraine's number one priority. On Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron said he did not rule out any options in terms of further arms supplies to Ukraine, including sending Leclerc tanks. On Wednesday, the United States announced it would send 31 Abrams tanks to Kiev, which would constitute a Ukrainian tank battalion. The announcement came hours after Germany committed to providing 14 Leopard tanks to Ukraine after being repeatedly pushed to do so by its EU and NATO allies. In April 2022, Moscow sent a note to NATO member states condemning their military assistance to Kiev after Russia started its military operation in Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that any arms shipments on Ukrainian territory would be "legitimate targets" for Russian forces. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230126/man-suspected-of-sending-letter-bombs-to-ukrainian-embassy-detained-in-spain-1106710217.html Man Suspected of Sending Letter Bombs to Ukrainian Embassy Detained in Spain Man Suspected of Sending Letter Bombs to Ukrainian Embassy Detained in Spain A 74-year-old man was detained in Spain on Wednesday on suspicion of sending envelopes with explosive substances, including to the US and Ukrainian embassies in Madrid, media reported. 2023-01-26T00:49+0000 2023-01-26T00:49+0000 2023-01-26T04:37+0000 world europe spain ukrainian embassy russian embassy arrest detention /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/1a/1106710071_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_f06a88773f632d749b6d634c84fc3b0b.jpg The detainee is a pensioner from Spain's northern city of Miranda de Ebro in Burgos province, Spanish TV reported. Until his retirement, the man worked as a civil servant in the city council of Vitoria-Gasteiz. In recent years, he has not been officially associated with any political group. The suspect does not have any links to any political groups in Russia, Spanish press said later on Wednesday. He is expected to stand trial on January 27. The court will consider the case as a possible terrorism offense, the report said, adding that the man will be tried as the perpetrator of all the mailings. On Sunday, US press claimed reported that Russian security service officers had allegedly coordinated supporters of white supremacist groups to mail bomb parcels in Spain. The Russian embassy, in turn, said that Spanish media were very actively promoting this article, although it did not contain any evidence. The Russian Embassy in Spain said on Wednesday that the detention of the Spaniard demonstrated the Russophobic nature of some Western media. In November and December 2022, a total of six letters with explosive devices inside were discovered in Spain. They were, in particular, addressed to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Defense Minister Margarita Robles, and the US and the Ukrainian embassy in Madrid. One employee of the diplomatic facility was injured as a result of the incident involving the letter. Representatives of the Spanish law enforcement agencies have said they had no evidence of Russia's involvement in the crimes. Moscow has also denied all allegations it was behind the incidents. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230123/russian-embassy-in-spain-nyt-article-on-gru-links-to-explosive-mail-crimes-fantasy-1106629797.html spain 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 suspect, letter bombs, ukrainian embassy, spain, detention https://sputnikglobe.com/20230126/member-of-eu-parliament-calls-for-switch-to-war-economy-1106721454.html EU Lawmaker Calls for Switch to War Economy EU Lawmaker Calls for Switch to War Economy Manfred Weber, leader of the European People's Party, the largest in the European Parliament, on Thursday said that the European Union needs to switch to war economy against the backdrop of the Ukrainian crisis. 2023-01-26T10:25+0000 2023-01-26T10:25+0000 2023-01-26T12:00+0000 world european parliament arms supplies manfred weber /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/0d/1105404731_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_d5551c81e13c5f255754404188214e7a.jpg European countries are currently unable to quickly provide the necessary weapons "neither for their own defense, nor for Ukraine." In this regard the EU countries should increase their capacities for the production of weapons and ammunition, he said. Weber added that he was disappointed by the recent German-French talks, which resulted in "nothing concrete." In his opinion, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron have not yet been able to respond to "historical challenges." In April 2022, Moscow sent a note to NATO member states condemning their military assistance to Kiev after Russia started its military operation in Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that any arms shipments on Ukrainian territory would be "legitimate targets" for Russian forces. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has also warned that pumping Ukraine with weapons was not conducive to peace negotiations and would have a detrimental effect on the conflict. 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 european parliament, arms supplies, war econony in eurozone, military economy https://sputnikglobe.com/20230126/mtg-reportedly-looking-to-serve-as-trumps-running-mate-in-2024-election-bid-1106709284.html MTG Reportedly Looking to Serve as Trump's Running Mate in 2024 Election Bid MTG Reportedly Looking to Serve as Trump's Running Mate in 2024 Election Bid The firebrand Representative has long been a darling of the far-right but has been making inroads with the establishment wing of the Republican Party recently. 2023-01-26T00:14+0000 2023-01-26T00:14+0000 2023-01-26T00:08+0000 americas marjorie taylor greene kevin mccarthy donald trump /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/04/16/1094981242_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_8dc22751a565c24ca8dc9269f371da15.jpg US Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) wants to be former US President Donald Trumps running mate in 2024, according to people who have talked to her about her plans.Another source who spoke on the condition of anonymity to NBC News told the outlet that Greenes whole vision is to be vice president.The source further adds that Greene has been attempting to reposition herself as someone who can work with both the establishment and far-right wings of the Republican party. The source says those moves were made to make her more palpable as a running mate.Greene surprised many when she supported Kevin McCarthys bid to become House speaker, as most expected her to side with the House Freedom Caucus, which had been trying to block McCarthys speakership.After McCarthy was elected, he appointed Greene to two high-profile legislative committee assignments: Homeland Security and Oversight and Accountability. The second will allow her to participate in investigations of the Biden administration. She was also appointed to the panel that will investigate the governments response to the COVID-19 pandemic.Trump has had a falling out with his previous running mate and Vice President Mike Pence after Pence refused to go along with Trumps attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Trump, who announced his third presidential bid in November, has not hinted who he is leaning towards as a running mate should he secure the nomination, but Pence has not been thought to be among the potential candidates.Trump remains the favorite in national GOP polls, but Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been gaining momentum lately.Adding to Greenes credentials is that she has proven to be an effective fundraiser. During the 2022 midterm election cycle, Greene raised a little under $12.5 million, putting her in the top ten of all 2022 candidates in the House.But Greene has turned off some, even in her party, largely due to statements she made prior to running for office. Greene has shown a penchant for promoting some of the wildest conspiracy theories on the internet, including an antisemitic theory that space lasers, supposedly funded by the Rothschilds, started wildfires in California in 2018.She has also promoted the so-called QAnon conspiracy theory that Democratic politicians are covering up and participating in a global pedophile ring.Earlier this month, Greene admitted she had been sucked into conspiracies by things she read on the internet, and that she did not campaign on those ideas.Also in 2018, before running for office, Greene said in a Facebook* post that Rep. Nancy Pelosi was guilty of treason, and noted that treason is punishable by death. Critics said the post was inciting violence against the former House speaker.Because of those and other comments, the House voted to remove Greene from her committee assignments in 2021. Eleven Republicans joined every House Democrat in voting for Greene to be censured. McCarthy, who at the time was the House minority leader, fought against holding the vote and voted in support of Greene.That may have been the start of a political alliance between McCarthy and Greene.*Facebook has been banned in Russia for extremist activities https://sputnikglobe.com/20221208/desantis-takes-lead-over-trump-in-new-post-midterms-poll-1105257217.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ian DeMartino Ian DeMartino 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 Ian DeMartino mtg, marjorie taylor greene, donald trump, vice president pick, running mate https://sputnikglobe.com/20230126/nord-stream-blasts-may-have-affected-baltic-cod-stocks-sweden-says-1106711281.html Nord Stream Blasts May Have Affected Baltic Cod Stocks, Sweden Says Nord Stream Blasts May Have Affected Baltic Cod Stocks, Sweden Says Fish caught in the vicinity of the leaks had signs of exposure to methane, the main constituent of natural gas, in their gills. 2023-01-26T05:27+0000 2023-01-26T05:27+0000 2023-01-26T05:27+0000 nord stream sabotage scandinavia news sweden baltic sea nord stream fish /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/09/1d/1101346542_0:44:839:516_1920x0_80_0_0_e291252f9a9c4c28bc6fce9ff4486ffc.jpg The sabotage of Nord Stream pipelines may have affected the Baltic cod stocks, Swedens State Veterinary Institute (SVA) has said in its recent analysis.Having compared fish caught in the vicinity of the leaks with that caught outside of the affected area, the researchers noticed a possible side effect of exposure to methane, the main constituent of natural gas.According to the SVA, the sample of the analysis (a total of 29 fish) is too small for detailed conclusions, but the deviations may nevertheless be caused by methane replacing oxygen in the water.The coming spring, the SVA will follow up on the findings by including gills checks in the regular monitoring of the cod stock.At the end of September, four leaks were discovered on the gas pipelines Nord Stream 1 and 2 that ran between Russia and Germany through the Baltic Sea following what was later determined to be an act of industrial sabotage. Large amounts of methane poured out of the destroyed pipelines, and shortly after the blasts, levels were measured up to a thousand times higher than normal. Four months later, the levels dropped considerably. A subsequent analysis by the University of Gothenburg showed that the levels at the beginning of January were around five times higher than normal.The blasts halted deliveries of affordable Russian gas to Europe ahead of the cold season, prompting a gas price hike and a scramble for alternative sources across the European Union.Germany, Denmark and Sweden each launched separate investigations into the suspected sabotage, amid reported trust issues between the three EU nations. The Russian Chief Prosecutor's Office opened an inquiry on suspicion of international terrorism as well. According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, the investigation of the terrorist attacks cannot be considered reliable and objective unless Moscow takes part in the probe.However, Sweden notably refused to include Russia in its investigation or disclose its findings, prompting a harsh reply from Zakharova. Withholding the established facts irrefutably testifies to the obvious: the Swedish authorities are hiding something, Zakharova concluded earlier in January. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221222/russia-wont-allow-inconvenient-truth-about-nord-stream-blasts-to-be-swept-under-the-rug-1105689711.html scandinavia sweden baltic sea Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Igor Kuznetsov Igor Kuznetsov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Igor Kuznetsov nord stream blasts, act of terrorism, industrial sabotage, baltic sea, natural gas https://sputnikglobe.com/20230126/poland-initiates-resolution-on-germanys-wwii-reparations-in-council-of-europe-1106735190.html Poland Initiates Resolution on Germany's WWII Reparations in Council of Europe Poland Initiates Resolution on Germany's WWII Reparations in Council of Europe Poland initiated in the Council of Europe the adoption of a resolution on Germany's payment of reparations to Polish citizens affected by World War II, Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk said on Thursday. 2023-01-26T15:58+0000 2023-01-26T15:58+0000 2023-01-26T15:58+0000 world poland warsaw reparations /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0b/15/1104489920_0:0:3077:1731_1920x0_80_0_0_7a704fff6f6f4ececdaacb9350704f51.jpg According to Mularczyk, the draft resolution touches upon the implementation of the right to reparations for Polish citizens, as well as the "lack of access to a judicial path and fair trial on these issues." The deputy foreign minister added that the draft document was signed by 35 lawmakers from 11 Council of Europe member states. At the same time, Mularczyk pointed out the "asymmetry" of reparation payments to citizens affected by World War II. Mularczyk added that Poland expected this issue to become the subject of consideration by the Council of Europe and end with a report calling on Germany to "correct its legislation" and pay reparations. In September 2022, Warsaw demanded 6.2 trillion zlotys ($1.4 trillion) from Germany as reparations for damage from World War II. In early October, Warsaw sent a corresponding note to Berlin. After that, Poland appealed to a number of countries and international organizations, including UNESCO and the United Nations, with a request to help it receive wartime reparations from Germany. Germany said the Polish government had relinquished all demands for reparations under the agreement of 1953. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230104/polands-wwii-reparations-demands-of-germany-constitute-extortion-at-uss-behest-analyst-suggests-1106036031.html poland warsaw Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International poland, warsaw, war reparations, poland`s wwii reparations demands The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is abuzz with jokes, issues and songs that are as clever as its snappy young spellers. Whiny, silly, crazy and vaguely adorable school kids compete in the local spelling bee. Some are little tyrants. Others are scared to death but know theyre good at this. Some have been pushed into the tournament by their parents, whom they wish wouldnt hover so. Others wish their parents could have shown up to root for them. The setup is irresistible. This small-cast, big-voiced musical was all the rage a few years ago. It had a decent New York run in 2005, but where the show really took hold was at small theaters, regional theaters, community theaters and school theaters. Locally, thereve been productions in every county in Connecticut, from ACT of CT in Ridgefield to Center Stage in Shelton to Connecticut Repertory Theatre in Storrs, as well as at schools bold enough to tackle such tricky teen topics as puberty, poor parenting and incompetent vice principals. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a fine choice for the charming and boisterous Seven Angels in Waterbury, which knows its audiences well and makes sure they have a good time. Some judicious cuts have been made in the script to condense some of the students backstories and speed the spelling bee action. The energy is high, the voices are clear, the comedy ranges from corny to cutting to clever. There are word games, confessions, victories and defeats. On a small scale, this show delivers a lot. Its possible to do The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee without it being as constantly loud and shouty as it is here, though such a grand, take-no-prisoners approach actually works quite well for Seven Angels. Its also not necessary for the shows co-director, Marissa Follo Perry, to sit in the audience shrieking in laughter at jokes shes heard dozens of times in a transparent attempt to goose the audiences reactions but thats what she was doing Saturday night. The other co-director, Jimmy Donohue doubles as a cast member, setting the furious pace as William Barfee, the outwardly overconfident (yet inwardly insecure) champion who spells with his feet. Donohue is joined by five other obstreperous youth types who complement each other well: Katie Brunetto as Logainne, the politically active teen with two nagging daddies; Michael Newman as Chip, the good scout whos subject to some fresh distractions now that hes maturing; Rosalie Corry Pena as Olive the fragile flower child whose mother is in India on a self-discovery journey; Jonathan Zalaski as Leaf, the self-styled wild child who makes his own clothes and spells perfectly when hes in a trance; and Holly Lorusso as the overachieving, overwhelmed Marcy. Jimmy Donohue as William Barfee and Rosalie Corry Pena as Olive Ostrovsky in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The students are played here by young adults who are clearly beyond their high school years, which gives the show a sort of Youre a Good Man, Charlie Brown edge. Most of them stomp around petulantly, proclaiming their prowess at spelling. There are two main adults in the piece who run the bee. As Vice Principal Douglas Panch, John Ozerhoski has the ideal deadpan manner for the role, a sober demeanor at odds with just about everyone else onstage. He also transitions neatly into brief stints as one of Logainnes dads. As local realtor and long-ago local spelling champ Rona Lisa Peretti, Alyssa Bunuel is as bubbly as the kids are hyperactive. Another grown-up whos onstage for virtually the whole show is Moses Beck as Mitch, an ex-convict doing community service by handing out kind words and juice boxes to the losing contestants. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee has its roots in a full-length improv piece devised by the theater collective The Farm, whose founder Rebecca Feldman gets a conceived by credit for the show. The script is by Rachel Sheinkin with additional material by original cast member Jay Weiss. A fun, risky improv element remains in the scripted musical. Several of the spelling contestants in the first act of the show are chosen from the audience, and Seven Angels has amped up that element by having a local celebrity be one of the chosen. On Saturday it was Waterbury Republican-American theater columnist Nancy Sasso Janis. Among the upcoming celebs are Carmen Romeo from Fascias Chocolates on Feb. 3 and Seven Angels artistic director Semina DeLaurentis on Feb. 5. The participating audience members have genuine roles in the proceeding, asked to spell and cheer and dance. Some of the jokes (many of which emerge in the word definitions) can be coarse or corny or even racist, and one students horniness becomes an important plot point, but generally, this is a mainstream family-friendly show about how tough it can be to be a kid and how adults arent all that better off. The humor is all over the place, but the songs are grounded and gorgeous. The music and lyrics by William Finn, whose other well-known show is Falsettos, are catchy and memorable in the way show tunes are supposed to be. Finn knows how to repeat a lyric or a melody so it firmly takes hold, but his work is rich and complex. The full-cast harmony-filled numbers come off as powerful as oratorios. As with most musicals at Seven Angels, the band kicks as hard as a small club rock combo, in part due to drummer Mark Ryan. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, has a rough charm, a touch of classroom chic and some unexpectedly beautiful songs that rise from all the wordy din. This unassuming musical will introduce you to words youve never heard before, and even tell you what they mean. It will make you root for underdogs and even overdogs. It will remind you of the anxieties but also the glories of school competitions. It will amuse you for a spell. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee runs through Feb. 5 at Seven Angels Theatre, 1 Plank Rd., Waterbury. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. $25. 7atheatre.org/spelling-bee. Reach reporter Christopher Arnott at carnott@courant.com. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230126/poland-to-receive-first-abrams-tanks-this-spring-1106718810.html Poland to Receive First Abrams Tanks This Spring Poland to Receive First Abrams Tanks This Spring Poland will start receiving its first heavy US Abrams tanks this spring to replenish its depleted weapons stocks, with a total of 58 tanks contracted to arrive this year 2023-01-26T08:42+0000 2023-01-26T08:42+0000 2023-01-26T08:43+0000 military poland abrams tanks warsaw /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/19/1106700896_0:176:2001:1301_1920x0_80_0_0_87bb47876fe594fcbf65d967bc6ab654.jpg The defense minister also said that a total of 58 Abrams tanks would be delivered to Poland in 2023. Blaszczak added that the initial batches would include old generation heavy tanks, which have already been in use, to replenish the shortfalls after Poland sent its T-72 battle tanks to Ukraine. In April 2022, Poland signed a contract with the US to receive 250 of the M1A2 heavy Abrams tanks and 300 second-hand 4x4 Cougar armored vehicles in place of the armaments it sent to the Ukrainians. Earlier in January, Warsaw signed a deal with Washington to buy an additional 116 Abrams main battle tanks. Western countries ramped up their military support for Ukraine after Russia launched a special military operation there on February 24, 2022, responding to calls for help from the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. 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 forces. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230118/west-pledges-main-battle-tanks-to-kiev-but-will-it-be-a-game-changer-1106470433.html poland warsaw Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International poland, warsaw, abrams tanks, m1 abrams tanks https://sputnikglobe.com/20230126/report-uk-not-mulling-supply-of-military-aircraft-to-ukraine-seeing-it-too-escalatory-1106710737.html Report: UK Not Mulling Supply of Military Aircraft to Ukraine Seeing It 'Too Escalatory' Report: UK Not Mulling Supply of Military Aircraft to Ukraine Seeing It 'Too Escalatory' The United Kingdom is not considering the deliveries of military aircraft to Ukraine as this would be "too escalatory," The Telegraph reported on Wednesday, citing Royal Air Force sources. 2023-01-26T02:22+0000 2023-01-26T02:22+0000 2023-01-26T02:16+0000 military us uk military aircraft escalation ukraine crisis military aid /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106549/85/1065498526_0:13:2428:1379_1920x0_80_0_0_0105edde3a5842182bdfb11be7718af9.jpg "Ukraine flies former Russian aircraft so to train on a Typhoon would likely take years. The only option would be for nations with former Russian aircraft to offer such aircraft, such as Poland," the source said, adding that the delivery of aircraft "was seen as being too escalatory." According to the sources, London has "not ruled out" the delivery of longer-range precision missiles to Ukraine, but it was not being "considered" currently. Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on NATO countries to "unlock" the supply of long-range missiles and military aircraft to Kiev. Yuriy Sak, the adviser to Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, expressed his confidence in a phone conversation with Reuters that the West would eventually send F-16s and other military aircraft to Ukraine, saying "apart from nuclear weapons, there is nothing left that we will not get." The White House on Wednesday also confirmed the delivery of 31 Abrams tanks and eight M88 recovery vehicles to Ukraine; however, when asked about potential aircraft shipments, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby indicated such a delivery was not presently in the works. Western countries ramped up their military support for Ukraine after Russia launched a special military operation there on February 24, 2022, responding to calls for help from the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. 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 forces. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230126/us-tanks-will-be-threat-to-russian-troops-in-ukraine---not-to-russia-itself-white-house-claims-1106708272.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International uk, military aid, ukraine crisis, military aircraft, escalations https://sputnikglobe.com/20230126/sturgeon-u-turns-on-sending-transgender-double-rapist-to-womens-jail-after-outcry-1106732075.html Sturgeon U-Turns on Sending Transgender Double Rapist to Women's Jail After Outcry Sturgeon U-Turns on Sending Transgender Double Rapist to Women's Jail After Outcry Nicola Sturgeon claimed it was not "possible" for a rapist to be locked in an all-female jail overlooking the case of transsexual child molester Katie Dolatowski, who was transferred from a men's to a women's prison last year. 2023-01-26T16:40+0000 2023-01-26T16:40+0000 2023-01-26T16:40+0000 uk scotland britain great britain rape world nicola sturgeon scottish nationalist party (snp) trans transsexual /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/1a/1106733705_0:17:2797:1590_1920x0_80_0_0_1c2898d53abe2bae2204a0c7a6641318.jpg Scotland's First Minister has U-turned on sending a double rapist who began identifying as a woman after he was charged to a women's jail.Nicola Sturgeon told the devolved regional parliament in Holyrood on Thursday that Isla Bryson, who was known by his birth name Adam Graham before his first court appearance on two rape charges in 2020, would be transferred out of the Cornton Vale prison in Stirling following a "risk assessment," probably within three days.But her comments were belied by the incarceration of transsexual paedophile Katie Dolatowski to the same jail late last year. Dolatowski, convicted of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl in a supermarket toilet in Kirkaldy, was transferred after beating up a fellow inmate in the canteen of a men's prison.The first minister's wording was also potentially vague, as Cornton Vale is set to close at the end of February for refurbishment, while a new prison in Stirling is set to open in the summer.Sturgeon's announcement was a U-turn on the position taken on Wednesday by the devolved administration's justice secretary Keith Brown, who backed the Scottish Prison Service's decision to house Bryson in the women's estate while he awaits sentencing on February 28.The prison service's decision contradicted earlier reports that the convicted rapist, who does not hold a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) allowing him to be legally considered female, would not be sent to Cornton Vale."It is shameful that Nicola Sturgeon refuses to admit that her government and her own SNP ministers have allowed a double rapist to be held in a womens prison," said Jamie Halcrow Johnston, another Scottish Tory MSP.Bryson was convicted on Tuesday of raping two women he met on social media sites in 2016 and 2019. Defence barrister Edward Targowski KC claimed Bryson was not a "predatory male" and was just as "vulnerable" as his two victims, and even argued that his new gender identity "goes a long way to acquitting her of these charges."Bryson was photographed attending the High Court in Glasgow wearing tight women's leggings which clearly outlined the shape of his penis, along with hair or a wig that covered his prominent facial tattoos. Photos of his previous appearance were circulated on social media.On Thursday, it was reported that Scotland, with just 5.5 million residents, already had six transgender inmates housed in its women's jails the same as in England and Wales, which have a combined population more than 10 times greater and that half only began identifying as female after they were convicted.Cornton Vale houses up to 119 women prisoners, plus up to seven with small children at a separate mother and baby unit.Sturgeon and her Scottish National Party (SNP) have come under fire since Bryson's conviction from Scottish women's groups and the Conservatives, the biggest opposition group in Holyrood. They have blamed the "utterly perverse situation" on new legislation passed by the SNP and its coalition partners the Scottish Greens with support from Labour and Liberal Democrats just a month earlier.The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill (GRR) would allow people as young as 16 to obtain a GRC after just three months living under their new identity, without the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria. The SNP and Greens voted down a Conservative amendment that would have disqualified sex offenders from applying.Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he will invoke powers in the 1998 devolution legislation to prevent the bill from gaining royal assent, needed for it to become law. Sturgeon has in turn threatened a legal challenge to that decision. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230116/uk-govt-decides-to-block-scotlands-gender-recognition-reform-bill-1106413013.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230124/scottish-trans-rape-suspect-is-as-vulnerable-as-two-women-accusers-defence-claims-1106641693.html scotland britain great britain Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png uk, scotland, nicola sturgeon, snp, transgender, rapist https://sputnikglobe.com/20230126/uk-cabinet-heads-to-chequers-for-hideaway-day-amid-zahawi-tax-row-1106721014.html 'Hideaway Day': UK Cabinet Huddles Amid Tax Scandal 'Hideaway Day': UK Cabinet Huddles Amid Tax Scandal PM Rishi Sunak ordered a probe into Tory Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi earlier this week, after he was fined for late payment of millions in tax on the transfer of shares in his polling firm YouGov to a trust run by his parents. 2023-01-26T12:04+0000 2023-01-26T12:04+0000 2023-01-26T13:23+0000 world rishi sunak keir starmer nadhim zahawi uk britain great britain chequers yougov uk liberal democrats /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/1a/1106726124_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_50969836e1dc2d3e520db81a1bc2eca1.jpg The British Cabinet has headed to the prime minister's country retreat amid the furore over the Tory chairman's tax affairs. One opposition MP dubbed the meeting headed by PM Rishi Sunak at Chequers in Buckinghamshire a "hideaway day."Sunak ordered an investigation into whether Conservative Party Chairman Nadhim Zahawi, the former chancellor of the exchequer and education secretary, broke the ministerial code of conduct.It emerged late last week that Zahawi had been forced to hand over a reported 4.8 million to His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in summer 2022, including a 30 percent fine for late payment of tax. That ended a lengthy dispute with the taxman over the transfer of a 42.5 percent share in YouGov, the polling firm Zahawi co-founded in 2000, to an offshore trust in Gibraltar controlled by his parents.The NHS is in crisis and people are struggling to pay their rent or mortgage, but Conservative ministers are too busy fighting to save their own careers," Cooper added.Opposition Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer took the opportunity to attack Sunak over the affair at Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday.Starmer's official opposition is in lock-step with the Tories on many key policy issues, including military support for Ukraine and the sanctions on Russia that have fuelled the cost-of-living crisis.Labour has also accepted Brexit, reversing Starmer's 2019 pledge to hold a vote on reversing the 2016 referendum decision to leave the European Union, and has refused to commit to raiding public sector pay or to support strikes by unions affiliated to the party.Despite opposition allegations of bias towards the Conservatives, YouGov has gained a reputation as the UK's most reliable pollster correctly predicting the Tory landslide at the last general election in December 2019 when others forecast a far closer result.The British cabinet occasionally meets at Chequers as an alternative to the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street. The stately home is also used by prime ministers for social gatherings and to host foreign leaders. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230123/uk-pm-sunak-orders-probe-into-tory-party-chairman-zahawi-over-tax-dispute-1106613214.html britain great britain Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png uk, rishi sunak, nadhim zahawi, keir starmer, liberal democrats, chequers, yougov https://sputnikglobe.com/20230126/uk-pm-sunak-urged-to-probe-unlawful-scheme-for-housing-migrant-children-in-hotels-1106719750.html UK PM Sunak Urged to Probe 'Unlawful Scheme' for Housing Migrant Children in Hotels UK PM Sunak Urged to Probe 'Unlawful Scheme' for Housing Migrant Children in Hotels The British government is under pressure to reduce the number of asylum seekers staying in hotels. Last year saw more than 45,000 migrants cross the English Channel to get to the UK, a new record high. 2023-01-26T09:56+0000 2023-01-26T09:56+0000 2023-01-26T09:56+0000 world uk government scheme charities letter hotels migrants /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/1a/1106719425_0:119:2271:1396_1920x0_80_0_0_50d93f91cb77032495b7fc9cc98c4b42.jpg Over 100 UK charities have signed an open letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak urging him to endorse an independent probe into how scores of asylum-seeking children have gone missing from Home Office hotels.The letter was also inked by children's rights organization ECPAT UK and the Refugee Council, who condemned the government's "failures to protect vulnerable children from harm."The charities said that the Home Office had repeatedly failed to commit to an end date for the scheme.Chief executive of the Refugee Council Enver Solomon for his part stressed that [] children who have experienced unimaginable horror and upheaval coming to our country [the UK] in search of safety are highly traumatized and vulnerable.Solomon was echoed by Expat UK CEO Patricia Durr, who said that despite evidence of the risks and numerous representations, the [British] government has ignored the warnings and is yet to commit to an exit strategy, seeming to prefer to entrench this discriminatory approach to some of the most vulnerable children with the greatest need of protection and care.The remarks come after Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick told MPs that about 200 children, mostly teenage Albanian boys, remain missing from hotels housing asylum seekers. He described the situation as "extremely concerning" but added that he had not seen evidence the children were being abducted.Labour's Shadow Home Yvette Cooper reacted by accusing cabinet ministers of a "dereliction of duty." He argued that there was "a criminal network involved" in taking the children away from their accommodation and that the government was "completely failing to stop them." According to Cooper, the ministers are letting these gangs run amuck."Earlier this year, British media cited figures released by the government as indicating that a record 45,700 people have traveled to the UK across the English Channel in small boats in 2022, up more than 60% compared to 2021.In August 2022, the UK recorded the highest number of monthly border crossings since 2019, with more than 13,500 people crossing the Channel to enter the country. In October, media reports said that the country was spending almost 7 million pounds ($8.5 million) per day on hotels for asylum seekers.Illegal migrants often seek any opportunity to cross the Channel and end up in the UK, lured by social welfare, the possibility of obtaining refugee status and financial support. https://sputnikglobe.com/20211119/priti-patel-blames-schengen-agreement-for-mass-migration-crisis-in-uk-1090851435.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20221115/uk-home-office-ejects-foreign-nurses-from-york-hotel-rooms-to-accommodate-migrants-1104138636.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 uk charities' letter to rishi sunak, asylum-seeking children in uk, small boat crossings, number of uk asylum seekes staying in hotels https://sputnikglobe.com/20230126/under-the-sea-japanese-firm-unveils-new-vending-machines-for-whale-meat-causing-public-outcry-1106711764.html Under the Sea: Japanese Firm Unveils New Vending Machines for Whale Meat, Causing Public Outcry Under the Sea: Japanese Firm Unveils New Vending Machines for Whale Meat, Causing Public Outcry Consumption of whale meat declined drastically in Japan in recent decades, with about 1,000 tons eaten in 2021, a sea change from 1962, when 233,000 tons of the product was consumed. 2023-01-26T07:37+0000 2023-01-26T07:37+0000 2023-04-06T12:15+0000 asia tokyo yokohama osaka consumption whale meat japan /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/1a/1106711618_0:150:2757:1701_1920x0_80_0_0_7f20361c64f648cc18fae480d80c39fe.jpg The Japanese whaling company Kyodo Senpaku has unveiled vending machines in the countrys second-largest city of Yokohama to offer whale steak, bacon and sashimi in a bid to ramp up consumption.Shortly before, the firm set up two similar outlets in the capital Tokyo, amid plans to open a fourth one in the western city of Osaka in February and to grow to 100 locations over the next five years.Speaking at the opening ceremony in Yokohama, Kyodo Senpaku president Hideki Tokoro told reporters that he hopes the "unmanned store" will revive sales of whale food, which has been shunned by many shops.Conservationists have, meanwhile, accused Kyodo Senpaku of making a desperate attempt to prop up the cruel and declining whale industry in Japan. In 1986, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) banned commercial whaling after a spate of whale species came close to extinction. Japan, however, continued hunting whales for what it said were research purposes. The country withdrew from the IWC and resumed commercial whaling in 2019.Campaigners are concerned over the fact that meat of whales, dolphins and great white sharks remain part of traditional Japanese cuisine, which is still being used in modern-day restaurants across the country. https://sputnikglobe.com/20190701/japan-resumes-commercial-whaling-1076109235.html yokohama osaka japan 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 consumption of whale meat in japan, unveiling of vending machine for whale meat in yokohama, campaigners' criticism of whale meat vending machines in japan, why japanese eat whales, how much whale meat japanese eat https://sputnikglobe.com/20230126/west-turned-ukraine-into-testing-ground-for-showdown-with-russia-opposition-leader-says-1106711940.html Ukraine No Longer Sovereign and Independent Country, Opposition Leader Says Ukraine No Longer Sovereign and Independent Country, Opposition Leader Says Medvedchuk himself claims that Kiev lost its true sovereignity in the violent 2014 Euromaidan coup, when Ukraine fell completely under the control of Western politicians. 2023-01-26T06:05+0000 2023-01-26T06:05+0000 2023-01-26T11:08+0000 viktor medvedchuk ukraine russia nato volodymyr zelensky policy /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/1a/1106723249_0:0:3119:1754_1920x0_80_0_0_c36bb7fb580941637490c30a6717ec6a.jpg Viktor Medvedchuk, 68, is the leader of a Ukrainian political party, 'The Opposition Platform - For Life'. Last year, he was detained by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) as part of Kievs effort to obliterate the countrys opposition.In January 2023, Medvedchuk, who was freed in a prisoner swap in September 2022, was stripped of his Ukrainian citizenship by Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky.Medvedchuk spent years lambasting Ukraines pro-Western politicians and expressing the view that the countrys interests would best be met by forging closer ties with Moscow and Minsk.In his interview with RT, he elaborated on the causes of the crisis.RT: Mr. Medvedchuk, you had remained silent for a long time, and then finally you stepped out of the political shadows and wrote a remarkable op-ed for Izvestia. We will definitely talk about that piece, because you shared a lot of interesting things. But first, I would like to go back a little if I may. The last important event that we remember is when you were exchanged. When you first found out that you would be exchanged did you believe it would actually happen? Can you share what you felt that day?Viktor Medvedchuk: Naturally, I felt a whole range of emotions. On the one hand, I was hoping that the exchange would really happen. On the other hand, I had serious doubts that it would. I was notified about the swap on September 20, 2022, and on the 21st, I was moved around a lot. First, we flew to Poland, and I spend 12-14 hours without leaving the plane. I realized that they were negotiating. I was guarded by officers from the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense and the Security Service of Ukraine. And they were constantly in communication with someone. I understood from their communications that the exchange wasnt a done deal. As we learned later, their doubts were unfounded. But the realization that the exchange would really happen came to me when we flew from Poland to Ankara. When I saw a Russian jet, I knew that it was happening. And, of course, I am truly grateful to Russias leadership for this exchange they helped me and my family. It was a very difficult time in my life, and in the life of my family. I am thankful that I didnt have to go through what I couldve gone through in Ukraine. Because of the criminal cases against me that were fabricated in 2019-2020, I wouldve been sentenced to 15 years in prison thats what they told me and I believe they wouldve done it, even though there were no legal grounds for the prosecution.RT: You came here after an exchange of POWs. What is your status now, what documents do you have, if I may ask?Viktor Medvedchuk: Well, my current status is not a simple affair. I have been a citizen of Ukraine. I even have a Ukrainian passport. However, Zelensky is determined to destroy me as an opposition politician in his uncompromising fight against me.First of all, he issued a command to continue litigation and investigations concerning criminal cases against me. My lawyers are defending my interests in Ukraine.Second, he made a reckless or even crazy move to strip me of my citizenship based on the suspicion that I had Russian citizenship.I have never had Russian citizenship. And there was no need to, because I am a Ukrainian politician, I have always been one.I didn't go away, I didn't give up. I went on fighting, even under house arrest.While the war is being waged in Ukraine, this war is not for Ukraine, but for the interests of the West, the US, the UK, and many other countries, which are having it out with Russia.They have made Ukraine, through Zelensky's government, a kind of testing ground or a outpost in their showdown with Russia.And so I have spent all these months putting a team back together. A lot of people came from Kiev. Many people are outside Ukraine - in Russia, Europe, Turkey. They are ready to continue to fight and have their say.That's exactly what I laid out in my op-ed. I made the case for the voice of another Ukraine to heard in Russia, Ukraine and the West.And we know for sure there is this other Ukraine. Zelensky claims to represent a united nation but that is a myth invented out of thin air. This unity has been built thanks to bayonets. He represents Ukraine, claiming the Ukrainian people have come together and stand strong in terms of anti-Russian narrative and yobbish Russophobia.This is not true. Apart from the anti-Russia, there are people in Ukraine who are afraid to talk about it publicly, but they have never supported the nature and content of the relationship between Ukraine and Russia that has emerged today. These people are Ukrainians. Just like me.Ukraine has acceded to this international convention. Despite this, Zelensky continues his efforts to crush a political opponent through political repression, illegal criminal prosecution. It is a goal he has set for himself and is pushing towards it.I have not changed my views even in the custody of Ukraines Security Service where I spent six months.So I continue to fight. And today I want to voice the opinion of a different Ukraine, an opinion which some people are silent about, others are afraid to express. I want this voice to be heard loud and clear in Russia, in Ukraine and in the West. There are people who represent a different Ukraine. Not the Ukraine run by Banderites. The other Ukraine, which has nothing in common with the statements and policy of neo-Nazism pursued by Zelensky.RT: Youve said youve assembled a team.Viktor Medvedchuk: I have.RT: You are a proponent of a new Ukraine. In your article, you ve said Ukraine needs a new movement to save it. Youre against it being a stage for geopolitical struggle.Viktor Medvedchuk: Youre right. There are people who are against Zelenskys policies. This other Ukraine must be heard. And it can be if it gets representation and raises its voice. If those who believe in this and ready to act could unite their supporters and say no weve left Ukraine, true, but were Ukrainians. And we care about the future. Not the future of a new Ukraine, as you put it in your question, but the future of Ukrainians. Its not a real state anymore. Its economy is in shambles. Today, GDP is down over 30%. To put it into perspective: during the world economic crisis of 20082009 it was down 14%. And it was restored by 2013. Still, they couldnt reach 2013 figures even in 20192021. The economy there is non-functioning. The industrial output is down 70%. Unemployment is at 35% Its about 560 million of workplaces. The agriculture and industry are in decline, the prices are growing. This all means no social programs can be successfully implemented. Heres an example: monthly minimum pension payment is 57 dollars. The poverty threshold is 70 dollars. Our audience can imagine the life with this pension minimum and poverty threshold. So the state is non-existent. And thats because its policies are based on neo-Nazism adopted by Zelensky and his clique. As long as this is the state ideology, its not simply incorrect to talk about this states future, its wrong. I propose to talk about the future of Ukrainians. Ukrainians who stayed in the country and dont agree with Zelenskys policy. Ukrainians who had to leave for the reasons Ive mentioned earlier and live abroad now. Their perspective of disagreement and confrontation on political issues needs representation. But this will only be possible after the militarist state is gone and after the country drops its neo-Nazi policies. With the current situation, no future Ukraine is possible. Its unreal. And it will remain unreal if the current policy is maintained. But thats what Zelensky is trying to do, trying to pit the entire West against Russia and using Ukraine to wage war in the interests of the West. Because the war in Ukraine today is not about Ukraine. It is about the interests of the West and is only waged in the interests of the West. We need to make this clear to people, we need to show them the facts that prove it.RT: Do you think its possible to change things in Ukraine? Even if a new leader is elected, another oligarch or someone else, would they be able to solve the issue with the anti-Russian sentiment in Ukraine?Viktor Medvedchuk: Your question contains two questions actually, two layers. First off, it is possible to reverse the anti-Russian sentiment. There are already people in Ukraine who dont share it. I cant tell how many, but I know for sure that these people exist. They are afraid to speak up or do anything, because they will be destroyed by the repressive machine, this lawless regime that has dismantled democracy and rule of law. There are no courts, there is nothing but instructions from Zelensky and his criminal inner circle. This can be changed if we work on it and explain things to people.Here is an example. Lets say a person left Ukraine and came to Russia. What do you think his or her views are? Do they consider Russia an aggressor? Of course not. Before February 24, about 2.5 million Ukrainians lived in Russia studying, working, etc. This is official data. Do you think they listened to Zelensky, left Russia and returned to Ukraine? Maybe some of them did. But very few. The rest have stayed. And how many millions arrived after February 24? How? They were forced to flee. I was forced to leave my country. Why do I have to forget about my home? The land where my parents are buried. The country that is so meaningful to me. Yes, I was born in Russia, near Krasnoyarsk. But when I was in second grade my family moved to Ukraine, and we have lived there ever since. It became my country. And I have done a lot for that country. When I was a government official, when I was a politician.Now as for your remark about another oligarch being elected to the highest office. States hold elections. And I already explained to you why there is no state in Ukraine right now. What kind of elections can we talk about? Yes, he can schedule a vote. But it would just mean that he will appoint himself as president and appoint MPs from his list. People who will listen to his every word and not think about what he is saying. And most importantly, not think critically about his actions. Everything is possible. But it is not an election.Yes, unfortunately, some of our party members switched sides and now they support Zelensky, our enemy. But it doesnt mean that we should give up. As you can see, I didnt give up. Maybe I should just stop, considering my story and everything else that happened in my life. But I am not going to give up. I believe that its possible. Not only that, I think it must be done.RT: What about your new movement that you wrote about in the op-ed that we will discuss later on? What has been the response by the Western media? What will Ukraine do under these circumstances?Viktor Medvedchuk: This is a new political movement. It is a bid to demonstrate that Zelensky is, politely speaking, wrong. He claims that he is supported by a consolidated force of Ukrainian people, he claims that Russia should be destroyed and the West should be part of this effort. To this I say: no, it is not the real picture.We must unite these people and find out what they really think. For some reason I am sure that they stand against the government and against Zelensky. This movement will debunk the fact that Ukraine has been whole-heartedly backing Zelensky and his criminal regime. That's our main goal today.As for specific actions by this social movement or its representatives, that depends, I am sure, on millions of people in Russia, Ukraine, Europe.These are millions of people who disagree with Zelensky's policies.We need to bring them together. They need to be united by common ideas. They need to be united by common representation. And then we can talk and argue about the future of Ukraine and about their specific contribution to a bright and trouble-free future, as they used to say. I admit, though, that it is an uphill battle.RT: But do you have a plan?Viktor Medvedchuk: You know, I dont have a plan, but plans. And I will definitely say it, including publicly, when it is time and when I see they could finally be put into action.RT: What about your career?Viktor Medvedchuk: Where?RT: In Ukraine, of course. Maybe not.Viktor Medvedchuk: Look, I am not looking for any positions. Neither before when I was active politically, nor today when I am in Russia after a six-month arrest.I think ideas are the big thing today. Ideas attract supporters. Leaders will come next. Definitely. As soon as we have supporters, they will determine, who is the leader, and what is your place in the official hierarchy. The big issue in Ukraine is that there are leaders but there are no ideas. That is the problem. This should be addressed when we talk about the future of Ukrainians.RT: So whats next? What should the opposition do? An idea is not enough. What actions need to be taken?Viktor Medvedchuk: I gave you an example. Ukraine has a leader but no idea. We have an idea. That means there will be a leader and there will be action. We must make it happen. As to how were going to do it you will see. But we will do it, or at least try, theres no doubt about that.RT: So the Izvestia article is a first step?Viktor Medvedchuk: Yes, its a first step. It is a first step. Thats certainly a first step.RT: Whats the most important point in that article? And what do you think about the response from Western media? As far as I know, they focused on your mentioning nuclear war. Theyre concerned about that.Viktor Medvedchuk: Yes, that's what interests the West most of all. And I think its very valuable that theyve heard it. Because its my point of view also that we have two paths before us today. Either we defuse the tension, and thats possible if everyones interests are taken into account Russia and all other countries including security interests. Or we escalate the tension, which may lead to a world war. Because how else can you call the current situation, when practically all 30 NATO countries, including those who only aspire to attain this high status, are sending weapons and military equipment, shipping them to the launch pad that the West, the US and the UK, are renting from Zelensky.And that wasnt the only thing they paid attention to. They also noticed Medvedchuk talked about the other Ukraine, thats important. And this term can be heard in the discussion in Ukraine. Medvedchuk And the talks began. The government. Almost like in your question. A government in exile. No problem. But when established, it always stays in exile. It has always been this way. Thats not what we need.We need to destroy Zelenskys ideology. He thinks Ukraine is united and everyone supports him, the war and theres no one who wants peace or a different future, while we believe that these people exist and theyre Ukrainians as well. They have the right to speak their minds. They have the right to speak and be heard.RT: Before the interview youve noted quite curiously that Zelensky listens to the UK even more than it does to the US. Why so?Viktor Medvedchuk: I can answer that. Based on the analytical data, not wartime, but before, since 2019, especially after his visit to the UK and everything else. The UKs influence is greater than that of the US and the rest of the West. Its the UK that pulls the strings in Ukraine and is a major external controller.And they know, I mean Zelensky and his entourage, theyll be fine no matter what happens in Ukraine. Theyll go away and have a happy life. Thats why they didnt hesitate to let their country be torn apart and drained of the last drops of prosperity. They let it become an arena for battle between Russia and the West.RT: And what was their plan?Viktor Medvedchuk: They have only one plan. This clash was meant to weaken Russia. Today, we witness how it goes. The victory of Ukraine We all know its impossible due to certain objective reasons. But it could ignite internal struggle, fuel processes that could weaken Russia and its leadership thats the Wests plan which Zelensky and his team are trying to pull off.RT: Theres been no internal struggle in Russia yet.Viktor Medvedchuk: Thank God!RT: Do you believe Zelensky could hold on to his power for long?Viktor Medvedchuk: His fate is unknown to me. But I must say, Id very much love to see him answer for all hes done to Ukraine and its people. Hes destroyed the country. Hes thrown it into the fires of war. This is his fault. Id like to remind you what many forget these days, unfortunately. About whatd happened just before February 24.I was giving interviews a lot and I talked about that as well. About the need to avoid war, to do everything we can to prevent it. Could Zelensky do something? Im positive: he could. And moreover, he had to. He had to follow the Minsk Accords. Youve heard Merkels and Hollandes revelations. And even Poroshenkos trying to play along.RT: No one was going to abide by them.Viktor Medvedchuk: Yes.RT: Well, how do you make sure that the next leader would not do the same thing?Viktor Medvedchuk: We have to eradicate... The op-ed I wrote focused heavily on causes. They account for more than half of the story. What happened after the end of the Cold War...RT: Building something new, a new world.Viktor Medvedchuk: Yes. And the evolution of those events. So, we must eradicate the causes that led to what we have today, and this is how we can rule it out in the future.We can only do it when neo-Nazism no longer dominates state policies, when there is no militarist state, when people in Ukraine, I emphasize again, would be able to talk about the future of Ukrainians, not the future of the country. There will be a different future. That is the main area that we want to focus on today.RT: An independent Ukraine.Viktor Medvedchuk: I did not say so. I said the future...RT: The future of UkrainiansViktor Medvedchuk: The future of Ukrainians. The future Ukrainians. As to what country and how they will live that shall be decided by Ukrainians who represent a different Ukraine today.RT: Mr Medvedchuk, thank you very much. 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 Ukrainian opposition leader Medvedchuk: West turned Ukraine into testing ground for showdown with Russia Ukrainian opposition leader Medvedchuk: West turned Ukraine into testing ground for showdown with Russia 2023-01-26T06:05+0000 true PT26M13S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International medvedchuk interview, ukraine not independent, who owns ukraine, who is in charge in ukraine, who controls ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20230126/why-sending-leopard-2--m1-abrams-tanks-to-ukraine-is-natos-grave-mistake-1106737387.html Why Sending Leopard 2 & M1 Abrams Tanks to Ukraine is NATO's Grave Mistake Why Sending Leopard 2 & M1 Abrams Tanks to Ukraine is NATO's Grave Mistake Berlin has green-lighted the delivery of Germany's main battle tank (MBT) Leopard 2s to Kiev both from its own stockpiles and those of its allies. For its... 26.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-26T17:34+0000 2023-01-26T17:34+0000 2023-01-26T18:24+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine us opinion leopard 2 m1 abrams tank m-1 abrams tank russia t-90 ukraine ukraine crisis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/14/1106533192_0:22:3563:2026_1920x0_80_0_0_bf9ab3ba34fa205212d78cfacd80725e.jpg "Chancellor Scholz made clear that Germany would not authorize the shipment of German Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine unless the US first authorized the shipment of M-1A1 Abrams tanks," David T. Pyne, an EMP Task Force scholar and former US Department of Defense officer, told Sputnik. Then, on January 24, "the Biden administration finally relented and announced they would send about thirty-one M-1A1 Abrams tanks (which I was trained to fight in as a US Army armor officer back in 1993) to Ukraine."The decision to deliver the tanks came on the heels of a Ramstein gathering of the Ukraine Contact Group which failed to find common ground on sending Leopard 2s to Kiev. Reportedly, 12 European nations are expected to provide the Ukrainian military with roughly 100 Leopards; Berlin is due to send 14 MBTs."This western decision to send tanks to Ukraine followed a meeting of the Director of the CIA William Burns with President Zelensky who, for the past few weeks, has been sounding the alarm about an imminent major Russian winter offensive," observed Pyne. "Most likely, Burns helped identify shortcomings in the Ukrainian Armed Forces ability to defend Ukraine against such an offensive, causing the US and EU to reconsider their reluctance to provide tanks to Ukraine."The Russian military thwarted plans for the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Zaporozhye region, Vladimir Rogov, a member of the main council of the regional administration, told Russian journalists on January 25. According to him, the Kiev regime's plans to launch a broad offensive against the liberated part of the Zaporozhye region in order to reach the coast of the Sea of Azov had failed.Meanwhile, Russian troops cut the highway connecting Artemovsk (Bakhmut) with Seversk, thus thwarting the ability of the Armed Forces of Ukraine - which are still holding the key city-turned-meat grinder - to get reinforcements. Having taken Soledar, the Russian forces are attacking Artemovsk from the northwest and are moving in the direction of Razdolovka to the north; Blagodatny to the west; and Krasnaya Gora to the southwest, according to Russian military observers.Why Sending Tanks to Ukraine is a Bad IdeaPyne believes that Berlin and Washington's decision to raise the stakes by sending their main battle tanks to Kiev is a mistake.First of all, the Russian military has "tens - if not hundreds - of thousands" of rockets, missiles, and other munitions that it can use to blow NATO's MBTs up.Several years ago, Leopard 2A4 tanks lost their veneer of invincibility after engaging in fierce firefights against Kurdish and Daesh (ISIS)* fighters in 2016 and 2018. Approximately a dozen or more Leopard 2s were destroyed by IEDs, suicide car bombs, and anti-tank guided missiles. To cap it off neither Leopard 2s nor Abrams M1 have fought so far against a worthy conventional foe which has heavy artillery and air support.Second, neither 100+ Leopard 2s, nor 30+ M1 Abrams is likely to dramatically reverse the situation on the battlefield.Prior to the conflict, Pyne calculated that Russia had a 5-to-1 advantage in terms of the number of tanks they possessed over and above European NATO (excluding Turkey). He believes that advantage in main battle tanks will likely prove decisive for Russia during its special military operation in Ukraine."The US and EU would have to provide Ukraine with several times more tanks for it to constitute a game-changer for Kiev," Pyne highlighted.Third, "it will take months for the US and other NATO countries to train the Ukrainian military to operate US M-1A1 Abrams, German Leopard 2 and British Challenger 2 tanks before they can be deployed to Ukraine," according to the former DoD officer.Sending tanks provides no immediate relief for Ukraine, echoed Larry Johnson, a veteran of the CIA and the State Departments Office of Counter Terrorism, which provided training to the US Militarys Special Operations task force for 24 years.Fourth, since the Ukrainian military won't be able to operate the M1 Abrams and Leopard 2s without proper training, it cannot be ruled out that the machines will initially be staffed by NATO crews, as Johnson noted in his recent blog post.NATO battle tanks driven by NATO soldiers in Ukraine would elevate tensions between Moscow and the transatlantic bloc to a new level, according to the security expert. This would rubbish Joe Biden's claims that the US' actions don't constitute a direct threat to Russia.Fifth, announcing an escalation like this allows Russia to do the necessary planning to counter the threat and destroy it, according to Johnson. The security expert expressed bewilderment about NATO's open discussions of Ukraine matters in his blog. According to him, "the NATO crowd" appears to be focused on playing "the public relations game."Russia Won't Back Down, Peace Deal is Way OutBy increasingly providing Ukraine with lethal weapons, NATO fits into the definition of an "aggressor" under international humanitarian law, according to Fahri Erenel, retired brigadier general of the Turkish Armed Forces, professor, and head of the Center for Strategic Studies on Security and Defense at Istinye University.Whats worse, Berlin's decision to send Leopard 2s to the conflict zone sends a signal that Germany is no longer pushing for peace talks, according to the retired brigadier general.According to the ex-DoD officer, the West should not expect Russia to back down in Ukraine given that Moscow's national interests are at stake. At the same time, the US and NATO's defeat in Ukraine would mean significant reputational damage for the western bloc.As a result, the more the West escalates its proxy war in Ukraine, the more Russia will escalate its military actions in response, warned Pyne."That is why it is imperative for the Biden administration to suspend all lethal military assistance to Ukraine and mediate an immediate cease-fire in Ukraine, as I have been calling for the past four months, to avert the dangerous prospects of further escalation of the conflict," Pyne concluded.*Daesh (ISIS/ISIL) is a terrorist organization banned in Russia and many other countries. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230124/leopard-2-tanks-armored-beasts-berlin-is-about-to-send-into-ukraine-conflict-1106662864.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230126/berlins-decision-to-send-leopard-2s-to-ukraine-historically-wrong-german-mp-says-1106729958.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230125/white-house-confirms-sending-31-abrams-tanks-to-ukraine-1106700696.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230126/russia-rolls-out-combat-robot-to-detect-and-destroy-leopard-2-abrams-tanks-sent-to-ukraine-1106724932.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230124/what-is-the-m1-abrams-main-battle-tank-biden-wants-to-send-to-ukraine-1106666570.html russia ukraine kiev Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova 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 Ekaterina Blinova us to send 31 m1 abrams to ukraine, abrams tank, leopard 2a4, leopard 2a6, best tank in the world, leopard 2 tank vs abrams, t-90 vs abrams, t-90 tank price, how many t-90 tanks does russia have, 12 nations to give ukraine 100 leopard 2 tanks https://sputnikglobe.com/20230126/zimbabwe-to-start-exporting-wheat-1106728516.html Zimbabwe to Start Exporting Wheat Zimbabwe to Start Exporting Wheat This article is about Zimbabwes President Emmerson Mnangagwa announcing at the Dakar 2 Summit on Food Sovereignty and Resilience in Senegal's capital that his country will start exporting wheat in 2023 due to its record harvest. 2023-01-26T13:32+0000 2023-01-26T13:32+0000 2023-01-26T13:32+0000 africa southern africa zimbabwe wheat wheat exports emmerson mnangagwa /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/1a/1106728623_0:107:2048:1259_1920x0_80_0_0_fb1251a50d5d384fd7452ff0db90834b.jpg Zimbabwe plans to start exporting wheat this year due to its record harvest, President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced at the second Dakar Summit on Food Sovereignty and Resilience in Senegal's capital.Last year, Zimbabwe harvested 375,000 tons of wheat, which was the largest figure in the history of the country. The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement reported that this volume exceeds the country's domestic needs by 15,000 tons.In 2021, 330,000 tons of wheat were harvested and the country was forced to cover its shortage with imports.Speaking at the opening of the Dakar Forum, which was co-organized by the African Development Bank (ADB), on Wednesday, the president of Senegal and the African Union, Macky Sall, said that Africa has the potential to increase its own food production and no longer rely on food imports from other parts of the world.The African continent is home to 1.4 billion people, roughly 17% of the worlds eight billion population. Food sovereignty and sustainability in Africa is one of the main themes of the three-day event, which is set to close on Friday, January 27. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230111/zimbabwes-gold-production-reaches-new-record-in-2022-1106226254.html africa southern africa zimbabwe Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Muhammad Nooh Osman https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/0e/1080170965_2:0:2050:2048_100x100_80_0_0_1de8233c87df0979e7e74f61b6ffacad.jpg Muhammad Nooh Osman https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/0e/1080170965_2:0:2050:2048_100x100_80_0_0_1de8233c87df0979e7e74f61b6ffacad.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Muhammad Nooh Osman https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/0e/1080170965_2:0:2050:2048_100x100_80_0_0_1de8233c87df0979e7e74f61b6ffacad.jpg exporting wheat in 2023, zimbabwe exporting wheat, zimbabwe wheat, zimbabwe wheat exports, wheat exports, food sovereignty and resilience, africa food, Longtime harness racing industry participant H. Bruce Kennedy of Ottawa, Ont. passed away peacefully on Jan. 19, 2023 after a short courageous battle with cancer at age of 81. Bruce was an accomplished and well-known horseman in both Canada and the U.S. His long successful racing career was driven by his hard work, expertise and dedication to detail. A humble and proud competitor, his knowledge and professionalism was highly respected amongst his peers. Bruce is survived by his only child, devoted son Murray, grandchildren Bailey and Huey Kennedy of Ottawa, brother William (Carolyn) Kennedy of Ottawa, sister Carol (Peter) Zadarozny of Pembroke, Ont., Liette (Bourgeois) of Embrun, Ont. and numerous extended family and friends. Predeceased by parents Howard and Hilda (MacLeod), twin sisters Joyce and Joan Kennedy of Maxville, Ont. As per Bruce's wishes, there is no visitation or funeral but a private springtime family gathering will follow in Maxville. The family extends its gratitude to all the staff at the General Campus and Elizabeth Bryure Hospital for their excellent compassionate care. Donations may be forwarded to the Elizabeth Bryure Palliative Care Unit in Ottawa. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Bruce Kennedy. The West Nebraska Arts Center, with the support of the Nebraska Arts Council, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Laura Clark, is pleased to present the annual Image Show. The opening reception will be Thursday, Feb. 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. We are incredibly excited to present this show. This photography show will include western landscapes, animals, abstract, manipulated photos and more. We hope to bring in some images that you have never seen before, Program Manager Stephanie Coley, said. Ken Kurtz of Spectrum Photographics is the judge for this years exhibit. Monetary prizes will be given for most awards. The IMAGE Photography Exhibit will be on display at the West Nebraska Arts Center Feb. 2-26. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. The West Nebraska Arts Center is a cultural non-profit organization committed to education, awareness, and excellence in the arts, serving the North Platte Valley Region. WNAC is located at 106 East 18th St. in Scottsbluff. Visit the arts centers website, www.thewnac.com, to learn more. The Nebraska Arts Council, a state agency, has supported this program through its matching grants program funded by the Nebraska Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. Visit www.nebraskaartscouncil.org for information on how the Nebraska Arts Council can assist your organization, or how you can support the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. COVID-19 cases in Nebraska hit a nine-month low last week with the state apparently experiencing something it has never seen during the three-year pandemic a winter lull. Nebraska reported 924 cases for the week ending Wednesday, down 38% from 1,486 the previous week, according to data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was the first time new cases in Nebraska had dropped below 1,000 since the first week of May, and its the lowest case level since late April. All other indicators, including hospitalizations, also point to falling virus levels. Nebraska cases have been below 2,000 for four straight weeks after hitting a recent peak of 3,900 just before Christmas. Nebraska previously has seen extended periods where cases have dropped to those levels. But only during spring, summer and early fall never before when the weather has turned colder and people have retreated indoors and gathered for the holidays. To be sure, case counts no longer are considered as accurate a measure of virus activity as they once were. Many people no longer are testing or are using at-home tests that arent reported to health departments. Dr. Bob Rauner, president of Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln, said that to monitor the virus these days, he typically looks at data based on wastewater sampling results and COVID-19 hospitalizations. Those measures, he said, also are showing reduced virus levels. Hospitalizations for COVID also decreased last week, by 18% in the U.S. and by 17% in Nebraska. Both hospitalizations and new hospital admissions for COVID also were down in the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic states, which had seen a significant spike since shortly after the holidays. Those two also are regions where a new highly transmissible version of the virus, XBB.1.5, made up an estimated 84% or more of the positive samples to undergo genomic sequencing. In Nebraska, that variant made up 6% of samples sequenced in the week ending Jan. 14. Rauner said he also monitors Bryan Healths COVID dashboard for insight into who is being hospitalized with the virus. On Jan. 22, a total of 17 patients were hospitalized. Fifteen were not up to date on their vaccines, meaning they had not received the latest booster. Of the two who were up to date, both fell into the higher-risk 65-and-older age bracket. If youre up to date on your vaccines, most people dont have much to worry about, Rauner said. Most people, he said, can and are living life pretty much as normal now. They once again are gathering in large numbers in restaurants, stores and public events. Mask-wearing in such settings has become rare. Rauner, who is up to date on his vaccines and in his 50s, said he wears a mask only when hes in an airport or at a health care facility. Rauner said older people and those at higher risk because of a medical condition should get the antiviral drug Paxlovid if they contract the virus, even if they are up to date on their shots. But he said there is no evidence yet that the coronavirus has become a seasonal virus, like its common cold-causing cousins. More likely, he said, it is human behavior that is seasonal, because people tend to congregate indoors in groups at certain times of the year. A University of Nebraska Medical Center epidemiologist recently said he did not expect the state to see dramatic spikes in COVID cases as in the past, as large numbers of previous infections and two years of vaccinations and boosters have left the population with a rough patchwork of immunity. The future of the virus will remain unpredictable. Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration is considering shifting the nations COVID vaccine strategy to an approach similar to that used for the influenza vaccine, NPR reported Monday. The aim would be to simplify vaccination for COVID-19, possibly relying on annual updates corresponding to whatever strain of the virus is circulating. An agency advisory committee is scheduled to consider the proposal Thursday. The meeting comes as all but four states reported declining numbers last week. Nebraska was one of a dozen to see cases decline by one-third or more. U.S. cases overall have been falling since early January. Nebraskas case rate is currently the ninth lowest nationally. Most of its neighbors also rank in the bottom third among states, with Iowa currently 12th lowest. COVID-19, however, remains a deadly disease for some. Nebraska over the past four months has reported an average of 13 new deaths a week. The total death toll for the three-year pandemic is 4,734. Meanwhile, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, continue to decline across the country, with three regions dropping below their baseline for outpatient respiratory illness for the first time since October. Nebraskas flu activity was rated low for the first time in weeks. Charts that track COVID-19 variants, vaccination rates and hospitalizations in Nebraska Community Christian School is preparing for its largest fundraiser of the year, its annual enchilada factory. The enchilada factory will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 7, and Wednesday, Feb. 8, in the CCS gym. On those two days alone, students, families, and volunteers will gather to prepare more than 2,100 enchiladas. CCS students are already hard at work selling enchiladas for the event. One dozen enchiladas costs $20, and quarts of Taco Towns famous Pork Chili are also available for $15. Anyone can order from a CCS family by calling the school office at 308-632-2230 or placing an order online through the fundraisers/events tab at www.ccsneb.com. The enchilada factory is a CCS tradition that has been held annually since 1999, and school representatives say that the event generates a lot of excitement among students. The school is already buzzing. Our student body looks forward to the excitement of the enchilada factory every year and our staff is grateful that it remains our biggest annual fundraiser, said CCS Director of Development Deanna Goranson. All enchilada pre-orders are due Jan. 30. A limited number of enchiladas will be available for walk-in purchase that Wednesday beginning at noon on a first-come, first-served basis. Pre-sale customers can pick up their orders on Tuesday from noon to 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Community members wanting to volunteer at the enchilada factory are encouraged to contact the office or visit www.ccsneb.com for more information. It was a full, snowy, wonderful week in Alliance, said Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason. The Alliance Arts Council sponsored Masons travels to Alliance where he visited with students from Grandview Elementary, St. Agnes, and the Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran School the week of Jan. 16-20. The visit culminated with a public performance Friday, Jan. 20. The whole week, working with the students was just a blast and I was so impressed with the teachers, too, said Mason. At each school, the first thing we did was an all-school assembly where I would read some poems and answer questions like what is a state poet? and what is a poem? Then, after the assembly, I worked with the fourth grade classes individually. The first day they worked on poems about their favorite things, he said. The second day we worked on odes so poems to the small things or people in their lives that they want to celebrate. The third day was cut a bit short, but we worked on their poems and answered questions. The snowstorm threw the schedule off a bit. The program was set to run Monday through Friday, but the district had a snow day on Wednesday and a late start on Thursday. The folks at the Arts Council did a great job of reconfiguring the schedule more than once and the schools all worked around it and made time for the program, so I was so thankful for that, said Mason. The students were such a great crowd, great writers and just so creative. Mason leads writing and performs workshops for board meetings, arts administrators and high school students so he normally doesnt get the opportunity to present to such a young audience. The Alliance Arts Councils mission is to provide quality artistic/cultural events and opportunities for citizens of Box Butte County and the surrounding rural areas. Each year they bring one program to the local elementary schools to give students that opportunity as well. In the past when weve had artisan residents that bring in all sorts of instruments and they have been fantastic artists but Mr. Mason was just super personable, said Grandview Elementary Principal Chris Bailey. He was just so engaging. All he had was a note pad and all he did was talk about his travels and read his poems and the students just loved it. Weve had some elaborate presentations but here was this guy that stood up there with his poems and he really resonated with them. It was also good because we got some new reading curriculum and two of the classes had already been through the poetry lesson, so it was great for form to have that real world context to make the connection with the lessons, Bailey added. It was also great that he was from Nebraska. Its great when our kids here in western Nebraska are exposed to people from different states but its also neat to have someone so super talented from our state come talk to the kids. The students were invited to Masons program on Friday evening at the Performing Arts Center. There were 17 students that came and all of them had an opportunity to go out on stage and read their poem, said Alliance Arts Council representative Earlynn Lawrence. There was a really funny poem about Brussel sprouts, one about a tornado and one that was called an Ode to my Rubiks Cube. St. Agnes fourth grade student Tee Johnson read his Rubiks Cube poem to the audience. Oh, Rubiks Cube, life would not be the same without you because my best talent is solving you, but if you leave, my best talent is piano. Oh, Rubiks Cube, now, dont tell anyone or anything but youre my favorite thing on earth. As Tee shared his poem, his mother, Michelle sat in the audience. She said Masons guidance and encouragement helped the students draft poems. Tee loves to write and lately he has been solving Rubiks cubes so I loved that he was able to write about it, she said. Mason also expressed excitement to have so many students showcase their poems to the community. First of all, its hard for fourth graders to get to an event on a Friday night but for them to want to be there and put themselves out there with their poem was really great, he said. Masons poetry is infused with humor and energy. I am thrilled to be Nebraskas poetry ambassador, visiting schools and communities to write poetry, listen to poetry, read poetry, and talk shop about poetry in schools, libraries, bars, theaters, street corners, coffee shops, living rooms, wherever youll have me, said Mason. He has just under two years left of his five-year term as an advocate for poetry, literacy, and literature in Nebraska. The duties of the state poet include giving public presentations and readings, leading workshops and discussions, and providing other outreach in schools, libraries, literary festivals, and various venues in rural and urban communities throughout the state. To accomplish this, the state poet joins with the Nebraska Arts Councils Nebraska Touring Program and the Humanities Nebraska Speakers Bureau. The first poet to hold the position of Nebraska State Poet was William Kloefkorn, who served for 29 years, until his death in May 2011. The Nebraska Arts Council supported this arts event through its matching grants program funded by the Nebraska Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. In his first State of the State speech Wednesday, Gov. Jim Pillen unveiled a budget plan heavy on tax cuts and state support for K-12 education. The new governor called for holding the line on state general fund spending while creating a new fund to significantly boost state aid to all Nebraska school districts. He also proposed building a new state prison, setting aside more than $574 million to build the Perkins County canal and providing for a $500 million boost in state road-building efforts. Together, we can deliver transformative tax reform, achieve historic fiscal restraint and make good on our educational promises to Nebraskas next generation, Pillen said in a letter to lawmakers that accompanied his budget plan. The goal of this budget is straightforward: to make clear my commitment to shrinking the growth and size of state government, he said. Pillen previewed his biggest budget initiatives last week. For schools, they included a proposal to create a new Education Future Fund, which would be used to provide $1,500 per student for all schools and to increase special education funding in the coming school year. Those changes add up to more than $260 million annually. Together, they would increase state support for K-12 education, even as rising property valuations would mean less money for the older school aid formula. That formula provides state dollars to fill the gap between a districts educational needs and the money it can get from property taxes and other sources. The governor proposed tapping the states flush tax coffers for the initial investment of $1 billion into the new fund, then providing for a $250 million infusion each following year. He wants the increased support coupled with a 3% cap on school revenue growth. On the tax side, Pillens plans call for bringing down the top income tax rate to 3.99% by 2027 and speeding up the elimination of income taxes on Social Security. He proposed to tackle property taxes by putting more money into the states long-standing property tax credit program. He also proposed to increase a separate program that provides income tax credits for property taxes paid to community colleges to cover 100% of the taxes paid. The income tax credits would be replaced in 2027 by the elimination of community colleges property tax authority. Community colleges currently account for about 5% of property taxes statewide. The budget proposal Pillen released Wednesday provides for a 1.3% annual average increase in state general fund spending during the two years ending June 30, 2025. The average would be reached in large part because the existing school aid formula is projected to drop by $111.5 million in the second year of the biennium, from $1.08 billion down to $971 million. That offsets spending increases needed to pay for the historic raises negotiated with unions representing most state employees. The budget proposal includes $99.4 million over the two-year period for the employee pay raises. However, that figure was based on early estimates of 6% annual increases in state employee pay. The raises actually negotiated with the Nebraska Association of Public Employees ranged from 10% to 27%. Pillen proposed a few new programs. One would provide $5 million annually for mentorship programs in early elementary grades, with a goal of supporting teachers and helping students learn to read. Another would provide $5 million annually for grants aimed at retaining teachers, nurses, veterinarians and other needed health care professionals. He also threw his support behind a proposal to help private and parochial schools by offering $25 million worth of tax credits to people donating to private school scholarship funds. The governors budget proposal would continue former Gov. Pete Ricketts push to build a new state prison to replace the Nebraska State Penitentiary and house more inmates. Pillen called for adding $95.9 million to the $250 million already set aside for that project, which would cover rising construction costs. Lawmakers last year earmarked money for the proposed prison but did not authorize its construction. The governor also would set aside $574.5 million from the states cash reserve fund to build a canal from Colorado through southwest Nebraska. Under a century-old compact, Nebraska can lay claim to water from the South Platte River if the state builds such a canal. Under his plan, the cash reserve fund still would have $1.6 billion after those two transfers. State Budget Director Lee Will said that would be enough to help the state weather future recessions, even after making the proposed tax cuts. Photos: Jim Pillen appoints Pete Ricketts to the Senate 011323-owh-new-senate-pic-cm01.jpg 011323-owh-new-senate-pic-cm02.jpg 011323-owh-new-senate-pic-cm03.jpg 011323-owh-new-senate-pic-cm04.jpg 011323-owh-new-senate-cm05 011323-owh-new-senate-pic-cm06.jpg 011323-owh-new-senate-pic-cm07.jpg 011323-owh-new-senate-cm08 011323-owh-new-senate-pic-cm09.jpg 011323-owh-new-senate-pic-cm10.jpg 011323-owh-new-senate-cm11 011323-owh-new-senate-pic-cm12.jpg Prospective Western Nebraska Community College students and community members will soon get a chance to see the schools performing arts faculty in action. A WNCC Performing Arts Faculty Recital will be held on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m. in the Judy Chaloupka Theater. The event is free to attend and will feature works for voice, clarinet, piano, and percussion. The music will all be classical, and in addition to that there will be a scene from 'Antigone' put on by Violette Briggs our theater director and her husband, said WNCC Director of Bands Nathaniel Johnson. This will be the first time weve had any theater involved in the faculty recital. Johnson said that a faculty recital had occurred several times throughout his 20-year tenure at the college, but that it did not become a consistent, annual event until spring of 2020. As weve invested more time and energy as an institution into our fine arts program, we thought it would be good to showcase what our faculty can do, he said. Its the faculty that brings the students in to study with us. We want prospective students to know who they would be potentially studying with, and we want the community to know what it is that theyre investing in. Students are typically put in the spotlight at WNCC performances, which Johnson said can sometimes prevent people from realizing how capable the schools faculty are to perform. We have really excellent performers on faculty, and sometimes our community folks just dont know that because they show up to hear the students, he said. We love that, but the faculty is just sort of in the background sometimes, so were showcasing them specifically now. The faculty recital is the first of many performances taking place at WNCC throughout the spring semester. For a full schedule of performing arts events, visit www.wncc.edu/community/performing-arts. OMAHA -- A former Waterloo firefighter was sentenced Monday to three years in prison for attempted second-degree sexual assault. Brandon Hanusek, 28, pleaded no contest in September to the amended charge as part of a plea deal. He originally was charged with first-degree sexual assault on a person who was physically or mentally incapable of consenting, stemming from an incident in February 2021 in which 28-year-old Kelsey Imhof alleged Hanusek drugged and raped her. Under the original charge, Hanusek would have faced up to 50 years in prison. Imhof said in October 2021 that she had met Hanusek over Facebook when he sent her a friend request. The two didnt know each other, but they were in the same Steamfitters and Plumbers Local 464 union. They made plans to meet up at a bar along with three co-workers, one of whom was Imhofs friend. On Feb. 26, 2021, they went to Holiday Lounge near 79th Street and West Dodge Road, where Imhof said she had 1 drinks. They then went to Harolds Bar near 85th and Blondo Streets, where she had one drink that Hanusek bought for her. One of the co-workers left his credit card at Holiday Lounge, and Imhof offered to go get it for him. Hanusek drove. Imhof said that she began to feel drunk while at the Holiday Lounge and remembered playing shuffleboard upon returning to Harolds, but couldnt remember anything else about the evening until she woke up naked and violently vomiting in Hanuseks bathroom. It was between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. when Imhof woke up covered in bruises, unable to stand up for hours due to her calves spasming and in extreme vaginal and anal pain. Imhof thought that she had been drugged. Imhof emerged from the bathroom after about two hours and saw Hanusek passed out on the couch. After getting dressed in a bra and underwear, she locked herself in the bathroom and continued to vomit every 5 to 10 minutes until she felt well enough to leave in the early afternoon. Hanusek told Imhof, and later told investigators, that he blacked out and didnt remember what had happened that night. He said he had attempted to take Imhof home, but her door was locked and her garage keypad wasnt working. Imhof said she did not lock her door and did not have a keypad on her garage. After confiding in her sister, Imhof went to the hospital and completed a rape kit on Feb. 27, 2021. Hanusek willingly provided his DNA to police, which matched that collected in the rape kit. Marcus Sladek, Hanuseks attorney, argued that Hanusek was a strong candidate for probation, noting he has a very minor criminal history and scored at a low to medium risk for reoffense. Many family members also wrote letters of support for Hanusek, which the judge noted. In a short statement, Hanusek said that he hopes that Imhof finds peace and that he never intended to hurt her. I still dont believe that this case represents who I am, he told the court. Prosecutor Erin Hurley argued that releasing Hanusek on probation would depreciate the seriousness of the crime. She said that Hanuseks criminal history and personal attributes were irrelevant considering the violent nature of the offense. I often wonder what people would say in these letters if they saw the pictures that I see, Hurley said in reference to the letters of support for Hanusek. This was an assault. You dont get your first sexual assault free in Douglas County just because youve had a good life. Judge Jeffrey Lux agreed. In handing down the maximum sentence, Lux said that he thinks that Imhof was incapable of consenting that night. He indicated that he wasnt persuaded by Hanuseks claims that he couldnt remember anything that happened, and noted the numerous terrible photos showing the bruises on Imhofs body. Quiet sobs echoed through the courtroom on Imhofs side of the gallery as Lux read the sentence. After the sentencing, Imhof said, While in the most uncomfortable situation I have endured, Judge Lux made me feel more heard, and more human, than anyone in the justice system has throughout such a long, devastating process. Given so many unfortunate events, I feel todays sentence was the best possible outcome and Im relieved to have regained some faith in our justice system. Hanusek will serve a year and a half in prison under Nebraskas good-time law. He will be required to register as a sex offender. From the counsel table Tuesday, Kenneth Farley's teenage victim described the aftermath of the abuse she faced at his hands as a life sentence before the Lincoln man learned he would get 55 to 70 years in prison for it. "The boogeyman is Kenneth Farley," the now-18-year-old woman said. She said Farley's selfish, perverted actions not only damaged her mental health but also ripped apart multiple families, "just for him to satisfy some sick, twisted part of his mind that chose to corrupt multiple innocent children." She said for years before she disclosed the abuse she turned to substance abuse and ran away to avoid thinking about the horrors she went through. "I still struggle with those thoughts. Sometimes it seems like it might be easier to be gone than have to remember what I went through. But I refuse to give him that power," the teen said, tearfully, in a nearly full courtroom. She said she hoped Farley wouldn't see the light of day again. "I never want another child to go through what I did," she said. In November, a Lancaster County jury returned a split verdict finding Farley guilty of one of three counts of sexual assault of a child he faced. He was acquitted of a second charge and the jury deadlocked on a third, involving two other teens who had made similar allegations. In May 2020, the Nebraska Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline received a belated report about a 17-year-old who alleged Farley had sexually abused her when she was a grade-schooler. Two others, one 17 and the other 19, came forward later that year with more allegations against Farley. In 2021, prosecutors charged him with all three. On Tuesday, Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Chris Reid asked for a sentence substantially above the 20-year minimum, saying his victim was barely 12 when Farley started grooming her. While the mandatory minimum may be appropriate if this were a single act, he said, here there were too many incidents for her to remember, Reid said. "Each of these are separate crimes that she had to endure by Mr. Farley," he said. Reid said Farley had taken zero responsibility and shown no remorse for his actions. Up until the sentencing phase, this case has been about Farley. But at this stage it was time for Farley's victim to be heard. For her whole life she'll have to deal with the repercussions of his actions. Farley, 51, declined to comment. His attorney, Seth Morris, asked for the minimum sentence, saying Farley was a military veteran and had a number of letters of support. In the end, Lancaster County District Judge Ryan Post said Farley had been in a position of trust and violated it, and it wasn't an isolated incident but repeated assaults. "What she went through was horrific," Post said. During trial, he said, he watched Farley stare down his accuser on the stand. "We've all heard in court today how your choices have impacted her for the rest of her life, what she described in her words as a life sentence," the judge said. Post said he also took into account that Farley had taken no responsibility for his actions. And he announced the sentence, which means Farley will have to be in prison for 35 years before he's eligible for parole. Farley also would have to register as a sex offender upon release and be subject to a possible civil commitment. Top Journal Star photos for January 2023 While locking down growth of spending by state government, Gov. Jim Pillen on Wednesday proposed a state budget that would sharply increase state support for K-12 schools, provide additional local property tax relief, reduce state income taxes and appropriate $95.9 million to complete funding of a new state prison. Pillen outlined his budget priorities in a 34-minute State of the State address to the Legislature. "We all agree -- we are taxed way too much," the governor said. "Our tax policy chases our kids and grandparents out of the state. "We can't grow Nebraska that way." The answer, Pillen said is "saying no to overspending ... and giving this money back to Nebraskans via historic property and income tax cuts." To hammer home that point, the governor said in an accompanying letter to senators: "The goal of this budget is straightforward: to make clear my commitment to shrinking the growth and size of state government." The new governor's initial budget proposal would increase state funding for K-12 schools by $1.75 billion by fiscal 2026-27 while increasing local property tax relief to $2.4 billion by 2027. State income taxes would be reduced by $1.5 billion by 2027 through reduction in individual and business tax rates. Social Security income would be totally exempt from the state income tax by 2024 through an accelerated timetable for complete exemption, which previously was approved by the Legislature. Growth in annual general fund support for the state budget over the next two years would be held to 1.3%. "We have asked agencies to tighten their belts and focus on what is needed, not what is nice," Pillen said. At the top of his list of priorities highlighted in a preview of the budget document for news media were "control spending, cut taxes, invest in our kids." A 3.2 percent increase in the budget during the first year of the biennium reflects the $59 million in annual salary increases recently negotiated with state employees. The budget growth rate flattens in 2024-25. The budget proposal would invest $574.5 million to proceed with construction of the Perkins County Canal project designed to secure South Platte River water flowing into Nebraska from Colorado, exercising water rights negotiated in a compact a century ago. A succinct summary of his legislative goals provided in the budget briefing was "reduce spending, lower property taxes." The summary pointed to potential valuation of agricultural and horticultural land according to income potential and placing new limits on property tax revenue increases by local government. The governor's budget proposal calls for an end to property tax support for community colleges with a recommendation that state government assume that responsibility. "The success of utilizing community colleges in Nebraska for students best suited for trades is a game changer," Pillen said. Under his proposal, individual income and business tax rates would be "phased down" to 3.99 percent by 2027, he said. That, the governor said, would enable Nebraska to "be more competitive in attracting and retaining investment, talent and new opportunities. "This is key to stopping out-migration," he said. Pillen said "changing from market-based to income-based assessment of ag land and capping ag land valuation growth (can) cut property taxes and keep government growth in check." But, the governor said, "my top priority, and that of all Nebraskans, is our kids" and that's why he is proposing "creation of an education future fund with an investment of $1 billion in fiscal year 2023-2024 and $250 million in each year thereafter." That fund would be designed to help schools meet special education needs, he said, ensuring that "Nebraska will never ever give up on a single kid -- ever again." Pillen recommended a state allocation of $1,500 annually "to every public school student in every Nebraska school district," providing what he described as "much-needed support for rural school districts which have been underserved for far too long." Accompanying that assistance would be a 3% growth cap on spending by school districts which could only be overridden by 75 percent of local school board members or 60 percent of local voters. Pillen's budget provides $39.4 million to fund more than 4,200 scholarships for Nebraska students to attend institutions of higher education in the state. Pillen also proposed a $50 million state appropriation for scholarships outside public schools, interrupting his speech to recognize the principal, teachers and students from Holy Name Catholic School in Omaha who were seated in the balcony to watch the proceedings. The governor expressed his strong anti-abortion views during the speech. "Nebraska is a pro-life state," Pillen declared. "I am fighting for the rights of every baby with a beating heart," he said. "I am fighting to help women choose life and love." State budget officials said the governor's funding proposal leaves $218 million available for legislative spending proposals while sufficiently funding the state's cash reserve at an estimated $1.6 billion. The proposed new prison, which would replace the aging State Penitentiary in Lincoln, would have roughly $350 million in funding available if Pillen's additional allocation is approved. Most of the funding already has been set aside awaiting a legilslative decision to proceed. Also included in the governor's budget proposal is $500 million in transportation infrastructure funding primarily devoted to roads. Photos: The business of governing in Nebraska in 2023 The Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice announced a human trafficking task force in partnership with the Connecticut Childrens Alliance and law enforcement agencies on Wednesday morning in Rocky Hill. The federally funded task force is aimed at ending human trafficking in the Greater Hartford region and providing support for victims, according to Hartford States Attorney Sharmese Walcott. The task force plans to address both sex and labor trafficking through a mixed approach of investigating cases, prosecuting traffickers and providing trauma services to victims, according to a presentation from Walcott and Krystal Rich, executive director of the Connecticut Childrens Alliance. We recognized the need in the Greater Hartford region to strengthen our approach to human trafficking and to rethink the structure of how we address human trafficking of all kinds, Walcott said. Nationally, there were over 10,000 human trafficking cases reported to the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline and over 16,500 individual victims affected in 2021, the Division of Criminal Justice said. Rich said these figures do not even scratch the surface of the true impact of human trafficking and said that the real estimated figure is closer to 50 million people being impacted by trafficking at any given time. This task force would focus on both child and adult trafficking cases. Walcott said there are 17 multi-disciplinary teams that have been investigating child trafficking in the state since 2014. Those teams responded to nine cases of child trafficking in 2014, which grew to 92 in 2022. It is one of the most vile crimes there is, Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said at the announcement Wednesday. It is modern-day slavery, and it exists. It exists in our state and in our communities. The task force will consist of law enforcement representatives from regional precincts, legal counsel, victim advocates and Hartford community members, Walcott said. Police chiefs from Hartford, East Hartford, West Hartford, Bloomfield, Manchester, South Windsor, Glastonbury and Windsor have committed to support the task forces investigations, the Division of Criminal Justice said. Bronin said a detective from the Hartford Police Department will be dedicated to investigating human trafficking. Rich said the multi-disciplinary approach will help ensure that there are no gaps in the services provided to victims. The task force is also focused on preventing human trafficking by raising awareness of warning signs through trainings and programming, Walcott said. Weve learned through what weve seen so far that theres still a needed enhanced response, Rich said. We need additional specialized services for this population. Walcott and Rich highlighted that women of color are disproportionately impacted by human trafficking. There will be a racial justice subcommittee of the task force, as well as a service delivery and a policies and procedures subcommittee. The task force will be located in the Connecticut Center for Digital Investigations, which is located in the Manchester Police Department, according to Manchester Chief William Darby. One of the most significant things about this task force is the understanding of how were going to define success, Rich said. Its not always just about the arrest or the investigation or the prosecution. Its also about making sure that the appropriate services are put into place for the victims and that they get what they need in order to be able to survive and ultimately thrive. This task force is very much focused on both increasing prosecutions, but also making sure much-needed services are available to victims. To contact the Regionalized Human Trafficking Recovery Task Force of the Greater Hartford Region, call 860-566-3190 ext. 3128 or email DCJ.RHTRTaskforce@ct.gov. Attorney General Jason Miyares said Wednesday that former Virginia Parole Board Chair Adrianne Bennett could have been charged with falsifying parole discharge records, but the alleged violations cannot be prosecuted because the statute of limitations has passed. He also asserted that Bennett "unlawfully suspended" Virginia's "three strikes" parole ineligibility statue, but that Brian Moran, then Virginia's secretary of public safety rejected her bid for "a new, lenient interpretation" of the statute. A new report from Miyares' office asserts that Bennett ignored state code and board policies as the board released dozens of inmates in the spring of 2020. It also criticizes limited Northam-administration-led investigations into related matters. Miyares said during a news conference Wednesday that between February 2020, when Bennett was nominated for a judgeship in Virginia Beach Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, and her investiture in April 2020, that the parole board violated a mandate in Virginia law 83 times when "it did not endeavor diligently to contact victims before making their parole decisions." He said the probe found that the parole board violated Virginia law 66 times in the spring of 2020 by not notifying local prosecutors of an inmate's release. "To be clear, the actions of the Virginia Parole Board endangered public safety," Miyares said. "Every Virginian was impacted by this release." The Office of the State Inspector General in 2020 found the parole board violated law and policy, including not properly notifying victims and prosecutors about people being released from prison on parole. Inquiry into the boards operations began to percolate after the parole board released 95 people from prison in March 2020 the Virginia Parole Board's highest number of monthly releases on record. It coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a justification given by the Northam administration at the time. Miyares called this time period a "parole-granting frenzy." The Attorney General's report found that in that month the parole board released 35 murderers, 11 rapists and 22 people convicted of armed robbery. A previous Virginia government watchdog report said the board violated the law and its own policies in releasing Vincent Martin, who was sentenced to life in prison for killing Richmond police officer Michael Connors in 1979. The new report lists a handful of released people, all who committed violent crimes such as murder, rape or repeated armed robbery. In Martin's case, the report noted that the group reviewed 538 instances of victim opposition to his release from 39 different Virginia localities and nine states. Martins case pops up a few times in the report as some stated Bennetts treatment of him was biased, that she believed he was innocent, and was rushing to release him. Parole Board policy and procedure allowed Vincent Martins parole to be rescinded based on the significant victim opposition," the report says. "However, the Board took no such action." State code outlines the process for the parole board to investigate criminals behaviors while in prison to determine if they could be released. But the report said that Bennett failed to notify victims of Martin's crimes, who are supposed to be able to submit testimony and be aware the incarcerated person may be released. The Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission later investigated Bennett and suspended her from the bench in Virginia Beach. Bennett filed a petition at the Supreme Court in 2021 challenging her suspension. The court denied her request but put the entire file under seal, only opening up portions of the records in April 2022 after the Richmond Times-Dispatch challenged the sealing. The Attorney General's report asserts that Bennett presided over a culture of ignoring the Virginia code, parole board policies and administrative procedures. The report says that when the investigators interviewed board employee Crystal Noakes, who assisted with victim contact efforts, she told them that Bennett would make up policies that were convenient. Noakes is quoted saying that Bennetts policy regarding rape victims was that if it was a rape victim, dont traumatize the victim by contacting them. The report stated that there were also 11 instances of Bennett noting an early discharge request by two employees who oversee the boards post release unit but they say they never made requests. Many of the early discharges that Chair Bennett represented as having been requested by Helen or CalVina had been requested by a different parole officer, but in some cases, there was no request from a parole officer whatsoever, the report said. The report also indicates that Bennett operated as if a change in law had occurred but it didnt. In 2018, Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, briefly carried a bill that would have given the Parole Board chair at liberty discretions, but he ended up tabling it - seeking no further action on the measure - during that session. Bennett and the board went on to implement an unwritten policy that was never posted for public review or review, the report said. Moreover, Secretary Brian Moran," secretary of public safety under Govs. Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam, "specifically rejected the change, stating that it would require action by the General Assembly; finally, the General Assembly declined to take such action, as noted above it said. More than lambasting Bennett, the report accuses the Northam administration of bias that obfuscated the actions the parole board took. The Office of the State Inspector General, a body created to investigate ineffectiveness in state government, conducted an investigation into the parole board as well in 2020. Initially, it released a six- page report, but a longer version was leaked months later. This led to the General Assembly approving a $250,000 investigation into the OSIG investigation which the report by the Attorney General's office said was limited and still failed to more deeply explore alleged issues from the parole board. While the General Assembly authorized $250,000, a spokesperson for Herring at the time said the total ended up coming to $232,000. Nixon Peabody, the firm hired by then-Attorney General Mark Herring, a Democrat, left out testimony relating to the parole board from the report because its investigation was focused on OSIG instead. Recommendations The report outlines possible actions that the parole board and state legislature could take. First, it suggests that the parole board establish a code of ethics for its members and asserts that it is not the parole boards purview to investigate whether or not someone was accurately convicted. (Currently, Sen. Chap Petersen, D-Fairfax City, has a second look bill that would allow incarcerated people who have served at least 15 years to petition a judge to see if they are deemed able to be released early). The report also suggests the legislature adjust state code so that the parole board can hold public hearings. It says the parole board should ensure victims are notified if an incarcerated person is eligible for release before the board votes on the matter. It also suggests adjustments to the parole boards structure, additional staffing suggestions and updates to technology that it uses. In noting how former governors pardoned certain offenders, both the Attorney General's report and the parole board would support the General Assembly passing a law to require governors to seek victim input before making pardons. Lawyers for Bennett did not respond with a statement at the time of this publication. Though a statute of limitations may prevent her from being charged for the findings in the report Miyares said "the ball is in the General Assembly's court" if the legislative body seeks to issue articles of impeachment for her current judge role. CASTLE ROCK The 22-year-old Arizona resident London Murray is under arrest after he allegedly stole a pickup truck and crashed it off Interstate 5, hitting an embankment and launching into trees near the Toutle River rest area early Wednesday in Castle Rock. The incident occurred before 6:45 a.m., after the Washington Department of Transportation notified state troopers that a man bloodied with a laceration across his face was seen walking southbound across the highway, according to Washington State Trooper Will Finn. Finn told The Daily News that the Murray's pickup traveled along the shoulder for about 75 feet until it hit an embankment, vaulting the vehicle into the trees. Murray then allegedly ran into the forest, starting a manhunt that included the Cowlitz County Sheriffs Office using a drone. He was later found inside a truck stop bathroom, where he was apprehended at roughly 3 p.m. Finn said troopers could not find any evidence to support Murray's claim that he was the passenger at the time of the crash. The driver allegedly stole the vehicle from his Portland employer who chose not to press charges against him. Finn said Murray could face hit-and-run charges and obstruction of justice. Public libraries, the local community college and organizers of local public forums are teaming up to offer a book discussion group about timely topics affecting Cowlitz County and the nation at the Longview and Kelso libraries. Topics in the discussion groups called Book Club for Our Times could include race, gender, climate change, wealth inequality, poverty and homelessness, according to organizers. There are a number of issues that threaten to divide us as a nation and as a community, said Jacob Cole, director of the Longview Public Library. We hope this book discussion series will become a public forum where community members with different views can discuss these issues in a respectful and friendly manner. People interested in joining can propose books to discuss in the months ahead. The clubs will kick off at 6 p.m., Feb. 6 at the Longview Public Library and 11 a.m., Feb. 8 at the Kelso Public Library. Books will include fiction and nonfiction pieces, according to Erik Moser, Kelso Library manager. Nonfiction works offer information and context to better understand an issue, he said, but novels can capture the emotions and personal impact of those issues on peoples lives. The group that hosted a five-part series on civil discourse in Longview last fall is helping to organize the events. The Civil Dialogue project ran from August to October and featured speakers on topics like drug abuse, homelessness and economic stagnation. Contacts For more information or to share a book idea, people can contact the libraries below. Longview: 360-442-5309 or Jacob.cole@ci.longview.wa.us Kelso: 360-423-8110 The organizers of WordFest, a free, regular gathering of writers, are also contributing, as well as Lower Columbia College and the Friends of the Longview Public Library. Library staff and LCC instructors will recommend books, according to organizers. 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: Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco flanked by Attorney General Merrick Garland, left, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray speaks during a news conference to announce an international ransomware enforcement action, at the Department of Justice in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. The FBI has seized the website of a prolific ransomware gang that has heavily targeted hospitals and other healthcare providers. Credit: AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana The FBI and international partners have at least temporarily disrupted the network of a prolific ransomware gang they infiltrated last year, saving victims including hospitals and school districts a potential $130 million in ransom payments, Attorney General Merrick Garland and other U.S. officials announced Thursday. "Simply put, using lawful means we hacked the hackers," Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said at a news conference. Officials said the targeted syndicate, known as Hive, is among the world's top five ransomware networks and has heavily targeted health care. The FBI quietly accessed its control panel in July and was able to obtain software keys it used with German and other partners to decrypt networks of some 1,300 victims globally, said FBI Director Christopher Wray. How the takedown will affect Hive's long-term operations is unclear. Officials announced no arrests but said, to pursue prosecutions, they were building a map of the administrators who manage the software and the affiliates who infect targets and negotiate with victims. "I think anyone involved with Hive should be concerned because this investigation is ongoing," Wray said. On Wednesday night, FBI agents seized computer servers in Los Angeles used to support the network. Two Hive dark web sites were seized: one used for leaking data of non-paying victims, the other for negotiating extortion payments. "Cybercrime is a constantly evolving threat, but as I have said before, the Justice Department will spare no resource to bring to justice anyone anywhere that targets the United States with a ransomware attack," Garland said. He said the infiltration, led by the FBI's Tampa office, allowed agents in one instance to disrupt a Hive attack against a Texas school district, stopping it from making a $5 million payment. It's a big win for the Justice Department. Ransomware is the world's biggest cybercrime headache with everything from Britain's postal service and Ireland's national health network to Costa Rica's government crippled by Russian-speaking syndicates that enjoy Kremlin protection. The criminals lock up, or encrypt, victims' networks, steal sensitive data and demand large sums. Their extortion has evolve to where data is pilfered before ransomware is activated, then effectively held hostage. Pay up in cryptocurrency or it is released publicly. As an example of a Hive sting, Garland said it kept one Midwestern hospital in 2021 from accepting new patients at the height of the COVID-19 epidemic. The online takedown notice, alternating in English and Russian, mentions Europol and German law enforcement partners. The German news agency dpa quoted prosecutors in Stuttgart as saying cyber specialists in the southwestern town of Esslingen were decisive in penetrating Hive's criminal IT infrastructure after a local company was victimized. Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks during a news conference to announce an international ransomware enforcement action, at the Department of Justice in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. The FBI has seized the website of a prolific ransomware gang that has heavily targeted hospitals and other healthcare providers. Credit: AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana In a statement, Europol said companies in more than 80 countries, including oil multinationals, have been compromised by Hive and that law enforcement from 13 countries was in on the infiltration. A U.S. government advisory last year said Hive ransomware actors victimized over 1,300 companies worldwide from June 2021 through November 2022, netting about $100 million in payments. Criminals using Hive's ransomware-as-a-service tools targeted a wide range of businesses and critical infrastructure, including government, manufacturing and especially health care. Though the FBI offered decryption keys to some 1,300 victims globally, Wray said only about 20% reported potential issues to law enforcement. "Here, fortunately, we were still able to identify and help many victims who didn't report. But that is not always the case," Wray said. "When victims report attacks to us, we can help them and others, too." Victims sometimes quietly pay ransoms without notifying authoritieseven if they've quickly restored networksbecause the data stolen from them could be extremely damaging to them if leaked online. Identity theft is among the risks. John Hultquist, the head of threat intelligence at the cybersecurity firm Mandiant, said the Hive disruption won't cause a major drop in overall ransomware activity but is nonetheless "a blow to a dangerous group." "Unfortunately, the criminal marketplace at the heart of the ransomware problem ensures a Hive competitor will be standing by to offer a similar service in their absence, but they may think twice before allowing their ransomware to be used to target hospitals," Hultquist said. But analyst Brett Callow with the cybersecurity firm Emsisoft said the operation is apt to lessen ransomware crooks' confidence in what has been a very high reward-low risk business. "The information collected may point to affiliates, launderers and others involved in the ransomware supply chain." Allan Liska, an analyst with Recorded Future, another cybersecurity outfit, predicted indictments, if not actual arrests, in the next few months. There are few positive indicators in the global fight against ransomware, but here's one: An analysis of cryptocurrency transactions by the firm Chainalysis found ransomware extortion payments were down last year. It tracked payments of at least $456.8 million, down from $765.6 million in 2021. While Chainalysis said the true totals are certainly much higher, payments were clearly down. That suggests more victims are refusing to pay. The Biden administration got serious about ransomware at its highest levels two years ago after a series of high-profile attacks threatened critical infrastructure and global industry. In May 2021, for instance, hackers targeted the nation's largest fuel pipeline, causing the operators to briefly shut it down and make a multimillion-dollar ransom payment, which the U.S. government later largely recovered. A global task force involving 37 nations began work this week. It is led by Australia, which has been particularly hard-hit by ransomware, including a major medical insurer and telecom. Conventional law enforcement measures such as arrests and prosecutions have done little to frustrate the criminals. Australia's interior minister, Clare O'Neil, said in November that her government was going on the offense, using cyber-intelligence and police agents to " find these people, hunt them down and debilitate them before they can attack our country." The FBI has obtained access to decryption keys before. It did so in the case of a major 2021 ransomware attack on Kaseya, a company whose software runs hundreds of websites. It took some heat, however, for waiting several weeks to help victims unlock afflicted networks. 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Democratic state lawmakers from the Connecticut Reproductive Rights Caucus in 2023 hope to expand funding, protection and access to reproductive health care, including to patients from abortion-banning states by offering financial assistance to those who travel to Connecticut for the procedure. The caucus, which met in Hartford Wednesday to outline legislative priorities, introduced several new bills that would increase the number of birthing centers in the state, boost medical data privacy provisions for consumers, increase training and protections for reproductive health care providers, expand access and affordability of reproductive health, and offer abortion pills on college campuses. Additionally, the caucus threw support behind other causes, such as extending state Medicaid HUSKY insurance to undocumented immigrants and expanding fertility insurance coverage to non-heterosexual couples and single people looking to grow their families. This session the Reproductive Rights Caucus is focused on policies that will expand access to the totality of reproductive health care, said Caucus Chair Rep. Jillian Gilchrest. We want to ensure that in the state of Connecticut, whether someone decides to have a child or not to have a child, they have access to the information and services they need to fulfill that decision. While focusing on in-state reproductive needs, state Treasurer Erick Russell and caucus members said they also plan to broaden the scope of last years safe harbor law by establishing a fund to cover collateral costs for patients who travel to Connecticut for an abortion. We know that who is going to be most impacted by these bans are women of color. Its going to be members of the LGBTQ community. Its gonna be individuals living in poverty. And this is an opportunity for us to allow those resources that we can provide, to be used to help patients get to Connecticut and seek the care that they really need, Russell said. Russell said that he has been in touch with state treasurers from across the U.S. about forming a nationwide coalition among safe harbor states to provide financial assistance to abortion seekers. When asked to share his thoughts on the fund, Gov. Ned Lamont said he had not heard about the proposal and that he would need to take a look at the fiscal note of the program before commenting. I like what we did on the safe harbor [law] last year, Lamont said in response. I think that made a big difference. Some women are taking advantage of that and I think thats important. Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, the chair of the Reproductive Rights Caucus, said that in conversations Planned Parenthood of Southern New England confirmed that they have seen an uptick in out-of-state patients seeking abortion in Connecticut clinics. While no member of the caucus specified a price tag or the number of women predicted to take advantage of such a fund, House Speaker Matt Ritter said he is under the impression from Russell that the program will not result in a large line item on the budget. House Speaker Matt Ritter speaks at a press conference for the Reproductive Rights Caucus in Hartford on Wednesday. Ritter said he is in favor of the proposal to create a safe harbor fund for out-of-state residents seeking an abortion. Whats fundamentally so cruel about [abortion restrictions] is that people with resources are not denied any access, Ritter said. The bills theyre passing are hurting the poorest of people. So if Connecticut can provide a couple hundred thousand dollars or a line item to help those individuals, Im all for it. Ritter added that financing the safe harbor fund would not result in cuts to other programs. House Minority Leader Rep. Vincent Candelora said he is concerned about funneling taxpayer dollars into this type of fund. I generally have concerns whether it be on health care matters or education matters of us continuing or creating policies that are paying for people outside the state of Connecticut to receive our services when theyre not paying taxes in the state of Connecticut, Candelora said. That type of policy presumes that Connecticut is fiscally in good health and its not. Weve got to take care of our own. Candelora also criticized the Reproductive Rights Caucus for its lack of Republican representation. To be clear, no Republican has been invited to join that caucus. So it is a partisan organization, which is disappointing and again points to how weaponized that issue has become for Democrats, Candelora said. It allows Democrats to set the narrative on abortion so they can paint Republicans any way they want. They call us extremists even when we have prochoice Republicans in our caucus. House Minority Leader Rep. Vincent Candelora speaks at a press conference outside the House Chamber in the Connecticut State Capitol on Wednesday. Candelora said he has concerns about using Connecticut taxpayer dollars to provide services for residents of other states. Candelora said that the parties need to engage in more discussion on the topic of abortion, including the controversial Republican push to require that minors notify their parents in order to receive an abortion. He expressed disappointment that Ritter would not call a parental notification bill to the House floor. Its disconcerting that a bill like that wont even be raised for a public hearing to have a conversation because I think its worthy to debate whether a parent should know if a 12 year old child of theirs is getting an abortion, Candelora said. We require parents to sign off on ear piercings and tattoos, but we dont do it for abortion. Ritter said that in the past, concerns over a potential parental notification amendment prevented Connecticut lawmakers from tackling reproductive rights legislation. Last May, the legislature expanded abortion-related protections without adding a parental notification rider. This session, Ritter is confident that any attempt to add such an amendment to the proposed reproductive rights bills would fail. You have instances where [parental notification is] not possible. You have instances where the family member was the perpetrator in some cases that impregnated somebody, Ritter said. You cannot have a blanket rule without thinking about the realities that some young ladies face. And thats why when I think you have that conversation and you explain why the parental notification doesnt work, I believe the amendment would fail. Earlier in the day at the press conference, Ritter said that Connecticuts reproductive rights laws are far from settled. Connecticut is under attack from other states, were under attack from the U.S. Supreme Court. Were never quite sure what theyre gonna do. And so, like so many other issues, its left to the state legislatures that take the lead and to protect women, to protect families, to protect health care providers. And that is exactly what we are going to do because its far from settled, Ritter said. Despite past calls on the legislature to draft a state constitutional amendment that would explicitly protect abortion in Connecticut, Reproductive Rights Caucus leaders said that they would not pursue that route. A constitutional amendment is not on the Reproductive Rights Caucuss priority agenda for this session, Caucus Chair Rep. Matt Blumenthal said. We in the caucus believe that our protections that are currently in place and the ones that were planning to adopt this session should fully protect the infrastructure and access of individuals here in the state of Connecticut. And we also believe that the state constitution currently provides protections under its right to privacy and equal rights amendment for these rights as well. Alison Cross can be reached at across@courant.com. 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: Social networking giant Meta announced that it would reinstate Donald Trump's Facebook and Instagram suspensions in the event of further transgressions. Social networking giant Meta announced Tuesday it would soon reinstate former president Donald Trump's accounts on Facebook and Instagram with "new guardrails," two years after he was banned over the 2021 US Capitol insurrection. "We will be reinstating Mr. Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts in the coming weeks," Nick Clegg, Meta's president of global affairs, said in a statement, adding that the move would come with "new guardrails in place to deter repeat offenses." Going forward, the Republican leaderwho has already declared himself a 2024 presidential candidatecould be suspended for up to two years for each violation of platform policies, Clegg said. It was not clear when or if Trump will return to the platforms, and his representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But the 76-year-old tycoon reacted in typically bullish fashion, crowing that Facebook had lost "billions of dollars in value" in his absence. "Such a thing should never again happen to a sitting President, or anybody else who is not deserving of retribution!" he said on his Truth Social platform. Facebook banned Trump a day after the January 6, 2021 uprising, when a mob of his supporters seeking to halt the certification of his election defeat to Joe Biden stormed the US Capitol in Washington. The former reality TV star had spent weeks falsely claiming that the presidential election was stolen from him and he was subsequently impeached for inciting the riot. In a letter asking for the ban to be overturned, Trump's lawyer Scott Gast said last week that Meta had "dramatically distorted and inhibited the public discourse." He asked for a meeting to discuss Trump's "prompt reinstatement to the platform" of Facebook, where he had 34 million followers, arguing that his status as the leading contender for the Republican nomination in 2024 justified ending the ban. American Civil Liberties Union executive director Anthony Romero said Meta was making "the right call" by allowing Trump back onto the social network. "Like it or not, President Trump is one of the country's leading political figures and the public has a strong interest in hearing his speech," Romero said in a release. Former US president Donald Trump had 34 million followers on Facebook when the social media giant banned him shortly after the January 6, 2021 storming of the US Capitol by his followers. "Indeed, some of Trump's most offensive social media posts ended up being critical evidence in lawsuits filed against him and his administration." The ACLU has filed more than 400 legal actions against Trump, according to Romero. Extremism engine? Advocacy groups such as Media Matters for America, however, vehemently oppose allowing Trump to exploit Facebook's social networking reach. "Make no mistakeby allowing Donald Trump back on its platforms, Meta is refueling Trump's misinformation and extremism engine," said Media Matters president Angelo Carusone. "This not only will have an impact on Instagram and Facebook users, but it also presents intensified threats to civil society and an existential threat to United States democracy as a whole." A US congressional committee recommended in December that Trump be prosecuted for his role in the US Capitol assault. His Twitter account, which has 88 million followers, was also blocked after the riot, leaving him to communicate through Truth Social, where he has fewer than five million followers. Trump's shock victory in 2016 was credited in part to his leverage of social media and his enormous digital reach. Andrew Selepak, a University of Florida professor specializing in social media, suggested that Facebook doesn't want to go to war with Trump's supporters in Congress, who are likely to protest if he were kept off the platform. "Trump needs the platform for fundraising and Facebook doesn't want to be called before Congress," Selepak tweeted. Conservative republican leaders have raged against Trump being booted from Facebook, while a group of Democrats in Congress last month urged Meta to extend the ban to keep "dangerous and unfounded election denial content off its platform." New Twitter owner Elon Musk reinstated Trump's account last November, days after Trump announced a fresh White House run. He has yet to post. 2023 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain If a scientist wanted to forecast ocean currents to understand how pollution travels after an oil spill, she could use a common approach that looks at currents traveling between 10 and 200 kilometers. Or, she could choose a newer model that also includes shorter currents. This might be more accurate, but it could also require learning new software or running new computational experiments. How to know if it will be worth the time, cost, and effort to use the new method? A new approach developed by MIT researchers could help data scientists answer this question, whether they are looking at statistics on ocean currents, violent crime, children's reading ability, or any number of other types of datasets. The team created a new measure, known as the "c-value," that helps users choose between techniques based on the chance that a new method is more accurate for a specific dataset. This measure answers the question "Is it likely that the new method is more accurate for this data than the common approach?" Traditionally, statisticians compare methods by averaging a method's accuracy across all possible datasets. But just because a new method is better for all datasets on average doesn't mean it will actually provide a better estimate using one particular dataset. Averages are not application-specific. So, researchers from MIT and elsewhere created the c-value, which is a dataset-specific tool. A high c-value means it is unlikely a new method will be less accurate than the original method on a specific data problem. In their proof-of-concept paper, the researchers describe and evaluate the c-value using real-world data analysis problems: modeling ocean currents, estimating violent crime in neighborhoods, and approximating student reading ability at schools. They show how the c-value could help statisticians and data analysts achieve more accurate results by indicating when to use alternative estimation methods they otherwise might have ignored. "What we are trying to do with this particular work is come up with something that is data-specific. The classical notion of risk is really natural for someone developing a new method. That person wants their method to work well for all of their users on average. But a user of a method wants something that will work on their individual problem. We've shown that the c-value is a very practical proof-of-concept in that direction," says senior author Tamara Broderick, an associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) and a member of the Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems and the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society. She's joined on the paper by Brian Trippe, a former graduate student in Broderick's group who is now a postdoc at Columbia University; and Sameer Deshpande, a former postdoc in Broderick's group who is now an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. An accepted version of the paper is posted online in the Journal of the American Statistical Association. Evaluating estimators The c-value is designed to help with data problems in which researchers seek to estimate an unknown parameter using a dataset, such as estimating average student reading ability from a dataset of assessment results and student survey responses. A researcher has two estimation methods and must decide which to use for this particular problem. The better estimation method is the one that results in less "loss," which means the estimate will be closer to the ground truth. Ponder again the forecasting of ocean currents: Perhaps being off by a few meters per hour isn't so bad, but being off by many kilometers per hour makes the estimate useless. The ground truth is unknown, though; the scientist is trying to estimate it. Therefore, one can never actually compute the loss of an estimate for their specific data. That's what makes comparing estimates challenging. The c-value helps a scientist navigate this challenge. The c-value equation uses a specific dataset to compute the estimate with each method, and then once more to compute the c-value between the methods. If the c-value is large, it is unlikely that the alternative method is going to be worse and yield less accurate estimates than the original method. "In our case, we are assuming that you conservatively want to stay with the default estimator, and you only want to go to the new estimator if you feel very confident about it. With a high c-value, it's likely that the new estimate is more accurate. If you get a low c-value, you can't say anything conclusive. You might have actually done better, but you just don't know," Broderick explains. Probing the theory The researchers put that theory to the test by evaluating three real-world data analysis problems. For one, they used the c-value to help determine which approach is best for modeling ocean currents, a problem Trippe has been tackling. Accurate models are important for predicting the dispersion of contaminants, like pollution from an oil spill. The team found that estimating ocean currents using multiple scales, one larger and one smaller, likely yields higher accuracy than using only larger scale measurements. "Oceans researchers are studying this, and the c-value can provide some statistical 'oomph' to support modeling the smaller scale," Broderick says. In another example, the researchers sought to predict violent crime in census tracts in Philadelphia, an application Deshpande has been studying. Using the c-value, they found that one could get better estimates about violent crime rates by incorporating information about census-tract-level nonviolent crime into the analysis. They also used the c-value to show that additionally leveraging violent crime data from neighboring census tracts in the analysis isn't likely to provide further accuracy improvements. "That doesn't mean there isn't an improvement, that just means that we don't feel confident saying that you will get it," she says. Now that they have proven the c-value in theory and shown how it could be used to tackle real-world data problems, the researchers want to expand the measure to more types of data and a wider set of model classes. The ultimate goal is to create a measure that is general enough for many more data analysis problems, and while there is still a lot of work to do to realize that objective, Broderick says this is an important and exciting first step in the right direction. More information: Brian L. Trippe et al, Confidently Comparing Estimates with the c-value, Journal of the American Statistical Association (2022). DOI: 10.1080/01621459.2022.2153688 This story is republished courtesy of MIT News (web.mit.edu/newsoffice/), a popular site that covers news about MIT research, innovation and teaching. 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 wind farm in Norwegian waters must be sustainable in the best possible way to have a long service life in a harsh and demanding environment," says UiA professor Geir Grasmo. Credit: University of Agder "We know a great deal about windmills on land, and something about fixed-bottom wind turbines at sea, but much less about floating wind turbines," says Geir Grasmo, Professor at the University of Agder (UiA). Grasmo leads UiA's technological research group on offshore wind and the Center for Research-based Innovation Offshore Mechatronics. "We don't have good answers to how to make the best possible use of offshore wind, and how we can design, build, operate, maintain and manage fields at sea in harsh conditions," Grasmo says. It is typical for researchers working in mechatronics to combine different disciplines, including mechanics and electronics, computer technology, ICT and artificial intelligence. By combining several fields, they can develop advanced systems that monitor and control. They can remote control robots, drones and cranes and underwater vessels. The researchers can also develop systems that monitor and control the operation of offshore wind turbines from land. The UiA researchers have extensive experience in developing offshore cranes, mechanical solutions and control systems for use on ships and oil rigs in the North Sea. This expertise has been built up over decades of collaboration with GCE NODE, a cluster for ocean technologies, and the international supplier industry in Agder. "This expertise and experience gives us an advantage when we now contribute to developing the Norwegian offshore wind industry in various areas," Grasmo says. An immature technology The industry and researchers agree that offshore wind is a rather immature technology in Norway. "Windmills developed for placement on land were placed at sea in the early days of the offshore wind industry. The windmills stand on piles, and the piles are fixed to the seabed. Such windmills can be found in the shallow waters near Copenhagen," Grasmo says. According to Grasmo, there are still challenges linked to streamlining the installation process and operation of bottom-fixed facilities, especially in rough ocean areas like ours. "We need a lot more research on floating wind farms in areas with water depths greater than 5060 meters," he says. The industry in Norway is looking to develop value chains both for bottom-fixed wind farms, which will dominate the Norwegian sector, and also floating offshore wind, which we have the prerequisites to master. So do the researchers. According to the government, Norway will become a leading nation in offshore wind. The goal is to allocate sites that can generate up to 30 GW of power by 2040, which is about 75% of the capacity in the Norwegian power system today. But floating offshore wind is still in its infancy in this country. As late as in November 2022, the first floating wind farm in the North Sea opened and Equinor's Hywind Tampen began power production. The wind farm consists of 11 wind turbines mounted on floating platforms. The platforms are called floaters and are anchored to the seabed. Optimizing energy production "The point of windmills is to produce energy. We are researching how they can produce as much electrical power as possible, individually, and collectively in offshore wind farms," Grasmo says. No one knows the answer to what the optimal wind turbine and wind farm is. But it is precisely this optimization that the researchers are studying. Here are some of the issues that engineers at UiA are researching: how to build industry and infrastructure between land and offshore wind farms which materials are the most suitable and sustainable for wind turbines, floaters and facilities for electrical production and transport how to optimize energy production in the generator and the wind farm how to adapt the construction of electrical units such as power converters for robust use offshore how to automate, control and monitor offshore wind farms how to measure wind conditions and place floaters and wind turbines to optimize power production how to connect offshore wind projects with other offshore production, such as production of hydrogen and ammonia how to develop and utilize digital solutions, artificial intelligence and ICT to manage wind farms how to develop digital solutions to control and monitor each turbine and the entire windmill field while connecting the power from the field to the onshore grid and power production on land Finding the right wind conditions A typical question the researchers try to find an answer to is how many turbines can be placed on a floater, and how close to each other can the floaters be placed in a field to minimize disruption. "The aim is to minimize the wind shadow of all wind turbines, also when they are on floaters," Grasmo says. As on land, solutions may differ from one wind farm to another. "With different moves, we can adapt the fields to ensure maximum utilization. We do this with advanced data tools. We seek to adapt each individual mill to the other so that the entire field works as best as possible," Grasmo says. Long service life in harsh environment Offshore wind turbines must stand on foundations or floaters at sea in all kinds of weather. Weather and wind conditions is one of the many separate research fields linked to energy production. The constructions must withstand great stress. Salt water corrodes the equipment, and corrosion will always be a challenge. "That is why it is important to research everything from the use of different materials to the construction of wind turbines and floaters to anchoring, power converters and other installations and equipment," Grasmo says. He emphasized that it is important to research health, environment and safety and climate consequences. "A wind farm in Norwegian waters must be sustainable in the best possible way to have a long service life in a harsh and demanding environment," Grasmo says. UiA collaborates with multiple actors in Agder to develop the offshore wind industry. The team includes the Agder region initiative, Fremtidens Havvind; Future Materials Norwegian Catapult Center; the research institute NORCE; and Mechatronics Innovation Lab at UiA. "We will particularly support the development of the supplier industry and the infrastructure and supply lines that have to be built to contribute to the national initiative to develop a sustainable and financially sound offshore wind industry," Grasmo says. Provided by University of Agder While driving through Bryan-College Station a little less than a year ago, restauranteur Nick Taptelis and one of his business partners noticed something. Theres Greek food missing, Taptelis said. Now theyve come to Aggieland to supply it. Nick the Greek is scheduled to open the first of two restaurants at 1411 Wellborn Road in College Station on Feb. 7 and a second location at 505 University Drive E. in College Station later in February. Taptelis described Nick the Greek as a quick-service, street-style Greek restaurant. The menu features gyros, pitas, bowls, salads and more. All of our produce is fresh, cut fresh daily in-house, Taptelis said. All of our meat is cooked to order. We have our rotisseries cooking throughout the whole day. Weve got beef/lamb. Weve got chicken. Weve got pork. On the skewers, weve got chicken and pork. Weve got veggie options, salads. Pita bread, hummus, just a wide assortment of food. Nick the Greek started in San Jose, California. The College Station restaurants will be the second and third locations outside of California. Another restaurant site has been secured in Dallas. This is going to be kind of like a real Greek experience, like what you would get if you got street food, Greek food, said Alex Steck, Taptelis partner. Its going to be a good, authentic experience. Taptelis said Nick the Greek was fortunate to sustain business and see 90% of the restaurants current growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted Nick the Greek opened its 50th location on Tuesday. Theres only so much you can research when it comes to Greek food because theres not much around, Taptelis said. Theres other brands that are more Mediterranean, but weve stuck to our roots and we have good roots. Several other restaurants and businesses are scheduled to open soon in College Station. Waxing the City opened Thursday in the Tower Point shopping area. Piasanos Italian Pizza announced Wednesday that its new location near the intersection of Rock Prairie Road and Texas 6 will open at 11 a.m. Thursday. The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and 4-11 p.m. Mondays. Piasanos closed its Wellborn location in late December to prepare the opening of its new location. Tropical Smoothie Cafe recently opened at 310 University Drive E. and is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays. Other restaurants scheduled to open in College Station later this year, according to a city of College Station official, include Casa Mangiare and Trudys Tex-Mex on University Drive, Wingers in south College Station, Shogun Japanese Grill in the Tower Point area and Uptown Brunch at Caprock Crossing. It really was only a matter of time before the two rallying cries of the far right election fraud and gun rights came together in the most dangerous ways. The deadly Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection offered just a taste of the radicalism that the Republican mainstream has nurtured by refusing to condemn extreme acts of violence and the political leaders who encourage it including former President Donald Trump. All signs suggest this extremism is only going to get worse because GOP leaders fear losing power if they alienate the far right wing. Given the current trajectory, its not going to end well. In New Mexico last week, police arrested Solomon Pena, an unsuccessful candidate for the state House in the Nov. 8 election. He allegedly paid four men in early December to shoot up the homes of four elected officials including the state House speaker whom he apparently blames for helping steal the election in which his Democratic opponent won 74% of the vote. The home of state Sen. Linda Lopez also was riddled with more than a dozen bullets two weeks ago. Video shows Pena approaching the houses of two people who were targeted. Police also have recovered text messages containing the victims addresses that he sent to the other gunmen. Police released a photo of one of Penas accomplices eating a hamburger while holding a pistol. Arrayed before him on a table are four additional pistols along with ammunition clips. Pena allegedly participated in one of the shootings even though, as a convicted felon, he is barred by law from possessing a gun. Lest anyone ... mistake this as an innocuous, one-off event, there are some deadly serious factors worth considering. The gunfire ripped through the wall where an officials 10-year-old girl was sleeping. This type of radicalism is a threat to our nation that has made its way to our doorstep right here in Albuquerque, said Mayor Tim Keller, a Democrat. The incident comes on the heels of an election-denying activists attack inside the San Francisco home of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose husband was struck with a hammer and had to be hospitalized. Dozens of similar acts of armed political violence have occurred around the country. In Brazil, protesters mimicked the Jan. 6 insurrection in their attack earlier this month on government buildings in the Brazilian capital, baselessly asserting fraud in the recent presidential election. The common theme here is that its now acceptable in some circles to treat defeat as an automatic call to arms and violence. The days of magnanimity and bipartisan compromise are over. Some people want war and seem determined to provoke it. In the past, they could easily be dismissed as the lunatics they are. But since they now can claim an ex-president as their inspiration, lunacy is steadily infiltrating into the Republican mainstream, unchallenged by the partys cowardly leaders. 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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 Across China: Xinjiang strengthens medical services for rural COVID patients Xinhua) 14:29, January 26, 2023 URUMQI, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Rural doctor Kuwanam Imin pays home visits to villagers every day. Recently, he pays more attention to patients with underlying diseases, since China has made rural areas a focal point in its current COVID response strategy. Rural doctors like Kuwanam Imin and grassroots medical institutions in the rural areas of the vast Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have played a vital role in providing tiered, timely, and convenient medical services for rural residents. Kasim Sebi, 81, a resident of Shengli Village, Kuqa City of Aksu Prefecture, had fatigue two weeks ago. His family reported his health condition to rural doctors, who later visited him and conducted a COVID-19 antigen test for the senior. Kasim Sebi was diagnosed with a mild COVID-19 infection. Kuwanam Imin was among the doctors paying home visits, providing medicine for free, and doing physical checks for Kasim Sebi the following week. Thanks to the treatment, the senior recovered in around a week. Kuwanam Imin said that elderly villagers with underlying diseases such as hypertension have received special attention from doctors since last month. Once a family member reports the symptoms of COVID-19 infection or if the symptoms are found during home visits, doctors will provide treatment or transfer the patient to a superior medical institution in case of serious symptoms. Less than one kilometer away from the village, a township health center that has over 100 medical staffers can also provide treatment for patients and has a sufficient medicine stockpile for treating COVID-19 infection. "The current medicine stockpile can guarantee the dosage of 20 percent of the township population for two months. We also have equipment such as defibrillators, electrocardiographs, oxygenators and ventilators," said Turgunjan Turdi from the township health center, adding that patients in severe and critical conditions can be timeously transferred to higher-level hospitals by ambulances. Xu Liangliang, Party chief of the health commission of Kuqa City, said that the focus of epidemic prevention and control efforts in the rural areas is to protect residents' health and prevent severe cases. "We will continue to strengthen the health management and monitoring of key groups, enhance the capacity of medical care for COVID-19 in rural areas, and improve treatment for severe cases," Xu said. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Hongyu) 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. A 4-year-old Mount Airy child who died earlier this month was swaddled with a sheet, deprived of food and subjected to exorcism during nearly two years he was with his adoptive parents, a court record alleges. Skyler Wilson died Jan. 9 at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Skyler suffered from a hypoxic/anoxic brain injury, according to a search warrant. Such injuries occur when a persons brain gets too little oxygen. His adoptive parents, Joseph Joe Paul Wilson, 41, and Jodi Ann Wilson, 38, of Mount Airy were arrested Jan. 13 and charged with murder in connection with Skylers death, the Surry County Sheriffs Office said. Joe Wilson is a chiropractor and worked at Affordable Wellness in Mount Airy. Skyler and another child had been with the Wilsons since August 2021. Joe Wilson told investigators he received a Jan. 5 text with a photograph from his wife. The photo showed Skyler wrapped in a sheet and lying face down on the floor, a court record shows. Skyler was attached to the floor with duct tape, according to a search warrant. Two days after Skyler died, a former foster parent who cared for Skyler and the other child, told an investigator about a conversation that she had with Jodi Wilson. Jodi Wilson told the former foster parent that Skyler had been pouched, swaddled and that his food was restricted. Jodi Wilson said the other child was not allowed to walk by himself, according to an application for a search warrant. Skyler also was left alone in a gated room for excessive amounts of time, Jodie Wilson said. She also said children were subjected to exorcisms, the warrant said. The warrant doesnt provide details about the exorcisms. The foster parent told the investigators that she was concerned about the well being and safety of the children and about how the Wilsons cared for them, the warrant said. The foster care parent discussed her concerns with a worker at the Surry County Department of Social Services. The Wilson also had three foster children in their home at the time of Skylers death. The remaining children are in the custody of the Surry County Department of Social Services, the sheriffs office said. Found at the hospital The Surry County Sheriffs Office was contacted Jan. 6. by the Department of Social Services while Skyler was a patient at Brenner Childrens Hospital. A sheriffs detective spoke with a doctor at the hospital who had interviewed Joe Wilson, the court documents say. Wilson told the doctor that Jodi Wilson uses the parenting technique from Nancy Thomas called swaddling, according to the documents. Jodi Wilson texted her husband at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 5, saying that something had happened with the swaddling with Skyler, the warrant said. Jodi Wilson told Joe Wilson that something was wrong with the boys arms. Joe Wilson told the doctor that he and his wife put Skyler down for the night at 6:45 p.m. in a wagon that they used as a bed for the boy, the documents say. About 20 minutes later, the couple heard their son wiggling in the wagon. Jodi Wilson then attempted to stand Skyler up, but the boy fell over, according to the court documents. When Joe Wilson attempted to put Skyler on a couch, the boy was rigid and semi-responsive. Joe Wilson tried to give the boy water. Skyler drank two sips, but he refused a third sip, the documents say. Joe and Jodi Wilson then attempted to pour water into Skylers mouth. Joseph then said there was nothing else that he could do, and that he needed to call somebody, the court filing says. At 8:19 p.m. Jan. 5, Joe Wilson called 911 and told dispatchers that Skyler was having a seizure. An investigator listened to the 911 call and heard a woman in the background say, Its my fault, according to the application for the search warrant. When Surry County emergency medical technicians arrived at the scene, Skyler was unresponsive and not breathing, the filing says. The doctor at Brenner told an investigator that Skylers brain injuries were consistent with too much restriction used during a swaddling technique. On Jan. 6, investigators executed a search warrant at the Wilsons home in Mount Airy. Detectives saw wrist and ankle support straps and braces as well as cameras in the basement, the records show, but investigators didnt know that those items would be evidence in the case. Joe Wilson later told investigators that the wrist and ankle straps were used to restrain Skyler during the swaddling process, according to the court papers. Investigators searched the Wilsons home a second time on Jan. 9, and seized a desktop computer, journals documenting acts committed against the children, drawings, handwritten letters, and thumb drives, according to the court filing. Investigators described the seized items as evidence in their child-abuse investigation. Investigators seized files related to Skylers care when they searched the Surry County Department of Social Services, according to the warrant. The Wilsons are being held in the Surry County Jail with no bond allowed, the sheriffs office said, and are scheduled to appear Feb. 2 in Surry District Court. The couple waived their right to a public defender and it was unclear Tuesday if they had hired an attorney. Counties with the highest unemployment rate in North Carolina Counties with the highest unemployment rate in North Carolina #50. Lenoir County #49. Montgomery County #48. Moore County #47. Randolph County #46. Rowan County #45. Sampson County #44. Craven County #43. Forsyth County #42. Gaston County #41. Wilkes County #40. Beaufort County #39. Cherokee County #38. Wayne County #37. Caswell County #36. Cleveland County #35. Mitchell County #34. Harnett County #33. Pitt County #32. Rockingham County #31. Chowan County #30. Clay County #29. Guilford County #28. Perquimans County #27. Lee County #26. Onslow County #25. Pasquotank County #24. Hyde County #23. Columbus County #22. Martin County #21. Anson County #20. Bladen County #19. Brunswick County #18. Bertie County #17. Graham County #16. Northampton County #15. Rutherford County #14. Hertford County #13. Tyrrell County #12. Hoke County #11. Washington County #10. Cumberland County #9. Nash County #8. Wilson County #7. Richmond County #6. Robeson County #5. Halifax County #4. Vance County #3. Scotland County #2. Edgecombe County #1. Warren County At least two federal agencies in the U.S. fell victim to a "widespread cyber campaign" that involved the use of legitimate remote monitoring and management (RMM) software to perpetuate a phishing scam. "Specifically, cyber criminal actors sent phishing emails that led to the download of legitimate RMM software ScreenConnect (now ConnectWise Control) and AnyDesk which the actors used in a refund scam to steal money from victim bank accounts," U.S. cybersecurity authorities said. The joint advisory comes from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), National Security Agency (NSA), and Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC). The attacks, which took place in mid-June and mid-September 2022, have financial motivations, although threat actors could weaponize the unauthorized access for conducting a wide range of activities, including selling that access to other hacking crews. Usage of remote software by criminal groups has long been a concern as it offers an effective pathway to establish local user access on a host without the need for elevating privileges or obtaining a foothold by other means. In one instance, the threat actors sent a phishing email containing a phone number to an employee's government email address, prompting the individual to a malicious domain. The emails, CISA said, are part of help desk-themed social engineering attacks orchestrated by the threat actors since at least June 2022 targeting federal employees. The subscription-related missives either embed a link to a "first-stage" rogue domain or engage in a tactic known as callback phishing to entice the recipients into calling the actor-controlled phone number to visit the same domain. Irrespective of the approach used, the malicious domain triggers the download of a binary that then connects to a second-stage domain to retrieve the RMM software in the form of portable executables. The end goal is to leverage the RMM software to initiate a refund scam. This is achieved by instructing the victims to login to their bank accounts, after which the actors modify the bank account summary to make it appear as though the individual was mistakenly refunded an excess amount of money. UPCOMING WEBINAR Master the Art of Dark Web Intelligence Gathering Learn the art of extracting threat intelligence from the dark web Join this expert-led webinar! Save My Seat! In the final step, the scam operators urge the email recipients to refund the additional amount, effectively defrauding them of their funds. CISA attributed the activity to a "large trojan operation" disclosed by cybersecurity firm Silent Push in October 2022. That said, similar telephone-oriented attack delivery methods have been adopted by other actors, including Luna Moth (aka Silent Ransom). Patrick Beggs, chief information security officer at ConnectWise, said in an email statement that "software products intended for good use, including remote control tools, can be frequently used by bad actors for malicious purposes," and that "when alerted of this behavior, ConnectWise regularly issues take-down requests to remove malicious sites and domains." "This campaign highlights the threat of malicious cyber activity associated with legitimate RMM software: after gaining access to the target network via phishing or other techniques, malicious cyber actors from cybercriminals to nation-state sponsored APTs are known to use legitimate RMM software as a backdoor for persistence and/or command and control (C2)," the agencies warned. Central Nebraska Regional Airport has a chance this year to approach or break its all-time record of 71,000 enplanements, set in 2019. Airport Executive Director Mike Olson told the Grand Island City Council Tuesday night that, if things go well, the airport could see 72,000 or 73,000 enplanements this year. Thats assuming that were not hit with another pandemic or that pilot shortages worsen. In 2022, the Grand Island airport had 65,450 enplanements. Those passengers were divided equally between American Airlines and Allegiant flights. It was almost a 50-50 split. Weve never seen that before, Olson said. The 2022 number was about the fourth-highest weve ever had, Olson said. Since August, American Airlines has been serving Grand Island with a 65-seat jet, which replaced a 50-seat aircraft. Also at Tuesdays meeting, the council approved the purchase of 75 portable radios for the Grand Island Police Department at a cost of $547,604.25. The model is a Motorola APX800. Police Chief Kevin Denney said the newest handheld radio the department has is eight years old and out of warranty. If the department were to replace those radios with the same technology, they would become obsolete and basically worthless, Denney said. Currently, Grand Island police communicate via UHF. Thats 50-year-old radio technology, Capt. Jim Duering said in an interview. The movement is toward a VHF truncated system, which will allow all first responders to communicate with each other. Right now, Grand Island police arent able to communicate on handheld radios with agencies that have already gone to VHF technology. Currently, with our handhelds, we cant talk to the State Patrol. We cant talk to Kearney PD. We cant talk to Buffalo County. And that presents a big problem, because we do interact with them on a lot of issues on a regular basis, Denney told the City Council. Because its multi-band, the APX8000 will also operate on current analog UHF systems. Councilman Mike Paulick asked if the purchase of the radios would qualify for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. They would qualify, said Finance Director Patrick Brown. The council would have to choose to pursue such action. Shortly before the police radios were addressed, the council gave permission to the Grand Island Fire Department to apply for a grant to purchase 70 similar radios. Earlier in the meeting, Brown talked about possible uses of ARPA funds. The city has about $5.5 million available. The money must be allocated by Dec. 31, 2024, and has to be spent by Dec. 31, 2026. Brown said investment in the Conestoga Marketplace redevelopment would qualify for an ARPA funding expenditure. Former Mayor Jay Vavricek said if members of the public had a choice, the Conestoga Marketplace would probably not be No. 1 on their list of ARPA recipients. Mayor Roger Steele assured Vavricek that a public hearing will be held down the road. In addition, the council approved the purchase of a bucket truck for Parks and Recreations maintenance division. The articulating telescopic aerial truck, priced at $155,669, replaces a 1995 Chevy 3500 Cheyenne bucket truck. Among other things, council members also agreed to pay $29,900 for the preliminary design of the West Connector extension to the hike and bike trail. The 10-foot wide trail will be 1.4 miles long. Council member Chuck Haase asked about both expenditures. He asked why Parks and Recreation needs a 40-foot bucket truck rather than a 22-foot truck. Parks and Recreation Director Todd McCoy said the parks superintendent needs the extra height because the department does a lot of tree trimming and pruning. Regarding the hike and bike extension, Haase asked if city staff members would be able to do the design work. Interim Public Works Director Keith Kurz said city staff members are qualified, but he doesnt have enough people to do the work. McCoy said the design work is necessary for the city to apply for a grant. Also at Tuesdays meeting, the council denied a request from Duysen Enterprises, doing business as The Upper Deck, for a Class C liquor license and liquor manager designation for Aaron Duysen. Paris, TX (75460) Today Clear skies. Low around 55F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Clear skies. Low around 55F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Jackson County Mass Transit District will receive $3,205,559 in grants from the Rebuild Illinois program announced by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) on Tuesday in Decatur. The grants are part of a total of $113.8 million awarded to 32 downstate transit providers. Jackson County Mass Transit District will receive two grants. One is for the $1,662,559 for a Carbondale depot project. The other is $1,543,000 for a Murphysboro depot project. According to Shawn Freeman, managing director of the transit district, both grants will be used for new buildings. Right now, the transit district is housed out of an older building that is cramped. The Carbondale grant is for an administrative building. It includes a solar array, so we can reduce our carbon footprint, Freeman said. The second grant is for a Murphysboro depot project that will provide service to that area. Murphysboro is an important and great community. This ensures they wont be forgotten, Freeman said. The Murphysboro building will be a small depot that will house a couple of buses and a second administrative office. Freeman, who is nearing his second anniversary with the transit district, has experience grant writing. He said grant funding is available. You have to have a vision to get started. We are trying to find ways to reach rural communities with our limited resources, Freeman said. In addition to the two state grants, Jackson County Mass Transit District has received a federal grant for a maintenance facility. It will enable the district to hire a mechanic to work on busses and provide space to do that work. They also have a technology grant for $466,000 to upgrade radios and tablets on the busses. Freeman said the result will be an upgrade in the passenger experience. This round of Rebuild Illinois funding brings the total investment in downstate transit via competitive grants to $337.8 million, supporting the mission to create economic opportunity by improving all modes of transportation while boosting safety and efficiency. Two other local transit districts also received grants. Rides Mass Transit District received $746,500 for fueling canopies and tanks. Shawnee Mass Transit received $28,000 for bus tablets. Passed in 2019, Rebuild Illinois is investing a total of $33.2 billion over six years into the state's aging transportation system, creating jobs and promoting economic growth. Rebuild Illinois is not only the largest capital program in state history, but also the first that touches all modes of transportation: roads and bridges, transit, waterways, freight and passenger rail, aviation, and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. Cheryl Thomas begins a session of the Anatomy II class she is teaching at John A. Logan College by pushing a gurney into the laboratory. Reaching for the zipper of the body bag atop the gurney, she reveals to her students what looks like a human body. It is not, but for educational purposes it is the next best thing. The latest tool to help Thomas, chair of the colleges life and physical science department and a professor of biology, is the SynDaver Synthetic Human Surgical Model, an elaborate, full-body simulation of a human body. The model allows John A. Logan to give students real human anatomy experiences second only to those provided by an actual cadaver. Its pretty close, she said. Theres a little difference in feel because it is made of silicone and, of course, no human is exactly alike. This model is built with everything exactly where it theoretically should be. It is a fantastic learning tool. The model Thomas unveiled simulates a female, 5 feet, two inches tall and weighing about 120 pounds. Most everything on this model is built to scale and her joints do articulate slightly, so we can move her in specific ways. This is a very comprehensive model, Thomas said, adding that faculty and students are considering several possible names for their subject. The model is one of two purchased by the college at a cost of about $70,000 each with funding help from the Delta Regional Authority through the states Economic Development Assistant program. The funds were awarded to assist the college address a shortage of emergency medical technicians and emergency medical service-trained personnel. The college believes it is one of the first community colleges in Illinois to utilize the models. Thomas said the SynDaver will give students opportunities they otherwise could not get at the college. It is being used in anatomy, physiology and biology classes. As a community college, we cannot maintain actual cadavers, so the SynDaver is a viable replacement and amazing teaching aid for our students, she said. This technology allows our students to get hands-on experience with human anatomy instead of dissections on small mammals. It gives the students a glimpse of what a human looks like without having to have the requirements and rules of having human cadavers. The SynDaver is so realistic you can pull on the tendons, and it will move the corresponding part. She added there are benefits to using a synthetic model, especially because it is reusable semester after semester. Also, she said, the exposure to anatomy will benefit students further in the education. We hope that this will inspire students. Suppose they plan to continue in a science program. In that case, they will have had a head start because our courses are the foundation for all the other courses they will take as a pre-major such as medicine, physical therapy and pharmacy as well as our nursing and occupational therapy assistant programs, she said. CHICAGO A former Chicago graduate student was sentenced to eight years in prison Wednesday for spying for the Chinese government by gathering information on scientists and engineers in the U.S. with knowledge about aerospace and satellite technology. A federal jury in Chicago in September convicted Ji Chaoqun, 31, of conspiracy to act as an agent of China's Ministry of State Security without notifying the U.S. attorney general, acting as a spy in the U.S., and lying on a government form about his contacts with foreign agencies. The charges alleged that Ji was targeted by agents with the Ministry of State Security, or MSS, shortly before he came to the U.S. in 2013 to study engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. After traveling back to China for the winter break, prosecutors said, Ji was "wined and dined" by his MSS handlers. He was eventually given a top secret contract in which he swore an oath of allegiance to the agency's cause, agreeing to "devote the rest of my life to state security," according to prosecutors. Ji ultimately gathered background reports on eight U.S. citizens, all born in Taiwan or China, with careers in science and technology industries, including several who specialized in the aerospace field, prosecutors said. Seven worked for U.S. defense contractors. He sent the reports back to his handlers in a zipped attachment that was falsely labeled as sets of "midterm exam" questions, Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry Jonas said at Ji's trial. In 2016, a year after Ji graduated from the college, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve through a program to recruit foreigners who have skills considered vital to the national interest. The jury found Ji guilty of giving false answers on a government background form that asked if he had ever had any contact with foreign intelligence agencies. After 19 months of speculation, prosecutors finally laid out their evidence Wednesday that Alex Murdaugh killed his wife and son as they opened the double murder trial for the disgraced South Carolina attorney. There was gunshot residue on a seat belt, bullets pulled from bodies that matched ammunition boxes from around the home and cellphones never used again just a few minutes after Murdaugh, his wife and son were all heard in a cellphone video, prosecutor Creighton Waters said in his opening statement. "It's complicated. It's a journey. There's a lot of aspects to this case," Waters said. "But like a lot of things that are complicated, we start to put them all together, piecing together like a puzzle all the sudden, a picture emerges." A defense lawyer said prosecutors incorrectly locked in on Murdaugh's guilt from the start and have spent all that time trying to jam bits of evidence that can be explained away or leave an incomplete picture into a story that frames the wrong man. "There's no direct evidence. There's no eyewitnesses. There's nothing on camera. There's no fingerprints. There's no forensics tying him to the crime. None," defense lawyer Dick Harpootlian said. Waters opened the trial with three minutes of graphic description of the scene where the bodies of Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and her son, Paul, 22, were found shot with at least one bullet to the head by two different guns, pointing to Paul Murdaugh's head and calling it "catastrophic damage." Harpootlian added even more gruesome details how the shotgun blast that killed Paul Murdaugh was so close to his head that his brain exploded from his skull and was found at his feet. Alex Murdaugh started crying when his lawyer discussed the detail. "Alex was the loving father of Paul and the loving husband of Maggie," Harpootlian said. "You're not going to hear a single witness say that their relationship was anything other than loving." It was the start of what is expected to be a three-week trial at the Colleton County Courthouse. Both sides finished picking a 12-person jury with six alternates Wednesday. Murdaugh, 54, is standing trial on two counts of murder. If convicted, he faces 30 years to life in prison. This trial is the bottom of a stunningly far and fast downfall for the man whose family dominated the legal system in tiny neighboring Hampton County for generations, both as prosecutors and private attorneys known for getting life-changing settlements for accidents and negligence cases. Murdaugh also faces about 100 charges related to other crimes, including money laundering, stealing millions from clients and the family law firm, tax evasion and trying to get a man to fatally shoot him so his surviving son could collect a $10 million life insurance policy. He was being held in jail without bail on those counts before he was charged with murder. Prosecutors released little information about their case before Wednesday. In an opening statement, they sketched out a timeline of what they think happened at the Murdaughs' house and near the dog kennels on their 1,300-acre (526-hectare) hunting property June 7, 2021. Waters said Murdaugh told investigators he was never at the kennels before finding his wife and son's bodies near them after spending an hour away from the home checking on his mother, who has dementia. Waters said a video on Paul Murdaugh's cellphone has the voices of him, Maggie and Alex Murdaugh in it. Less than five minutes later, Paul Murdaugh's phone was never used again. Maggie Murdaugh's phone "locks forever" about 30 seconds later, Waters said. The prosecution said ammunition cartridges found around Maggie Murdaugh's body had markings that matched other cartridges fired at a range on the property and other locations. The cartridges were used in a type of automatic rifle that Alex Murdaugh bought but can't be accounted for, Waters said. Powder and residue left behind from a gun was found in several places Alex Murdaugh was also at, the prosecutor said. Harpootlian said all this was grasping at whatever evidence might make Murdaugh look guilty and ignoring what didn't fit the theory that he did it. The residue came when Murdaugh picked up a shotgun after checking his wife and son for signs of life and calling 911 in case their killers were still on his property, Harpootlian said. Maggie Murdaugh's cellphone, which her husband provided the code investigators used to find it the next day, showed it was being dumped on the side of the road off the property at the same time Alex Murdaugh's phone showed he started his truck just outside his home, the defense attorney said. At the end of the day, Alex Murdaugh shook his attorney's hands and then looked back where his surviving son and brother were seated behind him. A man accused of killing the mother of his 5-year-old daughter and then fleeing with the child is now being held at the Orangeburg County Detention Center. Antar Antonio Jeter, 47, had been held in a Danville, Virginia detention center while awaiting his return to Orangeburg to face charges of murder and grand larceny. Warrants accuse him of shooting and killing Crystal Jumper at her Louise Drive home on Nov. 1 and then fleeing with their daughter, Aspen Ariana Jeter, in Jumpers 2015 blue Mazda 6. Antar Jeter appeared before Orangeburg County Magistrate Rob Clariday on Wednesday. He said little during the hearing, but answered Claridays questions. At one point, Clariday asked him, Your current residence is where? I dont have one, Jeter replied. Where do you work? Clariday asked him. Jeter said, I dont work. The Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office victims advocate spoke on behalf of Jumpers family and asked Clariday to not set bond on Jeters grand larceny charge. State law prohibits magistrate judges from setting bond on capital offenses, such as murder. A circuit judge, however, may consider setting a suspects bond on a capital offense at a later date. Clariday asked Jeter if he would agree to let a circuit judge address bonds for both the murder charge and grand larceny charge at a later date. Jeter agreed. Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office deputies discovered Jumper shot to death in her Louise Drive home and her 2015 blue Mazda 6 missing following a welfare check on Thanksgiving Day last year. Aspen Jeter, who lived with her mother, was nowhere to be found. Aspen Jeter has a rare neurological disorder and is described as non-verbal and unable to walk. Authorities began searching for Antar Jeter and Aspen Jeter. There were sightings of the pair in Fayetteville and Raleigh, North Carolina. Antar Jeter was taken into custody in Danville on Dec. 9. It was his 47th birthday. Authorities claim he was driving Jumpers car. Aspen Jeter was also found with him. She was reported to be safe. Aspen Jeter remains in the care of relatives, according to an incident report. A memorial service for Jumper was held on Jan. 7. The case remains under investigation. Antar Jeter is scheduled to appear for his General Sessions roll call on Feb. 27. If hes convicted, he faces up to life in prison. The Calhoun County Sheriffs Office is seeking a stolen car and a man who may be able to provide information on the carjacking. The 2017 white Honda Civic was stolen early Sunday from the EnMarket located at 6009 Columbia Road, St. Matthews. Two suspects are being sought, as well as a man who was seen in the parking area around the time of the incident, according to Capt. Jimmy Orso. Investigators believe the man may have information that pertains to the incident and they would like to speak to him. A surveillance photo from the store shows what appears to be a light-complexioned man wearing white sneakers and a black track-like suit. The suit has a wide white stripe running down the sleeves and the sides of the pants. The man arrived at the business in a white SUV and parked at a gas pump. Deputies were called to the scene at 2:44 a.m. A couple arrived at the business in a 2017 white Honda Civic and parked at the front of the store, according to an incident report. The driver left the engine running in the Civic as he went into the store for 30 seconds, the report states. The woman remained in the front passenger seat. As the driver was in the store, two strangers allegedly got into the Civic while the woman remained in the car. The driver saw the strangers drive away in the car and began to chase after it. The car turned right onto Burke Road toward Kennerly Road, the driver said. He then saw the woman roll onto the concrete from the front passenger side. The woman told deputies that while she was in the car, the stranger in the backseat told the stranger in the drivers seat to let her out of it. She left her Louis Vuitton purse in the car, she said, but was able to grab her identification card and money. Investigators are searching for the two male strangers who stole the Civic. They are also looking for the Civic itself. If anyone has information about the man seen in the parking lot, the two men who took the Civic or the Civic itself, they are asked to call the Calhoun County Sheriffs Office dispatch at 1-803-874-2741. Callers dont have to give their names. The Orangeburg County School Districts board unanimously voted Tuesday to extend Superintendent Dr. Shawn Fosters contract and give him a raise, citing an excellent evaluation. I am extremely grateful for the boards confidence and support in my leadership as superintendent of Orangeburg County School District, Foster said in a release. I am excited to continue working alongside our school board to ensure the progress in OCSD continues, he said. Foster's salary increased to $225,000 and his contract was extended one more year, through June 30, 2026. Trustees met behind closed doors for nearly 2-1/2 hours to conduct the superintendents evaluation and receive legal advice. He received an excellent overall evaluation. The board said Foster's accomplishments include: His and the administration's leadership in putting forward a districtwide facility improvement plan, including a new Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School. His work helping the district improve financially and being taken off the South Carolina Department of Education's fiscal watch list. The creation and implementation of Project GROW to encourage non-certified employees to attain certification to teach and the Leadership Academy for district employees interested in leadership and school administration positions. The implementation of the employee health day to prioritize mental and physical health for employees. The installation of metal detectors in middle and high schools. The implementation of dual enrollment programs with Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College for students to get associates degrees before they graduate. The development of partnerships with local agencies and organizations to support staff and students during COVID to ensure vaccines were readily available. Being actively involved in promoting positive relationships with employees, students, parents and the community at large. Board Chair Ruby Edwards, reading a public statement on behalf of the board, said, "I wish to announce that Dr. Foster received an overall excellent evaluation. Based on our discussion, the board believes that Dr. Foster is committed to the success and excellence of this district, she said, according to the release. Foster was hired as superintendent in July 2020. His contract extended through June 2023. In June 2021, trustees voted to extend Foster's contract through June 30, 2025. At that time, Fosters salary increased at a rate no higher than the percentage increase (2%) in salary for all eligible certified staff. Foster was making $175,000, so a 2% increase brought his salary to $178,500 for the year. On Jan. 23, a District of Columbia jury convicted three members of an organization styling itself the "Oath Keepers," and a fourth associate of that group, of "seditious conspiracy" for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. There doesn't seem to be much to quibble with on the verdict, pursuant to 18 US Code 2384: "If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both." That is, the defendants do seem to have conspired to "prevent, hinder, or delay" the execution of the Electoral Count Act so as to prevent Congress' confirmation of Joe Biden as Donald Trump's successor. What I find interesting about the "seditious conspiracy" statute -- other than that Congress breaks it every time it conspires to pass a measure "hindering" the Supreme Law of the Land, the Constitution -- is that it describes, in a nutshell, the operating theory of government itself. George Washington is sometimes (incorrectly) quoted as warning that "government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force." Former congressman Ron Paul kept a placard on his desk reading "Don't Steal -- the Government hates competition." Government is an ongoing conspiracy to utilize force against you on behalf of the political class. If the conspirators steal something, it's policy. If you steal something, it's theft. If the conspirators use force to overthrow, put down, prevent, hinder, or delay you -- and they will ALWAYS use force if threats don't get the job done -- it's "the law." If you use force to overthrow, put down, prevent, hinder, or delay them, it's "sedition." As an anarchist, I'd be lying if I claimed I wouldn't like to see the U.S. government overthrown, put down, prevented, hindered or delayed at any and every opportunity. Not for some unworthy goal like keeping Donald Trump in the White House, but on principle. I'm not keen on using force to accomplish that, but my hesitation is of a practical, not moral, nature. Morally, any force I used against government would be inherently defensive, while theirs is powered by malice aforethought. But as a practical matter, they're a large, well-armed gang, fat on the take from hundreds of millions of robberies every year, while I'm just a guy who'd like to be left alone. Furthermore, I can't be sure that what will follow their overthrow -- which sooner or later, will inevitably happen -- will be any better. But I'm looking forward to finding out. If this be sedition, make the most of it. Wyoming lawmakers advanced a proposal Wednesday that would tax utility-scale solar power at the same rate as wind, after several members of the House Appropriations Committee argued that it would be unfair for the state to impose a production tax on some sources but not others. My whole idea here is that if were going to tax wind, then solar ought to likewise be taxed at a similar rate. I dont see the difference in the two, said Rep. Albert Sommers, R-Pinedale, sponsor of House Bill 124. This isnt the Wyoming Legislatures first time trying to impose a tax on solar farms. An attempt in 2021, also sponsored by Sommers, died in the House Revenue Committee, as did an appropriations-backed version in 2020. A half-dozen people urged the committee to kill the measure on Wednesday, including Ashley Harpstreith, executive director of the Wyoming Taxpayers Association, who said the bill tries to modify behavior and discourages solar power development in the state. Where coal, oil and gas are subject to state and federal taxes when theyre extracted, wind farms in Wyoming have been subject to a $1-per-megawatt-hour generation tax since 2011. (All electricity generation facilities in Wyoming, including wind and solar, also pay property taxes, sales taxes and other fees.) But Wyoming is taxing wind, Harpstreith and several others pointed out, very differently than it taxes fossil fuels. Adding solar to an already unequal tax does not make it more equal, Harpstreith said. Rep. Clark Stith, R-Rock Springs, said he was surprised that the group which he described as advocating for how we need to tax fairly across the board and not favor one industry over another decided to oppose the bill. I dont understand why you think that its equitable to not have a similar tax on solar as on wind, he said. But the taxpayers association wasnt the only group to challenge that assertion. The developer of Wyomings largest wind energy project, Power Company of Wyoming, now also eyeing solar, took a similar position. The American Clean Power Association warned that the tax would make Wyoming less competitive against other states, and a Casper-based construction company said it could threaten local jobs. Only the Wyoming County Commissioners Association came out in favor, largely because of that same desire for fairness. Harpstreith argued, however, that any tax on electricity production would fall primarily on electricity customers. And Kara Choquette, director of communications for Power Company of Wyoming, presented federal data to the committee: In 2020 and 2021, Wyoming exported 58% of the electricity it produced to other states, down from 67% in 1990. In other words, Wyoming exports a much larger share of the fuels used to produce electricity coal, oil and natural gas than of electricity itself. The challenge, Choquette said, is that when theres an additional cost of electricity produced in Wyoming for these resources, it risks pushing that business outside of the state borders, because power plants can be built, generally, with wind and solar, about anywhere. The intersection of CY Avenue and Poplar Street in Casper an especially crash prone part of town could eventually undergo renovations. The Casper City Council invited Joel Meena, state traffic engineer for the Wyoming Department of Transportation, to a Tuesday work session to talk about how to make the intersection safer. Over the past six years, 104 crashes were reported there. The crashes didnt result in any deaths, but they injured 18 people, Meena told city council members. The intersection of CY Avenue and Wyoming Boulevard, by comparison, recorded just 82 crashes over the same period, though with 27 injuries. (The actual crash totals are likely higher, since not everyone who gets into a car accident reports it.) Meena said the section of Poplar directly south of the intersection wheres theres a sudden zipper merge is partly to blame. The right lane was added in 2015 as part of a $4.5 million-expansion to the intersection. The goal was to ease traffic congestion an average of 26,000 vehicles cross the intersection daily, Meena said. But the right lane is short, so drivers arent using it much, said Meena. But those who do have trouble merging safely. It becomes either a drag race or a test of wills, he said. The Wyoming Department of Transportation has jurisdiction over CY Avenue, since its technically a state highway. But any changes on Poplar south of the intersection would have to be made by the city. He recommended the city drag the right lane out farther, to give drivers more time to merge. Another issue relates to how the intersection is laid out, Meena said. The roads dont meet at right angles, like most intersections. Anytime you do that, you got problems, he said. Plenty of other factors could be aggravating the problem, he added. There seems to be a lot of red light-running and U-turns happening there, for instance. Of the 104 reported crashes, 42 were angle impacts typically, T-bone collisions, Meena said. He suggested having a consultant put together a safety study on the intersection, which could provide much more detail about whats going on. The city council hasnt decided on a way forward yet, but council members showed interest in continuing the discussion over Poplars zipper merge. The council on Tuesday asked city staff to gather some preliminary research on what it would take to lengthen the right lane. CHEYENNE Legislation that would influence instruction and supporting materials as public schools teach students about the U.S. Constitution, the Wyoming Constitution and the study of and devotion to American institution and ideals was passed Wednesday morning out of the Senate Education Committee. Lawmakers voted 4-1 in support of Senate File 130, with Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie, voting no. He voiced concerns that the bill overstepped the Wyoming Legislatures purview by dictating curriculum and educational content. This was met with pushback from committee member Sen. Bo Biteman, R-Ranchester, who argued in support of taking action. He said they had the ability to quell brush fires popping up in local communities, and that controversial issues, such as sexual orientation and gender identity being discussed in schools, were not going to go away. We dont simply just write checks and go on our way here at the Legislature. We set policy, as well, he said before the vote. We spend a lot of money on education, and were also held accountable to our constituents to make sure that were upholding the values that they want us to represent. Some of the values he hopes to uphold are included in the Educational Freedom Act, sponsored by Sen. Lynn Hutchings, R-Cheyenne, and three other senators, as well as five representatives. The bill would set guidelines for teaching to align with the principles of individual freedom. These include that all members of the human race are equal, as provided by Article 1, Section 2 of the Wyoming Constitution, and that no person, by virtue of his ethnicity or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same ethnicity or sex. SF 130 also would direct administrative personnel not to implement programs or policies that adversely reflect upon a person because of his ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, disability, socioeconomic status or occupant, and the board of trustees for any school district could not provide education programs under the same guideline. Hutchings cited Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkins statement that there is a faction of the nation that is spreading inherently divisive information as part of the inspiration for the bill. She said she believes it is also destructive to young people of whatever ethnicity. Its mainly affecting our Black community, where were being told that our lives dont matter, she testified before the committee. Our history is just full of hatred, and I get that. I know that our history is not the best history, but weve come a long way. She said the bill was necessary to show people who come to Wyoming, especially military members, that they have done their best to rectify actions of the past and follow the Wyoming Constitution. Shaping the bill Before she explained her reasoning for the legislation, she put forth multiple amendments alongside Wyoming Department of Education Chief of Staff Dicky Shanor. They wanted to change the place in state statute where the bills language would go, and remove sections of the bill that dictate how instructional personnel facilitate discussions and administrative personnel implement programs and policies. (State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder) supports these principles, and thinks its important to have them in statute, Shanor said. However, her thought was that those principles should be a responsibility of the board of trustees. And so, instead of putting it in this section related to the instruction on the state and federal constitutions, that act should actually go in this section of statute around local board of trustees responsibilities. None of these changes were adopted by the committee before the vote, however. Lawmakers said they were more comfortable with the original version of the bill, and preferred to handle the amendments in the Senate Committee of the Whole. Public testimony However, there were stakeholders who found the amendments beneficial to the bill. Wyoming Education Association Government Relations Director Tate Mullen said during his testimony that the states teachers union agreed with the principles laid out in the Educational Freedom Act, and supported the removal of the requirements. This didnt change the fact that he said it circumvented the states standards-setting process. He said when the Legislature starts to delegate and determine standards and instruction, instead of going through the State Board of Education, there is a loss of an inclusive process that utilizes the input from parents, educators and citizens within communities. He also voiced concerns that the bill would impact teacher satisfaction, attraction and retention, because it deals with respect for the profession. These folks are professionals. They understand what is taught in our classrooms, why it is taught in our classrooms that has been a big area of contention, he said. They feel like they need support. And when the Legislature circumvents a process that has worked for our students and has worked for educators, its problematic in terms of demonstrating that support. Others spoke in support of SF 130, including Casper resident Kyle True. He encouraged the Legislature to adopt the bill, and thanked lawmakers for trying to be more active in the school system. He said fights are bubbling up across the state, and he doesnt believe the current system is working for students, teachers or the communities they serve. I love to say Wyoming is what America was. But I think that there are rivers running through education today, and we are not the island that I had hoped and thought that we were, he said. I think were subject to many of the things going on around this country that are going on in the wrong direction. For the third year in a row, a ban on medication abortion has cleared Wyomings Senate health committee. But while previous versions have died in the House, the latest attempted ban could see a different fate amid the rise of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus and turnover in the Legislature. The Senate Labor, Health and Social Services Committee voted by a 4-1 margin Wednesday to advance a bill sponsored by Sen. Tim Salazar, R-Riverton, which would outlaw and criminalize the use, manufacture, distribution or prescription of abortion pills in Wyoming. Committee chairman Fred Baldwin, R-Kemmerer, was the lone no vote after supporting the same bill sponsored by Salazar last year. Baldwin was also the lone dissenter on another 2021 bill to prohibit medication abortions. The bill would bar the use of mifepristone and misoprostol, the two most common drugs used in medication abortions, as well as mifeprex, mifegyne and any other similar drugs that could induce an abortion. Physicians or others who violate the ban would face a misdemeanor charge and up to a $9,000 fine and six months and jail. Salazars bill provides exceptions for rape, incest, natural miscarriage, and to protect the life or health of the mother. In 2021, Wyoming recorded 98 abortions, 67 of which were residents, according to Wyoming Department of Health data. All 98 were non-surgical medical abortions, in other words, medication abortions. More than an hour and half of testimony yielded civil debate, with religious groups and pro-life speakers in favor of the bill and medical providers and reproductive rights advocates opposed. The abortion lobby will try to use chemical abortion pills to circumvent future abortion bans in the state of Wyoming and this law will ever stop that from happening, said Michael Barrow, a Wyoming state action captain for Students for Life of America. We ask you to stand for those women and stand up for them and the children who die from abortion each year in Wyoming, he said. Its time for our generation to set an example to other states by ending the evil of abortion. And its time that we set an example by protecting women and safeguarding the next generation of Wyomingites. The testimony of medical providers and reproductive rights advocates was broad but focused on womens health and the rights of mothers and families to make their own health care decisions. Those who testified also highlighted the indirect consequences of outlawing the drugs. If Senate File 109 passes, this will truly be a crisis in the practice of obstetrics and gynecology, and this has nothing to do with elective abortion, said Dr. Giovannina Anthony, an OB-GYN and abortion provider in Jackson. [The bill] does make an exception for management of miscarriage, but the reality of banning and criminalizing these drugs is they will not be available. Anthony objected specifically to the banning of misoprostol, which, in addition to medication abortion, is used to induce labor, treat postpartum hemorrhaging and assist with miscarriages. When asked by Sen. Anthony Bouchard, R-Cheyenne, if she read the bill and was aware that it only prohibited the drugs for use in abortions, Anthony said pharmacists aware of the criminal penalties would be hesitant to fill prescriptions for other uses even if they are legal for fear that they could be used in an abortion. Dont you think that that would really provide a chilling effect? she said. Past attempts, new landscape Salazar brought the same bill banning medication abortion last year. After breezing through the Senate by a 20-10 margin, the House never considered the bill and it failed. The same thing happened in 2021 during Salazars first attempt to outlaw medication abortion. However, Salazars latest try will be heard amid a drastically different landscape both nationally and in the Wyoming Legislature. The Supreme Courts ruling striking down Roe v. Wade in June paved the way for Wyomings trigger ban passed a few months earlier to go into effect. Teton County Judge Melissa Owens has since blocked the ban, but the state is still awaiting a ruling from Owens that could determine the future of abortion in the state, though Owens decision will likely be appealed to the Wyoming Supreme Court. At the same time, the Biden administration has sought to expand access to the drugs used in medication abortions, with the Food and Drug Administration announcing earlier this year that they could be sold in retail pharmacies with a prescription for the first time. CVS and Walgreens have said that they plan to offer the pills in states where abortion is legal. Medication abortions accounted for 53% of abortions in the U.S. 2020, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights research and advocacy group. Growing support Unlike the last two times, Salazar has found significant support after turnover following the last election cycle, especially in the House. Freshman lawmakers account for almost half of the House, including six of the nine members who serve on the House Labor, Health and Social Services Committee. Thirteen freshman in the House have signed on as co-sponsors to the bill, by themselves doubling the number of representatives who co-sponsored the ban in 2022. More than a third of the Senate has co-sponsored bill as well. The strengthening of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, including the election of Rep. Chip Neiman, R-Hulett, a caucus sympathizer, as majority floor leader, will also likely improve the bans chances of passing. Among the Freedom Caucus priorities is bolstering Wyomings pro-life protections, according to the news release announcing the groups official formation. But while momentum is building among Wyoming lawmakers for a statewide ban on medication abortions, providers remain firm in their objections. I understand I will never change the minds of any of you regarding abortion, and I dont plan to, said Dr. Rene Hinkle, an OB-GYN and founding partner at the Cheyenne Womens Clinic. I am not pro-abortion. I have never done abortions, but I have been taking care of women and doing reproductive womens health for over 30 years and abortion is part of womens health. It is a health issue. <&rule> PHOTOS: Abortion in Wyoming Pro-choice protest Abortions rights protest Abortion-rights protesters The Women's Health Center and Family Care Clinic of Jackson Pro-life Protest Pro-life Protest Abortion-rights protest Abortion-rights protest Abortion-rights protest Abortion clinic fire Abortion-rights protest Abortion-rights protest Pro-life Protest Pro-life Protest Pro-life Protest Pro-life Protest Pro-life Protest CHEYENNE Dealing with violence on the job is often a given part of being a health care worker. Konea Dory, a nurse who works at Ivinson Memorial Hospitals emergency room in Laramie, knows what thats like. She said shes been kicked in the stomach by a patient who frequently visits the emergency room. She once had a patient tell her that they were going to punch her in the face if she took one step inside their room. Another threatened to kill her and her children. The problem is there are not specific rules against those people who assault us health care workers, Dory said. We are in a very vulnerable situation. Its sad that you go to work and you are worried every single day when you go in a patient room. And while workplace violence has long been something that these professionals have had to deal with, its gotten worse over the past few years, Tracy Garcia, Cheyenne Regional Medical Center vice president and chief nursing officer, said. House Bill 149, which unanimously passed its first reading in committee on Wednesday, aims to bolster protections for health care workers who experience violence in the workplace. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne, would make assault, battery or threats of violence against health care workers crimes punishable by a misdemeanor and up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $750, or both. (The bill originally had increased the misdemeanor fine to $1,000, but Rep. Sarah Penn, R-Lander, amended the bill to lower the fine back to $750. Penn, a family nurse practitioner, didnt believe the $1,000 fine would do much to discourage violence toward health care workers.) Subsequent offenses could result in a felony and up to three years in jail, a fine of up to a $1,000, or both. The bill would encourage health care facilities to post signs stating that abusing or using violence against health care workers could result in conviction under the proposed statute or other laws. It would also direct these facilities to post information about workplace violence on their websites and develop a workplace violence prevention plan. Health care institutions would be encouraged to report incidents of workplace violence to law enforcement and the Wyoming Department of Health, or the appropriate licensing authority for the institution. (These reporting requirements would only apply to health care facilities with 25 employees or more.) Employees who report on workplace violence or seek help from emergency services or law enforcement would be protected from potential retaliation from their facilities under the bill. Wyoming is the only state in the U.S. that doesnt have a law on the books to specifically protect health care workers. A similar bill came up once before in the Legislature. Increasing protections for health care workers was also a topic that Wyomings Joint Judiciary Committee mulled over before the current session started. But the committee didnt end up sponsoring the bill, rejecting it by a 5-4 vote after getting snagged on a part of the proposed legislation that would have made a first offense a felony. So, Zwonitzer instead decided to sponsor the bill himself, tweaking it so that punishment for a first offense was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor, with a second or subsequent charge being a felony. Health care workers just like anyone else are protected under Wyoming laws if someone acts violently toward them. But if a health care worker is assaulted, the damage extends beyond that professional to the patients they are caring for. Because of this, Wyoming Hospital Association Vice President Josh Hannes argued that the law should recognize that this is a different type of offense. Some people pointed out during the House Labor, Health and Social Services committee meeting on Wednesday that violence against health care professionals is particularly concerning since Wyoming is already suffering from a health care worker shortage. What weve seen and heard is that people arent going into health care because of these types of situations, Garcia, the vice president of Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, said. (Rep. Jeanette Ward, R-Casper, questioned whether these increases in assaults and difficulties in recruiting health care workers werent the result of people not wanting to comply with vaccine mandates.) Though they ended up supporting the bill, some lawmakers said they were concerned that the proposed legislation penalizes people who perhaps act violently because they are ill the very reason they might find themselves in a health care facility in the first place. An amendment thats likely to come up in future readings of the bill would carve into that problem to some extent. The amendment, which was requested by Wyomings chapter of the Alzheimers Association, would exempt from the bill patients with Alzheimers or a related dementia, or who have a substantiated history of memory loss that interferes with their daily lives. Though the proposed legislation would put in place some guardrails meant to address workplace violence against health care workers, its just one step in dealing with the issue, a point that Penn reminded lawmakers and the public. I just want to make sure that people understand that this isnt gonna make assault stop, Penn said. But its an effort to do what we can do still to support nurses and try to facilitate that process. The bill still needs to make it through several votes in the House and Senate before it can be signed into law. Telecoms provider Flow will increase prices next month. In a notice to its customers on Wednesday, Flow said the 3.5-per cent increase in its Internet and cable packages will come into effect on May 1. Another notice was sent to customers with multiple cable boxes via e-mail on Wednesday. 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. work in progress: Contractors work on the North Stand structure on Sunday, at the Queens Park Savannah, Port of Spain. Photo: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK The Government, through its State enterprises, has created new opportunities for artisans, s SOD-TURNING FOR LIBRARY: Youth Development and National Service Minister Foster Cummings, centre, the Member of Parliament for La Horquetta/Talparo; Communication Minister Symon de Nobriga, second from left, Nalis chairman Neil Parsanlal left, UDeCOTT director Jade Brown, second from right, and UDeCOTT CEO Tamica Charles-Phillips, right, turn the sod for the La Horquetta Public Library at a ceremony at La Horquetta yesterday. Photo: ISHMAEL SALANDY The Government needs to promote discussion and engage the public more on initiatives that have major implications for the people and society of Trinidad and Tobago. One example is the current push towards a cashless society in a world touted as one of financial inclusion. This initiative is being led by the Trinidad and Tobago International Financial Centre (TTIFC), which heads the Governments digitalisation initiatives in the financial services sector, and Visa, one of the worlds biggest names in digital payments. PHOENIX The top Republicans in the Arizona House and Senate are asking a judge to save failed GOP attorney general candidate Abe Hamadeh from having to pay the legal fees of others he sued in his unsuccessful lawsuit to be declared the winner. And Arizona taxpayers are picking up the $5,300 cost of the GOP leaders legal filing. In a friend of the court brief, Senate President Warren Petersen of Queen Creek and House Speaker Ben Toma of Peoria say they are not taking sides on the question of whether Hamadeh or his Democratic rival Kris Mayes got more votes. The official tally after a recount showed Mayes winning by 280 votes and she was sworn in earlier this month as attorney general. But attorney Tom Basile, representing Petersen and Toma, said there is no evidence Hamadeh acted in bad faith in filing his lawsuit, nor in his request for a new trial after Mohave County Superior Court Judge Lee Jantzen ruled against his bid to overturn the results. Mayes attorneys, in their own legal filing with Jantzen, said the challenge to the election results never should have been brought, saying it was based on nothing more than speculative information and belief. Despite their unwarranted fishing expedition, they failed to find any support to establish their unfounded claims, Mayes lawyers said in their bid for Hamadeh to pay their fees and a $5,000 fine. Basile, however, is telling Jantzen it would be wrong for him to now award Mayes and the Secretary of States Office, which also was named by Hamadeh as a defendant their legal fees plus that penalty. In context, the defendants sanctions demands evince a noxious admixture of political vengeance and in the case of the Secretary of State abuse of power, Basile wrote. He said both were already threatening to seek legal fees even before there was a trial. Basile also said the Legislature purposely established procedures for transparency, fact-finding and independent judicial inquiry whenever there are credible questions surrounding the accuracy of certified election results. He said it is up to individual voters to start that process. Citizens should not be threatened by their own government officials with punitive penalties for raising measured and modest questions in the closest election for statewide office in Arizona history, he wrote. Basile took a particular shot at not just the Secretary of States Office but also certain county officials for how they handled the matter. He did not name names. But Republicans who have lost their races have lashed out at Maricopa County supervisors and Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, contending there were irregularities in the voting process that disenfranchised some individuals. It is understandable that governmental parties would zealously defend their actions and practices in the 2022 election, Basile wrote. But the churlish imperiousness with which the secretary and certain county officials greet even narrowly tailored questions regarding the extent and repercussions of undeniable mistakes suggests they have forgotten that they serve all electors including Mr. Hamadeh and his supporters. Jantzen dismissed Hamadehs first challenge to the election result, saying he didnt prove his case. Now Hamadeh is seeking a new trial based on arguments there is new evidence and, given that, he should be allowed to hand inspect all ballots and not just the 2,300 he was allowed to access to determine if Mayes really outpolled him. Two Tucson men have been arrested after troopers with the Arizona Department of Public Safety say they found more than 80 pounds of drugs during a traffic stop near Marana. Carlos Calixtro-Varela, 27, the driver of a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, was stopped on Interstate 10 by a trooper on Jan. 18 for moving violations. During a search of the pickup truck troopers say about 52 pounds of methamphetamine, 28 pounds of fentanyl pills and more than 2 pounds of fentanyl powder were found, an agency news release said. Investigators determined that the drugs were being smuggled from Tucson to Marana, the news release said. Calixtro-Varela and the passenger, Francisco Calixtro-Varela, 30, were arrested and booked into the Pima County jail on suspicion of possession, transportation and sale of narcotic drugs and dangerous drugs, the release said. As the University of Arizona pursues switching accreditors, some faculty members are raising concerns about their involvement in the process. To date, planning for this major educational and academic change has not included informing, deliberations with, or approval by the elected faculty governance body, the Faculty Senate, wrote Leila Hudson, elected chair of the UA faculty, in a letter dated Jan. 5, 2023 to Jamienne Studley, president of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College & University Commission. The General Faculty is, thus far, not yet fully informed about nor formally represented in this accreditation process through its elected representatives and institutions. The Higher Learning Commission has accredited the UA for more than 100 years. Late last year, however, the UA submitted an application to become accredited by WSCUC. The California-based accrediting body also accredits the University of Arizona Global Campus, the online university formerly known as Ashford University, which is still working to get the accreditor to remove a notice of concern related to student retention and graduation rates. The UA, fully aware of the notice of concern, acquired the assets of Ashford in 2020 and rebranded it as UA Global Campus. At that time, UA officials said they intended to keep UA Global Campus a separate entity, governed by a separate board. But that changed in early 2022, when the UA announced its plan to integrate the online school and its roughly 27,000 students into its operation and make UA Global Campus a branch campus. At the time of that announcement, numerous members of the Faculty Senate expressed concern that they had not been properly consulted in the decision to integrate UA Global Campus and demanded a risk-assessment of the deal, which the UA has not provided. Now one year later, the UA is moving full-steam ahead in its plan to integrate UA Global Campus. In November, the Arizona Board of Regents approved a $45,000 incentive for UA President Robert C. Robbins if he brings UA Global Campus under the full authority of the UA by June 30. Soon after that, the UA applied to switch accreditors, because, according to UA spokesperson Pam Scott, the university believes that (WSCUC) is better suited to our mission, values, purpose and strategic plan. An accreditation team from WSCUC visited the campus last week to conduct a review, which included time for faculty, staff and student input. But the accelerated timeline of the accreditation switch both the announcement and the visit last week happened in between the scheduled December and January Faculty Senate meetings frustrated some faculty. Consequently, our universitys elected faculty representatives were structurally prevented from deliberating a critical decision impacting academic, educational and faculty personnel issues accreditation their statutory duty, Ted Downing, a faculty senator, wrote in an email to his colleagues in the Faculty Senate one day before the accreditation team visit. The scheduling, Downing wrote, shows a flagrant disregard for the Senate, colleagues, and statutory, mandatory obligations as an elected faculty member. Quid quo pro? In addition to concerns about shared governance, Hudson, the chair of the faculty, also wrote in the Jan. 5 letter to WSCUC that some members of the Faculty Senate have a concern that WSCUC may be entangled in a quid pro quo or a conflict of interest due to its status as the accreditor for (UA Global Campus), which still has a notice of concern. In response to the Arizona Daily Stars questions about this possibility, a spokesperson from WSCUC said that if the University of Arizona is granted accreditation by WSCUC, it would be required to secure approval for any structural changes it sought to make, and WSCUC would review those changes. There are too many possible forms of arrangements and outcomes that could be brought to the Commission for approval for WSCUC to speculate on the outcome, conditions, or consequences. The accreditor added that, so long as UA Global Campus and the UA remain separate entities, the online schools notice of concern would not be affected if the University of Arizona were to be granted accreditation by WSCUC. At a meeting of the Faculty Senate on Monday, members publicly discussed their impressions of the accreditation process so far. While several shared the concerns raised in Hudsons letter to WSCUC, Tessa Dysart, who serves as secretary of the Faculty Senate and as a member of a UA Global Campus integration working group, shared a different view. We are not necessarily universally thrilled about the accelerated timeline on UAGC integration, but we understand its happening and why its happening, Dysart said. We want to make sure that it happens the best possible way that includes faculty participation in critical decisions. Others have active role Several days before WSCUCs site visit last week, Dysart and Caleb Simmons, who is also a faculty senator and a member of the UA Global Campus working group, sent a letter to the accreditor, disputing some of the points Hudsons Jan. 5 letter raised, including a perceived lack of shared governance. We have taken an active role in reviewing the accreditation application and offering constructive feedback, Dysart and Simmons wrote in a letter dated Jan. 13. We are faculty who will constructively engage with the administration, consistent with the spirit and letter of the Memorandum of Shared Governance. A WSCUC spokesperson declined to answer further questions about the particulars of either letter as it is the bodys policy to not comment on the substance of a review while it is underway. The accrediting agency plans to consider the UAs application, which includes the reports made from last weeks site visit, at a meeting scheduled for Feb. 22-24. But at the close of Mondays Faculty Senate meeting, UA Provost Liesl Folks gave some insight into how, from her perspective, last weeks visit went. We clearly made a profoundly positive impact on the reviewers, Folks said, and they went away with an extremely positive view of the institution. Photos: UA campus and Tucson in 1965 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson 1965 in Tucson What does Bessie Coleman have in common with Tina Turner, Jane Goodall and Madam C.J. Walker? As of Wednesday, it's a Barbie doll. Barbie officially announced the launch of its Bessie Coleman doll on Wednesday, as part of its "Inspiring Women" series, in honor of both her Jan. 26 birthday and Black History Month's imminent beginning. Coleman was the first Black and Native American female pilot, and her success inspired other pilots of color to earn their wings. "Keeping Bessie's legacy alive has always been a labor of love for my family, and we are proud to recognize her determination and accomplishments for Black women in aviation and continue to share my great aunt's pioneering spirit with fans of all ages," said Gigi Coleman, Bessie Coleman's great-niece, said in a statement. Barbie will also partner with Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Stars a nonprofit founded by Gigi Coleman that educates students and introduces them to careers in aviation, as well as the nonprofit Girls Write Now. Coleman, born in 1892 to sharecroppers in Texas, first became interested in flying while living in Chicago. Because of her race and gender, flight schools in the U.S. wouldn't admit Coleman but that didn't stop her. Coleman went international, learning French and moving to Paris to attend aviation school. In 1921, she became the first Black woman to earn a pilot's license, and began performing aerial stunts back in the states. But her career was cut short. During a practice for a May Day celebration in Jacksonville, Florida, her plane operated by her mechanic flipped. Coleman, who was not wearing a seatbelt, plummeted to her death. She was 34. "We hope through this doll more people will discover Bessie's story and be inspired," Gigi Coleman said. ___ WASHINGTON House Republicans renewed their investigation Wednesday into the art dealings of Hunter Biden, pushing for details on who is purchasing his work as part of the party's long-promised probe into President Joe Biden and his family. Rep. James Comer, the new chairman of the House Oversight Committee, asked for a transcribed interview with Georges Berges, the art dealer who has showcased Hunter Biden's work in New York and Los Angeles galleries since 2021. He requested communications between the galleries and White House, citing Republican concerns the younger Biden is trading in on his father's name. "Despite being a novice artist, Hunter Biden received exorbitant amounts of money selling his artwork, the buyers' identities remain unknown, and you appear to be the sole record keeper of these lucrative transactions," Comer, R-Ky., said in a letter to Berges. The White House counsel's office and a representative for Hunter Biden did not immediately return requests for comment. The Republicans have requested information from Berges before, but those were ignored when the GOP was in the House minority. Biden aides have derided Republicans' focus on Hunter Biden, who never held a position in the White House or presidential campaign, as hypocritical. They point to the president's predecessor, Donald Trump, who had a daughter and son-in-law working for him in the White House and often spent taxpayer dollars at his own properties. The Biden White House said it established an arrangement in the early days of the presidency that allows Hunter Biden to sell his artwork without knowing the identity of the purchaser. Officials said it would avoid any potential ethical entanglements with the sales. Under the arrangement, a private art gallery owner sets prices for Hunter Biden's work and handles all bidding and sales, but does not share any information about buyers or prospective buyers with Hunter or anyone in the administration. Berges also agreed to reject offers he deemed suspicious or that came in over the asking price. The prices for Hunter Biden's art, according to Comer, range from $55,000 to $225,000 a piece at the SoHo gallery where his latest collection debuted earlier this month. His paintings often depict abstract flowers and trees with the use of a mixture of ink and acrylic on metal. "It is concerning that President Biden's son is the recipient of anonymous, high-dollar transactions potentially from foreign buyers with no accountability or oversight (other than you)," Comer wrote in the letter. "The American people deserve transparency regarding certain details about Hunter Biden's expensive art transactions." Hunter Biden's taxes and foreign business work are already under federal investigation by a federal grand jury in Delaware. His membership on the board of a Ukrainian energy company and his efforts to strike deals in China have long raised questions about whether he traded on his father's public service. NEWPORT NEWS, Va. Concerned staff warned administrators at a Virginia elementary school three times that a 6-year-old boy had a gun and was threatening other students in the hours before he shot and wounded a teacher, but the administration "was paralyzed by apathy" and didn't call police, remove the boy from class or lock down the school, the wounded teacher's lawyer said Wednesday. Diane Toscano, an attorney for Abigail Zwerner, said during a news conference that she notified the school board in Newport News that the 25-year-old teacher at Richneck Elementary School plans to sue the school district over the Jan. 6 shooting, which left Zwerner with serious injuries. "On that day, over the course of a few hours, three different times three times school administration was warned by concerned teachers and employees that the boy had a gun on him at the school and was threatening people. But the administration could not be bothered," Toscano said. The school's superintendent, George Parker III, will leave his role after reaching an agreement with the district to leave the job, school officials announced Wednesday. The school board announced his departure following a closed-door special meeting Wednesday evening. The board voted 5-1 in favor of the separation agreement and severance package. Effective Feb. 1, Parker will be relieved of his duties as superintendent. Toscano said Zwerner first went to an administrator about 11:15 a.m. on the day of the shooting and said the boy threatened to beat up another child, but no action was taken. About an hour later, another teacher went to an administrator and said she took it upon herself to search the boy's book bag, but warned that she thought the boy had put the gun in his pocket before going outside for recess, Toscano said. "The administrator downplayed the report from the teacher and the possibility of a gun, saying and I quote 'Well, he has little pockets,'" Toscano said. Shortly after 1 p.m., another teacher told an administrator that a different student who was "crying and fearful" said the boy showed him the gun during recess and threatened to shoot him if he told anyone. Again, no action was taken, she said. When another employee who heard the boy might have a gun asked an administrator to search the boy, he was turned down, Toscano said. "He was told to wait the situation out because the school day was almost over," she said. About an hour later, "Abby Zwerner was shot in front of those horrified kids, and the school and community are living the nightmare, all because the school administration failed to act," Toscano said. "Were they not so paralyzed by apathy, they could have prevented this tragedy," she said. School district spokesperson Michelle Price declined to comment. "Since the school division's investigation is ongoing, I cannot comment on the statements presented by Ms. Zwerner's lawyer at this time," Price wrote in an email. School Board Chair Lisa Surles-Law did not immediately return a call seeking comment on Toscano's allegations. The shooting raised questions over security at the school and stunned Newport News, a city of about 185,000 people about 70 miles southeast of Richmond. Parker, the superintendent, has said that at least one administrator was told on the day of the shooting that the boy might have a weapon, but no weapon was found when his backpack was searched. Police have said that school officials did not tell them about that tip before the shooting, which happened hours later. Cindy Connell, a middle school teacher in Newport News, called the events described by Toscano "beyond horrifying." "This is just another example of administrators not listening to the concerns of teachers, and the only reason we're talking about this one is because Abby Zwerner got shot," Connell said. Police Chief Steve Drew has repeatedly characterized the shooting as "intentional," saying the boy aimed at Zwerner and fired one round, striking her in the hand and chest. Zwerner was hospitalized for almost two weeks but is now recovering at home, Toscano said. "The road to full recovery will be long and the psychological scars will be lasting," Toscano said. The boy's mother legally purchased the gun used in the shooting, police said. The boy's family said in a statement last week that the gun was "secured." The family's attorney, James Ellenson, said his understanding was that the gun was in the woman's closet on a shelf well over 6 feet high and had a trigger lock that required a key. The family also said in its statement that the boy has an "acute disability" and was under a care plan "that included his mother or father attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day." The week of the shooting was the first when a parent was not in class with him, the family said. Ellenson released a statement Wednesday saying they "continue to pray for Ms. Zwerner and wish her a complete and full recovery." "Our hearts go out to all involved," Ellenson said. Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Peru's capital and were met with volleys of tear gas and pellets amid clashes with security forces just hours after President Dina Boluarte called for a truce in almost two months of protests. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of the 74th Republic Day, at Kartavya Path in New Delhi, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: Indias diverse and vibrant cultural heritage and military prowess, infused with a spirit of "aatmanirbharta", were showcased for the first time at the recently revamped and renamed Kartavya Path as the nation celebrated its 74th Republic Day. "Nari Shakti" was predominantly the theme of the celebrations. Twenty-three tableaux, including 17 from states and Union territories and six from various ministries and departments, took part in the ceremonial parade. As the parade came to an end, Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the crowd amid cheers after bidding adieu to President Droupadi Murmu and her Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the chief guest at the event. A group of "shramyogis" involved in the construction of the Central Vista, the Kartavya Path and the new Parliament building, along with milk, vegetable and street vendors, were specially invited for the parade. Made-in-India weapons were on display at the parade this year. In a bid to get rid of colonial vestiges, an indigenous 105-mm Indian field guns offered the 21-gun salute to Murmu. In another first, the parade witnessed a contingent of a womens armed police battalion of the CRPF. The BSFs camel band and the Delhi polices band also saw women constables participating for the first time. The ceremony commenced with the PM visiting the National War Memorial, where he was received by defence minister Rajnath SIngh. The PM paid tributes to the fallen heroes by laying a wreath. According to tradition, the national flag was unfurled, followed by the national anthem with a booming 21-gun salute. The ceremonial salute this year was given with 105-mm Indian field guns, which replaced the vintage 25-pounder guns, reflecting the growing "aatmanirbharta" in defence. Extending his greetings to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier said, "We wish to move ahead unitedly to make the dreams of the great freedom fighters of the country come true." The PM also thanked Sisi for taking part in the Republic Day celebrations. "I am grateful to the Egyptian President for gracing this years Republic Day celebrations with his august presence," Modi tweeted. This was also the first time an Egyptian President was invited to be the chief guest of the event. A combined band and marching contingent of the Egyptian armed forces also took part in the parade, which started around 10.30 am and ended close to noon after a fly-past. The Egyptian contingent included 144 soldiers, representing the main branches of the Egyptian armed forces. The Indian Army was represented by a Mounted Column of 61 Cavalry, nine Mechanised Columns, six marching contingents and a fly past by Advanced Light Helicopters of the Army Aviation Corps. The 61 Cavalry is the only active horse cavalry regiment in the world. The Indian Army displayed its BrahMos missile as part of its contingent at the parade. The Indian Navy tableau featured a women aircrew of Dornier aircraft, highlighting an all-women crew surveillance sortie undertaken last year. The main section of the tableau displayed the "Make in India" initiatives of the Navy. It included a model of the new indigenous Nilgiri class ship with a Dhruv helicopter deploying marine commandos, models of indigenous Kalvari class submarines and autonomous unmanned systems being indigenously developed under the iDEX-Sprint Challenge. Nine Agniveers -- six men and three women -- were part of the Navy's contingent. The Air Force tableau, based on the theme "Indian Air Force Power Beyond Boundaries", displayed a rotating globe highlighting the IAFs expanded reach. The IAF showcased its array of vintage and modern aircraft, comprising the Rafale jets, Sukhois, Apaches and Jaguars during the flypast. However, shallow fog lowered visibility as spectators strained their eyes to watch aerial manoeuvres by a battery of 50 aircraft, including 45 from the Indian Air Force. They flew in different formations such as "Bheem", "Vajraang", "Baaz", "Tiranga", "Garuda", "Amrit" and "Trishul". The Navy's IL-38 was also showcased at the event for the first and perhaps the last time, as it is likely to be decommissioned. Three Param Vir Chakra awardees and three Ashok Chkara awardees also took part in the parade and a "veterans tableau" with the theme "Towards India's Amrit Kaal with a Resolve of Veterans' Commitment" was also part of it. The ministry of cultures tableau showcased the power of the feminine divinity. The Assam tableau was based on the theme "Land of heroes and spiritualism" and featured Bihu dancers. The Gujarat tableau was based on the theme "Clean, Green, Energy-Efficient Gujarat." The Uttarakhand tableau featured the Manaskhand tourism corridor, on which work is underway. Cultural performances were presented by 479 artistes chosen through the nationwide "Vande Bharatam" dance competition. This is the second time that the dancers have been selected through a nationwide competition. A decade after the fall of Nazi Germany, an American aviator travels across South America in search of war criminals and encounters much more than he expected. Thats the premise of Condors Nest, a film that, as of Jan. 27, will be available on demand and in select theaters. The cast includes Jacob Keohane (Halloween Kills), Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy, Blood Diamond), Michael Ironside (Top Gun, Total Recall), Jackson Rathbone (Twilight, The Last Airbender), Jorge Garcia (Lost, Hawaii Five-0), James Urbaniak (The Venture Bros, The Office) and Academy Award nominee Bruce Davison (Willard, X-Men). Producer and director Phil Blattenberger, who described Condors Nest as a fun, 80s-style thriller, answered questions about the film. Condors Nest is revenge story set during a Nazi political revival in South America. Did that really happen? Yes and no. Historically something like 10,000 Nazis fled to South America after the fall of the Third Reich. So we have a baseline for reality as our canvas, but then we paint something unique on it, and thats an imagined Nazi political movement in the Bolivian Andes, something our protagonist, Will Spalding, stumbles upon while searching for the German SS officer who executed his bomber crew during World War II. And it just gets wild from there. Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy villain), James Urbaniak and Oscar-nominee Bruce Davison all play convincing Germans. Did you just find actors that spoke German? None of those guys spoke a word of German prior to filming Condors Nest. Honestly its probably the most impressive collective effort Ive ever seen. Arnold, James and Bruce learned enormous amounts of dialogue in German from scratch, ran multiple demanding scenes with it and pulled it off without a hitch. Youd swear theyd been speaking it for years. Michael Ironside as a Russian spy? Michael Ironside is a legend. I mean, the guy played Tom Cruises Top Gun instructor. Hes a Bond villain. You have to give a guy like that some meat to chew as an actor. He plays a Soviet agent embedded in a secret German airfield outpost in a canyon in Bolivia. Its so much fun. If I say anything else Ill be spoiling the movie, but suffice it to say his scenes alone make the movie worth watching. Jackson Rathbone transforms so believably into ... what would you even call that? A Nazi psycho? Thats exactly what Id call it. Jackson is an unbelievable actor. He steals every scene hes in. We did a lot of work on that character, making him believable, layered, but utterly hate-able. You ever seen a sane man sniff prisoners and lick machine gun magazines? No, you have not. Hes grounded in the most terrifying way and brings an enormous amount of color and energy to the story. Anything else you want to tell people about this movie? Grab a bucket of popcorn and go to town. Its a hundred-minute romp with a bunch of faces you know and love and, afterwards, just may hate. Happy watching! Related Content Document: Court ruling in Matthew Hall appeal A state appellate court on Thursday ordered the dismissal of one count of a Tulsans conviction for his role as an accessory in the 2020 murder of a police officer. The reversal shaves 12 years off Matthew Halls original sentence of 24 years for two counts of accessory to a felony, namely the shootings of Tulsa Police Sgt. Craig Johnson and Officer Aurash Zarkeshan. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals found that Halls double conviction constituted double punishment for the same crime. Halls co-defendant, David Ware, shot Johnson and Zarkeshan during an early-morning traffic stop in east Tulsa on June 29, 2020. Hall drove Ware from the scene and later disposed of the gun Ware used. Zarkeshan survived critical injuries from the shooting, but Johnson died from his wounds the next day. Ware was later convicted of the shooting and Johnsons murder, and he was sentenced to death. His appeal is still pending. A jury found Hall guilty of the two counts of accessory in March 2021 and recommended that he serve 12 years in prison for each. Then-District Judge William Musseman ordered the sentences to run consecutively rather than concurrently because he agreed with prosecutors assessment that the aiding acts were separate, despite the defenses argument that Halls conduct constituted a single act. Now a judge of the appellate court, Musseman recused himself from both related appeals. In his appeal, Hall claimed that he was denied effective assistance of counsel, suffered double punishment for two identically worded counts and was sentenced excessively. In a summary opinion, the appellate judges wrote that Halls ineffective counsel claim lacked evidence, but they found that his trial court didnt give careful enough consideration to his motion to dismiss one count of accessory. One count can allege only one crime, and prosecutors positions of what constituted the separate charges shifted throughout the court proceedings, the opinion states. At one time, they differentiated the counts by the separate victims, but at another time, the acts of driving Ware from the scene and disposing of the gun. Regardless, the jury instructions mirrored the counts identical charging information, which alleged that Hall committed accessory to a felony by driving (Ware) away from the scene of the crime and helping him to hide the gun. The jury was not instructed that the acts of driving Ware away and then hiding the gun should be considered separately to support the two separate charges, the opinion states. Nor were they advised that the separate counts were for the different victims. Certainly, the ambiguous language caused confusion as to the acts required to prove each count, as evidenced by the differing explanations given by the State at different court appearances. The judges wrote that Halls acts as charged are not separate, and they gave instructions for prosecutors to dismiss the second count with their reversal, making Halls excessive sentencing claim moot. We knew at the time we were trying Matthew Hall that there was an issue related to having two counts for accessory to the shootings, Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said in a statement. We prevailed in our argument before the District Court. Unfortunately, the Court of Criminal Appeals did not agree with our position. Kunzweiler noted that the situation prompted the signing of the Craig Johnson Act, Senate Bill 6, last year. Spearheaded by Oklahoma Rep. Ross Ford, a former Tulsa police officer, the act alters the circumstances under which a charge of accessory to murder is applicable to include if the person knew or reasonably should have known that the act committed upon the victim could foreseeably result in their death. Kunzweiler was unable to bring that charge against Hall because Johnson had not died when Hall and Ware fled the scene. Now it is not an issue, Kunzweiler said. I wish that was the law of the State when these two fine public servants were gunned down. We would not even be having this unfortunate conversation today. Hall remained housed in the North Fork Correctional Center in Sayre on Thursday, according to Oklahoma Department of Corrections records. A Jenks woman pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to financial crimes that netted her more than $1 million from her employer at the time and a federal government loan program. Lauren Michelle Owen, 39, admitted to all three counts of bank fraud, wire fraud and tax evasion in a criminal information filed Jan. 6 in Tulsa federal court. Prosecutors claim that Owens fraud included spending misappropriated pandemic-based small business loan proceeds to buy a 2018 Chevrolet Corvette for $82,000, buy a 1998 40-foot yacht for $64,655 and pay off a $38,603 loan on a 2018 Ford F-250. In her plea agreement with prosecutors, Owen admitted that between 2016 and 2020 she made unauthorized payments from the bank account of the company where she worked to her personal credit card accounts that had no legitimate business purpose and solely benefitted myself. Owen also admitted to making unauthorized debit card payments from the companys bank accounts and depositing unauthorized company-drawn checks made payable to herself and other business entities that she controlled. In all, Owen agreed that her scheme cost LandEnergy LLC of Tulsa about $768,125 in losses. She began working for the company in 2010 as a secretary and eventually was promoted to vice president and the companys sole financial officer, according to court records. In addition to the bank fraud, Owen also admitted to wire fraud when she applied for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration and indicated in the November 2021 loan application that she was not under indictment when she sought the loan. At the time, Owen was facing one count of embezzlement by employee in Tulsa County District Court. State prosecutors filed the charge July 13, 2021, in Tulsa County District Court before dismissing the case in October 2022 after state officials indicated that federal prosecutors would pick up the case. In her plea, Owen admitted that her fraudulent loan cost the U.S. Small Business Administration $384,100. Owen also admitted to owing the Internal Revenue Service $61,383 from unreported income in 2018. In addition to the criminal charges, prosecutors are seeking a money judgment of at least $1,152,225, which represents the proceeds Owen received from her crimes. Owen, who also has gone by the last names of Osborn, Habermehl and Sons, faces statutory maximums of 30 years imprisonment on the bank fraud charge, 20 years on the wire fraud charge and five years on the tax evasion charge. Her sentencing date has not been set. Homelessness in Tulsa: What was shocking to officials from 2022 survey OKLAHOMA CITY Newly elected State Superintendent Ryan Walters received approval Thursday for a revised fiscal year 2024 budget request with $150 million for teacher incentive pay and $100 million for early-grade reading instruction. It was Walters first Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting since he was sworn into office. He faced a barrage of bipartisan questions and criticism earlier this week when he appeared before a State House committee without details of his new budget request. Related content State Superintendent Ryan Walters calls for performance-based teacher pay raises His new budget proposal for $3.51 billion is $59.6 million less than the $3.57 billion requested under former State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister but represents a $330 million total increase compared to FY23 funding levels. His idea for incentive pay based on a teachers teacher and leader effectiveness, or TLE, rating and professional learning hours completed replaces a $309.6 million request under the previous administration for across-the-board teacher pay raises. Oklahoma House members Sherrie Conley, R-Newcastle, Rhonda Baker, R-Yukon, and Mark McBride, R-Moore, attended to hear Walters budget pitch to his fellow board members, which was ultimately approved 6-0. Download the document PDF: Oklahoma State Department of Education FY2024 budget request Three new gubernatorial appointees, Donald Burdick, Suzanne Reynolds and Kendra Wesson, were sworn in at the start of Thursdays meeting, but a fourth new appointee, Marla Hill, did not attend. Walters is expected to present the new board-approved request to members of the state Legislature on Tuesday. I am very encouraged by the focus he is going to put on reading. As an educator myself, that is the basis of all of our understanding, Conley said after the meeting. She also prefers Walters incentive pay proposal to pay raises for all teachers. Coming from an administrators point of view, I have seen teachers work really, really hard and deserve so much more than they get, and then I have seen some who just do the minimum, she said. Walters repeated his campaign promises to advocate at the Capitol for the most expansive school choice program in the country and to eliminate indoctrination, critical race theory, the use of restrooms that dont correspond with sex assigned at birth, pornographic books, and vendors focused on diversity, equity and inclusion from all of the states public schools. Im very excited about this first board meeting and the opportunities to tackle so many issues and challenges that are facing education in Oklahoma, Walters said at the outset. He said ensuring that pay for the best public school teachers matches their performance and adding additional resources and strategies to improve literacy among students in kindergarten through third grade are critical needs. But he noted: There is a loud and vocal crowd a minority for sure that say that all that is needed to fix the problems in education is to toss more money and leave everything alone. This is not the direction we are going. Lastly, Walters joined four other members in voting to terminate the state boards sponsorship of an Oklahoma City charter school, Sovereign Community School, effective June 30, after years of school finance problems and abysmal student test scores. Burdick, of Tulsa, cast the lone no vote after expressing a desire to give new leaders of the school another 30 days. Are we part of a left wing Biden agenda by pushing indoctrination: State Superintendent Ryan Walters sounds off on higher education SAND SPRINGS Half a dozen years ago, tattoo artist Jamy Magee was fed up with seeing so much vitriol on social media. But instead of getting on Facebook, instead of getting on Instagram and Twitter and sharing my worthless opinion with everyone else, he thought, what can I do to actually make the world a better place? And thats where this came from. This is the Stop the Hate in the 918 event, when tattoo artists from across Oklahoma will spend a day covering over gang-, hate- and race-related tattoos for free. Magee said the first event was so popular that a line snaked down the street early and never seemed to end. He worked until 4 a.m. before he finished, exhausted and swearing hed never do such a thing again. It was horrible, he said. I mean, it was great for them, but for me, this is the dumbest thing Ive ever done in my life. Not too long afterward, Magee went to the Tulsa State Fair and was in line to buy some corn on the cob when a woman tackled him. She was just bawling, he said. She told me how I had changed her husbands life. The kids dont see him as the monster that he used to be, and he got a raise at his job, and all of this other stuff. It was at that moment that it dawned on me, This isnt something that we can quit. Weve got to keep going, Magee said. If I can give one day and make that kind of impact on just one persons life, then how can you quit that? Apparently, you cant. At least, Magee cant. Now in its sixth year, Stop the Hate in the 918 is slated for noon-8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21. This will be the first year for the event to be held at the Case Community Center, 1050 W. Wekiwa Road in Sand Springs. Magee, who owns the Parlour Hair & Ink in Sand Springs, wont be working alone, though. This year, hell be joined by more tattoo artists than ever before, including Dustin Clark from the Parlour as well as Jennifer Tootie Woods, Scott Wilson, Dennis Tucker and Josh Deeds. Were really super stoked because weve got, quite frankly, some of the best tattoo artists in Oklahoma coming to help us, Magee said. Im really pumped about that. Hes also a little bit surprised, because these artists not only will be working for free for the day, but theyre also losing a days business on their own. Were just a small shop, so we decided to reach out to our friends for some help, he said. Theres a lot more need than what I realized was out there for this type of event. So were happy to be able to provide that. As busy as that first year was, the event has grown nearly every year, Magee said. We see a lot of different reasons why people come, but theres generally just a couple of main ones, he said. A lot of these people have either been in prison or been in a gang, and now theyre not in prison or a gang, and theyre just not about that life anymore. They need a change. A lot of these people, they have that past life. They went to prison; they got whatever they got, and then they got out, he said. And they got a job. They corrected their life. They got married. They have kids, and now the wife is not super happy about the kids seeing a portrait of Hitler (or) a swastika. And righting that wrong can be really expensive, Magee said, adding that some of the work he and his fellow artists will do at the Stop the Hate event would cost multiple hundreds of dollars in a for-pay setting. Among the tattoos seen at the event, swastikas have been common since the beginning, but Confederate flags are a newer target, he said. Literally not that long ago, nobody cared about that, Magee said. It wasnt a talking point. But now that its become that, now people are wanting them covered. So as times change, the needs change, as well. Magee said another group of people who tend to show up at the event are those who cant get jobs because their ink has been linked to criminal elements. For example, he said, the hatchetman is a popular but often-banned tattoo. Fans of the hardcore hip-hop group Insane Clown Posse known as the Juggalos often wear the mascot of the band and the groups record label, Psychopathic Records, as clothing, jewelry or tattoos. But Juggalo gangs also sport the imagery, and as a result, Juggalos have been classified as a criminal street gang by the FBI, the National Gang Intelligence Center and several states, reports show. Whether a tattoo is historically associated with hate or perhaps newly linked to criminal enterprise, if a person wants it gone, Magee wants to help. Ultimately thats who were trying to help is those folks who have things that are either seen as racist now that maybe werent 10 years ago or maybe they are 100% racist and they were just doing it in a time where they needed to survive prison and such, he said. As for the event itself, Magee no longer calls it the dumbest thing hes ever done. Its gotten much better. Weve made some adjustments, so it runs much smoother now, he said. That includes knowing what tattoos to expect. Youre going to get a bunch of hatchetmen; youre going to get a bunch of swastikas, and youre going to get a bunch of Confederate flags, he said. Beyond a shadow of a doubt youre going to see those things. He also knows hell end the day poorer than he started it. Were not making a plug nickel, he said. As a matter of fact, were probably going into the hole pretty heavy on it. But thats OK. Its one day a year. There is, however, one kind of hate Magee wont cover up for free. Just because you hate your ex-wife doesnt make that a hate tattoo, he said. Stop the Hate in the 918 When/Where: Noon-8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, Case Community Center, 1050 W. Wekiwa Road, Sand Springs. Cost: Tattoo coverup services are free. There may be costs associated with some vendors. To help defray costs: bit.ly/StoptheHateFund For more information: Call the Parlour, 918-245-3332 or email StoptheHate918@gmail.com or check out the Parlours Facebook page. 2017 video: Covering hate and gang-related tattoos The Cherokee Nation is stepping up efforts this week to promote a needle-exchange program to fight drug addiction across northeastern Oklahoma, following a strategy that tribal officials admit might seem counterintuitive. The tribe has been operating the Harm Reduction Program clinic quietly for about six months, but Cherokee leaders recently toured the operation in Tahlequah to bring it more publicity. Working with tribal and nontribal residents alike, the program hands out sterile syringes while taking used syringes for safe disposal, officials said. It seems counterintuitive at first to give needles to drug users, said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. But research indicates that the program helps people overcome addiction in the long run, he said. If you create an environment in which people feel safe and create an environment in which there is no judgment when they walk in the door, you create opportunities to talk about a path to recovery, Hoskin said. Those opportunities might not have existed before. And I think it does the opposite of encouraging drug use. In addition to syringes, the clinic will provide fentanyl test strips, Narcan nasal spray, HIV and hepatitis C testing, and referrals to drug-treatment programs, along with basic clothing and hygiene kits, officials said. With help from a federal grant, the tribe set aside about $3 million to open the facility, which serves everyone Cherokee citizens and noncitizens alike. Our philosophy is that drug use in a community is everyones problem, Hoskin said. And it certainly cuts across political lines in terms of citizenship in different nations, and it cuts across racial lines and cuts across demographics. Oklahomas hepatitis C prevalence is more than twice the national average due largely to injection drug use, according to federal studies. Hepatitis C cant be eliminated without needle exchange programs, said Dr. Jorge Mera, who has been working on the Cherokee Nations hepatitis C elimination program for seven years. When I was told that the Cherokee Nation was developing a harm-reduction syringe services program, Mera said. I saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe now we can really eliminate HCV from our communities. Featured video: OKLAHOMA CITY Brittany Novotny never intended to become a transgender activist. But she said she couldnt stand on the sidelines after Oklahoma legislators filed, by her count, 22 anti-transgender bills this year. Novotny, a Waurika attorney who is transgender, is forming a new Oklahoma political action committee to fight the influx of anti-transgender legislation at the state Capitol. Shes hopeful that her Securing Liberty PAC can advocate on behalf of transgender Oklahomans in a way that resonates with the GOP majority in the state Legislature. Anti-transgender bills run counter to the Republican principle of limited government, Novotny said. Proposed bills that would limit gender-affirming care for LGBTQ residents or ban drag shows set a precedent for big government to interfere in any Oklahomans life, she said. Were not going to beat these bills by rehashing the same far-left rhetoric and playing victim, she said. Were going to defeat these bills by finding common ground with Republicans in the Legislature and helping them to see this isnt necessarily the winning issue they think it is. Novotny made a name for herself in Oklahoma politics when in 2010 she ran as a Democrat against former Rep. Sally Kern, who became nationally known after she said homosexuality was a greater threat to America than terrorism. Republican lawmakers filed numerous bills this year to block children and some adults from receiving gender-affirming care that includes puberty blockers, cross-sex hormone therapies and gender-reassignment surgeries. There are also several bills targeting drag performances, including one that says drag performers or drag show organizers could face up to two years in prison and $20,000 in fines if the event occurs on public property or in a place where it could be viewed by children. Gov. Kevin Stitt has called for a statewide ban on gender transition surgeries and therapies for minors. Numerous Republicans have also said they want to ensure that no taxpayer dollars are used to fund gender-affirming care. Transgender Oklahomans just want to be left alone, Novotny said. Unfortunately, in the last year or so, the attacks by the Legislature on trans issues started coming fast, she said. We went from being a group of people that no one thought twice about to being the target of extremist legislation. Securing Liberty began fundraising on Monday. The group will be required to file a public notice with the state Ethics Commission within 10 days of raising $1,000. Novotny said her top priority is to commission polling on transgender issues in key GOP legislative districts because she expects that the subject is not top of mind for most voters. The PAC may also send out mailers in some districts to inform voters that their legislators are targeting transgender Oklahomans, she said. Novotny also hopes to encourage more transgender Oklahomans to meet with their legislators. Political consultant Kris Masterman said he and Novotny have discussed for months the idea of creating a PAC devoted to transgender issues. Masterman said he has several transgender friends and that hes concerned about the rise in anti-transgender legislation that is becoming a trend in red states across the country. Im close to this issue, and I think its important for Republicans to speak out, he said. A registered Republican, Masterman used to be a leader in the Oklahoma Democratic Party but said he switched his political affiliations after he felt alienated by the party. Oklahomans for Equality in Tulsa and Freedom Oklahoma in Oklahoma City also advocate for LGBTQ Oklahomans. Tulsa World Opinion podcast: Oklahomas eroding mental health services Tulsa-area state legislators and how to contact them Sen. Nathan Dahm Sen. Dana Prieto Sen. Jo Anna Dossett Sen. John Haste Sen. Todd Gollihare Sen. Kevin Matthews Sen. Joe Newhouse Sen. Dave Rader Sen. Cody Rogers Rep. Meloyde Blancett Rep. Jeff Boatman Rep. Amanda Swope Rep. Suzanne Schreiber 032823-tul-nws-davis-dean Rep. Mark Tedford Rep. Scott Fetgatter Rep. Ross Ford Rep. Regina Goodwin Rep. Kyle Hilbert Rep. Mark Lawson Rep. T.J. Marti Rep. Stan May Rep. Monroe Nichols Rep. Clay Staires Rep. Terry O'Donnell Rep. Melissa Provenzano Rep. Lonnie Sims Rep. John Kane Rep. Mark Vancuren Rep. John Waldron Check out our latest digital-only offer and subscribe now After launching the campaign, Revanth Reddy addressing a large crowd in his former constituency criticised the lack of development in Kodangal. (DC Photo) HYDERABAD: The state Congress, which launched the Haath se Haath Jodo Abhiyan on Thursday, released a chargesheet against both the Chandrashekar Rao government in Telangana as well as the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, highlighting how the state government had wasted crores of rupees on irrigation projects, notably the Kaleshwaram, without completing them and how economic disparities had increased during the BJP rule at the Centre since 2014. The chargesheet further emphasised how the Telangana government had made promises of providing free education from KG to PG, but did not follow through on this and other promises made in the party's manifestos during the 2014 and 2018 elections. The chargesheet said the BJP had undermined democracy by buying more than 300 MLAs from other parties, how it had written off loans to the tune of Rs 72,000 crore and favoured industrialists. At a Haath se Haath Jodo meeting, TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy claimed that the BRS government had undone the development brought about by the Congress governments, and that development in the state was pushed back to 50 years. Revanth Reddy addressing a large crowd in his former constituency criticised the lack of development in Kodangal, and noted that minister K.T. Rama Rao had promised to adopt Kodangal during the 2018 election campaign but nothing had been done. The Congress leader challenged the minister, calling Rama Rao "Drama Rao," to "show me at least one village where 2BHK was allotted." In Madhira, CLP leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka promised to bring up problems of public concern in the ensuing Assembly Session. "I will bring the government's attention to the public issues I come across during the campaign in the Budget meetings," he stated. In Khairatabad, local DCC president C. Rohin Reddy distributed leaflets highlighting the alleged failures of the state and Central governments. "The Bhrasht Jumla Party and Bandipotu Rakshasa Samithi have deceived the people and Congress is the only alternative," he said. At Amberpet constituency, PCC general secretary R. Laxman Yadav led the campaign following unfurling of the National Flag at Kachiguda division. The leaders tweaked the BJP's catchphrases "Saab Ka Saath Saab Ka Vikas" to "Kuch ka Saath - Khud ka Vikas" and "Sirf Prachar aur Parivarwad" to emphasise the BJP's alleged failed governance. The leaders also pasted stickers with a message from Rahul Gandhi. The Congress while launching the nationwide campaign said, "As we celebrate the biggest festival of democracy today, we announce the launch of the #HaathSeHaathJodo campaign. After the immense love received for #BharatJodoYatra, we are sure that the Haath Se Haath Jodo campaign will also win everybody's hearts." During the campaign, party workers will highlight the current economic crisis, joblessness, price rise, and farm distress. Marina Metevelis, who as Tulsas Rosie the Riveter kept alive the memory of a trailblazing group of women whose grit and work ethic helped win a world war, died Jan. 14. She was 100. A service is set for 11 a.m. Friday at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. Ninde Brookside Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Metevelis was proud of her status as a genuine Rosie the Riveter, a nickname given to the World War II-era women who took on factory jobs to free men to fight, and she was one of only a handful of original Rosies still alive. Even into her late 90s, Metevelis kept up a near-breathless pace, appearing at events and fundraisers and serving as a living, breathing symbol of a bygone era. She came by her unofficial title, Tulsas Rosie the Riveter, thanks in large part to her many public appearances. One of her final ones, appropriately, was at the American Rosie the Riveter Association national convention in 2022, when it was held for the first time in her longtime home of Tulsa. Metevelis, who for years dressed the part in her original factory coveralls, said the continued public interest in the Rosie legacy inspired her to keep going. I think (people are interested) because it was the first time women had really stood up for themselves, she once told the Tulsa World. We proved we could do mens work with the training we were given. It was serious business. We had a job, good pay and worked for our country. Tiny in stature but making up for it in personality, Metevelis Rosie persona took her around the country. Closer to home, she did fundraisers for Soldiers Wish, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and other veterans organizations. Her favorite cause, she said, was scholarships for the children of veterans. U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern, whod previously recognized Metevelis with a proclamation on the floor of Congress, was among the many Tulsans honoring her memory this week. She was not just a constituent, not just an inspiration, not just a great American. She was also my friend, Hern wrote on Facebook. Marina, I will miss you and your spirited heart. I know you left Tulsa a better and brighter place. A daughter of Greek immigrants, Marina Balafas grew up in Wichita, Kansas. It was there that as a teen she first went to work as a rivet inspector at a Boeing factory that made B-17 bombers. The war left a lasting mark on her family. Metevelis lost her younger brother, Paul, when he was killed at Iwo Jima. And her husband, Don, survived D-Day at Omaha Beach only to be wounded in action later. Don Metevelis was a Tulsa native, and after the war the couple settled here. Marina Metevelis enjoyed a long career with Tulsa Community College, where she worked in the library and later as director of the Heritage Center. She was one of the schools original employees, starting when it was founded in 1970 as Tulsa Junior College. After her retirement in 2017, TCC kept an honorary office for her at its Metro Campus, which she used to keep up with her still-busy schedule. Greg Stone, associate vice president of academic and campus operations, worked closely with Metevelis. Her stories about the history of the college were so enjoyable to hear, but she also lived an extraordinary life outside of work, he said. She was one of the best storytellers I ever knew. She always had a fun story to share. In addition to promoting Rosie the Riveter, Metevelis helped keep the WWII-era alive as an avid swing dancer. She was active with the Oklahoma Swing Syndicate and still at it into her 90s. We have lost our queen of dance, the syndicate posted on Facebook. We are so lucky to have had you in our lives. We will miss your divine presence (and) vivacious spirit. Metevelis was preceded in death by her husband, Don Metevelis; son, George Metevelis; brother, Paul Balafas; and sister, Eleni Kavras. Survivors include her daughter, Anna Marina Scarlett Billis; three grandchildren; and three great grandchildren. Memorial donations may go to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church or VFW Post 1577 in Tulsa. Featured video: Phu Quoc Island off Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam, welcomed some 70,000 tourist arrivals between January 20 and 24, or the 29th day of the 12th month of the last lunar year and the third day of this lunar year, including 4,400 international visitors, surging 64 percent year on year, according to the provincial Department of Tourism. The city earned VND30.9 billion (US$1.3 million) in tourism revenue in the period. Meanwhile, the entire Kien Giang Province served 134,160 tourist arrivals, with 4,800 of them being foreigners, soaring 75.9 percent over the same period last year. On Wednesday, flights, ferries and high-speed vessels from Rach Gia and Ha Tien Cities to Phu Quoc were operated as normal. Due to the high number of tourists to the island city, the occupancy rate of lodging facilities in the city reached some 85 percent on average. Huynh Quang Hung, chairman of the Peoples Committee of Phu Quoc City, said the city has advantages of beautiful beaches and the favorable climate. The number of international visitors to Phu Quoc was forecast to surge this year if some air routes connecting the city with China and Russia are reopened. Tourists have come to Phu Quoc in droves this Tet. Lodging facilities in the city have reported an occupancy rate of 80, even 90 percent. Tourism service providers in Phu Quoc have launched promotion programs to attract tourists. In 2023, Hon (Kiss) Bridge in An Thoi Ward will be introduced to attract more local and foreign guests to Phu Quoc, Hung added. Earlier, Kien Giang Province expected to welcome more than 400 domestic and international flights to Phu Quoc and Rach Gia cities and over 230 ferry and vessel services to islands off the province during eight-day Lunar New Year holiday, from the 29th day of the 12th month of the last lunar year to the sixth day of this lunar year. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Phu Quoc Island off Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam, welcomed some 70,000 tourist arrivals between January 20 and 24, or the 29th day of the 12th month of the last lunar year and the third day of this lunar year, including 4,400 international visitors, surging 64 percent year on year, according to the provincial Department of Tourism. The city earned VND30.9 billion (US$1.3 million) in tourism revenue in the period. Meanwhile, the entire Kien Giang Province served 134,160 tourist arrivals, with 4,800 of them being foreigners, soaring 75.9 percent over the same period last year. On Wednesday, flights, ferries and high-speed vessels from Rach Gia and Ha Tien Cities to Phu Quoc were operated as normal. Due to the high number of tourists to the island city, the occupancy rate of lodging facilities in the city reached some 85 percent on average. Huynh Quang Hung, chairman of the Peoples Committee of Phu Quoc City, said the city has advantages of beautiful beaches and the favorable climate. The number of international visitors to Phu Quoc was forecast to surge this year if some air routes connecting the city with China and Russia are reopened. Tourists have come to Phu Quoc in droves this Tet. Lodging facilities in the city have reported an occupancy rate of 80, even 90 percent. Tourism service providers in Phu Quoc have launched promotion programs to attract tourists. In 2023, Hon (Kiss) Bridge in An Thoi Ward will be introduced to attract more local and foreign guests to Phu Quoc, Hung added. Earlier, Kien Giang Province expected to welcome more than 400 domestic and international flights to Phu Quoc and Rach Gia cities and over 230 ferry and vessel services to islands off the province during eight-day Lunar New Year holiday, from the 29th day of the 12th month of the last lunar year to the sixth day of this lunar year. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Many Vietnamese enterprises have won orders to ship durians to China during this Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday after the first 100-metric-ton Vietnamese durian batch was exported to the northern neighbor via official channels in September last year. A durian purchasing company in Binh Phuoc Province, southern Vietnam, informed that it had secured an order to export 500,000 metric tons of durians to China. Although farms in the province fail to supply the sufficient volume, the company will collect durians from other eligible farms. Meanwhile, Van Xuan Phat Import-Export Co. Ltd. based in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday said that the company would monthly export 1,000 metric tons of durians. Huynh Van Dung, a trader in Hanoi, said China has a plan to buy one million Vietnamese durians, which are preferred and quickly consumed in the most populous country in the world. According to Nguyen Dinh Tung, general director of Vina T&T Group, which specializes in exporting fruits and is among the 25 Vietnamese enterprises being issued with a packaging unit code, Vina T&T and Hong Kongs Sunwah Group had inked a contract to export Vietnamese durians to Hong Kong. Vietnam expects to ship 90,000 metric tons, or some 4,500 containers, of fresh durians abroad this year. Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said that although Vietnam has just exported durians to China through official channels since September 2022, the country has generated some US$350 million from durian exports. Therefore, Nguyen forecast that durians will help earn over $1 billion in export revenue in 2023. Durian growing areas issued with codes are entitled to higher export prices. Durians were priced at VND80,000-100,000 [$3.4-4.3] per kilogram in the Mekong Delta ahead of Tet. To buy durians from these areas, enterprises must put down deposits, Nguyen added. China imported 821,600 metric tons of fresh durians worth over $4.2 billion in 2021, surging 42.7 and 82.4 percent, respectively, year on year. It is the largest buyer of durians in the world. Thailand is currently the largest supplier of durians to China, accounting for a 40 percent market share. Local experts forecast that the countrys durian exports will depend on China in the future. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Many Vietnamese enterprises have won orders to ship durians to China during this Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday after the first 100-metric-ton Vietnamese durian batch was exported to the northern neighbor via official channels in September last year. A durian purchasing company in Binh Phuoc Province, southern Vietnam, informed that it had secured an order to export 500,000 metric tons of durians to China. Although farms in the province fail to supply the sufficient volume, the company will collect durians from other eligible farms. Meanwhile, Van Xuan Phat Import-Export Co. Ltd. based in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday said that the company would monthly export 1,000 metric tons of durians. Huynh Van Dung, a trader in Hanoi, said China has a plan to buy one million Vietnamese durians, which are preferred and quickly consumed in the most populous country in the world. According to Nguyen Dinh Tung, general director of Vina T&T Group, which specializes in exporting fruits and is among the 25 Vietnamese enterprises being issued with a packaging unit code, Vina T&T and Hong Kongs Sunwah Group had inked a contract to export Vietnamese durians to Hong Kong. Vietnam expects to ship 90,000 metric tons, or some 4,500 containers, of fresh durians abroad this year. Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said that although Vietnam has just exported durians to China through official channels since September 2022, the country has generated some US$350 million from durian exports. Therefore, Nguyen forecast that durians will help earn over $1 billion in export revenue in 2023. Durian growing areas issued with codes are entitled to higher export prices. Durians were priced at VND80,000-100,000 [$3.4-4.3] per kilogram in the Mekong Delta ahead of Tet. To buy durians from these areas, enterprises must put down deposits, Nguyen added. China imported 821,600 metric tons of fresh durians worth over $4.2 billion in 2021, surging 42.7 and 82.4 percent, respectively, year on year. It is the largest buyer of durians in the world. Thailand is currently the largest supplier of durians to China, accounting for a 40 percent market share. Local experts forecast that the countrys durian exports will depend on China in the future. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City received 857 flights with over 137,000 passengers on board on Wednesday, the fourth day of this lunar year, the highest-ever number of passengers in a day, according to the Southern Airports Authority. The figures are forecast to increase to nearly 144,900 and 931, respectively, on Thursday as people are heading back to the city after the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday. A leader of an aviation firm told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the frequency of flights has bounced back since Wednesday. Da Nang International Airport in the namesake central province and Cam Ranh International Airport in south-central Khanh Hoa Province have seen a high number of departing passengers, while Tan Son Nhat International Airport has served an influx of arriving passengers. The number of passengers flying from Ho Chi Minh City to other provinces has been also large. Da Nang International Airport in the namesake central city is packed with passengers on the first days of this lunar year. Photo: Tieu Vy / Tuoi Tre According to a leader of the Southern Airports Authority, despite a spike in the number of air passengers, it has been smooth sailing at the metropolis airport. The airport authority asked air carriers and ground service providers to prevent an overload at conveyor belts. After Tet, most of flights reached a seat occupancy rate of over 90 percent. Many flights were even fully occupied. As a result, it is unavoidable that thousands of passengers will disembark from aircraft at a same time, putting pressure on passenger terminals. In other overcrowded airports, such as Da Nang, Cam Ranh, Chu Lai in central Quang Nam Province, and Vinh in north-central Nghe An Province, the number of passengers also rocketed on Wednesday and Thursday. Aviation service providers have enhanced resources to maximize their capacity from the fourth to the 10th days of this lunar year. These days, an influx of passengers from northern and central provinces have returned to Ho Chi Minh City. Passengers should take the initiative in taking luggage and seeking pick-up services to prevent long waiting time, a leader of an aviation service provider informed. Passengers crowd check-in desks of Vietravel Airlines. Photo: Tieu Vy / Tuoi Tre Passengers return to southern localities. Photo: Duy Dung / Tuoi Tre Passengers complete procedures to board aircraft at Cam Ranh International Airport in Khanh Hoa Province, central Vietnam. Despite crowds of passengers, it has been all smooth sailing at the airport. Photo: Duy Dung / Tuoi Tre Passengers queue up to take luggage carts at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Thanh Thanh / Tuoi Tre Ground service employees hold a board with flight information to facilitate passengers. Photo: Thanh Thanh / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City received 857 flights with over 137,000 passengers on board on Wednesday, the fourth day of this lunar year, the highest-ever number of passengers in a day, according to the Southern Airports Authority. The figures are forecast to increase to nearly 144,900 and 931, respectively, on Thursday as people are heading back to the city after the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday. A leader of an aviation firm told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the frequency of flights has bounced back since Wednesday. Da Nang International Airport in the namesake central province and Cam Ranh International Airport in south-central Khanh Hoa Province have seen a high number of departing passengers, while Tan Son Nhat International Airport has served an influx of arriving passengers. The number of passengers flying from Ho Chi Minh City to other provinces has been also large. Da Nang International Airport in the namesake central city is packed with passengers on the first days of this lunar year. Photo: Tieu Vy / Tuoi Tre According to a leader of the Southern Airports Authority, despite a spike in the number of air passengers, it has been smooth sailing at the metropolis airport. The airport authority asked air carriers and ground service providers to prevent an overload at conveyor belts. After Tet, most of flights reached a seat occupancy rate of over 90 percent. Many flights were even fully occupied. As a result, it is unavoidable that thousands of passengers will disembark from aircraft at a same time, putting pressure on passenger terminals. In other overcrowded airports, such as Da Nang, Cam Ranh, Chu Lai in central Quang Nam Province, and Vinh in north-central Nghe An Province, the number of passengers also rocketed on Wednesday and Thursday. Aviation service providers have enhanced resources to maximize their capacity from the fourth to the 10th days of this lunar year. These days, an influx of passengers from northern and central provinces have returned to Ho Chi Minh City. Passengers should take the initiative in taking luggage and seeking pick-up services to prevent long waiting time, a leader of an aviation service provider informed. Passengers crowd check-in desks of Vietravel Airlines. Photo: Tieu Vy / Tuoi Tre Passengers return to southern localities. Photo: Duy Dung / Tuoi Tre Passengers complete procedures to board aircraft at Cam Ranh International Airport in Khanh Hoa Province, central Vietnam. Despite crowds of passengers, it has been all smooth sailing at the airport. Photo: Duy Dung / Tuoi Tre Passengers queue up to take luggage carts at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Thanh Thanh / Tuoi Tre Ground service employees hold a board with flight information to facilitate passengers. Photo: Thanh Thanh / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A truck hit a 16-seat passenger car which stopped on a section of the Trung Luong-My Thuan Expressway in Cai Lay District, Tien Giang Province, southern Vietnam, at its back on Wednesday, killing one passenger and injuring two others. Officers of the Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security said they were investigating the cause of the accident. Preliminary information showed that at 2:00 am, the 16-seat passenger car whose drivers identity remained unknown stopped on the Trung Luong-My Thuan Expressway section due to a tire problem. While the problem was being solved, the truck running in the same direction with the passenger car suddenly crashed it at the back, seriously damaging the two vehicles. After the accident, three injured passengers were rushed to a nearby hospital but one of them died at the hospital. The accident occurred when a small volume of vehicles were traveling on the expressway, so it caused no congestion. Upon receiving reports of the accident, the Traffic Police Department coordinated with the expressway operator to investigate the cause of the accident and regulate the traffic flow at the scene. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A truck hit a 16-seat passenger car which stopped on a section of the Trung Luong-My Thuan Expressway in Cai Lay District, Tien Giang Province, southern Vietnam, at its back on Wednesday, killing one passenger and injuring two others. Officers of the Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security said they were investigating the cause of the accident. Preliminary information showed that at 2:00 am, the 16-seat passenger car whose drivers identity remained unknown stopped on the Trung Luong-My Thuan Expressway section due to a tire problem. While the problem was being solved, the truck running in the same direction with the passenger car suddenly crashed it at the back, seriously damaging the two vehicles. After the accident, three injured passengers were rushed to a nearby hospital but one of them died at the hospital. The accident occurred when a small volume of vehicles were traveling on the expressway, so it caused no congestion. Upon receiving reports of the accident, the Traffic Police Department coordinated with the expressway operator to investigate the cause of the accident and regulate the traffic flow at the scene. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The 2023 Oscar nomination list has honored two Vietnamese-born actors, Quan Ke Huy and Hong Chau, the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Tuesday evening (local time). Quan Ke Huy, also known as Jonathan Ke Quan, 52, won the Best Supporting Actor nomination for a movie in Everything Everywhere All at Once, which has so far gained 11 Oscar nominations, marking a milestone for the representation of Asia in the worlds film industry. The movie is a 2022 American absurdist comedy-drama film written and directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. In the film, Quan Ke Huy successfully plays Waymond Wang, the gentle and quirky husband of the female lead Evelyn Quan played by Michelle Yeoh Choo Kheng, a Malaysian actress. Born in a Chinese-Vietnamese family in 1971 in Saigon, the old name of Ho Chi Minh City, Huy and his relatives left Vietnam for the U.S. to settle down there when he was seven. Huy has been known for appearing in the second episode of the Indiana Jones series - one of the very famous movie franchises in the 1980s in Hollywood. On January 11, Huy won the gold trophy at the 80th Golden Globe Awards in California (the U.S.) also as the best supporting actor, surpassing even American actor Brad Pitt. Meanwhile, the nomination for the Best Supporting Actress went to Hong Chau, a 43-year-old Vietnamese-American actress, for her role in the film The Whale. Vietnamese-American actress Hong Chau. Photo: Amwy Chau grew up in New Orleans, the U.S., and studied film & television at Boston University before pursuing an acting career. The actress started her artistic career in 2006 and participated in various works such as Driveways, American Woman, Watchmen, and Homecoming, among others. Her performance in the movie The Whale with Brendan Fraser, an American-Canadian actor, received positive feedback from experts and audiences. The movie is a 2022 American psychological drama film directed by Darren Aronofsky and written by Samuel D. Hunter, based on his 2012 play of the same name. She left a strong impression in the audience when she transforms into a nurse, also a friend trying to save the life of her obese friend, played by Brendan Fraser, or at least keep his life stable. In 2017, Hong Chau was expected by many to be nominated for the Golden Globe Award for her supporting role in the well-known movie Downsizing, but she suddenly was not named at the last minute. As making up for her, Chau was honored by Variety magazine in the list of 10 Actresses to Watch in the same year. The 95th Oscar award ceremony will take place in Hollywood, Los Angeles, the U.S., on March 12. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The 2023 Oscar nomination list has honored two Vietnamese-born actors, Quan Ke Huy and Hong Chau, the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Tuesday evening (local time). Quan Ke Huy, also known as Jonathan Ke Quan, 52, won the Best Supporting Actor nomination for a movie in Everything Everywhere All at Once, which has so far gained 11 Oscar nominations, marking a milestone for the representation of Asia in the worlds film industry. The movie is a 2022 American absurdist comedy-drama film written and directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. In the film, Quan Ke Huy successfully plays Waymond Wang, the gentle and quirky husband of the female lead Evelyn Quan played by Michelle Yeoh Choo Kheng, a Malaysian actress. Born in a Chinese-Vietnamese family in 1971 in Saigon, the old name of Ho Chi Minh City, Huy and his relatives left Vietnam for the U.S. to settle down there when he was seven. Huy has been known for appearing in the second episode of the Indiana Jones series - one of the very famous movie franchises in the 1980s in Hollywood. On January 11, Huy won the gold trophy at the 80th Golden Globe Awards in California (the U.S.) also as the best supporting actor, surpassing even American actor Brad Pitt. Meanwhile, the nomination for the Best Supporting Actress went to Hong Chau, a 43-year-old Vietnamese-American actress, for her role in the film The Whale. Vietnamese-American actress Hong Chau. Photo: Amwy Chau grew up in New Orleans, the U.S., and studied film & television at Boston University before pursuing an acting career. The actress started her artistic career in 2006 and participated in various works such as Driveways, American Woman, Watchmen, and Homecoming, among others. Her performance in the movie The Whale with Brendan Fraser, an American-Canadian actor, received positive feedback from experts and audiences. The movie is a 2022 American psychological drama film directed by Darren Aronofsky and written by Samuel D. Hunter, based on his 2012 play of the same name. She left a strong impression in the audience when she transforms into a nurse, also a friend trying to save the life of her obese friend, played by Brendan Fraser, or at least keep his life stable. In 2017, Hong Chau was expected by many to be nominated for the Golden Globe Award for her supporting role in the well-known movie Downsizing, but she suddenly was not named at the last minute. As making up for her, Chau was honored by Variety magazine in the list of 10 Actresses to Watch in the same year. The 95th Oscar award ceremony will take place in Hollywood, Los Angeles, the U.S., on March 12. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Australian International Documentary Conference has unveiled its full program for its 2023 event. Held in-person at ACMI in Melbourne from 5-8 March under the theme, Agents of Change, it features over 40 sessions, more than 120 speakers and 100-plus industry decision makers An online-only international marketplace also takes place 9-11 March. Natasha Gadd, CEO / Creative Director, AIDC, said, Since the first frames of 35mm footage rolled through the gates of a film camera, documentary storytellers have been at the forefront of crafting bold stories that have instigated cultural, social and political change. At AIDC 2023: Agents of Change, we invite you to celebrate those trailblazers of our field that paved the way and the future storytellers taking up the mantle to create courageous stories that have the power to shift perspectives and transform our view of the world around us. We are thrilled to announce such a word-class program of speakers, sessions and screenings, guaranteed to entertain and inspire. Not to mention the incredible lineup of local and international decision makers as part of the industry program, set to drive creative and business outcomes, and contribute to the sustainability, recovery and growth of our industry. Caroline Pitcher, CEO, VicScreen, said, Were proud to continue our longstanding partnership with AIDC, and celebrate todays unveiling of an epic 2023 program. From unforgettable sessions to the bustling marketplace, AIDC is a major event on Victorias annual screen calendar which provides valuable opportunities for delegates to connect with industry leaders at the top of their game. Victorias screen events combined with our cutting-edge infrastructure, spectacular locations, and in-demand talent and crew, is why Victoria is known globally as a premium screen destination. Responding to the theme Agents of Change, the program features lauded and vital talents from across the fields of screen and digital media, including three directors of 2023 Academy Award-nominated documentaries, and a screening of Laura Poitras Academy Award-nominated All the Beauty and the Bloodshed. Leading the line-up is American director and producer Sara Dosa, whose Academy Award-nominated Fire of Love has received over 29 international awards, alongside Indian director Shaunak Sen, whose similarly Academy Award-nominated All That Breathes has secured 19 awards, including the Cannes Golden Eye and Sundance Grand Jury Prize. Joining them from the Academy Awards frontline is Canadian director Daniel Roher, whose gripping documentary Navalny picked up the 2022 Sundance Audience Award, among 11 others. From the factual programming side, Fatima Salaria, Managing Director of wildly successful UK production house Naked Television (Grand Designs), will be on hand to provide a masterclass in producing documentary series. Other notable guests include New Zealands David Farrier, responsible for left-field documentary hits like Tickled, Netflixs Dark Tourist, and Mister Organ; Emmy and AACTA-winning immersive installation artist and filmmaker Lynette Wallworth, acclaimed Aboriginal filmmaker Dean Gibson, director of Incarceration Nation, Wik vs Queensland, and the upcoming First Weapons; Quechua filmmaker, technologist, writer, and artist Violeta Ayala (Prison X, The Fight), and Australian filmmaker Emma Sullivan, director of true crime documentary Into The Deep. On the screen business front, AIDC 2023 will see an extensive line-up of decision makers from global streamers in attendance, including Prime Video, Stan, Netflix, Hulu, DocPlay, Paramount ANZ, and ESPN. Plus, representatives from more than 20 broadcasters, like Nat Geo, BBC, ARTE, PBS, NHK, ZDF, EBS Korea, TRT World, A&E, Al Jazeera, ABC, SBS, NITV, and Channel 10. Not to mention studios, distributors and producer-distributors for some of the worlds most interesting documentaries and releases, including A24, Dogwoof, Sandbox Films, Cat&Docs, Autlook Films, TVF International, Sideways Film, Off the Fence and others. For those seeking new pathways to funding and financing, AIDC 2023 will also host an array of representatives from leading documentary development funds and foundations, like Blue Ice Docs (Canada), Catapult Film Fund (USA), Chicken & Egg Pictures (USA), Documentary Australia, Doc Society, Participant (USA), Shark Island Foundation, The Whickers (UK) and many more. And as a result of a suite of exciting industry initiatives with key partners, including Screen Australia, Shark Island Foundation, DocPlay, and The Post Lounge, and Awards partnerships with AFTRS, Deakin Motion Lab, Artisan Post Group and Film Finances, AIDC 2023 will unlock over $350,000 in project development, awards, prizes and professional development opportunities for new nonfiction content and support for documentary practitioners. AIDC 2023s central theme Agents of Change celebrates the people and the practices working to elevate documentary and factual storytelling. Through this theme, AIDC 2023 will highlight the changemakers of nonfiction storytelling, and bring focus to the champions of the craft leading the way for the creation of bold stories with real world impact. The conference will explore the following subthemes through keynotes, industry panels and initiatives: Upcoming (new voices, new audiences), Breaking Ground (truth-telling, investigation and impact), Shifting Perspectives (craft, storytelling and representation), In Focus (advocacy, reform, ethics and integrity), and Future Horizons (innovation, technology, sustainability and regeneration). OzTAM has advised of a correction for ratings numbers for last Sunday January 22nd, due to a Nielsen polling production issue. Nielsen have reissued Metropolitan and National Subscription Overnight, Consolidated 7 and Consolidated 28 viewing data for the research days Sunday 22/01/23, 15/01/23 and 25/12/2022, respectively (only day 7 of playback viewing for 15/1/23, and day 28 of playback viewing for 25/12/22, are affected by the re-release). There was no change to the order of share rankings, but Nine & Seven shares went up. Nine Network was 34.1%; now 34.8% Seven Network was 24.8%; now 25.1% ABC Network share was 18.2%; now 17.8% 10 Network was 13.6%; now 13.2% SBS Network was 9.2%; now 9.1% In the Top 20 Programs 1 to 13 remain unchanged. However #14 Weekend Sunrise Sun and #15 Seven News at 5 swapped places. Antiques Roadshow moves up from # 20 to equal # 17/18. 10 News First Sunday 6pm moves from # 18 to # 19. The Sunday Project 6.30pm moves into # 20, displacing the 2023 Australian Open D7 Pre Match session (S/M/B/A only, no Perth). Total TV average audience rises +10.5% from 1,992,000 to 2,201,000. OzTAM advised, We regret any inconvenience caused. Nielsen have identified the cause of the issue and modified their processes to prevent a recurrence. Sunday January 22nd BRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (Photo:Twitter) HYDERABAD: To drum up support from non-BJP and non-Congress parties in order to challenge the Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre, BRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao is reportedly working on organising a rally in the national capital with seven non-BJP CMs during the month-long break for the Parliament Budget session between February 14 and March 12. The CM is planning to invite West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar with whom he has not held public meetings along with the CMs of Delhi, Punjab, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand. In addition to the seven CMs, Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party), H.D. Kumaraswamy (JDS), and national leaders of the Left Parties will be invited. The rally in the Capital comes after the CM planned to hold a second public meeting in Parade Ground in Secunderabad with two CMs on February 17, following the huge success of the BRS event in Khammam on January 18, which was attended by Rao's counterparts Arvind Kejriwal from Delhi, Bhagwant Mann from Punjab and Pinarayi Vijayan from Kerala, besides Akhilesh Yadav. The CM hopes to further bolster the opposition strength in his united efforts to take on the Modi government at the Centre in the 2024 elections. Party sources said that the CM had decided to put the BRS on the fast track after the Budget session of the Telangana Legislative Assembly ended, by expanding party activities to various states. The Budget session of the Assembly will commence on February 3. In between, the CM has decided to visit Nanded in Maharashtra on February 5 to launch the party activities in that state by holding meetings with leaders of farmers' unions and other organisations. It is expected that leaders from a few political parties in Maharashtra would join the BRS in the presence of the CM. Rao intends to focus on expanding the party activities to various states in February. For this reason, he has decided to cut short Budget session working days to a week. Typically, the Budget sessions are held for two or three weeks. The state Budget is expected to be presented on February 3 and the session is expected to end by February 11 with just seven working days. The CM is reportedly waiting for the Union Budget to be presented on February 1 to garner support of the non-BJP parties against the BJP-led government at the Centre with reports of the Centre planning to impose more restrictions on loans to be borrowed by the state governments in the Union Budget. States are feeling the pinch of restrictions on loans imposed by the Centre in 2022-23, and there are fears that states may face financial crisis if more restrictions are imposed. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar already expressed anger over the Centre's reported moves to reduce the borrowing limits of states further in the fiscal 2023-24. Rao also expressed anger over the Centre's restrictions imposed in 2022-23 stating that Telangana suffered a loss of nearly Rs 40,000 crore. Thanks for visiting ! The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Thank you for your support! JP Morgan: top of the table (PA Archive) City Comment: An alarming story I read over breakfast this morning suggested that Artificial Intelligence could eventually lead to the destruction of humanity. A somewhat downbeat note to start the day I thought. But surely, in the more pressing short term, AI has to be seen as a massive opportunity as well as a long term threat? Financial services in particular have much to gain as finance and tech increasingly overlap. A new Index being published today ranks 23 of the western worlds leading banks according to how they are developing and deploying AI in in a huge range of areas to give themselves a competitive advantage. At the top of the AI tree is JP Morgan Chase which leads on all 4 of the main pillars used to assess the banks: talent, innovation, leadership and transparency. The Evident AI Index shows JP Morgan followed by Royal Bank of Canada, Citi, UBS, and Wells Fargo. European banks, and the big UK players in particular, lag far behind their North American peers. Even mighty HSBC can only manage 13th spot and Barclay, NatWest and Lloyds even further back. AI may well be the end of all us one day. Who knows? But in the here and now it is a technology that is clearly going to drive innovation and success in an industry that London has long excelled in. Todays research suggests British banks need to raise their AI game if they are to compete on the global stage and if London is to hold on to its status as a world leading fintech hub. Key developments on Jan. 25: President Volodymyr Zelenskys 45th birthday turned into a historic day for Ukraine, with the U.S. and Germany vowing to send scores of advanced Western tanks after a long wait. On Jan. 25, Germany promised to supply 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, while the U.S. announced the transfer of 31 Abrams tanks. Germany also authorized other countries, such as Poland, to export their stock of Leopards to Ukraine encouraging NATO allies to confirm their readiness to send their tanks as well. A number of European nations have made their promises already. Poland, Norway, Finland, and Spain have said they would be ready to provide Ukraine with long-anticipated Leopards. While the Netherlands doesnt own any, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Jan. 25 that his country is prepared to purchase Leopards in order to transfer them to Ukraine. Zelensky thanked Germany and the U.S. for their decision to provide Ukraine with tanks but reiterated that it was important to move on to the next step. He said the main aspects of the next procedure are making sure that the delivery of the tanks is timely and that sufficient quantity would be provided. We must form such a tank fist, such a fist of freedom, after the blows of which tyranny will no longer rise, Zelensky said in his evening address. Together just like we make a decision today. After the weapon delivery announcements, Russia began launching airstrikes in multiple regions across Ukraine late on Jan. 25. Head of Ukraines Presidents Office Andriy Yermak said that the air defense was working to shoot down incoming targets. Moscow has repeatedly threatened Western nations against supplying tanks to Ukraine, claiming they would regret making such a decision. Story continues An army of Western tanks would give Ukraine a major equipment advantage over Russia, whose troops rely on Soviet ones. Leopards for Ukraine The day began with Germany confirming that it would send its powerful Leopard tanks to Ukraine and authorized other countries, such as Poland, to send their own stocks. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said after a morning cabinet meeting that it would take about three months for the Leopards to arrive in Ukraine. But a program for Ukrainian troops to train on Leopards is set to begin soon. Berlin said in a statement that European allies would organize two battalions of Leopards. A battalion typically consists of about 40 tanks, meaning that Ukraine could expect to receive approximately 80 Leopards in the nearest future. ABC News reported on Jan. 24, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, that 12 countries were prepared to send about 100 Leopards to Ukraine upon Berlins consent. The exact quantity of Western tanks that Ukraine would get in the nearest future is unclear, but it is likely to be lower than what Kyiv had anticipated. Along with other equipment, Ukraine needs 300 main battle tanks to conduct counteroffensive operations, Ukraines Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi and Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said in December. The Armed Forces of Germany train Slovakian soldiers on the Leopard 2 A4 main battle tank on Nov. 24, 2022, in Munster. (Photo by Philipp Schulze/picture alliance via Getty Images) Mounting pressure Pressure had been mounting for Berlin to greenlight the transfer of the Leopards after France and the U.K. made their vows earlier in January. Poland has particularly pressed on Germany in public, with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki accusing Berlin of wasting time. He said Poland was ready to send Leopards to Ukraine regardless of Germanys will. The Russian embassy in Germany immediately labeled Berlins decision extremely dangerous, saying it took the war to a new level of confrontation. Moscow is likely pressing on Berlins repeatedly stated fears that sending Leopard tanks could lead to a direct confrontation with Russia. Later on Jan. 25, U.S. President Joe Biden announced a long-awaited decision to send 31 of his countrys most advanced battle tanks, M1 Abrams, to Ukraine. Training of Ukrainian soldiers will begin as soon as possible, but the delivery could take time, he added. The training for Ukrainian troops on M1 Abrams tanks could start in weeks, not months, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said at a news conference. The U.S.s delivery promise came a few days after U.S. lawmakers called for giving Ukraine Abrams tanks, as they sought to push Germany into green-lighting Leopards for Ukraine. Multiple Western media reports, citing unnamed American and German officials, revealed that Germany was ready to provide Ukraine with Leopards if the U.S. went ahead with Abrams. German Defense Minister Pistorius dismissed the reports, saying that he was not aware of such a link. Compared with Soviet tanks, which Ukraine and Russia currently use on the battlefield, the mobility and firepower of Western equipment could help Ukraine launch more counteroffensive operations. Western states provision of main battle tanks to Ukraine will help enable Ukraine to conduct mechanized warfare to defeat the Russian military and liberate Ukrainian territory, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a U.S. defense think-tank, said in its. Jan. 24 report. Admitting the loss of Soledar For the first time, the Ukrainian military acknowledged that it had withdrawn from the salt-mining town of Soledar, located 10 kilometers north of Bakhmut a fiercely contested city Russia has tried to capture for months. Ukrainian troops had to retreat from Soledar to save the lives of the personnel, and they are now strengthening defense on the outskirts of the town, Serhiy Cherevatyi, a spokesman for Ukraine's Eastern Military Command, said on Jan. 25. Cherevatyi did not indicate when Ukrainian troops had withdrawn. While the Russian Defense Ministry claimed victory over Soledar on Jan. 13 (and Wagner's mercenaries on Jan. 11), it remained unclear how much of the town Ukraine still controlled. Ukrainian authorities continued to deny Russias claim about its victory over Soledar, dismissing it as part of the Kremlins propaganda campaign to show tangible results to its public. However, international observers and independent military analysts have confirmed Russias capture of Soledar as early as mid-January. The U.K. Defense Ministry said in its intelligence briefing that Ukrainian forces had highly likely withdrawn from Soledar by the end of Jan. 16, leaving Russian troops and Wagner Group mercenaries in control of the town. The ministry added in its Jan. 18 report that retreating Ukrainian forces have likely established new defensive lines to the west of Soledar. Ukrainian drone unit commander Robert Magyar Brovdy also reported on his Telegram channel that Russian assault units captured the last Ukrainian stronghold an industrial zone on the western part of the town at around 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 16. He added that the front line was outside the administrative border from now on. Olha Tomah, 70, reacts in front of a residential building where her flat burns after Russian shelling in the Ukrainian town of Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk Oblast on Jan. 20, 2023. (Photo by Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images) Capturing Soledar could help Russian forces encircle Bakhmut from the north, but it doesnt guarantee Moscows success since Ukraine still controls areas (including main roads) west of the city, according to military analysts. Russia already controls areas east and south of Bakhmut. If Russians were to capture Bakhmut, they would be able to threaten the two other Ukrainian strongholds in Donetsk Oblast Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. After nearly six months of deadly trench warfare around Bakhmut, U.S. and Western officials are "urging Ukraine to shift its focus" from Bakhmut to a potential counteroffensive in the country's south, CNN said on Jan. 24. Citing Western and Ukrainian officials, CNN reported that the Western allies are advising Ukraine to use a different counteroffensive style that involves "billions of dollars in new military hardware recently committed by Western allies." "(Bakhmut) is less attractive militarily, in terms of any sort of infrastructure, than it might have been if it had not been this destroyed," a senior U.S. official told CNN last week. Nearly 11 months into its full-scale invasion, Russia has begun changing tactics relying on assault groups of 140 to 160 people rather than making advances with battalions, much larger in size, Deputy Military Intelligence Chief Vadym Skibitsky said in an interview published on Jan. 23. Russian forces are launching "powerful artillery strikes" to "completely destroy" Ukrainian defenses, "wave after wave," according to Skibitsky. Skibitsky added that the same tactic was used by the Kremlin-controlled notorious Wagner Group first in Bakhmut, then in Soledar (when Russia intensified its offensive in early January). The New York Times reported on Jan. 24, citing satellite images and video footage, that Wagner was suffering extremely heavy casualties in the war in Ukraine. Citing a satellite image from Jan. 24, the NYT said that the number of burial plots in a cemetery known to hold Wagner mercenaries bodies has increased by nearly seven times compared to what was seen on satellite imagery just two months ago. Ukrainian forces are also reported to have been suffering heavy casualties in the area. For Russia, the capture of Soledar was its first noticeable success since it captured the last Ukrainian strongholds of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk in Luhansk Oblast in June and July. Porsche The 2023 Porsche 911 Dakar is named after the famed Dakar Rally, but originally it was going to be called the 911 Safari. Indian automaker Tata Motors holds the copyrights to the Safari name and refused to let Porsche use it. To use the Dakar name, Porsche needed permission from the organizers of the Dakar Rally and had to pay an undisclosed amount for the rights. Porsche naming its new off-road-oriented 911 after the Dakar Rally makes sense. After all, it's one of the most famous motorsport events. What some people might not know, however, is that the 2023 Porsche 911 Dakar was almost called the 911 Safari. That is until it wasn't. 2023 porsche 911 dakar The Name Game Since its inception in 1978, it has garnered a reputation for being incredibly demanding on drivers and vehicles alike. Take 60-year-old Spanish driver Carlos Sainz Sr.'s for instance. This year, he won a stage, had a tire ripped from his car, and eventually went on to fracture his spine in a flip. Still, back in 1984, Porsche managed to win the rally outright with a 911adding a touch of company history to the name. Despite all that, Dakar was not Porsche's first naming choice. Instead, the company originally wanted to call it the 911 Safari, according to Edmunds. Unfortunately, the Safari name wasn't available, as it remains locked behind a copyright owned by Indian carmaker Tata, which produces an SUV called the Safari. We talked to them [Tata], 911 Dakar program director Thomas Krickelberg told Edmunds. But they didnt give us permission for that. That was option A. And then we switched to Dakar. A Bumpy Ride With the Safari name out of the running, Porsche was left to search for other, equally stirring titles. That's when Porsche landed on Dakar. However, in another unfortunate turn of events, that moniker was also taken. So, the German automaker had to jump through some hoops. 2023 porsche 911 dakar In order to use the Dakar name, Porsche had to get permission from the organizers of the Dakar Rally (the Amaury Sport Organization or ASO), which owns the rights to it in an automotive context. Porsche then had to pay the organization an undisclosed amount of money so it could borrow the name. That's when the Porsche 911 Dakar was born. Story continues Then it was smooth, Krickelberg joked to Edmunds. You Might Also Like FILE PHOTO: Employees are seen working on the final assembly of ASML's TWINSCAN NXE:3400B semiconductor lithography tool with its panels removed, in Veldhoven By Michael Martina (Reuters) - Dutch and U.S. officials will meet in Washington on Friday to discuss potential new controls on exporting semiconductor manufacturing gear to China, with a deal possible by the end of the month, according to two sources familiar with the matter. A deal could be announced as soon as Friday if the two sides can agree on the details, said one of the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity. The source added that it was possible that any deal reached might not be announced immediately. The Biden administration in October published wide-ranging export controls, including measures tightly restricting Chinese access to U.S. chipmaking technology, as part of an effort to slow Beijing's technological and military advances. But it has not yet convinced key allies, most notably the Netherlands and Japan, to implement similar equipment curbs seen as essential to making the restrictions effective. The Netherlands is home to ASML Holding, the world's leading maker of lithography equipment, which is critical for making semiconductors. The second person familiar with the matter said a central concern for negotiators is that even small supply chain changes could reignite a global chip shortage that has eased in recent months but created havoc in supply chains for the past two years. Dutch officials are also adamant the controls be tailored to national security concerns and not give the appearance that the United States is trying to favor its own chipmaking industry, said the second source. The Dutch Foreign Ministry declined to comment. U.S. officials did not respond immediately to a request for comment. In a press conference with reporters after ASML reported fourth quarter earnings on Wednesday, CEO Peter Wennink said an export control deal may be close and that his company does not participate in the political talks. However, he said that while a deal may be announced soon, it is less clear whether the technical details of any regulations have been resolved. (Additional reporting by Toby Sterling in Amsterdam; Writing by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Don Durfee and Daniel Wallis) Hungary is ready to make a U-turn in its latest row with the European Union over university funding, according to the country's minister responsible for EU funds. In early January, the European Commission warned that most Hungarian universities will lose funding from Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe - two EU programmes funding education and research respectively - because of the increased influence of the governing party and government members on university boards. Tibor Navracsics, Hungary's Minister without portfolio for Land Development, told Euronews that removing government members from university boards will not be a problem. "From our side, it is not an obstacle if the European Commission raises the issue that politicians cannot sit on boards as trustees," he said. "What was also raised as a problem, that the nature of the mandate of the current board of trustees is not time limited. We can discuss this as well. The Hungarian government is also open in this regard." In 2021, the Hungarian state privatised the majority of universities (21 in total), which are run now by private foundations - in many cases with high-level government politicians on their boards. Navracsics, for example, is currently the minister negotiating with the EU for funding from Erasmus+. He is also a board president of one university. There is also the country's foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto, its justice minister, Judit Varga, and Fidesz MEP Laszlo Trocsanyi, as well as many more pro-government politicians, all in leading positions at Hungarian universities. According to Andras Biro-Nagy, an analyst at Policy Solutions in Budapest, the Hungarian government is now in retreat after taking on too many losing fights with Brussels. "What we heard now from Minister Navracsics on the Erasmus issue, was a clear retreat compared to the previous position of the government," Biro-Nagy told Euronews. "The question is now how far will this attitude apply to all the other questions on the table because let's not forget that to fulfill the EU's 27 demands - called super milestones - they will need to have a similar willingness to compromise, willingness to agree from the Hungarian side." The current measures by the European Commission are part of the so-called rule of law mechanism, which enables the EU to suspend funds if they see systemic risks in a member state. Hungary can only end this process if it manages to fulfill all conditions of the 27 super milestones. They include 17 steps already negotiated as part of the rule of law mechanism, as well as reforms to strengthen judiciary independence and new rules on auditing and reporting on EU funds. As much as 40% of all food produced each year goes nowhere near a human mouth, resulting in economic, environmental and social costs of an estimated $2.6 trillion. While there are a multitude of social, cultural and even technological reasons for these staggering statistics, we've seen a slew of startups emerge with propositions on how to solve the food-waste problem. Last year, Choco hit the much-coveted unicorn status for software that digitizes the ordering, supply chain and communications processes for suppliers and restaurants. Elsewhere, there are companies serving AI-powered forecasting smarts to help retailers optimize their stock replenishment, while others have built marketplaces for selling surplus or imperfect produce. There's even a company setting out to transform food waste into food containers. Another fledgling startup called Kanpla, meanwhile, is focusing its efforts on cutting food waste in one very specific vertical: canteens. Founded out of Denmark in 2019, Kanpla initially targeted school canteens, serving up software for parents to preorder food for their kids (children under the age of 13 are not allowed a debit card in Denmark), which gave schools a good idea of how much and what kinds of food to prepare. Today, the company targets all manner of canteens, with paying customers including shipping giant Maersk and Danish brewer Carlsberg, as well as industrial canteen providers such as Coor and Cheval Blanc, which serve more than 230 canteens across the Nordics. In 2022, Kanpla said that its software was used in some 1,500 canteens, and it expects to triple that number this year as it expands into more European markets. In preparation for this growth, the company today announced it has raised 2.2 million ($2.4 million) in a seed round of funding. How it works There are two core elements to the Kanpla platform. For kitchens, Kanpla offers what it calls an "operating system" for managing their whole canteen from a PC or mobile device, including creating digital menus, support for different payment types, collecting and presenting sales data, and more. Through this, companies can understand which food sells best, allowing them to stock up on the right kinds of ingredients thereby minimizing produce that might otherwise go to waste. Story continues Kanpla canteen stats Kanpla canteen stats. Image Credits: Kanpla On the "diner" side, users can access a mobile or web app for perusing menus and ordering food, meaning that their food can be waiting for them when they arrive in the canteen. Kanpla for canteen diners. Image Credits: Kanpla On top of that, the Kanpla platform has features specifically for addressing food waste. For example, it enables kitchens and canteens to sell surplus food from their lunch or buffet menus as takeaways to guests. Through the admin dashboard, they simply list the amount of food available and the price, and a communication is sent to each Kanpla diner's app. Kanpla: Selling surplus food. Image Credits: Kanpla And Kanpla also has a food-waste registration feature, currently in beta, which brings together data such as the number of people entering a canteen and the amount of food that's wasted across categories (e.g. in production or uneaten buffet food). This requires kitchens to weigh the food before they throw it out. Kanpla: Food waste registration and insights. Image Credits: Kanpla Canteens only Perhaps the most curious aspect of Kanpla's offering is that it's so narrowly focused on canteens, something that Kanpla CEO and co-founder Peter Bch said was simply due to his own experiences. "The idea to target the canteen industry came from our experience at our local canteens," Bch explained to TechCrunch. "We saw firsthand a canteen which threw out huge amounts of food at the end of the day. We thought about how we spent half of our lunch-break waiting in lines. These inconveniences led us to dive into the pains, finding an industry that was heavily behind on digitalization, with additional problems of forecasting, limited tools to manage guest relations and a high degree of manual work for print and billing. These insights became the beginning of our journey to digitalize this industry." While canteens undoubtedly share many of the pain points of other eating establishments, each come with their own unique problems and opportunities that require a different approach from a technology standpoint. "Canteens differentiate from cafes and restaurants by having recurring guests, coming back day after day, giving them a unique potential to connect with their guests" Bch continued. "Additionally, they have the added complexity and issues due to menus switching daily, and payments working often through hybrid approaches that may include card, invoice and salary deduction." Kanpla's seed round was led by Netherlands-based VC HenQ, with participation from a handful of angel investors. The company said it will use its fresh cash injection to expand beyond its native Denmark and into the U.K., Norway and the Netherlands in 2023, with plans to extend its reach into the U.S. and other European markets the following year. Denmark has spawned a number of sizeable tech companies through the years, such as expense management software provider Pleo, which hit a $4.7 billion valuation a year ago, while local neobank Lunar achieved a valuation north of $2 billion last year. And then there is, of course, Zendesk, which was bought out by a private equity firm for $10 billion back in June. HenQ partner Jan Andriessen reckons that Kanpla can blaze a similar trail to Zendesk by cashing in on what initially seems like a niche vertical. "At first, the canteen industry can seem obscure, but its a big market with huge potential," Andriessen said in a statement. "Many B2B software products have blossomed in seemingly non-obvious markets. Zendesk, one of Denmarks greatest tech businesses, was founded well before customer success software became a well-defined term. Kanpla can be the same, and thats what makes them the type of B2B business were excited to support." HA NOI Hai Phong aims to become a regional and international logistics centre due to its many advantages as a transportation hub for all five types of traffic, including sea, road, air, railway, and inland waterways. This objective is highlighted in the northern city's service sector development project for 2030, with a long-term vision to 2045, including logistics services. The city is also studying to develop a project to establish a free trade zone, considered a breakthrough solution to exploit the best advantages in the logistics sector of Hai Phong. The Politburo's Resolution 45 on building and development of Hai Phong City by 2030, with a vision to 2045 also states that Hai Phong must be built into a national logistics service centre by 2025. "By 2030, it will become a modern international logistics service centre with sea, air, highway and high-speed rail". According to former Secretary of the Hai Phong City Party Committee Tran Luu Quang who has been appointed to the Government's Deputy Prime Minister, to develop logistics services, Hai Phong will promote administrative reform and digital transformation in the field of seaports and logistics. It will strengthen investment attraction and trade promotion, and form logistics service chains with high added value and regional linkages. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Hai Phong has great advantages in infrastructure of seaports, fishing ports, warehouses for industrial production, and import and export activities of goods. At the same time, some of 14 industrial parks (IPs) are built on the basis of logistics services to increase connectivity among enterprises at the supply chains. In the past, Hai Phong has focused on investing and upgrading seaport infrastructure in line with the development trend of regional and international shipping. Its transport system is improved and more synchronous. Many projects on developing logistics centres in industrial zones and economic zones (EZs) have also received licences of investment, such as a logistics centre invested by KM Cargo Services Hai Phong Co, Ltd with a capital of VN34.8 billion; a logistics project with total investment capital of US$35 million developed by ECPVN Hai Phong 1; JD Property Logistics Park Hai Phong 1 project in the non-tariff zone and Nam inh Vu Industrial Park with a total investment of $32 million. Those have created new opportunities for the logistics service industry in Hai Phong. Quang said that in 2022, traditional and advantageous service sectors such as seaport and logistics services have made strong developments. They have actively contributed to the socio-economic development of Hai Phong and the northern key economic region. Hai Phong's growth rate of logistics services is about 20-23 per cent per year and this sector has accounted for 13-15 per cent of the city's GRDP. The volume of goods through the ports in the city has grown strongly, accounting for a large market share in the seaport system of the country. Pointing to the service's shortcomings, an uc Hiep, former deputy chairman of Hai Phong City People's Committee, said that Hai Phong has about 1,000 enterprises registering to provide logistics services, but they have limited competitiveness and a low market share. The majority of cargo volume via Hai Phong seaport continues to be transported by road, putting great pressure on the transport system. Meanwhile, transporting goods by rail and inland waterway is still weak. There is also the problem of labour shortage, especially high-quality labour. Logistics and production enterprises of Hai Phong are always in a serious shortage, especially logistics sales staff, logistics information technology staff, and staff coordinating transportation and warehouse operations. At the same time, most employees of enterprises lack logistics knowledge and skills. This will be a big challenge for the development of the service in the future. According to forecasts, Hai Phong needs about 369,000 logistics workers by 2025, including 252,600 trained workers. By 2030, this number will increase to 460,000 employees, including 368,000 trained workers. Human resources for the logistics sector in Viet Nam in general and Hai Phong in particular will still lack in both quality and quantity for many years in the future. The human resource at present meets only about 40-45 per cent of the industry's needs. Therefore, Hai Phong needs to have a strategy on sustainable development of human resources for the logistics sector, Hiep said. VNS Editor's note: This concert has been postponed to March 30 due to icy conditions and the winter storm in the Waco area. Los Angeles world music band Ozomatli, whose players blend multiple musical cultures of the Americas in their sound, will open their 2023 touring on Wednesday at a place theyve never been: Waco. Technically, its Woodway and the Carleen Bright Arboretum where the band plays at 7 p.m., the opening event of next weeks Waco Family & Faith Film Festival. No matter the location, however, the veteran band finds its Latin-flavored rhythms sure to connect with an audience. Were pretty high energy. We get people moving, said Jiro Yamaguchi, the bands drummer and percussionist, speaking by phone from New Mexico where he was visiting family. The band marks its 25th anniversary this year Yamaguchi is a founding member and has spent much of that time creating an infectious sound that draws from salsa, hip hop, reggae, funk, merengue and cumbia. Members play guitars of various shapes and sizes, piano, bass, trumpet and lots of percussion. Yamaguchis instruments at hand in any given show might include congas, djembes, tablas, cowbells and, of course, multiple drums. Which ones? A lot of times it depends on the song, he explained. In their quarter-century of performing, Ozomatli has recorded five albums, winning three Grammy Awards in the process, played innumerable community and school events in the L.A. area, and worked in a strand of social justice and community advocacy in their English and Spanish lyrics. Theyve played the Hollywood Bowl four times, recorded soundtracks for Sesame Street video games, contributed to the film soundtrack for Happy Feet 2, worked as the house band for stand-up comic Gabriel Iglesias and served as Cultural Ambassadors for the U.S. State Department in 2008. The band adopted the name of Ozomatli, an Aztec god of dance and music, a trickster monkey god in charge of orchestrating the jungle. We felt it fit the personality of the band, Yamaguchi quipped. Ozomatli hasnt changed much in its approach to music or its sound during its 25 years and its six members still enjoy playing for their audiences. (Twenty-five years is) a blessing and a reason for gratitude. To do this for this many years its an accomplishment and somewhat of a miracle, he said. Ascension Texas, already involved in contentious negotiations with a large insurance provider, is eliminating jobs around the state, including at Ascension Providence in Waco. Ascension has not said how many positions it will terminate, nor has it commented on job descriptions or the geographical breakdown of layoffs. A person familiar with the situation said Ascension Providence would suffer staff reductions, but could not provide a number. A statement from Ascension Texas says the health care system tried to minimize the impact on patient care at the bedside and we focused primarily on non-clinical support roles. Ascension Texas has hospitals in Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Kyle and Waco, with a wider distribution of clinics and other operations. Ascension Providence is the second-largest employer in Greater Waco, with 2,518 people on its payroll, behind only Baylor Universitys 5,698 employees and ahead of Waco Independent School Districts 2,373, according to a list of major employers from the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce. According to the chamber listing, Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest has 2,283 employees. The statement from Ascension Texas says, The global COVID-19 pandemic has taken a significant operational toll on health systems across the country, and Ascension Texas is no exception. We continue to evolve how we deliver care in this challenging environment and further align our strategies and structure to best support patient care initiatives in order to ensure the long-term strength of our organization as we continue to deliver compassionate, personalized care to all. Kris Collins, the Greater Waco Chambers senior vice president for economic development, said Wednesday she knew nothing about the layoffs. Regarding Wacos employment environment, Wacos labor market remains strong, Collins said by email. We continue to see growth in the civilian labor force, the number of individuals employed, and an unemployment rate below the national and state levels. Calls to Ascension Providences executive office in Waco were referred to media relations for Ascension Texas. McLennan County Medical Society board President Dr. Adam Falcone could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening. Ascension, a nonprofit health system under which Ascension Texas operates, is based in St. Louis and includes 139 hospitals in 19 states. The New York Times in December published an unflattering series of articles about Ascension, suggesting it eliminated positions to improve its bottom line. Ascension responded in a statement, saying, Ascension is deeply committed to providing a positive workplace culture for our nurses, as well as other clinicians and associates. Doing so is not only an inherent aspect of valuing the dignity of our colleagues, but a well-functioning and supported workforce improves the quality of care we provide to the communities we serve. Unlike what the New York Times has indicated that it was told, the reality is that Ascensions hospital staffing levels particularly bedside nursing staffing increased in the years leading up to the pandemic and continue to exceed levels maintained by the majority of our peers, Ascension said. Ascension Providence in December was named Large Employer of the Year by the Texas Workforce Commission during ceremonies in Dallas. It was nominated by the local Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas. Ascension Texas also continues to spar with insurance provider Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas over new coverage rates. If the impasse is not resolved by Feb. 1, thousands of Texans could lose many in-network options at Ascension health care facilities. Falling outside a health insurance providers network can lead to higher deductibles and higher out-of-pocket expenses. In a statement earlier this month, Blue Cross and Blue Shield said it is willing to pay fair rates, but our members should not expect to supplement shortcomings Ascension is having in other states. It knocked Ascension Texas for rapid expansion in recent years, saying it contributed to rising costs. A visiting judge in the 19th State District Court on Wednesday sentenced a former city of Waco worker to nine years probation after a McLennan County jury convicted him of assaulting a peace officer. The jury found Ronald Louis Turner, 32, guilty of aggravated assault of a peace officer in the 2018 case but acquitted him of attempting to take an officers weapon, a state jail felony. Visiting Judge Roy Sparkman sentenced Turner. This was Turners first and only felony conviction. Witnesses testified Tuesday the assault took place July 24, 2018, near 1415 N. Fourth St., just outside the gate to a parks department maintenance shop, among other city buildings. Jurors deliberated for about an hour in the guilt or innocence phase. Foreperson Vikram Deivanayagam, himself a county court-at-law judge, read the verdict on each charge. Deliberations ran about two hours in the punishment phase, and the jury returned a sentence of probation with an underlying sentence of 10 years in prison. After Deivanayagam read the verdict, Fabian Klecka, the officer who was assaulted and who testified Tuesday, said he is pleased with the verdict. Turner did not take the stand in his own defense or speak in the sentencing phase. Turners defense attorney, Jonathan Sibley, said he and his client are pleased with the outcome of the trial and that the jury had given his client a great opportunity. He called the events of July 24, 2018, an unfortunate incident. Im glad Ronald will get the opportunities for services available through probation, Sibley said. I hope he takes advantage of the opportunity the jury gave him. McLennan County District Attorney Josh Tetens said in statement after sentencing his office appreciates the jurys careful deliberations and respects its verdict. We are truly thankful Officer Klecka was not seriously injured or killed when Mr. Turner attacked him and put a knife against his neck, Tetens said. We are also grateful for the bystanders that came to our officers aid and likely saved his life. Mr. Turner will now be closely monitored by our Community Supervision Department and has now been held accountable for his actions. During the sentencing phase of the trial Wednesday afternoon, Assistant District Attorney Will Hix asked the jury not consider the available sentence of life in prison. Statutory prison time for conviction of first-degree felony aggravated assault of a peace officer is 5 to 99 years or life. Hix said a life sentence would be unjust. He reminded the jury that they enforce the expectations of the community and asked the jury not to give probation. Give prison time, but dont approach the maximum, Hix said. The defense asked for probation. In the sentencing phase Klecka testified that, a bit more than three months before the fight with Turner, he had fired his weapon in the line of duty for the first time and killed a person who attacked him with a knife in April 2018. Klecka said he probably placed himself at greater risk in the struggle with Turner by trying not to draw his weapon. He said he spent about a year in therapy on light duty and desk work after the fight with Turner, working though issues arising out of both that incident and the one in April. He returned to full duty status after that year, working patrol shifts in Waco until he retired at the end of October 2021, Klecka said. Klecka wore the uniform of Crawford police to both days of testimony. He works there part-time as patrol officer. During the defense closing arguments, Sibley said no one was able to say when Turner drew the knife and suggested he initially pulled the knife on Barry Barrington, the citys director of safety, who had been following Turner after Turners supervisor had asked him to leave a training session. Turners supervisor testified Tuesday that he had asked Turner to leave the training session and go to a city nurse to be checked for intoxication. Both the supervisor and Barrington called police after the incident, and Barrington said he had followed Turner, hoping to ensure he did not drive away. Sibley said Turner had drawn the knife on Barrington and simply had it in his hand during the confrontation with Klecka. Sibley said that as lethal as the prosecution said the knife was, if the blade had been open, Klecka would have had injuries worth photographing, but the prosecution showed no photos of deep cuts in Kleckas neck and he received no such cuts. The defense asked the jury not to convict on aggravated assault of a peace officer, but instead to convict on the lesser included offense of assault by threat. Sibley asked the jury not to convict on attempting to take an officers gun. He said Turner could have reached for anything on the officers belt looking for leverage in the confrontation. In the prosecutions closing, Hix took the knife out of its evidence box and showed it to the jury. The defense said that if this knife was open, Officer Klecka would have been cut, Hix said as he opened the knife and placed the flat of the blade against his hand, with no injury. Hix also showed the jury that the knife could split the evidence box neatly even while closed. A Moody woman who officials said pointed a loaded shotgun at McLennan County deputies before they shot her two weeks ago in China Spring was released from a local hospital Tuesday and booked into McLennan County Jail. After receiving medical clearance, Aurora Victoria Whitman, 59, of Moody, was arraigned on two first-degree felony counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against a peace officer, a courthouse official said Wednesday. Jail records show her bail set at $50,000 for each count. McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara said on the afternoon of Jan. 10 that Whitman that morning had pointed a loaded shotgun at his deputies, who told her to put it down. The incident started when a homeowner at 300 Freedman Drive in China Spring called police to report Whitman was in the home with swords and guns, tearing up the place and making threats, her affidavit says. Whitman refused to follow deputies commands to put the shotgun down, her arrest affidavit says. Deputies shot Whitman to protect themselves and other members of the public, McNamara said at the time. LONDON Microsoft said it was seeing some improvement to problems with its online services including the Teams messaging platform and Outlook email system after users around the world reported outages Wednesday. In a status update, the tech company reported "service degradation" for a number of its Microsoft 365 services. Thousands of users reported problems with Teams, Outlook, the Azure cloud computing service and XBox Live online gaming service early Wednesday on the Downdetector website, which tracks outage reports. Many users also took to social media to complain that services were down. By later in the morning, Downdetector showed the number of reports dropped considerably. "We're continuing to monitor the recovery across the service and some customers are reporting mitigation," the Microsoft 365 Status Twitter account said. "We're also connecting the service to additional infrastructure to expedite the recovery process." It tweeted earlier that it had "isolated the problem to a networking configuration issue" and a network change suspected to be causing the problem was rolled back. It comes after Microsoft reported Tuesday that its quarterly profit fell 12%, reflecting economic uncertainty that the company said led to its decision this month to cut 10,000 workers. Theres an understandable compulsion in the media and among Democrats to emphasize the differences between Joe Bidens classified documents scandal and Donald Trumps. The two cases are different in many important respects. The most significant is obviously that the former president refused to cooperate with the National Archives and Justice Department until a search of his home was deemed necessary. Meanwhile, Bidens team has endeavored to highlight the fact theyve been very cooperative, inviting various searches, including of his home on Friday which revealed even more documents with classified markings, reportedly dating back to his days in the Senate. Thats all fine. But there are two similarities that cant be messaged away. The first similarity has been widely discussed in the press and conceded by many of the presidents most ardent Democratic supporters: He had stuff he shouldnt have had in places they didnt belong. Yes, Trump had more documents and possibly more sensitive ones. But the underlying misdeed is the same. The second similarity has largely gone unnoticed, as the Daily Beasts Matt Lewis has noted well. Very much like Trump, Joe Biden has a very difficult time admitting error. On Thursday, Biden said he had no regrets regarding the classified document mess. Exactly one year earlier, he said, I make no apologies for how he pulled U.S. forces out of Afghanistan. This was after hed assured the public that the withdrawal would be secure and orderly. Theres going to be no circumstance where you see people being lifted off the roof of (an) embassy of the United States from Afghanistan. It is not at all comparable (to Vietnam). On a human level, never mind as a matter of common sense, its impossible to believe that Biden had no regrets about Afghanistan or how this classified document mess has unfolded. And as a political matter, this has been a fiasco. Does anyone believe he doesnt wince every time he sees that 60 Minutes clip of himself being shocked at Trumps irresponsible handling of classified material? Has the White Houses response really been flawless? On Jan. 12, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre assured the public that the search (for documents) is complete. That was before more documents showed up in his home and garage. Bidens stubbornness is only part of the problem. No doubt lawyers and political advisers are reinforcing his instinct not give an inch to the press. After the post-Afghanistan withdrawal press conference, Biden asked a friend how he did. The friend said great. Biden replied, Yeah, but the press is going to kill me, Biden said, Im f- no matter what I say. Theres also the larger political culture in which partisans believe any admission that bolsters the enemy is intolerable. Indeed, Biden is hardly the first politician to struggle with admitting mistakes. Donald Trump took it to cartoonish extremes. I fully think apologizing is a great thing, but you have to be wrong he once said. I will absolutely apologize sometime in the distant future if Im ever wrong. Ive long thought that Trumps insistence that his infamous call with the president of Ukraine was perfect helped drive the effort to impeach him. Politically, claims of perfection enrage critics and proving imperfection is a lot easier than proving an admitted mistake was an impeachable outrage. Therein lies Bidens opportunity. As Lewis notes, Biden was elected to be the opposite of Trump. Thats why Biden frequently falls back on one of his favorite folksy rhetorical refrains: promising to always level with the American people and tell it to you straight. Biden would be much better off if followed his own advice and I dont just mean saying mistakes were made. It would be much easier to argue that what he did isnt as bad as what Trump did, if first he admitted his own missteps (and not for nothing, the legal standard isnt Is this worse than what Trump did? but does this violate the law?). Saying he has no regrets is not very different from saying what he did was perfect. And Bidens hand-waving dismissal that People know I take classified documents and classified information seriously isnt very far from Trumps favorite lead-in for all kinds of groundless assertions: Everybody knows Either Biden is lying about telling it straight or he honestly believes he is. If its the latter, then hes delusional. I think theres a deep hunger among voters for politicians to admit mistakes. Biden ran for office promising transparency, honesty, competence and normalcy. The way hes handled this documents mess breaks all those promises. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy DES MOINES Delivery of a drug resulting in a death would carry up to a 25-year sentence under a bill proposed by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird. The bill passed subcommittees in both the Iowa House and Senate on Wednesday. Currently, the maximum charge that can be pursued against a person who sells a drug resulting in death is for the delivery itself, a class C felony. Prosecutors can pursue an involuntary manslaughter charge, but that penalty is a lesser Class D felony. The bill would make the sale of a drug resulting in death a Class B felony, putting it on the same level as attempted murder and killing a person while driving intoxicated. Marijuana is exempt from the bill. A class B felony is punishable by up to 25 years in prison. Bird, a Republican, said during a Senate subcommittee on the bill that the proposal aims to address a rising rate of overdoses in Iowa. Its so important that we can seek justice for those victims and their families, so Im very encouraged and looking forward to working with the governor and the Legislature as we move forward, she said in an interview. Iowa has one of the lowest overdose death rates in the United States Iowa ranked 5th-lowest of the 50 states in 2021 but the number of deaths has been increasing, following national trends, over the past several years. In 2021, 470 Iowans died of drug overdoses, according to Gov. Kim Reynolds office. Iowa elected officials have been sounding alarms about an increase in overdose deaths in the state in recent years, driven in part by an increased presence of fentanyl, a potent opioid. Bird said raising the penalties would bring the law into line with the severity of the crime. It is not dealt with the way that it should be, and the way that some other states and even federal law would deal with it, she said. But some lobbyists and advocates were concerned that the bill would be counterproductive, bringing harsh charges for situations that may not warrant it. Lisa Davis-Cook, a lobbyist for the Iowa Association for Justice, said the organization, which is registered against the bill, has concerns about whether the bill would act as a deterrent. What about that college kid who shares drugs with a friend then leaves, and that friend dies? So they cant report the overdose. Are those really the people that we want to be charging with a Class B felony? Davis-Cook said. Democratic Rep. Ross Wilburn of Ames was the sole lawmaker to not sign on to passing the bill out of a subcommittee. He said hes not opposed to the bill, but he would like to gather informaiton about the bills impact on minorities and see the details of a similar bill expected to come out of Gov. Kim Reynolds office. DOMESTIC ABUSE BILL ADVANCES: The House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday advanced a bill supporters say adds new protections for domestic abuse victims. House Study Bill 7 eliminates a section of code that said if a previous conviction or deferred judgment for domestic abuse occurred more than 12 years before the date of a second violation it shall not be considered a second offense. Tom Ferguson, a lobbyist for the Iowa County Attorneys Association which is registered in support of the bill noted Iowa code does contain the same arbitrary look back provision for drug offenses. Providing for a higher-level offense will hold individuals accountable for continued behavior thats detrimental not only to victims, but the children of victims who observe the abuse, Ferguson said. The higher level of offense means we can supervise those individuals longer and put them in more programs and so we can hopefully eliminate that cycle of violence, he said. The committee voted 15-5 to advance the bill for a vote on the House floor, with Democrats opposed. Current law is not written really well. I will agree with that. I think there are better ways to go about it. But, I am concerned about completely eliminating this second chance, Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, D-Ames, said. Wessel-Kroeschell said she prefers the code section be rewritten rather than eliminated. Ferguson said prosecutors would still have discretion in deciding which and what level of charges to bring against someone accused of domestic abuse. CEDAR FALLS Cedar Falls police have arrested a Denver man for allegedly pretending to be a police officer. Now real police officers are asking anyone who may have had contact with him to contact them. On Tuesday, Cedar Falls officers talked to 21-year-old Mitchil Dayvid Thuesen, who said he had been the victim of an assault. During the interview, Thuesen claimed he had recently worked for the Waterloo Police Department. The following day, officers determined he had claimed to others that he was an undercover officer working for Waterloo police on several occasions over a span of months. These acquaintances told police he had showed them a gun while indicating he was a police officer, according to court records. Cedar Falls police contacted the Waterloo Police Department where officials confirmed Thuesen wasnt a police officer and never worked for the department. On Wednesday, police arrested Thuesen for impersonating an officer, a misdemeanor. He was later released pending trial. Cedar Falls Police are encouraging anyone who had contact with Thuesen, and he told them he was a police officer, to contact department investigators at (319) 273-8612. Photos: Missing children in Iowa Jade Colvin Fredrick Workman Benjamin Roseland Erin Pospisil Marc Allen Eugene Martin John Gosch Kimberly Doss Colleen Simpson Fatima Conteh Daquan Nelson Diomarix Crespo CEDAR FALLS A recent report of the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity finds Iowa to have the third highest median return on investment when it comes to public systems of universities, regional colleges, community colleges and technical schools. The non-partisan think-tank indicates that Iowa State University is far and away the most valuable player in the Hawkeye State. However, report author Preston Cooper said its more of a group effort when it comes to those states that perform well, not just one institution. He noted that the University of Northern Iowa has a number of strong programs contributing to the states high standing. Return on investment, also known as ROI, compares the main financial benefit of college the increase in lifetime income attributable to the degree to the costs, including tuition and foregone earnings, and comes up with the amount a student can expect to gain financially from each individual degree. I think the value of our study is that we can really drill down into the institution and program level and tell you what this particular degree is going to earn you as a college student not just what college is going to return you on average, said Cooper. Data provided by Cooper has UNIs highest lifetime earners graduating with bachelors degrees related to construction management, industrial production technologies, electromechanical instrumentation, computer science, statistics, accounting, management information services and economics. The university also is embarking on adding one of the most valuable programs in over half of state public university systems, according to the report. Thats a bachelor of science in nursing. I hope that students can use this data to make better choices regarding their own education and to help them figure out if this school that theyre applying to, attending and potentially paying tens of thousands of dollars of tuition for is really going to get me a good financial return, said Cooper. UNI officials arent surprised Iowa ranks highly as ROI is always top of mind for them. Kristin Woods, UNI senior associate vice president for enrollment management and student success, said the university places a focus on student success in terms of degree completion and success after graduation all while making sure it comes at an affordable cost. UNI has the lowest net cost of all public universities in Iowa right now and thats something we work really hard to maintain, she said. Woods also points out UNIs graduation rates have been increasing every year and it recently completed an update of the general education program thats shorter in length, with the same exceptional outcomes, so students are able to progress toward the degree in the timeline that they want. A lot of their work has to do with narrowing in on the value of degrees, but the leading charge is linking it to the in-demand occupations and needs of the state, said Kristin Moser, UNI assistant to the president and director of institutional effectiveness and planning. Her office is working to better market the high value attributed partially to the fact that UNI does a great job at making sure its graduates are employable after graduating. Sometimes, its challenging when were talking to 18 year olds and helping them understand the value, said Moser. They are often are wanting to look at what can I do this year or right now. So you have to have that big picture look. And you have to think about those life-time earnings and also the benefits that you see that arent related to earnings. How much they pay plays a role in the return on investment. UNI students recently have seen declining student loan debt on average. I want to make sure a particular student isnt borrowing any more than what they need to and is being counseled on what they are doing to help pay for college as effectively as possibly, said Tim Bakula, director of financial aid. At the end of the day though, the median earnings are better for those with a bachelors degree compared to those without one no matter the school. There is an initial investment, but the return is tremendous and, in Iowa, that return is near the top in the U.S., so we need to continue to remind people that the lifetime benefits of a degree are really exceptional, said Woods. PHOTOS: Courier Athlete of the Week Grace Knutson in action GBBall CF vs. WW 5 GBBall CF vs. WW 7 GBBall CF vs. WW 3 GBB Cedar Falls vs. Ankeny 3 GBBall Cedar Falls vs. Cedar Rapids Jefferson 3 GBball Cedar Falls vs. Cedar Rapids Washington 2 GBball Cedar Falls vs. Cedar Rapids Washington 8 Cedar Falls Tigers Girls Basketball takedown Dubuque Senior GBBall West vs. CF 4 CF GBball 3 CF Conf 5 Cedar Falls vs Johnston girls state basketball GBBall Cedar Falls vs. Iowa City High 6 WATERLOO The process for filling a vacant City Council seat is underway and the deadline for candidates to file nominating petitions is closing in. Earlier this month, councilors voted 6-0 to hold a special election for the Ward 4 seat after a petition was sent to the mayors office asking for just that. In November, Jerome Amos Jr. was elected to the Iowa Legislature, representing House District 62. His seat has been empty since the beginning of January. The election will be held on March 7 alongside a Hawkeye Community College referendum, which will be a cost savings for the city. The college is asking for voter approval of a $35 million bond issue in its 10-county service area. The filing deadline is Feb. 10 for candidates interested in representing Ward 4, which largely encompasses a northeastern portion of Waterloo. It includes the area east of U.S. Highway 63/Logan Avenue, veering several blocks to the west at Newell Street. The boundary continues south to follow the Cedar River and then 18th Street West until just a few blocks west of U.S. Highway 218. It continues following Highway 218 and the interchange with U.S. Highway 20 and Interstate Highway 380 to the edge of the city. According to the Black Hawk County Elections Office, Lawrence Marshall is the only person running, so far. Marshall, 41, is the pastor at Payne Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church and has lived in Waterloo for 16 months. Since arriving in Waterloo, Marshall said he has seen good being done but believes there should be more. In addition to the great stuff that is taking place, I feel that my skills can add more to the great work that has already started, he said. Thats why I said this is a great opportunity and this seat is now vacant; let me throw my name into the bag. Before he was a pastor, he taught in Chicago for 14 years and was also in politics. Although he has experience in politics, the community doesnt always know what is available to them. If I win or lose, Im still gonna help whoever wins, he said. Its about making sure our community and people in this community receive all the benefits and the help and resources that are out there that will make us a better ward. The objection and withdrawal deadline for the Ward 4 vacancy is Feb. 13. If any objections are made, they have to be from a resident of Ward 4. Ward 4 residents also have the chance to vote again in the November election. The positions term ends Dec. 31. Photos and video: Iowa legislators pass governor's private-school funding bill WATERLOO From the opening shot of a new docuseries, Waterloo is a point of focus in New York Times journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones newest project. The 1619 Project is a six-episode docuseries premiering Thursday on Hulu. Each episode is based on a chapter from the book of the same name. Hannah-Jones, a Waterloo native, won a Pultizer Prize in commentary for a personal essay that opened the 1619 Project, a deep dive into the implications of the history of slavery. The New York Times Magazine project marked the 400th anniversary of the 1619 arrival of a ship which, for the first time on the continent, brought 20 enslaved Africans to Virginia. The book was published later based on the magazines work. The project posits that 1619 is Americas true origin date, rather than the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The series seeks to reframe the countrys history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the center of the narrative, according to information from Hulu. Hannah-Jones said after the projects publication in 2019, she was contacted by several studios interested in putting the story on TV or film. The series is a Lionsgate production in association with One Story Up Productions, Harpo Films and The New York Times. She is one of the executive producers and serves as a guide throughout each episode. Hannah-Jones has worked on the series while remaining a New York Times correspondent. Since 2021, she has also been the Knight Chair in Race and Journalism at Washington, D.C.s Howard University, a tenured faculty position. That same year, she founded the 1619 Freedom School, a Waterloo after-school program focused on students from low-income families behind in their literacy skills. She said the potential reach of the docuseries was what drew her to pursuing the venture. Im an old-school print reporter, and I understand the power of the media, she said in a phone interview with the Courier. You can reach so many more people through television, and you can tell the story in a different way. The series wont be exactly like the book, she said. Every episode contains new, original reporting and real Americans who dont appear in the book. Also featured more: the city of Waterloo. Over three days last summer, Hannah-Jones and her team filmed in the city and talked to her family, who still live here. Waterloo and my family appear throughout the series to personalize the episode and create connective tissue, she said. Waterloo and my story is a constant throughout. Waterloo was also the start of her learning about 1619. Hannah-Jones said she was taught about the year at West High School in an elective African-American history course. Earlier in her life, at age 11, she was published in The Courier, where she wrote a letter to the editor about Jesse Jacksons presidential run and how he fared in Iowas primary. I thought about why he didnt do well, she said. Well, because he was a Black man. And I predicted one day we would have a Black president. The docuseries six episodes are titled Democracy, Race, Capitalism, Music, Fear and Justice. Hannah-Jones is most excited for the last episode to air, saying its about reparations for descendants of American slavery. The fact youre getting an hour on a major streaming service on reparations is pretty amazing to me, she said. Along with Hannah-Jones, the series was produced by Academy Award-winning director Roger Ross Williams; Caitlin Roper, editor of The 1619 Project and New York Times executive producer for film and TV; Kathlene Lingo, New York Times editorial director for film and TV; and Oprah Winfrey. Peabody Award-winning executive producer Shoshana Guy served as the showrunner. I hope I do Waterloo proud, Hannah-Jones said, noting she has the word Waterloo tattooed on her wrist. Im excited other people will learn about the place that raised me. Photos and video: Iowa legislators pass governor's private-school funding bill WATERLOO -- The YWCA Black Hawk County is hosting an open house honoring Lucinda Cindy Mohr on her retirement from 3-6 p.m. Thursday at the YWCA, 425 Lafayette St. The public is welcome to join us in recognizing Moht and her achievements. In lieu of a gift, Cindy would prefer a card, note or email to wish her well. WASHINGTON Congress and the Biden administration aim to boost the use of sustainable fuels for the emissions-heavy aviation industry, setting up a new front for the debate over biofuels. Sustainable aviation fuels, or SAF, made from a range of plants and other organic matter have proven successful as a replacement or additive for traditional, petroleum-based jet fuels. The Biden administration has thrown its support behind SAF, setting a goal for the U.S. to produce enough to meet 100 percent of jet fuel demand by 2050. The administration says such a conversion would reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aviation by 50 percent. NASA on Wednesday said it would partner with Boeing Co. to create a SAF-powered single-aisle aircraft. Congress, in its 2022 climate, health care and tax package, included a tax credit of $1.25 per gallon for blenders using SAF. Appropriators also included $68 million in the fiscal 2023 government spending law to support carbon reduction efforts in the aviation industry, including provisions directing federal agencies to prioritize SAF research and development. Meanwhile, the private sector is ramping up SAF production. Companies like Swiss multinational Nestle SA, Boston-based World Energy LLC and Sky NRG Solar Inc. of Reston, Va., supply SAF to Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue, United Airlines and Boeing. World Energy is among the top producers in the United States, with plants in California that fuel United Airlines flights out of Los Angeles. Commercial airplanes and large business jets contribute about 10 percent of transportation emissions, a figure expected to triple by 2050 as air travel continues to grow. That growing demand for air travel has some experts skeptical about SAFs ability to keep pace. And although the U.S. produces 4.5 million gallons annually as of 2021, according to the White House, the industry has a long way to go to meet President Joe Bidens goal of producing at least 3 billion gallons annually by 2030. The lack of sufficient supply (of SAF) is the biggest issue right now, said Geoff Cooper, president of the Renewable Fuels Association, an ethanol industry advocate. Theres some stuff being produced, but its a very small volume, and until we get more production facilities up and running, the cost is going to be high. In the United States, SAF costs on average $9.23 per gallon as of Wednesday, according to aviation data site Global Air, up from $8.67 in May. Standard kerosene-based jet fuel sits at an average of $6.90 per gallon. Trucking industry representatives have raised concerns that a larger reliance on SAF will take away key feedstocks from biodiesel, an alternative fuel thats already been used for years. Biodiesel and SAF are both made up of lipids, primarily soybean oils and used cooking oils, and critics say that scaling up SAF could undermine the biodiesel industry, which helped reduce more than 18 million tons of carbon emissions on Californias roads between 2011 and 2019. Touting sustainable aviation fuel as a new method for reducing transportation carbon emissions ignores the fact that it will unravel decades of existing carbon reductions in over-the-road transportation and increase fuel prices for commercial fleets, said the National Association of Truck Stop Operators, a trucking industry representative, in a statement. In fact, renewable jet fuel production is simply designed to displace existing and future, less expensive renewable diesel production. Cooper said that the SAF industry has some positive signs. The tax credit has been a huge boon for the SAF industry, he said, and new technologies have emerged in the past year that provide new feedstocks for SAF. For example, companies like Honeywell have developed a way to further process ethanol, a popular starch-based biofuel, into jet fuel, which opens up the SAF industry to hundreds of existing bio-refineries and provides for a feedstock other than lipids. Washington, D.C.-based Alder Fuels, a SAF production company, is also working with Honeywell to use feedstocks like degenerative grasses and forest and agricultural residues. With a more diverse range of feedstocks, the Energy Department projects the industry would be able to produce 50 billion to 60 billion gallons per year with biomass like corn, grain, algae, agricultural and forestry residues and municipal solid waste streams. Congress seems eager to move ahead on aviation biofuels, including some lawmakers who have been reluctant to back energy transition fuels. In October, a bipartisan group of lawmakers sent a letter to the EPA calling SAF a new pathway for RFS compliance and urging to agency to take action on regulatory barriers on biointermediates, or partially converted feedstocks, that can be used to make SAF. Such actions would permit these biofuel producers to use at scale the investments they have made, access low-carbon markets, and pave the way for the next generation of renewable fuel innovation, they added in the letter. The world's top 5 airlines in 2022, according to Skytrax 1. Qatar Airways 2. Singapore Airlines 3. Emirates 4. ANA (All Nippon Airways) 5. Qantas Airways WASHINGTON The bill that senior House Republicans introduced this month to prohibit federal officials from pressuring social media companies to censor speech has some experts worried it could hamstring government efforts to combat online content widely perceived as harmful, including threats to public safety. Republicans say the bill is designed to protect free speech on social media, but language directing officials not to use their authority or influence to promote or advocate the removal of content is raising questions about how those terms would be defined and whether public officials might themselves be muzzled. Federal warnings about online Russian disinformation, health problems that result from online behavior, and public safety could, given the reach of federal officials, be interpreted as pressuring the platforms to remove that content, technology policy experts say. Its kind of a half-baked messaging bill more than it is something thats a carefully crafted piece of policy. There are so many ramifications of something thats this broadly overreaching, said Cheyenne Hunt, the Big Tech accountability advocate for the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen. James R. Comer, R-Ky., who leads the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, is the bill sponsor. He said in a statement that its meant to stop the Biden administration from bullying social media companies to censor certain views and news. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., are co-sponsors. The support of three committee leaders may improve the bills chances of House passage, but it isnt likely to see Senate action, never mind a presidential signature. Comers statement referred to White House pressure on social media companies to address what the administration considered misinformation and disinformation about COVID-19 vaccines. But legal experts said the bill language could be construed to prevent federal officials from even notifying social media companies about potentially harmful content. I dont know what the bill thinks advocating means, said Jennifer Granick, a surveillance and cybersecurity lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Unions Speech, Privacy and Technology Project. All kinds of law enforcement agencies contact these companies in order to flag things whether its posting peoples private information online, threats to public health, pornography where children can find it, voter suppression, you know, just all kinds of stuff." Its hard to imagine how the bill accomplishes what it appears to want to accomplish if it allows flagging but it doesnt allow encouragement," she said. "Its like, Well, Im just gonna flag it for you, but Im not going to say please take this down. That doesnt make sense. The bill would spell out exceptions for law enforcement activities directly related to preventing child pornography, human and drug trafficking and the leaking of classified national security information. But Hunt said those exceptions dont consider the entire universe of harms to children or harms to people online. We call it lawful but awful content, which is a really broad swath of things that nobody wants to see and many would argue should be illegal or is just as harmful, she said. Hunt said the bill could prevent agencies from communicating with online platforms about moderating Russian disinformation designed to inflame partisan divisions in the United States, livestreams of violent acts and content that harms teenagers mental health. Mental health issues came into focus in September 2021, when The Wall Street Journal reported on internal research at Facebook showing that teenagers, especially girls, blamed Instagram for their anxiety and depression. Facebook and Instagram are both part of Meta Platforms Inc. The report said researchers found the mental health issues were often in relation to bullying or body image that, in some cases, led to eating disorders. Lawmakers from both parties have since increasingly scrutinized how social media products impact children. This bill would make it so that government officials couldnt in any way even really talk about this kind of issue and ask social media companies to be in any way more thoughtful or responsible with how they amplify certain kinds of speech or not, Hunt said. Meta didnt respond to a query seeking comment. Twitter doesnt have a team to respond to reporters queries. A Republican aide for the Oversight and Accountability Committee said the measure would only prevent federal employees from pressuring social media companies to censor lawful, constitutional speech. The bill does not in any shape or fashion prevent social media companies from implementing their own community guidelines, the aide said. Further, the bill does not prevent federal law enforcement authorities from enforcing the law and working with social media companies on addressing posts that implicate criminal conduct. How to take a break from social media Be easy on yourself and ask for help about social media use Helpful exercise to remind you what you're missing by scrolling Use your phone's screen-time tracking feature and limit social media use Physically distance yourself from your phone and apps Benefits of taking a social media break Reevaluate what you want out of social media Two and a half hours. China Development Bank ups loan support for water conservancy projects Xinhua) 14:32, January 26, 2023 BEIJING, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- China Development Bank, one of the country's policy banks, issued 186.4 billion yuan (about 27.53 billion U.S. dollars) of loans in 2022 to shore up the country's development in water conservancy. The loans mainly supported China's major water conservancy projects, such as the irrigation system of the Dateng Gorge in south China and the comprehensive management of the Yongding River basin in north China, according to the bank. In the next stage, it will focus on key areas and weak links in the field of water conservancy and strengthen financing support to promote high-quality development in this field. More support will be offered to improve the capabilities of flood and drought prevention, optimize the allocation of water resources, and advance the intensive utilization and conservation of water, said the bank. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Hongyu) With a new congressional term kicking off, the agricultural lobby will fight to bring the Farm Workforce Modernization Act back for approval to alleviate the shortage of farmworkers across the country. The bill is now in limbo after Democrats lost control of the House of Representatives. Despite this, lawmakers could take up other measures, such as increasing farmworker minimum wage, that would help address the shortage and more important, improve labor conditions for these workers. Net farm income for last year across the United States is projected to be $160.5 billion, up from $141 billion in 2021. Though 10% of this income is from government support to help farmers recruit enough workers, this investment has done nothing to address the root causes of the farmworker shortage. About 2.5 million workers toil in U.S. farms each year. In the last two decades, farmworkers have lost more than $65 million in wage theft. Few standards exist to protect their wages. According to the 2019-2020 National Agricultural Workers Survey, at least 70% of farmworkers are foreign-born and 68% were born in Mexico and Central America. American farmers are once again speaking up about their inability to secure enough laborers for the harvest of hand-picked crops. Chronic labor shortages of farmworkers regularly lead to rising production costs, empty shelves and higher food prices. But theres an effective solution to prevent such shortages: paying farmworkers a higher wage. Recent research indicates that raising minimum wages improves the recruitment and retention of low-wage workers, including agricultural workers. Today, the federal minimum wage for agricultural workers is set at $7.25 per hour, lagging behind the 30 states and the District of Columbia that have a higher minimum wage and the 47 cities that have adopted minimum wages higher than their state minimum wage. Agricultural work is not just poorly paid, it is also dangerous, with a fatal injury rate four times higher than other private sector workers. Work schedules in this industry include early mornings, weekends, holidays and more than 40 hours per week with insufficient or unreliable pay. The hazards of farm labor include working outdoors, dying in extreme heat (which is increasing due to climate change), enduring inadequate and crowded living facilities and lacking access to adequate health care, which is the case, for example, for the half-million farmworkers based in California. This is why raising wages is only the first step for improving the working conditions of farmworkers. In addition to harsh working conditions, these workers are seldom allowed to claim overtime or have collective bargaining rights due to exemptions in the Fair Labor Standards Act and the National Labor Relations Act. The lack of basic labor rights leaves many farmworkers unprotected from retaliation should they attempt to form unions. Having equal access to collective bargaining in all states would offer farmworkers the opportunity to negotiate wages, hours and benefits, thus making agricultural employment more attractive to a diverse pool of workers. We need to advocate for federal changes to the National Labor Relations Act to offer all workers the right to union representation and support local living wage ordinances that mandate at least $15 per hour. While it may be too late to pass the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, it is never too late to begin imagining pieces of legislation that would truly help to raise the wages of all farmworkers. We can begin by supporting legislation that would extend federal overtime protections to agricultural workers. We could also ask our legislators to support the Raise the Wage Act, a bill introduced in the House of Representatives last year. If passed, this bill would gradually raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025, achieving a modest and adequate standard of living for all workers. And we could support the Fight for $15 and a Union, a decade-old labor rights movement. Though these are just modest solutions, we need to act soon because one thing is for sure: the continued exploitation of 2.5 million farmworkers is unacceptable, and we can do better. Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine (26 January 2023) Part I (see Part II) The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation. In Kupyansk direction, the Zapad Group of Forces inflicted a fire damage on concentration of manpower of 14th and 92nd mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) close to Sinkovka, Timkovka (Kharkov region), and Novoselovskoye (Lugansk Peoples Republic). More than 20 Ukrainian troops, 1 armored combat vehicle, 1 pickup truck, and 1 D-20 howitzer were eliminated. In Krasny Liman direction, units of the 25th Airborne and 95th Airborne Assault Brigades of the AFU close to Yampolovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic), as well as Serebryansky forest area, were hit by strikes of Operational-Tactical and Army Aviation of the Tsentr Group of Forces. The enemys losses during the day in this area amounted to up to 70 troops killed and wounded, two armoured fighting vehicles, and four US-made M-777 artillery systems. In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces took better ground and positions during the offensive. An artillery ammunition depot of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been destroyed near Konstantinovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). More than 40 Ukrainian servicemen, an infantry fighting vehicle, two Grad MLRS systems, a US-made M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery unit, two D-20 and Giatsint-B howitzers, and a US-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radiation station have been neutralised. In South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, continuing their offensive, inflicted fire on the enemy in the areas of Ugledar (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Pavlovka and Levadnoye (Zaporozhye region). Total enemy losses in this direction amounted to 60 Ukrainian servicemen, three armoured fighting vehicles, and two pick-up trucks. Moreover, two fuel storage facilities for military equipment and three ammunition depots belonging to the AFU were destroyed near Ugledar (Donetsk Peoples Republic) and Chervonoye and Kantserovka (Zaporozhye region). In Kherson direction, three D-20 howitzers, a Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, and two US-made AN/TPQ-37 and AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar stations were annihilated as part of counter-battery countermeasures. #MoD #Russia #Ukraine #report @mod_russia_en Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine (26 January 2023) Part II (see Part I) Also, four ammunition depots of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were hit in the areas of Dudchany, Tokarevka (Kherson region), and Chervonogrygovka, Dnepropetrovsk Region. Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Armed Forces grouping of troops (forces) engaged 83 artillery units at firing positions, as well as manpower, and military hardware in 119 areas. One radar of Ukrainian S-300 air defence system was destroyed near Ochakov (Nikolayev region). Fighter aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces has shot down one Su-25 aircraft of Ukrainian Air Force near Andreevka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Russian air defence facilities have shot down one Su-25 airplane of Ukrainian Air Force near Ugledar (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Also, eight Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were obliterated in the areas of Kreminna, Zhytlovka, Novokrasnyanka (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Nikolskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Novoprokopovka, and Dorozhnyanka of the Zaporozhye region. Seven Olkha, Uragan, and HIMARS multiple-launch rocket shells were intercepted near Kreminna (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Kuybyshevo, Valerianovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Novouspenovka (Zaporozhye region) and Chaplynka (Kherson region). In addition, a US-made HARM anti-radar missile was shot down near the village of Kostogryzovo (Kherson region). In total, 379 airplanes and 204 helicopters, 2,956 unmanned aerial vehicles, 402 anti-aircraft missile systems, 7,634 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 990 combat vehicles equipped with multiple-launch rocket systems, 3,921 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 8,180 pieces of special military hardware have been destroyed during the special military operation #MoD #Russia #Ukraine #report @mod_russia_en WtR Weather Alert .Warming temperatures this weekend will bring renewed snowmelt and streamflow rises, especially for snow covered terrain below about 7000 feet. Creeks that brought impacts this past week are likely to be problematic again and potentially reach higher levels, especially by late Sunday. ...FLOOD WATCH FOR SNOWMELT IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Flooding caused by snowmelt is possible. * WHERE...Portions of California and western Nevada, including the following areas, in California, Greater Lake Tahoe Area, Lassen-Eastern Plumas-Eastern Sierra Counties and Surprise Valley California. In western Nevada, Greater Lake Tahoe Area, Greater Reno-Carson City-Minden Area and Mineral and Southern Lyon Counties. * WHEN...From Saturday afternoon through Monday morning. * IMPACTS...Creeks and streams will be running high and fast. Low-water crossings may be flooded. Minor mainstem flooding along the Susan River, Forks of the Carson River, and the East Walker River below Bridgeport Reservoir cannot be ruled out. Anyone participating in outdoor recreation this weekend should use caution as water will be running high, fast, and potentially out of banks for some creeks and streams. The water will be extremely cold as well, quickly causing shock. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. && The Norwegian authority Norges Vassdrags- og Energidirektorat (NVE) have rejected an appeal to overturn SeaTwirls S2x concession in Norway. The decision can therefore no longer be appealed and SeaTwirl can now progress with the planning and installation of the S2x prototype. SeaTwirl was first awarded the concession together with Marin Energi Testsenter late March 2022. As indicated in the prospectus for the recent rights issue, an appeal was filed during the customary preparation period. That has now been rejected and the decision from 2022 has been confirmed by NVE and the Ministry of Oil and Energy. The location of the concession is in Boknafjorden, northeast of Lauplandsholmen, approximately 700 metres from the coast. The application pertains to the installation of a 1-MW S2x unit, a vertical-axis turbine with mooring system as well as cables for power transmission. S2x has a height of 55 metres above sea level, a depth of 80 metres under the surface and a turbine with a diameter of 50 metres. It is planned that S2x will be connected to an existing onshore transformer substation, and it has been confirmed that there is sufficient capacity in the transformer substation to handle the power generated. SeaTwirl has already reported that Haugaland Kraft will purchase the electricity produced. A long-awaited decision in a process that is always difficult to predict. The appeals process has created uncertainty around the schedule for S2x which is a capital-intensive project with long lead times. Our main focus is the commercialization of large turbines, SX, in floating wind farms. The outcome provides freedom to choose and plan the installation of S2x in the way that best supports that goal, said CEO Peter Laurits. For more information on offshore wind farms worldwide, click here . OX2 announced it has started the development of a new offshore wind farm called Tyrsky in Finland's economic zone in the Gulf of Pohjan. The area is located southwest of Vaasa in the open sea, about 30 kilometers northwest of Kaskis. "A maximum of around one hundred wind turbines would be built in the area. The annual production amount of energy should be around 6 TWh", says Janne Lamberg , Business Director of OX2 Offshore Wind Power. The project will be taken forward by starting large-scale studies and the environmental impact assessment procedure (EIA). Lamberg estimates that these will start next spring. "Offshore wind power plays a key role in Finland's work against climate change and electrification. Producing green hydrogen, electrifying industrial processes and large data center projects require a huge amount of renewable electricity production. In our view, offshore wind power is the most competitive way to produce renewable electricity at the end of this decade," said Lamberg. OX2 received a research permit for its Tyrsky project from the Government last year. According to Lamberg, the approval phase will last about 3-4 years and the offshore wind farm could produce electricity at by the turn of the next decade. "OX2 will investigate this in studies on the coordination of wind power with other forms of use in the sea area, as well as the alignment of electricity transmission cables at sea and on land," Lamberg said . OX2 also has several offshore wind power projects in the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic Sea on both the Finnish and Swedish sides. This includes the Finnish Halla and Laine projects which are slightly larger than Tyrsky, are located in the Peramere. In total, the two would have a maximum of 310 wind turbines, with a combined annual electricity production of approximately 23 terawatt hours. At the end of last year, the company received the opinions of the local ELY centers about the EIA programs of both projects. For more information on OX2's offshore wind farm portfolio, click here . 'No intention' to tear down the former funeral home. How concerns over a house are pushing Moorestown toward a historic preservation law. Leer en espanol Catalina Martinez is the regional director of the Colombia-based Center for Reproductive Rights, a key piece of the alliance in El Salvador that has helped women sentenced to up to 50 years in prison for obstetric emergencies recover their liberty. The coalition has requested pardons, sentencing reviews, and commutations for 181 women who, from 2000 to 2019, were charged with aggravated homicide. Seventy of them, as of December, have been freed. Martinez asserts that, while international pressure has not propelled large-scale changes for abortion laws in El Salvador, the release of these women indicates palpable, technical advances for sexual and reproductive rights. She thinks theres room for optimism. Twenty-four years have passed since El Salvador enacted an absolute abortion ban, followed by a constitutional codification of the right to life from the moment of conception. Given the states refusal to adapt to international standards, advocates sued before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on behalf of Manuela, a woman sentenced to 30 years in 2008 for aggravated homicide. She died in prison from an undiagnosed illness that had also factored into her unborn babys death. In November 2021, the Court recognized her innocence and condemned El Salvador of torture. This year, El Salvador will face a similar trial for Beatriz, who in 2013 was prevented from seeking an abortion despite the recommendations of her doctors and protective measures from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Her case, filed at the Inter-American Court in January 2022, could be seismic, perhaps culminating in an order to change the laws in one of the countries with the most severe abortion bans in the world. Every human rights organization to visit El Salvador has concluded that the jailing of women for obstetric emergencies is torture. But why urge the country to ease its abortion ban if it appears to have no effect? There have been changes, albeit small ones. El Salvadors grave problem of its absolute prohibition of abortion, in addition to creating external pressure on the country, has caused civil society and feminists to organize themselves and position the topic in the public debate. The conversations [about abortion] in 2000 are not the same as those taking place now. Today there is much more openness and awareness. What evidence is there of those changes? In the wake of the [Inter-American] Courts decision, there has been a systematic release of similarly imprisoned women, affecting the lives of women who were unjustly criminalized. But while they did recover their liberty, most of these women were not declared innocent. We needed to secure the womens liberty, because we didnt know how much longer they would have been held. Many have been there for over ten years, and thats why we began seeking commutations, knowing that its not the ideal. Theyre being told, Youve served enough time, but it was the only effective way to get them out of prison. Thats also why we filed cases in international court. One of them, on behalf of eight women, is under review by the Inter-American Commission and will soon pass to the Court. We want the Court to acknowledge that these and many women were structurally and systematically persecuted and recommend that El Salvador offer collective reparations to those who suffered these same circumstances. Given the states inaction, it appears that the rulings of the Inter-American Court are what will change things in El Salvador. International pressure has contributed to changes for women in El Salvador, as best exemplified by the Inter-American Courts Manuela ruling. Afterward, the state committed to creating protocols to tend to obstetric emergencies and regulate doctor-patient privilege. They are evidently not perfect, but they show how were advancing little by little. The Court ordered the state to acknowledge its responsibility in Manuelas death as well as her innocence. Six months were allotted to do so, but that was over a year ago, and it has yet to happen. Yes, things have been slow, but there have been other important advances. First is that the Manuela ruling has permitted government offices to remind the courts that the cases of women criminalized for obstetric emergencies are framed by systematic violence. And that has factored into the release of some eight women following the ruling. Now, El Salvadors grave debt to the Manuela case is to make individual reparations to the family and, of course, acknowledge the states responsibility. It would be a political message to the state and to society that this was wrong, and that we are going to improve. The protocols are an important step, but 24 years have passed without legal reforms. There are things that we want to improve and that we are working on with the Feminist Collective, but the protocols show a will to move forward. Why do you think it has taken so long? El Salvador has its peculiarities, but its not that other states have moved quickly or by government initiative. In Argentina, it was an Inter-American Court ruling and, later, the feminist movements victory in Congress. In Colombia, we cant even try to go to Congress because we know that we would have no chance there, so we explored the option of the Court. Were in a very restrictive context throughout the region where advances are owed to feminists framing of abortion as a human rights issue. That said, in El Salvador, and particularly in Central America, the church has propelled a particularly denialist discourse surrounding reproductive rights, and we cant deny that it has influenced the social imaginary that abortion is bad. Precisely because of that context, its striking that you say that there are institutions applying the Inter-American Courts orders. We have allies within the government and at the U.N. High Commission for Human Rights who are closely accompanying these cases. How do you build those relationships with a government that has made clear that abortion is, at the most, the last on its list of priorities? Whether they like it or not, the Manuela ruling orders them to open a line of communication. The state has done so, and while its not the best nor the most fluid, it exists. Through which institutions has that channel been opened? The Ministry of Security and Justice, Ministry of Foreign Relations, and mission of El Salvador to the OAS; all of these organizations who work in the realm of international justice. But on the other hand, in every government, be it right-wing, left-wing, or whatever the case, there are always technicians who want things to move forward. While they dont have political power, they are pushing for change from the inside. People are always hoping for grand commitments from public figures, but when you work on the implementation of international sentences or on the creation of new public policy, those technical allies help make many things happen. 2023 is the year before national elections in El Salvador, where its more popular to oppose the broad concept of abortion than an absolute ban. How convinced are you that the gains made thus far wont become bogged down? Were in a pre-election context, but abortion will find its way onto the agenda. The Beatriz case will go before the Inter-American Court. The country will be under review by the Court and will have a second ruling, possibly a condemnation, next year. The ruling will be decisive because, as opposed to that of Manuela, the Beatriz case is about the lack of access to abortion. It will require the court to take a stance on abortion. Second, the Court will have to recommend that El Salvador liberalize its abortion law. That did not happen in the Manuela case. But just as the state has not acknowledged its responsibility in the Manuela case, a ruling in favor of Beatriz does not automatically reform the Penal Code. If nobody compels them, why would they do it? Yes, they are required to do so. Its just that the practical effects of that obligation are hard to see, because if they dont do it there will be no economic or other punishment to pressure the state to quickly comply. But that doesnt eliminate the obligation. It will remain for years until the state does so, and the Court will issue follow-up resolutions or for non-compliance. The Salvadoran governments most popular measure the state of exception now reaching its tenth month is tied to systematic human rights abuses. Is it realistic to think that this same government will reaffirm rights that were curbed more than 20 years ago? Without a doubt, this is a government that restricts individual liberties, including sexual and reproductive rights. But there are so many advances in the acknowledgement of rights around the world that El Salvador will be left completely in the past. A time will come when we will achieve the changes we have long been fighting for. I remain optimistic. Is it hard to be optimistic when El Salvador is the fantasy of conservative groups and the horror story of progressive countries on these issues? We cant lose our optimism. As we continue building the public debate, teaching, and bringing more people into the struggle, we will contribute more to the social decriminalization of abortion. More and more people are talking about this and realizing the injustice of it, and I think that its very important that El Salvador end its horror story. Aaron Gonzales and Antonio Tony Gonzales never imagined they would get a chance to play in the Shark Tank. At 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, the Pojoaque High School alums will take their product called Slick Barrier to the tank, which airs on ABC. The long-running series features a panel of investors called sharks, who decide whether to invest as entrepreneurs make business presentations on their company or product. A few years ago, we had thought about going on the show, but we were pretty new and had to figure things out, Tony Gonzales says. I think weve reached a point that we were confident enough and we decided to get more national attention. Getting the university studies to help our product really helped us prove that our product can be used on pests. The Gonzales duo, who are not related, are joined by another Pojoaque alum, Christian Baca, who became part of the team in 2018. Slick Barrier was born out of a personal need for a solution to scorpion infestations in Aaron Gonzales Arizona home, which was further intensified by Antonio Gonzales son almost dying from a scorpion sting. This led to the development of the Slick Barrier concept, a clear coating applied to the exterior base of homes to create a glass-like surface that makes it impossible for scorpions and other crawling pests to climb and keeps them out of homes. Aaron Gonzales says about 10 years ago, he and his wife purchased a house in Arizona that is the perfect home for them. Though we found out that we were infested with scorpions, he says. And we never dealt with them before. Here we were in this perfect home and nobody had a solution for us. I thought if I could put a smooth coating around my home, the scorpions wouldnt be able to get into the house. Tony Gonzales is a practicing attorney in Arizona and the pair grew up together. Tony had just moved to Chandler from Flagstaff and I wanted to get his feedback, Aaron Gonzales says. Then Tonys son got stung by a scorpion and went to the hospital. This is when Tony Gonzales started thinking about Aaron Gonzales idea for Slick Barrier. As my son was in the hospital, I called Aaron and told him I was on board for the project, he says. In 2018, Baca joined the team as a partner bringing his experience as a former firefighter in Las Vegas, New Mexico, to the table. With their hard work and dedication, the team began marketing their patented product to local pest control businesses and eventually caught the attention of the Shark Tank producers. After months of preparation, the trio of entrepreneurs will be appearing on the show to pitch their product to the sharks. The response to their product so far has been overwhelmingly positive and they credit much of their success to the support from their hometown communities of Pojoaque and Espanola. The pair called their time on Shark Tank intense. Both said they were prepared for the situation. Its definitely a long process to get there because we put in years of work, Aaron Gonzales says. The sharks are very competitive with each other. They try to figure out if youre a good company to invest in and thats pretty scary. ON TV Three Pojoaque alums take their business, Slick Barrier, into the Shark Tank at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, on ABC. Ten years. This is the time its taken Aracely Chapa to complete her latest project. On Saturday, Jan. 28, Acequias: The Legacy Lives On, will premiere at the National Hispanic Cultural Center. Chapa began the research in 2013, when she received funding from the state Legislature for a film on acequias. This happened at a time when UNM was beginning to reach several anniversary milestones so I put the project aside to produce films commemorating UNMs history, beginning with Zimmerman@75, then UNM@125 followed by Popejoy@50, she says. I finished producing those films in 2015, and soon after resumed the research process for the acequia film. Chapa is the manager of Multimedia Services at the University of New Mexico Center for Regional Studies. Chapa knew taking on the world of acequias would be a challenge because it had to be done right. Acequias are gravity-fed irrigation ditches that were hand dug centuries ago and still exist today. She says there were a million different directions to go with the production, though she decided that the acequia story is the story of New Mexico history. When I first learned about them when I moved to New Mexico back in 1997, I was taken aback by their beauty and functionality, Chapa says. I honestly could not believe that this was a network of over 700 acequias in New Mexico. I got the idea right away that I wanted to do a film on them at some point. Their existence seemed to me like a storybook fairy tale, but when I learned about the challenges they were facing, the idea of doing a film on acequias left my head and traveled down to my heart. Thats when I knew I was committed I knew I wanted to tell their story and tell it within a historical context. Chapa and her team decided to weave the subject into a beautiful tapestry which touches her soul. The acequia subject had all the colors of the rainbow and more, she says. I literally could have given this documentary the Ken Burns 5-part series treatment. The film, Acequias: The Legacy Lives On has historical context, stunning visuals, passionate speakers, past and future challenges, climate change, water laws, the commodification of water, call to action and much more, Chapa continues. I truly believe we all need to reflect a little on how we can all participate in protecting New Mexicos most precious and unique gift. Some say climate change and development pressures make their extinction inevitable, others believe theres still time to protect them for future generations, she says. Im getting a little emotional just thinking about how blessed I am to have had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people who showed me the beauty of the land and who allowed me to stand in their acequias that to me are the true heroes of the film. Its safe to say that New Mexicos beautiful lush valleys and cultural traditions emerged from the acequias. With the film set to premiere at the NHCC, Chapa does have a lot of hopes and takeaway for the film. I hope people will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for New Mexicos acequias, she says. The challenges they face, including climate change, are enormous. Advocates work tirelessly to affect policy changes that will protect them for future generations, but they shouldnt be working alone, farmers shouldnt be working alone and struggling so hard to hold on to what they have. We all want farmers markets with locally grown fruits and vegetables. We all want beautiful landscapes. We should all try to buy locally grown food when we can and advocate for the protection of our iconic acequias. And I think showing them in a new light may deepen our understanding. Chapa says acequias are unique to New Mexico, as no other state in the country has what we have. We tend to take things for granted that weve seen all our lives, but the acequia system, should not be one of those things, she says. Acequias may be 300 to 400 years old but theyre not museum pieces, they serve a real purpose. They are symbols of sustainability. SEND ME YOUR TIPS: If you know of a movie filming in the state, or are curious about one, email film@ABQjournal.com. Follow me on Twitter @agomezART. Turtle Mountain Brewing Co. has been a Rio Rancho gem for more than two decades. Owner Nico Ortiz decided to expand the brand and opened Turtle Mountain North on the opposite side of the city in the underserved Enchanted Hills neighborhood. The taproom is celebrating its first year with a feast called Gala con Vara, featuring wine and spirits from Vara Winery & Distillery and Taylor Garrett. The food pairing menu, created by Turtle Mountain Norths bar chef Andrew Szeman and chef Chris Blanshine, consists of six courses. Chef Chris Blanshine and I started sitting down and kind of pitching food ideas and drink ideas, Szeman said. So it slowly kind of morphed over us bouncing ideas back and forth at each other. And one of the focus cocktails has been something that Ive been mulling over my head for like seven, eight years when Empress Gin came out. Its a gin infused with butterfly pea tea leaves and it looks really dark purple, almost black. And when you add acid to it, it turns a really royal purple, almost pink. I wanted to do a cocktail where the spirit is inside of a hollow ice sphere with the acid mixer on the outside and you break it with a hammer and it changes colors and changes the cocktail. Thats called The Metamorphosis. Each of the courses on the menu are themed with different names such as The Gatherer, The Explorer, The Pirate, The Alchemist, The Hunter and The Archivist. My favorite pairing is going to be The Hunter its duck breast, seared mushroom risotto, cherry garnacha reduction and honey dust, Szeman said. And thats going to be in a dehydrated carrot ducks nest that (Blanshine) is making. And then were pairing that with the Garnacha from Vara and I think thats going to be an absolutely delicious pairing. The first course consists of Oysters Chino named in honor of a former chef. Chino was a chef that used to work with us and he passed away this year, Szeman explained. This is one of his dishes that he came up with. Its going to be Spanish chorizo, manchego smoked under glass, and were doing the smoking with hickory. We drop that at the table, pull the glass off, and were going to pour a bacon Boulevardier into the same glass table side. The Pirate, which is the third course, was inspired by Blanshines preferred drink. The cocktail will be paired with a pork belly confit with braised Swiss chard, white bean puree and molasses demi-glace. One of his favorite cocktails is a Dark and Stormy, Szeman said. So were doing a Dark and Shiny because he goes by (the nickname) Shine. Were gonna use the Anejo rum and the Blanco rum from Vara, ginger beer and lime. (Its) refreshing, delicious, kind of geeky, really fun. The libation for The Archivist course stems from a family tradition. The course will feature barley pudding made with cranberry golden raisins, apple compote and brandied caramel. Im doing the Spanish Brandy Solero Reserva from Vara, Szeman said. Im just doing warm brandy. That brandy is so delicious and special that I believe it doesnt really need anything to accentuate it. I dont need to make a cocktail and a very Old World tradition is warm brandy after dinner. Im part Hungarian. So a big thing that my family does is we have warm brandy after dinner. Celebrating the taprooms first year of operation is a proud accomplishment for Ortiz and his team. It was a long time planning, Ortiz said. We started the planning for this in 2020 right in the middle of or in the early stages of COVID Enchanted Hills, it was a wasteland, a culinary wasteland, and we came in and brought some light to it. Were sort of a little oasis, well a big oasis in Enchanted Hills, and theyre making big plans. The landlord is putting in a new container development just to the north and west of us, which definitely should spur some activity. North Rio Rancho is definitely starting to finally get the development that it needs. Ortiz has big plans for the taproom in 2023. The first year we mainly concentrated on operations but (in) 2023, hopefully well get the interior decorations up on the wall, well get the patio finished, well finish out the space and make it realize its full potential, Ortiz said. We have yet to realize the full potential of what weve got here. David Berkeley and Ben Parker decided to look back in time for their project Son of Town Hall. To be exact, the duo are taking it back to the early 1900s and taking on two personas George Ulysses Brown and Josiah Chester Jones. Weve been around for 80 years and travel around the world performing, Berkeley says. The two of us met in England around the turn of the century in a bar fight over a woman. Son of Town Hall will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Old San Ysidro Church in Corrales. The show is an immersive experience with music and theater. We tell our story and were dressed in old time clothes, Berkeley says. The music is mostly like Simon & Garfunkel. Berkeley describes his on-stage character, Josiah, as the son of a former Confederate general and born outside of Lexington, Kentucky. Josiah was disowned by his family after denouncing the Southern cause. He was a stowaway on a merchant vessel bound for England and found his voice singing himself to sleep to ward off seasickness and keep the rats away. The streets of London were not kind to Josiah, and it wasnt until he met George that his fate changed forever, though not exclusively for the better. Meanwhile the England-based Parker portrays George Ulysses Brown, who hails from the south of England. At 16, he ran away from the family butcher business and his abusive father, and never looked back. George spent the better part of the next decade in and out of prisons and public houses. The only steady labor he managed to hold was as a singing waiter in the West End. He eventually met Josiah at the Old Star and the two set out for the New Land, new livelihoods and new adventures. People have laughed at our story, Berkeley says. When you travel with someone and spend so much time on the open seas, you get to know someone. These are the stories that weve experiences. Were busy saving each other through music and theater. Berkeley says the show is in two acts, which last about 35 minutes a piece. We seek out these spots to play that help add to what were doing, he says. These old desert places. The San Ysidro Church gives us a chance to time travel. Our joke is that no one will have us back because were often chased out of town after a show. Were only doing one show in New Mexico before we head into the studio to record our second album. SANTA FE In the early stages of this years 60-day legislative session, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and top Democratic and Republican legislators are calling for a political truce of sorts to pursue a range of solutions to New Mexicos violent crime problem. But finding common ground on hot-button proposals dealing with guns, criminal penalties and keeping certain defendants behind bars until trial could prove tricky as lawmakers wade deeper into the session and deeper into the bills themselves. During a Wednesday news conference that featured Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina and Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, Lujan Grisham said she would push for legislation enacting stiffer criminal penalties for organized retail crime, for instance, while also backing a measure to ban the purchase and delivery of different types of semi-automatic firearms. The Democratic governor said she was profoundly affected by recent mass shootings in California, adding that thoughts and prayers are not an action plan. Our first responders and police officers are not safe in this climate, straight up, Lujan Grisham said. New Mexicos violent crime rate has tracked above both the national average and the rates of neighboring states for at least the last decade, with Albuquerque setting a record-high for homicides in each of the last two years including 121 homicides last year. But a legislative report released last year found low arrest, prosecution and conviction rates may have contributed more to Bernalillo Countys crime problem than releasing defendants awaiting trial. Meanwhile, bills seeking to lower the crime rate have generated heated partisan debate in recent years, with majority Democrats blocking many Republican-backed proposals dealing with tougher criminal penalties and GOP lawmakers staunchly opposing bills to expand background check requirements for firearm sales and allow guns to be seized from individuals deemed to pose a threat to themselves or others. House Minority Leader Ryan Lane, R-Aztec, was one of three House Republicans who attended Wednesdays news conference at the Governors Office, and said many New Mexicans are tired of political posturing. He expressed a willingness to work with the governor on bills dealing with retail crime, pretrial detention and keeping guns out of felons hands, but said Republicans would likely oppose other gun-related legislation. We believe strongly in the Second Amendment, so some of those are going to be challenging for us, Lane said in an interview after Wednesdays news conference. Pretrial detention The governor last year signed a bill increasing various criminal penalties, but her push to change New Mexicos pretrial detention rules to make it easier to hold defendants accused of certain violent crimes until trial encountered opposition at the Roundhouse including among members of her own party and ultimately stalled. Several bills dealing with pretrial detention have already been filed during this years session. Bregman threw his support behind a bill proposed by Sen. Linda Lopez and Rep. Meredith Dixon, both Albuquerque Democrats, that would shift the burden in pretrial detention hearings from prosecutors to defense attorneys in certain types of cases, including murder and sexual abuse of children. He also cited internal data from the 2nd Judicial District Attorneys Office showing that about 21% of the roughly 2,845 defendants released after pretrial detention motions were denied under the current system since 2017 were charged with new offenses while their original case was still pending. What we need to is not point the finger at judges, but fix the process, Bregman said. But some legislators remain skeptical. Sen. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, the influential chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has said during this years session he believes the current system is largely working as intended under a 2016 bail reform constitutional amendment, describing a presumption of guilt as a unconstitutional shortcut. Cervantes also attended Wednesdays news conference and said not all of New Mexico is beset by crime concerns, citing Sunland Park as one of the states safest communities. We operate under the same laws as the rest of the state, and we have entirely different outcomes, he said. In addition, he said some existing state laws should be examined before legislators pass new laws, but said he planned to work on a governor-backed bill allowing victims of gun violence to file civil lawsuits against gun manufacturers. Cities struggling Albuquerque has often been the face of New Mexicos high violent crime rate, as the city had about half of the states violent crime in 2022 but just a quarter or so of its total population, according to legislative data. But the citys police chief said Wednesday other cities in the state are also struggling with the issue, including his hometown of Taos. Medina also said lawmakers should balance the need for expanded drug abuse and mental health treatment programs with tougher criminal penalties for certain types of offenders. This is a matter of getting tough on the right people, he said. For her part, the governor said previous communication breakdowns between different law enforcement agencies in Bernalillo County hampered efforts to crack down on crime. But Lujan Grisham expressed optimism those issues have been resolved with a new leadership team that includes new Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen. She also vowed to continue focusing on ways to reduce crime as she enters her second term as governor. It wont always be easy and it wont always be pretty, but were going to work together until we solve these issues, Lujan Grisham said. At a glance Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams public safety agenda for this years 60-day legislative session will likely encounter different allies and foes, depending on the proposal. Here are some of the governors top priorities: Attorneys traded opening statements this week in the first-degree murder trial of a man accused of fatally shooting a stranger in 2019 as the two were driving on Interstate 40 near the Big I. Donald Duquette fired gunshots in self defense after the other driver repeatedly tried to ram his Ford Ranger into Duquettes vehicle, defense attorney Raymond Maestas told jurors Tuesday. Duquette, 54, faces a charge of first-degree murder and shooting at or from a motor vehicle in the shooting death of Jose Ruben Diaz, 45, who was found slumped over the wheel of his work truck on the southbound off-ramp at Interstate 25. Jose Diaz drove towards Mr. Duquettes truck aggressively and erratically multiple times, Maestas told jurors. Mr. Duquette feared Mr. Diaz and his truck. The confrontation continued for less than 60 seconds as the two men drove east on I-40 from 12th Street and the I-25 exit at speeds up to 90 mph, Maestas said. When (Duquette) faced a truck being used as a weapon, he had a right to defend himself, Maestas told jurors. Diaz had been gambling at Route 66 Casino that night and had consumed cocaine and alcohol, Maestas said. Duquette had used methamphetamine from a couple of days earlier, he said. Deputy District Attorney Lawrence Hansen said in opening statements that Diaz was unarmed at the time he was shot once in the head. No gun or spent cartridges were found in Diazs truck, he said. When Duquettes vehicle was searched, police found five spent bullet cartridges and a single bullet lodged in the passenger door, just below the passenger window, he said. All the spent cartridges the bullet lodged in the passenger door, and a single bullet found in Diazs brain were fired from the same weapon. Two firearms were found in Duquettes vehicle, neither of which were the weapon used in Diazs killing, Hansen said. According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, Duquette showed up at a New Mexico State Police headquarters in tears about 18 hours after Diazs body was found. Duquette allegedly told officers he shot Diaz apparently during a drug-fueled delusion, believing Diaz was going to kidnap his friend and sell her for heroin, the complaint said. The trial is scheduled to continue through Friday. SANTA FE This years legislative session could bring a dose of sunshine to lobbying inside the Roundhouse. And it could curtail public scrutiny of applicants to serve as school superintendents, county managers or other high-level government positions. The ideas for more government transparency and for less are among the hundreds of bills introduced in the first eight days of the 2023 legislative session. The push for more secrecy in the hiring process for top government jobs gained momentum Wednesday as it cleared its first committee on a 7-2 vote and moved forward in the Senate. By contrast, the proposals to shed more light on lobbying in the Capitol are just getting started. They were introduced Wednesday and are awaiting their first committee hearings. The proposal to limit disclosure of applicants, Senate Bill 63, would create a new exemption in the state Inspection of Public Records Act, allowing governments to withhold the names of all but three finalists for an appointed executive position. Democratic Sen. Bill Tallman of Albuquerque a retired city manager sponsoring the bill said it would broaden the pool of applicants for high-level jobs because some candidates wouldnt want their names disclosed. He dismissed objections it would allow cronyism. If the press are doing their job, Tallman said, they can ferret out this information. Representatives of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, Albuquerque Journal and New Mexico Press Association testified against the bill. They said the public shouldnt have to rely on the word of public officials that theyve selected the best finalists for a high-level position. Secrecy is not necessary to get excellent candidates, Melanie Majors, executive director of the Foundation for Open Government, told lawmakers. Tallmans measure now heads to the Senate Judiciary Committee, potentially its last stop before reaching the full Senate. A similar proposal was blocked in the 2021 session. Lobbying disclosures Lawmakers are also weighing additional transparency. A $6.4 million supplemental spending bill moving forward in the Senate, for example, contains a provision requiring the publication of which lawmaker sponsored each appropriation in the bill. For years, legislators didnt disclose how they allocated some of their discretionary spending, but theyve moved toward more transparency in recent years. A pair of bipartisan proposals in the Senate aim to better disclose the work of lobbyists in the Capitol. Paid lobbyists are incredibly influential in New Mexico legislative sessions, sometimes serving in a role akin to unofficial staff to lawmakers. They help vet bills and amendments and, of course, represent the interests of their employers. The bipartisan legislation introduced Wednesday would require lobbyists to disclose their compensation and what positions theyre taking on bills. Really, what were asking for is just to shed light on all the interests and players involved in shaping the legislative process, so that theyre not concealed from public view, Sen. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, told the Journal. Sen. Mark Moores, R-Albuquerque, said he is hopeful lawmakers will have an increased appetite for transparency this session. Our generation over the last decade has been more open to trying to reform the legislative process in a bipartisan manner, Moores said. Senate Bill 217 sponsored by Steinborn and Sen. Gregg Schmedes, R-Tijeras would require lobbyists to report their compensation from each employer. Senate Bill 218 sponsored by Steinborn and Moores would require lobbyists to report what bills theyre lobbying on and what positions theyve taken on them. A Twitter List by ABQJournal DEMING The city of Demings municipal offices were abruptly closed to the public Wednesday morning in response to threats against city staff after shockingly high utility bills arrived for approximately 6,000 customers who purchase natural gas through the city. Deming police chief Clint Hogan announced that an unspecified number of telephonic threats targeted employees at approximately 10:42 a.m. and that he recommended placing the municipal building, which includes municipal court and the Deming Fire Department, on lockdown. City Hall will remain on lockdown until the investigation is complete and we are satisfied there is no longer a threat, Hogan stated in a news release. He declined to provide further details, including the number of threats that were logged, citing the ongoing investigation. The incident came as the city scrambled with a response to a spike in the cost of natural gas it purchases from the San Juan Basin straddling northern New Mexico and Colorado. Although city officials had warned at a Jan. 10 town hall that the next round of bills would be outrageous after per-unit prices soared past $3, residents and businesses reacted with shock after being billed hundreds or even thousands of dollars. While city bills include charges for municipal water, sewer and trash service, gas was the main culprit behind winter bills higher than any in recent memory. Oly Ortiz, owner of the La Fonda Restaurant, said the bill for her business topped $4,000, and she counted herself lucky that the establishment had recently been closed for a few days. As she called around to other restaurants near downtown she learned most had received $5,000 statements and were frantic about how to stay afloat through winter. Ortiz said she had already been considering painful cuts, including reduced staffing, at the restaurant. I have not raised my prices in over a year, and everything keeps going up, she said. Im paying $90 for one case of eggs. We are struggling; we are really, really struggling. Michael Urbina, a married father of two, received a bill for $959.28, of which $906 was for gas. Last January, he paid $160. This bill is more than my rent, and now I cant even turn my heat on to keep my kids warm, he said. And now we cant even get the (meter) readings because they closed the office. Deming city government to pay 65 percent of utility bills The city announced that offices would stay closed until Monday morning, as well as an emergency relief program under which the city will eat 65 percent of those bills. Reporting that rates were currently $3.72 for residential and $3.73 for commercial service, the city said it would absorb $2.42 per unit using $1.5 million from the citys gas utility fund. By the afternoon, customers were receiving letters advising them of revised balances due. Since the notification of an increase (in) gas prices, staff has been working endlessly to mitigate a solution, including negotiating a fixed rate for a 12-month term, Mayor Benny Jasso stated in a news release. As a result, the Natural Gas Relief program was presented to the finance committee and was well received with a unanimous vote of approval. In December, the city announced a $20 rebate for most customers after gas prices jumped 73 percent over a month; but by the time it was enacted it no longer made much of a dent in most customers bills: Prices had made an even greater month-to-month jump, from $1.30 to $3.30 per unit, as reported by City Administrator Aaron Sera during the Jan. 10 town hall. That is damaging, Sera remarked during the town hall, where he warned residents about the next billing cycle. If we keep doing that month after month, Im afraid people are going to die. On that date, Sera said the city was negotiating a fixed-price rate with its supplier, Symmetry Energy Solutions, in hope of lowering costs in time for March bills. At a Jan. 17 city council meeting, Sera said the company had until Jan. 31 to sign and was hopeful it would. City spokesperson Mandi Sanders said Wednesday that the city was mulling further action but did not offer details, saying more would be presented at a public town hall scheduled for Feb. 15. Hogan did not confirm whether the threats that led to city halls closure were connected to outcry over utility bills. In the meantime, the city said its offices remain closed the rest of this week and the utility department would receive payments online or by mail, but not in person at the municipal building. The drive-thru windows where many residents pay their utility bills would remain closed until Monday. A former high-ranking official with the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department who led a unit that examined questionable refunds was sentenced to nearly eight years in prison for his own scheme to steal tax money. George Martinez, 46, was handed down the sentence in federal court in Albuquerque on Wednesday. He pleaded guilty to more than 90 counts of wire fraud, money laundering and identity theft for shifting improper tax refunds into his own accounts. He was taken into custody after the hearing to begin a 94-month sentence, followed by three years of supervised release. Martinez, a former unit supervisor and bureau chief of the Questionable Refund Unit, admitted in court documents to funneling around $690,000 in tax dollars to different bank accounts he controlled. Attorneys for Martinez could not be reached for comment Wednesday. State tax and revenue officials said previously that the department launched an internal investigation into Martinez in 2018 and the case was then referred to the FBI. Martinez left the department that year and was arrested in March 2021. The services that the people of New Mexico deserve are funded by that system of tax collection, Alex Uballez, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico, said at a Wednesday news conference, and so we will aggressively protect your tax dollars from fraud, especially when driven by the greed of a corrupt government official. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Pena, one of the prosecutors on the case, said Martinezs position within the department allowed him to stay under the radar for the better part of a decade. Prosecutors said the fraud took place between 2009 and 2018. He was very familiar with the types of refunds that would trigger a red flag by the automated software that would do audits, Pena said. And it was eventually after many years of doing the conduct that there was an internal review that reviewed those safeguards and found his activity. Martinez wrote in his admission of facts that he changed taxpayer information such as their Social Security numbers, bank account numbers and withholding amounts and moved the tax returns and refunds into his accounts. Prosecutors said Martinez used the Social Security numbers of 11 victims, including seven people who were dead and one with dementia. Martinezs mother and twin brother were also victims in the scheme, according to court documents. U.S. attorneys said it is believed he stole about $1.2 million from the state. He will be ordered to pay more than $1.2 million in restitution to the state of New Mexico, as well as a nearly $690,000 judgment, Pena said. He has little to show for his crimes, prosecutors said, as much of the money was spent gambling at local casinos. Defendants actions have harmed the community of New Mexico. He rose to a position of trust in relation to the public coffers of the State of New Mexico, Pena wrote in a sentencing memorandum. He abused that trust and stole from every citizen whose money went into those coffers. He spent the money largely at casinos. He has little to show for living a life subsidized by fraud. Pena said the Taxation and Revenue Department has made changes to prevent similar schemes in the future. The safeguards did improve, and thats how he was eventually tripped up, he said. So, his patterns have been understood. The exact methods by which he was assigning refunds to himself are now well known. And they know what to look for. U.S. District Judge Kea W. Riggs presided over the case. More stories from this author: Copyright 2023 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE This years legislative session could bring a dose of sunshine to lobbying inside the Roundhouse. And it could curtail public scrutiny of applicants to serve as school superintendents, county managers or other high-level government positions. The ideas for more government transparency and for less are among the hundreds of bills introduced in the first eight days of the 2023 legislative session. The push for more secrecy in the hiring process for top government jobs gained momentum Wednesday as it cleared its first committee on a 7-2 vote and moved forward in the Senate. By contrast, the proposals to shed more light on lobbying in the Capitol are just getting started. They were introduced Wednesday and are awaiting their first committee hearings. The proposal to limit disclosure of applicants, Senate Bill 63, would create a new exemption in the state Inspection of Public Records Act, allowing governments to withhold the names of all but three finalists for an appointed executive position. Democratic Sen. Bill Tallman of Albuquerque a retired city manager sponsoring the bill said it would broaden the pool of applicants for high-level jobs because some candidates wouldnt want their names disclosed. He dismissed objections it would allow cronyism. If the press are doing their job, Tallman said, they can ferret out this information. Representatives of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, Albuquerque Journal and New Mexico Press Association testified against the bill. They said the public shouldnt have to rely on the word of public officials that theyve selected the best finalists for a high-level position. Secrecy is not necessary to get excellent candidates, Melanie Majors, executive director of the Foundation for Open Government, told lawmakers. Tallmans measure now heads to the Senate Judiciary Committee, potentially its last stop before reaching the full Senate. A similar proposal was blocked in the 2021 session. Lobbying disclosures Lawmakers are also weighing additional transparency. A $6.4 million supplemental spending bill moving forward in the Senate, for example, contains a provision requiring the publication of which lawmaker sponsored each appropriation in the bill. For years, legislators didnt disclose how they allocated some of their discretionary spending, but theyve moved toward more transparency in recent years. A pair of bipartisan proposals in the Senate also aim to better disclose the work of lobbyists in the Capitol. Paid lobbyists are incredibly influential in New Mexico legislative sessions, sometimes serving in a role akin to unofficial staff to lawmakers. They help vet bills and amendments and, of course, represent the interests of their employers. The bipartisan legislation introduced Wednesday would require lobbyists to disclose their compensation and what positions theyre taking on bills. Really, what were asking for is just to shed light on all the interests and players involved in shaping the legislative process, so that theyre not concealed from public view, Sen. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, told the Journal. Sen. Mark Moores, R-Albuquerque, said he is hopeful lawmakers will have an increased appetite for transparency this session. Our generation over the last decade has been more open to trying to reform the legislative process in a bipartisan manner, Moores said. Senate Bill 217 sponsored by Steinborn and Sen. Gregg Schmedes, R-Tijeras would require lobbyists to report their compensation from each employer. Senate Bill 218 sponsored by Steinborn and Moores would require lobbyists to report what bills theyre lobbying on and what positions theyve taken on them. SANTA FE Citing concerns about organized retail crime, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the creation of a new public safety council made up of business leaders from around the state. Nobody knows whats going on more than the business community about the risks in your storefronts, your communities, Lujan Grisham told an audience of business officials during a Tuesday event organized by the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce. The governor then said during a Wednesday news conference she was creating the business public safety council due to widespread concerns from the business community about crime. She said Steve Chavez, the majority owner of Mesa del Sol, would chair the council, but did not immediately provide details of how the council would function. Chavez told the Journal the council plans to provide monthly reports to the governor based on conversations with the business community. Before being tapped to lead the council, Chavez has been involved with the Hispano Chamber of Commerces crime reduction efforts. He said as a business owner in New Mexico, he, his employees and his colleagues have all been impacted by crime in the community. I have several businesses throughout New Mexico, Chavez said. Weve been affected by it. A lot of my colleagues have been affected by it. Chavez said that next week, a full list of council members will be released. At this point, he and the governor have spoken with around eight business leaders around the state, and hope to form a council of between 12 and 15 members. The governor also took the opportunity during the news conference to invite New Mexico Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Rob Black, who was present for the event, to serve on the fledgling council. Black told the Journal that he would be interested in joining the council. If theres a role for me, Im happy to do it, Black said. A Lujan Grisham spokeswoman said the council will work with businesses around the state to gauge how they are being impacted by crime. That information could then be used to bolster efforts to pass new state laws. Chavez said the councils first priority will be to research and follow legislation relating to public safety. I think we can really move the needle by working together, Chavez said. I really think theres gonna be some bipartisan support on some of these bills. In addition, the Business Advisory Council for Crime Reduction will work with law enforcement, judicial branch officials and state agencies to educate business owners on state efforts to curb crime affecting retailers, said Lujan Grisham spokeswoman Nora Meyers Sackett. Meanwhile, the new council could also build off work done by the New Mexico Organized Retail Crime Association, a group created last fall by the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce that allows business owners and law enforcement to share information about retail crime around the state. Weve been very active in trying to create that kind of network, Black said. I think what the governor is trying to do is bring that to an elevated level. MONTEREY PARK, Calif. (AP) The 72-year-old gunman who sprayed bullets into a Southern California ballroom dance hall, killing 11 people, had no known connection to the victims and investigators are still trying to determine a motive for the massacre, the Los Angeles County sheriff said. Before the shooting Saturday night, Huu Can Tran parked a motorcycle just a block away from the ballroom in Monterey Park, which investigators believe he had planned to use as a backup getaway vehicle, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said during a news conference Wednesday hours after police seized the motorcycle. Tran opened fire on a mostly elderly crowd of dancers at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio, killing 11 people and wounding nine others, police said. The carnage, during what should have been joyful Lunar New Year celebrations, sent ripples of fear through Asian American communities already dealing with increased hatred and violence directed at them. Some reports said Tran frequented the dance hall and fancied himself as an instructor, but Luna said he hadnt been there in at least five years and did not appear to target the victims specifically. We have not been able to establish a connection between the suspect and any of the victims thus far, Luna said. Luna said it wasnt clear how long Tran had been planning the attack in the city about 8 miles (13 kilometers) from downtown Los Angeles or what prompted him to spray at least 42 bullets, taking time to reload his weapon, a variant of the MAC-10 semiautomatic machine pistol with a 30-round magazine. Trans motive continued to elude detectives days after the tragedy as they searched piles of items and paperwork seized from Trans home and a van he used to flee, the sheriff said. It doesnt make sense, Luna said. It really doesnt. About 20 minutes after the attack in Monterey Park, Tran entered another dance hall about 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) away in Alhambra, where an employee confronted and disarmed him during a brief struggle. Tran later shot himself in the van where his body was found Sunday morning. Tran, who was originally from Vietnam, bought the machine pistol in Monterey Park in 1999, but it was not registered in California, the sheriff said. The gun and the high-capacity magazine are illegal in California. Luna said Tran used a registered semiautomatic handgun when he died by suicide, and a registered bolt-action rifle was found at his home in Hemet, about 70 miles (112 kilometers) from Monterey Park. His only known criminal history was a 1990 arrest for unlawful possession of a firearm, but there is no indication of whether he was convicted. Monterey Park Police Chief Scott Wiese on Wednesday defended his decision not to warn the public for hours that a killer was on the loose, saying he did not have enough information at the time to effectively alert residents. Wiese said police in the region were alerted but that it didnt make sense to send out a warning at night to residents in the predominantly Asian American city, even after learning that the suspect may have targeted a nearby dance club after the massacre. Im not going to send my officers door to door waking people up and telling them that were looking for a male Asian in Monterey Park, Wiese told The Associated Press. Its not going to do us any good. The shooting at 10:22 p.m. Saturday occurred just an hour or so after tens of thousands of people attended Lunar New Year festivities in the city. The public was not notified of the mass shooting for five hours, raising questions about why an alert wasnt sent to people in the area. Wiese, who was sworn in as chief two days before the shooting, said police were piecing together information from about 40 witnesses, including many who didnt speak English, and didnt want to broadcast incorrect information. He said notifying other local, state and federal agencies gave them the ability to get the word out. Less than 48 hours later, a gunman in Northern California shot eight fellow farmworkers, killing seven of them, at mushroom farms in Half Moon Bay. The shooter was of Chinese descent and most of the victims were Asian. Outside the locked gates of in Monterey Parks Star Dance Studio, a memorial grew higher Wednesday with mounds of bouquets and balloons. Hundreds of people carrying flowers, candles and incense showed up for a vigil. Marlene Xu gathered with fellow dancers by a row of flower-framed photos of the victims. Xu said she danced at the studio four times a week and spent an entire day and night in tears after the violence. Its hard for us because its a part of my life, she said. Its like a part of your life is gone. Vice President Kamala Harris visited the memorial Wednesday, adding her own bouquet, before heading to a senior center to talk to relatives of the victims. She paused in front of each of the large, rose-framed placards that contained photos or names of the victims at the memorial. Speaking briefly to reporters, Harris relayed sentiments on behalf of President Joe Biden and called for Congress to enact stricter gun control laws. Tragically we keep saying the same things, Harris said. Can they do something? Yes. Should they do something? Yes. Will they do something? That is where we all must speak up. Pope Francis was among those who offered condolences, saying in a message to the Los Angeles archbishop that he implores the divine gifts of healing and consolation upon the injured and bereaved. Wiese said hes seen a lot during his three decade career, but some of the first officers on the scene were rookies who had never faced such carnage, and the trauma will be hard to forget. Paramedics were loading the wounded into ambulances and treating others inside when the chief arrived. There were bodies every 10 feet: some slumped over tables, others sprawled on the dance floor. Its hard to put words to it, he said. It takes your breath away when you see it. And it kind of burns the image into your brain. ___ Melley reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writer Julie Watson in San Diego contributed to this report. JERUSALEM (AP) Gaza militants fired rockets and Israel carried out airstrikes early Friday as tensions soared following an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank that killed nine Palestinians, including at least seven militants and a 61-year-old woman. It was the deadliest single raid in the territory in over two decades. The flare-up in violence poses an early test for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus far-right government and casts a shadow on U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinkens expected trip to the region next week. Of the five rockets fired at Israel, three were intercepted, one fell in an open area and another fell short inside Gaza, the military said. It said the airstrikes targeted an underground rocket manufacturing site for Hamas as well as militant training areas. The rockets set off air raid sirens in southern Israel but there were no reports of casualties on either side. Both the Palestinian rockets and Israeli airstrikes seemed limited so as to prevent escalation into a full-blown war. Israel and Hamas have fought four wars and several smaller skirmishes since the militant group seized power in Gaza from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Thursdays deadly raid in the Jenin refugee camp was likely to reverberate on Friday as Palestinians gather for weekly Muslim prayers that are often followed by protests. Hamas had earlier threatened revenge for the raid. Raising the stakes, the Palestinian Authority said it would halt the ties that its security forces maintain with Israel in a shared effort to contain Islamic militants. Previous threats have been short-lived, in part because of the benefits the authority enjoys from the relationship and also due to U.S. and Israeli pressure to maintain it. The Palestinian Authority already has limited control over scattered enclaves in the West Bank, and almost none over militant strongholds like the Jenin camp. But the announcement could pave the way for Israel to step up operations it says are needed to prevent attacks. On Thursday, Israeli forces went on heightened alert as Palestinians filled the streets across the West Bank, chanting in solidarity with Jenin. President Mahmoud Abbas declared three days of mourning, and in the refugee camp, residents dug a mass grave for the dead. Palestinian Authority spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said Abbas had decided to cut security coordination in light of the repeated aggression against our people. He also said the Palestinians planned to file complaints with the U.N. Security Council, International Criminal Court and other international bodies. Barbara Leaf, the top U.S. diplomat for the Middle East, said the Biden administration was deeply concerned about the situation and that civilian casualties reported in Jenin were quite regrettable. But she also said the Palestinian announcement to suspend security ties and to pursue the matter at international organizations was a mistake. Thursdays gun battle that left nine dead and 20 wounded erupted when Israels military conducted a rare daytime operation in the Jenin camp that it said was meant to prevent an imminent attack on Israelis. The camp, where the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group has a major foothold, has been a focus of near-nightly Israeli arrest raids. Hamas armed wing claimed four of the dead as members, while Islamic Jihad claimed three others. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the 61-year-old woman killed as Magda Obaid, and the Israeli military said it was looking into reports of her death. The Israeli military circulated aerial video it said was taken during the battle, showing what appeared to be Palestinians on rooftops hurling stones and firebombs on Israeli forces below. At least one Palestinian can be seen opening fire from a rooftop. Later in the day, Israeli forces fatally shot a 22-year-old and wounded two others, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, as Palestinians confronted Israeli troops north of Jerusalem to protest Thursdays raid. Israels paramilitary Border Police said they opened fire on Palestinians who launched fireworks at them from close range. Tensions have soared since Israel stepped up raids in the West Bank last spring, following a series of Palestinian attacks. Israels new national security minister, far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, who seeks to grant legal immunity to Israeli soldiers who shoot Palestinians, posted a video of himself beaming triumphantly and congratulating security forces. The raid left a trail of destruction in Jenin. A two-story building, apparently the operations target, was a charred wreck. The military said it entered the building to detonate explosives. Palestinian Health Minister May Al-Kaila said paramedics struggled to reach the wounded during the fighting, while Akram Rajoub, the governor of Jenin, said the military prevented emergency workers from evacuating them. Both accused the military of firing tear gas at the pediatric ward of a hospital, causing children to choke. Video at the hospital showed women carrying children into a corridor. The military said forces closed roads to aid the operation, which may have complicated rescue efforts, and that tear gas had likely wafted into the hospital from nearby clashes. The Israeli rights group BTselem said Thursday marked the single bloodiest West Bank incursion since 2002, at the height of an intense wave of violence known as the Second Intifada, or Palestinian uprising, which left scars still visible in Jenin. U.N. Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland said he was deeply alarmed and saddened by the violence. Condemnations came from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Turkey, which recently reestablished full diplomatic ties with Israel. Neighboring Jordan, as well as Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries also condemned the Israeli raid. The Islamic Jihad branch in Gaza has repeatedly fought against Israel, most recently in a fierce three-day clash last summer that killed dozens of Palestinians and disrupted the lives of hundreds of thousands of Israelis. Nearly 150 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank and east Jerusalem last year, making 2022 the deadliest in those territories since 2004, according to BTselem. So far this year, 30 Palestinians have been killed. Israel says most of the dead were militants. But youths protesting the incursions and others not involved in the confrontations also have been killed. So far this year, not including Thursday, one-third of the Palestinians killed by Israeli troops or civilians had ties to armed groups. Last year, 30 people were killed in Palestinian attacks against Israelis. Israel says its raids are meant to dismantle militant networks and thwart attacks. The Palestinians say they further entrench Israels 55-year, open-ended occupation of the West Bank, which Israel captured along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians claim those territories for their hoped-for state. Israel has established dozens of settlements in the West Bank that now house 500,000 people. The Palestinians and much of the international community view settlements as illegal and an obstacle to peace, even as talks to end the conflict have been moribund for over a decade. ___ Associated Press writers Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel; Areej Hazboun in Jerusalem; Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, and Fares Akram in Hamilton, Ontario, contributed. Alax is an alien. And hes here to learn about us. On Thursday, the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department unveiled the first episode of The Early Show with Alax, an informational TV program featuring a fuzzy blue-and-green puppet named Alax as in galaxy as its host. Screening to an audience of mostly adults gathered at the Explora Science Center and Childrens Museum of Albuquerque, the first episode featured home visitor Lily Hansen to discuss the importance and benefits of sleep, especially for babies. Voiced and controlled by local puppeteer Devon Hawkes Ludlow, Alax is an Intergalactic Ambassador of Care who decided to come to Earth specifically, the state of New Mexico, which he deemed the cultural and scientific hub of the universe to learn about the care and development of little hu-mans.' With The Early Show, with Alax, (we) are reaching parents and getting them engaged in a way that also engages their little ones, Cabinet Secretary for Early Childhood Education Elizabeth Groginsky said. In talk-show style, Alax, at his desk, interviews Hansen, whom he teleported onto his ship, about her job as a home visitor, which involves visiting families with young ones and giving them tips and advice on raising them. She discusses the importance of rest for babies and how parents can make sure their baby is safe while they sleep. Sommer Smith, the co-founder and creative director of MediaDesk, an advertising agency that partnered with the department, and an executive producer and writer of the show, said one of the important aspects of the show is reducing stigma around asking questions. In creating the show, Smith said the fact that Alax is an alien helps reduce this stigma. Alax doesnt know anything about being human and can ask anything that he wants, Smith said. The next episode will be about big feelings, and the episodes will be available both in English and Spanish, according to Micah McCoy, the departments director of communications. The show can be found at theearlyshow.org or on the Moments Together YouTube page. Keep reading SANTA FE New Mexico would establish a new economic development agency backed by $67 million in state funds to support artists and creative entrepreneurs under legislation introduced at the Roundhouse. The legislation, House Bill 8, calls for a new Creative Industries Division within the Economic Development Department to oversee funding that could help with everything from gallery space to marketing and training. House Majority Whip Reena Szczepanski, D-Santa Fe, described it as a transformational initiative that would amplify New Mexicos strength in the arts and help diversify the economy. Half the funding would be dedicated to supporting the arts economy in rural and overlooked areas. We know there are creators in every community in New Mexico, Szczepanski said in news conference at the Capitol, surrounded by musicians, artists and others. She is co-sponsoring the bill with Sen. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces. The proposal offers an expansive definition of the arts. The division could support, for example, video-game developers, architects, furniture makers and chefs, along side more traditional artists working with wood, metal and ceramics. About $2 million would be dedicated to operating the new division. The bill also calls for $65 million to go into a creative industries fund that would issue grants on a competitive basis to projects or programs with the potential to grow the arts economy. Lawmakers especially on the budget-writing committees sometimes push back on attempts to create new agencies or stand-alone funds separate from the general budgeting process. But Steinborn, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, said its appropriate to take some of the windfall generated by the states oil boom and dedicate it to growing another economic sector. Were talking about a powerhouse industry in the state, he said of the arts. Rose Eason, executive director of gallupARTS, a nonprofit group, said theres already strong demand for financial assistance that would support establishing classroom and workshop space, apprenticeship programs and redevelopment of a vacant lot into a gallery and retail store. This level of state investment in the creative industries would be game-changing for areas like mine in McKinley County, Eason said. A division dedicated to the arts economy, she said, would recognize its importance to New Mexico and make it easier for creative entrepreneurs to navigate state programs. The proposal has been referred to two committees in the state House. A Twitter List by ABQJournal Facebook/Instagram Celebrity After the rapper shut down the allegation, Slim Danger shares videos on Instagram taunting the emcee's ex, Jayda Cheaves, who allegedly has been lurking on her page since she made the pregnancy claims. Jan 26, 2023 AceShowbiz - Lil Baby has responded to a wild claim brought by Chief Keef's baby mama. After Slim Danger declared that she's pregnant with his baby, the "Drip Too Hard" rapper took to social media to shut down the allegation. "Y'all gotta stop with the False narratives," the 28-year-old penned on Instagram Story on Tuesday, January 24. "Certain s**t you gotta kno N***as ain't doing. Well n***as like me." Baby's statement did not go unnoticed by Slim Danger, who later shared [uhttps://www.instagram.com/reel/Cn0PfIDsv8l]video montage[u] on Instagram taunting the rapper's ex, [=Jayda Cheaves]. Slim Danger alleged that Jayda had been lurking on her page since she made the pregnancy claims. "She so worried that this @LilBaby baby I'm having," Slim Danger wrote in one of the clips while tagging the hip-hop star in her caption. "@lilbaby should we get a DNA." Baby then returned to social media blast Slim Danger, saying, "Y'all weak a** h*es. Stop using my name for attention!" He fumed, "Dam. A mf a do anything to go viral. B***hes and n***as." This was not the first time Baby faced an allegation regarding his sex life. Back in December 2020, a popular adult film star named Ms. London detailed her sexual encounter with him, claiming that he paid her $16,000 to sleep with her. Baby, however, has denied the accusation. "Man that is so untrue," he said during an appearance on "The Breakfast Club" after DJ Envy asked him about the speculation. He further emphasized, "So untrue. I never paid anybody $16,000 to do nothing. Ever." You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity Ventura County Sheriff's Office confirms that the 'Oops!I Did It Again' songstress is not in 'any kind of harm or any kind of danger' after fans called the department for a wellness check. Jan 26, 2023 AceShowbiz - Britney Spears is safe and sound. Ventura County Sheriff's Office informed Page Six on Wednesday, January 25 that the "Toxic" hitmaker is not in "any kind of danger" after concerned fans called them for a wellness check. "I can confirm that we did get calls into our dispatch," a police spokesperson stated. "And essentially, I can confirm that we don't believe that Britney Spears is in any kind of harm or any kind of danger." The officer, however, has yet to reveal how many calls they received. The police also said they would not divulge whether they made direct contact with the 41-year-old pop star. Of the reason why they refused to provide more details, the officer said, "It's just a privacy thing for the residents in our county." He added, "It's a public trust issue. We just don't disclose those kinds of things [such as wellness checks]. It's not a crime." "We don't really talk about any kind of mental health issues or anything like that," he noted, before stressing, "I can't confirm or deny that deputies went to her house, but we dont believe that Britney Spears is in any kind of harm or danger at this point." Some of Britney's fans made the calls to police on Tuesday. In a TikTok video, a woman named Christina could be heard saying, "I was calling because I am worried about the physical safety of a resident in your area... There's been suspicious activity online and now her account has been deleted." Britney deleted her Instagram once again, days after she changed her name to River Red. Prior to that, the "Gimme More" songstress gave the finger in an Instagram clip after it was reported she had a "manic" meltdown at a restaurant that saw her husband Sam Asghari storm away. You can share this post! Cover Images/Jen Lowery Celebrity The 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' alum expresses support for her former co-star, saying she 'will always love him' despite his controversial behavior at the 2022 Oscars. Jan 26, 2023 AceShowbiz - Nia Long thinks Will Smith has carried a "burden" to represent "what perfection looks like." The 52-year-old actress starred alongside Will, 54, in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air", and she admires how he's coped with the pressures of fame during his career. Nia told Yahoo, "I will always love him and he's had an incredible career, and he's carried a burden for many years to try to represent what perfection looks like. Or what achievement looks like. And I don't think that, at least when we were going up, there was room to be human. I think he's now able to be human." Will received heavy criticism after he hit comedian Chris Rock during the Oscars in 2022. The actor subsequently described his behavior as "shocking, painful, and inexcusable." Will, who resigned from the Oscars Academy after the controversial clash, said, "My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable. The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home. I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken. I want to put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements and allow the Academy to get back to the incredible work it does to support creativity and artistry in film." Meanwhile, Eddie Murphy recently revealed that he hasn't heard from Will since joking about him at the Golden Globes. The comedian joked about Will's infamous Oscars slap during the awards show, and Eddie confirmed that the Hollywood star hasn't reached out to him since. He said, "I haven't heard from anybody. But I don't think it's something that you would even call about. It was a good joke, a funny joke. And I love him, I love Chris, and it's all love." You can share this post! Cover Images/Darla Khazei/ROGER WONG Celebrity In her new Netflix documentary 'Pamela, a Love Story', the iconic actress claims that the 'Rocky Balboa' actor once offered her 'a condo and a Porsche' but she turned him down. Jan 26, 2023 AceShowbiz - Sylvester Stallone wants everyone to know the truth. The "Rocky Balboa" actor has responded to Pamela Anderson's claim that he once asked her to be his No. 1 girl and offered her a "condo and Porsche." "The statement from Pamela Anderson attributed to my client is false and fabricated," said the 76-year-old actor's representative. "Mr. Stallone confirms that he never made any portion of that statement." Pamela made the claim in her new Netflix documentary "Pamela, a Love Story", which will be released on January 31. In it, the 55-year-old actress recounts a story when Sly allegedly "offered me a condo and a Porsche to be his 'No. 1 girl.' " Pamela claims that she turned him down. "And I was like, 'Does that mean there's No. 2? Uh-uh,' " she says with a laugh in the doc, per the New York Post. She later adds, "He goes, 'That's the best offer you're gonna get, honey. You're in Hollywood now.' [But] I wanted to be in love. I didn't want anything less than that." This is the second time just this week a Hollywood star denied the claims Pamela has reportedly made as in a leaked excerpt from her memoir "Love, Pamela", she revealed Tim Allen flashed her during the very first day of filming "Home Improvement". "On the first day of filming, I walked out of my dressing room, and Tim was in the hallway in his robe. He opened his robe and flashed me quickly -- completely naked underneath," Pam, who appeared as Lisa the Tool Girl on the hit show, details in her new book. "He said it was only fair, because he had seen me naked. Now we're even. I laughed uncomfortably," she continues. Tim, who was 37 at the time of the alleged incident, was presumably referring to Pam's modeling for Playboy, which helped turn her into an internationally known sex symbol. Responding to the allegations, Tim confirmed to Variety that Pamela only tells lies. The "Last Man Standing" star stated, "No, it never happened," before insisting that he "would never do such a thing." Interestingly, one day after Tim debunked the claims, an on-set video of him flashing his "Home Improvement" co-star resurfaced on the Internet. In the newly resurfaced footage, Tim was filmed playfully flashing his manhood to Patricia Richardson. Tim, who played Patricia's husband on the ABC sitcom, was dressed in a kilt as the actress said, "Hangs long. I just wish it was shorter." You can share this post! Cover Images/Darla Khazei Movie The 'Wild Wild West' star sizzles in the revealing outfit while posing on the red carpet of the Miami premiere of the R-rated movie with her co-star Channing Tatum. Jan 26, 2023 AceShowbiz - Salma Hayek has still got it and she's not afraid to flaunt it. Blessed with her hot body in her mid-50s, the actress wasn't hesitant to show a lot of skin while attending the premiere of her new movie "Magic Mike's Last Dance" at the Regal South Beach Movie Theater on Wednesday, January 25. The Mexico-born star hit the red carpet, which was actually black, in a racy see-through fishnet dress that left little to the imagination. She showed off her fit hourglass figure as she only wore a black bra and panties in matching color underneath the revealing dress, which was covered in vibrant floral appliques, giving the edgy look a feminine touch. Hayek paired the daring ensemble with gold platform sandals that coordinated with her blingy chains and drop earrings. Her silky brunette hair was slicked back and swept up in a Madonna-style ponytail that cascaded down her back. She also accessorized with an array of shiny gold bracelets while carrying a green handbag. She posed on the red carpet with her co-star and the male lead, Channing Tatum, who opted for an all-black outfit consisting of a black T-shirt underneath a loose fitting jacket and pants in matching color. He also sported black leather shoes and a gold watch. Salma Hayek and Channing Tatum hit the red carpet of the 'Magic Mike's Last Dance' premiere in Miami. The duo were later joined by director Steven Soderbergh as well as producers Gregory Jacobs and Reid Carolin in a group photo. Other celebrity guests at the special screening included professional dancer Kiana De Van Der Schueren, ballet dancer Kylie Shea, Kat Castro as well drag entertainer Athena Dion. In "Magic Mike's Last Dance", Mike Lane (Tatum) takes to the stage again after a lengthy hiatus, following a business deal that went bust, leaving him broke and taking bartender gigs in Florida. For what he hopes will be one last hurrah, Mike heads to London with a wealthy socialite (Hayek) who lures him with an offer he can't refuseand an agenda all her own. With everything on the line, once Mike discovers what she truly has in mind, will he-and the roster of hot new dancers he'll have to whip into shape-be able to pull it off? The third installment of the "Magic Mike" film franchise is set to arrive in U.S. theaters on February 10 after initially set to go straight to streaming on HBO Max. You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity While stopping by a bridal house in Los Angeles, California, the 'Baddies South' star is seen trying on a big white gown as seen in a video filmed by a worker. Jan 27, 2023 AceShowbiz - Chrisean Rock fans may soon hear other good news from the star. The TV personality has hinted that she is going to tie the knot with her on-and-off boyfriend Blueface, just days after she revealed her pregnancy. The 22-year-old sparked the marriage speculation as she has been spotted shopping at a bridal house in Los Angeles, California. In a clip taken and posted by an employee at Anita's Bridal, Chrisean was seen trying on a big white dress. "Chrisean Rock! She's at Anita's trying on dresses," the young employee said in the video as she showed Chrisean in a beautiful white gown. "She's finna get married with Blueface!" she went on claiming. While Anita's Bridal is also known to sell Quinceanera dresses, it unlikely that Chrisean was shopping for the occasion. The reality TV star, however, could be shopping for a completely different event. While the pair have not responded to the wedding speculation, they recently talked about their stance on marriage. While sitting down with Hollywood Unlocked's Jason Lee, Blueface was asked if he sees himself getting married at some point and if he sees himself marrying Chrisean. "No, I don't believe in marriage, but I love her," he declared. Chrisean seemed to be surprised by his answer, exclaiming, "Whaat?! He getting married with me." Turning her attention to her boyfriend, she said, "Can you be quiet and just go along?" Chrisean then told Jason, "If I give him $3 billion, he's gon' marry me." Blueface then dapped his boo up and said, "You popping your s**t, cuh. I like where you going with this. Keep going, cuh. Don't stop, don't stop!" Chrisean's visit to a bridal shop comes in light of her pregnancy reveal. On Friday, January 20, she took to her Instagram Stories to show several positive test results and her visit to the doctor's office. Blueface quickly denied that he's the father of her baby, accusing her of getting intimate with ten other men during their relationship. He also announced that he's done with her. Chrisean responded by claiming that she has not had sex with any other guy than Blueface. "So what happens wen you eat all ya evil words," she replied to one of his tweets. "I haven't sexually been active with no one but u n plus there's can a DNA test... n ion need yo money I got my own I don't need a baby Daddy I'm just having this child because I don't want to keep aborting." Speaking with Complex, Chrisean addressed Blueface's reactions to her pregnancy. She claimed that he was "just being a clown." She explained, "He's just mad that I went to Baltimore and didn't tell him. I said I was in LA with my home girl Stunna [Girl] and I wasn't." She continued, "I was in Baltimore with my family. I took a trip, and he's blowing up my phone like, 'Where you at? Where you at?' I ghosted him for a whole 24 hours, so he can't live with that. He didn't know if I was with a n***a or if I was really with my family, so he got to poppin' it like a little b***h. [laughs] The f**k?" In the same interview, the "Baddies South" star admitted that she's hoping for twins. You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity After keeping it secret for few years, the daughter of the 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' alum finally goes public with her struggle with autoimmune condition. Jan 26, 2023 AceShowbiz - Delilah Hamlin has been secretly fighting an autoimmune condition. The 24-year-old model - who is the daughter of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Lisa Rinna and Hollywood actor Harry Hamlin - announced on social media that, in the last few years, she has had a "tough" time with a chronic issue, but kept her illness quiet for fear of being put in a "sick role." "I haven't really spoken on my health lately and if you're new here you're probably confused but for the past few years I've been struggling with autoimmune/ chronic illness issues that I've been silently battling and overcoming," she wrote on Instagram. "It's definitely been tough mentally alongside physically. I've kind of kept quiet because I don't want to be put in a 'sick' role. I've faced a lot, overcome a lot, and I know that I'm going through this for a reason and that reason is to share what I've gone through and what I've learned with you." Delilah Hamlin is battling chronic illness Delilah - who shared the news alongside an image of an IV drip into her arm - also captioned her post with a quote from televangelist Joel Osteen before thanking a Los Angeles clinic for their help. It said, "When you feel as though the pressure is too much, it's because you're stronger than you think. You'll never discover how strong you really are until you face pressure that you've never faced. It may seem unbearable, but the fact that God allowed it means you can handle it." "He didn't say He'd make a way of escape so you could run from it, but so you can 'endure it' God wouldn't allow you to get in that pressure if he hadn't designed you to handle it. You will always be able to bear whatever comes your way.' Thank you @dripp.iv for helping. [butterfly emoji] (sic)." You can share this post! BBC Celebrity Virginia Giuffre who accused the Duke of York of sexual abuse has allegedly secured a lucrative deal with a book publisher to share her experiences in a tell-all autobiography. Jan 26, 2023 AceShowbiz - Prince Andrew's sexual assault accuser has inked a multi-million dollar book deal. Virginia Giuffre - who had claimed late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his one-time girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell arranged and forced her into having sex with the Duke of York when he was 17 - has reportedly signed a deal with publishers to write her life story, shortly before the confidentiality clause she agreed to when settling her lawsuit with the disgraced royal is expected to expire. However, it is unclear which publisher has won the rights although multiple sources confirmed the deal to the New York Post newspaper. Andrew is believed to have paid around $12 million to settle the case out of court last February, though has denied any wrongdoing, and is now said to have been consulting lawyers in the hope of overturning the settlement agreement. In November, Virginia - who now lives in Australia - dropped a sexual abuse claim against Alan Dershowitz, admitting after an eight-year legal battle she "may have made a mistake" in claiming Donald Trump's former lawyer had abused her as a teenager, and the prince reportedly believes the "extraordinary" development has raised questions around her credibility, giving him hope to clear his name. A batch of court records relating to Virginia's lawsuit against Maxwell, which was settled in May 2017, included a 139-page manuscript called "The Billionaire's Playboy Club" which detailed her life as a sex slave for more than two years when she was 17 and spoke of the encounters she had with Epstein and his associates, including an allegation she was "pimped out" to high-profile men including Andrew and Alan. She wrote in the unpublished book, "It wasn't easy meeting the sexual desires of these strange men, the Prince being one of them." Virginia claimed the manuscript was "99 per cent true" although her lawyers admitted some was "fictionalised" and she later confirmed a two-night liaison with the duke in New Mexico had never happened. Andrew's lawyers wanted the manuscript considered as evidence in the civil case but the request was denied by the judge. You can share this post! Palki Sharma, one of Indias top journalists, will host a new shown on Firstpost.com and its YouTube channel starting 9PM tonight. Network18 Group announced the show launch in a full page ad in Indian Express on Thursday. The group is also running a massive campaign on social with hashtag #VantageOnFirstpost. The show called Vantage will have many firsts to its credit. This will be the first time audiences will be treated to global stories and geopolitical developments that have an Indian perspective, something which is missing from the present-day media landscape. Vantage will also mark the first time a top TV news personality will host a digital first show. The show will also bring to the fore Indias take on the world for global audiences. Spearheaded, curated and hosted by Palki Sharma, Vantage promises well-researched and unbiased insights into global events that have the capacity to impact human lives. While a lot of international news channels report on India, they tend to view developments from their own editorial lens. They seldom offer the full story, let alone the story from Indias perspective. Its important for us as a nation to be heard internationally, with a detailed reportage on things that matter to us, and I will be trying my best to deliver that, said Palki Sharma, Managing Editor, Firstpost. Putting nuance over news, Vantage will truthfully give the viewers facts, analysis and context, addressing the need of educative and informative content on a global scale. Vantage will air at 9 PM on weekdays on Firstpost.com and its YouTube channel. Firstpost.com, part of Network18 group, offers incisive opinions, in-depth analysis and views that matter. It seeks to serve as a trusted guide to the crush of news and ideas around you. The show will also be aired in CNN-News18 at 10 pm on weeknights. With his January 17, 2023 video "It's time to stop," Steven Crowder, host and owner of the biggest conservative channel on YouTube, an equally impressive channel on Rumble, and the website Louder with Crowder, spent 28 minutes airing his concerns that conservative media entities are overly helpful to Big Tech control of speech and questioning the effects such business arrangements have on the culture and the country. Crowder described terms offered to him by an unnamed big conservative media company. I immediately thought of bad music industry contracts. Referring to conservative corporations that use contracts to enforce cancel culture as "Big Con," Crowder ended by requesting that viewers enter their email addresses at the website StopBigCon.com, to gauge public interest in the issue. Several bad clauses immediately stood out for example, penalties up to 20% if a video was demonetized or removed on platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Apple, and Spotify, or if sponsors dropped his show. Crowder's social media, merchandise, and subscription profits go to the company, with no bonuses for exceeding benchmarks. Crowder's existing videos would move behind the company's paywall. There was a flat dollar amount for a four-year term (that could be extended at the pleasure of the company). There would be at least four ad reads per episode. Crowder found the terms so awful that he didn't even redline the offer. He just told the company to send something better. Crowder called the penalties for going afoul of the vague, ever-changing sensitivities of Big Tech a roadmap for suppressing certain conservatives or content. It's particularly unsuitable for Crowder, whose show YouTube has demonetized for years. Meanwhile, Crowder's profits came from Mug Club subscriptions, a few loyal sponsors, and merchandise. He employs approximately 25 people, producing frequently expensive skits and traveling features like "Change My Mind." Crowder's video ended with a plea that those who sent the offer reach out to him, to make a way forward that would not handcuff future young conservative talent. Jeremy Boreing of the Daily Wire quickly posted an hour-long response, focused on the terms being part of an initial offer and claiming that they'd negotiate changes to the number of episodes per year and the amount of fines. He emphasized the $50 million offered, multiple times. Boreing has portrayed Crowder as unbusinesslike. But he also copied Crowder's model: some content free on YouTube, controversial content for subscribers. Videos were soon posted by several Daily Wire personalities and content creators, including Lauren Chen, Tim Poole, Shad of Shadiversity/Knight's Watch, Nick Rekeita, Robert Barnes, Megyn Kelly, and Jeremy Hambly of the Quartering. Crowder's next video was "I didn't want to do this...," featuring portions of a phone call with Boreing, who dismisses the conservative movement being able to make profits while decoupled from restrictive Big Tech. Boreing says that personalities who sign with D.W. (he says they can be "wage slaves" for a few years) would leave D.W. with their fame and able to make new content, while D.W. owns "part of them," and terms that overwhelmingly favor D.W. are "just business." Crowder emphasizes that he's not talking about himself. He's talking about cultivating upcoming creators and not bending to Big Tech's whims. He gives his word that Mug Club will never take ownership of a creator's social media platforms or any YouTube monetization. He makes one final plea to D.W.: if they promise that future contracts will exclude penalties for actions of platforms or advertisers, this all stops. While the D.W. personalities have made personal attacks on him, Crowder only compliments on the intelligence of Andrew Klavan and Ben Shapiro and Jordan Peterson's massive positive influence. Ben Shapiro and Jeremy Boreing both have taken positions of "it's all business" and "what a backstabber, recording a friend." Several people, including attorney Robert Barnes, say a friend would never send a friend a contract with so many egregious clauses, and in this situation, he would recommend recording calls. Crowder appeared on Tim Pool's January 23rd show, fleshing out motives and strategies for opposition to Big Tech. With serious heart problems, Crowder wants to go from performing to producing and help new creators and free speech to flourish. That night, attorneys Nick Rekeita and Robert Barnes posted a discussion. Barnes said the D.W. contract was the worst contract he had ever seen. According to Barnes, the terms could have left Crowder owing D.W. money and having to provide content, even if the YouTube demonetization or the loss of one or more sponsors didn't lose D.W. any money. Also, there were no terms offered that would give Crowder more money if merchandise, advertising, or subscriptions matched or exceeded certain goals. Barnes had an interesting observation. A signed contract means that the parties will have to cooperate and trust each other. He said lawyers who view a contract as an instrument for extracting maximum benefit for one side are incompatible with the goal. Barnes said he's often seen two business entities hash out an agreement, only to have the lawyers ruin it with clauses that extract maximum benefit for one side instead of looking to maximize both parties' profits and trust. He also noted that the reactions by D.W. personalities who chose to speak might cause the public to be suspicious that they are restricted in their public remarks, as Crowder would have been had he accepted the offered terms. Many defending D.W. emphasize that it was a terms sheet (proposal), not a contract, and changing clauses are why they have lawyers. But the more clauses lawyers address, the more money it costs the parties. D.W. defenders first emphasized that $50 million is huge money (ignoring that Crowder paying production costs of 192 episodes per year, for 4 years, amounts to $65,000 per episode, assuming that no platform or advertiser behavior triggers any penalty clause). Their argument then shifted to "Crowder is bad to friends." During my first viewing of Crowder's first video, I sensed that he is serious about what he hopes to achieve and that he has no idea how huge his effect on culture and business has the potential to be. I thought of those among our Founding Fathers who went bankrupt in the fight for independence from not only the government of Britain, but also the corporations that had control of some of the colonies. Their personal losses helped create a society in which freedom to vote with our exertions and our dollars generated centuries of economic activity that has not only lifted individuals all over the globe out of poverty, but contributed to reducing the percent of the planet's population that lives in poverty. Crowder says he's not worried about money for himself; he is concerned about the conservative movement and the effects on our country if speech is controlled by people of one ideological position with assistance of those who claim to be opponents voluntarily inflicting financial punishments for deviating from vague and inconsistently enforced rules. The best possible outcome is that social medial terms of service would come into alignment with the First Amendment. Image: Steven Crowder via YouTube. Along with Dont give up the ship, these words of John Paul Jones, one of the greatest Naval heroes of all time, have guided our Naval warriors and leaders since the Navys inception in 1775. John Paul Jones was not only a great seaman and naval warrior; he also understood leadership and what it takes for success in battle, particularly at sea. He understood the importance of those who made up the crews of a naval ship as evidenced by another of his sayings, Men mean more than guns in the rating of a ship. There is no sense of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in any of those statements. I sincerely doubt that he would agree with our current Chief of Naval Operations who said recently, Our strength is in our diversity. When he wrote about the Qualifications of a Naval Officer he said nothing about race or equitable outcomes, but only about the merits of an officer, including such concepts as gentlemanliness, charity, and honor. The whole tone of the letter shows the need for personal responsibility. He also encouraged rewarding meritorious actions while not overlooking faults. Nothing in this or the history of the Navy in all of the wars since then addressed diversity. While efforts and programs existed to facilitate equality of opportunity regardless of background, ethnicity, or religion, final outcomes were based on performance, not quotas. I doubt that John Paul Jones would even consider a need for safety and inclusion. Remember, this is the man who said, I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast, for I intend to go in harm's way. That doesnt sound like someone looking for a safe space. The USNA DEI Master Plan mission statement, which begins, Attract, retain, and develop a diverse cadre is missing a key word: capable. It has, as objective one, to Become a school of choice because of an inviting, safe, and supportive campus where everyone feels they belong and have equitable opportunity for success -- regardless of race, ethnicity, culture, gender or socioeconomic background. The elimination of merit as a primary consideration, in recruiting, training, and retaining midshipmen is an obvious weakness in the plan. As I recall my days at USNA and in the Navy, one had to earn the support of others. One was given a grace period, during which they had the opportunity to prove themselves, show their intent and ability to become a member of the team, and be willing to embrace the goals and mission of the unit (squad/company within the class at USNA, division/ department/ship at sea). If they failed, they were washed out. There were no safe spaces to which you could run, although often a new member of the team would find, at least for a minimal time period, a mentor in whom they could confide, discuss issues and concerns, and obtain guidance. This fostered the development of both individuals as well as building understanding and teamwork in the subordinate. T he above master plan statement appears to ignore the concept of adversity in the development of leaders and teams. Having had an older brother who graduated three weeks prior to my entering the academy, I ran into several upperclassmen who had it in for me (my brother wasnt popular with everyone). I had to deal with being singled out for special attention and it only made me more determined to get through Plebe Year. When the brigade returned the next fall, one of those upperclassmen, on passing me in the corridor, congratulated my tenacity and determination, saying, glad to see you made it. As the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once said, That which does not kill me makes me stronger. When I was executive officer of a guided missile destroyer, I personally greeted and interviewed every new addition to the crew. I impressed upon them that each man was an important part of the crew regardless of his position. I pointed out that at some time, without knowing it, the lives of some or all shipmates could be in their hands, whether they were the officer of the deck or a lookout or a food-service worker. In this way I was trying to emphasize not only the importance and significance of each individual member of the crew but also the need for them to take responsibility for their actions. Was this effective? Did it foster team building and pride in being members of a cohesive fighting unit? I believe so. I base this on the fact that, during a port visit while deployed to the Mediterranean Sea, some of our crew met up with crewmembers of another ship. These other crewmembers were bragging about how easy it was to get around the rules and the leadership and to obtain drugs on the ship. Our crewmembers responded to them that we dont do that on our ship. Later in the cruise a few ships were selected by the fleet commander to visit a port at which the fleet was refused visiting rights because of past negative behavior. Our ship was one of the four selected to visit. We had a good reputation. (Later in history, both of the commanding officers I worked with went on to achieve four-star rank and serve as Vice-Chiefs of Naval Operations. Good, meritorious leadership has its rewards.) The Navy has had a long history of holding people accountable at all levels of command. It has always been important that decisions be made at the lowest level possible, consistent with the rules and regulations, good engineering and seamanship practices, and capability (merit/leadership). Establishing DEI chains of command goes outside good leadership and is akin to the policy of having commissar overseers once found in the Soviet Navy, which weakened initiative and leadership and instilled timidity rather than boldness of action. A far cry from intending to go in harms way. Furthermore, increasing diversity usually means a reduction of standards. There is a reason for the old adage, A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Do we want to recruit people who can do the job, or do we just want people who meet some mythical breakdown of ethnicity, faith, sex, or whatever, without regard for merit? Already the services are relaxing recruitment standards to increase the availability pool. This relaxation includes relaxing age and qualification score requirements. In this treacherous international environment, weakening the chain is not good policy. So, the question becomes, do we want to build a cadre of bold, fearless, capable naval officers, like the example set by John Paul Jones, Capt. James Lawrence (Dont give up the ship), Capt. Isaac Hull (If that fellow wants a fight, we wont disappoint him), or Bull Halsey (Hit hard, hit fast, hit often.) among others? Or should we lower the bar in both recruiting and training, thus enshrining mediocrity to foster a false sense of virtuous diversity? Image: debaird Did Hunter Biden sell the contents of classified documents found in Joe Biden's garage to the highest bidder? That's the hunch of New York Post columnist and 'Laptop from Hell' author, Miranda Devine, who threw that out there in a recent column, citing a few things that made her think so. The Daily Wire has a useful summary: Stoking concerns about the potential misuse of classified information, the New York Posts Miranda Devine wrote a column this week about an email dated April 12, 2014, sent to Hunter Bidens then-business partner with 22 detailed points with research about the situation in Ukraine. The business partner, Devon Archer, was sentenced in 2022 to more than a year in prison after being convicted in a fraud scheme in which Hunter Biden was not implicated. There are a number of reasons why this particular email drew attention. One is how it is written and the attention to detail. The email discusses such matters as Russias destabilization campaign, United States sanctions, and United Kingdom energy policy. A source told CNN the classified documents found at Bidens private academic office, among other unclassified papers, contained U.S. intelligence memos and briefing materials on Iran, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. Another factor is the timing. One week after the email was sent, Joe Biden, who was vice president at the time, met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. Also around that time, Hunter Biden and Archer were hired to sit on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma Holdings, which is repeatedly named in the email. Devine noted that Hunter typically wrote emails in disjointed, subliterate gibberish, making the smooth policy paper style of these transmitted documents to clients quite unusual. The thing is, that's not the only time he did it. Devine didn't mention it, but back in 2021, she wrote a column about some other policy documents that Hunter Biden was transmitting to clients from his laptop, in 2011 -- again, written in that smooth policy-paper style that's not like his normal style. These look even more like they could have been classified. Here's Devine's 2021 column (emphasis mine): Hunter Biden boasted he could provide intelligence on the shady Russian oligarch whose Greenwich Village townhouse was raided by the FBI on Tuesday. The presidents son said he could provide Alcoa, a giant US aluminium firm, with knowledge about the elite networks connected to Oleg Deripaska in a proposal from his company Rosemont Seneca, emails on Hunters laptop show. ... Included in the proposal, was a list of elites of similar rank in Russia, map of ODs [Deripaskas] networks based on frequency of interaction with selected elites and countries. Hunter wanted to charge Alcoa fees of $25,000 for phase one of the project [and] $55,000 for refined analysis. In a June 8, 2011, email forwarded to Hunter, Cruises colleague at Alcoa, Pei Cheng, wrote to Cruise: I dont believe the data analysis is worth the full $55,000. I think the most valuable piece for us would be the list of Russian elites connected to OD [Deripaska] that would not otherwise be on Government Affairs teams radar, including various Russian Committee Heads, Union leaders or Ministers. Hunter Biden in 2011 offered to provide Alcoa with statistical analysis of political and corporate risks, elite networks associated with Oleg Deripaska (OD), Russian CEO of Basic Element company and United company RUSAL, reveal documents on the laptop he abandoned at a MacBook repair shop in Delaware in April 2019. RUSAL is a Russian aluminum company. Information that would not otherwise be on the Alcoa client's radar? Does that sound like it could be ... classified? Draw your own conclusions. One other thing: I did a search and found no evidence that Hunter and Deripaska knew each other, so it appears the knowledge he was selling came from someone, or something, else -- like a classified document. The column has some comical back and forth dickering about the price of the document, with Hunter being perfectly willing to sell his report for a cut-rate price to Alcoa. That Hunter would have so much information about Deripaska, the very guy the FBI chief of counterintelligence was busted the other day for involvement with, is interesting, too. Back in 2011, before Deripaska was put on the U.S. Treasury's 2018 sanctions list, the FBI was heavily involved with him over a 2009-2011 bid to rescue Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent who was captured by Iran and held hostage. Deripaska, according to RT News, citing western news reports, said he was approached by FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe and asked to bankroll a rescue effort of Levinson, which Deripaska said he spent $20 million doing, apparently to get himself a U.S. visa, until the whole thing was kibboshed by then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Levinson apparently died waiting. Let's just say the involvement between Deripaska and the FBI seems to have been intense and gone back for years, which might explain why there were a lot of classified documents around for Joe Biden to mishandle on the man, and maybe even for Hunter to sell. One wonders about what might be in the Biden papers dating from his days as senator which the University of Delaware says it won't open to the public, much to the dismay of Biden sexual-assault accuser, Tara Reade. Was classified stuff in that stack, too, and was it also rewritten and sold? The most intriguing exclamation around the exchange with Alcoa, which seemed to reject Hunter's offer based on price considerations, and came from an email to Hunter from one of his associates, who noted (emphasis mine): Not horrible feedback, wrote Schwerin in the June 10, 2011 email. Daniels guy [sic] missed the point that the price was $25k reduced from $55k.Hunter Biden had deep connections with oligarchs close to Putin, as I detail in my upcoming book Laptop From Hell (out Nov. 30). Missed the point? Really? Was the point here that it was a U.S. classified document that he was peddling at a low, low, price, something that couldn't be obtained otherwise? It's natural to wonder that, since this seems to be about the product even more than the price. It may well have been that Alcoa didn't realize it was purchasing a cribbed classified document and therefore it lowballed its price. One wonders if this is a game that is going on with a lot of them as former government operatives, and underachieving relatives of high government officials (looking at you, Hunter) join "consulting" firms and hang out shingles. They sell stuff they purloined from their government service, write it up in their own words as their own research for private clients, and effectively sell information that is unobtainable elsewhere, owing to its privileged secrecy. Who needs to engage in espionage with a setup like that? Is this how Hunter made his money? The curiously official-sounding emails sent by Hunter to clients may be not just one or two documents, but a full pattern of classified document-selling. Maybe that's why Joe's classified document scandal looks increasingly likely to consume his presidency. Image: Acaben, via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 2.0 Cinema is a rare art form that transcends all boundaries and brings people together. Nowhere else does a diverse group of people sit together to experience similar emotions simultaneously. Audiences are enthralled together, they laugh together, they cheer together, they jeer together, they cry together, and if the work is admirable, they applaud together. Art should solely be judged on its merit, and cinema is an art that is not at all different. The sole criterion should be how well the story was told. The origins or ethnicity of the storyteller is immaterial. However, in recent years, that has changed. When award nominations are announced, many in the media study the demographic groups of the nominees instead of the quality of their work. A few days back, the same Hollywood that sanctimoniously brands a large section of the public as bigots, was accused of bigotry for snubbing some critically acclaimed films by and about Black people. The film at the center of this controversy is Till. Till was released last year and is based on the true story of the mother who pursued justice following the murder of her son Emmett Till in 1955. Till received resounding approval from critics. On the review-aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, 98% of film critics approved. Quite often there is a chasm of difference between the choice of pretentious critics and the public. But 97% of audiences gave Till a nod of approval. The film received numerous nominations from various film critics' associations, the NAACP Image Awards, the Black Reel Awards, and the Alliance of Women Film Journalists. The film's star, Danielle Deadwyler, received most of the nominations for her portrayal of Mamie Till-Mobley. Deadwyler also received nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Awards and BAFTA. All this made Deadwyler a formidable contender at the Oscars. However, when the nominations were announced on Tuesday, Deadwyler's name was conspicuous by its absence. The film's writer and director, Chinonye Chukwu, was also regarded among the leading contenders for the Best Director category at the Oscars. Alas, she was snubbed. Chukwu accused Hollywood of racism and sexism: "we live in a world and work in industries that are so aggressively committed to upholding whiteness and perpetuating unabashed misogyny towards Black women." And yet. "I am forever in gratitude for the greatest lesson of my life regardless of any challenges or obstacles, I will always have the power to cultivate my own joy, and it is this joy that will continue to be one of my greatest forms of resistance." Some were outraged that African-American actress Viola Davis didn't clinch a Best Actress nomination for her role in The Woman King. It wasnt all bad news for African-American performers. Angela Bassett is the only black actress to be nominated for an Oscar this year in the Best Supporting Actress category for her performance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Black actor Bryan Tyree Henry was nominated for his role as an amputee who bonds with a soldier recovering from a traumatic brain injury in Causeway. Another year: Halle Berry is still the only Black woman whos won Best Actress. SELMA is still the only film directed by a Black woman to be nominated for Best Picture. A Black Director has never won Best Director; a and a Black woman has never been nominated. #Oscars2023 Robert Daniels (@812filmreviews) January 24, 2023 What about other minority groups? Asians did well this year. Everything Everywhere All At Once, about a Chinese woman who hops through the multiverse as different versions of herself, received 11 nominations, including nods for stars of ethnic Chinese origin Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, and Ke Huy Quan, who once starred alongside Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. The Indian film, RRR, was nominated for its song "Naatu Naatu" in the Best Song category. This isn't the first time that African-Americans claimed they were overlooked by the Oscars. The failure to nominate black or minority actors in 2016 caused a furious backlash, with some black stars boycotting the ceremony and the growth of the #OscarsSoWhite movement. Twenty sixteen is the very year that various self-righteous Hollywood stars teamed up to almost order voters to support Hillary Clinton because Donald Trump was deemed a racist. The #OscarsSoWhite movement led to a promise from the Academy to double its female and black and ethnic minority members, a target it said it met in 2020. It wasn't just African-Americans who were snubbed. Some complained that there were no women nominated for best director. Last year, Jane Campion, a female director, won the Oscar. So were they driven by racism and misogyny? Before we decide that, we must remember that auteurs such as Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick never won an Oscar for directing. Harrison Ford hasn't won an Oscar so far despite myriad sterling performances. Al Pacino didn't win for the first two Godfather pictures or for Serpico, or for Dog Day Afternoon. Peter O'Toole didn't win for Becket, The Lion in the Winter, Lawrence of Arabia, or any of his other masterly performances. Ultimately, in 2003, O'Toole received an honorary Oscar. During his acceptance speech, he quipped: "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride, my foot." Citizen Kane, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Graduate, Apocalypse Now, Raging Bull, E.T., Goodfellas, Saving Private Ryan, The Shawshank Redemption, There Will Be Blood, and numerous other films that are considered classics were nominated for Best Picture but never won the Oscar. Robert Redford never won an Oscar for any of his memorable acting performances. He eventually got one for Best Director. So how are films nominated? Nominees for each category are selected by votes from members of these specific branches. For example, actors get to select nominees for the acting categories, and directors get to select the nominees for Best Director. However, everyone gets to vote when it comes to the Best Picture category. When submitting a list of preferred nominees, Academy members rank them according to preference. The nomination ballots are initially sorted based on the voters' first-place ranking. If a selection reaches enough first-place votes sometimes called the "magic number" it becomes a nominee. How votes are drawn is largely dependent on awareness, for which what's known as "buzz" has to be created by the studio and the agency for the individual. It is quite similar to a politician campaigning. One of the big surprises was the Best Actress nomination for British actress Andrea Riseborough for To Leslie. Many of Hollywood's top actresses hosted screenings for Riseborough's film and praised her performance. This created the buzz that enabled her the nomination. The snub for Till may hence not necessarily be driven by racism or misogyny, but perhaps due to a lack of awareness about the film. But this was bound to happen. For decades, Hollywood has used its power not to entertain, but to peddle propaganda. Hollywood denizens scoff at and demonize a section of the population merely for their voting choices and baselessly call them bigots. It was inevitable that this monster would eventually turn on its creator. It will be amusing to see how they get out of this pit. Image: Screen shot from MGM video via shareable YouTube. Federal Senior Judge William Shubb issued a scathing order halting enforcement of Californias new law, effective January 1, 2023 authorizing medical boards to discipline doctors, including the loss of medical licenses, for providing misinformation on Covid treatment. Judge Shubbs order halts enforcement of the law while a separate case brought by 2 groups of doctors challenging the law on First Amendment grounds proceeds in federal court. Judge Shubbs order was contemptuous of the laws language. Stephen Hobbs of the Sacramento Bee reports: Judge William Shubb said the measures definition of misinformation was unconstitutionally vague under the due process clause of the 14th Amendment. (snip) In an order Wednesday, Shubb criticized the laws definition of misinformation, which is false information contradicted by contemporary scientific consensus contrary to the standard of care. Shubb, who called the definition nonsense at a court hearing Monday, said in Wednesdays order that it was grammatically incoherent. Beyond that, Shubbs order also criticized the phrase contemporary scientific consensus, saying that it doesnt have an established meaning in the medical field. The statute provides no clarity on the terms meaning, leaving open multiple important questions, the order said. For instance, who determines whether a consensus exists to begin with? If a consensus does exist, among whom must the consensus exist (for example practicing physicians, or professional organizations, or medical researchers, or public health officials, or perhaps a combination)? Judge William Shubb (official portrait) Given the fact that official bodies such as the CDC have had to revise their advice and medical journals like The Lancet have had to withdraw articles that, for instance, attack the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid, the notion that an evanescent concept like consensus could be used to end the careers of physicians is outrageous. Lets hope the separate federal case currently underway results in the law being completely thrown out. Not so long ago, teachers were responsible for educating kids about specific subject matters (math, English, history). Parents were responsible in all other ways for raising those same children. Only if a parent were genuinely abusive was a teacher obligated to interfere in that relationship, and that meant contacting Child Protective Services. Today, though, gender-crazed teachers have concluded that they have greater rights in children than parents do. Thanks mostly to Libs of TikTok, weve spent the last two years seeing teachers boasting about how they hide a childs gender transition from parents, and weve seen parents raging on the internet and at school board meetings about how teachers hid from them what was happening to their childrensomething they sometimes discovered only after a damaged child tried suicide or broke down in some other way. Those of us who have children whom weve raised from infancy love them with a parental passion that routinely sees parents lay down their lives for their children (e.g., here, here, and here). Parental love is a force of nature that also sees parents engage in practically supernatural acts of strength. Parents will work themselves to death and impoverish themselves for their children. Parental love is a primitive, visceral feeling that is not matched by a transgender or non-binary teachers seven months of limited contact with those same children. Yet today, teachers obsessed with sexual identity fantasies insist that the child who passes through their classroom once a day is their (zir?) child and that their rights in that child transcend anything a parent can do or feel. Image: Screen grabs of Olivia Garrison on her TikTok account, which Fox News was able to capture. For the New York Times, this newly discovered passionate love teachers have for a child they know only slightly is a real thing. Thats apparent from a recent article entitled When Students Change Gender Identity, and Parents Dont Know: Educators are facing wrenching new tensions over whether they should tell parents when students socially transition at school. The opening anecdote (and all NY Times articles, rather than opening with a clearly stated premise, open with an anecdote that sets the tone), well, it sets the tone: Jessica Bradshaw found out that her 15-year-old identified as transgender at school after she glimpsed a homework assignment with an unfamiliar name scrawled at the top. When she asked about the name, the teenager acknowledged that, at his request, teachers and administrators at his high school in Southern California had for six months been letting him use the boys bathroom and calling him by male pronouns. Mrs. Bradshaw was confused: Didnt the school need her permission, or at least need to tell her? It did not, a counselor later explained, because the student did not want his parents to know. District and state policies instructed the school to respect his wishes. Jessica Bradshaws daughter is a legal minor. She cannot drive, vote, or buy cigarettes. In most states, she cannot go on her own to get tattoos, piercings, or an abortion. She has a limited understanding of the world and no understanding of how life plays out and how one's beliefs change as people age. But she has the power to silence an entire school system that has no interest in her other than as a money generator, a test taker, and, if theyre lucky, a cool new transgender statistic. Moreover, these institutions do all this tremendously smug self-righteousness, certain that their limited interactions with a trend-seeking, depressed, or otherwise confused teenager override anything a loving parent can do, know, or say: Other teachers believe they have a moral responsibility to withhold such information. My job, which is a public service, is to protect kids, said Olivia Garrison, a history teacher in Bakersfield, Calif., who is nonbinary, who has helped students socially transition at school without their parents knowledge. Sometimes, they need protection from their own parents. Whats supposed to happen if a parent really is risking a childs safety is that teachers must report that fact to Child Protective Services. CPS has a spotty track record of actually protecting children but, at least, it contacts the parents and lets them know whats going on. In the case of Garrison, the smug LGBTQ+ employee of Del Oro High School in Kern County, the reality is that the parent is a danger to the values shes trying to inculcate into the parents child. Thanks to the warped leftist world, though, she is able to place herself on a moral high ground because shes led a confused student to abandon she/he/its biological reality in favor of the current leftist fantasy. In Garrisons case, the NY Times reported that an it person named Clementine Morales didnt feel its parents would appreciate what was happening. It was probably right that its parents would have protested its abandonment of reality. That fact, though, doesnt give Garrison rights in the sexuality of someone elses child. These teachers are cultists and groomers. Parents must act, whether by suing school districts and teachers or by getting rid of school boards and legislatures that countenance this type of interference in the parent-child relationship. Cook County, Illinois may be notorious for lenient sentence handed to those convicted of serious, often violent, crimes. But Judge Shelley Sutker-Dermer yesterday gave a man named Shahid Hussein serious prison time for hate crimes at two Chicago synagogues. "Shahid" is an Islamic name that means "martyr" one who dies in service to Islam. Shahid Hussein. Photo credit: Chicago Police Department. The invaluable CWBChicago website reports: In one incident, Hussain stood outside Yeshivas Meor Hatorah of Chicago, 3635 West Devon, and yelled about Jews while breaking lights, using his hands to gesture like he was shooting a shotgun, and making a Nazi-like salute, prosecutors said. Video showed Hussain breaking other lights in the area while wearing a red hat and cape, two items he allegedly wore during other incidents. Hussain allegedly admitted that he was responsible for the incidents on Facebook and posted photographs of himself performing a Nazi salute with a mustache similar to Adolph Hitler's, prosecutors alleged. In another incident, prosecutors said that a witness saw Hussain yelling loudly about what time Shabbat began as he walked outside Congregation KINS of West Rogers Park, 2800 West North Shore. She recorded video of the man wearing a cape and red hat as he walked into a vestibule, where another camera captured images of him breaking the glass. Later, a driver called 911 after allegedly seeing Hussain paint swastikas on trailers outside Jewish institutions on the 2900 block of West Devon. Those incidents were also captured on video. Police arrested Hussain near the 6300 block of North Albany after a 911 caller reported that a man was yelling about bombing and burning synagogues, according to CPD records. I happen to be one who believes that the escalating war in Ukraine is entirely Bidens fault, that the current Ukraine government is completely corrupt, and that the entire thing, which has seen tens of thousands of Ukrainian deaths and the destruction of large swaths of that country, has become a profitable boondoggle for politicians and military contractors. Call me cynical or naive, but thats where I am. I also think the whole enterprise has taken on a truly hallucinatory quality, exacerbated by the news today: Putin is negotiating to buy abandoned American weapons from Afghanistan while Biden is sending 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. We will have armed both sides to the battle. In August 2021, Biden abruptly ordered American troops to retreat from Afghanistan. Doing so wiped out almost 20 years of the American military effort, both blood and gold, led to the death of 13 American troops and untold numbers of Afghan citizens and saw Biden abandon around $90 billion in American weapons to the Taliban. Image: An M1 Abrams in Germany, 1986. Public domain. Those weapons, which should have been returned home to America as part of our arsenal in our defense, havent gone to waste. Some, surely, ended up in the hands of warlords in dangerous places, but it seems that many of them will endin Putins hands. The Sun reported that a Russian mil blogging social media outlet has chatter about Putin negotiating with the Taliban for the weapons: VLADIMIR Putin is plotting to grab weapons seized by the Taliban during the US evacuation of Afghanistan, a so-called Kremlin insider claims. The Russian tyrant is reportedly in the midst of negotiations with the terror group to recognise the Taliban government. In return, Putin wants US equipment snatched from Afghanistan by the Taliban to be handed over, according to Telegram channel General SVR, which claims to be fed information by a Kremlin insider. That sounds like a plan. According to The Sun, the list of weapons potentially available to Putin is impressive: It is thought Taliban fighters may have stolen as many as half a million US weapons and up to 50,000 vehicles. [snip] Estimates state 22,174 Humvees, 634 M1117s armoured cars, 115 Maxx Pros trucks, and 549,118 machine guns, assault rifles and pistols were given over by the US. Some 33 Black Hawk helicopters, 23 Super Tucano fighter planes and 4 C-130 transport planes were also given to the Afghan Air Force. Other support gear was also given over, with some 16,035 pairs of night vision googles, 162,043 radios and some 8,000 trucks. While all of that isnt necessarily functional, we are facing a scenario in which American weapons will be turned on American allies. And for still more of the weapons merry-go-round, Biden is promising to send Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and six other Latin American countries (three of which are obviously hostile to us) new American weapons if they send their old Russian stuff to Ukraine. So its also possible that Russian weapons will kill Russian troops. (The only thing that really matters, though, is the Big Guys 10%, right?) And speaking of American weapons, Biden is sending 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, while Germany will send 14 Leopard 2 battle tanks, infuriating Putin. Did I mention that Putin has nuclear weapons and, apparently, is terminally ill, something that might lead him to take risks he would once have avoided? This cannot end well. Theres a surreal quality to a war that carries no benefit to America but that were nevertheless arming, especially because it seems well soon be arming both sides of the war. Watching a decrepit fossil like Joe Biden leading us ever closer to Armageddon is one of the most unnerving things thats happened in my lifetime. Bill Maher speaks for many who simply cannot let go of the Mueller team of Trump-haters and their efforts to conjure a crime to pin on Donald Trump. Specifically, he cannot let go of Muellers statement that we cannot exonerate [Trump] of obstruction of justice. He said so on his television show, "Real Time with Bill Maher" on Jan. 22, 2023. Speaking to President Trump's former attorney general, Bill Barr, Maher said: [T]he one thing I hold against you is that when the Mueller report came out I feel like you mischaracterized it You said the evidence is not sufficient to prove that [Trump] committed an obstruction of justice offense. Thats not what Mueller said. He said that if we had confidence that [Trump] did not commit obstruction of justice we would have so stated. So, I feel like that was shady, Bill and I just had to get that off my chest. Maher here manages to get things precisely backwards. Muellers statement that he cannot exonerate Trump is precisely what displays Mullers bias against Trump. Meanwhile, Mahers determination to resuscitate Muellers inappropriate attempt to smear Trump demonstrates his own bias against Trump. Before, however, we examine the details of Mahers accusation against Barr, one must remember the context. What Maher is unhappy about is Barrs alleged shady dismissal of Muellers refusals to exonerate Trump. First, however, Muellers team was not set up to investigate Trump for obstruction of justice. It was set up to investigate Trump for collusion with Russia. Mueller was unable to find any collusion with Russia because the Steele dossier used to justify the Mueller investigation was paid for by Hillary Clinton and the DNC to frame Trump and cheat the American people out of their right to choose the president in a fair vote. That is, since the Mueller investigation, having been established on dishonest grounds, should not have been started in the first place, Trump, and the nation in general, was the victim of typical Clinton dirty tricks. If Maher wants to find something shady one would think that should be at the top of the list but for some mysterious reason, perhaps the big D behind Hillarys name, he does not seem concerned about that. Instead, Maher is exercised because he thinks Trump obstructed an investigation that was established on false pretenses to frame him of a crime. Recall that Maher once comically said that Trumps public joke about Russia hacking Hillarys e-mail to get her mishandled classified files was treason. Returning to Mahers original accusation that Barr did something shady by summing up the findings of the Mueller report inaccurately since, according to Maher, the Mueller report speaks for itself, Barr was wrong to give a summary of the main findings of the report. You didnt have to do that, Maher says to Barr. In fact, Barrs response to Maher on this charge is entirely precise and correct, which is just what one expects of someone with a J.D. from a top law school. Barr states that he asked Mueller for a redacted report because it would be illegal to release the unredacted report, which contained classified information, but Muller only gave him an unredacted report. Since the level of hatred for Trump generated by the Left had people at the time calling for Trump to be sent to prison, and since uncertainty would damage the economy and Americas image abroad, Barr replies that if he was to diminish the potential damage to the country he had no practical choice but to sum up the bottom line of the report, namely, to state that, first, Mueller found no Trump-Russia collusion, and, second, that Mueller punted on the obstruction charge. Maher is just wrong that Barr didnt have to do that. Barr also shows that Maher is wrong again when he states that he (Barr) said that Mueller found Trump innocent of obstruction. Barr correctly replies that since Mueller punted on obstruction, he [Barr], states his own opinion on the obstruction charge. That is, he [Barr] did not say that Mueller found Trump not guilty. Barr stated that Barr found Trump not guilty. Got it yet, Maher? Finally, consider the point that many still take as the coup de grace to Trump, namely that Mueller stated that he could not exonerate Trump! In fact, Mueller, Maher, and rather too many overly emotional partisans, appear to have forgotten that we are talking about the United States here, not the old Soviet Union. The United States has this thing called the presumption of innocence (one is considered innocent until proven guilty). It could never have been Muellers task to prove that Trump did not commit some crime. In the United States, at least until the Democrat-media collusion team decided to frame Trump for a succession of crimes, we believed that the prosecution job is to try to demonstrate that the accused committed a crime and if they cannot do that then the accused is declared, Not guilty! We also used to believe, in the old days when the US was free, that this should be the end of the matter. The reason for this principle is that without it, dishonest prosecutors would always be able to smear innocent people in the service of their own agenda. It may be useful to rehearse the traditional reasoning here: Since it is, as it is said, impossible to prove a negative, that is, impossible to prove that someone is innocent or that they did not secretly do something, it would always be possible for an unscrupulous prosecutor to say that, we cannot prove X obstructed justice by telling Y to lie under oath, but, who knows, X might have met with Y in a dark alley somewhere we do not know about and told them to lie under oath. Can Bill Maher prove that he never had sex with his frequent guest Michael Moore? Let's see the proof! It was, therefore, inappropriate of Mueller to state that he could not exonerate Trump on obstruction of justice. If one assumes traditional American principles of justice, which, admittedly, can no longer be assumed when Trump and other conservatives are accused, Mueller should have stated that he could not prove obstruction and left it at that. The fact that Mueller did not do this, and that some people cannot let this go, demonstrates that they are not interested in justice. They are interested in smearing Trump by any means necessary and that is un-American. It is precisely because of that climate of the hysterical Democrat-media generated hatred of Trump for their own political purposes that Barr was right to state the bottom line: Mueller could not prove either of his accusations against Trump. In the United States, until recently, that used to mean: Not guilty! Not anymore, and that is what is really shady. Finally, Maher begins the clip with Barr stating that Trump literally tried to steal one of the most honest well-run elections ever. Maher can be congratulated for getting the Democrat-media script word-for-word but, difficult as this is to believe in the choir, some of us peasants believe we have multiple reasons to disagree. Perhaps this topic can be looked at later. Image: Screen shot from Real Time with Bill Maher video, via YouTube Former US President, Donald Trump, will soon get reinstated on both Facebook and Instagram. That is said to happen in the coming weeks, and it follows Twitters decision to give Trump his account back. Donald Trump will get reinstated on Facebook & Instagram really soon As a reminder, Donald Trump got indefinitely suspended from Facebook over two years ago. The company has now decided to revert its decision. Meta said, in a statement, that Trump will be able to access his Facebook and Instagram account, but that there would be new guardrails in place to deter repeat offenses. This decision comes following Trumps alleged request to get his accounts back. Why now? Well, the presidential primaries are coming up, so that could be the reason. Why was Trump banned on Facebook to begin with? Well, that decision came following the attack on the US Capitol in January 2021. Trump publicly praised the rioters, so Meta decided to act on it. Advertisement Following pushback, Meta decided to revisit its decision, and then said that the ban would last at least two years. It was first announced that it will be indefinite. Well, two years have passed, and here we are. Trump is facing new suspensions in case of future offenses Nick Clegg, Metas top policy official, said that Trump, and other public figures who have been reinstated following suspensions related to civil unrest, will face new suspensions in case of future offenses. Those suspensions could last for at least a month. That being said, Twitter returned Trump his account back in November last year, but he didnt tweet since then. That will likely change moving forward, though. Metas decision also caused some reactions from different sides. The digital rights group, Fight for the Future, for example, issued a statement following the news. Advertisement Evan Greer, the groups director, said the following: Discussions about online content moderation and what policies are needed to ensure human rights, free expression and safety are some of the most important and consequential societal debates in human history. When we center these debates about specific moderation decisions, especially ones involving high profile, wealthy, politically powerful individuals like Donald Trump, we are utterly missing the point. It remains to be seen what comes next, but chances are well see more of Donald Trump on social media once again. Just when we thought the November LastPass hack was behind us, new information has come to light regarding the extent of the breach. LastPass parent company, GoTo (formerly LogMeIn), has confirmed that the threat actors of the security breach were able to steal customers encrypted backups during the recent data breach of its systems. LastPass CEO Karim Toubba first confirmed the breach in November, stating that an unauthorized party had gained access to some customer information stored in a third-party cloud service. The attackers reportedly used information stolen from an earlier breach of LastPass systems in August to further compromise the companies shared cloud data. Impact on GoTos enterprise products The extent of the breach was much bigger than initially thought. GoTo now says that the security breach impacted several of its products, including Central, Join.me, Hamachi, and Remotely Anywhere. The company also confirmed that the attackers exfiltrated customers encrypted backups from these services, as well as the companys encryption key. GoTo CEO Paddy Srinivasan said that the information attackers stole varies by product but may include account usernames, salted and hashed passwords, a portion of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) settings, along with some product settings and licensing information. However, the attackers did not take encrypted databases of GoToMyPC and Rescue, but the MFA settings of a small subset of customers were impacted. Advertisement In response to this breach, GoTo is directly contacting affected customers to provide additional information and support. Users will have to change their passwords and reauthorize MFA. GoTo is also migrating the affected accounts to a different Identity Management Platform with more robust authentication and login-based security options. The company assures customers it does not store their full credit card and banking details and does not collect PII, such as date of birth, address, and Social Security numbers. A new Twitter whistleblower has accused the company of having a so-called GodMode that allows engineers to tweet from any account. According to The Washington Post, this former Twitter employee has met with Congress and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding Twitter and its security issues. The whistleblower remains annonymous to prevent harassment and threats. Back on Friday, he/she also had a meeting with the Senate Judiciary Committee and House Energy. As per the whistleblower claims, the GodMode is now called privileged mode following internal objections about the program. The new Twitter whistleblower continues that any engineer in the company can have access to GodMode by changing a code from FALSE to TRUE. The complaint revealed that anyone who wants to use the feature receives a warning message saying, THINK BEFORE YOU DO THIS. Twitter faces backlash over new whistleblower claims about GodMode The complaint states that the feature allows Twitter employees to tweet on behalf of advertisers. Twitter head of trust and safety, Ella Irwin, and former CEO Parag Agrawal have yet refused to comment on the matter. Advertisement Following Elon Musks takeover, concerns about safety on Twitter are arising, and many users claim the platform is less safe under Musk. Regardless of whether this is true or false, Twitter has had some serious security glitches in recent months. Additionally, its new verification system allowed regular users to impersonate well-known people like politicians, celebrities, and companies. In 2020 a group of hackers was able to breach into Twitter systems and tweet from Elon Musk and Barack Obama accounts. At the time, Twitter agreed to launch a comprehensive information security program that is reasonably designed to protect the security, privacy, confidentiality, and integrity of nonpublic consumer information. However, the existence of a GodMode proves Twitter employees have a backdoor to tweet from any user account. The complaint states that Twitter engineers could delete or restore any tweet, and Twitter does not have the capability to log which, if any, engineers use or abuse GodMode. The first Twitter whistleblower Peiter Zatko unveiled Twitter security holes before Elon Musks takeover. He also revealed that the platform has lied about many security measures. The second whistleblower now says the feature is still available to Twitter fingers, and anyone with access to the engineers device can use it. China deploys the WZ-7 Soaring Dragon to monitor India and Japan as tensions exist with these countries. The drone is high flying and capable of long standby flights, equivalent to the American RQ-4B Global Hawk, a HALE-class drone. Chinese Drone Spies on India, Japan The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), capable of AI-enabled networking and sensor fusion, resisted jamming via encrypting data links that share information on the battlefield. Another is linking up with ISR links to Chinese satellites, according to The Eurasian Times. Several Twitter users posted a photo depicting three of these Soaring Dragon drones, but details like where the UAVs are based and what time it was captured are unknown. In the image, it can be noticed that one more drone is in the background, but nothing is verified. Online attention was reported concerning the image, especially about an elephant walk. The characteristics of the WZ-7 with its odd diamond contoured wings are connected to swept forward wings. They are connected to the bottom of the vertical tail, a dominant feature. WZ-7 Soaring Dragon: Top secret drone Designed and built by the Guizhou Aircraft Industry Corporation (GAIC), that was first revealed and exhibited at the Zhuhai Air Show 2021 that caught attention. The main feature of the Soaring Dragon that differentiates it from the US Global hawk is the air intake on the top of the airframe, with the main engine at the UAV's rear, per CMDA Sources indicate that the long-endurance UAV was modified in 2011 when it was featured as a working prototype. Later in 2013, another update appeared with canted vertical tail surfaces from the initial change. Read Also: Chinese Y-20 Aerial Tanker First Images Show Mid-air Refueling of Fighter Planes Major redesign on the current model is the V-tails and the engine nozzle of its WS-13 Turbofan engine, with changes to its ventral fin and the sail structures. A jet-powered drone with a maximum height of 60,000 feet and a range of 4,350 miles as far as it can go, wherein the range is only speculative and capable of staying aloft for 10 hours, but it seems to be top secret. China Uses UAVs Based on the information available, PLAAF and PLAN are major users of the Soaring Dragon drone. It is used for monitoring traffic information by the Chinese Air Force in Tibet to allow spying on India. These drones are launched from the important Yishuntun Airbase that lies close to the North Korean border. Further information about the WZ-7 is related to the concept of Intelligence Warfare' concept that was reported earlier by the outlet. More interesting information about the less known drone packed with electronic warfare aircraft also used on the J-16D. Another is the sharing of data with the J-16D as well. The J-16D EW Flanker, like the WZ-7, will share the info it gets from surveillance and electronic warfare (EW) that jams, fools, and signals intelligence. On the wing tip are the jamming pods housing the equipment. In service of China and its Air Force, Navy, the WZ-7 Soaring Dragon is used as a spying platform to monitor India and Japan, which are US allies, in reference to the Indo-Pacific conflict. Related Article: Newly Developed Chinese Hypersonic Drone DR-8 Capable of Suicide Attacks @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Videoconferencing giant Zoom has launched a new AI-powered conversational chatbot. Dubbed Zoom Virtual Agent, the new intelligent chatbot solution is touted to transform the way businesses assist their customers and employees. It will deliver better and faster support on mobile and the web, so businesses can provide efficient and cost-effective customer service. Zoom Virtual Agent is an intelligent conversational AI chatbot Chatbots arent new in the corporate sector. However, this space is rapidly changing with advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. According to Zoom, most of the existing chatbots are powered by extensive manual coding. These solutions cant adapt to the everyday languages that customers generally use. As such, they often fail to accurately interpret a query and provide a relevant answer. Traditional chatbots are more expensive too. Zoom Virtual Agent addresses these shortcomings. The company says its latest AI chatbot uses natural language processing and machine learning to accurately interpret customer queries and instantly resolve issues. It can provide personalized experiences to customers, ensuring that they feel comfortable while having a conversation. The service is available 24/7, which helps take a lot of pressure off human customer service agents. It also significantly reduces customer service costs for businesses. According to Zooms press release, Zoom Virtual Agent integrates seamlessly with various CRM, chat, and contact center platforms. The company will offer it as part of the Zoom Contact Center. The latter is the firms video-optimized CCaaS (contact center-as-a-service) platform for businesses. It helps in delivering personalized customer experiences. Zoom touts these services to help businesses achieve higher CSAT (Customer Satisfaction) scores and brand loyalty. Advertisement Zoom launches new AI chatbot a year after Solvvy acquisition Zooms latest AI product comes about a year after it acquired Solvvy, a California-based startup that specializes in conversational AI and automation platforms for customer support. Founded in 2013, Solvvy provided intelligent chatbot solutions for several prominent brands over the years. Zoom acquired it for an undisclosed fee in May last year, a couple of months after it launched the Zoom Contact Center. Every leader I speak to is seeking dual outcomes from their CX technology: superior omnichannel resolutions for their customers and an improved bottom line, said Mahesh Ram, the founding CEO of Solvvy who is now the head of the digital customer experience at Zoom. Ram suggested Zoom Virtual Agent will help companies quickly improve their self-service customer interactions. Solvvy delivered these types of outcomes for many leading brands, he added. (ANSA) - ROME, JAN 26 - The Attila cyclone is set to bring fresh freezing winds from Russia's Volga region to Italy in the coming hours and days, weathermen said Thursday. After two sunny days on Wednesday and Thursday, temperatures will drop by five-six degrees C almost everywhere Friday, bringing snow over low ground to many parts, said Andrea Garbinato of the www.iLMeteo.it website. Attila will scour the country over the weekend and snow, ice and freezing rain and winds will sweep Italy from north to south. "An anticyclone over the Azores is to blame for the fresh polar irruption of icy air", said Garbinato. He said that a bank of warmer air over the British Isles means that Attila will continue to hold sway over Italy in the coming days. There will be heavy rain in the south of Italy Thursday, turning to sleet and snow over higher ground, while the rest of the country will have a clearer but still brisk day, Garbinato said. Conditions will worsen starting Friday in most regions, he said. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, JAN 26 - Premier Giorgia Meloni on Thursday blasted the "blind violence" of two deadly attacks that took place in Spain and Germany on Wednesday. Two people were killed and several were injured when a knife-wielding Palestinian launched an attack on a train travelling between the German cities of Kiel and Hamburg. A man was killed and other people were injured by a man who attacked them with a machete in churches in the Spanish port of Algeciras. The Spanish authorities have said the attack, reportedly staged by a Moroccan man, could be terrorism-related. "Brutal acts and blind violence have again hit Europe," Meloni said in a statement. "I express my closeness and solidarity and that of the Italian government to Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez after the attacks that caused death and pain to unarmed citizens in Germany and Spain. "We must keep up our guard against people and movements that want to destroy our societies and attack us for what we are". (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, JAN 26 - Palestinian Ambassador to Italy Abeer Odeh on Thursday called on Rome to condemn the latest violence in the occupied West Bank flashpoint town of Jenin where nine Palestinians including an elderly woman were killed in an Israeli army raid. "The indifference of the world encourages the government of Israel to carry out massacres in front of everyone's eyes, because they are eyes that do not want to see," said Adeh. "The Embassy of Palestine appeals to the government, political forces, civil society and the media of Italy, a friendly country, to condemn this violence and act immediately to protect our people and stop the extermination". Odeh denounced what he called "the ongoing massacre in Jenin". (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, JAN 26 - A court in Brescia on Thursday ordered that the wife and daughter of former Italian MEP Antonio Panzeri, a central figure in the 'Qatargate' corruption scandal, be released from house arrest after the Belgian authorities dropped a request for their extradition. Panzeri has started cooperating with Belgian prosecutors probing alleged attempts by Qatar and Morocco to influence EU affairs via bribery after last week cutting a plea bargain for a one-year jail term. He has been charged with corruption along with fellow Italians Francesco Giorgi, an assistant to Democratic Party (PD) MEP Andrea Cozzolino, and Niccolo' Figa'-Talamanca, the secretary general of the No Peace Without Justice NGO. Greek MEP Eva Kaili, who was removed from her position as European Parliament vice president after the scandal exploded and has been in jail since December 9, has been charged too. She is Giorgi's partner. A Brussels court on Thursday is holding hearings to rule on whether Giorgi and Figa'-Talamanca should remain in jail. Cozzolino, meanwhile, told the European Parliament's justice committee this week that he was ready to forego his immunity from prosecution. The committee is set to hold a first vote on January 31 on whether to grant prosecutor's requests for the immunity of Cozzolino and Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella to be removed. The floor of the European Parliament will have the final say. Cozzolino, who denies any wrongdoing, told the committee that he was the victim of a "violent press campaign that is devastating my family on the basis of a mew suspicion". He has been suspended by the PD and he suspended himself from the Socialist (S&D) caucus in the European Parliament (ANSA). Ukraine has requested Abrams tanks in the past few weeks, but the US is reluctant to send them to Kyiv. Having the Abrams getting stuck in mud or not performing well used by the AFU is less tolerated. Abrams Tank Not Assurance for Ukraine To Win Ukrainian leaders getting western battle tanks raises tensions with Moscow, Kyiv is desperate to get the American main battle tank and Leopard tank, but the UK's Challenger 2 is supposed to be ready for delivery, according to Bulgarian Military. The Ukrainian government is asking western governments for their best main battle tanks, but critics say it will not make a difference. But Zelensky is insistent it will make one. Speaking about the request for heavy tanks after the AFU got many losses. The Russian political scientist Andrey Klintsevitz says Zelensky is exaggerating too much about its importance, per CNBC. One point raised is that Washington is not honest about the matter due to how it relates to US arms sales. Klinzewitz stresses that Washington does not want its premier land weapon, 'M1 Abrams, ' tarnished in the Ukrainian conflict. Through the conflict, the US seeks to overcome its competitors to grab the market. All other equipment can fail but not American equipment, the Military reported. The symbolic nature of the US main battle tank is key to projecting the dominance of the US is the most important thing. Another is that a tank is for offensive force projection, also, keeping an undefeated system is a plus. Read Also: Chinese PLA Conducts Trials of Fourth Generation Main Battle Tank Sending Abrams Could Risk Knowledge on US Asset Even with all the military aid sent to Kyiv, like the HIMARS but the US sending it to the Ukrainian proxy may not be done. The Russian expert mentioned that the biggest victory for the Kremlin was to see the US main battle tank getting trapped in the mud since it is a heavy tank at 70 tons compared to 50 tons lighter than other similar armored vehicles. Other than losing its reputation if it were given that is yet to be verified, it will lose a customer if it fails. Add up the difficult maintenance and fixing in the field as serious concerns, and it will be a shame for the Abrams to be seen busted. Further concerns other than it being too heavy, equipped with a gas turbine that is problematic too. Russian sources call it a liability in the field because it's hard to fix. AFU personnel will see more breakdowns that will hamper them. Images of the US main battle tank allegedly having a hard time over a snow-covered slope were posted on the web, but no proof of the claims. In December, the lighter Russian tanks got bogged in the mud needing to be pulled out. Seemingly to avoid this dreadful scenario that is pushing Germany to send their Leopard 2 when other EU states to part with theirs. But German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wants the US to send theirs first, cited DW. This statement has placed Washington on the spot due to squeezing Berlin to be the one to send theirs. A response still needs to be sent. An expert on Russia nailed it on the head that the US reluctance to commit the Abrams tank to Ukraine, but Germany challenges the Biden administration to commit more than ever. Related Article: US Army Unveils AbramsX Featuring Big Innovations for Optimized Land Battle @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (ANSA) - ROME, JAN 26 - Justice Minister Carlo Nordio said Thursday that the government will consult the judiciary before pressing ahead with its planned reforms of the judicial system, "Before being entrusted to the evaluations of the sovereign parliament, every future reform will be composed via listening to the all of the voices of the justice system," he said at the ceremony for the opening of the judicial year, specifically mentioning lawyers and the judiciary. Nordio has said the government is determined to make the regulations for the use of wiretaps by examining magistrates stricter to stop the reputations of innocent people being damaged by recordings of private conversations appearing in the press. He also wants to press ahead with plans to make the career paths of judges and prosecutors separate. Magistrates union ANM has characterised the plans as an umpteenth bid to put Italy's independent judiciary under some form of government control, a contention former prosecutor Nordio denies. On Thursday Nordio said that the "autonomy and independence of the judiciary are a cornerstone of our democracy, guaranteed by the Constitution. "These essential principles accompanied me throughout my long professional career as a prosecutor," he added. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, JAN 26 - Health warnings on wine bottles proposed by Ireland amount to an "unacceptable stigma" which Italy will combat in consultation with other major producers like France and Spain, Agriculture and Food Sovereignty Minister Francesco Lollobrigida said Thursday. Ireland plans to put labels on bottles of wine, beer and spirits similar to those on cigarettes packs highlighting the potential harm to the liver and cancer links of abuse of alcohol. Lollobrigida, grand-nephew of the late screen diva Gina, said he would liaise with Health Minister Orazio Schillaci on how to block the Irish labels. "Our position is clear. Any labelling that envisages stigma on the effects of wine on human health is unacceptable. We want to re-etsblish the truth. The Irish measure is not justifiable by any scientific evidence," said Lollobrigida, who has previously noted the positive health effects of a moderate use of wine. He said Rome would "open channels with France and Spain" on this battle. Italian regional governments also said Thursday they were ready to fight to defend their wines. "We are the top wine producers in the world. It is one of our top products and the Conference of Regions intends to defend it to avoid damage to production and the international image of our companies. We oppose the abuse of labelling on our wines," said the President of the Conference of Regions Massimiliano Fedriga, the governor of Friuli. He said that Ireland's plans, which have been backed by the EU, "must be strongly opposed". (ANSA). Migrants: Austria, the EU should support Bulgaria's border For technical equipment but also for complementary aspects (ANSA) - BRUSSELS, JAN 26 - It is "necessary" to make Bulgaria's border with Turkey "more robust." "I think many countries are interested in making this external border stronger. It is also necessary to have the Commission's support in several aspects, including technical equipment and complementary aspects." Austria's Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said, upon his arrival at the informal Home Affairs Council in Stockholm. (ANSA). Copyright ANSA - All rights reserved PARIS - Before the second day of national mobilization on January 31 against a controversial pension reform, French union CGT has urged workers to strike already on Thursday and Friday at oil refineries, power stations and in ports across the country. The pension reform promoted by French President Emmanuel Macron, which is opposed by all unions and will be discussed by Parliament after the green light from the council of ministers, scraps special pension regimes for large groups like EDF (Electricite de France) and Engie (ex-GDF Suez). These companies' employees would be forced, in perspective, to a controversial increase in the retirement age from 62 to 64. After a major protest last Thursday, which saw over one million people take to the streets of France, the second day of strike on January 31 should affect all sectors: school, public institutions, transportation and services. But the CGT means to do more in the energy sector, organizing additional strikes and demonstrations. Production drops and blockades in the electrical power sector could be expected as soon as Thursday, warned Fabrice Coudour, federal secretary of FNME-CGT, however ruling out power cuts for the larger public. CGT "means to look for even more people to strike on the 31st and to show that we master the tool of work", explained Coudour. MADRID - A sacristan was killed and four other people were injured, including a priest who is in serious condition, in an attack committed by a machete-wielding man on Wednesday evening at two churches in Algeciras, a Spanish city close to Gibraltar. The fast sequence of attacks, which ended with the arrest of the alleged attacker, left several eye witnesses in shock. Investigators are trying to determine if it was a "terrorist" incident. The succession of events was described by the Spanish interior ministry: shortly after 7 pm on Wednesday, the man who was later arrested entered the church of San Isidro, located in downtown Algeciras and attacked the local parish priest, leaving him with very serious injuries. The alleged attacker subsequently walked to the church of Nuestra Senora de La Palma, approximately a five-minute walk away. Once he entered the second church, he "caused several damages", later attacking the sacristan. The man tried to flee outside, but the attacker inflicted further, fatal injuries on him. According to police sources quoted by Spanish news agency Efe, the man arrested is approximately 40-years-old and a Moroccan citizen, but the report has not been officially confirmed. According to eye witnesses questioned by investigators, the suspect was wearing a black djellaba, a typical tunic from Maghreb, during the attack. "There are no other people involved in the facts", Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told Efe Thursday from Stockholm, where he has travelled for an international event. The minister added that police searched the suspect's home and asked to wait for the results of investigation before establishing the "terrorist or other nature" of the attack. 16th edition of Kusturica film fest starts in Serbia Event dedicated to young filmmakers. Virzi, Nicchiarelli guests (ANSAmed) - BELGRADE, 26 GEN - The 16th edition of 'Kustendorf', the international film festival dedicated to young directors and film students, opened on Wednesday night in Drvengrad, an idyllic mountain village built entirely in wood in western Serbia. The event is dedicated to independent cinema, without red carpets and Hollywood glamour, with seminars, meetings and debates between authors and the public, mainly journalists and critics from various countries. The opening ceremony was attended, in addition to Kusturica, by Serbian Culture Minister Maja Gojkovic. As in previous editions - the most recent ones were online and moved due to the pandemic - the event will see the participation of international guests including actors, directors and producers. Italy will be represented by Susanna Nicchiarelli and Paolo Virzi, with their respective films Chiara and Siccita (drought) to be screened in the section 'contemporary trends'. Nicchiarelli is also a member of the jury. During past editions, guests at Kusturica's festival included Paolo Sorrentino, Monica Bellucci, Matteo Garrone, Nikita Mikhalkov, Johnny Depp. A total of 14 short films by young authors coming, among others, from Serbia, Russia, Hungary, Greece, the Czech Republic, Iran, Slovakia and Switzerland will compete for an award. 'Kustendorf' will end on January 29 with an award ceremony to hand over the gold, silver and bronze 'eggs'. (ANSAmed). Abbas announces 3 days of mourning for Jenin deaths Protests in West Bank (ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, 26 GEN - Palestinian National Authority (PNA) President Mahmoud Abbas has announced three days of national mourning and ordered flags to half staff in honour of "martyrs of the massacre" conducted Thursday by the Israeli army in Jenin, West Bank, Palestinian official news agency Wafa said. Abbas had previously scheduled in Ramallah an emergency government meeting of the PNA. Local sources added that in several Palestinian cities of the West Bank retailers are on strike to protest against the killing of at least nine Palestinians during armed clashes in Jenin. (ANSAmed). Migrants: 95 people rescued Wednesday night-Sos Mediterranee 'We were told four fell into water before our arrival' (ANSAmed) - ROME, 26 GEN - Migrant-rescue vessel Ocean Viking run by NGO Sos Mediterraneee on Wednesday night rescued 95 people from an overcrowded rubber dinghy in international waters off Libya after a request made by reconnaissance aircraft Seabird 2, the NGO said. Libyan coast guards arrived at the scene and "endangered the security of the shipwrecked people with risky maneuvers", the same source denounced, noting that "the shipwrecked people later said that at least four people fell into the water before our arrival". "We looked for them for hours, alone. The two Libyan cutters present in the area sailed away without responding to our request for support in the search for the missing", Sos Mediterranee Italia tweeted. (ANSAmed). Spain: one dead in Algeciras machete attack at two churches Four wounded. Man arrested in suspected terror attack (ANSAmed) - MADRID, 26 GEN - A sacristan was killed and four other people were injured, including a priest who is in serious condition, in an attack committed by a machete-wielding man on Wednesday evening at two churches in Algeciras, a Spanish city close to Gibraltar. The fast sequence of attacks, which ended with the arrest of the alleged attacker, left several eye witnesses in shock. Investigators are trying to determine if it was a "terrorist" incident. The succession of events was described by the Spanish interior ministry: shortly after 7 pm on Wednesday, the man who was later arrested entered the church of San Isidro, located in downtown Algeciras and attacked the local parish priest, leaving him with very serious injuries. The alleged attacker subsequently walked to the church of Nuestra Senora de La Palma, approximately a five-minute walk away. Once he entered the second church, he "caused several damages", later attacking the sacristan. The man tried to flee outside, but the attacker inflicted further, fatal injuries on him. According to police sources quoted by Spanish news agency Efe, the man arrested is approximately 40-years-old and a Moroccan citizen, but the report has not been officially confirmed. According to eye witnesses questioned by investigators, the suspect was wearing a black djellaba, a typical tunic from Maghreb, during the attack. "There are no other people involved in the facts", Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told Efe Thursday from Stockholm, where he has travelled for an international event. The minister added that police searched the suspect's home and asked to wait for the results of investigation before establishing the "terrorist or other nature" of the attack. (ANSAmed). 9 Palestinians killed in West Bank in clashes with soldiers Israeli army says 'anti-terror operation ongoing' in Jenin (ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, 26 GEN - At least nine Palestinians were killed during armed clashes with the Israeli army in Jenin, in the northern part of the West Bank, the local health ministry said. Twenty others were wounded, including four who are in serious condition, according to the same source. An elderly woman was among the dead. Israeli military radio said an army unit entered Jenin on Thursday "to capture a prominent terrorist". Military sources were quoted as saying that they were looking for one of the local commanders of the Islamic Jihad who "has planned a serious attack, to be carried our immediately" against Israeli civilians. According to the sources, prolonged armed conflicts were reported in Jenin. During one of the clashes, Palestinian militants downed a drone of the Israeli army. The same sources said the operation on Thursday was one of the most important carried our by the army in Jenin over the past few months. A military spokesman said that during the armed clashes Thursday in Jenin "a Palestinian civilian was also shot. The circumstances of this incident are now being investigated". Describing the operation, the army added that soldiers, among other things, discovered two bombs ready for use in the building inside which Palestinian militants had barricaded themselves. They were detonated by an army bomb disposal engineer. No casualties were reported among Israeli forces, the army added. Nabil Abu Rudeinah, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, called the incident in Jenin "a massacre carried out by the Israeli government of occupation amid international silence". "Inability and international silence encourage the government of occupation to commit massacres against our people in front of the world", he added. (ANSAmed). China's optimized pandemic strategy to boost tourism, economy in Cambodia, world: officials Xinhua) 14:35, January 26, 2023 PHNOM PENH, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's optimization of its COVID-19 strategy early this month could boost tourism and economic growth in Cambodia and the rest of the world, officials said here on Wednesday. "China's reopening could give a boost to global tourism and economic recovery," Cambodian Economy and Finance Ministry's Standing Secretary of State Vongsey Vissoth said at a forum on Cambodia's economic outlook for 2023. Kruy Narin, deputy director of the General Department of Policy at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, said Cambodia was expected to receive a large number of Chinese tourists after China's pandemic strategy optimization. "China's optimization of its COVID-19 strategy could drive our tourism growth, our export growth to China, and inflows of Chinese investments into Cambodia," she said at the forum. Narin said Cambodia's economy is forecast to grow by 5.6 percent in 2023, up from 5.2 percent in 2022, supported by the garment and non-garment manufacturing sectors, agriculture, and tourism. "This year, our manufacturing sector is projected to grow by 5.5 percent, agriculture is forecast to increase by 1.1 percent, and tourism is expected to see a big jump," she said. She added that the construction and real estate sector, which is one of the key pillars supporting the economy, will continue to see a sluggish recovery after being severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in the past few years. Narin said the predicted growth for 2023 remained "high and resilient" despite challenges caused by global uncertainties, rising protectionism and climate change. She added that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership trade pact, the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement, and the Cambodia-South Korea Free Trade Agreement would continue to support the kingdom's economic growth in the long term. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Hongyu) Iran's potential nuclear threat is a significant risk to other nations. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Gossi warned that Tehran has amassed enough material to create "several nuclear weapons." Grossi spoke ahead of a scheduled visit to Iran's capital, telling a European Parliament subcommittee in Brussels on Wednesday that Tehran was still not finished building a nuclear weapon. He also urged the West to redouble efforts to prevent Iranian officials from completing it. Iran's Nuclear Threat When uranium is enriched to more than 90%, it can already be weaponized. According to Grossi, Iran has 70 kilograms of element that was increased to 60% purity and 1,000 kilograms that was enriched to 20% purity. The chief of the IAEA is set to visit Tehran in February for what officials call a "much-needed political dialogue." The planned trip comes despite the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a nuclear deal signed in 2015 with Iran, being in "very bad shape," as per CNN. Gross claimed that the JCPOA was only an "empty shell" and added that diplomatic activity linked to reviving the nuclear deal was almost non-existent. He noted that while no one declared the deal dead, no obligation was pursued regarding the matter. The IAEA chief also said that every limit that existed in the JCPOA has, several times, been violated. Last year, the IAEA asked Tehran to explain why there were traces of uranium found in three areas that should not have been dedicated to nuclear activity. In response, Iran removed 27 of the IAEA's cameras from the areas. Gross on Tuesday said that the act left the IAEA "blind" on several aspects, including being able to determine how much material, equipment, and centrifuges exist in the area. The head of Iran's atomic agency, Mohammad Eslami, confirmed the IAEA chief's planned visit to Tehran. Read Also: Germany Prepared To Send Tanks to Kyiv Decision Over a Nuclear Deal On the other hand, United States President Joe Biden is under fire over his decision regarding Tehran and the nuclear situation. Several lawmakers took a shot at the Democrat's administration in the past month, arguing that despite claims, he was not ready to let go of a potential deal, as per Fox News. In a statement, a spokesman for Sen. Ted Cruz said that the Texas Republican believes that the Biden administration is "ideologically obsessed" with re-entering a nuclear deal with Tehran. He argued that the president prioritizes that deal more than other crucial interests, including supporting women-led protests against the Iranian government and assisting Ukraine. The spokesman added that Cruz expected the Biden administration to deepen its obsession over the deal. Biden's Special Envoy to Iran, Robert Malley, was reported to have conducted recent meetings with Iran's ambassador to the UN, Saeed Iravani. The situation comes as Saudi Arabia Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Juberi said during the World Economic Forum in Davos that Iran's nuclear program violates international agreements. During the forum held last week, al-Juberi noted that Tehran had no obligation to give up its nuclear program but must comply with the IAEA's terms, said CNBC. Related Article: US Sends Tanks To Support Ukraine @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Migrants: conclusion pact by end of semester, EU Good progress, commitment presidency. Focus on repatriations (ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, 26 GEN - EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said upon her arrival at an informal meeting of justice and home affairs ministers in Stockholm that "we have made good progress with all legislative dossiers and the Swedish EU presidency is committed to continue along this road so it can complete all legislative dossiers, including the pact on migration and asylum during this mandate". "We also have an acute situation, with a huge increase of irregular arrivals of migrants", explained Johansson. "Last year, we received some 300,000 irregular migrants, but nearly one million asylum requests: 924,000 asylum applications in the European Union. It means we have three times more asylum requests" compared to arrivals and "they are overburdening hosting capacities and many of them don't need international protection", she said, welcoming the fact that the "Swedish presidency will not focus on repatriations". (ANSAmed). Leading charities have called for an independent inquiry into how more than 200 asylum-seeking children have gone missing from Home Office hotels, describing the situation as a child protection scandal. In a letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak signed by more than 100 organisations, the charities warned that the children many of whom had been living in southern seaside towns were at risk of exploitation. Their letter urges him to end the practice of housing young refugees who have been separated from their families in Home Office hotels, and instead place them with specialist local authority teams who can protect them. Co-ordinated by ECPAT UK and the Refugee Council, the open letter has been signed by charities including the NSPCC, Barnardos, Action for Children, Coram, The Childrens Society and National Childrens Bureau. It comes after Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick told MPs in the House of Commons on Tuesday that over 4,600 unaccompanied children have been accommodated in hotels since July 2021. He added: There have been 440 missing occurrences and 200 children remain missing, 13 of whom are under 16 years of age and only one of whom is female. He said 88% (176) of the unaccompanied asylum-seeking children still missing are Albanian nationals, with the remaining 12% from Afghanistan, Egypt, India, Vietnam, Pakistan and Turkey. The letter condemns the Governments reported failures to protect vulnerable children from harm, and highlights how housing young refugees in hotels was intended to be used only as a short-term emergency option. The letter states: There is no legal basis for placing children in Home Office hotel accommodation, and almost two years into the operation of the scheme which is both unlawful and harmful it is no longer possible to justify the use of hotels as being temporary. It is a significant departure from the Children Act 1989 and established standards. The charities add that the Home Office has repeatedly failed to commit to an end date for the scheme. Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, described the loss of dozens of refugees as a child protection scandal. He said: We know from our work that children who have experienced unimaginable horror and upheaval coming to our country in search of safety are highly traumatised and vulnerable. The Government has a very clear legal duty to protect them but is failing to do so with the equivalent of several classrooms of children seemingly having disappeared into the clutches of those who will exploit and abuse them. This is a child protection scandal that councils, the police and ministers must urgently address to ensure every single separated child matters and is kept safe. Patricia Durr, chief executive of ECPAT UK, called for an urgent commitment to end this practice immediately. She said: Despite evidence of the risks and numerous representations, the Government has ignored the warnings and is yet to commit to an exit strategy, seeming to prefer to entrench this discriminatory approach to some of the most vulnerable children with the greatest need of protection and care. We need an urgent commitment to end this practice immediately and to ensure that separated children are cared for and protected as all other children within our legal and well-established child welfare framework. Rather than setting up separate provision, the Government must provide local authorities with sufficient funds to properly fulfil their legal duties to children. Searches for missing British actor Julian Sands have continued by air only, with authorities using new technology that can detect electronic devices and credit cards. San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department said it was hopeful that the technology would be able to more accurately pinpoint an area on which to focus efforts. It comes as the department said that fresh searches on higher ground for Sands were still not possible due to poor conditions. UPDATE: The search for Julian Sands continues by air only. The California Highway Patrol Valley Division Air Ops from Auburn, California, is currently assisting us in the search using a RECCO device RECCO Be Searchable. RECCO technology can detect RECCO reflective material, San Bernardino County Sheriff (@sbcountysheriff) January 25, 2023 Attempts to find the actor are approaching the end of their second week, after he was first reported missing in the Baldy Bowl area of the San Gabriel mountains in southern California on January 13. On Wednesday, the sheriffs department tweeted: The search for Julian Sands continues by air only. The California Highway Patrol Valley Division Air Ops from Auburn, California, is currently assisting us in the search using a Recco device. Recco technology can detect Recco reflective material, electronics, and in some cases, credit cards. electronics, & in some cases, credit cards. We are hopeful our @CHP_HQ partners, Officers Hertzell & Calcutt, can pinpoint an area where we can focus our search efforts, and we thank them for their assistance. Additional information will be released when it becomes available. pic.twitter.com/U1K0io9MN5 San Bernardino County Sheriff (@sbcountysheriff) January 25, 2023 We are hopeful our @CHP_HQ partners, Officers Hertzell & Calcutt, can pinpoint an area where we can focus our search efforts, and we thank them for their assistance. Infrared devices have also been used by authorities previously, but to no effect. On Tuesday the force said numerous ground and air searches had previously taken place in lower areas, but no evidence of the actors location had been found, though a second hiker who had gone missing in the same area was found alive. A spokesperson for the department told the PA news agency that although the ground searches for the second hiker had provided an opportunity for secondary sweeps, Sands had still not been located. They added that further ground searches in areas of higher elevation were still not possible due to the conditions. The Sheriffs Department is closing in on the second full week of the search for missing hiker, Julian Sands, Tuesdays online statement read. Numerous ground and air search efforts have taken place. As of this time, Mr. Sands has not been found and no evidence of his current location has been discovered. The search will continue, weather and ground conditions permitting. The statement added: Regardless of precautions taken by hikers, the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department highly recommends hikers avoid hazardous mountainous areas, such as Mt Baldy, at this time. It comes after Sands family praised the heroic efforts of Californian authorities conducting the search efforts. In a statement, also shared by the sheriffs department, his family said they were deeply touched by the support they had received in the days since his disappearance. As we enter day 11 of the search for Julian Sands on Mt. Baldy, we are reminded of the sheer determination & selflessness of all of the people who have aided in this search. We will continue to utilize the resources available to us. The family would like to share this statement: pic.twitter.com/owO2o97f16 San Bernardino County Sheriff (@sbcountysheriff) January 23, 2023 Sands was born in Yorkshire and moved to Los Angeles in 2020. His breakout role came as the free-spirited George in the period drama A Room With A View, in which he starred opposite Helena Bonham Carter. He later moved to the horror genre, featuring in films such as Warlock and Arachnophobia, as well as dramatic parts on television. More recently he played the chief medical officer in the 2021 Jack Lowden and Peter Capaldi-led drama Benediction. From 1984 to 1987 Sands was married to future Evening Standard and Today editor Sarah Sands, with whom he has a son. He also has two daughters with journalist Evgenia Citkowitz, whom he married in 1990. Health workers take to the picket lines in Northern Ireland Thousands of health workers are taking part in strike action across Northern Ireland. Paramedics are among the workers taking part at picket lines across the region on Thursday. Workers with the unions Nipsa, Unison and Unite are staging the action. The 24-hour stoppage will be the latest full day of action taken by health sector unions as they press for safe staffing, better pay and improved mileage allowances. There was previous strike action on December 12. The Royal College of Nursing also took part in strike action over pay and safe staffing levels in December. At the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, paramedic Gabriel McComish said there is a need for change within the health service and attitude towards public services. He described working conditions as horrendous. We have an increase in population, increased numbers and a reduced workforce, we have people leaving on an annual basis for new opportunities within health organisations around the UK and private health, he told the PA news agency. We need to hold on to staff and the only way you can hold on to staff is to respect us, dont disrespect us because once you start to disrespect us, people will leave and the community will suffer. Year after year we have seen cuts in funding and we have seen our colleagues leave early, retiring early, becoming sick or leaving for other industries. Paramedic Gabriel McComish on the picket line outside the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA) I have been in the service 20 years, and what Im seeing now is people who have been in maybe 10 to 15 years considering going into other industries where theyre better respected, they have better hours and better salaries the job that they came in to do isnt there anymore. Mr McComish said with the ongoing crisis in hospitals, paramedics are spending hours after their shift ended waiting outside Emergency Departments. Were struggling to get finished on time on a daily basis, day after day after day our crews are being held up three to four hours after their finishing time, they cant get home to their families, they cant get their annual leave. Theyre tired and depressed about the whole situation, he said. He said workers are determined to stand tall and fight back. Morale at the minute is quite high because when youre in a situation where youre up against a wall, you have to fight back so people are standing firm and tall, we have a fight on our hands and were going to fight until this is resolved, he said. We need this government to come in and start talking to us properly. Eddie Richmond, a duty control manager with the ambulance service, said workers are still there to help those most in need. We will still provide that cover, and we have gone to great lengths working with our management team to ensure that cover is maintained at all times, he said. But it is important that the message goes out that the health service is broken, and there is no use saying it is on its knees, or got run down, it is broken and it needs to be fixed. Ambulance workers on the picket line in Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA) Twelve years of austerity from the Conservative Government, cuts after cuts after cuts, have not helped the health service one bit, and were now in such a position that the public are at risk. The public are at risk every single day. We have tried, we have gone to the Government, we have gone to the department (of health), weve argued, weve presented the case, its not just about money. This is about the service and the fact it is now completely broken. We would like to see a turnaround, a proper investment, jobs, there are 100,000-plus vacancies in the NHS across the country, we would like to see those positions filled. This is not just about pay, this is about the service and the service we provide to the public. Anne Speed, of Unison, said in the absence of talks, workers are stepping out and stepping up. It is an appalling situation when trade unions willing to negotiate have all doors closed to them. It is therefore inevitable that this action today is happening, she said. Health workers cannot stand idly by or stay silent. And why should they? Ms Speed also lambasted Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris, who is currently on a trip to the United States aimed at encouraging trade opportunities. The Stormont Assembly remains in flux with no ministers in post. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has been urged to help resolve the dispute (PA) Ms Speed said Mr Heaton-Harris has responsibilities in Northern Ireland. It is time he included in his priorities addressing the crisis in our health service. Staff recruitment and retention and pay justice are every bit as important as trade, she said. Our members also expect a joint effort from all political parties to break this logjam. In a statement, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said it has engaged with trade union representatives to identify services and roles that will be exempt from strike action to ensure that a response continues to the most clinically urgent patients. However, NIAS said it anticipates challenges throughout Thursday and that it plans to maintain the safety of those patients whose need is greatest. It has urged the public to only call for an ambulance on Thursday in life-threatening emergencies such as cardiac arrest, loss of consciousness, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding and others. Callers should not hesitate to call 999 in the case of serious illness or injury, but other callers should consider other options including self-care, seeking GP or pharmacy advice or presenting themselves to Emergency Departments, the service said. The spokesman added: NIAS respects the right of our staff who are union members to participate in industrial action. This action is being taken in relation to the national issues of pay and conditions and is a matter for the Government and trade unions. Ministers are reportedly planning to ban the sale and possession of what is known as laughing gas as part of a bid to tackle antisocial behaviour. The Times newspaper reports that under the proposals, drug misuse laws would be updated to allow people found with nitrous oxide gas in public to be prosecuted. The paper said that under the changes, only those with a legitimate reason would be exempt. Examples given include chefs, who use it for whipped cream or freezing and chilling food. The substance can also be used as pain relief during dental treatment or childbirth. Policing minister Chris Philp (James Manning/PA) Current legislation bans the knowing or reckless supply of nitrous oxide for inhalation but there have been calls for a ban on all direct consumer sales as part of a tightening up of the law on the commonly used drug. Policing minister Chris Philp is reportedly pushing for an ongoing review of nitrous oxide by the independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to be fast-tracked to April, with suggestions that a formal announcement on a ban could be made as part of the Governments antisocial behaviour strategy due later this year. The Prime Minister addressed the issue in his new years speech earlier this month, hitting out at antisocial behaviour and highlighting the blight of discarded nitrous oxide canisters in childrens playgrounds. The Home Office has been approached for comment on the reported changes. Marks & Spencers chairman has become the latest business leader to criticise the Governments economic policy, with Archie Norman calling plans to ease post-Brexit trade overbearing and baffling. Mr Norman, who is also an ex-Conservative MP, has urged the Foreign Secretary during talks with the EU not to consider separate labelling for goods sold in Northern Ireland. The overbearing costs of a labelling regime would raise prices and reduce choice for consumers, further disadvantage UK farmers and suppliers and impact UK retailers competitiveness in other international markets, Mr Norman wrote according to excerpts obtained by the Telegraph. The simple fact is retailers already operate in real-time digital information day or night, at the click of a button, we can locate our products, be that in a depot, in transit or in a store. In a digital era when one tap of a mobile can check-in a customer at a store and locate their order in under 60 seconds, its baffling that the Government and EU have rewound four decades to discuss an expensive solution involving stickers & labelling. Both the UK and EU are keen to strike a deal to break the logjam over Brexits Northern Ireland Protocol before Aprils landmark 25th anniversary of Northern Irelands historic Good Friday peace agreement. But Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris on Wednesday insisted London is not setting any deadlines on the talks over the contentious trading arrangements. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris insisted London is not setting any deadlines on talks over the contentious trading arrangements (Brian Lawless/PA) The DUP is currently blocking the functioning of powersharing at Stormont and has made clear it will not allow devolution to return unless major changes to the protocol are delivered. An agreement between the EU and UK would not guarantee the restoration of devolution, as the DUP may ultimately reject it and continue with its Stormont boycott. Mr Norman said in May that EU proposals for administering the protocol are highly bureaucratic and pretty useless given UK food standards are equivalent or higher than those set by Brussels. He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme at the time that the bloc was suggesting that the same background checks, including veterinary checks, required for the Republic of Ireland are also needed to send goods from other parts of the UK to Northern Ireland. Sir James Dyson has called on the Government to demonstrate its ambition for growth (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Incidentally that means that every piece of butter in a sandwich has to have an EU vet certificate, so its highly bureaucratic and pretty pointless, he said. Mr Normans latest criticism of the Governments plans as baffling follow billionaire businessman Sir James Dyson calling out Rishi Sunak last week for a short-sighted approach to business. The founder and chief engineer of the Singapore-based multinational technology company Dyson called on Mr Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to use the spring budget to incentivise private innovation and demonstrate its ambition for growth. UK airports could be breaking competition law, according to information received by a regulator. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has written to airport operators warning of serious consequences for illegal information sharing. The letter, produced jointly with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), stated: The CMA has recently received intelligence to suggest that some UK airport operators might not always be complying with competition law. The CMA and @UK_CAA have been made aware of potential breaches in competition law by some UK #airport operators. Read more here: https://t.co/sE11XPxUJs pic.twitter.com/p30vQ1r3um Competition & Markets Authority (@CMAgovUK) January 26, 2023 The CAA is aware of this intelligence and shares the CMAs serious concerns about the possibility of competition law breaches in the sector. Sharing confidential information with competitors may seem tempting to reduce uncertainty but this may be illegal, according to the regulators. They wrote that it was appropriate for airports to consult publicly before modifying charges but they must not share additional information with each other or discuss pricing or competitive strategies. Weve been working closely with @CMAgovUK after becoming aware that some UK airport operators might not always be complying with competition law. Weve written to airport operators to remind them of their duties and of the consequences of breaking the law. pic.twitter.com/cGsjVUkomH UK Civil Aviation Authority (@UK_CAA) January 26, 2023 Giving rivals insight into future commercial plans could reduce competition, leading to higher prices and poorer service, airports were told. This is unfair to customers (both airlines and end consumers), many of whom have also faced and continue to face significant challenges due to the pandemic and other cost pressures, the letter stated. The regulators did not specify which airports it had concerns about, but warned they may take formal enforcement action if further intelligence of suspected competition law breaches was received. Consequences for businesses that break competition law include fines of up to 10% of worldwide turnover, director disqualifications of up to 15 years and criminal prosecutions of individuals involved. Diane Keaton's makes some funny confessions love life in new interview. (Photo: Reuters) Could Diane Keaton and Richard Gere have been one of Hollywood's power couples? If the actress had her way years ago, the answer is yes. Keaton told Extra that when she and Gere filmed 1977's Looking for Mr. Goodbar, she was hoping to be more than co-stars. "I had a crush on him, but he didn't cotton to me at all," Keaton laughed. "He was supposed to care about me in the movie... but he didn't want it!" Clearly, Keaton isn't too in her feelings about the whole thing. She and Gere share the screen together again in the new romantic comedy Maybe I Do. The Oscar-winning actress said Gere is "great." Keaton's love life was a topic as the reporter asked how long it's been since she went on a date. "Dates are... let's [say] 15 years," the Annie Hall star replied. "They probably just thought, Enough's enough she's too weird.' I'm kind of odd, but I'm doing fine." Fifteen years is better than the number she threw out in 2019, speculating it had been 35 years since she went out with someone. "Someday, someone will marry me," Keaton quipped. "Maybe one of these nice men today who have to deal with me today." The iconic actress really isn't all that upset about it. Earlier this month, she celebrated her 77th birthday with a tribute to herself. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE LOVE OF MY LIFE ME!" she declared. Keaton, who has dated stars like Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson and Warren Beatty, previously opened up about her decision not to wed. "I didn't want to give up my independence," Keaton said in 2021. "By the way, no one has ever asked me to marry them, either, so that might be a good answer," she said, adding, "I should've started with that and called it a day." The Irish government is absolutely determined to see those responsible for the killing of a peacekeeper in Lebanon brought to justice. Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin was speaking as he visited Irelands peacekeeping troops at Camp Shamrock in the country. The Tanaiste laid a wreath at a memorial to Private Sean Rooney who was killed in a shooting incident in December. Mr Martin also met the Lebanese ministers for foreign affairs, Dr Abdullah Bou Habib, and defence, Maurice Sleem, in Beirut. Thanking them for their governments expressions of sympathy over Pte Rooneys death, Mr Martin described the meeting as an opportunity to underline the need to ensure that the ongoing Lebanese investigation into Private Rooneys death is as thorough and complete as possible. Mr Martin previously visited the base during his term as Taoiseach. He told peacekeepers the death of Private Rooney, who was from Co Donegal, made returning even more important to him. Private Rooneys death was a shocking reminder to all of Ireland of the risks taken by each and every one of you, in discharging your duty and maintaining our countrys proud record and reputation, he said. Im conscious that all of you have lost a comrade and a friend. It is to your immense credit that, notwithstanding your personal loss, you have continued to perform with the professionalism we have come to expect from our Defence Forces. Nonetheless, I would encourage you to reach out and seek support if you need it, especially when you return home. Support services are available, dont hesitate to use them. You have come through a very difficult experience and you need to mind yourselves. Today we remember someone who made the ultimate sacrifice in the quest for peace. Today we remember Pte Sean Rooney, and all those members of the Irish Defence Forces who lost their lives in the month of January. pic.twitter.com/H8uy1NdhOt Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) January 26, 2023 Mr Martin also acknowledged those who were injured in the incident at Al-Aqbiya, particularly Trooper Shane Kearney, who was critically injured. We are all immensely grateful that Trooper Kearney is now back in Ireland and making good progress with his recovery, he said. It goes without saying that we wish him continued progress in the coming weeks and months. Mr Martin said lines of inquiry are being pursued by the Defence Forces Multi-disciplinary Team into the killing of Private Rooney, as well as three separate parallel investigations into the facts and circumstances of the matter by the Lebanese authorities, United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and Irish police. The government is absolutely determined that all of the facts and circumstances of the incident are fully established and that no stone will be left unturned to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice, he said. He added: On behalf of the Irish people, may I thank each and every one of you for the part you are playing in continuing the proud tradition of generations of Irish peacekeepers. The leaders of the United States and Germany said on Wednesday that they would send tank contingents to Ukraine. The countries alter their longtime reluctance to provide Kyiv with offensive armored vehicles and unleash potent new weaponry in Ukraine's drive to recover territory taken by Russia. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's announcement that he will send Leopard 2 tanks was accompanied by US President Joe Biden's announcement that he would provide 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. The decision reversed the administration's longstanding resistance to Kyiv's requests for highly sophisticated but maintenance-intensive vehicles. US Will Send 31 Abram Tanks to Ukraine The simultaneous declarations marked a watershed moment following weeks of heavy pressure from some of Berlin's NATO partners. The decisions resulted from extensive negotiations between Germany, the United States, and other European allies. They come as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky prepares for a fresh Russian attack in the spring. Speaking from the White House, Biden stated that the tanks would "increase Ukraine's ability to defend its territory and fulfill its strategic objectives in the short and long term." While praising the tanks' capacity to confront Russia's shifting tactics and strategy on the battlefield, Biden warned that Moscow should not perceive them as an "offensive threat." Previously, Scholz informed members of the German parliament that the decision to supply Leopard 2 tanks followed negotiations with western allies. The disagreement over whether the Germans would send Leopards to help Ukraine could reveal the first fissures in the Western reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, Scholz and Biden's declaration demonstrates that the United States and its allies continue to assist President Volodymyr Zelensky and his nation's struggle against the Russians. However, US officials independently admitted that the new vehicles would only arrive in a few months. Transferring European tanks will become more efficient. On Tuesday, administration officials revealed to ABC News that they were contemplating deploying Abrams tanks to Ukraine as part of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. This implies that the United States will contract the tanks with their manufacturer, delaying their deployment for a considerable time - maybe more than a year. President Biden acknowledged the longer schedule, which government officials had previously said might take "months as opposed to weeks." Germany stated early Wednesday that it would provide Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks and approve requests from dozens of other nations to do the same. The United Kingdom has also pledged twelve Challenger 2 battle tanks, while Poland has asked Germany for permission to transfer its stockpile of Leopards. Read Also: What is Doomsday Clock? Biden Justifies Support For Ukraine The president said he spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday morning regarding the conflict. Biden justified the action as a concerted decision when asked about the timing of this decision and whether Germany "made you change your mind" about deploying tanks, which the Pentagon was initially opposed to. However, the pledge of tanks, which a Ukrainian source told ABC News may amount to approximately 100 Leopard 2s, falls well short of Zelensky's stated requirement of 300 combat tanks. US officials said on Wednesday that the fresh supply of tanks demonstrates the solidarity among all allies working to help Ukraine, downplaying the difference between the US and Germany in using the Abrams vehicles. Zelensky responded to the tank promises in a new interview with SkyNews. "I want to thank Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States for making this decision," he stated. On December 21, 2022, Zelensky addressed the United States Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated at his daily briefing on Wednesday that "to deliver US-made Abrams tanks to Ukraine won't work because its proponents overestimate the capabilities of the Ukrainian military." On Wednesday, Biden reaffirmed the United States resolve to resist Russian aggression on Ukrainian land. Ukraine desires American and German tanks as soon as possible, as they are more sophisticated than Russia. Last week, the Biden administration unveiled another massive military aid package for Ukraine, including over 150 more armored vehicles, but not the tanks that Ukraine had sought. Related Article: US, Germany Ready To Send Tanks to Ukraine @YouTube @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The sun dial near the Legislative Building is shown under cloudy skies at the state Capitol in Olympia, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) SEATTLE (AP) An effort to balance what is considered the nation's most regressive state tax code comes before the Washington Supreme Court on Thursday, in a case that could overturn a prohibition on income taxes that dates to the 1930s. Washington is one of nine states without an income tax, and its heavy reliance on sales and fuel taxes to pay for schools, roads and other public expenses falls disproportionately on low-income residents. They pay at least six times more in taxes as a percentage of household income than the wealthiest residents do, according to lawmakers, and middle-income residents pay two to four times as much. Democrats in Olympia, led by Gov. Jay Inslee, sought to begin addressing that in 2021, when they enacted a 7% capital gains tax on the sale of stocks, bonds and other high-end assets, with exemptions for the first $250,000 each year and gains from sales of retirement accounts, real estate and certain small businesses. It was expected to be paid by 7,000 people fewer than 1 in every 1,000 residents and to bring in close to a half-billion dollars a year to help pay for public education in Washington, beginning this year. But it faces a legal challenge from wealthy residents and business and agricultural organizations, who say it violates the state and federal constitutions and makes for bad policy to boot. Washingtons unique, unprecedented and unconstitutional tax on capital gains will discourage our states resident entrepreneurs and investors from investing in new and expanded businesses in our state, the Building Industry Association of Washington and Washington Retail Association wrote in a friend-of-the-court brief. It will also cause significant numbers of individual business owners to leave Washington to avoid the new tax. Among the key issues being argued before the justices on Thursday is whether the new tax is, as the state insists, an excise tax broadly defined as a tax on certain goods, services or activities or an income tax, which the court long ago held unconstitutional in Washington. Ruled that a tax on income was a tax on property Voters overwhelmingly passed a graduated income tax in 1932. But in a 5-4 decision the following year, the state Supreme Court struck it down, ruling that a tax on income was a tax on property and the state Constitution says property taxes must be uniform and limited to 1% per year. Last year, Douglas County Superior Court Judge Brian Huber in central Washington sided with those challenging the capital gains tax as a forbidden income tax. State Attorney General Bob Ferguson appealed, saying Huber got it wrong because the tax is not on property it's on what an owner does with that property by selling it. The Edmonds School District and Washington Education Association, which intervened in the case on behalf of the state, said it agreed that the capital gains tax is an excise tax. But, they said, if the justices disagree and find that it is an income tax, then they should overturn their nearly century-old holding that an income tax is a tax on property. Unlike property, income isn't something that is owned and can be sold, their lawyers wrote: "This Courts cases holding that an income tax is a property tax were wrong when decided and they are wrong now. The arguments come as progressives are making a push in several states to have the rich pay more in taxes. Bills announced this month in California, New York, Illinois, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, Washington and Connecticut all revolve around the idea that the richest Americans need to pay more. But the proposals all face questionable prospects. Those challenging Washington's capital gains tax say it might apply even if the taxpayer takes no action to generate their gains in other words, they are taxed because they own the asset, not because they took any action regarding it. For example, a Washington resident who owns shares in an out-of-state company might benefit if the board of directors decides to sell major assets, with revenue passed on to shareholders, they wrote. In such a case the tax would be imposed based not on where the activity occurred, but where the shareholder lives, with implications regarding interstate commerce under the U.S. Constitution, they argued. They say the state's description of the measure as an excise tax is merely political maneuvering designed to conceal its true nature. The 41 states that tax capital gains tax it as income, they argue. Seven states have no income taxes at all Washington, Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming and two others, New Hampshire and Tennessee, tax only dividends and interest income earned by individual taxpayers. The challengers noted that since the 1930s, Washington's voters have 10 times rejected constitutional amendments or initiative measures that would allow or impose income taxes. Whether the existing tax system is desirable or should be changed is a quintessential economic policy matter not appropriate for judicial resolution, they wrote. A 29-year-old New Jersey woman fraudulently posed as a high school student for several days after allegedly filing false documents, school officials and police said. The incident was announced during a New Brunswick School Board meeting Tuesday night. PHOTO: In this screen grab from Google Maps, New Brunswick High School is shown in New Brunswick, N.J. (Google Maps Street View) The woman attended New Brunswick High School for four days last week before staff uncovered the "ruse," New Brunswick Public Schools Superintendent Aubrey Johnson said during the meeting. She was barred from district property and "all the appropriate authorities were immediately notified," Johnson said. "This is an unfortunate event," he said. MORE: Feds announce massive takedown of fraudulent nursing diploma scheme The New Brunswick Police Department said Hyejeong Shin, of New Brunswick, was charged on Tuesday with one count of providing a false government document with the intent to verify one's identity or age. "Specifically, Ms. Shin provided a false birth certificate to the New Brunswick Board of Education with the intent to enroll as a juvenile high-school student," the police department said in a statement. PHOTO: During a New Brunswick School Board meeting, school administrators reveal that a woman allegedly filed false documents to pose as a student, Jan. 24, 2023. (New Brunswick Today) Students in New Jersey are able to attend school on a provisional basis and have 30 days to confirm their identity before they're declared ineligible to attend classes. The woman gained provisional admittance to the high school last week after allegedly filing false documents last week, according to Johnson. Staff members discovered the "deception" during their vetting process, he said. School officials contacted students who may have encountered the fake student, Johnson said. "We have told our students to refrain from having any further contact with her either remotely or in person," he said. MORE: Teacher shot by 6-year-old says school was warned 4 times, announces lawsuit In light of the incident, the district is going to examine its enrollment processes to "better look for fake documentation," he added. The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office told ABC News it is not currently investigating the incident. The New Brunswick Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for more information on the case, including a possible motive. ABC News was unable to reach Shin or an attorney on her behalf. 29-year-old woman charged after allegedly posing as a student at New Jersey high school originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Exclusive-Biden to court wealthy donors as he preps 2024 campaign in coming weeks - sources U.S. President Joe Biden survey storm damaged areas By Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden will hold a number of fundraisers with wealthy Democratic donors in coming weeks as part of his expected bid to return to the White House in 2024, according to three sources familiar with the plans. Biden and the Democratic National Committee will host fundraisers in New York and Philadelphia next week that coincide with official presidential visits touting legislative successes. Then, the pace and volume of the fundraisers are expected to accelerate in March, the three sources said. "We have been told to expect fundraising to ramp up in the March and April time frame," said one donor who helped Biden raise money in 2020 and is committed to doing the same this time around. Biden has yet to officially say he is running for re-election, but he is expected to announce his bid in the weeks after the State of the Union speech scheduled for Feb. 7. The fundraising kickoff will focus on high-dollar donors as the campaign seeks to raise a war chest of a better part of a billion dollars, for what is expected to be the most expensive presidential campaign in history. Biden's campaign in 2020 was the first presidential candidate in history to raise over $1 billion, as he battled Republican Donald Trump. The Democratic National Committee will also need to raise money to help defend a tough congressional map in 2024 that includes defending Senate seats in Ohio, West Virginia, Arizona and Montana. Outside groups raised another $580 million for Biden in 2020. Aides are divided over whether to rely on a super-PAC this time around for outside help, and, if so, which one, sources tell Reuters. Biden will need to turn to the same Wall Street and tech industry donors his administration has sometimes demonized and who have at times felt ignored and passed over for international ambassadorships. The New York City fundraiser on Tuesday will be hosted by Jeffrey Weber, a wealthy, former hedge fund executive, according to an invitation seen by Reuters. The upcoming fundraising effort represents an early test of enthusiasm for a Biden re-election effort, and an early endurance test for an 80-year-old president who will have to balance the rigors of the White House with that of the campaign trail. In 2020, the COVID pandemic forced Biden to stay off the campaign trail and raise money through virtual fundraisers. This time around, Biden will be forced to run a more traditional campaign that includes a mix of official presidential duties, campaign stops and fundraising events. Read more: FACTBOX-U.S. elections: What to watch in 2023 Biden documents bungle seen as political black eye before 2024 launch (Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Heather Timmons, Chizu Nomiyama and Lisa Shumaker) Democrats say education, a livable wage and abortion rights are top issues following South Carolina Gov. Henry McMasters State of the State address Wednesday evening. In remarks delivered by Sen. Ronnie Sabb, D-Williamsburg, Sabb said that while Democrats support the governors initiatives, theyre fighting for objectives in K-12 and higher education, health care, social justice and employment compensation. The governor mentioned many exciting initiatives in his address, Sabb said. Democrats support the plans to improve our states roads and bridges, expand sewer and water services, and make broadband accessible to all South Carolinians. In addressing South Carolinas increasing teacher shortage, Sabb pointed out the rising costs in college tuition. Opening the door to college for more students will help remedy the massive teacher shortage our state is facing, he said. Democrats have long supported increasing teacher pay, and it has never been a secret that one of the reasons it is so hard to attract and retain teachers in South Carolina is because our salaries are simply not competitive. The 2022-23 school year in South Carolina began with around 1,500 teacher vacancies, according to data from a recent South Carolina Chamber of Commerce survey. And 55% of business leaders said that low teacher pay was the leading cause of turnover. Increasing salaries will give our current teachers a fair and livable wage, draw in new talent, and encourage the next generation of bright minds to enter this vital profession, Sabb said. Sabb also called attention to the physical condition of schools around the state, calling for more state money to help renovate schools, especially in rural areas. To ensure that students, no matter their ZIP code, have the opportunity to attend modern and safe schools, we need a recurring stream of state revenue dedicated to funding new facilities and making upgrades to outdated schools, he said. Mental health and social justice Looking to the needs of homeless South Carolina residents who lack access to health care, Sabb urged the governor to support mental health legislation. We must find new ways to provide health care for our most vulnerable, Sabb said. All too often, these South Carolinians find themselves homeless and end up in jail rather than in treatment. We have turned our backs on our neighbors. Sabb added that government should encourage good and discourage evil, referencing a long-time push for hate crime legislation. Governor, we invite you to add your voice to ours and be a part of good government one that discourages evil. Governor McMaster, lets pass hate crime legislation. Livable wage and womens rights Despite the largest personal income tax in South Carolinas history last year, Democrats, Sabb said, are still driving for a more livable wage, while protecting a womens right to choose whether she has an abortion. Currently, the minimum wage in South Carolina is $7.25, which Sabb says still leaves some people working full-time and grappling with poverty. New industries and jobs are coming, so its important our focus remains on supporting ways to keep our economy growing and healthy, he said. But a person working 40 hours a week should not be living in poverty. And following a controversial S.C. Supreme Court decision to protect a womans right to privacy in its 3-2 ruling over the states six-week abortion ban, Sabb said voters should be allowed to weigh in on the issue by a referendum vote. Our state Supreme Court has acknowledged that a woman has a constitutional right to privacy, and has struck down the repeated attacks from Republicans seeking to limit a womans access to health care during pregnancy, he said. Women have a fundamental right to control their own bodies. Call for collaboration In concluding his response, Sabb called for bipartisanship this legislative session as lawmakers seek to pass a series of hot-button issues. Governing is a joint process involving all citizens and their elected officials, both Democrats and Republicans. It is a partnership, he said. Thats why I want to encourage everyone to make their voices heard as we work, debate and pass legislation in 2023. A 12-member jury on Wednesday recommended the death penalty for a Florida Keys man convicted the previous day for the brutal rape, torture and murder of a woman in his van on the eve of the 2018 Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Monroe County Sheriffs Office detectives and statewide prosecutors with the Florida Attorney Generals Office say Steven Matthew Wolf, 62, kidnapped 51-year-old Michelle Osborne on Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2018, tied up and strangled her with a rope before raping her with two objects. State Attorneys Office spokesman Steven Torrence said the county Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death as ligature strangulation in combination with anal and genital trauma. Sheriff Rick Ramsay commended his homicide detective, calling the case especially brutal and heinous for the Keys, which has its share of crime, but where murder is rare. This wasnt quick, which wouldnt have made it any better, Ramsay told the Miami Herald/FLKeysnews.com. But, she was brutally raped. She suffered for a long, long period of time. The sheriffs office worked hard on this case. There was a lot of good police work. Obviously, were grateful to the Statewide Attorneys, the prosecutors in the Monroe County State Attorneys Office, the medical examiner and everybody involved in this case, he said. The case was prosecuted by a father-and-daughter team from the Attorney Generals Office Cristina and Cass Castillo, who declined to comment. The trial began Jan. 17, and Torrence said the jury took about an hour and 15 minutes to reach its decision on recommending death. Judge Mark Jones of Floridas 16th Circuit is scheduled to rule on the unanimous recommendation April 6. Monroe County State Attorney Dennis Ward ended up turning the case over to statewide prosecutors technically sworn in as assistant Monroe state attorneys for the trial because hes short staffed. However, his attorneys and investigators worked the case up through the grand jurys 2019 first-degree murder indictment. This was excellent work on behalf of the Monroe County Sheriffs Office, the prosecutors, as well as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Medical Examiner, Ward told the Herald. Wolf was represented by three attorneys with the county Public Defenders Office, which declined to comment. In addition to the murder charge, Wolf was also convicted of sexual battery and evidence tampering. What happened? Prosecutors say Wolf, who lived in the Middle Keys city of Marathon at the time, dumped Osbornes naked body in the woods by the Vaca Cut Bridge on the northern end of the city. A fisherman found her body that afternoon and called police. But nearly a week would pass before detectives were able to identify her, which they accomplished by matching fingerprints. Detectives said Osborne was homeless and lived in Janesville, Wisconsin, before moving to the Keys. According to online records, she had worked as a substance abuse treatment center manager in Janesville. At the time, detectives said the crime scene indicated she was dragged off a walking trail into the woods. Also, the wooded area where Osborne was discovered looked as though a vehicle had driven through it, and broken automobile parts were found on the ground. Hours after the discovery of Osbornes body, deputies found a Dodge conversion van parked in the Kmart shopping plaza at 5585 Overseas Highway. It was missing parts similar to the ones found in the woods, detectives said, adding there were branches stuck underneath the vehicle. The black Dodge conversion van belonging to Steven Wolf, who was arrested on a murder charge in the death of an unidentified woman on Nov. 21, 2018, sits inside the Monroe County Sheriffs Office hangar in Marathon. Wolf was inside the van, and detectives said that judging from the bed, stove top and hanging clothes, the vehicle was also his home. On top of that, detectives said there was the grisly sight of blood throughout the van. They would later find bloody sheets thrown out in dumpsters throughout the city. Detectives arrested Wolf on a murder charge Nov. 23. Wolf has been accused of murder before, including a 1977 conviction in his native Boise, Idaho, for first-degree murder, according to records released by the Ada County Sheriffs Office in 2018. This is clearly not a good guy. And thats just what we know of, Ramsay said. Hes been charged with murder two different times. Is this a serial killer? A serial rapist? How many other victims are there? Hes accused in that case of strangling an elderly man to death, with the help of three friends, after breaking into his house to steal his $119 Social Security check. Ramsay added that he agrees with the jurys recommendation, and he hopes it can bring Osbornes family some closure. This is somebodys daughter, somebodys relative. Hes getting what he deserves, Ramsay said. You cant bring her back, but at least they can know someone is being held accountable. Gov. Henry McMaster says he no longer wants lawmakers to have all the say over who can be a judge in South Carolina. In his State of the State address, an annual speech outlining the governors priorities, McMaster told lawmakers Wednesday he wants a role in making judicial appointments, with Senate approval. The practice works on the federal level, McMaster told lawmakers, a similar sentiment he shared in his inaugural address when he called for more transparency in the way judicial candidates in the state are selected. Gubernatorial appointment of all judges, with the advice and consent of the state Senate, requires no reinvention of the wheel, will inspire the confidence of our people, and will encourage more excellent attorneys to seek public service, McMaster said. McMaster and State House Republicans have targeted the courts and judges in response to the S.C. Supreme Courts 3-2 decision that struck down the states six-week abortion ban. Earlier this month, the states high court ruled the ban violated a state constitutional right to privacy. The law, passed in 2021 but temporarily blocked for months, took effect shortly after the U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs decision that struck down Roe v. Wade. McMaster said Wednesday he plans with other state officials to petition the state Supreme Court for a rehearing next week. When I signed the Heartbeat Act into law, I was confident that it was constitutional. I still am, McMaster said in his sixth State of the State address, a speech more than 6,000 words long. I remain optimistic that we will prevail in our historic fight to protect and defend the right to, and the sanctity of, life. Respectfully, the courts (abortion) decision is at odds with the law and the facts, and the lead opinions results-oriented reasoning threatens to disrupt our constitutional separation of powers, McMaster said. In the Democratic response to McMasters address, state Sen. Ronnie Sabb of Williamsburg called on the state to hold a statewide referendum on abortion access. Public votes to deny rights to abortion in access in Kansas and Kentucky both failed last year. Our state Supreme Court has acknowledged that a woman has a constitutional right to privacy and has struck down the repeated attacks from Republicans seeking to limit a womans access to health care during pregnancy, Sabb said. Women have a fundamental right to control their own bodies. State lawmakers already are considering another attempt to ban abortions from the point of conception, an effort that failed in the fall. A House panel Thursday pushed forward the legislation, which includes exceptions for rape, incest, fatal fetal anomalies or the life of the mother, to the full Judiciary Committee. A recent poll by the South Carolina Policy Council found 52% of likely South Carolina voters support access to abortion under certain circumstances, and 34% say it should be legal under any circumstances. Only 14% of likely voters said abortion should be illegal in all circumstances. In response to the state Supreme Courts ruling, lawmakers have called for a reexamination of the high court and the judicial vetting process which they oversee. South Carolina is one of only two states where lawmakers, not the voters, elect judges. Next month, the Legislature will decide on Justice Kaye Hearns replacement to the state Supreme Court. Of the three original candidates, two women withdrew their candidacy, leaving one man, Judge Gary Hill, the likely pick. It will be the first time in more than three decades the state Supreme Court wont have a woman on the bench. State Rep. John McCravy, R-Greenwood, who was critical of the state Supreme Courts decision, said Wednesday that changing the judicial selection process will require a state constitutional amendment. Our Constitution requires the (Judicial Merit Selection Commission) to select judges, he said. However, I think the JMSC definitely needs to be reformed. We need to make sure that we have a way to elect judges that does not involve legislators, in my opinion. House Minority Leader Rep. Todd Rutherford, who sits on the legislative screening commission, said the current system of picking judges needs tweaks rather than an overhaul, such as allowing for more than three people to be placed in nomination in front of lawmakers for judicial election rather than it being capped. The inclusion of more people in the process is better for transparency rather than giving it to one person, Rutherford, D-Richland, said. Rutherford said McMaster just wants to centralize power when it comes to judges to the governors office. What he wants to go to is a system where people donate money to the governor, and by virtue of doing that they get elected to a judgeship, Rutherford said. Absolutely absurd and hasnt worked with anything else. We continue to have the best system to elect judges. And Virginia is right in line with that. South Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Don Beatty, left, sits with other justices during Gov. Henry McMasters State of the State address on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard) In a similar vein, McMaster used his State of the State speech to criticize lawyer-legislators who sue state agencies and other elected officials. A few years ago, state Sen. Dick Harpootlian, a Richland County Democrat and an attorney, sued the state Department of Commerce to demand information about incentives the agency offers to companies locating in the state. I suggest that its time for members of the General Assembly who are attorneys to stop suing the bodies in which they serve, stop suing state agencies in plaintiff actions, and stop suing elected officials, McMaster said. This is absurd. It diminishes the publics confidence not only in the lawyer legislators but the rest of state government as well. Rutherford, critical of McMasters stance, gave a sly smile in response. If state agencies are doing wrong and if members of the executive branch are doing wrong, they need to get sued. Thats a part of the process, Rutherford said. He knows that as a lawyer, I was disappointed to hear him mention that lawyer legislators should not correct the wrongs of state government. Gov. Henry McMaster gives his State of the State address on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard) McMaster pushes for more economic investment, again McMasters Wednesday speech hit points similar to his inaugural address earlier this month. McMaster touted the more than $10 billion of economic development investment announced last year, largely due to the growing electric car industry as automakers around the country shift to making more electric vehicles. State government is in superior fiscal shape, McMaster said Wednesday. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster prepares to enter the House chamber ahead of his State of the State address on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard) He again called for an acceleration of the states planned income tax cut should economic projections allow. Last year, the state lowered its highest income tax rate from 7% to 6.5%, with plans to lower it to 6% over five years, if enough money is available. Should an increase in future revenues allow, I ask the General Assembly to use additional funds to speed up the income tax cut schedule, so taxpayers can keep even more of their hard-earned money, he said. Additional infrastructure investments are needed, the governor said. McMaster called for the state to spend $850 million to speed up completion of road projects to relieve traffic congestion on highways and interstates, repave local roads and repair more than 400 bridges in the state. There is no infrastructure more in need of big, bold and continued investment than our states roads, bridges, highways and interstates. Our successes are outrunning our infrastructure, McMaster said. Sabb said Democrats also wants to push investment in infrastructure. The governor mentioned many exciting initiatives in his address, Sabb said. Democrats support the plans to improve our states roads and bridges, expand sewer and water services and make broadband accessible to all South Carolinians. Gov. Henry McMaster smiles as members rise to applaud after he introduced Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette at the beginning of his State of the State address on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard) Teacher pay, mental health care McMaster again called for higher pay for public school teachers. In his budget proposal, McMaster wants a $2,500 raise for teachers and enough money to bring the state starting pay to $42,500, plus a $2,500 retention bonus for teachers who stay in their school districts for the year. He has a goal of setting starting teacher pay at $50,000 by 2026, which would be his last year in office. We must do more, McMaster said. New teaching positions are being created every year at new schools constructed to keep up with our growing population. But Democrats said more needs to be done for schools in addition to raising teacher pay. Sabb, who said his party has long pushed for teacher pay increases, also called attention to the physical condition of schools around the state, calling for more state money to help renovate schools, especially in rural areas. To ensure that students, no matter their ZIP code, have the opportunity to attend modern and safe schools, we need a recurring stream of state revenue dedicated to funding new facilities and making upgrades to outdated schools, he said. McMaster also called for $45 million to go to the state Department of Mental Health to recruit and retain mental health professionals, provide inpatient services and increase access to crisis services, such as suicide prevention hotlines. Its clear that a mental health crisis exists in South Carolina following the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among our young people, McMaster said. Many are still struggling with the effects of disruptions, virtual instruction, isolation, and constant changes to normal routines. By Valentine Hilaire MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Panama will not allow Canada's First Quantum to expand the area of its existing copper mining operations, the deputy environment minister told Reuters, stressing the government's opposition to the firm's request to use more land. The comments from Deputy Minister Diana Laguna come as both sides negotiate a new contract for the major copper mine amid a longstanding dispute, with taxes and other payments to the government at the forefront of discussions. "The company has asked for more surface to operate and we have said no," Laguna said. "They must work with what they have. It is more than enough." Laguna added that in negotiations over the new contract her ministry was pushing to install an office at the Cobre Panama mine to monitor its environmental footprint and assure tighter controls. This followed what she described as failed environmental commitments, including one that called for reforestation. Laguna said First Quantum had reforested only a small fraction of the required land and noted it had five pending judicial cases centered on environmental concerns. A spokesperson for First Quantum said the firm agreed to the creation of the on-site office but had no comment on the negotiations over the land for operations. Panama's environmental ministry said that, from the $375 million it was requesting First Quantum pay each year, it aimed to use some $11 million on environmental protection around the mine. Laguna said environmental impacts had been at the forefront of talks while the mine had been operating under a 1997 contract that did not even require an environmental study. The mine is an important asset for both parties, accounting for about 3.5% of Panama's gross domestic product and about half of First Quantum's 2021 core earnings. The government is reviewing requests for mining concessions in the area from other companies, such as Broadway Strategic Minerals Panama and Exploraciones Geologicas. Asked about those requests for concessions, Laguna said the Cobre Panama mine itself was already large enough and authorities needed to concentrate now on mitigating its environmental impact. "Concessions can be granted but they still need to meet our environmental guidelines before actually starting operations. That has not happened yet," she said, stressing the government was not anti-mining but was calling for responsible projects. Construction projects would also be closely watched this year, Laguna added, saying the ministry was considering a "small tax" on fossil fuels, the income from which would help finance the ministry's projects. "For now it is under evaluation, but it could boost our budget, which was hurt after the COVID-19 pandemic, she said. (Reporting by Valentine Hilaire: Editing by Sarah Morland and Bradley Perrett) The House on Wednesday overwhelmingly adopted a resolution commending protesters in Iran, with just one lawmaker Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) voting no. The concurrent resolution, which was approved 420-1, applauds the bravery, courage, and resolve of the women and men of Iran demonstrating in more than 13 cities and risking their safety to speak out against the Iranian regimes human rights abuses. The text of the measure points to the death of Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old Iranian woman who died in police custody in September after the morality police arrested her on allegations that she violated Irans laws that require women to wear headscarves or hijabs. She was detained for inappropriate attire on Sept. 13, then died on Sept. 16 after falling into a coma. A coroners report said she died from multiple organ failure, according to NBC News. Her family has said witnesses say she was beaten by officers. Protests broke out in Iran following her death. The resolution also lists instances of persecution of women by the Iranian regime through misogynistic criminal statutes. It says Congress condemns the brutal beating and death of Mahsa Amini and the violent suppression by the Iranian regime of women and men participating in the current demonstrations, including children, and calls for transparent accountability for all killings of protesters by Iranian security forces. The resolution also expresses support for those participating in protests and risking their safety to speak out against the human rights abuses committed by the Iranian regime. Additionally, it encourages continued efforts by the Biden Administration to respond to the protests, including sanctions against the Iranian morality police. A spokesperson for Massie told The Hill that the congressman opposed the resolution because it encourages the immediate imposition of sanctions. Sanctions generally do not hurt the repressive governments they claim to target. Instead, the burdens disproportionately fall on innocent people who are already suffering under those repressive regimes, the spokesperson added. The resolution encourages on the Biden administration to immediately impose, under existing authorities, additional human rights sanctions on officials and entities responsible for the repression of the current protests. House lawmakers on both sides of the aisle praised the resolutions passage. Iran is the worlds leading state-sponsor of terror. We must stand with the brave people of Iran as they fight back against the oppressive Iranian regime and their human rights abuses, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), who co-led the resolution, wrote in a statement. With this bipartisan resolution passing the House today, were making clear that we support those brave individuals committed to freedom and human rights, both in Iran and around the world. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the measure affirms the U.S.s support for Iranian protesters. I am proud that our bipartisan resolution has again overwhelmingly passed the House today. This resolution strongly reaffirms the American peoples support for the brave Iranian people speaking out against the Iranian regimes human rights abuses, he wrote in a statement. As the regime continues to escalate its violent crackdown, we must continue to do all we can to support the Iranian peoples right to self-determination and ensure the regime is held to account for its crimes. That means no sanctions relief for the regime, and fully enforcing all of our existing sanctions, he added. Updated 9:22 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Julian Sands, photographed in 2019, was reported missing on Jan. 13. (Arthur Mola / Invision / Associated Press) As the search on Mt. Baldy for actor Julian Sands entered its 12th day, rescuers began to scale back their efforts, authorities have announced. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, which is leading the search, said Wednesday it is continuing to look for the missing actor by using only air units, such as sheriff's helicopters and drones. Since Sands was reported missing on Jan. 13, the department had been scouring the Mt. Baldy area with both air and ground crews, though some ground missions were intermittently called off due to avalanche risks and dangerous trail conditions. The department said air crews are using RECCO devices, a rescue technology that uses harmonic radar systems to detect clothing equipped with RECCO reflectors. The device is commonly used to find people buried by an avalanche or lost hikers. No evidence of Sands' whereabouts has been found throughout the search. On Tuesday, rescuers found another hiker, 75-year-old Jin Chung of Los Angeles, who had gone missing on Mt. Baldy on Sunday. He was hospitalized for "weather-related injuries" and a leg injury. UPDATE: The search for Julian Sands continues by air only. The California Highway Patrol Valley Division Air Ops from Auburn, California, is currently assisting us in the search using a RECCO device RECCO - Be Searchable. RECCO technology can detect RECCO reflective material, San Bernardino County Sheriff (@sbcountysheriff) January 25, 2023 Around the time Sands was reported missing, a flurry of storms had recently blanketed Mt. Baldy with snow. The icy conditions led officials to issue warnings to hikers of all skill levels. The peak is considered one of the most dangerous to climb in the United States. Sands, 65, is known for his work in A Room With a View (1985), Warlock (1989) and dozens of other films and TV series, including "24" and "Dexter." Born in the United Kingdom, Sands lives in North Hollywood and is an avid mountaineer, having climbed peaks in the Andes and Swiss Alps. Amid a litany of hopeful messages for the missing actor from Hollywood figures, Sands' family issued a statement on Monday, thanking the sheriff's department and rescue crews for "braving conditions on the ground and in the air to bring Julian home. We are deeply touched by the outpouring of love and support," the statement read. Sands' brother told BBC News this week that he has already said his goodbyes to Julian. "I have come to terms with the fact he's gone and for me that's how I've dealt with it," Nick Sands said in the BBC report published Wednesday. "We are all still hoping I guess, but I know he's gone in my mind and because of that I've already said my goodbyes." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Elaine Chao, the wife of Mitch McConnell, responds to former United States President Donald Trump's racist attacks and claims that she was involved in the classified documents scandal surrounding President Joe Biden. Despite the Republican businessman's frequent criticism of Chao, calling her "Coco Chow" or a variation of McConnell's "China-loving wife," she has kept mostly silent. But now, after the latest attacks, the woman who once served in Trump's cabinet finally speaks out. Elaine Chao Responds to Trump's Racist Attacks Chao said that when she was young, some people deliberately misspelled or mispronounced her name. She added that Asian Americans had worked tirelessly to change that experience for the next generation. In a statement, she argued that Trump did not seem to understand, which she claims "says a whole lot more about him than it will ever say about Asian Americans." The remarks are a scarce instance of the former Transportation Secretary dipping her feet into the political thicket that Trump laid following the end of his administration. The statements suggest discomfort with the former president's anti-Asian rhetoric, and it has reached a new level amid several high-profile shootings that had Asian American victims, as per Politico. At least half a dozen instances of Trump taking to his Truth Social media platform to criticize McConnell's leadership. He also suggested, among other things, that he is conflicted due to Chao's connection to China. In a message last fall that Republican and Democratic lawmakers widely viewed as a threat, Trump said McConnell "has a DEATH WISH." However, personal attacks against Chao were a cut above the rest, both due to their overt racism and the relatively little pushback that they received. In the rare moments that the former Transportation Secretary was asked about the comments, she urged reporters not to amplify the remarks. Furthermore, other Republican lawmakers dismissed the attacks as Trump simply being himself, with Sen. Rick Scott of Florida saying that the former president just liked to give people nicknames. Read Also: Trump's Georgia Investigation Update Rift Between Trump and McConnell The remarks on Wednesday were the latest developments in the rupture between Trump and a key insider in the GOP. In a statement, Steven Cheung, a Trump spokesman, said that people should stop feigning outrage and engaging in controversies that only exist inside their heads, according to the Washington Post. Chao served as Trump's transportation secretary for four years and announced her resignation following the Capitol Hill riot. Her father, James S.C. Chao, is notable for founding a successful international shipping company. The Republican immigrated to the United States from Taiwan when she was only eight years old and did not know how to speak English. She later studied and graduated from Harvard Business School before getting a job as a transportation banker. Chao and her husband have primarily avoided responding to the former president's comments and sometimes racist attacks. She said it would be helpful if the media did not repeat Trump's racist tweet. The former transportation secretary added that if the former president used the N-word or any other word, it would not be reported, said The Hill. Related Article: Josh Allen's Take on Damar Hamlin Conspiracy @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Chef-owner Evan Funke of Mother Wolf in Los Angeles holds up an Italian meat, mortadella, his favorite salumi. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) Rounds of sliced-thin, pink, white-speckled mortadella are popping up on sandwiches, on charcuterie plates and even in the occasional cocktail in Los Angeles, but its hard to view any food item depicted in ancient Roman carvings as a flash in the pan. The Italian deli meat that traces its roots to Bologna and as far back as the Etruscans isnt new, but of late its been gaining the kind of star power that salami and prosciutto have hogged for too long. At Grandmaster Recorders the aromatic deli meat is draped gently around piping hot, freshly fried cacio e pepe-flavored zeppole (doughnuts) all buried under freshly grated pecorino. At Pizzeria Bianco, it takes sandwich form on a round of focaccia with goat cheese and arugula, while La Sorteds showcases the thin slices on even fluffier focaccia with burrata and a slick of slightly sweet pistachio cream. Its served as an option on the cured-meat plate at Capri Club, a new addition to the best bars in L.A. , and cocktail bar Thunderbolt even recently experimented with crafting a cocktail employing the deli meat, creating an old-fashioned that featured mortadella-washed bourbon. At Grandmaster Recorders in Hollywood, mortadella comes plated with cacio e pepe-seasoned zeppole and pecorino. (Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times) Mortadella a popular cold cut throughout Italy for centuries is making meaty waves in the U.S., where a maligned derivative, bologna, lacks the nuance in texture and flavor of its inspiration. A blend of pork cuts and fat, originally ground together in a mortar in the Emilia-Romagna region, mortadella is essentially a large cooked pork sausage spiced with myrtle, garlic and pepper. In 1998, it received its own Protected Geographical Indication meaning its ingredients and methods must adhere to a strict set of criteria to be considered authentically regional. L.A. chefs and diners have taken note of the appeal of mortadella. To Felix and Mother Wolf chef Evan Funke, mortadellas time was long overdue. I fing love mortadella, he says. I think it's great that L.A. is having a moment, but Mortadella is the moment, always has been. I think it's one of the most underrated salumi to come out of anywhere in the world; it's underutilized, underappreciated, super versatile, and I think it's the best, so I love that it's getting a little bit of traction. Chef-owner Evan Funke pipes in ricotta while preparing La Mortazza, a kind of folded-over pizza sandwich with mortadella. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) At Mother Wolf, Funke features mortadella made by Verona-based Leoncini, which adheres to the PGI regulations, on La Mortazza: a kind of inverted Napolitano pizza dough that results in a pillowy interior and a lightly crisp exterior. It forms an almost sandwich-like base for mortadella, which ribbons out in folds along the edge, and for lemon-scented ricotta, drizzled with lemon agrumato, sprinkled with cracked black pepper and scattered with pistachios. When the chef moved to Bologna in 2007, the extent of his knowledge was that mortadella could be found in the Godmother sandwich at Bay Cities. That year marked the first time that he tasted mortadella di Bologna, which doesnt include pistachios (a more modern addition and an unwelcome one by a wide sect of mortadella purists). Mother Wolf's La Mortazza sandwich is filled with mortadella and lemon ricotta. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) Once, while training with Alessandra Spisni at the School of Sfoglia Bolognese Traditional Cuisine, Funke saw her vendor send mortadella studded with pistachios; the chef-instructor immediately called upon all the saints in heaven and cursed her vendor. She was so mad, Funke says, she immediately sent it back and said, This is not mortadella, it has pistachios in it. Thats Sicilian. While some skew traditionalist, mortadellas variances have been embraced across continents, giving the meat even more audience as it made its way into a range of cultures. Late 19th century Italian immigrants in Brazil made mortadella a staple for pockets of South America, later proving a childhood mainstay of restaurateur John Borghetti, co-owner of Los Feliz's Nossa Caipirinha Bar. Last summer Borghetti informed chef-partner Rory Cameron that he regularly ate mortadella sandwiches when growing up in Brazil, and Cameron knew he wanted to add one to the new bars menu. Nossa Caipirinha Bar's mortadella sandwich incorporates flavors from the Italian diaspora in Brazil with biquinho and guindilla peppers. (Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times) Cameron tasted four or five varieties of mortadella, ordering whole, deli-sized tubes at a time, and landed on maker FraMani in Berkeley. Its served on a locally made, toasted Homeboy Industries bun and gets topped with burrata. Biquinho peppers and their juice are incorporated into mayo thats slicked over the bun, while chopped guindilla peppers form a kind of slaw for crunch. That cross-cultural appeal is a benefit for Travis Hayden, one of the few chefs in Los Angeles making his own mortadella. You find it in Brazil, or Portugal has a version of it, or France or throughout Italy," he says, "which is nice because it gives me some leeway. At Virgil Village wine bar Voodoo Vin, Hayden drapes several slices over one another on a plate, pistachios and fat on full display, brightened by whatever pickled peppers hes sourced from the farmers market. The recipe is always evolving but is now roughly one year in progress and often involves splashes of dry white wine and spices such as nutmeg, coriander and mace. At wine bar Voodoo Vin, chef Travis Hayden holds his freshly made mortadella. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) Hayden began with small batches. Then he needed to scale up. At first, one of his larger batches would last three weeks. Now he makes a large loaf roughly once a week weighing in at around eight pounds but he runs through it in just four or five days. "People have started talking about mortadella," Hayden says. "Its like the tinned fish of charcuterie. Some nights nearly every table orders the mortadella, despite multiple other varieties of house charcuterie also being available. It takes Hayden about eight hours to prepare mortadella: He weighs out and either grinds or slices pork shoulder and fatback, all from heritage-breed pig farm Peads & Barnetts. He blanches the pistachios, then peels them from their casing by hand, which takes about an hour and a half. He measures out the wine and dry components, readying his station and finally setting his high-powered mixer in motion. At wine bar Voodoo Vin, chef Travis Hayden pours pork fat cubes and pistachios into his emulsified mortadella mix. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) He begins by emulsifying the pork meat, adding the garlic and wine. Then come the aromatics and spices, the milk powder and the fat. He pauses occasionally to take its temperature, ensuring his emulsification wont break. The more the blades spin, the hotter it gets; he adds ice, little by little, as the temperature climbs. As it spins, the emulsification turns from a bright pink to a creamy white and forms a kind of paste; its emptied into a large metal bowl, where he folds in the fat cubes and blanched pistachios. Hayden unveils a large metal contraption to compress the sausage into the casing, where an airlock at one end pushes the air out, while an attached tube at the other extrudes the meat into the synthetic casing.. Without use of a full kitchen, he cooks the mortadella in a water-filled catering pan atop portable electric burners, slowly bringing the temperature up, then hangs it in the refrigerator for three days before its ready for the wine bars customers. At Happy Mediums Deli, house-made mortadella is the star of the McDuffuletta, the pop-up's signature item. (Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times) Shea Montanez, who refers to it as kind of the next prosciutto frontier, has gone through years of trial and error. The chef and co-owner of pop-up Happy Mediums Deli cut his teeth on charcuterie making during his time at Chicagos Sepia. He gravitates toward mortadella due to its nostalgic nature, harking back to the old-school delis his grandma used to bring him to as a child. At Happy Mediums where he and his partner, Bonnie Hernandez, serve cheffy spins on classic sandwiches, soups, dips and other deli fare he says his method is constantly developing. He grinds pork shoulder and fatback separately, so that the blend is fine, then adds spices such as mace, cinnamon, black pepper, garlic and cayenne. Its served sliced thick on the McDuffuletta, the pop-ups signature sandwich, along with house-made porchetta di testa and salami (the latter not made by Montanez). Chef Samuel Schiffers been tracking the popularity boom of mortadella not only because he serves it in sandwich form at Pasadena shop Semolina Artisanal Pasta but because people have begun paying him for bright pink hats emblazoned with the word. In early 2022 he co-founded pasta-focused apparel brand Mister Parmesan , and in August launched the mortadella hat in collaboration with illustrator Marianna Fierro. The people who know, know, he says. The people who have mortadella inside of them already, whether figuratively or literally, you see people's eyes light up unbelievably. Hes jokingly started calling it mortadellacore, as if a kind of lifestyle. At Semolina Artisanal Pasta in Pasadena, the mortadella sandwich comes topped with stracciatella cheese and a house-made pistachio aillade spread. (Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times) For Semolina's sandwich, a citrusy pistachio aillade riff on a Suzanne Goin recipe is used to play up the pistachios in the Olympia Provisions mortadella. Its served on a Bub and Grandmas baguette with stracciatella cheese. As our regional Italian-food culture has become much more robust and more thoughtful, it's that desire to be able to introduce people to something that might be unfamiliar, Semolina owner Leah Ferrazzani says. It's a combination, to me, of: A bunch of East Coasters moved here in COVID, and then you have these chefs wanting to push the limit it's not particularly expensive so it's not something that's a huge risk financially, but it offers a lot in complexity and flavor and texture that you can play around with. As with any trend, no one can predict where the growing ubiquity of mortadella will lead. (Ferrazzani, at least, is waiting for guanciale have its mortadella moment again.) Wherever it does, call it a phase with 1,000 years of global staying power, call it a flash in the pan or call it mortadellacore just so long as you dont call it bologna. At wine bar Voodoo Vin, chef Travis Hayden's mortadella. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. KYIV, Ukraine President Bidens announcement on Wednesday that the U.S. will send 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in the coming months represents a watershed moment in Western military assistance to the embattled nation, which, just under a year ago, was all but written off for defeat. Abrams tanks are the best in the world, Biden said at a press conference in the White House today, flanked by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. This is a tremendous new capability that Ukraine will be getting to boost its long-term defenses. The emphasis here should be on long-term. And the unstated policy behind Bidens surprising reversal was how it was designed to bring Germany, a major European power traditionally soft on Moscow, in line with helping Ukraine not just fend off another large Russian attack but take the fight to its attacker. Main battle tanks are offensive rather than defensive weapons, an integral part of combined-arms warfare, which consists of infantry and the three so-called As: artillery, armor and air power. As of today, Ukraine has or is getting the artillery and armor from Western partners and only lacks the air power, although now even F-16 fighter jets are rumored to be on the table for future security assistance negotiations. The Abrams, generally viewed as trickier to operate and maintain by foreign militaries, was never meant to go to Ukraine; rather its German counterpart, the Leopard 2, easily adaptable and in service in over a dozen other European armies, was. Now Kyiv is getting both, though the Leopard 2s from Germany and third-party nations will arrive faster. President Biden announces additional military support for Ukraine. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) The story of how the U.S. and its allies coaxed, finessed and finally convinced the Germans to release the Leopards has as much to do with Berlin politics as it does with creative transatlantic statecraft. Ukraine has long needed to replace its aging fleet of ex-Soviet battle tanks either during or after the war, and for all practical purposes there were only two Western models available: the American Abrams and the German Leopard 2. The Biden administration had repeatedly resisted providing Abrams tanks to Ukraine, claiming the turbine-powered American vehicles were too complex to maintain and required too much fuel to be practical. Only a week ago, Defense Department official Colin Kahl ruled out supplying the tanks to Ukraine, citing exactly these reasons. The Abrams does have a larger logistical footprint than comparable vehicles, especially the Leopard, but for the Ukrainian military, any logistical hurdles are seen as worth surmounting to be on par with a superpowers armored divisions. Ukraines new Western tanks will not be a quick fix; crews and mechanics will need to be trained not just to operate the vehicles, but also to handle the specialized support equipment needed to keep such sophisticated military equipment in the fight. Eight M88A2 armored recovery vehicles, especially designed to tow the heavy M1A1 Abrams, will be provided as part of the American package. Washington has therefore unexpectedly and reluctantly decided not just to commit to defending Ukraine from a vicious ongoing Russian invasion, but to invest in its military future well beyond that. That future lies in one direction now: greater integration with the West and a bulwark against further Russian expansionism. U.S. Army Abrams tanks at a 2021 NATO exercise in Latvia. (Ints Kalnins/Reuters) Indeed, U.S. officials are now making noises about a newfound willingness to help Kyiv retake land not only lost in February 2022, but in February 2014, when Russia invaded and illegally annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. Gone or greatly diminished now are fears of crossing Russian President Vladimir Putin, though his nuclear arsenal still stands as a deterrent to a wider conflagration with NATO. The Pentagons plan for arming Ukraine is now believed to be driven more by accountancy and logistics than Russias vague warnings of retaliation. The outstanding issue for weapons systems now is our inventory and supply chain, not the Russian response to what we choose to send Ukraine, one senior U.S. official, requesting anonymity, told Yahoo News. That response consists of a lot of shouting and threats but no significant military retaliation. That assessment is no doubt undergirded by credible U.S. and Western intelligence about Russias true capability and intentions as opposed to its stated ones. Dr. Alex Crowther, a retired U.S. Army colonel and the former special assistant for Supreme Allied Commander of Europe, foresees an upgrade in Kyivs status with Washington in the near to short term. Ukraine will probably be treated like Taiwan after the war, Crowther said, unless the Ukranians can kick Russia out of their territory, in which case the U.S. will probably declare them a major non-NATO ally. Eleven months ago, U.S. intelligence assessments gave Ukraine a lifespan of about three days before succumbing to Moscows overwhelming firepower and technological advantages. A Leopard 2 tank in a demonstration event held for the media near Hannover, Germany. (Michael Sohn/AP) Yet another remarkable development in this war is the behind-the-scenes wrangle with U.S. allies that moved Biden to yes on the Abrams tanks. It was all about getting the Germans to jawohl on Leopards. Berlin had long resisted pressure to supply its main battle tank, the Leopard 2, to Ukraine, with the alleged fear being that to do so would be to act in a unilateral manner. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz originally said hed release his Leopards if other NATO allies also sent their main battle tanks. The United Kingdom obliged, agreeing last week to supply Ukraine with a squadron of 14 Challenger 2 tanks. Scholz then shifted his you-first condition, claiming only Washington agreeing to send American heavy armor to Ukraine would satisfy this requirement. Biden now has, and the Germans followed. Speaking in the Bundestag, or Parliament, on Wednesday, Scholz announced that Germany would send 14 Leopard 2A6 tanks to Ukraine, finally making the decision that seemed more and more inevitable. As significant as Germanys own pledge, Berlin also agreed to allow the numerous countries in Europe that operate the German tank to export the vehicles to Ukraine. Reporting suggests that the final tally of Leopard 2s destined for Ukraine will be close to 100, though the final details are not yet clear. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius added that a battalion of the newer German 2A6 models would arrive within a period of three months, after Ukrainian crews had been trained on their new vehicles, with a second battalion of the older 2A4s arriving later. Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaking to German lawmakers this week. At left is Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. (Markus Schreiber/AP) While this news was greeted with elation in Kyiv, the foot-dragging caused exasperation in European capitals, whose political establishment felt Scholz should and could have moved more quickly. Germany has become one of the most unreliable EU and NATO members, a senior European diplomat told Yahoo News, explaining how donations by smaller European countries such as Denmark, which donated its entire stock of brand-new Caesar self-propelled howitzers, and Estonia, which delivered the remainder of its FH70 155mm guns to Ukraine, were a way of cajoling the Germans to act. The Tallinn Pledge, made last week, was a joint statement signed by the defense ministers of several European countries including Estonia and the United Kingdom at a military base in the eponymous Estonian capital. The pledge emphasized the importance of supplying modern Western battle tanks to Ukraine, adding to the pressure on Berlin to follow. Poland, another signatory of the Tallinn Pledge, threatened to send 14 Polish army Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine if the Scholz government refused to officially approve the transfer a contract violation that would risk future arms deals with Berlin. Piotr Muller, a Polish government spokesman, alluded to Polands bad-cop role after the German decision in comments made to the Polish media: We are glad that our arguments and our common allies convinced the German government to change its mind. Polish Leopard tanks in a 2022 NATO military exercise near Orzysz, Poland. (Kacper Pempel/Reuters) Sawomir Debski, director of Polish Institute of International Affairs, told Yahoo News that without the pressure from Poland and others, the German action would have taken longer to arrive. A good segment of the German population sees any inclination toward militarism as an anathema, not just because of their countrys role in two devastating world wars but because Germany was long the epicenter of where a potential third one might erupt. Postwar Germany has always been under the umbrella of United States protection, Debski said. Wartime leadership is new to them. Poland understands the experience of fighting a war surrounded by enemies, running out of ammunition. Paradoxically, Germany has been surprisingly robust in its assistance to Ukraine. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, if the countrys commitments to Ukraine are taken together with its portion of EU contributions, Germany is second only to the United States, with 12.6 billion euros in aid pledged as of Dec. 7, 2022. (That figure does not take into account the Leopards 2 package.) Furthermore, Germany has been the second- or third-largest donor of military aid to Ukraine, depending on the calculation used, also behind the United States and nearly level with the U.K. Berlin has supplied sophisticated air defense systems, armored vehicles, and some of the best self-propelled artillery currently in Ukraines arsenal. The German-supplied Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun has been particularly praised by Ukrainian soldiers, who have used to great effect against the ubiquitous Russian Shahed 136 suicide drones supplied by Iran. Hours after speaking in the Parliament, Scholz announced that Germany intended to expand what we have delivered to Ukraine, in a press conference alongside Icelandic Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, right, with Icelandic Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir on Wednesday. (Markus Schreiber/AP) Scholzs position has always been Ukraine must not lose and Russia must not win, according to Roderich Kiesewetter, a member of the Bundestags Committee on Foreign Affairs. Kiesewetter, a former staff officer in the Bundeswehr, or Germany army, is critical of the chancellors approach toward Ukraine. He speaks in the language of armistice and frozen conflict, not Ukrainian victory, and this echoes others in Germany who would like for nothing more than to see Minsk III, Kiesewetter said, referring to the two ceasefire agreements implemented (with varying abidance) in 2014 and 2015, after the first Russian invasion of Ukraine. They still think we should end the war no matter what and begin new trade opportunities with Russia, Kiesewetter said. In June, according to Kiesewetter, Scholz told the Bundestags Committee on Foreign Affairs that sending Marder infantry fighting vehicles would be a horrible escalation. The chancellor claimed there was no intimidation from Putin against himself or against Germany, but clearly there had been. Our neighbors, including Spain and Poland, started asking in May or June of last year, to let us deliver Leopard tanks. So what changed? On Jan. 4, the same day he announced the delivery of light tanks to Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron publicly shifted his own outlook on the war, one that previously mirrored Scholzs in seeking merely to forestall Ukrainian defeat. Now Macron came out for Ukraines outright victory. Until victory, until peace is restored, Macron tweeted a quote from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. A Russian service member in front of an anti-aircraft missile system in the Luhansk region of Ukraine. (Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters) France, a longtime ally of Germany, thus found itself moving its narrative on the war and leaving Scholz alone among European leaders against Eastern European, Scandinavian and Baltic countries that insisted a more modern, agile and deterrent Europe should emerge, according to Kiesewetter. Macron thinks geopolitically. Germany he sees as not a reliable partner any longer. Scholz is still stuck in that world of yesterday, Benjamin Tallis, a senior research fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations, told Yahoo News. His approach has meant Germany, whilst giving a lot in absolute terms, is still having its reputation dragged through the mud. Scholz has hewed closely to the foreign policy legacy of his Social Democratic Party (SPD), once defined under former West German Chancellor Willy Brandt as Ostpolitik, the seeking of rapprochement with the Warsaw Pact nations. In recent decades the SPD, along with most other German parties, evolved into a more transactional and accommodating position to post-communist Russia. Angela Merkel, Scholzs immediate predecessor and a leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union, welcomed cheap Russian energy into Europe, overseeing the construction of the controversial Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines. Gerhard Schroder, a former SPD chancellor, remains one of Putins most outspoken defenders in Europe; he was pressured last spring into resigning his $600,000-per-year chairmanship of the board of Rosneft, Russias state oil company. Schroder continued to tout his friendship with Putin even as the bloody Ukraine war dragged on. The same cant exactly be said of Scholz. Protesters, many of them expatriate Ukrainians living in Berlin, protested last week outside the German Chancellery. (Maja Hitij/Getty Images) At the start of the war, he undertook a major about-face with respect to German policy toward the Kremlin. Speaking on Feb. 27 in the Bundestag, just three days after Russias full-scale invasion, Scholz gave what is now known as Zeitenwende speech, owing to his use of a German term for a major turning point. Whether we permit Putin to turn back the clock to the 19th century and the age of the great powers, he said, or whether we have it in us to keep warmongers like Putin in check. The speech heralded a marked increase in German defense spending, promising that it would soon be in excess of 2% of the countrys gross domestic product. Stalwart and militaristic though Zeitenwende sounded 11 months ago, it was still predicated on a prevailing German assumption that Ukraine would lose badly and swiftly to Russia, according to Debski, the Polish think tank analyst. It was an absolutely fantastic speech, Debski said, but as a curtain-raiser for a new era for Germany in which Russia was now seen as an aggressor nation and Berlin would be the natural leader of Europe around which all other nations would rally. It was not a speech about helping Ukraine through arms. What Scholz didnt count on, and what hes been reckoning with ever since, was the ferocity of Ukrainian resistance. Like many politicians, Scholz is closely tuned to public opinion in his country. His inner circle believes in forging a middle-ground consensus in the German electorate, according to Rebecca Harms, a former member of European Parliament from the German Green Party. Ukrainian citizens and supporters at a demonstration in Krakow, Poland, on Wednesday. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images) The chancellors nickname for many years was Scholzomat, Harms said. He is neither very emotional nor very charismatic. So after Merkel it seems that another careful actor has taken over power in Germany and that perhaps reflects whats going on with many Germans because they voted for him. And his election in December 2021 was not a given. By requiring America act first on sending tanks to Ukraine, Scholz indemnified himself to criticism at home, while beefing up Ukraines offensive capability abroad. It has also meant incurring the enmity of the Russians that Scholz once considered as partners in peace. Moscow responded to the news that German and American tanks would soon be en route to Ukraine with a mixture of fury, special pleading and grief. Anatoly Antonov, Russias ambassador to the United States, called the decision a blatant provocation against the Russian Federation, claiming it was obvious that Washington is purposefully trying to inflict a strategic defeat on us. Obvious indeed: Inflicting a strategic defeat on Moscow has been acknowledged American policy for months. On Russian state media, propagandists responded with characteristic bombast. Scholz and his government, they said, were Nazis scumbags and Russia would soon be bombing Berlin and Dresden. On unofficial channels, pro-war Russian commentators were a bit more nervous. Alexei Zhivov, a Russian military journalist, called the German and American tanks formidable and dangerous weapons that would likely be used effectively by the Ukrainian military in operations supported by Western intelligence just as the M142 High Mobility Artillery Systems (HIMARS) have been. Russian military analysts were now going through five stages of grief, Zhivov said. Less than a week after a deadly winter storm brought heavy snowfall to the interior Northeast, the region was once again blanketed in precipitation, along with over a foot of snow in the Ozark Mountains and more snow across the Midwest. The snowfall created many travel troubles for vehicles and airplanes alike, as well as massive power outages for several states. In the Midwest, multiple accidents shut down traffic Wednesday, including one accident on Interstate 475 west of Toledo, Ohio. At least one semi-trailer truck was seen off the road via a traffic camera, but it is unclear if there were any injuries. At the Ohio-Michigan state line, southbound I-75 was mostly blocked in Lucas County, Ohio, after a semi jackknifed. More than 1,000 crews were on duty Wednesday to clear roads as snow moved through the northern portion of the state, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation. The rampant severe weather led to numerous flight delays and cancellations at major airports. At LaGuardia Airport in New York City, inclement weather caused some arriving flight delays during the afternoon hours, averaging 42 minutes. At Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, a ground stop was put into effect in the early afternoon due to snow on the runways. According to FlightAware, there were 3,641 flight delays within, into or out of the United States as of Wednesday afternoon, including 648 at Chicago O'Hare International and 290 at the Detroit airport. Chicago Midway International Airport led the way in cancellations, with a total of 136 through the afternoon hours. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Farther south, snow was heavy in parts of northern Arkansas and southern Missouri, where the Ozark Mountains aided in enhancing snowfall totals. According to PowerOutage.us, more than 150,000 electric customers were without power in the two states Wednesday morning, including over 97% of all customers out in Missouri's Oregon and Howell counties. The highest reported snowfall total between Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons in the Ozark region was in Logan, Arkansas, in Benton County, the home of retailer Walmart. Logan took in 16 inches of snow over the 24-hour period, with the second-highest total being 14.5 inches reported in Searcy, Arkansas. Snowfall totals in the south-central region as of late Wednesday night. Other top snowfall totals across the Ozark region were in Newton, Arkansas (13.2 inches), Marion, Arkansas (12 inches), and Howell, Missouri (12 inches). In the Northeast Wednesday, top snowfall totals were reported in West Virginia in the cities of Keyser (6.5 inches) and Hartmansville (6.3 inches). Other states that received snow included Maryland, with 5.8 inches accumulated in La Vale, and Pennsylvania, with 4.8 inches received in Hollidaysburg. One place in the Northeast that was desperate for measurable snowfall was New York City, but the hub only received a trace of snow at the National Weather Service's climate site at Central Park. A quick changeover into rain after the short round of snowflakes meant that the Big Apple could still set a new record for its latest first measurable snowfall on record. The current record date for the latest first measurable snow on record there is Jan. 29, 1973. Revelers gather under the rain as they wait for the countdown during the New Year's Eve celebrations in Times Square, late Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in New York. The city avoided measurable snowfall once again on Wednesday, putting all-time snowless records in jeopardy. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) The streak of consecutive days without measurable snow in New York City is now at 323 days, the second-longest streak on record behind a 332-day streak that ended on Dec. 15, 2020. Farther west in New York, thundersnow was observed near Tonawanda, New York, located about 10 miles north-northwest of Buffalo around 2:20 p.m. EST Wednesday. Thundersnow was also reported in southern Ontario, about 30 miles east of Detroit. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. State Minister of Artsakh Ruben Vardanyan visited towns and villages in Askeran region to meet with citizens. Speaking about the reasons of the Azeri blockade of Lachin Corridor, Vardanyan said that Azerbaijan is trying by all means to break the spirit of the Armenians of Artsakh and achieve an exodus of Armenians from Artsakh through pressure. Vardanyan said he is proud to see the resilience of the Armenians of Artsakh. We are forced to go through these challenges to keep Artsakh Armenian and for the protection of our right to live with dignity on our land. This is a difficult path, I cant promise you that we wont have problems, but I assure you that this is the only way which will allow us to save our homeland, Vardanyan said. Residents said they are ready to withstand all hardships as they see no alternative to that path. According to a report released Monday by the National Transportation Safety Board, the airport crew who died horribly when she stepped in front of an airplane engine a few weeks ago was repeatedly cautioned about the imminent hazards. Courtney Edwards, a 34-year-old mother of three, was a ground handling agent for Piedmont Airlines at Montgomery Regional Airport. Alabama Airport Worker Sucked Into Engine On New Year's Eve, shortly before 3 p.m., she and other ground crew members convened for two quick safety meetings because the pilot of an inbound plane had radioed ahead to inform everyone that he would keep the engines running for two minutes after landing. The cabin's auxiliary power unit had not been functioning. Crews were ordered to avoid the engines until they were notified that they were no longer operating and the yellow warning signal was switched off. After the Dallas-bound Envoy Air Embraer 170 landed and the right engine was shutting down, the first officer opened the plane's window to reassure the crew that the engines were still working. At that time, a crew member had seen that Edwards had been nearly pushed over by the plane's exhaust and gave yet another caution for Edwards to keep a safe distance from the engines. Unfortunately, Edwards misunderstood, forgot, or disregarded the repeated instructions, as she then stepped in front of the left engine and was "pulled off her feet and into the operating engine," according to the latest NTSB report, echoing an earlier NTSB report that stated the worker was "ingested into the engine." Per Blaze, the most recent report does not provide a plausible explanation for the occurrence, requiring additional study. According to unreleased witness testimony and security footage, Edwards' death and the minutes immediately after it were horrible. The co-pilot reported that the aircraft aggressively rocked before shutting down with a boom. The aircraft had 63 passengers and four crew members. It is still determined how many ground troops were present during the event. The report also details instances in which two ramp agents attempted to chase away employees who had gotten too close to an airplane or engine. According to the NTSB investigation, in one incident, an agent witnessed a worker almost fall over due to an engine's exhaust and tried to advise her to remain back. Read Also: US, Germany Ready To Send Tanks to Ukraine Crew Was Too Close to Engine Despite Warnings The NTSB said that crew members had two safety briefings before the Dallas-Fort Worth-bound jet landed at its gate. During these briefings, they were informed that the engines would remain running until power from the ground could be connected. The crew members were instructed to wait to set up safety cones and to only approach the aircraft once the engines were switched off, the turbines stopped spinning, and the revolving beacon light was extinguished, according to the report. These remarks were mirrored in an excerpt from American Eagle's ground operations handbook that was included in the NTSB investigation, according to Today. According to the NTSB report, after installing the cone, which denotes the plane's stationary state, the worker went down the leading edge of the left wing, which placed her right in front of one of the Embraer 170s two engines. The employee went too close to the engine during this walk along the wing and was therefore killed, according to the NTSB. During the whole occurrence, the revolving beacon light seemed to be on, according to the investigation. American Airlines and Edwards' mother did not immediately reply to demands for comment. Richard Honeycutt, regional vice president of Communications Workers of America, said earlier this month, "She was gone from her family on New Year's Eve working to ensure that travelers reached their holiday destinations." She exemplifies the highest standards of our CWA airport members, who make ongoing efforts to assist the traveling public. The union initiated a crowd-funding campaign that has garnered close to $100,000 for Edwards' children. Related Article: Half Moon Bay Shooting Suspect's Connection to Victims @YouTube @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. The first TUMO center in Portugal will open in Coimbra, one of the country's most historic cities, and home to one of Europes oldest universities. The center will be located in the citys iconic old postal office building, 2,000 square meters of which will be renovated specially for the TUMO project. TUMO Coimbra will give 1,500 teens tuition-free access to eight focus areas: 3D modeling, animation, game development, programming, music, graphic design, filmmaking, and robotics. Registration will open in the second quarter of this year. "There is a structural need to prepare the next generation for the digital economy. Access to extracurricular education in the areas of tech and design is typically limited to a few students through private classes, and offering it for free promotes equal opportunities for everyone. TUMOs education is uncomplicated and accessible, its an effective way to create immediate and widespread impact, mentioned Pedro Santa Clara, CEO of Shaken not Stirred, TUMOs partner in Portugal on January 25th during a signing of an MoU with sponsors and partners of the project. The opening of TUMO Coimbra marks the beginning of a campaign to expand TUMO centers across the country. Shaken not Stirred announced that more centers are expected to open in Portugal in the coming years. TUMOs launch in Portugal is a great example of the unified efforts of community representatives in tech and education; the projects supporters, entrepreneurs, and foundations contributed close to seven million euros to the project. When we visited Portugal for an initial set of meetings, we became very passionate about the project, because we saw the huge potential in the country, coupled with the support of the tech community and the eagerness of young people looking to augment their digital skills. It is todays teenagers that will be called upon to create the future in the decades to come. To us it feels like the right time to invest in the teenagers of Portugal, mentions Pegor Papazian, TUMO head of development. Over the past five years, TUMO has established centers across Europe, in France, Germany, Switzerland, Albania, Ukraine, and other locations. The next TUMO will open in Los Angeles, with funding from the State of California and in partnership with the city of LA. In 2023, TUMO will also significantly expand its network within Germany and France and is in ongoing discussions to open a center in Italy. TUMOs international expansion has a significant impact on its mission, as every center that opens abroad helps sustain the operations of the expanded network in Armenia and Artsakh. YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. In connection with the incident of the fire in the barracks of the military unit located in Azat village of Gegharkunik Province, commander of rear service, deputy commander of the N military unit of the RA Ministry of Defense, has been arrested, Gor Abrahamyan, the press spokesman of the chairman of the Investigative Committee of Armenia confirmed the informaiton in a conversation with ARMENPRESS. "He is arrested, charges are brought and a petition was submitted to the court regarding detention as a precautionary measure against him," said Abrahamyan. On January 19, at around 01:30, 15 conscripts died as a result of a fire in the accommodation intended for the personnel of the N military unit, located in Azat village, Gegharkunik Province of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia. by Mathias Hariyadi Nine religious leaders met at a Catholic university in the capital, including Card Ignatius Suharyo. The final communique was delivered to the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Jakarta (AsiaNews) Atma Jaya Catholic University hosted an interfaith forum that brought together religious leaders nine distinct groups (including Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Buddhist, Confucian Muslim) to discuss the Document on Human Fraternity signed by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, Ahmad al-Tayyib, in Abu Dhabi in 2019. Card Ignatius Suharyo and the new president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Indonesia, Bishop Antonius Subianto Bunjamin, attended the event together with the rector. How to implement the spirit of the Abu Dhabi document in the Indonesian religious context was the main theme of the meeting. In the final communique, titled "Atma Jaya Declaration", the religious leaders said that all the problems that affect Indonesian society should be addressed through peace and dialogue", not the "security" approach adopted by the government and law enforcement agencies. The final document was handed over to a representative of the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs. "Today's event is just a beginning," said Card Suharyo in the initial address. "This peace-and-dialogue approach has become our common concern and goal to address the problems of humanity, he added. For the cardinal, who heads the Atma Jaya Foundation, this becomes possible if it is grounded in two "fundamental" pillars, namely social justice and qualified education", values that can support those who care about social brotherhood, and respect pluralism, inclusion, equity, democracy and civilisation". Echoing the cardinal's words, Bishop Bunjamin said that "all good people must seek peace without preferences." Rev Gomar Gultom, head of the Indonesian Synod of Protestant Churches, agrees that the Abu Dhabi Declaration has spiritually lifted the morale of all religious communities. Indonesia's largest Muslim organisation, Nahdlatul Ulama, was also represented at the forum, where it reiterated the notion that "Islam is indeed a religion of love." According to the head of the organisation, Kiai Hajj Abu Yazid Al-Busthami, any difference must not matter, and common things must not become an issue. We all have our common goal, i.e. promote peace and harmony in society, he said. One thing is for sure: One Humanity, One Responsibility, said Prof Abdul Muti, a member of Muhammadiyah, an Islamic NGO. Budi Tanuwibowo, head of Matakin, the Supreme Council for the Confucian religion in Indonesia, stressed that "our true mission is to bring peace to all peoples", while the president of Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia, Wisnu Bawa Tenaya, noted that Indonesias pluralist Indonesian society is called to maintain social harmony. Speaking to AsiaNews, Paulus Tasik Galle, Interfaith Social Harmony Bureau in the Ministry for Religious Affairs, welcomed the initiative promoted by the Atma Jaya Catholic University. "The meeting will strengthen the roots of moderation in the teaching of religion," said the scholar who trained in Germany. "The Abu Dhabi Document is an important message for fellow Indonesians, because it calls on us to adopt brotherhood despite different religious backgrounds. by Guido Alberto Casanova During the Lunar New Year, the websites of a dozen academic and research institutes were simultaneously knocked out. On Telegram, the group claims that it picked South Korea as its "training ground", threatening more attacks. According to South Koreas cybersecurity agency, only sites without sophisticated defence systems were affected. Seoul (AsiaNews) South Koreas cyber security authority announced that a group of hackers carried out a cyberattack against several South Korean targets. According to initial statements by the Korea Internet and Security Agency (KISA), the websites of a dozen academic and research institutes were affected. The attack took place during the Lunar New Year break, known in Korea as Seollal, which lasted from Saturday to Tuesday. Many of the sites targeted by a hacker group calling itself Xiaoqiying, probably of Chinese origin, were still inaccessible last evening and their homepage still showed the groups logo and message. We declare the invasion of the South Korean Internet, read the message at the bottom of the screen. The entities targeted in the cyberattack do not appear to be linked. They include the Korea Association for Education, the Korea Research Institute for Construction Policy, and the Korean East-West Mind Science Association. What they seem to share is vulnerable websites that lack encryption systems that might have protected them from cyberattacks. According to the hackers, they compromised the computer networks of 70 South Korean educational institutions and stolen 54 gigabytes of data. In the message left on the targeted sites, the group warned against more cyberattacks. Information about the hacker group is available on its Telegram channel, with messages in English and Chinese announcing that South Korea will be a "training ground" for its members. The group's administrator also said that KISA would be next. KISA launched an investigation into the incident. For now, it has not yet officially confirmed if the hackers were Chinese and if they have links with the Chinese government. Some clues do suggest the groups Chinese origin. As for the real motive, nothing is known. A South Korean government official told the local press that the cyberattack against South Korean computer systems during the holidays looks more like hackers showing off their cyber skills. The hackers knew where they had to press and did not seem to be after some financial gains, though thats more for police to look at, the official said. South Korean police opened a formal inquiry into the case. by Fady Noun Chief Prosecutor Ghassan Oweidat opens proceedings against Judge Tarek Bitar, who is in charge of the port blast investigation, for allegedly "rebelling against justice" and "usurping power". The latter is not allowed to leave the country. The 17 people held in connection with the port blast have been released. Beirut (AsiaNews) Lebanons judiciary is deeply divided. Lebanons Chief Prosecutor Ghassan Oweidat on Tuesday summoned Judge Tarek Bitar for questioning. The latter heads the Court of Justice, a special court, without appeal, and heads the investigation into the explosion of the Port of Beirut, on 4 August 2020. Oweidat has charged Bitar with "rebelling against justice" and "usurping power and ordered him not to leave the country. A day earlier day, Judge Bitar had summoned Oweidat, along with other legal, military and political figures, citing a study to resume his investigation, after a halt of 13 months. The latter refutes all legal arguments and means used to remove him from the case, whether based on legitimate suspicion or given prerogatives,. Prosecutor Oweidat also ordered the release of all 17 people held in detention waiting trial since the beginning of the investigation, including ex-Custom Office chief Badri Daher, who is close to the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), and Beirut Port Authority head Hassan Koraytem. The sudden decision extends to all detainees a release order Judge Bitar signed on Monday for seven of them, which the police did not carry out. The latter is under the orders of Prosecutor Oweidat Mr. Daher was not among those Judge Bitar ordered released. Nothing indicates that this showdown can be solved, but at least, it has the merit of ending a travesty and placing the spotlight back on the port explosion that killed 235 people, injured thousands, and inflicted massive damage to several Beirut neighbourhoods. Chaired by Souheil Abboud, the Higher Judicial Council is meeting today, but hopes are slim that anything good will come out other than more controversy, because of the politicisation of the affair. The victims' relatives and many lawyers have slammed Prosecutor Oweidat's decision. Judge Bitar rightly noted that the prosecutor had been removed from this case, because of family ties with one of the accused he, Bitar, had summoned, namely Transport Minister f Ghazi Zeayter, a member of the Amal movement. According to a senior judicial official who wishes to remain anonymous, the two magistrates have exceeded their power, and both must be called to order by the Higher Judicial Council. According to this source, Judge Bitar was driven more by a state of necessity, i.e. pursuing the investigation, than by legal arguments. In any event, for the source, the release of all detainees should not have occurred. For his part, Judge Bitar, estimating Prosecutor Oweidat's initiative "a flagrant violation of the law", pledged "not to drop the case until the publication of the indictment. Meanwhile, yesterday victims relatives called for a giant rally in front of the Palace of Justice; lawmakers from the Phalange (Kataeb) party announced that they were going to join the rally. Government institutions continue to weaken The conflict at the top of the judiciary further weakens the credibility of government institutions, already undermined constitutionally by the delay in electing a new president, and economically, by the collapse of the countrys currency. According to economists, the Lebanese pound has lost 97 per cent of its value, throwing a large part of the population into extreme poverty; this has paralysed the educational system, now in its third week of a general strike, and hospitals, where patients who want to be admitted must now bring their own medications. Only the security forces continue to show cohesion, thanks in part to foreign aid. US Ambassador Dorothy Shea just announced that the US would provide US$ 72 million over six months to pay an additional US$ 100 per month for each member of the military and the internal security forces. Fawad Chaudhry was taken from his home and brought to court for criticising the head of the Election Commission. In the provinces where local assemblies have been dissolved, preparations for the elections are still stalled. According to commentators, the government's reaction was excessive. Meanwhile, foreign currency and fuel reserves continue to fall. Islamabad (AsiaNews/Agencies) - The government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrested Fawad Chaudhry, deputy chairman of former premier Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Pti) party. He is accused of undermining the security of the head of the Election Commission and other government officials. This is the latest episode in the country's political saga that began in April last year after parliament voted no confidence in Khan, the opposition leader who has been criticising Sharif's government for months and calling for early elections. Chaudhry's arrest took place before dawn yesterday: the police showed up at his home in Lahore (Punjab) and after handcuffing him took him straight to court, his wife told reporters. In the course of the day, hundreds of Pti supporters blocked a highway in Chaudhry's hometown Jehlum, demanding his release, and dozens more people, who were present at the court, threw rose petals at him as the police took him away. Police said that Chaudhry, Minister of Information in the Khan administration, was charged with threatening the head of the Election Commission, Sikandar Sultan Raja, and other officials, inciting violence against them and preventing them from doing their jobs. On 24 January, Chaundhry had criticised the election supervisory body for appointing journalist Mohsin Naqvi as interim Punjab Chief Minister after the dissolution of the provincial assembly earlier this month. Khan, after having tried the route of protest marches (which ended in November after he was shot in the leg by an attacker), continued to put pressure on the government in Islamabad by provoking the dissolution of the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the PRI had a majority. According to the country's laws, the local elections must be held within the next three months, but they are not usually separated from the national elections, which are instead scheduled for October. The Election Commission's decision to appoint an interim government, once again blurring the possibility of early elections, provoked adverse reactions from the Pti: 'The Election Commission is behaving like a clerk,' Chaudhry had commented, among others. 'Somebody from the government calls ECP and passes an order, and ECP commissioner, like a clerk, just signs the order and passes it on'. According to several commentators, with the arrest of the former minister, Islamabad has provided the Pti with the ideal cue to continue with the narrative of being persecuted by the central government. "To arrest Mr Chaudhry in the manner in which he was and then charge him with sedition, of all things, seems to be a gross overreaction. If this is how those in power believe stability is to be attained while the countrys social fabric frays under the weight of the many crises it faces, they are gravely mistaken,' commented Dawn, Pakistan's leading English-language daily. In the background of the political events, the economic crisis remains: in recent days, there has been a power outage throughout the country: the government has claimed that the blackout was caused by a technical problem, but in reality, according to some local officials, the problem is to be found, among other things, in the fuel stocks that are running out. In a letter sent to the Ministry of Finance on 13 January by the Advisory Council of Oil Companies - which brings together the companies that operate refineries and pipelines - the group expresses concern about the difficulties in importing oil. Due to very low foreign exchange reserves (down to USD 4.6 billion), the Central Bank of Pakistan is curbing the issuance of letters of credit, slowing down imports and consequently industrial activity. by Vladimir Rozanskij According to the Georgian Dream, the ruling party, the country's exports to Russia have grown much less than those to other states. Imports of Russian products, however, have grown. Armenia used as a transit channel for Georgian goods. Supplies from Turkey enter Russian territory via Georgia. Moscow (AsiaNews) - The president of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Iraklij Kobakhidze, has responded to accusations levelled at the Georgian government in a CNN broadcast. In a conversation with journalist Christiane Amanpour, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen had cited Tbilisi as an example of the circumvention of sanctions, a practice that helps Russia resist economic pressure from the West for its attack on Ukraine. Kobakhidze accuses Amanpour of spreading false information, and CNN itself of giving voice to a 'vast coalition directed against Georgia's national interests'. According to the data he reports to refute the accusations, in 2022 Georgia's total exports increased by 33%, while to Russia the increase is stationary at 7%. In comparison, trade with other countries is growing: China (20%), Azerbaijan (27%), Turkey (35%), the USA (36%), Bulgaria (67%), Armenia (129%) and Kazakhstan (148%). Business with Russia, according to the majority leader, is not decisive for Georgian policy, on the contrary, it has shrunk, contrary to what was reported by CNN: 'If Georgia had exported sanctioned products to Russia, its trade balance should have increased proportionally'. Three quarters of the items that entered trade with Russia concern alcoholic beverages (Georgian wine has always been popular in Russia) and non-alcoholic beverages, agricultural production and ferroalloys, so nothing related to sanctioned goods. On the contrary, the accusations are reversed against European countries, which 'pay hundreds of millions of euro daily to import goods from Russia'. In the period between February and August 2022, imports from Russia in Germany increased by 33 per cent, in Poland by 24 per cent, in Italy by 100 per cent, and with similar and higher percentages in almost all other countries, Kobakhidze claims. According to him, there is a 'global war party', which intends to involve Georgia in war operations in various ways and formats. In fact, the majority leader fails to mention the data on the growth of imports from Russia, which increased by 68%, and the fact that Russia is Georgia's second largest trading partner, after Turkey. In this case, it is not a matter of circumventing sanctions, but of economic advantage derived from the Tbilisi government's condescending stance towards the Russian war in Ukraine, without in turn applying sanctions, while applying to join the European Union. There is also a business case for Georgia's increased exports to Armenia: it is associated with the fact that Yerevan can export to Russia with substantial customs relief, adhering to the Common Economic Space agreements with Moscow, unlike Tbilisi. The greatest advantage Georgia has gained from the situation created in 2022 is undoubtedly the 'tourist boom' and the real estate boom of Russians fleeing and in transit, which has brought the country gains in excess of USD 3.5 billion, with overall growth estimated at 182.5%. One member of the opposition, the leader of the For Georgia party Mikhail Dausvili, claims that 'the ruling party manipulates data and concepts, trying to show itself to be against the export of agricultural products to Russia, precisely in order to conceal its practices of circumventing sanctions'. According to one of the leaders of the National Movement, Roman Gotsiridze, 'the doubts of Western politicians come not so much from the export statistics, but from the growth of the transit of sanctioned goods to Russia through Georgian territory', which is said to have increased by more than 100 per cent, transferring cargoes from Turkey to Novorossiysk, and using other road and rail corridors, becoming a 'mediating partner' without directly taking responsibility for the whole picture. Former kickboxer and controversial influencer Andrew Tate claims that prosecutors have no evidence against him and said there is no justice in Romania amid a human trafficking case. Romanian police recently arrested the social media star on sex trafficking and rape allegations. He is now criticizing the criminal case prosecutors are building against him on Wednesday, saying it was "empty." Andrew Tate's Criminal Case As reporters were being escorted by law enforcement personnel from a police van to the offices of DIICOT, Tate said that prosecutors knew they had done nothing wrong. DIICOT is short for Romania's Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism. The influencer added that the file was empty and called the situation unjust and unfortunate. When asked if he had hurt women before, Tate, who proclaimed himself a misogynist, said he did not. On Wednesday, prosecutors assigned to Tate's case were conducting forensic searches of digital evidence to get more evidence against the defendant. The 36-year-old influencer and his 34-year-old brother, Tristan Tate, were taken into custody in Bucharest along with two women on Dec. 29, 2022, as per the New York Post. The four suspects were arrested on allegations of rape and forming a criminal ring that sought to exploit women into creating pornographic material. Last week, a judge ruled that the Tate brothers would remain in court for another month and remain in custody until February 27, 2023. Furthermore, Romanian prosecutors claim that the siblings recruited victims through seduction, pretending to be looking for a relationship or to get married to their targets. They then take them to their properties on the outskirts of Bucharest. There, the victims would be intimated and experience physical abuse while the Tate brothers forced them to produce pornographic content for popular social media sites. Because no formal charges have been filed, the two main suspects have entered pleas. They attempted to appeal their detention earlier this month, which a judge shot down. Read Also: UK Government Admits Hundreds of Child Asylum-Seekers Have Disappeared Human Trafficking and Rape Charges Prosecutors also claim that Tate raped one of the victims in March of last year, an accusation he denied. The situation comes as earlier this month, Romanian authorities seized goods and money worth a total of $3.99 million, including his luxury cars and properties, as part of the investigation, according to Yahoo News. They argued that the seizure was made to prevent the particular assets from being concealed by the suspects. In a statement, the Tate brothers' lawyer, Eugen Vidineac, said that the siblings were confident in their defense and that they were sure the evidence was in their favor. Tate's remarks come after he posted on social media regarding his imprisonment, where he complained about his living conditions inside a jail cell. He complained about there being cockroaches, lice, and bed bugs. The former kickboxer also criticized the prison's lack of light. His message was meant for followers of his website and was titled "My first email from imprisonment," said Independent. Related Article: Iran's Potential Nuclear Threat @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. San Angelo, TX (76909) Today A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Mostly clear. Low 62F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Mostly clear. Low 62F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Semiconductor Convention Moving to Phoenix from San Francisco in 2025 Written by Cole Lauterbach, The Center Square Published Jan. 26, 2023 Recognizing Arizonas growing semiconductor sector, North Americas premier microelectronics exhibition and conference is coming to town. SEMI, an industry association with members across the electronics manufacturing and design supply chain, announced Jan. 24 it would hold SEMICON West 2025 in Phoenix after holding the conference in San Francisco for the last five decades. SEMI is excited to bring SEMICON West to Phoenix, a booming semiconductor manufacturing hub, in October 2025, said Joe Stockunas, president of SEMI Americas, host of the exhibition and conference. The announcement is preceded by a series of investments by some of the worlds largest semiconductor manufacturers intending to expand operations in Arizona. Greater Phoenix is home to more than 75 semiconductor companies including SEMI members EMD Electronics, Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), and the sector employs more than 100,000 with more jobs on the way. As recent investments in chip manufacturing in the area have made abundantly clear, Phoenix embodies the drive by SEMI and the industry at large toward greater innovation, Stockunas said. The event is scheduled to be held in the Phoenix Convention Center. A spokesman for SEMI said 8,000 people attend the event on average. Were proud to welcome SEMICON West to Arizona! said Gov. Katie Hobbs. Arizona has become a global leader in chip manufacturing and innovation, with rapid growth across our entire semiconductor ecosystem. We look forward to joining with local partners and SEMICON West to welcome industry leaders from around the globe and showcase why Arizona has become the worlds leading destination for new chip investments. The convention will alternate sites between the Valley and the Bay Area. It will return to San Francisco in 2026 before returning to Arizona in 2027. We thank The Center Square for reprint permission. T-54 is the name of a Soviet main battle tank that entered service in 1947, shortly after the Second World War ended, and at a time of heightened tensions between the West and East military blocks.By all accounts, its the most successful tank ever made, with some 100,000 of them rolling off production lines in Soviet Russia and elsewhere. Even if it didnt get to fight in the biggest conflict this world has ever seen, the tank did see a lot of action pretty much everywhere else: it was deployed in almost all major conflicts, from the Vietnam War to a long list of smaller skirmishes between nations and civil wars. Some can even be seen in Ukraine, fighting the war of our days.Well, know that the name T-54 will soon apply to a new American aircraft as well, to be fielded by the U.S. Navy for multi-engine turbo-prop pilot training. At the time of writing, the Navy uses something called the T-44 Pegasus for these tasks. A variant of the Beech King Air B90, it has been around since the late 1970s, meaning an updated platform was needed.This week the Navy said it selected Textron Aviation to build the Pegasus replacement, and itll be called T-54A METS (multi-engine training system). Just like the one before it, it will be used as a single platform to train pilots to fly a variety of aircraft, including the V-22 Osprey, E-2D Hawkeye, C-130 Hercules and P-8 Poseidon.The plane, which should start active duty next year, comes with a pressurized cockpit, capable of holding three people on two side-by-side seats and a jump seat. Pilots will be able to use multifunction displays, radios, GPS, and radars, meaning pretty much all the gear theyre likely to encounter once they're inside a real operational Navy machine. As a touch of high-tech, the latest avionics, virtual reality and augmented reality will also come with the package.The Navy says it awarded Textron a contract for ten aircraft, with a base value of $113.1 million. If all goes well, the military branch could activate the contracts options that may bring the total fleet to 64 aircraft and $677.2 million.The first ten are supposed to become operational by 2026, and only from that point onward will the Navy begin retiring the Pegasus. At the time of writing, there is no info on the exact technical specifications of the T-54A METS trainer. According to a Nevada sheriff's report, actor Jeremy Renner was trying to prevent his snow-removal tractor from slipping and injuring his nephew on New Year's Day when he was sucked beneath the machine and crushed. The parking brake was not engaged and would have stopped the snowcat vehicle, which travels on a track, when it began sliding sideways after the 'Avengers' actor, 52, used it to lift his nephew's truck out of the snow, according to a Friday report from the Washoe County Sheriff's Office. Jeremy Renner's Snowplow Accident According to the report, the brake indication light inside the snowcat's cab was not working, and "mechanical difficulties may have contributed to this collision," according to the report. The nephew was able to assist Renner until help arrived, according CBS News. Renner was taken to the hospital, where he remained for more than two weeks, having at least two surgical procedures and receiving intensive care. The report states that impairment was not deemed to play a role in the occurrence. The incident began on New Year's Day when Renner dragged his nephew's truck off the actor's snow-stuck driveway; he informed detectives while hospitalized on January 5, according to the incident report. Jeremy Renner stated that after hauling the vehicle into the roadway, the snowplow began "sliding sideways" and then "began to tumble down the hill." Renner informed detectives that he leaped out of the snowcat at that point. Renner had to jump onto the snowplow's moving track before being "quickly pushed beneath the left side track," according to the report. CNN obtained a 911 call record that stated Renner was "totally crushed by a massive snowcat" and had "severe (difficulty) breathing" with "the right side of his chest... crumpled - upper body crushed." The report states, "The Pistenbully rolled over him and went down the road." "He laid on the ground and focused on his breathing while (his nephew and others) administered treatment until the arrival of emergency professionals." Read Also: Lisa Marie Presley Had Last Wish Before Death Renner Broke 30 Bones Renner, who portrays the heroic archer Hawkeye in the Marvel film and television 'Universe,' reportedly shattered over thirty bones in the event. Per OK!, Jeremy Renner is said to have recalled further specifics of the event on 5 January, stating that the car began "sliding sideways" after he extracted his nephew's pickup from the snow. The actor "feared that the PistenBully might strike (his nephew), so he attempted to halt or deflect the PistenBully." A neighbor called 911 and stated that Jeremy had been "totally crushed beneath a giant snowcat" and that the right side of his chest had "collapsed - his upper body is crushed." A neighbor said that the actor was snoozing intermittently at the time of the 911 call, prompting the operator to advise the caller to keep him awake. This news comes days after Jeremy uploaded an Instagram snapshot of himself in physical recuperation at home, thanking followers for their support. Related Article: Jeremy Renner Snowplow Accident Update @YouTube @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Although it was a shared passion for BMX that led to Benedek Eszteri, Daniel Kralik, and Robert Tohati becoming friends, the three eventually discovered yet another common interest: motorcycle customization. They now operate as Neuga in the Hungarian capital city of Budapest, cohesively complementing one anothers skills to leave little need for outsourcing various jobs.Daniel takes care of the design and Robert does the engineering, while Benedek is mainly involved in the electrical side of things. Unveiled just a few days ago, their latest project (aka Dirty Turkey) is based on a 1994 variant of Honda s bulletproof NX650 Dominator lineup. It took them around six months to complete, and we absolutely dig the end result.For the most part, the well-known Dominator silhouette is still present along with a fair chunk of OEM running gear, but its all been infused with custom charm galore. Neugas trio kicked things off with an all-encompassing engine overhaul, treating the 644cc thumper to a new piston, replacement bearings, and a modern oil pump, among many other goodies.Power travels to the rear wheel by means of a fresh drive chain and sprockets, while the exhaust gases are expelled via bespoke stainless-steel pipework ending in a SuperTrapp muffler. Opting for the stock NX650 gas tank to be retained so as to not sacrifice any fuel capacity, Neuga chopped up the front fairing and only left its side sections attached.The factory seat was trimmed and fitted with gel inserts, then reupholstered in black leather featuring a cross-stitched pattern up top. On the flanks, the intricate stitching depicts the favorite BMX trail and surf spot of this motorcycles lucky owner, Pulyka. The saddle is surrounded by tailor-made carbon fiber parts, including new side covers and a sharp tail unit topped with a luggage rack at the southernmost tip.LED lighting and a utilitarian-looking license plate holder round things out in that area, with the whole shebang resting on a premium aftermarket monoshock from YSS. At the front, the most noticeable change comes in the form of a dual-headlight arrangement that had once belonged to an XR250 Baja.Beneath it lies the repurposed front fender of a Kawasaki KLX , and the forks are now home to youthful springs and bearings. In the cockpit, the Dirty Turkey flaunts a carbon fiber dash with twin Daytona dials, as well as a Renthal handlebar carrying ASV control levers and Motogadget mirrors.A partial rewire, Goodridge brake lines, and Continental TKC 80 tires comprise the finishing touches, along with an understated, yet very attractive paint job applied in-house. Black is the predominant color at play here, and its joined by a contrasting gold hue on the creature s wheels. On the other hand, the fuel tank and accompanying DIY side wings are draped in a grey base and decals portraying Hondas logo. By 2025, the Royal Navys aircraft carriers are expected to be joined by the first warship in a new frigate class, the City class. This will be HMS Glasgow, the first of eight Type 26 frigates that are part of this new class. Like its sister ships, HMS Glasgow , currently in the final stages of development, will mainly serve as a submarine hunter.While at sea, it wont be alone, but accompanied by a friendlier type of frigate. The Inspiration Class is also new, but meant to provide general support and accomplish a wide range of duties, including disaster relief. Together, the Type 31 warships and the Type 26 ones will replace the Navys current flotilla comprised of Type 23 vessels.The Type 31 frigates were designed to be longer, wider, and heavier than the Type 23, but smaller and lighter compared to the Type 26 submarine hunters. There will be five of them - Venturer, Active, Formidable, Bulldog and Campbeltown. HMS Venturer is the first one to come to life.The Rosyth dockyard in Scotland started building it in the Spring of 2022, and the second one, HMS Active, joined it recently at the same location. Thats because the Venturer Hall at Rosyth is large enough to fit in two frigates that are being built at the same time.As usual, the building process kicked off with a ceremony, and among those who attended were also the veterans from the last vessel to bear the Active name. A Type 21 frigate, the previous Active provided vital support all around the world for more than 25 years, after its commissioning in 1977.Now, its time for the new HMS Active to take on this role. Since its designed for a wide range of missions, from maritime security and air defense to humanitarian aid, the new vessel must be able to fit in versatile equipment. This includes drones, diving equipment, mine-hunting kits, as well as plenty of space onboard for disaster relief supplies.At the time, although not as deadly as the Type 26 frigates, HMS Active and its sister ships will also boast some impressive weaponry, including 57mm and two 40mm Bofors guns, in addition to the famous Sea Ceptor air defense system and a 4D radar. The Inspiration-class frigates will also come with several Pacific 24 boats each, ready to be launched in maritime security operations. SUV kW Joining the much sportier Performante in the Urus lineup, the new Lamborghini Urus S is the official replacement of the pre-facelifted Urus, and will build on its success, together with the upper spec, and the upcoming plug-in hybrid , which is due later this year, to further elevate the brands sales.This is an eloquent Lamborghini Urus design: by elevating the Urus S looks, born from the sportiest proportions in the SUV segment, were emphasizing its stylish but dynamic nature, and offering greater opportunities for our customers to customize their vehicles, commented the companys chief of Design, Mitja Borkert.Available in more than 60 colors for the exterior, which can be mixed with new shades for the cockpit, the Lamborghini Urus can be personalized in numerous ways. For one, it can be ordered in the Bicolore Sportivo and Bicolore Sophisticated options, both of which pack trim normally found on the Performante , as well as stitching in a new pattern. The former features a sportier look, with color flashes, and the latter mixes black leather with contrasting options, including the new Blu Leandro, Verde Aura, cream, tan, and brown.Elsewhere, the Urus S sets itself apart from the previous iteration by featuring new front and rear bumpers, carbon fiber vented hood, optional carbon fiber roof, new dual-pipe exhaust system, and standard 21-inch wheels, with 22- and 23-inch sets also available. Remote Park accessible via the official app, connected navigation, and even smartwatch controls are included too. The superhas adaptive air suspension, sharper exhaust note, and various driving modes, including the Strada, Sport, Corsa, Ego, Terra, Neve, and Sabia.From 0 to 62 mph (0-100 kph), the Lamborghini Urus S needs just 3.5 seconds, one-tenth of a second faster than the original Urus . In 12.5 seconds after setting off, the speedometer will indicate 124 mph (200 kph), and flat-out, it will eventually do 190 mph (305 kph). The Raging Bull claims that it can come to a full stop from 62 mph (100 kph) in 110 feet and 7 inches (33.7 meters).Power wise, you are looking at the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine, whose output is identical to that of the Urus Performante. No less than 657 hp (666 ps/490) are unleashed at a hard push of the right pedal, a 16 hp (16 ps/12 kW) increase over its predecessor. The torque is rated at 627 lb-ft (850 Nm), the official spec sheet of the car reveals. EV SUV kWh As part of our commitment to achieve operational Net-Zero emission, #MumbaiAirport has now replaced 45 fossil fuel vehicles with Electric Vehicles (EVs). We plan to deploy around 60 EVs by 2024. This initiative will help in reducing around 25% Scope 01 Green House Gas emission. pic.twitter.com/V49hykcUu9 CSMIA (@CSMIA_Official) January 25, 2023 Be the change you want to see in the world, right? Whilst an inspiring saying, Mahatma Gandhi did not utter these words. Instead, he spoke about a much deeper spiritual concept that revolved around this very notion change yourself, and the world might follow.As one of Indias largest aviation hubs, Mumbais CSMIA airport makes sure that more than 50 million people travel safely domestically and internationally every year. Its employees and partners work around the clock to ensure that everything runs smoothly, and this involves having the right vehicles for every job. Airports like this one in Mumbai require very large sites, so a huge area must be covered in as little time as possible. Thats why, when youre comfortably waiting to take off, there are all sorts of vehicles running around, each being used by people to finish their tasks faster.So, it makes sense to have cars that are always ready to be deployed for any kind of job. Be it security, maintenance, transport, or any other job, these ground vehicles are essential to any big airport.Mumbais CSMIA proudly showed its new EV s. Its a collection of Tata Nexon, Tata Tigor, and some MG ZS. These immediately replace fossil fuel-powered vehicles that were in use until now. Next year, the airport will replace another 60 dinosaur-powered cars with EVs. However, the names of the upcoming vehicles have not been disclosed at the time of writing. The airport plans to have only all-electric ground vehicles by 2029.The Tata Nexonis a small crossoverthat boasts 129 hp (131 ps) and a 30.2-battery good for around 186 mi (300 km) of official range on a single charge. The Tigor, on the other hand, is a four-door sedan that comes with a 59-hp (60-ps) motor and a 26-kWh battery which should be enough for a locally rated range of 193 mi (310 km). Both are capable of fast charging and are made in India.The Chinese-made MG ZS EV is a two-row SUV that offers a maximum range of 273 mi (440 km) and makes use of a 140-hp (142-ps) motor that feeds itself from a 50.3-kWh energy storage unit.Finally, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport says this will cover about 25% of its Scope 01 ambitions. This is used to define greenhouse gas emissions that an entity owns and can control. As you can imagine, even Porsche wanted to use the Safari name for its special 911 model , but automakers must comply with certain rules when naming their cars. Ironically, this is not the first time this has happened to Porsche, and the second time when it happens to the 911 line-up, at least from what we can gather.Mind you, Porsche initially wanted to use the 901 name for the model that eventually became the 911. Back in September 1963, Porsche unveiled the 901 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and everything seemed fine.A year later, the model had already begun being manufactured, with technical documentation, badges, and everything else that is required. Upon the official reveal at the Paris Motor Show in October 1964, the folks at Peugeot had something to say about the new name.As it turned out, Peugeot had filed a patent for a three-digit-type designation for its automobiles, with a zero in the middle, and that was why Porsche had to rename its model 911 instead of the initially planned 901 However, just 82 units of the Porsche 901 were produced, and those that survived are more valuable today for collectors than a comparable 911 because of their rarity. All first-gen 911s have had great resale values for many years now, but certain examples are worth more than others for various reasons.The same situation applies to stamps, for example, where a small mistake in a series of stamps or other mass-produced elements has the potential to make that object more valuable to collectors.Back in 1855, the Swedish post made a color error with one of its stamps, which was painted yellow instead of green. The error was unnoticed at the time, but stamp collectors figured it out over the years, and there is just one Treskilling Yellow in existence, which was last sold for $2,300,000 in 1996.The trademark for the term Safari currently belongs to Tata Motors, which sells a crossover named Safari on several markets. While there was no real possibility for confusion between a version of the Porsche 911 and a crossover from Tata Motors, even on markets where both were sold, the law forbids the use of a trademarked name without a deal that allows otherwise.As the director of Porsche's 911 Dakar program, Thomas Krickelberg, told Edmunds, Porsche talked to Tata Motors representatives, but they were not granted permission to use the name.Since that possibility went out the door, the firm had to switch to an alternative name. Mind you, we had heard rumors regarding the possibility of this version of the 911 being named Dakar, instead of Safari, but those could not be confirmed at that time.As you can imagine, the Dakar name is also trademarked, and Porsche went ahead and spoke to the Amaury Sport Organization, which is the company that organizes the famous Dakar Rally, and managed to obtain the right to use that name. While the amount was not disclosed in the interview , the approval came after paying a fee. With about four hours to the end, the campaign reached 47,814,254 ($51,974,094), which represents 1,599.1 Sono Sions or 1,900 fewer cars than the company expected to sell. This was not the first setback the idea of the solar hatchback experienced. When they disclosed their plans, Sono Motors suggested they wanted to receive full payments for 3,500 units at 29,900 ($32,501) a pop. When the campaign unfolded, it was clear the startup was counting on any deposits it received to achieve its objective and it still was not enough.Sono Motors said it was hard to raise funds because it failed to explain to investors why the Sion has the potential to become the worlds first affordable solar-electric vehicle and that there is a huge demand for it. The campaign was meant to demonstrate this last bit to potential investors. Of all the people contributing to keeping the Sono Sion alive, only a bit more than 1,500 are new. The German startup did not inform how much they have contributed to the SaveSion effort.The excuse the company used to extend the campaign until February 28 (or 33 more days, for a total of 83) was that it was fighting for the future. According to that narrative, the Sono Sion has a crucial role in creating a world without fossil fuels. Jona Christians said Sono Motors owes everyone that liked the solar hatchback more time to activate even more people eager to revolutionize mobility. The startups CEO did not address the concerns that extending the campaign may bring and he should.Above all, there is a credibility component that Sono Motors must bear in mind. The startup proposed to wait 50 days to raise the necessary funds and keep developing its solar trike. If it did not meet that target as we now know it was the case it would focus on our attractive solar B2B business, which is significantly less capital intensive. That was the time it had to prove how desirable the Sion was, and this was the outcome if it failed to do so. By extending the campaign and ignoring its result, the company acts as if it had more time to decide or if focusing on its solar B2B business was not the only alternative.The way it was presented, the whole point of the campaign was to prove how much demand the Sono Sion supposedly had. Hitting the originally set deadline so far from its goal is probably a hard pill to swallow, but it is also a clear message that Sono Motors may be trying to ignore with its solar hatchback.Unless the German startup really has investors willing to prove that such a message is wrong, it may be just refusing to take an inevitable decision or insisting on the wrong strategy. Lightyears recent episode of having to stop the Lightyear 0 production after it had already started, should have taught Sono Motors the dangers that lie ahead. Photo: NASA True, weve already had several pieces of hardware go there already, but as things stand in space exploration, theres always room for improvement.A new rocket engine design has a big chance of turning into a major breakthrough, at least as far as how we travel through space goes. Its called a rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE), and one such design, in full-scale configuration, was put to the test by NASA scientists working for the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, together with people from a company called IN Space.RDRE works on the principle of detonation waves. Fuel and oxidizer get thrown into a channel in the engine assembly where they are detonated in a process that becomes self-sustaining. Pressure waves are born as a result of this, which travel at supersonic speeds, helping to propel whatever vehicle the engine is attached to.The advantages of such a design are major. According to NASA , an RDRE has the potential to produce more power with less fuel, and that in turn could lead to future spaceships being capable of carrying more payload and mass.Back in 2022, NASA and IN Space conducted hot fire tests of an RDRE design, but only this week were we informed the space agency and its partner have begun validating the data from the tests.As per the available info, the technology was fired up about a dozen times for a total of about 10 minutes. When working at full power, the engine generated 4,000 pounds of thrust. In doing so, it led to average chamber pressure of 622 pounds per square inch, which according to NASA is the highest pressure rating for this design on record.The RDRE was capable of holding together in these extreme conditions and without overheating, thanks to the materials and methods used in its construction, including a new type of copper alloy and 3D printing.Separately, last years tests proved the engines deep throttling and internal ignition work as they should, but no additional details were provided on that.Work on the rotating detonation rocket engine is far from over. Next up on the agenda is the creation and testing of a fully reusable 10,000-pound class RDRE no timeline was provided on this.Ultimately, if it proves successful and tests show clear advantages over the current liquid rocket engines, the RDRE design might power future human missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond. When talking about defunct car companies we usually think about brands like Pontiac, Plymouth, Oldsmobile, and Mercury, all of which were discontinued in recent decades. But the U.S. industry lost notably more automakers that wrote important pages back in the day. I'm also talking about American Motors, Packard, Studebaker, and DeSoto.The list could go on with Tucker, which was around for only a few years and built the innovative Torpedo , and Edsel, currently known as the industry's largest flop. But I'd also like to include one of my favorite carmakers ever, Hudson.Primarily known for the Hornet, a car that rose to fame by dominating stock car (NASCAR) racing with an inline-six engine Hudson was founded in 1909 and disappeared following the 1950s price wars between Ford and GM. Hudson closed shop as an independent brand in 1954 when it merged with Nash-Kelvinator to form American Motors Corporation (AMC), but the name remained on some cars until 1957.Largely unknown beyond the Hornet , Hudson produced a few outstanding vehicles over the years, including the Super Six and the Commodore. And like most U.S. carmakers, it also established a separate brand. It's called Terraplane, it's even more anonymous than Hudson itself but built a few cool cars in its short time on the market.Terraplane was born in 1932 when it replaced Essex, another automobile brand owned by Hudson. The latter started as an independent company in 1918 and was purchased by Hudson in 1922. Through its small and affordable vehicles, Essex helped Hudson recover financially in the 1920s.But the Great Depression pushed the company back into financial hardship and forced Hudson to introduce a redesigned but still affordable car. The resulting vehicle was launched under the Terraplane brand, which replaced Essex altogether. And much like its predecessor, the Terraplane helped Hudson recover from a crisis and even outsold the main company's vehicles in the late mid-1930s.Like most companies from the era, Terraplane offered one model in various body styles. The lineup included a four-door sedan, a couple, a tourer, and a more conventional convertible. Terraplane also built car-based pickup trucks . The latter were quite handsome, as were the more streamlined coupes and drop-tops of the mid-1930s.These cars also made it across the ocean, being sold in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, where they were assembled under license. Unfortunately, the Terraplane brand didn't last long. Displeased with the fact that Terraplane products were more popular than the Hudson's, the management decided to discontinue the former after the 1938 model year. As a result, Terraplane went into the history books after only seven years on the market.Come 2023, and not a lot of people know about this brand. But fortunately enough, some of the cars have soldiered on in one piece and dedicated Hudson enthusiasts are keeping the flame alive. The 1934 two-door convertible you see here is one of those extremely rare examples that went through a nut-and-bolt restoration and are being paraded at local car shows.The two-tone Terraplane looks stunning inside and out and proves that this tiny company should get a lot more attention from pre-WW2 classic car enthusiasts. And don't mind me saying, but this beauty is worthy of a place and a prize at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. One of the most fascinating things about the emerging AAM (Advanced Air Mobility) is that its an equally tempting (and welcoming) playground for newcomers and giants in the industry. An eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) developed by a virtually unknown startup theoretically has the same chances at success and popularity as one thats developed by an established aerospace company.However, theres probably a lot more pressure on these reputable players to come up with something thats above and beyond. Airbus certainly seems to be focused on delivering the best.Youve most likely heard about the CityAirbus NextGen air taxi. Airbus, one of the top names in global aerospace, isnt rushing to launch its eVTOL like some younger manufacturers. It takes time to find the best partners for each part of the future vehicle, either structural or technology-related. And Airbus made sure to secure a top-notch selection.The electric aircrafts rear fuselage is being developed with the help of two German companies (KLK Motorsport and Modell-und Formenbau Blasius Gerg GmbH) who have worked with both Formula One and FormulaE, specializing in composite design and component manufacturing. AeroSystems was selected for developing the aircrafts wings, while Thales and Diehl are responsible for the structural components.Two new names are joining this prestigious list, as the CityAirbus gets ready to receive its flight deck controls and electrical power management system.Eaton will be the one to design and manufacture the power distribution unit that will be integrated into the eVTOLs electrical propulsion system. It will connect the Airbus-designed batteries with the aircrafts eight electrical power units. According to Eaton, the latest-generation components were used to develop this high-voltage system.Crouzet, on the other hand, is the one developing a brand-new human-machine interface concept thats specifically designed for the CityAirbus NextGen. Future pilots will be able to switch smoothly from fully-automated flight to manual control. The advanced flight control system is ready to take charge of the propellers, which makes things easier for the pilot and allows them to focus more on the aircrafts trajectory.In case youre wondering about the actual motor of this future eVTOL, its the Californian MAGiDRIVE . A new-generation, lightweight brushless motor made by MAGicALL (seen by many in the industry as the best when it comes to electric propulsion systems) the MAGiDRIVE is said to combine a rugged design that makes it extra durable with high torque of up to 50 Nm/kg. A custom version of it will power the future CityAirbus.Now that the four-seat eVTOL is getting the final touches, it will soon be ready to kick off flight tests this year, in Ingolstadt, Germany. What personal electric jets and flying cars have in common is the proclaimed goal of giving everyone access to personal flight. If most eVTOLs are presented as alternatives to public and shared transportation, these particular versions claim to be able to replace personal cars, for commuting and leisure transportation. The idea is that future owners wouldnt need to be certified pilots in order to fly these safe, easy-to-handle, and user-friendly cars. Doroni Aerospace , a company thats headquartered in Miami, has been working on this since 2016, and believes that now is the right moment for this revolution in mobility, thanks to the advances in both drone technology and automated driving.Last year, the brand has officially introduced its first flying car, meant for personal flights. Although its name isnt as catchy as the Jetson One , the H1 eVTOL is just as interesting. Its a two-seater fitted with two sets of wings, each with their own pair of ducted fans. Doroni describes this contraption both as a flying car and a multi-rotor aircraft.The Doroni H1 is supposed to be safe enough to be operated even by folks who arent professional pilots, thanks to the builders proprietary aircraft control system. Similar to cars, this eVTOL can simply be parked in a two-car garage, where it can also be recharged.Twenty minutes will supposedly be enough to get its battery from 20 to 80 percent. On a full charge, this flying car promises a range of 60 miles (96 km). If a thrilling flight sounds better than a long one, the eVTOL can also hit 140 mph (225 kph). As for the payload, the maximum that the Doroni H1 can handle adds up to 500 pounds (226 kg).Although the future flying car can already be pre-ordered by anyone online, the brand is also gearing up to officially hit the Canadian market, through a commercialization partnership. A Canadian operator specializing in RPAS (remotely-operated aircraft systems) is interested in purchasing and then selling 25 units of the Doroni H1.Whats interesting is that 3Points is also set to assist the manufacturer with the upcoming testing of the eVTOLs early versions. That will probably happen soon, since the first deliveries for individual customers are already scheduled for the first quarter of 2024. It will be interesting to see how many people were willing to spend $150,000 on this electric flying car. On Wednesday, a man carrying a machete murdered a sexton. He injured a priest in attacks on two churches in the city of Algeciras before being captured, according to Spain's interior ministry. Authorities are examining the incident as a probable act of terrorism. The suspect was apprehended in the city in the south and is currently in the custody of the National Police of Spain. The ministry was not able to identify him, CBS News reported. Machete Attack at Spanish Church The ministry said the armed guy entered the San Isidro church at around 7:00 p.m. and attacked a priest, who was gravely hurt. The attacker then walked five minutes to a second church, the Nuestra Senora de La Palma, where he entered and resumed his spree by attacking the sexton. According to the ministry, the sexton, whose job is maintaining the church, escaped outdoors, where the attacker fatally wounded him in a public area. The town administration of Algeciras recognized the sexton as Diego Valencia and the wounded priest as Antonio Rodrguez. According to the city hall, he is hospitalized and in stable condition. According to local media, at least three other persons were hurt. The National Court of Spain said a judge had launched an inquiry into a probable terrorist act. The interior ministry said police are investigating the event to ascertain the "nature of the attack." It supplied no other information on the attacker's suspected motive. The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, also expressed his sympathy. Francisco Garca, the secretary general of Spain's Episcopal Conference, remarked on Twitter, "I received the news of the incident in Algeciras with great sorrow." A conference is a Rome-based group of Catholic bishops from Spain. The city council proclaimed a day of mourning during which flags would fly at half-staff. Per AP News, Mayor Jose Landaluce stated, "We are all stunned by these deeds, which have filled us with pain." Read Also: Alabama Airport Crew Killed by Plane Engine Spain Deadly Machete Attack Victims The man entered the San Isidro church and assaulted Rodriguez, according to the police. According to a statement by the Algeciras Salesians, Rodriguez, 74, was attacked while celebrating Eucharist. The attacker then entered the Nuestra Senora de La Palma church, where he vandalized property before stabbing Valencia. Valencia escaped the church but was pursued by the suspect, who inflicted more fatal wounds on him outside, according to a police statement. Juan Jose Marina, the parish priest of Nuestra Senora de La Palma, said that the suspect walked directly to Valencia after the mass, indicating that he may have mistaken Valencia for the priest. "Perhaps this death was intended for me, but it found him instead," cried Marina. On his Twitter account, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez extended his sympathies to the victims of the "awful assault." At the same time, Francisco Garcia, secretary general of Spain's Episcopal Conference, expressed his "deep grief" upon hearing the news. The mayor of Algeciras has proclaimed a day of mourning for Thursday and a gathering outside Nuestra Senora de La Palma church at noon, as per Global News. Earlier on Wednesday, two people were murdered, and numerous others were injured when a stateless Palestinian man, 33 years old, attacked them with a knife on a regional train traveling between Kiel and Hamburg in northern Germany, according to the authorities. Related Article: Half Moon Bay Shooting Updates @YouTube @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. EV Akio Toyoda is stepping down from his role as CEO and president of Toyota. However, he will not leave the company. Toyota's founders grandson is going to occupy the Chairman of the Board position, effectively ousting Takeshi Uchiyamada, who will resign from his post. Toyota s new CEO will be Koji Sato, the current president at Lexus. He is also the Chief Branding Officer of Toyota and President of the GAZOO Racing Company. Sato joined Toyota in 1992. He became Lexus and GAZOO Racings President in 2020. Two years ago, he was bestowed with the Chief Branding Officer role and now, he is getting ready to lead Toyota into the new zero-emission era.Toyota has been struggling with its all-electric vehicle strategy. The bZ4X didnt do well in cold weather tests and was launched with unexpectedly poor specs in a highly-competitive market. Thats not entirely surprising, considering that Akio Toyoda has been heard on numerous occasions speaking of a silent majority that does not want an-only future.The executive might have been right. Other important automotive figures like Stellantis Carlos Tavares or various other officials from Mazda have occasionally spoken up about the dangers of a future where carmakers are forced to do only one type of vehicle.However, governments around the world are pushing for a cleaner environment where battery-electric and maybe even fuel-cell vehicles can play a major role.But more interesting is the fact that only two weeks ago, Akio Toyoda was telling Toyota and Lexus employees that he cant wait to travel to even more regions in 2023, hinting at the close relationships he likes to have with the companys workers. He also reminded everyone that being present at the office is important.Today, Toyoda is leaving the management role and is taking a step back. However, he didnt want to leave without saying that his 13 years as the boss of the worlds largest car manufacturer were complicated. There was never a day that was peaceful, said the executive.Koji Sato, however, didnt immediately announce a bold EV strategy. Instead, he said that Toyota will become a fully-fledged mobility company. This indicates a strong possibility that the automaker will start to expand its operations into other sectors and might try to compete with the likes of Tesla or Mercedes-Benz who put a high price on driving automation.Finally, according to CNN Business, Toyoda said he believes that a strong foundation is being left behind but added that he wasnt in a very comfortable position during his tenure. TDI EV Today, Skoda no longer makes as many vRS versions of its models as it did one day, but it did have a diverse range of cars with performance badges on them at the time. Skoda not only offered turbocharged gasoline engines in the performance versions of its models, but had a few diesel-engined vRS cars as well.The latter never did match up with the weight of their gasoline-powered siblings, but they could throw a punch in the name of sport if it was demanded of them.Depending on personal preference, as well as budget, there are people who like some vRS cars models more than others. While some stick to theversions as if there is no alternative, others prefer the turbocharged gasoline engines instead.Now, Skoda has a few years on the market since it started offering 44 for some of its vRS cars, as well as the possibility of having some of them with a choice between a manual or an automatic gearbox. Today, Skoda even has performance-badged electric vehicles, so it has managed to cover most of the possible niches in the segment.A few Skoda models were not transformed into vRS cars , and it looks like they will never be such conversions in the future, except when the entire range will be electric. Once that happens and most of the platforms will have the same basis and the same engines available, it will be a matter of discovering if there is a market for a certain kind of sporty Skoda that is also anThe folks at carwow managed to get all the modern Skoda vRS cars from the manufacturer's fleet and placed them in a special drag race. This way was determined to be the best at finding out which is fastest in a straight line, and what model can beat the others from a rolling start, as well.Starting at 50 mph (80 kph) in third gear (where available), things get a bit trickier than a standing start, in a way, because the launch does not matter anymore, but it is all a matter of torque, gearbox ratios, final drives, and so on. There is also the human element for reactions, shifting times where necessary, and things get difficult to guess.Before you watch the video below, ask yourself if the most powerful, yet heaviest car in there has a shot at the least powerful and the lightest in the lineup. Or is the difference in torque in favor of the heavy car with plenty of twist? Does lightness overcome all obstacles? Well, you will find out soon enough.Also, we get to see which is the best at braking from 100 mph (ca. 160 kph), which is a test where weight matters, but so do other factors such as the size of the brakes, their technology, the tires being used, the rolling surface, and so on. It is a tricky matter, as well, and some results might have been different if a timed lap was considered. Pashinian claimed at the same time that Baku is trying to not only depopulate Karabakh but also provoke a new war in the region. According to our information, Baku's plan is to bring the economic and psychological pressure on Nagorno-Karabakh to a certain climax, then open the corridor for a few days in the expectation that Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians will leave their homes en masse, close the corridor again, then open it again for several days, and so on until the last Armenian leaves Nagorno-Karabakh, he said during a weekly session of his cabinet. But deporting the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh from their homes is not Azerbaijans only goal, he went on. With these provocative actions, Azerbaijan also aims to disrupt the peace agenda, the peace negotiation process and trigger a new war in the region. It is clear, of course, that we all are very emotional about the closure of the Lachin corridor and the humanitarian crisis created in Nagorno-Karabakh. But I must once again emphasize the need for restraint in this situation and excluding language and actions contradicting the peace agenda, especially by representatives of state authorities, Pashinian said, adding that he will continue to further that agenda. Pashinian already urged Karabakh Armenian leaders earlier this month to tone down their rhetoric and negotiate with Baku in order to get the latter to unblock the sole road connecting the region to Armenia. He did so the day after Karabakhs government and main political factions criticized his statements on the conflict with Azerbaijan and, saying that they undermine the Karabakh Armenians right to self-determination. That was followed by reports that the Armenian government is seeking the ouster of Ruben Vardanyan, the Karabakh premier, because of his defiant stance against Baku. Vardanyan ruled out his resignation afterwards. In an interview with BBC aired earlier this week, Vardanyan insisted that the Karabakh Armenians will never agree to live under Azerbaijani rule despite severe hardship endured by them because of the blockade. We have to go through these ordeals for the sake of keeping Artsakh Armenian and for the protection of the right to live on our land in dignity, he said on Thursday while visiting Karabakhs eastern Askeran district. Meanwhile, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev again defended Azerbaijani government-backed protesters who blocked the Lachin corridor on December 12 to demand that Baku be given access to illegal copper mines in Karabakh. He claimed that they have not impeded humanitarian traffic through the road. The United States, the European Union and Russia have repeatedly urged Baku to reopen the corridor. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken telephoned Aliyev for that purpose on Monday. The conscripts were found dead at their makeshift barracks burned down by a major fire. They were part of an engineer-sapper company stationed in a border village in Armenias eastern Gegharkunik province. The arrested suspect is a deputy commander of a Gegharkunik military base who was in charge of rear supply and accommodation. Investigators did not name him. They said only that he failed to provide the company with fire-safety equipment. Prosecutor-General Anna Vardapetian announced the first arrest in the probe of the shock deaths during a weekly session of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians cabinet. More officers will be indicted soon, Vardapetian said without elaborating. Pashinian and Defense Minister Suren Papikian said hours after the tragedy that the soldiers died in the fire sparked by an officer who poured gasoline into a woodstove in breach of the militarys safety rules. The officer, Captain Yeghishe Hakobian, and two other servicemen suffered serious burns and remain in hospital. The official version of events is questioned by human rights activists, opposition figures as well as relatives of some of the victims. One of those relatives, Artak Asrian, told RFE/RLs Armenian Service on Wednesday that his son Rostom and the 14 other soldiers had a serious argument with the injured captain in the run-up to the fire. There was a big fight two days before [the fire,] said Asrian. [Rostom] called me at night and said, Dad, the sooner I get out of here the better. He said everyone is in trouble. Other critics accuse Pashinian of jumping to a conclusion before the completion of the criminal investigation into what was one of the deadliest noncombat incidents ever registered in the Armenian army ranks. Pashinian came up with a theory and named the guilty person during the government meeting held [on January 19] just a few hours after the tragedy, said Artur Khachatrian, an opposition parliamentarian. Khachatrian said the prime minister thus made it extremely hard for investigators to seriously explore other potential causes of the soldiers deaths. During Thursdays cabinet meeting, Pashinian asked Vardapetian and Argishti Kyaramian, the head of the Investigative Committee, to respond to the criticism. We cannot hide and do not intend to hide anything, replied the countrys chief prosecutor. The theory publicized by you is the viable theory at the moment. Kyaramian said, for his part, that testimony given by witnesses in the case corroborates what Pashinian said on January 19. EU foreign ministers approved the two-year monitoring mission on Monday in a move requested and welcomed by Armenia. They said it will contribute to stability in the border areas of Armenia and facilitate an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace deal. The Russian Foreign Ministry claimed that the mission could on the contrary bring geopolitical confrontation to the region and exacerbate existing disagreements. It branded the EU as an appendage of the U.S. and NATO. We do not see any added value from the supervision of EU experts over events in the Armenian-Azerbaijani border area, the ministry said in a statement. If Brussels were sincerely interested in peace in the Transcaucasus, they would agree on the terms of their mission's work with Azerbaijan. Attempts by the European Union to gain a foothold in Armenia and push back Russia's mediation efforts at any cost can harm the fundamental interests of Armenians and Azerbaijanis in their aspirations to return to the peaceful development of the region, added the statement. It also expressed confidence that Russian peacekeeping forces deployed in Nagorno-Karabakh will remain the key factor of stability and security in the region in the foreseeable future. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov deplored the planned dispatch of more than 100 EU monitors even before its official announcement. Speaking at a January 18 news conference in Moscow, Lavrov also rebuked Armenia for refusing a similar mission offered by the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in November. Yerevan appealed to the CSTO for support during the September 2022 border clashes which left at least 224 Armenian soldiers dead. Armenian leaders afterwards accused the Russian-led military alliance of ignoring the appeal and criticized its failure to condemn Azerbaijan. The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that the alliance can still send its observers to Armenias border areas if our Armenian allies remain interested in using the potential of the CSTO. The EU already deployed 40 civilian monitors to Armenian border areas in late October on a two-month mission agreed during an Armenian-Azerbaijani summit. Its intention to launch a new and larger monitoring mission without Azerbaijans consent has also been criticized by Baku. California authorities released further information on the firearms used during the Monterey Park shooting, when a gunman opened fire on a dance studio gathering celebrating Lunar New Year Saturday night, killing 12 and wounding numerous others. Sheriff Robert Luna of Los Angeles County said in a news conference on Wednesday night that a Cobray Company semi-automatic 9mm MAC-10 and a Norinco 7.62 x 25mm handgun were among the weapons seized near the Star Dance Ballroom Studio in Monterey Park, California, as reported by Fox News. The suspect opened fire on a Chinese New Year party at a ballroom dance club late Saturday night in the Los Angeles area, before leaving the scene and eventually shooting and killing himself the following day. Read Also: Spain Machete Attack Update Modified Gun Used in Lunar New Year shooting The California Mass Shooting suspect, identified as 72-year-old Huu Can Tran, is said to have stood at the entrance and shot 42 bullets with a MAC-10 rifle, killing 11 people. The trigger had been altered, however, it is unclear if this made the weapon fully automatic. The ATF is now evaluating it, Luna added. Luna said Tran shot himself Sunday morning in Torrance, 20 miles (34 km) from the Star Ballroom Dance Studio, per the Inquirer. As a result of the Lunar New Year shooting, police forces throughout the country, from San Francisco to New York, increased their presence during local Lunar New Year events, as per a WESH 2 report. Over 60,000 people are living in Monterey Park, California, which is located on the eastern fringe of Los Angeles. Almost 70% of the city's population is Asian, with the majority being of Chinese ancestry. Related Article: Jeremy Renner Snowplow Accident Update @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A hearing to determine if attorneys are ready for the murder trial of the adoptive parents of two California City brothers who prosecutors say You can reach Ishani Desai at 661-395-7417. You can also follow her at @_ishanidesai on Twitter. Russia fired a barrage of missiles into Ukraine on Thursday, only one day after the United States and Germany offered tanks to help Kyiv forces in the Russian Ukraine war. The mayor of Kyiv has confirmed that one person has died and two others have been wounded as a result of blows to a building in the city, per the BBC. Two energy plants in Odesa's southern area were reportedly attacked, according to official reports. Russia called the tank offer "direct" Western engagement in the fight, prompting the onslaught. The Ukrainian army chief said that on Thursday, Moscow fired 55 missiles from the air and the sea in a coordinated and extensive operation. Gen. Valery Zaluzhny said 47 were shot down, 20 near Kyiv. Read Also: Spain Machete Attacks Update Russia Downplays West Tank Supplies For Ukraine The Kremlin has warned that the Germany and US tank supplies will escalate the situation in Ukraine and has harshly opposed the historic decision of Germany and the US to transfer heavy weaponry to its adversary, per AP News. Russia, though, maintains that its new armor will not prevent it from accomplishing its aims in Ukraine. Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, remarked that the tanks for Ukraine "will burn just like any others." Several Russian specialists have stressed that the front may have to wait many months to get the lethal weaponry. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's anti-corruption effort has caused the most significant political overhaul in Ukraine since the start of the conflict, per Al Jazeera. Some have theorized that the action is related to the West's promise to provide highly desirable combat tanks to assist it in fighting Russia's incursion. Related Article: Iran Reportedly Could Develop Nuclear Weapons @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The chairperson of Invest NI has said she will not be seeking an extension in her post, weeks after the economic development agency was subjected to a scathing review. Rose Mary Stalker said that she had decided to pass on the baton when an extension to her tenure finishes on January 31. Her role at Invest NI was critiqued by Sir Michael Lyons, who said the chairperson had taken on aspects of an executive position. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, he called leadership a headline problem for Invest NI, which is currently also recruiting a permanent chief executive. Ms Stalker said today: The recently published independent review provides a pathway for the change necessary to reset and refocus Invest NI. I welcome the recommendations contained within it and, indeed, the board has already been working on many of them. However, it will take time to fully engage and refocus the whole organisation and it is important that the incoming chair has the scope and tenure to take full ownership of the process, working together with the department and stakeholders. In light of this and having served for nearly 11 years as both a board member and latterly as chair, and with my extended term coming to a natural close at end of January, I have decided that it is time to pass on the baton. It has been my pleasure to serve on the Invest NI board, and to lead it through the initial stages of a strategic transformation of Invest NI. I wish to thank board colleagues, past and present, and Invest NI staff for their hard work and dedication throughout my tenure. She praised staff for their inspiration commitment to economic development. "I wish the team the greatest of success as Invest NI enters a new stage in its pivotal role as the economic development agency for Northern Ireland. The Department for the Economy said it will now start the process to appoint a new chairperson, though an interim appointment is to be made. Sir Michael Lyons told the Belfast Telegraph earlier this month that the fact that the chairperson had assumed aspects of an executive role was not a secret weve found. "What weve tried to do is give a balanced view of what might explain that move to a more executive role. "Its not to be defended but may be down to actually frustration at a lack of transparency, lack of responsiveness at the agency. "Probably deep-seated and longstanding problems have led the chair to be inappropriately involved in detail and executive decisions and thats in turn disempowered many of the senior managers. DfE thanked Ms Stalker for her dedication as a board member from 2012 to 2019, and as chairperson between 2019 and 2022. Her term as chairperson ran out at the end of July last year, before it was extended to the end of this month as the review was taking place. In its response to the review, Invest NI acknowledged divisions among its leadership. It said: Driving transformational change, new emerging policy direction and ambiguity on roles and responsibilities has led to challenges on priorities, and divisions amongst leadership. "We accept this and with DfE will urgently reshape and refocus leadership so that we can drive forward the necessary change with clarity and unity, and rebuilt confidence. The review highlighted 17 areas in total in which the agency needed to improve, including leadership, governance, sub-regional partnerships and its portfolio of programmes. It cant simply be his talent (though his on-screen appeal continues to rise at ever-rapid pace; just this week he has proved himself the golden boy of this years Oscars, with a Best Actor nomination for Aftersun). If youre a little surprised by Mescals rise to glory, youre not alone: in casual conversation with friends and colleagues, the same review repeats itself, time and time again: He mumbles. Paul Mescal has made a career out of... well, mumbling, but also of being moody and sparing. Even reticent. But thats not to say he isnt oddly compelling to watch. I was captivated by the BBC adaptation of Sally Rooneys Normal People during lockdown, like everybody else; it resonated in a way it might not have resonated during more normal times (to borrow a title). Stuck in the spare room at home for months on end, newly-single and mostly alone (save for some hefty existential angst), I allowed myself to get lost in the teen angst relationship between Connell and Marianne. Mostly, I enveloped myself in Mescals brooding depiction of Rooneys main character love interest; finding fondness and familiarity in his emotional unavailability, his begrudging and spiky self-protection, the defensive walls he put up to guard himself from love and vulnerability and from risk of getting hurt. Mescal brought Connell to life and so, too, raised from the dead the ghost of every ex-boyfriend Ive ever had. Oh, Ive felt like Marianne. Im sure most of us have. Certainly those of us who have ever been attracted to men like Paul Mescal, anyway. But it would be overly-simplistic to mix the man up with the muse; Paul Mescal is not Connell Waldron, any more than Daisy Edgar-Jones is Marianne Sheridan. To address the shallow, then, we have to ask, when trying to get to grips with his appeal: is it his looks? His neck chain in Normal People became such a source of fascination and lust that it got its own hashtag, after all. Im not sure its as basic as that. While the 26-year-old is certainly handsome in a rugged and surprising, hot boy next door kind of way hes no Michael B. Jordan or Harry Styles. Hes no Love Island blazing veneers-and-bronzed-pecs pin-up, or the classic hunk that you might have pulled from the centre of Mizz magazine or Smash Hits to stick on your bedroom wall (if like me youre an older millennial). He is exceptional in his ordinariness; proof, perhaps, that what he exudes is something intangible. To stick with my slightly outdated, aged pop references: Paul Mescal has the X factor. There isnt even a word for it though charisma might come close. But theres a deeper and darker possibility. Mescal, to me, seems to fit within a niche category of men who have come to define a tortured artist trope; one that existed long before dating app culture threw up talk of being ghosted or breadcrumbed by softbois and f***bois. If he were played by a character in a film (rather than playing the character, for once) Mescal would be the quiet boy at a party. The best friend who you dont realise youre in love with until you are; until he writes you a poem, and then its dizzying. Hes Jake Gyllenhaal in Donnie Darko; Christian Slater in Heathers, Heath Ledger in 10 Things I Hate About You, Owen Wilson in Midnight in Paris, Judd Nelson in The Breakfast Club, Ryan Gosling in Drive even Penn Badgley in You, with less of the serial killer appeal. He is Marlon Brando, James Dean, Leonard Cohen. In Nick Broomfields documentary, Marianne and Leonard: Words of Love, Aviva Layton (whose husband, the poet Irving Layton, had an affair with another woman) says: Poets do not make good husbands. You cant own them. You cant even own a bit of them. She might, I fancy, be talking about Paul Mescal. Poets, artists, actors: take your pick of tortured or wounded men and, chances are, hell be wearing a leather jacket and leaning back against a lamp-post, reading Proust. Paul Mescal fits in that bracket perfectly; or, at least, he gives the impression that he does. What he retains is mystery it is his super-power. We dont know that much about him, but I suppose we never do when it comes to these kinds of men. They dont give us much they dont give away much at all, to anyone. They are the perfect canvas on which we can project our dark, intellectual fantasies. We dont know anything, really, about the real Paul Mescal. But thats entirely the point. We never will. Babies are eager to learn from birth. They soak up information from every interaction, every facial gesture, and increasingly, from every swipe of a screen. Researchers from Queens University Belfast are looking to hear from parents as they undertake ground-breaking research into how babies and toddlers are influenced by technology as they learn to speak and interact. The large-scale project Toddlers, Tech and Talk, led by Manchester Metropolitan University, is taking place across four nations, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. The project includes a survey of more than 1,000 parents and carers of 0-3 year olds, which looks at parental attitudes and use of technology with this very young age group. Dr Katrina McLaughlin from the School of Psychology at Queen's University, says: The home learning environment is crucial to childrens development, we know that. But the contemporary environment, with all the digital technologies available, remains unresearched. This project aims to address that gap. Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, its an in-depth study on this topic. The project not only explores what devices are within the home but also examines when, how, where and why parents engage with technology, together with their children, and how that influences their childrens communication skills. Dr McLaughlin explains: There is this whole idea of serve and return, where the mother, father or caregiver gestures towards the baby and the baby will do it back to them. This is from an early age. They are born to interact. The research will look at what happens when technology is added alongside these interactions. Professor Karen Winter from the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, at Queens says: Its very interesting to think about the impact of digital technologies. Does it enhance language, communication and development rather than distract from it? Our youngest citizens are surrounded by technology and yet we know little to date about how they interact with it. The first Speak and Spell toy was launched in 1978 and tech for children has continually evolved ever since. In 2016, the Erikson Institute, Chicago, surveyed parents of children under six across the US and found that 85 per cent of parents reported that their young children use technology. Television, tablets, smartphones, and computers were the most popular. Levels of access to technology are similar at this side of the Atlantic with Chaudrons report in 2018, published by the Publications Office of the European Union, showing that most children have their first experience of touchscreens before the age of two. Chaudrons report also highlights that parents see digital technologies as positive and unavoidable, if not necessary, but at the same time, find managing their use challenging. Since the pandemic, many of us have a lot of technology within our homes, but guidance for how to best use it with 03 year olds, if at all, is something that parents are reportedly seeking out. Prof Winter says: One of the important things about this project is the idea that we could disseminate guides to parents and carers and introduce them to new ideas and new ways of thinking [about technology]. Dr McLaughlin adds: At the minute we see a lot of media attention around screen time and the negative impact, but I think this project will hopefully show that engagement with digital technologies can offer up a lot of rich opportunities in terms of learning and early talk development. With screen time being a hot topic parents may not want to be honest about how much time their children spend on screens. Dr McLaughlin says, We arent out to judge. We are out to explore meaningful engagement with digital devices for this age group. I suppose the fact that its anonymous helps so parents can feel they can provide honest answers. The researchers are keen to hear from fathers, mothers and primary carers from a range of different backgrounds. The 2021 census found that 85,100 people living in Northern Ireland dont have English as a first language. In an effort to reach a broad range of communities the survey is offered in 12 different languages. Although to date most responses are in English. Sabine Little from the University of Sheffield received funding from the UK Literacy Association to research the use of technology in homes with more than one language. Her 2019 paper Is there an app for that? explores the use of games and apps for heritage language development. Heritage language families were defined in the study as families which spoke any language other than English. The study found that parents worried about their childrens interest in technology replacing the use of books in their households. But the research found that despite parental fears, across various age ranges of children, technology co-existed with traditional book reading which meant children who used language games or apps had additional exposure to their heritage language and culture. When speaking of the benefits of technology around second or multiple languages, Prof Winter gives the example of children from the Ukraine, who are living in Northern Ireland. Online translated classes support childrens school learning, and at home she says, access to Ukrainian-based TV programmes through YouTube form part of the efforts to keep them connected with their identity, their background and their language. How technology, in any language, influences communication and interactions is exactly what the project hopes to understand better. As Prof Winter explains, One element of the research project is the anonymous survey. There is then a second part of the project which follows up with people who are willing, whereby we undertake research with them in their own homes looking at how they use digital technology with their young children. Parents who complete the survey can opt in for the second part of the projects research which involves a more in depth look at how parents practically use technology with their very young children. As digital access rises so too does the need to know just how it can fit in with family life. Parents using the digital space have already found apps that benefit their children, or maybe they draw online or play literacy games together, maybe their child enjoys scrolling through family photos on the phone. Some may limit their childs use and some may see benefits to them having regular access. It is this diversity of experience, attitudes and practical information about technologys uses for young children that the Toddlers, Tech and Talk researchers are seeking to know more about. The survey take 15-20 minutes to complete, it closes at the end of January. Parents and carers of children aged 0-3 can use the QR code here to access the survey. Carrie-Anne Hunter with her husband David and daughters Laura and Leanna There has been a well worn path in recent decades of NI natives heading Down Under to start a new life. The Nursing and Midwifery Council is examining a number of allegations made against a nurse An elderly care home resident allegedly abused by a nurse looking after her has been described as a sweet lady during a fitness to practise hearing. A man accused of carrying out a creeper-style burglary armed with a hammer in west Belfast has been granted anonymity amid claims of a potential risk to his life. Reporting restrictions were imposed after the 29-year-old appeared in court over his alleged involvement in the raid on a home in the early hours of January 23. He is charged with aggravated burglary to steal bank cards and car keys from the house at Glenalina Park. The defendant faces further counts of possessing an offensive weapon in public, namely a hammer, common assault and having quantities of cocaine and diazepam. Prosecutors allege that he entered the house alongside a second man armed with a wheel brace. The co-accused was taken to hospital for treatment to injuries sustained in a suspected attack by unidentified individuals before PSNI officers arrived on the scene. Police believe he had been targeted by a mob in retaliation for the break-in, according to legal papers. Fears were raised that the defendant could be at a similar risk of attack if released from custody. Those issues were raised during his first appearance at Belfast Magistrates Court. Defence lawyers argued that revealing his identity in connection with the alleged offences would create a real and immediate risk to his life, contrary to Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights. District Judge Steven Keown granted an interim anonymity order, prohibiting publication of anything which could identify the defendant. Bail was also refused on the grounds of risk of re-offending and interference with witnesses, the Court Service confirmed. Remanding the accused in custody until February 21, Judge Keown directed that advance notification should be given of any challenge to the reporting restrictions. Burke showed up at Wilsons Hospital school for a third day and criticised judges ruling Schoolteacher Enoch Burke has refused to say if he will finally abide by a court order restraining him from attending at Wilsons Hospital School now that he is facing being fined 700 a day. The High Court today ruled that Mr Burke be fined that amount each day he continues to defy the court order. Mr Burke again turned up at the Co Westmeath School, the third time he has done so since his dismissal last Friday following a row which has its roots in his opposition on religious grounds to a request that a transgender pupil to be called by a new name. As he left the school shortly after 3.30pm this afternoon, he criticised the judge who made the ruling and claimed he was being fined for expressing his religious beliefs. He described the sum as an astronomical amount of money and said he had been saving to scrape together money for a house deposit. However, he would not say whether he would now be purging his contempt or if he intended to continue showing up at the school. That is all I have to say at the moment, he said. Earlier this month the school applied for either the sequestration of Mr Burkes assets or the issuing of a fine for his ongoing contempt. In a ruling today, Mr Justice Brian OMoore said the appropriate measure to deal with Mr Burkes contempt of court was to impose a daily fine. The 700-a-day fine will kick in tomorrow unless Mr Burke agrees to purge his contempt. The judge said the fine amounted to just shy of 5,000-a-week. This figure should persuade Mr Burke to end his utterly pointless attendance at a school which does not want him on its property, said Mr Justice OMoore. If the daily fine that is now being imposed on Mr Burke does not have the desired effect, it can always be increased. Mr Justice OMoore said Mr Burke had given a quite surreal explanation for his continued attendance at the school that he was there to work. He was not provided with access to a classroom, was obviously not rostered to give any lessons, and was asked to leave by the school authorities, the judge said. It simply cannot be the case that Mr Burke truly expected that he would be permitted to carry out any duties. Mr Justice OMoore said he would again give Mr Burke an opportunity to purge his contempt but added that if he did not do so by 2pm tomorrow, the daily fine would kick in from then. Mr Burke criticised the ruling. "We are at a time in this country where people are at their wits end with the cost of everything, the cost of fuel, the cost of putting bread on the table, putting clothes on childrens backs, grocery bills gone up, he said. And Brian OMoore, a judge of the High Court, has sat down and said to himself that not only will you have to pay for those things but you have to pay for your religious beliefs. He will make you a pauper for the profession of your religious belief. Mr Justice OMoore has previously said the court order restraining Mr Burke from attending the school does not in any way impinge on Mr Burkes religious beliefs. In his ruling, the judge said the fine would remain in place until the relevant parts of an order made by Mr Justice Max Barrett last September were vacated. He also said the situation would be reviewed at a costs hearing on February 10 The judge said the elements of Mr Justice Barretts order which had been breached were those prohibiting Mr Burke from attending at the school premises for the duration of his paid administrative leave and prohibiting him from trespassing on the property of the school. The teacher of history and German previously spent 108 days in prison for contempt of court last year. He was jailed for refusing to comply with court orders restraining him from attending at or attempting to teach pupils at the Church of Ireland diocesan school in Multyfarnham. The school obtained the orders last September after Mr Burke kept turning up for work despite being suspended on full pay. The suspension arose after he clashed with management over a request that they/their pronouns and a new name be used in connection with a transgender pupil. Mr Burke, who is from a well-known family of evangelical Christians, objected to the demand on religious grounds. He opposed the application for sequestration or a fine, claiming the court did not have the power to impose such a sanction. Mr Burke claimed this was because Mr Justice Barretts order was invalid, being manifestly unconstitutional and lawful and without legal effect, an absolute nullity from their inception. I have breached no valid order of the court, he claimed. But his arguments were rejected by Mr Justice OMoore in a 23-page ruling. The judge said that unless Mr Justice Barretts orders are reversed by the Court of Appeal, they remain valid orders which must be obeyed. He said Mr Burkes claim the orders were invalid was entirely misconceived. Without the consent of the board of management Mr Burke had no right to be on the school premises. On the evidence before me, no such consent is forthcoming; the opposite is the case, the judge said. The reason given by Mr Burke for his attendance - that he was at the school 'to work' - is quite surreal. Mr Burke refused to divulge his earnings to the court at a hearing earlier this month. A lawyer for the school said it believed he earned in the region of 48,000 before tax. He also has income from giving grinds to students as well as from the sales of book he has authored on religious issues. It is unclear if he has any further sources of income. Mr Burke was arrested for alleged trespass at the school on Tuesday but he was subsequently released without a charge and immediately returned to the school grounds. A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. The teacher claims he was unlawfully arrested. On each occasion he has turned up at the school since his dismissal he has been denied entry to its buildings and has stood outside. He again showed up at the school this morning, arriving in an SUV driven by his father Sean at 8.42am. Burke showed up at Wilsons Hospital school for a third day in a row today despite being dismissed from teaching role Enoch Burke arrives again at Wilson's Hospital School driven by his father Sean Photo: Gerry Mooney The High Court has ruled that Enoch Burke is to be fined 700 for each day he continues to defy court orders restraining him from attending Wilsons Hospital School. Mr Burke again turned up at the Co Westmeath school today, the third time he has done so since his dismissal last Friday. Earlier this month, the school applied for either the sequestration of Mr Burkes assets or the issuing of a fine for his ongoing contempt. In a ruling today, Mr Justice Brian OMoore said the appropriate measure to deal with this civil contempt of court was to impose a daily fine. The 700-a-day fine will kick in from Friday unless Mr Burke agrees to purge his contempt. Mr Burke can, if he wishes, tell the court that he will obey the order and thereby seek to purge his contempt, the judge said. If he does not do so by 2 pm on Friday, January 27, 2023, he will then be subject to a fine of 700 for every day or part of the day that passes until he purges his contempt or until the relevant part of the order of [Mr Justice Max Barrett] is vacated. Mr Justice OMoore said the position would be reviewed at a hearing on February 10. The teacher of history and German previously spent 108 days in prison for contempt of court. He was jailed for refusing to comply with court orders restraining him from attending at or attempting to teach pupils at the Church of Ireland diocesan school in Multyfarnham. The school obtained the orders last September after Mr Burke kept turning up for work despite being suspended on full pay. The suspension arose after he clashed with management over a request that they/their pronouns and a new name be used in connection with a transgender pupil. Mr Burke, who is from a well-known family of evangelical Christians, objected to the demand on religious grounds. He opposed the application for sequestration or a fine, claiming the court did not have the power to make such an order. He claimed any such order would be repugnant to constitutional protections to the expression of religious beliefs. Mr Burke was released from prison by Mr Justice OMoore just before Christmas despite not purging his contempt. He was warned by the judge that the only threat to his liberty would be if he again breached orders and that it would also be open to the school to apply for other measures. A lawyer for a US elementary school teacher, who was shot by a 6-year-old pupil, said her client plans to sue the school district because administrators had disregarded several warnings about the threat. Attorney Diane Toscano said that on January 6, instructor Abigail Zwerner and other staff members at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, alerted school officials three times that the kid could have a firearm and was posing a danger to others, as per a report published by Yahoo! News. Zwerner was shot and wounded, but she was able to survive. Toscano said that the 25-year-old teacher informed school authorities that the unidentified pupil had threatened to hurt another student that morning, "but the school administration could not be bothered." An hour later, another instructor informed the school officials that the child had brought a gun to campus but didn't see it in his backpack and could have it in his pockets, per AP News. Read Also: Pope Francis Comments on Homosexuality Then, according to a third teacher, another pupil reportedly confessed while sobbing that he had seen the gun and had been frightened by it. The pupil was not searched by school personnel. Victim Recovering at Home Toscano has stated her intention to file suit on behalf of Zwerner. Toscano referred to Zwerner as "the best of us" since she was a committed educator, who had to face the unimaginable when she was shot deliberately by a 6-year-old pupil "in front of her first-grade class while teaching." Toscano noted that the bullet is dangerously stuck in Zwerner's body, and she is currently "in between surgeries and physical therapy appointments with a career in question." The lawyer added that Zwerner is recovering at home. Newport News Schools refused to comment on Zwerner's attorney's accusations, citing the school division's ongoing probe and new administration. Related Article: California Mass Shooting Update @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A man accused of subjecting his teenage daughter to a series of sexual attacks must remain in custody, a judge has ruled today. He was refused bail amid allegations that he raped and repeatedly molested the girl at their home in south Belfast. The 47-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested after police were alerted last month. A detective told Belfast Magistrates Court: The injured party disclosed that she had been sexually abused by her father, the defendant, over the past 18 months. She said it happened at their home address while her mother was out at work. The accused faces nine charges, including rape, sexual assault and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. During police interviews he made no comment to questions, the court heard. Forensic evidence and an evidential account from the alleged victim, now aged 16, have been obtained as part of the investigation. The detective claimed that if released the man could flee or interfere with witnesses. The defendant has asked for contact with his children while hes been in custody, she added. Defence solicitor Pearse MacDermott argued that his client should be presumed innocent and could surrender any passports to ease concerns. Mr MacDermott also stressed: There is no indication that he has made any threats or attempted to get the injured party to change her statement. Denying bail, however, District Judge Anne Marshall said: These are serious allegations and I dont think he is a suitable candidate. She remanded the accused in custody, to appear again by video-link on February 23. Claims come as more than 25,000 care workers across NI stage 24-hour strike to secure better pay Healthcare workers are dressing their children in coats and tights to keep them warm overnight as they struggle to meet the basic costs of living, it has been claimed. Some are putting uniforms on their children before they go to sleep as they cant afford to heat their homes in the morning. The shocking claims have come to light as more than 25,000 healthcare workers across Northern Ireland staged a 24-hour strike in a fight to secure better pay. The industrial action occurred on the day the Department of Health released statistics highlighting the suffering being endured by patients across the region. The figures, which show one in five people who attended an emergency department in Northern Ireland in December waited longer than 12 hours, have reinforced union warnings that patients are coming to harm on a daily basis. Unison, Unite and Nipsa are among the unions calling for urgent action to address the pay rise awarded to health service employees, which they have said is contributing to the number of staff leaving the health service. Difficulties attracting and retaining staff across health and social care is a key factor in the logjams in A&Es, spiralling hospital waiting lists and problems accessing GP services. Despite this, it has been claimed Northern Irelands Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris has not responded to a request to meet unions to discuss the state of the health service. Maura McKenna from Unison, who was on the picket line outside Beech Hall in west Belfast, said: Weve emailed three times and not heard anything back. Our members are so upset to be back out on strike after commitments were given in 2020 over safe staffing levels and nothing came of them. We care so much about our patients, our members were out this morning making sure their diabetes patients were okay and that the end-of-life patients had their syringe drivers in place. The way things are, there arent enough staff to deliver services in the community and patients are suffering. Its so hard for staff to see, they know they can cross the road and get a job in Lidl and get paid more and not have the stress of seeing their patients suffering. Speaking outside Musgrave Park Hospital, Unison representative Stephen Garland said: Our members want better pay but this is about patient safety. Theres a real issue with retention and that means there arent enough staff to do the work that needs to be done. As more staff leave, that piles further pressure on the remaining staff, they know they will get paid more working in a supermarket and have a lot less stress. Bryan Redpath, also from Unison, said: People are leaving the NHS to work in McDonalds. They know theyre not going to get the abuse they get working in the health service and they will get paid better, so who can blame them? What does it say though that McDonalds values its workers more than healthcare staff looking after elderly and vulnerable people are valued? Stephanie Greenwood from Unison, who was on the picket line at Antrim Area Hospital, said: The current conditions are a nightmare for staff on the ground. Theyre going into wards that have patients propped up against fire doors, there are staff coming to work and theyre putting coats and tights on their kids at night-time to keep them warm. Theyre putting their kids school uniforms on them at bedtime because they cant afford to put on the heating and they know how cold it will be in the morning. Theyre worrying about whether they can put enough sandwiches in their kids lunchboxes or give them a warm meal when they get home after school. These are all people who are working full-time in the health service, they arent looking for luxuries, they cant even afford the basics. Its simply not acceptable for Chris Heaton-Harris to say health is a devolved matter and the Assembly needs to get back up and running when patients are coming to harm every day. If the government thinks its going to wear the unions down by ignoring us, theyre mistaken, were actually growing our membership because of their stance. Unison member Simon Artherton, an occupational therapist, said: I share an office with district nurses and I frequently hear them saying at around 4pm they havent had a lunch break. Staff are struggling every day and the fact the government wont even talk to the staff and unions is incredible. At least during Margaret Thatchers time, they negotiated with the miners, the Tories now just dont seem to care at all. District nurse Maire Gregory, also a Unison member, said: Were constantly firefighting instead of being able to be proactive with the care we provide. The politicians should be ashamed of themselves, services are suffering because they arent doing their job and making decisions that need to be made. An NIO spokesperson said: "The pressures affecting Northern Ireland health services demonstrate the pressing need to have locally accountable political leaders in place to take fundamental decisions on Northern Ireland's public services and deliver better outcomes for the people of Northern Ireland. "It remains the Secretary of State's hope that the parties will recognise the importance of getting back to work so that an Executive is in place to take the decisions and action needed to address the challenges facing the public sector at this critical time." Sunak and Heaton-Harris called out by trade unions for failing to prioritise health crisis Anne Speed, head of bargaining and representation at Unison NI Unison members stage a 24-hour strike outside the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, in December (Pic: PA) Family and friends of people who receive home-care services are being asked to check on their loved ones during Thursdays strike action by healthcare workers. Health bosses have also warned there will be limited hospital catering facilities, although they have said patient meals will be prioritised. It comes as thousands of NHS employees, including nurses, domestic and catering staff, porters, physiotherapists, paramedics and laboratory and administrative staff across Northern Ireland strike on Thursday. Meetings continued late on Wednesday between unions and the trusts to agree derogations to ensure safe staffing levels in critical services. However, by Wednesday afternoon the trusts were warning of significant disruption to services and a potential knock-on impact into the weekend. Members of Unison, Unite and Nipsa are all taking part in strike action throughout the day as their fight for better pay continues. They have warned that the NHS will continue to haemorrhage experienced staff unless the issue of pay is addressed. This will further exacerbate the risk to patients, who are coming to harm on a daily basis due to the ongoing failure to tackle chronic underfunding and a failure in workforce planning. A range of outpatient and inpatient appointments have been cancelled and a large number of adult mental health, older peoples and learning disability day centres will remain closed throughout the day. Laboratory services will also be affected, which may impact on the length of time patients remain in hospital, while GP surgeries will also be affected as only urgent blood tests will be processed. It has also emerged that some child protection case conferences have been postponed, while health visiting appointments have also been rescheduled. Speaking ahead of Thursday's action, Anne Speed, head of bargaining and representation at Unison in Northern Ireland, blamed a failure by politicians to discuss unions concerns about members pay. It is an appalling situation when trade unions willing to negotiate have all doors closed to them, she said. It is therefore inevitable that this action [on Thursday] is happening. Health workers cannot stand idly by or stay silent. And why should they? The Secretary of State is in the US talking about trade. He has responsibilities here. It is time he included in his priorities addressing the crisis in our health service. Staff recruitment and retention and pay justice are every bit as important as trade. Our members also expect a joint effort from all political parties to break this logjam. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: These strikes are being taken as an absolute last resort. "Our members are seeing the NHS eroded before their eyes and patients lives are being placed at risk due to chronic underfunding. In the absence of a functioning Stormont Executive, the responsibility for this strike lies squarely with Rishi Sunak, who has failed to show leadership and ensure that NHS bosses made a realistic offer to the workers who keep our health and social care services running. A Department of Health spokeswoman said officials fully understand the frustration and deep concern of staff, who continue to work in extremely challenging circumstances. The industrial dispute is a national dispute which is only resolvable at national level, she added. Racecourse Drive in Derry where the houses in the street have all been decorated to mark the festive season (Credit: Martin McKeown) Racecourse Drive in Derry where the houses in the street have all been decorated to mark the festive season (Credit: Martin McKeown) In one Northern Ireland street, it could be Christmas all year round if local residents get their way. Christmas Drive so called because of its elaborate decorations and lights each December has become one of Londonderrys festive highlights. Now the residents at Racecourse Drive are hoping to officially rename the street. SDLP councillor Brian Tierney told a meeting of Derry and Strabane council of the residents intentions, describing it as quite fitting. Aontu councillor Emmet Doyle requested the mayor hold a reception to thank everyone involved in lighting up the street. He said: Residents of Racecourse Drive, also known as Christmas Drive, have raised 12,460 which is a humongous amount of money for the neonatal unit at Altnagelvin and the Foyle Food Bank. The 24 families who live in what is a very small street have brought joy to many families at their own expense by lighting up the area and asking the city to come down and share in that joy. Its a testament to the spirit of our citizens, especially during very dark times for many. I wanted to highlight this, to say it is absolutely fantastic and to ask if the mayor would hold a reception for the families on behalf of all of us in this city and district to say thank you for the tremendous work they have been doing over the last number of years. Accepting the request, Deputy Mayor Angela Dobbins, standing in for Mayor Sandra Duffy who was in London to meet with BBC chiefs to discuss Radio Foyle, asked Mr Doyle to write to Karen Henderson, Mayoral & Member secretary. Echoing Mr Doyles sentiments, Sinn Feins Christopher Jackson added: I know the residents of Christmas Drive have gained a reputation for the displays they put on and crowds are attracted not only from the Ballyarnett DEA, but right across the city and district and beyond. It is something as a city we are proud of. I have no doubt the mayor will look at it positively and welcome a mayors reception for the residents. I know the mayor has made a significant donation to support the Christmas lights in Christmas Drive to add to the displays this year. Mr Tierney suggested going one step further. I know many of the residents of Christmas Drive and I know they are currently looking into officially changing the name of the street and I think that is something that would be quite fitting for the area, he said. This year in particular some of the decorations were vandalised but that didnt stop the residents from putting on a great show for people. Being a councillor in the DEA and not living too far away from Christmas Drive, it definitely puts some cheer into the area around Christmas when you see the number of people who are travelling to see the decorations. As Cllr Doyle outlined, this is done by the goodwill of residents with a little bit of organisation and the result being a phenomenal amount of money raised for two very worthwhile local charities. Ive already been speaking to the residents and offered our support and congratulations, but I think it would be fitting if the mayor on behalf of council was to recognise that. Alderman Graham Warke added: Everybody from far and wide knows it is Christmas Drive and two charities have benefited thanks to the residents. Well done everyone. We will all look forward to 2023. Council need to 'think again' over plan for Bangor costal path Controversial plans to upgrade a coastal greenway route linking Holywood and Donaghadee are set to be shelved following a public backlash against the local authority behind the proposals. Independent Ards and North Down councillor Ray McKimm has submitted a proposal for the current greenway planning application to be withdrawn to allow for significant changes to be made. It will be debated at a full council meeting in Bangor this evening. What I am proposing is that we withdraw the application to incorporate changes that the public clearly want, he told the Belfast Telegraph. Due to the radical nature of the changes, tweaking the existing application is not an option. The democratic process must be followed and its important that people know that they have been heard. Mr McKimm is confident that his proposal will be agreed, despite a question mark over what way the Alliance representatives will vote. The DUPs preference is to pause the project, but I believe they will support my motion. The Ulster Unionist Party and the Green Party have also indicated support. Alliance were totally in favour of the project going ahead before a raucous meeting in Donaghadee and then they suddenly had a road to Damascus conversion. But my understanding is that they will still oppose the motion as they would prefer to bring their own, but I believe it can pass even without support from the 10 Alliance councillors. The DUP and Alliance have called for the project to be reconsidered. Both parties have 23 of the 40 seats on the council. Yesterday, the Alliance Party joined calls for the planning application to be withdrawn and accused the local authority of badly handling the consultation process. The live application seeks to incorporate new 3m and 4m wide asphalt paths to the North Down Coastal Path and expand existing routes now look set to be withdrawn. DUP Assembly member Stephen Dunne took to social media to urge the council to rethink. The North Down Coastal Path is a wonderful local amenity enjoyed by thousands all year round, he tweeted. Its uniqueness must be preserved. Council needs to think again and get a new way forward. Plans for the new 20-mile greenway have divided opinion among local residents, however almost 300,000 has already been spent on the project to date. Supporters argue the project would enhance the health and wellbeing of the area while attracting more visitors. But opponents have expressed fears about the environmental impact, the increased risk of anti-social behaviour and the anticipated increase in the number of cyclists. An inspection of the proposed new new stretch of greenway from Kinnegar to Donaghadee has already been carried out, but no decision has been made on the application submitted in June 2020. A public meeting is scheduled to take place in Holywood next week. The council is scrambling to find a bigger venue after around 150 were turned away from a meeting in Bangor earlier this week because it was full to capacity. Thieves have stolen original features and the lead from the roof of a stately home that Belfast City Council has been accused of neglecting, it has emerged. The argument broke out following claims the Great Hunger genocide and 1641 massacre of Protestants should also be marked with moments of remembrance Roses lie at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, also known as the Holocaust Memorial, on January 19, 2022 in Berlin, Germany (Getty). Getty Images A proposal asking for a minutes silence to mark Holocaust Memorial Day led to an angry debate between councillors in Londonderry amid claims the Irish Famine genocide and the 1641 massacre of Protestants should also be marked. The row broke out at a meeting of Derry and Strabane District Council, with some expressing frustration that it descended into a tit for tat argument. Alliance councillor Philip McKinney made the proposal during chairpersons business. He said: Deputy Mayor, I would ask that you allow council to hold a minutes silence to remember all those who have perished through acts of genocide since the Second World War China, Rwanda, Cambodia, Bosnia and Dhofar. Independent councillor Gary Donnelly made an amendment. Read more Book tells story of Auschwitz survivor who became dance pioneer in Belfast He said: I agree it should be done but I would also include in that list something which is pre-Second World War and thats an Gorta Mor, some may know it as the Irish Famine which I also believe was genocide. A million people in Ireland are estimated to have died of starvation and epidemic disease between 1846 and 1851, and some two million emigrated in a period of a little more than a decade. In 1997, Prime Minister Tony Blair issued a statement expressing remorse for inaction by the UK Government during the famine. Whilst supporting the original proposal, UUP Alderman Derek Hussey said: The initial proposal is with regard to genocides which have occurred since World War II and whilst I understand Cllr Donnollys position, I could include the 1641 massacre of Protestants in Ireland and many other events. To accept this amendment denigrates, in my opinion, the initial proposal so I will not be supporting the amendment. Agreeing with the initial proposal, DUP Alderman Maurice Devenney added: The proposers of the amendment called the famine a genocide, but we all know the history of the famine but Deputy Mayor we could not support the amendment. The amendment carried with 28 votes for and five against. Mr McKinney said: I cant understand why there are some people within this chamber and the remote chamber as well who have pushed to make this into a political debate. If they felt so strongly about the amendment, why did they not come in and amend again and talk about the Scottish Land Clearances and I should also point out what happened with the famine was both Protestant and Catholic families so to make it a political statement is ludicrous, and they should hang their heads in shame. Alderman Hussey returned, proposing a further amendment which read being mindful of how close our society came to a genocide during the so-called Troubles, we also condemn the attempted genocide of Protestants along the Fermanagh and Tyrone border by republican terrorists. Mr McKinney stated he was totally disgusted that his proposal had become a political debate and it had become a case of them and us. Its the old blame game again, he added. I just wish the politics could be taken out of it and just concentrate on the atrocities that had been carried out and put in the motion. SDLP councillor Shauna Cusack said if the debate continued in the same vein she would abstain. Its no disrespect to the original motion or amendment to the motion, she said. Its going to go down that avenue of tit for tat and I feel for everyone who has been a victim of war or Troubles or genocide that we have experienced in this part of the world. Its going to get ridiculous and the public listening to this are going to say, there they go again, they are there to discuss business that affects us in this council area and here we are green and orange, us and them its disgusting. Welcoming Mr McKinneys original motion, People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin said: Cllr Donnelly is within his right and our right to add in the Great Hunger, it shouldnt have been an issue. I feel very determined as someone who has a Jewish partner who celebrates Jewish cultural traditions that we have a minutes silence to remember the victims of the Holocaust, it still remains a pivotal moment in human history and one we should say over and over again never again. Unfortunately, there are many people who want to take us back in that direction. We should say we stand in solidarity with all people who faced genocide and faced attempts to annihilate them. I would urge that if Alderman Hussey wants to stick with his amendment that people reject it because it is just toxic. Taking exception to comments about tit for tat, UUP Alderman Ryan McCready stated: The famine was deeply reprehensible and there was no excuse but to try and piggy-back on motion after motion, it leads to no end. Its troubling and disturbing to go through this sort of cycle but to call each other or peoples perspective ridiculous is pointless and disingenuous. We all have something to say, and we all represent lots of people out there. This has opened a real can of worms. SDLP councillor Brian Tierney said: We will not be supporting the amendment. I have no issue in saying I condemn the genocide of Protestants along the Fermanagh and Tyrone border by republican terrorists, but I also condemn the genocide of Catholics across the north by loyalist and British terrorists and I find it absolutely appalling that anyone would want to bring in and talk about victims of the conflict this week. Alderman Husseys amendment fell before the substantive motion passed with votes 30 for, one against and three abstentions. The chamber subsequently stood for a minutes silence. Police have confirmed the two missing prisoners have been arrested (PSNI/PA) Two missing murderers last seen in Belfast city centre have been arrested in Newry on Thursday afternoon, the police have confirmed. Alison McDonagh (49) and Stephen McParland (54) were last spotted together at Lanyon Place station in Belfast at around 1.45pm on Saturday after failing to return from their temporary release. McDonagh was imprisoned for the murder of George McDowell in 2004 and McParland was imprisoned for murder of Gary Alexander McKimm in a row over 20 in 1997. Mr McKimms body was discovered in a pool of blood in an alleyway off Cregagh Road in the city. In an updated statement a PSNI spokesperson said: Unlawfully at large prisoners, 49-year- old Alison McDonagh and 54-year-old Stephen McParland have been arrested in the Newry area this afternoon, Thursday 26th January. "They will now be returned to the custody of Northern Ireland Prison Service. We would like to thank the public for their assistance. Alliance Councillor Michelle Kelly has announced she will not stand for re-selection, citing her wish to be more present for her young daughter. Ms Kelly, who is the current Deputy Mayor of Belfast took to social media to say the decision was difficult but thanked Alliance Party leader Naomi Long for believing in her. "Ive made the difficult decision to not stand for re-selection. Its been the honour of my life to represent Titanic but Ive been balancing council with a full time job since my wee miracle was just a few weeks old and I want to be more present for her as she grows. "Thank you to (Naomi Long) for believing in me and to (Michael Long) and our wonderful Alliance Party team in Belfast. It has been a privilege and I will work as hard as ever in these final months. Councillor Kelly shared the message alongside a photograph of herself with her daughter. She previously spoke to the Belfast Telegraph about her pregnancy, saying her daughter was her happy ending after previously suffering three miscarriages. Her announcement was greeted with warm wishes including from the Alliance leader, who replied to her tweet saying: You've done an amazing job and, hopefully, this won't be the last time you serve in public office. Northern Ireland accounted for 75% of all Section 41 arrests in the UK last year The UK-wide overuse of terrorism legislation to create the public perception that the crime is being taken seriously has been criticised by a senior government-appointed adviser with 75% of its usage being recorded in Northern Ireland. South Africa: All systems go for 2023 academic year at University of Zululand Following a visit to the University of Zululand, the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation says it is pleased with the institutions readiness for the 2023 academic year. The committee is currently conducting oversight visits to institutions in KwaZulu-Natal on governance and management-related matters, as well as teaching and learning, and expanding access to education and training. During an oversight visit at the main institutions campus in KwaDlangezwa, the committee expressed its satisfaction that all governance structures - including the university Council, the Student Representative Council (SRC) and the Institutional Forum- agreed that it is all systems go for the academic year. Committee Chairperson, Nompendulo Mkhatshwa, said the university has a fully constituted SRC, which will ensure that the voices of the students be included in decision-making by the university. The committee commended the university for its effective online application and registration processes, as well as efforts to extend the registration period if and when necessary. The university said it will allow walk-in registrations due to the challenges students face when coming from rural areas. The committee commended the universitys commitment to pay students who are confirmed by the National Students Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to be eligible for funding, living allowances while waiting for NSFAS to pay the university the upfront payment. We are of the view that this is a progressive step to ensure that students can be able to pay residence fees to private providers, have meals and transport fare to come to the institution, Mkhatshwa said. The committee had a tour of the site for the new two student residences, each with a capacity for 1 500 beds, which are under construction, as well as three older residences that were decommissioned for refurbishment. All the projects are expected to be ready and handed over to the university by October or November 2023. It also observed that the university is building a new engineering facility to expand the engineering programmes offering. The committee further applauded the university for developing a safety and security app for students to report if they have safety concerns. The SRC said the app has helped many students receive prompt intervention. The week-long oversight visit programme included a visit to Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, universities and science, technology and innovation initiatives under the Department of Science and Innovation. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-01-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Feature: High hopes on tourism boom as Thailand cheers Chinese tourists' return Xinhua) 14:36, January 26, 2023 BANGKOK, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- After a three-year lull, Thailand is welcoming back Chinese tourists to its golden beaches, striking temples and fancy shopping centers, expecting an influx of Chinese tourists to help restore its pandemic-battered tourism sector. "This is the first trip we travel abroad since the outbreak of the pandemic. We are so excited and happy. We can feel we're so welcomed in Thailand," said Liu Lingling, who came from the city of Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province and planned to spend the Chinese New Year holiday in Thailand. Liu, whose family would head south to a seaside resort after a few days in Bangkok, was among the legions of Chinese tourists who chose Thailand as the destination for their first outbound travel since China's optimized COVID-19 strategy took effect on Jan. 8. On Jan. 9, the second day after the optimization, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and other senior officials welcomed the first group of Chinese tourists at the Suvarnabhumi Airport with flowers and gifts. The high-profile event reflected the importance Thailand placed on wooing back Chinese tourists to help boost the tourism industry and economic recovery, analysts said. In downtown Bangkok, the atmosphere of the Chinese Lunar New Year overspreads, with shopping malls decorated with Chinese New Year elements in an effort to cash in from an influx of Chinese tourists during the first "Golden Week" holiday after China optimized its COVID-19 strategy. At Chinatown on Bangkok's Yaowarat Road, 200 meters of the road are decorated with lights and lanterns of various styles to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year that falls on Jan. 22 this year, the start of the Year of the Rabbit, which Nutthaporn believed would be a year of vitality and prosperity. "We have stockpiled food supplies for the Chinese New Year travel rush," which always attracts a lot of foreign customers, said Nutthaporn, a chef at a restaurant on Yaowarat Road. "Chinese tourists are our main driver to the economy. They are back this year, and I think our business will run as good as before the pandemic," he said. Nutthaporn is not alone in his optimism. Airlines, hotels, restaurants and other tourism operators are looking forward to seeing more Chinese tourists this year. "The return of Chinese tourists has raised hope for the recovery of tourism industry in Thailand and other countries around the world," said Wichai Kinchong Choi, senior vice president of the leading Thai Kasikornbank. Thailand's tourism sector will exhibit a faster recovery following the return of Chinese tourists, said Piti Disyatat, secretary of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of Thailand, the country's central bank. The Thai economy will continue to gain traction with continued recovery in tourism and private consumption thanks to the return of Chinese tourists, Piti said. The Thai government is expecting 7 to 10 million Chinese tourist arrivals this year, with 300,000 coming in the first quarter. The Southeast Asian country welcomed more than 2.24 million international travelers in December alone, compared with only 428,000 for the full year of 2021, taking the total to 11.15 million in 2022, according to Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports. However, the data still lagged far behind a record of nearly 40 million international tourist arrivals registered in 2019, with Chinese tourists accounting for more than a quarter of the total arrivals. "The pandemic has made us realize the importance of Chinese tourists, whose high spending power helped drive our economic growth," Chanapan Kaewklachaiyawuth, vice president of the Thai Chinese Tourism Alliance Association, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview. Tourists from various countries and regions have come to Thailand, but the lack of Chinese tourists means the lack of vitality and growth momentum, Chanapan said. It may take time for a full recovery, and "we are excited to see the return of Chinese tourists," Chanapan said, expecting more Chinese tourists to come after China resumes outbound group tours next month. "We have made a lot of preparation to welcome the return of Chinese tourists, including expanding the range of tourism products, offering more high-end products as well as improving the quality of goods and services," he said. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Hongyu) Windows OS users with Windows 10 20H2, 21H2, and 22H2 have been experiencing issues with their Windows Start menu. This also goes for users with Windows 11 22H2, but Microsoft has issued a temporary fix as theta re working on a patch. Issues with Windows The company has already acknowledged the issue at hand, but there are still no permanent solutions as of right now. The areas in the operating system that might be affected along with the Start menu are Windows search and the Universal Windows Platform. Reports say that Clickshare, which is used for sharing the screen of a Windows device wirelessly, is also not working. The affected users might have damaged registry keys or data, as mentioned in Bleeping Computer. This could affect apps that use Microsoft Office's API to interact with Windows, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, or Outlook Calendar. Microsoft mentioned that the Windows Update might not be the cause and that it could be originating from an update to an affected app. Windows' Solution Microsoft is still investigating the issue and will assist customers and provide information in an update to the Windows health dashboard entry. But for now, users are advised to uninstall apps that integrate with Windows, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, or Outlook Calendar. Microsoft also suggested that users might want to configure certain affected apps to open on demand instead of automatically operating on start-up. This could help prevent the issue from happening again. To resolve issues with third-party processes like Clickshare that uses Office APIs, users can download scripts to fix the issue should it happen. Although, Windows warned that the scripts won't prevent the issue from happening again. Users can then open a Powershell prompt under the affected user identity and run ".\FixUserShellFolderPermissions.ps1" after. If the registry keys are wiped out, users can run "FixUserShellFolderPermissions.ps1 -allprofiles" on an elevated Powershell prompt. For applications that don't work, users might need to register certain shell packages by running the command "FixUserShellFolderPermissions.ps1 -register" from the affected user. Microsoft already knows about the issue and is working on it. Read Also: Microsoft Puts Ads In Windows 11 Sign Out Menu Other Issues For Windows 10 versions 20H2, 21H2, and 22H2, other issues might include one with application shortcuts. It might not work from the Start menu or other locations when users are trying to run .exe files. Changes to Microsoft Defender might resolve the problem. Taskbar elements might also flicker which will cause device instability, which affected OS Build 19045.2130. Users could fix the issue by using Known Issue Rollback or KIR, as advised by Microsoft on its website. It has been confirmed that upon failure to install KB5012170, users might receive a 0x800f0922 error. The security update for Secure Boot DBX might fail to install. Errors might also occur in domain join processes when an account is created using a different identity to join the domain. As for Windows 11 version 22H2, the conversion of texts in some languages might not work as intended. The languages affected include Japanese, Korean, and Chinese. Apps that require administrative privilege might not be installed as well when using provisioning packages (.PPKG). Remote Desktop Services collection, RemoteApp, and Desktop Connection might also fail when using Remote Desktop Services Collection. Related: Microsoft Edge's Latest Update Disables Internet Explorer in Feb. 2023 The joey was born in July to mother Kitawa and father Kayjo (Chester Zoo/PA) Conservationists at Chester Zoo have captured the moment a rare tree kangaroo popped its head out of its mothers pouch in a celebratory moment for the endangered species. The tree-dwelling marsupial is the first Goodfellows tree kangaroo to be born in a breeding programme at the Cheshire wildlife centre, which is working to save the highly endangered species from extinction. The unnamed joey was the size of a jelly bean when it was born to mother Kitawa and father Kayjo in July and has been growing in its pouch, known as a marsupium, ever since. Wild populations of the species, listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and found in the mountainous forests of Papua New Guinea, have declined by up to 50% in the last 30 years due to hunting and deforestation, according to the zoo. David White, team manager at Chester Zoo, said it was a real celebratory moment for a species that had suffered tremendously. The new baby will soon emerge from the pouch fully and begin hopping around and learning to climb trees, under the watchful eye of mum Kitawa, he said. Thats when well be able to determine if its male or female and give the youngster a fitting name. The Goodfellows tree kangaroo is described as shy and elusive (Chester Zoo/PA) His team have been monitoring the joeys growth using a special endoscope camera placed inside Kitawas pouch. Mr White added: These remarkable animals have suffered tremendously in the wild. They are hunted for their meat, and their habitat is disappearing around them as forests are cleared for timber and to make way for coffee and rice plantations. With little being known about these shy and elusive creatures, small mammal experts at our conservation zoo are in a unique position to be able to capture and document the whole process around the development of Kitawas joey. The joey was the size of a jelly bean when it was born (Chester Zoo/PA) These observations could be useful to help inform better conservation action for this wonderful but sadly endangered species in the wild. The kangaroos climb trees using their long, curved claws and rubbery soles and can jump distances of up to nine metres from tree to tree. Their strong, stocky arms allow them to grip bark and branches with ease as they search for flowers, grasses and leaves to eat. Chester Zoo is home to more than 27,000 animals from more than 500 species, and its conservation work also involves Bornean orangutans, Indian elephants and tigers. A former MP accused of making fraudulent expense claims to fund a drug habit was thousands of pounds in debt with a dealer, a court has heard. Jared OMara, 41, who represented Sheffield Hallam from 2017 to 2019, did cocaine instead of going to Parliament, messages read to a jury said. He is on trial for submitting fake invoices to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) in a bid to fraudulently claim up to 30,000 in taxpayers money. On Thursday, Leeds Crown Court heard messages between OMara and co-defendant Gareth Arnold, who was his friend and chief of staff when the claims were submitted between June and August 2019. Prosecutors said the messages included references to money-making schemes, bending the rules, demanding money from Ipsa, deleting records, and abandoning claims for payment that might ring alarm bells. In a message from April 2019, read in court by prosecutor James Bourne-Arton, Arnold messaged another friend saying: Hes a few k in debt with a dealer. The friend replied: Thats a very dangerous game that. He wants to be careful no bad lads come for him. Hes on 80k a year ffs. Another message in June 2019 saw Arnold saying he had just smashed loads of coke with local MP. In one message from July 2019, Arnold told OMara he had seen his mental health deteriorate and his drug use spiral into something very strange. In another, Arnold told OMara: You got shitfaced before a Look North TV interview and then harassed a female member of staff. Gareth Arnold (Danny Lawson/PA) Danny Lawson Its you who does cocaine instead of going to Parliament. In another exchange, OMara asked Arnold if he wanted to earn some money in a simple way that involves bending the truth ever so slightly to both of our benefits. Messages between the pair about the allegedly fraudulent invoices show OMara said at one point: Nailed my response to Ipsa, made it about disability and reasonable adjustments and told them Im going to contact Mr Speaker. Arnold later said to OMara about one claim in July: Its been rejected four times now, I think any more pushing is going to raise alarms. Consider it revoked then. Jurors had previously heard that Arnold contacted South Yorkshire Police in July 2019 after reaching a point at which he was no longer willing to participate in the fraud. In a call played to the court, Arnold said OMara had started to entertain the idea that some sort of shadowy government cabal is trying to bring him down. Detective Sergeant Andrew Shields, who spoke to Arnold after his call to police, told the court they had spoken about OMaras mental health, the submission of invoices to Ipsa and OMaras cocaine use, which was anything up to five grams a day. John Woodliff (Jon Super/PA) Jon Super OMara is accused of making four fraudulent claims to Ipsa between June and August 2019 from a fictitious organisation called Confident About Autism SY, and submitting two invoices from Arnold for media and PR work that prosecutors say was never carried out. It is also claimed that OMara, who appeared in court by videolink, submitted a false contract of employment for a friend, John Woodliff, pretending that he worked as a constituency support officer. OMara is charged with eight counts of fraud by false representation, with Arnold jointly charged with six of the offences, and Woodliff jointly charged with one. OMara won Sheffield Hallam for Labour from former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Nick Clegg in 2017, but later left the party after a series of controversies. He stayed in office as an independent MP but did not contest the 2019 general election. OMara, of Walker Close, Sheffield; Arnold, of School Lane, Dronfield, Derbyshire; and Woodliff, of Hesley Road, Shiregreen, Sheffield, deny all charges. The trial continues. Palestinian rescuers inspect a damaged building after an Israeli forces raid in the West Bank city of Jenin (Majdi Mohammed/AP) Majdi Mohammed Israeli forces have killed at least nine Palestinians, including a 60-year-old woman, during a raid in a flashpoint area of the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials said. It marks one of the deadliest days in the territory for years. A gun battle broke out on Thursday when the Israeli military conducted a rare daytime operation in the Jenin refugee camp that it said was meant to prevent an imminent attack against Israelis. The camp, where the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group has a major foothold, has been a focus of nearly a year of Israeli arrest raids. At least one of the dead was identified by Palestinians as a militant but it was not clear how many others were affiliated with armed groups. Palestinians clash with Israeli forces following an army raid in the West Bank city of Jenin (Majdi Mohammed/AP) Majdi Mohammed After a security briefing, Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant directed forces in the occupied West Bank and on Israels border with the Gaza Strip to be on heightened alert. Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians have soared since Israel launched nightly raids in the West Bank last spring after a spate of Palestinian attacks. The conflict has only intensified this month, after Israels far-right government came to office and pledged to take a hard line against the Palestinians. Amid the spike in violence, US secretary of state Antony Blinken is set to arrive in the region in the coming days and push for steps that might improve daily life for the Palestinians. Photographs published by Palestinian media show the charred exterior walls of a two-storey building and breeze blocks and other debris scattered on a street. The military said it entered the building in order to detonate explosives it said were being used by the suspects. Mourners carry the bodies of eight Palestinians, some draped in the flag of the Islamic Jihad militant group, during a joint funeral in Jenin on Thursday January 26 2023 (Majdi Mohammed/AP) Majdi Mohammed After troops withdrew from the area following the three-hour operation, several cars were overturned, their windshields and windows shattered as residents milled about inspecting the damage. Palestinian health minister May Al-Kaila said paramedics struggled to reach the wounded during the fighting, while Akram Rajoub, the governor of Jenin, said the military prevented emergency workers from evacuating the wounded. Both officials accused the military of firing tear gas at the paediatric ward of a hospital, causing children to choke. Video from the hospital shows women carrying children into a corridor at the hospital. The military said forces closed roads to facilitate their operation, which may have complicated the efforts of rescue teams, and that tear gas had likely wafted into the hospital from the clashes nearby. Jenin hospital identified the woman killed as Magda Obaid and the Israeli military said it was looking into reports of her death. The Palestinian Health Ministry earlier identified another one of the dead as Saeb Azriqi, 24, who was taken to hospital in a critical condition after being shot and died from his wounds. Palestinians inspect the site of a damaged building after an Israeli forces raid in Jenin (Majdi Mohammed/AP) Majdi Mohammed And the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade an armed militia affiliated with Fatah, the secular political party controlling the Palestinian Authority claimed one of the dead, Izz al-Din Salahat, as a fighter. The ministry said at least 20 people were hurt. According to Israeli rights group BTselem, May 14 2021 was the deadliest day in the West Bank since 2002. Thirteen Palestinians were killed that day in various confrontations. In light of the latest deaths, internationally backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared three days of mourning and ordered flags to fly at half-mast. Palestinian officials called on the international community to speak out. We ask that the international community help the Palestinians against this extremist right-wing government and protect our citizens, Mr Rajoub, the Jenin governor, said. Palestinians clash with Israeli forces (Majdi Mohammed/AP) Majdi Mohammed The UNs Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland said he is deeply alarmed and saddened by the violence and called for calm. Condemnations came from the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation and Turkey, which recently reestablished full diplomatic ties with Israel, as well as from neighbouring Jordan and the militant Islamic Hamas group that rules the Gaza Strip. Tensions over violence in the West Bank have in the past spilled into Gaza. The response of the resistance to what happened today in Jenin camp will not be delayed, warned top Hamas official Saleh Arouri. The Islamic Jihad branch in the coastal enclave has repeatedly fought against Israel, most recently in a fierce three-day clash last summer that killed dozens of Palestinians and disrupted the lives of hundreds of thousands of Israelis. Nearly 150 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank and east Jerusalem last year, making 2022 the deadliest in those territories since 2004, according to BTselem. So far this year, 29 Palestinians have been killed. Israeli military vehicles are seen during the raid (Majdi Mohammed/AP) Majdi Mohammed Israel says most of the dead were militants but youths protesting the incursions and others not involved in the confrontations have also been killed. So far this year, not including Thursday, a third of the Palestinians killed by Israeli troops or civilians had ties to armed groups. Some 30 people were killed in Palestinian attacks against Israelis last year. Israel says its raids are meant to dismantle militant networks and thwart attacks. The Palestinians say they further entrench Israels 55-year, open-ended occupation of the West Bank, which Israel captured along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Middle East war. The Palestinians claim those territories for their hoped-for state. Israels new far-right government, headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and propped up by ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox parties, has pledged to put West Bank settlement expansion at the top of its priority list and has already announced a series of punitive steps against the Palestinians for pushing the UNs highest judicial body to give its opinion on the Israeli occupation. Israel has already established dozens of settlements in the West Bank, which are now home to some 500,000 people. The Palestinians and much of the international community view settlements as illegal and an obstacle to peace, even as negotiations to end the conflict have been moribund for over a decade. US Congressman Brendan Boyle has said he doesnt get the sense President Joe Biden will visit Northern Ireland to coincide with the Good Friday Agreement anniversary. The US played a significant role in peace negotiations under the leadership of Bill Clinton and his Special Envoy to NI, George Mitchell. It was believed that President Biden would be keen to mark the 25th anniversary. Mr Boyle met Secretary of State for NI Chris Heaton-Harris in the US on Wednesday. Speaking to the BBCs Good Morning Ulster programme, Mr Boyle said he has heard the possibility of Mr Biden visiting in April discussed by British media but added: Im not sure where you get that from. He said: Certainly, the President is anxious to visit Ireland, itll be a great celebration when it happens, a celebration of his roots, how far Ireland has come, literally better now than ever before. And the importance of the US-Irish relationship. But I dont get the sense from the Whitehouse that it necessarily has to be in April or that Northern Ireland would take centre stage in it. Certainly I imagine that when he does visit Ireland it will include a visit to the north, but I dont necessarily think it has to be in April. The Democratic congressman said he believes Stormont should be up and running now as people voted in an election. The DUP continues to boycott Stormont over the NI Protocol and unionist parties unanimously oppose the trading arrangements. It has been accepted by all parties that improvements can be made. By the way 59% of the votes went to pro-protocol parties. The way democracy works is, thats a pretty clear mandate, a pretty clear majority, Mr Boyle said. So I certainly hope Stormont will be up and running as soon as possible, certainly by April, it would take away from the celebration of the anniversary if you didnt have the institution up and running. The Philadelphia representative didnt definitively say President Biden would not visit in April but instead deferred to the Whitehouse press secretary. He described the Good Friday Agreement as one of the great diplomatic achievements of the 20th century which should not be taken for granted. In the mid-1990s, Mr Boyle told the BBC, there were people who thought there was a better chance of the Oslo Accords between Israel and Palestine being resolved than the conflict in Northern Ireland. So we should really take a step back and realise how significant it is. At the same time, having said that, if you dont have Stormont up and running it would take away a little bit from the celebration of the anniversary, Mr Boyle said. He added that Joe Kennedys appointment as economic envoy will allow him to use economic growth as a carrot, essentially, to attempt to bring people and communities together. Mr Kennedy grandnephew of US President John F Kennedy will be an ear to anyone and extend the positive role of the US over the past three decades, Mr Boyle concluded. Deutsche Bahn security guards stand on the platform at Brokstedt station at dawn in Brokstedt, Germany (Gregor Fischer/dpa/AP) Gregor Fischer A 33-year-old man arrested on suspicion of fatally stabbing two teenagers and injuring five other passengers on a train in northern Germany had been released from pre-trial detention a week ago and had previous criminal convictions, investigating officials have said. The man, who was identified as Ibrahim A, a stateless Palestinian who came to Germany in 2014, allegedly stabbed multiple people on Wednesday afternoon on a regional train travelling from Kiel to Hamburg. A 17-year-old girl and a 19-year-old man died of their wounds, authorities said. Two victims were still in a life-threatening condition and two others were severely injured. German police said a knifeman attacked several passengers shortly before a regional train traveling from Kiel to Hamburg arrived at Brokstedt station (Jonas Walzberg/dpa/AP) Jonas Walzberg One person was slightly injured, police said. Other passengers overwhelmed the suspect, who was treated in hospital for slight injuries and is in police custody, local police said at a press conference in Kiel. Police and prosecutors said that the suspects criminal record included convictions including for another stabbing incident, sexual assault, grievous bodily harm, and shoplifting. German dpa agency said he had been in pre-trial custody for a year because of another knife crime in Hamburg, before being released a week ago. Before he was registered in Kiel, the suspect also lived in Hamburg and in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Police and prosecutors were investigating possible motives for the attack, which happened as the train approached the town of Brokstedt. Several media outlets reported that the attacker chased passengers through different coaches of the train and that traces of blood could be found in four of them. Some passengers tried to defend themselves by throwing their suitcases at him, German news channel n-tv reported. Investigators in white protective suits on the train (Jonas Walzberg/dpa via AP) Jonas Walzberg Sabine Suetterlin-Waack, the interior minister of Schleswig-Holstein state, where Brokstedt is located, said the parents of the two teenage victims had been informed of their deaths. Not all other injured victims had been identified by Thursday noon time, she said. Due to the very dynamic course of the crime, much is unclear, the minister said. Results of an interrogation of the alleged perpetrator did not exist yet, so investigators cannot yet say anything about the motive. She said investigators were working under high pressure to gather all the facts. The state parliament began its session on Thursday with a minute of silence for the victims of the attack. A masked Palestinian demonstrator burns tyres in a protest against a deadly Israeli army raid at Aida Refugee camp, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem (Mahmoud Illean/AP) Mahmoud Illean By Majdi Mohammed and Tia Goldenberg, Associated Press By Majdi Mohammed and Tia Goldenberg, Associated Press PA Media Israeli forces killed nine Palestinians, including at least seven militants and a 61-year-old woman, in the deadliest single incident in the occupied West Bank in two decades, Palestinian officials have said. The raid prompted Palestinian leaders to cut security ties with Israel, a move that could lead to more violence. Early on Friday, the Israeli military said two rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip and intercepted by its Iron Dome missile defence system. It was the first such attack from the militant Hamas-ruled territory since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to power at the head of a far-right government that has pledged a tough line against Palestinian militancy. Palestinian rescuers inspect the site of a damaged building following an Israeli forces raid in the West Bank city of Jenin (Majdi Mohammed/AP) Majdi Mohammed The raid in the Jenin refugee camp and the rocket fire increases the risk of a major flare-up in Israeli-Palestinian fighting, poses a test for Israels new hard-line government and casts a shadow on US secretary of State Antony Blinkens expected trip to the region next week. Raising the stakes, the Palestinian Authority (PA) said it would halt the ties that its security forces maintain with Israel in a shared effort to contain Islamic militants. Previous threats have been short-lived, in part because of the benefits the authority enjoys from the relationship and also due to US and Israeli pressure to maintain it. The PA already has limited control over scattered enclaves in the West Bank, and almost none over militant strongholds such as the Jenin camp. But the announcement could pave the way for Israel to step up operations it says are needed to prevent attacks. Hamas, the Islamist militant group that controls Gaza, threatened revenge. Masked Palestinian demonstrators burn tyres in a protest against a deadly Israeli army raid at Aida Refugee camp, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem (Mahmoud Illean/AP) Mahmoud Illean Violent escalations in the West Bank have previously triggered retaliatory rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces in the West Bank and on the Gaza frontier went on heightened alert. Palestinians filled the streets, chanting in solidarity with Jenin, and President Mahmoud Abbas declared three days of mourning. In the refugee camp, residents dug a mass grave for the dead. PA spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said Mr Abbas had decided to cut security co-ordination in light of the repeated aggression against our people, and the undermining of signed agreements, referring to commitments from the Oslo peace process in the 1990s. He also said the Palestinians planned to file complaints with the UN Security Council, International Criminal Court and other international bodies. The PA last cut security co-ordination with Israel in 2020, over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus drive to annex the occupied West Bank, which would make a future Palestinian state all but impossible. Palestinians inspect the site of a damaged building following an Israeli forces raid in the West Bank city of Jenin (Majdi Mohammed/AP) Majdi Mohammed But six months later, the PA resumed co-operation, signalling the financial importance of the relationship and the Palestinians relief at the election of US President Joe Biden. Barbara Leaf, the top US diplomat for the Middle East, said the administration was deeply concerned about the situation and that civilian casualties reported in Jenin were quite regrettable. But she also said the Palestinian announcement to suspend security ties was a mistake. Obviously, we dont think this is the right step to take at this moment, she told reporters, saying the Palestinian vow to bring the matter to the UN and the International Criminal Court was problematic. We want to see them move back in the other direction, she said, adding: They need to engage with each other. There have been no serious peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians in well over a decade. Thursdays gunbattle that left nine dead and 20 wounded erupted when Israels military conducted a rare daytime operation in the Jenin camp that it said was meant to prevent an imminent attack on Israelis. The camp, where the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group has a major foothold, has been a focus of near-nightly Israeli arrest raids. Palestinians clash with Israeli forces following an army raid in the West Bank city of Jenin (Majdi Mohammed/AP) Majdi Mohammed Hamass armed wing claimed four of the dead as members, while Islamic Jihad said three others belonged to the group. An earlier statement from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, a militia loosely affiliated with Mr Abbass secular Fatah party, claimed one of the dead was a fighter named Izz al-Din Salahat, but it was unclear if he was among those seven militants. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the 61-year-old woman killed as Magda Obaid, and the Israeli military said it was looking into reports of her death. The Israeli military circulated aerial video it said was taken during the battle, showing what appeared to be Palestinians on rooftops hurling stones and firebombs on Israeli forces below. At least one Palestinian can be seen opening fire from a rooftop. Later in the day, Israeli forces fatally shot a 22-year-old, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, as young Palestinians confronted Israeli troops north of Jerusalem to protest over Thursdays raid. Israels paramilitary Border Police said they opened fire on Palestinians who launched fireworks at them from close range. Tensions have soared since Israel stepped up raids in the West Bank last spring, following a series of Palestinian attacks. Palestinians clash with Israeli forces following an army raid in the West Bank city of Jenin (Majdi Mohamme/AP) Majdi Mohammed The conflict has only intensified this month, as Israels far-right government came to office and pledged a hard line against the Palestinians. Israels new national security minister, far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, who seeks to grant legal immunity to Israeli soldiers who shoot Palestinians, posted a video of himself beaming triumphantly and congratulating security forces. The raid left a trail of destruction in Jenin. A two-storey building, apparently the operations target, was a charred wreck. The military said it entered the building to detonate explosives. Palestinian health minister May Al-Kaila said paramedics struggled to reach the wounded during the fighting, while Akram Rajoub, the governor of Jenin, said the military prevented emergency workers from evacuating the wounded. Both accused the military of firing tear gas at the paediatric ward of a hospital, causing children to choke. Video from the hospital showed women carrying children into a hospital corridor. The military said forces closed roads to facilitate their operation, which may have complicated the efforts of rescue teams, and that tear gas had probably wafted into the hospital from nearby clashes. Palestinian rescuers inspect the site of a damaged building following an Israeli forces raid in the West Bank city of Jenin (Majdi Mohammed/AP) Majdi Mohammed The Israeli rights group BTselem said Thursday marked the single bloodiest West Bank incursion since 2002, at the height of an intense wave of violence known as the Second Intifada, or Palestinian uprising, which left scars still visible in Jenin. We ask that the international community help the Palestinians against this extremist right-wing government and protect our citizens, said Mr Rajoub, the Jenin governor. UN Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland said he was deeply alarmed and saddened by the violence. Condemnations came from the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation and Turkey, which recently re-established full diplomatic ties with Israel, as well as from neighbouring Jordan. Saudi Arabia criticised the raid, saying it rejected the serious violations of international law by the Israeli occupation forces. Qatar, Kuwait and Oman added condemnations. Tensions over West Bank violence have spilled into Gaza before. The response of the resistance to what happened today in Jenin camp will not be delayed, warned top Hamas official Saleh Arouri. Mourners carry the bodies of eight Palestinians, some draped in the flag of the Islamic Jihad militant group, during a joint funeral in the West Bank city of Jenin (Majdi Mohammed/AP) Majdi Mohammed The Islamic Jihad branch in the coastal enclave has repeatedly fought against Israel, most recently in a fierce three-day clash last summer that killed dozens of Palestinians and disrupted the lives of hundreds of thousands of Israelis. Nearly 150 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank and east Jerusalem last year, making 2022 the deadliest in those territories since 2004, according to BTselem. So far this year, 30 Palestinians have been killed. Israel says most of the dead were militants. But youths protesting against the incursions and others not involved in the confrontations have also been killed. So far this year, not including Thursday, one-third of the Palestinians killed by Israeli troops or civilians had ties to armed groups. Last year, 30 people were killed in Palestinian attacks against Israelis. Israel says its raids are meant to dismantle militant networks and thwart attacks. Palestinians clash with Israeli forces following an army raid in the West Bank city of Jenin (Majdi Mohammed/AP) Majdi Mohammed The Palestinians say they further entrench Israels 55-year, open-ended occupation of the West Bank, which Israel captured along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Middle East war. The Palestinians claim those territories for their hoped-for state. Israel has established dozens of settlements in the West Bank that now house 500,000 people. The Palestinians and much of the international community view settlements as illegal and an obstacle to peace, even as talks to end the conflict have been moribund for more than a decade. Two women light candles in memory of a church sacristan killed on Wednesday in Algeciras, southern Spain (Juan Carlos Toro/AP) Juan Carlos Toro By Sergio Rodrigo, Jennifer O'Mahony and Joseph Wilson, Associated Press By Sergio Rodrigo, Jennifer O'Mahony and Joseph Wilson, Associated Press PA Media Spanish police have raided the home of a Moroccan man held over the machete attacks at two Catholic churches that left a church officer dead and a priest injured in the southern city of Algeciras. Police are still looking into the motive of the assault, but a National Court judge is investigating it as a possible act of terrorism. The suspect is believed to have acted alone. Officers searched the suspects home to determine the nature, terrorist or otherwise, of the alleged crime, Spanish interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said. Residents gather after a minute of silence for a church sacristan who was killed in Algeciras, southern Spain (Juan Carlos Toro/AP) Juan Carlos Toro The suspect is a Moroccan citizen with no prior criminal record either in Spain or any other country, the Interior Ministry said. Authorities identified him as 25-year-old Yassine Kanjaa, an official with Spains National Police with direct knowledge of the case told The Associated Press. The ministry said the suspect had been under a deportation order since June last year because of his unauthorised migrant status in Spain. Authorities of neighbouring Gibraltar, which sits across a bay from Algeciras, said that Kanjaa had been arrested in the tiny British territory in August 2019 when he tried to come ashore from a jet-ski without the necessary documentation. He was deported days later. The attacks have shaken the multicultural city located near the southern tip of Spain. Witnesses said that in the second incident, the assailant jumped on the altar of the Church of Nuestra Senora de La Palma, wielding a machete. He then attacked a sacristan tasked with preparing Mass inside the church and chased him into a town square before killing him. A priest was wounded earlier at the San Isidro church, just a five-minute walk away from Nuestra Senora de La Palma. The Salesian religious order that the priest was affiliated with said on Thursday he was out of danger. The order later shared on Twitter the best news ever: that the priest was back with his community and in the care of his brothers. The Algeciras town hall identified the deceased sacristan as Diego Valencia and the wounded priest as Antonio Rodriguez. The parish priest of Nuestra Senora de La Palma, the Rev Juan Jose Marina, told Spanish media that he thinks he could have been an intended target. He said that he believed the attacker mistook the sacristan for a priest. In the same way that he sought out the priest at San Isidro and no-one else, the same thing happened here, Mr Marina said. If I had been here, I would be dead. A man reacts next to a memorial site for a church sacristan who was killed in Algeciras, southern Spain (Juan Carlos Toro/AP) Juan Carlos Toro A fellow sacristan who served with Mr Valencia at the church, Manolo Gonzalez, said the attacker climbed on the altar and Mr Valencia came out and asked to know what was going on. Candles and flowers adorned the two small churches with whitewashed walls on Thursday. The family of the killed sacristan gathered inside Nuestra Senora de La Palma to receive the condolences of minister Mr Grande-Marlaska and concerned residents. Flags were flown at half-mast in Algeciras, while a minutes silence and a vigil was observed by the community, including a significant contingent from the citys Moroccan population. This hurts us a lot, Nahual Mostanaquin said. All Moroccans, those here, in Morocco or France, no-one wants these things to happen. It is a thing of madness, she added. (The victim) was a good man who did no harm to anybody. He hurt no-one and everyone loved him. Aziz Handi said: We hope that it will never happen again, because we live in peace here in Algeciras. People light candles next to a memorial site for a church sacristan who was killed in Algeciras, southern Spain (Juan Carlos Toro/AP) Juan Carlos Toro Algeciras is a cosmopolitan port city and the first point of arrival for many boats and ferries from North Africa, putting it at the centre of Spanish debates on irregular migration. The Islamic Commission of Spain, which represents Muslims in the country, condemned the abominable, murderous and heartless act in a sacred space for our Catholic brothers in Algeciras. The violent acts at the churches may inflame social tensions stoked in an election year by the far-right Vox party, which is vying to win more seats in local and national governments, as well as to form governing coalitions with the centre-right Popular Party. Voxs leader, Santiago Abascal, linked the attack to his partys platform of cracking down on unauthorised immigration. Vox, the third-largest party in Spains parliament, also presents itself as the protector of Spains Catholic heritage at a time when active church membership is waning. He had an order of expulsion, Mr Abascal tweeted. Flags were flown at half-mast in Algeciras and a minutes silence was to be held later in the day (Geogphotos/Alamy/PA) How many more like him could there be in Spain? Popular Party president Alberto Nunez Feijoo, the leader of Spains main opposition party, said that Islamic terrorism is a problem for European society. It has been centuries since a Catholic or Christian has killed in the name of his religion or beliefs, Mr Nunez Feijoo said. And there are other countries who have citizens who do. The comments by the right-wing leaders were criticised by politicians from Spains governing left-wing coalition. The secretary-general of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, an organisation of Spains Catholic bishops, appealed for unity. We cannot demonise any group, Cesar Garcia said, according to Spanish news agency EFE. We cannot let ourselves be easily provoked, we cannot add fuel on the fire, we cannot lapse into demagogy and we cannot identify terrorism with any religion. US deputy attorney general Lisa Monaco, flanked by attorney general Merrick Garland, left, and FBI director Christopher Wray, speaks during a news conference to announce an international ransomware enforcement action, at the Department of Justice in Washington (Jose Luis Magana/AP) Jose Luis Magana By Eric Tucker and Frank Bajak, Associated Press By Eric Tucker and Frank Bajak, Associated Press PA Media The FBI and international partners have at least temporarily dismantled the network of a prolific ransomware gang they infiltrated last year, saving victims including hospitals and school districts a potential 130 million dollars (105 million) in ransom payments, US officials announced. Simply put, using lawful means we hacked the hackers, deputy attorney general Lisa Monaco said at a news conference. Officials said the targeted syndicate, known as Hive, operates one of the worlds top five ransomware networks and has heavily targeted hospitals and other healthcare providers. The FBI quietly gained access to its control panel in July and was able to obtain software keys to decrypt the network of some 1,300 victims globally, said FBI director Christopher Wray. FBI director Christopher Wray speaks during a news conference at the Department of Justice in Washington (Jose Luis Magana/AP) Jose Luis Magana Officials credited German police and other international partners. It was not immediately clear how the takedown will affect Hives long-term operations, however. Officials did not announce any arrests but said they were building a map of Hives administrators, who manage the software, and affiliates, who infect targets and negotiate with victims, to pursue prosecutions. I think anyone involved with Hive should be concerned because this investigation is ongoing, Mr Wray said. On Wednesday night, FBI agents seized computer infrastructure in Los Angeles that was used to support the network. Two Hive dark web sites were seized: one used for leaking data of non-paying victims, the other for negotiating extortion payments. Cybercrime is a constantly evolving threat, but as I have said before, the Justice Department will spare no resource to bring to justice anyone anywhere that targets the United States with a ransomware attack, Mr Garland said. US attorney general Merrick Garland said that thanks to the infiltration, led by the FBIs Tampa office, agents were able in one instance to disrupt a Hive attack against a Texas school district, stopping it from making a five million dollar (4 million) payment. Attorney general Merrick Garland speaks during a news conference at the Department of Justice in Washington (Jose Luis Magana/AP) Jose Luis Magana The operation is a big win for the Justice Department. The ransomware scourge is the worlds biggest cybercrime headache, with everything from Britains postal service and Irelands national health service to Costa Ricas government crippled by Russian-speaking syndicates that enjoy Kremlin protection. The criminals lock up, or encrypt, victims computer networks, steal sensitive data and demand large sums. As an example of Hives threat, Mr Garland said it had prevented a hospital in the Midwest in 2021 from accepting new patients at the height of the Covid-19 epidemic. The online takedown notice, alternating in English and Russian, mentions Europol and German federal and state police as partners in the effort. The German news agency dpa quoted the public prosecutors office in Stuttgart as saying cyber specialists in the south-western town of Esslingen were decisive in penetrating Hives criminal IT infrastructure after a local company was victimised. In a statement, Europol said companies in more than 80 countries, including oil multinationals, have been compromised by Hive. It said Europol assisted with cryptocurrency, malware and other analysis, and that law enforcement agencies from 13 countries were involved in the effort. The Department of Justice seal (Jose Luis Magana/AP) Jose Luis Magana A US government advisory last year said Hive ransomware actors victimised more than 1,300 companies worldwide from June 2021 through to November 2022, receiving approximately 100 million dollars (80 million) in ransom payments. It said criminals using Hive ransomware targeted a wide range of businesses and critical infrastructure, including government, manufacturing and especially healthcare and public health facilities. The threat captured the attention of the highest levels of the Biden administration two years ago after a series of high-profile attacks that threatened critical infrastructure and global industry. In May 2021, for instance, hackers targeted the nations largest fuel pipeline, causing the operators to briefly shut it down and make a multimillion-dollar ransom payment that the US government largely recovered. Federal officials have used a variety of tools to try to combat the problem, but conventional law enforcement measures such as arrests and prosecutions have done little to frustrate the criminals. The FBI has obtained access to decryption keys before. It did so in the case of a major 2021 ransomware attack on Kaseya, a company whose software runs hundreds of websites. It took some heat, however, for waiting several weeks to help victims unlock afflicted networks. This Thursday, a giraffe-sized asteroid that was discovered last weekend will pass incredibly close to Earth as a much farther-off "green comet" begins to shine. According to Earth Sky, it will pass at a distance that is less than 3% of the typical distance of the moon and one-fourth that of geostationary satellites. What Is Asteroid BU 2023 On January 26, the near-Earth asteroid 2023 BU will come quite close to Earth in a secure encounter as it will pass the Earth at a scarily close distance. Astronomer Gennadiy Borisov just made the discovery of the Asteroid 2023 BU on Saturday at the MARGO Observatory in Crimea. The asteroid was found to have a width that ranges from 12 to 28 feet (3.8 to 8.5 meters), according to a report by Space. The Virtual Telescope Project, a pair of strong 14-inch and 17-inch robotic telescopes stationed in Ceccano, Italy, will broadcast the near flyby in real-time. On Thursday at 19:15 UTC, astronomer Gianluca Masi will hold a live YouTube stream in which views of 2023 BU will be displayed through a telescope. Because it is so tiny, 2023 BU will light at a maximum magnitude of 11.3, which is too dim to be seen with the naked eye and only seen through powerful telescopes. Asteroid 2023 BU is classified as an Apollo-type asteroid because, despite crossing Earth's orbit, it spends the majority of its time far from the planet. According to Forbes, the next time 2023 BU comes close to Earth will not be until December 2036 due to its 425-day orbital period around the sun. Read More: ESA Challenges Amateur Astronomers to Spot Christmas Mystery Asteroid Is The Asteroid Coming Too Close A Danger Since 2023 BU's orbit gets it within 120 million miles (195 million kilometers) of the Sun, it is known as a "near-Earth object" (NEO). It is not, however, categorized as a "potentially hazardous asteroid" (PHA), which is only applied to NEOs with orbits that allow for close approaches to the Earth. This includes those that are massive enough to cause major regional damage on the surface in the event of a collision. Nevertheless, if a collision happens, astronomers say that the worst people can expect is a loud noise resulting in a sonic boom. However, Hindustan Times writes that an asteroid this big can still pose a threat to people on the planet because should it break down and explode in neighborhoods, it can injure individuals. It can be remembered that in 2013, a similar asteroid explosion happened in Russia, but, fortunately, there were no reports of any casualties. Despite this, astronomers tell the public that there is no need to worry as there is only a small chance of the asteroid striking the Earth. Currently, comet C/2022 E3 is also seen very close to 2023 BU, which is in the constellation of Ursa Major, known for its distinctive Big Dipper asterism (ZTF). The comet, however, will not approach any closer than around 26 million miles (42 million kilometers) from Earth when it is closest on February 2 due to its 50,000-year orbit around the Sun. Related Article: NASA's DART Mission Impact Results in 2 Million Pounds of Free-Floating Rock in Space Gen. Wanlop Rugsanaoh, the Thai governments Deep South peace talks chief negotiator speaks to reporters in Phuket, following a meeting with rebel leaders, Jan. 15, 2022. With a new Malaysian facilitator in place to restart Deep South peace talks as early as next month, the Thai governments top negotiator traveled on Wednesday to Pattani province where he admitted that the process could be more inclusive. Gen. Wanlop Rugsanaoh, who heads the Thai panel in the negotiations, told about 200 attendees at a Pattani forum that Zulkifli Zainal Abidin , 65, a retired Malaysian armed forces chief, would be the new broker of talks between Thailand and Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) insurgents. But prior to that, the facilitator will travel to Bangkok, Wanlop told the crowd. BRN, the largest armed separatist group in Thailands southern border region adjacent to Malaysia, have held five rounds of face-to-face peace talks with Wanlops team since early 2020. A sixth one was delayed because of the Malaysian general election in November. Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysias new prime minister, has since appointed Zulkifli to replace Abdul Rahim Noor . Wanlop told the forum he would like to see other groups, including MARA Patani, participate in the peace process. Regarding multiple organizations, I want all to participate MARA or any other groups. The current problem is that they cannot unite. We try to talk with all the groups we are pushing for that, he said. MARA Patani, an umbrella panel, had represented Deep South rebel organizations and factions, including the BRN, in negotiations with the Thai government. These lasted over several years until the BRN and the government began direct negotiations in 2020 that were also brokered by Malaysia. Its up to the political parties or local peoples wishes regarding several topics such as special-administered zone, power decentralization, gubernatorial election. All of these are to be discussed, debated for all parties acceptance, Wanlop said. Noting ongoing violence in the region, a forum attendee cast doubt about the effectiveness of the previous talks, including the last one in August 2022. I dont know with whom the [Thai] peace dialogue team talked, but every time after a talk ended there came trouble. People have doubts in the peace dialogue panel, said Koleeyoh Halee, whose father was killed in the Krue Seh mosque massacre in 2004. Thai security forces have been blamed for killing 32 Muslim Malay separatists who were inside the mosque. Are we having false faith in these people? They could not control their combatants. The talks ended in bloodshed, clashes, daily shooting and more widows and orphans, she said. Wanlop conceded that events surrounding previous talks did not go as well as expected. We are not sure if the BRN peace talk panel had discussion with the military wing before coming to the table, or the delegation came to the table first and told the military wing later, Wanlop said in reply to Koleeyoh. If the military wing agreed, they ceased fire if not, they continued shooting, conducting both talks and military actions. For the Thai side, Im affirming that all delegates are real, appointed by the prime minister. But we dont know about them, he said. I want all to help prove if they are de facto delegates. They may be genuine to a certain level, but not the big figures. The Deep South encompasses Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala provinces and four districts of Songkhla province. Since the insurgency reignited in January 2004, more than 7,344 people have been killed and 13,641 others injured in violence in the mainly Muslim Malay border region, according to Deep South Watch, a local think-tank. Security officers inspect a bomb site after suspected insurgents targeted a local administrative office in Pattani, Thailand, June 20, 2022. [BenarNews] BRN leaders and a source close to the peace talks confirmed the new facilitators expected visit to Thailand in early February. Zulkifli did not immediately respond to BenarNews requests for comment. The new facilitator is scheduled to be in Bangkok for three days starting Feb.1. He is expected to meet Deputy Prime minister Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan and the peace panel chief Wanlop, said the source, who asked to not be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Since his appointment, Zulkifli has met with insurgent leaders, the source said. Anas Abdulrahman, who leads the BRN delegation in the talks, confirmed this. Yes, we have met with him, Anas told BenarNews. Altaf Deviyati, director of the Iman Research Center, a Malaysian security and conflict research group, said Zulkifli would have much to do in facilitating the talks. He has a fine line to walk. On the one hand, existing talks and confidence building needs to be protected. Much has been invested already, but on the other hand, there is a need to make the talks more inclusive, she told BenarNews. Personally, I believe eventually the talks must be inclusive for sustainable peace, but I think we are not there yet. There also are perceptions that Malaysia is not an honest broker in the talks, she said. The narrative seems to be that Malaysia cannot be trusted by either [side], which I think is very wrong. Each side seems to be accusing Malaysia of siding with the other, Altaf said. This is why I think the new facilitator needs to show that Malaysia is a serious impartial facilitator whose interest is tied to the peace in the Deep South. It's up to the people of Arizona if they want cryptocurrencies to be tax-exempt property. The lawmakers in the Arizona State Senate are considering a bill that proposes to amend the state's constitution to make cryptocurrencies tax-exempt property and have voters determine if it should be so. The Arizona lawmakers expect four million registered voters in the state to determine the bill's outcome, per Coin Telegraph. Arizona Bill SCR 1007 Details The bill in question, named SCR 1007, aims to have the four million registered voters in the state determine if the local government should amend Article IX. Section 2. of the Consitution of Arizona and make cryptocurrencies tax-exempt property. Under US law at a federal level, the sales or purchases of cryptocurrency are generally subject to capital gains taxes. Unfortunately, under the current Arizona constitution, the only objects exempt from taxes are federal, state, county, and municipal property. Public debts, various household goods, and certain "stocks of raw or finished materials, unassembled parts, works in process or finished products," are also exempted from taxes. With cryptocurrencies not included in the list of tax-exempt properties, people in the state of Arizona that sell and/or purchase cryptocurrencies must pay the proper amount of capital gains tax. As such, Senators Wendy Rogers, Sonny Borrelli, and Justine Wadsack proposed that the Arizona State Senate should let the people decide to amend Article IX. Section 2 of the state's constitution and make the sale and/or purchase of cryptocurrencies tax-free. Read More: Apple's macOS 13.2 Update Brings Security Keys Support, Security Fixes Should the bill pass legislation, the four million voters in Arizona could choose to make cryptocurrencies, specifically those that don't represent the country's dollar or a foreign currency, tax-exempt in Nov. 2024. Senators Rogers, Borelli, and Wadsack are not the only ones in the country to propose making the trading of cryptocurrencies tax-free. Lawmakers in different states already proposed similar bills in their respective states, with the states of Alaska, Florida, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washinton, and Wyoming offering 0% capital tax gains to potential investors. Colorado Governor Jared Polis went so far as to propose that his state's residents can use cryptocurrency to pay taxes. SCR 1007's Status In The Arizona State Senate SCR 1007 already went through two readings as part of the Senate's calendar, specifically on Jan. 19 and Jan. 23, per openstates.org. However, it faces much opposition due to its authors' actions during and after the 2022 midterm elections on Nov. 8. Rogers, Borrelli, and Wadsack either denied or questioned the fair and legitimate election of some state and federal lawmakers, such as Democrat Katie Hobbs, who narrowly defeated Republican Kari Lake to become Arizona's governor in the 2022 midterm elections. SCR 1007 isn't the first bill in Arizona that involves cryptocurrencies. A 2018 bill previously sought to allow residents to submit tax payments using cryptocurrencies, but Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, the state's governor at the time, vetoed it. Meanwhile, Rogers introduced a similar one to SCR 1007 in the second Senate session of 2022. Related Article: FBI Says OneCoin Scam by 'Cryptoqueen' Cost Investors 4 Billion If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. Humanity has always been confrontational and aggressive since the dawn of time. We wrested control of huge swaths of land from the local wildlife to establish communities, to protect and conquer territories to either preserve our way of life or to simply stay alive. Empires and kingdoms were established and crumbled through such means as the Roman Empire. However, with the advent of modern warfare, humanity has developed weapons that could wipe out entire cities and possibly the whole world if left unchecked. Despite the MAD doctrine (Mutually Assured Destruction), some countries are still developing nuclear weapons that could travel across the world and cause billions of death and severe damage, while others are threatening other countries with them. Because of these events, experts around the world could tell how close we are to armageddon and could make a visual representation of it for the average joe to know. That is how the Doomsday Clock came to be. What Is The Doomsday Clock? The Doomsday Clock, according to the University of Chicago, is a physical metaphor that represents how close humanity is to self-destruction due to climate change or, most likely, nuclear weapons. The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, a group formed by Manhattan Project scientists at the University of Chicago, is responsible for setting the time on the clock. This group is the same one that helped develop the atomic bomb during the Second World War but protested against using it against people. The group created the clock in 1947 when the only means of self-destruction at the time was atomic weaponry, which the Bulletin considered to be "the greatest danger to humanity." It was only in 2007 that the group included climate change and global warming in the equation. Read More: 'The Lord of the Rings' Trilogy is Coming Back to Netflix in February However, CNBC's report mentioned that the time the clock tells also includes new disruptive technologies, such as biotechnologies. When the clock was first established, the Bulletin said that the world is seven minutes till midnight, with midnight representing doomsday. Over the years, the clock told different times, with its farthest to midnight being in 1991, when the Cold War was officially over and the 40-year-long East-West nuclear arms race ended. Some people, such as Michael E. Mann, Presidential Distinguished Professor in the Earth and environmental science department at the University of Pennsylvania, found the clock as "an imperfect metaphor" due to it combining different types of risk that have different characteristics and occurring in different timescales, per CNN. How Close Is Humanity To 'Midnight?' Currently, the Doomsday Clock says that the world is 90 seconds to midnight - the closest humanity has ever been to total nuclear armageddon and self-destruction. The Bulletin mentioned that the ever-increasing dangers of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia are the direct cause of the clock moving from 100 seconds to midnight to 90 seconds. It also doesn't help that Russia is also espousing thinly veiled threats of using its nuclear arsenal should it be backed into a corner. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned in August 2022 that the world has entered "a time of nuclear danger not seen since the height of the Cold War." Meanwhile, the threats posed by climate change as well as the breakdown of norms and institutions that reduce and prevent risks associated with biological threats like COVID-19 also played a role in the clock's moving. Related Article: 5 Historical Documentary YouTube Channels You'll Want To Subscribe To A former Pittsfield man, who was fatally shot by Vermont police, had killed his ex-girlfriend, prosecutors conclude PITTSFIELD A man accused of a litany of child sexual assault crimes in local court is now facing federal charges for allegedly making child pornography. Justin Benoit has been indicted in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts on five counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child pornography, court documents show. The indictment also contained a forfeiture allegation seeking possession of two smartphones, a tablet and a hard drive that prosecutors say are connected to the crimes. The federal case stems from allegations Benoit manufactured child pornography, Assistant District Attorney Joseph Yorlano said in Berkshire Superior Court on Tuesday. The underlying criminal conduct is being prosecuted locally. Theyre [federal authorities] charging him, my understanding is, for the manufacturing of child pornography, Yorlano said. The Berkshire District Attorneys Office is prosecuting him for the sexual acts that are depicted in the photos and videos. Benoit is accused of exploiting two minors for the purpose of producing visual depictions, according to federal court papers. Defense lawyer Dean Manuel, who was appointed to represent Manuel in his superior court case, said Benoit will undergo an evaluation to determine his competency to stand trial in the federal case. Manuel, who isnt representing Benoit in the federal case, said the results of the competency evaluation may be relevant to the Berkshire Superior Court matter, and should be available within about three months. An affidavit filed in support of the initial federal criminal case against Benoit has been sealed to protect the identity of the victims, according to court records. The case against Benoit, 37, got its start in Central Berkshire District Court last February. Police filed charges against Benoit for the rape of a child with force, posing a child for sexual photographs and possession of child pornography. Police reports connected to that case were also impounded for similar reasons. The prosecution was elevated to the Superior Court, which has jurisdiction over more serious crimes that lack an interstate aspect, in June, when a Berkshire County grand jury indicted him on 19 counts. He pleaded not guilty to 14 counts of indecent aggravated assault and battery on a child under 14, and five counts of aggravated rape of a child with force. He was ordered held in federal custody based on the nature of the crimes hes charged with, the age of the minor victims, and to ensure the safety of the public, according to court documents. He is due back in Berkshire Superior Court on April 19. Yulanda Chadwell is on trial for allegedly misleading police who were investigating her brother for murder in connection with the death of Paul Henry. She has maintained her innocent. Community News Editor / Librarian Jeannie Maschino is community news editor and librarian for The Berkshire Eagle. She has worked for the newspaper in various capacities since 1982 and joined the newsroom in 1989. CHESHIRE Its halls were once filled with the sounds of students; soon it will be filled with town business. In its 100th anniversary year, the former Cheshire Elementary School building will become town hall, a change in venue celebrated by locals who have worked to save the building a community mainstay that holds many memories. I went to school here, I met my wife here, my kids went here, my mother taught here, this has been a huge part of my life, and Ive been blessed with a job where I get to take care of her, said Facilities Manager Corey McGrath. So I have a lot of compassion for this place. Cheshire employees will be moving into the building shortly after Sept. 1, when the school districts lease ends, according to Town Administrator Jennifer Morse. Currently, the school is home to the superintendents office and a youth center. The school district will depart, but the youth center will remain, as its only in its third year of a 10-year contract. Town meetings are already being conducted in the former cafeteria space. So why the move away from the existing town hall building? Theres just not enough space there, Morse said. Right now we have no space at all for the accountant. Shes got a couple filing cabinets that are locked up with a chain because theres no office space, Morse said. Our cemetery offices are in a very small, probably 4-by-6 room, what I would call a broom closet, so theres just no space at all anymore. Those who work at town hall also regularly dont have enough room to park and for town visitors theres often little to no space. Moving out of town hall will create a domino effect of open space for other town entities. The Historical Commission will move into the town hall building, Board of Selectmen Chair Michelle Francesconi said. The Commission currently has a space above the cramped police station, but Francesconi said its not big enough for people to come in and view artifacts. At the moment, its a glorified storage area. Everybody will have more space over here, including the water department and building department, Morse said. With the Historical Commission out of the police station, town police can move into the second floor of its building. The library, which is connected to town hall, will be able to expand. Morse said it cost $25,000 to put heat in part of the building, and during Tuesday nights Board of Selectmen meeting, members approved $4,000 for a change of use study to be conducted by EDM architecture, engineering & management out of Pittsfield. The town is looking to change the cafeterias use from educational to assembly. Last year, the town also set aside $92,000 for building repairs at the school in its Stabilization Fund. Morse said it would take a yes vote at a Town Meeting to be able to use those funds. The original part of the building, which opened in 1922, will not be used due to a mold problem. Francesconi pointed to this as an example of what happens when you leave buildings empty. Francesconi is looking forward to bringing town meetings back to the elementary school once its ready town meetings currently take place at Hoosac Valley Middle & High School. The annual town meeting used to be held in the elementary school. Our elderly residents like the location because it was downtown, Francesconi said. When the change was made to move the town meetings to the high school, that created an uproar with a lot of the elderly in town. They were upset with the change and felt it was too remote a location. Town officials will be looking for input on renaming the school. They are leaning toward an homage to the original name: The Cheshire School and Community House. They want it to be called the Cheshire Community House. The plan is to mail all the residents of Cheshire independently for input. Francesconi said Community House captures the feel of what will be the new set-up at the school, as the remaining nine classrooms will be occupied by the youth center. There is a pre-school and daycare program in the youth center space as well. Im glad that you still get to hear the sounds and sometimes the silence of school with the youth center being here, McGrath said. NORTH ADAMS Could the Steeple City Plaza, one of the largest pieces of commercial real estate in the city, be the future home of the Extreme Model Railroad and Contemporary Architecture Museum? That was at least considered last summer, when according to North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey the museum had an option to buy the property. The group behind the project envisioned by Thomas Krens even presented plans to business leaders about the plaza as a possible site for the museum, according to two attendees. Whether those talks and negotiations went any further is unclear. Global Cultural Asset Management, Krens consulting firm which is working on the museum project, declined to say if they were still considering buying the plaza. We are considering lots of options at the moment, James Pihakis, the firms vice president of operations, told The Eagle on Tuesday. As soon as we reach a definitive choice we will make an announcement about it. Pihakis said he could not estimate when a location announcement would be made. I cant speculate because there are lots of factors at play, he said. Last year, Macksey said she met with Krens, former director of the Solomon Guggenheim Foundation, and he told her the plaza was a possible site. The owners of the plaza recently called Macksey to set up a meeting, but the mayor couldnt say whether it was related to the museum. I dont know what thats about, she said. Some businesses at the Steeple City Plaza, also known as the North Adams Parkade, have struggled to survive in recent years. The plaza has been home to a movie theater since 2007, but on Monday the owners of the North Adams Movieplex 8 announced they would be closing next week. Gordmans, which occupied a large storefront at the plaza, opened in February 2020 only to close a few months later, partly due to some of the financial pressures brought on by the pandemic. The plaza still houses some businesses, including Planet Fitness and a liquor store. First Hartford Realty Corporation owns the plaza property. Its not listed for sale on its website, but has a number of vacancies listed for lease. When asked if the company was talking with museum planners about selling the property, John Toic, the companys president, declined to comment. As a company policy, we dont respond to inquiries of this nature, Toic wrote in an email Monday. We are a publicly traded company and more information about the company including the North Adams Parkade, is available on our website. Last summer, some planners of the museum invited a group of downtown business owners to hear about their plans and weigh in, according to Keith Bona, a City Councilor and owner of Berkshire Emporium and Antiques. Some possible plans showed were at the shopping plaza location, said Bona and Andrew Fitch, owner of a property at the corner of Eagle and Main Streets who also attended the meeting. Planners said they were considering the plaza location but it was not set in stone, Fitch said. It seems like a good use of the space, Fitch said. At 131,691 square feet, plaza has more than enough space to house the museum, which would have an estimated 50,000 square feet of exhibition space. Bona said overall business owners were positive about the plaza location idea but voiced some concerns, like his worry about traffic. When The Eagle visited the consulting firms North Adams office in early 2022, museum planners said they were eyeing a parcel of land next to Western Gateway Heritage State Park at the Sons of Italy building as a potential site. Pihakis, then a senior project manager for the consulting firm, said last year it could open by 2025. The museum, a for-profit project, had 32 investors at the time and was planning to launch a capital campaign. Its not overly optimistic to say that we could be fully funded this year and activate the process, Pihakis said last year. But, these things take time thats the thing that I would also want to stress to the community in general. Asked Tuesday where fundraising is at now, Pihakis declined to comment. When were ready to make a public announcement, he said, we will be in touch with you. When we congratulated Maura Healey on stepping into the governors office, one simple thing we suggested to a leader pledging to better serve all of Massachusetts is to show up. Come see and discuss in person how statewide and regionally unique issues are felt in the Berkshires. Gov. Maura Healey announces first two bills during visit to North Adams Healey used her visit to North Adams as a way to announce her administration had filed its first two bills since taking office. So far, so good on that front. Just as we were glad to see Gov.-elect Healey visit the Berkshires soon after her electoral victory in November, we were pleased to see Gov. Healey make a westward trip again soon after her inauguration, this time to North Adams. The governor said the location of Greylock Works was intentional, and we like what that implies: Seeing the wisdom of bold state reinvestment in the economic revitalization in Berkshire communities. We also like to hear the leader of the states executive branch earnestly echo what regional residents have been saying for far too long. Like other more rural, less populous corners of the commonwealth far from Boston, many Berkshire communities feel overlooked in their struggles with not just economic development but housing affordability and crumbling public infrastructure. Tied into these remarks was Gov. Healeys announcement of the first two bills she plans to push. One was described as an immediate needs bond bill that would authorize $987 million in borrowing to fund state support of a local development projects ranging from housing and transit to public buildings and broadband. The other proposed bond bill would authorize the state to borrow $400 million to fund road and bridge repair. These measures represent a good start to a conversation about ambitious and necessary reinvestment in Western Mass. communities brimming with potential and in need of a push. But they are truly just a start, since even if the governors bond bills do make it through the Legislature as proposed, theyre simply authorizations to borrow, as opposed to targeted commitment of that funding. Of course, we have to start somewhere, and the governor is now on record with some sound suggestions for how that funding could be utilized. Of particular note is her proposal for nearly half of the $987 million immediate needs bond bill to go toward MassWorks, a key source of state development grants for towns and cities looking for the final piece of a funding puzzle on critical projects. That MassWorks funding proposal has bipartisan bona fides as a shrewd investment, too, as former Republican Gov. Charlie Baker in his administrations waning days also pushed the Legislature to top up the key grant programs dwindling pot. Indeed, a North Adams mill redeveloped for modern mixed use was a fine spot for Gov. Healey to underscore this, as Greylock Works was made possible in part by a $1.72 million MassWorks grant. We agree with Gov. Healey that Greylock Works is an example of what relatively small but smart investment at the state level can mean for projects with big local impact, particularly in Western Mass. municipalities striving for revitalization. We hope the funding made available by these bond bills materializes to give life to what the governor rightly flags as immediate needs especially for Berkshire communities where those needs have long lingered on our cracked roads, in outdated municipal buildings and for Berkshire working families trying to keep the lights on. Its good to have a governor who pledges to do something about that. It would be great to see an administration that follows those words with action. These bond authorization bills are small steps that at least suggest the right direction, and we hope other steps follow by not just floating funding but committing to that investment and targeting it where its been needed. We prefer to be optimistic for our communities, even if that optimism is tempered by years of regional inequity flowing down from Beacon Hill. It lends us a bit more optimism, though, to see Gov. Healey making it a priority to engage directly with our end of the commonwealth. We hope that continues. Donald Trump will soon recover his social media accounts under Meta. The California-based tech giant recently announced that it would be lifting Trump's suspension from Facebook and Instagram soon after two years since the Capitol siege. Meta previously banned Trump for his actions during the Capitol siege on Jan. 6, 2021. Donald Trump's Return To Meta Trump's return to Meta's social media platforms is a foregone conclusion, but there is a catch. According to the company's statement regarding the lifting of Trump's suspension, the "extraordinary circumstances" that were present when it suspended Trump's accounts have "sufficiently receded," and it should adhere to the two-year timeline it imposed. At the time of the Capitol siege, Meta previously imposed an indefinite suspension of Trump's accounts because he praised the people engaged in violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. However, a consultation with its Oversight Board limited his suspension to just two years, with the Board criticizing the open-ended nature of Trump's suspension and the lack of a clear criteria for when and whether it will restore suspended accounts. Nevertheless, Meta explained that the decision to suspend Trump's accounts was "an extraordinary one taken in extraordinary circumstances." As such, the company assessed whether the circumstances of that day were still high to justify the ban. The receding of these circumstances convinced Meta to follow through with its two-year suspension. Read More: Microsoft Extends Partnership With OpenAI In A New Multibillion-Dollar Investment However, there is a catch. Because of Trump's history, he now faces heightened penalties for repeat offenses in the past. Should Trump continue to post content violating Meta's updated protocol, Meta will remove the offending content, and he will be suspended for up to a month or two years, depending on the violation's severity. Meta's updated protocol now addresses content that contributes to the same kind of risk and circumstances that materialized on Jan. 6, 2021, such as content that delegitimizes an upcoming election or is related to QAnon. For such posts, Meta may limit its distribution and even temporarily restrict access to its advertising tools for repeated instances. These measures mean that should Trump post something that matches its new criteria to enact its updated protocol, the post can only be viewed on Trump's account and not on anyone's Feeds, even if they are following him. Meta may even remove the ability to share such posts and stop them from being recommended or run as ads. These measures are also applicable to the average Facebook and Instagram user. When Will trump Be Back On Meta's Social media Platforms? Unfortunately, Meta only mentioned that Trump could return to Facebook and Instagram in the coming weeks. As such, it is unknown when Trump will exactly return to Facebook and Instagram. When that time does arrive, Trump will receive a direct link to his more than 35 million Facebook followers and 23 milion Instagram followers. Whether Trump will actually be using his Facebook and Instagram accounts is still debatable. You may remember that Trump previously announced he would not return to Twitter despite CEO Elon Musk resinstating his account on the microblogging platform. Instead he will stay on Truth Social, the social media platform he personally founded in Oct. 2021. However, that may soon change as he is allegedly planning his first tweets for when his exclusivity contract with Truth Social ends., per The Independent and Rolling Stone. Related Article: Elon Musk Restores Donald Trump's Twitter Account Following A Poll Today A mix of clouds and sun. High 56F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Considerable cloudiness. Low 38F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High 56F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Right now, can you really investigate and pinpoint in real time how concepts, authors and keywords really connect? Well, Zeitgeist can! Dentsu Data will be launching this innovative, industry-leading data game-changer in February 2023. Ask yourself this; can you forecast exactly when your concepts will trend up or down in real time or are you able to find out exactly what is being said about your brand across the various platforms in real time? Zeitgeist can! Paul Stemmet, head of Dentsu Data SSA says, to date brands have only been able to track what has happened, Zeitgeist moves into the future and allows you to predict where your brands concepts and conversations can and will go. This gives branding and marketing teams the ability to change, re-direct and capitalise on where their connections and conversations are landing. Paul Stemmet, head of Dentsu Data SSA Zeitgeist offers a deeper understanding of target audiences around a concept in time, allowing you to identify your concept across all the mediums where buyers are in Africa. It allows the capacity to connect the authors and influences driving concepts. Moreso, allowing for the powerful ability to predict the relevance of a topic and when it becomes not so relevant, whilst allowing a deeper understanding of how content is syndicated, continued Stemmet. A deeper understanding of target audiences - Zeitgeist monitors in real time radio, TV, digital and social channels, to find what new conversations or opinions are currently trending and the market segmentation or demographics that are associated with these. Questions like Are South Africans still wanting to hear about load shedding? or how relevant is load shedding to South Africans? or should a brand still be talking about a topic such as load shedding? OR where in conversations is load-shedding relevant, for example sporting events? Zeitgeist, unlike any other traditional tools that just highlight trending concepts, is powered by dentsus propriety CCS (Customer and Consumer Survey), which means that it can, in real-time, connect offline interview data and demographics to online trending concepts. Ultimately, answering key questions such as: are people interested right now, yesterday, or even tomorrow in level 6 loadshedding? AND do these audiences have electrical appliances, such as a TV set, or subscribe to Showmax or DSTV, and how would this affect them? Ability to connect authors and influences driving opinions or conversations - Zeitgeists network view allows content generators and curators to visualise how their content is distributed, who connects to it as well as who the authors are across all platforms and shows who is interested in the content. Zeitgeist also gives you the ability to modify or change the content or conversation. It gives you an immediate deeper understanding of your content and minimises paid aggregation wastage NOW, as you can track it hourly, daily, or even weekly. In addition to effectively allowing you to change the content leading or influencing conversations without the need of having to see results down the line. Powerful ability to predict the relevance of concepts and conversations - How many times has a content or marketing department of brands jumped onto a trending concept or conversation only to find out that the concept is either irrelevant, have missed the opportunity and wasted money? Zeitgeist operates off a uniquely powerful prediction algorithms that determines if a concept or conversation is outgoing or incoming. Zeitgeist is even able to take seasonality into consideration! Identify concepts and conversations across all mediums - Reporting is typically associated with the social team and media monitoring teams. Zeitgeist uses Natural Language AI and Visual AI to continuously scan and monitor radio, television, socials, online and offline media, to find the concepts and conversations that your brand might be connected to. Unlike traditional media monitoring tools, it does not solely track a hashtag (#) or your brand mentioned, but it is able to read, contextualise and understand when and how your brand is mentioned. Zeitgeist uses powerful clustering machine learning and builds programmatic stories about concepts and conversations happening around your brand across any platform in real-time. If you want to find out more about Zeitgeist before it officially launches connect with Paul Stemmet The award-winning TBWA\ Hunt Lascaris welcomes Windhoek South Africa. The agency has been appointed to handle all the brand's creative requirements. To us, Windhoek remains one of South Africas most loved brands and it's a privilege to welcome them to TBWA\ Hunt\ Lascaris. From our first meeting with the brand team, we knew that this was a must-win, says Karabo Denalane, chief executive officer, TBWA\Hunt Lascaris. We would like to thank the Windhoek marketing leadership team for welcoming us with open arms and trusting us to deliver on bringing Windhoek into its next era, adds the CEO. Actress Kim Hyun-joo / Courtesy of Netflix By Kwak Yeon-soo Actress Kim Hyun-joo, best known for her lead role in Netflix's "Hellbound," said the emergence of streaming services has allowed her to take on more diverse roles. "Now that we have plenty of streaming platform options, actors are given a wider array of roles and filmmakers are experimenting with a variety of genres. For me, personally, I was able to push my boundaries to see what else I can do differently as an actor," she said during a recent interview with The Korea Times. Kim's latest film "Jung_E" is set in the post-apocalyptic 22nd century and follows the story of Yoon Seo-hyun (Kang Soo-youn), a researcher at Kranoid Lab who clones the brain of her mother an elite soldier called Yoon Jung-yi (Kim) to create a combat AI warrior. The film topped Netflix's non-English film chart in the first week of its release, according to data released by streaming analytics company FlixPatrol. It was on the list of Netflix's Top 10 films in 80 countries, including Germany, Spain, Turkey, Brazil and Singapore. Despite its impressive record, the film has drawn criticism from some viewers who say the sci-fi film relies too much on "sinpa" a Korean term that refers to a cheesy, tearjerker plot. "Some people may say, 'Well, I don't like this kind of movie.' I fully understand their point of view. It'd be best if I can star in a movie that everyone loves, but we all know that's nearly impossible," she said. A scene from the film, "Jung_E" / Courtesy of Netflix In turn, businesses and leaders should prepare for shifts in business models due to changing customer behaviours as they find increasing value in new emerging technologies, forecasts the Accenture Life Trends 2023 report from Accenture (NYSE: ACN). Building on the 15-year legacy of Fjord Trends, this report - now titled Accenture Life Trends 2023 - identifies five global macro movements across human behaviour that will shape business, culture, and society in the coming year. From learning to live in permacrisis, to increasingly seeking to belong in online communities, to missing work's intangible benefits and using emerging technology such as AI to accelerate creativity, the landscape of day-to-day life has been greatly altered. This shift will push businesses and leaders to operate in radically new landscapes, further cites the report. "Disruptive moments have people questioning what sense of control they have over their own lives. As they inevitably adapt and get a handle on things, the decisions made to exercise more control will affect the brands and organisations they interact with," said Mark Curtis, global lead, thought leadership, metaverse and sustainability, Accenture Song. "These new power dynamics will create opportunities for businesses to develop fresh and modern ways to engage and build customer relationships." Crowdsourced insight and intelligence from Accenture Song's global network of designers, creatives, technologists, sociologists, and anthropologists, the annual bellwether forecast which leveraged AI for the report's imagery includes the following trends and actions for businesses to heed in 2023. We are in a permacrisis but will adapt The world is moving from one global catastrophe to the next. But, as humanity has for millennia, people are adapting to instability by switching between four responses: fight, flight, focus, and freeze, which will affect what they buy, and how they view brands and their employers and companies need to be ready. In Africa, change and instability are constant. People are used to adapting and finding creative ways to move forward. Accenture's research has found that people in emerging markets have more experience in dealing with uncertainty. Their ability and willingness to adapt outstrips that of people used to living in mature markets. Africans also use their resilience to force change: in 2022, the Kenyan political uprisings helped lead parliament to review policies, and climate protests in South Africa challenged oil companies to stop surveying the coast for resources. "Every problem is an opportunity in disguise. In this state of 'permacrisis', we recommend that brands, businesses, and organisations in the continent act by partnering with unconventional channels and media for increased reach and relevance while managing the accompanying risks," said Emma Carpenter, studio director and design capability lead for Accenture Song in Africa. What's next for loyalty In an unstable world, people seek places where they feel they belong. As a result, modern brands will be built as communities first, reshaping loyalty and brand participation. For example, the majority of Accenture's research focus group participants have tried new hobbies or joined new communities in the past six to nine months. Emerging technology is largely driving the three threads to enable this model. a. Communities of belonging: on platforms like Reddit, Discord, and Twitch. b. Token-gating: exclusive access reserved for "token holders only." c. Collectables: digital arts, autographs, trading cards, and more. In uncertain times, Africans find security and comfort through participation in like-minded groups and communities. Culturally, local community is at the heart of society. It's a construct that is embedded in all aspects of life and so forming closely connected groups is a natural behaviour on the continent. People are finding or otherwise creating places where they feel like they belong online. In some cases, these communities are born out of people taking matters into their own hands when an organisation falls short of their expectations. EskomSePush was built by two frustrated customers of the South African power utility and is now used by a community of six million people daily to plan around electricity outages. "Brands need to engage with unofficial communities not the ones they have formally created as communication channels, but those that also exist on the fringes by supporting new platforms that communities are building themselves, giving people alternative ways to nurture and build meaningful connections with other like-minded individuals," said Carpenter. The importance of work intangibles As the debate continues around the return to the office, one thing is clear: it's not yet a success for many people. Everyone has felt the loss of intangible office benefits, like chance encounters and consistent, close guidance of junior talent. Now the consequences of the loss are becoming clear. Without in-person engagement, companies can stand to lose mentorship, innovation, culture and inclusion. It's time leaders went back to the drawing board to make a logical, mutually beneficial plan. In Africa, work is largely unregulated. From solo traders including kiosks, hawkers, taxis and domestic workers, about 80 % of workers are employed in the informal sector in comparison to over 25% in Europe. The remaining, more formal sector is made up of small businesses and/or monitored by the Government. Many Africans rely on a cash-based economy to access essential goods and services such as food, clothing and transport. As the sector largely relies on close contact, most jobs in Africa cannot be performed from home. Office work on the continent is minuscule. "While remote or hybrid working is uncommon for most Africans, we expect African organisations to refocus their connections with the informal sector to leverage insights to drive business innovation among others." AI is becoming people's co-pilot for creativity Artificial Intelligence is now in the hands of the everyday user and is a new tool for the creative process. Suddenly, neural networks have been made widely available to create language, images and music with little effort or skill. Developments within AI are also hitting the market at an astonishing speed. At scale, this is an incredible breakthrough for creativity. Companies need to consider how they will stand out in the sea of AI-generated content and how they use AI to enhance the speed and originality of innovation. Many Africans are excited about the potential of creative AI and others see it as a threat that will take away jobs and Africa's authenticity. While both sides have their arguments, it's not simply black and white the impacts of AI technologies will be multifaceted. The business case for AI in Africa has been bright with experts from the State of AI in Africa Report 2022 noting exponential growth and attracting significant funding. AI for Good highlights the Tunisian AI startup InstaDeep receiving $100m funding earlier in 2022. "Until recently, AI has mostly been used to help solve Africa's most pressing problems in health, finance, education and agriculture. Now, with the sudden emergence of AI that makes art, music and writes stories once thought to be uniquely human talents; we will begin to see a disruption to the creative industries. Getting started with creative AI technologies has a low barrier to entry. An internet connection and a smartphone are all that is needed to start making it viable for mass adoption in Africa," said Carpenter. A matric rewrite offers learners a second chance at writing their matric exams. This is great news for learners who either failed their exams or did not get the results they expected. With the matric results having been officially released last week, many learners and parents are reeling in the triumph of their success. However, learners who failed or did not quite get the results they need to get into college or university may be feeling lost or disappointed. Thankfully, matric rewrite institutions are there to allow these learners the opportunity to improve their marks and achieve their academic goals. There are several places in South Africa where learners can rewrite matric, including the Department of Education, Matric College and Elori Academy. Department of Education The Department of Education is home to the Second Chance Matric Programme (SCMP), which aims to assist learners who would like to rewrite or improve their matric subjects. The SCMP allows learners and adults to obtain either their National Senior Certificate (NSC) or Senior Certificate. Learners who are under the age of 21 qualify for the NSC, whereas adult matric learners who are over the age of 21 qualify for the SC. Matric subjects offered by the SCMP include: Accounting Agricultural Science Business Science Economics English FAL Geography History Mathematics Mathematical Literacy Physical Sciences Life Sciences *Note that learners who are aiming to get their NCS will only be able to rewrite two subjects from the list above. Matric College Persons who are over the age of 21 and who would like to qualify for a matric certificate can apply to Matric College. Matric College is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training and offers distance learning courses to adult matric learners. Matric College allows adult matric learners to choose from a list of both compulsory subjects and optional subjects. Compulsory subjects: English Home Language English 1st Additional Language Afrikaans Huistaal (Home Language) Afrikaans 1st Additional Language isiXhosa 1st Additional Language isiZulu 1st Additional Language Sepedi 1st Additional Language Xitsonga 1st Additional Language Ndebele 1st Additional Language Sotho 1st Additional Language Tshivenda 1st Additional Language Siswati 1st Additional Language Setswana 1st Additional Language Mathematics Mathematical Literacy Optional subjects: Life Science (Biology) Physical Science (Physics and Chemistry) Accounting Business Studies Economics Geography History Adult matric learners can choose as many subjects as they would like from the list above and are not limited to the number of subjects they can write. *Individuals who would like to apply to Matric College need to register before registrations close on 31 January 2023. Elroi Academy Learners who would like to rewrite matric online can apply for the distance learning programme offered by Elroi Academy. Elroi Academy is an online distance education provider offering courses to Grade 10 to 12 learners but also specialises in matric rewrites. Elroi Academy currently has the following subjects available for matric rewrites: Afrikaans Home Language or First Additional Language English Home Language or First Additional Language Accounting Business Studies Computer Applications Technology (CAT) Geography History Life Orientation Life Sciences Mathematical Literacy Mathematics Physical Sciences Tourism *Learners who choose to rewrite matric at Elroi Academy can enjoy an additional 20% off services if they apply through FundiConnect. For more information, visit www.fundiconnect.co.za. You can also follow FundiConnect on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram. Milpark Education has clinched top honours at the 2022 SABPP Awards again for its HR courses, sealing its status as one of Africa's most dynamic online learning institutions doing education differently. Milpark Education won the Leading Supporter of Digital Learning category at the prestigious South African Board of People Practices (SABPP) awards ceremony. This is the fourth consecutive year Milpark Education has been honoured for its learning offering barring 2020 when the event was postponed by the pandemic. We are ecstatic about winning this award, says Maritsa Grewe, academic manager at Milpark Education and head of the National Diploma in Human Resources Management and Practices and the FET Certificate in Human Resource Management and Practice Support. Over the past nine years, these courses have been extremely popular and year on year we have seen steady growth in learners registering for this qualification. SABPP is the premier professional human resources body in the country, and in a statement it described Milpark Education as showing exceptional innovation in implementing digital learning practices. Grewe said Milpark was humbled by winning the award as it competed against a formidable pool of contenders in the category, including Henley Business School and Discovery Health. As a leading provider of higher education in South Africa, Milpark Education strives not only to offer superior academic programmes, but to create a supportive, stimulating and inspiring learning environment. Milpark Education CEO Andrew Horsfall says: Our focus has shifted from being very curriculum-based to serving students better and tailoring our teaching approaches to ensure students are able to shine in the world we live in today. The SABPP award specifically highlighted Milpark Educations HR courses, which are presented within the School of Commerce. Milparks other schools are: the School of Professional Accounting, the School of Financial Planning and Insurance, the School of Investment and Banking, and the Business School. The Diploma in HR Management offers insight into people administration, labour relations, legal frameworks, communications, and skills and talent development. Gone are the days when the HR specialist is absent from boardroom discussions, says Grewe. As companies evolve, business processes and structures change, and this is where the HR specialist needs to communicate, nurture, and develop relationships, training and recruiting and retaining staff. Equally important, an HR specialist would look after the mental health of employees and prevent burnout and stress. SABPP subjected award candidates to electronic monitoring visits by evaluating various regulatory and academic processing evidence Milpark conducted throughout the year. An early adopter of digital education methods, Milpark has offered blended as well as entirely online learning experiences, with interactive content presented in the form of lectures, videos and chat programmes, as well as an online forum where students can interact with each other. Communication with lecturers is encouraged and lecturers and educators typically respond within hours of enquiries. Grewe says the lecturers on the HR courses have years of industry experience as well as academic training. Perhaps the big differentiator is that Milpark Education really does have the students interests at heart. Whenever we get a student enquiry, we look at how we can best meet every individuals need for further professional, but also personal development, says Grewe. Milpark staff are available after hours and often become personally invested in student performance. Horsfall says that behind Milparks drive to continue innovating and improving is the desire to address South Africas education crisis and skills shortages in a tangible and effective way. Many students academic records dont reflect their abilities, but rather the disadvantages theyve faced, he says. We want to help as much as we can to empower and enable individuals to reach their goals and realise their potential. Over one million enrolments are expected within the public university sector for the 2023 academic year. Image source: Keira Burton from Pexels Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, said for the 2023 academic year, the public university sector is projected to provide 1,112,439 spaces, an additional 41,545 spaces from the previous year. Nzimande said the increment in university spaces, from 1,070,894 in 2022, illustrates that the public university sector is steadily growing. Citing 2021 audited data, Nzimande said 655,427 students were female and 412,428 were male. In the 2023 academic year, our first-time entering enrolments have been projected at 208,299 nationally. Sixty-nine thousand and sixty-nine (69,069) of these first-time entering enrolments will be within scarce skills areas, Nzimande said. He said the scarce skills that have been projected for first-time entering enrolments will include 17,085 Engineering, 17,584 Life and Physical Science, 985 Animal Sciences, 209 Veterinary Sciences, 10,418 Human Health, and 22,788 Teacher Education. Nzimande was briefing media on the state of readiness for the post school education and training (PSET) sector for the 2023 academic year in Pretoria on Tuesday. He said a considerable portion of the spaces within scarce skills areas require a National Senior Certificate (NSC) Mathematics mark of at least 60%. As a result, he said through the Science and Innovation Department, agreements have been entered into with Provincial Departments of Education to support Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (MSTE). This intervention will ensure that we increase the number of learners passing Grade 12 MSTE, Nzimande said. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges' planned headcount enrolment for 2023 is 497,032 for the ministerial approved programmes, with an additional 59,383 headcount enrolment for programmes that are funded through other sources. This brings the total planned TVET enrolment for the academic year 2023 to 556,415, Nzimande said. University registration for the academic year 2023 commenced on 16 January and is expected to close on 20 February 2023. However, Nzimande assured that several universities will allow late registrations, and advised students to continue to liaise with the universities of their choice through their communication channels. Central Applications Clearing House Meanwhile, Nzimande has urged students who have applied on time for a place at all public institutions of higher learning, but have not yet been offered a place to study, to contact the Central Application Clearing House (CACH) for assistance. CACH is a system meant to assist individuals to access university, college and skills development opportunities following unsuccessful applications before the publication of their Grade 12 results. Nzimande announced that the system will open on 27 January 2023 and close on 31 March 2023. The services are available from Mondays to Friday between 8am to 6pm, and Saturday from 8am to 2pm, Nzimande said. The Minister highlighted another initiative introduced in the department, the Central Applications Service (CAS) system, which is central to improving data management for enrolments. He said the system is at an advanced stage, with the department now entered the piloting stage to stress test the system. Five universities, including the Tshwane University of Technology, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Vaal University of Technology, University of Limpopo and the University of the Western Cape, have participated in the pilot phase. The next piloting phase will include Rhodes University, North West University and the Central University of Technology, Nzimande said. Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho speaks during a meeting with reporters in the central city of Sejong in this photo released by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Jan. 26. Yonhap Korea's finance minister said Thursday the country is not considering the so-called windfall tax on energy companies, as local refiners have different business structures compared with European counterparts. The remark came after Lee Jae-myung, who heads the main opposition Democratic Party, claimed that Korea should adopt the policy to redistribute the excessive profits of energy firms amid the fluctuations in global resource prices. "If a company makes profits, we can apply corporate taxes as designated by the law," Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho said during a meeting with reporters. The scheme centers on imposing an additional tax on gains made through external circumstances, including an abrupt fluctuation in energy prices, such as the hike sparked by the war between Russia and Ukraine. While European countries are seeking to adopt the windfall tax, Choo pointed out that Korea needs to consider the fact that local refiners do not own oil reserves and have different business structures. "We should not consider a windfall tax just because (local energy firms) made profits over a specific period of time," Choo added. Earlier in the day, the government announced its plans to boost energy vouchers and expand a discount of gas prices for vulnerable people to help them cope with surging costs of heating their homes. Under the plan, energy vouchers for 1.17 million vulnerable households will temporarily be doubled to 304,000 won ($246) per home this winter. State-run Korea Gas Corp. will also expand a discount of gas prices to as much as 72,000 won from 36,000 won for 1.6 million vulnerable households. (Yonhap) An airplane belonging to Jeju Air Co., South Korea's biggest low-cost carrier, returned to the airport that it had departed from in Hokkaido, Japan, due to an unusual noise from its engine. The Boeing 737-800 carrying 187 passengers and six crew members returned to New Chitose Airport at 2:45 p.m. after taking off at 1:06 p.m. Jeju Air said the Incheon-bound aircraft circled in the sky to spend fuel in order to meet the required landing weight at which a plane is permitted to land. The passengers were taken to hotels while a safety inspection was conducted, the company said, adding that a substitute plane will depart at noon on Friday. (Yonhap) 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 When actor Sheridan Harbridge was preparing for the world premiere of Prima Facie, she would visit law courts as real trials were playing out. She was fascinated by the theatre of it: Youre watching lawyers career-climb. Theyre performing and its bombastic and I saw some things where I nearly stood up and clapped. But at one point the reality behind the dramatics became obvious: I walked into what I didnt realise was a sentencing. The trial had been done and this boy was on the stand and the prosecutor was going through his character. I sat down and I was in a room of his weeping family. I thought Im trespassing. The stakes were so high. This was in 2017, and Harbridge couldnt have known the sensation that Prima Facie would become. Suzie Millers play is a one-woman tour-de-force that explores the two sides of the law that Harbridge witnessed in court. Tessa is a top lawyer who can play a trial like a game of chess, until she finds herself a victim of assault and experiences firsthand the reality of the legal system. The play was a hit. After its premiere at Griffin Theatre in Sydney it returned for an award-winning Australian tour before a London production, where Tessa was played by Jodie Comer (Killing Eve). Harbridge is back in the show for its Melbourne season at MTC next month. Sheridan Harbridge as Tessa: The emotional impact of the show really does colour my own daily life. Credit:Brett Boardman Its rare that an actor gets the chance to play the same role twice. Harbridge has performed the role more than 100 times, so she feels an unprecedented sense of technical control. She says that revisiting Tessa multiple times over five years is both wonderful and awful. In Australia, where we dont have long seasons, its the pleasure of getting to funnel down on each word and sentence with ease and go oh my god, I didnt think I was capable of this dexterity. But on the flipside, instead of getting easier, the emotional impact of the show really does colour my own daily life. Living to 100 complicates retirement Nir Barzilai, the director of the Institute for Ageing Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, has studied the lives of hundreds of centenarians, the people theyve married and their kids. The children of centenarians are about 10 years healthier than their peers, Barzilai said. Good genes will only get you so far - where you live, what you eat and how often you exercise is also important. Credit: Getty Images Barzilai is working with others to enroll 10,000 centenarians, their children and a control group from the general population to identify the different genes that contribute to a long life. People who have a certain mutation on their growth hormone, for example, are very likely to live longer because their cells spend more energy on maintaining existing cells, not growing new ones, Barzilai said. The plan is to use artificial intelligence to help find the genes and develop drugs from them, he said. We really want to find all the longevity genes, Barzilai said. Loading Olshansky said he and his colleagues are preparing to launch a platform in February where people can upload data from a genetic testing service to identify whether they have genes associated with exceptional longevity, so they can plan financially for retirement. Im a carrier, for example, of two sets of genes that are associated with longevity, Olshansky said. For planning purposes, I probably need to delay retirement. Environment and lifestyle count Experts disagree on how much genetics influence a persons life span vs. their lifestyle. But most experts say that good genes will only get you so far. Loading Jamie Justice, an assistant professor of gerontology at Wake Forest University, says some research has suggested that genetics account for around 25 per cent of longevity. The other 75 per cent relates to your environment - where you live, what you eat, how often you exercise and your support system through friends or family. For those of us who are not endowed with a set of promising genes, the goal isnt to push the boundaries of human life expectancy, Justice said. Instead, researchers want to figure out how people can have full, healthy lives with the time they have. The goal isnt necessarily to live to 118 years. Its to live well within those years, Justice said. What individual things do we do that we can really harness our health and live healthier within the years given? And, Justice said, a good public health system cant be undersold. If you have a better health-care system, youre going to have a higher life expectancy, she said. And location matters, too The United States and Japan have the most confirmed centenarians and supercentenarians, people who live to be 110 years old or older; and, Japan has the most per capita, according to Robert Young, the director of supercentenarian research at the Gerontology Research Group. But, there are probably more centenarians and supercentenarians we dont know about. More than 110 years ago, certain countries were better at creating and preserving birth certificates or hospital records, Young said. A countrys record-keeping a century ago is often the factor determining where confirmed supercentenarians are reported across the world, he said. People need to remember that when were looking at human longevity today, were actually looking more at the state of the world 110-plus years ago, Young said. Loading Beyond record-keeping, where someone lives - a war zone, a place with access to quality health care, a country with a lot of pollution, a developed nation where people sit a lot - probably plays a significant role in longevity. Researchers have recently found the stress of life directly affects some of the biological mechanisms of ageing, said Ferrucci, adding that our exposure to various types of pollution can harm our overall health, as well. He called the topic an expanding area of research that could revolutionise how we approach public health. We are discovering that the secret of good health is not only in our behaviour but its also in what our society does to enhance the health of our population, Ferrucci said. And, from studying centenarians, Ferrucci said researchers have found that healthy older adults tend to be remain physically active, spend time outside and have strong connections with their friends and family. Loading Just walking outside, makes an enormous difference, Ferrucci said. If I had a jewel to give to people who want to live long and well, I would tell them to get up early in the morning and go out, Ferrucci said. That is really the best gift that you can give yourself if you want to achieve longevity. Still, Ferrucci said centenarians and especially supercentenarians are often unique. Some people have this biological resilience to live a long life despite everything going against them. An Invasion Day rally has once again drawn tens of thousands of people to Melbournes CBD on January 26, as the controversial date evoked mixed feelings across the city. The protest dwarfed any official Australia Day event in Melbourne organisers estimated 80,000 people attended the march, although police placed the number between 12,000 and 15,000 but Victorians also flocked to beaches, parks and urban centres on the public holiday. Invasion Day protesters outside Flinders Street Station on Thursday. Credit: Paul Rovere For the first time, many employers let workers choose whether to ignore the holiday and take the day off at another time, but hundreds still turned up for official festivities at Federation Square. But some, like Geelong resident Tigah, were disappointed that the Australia Day parade was cancelled. Standing before a crowd stretching further than the eye could see, Alkira Austins voice wavered only for a moment. My father was forcibly removed [from his family], she said. Alkira Austin (left) with Aunty Rieo Ellis from GMAR (Grandmother Against Removal) at the rally. Credit: Justin McManus In 2011 he received a state apology, and 12 years later, one in nine Aboriginal babies under the age of one are still being removed by the state government. This is the worst proportion in the country and more than double the national average ... stop stealing our babies! Anger, despair and pride filled central Melbourne on Thursday, where tens of thousands of people created a human sea of black, red and yellow as they marched from Parliament House to Federation Square as part of the annual Invasion Day rally. Organisers said it was the biggest march to protest Australia Day and injustices faced by Aboriginal people yet. The federal MP at ground-zero of the Alice Springs crime crisis has warned the Northern Territory government the Commonwealth will intervene if the territory doesnt take serious action now. As the Northern Territory government plans to ballot every town camp over the future of alcohol restrictions, Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour, who is based in Alice Springs, doubled down on her stance that drinking bans should not have lapsed last July. Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour has delivered a stark warning to the Northern Territory government. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen As the federal representative, Ill be making sure that we dont walk away from any of the agreements that have been done of the last couple of days, Scrymgour told Sky news. But moving forward, the Prime Minister gave a very clear commitment: if the Northern Territory government doesnt implement what they said that they should, he will certainly be looking at acting from the federal government. There is no consultation without trust, and we want to be able to consult in a meaningful way when changes to the tax system are in prospect, he said on Wednesday. And so this is a shocking breach of trust, an appalling breach of trust and as a government that wants to be consultative where we can, this puts that sort of consultation at risk. Treasurer Jim Chalmers has criticised PwC over a tax leak. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Is Chalmers confident this was a one-off? He did not sound confident at all when asked this question on Wednesday. He said the government was being diligent in making sure it was not happening elsewhere and would not happen again. So we know the government is angry. We dont know what it will do about it. It is easy to dismiss this as a minor breach. Collins was one of a group of private sector tax experts called in by Treasury at regular points to seek guidance on potential tax rules for multinational companies in what is known as base erosion and profit shifting that is, recording revenue in low-tax places like Luxembourg to avoid tax in places like Australia. It is impossible to quantify the damage to actual tax revenue. Yet the stakes are huge and arcane information can have immense value. Australia has been trying to crack down on base erosion and profit shifting, or BEPS, for at least a decade. Digital giants have recorded sales from Australia in places like Ireland and the Netherlands using what is known as the double Irish Dutch sandwich and mining giants have posted sales of Australia ore in Singapore. PwC CEO Tom Seymour says he is deeply disappointed over the scandal. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer The OECD estimates that BEPS costs anywhere from $140 billion to $340 billion a year in foregone tax revenue worldwide. It thinks the net revenue loss ranges from 4 to 10 per cent of corporate income tax revenue. Applied to Australian company tax receipts, that would be worth anywhere from $5 billion to $13 billion this financial year. This is a simplistic calculation, and probably far too simplistic for professional tax experts. But can the government trust those experts? Collins did not appear to be alone at PwC in using the information from Treasury, although the onus was on him because he had signed confidentiality agreements in December 2013, April 2016 and February 2018. The investigators checked emails within the firm to discover that others knew about the leaked information. Internal communications within PwC indicated an awareness among the internal PwC recipients, including PwC taxation partners, that the confidential knowledge gained from the consultations with Treasury would be leveraged to market PwC to a new client base, the tax board said. The AFP and Attorney-Generals department spent more than $600,000 on a High Court case against journalist Annika Smethurst. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen So the firm gained business, or at least tried to. The board said PwC had a potential market advantage in using the confidential information to advance the position of its existing taxation clients as well as marketing its services to attract new clients. PwC Australia chief executive Tom Seymour says the firm is deeply disappointed that it failed its standards. He says it has strengthened its approach to avoid conflict risks by setting up a confidentiality agreements register with a single contact point for all Treasury and similar consultations. This is all very cosy. The professionals in the public and private spheres have come to a settlement about how to improve the Chinese walls. But it is less than four years since the Australian Federal Police raided the ABC and searched the home of Annika Smethurst, now the state political editor of The Age, over leaks about the war in Afghanistan and the Department of Home Affairs. Some leaks seem to alarm officials more than others. Consulting firms are making big money in Canberra with a business model that relies on access to valuable policy information and the claim that they can deliver sound advice. The top five firms Accenture, KPMG, Deloitte, PwC and EY gained contracts worth $2 billion last financial year, according to an analysis by Ron Mizen at The Australian Financial Review. Loading That consulting work is often about implementing government policy and is separate from the Treasury consultations involving specialists like Collins on draft law. But the common theme is the governments increasing reliance on outside experts to do its job. So the lesson from the PwC affair should ripple through the public service. Abbotsford locals have long wondered why and how 159 Gipps Street had fallen into its state of disrepair, with its smashed and boarded-up windows, colourful graffiti and piles of rusting machinery in the backyard. The homes ramshackle appearance had given it some notoriety in recent years, and it was regularly discussed on social media platform Reddit. Peter Moore, the owners brother, said the sale of 159 Gipps Street was bittersweet. Credit: Simon Schluter Posters would speculate about whether the house, now listed for sale with a price guide of $2.3 million to $2.5 million, was abandoned and if it would soon be developed into units or townhouses. Peter Moore, brother of 76-year-old owner Raymond, said Raymond had intended to build new homes on the property himself. President Yoon Suk Yeol plans to hold meetings next week with Jens Stoltenberg, secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, a presidential official said Thursday. The NATO chief and the U.S. defense secretary are set to visit Seoul next week, and the presidential office is making arrangements for meetings with Yoon, the official told Yonhap News Agency. During the meetings, Yoon is expected to reaffirm his commitment to strengthening the solidarity with the international community to counter global crises. Nuclear and missile threats from North Korea, and other regional and international security matters could also be discussed. South Korea has strengthened its partnership with NATO by establishing its diplomatic mission to NATO last November. Yoon attended a NATO summit in June last year, becoming the first South Korean leader to have taken part in the summit. (Yonhap) New Delhi: Days after India blocked a BBC documentary that examines Prime Minister Narendra Modis role during 2002 anti-Muslim riots and banned people from sharing it online, authorities were scrambling to halt screenings of the program at colleges and restrict clips of it on social media, a move that has been decried by critics as an assault on press freedom. The two-part documentary India: The Modi Question has not been broadcast in India by the BBC, but Indias federal government blocked it over the weekend and banned people from sharing clips on social media, citing emergency powers under its information technology laws. Twitter and YouTube complied with the request and removed many links to the documentary. Security personnel guard the main gate of Jamia Millia Islamia university to prevent a planned protest being held against alleged detention of student leaders for organising a screening of the Modi documentary. Credit: AP The ban set off a wave of criticism from opposition parties and rights groups that slammed it as an attack against press freedom. It also drew more attention to the documentary, sparking scores of social media users to share clips of the movie on WhatsApp, Telegram and Twitter. Press freedom in India has declined in recent years and the country fell eight places, to 150 out of 180 countries, in last years Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders. It accuses Modis government of silencing criticism on social media, particularly on Twitter. The United Nations has repeatedly called for an end to laws criminalising homosexuality outright, saying they violate rights to privacy and freedom from discrimination and are a breach of countries obligations under international law to protect the human rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Loading Declaring such laws unjust, Francis said the church could and should work to put an end to them. It must do this. It must do this, he said. Francis quoted the Catechism of the Catholic Church in saying gay people must be welcomed and respected, and should not be marginalised or discriminated against. We are all children of God, and God loves us as we are and for the strength that each of us fights for our dignity, Francis said, speaking in the Vatican hotel where he lives. Francis remarks come ahead of a trip to Africa, where such laws are common, as they are in the Middle East. Many date from British colonial times or are inspired by Islamic law. Some Catholic bishops have strongly upheld them as consistent with Vatican teaching, while others have called for them to be overturned as a violation of basic human dignity. In 2019, Francis had been expected to issue a statement opposing criminalisation of homosexuality during a meeting with human rights groups that conducted research into the effects of such laws and so-called conversion therapies. Loading In the end, after word of the audience leaked, the Pope didnt meet the groups. Instead, the Vatican No.2 did and reaffirmed the dignity of every human person and against every form of violence. There was no indication that Francis spoke out about such laws now because his more conservative predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, recently died. The issue had never been raised in an interview, but Francis willingly responded, citing even the statistics about the number of countries where homosexuality is criminalised. On Tuesday, Francis said there needed to be a distinction between a crime and a sin regarding homosexuality. Church teaching holds that homosexual acts are sinful, or intrinsically disordered, but that gay people must be treated with dignity and respect. Bantering with himself, Francis articulated the position: Its not a crime. Yes, but its a sin. Fine, but first lets distinguish between a sin and a crime. Its also a sin to lack charity with one another, he added. Francis has not changed the churchs teaching, which has long riled gay Catholics. But he has made reaching out to LGBTQ people a hallmark of his papacy. His comments didnt specifically address transgender or non-binary people, just homosexuality, but advocates of greater LGBTQ inclusion in the Catholic Church hailed them as a momentous advance. His historic statement should send a message to world leaders and millions of Catholics around the world: LGBTQ people deserve to live in a world without violence and condemnation, and more kindness and understanding, said Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of the US-based advocacy group GLAAD. New Ways Ministry, a Catholic LGBTQ advocacy group, said the church hierarchys silence on such laws until now had devastating effects, perpetuating such policies and fuelling violent rhetoric against LGBTQ people. The Pope is reminding the church that the way people treat one another in the social world is of much greater moral importance than what people may possibly do in the privacy of a bedroom, the groups executive director, Francis DeBernardo, said in a statement. One of the cardinals recently appointed by Francis Robert McElroy, the bishop of San Diego is among those Catholics who would like the church to go further, and fully welcome LGBTQ people into the church even if they are sexually active. It is a demonic mystery of the human soul why so many men and women have a profound and visceral animus toward members of the LGBT communities, McElroy wrote on Tuesday in the Jesuit magazine America. The churchs primary witness in the face of this bigotry must be one of embrace rather than distance or condemnation. West Bank: Israeli commandos have killed seven gunmen and two civilians in a raid on a flashpoint town in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials said, stirring fear of further flare-ups after the largest single death toll in years of fighting. On Thursday (West Bank time), the Palestinian Authority said it was ending its security coordination with Israel, which is widely credited with helping to keep order in the West Bank and preventing attacks against Israel. It has frozen the cooperation numerous times in a sign of protest. Palestinians clash with Israeli forces following an army raid in the West Bank city of Jenin on Thursday. Credit: AP Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was not looking to escalate the situation, though he ordered security forces to prepare for all scenarios in the various sectors. UN and Arab mediators spoke with Israel and Palestinian factions to try to keep the clash in Jenin, among areas of the West Bank that have seen intensified Israeli operations, from sparking a broader confrontation. When the clash escalated into an all-out brawl, one man wearing a Bikers for Trump vest exposed a concealed gun he was carrying and threatened to start shooting unless the angry protesters circling him would back the f--- off. I was standing only a few metres away, taking notes for an article. Needless to say, I backed away without a moments hesitation. Since then, theres been no shortage of examples to remind me of the grim reality of American gun culture. The closest to home happened near the doorstep of my apartment in Washington DC during last years Juneteenth public holiday, which commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. It was a Sunday night and the U Street Corridor, where I live one of the districts hotspots for clubs, bars and restaurants was buzzing with people when gunshots rang out. The cordoned off area after the 15-year-old was shot in Washington DC. Credit: Farrah Tomazin Once the DC Metropolitan Police stopped issuing active shooter alerts, I went downstairs to see sections of my usually safe street smeared with blood and cordoned off with police tape. Tragically, a 15-year-old boy was killed and three other people were injured that night, including a police officer. Tragically, the perpetrator was a kid also just 15. Figures from the Gun Violence Archive show there were 44,290 firearm-related deaths last year, including 647 mass shootings. This year, merely 25 days into January, there have already been 40 mass shootings. While suicides represent more than half of the nations total gun deaths, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that the rate of gun homicides has risen substantially, increasing by 75 per cent over the past decade and reaching a record high in 2020. According to the CDC, factors associated with the pandemic, such as job losses, social isolation and mental stress, have contributed to the rise, particularly among minority communities. Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the substantial increase in the firearm homicide rate, along with notable increases in firearm suicide rates for some groups, has widened racial, ethnic, and other disparities, the CDC wrote in a report released last year. But while gun violence is a sad fixture of American life, the perennial question is what can be done to reverse the trend in a country where so many people fiercely defend the Second Amendment, which broadly enshrines the right to bear arms in the Constitution. Its a question that has come up repeatedly lately, particularly in California, where 24 people were killed in three separate mass shootings in just over a week. Loading The first was a suspected gang-related attack in Goshen, central California, on January 16 in which six people died, including a 17-year-old mother and her six-month-old baby. The second was Saturday nights rampage in the predominantly Asian neighbourhood of Monterey Park, where 11 people were killed and nine others injured after a gunman opened fire at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio. And the third took place on Monday at a mushroom farm and nearby site in the coastal city of Half Moon Bay. Seven people were slain in what authorities described as a tragic case of workplace violence. While the circumstances may differ, the impact is the same. Communities are left heartbroken and helpless, and a nation is left wondering: what will it take to stop the carnage? Loading One woman I met at the site of the shooting in Monterey Park told me that her nine-year-old son had started asking what it might be like to live in a place that doesnt have guns. Another woman who came to pay her respects that day said she no longer felt safe even going to the petrol station. And Californias Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, lamented Americas status as an outlier when it comes to guns. He urged his federal colleagues to act. Only in America do we see this kind of carnage, he told reporters. Newsom is right. The US is the only country in the world where guns outnumber its citizens, with the latest figures suggesting there are an estimated 393.3 million firearms in the country about 120 guns per 100 people. Loading Australia, by comparison, initiated a gun buyback scheme after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre and now has a strict licensing and registration system to own a firearm. The Biden administration tweaked around the edges of reform last year, passing a gun safety bill with the support of 15 Senate Republicans, to strengthen background checks for would-be gun buyers aged 18 to 21; restrict access to guns by domestic violence offenders; and provide incentives for states to pass red flag laws that allow people to petition courts to block guns from people deemed a threat to themselves or others. But much bigger reforms, such as banning assault weapons or introducing universal background checks, have little chance in the current divided Congress. Add to that the powerful gun lobby headed by the National Rifle Association, which shapes political decisions by funding and supporting (usually conservative) candidates who have pledged opposition to gun control measures. The NRA has been noticeably silent of late, but the group generally argues that tackling mental health, fixing the revolving door justice system and giving people more guns to protect themselves but with better training is the solution. Each individual is accountable for his actions, NRA president Wayne LaPierre said at last years annual general meeting in Texas, which took place three days after the school shooting in Uvalde, the states worst. There can be no freedom, no security, no safety, without the rights of the law-abiding to bear arms for self-defence. Meanwhile, there may be another American mass shooting by the time you read this. And with every awful tragedy, Im reminded how lucky Australia is to not have the same problem. Latest News Have mortgage rates peaked? There's potential hope for homeowners facing the fixed-rate cliff, banking expert says ubank aims to increase broker distribution Targets home loans for PAYG customers A marketing director for mortgage brokers has found that many are cynical about social media because their LinkedIn and Facebook pages do not seem to deliver any leads. Nick Bendel (pictured above left), director of copywriting agency Hunter & Scribe, said it was possible for brokers to win business through social media, but only if they were willing to play the long game and provide real value on their social media pages. Bendel has shared his top five tips for brokers to win new clients on social media: Publish social media content often Bendel said before choosing a mortgage broker, many consumers research several potential candidates. This due diligence often involves looking at the brokers social media pages, so if youre publishing content regularly, youre going to seem active and professional. If youre not, people might wonder if youre still in business, Bendel said. Another advantage of publishing regularly is that it increases the chances that potential clients and referral partners will see your content. Educate, dont sell Bendel said as strange as it sounded, the worst way to make sales on social media was to act salesy. Thats because salesy people come across as sleazy and desperate. The best way is to be helpful because youll appear friendly and professional, he said. Focus on publishing content that is interesting, relevant and helpful such as a post about the difference between offset and redraw rather than posts that boast about how good you are. The more advice you provide, the more that people will see you as a trusted authority figure. Use graphs Bendel said posts with images attracted more attention than those without, but the type of image also matters. If you publish a post on home loan approvals, then a graph illustrating this trend will be more powerful than a picture of a house. Hard data which include graphs makes you look knowledgeable and authoritative. Write for your target market Bendel said if you were based in Sydney and only service Sydney, you should focus on the Sydney property market. But if youre a Sydney broker who services the entire country, you should publish content about markets throughout Australia, he said. Similarly, if your target market is first home buyers, you should write content that reflects the values and aspirations of younger people. By contrast, if your target market is self-employed borrowers, you should focus on business and the economy. Play the social media long game Bendel said social media, like any content marketing, rarely delivered instant gratification unless a post went viral. Seldom happens, but it will take months or even years to build trust, credibility and brand recognition with your audience, he said. You should see that as a positive rather than a negative. Thats because most brokers arent willing to invest time and energy in regularly publishing quality content. If you do, youll (eventually) stand out from your rivals. Rhianna Farnan (pictured above right), from Hobart brokerage Derwent Finance is an advocate for mortgage professionals engaging with social media. In May last year, The Derwent Finance TikTok account had over 16,000 followers and one of its videos received more than 1.4 million views. 40% of Gen Z searchers turn to TikTok or Instagram before performing a traditional Google search, so if you are a broker and you are not active on social media and posting engaging posts, you could be missing out on a big chunk of a demographic, Farnan said. Additionally, being active on social media and engaging with your followers can build a lot of trust and loyalty before the transaction starts. I believe that building trust with our clients is a crucial part of our industry because the more trust a client has for you, the easier the transaction can be. TikTok videos help reach younger demographic Farnan said often her most successful and relatable videos were of her sitting at her desk with her phone. She would be wearing no makeup and dressed in casual clothes because her audience would relate better to this. I suggest when you start posting videos to upload three to five times a day because this is how to build engagement and followers quickly; once you find a video that works and a popular topic, keep posting about it, she said. Try not to sell yourself, people do not want to be sold to on social media. Use the platforms to build trust and to educate your viewers, your viewers will need to come to you organically. Also make sure you are following the social media guidelines for mortgage brokers and ensure you are only giving general advice. Are you a mortgage broker who is actively using social media? Tell us about your online presence in the comments below. We are evaluating the relevant provisions under US and Indian laws for remedial and punitive action against Hindenburg Research, the group said in a statement. The Adani Group plans to sue US-based investment research firm Hindenburg Research for a malafide and mischievous report published before the Indian firms Rs 20,000 crore follow on public offer (FPO) pulled down company shares on Wednesday. In the 36 hours since we released our report, Adani hasnt addressed a single substantive issue we raised, Hindenburg Research said on Twitter. Responding to Adani Groups statement, Hindenburg said it stands by its report, adding that it has a long list of documents it will demand in a legal discovery process. The ports-to-power conglomerate had said that the maliciously mischievous, unresearched report affected the Adani Group, its shareholders and investors. It further added, If Adani is serious, it should also file suit in the US where we operate. We have a long list of documents we would demand in a legal discovery process. Also Read Hindenburg Research: All you need to know about US-based investment firm US-based Hindenburg Research accuses Adani Group of share rigging, fraud Adani group firm shares tank by up to 9% following Hindenburg report Timing of Hindenburg report is curious; market reaction overdone: Analysts Adani Ports gains 3%, hits new high on improved business outlook Accel, Tiger Global mulling to exit e-commerce firm Flipkart: Report Gautam Adani's US dollar bonds fall after report by Hindenburg Research Air India offers nearly 98 cr shares to employees under stock option scheme Budget 2023-24 wishlist: Here're the key challenges in healthcare sector Two co-founders at Google and Twitter-backed Sharechat step down Hindenburgs report admitted the firm holds short positions in Adani Group companies through US-traded bonds and non-Indian-traded derivatives, along with other non-Indian-traded reference securities. The volatility in Indian stock markets created by the report is of great concern and has led to unwanted anguish for Indian citizens. Clearly, the report and its unsubstantiated contents were designed to have a deleterious effect on the share values of Adani Group companies as Hindenburg Research, by their own admission, is positioned to benefit from a slide in Adani shares, said Jatin Jalundhwala, Adani Group Head, Legal. The FPO of Adani Enterprises, the group flagship, opens on Friday and has received offers worth Rs 9,000 crore as against a quota of Rs 6,000 crore worth of shares for the anchor investors. We are deeply disturbed by this intentional and reckless attempt by a foreign entity to mislead the investor community and the general public, undermine the goodwill and reputation of the Adani Group and its leaders, and sabotage the FPO (Follow-on Public Offering) from Adani Enterprises, said the Adani statement. Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Maybank Asia, Goldman Sachs, Nomura, Societe Generale, Jupiter, BNP Paribas, Al Mehwar, Citi group, Morgan Stanley participated in the issuance Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, right, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Kim Seung-kyum participate in a plenary session of the National Defense Committee at the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap North Korea's unmanned aircraft could not film presidential office clearly: JCS By Kang Seung-woo The South Korean military will expand annual air defense exercises in the wake of North Korean drone infiltrations into the South's airspace late last year, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Thursday. "The South Korean military plans to conduct a joint air defense exercise featuring all units four times a year," a JCS officer told reporters. The training has been held biannually until now. The JCS plans to operate drones that match the size of North Korean unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that crossed the Military Demarcation Line and conduct training drills to integrate and operate all available forces in the South Korean military. On Dec. 26, 2022, North Korea flew five drones across the inter-Korean border for the first time in five years and one of them returned to the North after entering a no-fly zone near the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul. However, the military lost track of the other four drones after they moved westward from Ganghwa County, west of Seoul. "We will shift to a system of detecting drones early, containing and striking them in the air," the JCS officer added. Also, South Korea will establish a drone unit to carry out surveillance and reconnaissance operations on North Korea's key military facilities as President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged in response to last year's drone infiltration. The JCS said North Korea sent drones that displayed improved performance, but the unmanned aircraft probably had a limited ability to film the presidential office. "We estimate that the drones that infiltrated South Korea this time have improved performance compared to the previous ones," the JCS said in a report to the National Assembly's National Defense Committee. According to the JCS, one North Korean drone crashed on Baengnyeong Island in March 2014 and another was found on Inje, Gangwon Province in June 2017. "Compared to the 2014 drone, the 2017 version had a bigger engine and wingspan, while it went on a long-distance flight. Based on that information, we assess that the performance of the latest one may have been improved," a JCS officer told reporters. The officer also said unlike the previous drones, both of which crashed while in flight, the safe return of the drone that is believed to have taken photos of the presidential office helped reach that conclusion. According to the JCS, the North Korean drones are believed to have been fitted with cameras facing straight down. The 2014 drone was embedded with a Nikon camera, while the 2017 drone had a Sony camera. However, the JCS said although the drone entered a no-fly zone surrounding the presidential office, it would not have filmed the area clearly due to its cruising altitude and the performance levels of the cameras used in the previous North Korean drones. The JCS said the latest drone infiltration was aimed at testing the South Korean military's response capabilities, while creating chaos in the South. Saying that it did regard the infiltration as a non-emergency situation that would not require a swift response, the JCS officially admitted that cooperation was insufficient, such as a lack of active information sharing between units in responding to the drone intrusion. It also said the military failed to be completely ready to defend against drone threats. Meanwhile, the two rival political parties locked horns over the issue. Citing the North Korean drones' violation of the no-fly zone, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) insisted that Kim Yong-hyun, the head of the Presidential Security Service, and Kim Sung-han, the national security adviser, attend a plenary session of the National Defense Committee. However, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) dismissed the call, saying that officials of the presidential office are subject to the House Steering Committee. It also argued that the opposition party launched an excessive political offensive over national security. The conflict between the two sides continued during the session, resulting in the suspension of the meeting 30 minutes after it stared at 10 a.m. One day after the North Korean drones' infiltration into South Korean airspace, the South also sent drones across the border into the North, which led the United Nations Command to conclude, Thursday, that both South and North Korea constituted a violation of the armistice. In response, the South Korean defense ministry defended its move as the exercise of its right to "self-defense," stressing that right is not restricted by the armistice. We have heard that Sequoia is internally re-emphasizing that there will be zero tolerance for such actions and if material fraud is proven then there will be repercussions, said a source on condition of anonymity. GoMechanic is laying off 70 per cent of its workforce and seeking funds after investors earlier in January flagged accounting irregularities at the aftermarket automotive service maintenance company. It is the third Sequoia-backed start-up in over a year, after Singapore-based Zilingo and fintech unicorn BharatPe, to report financial irregularities. At the Republic Day parade in the national capital on Thursday, 23 tableaux -- 17 from states and union territories and six from various ministries and departments -- rolled down the Kartavya Path showing a plethora of cultures from across the country and bringing the boulevard alive with song and dance. The parade was kicked off in Delhi by the guest contingent of the Egyptian Armed Forces, followed by a show of strength by the Indian Armed Forces. Only made-in-India weapons are on display this year. The indigenous 105-mm Indian Field Guns (IFG) offered the 21-gun salute to President Droupadi Murmu. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed President Murmu and her Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the ceremony's chief guest. The parade, which began at around 10.30 a.m., is showcasing the country's growing indigenous capabilities, women power and the Also Read Traffic advisory issued ahead of Kartavya Path inauguration tomorrow Shouldn't all Raj Bhavans become Kartavya Bhavans: Tharoor questions Centre Heavy traffic around India Gate before drone show at Kartavya Path Kartavya Path police station likely to start functioning this month Delhi Police release traffic advisory on Republic Day rehearsal parade Republic Day Parade: Marching contingents display India's military might PM Modi, Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh greet people on R-Day Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi witnesses Republic Day parade Rajasthan Guv Kalraj Mishra unfurls national flag at R-Day event in Jaipur Singapore will strongly support India's G20 priorities: Trade minister Gan emergence of a 'New India'. It was commanded by the Parade Commander, Lieutenant General Dheeraj Seth, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, second generation Army officer. Major General Bhavnish Kumar Parade, Chief of Staff, Headquarters Delhi Area, was second-in-command. Param Vir Chakra winner Subedar Major (Honorary Captain) Bana Singh, 8 JAK LI (Retd); Subedar Maj (Honorary Captain) Yogendra Singh Yadav, 18 Grenadiers (Retd); ubedar (Honorary Lt) Sanjay Kumar, 13 JAK Rifles; and Ashoka Chakra winner Maj Gen CA Pithawala (Retd) were on a jeep behind Deputy Parade Commander Col D Sriram Kumar and Lt. Col. Jas Ram Singh (Retd). --IANS ssh/ksk/ The Congress on Thursday launched nationwide 'Hath se Hath Jodo' campaign, under which it plans to reach out to people and make them aware about the "failures" of the Modi government. Taking to Twitter, the Congress posted: "As we celebrate the biggest festival of democracy today, we announce the launch of the #HaathSeHaathJodo campaign. After the immense love received for #BharatJodoYatra, we are sure that the Haath Se Haath Jodo campaign will also win everybody's hearts." The party workers will deliver a letter written by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and a "charge sheet" against the Central government to each household. During the programme which is scheduled to end on March 26, party workers will reach out to 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats, six lakh villages and 10 lakh booths. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had said, "This programme 'hath se hath jodo' will take forward the Congress party symbol and the political message from the Bharat Jodo Yatra." However, he said that this is a tough task as in some states the organisation is weak, but it will be accomplished. Also Read Manish Tewari joins Rahul's Bharat Jodo Yatra in Punjab's Anandpur Sahib Sonia Gandhi arrives in Karnataka to take part in Bharat Jodo Yatra Drenched in rain, Rahul Gandhi says nothing can stop Bharat Jodo Yatra Ex-RAW chief AS Dulat joins Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra in Delhi Congress' Rahul Gandhi talks of nextgen MGNREGA during Bharat Jodo Yatra ASI should come up with substantive criteria: EAC on national monuments UK hails 'another year of cooperation' with Republic Day wishes to India Realising dreams of leaders, common people: J'khand CM Soren on R-day Punjab will soon shine like Kohinoor, accuses previous system: CM Mann Diligence, tenacity made India world leader, assume presidency: Kerala Guv In the letter, Rahul Gandhi wrote, "There is a palpable economic crisis brewing - joblessness among the youth, unbearable price rise, severe farm distress, and a complete corporate capture of the country's wealth." He wrote, "People are worried about losing their jobs, their incomes are falling further, and their dreams of a better future are shattering and there is a deep sense of hopelessness across the country. "Today, even our plurality is under threat. Divisive forces are attempting to turn our diversity against us - different religions, communities, regions are being pitted against each other. These forces, which are only a handful in number, know that only when people feel insecure and scared can they sow the seeds of hatred for the 'other'." --IANS miz/svn/ Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal greeted people on the occasion of Republic Day on Thursday, and asked them to strengthen democracy and the Constitution of the country. The chief minister also unfurled the national flag at his official residence in Civil Lines. Extending his good wishes to the people on the occasion, the LG paid tribute to freedom fighters and martyrs. He called upon people to safeguard, nourish and strengthen the ideals, values and provisions contained in the Constitution. "Let us again dedicate ourselves to safeguard, nourish and strengthen the ideals, values and provisions contained in our Constitution and move forward shoulder-to-shoulder for making a strong, peaceful and powerful India," Saxena said in a tweet. In his Republic Day message, Kejriwal asserted it was responsibility of all to strengthen democracy in the country. Also Read Our Constitution is pride of country's democracy: Arvind Kejriwal Responsibility of all to strengthen the republic: Arvind Kejriwal on R-Day Kejriwal on 2-day Gujarat visit from Friday, to announce pre-poll guarantee BJP demands white paper on pollution from Delhi govt as AQI deteriorates Centre, other states can also consider anti-radicalisation cell, says Shah 45 fighter jets including Sukhois, Rafales perform during 74th R-Day Parade Diligence, tenacity helped India rise, assume G20 presidency: Kerala Guv Govt may announce measures in Budget to strengthen startup ecosystem 23 tableux roll down Kartavya Path in national capital on Republic Day Republic Day Parade: Marching contingents display India's military might The people and the rule by the people are the most important in a republic, Kejriwal said. "Many congratulations and good wishes to all the countrymen on Republic Day. In a republic, the people and the rule by the people are most important. Our freedom fighters made many sacrifices to establish the republic of India. Now it's our responsibility to strengthen this republic," he said in a tweet in Hindi. At the Delhi government's Republic Day function on Wednesday, he had raised the issue of alleged "harassment" faced by states and UTs at the hands of the Centre-appointed governors and LGs. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Thursday said diligence and tenacity of India, the world's largest democracy and home to a sixth of humanity, helped it to emerge as a world leader by assuming presidency of G20 nations. Leading the Republic Day celebrations at the Central Stadium in the State capital of Kerala, Khan said that instead of merely fighting for its survival, India was guiding the world with its mantra of 'act in unison' in tackling global issues like climate change, terrorism, and pandemics. "As a nation, our diligence and tenacity have paid rich dividends, which are visible through a plethora of accomplishments proclaiming our robustness and philosophy of life and enhancing our prestige in the comity of nations," he said at the event also attended by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Vijayan, in his Republic Day message, said that to maintain India as a sovereign, secular and democratic republic and to ensure social, economic and political justice, Constitutional values need to be upheld. "Freedom of expression, belief, religion, devotion and worship must be preserved for all citizens without loss. We should make our country a model place of democracy by ensuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the nation." he said in a Facebook post. The Kerala Chief Minister also in a tweet urged everyone to recommit themselves to building a stronger and united India. Also Read 'US looking forward to support India's G20 presidency': Janet Yellen What does the G-20 presidency mean for India? Another lotus blooms With 'Soul of India' as key theme; India gets ready for G20 presidency G20's declining share in the world, amid India's growing influence Chief Ministers of various states extend greetings on 74th Republic Day BSF, Pak Rangers exchange sweets along I-B in Jammu on Republic Day Fire breaks out in Mumbai's Andheri suburb, damages 6 shops; no casualties PM Modi thanks Egyptian president for gracing Republic Day function Putin wishes Murmu, Modi on Republic Day, hails India's contributions "On this #RepublicDay, let's take a moment to reflect on the importance of preserving our secular, democratic and constitutional ideals. Only by upholding these values can we ensure a fair and just society for all. Let's recommit ourselves to building a stronger, united India." he tweeted. Earlier in the day, after hoisting the national flag, Khan said that as home to almost one-sixth of humanity, India stands tall as a "microcosm of the world," embellished by its immense diversity and at the same time "firmly united by a sense of Indian-ness" that permeates every mind and moment of life. "It is this perennial and ever renewing sense of oneness that reflects in the message of 'One Earth, One Family, One Future,' that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proclaimed on assuming the chairmanship of G-20 nations," he said. He further said it was the spirit of 'Atma Nirbharta' or self-reliance that has enabled India to confidently tide over the COVID-19 pandemic by ramping up its health infrastructure, producing medicines and vaccines and making them accessible and available to 220 crore people, he said. It was the spirit of self-reliance and economic reforms of the Union government which helped India emerge as the fifth largest economy in the world and have one of the largest and best armed forces through the induction of the indigenously developed aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, and the Prachanda light combat helicopter for the air force, the Governor said in his speech. "While boosting our defence capabilities and surging as one of the top 25 exporters of defence equipment, India stands firmly against global terrorism by declaring -- No Money For Terror'," Khan said. He referred to the strides made by the country in aerospace. Khan lavished praise also on the Kerala government for working towards a 'Nava Keralam' by addressing areas like agriculture, environment, housing, healthcare and education. He spoke of the achievements of the State in providing housing, encouraging start-ups, recording the lowest multi-dimensional poverty in the country, reaching third position in terms of employability of the youth as per India Skills Report 2022 as well as the appreciation Kerala received for innovation and social security measures. Khan referred to the strides made by Kerala in ramping up healthcare infrastructure, promoting establishment of around 1.23 lakh MSMEs and achieving top position in the latest performance grading index in the field of education. In his address, the Kerala Governor said that according to Mahatma Gandhi, the soul of India lived in its villages and that is where India's future lies in view of the national and State-level initiatives in rural development and agriculture. It would be through developed and self-reliant villages and plenteous granaries that India would realise the dreams of 'Amrit Kaal' -- the developmental pathway towards the 'Vikasit Bharat' of the year 2047, he said. Khan ended his address by asking everyone to perform their duties "mindful of the welfare of our fellow-beings and with unwavering loyalty towards the nation." The Republic Day was celebrated by the armed forces in Kerala, the State police and the Coast Guard by hoisting the national flag and conducting parades. At Sainik School in Kazhakootam here, a passing out parade of 105 cadets was held in the morning. Air Vice-Marshal B V Upadhyaya, VM, SOA, HQ Southern Air Command, took the salute and reviewed the parade and awarded the medals to the outstanding cadets, a defence release said. Scholarships were distributed to meritorious children at Cariappa Auditorium at the Pangode Military Station here. At the Indian Naval Academy (INA) in Ezhimala in Kannur district of the State, the 74th Republic Day was celebrated with a ceremonial parade and laying of wreaths at the War Memorial there in memory of all those soldiers who laid down their lives for the nation, another defence release said. The Commandant, Deputy Commandant, Principal INA and Commanding Officers of INS Zamorin and INHS Navjivani laid the wreaths at the memorial, it said. The Indian Coast Guard celebrated the occasion by holding a ceremonial parade at its station in Kochi. The Coast Guard ships were dressed overall in ceremonial flags to mark the occasion, a release said. Kerala police celebrated Republic Day with State police chief Anil Kant hoisting the tricolour at the Police Headquarters here and laying a wreath at Dheerasmriti Bhoomi here, a release said. As India celebrates its 74th Republic Day on Thursday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is all set to attend the parade as the chief guest. It is for the first time that an Egyptian leader has been invited on India's Republic Day. El-Sisi, who is on a four-day visit to India, and accompanied by a high-level delegation will witness the Republic Day Parade, following which the Egyptian President will attend an 'At-Home' reception by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Later, El-Sisi will be called on by the Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and the two sides will hold a meeting. El-Sisi was elected as the sixth President of Egypt in May 2014. He graduated from the Egyptian Military Academy in 1977 and was appointed to the post of Director of Intelligence in 2010. In August 2012, he was appointed as the Minister of Defense and the commander of the Egyptian Armed Forces where he remained until his resignation in March 2014 to run for the Presidency. During the Republic Day Parade, a military contingent of the Egyptian Army will also march on the Rajpath along with other contingents. 160 Egyptian military personnel would represent the country's armed forces at the Republic Day Parade. Also Read Egypt president al-Sisi to be India's chief guest at Republic Day event India eyes economic, military ties with Egypt during El-Sisi's visit Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi heads to India amid investment push PM Modi, Egyptian President Sisi call for zero tolerance towards terrorism India committed to COP27 under Egyptian presidency: Jaishankar to Prez Sisi India moving past 'mentality of slavery', embracing rich heritage: PM Modi China-India border situation stable at the moment: Chinese Vice FM Sudha Murty, Mulayam Singh, Zakir Hussain win Padma Awards: Full list here India loses access to 26 of 65 patrol points in Eastern Ladakh: Report All security measures in place for BJY along Jammu-Srinagar highway: CRPF "This is for the first time that the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt has been invited as Chief Guest on our Republic Day. A military contingent from Egyptian Army will also participate in the Republic Day parade," the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official statement. Colonel Mahmoud Mohamed Abdelfattah Elkharasawy will commander the Egyptian Army contingent. Currently, the special forces of the Indian and Egyptian armies, are engaged in the first-ever joint exercise named 'Exercise Cyclone' at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. The exercise kickstarted on January 14. Since time immemorial, India and Egypt have enjoyed strong defense ties. There was close cooperation between the Air Forces, with efforts at jointly developing a fighter aircraft in the 1960s. IAF pilots had also trained Egyptian pilots from the 1960s until 1984. As India and Egypt are celebrating 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations this year, New Delhi has also invited Egypt as a 'guest country" during its G20 Presidency. Moreover, the visit of El-Sisi is seen as a visit to bolster ties between India and Egypt and further deepen them. India and Egypt have "warm and friendly relations marked by civilizational, cultural and economic linkages and deep-rooted people-to-people ties", as per the MEA statement. El-Sisi, who arrived in India on Tuesday, received a warm, traditional welcome. According to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs, the Egyptian President was accorded a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday. He also laid a wreath at Rajghat and paid his tribute to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who will be the chief guest at the Republic Day Parade, held discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday and the two countries decided to take bilateral trade to 12 billion dollars in the next five years. The two leaders also held extensive discussions on strengthening the food and pharma supply chains affected by the COVID and the Ukraine conflict. India and Egypt also exchanged MoUs in the fields of cyber security, culture, information technology, youth matters and broadcasting. During his visit, El-Sisi will also interact with the business community in India. The ties between the two nations are based on shared cultural values, commitment to strengthening economic growth, and cooperation in various sectors, including defence, security and convergence on regional and global issues. The bilateral trade between India and Egypt reached USD 7.26 billion in the financial year 2021-22, according to an MEA statement. India's exports to Egypt were worth USD 3.74 billion while Egypt's exports to India were worth USD 3.52 billion. Over 50 Indian companies have invested around USD 3.15 billion in Egypt's various sectors, including chemicals, energy, textile, garment, agri-business and retail. Egypt has traditionally been one of India's most important trading partners in the African continent. The India-Egypt Bilateral Trade Agreement has been in operation since March 1978 and is based on the Most Favoured Nation clause and the bilateral trade has increased more than five times in the last ten years. During this period of 2021-22, the top Indian imports from Egypt were Mineral Oil/Petroleum, Fertilizers, Inorganic Chemicals, and Cotton and the main items of export to Egypt from India were Buffalo Meat, Iron & Steel, Light Vehicles, and Cotton Yarn. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has threatened Egypt with a shortage of wheat, 80 per cent of which is imported from Russia and Ukraine. On 14 April 2022, the Egyptian Cabinet announced the inclusion of India in the list of accredited countries which can supply wheat to Egypt, thus ending a long pending Non-Tariff Barrier. India and Egypt, two of the world's oldest civilizations, have enjoyed a history of close contact from ancient times. Both countries share a close political understanding based on a long history of contact and cooperation in bilateral, regional, and global issues. Egyptian President El-Sisi, after concluding his India visit will emplane for Cairo on January 27. A grenade was found near the home of a former legislator in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Thursday evening, his son said. Last Friday night, an explosion was reported at his house in Lasana village of Surankote tehsil. His family had a narrow escape as splinters pierced the ceiling of several rooms. "I had gone for a condolence meet when I received a call from home that a grenade was found near the house. It was close to our boundary wall," Showkat, the son of former Surankote MLA and prominent Gujjar leader Choudhary Mohammad Akram, told reporters. Police and Army personnel have cordoned off the area and a search is underway, he said. Expressing fear, Showkat also questioned the security measures being enforced in the area. "Why is this happening to us? This is the second such incident," he said while expressing faith in the security forces. Also Read Army rescues four youth trapped in J-K's Poonch river flash flood Land mine found near Army post in J-K's Poonch, destroyed, says official Two terrorists shot dead along LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch Explosion at ex-MLA & prominent Gujjar leader's house in J-K's Poonch Rains, landslides force closure of Jammu-Srinagar highway, Mughal Road PM Modi to address 'NCC PM' rally on Jan 28 at Delhi's Cariappa ground Content flagged by PIB Fact Check under IT rules not applicable on TV News Govt instilled new hope among people by bringing radical changes: Khattar 4 detained for threatening to carry out bomb blasts in Ahmedabad on R-Day G-20 meet in J-K 'message to enemies of humanity': LG Manoj Sinha Security guards have been increased at our house and floodlights installed, Showkat added. Chinese tourists not required to produce PCR tests for entry into Namibia Xinhua) 14:37, January 26, 2023 WINDHOEK, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese visitors or tourists will not be required to produce COVID-19 tests when entering Namibia, an official told Xinhua, following recently imposed entry restrictions on travelers from China by some countries. "Namibia has not implemented that on Chinese nationals or tourists. Such a move only depends on the situation, and we will only react when need be and when such a time comes," Walters Kamaya, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Social Services, told Xinhua. According to Kamaya, Namibia's entry requirements are the same for all travelers, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests are not an entry requirement for now. Kamaya said there had been no detection of new COVID-19 variants in the southwestern African nation as it continues to conduct various COVID-19 surveillance activities countrywide to prepare for, detect and respond to any resurgence in cases. Gitta Paetzold, the chief executive officer of the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN), told Xinhua Tuesday that although Namibia's health minister in early January sounded caution about Kraken, the new variant, it was agreed not to create too much hype about the new variant, and it seems globally, governments are taking a stance of careful consideration, but not to restrict travel. Meanwhile, according to HAN statistics, occupancy rates at nationwide hospitality establishments stood at 37.9 percent in December 2022, compared to 45.8 percent in the prior month, bringing the annual average to 40.1 percent. According to the annual statistics for 2022, around 3,740 Chinese nationals booked in various establishments in Namibia, which constituted 0.48 percent, while the bulk of the occupancy was dominated by Namibians at 30.59 percent. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Hongyu) South Korea's chief nuclear envoy met with a senior official of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Thursday to discuss cooperation in dealing with the North Korean nuclear stalemate, the Seoul foreign ministry said. Kim Gunn, Seoul's special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, met with Massimo Aparo, deputy director general of the IAEA, in Seoul and expressed hope for the agency's secretariat to play an active role in sending a strong message condemning the North at the IAEA level if Pyongyang conducts its seventh nuclear test. According to the ministry, Aparo shared concerns about the possibility of another North Korean nuclear test and explained that the IAEA is playing an active role in monitoring North Korean nuclear facilities and maintaining readiness for verification of related sites in the North. (Yonhap) Responding to the allegations, Adani Group described the report as a "malicious combination of selective misinformation and stale, baseless and discredited allegations". The shares of Adani Group companies fell sharply after investment research firm Hindenburg Research released a report allegng that the group has been engaged in "manipulation and accounting fraud". The firm said the Adani Group has "substantial debt" and had an 85 per cent downside on their valuations. What is Hindenburg Research? It is a US-based firm that specialises in financial research. It looks for accounting irregularities, illegal or unethical practices and undisclosed issues. Its website says, "Our experience in the investment management industry spans decades, with a historical focus on equity, credit, and derivatives analysis". Why was it named 'Hindenburg' Research? It adds, "While we use fundamental analysis to aid our investment decision-making, we believe the most impactful research results from uncovering hard-to-find information from atypical sources". Also Read Not just FTX's Sam Bankman-Fried: A look at five biggest CEO frauds ever Adani Group says allegations made in Hindenburg report 'stale and baseless' US-based Hindenburg Research accuses Adani Group of share rigging, fraud Timing of Hindenburg report is curious; market reaction overdone: Analysts Adani group firm shares tank by up to 9% following Hindenburg report AAP to contest in 'as many seats as possible' in Nagaland assembly polls Responsibility of all to strengthen the republic: Arvind Kejriwal on R-Day Delhi: Multi-layer security cover in place for Republic Day celebrations Overcast conditions prevail in Delhi on R-Day, min temp settles at 12.8C We support importance of free press around the world: US on BBC documentary "We view the Hindenburg as the epitome of a totally man-made, totally avoidable disaster. Almost 100 people were loaded onto a balloon filled with the most flammable element in the universe (hydrogen). This was despite dozens of earlier hydrogen-based aircraft meeting with similar fates. Nonetheless, the operators of the Hindenburg forged ahead, adopting the oft-cited Wall Street maxim of 'this time is different'," it says on its website. Its name is based on the Hindenburg disaster that took place in 1937 when a German passenger airship caught fire, killing 35 people. How did it come into being? "We look for similar man-made disasters floating around in the market and aim to shed light on them before they lure in more unsuspecting victims," it adds. Before founding the research company, Anderson had worked with Harry Markopolos, who had flagged Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme. It went on to become the world's biggest financial fraud ever. The company was founded in 2017 by Nathan Anderson, a student of international business management at the University of Connecticut. He lived in Jerusalem before returning to the US where he worked as a broker at several companies. Anderson had told FT, that at Hindenburg, "we come in and try to illuminate some of these problems that might be lurking under the surface at some of these companies, in some of these industries, and see if we can make things better". Markopolos was quoted by the Financial Times as saying, "He [Anderson] is a world-class digger...If there are facts he will find them and all too often he'll discover that there are skeletons in the closet". Which other companies have Hindenburg written about? In 2020, it release a report on Nikola titled "Nikola: How to Parlay An Ocean of Lies Into a Partnership With the Largest Auto OEM in America". It called out "a vast array of alleged lies and deceptions by Nikola in the years leading up to its proposed partnership with General Motors". Nagaland Chief Electoral Officer V Shashank Shekhar on Wednesday called upon people to exercise their franchise in the upcoming assembly elections in the state. He also urged everyone to collectively endeavour to ensure that the entire election process takes place in a peaceful atmosphere, without any violence of any kind. Observing the 13th National Voters' Day, he said, We should always respect the valuable right to vote and never take it for granted. It is the responsibility of everyone, including those getting the right to vote for the first time, to exercise their franchise with utmost sincerity and also inspire others to do so, he said. The CEO hoped that first-time voters will experience the thrill and joy of being part of the democratic exercise. Elections to the 60-member assembly in the state will be held on February 27. Also Read As Nagaland heads for Assembly polls in 2023, solution eludes peace talks Cong plans to wipe out BJP, NDDP from Nagaland in upcoming polls: Therie Amit Shah assures proactive steps to address demand for 'Frontier Nagaland' Nagaland polls: EC meets with parties on expenditure monitoring measures Lucknow's Hotel Levana to be sealed, demolished after fire claims 4 lives Prez Droupadi Murmu to lead nation in celebrating 74th Republic Day Production of vaccine against cervical cancer to be boosted: Poonawalla Murmu approves 412 gallantry awards, decorations to Armed Forces personnel Joint parcel product service by Railways, India Post launched in Coimbatore Army on high alert in J&K along LoC to thwart infiltration by terrorists The CEO said Nagaland has 13,17,632 voters. He said the Election Commission of India (ECI) is putting in considerable effort to ensure free and fair elections through the involvement of various central and state enforcement agencies. Society in Nagaland is democratic in nature and gives space and voice to all sections, he said, while hoping that this true spirit of democracy will manifest in the formal electoral system as well. Six 'Agniveers' will be part of the Navy's marching contingent during the 74th Republic Day celebrations on Thursday when the ceremonial parade will take place on Kartavya Path amid patriotic fervour. This was stated in a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence on the eve of the celebrations. President Droupadi Murmu will lead the nation in celebrating the Republic Day, and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will be the chief guest at the ceremonial event. The military assets which will be displayed during the parade include made-in-India equipment, showing the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat, officials had earlier said. Main battle tank Arjun, Nag Missile System (NAMIS) and K-9 Vajra will also be showcased, the defence ministry said in the statement. "The Indian Navy contingent will comprise 144 young sailors led by Lt Cdr Disha Amrith as the contingent commander. For the first time ever, the marching contingent consists three women and six Agniveers. Also Read Over 80,000 women candidates register for Indian Navy's Agniveer scheme Agnipath scheme: Female recruitment for military police to begin on Nov 1 Agniveer recruitment rally begins in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla President Droupadi Murmu to arrive in Odisha on Thursday on two-day visit President Droupadi Murmu's Jharkhand visit rescheduled to Tuesday Production of vaccine against cervical cancer to be boosted: Poonawalla Murmu approves 412 gallantry awards, decorations to Armed Forces personnel Joint parcel product service by Railways, India Post launched in Coimbatore Army on high alert in J&K along LoC to thwart infiltration by terrorists India-UK FTA has hallmarks of being global standard: UK Foreign Secretary "It will be followed by the naval tableau, designed on the theme 'Indian Navy - Combat Ready, Credible, Cohesive and Future Proof'. It will showcase the multi-dimensional capabilities of the Indian Navy, 'Nari Shakti' and key indigenously designed and built assets under 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'," the statement said. The ceremony will commence with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the National War Memorial and paying tributes to the fallen heroes by laying a wreath. Thereafter, the prime minister and other dignitaries will head to the saluting dais at Kartavya Path to witness the parade. As per tradition, the national flag will be unfurled followed by the National Anthem with a booming 21-gun salute. Among, the many firsts, the ceremonial salute will be given with 105-mm Indian field guns. It replaces the vintage 25-pounder guns, reflecting upon the growing 'Aatmanirbharta' in defence. Four Mi-17 1V/V5 helicopters of 105 Helicopter Unit will shower flower petals on the audience present at Kartavya Path, the statement said. The parade will commence with the president taking the salute. The parade will be commanded by Parade Commander Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, a second-generation Army officer. Maj Gen Bhavnish Kumar, Chief of Staff, Delhi Area will be the Parade Second-in-Command. Three Param Vir Chakra awardees and three Ashok Chkara awardees will also take part in the parade, and a "veterans tableau" will also be part of it with the theme -- 'Towards India's Amrit Kaal with a Resolve of Veterans' Commitment'. For the first time, a combined band and marching contingent of the Egyptian Armed Forces will be taking part in the ceremonial parade. The contingent will consist of 144 soldiers, representing the main branches of the Egyptian Armed Forces led by Col Elkharasawy. The first contingent in the uniform of the 61 Cavalry will be led by Capt Raizada Shaurya Bali. The 61 Cavalry is the only serving active horse cavalry regiment in the world, "with the amalgamation of all the state horse units," it said. The Indian Air Force contingent will comprise 144 air warriors and four officers, led by Sqn Ldr Sindhu Reddy. The Air Force tableau, designed on the theme 'Indian Air Force Power Beyond Boundaries', will display a rotating globe highlighting IAF's expanded reach, whereby it has been able to provide humanitarian assistance across borders, as also exercises conducted with friendly countries. The Republic Day celebrations will take place on the revamped Central Vista avenue and will be the first at the ceremonial boulevard after Rajpath was renamed to Kartavya Path last year. This year, invites have been sent to common people from all walks of the society such as 'Shramyogis' involved in construction of Central Vista, Kartavya Path, New Parliament Building, milk, vegetable vendors, and street vendors etc. These special invitees will be prominently seated at Kartavya Path, the statement said. "Building on last year's celebrations, in the 75th year of the Independence, celebrated as the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, the celebrations this year shall witness zeal, enthusiasm, patriotic fervour and 'janbhagidari', as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," the Defence Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. A total of 23 tableaux -- 17 from states and Union territories and six from various ministries and departments -- depicting India's vibrant cultural heritage, and economic and social progress will be part of the parade on the Kartavya Path. Other states and Union Territories which have been selected to showcase their tableaux on the Katavya Path on January 26 include Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Tripura, Gujarat, Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. This year the celebrations are being held over a span of more than a week, starting with the 126th birth anniversary of freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. A one-of-a-kind Military Tattoo and Tribal Dance Festival 'Aadi Shaurya - Parv Parakram Ka' was organised here on January. The events will culminate on January 30, which is observed as Martyrs' Day, the statement said. This year, the Republic Day celebrations will see attractive performances by dancers from Vande Bharatam group from across the country, tales of bravery by 'Veer Gatha 2.0' participants, melodious performances by school bands at the National War Memorial, largest-ever drone show and 3-D anamorphic projection, it said. Defence Ministry officials on January 18 had said that the government had put 32,000 tickets on sale online for the masses. And, for the first time, all official invites for the ceremonial event will be sent online, they had said. "The Republic Day Parade, which will begin at around 10:30 AM, will be a unique mix of the country's military prowess and cultural diversity, depicting the country's growing indigenous capabilities, 'Nari Shakti' and emergence of a 'New India'," the statement said. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will showcase one tableau and equipment. The theme of the tableau is 'Securing Nation with Effective Surveillance, Communication and Neutralising Threats', the statement said. Indigenously-developed Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP), a modular 8X8 wheeled combat platform carried on a 70-ton trailer will be displayed by the DRDO in the form of equipment, it added. Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar are conferred on children with exceptional abilities and outstanding achievement in the fields of bravery, art & culture, sports, innovation and social service. Eleven winning children, in jeeps, will be driven down Kartavya Path, it said. Fifty aircraft will take part in the 74th Republic Day celebrations at the Kartavya Path that will include aerial display by nine Rafale and the Navy's IL-38 which will be showcased at the event for the first and perhaps the last time, a senior official had earlier said. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday sent his wishes to his Indian counterpart Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the 74th Republic Day, hailing India's achievements in various fields. In a statement issued by the Russian President's office, he said that India was making a significant contribution in ensuring international peace and security on the global stage. Putin was quoted as saying in the statement that India's achievements in the economic, social, scientific, technological and other spheres are widely known. "Your country is making a substantial contribution to ensuring international stability and security and to addressing vital issues on the regional and global agenda," he said. "We set a high value on the relations of privileged strategic partnership between our states," he said, expressing confidence that "by working together we can ensure the continued growth of mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in all areas. This undoubtedly meets the fundamental interests of the friendly peoples of Russia and India". --IANS Also Read Saddened by loss of lives in Uttarakhand bus accident: President Murmu President Droupadi Murmu's Jharkhand visit rescheduled to Tuesday President Droupadi Murmu to arrive in Odisha on Thursday on two-day visit Mayurbhanj residents enjoy lunch with 'daughter of soil' President Murmu Value education should be included in curriculum: President Droupadi Murmu JDU chief Lalan Singh to skip conclusion of Cong's Yatra in Srinagar Committed to fulfilling dreams of those who sacrificed for J'khand: Soren Macleods Pharma recalls 10,000 bottles of anti-bacterial medication in US ED's power confined to probe money laundering offence, says Delhi HC DCPCR to launch WhatsApp chatbot to help people register complaints ans/vd This image captured from the website of the Gongju Correctional Institution shows a prison cell. Yonhap An appellate court sentenced a life prisoner to death on Thursday for beating and killing a prison inmate. The Daejeon High Court handed down the death penalty to the 28-year-old charged with strangling and kicking a 42-year-old inmate to death in a cell they shared at a prison in Gongju, 125 kilometers south of Seoul, in December of 2021. A district court had earlier sentenced him to life in prison, but prosecutors appealed and demanded capital punishment, saying sentencing a lifer to another life term is pointless and death penalty is needed to prevent further violence by him and to keep correctional institutions in order. The man was serving a life sentence for murdering a man in the city of Gyeryong in 2019 and robbing him of nearly 400 grams of gold and a sedan. "It is questionable whether he has any possibility of reformation, given that he murdered two people in a short period of time and repeatedly used violence against the victim," the Daejeon High Court said. "It is also questionable what meaning it would have to sentence a man already serving a life sentence to life imprisonment or a lower sentence," it said. The appellate court also sentenced two other accomplices charged with murder to 12 years and 14 years behind bars, respectively. Investigations showed the three assaulted the victim by pouring hot water over his head and using clothespins to pinch him. They also forced him not to see a doctor and not to have his family members visit him for fear he could expose their violence. The victim, initially healthy except for an underlying heart disease, eventually died of bleeding, inflammation and fractured ribs within 20 days of the violence. (Yonhap) The parade saw many firsts. The "Daredevils" motorcycle riders from the Corps of Signals were co-led by a woman officer, Agniveers marched alongside other armed forces and the Narcotics Control Bureau had its tableau. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the president of Egypt, was invited as the chief guest. Camels decked in colourful finery, aerial shows with fleets in dazzling formations and elaborate tableaux of various states. This is how India celebrates January 26 every year. On Thursday too, the country celebrated its 74th Republic Day, where hundreds of Indians braved the January chill to watch the parade. Show of Strength The parade marks one of the most significant events of the year. The participants practice for months before the actual event and thousands of security personnel are mobilised to ensure security around the parade venue. But why does India celebrate Republic Day with a parade? According to a report by The Indian Express, such marches were organised to leave a mark on the minds of the onlookers. In the 19th century, these parades were organised in Europe to instill the feeling of nationalism. Today, almost every major country in the world organises such parades on different days. The history of military parades can be tracked as far back as the Mesopotamian civilisation. In Babylon, the warrior kings marched through the sacred Gate of Ishtar under the murals of gods. Later, during the Roman Empire, the winning generals marched surrounded by cheering crowds. Also Read Republic Day 2023: This year's parade to witness many first-time events What are Alternative Investment Funds? LIVE: Republic Day Parade begins, to showcase India's military strength What is a currency swap? What is the indigenous 5G testbed? Congress leader Antony falls silent after son's tryst with BBC documentary Vital evidence surfaces on Rs 700 crore real estate scam in Mohali British Airways sees strong India demand, adds third flight from Mumbai Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal extends 'best wishes' to India on Republic Day Mamata urges people to uphold democratic ideals of equality, fraternity Parades and Indian History During the colonial period, Britishers used to organise royal parades. This was to show their power to Indians as well as to the other major powers in the world. With India's independence in 1947, the government decided to keep going with the tradition. The first parade was held in Irwin Amphitheatre, now called Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, when Rajendra Prasad, India's first president, was sworn-in. A marching contingent of 3,000 men with guns and Liberator planes paraded to celebrate the occasion. The first parade of independent India was organised on January 26, 1950, to mark the first Republic Day. The Indian Constitution came into effect on that day and it symbolised the victory over colonial rule. Over the years, the parades have become grander in scale. More and more states participate espousing a national identity. Children, women and men march together to show their unity and contribution towards India's progress. The parade shifted to Rajpath, now named Kartavya Path, in 1955. Pakistan's governor-general Malik Gulam Mohammed was invited as the chief guest. "For Indians, the parade is primarily a symbolic affair that reinforces their identity as part of a powerful republic," historian Srinath Raghavan earlier told BBC. But for many, it is also an expression of their empowerment and freedom. Shiv Sena (UBT) president and former CM Uddhav Thackeray will visit Thane, the political turf of Maharashtra Chief Minister and his rival Eknath Shinde, on January 26, his first trip to the city after losing power in June last year. An official spokesman of the Opposition party told the media on Wednesday that Thackeray will inaugurate a medical camp organised by the party at the Shivaji Maidan on the eve of the birthday of late Shiv Sena stalwart Anand Dighe. The former CM will also garland a bust of Dighe in the Tembi Naka area, he said. The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Csaba Korosi is all set to make an official visit to India from January 29 to 31 and will hold key meetings on priorities of the General Assembly. During his visit, the UNGA President will meet with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi, while continuing on topics raised during their last meeting in December like India's engagement with the UN body, the official statement of the UNGA read. These priorities are also expected to be on the agenda when Korosi visits India's G20 Secretariat, and meets with a delegation led by Amitabh Kant, the G20 Sherpa. His trip will also include conversations with government officials, leading national scientists and academics, and include field visits related to sustainable water use, according to the UNGA statement. President Korosi's official visit, at the invitation of the Indian government, coincides with the assassination anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and Martyrs' Day, which the President will commemorate by laying a wreath at Rajghat. Among his other public appearances in New Delhi, Korosi will give a public address at the Indian Council of World Affairs under the theme of his priorities for the current General Assembly session, which is "Solutions through Solidarity, Sustainability and Science," the official statement said. Also Read UN General Assembly President Korosi set to visit India, China, Japan UNGA Prez Korosi appoints leaders for Security Council reform negotiations Goal to end AIDS by 2030 'badly off track', says UNGA President Korosi UNGA Prez Csaba Korosi to visit India this month, meet leaders, scientists 'New epoch' is arriving, says UN President Korosi on general assembly meet TMS Ep355: Pathaan movie, women in JEE-Mains, markets, disgorgement order Constitution has withstood test of time: Prez Murmu on eve of R-Day Ex-US Prez Donald Trump is reinstated to Facebook after 2-year ban Whenever held, polls in J-K will be free and fair: LG Manoj Sinha Uddhav Thackeray to visit CM Eknath Shinde's political turf Thane today The visit's primary goal is to forge links between the General Assembly and science, particularly on the water issue, in advance of the UN-Water Conference in March. The President will discuss India's water conservation projects with senior officials and experts at the National Institute for Transforming India, otherwise known as NITI Aayog, a commission whose primary responsibility is to implement and coordinate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) efforts in India. The President is scheduled to participate in field visits in Bengaluru, where he will visit a water project site. While in the city, the President will also interact with national scientists and academics at the Indian Institute of Science. The President will also meet with the UN Resident Coordinator in India, Shombi Sharp. During the visit, Korosi will be joined by his Chef de Cabinet, Laszlo Szoke, the Chief Scientific Advisor, Johannes Cullmann, and two senior office colleagues. Notably, the costs of the visit are covered by the Government and the OPGA Trust Fund. All efforts are made to keep the President's trips as cost, time and environmentally efficient as possible. Meanwhile, after wrapping up his India visit, Korosi will head to China, where he will visit the International Research Centre of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals, which facilitates the implementation of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In China, the UNGA President will also meet with senior government officials in the country. Later Korosi is slated to visit Japan in the middle of February where the UNGA President will participate in a conference on water resilience, among other objectives, the official statement read. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Egypt, Israel and the West Bank this weekend in his first trip to the Middle East this year, amid an escalation in Israeli-Palestinian violence, US concerns over the direction of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new government and ongoing issues with Egypt's human rights record. The State Department said on Thursday that Blinken would leave Washington on Saturday for stops in Cairo, Jerusalem and Ramallah. The announcement came just hours after an Israeli raid on suspected terrorists in the West Bank city of Jenin that Palestinian officials say killed nine people in the deadliest such incident this year. After visiting Cairo for talks on Sunday with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Blinken will go to Jerusalem and Ramallah on Monday and Tuesday to see Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, the department said. With both Israeli and Palestinian leaders, the secretary will underscore the urgent need for the parties to take steps to deescalate tensions in order to put an end to the cycle of violence that has claimed too many innocent lives, spokesman Ned Price said in a statement. After the raid on a suspected terrorist hideout, Israel's defence minister directed forces in the occupied West Bank and on Israel's border with the Gaza Strip to go on heightened alert. Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians have soared since Israel launched the nightly raids in the West Bank last spring, following a spate of Palestinian attacks. The conflict has only intensified this month, as Netanyahu's government came to office and pledged to take a hard line against the Palestinians. Tesla CEO Elon Musk's impulsive and sometimes inflammatory usage of Twitter took centre stage Wednesday in a trial focused on whether he misled investors with his 2018 tweets indicating he had lined up financing to take the electric automaker private, a proposal that rapidly unravelled. The spotlight on Musk's tweeting habits came a day after the 51-year-old billionaire completed three days of defiant testimony during which he told the nine-member jury why he believed he could have pulled off a Tesla buyout that could have cost anywhere from $30 billion to more than $70 billion at the time. Musk, who now owns the Twitter service that's central to the trial about his management of Tesla, raised the prospect of a buyout in an Aug. 7, 2018 tweet stating he had the funding secured for the deal. Musk followed up a few hours later with another tweet suggesting a deal was imminent. After it became apparent that the money wasn't in place to take Tesla private, Musk and the company reached a $40 million settlement with securities regulators who alleged his tweets were improper. The furore that erupted over Musk's August 2018 weeks came just weeks after Tesla investors had urged him to clamp down on his usage of Twitter, fearing that the comments he was posting were damaging the automaker's brand, as well as the company's stock price. Also Read Elon Musk demands ex-Twitter product chief testify in takeover fight How will Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter change the public square? Judge slams Elon Musk for not handing over texts in Twitter fight Elon Musk, Twitter CEO seek to reschedule questioning on $44 bn buyout deal Elon Musk files defence under seal as Twitter trial is set for Oct 17 Investment bank Goldman Sachs to partially retreat from consumer banking IBM announces layoffs amid tech slowdown, to cut global workforce by 3,900 New Twitter whistleblower says privacy lapses continued into Musk era Boeing loses $663 mn in Q4 despite higher revenue amid supply chain problem The Washington Post lays off 20 newsroom staff, shuts gaming division If something really upsets you, go for a walk around the factory," Ron Baron, a major Tesla shareholder, told Musk in a July 15, 2018 email that was displayed as evidence during Wednesday's trial. Get an ice cream cone. Just don't use Twitter. Baron, who Musk praised as a savvy investor during his testimony, wrote the cautionary email after Musk referred to a British cave explorer as a pedo guy" in a tweet that was subsequently deleted. The pedophile reference prompted the cave explorer, Vernon Unsworth, to file a defamation lawsuit and a trial verdict that resulted in a victory for Musk. The pedo guy" tweet also unsettled another long-time ally, Antonio Gracias, who served on Tesla's board from 2007 to 2021 and was the lead director in 2018. While testifying Wednesday, Gracias acknowledged having some discussions that maybe Elon should take a break from tweeting." Tesla's board never took formal action to rein in Musk's Twitter usage, but Gracias testified that he personally asked him to stop tweeting about a potential Tesla buyout without board approval after the Aug. 7, 2018 tweets. A portfolio manager overseeing Tesla investments for T. Rowe Price also tried to counsel Musk about his Twitter usage in a July 18, 2018 phone call and a follow-up email, according to a videotaped deposition that was played for the jury during Wednesday's proceedings. Joseph Fath, the T. Rowe Price portfolio manager testifying under oath, said he tried to appeal to Musk's better senses" during their July 2018 phone call, warning him his tweets were starting to do more harm than good for Tesla. To hammer the point home, Fath said he evoked actress Lindsay Lohan's penchant for attracting media attention with erratic behaviour in public and how the attention tapered off once she began exercising discipline. I thought I had gotten through to him," Fath said of the phone call with Musk. Just to make sure, Fath followed up with an email to Musk imploring him to remember the golden rule. Delete. Don't Tweet." Less than three weeks later, Fath said he was shocked and surprised" to hear about Musk's buyout tweet during a vacation he was taking in the Caribbean with his family. It blew up my entire vacation," Fath said. During the first three months of 2019, Fath said T. Rowe began trimming its investments in Tesla, partially because of its diminished trust in Musk. Tesla's stock price wound up soaring far higher between from 2019 through late 2021 before heading into a prolonged downturn that has deepened since Musk completed his $44 billion purchase of Twitter in late October. Much of the recent erosion has been driven by Tesla shareholders concerned about Musk's decision to finance a big chunk of the Twitter takeover by selling some of his holdings in the automaker coupled with the time he has been spending running another company. Musk has pledged to step down as Twitter's CEO without setting a definitive timeline for relinquishing the reins. Alex Spiro, Musk's lawyer, seized upon Gracias' time on the stand to pose a question that seemed framed to serve as an important reminder to the jury. Do you know that this is trial is not about whether Elon Musk is a good or bad tweeter?" Spiro asked. No, it is not," Gracias responded. This photo shows twins born just after midnight, Jan. 1. Yonhap The number of babies born in Korea reached yet another record low in November, data showed Thursday, reflecting the country's dire population crisis. A total of 18,982 babies were born in November, plunging 4.3 percent from the previous year, according to the data from Statistics Korea. It marked the lowest number for any November since the statistics agency started compiling related data in 1981. Korea remains dogged by a chronic decline in childbirths as many young people delay or give up on having babies in the face of an economic slowdown and high home prices. Over the January-November period, a total number of 231,863 babies were born, down 4.7 percent from a year earlier. Its total fertility rate the average number of children a woman bears in her lifetime came to just 0.79 in the third quarter, the data showed. In 2021, it stood at 0.81, marking the fourth straight year to hover below one. It was much lower than the replacement level of 2.1 that would keep Korea's population stable at 51.5 million. Korea, which first reported more deaths than births in 2020, is also widely expected to maintain the trend for the third consecutive year in 2022. Over the January-November period, Korea had 107,004 more deaths. The number of deaths came to 30,107 in November, up 6.1 percent from a year earlier. Meanwhile, the data showed the number of marriages rose 2.2 percent on-year to 17,458 in November as more people tied the knot following eased COVID-19 regulations. Divorces fell 3.1 percent on-year to 8,498 in the month. (Yonhap) Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday that its CEO and president, Akio Toyoda, will become chairman. He will be replaced as CEO by the automaker's chief branding officer, Koji Sato. Toyota announced the leadership reshuffle without any forewarning, but it had a lively promotional video prepared to highlight Toyoda and Sato's love for electric vehicles and fast cars. Sato, 53, has been managing the Toyota group's Lexus brand operations and motor racing. Toyoda, grandson of Toyota's founder Kiichiro Toyoda, took over as CEO of Toyota in 2009. He will replace as chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada, who is giving up the title but will remain a representative director at the company. Toyoda had earlier hinted he was thinking about who might succeed him. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is discussing South Africa's transition from its heavy reliance on coal to greener energy sources during talks with the country's finance minister Thursday. Yellen made brief remarks to reporters ahead of a meeting with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana in Pretoria but avoided mention of South Africa's recent decision to take part in joint navy drills with Russia and China off its east coast next month. South Africa is a key U.S. and Western partner but also holds strong ties to Russia and China, and it has adopted a neutral stance over the war in Ukraine. The announcement that South Africa would host Russian and Chinese warships for 10 days of exercises in February has raised concern at the White House. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was in Pretoria for an official visit earlier this week. Yellen's 10-day trip to Africa, which has already included stops in Senegal and Zambia, is one of the first steps in the Biden administration's aim of reestablishing ties on the continent of 1.3 billion, where China has rapidly increased its economic presence and Russia has gained a military foothold. U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield is also on a tour to Africa, and President Joe Biden has said he plans to visit this year. Also Read US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to travel to India in November India-US EFP: Treasury Secy Janet Yellen visiting India to bolster ties US treasury secy Janet Yellen to visit India on Nov 11 for EFP dialogue What is friendshoring? Need high regulatory standard globally to deal with crypto risks: Yellen Japan launches intel satellite to watch North Korea, improve response China faces challenge due to flawed Covid policies, vaccines: Report People dying from cardiovascular disease up by 6.2% in US, says study Snowstorm sweeps through South Korean capital Seoul, nearby regions Tesla says it will invest $3.6 bn in Nevada truck factory expansion On Thursday, Yellen said South Africa's energy sector would be one of the focuses of her talks with Godongwana. South Africa has received pledges of up to $8.5 billion from the United States and other Western nations to fund its energy transition away from coal-burning power plants and recently agreed to some parts of the loan funding at the U.N. climate conference in Egypt last year. South Africa, the continent's most developed economy, relies on coal to generate about 80% of its electricity. It plans to reduce that to 59% by 2030 by phasing out some of its 15 coal-fired power stations and increasing its use of renewable energy. Its target is zero carbon emissions by 2050. As you know, South Africa is the first country with a just energy transition partnership to which the United States was proud to commit as a partner, Yellen said. This partnership represents South Africa's bold first step towards expanding electricity access and reliability and creating a low-carbon and climate-resistant economy." Yellen has a mission of promoting American investment and ties. China has overtaken the U.S. in foreign direct investment in Africa, and trade between Africa and China surged to $254 billion in 2021, up about 35%. Ahead of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington in December, U.S. Deputy Commerce Secretary Don Graves said, We took our eye off the ball so to speak (in Africa), and U.S. investors and companies are having to play catch up. Godongwana said Thursday that the U.S. still ranks among South Africa's top trading partners. My hope is that this may continue, he said. Yellen is also expected to speak with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in a closed meeting and visit a U.S.-owned Ford car plant in Pretoria. India sold its first sovereign green bonds worth a total of 80 billion rupees ($979.61 million) on Wednesday, at yields below comparable government bonds, the central bank said in a statement. The RBI auctioned 40 billion rupees of five-year bonds at a coupon rate of 7.10%, five basis points below the five-year sovereign yield. Another 40 billion rupees in 10-year bonds were sold at a 7.29%, six basis points below comparable government securities. The proceeds would be used for 'green' projects such as solar power, wind and small hydro projects and other public sector projects that help reduce the economy's carbon footprint. Investors in these bonds do not bear project related risks, the government specified in its framework released in November. A similar sized auction planned for February 9. The five-year 7.38% 2027 bond yield was at 7.15%, while the benchmark 7.26% 2032 bond yield was at 7.35% during the time of bidding. Also Read Sovereign Green Bonds: What lessons can India draw from other nations India keen to settle sovereign bonds domestically to help with CAD NTPC, Reliance, Adani top green hydrogen plays to bet on, say analysts RBI announces green bonds, to be auctioned in 2 parts of Rs 8,000 cr each RBI targets selling first batch of green bonds as early as December Sebi penalises PMIA, directors for Rs 28 lakh for violating market norms Private banks post 31.7% YoY growth in Q3, net profit rises to Rs 35,166 cr Sebi study suggests 89% retail traders in equity F&O suffered losses Stocks slide in volatile trading in run-up to Budget, Fed Reserve meet Sebi to introduce more safeguards for F&O as traders' losses mount Ahead of Wednesday's auction, the government had met foreign investors to gauge demand, and foreign investment restrictions on these securities were lifted, Reuters had reported. ($1 = 81.6650 Indian rupees) In this March 27, 2021 file photo, LGBTQ activists hold a news conference in a central square in Seoul on the occasion of March 31 International Transgender Day of Visibility, with a banner symbolic of the transgender community lying behind them. Yonhap The state human rights watchdog said Thursday it has asked the health minister to devise guidelines for the hospitalization of transgender people. The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) said it has made the recommendation after receiving a petition from a trans woman who unsuccessfully tried to be hospitalized in a female ward two years ago. The trans woman wanted to be admitted to a Seoul university hospital in October 2021 due to drug allergy. But the person was informed she had to be hospitalized in a male ward because she was listed as male on the resident registration. At that time, the trans woman received hormone therapy but had not undergone sex change surgery nor corrected her legal gender, according to the commission. The petitioner eventually gave up hospitalization after arguing with the hospital and filed a complaint with the NHRCK, claiming discrimination based on gender identity. The hospital told the rights watchdog that its patient rooms are operated separately for men and women by medical law and it has no separate guidelines on the hospitalization of transgender patients. It added that two transgender patients other than the petitioner were hospitalized in 2021 and all of them used a single room at their own expense. The NHRCK has concluded the petitioner was treated unfairly and recommended that separate guidelines are needed regarding transgender people's use of medical institutions. "It is inevitable for medical institutions to classify inpatients according to specific criteria. But there are also people who are difficult to distinguish based on these criteria alone and do not belong to any particular gender," the commission said. It noted trying to classify people as male or female based only on legal gender runs counter to the basic principle of equal treatment. (Yonhap) Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay of the Calcutta High Court, who made headlines for his verdicts in the multi-crore teachers' recruitment irregularity scam in West Bengal, has come under fire from the Trinamool Congress over his adverse remarks about a collection of poetries written by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. On Wednesday evening, Justice Gangopadhyay went to attend a private function at an iconic library named after the great Indian poet and dramatist Michael Madhusudan Dutt at Kidderpore in South Kolkata. There he referred to the first line of a much- discussed poetry written by the chief minister and said that if such is the first line of a poem then hardly anyone would prefer to read it. "It is high time to say that the libraries should not display such items. If a government- run library displays such rubbish publications, will any human being visit that library for the purpose of studies? Unfortunately, government grants are available only if such publications are displayed. But in my opinion such books only aid the termites," Justice Gangopadhyay stated. His comments have evoked strong criticisms from the Trinamool Congress leadership. According to the party's Rajya Sabha member, Dr Santanu Sen, since the comments were made outside the court it should be considered as his private opinion. "His comments prove that he is acting more like a political representative. His only task is to oppose the chief minister and the state government," Sen said. This is not the first time that the collection of poetries by the chief minister, christened "Kabita Bitan" had been in controversy. In May last year, there was strong criticism from different political and social circles after the state government gave a special award to the chief minister for her contribution to the cause of literature. She received the award for Kabita Bitan. --IANS Also Read Calcutta University BCom result 2022 declared; here's how to download TMC's Mondal seeks CBI probe into threat against special court judge SC upholds HC verdict to set aside re-appointment of Calcutta University VC Centre notifies appointment of Justice Dipankar Datta as SC judge Calcutta HC Bar Association divided over attending Justice Mantha's bench Left to contest 47 seats, Congress 13 in upcoming Tripura Assembly polls J P Nadda on two-day visit to West Bengal, to hold party meetings Cong plans to wipe out BJP, NDDP from Nagaland in upcoming polls: Therie Trinamool Congress, BJP exchange barbs on Nandigram anniversary Yogi calls for '5E' formula to curb road accidents src/shb/ Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday accused the Sangh Parivar of treating Muslims and Christians as 'enemies of the nation' and urged everyone to unite against such divisive actions, drawing sharp criticism from the BJP. Vijayan said that the Constitution, which was the best weapon to fight against caste discrimination and religious hatred, was presently under attack. The CM alleged that the Sangh Parivar and the RSS have made it clear that their aim was to turn India into a 'Hindu rashtra'. He also accused the party in power at the Centre of being followers of a political group which did not take part in the freedom struggle. "They are attacking the very roots of our country, its democracy and the Constitution," he said while speaking after inaugurating the Constitution Protection Conference and Secular Meet. In his speech at the event held here, Vijayan said that if the Constitution was destroyed, everything -- from an individual's dignity to the sovereignty of the country -- would be lost, he said. Also Read After appointment fiasco, wife of OSD to Pinarayi Vijayan in more trouble CM Pinarayi Vijayan to table new Bill curtailing Kerala Governor's powers What is UP's new Parivar Kalyan Card and how will people be enrolled for it 'Bangladesh govt committed to safety and security of religious minorities' Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan calls on Centre to set up AIIMS in Kozhikode Home Minister Shah to visit Karnataka on Jan 28 to attend various events Rift between KCR-led BRS govt and Telangana governor surfaces again BJP national leadership likely to intervene in internal bickering of AIADMK Kerala BJP takes a dig at Congress over Anil Antony's resignation Complaint filed against K'taka CM Bommai, Nadda over vote bribe case Meanwhile, the BJP hit back, saying the CM has no moral right to utter a single word on the Constitution. BJP state president K Surendran alleged that Vijayan does not give any importance to the Constitution and accused him of 'whitewashing' extremist and terror groups. The Kerala CM also alleged that besides the attacks on the Constitution, there were also attempts to rewrite history. Examples of the same that he mentioned were -- the terming of Mahatma Gandhi's assassination as a 'death' and the claims from certain quarters that B R Ambedkar was not one of the drafters of the Constitution. Apart from that, in some parts of the country Muslims are being termed as the opposite of Hindu, he claimed. Vijayan claimed that not only religious minorities, but Dalits and tribals were also under threat and were being attacked and exploited in various parts of the country. The Constitution was one of the best weapons to fight against caste discrimination and religious hatred and therefore, it should be protected against the attacks on it and values upheld by it. He further alleged that the Constitution was under threat from those duty bound to protect it. Those who take oath on the Constitution were airing dangerous views that were contrary to it. Vijayan said that even persons in the highest Constitutional positions were making statements that could derail Constitutional principles. One example of the same, according to Vijayan, was the Indian Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's recent statement which in effect meant that the Supreme Court decision of 1973, upholding the 'basic structure doctrine', was not correct and that the Parliament was sovereign and judiciary will not be allowed to encroach upon it. "It is the country which is sovereign and the Constitution ensures it," he said. Dell Technologies has acquired Israeli startup Cloudify that is known for cloud orchestration and infrastructure automation. According to reports, Dell spent close to $100 million in buying the startup to boost its its cloud services business, specifically its offerings in DevOps. A company spokesperson told TechCrunch that Dell Technologies "has completed the acquisition of Cloudify. "This transaction allows Dell to continue to innovate our edge offerings," said the spokesperson. In a US SEC filing, Dell refered to issuing of Class C common stock "in respect of certain outstanding and unvested options to acquire the ordinary shares of Cloudify Platform Ltd., an Israeli private liability company." Cloudify is an open source, multi-cloud orchestration platform featuring unique technology that packages infrastructure, networking, and existing automation tools into certified blueprints. Also Read India set for accelerated 5G infrastructure deployment: Dell Technologies Gigabyte launches gaming laptops 'G5 series' with Intel 12th Gen in India CES 2023: Dell G15, G16 and Alienware m18, m16, x16, x14 laptops unveiled 75% Indian employees keen to upskill themselves: Dell Technologies report PLI for IT hardware: Draft proposes raising financial outlay by 2.5 times India Stack 2.0 to be more nuanced, intelligent: Rajeev Chandrasekhar Global app downloads on Apple Store, Google Play reach 35.5 bn in Q4 2022 Google marks 74th Republic Day with doodle based on hand-cut paper art 'For You' tab to stay on users' preferred timeline on Twitter for web Thousands in India impacted as network outage hits Microsoft products Originally the startup was spun out from GigaSpaces in 2017. The startup raised less than $8 million, according to PitchBook data. Cloudify's environment-as-a-service packages infrastructure, networking, and automation tools into certified blueprints that it says its customers can use to manage heterogeneous cloud environments at scale, and to help bridge the gap between DevOps and IT service management (ITSM). Cloudify includes in its technology ecosystem such partners as Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure, F5, Wind River Software, and ServiceNow. --IANS na/ Terumo India News Summary Terumo India and Siemens Healthineers India are partnering to strengthen cardiac care in India through collaborative interventions in the areas of physician training and development, access to advanced medical technologies, and improved penetration of Tier 2 and 3 cities. Avance Phytotherapies is a boutique herbal drug development company dedicated to bringing the most unique and effective formulations for neglected diseases and longevity since its inception in 2008. The Ahmedabad based company has patented their products in many areas of herbal research. The promoters have vast experience in the field of research and manufacturing. Avance proudly announces their introduction of therapeutically effective all natural multifunctional premium luxury age defying/anti-age skin care line for women and men in India. The founder Dr. Shivprakash Rathnam said, our impetus lies in offering a 360-degree approach to safeguard your skin against ageing. Backed by years of sustainable research, our products intend to reform your beauty routine with authentic natural and effective ingredients and meticulous science. Using an Ayurvedic approach, Avance is a frontrunner within the anti ageing industry with unique products that use unprecedented speciality natural actives. While the skincare industry is saturated with products, Avance goes the extra mile with superlative ingredients which contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that significantly improve skin elasticity, and banish wrinkles. The same ingredients also block any potential skin pigmentation caused by UV exposure, simply by diffusing excess melanin deposits in the skin. These ingredients greatly stimulate the production of collagen and prevent its degradation by matrix metalloproteinases. Truly multifunctional in nature. Avance anti-age line of products contains key ingredients which are internationally sourced for their high quality and standardization. These ingredients are sourced responsibly for their sustainability. There are many creams in the market which do not protect the skin on all fronts. Avance created a unique cream which protects skin from ageing from multiple fronts. In India, this is the most advanced formula at present available in the market. These speciality natural actives are not used in any product so far here. Avance anti-age line for women is day and night cream. Both have different functions. The day cream protects the skin from UV rays, banishes wrinkles and dark spots with the most advanced ingredients in liposomes which stimulate collagen production within the cells. The night cream contains a natural active ingredient titrated in andrographolides sourced from the leaves of the green chiretta, to efficiently reduce the impacts on skin and mood of fatigue induced by modern off-beat life. It extends cell longevity, reduces cell damages, promoting skin revitalization. It also acts as a Brain-Skin axis booster, enhancing oxytocin, endocannabinoid and endorphin signaling pathways to relax skin. Andrographolide is a chrono-detox active ingredient providing a feel good energizing effect. This ingredient has won 2022 best innovative natural ingredient award. Both day and cream produces excellent moisturising effect. The mens cream is an unique anti-age formula specially formulated for mens skin. Apart from protecting skin from harmful UV rays, removing wrinkles and dark spots, this formula has unique multifunctional active natural ingredients suitable for mens skin which will reduce large pores and excessive oiliness, provides a soothing effect while reducing the signs of aging and promoting hydration. Avance also has a series of specially formulated multifunctional products specifically for mens skin as well as a patented ingestible pill that heals from within. The company is ready with an anti-age hair oil combined with ingestible pill for stopping hair fall and premature greying. This oil for treatment is again a unique formula not available in the market. Also as a line extension, the company will also introduce ant-dandruff gel which is potent and for effective management of dandruff. Their patented herbal mouthwash for gingivitis and oral care product for mucositis will be available in the market at the end of 2023. As a dedicated anti-ageing company, Avance brand ethos revolves around providing creative and sustainable solutions to skincare woes and making sur e it sustain the glow forever. From neglected diseases to skincare, haircare and oral care, expect the most reliable, therapeutically effective and responsibly sourced formulations from Avance. Homeless people rest near Seoul Station in 2019. Yonhap Women underrepresented in government tally of homeless population By Lee Yeon-woo When people think about the homeless, most come up with the image of middle-aged or older men with fuzzy hair and untidy clothing who lost their jobs and were separated from their families. This stereotype was shaped partly because most homeless people spotted in the streets are men. Government data largely supports this perception. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare's data, the number of homeless people across the country stood at 14,404 in 2021. Among them, women accounted for only 3,344, or 23.2 percent of the total. This data raises two questions. First, is it reliable? Second, if so, where are all the homeless women? Regarding the first question, activists say homeless women are underrepresented in the government tally. The relatively lower visibility of homeless women is because homeless women try not to sleep in the streets out of fear of becoming victims of crime, not least of all sex crimes. "I have slept in many places here and there. I have slept at Express Bus Terminal Station, Yeongdeungpo Station and Gongdeok Station. But most of the time I stay in places where people cannot notice me," said a 66-year-old homeless woman who asked to be identified by the name "Rosemary." "I was told that animals don't let others know their sleeping place as it can be a disadvantage. So I do the same. I never tell others where I sleep." Women are especially vulnerable to crime when others know that they are homeless. To survive, some of them cut their hair short to look like men, refuse to talk with other homeless people or clean places such as public baths in exchange for a short-term lodgings. Homeless Action, a civic group that has been supporting homeless people since 2001, considers the actual number of homeless people in Korea to be much higher than the government's data. Hong Su-kyeong, an activist from Homeless Action, said that it is half-true that the relatively lower number of homeless women is related to their tendency to protect themselves from crime. She pointed out the limitation of government surveys of the homeless, saying the places where homeless women usually stay are not included. "More than half of homeless women stay in a place where they can pay for (an overnight stay), such as saunas, internet cafes or even comic book cafes," Hong told The Korea Times. People who stay in places such as saunas and internet cafes also fall within the definition of homeless. Under the Homeless Welfare Act, "homeless persons" are people "who have lived without a permanent abode for a substantial period." "But when the government investigates the homeless, they exclude such places. It only investigates people living in the streets, homeless shelters and slums," Hong said. As a consequence, the number of homeless women is underrepresented leaving them without adequate support at a policy level. Homeless people, mostly men, sleep in an emergency shelter for the homeless near Seoul Station. Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived in the financial hub Shanghai on Wednesday night with several delegations, beginning his four-day state visit to China. Xie Feng (left), a vice minister of foreign affairs, welcomed him and his wife at the airport. The following day, Lula visited New Development Bank and Huaweis innovation center in Shanghai. This marks Lulas third official visit to China as president Apr 13, 2023 07:33 PM Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon speaks during a press briefing at the government complex in Seoul, Thursday. Newsis Inspired by Jessica's Law, justice minister vows to push for revision to law By Jung Min-ho Korea will seek to limit where convicted high-risk sex offenders can reside after finishing their prison sentences in an effort to better protect children and women. Speaking to President Yoon Suk Yeol about the ministry's plans for this year, Thursday, Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon said he will push for a revision to the anti-sex crime law as one of its five main projects. If passed, the law would bar child sex criminals and those convicted of repeated sex offense charges from residing within 500 meters of a daycare center, kindergarten or school. This means that sex offenders would not be allowed to live in almost all residential areas of big cities such as Seoul where such facilities for minors are ubiquitous. Critics say such a law would violate the Constitution that guarantees citizens' freedom of residence and the right to move at will. Some claim it would be tantamount to "double punishment." But Han disagrees. "It is not a penalty regulation but a back-up measure to prevent reoffending, which, therefore, does not constitute double punishment," he said during a press briefing at the government complex in Seoul following his presentation to the president. After collecting more opinions from experts and reviewing the legality of the bill, the ministry plans to submit it to the National Assembly in May. The plan comes after recent social outcries over the release of infamous sex offenders such as Cho Doo-soon who took up residence in areas with schools and other child-oriented facilities nearby. The ministry said it was modeled after Jessica's Law, a Florida act that mandates a minimum sentence of 25 years and a maximum of life in prison for first-time child sex offenders. It was named after Jessica Lunsford, a Florida girl who was kidnapped, raped and killed in 2005 by John Couey, a previously convicted sex offender. Similar laws including restrictions on where sex offenders can reside have since spread to other states. The ministry is pushing for a number of additional changes to benefit society including moves to root out drug-related crimes and to launch an independent administrative agency for immigration in the coming months. The ministry says it will strengthen monitoring online channels such as the dark web where illegal drugs are bought and sold and, in cooperation with other government departments, the ministry will enhance anti-drug education and rehabilitation programs to support drug addicts through their recovery process. Drug crimes have increasingly become a social problem in recent years. Earlier that day, the prosecution said it indicted 17 people on charges of using or selling marijuana. A son of a former top-level police officer, the grandson of major dairy company founder and a grandson of Hyosung Group's founder are among the suspects. Regarding the ministry's planned independent administrative agency for immigration, once established, it is expected to serve as a command center for all foreigner-related policies at a time when Korea is coping with record-low birthrates and a shrinking economically active population. "Serious calls for immediate measures to be taken to deal with issues such as population decline and labor shortages have become louder in recent years," Han said. "I'm determined to get this done." Tokyo slammed for dampening efforts to mend ties Long-time watchers of Korean-Japanese relations are feeling deja vu over two things some that repeat every year and some that come back every five years. First, the annualized events. Early this week, the foreign ministry called in a Japanese diplomat in Seoul to lodge a protest over the Japanese foreign minister's recent claims to the East Sea islets of Dokdo. A few days before, the government summoned a different Japanese Embassy official. It was to protest Tokyo's move to submit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list a mine linked to the wartime forced labor of Koreans. The yearly repetitions have only begun. In April, the Japanese education ministry will approve more revisionist textbooks justifying the country's colonization of Korea and embellishing its militarist past. In August, a group of Japanese politicians will pay tribute to the Yasukuni Shrine, where 14 Class-A war criminals are enshrined. In between, Tokyo's defense white paper will reiterate its sovereignty claim to Takeshima in the Sea of Japan, and right-wing groups will deny former sex slaves and forced laborers. Every time, Seoul will protest, and Korean media outlets will rebuke Tokyo. But Japan won't budge an inch, knowing all these, too, shall pass. That is if the past is any guide. This year, however, things may turn out a little differently. President Yoon Suk Yeol, anxious to restore ties with Tokyo, may not protest much, and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida may act in kind, toning down historical provocations somewhat. However, Japan will not change its basic stance maintained at least since 1965. And that will put bilateral ties back to the five-year cycle, matching the Korean leaders' term in office. All previous Korean presidents started off their terms with pledges to mend fences with Japan, but then were dismayed and angered by Tokyo's recalcitrance and left even more strained ties for their successors. The hot-and-cold changes were more noticeable when conservatives took power here. Former President Kim Young-sam, infuriated by Tokyo's adamancy, vowed to "fix Japan's manners," but Tokyo retaliated later by refusing to help Seoul when the worst currency crisis hit Korea. Lee Myung-bak had to give up an intelligence-sharing pact just 50 minutes before signing it due to angry public opinion. He abruptly visited Dokdo and demanded the Japanese emperor's apology, freezing bilateral ties for years. In contrast, Park Geun-hye started aloof but ended with a hurried agreement on the wartime sex slavery issue endorsed by few. Looking back, Japan has barely changed for nearly six decades, good or bad. What changed were Korea's responses depending on its leaders' inclinations and ideologies and growing national power. It is well known that the Japanese have two minds "honne" and "tatemae." The former refers to a person's true feelings and desires. The latter refers to behaviors and opinions one displays in public. Koreans hate two-faced people, but the Japanese think it is natural and necessary. Like it or not, duplicity or ambiguity appears necessary, at least in diplomacy. That explains why diplomatic pundits say Kim Dae-jung handled the Korea-Japan relationship best. Kim put the past behind in exchange for a sincere expression of remorse and tried to find common goals and interests. Ostensibly, Yoon's start does not seem so bad, at least as far as thawing frozen relations is concerned. His unilateral courtship of Tokyo, which makes it difficult to know who the injurer and the injured are, as seen in his hasty approach to the forced labor issue, might be forgivable if it increases national interests in the long term. It might also be inevitable for Seoul to become a No. 3 partner in this part of the world after Washington and Tokyo. For Yoon to become like Kim Dae-jung, however, he must have inner goals equal partnership, regional peace and the eventual unification of the Koreas. So far, he has shown opposite behaviors subservience to larger partners and belligerence toward potential adversaries. As things stand now, Yoon will be lucky if he does not fall into the same traps as his conservative predecessors. By Andrew Hammond Conservative thinker Milton Friedman famously declared in the 1970s, in the period leading up to the political era defined by Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, that the 'business of business is business'. By this, he meant that the bottom line of the private sector should be making money for shareholders. However, there has been a significant shift in the half-century since then in how many corporate leaders view the social responsibility of corporations toward a broader group of stakeholders. Correspondingly, many major businesses today talk frequently about their organizational commitment to a wide range of philanthropic, social responsibility and related activities. This agenda has been showcased at last week's World Economic Forum meeting in Davos. Here the dialogue is centered on public-private partnerships, and multi-stakeholder dialogues, to promote cooperation to tackle the most pressing issues facing the world today from income inequality to global warming. This debate about the responsibility of business and elites to society was exemplified by the release of an NGO report showing the extent of inequality in the contemporary landscape. Oxfam asserts that almost two-thirds of all new wealth created between December 2019 and December 2021 went to the top 1 percent of the income strata. In the words of the study, "although billionaire fortunes have fallen slightly since their peak in 2021, they remain trillions of dollars higher than before the pandemic This crisis-driven bonanza for the super-rich has come on top of many years of dramatically growing fortunes at the top, and growing wealth inequality." It is not just NGOs that worry about this issue. The World Economic Forum (WEF) itself has also acknowledged it in its 2023 Global Risks Report. This study includes growing global income disparities on its key risks register for the first time in a decade. The WEF has, of course, long been perceived by some critics as a cozy club for the global elite. It will therefore be ironic, for some, that these issues are being discussed as Davos hosts one of the largest concentrations of billionaires in the world. Yet legitimate skepticism held about WEF aside, business elites at Davos can potentially play an increasingly large role in delivering solutions to global challenges and promoting a sustainable recovery post-pandemic. And this goes well beyond longstanding measures such as creating good new jobs and boosting investment in the economy while paying workers fair wages and benefits. For some polling data shows that more than a decade and a half after the global financial crisis there is growing trust in business. Fairly or not, this contrasts with the way that many view a large number of politicians today, and indeed also the private sector too in the immediate aftermath of the financial crisis of a decade and a half ago. Declining confidence in firms was one of the key legacies of that crisis. And that growing distrust in business was illustrated not just in polls, but also by significant protests, including the "Occupy Movement" which came to international prominence in Wall Street in 2011 in its campaign against social and economic inequality. The Occupy demonstrations, often driven by younger people, subsequently spread to around 1,000 cities and over 80 countries. The potentially significant change in attitudes, since then, comes amid a wider rebound in perceptions of the private sector, on measures including competence and ethics. Increasingly, people expect corporates to play a greater role in society, including helping tackle the range of grand problems facing the world, including climate change and the obesity epidemic. This shifts the paradigm popularized by Friedman toward one favored by Michael Porter. Perhaps the key idea behind Porter's shared value concept is that corporate competitiveness and the health of society at large are mutually dependent and reinforcing. He argues that firms can therefore secure competitive advantage by creating value for society as well as shareholders by capitalizing on the connections between societal and economic progress, helping drive a new wave of sustainable growth for years to come. Given the growing range of grand challenges facing the world, now is therefore the time to increasingly step up to the plate on this agenda. It is the time to walk the walk, not just talk the talk in the Swiss snowscape. ) is an associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics. Andrew Hammond ( andrewkorea@outlook.com Samsung Display showcases OLEDs for smartphones that have peak brightness greater than 2,000 nits at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Jan. 5. Courtesy of Samsung Display By Baek Byung-yeul Samsung Display is increasing its efforts to protect its patented organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technologies, aiming to contain its Chinese rivals at a time when OLEDs are increasingly used not only in smartphones but also in other devices such as tablet PCs and laptops, according to industry sources, Thursday. The display arm of Samsung Electronics recently filed lawsuits with the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) against smartphone parts wholesale suppliers in the United States such as Apt-Ability, MobileSentrix, Captain Mobile Parts and DFW Imports, claiming that they have supplied phone repair shops with replacement displays for Samsung's Galaxy phones and Apple's iPhones. Samsung Display requested the U.S. agency to investigate these suppliers and ban the wholesalers from importing displays that allegedly infringe its patented technologies, such as Diamond Pixel technology. An industry source said the displays the suppliers imported are made by Chinese display makers that use Samsung Display's patents without authorization. "It is estimated that the displays for smartphone repairs are mostly produced by Chinese companies," the source said. The company cited Section 337 of the U.S. Tariff Act of 1930 that declares the infringement of a U.S. patent, copyright, registered trademark or mask work to be an unlawful practice in import trade. Samsung Display's move can be interpreted as an attempt to protect its intellectual property from Chinese manufacturers' infringements. In a conference call in the first quarter of 2022, the company said it "will make every effort to protect our OLED technology." An image captured from a YouTube video promoting Samsung Display's patented Diamond Pixel technology / Courtesy of Samsung Display This photo shows the aerial view of a solar power plant built by Hanwha in the U.S. state of Texas, as provided by Hanwha, Jan. 26. Yonhap Hanwha Solutions said Thursday its U.S.-based solar panel unit signed a partnership with Microsoft to supply solar panels and related services to projects under way by the American tech company. Hanwha Q Cells will work with Microsoft to supply more than 2.5 gigawatts of solar panel modules enough to power 400,000 homes and engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services to solar project developers Microsoft has contracted for through power purchase agreements, according to releases by Hanwha and Microsoft. The collaboration is the first time for Microsoft to work directly with a solar supplier to adopt clean energy on a big scale, the U.S. tech firm said. "Microsoft's partnership with Qcells will help make this vision a reality by bringing innovation and investment to rural Georgia," Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft, said. "We're striving to build and deliver turnkey clean energy solutions, including those made in America, and this partnership with Microsoft will help accomplish this vision," Hanwha Q Cells CEO Lee Koo-yung said. Microsoft has committed to purchasing renewable energy to achieve 100 percent renewable energy use by 2025. Hanwha Q Cells is the only company in the U.S. that will have a complete solar supply chain from the manufacturing to EPC services and other solutions. Hanwha Solutions, a key energy unit of Hanwha Group, the seventh-largest conglomerate in Korea, plans to spend 3.2 trillion won ($2.6 billion) to build a "solar hub" in Cartersville, Georgia. It will produce four critical components: solar ingots, a raw material for manufacturing solar wafers that are used as a base for solar panels, and wafers to cells and modules. The facility will have an annual capacity of 3.3 GW and go into commercial production by the end of next year. Hanwha Solutions also plans to increase the solar production capacity at its Dalton plant in Georgia, to 5.1 GW from the current 1.7 GW by the end of this year. This will bring the company's total production capacity in the U.S. to 8.4 GW by the end of 2024, which can provide electricity to about 1.3 million households per year. (Yonhap) Indonesia to seek more direct flights from Chinese cities to Bali: minister Xinhua) 14:50, January 26, 2023 JAKARTA, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- As Indonesia is targeting more international tourists, the Southeast Asian country is planning to have more direct flights from Chinese cities to its resort island Bali. At a press conference here on Tuesday, the country's Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno said that Indonesia has set up a target of over 250,000 tourists from China this year. Last Sunday marked the first direct flight from China to Bali since the start of the pandemic. The chartered flight carrying 210 Chinese tourists landed at the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali from China's southern city of Shenzhen. In 2019, about 2.07 million Chinese tourists visited the archipelago, according to Statistics Indonesia. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Hongyu) U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about Ukraine from the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 25. AP-Yonhap The United States announced Wednesday that it will provide 31 Abrams tanks to help Ukraine repel Russia's invasion, mirroring a similar move by Germany and fulfilling a long-running request from Kyiv. Ukraine which had pleaded for heavy Western tanks for months welcomed the twin announcements, with President Volodymyr Zelensky urging they be delivered quickly. The provision of the M1 Abrams is aimed at "helping Ukraine defend and protect Ukrainian land. It is not an offensive threat to Russia," U.S. President Joe Biden said in his remarks announcing the move, which represents a significant reversal after defense officials repeatedly described the tanks as ill-suited for the task at hand. Washington's pledge came hours after Germany which reportedly sought a U.S. commitment of tanks before agreeing to send its own approved the long-sought delivery of its Leopard 2s to Ukraine. Unlike the German tanks, however, the Abrams will be procured with Ukraine assistance funding rather than directly drawn from existing stocks, meaning they will not arrive on the battlefield for months. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said that according to the Pentagon, there are no excess Abrams tanks in the U.S. inventory. Other potential options could include buying them new or obtaining them from another country. A U.S. official told AFP that it "hasn't yet been determined" how the tanks will be sourced. They are part of a $400 million assistance package that also includes ammunition, support vehicles and equipment, and funding for training and maintenance. It brings total U.S. military assistance for Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022 to more than $27.1 billion. The United States "will begin now to work to establish a comprehensive training program," a senior administration official said Wednesday. The US Defense Department is also "working through the mechanisms to deliver the fuel and equipment Ukraine will need to operate and to maintain the Abrams," the official added. UK soldiers with their battle tank Challenger. left, and U.S. soldiers with their battle tank Abrams, right, take part in gunnery shoot-off between the Enhanced Forward Presence nations at the military exercise Iron Tomahawk in Adazi Military Base, Latvia Well, it took Geely Philippines long enough. About two years after we said they needed a sub-compact crossover to penetrate the local market... U.S. tech giant Microsoft said on Wednesday it had suffered a global outage that limited access to software including Outlook and Teams for several hours. Tens of thousands of incidents were logged by the tracking website Downdetector, with complaints spiking in the hour from 0700 GMT and particularly affecting users in Asia and Europe. The firm said it had discovered a "networking configuration issue" that it was working on before tweeting at 1430 GMT that "the impacted services have recovered and remain stable". Microsoft did not reveal how many users were affected and did not respond to AFP requests for comment. But it said access had been disrupted for users of several apps on the Microsoft 365 online office platform, which has more than 300 million users worldwide. Teams, a messaging program for companies, and email client Outlook are among the most widely used. Thousands took to social media to voice their dismay at the technical problems. "I have a paper in half an hour on MS teams and the servers are not working in India. Please do something," said one Twitter user shortly after the services went down. Earlier this month, the firm announced it would be cutting 10,000 staff, almost five percent of its global workforce. (AFP) Trucks are seen stuck due to heavy snow on the Shin-Meishin Expressway in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture on Jan. 25. AFP-Yonhap Heavy snow blanketed wide swathes of Japan on Wednesday, snarling traffic, forcing hundreds of flight cancellations, disrupting train travel and leaving at least one person dead. An unusually cold weather front and extreme low pressure systems set snow falling and strong winds blowing across Japan from Tuesday after causing havoc in other Asia countries earlier this week. At least 124 people died in freezing temperatures in Afghanistan earlier this week, according to media reports, while the temperature in Mohe, China's northernmost city, dropped to a record -53 degrees Celsius (-63.4 degrees Fahrenheit) on Sunday. In Korea, the country's resort island Jeju cancelled nearly 500 flights in and out of its airport on Tuesday amid harsh winter weather. Japan reported that snow was particularly heavy on the side of the country facing Korea, with the city of Maniwa hit with a record 93 cm (36 inches) in just 24 hours. One person died as a result of the storm and two other deaths were being investigated as related to the storm as of Wednesday morning, chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a news conference. No further details were immediately available. Domestic airlines including ANA and Japan Airlines cancelled 450 flights, while 490 highway areas were blocked and 57 railway services including a high-speed rail service were suspended nationwide, the transport ministry said. Toyota Motor said it was suspending the second shift at all 14 factories in Japan on Wednesday due to disruption from the heavy snowfall around the country. Some 3,000 people were stranded at two train stations in the western city of Kyoto after snow and high winds forced service to be suspended on Tuesday. Some passengers were forced to sleep on the floor at Kyoto's main station. Others were stuck on at least 15 trains between stations, in some cases from late on Tuesday to the early hours of Wednesday. Strong winds connected to the storm may have caused the sinking of a Hong Kong-registered cargo ship between western Japan and Korea's Jeju island early on Wednesday. The bitter weather is expected to continue through Thursday. (Reuters) A new program to identify and develop cleanup plans for dozens of brownfield sites in Walker County seeks community input to identify properties to assess.Walker County Government will host a town hall meeting to inform residents, property owners and business leaders about what makes a site a brownfield and how to apply to have a site assessed. The meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at the Walker County Civic Center, 10052 Hwy. 27 in Rock Spring.Information will be shared at the town hall about funding available to conduct a non-intrusive assessment of environmental conditions at a potential brownfield site and, if needed, develop a plan for cleanup.Funding for the program comes from a $500,000 grant awarded to Walker County and the cities of Chickamauga, LaFayette and Rossville by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.Up to 30 sites will be considered for brownfields assessment during the initial phase of this program. If the site is determined to be a brownfield, a plan for cleanup will be developed to include an evaluation of cleanup alternatives, calculated cleanup costs and site appropriate remediation and reuse to reduce health and environmental risks. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti joined a 19-state coalition in demanding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reverse course regarding a new plan to parole hundreds of thousands of aliens into the United States. A statement said, "Under the false pretense of preventing aliens from unlawfully crossing the border, DHS has effectively created a new visa program by announcing it will permit up to 360,000 aliens annually from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to be 'paroled' into the United States for two years or longer. The program allows aliens to obtain advance authorization to enter the United States, with eligibility for employment." Its a fundamental principle of American life that the government must follow the law. The administrations actions are not consistent with our countrys immigration laws, General Skrmetti said. The executive branchs immigration parole power is limited and may only be used on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. The program we are challenging illegitimately attempts to turn this narrow parole power into a broad new visa program. The Supreme Court recently affirmed the limited nature of parole power, the brief explains, noting that [parole power] is not unbounded Under the [Administrative Procedure Act], DHSs exercise of discretion within that statutory framework must be reasonable and reasonably explained. According to the brief, the program established by DHS flaunts, rather than follows, the clear limitations imposed by Congress. The State of Texas led the effort, citing the possibility of substantial, irreparable harms should hundreds of thousands of additional aliens be permitted to enter its already overwhelmed territory. General Skrmetti signed on in addition to state attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming. People gather in a subway station being used as a bomb shelter during a Russian rocket attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday. AP-Yonhap Russian forces fired dozens of missiles at Ukraine on Thursday in a blistering wave of strikes targeting energy infrastructure a day after Germany and the United States pledged modern tanks for Kyiv. The latest wave of attacks came as the Kremlin said Moscow perceived the tank deliveries "as direct involvement in the conflict" and Ukraine conceded it was facing mounting pressure from Russian troops on the eastern front line. Leopard tanks pledged by Berlin will arrive in "late March, early April," German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said. Training of Ukrainian troops on German Marder infantry fighting vehicles will start in the next few days, he added, and "a little later" for the Ukrainian soldiers who will be trained on the Leopard. Russian missiles killed one person and wounded two more in the capital, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said on social media. The 55-year-old man was killed by fragments of a missile that was shot down by Ukrainian air defense systems, Kyiv city officials said. Ukrainian energy operator DTEK said it was instituting emergency power cuts around Kyiv and also in the southern Odessa and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Russia has launched regular waves of aerial attacks targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure since last October. 'More than 30 missiles' Those assaults have crippled the electricity grid with temperatures near zero degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) as winter deepens. On Thursday, two critical infrastructure facilities in the Odessa region on the Black Sea were damaged, the head of the regional military administration said. Ukrainian military spokesman Yuriy Ignat announced the fresh missile salvo, telling local media that several Russian Tu-95 bombers had launched the attack from northern Murmansk region. "We expect more than 30 missiles, which have already started to appear in various territories. Air defense systems are working," Ignat said. Sergiy Popko, the head of Kyiv's military administration, said all 15 cruise missiles launched towards the capital were downed, "thanks to the excellent work of air defense." Ukraine's air force also said its units shot down a cluster of Iranian-made attack drones launched by Russian forces from near southern Ukraine. "Attack UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicle) were launched from the eastern coast of the Sea of Azov... The enemy used 24 Shaheds. All 24 were destroyed," the air force said. The United States and Germany on Wednesday announced deliveries of top-of-the-line tanks to Ukraine, sweeping aside longstanding misgivings and signaling a new surge of Western support for an expected counteroffensive against the Russian invasion. President Joe Biden promised 31 Abrams tanks, one of the most powerful and sophisticated weapons in the U.S. army. (AFP) Anyone whos spent any time at all in the business and professional world is familiar with a document called the job description. Its for both employer and employee, recording in written form the duties, responsibilities and expectations involved with a particular job. It enables them both to be on the same page in a literal way for understanding what the employees expected to do and how its to be done. I remember years ago, upon being hired by CBMC, reading with delight that my job description included editing the ministrys magazine and co-authoring a book with the president at the time. Until then Id never written a magazine article; writing a book had long been one of my personal goals. So, I couldnt have asked for a better opportunity or a more wonderful challenge. The subsequent 20 years with CBMC and its sister ministry, CBMC International, exceeded my greatest hopes. However, job descriptions arent fail-safe. When supervisor and worker misconnect on what the jobs about, problems can arise even serious ones. I remember the head of a different organization once describing the time he got sideways with an employee, simply because he and she werent in accord on what was expected. One day, the supervisor decided hed had enough. Very dissatisfied with the work the employee was doing, he called her in and prepared to gently convey the bad news that her services would no longer be required. To soften the blow, he asked, How do you like your job? Oh, I love it! she replied enthusiastically. Really? he reacted, barely concealing his puzzlement. Well, tell me how you think youre doing. With gusto the employee responded not only by stating how well she was doing but also proceeding to describe in detail the tasks she was performing. For a few moments the supervisor sat in stunned silence. Then he realized this employee was doing a very good job except not with the work hed been expecting her to do. The problem wasnt the job description, but his failure at the onset to ensure they were both in agreement about what was expected. The meeting didnt end with him firing her. Instead, he felt a need to commend her and give her a pay increase along with a thorough review of the job he was expecting her to perform. This was what they call a failure to communicate. Did you know that, if youre a follower of Jesus Christ, you have a job description? This job description has many facets. We find them throughout the Scriptures, although Jesus encapsulated them neatly in Matthew 22:34-39. Responding to a group of religious leaders who cagily asked Him to identify which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus reply was simple: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. These two indeed sum up Gods expectations for us, His job description for everyone who follows Him. But the question might arise, How do I do that? The how-to unfolds as we read the Bible. For instance, as the apostle Paul declared in Acts 17:28, For in him we live and move and have our being. From the moment we awaken in the morning to the moment we return to bed at night, our hearts desire should be to experience His life and presence and to reflect it to everyone we meet during the course of the day. On many occasions, Jesus instructed His disciples to preach the gospel, but He wasnt referring to words alone. We see this emphasized in His final commission, recounted in Matthew 28:19-20, Therefore go and make disciples of all nationsteaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Jesus wanted His disciples to reproduce spiritually, to make other disciples who also would make disciples, folks who would live and breathe and yes, communicate the reality of who He is and what He can do in the lives of those who trust in Him by faith. We could point to many other passages for help in understanding our job, what the Lord expects of us. But one Old Testament verse in particular conveys Gods central requirement for His chosen people. In Micah 6:8 were told, He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Thats it. If someone were to ask, What does God require of you? we could rightly answer, To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with my God. Direct and profound, and yet an assignment that takes a lifetime to fulfill. Micah the prophet was responding to a challenge when the people of Israel were pointing proudly to their elaborate and extensive religious practices and traditions, things like burnt offerings and animal sacrifices. Surely those were sufficient to make them acceptable in Gods sight, they reasoned. But Micah reacted with, Not so fast, folks! As one commentator, Dr. John MacArthur, has explained, Spiritual blindness had led them to offer everything except the one thing [God] wanted a spiritual commitment of the heart from which right behavior would ensue. We find the same sentiment in Proverbs 21:3, which states, To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. Justice. Mercy. Humility. Volumes and volumes have been written about each of those words. Theyre simple, yet life-changing for those willing to understand and pursue them seriously. If God were to ask you, how would you write your job description? * * * An employee for the Chatt Foundation (Community Kitchen) called police regarding a man with a machete. Police spoke with the man, who had a machete in his backpack, which is not allowed inside the Community Kitchen. The rules were explained to the man and he was asked to leave. He did so willingly. * * * A woman on N. Germantown Road told police that "Ruth" keeps calling her because she owes her money. The woman told police that she has already paid Ruth back. * * * A woman told police she had parked her 2006 GMC Sierra on Walnut Street facing south at 6:15 p.m. When she returned at 6:35 p.m., her vehicle was gone. She said that she has the keys to the vehicle. The vehicle was placed into NCIC. Fort Oglethorpe PD later located the vehicle at 4211 Cloud Springs Road in Ringgold. Police there made an arrest and had Mack's Towing pick up the vehicle. The vehicle was removed from NCIC. An officer contacted the owner of the vehicle to make sure she was aware of the information. * * * A disorderly person was reported at the Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul, 214 E. 8th St. A man requested a woman be made to leave the property. Police told the woman to leave, She left the area willingly. * * * A woman on Dartmouth Street told police she mailed a check for her Medicare insurance and it was stolen. She said it was changed to $3,000 payable to Demetrious Washington. She said she is out the $3,000. She said she banks with Regions Bank and they told her they cannot tell where the check was cashed. She said they have not returned the money to her account, and told her that they will not until they do an investigation. She said she will try to email a copy of the check. * * * TBI notified Dispatch that Compass Auctions was in possession of a firearm that was showing as stolen. Police confirmed the serial number and stolen status and had the gun removed from NCIC. Dispatch notified the agency that reported the gun stolen. The gun was taken to Property and police will follow up with Compass Auction regarding how the gun came into their possession. * * * Police observed a black Ford Escape travelling 50 mph in a 30 mph zone and conducted a traffic stop in the 2000 block of Portland Avenue. As police approached the driver's side door, the front passenger fled on foot. After a brief foot chase, police detained the passenger and recognized him, who they had dealt with before. Police detained and transported him back to the scene. Police spoke with the driver, who provided consent to search, and police located a drawstring bag of 5.56 rifle magazines and ammo. Police issued the driver a verbal warning for the speeding. The man was not under arrest at any point during his flight. After being detained, police did not locate any illegal contraband in regards to the man. The man was in possession of approximately $1,400 cash. He was released on scene. His cell phone was seized as evidence. * * * A man told police he was walking down Glass Street when an unknown black male almost bumped into him. He said the man then threatened to beat him up. Several McCallie students traveled to Knoxville to audition for the All-East and All-State bands and orchestras. This year was a very competitive year with over 2,200 students from East Tennessee registering to audition. Only a handful of students are chosen to be recognized. Students are asked to play scales, two prepared pieces, and sight-read a piece they have never seen or played before. In November, Will Danks auditioned for the All-East Jazz band. He played two prepared pieces, sight-read a piece and then had to improvise on two other pieces. He was selected for the trumpet section in the 2nd of 3 All-East jazz bands. That clinic and concert will take place this weekend at Walker Valley High School. Joshua Kim - clarinet - 9/10 Blue band and All-State Reese Freyer - Bassoon - 9/10 Blue band and All-State Connor Parks - Trombone - 11/12 Blue band Peyton Chang - Horn - 9/10 Alternate Christian Morgan - A. Sax - 11/12 Alternate Harry Carter - Horn - 11/12 Alternate Nishanth Basava - Violin - 9/10 Orchestra and All-State Benjamin Jeong - Violin - 9/10 Orchestra Akhil Giddaluri - Violin - 9/10 Orchestra Nikhil Giddalauri - Viola - 9/10 Orchestra and All-State Zachary Murray - Bass - 9/10 Orchestra Gokul Palanati - Violin - 9/10 Alternate Arrush Nagre - Viola - 9/10 Alternate Will Bertani - Cello - 9/10 Alternate Kohen Kilburn - Violin - 11/12 Alternate Adit Harish - Cello - 11/12 Alternate Will Danks - Trumpet - Jazz band Several students also competed in the choral music categories. The fall was also a busy semester for several vocalists. The following boys traveled to Maryville College before Thanksgiving break to participate in the All-East Tennessee choir performances. Freshmen Sean Clark, Benjamin Jeong, and Ellison Lord qualified and sang in the Freshman Honor Choir. Sophomore Kai McFarland and Junior Ian Hassevoort sang in the All-East Mens Chorus. These two also qualified for the Tennessee All-State Mixed Choir, and will perform in Nashville later this semester. To better secure the peoples liberty, the Constitution divides the power of the federal government among three separate and coequal branches. The judiciary is one of these separate and coequal branches. What does this mean in practical terms? In its most basic sense, it means the judiciary is on the same level of authority as the legislative and executive branches. It is neither superior to Congress and the presidency nor subordinate to them. It would not be proper for the judiciary to take it on itself to try to run the legislative or executive branch. By the same token, it would not be proper for Congress or the president to try to run the judiciary. As head of the judiciary, the Supreme Court is deserving of the same respect and deference as Congress and the president in their respective spheres. Being a separate and coequal branch of government means that the judiciary is not a department, agency, or bureau of government. It is not like the Department of the Treasury, the Postal Service, the Internal Revenue Service, or the Department of Health and Human Services, each of which is a subordinate agency of the executive branch. These agencies are under the authority of the president and are subject to some congressional oversight. But the judiciary, like Congress and the presidency, is a separate branch of government. CORE FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. The Constitution assigns each of the three branches certain core functions and responsibilities. Core functions are unique to each branch, and the other branches cannot assume or invade these responsibilities. For the judiciary, Article III, Section I of the Constitution provides: The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The judicial power is thus exclusive to the judiciary and is the judiciarys core function. Neither Congress nor the president can lawfully assume the judicial power, invade the judiciarys implementation of the judicial power, or control the judiciary in carrying out the judicial power. For example, the power to conduct a trial to resolve a dispute between two or more parties rests exclusively with the judicial branch. Neither Congress nor the president may convene a trial to take evidence and resolve such a dispute. Only the judiciary can do this. Nor can Congress or the president dictate the outcome of such a trial. This does not mean Congress may not establish and the president may not oversee entities they refer to as courts that administer specific government programs, such as Social Security courts or immigration courts. Administrative courts do not invade the judiciarys province because they are not courts within the meaning of the judicial power of the Unites States. Ultimately, if an individual is not satisfied with the resolution of a matter in an administrative court, he or she has the right to appeal to a court of the United States, where the resolution of the dispute will be final. THE JUDICIAL POWER OF THE UNITED STATES. The judicial power clearly encompasses certain powers and responsibilities. Foremost among these is the responsibility to say what the law is and what the Constitution means. It thus includes the responsibility to interpret the laws passed by Congress and to determine whether the other two branches are acting within the bounds of the Constitution. As discussed above, it includes the responsibility to settle disputes between citizens and others under the law. And it includes the responsibility to protect citizens from government power when the government enforces federal criminal laws against them. The judiciary fulfills this responsibility by, for example, empaneling grand juries, presiding over initial appearances and the appointment of counsel where necessary, conducting fair and open jury trials, ensuring that guilty pleas are knowing and voluntary, and imposing appropriate sentences in open court. For the judiciary to exercise the judicial power requires that the judiciary have sole responsibility for its personnel decisions and policies. While judges themselves are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, judges must then determine whom to hire to enable them to fulfill their responsibilities and how to manage the judiciarys workforce. Just as the judiciary does not have the authority to dictate to the Congress or the president whom they should hire or how to manage their personnel, these two branches do not have the authority to dictate personnel policy and matters to the judiciary. OVERLAP IN FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITY. Although each branch of government has certain core functions and responsibilities, there is overlap as we get to the outer edges of each branchs powers. The further away from the core function and responsibility of one branch, the more likely it is that another branch has some authority. For example, although a particular court has the authority to set rules for participants in a single matter before that court, for general rules that pertain to large numbers of people and govern the entire mechanism of practicing in court, such as the Federal Rules of Evidence, Congress has a role to play. The Constitution also provides for checks and balances through which each branch acts as a check on the power of the others. Some of these are explicitly stated by the Constitution while others are implied. The president acts as a check on the judiciary by nominating justices and judges to the Supreme Court, the Courts of Appeals, and the District Courts. The judiciary acts as a check on Congress when it examines whether a law complies with the Constitution. Congress acts as a check on the courts when it enacts a law that clarifies or corrects an error the courts observed in an earlier law. Tension between branches is most apt to arise at the outer edges of core functions. In this area there are more likely to be issues where two, or perhaps even all three, branches believe they have authority to act. Where the Constitution does not provide a clear answer, the branches must, formally or informally, fashion a negotiated solution. SEPARATION OF POWERS TO BETTER SECURE THE PEOPLES LIBERTY. Our judiciary has functioned for over two hundred years largely as the framers envisioned. By acting as a separate and coequal branch of our national government, the judiciary helps to prevent concentration of power in the other branches. By doing so it serves as a bulwark in protecting the peoples liberty. Curtis L. Collier United States District Judge Chair, Eastern District of Tennessee Civics and Outreach Committee Carrie Brown Stefaniak Law Clerk to the Honorable Curtis L. Collier Past President, Chattanooga Chapter of the Federal Bar Association Karen L. Sheng Law Clerk to the Honorable Curtis L. Collier A pedestrian was struck on E. Main Street Thursday morning. Chattanooga Police responded to a call at 6:24 a.m. that a pedestrian had been struck at 1201 E. Main. Police found a man lying unresponsive in the middle of the roadway. He was transported to a local hospital with non-critical injuries. The driver of the vehicle remained on scene. Through investigation, it was determined the driver had the right of way. No charges were filed. Bobby Franklin Kinsey, 79, died peacefully at his home in Soddy Daisy on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, with his wife and daughters by his side. He was born July 31, 1943, to Edward and Bertie Sandifer Kinsey; as the youngest of their four children, it wasnt long before he became an uncle. He loved family more than anything and remained close to his twelve nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Bill (Ruth), Betty (Clarence) Williams, and Bennie (Ruby), and two nephews. A graduate of Central High, Bob enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1963, where he worked in the motor pool. He loved to tell how he was at Ft. Sill, OK when President Kennedy was assassinated; his base, one of the closest to Dallas, was on red alert until after the funeral. Bobby had always wanted to be a police officer, so working for the Hamilton County Sheriff was, quite literally, his dream job. He took great pride in being tough but fair. He retired in 2011. His favorite thing to do was watch old Westerns on TV, while keeping a finger on the pulse of Facebook at all times. He is survived by his loving wife of 25 years, Joan; two daughters, Kim (Bryan Chambers), and Lisa; former wife (mother of his daughters), Sandy (Lamar) Goines; stepson, Chad (Dee Jay Mizzell) Haas; his last surviving cousin, (who was more like a brother) David (Jackie) Sandifer; four granddaughters, Emily Haas and her mother, Deidra Hendrix; Cambrey Gifford and her mother Kristy; Kinsey and Maecie Haas; two grandsons, Conner and Parker White; ten nieces and nephews and many friends, including his Blue Family. Bobby was a member of St. Jude Catholic Church, and was active with the Knights of Columbus until his health began to decline. The family would like to thank Hospice of Chattanooga, and especially his favorite nurse, Morgan, for their loving and compassionate care. In accordance with his wishes, Bobby is being cremated, Funeral mass will be held at St. Jude Catholic Church, 930 Ashland Terrace, on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 1 p.m., with Fr. Charlie Burton officiating. A reception and visitation will follow in the Parish Life Center. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Childrens Hospital, Shriners Childrens Hospital, or a charity of your choice. Arrangements are entrusted to Hamilton Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 4506 Hixson Pike, 423-531-3975. www.hamiltonfuneraloptions.com Criminal Court Judge Boyd Patterson ruled Thursday that the district attorney's office can continue handling the Kendel Robinson murder case. Matthew Rogers of the public defender's office had asked for an outside prosecutor because DA Executive Assistant Kevin Loper handled the Robinson preliminary hearing and arraignment when he was with the public defender's office. The judge did say that Andrew Childress, who also moved from the public defender's office to the DA office, could not take part in the prosecution. Assistant DA Childress had recently been added to the case. Attorney Rogers noted that attorney Childress had worked closely with Executive Assistant DA Loper when they were together in the public defender's office. Prosecutor Addie Nester said the DA's office had set up a screening process to insure that former members of the public defender office had no involvement in any of their prior cases. She said DA Executive Assistant Loper is not over homicides. Michael Dowd, chief homicide prosecutor, also testified, outlining steps that had been taken to insure that former members of the public defender office did not pass on any information gained in their prior roles. Judge Patterson said all agreed that DA Executive Assistant Loper had a conflict in the case, and he said he had been screened from any participation or passing on information. Robinson is charged in the Sept. 25, 2021, murder of Jailen Wofford, who was shot multiple times at a gas station on Campbell Street. Last May, as I prepared to ramp up my run for City Council, I had the excellent opportunity, for the first time in my life, to sit down with a police chief. Early in my career as an activist, I would not have been able to move my personal feelings and negative experiences with police to the side to have such a meeting. Chief Murphy was new, fresh from the outside, and breaking through the barriers first as a woman and then as an African American deserves honor and sincere recognition. Rising to the top of any field requires an incredible work ethic, intelligence, and uncompromising standard of yourself and those in your midst. I wasn't sure what would come of the meeting, but I admitted my surprise when Chief Murphy obliged and was serious about having a discussion. What if more leaders did precisely that? Got to know people for themselves and gave them a listening ear even if the feedback was harsh? We met at a coffee shop, and when the chief arrived, she chastised me for not allowing her to buy my coffee. She was genuine, personable, and kind. We discussed her thoughts on patrol, successful programming like CAHOOTs, and addressing pernicious police violence toward the citizenry. I only agreed with some perspectives she gave, but she wasn't out of touch or unwilling to connect with the community. I feel she understood the importance of leaning into the community, particularly those underserved who traditionally haven't had a positive experience with law enforcement in less privileged neighborhoods. When we agreed to stay in touch and parted ways, I felt changes could happen for the first time in recent years. So imagine my shock months later when she made the toughest decision in her career and removed officers from duty whom a federal agency found questionable. The last time we saw a bold move like that was when Chief Fletcher fired officers in 2015 and 2016 for various infractions that brought dishonor to the department and distrust to the community. What Chief Murphy decided to do was familiar. It wasn't "woke" or some tactic derived from left-leaning politics. She was doing her job as those with integrity have done before her. The difference in this administration is former Mayor Andy Berke never got in the way of Chief Fletcher or usurped his power because of a whining police union. Does the police union run the department or the chief who is voted in by council power? If the legislative and executive branches appoint the chief, why would any mayor go around her to set up an ad-hoc board when she made her decision? Why has the mayor and City Council not spoken about the legal impact on prior cases? Violations of due process? Or little accountability for a crime as serious as perjury? Why do the taxpayers continue to be unable to hold city employees accountable just because they have a badge? I don't imagine on any job, you can not only misrepresent the facts in affidavits but also be sworn in a court of law, and those testimonies are found to be untrue, and you still keep your job and pension. Then the taxpayers have to settle with the lying officers on the backend. What kind of message does this send to the citizenry? Despite the chief's desire to hold officers to the highest standard, she will not be allowed to do so by the same person who hired her. Such actions render Chief Murphy a powerless diversity hire or token, despite her best intentions. The status quo of officer misconduct and a filthy department culture that seeks to silence any call for accountability. There is no way we can repair longstanding harm to the community if the people on the inside can't clean up historically prejudiced and racial institutions. You can't fix the present without dealing with the past. Mayor Kelly should not be allowed to have such proximity to the black community as he uses our bodies as cover to uphold a racist system. Mayor Kelly needs to fall in line, and he should be feeling immense pressure from the community for his actions. He doesn't tap dance for the police union. Mayor Kelly works for the community. Chief Murphy, keep your head up. I see you. Stand on your square, and don't lose hope for our sake. Marie R. Mott Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti joined a coalition of 24 state attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in U.S. Supreme Court in support of a federal criminal prohibition on encouraging or inducing illegal immigration into the United States. In the brief, the coalition asks the Court to overturn a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision striking down a federal law that makes it illegal for a person to encourage or induce non-citizens to unlawfully enter or reside in the United States. More than ever, illegal immigration imposes tremendous economic, social, and fiscal burdens on the states, Press Secretary Elizabeth Lane said. The decision, if left undisturbed, will impede the enforcement of criminal immigration laws nationwide, leading to significant adverse consequences for Tennessee. The Ninth Circuit relied on the overbreadth doctrine to strike down the federal law. The doctrine allows a federal court to strike down a statute if it would violate the First Amendment in a substantial number of other cases; however, the panels strained analysis greatly expands this doctrines reach, invading the separation of powers between the federal government and the states. As explained in the brief, the Ninth Circuits decision undermines Tennessees ability to enforce its own criminal laws against encouraging or inducing unlawful conduct. In Tennessee, such laws include Tenn. Code Ann. 39-13-512(4)(A) and Tenn. Code Ann. 39-16-410(a)(1). If the Ninth Circuits expansive application of the overbreadth doctrine stands, important state criminal laws will be vulnerable to broad constitutional challenges. This undermines the states constitutional power to create and enforce a criminal code. To avoid this, General Skrmetti and the coalition argue that overbreadth claims should require a showing more than a hypothetical danger of chilling protected speech and that the charged crime is overbroad. General Skrmetti joined Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, who authored the brief, and state attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Read the brief in its entirety here. The reality dating series Are You the One? is finally back for season 9 after a three-year hiatus. But instead of airing on MTV like the past eight seasons, the newest installment is exclusively on Paramount+. And that isnt the only change producers made for Are You the One? Season 9. Kamie Crawford | Photo: Gerardo Valido/MTVE/Paramount+ Are You the One? has been filmed in multiple different locations over the shows nine seasons Are You the One? aired for eight seasons on MTV, and the contestants objective was to find their perfect match, which the shows matchmakers had previously determined. In every episode, the cast sent one couple into the truth booth, where it revealed whether or not they were a perfect match. And at the end of the hour, the contestants attended a match-up ceremony. They would couple up, and then a beam of lights would inform them how many perfect matches they got right. But they wouldnt know who they got correct. If the cast could figure out all matches by the tenth match-up ceremony, they would win $1,000,000. However, producers added a new rule in season 3. If players experienced a blackout, meaning they got zero perfect matches, they would lose $250,000 from their cash prize. The cast and crew filmed Are You the One? Seasons 1, 3, 4, 7, and 8 in Hawaii. Season 2 took place in San Juan, Puerto Rico, while producers filmed season 5 in Cabarete, Dominican Republic, and season 6 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Where was Are You the One? Season 9 filmed? Are You the One? Season 9 differs in many ways from previous seasons. While it follows the same format, the cast includes singles from around the world. The series also has a new home on Paramount+, a different host, and a new filming location. The Are You the One? Season 9 cast traveled to Gran Canaria, Spain, to find their perfect matches. And so far, things arent looking too good for them. The contestants are: Anissa Aguilar United States of America Brooke Rachman United States of America Ciara CC Cortez United States of America Courtney Rowe United Kingdom Danielle Bonaparte United States of America Dew Anderson Spain Jordanne Deveaux United States of America Julia-Ruth Smith New Zealand Mijntje Lupgens Netherlands Rosalyn Roz Odujebe Ireland Taylor Kelly United States of America Aqel Carson United States of America Brendan Mosca Australia Clayton Carey Australia Eduardo Dickson Jr. United States of America Hamudi Hasoon New Zealand Leo Svete United States of America Michael Mikey Owusu United Kingdom Nathan Grant United Kingdom Oliver Ollie Andersen United Kingdom Shamal Samuel Khan United Kingdom William Gagnon United States of America [Spoiler alert: The following contains spoilers from Are You the One? Season 9 Episode 3, Rollercoaster Relationships.] Spoilers for Are You the One? Season 9 Episode 3 The Are You the One? Season 9 premiere revealed that Nathan and Taylor are not a match via the truth booth. But they soon got 11 more confirmed no-matches when they experienced a blackout in episode 3. For anyone keeping track at home, that means that Aqel and Courtney, Brendan and CC, Clay and Dew, Eduardo and Roz, Hamudi and Taylor, Leo and Brooke, Mikey and Danielle, Nathan and Mijntje, Ollie and Anissa, Samuel and Julia Ruth, and Will and Jordanne arent perfect matches. So while the cast got a lot of information from their first match-up ceremony, they also lost $250,000 of their prize money. New episodes of Are You the One? Season 9 air Wednesdays on Paramount+. For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheets YouTube channel. Edward Herrmann spent seven seasons portraying Richard Gilmore on Gilmore Girls. To be honest, we couldnt see anyone else taking on the role of stoic but caring Richard. Neither could famed showrunner Amy Sherman-Palladino. Following Herrmanns tragic death in 2014, Sherman-Palladino spoke about how Herrmann came to be Richard Gilmore, and the story is rather incredible. Edward Herrmann offered to read for Gilmore Girls after his agent said he wouldnt read for the role Amy Sherman-Palladino recalled the extraordinary circumstances that led to Ed Herrmanns casting as Richard Gilmore to TV Line shortly after his December 2014 death. She told the publication that when they were casting for the series, they kept coming back to the part of Richard Gilmore. Sherman-Palladino recalled saying that she wished they could get Ed Herrmann, who, at that point in his career, was highly in demand and well-respected. They took a shot and sent a script to his agent. Amy Sherman-Palladino and Edward Herrmann | Kevin Winter/Getty Images Sherman-Palladino said they were surprised to hear back from his agent, who said Herrmann was willing to meet with the team, but he would under no circumstances audition for the role. The agent was so adamant that he put a no reading stipulation on the meeting. Thrilled just to get a chance to sell Herrmann on the part, Sherman-Palladino agreed. Apparently, the instance that Herrmann wouldnt audition didnt come from the legendary actor. Sherman-Palladino recalled that Herrmann walked into the room, sat down, and told everyone that he liked the script. Then, to the surprise of everyone, he asked if he should read for the part. He didnt even wait for their answer. He simply started reading from the script. Edward Herrmann always appeared as a special appearance Edward Herrmann was sold on Gilmore Girls pretty instantly. He liked the script, and he wanted the part of Richard. Still, the famed actor was a huge pull for a fledgling show. While he appeared in more than 100 episodes, he was never listed as a member of the main cast, though. Instead, Herrmann was always listed as a special appearance in the credits. Over the years, fans have questioned the odd presentation of the cast. Many were offended for Herrmann. They didnt need to be. While the special appearance listing has bothered some fans, its actually a sign of respect. His billing, at the end of the credit sequence, as a special appearance by was used to honor Herrmanns accomplishments as an actor. Edward Herrmann lived in a town not unlike Stars Hollow While most of the cast made their home in Hollywood and the surrounding neighborhoods, Herrmann had a little in common with his Gilmore Girls character. He, too, called Connecticut home. To be fair, though, he lived in a Connecticut town more similar to Stars Hollow than Hartford. Edward Herrmann | Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images According to a DVD-exclusive interview, Herrmann resided in Sharon, Connecticut. A small town tucked into the hills of Litchfield County, Connecticut. With a tiny population, the town is close-knit, and small, independently-owned businesses dot its main shopping area. Herrmann still differed from his on-screen character in one big way. Richard Gilmore was a proud Yale graduate, while Herrmann attended Bucknell University in Pennsylvania. Prince Harry didnt hold much back in his controversial autobiography, Spare. He shared information about Prince William, Kate Middleton, King Charles, and more. One bit of information some people think he should have withheld is how many people he killed while he was in the military. Former US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta shared his thoughts in a recent interview. Prince Harry focused on the wrong detail, says Leon Panetta Prince Harry | Chris Jackson/Getty Images Panetta spoke with Piers Morgan about Prince Harrys revelation that he killed 25 Taliban fighters. The former defense secretary says Harry should have focused on the mission instead of the number of people he killed. Based on my experience both in the military and as secretary of defense, I have to tell you the strongest warriors I knew in battle were those who focused on the mission and not how many individuals on the other side they killed, says Panetta during an interview on Sky News Australia. They focused on whether or not the mission was accomplished. I think Prince Harry would have done better to focus on the missions that he was involved with rather than counting the number of the dead. Leon Panetta believes Prince Harry should make changes to his autobiography Panetta went on to say he thinks Harry could have handled the situation better. He agreed with Piers when he asked if he thought Harry should make changes to future printings of Spare. I do think he could have handled this better as a soldier, says Panetta. I think that when you start to detail how many have been killed, then in some ways that becomes the issue. What Im offended by, frankly, is the distortion of focusing on numbers killed rather than the mission he was involved with, which I think was a strong mission, an important mission to go after the Taliban and those who were involved in the attack on 9/11. This was an important mission, and thats what ought to be focused on. Panetta continues, So if in some way he could rewrite this or include the missions he was involved in without referring to the number of people that were killed, I think that would frankly represent a fairer description of what he was involved with in his service. While Panetta says Harry probably did his job as a solider, he believes his comments about the Taliban fighters takes away from his accomplishments. Im sure he performed well; Im sure he did his service to his country, and I think thats important, says Panetta. But I think saying the number of people that were killed frankly detracts both from the mission and from the service that he provided. Prince Harry says its a dangerous lie that he boasted about how many people he killed in Afghanistan During his interview with Stephen Colbert, Harry says the most dangerous lie the media told was that he boasted about how many people he killed in Afghanistan. Harry says if he heard someone boasting about something like this, he would be upset. If I heard anyone boasting about that kind of thing, I would be angry, Harry tells Colbert. But its a lie. And hopefully, now that the book is out people will be able to see the context. Harry says the way his statement is presented in the media is dangerous. Its really troubling and very disturbing that [the media] can get away with it, because they have the context. Thats dangerous. And my words are not dangerous, but the spin of my words are very dangerous. Why did Prince Harry reveal how many people he killed in Afghanistan? One question Harry addressed was why he revealed the number of people he killed. He says his intention was to help other soldiers and encourage them to share what they have experienced. He believes his openness might save a life. I made the choice to share it because having spent nearly two decades with veterans all around the world, I think the most important thing is to be honest and to be able to give space to others to be able to share their experiences without any shame, says Harry. And my whole goal and my attempt with sharing that detail is to reduce the number of suicides. Follow Sheiresa Ngo on Twitter. Royal Author Questions How King Charles III Could Be Coronated After His Divorce and Past Affair Plans for King Charles IIIs coronation are plowing full steam ahead. However, certain aspects of his past are not in line with a ruling monarch, says royal author Anthony Holden. He questions the ability of Charles to be coronated in the wake of his 1996 divorce from Princess Diana and his ongoing affair with Camilla Parker Bowles throughout his 15-year marriage. King Charles III | Alastair Grant WPA Pool/Getty Images King Charles IIIs coronation is a three-day event scheduled for May 2023 Per the royal familys official website, Charles coronation will occur on May 6. The Coronation Ceremony is at Westminster Abbey, London, conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. King Charles III will be crowned alongside Queen Consort Camilla and usher a three-day event that reflects the monarchys role today. This historical event will also remain rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry. People Magazine reported on May 6 the kings procession starts at Buckingham Palace and makes its way to Westminster Abbey. Following the service, Charles and Camilla join members of the royal family in a return procession to Buckingham Palace. One day later, a coronation concert will broadcast live from Windsor Castle. A separate event titled lighting up the nation occurs as well. On that same day, a Coronation Big Lunch celebrates the communities of the United Kingdom. On May 8, the United Kingdom will enjoy a bank holiday. A volunteering initiative called the Big Help Out is also in the works for that day. However, a royal author questions Charles coronation as he is divorced and had an affair before taking the throne. A royal author questions how King Charles III can be coronated due to his past The Coronation of His Majesty The King will take place on Saturday 6 May 2023 at Westminster Abbey. The Ceremony will see His Majesty King Charles III crowned alongside The Queen Consort. The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 11, 2022 Royal author Anthony Holden wrote King Charles: A Biography in 1988. He penned a letter to The Guardian arguing that Charles coronation should be invalid. He cites Charles divorce and well-known affair with Camilla during his marriage to Princess Diana. Holden wrote, Further to your concerns about the forthcoming coronation, the Church of England has never before crowned a divorced man as king. Therefore its supreme governor, let alone one who has publicly confessed to adultery with the relevant woman, also a divorcee, sitting beside him expecting to be crowned queen consort. He alleges that the late Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie, once told him that Charless coronation would require a revision of the coronation oath, which would require a new statute of parliament. Therefore he claims that this statute would require the prime minister to seek King Charles IIIs permission to debate whether or not it felt able to crown him. Runcie told me it would amount to a constitutional crisis. It seems hard to disagree. Can Charles coronation be canceled due to his past? King Charles III and Camilla Parker Bowles in 1979 | Tim Graham/Getty Images Related King Charles Could Be Forced to Step Down by Parliament if He Is Unable to Perform His Royal Duties Per Express, Sir Vernon Bogdanor, a research professor at Kings College Londons Centre for British Politics and Government, believes Holdens argument doesnt hold water. He told the outlet that Charles and Camilla followed all the proper channels regarding their 2005 marriage. The professor stated, Charles and Camillas wedding was followed by a Service of Prayer and Dedication led by Archbishop Rowan Williams. This surely overrides anything Robert Runcie may or may not have said. He concluded, It is clear that the King has obeyed the rules of the Church. Rowan Williams is, I think, in a better position to interpret the rules of the Church than Anthony Holden. The cast of Netflixs Singles Inferno Season 2 has also met their wave of immense fame after the dating series. Fans have fallen head over heels for some of the cast and have their eyes peeled on the couples that left Inferno together. Among the cast, Lee Nadine has become a fan favorite during and after Singles Inferno Season 2. With all eyes on her, Nadine explains whether the fame from the series has changed her life. Lee Nadine at Harvard in Singles Inferno Season 2 | via Netflix Nadine wowed fans with her background as a Harvard pre-med student For Singles Inferno Season 2, the creators and producers added a curveball with Nadine. Everyone soon noticed she was a Korean-American who switched between English and Korean. As the series went on, fans did their work and discovered her backstory before the grand reveal in the series. Nadine became a boss when she announced she 23-years-old and a pre-med student at Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts. To top it off, she plans to attend medical school to become a surgeon. She currently double majors in neuroscience and computer science. Even the hosts of Singles Inferno Season 2 were floored by her academic credentials. Her boss status went higher when she went on her Paradise date with Jin-young. On Singles Inferno Season 2, Nadine revealed she has a military background, having spent a year in ROTC. Along with Harvard, she also applied to military colleges, with West Point being her top choice. During the dating series, fans fell in love with Nadine and her character. She never competed with the other girls regarding the male contestants. The biggest example was when she kindly excused herself when Min-su interrupted her conversation with Jin-young. Fans were not upset when Nadine was left alone during the Singles Inferno Season 2 finale. They believed she deserved better. Regarding the aftermath of Singles Inferno Season 2, Nadine has seen her fair share of fame. She has appeared in a few interviews, one of them with Elle Singapore. But has famed changed her? Nadines goals for her future have not changed since Singles Inferno Season 2 The cast of Singles Inferno Season 2 has done a lot of social media interactions since their time on the dating series. There have been many reports of fans running into Yoong-jae and Seo-eun while they were on a coffee date and fans visiting Se-jun at Ascottage. So-e has also received praise after learning she has appeared in many well-known Netflix K-dramas. Nadine is still surprised by the attention she is receiving but still sees herself as a nobody. In an interview with Korea Now, she explains that she rarely goes out, but when I do go out, people notice me and ask me for photos, and Im like, Oh my god. Im nobody. I appreciate all of them for coming up to me and talking to me because I love to say hi to everybody. Nadine says the love and support she has received is overwhelming but in a good way. Despite the success of Singles Inferno Season 2 and her newfound popularity, Nadines life goal and career path have not changed. My passion in life lies in academia, medicine, and not necessarily being a celebrity or influencer. I think my life goals are in a different direction, said Nadine. But she admits the outlook she has now about the series popularity is if people find inspiration from her story. In an Instagram Live with Dong-woo and Yoong-jae, it was revealed that Nadine has returned to Harvard. Is Nadine dating after Singles Inferno Season 2? Despite falling head over heels for the cast and who they are, fans are curious about their dating lives after Singles Inferno Season 2. When it comes to Nadine, she was involved in a dating rumor with Han-bin before the Singles Inferno Season 2 finale. But in a recent interview with Elle Singapore, Nadine might have revealed she is not dating anyone from the series. She explained that the seriess editing cut out certain interactions with the other contestants that would have added context to her current relationships. For now, Nadine has not revealed her current dating status. The decision to disclose their relationships is entirely up to the cast. Fans are aware that Yoong-jae has confirmed he has been dating Seo-eun since the end of the series, while Se-jun and So-es relationship is speculated to be a reality. TL;DR: The Mamas & the Papas Michelle Phillips said The Beatles Love Me Do didnt sound proper. She thought the song was awesome anyway. Love Me Do became a hit single three times in three decades in the United Kingdom. The Mamas & the Papas | Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer The Mamas & the Papas Cass Elliot said she didnt enjoy The Doors as much as The Beatles. Subsequently, The Mamas & the Papas Michelle Phillips discussed what she felt about The Beatles Love Me Do. Notably, the song reached No. 1 in the United States but not the United Kingdom. The Mamas & the Papas Cass Elliot said The Doors didnt move her but The Beatles turned her on During a 1968 interview with Rolling Stone, Elliot discussed her taste in music. Like, today, Id rather hear Jimi Hendrix, she said. Today. The Doors, for instance: I cant really get into their music, he added. I find it very one-dimensional. True, its far out. But when you get there finally, its just in one. It doesnt surround me or take me away, whereas The Beatles always have completely turned me on. The Mamas & the Papas Michelle Phillips said The Beatles Love Me Do did not sound like anything else in the top 40 at the time In a 2022 interview with The Guardian, Phillips discussed her initial reaction to Love Me Do. I couldnt think of any other records in the Top 40 that had Love Me Dos interaction between two guys, and the phrase love me do didnt even seem to be proper English, he said. I just thought: Whatever it is, I love it.' She discussed the Fab Fours impact on The Mamas & the Papas. They were a huge inspiration to us, she said. In 1966, we were supposed to go and see them at the Dodger Stadium, but then we were told it would be unsafe for us to go because wed get mobbed and security would have their hands full with The Beatles, he said. I dropped my fork and cried. Love Me Do was a hit once in the United States and 3 times in the United Kingdom Love Me Do became a hit in the U.S. The tune reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for a single week, saying on the chart for 14 weeks. Love Me Do appeared on the compilation album 1962-1966. The album peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and stayed on the chart for 175 weeks. The Official Charts Company says Love Me Do became a hit three times in the U.K. It reached No. 17 in 1962, staying on the chart for 18 weeks. It became the Fab Fours first song to chart there. In 1982, it peaked at No. 4 and stayed on the chart for seven weeks. Finally, the tune reached No. 53 for a single week in 1992. In the U.K., 1962-1966 peaked at No. 3 and spent a total of 163 weeks. It was one of the groups most popular compilations there. Love Me Do was a massive hit even if Phillips thought its lyrics werent proper. Manuel van Gemmeren, Professor of Organic Chemistry (left), and his research team, including doctoral researcher Fritz Deufel (right), have developed a method that gives access to chemical compounds that were challenging to synthesize before. Substituted aromatics are among the most important building blocks for organic compounds such as drugs, cropprotecting agents, and many materials. The function of the molecules is determined by the spatial arrangement of the different building blocks, the substitution pattern. A research team from the Otto Diels Institute of Organic Chemistry at Kiel University has now presented a method in the journal Chem to produce compounds with a particularly attractive but typically challenging to access substitution pattern, more efficiently than before. To enable the required activation of carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds, they developed a special palladium catalyst that can for the first time selectively approach a previously impossible position within molecules. Closing a long-time research gap With their new method, the scientists close a long-time research gap. "In principle, substituted aromatic compounds have three positions to which a catalyst can attach in order to induce a reaction - called ortho, meta and para. Depending on the position, different chemical products with fundamentally different properties are formed at the end," says Manuel van Gemmeren, Professor of Organic Chemistry at Kiel University. For the ortho and para positions, it is already known how to allow catalysts to specifically attack there. Now, for the first time, Manuel van Gemmeren and his team can also selectively target the meta position directly. This allows them to produce meta-substituted benzyl ammonium species, which are versatile compounds for further elaboration in organic chemistry. Normally, these compounds only appear in small amounts mixed with other products. Until now, they had to be separated from each other with a lot of effort. Alternatively, you needed tedious synthetic routes to produce them in a targeted manner. Both cases resulted in unnecessary waste products, explains van Gemmeren. With the new method, meta-substituted benzyl ammonium compounds can now be produced much more efficiently. The research team around van Gemmeren used a principle that had not been described in the literature before: the palladium catalyst they designed can interact with charges in the molecule. This drastically changes the composition of the resulting products in favour of the substitution pattern that was previously difficult to produce. Calculations by colleagues at the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), Spain, showed that charge interactions are indeed responsible for this. Method also interesting for pharmaceutical or agricultural companies These findings from basic research can also be of interest to pharmaceutical or agricultural companies that build up huge libraries of structurally related molecules to study their biological activity. "Wherever the largest possible variety of compounds is systematically examined, our method can be a helpful tool to close previous knowledge gaps," says van Gemmeren. The development of the new method is the result of many years of preliminary work that began at the University of Munster. Here van Gemmeren set up his own research group on the activation of C-H bonds via the Emmy Noether program of the German Research Foundation (DFG) before he came to Kiel University in 2022. In Kiel, he will also implement his ERC Starting Grant project "DULICAT", from which the conceptual idea for the new method emerged. For this van Gemmeren had received funding of 1.8 million euros from the European Research Council (ERC). Reliable colorimetric analysis technologies have been widely praised for their highly sensitive and selective responses towards various contaminants in environmental monitoring. In principle, the chromogenic agent selectively reacts with the target in water samples, and the colored product reflects the specific absorbance spectrum. Obeying the Lambert-Beer law, the absorbance is proportional to the concentration of the absorbing species, providing the basis for the qualitative and quantitative detection of contaminants in water samples. The observation by eye has the advantage of low cost, but the accuracy is unsatisfactory. The conventional photoelectron detector, such as the spectrophotometer and a microplate reader, is expensive and thus difficult to be applied in resource-limited or remote environments. The application scenario of colorimetric analysis technologies has led to a keen interest in the balance of accuracy and cost. Considering both accuracy and cost, developing colorimetric analysis technologies on the commercial cellphone platform is gathering significant attention in environmental monitoring because of the low cost, high flexibility, easy to miniaturization, and widespread ownership of cellphone. Notably, the outstanding advantages of cellphone-based colorimetric technology is expected to greatly accelerate the environmental and health-related analysis capabilities in the remote or less-developed countries and regions. However, the majority of reported studies focused on single-channel colorimetric detection, which led to a limited detection efficiency, especially facing with complicated contaminants in water samples. Research on cellphone-based multi-channel sensing systems has gained growing interest because the systems have the potential to simultaneously detect multiple targets in a single measurement, and the involved techniques for the rapid assessment of water samples are fast, robust and inexpensive. To realize the multi-channel sensing capability, a mainstream technology pathway is to directly capture the colorimetric images from 96-well plates using a cellphone camera. In all cases, the majority of strategies to improve the sensing capability of the cellphone-based system were based on a monochromatic light source, lacking universality and flexibility towards different contaminants which showed different absorption peaks. In this work, the researchers from Harbin Institute of Technology Tsinghua University and Chongqing University proposed a cellphone-based colorimetric multichannel sensor for water environmental monitoring. A white LED array was used as the incident light to illuminate a 96-well plate. To improve the sensitivity of the sensor, a delicate optical path system was created by using a diffraction grating to split six white beams transmitting through the multiple colored samples. The transmitted light from six wells was collected by six optical fibers and imaged by a cellphone camera after passing through a diffraction grating, which allows the cellphone CMOS camera to capture the diffracted light for image analysis. The image was captured by a custom-designed cellphone app for analysis using a specific algorithm, yielding detection results which were displayed using the same app. This study entitled A cellphone-based colorimetric multi-channel sensor for water environmental monitoring is published online in Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering in 2022. The compact sensor was successfully tested for simultaneous detection of various environmental contaminants with an absorption wavelength range of 400700 nm, achieving high sensitivity, specificity and reliability. By introducing the diffraction grating for splitting light, the sensitivity was improved by over six folds compared with a system that directly photographed transmitted light. As a successful proof-of-concept, the sensor was used to detect turbidity, orthophosphate, ammonia nitrogen and three heavy metals simultaneously with high sensitivity. Moreover, high stability (RSD of 0.37%1.60%) and excellent recoveries (95.5%106.0%) demonstrated that our sensor can conduct accurate detection in real water matrices. Owing to the advantages of remarkable detection performance, low cost, easy operation, good portability, and multi-index measurement, the miniature sensor demonstrated in-field sensing ability in environmental monitoring, which can be extended to point-of-care diagnosis, food safety control and risk early warning, etc. Notably, by introducing the biorecognition materials, such as enzyme, antibody and functional nucleic acid, the sensor has the potential to be smarter to realize the detection of trace organic matters. Further, it can be expected that this technology would allow the detection channels up to 96 on the premise of overcoming the limitation of the volume or numbers of the diffraction grating. Although Connecticuts public schools are well regarded compared to much of the United States, they depend on state funding that is often subject to mandates, regulations, and other restrictions that can lead to frustrations on the part of parents, teachers, taxpayers, and administrators. Some of these concerns were voiced by the Cheshire Board of Education at its legislative affairs sub-committee meeting on Jan. 12. Ordinarily a small gathering, this meeting included the whole Board and took place in Council Chambers at Town Hall. Senator Rob Sampson (R-16) and Representative Lezlye Zupkus (R-89) were present to discuss how politicians, educational leaders, and citizens can work together to promote educational success. Zupkus, for the first time in her legislative career, is a member of the Education Committee and has long been an advocate for more local government control. However, as both she and Sampson argued, their ability to influence legislation is limited as members of the minority party. To that end, both legislators urged citizens to consider the effect of their votes. Sampson highlighted philosophical differences between the parties. The people that are in charge at the state level believe in a centralized government, he stated, (and) they believe in a centralized bureaucracy and that the State Department of Education is going to have more talent and knowledge and experts to make determinations about the best direction for education in the state, and I disagree. And I would imagine that almost anyone in either political party that serves on a local board of education would disagree, too. Although the discussion touched on several topics, the legislation known as Right to Read was the primary concern for Board members. Board Chair Tony Perugini, who also serves on the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) Executive Committee, said that, With respect to the mandates, I dont think that anybody here would say that every bill that influences education is a bad one. The main issue with Right to Read, as he characterized it, was the lack of dialogue. Ill work with anybody in Hartford, said Perugini. Before becoming law or before being drafted, just have folks spoken to, or (reach) out to their local bodies on how things would be impacting them. I could tell you, in this (situation with Right to Read), that didnt happen. It was done outside of Connecticut with outside influence, outside experts brought to Hartford. I got the sense from the (Department of Education) that theyre rushing to move on this because it was forced upon them, and here we are. Zupkus said she had filed legislation to address the Right to Read issue. She also reported that some schools in her District that had been using one of the mandated programs are not going to be using it anymore because it had a adverse effect on the school. Another item that the Board has mentioned previously pertains to special education. As Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jeff Solan put it, When theres a dispute between the family and the school about whats the best path forward for a child, the process sometimes ends up in a mediation setting. Once in mediation, Solan explained, Connecticut is one of two states where the burden of proof is on the District. It really tends to drive up costs and doesnt necessarily support positive outcomes, he added. Costs are the concern with another unfunded mandate aimed at the uniform inspection of HVAC systems on a five-year schedule. Solan suggested that it would amount to an additional expenditure of around $200,000 for something the schools already do on an annual basis. Sampson offered an explanation of mandates based on his decade-plus experience in the legislature. These bills are put before the legislature and theres always this understanding that if you dont support any one of these myriad of items somehow youre against these things, he stated. And a lot of legislators are bullied into voting in favor of state mandates on local boards of education even though they might not even be inclined to want to do it. Teacher shortages also pose a concern for the District. Solan said he felt Cheshire was still a strong draw but wondered what could be done at the state level to make the profession more attractive. I feel guilty when teachers leave other districts and come to Cheshire. Not only do I feel guilty, but now Im not hiring kids out of college at ($50,000), Im hiring seasoned people at ($100,000) , he explained. That potential budget savings, per Solan, no longer really exists because of the pool not being quite what it used to be. Anything we can do (as a state) to support a path to certification and drawing new people into the field is great. Its interesting because all of these were the exact things that the other superintendents (in my District) hit on, Zupkus said. Hopefully, we can get something done to help, but I would encourage the superintendents, the Board of Ed, CABE, all these people: be vocal. Weve got to battle the mentality that exists in Hartford where we get more and more mandates every year because they sound like good ideas. The best idea is to let sound, well-performing districts govern themselves, said Sampson. 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 This piece was adapted from Russell Moores newsletter. Subscribe here. ChatGPT, the eerily accurate artificial intelligence (AI) information-gathering and writing chatbot that launched this past November, is worrying a growing number of people. Teachers are wondering how a genuine high-school or college essay will be possible again when any student could produce, within minutes, a fully formed, original, footnoted paper. Some ask whether this or future AI could do job-performance reviews for employees. And some are starting to ponder whether the smart tech could be headed for another place: the pulpits of our churches. Journalist Matt Labash, in a delightfully neo-Luddite rant in his newsletter, noted that New York rabbi Josh Franklin had the chatbot write an entire sermon for him. He didnt tell his congregation until afterward that the sermon was written by someone else. When he asked them to guess who wrote it, they identified the late rabbi Jonathan Sacksperhaps the most renowned Jewish preacher of the past 20 years. Imagine the synagogues reaction when they were told that the sermon they liked so much was assembled with zero human contribution. Is that the future of Christian preaching? You might respond, Of course not. Maybe you just cant believe such a thing could happen. But imagine trying to explain Google or a smartphone Bible app to a person 30 years ago. What if everywhere-accessible AI could write completely orthodox, biblically anchored, and compellingly argued sermons for pastors every week? Garrison Keillor told a story about a man whose pastor asked whether he believed in infant baptism. The man responded, Believe in it? Ive seen it done! If were asking whether artificial intelligence can know the Bible, research themes and backgrounds, and write applications to life and imperatives for actionwell, weve seen it done. But the real question is not about technological possibility. Its not really about church leadership ethics either. Rather, the question is about what preaching actually is. When I first told my pastor that I thought maybe God was calling me to full-time ministryat age 12 or sohe told me I would preach in three weeks on a Sunday night. I said, I dont mean hes calling me now; I mean, like, when I grow up. He answered, Well, Im calling you now, and Im going to teach you what to do. And he did. He gave me a book of sermon starters, outlines of biblical texts, and possible applications. He offered some tips for speaking and on interpreting the text. Article continues below When that Sunday night came around, I went into the little bathroom beside the baptistery of our Baptist church and threw up both right before and right after preaching. The sermon was awfuland Im glad it wasnt recorded. I wouldnt recommend handling the situation quite that way, but there was something beautiful in it. He knew that I would look out on a congregation of people whom I loved and who loved mewho taught me in Sunday school and Training Union and Vacation Bible School and Bible sword drills. He knew I would see their familiar faces beaming back at me, reassuring that they were for me no matter how I stammered or lost my place. He knew that afterward they would encourage me and pray for me, no matter how bad the sermon was. And he knew that the very presence of this little guy in the pulpit would remind the congregation that the gospel went forward into the futurethat God was still sending the light and calling out the called. In that moment, something happened for mebeyond the content on the page or the way I said the words. In fact, Im not sure I could even really describe what that something was. Over the years, when teaching seminary classes or ministering in pastor cohorts, I found that the primary problem for most of my students was not a lack of competence in discerning biblical truth or speaking in front of crowds. I know there are some current and aspiring preachers who dont take the Bible or the task of preaching seriously. (Know it? Ive seen it!) But that was seldom the case with virtually anyone I ever taught. Rather, for some, the tendency was to collate commentaries and then diagram the text down to points and subpoints and sub-subpoints. What many of those students eventually started to see was that the preaching moment is more than the sum of its parts. And in the best of cases, our audiences should witness the same thing. Yes, preaching needs someone who knows the text and can convey that to the peoplebut its not just about transmitting information. The preacher is delivering good news. Thats true even when the sermon speaks of Gods judgment. After John the Baptist told his listeners they were vipers who should flee the wrath to come, chaff that would soon be burned with unquenchable fire, Luke writes, With many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them (3:18). Article continues below When you hear a sermon, youre not hearing the equivalent of a motivational speech or even a biblical, theological, or ethical seminar. An AI program will likely be able to do all of thatmaybe even with special attention paid to doctrinal tradition, denominational affiliation, and preferred Bible translation. Since ChatGPT can replicate the writing of Ernest Hemingway or William Shakespeare on command, theres no reason why it couldnt follow the instruction to write a sermon in the style of, say, Charles Spurgeon, John Piper, or Joel Osteen. To the church at Corinth, the apostle Paul writes of himself and those with him this way: We are therefore Christs ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christs behalf: Be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20). When we listen to the Word preached, we are hearing not just a word about God but a word from God. Can the ambassador garble the communication from the embassy? Sure. Could an unscrupulous diplomat rewrite the transmission? It happens all the time. And thats why the congregation needs biblical grounding and the Spirits wisdom to weigh the message. The gravity of preaching the Word isnt the same as gathering data and presenting it. At its best, we as the audience are hearing from a fellow redeemed sinnerone who has grappled with the text. As we listen, we are less like researchers looking for information than like the parents of a missing-in-action soldier waiting for the officer at the door to give us news of our child. In fact, the stakes are even higherthe Good News is even more joyous. The messagewhether Your child has been found alive or Your child is gonecould utterly upend the parents lives. The wording of the message matters to a degree. But the point here is that this type of message shouldnt come by text or email. Such life-altering news needs to be delivered by a human, in person. A chatbot can research. A chatbot can write. Perhaps a chatbot can even orate. But a chatbot cant preach. Russell Moore is editor in chief of Christianity Today and leads its Public Theology Project. [ This article is also available in and . ] Youre reading the English translation of the winner of Christianity Todays second annual essay contest for Christians who write in Indonesian. Learn more about the competition and CTs multilingual work, and check out the winning essays written originally in Portuguese, French, Chinese, and Spanish. --- At its core, life is a challenge. A challenge that requires people to have the mental equipment to either face it or avoid it. (Rhenald Kasali, Strawberry Generation , 2017) Several years ago, economist Rhenald Kasali wrote about the current cohort of young Indonesian people that many of have referred to as the strawberry generation. The fruit metaphor has become popular as a way of expressing both this cohorts beauty and propensity to bruise easily. Currently experiencing far greater prosperity than their parents and grandparents and often praised for their creativity, the strawberry generation has also been criticized for wilting in the face of adversity, being overly sensitive, and hunting for quick ways to achieve something. As a father of two children, one of whom is a teenager, I have come to suspect I may have strawberries growing in my household. My concerns have become compounded by an increasingly sophisticated digital world and a pandemic that has forced my children to live online for the last few years. In searching for wisdom on how to best parent my children in the coming years, Ive turned to Genesis, a book full of stories of imperfect patriarchs. Specifically, Ive returned multiple times to the story of Hagar (Gen. 16) and learned that sometimes God allows his people to endure hardship so they can understand his beautiful plan. Hagar, an Egyptian woman, had been taken as a slave by Sarai, Abrams wife. When God commanded Abram and Sarai to leave their homeland, he promised to make their descendants into a great nation (Gen. 12:2). However, after roughly ten years without becoming pregnant, Sarai gave Hagar to Abram. (At the time, it was a common practice in Mesopotamia for a barren wife to give her female slave to her husband to bear children for her.) Hagar soon became pregnant, which is where the storys conflict begins. Hagar despised Sarai now that she was carrying her masters child. After expressing her jealous feelings to Abram, Sarai made life difficult for Hagar. Unable to bear living under her mistresss oppression, Hagar ran away, an action that corresponds to the root meaning of her name in Hebrew: to flee. Article continues below Amid her escape, an angel appeared to Hagar and expressed three things to herdirections that I believe offer wisdom to those experiencing parenting dilemmas today. 1. Go back to your mistress and submit to her (Gen. 16:9). At first glance, it may seem a little strange when the angel orders Hagar to return to Sarai. Instead of relieving Hagars suffering, the angel commands her to endure the abuse at the hands of her mistress. It calls to mind the Javanese idiom Kuthuk marai sunduk (lit., A chick approaches a skewer), which roughly means, Why go somewhere if you know youll be in danger there? Through this strange command, the angel teaches Hagar that she must recognize and address the problems within her before dealing with anything else. Hagar struggles with the tendency to flee from difficult situations. She may justly feel like life has not treated her fairly. After all, she has been living as a slave, impregnated (presumably without her consent) by her master and bullied by her mistress. Indeed, other people have been making her life miserable. But the angel does not see this as a valid excuse for her to run away. Many of us in older generations have been critical of what we see as the strawberry generations tendency to avoid dealing with problems. But part of this tendency likely started with us as parents. According to Kasali, parents these days often excessively hover over their children and tell them what they should do. Their anxiety about possible challenges or problems their children may encounter makes parents overprotective. If he wanted to, God could instantly eliminate all the problems in our lives (Luke 1:37). However, as we have no doubt experienced, God often allows us to deal with our myriad challenges. Why does he do this? Gods ultimate goal for our lives on earth is not comfort but character development, as pastor Rick Warren has written. God wants us to grow up spiritually and become like Christ. The story of Hagars escape teaches us that God wants his children to face their problems, not run away from them. Because they have had no physical interaction with their teachers and peers during the pandemic, my children have issues with social skills, lack discipline, and tend to give up when faced with challenging tasksall behaviors that fall under Kasalis strawberry-generation categorizations. This is a concern for my wife and me primarily in relation to our second child, who has almost never stepped inside a school building. Article continues below The angels directions to Hagar have encouraged us to stand back and watch our daughter overcome problems independently on occasion. For example, we dont always help her with schoolwork. Sometimes this makes her sad because it means she may not get the grades she wants. Other times, we push her into interacting with new friends at church. Her days spent doing school online have made her reliant on her older brother and parents. However, we know that our children need to learn to face difficulties for their good (Rom. 8:28). For it is precisely through these challenges that our children will be forged into mature Christians (James 1:34), ready to accept Gods call when the time comes. As parents, we do our best to explain our reasoning to them, as we do not want our children to suffer unreasonably; we want them to work through these hardships to mature them. 2. I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count (Gen. 16:10). The angel promises that Hagar will have many children. Is this not a great relief for her? Because of Gods promise, Hagar no longer has to feel like a victim of circumstances. The child she carries is not the result of an accident but a gift from God (Gen. 17:20). This understanding gives Hagar the strength to deal with lifes challenges under Sarais oppression. Hagar also shows this strength by calling the Angel of the Lord El Roi, which means the God who sees (16:13). She realizes that she has experienced an encounter with God (which is why the Indonesian Bible Society uses capital letters when referring to the angel in this chapter). Most likely, when Hagar returns to Abram and Sarai, she also brings good news, reminding them that God is still present and will not forget his promise. We, the readers, come to see that Hagars hardships are neither tragic nor meaningless. In early 2022, our family was called to missionary service to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This has extended the online school period for our children, as they still need to finish their school year in Indonesia. We currently live in a high-rise, and our children struggle to play with the local kids because of the language barrier. We frequently see them sad when they can only watch from their computer screens as their friendswho have all returned to normal lifehave fun together in the classroom. In the early days of our move, our children often asked why we had to live this way. Article continues below We dont want our children to easily bruise. Yet the story of Hagars escape reminds my wife and me to teach our children to see Gods grace and plans behind every challenge they experience. God has given them the opportunity not only to live in a foreign country but also to learn a new culture and hone their English skills, as most Indonesian children in our church are born in Cambodia and attend international schools. It is also an opportunity for them to witness firsthand the necessity of service to people who have not yet become acquainted with God. In conversations with my children, their gratitude for Gods grace and awareness of Gods plan have been apparent and this gratitude has profoundly changed them. Besides their newly emerging appreciation for life in a foreign country, they often enthusiastically tell their friends in Indonesia about what missionary service and the peoples lives are like. 3. You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery (Gen. 16:11). The angel gives the name Ishmael, meaning God hears, to the child in Hagars womb. Now, Hagar will always be reminded that God unfailingly pays attention to the misery of his servants. Not a single incident in the lives of his servants escapes Gods attention (Matt. 10:2931). This is the case not only for Ishmael, God hears, but also for Immanuel, God with us (Matt. 1:23). Christs sacrifice proves all. My children are digital natives and are very proficient in using information technology. Whats more, they were raised in Indonesian culture, which is very active on social media. (According to 2022 reports, almost 70% of Indonesians engage in social media and use it for an average of 3 hours, 17 minutes a day.) Used to searching for everything on the internet, my children tend to use social media to escape when they have problems. Unfortunately, significant misinformation about the Christian faith circulates on social media, and the platforms can also easily enable unhealthy peer comparison and bullying. The story of Hagars escape has taught me to instill in my children that they have a God who is always ready to hear their hearts cry. I have realized that no matter how strong they may be in the future, there will always be situations that can bring them down. They need to have the faith that only Gods help is reliable (Ps. 46:1). They also need to learn that while their friends can easily unfollow them on social media, they have a God whose faithful love will endure, even if the earth may be destroyed (Isa. 54:10). From God alone, the true strength originates. Article continues below I hope that the story of Hagars escape will inspire you, as it has me, to educate our children so they do not grow into a strawberry generation. Like the rest of us, they will forever be fragile clay vessels. But it is precisely through that fragility that they can radiate the abundant power of God to those around them (2 Cor. 4:7). They can experience God in their life challenges as Hagar did: I have now seen the One who sees me (Gen. 16:13). Tomy Handaka Patria is an ordained minister from Gereja Beth-El Tabernakel. He currently serves at Khalibre, an IT business as mission in Cambodia that develops Crosswired, a secure portal and social learning community for mission organizations. During his spare time, he is actively developing digital ministry through studibiblika.id and contributing as a volunteer writer for Got Questions Ministries. Translated from Indonesian by Adam Mele. - [ This article is also available in Indonesian. ] Youre reading the English translation of the winner of Christianity Todays second annual essay contest for Christians who write in Portuguese. Learn more about the competition and CTs multilingual work and check out the winning essays written originally in Chinese, French, Indonesian, and Spanish. Brazils 2010 Census revealed that evangelicals in Brazil had reached nearly a quarter (22.2%) of the total population. Most expect this number to be even larger in the next census. In the most optimistic estimates, by 2040, Brazils evangelical population will surpass that of Catholics (who made up 64.4% of the population in the 2010 data). As the number of evangelicals continues to rise, the community has the opportunity to grapple with the legacy it will leave on Brazil. What concrete impact should its presence have on the country? Perhaps more important, how will the lives of those who suffer the most change as a result of the expanding influence of evangelicals? As the number of evangelicals grows, I expect the impact of our Christian witness on the country to also grow. But what will be the focus of our testimony: increasing our numbers in the halls of power or proclaiming the kingdom and caring for those who suffer? Hunger in Brazil and in the Bible Last July, Brazil returned to the United Nations Hunger Map eight years after it had first left. Today, at least 61 million Brazilians face some form of food insecurity, and 4 percent of the population suffers from chronic hunger. The data is alarming, especially since Brazil is a major global food producer. There is plenty of food; it just doesnt make it to everyones table. Hunger is a global problem, a part of human history since time immemorial. Famine and starvation show up numerous times in the Biblealong with Gods provision. In Genesis 46, Gods hand is evident in spurring Jacob and his sons to go to Egypt. The country was governed by the thought-to-be-dead Joseph, who, in a strategic move, had turned Egypt into the great granary of the world. This theme recurs in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:1132). In this parable, Jesus mentions an extreme famine that befell the region where the wayward son had fled after spending the entire share of his inheritance. We see the fathers mercy on that young man who was suffering the effects of hunger both physically (from the scarcity of food) and spiritually (from the separation from his father). Article continues below In Deuteronomy 15, God teaches his people about the year of remission, when creditors were to forgive their debtors. Here we see Gods concern and care that his people maintain a decent standard of living for all, in which no one suffers for want of essential needs. Verse 11 gives very clear instruction in this regard: Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land. Economic, social, energy, and hunger insecurity and crises are the fruit of the Fall. But this does not mean that God has lost control of history or that he has abandoned humanity to its own suffering. So, if God does not abandon us in pain, what should be the role of the Christian in the face of suffering? The growing influence of evangelicals (as a result of their numerical growth) has led many in the church to be seduced by dreams of power and control and, with this, to forget the main focus of their testimony: love. However, the church in Brazil must not nurture a triumphal vision of growth and influence. Christians were not called, rescued, saved, and set apart by the Lord to implement a system of power. Paul makes it very clear in Philippians 3:20 that our citizenship is in heaven. Our responsibility is to proclaim the kingdom not only by preaching the Word but also by shifting the reality of sins curse to display the beauty and grandeur of the Lord. Hunger is one example of the devastating effects of sin. Until that perfect time when we will live in the future kingdom of God, we will struggle with sin and suffering. Beyond fulfilling our roles as citizens, we need to understand our roles as servants of God. To do this, we must understand what God, through his servants, has done in the world in harmony with his perfect purpose. There are certainly good examples of Christian witness. Christian witness in the midst of those who suffer Ten years ago, Georg Emmerich, a Methodist pastor, opened the Igreja nas Ruas (Church in the Streets) in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, a state in the countrys impoverished northeast. Emmerich believed that too often the church was limited to its four walls when its ministry really began outside them. When the number of homeless people began to increase in Natal, Emmerich and other believers decided to start a project aimed at serving daily meals and offering a mobile bath service to the community. Since 2013, they have provided 40,000 meals and 10,400 baths. Article continues below In mid-2020, he and other volunteers installed washbasins at various locations around greater Natal so that homeless people could wash their hands and have more protection in the fight against COVID-19. In addition to these actions, the church engages in evangelization and discipleship ministries and helps those struggling with addiction enter rehab. Sinvaldo Queiroz founded Casa da Vida (House of Life), a ministry in Vitoria da Conquista, Bahia, also in the northeast, that provides accommodations for impoverished patients traveling far distances to receive treatment from the citys hospital. He and his Baptist congregation have also organized efforts like Juntos pela Bahia (United for Bahia) in response to the flooding caused by heavy rains in late 2021 and early 2022. In partnership with the Brazilian Evangelical Alliance, they received volunteers from churches throughout Brazil who helped distribute food and water, showing compassion and solidarity. To Queiroz, the power of an engaging witness from gospel-centered faith communities that understand the integrality of the mission, while not always measurable, makes an important difference. Many Christian organizations are also involved in compassion efforts. Last year, the Brazilian Baptist Conventions National Mission Board distributed more than 600 basic food baskets, as well as bottles of mineral water and milk, to low-income families affected by three natural disasters. World Vision partnered with 500 churches and more than 1,200 religious leaders to better serve Brazils most impoverished. We have to reinforce Christs message of caring for the poor in our churches, says Thiago Crucciti, the national director of Visao Mundial Brasil. We Christians must go out and serve the vulnerable where they are. The Cristolandia project, a ministry helping those addicted to drugs, is another great example. (The nameChristland in Englishis a play on words comparing the project to the Portuguese pejorative Cracolandia or Crackland, commonly used to describe large concentrations of drug users.) Created by the Brazilian Baptist Conventions National Mission Board in 2009, the organization now has more than 40 units in nine states. Like hunger, drugs are another example of the devastation of sin. Initiatives such as Cristolandia that offer support and evangelization should be replicated by churches everywhere in Brazil. What should unite Christians is Christ and the proclamation of his gospel and his presence in the midst of suffering. After all, he is God with us, Immanuel. Article continues below More evangelicals, more love, more impact Hunger, addiction, violence, and other such problems are all symptoms of sinsigns of a society that is sick and estranged from God. Although these evils are not exclusive to Brazil, with such a large evangelical population, we should play a more active role. This includes not only praying, campaigning for public policies, and overseeing the correct use of public resources but also implementing, within our own local communities and organizations, projects that announce the kingdom and alleviate suffering. One place to start is to evaluate every area of our lives from a Christian worldview and understand that we cannot ignore the impact of sin that surrounds us. To this end, Gerson Pacheco, the former director of ChildFund Brasil, argues that gospel proclamation and social transformation need to go hand in hand but are two distinct interventions. According to Pacheco, evangelicals fulfill the mandate to proclaim the gospel, but they do not pay as much attention to issues such as hunger and poverty. He claims that the Brazilian evangelical church, in general, is unaware of and does not work with poverty data in Brazil. Because the church fails to implement this data, adopt a methodology, and plan, most of its projects are limited to mere assistencialism. Therefore, its efforts do not generate lasting transformation or social impact. Social transformation involves not only welfare-type programs but also care and sustainabilitywhich require knowledge, time, and dedication. It is not enough to plant. We must also water, prune, and fertilize if we want to reap fruit and produce sustainability in our initiatives and effectiveness in our testimony. Evangelical Brazil has much to learn in terms of witness. And it starts by meeting the basic needs of the people around us. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me (Matt. 25:3536). Lucas Meloni is a journalist at Radio Trans Mundial (RTM) and a communications coordinator for First Baptist Church of Sao Caetano do Sul. He studies at the Sao Paulo Baptist College of Theology (FTBSP) and is the author of Escritos de um Suburbano(Writings of a Suburbanite). - [ This article is also available in espanol and Portugues. ] Youre reading the English translation of the winner of Christianity Todays second annual essay contest for Christians who write in French. Learn more about the competition and CTs multilingual work and check out the winning essays written originally in Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese, and Indonesian. After seeing her husband lose his fortune, his family, and his health, Jobs wife is at her wits end. Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? she asks her husband in Job 2:9 (NLT). Curse God and die! This is the only time Jobs wifes voice appears in this 42-chapter book. We learn scant details about her. Even her name is unknown. We know, however, that she is the wife of the books hero. A man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil (Job 1:1). A man who is wealthy, blessed with many children, and the greatest man among all the people of the East (v. 3). As the story begins, the narrator presents Job to us as a man who is both upright and respected. We can therefore deduce that his wife is a woman of the upper class, probably as influential as her husband. As mother of a large family, manager of the household, she is used to a certain lifestyle. We do not know her degree of faith, but nothing suggests that she does not respect the God of her husband or follow his religious practices. Suddenly, in just a few verses, her husband loses his herds and wealth (and with that his social status and power), his children, his servants, and finally his health: So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes (Job 2:78). Jobs suffering is total: physical, moral, and spiritual. And his wife is by his side. Like her husband, she has her share of loss to manage and a long process of mourning to go through. She also has lost her children! For that reason, its not surprising that she is outraged and angry with God, as Job is also shown to be a few chapters later. Over the years, Bible commentators and preachers have not been kind to Jobs wife, labeling her as a weak, embittered woman who pushes her husband to blaspheme. Some even go so far as John Calvin, who called her an instrument of Satan in one of his sermons on the Book of Job. Article continues below However, because of my profession as a nurse, her cry reminds me of another very real suffering, even if it, too, sometimes struggles to be heard: the deep suffering of a patients family members. While these loved ones may be spared the physical suffering of their sick relative, they have now adopted new multifaceted roles as the patients nurses, social workers, caretakers, or companions. Such hardship is universal, and we find this culture of family support in the Bible. In the New Testament, for example, Peter's mother-in-law finds the care she needs with her daughter and son-in-law (Luke 4:3839). Faced with serious afflictions, caretaking in this kind of situation can turn into a full-time job, without rest, 24 hours a day. As if the tsunami that has just hit her life and her marriage is not enough, Jobs wife has to deal with seeing her husband suffer like a martyrand being unable to offer him any relief. The gut-wrenching powerlessness one feels while watching a loved one suffer from a long, painful, disabling disease is terrible. It can enrage you, even against the whole world. Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die! What despair, what anger hides behind these two sentences. I am revolted by the cynicism of some who think, as Matthew Henrys Bible commentary contends, that if Satan took everything from Job except his wife, it was to leave him with the additional torment of an embittered wife. Others might also suspect a financial interest on the part of someone asking too openly for a loved ones death. Yet this is obviously impossible in the case of Jobs wife. Her husband has lost everything. She has no economic interest in his dying. She would have nothing left. In her terrible words, perhaps shes just a helpless wife who cant stand to see her husband suffering so much. And this is love. Clumsy, misplaced, without recoilbut love. Or at least sympathy. She would rather push him to end his life quickly than have him suffer this agony indefinitely. Even if it is difficult to hear, Jobs wifes reaction pushes us to consider the issues faced by patients relativeswho also suffer, albeit in a different way. For instance, when one expresses a desire to end anothers suffering, we easily recognize that this comes from a place of not wanting to watch someone continue to be in relentless pain; it is not a callous desire to kill the person. Loved ones, especially caregivers, wrestle with complex and often conflicting emotions. Part of supporting them well, especially when they are caretakers, is hearing their inner turmoil, even when its ugly. Whether or not their words are as radical as those of Jobs wife, they too need support. Article continues below The idea of putting an end to someones suffering also reminds me of the contemporary issue of euthanasia. My point here is not to justify any kind of action or to draw from this text a possible legislation. (Euthanasia is prohibited in France, where I live.) Rather, I urge us to hear and understand the emotion that hides behind this issue. Jobs wife is deeply human. Are we ready to hear her human emotions? Job reacts strongly to his wifes words, saying, You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? (Job 2:10) While the narrator notes that Job does not sin in all that he says, he also offers no documentation that God condemns Jobs wife for her statements. This is despite the fact that he later severely rebukes Job's friends for their remarks (42:79). I believe it is possible to discern in this silence and nonjudgment from God that he hears and respects the pain of caregivers. God welcomes their emotions, their humanity, and their limits. Perhaps the story simply offers a space for reflection and shines another light on this sensitive issue of suffering and the end of life. There are many ethical questions that arouse strong reactions or even immediate condemnations within us. Whatever the subject may be, before stepping up to the plate and fiercely brandishing prohibitions and judgments, are we willing to take a step back and try to understand the emotions inhabiting those we judge so easily? Gods silence in response to Jobs wifes harsh words can serve as a reminder: When we are the targets of peoples strong emotions, it is often prudent to at first remain silent and take the time to discern what lies behind their positions, rather than to immediately inflame conversations and relationships. Learning to love caretakers will also better serve us in loving the sick. In my work, I realize that when people raise the possibility of euthanasia for themselves, the conversations are rarely initiated because my patients want to die or because their loved ones want to see them go. Article continues below Instead, patients are often afraid of aging or physically suffering, or they are already suffering and want it to stop; death appears to be the only solution. If patients can verbalize what they feel, it makes room for them to make decisions about care with family and medical staff without worrying that every option will just be reductively labeled as bad or good. Many biblical texts, whether in the Psalms or the Prophets, let us see that God is ready to hear many things, even when they are unpleasant to our ears and disturb us. Suffering is sometimes expressed violently or in terms that shock us. Whether it is the sick or those that surround them, how are we offering to listen to those who suffer? Deeply listening and seeking to understand do not commit us to endorse the choices they might make. This brief interjection by Jobs wife and the revolt she expresses offer us something very human that would be harmful for us to reject out of hand. Whatever we end up doing with her words, we need to hear her to better understand our own storiesand those of the people around us. The Book of Job tells us not only about crisis, loss, bereavement, illness, and the ensuing reactions but also about the companionship of loved ones, spouses, and friends in the lowest points of our lives. And God? Despite his long silence, he is there and listening to us even in our sadness, anger, helplessness, and pain. Melodie Kauffmann is a nurse in intensive cardiology care in the city of Strasbourg, France. She is also attending courses at the Faculte libre de theologie evangelique in Vaux-sur-Seine (FLTE). Translation from French by Sarah Buki - [ This article is also available in Francais. ] Youre reading the English translation of the winner of Christianity Todays second annual essay contest for Christians who write in Chinese. Learn more about the competition and CTs multilingual work and check out the winning essays written originally in Portuguese, French, Indonesian, and Spanish. --- Then Joseph said to his brothers, Come close to me. When they had done so, he said, I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! (Gen. 45:4) Come close to me is a simple statement. But it also signals an act of restoration. Joseph, the victim, made a seemingly ordinary remark to his brothers, the perpetrators. He had experienced an accumulation of hurt from an unfortunate past and conflicting emotions. The sorrows of Josephs life constantly stalked him after his brothers betrayed him. Now, facing his past perpetrators from a high and prosperous position of power, he could have easily retaliated against them to alleviate his psychological and practical pain. Instead, he chose to praise God for his providence, reveal his own identity to his brothers, and show mercy to them (Gen. 45:5). "Come close to me is a phrase that may also have surfaced in the nightmares of a deeply wounded Joseph. As a young boy, Joseph was ignorant to the point that after God revealed a vision to him, he approached his brothers and shared it with them without reservation. Yet this only made them become jealous of him. Later, when his father, Jacob, asked him to go to his brothers, he went out obediently. However, the purpose of his brothers' coming close to him was to kill and sell him. Their coming close caused Joseph the greatest harm. The brothers murderous intent toward Joseph also revealed the evil in their hearts. While imprisoned by Joseph in Egypt ( because they were accused of being spies), they reasoned to one another, Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; thats why this distress has come on us. (Gen. 42:21). Their imprisonment reminded them of the evil they had done to young Joseph, leading them to think their current situation was retribution from God. Brother against brother Like Josephs story of sibling conflict in the Bible, we often hear in the news about discord and strife between siblings, parents, and spouses. Families comprise relationships that are supposed to provide us with a sense of security, comfort, and freedom. But some families may bring about feelings of fear and helplessness. Article continues below The breakdown of relationships in a family is a common and unfortunate situation. Close, intimate relationships can become severely damaged from causes of conflict such as parental bias, generational and personality differences, and varying levels of ability to handle situations. Sibling rivalry is a universal issue. Last year, an 11-year-old Japanese girl recorded 100 arguments among her three other siblings in just 10 days for a summer homework project. In some instances, conflict arises when brothers and sisters fight over family inheritances. In other instances, sibling rivalry may arise because of cultural values like showing respect and deference toward their seniors. Take this example of two Chinese brothers involved in caring for their father, who lived with dementia: The younger brother volunteered to take on more responsibility concerning their fathers care because he felt that his older brother had low self-esteem and lacked decision-making skills. He grew increasingly frustrated as his older brother did not cooperate with his caregiving arrangements. After going through counseling, the younger brother realized that his older sibling perceived him as disrespectful for acting as if he was in charge . Upon improving their communication styles and collaborative efforts, the brothers were able to understand each other more fully. Their conflict became an opportunity to reconcile long-standing differences. The courage to forgive Disputes between siblings may occur every day, and grievances may grow deeper and deeper. It is often difficult for a mediator to intervene and determine right from wrong as the roles of perpetrator and victim may be dynamic and interchangeable. The relationship between perpetrator and victim is complex, entangled, and enduring. The perpetrator seems to wield an overabundance of power to oppress and bully the victim. However, the perpetrators actions of oppression and harm may stem from a heart filled with fear and cowardice. Some perpetrators may want to draw closer to their victims, but they use unhealthy ways to express themselves and thus continue to perpetuate harm. These days, domestic abuse victims can seek support from institutions or churches to receive counseling and help for their bodies, minds, and souls. And if the perpetrators are self-aware, they can also seek guidance and assistance. These are some of the appropriate ways and means to unravel tangled relationships and move toward reconciliation within the family unit. Article continues below However, the state of each persons heart is the crux of the matter. When Joseph looked back on his life and realized that his suffering at others hands could nevertheless reflect God's mercy and goodness (Gen. 50:20), I believe the shadow in his heart faded away and his hurt was relieved. He was able to step out of the shackles of the victimized and say, Please come closer to me with a fearless heart, extending an olive branch of restoration to his brothers. When Joseph, the victim in this story, issued an unexpected gesture of reconciliation to his brothers, they became suddenly aware and convicted of their past mistakes. Reconciliation is the beginning of repairing a broken relationship and opens the door to ending cycles of abuse within that relationship. This is not the worlds way of violence for violence but the biblical way of overcoming evil with good (Rom. 12:21). Joe Shing Yung Tsoi has been an editor for over ten years in a Christian institution in Hong Kong. He has edited dozens of books and journals. He earned a masters degree in Chinese language and literature from Hong Kong Baptist University and a masters degree in Christian studies from Hong Kong Alliance Bible Seminary. - [ This article is also available in espanol, Portugues, , and . ] In todays episode Heather visits with one of her favorite theologians, Joel Muddamalle, for a fast-paced conversation about Gods original vision for the church and how we often miss it. Joel unpacks what it means to be ambassadors for Christ in a fragmented world; he cautions us against letting social media divide our souls; and he reminds us that ethnic and cultural diversity in the church is a beautiful feature, not a bug. One of the big points Joel touches on is what he calls our commitment to the sacred-and-secular divide. What does it mean to be set apart as Christians, and what is our role in secular spaces? Joels biblically rooted perspectives will inform, surprise, and challenge you to delve deeper into Gods Word. (This is the second conversation in our three-part series that began with What You May Be Getting Wrong About Biblical Womanhood.) We also visit with our favorite social media whiz Brady Shearer for this weeks #Blessed. He gives us a breakdown of the difference between the social graph algorithm vs. the discovery algorithm and why he believes we all need to ride whatever wave social platforms present us with. Brady is the director of Pro Church Tools and the church-software platform Nucleus. His work focuses on helping churches navigate the biggest communication shift in 500 years. Make sure to let us know your thoughts about this segment by typing in ViralJesusPod on Instagram or Twitter and including #Blessed with your comment. Guest Bio Joel Muddamalle serves as the director of theology and research for Proverbs 31 Ministries and Lysa TerKeurst. Hes also a member of the preaching team at Transformation Church with Pastor Derwin Gray. Joel earned a PhD in theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, under professors Patrick Schreiner (NT) and Michael Heiser (OT), with an emphasis on Pauls household language in Ephesians as it relates to the Old Testament. He loves studying and teaching the brilliant truths found in Scripture and unpacking how they relate to our everyday lives. Host Bio Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including Ill See You Tomorrow and Its Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on Twitter @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday. Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today Host and creator: Heather Thompson Day Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath Producer: Loren Joseph Associate Producer: Azurae Phelps Mix Engineer: Alex Carter Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper Andy Stanley says gay churchgoers 'have more faith than a lot of you' Do gay individuals who go to church have more faith than most Christians? According to megachurch Pastor Andy Stanley, the answer, apparently, is a resounding yes. Stanley, who leads the multi-site North Point Ministries and North Point Community Church based in Alpharetta, Georgia, said in a now-viral sermon clip that any LGBT individual who continues to go to church has "more faith than a lot of you." "A gay person who still wants to attend church after the way they've been treated, I'm telling you, they have more faith than I do," Stanley said in the clip, which had over 1.2 million views on Twitter alone as of Thursday. "They have more faith than a lot of you." What on earth let this be a lesson. Much evil can be done against you, others and your church under the banner of evangelism. pic.twitter.com/EArWfpTc7r pagemasta (@AdamPage85) January 23, 2023 He also noted the courage it takes for LGBT individuals to continually attend churches that don't accept their lifestyle. "A gay person who knows, 'You know what? I might not be accepted, but I'm going to try it anyway,' and as a straight person, have you ever, where do you go that you're not sure you're going to be accepted over and over and over?" asked Stanley. The message which reportedly came during North Point's Drive Conference in May 2022 also spoke directly to the "gay men and women who grew up in church and the gay men and women who've come to faith in Christ as adults, who want to participate in our church." After acknowledging the multiple passages of Scripture that condemn homosexuality as sin, Stanley appeared to suggest that rather than a failure to repent on behalf of LGBT individuals who go to church, it was God who didn't change their hearts. "I know 1 Corinthians 6, and I know Leviticus, and I know Romans 1, so interesting to talk about all that stuff," Stanley said. "But just, oh my goodness, a gay man or woman who wants to worship their heavenly Father, who did not answer the cry of their heart when they were 12 and 13 and 14 and 15. God said, 'No,' and they still love God? "We have some things to learn from a group of men and women who love Jesus that much and who want to worship with us," he continued. "I know the verses; I know the clobber passages, right? We got to figure this out. And you know what? I think you are." Stanley's North Point Ministries did not return a request for comment from The Christian Post as of Thursday afternoon. The son of Charles Stanley, famed pastor emeritus of the First Baptist Church, Atlanta, Andy Stanley has courted controversy over his comments about the LGBT community in the past. In 2015, Stanley said local congregations should be the "safest place on the planet for students to talk about anything, including same-sex attraction." During a message delivered at a two-day church leadership summit in Southern California, he said: "We just need to decide, regardless of what you think about this topic no more students are going to feel like they have to leave the local church because they're same-sex attracted or because they're gay. That ends with us." In 2018, he also told his congregation they should "unhitch" their theology from the Old Testament. In the final part of his "Aftermath" series, Stanley said that while he believes that the Old Testament is "divinely inspired," it should not be "the go-to source regarding any behavior in the church." "[First century] Church leaders unhitched the church from the worldview, value system, and regulations of the Jewish scriptures," said Stanley. "Peter, James, Paul elected to unhitch the Christian faith from their Jewish scriptures, and my friends, we must as well." Stanley argued that it had to be done for the same reason the Church in Acts 15 did so, which was so that "we must not make it difficult for those Gentiles who are turning to God." Colorado appeals court rules against Jack Phillips, Masterpiece Cakeshop in trans cake case; baker to appeal A three-judge panel of the Colorado Court of Appeals has ruled against Christian baker Jack Phillips, having concluded that he was wrong to refuse, on religious grounds, to bake a cake celebrating transgenderism. In a decision released Thursday, Judge Timothy Schutz authored the panel's opinion affirming an earlier trial court decision against Phillips, concluding that the baker violated the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act by not creating a cake to celebrate a person's new trans identity. A complaint was lodged against Phillips and Masterpiece Cakeshop after a man who self-identified as a woman and changed his name to Autumn Scardina demanded that the baker create a cake with the colors of the trans flag in pink and blue frosting to celebrate Scardinas self-professed sexual identity. Scardina testified [he] requested a custom pink and blue cake with no message or other design elements. The trial court found that Debra agreed to make that cake but then retracted the commitment once Scardina told her what the cake was for, wrote Schutz. It was only after Scardina disclosed that [he] was transgender and intended to use the cake to celebrate both [his] birthday and [his] transition that Masterpiece and Phillips refused to provide the cake. Thus, it was Scardinas transgender status, and [his] desire to use the cake in celebration of that status, that caused Masterpiece and Phillips to refuse to provide the cake. The appeals court rejected Phillips claims that he was being forced to convey a message that went against his beliefs because the cake he was asked to make expressed no message, adding that not all conduct constitutes speech. Phillips had previously won a United States Supreme Court case in 2018 that centered on his refusal to bake a wedding cake that celebrated a same-sex marriage in 2012 when same-sex marriage was not legal in Colorado. The Alliance Defending Freedom, which is representing Phillips, denounced the appeals courts decision and vowed to appeal it, considering part of a broader campaign of harassment against the Christian baker. Over a decade ago, Colorado officials began targeting Jack, misusing state law to force him to say things he does not believe. Then an activist attorney continued that crusade. This cruelty must stop, said ADF Senior Counsel Jake Warner, in a statement shared with The Christian Post. One need not agree with Jacks views to agree that all Americans should be free to say what they believe, even if the government disagrees with those beliefs. In 2019, Scardina filed a complaint against Phillips and Masterpiece Cakeshop over their refusal to make a cake celebrating his trans identity. Although the suit had originally claimed that Phillips violated both CADA and the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, a judge dismissed the latter claim in March 2021. In June 2021, Denver District Court Judge A. Bruce Jones ruled that Phillips had violated CADA when he refused to make the cake for Scardina, with the court noting that the analysis would be different if the cake design had been more intricate, artistically involved, or overtly stated a message attributable to Defendants. Defendants expressive conduct argument fails because Defendants presented no evidence that a reasonable observer would attribute any message that was conveyed by the cake to Defendants, continued Jones in his 2021 decision. He added, Defendants have failed to carry their burden to show that providing the requested cake constituted any type of symbolic or expressive speech protected by the First Amendment. 5 Christian students killed in crash after visiting Bible college: 'They knew Jesus as their redeeming Savior' Five students who were killed in a series of crashes by a wrong-way driver while on their way home to Arkansas from a Bible college in Wyoming have been remembered by their community for their strong faith and commitment to evangelism. According to KATV, Sylvan Hills High School seniors Susana "Suzy" Prime and Ava Luplow, both 18, and three recent graduates, Salomon Correa, 21, Maggie Franco, 20, and 23-year-old Andrea Prime, Suzy's sister, were driving home from Jackson Hole Bible College on Interstate 80 on Sunday when a Dodge Ram was reported heading east in the westbound lanes. The pickup truck collided with a passenger car and commercial truck, forcing another truck to swerve into the other side of the road where the driver collided head-on with the students' Ford F-150. The truck and the students' vehicle were engulfed in flames, killing the five young adults and leaving others with critical injuries. Authorities said the driver of the Dodge has been arrested on suspicion of impairment and could face other charges as the investigation unfolds. On Facebook, Faith Bible Fellowship, the church all five students attended, mourned the deaths of the students and announced that a combined funeral service will be held on Feb. 4 at 10 a.m. at the Sylvan Hills High School Performing Arts Center. "Our fellowship is mourning the loss of five of our young adults," the church said. Following the deadly crash, more than 100 people gathered at the Faith Bible Fellowship, in Arkansas, the church that the young adults attended, for a candlelight vigil. Quint Scruggs, who is an alum of Sylvan Hills High, told the station the community is in disbelief. Scruggs said he went to school with some of the victims, adding that they were "always joyful, I mean there was never a dull moment, always made you laugh. Two of the young adults, Susana and Ava, worked at the Humble Crumb bakery near their high school, where Maggie had also worked along with family members. Ruth and Betsy Peters, owners of the bakery, told local KARK that they were devastated to learn of the girls death. Betsy Peters told the outlet she takes comfort in a recent Bible verse both Susana and Ava had posted on their Instagram accounts: "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." I just couldn't believe it because that's what's happening. God is being glorified through them and that's what they wanted, Betsy said. The bakery said they would be closing for two weeks to allow employees to grieve the girls' deaths. "Our lives are forever changed and the bakery will continually feel this void. Our small team lost two of our own, two of our gems, on Sunday," the Facebook post said. "The news has broken our hearts and we are still trying the wrap our minds around this new reality. "We have ONE comfort and ONE hope and that is the comfort that comes only from God," the business posted on Facebook. "Ava and Suzy loved Jesus and they knew Jesus as their redeeming Savior. They wanted to serve him with their lives and they were trusting in HIM for their salvation. They are now with HIM in glory and while we suffer their loss, our hearts are also filled with hope." Lydia VanderVate, who grew up in the Faith Bible Fellowship with all five victims, told the outlet the community is devastated by the accident. It feels like my heart is broken, she said. They all had such bubbly personalities, could get along, always laughing with each other. Both Peters and VanderVate told the outlet they are hoping to share the Gospel that is currently carrying them through this time of loss. Ruth said she hopes this story reassures readers and viewers of the character of God and what He has done for them and can do for everyone else, too, the story added. On social media, Sylvan Hills High School said counseling will be offered to students and staff who need it. Our thoughts are with the families and school community as they grieve the loss of such young lives, the school said in a Facebook post. You all will be greatly missed. 5 Christian students killed in car crash spent final week attending Bible classes: 'They finished the race' The five students who were killed in a car accident while on their way home to Arkansas from a Bible college in Wyoming were devout Christians who spent their final week on Earth attending Bible classes and communing with other like-minded young adults, the school has revealed. Sylvan Hills High School seniors Susana "Suzy" Prime and Ava Luplow, Salomon Correa, 21, Maggie Franco, 20, and 23-year-old Andrea Prime, Suzy's sister, were fatally injured in a multi-car collision on Sunday while on their way back from a church-sponsored trip to Jackson Hole Bible College in Wyoming. In a statement, the Bible college revealed the young adults had spent the week before the accident sitting in on classes and getting to know this year's student body, as well as catching up with staff who were previous classmates to three of them. All five attended Faith Bible Fellowship in North Little Rock, Arkansas, a church of beloved brothers and sisters in Christ who we have come to love beyond words, the statement said. It is with inexpressible joy that we tell you that our friends had placed their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. As a result, we know they are currently with Him, a reality we are quite envious of. There is no doubt that what they are currently seeing through their eyes is unspeakable joy, as they have finished the race set before them and are now enjoying fellowship with their Savior. The five young adults were driving on Interstate 80 on Sunday when a Dodge Ram was reported heading east in the westbound lanes. The pickup truck collided with a passenger car and commercial truck, forcing another truck to swerve into the other side of the road where the driver collided head-on with the students' Ford F-150. The truck and the students' vehicle were engulfed in flames, killing the five young adults and leaving others with critical injuries. The driver of the Dodge Ram who allegedly caused the wrong-way crashes has not been identified. Officials said the individual "may receive future charges as the investigation unfolds." Following the accident, the five young people were remembered by their church and community for their strong faith and commitment to evangelism. Lydia VanderVate, who grew up going to church with the group, told KARK, It feels like my heart is broken. They all had such bubbly personalities, could get along, always laughing with each other. Ruth and Betsy Peters, owners of the Humble Crumb bakery, where three of the students had worked, said they take comfort in a recent Bible verse both Susana and Ava had posted on their Instagram accounts: "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." The bakery said they would be closing for two weeks to allow employees to grieve the girls' deaths. "Our lives are forever changed and the bakery will continually feel this void. Our small team lost two of our own, two of our gems, on Sunday," the Facebook post said. "The news has broken our hearts and we are still trying the wrap our minds around this new reality. "We have ONE comfort and ONE hope and that is the comfort that comes only from God," the business posted on Facebook. "Ava and Suzy loved Jesus and they knew Jesus as their redeeming Savior. They wanted to serve him with their lives and they were trusting in HIM for their salvation. They are now with HIM in glory and while we suffer their loss, our hearts are also filled with hope." On Facebook, Faith Bible Fellowship said there will be a combined funeral service held for Salomon, Andrea, Maggie, Ava and Suzy at 10 a.m. on Feb. 4 at the Sylvan Hills High School Performing Arts Center. Spirited North Carolina preacher goes skydiving for his 98th birthday At 98 years old, longtime North Carolina preacher Roy Jernigan doesnt have a doctor, hasnt had a physical exam in 15 years and is on no medication but the good Lord and black coffee. And to celebrate his longevity on Tuesday, he went skydiving with his family for his birthday and plans to do it again when he turns 100. My advice to anyone, if God blesses you and gives you the number of years that hes given me, burn out your life living for others. Youll never regret it, Jernigan told WECT News 6 after completing the challenge with his daughter and granddaughter. Jernigan, who served as a Naval Corpsman during the Korean and Vietnam Wars and was an understudy as a clown in the Ringling Brothers Circus at the start of World War II, told WRAL News that he was never a thrill seeker but decided to take on the challenge which his family claims started out as a joke. I didnt think hed go through with it [...] not much surprises me these days from him. Hes a risk taker I guess, granddaughter April Lintner told WECT News 6. Prior to Jernigans jump in Southport, Pastor Scott Netterville of Ambassador Baptist Ministries in Bourbonnais, Illinois, told The Christian Post that he wasnt surprised that the man who resigned from full-time preaching in Texas just over a year ago would decide to go skydiving. That sounds like something Jernigan would do, said Netterville who has known Jernigan for approximately six years. The first time I met him it was summertime down in South Texas. He was up on a ladder working on the siding on his house. I think he was 92 years old, he said. He is a very fit man. On Monday night, hours before his first skydiving experience, Jernigan talked about his birthday celebration on his Preacher Roy Ministries Facebook page. Before I get into tonight, tomorrow is my 98th birthday. I had a lovely, lovely, birthday party on Saturday night at Parkers barbeque in Wilson. There were 75 people there. I didnt know I had that many friends in the world but what a joy and a blessing, he quipped. I certainly appreciate everyone who was there. He explained that he never anticipated getting to the age of 98, but counts it a real blessing. He then shared his quirky reasoning for deciding to go skydiving. A lot of people say why in the world are you at your age [going skydiving]. I said because I couldnt get up the nerve any younger. Its a challenge and Im not gonna say a whole lot more about that tonight, but Lord willing nothing happens on Thursday night Ill give you a report of the experience. And as I told my son, Larry, when he was talking to me about this, I said, I have walked on water but I have never flown through the air. Got to give that a chance, Jernigan said. He said, When did you walk on water? Well, I was in the Arctic Ocean and we were frozen in and I walked around the ship. The water was real cold, as a matter of fact it was ice but it was water. Jernigan, who Lives in La Grange with his daughter, Linda, told WRAL that his mind is so sharp, "I can remember when I was two years old. I can quote the Gettysburg address." I mean its, its awesome because hes able to do. Hes able to go and come. And I told him the other day, I said, talk about 100. And he said, Oh, I dont want to live to 100. I said, Why not? Youve got good health, youve got a good mind. And so you know theres no reason that you couldnt just do what youre doing now even in two more years, his daughter told WECT 6 that she urged he preacher father after the jump. It was a good experience, something I had never done, Jernigan said when he landed. I can tell people how it feels to find out if youre gonna hit it or not. Topless woman vandalizes church, damages Jesus statue A woman has been accused of vandalizing a North Dakota church building while topless and barefoot, allegedly damaging a statue of Jesus in the process, according to authorities. Brittney Marie Reynolds, 35, allegedly broke into St. Marys Cathedral of Fargo on Tuesday evening and vandalized a statue of Jesus before police arrested her fleeing the scene. Reynolds was held at Cass County Jail and made her first court appearance on Wednesday, with officials also accusing her of assaulting staff at Essentia Health Emergency Room, reported Valley News Live/Gray News. The estimated cost of the damage comes out to $11,500, according to Fargo police. Paul Braun, the director of communications for the Catholic Diocese of Fargo, told The Christian Post that the statue, Christ in Death, was located at the Cathedrals southside entrance. We hope the suspect in this incident gets the help she apparently needs, and we are praying for her well-being, Braun said. Braun told CP that the cathedral is located near homeless shelters and a hospital, and that oftentimes people will enter the building to warm up, noting their doors are open to all during the day. This was also not the first time that St. Marys has been the subject of vandalism, noted Braun, as they have had a few recent incidents of vandalism. A man came in off the street and security cameras showed him ascending the altar, sitting in the bishops chair, and knocking a marble crucifix off of the altar and onto the floor. He was charged, he said. Another incident involved a young woman who had previous run-ins with authorities. She spray-painted our statue of Jesus located outside the Cathedral with black paint. She was detained and sent for medical and mental evaluation. Not all efforts to damage statues have been successful, as a man in Mexico recently found out when he allegedly attempted to steal a statue of St. Michael the Archangel. According a report translated by the Catholic News Agency, 32-year-old Carlos Alonso allegedly went to Christ the King Parish of Monterrey earlier this month to rob the church while intoxicated. However, as he tried to get away, he tripped and landed on the sword that the St. Michael statue was holding, cutting his neck and requiring him to be hospitalized before being handed over to authorities. SBC President Bart Barber says sexual abuse hotline 'worth the cost' in response to concerns Bart Barber, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, said the cost of doing nothing to combat sexual abuse outweighs the cost of doing something in response to concerns about the cost of an abuse hotline. For all of my adult life there have been occasions where sexual abuse took place and the (Southern Baptist) Convention was sued and weve been paying that expense, Barber said in a video posted on Twitter earlier this month. The only way to make the expense go away is to make the abuse go away. And I firmly believe that anything that we can do to prevent sexual abuse in our churches, anything that we can do to aid survivors and help them is money well spent and reduces our expenses in the long run. The cost of doing something. The cost of doing nothing. pic.twitter.com/rpyAWUXWro Bart Barber (@bartbarber) January 17, 2023 The hotline was established by the SBC Executive Committee in May 2022 in response to a report released by Guidepost Solutions detailing how the denominations leadership mishandled sexual abuse allegations for two decades. The hotline is managed by Guidepost. The goal of the SBC Hotline is to gather reports of current or former allegations of sexual abuse in a trauma-informed, safe atmosphere for survivors so as to inform the SBC about any past or current issues and allegations which demand action, reads the hotline website. On Twitter, Barber addressed questions about the monthly costs associated with a hotline to report alleged incidents of sexual abuse within the denomination. Barber said, theres not a flat monthly cost for the hotline and explained that the cost varies based on call volume. And of course, the first few months of the hotline came when wed never had anything like that before and because wed never had anything like that before, theres a backlog of people waiting to call in, he said. Barber said despite the high costs, he believes having the hotline is the right thing to do. I think according to Gods economy and according to the way that accountants look at the economy, its a good investment for Southern Baptist[s] to do everything that we can, even if it costs some money to do it, everything that we can to assist our local churches to prevent abuse and to comfort those and provide support for those who are survivors of abuse, he added. Barber also said the main thing that motivated SBC messengers to establish the hotline is the human cost, adding: I think the main thing that has motivated us is the human cost. If we dont care about the human cost of abuse, then were in the wrong business and were serving the wrong master. Over the last several years, the SBC has sought to tackle the issue of sexual abuse. In June, the SBC overwhelmingly voted to pass a series of abuse reform recommendations at its Annual Meeting in Anaheim, California. In December, the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force, the group tasked by SBC messengers with creating the policies, issued an update on their work and reaffirmed their commitment to helping churches prevent sexual abuse and minister well to abuse survivors. Among other duties, the group was tasked with creating a Ministry Check database to keep track of church leaders accused of sexual abuse. The names listed on the website would be people who have been "credibly accused" of sexual abuse. This encompasses a "pastor, denominational worker, or ministry employee or volunteer who has confessed to sexual abuse in a non-privileged setting, who has been convicted in a court of law, or who has had a civil judgment rendered against them." ARITF Chairman Marshall Blalock told the Baptist Press that since September, the group has worked to create multiple reforms which must be designed from the ground up. We have had to divide the team into smaller groups to work simultaneously on these important initiatives, he said. We realized when we started back in September the work before us was far more complicated than it appears at first glance. Blalock told BP the group plans to publish the new initiatives in the new year. While the task is more difficult than anticipated, our team is united by a Christ-honoring passion to help churches prevent sexual abuse and minister well to abuse survivors. We understand the urgency of what we have been called to do, and that drives us every day. What does it mean to be anointed? Tony Evans answers Pastor Tony Evans recently explained what it means to be anointed, saying the key for Christians is "knowing what it is and how to use it." In a sermon preached at his Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church in Dallas, Texas, on Sunday, the 73-year-old preacher said that every Christian has what he calls the anointing or the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit designed to do His work in [a Christians] life, as shown in 1 Corinthians 6:19. If you are saved, you have it. You possess it. You own it. It is there. God has turned everything in history over to His Son. It is only by you bringing glory to the Son that the Spirit kicks off, Evans preached. Jesus Christ, privately and publicly, must be able to be exalted in your life. Give the anointing a chance. Put it first. Take the written Word. Put it in the face of the Holy Spirit. Do it on the front end and lets see what programming God brings into your life. In recent weeks, Evans has been preaching about the Trinity and wanted to focus on the Holy Spirit, explaining that "this third member of the Trinity is the one given to do work on Earth on behalf of the Godhead in Heaven." "God the Father was the point person in the Old Testament. Jesus the Son was the point person on Earth during the Gospels, Evans said. God, the Holy Spirit is the point person during this which we call the Church age. He is that member of the Trinity who has been assigned to act on their behalf in history." "The Father functions from the third Heaven. The Son sits on His right hand to rule spiritually in Heaven to Earth and He does that through the third member of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, he added. Evans pointed to 1 John 2 to derive a look into the anointing or the Holy Spirit's indwelling. He also pointed to Acts 10:38, which states how Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit. This word is a word that speaks to a specific work of the Holy Spirit that you dont want to leave home without, Evans said. "The anointing and the Anointed One is speaking of the work of the Holy Spirit in a persons life, including in the life of Jesus Christ." You cant be a Christian and not be anointed. If you are a Christian, you have the anointing. So, the key is knowing what it is and how to use it so you can benefit from it. Evans said that the purpose of the anointing is "to illuminate, bring to light, elucidate," the messages of God to a Christian or "to take from up there and show it to you down here." "The job of the anointing is to give you the data from Heaven to your operation and my operation in history. If you dont know you have it and you dont know how to use it, you wont benefit from it, even though you possess it, Evans stressed. Evans said he believed many, if not most, Christians in the modern day dont know they have access to the anointing of the Holy Spirit, even though they do. "When the soul gets the information from the human spirit that has been illuminated by the Holy Spirit, the soul feeds that data to the body, Evans said. When the body gets the data from the soul that is received from the human spirit, that has been anointed by the Holy Spirit, the body now functions differently because it has new data that has been in it." Evans believes the "reason why we have problems with our bodies is we have an infection in our soul. But the reason we have an infection in our soul is because we have a human spirit that's been contaminated by sin." When the anointing enters the human spirit, because the anointing is perfect, the human spirit is now perfect because it has been anointed," said Evans. "So, youve got a perfect resident in your human spirit that now wants to give information to your infected soul." Christians can experience newfound healing in their soul when they receive the messaging that the Holy Spirit sends to them, Evans added. If you want to fix your body, you got to clean up your soul. But if you want to clean up your soul, its got to get information from your spirit. But to get information correctly from your spirit, it's got to be inhabited by the anointing, Evans said. The Holy Spirit Googles God, Evans told his congregation, which means He knows the deep things of God. The Spirit of God has a search engine," he said. "It says [in Scripture] He searches the deep things of God. So, He can go deep like a deep sea diver into the thinking of God and His job is to transfer Gods thoughts to your life." Prescribing abortion pills without ectopic pregnancy screening puts women's lives at risk: doctor Emergency room doctors have been advised to be on the lookout for patients who took abortion pills without first receiving a screening for an ectopic pregnancy, a concern some pro-life groups have also raised after the Food and Drug Administration loosened restrictions on the use of abortion-inducing drugs. Dr. Ingrid Skop, an OB-GYN who serves as a senior fellow and the director of medical affairs for the pro-life research group, the Charlotte Lozier Institute, said this type of situation has been a concern for a long time, going back to the FDA's removal of the in-person requirements for the abortion pills in December 2021. Addressing concerns about safety following a published article in The New England Journal of Medicine, titled "Discovery of an Ectopic Pregnancy after Attempted Self-Managed Abortion," Skop said the doctors who wrote the article published in NEJM "seemed to miss the point by saying emergency room physicians be aware that this could happen." Rather than saying, wait a minute, let's back this up. If we're going to provide chemical abortion pills, let's make sure we do it in the safest way for women by requiring the woman to have in-person medical supervision, where she receives an ultrasound before her abortion, so that we know for sure that we are not treating a woman with a chemical abortion who, in fact, has an ectopic pregnancy. Skop, an OBGYN with over 25 years of experience, explained that mifepristone and misoprostol, the two drugs used in the chemical abortion regimen, exert their action on the uterus. The drugs do not have an effect on an ectopic pregnancy, which takes place outside of the uterus. The pro-life doctor noted that a woman might think the pain and bleeding shes experiencing are a sign that the chemical abortion drugs are working, but it could actually be a sign that her life is in danger. Skop said that when a tube ruptures in an ectopic pregnancy, it cannot contract and cut off the flow of blood, and a woman can bleed to death. So, it's very cavalier to say, 'Oh, watch out for this in a woman who presents to the emergency room, Skop said. By the time she's in the emergency room, she may be in very dire straits. The time to be concerned about this is prior to prescribing the chemical abortion pills. The NEJM article published Thursday describes the case of a 22-year-old female patient showing signs of an ectopic pregnancy. The woman had previously taken the abortion pills before arriving at the emergency room for care. A history of recent medical abortion (including self-managed abortion) without previous confirmation of intrauterine pregnancy, a history of previous ectopic pregnancy or previous tubal surgery, the presence of an intrauterine device, or ultrasound findings of abdominal free fluid should increase concern for ectopic pregnancy, the NEJM article states. Isabel Beshar, a resident at Stanford Medical school, authored the NEJM paper alongside several of her colleagues. In the article, they advise that Clinicians should routinely assess beta human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in patients of reproductive age presenting with abdominal pain and consider the possibility of ectopic pregnancy. Beshar and other medical professionals behind the article advise physicians to maintain a high index of suspicion for patients experiencing ectopic pregnancy symptoms, particularly among women who underwent a chemical abortion without first receiving a diagnosis. Skop, however, raised concerns that Beshar and her colleagues did not make a more emphatic and reasonable call for medical supervision and screening for ectopic pregnancy before prescribing abortion-inducing drugs. The pro-life OBGYN called for the FDA to do its job, which is to protect the American public from dangerous medication. And the loosening of these restrictions in a way that clearly will put women's lives at risk while seeking a chemical abortion is a dereliction of their duty, Skop said. And I think they can reexamine the evidence, and they can back up, and they can put these in-person restrictions back in place. As The Christian Post previously reported, the FDA announced earlier this month that it had modified restrictions on abortion pills after reviewing the Mifepristone REMS Program, which the agency started in 2021. Under the new regulation, certified pharmacies can dispense abortion-inducing drugs and women can also obtain them via a telehealth appointment or through the mail. According to a 2021 peer-reviewed longitudinal study conducted by the Charlotte Lozier Institute, the rate of emergency room visits after a chemical abortion increased by over 500% from 2002 through 2015. The researchers also noted that by 2015, 60.9% of emergency room visits due to complications from the use of chemical abortion pills were miscoded as miscarriages. Death to Christians: 2 churches attacked in Spain; 1 dead, 4 injured At least one person was killed and four injured after a man entered two churches in Spain and attacked the congregations with a machete, an act authorities are investigating as terrorism. An individual assaulted clergymen on Wednesday at San Isidro Church and Nuestra Senora de La Palma Church in downtown Algeciras, reported Reuters. Local media reports that the arrested suspect is a 25-year-old Moroccan, though police have not released details. Francisco Garcia, secretary general of Spain's Episcopal Conference, expressed "great pain" over the attack on the two priests. "These are sad times of suffering; we are united by the pain of the victims' families and for the Cadiz Diocese," he stated, as quoted by Reuters. Spain Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez offered condolences on social media while Algeciras Mayor Jose Ignacio Landaluce declared a day of mourning for the city. Witnesses heard the suspect shout "Allahu akbar" and "death to Christians" as he attacked the churches, according to The Telegraph. One of the priests is still in serious condition after being stabbed in the neck. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said he believes the suspect, identified by some as Yasine Kanjaa, likely acted alone "with no third parties involved in the facts," as quoted by the Telegraph. Christian and Muslim organizations in Spain have condemned the attacks, while Spain's Vox Party reportedly blamed the government's allegedly lax immigration policies. Last October, the Migration Policy Institute published a report describing Spain as "one of Europe's largest migrant destinations," as approximately 7.3 million of its residents were immigrants. "[R]esponsibility for immigrant integration has largely been handed to Spain's 17 autonomous communities, which enjoy wide authority as result of the country's devolved political system," noted the report. "Matters relating to asylum, border control, and legal status are exclusive to the national government, but policies key to integration including social services, housing, and employment have been granted to subnational governments." According to a 2018 report from the British Broadcasting Corporation, more than 30,000 individuals illegally entered Spain that year, "the highest in more than a decade." "Once they reach Spain, they keep on moving some continue to other European countries, others try to start a new life in Spain," reported the BBC at the time. Across Europe, hate crimes against Christians have escalated in recent years. According to a report released last fall by the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe, there were over 519 incidents classified as hate crimes against Christians in 2021, with 30 occurring in Spain. Just 29% of white parents see college degree as important, while most minority parents still do In June 2021, comedian and political commentator Bill Maher slammed college as a racket on his political talk show "Real Time with Bill Maher" on HBO. Now that graduation season has ended and we wont be spoiling anyones big day, lets talk about what higher education in America really is a racket that sells you a very expensive ticket to the upper middle class, Maher declared to wide applause and cheers. The comedian has not been alone in his criticism. A few months later in December of that year, partially paralyzed former Republican Congressman Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina, who attended a Christian college for one semester before dropping out, urged conservative youth to drop out of college if they arent studying medicine, law or engineering because higher education is a scam. I am proudly a college dropout. If you are not becoming an engineer or a doctor or a lawyer, I highly encourage you to drop out. Its a scam, Cawthorn said at AmericaFest 2021. Like Cawthorn, many men citing the diminishing returns to having a college degree are also now choosing to forgo what many families previously treated as a rite of passage into adulthood. While some 32% of the U.S. population 25 years of age and older holds at least a bachelors degree, according to data from the American Community Survey, new data from a Pew Research Center study show that only a minority of white parents view a college degree as extremely or very important for their children while most minority parents do. In Parenting in America Today released on Tuesday, Pew researchers Rachel Minkin and Juliana Horowitz highlighted this and other findings collected from a survey conducted from Sept. 20 to Oct. 2, 2022, of 3,757 U.S. parents with children younger than 18. The data was collected as part of a larger survey to better understand how American parents approach parenting. The survey showed that only about 41% of parents say its extremely or very important that their children earn a college degree. When broken down by race, the data shows stark disparities between how white parents and minority parents value higher education. When it comes to the importance parents place on their children graduating from college: 70% of Asian parents say this is extremely or very important to them, compared with 57% of Hispanic parents, 51% of black parents, and just 29% of white parents, the researchers wrote. Data from a Pew Research Center Survey conducted in 2015 showed that a majority of parents in general, including white parents, said it was either extremely important or very important that their children earn a college degree. According to that survey, 86% of Hispanic parents, 79% of black parents and 67% of white parents agreed on this. Researcher Renee Stepler suggested at the time that the reason for the gaps in the views on college between the racial groups may be linked to how each group saw a college degrees importance in moving up the economic ladder. Roughly half (49%) of Hispanics and 43% of blacks say that a college education is a requirement to be part of the middle class, compared with just 22% of whites. However, white adults are more likely than black or Hispanic adults to already be in the middle class or higher, which may account in part for the fact that fewer whites see college as essential, Stepler argued. Jean Eddy, president and CEO of the national nonprofit American Student Assistance, told The Christian Post in a statement that she is not surprised that parents are thinking outside of the college degree when it comes to mapping financial success for their children. Its not surprising that parents are thinking outside of the college degree, as more and more young people are increasingly skeptical of the high school-to-college route and desire more flexible post-secondary education pathways, Eddy said. In the spring of 2022, there were 662,000 fewer students enrolled in undergraduate programs compared to the previous year, and a recent study found that just 53% of todays high schoolers say they are likely to attend college. Colorado judge dismisses 1 of 2 charges against Jack Phillips for not making pro-transgender cake A judge has decided to throw out one of two charges against Colorado-based Christian baker Jack Phillips over his refusal to make a transgender-themed cake. A trans-identified man who goes by the name Autumn Scardina filed a lawsuit against Masterpiece Cakeshop in June 2019 after the baker refused to make a cake celebrating Scardinas gender transition. The suit claimed that Phillips violated two state laws, the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act and the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, when refusing to create the cake. However, in a ruling released Thursday, Denver District Court Judge A. Bruce Jones granted the defendants motion to drop the charge of violating the CCPA by allegedly engaging in an unfair or deceptive trade practice. Defendants contend that Plaintiff cannot show an unfair or deceptive trade practice because the most salient materials Plaintiff allegedly relied on are not advertisements. Because the Court agrees with this contention, it need not address Defendants remaining arguments, wrote Jones. Plaintiff has failed to establish an actionable unfair or deceptive trade practice. Accordingly, summary judgment enters in Defendants favor on Plaintiffs CCPA claim. Jones did not dismiss the second charge, however, which accuses Phillips of violating CADA, explaining that Scardina need not establish that [his] transgender status was the sole cause of the denial of services. Perhaps the analysis would be different if the cake design had been more intricate, artistically involved, or overtly stated a message, continued Jones. The Court cannot conclude, based on the current record, that the act of making a pink cake with blue frosting, at Plaintiffs request, would convey a celebratory message about gender transitions likely to be understood by reasonable observers. Alliance Defending Freedom General Counsel Kristen Waggoner, who is helping to represent Phillips, said in a statement on Thursday that the decision was the first step toward final justice for Phillips. Jack has been threatened with financial ruin simply because he makes decisions about which messages to create and celebrate decisions that every other artist in Colorado is free to make, she stated. Tolerance for different opinions is essential. We look forward to defending Jack and ultimately prevailing on the remaining claim. Over the past few years, Phillips has weathered extensive legal battles over his religious objections to making same-sex wedding and pro-transgender cakes. In 2018, the United States Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that Colorados Civil Rights Commission was wrong to punish Phillips for refusing to make a same-sex wedding cake in 2012 when gay marriage was illegal in that state. The Supreme Court ruled that the Commission violated Phillips' right to free exercise of religion due to the bias showed in their application of civil rights law. To describe a man's faith as 'one of the most despicable pieces of rhetoric that people can use' is to disparage his religion in at least two distinct ways: by describing it as despicable, and also by characterizing it as merely rhetoricalsomething insubstantial and even insincere, wrote then-Justice Anthony Kennedy, for the majority. This sentiment is inappropriate for a Commission charged with the solemn responsibility of fair and neutral enforcement of Colorado's anti-discrimination lawa law that protects discrimination on the basis of religion as well as sexual orientation. 22-year-old diver lost at sea for 2 hours celebrates 'miracle' after family rescue A 22-year-old spear fisherman from Key West, Florida, who got lost at sea for two hours last Thursday after he was pulled away from the coast by the Gulf Stream, is celebrating a miracle after he was rescued alive by his own family before authorities could reach him. The emotional rescue of the fisherman, Dylan Gartenmayer, was captured on video by his cousin, Priscilla Gartenmayer, who declared that God was definitely on our side in her familys rescue of her cousin. Got a horrible phone call yesterday that Dyl had went diving and hadnt been seen for two hours! After calling the fam together we hopped on the contender and had the scariest boat ride of our life out to his last known coordinates. God was definitely on our side because as soon as we stopped running out and started looking, we spotted him right away at almost the exact coordinates we were given, Priscilla Gartenmayer wrote in a Facebook post on Friday. In three videos posted to his cousins TikTok account, which have gone viral with millions of likes and views, Dylan Gartenmayer also explained how he was drift diving with his friends when he got in trouble at sea. I was drift diving and they were following me pretty good [on a boat], he explained in one video. We started going more east, more east. The Gulf Stream was coming in a little along the east. Id made a dive a little bit longer than the ones I had been making and the current had picked up considerably Id notice whenever I was on the bottom, he said. Eventually, he got dragged so far from the boat he could no longer see it. Whenever Id surface, theyd never see me resurface. So the current, it ended up taking me faster and faster [away] from them. And I got to a point where the boat had disappeared. At that point I realized things were starting to get serious, the diver said. The 22-year-old fisherman said he began making life-saving moves after that, like dropping weights from his belt to keep them from pulling him down. He said as the cold water began getting to him, providence sent a piece of drifting bamboo his way. I got lucky and a piece of bamboo that was big enough to float me ended up drifting about 30 feet east of me so I swam over to that and hung on that for a while. [I] had a big sea turtle come up around me and started to get closer and closer to me and I had the idea if I could grab on to it maybe I could scare him but I knew that wasnt going to work so he ended up leaving, he said. Dylan Gartenmayer explained that as he clung to the piece of bamboo, he decided that he needed to keep from drifting. I knew that the further and further I got out the less of a chance that I would be found and its taking me out deeper and deeper so I had about a mile and a quarter swim to make it to the nearest reef, he said. The nearest reef from where he was at the time was the Western Sambo and he began swimming toward it. He eventually got to a shoal marker near the reef and tried to climb it but he realized there was nothing there for him to hold on to so he ended up cutting three different mooring balls from a line and tying them together to make himself a little raft. [I] floated around on that and just kinda laying on my chest so I could start trying to conserve body heat, he said. The young diver explained that as he waited for salvation, his hands and toes began to get a little numb and danger began lurking around him in the water as it got dark. I was watching the sun drop pretty quickly, Id imagine this was about 5 p.m. or so. I had a small plane fly above, they didnt see me. About 30 minutes later they flew back again, still didnt see me. And then shortly after that, the sun disappeared across the horizon. Looking to the east it was pitch black, looking to the west, you could see the remnants of the sunset, he said. As he watched the sun disappear, Dylan Gartenmayer said things started to get a little dire. Id just seen a reef shark swim past me, he said, noting that he could see bait and mackerel around him which indicated that there was a bunch of activity in the water where he, at this point, had only 10 feet of visibility. Getting later into the darkness I could see the Coast Guard out there searching for me where I was at originally. And seeing the chopper going back and forth doing its grid pattern. They would have come and found me eventually. But by some miracle, my parents and everybody else on board my grandfathers boat had ended up driving and basically landed right on top of me, which was nice, he said. Priscilla Gartenmayer told NBC 6 that it was an emotional experience for her because she and her cousin grew up together. "That was really emotional for me, she said. So, you know, we know how lucky we are to still have Dylan here. Coast Guard Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator, Lieutenant Commander Elizabeth Tatum, praised the young fisherman for his resourcefulness in the water because oftentimes, divers who find themselves in that situation do not emerge alive. Too often missing diver cases dont have positive outcomes, and the circumstances of this case didnt forecast for one," she said. "Sunset, weather conditions and Dylans outfit were playing against us in this case, but his foresight to lash mooring balls together to make him a bigger target in the water was smart. In sermon after plane crash that killed 5 members, pastor reflects on 'God of comfort amidst chaos' On the first Sunday since four Harvest Church members died in a plane crash, congregants gathered at the Germantown, Tennessee, church to hear a message about Gods promises and faithfulness amid suffering. On Jan. 17, the Memphis-area church lost an executive pastor, an elder, and two staff members when the plane Steve Tucker was piloting crashed in a Texas field. Senior pastor Kennon Vaughan, who founded both Harvest Church and Downline Ministries, was the sole survivor and remains in the hospital in stable condition. In a message delivered Sunday morning, Jamie Trussell, Harvests ministry development and teaching pastor, said the church has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support it has been shown over the last week. To all the churches and believers across the country and, honestly, across the world that have sought to provide us comfort and cover us in prayer please know that, from us to you, we are forever and immensely grateful, he said. Trussell told Harvest Church members, This past week has been your finest moment. ... I know what it means for Jesus to say in John 13 that everyone will know you are my disciples by the way you love one another. Your actions this week were the profound sermon my heart needed. Trussell said, We turn to [Gods] Word knowing this: that in turning to the Scriptures were actually turning to God Himself. For we believe in His Word God still speaks, and in speaking, God promises to be a God of comfort amidst chaos. During the service, congregants sang songs full of words of comfort, including My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less, Crown Him with Many Crowns, Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me, and When Peace Like a River. Cathy Tucker, whose husband was killed in the accident, helped lead worship. Trussells sermon focused on Romans 8:1822, which reads, in part: I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. If youre like me, it is that tension that has defined this week suffering and glory, pain and promises, anticipation for a future actuality, he said. "If you put the two on a scale, Paul says the glory of the life to come far outweighs the suffering of today." So then why does it hurt so bad? Trussell said. If youve corrected my perspective and I know future glory outweighs earthly pain, why does it still feel like it feels? The pastor said that verse 19 answered such a question: For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God now that phrase, revealing of the sons of God, that is a future state, he said. That is a hope and longing for and begging for an existence we have not yet tasted. We have these longings because things hurt, but we have hope because there was a promise, and that promise was fulfilled when God came to Earth in the person of His Son, lived a sinless life, took His wrath upon Himself, died on that cross, rose from the dead so that we can be called children of God, he said. But even so, suffering and glory continues. Trussell reminded congregants that the pain they are feeling now is going to produce something new: Just like the pain in childbirth progresses to new life, the pain were feeling now progresses till we get to glory, we see Jesus, and in the revealing of the sons of God we become something we have never been before glorified body, restored, sin removed, looking like our Savior. Citing Romans 8:26, Trussell stressed that God doesnt let His people suffer alone: Someone else is involved in that groaningthat my groaning to which I could not find words is taken by the Holy Spirit, he assigns the proper words, and he takes it to our Father. He knows were groaning. Just like the four church leaders who flew into glory, Trussell reminded the congregation, One day, all of us who are in Christ, we get to fly home too. The funeral for executive pastor Bill Garner was Saturday, while the visitation and memorial service for Steve Tucker, a Harvest elder, will be held Saturday. A funeral service for church member Tyler Patterson will be held next Sunday. "One of the core values at Harvest is family and Tyler took that to heart embodying every aspect of what it is to lead and love his family. Please keep his wife Mary Elizabeth 'Emme,' his daughter Elsie, his son JB, and his extended family in your prayers, the church wrote in an update Wednesday. The church also revealed that Pastor Vaughan is doing well in his recovery, though he is in pain and is being treated for a minor infection. Kennon is doing extremely well in his progress overall and the doctors continue to be encouraged with how quickly he has progressed, the church said. We know that this is due to the many prayers of saints across the county and world interceding on his behalf. For that we are eternally grateful. The Lord is doing a mighty work. Blessed be His name! Judge rules against Christian baker Jack Phillips in transgender 'birthday' cake case A judge has ruled that Colorado Christian baker Jack Phillips violated state anti-discrimination law by refusing to bake a pink-and-blue transgender birthday cake. Denver District Court Judge A. Bruce Jones ruled Tuesday that Phillips violated the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act by refusing to make the cake for Autumn Scardina. In his opinion, Jones concluded that Phillips engaged in unlawful discrimination by denying goods and services" because of Scardina's "transgender status." The ruling states that Phillips' wife had initially agreed to make a pink cake with blue frosting for about six to eight people. But the cake was rejected after Scardina disclosed the meaning behind the cake's custom design. Defendants admit that they were willing to make the requested cake until Ms. Scardina identified that she chose the colors to reflect and celebrate her identity as a transgender female, wrote Jones. Defendants are, however, willing to make cakes for non-transgender individuals that reflect that persons gender. And Defendants would gladly make an identical looking cake for other customers. Jones also wrote that it was possible that the analysis would be different if the cake design had been more intricate, artistically involved, or overtly stated a message attributable to Defendants. Defendants expressive conduct argument fails because Defendants presented no evidence that a reasonable observer would attribute any message that was conveyed by the cake to Defendants, he continued. Defendants have failed to carry their burden to show that providing the requested cake constituted any type of symbolic or expressive speech protected by the First Amendment. Alliance Defending Freedom General Counsel Kristen Waggoner, whose organization represents Phillips during his years of legal battles, vowed to appeal the decision. Radical activists and government officials are targeting artists like Jack because they wont promote messages on marriage and sexuality that violate their core convictions, said Waggoner. We will appeal this decision and continue to defend the freedom of all Americans to peacefully live and work according to their deeply held beliefs without fear of punishment. Over the past several years, Phillips has weathered extensive legal battles over his religious objections to making cakes for a same-sex wedding and a cake to celebrate transgender identity. In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that Colorados Civil Rights Commission unfairly treated Phillips when it punished him for refusing to make a same-sex wedding cake in 2012. Scardina filed a lawsuit against Phillips and Masterpiece Cakeshop in June 2019 after the baker refused to make Scardinas transgender birthday cake. The lawsuit claimed that Phillips violated the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act and the Colorado Consumer Protection Act when he refused on religious grounds. In March, Judge Jones dropped the charge that Phillips had violated the CCPA by allegedly engaging in an unfair or deceptive trade practice. Defendants contend that Plaintiff cannot show an unfair or deceptive trade practice because the most salient materials Plaintiff allegedly relied on are not advertisements. Because the Court agrees with this contention, it need not address Defendants remaining arguments, wrote Jones. Plaintiff has failed to establish an actionable unfair or deceptive trade practice. Accordingly, summary judgment enters in Defendants favor on Plaintiffs CCPA claim. Mississippi school forces student to stop wearing pro-Trump mask A Mississippi high school has reportedly forced a student to stop wearing a face mask in support of President Donald Trump, a move that a top free speech legal nonprofit argues is a violation of constitutional rights because other political masks have been allowed. Northwest Rankin High School in Flowood allegedly forced junior David Ferguson to remove a blue Trump 2020 campaign face mask that includes the message, "Keep America Great! The Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative nonprofit that advocates for free speech and has won several cases at the U.S. Supreme Court, sent a letter on Tuesday to Rankin County School District Board of Education President Grumpy Farmer regarding the incident. According to the letter written by ADF Legal Counsel Caleb Dalton, the principal at Northwest Rankin High approached Ferguson in September and told him to remove the mask. The principal allegedly offered the student a plain face mask as a replacement. Although the official reason for the mask removal was over its political content, the letter claimed other face masks with political statements have been allowed "without reprimand." Apparently, other students and teachers are allowed to wear face masks and other clothing with political messages without reprimand including messages supporting [Democrat presidential nominee Joe] Biden, BLM and Rainbow masks, reads the letter, in part. The application of this policy to prohibit Mr. Ferguson from wearing a Trump face mask violates long-standing First Amendment principles. Dalton said in a statement Tuesday that public schools must respect the free expression of students. While school administrators face challenges in helping students navigate school life while wearing masks at this time, they simply cant suspend the First Amendment or arbitrarily pick and choose the messages that students can or cant express, stated Dalton. Other students within the school district have freely worn masks and shirts with political messages, including symbols supporting other political candidates, the LGBTQ community, and the words Black Lives Matter. This student deserves an equal opportunity to peacefully express his beliefs. The Christian Post reached out to the school district for comment on Dalton's letter and claims that the school permits the wearing of other types of political masks. A response is pending. Elsewhere in Mississippi, the ADF is handling a similar case in which a third-grade student was prohibited from wearing a face mask that had the phrase Jesus Loves Me written on it. Earlier this week, the ADF filed a lawsuit on behalf of Lydia Booth against officials with the Simpson County School District and Simpson Central School. Simpson County Superintendent Greg Paes, one of the defendants named in the suit, sent out a letter to students, families and staff last month soon after the Booth incident. Paes wrote that the school district does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, disability, marital status or age in admission or access to, or treatment of employment in, its programs or activities. Masks cannot display political, religious, sexual or any inappropriate symbols, gestures or statements that may be offensive, disruptive or deemed distractive to the school environment, stated Paes. This expectation was outlined in our restart plan and is specific to masks only. The principal and Superintendent will be the final authority on the appropriateness of any mask worn to school. Wearing school colors, the school mascot or simply having a blank mask is encouraged." Pope Francis says 'being homosexual is not a crime' but still a sin Pope Francis said in an interview this week that while homosexuality is sinful, countries should not criminalize homosexual practices. In an interview with The Associated Press Tuesday, Pope Francis acknowledged that homosexuality is a sin while stressing the importance of distinguishing between sin and crime. Being homosexual is not a crime," the pontiff said. We are all children of God, and God loves us as we are and for the strength that each of us has to fight for our dignity, he added. Addressing the distinction between sin and crime, Francis asked: Its also a sin to lack charity with one another, so what about that? Noting that dozens of countries criminalize homosexual behavior and several classify homosexual practices as a death penalty offense, the pope described such laws as unfair. He argued that the Catholic Church must advocate against such laws. Data compiled by Human Rights Watch shows that 67 countries, primarily located in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and small island countries in the Caribbean and Pacific, outlaw same-sex relations. Countries where homosexual acts are punishable by the death penalty include Brunei, Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Francis comments mark the latest example of the Bishop of Rome calling for a welcoming stance towards those with same-sex attraction while declining to change the denominations teachings that marriage is a union between a man and a woman and that homosexuality is a sin. In 2020, Francis expressed support for a civil union law, stating in a documentary that Homosexual people have a right to be in a family." "They are children of God and have a right to a family," he said. "Nobody should be thrown out or be made miserable over it. After his remarks generated pushback, the Vatican clarified that Pope Francis was referring to particular state regulations, certainly not the doctrine of the church, which he has reaffirmed numerous times over the years. The following year, the Vaticans Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith released a statement affirming the Catholic Churchs teaching on marriage, proclaiming that it is not licit to impart a blessing on relationships, or partnerships, even stable, that involve sexual activity outside of marriage. The statement, issued in response to a question about whether or not Catholic churches had the power to bless same-sex unions, indicated that positive elements in unions between persons of the same sex cannot justify these relationships and render them legitimate objects of an ecclesial blessing, since the positive elements exist within the context of a union not ordered to the Creators plan. Last year, Pope Francis delivered a message to parents who are facing their childrens problems, specifically parents who see different sexual orientations in their children. The pontiff told parents of children with same-sex attraction to accompany their children and not hide in an attitude of condemnation. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which contains the Catholic Churchs official teachings, describes homosexual acts as intrinsically disordered and contrary to the natural law. According to the catechism, because homosexual acts close the sexual act to the gift of life and do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity, under no circumstances can they be approved. The denomination calls on those experiencing same-sex attraction to practice chastity, as must all the baptized regardless of their sexual orientation. The catechism includes rhetoric similar to Francis comments about refraining from condemnation, asserting that persons with same-sex attraction must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Additionally, the catechism advises that every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. 'Pagan idol to abortion': Critics lambast NYC's Ruth Bader Ginsburg statue as 'satanic' A sculpture of the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg atop a New York City courthouse is attracting criticism, with observers claiming the statue has a "demonic" appearance and celebratory nature towards abortion. The sculpture, titled "NOW," was designed by Pakistani American artist Shahzia Sikander, who claims that the statue is part of an "urgent" and "necessary cultural reckoning" in New York. The citizens of New York should be outraged that their hard-earned tax dollars have been used for such an offensive display, Penny Nance, CEO of the social conservative activist group Concerned Women for America, the nations largest womens public policy organization, told The Christian Post in an email. This is the same city that just tore down a statue of Teddy Roosevelt because it was too controversial but a satanic symbol to glorify the murder of a child in the womb is not? No wonder New Yorkers are leaving in droves. No one should be forced to look at this disgusting graven image of evil. Tear down this statue. Billy Gribbin, communications director for Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., wrote in a Wednesday tweet that "[t]hey turned abortion into a pagan idol to worship and put it on a courthouse." A new statue atop a New York City courthouse. The artist says its part of an urgent and necessary cultural reckoning underway as New York reconsiders traditional representations of power in public spaces and recasts civic structures to better reflect 21st-century social mores. pic.twitter.com/4IFRj7hCsf Andrew Beck (@AndrewBeckUSA) January 25, 2023 New Founding and American Firebrand digital director Logan Hall also took issue with the statue, writing that "decline is a choice" in a Wednesday tweet. "NYC is taking down a statue honoring teddy roosevelt and putting up a statue honoring some hideous abortion idol," Hall wrote. In another tweet critiquing the statue, Micaiah Bilger, a staff writer for LifeNews.com, called the figure "demonic." "When Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer and others promise to 'fight like hell' for abortion, I think we need to start taking them literally," Bilger wrote. "Abortion is demonic." The statue of Ginsburg was installed last week on the roof of the Appellate Division Courthouse of New York State, First Department on Madison Avenue. Sikander's artwork depicts the justice with braided hair in the shape of rams horns, skeletal branches protruding from each side like tiny arms, and wearing a lace apron resembling the one Ginsburg wore over her robe. Daily Wire podcast host and author Andrew Klavan tweeted that the "New York Courthouse has added this aesthetic atrocity to its sculptures of great lawmakers." "It is meant to honor Ruth Bader Ginsburg's pro-abortion stance by depicting a woman with demonic goat-horns who has clearly lost the power to reproduce," Klavan wrote. "Or something." According to a Wednesday profile of the statue by The New York Times, it marks the first female figure to adorn the court's building. The courthouse's plinths contained statues of male lawgivers before the recent addition of Ginsburg. "She is a fierce woman and a form of resistance in a space that has historically been dominated by patriarchal representation," Sikander told NYT. The artist said that the statue is titled "NOW" because it's needed "now" as states enact abortion restrictions due to the overturn of Roe v. Wade last summer. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization that there is no constitutional right to abortion, restoring regulatory authority over the practice to the states. Another statue Sikander designed is an 18-foot tall recreation of the same statue, except this piece depicts Ginsburg wearing a metal cage as a hoop skirt. The statue, titled "Witness," is located in Madison Square Park across from the court building. "Struggle is a never ending process. Freedom is never really won," Sikander wrote in a tweet last week. "'You earn it and win it in every generation.' Never fading words by Coretta Scott King. Inspired and humbled that Havah..to breathe, air, life' 'NOW' & 'Witness' are open on MLK day Jan16, 2023." While Ginsburg consistently voted to strike down abortion restrictions during her tenure on the nation's high court, the late justice voiced objections to the reach of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and its impact. During a talk at the University of Chicago Law School on May 11, 2013, Ginsburg stated, "Roe isn't really about the woman's choice, is it? It's about the doctor's freedom to practice. It wasn't woman-centered, it was physician-centered." "My criticism of Roe is that it seemed to have stopped the momentum on the side of change," Ginsburg added. In 2019, Ginsburg recalled when President Bill Clinton considered nominating her to the Supreme Court in 1993 during an appearance on "The David Rubenstein Show: Peer-to-Peer Conversations." The justice claimed that the Texas abortion law before the Roe ruling was the most "extreme" in the nation, only permitting abortion if the mother's life was in danger. "I thought that Roe v. Wade was an easy case and the Supreme Court could have held that most extreme law unconstitutional and put down its pen," she said. "Instead, the court wrote an opinion that made every abortion restriction in the country illegal in one fell swoop, and that was not the way that the court ordinarily operates." Mom sues school district for 'socially transitioning' daughter to male behind her back A California mom is suing her daughter's school district, alleging that district officials went behind her back to affirm her daughter's stated gender identity as a male, which she believes violates her parental rights. The Center for American Liberty has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Aurora Regino, whose daughter attends classes at the Chico Unified School District in Chico, California. The complaint alleges that the school district has a "Parental Secrecy Policy," which allows schools to "socially transition students who express a desire to live as a gender different from that associated with their biological sex while ... keeping the social transitioning secret from their parents unless the student specifically authorizes the school to inform them." The school district has denied the existence of such a policy. Regino's daughter, referred to in the lawsuit as "A.S.," told a school counselor in early 2022 that she "felt like a boy." The counselor allegedly encouraged the then-fifth-grade student to adopt a name and identity consistent with her new gender identity as a male and informed the child's teacher about her new identity. The complaint maintained that the district did not notify Regino of the affirmation of her child's expressed gender identity. "After several weeks of A.S. identifying as a boy at school, Ms. Regino learned about A.S.'s new gender identity," the lawsuit reads. "Ms. Regino was supportive of A.S. but upset that the school had not even informed her that it was socially transitioning her daughter from a girl to a boy. She tried to encourage the District to abandon the Parental Secrecy Policy in favor of a policy that would involve parents in students' gender transitions, but she was told that this policy was required by California law. This is false." The court filing claims that district officials pointed to Assembly Bill 1266 as why the schools must abide by a "Parental Secrecy Policy." The document notes that the district's director of elementary education sent Regino a link to a frequently-asked-questions page about the law, which declared that "schools must consult with [the] transgender student to determine who can and will be informed of the student's transgender status, if anyone, including the student's family." Regino's legal team rejected the idea that the law requires the "Parental Secrecy Policy," stressing that the text of Assembly Bill 1266 only gives trans-identified students the right to "participate in sex-segregated school programs and activities and use facilities consistent with [their] gender identity." The lawsuit characterizes the school's actions as a violation of parental rights under the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to "direct the upbringing of their children; to make decisions concerning the care, custody, and control of their children; to direct the medical and mental health decision making for their children; and to make private familial decisions regarding their children without undue interference by the state." Regino is asking the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California to declare the school's actions unconstitutional and issue an order preventing the school district from enforcing such a policy. Defendants in the lawsuit include the Chico Unified School District's Board of Education and its individual members as well as Chico Unified School District Superintendent Kelly Staley. Although Regino didn't consent to the school's efforts to socially transition her daughter, she did give permission for her child to attend a "Girls Group" after the child had voiced concerns about anxiety and depression. The lawsuit contends that the "Girls Group" was pitched as an "arts and crafts" group but quickly morphed into discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity after Regino's daughter expressed reservations about her gender. During the spring semester, the child had additional one-on-one meetings with the school counselor, who provided the child with resources related to a male identity and even brought up the topic of "breast binding." Although the child wanted to inform her mother of her new gender identity, the school counselor was allegedly not supportive of that course of action and encouraged her to speak with other family members first. The lawsuit contends that the counselor never told the child to discuss her feelings with a mental health professional. The complaint further alleges that the school counselor had encouraged students to explore their gender identity in class before having one-on-one meetings with the student. The complaint implied that Regino's daughter began experiencing gender confusion due to the counselor's comments in class. Regino's daughter is currently in sixth grade and now attends a different school in the district. Her gender dysphoria has subsided to the point where she no longer identifies as a boy. The plaintiff's other daughter has been transferred to another school in the district. In a statement, Superintendent Staley assured parents that the school district doesn't have a "Parental Secrecy Policy." "In regard to the lawsuit, we value our community and will thoroughly review and investigate any claims. As you know, Chico Unified continues to focus on family engagement and works hard to maintain open and transparent communication. We highly value the relationships our families have built with their schools," she said. Staley urged parents to "reach out to our District Office if they have specific questions regarding our curriculum, instruction or policies." Regino's lawsuit comes at a time when many public school districts face increased scrutiny for policies requiring teachers to keep parents in the dark about their child's gender identity if the child prefers his or her parents not to be told. In 2021, January and Jeffrey Littlejohn filed a similar lawsuit against the public school district in Leon County, Florida, insisting that district officials embraced their daughter's gender identity behind their backs by "colluding with [our] daughter to deceive us so that we would never have known she was going by an alternate name." These concerns prompted the state of Florida to pass legislation requiring schools to notify parents about changes to their physical or mental health and forbidding them from withholding information from parents. Last August, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by a group of parents in Montgomery County, Maryland, seeking to stop a school district policy forcing teachers to withhold information about students' gender identity from parents. U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Covers Jesus Painting, Kamala Harris Omits 'Right To Life,' Astronaut On Science And Christianity link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 07:30 07:30 A massive painting of Jesus walking on water will no longer be visible at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in New York after an advocacy group complained about the artwork. Vice President Kamala Harris' omission of the right to life when quoting the Declaration of Independence has drawn the ire of pro-life activists. A former NASA astronaut who identifies as Christian shared how he believes the study of nature and science is intertwined with Scripture. The Florida Department of Education has implemented a new rule requiring school librarians and teachers with classroom libraries to undergo training to ensure that their libraries remain free of sexually explicit material. Kamala Harris omits 'right to life' when quoting Declaration of Independence on Roe's anniversary Vice President Kamala Harris' omission of the right to "life" when quoting the Declaration of Independence Sunday has drawn the ire of pro-life activists, with one progressive pro-life leader calling her a "traitor" to the Democratic Party's values. During a speech Sunday commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade abortion ruling, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide, Harris cited the Declaration of Independence, the 1776 document signed by the Continental Congress as the 13 colonies severed their ties to Great Britain. The court overturned Roe this summer in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, allowing states to once again enact more stringent abortion restrictions or outlaw the practice entirely. "We collectively believe and know America is a promise. It is a promise of freedom and liberty, not just some but for all. We are each endowed with the right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness," Harris said. The document's original text reads: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Katie Glenn, state policy director for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, told The Christian Post that the omission of "life" seemed "intentional" considering the administration's stance on abortion. "Unfortunately, this administration has made it a point to say that the only policy that they'll support is the most extreme abortion on demand agenda," Glenn said, noting that Harris appears to have held up "liberty" and "pursuit of happiness" to justify an "unfettered right to abortion." Glenn noted that these rights don't exist "if you don't make it down the birth canal." "Liberty and pursuit of happiness and property and any number of other rights that our founders described as important are out of reach," Glenn said. Terrisa Bukovinac, the founder and executive director of Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising, believes "there are few people in Washington more complicit in the mass murder of the unborn than Kamala Harris." "She is a traitor to our party and to the values of non-violence and non-discrimination," the pro-life atheist told CP. "We will continue to fight for a future where her treachery is remembered with contempt and shame." Glenn acknowledged that Harris' speech might seem "discouraging" for pro-life Democrats, highlighting how "extreme" the party has become on abortion in a "relatively short amount of time." Public opinion polls have shown abortion restrictions are favored by many Democrats. According to a recently released Marist poll conducted on behalf of the Knights of Columbus, nearly half of the survey's Democratic respondents supported abortion restrictions after the first trimester. While 32% of Democrats participating in the survey believed "abortion should be available to a woman any time she wants one during her entire pregnancy," the rest favored restrictions. Nineteen percent stated that "abortion should be allowed only during the first six months of a pregnancy," and 49% said there should be greater limits on abortion access. "If pro-life Democrats are looking at the polling, they should feel that they can speak into this issue honestly and step away from their party and certainly at the state level," Glenn said. As The Christian Post reported, the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives passed two pro-life measures earlier this month, with one bill requiring abortion providers to care for infants born alive after an abortion. Another bill condemned the wave of violence and vandalism against pro-life pregnancy resource centers and churches. The measures passed mostly among party lines, with only one Democrat, Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas, voting in favor of the bill mandating medical care for infants who survive abortions. Three Democrats Vicente Gonzael of Texas, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania and Marie Perez of Washington voted in favor of the resolution condemning violence against pro-life groups. 'Pro-Life Spiderman' climbs skyscrapers, risks everything to 'save these babies' WASHINGTON Attending the annual March for Life on the National Mall last week, the "Pro-Life Spiderman" shared why he is willing to "risk everything to save these babies" by climbing tall buildings to raise awareness and money on behalf of the right-to-life movement. Maison Des Champs, who calls himself the "Pro-Life Spiderman," greeted those exiting the Smithsonian Metro station with pro-life signs Friday as pro-lifers from across the U.S. gathered on the National Mall for the annual anti-abortion demonstration. He spoke with The Christian Post about his advocacy on behalf of the pro-life movement and shared his thoughts on the state of the movement following the U.S. Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade last June. Originally from Michigan, Des Champs now resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 23-year-old has gained national attention by climbing skyscrapers to raise awareness for the pro-life cause. "I've been climbing the buildings since May," he said. Whenever Des Champs climbs a tall building, he fundraises for a handful of pro-life advocacy organizations seeking to help pregnant mothers in need of financial support. The signs he handed out on the National Mall featured pictures of the babies he claims he was able to save. He elaborated on his strategy to raise funds for the pro-life movement, which he described as "really simple." "I climb the building, then I go on the news, and then I say 'donate to Letthemlive.org,' and I bring the awareness, and then people donate," he stated. "It's been very successful, and I'm really happy to have been a part of it." The activist attributes his passion for the pro-life movement to the outrage he felt after pro-life activists affiliated with the Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising discovered remains belonging to full-term babies discarded as medical waste from an abortion clinic operated by Dr. Cesare Santangelo in Washington, D.C. The pro-life activists launched the #JusticefortheFive campaign, offering a $25,000 reward for anyone with information leading to Santangelo's arrest. As detailed on Des Champs' GoFundMe page seeking to raise $1,000,000 for pro-life charities, "Pro-life activists, with help from a whistleblower, obtained the bodies of 5 murdered babies that had come out of Dr. Santangelo's clinic. These babies were murdered during late-term abortions, and it is believed that some even survived their abortions and were left to die." "I saw what was happening here in D.C. with Dr. Cesare Santangelo and the Justice for the Five incident, and my heart just felt convicted. I felt like I had to get involved. So as a climber, I thought of like, 'how can I change the culture?'" "As a climber, I just fell into climbing skyscrapers, and there was a guy named Alain Robert and I just sort of stole his idea," he added. Noting that Robert "invented skyscraper climbing," Des Champs identified Robert as a "good friend" who scales tall buildings to raise climate change awareness. "I never climbed buildings before watching Alain do it," he told CP. Des Champs developed experience climbing after moving to Yosemite, which he described as "the Mecca of rock climbing." "I just sort of learned how to do it on a rock, and then it transferred over to buildings," he recalled. Des Champs has climbed the Ritz-Carlton in Los Angeles, the Devon Tower in Oklahoma City, the Renaissance Center in Detroit, the New York Times building in New York City and the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco. Seven months after the U.S. Supreme Court determined that the U.S. Constitution does not contain a right to abortion in its Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling, Des Champs lamented what he views as "some superficialness" within the pro-life movement. He urged young people to "work harder" on behalf of the right-to-life cause. "I would like to see people go out and do more," he said. "I look at the 90s, and I see Operation Rescue, and I just look at the sacrifice that those people were willing to make, and I question whether or not our generation is willing to make that sacrifice. But I hope that I can inspire people to make that sacrifice and save these babies." Founded in the 1980s, the pro-life group Operation Rescue gained national notoriety for staging sit-ins at abortion clinics, effectively blocking women seeking abortions from entering the facilities. As Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry explained in a previous interview with The Christian Post, the passage of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act in 1994 "broke the back" of the movement by threatening abortion clinic blockaders with federal charges. The group has not engaged in such protests in nearly three decades. Des Champs called on people to "risk everything to save these babies." "I think if we show sacrifice and if we can show that, 'hey, we are willing to give up things to help these babies,' then the world can change, and we can change hearts and minds," the "Pro-Life Spiderman" believes. He shared his faith's important role in his pro-life activism, stressing, "you can't climb skyscrapers if you ain't got faith." "I represent Letthemlive.org, and I try to raise money for them and help save babies and help these women who are in a financial crisis pregnancy," he explained. According to Let Them Live's website, the organization is "dedicated to financially and emotionally supporting [underprivileged] moms so they can confidently choose life for their babies." Fundraisers on the website ask visitors to donate to help women who feel they have to abort their unborn children due to financial insecurity. Des Champs previously operated a website detailing his aspiration to raise $1 million for pro-life charities. He supports other charities through a GoFundMe page: California Right to Life League, Save the Storks, Save Unborn Life and Nevada Right to Life. While he acknowledges there are dangers involved, he says "most skyscrapers are easier to climb than rock" because "the large rails and positive [window] sills are ginormous in comparison to the credit card-sized holds found on rock." Des Champs said, "in most states and cities, there are no laws against climbing skyscrapers." While Des Champs is often "charged with some form of trespassing or disorderly conduct" and has been arrested on occasion, he said those charges are either "dropped or easily fought in court." The activist said he had no plans to climb buildings in D.C. because of legal concerns surrounding federal prosecutors seeking to "put [him] away" if he did. Pro-life group warns Republicans not to seek 'middle ground' on abortion A pro-life group is warning Republicans not to make concessions with their Democratic colleagues on any abortion legislation, asserting that there is no "middle ground" and appeasing the abortion lobby is a "losing political strategy." This came after Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., appeared on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday, on the 50th anniversary of the United States Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Last year, the court overturned Roe as part of its Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling, enabling each state to decide the legality of abortion. Host Chuck Todd asked Mace whether she thought Roe constituted an acceptable "middle ground" for a national abortion policy. She rejected the idea of Roe as a "middle ground," stating that "Roe, if you look at the details, would have allowed abortion up until birth of the baby." However, Mace detailed conversations she's had with "Republican and Democrat women" in her district, explaining that "swing voters are willing to find some middle ground here." "Everyone recognizes abortion up until birth is not something that they want. At the same time, banning all abortions with zero exceptions isn't something people support," she said. Democrats' position on abortion, she added, is 24 weeks with "gestational limits," while Republicans support banning abortions after 12 to 15 weeks on average. "Can we find some middle ground around 20 weeks, for example?" Mace responded to her own question, declaring, "I don't know if we can get there because both sides are really, really entrenched and I see that because I'm repeatedly attacked by pro-life groups even though I am pro-life." She reiterated her support for securing "concessions" on the issue of abortion and finding "middle ground" on behalf of the "vast majority of people I represent." Mace's congressional district, while more competitive than other districts in South Carolina that strongly favor one party or the other, supported former President Donald Trump by nine points in the 2020 presidential election. Her comments about the possibility of achieving "middle ground" with congressional Democrats, who almost unanimously voted against the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, drew backlash from pro-life activists. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the pro-life group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, issued a statement in response to Mace's comments on "Meet the Press." ... Nancy Mace stated that she is pro-life while implying that her Democrat colleagues are currently willing to reach a national compromise on abortion. Yet she failed to mention that every Democrat except one just voted against a bill that would have required babies born alive after a failed abortion [to] receive basic health care rather than be left to die, said Dannenfelser. Being pro-life requires opposition to the destruction of children and tragic underestimation of women that abortion is this is first and foremost a human rights issue. And failure to take a strong, coherent stand and contrast it with the extremism of the other side for example by supporting a minimum national standard limiting abortions when unborn babies heartbeats can be detected or when they feel pain is an abandonment of leadership. Its also a losing political strategy as we saw in the midterm elections. Concerns about the impact of the abortion issue on the results of the 2022 midterm elections loomed large in Mace's discussion with Todd. Republicans secured a razor-thin majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, controlling 222 seats to Democrats' 213. In the Senate, Democrats actually gained a seat, holding onto the majority. While Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America has repeatedly insisted that attempts to ignore or downplay the abortion issue cost Republicans seats in the midterms, Mace contended that failure to embrace a middle ground on abortion explained the Republicans' disappointing results in the midterms: "It's the reason why didn't get more of a majority. We should have had a dozen or two-dozen seat majority this legislative session but we don't because this was one of the issues that was top of mind for swing voters." Former President Donald Trump has offered a similar assessment of the midterms, asserting in a statement on Truth Social earlier this month that "it was the 'abortion issue,' poorly handled by many Republicans, especially those that firmly insisted on No Exceptions, even in the case of Rape, Incest, or Life of the Mother, that lost large numbers of voters." Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America rejected the former president's analysis, however. "The approach to winning on abortion in federal races, proven for a decade is this: state clearly the ambitious consensus pro-life view on abortion and contrast that with the extreme view of Democrat opponents," the organization maintained in a statement released at the time. "We look forward to hearing that position fully articulated by Mr. Trump and all presidential candidates." If you want more information about joining the IMT, fill in this form. We will get back to you as soon as possible. US Merchant Marine Academy covers up massive Jesus painting with white curtain after complaints Updated Jan. 26 at 4:30 p.m. ET A massive painting of Jesus walking on water will no longer be visible at the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in New York after an advocacy group complained about the artwork. In a Jan. 10 letter addressed to USSMA Superintendent Vice Admiral Joanna Nunan, Mikey Weinstein, founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, issued a demand that Nunan expeditiously remove a massive, sectarian painting illustrating the supremacy of Jesus Christ from the Elliot M. See Room inside Wiley Hall, which serves as an administrative building at USMMA. According to Weinstein, MRFF is representing 18 midshipmen, faculty, staff and graduates in their appeal to the Kings Point academy. The USSMA is not under the Defense Department but rather the Department of Transportation under Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who was also copied on Weinstein's initial email. The 10-foot by 19-foot painting titled "Christ on the Water" depicts an image of Jesus and merchant seamen adrift in a lifeboat "presumably after being torpedoed in the Indian Ocean during World War II, according to a USMMA spokesperson. Also known as Jesus and Lifeboat, the piece was painted in 1944 by U.S. Maritime Service Lt. Hunter Wood to hang in the chapel built at the USMMA Basic School in San Mateo, California. When the San Mateo campus closed in 1947, officials say the painting came to the Academy, and was installed in its current location, which served as the Academys interfaith chapel from 1942 to 1961. The American Merchant Marine Museum has custody of the painting and holds it as a heritage asset under the USDOT Maritime Administration (MARAD). Calling the artwork a display of sectarian Jesus supremacy, Weinstein noted the room in which the painting is hung is used for various administrative meetings, disciplinary hearings and other events. The outrageousness of that Jesus paintings display is only further exacerbated by the fact that this room is also used regularly for USMMA Honor Code violation boards where midshipmen are literally fighting for their careers, and, often even more, as they face the shameful ignominy of potential expulsion with prejudice if found guilty of USMMA Honor Code violations, wrote Weinstein. Weinstein told The Christian Post his clients quite correctly believe that the display of the Jesus painting is totally violative of the clear time, place and manner requirements of the No Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Given the utterly illicit and unconstitutional time, place and manner of its prominent display in one of the main Administration buildings at USMMA, and during absolutely mandatory attendance gatherings there, it clearly projects the sectarian supremacy of Jesus Christ in some sort of obvious ocean rescue scenario for what appears to be distressed mariners in an open boat, Weinstein said via email. It's as though USMMA is screaming that Jesus Christ is the only approved solution to all of lifes difficulties." Following the decision to cover the painting, USMMA alum Peter Lynch launched an online petition calling for any form of covering [to] be removed to allow the original artwork to be viewed and that a plaque describing the historic significance of the painting be placed alongside it. After only 48 hours, the petition garnered over 2,600 signatures as of Thursday. The petition description stated in part: The decision to cover the painting was made with no opportunity for discussion. The artwork was completed in 1944 during World War II and the first days of the Academy. It is an historic painting that has conveyed hope and inspiration to nearly every class of midshipmen to come through the Academy. Noting that his clients represent a number of different religions, including Judaism, Roman Catholicism and Protestant Christianity, Weinstein shared emails from clients, including one who wrote: The painting of Jesus standing over an open lifeboat carrying survivors of a sunken merchant ship has hung in the Elliot M. See room for decades denigrating non-Christians. Its location in the administration building implies that the Academy officially endorses Christianity over other faiths. The email added: It marginalizes non-Christian members of the Academy. In addition, the Elliot M. See room serves as the backdrop for Midshipmen Honor Boards, creating a hostile atmosphere for non-Christian midshipmen defending themselves against alleged honor violations. The painting does not ensure a diverse, equitable, or inclusive environment for non-Christian USMMA midshipmen, graduates, staff, or faculty. According to Weinstein, Nunan responded within hours of the initial email and acknowledged she had already identified similar concerns with this painting, and I am taking steps to address it. Acknowledging the size of the painting prohibits moving it to another location, Nunan said she asked her staff to buy a curtain to place in front of the painting, which will completely block the painting from view, but also allow those who wish to view it the opportunity to do so. The Vice Admiral also said she would work with the director of the American Merchant Marine Museum to prepare a plaque that explains the history of the painting, which will be installed near it. In a statement released Thursday, a USMMA spokesperson said immediate steps were taken in response to the constitutional concerns related to the painting. After weighing multiple options to comply with the law while seeking to balance the interests of everyone in our community, the USMMA decided to cover the painting with white curtains, and plans to install a plaque describing its history at a later date. The curtains will remain closed when official Academy meetings and events are conducted. Our priority is to ensure the Academy is a welcoming environment for all and that it respects all religions without endorsing one over any othersThis solution balances legal requirements with the concerns of those who have an interest in the painting, the statement added. We value the opinions of all in our community, and we are committed to making the Academy a better place." Weinstein told CP that while he would have preferred the painting be moved to another location, such as the Mariners Chapel, he is satisfied with the response and hopes the USMMA can use it as a teachable moment. We feel that the use of the curtain covering the painting will serve to create even more positive teachable moments when observers inevitably ask why it is there at all and what is underneath, he said. Upon assuming command of the USMMA last month, Nunan became the first woman in the Academys history to serve in the role of vice admiral. She spent more than 30 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, and, according to her bio, helped spearhead efforts to expand diversity and inclusion in the Coast Guard. Jesus on doomsday clock: See that you are not alarmed The Science and Security Board at The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists released their annual Doomsday Clock report on Tuesday, advancing the time to an unprecedented 90 seconds from midnight. Maintained since 1947, the Doomsday Clock quantifies how close the world is to utter disaster, in the opinion of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists. They chose to move the clock closer to midnight largely (though not exclusively) because of the mounting dangers of the war in Ukraine. The new rating is intended to indicate that the world is the closest to global catastrophe it has ever been. The war in Ukraine may enter a second horrifying year, with both sides convinced they can win, warned The Bulletin. They worry about how Russias invasion is eroding norms of international conduct, Russias thinly veiled threats to use nuclear weapons, the wars tendency to undermine global efforts to combat climate change, and the continuing stream of disinformation. For much of its history, the Doomsday Clock fluctuated between 12 minutes to midnight and two minutes to midnight. It ticked down furthest during the 1950s it stood at three minutes to midnight from 1949-1952, after the Soviet Union exploded a nuclear device, and at two minutes to midnight from 1953-1960, during the Cold War. It also ticked down during the 1980s it stood at four minutes to midnight from 1981-1983, and at three minutes to midnight from 1984-1987, both during President Ronald Reagans arms buildup that helped drive the Soviet collapse. However, since 2015, when it was moved to three minutes to midnight, the clock has only ticked down. It first ticked under two minutes in 2020 to 100 seconds from midnight to indicate that the international security situation is now more dangerous than it has ever been, even at the height of the Cold War. For all the fear junkies wondering where to find their next kick absent a global pandemic, this alarmist estimate should do the trick. The elements of truth it contains are that Russias invasion of Ukraine has made the world a more dangerous place, and we probably are closer to disaster than anyone realizes. Previous threats, such as Irans growing capability, remain a problem. But its fair to question whether the clocks measuring stick has become skewed somewhere over the past 75 years. For instance, its hard to imagine that the world is four to eight times closer to disaster now than it was after the Cuban Missile Crisis (seven minutes to midnight), 9/11 (seven minutes to midnight), or the Vietnam War (gradually moving from seven minutes to midnight in 1968 to 12 minutes to midnight in 1972). Its also hard to imagine that, if since 2017 the danger has been as great or greater than the height of the Cold War, two successive administrations weakened by domestic political strife have managed to weather the storm just fine without even breaking a sweat. In fact, The Bulletins decision to subdivide the clock into 10-second increments (instead of one-minute increments) suggests there might be more space on the clock than the sub-two minute warning suggests. Yet even while we strive to promote peace and flourishing in this world, Christians need not be alarmed by whatever time the keepers of the Doomsday Clock say that it reads. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, Jesus told his disciples. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet (Matthew 24:6). Doomsday refers to the day of final judgment, when God will read to men their final doom, and has appropriately been generalized as an idiom for any general disaster (cf. Isaiah 2:19). What does it mean to not be alarmed? When we hear of wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, and other tragedies, our first reaction should be, Jesus said this would happen. These circumstances are not out of his control. We might think, How horrible! What vast and indescribable human suffering! Compassion is a perfectly natural, not to mention Christian, response. But we mustnt think, What is the world coming to? or Now my plans are all ruined. Instead of reacting with dismay, let us respond in faith and trust Jesus. He created all things, including thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities, which are held together in him (Colossians 1:16-17). When the real Doomsday, the final Doomsday, comes, then Johns vision will come to pass, I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done (Revelation 20:12). One other reason to quell our alarm about the Doomsday Clock is that the experts at The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists dont even know when the final Doomsday will arrive. Concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only (Matthew 24:36). Why put too much stock in the opinion of someone who doesnt know whats really going on either? Instead, consider how Jesus applies this fact, Stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming (Matthew 24:42). Live always as if Jesus could come back at any moment because he can whether the Doomsday Clock stands at 90 seconds, or one second, or 15 minutes, or a whole day. Originally published at The Washington Stand. Main reason why some godly parents are raising ungodly children There is something going wrong in Christian homes these days that every Christian parent should be aware of and stand firmly to oppose. Many godly parents are raising ungodly children. Is it totally the fault of parents when children are misbehaving? It is so easy to blame this trend on a lack of moral upbringing on the parents side. I have seen godly parents who did all in their capacity to raise their children in a godly manner, only to see their children turn away from the Lord. A closer look at this phenomenon, however, shows that it has a deep spiritual component. Spiritual attacks on the homes of Christians can be likened to what happened to David at Ziklag: Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one but carried them off and went their way. And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive (1 Samuel 30:1-3). Although the Amalekites are long gone, spiritual Amalekites are still raiding the homes of Christians today. These attacks are growing in intensity, and we cannot just keep blaming the parents alone. Our society these days is aiding and abating this trend. Obnoxious laws now empower children to take ungodly decisions by themselves, apart from parental consent. Social media has opened up the eyes of children to the evil that surrounds us daily. Such a society can only serve as tools in the hands of Satan. There is a great lesson in the story of David and his troops at Ziklag, which every Christian parent should learn. The Scripture says that David encouraged himself in the Lord, and David inquired of the LORD, Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them? Pursue them, he answered. You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue (1 Samuel 30:8). There is hope for the rescue of our children who are held hostage by the devil. We can pursue and recover all of them. Let us stop the blame game. Fathers should stop blaming mothers and mothers should stop blaming fathers for the moral failures of their children. Parents should be ready to go into spiritual warfare mode and intercede on behalf of their children. If David recovered all that was taken hostage by the physical Amalekites, todays Christian parents should get ready to recover all that was taken captive by the spiritual Amalekites. The New York Times is finally giving liberals permission to resist transgenderism The New York Times that arbiter of upscale left-liberal opinion is giving its readers permission to oppose transgender orthodoxy. The paper recently published a story about schools that hide childrens gender transitions from their parents. Despite scrupulously observing the pronoun pieties of gender ideology, the piece was surprisingly evenhanded and even sympathetic toward the parents it featured. The feature illustrated how ideologues in the education system, along with their political enablers, are operating in bad faith. Educators know that parental skepticism toward transgender identities is not the same as actually endangering or abusing children, which school staff would be required to report. Nonetheless, activist teachers and other school staff use safety as an excuse to cut parents out. Even many liberals are uncomfortable with that. This report is the latest in a series of NYT pieces that have questioned transgender dogmas. Even though the paper is just now waking up to issues that conservatives have sounded the alarm on for years, this is still important because it shows that the coalition of the concerned now can include the left. The Times is establishing a permission structure through which its readers can dissent from gender ideology while still thinking of themselves as good liberals. Just look at the parents that the paper profiled. While some of the parents interviewed for the story have changed political loyalties from left to right over this issue, others, such as those interviewed at a support group for skeptical parents of children who identify as transgender, are more conflicted: Most said they identified as liberal, and that the living room was a rare safe space for them to voice their fears Here they could ask: What if their children had been unduly influenced by their classmates to ask for hormone treatments and surgery? What if teachers were encouraging students to see their families as unsafe? And were right-wing partisans their only sympathetic audience? Its just been such a hard thing to navigate, because on the one hand, Im dealing with my very extreme liberal values of individuality, freedom, expression, sexuality, wanting to support all of this stuff, said a tearful mother. At the same time, Im afraid of medicalization. Im afraid of long term health. Im afraid of the fact that my child might change their mind. As other parents nodded in agreement, the lone father in the room said: Its politically weird to be a very liberal Democrat and find yourself shoved in bed with, like, the governor of Texas. Am I supposed to listen to Tucker Carlson? By presenting these parents sympathetically, the Times confers, in the eyes of its readers, legitimacy on their concerns, even if it means agreeing with the likes of Tucker Carlson about something. This is good. The fastest way to defeat transgender ideology and its poisonous fruits will be having the sort of people who think of themselves as good liberals turn against it. This broadening of the coalition creates opportunities for those of us who have long opposed both transgender ideology and the sexual liberalism that it grew from. Our society needs the truths of Christian sexual teaching, and as the victims of the sexual revolution increase, there are many who are willing to listen. Of course, proclaiming those truths may sometimes create difficulties because there is tension between the immediate goal of resisting gender ideology and the broader goal of advancing Christian sexual morality. It is not just that there is rarely a nice way to say I told you so but also that the easiest way to secure an alliance against transgender ideology is to minimize the obligations and demands beyond this particular issue. As the New York Times story shows, many of the people troubled by the gender revolution are still trying to hold on to the rest of the sexual revolution. We need to work with these people to beat back the transgender tide. But we also know that they are fighting on unstable, slanted terrain the same slippery slope that brought us here. These liberals recognize that we are embodied as male and female, but, aside from gender transitions for children, they often reject the implications of this truth for marriage and family, and consequently for sexual morality more broadly. But accepting the reality and importance of our embodiment as male and female doesnt end with rejecting transgender ideology. If our maleness and femaleness matter, then we need to know how to live well as male and female, especially as regards to sex, which unites the two halves of the human race and provides for its continuance. Thus, reckoning with our embodiment directs us toward Christian sexual ethics, which provide a solid foundation for our flourishing as male and female. A broader rejection of the sexual revolution is not inevitable, of course. The human capacity for half-truths, inconsistency, and hypocrisy is vast, and the demands of Christianity are difficult. But people are noticing that the sexual revolution has not delivered on its promises. The freedom to hop in and out of beds, marriages, and even genders has not made us happy or even provided much sexual satisfaction. Lonely young men taking estrogen and watching animated porn was not what sexual liberation was supposed to end up as. Adolescent girls demanding to have their breasts amputated was not how womens liberation was supposed to turn out. The transgender moment might be the breaking point at which the absurdities and cruelties of the sexual revolution become so evident that people begin to look for something better. It is incumbent on Christians to explain and more importantly, model this better way of life to those who have been hurt by our sexual culture. Standing with parents whose children are being pushed into transgender identities by activist educators is a good start. At least 17 Christians killed in 2 days across Nigeria, sources say ABUJA, Nigeria Suspected Fulani herdsmen killed five Christians early Sunday morning in northeast Nigeria following the slaughter of 12 Christians last Friday in the countrys Middle Belt, sources said. In Bauchi states Tafawa Balewa County, area residents said herdsmen attacked the predominantly Christian community of Gambar Sabon Layi, killing five Christians and kidnapping another. Fulani herdsmen at about 3 a.m. this Sunday, 22 January, invaded my community of Gambar Sabon Layi, area resident Godwin Moses told Morning Star News in a text message. The Fulani herdsmen killed five members of our Christian community and a sixth Christian, Mr. Daniel Dabwa, was captured and is being held captive in an unknown place. Manasseh Danladi, another resident, concurred that the assailants were armed Fulani terrorists, saying in a text message to Morning Star News that one of those slain was a member of his family, and that Dabwa was taken away at gunpoint. Area resident Princess Ella added, This is a black Sunday for us in Gambar Sabon Layi, as five of our Christian members were killed and one kidnapped. Tafawa Balewa, a Christian-majority area, has been attacked by Islamic terrorists and predominantly Muslim Fulani herdsmen for several years. Many of the villages lie in ruins, made desolate by attacks that drove Christian survivors to other parts of Nigeria. In Benue state, in the countrys Middle Belt, armed Fulani herdsmen in the pre-dawn hours of Friday invaded the predominantly Christian community of Abagena, near Makurdi, the state capital, and killed 12 Christians, area residents said in text messages to Morning Star News. The herdsmen attacked shortly after midnight for more than three hours, area residents said. Paul Hemba, state special adviser on security matters, said the attacks were carried out against these Christian communities by armed Fulani herdsmen a few minutes after midnight and into the early hours of Friday, Jan. 20. He identified some of those slain as Gbashaor Acho; Gbashaor Joseph; Anshe Dekera; Ancho Kpor; Eunice Gbashaor; Sewuese Gbashaor; Terlumun Ajah; Emberga Gbashaor; and Donald Gbashaor. A man, his wife and four children were among the Christians killed during the attack, Hemba said. Catherine Anene, spokesperson of Benue State Police Command, confirmed the attack and said officers had been deployed to the area. Area resident Ivor James identified the assailants as Fulani herdsmen. She added that many more villagers were wounded. Resident Joseph Atom said two predominantly Christian communities nearby were also attacked. Beside Abagena village, Mbagwen and Utyondu were also attacked at that same time Abagena was attacked by the terrorists, Atom said. Many Christians were also killed in these communities. Casualty figures are yet to be ascertained. From Jan. 3 to Jan. 5, armed herdsmen also attacked Nagi and Tse-Girgi Dajo villages, predominantly Christian communities in Gwer West County of Benue state, area sources said. Four Christians were injured. Two Christians were badly injured in the Nagi attack while two more Christians were also wounded in the Tse-Girgi Dajo attack, said Andrew Ayande, a local council official of Gwer West Local Government Council. Nigeria led the world in Christians killed for their faith in 2022, with 5,014, according to Open Doors 2023 World Watch List (WWL) report. The country also led the world in Christians abducted (4,726), sexually assaulted or harassed, forcibly married or physically or mentally abused and had the most homes and businesses attacked for faith-based reasons. As in the previous year, Nigeria had the second-most church attacks and internally displaced people. In the 2023 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria jumped to sixth place, its highest ranking ever, from No. 7 the previous year. Militants from the Fulani, Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and others conduct raids on Christian communities, killing, maiming, raping and kidnapping for ransom or sexual slavery, the WWL report noted. This year has also seen this violence spill over into the Christian-majority south of the nation Nigerias government continues to deny this is religious persecution, so violations of Christians rights are carried out with impunity. Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdoms All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a recent report. They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity, the APPG report states. Christian leaders in Nigeria believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigerias Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form International Marxist Radio (IMR) will this week be covering recent developments in Peru, which in December saw democratically elected president Castillo deposed by a capitalist coup. Last weeks guest Jorge Martin returns to speak to presenter Joe Attard about the situation in the country which has been escalating since Castillos removal and where the movement could go from here. While usurper president Dina Boluarte has doubled down on repression since introducing a state of emergency last month, the workers and peasants have also refused to back down, showing enormous bravery in resisting the illegitimate regime up to this point. What will happen next? And what can socialists around the world do to support the masses of Peru against this barefaced attack? Join us for a joint meeting in London this evening, organised in solidarity with the Peru masses. Listen and subscribe below Spotify Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Marxist.com Podcasts: https://podcast.marxist.com/2023/01/25/peru-free-castillo-down-with-boluarte/ First phase of China-built light rail project inaugurated in Nigeria Xinhua) 14:55, January 26, 2023 Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari cuts the ribbon at the inauguration ceremony of the first phase of a China-built electric-powered light rail project in Lagos, Nigeria, Jan. 24, 2023. The first phase of the project in Nigeria's southwest state of Lagos was officially opened for service on Tuesday. (Photo by Tope Ayoku/Xinhua) LAGOS, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- The first phase of a China-built electric-powered light rail project in Nigeria's southwestern state of Lagos was officially open for service on Tuesday. Undertaken by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) since 2010, the completed tracks of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue Line project span 13 km in the first phase and cover five stations. The LRMT Blue Line project is the first rail infrastructure traversing Okokomaiko, a densely populated area in the western part of Lagos, and Marina, a business district on Lagos Island. Speaking at a banquet held by the Lagos state government before the inauguration ceremony, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari described the project as "historic," noting that the rail will reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, as well as improve the lives of locals. The president also attended the contract signing ceremony for the construction of the second phase of the LRMT Blue Line project by the Lagos metropolitan area transport authority and the CCECC. Cui Jianchun, the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, said the completion of the first phase of the project demonstrated the harmony of China-Nigeria relations. "It is a line of speed, line of sustainability, line of harmony," Cui said. The new light rail would reduce travel time, improve the quality of life of citizens and make Lagos one of the most resilient megacities in Africa that would compete favorably with other cities around the world, said Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos. The iconic Marina Station has the capacity to process about 25,000 passengers per hour, Sanwo-Olu added. Construction of the first phase of the Lagos Blue Line project started in July 2010 and was completed in December 2022. This video screenshot shows a train running during a trial operation of the first phase of a China-built electric-powered light rail project in Lagos, Nigeria, Jan. 23, 2023. The first phase of the project in Nigeria's southwest state of Lagos was officially opened for service on Tuesday. (Photo by Yan Yujuan/Xinhua) This video screenshot shows a train running during a trial operation of the first phase of a China-built electric-powered light rail project in Lagos, Nigeria, Jan. 23, 2023. The first phase of the project in Nigeria's southwest state of Lagos was officially opened for service on Tuesday. (Photo by Yan Yujuan/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Hongyu) The sheer violence of the crash told police that Ryan Safka was speeding on a Pittsburgh highway before his car slammed into a concrete barrier and ricocheted into the woods, killing three passengers. But the scene state troopers were left to investigate in the wee hours of Feb. 21, 2010, had few of the clues investigators normally use to reconstruct the final moments before a crash. Safkas Dodge Caliber was airborne for nearly 150 feet after it vaulted a steel guardrail and smashed through a thicket of trees. The absence of tire tracks or other marks on the ground left troopers unable to say with certainty how fast the car had been going. So state police turned to the electronics in Safkas car. A black box behind the center console contained the information troopers needed to prove that Safka, 19 at the time, had been driving at more than 105 mph when he misjudged a curve, with fatal consequences. After Safkas trial, his lawyer filed an appeal challenging prosecutors use of the black box data. In a 2-1 decision June 3, Superior Court Judge Jack Panella wrote that the black box data passed a test for admissibility of scientific evidence, finding that the collection of data from automobile electronic systems is a widely accepted and well-established technology. Safkas conviction was upheld and he continues to serve 21/2 to six years for vehicular homicide, involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and other charges. The decision in Safkas case is the first time a Pennsylvania appeals court has ruled on the use of information from black boxes also called vehicle event data recorders in criminal prosecutions and it adds to a debate among those who fear the devices invite new privacy breaches. At least four other states Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts and New Jersey also have approved the use of black box data to prove the speed of a vehicle involved in a crash. Its powerful evidence, especially in the hands of a capable crash reconstructionist, said Max Little, who instructs prosecutors on traffic safety issues for the Pennsylvania Association of District Attorneys. It provides a clearer picture, corroborates other evidence and fills in gaps. Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin said his office routinely uses black box data in conjunction with traditional accident reconstruction techniques such as measuring skid marks and calculating impact forces. Mostly it bolsters the opinion of the accident reconstructionist, Martin said. But the potential uses of black box data arent limited to criminal prosecutions, and many privacy advocates say theyre concerned about a lack of regulation on who is able to access the information and for what purposes. The boxes, found in almost every car with air bags, can be accessed through the same computer jacks that mechanics use to diagnose problems. Some newer cars send data back to manufacturers over wireless connections that could be vulnerable to hacking. The debate has intensified as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration considers feedback on a proposal to require black boxes in all new cars and light trucks sold in the United States, and to have those boxes record the same parameters speed, braking, throttle position and other technical data. The NHTSA wants the requirement in place by September, though many expect the deadline will be extended. The event data recorder data is only a taste of whats to come, cautioned Nate Cardozo, an attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which works to protect freedom in the digital world. The right to control your cars data will become even more important, Cardozo said, as manufacturers debut more sophisticated systems that store and wirelessly transmit data about GPS searches, locations and even text messages dictated through the cars voice recognition system. They know where youve been over the course of the last several months or years. That is extraordinarily sensitive, Cardozo said. In Pennsylvania and other states where there is no legislation governing access to black box data, Cardozo noted, there is no requirement that police get warrants to access the data and civil litigants may be able to obtain it by subpoena. It falls into a legal gray area, he said. For Tom Kowalick, a Schuylkill County native who was instrumental in the push for standardizing data recorders in cars, the devices have become double-edged swords. Everybody wants to plug into that thing for some reason, he said. Its time that the consumers know there are serious problems here. Kowalick, a North Carolina community college professor, became obsessed with automobile safety after his father died in a 1982 crash on a clear morning in Schuylkill County. Kowalick never got a clear explanation from the state police and later pitched data recorders as a way to make a leap forward in traffic safety. As chairman of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers committee on vehicle data recorders, Kowalick said he doesnt believe the devices can be trusted in situations where peoples liberty is at stake. Even in cars that have no capability to transmit data wirelessly, the black box can be accessed via the standard on-board diagnostic connector that mechanics use to read error codes from the cars computers. That leaves the data vulnerable to tampering and unreliable as evidence, he said. You should have the choice of determining who is going in there. Right now its not your choice, Kowalick said. Event data recorders were first installed in production vehicles by General Motors in the mid-1990s and their use became widespread in most cars within a decade. Today, about 97 percent of new cars sold in the United States have a data recorder, according to the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. The primary purpose of the devices is to sense the vehicles speed and deploy air bags in a crash. The data recorders constantly monitor parameters that generally include speed, braking, throttle position, whether seat belts are being used and whether the air bag system is functioning correctly. If the air bags deploy, the device stops recording and preserves the data from the seconds before the crash. That information has proved useful in determining why crashes happen and how people are injured in them. But because automobile manufacturers developed the technology independently and implemented it over the course of a decade or more, there is no single standard to which they must adhere. In late 2012, the NHTSA proposed a rule that would require carmakers to put event data recorders in all vehicles. It also specifies a range of 15 required and 28 optional data elements the recorders should capture for at least five seconds before a crash. While organizations including the Electronic Frontier Foundation agree that the black boxes serve an important function in improving safety, they also have serious concerns about shortfalls in NHTSAs proposed rule. The proposal sets a minimum number of parameters and minimum time frame that the devices must record, but does nothing to limit how much and what kinds of information they store. NHTSA should specifically say that audio, video and location data cannot be recorded, the foundation says. Khaliah Barnes, a lawyer for the Electronic Privacy Information Center, said the NHTSA proposal is silent on who owns the data collected by black boxes. In comments on the proposal, the center asked NHTSA to specify that the data belong to the owner or lessor of a vehicle. Ownership matters because if you own the data, you control what happens to it and who has access to it, Barnes said. While privacy advocates say the data should be released to law enforcement after a court issues a search warrant, the requirement to share black box data under other circumstances, such as in a civil lawsuit or with an insurance company, is less clear. They also envision scenarios in which data could be downloaded without a car owners consent and sold for marketing or advertising purposes. Dan Gage, a spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, said his organizations members recognize that the data belong to car owners. At least 14 states have passed laws that specify that black box data may only be accessed with the owners consent, with exceptions for emergencies, criminal investigations, civil lawsuits, repairs and vehicle safety research. Four states bar insurers from refusing coverage if owners decline to share black box data. In Pennsylvania, legislation limiting access to black box data was introduced in the state House and Senate in March 2013 and referred to the Transportation Committee in each chamber but not approved. A bill barring unauthorized access to the data was approved by the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee in April but hasnt been considered further. The certified letters landing on doorsteps across the Lehigh Valley the past three weeks have an ominous look to them. Sent from the U.S. Attorneys Office, they have a relatively simple task: to notify people that the FBI has secretly recorded their conversations as part of the federal corruption probe in Allentown. When one arrived at Kevin Lotts office in Bethlehem, he wasnt entirely surprised. As the longtime business agent for the Lehigh Valley Carpenters union it has been his job to keep a running conversation with some of the political players now targeted in the FBI probe, including Mayor Ed Pawlowski and his recently charged former campaign manager Mike Fleck. As much as I routinely talked with the mayor and Mike Fleck, I kind of figured I was on tape, Lott said. Ive never gotten one of those letters before, but I figured it was coming this time. Under federal wiretap law, the FBI is required to inform people whose conversations have been secretly recorded. The notifications have started to arrive and more are expected. Beyond that protocol, the Allentown letters open a window into the investigation at City Hall. They confirm what sources for months have told The Morning Call that prosecutors have been secretly recording conversations and federal agents have been tapping the phones of political players. Many of the letters were delivered through certified mail, but some were hand-delivered by federal agents seeking to interview the subjects. In one letter obtained by The Morning Call, the addressee was advised that conversations were intercepted during calls to a cellphone used by Fleck and a second cellphone used by him but registered to Lisa Pawlowski, the mayors wife and treasurer of his suspended U.S. Senate campaign last year. The letter also stated that conversations were intercepted from a cellphone used by Sam Ruchlewicz, a top associate in Flecks political consulting firm, H Street Strategies. In addition, the docket number at the top of the letter suggests the interception of electronic and wire communications was requested in 2013, which would mean the investigation started three years ago. The letters do not mention Ed Pawlowski, who has not been charged but has been implicated by the six people who have pleaded guilty in the Allentown case, court documents show. His attorney, Jack McMahon, has said he expects the mayor to be indicted though he has done nothing wrong. Lisa Pawlowski has not been implicated or accused of wrongdoing. She did not return a call for comment. Patty Hartman, spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney in Philadelphia, said she could not disclose who received the notices about recordings or how many were distributed. The Morning Call confirmed that at least six have been received and has requested a list of all recipients under the Freedom of Information Act. Its an ongoing investigation, so were not at liberty to discuss details, Hartman said. In reality, getting a letter means little more than that the addressee had the misfortune of having a conversation with someone the FBI was investigating. Often, their conversation has no relevance to the investigation. Every time [the target] calls his girlfriend or his tailor, there is a short intercept. Those are usually the people who get the first notices, said Joseph F. King, a criminal justice professor at John Jay College in New York. But that doesnt lessen the sinking feeling some have had as they opened their certified mail. Not everyone could shrug it off as easily as Lott, as he found when a second letter addressed to him was mistakenly sent to his sons home, on the same street in Hellertown. Yeah, Lott joked, my daughter-in-law wasnt quite as prepared as I was. For some, the letters induce anxiety, if not panic. The realization that they have been recorded by the FBI may prompt conversations with recipients lawyers and offers to cooperate with the U.S. attorneys office, said Bruce Antkowiak, a former federal prosecutor and defense attorney. Whenever those notices go out, thats a flash-point moment in these kinds of cases because it creates a tremendous stir in the community, said Antkowiak, who directs the criminal justice program at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Westmoreland County. The distribution of such notices also can produce a flurry of conversations among people of interest in a case, which sometimes generates evidence on other tapped telephone lines. Investigators call it, tickling the wires, said King, former national security section chief at the Department of Homeland Security in New York. The letters are the latest step in a federal investigation that first came to light July 2, when agents raided Allentown City Hall and seized computers, cellphones and hundreds of thousands of documents related to the citys contracting process. A subpoena served that day listed the names of about two dozen people and businesses about whom documents were sought. Since then, the list has expanded to about 40 names as subpoenas were served on Lehigh County and the Allentown Parking Authority. Many of the names on the Allentown subpoena also were on one served at Reading City Hall, which was raided July 8 in a parallel investigation. In charging documents the U.S. attorneys office has presented a bribery and extortion scheme coordinated by Public Official No. 3, an Allentown official who can execute contracts and who also ran for state office in 2013 and federal office in 2015. That description matches only Ed Pawlowski. The documents allege Public Official No. 3 used his position and the promise of city contracts to garner campaign donations from contractors. Since then, three Allentown city officials, a developer, a contractor and Fleck have pleaded guilty to participating in the scheme. In Reading, two have pleaded guilty, and one of the two has been sentenced. Both, court documents show, implicated Public Official No. 1, whose description in those documents match only former Reading Mayor Vaughan Spencer, who has not been charged. Pawlowski and Spencer used Fleck and his H Street Strategies consulting firm to run their campaigns. Fleck abruptly shuttered his business the day of the Allentown raid and moved from his West End Allentown home several days later. Sources have told The Morning Call he and Ruchlewicz were secretly recording Pawlowski, Spencer and others for the FBI. Pawlowski apparently suspected Fleck, who was his closest friend as well as his campaign manager, was recording his conversations. Sources told The Morning Call that hours before the Allentown raid, Pawlowski patted his friend down in a Hamilton Street elevator, prompting Fleck to ask, What? Do you think Im wearing a wire? Fleck pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to commit extortion and bribery offenses and tax evasion. Ruchlewicz has not been accused of wrongdoing, but he was named on subpoenas served in Reading and Allentown. Also named was Hamilton Development Partners, an arm of H Street Strategies. Fleck could not be reached for comment about the letters. Ruchlewicz did not return calls for comment. How wiretaps work When investigators apply for a wiretap order, they must persuade a judge there is probable cause to believe the targeted telephone number is being used to commit a crime, that tapping the phone will generate relevant evidence and that theres no other way to get that evidence. One way agents can tie a phone number to criminal activity is through the use of a dirty call placed by a cooperating witness or confidential witness who consents to being recorded, said Jennifer Rodgers, executive director of the Center for Advancement of Public Integrity at Columbia Law School. For example, if a cooperating witness calls a targets cellphone and records a conversation in which they discuss the commission of a crime, that recording can be used as probable cause for a wiretap because it shows the cellphone is likely to be used in other conversations about crimes, Rodgers said. Investigators also must show the judge they have a plan to minimize the interception of calls that are not relevant to their case. Thats a little more art than science, said Rodgers, a former federal prosecutor. In practice, a wiretap operation resembles a scene from a TV police drama. Agents staff a wire room in shifts, listening to intercepted calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Theyre briefed on the scope of the investigation and have a list of people likely to be heard speaking on the tapped lines. When a call to or from the tapped number is connected, an agent listens for a predetermined amount of time one or two minutes to determine whether the conversation is pertinent to the investigation. If you wire-tapped someones home phone, for example, and their teenage daughter is on the phone, youre not supposed to record that, Antkowiak said. Years ago, King said, organized crime figures got wise to the limitations placed on investigators. They would have their wives call each other and talk about recipes for five minutes or so until, the mobsters figured, the feds had stopped listening. As a result, agents are permitted to listen in periodically as the call continues to determine whether the topic of conversation has shifted to something relevant. While theres no concrete rule on how long investigators can listen or how often they can check in, recording conversations that are not evidence of a crime can lead to all recordings being kept out of a trial, Antkowiak said. But that rarely happens because wiretaps are among the most meticulously structured evidence collection efforts federal authorities undertake, often involving top prosecutors directly in planning, he said. And the evidence they produce is often devastating, Rodgers said. If you wind up at trial, theres really nothing better than being able to play recordings of the defendant saying incriminating things in his own voice. Its blockbuster evidence if you can get it, she said. Former Lehigh County Commissioner Dean Browning isnt worried much about that after getting notice that he was recorded. An influential Republican who occasionally found himself on the end of one of Flecks lobbying campaigns, Browning said few conversations he had with Fleck were relevant to anything the FBI would care about. But when he got his letter, it made him wonder how long the FBI was listening in on Flecks phone. I think the last time I spoke with him was probably 2013 or 2014, Browning said. Maybe this means this thing is finally wrapping up. I assume they dont send out these letters until theyre near the end of their investigation. Those known to The Morning Call who have received the letters so far include union officials and political insiders who were lobbied by H Street for support, The Morning Call found. Most declined to comment, not wanting their names even in passing associated with Allentowns FBI probe. Northampton County Councilman Ken Kraft isnt among them. As a business agent for the Lehigh Valley International Union of Painters, hes talked with Fleck and Pawlowski many times in the past two years. Yet, he hasnt received the letter many of his friends have gotten and hes feeling a little left out. Im a little surprised. I was kind of hoping Id get one, Kraft said. Its not every day that the FBI taps a phone you called. Im dying to see what [the letters] say. massad@mcall.com Twitter @matthewassad21 610-820-6691 Reporter Emily Opilo contributed to this story. By Bryan Kirschner, Vice President, Strategy at DataStax In their 2020 book Competing in the Age of AI, Harvard Business School professors Marco Iansiti and Karim Lakhani make some bold predictions about the winning enterprises of the future. These organizations, which they refer to as AI factories, build a virtuous cycle between user engagement, data collection, algorithm design, prediction, and improvement, unlocking new paths to growth as software moves to the core of the enterprise. A little more than two years after the publication of their seminal work, data gathered from IT leaders and practitioners lend a lot of credence to Iansiti and Lakhanis hypotheses particularly those regarding the kind of technology architectures and strategies that engender success with AI. The AI factory Successful AI companies think Apple, Netflix, Google, Uber, or FedEx build innovative applications and, as they scale, start the flywheel of data, growth, and improvement spinning by gathering ever-growing amounts of real-time data, accessing it instantly, and tuning their predictions. User experiences become more personal and intuitive; key decisions can be made nearly instantaneously; and predictions can occur in real-time, empowering a business to improve outcomes in the moment. This unlocks new paths to growth: in the authors words, as AI factories accumulate data by increasing scale (or even scope), the algorithms get better and the business creates greater value, something that enables more usage and thus the generation of even more data. For more traditional firms to achieve this kind of success requires a host of changes in both their operating models and technology profiles. Open-source software and AI success The State of the Data Race 2022 report is based on a survey of over 500 IT leaders and practitioners that delved into their organizations data strategies. For the purpose of this analysis, responses were divided into three groups: those where both AI and ML are already in widespread deployment those where AI and ML are at most in the pilot phase or early days those in between these two extremes, characterized as being in limited deployment The study assumed the organizations with AI/ML widely in production provide useful information about the evolving shape of the AI factory and looked for differences across the three stages of maturity. Iansiti and Lakhani wrote that AI factories will evolve from a focus on proprietary technologies and software to an emphasis on shared development and open source because the competitive advantage they enjoy comes from data they accumulate not the software they develop in-house. The survey data backs this up in spades. A strong majority of each of the three AI/ML groups considers open-source software (OSS) at least somewhat important to their organization (73%, 96%, and 97%, respectively, ordered from early days to wide deployment). But ratings of very important closely track AI/ML maturity: 84% of companies with AI/ML in wide deployment describe OSS this way (22%of early days organizations do, and this jumps to 46% of those with AI/ML in limited deployment). Perhaps even more striking, organizations not using OSS are a tiny minority (1%, 1%, and 7%, ordered from wide deployment to early days). But a majority of those with AI/ML in wide deployment (55%) join companies like The Home Depot in having a company-wide mandate for use of OSS. Real-time data and AI Consider the AI leaders mentioned above. These companies have assembled technology infrastructures that enable instantaneous changes and decisions based on real-time feedback. Relying on day-old data and batch processing to update the routing of a package to ensure on-time delivery just doesnt cut it at FedEx. So, it isnt surprising that Iansiti and Lakhani report that AI factories lean into real time. The top enterprises develop tailored customer experiences, mitigate the risk of customer churn, anticipate equipment failure, and enable all kinds of process decisions in real time, they say. Much like with OSS, findings from The State of the Data Race point to real-time data (and the technology architecture that enables it) as a matter of core strategy for the AI leaders. The substantial use of this correlates with AI maturity: 81% of companies that have broadly deployed AI/ML say real-time data is a core strategy. Forty-eight percent of organizations with limited AI/ML deployment describe it as a core strategy; the figure was 32% for companies in the early stages of AI/ML. But among the advanced group, a full 61% say that leveraging real-time data is a strategic focus across their organization (four times that of organizations in the early days, and more than twice that of those with limited deployment). And 96%of todays AI/ML leaders expect all or most of their apps to be real time within three years. This makes sense: as an enterprise intentionally rewires its operations to make the most of AI/ML, it becomes especially important to eliminate any arbitrary architectural barriers to new use cases that require speed at scale anywhere in the business. Todays OSS as-a-service ecosystem makes that possible for everyone, freeing the future organization to make the most of its unique customer interactions and datasets. Uniphore: A case study in real-time data, AI, and OSS Uniphore helps its enterprise customers cultivate more fruitful relationships with their customers by applying AI to sales and customer service communications. The company relies on real-time data to quickly analyze and provide feedback to salespeople upon thousands of customer reactions during video calls. We have about fourteen different AI models we run in real time to coalesce the data into something meaningful for our clients, says Saurabh Saxena, Uniphores head of technology and VP of engineering. Any kind of latency is going to have a negative effect on the real time side. Without the ability to process data in real-time, our solution really wouldnt be possible, he adds. To get the speed they need, Uniphore relies on open-source Apache Cassandra delivered as a service via DataStax (my employer) Astra DB. Its performance and reliability are key to ensuring Uniphores system is something every salesperson is motivated to rely on in order to be more effective in the moment. But winning adoption among line staff points to another of Iansiti and Lakhanis insights on the implications of AI for senior management. As the latter explained in a 2021 interview, AI is good at predictions and predictions are the guts of an organization. Senior executives need to constantly ask, Do I have data now to improve my prediction power my accuracy, my speed? As Uniphore points out, sales forecast accuracy is something most sales leaders are concerned about. As a knock-on effect of using Uniphores tools, quantitative data on sentiment and engagement can flow into sales forecasts without the need for more staff time. In addition to the direct uplift that sellers experience, forecasts improve management to spend their time on more important things, like investing for growth, with greater confidence. This closes the loop on Iansiti and Lakhanis insight that AI factories can unlock a more powerful operating model over and above the benefits of individual use cases and point solutions. Building an AI factory Organizations that leaned into the insights in Competing in the Age of AI may have stolen a march on their competition. Judging from our survey data, theyve been amply rewarded for doing so. The good news is that theyve proven best practices for success and the tools you need to accelerate your own progress on the journey to becoming an AI factory are ready and waiting. Learn how DataStax enables AI-powered apps About Bryan Kirschner: Bryan is Vice President, Strategy at DataStax. For more than 20 years he has helped large organizations build and execute strategy when they are seeking new ways forward and a future materially different from their past. He specializes in removing fear, uncertainty, and doubt from strategic decision-making through empirical data and market sensing. wichayada / Adobe Stock Strengthening relationships with policymakers and businesses could enable charities to unleash their full potential, a landmark report has argued. Unleashing the Power of Civil Society calls on the government, private sector and charities to work together to bring mutual benefits and tackle societys biggest problems. Meanwhile, at the reports launch, civil society minister Stuart Andrew pledged to ensure that civil society organisations have a seat at tables right across Whitehall. The Law Family Commissions final report is the culmination of two years of research into the role of civil society and what needs to be done to ensure it can thrive and support economic and social wellbeing across the UK. Business support is valuable and underused The report said that businesses are a valuable and underused source of funding and skills for civil society. It is estimated that business donations of funds and services total 2.4bn a year, but amount to just 0.06% of charities income, and an average yearly business contribution of just 450 to small charities. The report is calling on charities and businesses to form more partnerships and take action to better understand their respective roles to benefit wider society. Businesses are a strikingly underused source of funding and skills for the charity sector. Its especially important to tap into this source given current pressures on other sources of funding, with public donations expected to be affected by the cost-of-living squeeze and economic downturn and government finances under strain, it said. More charities should prioritise identifying and cultivating opportunities to tap into the business sector, with charity umbrella bodies supporting them to access opportunities to do this. Government must play a greater role The report said policymakers have a critical role to play to facilitate greater cooperation between the private and charity sectors but also achieve social and economic progress in the country. The Commission found a strong bedrock of engagement and respect between charities and policymakers, as well as appetite among every group of policymakers to increase and improve relationships. However, it pointed out that nearly half (45%) of civil servants have no contact at all with the charity sector. This means that a large segment of those developing, assessing and recommending policies are missing out on the insights and evidence that charities can bring to their work. It also means that many of the people who play an enormous role in shaping the environment in which charities operate are doing so without input from the organisations and volunteers whose vital work they might be helping or hindering. It concluded that both policymakers and charities need to create more opportunities to work together and develop mutual understanding. Civil society is less well understood Despite combining some of the features of the public and private sectors, people tend not to grasp the unique nature and role of civil society, the report said. Like the public sector, it is concerned with providing public goods rather than generating profit. Like the private sector, it is dispersed, agile and driven by individuals and communities rather than constructed to a centralised plan. This combination of characteristics enables civil society to play multiple roles both in local communities and national life spotting problems and opportunities; innovating to meet them; driving social change; enabling communities to take action to improve their area; and reaching groups often marginalised in both the political and commercial realms. However, the report added, a lack of a controlling central hand as can be found in the public sector through democracy and a lack of a price mechanism that exists in the private sector, creates the risk in civil society of efforts being inadvertently and inefficiently replicated in some areas, while other areas are left without the necessary services and capacity that civil society can provide. Large swathes of the benefits created by civil society also go unrecorded in financial terms, meaning that it tends to be undervalued and can easily be overlooked when policies are being developed and decisions made. Minister pledges to bring in sectors expertise Speaking at the reports launch in London today, Andrew said: We want to connect civil society to key government priorities, bringing in the diversity and expertise of the sector. We will do more together when we continue to harness knowledge and share our expertise. We will continue to build bridges between the sector and the government and ensure that civil society organisations have a seat at tables right across Whitehall. sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, The UKs first multi-charity shop will open tomorrow as a month-long pop-up store in Brent Cross Shopping Centre, London. Charity Super.Mkt will sell clothes from 10 charities that have joined forces to offer the pre-loved fashion. Age UK, All Aboard, Barnardos, Cancer Research, Emmaus, Havens Hospice, Spitalfields Crypt Trust, Marie Curie, TRAID and Shelter will all sell clothes in the store. The concept was created by co-founder of footwear brand Red or Dead, Wayne Hemingway, and chief executive of the sustainable fashion charity TRAID, Maria Chenoweth. Customers will be encouraged to donate and pre-loved clothes to the pop-up store as well as buying items. Hemingway said: Charity shops are no longer a signal of decline in our town centres; they represent a powerful and positive movement towards the circular economy and a future that is being wholeheartedly embraced by consumers and contributes hundreds of millions of pounds to our economy, and good causes. TRAID: Iconic innovative concept Chenoweth said: Having been in charity retail for over 30 years, being part of the first ever charity retail collaboration in an old fast-fashion Topshop store is iconic. Charity Super.Mkt hits circular economy and sustainability aspirations, whilst also hitting the cost-of-living crisis. Our consumers are increasingly interested in finding sustainable brands and opportunities to mix new outfits with pre-loved fashion, so were excited to be bringing this innovative concept to Brent Cross. Homelessness charity Emmaus is also part of the pop-up shop, and its chief executive Charlotte Talbott said it is a perfect fit for the charity. As soon as we heard about the Charity Super.Mkt concept we knew that it was a perfect fit for Emmaus and a great opportunity to showcase sustainable fashion, Talbott said. She added that the charity hopes to see the concept appear within other towns and cities across the UK in the near future. Charity Super.Mkt will open from 10am on Friday 27 January until 8pm on Saturday 25 February. sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Last weekend, the Indian government ordered YouTube to remove clips from a BBC documentary. It sent a similar order to Twitter, telling that platform to remove any tweets that featured links to those clips and pointing to more than fifty specific posts that had done so. The documentary, called India: The Modi Question, covers, in part, a series of violent riots in the western Indian state of Gujarat in 2002. More than a thousand people diedmost of them Muslims. The documentary features quotes from UK government correspondence that described the riots as having had all the hallmarks of an ethnic cleansing and held Narendra Modi, a Hindu nationalist who was then the chief minister of Gujarat, directly responsible. Modi is now Indias prime minister. According to the orders from Indias Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the clips from the documentary and the tweets referring to them were to be removed under information technology laws that the Modi government implemented in 2021. According to one report, senior officials from different branches of the government reviewed the documentary and found it to be an attempt to cast aspersions on the authority and credibility of the Supreme Court of India, sow divisions among various Indian communities, and make unsubstantiated allegations regarding the actions of foreign governments in India. (The Supreme Court had previously cleared Modi of blame for the riots.) One official told The Hindu that the documentary undermined the sovereignty and integrity of India and had the potential to adversely impact public order within the country. ICYMI: Khaled Drareni on a worrying moment for press freedom in Algeria India has several laws that give officials the authority to order information providers to remove or block access to content, including the Information Technology Act of 2000, which allows the government to block content in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the State, and public order. The additional law that the Modi government passed in 2021 bills itself as a digital media ethics code that requires social media platforms to take down content within thirty-six hours of receiving a government order, and to otherwise assist law enforcement agencies with their inquiries. Foreign social media companies are required to employ a local staffer who can handle such official requests. Some critics have referred to this as a hostage-taking law, on the grounds that these local employees could end up in prison should their employer refuse to play ball. In February 2021, amid widespread protests sparked by new agricultural laws, Twitter took down more than five hundred accounts that had posted critical comments about Modi and the government; the company also used its country withheld feature, a geo-blocking tool, to hide tweets from users located in India. (They remained visible for users elsewhere.) At the time, Twitter said that it had refused to remove any accounts or tweets belonging to journalists, politicians, or activists because it believed that doing so would violate their fundamental right to free expression. And Twitter said that it was committed to maintaining a healthy conversation on its platform, insisting that the tweets should flowa clear echo of language that the company used in 2011, after the Egyptian government shut off access to the internet during the Arab Spring uprising there. In the 2021 case, Twitter initially refused the Indian governments takedown requests before the company folded and complied. Last July, in a separate case, Twitter went further in its attempts to push back, suing the Indian government over a decree that forced the company to remove tweets and block a number of accounts, as I wrote for CJR at the time. (It wasnt clear which tweets and accounts were in question because Indian law gags platforms from talking publicly about the orders they receive.) Twitter initially obeyed the order but then filed the suit, arguing that the government had interpreted the law too broadly, according to a report in the New York Times. The suit described the order as overbroad, arbitrary, and disproportionate; the content in question, Twitter argued, was either political commentary, criticism, or otherwise newsworthy, and therefore should not be removed. (The case, as far as I can tell, is ongoing.) Sign up for CJR 's daily email In 2021, Maddy Crowell wrote for CJR that the Modi governments weaponization of Twitter had endangered a number of news publishers, not least Caravan, which Crowell (who once interned at Caravan) described as one of the few Indian media outlets that had refused to fall under the sway of the government or its acolytes, and which had become known for publishing hard-hitting investigations of those in power. One day, without warning, Twitter took down Caravans account, along with more than two hundred and fifty others. The government told Caravan that one of its tweets amounted to malicious social media propaganda that could lead to creating turmoil and havoc in the minds of the public. As Paroma Soni reported for CJR, also in 2021, the rules under which a tweet may be considered inflammatory are now much broader in India than they had been in the past; tweets can be cited as objectionable or seditious if they contain dissent of any kind, Soni wrote, and criticism of sexual violencewhen the perpetrators were Hinduhas also been branded as dissent. The government has given itself the power to remove any form of content it sees as anti-national, but the definition of that term is murky, Soni wrote. Now the government is reportedly considering new laws that would further extend its control over social media: according to Reuters, a draft proposal published recently would allow the government to order the removal of any information identified as fake or false by the governments communications department or any other agency that has been officially authorized for fact-checking. The proposal, the Editors Guild of India said in a statement, will stifle legitimate criticism of the government and will have an adverse impact on the ability of the press to hold governments to account. India isnt the only country to have weaponized laws supposedly targeted at misinformation or offensive content against speech that the government dislikes. Vietnam and Pakistan already have so-called fake news rules that give their respective governments wide latitude to remove content, or force companies to do so, in the name of public order and security. Brazil and Poland are considering similar laws. Recently, the government of Turkeywhere the increasingly authoritarian president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is seeking reelection this yearpushed through a law that threatens lengthy jail terms for the authors of stories and social media posts that spread information that is inaccurate and create fear and panic in areas including domestic and external security, public order, and public health. Twitter, of course, has changed hands since it sued the Indian government last year. Its new owner, Elon Musk, once called himself a free-speech absolutist, but, as I wrote recently, his behavior at Twitter so far has not reflected that idealand that was before being asked to stand up to any foreign governments. Theres this deep tension in the way that Elon Musk has talked about how hes going to run the platform, Evelyn Douek, an assistant professor at Stanford who researches online speech, told Time magazine for a story about Twitters India problem that predated the governments censorship of the BBC documentary. His proclamations about being a free-speech platform would suggest standing up to authoritarians, who are the biggest threat to free speech. But he has also said he will obey local lawswhich, in many areas of the world, means being far more restrictive than Twitters current content moderation rules. Since Musks takeover, Twitter has reportedly restored several Hindu-nationalist accounts known for posting hate speech directed at Muslims. This week, the platform complied with the Indian governments request to take down links to the BBC documentary. Social media is not the be-all and end-all of political speech, of course, nor is it the only focus of censorship in India. Modis government, indeed, seems willing to go to extraordinary lengths to stop people from watching the BBC documentary. On Tuesday, students in New Delhi tried to screen the program at a university. The government responded by cutting off the power. Other notable stories: ICYMI: How public policy can help save local news Mathew Ingram is CJRs chief digital writer. Previously, he was a senior writer with Fortune magazine. He has written about the intersection between media and technology since the earliest days of the commercial internet. His writing has been published in the Washington Post and the Financial Times as well as by Reuters and Bloomberg. More than a dozen Allentown residents spoke out Wednesday about what they said is bullying, discrimination and poor customer service from employees of the Allentown Parking Authority. Parking authority board meetings are usually a quiet affair. But a viral social media flyer advertising Wednesdays meeting as a day of action prompted residents to come and share their concerns about parking in the city. Board members allowed around 10 people to speak before cutting off public comment to address their meeting agenda. The board room is a relatively small space, and only six speakers were allowed in the room at a time. As one left, another person was allowed to enter the room. Those who did not get to speak beforehand were told they could wait until the end of their meeting to do so. Resident Jose Cartagena said that he was ticketed for double parking after dropping off an elderly neighbor at their home. Cartagena said he blocked traffic for less than 30 seconds before a parking authority officer issued him a ticket. Allentown resident Jose Cartagena addresses the Allentown Parking Authority board on Wednesday, Jan. 25. Several had similar stories. Julius Smith, a driver for Uber, said he arrived to pick up a passenger on Tilghman Street early in the morning, and received a $200 ticket within seconds. I dont make $200 an hour, not even close, Smith said. That is bullying, and for them not to get out of the car and let you know anything is going on, and when I park, they follow me over, now Im parked and theyre giving me the ticket. Ingrid Ulloa said that as she was dropping off a friend from a grocery shopping trip, an officer issued her a ticket. She considered fighting the expense in court, but said she was not able to take time off work to do so. She could not afford to pay the ticket, so a friend helped her pay part of the expense. All three said they were in their vehicles as they were ticketed and were not given a warning or a chance to move their cars from the issuing officers. Board members expressed sympathy for residents woes while also explaining the public pressure they face to address parking complaints. Double parking is the most complained-about parking issue in the city, board Chair Ted Zeller said, which is why officers tend to quickly ticket offenders. But Zeller lamented that residents were not able to resolve their issues through the parking authoritys customer service, and said he has some ideas to allow residents to more efficiently resolve tickets they believe were issued in error. The authoritys customer service representatives usually tell complainants to challenge their tickets in court something not everyone can afford to do. There has got to be a better way to deal with complaints, Zeller said. Board member Daryl Hendricks said parking officers should use discretion when issuing tickets and allow drivers to rectify the situation first. Betty Cauler, who lives in West Allentown, said she and her neighbors have been repeatedly ticketed for parking in an alley off of Tilghman Street, even though their cars do not block traffic and there are no visible no parking signs. Zeller said the ordinance parking authority officers used to ticket Cauler and her neighbors contains awful, vague wording, and vowed to correct it. Jessica Ortiz, executive director of the nonprofit Ortiz Ark Foundation, circulated the flyer advertising the parking authority meeting on social media. She said shes heard numerous complaints and has experienced parking woes herself. She plans to continue advertising monthly meetings to allow more Allentown residents to have their complaints heard. They happen every month, we are going to fill the room, Ortiz said. Board members said those who did not get a chance to speak should attend next months board meeting. Member Santo Napoli also said the parking authority is floating holding evening meetings where residents who cannot attend a daytime meeting could discuss their parking issues. Antonio Betancourt and his daughter, Chastity, were among those who were not afforded a chance to speak before the meeting. Chastity said her health issues prevent her from standing for long periods of time, and the two were frustrated they had to wait for a chance to be heard. Chastity had her car booted Friday for an unpaid parking ticket, and because the parking authority office was closed over the weekend, she was unable to pay the ticket or access her car until Monday. Its unfair, its not right, Antonio said. Morning Call reporter Lindsay Weber can be reached at liweber@mcall.com. Classes on reducing substance abuse, improving parenting skills and living fulfilling lives could be on the way for people incarcerated at Lehigh County Jail. The education services are part of a proposed professional services agreement between the county and the Center for Humanistic Change, an Allentown-based not-for-profit agency that provides education for substance abuse and life skills. The resolution received its first reading and unanimous preliminary approval by commissioners during a board meeting Wednesday. If approved, the center would provide 880 hours of education programming a year, focusing on life skills, including reducing substance abuse, and parenting skills. Commissioner Dave Harrington, who sponsored the resolution, said, This is another wonderful opportunity that the county has to show off our commitment to helping those reenter after placement in our Lehigh County Jail. Classes would help inmates with anger management, interpersonal skills, parenting young children, decision-making, and reintegration in society after their release. The education programs would mostly only be in English, with Spanish-language programs available for up to three classes, one day per week. In the first year, the center would earn up to $66,880 to provide 20 hours per week of education services, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. In the second year, the education programs would go under review and provide potential opportunities for expansion including additional programs in Spanish and adjusting the curriculum based on feedback. The second year of the contract is worth $70,224. An additional $20,000 could be paid for additional services, the contract says. In time, the center would be responsible for providing the county a roster of program participants along with their rates of success and failure. Any personal information, such as names, would remain confidential. The center could not be reached for comment. In similar news, commissioners gave preliminary approval of a professional services agreement that would bring violence prevention services to schools in the county. The Crime Victims Council of the Lehigh Valley would identify the schools with the greatest need for such services and at-risk students by consulting with school personnel and provide weekly programming to 600 students over a two-year period. More specifically, the program would take place in two middle schools and two high schools, according to the resolution. The agreement would also provide free counseling for students with a history of victimization such as abuse and bullying. Any prevention materials or program curriculum would be translated to Spanish; the Crime Victims Council also intends to hire a bilingual Spanish outreach educator as soon as the contract is approved. Both resolutions require a second reading at a future meeting before receiving final approval. Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. The Pennsylvania House officially adjourned Tuesday until late February, almost certainly ending any chance of voters seeing constitutional amendments on their May ballot. The move by Speaker Mark Rozzi ends a chaotic three weeks that began with the Berks County Democrats ascension to the top spot in the chamber and his vow to drop his party affiliation. But those bipartisan overtures quickly hardened into gridlock that prompted Rozzi to schedule a statewide tour to hear from residents about the chambers struggles. Democrats await the outcomes of special elections expected to give them a one-vote majority, while Republicans, facing internal divisions, have unsuccessfully tried to use obscure rules to force the chamber back in session. https://www.spotlightpa.org/embed.js Following all of this from afar are advocates for sexual abuse survivors and good-government, who are waiting with a mix of frustration and hope for the lower chamber to actually begin governing. The House has been stuck in park since January as neither party has gained the traction to approve operating rules that allow committees to form and votes to be held. Rozzi said Tuesday the chamber will meet again Feb. 27, after three Feb. 7 Allegheny County special elections that Democrats are expected to win, and which would cement the partys first majority in 12 years. Throughout the entire, unusual start to the session, Rozzi, a former backbencher elevated to the Houses top post, has been at the center of the storm. Elected in a GOP-orchestrated compromise, Rozzi initially declared himself independent and pledged to caucus with neither party. But to Republicans dismay, he has declined to change his party registration, and vowed not to consider any legislation until the General Assembly agrees to pass his top priority: a constitutional amendment that would create a two-year window for victims of child sexual abuse to sue over old abuse cases. Rozzi, who was abused by a priest as a teenager, has said he wants to pass the amendment in time for the May primary which would require passing it this week. But on Tuesday, after the House remained divided and the Senate tried to attach unrelated amendments to Rozzis priority measure, he seemed to concede it would not happen, and recessed the chamber. The amendment could still be passed and put on any subsequent ballot until 2024. In the meantime, Rozzi embarked on what hes calling a listening tour, saying he hopes that meeting directly with the people of Pennsylvania and interested organizations will yield solutions to partisan gridlock. He is in Pittsburgh today, and will be in Philadelphia Friday. The lack of action has been another blow to survivors of childhood sexual abuse, whose priority has been caught in legislative limbo. At some point in time, there is enough blame to go around, survivor Cathleen Palm told Spotlight PA. The bottom line is the dysfunction is bipartisan and bicameral. Most of us dont have the time to decide if the Republican or Democratic talking points are more damaging. For a decade, survivors, including Rozzi, have called for lawmakers to approve the window. But that effort has been blocked by a mix of lobbying, reluctance, and a clerical error by former Gov. Tom Wolfs administration in 2021. Meanwhile, as they prepare for a long recess without operating rules, both parties in the House are doing their best to assign blame for the stalemate. Republicans argue that Rozzi should just agree to the Senates three combined amendments, which along with proposed sexual abuse legislation include proposals to expand ID requirements for voting and restrict the governors regulatory power. Democrats, pointing to advocates demands, counter that rolling the abuse amendment in with GOP priorities demonstrates the worst of Harrisburg politics, and that voters deserve a clean vote on the measure. They also contend that Republicans have not answered their calls to negotiate. The delay is to ensure the House operates fairly for the next 23 months, according to House Democratic spokesperson Nicole Reigelman. (Delaying will also give Democrats time to swear in any new members they get in special elections, and likely take over with a functional majority without requiring compromise.) Rozzi did not reply to a request for comment Tuesday. But as recently as this weekend, he expressed optimism for a deal. I remain hopeful that the House and Senate will come together for our survivors of childhood sexual assault, he told Spotlight PA in a text message. Republicans attempt a rump session With perfect party unity, this month Republicans could have rushed their priority voter ID and regulatory amendments onto the ballot. However, that on-paper edge has not worked out. Internal caucus divisions kept the party from agreeing on a Republican speaker last month, and led to the compromise that gave Rozzi the gavel. But that deal also went haywire. The agreement was supposed to result in Rozzi becoming a registered independent, according to Republicans. That would have left the House otherwise evenly divided even if Democrats pick up three seats. However, Rozzi has not made the switch, and has continued to maintain close relationships with his old caucus. He hired a Democratic staffer as his top aide, and top Democratic leaders and staff have frequently gone in and out of his Capitol office. Rozzi has also refused to call a voting session without a guarantee that the civil window amendment will pass without any unrelated amendments attached, a plea echoed by most survivors, including Rozzis onetime Republican ally, state Rep. Jim Gregory, R., Blair. The proposed constitutional amendment on creating a two-year lookback window for lawsuits deserves to be on voters ballots as a standalone question due to the exceptional amount of time survivors have waited for justice and the egregious error made by the Department of State, Gregory wrote on Facebook. Rozzis moves have left GOP leaders in a bind: their numerical advantage will likely slip away soon, taking away the chance to pass the amendments or favorable chamber rules. Meanwhile, leaders have been under pressure from conservatives in and outside of Harrisburg to play hardball. One rank-and-file conservative, state Rep. David Zimmerman, R-Lancaster, described the Rozzi deal as a total betrayal of the Republican caucus and the people who sent us to Harrisburg to represent their interests, in a letter viewed by Spotlight PA. Zimmerman confirmed to Spotlight PA he sent the letter as a statement of facts to constituents with concerns about the speakership outcome, but declined to comment further. Lacking better options, House Republicans have tried to bring the House back to vote through unusual means. In an email to his colleagues last week, House Republican Whip Tim ONeal, R-Washington, asked Republicans to sign a letter to the House clerk directing her to schedule a voting session this week. Lets get this letter to the clerk so we can take this fight to the floor next week, ONeal wrote. ONeal confirmed to Spotlight PA he sent the message Monday, echoing a GOP argument that the chamber needed to get back to work. No member, even the speaker, can hijack the process of the House. Could you imagine if [former Republican leader] Mike Turzai were still the speaker and he said no other legislation would run until you all agree to my school voucher billing?' ONeal said. Thats essentially what Mark Rozzi is doing at this point. The legality of the petition is unclear. ONeal said the House reverts to Masons Manual a oft-used handbook governing committee meetings without rules, which would allow for such an maneuver. One GOP lawmaker cited a 1921 incident in which the legislature called itself back in, elected a new speaker, and passed a budget. Historians have referred to it as a rump session. Those efforts have led to yet more public squabbling among Republicans something that was relatively rare during their time in the majority. One conservative member and state Freedom Caucus member, state Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-Lawrence, took to Facebook to call out his colleague state Rep. Tom Mehaffie, R=Dauphin, for not signing onto the petition asking for a week of voting session days. In a statement to Spotlight PA, Mehaffie exhorted his colleagues to choose cooperation over chaos in the coming weeks. It is my hope that my colleagues will relinquish short term power grabs so we can once again rely on humility and collaboration to better serve the people who elected us, Mehaffie said. I will not use my office to score frivolous political points at the expense of our constituents. A House Republican spokesperson did not reply to specific questions on the conflict. Democrats reject unilateral disarmament Democratic sources previously told Spotlight PA that the party offered a closer committee divide to Republicans as part of a power-sharing deal soon after the election. However, that offer was seemingly rebuffed, leading to Rozzis ascension and the current deadlock. In an email, Reigelman claimed that Republicans have also rejected subsequent offers to negotiate the rules. Republicans ran the House for 12 years, with little to show for it. House Democrats believe in doing things the right way, she said. Meanwhile, Republicans have released their proposed rules, which include a number of changes that would give the minority more power to control the agenda. These include a 13-12 committee divide instead of last-sessions 15-10 divide, an easier process for forcing bills out of committee, and increased transparency measures. All are changes to policies that benefited Republicans when they controlled the chamber, and that Republicans rejected out of hand when Democrats or good-government advocates previously proposed them. Republicans current rules proposals reflect the current legislative reality, as they have in the past sessions, House Republican spokesperson Jason Gottesman said. The irony is not lost on senior Democrats such as state Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, who is eyeing a chance to set the agenda. I dont think any of us want to give up an advantage, Frankel told Spotlight PA. After 24 years of service, hes lined up to be majority chair of the House Health Committee. Under its former Republican chair, the committee advanced abortion bans and sat on a bipartisan bill that would implement nurse staffing ratios in hospitals. Frankel declined to specify policies he would pursue as chair, but said hed prioritize increasing health care access, reducing costs, and leaving medical decision making to providers and families. A one-seat advantage on committees, as Democrats once offered and Republicans now propose, Frankel noted, would require unanimous Democratic support every time, which could also be difficult given the ideological diversity of the Democratic caucus. Instead, he thinks 14-11 would be more appropriate. I dont believe that we ought to be looking at a unilateral disarmament, Frankel said, adding, I dont think my Republican colleagues would ever have given us that kind of benefit. There were still a few signs of hope for a compromise before session adjourned. In a statement Tuesday, one Republican member of a bipartisan work group convened by Rozzi said the six-person committee had coalesced around a first draft of proposed operating rules for a special session and that a summary had been presented to Rozzi. I am confident that we can move forward to start healing the partisan divide and building a better tomorrow, added the work group member, state Rep. Valerie Gaydos, R-Allegheny. Rozzi was less definitive, telling Spotlight PA in a text message that he had not been presented with anything and that the group was having fruitful discussions but that they have not yet settled on a draft. (A joint statement from all three Democratic workgroup members added that we have not yet agreed to, and should not agree to, anything until we have public input.) https://www.spotlightpa.org/embed.js Good-government advocates are optimistic that Rozzis planned tour could offer the chamber a rare moment to self-reflect and get its affairs in order by adopting new rules that allow for a truly bipartisan agenda. I dont see this as a breakdown. I see this as a pause a moment to say, How can we do this better,' said Carol Kuniholm, executive director of Fair Districts PA, which advocates for a nonpartisan redistricting process. In an open letter to both parties leadership, Kuniholm echoed some of the Republicans new suggestions, as well as asked for rules that would require votes on bills that receive bipartisan co-sponsors or votes in the Senate. WHILE YOURE HERE If you learned something from this story, pay it forward and become a member of Spotlight PA so someone else can in the future at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) Paying for your ride and food orders will soon be easier and hassle-free as the countrys leading mobile wallet GCash partners with Grab Philippines, the countrys leader in transportation and deliveries. The landmark partnership will give Grab users access to the easiest, most convenient, and secure cashless transactions when they add GCash as a direct payment method on the Grab app. GCash will be officially available as a mode of payment on the Grab platform by February. Through this partnership, users can simply choose GCash as their payment method, and pay cashless for GrabCar, GrabFood, GrabMart, GrabExpress and other Grab services with just a few taps on their smartphones. Moreover, this partnership enables users to avoid transfer fees which go as high as 50. With this partnership, we once again realize our commitment to make the lives of Filipinos better each day by delivering a more convenient, secure, and cost-efficient way to pay for their rides and food and grocery deliveries. We look forward to this partnership and we will continuously innovate and build more partnerships that will improve the lives of the Filipinos, said GCash President and CEO Martha Sazon. To make their cashless transactions more convenient and rewarding, customers of Grab also get to avail of GCash exclusive deals and get special treats when they pay for their transactions using GCash. Grab Philippines Country Head Grace Vera Cruz said, Grab Philippines is dedicated to empowering our stakeholders in a digital-first economy, and key to this is driving a deeper and wider cashless adoption in the country. With more Filipinos transacting via cashless means, we are accelerating our prospects of digital transformation." We look forward to collaborating with like-minded partners such as GCash on this agenda, and we are optimistic that through this partnership, we can improve the lives and livelihoods of many of our kababayans, while building a cashless, digital-first economy for all Filipinos, she added. Grab is Southeast Asias leading superapp for ride hailing, food delivery, and on-demand grocery delivery. It touts strong foothold in markets like the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Prior to this development, GCash and Grab have already established a strategic collaboration. Their initial partnership provided Filipinos a safe, seamless, and secure digital experience by allowing users to transfer money from their GCash wallet to their GrabPay wallet, and vice-versa. Building on GCash and Grabs shared mission of addressing Filipinos daily needs, this partnership also helps in creating a more cash-lite and digitally driven economy. As part of its vision of achieving Finance for All, GCash will continue to innovate and establish partnerships to offer affordable, convenient and safe services making Filipino lives better every day and beyond, in the new normal. The GCash app is available for free on the Google Play or App Store. For more information, visit www.gcash.com or follow their official Facebook page. (CNN) Actor Jeremy Renner was trying to stop his snow-removal tractor from sliding and hitting his grown nephew when he was pulled under the vehicle and crushed on New Year's Day, according to a Nevada sheriff's office incident report. The parking brake was not engaged and would have stopped the snowcat vehicle, which runs on a track, as it started sliding sideways after the 52-year-old "Avengers" star used it to pull his nephew's truck out of snow, according to the redacted Washoe County Sheriff's Office report, filed Friday. "The Pistenbully snow groomer began sliding causing Renner to exit the vehicle without setting the emergency brake," reads the conclusion of the report, which CNN obtained Tuesday through a public records request. "Although the Pistenbully had some mechanical issues, it is believed based on our mechanical inspection that the parking brake would keep the Pistenbully from moving forward. When Renner attempted to stop or divert the Pistenbully to avoid injury to (his nephew), he was pulled under the vehicle by the track and run over." The brake indicator light inside the snowcat's cab was not functioning, and "mechanical issues may have been a factor in this accident," the report also notes. The nephew was able to help Renner until help arrived, the report states. Renner was airlifted to the hospital, where he stayed for more than two weeks, undergoing at least two surgeries and being treated in the intensive care unit. Impairment was not believed to be a factor in the incident, the report also concludes. CNN has reached out to Renner's representatives for comment. Moving track pulled actor under, report states The incident began on New Year's Day, when Renner towed his nephew's truck off the actor's driveway after it had been stuck in snow, he told investigators on January 5 while hospitalized, according to the incident report. After towing the truck into the street, the snowplow began "sliding sideways," then "it began to roll down the hill," Renner said. At that point, Renner jumped out of the snowcat, he told investigators. "Once he was off the Pistenbully, he realized it was heading directly toward (his nephew)," the report reads. "He feared the Pistenbully was going to hit (his nephew), so he decided to attempt to stop or divert the Pistenbully." To enter the snowplow's cab, Renner had to climb onto its moving track and was "immediately pulled under the left side track," the report notes. Renner was "completely crushed under a large snowcat (vehicle)" and had "extreme (difficulty) breathing," with "the right side of his chest ... collapsed -- upper torso is crushed," a 911 call log obtained by CNN said. "The Pistenbully rolled over him and continued down the road," the report says. "He laid on the ground and focused on his breathing while (his nephew and others) rendered aid to him until medical personnel arrived on scene." Renner, who plays superhero archer Hawkeye in the Marvel movie and TV "Universe," broke more than 30 bones in the incident, he's said. He posted a photo on Instagram last week with a caption that read: "Morning workouts, resolutions all changed this particular new years .... Spawned from tragedy for my entire family, and quickly focused into uniting actionable love I want to thank EVERYONE for their messages and thoughtfulness for my family and I .... Much love and appreciation to you all. These 30 plus broken bones will mend , grow stronger, just like the love and bond with family and friends deepens . Love and blessings to you all." This story was first published on CNN. "Jeremy Renner was crushed by snowplow as he tried to save nephew from injury, sheriffs report says" Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 25) Brigadier General Jesus Durante III has been relieved as commander of the 1001st Infantry Brigade in Davao de Oro after being named as a "person of interest" in the killing of Yvonette "Yvonne" Chua Plaza, a Davao-based businesswoman and model. "The Philippine Army will not condone any criminal act committed by its personnel," said Army chief Lieutenant General Romeo Brawner Jr. in a statement Wednesday. "As such, BGen Jesus Durante has been relieved as Commander of the 1001st Brigade, after being named as a person of interest in the murder of Yvonnette Chua Plaza, to give way to an impartial and thorough investigation," Brawner added. He also stressed that the incident was not "service-related." General Andres Centino, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff, echoed the pronouncements but said he would reserve in making further comments on the case while the investigation is ongoing. "If the results would say otherwise, then there would be sanctions done," Centino said. "That's why, right now, the Philippine Army has relieved the concerned person and placed him temporarily within the headquarters of the Philippine Army." It remains to be seen whether this development could merit charges against Durante before the military justice system. Army spokesperson Colonel Xerxes Trinidad said Colonel Febie Lamerez was designated acting commander of the 1001st Infantry Brigade while Colonel Gerry Besana was the deputy brigade commander. Plaza was gunned down on Dec. 29 last year by two unidentified men, who were riding a motorcycle, in front of her house at Green Meadow Subdivision, Brgy. Sto. Nino, Tugbok District, Davao City. Based on the press conference livestreamed on Facebook, Durante was implicated as the mastermind in the case, with authorities saying it was a "crime of passion." A number of Durante's subordinates including six enlisted personnel were also implicated in Plaza's murder. According to Davao Region police chief Brigadier General Benjamin Silo Jr., their investigation found that Plaza had "very sensitive information" against Durante which she was planning to use to blackmail him. Durante, who was the Presidential Security Group (PSG) commander during President Rodrigo Duterte's administration, previously denied that he was involved in the killing, in response to allegations circulating on social media that he hurt Plaza based on the victim's Facebook post in April last year. "This is yet another case of senseless killing perpetrated by riding-in-tandem criminals and we condemn this brutal and merciless act," Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said on Jan. 7 as they formed a task force in the Philippine National Police to probe the murder. CNN Philippines senior correspondent David Santos and digital producer Jelo Mantaring contributed to this report. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 26) The Philippine Army on Thursday said it will keep in its custody relieved Brigadier General Jesus Durante III and his deputy, Colonel Michael Licyayo, after being tagged in the murder of Davao-based model and businesswoman Yvonne Chua Plaza. In a radio interview, Army chief Lieutenant General Romeo Brawner Jr. said Durante the alleged mastermind Licyayo, and six other officers will also likely face a probe before the military justice system. Sasampahan rin po sila ng kaso under the military justice system, magkakaroon ng court martial and we will have custody over them, Brawner said. Meron po tayong custodial center, parang kulungan, so posible na mapunta sila don for their safekeeping habang dinidinig yong kaso nila, he added. [Translation: We will also file a case against them under the military justice system, there will be a court martial and we will have custody over them. We have a custodial center, like a prison, so its possible they will go there for safekeeping while their trial is ongoing.] Brawner said other army personnel, including the confessed gunman, are currently under the custody of the Philippine National Police. The Army chief explained that the military proceedings will tackle the administrative aspects of the cases filed against the army personnel, including their ranks and benefits. This will move alongside the case in the civilian court. Once court-martialed, the Army will ask the civilian court to keep Durante, who was commander of the 1001st Infantry Brigade in Davao de Oro, and Licyayo, under military custody while their trial is ongoing. It remains to be seen if a similar arrangement will be accorded to the enlisted personnel implicated in the case. Davao Region Police on Wednesday revealed what appears to be a conspiracy between the army officers and soldiers to silence Plaza. The police said a government-issued firearm was used to kill the victim. Described as a crime of passion, police investigators allege that Durante had an affair with Plaza and apparently, had ordered her killing after she tried to blackmail the army general. Durante, former Presidential Security Group (PSG) chief, had previously denied having any role in the murder but admitted that Plaza was a close friend. Armed forces officials have pointed out they will not condone any criminal acts involving their personnel and reiterated their full cooperation in the investigations into Plazas death. "Hindi po ito normal [This is not normal], this is not service-related," Brawner said of Durantes alleged treatment of his subordinates as his "private army." CNN Philippines senior correspondent David Santos and digital producer Jelo Mantaring contributed to this report. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 26) COVID-19 is no longer in the top 10 causes of deaths in the country, with ischemic heart diseases still the most fatal, a Philippine Statistics Authoritys (PSA) report covering the first nine months of 2022 showed. The viral illness which became the third deadliest disease in the Philippines in 2021 dropped to 11th place, with 13,883 registered fatalities from January to September last year. This count represents 3.3% of the total number of deaths during the period, according to the PSA. Nationwide, the agency said Metro Manila lost the highest number of people due to COVID-19 at 3,444. Calabarzon came next with 2,257, followed by Central Luzon with 1,888. The PSA also explained why its figures are higher than the ones released by the Department of Health (DOH). For instance, in 2021 alone, the statistics body listed over 105,000 deaths in the country due to COVID-19. However, the DOH tracker as of Jan. 26, 2023 showed that overall COVID-19 death toll since the start of the pandemic in 2020 was at 65,730. The figures in this release were obtained from the certificates of death particularly the descriptions written on the medical certificate portion therein as reviewed by the health officer of the local government unit concerned, the PSA said. On the other hand, the figures released by the DOH were obtained through a surveillance system. It added that its figures refer to both confirmed and probable cases as of registration. Ischaemic heart diseases still top list In a briefing on Wednesday, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said COVID-19s decline in the ranking shows the country is able to manage the disease better. Sa ngayon po nakikita natin na ang mga top leading causes of deaths dito sa ating bansa ay bumalik na doon sa dati nating trends kung saan yun pong atake sa puso, yung ischemic heart disease parin ang nauuna, she said. [Translation: Currently, we're seeing that the leading causes of deaths in the country were similar to before, where ischemic heart diseases lead the list.] PSA data showed that 77,173 people died in the first nine months of 2022 due to ischemic heart diseases, accounting for 18.5% of the total deaths. This kind of disease was also the most fatal in the country in 2021. In September last year, the DOH said it was strengthening collaboration with the World Health Organization and other agencies to prevent deaths caused by heart conditions. Meanwhile, completing the top three leading causes of deaths last year were cerebrovascular diseases (42,980 deaths, or 10.3% of the total) and neoplasms, commonly known as cancer (42,497 deaths, or 10.2%). The PSA said other illnesses in the top 10 were diabetes mellitus, hypertensive diseases, pneumonia, other heart diseases, chronic lower respiratory diseases, remainder of diseases of the genitourinary system, and respiratory tuberculosis. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 26) The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Thursday said it is planning to revise the labor agreement between the Philippines and Kuwait following the death of another overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in the Gulf state. Meron na po tayong tinatawag na legal framework, ito nga yung labor cooperation agreement natin. Re-rebisahin po natin to, titingnan natin kung paano natin mapapaigting, mapapa-enhance further yung protection and promotion of the welfare [ng OFWs], DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia told CNN Philippines The Source. [Translation: We have the so-called legal framework, this is the labor cooperation agreement. We will revise this and see how we can improve it to enhance the protection and promotion of welfare of OFWs.] Inked in 2018, the agreement protects the rights of OFWs, including their right to keep their passports and to keep their line of communication. It was signed after the Philippines imposed a deployment ban to the Middle Eastern country following reports of OFWs being abused, including the case of Joanna Demafelis who was found inside a freezer at her employer's home. Last Sunday, Jullebee Ranara was found dead in a desert in Salmi, Al-Jarah Governorate. READ: Remains of OFW killed in Kuwait to be brought home on Friday Olalia said a delegation will be sent to Kuwait to coordinate with authorities there to review and improve the agreement. We did this in Saudi Arabia, he added. Nagkaroon tayo ng white list framework na kung saan yung mga compliant lamang at yung mga walang violation na mga foreign recruitment agencies and employers ang pwede mag-join sa deployment. [Translation: We had a while list framework wherein only foreign recruitment agencies and employers who are compliant and who do not have violations will be allowed to join the deployment.] The DMW official said they will try to replicate this and implement in Kuwait. Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. Pennsylvania received $350 million from the federal government to help homeowners who fell behind on their mortgages during the pandemic. Getting the money out, however, has been slow going. As Spotlight PA reported, the aid program is overwhelmed by demand and struggling to get critical information from mortgage companies, leaving thousands of people in limbo. If youre a Pennsylvania homeowner who needs help catching up on mortgage payments or other housing costs, heres a basic guide to what you need to know about applying for help. https://www.spotlightpa.org/embed.js Whats available? The Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund can help with late mortgage payments, utility bills and property taxes, as well as other costs like homeowners insurance or homeowner association fees. Some applicants also qualify for help with upcoming mortgage payments. The maximum amount of assistance anyone can receive is $50,000. Within that, there are also caps on how much you can receive in utility assistance ($10,000), property tax assistance ($14,000), insurance premiums ($3,000), and homeowner or condo fees ($5,000). As of Feb. 1, 2022, you can only receive each type of assistance once so if you receive funding for your mortgage debt, for example, and then fall behind again, you wont qualify for another round of help for that type of aid. Payments from the program go directly to your mortgage or utility company. You can find more detailed information on the programs website. Who qualifies? You need to be a Pennsylvania homeowner who experienced financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, starting Jan. 21, 2020. To qualify for help with your debt, you must be at least one month behind on your bills. To receive help with ongoing mortgage payments, you have to be up to date on your mortgage and your payments must take up at least 30% of your monthly income. The property tied to your application must be your main residence, and the amount you borrowed for your mortgage must be below a certain limit, depending on the year you took out the loan and the location of your home. You also need to meet income requirements, which vary based on your county or metro area. https://www.spotlightpa.org/embed.js How long will it take? Applications arent first come, first served. Homeowners are given priority based on their income, demographics, and whether theyre at risk of foreclosure, having their utilities shut off, or having their home sold because they are behind on property taxes. Wait times also depend on how quickly your mortgage company responds to the programs requests for information and whether that process runs into any obstacles. Be prepared to wait at least several months. What if I need help with my mortgage as well as other housing costs? In these cases, the programs policy is to not work on other requests until your mortgage assistance has been awarded, which could leave your utility bills or property taxes on hold for months. However, if youre at risk of having your utilities shut off, or having your property sold to pay off back taxes, you can sign a form agreeing to get help with those bills first. What if Ive already been waiting for months? Unfortunately, long waits arent unusual. The programs internal goal when it launched last February was to get assistance to homeowners within 60 days. But the level of demand and the difficulty of coordinating with mortgage companies pushed average wait times to more than four months, as of mid-December. If youre waiting and need updates, you can try to contact your caseworker directly or set up an appointment through the programs call center. Spotlight PA found that some people have had more success reaching out to the program on Facebook Messenger, via the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency page. https://www.spotlightpa.org/embed.js Can I be foreclosed on while Im waiting? In most cases, mortgage companies are required to put foreclosure proceedings on hold for at least 60 days once someone has applied to the program. Program officials told Spotlight PA that many companies have been willing to wait longer. If you receive a pre-foreclosure notice sometimes called an Act 91 or Act 6 notice, depending on what type of loan you have send it to the program right away. Can my utilities be turned off while Im waiting? Yes, and Spotlight PA found it has happened in some cases, although program officials try to avoid this. Theres no legal requirement that utilities pause shut-offs once someone has applied. The program advises applicants whove received shut-off warning notices to send them to caseworkers as soon as possible. Read Spotlight PAs full investigation, Waiting Game, here. WHILE YOURE HERE If you learned something from this story, pay it forward and become a member of Spotlight PA so someone else can in the future at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 26) The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Thursday said it has prohibited the employer of the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) slain in Kuwait from hiring for other Filipino workers. We imposed a preventive suspension on the employer of OFW Jullebee Ranara because we found out that there is a ground for the imposition of a disciplinary action in relation to the administrative case filed against the employer, DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia told CNN Philippines The Source. The burnt body of the 35-year-old domestic helper was found in a desert on Sunday evening according to DMW. The suspect, reported to be the 17-year-old son of Ranaras employer, is currently under police custody. Ranaras remains will be repatriated to the Philippines on Friday night, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Thursday. Olalia said they still do not know what will happen to the suspect. He said a team from the DMW will be sent to Kuwait to coordinate with their counterparts there to ensure justice will be served. The DMW official said authorities are also looking into the shortcomings committed by the local recruiter Catalyst International Manpower Services Co. and its foreign counterpart, Platinum International Office for Recruitment of Domestic Manpower, based in Kuwait. Olalia noted that there was negligence on the part of the recruiters as it failed to continuously monitor and provide assistance to the killed OFW. If we find out that there is a ground, nagkaroon po sila ng pagkukulang sa (like there was lack of) monitoring then we will also impose the same sanction, pending the resolution of a recruitment violation kasi yung (because the) recruitment violation 'pag napatunayan yan, hahantong po 'yan sa (if proven will lead to) cancellation of the license of the agency, he explained. Olalia said the department has reached out to Ranaras family in the Philippines to be able to provide financial support, among other things. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 26) The mother of slain overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Jullebee Ranara is seeking justice following the brutal killing of her daughter in Kuwait last weekend. Speaking to CNN Philippines, Ranara's mother - whose name was withdrawn for privacy reasons - hopes that justice will prevail as they pursue the case against the suspect. "Ang hustisya talaga ang hiling namin, sana makamit niya," she said in a phone interview. [Translation: We appeal for justice. We hope she can get it.] The family of Ranara expressed gratitude for the swift action of the Philippine government following news of the OFW's death. "Wala na po kaming hihilingin, naibigay naman na po ng OWWA at ng mga tumulong sa amin ang lahat," Ranara's mother added when asked if they still need any other assistance. [We are no longer asking for anything. OWWA and other officials were able to assist us.] The mother is also grateful for the quick repatriation of the OFW's remains. "Napakabilis po ng proseso at mapapauwi na ang anak ko," she said. [Translation: It's good that the repatriation process was fast so that her remains can come home soon.] The manning agency of Ranara in Kuwait will shoulder the expenses on the repatriation of her remains. "Very responsible naman ang kanilang recruitment agency doon including yung lupa na paglilibingan, sila na ang may sagot," OWWA administrator Arnell Ignacio said. [Translation: The recruitment agency there is very responsible. They will also pay for the lot where Ranara will be buried.] Ranara's remains will arrive in the Philippines on Friday night. The Department of Foreign Affairs said it has hired a new lawyer to handle Ranara's case in Kuwait. The 17-year-old suspect in the gruesome killing is now under police custody. Labor diplomacy Meanwhile, the Department of Migrant Workers said a dialogue is the avenue it will take "for now" as a first step to resolve the case. "We appreciate the good intentions behind the calls to impose a deployment ban to Kuwait. But I have always believed in social dialog as the all-important first step in resolving labor migration concerns," DMW Secretary Susan Ople said in a statement Thursday. She stressed, however, they would not pay heed to such calls. "There is a working, productive relationship between the Philippines and Kuwait that can be further enhanced not by imposing a deployment ban but by revisiting the existing Bilateral Labor Agreement (BLA). A new BLA would extend additional protection for our OFWs. We can accomplish more to protect our workers with the cooperation of the Kuwaiti government," she added. Ople acknowledged the response taken by the Kuwaiti government, including the arrest of the principal suspect less than 24 hours after the discovery of Ranara's body. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 26) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will be invited to the coronation of Britain's King Charles III on May 6, British envoy Laure Beaufils told CNN Philippines on Thursday. Speaking to The Final Word, Beaufils said the UK has already sent the chief executive a "save the date" notice for the coronation. "We would love to see the president in the UK and he will be getting an invitation. In fact, we've already sent him a save the date for the coronation of His Majesty the King which will take place on the 6th of May," the ambassador said. Beaufils also said interest in the country has been rising among British businessmen, adding that the UK wants to be among the Philippines' top investors. Marcos' economic team is currently in London for a briefing with UK leaders, bankers, and businessmen. The coronation of King Charles III will take place at Westminster Abbey. https://www.cnnphilippines.com/world/2022/10/12/Coronation-of-King-Charles-III-to-take-place-in-May.html Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 26) In a bid to bolster tourism, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants the e-visa program extended to Chinese, Indian, South Korean, and Japanese nationals, Malacanang said. At present, the program which allows tourists to apply for temporary visas online is only enjoyed by Taiwanese nationals. It allows them to stay in the country for up to 30 days. Marcos ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to enact his proposal during a Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Tourism Sector group meeting on Thursday. For 2023, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said that it has a target of 4.8 million tourist arrivals. This figure could generate an estimated 2.58 trillion in revenue. DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo said his department and the DICT were collaborating to implement Marcos' directive. The PSAC recommended that the e-visa extension be enacted this year. "It will take at least a semester to develop the capability because there is so much anti-fraud element that needs to be consolidated with the platform, and the various countries that will be connecting with the system and with the transactions," DICT Secretary Ivan Uy said on Thursday. Meanwhile, the PSAC also urged Marcos to include Indian nationals in the visa-upon-arrival (VUA) program. Manalo said the VUA program already applies to certain Chinese nationals. Americans, Japanese, Australian, Canadians, and Europeans can also get a 14-day visa upon arrival in the country. The following Chinese tourists are eligible for the VUA: members of tour groups organized by DOT-accredited operators, businessmen endorsed by their respective chambers of commerce and government agencies, athletes, and delegates. In Jan. 2020, the VUA for Chinese nationals was suspended because of the rising threat of Covid-19. Also included in the PSAC's proposal was a value-added tax (VAT) refund program for foreign tourists which the council wants enacted by 2024. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 26) The remains of Jullebee Ranara, the 35-year-old Filipina domestic worker killed in Kuwait, will be repatriated to the Philippines on Friday night, Jan. 27, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. In a media briefing on Thursday, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said Ranaras employer whose 17-year-old son has been tagged as the suspect in the murder will shoulder the expenses to bring home the body. The Philippine government has also hired a lawyer to ensure swift justice for Ranara, the department said. Over the weekend, Ranaras burnt body was recovered by police at a desert in Salmi, Al-Jahra Governorate. Kuwaiti news media Arab Times earlier reported that autopsy results showed the Filipina was pregnant. This has yet to be validated by the Philippine embassy in Kuwait. The suspect is already under police custody, but the motive for the killing is still being determined. The DFA said it continues to coordinate with Kuwaiti authorities for the early resolution of the case. According to Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan Toots Ople, Ranara last talked to her family on Jan. 20. She had also told her mother that she was being mistreated by her employers son. RELATED: DMW imposes preventive suspension on employer of OFW killed in Kuwait Ranara is the latest overseas Filipino worker killed in Kuwait, host to over 240,000 Filipinos. Her murder triggered calls for another labor deployment ban to the Middle Eastern country, which the government had previously imposed after the gruesome deaths of two Filipino domestic workers there. However, the DMW said it is not yet considering another ban, adding it is looking into forming additional safeguards for now to ensure the safety of OFWs in Kuwait. CNN Philippines' Tristan Nodalo contributed to this report. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 26) The Sandiganbayan has denied former Quezon City councilor Roderick Paulate's appeal to reverse his conviction over the hiring of ghost employees in 2010. In a decision dated Jan. 23, the anti-graft court's 7th division said Paulate's motion for reconsideration lacked merit. "After a careful perusal of the arguments raised by accused, the court finds no cogent reason to disturb its earlier findings," the court said. In November, Paulate was found guilty of graft and falsification of public documents for pocketing over 1.1 million through falsifying documents for the hiring of 30 ghost employees. READ: Ex-QC councilor Roderick Paulate faces graft conviction over hiring of ghost employees In his appeal, he argued that the prosecution failed to directly link him to the falsified documents for the hiring of fictitious job contractors. Paulate insisted he had no knowledge that the workers were fictitious or non-existent. "According to the best of his personal knowledge, these job contractors exist and that they are real persons. He saw people working," his counsel said in the appeal. However, the court disagreed. It also reiterated its finding that Paulate is at fault for signing the general payrolls and certifications for the services rendered without proper monitoring and verification. "Accused Paulate should not have neglected the other tasks in connection with his position, that is, delivering his promises to the constituents with utmost efficiency and integrity," the court explained. Paulate is facing imprisonment of at least 10.5 years up to 62 years. He is also supposed to refund the government around 1.2 million or the amount he is accused of pocketing with 6% interest per year until it is fully paid. The Sandiganbayan also denied the appeal filed by Paulate's former driver and liaison officer Vicente Bajamunde, who supposedly collected the salaries of the fictitious job contractors. Related: Actor-politician Roderick Paulate faces graft, falsification charges Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 26) Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel has filed a Senate Resolution (SR) urging the Blue Ribbon Committee to probe the state gaming regulator's 6-billion contract with a "questionable" third-party auditor. It was revealed during a Senate Committee on Ways and Means hearing on Monday, Jan. 23, that the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) had awarded a 6-billion contract to Global ComRCI to audit the gross revenues of offshore gaming operators. READ: Gatchalian hits Pagcor for questionable 3rd party auditor "For the Senate Blue Ribbon to investigate this transaction in detail, we'll even go back to the negotiation stage. How come Pagcor chose this entity? Are we dealing with an established, reputable entity, a small entity, a fly-by-night entity?" he told CNN Philippines' The Source on Thursday. Pimentel, through SR 443, said that "it is apparent from the foregoing that the third-party auditor, Global ComRCI, is not legally, technically, and financially capable to be a consultant of Pagcor as required under our procurement rules and regulations, and should not have been awarded the contract for being ineligible and disqualified from the start." The procurement, which was awarded in Dec. 2017, was scrutinized by the Ways and Means panel as it questioned the credibility of Global ComRCI. During the Monday hearing, Sen. Win Gatchalian presented photos of Global ComRCI's submitted address. These showed a house at the location and not the office space expected of an agency capable of fulfilling a multi-billion-peso contract. It also came out that Global ComRCI's fulfillment of the 1-billion operating capital requirement was certified by the Soleil Chartered Bank, an entity not registered with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. "[Global ComRCI] has not been paying taxes, is not registered with the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Securities and Exchange Commission, and has not complied with other requirements of the terms of reference in the bidding documents of the Pagcor," SR 443 read. Before the Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations, otherwise known as the Blue Ribbon Committee, can conduct a probe, SR 443 must first be referred to it. Committee Chairperson Sen. Francis Tolentino would then call for the legislative inquiry. "We already know the financial angle of the transaction: 6 billion in 10 years so 600 million a year, 50 million a month pumayag ang Pagcor to pay this auditor (Pagcor allowed them to be paid 50 million a month). The question is why did the past admin enter such a contract?" Pimentel said Thursday. Pagcor Chief Al Tengco earlier told CNN Philippines that they had not yet made any payments to the third-party auditor. WATCH: Offshore gaming operations in PH | Politics As Usual In response, Pimentel said the Senate panel would investigate Pagcor's claim that it had not made any payments. "That makes the situation worse for the previous administration of Pagcor which entered into the contract," he added. Tengco said he placed the procurement contract under review in Sept. 2022, just one month after he took office and nearly five years after it was awarded to Global ComRCI. "Very soon, we're coming out with a decision whether we will still allow the third-party auditor to continue rendering services for us or the possibility of terminating the contract," Tengco earlier said. READ: Pagcor: Contract with third-party POGO auditor under review (CNN) A Russian warship armed with advanced hypersonic missiles completed a drill in the Atlantic Ocean, ahead of joint naval exercises with the Chinese and South African navies scheduled for next month, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday. Russia's Admiral Gorshkov frigate, armed with Zircon hypersonic missiles, practiced "delivering a missile strike against an enemy surface target," the ship's commander Igor Krokhmal said in a video released by the ministry. The exercise, described by state news agency Tass as an "electronic launch" or virtual simulation, confirmed the "designed characteristics" of the missile system, said Krokhmal, who pointed to the missiles' purported ability to reach distances of more than 900 kilometers (559 miles). The test was part of a long voyage of the Admiral Gorshkov frigate launched earlier this month, when Russian state media said the warship was dispatched with the hypersonic missiles. The deployment will also include joint training with the Chinese and South African navies off the coast of South Africa, according to Moscow and Pretoria. The exercises come as Russia nears the first anniversary of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and marks both a show of force and -- with the joint exercises an opportunity for Moscow to show it is not isolated on the world stage, despite wide international condemnation of its unprovoked war. The White House on Monday said the US "has concerns about any country ... exercising with Russia while Russia wages a brutal war against Ukraine." During a joint meeting in Pretoria Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his South African counterpart Naledi Pandor defended the naval drills, with Lavrov saying Moscow does not want any so-called "scandals" regarding the exercises. Pandor, who posed alongside Lavrov while smiling and shaking hands, claimed it is normal practice for all countries to conduct military exercises with "friends worldwide." "There should be no compulsion on any country, that it should conduct them with any other partner. It's part of a natural course of relations between countries," she added, without explicitly referencing criticism leveled at South Africa for its refusal to condemn Russia's invasion. In a separate statement detailing the joint exercises, which run February 17-27, South Africa's Defense Department said that "contrary to the assertions" from critics, South Africa "was not abandoning its neutral position on the Russian-Ukraine conflict" and "continues to urge both parties to engage in dialogue as a solution to the current conflict." China concerns China has not made a statement directly confirming its participation, but its Ministry of Defense website on Monday posted an article from state news agency Xinhua referencing South Africa's announcement of the drills. China is celebrating a week-long Lunar New Year holiday. The US has repeatedly warned Beijing which has a close strategic partnership with Moscow against providing material support to the Russian army in its war in Ukraine. The Biden administration recently raised concerns with China about evidence it has suggesting that Chinese companies have sold non-lethal equipment to Russia for use in Ukraine, though it was not clear whether Beijing was aware of the purported transactions. The joint maritime exercise is expected to include some 350 South African National Defense Force personnel participating alongside their Russian and Chinese counterparts, according to South Africa. An earlier exercise between the three navies took place in 2019. It's the first time that the drills will include the Admiral Gorshkov frigate carrying Zircon hypersonic missiles, which were first tested in late 2021. The long-range weapons, which Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month said had "no analogues in any country in the world," travel more than five times the speed of sound and are harder to detect and intercept. The frigate was actively involved in testing the missiles, designed and produced by the Research and Production Association of Machine-Building, part of Russia's Tactical Missiles Corporation, according to Tass. It's current deployment, initiated January 4, was expected to see the ship transit through the Mediterranean Sea and into the Indian Ocean, Tass reported at the time. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Russian warship armed with hypersonic missiles to train with Chinese, South African navies." JoAnne Pavin is an Integrative Wellness Consultant with over 25 years of experience in the areas of stress management, nutrition, yoga and eastern medicine. She is a certified Health and Mindset Coach and Yoga and Ayurvedic Practitioner. She currently writes and publishes a quarterly publication, The Meal, which conveys the numerous benefits of the meal beyond food. For more information go to www.joannepavin.com. Two Bethlehem parents are facing charges of manslaughter and child endangerment after their 2-year-old child died of a fentanyl overdose last summer. Nicole Stauffer, 45, and Christian Brewster, 25, were charged Thursday with causing the death of their child, identified only by the initials F.B., in July. The Northampton County district attorney issued an arrest warrant for Brewster and Stauffer. The two were arrested in New York state and will be extradited to Pennsylvania, Bethlehem police said. According to an affidavit of probable cause, Stauffer and Brewster were with the child at their home on Stefko Boulevard the evening of July 5. Stauffer told police that she fell asleep with Brewster and the child in their bedroom, and awoke approximately 90 minutes later to find the boy unresponsive. The parents called police just before 9 p.m., and emergency responders arrived at the scene within three minutes. Responders administered CPR and transported the unresponsive child to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg, where he was pronounced dead just before 10 p.m. The Lehigh County coroner determined the childs death was caused by fentanyl overdose and ruled it a homicide. According to police, a search of the home found multiple uncapped hypodermic syringes, smoking pipes, loose pills, suboxone medication and other drug paraphenelia in the room where F.B. was found unresponsive. State police analysis determined the uncapped syringe and several glassine packets contained fentanyl. A review of Stauffers medical records revealed the child was born with neonatal abstinence syndrome and opioid withdrawal as a result of her drug use during pregnancy, the affidavit says. She gave birth to several other children with the same conditions, according to the affidavit. Stauffer and Brewster also failed to bring the child to numerous medical appointments. Stauffer faces two counts of child endangerment and one count of involuntary manslaughter; Brewster is facing one of each charge. Involuntary manslaughter, a second-degree felony if the deceased is a child under 12 in the custody of the defendant, carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison. This is just one more tragic example of the effects drugs and drug addiction may have on the lives of innocent children, said Northampton County district attorney Terry Houck in a statement. The parents will now be called to answer for this alleged, reckless disregard for their vulnerable and dependent child, and we will aggressively prosecute this heinous conduct. A former Kutztown University student was held for court Wednesday on homicide charges in the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old Reading man in a Maxatawny Township housing complex near the campus, state police said. Xzavier Wayman, 22, of Philadelphia was returned to Berks County Prison without bail to await further court action following his preliminary hearing before District Judge Gail M. Greth in Fleetwood. Wayman faces charges of first- and third-degree murder and related counts in the killing of Diego Velazquez on Nov. 12 at Advantage Point Student Apartments, 435 Baldy Road. KU officials said Wayman was last enrolled during the fall 2021 semester. He was arrested Dec. 5 when he arrived at the Berks County Courthouse for an unrelated proceeding following the investigation by state police in Reading that leaned heavily on security camera footage. According to prosecutors: A Kutztown borough police officer arrived first on the scene in response to a 911 call for a shooting. He was escorted by student residents to the fourth-floor stairwell where he found a male later identified as Velazquez unconscious with a single bullet wound to the left side of his abdomen. The officer attempted lifesaving measures before being relieved by emergency medical personnel. Velazquez was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital, near Allentown, where he was later pronounced dead. A security officer called 911 to ask for help to disperse a large crowd that had formed on the fifth floor, where there was evidence of a party. Two troopers arrived moments later. Taking the elevator to the fifth floor, they saw bullet holes on a hallway wall and found the victim being treated by first responders in the fourth-floor landing area. Security footage of the fifth-floor hallway shows a male wearing dark sunglasses and a black hooded top, later identified as Wayman, talking with another male, who is identified only as wearing a black top with a New Balance logo on the back. That male argued with Velazquez, who appeared to have a firearm in his waistband, and associates of Velazquezs. Shortly after the confrontation, Wayman pulled out a firearm and fired down the hallway toward Velazquez and at least four bystanders. Wayman fired three rounds. Two bullets struck the wall on the north side of the hallway, and the other struck Velazquez, who fired one shot before fleeing toward the stairway. Wayman took the elevator to the lobby and left through the main entrance. He returned to the building and was seen walking to the west stairway, which was where Velazquez was found. He ran into and out of the stairway entrance repeatedly and was later seen running back and forth in the parking lot with what appeared to be the associates. They were seen walking toward the Golden Bear Village student housing complex, and Wayman went into an apartment. He was seen entering and leaving the apartment during the remainder of the weekend. On Nov. 14, two days after the shooting, troopers obtained a warrant to search the apartment and found a backpack, a wallet containing Waymans student ID card from 2021 and other forms of identification. "The @DeptofDefense has repeatedly ignored my request for a meeting with Secretary Austin about the Space Command basing decision," U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet tweeted after the vote. "For that reason, I voted against Brendan Owens nomination tonight, and will consider holds on other Pentagon nominees until a meeting takes place." Coloradans now have a sixth minor political party to choose from when casting ballots and registering to vote: the "No Labels" party. The No Labels Colorado Party has been officially recognized as a minor political party in Colorado as of Wednesday, after submitting a sufficient number of signatures to qualify, the Secretary of States Office announced. Proponents of the party submitted over 18,000 signatures, 11,821 of which were valid. That surpassed the 10,000 signatures required by state law. No Labels is a national political group founded in 2010 that describes itself as seeking to reduce partisanship by recommitting to "the fundamental beliefs that have historically united Americans and provided a common understanding of who we are and where we hope to go." Though the group presents as nonpartisan centrists, it made national headlines in 2014 for campaigning against Colorado's incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Udall in favor of Republican Cory Gardner, who went on to win the seat. A minor political party is any political party other than Colorado's two major political parties, Democrat and Republican. The No Labels Colorado Party joins five other minor parties in Colorado: the American Constitution Party, Approval Voting Party, Green Party of Colorado, the Libertarian Party of Colorado and the Unity Party of Colorado. With its official designation, the No Labels Colorado Party may now nominate candidates for offices in general elections, instead having candidates petition on to the ballot. To maintain its status, the No Labels Colorado Party must either have a candidate for statewide office receive at least 1% of the total votes cast within the last two general elections, or have at least 1,000 registered electors affiliated with the party within the last two general elections. Offer a personal message of sympathy... By sharing a fond memory or writing a kind tribute, you will be providing a comforting keepsake to those in mourning. If you have an existing account with this site, you may log in with that below. Otherwise, you can create an account by clicking on the Log in button below, and then register to create your account. You must be logged in to participate in the Show Me the Errors contest. Its not unusual for police officers from several municipalities to respond to a major crime and lend a hand to the home department. But once the dust settles, those other officers leave. That can be a problem for smaller departments that have relatively little experience with homicides or other serious crimes and could use the help of a larger departments seasoned investigators in pursuing the case. To that end, Northampton County District Attorney Terry Houck has created the countys first Major Crimes Task Force, uniting officers from six municipal departments and the state police to investigate the most complex and challenging offenses. Its not just a way to give smaller departments a hand, but to give all departments an edge by focusing workers where theyre most needed. Its something Ive had on my radar since before I was district attorney, Houck said Thursday during a news conference at the Northampton County Courthouse, noting that large-scale crimes a mass shooting, for example require large-scale response. I hope we never have to activate it, he said, but well be ready for whatever we get. The participating departments Bethlehem, Bethlehem Township, Colonial Regional, Easton, Forks and Palmer townships, and state police each assigned one or more officers to the task force, for a total of 42 members. They will remain on regular duty unless Houck activates the task force in response to an incident. Houck said he would consider the complexity of the incident, the experience of the primary police agency and other factors in deciding whether to activate the task force, and how many members would be assigned to an investigation. The more serious or complex a crime, the more boots on the ground we will have, he said. Colonial Regional Chief James DePalma said the task force would have been a valuable resource in 2021, when a shootout in a shopping center parking lot on Route 248 in Lower Nazareth Township left one man dead and shooters at large. The investigation went on for months. Jakiye Taylor, 18, and Kevin Littles, 22, both of Harrisburg, are awaiting trial on homicide and related charges in that case. Many departments responded to the shooting, but as time went on, they went back to their jurisdictions, he said. The continuing investigation is what we needed. Bethlehem Township Chief Gregory Gottschall said his department could also have benefited from the task force last February as it investigated the slaying of resident Kenneth Pickell, who was shot in the driveway of his home. A neighbor, Joshua Leone, was charged in the case and is awaiting trial. We dont have many homicides, Gottschall said. It would have been nice if this had been in place at that point. We do rely on state police, but to have someone closer to help us out on those types of events would be very helpful. The district attorneys office will provide facilities for the task force, along with specialized equipment, training, education or other necessary services, Houck said. The county provided $10,000 for those needs. If you couldnt perform all of your duties, would your boss still pay your full salary? We all know the answer. In the real world, you get paid based on what you can accomplish. In the world of Pennsylvania politics, you get paid regardless of how little you may do. I raise the point because on Tuesday, state House Speaker Mark Rozzi had the nerve to declare the House out of session for another entire month, until Feb. 27. That means taxpayers will be paying the bloated salaries of 200 state representatives for two months when they have done diddly squat. The House hasnt functioned all year. Representatives named Rozzi speaker on Jan. 3. Since then, the House has been dormant because representatives havent agreed on operating rules. Without those rules, the House cannot do anything. Bills cant be introduced. Committee hearings cant be held because there are no bills to review, and because committees have not been formed. Representatives can meet with constituents. They can draft bills and write legislative memos seeking support. They can negotiate issues privately among themselves. But they cant fully serve the public in the roles they were elected to perform. Yet they will be paid as if they did. And paid handsomely. FILE Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Mark Rozzi at the speakers podium, Jan. 3, 2023, at the state Capitol in Harrisburg. You might want to grab a drink before reading on and learning just how much of your tax money has been wasted because of the political paralysis. The House has 203 seats. Three are vacant, leaving 200 representatives. The base salary of a representative is $102,844 crazy, right? Those in leadership positions earn more well, at least they collect more. Its debatable whether they earn it. For simplification, Ill use the base salary for all lawmakers. The base salary equates to $8,570 a month. By the end of February, each representative will have been paid $17,140. Multiply that by 200 and the tab to taxpayers for the two months the House was unable to operate fully comes to more than $3.4 million. This is why politics stinks. It truly wastes our money. The state Senate wont be in session again until Feb. 27, either. But at least senators can accomplish other tasks during that time because the Senate approved operating rules and organized. Senators can introduce legislation and hold committee hearings so that when they do return to session, they can vote on bills immediately. The Senate didnt plan to be out of session for so long. It canceled its scheduled session days because with the House hibernating, any bills the Senate approves cant proceed further. The cancellation wasnt necessary. Senators should be working to line up bills for when the House is resurrected. Senators should be fed up at the House, but thats not an excuse to shirk their duties, too. Rozzi has put the House on hiatus so he can travel around the state holding a hokey listening tour to collect feedback from the public about what rules the House should operate under. And hes created a bipartisan committee of representatives to negotiate terms. Thats all just a smoke screen. Rozzi is a Democrat from Berks County who has pledged to lead as an independent but hasnt formally changed his party affiliation. Hes just stalling to delay action until after the Feb. 7 special elections to fill the three vacant seats. Those seats, all in Allegheny County, are in districts that favor Democrats. So three Democrats likely will be elected. By keeping the House away until Feb. 27, Democrats presumably would have a majority when it returns. Then Democrats can adopt the rules they want. Pennsylvania Capitol I wont be attending any of Rozzis listening sessions, but heres my suggestion: The first operating rule of the House should be designed to prevent this disgraceful situation from ever happening again. It should say that in the event rules cannot be agreed upon within a reasonable amount of time at the beginning of a new legislative session, say a week, then the previous sessions rules shall apply until new rules are adopted. That would allow lawmakers to get to work for the people who elect them and pay them. And it would provide motivation for lawmakers to negotiate better rules if they dont like the previous ones. Morning Call columnist Paul Muschick can be reached at 610-820-6582 or paul.muschick@mcall.com Online job site Indeed this week released its list of the 25 best jobs in the US, and the top slot went to full stack developer, which offers a median annual salary of $130,000 and allows for a mostly remote or hybrid workplace. In fact, eight tech jobs were among the top 10 positions on this year's list, compared to just two tech jobs in the top 10 on last years list. In 2022, tech jobs were moving down the top jobs list; now, a year later, tech jobs are surging upward. This year, 11 of the top 25 jobs, or 44%, were tech positions. By comparison, in 2022, just 25% of the top 25 jobs were tech-related. Indeed Indeed's top 10 jobs in the US for 2023 Indeed's 25 Best Jobs list is based on three main factors: Job opportunities: Growth in the share of postings from 2019 to 2022. Growth in the share of postings from 2019 to 2022. Salary: Salary minimum above the US national average base salary of $58,260.00, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Salary minimum above the US national average base salary of $58,260.00, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Workplace flexibility: At least 10% of job postings include terms to indicate "remote" or "hybrid" work As with last years list, tech jobs continue to lead others in terms of pay. Last year, three of the top five highest-paying jobs were tech positions. This year, the four highest-paying jobs are tech-related: director of data science ($174,820); machine learning engineer ($153,252); site reliability engineer ($153,134); and back-end developer ($148,827). (The last job on in the top five in terms of pay senior product manager ($147,135) is a role often found in tech but can also be in a variety of industries, Indeed noted.) Even with instability in the market, the demand for tech workers does not appear to be going anywhere and neither is the industrys trademark high compensation, Indeed said in the report. Not only do tech roles offer the higher pay than other industry jobs, but they tended to also offer the most workplace flexibility an increasingly important trait for job seekers, Indeed said. Indeed In choosing the best jobs, Indeed this year added workplace flexibility hybrid or remote work to its list for the first time. Compensation and flexibility continue to be foundational needs for job seekers without which well-being at work is difficult to attain, according to Indeeds 2022 Workplace Wellbeing report conducted by Forrester Research. The prominence of tech jobs on the Indeed list comes at a time of cross-currents in the industry. Recent layoffs at a number of large tech firms have made headlines, and are likely to affect workers who remain. According to Gartner Research, those workers may now fear further layoffs, pushing them to look for work at more stable companies. Some may convert from being passive candidates to active job seekers or at least be more willing to respond to recruiters calls, even if theyre not actively looking, Gartner said in a recent report. Tech workers who are on the market are looking for a variety of things, Gartner said, including respect, quality managers, people management, and employer recognition. Also important: an organizations growth rate, market position, and stability (being recession-proof). For all the handwringing in the press lately about tech company layoffs, Indeed referred to the trend as the great reshuffling, where large companies over hired in 2022 and are trimming back even as there remains a surplus of tech positions companies need to fill. While tech company layoffs sometimes measure in the tens of thousands, often the positions being cut are not technology related. For example, earlier this month, Amazon announced it was laying off 18,000 employees, most of whom were from its human resources divisions. In fact, there are about 200,000 open tech positions in the US, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, research firms, and tech industry associations such as CompTIA. Last month alone, technology companies added 17,600 workers, according to CompTIA the 25th straight month of net employment growth in the tech industry. Overall, the IT industry has an unemployment rate of 1.8%, compared to the national unemployment rate in the US of 3.5%. For all the media coverage on tech layoffs in the second half of 2022, tech jobs still dominate Indeeds list of best jobs for 2023, Indeed noted. In fact, they occupy the three top spots in this years list when only one tech job made the top 10 last year. The top three jobs in Indeeds report were full stack developer, data engineer, and cloud engineer. Those positions saw a more-than-50% uptick in the number of positions added over the year; in fact, data engineer saw an 80% increase in openings compared to a year ago. With previously overconfident tech giants currently overcorrecting, other companies appear to be at the ready to snatch up prime talent, because in reality, every company is a tech company today, Indeed said. With this years list primarily featuring tech roles, the high demand for technical skills both in and outside of the tech industry is great news for tech workers, but it is also a big sign of where opportunities exist for those starting or switching careers. Many companies are still suffering from IT skills shortages, particularly for cloud, security, analytics, and automation, all of which call for application development skills, according to IDC. "We expect 9.9% growth year-over-year in the population of full-time developers worldwide as digitization continues to accelerate and permeate all aspects of life," Arnal Dayaratna, vice president of software development research for IDC. Indeed And layoffs from digital companies are expected to eventually ease, but that won't solve the IT talent challenge. In key function areas, such as data science, software engineering, and cybersecurity, talent supply remains as tight or tighter than before, according to a December report by Gartner. In short, digital companies that have laid off tech talent have essentially released them into a hungry labor market. Tech workers still have a choice of jobs, according to Gartner. There are many other innovative tech companies they can join," Gartner said. "In other words, traditional large and mid-size employers havent gained the upper hand. The premises of how IT organizations compete in the talent market havent materially changed. CIOs should take advantage of the opportunity to hire, if they can. To attract workers with digital skills and an entrepreneurial mindset, CIOs must understand the three impacts of the layoffs: their scale and composition, their effect on the employee-value proposition, and new attraction drivers, according Gartner. Gartner CIOs seeking to attract and recruit top IT talent now should: Modify their talent sourcing and recruitment strategy based on the tech/skills category because talent availability varies widely by function and role. Evolve their employee-value proposition by focusing on the factors other than compensation that workers care about, such as flexibility, growth opportunity and organizational stability. Differentiate and strengthen their talent strategy and hiring pitches by highlighting todays top IT talent attraction attributes that organizations can offer. For example, manager quality, respect, organizational stability, growth rate these are new and important attributes for attracting and retaining IT talent, Gartner said. Another attribute that appears to play a role in attracting talent involves corporate diversity efforts. In a 2022 study conducted by Indeed and employer review site Glassdoor, nearly two-thirds (62%) of job seekers said they would consider turning down a job offer or leaving a company if they did not think that their manager (or potential manager) supported DEI initiatives. Investment banking firm Morgan Stanley has punished some of its employees with fines that topped more than $1 million for breaching compliance rules by using WhatsApp and iMessage for business communications. The fines were levied by docking previous bonuses or future pay, according to a report in the Financial Times. While the fines might seem steep, Morgan Stanley itself has had to pay millions of dollars in fines for previous SEC violations related to the use of consumer messaging apps for business purposes. Last September, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) fined big-name banks and brokerages a collective $1.8 billion over workers use of private texting apps to discuss work and for not always saving those messages. The fines include $1.1 billion assessed by the SEC and a $710 million fine from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Morgan Stanley was among the more than a dozen financial services firms fined and had to pay more than $200 million. In 2020, Morgan Stanley suffered a major security breach related to two senior employees in the banks commodities division who were using personal messaging apps. The employees were fired. In the most recent violation of company policy against using unauthorized and unmonitored communications channels, the bank hit employees with fines that ranged from few thousand dollars to more than $1 million per person. The penalties were based on a points system that takes into account factors including the number of messages sent, the bankers seniority, and whether they received prior warnings, said people briefed on the matter, according to reports. Morgan Stanley did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Computerworld. Shiran Weitzman, CEO of mobile risk intelligence platform provider Shield, said imposing bans on popular communications applications such as WhatsApp and iMessage is a temporary solution. Employees are eventually going to use whats most popular and convenient. Last years spate of financial services fines by regulators over improper use of messaging platforms was a shot across the bow a statement that the industry needed to clean up its act, and put some order in the house, Weitzman said. The problem, however, is the banking industry and other businesses with high-touch business services often see employees simply adopt the most convenient communications platforms. The requirements for WhatsApp or iMessage are similar as for any communication channel a bank is using email, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, whatever. Anyone communicating on behalf of the bankneeds to be monitored, Weitzman said. With todays technologies, its doable. Why they havent done it, thats a different question. I have my guesses. Its not a technology play, he continued. Its very hard for them to [change]. Theyre large organizations and every time they need to apply some new technology or requirement, they need to do it on a global level. During the pandemic, bankers forced to work remotely became comfortable using popular consumer messaging platforms because their clients were also using them. They were simply more convenient and at the time financial services companies relaxed their oversight of mobile communications services. Weitzman said banks need to focus on enabling the best tools with security and monitoring software, which uses APIs to track communications and flag suspicious communications while still keeping conversations private. Though possible, banning employees from using the latest communications technologies is not conducive to good business. WhatsApp and iMessage, thats forward thinking, Weitzman said. You need to be able to capture the message. And, the employee needs to fully acknowledge this is happening and give their consent. But I believe it will take time for this message to come down to [financial services firms], and Im afraid there will be additional fines before it does. China urges end to foreign troops' plundering of natural resources in Syria Xinhua) 15:20, January 26, 2023 UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday said that the illegal plundering of natural resources in Syria by foreign troops must stop immediately. "The illegal presence of foreign troops and their illegal military operations in Syria must end," said Dai Bing, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, adding that Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity should be fully respected. Addressing a UN Security Council briefing on Syria, Dai said the counter-terrorism situation in Syria remains complicated, urging the international community to abide by international law and Security Council resolutions, adopt unified standards, combat all terrorists in Syria with zero tolerance, and "cease condoning, shielding, or politically exploiting terrorist forces." The envoy called for greater efforts in the next six months to ensure a full implementation of Resolution 2672 adopted on Jan. 9 on cross-border aid deliveries into Syria, hoping a bigger impact could be achieved on the ground. The cross-border mechanism of humanitarian deliveries is a temporary arrangement under special circumstances, and ultimately, there should be a gradual and orderly transition to cross-line deliveries, he noted. "We welcome UN's updated plan for cross-line operations in northwest Syria, and look forward to seeing a more significant increase in the frequency of aid operations as well as the size of convoys," Dai said. "Cross-line delivery for the Rukban refugee camp in southeast Syria should be resumed as soon as possible." He noted that unilateral sanctions and the resulting over-compliance run counter to the efforts of the Security Council and the wider international community to improve humanitarian access and increase humanitarian resources in Syria. "China once again calls on relevant countries to immediately and fully lift unilateral sanctions against Syria," said Dai. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Hongyu) Despite the hoodie-wearing bad guy image, most hackers are bona fide security researchers protecting users by probing and testing the security configurations of digital networks and assets. Yet the law has often failed to distinguish between malicious hackers and good-faith security researchers. This failure to distinguish between the two hacker camps has, however, improved over the past two years, according to Harley Geiger, an attorney with Venable LLP, who serves as counsel in the Privacy and Data Security group. Speaking at Shmoocon 2023, Geiger pointed to three changes in hacker law in 2021 and 2022 that minimize security researchers' risks. "Over the past couple of years, these developments have changed the sources of greatest legal risk for good faith security research," he said. Specifically in the US, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), the most controversial law affecting hackers, the Department of Justice's (DOJs) charging policy under the CFAA, and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act have evolved in favor of hackers. However, laws at the US state level affecting hackers and China's recently adopted vulnerability disclosure law pose threats to security researchers and counterbalance some of these positive changes. Computer Fraud and Abuse Act changes The CFAA was enacted in 1986 as an amendment to the Comprehensive Crime Control Act and was the first US federal law to address hacking. "The CFAA has been the boogeyman for the community for quite a long time," Geiger said. "It's maybe the most famous anti-hacking law. This is a criminal law and a civil law, and that's important to remember. You can be prosecuted under the CFAA criminally, and you can also be threatened with private lawsuits." The CFAA prohibits several things, including accessing a computer without authorization and exceeding authorized access to a computer. "That phrase, exceeding authorized access to a computer, is really important," Geiger said. "It used to mean that if you were authorized to use a computer for one thing, but then you used it for another purpose, something that you weren't authorized to do on the computer that you were allowed to use, then that may have been a CFAA violation, sort of, depending on what circuit you were in." In June 2021, the US Supreme Court handed down a decision in the case of Van Buren v. United States, altering its previous stance on the CFAA. In the Van Buren decision, the Court said that if "you are authorized to use a computer for one purpose, and you use it for another, even though it's an unauthorized purpose, that may be a violation of your contract, but it is not a federal hacking crime," Geiger told the attendees. "But you still have to have some authorization to use the computer in the first place," and terms of service can still possibly dictate whether you have authorization. Another significant improvement related to the CFAA occurred in 2022 following the Van Buren decision. The US Justice Department changed its charging policy to protect hackers. That policy change directed for the first time that good-faith security researchers should not be charged. "It is explicit protection for good-faith security research under the nation's chief foremost prosecutor," Geiger said. Yet there are limits to this change given that the DOJ deals only with criminal law; it doesn't address the private lawsuit part of the CFAA, nor does it address what states can do. Improvements under the DMCA The DOJ's revised charging policy takes its definition of good faith hacking from the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), a controversial and ill-regarded piece of legislation that became law in October 1998. Section 1201 of the DMCA has an exception for good-faith security research, which is research performed in a manner designed to avoid harm and used primarily to make computers and software safer and more secure. Section 1201 prohibits circumventing a technological protection measure, which means "bypassing software security safeguards, which is a lot of what hacking does," Geiger pointed out. Moreover, "You have to have the authorization of the copyright owner for the software. But who gets the software copyright holder's permission, right?" Section 1201 of the DMCA created a security research exception when it was updated in 2021. The update eliminated the loss of the exception if a security researcher just happened to be violating any other law, however unrelated. While the exception protects security researchers, a separate restriction under the Act restricts "trafficking," which Geiger says is a critical flaw. "So, Section 1201 of the DMCA forbids making or providing to the public any tools or technologies that are primarily for the purpose of bypassing software security safeguards, bypassing technological protection measures without, again, the authorization of the copyright holder," Geiger said. "Making these technologies, offering them to the public is something that every pen-testing company does. This is something that a lot of pen-testing companies, pen testers, and people who are publishing exploits are just kind of whistling past." This trafficking restriction is now the greater risk for ethical hackers under Section 1201 than the active security research itself," he warned. States are the biggest threat to security researchers Against these positive changes at the federal level, "States are the greatest legal risks to good-faith security researchers," Geiger said. "Every state has its own version of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Some states are even broader than the CFAA because they have new crimes and new language that is confusing, and that could be applied in a lot of different circumstances." For example, Geiger's home state of Missouri has some of the same restrictions as the CFAA, such as no access without authorization. It also forbids taking or disclosing data residing external to a computer or network without authorization, which is broader than the CFAA. "What does that mean for scanning public-facing assets? Are you not taking or disclosing data from something that is residing outside of a computer, external to a computer, whatever that means?" "The point is that states have a lot of messy language. A lot of it is very unclear, Geiger said. While we are getting toward greater clarity under the CFAA and Section 1201 under the DMCA that this community exists and this community should not be treated at the same level in the same way as malicious actors, states are just not there yet. They are not quite as mature." The cybersecurity community needs to better educate states on the misalignment between their hacker laws and those at the federal level, Geiger tells CSO. "The security community has done a tremendous job of educating policymakers on what good faith security research is and how it differs from malicious attacks," he says. "I think it's worth revisiting what the sources of greatest legal risk are for a lot of good-faith security research and directing that energy and passion for educating policymakers about good-faith security research" at the state level. His home state of Missouri would be a good start. Almost a year ago, the state's Republican governor Mike Parson threatened St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Josh Renaud with criminal hacking charges for revealing that teachers' Social Security numbers were appearing in the HTML of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's website. Prosecutors ultimately declined to make good on Parson's threat. International vulnerability disclosure models needed to counter China Finally, Geiger warns of the dangers to hackers from China's recently adopted vulnerability disclosure law, which requires vendors to report their vulnerabilities to the Chinese government within 48 hours of discovery. Researchers who don't meet this requirement face the possibility of prison time for disclosing tools or technologies. "If you hear it, it is a giant sucking sound of unpatched vulnerabilities flowing to the Chinese government because this a 48-hour timeline," he said. Geiger tells CSO that China's vulnerability disclosure law represents a model we don't want to see replicated internationally. A vulnerability disclosure law that requires researchers to turn over their findings to the government "is a model where the company may not welcome the vulnerability disclosure in the first place. This does not help researchers." A human trafficking victim broke down in court while giving a chilling tale of labour exploitation and domestic servitude in Oman. The victim told the court that Tendai Muswe facilitated her papers over the phone until they met in person on December 9, 2021, two days before she left Zimbabwe for the Middle East country. Tendai pleaded not guilty to human trafficking before Harare magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa. The woman told the court that when she arrived in Oman, she was received by an agent who took her to the first family where she worked for a week. The first week I stayed at a relative of my actual employer who stayed in another town. When the week lapsed, I was taken to my employer who was of Arab origin. Thats where I was made to sleep in the bathroom on a small mattress with two blankets and no pillow. I was subjected to the harshest working conditions, working 15 hours a day and feeding on leftovers. I started work at 5am up to 10pm until I fell sick. I was bleeding continuously until I couldnt work. That was when my employers mother asked my employer to take me to hospital where I received medication. The doctors told me that I was suffering from fatigue and needed to rest, but my employer said she had wasted US$2 600 to bring me from Zimbabwe, so I had to continue working, she said. The woman then broke down in court and the magistrate gave her a few minutes to compose herself. She said she was returned to the agent who told her that her relatives had to send US$2 600 used to bring her to Oman before she could be released. She told the court that her family managed to raise the money and sent it to the agent who then took her to the airport and she returned to Zimbabwe after two months of hard labour. The State, represented by Oscar Madhume, said Tendai advertised in a WhatsApp group that she was looking for maids to work in Oman. The victim responded to the advert after seeing what she called an attractive salary of US$250 per month, which would be increased to US$400 after two months. Tendai told the woman to send a picture of her passport, which she did. After a month, Tendai told her the tickets were ready for her to fly to Oman. H Metro When I was a fashionable young thing about town (admittedly some time ago now), there was a trend called heroin chic. All the models had to look like they were either in recovery from (or about to have) an overdose, draped over mouldy old sofas or stained mattresses on edgy industrial estates, or slumped in unidentifiable pools of liquid in dimly lit nightclub toilets. It was an 'edgy' aesthetic that glorified and glamorised a nihilistic, hedonistic subculture. While etiolated, glassy-eyed waifs filled the catwalks with their bruised, stick-thin legs, the fashion houses grew fat on the cachet. The clothes themselves the cut, the craftsmanship, the couture were almost irrelevant. What mattered was the identity, the attitude. But a lot of people, including myself, were very uncomfortable with this. We thought it weird and sick that fashion should glorify perhaps even encourage such things as substance abuse, addiction and eating disorders. Sarah Vine We were, of course, dismissed as hopelessly uncool for saying so but I've known plenty of people over the years who have battled such demons, and there's nothing glamorous about any of it. It didn't stop the fashion industry shamelessly peddling this look as the epitome of chic, tapping into the neurosis of an entire generation and selling it back to us as a lifestyle. Thirty-odd years on, and it seems not very much has changed. Fashion appears to be exploiting vulnerable people for profit, only this time it's not drug use or eating disorders but gender identity and trans culture. Take a recent social media post from British brand Burberry. It features a heavily tattooed, topless trans man, his mastectomy scars proudly in evidence, embracing a partially shaven headed companion of indeterminate gender. It's a stark, rather grim photograph. Neither looks very happy. The red welts across the man's chest look jagged and painful. The duo's haircuts are raw and extreme. It is in every sense the opposite of a picture designed to showcase actual fashion. Indeed, the clothes and jewellery are a mere afterthought in this impeccably woke, gender-fluid tableau of modern diversity. Its only real function is to provoke: solidarity, confusion, shock, perhaps even anger. In my case, eye-rolling disbelief at the sheer levels of cynicism on display. Because I don't think there's anything sincere or real about this picture, just cultural vampirism. These people look to me like their situation is being exploited, not celebrated. SARAH VINE: 'A recent social media post from British brand Burberry features a heavily tattooed, topless trans man, his mastectomy scars proudly in evidence, embracing a partially shaven headed companion of indeterminate gender' They and their experience as individuals are being used for no other reason than to burnish the brand's woke credentials. I understand that such things are important in the modern media landscape. But is gender dysphoria really an appropriate area for commercialisation? Is it right for a brand such as Burberry to seek to monetise which is, of course, the purpose of advertising the trauma and struggles of trans people? Burberry would argue that by showing such 'inclusiveness' it is supporting and validating trans people. Respectfully, I would argue the opposite. This is transploitation, pure and simple. An appropriation of the trans experience which, far from offering validation, diminishes it. Because while gender dysphoria is nothing to be ashamed of, it's also not just some simple, shiny lifestyle choice that anyone can try on for a season and then throw away. It's a serious, difficult and often very traumatic process which deserves to be treated with the utmost respect and seriousness, not reduced to some cheap advertising campaign. How many vulnerable, impressionable young girls will see this and think a double mastectomy is something to aspire to, like a new pair of shoes or a handbag? It trivialises and cheapens an important, complex issue. Social media users heavily criticised Burberry's post It's not dissimilar to what Calvin Klein did last year with another cultural hot potato, obesity. Of course, CK has form in this area: shock has always been the brand's first tactic when grabbing the public's attention. Just think of those early 1980s Brooke Shields adverts, in which the then 15-year-old actress asked: 'You want to know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing.' In the 1990s, the brand shot a series of TV ads made to look like porn casting shoots, in which a raspy-voiced interviewer invites barely post-pubescent men and women to goof around in front of the camera for him. They were subsequently banned. In 2019, Calvin Klein decided to latch on to the 'body positivity' trend, using plus-size models to advertise underwear in the name of 'empowerment'. 'I speak my truth in my #calvins' was the tag line. It was an attempt to jump on the diversity bandwagon that was as transparent as it was tawdry. But then tawdry seems to define the modern landscape of high fashion, from Balenciaga which last year launched a campaign featuring small children in sado-masochistic bondage gear with a side order of paedophilia to publicity-hungry individuals such as the 27-year-old American rapper Doja Cat, who made her grand entrance on the front row at the Schiaparelli show this week covered head-to-toe in red sequins. Naturally her look was hailed as a 'triumph' by fawning fashionistas. If you ask me, she looked like a large and exquisitely uncomfortable haemorrhoid. We all understand that high fashion is about pushing boundaries. But there's a fine line between provocation and exploitation. The trans experience is not a vehicle for clothes advertising, just as eating disorders or mental health issues are not chic. It's high time the fashion industry took a long, hard look at itself and took responsibility for what it's peddling. Adam Graham, now ludicrously known in the Scottish courts at Isla Bryson, is not a woman. Hes not a trans woman, either. This cretinous rapist a clear and present danger to real women everywhere in Britain is a charlatan and a fraud using pathetically soft-touch rules to transition and avoid entering a mens prison. The fact we only had these suspicions confirmed thanks to his wife bravely speaking out to the MailOnline yesterday tells you everything thats wrong with the woke orthodoxy sweeping through much of our establishment. But, as the public finally digests the true risks of self-identification, Nicola Sturgeons destructive gender extremist dream is crumbling around her. 'Adam Graham, now ludicrously known in the Scottish courts at Isla Bryson, is not a woman. Hes not a trans woman, either. This cretinous rapist a clear and present danger to real women everywhere in Britain is a charlatan and a fraud' After spending weeks piously promising that her sick Gender Recognition Reform Bill allowing anyone over 16 even convicted sex offenders to self-ID without any form of medical diagnosis would not put biological girls and women at further risk from predators, Graham has blown this dangerous cause to smithereens. Having miraculously decided he is now a she AFTER committing sexual assaults on two women in 2016 and 2019, he duped the Scottish legal system and SNP leaders to the extent where he was sent to the all-female Cornton Vale jail in Stirling. Thats despite the fact the legal definition of rapist means its a crime that can only be conducted by a man. But dont expect timid SNP and Labour politicians to talk any sense on this matter, given they remain so terrified of being described as TERFs by the rabid leftie mob. Labour MP Paulette Hamilton inexplicably told Times Radio that Graham deserves 'respect' to 'transition safely', adding: We need to just be fair. Its not long since her leader Keir Starmer got tongue tied, flustered and then refused to answer the question when probed on the radio by Nick Ferrari on whether a woman can have a penis. Speaking exclusively to the MailOnline yesterday, Shonna Graham (pictured with Bryson on their wedding day) said her estranged husband had come up with this ploy to get himself a much easier sentence Labours shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves stuttered and stumbled when asked on LBC whether it was transphobic to say that only women have a cervix. Making matters more disgusting, Scheming Sturgeon personally refused to back an amendment that would stop rapists and child abusers from changing sex until after the conclusion of their trial, a sickening decision that will force victims to use the accuseds new she/her pronouns when in court. Of course, the First Ministers dodgy disciples insisted that folk like JK Rowling and yours truly fighting against the bill were trying to whip up hate against trans people. Dan Wootton That couldnt be further from the truth. What Sturgeon and her ilk have now done is make this persecuted and tiny minority in society a political punching bag, dragging them into a fight trans people never asked to be a part of. In fact, many absolutely understand the need for biological women to be protected from men like Graham. Theres no shame in needing a medical diagnosis to undergo such a dramatic procedure like a sex change, which comes with irreversible physical and psychological consequences. A sensible policy helps young women like Tavistock Clinic victim Keira Bell, who was prescribed puberty blockers at 16 and underwent a double mastectomy at 20 before detransitioning, avoid that unnecessary life-changing fate. And, critically, it stops evil men like Graham from gaming the system. In the end, it was only the revelations from this websites extraordinary interview with Grahams wife and the public outcry that followed which shamed Sturgeon into a rare U-turn today, when she conceded he should not be held at an all-female prison. Speaking exclusively to the MailOnline yesterday, Shonna Graham said her estranged husband had come up with this ploy to get himself a much easier sentence. She revealed: 'Never once did he say anything to me about feeling he was in the wrong body or anything. I have a lot of sympathy for real transgender people, it's a hard thing to live with, but he's just bullsh*****g the authorities.' 'What Nicola Sturgeon and her ilk have now done is make this persecuted and tiny minority in society a political punching bag, dragging them into a fight trans people never asked to be a part of' His gender transition is a sham for attention and an easier life in prison. When I saw the photos of him dressed as a woman with a blonde wig and pink lycra leggings, I fell out of bed laughing. 'I can see why he doesn't want to be in a prison with loads of big scary men. She added ominously: 'But sending him to a women's prison is outrageous will one of the vulnerable women inmates be the next victim to be attacked by him? He won't stop, it's in his nature. Given that testimony from a woman still married to Graham, I have absolutely no doubt his gender transition is nothing more than a fraud. But so too is Sturgeon who, when arguing for her insane gender bill, incorrectly claimed I'm a feminist and declared I will do everything I can to protect women's rights for as long as I live. Shamefully, that is nothing more than an empty promise given she is prepared to put fellow females at risk so she can engage in a futile culture war with the Tory Westminster government to try and further her independence pipedream. For months, the SNP insisted there was no evidence male predators would take advantage of their gender laws. Adam Graham has proven them wrong, meaning it's Scottish women who now need to be protected from Sturgeon. Leon Trotsky put it best. You may not be interested in war, the Soviet puppet-master once said, but war is interested in you. This was the week in which the war in Ukraine came home to people in the West. Finally, the free world has woken up. Vladimir Putins terrible campaign is a war for the security of Europe and its one we must win. Much has been made this week of Germanys belated decision to send 14 Leopard 2 tanks to the frontline. These will be matched by 14 British Challenger 2s, along with a significant number of AS90 self-propelled artillery pieces. Ours will arrive first. Its hard to guess how long it will take for our allies weaponry to catch up, but it wont be quick. The Americans M1 tanks wont arrive for months. Russian President Vladimir Putin (centre), accompanied by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin (left) and Viktor Sadovnichy (right) rector of the Moscow State University Thats why Nato must now give Ukraines president Zelensky everything else he needs and he has been clear about what this is. Some 300 tanks, up to 700 armoured vehicles and 500 artillery pieces. To that, I believe we must also add long-range precision missiles and sophisticated fighter aircraft. No half measures. The Ukrainians are paying a heavy price in blood to repel the Russians so we should be prepared to give them the tools to do the job. At a time when the cost of living is already spiralling, that will be painful. But everything is at stake no less than our national security and our democracy. For nearly a year, our politicians failed to comprehend this. They have been dragging their feet, hoping that the conflict would somehow resolve itself. This was wishful thinking and has put us in heightened danger today. Perceptions are everything, and from Putins viewpoint this conflict started in 2014 when Russia seized Crimea. The dictator regarded that as his declaration of war with the West. When we did not respond, he knew he could carry on with his land-grab. As soon as Nato countries, with Britain at the forefront, began sending arms and supplies to support Ukraine last year, Putin realised he had underestimated us. A US Army Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) firing a long-range army missile He has now convinced himself that the West wants to wipe out his country, and his propaganda hammers that message home to the Russian people every day. As the brave Russian ex-diplomat Boris Bondarev wrote in the Mail yesterday, Putin will never forgive Britain, Germany or America for sending tanks. This is deeply cynical. Putins war crimes are well-documented. There can be no negotiated peace with such a man nor one that would leave a single Russian boot standing on Ukrainian soil. Even if the Kremlin offered a ceasefire, it would be only to regroup their forces until they were ready to try again. That is why it is critical for the West to deliver a devastating arsenal to the Ukrainians as soon as possible. We are underestimating the capability of the Russian army to soak up punishment. In World War Two, the Nazi invaders were stunned by the willingness with which Soviet generals consigned thousands of Red Army soldiers to their deaths. General Sir Richard Shirreff: 'Now we have to save Ukraine to save ourselves. Already we have wasted the chance to get the job done quickly' Putin shows precisely the same callous disregard for human life. The idea that his inexperienced, ill-equipped troops will surrender or retreat is a fantasy. Russia is an immense country with an effectively limitless supply of conscripts. And it is a country inured to suffering. However appalling the cost of this war to the Russians, it is unlikely the ordinary people will depose their megalomanic leader. So our number one task is to help Ukraine win. What happens to Putin afterwards is a matter for the Russians. But what is clear is that Moscow needs to be permanently deterred from posing any future threat to Ukraine and the rest of Europe. I believe that February 24 last year, the day of the invasion, is as significant as September 1, 1939, when the Nazi army rolled into Poland and sparked World War Two. Many voices, including my own, demanded immediate action. If we had been heeded, and arms poured into Ukraine, Zelensky would now be planning a spring offensive to drive the Russians back across their border. But we are where we are. So whats next? A F-15 US fighter jet is pictured taking off from an airfield Many will be concerned about the risk of escalation precipitated by increased Western support. Yet Putins mouthpieces have been rattling the nuclear sabre for month after month, threatening he could unleash atomic weapons on Ukraine or even target Western cities with long-range nuclear missiles. None thank God have been fired. Yes, the threat is real. But we have to keep it in perspective. Already the Russians nuclear rhetoric has been dialled down since the start of the war, thanks to forthright condemnation from all sides, including the Chinese. Nato and US intelligence agencies will be keeping a close watch on any deployment of warheads or missile-carrying systems. The Kremlin has been told that any indication of an imminent nuclear threat would invite an unprecedented response from the West, using conventional capabilities on a scale never seen before. That is the only way to manage the nuclear spectre: through deterrence, as we did during the Cold War. This can only be effective if we increase our military budget and re-arm urgently. Above all, our defence planners must recognise the threat from Russia is real and long-term. We must also refocus resources in Eastern Europe rather than indulge in naval posturing in the Indo-Pacific. In one way, Putins nukes have already achieved what he needed. They ensure Britain and our Nato colleagues will not send ground troops or air personnel to direct combat. That would certainly lead to World War Three. But now we have to save Ukraine to save ourselves. Already we have wasted the chance to get the job done quickly. We face many months of bloodshed. We cannot hide any longer. Nan Goldin not only changed the world of photography, but she also had a major impact on the pharmaceutical industry - launching a fierce war against the Sackler family, whose company Purdue Pharma manufactured the pain medication OxyContin and has been criticized for its contribution to the rising opioid epidemic across the nation. A former drug addict herself, Goldin, 69, arguably helped take down Purdue Pharma - which was dissolved last year after facing a series of lawsuit - by being one of its most outspoken critics, and starting her own campaign dedicated to stopping the Sacklers' philanthropic contributions to the art world. The Sacklers had burnished their reputation through charity by donating lavishly to prestigious museums and world-class galleries, but after Goldin got thousands to join her in protesting against the family, numerous institutions announced that they'd no longer be accepting money from them. Nan Goldin not only changed the world of photography, but she also had a major impact on the pharmaceutical industry. She is seen earlier this month She launched a fierce war against the Sackler family (Richard Sackler standing second from left and Jonathan Sackler standing second from right. Seated is Raymond and Beverly Sackler) in 2018, whose company Purdue Pharma manufactured the pain medication OxyContin The outspoken photographer overcame a difficult journey to pave her way as one of the most accomplished snappers of all time - including the tragic suicide of her sister when she was only 11, a beating from one of her clients while she was working as a sex worker that was so severe she needed surgery, and a long-lasting battle with substance abuse that resulted in her visiting rehab on more than one occasion. But through it all, the artist and activist has said that it was her love of photography that ultimately saved her life and kept her going. She also credits her participation in her fight against the Sacklers as the reason she has stayed sober - and now, her impressive feats have become the subject of an Oscar-nominated documentary. Goldin's transformation from troubled child to drug addict to world-renowned photographer to savage activist was showcased in All The Beauty And The Bloodshed last year, and it is now up for a trophy at the upcoming Academy Awards. As the awards show - which will take place on March 12 - approaches, FEMAIL has taken a look back at the fascinating story behind the acclaimed photographer. Goldin's heartbreaking upbringing: The photographer's childhood was rocked by the tragic suicide of her sister, resulting in her leaving home at age 14 Goldin (seen earlier this month) had a difficult childhood. At age 11, her 19-year-old sister took her own life by lying down in front of an oncoming train The youngest of four children, Goldin grew up in a middle-class Jewish family in a Boston suburb called Lexington, but her childhood was filled with pain from an early age - thanks to her parents' tumultuous marriage that would often see them getting into nasty screaming matches with one another. At age 11, Goldin's world was rocked when her 19-year-old sister took her own life by lying down in front of an oncoming commuter train. 'I don't think you ever come to terms with a suicide, especially if it is someone you admired and needed and whose death was so violent,' she said to The Guardian in 2014, while discussing the heartbreaking death. 'It's an act that never destroys just one person. But, there was no ambiguity about what she did and I take that as courage. 'A lot of people reacted by trying to take the blame for it, but I would simply say, "She did it." 'It was her life and her decision. She may have been driven there by her demons, but it was still her decision.' As Goldin struggled to come to terms with the sudden loss, she soon started acting out in school, which resulted in her 'getting thrown out.' She then left school at age 14 and was sent to a 'hippy' boarding school called Satya, where 'children and teachers are given an equal say in what is taught and how' It was at Satya where she fell in love with photography after one of her teachers gifted her a polaroid camera. She is seen in 2006 She was then sent to a 'hippy' boarding school called Satya at age 14, where 'children and teachers are given an equal say in what is taught and how.' And it was there that Goldin said she finally found herself. She told the outlet: 'I didn't get a formal education, but I did get a voice and I learned to relate to other people. For me, it was a truly liberating experience.' It was also at Satya where she fell in love with photography after one of her teachers gifted her a polaroid camera. At the time, she said 'all she knew about photography came from fashion magazines' like Vogue, which she'd steal from local grocery stores and spend hours 'poring' over. She soon started snapping her friends and her passion grew. She eventually landed her first show in 1973, which featured a set of pictures she had taken of a bunch of drag queens that she knew. Goldin went on to graduate from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in 1978, and she then headed to New York City. Goldin's breakthrough into photography: The artist spent years as a sex worker and battling drug addiction before she finally found success After college, Goldin moved to New York, where turned to sex work. She was once 'beaten' so intensely by a 'lover' that she needed 'major surgery,' according to Vogue In addition, she got heavily involved in the party scene, while documenting the 'ecstasy and pain, sex and drug use, and love and loss' she experienced through her photography When Goldin arrived in New York, she told Aperture that she worked multiple jobs as a 'go-go dancer' and bartender while struggling to break into the world of photography. She also turned to sex work, where she was once 'beaten' so intensely by a 'lover' that she needed 'major surgery,' according to Vogue. In addition, she got heavily involved in the party scene - and started using heroin - while documenting the 'ecstasy and pain, sex and drug use, and love and loss' she experienced through her photography. Her big break came in 1986 when 100 of her pictures were published in a book entitled The Ballad Of Sexual Dependency. 'I never thought the wild times would end. I was living in the moment, not documenting for the future,' she explained of the photographs to Vogue. 'I think having an early death in my life, of my sister, made it more important to hold on to people [by photographing them].' While many would argue that The Ballad was what put Goldin on the map, her drug use only worsened after it came out. 'It got dark. After The Ballad was published in 1986, I spent two years in my room,' she recalled to The Guardian. Her big break came in 1986 when 100 of her pictures were published in a book entitled The Ballad Of Sexual Dependency. One of her photographs is seen above 'Drugs became my full-time occupation and about the only people I saw were my dealers. I never answered the phone.' She explained that while she had been using heroine for years, she then started abusing cocaine too, which 'sent her to the bottom.' 'For years, I used drugs before I abused them, and I had a good time. People take drugs because they feel good,' she revealed. 'Especially people who don't have a skin, who are really raw like I was. With heroin, you don't feel any pain. For me, cocaine was the evil drug. It sent me to the bottom.' Goldin explained that she 'wanted to get high from a really early age,' but added that she didn't think her interest in drugs had to do with her sister's death. Instead, she theorized that the intrigue in 'being a junkie' stemmed from the negative relationship she had with her mom. 'I wanted to be as different from my mother as I could and define myself as far as possible from the suburban life I was brought up in,' she said. But Goldin's drug use only worsened after it came out. She said: 'It got dark. Drugs became my full-time occupation and about the only people I saw were my dealers.' She is seen in 1996 Goldin (seen recently) went to rehab and got clean, but in 2000, she suffered from a hand injury and was prescribed pain killers, which resulted in her developing an opioid addiction She also told Aperture that she turned to drugs to help her feel more confident, after spending years being plagued by social anxiety. 'I'm so shy. That was what drugs did for me - they took away that terrible binding shyness. And I thought that they were giving me a social personality,' she explained. Goldin eventually checked herself into rehab in 1988, but after becoming clean, she admitted that she struggled to gain some normalcy. But thankfully, she said taking photos helped her find her way. 'I came out of rehab and I didn't even know how to catch a bus. I honestly didn't know who I was or what I was when I first got clean,' she told The Guardian. 'When I say the camera has kept me alive, I mean it literally. My work is who I am.' While Goldin's career flourished after that, in 2000 she suffered from a serious hand injury and was prescribed pain killers by her doctor, which resulted in her developing a severe opioid addiction which sent her into a dark spiral of 'rage.' 'For such a long time I was fueled by rage. Only the junk stopped that anger, but it came back big time in 2000,' she said. 'I alienated a lot of people and lost a lot of friends because of it. When I'm angry, I'm really smart. 'I become much more verbally astute. I go for the jugular. It gets exhausting and you feel fucking terrible afterwards.' Goldin's war against the Sackler family: After getting clean, she tried to take down the pharmaceutical company behind OxyContin, and her fight against them is now being featured in an Oscar-nominated documentary In 2017, the photographer launched a major war against the Sackler family and their pharmaceutical company, Purdue Pharma, after getting clean once again She organized a slew of protests outside museums - like the Guggenheim and the Metropolitan Museum of Art - to try to stop the family's philanthropic contribution to the arts Goldin said she 'narrowly escaped' the 'opioid crisis,' and after a second stint in rehab and getting clean once again, she realized 'she had to do something' more to help the world. The photographer told Aperture that she started the foundation after reading a news article she took as 'exposing the Sackler family' as 'multibillionaires who ignited the opioid crisis through their cynical greed' 'I chose what I know best, which is drugs, something I understand in my body,' she explained to Arpeture.' In 2017, the photographer launched a major war against the Sackler family and their pharmaceutical company, Purdue Pharma, which manufactured the pain medication, OxyContin. Purdue Pharma made tens of billions of dollars on opioid sales, and the Sacklers were spending much of that money making charitable donations to the arts. Goldin started an organization called Prescription Addiction Intervention Now (PAIN), which focused on stopping the family's philanthropic contribution to galleries and museums. She organized a slew of protests outside museums - like the Guggenheim and the Metropolitan Museum of Art - asking for the institutions to stop accepting donations from the family, encouraging artists to boycott the Sacklers' money and demanding that Purdue Pharma take responsibility for helping to fuel opioid addiction in America. Afterwards, many major museums announced that they would no longer be working with the Sacklers - including the National Portrait Gallery in London, the Tate group of British art galleries, and even the Louvre. Thousands got involved, and afterwards, many major museums announced that they would no longer be working with the Sacklers The Sacklers descended from three brothers - Arthur (left), Mortimer (center), and Raymond (right) The photographer told Aperture that she started the foundation after reading a news article she took as 'exposing the Sackler family' as 'multibillionaires who ignited the opioid crisis through their cynical greed.' 'Their family business developed and marketed OxyContin, the most powerful narcotic painkiller on the market,' she said. Supposedly, the company made about $30 billion off it. Goldin added: 'They fed on the stigma of addiction and blamed the drug users. I always thought of them as philanthropists, but they were using museums to wash their reputation.' The Sacklers descended from three brothers - Arthur, Mortimer, and Raymond. The oldest, Arthur paved the way for the trio, starting a medical research lab, buying up pharmaceutical companies, and becoming an expert at marketing and advertising drugs. But it was only after Arthur's death in 1987 that his brothers, who had been his business partners, took the name of one of those smaller companies, and formed the Purdue Pharma we know today, in 1991. By 2002, OxyContin was leading the nation in pain relief, accounting for 68 per cent of all oxycodone sales. The already immense drug company reached new heights when a research team under Raymond's son Richard developed an extended release form of OxyContin, which, many have argued, has qualities - including being crushable - that make it a particularly easy drug to abuse. Purdue Pharma made some effort to rectify the rampant addiction to their products. In 2012, the company debuted an abuse-deterrent version of OxyContin. Unlike its original formula, the new OxyContin couldn't be crushed into a powder that can be snorted. Rather, it dissolves into a gel-like substance, which also made it more difficult to be injected. In 2022, acclaimed director Laura Poitra (seen with Goldin) made a gripping documentary about her role in the demise of the Sackler family, called All The Beauty And The Bloodshed By 2013, the FDA had outlawed the original formula of OxyContin, only allowing sales of its new gel version. Still, drug deaths climbed. In 2016, drug overdoses took the lives of 64,070 people outnumbering the total American lives lost in the entirety of the Vietnam War. The movie has now been nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the upcoming Oscars Today, it's the leading cause of death in America greater than gun violence and car accidents combined and has devastated families across the country. In total, more than 500,000 people have died from it in the last 20 years. The Sackler dynasty reached a landmark $6 billion agreement over its alleged role in fueling the opioid epidemic in March 2022, which resulted in Purdue Pharma officially being dissolved. They have continuously denied wrongdoing. The money, which is being used to fund victim compensation and addiction treatment, notably freed the Sackler family from all future civil lawsuits, but did not preclude them from criminal prosecution. Despite the hefty $6 billion settlement, the Sackler family was able to maintain the bulk of their personal wealth - which was moved to off-shore accounts before their Chapter 11 filing. As for Goldin, she credited starting PAIN and fighting against the Sackler family with 'keeping her sober.' In 2022, acclaimed director Laura Poitra made a gripping documentary about Goldin's role in the demise of the Sackler family, called All The Beauty And The Bloodshed, which has now been nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the upcoming Oscars. The Prince of Wales playfully teased Kate Middleton for 'nattering too much' as they packed parcels for struggling families at a food bank in Windsor today. Prince William, 40, and his wife, 41, visited Windsor Foodshare this morning to hear how the organisation provides for individuals and families, where they also helped to sort out donations and prepare packages for the local community. The Princess looked elegant in her Hobbs London Tilda Coat in fuchsia pink which she paired with a matching Hobbs jumper and a pair of smart black trousers. The couple appeared in good spirits, promising they would return in the future, and teased one another about who was better at packing the parcels. The Prince and Princess of Wales showed their caring spirits today as they visited a food bank in Windsor as millions of families struggle with the cost-of-living crisis The princess styled her hair in a bouncy blow dry for the outing and chose a subtle smokey eye shadow and a sweep of blush. It is a look that Kate has gone for before. She last wore the colourful ensemble in November 2021, when she visited a school in London as part of her Early Years work. The couple praised volunteers for the vital work they do at the food bank, just a stones throw from their Berkshire home, which offers not just basics such as bread and pasta, but also, unusually, eggs and fresh fruit and vegetables. The couples children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, are also aware of the project as it is supported by their new school, Lambrook, the princess revealed. The Princess looked elegant in her Hobbs London Tilda Coat In Fuchsia Pink, which she paired with a matching Hobbs jumper and a pair of smart black trousers Once inside, the couple appeared in good spirits as they chatted with staff and volunteers about the importance of the service Kate said that some of the pupils come down to visit and see food bank first-hand, although it is understood that none of her children have done that yet. Organisers said the private prep school helps through harvest festivals and food drives. The couple were met by Foodshares organiser, Sarah Kember, and Reverend Matthew Scott, minister of Dedworth Green Baptist Church, where the initiative is based. They were taken inside to have a brief chat about how the project was set up a decade ago. Its 48 volunteers now help around 7,000 people a year and have seen demand for its services soar by 18 per cent in the last 12 months as the cost of living crisis has bitten. Each parcel will last around four days and can either be picked up from the church or delivered. Toiletries and cleaning products are also provided on a monthly basis. The couple appeared in good spirits at the event, promising volunteers and members of staff that they would return in the future Individual and families are referred from a variety of sources such as schools, doctors, social services, churches and community wardens. The initiative, which part of Windsor Christian Action, gets no government funding and relies on donations - both in terms of produce and cash - from the public, as well as donated goods from local supermarkets such as Tesco, Aldo , Waitrose and Marks & Spencer. It costs 21,000-a-year alone to provide the fresh produce. Mrs Kember said: We are now helping around 200 people a week and for many of them this is the only fresh food they will get all week. What has been the hardest thing? How do you actually set up a food bank? William asked. Kate asked whether there had been a slight shift in peoples awkwardness in obtaining hand-outs from food and baby banks. The royal mother-of-three maneuvered a trolley through the charity's base in Windsor where she met with volunteers Kate, who has become a dedicated campaigner on a number of social issues, sorted through different tins to make the food packages The Prince and Princess, who have spoken of the 'devastating' impact of the cost of living crisis, were quick to get involved at the centre Kate also helped volunteers to sort food donations and prepare packages for the charitys clients to collect later that day (left and right) It feels like it is a little more accepted because people are feeling now that it not so much their fault that they are struggling because of the emergency crisis. It is not their fault that they are struggling for money, explained Mrs Kember, nodding. So people want to reach out for help and support? interjected the princess. Once they come for the first time they actually realise that it is not so bad to come to us. There are a lot of people like them. We have working families that are still struggling. Mind-blowing that they are working and still struggling, Mrs Kember added. The princess asked: How much is there a need for connection and being with other people given, on the back of the pandemic, the sense of isolation and loneliness? Is there a need for people to come together particularly within the church and the community. Is there more of a need for that connection? Mrs Kember replied: Absolutely. People come here and this might be the only person they see all week. We still do deliveries for people who are still struggling to leave their homes. It is an absolute reality that people still need to talk. The couple were then taken out into the church hall to meet and help the cheerful team of volunteers. Rolling up his sleeves! Prince William sorts through tins at the food bank today The royal, who was in good spirits, was animated as he chatted with staff members and volunteers about their work The royal couple joined other volunteers at the centre as they helped to sort through food donations to distribute to families in the local area The Prince of Wales was quick to get to work and began checking through tins to pack into parcels for families The royal father-of-three picked up packets of cereal and tins of food to pack into parcels at the food bank William was given a trolley and a shopping list and asked to help pick out items for a family of four who would come late to collect their goods, while Kate was asked to sort tinned and packet items into use by dates in order to minimise food wastage. Eggs, just the one packet? asked the prince? A treat? Got to be Jaffa Cakes, surely, Chatting with a group of female volunteers who were sorting bread, William said mischievously: I can tell who the naughty ones are here. Theres a real gang here. Can we have some bread please? This is so well organised. Its really efficient and I promise you thats not something we have seen everywhere. Asked if he wanted to help out with another bag, the future king smiled and said: Im here, Im your man. As the princess sorted tins of spaghetti she bombarded volunteers with questions, such as how how many clients are helped each week. William stopped by and teased his wife: Theres too much nattering going on here! We need to speed things up a bit! Ive already learnt who the chatty ones are here. In return Kate teased him about his loading of the trolley. It was a bit of a mess, her husband said with mock sheepishness. This really is a wonderful place for bringing people together, the Princess remarked. As they left the couple promised to return, William saying; We would love to come back without the entourage. Lovely to meet you, Sarah, and the team, Kate enthused, laughing as the organiser told them that one had definitely been a better packer than the other but she didnt like to say whom. And ones a better cook than the other, William added jokily. Volunteer Jane Willocks said afterwards: They were a lovely couple. Clearly very well briefed but so keen to get involved and hear about what we are doing. The Princess, who just yesterday appeared at another royal engagement in Windsor, was animated as she spoke with staff and volunteers about their ongoing efforts The Princess in November said the impact of food and energy insecurity in the country could be 'devastating' Kate, who has previously spoken of how families are struggling amidst the cost-of-living crisis, was animated as she spoke with staff at the centre during her visit today During the visit, the couple met with staff who run the service, before learning more about the charitys founding principles Kate in particularly wanted to know about the quality and the quantity of food. She asked a lot of questions about the tinned meat, which doesnt look that appetising but obviously we cant serve fresh. And she was really impressed with the fact that we offer some fresh food such as fruit and vegetables and eggs. They were both also really taken about the respect we offer people, our clients. And Kate liked the fact that we have children in here and learn very early on that others are not as fortunate as them. Amanda Russell added: I thought they asked very pertinent questions. This so, so rewarding. I really look forward to coming in here. We work hard and have a lot of laughs,. We often walk out exhausted, but it is worth it. Thats why we stick with it. Speaking afterwards organiser Sarah Kember praised the couple for visiting. I was very nervous this morning. But they really put us at ease, she said. They were interested in what happens in our local area and the rise in numbers and particularly how we get donations in. There was some fun moments too. One was probably a better packer than the other but I wouldnt like to say which one. They are always welcomed back any time. We are always grateful for a pair of hands, i dont mind whose hands it is helping, royal or otherwise. A royal aide said the couples visit was part of their focus over the winter months in supporting some of the most hard-pressed communities across the country. Sarah Kember, manager of Windsor Food Share, greeted William and Kate at Dedworth Green Baptist Church Meanwhile the Prince of Wales was dressed in a smart navy blue and green ensemble for the outing today Chatting with staff members at the food bank, the couple heard about the impact that the rising cost of living has had on the demand for the service Kate and William have long been campaigners to address a number of social challenges - from addiction and violence to family breakdown and homelessness - so often underpinned by poor mental health The princess styled her hair in a bouncy blow dry for the outing and chose a subtle smokey eye and a sweep of blush In September, Kate made a rare foray into politics when she spoke of the need for food banks as millions of families struggle with the cost-of-living crisis. The royal made the comments about the importance of community services during a discussion with volunteers and members of the congregation at St Thomas Church in Swansea. During the visit with husband William, Kate said: 'With the cost of living crisis, there are a lot of desperate people out there.' The royal said that the food bank was a 'lifeline to so many people' particularly after the pandemic and amid the soaring cost of living. During their visit today, the couple also helped volunteers to sort food donations and prepare packages for the charitys clients to collect later that day William and Kate visited Windsor Foodshare this morning to hear how the organisation provides for individuals and families living in the local area Leading the way! Kate stepped out of the car ahead of her husband, appearing enthusiastic to learn more about the service in Windsor Kate showed off her eco-credentials today as she rewore the vibrant pink coat and jumper from British brand Hobbs Kate and William have long been campaigners to address a number of social challenges - from addiction and violence to family breakdown and homelessness - so often underpinned by poor mental health The Princess looked elegant in her Hobbs London Tilda Coat In Fuchsia Pink for the visit, which she paired with a matching Hobbs jumper and a pair of smart black trousers The royal mother-of-three wore her lengthy brunette locks in a bouncy blow dry style for the outing today The royal styled her bright pink jumper and matching coat with a pair of navy trousers and heels for the outing The royal couple are set to learn more about the food bank today, as well as helping volunteers to pack sort through donations And in November, the Princess of Wales shared a heartwarming message of sympathy for families with the thousands of families facing the 'devastating impact of food and energy insecurity'. Backing the Evening Standard's On The Breadline Christmas appeal - aimed at supporting those suffering through the cost-of-living crisis in the UK - Kate said it is a vital time to help the vulnerable. She told the newspaper: 'As millions of people face increasingly difficult times over the coming months, it has never been more important for us to support families who are working so hard to protect their children from the devastating impact of food and energy insecurity.' The mother-of-three thanked the paper, its partners and readers for its work and remarked that its sure to make a difference to families in London and the UK this winter. It's been a busy week for Kate, who yesterday met with eight experts, appointed to offer her strategic advice and provide oversight of the work of her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, at Windsor Castle. Kate, shaking hands with the specialists, said: 'I feel a bit nervous about it! But excited too. 'I was talking to the children this morning - the excitement and nervousness gets mixed up together in the same pot.' Aimee Vivian said she was against UK ban but would hesitate to buy another pug As the Netherlands is looking to ban flat-faced dog breeds, a debate has erupted about the ethics around buying dogs like pugs and French bulldogs. Capital FM presenter and proud 'dog mum' Aimee Vivian appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain with her pug Eva to discuss the issue. The 'pug advocate' told the panel that while she is '100 per cent' against a ban on the beloved breed, she would think twice about buying one again due to their health issues. '[Eva] is nine years old and I would like to say that if I was going to buy a dog now, would I get a flat-faced breed? No, because I'm a lot more educated about it. 'In the nine years since I got her, the breeding has got worse and worse, which is why I'm saying... legislation needs to be brought in, more harsher punishments.' Fortunately, Aimee said, her pet has had no health problems because she keeps her 'trim', with pugs a 'notoriously greedy' breed. But there was an awkward moment in the show when PETA spokeswoman, Jennifer White, explained that Eva was not as healthy as her owner might think. Expressing concern about Eva's breathing, Jennifer said: 'Even if you hear her when she walks, that noise that rattling, snorting, people brush that off as cute but is them struggling, gasping for breath.' Capital FM presenter and proud 'dog mum' Aimee Vivian (pictured) appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain with her pug Eva to discuss the debate around banning flat-faced breeds PETA spokeswoman, Jennifer White, called for a complete ban on the breeding of pugs, and blamed Crufts for their growing popularity As she was speaking, what appeared to be a mic near Eva was turned up so the animal's raspy breathing could be heard by viewers. Calling for a complete ban on the pets, the animal campaigner said: 'These dogs just live miserable lives because they are deliberately bred to have these deformities, these flatter faces. 'For French bulldogs, breathing through their nose is like breathing through a straw the whole time. 'It's not about responsible breeding, frankly that just doesn't exist in this situation when these animals are just so incredibly unwell and they're being born to suffer.' There was an awkward moment in the show when PETA spokeswoman, Jennifer White, explained that Eva was not as healthy as her owner might think Arguing against a ban on pugs, Aimee said: 'They have amazing personalities and we have caused the problems as humans with designer breeding over a hundred years. She suggested another solution to a full-on ban, saying: 'If we could get back to a healthier version of a pug then surely that's better than just making the whole breed extinct?' 'As humans, we need to start educating ourselves, our rights, our wrongs, and if we can't accept responsibility for what we did wrong by breeding them and making them flatter-faced then we're never going to learn from that.' French bulldogs, another flat-faced breed, have had their origins traced back to the 1800s. 'Pug advocate' Aimee told the panel that while she is '100 per cent' against a ban on the beloved breed, she would think twice about buying one again But the rising popularity of the breed, and a growing penchant for it to have a flatter face, has led to selective breeding which has made it more difficult to breathe. Jennifer laid the blame for this dangerous trend with dog shows and celebrities, calling for a ban on Crufts for promoting selective breeding practices. 'A lot of it comes down to the Kennel Club, and Crufts obviously promote these certain breeds. 'Because they have been selectively bred to have these exaggerated features. And of course, celebrities start buying them, influencers start buying them, they are promoted on social media.' 'We should ban Crufts, we should bring in legislation that would prevent people from being allowed to breed these animals, we should make sure that all pugs right now are spade and neutered so that they can't breed anymore. We can all make a choice now.' The Good Morning Britain panel, which included leading veterinary expert Dr Dan O'Neill, discussed plans in the Netherlands to ban flat-faced dogs' breeding and promotion on social media Dr Dan O'Neill, a breeding expert from the Royal Veterinary College, waded in saying: 'The whole story about social media is much more nuanced than that. 'It's not just about Crufts and the Kennel Club, it's about us a s humans, we just love the look of these dogs, but what we're not doing is putting ourselves in the position of the dog loving life, living as a flat-faced dog, living as a dog with no tail, a dog with a shortened spine, all the skin folds.' He added that thanks to campaign groups like the Brachycephalic, or flat-faced dog, Working Group, awareness is being raised about the little dogs' plight. He said that despite not having a full-on ban in the UK, 'a lot of the stuff in the Netherlands we already do in the UK... we're trying to work with people'. Responding to Jennifer, Bill Lambert, Health, Welfare and Breeder Services Executive at The Kennel Club, commented: 'Crufts is a huge celebration of dogs and far from creating a demand for a "must have" pet, it actually educates people about the dogs that are best for their lifestyle. 'Alongside this, improving the health of brachycephalic dogs, like Pugs, is an absolute priority both inside and outside the show ring, and Breed Standards which are a description of characteristics that dogs are judged to at Crufts make it explicitly clear that unhealthy exaggerations are not acceptable, and there are additional vet checks at Crufts to look for visible signs of health concerns.' The Kennel Club said it has worked with scientists at the University of Cambridge, to develop a Respiratory Function Grading scheme, which checks for the future likelihood of breathing difficulties among flat-faced dogs. They added that the test is offered for free to competitors at Crufts and accessible to breeders, and that they recommend puppy buyers to look for breeders who use it . GOVERNMENT has not deregistered any Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) operating in the country but has instead identified and informed 391 NGOs who are non-compliant with the dictates of the Private Voluntary Organisation Act to regularise their operations. In an interview with Zimpapers Television Networks The Chase programme last night, the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Professor Paul Mavima said the identified NGOs, whose figure was actually 450 last year, but has come down to 391, still have a chance to regularise their operations before Government gazettes their deregistration. The list still gives them an opportunity to regularise before we gazette, for now we havent gazetted but soon we will be gazetting. We have given them a very long rope but once we gazette they will then have to apply afresh to operate, said Minister Mavima. He rubbished as unfounded claims by what he said were cynical people who are always bent on portraying the country as being in a crisis mode. Minister Mavima said these people are falsely claiming that the listing of non-compliant NGOs was done based on the new Act when in actual fact the process to amend the legislation has not been completed. The new Acts amendment process has not been completed and a lot of people have been saying there is a draconian action by Government in line with the new Act and we have started to see the implementation of that Act which is going to constrain civil society space. The Act has always been there and just like in any other country, it provides for a criterion for registration for anyone who wants to operate a PVO. It sets the requirements needed, a management arrangement, provide annual reports to the PVO board, audited financial statements and keep within the mandate that you said you wanted to operate in and also to confine yourself to the geographical space that you said you want to operate from. This is standard procedure, everywhere, said Minister Mavima. He said the majority of the listed NGOs were not in the political or human rights space or even a space that can be interpreted as affecting the outcome of an election. Those who are saying something now are just full of sound and fury and there is no logic in what they are saying. The culprits are always the same, Zimbabwes resident cynics, those who want to portray that the country is always in a crisis mode. This list of the now 391 was originally 450 and was published a year ago to say these organisations are not in compliance, some have regularised hence the figure is now 391. Everywhere in the world, the Government has to know where the money was going and coming from. When you use public money to do something you have to account for it, said Prof Mavima. He said the country only deregistered two NGOs last year for national security reasons. Minister Mavima said one of the NGOs had said they wanted to provide services to children and started constructing schools and after that started teaching fundamentalism in those schools. We said no, you dont do that. They have been appealing and twice we have heard their appeal but we have said they will not operate, he said. On the Jairos Jiri Association position, Minister Mavima said the association has over the years been unbundled and became a number of organizations offering such services as education and others to disadvantaged and disabled people. Some of these (Jairos Jiri Association) offshoots have complied while others have completely gone defunct Here is another example that has been used, Jairos Jiri Association. People do not realise that Jairos Jiri was unbundled, it became a number of organisations, one in education, another offering services to disadvantage and disabled people. Some have complied while others have completely gone defunct, added Minister Mavima. Slightly over 2 500 NGOs are operating in Zimbabwe. Herald Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's former nanny has admitted she compared herself to the Prince and Princess of Wales' au pair. Lorren Khumalo, from Zimbabwe, was hired by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to care for their son Archie shortly after he was born in May 2019. Appearing on episode of The Breakfast Club with Zenzele Ndebele, the pediatric nurse explained how nervous she was ahead of her first meeting with the couple, who were still living in Frogmore Cottage in Windsor at the time. When she was approached by a representative for the new parents, Lorren had accompanied another family for their half term holiday in Germany. Lorren Khumalo (pictured with baby Archie in Frogmore Cottage) was hired by the couple in 2019 when Archie was still just a baby Having raced back to the UK, Lorren said she agonized over what to wear to the interview and started comparing herself with Prince William and Kate Middleton's Norland nanny Maria Barrallo. As a graduate of the world's leading childcare training institutions, the Prince and Princess of Wales' au pair is often spotted wearing her distinctive Norland uniform - consisting of a beige crested dress, tie, loafers and a brown felt hat. Lorren said: 'I thought to myself, "I wonder how their nannies look, do they wear heels?" 'Prince William has got a Norland Nanny, so they've got a brown uniform that for my skin color and the way it looks in khaki brown, I knew it wouldn't even go, it would just not work.' The couple's ex-nanny (pictured during their Netflix special) explained how she agonised over what to wear before going to Frogmore Cottage for the first time The Prince and Princess of Wales hired Norland nanny Maria Barrallo (pictured in 2015) when Prince George was just a few months old. Graduates of Norland often wear the institute's traditional beige uniform with a matching tie and felt hat Norland nanny Maria Borrallo pictured arriving at Pippa Middleton's wedding in 2017 in her full uniform Lorren says she eventually settled on a smart outfit and some kitten heels to look 'presentable for a royal'. She added: 'But I didn't use any make-up, I said if they take me, they take me as I am. 'I wasn't born with a silver spoon, I'm not blue blood, I will go as I am and trust me with my God, I'll get this job.' What's more, Lorren said she was given a speeding ticket on the way to Frogmore Cottage for 'driving too fast'. Lorrren previously descried Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as 'very hands on parents' to their son Archie (pictured as a newborn) Lorren worked for the couple when they were living in Frogmore Cottage (pictured) on the Windsor estate before they relocated to Montecito, California Once she arrived in Windsor, Lorren said she had go through 'lots of checks' before she was allowed access to the couple's home. Moments before she met her future employer, the former nanny asked the Duke of Sussex's protection officer is she needed to curtsy. She added: 'And he just looked at me and laughed and he said, "You'll see, Prince Harry is amazing."' Describing the moment she met Prince Harry for the first time, Lorren continued: 'When I got there, the way he opened his arms 'Hello Lorren!' and gave me a hug. Prince Harry is seen feeding Archie in his sushi themed high chair - Lorren described the Sussexes as 'hands on' parents '[I thought] "Wow, what a gentleman, what a gem", oh my goodness, I couldn't believe it. And when I walked in and saw Meghan I thought "My God, what a beautiful woman". 'I just felt so comfortable, it wasn't so formal as I expected it to be, it was just a normal home.' Last month, the Duke and Duchess' ex-nanny also appeared in their Netflix docu-series and labelled them 'really hands on parents'. Lorren said the couple would come in to see baby Archie in the morning, and feed him before she took over and then take their newborn out for a stroll. Meghan added: 'She didn't just take care of Archie she took care of us, she definitely took care of me.' The professional nanny currently works as a neonatal intensive care (NICU) and pediatric nurse the Portland hospital, where Meghan gave birth to Archie in 2019. The Danish Royal Family have celebrated Countess Athena's 11th birthday by sharing a portrait of the youngster to Instagram - after stripping her of her royal title. However, many royal fans rushed to the comment section of the post to insist she is still a princess in their eyes. Shared to the Royal Household's Instagram account on January 24, the image of Athena was captioned: 'Her Excellency Countess Athena has a birthday and turns 11 today,' when translated from Danish to English. But commentators were left unimpressed by the use of Athena's new status, which came in to place on January 1 after her grandmother, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, decided to remove the prince and princess titles from four of her grandchildren. The Danish Royal Family have celebrated Countess Athena's 11th birthday by sharing a portrait of the youngster to Instagram (pictured above) - after stripping her of her royal title One royal fan said: 'Congratulations to Princess Athena, the people's Princess,' while a second added: 'As a "grandmother" and as a monarch, the queen underestimated the sovereignty of the people. Happy birthday, PRINCESS ATHENA.' Another wrote: 'Congratulations, beautiful Princess Athena. You are Denmark's most beautiful Princess. For me, you are and will always be a Princess and never a Countess.' A third added: 'Congratulations, congratulations PRINCESS Athena - once a princess, ALWAYS a princess.' Earlier this month, the Danish Royal Family's website was update to show the new status belonging to Queen Margrethe's son Joachim's children after they were stripped of their HRH titles. Shared to the Royal Household's Instagram account on January 24, the image of Athena was captioned: 'Her Excellency Countess Athena has a birthday and turns 11 today,' when translated from Danish to English. Pictured, Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Prince Joachim, Princess Marie, Count Nikolai, Count Felix, Count Henrik and Countess Athena in April 2022 Reaction: However, many royal fans rushed to the comment section of the post to insist she is still a princess in their eyes The 82-year-old monarch announced in September that the four children of her younger son, 53-year-old Prince Joachim, would no longer be able to use the title of prince and princess after January 1. She has said the decision was intended to allow Nikolai, 23, Felix, 20 - born from Joachim's first marriage - and Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10, to live normal lives without royal obligations. Instead of being Princes and Princesses, they are Counts and Countess and referred to as Their Excellencies - a change which is now reflected on the household's website. Under the Royal Family and Succession To The Throne pages of the website, the four young royals - who have maintained their positions in the line of succession - are mentioned with their new titles. Denmark's Royal Family updated their website to show the new status belonging to four of Queen Margrethe's grandchildren after they were stripped of their HRH titles. Pictured, Count Nikolai, left, and right, Count Felix The 82-year-old monarch announced in September that the four children of her youngest son, 53-year-old Prince Joachim, would no longer be able to use the title of prince and princess after January 1. Pictured, Countess Athena, left, and right, Count Henrik It was a tumultuous autumn for the Danish Royal Family after the monarch stripped Joachim's four children of their prince and princess titles - a move which he publicly spoke out against. But speaking in a televised New Year's address, Margrethe admitted: 'That the relationship with Prince Joachim and (his wife) Princess Marie has run into difficulties hurts me. 'Difficulties and disagreements can arise in any family, including mine. The whole country has witnessed this.' She added that she was 'sure that the family can enter the new year together with confidence, understanding and new courage'. The Danish Queen (pictured with her sons and their wives) has said the decision to was intended to allow Nikolai, 23, Felix, 20 - born from Joachim's first marriage - and Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10, to live normal lives without royal obligations But earlier this month, the Royal Family appeared to put the drama far behind them as they arrived for their glamorous New Year's dinner at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen. Out of a title: The four grandchildren who are no longer TRHs Nikolai of Denmark, 23: The Copenhagen Business School student and model regularly tops lists of the world's most eligible bachelors. He lives in Denmark but has jetted around the world to walk for designers in Paris and London. Nikolai has also appeared on the cover of Vogue Scandinavia. Felix of Denmark, 20: Following in his brother's footsteps, Prince Felix has also had success as a model and has starred in an advertising campaign for Georg Jensen. He had a short stint at the Royal Danish Military Academy but quit after two months because it 'wasn't for him'. Henrik, 13, and Athena, 11, of Denmark: The youngest of Prince Joachim's four children, Henrik and Athena are the product of his second marriage to Princess Marie. They live with their parents in Paris. Advertisement Despite the fallout, Prince Joachim was seen stepping out at the lavish event, as were his brother Crown Prince Frederik and wife Crown Princess Mary, as well as the Queen's sister Princess Benedikte. Prince Joachim's wife, Princess Marie, stayed in Paris with their son, who was ill. Last year, Prince Joachim publicly spoke out against his mother's decision in the days that followed - claiming that his children had been 'harmed' in the process. Months later, the sixth-in-line to the throne admitted that 'communication was missing' within the Royal Family in the lead-up to the shock announcement. Joachim told local news outlet B.T.: 'There is a lot to work on. Communication was what was missing. Now we have met and we are on the right track.' Shortly after his children were stripped of his titles, Joachim claimed that he had only been given five days' notice before the news was made public. Following the Queen's announcement, Joachim spoke to Danish publication Ekstra Bladet outside the Danish Embassy in Paris, where he lives with his French-born wife Princess Marie and his two youngest children, and said his four children had been 'hurt' by their grandmother's decision. 'I was given five days' notice to tell them. In May, I was presented with a plan which, by and large, was that when the children each turned 25, it would happen. Now I had only five days to tell them. Athena turns 11 in January,' he clarified Meanwhile, his ex-wife Alexandra, 58, who was married to Joachim for 10 years until 2005, said that her sons, Nikolai and Felix, had been left feeling 'ostracised' from the institution and the decision had come like a 'bolt out of the blue'. The Royal Household released a further statement, saying: 'As the Queen stated yesterday, the decision has been a long time coming. 'We understand that there are many emotions at stake at the moment, but we hope that the Queen's wish to future-proof the Royal Household will be respected.' Last year, it was said that Joachim and his family are relocating to the US after he landed a new job in the defence industry in Washington, according to local media reports. The Danish royal, 53, has decided to move to Washington DC with his wife and their two young children, Henrik and Athena, Danish newspaper BT reported. The royal couple are currently based in Paris, where the prince has worked as defence attache since 2020. However that job is expected to come to an end in June, meaning they are likely to up sticks in the second half of the year. The Danish Royal Court's communications department did not confirm Joachim's reported upcoming move. Princess Martha Louise of Norway's fiance Shaman Durek Verrett has revealed how he discussed 'black culture and what I've been through' with her parents King Harald V and Queen Sonja. Durek, 48, took to TikTok in a live broadcast earlier this month to comment on Prince Harry's recent praise for the Dutch Royal Household and the Norwegian Royal Family for their work in combating racism and addressing unconscious bias. The Shaman - whose celebrity following includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Nina Dobrev and James Van Der Beek - explained how he had a 'conversation with my father-in-law, King Harald, and told him about black culture and what I've been through'. 'I showed him all the death threats and all the racial slurs I've had and so on. And you know, it was so kind of him to sit down with me, and the Queen too, and listen to everything I had to say. It was really beautiful,' he added in the clip, according to Norwegian newspaper VG. Princess Martha Louise of Norway's fiance Shaman Durek Verrett (pictured together in June 2022) has revealed how he discussed 'black culture and what I've been through' with her parents King Harald V and Queen Sonja In the same video, he said he was happy the Duke of Sussex, 38, realised the work he and 'Princess Martha', 51, have done to be able to talk to her family about racism. He then recalled a conversation with his soon-to-be father-in-law, saying: 'Then for him to be such a wise king, he sat down and said, "Listen, I'm going to sit down, the queen is going to sit down, the prince is going to sit down, and we want to hear all about how it is with you as a black man, what it was like for you growing up, what racism looks like, all the different ways that racism manifests itself and all the things that you've dealt with."' He also discussed the 'progressive' King of Norway in an Instagram Live, according to the publication. In November, King Harald spoke out against the racism towards his future son-in-law, insisting: 'The racist attitudes Durek Verrett has been subjected to, especially on social media, we strongly oppose.' Durek, 48, took to TikTok in a live broadcast earlier this month to comment on Prince Harry's recent praise for the Dutch Royal Household and the Norwegian Royal Family for their work in combating racism and addressing unconscious bias. Pictured, King Harald V of Norway and Queen Sonja in September 2022 The King and Queen of Norway and Princess Martha Louise pictured in July 2017 at the unveiling of Norwegian Trekking Association gift for The Queen of Norway's 80th birthday As part of a longer statement announcing that Martha Louise has renounced her official duties but will still keep her royal title following her engagement, the King dedicated part of the note to condemn the racism experienced by Durek. In his statement, via Royal Central, King Harald said: 'It is a strength that the Royal Family reflects the ethnic diversity that exists in Norway. 'It can be difficult to understand how direct or indirect, conscious or unconscious racism can be experienced, for those of us who are not in it ourselves. Unfortunately, there are many in Norway today who experience discrimination and racism. We must work together to put an end to this.' Upon announcing that his daughter will no longer represent the Royal Household in any form, King Harald said Princess Martha Louise would be able to keep her royal title. However, he re-iterated that the mother-of-three - who initially stepped back as a working royal in 2019 - will not be allowed to use it in any future commercial partnerships with her partner Durek. A statement at the time said: 'The princess and her fiance Durek Verrett will clarify the distinction between their own activities and the Royal Household. 'This means, among other things, that they must not use the title of princess or refer to members of the Royal Household in their own social media channels, in media productions or in connection with other commercial activity.' As such, Durek's social media videos in which he mentions the Royal Family have caused controversy online, with some of the Norwegian press reporting on the Shaman 'breaking the new rules'. It comes amid reports that Martha Louise has allegedly delayed her wedding to Durek amid his ongoing battle with kidney disease. The European royal announced her engagement to the Los Angeles-based 'spiritual guide and gifted healer' last year. Although the couple had not publicly announced any wedding plans, a Norwegian media outlet has reported that Martha and Durek have put the nuptials on hold. According to Se og Hr, Durek is struggling with 'severe kidney disease' - a condition he's been battling for almost three decades. Speaking on his podcast The Moments That Made Me, Durek previously claimed that the condition caused him to go into cardiac arrest - but did not reveal when the incident took place. He said: 'I had high blood pressure, just like my father and grandfather, but I never took it seriously. So, it destroyed my kidneys, and I went into cardiac arrest. 'It was one of the most defining moments of my life. I was dead for about four and a half minutes. And when I had been revived, I had suffered a brain injury. I was in a wheelchair for almost two years and needed dialysis for eight years.' According to the Norwegian publication, the shaman is having to go into a US facility up to five times a week for dialysis - a treatment that manually performs the kidney's function by filtering waste out of the body. Femail contacted Princess Martha and Durek Verrett for comment. The hosts of You, Me and The Big C - which documented the journeys of the late Dame Deborah James and Rachael Bland - have said they are looking forward to a 'new chapter', as they prepare to say goodbye to the award-winning cancer podcast. Steve Bland, Rachael's widower, said while it was 'tough' to leave the BBC podcast behind, they no longer felt their lives were relevant to sufferers of the disease. He explains that life has changed for him and co-host Lauren Mahon since the podcast started five years ago, with Lauren now clear of cancer and Steve remarried and set to welcome twins with his new wife. 'It feels like it might be time,' he said. 'The girls were all going through active treatment at the time and when I joined I was going through the grief of losing Rachel. 'We were very much in the trenches with the people that were listening.' The dad-of-one married nurse Amy, and last month the couple announced they are expecting twins. He appeared on Lorraine this morning alongside his co-host to discuss recording the penultimate episode in front of a live audience, including Deborah's family, last night. 'When you're with them you feel that closeness to Debs. I almost want to move into Debs' parents house because I can just be close to them and her!' said Lauren. Reflecting on Deborah's funeral in July last year, Lauren said it was the last time before last night's recording that the podcasters were together with Deborah's family. Steve Bland (right) said he and fellow host Lauren Mahon's (left) lives have changed since the podcast started five years ago, after he has remarried and Lauren is now clear of cancer Bidding farewell: Lauren and Steve recorded the penultimate episode of the podcast in front of a live studio audience last night Lorraine, who also attended the service, reflected that despite the tragic cirumstances, it had been a poignant and joyful event. 'People obviously were crying but they were laughing, it was such a celebration of an amazing woman.' Breast cancer survivor Lauren, who has been clear of the disease for five years, opened up about her grief for her friend Deborah but told ITV's Lorraine that she feels it is time to move on with her career. 'I feel good, I feel like this is a new chapter for me now. Deb dying last year was so painful and we're so proud of everything she did. But I do feel like now it's time to close that chapter and figure out who Lozza is. I'm not "cancer face" you know, I've got more to me!' New beginnings: Steve got married to nurse Amy in August and announced last month that they are expecting twins BBC podcaster Lauren hinted at building her career in media after You, Me and the big C comes to an end Lauren went on to hint at building her career in media after the BBC podcast comes to an end, and told Lorraine Kelly she was grateful for the start the show gave her in broadcasting. 'I'm really lucky that this whole process has allowed me to get into broadcast and things like that so I just want to explore that more and have some fun, you know talk about other things I don't just need to talk about cancer!' The cancer campaigner is also set to have a dramatised documentary-style series brought out about her journey after it was commissioned before Covid. Line of Duty star Vicky Mclure has been tipped to star as Lauren in the show, with Lorraine pointing out how similar the two brunettes look She said the programme will focus on her experience with cancer and how she went on to found her charity, GIRLvsCancer. Line of Duty star Vicky Mclure has been tipped to star as Lauren in the show, with Lorraine pointing out how similar the two brunettes look. The presenter expressed her excitement at what is to come for Lauren, who seemed equally excited for the future. 'They haven't seen anything yet Lorraine, I've only just started!' she teased. A clip of the moment the Iranian ambassador to Spain greeted Queen Letizia has gone viral, after royal fans mistook his traditional greeting for a 'disrespectful' snub to the royal. Queen Letizia, 50, and King Felipe VI hosted a reception for Spain's Diplomatic Corps at Zarzuela Palace yesterday, and lined up to great their guests at the start. Footage shared to Twitter shows how Iran's ambassador to Spain, Hassan Ghashghavi, shook the King's hand, but placed his hands over his heart and nodded to the Queen instead. Placing a hand on the heart with a nod or slight bow is considered a polite way for a man to greet a woman in Iran, but some royal watchers were confused by the lack of handshake. A clip has captured the moment Iran's ambassador to Spain, Hassan Ghashghavi, didn't shake the hand of Queen Letizia but preferred to opt for the polite greeting in his culture Some royal watchers were confused by the lack of handshake and claimed that Mr Ghashghavi has been 'disrespectful', insisting that Queen Letizia did not look impressed. 'The disdain on her face is priceless,' one wrote, while another added, 'If looks could kill'. However, others were quick to explain that there was no disrespect involved. 'How could he "refuse" when Queen didn't extend her hand?' one wrote. 'Plus he gave her respectful bow. We must become familiar with one another's practices and values. 'If his faith forbids him from doing something, it should be respected with tolerance, instead of imposing your own beliefs on him.' 'What bunkum in this thread. Its clear what happens, and what does happen is clearly prearranged and preagreed if you look closely,' another added. 'Shes expecting the whole thing and doesnt extend her hand. As he passes he places his right hand on his heart and bows his head before moving on.' According to Iranian codes of conduct, a man and a woman won't shake hands unless the woman extends her hand out first and the man is willing to reciprocate the gesture. It appears that Mr Ghashghavi has chosen this option since taking office as the ambassador to Spain in 2019, however, the singular greeting was made more evident this week. For the past two years, the Sovereigns and their guests didn't get to shake hands, due to the restrictions put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia were hosting their annual reception for the Diplomatic Corps living in Madrid In 2021 and 2022, guests had to greet the royals from a two-metre distance while wearing masks. However, as they returned to shaking hands this year, the fact that the Iranian ambassador to Spain decided to opt for another greeting was made apparent. While Letizia seemed surprised by the ambassador's move, she graciously didn't let it show and focused her attention on the next guest. While some accused the diplomat of snubbing the Queen, it appears he only chose to greet her in a way he was comfortable with and which is widely observed in his country. Some royal watchers on Twitter were confused when they noticed that the ambassador didn't shake Letizia's hand, but others explained that there was no snub and that he was just greeting her in a traditional fashion Mr Ghashghavi was one of dozens of ambassadors who flocked to the royal palace to attend the reception yesterday. The Queen, 50, flanked her husband, King Felipe IV, at the event, as the pair greeted members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to Spain. The King, 54, along with the Queen, offered warm welcomes to dozens of diplomatic delegates and their spouses, and spent almost ten minutes in total shaking hands with them. The ever-stylish royal wore a flowing powder pink skirt for the occasion, which she paired with a white pussy bow blouse. Appearing elegant and composed, Queen Letizia smiled and chatted with ambassadors to Spain from Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Germany, Kenya, and many more states. The ambassador shook the King's hand, but opted to cross his arms and nod at Letizia, which is a polite way of greeting women, according to Iranian culture While the Queen seemed surprised that the ambassador didn't shake her hand, she didn't let it show The ever-stylish royal wore a flowing powder pink skirt for the occasion, which she paired with a crisp white blouse She matched the beautiful floor-length skirt with stilettos of the same colour as her skirt. The mother-of-two glowed as her makeup looked typically flawless with a smokey eye and natural lip. To complete the chic, look her dark brown tresses were pinned back to show off her statement earrings. The decadent jewellery, comprised of turquoise, white and pink gemstones, also gave a nod to the rosey shade of her outfit. Meanwhile, the King looked smart in a three-piece tailored suit, which featured a grey waistcoat and matching grey pinstripe trousers. His morning suit also featured expensive black tails and a crisp white shirt. King Charles III appeared in high spirits as he today grinned and laughed on his visit to The Africa Centre in Southwark, London. The royal, 74, was on his rainy arrival greeted with rhythmic beats from the Oduduwa Talking Drummers as he began his engagement, smiling as he stopped to speak with the musicians. At one point one of the centre's representatives joked that the party 'can begin' once the monarch arrived, to which he quipped back: 'That's what worries me.' He also praised African music as he stopped by the Radio Colourful studio, which describes itself as 'the leading radio station celebrating the rhythm, wit and thoughts of the African and African-Caribbean community'. King Charles III appeared in high spirits as he today grinned and laughed on his visit to the Africa Centre in Southwark, London Calling it 'fantastic', Charles added: 'It's impossible to sit still.' Charles spoke to artists and also joined a discussion about the effects of climate change in Africa and the role of African people in the UK, during his visit to the cultural hub in Southwark. Charles also spoke in private to a group of leading figures from the African community, including Lord Boateng and Nigerian High Commissioner Sarafa Tunji Isola, on a range of issues. He was given some insight into the impact of climate change in Africa, which has been hit by life-threatening floods and an increasing exhaustion of its natural resources. Photos from the visit show a delighted Charles speaking attendees as he laughs along with attendees A delighted Charles was today pictured visiting The Africa Centre in London, where he got a tour of the cultural hub He also praised African music as he stopped by the Radio Colourful studio, which describes itself as 'the leading radio station celebrating the rhythm, wit and thoughts of the African and African-Caribbean community' The royal, 74, was greeted with rhythmic drums as he began his engagement, smiling as he stopped to speak with the musicians Nzube Ufodike, a trustee at The Africa Centre, described the King's visit as being like 'a pat on the back' for the work that is being done by the organisation. 'It is a sort of acknowledgement in my view of the work we are trying to do and also what we have done so far,' he said. Mr Ufodike added: 'It is a privilege to be within spaces that can help further the African narrative, that can help champion the African cause and help champion people of African descent who are trying to do more within our communities.' Speaking of welcoming the monarch, Ayan De First, of the Oduduwa Talking Drummers, remarked: 'I am so proud, so happy and so honoured because this is what we normally do for our kings in Nigeria. 'What we were saying with the drum is playing a special rhythm for the royals, which is to say we respect the king and we are paying homage.' The king looked to be in deep conversation with attendees as he was today snapped on a visit to The Africa Centre Charles listened as he enjoyed chatting at the hub at its recently opened new headquarters in Southwark Charles kept it casual as he donned a cornflower blue blazer for the event, teamed with a pastel pink tie The Africa Centre is a UK-based charity which has been championing causes for the continent and its diaspora since 1961. The monarch's visit to the hub's newly-opened HQ, according to its website, is his second visit. In 1988, he attended to officially open the Zimbabwe Contemporary Stone Sculpture Exhibition at The Barbican. The organisation was originally set up to foster non-governmental relations between newly independent countries in Africa and Britain. It now has modern-day mission to educate, connect, and advocate for Africa and its people across the globe. The monarch's visit to the hub's newly opened HQ, according to its website, is his second visit after he, in 1988, attended to officially open the 'Zimbabwe Contemporary Stone Sculpture Exhibition' at The Barbican Other shots picture him enjoying photography at the centre as he shakes hands and meets new people Charles appeared delighted to enjoy some photography at the centre. The Africa Centre is a UK-based charity which has 1961 been championing causes for the continent 'and its diaspora Culture, entrepreneurship and innovation, community and intellectual leadership are the main focus of its activities. It comes as he and Queen Consort Camilla were all smiles as they greeted royal fans outside of St Mary Magdalene church on the Sandringham estate last week. The monarch wrapped up warm in a brown long-line coat and red scarf as he attended the church service in Norfolk this morning. Meanwhile, the Queen Consort, 75, protected herself from the winter chill in a thick wool coat that matched her husband's outerwear. A grinning Charles looked happy on arrival, and was greeted with the sounded of rhythmic drums Charles smiled as he enjoyed conversation with attendees at the centre in Southwark earlier today It comes after full details of the King's three day coronation celebrations were announced. The official crowning will take place on May 6 at Westminster Abbey where His Majesty will shun royal garb in favour of military clothing, in a bid to update the ceremony. A procession will then lead the newly-crowned King past thousands of people who will line the streets to Buckingham Palace, where he will then join members of his family on the balcony to wave at the masses. The next day Windsor Castle is set to host a concert which will be televised around the world, with thousands of street parties earlier in the afternoon as people gather to celebrate the occasion. This will be followed by a Bank Holiday on Monday, with millions of people set to get a day off work. Tens of thousands of people are expected to line the streets for the once in a generation coronation procession, with the Firm hoping the crowds will rival those seen for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in September. The king attentively listened as he was told of the centre's key role in connecting Africans in the UK to the global diaspora on key issues, and enjoyed a tour of the cultural hub The king looked engaged in deep conversation during his visit today, and enjoyed a tour of the centre's new headquarters Charles laughed along with people during today's visit. He had earlier commended African music as 'fantastic' King Charles III enjoyed a talk with an attendee at the centre as he mingled during his visit earlier today A smiling Charles appeared in high spirits as he worked the room during his visit to the centre today At one point one of the centre's representatives joked that the party 'can begin' once the monarch arrived, to which he quipped back: 'That's what worries me The coronation, which takes place on the first weekend of May this year, will see Charles champion refugees, diversity and volunteering. It will begin with the crowning of Charles and Camilla, the queen consort, on Saturday, May 6. The ceremony at Westminster Abbey will be preceded by a procession from Buckingham Palace to the abbey. The path will be lined by members of the armed forces including sailors, soldiers and airmen and women. The Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to take part in the procession, possibly with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, along with their children Archie and Lilibet, may also feature. The Prince of Wales was deep in conversation with the finalists of the 2022 Earthshot Prize this afternoon at a retreat in Windsor, telling one woman her story was 'unbelievable'. Prince William, 41, met with the innovators for the first time at the Earthshot Prize Fellowship Retreat in Cumberland Lodge at Windsor Great Park, which is part of the Earthshot Prize's Fellowship Programme. The father-of-three looked comfortable in a sharp suit, warming himself up with a blue jumper, as he chatted to each the finalists from this year's awards which took place in Boston in December and asked how he could help them achieve their goals. The Prince of Wales's afternoon followed a morning visit to a foodbank in Windsor, where he and the Princess of Wales met with staff and helped out sorting donated food products into categories. The Prince of Wales (pictured) attended the Earthshot Prize Fellowship Retreat this afternoon where he met with finalists from this year's prize and chatted to them about their innovative projects to combat the harmful effects of climate change Following a charitable morning helping out at the foodbank, William visited the finalists at the retreat where he chatted to them about their innovative projects to help combat climate change. He looked engrossed in conversation as he spoke, engaging in one of his greatest passions, while the finalists told him about their plans for 2023 and the years to come. The Prince of Wales looked animated as he chatted to the finalists about the Earthshot Prize, a passion of his since he founded it in 2020 The Prince of Wales greeted one of the finalists at the retreat with a handshake as he spent the afternoon there William, 40, listened to the finalists who had gathered at the retreat as part of the new Earthshot Prize Fellowship Programme He spoke to Min Wang, whose company, Desert Agricultural Transformation, turns desert sand into agricultural land. She invited William to visit one of her project's sites in China. He said: 'If I am passing by I will be visiting all of your projects. I have made a note to my team.' He added: 'So by year 10 I will still be visiting Earthshot projects.' He then met Charlot Magayi, whose company Mukuru makes clean and reliable cook stoves for low-income households in western Kenya. Ms Magayi grew up in Mukuru, the third largest slum in Kenya. Her business focuses on providing families with clean stoves that are less likely to expose them to harmful air pollution in their own homes. William gave her a particularly warm greeting. 'Congratulations,' he said. 'The last time I saw you you were surrounded by children. Your story is unbelievable.' Speaking to the PA news agency afterwards, Ms Magayi said: 'I started my business in 2017 because my daughter got burned by a traditional stove. 'I grew up in a slum in Kenya, and that is the reason why my business is called Mukuru. 'So I wanted to create a stove for my community, and then we did, and it just blew up.' William went into private group sessions with the finalists, where they spoke to him about their hopes and ambitions for the year ahead. As part of the retreat, the attendees will hear speeches from Christiana Figueres, former UN Climate Chief and Chair of The Earthshot Prize and Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, environmental activist, geographer and Member of The Earthshot Prize Council. Later this week, attendees will travel to London where they will attend a forum at Deloitte and will have the chance to meet advisors and potential investors for their projects. During the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony 2022 in Boston, the Prince of Wales stressed the importance of the project in finding innovative solutions to the harmful effects of climate change. Father-of-three William chatted to some of the Earthshot Prize winners (pictured) following a morning of volunteering The Prince of Wales (pictured shaking hands) spent the afternoon at the retreat William laughed as he was joined on the sofa with some of the Earthshot Prize finalists who are embarking upon the fellowship He said: 'I believe that the Earthshot solutions you have seen this evening prove we can overcome our planet's greatest challenges. 'And by supporting and scaling them we can change our future. 'Alongside tonight's winners and finalists, and those to be discovered over the years to come, it's my hope the Earthshot legacy will continue to grow, helping our communities and our planet to thrive.' Ending the evening with a note of optimism, the Prince concluded: 'In the same way the space effort six decades ago created jobs, boosted economies, and provided hope, so too can the solutions borne of tonight's Earthshot Prize winners. 'The decisions we make now will affect generations to come, which is why we must choose the path of hope, optimism, and urgency to repair our planet.' The royal family 'wouldn't be wise' to let Prince Andrew come back into the fold, the Mail On Sunday's editor-at-large said. Speaking on this week's episode of Palace Confidential, Charlotte Griffiths said it would be mistake to let the disgraced Duke of York make a comeback into royal life. She said that unless Prince Andrew, 63, 'created a time machine', no one would be able to forget his toe-curling interview with Emily Maitlis or how he visited the late Jeffrey Epstein's New York pad after the convicted sex offender was released from prison. She added that King Charles 'understands the Zeitgeist' and can see there is 'no appetite' for his brother to come back into public life. Charlotte was speaking to Richard Eden and Jo Elvin about rumours that the Duke of York is working on rehabilitating this image in order to make a return to public life. Asked by Jo whether she thought the royal family should let Andrew make his comeback, Charlotte said: 'I don't think they'd be wise to. 'Unless he kind of invents a time machine, in which we haven't seen the Emily Maitlis documentary for example, we are always going to remember.' Speaking on this week's episode of Palace Confidential, the Mail on Sunday's Editor-At-Large Charlotte Griffiths said it would be mistake to let the disgraced Duke of York make a come back into royal life Charlotte said that unless Prince Andrew, 63, 'created a time machine', no one would be able to forget his toe-curling interview with Emily Maitlis or how he visited the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein's New York pad after he was released from prison. Pictured last Christmas in Sandringham 'I think Charles, as king, is actually going to understand the Zeitgeist quite well, and there isn't a public appetite for him to come back so why bring him back ,it's just a dangerous thing to do,' she added. Richard talked of reports that Andrew is trying to overturn the settlement he came to with Virginia Guiffre last year, which saw him pay a reporter 12million to the woman, who was accusing him of sexually asaulting her when she was 17. Richard Eden added: 'The problem for Andrew is the evidence that's undisputable. 'For example, he met with Epstein after Epstein was released from prison on sex crimes. He met him in New York, he stayed with him. That's one fact. 'And we've all seen the infamous photo of him with his arm around the 17-year-old woman,' he said, reference to a picture where Andrew is posing with a 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre. The expert said that King Charles understands that there is 'no appetite' for Andrew to come back into public life Richard Eden said that even if Andrew managed to overturn the settlement he signed with Virginia Giuffre's team last year, it won't change the fact he showed poor judgment in the people he associated himself with 'Ghislaine Maxwell has been casting doubt on the veracity of that photo, but that is the testimony of a jailed convicted sex trafficker. 'The idea that it's going to clear his name is very questionable,' he said. The royal expert added: 'He might spend a fortune on legal fees in America and they might say that he's inherited millions from his mother the Queen, but even if he managed to get this settlement overturn and his name cleared, it's really about his judgment, isn't it? 'It's about who he associated with,' he added. Charlotte and Richard's comments come as fears are growing that King Charles' coronation could be overshadowed by Prince Andrew's sex abuse accuser following reports that Virginia Giuffre's memoir could be released just weeks before the historic ceremony. Multiple reports claim that Ms Giuffre, who has accused the Duke of York of sexually abusing her when she was a minor under US law, has signed a book deal worth millions. She and Andrew, who has consistently denied the allegations, are said to have agreed to a gag clause which will expire in March, a year after they settled her civil rape claim against him. Publishing insiders have said that Ms Giuffre's memoir could be released just weeks before Charles' coronation, telling The Mirror: 'There will be no bigger occasion for her book than the crowning of the king.' It comes as The Daily Mail reveals that Andrew told friends that his reputation could soon be restored. Andrew has reportedly amassed a war chest worth as much as 10million in preparation to launch a legal challenge to his settlement with Ms Giuffre. The settlement is reported to be a considerable sum of money, with some estimates around 12million. Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Andrew has been assuring friends there is about to be a development which will restore his tainted reputation. The Duke of York is regularly voted the least popular member of the Royal Family and was stripped of his public duties following the revelations over his relationship with paedophile Epstein, yet his self-belief remains undiminished. If not quite back up to the heroic status he enjoyed as a helicopter pilot in the Falklands War, then at least to what it was before he was photographed in New York's Central Park talking to Epstein, shortly after the latter's release from prison in 2009 after serving a puzzlingly short sentence for sex offences. It is when out shooting that the Duke of York tends to talk most freely. 'He says that details are about to be made public which will change people's perceptions of him,' Richard Eden was told. 'He says that it will happen next month.' Although Andrew, 62, does not elaborate further, the Mail on Sunday reported at the weekend that he is to launch a dramatic bid to overturn the multi-million-pound settlement he struck with the woman who accused him of sexual assault. It is understood Andrew has consulted lawyers in an attempt to get Virginia Giuffre, formally known as Virginia Roberts, to retract her allegations and possibly secure an apology. He was inspired to act after Ms Giuffre dropped her lawsuit against another man she accused of sexual assault, admitting that she 'may have made a mistake' in identifying him. But Ms Giuffre has always maintained her case against the duke was valid. Andrew's relationship with Epstein was raised once again in a bombshell interview with Ghislaine Maxwell on TalkTV. Speaking from prison, Maxwell said Prince Andrew was a 'dear friend' and said the accusations against him were unfounded. In her first TV interview since she was jailed for child sex trafficking, the British socialite also claimed the infamous photo of her, Andrew and Ms Giuffre was a 'fake'. Andrew is expected to claim that he never met Ms Giuffre and to argue that the photo is fake in his future legal action. However, several high-profile forensic experts who have examined the photo, in which Andrew has his arm around a young Ms Giuffre, have said they believe it to be real. Ms Giuffre alleges she was groomed by pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Maxwell, and forced to have sex with him on several occasions. Prince Andrew denied ever meeting Ms Giuffre in a disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019. He famously claimed he was at a Pizza Express in Woking at the time of one of the incidents mentioned by his accuser. The son of the late Queen Elizabeth has suffered a series of humiliations since his car crash Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis in November 2019, as institutions have severed ties with him. The most shattering blow, Mr Eden was told, was the abrupt curtailment of his role as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, reported by the Daily Mail just before Christmas. He had already withdrawn from duties with the Grenadiers but had done so in the belief that he would, in time, return to them. 'He says that Her Majesty [Queen Elizabeth] gave him her word that stepping down was only a temporary measure. He says that he wasn't told in advance that he was about to be booted out, nor, obviously, that Camilla would be replacing him. He says that he just heard about it ''in the media''.' Read more: Prince Albert of Monaco tests positive for Covid for a THIRD time Princess Charlene and her children kicked off the Sainte Devote celebrations in Monaco this evening in an almost-family affair as Prince Albert isolates after testing positive for Covid-19. The glamorous princess, 45, was wrapped up in a dark grey coat on top of suit trousers and a black sweater as she held a large candle ready to spark a boat burning in a traditional ritual to mark the festivities in honour of the patron saint of Monaco. Mother-of-two Charlene was joined by the eight-year-old twins she shares with Prince Albert, Jacques and Gabriella, while their father remained in the palace where he is isolating. But the children stole the show as they hugged and larked about while they watched the boat go up in flames for the celebration, which takes place every year on 26 and 27 January. Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella hugged as they watched a boat catch alight at the Saint Devote celebrations in Monaco accompanied by their mother Princess Charlene while their father Prince Albert isolates after testing positive for Covid-19 It was reported earlier this week that the Monacgasque royal had tested positive for coronavirus for a third time and that he would be staying at home until he tested negative, although the palace reported he had no symptoms. But the show must go on for the royal family, who looked regal as ever at the event. As Princess Charlene cast a watchful eye over her young children as they carried fire, a tender moment between the twins was captured on camera as they shared an embrace while watching the boat light up. Sibling love! Prince Jacques and Prince Gabriella show their strong bond as twins as they hug and lark about at the festivities Up in flames! The eight-year-old twins waved the boat goodbye as they sent it up in flames during the celebration Prince Jacques cupped his sister's face in his hands while she crumpled up her face as the pair watched the fire The siblings shared a sweet moment as they watched the boat on fire after setting it alight during the ceremony Princess Charlene of Monaco, who turned 45 earlier this week, carried a candle while accompanied by her eight-year-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella at the Saint Devote celebrations The Monacgasque royals lit some foliage alight to burn the boat in the traditional ceremony marking the legend of Saint Devote Crowds gathered to watch the boat go up in flames after it was set alight by Princess Charlene and her children The royals watched the boat burn while Prince Jacques cupped his sister's face with his hand as the pair larked about Princess Charlene wrapped her arms around her daughter Princess Gabriella, who was wearing a stylish blush pink coat A woman in uniform presented the royal children with a long white and red candle, a fixture of the event The royal gave her son a cuddle before they moved to set the fishing boat on fire using the ceremonial candles The Saint Devote celebrations mark the legend of Devote, a young Corsican woman who was killed and her body was brought to Monaco on a boat, where she was buried and made a patroness of the principality. The South-African born royal celebrated her 45th birthday earlier this week on the same day as her husband was forced to isolate. After the palace released a statement confirming Prince Albert had tested positive, it was unclear if Charlene had also caught the virus. However her appearance this evening appears to confirm she does not have Covid and that she's fighting fit to continue carrying out royal duties. Charlene looked on before her children approached the boat during the traditional January event The doting mother-of-two lit a candle using the one her daughter was holding, before the family set the boat on fire Prince Jacques and his sister Princess Gabriella, accompanied by their mother, set the herb surrounding the boat on fire Charlene kept a close eye on her children to make sure they were safe during the symbolic moment Flames began to swirl in the air as Charlene helped her son Jacques to light up more of the branches of pines laid around the ship Royal fans will be pleased to see Charlene doing well after a spell of ill-health last year which saw her return to South Africa to recuperate. She was suffering from what the palace described as a 'state of profound general fatigue'. The mother-of-two was reportedly admitted to a private Swiss clinic in late November, within days of her return to Monaco. Last month, Prince Albert praised his wife, Princess Charlene, for 'turning it around in an incredible way' after her long-running health battle. Speaking in December, the 64-year-old royal told People he was 'really proud of my wife,' adding: 'Charlene's doing really well.' He continued: 'As you know, last year was a very tough year for her - and the beginning of this year.' Albert added that after being admitted to a Swiss treatment facility for exhaustion and keeping out of the limelight, Charlene, 44, has been 'active in any number of different events.' He highlighted a number of events where the former Olympic swimmer had been visible at lately, including a recent outing to the Monaco branch of the Red Cross. 'She's really enjoying doing things together and with the kids, so this year is ending on a very, a very high note. We're truly thrilled about how things are,' Albert said. They were the image of 1990s glamour, when no night or outfit was complete without a Cosmopolitan or dirty martini. So its no wonder wed all like to emulate the stars of Sex and the City by reviving their cocktail culture in the 2020s. Demand for cocktails is soaring, with one in five pubgoers now ordering the spirit-based drink, according to the worlds largest spirits maker Diageo. The company put the trend down to nostalgic Britons having a taste for Nineties culture, and said the Cosmopolitan the cranberry-vodka drink favoured by Sex and the Citys Carrie Bradshaw and her friends is still popular today. Demand for cocktails is soaring, with one in five pubgoers now ordering the spirit-based drink (file image) The UKs most popular cocktail is the passionfruit or pornstar martini, according to drinks giant Diageo. Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex And The City Guinness beats out old rivals Guinness has proved that good things really do come to those who wait by becoming the best-selling beer in British pubs for the first time. The Irish stout pipped Carling lager as the number one pint this winter, owner Diageo said. Sales were boosted by the World Cup while the upcoming Six Nations rugby championship is likely to give Guinness, founded in 1759, a further lift. Price increases on pints have also pushed up revenues. However, rival Carling pointed out that while Guinness was ahead of its lager in terms of value of sales, a greater volume of Carling the best-selling beer since 2017 was sold over the four-week period to December 3. Advertisement But the UKs most popular cocktail is the passionfruit or pornstar martini, made with vanilla-flavoured vodka, passion fruit puree and a shot of prosecco, according to the drinks giant. It was invented in the West End in the early 2000s by London mixologist Douglas Ankrah, and Nightcap cocktail chain boss Sarah Willingham said it is the most popular drink at her bars by a mile. People now know a good cocktail from a bad cocktail, Miss Willingham said. She added that customers may be keeping a close eye on their spending during the cost of living crunch and might only be going out once or twice a week. But they want to ensure what they are paying for guarantees a good night out, the former Dragons Den star said. Espresso martinis made with coffee liqueur and vodka and retro Pina Coladas are also proving a hit, Diageo said. It is thought the popularity of cocktails surged when Britons started making them at home during lockdown, having more time, patience and disposable income on their hands. Stay-at-home drinkers also helped boost a ginaissance a few years ago, but it seems enthusiasm for vodka has now taken over. Six out of ten cocktails in the UK are now vodka-based, according to Diageo, which said Brits had shunned gin in recent months. A 21-year-old woman from Norton will perform 208 hours of community service after she was convicted of using fake Ordinary Level results to apply for a job in the Zimbabwe Republic Police. Harare magistrate Mrs Caroline Matanga found Felicia Maravanyika guilty of fraud charges. She initially sentenced Maravanyika to 12 months imprisonment before suspending eight months on condition that she does not commit a similar offence in the next five years. Another four years were set aside on condition that she performs 208 hours of community service. The complainant is the Zimbabwe Republic Police being represented by Superintendent Siphosami Tshuma stationed at the Police General Headquarters, Recruiting section in Harare. The court heard that on April 18, 2021 the ZRP advertised in the media inviting individuals who met its recruitment criteria to apply. The court heard that Maravanyika produced a fake Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) Ordinary level certificate for November, 2019 examinations in her name purporting that she had passed the Ordinary Level subjects that were required. Maravanyika applied and attached the fake O Level certificate with eight Ordinary level subjects at ZRP, Mhondoro. Police considered Maravanyikas application and referred it to the Police General Headquarters, recruiting section. Police General Headquarters, recruiting section, placed her on a recruitment waiting list and sent her certificate to ZIMSEC for verification. The court heard that sometime in May 2022, they received a confirmation from ZIMSEC indicating that Maravanyika had tendered a fake Ordinary level certificate leading to her arrest. Herald MailOnline's new tools let you see all the data that the NHS holds on your GP Want to know how bad your local GP surgery is faring amid England's never-ending appointment crisis? MailOnline has crunched all the NHS data into fascinating interactive tools to let you see everything you need to know at once. App readers can use the three gadgets by clicking here. It enables you to search any practice in the country and find out what percentage of appointments are held face-to-face, how many patients are seen the same day they called and how satisfied they are with their GP as well as much more. The data examined is from November, the latest fully comparable figures available. During that month, national statistics showed the number of in-face consultations dipped back to 69 per cent. Bath Road Surgery in Hounslow had the lowest percentage of appointments held face-to-face in November, at just 15.3 per cent. MailOnline did not include GP surgeries with more than 20 per cent of appointments being held in an 'unknown' method in its analysis or those which solely offer remote consultations Ashburnham Road Surgery in Bedford came in second worst for face-to-face appointments at 15.5 per cent Droylsden Road Family Practice in Manchester was one of the lowest rated GP surgeries in the country, according to the Patient Survey, with only 28 per cent ranking it as 'good' Whitehill Surgery in Aylesbury was another low ranker in the patient survey, also scoring 28 per cent This was down slightly on the figure for October (71.3 per cent), which marked the highest proportion since the start of Covid. Despite trending upwards in 2022, the proportion of consultations carried out face-to-face is still way below the 80 per cent levels seen pre-Covid. According to NHS data, Bath Road Surgery in Hounslow had the lowest percentage of appointments held face-to-face in November at just 15.3 per cent. This was followed by Ashburnham Road Surgery in Bedford which came second worst for face-to-face appointments at 15.5 per cent MailOnline did not include surgeries with more than 20 per cent of appointments being held in an 'unknown' method, or those which solely offer remote consultations, in its analysis. But in an annual poll, Droylsden Road Family Practice in Manchester left its patients among the most dissatisfied in the country. Only 28 per cent of patients surveyed in a national NHS poll rated the GP surgery as 'good'. Whitehill Surgery in Aylesbury was another low ranker in the patient survey, also scoring 28 per cent. Top GPs have stated the current balance of in-person and remote appointments is about right and that patients shouldn't get a face-to-face appointment if there is no clinical need for one. But campaign groups disagree, warning telephone or online calls aren't appropriate for everyone and aren't always the best way of diagnosing patients. Britons are also suffering from the '8am scramble' to get an GP appointment as people worried about health problems flood practice telephone lines in an attempt to contact their family doctor. This map shows the 50 GP practices with the lowest proportion of face-to-face appointments according to official NHS data. MailOnline's analysis excluded practices if the mode of appointment was unknown for more than 20 per cent of their consultations and if the GP service did not routinely offer regular face-to-face appointments, such as care home services. NHS Digital describes this data as 'experimental' meaning it may not capture the full picture and is more prone to reporting errors Less than seven in 10 GP appointments in England (68.3 per cent) were held face-to-face in December. It marks the second month in a row that the figure has fallen after peaking at 71.3 per cent in October. Eight in 10 consultations were in-person pre-pandemic. But the figure has so far failed to bounce back The latest NHS data on GP appointments for December showed the less than half of appointments were with a family doctor Despite multiple health secretaries promising change, campaigners and patient advocates are worried not enough is being done to fix the crisis. Some have even added that it seems 'that certain practices don't want to see patients' and are worried that remote consultations are becoming the norm for some of Britain's GPs, who earn an average of 110,000 a year. Why Britons are struggling to get a GP appointment is complicated. It has been partly caused by hundreds of surgeries shutting over the past decade, forcing millions of patients to switch to a different doctor. NHS statistics show there were fewer than 6,500 practices open in England this year down from 8,100 in 2013. Practice closures put even more pressure on the family doctors that remain, as patients from those that shut their doors join 'soulless' mega-practices. Many GP bodies now warn that family doctors are responsible for too many patients, with some parts of the country now having over 1,000 patients per doctor. Official figures show GPs' average pay spiked during the pandemic shooting up about 10,000 to almost 112,000 in the latest reporting period There were just 27,558 full-time equivalent, fully-qualified GPs working in England last month, down 1.6 per cent on the 18,000 recorded in June 2021. It was down 5.3 per cent on the more than 29,000 working in June 2017 Experts have said this is both unsafe for patients who are rushed through appointments by doctors with massive workloads and also contributes to burnout among GPs. Many family doctors are choosing to retire in their 50s, move abroad or leave to work in the private sector because of complaints about soaring demand, paperwork and aggressive media coverage. At the same time, the population has also grown, exacerbating the patient list size ratio. MailOnline's data is compiled from several different NHS sources. Not all GP practices submitted data to all of these different sources, meaning some aspects of their service are unknown. Additionally, the data on face-to-face appointments is classified as experimental by the health service's statistics body NHS Digital, meaning it could have errors which influence the data. Data on patient experience was taken from the latest annual GP Patient Survey, an NHS-funded poll which collects information from two million Britons on their experience of primary care. An NHS spokesperson said: 'GP teams are working non-stop to get people the care they need, delivering millions more appointments compared to pre-pandemic, with more than seven in 10 patients seen within a week and the same number being treated in person. 'The NHS has invested record amounts in primary care, and while 70 per cent of patients report a good experience at their practice, the NHS is determined to make it easier to get an appointment, which is why it has recruited over 21,000 more staff since 2019, improved practice telephone systems, and is committed to publishing a recovery plan early this year to further improve access to general practice services.' [Editors note] MailOnlines original tool was a compilation of data from three separate NHS sources, based on how the health service provides the data on appointments, workforce and patient responses. One field of data that related to the Woodlands Medical Practice in Sutton-on-Ashfield was found to be inaccurate, and instead based on another practice of the same name in London. We have been contacted by the practice who have asked us to make clear that all their satisfaction ratings were in the region of 80%+, which we are happy to do. Since publication we have replaced the original interactive database with three separate ones derived directly from the NHS in order to eradicate any other potential errors. Pregnant women with pre-eclampsia are four times more likely to have a heart attack and stroke in middle age, a study found. The condition, which causes high blood pressure during pregnancy, can raise the risk of deadly attacks just seven years after giving birth, research shows. It means thousands of British and American women are potentially at greater risk of heart attack and stroke every year, the findings suggest. Experts are calling for regular blood pressure checks in over-35s who have had the condition. Warning signs of pre-eclampsia include high blood pressure, protein in urine, severe headaches, vision problems, pain below the ribs and vomiting While the link between pre-eclampsia and cardiovascular disease is known, this is the first study to examine how soon after pregnancy these heart attacks and strokes can occur. READ MORE: From back pain to constipation: Tell-tale symptoms of cervical cancer REVEALED Cervical cancer symptoms to look out for include unusual vaginal bleeding, pain during sex and lower back or pelvic pain Advertisement Researchers looked at the health records of more than a million pregnant women in Denmark between 1978 and 2017. Overall, women with pre-eclampsia were four times more likely to have a heart attack and three times more likely to have a stroke within 10 years of delivery than those without pre-eclampsia. The risk of heart attack or stroke was still twice as high in the pre-eclampsia group more than 20 years after giving birth compared to unaffected women, researchers found. Dr Sara Hallum of the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, said the early onset means preventative treatment for cardiovascular disease should start within a decade of giving birth. She said: 'The high risk of cardiovascular disease after pre-eclampsia manifests at young ages and early after delivery. 'This indicates that interventions to prevent heart attacks and strokes in affected women cannot wait until middle age when they become eligible for conventional cardiovascular screening programmes.' The condition, which typically involves high blood pressure and protein in the urine, affects around six per cent of UK and US pregnancies. Most cases are mild, but pre-eclampsia may lead to serious complications for the mother and baby if not treated in time. Symptoms include severe headache, stomach pain and nausea, which women may mistake for 'normal' pregnancy symptoms and thus not seek medical help until the condition becomes severe. Kim Kardashian developed pre-eclampsia while pregnant with her eldest daughter North West. Up to 2 per cent of those with pre-eclampsia in their first pregnancy had a heart attack or stroke within two decades of delivery, compared with up to 1.2 per cent of unaffected women. Most cases are mild, but pre-eclampsia may lead to serious complications for the mother and baby if not treated in time (file photo) When the researchers examined the risk of cardiovascular disease by age, women aged 30 to 39 with a history of pre-eclampsia had five- and three-fold higher rates of heart attack and stroke, respectively, than those of similar age without. The raised risk persisted throughout adulthood, with women over 50 still facing double the risk, according to the findings published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. Dr Hallum added: 'Our study suggests that the women most likely to benefit from screening are those who had pre-eclampsia after age 35 and those who had it more than once. 'Prevention should start within a decade of delivery, for example by treating high blood pressure and informing women about risk factors for heart disease such as smoking and inactivity.' Joanne Whitmore, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: 'This large study is an important addition to the evidence we already have on the link between pre-eclampsia and cardiovascular risk. It is crucial that we continue to build on our knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors, like pre-eclampsia, so we can continue to improve care for women. 'Women with risk factors like pre-eclampsia should be followed up after their pregnancy so that advice to improve the health of their heart and circulatory system can be provided without delay. 'This would help to ensure that women at a higher risk of heart attacks or strokes don't slip through the net.' The updated booster helped prevent illness in around half of people tested Most Americans who get their bivalent booster vaccine are not protected against falling sick with Covid, official data suggests. A report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released Wednesday found the updated shots were just 48 percent effective at stopping symptomatic infection caused by the XBB.1.5 subvariant for up to three months. The CDC highlighted that the main purpose of the vaccines is to prevent hospitalization and death rather than transmission, and they are still expected to give high protection against severe illness. But the findings mean the bivalent shots - which the US Government paid $5billion for last autumn - fall short of the World Health Organization's 50 percent efficacy threshold for an effective vaccine. XBB.1.5 has slowly become the most dominant Covid variant, overtaking BA.5 and BQ.1.1. Government data showed XBB.1.5 was estimated to make up nearly half of US cases in the week ending January 21 More than 25 percent of the residents in Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts and D.C. received their updated bivalent booster dose When the original Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were developed in 2020, clinical trials indicated they reduced symptomatic infection rates by 95 percent. The shots gradually lost effectiveness as the virus continued to mutate, though, and by the time the original Omicron variant became dominant in late 2021, the vaccines were estimated to be just 36 percent effective at stopping people falling sick. This spurred vaccine manufacturers to develop new shots tailored to the Omicron variant. These shots include Omicron's genetic code and a piece of the original Wuhan strain that emerged in late 2019. These bivalent shots were billed as being able to improve immunity against Omicron and its subvariants. The US government paid $5billion for the shots, which became available at the end of August. In the time since, the XBB.1.5 subvariant has emerged as the most prevalent strain in American - making up 49 percent of CDC sequenced cases by the middle of January. It is expected to have kept rising since then. Bivalent shots are now the only available Covid vaccines in the US. The CDC researchers gathered data from a government Covid testing initiative from December 1 last year to January 13 for the study, when the XBB/XBB.1.5 variant was dominant. Using the information on whether tested subjects were vaccinated and overall population vaccine data, they determined a 48 percent overall effectiveness of the bivalent shot against the XBB.1.5 subvariant, compared to people who had not received the Omicron booster. In almost all age groups, the shot had an effectiveness of around 40 to 50 percent from two weeks to three months after getting the additional booster. This was the fourth or fifth vaccine dose for many study participants, with most Americans already had gotten the original two-dose regimen and a booster shot. The effectiveness is slightly lower than the 52 percent efficacy the shot has against the BA.5 variant, which emerged in the US over the summer. Among those aged 65 and older, effectiveness fell to 37 percent against BA.5 and 43 percent against XBB/XBB.1.5. Despite their limited effectiveness against infection, the CDC reports that hospitalizations and deaths were still limited - and declared the vaccine rollout a success. The rampant spread of the Omicron variant in recent months also means that much of the population has natural immunity to the virus - and little cause worry about it. While the results may surprise some, experts previously dubbed XBB.1.5 as the most vaccine-resistant strain of the virus to emerge yet. There was initial panic among some scientists due to the variant's highly mutated spike protein, leading to some experts to call it the most vaccine-resistant strain ever. But the CDC report showed that the updated booster helped prevent illness in roughly half of people who had previously received two to four doses of the Covid shot. The estimates are for symptomatic infection, which the CDC defined as one or more symptom of Covid. Dr Brendan Jackson, head of the US CDC Covid response, said that the updated vaccine reduced the risk of death from Covid by more than twofold, compared with vaccinated people who had not received the bivalent booster. And compared to people who are unvaccinated, the updated shot reduced the risk of death from Covid nearly 13-fold. Study author Ruth Link-Gelles of the CDC said overall, the vaccines cut the risk of symptomatic infection by about half on a population, but individuals see a different benefit depending on their risk factors. According to CDC data, so far only 15 percent of the US population have received the updated Covid booster shot. The bivalent jabs were touted as being able to boost protection against the Omicron strain, but several studies suggest they are no more effective than the original Covid shots. Made by Moderna and Pfizer, the updated vaccines were advertised as being able to boost protection against Omicron subvariants that have become world-dominant. The US Government spent $3.4billion in taxpayer money for 105 million doses of the shots to help protect against the mild but highly transmissible strains this winter. Britain has purchased at least 26 million doses for an undisclosed fee. Government data showed XBB.1.5 was estimated to make up nearly half of US cases in the week ending January 21. The variant is so infectious because it binds better to cells than other XXB Omicron strains. Senate Republicans want to install a federal watchdog within the National Institutes of Health amid concerns a lack of oversight may have led to the Covid pandemic. They have proposed a bill that would put an Office of the Inspector General in the heart of the research agency to oversee how taxpayer dollars are being spent in labs all over the world. It comes on the heels of a federal audit that found the NIH failed to properly monitor how millions in federal funds was used at the research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which is at the center of Covid lab leak concerns. The new bill has been introduced by Tennessee Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, and Roger Marshall of Kansas and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama. Tennessee Republican Marsha Blackburn (pictured) is leading the charge to install a federal watchdog group within the sweeping NIH to increase oversight on government funding for risky research Virologist Shi Zheng-li - nicknamed the 'Bat Lady' - is pictured in the lab. She hunted down dozens of deadly Covid-like viruses in bat caves and studied them at the WIV Sen Blackburn said: 'As the nation's leading medical research agency, the NIH oversees thousands of researchers and institutes, and they managed a $45.1 billion budget last year. 'However, they have been far from transparent, covering up grants for gain-of-function (GoF) research in Wuhan and refusing to release critical data regarding allegations of millions in royalty fees paid to in-house scientists. 'The American people deserve to know that their tax dollars are being spent responsibly and to advance scientific research. 'Creating an independent Inspector General within the NIH will help restore much-needed accountability to the agency.' The bill would give the president the authority to select the officer to lead the NIH OIG. Democrats hold a slim majority in the Senate, which means Republicans would have to lobby several members on the other side of the aisle for their cause. Republicans can also target the three Independents in the Senate - Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, Angus King of Maine. and Bernie Sanders in Vermont, all of whom caucus with Democrats. There is a widely believed theory that the coronavirus that started the global pandemic escaped from the high-level biosecurity lab in Wuhan as the result of gain of function research. These experiments involve making a virus more infectious or deadly with the hope of getting ahead of a future outbreak. Advocates of gain of function tests say it helps mankind get ahead of future pandemics, but critics say the risk of starting an outbreak outweighs any theoretical benefit. At first, supporters of the 'lab leak theory' were met with derision and charges of being xenophobic conspiracy theorists. But a growing body of evidence to support the theory is being published in reputable journals and espoused by more mainstream scientists. The Wuhan research facility is less than 10 miles from an animal slaughter market where the first series of human cases were clustered. Some experts also claim Covid's unique spike protein, which it uses to infect people, shows hallmarks of engineering. But others have deemed those scenarios unlikely and say that there is some indirect evidence that Covid did jump from animals at the Huanan Seafood Market, where animals known to harbor Covid including raccoon dogs, hedgehogs, rats and squirrels, were kept in squalid conditions. The GOP's proposal comes on the heels of an extensive audit by the US Office of Inspector General which found the NIH and EcoHealth failed to 'understand the nature of the research conducted, identify potential problem areas, and take corrective action'. The Wuhan Institute of Virology contains high level biosecurity labs that conduct research on dangerous pathogens 'With improved oversight, NIH may have been able to take more timely corrective actions to mitigate the inherent risks associated with this type of research,' the report added. It looked at three taxpayer-funded research grants awarded to the now-notorious EcoHealth Alliance, run by British scientist Peter Daszak, between 2014 and 2021. The report found the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and EcoHealth failed to 'understand the nature of the research conducted, identify potential problem areas, and take corrective action'. EcoHealth Alliance was awarded $8 million in federal grants between 2014 and 2021, which it subcontracted to eight research facilities including the WIV. Sen Roger Marshall said: 'NIH continues to act as an autonomous government agency and forego policies that strictly regulates the grant award process. 'The agency's lack of grant oversight and management jeopardizes the integrity of federally-funded research and leaves Americans vulnerable to dangerous pathogen outbreaks from lab accidents we need expert investigators and auditors in a stand-alone IG office solely dedicated to overseeing this agency to ensure they are held accountable to the American people and to restore the public's trust in the integrity of health officials to keep us safe.' The NIH is a massive research body with over two sub-agencies that specialize in a specific area such as the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The latter was previously headed up by Dr Anthony Fauci, who has become an extremely controversial figure as a result of inconsistent safety guidance during the pandemic as well as evidence that he helped cover up proof bolstering the lab leak theory. Sen Tuberville said: 'The pandemic highlighted the great need for transparency in our government's institutions. The National Institutes of Health, where Dr. Fauci worked, is no exception. 'Americans deserve to have an independent oversight arm within the NIH to help ensure the agency is responsibly using our taxpayer dollars and acting in the interest of all Americans.' The number of children with autism has tripled in 16 years, raising questions about whether the condition is becoming more common. A study by researchers from Rutgers University found that between 2000 and 2016, the rate of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) among under-8s increased from around 10 per 1,000 to around 30 per 1,000 within the metropolitan area of New Jersey and New York. A similar rise has been seen nationally - with rates increasing from one in 150 in 2000 to one in 54 in 2016. There is currently still no standard medical test for autism, but there have been big steps forward in diagnostic capabilities, as well as a greater understanding of the disorder, which seem to be at least partly driving the increase. The number of children with autism has tripled in 16 years, raising questions about whether the condition is becoming more common (file image) The graph above from the new Rutgers study shows autism prevalence estimates per 1,000 eight-year-old children in New Jersey overall and by intellectual ability. The proportion of eight-year-olds diagnosed with autism who do not have intellectual disabilities rose more steeply (shown by the blue line) than those who do not (shown by the green line) The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, found that the proportion of eight-year-olds diagnosed with autism who do not have intellectual disabilities rose more steeply than those who do not - fivefold compared to twofold between 2000 and 2016. The Rutgers team said the main reasons were advances in diagnosing, particularly in identifying autism without intellectual disabilities. This refers to children with an average or higher than average IQ and autistic traits such as trouble socializing, communicating, and doing the same things over and over. These cases of autism might be harder to spot. National autism rates in America have increased over time. Rates increased from one in 150 children diagnosed with autism by the age of eight in 2000 to one in 54 in 2016, according to CDC data However, researchers are clear that the rise in prevalence of autism has nothing to do with vaccines. Santhosh Girirajan, associate professor at Pennsylvania State University, told NBC News: 'We know for sure, for so many years now, that vaccines dont cause autism.' Other reasons for the rise include genetic and environmental factors, but the precise cause is unknown. Numerous studies have shown that children born to older parents are more likely to have the disorder. Complications at birth also raise the risk. The Rutgers study said universal autism screening at routine pediatric visits is needed to better identify cases of autism which are moderate to mild. Because there is no standard test for the condition, doctors must rely on a child's developmental history and behavior. But experts say early intervention can make a huge difference, with early detection key in ensuring kids on the spectrum get the help they need. To receive an official diagnosis, children must still see a trained professional, but the ASDQ questionnaire represents another step towards a standardized test for autism. Screenings for ASD are advised at the 18-month and 24-month milestones, whereby the child's language, movement, and thinking skills, as well as behaviors and emotions, are tracked against the rest of their age group. Formal diagnosis, however, must be handled by a trained specialist such as a developmental pediatrician or child psychologist. About one in 44 children in the US has autism, a number that continues to rise as the disorder is de-stigmatized. Despite scientific and social advancements, however, autism is still often only diagnosed well into childhood. While the average age of diagnosis in the US is four years old, in the UK it is even older, at six. Another 6billion of taxpayer cash was 'wasted' on Covid-era equipment last year, it was revealed today. It means the Department of Health has now lost 14.9billion on over-priced, faulty or unused PPE, tests and drugs since the pandemic began. Labour MPs today described the financial blackhole as being 'extraordinary' and an 'absolute scandal'. Much of the coronavirus kit bought during 2020/21 when 8.9bn was written off was faulty or not used before its sell-by date. The Department of Health has now lost 14.9billion on over-priced, faulty or unused PPE, tests and drugs since the pandemic began. Pictured: A nurse at King's College Hospital in London puts on full protective equipment Much of the Covid kit bought during 2020/21 was faulty or not used before its sell-by date. Ministers also paid hugely over the odds and were left with equipment that later crashed in value. Pictured: PPE-wearing medics treating patients in January 2021 Last year, officials revealed redundant PPE was being burned at a rate of 580 lorry loads per month. Pictured: Supplies at the NHS' National Procurement Warehouse at Canderside, Larkhall in 2020 Ministers also paid hugely over the odds and were left with equipment which later crashed in value. Annual accounts released today, covering 2021/22, reveal the majority of the wasted 6billion cash last year was blown on buying goods that are no longer needed. Wes Streeting, shadow health secretary, said: 'The Conservatives can never again claim to be the careful stewards of the public finances. 'While Rishi Sunak had control of the purse strings, a staggering 15billion of public money was wasted on useless PPE enough to fund the police force for an entire year. 'Instead, that money is now literally going up in smoke. 'Taxpayers will rightly judge the carelessness with which the Conservatives treat their money to be an absolute scandal.' Millions of items of PPE, including gowns, masks and gloves, are still being stored in warehouses and containers across the UK. Some stock is still in China, where it was manufactured. Others are thought to have already been burnt to generate power. Storing the excess PPE is thought to cost the Government around 24m a month. Some kit procured at the start of the pandemic was faulty or never used before its sell-by date. Other problems included failed quality tests, face masks ordered with the wrong loops and gowns that were the wrong size or sent in the wrong packaging. BIOGRAPHY ONE HUNDRED SATURDAYS: STELLA LEVI AND THE VANISHED WORLD OF JEWISH RHODES by Michael Frank (Souvenir Press 18.99, 224pp) 'Give the babies to the old people', someone whispered into the train carriage which took Stella Levi to Auschwitz in 1944. The 21-year-old one of 1,650 Jews deported from the Greek island of Rhodes did not understand. 'But why,' she whispered back, 'when the old people are so tired?' She got no reply, as the SS guards had moved from within earshot. The next day, still wearing the pretty summer dress in which she had left home, she arrived at the Nazi death camp, where she and her elder sister, Renee, were separated from their elderly parents. Deported: Jewish people wearing Star of David badges in Lodz Ghetto, Poland during the 1940s She began to realise that the whisperer had been trying to save the lives of mothers who, if they arrived holding an infant, would be consigned to instant execution. Those who appeared young, healthy and childless stood a greater chance of survival. Stella and Renee continued to sing to their parents across the walls for some time in the increasingly vain hope they would be heard. But, as she recalls now: 'The first thing you did when you arrived at Auschwitz was to stop thinking . . . It was too dangerous to think. If you thought there, in that place, as many people did . . . you let yourself go and you died, or you killed yourself.' Levi only began to speak out about the Holocaust in her 90s. When she first began recounting her life story to writer Michael Frank in 2015, she would not talk about Auschwitz. Once in Auschwitz, Levi was stripped, shaved and tattooed. There are 'blank spots' in her memory of being treated worse than an animal. Pictured: Nazi flags in the Old Town of Lodz in 1942 Levi only began to speak out about the Holocaust in her 90s. Pictured: Lodz Ghetto in Poland during the 1940s 'I don't want to be that person,' she said, reluctant to have her long and rich life reduced to that of a 'performing survivor'. But as the pair met to talk, on most Saturdays for six years, Levi slowly found the courage to trust Frank with her memories of 'hell on earth'. Through those conversations she began to finally make sense of the way she had become while captive an unthinking and unfeeling version of herself in order to survive. In July 1944, the Jews were ordered to present themselves for deportation. 'We did as we were told,' recalls Levi. 'We packed our bags.' And they got onto a boat to start their 14-day journey to the death camps. Many perished on the crossing. Levi recalls one man so dehydrated he drank his own urine. Once in Auschwitz, Levi was stripped, shaved and tattooed. There are 'blank spots' in her memory of being treated worse than an animal. In July 1944, Jewish people were ordered to present themselves for deportation. Pictured: Jewish workers in the saddle workshop, Poland, in 1940 She recalls the thirst more than the hunger. A number of the girls died quickly. Levi learned that survival had nothing to do with strength or heroism. 'We stole, we cheated, we organised, we slept with bread under our pillows and fate treated us kindly.' After they were moved to the work camp at Dachau, Stella learned her sister Renee was going to be sent to 'one of the camps people didn't come back from'. She appealed to a German woman who had taken a shine to her and, 'Just like that, Renee's fate was substituted for someone else's'. Levi told Franks she was left feeling 'vergogna' meaning between guilt and shame. When the Americans liberated Dachau in April 1945, the Levi sisters fell to their knees and wept 'For all we had been, for all we had lost. We could feel things again, we allowed ourselves to experience the pain. We became human once more.' They realised they had left 'a whole community in the ashes of Auschwitz'. Only 151 survived. 'It's the reason none of us ever returned to Rhodes to live.' The Levi sisters both moved to the U.S., married and had children. Stella eventually returned to visit Rhodes in 1977. 'Everything was gone,' she found. 'Everything that mattered.' In 1995, she took Renee back with her and they bumped into a woman they had known as girls. 'She looked at us as if we were ghosts,' recalls Levi, 'which, in a way, I suppose we were.' The title of this hefty, elliptical, 1970s, Delhi-set saga plays on the (now renamed) Fair & Lovely brand of skin-lightening cream LITERARY FICTION FEAR AND LOVELY by Anjana Appachana (Verve 19.99, 544 pp) The title of this hefty, elliptical, 1970s, Delhi-set saga plays on the (now renamed) Fair & Lovely brand of skin-lightening cream. Nineteen-year-old Mallika is 'little-darker-than-wheat'-complexioned. But more problematic for her all-important marriage prospects is her crippling shyness. The biggest impediment of all, however, is the breakdown she has recently suffered, mental illness being so taboo that her mother passes it off as TB. The trauma that incapacitates Mallika and robs her of her memory is gradually revealed, but the twist is the different angles we see it from as the narrative alternates between the perspectives of those closest to her all of whom have secrets and struggles of their own. McCracken's fictionalised memoir features a middle-aged American woman wandering around London in the summer of 2019 THE HERO OF THIS BOOK by Elizabeth McCracken (Cape 12.99, 192 pp) McCracken's fictionalised memoir features a middle-aged American woman wandering around London in the summer of 2019. As the narrator tells us, it's not much of a plot. What we get instead is a character study two of them, in fact. Our narrator is, at times, her own subject: a successful writer, she parses the course of her career and her craft. But the real hero of her story is her recently dead octogenarian mother, a remarkable woman whose cerebral palsy and stubborn, sunny nature were two sides of the same coin. Light of touch, witty and altogether less chilly than Rachel Cusk's autofiction, McCracken and her avatar nonetheless raise all kinds of chewy questions about truth, fiction and where to draw the boundaries of the imagination, both in life and prose. Human personalities, we are firmly told, are not puzzles to be solved. But the best, most deeply moving bits of this novel are the least tricksy, such as when the narrator reflects on the simple sorrow of never again buying her mother a gift. Best known for his Soviet Union-set blockbuster Child 44, Tom Rob Smith, also a screenwriter, here offers up a cinematic epic of global cataclysm and extraterrestrials COLD PEOPLE by Tom Rob Smith (Simon & Schuster 16.99, 464 pp) Best known for his Soviet Union-set blockbuster Child 44, Tom Rob Smith, also a screenwriter, here offers up a cinematic epic of global cataclysm and extraterrestrials. Not that the aliens the ones from space, at least play anything other than a catalytic role, their sole, unexplained aim simply to exile the remnants of humankind to the South Pole. What really interests Rob Smith is how the survivors adapt to their freezing home: the make-do-and-mend existence of everyday folk in a world without modern technology, and the vaunting ambition of scientists attempting to create a new, genetically engineered race of 'iceadapted' people. Predictably, it soon becomes clear that these egghead-bred monsters are far more dangerous than any space invader. Themes of love, family and belonging are writ large, but the vast body count and emotive dilemmas fail to move. It's the spectacular world-building, and creature-building, of the novel that's most absorbing and, I suspect, the part the author enjoyed best. In his scathing account, Bullough compares the UK to Wodehouse's inscrutable butler, Jeeves MUST READS BUTLER TO THE WORLD by Oliver Bullough (Profile 10.99, 304 pp) In his scathing account, Bullough compares the UK to Wodehouse's inscrutable butler, Jeeves. Just as Jeeves tirelessly helps the 'quarter-witted posho Bertie Wooster evade the consequences of [his] misbehaviour, Britain helps the world's financial criminals and tax dodgers . . . enjoy the fruits of their crimes free of scrutiny'. In January 2022, Lord Agnew of Oulton, the minister in charge of combating fraud, resigned, citing 'arrogance, indolence and ignorance' within government. A month later, Russia's invasion meant that political promises to deal with oligarchs were hastily remembered. Yet underfunded and demoralised law enforcement bodies face an unequal battle. Bullough's highly readable account of the UK's role in facilitating global financial wrongdoing is a call to action. Sams's young women are discovering relationships and their feelings about who they are and what they want SEND NUDES by Saba Sams (Bloomsbury 9.99, 224 pp) The women in Saba Sams's debut collection are doing their best to navigate a world that seems unpredictable and sometimes down- right hostile. In grimy pubs, on buses and in damp tents at festivals, Sams's young women are discovering relationships and their feelings about who they are and what they want. In the title story, a woman finds joyful acceptance of her body after being pressured by a stranger to send a naked photo. In Tinderloin, a motherless 16-year-old loses her virginity to a much older man and, in Snakebite, a university student is exploited by her glamorous new friend. While Sams's women are vulnerable, they are never victims: her writing, like her heroines, is observant, intelligent and funny. Schulz writes movingly of the unpredictability of grief LOST & FOUND by Kathryn Schulz (Picador 9.99, 256 pp) In the space of 18 months, Kathryn Schulz met the love of her life and lost her father, Isaac. Her memoir weaves together her experiences of love and death with reflections on these universal events. Isaac was a brilliant lawyer whose life had been framed by loss. Kathryn suggests that her father's lifelong habit of misplacing things may have been 'the comic-opera version of the tragic series of losses that shaped his childhood'. Those included the deaths in Auschwitz of almost all his mother's family. Isaac was ill for years, but his loss was no less shocking. Schulz writes movingly of the unpredictability of grief. But she also describes the joy of meeting her partner when she had almost abandoned the search for love. Grief and joy are beautifully entwined in this memoir. The story starts at a rattling pace: lawyer Julia and stay-at-home dad Paul are in search of Chrissie, their teenage daughter PYSHO-THRILLERS I'LL NEVER TELL by Philippa East (HQ 8.99, 352 pp) The story starts at a rattling pace: lawyer Julia and stay-at-home dad Paul are in search of Chrissie, their teenage daughter who has disappeared immediately after putting on a dazzling display at a major music competition. Back at home they find her bedroom ransacked. The search for the teenager and the question of why she has run away cause Julia and Paul to confront deep secrets they haven't even admitted to themselves. In the foreground of the story are the complex issues that propel pushy parents. The plotline is never obvious, while the fact that East is a qualified psychologist enables a skilful unpicking of the price people pay for living a 'pretend perfect life'. Written with subtle intelligence and quiet menace. This is a terrific title for a book which investigates the toxicity of wealth and the effects rich people can have on those around them THE THINGS WE DO TO OUR FRIENDS by Heather Darwent (Viking 14.99, 384 pp) This is a terrific title for a book which investigates the toxicity of wealth and the effects rich people can have on those around them. Clare, a seemingly naive young woman, arrives at Edinburgh University to study art history. Seeking to reinvent herself, she identifies well-off Tabitha and her privileged crowd as her ticket to a different type of life. At first Clare is blown away by their lifestyle, but things change when she is given a chance to get involved with them in a sinister business venture. Meanwhile, the story is sprinkled with hints that Clare is not who she seems to be. The gothic splendour of the city is beautifully realised and makes a perfect backdrop for the story, in which Darwent combines serious issues with a rattling good plot. Written by a former ballerina, this unsettling tale is set in 1933 CLARA & OLIVIA by Lucy Ashe (Magpie 16.99, 352 pp) Written by a former ballerina, this unsettling tale is set in 1933 in the poisonously competitive world of ballet and concerns the entwined fate of twins Clara and Olivia. It's always risky combining real world events and people in fiction, but Ashe is successful at blending the facts around the creation of Sadler's Wells with the fictional story of the twins, who are bound by their infatuation with ballet. The theme of obsession becomes seriously sinister when the girls realise they are being watched. As the story follows the rehearsals for the ballet Coppelia, we receive a quick-fire education on how the ballet works and why it inspires obsession. An original thriller with a crafty plot. If you want to make your home as efficient as possible, and drive down energy bills, there is no substitute for professional insulation. Getting an expert in to fit heat-saving material to your home comes with an upfront cost that can run into the thousands of pounds, but it is one of the best long-term investments you can make. And as well as making your home cheaper to heat, these improvements could potentially add to its value. The energy efficiency of a property is now deemed either important or very important by almost nine in 10 buyers, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Here are some of the best ways to drive down energy bills by getting your home property insulated. Getting your home insulated by professional tradespeople means more comfortable winters and lower energy bills for life Wall insulation - up to 1,800 a year saved If you want to get serious about stopping heat loss from your home, you have to tackle the walls. Around 35 per cent of heat leaves buildings through the walls, according to insulation experts LoftZone - more than any other surface, including the roof. The National Insulation Association puts this figure even higher at 45 per cent. And, as Dave Raval of LoftZone points out, insulation works two ways. It helps keep you warm in winter and cool in summer. The latter has never been much of a selling point in the UK as our summers do not traditionally get hot enough for that to matter much. But if the 40C heatwave seen in 2022 become more common in the future, insulation starts being more of a perk the whole year round, not just in winter. There are two main types of wall insulation, depending on what type of wall you have - solid or cavity walls. Outer layer: External insulation is fitted to the outside walls of properties to help keep heat in Solid wall insulation - 240 to 930 a year saved Homes built before 1920 are likely to have solid brick walls. These can be insulated, and that insulation can go on the inside or outside of the wall. External insulation involves fitting insulating material and then rendering or cladding over it. Internal insulation is mostly a form of thermal sheeting that is fitted to the inside walls. This will reduce room size when installed. The cost of insulating the outside of a three-bedroom semi-detached home is around 12,000, or 8,500 if done inside, according to the Energy Saving Trust charity. However, that then leads to a big drop in energy bills - 240 a year for a mid-floor flat all the way up to 930 a year for a detached house. Inside: Interior insulation either involves fitting special board, like this, or using rock wool Cavity wall insulation - 395 to 1,800 a year saved Usually found in more modern homes, cavity walls have an air-filled gap in the middle of two walls. The idea of cavity walls is to protect interior walls from damp, and the air gap provides a slight insulating benefit. But that benefit can be improved by fitting proper insulation. This is done by a professional drilling small holes into the wall then spraying insulation into the cavity, normally foam, polystyrene beads or mineral wool. Around eight million homes in the UK now have this sort of insulation. But there can be serious issues if it is not properly installed. Last year, we reported that up to two million homeowners have problems with cavity wall insulation. In some extreme cases, the resulting problems of damp and mould inside the houses rendered them worthless and unsellable. Around six million homes with cavity wall insulation had it installed by tradespeople backed by the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency. This comes with a 25-year guarantee. How to find a good insulation tradesperson Many tradespeople will be able to do professional insulation work, but if you want more peace of mind then look for installers who are members of the NIA Workers who sign up to the NIA agree to stick to membership requirements and industry standards You can search for a qualified insulation installer here For cavity wall insulation, you can also find professional tradespeople at the CIGA and the British Board of Agrement Check that the tradesperson you use has agreed to a code of practice. CIGA tradespeople give a 25-year guarantee for the work they do Double glazing - up to 235 a year saved Double glazing not only helps keep heat in, it also keeps noise and draughts out. Fitting this sort of window can save between 195 and 235 a year in energy bills. But that comes with an upfront cost. Fitting A-rated double glazing to the average semi-detached house costs around 7,500. Loft insulation - 640 a year saved Someone living in a semi-detached house with no roof insulation could save 640 a year by fitting 270mm insulation in their loft, the Energy Saving Trust said. If you do this yourself it might cost 100 upwards depending on the size of your loft. But if you opt to pay professionals to do the work, this could cost closer to 500 - still less than you would save on energy bills within one year of getting the work done. Floor insulation - up to 110 a year saved For homes with timber floors, insulating your ground floor can cut energy bills by more than 110 a year for the average home, or up to 180 for a detached house. Those figures rise to 90 and 145 a year respectively in Northern Ireland, the Energy Saving Trust said. Like roof insulation, this involves lifting the floorboards and putting down mineral wool insulation on top of netting between the joists. Depending on how big your ground floor is this can cost 100 upwards if you do the work yourself, or from 1,600 and 2,900 if you get a professional to do it. Insider trading is one of the Citys oldest crimes. Barely a takeover happens without a run-up in the target company share price beforehand. Advisers seek to prevent leaks by the use of code names and meetings in secret locations but it is impossible to plug all the gaps. In recent times, the ritual of capital markets days has developed and key information is shared with big battalion investors and analysts. Fraud trial: The FCA is launching a criminal action against former Janus Henderson analyst Redinel Korfuzi who has been charged with profiting from trades in five companies This potentially gives financial professionals a head-start on private investors. Technology means that with the exception of deliberate deception, such as using burner phones, financial insiders are only too aware of how compliance officers and regulators are able to access communications traffic. The delete button can be hit but the trace is still there on the hard drive or in the cloud. It is comparatively rare that staff at a major financial firm find themselves before the beak on hard-to-prove insider charges. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is often given a hard time about the sclerotic approach to justice. The failure to produce a timely report on the implosion of Neil Woodfords fund management empire comes to mind. So it is fascinating to see the FCA launching a criminal action against former Janus Henderson analyst Redinel Korfuzi, who has been charged with profiting from trades in five firms, along with co-conspirators. The perpetrators allegedly used derivatives to disguise bets that the shares would plummet after official announcements. They then allegedly sought to distribute the gains, estimated by the FCA as 1.5million, by money laundering. The case, now referred to Southwark Crown Court, is fascinating. At stake is the prestige of the asset manager Janus Henderson. The contemporary nature of the offences, allegedly from 2019-21, and the comparatively low profits add interest. Split among several parties, the gains are modest in a world when debt is counted in billions, and the alleged wire fraud of bitcoin whizz Sam Bankman-Fried of FTX is in the billions. If the criminal prosecution has the effect of putting off other potential miscreants and encouraging better market hygiene it will be more than worthwhile. Taking off The gap between the upbeat sales and profit figures of British commerce and the official and survey data is a puzzle. After the tearaway Christmas sales figures from retailers (continuing to roll in), airlines are demonstrating that traffic is soaring. Putting three years of largely Covid-19 related losses behind it, no-frills carrier Easyjet is forecasting a return to profit this year, sending the shares 10 per cent higher. Over the last three weekends, passenger numbers have hit record levels. As the summer approaches, Easyjet is rolling out ever more flights. Personally, I was amazed to find that a flight to a Canary Islands destination next month was almost booked out. Consumer confidence, according to surveys, has been, and remains, at a low ebb. The Bank of England has been frightening the country with its warnings of a squeeze on real incomes. Really? Easyjet chief executive Johan Lundgren says he is surprised by the resilience of demand. He is not alone. Ryanair last week announced record bookings and the shares of all the UK and Ireland-based carriers have been rising strongly. That does not mean all is running smoothly. As a BA passenger to Prague on Sunday, I was held up for four hours amid a succession of ever less believable excuses ranging from a crew member stuck in Edinburgh, to fog, ice and missing documents. We were then comforted on board by the slimmest bottle of water ever seen and a food service which consisted of half a dozen mini-pretzels. If BA shrinks it any further, the bag will be empty. So much for that old, vanishing friend: customer service. Ice breaker As a behemoth of Britains general insurance sector, with 10 per cent of a competitive market, the fear among Aviva investors was a big hit to its property cover from the December cold. In the event, it was around 50million. This is an improvement over the 90million hit at Direct Line, which tanked the shares. The suspicion is that after several profit warnings Direct Line did some kitchen sinking. Avivas better underwriting and risk performance hopefully will mean it can build loyalty by holding premiums down. Squeezed consumers are pressing ahead with trips abroad despite the rising cost of living, says Easyjets boss. Travel has moved up to the top spot when it comes to discretionary spending. People want to travel, Johan Lundgren said. His comments came after the budget carrier saw a surge in passengers in the last three months of 2022. Easyjet flew 17.5m people in the quarter, a 47 per cent jump from a year earlier. Easyjet boss Johan Lundgren said he was surprised how strong demand was against the bleak backdrop, as families face soaring food, fuel and energy bills And the airline said it will be back in the black this year after three years of losses. In the 12 months to September, Lundgren said it will smash analyst forecasts of a 126million profit. Shares jumped 9.7 per cent, or 45.4p, to 513.4p. The stock has surged nearly 60 per cent since the start of the year amid growing evidence that holidays remain a priority for cash-strapped households. A report by KPMG found that while almost two thirds of people in the UK will cut their spending this year, holiday plans were the least likely to be dashed. AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould said: Many consumers still have the appetite and the means to spend money on experiences despite the prospect of recession. People work hard and they want to give themselves a treat, meaning a foreign holiday remains high on the list of things people are prepared to pay for. Lundgren said he was surprised how strong demand was against the bleak backdrop, as families face soaring food, fuel and energy bills. Easyjets performance has continued into this year, helped by three record-breaking weekends this month. Customers took advantage of January sales and the airline was filling up five planes every minute during peak hours. Bookings for Easter are a quarter ahead of pre-Covid levels and there is big demand for summer getaways despite prices for Easter being almost a quarter higher than the same time before Covid struck. People have had restrictions and been at home a lot and they want to get out and experience things, Lundgren said. The rising cost of living was driving a shift towards more affordable breaks. Trips to Turkey and Egypt are doing exceptionally well. He said flight availability will return to pre-Covid levels by the summer. By July, August and September we expect to be back at 2019 levels, Lundgren said. Its been described as the biggest technological breakthrough since the printing press, electricity and even fire. So its perhaps no surprise Microsoft has pumped as much as 8billion into a new partnership with artificial intelligence leader Open AI, and its much-hyped Chat GPT model. Its all part of an expensive and long-haul push into a brave new world where content and productivity are king. Brave new world: Microsoft has pumped as much as 8bn into a new partnership with artificial intelligence leader OpenAI, and its much-hyped ChatGPT model In its simplest terms, artificial intelligence (AI) is computer programming that allows machines to behave like humans. Examples include everything from the spam filter in your inbox, which is trained to recognise junk, to Amazon Alexas dotted around your home that respond to your voice. First developed in the 1950s, AI means computers can be trained to mimic conversation, make predictions or recommendations, and ultimately process data in a much faster and efficient way than humans can. So why, if AI has been around for so long, are we seeing such an acceleration in 2023? The key reason, according to Dr Mhairi Aitken, research fellow at science hub The Alan Turing Institute, is because of the advances in generative AI, which not only makes processes faster but can be used to create completely original and new content, including audio, images, texts and videos. Chat GPT, which is owned by Elon Musk-backed Open AI, is the most famous of these computer models, which exploded in popularity after it was made free to use for the public back in November, with over 1m users in five days. Whether the former US treasury secretary Larry Summers is correct in describing the model as on par with the printing presses, electricity and even the wheel and fire, the output is certainly impressive. Last weekend Chat GPT was able to produce an essay that passed the final MBA business leadership exam at a top US college, and has been used to draft legal contracts, create works of art, and produce original song lyrics in the style of any artist in the world. Tech analyst Matt Navarra said Microsofts investment into Open AI was a shrewd move, reflecting the companys desperate attempt to modernise and flex its muscles at Google, which has been working away on its own generative AI for a while. The fact Microsoft has pulled this off is a huge success story for them, he said. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives dubbed it an AI arms race, where each tech company is looking to take the lead in this highly lucrative sector. All the big companies are going to make big bets on AI with a payoff that begins in 2023 and beyond. Its the fourth industrial revolution. Despite the dark macroeconomic backdrop, tech stalwarts remain in growth mode, he explained. Estimates from Air Street Capitals State of AI report 2022 suggest that worldwide investment in AI scale-up and start-ups was close to 40billion last year, with almost all of Silicon Valley wading into the mix. The stakes are high. PwC reckons AI could contribute up to 13trillion to the global economy in 2030, more than the current output of China and India combined. Shortly after Microsoft announced the Open AI deal, Google issued an internal code red, pushing plans to demo an AI version of its search engine out of fear Microsoft could integrate Chat GPT into its own, lesser used, search engine Bing. The flip side with all of these advances is the question mark surrounding jobs. This has felt particularly pertinent considering the firms that are investing are also laying off staff. Data tracker Layoffs.fyi estimates that as many as 57,000 people in the tech sector have been laid off in 2023 alone. Yet the consensus is that this is poor timing rather than a loaded strategy from big tech. Michael Gartenberg, a tech analyst at Flash Advisory & Research, rejected the correlation between AI investment and layoffs. He said although it was poor optics for a company like Microsoft, tech giants have slowly but surely been making movements into AI. After all, Microsoft invested more than 800m into Open AI back in 2019, long before AI novices were using it to write Linkedin marketing posts. Aitken also underplayed the wider fears surrounding job safety. AI is going to automate many of the tasks in the workplace, but it wont completely get rid of the jobs, she said, saying the solution is making new jobs that focus on creating and managing AI tech as it touches every single sector, from fashion to medicine development. A report from HSBC, Will AI take your job?, written by economist James Pomeroy makes a similar point. Its more likely that AI takes some (the boring bit) of your job, rather than all of it, he explains. This could trigger some substantial productivity gains for many roles if used correctly, and although the outlook for AI and its impact is uncertain, this is just the beginning. So as an AI war dawns between Google and Microsoft, the reality is that AI is here to stay reinventing what our jobs look like, what Silicon Valley looks like and perhaps even what the world of business, art and music looks like. After over a year, prosecutors in New Mexico are getting ready to formally charge Alec Baldwin for accidentally shooting dead Halyna Hutchins in 2021. Baldwin is facing a maximum of five years in prison on involuntary manslaughter charges with a firearm enhancement. He has vowed to fight the case - calling the charges a 'terrible miscarriage of justice'. But will he go to prison for what is an undeniable accident? And what has the reaction been to the charges so far? Here, DailyMail.com breaks down the legal case against Baldwin, what prosecutors will have to prove in court, and whether Baldwin has a shot at beating the charges. After months of stalemate in the battle for Ukraines eastern Donbas region, Russia has a victory to celebrate. The town of Soledar has fallen to the Kremlins forces - but the win has been brutal, bloody, caused in-fighting in the Kremlin, and is far from the breakthrough that Moscow claims. Chris Pleasance's video guide explains how tens of thousands of soldiers died after being used as canon fodder in pointless human wave attacks, froze to death in their trenches or were slaughtered in hellish artillery barrages. Despite widespread outrage Musk has hardly addressed the controversy Elon Musk's Twitter has been attacked for complying with a request from the Indian government to censor tweets within the country that linked to a BBC documentary that was critical of its prime minister. Twitter users noted the hypocrisy of the self-proclaimed 'free speech absolutist,' who in the past had said Twitter would not block material at the instruction of a government 'unless at gunpoint'. 'So did Modi hold Elon at gunpoint or what,' one person said. When Musk bought Twitter last year he adamantly justified doing so on the basis that the fight for free speech was 'a battle for the future of civilization'. Others suggested that Musk, who is one of the richest men in the world, was being disingenuous when he made claims about freedom of speech. 'If you don't recognize that musk's free speech absolutism begins and ends with his wallet, you are the purest mark,' said Smithsonian editor Ted Scheinman. The BBC is generally considered objective in its coverage of world events. In the wake of this controversy, the BBC has defended the film, saying it was 'rigorously researched according to the highest editorial standards.' Elon Musk's Twitter complied with a request from the Indian government to censor tweets linking to a BBC documentary that is critical of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Twitter users noted the hypocrisy of the self-proclaimed 'free speech absolutist,' who in the past had said Twitter would not block material at the instruction of a government Smithsonian editor Ted Scheinman suggested that Musk's business decisions are driven by profit Once he gained access to Twitter, Musk leaked documents in attempt to uncover the censorship of a New York Post story that described the contents of Hunter Biden's laptop before the 2020 election in the US. That under his leadership Twitter had pulled an uncannily similar stunt, albeit in India, was not well-received. Some people saw the move by Twitter as a sign of what may be to come, and that Musk will struggle to maintain relationships with international players and maintain Twitter's neutrality at the same time. 'I'm reupping this October prediction that Musk's international entanglements would be the Achilles heel of Twitter,' wrote Alex Stamos, a cybersecurity expert and computer scientist at Stanford. Despite widespread outrage Musk scarcely acknowledged the issue. In a brief response to a tweet on Wednesday criticizing him for the hypocrisy, Musk said he was unaware of the issue and busy managing his other companies, leaving him unable to supervise Twitter. 'First Ive heard. It is not possible for me to fix every aspect of Twitter worldwide overnight, while still running Tesla and SpaceX, among other things,' he said. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, then Chief Minister of Gujarat, heading to riot affected areas in Ahmedabad ,Gujarat, on February 28 2002 Alex Stamos, a cybersecurity expert and computer scientist at Stanford, suggested Musk will struggle to maintain relationships with international players and maintain Twitter's neutrality India's minister of Information and Broadcasting, Kanchan Gupta said both Twitter and YouTube had 'complied with the directions' to block the documentary Indian officials appealed to both Twitter and YouTube to take action against the documentary, which explored links between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and riots in 2002 that saw over a 1,000 people killed, the majority of whom were Muslims. India's minister of Information and Broadcasting, Kanchan Gupta, said on the weekend that 'directions to block' the 'hostile propaganda and anti-India garbage' were issued by his department and that both Twitter and YouTube 'have complied with the directions.' At around the same time Twitter users began noticing that tweets containing links to the film, versions of which had been uploaded to YouTube, were being replaced with a notice that read: 'This Tweet from [user] has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand.' The BBC documentary, called India: The Modi Question, examined the role Narendra Modi played allowing anti-Muslim riots to escalate in the Indian state of Gujarat, where he was chief minister at the time. The violence in Gujarat in 2002 erupted after a train carrying Hindu pilgrims was suspected to have been set alight by a Muslim mob, killing 59 people. Groups of Hindus later brought destruction and violence to Muslim neighborhoods in a series of revenge attacks. In 2017, 11 men were jailed for life for setting the train on fire. Modi has denied accusations that he did not do enough to stop the riots, and he was exonerated in 2012 following an inquiry overseen by the Supreme Court. A petition questioning his exoneration was dismissed last year. He is the leader of the BJP, a nationalist party in India that has been criticized for its Hindu nationalism and intolerance of Muslims. Modi has around 86 million followers on Twitter, making him the 8th most followed person in the world. Musk is the second most followed, with 127 million followers. India: The Modi Question, produced by the BBC, examined the role Narendra Modi played allowing anti-Muslim riots to escalate in Gujarat in 2002 More than 1,000 people killed during those riots, the majority of whom were Muslims Musk said he was unaware of the issue and busy managing his other companies In a Twitter thread expressing his governments outrage at the documentary, Indian minister Kanchan Gupta described the film as 'malicious' and 'anti-India.' 'The mendacious series produced by UK's state-owned, state-funded public broadcaster @BBCWorld has been determined to be a 'propaganda piece' that lacks objectivity and reflects BBC's colonial mindset,' he said. Numerous users experienced disrupted of their tweets, including American actor John Cusack. He posted two tweets linking to the documentary, both of which were hidden to Twitter users within India. Members of the opposition, the All India Trinamool Congress party in India, also expressed outrage at attempts to censor the documentary. Derek O'Brien, a parliament member from West Bengal, had his tweet sharing the 'deeply researched' film taken town altogether. He then posted in another tweet an email he received from Twitter with a 'flimsy reason' for taking it down. 'Sorry, Haven't been elected to represent world's largest democracy to accept censorship,' Mahua Moitra, another member of the TMC party, said on Twitter. 'Here's the link. Watch it while you can.' Modi has around 86 million followers on Twitter, making him the 8th most followed person in the world Numerous users experienced their tweets being disrupted, including American actor John Cusack On Tuesday students hosting a screening of the BBC film in Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi were hampered after the university was suspected of cutting power and internet access to the campus. University union president Aishe Ghosh had asked students via Twitter to attend the screening, describing it as having been '"banned" by an "elected government" of the largest "democracy"', Reuters reported. Ghosh said they were watching the documentary on their phones and laptops after power was cut off about half an hour before a scheduled screening. The university denied permission for the screening to go ahead and threatened disciplinary action if the documentary was to be shown. 'It was obviously the administration that cut off the power,' Ghosh said. 'We are encouraging campuses across the country to hold screenings as an act of resistance against this censorship.' The US promise of 31 Abrams tanks for Ukraine adds to nearly $30 billion in military and security assistance since Russia's invasion on February 24, 2022. Other military support provided by the US includes several devastating missile systems, thousands of vehicles, and more than 100 million pieces of ammunition. Here, DailyMail.com provides a breakdown of some of the most expensive - and lethal - weapons and equipment the US has sent to Ukraine. M1 Abrams tanks The M1 Abrams' main weapon is its M256 120mm smooth bore cannon, which has a firing range of about 4,000 meters with conventional ammunition. It can hold a four-strong crew, weighs 73.6 tonnes and has a range of 264 miles with a 1,500 HP gas turbine engine. Cost: $400 million total Quantity: 31 tanks Game changer: The $400 million package for the M1 Abrams tank (pictured above) announced on Wednesday also includes eight M88 recovery vehicles tank-like tracked vehicles that can tow the Abrams if it gets stuck HIMARS rocket systems and ammunition The US has offered 16 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems to Ukraine. The truck-mounted launchers, developed by Lockheed Martin, can fire six guided missiles up to 50 miles - or further depending on the ammunition used. Cost: $4m per unit, $110,000 per missile Quantity: 16 The truck-mounted HIMARS launchers fire GPS-guided missiles capable of hitting targets up to 50 miles away, a distance that puts them out of reach of most Russian artillery systems HIMARS rocket systems The High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) is recognized as one of the world's most advanced rocket artillery systems. It can fire six guided missiles in quick succession. Ukraine has already used the system against Russian forces to devastating effect, targeting both soldiers and infrastructure. A strike on New Year's Day killed at least 63 Russian troops. Cost: Around $5m per unit Quantity: 38, plus ammunition Patriot missiles Patriot stands for Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target. The expensive surface-to-air missile system is one of the most advanced of its kind. The US pledged a Patriot battery to Ukraine in December. A senior official in the Department of Defense said 'it will give Ukraine a critical long-range capability to defend its airspace'. Cost: $10m per launcher, $4m per missile Quantity: One battery, plus munitions The Patriot is a surface-to-air guided missile system that was first deployed in the 1980s and can target aircraft, cruise missiles and shorter-range ballistic missiles Howitzers (105mm and 155mm) The M777 is the main 155mm howitzer provided to Ukraine by the US. The weapon weighs around 9,300lb, has a 16.7ft barrel, and has a 13-mile firing range with a conventional artillery round. Cost: $570,000 per unit Quantity: 232 units, plus around 1.4m rounds The British-built M777 are an ultra light howitzer first used in the 2001 Afghanistan conflict Mi-17 helicopters A fleet of Mi-17 helicopters - a Soviet-designed military aircraft developed in Russia - given for Ukraine were initially purchased by the USA for the Afghan army in the early 2010s. The Washington Post reported the aircraft were undergoing US-contracted maintenance outside of Afghanistan when the Taliban took control of the country. They are primary personnel aircraft but can be fitted with weapons. Cost: $17 million per unit Quantity: 20 A fleet of Mi-17 helicopters - a Soviet-designed military aircraft developed in Russia - given for Ukraine were initially purchased by the USA for the Afghan army in the early 2010s The National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System is a highly adaptable medium-range air defense solution that can target a range of airborne threats, including aircraft, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) The NASAMS air defense system can target a range of airborne threats, including aircraft, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. Six of the eight systems pledged to Ukraine will be delivered as part of a $1.2bn contract awarded by the US Army earlier this month. Cost: About $2bn in total Quantity: Eight by 2025 The Harpoon is anti-ship missile and can travel at speeds of up to 587mph at a range of 100 miles Harpoon coastal defense systems The US has promised two vehicle-mounted Harpoon launcher systems to Ukraine. The systems fire anti-ship missiles. Officials say the US will procure the launchers, while its allies will provide the missiles, which can cost up to $1.5 million each. Cost: Unknown Quantity: Two system (missiles supplied by allies) Phoenix Ghost/Switchblade Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems The Phoenix Ghost and Switchblade models of unmanned aerial system are just two of the various drone technologies that the US has provided to Ukraine. The Phoenix Ghost and Switchblades are designed to attack a variety of targets. Other drones provided by the US can conduct reconnaissance and surveillance. Cost: About $17 million Quantity: Around 2,500 The Phoenix Ghost and Switchblade models of unmanned aerial system are just two of the various drone technologies that the US has provided to Ukraine Javelin missiles Several countries have supplied javelin missiles to Ukraine since Russia's invasion. The missile is usually fired from a shoulder mounted launcher and automatically guides itself to its target. Several videos have been posted online of Ukrainian troops using the missiles against Russian forces. Cost: Up to $250,000 per missile Quantity: 8,500 missiles Various radar systems The various radar systems supplied by the US to Ukraine range from air surveillance systems to counter-artillery radars. Quantity: At least 86 Cost: Unknown The Javelin missile is an advance anti-tank surface-to-air missile which is shoulder launched Various radar systems - like the AN/TPQ-53 - has proven experience detecting mortars, rockets and artillery. Radar systems were supplied by the US to Ukraine Armor and helmets The US has provided tens of thousands of pieces of key equipment to support Ukrainian troops on the ground. Quantity: 75,000 units Cost: $350 - $800 per unit Various ground vehicles A wide range of ground vehicles have been delivered by the US. They include 100 armored medical treatment vehicles, 580 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs), over 100 light tactical vehicles and more than 1,700 Humvees. Quantity: 3,199 Cost: NA A wide range of ground vehicles have been delivered by the US US support has also included the delivery of more than 100 million pieces of ammunition for small arms, on top of millions more rounds for heavy weapons Small arms ammunition US support has also included the delivery of more than 100 million pieces of ammunition for small arms, on top of millions more rounds for heavy weapons. Quantity: 111 million rounds Cost: Unknown Other support A comprehensive list of the weapons and equipment committed to the US by Ukraine was shared by the Department of State on January 18, and reveals the sheer extent of what's been pledged to help defeat Russia. Other aid includes protective equipment, medical supplies, hundreds of generators, plus the promise of funding for training. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been slammed for backhanding blame for the Outback's current crime rampage onto the previous government. Alice Springs in the Northern Territory has been devastated by a crisis of lawlessness following the lifting of alcohol bans on Indigenous communities. Mr Albanese flew in on Tuesday to see the chaos firsthand but shrugged off responsibility, saying the previous government allowed alcohol restrictions to expire. The comment was blasted by 2GB's Chris O'Keefe on Thursday morning, who called out the PM saying: 'It's a lame excuse. 'It lapsed In July. He became prime minister in May. I couldn't believe that when I heard that from the Prime Minister. He's better than that, Anthony Albanese.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) has been slammed for backhanding blame for the Outback's current crime rampage onto the previous government The 10-year Stronger Futures program - which restricted access to alcohol in a bid to tackle social issues - ended in July 2022 without being renewed by the Federal Government. Since the restrictions were lifted, a growing crime spree has seen bottle shops ransacked and youths wielding machetes running amok. After returning from Alice Spring, Mr Albanese said reinstating the Stronger Futures alcohol restrictions is an option on the table. The PM was blasted by 2GB's Chris O'Keefe (pictured) who branded his comments 'lame' 'This change was introduced by former Labour government in 2012,' he said. 'It lasted for 10 years. The former government chose to allow that to lapse. 'It had lapsed before the new parliament sat after the election.' But the PM's reaction triggered a furious response. 'How can you possibly blame Scott Morrison and the former government for the problems in Alice Springs?' questioned O'Keefe. 'This has been going on for years and years and years and the cold hard facts are the day, the alcohol ban expired and was lifted is when things took a turn for the worse. Alice Springs in the Northern Territory has been devastated by a lawless crisis following the lifting of alcohol bans on Indigenous communities 'So since coming to power, Anthony Albanese changed so many things yet apparently he couldn't bring back the alcohol ban because Scott Morrison and the former Coalition government, let it lapse. 'Well hello, you're the Prime Minister. You've changed everything else (you can) change that too. 'You can't play politics with the human tragedy that is occurring in Alice Springs at the moment.' The PM said he accepted urgent action was needed in the Outback to counter the crime wave, but said the alcohol bans were just one element. A growing crime spree has seen bottle shops ransacked with businesses en attacked and broken into by packs of criminals Youths wielding machetes have been running amok in Alice Springs He also said the rural communities had relocated to Alice Springs in the wake of outback floods, which had added to local tensions. 'It's not a simple issue,' he told Sky News Australia's political editor Andrew Clennell. 'It's not something that will be worked through with just slogans, but it's something that does require a response of all levels of government. It isn't just alcohol. There's a range of issues there that go to Indigenous disadvantage that go to a lack of employment. The PM said rural communities had relocated to Alice Springs in the wake of outback floods, which had added to local tensions with drink and drug abuse (pictured a local allegedly drinking a 'hand sanitiser cocktail') 'There are some specific issues as well, such as the weather. Just prior to Christmas a range of rain events isolated a number of the communities. 'You had people had come into town in order to get dialysis and bring their families coming in and then they couldn't get back to their communities. 'That created problems with a lack of emergency housing, which is why we announced comprehensive plans including emergency housing, CCTV issues, but also extending funding for Family and Community Services.' Alice Springs locals were quick to mock Mr Albanese as the 'fly-in fly-out' or 'FIFO' PM after his whirlwind visit to the troubled community on Tuesday. Alice Springs locals were quick to mock Anthony Albanese as the 'fly-in fly-out' or 'FIFO' PM after his whirlwind visit to the troubled community on Tuesday After the visit lasting just a few hours, Mr Albanese was accused of failing to get any in-depth appreciation of the increasing anarchy on the city's streets. Up to 200 children reportedly roam the streets at night, breaking into homes and businesses and stealing and burnings cars. According to videos posted on the Action for Alice Facebook page, the PM's visit coincided with a stabbing in the Coles-Liquorland car park, and open drinking of a 'hand sanitiser cocktail' by a woman in front of children on a main street. One person posted a picture of the contrail of the PM's plane, writing 'Albo leaving 5 mins after the press conference', which prompted the response: 'Albo loves his jets. He's never out of them'. One person posted a picture of the contrail of the PM's plane, writing 'Albo leaving 5 mins after the press conference Another joked 'what was the John Denver song ... I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again', and one person questioned if 'Albo and the rest of the fly in fly outs' saw the ambulances gathered for an emergency on a town main street. Others posted 'Did any of them visit business owners in town' and 'word is he was only in town 2 hours then gone' Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney has been called out for her 'outright lie' after making the extraordinary claim on the ABC that the Voice to Parliament would have prevented Alice Springs' crime wave. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was forced to fly to the troubled Outback town and introduce an alcohol sales ban after heavy criticism from the Opposition and locals about a a 300 per cent surge in crime since Labor dropped alcohol sales bans in remote communities Ms Burney told ABC Radio National's Patricia Karvelas that if a Voice to Parliament had been established earlier 'the situation in Alice Springs wouldn't be what it is'. When Karvelas then pressed Ms Burney on whether she or the PM had been tough enough on alcohol bans in the Northern Territory, the minister said of their flying visit: 'The most important thing is we made enormous gains yesterday. 'I've been thinking about this very deeply and it was expressed yesterday, that if the Voice to Parliament had been established previously, I don't think we would be where we are in terms of where Alice Springs is at the moment,' she said. However, 2GB host Ben Fordham slammed Ms Burney comments as not only 'disgraceful' but an 'outright lie'. Ms Burney claimed on ABC radio a day after her flying visit to Alice Springs taht had the Voice to Parliament been in operation 'I don't think we would be where we are in terms of where Alice Springs is at the moment' Linda Burney (above in Alice Springs with PM Anthony Albanese on their brief fly-in visit on Tuesday) has been slammed by Fordham who accused her of using Alice Springs' lawless violence to sell the yes vote for the Voice 'Linda Burney has had a shocker. She is living in fantasy land,' Fordham said, 'I hope youre not using using what's happening in Alice Springs to build a case for the Voice, because it sure sounds like it. 'Really I mean Linda, you don't believe that. You're either telling fibs or living in cuckoo land.' He also gave Ms Burney a massive spray for her reasoning why this would be so when she said, 'because we would have been getting practical advice from people who are representative of the community in relation to these social issues' Fordham: 'Minister you've already had that. The people of Alice Springs have been banging down the door pleading for your help'. Ms Burney said the PM's visit to Alice Springs (pictured, above, a local youth trying to break in to the town's Todd Tavern liquor barn) had been a success The minister said of Alice Springs that it was 'wrong to think the issue out here is just alcohol' and bans on Mondays and Tuesdays were 'enormous gains' National Party Senator Matt Canavan also weighed in on Ms Burney's comments and said she should quit her job. 'It shows how out of touch these people are. We have a whole department here in Canberra focussed on indigenous affairs issues. 'If they could not see what was going on in Alice Springs and report it back to their own minister what hope has 25 odd people in the Indigenous Voice to do the same 'This is a minister clearly out of her depth. She should go. How could she not know what was going on in Alice Springs. It's not another planet.' He also said the question of Australia Day's date could be added to The Voice referendum and it would 'cost nothing'. Fordham quoted from a parliamentary inquiry last month into the July 2022 sunsetting of the Stronger Futures legislation, which lifted decade-long alcohol bans in the Northern territory's more than 40 indigenous town camps. Stephen Gourley, Director of Emergency Medicine at Alice Springs Hospital, told the hearing that since bans were lifted 'the level of injuries we've seen is horrific, it's mostly women being beaten'. At the same inquiry, Alice Springs GP Dr John Boffa urged for grog bans to return, because 'we need to keep extra protections and extra measures until we can see evidence the trauma in children is reducing'. Last October, the Central Desert Regional Council reported on the immediate impact of lifting the grog ban as 'a spike in alcohol-fuelled violence'. And in June 2022, on the eve of the ban lifting, eight local indigenous groups and Central Australia Aboriginal Congress chief Donna Ah Chee warned Ms Burney in a letter that 'to permit more access to alcohol will undoubtedly add fuel to this fire'. Linda Burney on her private jet Outback tour last year to sell the Voice on which she was accused of undertaking 'dripping with Gucci' Alice Springs Federal MP Marion Scrymgour had also warned, 'you can't just suddenly pull the pin without any protection or plan for the vulnerable women and children'. Fordham said 'everyone ... knows it was pressure from this radio station that forced her and the Prime Minister into action and even then (they) didn't listen, because all they've done is support grog bans on Mondays and Tuesdays, 'And they've done nothing about the kids as young as five who are roaming the streets at night. There's no point giving people a Voice if you've got your ears blocked. 'To suggest a voice in the constitution would have made a difference is both disgraceful and laughable. It's an outright lie' Listeners rang in to Fordham, questioning what Ms Burney had 'been doing for the last ten months?' National Party Senator Matt Canavan also weighed in on Ms Burney's comments, saying she was 'woke' and should quit her job. In her Radio National interview, Ms Burney admitted Alice Springs was 'an enormous flashpoint' but denied alcohol was the only issue. She said the town had 'a complex set of problems' and the PM's six hour visit was 'very good'. Pressed again by Karvelas about whether she hadn't pushed the NT Government to take measures sooner on alcohol controls, she replied: 'The most important thing is we made enormous gains yesterday'. Linda Burney has previously came under fire about the Government's indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum three months ago, when Senator Jacinta Price made a jibe about her private jet tour of outback communities while 'dripping with Gucci'. Their eight-month-old baby survived but Cora, 5, and Dawson, 3, have died Her husband Patrick, 34, returned home to find his wife had tried to kill herself Lindsay Clancy, 32, is accused of killing two of her children at family property A mother has been accused of strangling her two children to death and attempting to kill her eight-month-old baby before jumping out of the top window of her Massachusetts home. Clancy's husband Patrick, 34, returned home at around 6pm on Tuesday to find his wife had tried to kill herself and immediately called the police, reports MassLive. Midwife Lindsay Clancy, 32, and her eight-month-old baby both survived the apparent homicide-suicide attempt - but Cora, five, and Dawson, three, were pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. Witnesses said the baby had been given CPR at the scene. Lindsay Clancy, 32, is accused of murdering her two children Cora, five, left, and Dawson, three, right. Pictured in 2021 with their father Patrick, 34. Heartbreaking pictures show Cora, right and Dawson, left, smiling. Both have been pronounced dead Officers arrived at the family home to find the three children 'unconscious' upstairs 'with obvious signs of trauma'. They appear to have been strangled, authorities confirmed. First responders rushed Cora and Dawson to a local hospital where medics pronounced them both dead. The baby has been flown to Boston Children's Hospital where he is alive and still being treated as of Wednesday afternoon. Clancy frequently shared photos of her children online as she said she was 'so unbelievably thankful' for her family in one post The mother, pictured with Cora as a baby, was a nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital Clancy pictured with her surviving child in a Facebook post from September 2022 Clancy's Facebook profile portrays a proud mother who frequently shared photos of her young, smiling family. In one post in 2020 she wrote: 'So unbelievably thankful for this family and life'. Sources told WBZ-TV I-Team that investigators are looking at the possibility that Lindsay Clancy was suffering from postpartum psychosis. Plymouth District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz confirmed on Wednesday that Clancy was being charged with two murder counts. In a press conference he said of the family: 'I cannot begin to fathom the pain, the depths of pain they must be feeling.' Clancy pictured with her husband Patrick, 34, who called authorities after finding her on Tuesday evening He told reporters: 'I want to further commend the professionalism and the work of the Duxbury First Responders and the Mass state police. 'I'm sure many of them will not forget what they saw last evening and I think we should all be grateful to the men and women that put a uniform on that are willing to do this difficult and challenging job. 'When something like this happens there are obviously usually more questions than there are answers as we proceed forward we will give answers as we can.' He warned 'nobody's here to speculate', adding 'we're well aware of the fact that anybody charged with a criminal crime is presumed innocence until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt'. He wrapped up the conference by saying: 'Certainly our hearts and condolences go up to the Clancy family'. Officers confirmed on Wednesday Clancy would be charged with the deaths of her two children. Pictured with Cora, left, and Dawson, right. On her Facebook page, Clancy lists herself as a labor and delivery nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. The hospital has confirmed the mother was employed there. A statement to the Boston Globe said: 'We are shocked and saddened to learn of this unthinkable tragedy. We extend our deepest sympathies to all those affected by these devastating events.' Officers said on Wednesday their 'hearts and condolences' go out to the Clancy family On Wednesday, two Plymouth women, Donna Jesse, who identified herself as an aunt of the children, and Rita Musgrove, who said she was their great grandmother, left a bouquet of pink, red, and white roses outside the home where it happened. 'They were beautiful, beautiful children,' Jesse told the Boston Globe. Authorities were called to the family's address at 47 Summer Street, Duxbury Musgrove added: 'It's pretty shocking'. John Sullivan, a neighbor whose yard is adjacent to the back yard at 47 Summer St., said he got a call Tuesday night from his son who told him a woman 'was laying down in the backyard.' Sullivan headed over to his neighbors property where he saw first responders performing CPR on a baby outside, he told the Boston Globe. The state medical examiners office has accepted custody of the two dead children. Cruz said they will now conduct autopsies to determine the cause and manner of death. Findings will be made public when a death certificate is issued. Today could be the country's final 'Australia Day' to be held on January 26, according to Peta Credlin. The political commentator believes that if the Indigenous Voice to parliament is passed in a referendum, which could be held by mid August, its first act could be to push for the national holiday to be abolished or moved. Even if Australia Day is reimagined on a different date and more in line with respecting Indigenous Australia's ancestral claim to the land, it could be unrecognisable. Make sure you enjoy his Australia Day, because according to Peta Credlin it could easily be our last Counter protesters show their support for Australia Day at an Invasion Day Rally in Sydney on Thursday 'Were the Voice to have its way, as the Prime Minister says it normally should, any future Australia Day is much more likely to be celebrated on the anniversary of (a new) treaty .... between the Australian government and First Nations,' Credlin speculated in an opinion piece for The Australian. While the proposed Voice doesn't have the power to force the issue by writing laws or managing programs it still has a powerful role. It would have 'a responsibility ... to advise the Australian Parliament and Government on national matters of significance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples'. For this reason Credlin thinks Australia Day would quickly become a target for the Voice to Parliament. Achieving the end to the January 26 version of Australia Day, although still a popular holiday with many Aussies, would be regarded as a big nod to the Voice's mandate. 'While Anthony Albanese continues to say he doesn't want to change the date of Australia Day, I sense a ploy,' Credlin wrote in The Australian.. 'He's signalling to activists 'just bide your time, the revolution is coming'. But it's not just the date that's up for grabs. 'It's quite possible a voice representation could be that Australia Day shouldn't be celebrated at all.' In practice, the Voice is likely be a group which would advise the federal government and parliament on Indigenous policy matters such as health, education, economic disadvantage and social problems Ms Credlin was damning of the Labor party's loss of national spirit since the Hawke and Keating era, when those leaders wanted to strengthen recognition of Australia Day Every year, Australia Day is the subject to large Invasion Day protests on the streets of the nation's capitals - with the push to change the date seemingly swelling year on year. Ms Credlin wrote that the Voice to parliament could use the emotive argument that many Indigenous people mourn the date, which marks the landing of the First Fleet at Botany Bay. The referendum is expected to be on a simple question, such as 'Do you support an alteration to the Constitution that establishes an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice?' The wording for that question was drafted by the Albanese government and revealed by the Prime Minister late last year. Mr Albanese has previously said any future version of Australia Day is much more likely to be celebrated on the anniversary of a treaty between the Australian government and First Nations. Invasion Day rallies are now common across Australia. Protesters are pictured at one on Thursday in Sydney Such an agreement could be years away. In practice, the Voice is likely be a group which would advise the federal government and parliament on Indigenous policy matters such as health, education, economic disadvantage and social problems. It could not veto any government decisions and will have no power to deliver programs. Overall the purpose of the Voice is to improve the representation of Indigenous Australians at the highest levels. A San Francisco judge has granted a motion to release dramatic police bodycam footage from the night former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul Pelosi, was attacked by an assailant with a hammer at their home. The motion was granted on Wednesday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, with Judge Stephen Murphy siding with a coalition of news organizations who sought access to evidence against David DePape, the man charged in the October attack. The media argued back in December that the footage should be presented in court and accessible to the public since they had been submitted in open court and admitted into evidence. But DePape's attorney objected to the motion, saying the release could inhibit his client's ability to get a fair trial. Depape has previously been reported as a nudist who struggled with drugs and posts crazed COVID conspiracy theories, anti-Semitic rants, racist slurs, and unhinged screeds about religion online. He remains in jail on multiple charges, including attempted murder, following last year's attack on Paul Pelosi. A San Francisco judge has granted a motion to release body cam footage that allegedly shows David DePape attacking former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul Pelosi DePape has pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges, including attempted murder, attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assault of an immediate family member of a federal official and remains in jail Evidence introduced in the preliminary hearing against DePape included audio from a 911 call made by Paul Pelosi and portions of body camera video taken by the two police officers who responded to the Pelosis' house that day. There are also portions of video of a police detective interviewing DePape and footage captured by Capitol Police Department surveillance cameras. It's not clear on when the files will be released. DePape's defense attorney Adam Lipson has argued that the release of the recordings risked propagating more 'conspiracy theories' and 'false media' reporting about the high-profile case, the Chronicle reported. The judge also heard from Thomas Burke, the attorney representing the group of news organizations. 'The precedent... that they are asking you to set here is out of a speculative fear of manipulation,' Burke told the court. 'Think about what a horrible precedent that would be.' The coalition who filed the motion includes The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, The Press Democrat, CNN, Fox News, CBS, ABC, NBC, and KQED, an NPR-member radio station in San Francisco. Judge Murphy ruled that the potential tampering with the recordings interfering with DePape's right to a fair trial was not compelling enough to withhold the recordings. Prosecutors say DePape broke into the Pelosis' San Francisco home on October 28 seeking to kidnap the former speaker who was out of town and instead beat her 82-year-old husband with a hammer. Paul Pelosi was knocked unconscious and woke up in a pool of his own blood. He later underwent surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands. He has since appeared in public wearing a hat and a glove that covered his wounds. The 82-year-old now appears to be on the mend as last week he was pictured out for dinner with his wife at New York City restaurant Balthazar and later at the Tom Stoppard play Leopoldstadt. Prosecutors say DePape broke into the Pelosis' San Francisco home on October 28 seeking to kidnap the former speaker who was out of town and instead beat Paul with a hammer The 82-year-old now appears to be on the mend as last week he was pictured out for dinner with his wife at NYC restaurant Balthazar and later at the Tom Stoppard play Leopoldstadt In a recent interview with CNN's Chris Wallace on his HBO Max show Who's Talking to Chris Wallace? the former speaker Nancy Pelosi visibly welled up with emotion as she spoke about the vicious assault on her husband. Nancy told how her husband is 'doing ok,' in her interview with Wallace. 'It's going to take a little while for him to be back to normal,' she explained. Nancy acknowledged that Paul's recovery from head injuries is going to be a long process and requires caution. The suspect is believed to have told Paul that he was planning to hold the former speaker hostage, 'interrogate' her and to break her kneecaps if necessary. In December, DePape pleaded not guilty to six charges, including attempted murder, burglary, and elder abuse. He has also pleaded not guilty to federal charges of attempting to kidnap a federal official and assaulting a federal official's family member. He remains jailed without bail and is set to return to a state court on February 23 to set a date for his trial. Heavy storms rolling across Australia's east coast could spoil the second half of Australia Day, to be followed by more thunderstorms and heavy rain across the weekend. Aussies celebrating Australia Day will swelter in temperatures reaching as high as 37C in parts of Sydney and the low to mid-30s in parts of Queensland. The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts Australia Day barbecues will be disrupted by mid-afternoon storms as a low pressure system makes its way up the east coast from the Bass Strait, with rainfall expected over the Illawarra area by around 4pm. Rainfall and potential thunderstorms could spoil the second half of Australia Day celebrations as storms make their way up the east coast (pictured, Australia Day celebrations) Sydney is expected to be hit by the storms soon after, with the Bureau issuing a warning for 'a thunderstorm during this afternoon and evening, possibly severe with damaging winds, heavy falls and large hail in the outer west'. Inland Queensland is expected to experience scattered rainfall as another low pressure system makes its way across Broken Hill in NSW and into the sunshine state. Further supercells are expected to form across northern New South Wales and southern Queensland on Friday afternoon, bringing heavy rain over areas such as Port Macquarie, the Gold Coast and inland Queensland. The wet weather is expected to stick around over the weekend as chances of thunderstorms persist along the east coast. Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are expected over NSW and Queensland this weekend, with Queensland potentially receiving heavier rain later next week (pictured, pedestrians in Brisbane) The BOM have recognised a 'risk of isolated severe thunderstorms over the south-eastern inland [Queensland]'. The intense weather conditions are expected to pick up on Sunday lasting through to Monday as most of the Northern Territory, Queensland and northern New South Wales will experience heavy rain and potential thunderstorms. Queensland can expect heavier rainfall later next week as more low pressure systems dump rain across the state. Sydney recently experienced major rainfall and thunderstorms on Tuesday night (pictured) as Camden airport recorded more than 20,000 lightning strikes and 20mm of rain in 10 minutes Greater Sydney experienced major rainfall and thunderstorms on Tuesday night through to Wednesday morning, with lightning strikes numbering in the thousands in areas across Sydney as heavy rainfall caused pockets of flash flooding. Camden Airport, in far south-west Sydney, experienced over 20,000 lightning strikes in just a 20-kilometre radius and recorded 20 millimetres of rain in just 10 minutes. Lifesavers are pleading with beachgoers to stay vigilant after three people were swept away by a rip at a popular beach in New South Wales. Surf life savers performed a mass rescue at Bulli Beach, north of Wollongong, on Thursday morning. Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce told Radio 2GB that it came as data shows swimmers are four times more likely to drown on Australia Day than any other day. Surf Life Savers have rescued three people at Bulli Beach, north of Wollongong, after they were swept away by a rip More than a million people are expected to flock to the state's beaches today - with SLS figures showing drowning deaths almost double on public holidays and long weekends. Mr Pearce said Australia Day is traditionally one of the deadliest on the water in the calendar year. 'Research and statistics show us that more than if you go for a swim on Australia day you are four times more likely to drown than on any other day,' Mr Pearce said. 'We are throwing so many resources and so many warnings for today.' Australia Day swimmers are four times more likely to drown than on any other day Surf Life Saving Australia launched a safety campaign for beachgoers on Wednesday urging swimmers to look for rips before entering the water. 'One in three people rarely or never look for rip currents before swimming,' Surf Life Saving Australia wrote. 'This summer it is vital to take a second and STOP, LOOK and PLAN before entering the water. 'Stop and check for rips, look for other dangers and plan how to stay safe.' Dark patches of water, fewer breaking waves, a rippled surface and anything - like sand - floating beyond the waves are all indicators that a rip might be close by. The campaign urges swimmers to look for the red and yellow flags and swim between them at all times. As of January 25, 2023, there have been 51 drowning deaths reported nationwide this summer, according to the Royal Life Saving Summer Drowning Toll. Surf Life Saving Australia confirmed the three people rescued at Bulli Beach were all returned to shore safely. The superintendent of the Virginia school board where a six-year-old boy shot and injured his teacher has been fired, and the vice-principal of the school has resigned, as the fallout from the incident continues. First-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner, 25, was shot by her student at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News on January 6. Zwerner's attorney, Diana Toscano, announced on Wednesday that Zwerner was suing, and said that three school employees had warned the administration that the child had a gun in the hours before the incident. Another teacher had also warned that the six-year-old had left a boy sobbing after showing him the gun - and threatening to shoot him if he told anyone. Hours after Toscano's press conference, Dr Ebony Parker, the vice principal, was confirmed to have resigned. At a Newport News school board meeting on Wednesday evening, Superintendent Dr. George Parker III was fired. Dr Ebony Parker, vice principal of Richneck Elementary, resigned on Wednesday. Her resignation came hours after more details were disclosed about the January 6 shooting of Abbey Zwerner, 25. Zwerner is now suing Superintendent Dr. George Parker III, head of Newport News school board, was fired on Wednesday evening amid the fallout from the January 6 shooting It is unclear whether Ebony Parker resigned in protest at the school's administration, or as a result of the ongoing investigation into the shooting. George Parker's firing was the result of a vote at an extraordinary meeting of the board, which voted 5-1 in favor of a separation agreement and severance for him. The chair of the board, Dr. Lisa Surles-Law, emphasized that he was not being fired through any fault of his own, and praised his work in the district - saying he was being fired because a change of leadership was required. 'Effective February 1, Dr Parker will be relieved of his duties as superintendent of Newport News Public Schools,' she said in a statement. 'It is important that we state that this decision was made without cause, cause being defined in his previous contract, as Dr Parker is a capable division leader who served Newport News for nearly five years through some extremely challenging circumstances. 'This decision is based on the future trajectory and needs of our school division. 'In addition, I must relate, we do appreciate the progress for the division under Dr Parker's leadership in developing a long-range facility improvement plan and expanded student programs through a focus on mentorship and student leadership. 'The Newport News School Board thanks him for his service and wishes him nothing but the best moving forward.' The school announced last week that there would be changes in leadership, and appointed Karen Lynch, a former principal and Newport News Extended Learning supervisor, to lead the school. The principal at the time of the shooting, Briana Foster Newton, remains employed by the district, but Lynch has been tasked with 'leading training and preparation activities for Richneck staff moving forward.' Earlier on Wednesday it emerged that Zwerner had just finished reading a story when the child pulled out the handgun and shot her in the chest in front of her first grade class. A source close to the investigation told NBC that Zwerner messaged a loved one saying she was 'frustrated because she was trying to get help with this child, for this child, and then when she needed help, no one was coming.' Toscano, the lawyer, held a bombshell press conference on Wednesday announcing a lawsuit against Newport News Public Schools. Attendees hold their heads down for a prayer during a vigil for Zwerner in front of the Newport News Public Schools Administration Building on Monday January 9 Messages of support left by students for Abbey Zwerner at the front door of Richneck Elementary School Newport News A third teacher informed the administration that she had searched the boy's backpack and told them she believed the child had concealed the gun in his pocket. An administrator is alleged to have dismissed the concerns, responding: 'Well, he has little pockets'. A fourth teacher asked if he could search the child's backpack but he was denied, Toscano told the press conference. Zwerner also went to school authorities earlier that day to report the six-year-old had threatened to beat up another student. Toscano said that her client still has the bullet 'dangerously' lodged inside her body. She added that Zwerner - who was discharged from the hospital last week - is communicating with her daily and gaining strength every day. However, Toscano said 'the road to full recovery will be long ... and the psychological scars will be lasting.' The family of the child - who has not been identified - last week put out a statement claiming the firearm had been 'secured.' They added that the boy 'suffers from an acute disability' and was usually accompanied at school by at least one of his parents. However, the family said the week of the shooting 'was the first week when we were not in class with him. We will regret our absence on this day for the rest of our lives.' Police Chief Steve Drew has repeatedly characterized the shooting as 'intentional,' saying the boy aimed at Zwerner and fired one round which pierced her hand and struck her in the chest. Zwerner's lawyer Diane Toscano (pictured) held a bombshell press conference Wednesday announcing a lawsuit against Newport News Public Schools, alleging that administrators were told three times by staff that the boy had a gun on him that day Toscano said: 'On that day, over the course of a few hours, three different times - three times - the school administration was warned by concerned teachers and employees that the boy had a gun on him at the school and was threatening people. But the administration could not be bothered' Abbey Zwerner, 25, had just finished reading a story when the child pulled out the handgun and shot her in the chest at at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News on January 6 At Wednesday's press conference, Toscano said: 'On that day, over the course of a few hours, three different times - three times - the school administration was warned by concerned teachers and employees that the boy had a gun on him at the school and was threatening people. 'But the administration could not be bothered. 'This tragedy was entirely preventable if the school administrators responsible for school safety had done their part and taken action when they had knowledge of imminent danger. 'But instead they failed to act and Abbey was shot.' 'Were they not so paralyzed by apathy, they could have prevented this tragedy,' she added. The lawyer said the first incident of the day came between 11.15am and 11.30am, when Zwerner told a school administrator the six-year-old had threatened to beat up another student. Toscano said the school administration failed to call security or remove the child from class. At around 12.30pm, a different teacher went to a school administrator to tell them that the child was rumored to have brought a gun to school and that she had searched his backpack. The teacher told the administrator she believed the boy had stashed the gun in his pocket before heading out for recess. The administrator is alleged to have downplayed the teacher's concerns because the six-year-old had 'little pockets.' Police vehicles are seen parked outside Richneck Elementary School in Newport News on January 6 Crowds of concerned parents gathered outside the school following the shooting The teacher has been hailed a hero in the local community Shortly before 1pm, Toscano said, a third teacher reported to the administrators that another boy had come to her in tears, telling her that the child had shown him the gun during recess and threatened to shoot him if he tattled on him. Toscano says the school administration failed to follow the safety protocols and did not report it to the police. Concerned about the threat, a fourth member of staff asked an administrator if he could search the boy. This request was denied, Toscano said. School chiefs allegedly dismissed his concerns, saying that school was almost finished for the day. Just under an hour later, Zwerner was shot by the six-year-old. Toscano concluded the press conference by stating that the incident was 'entirely preventable'. School district spokeswoman Michelle Price and Lisa Surles-Law, chair of the school board, did not immediately return calls seeking comment on Toscano's allegations. When asked about Zwerner's text to her loved one prior to the shooting, Price told NBC that any claims were being 'thoroughly investigated.' Price said: 'Anything that has been reported to our school leadership team in regards to concerns at Richneck from teachers and staff members is part of the investigation. It's being thoroughly investigated.' The shooting raised questions over security at the school and stunned Newport News, a city of about 185,000 people roughly 70 miles southeast of Richmond. Police said earlier that the six-year-old's mother legally purchased the gun but that it was unclear how her son gained access to it. A Virginia law prohibits leaving a loaded gun where it is accessible to a child under 14, a misdemeanor crime punishable with a maximum one-year prison sentence and a $2,500 fine. Officials said Hyejeong Shin, 29, fraudulently enrolled in high school An adult woman has been accused of impersonating a minor and fraudulently enrolling as a student in a New Jersey high school. Hyejeong Shin, 29, was arrested last week after attending classes at New Brunswick High School for four days before her true age was discovered, officials said at a school board meeting on Tuesday. The purpose of the alleged deception remains unclear, but students at the school expressed shock and fear upon learning the truth about their new classmate. Some of the students even told CBS News they got text messages from the woman asking to hang out, making them fear she had ill designs. 'Some of the girls I know, the girl did ask them to hang out at Commercial Avenue, but they never showed up, and she started acting weird with them,' one student said. 'It's scary because you never know what could happen.' Hyejeong Shin, 29, was arrested last week after attending classes at New Brunswick High School for four days before her true age was discovered, officials said 'I was in class with this woman, and talked to her, walked her from point A to point B, and never expected this to happen,' one student, Tatianna (center), told New Brunswick Today Breaking news: An adult woman was arrested after posing as a child and providing fake documents to enroll in New Brunswick High School last week, @aubjohnson111 announced tonight. She attended the school for four days and community members are concerned about her motives. pic.twitter.com/BLOwgFeyss Charlie Kratovil (@Charlie4Change) January 25, 2023 New Brunswick Public School District Superintendent Aubrey Johnson said at a school board meeting that Shin attended several class for four days before the scheme unraveled. 'By filing false documents, an adult female posing as a student was able to be enrolled in our high school,' Johnson said at the meeting, according to a video posted by New Brunswick Today. Shin was charged with one count of providing a false government document with the intent to verify one's identity or age, after police said she provided a false birth certificate, according to NBC News. But much about the case remains unclear, including the date of Shin's arrest and her current custody status. Officials said Shin attended classes at New Brunswick High School (above) for four days before her true age was discovered An official at the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center told DailyMail.com that Shin was not in custody as of Wednesday evening. The New Brunswick Police Department did not immediately respond to phone and email messages. Superintendent Johnson said that much of the woman's time during the four days she was enrolled was spent with guidance counselors, who were attempting to learn more about her background and needs. But he added that she had attended at least three classes, and several students spoke out about interactions they'd had with Shin during her fraudulent enrollment. 'I was in class with this woman, and talked to her, walked her from point A to point B, and never expected this to happen,' one student, Tatianna, told New Brunswick Today. 'Not knowing she was a 29-year-old woman makes me question how safe I am in this building,' the student added, saying she had given her phone number to Shin and now feels 'taken advantage of.' New Brunswick Public School District Superintendent Aubrey Johnson (center left) revealed the incident at a school board meeting Shin reportedly told school officials that she was 15, but raised suspicion when she was unclear about the identity of her her legal guardians. The scheme is said to have unraveled when Shin tried to sign herself out for the day, but was prevented from doing so as a minor. Frustrated, Shin allegedly revealed that she is actually 29. If she needed to complete a GED, the adult equivalent of a high school diploma, Shin could have legally enrolled in New Brunswick's Adult Learning Center, the local news outlet noted. Shin's current custody status is unclear, and it was not immediately clear whether she had an attorney to speak on her behalf. Embattled New York Republican Rep. George Santos once said he believed Jeffrey Epstein was 'murdered' and claimed the same thing could happen to Ghislaine Maxwell while in U.S. custody, in a newly resurfaced interview. Santos told The Rory Sauter Show in August 2020 that he had met the late pedophile a 'couple' of times and described him as a 'cordial gentleman.' Epstein killed himself while awaiting court proceedings in a New York City jail after he was charged with sex trafficking and other counts in 2019. His death has sparked conspiracy theories that he was killed to protect more powerful people who participated in his alleged child trafficking rings. Pressed by the far-right host on a theory that Epstein was still alive, Santos maintained he was murdered - but added 'anything can happen' in this day and age. Embattled Republican Rep. George Santos called late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein a 'cordial gentleman' in a newly-resurfaced 2020 interview The freshman congressman has admitted to lying about his educational and career credentials and fabricating details about his heritage. Since then he's faced growing scrutiny as more of his backstory unravels. Among the most recent revelations is that his mother was not in New York City's World Trade Center during the September 11 terror attacks - as he'd claimed - but that she was in Brazil, her country of origin. But in the 2020 interview, Santos said without elaborating that his mother had 'fled socialism in Europe.' Toward the end of his interview Santos was asked about Maxwell's imprisonment in a New York jail - to which he issued a full-throated call for her to be sent outside of the country's borders. Santos claimed they'd met a 'couple' of times and said, 'who would know that guy has an island that sex trafficked little girls and boys, to you know, satisfy the pleasure of Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton?' 'She should be placed offshore where nobody of the big guns in the United States have a flying clue of where she is,' he said. 'She should be offered the protections of...foreign custodianship, so that she is not murdered just like Epstein was, and doesn't go to the tomb with all the dirty secrets of the higher-ups in the control of this country.' Santos added that he's 'not a big conspiracy theorist.' Pressed on the theory of Epstein still being alive, he eventually seemed to concede, 'Look, it's 2020. I've seen the most bizarre, unthinkable, and unimaginable happen this year.' 'I wouldn't put it past me that he's still walking around and then we're all like, "Oh, my God, that guy's alive," and we can't tell. So you know what, it's 2020, anything can happen.' But Santos maintained his belief the disgraced billionaire was murdered - while revealing they'd been face-to-face while questioning the circumstances of his death. He said Epstein's former girlfriend and accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell 'should be offered the protections of...foreign custodianship, so that she is not murdered just like Epstein was, and doesn't go to the tomb with all the dirty secrets of the higher-ups in the control of this country' 'I met Epstein in a couple of private equity conferences,' Santos said. 'I'm six-two, and the guy was taller than me. There's just no way you can hang yourself off of a bunk bed at that height.' Asked about what Epstein was like in person, Santos first said he did not 'really get to know a good feel for the guy' but seemed to praise his character from the little he did claim to know. 'From what I- have my you know, my coffee, hi and bye, two minute conversation standing by a pastry table, grabbing some coffee - he was a very pleasant individual,' Santos said. 'I'm not saying he's a pleasant person, and especially after everything that's come out in media, but you know, a very pleasant guy, very cordial gentleman and kind.' He added, 'Who would know that guy has an island that sex trafficked little girls and boys, to you know, satisfy the pleasure of Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton?' Left-wing commentator Mike Carlton has been slammed for his 'ignorance' after tweeting his low opinion of body image campaigner Taryn Brumfitt being made the 2023 Australian of the Year. In a tweet posted after the announcement of Ms Brumfitt as the winner of the top Australia Day gong in Canberra on Wednesday night, Mr Carlton made his view of the decision known on his account with nearly 194,000 followers. 'My Australian of the Year would be a doctor or nurse working nights in intensive care or the ED, dealing with COVID and daily death. Real, compassionate work. For very little money. NOT someone who makes a buck out of saying its ok to be a bit fat. Good night.' His tweet was supported by left-wing former Channel 10 television reporter, Paul Bongiorno, who tweeted 'Indeed' underneath Mr Carlton's post. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese presents the award for 2023 Australian of the Year to body-image activist Taryn Brumfitt at the 2023 Australian of the Year Awards in Canberra In a tweet posted after the announcement of Ms Brumfitt as the winner of the top Australia Day gong in Canberra on Wednesday night, veteran journalist Mike Carlton made his view of the decision known on his account with nearly 194,000 followers Mr Carlton also tweeted 'Who ? ? ?' when news of Ms Brumfitt's award first broke on Wednesday night Twitter user Sharna Bremner said Mr Carlton and fellow journalist Paul Bongiorno, who tweeted in support of him, 'should be ashamed of their ignorance & s****y remarks' 'Every little girl should grow up seeing her mother naked' Former bodybuilder Taryn Brumfitt regularly walks around her home naked Australian of the Year Taryn Brumfitt has revealed how she regularly walks around naked in front of her two sons - Oliver, 11, and Cruz, 9 - and daughter Mikaela, 8. The former bodybuilder turned activist believes it's vital for them to know how a woman's body changes with age and insists they are all comfortable with her nudity. 'It's something I do mainly for my daughter's benefit,' she says. 'I know that, as a girl, it's especially important she sees me unclothed it facilitates an ongoing dialogue between us about the female body, and the way it changes throughout the course of a woman's life. 'In fact, I believe that every little girl should grow up seeing her mother naked on a regular basis.' Advertisement Carlton also tweeted 'Who ? ? ?' when news of Ms Brumfitt's award first broke on Wednesday night. But the tweets were met with a fierce response from women. Sharna Bremner, the founder and director of End Rape on Campus Australia, tweeted in response: 'Eating disorders are the third most common illness among young women in Australia & have the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric disorders,' she posted. 'These two should be ashamed of their ignorance & s****y remarks.' 'Disgusting, ignorant old white men. F*** them,' another person responded. 'Im really sad to see this, it shows how much more education is needed around eating disorders, and for men to understand the female experience of being reduced to ornamentation our whole lives,' tweeted Sonya Semmens. The negative reaction to his tweet caused Mr Carlton to begin blocking those who objected to his view of Ms Brumfitt's award. 'Must have blocked around sixty morons of one sort or another in the last 24 hours. But its a sunny day and I have better things to do,' he posted early on Australia Day. Ms Bremner also shared a screenshot in which Mr Carlton had blocked her from his account. Ms Brumfitt, 44, an activist, writer, director and public speaker on a decade-long mission to change how we perceive ourselves, was crowned our top Aussie at a glittering ceremony in Canberra on Wednesday night. The Body Image Movement, which she founded in 2012, teaches people - young women in particular - to love and appreciate their bodies and has taken her to a global audience from her humble hometown of Adelaide. Ms Brumfitt, 44, an activist, writer, director and public speaker on a decade-long mission to change how we perceive ourselves In her speech accepting the award, Ms Brumfitt said body shaming had become a chronic national problem, with 70 per cent of schoolchildren citing it as their number one concern In her speech accepting the award, Ms Brumfitt said body shaming had become a chronic national problem, with 70 per cent of schoolchildren citing it as their number one concern. 'We're facing a paediatric health emergency with rates of suicide, depression, eating disorders, anxiety and steroid use related to body dissatisfaction soaring,' she told the audience. 'We now know that young people with poor body image are 24 times more likely to be depressed and suffer from anxiety. 'There is so much despair in this nation for children and adults when it comes to what we think and how we feel about our bodies. 'Australia, it is not our life's purpose to be at war with our body.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Brumfitt and the National Australia Day Council for comment. Fears are growing that King Charles' coronation could be overshadowed by Prince Andrew's sex abuse accuser following reports that Virginia Giuffre's memoir could be released just weeks before the historic ceremony. Multiple reports claim that Ms Giuffre, who has accused the Duke of York of sexually abusing her when she was a minor under US law, has signed a book deal worth millions. She and Andrew, who has consistently denied the allegations, are said to have agreed to a gag clause which will expire in March, a year after they settled her civil rape claim against him. Publishing insiders have said that Ms Giuffre's memoir could be released just weeks before Charles' coronation, telling The Mirror: 'There will be no bigger occasion for her book than the crowning of the king.' It comes as The Daily Mail reveals that Andrew told friends that his reputation could soon be restored. King Charles' coronation may be overshadowed by the release of memoir detailing Virginia Giuffre's alleged meetings with Prince Andrew. The Duke of York and Ms Giuffre are pictured together in an undated handout photo issued by the US Department of Justice Plans have been drawn up to 'maxmise' the book release with a publishing insider alleging: 'There will be no bigger occasion for her book than the crowning of the king.' Virginia Giuffre and lawyer David Boies are pictured in August 2019 at Federal Court in New York 'All eyes will be on the royal family in the weeks leading up to Charless coronation,' the insider alleged, noting that 'book releases are all about timing.' Ms Giuffre's publisher wants to capitalise on the fact that a global audience will be talking about the May 6 coronation and what royal festivities Andrew will be invited to partake in. The insider added that Ms Giuffre's memoir, which is said to have been 12 years in the making, may not be able to directly repeat her allegations about the prince but will still 'pour further embarrassment on Andrew, the royals and the biggest day of his own brothers life.' Ms Giuffre's book deal is said to be worth 'millions,' multiple sources told the New York Post. It also comes amid reports that Andrew has amassed a war chest worth as much as 10million in preparation to launch a legal challenge to his settlement with Ms Giuffre. The settlement is reported to be a considerable sum of money, with some estimates around 12million. Prince Andrew, pictured driving his Range Rover in the grounds of Windsor Castle, reportedly recently claimed to friends that a 'mystery development' will restore his disgraced reputation within the coming months The Duke of York is consulting with lawyers in an attempt to get Virginia Giuffre, formally known as Virginia Roberts. to retract her allegations against him Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Andrew has been assuring friends there is about to be a development which will restore his tainted reputation. The Duke of York is regularly voted the least popular member of the Royal Family and was stripped of his public duties following the revelations over his relationship with paedophile Epstein, yet his self-belief remains undiminished. If not quite back up to the heroic status he enjoyed as a helicopter pilot in the Falklands War, then at least to what it was before he was photographed in New York's Central Park talking to Epstein, shortly after the latter's release from prison in 2009 after serving a puzzlingly short sentence for sex offences. It is when out shooting that the Duke of York tends to talk most freely. 'He says that details are about to be made public which will change people's perceptions of him,' Richard Eden was told. 'He says that it will happen next month.' Although Andrew, 62, does not elaborate further, the Mail on Sunday reported at the weekend that he is to launch a dramatic bid to overturn the multi-million-pound settlement he struck with the woman who accused him of sexual assault. It is understood Andrew has consulted lawyers in an attempt to get Virginia Giuffre, formally known as Virginia Roberts. to retract her allegations and possibly secure an apology. He was inspired to act after Ms Giuffre dropped her lawsuit against another man she accused of sexual assault, admitting that she 'may have made a mistake' in identifying him. But Ms Giuffre has always maintained her case against the duke was valid. Andrew's relationship with Epstein was raised once again in a bombshell interview with Ghislaine Maxwell on TalkTV. Speaking from prison, Maxwell said Prince Andrew was a 'dear friend' and said the accusations against him were unfounded. In her first TV interview since she was jailed for child sex trafficking, the British socialite also claimed the infamous photo of her, Andrew and Ms Giuffre was a 'fake'. Andrew is expected to claim that he never met Ms Giuffre and to argue that the photo is fake in his future legal action. However, several high-profile forensic experts who have examined the photo, in which Andrew has his arm around a young Ms Giuffre, have said they believe it to be real. Ms Giuffre alleges she was groomed by pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Maxwell, and forced to have sex with him on several occasions. Prince Andrew denied ever meeting Ms Giuffre in a disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019. He famously claimed he was at a Pizza Express in Woking at the time of one of the incidents mentioned by his accuser. Prince Andrew, Duke of York is seen out riding at Windsor Castle The son of the late Queen Elizabeth has suffered a series of humiliations since his car crash Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis in November 2019, as institutions have severed ties with him. The most shattering blow, Mr Eden was told, was the abrupt curtailment of his role as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, reported by the Daily Mail just before Christmas. He had already withdrawn from duties with the Grenadiers but had done so in the belief that he would, in time, return to them. 'He says that Her Majesty [Queen Elizabeth] gave him her word that stepping down was only a temporary measure. He says that he wasn't told in advance that he was about to be booted out, nor, obviously, that Camilla would be replacing him. He says that he just heard about it ''in the media''.' Perhaps, then, it is time for Andrew to deliver a media surprise of his own? Feature: Book fair in London promotes understanding of today's China Xinhua) 15:53, January 26, 2023 LONDON, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- In the perennially busy London Chinatown, where the ongoing Lunar New Year celebrations drew large crowds, Jack Flowers ambled into a bookshop and began browsing China-themed books. "I read things in English and in French, and China has a very different culture and history and society, and is quite appealing for that reason. Also, I like the linguistic aspect of it," Flowers, 26, a French teacher at a school in London, told Xinhua. He bought a simplified version of Journey to the West, one of the four classics of Chinese literature. His visit to the Guanghwa Bookshop on Shaftesbury Avenue came at the opportune time when the 13th Spring Festival Joint Exhibition of Chinese Books in Global Overseas Chinese Bookstores is being held in 85 physical bookstores, including Guanghwa, in 27 countries and regions. With the theme of "Reading China," the exhibition, organized by China's National Press and Publication Administration, displays more than 150 titles, including award-winning Chinese novels and works on China's governance. "We hope that through this year's book exhibition, we will deliver the latest and best publications to local readers, so that they can learn more about China in the new era," said Li Tao, manager of Guanghwa Bookshop. Marcus Broadbent, a 66-year-old retired simultaneous interpreter at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, studied Chinese in Beijing in the early 1980s and left China in 1983. For Broadbent, who plans to revisit China soon, the books provide an excellent opportunity to reconnect with the country. "I'm trying to pick it (the Chinese language) up because I want to go back," Broadbent said. He used to read Lu Xun, widely regarded as one of modern China's most prominent and influential writers. Broadbent marveled at the significant changes in China during the past four decades when he was absent. Using Google Earth, the streets near the language university in Beijing where he studied were unrecognizable. "Many skyscrapers," he said. He also recalled seeing photos of Shanghai Pudong New Area and said: "Just amazing! To me, it's just extraordinary." Flowers told Xinhua that despite the sea change in China, there's a sense of consistency as the old finds modern expression. He recalled using the taxi-hailing service app Cao Cao while visiting China several years ago. He knew the company's name was drawn from Romance of the Three Kingdoms, another of the four Chinese classics. The name was a reference to a famous Chinese saying, "speaking of Cao Cao, and he appears," ingeniously hinting at the taxis' prompt arrival. "I thought: That makes a lot of sense. But it's funny (because) that was the sort of reference to really an old piece of literature," Flowers said. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Hongyu) A high school history teacher in California has admitted to helping students change their gender identity without their parents' knowledge. Olivia Garrison, who is nonbinary, told the New York Times that they felt it was their job as a teacher to 'protect kids' - 'sometimes from their own parents.' 'My job, which is a public service, is to protect kids,' Garrison said. 'Sometimes, they need protection from their own parents.' Garrison teaches at Del Oro High School in the Kern High School District (KHSD), which has a form that allows students to change their preferred name and gender marker without a parent's signature. The history teacher, who has previously posted on TikTok about their 'queer safe space classroom,' was one of the dozens of educators, public officials, and parents the New York Times spoke to about gender transitioning in schools. Olivia Garrison, who has previously posted on TikTok about their 'queer safe space classroom,' has admitted to helping students change their gender identity without parents' knowledge Clementine Morales, a former student of Garrison's who is now 19, told the Times they came out as nonbinary at school when they weren't able to do it at home. 'I had to look for parental figures in other people who were not my parents,' Morales said. Schools have come under pressure to address the needs of transgender youth, but dozens of parents whose children have socially transitioned at school told The Times they felt 'villainized by educators who seemed to think that they knew what was best for their children.' Jessica Bradshaw of Torrance, California, told the Times that she learned about her 15-year-old's social transition after reading their preferred name on a worksheet. 'There was never any word from anyone to let us know that on paper, and in the classroom, our daughter was our son,' she said, who accepted her child's decision, but resented that the school had made her feel like a bad parent. 'It felt like a parenting stab in the back from the school system. It should have been a decision we made as a family.' The student told the Times that his school had provided him with a space to be himself that he otherwise lacked. He said he had tried to come out to his parents before, but they didn't take it seriously, which is why he leaned on his school for support. 'I wish schools didn't have to hide it from parents or do it without parental permission, but it can be important,' he said. 'Schools are just trying to do what's best to keep students safe and comfortable. When you're trans, you feel like you are in danger all the time. Even though my parents were accepting, I was still scared, and that's why the school didn't tell them.' Garrison teaches at Del Oro High School in the Kern High School District The district has a form that allows students to change their preferred name and gender without a parent's signature The student attends a public school that is one of many that allows students to socially transition without permission from their parents. The social transition could include a change in their name, pronouns, or gender expression. The guidelines on social transition vary among school districts and by state. Some states, including California, New Jersey, and Maryland advise schools not to disclose information about students gender identity without their permission. But there are several other states with antidiscrimination guidance that is open to interpretation. Jeff Walker, a father in Alabama, and another parent to a transgender student, told the Times that he worries for other gender-nonconforming youths whose families are not open to transition. 'Not all children in this area have safe spaces at home,' Walker said. The New York Times also spoke to Dr. Erica Anderson, a psychologist who has helped hundreds of young people transition. Anderson, who is transgender, filed a brief in support of parents in a Maryland lawsuit claiming the district's policy violates their rights, the Times reported. She wrote that transitioning socially is 'a major and potentially life-altering decision that requires parental involvement, for many reasons.' Harvard University students publicly staged a walk-out of a class taught by Dr. John Comaroff, who was accused of having forcibly kissed and groped grad students in a lawsuit from three graduate students. Comaroff, an anthropology professor and expert on South Africa, had been on administrative leave following a university investigation into his conduct but returned to teach last fall when he also faced a walk-out. The lawsuit, which has been backed on Title IX grounds by the US Department of Justice, alleged that the prestigious institution ignored sexual harassment allegations against a prominent tenured professor - who in one incident forcibly kissed and groped one of the women and told her that she could undergo 'corrective rape' while doing field work in Africa if she took her girlfriend along. Comaroff was placed on unpaid leave in January 2022 after university investigators found that he engaged in verbal conduct that violated both the school's sexual and gender-based and professional conduct policies. Harvard University students publicly staged a walk-out of a class taught by Dr. John Comaroff (pictured right), who was accused of having forcibly kissed and groped women in a lawsuit from three graduate students Watch the moment 100+ @Harvard students walked out of John Comaroffs classroom, a current professor and known sexual abuser. We demand Comaroff resigns & @Harvard ends their complicity in sexual abuse and misogyny on campus. #WalkoutOnComaroff @OurHarvard pic.twitter.com/t38Blxfm2B Rosie Couture (@rosiecouturee) January 25, 2023 He has denied the accusations, with his attorneys telling DailyMail.com at the time of the lawsuit he 'categorically denies ever harassing or retaliating against any student.' Several activist organizations across campus, as well as the graduate student union's Feminist Working Group, organized the protest. 'John Comaroff has spent his career silencing and retaliating against students thereby undermining Harvard's value of creating an equitable, safe learning environment for all,' first-year student Rosie Couture said in a statement. 'For the good of the university community and Harvard's academic mission, it's past time for Harvard to act.' Plaintiffs Margaret Czerwienski, Lilia Kilburn and Amulya Mandava alleged that Comaroff for years 'kissed and groped students without their consent, made unwelcome sexual advances, and threatened to sabotage students' careers if they complained.' The suit accuses Comaroff of musing to Kilburn that she could be subject to 'corrective rape' or murder if she were seen in a same-sex relationship while doing field work in Africa, a remark she told the New York Times was made with a 'tone of enjoyment.' The lawsuit says Kilburn was subjected to 'a continuing nightmare that included more forced kissing, groping, persistent invitations to socialize alone off-campus, and coercive control.' 'Regarding Ms. Kilburn, professor Comaroff did not kiss her or touch her inappropriately at any time,' the statement from the professor's attorneys said. Comaroff, an anthropology professor and expert on South Africa , had been on administrative leave following a university investigation into his conduct but returned to teach last fall, when he also faced a walk-out Plaintiffs Margaret Czerwienski (pictured left), Lilia Kilburn (pictured center) and Amulya Mandava (pictured right) alleged that Comaroff for years 'kissed and groped students without their consent, made unwelcome sexual advances, and threatened to sabotage students' careers if they complained.' Several activist organizations across campus, as well as the graduate student union's Feminist Working Group, organized the protest On another occasion in 2017, when she met with Comaroff to discuss her plans to study in Cameroon, he repeatedly said she could be subjected to violence in Africa because she was in a same-sex relationship, the lawsuit said. 'Ms. Kilburn sat frozen in shock, while professor Comaroff continued for approximately five minutes,' the suit said. Kilburn tweeted out in support of the walkout, writing: 'as someone who experienced Comaroff's misconduct firsthand, I am so grateful to see others spreading the word. this direct action is essential because Harvard only announced its sanctions against Comaroff to two departments. but everyone needs information & safety.' Comaroff said in a statement from his lawyers that 'this was a necessary conversation for her safety' and that 'he was motivated only by his concern for Ms. Kilburn's well-being and had no romantic or sexual intention.' The other two plaintiffs, Margaret Czerwienski and Amulya Mandava, said when they reported Comaroff's behavior to university administrators, he retaliated against them by threatening to derail their careers. Comaroff denied ever threatening Czerwienski or Mandava, but instead 'consistently made every effort to assist these students and to advance their careers.' The lawsuit says the women first approached Harvard staff about Comaroff nearly five years ago. In a statement to DailyMail.com, Comaroff's attorneys vehemently denied the allegations, saying their client 'categorically denies ever harassing or retaliating against any student' 'All three plaintiffs repeatedly complained to Harvard administrators,' said the suit. 'But the university brushed them aside and opted to protect its star professor over vulnerable students,' it added. The lawsuit claims that Harvard stood by and watched as he retaliated by ensuring the students would have 'trouble getting jobs.' Comaroff, who joined Harvard in 2012, was not named as a defendant. In June, the Harvard Crimson reported a sexual misconduct claim against him dating back to his time at the University of Chicago in the 1970s. His lawyers -- Norman Zalkind, Janet Halley, and Ruth OMeara-Costello -- in a joint statement said he 'categorically denies ever harassing or retaliating against any student.' Harvard had no comment. In January, it placed Comaroff on leave for the spring semester and barred him from teaching required courses after finding he engaged in verbal conduct that violated its sexual harassment and professional conduct policies. The lawsuit claims that Harvard stood by and watched as he retaliated by ensuring the students would have 'trouble getting jobs' In January, it placed Comaroff on leave for the spring semester and barred him from teaching required courses after finding he engaged in verbal conduct that violated its sexual harassment and professional conduct policies Those sanctions have divided the Harvard community, where nearly 40 faculty members signed an open letter questioning the investigation and calling him an 'excellent colleague.' All three plaintiffs said their academic trajectories and career prospects had been 'profoundly altered' and that Harvard violated Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, which protects students from discrimination based on sex, and various Massachusetts laws. In September, the Justice Department, in a rare filing in such a case, argued that Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, protects students' ability to report sex discrimination without fear of reprisal. 'For that to happen, schools must protect students who participate in the Title IX process from retaliation and respond effectively to known retaliatory acts of their employees,' the department said. 'Harvards continued failure to act on repeated reports of harassment against professor Comaroff -until spurred to do so by the media - demonstrates an institutional policy of indifference: a system designed to protect the university, its reputation, and the faculty who sustain that reputation at the expense of its students,' the lawsuit said. The lawsuit seeks a jury trial, unspecified damages, and a judgment that Harvard violated the women's rights. News footage of men and boys 'made up as Aborigines' in blackface entertaining Australia Day crowds just 53 years ago has emerged on social media. The NBN news clip, shot in Newcastle two hours north of Sydney on Australia Day 1970, was reposted to Twitter on Thursday with the title 'White people doing blackface on Australia Day 1970'. The historic video showed large crowds watching on curiously. In a surprising similarity to today's Australia Day celebrations, there's isn't a single Australian flag in sight. the footage, which is disturbing to the modern eye, shows men and boys in blackface entertaining Australia Day crowds in Newcastle Invasion and survival day events were powerful affairs in 2023 In the clip, two groups of young men and boys in black body and face paint gleefully stalk onlookers and thrust fake spears at them during an event packed with families that began on Hunter Street. The young men had donned blackface, apparently completely unaware that it might already inappropriate. Their chests were also painted with what looked like they were supposed to be white bones The clip from 1970 showed a second group of young Newcastle men wearing full body black paint too It had a man dressed up as Ned Kelly, accompanied by 'police' and a flat bed truck carrying a boat filled with waving council workers dressed up as first fleet crew They laughed and pretended to throw spears at men dressed as sailors from the First Fleet. On the same day 53 years later indigenous Australians and their allies walked together sombrely to express their collective sadness at the impacts of colonization in 'Invasion Day' rallies across Australia. As the years go by, the losses continue to mount for Australian Indigenous people. For starters they suffer far high rates of imprisonment, domestic violence, sexual abuse and drug and alcohol addiction than most non-Indigenous communities in the same country. The historic video showed large crowds, without an Australian flag in sight, looking on curiously at the men in blackface Australia's Indigenous people die younger - with heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disease and cancer the many culprits - and are less likely to find stable careers and housing They die younger - with heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disease and cancer the mani culprits - and are less likely to find stable careers and housing. Only a few hundred metres from where the blackfaced boys took a lead role on Australia Day in 1970, Newcastle's 2023 Day of Mourning event was far more reflective. It began at 10am at Customs House fountain and was followed by a walk up Wharf Road to 'release' sorry business. The clip from 1970 showed a second group of young men wearing full body black paint too. On the same day 53 years later indigenous Australians and their allies walked together sombrely across Australia In Melbourne Invasion Day protesters had several events to choose from They were at Horsehoe Beach, near the famous Nobby's Beach looking menacing as another group re-enacted Captain Phillip's Botany Bay landing. Apart from the horrific blackface, the 1970 parade wasn't so different to how it would be today. It had a man dressed up as Ned Kelly, accompanied by 'police' and a flat bed truck carrying a boat filled with waving council workers dressed up as first fleet crew. On Twitter, people who viewed the post were surprised and shocked, but some found the video familiar. 'Its folly to judge people from the past through the prism of our current standards and understanding,' said one man. 'This is the world I grew up in. Glad weve (somewhat) moved on from this,' wrote a Perth man. 'I think there are still many people though who still live in this paradigm of acceptability.' Newcastle's 2023 Day of Mourning event began at 10am at Customs House fountain and was followed by a walk up Wharf Road to 'release' sorry business No matter how frowned upon it is, blackface does seem to keep happening. In September 2022, a Queensland footy club was investigated after a Mad Monday 'blackface' team photo was posted online appearing to feature players dressed up as Michael Jordan and Usain Bolt. The image, which showed representatives from the Highfields Eagles Rugby League Club in Toowoomba, appeared on the club's Facebook page. Following community backlash, it was quickly deleted. Another noticeable difference was the complete absence of Australian flags amongst the visible spectators. At most Australia Day event since about 2000, Aussie flags tend to be plastered on everything from t-shirts to boardies, to sunhats and beach towels. Hall, 25, currently stars alongside Pauline Chalamet, Amrit Kaur, Renee Rapp, and Alyah Chanelle Scott in the Mindy Kaling-produced series 'He was f***ing some girl in the library and I thought it was dynamite' the 'Veep' actor said during Tuesday night's show Louis-Dreyfus, 62, called her son Charlie Hall's performance 'really great' and 'adorable' during a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live Actor Julia Louis-Dreyfus had a hilarious reaction when asked about what it's like to watch her son's racy scenes in HBO Max's 'The Sex Lives of College Girls' Actor Julia Louis-Dreyfus is not letting a few racy scenes get in the way of supporting her son in his role on HBO Max's 'The Sex Lives of College Girls.' The 11-time Emmy winner made an appearance on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' Tuesday to talk about her new Netflix movie 'You People' starring Eddie Murphy, Nia Long, and Jonah Hill. It wasn't long into the conversation, however, that things turned to her son, Charlie Hall, and his recent role in the Mindy Kaling-produced HBO Max series. Hall appeared as Andrew in the show's second season and had several scandalous scenes with Whitney, played by Alyah Chanelle Scott. Louis-Dreyfus, a proud mom and no stranger to Hollywood, said she didn't let it deter her from tuning in. 'I think he was really great, I mean, he was adorable. He was f***ng some girl in the library and I thought it was dynamite!' the 'Veep' star told the late-night host. Alyah Chanelle Scott (left) and Julia Louis-Dreyfus' son Charlie Hall (right) in HBO Max's 'The Sex Lives of College Girls' season two The 'Seinfeld' star shared her thoughts on the scandalous scenes while discussing her role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and how she relies on her sons, Charlie, 25, and Henry, 30, who she shares with actor Brad Hall. Louis-Dreyfus explained to Kimmel that she has her boys help explain the world she is working in - regarding the Marvel Comics - which is when the conversation turned. Charlie, who has also been featured in shows like 'Bel-Air,' and 'Single Drunk Female,' has gained notoriety for his most recent role on Mindy Kaling's HBO series starring Pauline Chalamet, Renee Rapp, and Amrit Kaur. The actor plays Andrew, one of the love interests of Whitney Chase, played by Scott. The series lives up to its name and features several steamy scenes per episode, prompting Kimmel, 55, to ask if Louis-Dreyfus watches the show. 'Do you watch the show in fear that you might see something you haven't seen for a while,' the host joked as the audience laughed. 'I mean, I did watch the show,' she responds, carefully choosing what to say next. Julia Louis-Dreyfus had a hilarious reaction to being asked about her son Charlie's sex scenes The actor, appearing on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' to promote her upcoming film 'You People,' joked that she did watch the show and saw the racy scenes 'I think he was really great, I mean, he was adorable. He was f***ng some girl in the library and I thought it was dynamite!' the 'Veep' star told the late-night host Louis-Dreyfus, 62, alongside son and actor Hall, 25 Hall guest-starred in several episodes of Mindy Kaling's HBO Max series The Emmy award winner, seemingly flustered, struggled to find her words as the crowd continued laughing. It was then when the proud mom described her son in the show as 'really great' and 'adorable,' before sharing the graphic nature of one of the scenes. 'He was f***ing some girl in the library and I thought it was dynamite!' Louis-Drefyus retorted as the crowd and Kimmel burst out. 'Makes you feel good about teaching them how to read, right?' Kimmel joked back. The proud mom did not appear to let her son's sex scenes stop her from supporting him From left to right: Charlie Hall, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Henry Hall, and Brad Hall The scene the actor was describing finds Hall's Andrew and Scott's Whitney on a study date in the library when things take a steamy turn in between bookstacks. It's just one of many scenes between the two characters and could even be considered on the tamer-side for the raunchy comedy. The series, which was renewed for season three in December, is expected to come back sometime in the fall, most likely in November. It's unknown at this time if Hall will return to reprise his role in the third season. It's just one of many scenes between the two characters and could even be considered on the tamer-side for the raunchy comedy It runs in the family! Louis-Drefus, Charlie Hall, and Brad Hall are all actors It's unknown at this time if Hall will return to reprise his role in the third season Louis-Dreyfus, who Kimmel pointed out has 'more Emmys than fingers,' appeared on the show to discuss 'You People' which releases on Netflix on January 27. It's been a busy few years for the 'Veep' and 'The New Adventures of Old Christine' star who joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2021 and has appeared in a bevy of other related projects since. The acclaimed comedic actor first showed up in 'Black Widow' alongside Florence Pugh and also made a surprise major cameo in 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' which was released in November. 'My adult sons are huge Marvel fanatics and for a long time they're like "mom, you should be in a Marvel movie, you got to be in a Marvel movie." I'm like, "oh yeah, they're never going to want me to be in a Marvel movie" and then they did,' she said. Louis-Dreyfus, who Kimmel pointed out has 'more Emmys than fingers,' appeared on the show to discuss 'You People' which releases on Netflix on January 27 Louis-Dreyfus, who plays Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, is also slated to begin filming the highly-anticipated 'Thunderbolts' movie alongside Pugh reprising her role as Yelena Belova, David Harbour back as the Red Guardian, and Sebastian Stan in his longtime role as Bucky Barnes. The movie will also welcome Harrison Ford into the Marvel-world in the role of Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross, filling in for late-actor William Hurt who dies in 2022. That film is slated to release on July 26, 2024, and is described as following 'a group of supervillains are recruited to go on missions for the government,' according to its IMDB page. During the Kimmel interview, the late night host pulled out a picture of the Marvel comic Louis-Dreyfus' character first appeared in and showed pictures of her comic-book counterpart while discussing her next project. Louis-Dreyfus, who plays Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, is also slated to begin filming the highly-anticipated 'Thunderbolts' movie this summer The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a long way from the comedian's beginnings on 'Seinfeld' When Kimmel looked to the actor for clarification on what the film is about and what fans can expect, the comedian confirmed it will involve 'good guys who are doing bad, bad guys who are doing good.' She also said she believes her character 'straddles both worlds of good and bad' and her true nature is a little 'unclear.' 'It's certainly unclear to me,' she said laughing. The White House sided with three Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday who House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is trying to strip of their highly valuable committee assignments. On Tuesday, McCarthy decided that Reps. Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell were no longer welcome on the House Intel Committee - and because it's a select panel and not a standing one, he's got the final say on its membership. He's also threatened a House vote to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee over comments she previously made about Israel. President Biden's press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about McCarthy's letter booting Schiff and Swalwell off the intelligence committee at her regular news briefing, and said that both they and Omar bring valuable 'expertise' to their respective panel assignments. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about House Speaker McCarthy keeping Democrat Reps. Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell off the intelligence committee, and defended them along with Rep. Ilhan Omar She said all three 'bring a lot to the table when it comes to foreign policy and national security.' 'When it comes to that committee, it should not be politicized,' Jean-Pierre said. 'It should be independent, and again, those congressional members bring a lot of expertise to that committee.' Earlier on Wednesday, Schiff, Omar and Swalwell held a joint press event to discuss their Capitol drama. They claimed McCarthy was doing Donald Trump's bidding in stripping them of their assignments. Schiff said at the press conference, 'The cardinal sin appears to be that I led the impeachment of his master in Mar-a-Lago, for withholding hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid from Ukraine, a nation that was even then at war with Russia, in order to extort that country into helping Donald Trump's reelection campaign.' Swalwell complained that McCarthy is using his power as speaker to 'go after his political opponents and pick them off the field.' 'In my case it's purely political vengeance,' Swalwell added. Swalwell (left) and Schiff (center) were removed from the House Intelligence Committee, while Omar (right) is being threatened with a floor vote to oust her from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. They held a press conference Wednesday to respond The Democrats said House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (pictured) was doing the bidding of 'his master in Mar-a-Lago' as 'revenge' for impeaching former President Donald Trump by removing them from the House Intelligence Committee In a heated exchange with a reporter Tuesday night, McCarthy pointed to Schiff's role in Russiagate during the Trump years and said the California Democrat 'lied to the American public' about the legitimacy of Hunter Biden's laptop while serving as Intelligence Committee chair in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election. 'And if you want to talk about Swalwell, let's talk about Swalwell,' McCarthy continued. 'Because you have not had the briefing that I have.' McCarthy then brought up an FBI briefing he had with then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as well as Schiff, about Swalwell's entanglements with an alleged Chinese spy named Fang Fang. 'As he indicated, I sat in on that briefing and when Kevin McCarthy misrepresents it and does that disservice to the American people, it's shameful,' Schiff said. 'This is a patently unfair smear by Mr. McCarthy,' the California Democrat said. Swalwell said all he did was two things: 'I helped them over and over and I was never suspected of wrongdoing.' Omar pointed out that she apologized for making anti-Semitic remarks early in her Congressional tenure. 'I have addressed it, I've apologized. It's been two and a half terms ago,' the Minnesota Democrat said. 'I think it is really important in all of our cases to remember it is not the accusations that McCarthy is making against us that is pushing for our removal from these committees.' 'It is about revenge. It's about appeasing the former president,' she added. She argued that 'all three of us have been a thorn in the back of the previous disgraced president.' 'Republicans have been gunning for our seats and obviously know how effective we have been in upholding the Constitution, in defending our democracy and standing up to extremists,' she said. McCarthy was able to unilaterally remove Schiff and Swalwell from the Intelligence Committee, but Omar's fate will be in the hands of the full House. It's unclear if McCarthy has the votes. Moderate Republican Reps. Victoria Spartz and Nancy Mace have said they opposed the move. McCarthy is also short one vote due to Rep. Greg Steube recovering from substantial injuries after falling off a ladder at his Florida home. The new House Republican majority removed the option for members to vote by proxy. McCarthy was questioned Tuesday night on how he could push Schiff and Swalwell from their committees, but allow serial liar and Republican Rep. George Santos to be assigned to two committees - the Committee on Small Business and the Committee on Science, Space and Technology. 'I'm going to be very clear with you. The Intel Committee is different. You know why? Because what happens in the Intel Committee, you don't know,' McCarthy told PBS NewsHour's Lisa Desjardins. Schiff reacted by saying, 'the hypocrisy just grabs you by the throat.' 'This is a Republican speaker who is seating a human fraud, George Santos, on committees, a serial fabricator about every part of his existence,' Schiff said. In a tense back-and-forth with Desjardins at a Tuesday press conference, McCarthy also pointed out that Schiff and Swalwell would be able to serve on other committees - just not those charged with the nation's secrets. 'But you know what, those voters elected Schiff, even though he lied, those voters elected Swalwell, even though he lied to the American public, too,' McCarthy reasoned. 'So you know what? I respect his voters too and they'll serve on committees. But they will not serve on a place that has national security ramifications because integrity matters to me.' 'I will not be like Democrats and play politics with these. Where they removed Republicans from committees and all committees,' McCarthy also said. During the last Congress, Republican Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar were stripped of all their committee assignments after they shared social media posts that threatened violence on Democrats including then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. They were removed from committees using a floor vote. Rishi Sunak and Dominic Raab have slammed Nicola Sturgeon after the Scottish First Minister refused to move a transgender double rapist from a women's prison. Downing Street showed 'concerns' about the Scottish government putting a male-bodied rapist in a women's prison. The Prime Minister's official spokesperson said he had 'seen the reporting and understands the concerns' over the decision to let transgender woman Isla Bryson - formerly known as Adam Graham - be held in a women's prison despite raping two women. Justice Secretary Dominic Raab tweeted that such a move would not happen south of the border, after the Government overhauled rules to stop transgender sex offenders from being held in women's prisons. Rishi Sunak and Dominic Raab have slammed Nicola Sturgeon after the Scottish First Minister refused to move the transgender rapist Isla Bryson out of a women's prison Downing Street showed 'concerns' about the Scottish government putting a male-bodied rapist in a women's prison - in a move that will place pressure on Nicola Sturgeon to reverse the decision Under the new changes, Mr Raab said transgender women who had committed sex crimes or retained male genitalia could not be held in women's prisons except in the most exceptional cases authorised by ministers. Both Downing Street and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) revealed they were powerless to stop the Scottish Government's move because criminal justice is a devolved responsibility. The decision on the transgender rapist has no wider impact on the UK's equality laws or practices in English and Welsh jails. A government source told The Telegraph: 'The point is that we are taking a more common sense approach. We are going further in our reform of the prison rules in a way that the public would expect to ensure that prisoners get the safety they would expect behind bars.' Rishi Sunak's official spokesperson said he had 'seen the reporting and understands the concerns' over the decision Dominic Raab tweeted that such a move would not happen south of the border after the Government overhauled rules to stop transgender sex offenders from being held in women's prisons It comes as a former governor of Cornton Vale women's prison yesterday said she would have quit if forced to house transgender double rapist Bryson. Rhona Hotchkiss said it was 'appalling' that the 31-year-old was sent to the Stirlingshire jail after being convicted of raping two women while she was still a man. Bryson is being held in a segregation unit at the all-female jail while risk assessments are carried out. But speaking to STV, Miss Hotchkiss said yesterday: 'I am absolutely clear about the fact that they should be in a male prison you simply cannot have someone like this terrorising women. Isla Bryson, 31, was known as Adam Graham (pictured) and had a Mike Tyson-style face tattoo during the violent sex attacks in 2016 and 2019 'It's appalling. The thought that a double rapist can identify his way into a women's prison should shock everyone. 'The other shocking aspect is, the Scottish parliament could have chosen to legislate against that happening and they didn't.' Miss Hotchkiss earlier told LBC Radio: 'Before I left I was in a very difficult situation where I was refusing to force female staff to search male-bodied prisoners and I was told that I would be making life very difficult for myself. 'Had I not been going to take early retirement anyway, I would have stayed and pursued that. But today, this would have been a resignation issue for me. 'I have no doubt this is a red line I would not have crossed and as the governor of Cornton Vale I would have refused to have this person in my prison.' Bryson only started to transition after appearing in court on the rape charges. MPs and MSPs warned yesterday that female inmates could be at risk, and the move sent a signal that male sex offenders could 'game the system'. The case has prompted calls for Nicola Sturgeon's Gender Recognition Reform Bill to be reviewed. The Bill, which was blocked by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, would allow anyone over the age of 16 to 'self-identify' as the opposite sex without the need for medical evidence or diagnosis. Nationalist MP Joanna Cherry told Times Radio: 'To many people, it will look like this convicted rapist has gamed the system [and] a lot of people will be shocked by that. 'Women in prison are very vulnerable. Many have themselves been abused and suffered injuries over the years. 'The point about human rights is that they're universal, and they apply to everyone. 'So I'm very concerned about the safety of women prisoners, with whom a convicted rapist has been placed. 'Under Scots law, the crime of rape can only be committed by somebody with a penis, and that's a man. I think we should call out what's happened here.' An amendment to the Bill that would have prevented people changing gender while awaiting trial was proposed by the Tories but was voted down by MSPs. In an urgent question at Holyrood yesterday, Scottish Tory community safety spokesman Russell Findlay said: 'This scenario is exactly what I tried to stop during the passage of Nicola Sturgeon's Bill, but my amendment was voted down by the narrowest of margins. 'Even with this flawed Bill in limbo, violent criminals are exploiting the system and putting vulnerable women at risk.' Justice Secretary Keith Brown said: 'I trust the Scottish Prison Service to deal with this. 'They do not, as is the case in England and Wales, have their process determined by the presence of a gender recognition certificate. So if somebody did have a GRC, it wouldn't guarantee them the right to be transferred to the place of their choice. 'Every decision is carried out on the basis of risk.' Mr Findlay said: 'Rather than direct the SPS to block this rapist and any others from being sent to a women's prison, the justice secretary passed the buck to them.' He added: 'I'd urge Nicola Sturgeon to admit she has got this badly wrong and include our amendment in any redrafted version of the Bill.' Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said 'common sense' changes in England 'will mean transgender women who have committed sex crimes or retain male genitalia can't be held in women's prisons'. A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said: 'Where there are any concerns about any risks posed by an individual, either to themselves or others, we retain the ability to keep them separate from the mainstream population until an agreed management plan is in place.' Miss Sturgeon told BBC Radio 4's PM programme: 'There is no automatic right for a trans woman convicted of an offence to go to a women's prison. 'The SPS individually assesses all prisoners or potential prisoners, does detailed risk assessments of the safety of the individual prisoner [and] of those that will be around the individual prisoner. 'This is about individual risk assessments.' One of Australia's most wanted men has been found allegedly trying to flee the country by hiding in the hull of a yacht. Pictured: Mark Horne, 32, who was arrested by NT Police officers on Wednesday Northern Territory Police's Joint Organised Crime Taskforce allegedly found Mark Horne, 32, on the boat as it tried to sail from Darwin's Cullen Bay Marina to a destination in Asia on Wednesday afternoon. Australian Border Force officers boarded the vessel and allegedly discovered the bikie associate lying among fuel tanks and pipes. Horne, from NSW, was on bail when he allegedly cut off his electronic monitoring bracelet in October. He is then believed to have fled Sydney on a private jet from Bankstown Airport. Police believe he flew to a regional airport before making his way to Queensland. At the time, Horne was awaiting trial for the alleged non-fatal shooting of truck driver and the theft of $550,000 in 2020. His bail conditions included being required to report to police daily, not associate with any Rebels bikies, observe a 9pm curfew, offer a $50,000 surety and wear an ankle monitor. Horne was allegedly found trying to flee the country in the hull of a yacht trying to depart Darwin Horne is pictured being taken into custody by NSW Police during a previous arrest Horne also had to surrender his passport, with police believing he was planning to flee the country. He was last seen getting into a Hyundai Getz in Riverwood, in Sydney's south, about 6.15am on October 21, before the vehicle travelled westbound on the M5 Motorway. Police will allege the vehicle was an Uber and that Horne cut off his ankle monitoring bracelet in the backseat. He is then believed to have left it in the car when he was dropped off to give himself a head start. His disappearance sparked a nationwide search, with police alleging he may have been travelling Australia using fake IDs. NT Police Commander Matt Hollamby said the arrest on Wednesday signified 'excellent work' by the joint taskforce, which included the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Australian Border Force, and Australian Federal Police. Horne will face an extradition hearing in Darwin next Monday. Officers also arrested two other men, aged 52 and 43, on the boat. Neither have been named. Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commander Central Command Erica Merrin said the arrest demonstrated how 'organised crime has no borders'. Australian Border Force Commander Budhy Tanddo said the arrest showed how well different agencies work together to combat organised crime. 'If you're breaking the law, there really is nowhere to hide,' Commander Tandoo said. Police have been searching for Horne since he allegedly went on the run in October For the want of a nail, the kingdom was lost. Even children can understand the meaning of the proverb: That seemingly unimportant acts or omissions can have grave and unforeseen consequences. At long, long last, Western leaders seem to have got the message. Amid mounting pressure to follow Britains lead, Germany and the US followed by other Nato allies have overcome their reluctance to supply modern battle tanks to Ukraine. This diplomatic breakthrough, after months of dithering and false excuses, may be a major turning point in this bloody war. The machines pledged after a powerful rallying cry by Boris Johnson in the Mail should help Ukrainian troops repel a planned huge spring offensive by Russia and then, God willing, drive the invaders into a full-blown retreat. Ultimately, that is the only way to end this terrible conflict. DAILY MAIL COMMENT: At long, long last, Western leaders seem to have got the message. Pictured is Putin at Moscow State University on January 25 Germany and the US followed by other Nato allies have overcome their reluctance to supply modern battle tanks to Ukraine. Pictured is a German Leopard 2 battle tank Yes, this is a dangerous moment. Vladimir Putin may regard the authorisation of tanks as an escalatory act. However, the Wests reluctance to provoke the Kremlin has not so far stopped Putins indiscriminate bombings and murder of Ukrainian civilians. The dictators goons have warned a Russian defeat could trigger a nuclear response. But we cannot allow those threats, terrifying as they are, to weaken our resolve. Answering President Zelenskys plea for tanks is simply the right thing to do. If Putin conquers Ukraine, despite all the heroism of its people and arms shipments, he would start planning his next move to expand Mother Russias frontiers. Tyrants everywhere, including China, would be emboldened. This, in the end, is a global fight for freedom. It is democracy versus evil autocracy. The West must stay united, hold its nerve and do everything in its power to ensure Ukraines victory. Rishis route to victory It would be an understatement to say things look bleak for the Tories. A country mile behind Labour in the polls. Seemingly lurching from crisis to crisis. And racked by toxic infighting. Yet all is not lost. At a Chequers away day today, Rishi Sunaks Cabinet will be told there is a route to election victory. And the Mail agrees. But to win the Prime Minister must not only be a steady hand on the tiller. He must inspire voters with a bold vision for the country, based on traditional Tory values low taxes, economic growth, strong borders and law and order. Mr Sunak must also target Sir Keir Starmers many weaknesses. Labours leader spinelessly refuses to defend MPs bullied for standing up for womens rights, longs to rejoin the EU, supports damaging rail strikes and wants open borders. Mr Sunak must punch these shortcomings like a bruise. It wont be easy for him to turn around Tory fortunes. But while the path to power again is narrow, at least there is a path. At a Chequers away day today, Rishi Sunaks Cabinet will be told there is a route to election victory. Rishi Sunak is pictured at his first PMQs in October BBC anti-Tory bias Nobody is suggesting BBC chairman Richard Sharp is doing a bad job. The heinous crime he has been accused of is being a one-time Tory donor with links to Boris Johnson. But if he was appointed to reset the corporations blatant liberal-Left bias, hes failed spectacularly. So why are the big guns of BBC News waging war 24/7 against him? And why are anonymous staff whispering in the corridors? The chairmanship is a political appointment made by the incumbent government and always has been. Indeed, for evidence of cronyism look at Tony Blair. He picked as chairman Gavyn Davies, a Labour member whose wife was part of Gordon Browns inner circle. And for director-general, he chose Greg Dyke a card-carrying party activist and donor. The problem is blinkered BBC staff are driven insane by the fact a Tory has been allowed inside Broadcasting House at all. Olympic gold-winning canoeist Etienne Stott and four other Extinction Rebellion protesters have been cleared of tampering with an oil tanker after they glued themselves to a trailer. The former Team GB athlete, 43, and his co-accused Amy Rugg-Easey, 32, Nichola Andersen, 50, Erika Curren, 65, and Shaun Davies, 32, glued themselves to a Shell tanker as it left a petrol station in Paddington, west London on April 16 2022. The Olympian and his co-accused had to be removed by police 'de-bonding' experts following the XR demonstration. They were found not guilty of one count each of tampering with a motor vehicle at trial after District Judge John Zani ruled they had not bonded themselves to the vehicle itself but the trailer attached to it. A group of Extinction Rebellion protestors have been cleared over a climate demonstration in Paddington, west London last year Olympic gold-winning canoeist Etienne Stott was one of five protestors cleared at Westminster Magistrates' Court He made the ruling on Wednesday afternoon following legal deliberations about the meaning of a motor vehicle and how an oil tanker differs from a horse box or a train carrying coal. He said: 'If you have the cab and you have the trailer, the trailer is incapable of self-movement without input from the cab and effectively the linkages which I have been concentrating on are safety features so far as breaking, lighting and alarm. 'They don't, in my view, transform what is at the back into a different form of vehicle. 'On the basis of that there is no case to answer here in relation to any of the defendants and the cases against each of the five are dismissed.' None of the defendants reacted in the courtroom as they were cleared, and the judge told them they did not have to be so quiet. Earlier, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard Romario Lee-Gordon was trying to drive the empty tanker out of the petrol station at around 8.45am when two people, who were not part of the trial, stopped in front of the vehicle and unfurled a banner. Stott and Rugg-Easey then climbed on top of it and unfurled a banner, Andersen glued herself to the side of the vehicle and Curren glued herself to a rear wheel. Police were called at around 10am but Davies snuck into a cordon and glued himself to a pipe under the tanker, while Andersen and Curren moved and glued themselves to the vehicle's rear. The protestors glued themselves to the trailer of an oil tanker in a climate demonstration A 'de-bonding' team arrived and removed those three defendants, but Stott and Rugg-Easey were still walking around on top of the vehicle making statements about climate change. The pair glued their hands to a bar on top of the tanker but were eventually bought down by police with a specialist crane and a special frame, and had to be dragged away by officers. Prosecutor Jonathan Bryan said the Olympian and Rugg-Easy 'did not want to come down'. He added: 'They affected the ability of the tanker to move. If you glue yourself to the wheel of a vehicle it cannot move and that is tampering with it. 'Mr Lee-Gordon just wanted to do his job and carry on driving to his destination.' The court was told the petrol station lost around 8,000 in sales when it closed during the protest. Stott, wearing a dark grey suit, dark blue shirt and a tie, spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address alongside the other defendants, and appeared attentive during the trial. The Olympian, from Nottingham, also thanked Mr Lee-Gordon for the way he spoke when giving evidence and added: 'I have no axe to grind with you at all.' The NHS Trust in Norfolk came under fire for putting 'ideology over practicality' The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kings Lynn said it was making QEH 'inclusive' A crumbling hospital described as a death trap came under fire yesterday for spending public money on gender-neutral toilets. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kings Lynn NHS Foundation Trust in Norfolk posted photos of the facilities on Twitter with symbols showing a silhouetted character in trousers and a skirt and the word Inclusive. Underneath the pictures, it wrote: We are pleased to announce the first of many gender-neutral toilets have been installed these toilets are a vital part in making QEH a more inclusive workplace and healthcare provider. But the self-congratulation triggered an angry backlash. Kellie-Jay Keen, founder of Standing for Women, accused the trust of putting ideology over practicality. A crumbling hospital described as a death trap came under fire yesterday for spending public money on gender-neutral toilets The hospital has around 2,500 props holding up the roof, with worried patients hearing creaking and cracking sounds at night. T he noises are caused by bubbles bursting inside decaying lightweight concrete used to build the hospital in 1980 it was meant to last only 30 years. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kings Lynn posted photos of the facilities on Twitter with symbols showing a silhouetted character in trousers and a skirt and the word Inclusive Buckets are placed under leaks, while an intensive care ward had to be evacuated in 2021. Matron Phulmattie Mohan said last year: The words that one of our patients used is that they were lying under a death trap. A trust spokesman said it was applying for funding to build a new hospital. The mother of one of the four students murdered in Idaho has revealed that she was abandoned by her lawyer, who is now representing her daughter's accused killer. Cara Northington's daughter Xana Kernodle, 20, was killed in November in the student house in Moscow, Idaho, which she shared with three friends. On December 30, police arrested Bryan Kohberger, a PhD student in criminology at Washington State University in Pullman, eight miles from the Moscow residence. Northington was at the time being represented for various drug charges by Ann Taylor, the chief public defender for Kootenai County. On January 5, the day that Kohberger appeared before a judge in Idaho, Taylor officially dropped Northington - without telling her - to represent the 28-year-old. 'I am heartbroken,' said Northington, speaking to News Nation host Ashleigh Banfield. Cara Northington, right, is seen on Wednesday evening speaking to News Nation host, Ashleigh Banfield Northington's daughter Xana Kernodle, 20, was murdered in her student home in Moscow, Idaho on November 13 'Because I trusted her. She pretended that she was wanting to help me. 'And to find out that she's representing him - I can't even convey how betrayed I feel.' Ann Taylor, the chief public defender for Kootenai County, was representing Northington until January 5 - when she switched to representing Bryan Kohberger She does not know whether she has a lawyer in her own case or represents her daughter. Northington said she felt she had been abandoned by the prosecutors and, furthermore, was furious that police might have identified Kohberger as a suspect but not told them - allowing her other daughter, Jazzmin Kernodle, to continue her studies at Washington State University, alongside Kohberger. 'The fact that they knew, and allowed Jazzmin to attend WSU - I'm just beside myself,' she said. 'She was adamant about still going to school, but I think if she had known Xana's killer was there it would have been different.' Northington, who has long battled addiction, said she only found out that Taylor was representing her daughter's accused killer when a friend saw it on social media, and told her. Taylor is seen with Kohberger on January 5 - the day Taylor stopped representing Northington Prosecutors did not inform Northington that her counsel was no longer representing her Taylor is seen with her 28-year-old client on January 5. He was a PhD criminology student at Washington State University, eight miles from the murder scene Taylor had power of attorney over her affairs, amid her addictions, and Northington now does not know who controls her legal issues. 'I had already signed that so she could help me,' she said. 'I don't understand how she could do this. 'I don't know what goes on now - does she still have power of attorney?' Some speculated that Taylor's appointment to represent Kohberger was one of necessity, because in the small, remote county there was not an abundance of qualified public defenders. Taylor is one of just 13 public defenders in Idaho approved by the state's public defense commission to lead a capital punishment case. She's also the only one in all of North Idaho. Prosecutors have yet to indicate whether they will seek the death penalty in Kohberger's case. Dave Aronberg, the state attorney for Palm Beach County in Florida, said that Northington's situation was 'heartbreaking'. He added: 'It's victimizing her again.' Mark Geragos, a criminal defense lawyer based in Los Angeles, told Banfield that Taylor would have problems cross-examining Northington if, as expected, she is called as a witness in her daughter's murder trial. He said Taylor could bring on another lawyer for that specific part of the trial, but added that her previous representation of Northington would give Kohberger - if convicted - ample grounds for appeal. He predicted a hearing would soon be called - before the next scheduled session, in June - to resolve the issue. Aronberg added: 'You should never have a situation like this. 'It's up to the court to make this right. 'I think they will in the end, and no one wants this to be overturned on appeal.' Mark Geragos (center) and Dave Aronberg (right) both said they expected a hearing to resolve the conflict of interest Northington told Banfield that she felt she had been left in the dark about the case Xana Kernodle and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin (left) were both killed along with friends Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves (right) Kaylee and Madison were found on the top floor of the Moscow, Idaho home. College lovers Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle were found in a second-floor bedroom while survivors Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke were sleeping on the first floor Northington said that no one from the prosecutors' office had contacted her, and that the only people ringing her were the media. It was unclear why a liaison officer from the Victim and Witness Coordinator team had not got in touch. She said she had not spoken to any of the relatives of the other three victims - although she would not be opposed to it - and nor had she spoken to the two other roommates who were in the house at the time of the murders. Northington said that she had not heard any mention of Kohberger before his arrest. 'I can't imagine she had any connection with him,' she said. 'He's quite a bit older than her or any of her friends. 'I don't know if they knew him.' She said it was 'possible' that her daughter came across him at the vegan pizza restaurant, Mad Greek, where she worked. Kohberger was reported to have eaten at the restaurant shortly before the murders - but the owner has since denied seeing him. In the weeks after the murder of her daughter, Northington was active on Facebook groups dedicated to trying to find the killer. She now knows, to her horror, that Kohberger was a member of the group. 'That was shocking,' she told Banfield. 'Absolutely shocking. 'I had no idea he was trolling the groups like that. 'That was shocking to me.' Members of the Moscow Police Department and Idaho State Police collect and remove the personal effects and property from the residence Victims: pictured, the four Idaho students who were stabbed to death during the early morning hours of November 13. Ethan Chapin (center right), Xana Kerndole (right), Kaylee Goncalves (lower left) and Madison Mogen (upper left) She said the discovery was 'creepy, very creepy'. 'I think it shows what a sick-minded person we're dealing with,' she said. 'Someone who can do this has to be very sick in the head. 'It's a game to him. 'That's what I feel like - it's a game he's playing. 'This is not a game - it's real life. 'And it makes me sick.' Northington said she was 'glad' when he was arrested, adding: 'It's all been so much.' She continued: 'I have a lot of feelings... Bad feelings toward him, obviously. 'I don't know what to make of it all. 'I watch social media all the time, and I see he's trying to say he's innocent. 'It breaks my heart - there's no remorse there. 'He's trying to pin it on somebody else.' She said that, on seeing him in court, she struggled to comprehend what had happened. 'I can't believe there is somebody like him out there - who is capable of doing such a monstrous thing,' she said. 'There is no remorse, nothing.' Asked what she would say to him, if she could speak to him, Northington replied: 'I just want to know why. 'Why did he do this? Why did he take these kids? Why? What did they do to him? 'I can't imagine them doing anything that deserved for him to murder them.' She admitted she was struggling to cope, but said she believed she would get through it. 'I have my friends around me and I watch a lot of Xana's TikTok videos and that helps,' she said. 'Managing as best as you can, you know.' She said her daughter, a marketing student, 'was tough'. 'She was strong. She was funny,' she said. 'She just could make you smile, no matter what. 'She just had a quirkiness about her. 'Not a lot of people possess that talent to light up a room, as she did. 'You can see from her TikToks how carefree she was, and just funny. 'I don't think I will ever get over the grief of losing my child. 'But she would want us to remember the good things.' A Melbourne council that refuses to celebrate Australia Day and changed its former 'racist' name to an Indigenous one has been labelled hypocritical for taking the day off for Thursday's public holiday. Merri-bek City Council, formerly Moreland, isn't picking up the phones for its residents on Thursday, a move which independent councillor Oscar Yildiz has blasted as inconsistent. 'Staff should be working today,' Mr Yildiz, who is half-Turkish, said on Thursday morning. 'Council voted to not celebrate today. I'll be working today responding to ratepayers and doing my job,' he said. 'We're not supposed to be celebrating it so don't celebrate it.' Merri-bek City Council have taken the day off for Australia Day despite leading calls to change the holiday's date (pictured, Merri-bek) Independent councillor Oscar Yildiz said 'staff should be working' in council because it decided not to celebrate the holiday Merri-Bek covers Melbourne's inner-north and northern suburbs, including the formerly working class but now ultra-progressive suburbs of Brunswick and Brunswick East. Last year, the council voted to change its name from Moreland due to concerns the name had racist connotations and was offensive to Indigenous Australians. The name change, which came into effect in September, was highly controversial among residents and is anticipated to cost as least $500,000, although multiple councillors expect the true figure to be double that. In 2017, Merri-bek, then Moreland, voted against celebrating Australia Day, claiming at the time 'January 26 marks the beginning of the British invasion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lands and oppression of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People'. At the same time, council made itself a proponent of the #changethedate campaign. Merri-Bek, formerly Moreland, voted against celebrating Australia Day in 2017 (pictured, Australia Day revellers) Merri-Bek didn't hold its citizenship ceremony on Australia Day this year, opting to hold it on January 24. The city's mayor, Victorian Greens member Angelica Panopoulos, was quoted in December as saying January 26 was a 'painful day' for many. 'We will always listen to traditional owners and our First Nations community about matters that are important to them,' Ms Panopoulos said. 'January 26 is a painful day for many in our community, and isn't the right date to celebrate.' Ms Panopoulos and Merr-bek council have been contacted by News Corp for comment. Faculty leaders at a Minnesota college that dismissed an art history instructor who showed depictions of the Prophet Muhammad in a course have overwhelmingly called for the university president to resign. The leaders at Hamline University said 71 of 92 members who attended a meeting Tuesday voted to call on President Fayneese Miller to resign immediately. They say they had lost faith in Miller because of her handling of an objection lodged by a Muslim student who said seeing the artwork violated her religious beliefs. The adjunct instructor who showed the artwork, Erika Lopez Prater, sued the private liberal arts school last week after it declined to renew her contract. Faculty leaders at Hamline University - which dismissed art history instructor Erika Lopez Prater (pictured right) - have overwhelmingly called for the university president Fayneese Miller (pictured left) to resign 'It became clear that the harm that's been done and the repair that has to be done, that new leadership is needed to move that forward,' Jim Scheibel, president of the Hamline University Faculty Council, told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis. The faculty objected to what they considered a violation of academic freedom. 'We are distressed that members of the administration have mishandled this issue and great harm has been done to the reputation of Minnesota's oldest university,' the faculty council statement read. It later went on to say, 'As we no longer have faith in President Miller's ability to lead the university forward, we call upon her to immediately tender her resignation to the Hamline University Board of Trustees.' After criticism from across the country, Miller conceded last week that she mishandled the episode, which sparked a debate over balancing academic freedom with respect for religion. 'Like all organizations, sometimes we misstep,' she said in a joint statement with the chair of the school's trustees. 'In the interest of hearing from and supporting our Muslim students, language was used that does not reflect our sentiments on academic freedom. 'Based on all that we have learned, we have determined that our usage of the term "Islamophobic" was therefore flawed.' A Hamline spokesman told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that Miller and her team were discussing how to respond to the faculty vote. Faculty leaders at Hamline University said 71 of 92 members who attended a meeting Tuesday voted to call on President Fayneese Miller to resign immediately The adjunct instructor who showed the artwork, Erika Lopez Prater, sued the private liberal arts school last week after it declined to renew her contract In October, adjunct professor Prater showed an online class an image of the Prophet Muhammad as part of an art history class. She warned the students watching virtually what she planned to do, and gave them ample warning to look away from the image if they were so inclined. In some - but not all - fractions of Islam, it is forbidden to look at the image of the prophet. After the class, Aram Wedatalla - a student who is also the president of the university's Muslim association - complained. Wedatalla, who spearheaded the campaigning to get Lopez Prater fired, chose to remain online in the class. Afterward, she and others promptly complained to school officials that the image 'blindsided' her and made her feel marginalized. Aram Wedatalla complained to the school, claiming she'd been 'blindsided' by the image of the Prophet Muhammad despite Professor Prater giving them multiple warnings that she intended to show it 'I'm 23 years old. I have never once seen an image of the prophet,' she said in a conference streamed live on CAIR-MN's Facebook page, adding that she felt marginalized. 'It just breaks my heart that I have to stand here to tell people that something is Islamophobic and something actually hurts all of us, not only me.' Prater, who'd been hired that semester for the first time and was due to return for the spring semester, was shown the door. The university, bending to the demands of the Muslim association, called the incident 'Islamophobic'. It sparked uproar among other Muslims and professors across the country, who said the school had stifled academic freedom. In a statement, Hamline said it was a 'misstep' to have labeled the lesson Islamophobic. It came two hours after the professor and her attorneys filed a lawsuit There was widespread support for the professor, with thousands signing a petition for her to be reinstated One Muslim professor accused the school of advancing an 'extreme' Islamist view that is only held by a small number of people. The school dug its heels in initially, saying it wanted to protect its Muslim students and make them feel heard. On January 14, Professor Prater broke her silence in a discussion with Muslim scholars. 'In the way that I was framing Islamic art, I know that there are many practices within Islam, I know historically there have been differing attitudes as to how the divine should be depicted but I know that inconsistency is consistent within many religions - it's not specific to Islam. 'In my syllabus, I did note that I would be showing both representational and non representational images of holy figures such as the Prophet Muhammad and Jesus Christ and Buddha. The CAIR, led by Nihad Awad, joined organizations like The American Civil Liberties Union ACLU, PEN America, The New York Times and Fox News Friday in condemning the firing The statement did not mention how the firing was earlier celebrated by CAIR-MN's Jaylani Hussein, executive director of its Minnesota sect. Hussein last week slammed the academic's decision to show the art piece offensive and 'an act of Islamophobia' 'During my class I did give my students a heads-up that I was about to show an image of the Prophet Muhammad, I explained my reasons for doing so, but also to demonstrate the rich diversity within the history of Islam. 'Of course, in an art history classroom, images are the primary source documents that we use as evidence in order to learn about diverse cultures and thinking and attitudes. 'I spent a couple minutes explaining to students, before I showed the images. I told my students if they didn't feel comfortable engaging visually, they were free to do what made most sense to them. 'I tried to empower them to walk away from the video portion of the online classroom, or do what kind of made most sense to them. 'I'm not a mind reader. My discussion in my class was fact based and on explaining the beginnings of Islam itself. Wedatalla, the president of the university's Muslim association who spearheaded the campaigning to get Lopez Prater fired, chose to remain online in the class Wetdatalla spoke at a press conference on January 11 about the incident 'All of the images that I used were very respectful, they were meant to be instructional and also referential in their original historical contexts.' Professor Prater added that the student said her warnings 'didn't matter.' 'She had some pretty strong feelings that she expressed to me. But one of them that perhaps gets to the heart of the matter was she thought the warnings that I had provided to the class didn't even matter, because she believed that images of the Prophet Muhammad should never be shown full stop.' The instructor alleges in her lawsuit that Hamline subjected her to religious discrimination and defamation, and damaged her professional and personal reputation. The American Association of University Professors, which is devoted to academic freedom, has launched an inquiry and is planning a campus visit next month. While leaders of some local Muslim groups have criticized Lopez Prater, the national office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations disputed claims that her actions were Islamophobic. The group said professors who analyze images of the Prophet Muhammad for academic purposes are not the same as 'Islamophobes who show such images to cause offense.' High profile journalist Jessica Rowe says it's 'well and truly' time to change the date of Australia Day - saying even her children don't want to celebrate the holiday. Rowe appeared on her Studio 10 on Thursday to declare she's 'sorry' for Australia's past and supports the campaign to move Australia Day to a date other than January 26. 'I'm so sorry for what's happened, I think we need to say sorry to move on,' she said. 'Today is not a date to celebrate at all and we need to change that date.' Former Studio 10 host Jessica Rowe (pictured with her daughters) said her family no longer celebrates Australia Day and supports the campaign to change the holiday's date Rowe, who is married to Nine Sydney newsreader Peter Overton, said her two teenage daughters no longer celebrate Australia Day because of the date's complicated history. January 26, 1788 marked the date of white settlement in Australia. 'Let's find a date that really celebrates who we are as a nation this is what I'm hopeful about, (and) my daughters are very passionate about it,' she said. 'I think kids of that age, they know far more and they don't celebrate today, they don't want to celebrate today.' Studio 10 co-host Narelda Jacobs, a Whadjuk Noongar woman, added her own thoughts on Australia Day saying: 'A lot of people associate patriotism with January 26 because it is the day that we are told we need to celebrate who we are as a country. 'It's just the date, we're not saying don't be a proud Australian and don't be patriotic but just don't do it today because there's so much pain that comes with it. 'This date isn't the date to be celebrated because that's when the trauma began.' Australia Day has been shrouded in controversy for several years with Aussies divided over whether January 26 marks the beginning of modern Australia or the start of Indigenous oppression. Rowe said it's 'well and truly' time to change the date of Australia Day, considering what the date represents to Indigenous Australians (pictured, Indigenous activists in Melbourne on January 26) Rowe (above) said it's 'well and truly' time to change the date of Australia Day, considering what the date represents to Indigenous Australians January 26, 1788, was the day the First Fleet landed at Sydney Harbour - after having abandoned plans to settle at Botany Bay to the south days earlier - with Governor Arthur Phillip raising the British flag to mark the founding of New South Wales. Network 10 has given all its employees the choice to work Australia Day and take another day off instead of the public holiday. US company Paramount - owner of Network 10 - chief content officer Beverley McGarvey and co-lead Jarrod Villani only referred to Australia Day as 'January 26' in an email sent to all editorial and programming staff. 'At Paramount ANZ we aim to create a safe place to work where cultural differences are appreciated, understood and respected,' the pair wrote in the email, first published by The Australian's Media Diary column. 'For our First Nations people, we as an organisation acknowledge that January 26 is not a day of celebration. 'We recognise that there has been a turbulent history, particularly around that date and the recognition of that date being Australia Day. 'We recognise that January 26 evokes different emotions for our employees across the business, and we are receptive to employees who do not feel comfortable taking this day as a public holiday.' A little girl has tragically died after choking on one of her 'favourite' treats in the backseat of her family's car during a drive home. Samantha Lennon picked up her daughter Imogen, five, from swimming lessons on January 16 and gave her a deli frankfurt to snack on as they made their way back to their home in Canowindra, in Central West NSW. But as Imogen was happily chatting away to her mother from the backseat, she suddenly started choking. Her mother immediately rang an ambulance, but when she was told it was too far away to make it in time, she drove Imogen to hospital herself with the help of a bystander. Despite their heroic efforts, Imogen later passed away at the hospital. Imogen Lennon, five, tragically died after choking on a deli frankfurt on January 16 Family friend Tamara Harrison described Imogen as a 'bright, determined, loving, and sassy five-year-old'. 'To make sense of such a tragic loss in such a way is inconceivable, there are no words that could accurately describe how shattered Imogen's family are,' Ms Harrison wrote in a GoFundMe set up to help the family. 'It is impossible to imagine life without Imogen.' Ms Harrison said deli frankfurts were one of Imogen's 'favourite' snacks after swimming lessons. The five-year-old was the youngest child and leaves behind parents Samantha and William, older brothers Hayden and Bailey, sister Tamzin, as well a large extended family. The fundraiser, which will help her family cover funeral costs, has raised $21,297 of its $25,000 goal since it was launched on Saturday. Imogen was happily chatting away to her mother from the backseat, she suddenly started choking Family friend Tamara Harrison described Imogen as a 'bright, determined, loving, and sassy five-year-old' Ms Harrison said the Lennons are 'true Aussie battlers' who are always helping others. 'They would give the shirts off their backs, without a second thought should someone be in need,' she wrote. 'The burden of trying to find the money to pay for Imogen's final resting place and a fitting celebration of her short life is a burden that I would like to remove for this family, while they deal with such an unthinkable tragedy.' Tributes have flowed online for the vibrant child. Imogen, pictured kissing a relative, has been remembered as 'bright and loving' little girl 'I'm so terribly sorry such a gorgeous sweet girl, sending you all love and thoughts,' one friend wrote. Another said: 'We are so sorry, Samantha and Bill. We only met Immy once but she was so bright, bubbly and beautiful we'll remember her always that way.' 'A brief meeting of you, little Imogen... you have left your footprint on my heart,' someone else said. Imogen, described as bright and loving, will be farewelled at a local church on Saturday. Mourners have been asked to wear 'bright colours' to the service in her memory. A divorce lawyer and prominent TikToker has been targeted by vicious trolls just for telling her 131,000 followers about a restaurant's Australia Day deal. Fidan Shevket - who posts as Fidan_tok - recorded a paid restaurant review on the social media platform and revealed its free prawn cocktail deal for Australia Day. She says in the video: 'This Australia Day, January 26, if you book a table at Kickin' Inn restaurants, any of them, you will get a free shrimp martini on the house. 'I have to inform you of that as it's part of the collab-thing - full disclosure.' Thirty seconds later in the video, she shows the starter and adds: 'This is the shrimp martini. Look at the size of this f***ing thing! 'You get one of these for free if you book for Australia Day, okay?' But that was the trigger for a brutal hate campaign where she was branded a racist and personally attacked, and her law firm targeted with hateful one-star reviews. Fidan Shevket (pictured) - who posts as Fidan_tok - recorded a paid restaurant review on the social media platform and revealed its free prawn cocktail deal for Australia Day 'I am not a racist and my casual comments have been taken out of context,' the Sydney mother of twins told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday. 'I have definitely been misquoted and misunderstood. I didnt even say Happy Australia Day!' But just the mention of Australia Day and promoting the free deal at the Crows Nest Kickin' Inn cajun restaurant on Sydney's north shore sparked a furious backlash. 'You fat ignorant COWWWWWW!!!! Get your ass back on Tiktok and APOLOGISE! You w** looking s**t,' one told her. TikTok influencer and divorce lawyer Fidan Shevket (pictured) was savagely targeted by vicious trolls for telling her 131,000 followers about the restaurant's Australia Day deal She then recorded a second video to try to explain she was simply using the name of the holiday that's on the calendar...but that fired up even more furore. 'I didn't come up with the day Australia Day, okay?' she said in the now-deleted video. 'It is Australia Day on the calendar. I didn't make it up. That's just what it's called. 'Now, it's not called Invasion Day on the calendar. It's called Australia Day. So I'm allowed to call it that. 'Secondly, it's a public holiday. I'm allowed to celebrate a public holiday. I'm all for the public holiday. I love my public holidays, and it's a family day. 'So I will spend the day with my family and have a good day.' Her Fox and Staniland law firm was then targeted by the trolls with a rash of one star reviews on Google where the lawyer was again personally attacked. Her Fox and Staniland law firm was then targeted by the trolls with a rash of one star reviews on Google where the lawyer was again personally attacked 'The firm should not associate itself with racists and bigots. It will always reflect badly on the firm,' said one. 'Would not recommend going to this law firm and seeing an uneducated white suprematist lawyer who thrives off of her own privilege while working on indigenous land,' another added. 'Fidan celebrates genocide... how can you trust someone like that. Disgusting!' blasted one, while another added: 'Fidan is ignorant and arrogant. Do better.' A third video to further clarify the previous posts was also posted and later deleted after she told followers: 'I'm still here, despite many people saying I should be cancelled, and they're coming for me with pitchforks. 'I'm still here. I maintain my right to express my opinion.' Fedan Shevket was branded a racist and trolls said she supported genocide for referencing Australia Day She told Daily Mail Australia: 'All I did was promote a free prawn cocktail on January 26 as a paid collaboration and said I like a public holiday and Ill spend it with my family. 'I do not celebrate what the day means (I dont wave an Aussie flag at the harbour or condone the slaughter of Aboriginal people) but January 26 is a public holiday. Everyone should celebrate, or NOT celebrate, the day in their own way. 'Apparently that is racist and ignorant and disrespectful. I didnt mean to offend anyone or insult anyone. 'I will do another TikTok soon but didnt want to do one today on a day that some people are mourning.' She says she's been consoled by the hundreds of messages of support she received in the wake of the bitter row, and plans another video to apologise to anyone who was offended. 'That of course was never my intention,' she added. Family has wielded power as local prosecutors for more than a century This portrait of late 14th Circuit Solicitor Randolph 'Buster' Murdaugh Jr. was removed from court as his grandson stood trial A portrait of accused double murderer Alex Murdaugh's grandfather was removed from the South Carolina courtroom where his trial commenced on Wednesday, in a poignant symbol of the once-powerful family's fall from grace. Judge Clifton Newman ordered the removal of the portrait of late 14th Circuit Solicitor Randolph 'Buster' Murdaugh Jr. as opening arguments began in his grandson's trial in Walterboro. Alex Murdaugh, 54, is accused of shooting his wife, Maggie, 52, and son Paul, 22, at their sprawling hunting property in Islandton, a rural corner of South Carolina's Lowcountry, on the night of June 7, 2021. For more than a century, the Murdaugh family wielded immense power in the Lowcountry, with three generations of the family serving as elected solicitors, as district attorneys are there known, in the 14th Circuit from 1920 to 2006. Alex Murdaugh himself worked as a part-time prosecutor in the same office, until he was charged in a stunning web of alleged crimes, including embezzling millions from clients and partners, murdering his wife and son, and attempting to commit suicide by hitman for an insurance payout. Alex Murdaugh becomes emotional after seeing his family in the courtroom as opening statements begin in his double murder trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro Portraits of former solicitors Randolph Murdaugh Sr., Randolph Murdaugh aka Buster Murdaugh, and Randolph Murdaugh III hang on the wall inside a courtroom at the Hampton County courthouse The Murdaugh family dynasty began with Alex Murdaugh's great-grandfather Randolph Murdaugh Sr., who in 1920 was elected solicitor for the 14th Judicial Circuit, a large swath of South Carolina covering five counties. Murdaugh Sr died on July 19, 1940, when his car mysteriously stopped on a railroad crossing as a train bore down in the middle of the night. The train engineer later testified that the car had come to a stop before reaching the tracks, but then just as the train approached, it lurched ahead and stopped directly on the track, according to the Greenville News. There was speculation of suicide, or that a medical incident or alcohol may have played a role, but officially the death was ruled accidental. Murdaugh Sr.'s son, Randolph 'Buster' Murdaugh Jr. filed a wrongful death suit blaming the railroad, which was settled out of court on undisclosed terms. Murdaugh Jr. succeeded his father as solicitor, serving from 1940 to 1986, and running unopposed in all but two of the elections across his 46-year tenure. In turn, his son Randolph Murdaugh III, succeeded him in 1986 and ran unopposed in every election until his retirement in 2006. Left to right: Randolph Murdaugh Sr., Randolph 'Buster' Murdaugh Jr. and Randolph Murdaugh III served as elected solicitors for the 14th Circuit from 1920 to 2006 Railroad tracks are seen in Hampton County. Murdaugh Sr died on July 19, 1940 when his car mysteriously stopped on a railroad crossing as a train bore down in the middle of the night Murdaugh III died of cancer just days after Alex Murdaugh's wife and son were shot dead in June 2021. Alex Murdaugh's alibi following the murders was that he was visiting his father in the hospital, but prosecutors say that cell phone data places him at the scene of the crime. During opening arguments on Wednesday, Alex Murdaugh wept as the prosecutor said a 'family weapon' was used to kill his wife, and gunshot residue was found on his seatbelt. Prosecutor Creighton Waters told jurors how Murdaugh first blasted his son with buckshot before picking up an AR-15-style rifle to shoot his wife Maggie twice in the head. 'It was a family weapon that killed Maggie Murdaugh,' Waters said. He cited evidence from gunshot residue found on a raincoat that was discovered at Murdaugh's mother's home following the killings. He also said gunshot residue was discovered on the seat belt of his car. Alex Murdaugh pictured with his wife Maggie and their two sons Paul (left) and Buster Simple markers note the graves of Paul Murdaugh and his mother, Margaret, in the Hampton Cemetery in a file photo But Murdaugh's defense lawyer Dick Harpootlian said it was 'not believable' that he could have 'butchered' his son and 'executed' his wife so callously, describing him as a 'loving' father and husband. Murdaugh appeared inconsolable as his lawyer Dick Harpootlian described how he arrived home to 'find his son lying in his own blood with his brains lying at his feet - shot to hell.' Harpootlian said Paul's 'head literally exploded'. Murdaugh, who was indicted by a grand jury in July, denies two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon in connection with the deaths of his wife and son. Prosecutor Waters described how Murdaugh shot Paul in the feed room of their hunting property at around 8.50pm - first with buckshot in the chest and shoulder, then a second shot to head, causing catastrophic damage. Murdaugh, center, and his legal team stands as Judge Clifton Newsman enters the courtroom for double murder trial Murdaugh holds a tissue as he speaks to his attorney Jim Griffin He said moments later Murdaugh picked up an AR-15 style rifle loaded with with .300 Blackout ammunition, shot his wife Maggie twice in the lower body, then twice in the head, killing her. Waters added that the victims never saw it coming. 'They were shot at close range and they did not have defensive wounds,' Waters told jurors. Murdaugh's surviving son, Richard, also known as Buster, is expected to testify against his father, and was sitting inside the courtroom during the horrifying opening statements. Kari Lake on Wednesday played down speculation that she is angling for a Senate run, insisting she was only interested in fighting on with her election lawsuit. 'I'm going to win this,' she told reporters at the Republican National Committee winter meeting at the luxury Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach hotel in California. Trump-backed Lake lost her campaign to be Arizona governor by 17,000 votes. She has blamed printer problems and discrepancies in the ways voters were directed to other polling stations for her defeat, and launched a lawsuit to overturn the result. Kari Lake on Wednesday evening dismissed speculation that she is planning to run for Senate She spoke at the luxury Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach hotel in California, where RNC members are gathered for their winter meeting and to elect a chairman Her fiery attitude and alliance with Trump has turned her into a favorite of the MAGA base. On Wednesday she was at a luxury resort, helping Harmeet Dhillon in her campaign to unseat Ronna McDaniel as chairwoman of the Republican National Committee. 'We have an amazing movement of real people,' she said. 'They call it the grassroots I call it the mama bears and the papa bears bears. 'And we have an opportunity to take that energy and move it to the Republican PArty and take this country. We're all willing to do that. We need a change to make that happen.' But the woman that Trump calls a 'killer' for her dogged insistence on victory, could not help but turn things back to her own campaign. 'They cheated in elections in Arizona,' she said, 'and they've been cheating for a long time.' Harmeet Dhillon is running to unseat Ronna McDaniel as chairwoman, and says the choice of venue shows how the RNC and its profligate spending are out of touch with voters She was asked if she was planning to run for Senate, when Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is up for reelection next year. She said he only plan was to keep fighting to overturn November's election result. 'We are going to take every avenue we can to end the fraud in Arizona's election,' she said. 'They sabotaged election day to take our vote and our voice away. 'Only after that would I even consider it.' Blake Masters who lost his Senate race last year is also rumored to be considering another run. Earlier in the day Lake suffered a setback when the Arizona Republic found that Lake alienated some 33,000 voters in Maricopa County, around Phoenix, who ended up throwing their weight behind her Democratic rival Katie Hobbs but backed Republicans in other state races. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is up for reelection next year. She became an independent last year, and the race is attracted a string of high-profile Republicans She is due to appear at a Save Arizona rally on Sunday in Phoenix. At the end of last year, a Maricopa County judge ordered Lake to pay some of Hobbs legal fees related to the lawsuit, in the latest in a string of setbacks. Judge Peter Thompson rejected Lake's lawsuit, and said there wasn't convincing evidence of misconduct. She has appealed that finding. Analysis of campaign donations shows that it election denialism a lucrative business. In the month and three quarters between the election and the end of the year, Lake raised $2,515,169 after the election. The Australian flag has mostly disappeared from celebrations The Australian flag seems to be slowly disappearing from Australia Day celebrations nationwide as the national day becomes increasingly divisive. Photos from around the country show remarkably few flags on display, amid protests about the holiday in all major capital cities. Recent polls suggest that while a majority of Australians believe January 26 should remain Australia Day, there is a growing group who would prefer it be changed to a less polarising date. Just a couple of Australian flags were spotted on this ferry on Sydney Harbour on Australia Day A poll conducted by conservative think tank, the IPA, surveyed 1,038 people from varying age ranges on their attitude to changing the date of Australia Day. The poll results show that 62 per cent of people believe Australia Day should be held on January 26, while only 17 per cent believe the date should be changed, and 21 per cent had no opinion. However, there is growing resentment towards the holiday. 'We should recognise support for Australia Day to be celebrated on 26 January has declined from 75 per cent in 2019, to 69 per cent in 2021, to now 62 per cent in 2023,' Senior Fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs, John Roskam, wrote on the results. The Institute of Public Affair's poll found 62 per cent of Australians support Australia Day being celebrated on January 26, with only 11 per cent of respondents believing the date should be changed IPA's poll also revealed a significant decrease in support for January 26 to be Australia Day, felling from 75 per cent in 2019 to 62 in 2023 'Only 42 per cent of 18-24 year-olds agreed Australia Day should be celebrated on 26 January, 30 per cent disagreed, and 28 per cent had no opinion.' So while a rapidly growing younger generation of Australians believe in changing the debate there is still a large portion of the nation that just enjoy the holiday. Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across the nation to protest Australia Day (pictured) In the lead up to the holiday, retail giant, Kmart, stopped stocking Australian flag merchandise that is usually available year round. 'We respect that January 26 means different things to different people and we aim to foster an environment that is inclusive and respectful of both our customers and teams,' a Kmart spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. 'It is for this reason that we will also be giving all of our team members the choice of whether or not they work that day, with the option to substitute for another day.' A 'nasty' forecast storm is rolling in across western NSW after the mercury hit 33C and much of the country's east coast sweltered. The Bureau of Meteorology on Thursday afternoon issued a detailed thunderstorm warning for three 'severe' storm cells, moving east from the Blue Mountains towards the Hawkesbury, Parramatta, Erskine Park and Liverpool. They were accompanied by a State Emergency Service warning for residents to move their car under cover, unplug computers and appliances, avoid using the phone and stay away from windows. The Bureau of Meteorology issued this severe thunderstorm warning on Thursday afternoon Rainfall and potential thunderstorms could spoil the second half of Australia Day celebrations as storms make their way up the east coast (pictured, Australia Day celebrations) Read the BOM's full severe thunderstorm warning for Sydney The Bureau of Meteorology warns that severe thunderstorms were detected on the weather radar near Erskine Park. These thunderstorms are moving towards the east. Damaging winds and large hailstones are likely. The State Emergency Service advises that people should: Move your car under cover or away from trees. Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony. Keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences. Report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid (131 388), Endeavour Energy (131 003), Essential Energy (132 080) or Evoenergy (131 093) as shown on your power bill. Unplug computers and appliances. Avoid using the phone during the storm. Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well. For emergency help in floods and storms, ring the SES ( NSW and ACT) on 132 500. Advertisement The BOM had forecast Australia Day barbecues will be disrupted by mid-afternoon storms as a low pressure system makes its way up the east coast from the Bass Strait, with rainfall expected over the Illawarra area. A weather warning was also issued for inland Queensland with severe thunderstorm and damaging winds expected on Thursday afternoon. Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds in the warning area over the next several hours and is expected to last into the evening. Locations which may be affected include Cunnamulla, Quilpie, Mt Howitt Station, Bollon, Surat and Wyandra. Scattered rainfall is expected across inland Queensland as another low pressure system travels from Broken Hill in NSW and into the sunshine state. Further supercells are expected to form across northern New South Wales and southern Queensland on Friday afternoon, bringing heavy rain over areas such as Port Macquarie, the Gold Coast and inland Queensland. Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are expected over NSW and Queensland this weekend, with Queensland potentially receiving heavier rain later next week (pictured, pedestrians in Brisbane) The wet weather is expected to stick around over the weekend as chances of thunderstorms persist along the east coast. The BOM have recognised a 'risk of isolated severe thunderstorms over the south-eastern inland [Queensland]'. The intense weather conditions are expected to pick up on Sunday lasting through to Monday as most of the Northern Territory, Queensland and northern New South Wales will experience heavy rain and potential thunderstorms. Queensland can expect heavier rainfall later next week as more low pressure systems dump rain across the state. Tropical Cyclone Freddy is likely to develop in Western Australia on Saturday, bringing damaging wind gusts and significant rainfall totals. If the cyclone does develop, it could bring gusts of up to 125km/h and intense rainfall with up to 300mm forecast to fall over 35 hours. However, Perth is expected to avoid the brunt of the storm with mostly sunny weather forecast through to the weekend. Cyclone Freddy (above) could form off WA's coast bringing wind gusts of up to 125km/h and intense rainfall Sydney recently experienced major rainfall and thunderstorms on Tuesday night (pictured) as Camden airport recorded more than 20,000 lightning strikes and 20mm of rain in 10 minutes Weather will remain fine in South Australia for most of the week before a cool change brings significant rainfall by the weekend. Temperatures will stay below 30C before Friday, when sweltering heat will grip Adelaide. The mercury could reach 37C before the weekend. Greater Sydney experienced major rainfall and thunderstorms on Tuesday night through to Wednesday morning, with lightning strikes numbering in the thousands in areas across Sydney as heavy rainfall caused pockets of flash flooding. Camden Airport, in far south-west Sydney, experienced over 20,000 lightning strikes in just a 20-kilometre radius and recorded 20 millimetres of rain in just 10 minutes. Meanwhile, flash flooding and power outages struck Victoria on Tuesday afternoon after severe thunderstorms developed. Lighting storms hit Sydney (above) from 9pm on Tuesday with more rain forecast to fall over the city on Wednesday and Friday State emergency services responded to hundreds of calls for help, with 116 requests in Geelong alone. In the 90 minutes to 3.30pm, at least 24mm of rain fell over Geelong Racecourse and more than 3,000 homes were left without power when lightning struck the area. Melbourne was badly hit too, and more than 6,000 Victorians were left without power. The storms hit the Bellarine Peninsula at around 2.15pm on Tuesday, bringing high winds and a heavy downpour that had already soaked the state's west. Mount Gellibrant, around 67kilometres west of Geelong, got 29mm of rain in 30 minutes. As the thunderstorms passed into the east, Melbourne was hit with the deluge at about 5pm. Parts of the city were hit with heavy rainfall and damaging winds, while locals reported severe lightning throughout the late afternoon. They may not believe in the Australian Government, but conspiracy theorists and members of the 'Sovereign Citizen' movement have flooded social media with videos spouting their messages and a rally cry to gather on Australia Day. Waving flags, singing songs and hymns and chanting slogans, groups often derogatively known as 'cookers' have flooded online sites with messages and statements about their beliefs. Collected on Twitter pages, the videos are a window into the world of alternative thinkers who object to being subjected to Australian law. In one clip , a man with a loud hailer drives around with friends in a car belting out a slightly slurred invitation for all Australians to gather in Canberra on Australia Day to protest. Driving by people who totally ignore him, the man yells: 'We the free people of Australia are to invite everyone for a day of great events, barbecues, and actually expressing out feelings for our great country of Australia. In one' cooker' video, a man with a loud hailer drives around with friends in a car belting out a slightly slurred invitation for all Australians to gather in Canberra on Australia Day 'We would love to see all the people of Canberra. We need every Australian now to be one and move forward as this beautiful nation as we are. 'There'll be music and barbecues and a lot of good things'. The conspiracy theory group, Unite in White, chant and hold banners saying 'expose the 28', a reference to a dated theory once espoused by former Liberal senator Bill Heffernan that a purported list of 28 paedophiles who were 'prominent' citizens of the country. In one of several videos, about 12 sovereign citizens gathered in the Victorian border town of Wodonga to present a letter to the town's military barracks. Unite for White protestors gather on the banks of Lake Burley Griffin and hold their arms in the air, sing songs and hymns and chant slogans about conspiracy theories The man who wrote the letter, addressed several long-bearded men, quoted Martin Luther King and delivered his theory on what the Australian Government was currently doing. 'You know whenever Pharaoh wanted to prolong the period of "enslavery" in Egypt, he had a favourite formula, ' he said, 'He kept the slaves fighting and that's what our government is doing now is keeping us all fighting and keeping us all divided'. In another video, a young woman gives a whiteboard lesson what Sovereign Citizens must do when arrested by police. This man (right) told followers (left) 'whenever Pharaoh wanted to prolong slavery in Egypt, he kept the slaves fighting A sovereign citizen tutor gives a whiteboard lesson on what to tell police when arrested, saying all you do is say 'I am a living woman' three times On the whiteboard the word 'sovereign' is spelt 'sovrign'. The woman says when 'if a police officer pulls you over and says "can you show me your licence" you say "happy to answer your question if you answer my question first". 'Straight away, you're switching from the public into the private, you're becoming the creditor not the debtor. 'So that takes us into questioning and (then) we say "I am a living woman" or man and the police officers is going to say show me your licence and you say 'am I a living woman" okay. 'And the police says "give me your licence" and you say "am I a living woman" and if you ask three times and they haven't given you an answer and they stay silent, they've actually implied consent. 'So them consenting, yes, you are a living woman, takes you out of their jurisdiction.' A 'SovCit' teacher, who was recently pulled over by police because she had 'sovereign registration plates' on her car posted a video complaining that 'you just can't talk to police'. 'So I had to change my registration plates over. You just can't talk to police. They don't give a f***.' Anti-paedophile conspiracy 'angel' Daniel (left) gathers every day in Canberra to demand the Governor General reveal 'the 28 names that are currently only a parliamentary privilege' Guru goes to a lot of trouble to get a woman to help him write an anti-vaxxer message in the sand at an Australian beach Friends of Daniel Vincent beg that Australians stand with him 'and all the weary, weary angels ... if you care that hundreds of children vanish in this country each week'. Mr Vincent has posted several videos of himself and other followers standing on teh banks of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra chanting and waving flags and singing 'Amazing Grace' and other songs and hymns. He also shouts and yells and the group laughs and cheers at the echo of his voice resounding about the lake's edge. Alex Murdaugh's lone surviving son Buster - who is on the witness list to potentially testify against his father - witnessed father Alex sobbing during the opening statements Wednesday The disgraced South Carolina attorney, 54, is accused of shooting his wife, Maggie, 52, and younger son Paul, 22, at their sprawling hunting property in Islandton, a rural corner of South Carolina's Lowcountry, on the night of June 7, 2021. Buster, 26, is among those expected to testify against the legal scion, as well as Murdaugh's own brothers, John Marvin and Randy Murdaugh. He sat still and silently behind his father in the Colleton County Courthouse during the opening remarks in his first public appearance during his father's legal proceedings. Alex Murdaugh's lone surviving son Buster (circled, pictured center-right) - who is on the witness list to potentially testify against his father - witnessed father Alex sobbing during the opening statements Wednesday Murdaugh angrily rejected the suggestion that he is 'supporting his father,' DailyMail.com revealed in November. Buster has remained tight-lipped as his once illustrious family's fortunes have publicly spiraled since his mother and brother were gunned down at the family's former hunting estate of Moselle, Islandton, on June 7, 2021. But when approached by DailyMail.com at the home he shares with long-term girlfriend Brooklyn White, also 26, in South Carolina's Hilton Head Island, this week Murdaugh's sole surviving heir gave the first glimpse into his mindset. Responding emotionally to DailyMail.com's inquiry, 'Presumably you're supporting your father?' he replied, 'You have no right to presume anything.' And he was adamant as he said, 'I don't want to see it written anywhere that I'm supporting my father.' Asked if he wished to make any other statement regarding his father's innocence or guilt he said simply, 'I have no interest in saying anything. I have no comment,' before politely returning indoors. Prosecutor Creighton Waters told jurors how Murdaugh first blasted his son with buckshot before picking up an AR-15-style rifle to shoot his wife Maggie twice in the head. 'It was a family weapon that killed Maggie Murdaugh,' Waters said. Buster, 26, is among those expected to testify against the legal scion, as well as Murdaugh's own brothers, John Marvin and Randy Murdaugh He sat still and silently behind his father in the Colleton County Courthouse during the opening remarks in his first public appearance during his father's legal proceedings Buster has remained tight lipped as his once illustrious family's fortunes have publicly spiraled since his mother and brother were gunned down at the family's former hunting estate of Moselle, Islandton, on June 7, 2021 When approached by DailyMail.com at the home he shares with long-term girlfriend Brooklyn White, also 26, in South Carolina's Hilton Head Island, Murdaugh's sole surviving heir gave the first glimpse into his mindset Alex Murdaugh, 52, is accused of murdering his wife Maggie and son Paul last June at the family's home. He denies the killings Only Buster (right) remains alive and free while his mother and brother are dead, and father is in prison Buster angrily rejected the suggestion that he is supporting his father when questioned by DailyMail.com, and said, 'I don't want to see it written anywhere that I'm supporting my father' Buster was seen walking his two dogs golden retriever, Miller, and a black Labrador Buster is currently living in a modest $180,000 condo on Hilton Head Island with his longtime girlfriend, Brooklyn White He cited evidence from gunshot residue found on a raincoat that was discovered at Murdaugh's mother's home following the killings. He also said gunshot residue was discovered on the seat belt of his car. But Murdaugh's defense lawyer Dick Harpootlian said it was 'not believable' that he could have 'butchered' his son and 'executed' his wife so callously, describing him as a 'loving' father and husband. Murdaugh appeared inconsolable as his lawyer Dick Harpootlian described how he arrived home to 'find his son lying in his own blood with his brains lying at his feet - shot to hell.' Harpootlian said Paul's 'head literally exploded'. Murdaugh, who was indicted by a grand jury in July, denies two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon in connection with the deaths of his wife and son. The trial is taking place at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, a sleepy, rural town 50 miles west of Charleston in a low-lying region of South Carolina over which the Murdaugh family has wielded immense judicial and political power. Murdaugh, center, and his legal team stands as Judge Clifton Newsman enters the courtroom for double murder trial Murdaugh holds a tissue as he speaks to his attorney Jim Griffin Alex Murdaugh pictured with his wife Maggie and their two sons Paul (left) and Buster Indeed, in the courtroom where Murdaugh faces judgment a portrait of his late grandfather - legendary longtime 14th Circuit Solicitor Buster Murdaugh Jr. - had hung on the wall before it was removed ahead of the trial. Prosecutor Waters described how Murdaugh shot Paul in the feed room of their hunting property at around 8.50pm - first with buckshot in the chest and shoulder, then a second shot to head, causing catastrophic damage. He said moments later Murdaugh picked up an AR-15 style rifle loaded with .300 Blackout ammunition, and shot his wife Maggie twice in the lower body, then twice in the head, killing her. Waters added that the victims never saw it coming. 'They were shot at close range and they did not have defensive wounds,' Waters told jurors. Murdaugh claims he was not there and at the family's dog kennels when the murders happened. But Waters said data from 'cell phones are going to show otherwise.' The prosecutor stressed that phone records will be critical in the case and the jury will hear that the Murdaughs were 'prolific' cell phone users. Waters added that bodycam footage and audio records of statements from the night of the murders will play a key role in the trial. 'Watch those closely. Watch his expressions. Listen to what he's saying and what he's not saying,' the prosecutor said. Waters said Maggie was killed by a 'family weapon'. He cited evidence from a ballistics expert who said .300 Blackout casings found throughout the property have matching tool mark patterns. The prosecutor said that a Blackout rifle owned by the family has never been located. Waters added that a raincoat with gunshot residue was found at Murdaugh's mother's home following the killings. He also said the residue was discovered on the seat belt of his car. Waters concluded the opening by telling jurors they were assessing a complicated case and there would be a long trial ahead, but that once the 'puzzle pieces' start coming together - the 'building storm' will lead them to the inescapable conclusion that Murdaugh killed his wife and son. '(Alex) was the storm, the storm was coming for them, just like the storms are coming here right now, and the storm arrived on June 7, 2021. They died as a result,' the prosecutor said. In his defense, Harpootlian said that Murdaugh's son Paul was the 'apple of his eye' and dismissed the prosecutor's claims as conjecture. Alex Murdaugh tears up after the jury was excused and the defense and prosecution teams discuss how to handle sensitive crime scene photos during his double murder trial Alex Murdaugh talks with his lawyer Dick Harpootlian during his double murder trial Murdaugh is seen arriving at Colleton County courthouse in Walterboro Alex Murdaugh appeared upbeat Wednesday as he arrived flanked by sheriffs on day three of his double-murder trial over the execution-style killings of his wife and son at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina Murdaugh was seen getting out of a black sheriffs van at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro He described a Snapchat video taken by Paul an hour before the killings showing the father and son. 'They're laughing, they're having a good time,' Harpootlian said. Harpootlian said the shot that hit Paul in the chest also struck his arm, indicating that he may have been holding his arms up when he was killed. Harpootlian said that prosecutors were merely speculating when they said there were no defensive wounds. He described how 'the gasses from that [second] shot literally exploded his head, like a watermelon hit with a sledgehammer.' 'All that was left was the front of his face, everything else was gone. His brain exploded out of his head. It hit the ceiling in the shed and dropped to his feet. Horrific. Horrible. Butchering,' Harpootlian said. The courtroom where Murdaugh faces judgment a portrait of his late grandfather - legendary longtime 14th Circuit Solicitor Buster Murdaugh Jr. - had hung on the wall before it was removed ahead of the trial. 'So to find Alex Murdaugh guilty of murdering his son you have to accept that within an hour of having an extraordinarily bonding... you can see it in the Snapchat - that he executes him in a brutal fashion. Not believable.' He then went on to describe how there were no defensive wounds on Maggie because she was shot while running away - contrary to the prosecutor's claims she was caught unawares when she was killed. 'Who was Maggie running from?', Harpootlian asked. The defense lawyer said his client was hysterical and inconsolable when he called 911 after finding Maggie and Paul. Harpootlian said Murdaugh was so 'traumatized' after finding the pair that he loaded wrong-sized shells into a shotgun while fearing their killer was still 'out there.' He argued it was implausible that Murdaugh used two weapons to kill Maggie and Paul, saying it was much more likely the murders were carried out by two people. Harpootlian also questioned why no bloody clothes had been found, given the gruesome way and close-range nature of the shootings. 'Where are the bloody clothes?' he asked. Harpootlian concluded: 'He didn't do it.' Following the opening statements by both legal teams, Judge Clifton Newman adjourned the case to 9.30am Thursday when jurors will see the body worn camera video. Murdaugh is being tried by a jury of four white men, six white women and two black women. Deciding against the death penalty, state prosecutors are seeking a sentence of life in prison without parole. THE KILLINGS AND EVIDENCE Murdaugh, 54, told police he found Maggie, 52, and their son, Paul, 22, dead outside their Colleton County home on June 7, 2021. He said he'd been gone for an hour to visit his ailing father and mother. Authorities released little information about the killings beyond saying that Maggie Murdaugh was killed with a rifle and Paul Murdaugh with a shotgun. Prosecutors have not detailed direct evidence linking Murdaugh to the deaths. So far, they have filed no confession or witness statements about the killings with the court and there is no evidence that either gun has been found. Video from Paul Murdaugh's phone timestamped not long before the killings shows the three talking without indication of anger. Alex Murdaugh's lawyers said he has never denied being at his home. There is DNA from the victims on Alex Murdaugh's shirt, but his defense said that came from checking for signs of life when he found their bodies. The defense and prosecution are fighting over whether to allow an expert to testify that the blood splattered onto Murdaughs shirt when his son was shot. Defense lawyers contend the expert testing the shirt is lying and destroyed it before the defense could conduct its own tests. Prosecutors are expected to rely heavily on evidence of Murdaugh's financial problems, which they said led him to kill to garner sympathy and buy time as he covered up his theft of clients' settlement money and other crimes. Murdaugh's attorneys contend it is absurd to say Murdaugh would have thought his wife and son dying violently would reduce scrutiny into his finances. Advertisement A jury of 12, and six alternates, has been selected and sworn in for the Murdaugh trial. Jury consists of four white men, six white women, two Black women. Prosecutors have said Murdaugh killed his wife and child to generate sympathy and distract from his financial crimes, an alleged motive that Murdaugh's lawyers have argued doesn't make sense. But he has adamantly insisted from the moment he found the bodies of his wife and youngest son shot multiple times that he was not the killer. Following the murder trial, Murdaugh will have to face more than 100 additional criminal charges, ranging from drug trafficking to allegations that he stole nearly $9 million from clients and other attorneys. Prosecutors say Murdaugh lured his wife and son to their 1,700-acre hunting lodge and shot them dead. The court also claims that his life was spiraling out of control amid years of opioid addiction and ballooning debts. Murdaugh pleaded not guilty in June, and the blockbuster trial is expected to include wild allegations of dark family secrets, financial ruin and hedonistic excess. Among those expected to testify against the legal scion are Murdaugh's own brothers, John Marvin and Randy Murdaugh, as well as his surviving son Buster. Murdaugh allegedly called John Marvin the night of the murders, and used that call as part of his alibi. Curtis Smith, who is accused of helping Murdaugh in a twisted assisted suicide scheme is also expected to take the stand, as well as members of his wife's family. In total, over 220 people could testify against Murdaugh in the trial, it was revealed Tuesday. From 1920 to 2006, members of the family served as the leading prosecutor for a five-county district including Colleton. Prior to his recent troubles, Murdaugh was a prominent personal injury attorney in the state. Ahead of a second day of jury selection on Tuesday, Murdaugh's lawyers filed a slew of motions seeking to bar the testimony of an expert witness who claims the defendant was standing near his wife and son when they were brutally murdered. Tom Bevel is set to testify that blood stains on Murdaugh's t-shirt taken into evidence by agents from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division on the night of the murders show he was clearly in close proximity to them when they were killed. But Murdaugh's lawyers claimed Bevel's findings were 'unreliable.' The defense attorneys argued in court documents obtained by WCNC that 'Bevel's methodology in reaching his conclusions, and the substance of those conclusions are not reliable. Murdaugh, right, pleaded not guilty to the murders of Maggie, second from left, and Paul, second from right, in June but now his surviving son, Buster, left, is expected to testify against him OTHER CRIMES The murder charges are only two of about 100 criminal counts Murdaugh faces. He also is on trial on two counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Still hanging over his head are a broad range of dozens of state charges. They include stealing millions of dollars from clients, diverting a wrongful death settlement from the family of his longtime maid to himself, running a drug and money laundering ring, evading taxes and committing fraud from what police said was an attempt to have someone kill him so his surviving son could collect a $10 million life insurance policy. Murdaugh also faces a number of civil suits from former clients and a 2019 boat crash that killed a teen. Police said Paul Murdaugh was driving the boat while grossly intoxicated and he faced criminal charges when the teen died. The family of the teen was aggressively trying to get information about Murdaugh family finances at the time of the 2021 killings. Advertisement 'Moreover, Bevel's blood splatter opinion testimony directly contradicts the state's scientific forensic serology and DNA testing, which failed to detect human blood anywhere on Murdaugh's shirt and failed to detect Paul's DNA.' Defense attorneys, Jim Griffin and Dick Harpootlian, had previously argued that any blood on the shirt was transferred when Murdaugh found the bodies and 'frantically checked them for signs of life.' Murdaugh's attorneys accused SLED of 'badgering' Bevel into changing his report. The T-shirt was later destroyed 'for purposes of forensics testing by the unnecessary application of an oxidizing chemical stain,' the court filing states. A second motion also seeks to exclude blood splatter testimony of Orangeburg County Deputy Chief Kenneth Kinsey, a former SLED agent and a forensics expert, who defense attorneys say based his testimony off Bevel's findings. And a third motion seeks to limit or preclude firearm ballistic testimony by forensic expert Paul Greer, calling into question his methodology. But Judge Newman found on Tuesday that the evidence Greer will present 'will assist the jury in its decision.' He said the underlying science is reliable, and defense attorneys could bring up their questions about the value of ballistics testing in cross-examination. He was seen smiling as he arrived in court Tuesday for the second day of jury selection. Video posted online showed the once-powerful South Carolina attorney being escorted out of a black police van in front of the Colleton County Courthouse Tuesday morning, nodding to the press at the scene. A crime scene photo showing what appears to be blood droplets on the floor, a mannequin and an evidence marker in the feed room where Paul was fatally shot Several views of the crime scene where Paul had been shot were in the court filings The 22-year-old was shot in the feed room connected to the Moselle properties dog kennels, while his mother was shot five times, including in the back of the head, with a semiautomatic rifle the pair dying just 30 yards from one another POWERFUL FAMILY The Murdaugh name is well-known in judicial circles in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Alex Murdaugh worked for the family law firm that had been in business in tiny neighboring Hampton County for a century, winning a number of multimillion-dollar settlements for fatal accidents and workplace injuries. Murdaughs father, grandfather and great-grandfather were the elected prosecutors for 87 years straight in Colleton, Hampton and three other counties. Typically, a portrait of Murdaugh's father hangs in the Colleton County Courthouse. Judge Clifton Newman ruled that it be removed for his son's trial. Advertisement But the once-powerful lawyer seemed more anxious as the hearings went on, visibly chewing on the end of a pen. The 12-member jury will hear all of the evidence presented against the once-prominent lawyer, after authorities took over a year investigating the mysterious deaths to charge Murdaugh in connection with the crimes. More than 900 potential jurors were sent detailed questionnaires to determine if they were eligible to sit for this case. When asked if they had heard of the case, all potential jurors confirmed that they had, with several being excused because they had 'formed opinions which cannot be changed'. Last week prosecutors claimed that a Snapchat video was 'critical to the case', with Paul sending the footage shortly before 8pm on the night he died. Investigators believe he and his mother died between 9pm and 9:30pm, and are seeking permission to call a Snapchat executive to testify as to the veracity of the video. Creighton Waters, the senior assistant deputy attorney general said: 'Amongst other things, critical to the case is a video sent out to several friends at approximately 7:56p.m. on the night of the murders. Alex Murdaugh (center) is accused of killing his wife Maggie, 52, (right) and son Paul Murdaugh, 22, (left) in 2021 'The contents of this video is important to proving the State's case in chief.' The order was approved, with prosecutors not revealing what was in the Snapchat video during the hearing. The move came as Kinsey described Paul's horrific wounds, explaining he was shot twice with a second bullet entering the left shoulder into his neck and brain. Kinsey said his 'brain was completely detached from head', adding that the 22-year-old was first struck in the chest as he stood in the feed room. The room was connected to the Moselle properties dog kennels, while his mother was shot five times, including in the back of the head, with a semiautomatic rifle. Did admit to testing new mutations on its antiviral Paxlovid in low-risk studies Denied doing gain of function or 'directed evolution' experiments in statement Pfizer has admitted it engineered mutated Covid viruses in lab tests to ensure its vaccine and drugs remained effective against new variants but the company denies the experiments posed a risk to the public. In a press release sneaked out on Friday night, the pharma giant finally responded to an undercover video that went viral last week in which a supposed director at the firm claimed the company was exploring 'directed evolution' research on monkeys to make the virus 'more potent'. Jordon Trishton Walker, who appears to have been a senior staffer in Pfizer's research and development division, was caught making the explosive claim in a sting by the right-wing activist group Project Veritas. Pfizer flatly denied conducting gain of function or directed evolution research on monkeys but admitted that in a limited number of cases it altered the virus and tested new mutations against its Covid antiviral drug Paxlovid in Petri dishes. Scroll down for video Project Veritas released a video that shows alleged Pfizer executive Jordon Trishton Walker revealing that they are exploring a way to mutate COVID in order to create more vaccines The New York-based firm claims the experiments are essential to get ahead of drug-resistant strains and says similar tests are carried out by 'many companies and academic institutions in the US and around the world'. But DailyMail.com spoke to several independent virologists and epidemiologists who were split about whether Pfizer's experiments posed a risk to the public. Professor Richard Ebright, a molecular biologist at Rutgers University in New Jersey, has been an outspoken advocate of the lab leak theory, the idea Covid escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China. He told DailyMail.com that Pfizer's press release 'unequivocally' indicates that 'Pfizer and its collaborators performed... high-risk gain-of-function research and enhanced potential pandemic pathogens research'. But Professor Ian Jones, a virologist at the University of Reading in the UK, told this website: 'I don't find it [Pfizer's statement] alarming for a number of reasons.' Paxlovid works by blocking the virus from releasing an enzyme crucial for Covid to replicate when it enters the body, known as the 3CL protease, explained Professor Jones. Scientists work at the Pfizer vaccine research and development facility in Pearl River, New York The research lab - located around 20 miles from New York - is the company's only biosafety level three (BSL-3) lab out of its nine major research and development sites in the US and UK He said Pfizer's experiments involve looking at 'what changes to the sequence of the protease gene would be necessary to make the virus no longer sensitive to the drug'. 'So they make a range of mutations in the virus, led by computational predictions, and then culture that mutated virus in the drug to see if indeed it is no longer sensitive and if so by what degree,' he added. 'Many of the mutants they make will not do anything, but some could make a Paxlovid-resistant virus. The risk would be that this could escape and spread, making the drug useless. 'My point is that such a virus remains unaltered in every other way, so the overall risk [of the virus being able to infect people and leaking from the lab] is very small.' Professor Jones said this tiny risk is outweighed by the benefit of 'being ahead' of the virus' evolution in nature. Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease expert at the University of East Anglia in the UK, also told DailyMail.com: 'The press release doesnt cause me too much concern. 'To me, it doesnt look like Pfizer is doing anything that isnt being done by many other groups.' His comments were echoed by Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist at the University of Reading. Dr Clarke told DailyMail.com: 'These are not experiments which might risk the generation of a new variant that transmits more readily between people. 'What Pfizer are doing is to look at how Covid becomes resistant to nirmatrelvir, a component of their PAXLOVID antiviral medicine. 'They are looking to see what mutations to the molecule that nirmatrelvirs targets can make it resistant to the drug. 'This is important because scientists dont fully understand how viruses might become resistant to nirmatrelvir. 'These sorts of experiments are routine in the development of new anti-infective drugs and are required by regulators around the world. 'Without this level of understanding, we could end up relying too heavily on drugs that rapidly become useless.' Pfizer flatly denied conducting gain of function or directed evolution research on monkeys but admitted that in a limited number of cases it altered the virus and tested new mutations against its Covid antiviral drug Paxlovid in Petri dishes Pfizer's response was released at 8pm on Friday, three days after the Project Veritas video was released, unleashing a frenzy on social media. Mr Walker was labeled in the video as Pfizer's Director of Research and Development, Strategic Operations and mRNA Scientific Planning. DailyMail.com could not verify that Mr Walker was employed in that position at the company, and Pfizer has not responded to several requests for comment in the past week. But DailyMail.com discovered that a man named Jordon Walker holds an active Pfizer email address. And a job titled Director, Research and Development and mRNA Scientific Strategy does exist at the company, which is similar to the title Mr Walker is said to hold. A job description posted last October suggests the role mainly involves business development rather than scientific experiments. The ad said the successful candidate would be involved in 'developing the strategic vision for mRNA technology at Pfizer' and 'identifying and prioritizing opportunities to deliver innovative medicines across Pfizer's portfolio and advancing these priorities in collaboration with Pfizer's Chief Scientific Officers'. The post was also based out of the Pfizer Pearl River R&D facility, a research lab around 20 miles from New York. It is the company's only biosafety level three (BSL-3) lab out of its nine major research and development sites in the US and UK. BSL-3 labs are authorized to handle dangerous pathogens. Experiments at these labs often involve tinkering with animal viruses to advance treatments and vaccines that could be used in a future outbreak. In BSL-3 labs, researchers do all experiments in a biosafety cabinet an enclosed, ventilated workspace for handling materials contaminated with pathogens. Work on the live virus that causes Covid must be carried out at a BSL-3 or BSL-4 lab. In the original Project Veritas video, Walker begs the journalist not to tell anyone and then shares that the way they would mutate the virus would be by infecting monkeys Pfizer denied that its work qualifies as gain of function, a loaded term that has become synonymous with questions about Covid's origin. This type of research involves tinkering with viruses to make them more lethal or infectious - hoping to get ahead of a future outbreak and develop treatments. The authors of two United Nations reports into the pandemic's origins say a laboratory leak was the most likely cause of Covid. The Wuhan Institute of Virology - located just 8miles from where the first cluster of cases were detected - was carrying out similar research on bat coronaviruses in the years predating the pandemic using US taxpayer money. The WIV received government grants through a subcontractor known as the EcoHealth Alliance. Gain of function was largely restricted in the US until 2017 when the National Institutes of Health began to allow it to take place using government funds. Research teams wanting to do gain of function research in the US using government grants must have their work approved by an independent review panel that decides whether the benefits outweigh the risks. But Congress admits privately funded research by pharmaceutical companies are not subject to the same oversight. Pfizer also claimed that its lab work was not 'directed evolution'. This research is intended to imitate the process of natural selection and push a virus' mutations down a certain path. It can be performed in living organisms - such as monkeys - or in vitro (in cells). Pfizer did admit that it modified the original Covid virus to produce the spike protein of new variants to test them against its vaccine. Most scientists agree this does not count as gain of function because the variants already exist in nature and infect people. The grey area appears to be Pfizer's admission that it conducted 'in vitro resistance selection experiments' on its antiviral drug Paxlovid. In vitro resistance selection experiments involve predicting how a virus will mutate as it develops resistance to treatments. Their purpose was to test which mutations would need to occur to the piece of the virus that Paxlovid targets to render it ineffective. But exactly what these experiments involve is unclear and Pfizer refused to comment again when approached by DailyMail.com today. A follow-up video was released days after the first shows the Project Veritas team confronting Mr Walker at a diner Mr Walker hits the team's iPad out of their hands and it smashes when the confrontation turns physical Pfizer's official release does not refer to Project Veritas or the alleged employee Mr Walker. Instead, the statement opens with: 'Allegations have recently been made related to gain of function and directed evolution research at Pfizer and the company would like to set the record straight.' It adds: 'In the ongoing development of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, Pfizer has not conducted gain of function or directed evolution research.' But the company does admit to using the original Covid strain to express the spike protein of new variants of concern to test its vaccine. 'This work is undertaken once a new variant of concern has been identified by public health authorities.' Most scientists endorsed this research because it helped governments assess how effective their vaccine rollouts would hold up against new variants like Omicron and Delta when those variants took off. But Pfizer made other admissions that have caused concern among some experts. 'In addition... Pfizer undertakes in vitro work (e.g., in a laboratory culture dish) to identify potential resistance mutations to nirmatrelvir, one of Paxlovids two components. 'With a naturally evolving virus, it is important to routinely assess the activity of an antiviral. Most of this work is conducted using computer simulations or mutations of the main proteasea non-infectious part of the virus. 'In a limited number of cases when a full virus does not contain any known gain of function mutations, such virus may be engineered to enable the assessment of antiviral activity in cells. 'In addition, in vitro resistance selection experiments are undertaken in cells incubated with SARS-CoV-2 and nirmatrelvir in our secure biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory to assess whether the main protease can mutate to yield resistant strains of the virus. 'It is important to note that these studies are required by US and global regulators for all antiviral products and are carried out by many companies and academic institutions in the US and around the world.' In Project Veritas' original video, Mr Walker begs the journalist not to tell anyone and then shares that they would mutate the virus by infecting monkeys After Project Veritas published their story, US senator Marco Rubio wrote to Pfizer's CEO and said that if the claims made by Mr Walker are true, Pfizer is 'putt[ing] its desire for profit over the concern of national and global health'. He said: 'Whether its gain of function research, or selected structure mutations through directed evolution, as Mr Walker claimed would occur, any effort to make a virus more transmittable and deadlier is careless and dangerous.' In Project Veritas' original video, Mr Walker begs the journalist not to tell anyone and then shares that they would mutate the virus by infecting monkeys. 'One of the things we [Pfizer] are exploring is like, why don't we just mutate it [Covid] ourselves so we could create -- preemptively develop new vaccines, right? 'So, we have to do that. If we're gonna do that though, there's a risk of like, as you could imagine -- no one wants to be having a pharma company mutating f--king viruses.' Walker told the Veritas journalist that the mutation would be done through directed evolution, and the virus can become more potent depending on the scientific experiment performed on it. 'From what I've heard is they are optimizing it, but they're going slow because everyone is very cautious -- obviously, they don't want to accelerate it too much,' he said. 'I think they are also just trying to do it as an exploratory thing because you don't want to advertise that you are figuring out future mutations.' Walker then begged the journalist not to tell anyone and proceeded to explain how the experiment would work. Walker told the Veritas journalist that the mutation would be done through directed evolution, and the virus can become more potent depending on the scientific experiment performed on it Walker then begged the journalist not to tell anyone and proceeded to explain how the experiment would work 'Don't tell anyone. Promise you won't tell anyone. The way it would work is that we put the virus in monkeys, and we successively cause them to keep infecting each other, and we collect serial samples from them,' he said. He then mentioned Wuhan when talking about keeping the virus controlled. 'You have to be very controlled to make sure that this virus that you mutate doesn't create something that just goes everywhere,' he continued. 'Which, I suspect, is the way that the virus started in Wuhan, to be honest. It makes no sense that this virus popped out of nowhere. It's bulls--t.' 'You're not supposed to do gain-of-function research with viruses. Regularly not. We can do these selected structure mutations to make them more potent. There is research ongoing about that. I don't know how that is going to work. There better not be any more outbreaks because Jesus Christ,' he added. In the video, Walker is also heard talking about the different Covid variants like Delta and Omicron being a 'cash cow' for the company. 'Part of what they want to do is, to some extent, to try to figure out, you know, how there are all these new strains and variants that just pop up,' he said. 'So, it's like trying to catch them before they pop up and we can develop a vaccine prophylactically, like, for new variants. So, that's why they like, do it controlled in a lab, where they say this is a new epitope, and so if it comes out later on in the public, we already have a vaccine working.' Walker added that even if it doesn't work, it's still a 'cash cow' for the company and will continue to be one. 'Some of the times there are mutations that pop up that we are not prepared for,' he explained. 'Like with Delta and Omicron. And things like that. Who knows? Either way, it's going to be a cash cow. Covid is going to be a cash cow for us for a while going forward. Like obviously.' A follow-up video was released days after the first shows the Project Veritas team confronting Mr Walker at a diner. Mr Walker hits the team's iPad out of their hands and it smashes when the confrontation turns physical. The alleged Pfizer employee claimed he had been lying in the previous video, and said: 'I was trying to impress a person on a date. By lying.' Mr Walker emphasized his lack of scientific expertise and said he does not directly work for Pfizer. He told the Project Veritas team: 'You don't even know my position at this... I'm not even a scientist by background. I came from a consulting firm that does business.' Protesters have climbed to the top of the 'stunningly beautiful' Mount Warning, defying a ban imposed out of respect to Aboriginal custodians. The Reopen Mount Warning (RMW) group said they had the blessing of another Indigenous elder to make the controversial hike. In October, visitors were banned from the Tweed Shire hiking trail in northern NSW, while the Wollumbin Consultative Group and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service prepared a management plan unveiling their decision to close it off for good. This followed 'temporary' closures going to the early days of the Covid pandemic in 2020 and later counting flood damage and safety as a reason for the ban. Known as Wollumbin by traditional owners, the Instagram hotspot - popular with locals and tourists alike - attracted more than 127,000 visitors every year before it was shut down in March 2020. But in the early morning darkness of Australia Day, members of RMW ignored the ban to send a pointed message to the NSW Government. A group of protesters (pictured) climbed Mount Warning on Australia Day, defying a ban imposed out of respect to Aboriginal custodians Group spokesman Adrian Hoffman said their climb had the blessing of local Indigenous woman Elizabeth Davis Boyd. 'Sitting on top of this stunningly beautiful and sacred site we have just witnessed the first sunrays to strike our Australian mainland and feel very humbled and blessed,' he said. 'But we are not here for self-satisfaction or thrills but to strongly protest against the permanent closure of the Mt Warning summit track. 'We are friends of Mt Warning and seek to preserve this natural wonder for future generations.' In November, Ms Boyd, the authorised representative of the Ngarakbal Githabul women, said she feared she and others would be denied access to their ancestral lore sites on the northern slope of Mount Warning. Mr Hoffman told climbers they would push the NSW Government to have the trail reopened to the public. He said the group's climb made a mockery of NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service's claim that one of the reasons for the closure of the trail was because it was unsafe. A decision to close a popular walking track out of respect to the original Aboriginal custodians has sparked a backlash. Pictured: Hikers at the top of the trail before the ban was brought in Pictured is the view from the 'stunningly beautiful' Mount Warning in northern New South Wales 'Within our group is a 71-year-old who underwent a full hip replacement just five months ago and he managed to limp up here in the dark,' he said. Ms Boyd's mother Marlene Boyd, who died in 2007, was recognised as the 'Keeper of the Seven Sisters Creation Site', one of the two women's lore sites. There's also a memorial dedicated to her mother on the Lyrebird Track at the base of the park. 'Mount Warning and the closure process is being internationally reported as a Bundjalung men's site,' Ms Boyd said. Elder Elizabeth Davis Boyd, the authorised representative of the Ngarakbal Githabul women, says the Wollumbin Consultative Group proposal has done great damage to her ancestral culture, tradition and lores Indigenous elders claim the group appear to be extinguishing ancestral women's lore sites on Mount Warning 'This is not correct and doing great damage to my ancestral culture, tradition and lores. My ancestors were already here. 'The Ngarakbal Githabul women have not been included in any of the consultative process in regards to the management or closure of Mount Warning. 'The state government's administrative decision to permanently close Mount Warning not only contravenes my customary law rights and women's rights and human rights but also my cultural responsibilities to the Gulgan memorial.' Yoocum Yoocum and Ngarakbal Githabul representatives expressed their concerns to NSW Environment Minister James Griffin in a letter obtained by Daily Mail Australia. The Wollumbin National Park track to Mt Warning-Wollumbin has been closed since March 2020 due to Covid-19, public safety risks due to recent floods and further consultation with the Aboriginal community 'The Bundjalung People are endorsing the "one tribe policy" extinguishing the many tribes within the Yoocum Yoocum moiety who have not been given a voice in this matter,' the letter states. 'The Wollumbin Consultative Group has discriminated against the women and our lores. 'The Wollumbin Consultative Group has sought to exterminate the Matristic Grandmother Rainbow Serpent and Seven Sisters Lore Traditions of my moiety. 'The oldest continuous culture on earth.' Indigenous leaders fear they'll be 'dispossessed' from the women's sacred sites of their ancestors on Mount Warning The NSW Government said the current ban is not permanent, but with the NSW State Election two months away, nothing is likely to change in the short term. There have been proposals to limit visitor numbers - rather than have a blanket ban - and to introduce fees or permits to use the trail. Mountain climbers have called for an independent public inquiry into the situation. Officer Lauren Ehlke was likely saved by her body camera A North Carolina police officer was saved by her own body camera after she was shot at during an attempt to serve a 60-year-old woman with an involuntary commitment order. The shooting took place on August 22 and was released Tuesday after a request by the media to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Officer Lauren Ehlke was with two other officers to serve the order, which gives officers to right to get people who are suffering from mental health issues and crisis treatment when they appear to be a danger to others. Ehlke and Officers Brandon Graham and Kristian Kurtzke arrived at Brenda Donohue's house in south Charlotte at around 5:30pm. A North Carolina police officer was saved by her own body camera (pictured) after she was shot at during an attempt to serve a 60-year-old woman with an involuntary commitment order The body camera footage shows the officers speaking with a male resident who lives with Donahue standing just outside for a couple of minutes, informing the police that Donahue is asleep. In a video statement, officials said they were not informed beforehand that Donahue had a gun. The police then tell the man that Donahue, by law, has to leave with them, even if they need to use handcuffs. The man then leads the authorities into the house, walking up the stairs showing them her room, which has a closed door heading inside. The three officers attempt to speak to Donahue without opening the door, with one asking, 'It's the police, ma'am. Can you open up the door?' Just 15 seconds after entering the house and trying to make contact with the woman, Donahue can be heard denying their request, when all of a sudden a gunshot is heard. The first shot hits Ehlke in the chest, knocking off her body camera, which appears to have saved her from serious injury. Officer Lauren Ehlke (pictured) was with two other officers to serve the order, which gives officers to right to get people who are suffering from mental health issues and crises treatment when they appear to be a danger to others A male resident leads the authorities into the house after speaking with them for two minutes The officers begin walking up the stairs showing them her room, which has a closed door heading inside. The three officers attempt to speak to Donahue without opening the door, with one asking, 'It's the police, ma'am. Can you open up the door?' Just 15 seconds after entering the house and trying to make contact with the woman, Donahue can be heard denying their request, when all of a sudden a gunshot is heard. The first shot hits Ehlke in the chest, knocking off her body camera, which appears to have saved her from serious injury The shooting took place on August 22 and was released Tuesday after a request by the media to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department The officers then took cover elsewhere in the house, heading down the stairs from Donahue's room. About 30 to 40 seconds later, Donahue gets out of the room with her weapon and looks over the railing. Graham, after telling one of the other officers that Donahue was holding a gun and pointing it in his direction, shoots at the 60-year-old woman, in a moment not seen on the bodycam footage. The man living with Donahue is then heard asking 'Did you shoot her?' Graham responds: 'She had her gun pointed at me, get outside sir, now!' The officers then took cover elsewhere in the house, heading down the stairs from Donahue's room The video footage shows Donahue (pictured) bleeding profusely and lying completely still near her bedroom Officers then tended to Donahue, who had been shot in the head, until medics could get to the scene Officers then tended to Donahue, who had been shot in the head, until medics could get to the scene. The video footage shows Donahue bleeding profusely and lying completely still near her bedroom. Sergeant Steven Winterhalter said in the explainer of the bodycam footage that they felt Donahue was an active threat after firing at the officers. He added that the three cops followed their training by not firing back right after Donahue shot at them. Donahue was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead six days later. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation has completed its investigation of the shooting but the local district attorney's office is still investigating, according to the Charlotte Observer. The pair, both married with children, had their fling at the factory they worked at An 'obsessed' factory worker paid 20,000 to hire a hitman after she was spurned by a colleague she had a brief fling with, a court heard yesterday. Helen Hewlett, 43, allegedly stalked Paul Belton, 50, for more than two years before making false claims of sexual harassment and eventually turning to the dark web to hire a killer. Her instruction on a site called Online Killers Market said 'It's vital it looks like an accident' - but a jury was told she was arrested following a tip-off to police. Giving evidence behind a screen yesterday, Mr Belton said: 'I just wanted to be left alone to get on with my life. I just wanted it to stop.' Helen Hewlett, pictured, is accused of paying 20,000 for a hitman to kill a man who spurned her advances A court heard that Paul Belton, pictured, broke off their fling which had begun after Hewlett's 'relentless' pursuit of him Hewlett and Mr Belton, who are both married with children, met at the Linda McCartney vegetarian frozen food factory in Fakenham, Norfolk. Norwich Crown Court heard how she became infatuated with Mr Belton and bombarded him with emails even though he had made it clear to her that he did not want a relationship with her. She allegedly responded to his failure to answer her messages by posting on Facebook: 'Paul Belton needs shooting in the bollocks. I am sick of people taking advantage of you, who ruin your life and walk away without a care in the world.' Hewlett added that she was 'sick of people who treat you like s*** and think they can get away with it'. She also described him in another post as 'scum' who 'takes advantage of people when they are at their lowest'. Giving evidence from behind a screen, Mr Belton said he was made aware of the first posts by another work colleague who had seen it after he had ignored Hewlett's emails begging to see him again. He described the emails and posts as 'offensive, insulting, threatening and worrying', and was fearful that Hewlett might turn up at his home or do something to his family Jurors have been told how Hewlett who was also married with children had become 'utterly fixated' after they kissed and he touched her intimately in her car in the overflow car park at the Linda McCartney frozen food factory in Fakenham, Norfolk. She is accused of stalking Mr Belton for more than two and a half years, including making false allegations of sexual harassment, before she allegedly turned to the dark web to find someone to murder him. Hewlett is said to have used all her savings, overdraft and loans to buy Bitcoin so she could place an order on a site called 'Online Killers Market' which purported to supply hitmen. Prosecutors said she transferred 20,547 into an online account together with Mr Belton's name, home and work addresses and his picture, and told the would-be hitmen: 'It's vital it looks like an accident.' Mr Belton told the court today that he had only had the one 'sexual event' with Hewlett in her car. It happened while he was on a break at work before she started her shift. He admitted that he 'instantly regretted' the encounter as he was 'ashamed' and did not want things to go any further, although he admitted having an email conversation with Hewlett about the romp shortly afterwards. Mr Belton who worked as a staff trainer at the factory claimed that Hewlett had tried to kiss him, and grab hold of his private parts on other occasions, and also hurled a cup of coffee at his office wall after he spurned her. He denied a suggestion by Matthew McNiff, defending, that he and Hewlett had further sexual encounters, and that he was only giving a 'partial' version of the story. Mr Belton admitted that they had earlier flirted with each other while chatting in the canteen, saying that they talked about problems including his fears of redundancy and her difficulties growing up. Her trial at Norwich Crown Court, pictured, heard Hewlett submitted complaints accusing Mr Belton of sexual harassment Mr McNiff accused him of 'slowly reeling her in' with his behaviour, saying: 'As she said to you, you saw she was vulnerable and you exploited it.' Mr Belton insisted that was not the case. The court heard how Mr Belton quit his job in desperation and moved to work at the Kinnerton Confectionery factory in Fakenham which makes chocolate products for Tesco, but Hewlett also got a job there in order to continue to pursue a relationship with him. He said he blocked her emails and deleted sexually explicit pictures of herself that she sent him. She later complained to factory bosses at around the time she left Kinnerton in August 2021, alleging that he had bullied, intimidated and sexually harassed women and made homophobic comments. Mr Belton said he was interviewed by managers and provided emails showing how Hewlett had pursued him. He said the investigation 'concluded there was nothing to answer to'. He admitted that he had not told managers about his sexual encounter with Hewlett. The court heard how a whistleblower who is believed to have been Hewlett made a second complaint about his behaviour to Tesco in April last year. He was interviewed once again by factory bosses who realised the complaints were 'malicious' and made by Hewlett, and advised him to go to the police. Mr Belton also admitted not telling police about his sexual encounter with her, saying he only answered questions that he was asked by officers. The court heard the pair first met at the Linda McCartney vegetarian food factory in Fakenham, Norfolk (pictured) He denied that he had painted 'a deliberately misleading picture' when he initially told police that he had 'never had any romantic relationship with Helen Hewlett.' But Mr McNiff told him: 'You carefully phrased an answer along the lines of, 'I never had sexual relations with that woman', as a President once said.' Mr Belton also denied lying in a police statement when he said that he had 'a very strong line between work and outside work'. He also denied Mr McNiff's suggestion that he had deliberately made out Hewlett to be 'in effect mad, sad and obsessed' The jury heard how Hewlett had told police she had "no intention of going through with the order" to kill Mr Belton after she was arrested. She claimed that she could have withdrawn funds from the "dark" website at any time. Prosecutor Marti Blair KC, told Norwich Crown Court yesterday the defendant's pursuit of staff trainer Mr Belton had been 'relentless', leading to 'intimate touching and kissing' in a car. 'She was determined to ruin his reputation at work,' Ms Blair said. Messages allegedly sent by Hewlett to Mr Belton at the time included one that said: 'Hope it was worth it. You are nothing but a spiteful bully.' Another accused him of being a 'coward', adding: 'That is why you can't face me, because you are in the wrong.' The allegations were found to be malicious and Mr Belton was advised by human resources to speak to police, jurors were told. However, his family found out what had happened after his daughter spotted he had visited a police station on a mobile phone tracking app. Hewlett, of King's Lynn, told police during an interview that she had 'no intention of going through with the order' to kill Mr Belton and that she could have withdrawn the funds from Online Killers Market at any time. But Ms Blair added: 'These actions go far beyond mere fantasy.' Hewlett denies stalking from January 1, 2020 to August 13 last year and soliciting murder between August 1 and August 13 last year. The trial continues. A senior police officer has died six days after suffering head and spinal injuries in an indoor skydiving accident. Acting Senior Sergeant Michelle 'Mully' Mullen collided with the side of the wind tunnel at the iFly Indoor Skydiving facility at Chermside in Brisbane's north last Thursday. Paramedics, including a critical care team, were called to the skydive centre about 4.20pm and rushed Snr Sgt Mullen to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in a critical condition. Tragically, she died from her injuries on Wednesday. Acting Senior Sergeant Michelle 'Mully' Mullen (pictured) died six days after suffering head and spinal injuries in an indoor skydiving accident Pictured is an image of skydivers in a wind tunnel at the indoor facility at iFly Snr Sgt Mullen, 52, is said to have been an extremely experienced skydiver. A note to her colleagues described the South Brisbane Crime Prevention Unit cop as a 'well respected police officer and a friend to so many'. Friends described her as 'an inspiration' and 'kindness itself'. They also spoke of Snr Sgt Mullen's long love of skydiving, her sense of fun and caring nature. Queensland Police said a report will be prepared for the coroner. 'Police are assisting Work Health and Safety investigations in relation to a 52-year-old woman sustaining critical injuries at an indoor skydiving venue in Chermside on January 19,' a spokesman said. 'The woman sadly passed away from her injuries at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital on January 25.' Sen Sgt Michelle Mullen (left) is pictured with Tom Searles and Sen Sgt Greg Bishop in 2013 Two days before Sen Sgt Michelle Mullen's accident, Nine Today weather presenter Tim Davies broadcast live from the same facility to promote the thrill seeker experience. He looked shaky as he read his weather report in the tunnel and initially flew with an instructor holding his hand as the pair hovered in midair on a blast of air blowing up from the floor. Wearing a jumpsuit and a crash helmet, he later precariously flew solo by himself at the end of the segment. iFly has five locations in Australia, with the Brisbane site opening in 2019, and more than 80 worldwide. Their website says the customer's safety is its main concern. It adds that the wind tunnel's unique design 'allows you to safely enjoy your flight session' and feel the sensation of freefalling without a parachute'. Every customer must sign a waiver which says iFly is an 'inherently dangerous activity involving strenuous physical exertion'. The iFly indoor skydiving facility in Chermside, a northern suburb of Brisbane, is pictured iFly advertises itself as releasing the 'adrenaline of a freefall experience, in a safe and controlled environment'. It is open to anyone aged three years and over who weighs under 136kg. Session prices start at $79. Daily Mail Australia has contacted iFly Brisbane for comment. The retired governor of a Scottish women's prison housing transgender double rapist Isla Bryson declared today that if she were still in charge and had to take in the sex attacker, she would quit. Rhona Hotchkiss believes it is 'appalling' that the 31-year-old was sent to Cornton Vale jail after being convicted of raping two women while still a man named Adam Graham. Bryson is being held at Scotland's only full female jail while risk assessments are carried out ahead of sentencing on February 28. But critics say the abuser is a danger to women and the case has prompted calls for First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's stalling Gender Recognition Reform Bill to be reviewed. Miss Hotchkiss is an ally of JK Rowling and director of the author's Beira's Place project a 'woman-only' sexual violence support service in Edinburgh that does not cater for trans women. The retired prison boss said: 'This [Isla Bryson] would have been a resignation issue for me. I am absolutely clear about the fact that they should be in a male prison you simply cannot have someone like this terrorising women. It's appalling. The thought that a double rapist can identify his way into a women's prison should shock everyone. 'The other shocking aspect is, the Scottish parliament could have chosen to legislate against that happening and they didn't.' Ms Sturgeon will come under fresh pressure today over the decision to place Bryson in a women's prison. She will be grilled at First Ministers Questions at noon amid fury from Scottish Tories and demands for an explanation. Transgender rapist Isla Bryson has been sent to a women's prison despite carrying out the crimes as a man and transitioning after being charged Rhona Hotchkiss (bottom right) is a director of the women-only sexual violence support service Beira's Place in Edinburgh, which will not cater for trans women. It is funded by Ms Rowling, who is a director with (left to right back row) Susan Smith, Johann Lamont and Margaret McCartney Miss Hotchkiss told LBC Radio: 'Before I left I was in a very difficult situation where I was refusing to force female staff to search male-bodied prisoners and I was told that I would be making life very difficult for myself. 'Had I not been going to take early retirement anyway, I would have stayed and pursued that. But today, this would have been a resignation issue for me. 'I have no doubt this is a red line I would not have crossed and as the governor of Cornton Vale I would have refused to have this person in my prison.' Scotland's First Minister was questioned at a press conference on Monday at St Andrew's House in Edinburgh about appalling signs at the Rally for Trans Equality in Glasgow on Saturday. Police Scotland has said it is investigating after reports into a sign at the rally. SNP MP Kirsten Oswald and her party colleague, MSP Kaukab Stewart, were pictured with signs in the background calling to 'decapitate TERFs [trans-exclusionary radical feminists]'. Miss Hotchkiss tweeted of Ms Sturgeon: 'Women have been telling her for years that violent misogyny is a cornerstone of trans ideology & she's been ignoring us. She still is'. It comes as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab slammed Ms Sturgeon after she Bryson from the women's prison. Downing Street showed 'concerns' about the Scottish government putting the male-bodied rapist in a women's prison. The Prime Minister's spokesperson said he had 'seen the reporting and understands the concerns' over the decision to let the transgender woman formerly known as Adam Graham be held in a women's prison despite raping two women. Mr Raab tweeted that such a move would not happen south of the border, after the Government overhauled rules to stop transgender sex offenders from being held in women's prisons. Downing Street showed 'concerns' about the Scottish government putting a male-bodied rapist in a women's prison - in a move that will place pressure on Nicola Sturgeon to reverse the decision Rishi Sunak's spokesperson said he had 'seen the reporting and understands the concerns' over the decision Under the changes, Mr Raab said transgender women who had committed sex crimes or retained male genitalia could not be held in women's prisons except in the most exceptional cases authorised by ministers. Both Downing Street and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) revealed they were powerless to stop the Scottish government's move as criminal justice is a devolved responsibility. The decision has no wider impact on the UK's equality laws or practices in English and Welsh jails. A government source told The Telegraph: 'The point is that we are taking a more common sense approach. We are going further in our reform of the prison rules in a way that the public would expect to ensure that prisoners get the safety they would expect behind bars.' Bryson only started to transition after appearing in court on the rape charges. MPs and MSPs warned that female inmates could be at risk and the move sent a signal that male sex offenders could 'game the system'. The case has prompted calls for Ms Sturgeon's Gender Recognition Reform Bill to be reviewed. The Bill, which was blocked by Mr Sunak, would allow anyone over 16 to 'self-identify' as the opposite sex without the need for medical evidence or diagnosis. SNP MP Joanna Cherry told Times Radio: 'To many people, it will look like this convicted rapist has gamed the system [and] a lot of people will be shocked by that. 'Women in prison are very vulnerable. Many have themselves been abused and suffered injuries over the years. 'The point about human rights is that they're universal, and they apply to everyone. So I'm very concerned about the safety of women prisoners, with whom a convicted rapist has been placed. 'Under Scots law, the crime of rape can only be committed by somebody with a penis, and that's a man. I think we should call out what's happened here.' An amendment that would have prevented people changing gender while awaiting trial was proposed by the Tories but voted down by MSPs. In an urgent question at Holyrood yesterday, Scottish Tory community safety spokesman Russell Findlay said: 'This scenario is exactly what I tried to stop during the passage of Nicola Sturgeon's Bill, but my amendment was voted down by the narrowest of margins. 'Even with this flawed Bill in limbo, violent criminals are exploiting the system and putting vulnerable women at risk.' Justice Secretary Keith Brown said: 'I trust the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to deal with this. 'They do not, as is the case in England and Wales, have their process determined by the presence of a gender recognition certificate (GRC). So if somebody did have a GRC, it wouldn't guarantee them the right to be transferred to the place of their choice. 'Every decision is carried out on the basis of risk.' But Mr Findlay said: 'Rather than direct the SPS to block this rapist and any others from being sent to a women's prison, the justice secretary passed the buck to them.' He added: 'I'd urge Nicola Sturgeon to admit she has got this badly wrong and include our amendment in any redrafted version of the Bill.' Mr Raab said 'common sense' changes in England 'will mean transgender women who have committed sex crimes or retain male genitalia can't be held in women's prisons'. An SPS spokesman said: 'Where there are any concerns about any risks posed by an individual, either to themselves or others, we retain the ability to keep them separate from the mainstream population until an agreed management plan is in place.' Ms Sturgeon told BBC Radio 4's PM programme: 'There is no automatic right for a trans woman convicted of an offence to go to a women's prison. 'The SPS individually assesses all prisoners or potential prisoners, does detailed risk assessments of the safety of the individual prisoner [and] of those that will be around the individual prisoner. 'This is about individual risk assessments.' Number of people using Underground in the week is 80% of pre-pandemic levels City workers have been urged to travel into the office on Mondays and Fridays by Transport for London (TfL) after figures showed commuter numbers on these days have dropped. The transport body's campaign comes as three-day weeks in the office have become more commonplace since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. This has seen the rise of 'TWaTs' people who go into the workplace on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays but spend the rest of the week at home. TfL has suggested that people wanting a less stressful journey on the London Underground change their habits, as there are now 13 per cent fewer customers on Mondays compared to the following three days. New figures from Transport for London (TfL) show the number of commuters on Mondays and Fridays is lower than in the middle of the week (file photo) The transport authority has urged people wanting a less stressful travel experience to do so on Mondays and Fridays (file photo) The TfL figures also show the Monday morning rush hour peak is still 15 per cent quieter compared that on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. This was most evident on the Northern Line, and on the London Overground between Highbury & Islington and West Croydon, Crystal Palace and New Cross, the Telegraph reports. There were 17 per cent fewer customers on these lines during the Monday morning peak, the statistics showed. And on Fridays there were 28 per cent fewer customers in the morning rush hour across the Tube and TfL rail network compared to Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The quieter Monday and Friday mornings, combined with a drop in passengers during the rest of the week, means the Tube is seeing only 75 to 80 per cent of its 'normal' pre-pandemic traffic the equivalent of three million journeys, the Evening Standard reports. Alex Williams, TfL chief customer and strategy officer, said: 'With many commuters now having the flexibility to choose when they go into the office, and people forming new habits to kick off 2023, this latest data shows the benefits of travelling on Mondays or Fridays or re-timing your journeys. 'There is plenty of capacity for everyone on the public transport network but Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are consistently the busiest weekdays, so customers are likely to have more comfortable journeys by switching to or adding a journey on a Monday or Friday.' The number of people travelling on the London Underground has still not reached pre-pandemic levels, with a shortfall of three million journeys during the week Breakdown of the price rises for London passengers Tube: Zone 1 peak - up 30p (12%) to 2.80 Zone 1 off-peak - up 20p to 2.70 Most single fares - up 10p Buses: Up 10p to 1.75 Daily cap up 30p to 5.25 7-day bus and tram pass up 1.40 to 24.70 Travelcards: Daily cap on Tube or rail travel in zones 1 to 4 up by 70p to 11.70 Weekly zones 1 to 6 travelcard up by 4 to 74.50 Advertisement However, those who do travel face having to pay more for the pleasure in the coming months, after plans to hike TfL fares were announced. Earlier this month, London Mayor Sadiq Khan revealed proposals to increase the weekly cap for using buses and trams by 1.40 to 24.70, with the weekly cap for zones one to three jumping by 3 to 48. Passengers will now face paying 2.80 for a zone 1 peak ticket a rise of 12 per cent and 2.70 off-peak. Most other single fares will rise by 10p. The average rise of 5.9 per cent across all modes of transport will kick in from March 5 and mirrors the cap set by the Department for Transport (DfT) for regulated rail fare rises in England from the same date. A ban introduced at the start of the pandemic on Londoners who are over 60 travelling for free before 9am has been made permanent a move that is set to generate 40million a year in extra fares. The hike in fares was brought in in place of cuts to Tube lines, after TfL's research showed it would be more beneficial than slashing services. Michael Roberts, chief executive of passenger group London TravelWatch, said: 'Many Londoners are already feeling the pinch with cost of living pressures so this fares rise of 5.9 per cent across TfL services will be challenging for many people. 'More people use the bus every day in the capital than any other type of transport. 'Buses are used most by lower-income Londoners, so we are particularly disappointed that these fares were not capped.' Mr Khan said of the issue: 'I froze TfL fares for five years from 2016 to make transport more affordable for millions of Londoners. 'But my hands have been tied since the pandemic by the strict conditions set by the Government in the recent emergency funding agreement for TfL, which means fares have to be increased in London by the same amount as national rail fares 5.9 per cent. 'This is a challenging time for our city, with a Government that is not fully funding our public services, but I'm determined to step up so that we can continue building a greener, safer and fairer London for everyone.' The Kremlin claims the West is now 'directly involved' in the Ukraine war after agreeing to send state-of-the-art tanks to the front lines in the fight against Russia's invading forces. Yesterday, after weeks of bitter infighting, the US and Germany finally agreed to give in to Volodymyr Zelensky's demands and send 31 M1 Abrams tanks, 14 Leopard 2 tanks, and give allies permission to send their own supply. The deal has been hailed as a potential game-changer in the conflict. A furious Russia has lashed out at the deal and threatened escalating the war beyond the borders of Ukraine, while slamming a barrage of missiles into Kyiv overnight. Today, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: 'European capitals and Washington constantly give statements that sending various types of weapons, including tanks, in no way means their involvement in hostilities. We strongly disagree with this. In Moscow, this is perceived as direct involvement in the conflict and we see that this is growing.' A missile flies over Kyiv this morning as Vladimir Putin retaliated against the West for its tanks deal Putin is also furiously retaliating by raining missiles down on Ukraine as an air raid was issued over the whole country in the early hours of this morning. Defending forces said they shot down all 24 drones fired from Moscow including 15 around Kyiv, with no reports of any damage so far, as civilians sheltered in subway stations amid the blitz. 'The first Russian missiles have been shot down,' Andriy Yermak, head of Zelensky's office said. Russia has targeted critical infrastructure with missile and drone strikes since October, causing sweeping blackouts and other outages during the bitter winter. Despite the generous Western package, there are fears that Ukraine won't be able to actually use the tanks on the front line for months, potentially after Russia's anticipated spring offensive. The promised M1 Abrams tanks from the US are not even in supply at the moment and will take months to arrive before training can even commence, senior officials have said. An air raid alert was issued over the whole of Ukraine early this morning as defence units shot down a stream of incoming missiles Defending forces said they shot down all 24 drones fired from Moscow including 15 around Kyiv, with no reports of any damage so far People gather in a subway station being used as a bomb shelter during a rocket attack in Kyiv today Ukrainian civilians wait in subway stations underground while Russia pounded Kyiv with missiles Putin has wasted no time in punishing Ukraine by blasting missiles overnight, after a period of relative calm Fighting has re-intensified in Bakhmut after the tank deal ramped up the war following a period of relative calm The modern tanks need to be procured, then the US will begin a 'comprehensive training programme' for Ukrainian soldiers, which will also need spare parts and will require significant maintenance once deployed. Germany and European Leopard 2 tanks will likely arrive sooner but will still require training as Kyiv forces have become accustomed to their Soviet-era tanks used so far in the war. Germany's tanks would probably be ready in three or four months, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said. The fact that Leopard 2, M1 Abrams and Challenger tanks will all be arriving in the coming months, each needing separate parts and training, will complicate matters for Ukraine. Brad Martin, director of the RAND Institute for Supply Chain Security, told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme: 'Unfortunately, it does mean that each of these capabilities is going to need their own supply chains because they are different, their parts are different, the maintenance requirements are different. 'I don't know that it's such a large challenge that it can't be met but all things being equal it would be better to have common systems but they're working with what they have. 'The United States has a number of Abrams tanks and some of them would have to be refurbished in order to be exported... it's certainly true that they're not sitting there ready to go, work will have to be done to get any of them ready to be deployed. Germany will initially send 14 Leopard 2s to Ukraine, and aims to provide 80 tanks overall The US is sending dozens of M1A2 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in the coming weeks to help with their war-effort A Ukrainian soldier is seen on his way to frontlines with their armoured military vehicles as strikes continue This is what you're up against now, Putin: How America's Abrams, Germany's Leopard 2 and Britain's Challenger compare to Russia's outdated T-72 tanks as they are sent to help defend Ukraine - Click HERE to read more Germany's 55-ton Leopard 2 tank combines aspects of firepower, protection, speed and maneuverability - making it adaptable to many types of combat situations Advertisement 'A lot of this is rather complicated sophisticated stuff and it takes time to learn how to deal with this, training is going to be a very big issue. 'Supply chains and the acquiring of spare parts take time, and those two things together will be a challenge.' Western countries have made 'no clear indication' of how many tanks will be given to Ukraine, an advisor to the country's defence minister has said. Yuriy Sak told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: 'We need 300 to 400 tanks for this to be a game changer. 'This tank coalition consisting of different countries, we have no clear indication of how many tanks each country will provide. We have communicated to our partners that this is the number that we need. 'If you want missile terror to stop you need to receive the weapons that will allow us to defeat the enemy on the battlefield. 'The sooner we defeat Russia on the battlefield using Western weapons the sooner we will be able to stop this missile terror and restore peace.' Zelensky has praised the US and German commitments to send tanks and urged allies to provide large quantities of tanks quickly. 'The key now is speed and volumes. Speed in training our forces, speed in supplying tanks to Ukraine. The numbers in tank support,' he said in a nightly video address on Wednesday. 'We have to form such a "tank fist", such a "fist of freedom".' Ukraine has been seeking hundreds of modern tanks to give its troops the firepower to break Russian defensive lines and reclaim occupied territory in the south and east. Ukraine and Russia have been relying primarily on Soviet-era T-72 tanks. The promise of tanks comes as both Ukraine and Russia are expected to launch new offensives in the war. Maintaining Kyiv's drumbeat of requests for more aid, Zelensky said he spoke to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and called for long-range missiles and aircraft. Ukraine's allies have already provided billions in military support including sophisticated U.S. missile systems. The United States has been wary of deploying the difficult-to-maintain Abrams but had to change tack to persuade Germany to send to Ukraine its more easily operated Leopards. Biden said the tanks pose 'no offensive threat' to Russia and that they were needed to help the Ukrainians 'improve their ability to manoeuvre in open terrain'. Germany will send an initial company of 14 tanks from its stocks and approve shipments by allied European states. The Abrams can be tricky, but the Leopard was designed as a system that any NATO member could service and crews and repair specialists could be trained together on a single model, Ukrainian military expert Viktor Kevlyuk told Espreso TV. 'If we have been brought into this club by providing us with these vehicles, I would say our prospects look good.' Russia reacted with fury to Germany's decision to approve the delivery of the Leopards. 'This extremely dangerous decision takes the conflict to a new level of confrontation,' said Sergei Nechayev, Russia's ambassador to Germany. Pledges to Ukraine from other countries that field Leopards have multiplied with announcements from Poland, Finland and Norway. Spain and the Netherlands said they were considering it. A view shows a Puma infantry fighting vehicle during firing practice, at armoured infantry training area Altengrabow, Germany, today German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius is seen a day after finally agreeing to supply tanks to Ukraine Britain has offered 14 of its comparable Challenger tanks and France is considering sending its Leclercs. The Kyiv government acknowledged on Wednesday its forces had withdrawn from Soledar, a small salt-mining town close to Bakhmut in the east, that Russia said it captured more than a week ago, its biggest gain for more than six months. The area around Bakhmut, with a pre-war population of 70,000, has seen some of the most brutal fighting of the war. Ukraine's military said that Russian forces were attacking in the direction of Bakhmut 'with the aim of capturing the entire Donetsk region and regardless of its own casualties'. The Russian-installed governor of Donetsk said earlier that units of Russia's Wagner contract militia were moving forward inside Bakhmut, with fighting on the outskirts and in neighbourhoods recently held by Ukraine. Analyst Kevlyuk said losing Bakhmut would not change much in terms of the tactical scheme of things but that he was more concerned by Russian efforts to regroup and concentrate resources in the Luhansk region. Donetsk and Luhansk make up the Donbas region. Russian forces control nearly all of Luhansk, while Russians and their proxies say they control about half of Donetsk. Reuters could not verify battlefield reports. The 11-month war has killed thousands of people, driven millions from their homes and reduced cities to rubble. A young boy has been rushed to hospital after being struck by lightning at a Wollongong beach. The 10-year-old was swimming on Australia Day at Warrilla Beach at Barrack Point near Shellharbour in NSW, when he was hit by the thunderbolt. Emergency crews rushed to the scene about 5:25pm and treated him for burns to his chest. He was then taken to Westmead children's hospital in an ambulance where he remains in a stable condition. Temperatures in the area reached in the 30s on Thursday before a cloud front moved in. A young boy has been rushed to hospital after being struck by lightning at a Wollongong beach The 10-year-old was swimming on Australia Day at Warrilla Beach at Barrack Point near Shellharbour in NSW , when he was hit by the thunderbolt Emergency crews rushed to the scene about 5:25pm and treated him for burns to his chest The horror incident comes as a 'nasty' forecast storm came rolling in across western NSW on the public holiday after the mercury hit 33C and much of the country's east coast sweltered. The Bureau of Meteorology on Thursday afternoon issued a detailed thunderstorm warning for three 'severe' storm cells, moving east from the Blue Mountains towards the Hawkesbury, Parramatta, Erskine Park and Liverpool. They were accompanied by a State Emergency Service warning for residents to move their car under cover, unplug computers and appliances, avoid using the phone and stay away from windows. The Bureau of Meteorology issued this severe thunderstorm warning on Thursday afternoon Rainfall and potential thunderstorms could spoil the second half of Australia Day celebrations as storms make their way up the east coast (pictured, Australia Day celebrations) Read the BOM's full severe thunderstorm warning for Sydney The Bureau of Meteorology warns that severe thunderstorms were detected on the weather radar near Erskine Park. These thunderstorms are moving towards the east. Damaging winds and large hailstones are likely. The State Emergency Service advises that people should: Move your car under cover or away from trees. Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony. Keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences. Report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid (131 388), Endeavour Energy (131 003), Essential Energy (132 080) or Evoenergy (131 093) as shown on your power bill. Unplug computers and appliances. Avoid using the phone during the storm. Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well. For emergency help in floods and storms, ring the SES ( NSW and ACT) on 132 500. Advertisement The BOM had forecast Australia Day barbecues will be disrupted by mid-afternoon storms as a low pressure system makes its way up the east coast from the Bass Strait, with rainfall expected over the Illawarra area. A weather warning was also issued for inland Queensland with severe thunderstorm and damaging winds expected on Thursday afternoon. Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds in the warning area over the next several hours and is expected to last into the evening. Locations which may be affected include Cunnamulla, Quilpie, Mt Howitt Station, Bollon, Surat and Wyandra. Scattered rainfall is expected across inland Queensland as another low pressure system travels from Broken Hill in NSW and into the sunshine state. Further supercells are expected to form across northern New South Wales and southern Queensland on Friday afternoon, bringing heavy rain over areas such as Port Macquarie, the Gold Coast and inland Queensland. Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are expected over NSW and Queensland this weekend, with Queensland potentially receiving heavier rain later next week (pictured, pedestrians in Brisbane) The wet weather is expected to stick around over the weekend as chances of thunderstorms persist along the east coast. The BOM have recognised a 'risk of isolated severe thunderstorms over the south-eastern inland [Queensland]'. The intense weather conditions are expected to pick up on Sunday lasting through to Monday as most of the Northern Territory, Queensland and northern New South Wales will experience heavy rain and potential thunderstorms. Queensland can expect heavier rainfall later next week as more low pressure systems dump rain across the state. Tropical Cyclone Freddy is likely to develop in Western Australia on Saturday, bringing damaging wind gusts and significant rainfall totals. If the cyclone does develop, it could bring gusts of up to 125km/h and intense rainfall with up to 300mm forecast to fall over 35 hours. However, Perth is expected to avoid the brunt of the storm with mostly sunny weather forecast through to the weekend. Cyclone Freddy (above) could form off WA's coast bringing wind gusts of up to 125km/h and intense rainfall Sydney recently experienced major rainfall and thunderstorms on Tuesday night (pictured) as Camden airport recorded more than 20,000 lightning strikes and 20mm of rain in 10 minutes Weather will remain fine in South Australia for most of the week before a cool change brings significant rainfall by the weekend. Temperatures will stay below 30C before Friday, when sweltering heat will grip Adelaide. The mercury could reach 37C before the weekend. Greater Sydney experienced major rainfall and thunderstorms on Tuesday night through to Wednesday morning, with lightning strikes numbering in the thousands in areas across Sydney as heavy rainfall caused pockets of flash flooding. Camden Airport, in far south-west Sydney, experienced over 20,000 lightning strikes in just a 20-kilometre radius and recorded 20 millimetres of rain in just 10 minutes. Meanwhile, flash flooding and power outages struck Victoria on Tuesday afternoon after severe thunderstorms developed. Lighting storms hit Sydney (above) from 9pm on Tuesday with more rain forecast to fall over the city on Wednesday and Friday State emergency services responded to hundreds of calls for help, with 116 requests in Geelong alone. In the 90 minutes to 3.30pm, at least 24mm of rain fell over Geelong Racecourse and more than 3,000 homes were left without power when lightning struck the area. Melbourne was badly hit too, and more than 6,000 Victorians were left without power. The storms hit the Bellarine Peninsula at around 2.15pm on Tuesday, bringing high winds and a heavy downpour that had already soaked the state's west. Mount Gellibrant, around 67kilometres west of Geelong, got 29mm of rain in 30 minutes. As the thunderstorms passed into the east, Melbourne was hit with the deluge at about 5pm. Parts of the city were hit with heavy rainfall and damaging winds, while locals reported severe lightning throughout the late afternoon. A British mother is among eight Britons charged over a Spanish holiday food poisoning scam in which tourists were persuaded to lie about being ill to claim compensation, a court heard. Laura Holmes Cameron, who allegedly acted as the criminal ringleader alongside her brother Marc Cameron Grimstead, was accused of targeting all-inclusive hotels in Majorca with the bogus claims. When details of the case emerged in 2017, detectives speculated that the fake food poisoning scam could have cost hoteliers up to 9.6million. Holmes Cameron, who was born in Essex and is the owner of a Magaluf bar, now faces trial along with her sibling and six alleged accomplices who were hired to convince tourists to make the claims. Laura Holmes Cameron, Essex-born owner of a notorious Magaluf bar, now faces trial Pregnant Laura Cameron arriving at court in Majorca, September 7, 2017 Laura Holmes Cameron (right) with her mother Deborah who was investigated but not charged Laura Holmes Cameron (right) and her mother Deborah Cameron, who was previously held in the probe but no further action was taken In a hard-hitting six-page ruling issued by an investigating court in Majorca, the suspects are accused of forming a 'profit-motivated organised gang' through a Spanish company the pair set up called Elite Project Marketing SL. It adds: 'The gang specialised in obtaining the details of British tourists in all-inclusive hotels in Majorca, it convinced... [them] to falsely claim they had been ill during their stay in one of those hotels... to claim compensation in the UK.' It adds: 'The amount of compensation obtained in the UK with the consequent damage it caused tour operators and hotels significantly exceeded 176,000.' Reports at the time of Laura's arrest in September 2017 described hoteliers' losses as a result of the scam as 'multi-million.' Detectives were also said at the time to have estimated up to 9.6million the losses of the three hotel groups whose fraud claims sparked the Civil Guard-led Operation Claims. Investigating judge Maria Perez Ruiz admitted in her key court ruling made public today that the final figure defrauded has yet to be determined, as she invited prosecutors involved in the case to submit indictments. The eight suspects have been accused of fraud and membership of a criminal gang, with the crimes they are alleged to have committed occurring in 2016 and 2017. Laura Holmes Cameron (left ) is pictured with her mother Deborah who was investigated but not charged The alleged criminal gang was accused of targeting all-inclusive hotels in Majorca with the bogus claims Laura Holmes Cameron pictured with her husband Stuart Holmes They are Laura Holmes Cameron, prosecuted under her maiden and not her married name of Laura Joyce; her brother Marc; Ryan Bridge; Simon Robert Flanagan; Tegan Jewel Sumerlee; Susan Amanda Lyle, Nicola Marie Sanderson; and Peter Carl Murphy. Bridge has been described as 'one of the people tasked in England with processing the false claims'. The other five Brits were reportedly paid on commission 'hired by the two siblings to go to different hotels and get tourists' personal details including details that would enable the consumption of meals in hotels to be linked to supposed food poisoning'. Four other Britons were identified in the investigation but they have been provisionally archived because their whereabouts is unknown and they have not been formally questioned. The investigating judge made her key court ruling after rejecting an attempt by lawyers acting for Holmes Cameron and Bridge to shelve the case against them, stating 'several indications of criminality existed.' She said in her ruling that only 38 of the 800 holidaymakers staying at Club Mac Alcudia who submitted compensation claims had asked for medical assistance. A state prosecutor and private prosecutors acting for the hotels affected will now be invited to submit indictments failing a last appeal by the suspects. A trial date would then be set. The judge said in her ruling that only 38 of the 800 holidaymakers staying at Club Mac Alcudia (pictured) who submitted compensation claims had asked for medical assistance Laura Holmes Cameron and husband Stuart Holmes' bar Heroes in Puerto Portals, was raided by police in 2017 Laura Holmes Cameron with her husband Stuart Holmes Holmes Cameron's lawyer Gabriel Llado said after his client appeared in court in May 2018 in a closed hearing that she had admitted to passing on the names and phone numbers of holidaymakers for payment but insisted it was part of a pure market research exercise. He insisted neither Holmes Cameron or any of the so-called 'claims farmers' she used to gather data of tourists she passed on to others in the UK, encouraged them to get chemist's receipts so they could make fake food poisoning claims as police and hoteliers' representatives have claimed. And he claimed his client had spent just a few months doing it and stopped because she was earning very little. Holmes Cameron's mother Deborah Cameron was previously held in the probe but no further action was taken. The wealthy mother was also held at the luxury villa in upmarket Bendinat the pair then shared near the glamorous Majorcan port of Puerto Portals which police raided, but was freed before she went to court. After Holmes Cameron was arrested, it emerged her Magaluf bar Playhouse had been identified as the venue where a British tourist was filmed performing sex acts on 24 men for a cheap drink in the summer of 2014. The fallout from the infamous video sparked a crackdown on bar crawls in the party resort after regional governors described the 'outrageous' sex scenes as giving the area and women 'a terrible image' and promised to 'stop it whichever way' they could. Laura Holmes Cameron (pictured) was prosecuted under her maiden and not her married name of Laura Joyce Peter Carl Murphy (left) is among the other suspects alleged to have been involved Holmes Cameron, who was not at her bar when the incident occurred, shut Playhouse down soon after. The British government announced new measures to clamp down on fake holiday sickness claims as a result of scandals like the Majorca fake food poisoning scam. The same year of the Majorca arrests, Benidorm hotel association HOSBEC estimated British guests' were costing Spanish hotels around 55 million in bogus food poisoning claims. Some reports at the time even claimed Brits were facing a holiday ban in some all-inclusive Costa hotels. Many fraudsters were caught out after private detectives hired by hotels trawled their social media and discovered they had been posting photos of themselves eating and drinking when they later claimed to insurers they had been in bed with diarrhoea. One family who claimed their holiday was ruined by food poisoning were jailed in February 2021 after Facebook photos revealed them enjoying the waterslide and bar throughout the trip. A Labour MP today sparked fury as she insisted double rapist Isla Bryson deserves 'respect' to 'transition safely' to a woman after being placed in a women's jail, declaring: 'We need to just be fair'. Paulette Hamilton, who represents Erdington in Birmingham, has said that Bryson must have the same support as the female prisoners experts believe the sex attacker poses a danger to at Cornton Vale prison in Stirlingshire. She said: 'This gentleman transitioning to a female, we're a democratic country - we have to treat him fairly. We have to respect that he is transitioning to a woman'. Labour has been accused of being 'all over the place' on gender and Yvette Cooper tried to give frontbench clarity on the issue today declaring it is a 'dangerous' decision not to place Bryson in a male jail. Paulette Hamilton, a Birmingham Labour MP, said that rapist Isla Bryson should be given the support necessary to 'transition safely' to become a woman as Yvette Cooper, Shadow Home Secretary, said it 'should be straightforward' that someone who has committed crimes against women shouldn't be housed with women Isla Bryson, 31, (pictured), who was born Adam Graham, was convicted of raping two woman But asked how she would deal with the case, Labour's Paulette Hamilton said: 'For myself as an MP in a constituency where I have a number of people who have contacted me that are transitioning. I think all they want us to be is just fair towards them. We need to just be fair and he has a fair hearing'. Times Radio presenter Jane Garvey said: 'The person has had a fair hearing and has been found guilty of two rapes' before co-host Fi Glover said: ''I think a lot of people feel uncomfortable knowing who is the more vulnerable whose rights need to be respected the most'. Ms Hamilton responded: 'So what are you trying to get me to say? I'm going to be honest with you because I'm not going to tell you "we're gonna kill him because he wants to be transitioning".' She added: 'I have to say I would be more concerned about the women in this circumstance if you are asking me outright. But saying all of that, transitioning he will get the support he needs to ensure that he transitions safely'. This morning Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was clear that the transgender rapist should be sent to a male prison after being accused of 'gaming the system' by self-identifying as a woman after being charged as Adam Graham. Ms Cooper told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'This dangerous rapist should not be in a women's prison'. And in an attack on Nicola Sturgeon after the Scottish First Minister refused to move the transgender double rapist, she said: 'It should be clear that if someone poses a danger to women and committed crimes against women they should not be being housed in a women's prison. 'That is straightforward and I think most people would agree with that.' Labour has been accused of having accused of having a problem with women with Sir Keir Starmer famously refusing to say last year if 'a woman can have a penis'. He later clarified that the 'vast majority' of women do not have a penis, causing yet more confusion. Downing Street said yesterday it has 'concerns' about the Scottish government putting a male-bodied rapist in a women's prison and Ms Cooper said the same in stronger terms. The Prime Minister's official spokesperson said he had 'seen the reporting and understands the concerns' over the decision to let transgender woman Isla Bryson - formerly known as Adam Graham - be held in a women's prison despite raping two women. Justice Secretary Dominic Raab tweeted that such a move would not happen south of the border, after the Government overhauled rules to stop transgender sex offenders from being held in women's prisons. Under the new changes, Mr Raab said transgender women who had committed sex crimes or retained male genitalia could not be held in women's prisons except in the most exceptional cases authorised by ministers. Both Downing Street and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) revealed they were powerless to stop the Scottish Government's move because criminal justice is a devolved responsibility. Former Cabinet minister Lord Blunkett said this week the opposition must treat people with respect but not do anything to undermine women's rights. He also went against party policy by backing the UK Government's decision to block Scotland's radical self-ID reform that would have allowed 16-year-olds to legally change sex. As the damaging row over Labour's 'woman problem' continued, it emerged that its chief whip had told backbencher Lloyd Russell-Moyle to apologise for shouting down and trying to intimidate two female MPs, including one from his own party. Labour defended its MP, Rosie Duffield, who likened her membership to being in an abusive relationship, after briefings that she spent too much time with fellow women's rights campaigner JK Rowling. Lord Blunkett, who served as home secretary and education secretary under Tony Blair, made his critical comments on the BBC's Politics Live programme yesterday [wed]. He said that ministers had been right to use the so-called Section 35 order for the first time to stop Scotland's transgender reforms becoming law, even though Scottish Labour voted for them and Sir Keir Starmer's spokesman said the veto was unnecessary. Lord Blunkett went on: 'I'm sick and tired of identity politics, having to debate it over and over again.' He said respect and genuine equality were needed, adding that Mr Russell-Moyle was right to apologise to Tory MP Miriam Cates for 'expressing a perfectly reasonable point of view' on safeguarding. Isla Bryson, 31, was known as Adam Graham (pictured) and had a Mike Tyson-style face tattoo during the violent sex attacks in 2016 and 2019 Downing Street showed 'concerns' about the Scottish government putting a male-bodied rapist in a women's prison - in a move that will place pressure on Nicola Sturgeon to reverse the decision And he said it was 'just not acceptable' for convicted rapist Adam Graham to identify as a woman and be sent to a women's prison in Scotland. Last night Miss Duffield spoke out again on Labour's woman problem. She told Talk TV it is 'kind of mad' and 'dystopian' that Sir Keir cannot say if women can have penises, and that she had 'no idea' what he personally believes on the topic. She suggested that the party leader felt unable to defend her because of pressure from student groups and activists, and said part of the problem was that Labour had so many men in senior posts. Asked what her message to Sir Keir was, she replied: 'I think I'd like him to listen to women's groups. I'd like to know that he's met with those people that are really concerned about this.' His injuries were serious but he is in a stable condition The man was bitten on the leg and rushed to hospital for surgery A crocodile egg collector has been rushed to hospital after being bitten by one of the animals at a remote Northern Territory river. The man suffered serious injuries after the reptile clamped down on his leg near a station along the Daly River, south of Darwin, on Thursday. He managed to get free and was flown by a private helicopter out of the area to civilization where he was then transported to Royal Darwin Hospital by St John Ambulance. The man was collecting eggs along a river in the Northern Territory when the prehistoric reptile snuck up on him and clamped its jaws on his leg (file image) The injuries are not life-threatening and the man is undergoing surgery in hospital, Northern Territory Police confirmed in a statement. The bite of a crocodile is incredibly powerful with their bite force coming in at 3,700 PSI, the equivalent of an industrial pressure washer. It is understood he was employed by a croc egg harvesting operator and NT WorkSafe are investigating the incident. Croc egg collectors can earn $30 an egg, which can bring in $1,800 from a single nest that can hold up to 60 eggs. The licensed harvesters are usually lowered on lines from helicopters to pluck the eggs from piles of mulch on riverbanks that the creatures use as nests. They are then transported to crocodile farms where they are raised and then killed to make luxury crocodile leather products. French fashion houses like Hermes have contracts with a number of NT croc farms. According to the NT Government's Crocwise campaign, while crocodile attacks are rare, they do happen and the risk is greater from nesting season between September and May if the animal feels they or their nests are being threatened. 'You should always be aware of the risk of a saltwater crocodile attack in all Top End waterways,' the website states. In March last year, a 22-year-old man in Nhulunbuy, in Arnhem Land east of Darwin, survived after he was attacked by a croc while spearfishing. And just last week a huge 3.6metre crocodile was caught by NT Parks and Wildlife Rangers in a croc trap near a popular swimming hole in Litchfield National Park. Around one in 10 police officers should never have been able to make it through vetting, the police inspector said today. Inspector of Constabulary Matt Parr analysed how police forces were screening applicants in November after a string of stories about violent sexual offenders who had been able to become officers. He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: 'We looked at hundreds of officers that had joined the police.... about 10% of them should not have got through vetting. That was not a random sample, these are cases we had highlighted but a significant number of officers joined the police that, in our view, should not have done.' Mr Parr addressed the revelation by Met Commissioner Mark Rowley yesterday that 'two to three' Met officers would appear in court every week charged with serious crimes - insisting this was a sign of 'improvement'. Pc David Carrick served as a Met officer for 20 years before being unmasked as one of the country's most prolific sex offenders Mr Parr said problems with vetting had been 'widespread' in forces across the country. But he said: 'I think it has been historic. I do think at last policing has smelt the coffee, woken up, recognised the scale of the problem. 'All our recommendations have been accepted by the police and the Home Office - I think this is a turning point.' Asked why vetting had not been carried out properly, he said: 'It wasn't just rigorous enough and they were taking too much risk on some people. And there were also a lot of examples of the correct procedure simply not being followed. 'There were vetting units that were overwhelmed and under pressure to get the numbers in, and in some cases they just weren't very efficient.' But he added that a drive to recruit 20,000 new officers should not cause a drop in vetting standards. He said: 'The general problem is public confidence in the police has definitely taken some serious knocks, and the most important thing now is to restore this confidence... I don't accept that the new 20,000 officers can be used as an excuse for lowering standards of the people that join.' PC Deniz Jaffer, 47, (left) who alongside PC Jamie Lewis, 33, shared photos of the bodies of murdered sisters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman on WhatsApp. Right: Paedophile officer Hussain Chehab Sir Mark Rowley, who has been Met chief for four months, warned yesterday that more 'painful stories' will emerge as he tries to remove hundreds of corrupt officers from Britain's biggest force. Reacting to his comments today, Mr Parr said: 'The fact they are coming to court does show the Met are detecting them, that they are rooting them out and they are getting them through the courts and they are getting them dismissed. 'But during the period it's clearly going to be one bad news story after another' The horrifying case of PC David Carrick, who served in the Met for 20 years before being unmasked as one of the country's worst sex offenders last week, has prompted a review of more than 1,000 officers and staff who have had reports made against them in the last decade. Sir Mark said the ongoing review would not be completed until the end of March, but he expected to see many more officers appearing in court before then. His comments come a day after another officer, PC Hussain Chehab, 22, admitted having sex with a 14-year-old girl and amassing a sick library of child pornography while working as a schools liaison officer. Carrick's case has refocused on attention on the number of violent sexual predators that have been allowed to join the police Sir Mark told the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee: 'Looking at the next few weeks ahead, most weeks there are two or three officers going to court for criminal cases which tend to be a mix of dishonesty, violence, violence against women and girls - those sort of offences. 'So there are probably two or three a week that are appearing in court. 'It's hard to know when these cases will come to a conclusion...but there is always a trickle of them and we are going to be surfacing more.' Sir Mark said the force was moving heaven and earth to finish its review by the end of March, when he planned to write to the Home Secretary to say how many officers and staff the force should re-vet or re-investigate over historical cases. He added that a new integrity hotline had been receiving 'tens of calls' a week, some of which had led to new investigations. He told the committee: 'Even though this is a Met appeal, one in three of the calls coming through roughly are for other forces. We're passing information on as well. 'Through our challenges, we're helping the rest of policing confront some issues as well.' Sir Mark urged the public not to lose heart as the Met roots out hundreds of corrupt officers thought to be serving in the force. 'Lifting the stone and revealing painful truths will not be resolved overnight, and I mustn't pretend it will do, and I hope you understand that that can't be done,' he said. 'We have to prepare for more painful stories as we confront the issues that we face. 'We've discussed before, the systemic failings that create these problems of these officers who corrupt our integrity, and as we put in more resource, more assertive tactics, as we are more open to people reporting incidents to us from within and from without the organisation, and as we more determinedly take on these cases, it will tackle the problems that we face but it won't... it won't be rapid and it will be painful.' Sir Mark apologised to victims of both Carrick and Chehab yesterday. 'I must reiterate here my sincere apologies to the victims of Carrick for our failings - a range of poor policy and poor decision making,' he said. 'He shouldn't have been a police officer and we have failed. We haven't applied the same sense of ruthlessness to guarding our own integrity that we routinely apply to confronting criminals and I am deeply sorry for that.' Mayor of London Sadiq Khan yesterday (WED) pledged almost 12million to support Sir Mark's reforms to the Met, including the creation of a leadership training academy. Mr Khan's proposals also include an additional 2.5million for the force's control centre, which handles more than six million calls from the public each year. The mayor said: 'I see police reform as a critical part of my mayoralty.' Their seven-month-old baby survived and is being treated at hospital Her husband Patrick, 34, returned home to find his wife had tried to kill herself Cops are investigating the possibility that the midwife who has been charged with strangling her two young children to death and attempting to kill her seven-month-old baby before trying to take her own life was suffering from postpartum anxiety. Lindsay Clancy, 32, allegedly killed her daughter Cora, five, and son Dawson, three, and tried to strangle her baby son inside the family in Duxbury, Massachusetts, then plunged from the second-floor window. Her horrified husband, Patrick, 34, discovered Clancy lying unconscious outside their home when he returned from work at around 6pm on Tuesday and called 911. Clancy and her seven-month-old son, who has not been named, survived the apparent murder-suicide attempt and they are both being treated in hospitals in Boston. The mother-of-three, who is under police custody, will be arraigned on homicide charges after she is released. Investigators are looking into the possibility that Clancy was suffering from postpartum anxiety. She was on leave from her job as a midwife at Massachusetts General Hospital. Lindsay Clancy, 32, (left) allegedly strangled Cora (center right) and Dawson (center left) to death and tried to suffocate her baby son, before plunging from the second-floor window. Her husband, Patrick, 34, (right) discovered Clancy lying unconscious outside their home in Duxbury Officers arrived at the family home on Tuesday after a frantic Patrick had discovered his wife unconscious on the ground below a second-floor window. They discovered the three young children 'unconscious' upstairs' with obvious signs of trauma'. It appears they had all been strangled, Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz said. Five-year-old Cora and three-year-old Dawson were pronounced dead on arrival at hospital, while the seven-month-old baby was flown to Boston's Children's Hospital where he is alive and being treated by medics. Witnesses said the baby had been given CPR at the scene. 'We're all heartbroken right now,' Lindsay Clancey's father-in-law, Christopher Clancy, told the Boston Globe. Clancy, a labor and delivery nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital, will be arraigned once she is released from hospital on charges including two counts of homicide and three each for strangulation and assault and battery with a deadly weapon for the deaths of her two children. Five-year-old Cora and three-year-old Dawson were pronounced dead on arrival to hospital Clancy and her seven-month-old son survived the apparent murder-suicide attempt and they are both being treated in hospitals in Boston. Pictured: The family home in Duxbury Clancy, pictured with Cora as a baby, was a midwife at Massachusetts General Hospital Officers arrived at the family home on Tuesday after a frantic Patrick had discovered his wife unconscious on the ground below a second-floor window. Pictured: Patrick and Lindsay with Cora (left) and Dawson (right) in 2021 Duxbury Police work at the scene where the two children were found dead on Wednesday Clancy's Facebook profile portrays a proud mother who often shared photos of her young, smiling family. She wrote in one 2020 post: 'So unbelievably grateful for this family and life.' But in July, Clancy wrote about her previous struggles with postpartum anxiety, writing that six weeks after the birth of her third child she was feeling 'dialed in'. Sources told WBZ-TV I-Team that investigators are looking at the possibility that Lindsay Clancy was suffering from postpartum psychosis. She was on leave from her job as a midwife. On Wednesday, two Plymouth women - Donna Jesse, who identified herself as an aunt of the children, and Rita Musgrove, who said she was their great grandmother - left a bouquet of pink, red, and white roses outside the family's home. 'They were beautiful, beautiful children,' Jesse told the Boston Globe. Musgrove added: 'It's pretty shocking'. John Sullivan, a neighbor whose yard is adjacent to the family's back yard, said he got a call Tuesday night from his son who told him a woman 'was laying down in the backyard.' He said he rushed to his neighbor's property where he saw first responders performing CPR on a baby outside 'Everybody is in a state of disbelief, it is tragic, the whole neighborhood is trying to process this whole thing,' Sullivan told CBS Boston. In a press conference Cruz said of the family: 'I cannot begin to fathom the pain, the depths of pain they must be feeling. 'This is an unimaginable, senseless tragedy, and it is an ongoing investigation.' Heartbreaking pictures show Cora, right and Dawson, left, smiling together. The siblings were pronounced dead at hospital Clancy and her seven-month-old son survived the apparent murder-suicide attempt and they are both being treated in hospitals in Boston. Pictured: Clancy pictured with her surviving child in a Facebook post from September 2022 Clancy pictured with her husband Patrick, 34, who called authorities after finding her lying unconscious outside their home on Tuesday evening He told reporters: 'I want to further commend the professionalism and the work of the Duxbury First Responders and the Mass state police. 'I'm sure many of them will not forget what they saw last evening and I think we should all be grateful to the men and women that put a uniform on that are willing to do this difficult and challenging job. 'When something like this happens there are obviously usually more questions than there are answers as we proceed forward we will give answers as we can.' Duxbury Fire Chief Robert Reardon said the fire responders who rushed to the scene are also grieving. 'To all those who responded, we care about you,' Reardon said. 'If you or a colleague is in need of support, please reach out.' Cruz warned 'nobody's here to speculate', adding 'we're well aware of the fact that anybody charged with a criminal crime is presumed innocence until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt'. He wrapped up the conference by saying: 'Certainly our hearts and condolences go up to the Clancy family'. Cruz said they will now conduct autopsies to determine how the children died. Findings will be made public when a death certificate is issued. The hospital where Clancy works said in a statement: 'We are shocked and saddened to learn of this unthinkable tragedy. We extend our deepest sympathies to all those affected by these devastating events.' In Duxbury, the Rev. Bill Ferguson from the Pilgrim Church told Boston 25 television station that eight churches had opened their doors to offer support to those in the community who need it. He said the tragedy was 'hitting hard,' especially for those who are parents of young children. Network Rail is to be prosecuted for failings over the Stonehaven rail crash which killed three people, it is understood. Rail chiefs are set to face charges for health and safety shortcomings that led to the fatal ScotRail accident at Carmont, Aberdeenshire, in 2020. A rail investigation team found that Network Rail did not carry out any inspection of a wrongly-built drainage trench between when it viewed the completed work in 2013 and the crash. It is believed no corporate homicide charges will be brought, however. The scene of the crash in Carmont, Aberdeenshire, in 2020 when three people were killed after a ScotRail train derailed Six people were also injured after the train hit gravel and other stony material washed out from a faulty drain A drain near to the site of the Stonehaven rail crash which led to the landslide of debris onto the train tracks.. The picture was issued by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch One industry source told The Scotsman: 'Network Rail has been told it will be prosecuted.' Another said: 'The Crown Office is quite far along in building a case, although no papers have yet been served.' The Crown Office Scotland's public prosecution service and death investigation authority has not confirmed the move following the deaths of train driver Brett McCullough, conductor Donald Dinnie and passenger Christopher Stuchbury. But they said the police investigation into the deaths was complete and being considered by its officials. A closer look at the debris and stony material which fell onto rail tracks as a result of a faulty drainage system by failed outsourcing giant Carillion A map shows the steep slope that caused the landslip, ultimately leading to the Stonehaven crash on August 12 2020 The Glasgow-bound train diverted back to Stonehaven after a two-hour delay waiting for the weather to clear before heading northbound and hitting another landslide in the Carmont area An investigation by the UK Department for Transport's Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) was published last March. It concluded the crash had been caused by a wrongly-built drainage trench which led to debris being washed onto the track after intense rainfall. The six other people on the Aberdeen-Glasgow train were also injured. The RAIB made 20 safety recommendations and called for improvements to the way Network Rail managed lineside drainage. They also urged for improvements handling extreme weather, along with modifications to older trains like the type involved to improve protection for passengers and crew. Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines said it showed there were 'fundamental' lessons to be learned. An investigator looking into the faulty drainage systems which, if built in accordance with designs, was 'highly likely to have safely accommodated the flow of surface water', the RAIB said The RAIB also said Network Rail did not carry out any inspection of the wrongly-built drainage trench between when it viewed the completed work in 2013 and the crash. The RAIB said nearly a month's rain fell in three hours before the crash but the drainage system was not able to deal with the water flow. It said: 'The drainage system and associated earthworks had not been constructed in accordance with the original design and so were not able to safely accommodate the water flows.' A bund, or earth bank, had been added which funnelled water towards the drain and this then became inundated and washed gravel onto the line. The RAIB said if the drain had been built as designed 'it would have been capable of safely accommodating the flow of surface water that occurred on the morning of August 12, 2020 without causing gravel to be washed away down the steeply sloping trench towards the track'. The drain was built by Carillion in 2011, who went into liquidation six years later. The firm failed to inform Network Rail it was adding the bund to the system. Investigators also found no evidence that Network Rail carried out any inspection of the upper parts of the drainage system between when it viewed the completed work in 2013 and the crash. Train driver Brett McCullough, 45, who died in the Stonehaven crash is pictured with Queen's Brian May who was once a passenger on his train Train conductor Donald Dinnie (left) and passenger Christopher Stuchbury (right) also died in the crash in August 2020 How the Stonehaven train tragedy unfolded 6.38am : The ScotRail train leaves Aberdeen station as normal, bound for Glasgow Queen Street. : The ScotRail train leaves Aberdeen station as normal, bound for Glasgow Queen Street. 6.53am : The train calls at Stonehaven station as normal, before departing and heading south : The train calls at Stonehaven station as normal, before departing and heading south 6.59am : The train is stopped by the signaller at Carmont who has just received a report from another train driver that a landslip was obstructing the line. : The train is stopped by the signaller at Carmont who has just received a report from another train driver that a landslip was obstructing the line. 7am-9am : The train then stands south of Carmont for more than two hours due to the torrential downpours : The train then stands south of Carmont for more than two hours due to the torrential downpours 9am : The rain stops and the skies begin to brighten : The rain stops and the skies begin to brighten 9.25am : The train is given permission to start moving north back towards Stonehaven. : The train is given permission to start moving north back towards Stonehaven. 9.36am : The train passes a crossover point : The train passes a crossover point 9.38am : The train hits a landslip covering the line and derails, killing three people including the driver Advertisement They said the UK Government-owned company failed to add that section to an internal programme that would have triggered routine inspections and maintenance. RAIB chief inspector of rail accidents Simon French said: 'It is so sad that a project that was designed for the protection of the travelling public became unsuitable for its intended use and posed a hazard to trains because of such uncontrolled changes to the design.' A spokesperson for the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service also said: 'The joint investigation into the deaths of Donald Dinnie, Brett McCullough and Christopher Stuchbury by Police Scotland, British Transport Police and the Office of Rail and Road is now complete and under consideration by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. 'The families will continue to be kept updated in relation to any significant developments.' Police Scotland Detective Superintendent Alex Dowall stated: 'Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of those who died and were injured following the Stonehaven train derailment in August 2020. 'Following a complex investigation into the circumstances of this tragedy by Police Scotland, British Transport Police and the Office of Rail and Road, a Police Scotland/BTP report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.' The Crown Office also said no further action would be taken against a man charged after four firefighters were injured by a Network Rail vehicle at the crash site. This graphic shows what unfolded on the day of August 12 which eventually led to the ScotRail train derailing It had allegedly not been properly secured with its handbrake or gears on the edge of a steep embankment. A man was charged but officials said it had been decided there should be no further proceedings at this time. A spokesperson said: 'It is the duty of the Crown to keep cases under review. 'After full and careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, the Procurator Fiscal decided that there should be no further proceedings taken at this time. 'The Crown reserves the right to proceed in the future.' The attacker sparked chaos as he lunged at train passengers with a knife Two teenagers were killed and seven more were injured in the violent attack The teenage victims of yesterday's stabbing rampage on a train in Germany have been identified as a 17-year-old girl and a 19-year-old man. The killer has been named as 33-year-old 'Ibrahim A.' from the Gaza Strip who came to Germany in 2014 as a refugee and had been released from jail only six days prior to the attack. 'Ibrahim A.', who lived in the Kiel area, has reportedly clashed with the law 12 times since 2015 and was most recently detained until 19 January 2023. The attacker is not considered a political extremist and is understood to have 'seemed confused'. Morticians carry a body from the train near the city of Neumunster, Germany, on Wednesday night Investigators in white protective suits work in the train after the attack in northern Germany Witnesses of a stabbing rampage on a train in Germany yesterday described how the attacker pursued his victims indiscriminately before a brave traveller hurled a suitcase at him. Two people were killed and seven more were wounded on the train, which was travelling from Kiel to Hamburg with 120 on board, at around 3pm on Wednesday. The attacker, a 33-year-old stateless man from Palestine, lunged at terrified passengers and slit a woman's throat in the fatal bloodbath. Commuters scrambled through carriages to flee the chaotic onslaught before heroic passengers and police managed to stop the knifeman. Forensic police secure evidence at the train station in Brokstedt, northern Germany, January 25, 2023 Passenger Christian Gotzner, a 61-year-old entrepreneur, told German newspaper Bild: 'I was scared to death. 'He first raged in the other train compartment, then he appeared at our place, raised the knife. 'A traveller threw a suitcase at him.' The train then stopped in the town of Brokstedt where the bloody attack continued on the platform. Police arrived and then tackle the man to the ground. The assailant was identified as Ibrahim A, who was from the Gaza Strip. According to officials, he arrived in Germany as a refugee in 2014. According to the German newspaper, he had been incarcerated until only a few days ago. He is understood to have come into contact with German law some 12 times since his arrival in the country, including for physical harm, misuse of check cards, and sexual assault. After the rampage, a large-scale emergency operation was set up at the station with nine ambulances, three emergency and rescue helicopters treating victims. Emergency services work at Brokstedt station in northern Germany on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 A large-scale emergency response operation was set up at Brokstedt station, spanning over a level crossing nearby Police closed the station and forensic teams were seen working there. A police spokesman yesterday said the investigation into a motive was focused on 'all directions'. They added that detectives would consider possible extremism or psychological problems on the part of the assailant. Three of the seven wounded passengers are in a serious condition, with the other four treated for minor injuries. The attacker was also injured and taken to hospital. Regional interior minister Sabine Suetterlin-Waack condemned the attack as a 'horrible act against all humanity'. 'It is terrible,' she told German public broadcaster NDR yesterday. 'We are shocked and horrified that something like this has happened. 'For me it is clear that the horrible act is against all humanity,' the interior minister said, adding her 'thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the victims'. Firefighters clean the platform at the train station in Brokstedt, northern Germany,after the attack, January 25, 2023 Forensic staff photograph evidence on the platform of the train station in Brokstedt, northern Germany, January 25, 2023 About 70 passengers were questioned by police in a nearby restaurant. A bakery located a few metres away from the station served hot drinks and baked goods to rescue workers and passengers, German news agency DPA reported. The train station in Brokstedt was closed for several hours and train traffic was delayed across northern Germany. Train operator Deutsche Bahn expressed its condolences on Wednesday evening, saying that 'our deepest sympathy goes to the relatives of the victims. We wish those injured a speedy and complete recovery'. A former police chief has slammed new guidance which urges judges to think about how their 'words and behaviour can affect others' when addressing criminal suspects in court. New advice from the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary stressed that members of the bench should address all court users 'respectfully', warning that 'shouting and snapping' should be avoided. Former Chief Inspector of Essex Police, Paul Maleary, said that while it is important to be considerate of others, it would be 'ridiculous' for judges to be 'people's best friends'. He said: 'In all the years Ive been an attendee at Crown Courts, judges will measure the audience. They will respond to the behaviour of the criminals and victims. Former Chief Inspector of Essex Police, Paul Maleary, said: 'The guidance softens the criminal system more than it already is' 'The guidance softens the criminal system more than it already is. There needs to be a deterrent. 'It is ridiculous. Judges are not there to be peoples best friends. 'There is no place to be happy when you are trialling a serial rapist.' The 'statement of expected behaviour' comes after research commissioned by Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett of Maldon found instances of discrimination and bullying in courtrooms. The update follows an existing judicial conduct guide, with advice directed to 'each other, staff and users' both inside and outside the courtroom. 'Treating people fairly, with courtesy and respect is reflected in our oath to do right to all manner of people without fear or favour, affection, or ill will,' it states. It also urges that everyone has a responsibility to 'help foster a positive working environment, where diversity is recognised and valued, and everyone is treated with dignity and respect'. Judges are required to 'be mindful of the authority' they have' and to 'be careful not to abuse it'. Being 'open to feedback' if they have 'done something that may have caused discomfort or offence', is encouraged as well. Research commissioned by Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett of Maldon found discrimination and bullying within courtrooms Other guidelines include acting 'professionally and courteously, including under pressure' and aiming to 'ensure that no one in a hearing room is exposed to any display of bias or prejudice'. Lord Burnett has also pushed for more 'modern and simple terminology' in the courts of England and Wales while still 'maintaining the necessary degree of respect'. In a statement released last week, he said: 'New inclusion training focuses on how best to build on the positive elements of our culture and recognising the negative impact of exclusionary behaviour and feeling confident to challenge whether experienced directly or indirectly. 'We encourage you to have conversations with your leadership judges on how to contribute to the wide range of activities. 'We are grateful to all judicial office holders for their commitment to a diverse and inclusive judiciary.' Some have expressed concern that the feelings of criminal suspects are being prioritised above that of those impacted by crimes, with one person tweeting: 'What about the feelings of the victims?' Jeffrey Shaw, of Sheffield firm Nether Edge Law, told The Telegraph: 'As to 'treat everyone fairly and respectfully', it's sad that this even has to be said-a comment on the deterioration of modern behaviour.' John Howard Shelley also said on a legal forum: 'It is a sign of the times that someone thinks judges should be instructed to be polite and avoid discriminatory behaviour. 'I have to say, with a few notable exceptions my experience is that judges are tolerant and respectful although I did once attend a hearing where the judge went off on a 20 minute rant at an LiP.' Thousands of Australians gathered for Invasion Day rallies across the country on Thursday, but one prominent Indigenous activist refused to take part. Marcus Stewart is among a rapidly rising number of Australians who view January 26 and the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788 as the start of an invasion and British colonial rule. But the proud Nira illim bulluk man, of the Taungurung Nation, is also a passionate supporter of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament Yes campaign and told The Project this year's demonstrations were hijacked by the No side. 'A couple of weeks ago the rally took a different direction where posters were up around it being treaty before Voice,' Mr Stewart said. 'And it appeared to become a bit of a soft launch of a No campaign and went completely against my values.' The contentious referendum announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shortly after winning office last year will give Australians the chance to vote on Indigenous recognition in the constitution and the establishment of an Indigenous body to consult parliament on issues that affect First Nation's people. With many in the Indigenous community now split on the Voice, The Project host Waleed Aly suggested the landmark referendum is already in trouble. A demonstrator holds up a sign while taking part in the annual Invasion Day protest march in Sydney on Australia Day, January 26, 2023 Poll Will you vote for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament? Yes No I don't know yet Will you vote for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament? Yes 240 votes No 2572 votes I don't know yet 212 votes Now share your opinion 'It is fair to say it hasn't been a great week for the Voice Yes campaign,' he said, raising serious doubts about the upcoming vote. 'We have seen criticism from the opposition, the messages from the rallies, do you think it can succeed?' A steadfast Mr Stewart replied 'I do'. 'I believe in the Australian people ... I believe that people want to improve the lives of Aboriginal people across this country.' Mr Albanese has tried to address widespread fears the Voice 'is not seeking something that is 'above parliament,' amid criticism the referendum plan lacks significant details. 'It is something that is subservient to the parliament. It will be just an advisory group. The parliament remains sovereign,' he said. But this has not stopped criticism from politicians such as Liberal opposition leader Peter Dutton who has repeatedly said the Government is not giving people enough information on what exactly the Voice would mean. There has also been prominent opposition to the Voice from Indigenous leaders on all sides of the political spectrum, including Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe, Country Liberal Senator Jacinta Price and former Liberal candidate Warren Mundine. Ms Thorpe previously dismissed the Voice as a 'waste of money' that would be better spent in Indigenous communities. Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe (centre, holding a 'battle stick') takes part in the Invasion Day rally on January 26, 2023 in Melbourne Australia Day celebration were not hampered by protesters for some Australians. Pictured; Australia Day revellers on the Gold Coast On Thursday, she said First Nations people 'deserve better than an advisory body' and told protesters to call for a treaty with Indigenous people instead of a Voice. 'They want to put the colonial constitution on top of the oldest constitution on the planet ... we are sovereign and this is our land. And we deserve better than an advisory body,' she said. In October, Mr Mundine lashed out against the Voice in an interview with Daily Mail Australia. There is 'a large cohort of Aboriginal people who don't agree with the Voice, because it it not Aboriginal culture,' he said. But Mr Stewart remains a firm advocate of a Yes vote and disagrees with 'the messaging around treaty before Voice'. Indigenous activist Marcus Stewart (pictured) said the Australia Day protests on Thursday were 'a soft launch of a No campaign' and went against his values 'I think what's forgotten in the debate is that for us to progress treaty in this country we need Voice,' he said. '(Indigenous people) are not a homogenous group ... we don't always agree.' He said Indigenous people who oppose the Voice 'are wrecking the greatest opportunity for self-determination our people have seen certainly in my lifetime'. 'It's disappointing that we have seen a significant amount of immaturity from our politicians but it's sort of what we have come to expect over the last couple of years.' The referendum on the Voice is expected to take place in the second half of 2023. Any referendum held in Australia must pass by a majority of voters in four out of the six states in order to become law. A rapidly rising number of Australians who view January 26 and the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788 as the start of an invasion and British colonial rule. Pictured: Sydney Invasion Day protests Members of the public have leapt to the dog's defense A mugshot of K-9 Officer Ice has been widely shared on social media after cops investigated him for stealing his colleague's lunch when he was seen leaving the break room 'licking his chops'. This month, the Wyandotte Police Department (WPD) in Michigan, shared the image of the dog with a post about the alleged crime. The department said the incident happened at the station. Officer Barwig was eating lunch in the breakroom when he was called to assist with a person in the WPD jail. He jumped into service, leaving his half-eaten lunch on the table. A short while later Barwig and another officer returned to the breakroom only to find Officer Ice 'leisurely strolling out of the room licking his chops'. The department noted that Barwig's entire lunch had disappeared. The mugshot of K-9 Officer Ice has been widely shared on social media The post from Wyandotte Police Department was sent on January 12 The Department wrote: 'Ofc. Ice has invoked his fifth amendment right to remain silent and quite frankly is not cooperating with the investigation. He has a history of rummaging through trash cans that are within his reach. There have been several other accusations of him taking food right from coworker's hands as they walk by.' It added: 'Stealing is not only a crime but it is morally wrong too. Some jobs, like that of being a police officer, require you to take an oath prior to starting. Within the officer's sworn oath is the promise to protect person's property. 'That being said, it saddens me to report that a current officer of the Wyandotte Police Department is under investigation for stealing!' The post has received 12,000 shares on Facebook, and plenty of people have leapt to Officer Ice's defense. The Department wrote: 'Ofc. Ice has invoked his fifth amendment right to remain silent and quite frankly is not cooperating with the investigation'. Pictured right: Officer Barwig's lunch One Facebook user commented: 'Sounds like circumstantial evidence. He does not look guilty so thus must be presumed to be innocent.' Another wrote: 'Dismissed. If not, Ill pay bail.' A third posted: 'I'll be this officer's attorney pro bono if need be. If the teeth don't fit you must acquit.' Chief Brian Zalewski of the WPD told MailOnline: 'The public response has been incredible and so positive. 'Ice has been a police K-9 for our department a little over 10 and a half years. We all learned early on that he is a food aficionado, so lunches and snacks of the officers have been highly guarded.' Speaking to Fox News, Zalewski said: 'There was an immediate defense of Ice and calls for the department charges to be dismissed. 'Since Ice has been with our police department for so long, he is well known and loved in our community.' Officer Barwig left his half-eaten lunch on the table at the station. When he returned he found Officer Ice 'leisurely strolling out of the room licking his chops' An update was shared on Facebook by the Wyandotte Police Department on January 18 Detective Sergeant Kenneth Groat is Ice's handler. Groat and Ice have been working together for more than ten years, since Ice was six months old, Zalewski said. 'Although Ice is getting a little gray in the beard and not on everyday patrol, he is still very much a part of our department,' Zalewski said. Ice is well trained and still has his K-9 certifications. He has assisted dozens of law enforcement agencies over his decade of service. He was also one of the most requested Police K-9's for drug search warrants, vehicle searches and suspect tracking. Zalewski said Ice is calm, loves to be petted and enjoys playing with his toy ball. Sgt. Groat also takes Ice to community events and school-associated activities. A Facebook update on January 18 from the Wyandotte Police Department read: 'Dozens of attorneys have offered to defend Ofc Ice pro-bone-o! We have been threatened with massive protests if we move forward with our investigation and/or charges. 'Plus the overall public just doesn't believe he is guilty. No video has been produced. 'That being said Ofc Ice will not face any internal discipline or criminal charges. 'Matter of fact one of his local supporters, Lunch Wyandotte, dropped him off a custom made sandwich today because they felt like he wasn't being fed enough. Side note, they threw the officers a tray of sammies too! 'The public has spoken. #nochargesforIce'. The simple hustle gives Mr Rossi enough extra cash for frequent holidays A banker makes a killing from a low-maintenance side hustle of renting out his unused car parking spaces. Alessandro Rossi, 35, has been renting his two spare spaces in Dalston, east London for six years and has easily earnt 7,000 from it. Each space makes him 100 a month and he has to do nothing more than list the space online. Mr Rossi saves up the extra cash for frequent trips to visit family in Italy and Spain. The two spare spaces have earnt Alessandro Rossi 7,000, which he uses 'for a few extra trips during the year' 'When I bought the flat it came with two parking spaces that I didn't need because I've never had a car and I still don't,' he said. 'For me it was just a really good opportunity to get some money.' Mr Rossi, who doesn't own a car, was 'surprised' to discover how many people were looking for spaces to use and also just how easy it was to list them online. He rents it out monthly, and has had about six people hiring the space over the years as people usually rent it for long periods of time. 'To be honest, having that income from the parking space has been really useful,' the east Londoner said. Mr Rossi's family lives in Italy and his partner is from Spain, so the extra dosh gives them both an opportunity to travel to see their families more. 'I use it to pay the service charge for the block of flats, and then I can use that money for something else,' he explained. 'It's the kind of money that pays for a few extra little trips during the year.' The easy gig has also allowed Mr Rossi to make new friends with the users of his parking spaces. 'Interestingly it's been a nice opportunity to get to know my neighbours,' he said. 'I've been renting it out to a doctor who lives in the next block and now we're friends. He continued: 'I was also renting it out to an owner of a small chain of restaurants that I really liked we got talking and he gave me some vouchers.' Mr Rossi, keen to point out the ease of this side hustle, said: 'It's really low maintenance and minimal admin for the amount I can earn.' 'The cost of living has never been more of an issue in London, and the extra money can make a huge difference,' he added. 'If you're lucky enough to own something you can rent out then I'd absolutely recommend doing this.' Elsewhere in London, drivers are suffering from hefty bills on the most-fined roads in Britain. Mare Street in Hackney has earned the staggering title of Britain's worst street for parking after drivers were hit with 32,347 fines over a two-year period that ended in July 2022. The startling figure amounts to 44 tickets every day and totals 2.26million as residents complain that parking wardens are always lurking nearby, ready to strike at 8.31am. The Mail has also recently investigated the enormous salaries of the bosses of private car parks in the UK. Seven of the top firms generated a combined turnover of more than 650million, with over 50million in profits over the past three years despite lockdowns. MPs have called for an inquiry into the shocking regimes that have served 30,000 motorists a day with tickets. A dancer who suffered serious back injuries when she was crushed by a mechanical tree in a bizarre accident on a film set is suing for over 300,000 compensation. Keira Johnson, a performance artist who had worked for the Royal Opera House, was hurt when a tree mounted on a mechanical stump fell on her whilst filming an advert on location in Poland in September last year. According to documents filed at London's High Court, The Bath Dance College graduate from Oakhill, Somerset, was filming a two-minute advert during which she and another actor were depicted running through woodland and 'knocking over trees' when the accident occurred. A special effects team had devised a system whereby the impression of the actors smashing through the woods could be achieved by using trees mounted on a 'mechanical pivot or hinge' and triggered to fall at the right time. Keira Johnson, a performance artist who had worked for the Royal Opera House, suffered serious back injures after a tree mounted on a mechanical stump fell on her whilst filming an advert on location in Poland in September last year But lawyers for Ms Johnson say that she ended up with 'serious' crush injuries to her back after 'a tree that was intended to fall via a special effects mechanism fell early' and landed on her. She is now suing the London-based advertising agency that hired her for the job, DDB UK Limited, trading as Adam and Eve DDB, claiming 'damages for personal injury in excess of 300,000'. But the ad agency - whilst admitting she suffered serious injuries on set - denies liability. In the company's defence to the action, lawyers say that while DDB signed her on as 'talent' for the film, it was not her employer and had nothing to do with setting up the shoot or devising, building or operating the mechanical trees. Court documents state that Ms Johnson was one of two artists who had been hired by DDB to star in the advert, which was to be filmed in Warsaw last September. She signed a contract whereby she would be paid 350-a-day for filming, plus a total of up to 38,000 if the finished product was broadcast on TV and used in a print media campaign. Claim documents from Ms Johnson's lawyers state: 'This is a claim for personal injuries, pain and consequential loss arising as a result of an accident that occurred on 7 September 2022 whilst the claimant was engaged to provide services for the defendant as a performing artist. 'The defendant is an advertising agency and was the claimant's employer. Whilst on set, a tree that was intended to fall via a special effects mechanism fell early and landed on the claimant, causing serious injury. The facts of the accident itself evidence the defendant's negligence.' But in the defence to the action, lawyers for the ad agency say that after signing on the 'talent' and devising the concept of the shoot, they handed responsibility for it over to a 'well-established multi-award winning film production company'. 'Whilst the defendant devised the concept of two people running through and knocking over trees, (the production company) decided upon the concept of using a mechanical pivot or hinge technique to lower trees as the actors ran through them, rather than, for example, using CGI,' say the ad agency's lawyers. Barrister James Medd, for DDB, states the production company 'was in control of the shooting of the scene and the claimant acted under (the production company's) direction'. Describing the day of the tragedy, he says Ms Johnson and the other lead actor first performed six rehearsals 'with the claimant and the other lead actor running through the set and simulating their actions but with no falling trees.' There were then four takes 'with the claimant and other lead artist running through the set with falling trees being released remotely by the SFX department and the camera following them.' 'The accident occurred on the fifth take of this profile action....the claimant touched the first tree and the second tree fell early, landed on the claimant's back and caused her serious injury. The first tree fell just after the second tree.' Ms Johnson is now suing the London-based advertising agency that hired her for the job, DDB UK Limited, trading as Adam and Eve DDB, claiming 'damages for personal injury in excess of 300,000' The defence goes on to say: 'It is denied that the defendant had any relevant 'level of control' over the filming location or what was done there. 'The defendant does not have personal knowledge of precisely how the device which enabled the trees to fall was designed and manufactured. 'It is admitted that the scene gave rise to risks, but denied that those risks were such that they could not be obviated or controlled by the exercise of reasonable skill and care by a competent production company and/or by competent persons acting under its control. 'It is denied that shooting the scene was exceptionally dangerous whatever precautions were taken. 'The defendant does not know the cause of the second tree falling at the wrong time. However, it would appear most probable that it was either as a result of the individual whose responsibility it was to press the buttons to lower the tree pressing the wrong button or buttons, or pressing a button or buttons at the wrong time or as a result of a malfunction in the equipment designed to control the tree-lowering process. 'The defendant admits that the accident ought never to have occurred and avers that it was in no way the fault of the claimant. '(But) the defendant denies that it is responsible in law or in fact for either of these causes. 'It was not for the defendant to provide or implement risk assessments. The defendant relies on the fact that risk assessments were provided by (the production company). 'If one or any of these risk assessments was/were inadequate then that was due to the negligence of (the production company) or its sub-contractors. 'Whilst it is again admitted that the claimant has suffered serious personal injuries, it is denied that these were caused by the defendant's negligence,' the barrister concludes. The exact nature of the 'serious' injuries suffered by Ms Johnson and the product that the film was set to promote were not set out in the documents currently available from the court. DDB UK Limited is the sole defendant to the claim and the production company is not a party to the action. Marks & Spencer's chairman has become the latest business leader to criticise the Government's economic policy on Northern Ireland, with a broadside at 'overbearing' and 'baffling' plans. Archie Norman, a former Conservative MP, has urged the Foreign Secretary during talks with the EU not to consider separate labelling for goods sold in Northern Ireland. Ministers are said to be examining adding special packaging to goods destined for domestic markets in NI to get around the need for customs checks. 'The overbearing costs of a labelling regime would raise prices and reduce choice for consumers, further disadvantage UK farmers and suppliers and impact UK retailers' competitiveness in other international markets,' Mr Norman wrote according to excerpts obtained by the Telegraph. Both the UK and EU are keen to strike a deal to break the logjam over Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol before April's landmark 25th anniversary of Northern Ireland's historic Good Friday peace agreement. But Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris on Wednesday insisted London is not setting any deadlines on the talks over the contentious trading arrangements. Archie Norman, a former Conservative MP, has urged the Foreign Secretary during talks with the EU not to consider separate labelling for goods sold in Northern Ireland. Ministers are said to be examining adding special packaging to goods destined for domestic markets in NI to get around the need for customs checks. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris (left) on Wednesday insisted London is not setting any deadlines on the talks over the contentious trading arrangements. 'The simple fact is retailers already operate in real-time digital information - day or night, at the click of a button, we can locate our products, be that in a depot, in transit or in a store. 'In a digital era - when one tap of a mobile can check-in a customer at a store and locate their order in under 60 seconds, it's baffling that the Government and EU have rewound four decades to discuss an expensive ''solution'' involving stickers & labelling.' The DUP is currently blocking the functioning of powersharing at Stormont and has made clear it will not allow devolution to return unless major changes to the protocol are delivered. An agreement between the EU and UK would not guarantee the restoration of devolution, as the DUP may ultimately reject it and continue with its Stormont boycott. Mr Norman said in May that EU proposals for administering the protocol are 'highly bureaucratic and pretty useless' given UK food standards are 'equivalent or higher' than those set by Brussels. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme at the time that the bloc was suggesting that the same background checks, including veterinary checks, required for the Republic of Ireland are also needed to send goods from other parts of the UK to Northern Ireland. 'Incidentally that means that every piece of butter in a sandwich has to have an EU vet certificate, so it's highly bureaucratic and pretty pointless,' he said. Mr Norman's latest criticism of the Government's plans as 'baffling' follow billionaire businessman Sir James Dyson calling out Rishi Sunak last week for a 'short-sighted' approach to business. The founder and chief engineer of the Singapore-based multinational technology company Dyson called on Mr Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to use the spring budget to 'incentivise private innovation and demonstrate its ambition for growth'. Sir James, who backed Brexit and has an estimated net worth of 23billion, accused the Tory government of 'interfering' and 'penalising the private sector'. The dramatic moment 1,000 tons of ancient rock falls from 150ft sandstone cliff on Jurassic Coast is caught on video. The footage shows a huge chunk of the cliff as it suddenly crashes down in two stages at West Bay in Dorset. The rockfall happens seconds after a 'little puff of dust' is seen coming from the middle of the sandstone cliff as it is about to crumble. Moments later, a 150ft tall stack falls away and slumps on to the beach. The fall immediately weakens the neighbouring rock buttress, which then goes the same way. The footage captures the moment a huge chunk of the cliff suddenly crashing down at West Bay in Dorset, Bournemouth As the rubble falls, a giant cloud of dust instantly begins to cover the area of the beach and its surrounding waves on the shore. When the dust settles, a substantial pile of rubble and debris is captured sitting on the Jurassic Coast. Thankfully, the beach was empty due to the cold and cloudy conditions on the day - had it happened on a sunnier day then members of the public could have been left badly injured or killed in an accident. The video was taken by the Environment Agency's fixed camera at 10.53am on January 18 on the pier at West Bay. As the rubble falls, a giant cloud of dust begins to cover the part of the beach The rockfall happens seconds after a 'little puff of dust' is seen coming from the middle of the sandstone cliff as it is about to crumble Describing the alarming sequence of events a spokesman for Dorset Council's Jurassic Coast Team said: 'You can see the way these cliff falls work. 'They fall vertically, they just collapse from the sheer weight probably caused by groundwater and the weakening of the cliff from underneath. 'But it's not over yet because the nextdoor buttress has been weakened by the fall and there it goes. My goodness, it is enormous. 'As the dust begins to clear the sun comes out and shines a light on the enormous pile of debris left. 'I think we should all be very grateful there was nobody anywhere near this when it took place.' A spokesman for Dorset Council's Jurassic Coast Team said: 'They fall vertically, they just collapse from the sheer weight probably caused by groundwater and the weakening of the cliff from underneath' When the dust settles, a large pile of rubble and debris is captured sitting on the beach Witness Chris Emmerson described the sound of the rockfall like a 'rumble of thunder'. Mr Emmerson, 39, from Crewkerne, said: 'It was quite incredible. We were stood on the cobb wall and heard a rumble like thunder in the distance. I turned around and saw the first of two cliff falls and a big cloud of dust. 'By the time I got my phone out to take pictures the second fall happened in the same place. 'It was like an old chimney stack coming down.' Fresh warning signs have been put up and the coast path has been temporarily closed while council engineers assess the site. Witness Chris Emmerson described the sound of the rockfall like a 'rumble of thunder' West Bay, locayed in the heart of Britain's UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast, is a tourist hotspot thanks to its beautiful scenery West Bay, in the heart of Britain's UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast, was the real-life setting for the ITV crime drama Broadchuch and is a tourist hotspot. The landslip is the latest in a series of rockfalls which have taken place on this crumbling stretch of 180 million year old cliffs in the past few years. In 2012 tourist Charlotte Blackman, 22, was crushed to death when a huge landslip occurred as she walked under the cliffs further along the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site at Burton Bradstock. A Russian soldier in Putin's war 'took his own life' by falling 100ft from a tower block a day before he was due to return to the combat zone. Mikhail Lyubimov, 25, was seen by his mother a cleaner in the Russian foreign ministry jumping from a window in their tenth-floor flat, reports said. His death comes amid a rise in suicides, which the Russian authorities are seen as 'covering up', linked to president Vladimir Putin's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The mobilised man had suffered from 'panic attacks' and had started drinking over his feared return to the fighting, said his mother Natalia, 43, who works in the department of Putin's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov. Russian fighter Mikhail Lyubimov, 25, (pictured shortly before he was first sent to Ukraine) jumped from his tenth-floor window rather than return to fight Putin's war Mikhail Lyubimov's death comes amid a rise in suicides linked to the war which the Russian authorities are 'covering up' Thousands of Russian soldiers have called Ukraine's 'I want to live' hotline Some 6,500 Russian military personnel have surrendered to the Ukrainian government on a mobile number dubbed the 'I want to live' hotline. Ukraine's government claimed 6,543 Russian military members, many of them on the front line, called the hotline between September and January. The hotline was established after the mobilisation of 300,000 Russian civilians in September last year. The call centre is located in a secret location, and Russian military personnel are vetted using personal data and their service number, the Guardian reported. Advertisement Lyubimov had served as a conscript in the navy, but was drafted as a soldier into the war in Ukraine. He died in Moscow's southern district Tsaritsyno on his first break from the action, a day before he was due to report back for another stint on the front line. 'Natalia said she saw her son jump out of a window of their apartment on the tenth floor,' said a report. 'The woman rang the police and ambulance, but the man could not be saved.' When he was sent to fight in October, his long-term girlfriend Ksenia had posted: 'You will return.' Some details have emerged of other men who had taken their lives rather than fight in Putin's war, yet there are claims that many more such cases have not been publicly revealed. Vladimir Potanin, 46, from Kurgan, reportedly killed himself with a razor blade at a training facility in Sverdlovsk region less than one week after he was mobilised. Another man, 28, mobilised from Shushary, Leningrad region, took his own life at a training facility in Vyborg on October 2. Alexander Ivanov, 57, a mobilised lieutenant from St Petersburg, was found dead in Krupets village, Kursk region, before being sent to the front. Denis R, 33, a mobilised man from Revda, Sverdlovsk region, took his own life in the Belgorod region shortly before he was due to be sent to Ukraine, it was claimed. Reports also say that refusenik draftees are often held in makeshift prisons close to the war zones, as commanders seek to intimidate them to join the war. Dominic Raab is the subject of complaints from at least 24 civil servants as part of an ongoing 'bullying' probe, it has been claimed. A top barrister is currently undertaking an investigation into the Deputy Prime Minister amid a slew of allegations about his conduct towards officials. Downing Street revealed last month that eight formal complaints had been lodged about Mr Raab's behaviour. But The Guardian has now reported that the investigation into the Cabinet minister is much broader than previously thought, with all but two of the formal complaints involving multiple accusers. According to the newspaper, the total number of complainants is thought to be at least two dozen and could be more than 30. The probe into Mr Raab began in November and is expected to conclude within weeks. It is continuing at a time when Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is also under pressure over a row about another of his Cabinet ministers, Nadhim Zahawi. The Tory chairman is separately under investigation over whether he broke ministerial rules after he was revealed to have paid a penalty to HMRC when settling a tax bill while Chancellor. Dominic Raab is the subject of complaints from at least 24 civil servants as part of an ongoing 'bullying' probe, it has been claimed The investigation into Mr Raab is continuing at a time when Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is also under pressure over a row about another of his Cabinet ministers, Nadhim Zahawi Top barrister Adam Tolley KC was appointed to lead the investigation into Mr Raab's past conduct towards officials Mr Raab, who is also Justice Secretary, has said he is 'confident' he behaved 'in a professional way' throughout his time in Government and that he didn't think he had 'done anything wrong'. He has also dismissed claims he once hurled tomatoes from a salad across a room in a fit of anger. No10 last month revealed that one formal complaint has come from Mr Raab's spell as foreign secretary, one from his time at the Department for Exiting the EU, and six from his first spell at the Ministry of Justice. Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner said the revelation that multiple officials are involved in many of the complaints raised 'yet more questions' about Mr Sunak's judgement. The PM has resisted calls to suspend Mr Raab while the investigation, being conducted by Adam Tolley KC, is carried out. 'These shocking claims of widespread bullying and intimidation raise yet more questions about the PM's judgement,' Ms Rayner said. 'He promised a Government of integrity and claimed zero tolerance for bullying, yet he not only appointed Dominic Raab as his Deputy PM and Justice Secretary but continues to prop him up.' The Guardian reported that the probe into Mr Raab included claims that he 'belittled and demeaned' officials and was 'very rude and aggressive' on multiple occasions each day. The investigation into the Deputy PM is also said to have heard of individuals being physically sick before meetings, regularly being in tears and left feeling suicidal. A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: 'The investigation by Adam Tolley KC is ongoing so it would be inappropriate to comment further whilst that process takes place.' An MoJ spokesperson said: 'There is zero tolerance for bullying across the civil service. The Deputy PM leads a professional department, driving forward major reforms, where civil servants are valued and the level of ambition is high. 'There is an independent investigation under way and it would be inappropriate to comment further on issues relating to it until it is completed.' A man arrested on Wednesday night after killing one and injuring another with a machete was illegally in Spain and facing expulsion to Morocco. The crime, which saw the murder of a church worker and the near fatal stabbing of a priest last night, was classified as an alleged terrorist incident. El Confidencial reported that police had already arrested Yassine Kanjaa, 25, in June last year after discovering he did not have permission to be in Spain. Authorities had apparently started the process to return Kanjaa to his country of birth, Morocco, last year, but he remained free instead of being transferred to a Foreigner Detention Centre and expelled within a 60-day period, per the law. It was not clear whether the delay was with the Spanish or the Moroccan authorities, who needed to recognise Kanjaa as a citizen and issue him a passport in order to return. Police officers detain a person following a stabbing incident at a church in Algeciras, Spain Spanish police detain Yassine Kanjaa after the machete attacks on Wednesday night The attack occurred last night at around 7.30pm local time (6.30pm GMT) in the port city of Algeciras in the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia. Kanjaa lived on Calle Ruiz Tagle, a street adjacent to the San Isidro church first attacked, and four minutes away from the church of Nuestra Senora de la Palma he raided moments later. Kanjaa is understood to have argued with worshippers at San Isidro Roman Catholic Church before returning an hour later, around 7.30pm with a Koran in his hand, and stabbing Mr Rodriguez in the neck. He then entered the church of Nuestra Senora de la Palma and attacked the sexton after destroying crosses and religious images. The sexton escaped but was pursued by the attacker and sustained fatal injuries, dying on the spot. The assailant was disarmed by police arriving on the scene and taken into custody. Assailant is pictured wielding a large machete, attacking a priest and a sexton in two churches The attacker's machete-like blade is pictured lying on the floor following the assault Algeciras is a coastal city on the southern tip of Spain between Cadiz to the west and Marbella to the east. The two churches are several hundred metres apart and located in an area very close to the port. Police initially said several people had been wounded but later clarified it was only the priest, with the emergency services confirming he had sustained injuries 'to the neck'. The mayor of Algeciras said the sexton who died was called Diego Valencia and identified the priest as Antonio Rodriguez. In a posting on Twitter, the local congregation said Rodriguez, 74, had been celebrating the Eucharist at San Isidro church when he was attacked, describing his condition as 'serious but stable'. Reports since say he is expected to recover. A police source told AFP the assailant was wearing a long robe and had 'shouted something' as he carried out the attack. Local reports said he 'proclaimed Allah's greatness' after his arrest. Eyewitnesses at Nuestra Senora de La Palma told local media that a man ran into the building at around 7:30pm just as they were finishing the Eucharist service. They said he was shouting and had started to throw icons, crosses and candles to the floor. Prosecutors opened a terror probe which is being led by a judge from the Audiencia Nacional, Spain's top criminal court which handles terror-related cases. Spanish police have not yet made any official comment on the reports of the suspects immigration status and his expulsion order. The attack will be investigated by Spains Audiencia Nacional court in Madrid. Stark drone images capture a multi-million pound Brexit border control site left desolate in a 'costly mistake'. Inland border Facility (IBF) in Sevington, Kent, was built to carry out checks on HGVs transporting certain goods in and out of the UK and the 230-acre Ashford site has space for 1,700 to wait. But the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) confirmed it has 'no current operations' beyond a small presence holding Ukrainian pets until the scheme closes this month. DEFRA allegedly splashed 13.3 million constructing the border control post. But the total cost is more than 100m, according to the Guardian. Richard Ballantyne, chief executive of the British Ports Association, said the failed port was the product of a rush to 'get Brexit done.' The Inland Border Facility (IBF) in Sevington, Ashford, Kent, which appears desolate - current photo Drone images capture a multi-million pound Brexit border control site which is not being used Cash-strapped Kent County Council have reportedly been left to stump up around 660,000 of allegedly missing Brexit grants. The council is allegedly having to pay 'ongoing EU Exit costs' following a misunderstanding. They allegedly budgeted for the government to fund the new project but nothing was secured. At the same time the council faces a crisis due to a 60 million overspend. Controversy ensued when Sevington opened in June last year as nearby residents began complaining about light pollution and engine noise. It was one of three proposed Brexit border control sites in Kent but the other two did not go ahead. The government has wavered on whether border tests are needed and halted introducing several times. 'There are no current operations at Sevington, except a small presence for Defra's Ukraine response which was open for operations between August 2022 to January 2023' Mr Ballantyne said: 'The reason for building these places was that policymakers wanted to leave [the EU] quickly to get something done - but the actual arrangements, the nuts and bolts we needed, were not clear.' Conservative Ashford MP Damian Green suggested the Sevington site could be used as a lorry park. He said: 'If they think they are not going to use that expanse of space for lorries going through customs, then it's an obvious place where you could park some lorries instead of using some of Operation Brock, for example. 'Kent MPs have got a meeting with the transport minister in a few weeks time about what is happening next with the M20 and I'm proposing to bring up Sevington then, to say how does the department propose to use it as effectively as possible to minimise disruption on the motorway. 'I think it will be needed in the future, but that future could be a few years on. So in the meantime I don't like seeing land unused.' The land pictured in November 2020 as the government was developing the site Another view of Sevington, Ashford, Kent, from November 2020 Heavy machinery at work near as the government developed the site A DEFRA spokesperson reported staff numbers at the site have been reduced since they purchased it by the Department for Transport (DfT). They said: 'The number of PHA (Port Health Authority) staff who had been employed to undertake the checks prior to the decision to delay [checks] has been reduced; those remaining have been redeployed to other priorities. 'There are no current operations at Sevington, except a small presence for Defra's Ukraine response which was open for operations between August 2022 to January 2023. 'This was temporarily available for holding pets during the Ukraine response.' The lorry park issue was raised by the deputy leader of Ashford council Paul Bartlett, who lives close to the IBF. He told a cross-party scrutiny committee he was worried that the government was reneging on a pledge to ensure bio-diversity measures were in place at the site. 'The reason I am concerned is the Ashford IBF is not finished. It is a work in progress and I had hoped was an active progress. 'We were promised a bio-diversity gain in excess of 100 percent from the construction of the Ashford IBF. 'That was going to be achieved by strategic planting of trees but that has stopped. 'Work is not completed and I am concerned that the fund has been eliminated from the budget - and KCC's contractor to the Department for Transport has just left the site.' A statement from the county council said they assumed the government would support them with the cost of the new site. A spokesperson said: 'We did not apply for grant funding, but we assumed when we built the 2022-23 budget that we would receive new grant funding to support new responsibilities known as 'new burdens'. 'Unfortunately, no such grant funding was received so we are needing to correct the budget in 2023-24.' The Brexit lorry park has previously been slammed by residents, in 2021, who said it was 'hideously ugly'. Villagers claimed the lights were on 24/7, with reports of satnav issues, which have seen HGV drivers regularly causing havoc as they try to navigate narrow village lanes. Residents complained in 2021 about the lights being on and about the site being 'ugly' The controversial lorry park was at the time used as a Covid-19 testing site for hauliers as well as HMRC checks. Mandy Rossi, who lives in nearby Willesborough, said at the time: 'It's just this massive lit-up area,' she said. 'The lights can be seen for miles and are as bright as Wembley Stadium. 'If you go to Wye, which is on top of the hill, at night time, all you can see is the lorry park.' A Government spokesperson told MailOnline: 'The UK Government is committed to creating a seamless, digital border that will improve security while reducing friction and costs for businesses. 'The Sevington Inland Site will play a crucial role in delivering that policy.' MailOnline has also contacted Kent County Council for comment. Asylum seeking triple murderer Lawangeen Abdulrahimzai - who was 20 when he conned the immigration authorities into believing he was just 14 - went on to terrify vulnerable teenage girls with his creepy advances at the childrens residential facility where he was placed. The Afghani refugee, who was really an adult and on-the-run from police, would follow girls around, make suggestive remarks and even try to bribe them as part of a disturbing sexual grooming routine, one has revealed. The girl, who was 16 when Abdulrahimzai was suddenly placed at the residential home where she and other troubled children were living, told MailOnline how they were terrified of him - and found his sexual advances distressing. She said: He made my skin crawl. Lawangeen Abdulrahimzai, 21, terrified vulnerable teenage girls with his creepy advances at the childrens residential facility where he was placed The girl lived with Abdulrahimzai at a residential care home in Bournemouth between late 2021 and early 2022 and found his sexual advances to be distressing The girl lived with Abdulrahimzai at a residential care home in Bournemouth between late 2021 and early 2022. The home was designated for youngsters aged between 16 and 18. Abdulrahimzai - known by the nickname Lo - was placed at the home shortly before he would go on to kill for the third time, murdering aspiring marine Thomas Roberts in Bournemouth town centre last March. He had arrived in the UK in December 2019 claiming to be a 14-year-old Afghan orphan seeking asylum in Britain after fleeing the Taliban who had killed both his parents. In reality, he was an adult man fleeing police in Serbia where he had shot dead two men in a suspected argument over people smuggling. The girl said she reported the sexual approaches and threats to the home's management constantly, but nothing was ever done about it His ruse fooled Border Force and Home Office officials and led him to being placed in a secondary school and with foster parents before he spent a brief period at the children's home The girl was among eight other teenagers living there and said: 'He was vile, he would wait for me to come in and then follow me up the stairs. 'He'd try to come into my room, but I wouldn't let him, even though he was very persistent and trying to push his way in. 'Whenever I was in the kitchen or the communal areas, he'd follow me around. He'd grab the back of my hair so he could smell it and tell me "your hair smells beautiful". I'd push him away all the time. 'Other times I'd be sitting in the communal areas and he'd come up to me and rub his foot against mine suggestively. He made my skin crawl. Eventually he'd start following me around Bournemouth. And I'd just shout at him to leave me alone. 'He became angry at constantly being knocked back. He used to shout and yell all kind of obscenities. Once he ran after me as I got into a car and banged on the passenger side window with force, making threats and saying he'd "get me". 'But he wouldn't take no for an answer and soon enough he would be offering to pay me to perform disgusting sexual acts on him. I always refused but he'd then ask if I knew anyone who would. 'There was an occasion late last year when he went crazy and was threatening to stab myself and another girl. He just lost the plot for some reason. 'I never saw him with a knife but my friend had and so we knew he was serious. We ran into her room and literally barricaded the door shut. 'He went downstairs and called a cab and when the driver arrived, he shouted at him that he wasn't going to pay him but wanted to be driven around Bournemouth and if he refused he'd slit his throat. The asylum seeker, seen here on bus CCTV, broke down in tears and claimed his parents were killed by the Taliban and detailed the alleged torture he endured 'This was not long before he was arrested for stabbing someone to death. 'I shudder to think what could've happened. Now I know that he was aged around 20 and was a fully grown adult, it's even more chilling. He liked to be feared, he nicknamed himself Tyson after the boxer.' The girl was at the home - which MailOnline are not naming to protect her identity - for 15 months after family issues. She is now back living with a relative and in regular contact with her mother who gave her consent to this interview. Abdulrahimzai was there for just three-months before being moved on elsewhere at the start of 2022. The girl said she reported the sexual approaches and threats to the home's management constantly, but nothing was ever done about it. She added: 'Everything fell on deaf ears. I was only 16 at the time, as were most other residents, whereas he was an adult killer and sexual predator. 'He should never have been put in a place with such vulnerable people.' Her experience at the care home echoes what happened to pupils at the school where Abdulrahimzai was placed, as MailOnline reported yesterday. Horrified parents of children at Winton Academy in Bournemouth had revealed that he would chat up girls at his secondary school who were supposedly his age - while he was really at least five years their senior. He murdered Thomas Roberts, 21, during an argument over an e-scooter in Bournemouth town centre One outraged mother, Abbie Mercy, said: 'This scumbag was placed at Winton in my sons year after he had murdered two people at pretty much point blank range! 'He was allowed to be with two of my children on a daily basis under the assumption he was 14. He was asking girls out. 'My anger is not with the school, I feel their hands were tied. Its the local authority and the government. 'Wheres the duty of care towards my children?' Abdulrahimzai had been placed with foster carer Nicola Marchant-Jones shortly after arriving in Bournemouth but he was later moved on after trying to headbutt her during an argument. Ms Marchant-Jones told MailOnline how Abdulrahimzai had originally been a 'shy and bright lad' but became a 'Jekyll and Hyde' character who carried knives. He stabbed Mr Roberts, who was also a DJ, twice in the chest with a '10cm blade' after an argument with one of his friends about an e-scooter outside a Subway sandwich shop on March 12 last year. A man who stabbed his elderly neighbour to death in her 1million Notting Hill home has been sectioned under the mental health act. Aaron Cook, 24, stabbed 76-year-old Bella Nicandro 14 times in August 2021, and repeatedly claimed to be 'God' and to be able to commit violent crimes with impunity as he was arrested. Cook, a schizophrenic who is prone to drug-induced psychosis, had denied murder but admitted manslaughter, by reason of diminished responsibility, at a hearing in November last year. He was sentenced to a hospital order under Section 37/41 of the Mental Health Act at the Old Bailey earlier this week. Aaron Cook, 23, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 76-year-old Bella Nicandro, in Notting Hill, west London in August 2021, by reason of diminished responsibility Ms Nicandro died in her home after being stabbed 14 times in the attack In August 2021, Ms Nicandro was found fatally injured at her flat in St Luke's Road with head and neck wounds after police received reports of a disturbance. Despite the best efforts of the emergency services, she later succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Following the attack, Cook was taken to hospital where he was allegedly racially abusive toward police officers. Last September, Judge Alexia Durrann ordered a further psychiatric assessment and extended the custody time limits to early December. At that time it was said he was 'unfit to plead in accordance with the most recent report'. It took place in a plush Notting Hill shared building where property can go for over 1m Emergency services battled to save Ms Nicandro's life after she was found suffering from serious stab wounds Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Adam Guttridge said: 'This was a tragic incident. 'Cook is schizophrenic and is prone to drug induced psychosis which requires medication that we believe he had stopped taking. 'He was also using drugs which exacerbated his condition. 'We would like to thank the members of the public who bravely detained Cook at the scene of this incident. 'The family of Bella Nicandro have been dignified throughout what has been a lengthy process to reach this point. 'They hope now to be able to grieve privately.' The Italian mother of a murdered 18-year-old has attended court wearing a printed T-shirt of her daughter's dismembered body, after her killer appealed against part of his conviction. Pamela Mastropietro was murdered and dismembered in January 2018 by Nigerian drug dealer Innocent Oseghale. He has appealed against part of the sentence where he was originally found to have sexually assaulted the teenager before killing her. Mastropietro's mother, Alessandra Verni, attended the appeal court in Perugia yesterday wearing a T-shirt that showed the horrific images of her daughter's body. At one point a clash broke out in the court room with Verni and Oseghale being dragged away from each other by police. The court hearing will resume next month. Alessandra Verni attended court wearing a printed T-shirt of her daughter's dismembered body Pamela Mastropietro was murdered and dismembered in January 2018 by a Nigerian drug dealer Oseghale (pictured) was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2019, with eighteen months in solitary confinement 'Have you seen what they did to her?,' Verni said of her murdered daughter. 'That man, who raped and tortured her, should rot in jail.' Her T-shirt showed her daughter's dismembered head. The series of harrowing pictures were also formed so that the detached body parts made up the structure of a body. Oseghale, 32, was found guilty and sentenced to jail in 2019 for murdering 18-year-old Mastropietro, and is appealing against part of his conviction for rape. Oseghale arrived in Italy in 2014 as an asylum-seeker, but had dropped out of his refugee program in 2017, a year before he murdered Mastropietro. The judge asked Oseghale if he intended to participate in the next hearing in February. After discussing with his lawyer, he told the court that he would not. Mastropietro mutilated and dismembered body was found inside suitcases left in a ditch Pamela Mastropietro was murdered and dismembered in January 2018 by Nigerian drug dealer Oseghale (pictured) Verni, who was in the court room at the time wearing the T-shirt, yelled aloud: 'Now even an executioner is asked if he wants to participate in the hearing or not. 'Let's throw it a red carpet at this point as well,' she added. The two then came face-to-face and as police led Oseghale out of the court room, he shouted: 'Enough judicial oppression'. Verni charged up to him and screamed: 'Tell me... tell me what you want.' Both were immediately removed by courtroom police. Oseghale's life sentence will be shortened if the court of appeals finds him innocent of rape. Mastropietro was killed after she left an addiction recovery centre in Macerata in the Marche region in early 2018. Investigators understood that she had decided to leave the facility and made the journey to the local train station on foot. Pamela Mastropietro's parents Stefano Mastropietro and Alessandra Verni stand next to a memorial for their daughter Pamela Mastropietro (second left) with her family. She was murdered and her body dismembered in January Pamela Mastropietro (pictured with her mother) was killed after she left an addiction recovery centre in Macerata in the Marche region in early 2018 An autopsy showed that Pamela Mastropietro died due to successive abdominal stabbings. It also found that her body was dismembered while she was still alive Having left the recovery centre, Mastropietro attempted to find drugs in Macerata. She then met Oseghale, a local drug dealer from Nigeria, then aged 29. A day later, a passer-by noticed two abandoned suitcases in a small ditch. Mastropietro's mutilated and dismembered body was found inside the case. Drug dealer Oseghale was accused of selling Mastropietro drugs, before he then detained, raped, and stabbed her. Police found Mastropietro's bloodied clothing at Oseghale's home. The Nigerian claimed in his testimony that Mastropietro died from a heroin overdose. However, an autopsy showed that Mastropietro died due to successive abdominal stabbings. It also found that her body was dismembered while she was still alive. The Nigerian was accused of murder, sexual assault, concealment, and destruction of a body. He disputed the charges at the trial in February 2019. He was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment, with eighteen months in solitary confinement. Advertisement Revellers have let their hair down and celebrated Australia Day in style by getting out and soaking up some of the gorgeous sun, sand and surf the country has to offer. Despite endless debate surrounding keeping January 26 as our national day and rowdy Invasion Day demonstrations attracting thousands in all capital cities, millions opted for parties not protests - taking the public holiday as a chance to relax and enjoy some picture-perfect weather. Partygoers on the Gold Coast weren't going to miss the opportunity to have a little fun on Thursday as they caught up with friends and celebrated what makes us The Lucky Country. Some Australians put the divisive debate over the nation's history to one side to enjoy some sun, sand and surf on the public holiday (pictured) Partygoers were out in droves on the Gold Coast where the temperature reached above 30C Aussie flags - an increasingly rare site in Australia Day celebrations - were proudly on display Poll What should we do about Australia Day? Nothing, it's a tradition Let Aussies decide by voting on when we should hold it Scrap it completely What should we do about Australia Day? Nothing, it's a tradition 1580 votes Let Aussies decide by voting on when we should hold it 179 votes Scrap it completely 38 votes Now share your opinion Photos show Aussies enjoying the scorching 32C weather on the Gold Coast in their beach gear - most capital cities were in the high 20s except nearby Brisbane which also had a scorcher. Peaceful beachside barbecues, boat rides and even out-of-vogue Aussie flags were in abundance. It was a stark contrast to Melbourne where barley any Australian flag could be seen in the CBD. Greens Senator Thorpe headlined an Invasion Day protest on the steps of the Victorian Parliament and took to the stage clutching a war stick to loud cheers from the huge crowd in the midday heat. The star of Melbourne's treaty movement inflamed emotions with her declaration that Australia in 2023 was in a 'war' with Indigenous people. In Sydney, there was no Australia Day parade throughout the city for the third year running, while thousands of people flocked to the streets to stand in solidarity with First Nations people. The sails of the Sydney Opera House were lit up with Indigenous artwork by proud Kamilaroi woman and artist, Rhonda Sampson, to celebrate First Nations women around the water of Sydney Harbour. Australia Day BBQs were once an unquestionable tradition as people caught up with friends though it seems protests are now becoming what they day is known for Soaking up the sunshine: Revellers on the Gold Coast were in the party spirit The majority of young Australian adults want to keep Australia Day on January 26 or are undecided, according to one recent poll Get the sunscreen: temperatures soared across the country on Australia Day What's the problem with Australia Day? Australia Day has become increasingly contentious, with many campaigning for the holiday to be abolished entirely or the date changed. The public holiday commemorates the landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Harbour, with Governor Arthur Philip raising the British flag to mark the founding of New South Wales on January 26, 1788. However, since 1938, Indigenous and First Nations people have observed the public holiday as a day of mourning and instead have named it 'Invasion Day'. This year's Invasion Day rallies held in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane on Thursday aim to remind people that 'sovereignty was never ceded' and call for a date change, a treaty, and other policies designed to prioritise First Nations people. Advertisement The day becoming increasingly divisive is reflected in just how remarkably few Australian flags were on display in photos from celebrations - or protests - in most capital cities. In the lead up to the holiday, retail giant Kmart stopped stocking Australian flag merchandise entirely - which is usually available year round. 'We respect that January 26 means different things to different people and we aim to foster an environment that is inclusive and respectful of both our customers and teams,' a Kmart spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. 'It is for this reason that we will also be giving all of our team members the choice of whether or not they work that day, with the option to substitute for another day.' But Australia Day was also a chance to welcome more than 19,000 new citizens across the nation who took part in ceremonies to become part of out modern multicultural society. Among them was Mexican-born Nashieli Garcia Alaniz, who hopes to use her expertise as an ecologist to protect the nation's native animals. 'I'm super happy that I can participate in the country on a different level now and I can't wait to contribute to help protect this environment,' she said. Recent polls suggest that while a majority of Australians believe January 26 should remain Australia Day, there is a growing group who would prefer it be changed to a less polarising date. A poll conducted by conservative think tank, the IPA, surveyed 1,038 people from varying age ranges on their attitude to changing the date of Australia Day. The poll results show that 62 per cent of people believe Australia Day should be held on January 26, while only 17 per cent believe the date should be changed, and 21 per cent had no opinion. However, there is growing resentment towards the holiday. One recent poll showed 42 per cent of 18-24 year-olds agreed Australia Day should be celebrated on 26 January The Gold Coast was awash with boats as locals and tourists got out to enjoy the gorgeous weather They didn't buy that from Kmart - the retailer stopped selling Aussie flags ahead of January 26 'We should recognise support for Australia Day to be celebrated on 26 January has declined from 75 per cent in 2019, to 69 per cent in 2021, to now 62 per cent in 2023,' Senior Fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs, John Roskam, wrote on the results. 'Only 42 per cent of 18-24 year-olds agreed Australia Day should be celebrated on 26 January, 30 per cent disagreed, and 28 per cent had no opinion.' So while a rapidly growing younger generation of Australians believe in changing the date there is still a large portion of the nation that just enjoy the holiday. But it's not just the date that has become divisive many have used January 26 to rally against the Albanese government's proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Indigenous anti-mining activist Adrian Burragubba in Sydney's protests called the government's voice plan patronising and a form of assimilation. Some were really getting into the spirit, donning Australian flag boardshorts and Akubras Tatts not how you do it: one man stops pushing to pose for a photo The other staple of the Australia Day BBQ - the Esky (chilly bin if you're a New Zealander or 'cooler' to the Americans) was also dusted off from many a garage and brought out for the day Beachgoers and their dogs enjoying the surf at the Gold Coast on Thursday as thousands attended protests in capital cities Triple whammy: Australian flag, jetski and and an Esky - a late contender for Australian of the Year? 'This is like a paternalistic attitude, all the time, of telling us, 'We know what's best for you people and we will tell you what's right',' he said. 'We don't want to be assimilated into a constitution written by white people.' Ngambri and Ngunnawal woman Leah House labelled the proposed voice as 'crumbs', 'f***ing uncompelling', 'vague' and 'a distraction from what our ancestors and elders have been fighting for'. 'Why the f*** would we accept our political role in this country as an advisory body... not as a decision-maker?' she asked. The company has said it is conducting an 'internal investigation' into the incident He has been in a dispute with designersofas4u.co.uk since its botched arrival Luke Ansell's sofa-bed was delivered to his Bournemouth home on January 19 A homeowner has slammed a furniture company claiming they left his new 2,000 leather sofa wedged in his staircase and 'destroyed' the bannister in the process. Luke Ansell bought the king-size Chesterfield sofa-bed in December for his brand new home in Bournemouth, with the item being delivered on January 19. The 27-year-old claims that despite the pair of deliverymen from the retailer, designersofas4u.co.uk, assuring him they navigated tight spaces 'all the time', it proved too much and they abandoned it halfway up. Mr Ansell was left furious with the delivery, taking photos appearing to show holes in the wall where the plaster was damaged along with the woodwork as a result of the delivery. Photos show the sofa left wedged in the staircase after it was delivered to Luke Ansell's home on January 19 Mr Ansell, pictured here with his wife Eloise, has blasted the delivery drivers for damaging the sofa and plasterwork The farce drew comparisons with an episode of TV comedy Friends - in which a couch was stuck on a staircase. Luke says he refused to sign the delivery forms after they recommended 'cutting off his bannisters' and then 'insisted that they had to leave so they could get home to the company's offices in Birmingham on time.' He says the company later rejected his account of events when he complained, with the delivery-men allegedly denying they ever tried to get it up a staircase - despite Luke having photos of them at the scene. Newlywed Luke, who runs a pet grooming service 'For The Love Of Dog' with his wife Elouise, said that the service was 'shocking'. He said: 'Honestly it was unbelievable, the sofa was over 2,000 and they caused about that much damage delivering it. 'They got here and I showed them where I wanted it upstairs. I said that it looked quite tight, but they assured me that they do tight deliveries all the time. 'I just said "oh well you're the experts" - they are a delivery company after all so I just left them to it. 'They brought it in, they struggled to get it over the bannister and eventually got it in. But then it got jammed, they couldn't get it up or down. 'Then they said "look we've got to get back to Birmingham" and tried to leave. They asked me to sign for the delivery - but I refused. 'I said "I'm not signing anything, the sofa is stuck in my wall". 'We had a little bit of an argument about it, and then they suggested I cut away the bannister to get it out. 'It's a brand new house that we had just bought for half a million, and now we have to have the work done to repair it. Mr Ansell said the sofa was left wedged in the staircase (pictured) after the delivery drivers got it stuck and then left The 27-year-old says the sofa caused damage to the walls (pictured) in the process of being delivered He added that one of the deliverymen suggested cutting off his bannisters (pictured) to allow it to be moved The scene was reminiscent of an episode of Friends, where they struggle to get a sofa up the stairs in their apartment building (pictured) 'Then they just left it there and went back to Birmingham. The drivers also said they didn't even try to get it up the stairs, but I have actual doorbell footage of them after they delivered it to my house. 'I have a photo of them at the bottom of the stairs after the damage was done too. 'They've destroyed the plasterboard, and damaged all of the wooden skirting on the stairway. They've also damaged the sofa too. 'I called the main office and it was the worst customer service I'd ever received. Eventually they got into the van and drove away, leaving the sofa suspended there. 'Since then, the company has continued to deny that they carried it up the stairs and now they've stopped communicating. 'The whole bannister needs replacing. The house was newly refurbished. I've never experienced anything like it. They're trying to do everything they can to get out of it. 'I run businesses myself and I've never treated a customer like this - it's disgraceful'. 'It was just a shocking response by the company - so I'm just trying to raise awareness about their standards of service.' The company based in Birmingham told the BBC it was carrying out an 'interval investigation'. The BBC says the firm emailed Mr Ansel disputing his version of what happened - claiming the sofa had been 'left in a safe place on the landing'. It offered to replace the damaged sofa as a 'goodwill gesture'. MailOnline has contacted designersofas4u.co.uk for comment. Hollywood star Eva Green today claimed a bitter High Court war over a doomed 4million sci-fi film is 'designed to paint her as a diva' after her texts revealed she called herself 'Cruella' but considered one of its producers a 'f***ing moron' and its financial backers 'a***holes'. The Casino Royale star, 42, had been due to star in sci-fi film A Patriot before production was shut down in October 2019. She is suing production company White Lantern Films and a second defendant, SMC Specialty Finance LLC, claiming she is entitled to her million-dollar (approximately 810,000) fee for the movie, despite its cancellation. Ms Green, who was also executive producer on the project, claims she is owed the money under a so-called 'pay or play' provision which guarantees the individual payment regardless of whether or not the work is completed. White Lantern Films is defending the case and bringing a counterclaim against the French actress, alleging she repeatedly made 'unreasonable demands' and undermined the film's production. Bond girl Eva Green, pictured in Casino Royale with Daniel Craig, is at the High Court in a legal battle over the demise of a 4 million film project Former Bond girl Eva Green (pictured) ranted that 'my name is Cruella', called a movie producer a 'f****** moron' and labelled the financial backers of her film 'a***holes' before the 4 million project fell apart, court documents reveal Producers Terry Bird (left) and Jake Seal were mentioned in the texts Ms Green is due to give evidence on Monday next week, but did not attend today's hearing due to a scheduling conflict. The High Court she signed on to A Patriot with Helen Hunt and Charles Dance in 2019, but they had both dropped out by the time of its collapse in autumn of that year. At the start of the eight-day trial today, Ms Green's barrister Edmund Cullen KC told the court Ms Green wanted to get the film made but 'the financial plan was never going to work'. He added: 'This was, for her, a passion project. The theme of the film concerns an issue of great concern to her, namely the climate catastrophe. 'She loved the script and wanted the film to be made, she bent over backwards to get this done.' In their written defence, lawyers for White Lantern Films said Ms Green had expressed 'a lack of confidence and dissatisfaction' with some of the production crew. Max Mallin KC, for White Lantern, claimed she was 'increasingly reluctant to be involved in the production', in breach of contract. In text messages used in White Lantern's claim, Ms Green is said to refer to one of the film's executive producers, Jake Seal, as 'evil', a 'devious sociopath' and 'a liar and a mad man'. 'I cannot believe that Moron Jake... pure vomit,' read another message said to be from Ms Green sent in August 2019. She is also said to have called production manager Terry Bird 'a f****** moron' and described Mr Seal and Mr Bird as 'total a***holes'. Ms Green played foreign liaison agent Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale A scene from the iconic 2006 film featuring the actress with Daniel Craig The trial in London began this morning and is due to last eight days. Green (pictured) was not present this morning but will give evidence later However, Mr Cullen told the court: 'This case is designed to paint my client as a diva to win headlines and damage her reputation.' He added it was 'really extraordinary' that Ms Green was faced with a case that 'she was somehow trying to undermine the project all along by making unreasonable demands'. 'She repeatedly agreed to postpone the start of principal photography. She agreed to the move of the production from Ireland to the UK. She made repeated offers to use part of her fee to fund the production costs.' In written submissions, Mr Cullen said White Lantern's defence to the case was 'an artificial construct which bears no reality to the factual and legal position as it existed at the time'. 'It seems to be designed to blacken the name of an actor who has not breached a contract or missed a day's shooting in a career spanning 20 years,' he added. Mr Cullen later said that the text messages 'must be seen in context' of negotiations over buying out a lender to White Lantern in return for rights to the script. Ms Green is understood to risk facing a legal bill of more than 4 million if she loses the case Sparks flew during the summer of 2019 after the film's producers haggled over the rates of pay to meet the demands of Ms Green's preferred team He added: 'They are in essence an informal venting of a stream of consciousness as events unfolded. 'The language is unguarded and at times strongly, and perhaps carelessly, expressed. 'They are contradictory and volatile, reflecting the personalities of those involved and the extreme tension surrounding the film's production.' The barrister said White Lantern has 'sought to lay every failure of the production at Ms Green's door'. He later told the court that the production was in a 'state of complete dysfunction' and that the 'reality' was 'this was a production which could never have actually been made and the defendant knew it'. Mr Justice Michael Green is expected to give his decision at a later date. Ms Green pictured in London in June 2021 during filming for a mystery project Memphis man Tyre Nichols, who died three days after a 'violent' traffic stop, suffered 'extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating,' according to preliminary results of an autopsy commissioned by attorneys for his family. The family commissioned their own report after watching police bodycam footage that they said saw the FedEx worker beaten like a human pinata in scenes reminiscent of the video that exposed the brutality experienced by Rodney King. Five officers have been dismissed for their involvement in the incident and the video is expected to be released publicly on Friday. Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis said in an address on Wednesday that the incident showed a disregard for basic human rights, noting that police officers are under oath to do the opposite of what took place in the video. This portrait of Tyre Nichols was displayed at a memorial service for him on Tuesday, January 17, 2023. Family Attorney Ben Crump said police bodycam footage showed Nichols being shocked, pepper sprayed and restrained after he was pulled over minutes away from his home Tyre Nichols is pictured in hospital after the incident. The 29-year-old from Memphis died on January 10 from cardiac arrest and kidney failure, three days after he was pulled over for reckless driving by police in unmarked cars 'This is not just a professional failing. This is a failing of basic humanity towards another individual,' Davis said. Tyre Nichols, 29, died on January 10 from cardiac arrest and kidney failure, three days after he was pulled over for reckless driving by police in unmarked cars and who were allegedly wearing hoodies. 'He was a human pinata for those police officers,' family attorney Antonio Romanucci said at a press conference. 'It was an unadulterated, unabashed, nonstop beating of this young boy for three minutes.' 'We can state that preliminary findings indicate Tyre suffered extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating, and that his observed injuries are consistent with what the family and attorneys witnessed on the video of his fatal encounter with police on January 7, 2023,' attorney Benjamin Crump said in a statement. Five police officers, who are all African American, were terminated from the Memphis Police Department. Their names are: Tadarrius Bean (middle), Demetrius Haley (left), Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr.(right), and Justin Smith All the officers, who were hired between 2017 and 2020, could face assault or homicide charges, District Attorney Steve Mulroy said (pictured L-R: Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith) Crump said this week that the police bodycam footage showed Nichols being shocked, pepper sprayed and restrained after he was pulled over minutes away from his home. Although the family cannot discuss the video in detail, as an investigation is ongoing, they said it 'regrettably...reminded us of [a] Rodney King video'. King was brutally beaten in 1991 by Los Angeles Police officers after he was pulled over for drunk driving. He was later found dead at the bottom of a swimming pool in 2012. 'What I saw on the video today was horrific,' Rodney Wells, Nichols' stepfather, said Monday. 'No father, mother should have to witness what I saw today.' Crump said the video shows the encounter was 'violent' and 'troublesome on every level'. He said Ravaughn Wells, Nichols' mother, was unable to get through viewing the first minute of the footage after hearing Nichols ask, 'What did I do?' At the end of the footage, Nichols can be heard calling for his mother three times, the attorney said. 'Our son ran because he was scared for his life,' Wells said Monday. 'He did not run because he was trying to get rid of no drugs, no guns, no any of that. He ran because he was scared for his life. And when you see the video, you will see why he was scared for his life.' Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy told CNN on Tuesday night he wants to make sure his office has interviewed everyone involved before releasing the video so it doesn't have an impact on their statements. He said the video could be released this week or next week. 'A lot of the people's questions about what exactly happened will, of course, be answered once people see the video,' Mulroy said, noting he believes the city will release enough footage to show the 'entirety of the incident, from the very beginning to the very end'. In an address on Wednesday Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis said: 'I expect you to feel what the feels. I expect you to feel outraged by the disregard for basic human rights as our police officers have taken an oath to do the opposite of what transpired on the video' The family of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols is speaking out for the first time since seeing the body camera footage of a deadly police encounter in Memphis. All five officers involved have been fired for violating department policies. @PriscillaWT shares the story. pic.twitter.com/86zwm3i2G5 TODAY (@TODAYshow) January 24, 2023 Pictured: Civil rights attorney Ben Crump speaks at a news conference with the family. Crump said it was 'clear that he was struggling' in the police bodycam video that the family has viewed The lawyers compared Nichols' case to that of Rodney King (pictured), who was brutally beaten by Los Angeles Police officers in 1991. He was later found dead in a swimming pool in 2012 The five police officers who were terminated from the Memphis Police Department for their involvement in the incident were identified as: Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith. All the officers, who were hired between 2017 and 2020, could face assault or homicide charges, District Attorney Steve Mulroy said. The officers were let go for violating 'multiple department policies,' including using excessive force, failing to intervene, and failing to render aid. 'The egregious nature of this incident is not a reflection of the good work that our officers perform, with integrity, every day,' Chief Cerelyn Davis said at the time. "Once the video started and I heard my son's voice, I lost it." The family of Tyre Nichols' speak out after viewing body camera footage of arrest that proceeded his death. @steveosunsami reports. https://t.co/iwMg2i1sOm pic.twitter.com/IkuSj4Kh6V Good Morning America (@GMA) January 24, 2023 The Memphis Police Department said in a statement they have met with the family and that the investigation is ongoing. In an earlier statement, the department admitted the five officers were terminated for 'multiple department policies,' including using excessive force, failing to intervene, and failing to render aid Two Memphis Fire Department employees involved in the care of Nichols have been relieved of their duties during an investigation, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday. The Memphis Fire Department did not identify the two people facing discipline or say if they were firefighters. It was also not clear if the employees were being paid while not working or if they would eventually return to their duties. The US Justice Department has opened a civil rights investigation into the arrest, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is looking into whether excessive force was used. The FBI is also involved. The city has been on edge about the release of the police footage because of the possibility of unrest. Nichols' stepfather asked that if there are protests, that they remain peaceful, saying violence 'is not what Tyre wanted and won't bring him back'. Crump said Nichols' family agreed to investigators' request to wait a week or two before making the video public to 'make sure to give this family what they want most, and that is justice'. 'Whatever it takes to clear my son name and to get justice for my son. If they need to keep the video for two more weeks, then let them keep the video for two more weeks,' his mother told Good Morning America (GMA). Ravaughn Wells is hoping the five officers will face first-degree murder charges. Nichols stepfather also told GMA the five officers ordered his son to 'sit back up' when he would fall over and that they 'never rendered any aid'. Crump told the outlet it was 'clear that he was struggling' in the video. 'He literally says in the first encounter: "I just want to go home,'' the lawyer recalled. Nichols' mother, Ravaughn Wells (pictured) was inconsolable at the press conference. She also said she hopes the five officers face first-degree murder charges Nichols' sister, Kenyana Dixon (pictured) said the officers approached him in an unmarked car and were wearing hoodies Ravaughn Wells said that on the day of the arrest, her son was looking forward to a chicken she was going to cook for dinner that night. 'All my son was trying to do was come home,' she said. The mother sobbed during the news conference and told reporters Nichols was less than 80 yards from home when Memphis police officers 'murdered him'. 'We're going to get justice for my son, Tyre, if that's the last breath I take,' she said. Nichols - described by family as a 'good kid' who loved skateboarding, photography and his four-year-old son - was arrested after officers stopped him for reckless driving. Police said in a statement the day after the encounter that 'a confrontation occurred' as officers approached the vehicle and Nichols ran; they said officers caught up to him and that 'another confrontation occurred' while they were taking him into custody. Police said Nichols complained of shortness of breath and was taken to a hospital, where he died three days later. Relatives have accused the police of beating Nichols to the point where he suffered a heart attack and kidney failure. Authorities have only said that Nichols experienced a medical emergency. After the family's news conference, about 10 activists walked into the lobby of Mulroy's office to demand answers as to why the district attorney was withholding the video from the public for up to two more weeks and why he had not charged the officers. 'People want to see what happened to Tyre,' activist Pamela Buress said. 'And we're angry about it.' Crump also said the officers' race was irrelevant and that black and brown motorists often are treated differently than whites, regardless of the officers' own race, and that the pain of Nichols' death 'is just the same'. The US Attorney's Office said Wednesday the federal investigation into the death of Nichols 'may take some time'. Speaking during a news conference, US Attorney Kevin G. Ritz said his office is working with the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division in Washington as it investigates the case of Nichols. Ritz said he has met with Nichols' family. 'As I told Mr. Nichols' family, our federal investigation may take some time. These things often do,' Ritz said. 'But we will be diligent, and we will make decisions based on the facts and the law.' Nichols' death has led to three separate law enforcement investigations. The Nichols case is just the latest high-profile death to rattle the city. Since November 2021, Memphis has seen the fatal shooting of rapper Young Dolph in a daytime ambush at a bakery, a crime rampage in which a man has been charged with fatally shooting three people and wounding three others, the killing of a United Methodist Church pastor during a carjacking in her driveway, and the early-morning kidnapping of a jogger whose body was later found near a house. It's the most abused drug among 16-24 year olds in England after cannabis and cocaine, but the scourge of so-called laughing gas, aka 'hippy crack', is no joke. Doctors have warned of a 'terrifying' epidemic following a rise in patients suffering 'life-changing' nerve damage and even paralysis after inhaling the gas, formally known as nitrous oxide - which can starve users of the vital B12 vitamin and oxygen. Also referred to as 'nos', users breathe in the colourless substance through balloons or cannisters - which cost just 25 for industrial-sized containers - causing a feeling of euphoria, relaxation and dissociation from reality. But the government is expected to make the sale and possession of the drug illegal - a move that will be welcomed by some of its victims - after medics warned that its rising popularity has seen a spike in serious complications, including spinal cord damage and even death, with dozens of lives claimed in Britain over the past decade. Alex Littler (pictured), from Cheshire, was just 16 when he was rushed to hospital on June 20 last year after complaining of a swollen neck, breathlessness and that his chest felt like 'popping bubble wrap' when touched due to the air leaking from a ruptured lung Kayleigh Burns, 16, an asthmatic, collapsed at a house party in Leamington Spa and died after being rushed to hospital moments after inhaling laughing gas last August. Her family called for it to be banned, believing it contributed to or caused her death Kerry Donaldson (pictured), 25, from Newham in London, revealed in July 2022 how her 'hippy crack' binges damaged her spinal cord and forced her to rely on her dad for round-the-clock care Meanwhile, thousands of small silver cannisters used to carry the gas are often seen dumped on roads or in parks, contributing to environmental pollution. Under the Home Office's proposal, only those with a 'legitimate excuse' for possessing the drug would avoid prosecution - including those who use it in catering equipment such as whipped cream machines, or for legitimate pain relief. It comes after last year saw much larger cans containing hundreds of litres of gas gain popularity, with four skips' worth being cleared-up after Notting Hill Carnival in central London over the August bank holiday. That same month, Kayleigh Burns, 16, died at a house party in Leamington Spa just moments after inhaling laughing gas. The exact cause of Kayleigh's death has not yet been reported, but her sister, Clare Baker, 31, said she believed it was caused by the substance as she called for it to be banned. Taking to TikTok and other platforms, those negatively impacted by the trend have continuously warned about the risks (pictured) (Stock Image) Concerns have grown over the use of so-called 'hippy crack' and the litter and anti-social behaviour associated with it In Southgate, north London, local officers have repeatedly come across large piles of the supersized canisters in public spaces How dangerous is laughing gas? Nitrous oxide (N20), commonly known as laughing gas or nos, is an anaesthetic gas It is used recreationally using metal canisters and whipped cream chargers The gas dissolves into the bloodstream quickly, reaching the brain in seconds The effects, which include laughing and minor hallucination are strong but short-lived Nitrous Oxide prevents oxygen from reaching the blood, causing a rapid heartbeat and tingling limbs The gas is relatively low risk but oxygen starvation can be fatal in severe doses Gas being released from its canister can cause freezing temperatures of -40C which can cause frostbite on skin or internally when inhaled directly from the canister Source: Drug Science Advertisement People who were at the house party sent Kayleigh's family videos of the asthmatic teen inhaling the nitrous oxide. Later, she complained of feeling 'too hot' before she collapsed and an ambulance was called. Clare told The Echo: 'I will be missing a huge piece of my heart for the rest of my life now and I don't know how I'm going to go on without her. But I need to because I have kids. 'I want people to think about what they are taking before they take it because they're going to leave people behind who love them. People may think it is a laugh and a joke, but it's not, they're playing with their lives. 'I want it to be banned. They have upped the legal age of buying it in America to 21... I know people use it in the food industry, but I think there should be some sort of ID card or at least an age requirement. 'I don't want this to happen to anybody else. We have lost our Kayleigh forever now.' It comes as TikTok and other platforms continue to be flooded with videos of young people taking the drug while out partying with friends. Attempting to battle the promotion of laughing gas, doctors are also uploading clips of themselves warning of the drug's side effects. A doctor from the Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust says in a recent video: 'Whether it's a short binge or chronic use, it's just not safe. We've seen both... and they both end up in hospital.' He adds: 'We as doctors are seeing people coming to hospital off their legs, with tingling numbness in the hands and feet, difficulty walking and maybe getting psychosis. 'I even know of an eye doctor that's seen people who have lost vision because they're not getting enough oxygen to the brain. I know of patients who have had erectile dysfunction... because of spinal cord injury from nitrous oxide use... it's really serious.' He also warned people that taking B12 vitamin supplements will not help you avoid the risks of inhaling the gas, as is often believed. Other people negatively impacted by the trend have also continuously warned about the risks - including Kerry Donaldson, 25, from Newham in London, who was left in a wheelchair. The former receptionist revealed in July 2022 how her 'hippy crack' binges damaged her spinal cord and forced her to rely on her dad for round-the-clock care. Elsewhere, Alex Littler, from Cheshire, was just 16 when he was rushed to hospital on June 20 last year after complaining of a swollen neck, breathlessness and that his chest felt like 'popping bubble wrap' when touched due to the air leaking from a ruptured lung. A doctor from the Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust (pictured) says in a recent video: 'Whether it's a short binge or chronic use, it's just not safe. We've seen both... and they both end up in hospital' Some of the laughing gas canisters left behind from the Notting Hill Carnival in August 2022 Fast Gas, the company who made the cylinders seen at Notting Hill, said their products are used to produce whipped cream in restaurant environments The year 11 student was forced to confess to doctors and devastated mother Cathy McCann, 44, that he'd inhaled nitrous oxide - or 'nos' - over the weekend while at Parklife music festival in Heaton Park, Manchester, on June 11 and 12. According to the European Union drugs monitoring agency EMCDDA, the recreational use of nitrous oxide is on the rise in Europe among young people, producing worrying numbers of poisonings. The growing popularity of the substance stems from its wide over-the-counter availability, low price, ease of use and the false perception that it is safe, the Lisbon-based agency said. What is Nitrous Oxide and is it illegal? Nitrous Oxide, has been nicknamed 'laughing gas' due to the euphoric and relaxed feeling people who inhale it can sometimes feel. The substance - also known as 'hippy crack' - is normally bought in pressured canisters, commonly transferred to a container, e.g. a balloon, from which the gas is inhaled. Although possession of laughing gas is not yet illegal, English law prohibits its sale to under-18s if there is a chance they will inhale it. The Home Office is currently proposing to make the sale and possession of the drug illegal - unless it is being used for legitimate purposes. The effects of nitrous oxide vary depending on how much has been inhaled but they include: Feelings of euphoria, relaxation and calmness. Dizziness, difficulty in thinking straight and fits of giggles/laughter. Sound distortions or even hallucinations. In some people, a headache can be an unwanted immediate effect. Risks include: Unconsciousness or death from lack of oxygen. This occurs when the available oxygen for breathing is effectively pushed out by the nitrous oxide. Advertisement In the United Kingdom, nitrous oxide is the second most prevalent drug among young adults aged 16 to 24 years, after cannabis, the EMCDDA said. It has a legitimate wide range of medical, industrial and commercial uses, particularly as propellant in whipped cream dispensers or water siphons for which purpose it is sold in compact, inexpensive cartridges online or in supermarkets. In some European countries, particular concerns have been raised since 2017, when larger cylinders of the gas that deliberately target the recreational market appeared, often luring teenagers inexperienced with drug use. The cartridges are normally consumed by filling party balloons, from which the gas is then inhaled, but more recently users have been inhaling directly from dispensers or cartridges, which poses a high risk of severe cold burns and lung injury. It also affects several brain and spinal cord networks. Smaller nitrous oxide canisters - which are legitimately used in the catering industry - have been widely used for recreational drug-taking for at least a decade. The small, silver cartridges contain four litres of the colourless gas, but the larger types - which cost just 25 - can hold between 322 litres and 5,500 litres. Large canisters have become commonly littered in British streets in the last year. One in 11 people aged 16 to 24 said they had taken laughing gas in 2019-20, according to the Crime Survey of England and Wales. Amid mounting concerns, the Government's Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs was asked to review the harm caused by the drug last autumn. It has yet to report. In August, medics warned that as the substance's popularity has skyrocketed, so have cases of spinal cord and nerve damage, including paralysis. Dr Mark Ellul, a specialist registrar in neurology in Liverpool, claimed youngsters are coming into hospital with 'severe and long-lasting' damage after using the drug. According to the European Union drugs monitoring agency EMCDDA, the recreational use of nitrous oxide is on the rise in Europe among young people, producing worrying numbers of poisonings. Pictured, a woman on TikTok warns of the risks of doing 'balloons' Dutch become first in the world to outlaw possession of laughing gas A drug known as 'hippy crack' is banned in the Netherlands in a world first. Since January 2023, the gas nitrous oxide has been illegal to buy, sell or own except for legitimate uses in medicine and catering. In the UK it is the second most commonly misused substance after cannabis among 16 to 24-year-olds, but only possession with intent to supply is currently illegal. The Home Office is considering a stricter ban. Inhaling the gas can induce heart attacks, fainting, nerve damage, vitamin deficiency, anaemia and weakness in the legs. Dutch road safety campaigners say it has also played a role in 1,800 accidents across the country over the past three years. Nitrous oxide users buy the gas in small metal canisters, sold legally to dispense whipped cream. But they then empty the gas - known in Dutch slang as 'nang' - into balloons and inhale it. Announcing the decision, State Secretary for Health, Welfare and Sport Maarten van Ooijen said: 'The recreational use of nitrous oxide leads to enormous health risks.' Advertisement Nos can starve the body of a crucial vitamin and oxygen, which can lead to life-changing nerve damage and suffocation. Official figures show the number of young people in England and Wales using the drug has soared 50 per cent in the last decade. Just six per cent of the millennial generation, who were aged 16 to 24 a decade ago, reported taking the drug, compared to nine per cent of the Gen Z age group. At least 45 people have died after taking the drug since 2010, with many more hospitalised. Dr Nikos Evangelou, a neurologist at Nottingham University Hospital, tweeted that there is an 'epidemic' of spinal cord and nerve damage due to nitric oxide. 'Terrifying to see paralysed young people from laughing gas canisters,' he said. The phenomenon was 'almost unknown' last year but medics now see cases weekly, Dr Evangelou said. Dr David Nicholl, a consultant neurologist at University Hospital in Birmingham, took to TikTok to share concern about the 'epidemic'. 'This stuff is dangerous. Seven years ago, this was a neurological rarity, even a couple of years ago I was seeing cases maybe once a month, now I'm seeing them every week,' he said. Dr Nicholl urged medics to ask young patients with unexplained neurological symptoms whether they use nitrous oxide and where they get it, so suppliers can be reported. He called for the age limit for buying nitrous oxide canisters which cost just 25 compared to 50 a year ago to rise to 25. Dr Ellul previously told The Guardian that his team treats one case every few weeks. He said: 'Most are young people, and many were previously unaware that the substance could be harmful. In some cases the effects can be quite severe and long lasting.' The 'high' kicks in immediately, causing users to feel dizzy, relaxed and giggly, and lasts one to two minutes, on average. Having too much, however, can make users faint or suffocate due to a lack of oxygen to the brain if they inhale highly concentrated forms of the gas. Heavy and regular use can cause a vitamin B12 deficiency and anaemia. B12 is essential in the body's production of myelin the fatty sheath around nerves in the body. A lack of myelin can trigger nerve damage, leading users to suffer painful tingling and numbness in their fingers and toes that makes walking difficult, as well as spinal cord damage. Alex Littler, from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, was rushed to hospital after complaining of a swollen neck, breathlessness and that his chest felt like 'popping bubble wrap'. The year 11 student was forced to confess to doctors and devastated mother Cathy McCann, 44, that he'd inhaled nitrous oxide over the weekend while at Parklife music festival in Heaton Park, Manchester (pictured), on June 11 and 12 last year He was diagnosed with a ruptured and leaking lung and told he was lucky to be alive but medics warned he may need surgery to remove air that was trapped around his lungs and heart (his x-ray is pictured) IN NUMBERS: How laughing gas is the third most-abused drug by young people in Britain after usage surged over the past decade Figures taken from an ONS survey in December 2022 - 6 per cent of millennials, who were aged 16 to 24 a decade ago, reported inhaling the drug - 9 per cent of Gen Z reported inhaling the drug - 45 people are known to have died after taking laughing gas since 2010 - 50 per cent increase in young people using 'hippy crack' in England and Wales over the last decade - 16.2 per cent of 16-24 year olds admitted using cannabis at least once during the year - 4 per cent admitted to using cocaine and 3.9 per cent to laughing gas Advertisement In June last year, a 16-year-old boy almost died after taking laughing gas at Parklife festival, in Heaton Park, Manchester caused his lung to burst. Alex Littler, from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, was rushed to hospital after complaining of a swollen neck, breathlessness and that his chest felt like 'popping bubble wrap'. The year 11 student confessed to doctors and that he'd inhaled nitrous oxide while at the festival on June 11 and 12. He was diagnosed with a ruptured and leaking lung and told he was lucky to be alive. Meanwhile, a young woman named Kerri Anne was left partially paralysed after consuming too many small canisters containing nitrous oxide; the containers are readily available online and on social media. 'In a week, maybe I would do about 600 canisters,' she told the BBC. 'For the next week I wouldn't be able to do anything, I would be sleeping 12 plus hours and I would be vomiting. I'd be having sweats, I couldn't eat, I couldn't drink water. I couldn't walk or use my hands.' The frequent and heavy use of the drug left her with no sensation in her legs and in the constant care of her dad. She added: 'I can't do anything for myself at the moment. It's not like I can get up and walk out of my house, which is why I have my dad. I have to use a commode. He does literally everything for me.' A dealer of the drug said it was 'a walk in the park' to find users on social media who wanted to buy the larger canisters. 'It's dangerous. I don't think people should do it, but as long as they do I am going to sell it,' the anonymous dealer said. Harry Sumnall, a Professor in Substance Use at Liverpool John Moores University, said: 'The concern is over the availability of much bigger canisters, potentially delivering 80 maybe even 90 times the amount of nitrous oxide. There's real concern over those much larger volumes.' Catching a bus on time can be hard enough without having to queue behind a line of sheep... Alan Day, 63, from Gloucestershire, captured an amazing moment where 50 sheep appear to be queuing for the bus in Bream, Lydney. An ancient tradition in the area called 'pannage' allows farmers the right to release their animals to graze freely. A lambush! It looks like this group of sheep have ditched the grazing for a night out in town Retired Alan was on his way to volunteer at Bream Community Library when he spotted the flock last Saturday. He said: 'When I got into the village I saw about 50 sheep. 'In a few minutes they had spread along the grass, so when the bus came, it looked like they were all queueing to board. 'I just thought it looked funny - like they wanted to take advantage of the capped 2 single fare to Gloucester.' I herd the bus was running late? Roughly 50 well behaved sheep keep to the pavement during their 'pannage' Britain asked Europe for emergency help yesterday amid fears that hundreds of thousands of homes could face electricity blackouts, according to reports. In the latest energy scare for England, urgent requests were allegedly made for extra power from the Continent after a supposed fault on the southern network. After calls for emergency assistance, The Times reported exports to France were first cut back before subsea cable imports from the Netherlands were boosted. If the request was rejected, this could have forced the National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) to close down any power exports that may have been draining UK supplies, it was claimed. Britain was compelled to ask Europe for emergency help yesterday amid fears that hundreds of thousands of homes could be faced with electricity blackouts, reports say (file image) Phil Hewitt, who works at the consultancy of EnAppSys told the newspaper this type of assistance is 'unusual' and only happens a few times throughout the year. He added that the incident shows a 'need to invest in more transmission capacity' of power received in the South East. The problem was said to have prevented power being transported from the North to the South, where demand was higher. The blackout scare comes at a time when many Britons are choosing to turn off their electricity and heating amid rocketing energy prices. One million homes and businesses have rushed to sign up to a scheme that pays them to turn off washing machines, ovens, dishwashers and even the lights. Craig Dyke, who leads the the Demand Flexibility Service (DFS), has refused to rule out using the 'world-leading' scheme every winter, saying it will 'drive forward towards net zero'. Asked if it could become a feature of British life each winter, Mr Dyke told the BBC: 'It's something we strongly believe in. This is the start of something much, much bigger'. The Emergency Assistance and Emergency Instruction tools are standard tools and are used by the energy grid to boost supplies when there is not time to make a commercial arrangement. MailOnline has approached National Grid ESO for comment. Two relatives have been arrested over the murder of a British man who was shot and killed while visiting family in Jamaica. Michael Brown, 48, who had been involved in a 'bitter' family feud over properties left to him by his late mother, was gunned down in Mike Town last Thursday. The suspects were arrested at an address in Mandeville, near where Michael was killed, and are believed to be family members, a police source said. 'The police have taken two people into custody in relation to the killing of 'Jimmy' who was visiting his family from England. They are helping police with their inquiries into his shooting death.' said the source. Michael Brown (pictured in an image shared by local press in Jamaica), 48, was shot and killed while visiting relatives in Mike Town on the outskirts of Mandeville in Manchester According to police reports, Brown - who went by the street name 'Jimmy' - was killed at approximately 12.20am last Thursday in an unfinished house he was building in the community just four days after burying his 74-year-old mother. The 48-year-old sustained gunshot wounds to his upper body. He was rushed to the Mandeville Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A police report said that Brown was set upon by gunmen who opened fire on him as he entered the house he was building in the Caribbean isle. Citing 'community sources', Jamaican radio station Nationwide 90FM said Brown had been involved in a 'bitter' family feud over several properties his recently deceased mother had left to him in her will in the island nation. The station reported the dispute escalated on Wednesday between Brown and his relatives, and a heated argument took place. Police immediately opened an investigation into the shooting and are collecting statements. Detectives are now probing whether Brown was killed in connection to the feud, according to local reports. A police spokesman said that they have begun investigating the murder of Brown who was from Hertfordshire, UK, saying: 'This is a despicable crime and we are looking at all lines on inquiries. A police report said that Brown was set upon by gunmen who opened fire on him as he entered the house he was building in the Caribbean isle 'This man was from England and came over to look after his new house which he was building and to visit family. From all accounts, he was a hard-working man. We intend to bring to justice those responsible.' said the spokesman. 'We will catch those responsible.' A local resident said that there are lots of land and property disputes in Jamaica which sometimes end tragically. She said: 'This young man came over from England to bury his mother and to take care of the house he was building and he will be getting buried himself. That is so awful and sad. 'Coming all this way and you will not be returning. This can't be easy.' Brown is the second Brit to be shot dead in Jamaica this year after Sean Patterson, 33, a personal trainer from Shepherd's Bush, West London, was found with gunshot wounds to his upper body and head in St James, earlier in January. Brown is the second Brit to be shot dead in Jamaica this year after Sean Patterson (pictured), 33, a personal trainer from Shepherd's Bush, West London, was found with gunshot wounds to his upper body and head in St James , earlier in January Patterson, a personal trainer, was shot and killed outside of the guesthouse where he was staying, pictured, in Jamaica. Witnesses have said they heard 'explosions' Speaking at the time, Jamaica Constabulary's deputy commissioner Fitz Bailey called it 'a contract killing that emanated from Britain'. In a video statement, Bailey went on to say Patterson had arrived in Jamaica on 29 December with another man who was also from London. The pair had spent several days at an apartment before checking into the villa in Bogue Hill on New Year's Day. Later that day, Mr. Patterson, and the man staying with him, met a third person from Kingston, and all three of them stayed at the guest house in separate rooms. It was around noon the following day that Mr. Patterson and the Jamaican man went to the villa's pool deck, and a 'lone man dressed in a black hooded sweatshirt' was seen firing shots, Mr. Bailey said. Shamima Begum has recalled the moment she spoke to her mother for the first time after fleeing Britain to join ISIS in Syria, with the jihadi bride recalling how she replied 'no' when she begged her to come home and 'tried to make me feel all guilty'. The 23-year-old even suggested her devastated family were 'responsible' for her plight, saying that their tearful appeals for her to come back to the UK 'put me all over the media'. Speaking to BBC podcast I'm Not A Monster, Begum was asked by journalist Joshua Baker how she reacted when she heard her despairing sister begging for her to leave the death cult. 'I couldn't believe it, I couldn't believe that my sister would travel all the way to Turkey thinking that she could save me,' she said. Shamima Begum has suggested her devastated family were 'responsible' for her plight, saying that their tearful appeals for her to come back to the UK 'put me all over the media' Renu, Begum's eldest sister, holding up a photo of her as part of an appeal to bring her home Referring to herself, Amira Abase and Kadiza Sultana - the two friends she fled East London with - she continued: 'We all said, ''yeah we want to speak to our families, we have an obligation to at least tell them we got here safely''. 'The first time I called my mum she was just crying. I felt like she was trying to make me feel guilty. I don't know, maybe it was just emotions but I just didn't say anything to her I let her cry. I just kept telling her I was ok.' The journalist asked her 'did she ask you to come home?' to which she replied 'yeah' before they continued their exchange. 'What did you say?' 'Just said no.' 'So at that point you were committed to the decision you had made?' 'I was not committed but I just didn't want to give her false hope because I didn't think I could leave. 'I don't want to blame my family but they are in a way responsible for putting me all over the media. 'But I don't think they knew how far it would go and how big it would become. I blame the media for obsessing over my friends and I so much.' The ISIS bride gave birth to three children after joining ISIS, none of whom have survived. Pictured: Begum with her week-old son Jerah Begum, pictured here wearing leggings and a white t-shirt, has changed her appearance radically since she was first found in the Al-Roj camp in Syria Today's episode also revealed new details about Mohammed Al Rasheed, the ISIS people smuggler who helped Begum reach Syria at the same time as working as an agent for Canadian intelligence. The ten-part BBC series has attracted controversy for giving airtime to Begum, who is accused of sewing bombers into their suicide vests while living in ISIS-controlled territory in the Middle East. However, producers insist the series is 'not a platform for Shamima Begum to give her unchallenged story' but a 'robust, public interest investigation'. It comes as a filmmaker who met the jihadi bride in Syria said she views herself as a 'celebrity'. Andrew Drury, who has travelled to Syria to speak to her on several occasions, said she is a 'narcissist' who 'sees herself as a victim'. Begum, who is currently appealing a decision by the UK Government to strip her of her British citizenship, travelled to Syria to join ISIS when she was 15 years old. Mr Drury said he had initially been taken in by Begum when meeting her for the first time, adding that he had felt 'sorry' for her. However, he claimed he can see through the character she is playing for the cameras. The Times quotes him as saying: 'She sees herself as a victim now but she told me quite clearly it was her choice to go [to Syria] and she went of her own free will 'She is a narcissist. She wants to be a somebody. Now she sees herself as a celebrity. Being part of Isis meant she was a somebody and now she's a somebody again.' In July last year Mr Drury said the UK has a responsibility to bring British jihadi brides like Begum and their children 'back home' because it was not fair to leave them 'to be a danger to the Syrians and the Kurds' who have 'enough danger to deal with already'. But he has since changed his view - in September he said he believed Begum is a 'manipulative personality playing the victim card in an attempt to get back to the UK'. He told the Sun at the time: 'After extensive face-to-face meetings and a slew of bizarre text messages, I am convinced she is a bitter, twisted character with deep psychological problems.' Mr Drury said that he was 'floored' when she told him that the death of her three children no longer makes her sad, and that she had 'moved on'. This, he said, began to change his view that Begum is a victim. Mr Drury, who has written a book about his experiences of travelling abroad for work called Trip Hazard, said she made no mention of being 'trafficked or groomed' when he first met her. He claims she is trying to 'create a character' that she can use to get back to the UK. Whether she is let back into Britain will depend on the decision of a Special Immigration Appeals Commission, which is looking into her claims she was unfairly stripped of her citizenship. The body of a mother who vanished moments after reporting a break-in at her home has been found inside a car boot. Wendy Sleeman, 61, had been missing since Tuesday, when she called police from her home in Gold Coast. Her son, Slade Murdok, 30, was previously arrested and charged with a number of offences including kidnapping. Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith told reporters on Thursday night that a body was found in the blue Honda Jazz police had been searching for in a garage at a unit block in the inner-northern Brisbane suburb of Windsor. 'It would appear that we've located the body of Wendy Sleeman,' Superintendent Smith said. 'Whilst it's yet to be formally identified, it certainly appears to be her.' Police believe they have found the body of missing Gold Coast woman Wendy Sleeman (pictured) who disappeared moments after reporting a break in at her home on Tuesday Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith told reporters on Thursday night a body was found in the blue Honda Jazz police had been searching for in a garage at a unit block in the inner-northern Brisbane suburb of Windsor (pictured) Police believe Ms Sleeman may have been inside a blue Honda Jazz that sped away from her home as police responded to a 'break and enter' report on Wednesday Murdok - previously known as Jamie Sleeman - was arrested on Wednesday afternoon. He was remanded in custody after appearing in court in Brisbane on charges of unlawful stalking, burglary, assault occasioning bodily harm, kidnapping, attempted arson and unlawful use of a motor vehicle. A desperate search for Ms Sleeman began immediately after officers found pools of blood at her Elanora home. Police believe Ms Sleeman may have been inside a blue Honda Jazz that sped away from her home as police responded to a 'break and enter' report on Wednesday. Supt Smith alleged the garage had been hired by Murdok, with the owner unaware of who he was. 'It would appear there's an innocent party involved in the ownership of the garage.' He said 'forensics examination of electronic devices have led to us coming here'. A desperate search for the 61-year-old Ms Sleeman began immediately after responding officers found a large amount of blood at her Elanora home Police had been searching for the blue Honda Jazz with the Queensland registration 952AT4. It was last seen at 5.50pm on Tuesday at the intersection of Paradise Road and Kingston Road in Kingston Central. Superintendent Smith is urging anyone who had seen the Honda Jazz to come forward. 'Just because we've located the car, we're still very keen to hear from people who might have seen it,' he said. Police divers had searched the lake behind Ms Sleeman's home. Police believe Ms Sleeman (pictured with family) may have been inside the blue Honda Jazz that sped away from her home as police responded to a 'break and enter' report on Wednesday Items were in the water, which will be examined by the police forensic unit. Police were also seen searching the park neighbouring the house on Ironbark St, Elanora for evidence. Emergency crews were called to Ms Sleeman's Gold Coast home at 3.30pm on Tuesday, after she reported a potential break in. She called police after noticing signs of forced entry, saying to police on the phone: 'It doesn't look like there's anyone here'. But 30 minutes later when police arrived on the scene, the 61-year-old was nowhere to be found. Police put out a public please earlier in the week for anyone with information about this blue Honda Jazz 'We have grave concerns for her safety,' Detective Superintendent Smith said on Wednesday. Officers arrested Mr Murdok shortly before 5pm on Wednesday. Ms Sleeman's sister has flown up to the Gold Coast from her Melbourne home to help support the search efforts. 'It's a very sad time for the family. Obviously they've been advised. On the other side I suppose it gives them some closure as to where she is,' Superintendent Smith said. 'It's a tragic scene, a tragic circumstance.' The family of a teenage girl who took her own life after being sexually abused by her father have pleaded: 'keep this monster behind bars' after discovering he could be freed after serving just three years in prison. Megan Reid, 17, was found hanging from a tree two years after her father Joseph McGinn, 60, had been jailed for subjecting her to a lifetime of sexual abuse. Her family were horrified at the seven year sentence he received and have now been informed he has a parole hearing on Valentine's Day this year which could see him back on the streets in three weeks. Megan's mother Gemma McKeown, a 35-year-old cafe manager, said: 'This man is a monster who should be spending the rest of his days in jail. Megan Reid, 17, was found hanging from a tree after her father's sexual abuse spanning years Megan with her devastated mother Gemma McKeown, 35, who works as a cafe manager 'The sentence he received was ridiculous in the first place and it's horrifying to discover that he could now be released within a year of Megan being driven to suicide by the things he subjected her to. 'He should die behind bars for what he did to her, things she just couldn't get over. He ruined her life and she couldn't stand it any more. 'Her death shattered us all and to discover he could be out less than a year after she took her life is unbearable. We want the world to see his face because he's a danger to children.' Megan's family, of Livingston, West Lothian, left the High Court in Edinburgh in December 2019 feeling that justice had been done, with McGinn handed an 18 year sentence. Joseph McGinn, 60, had been jailed for subjecting Megan to a lifetime of sexual abuse Megan, right, with her aunt Sam, left, who said heartbreak of losing her in April last year was still raw However the sentences passed on the eight counts of sexual assault on Megan and a second victim included jail terms that ran concurrently to each other. The court wrote to the family to explain that in fact McGinn had been sentenced to seven years with a three year extended sentence, which only becomes active if he reoffends. It means he has now served almost half of his active jail term and will soon be eligible for parole. Megan's aunt Sam Reid, 29, a planner with a water company, said: 'It hardly seems possible that McGinn could be released after three years in jail, how can that possibly be seen as justice? Gemma at Megan's grave remembering her all-too short life before she was found dead This picture released by Gemma shows her clasping Megan's hand as her life ebbed away 'He abused Megan from the age of four and she only found the courage and strength to tell her mum on Mother's Day in 2018 when she was aged 13. 'All those years of sexual abuse and torture that he put her through and he's facing release already. 'It is less than a year since our beautiful girl took her own life because she simply couldn't live with what her own father had done to her. 'She was found hanging 20ft up a tree in a park near home and was rushed to hospital when she was discovered. 'As a family we were there with her as she lay on a ventilator with wires and tubes all over her body. 'The doctors told us that if she lived she would be left in a permanent vegetative state and there was no option but to give permission to withdraw life support and let her go. 'The heartbreak of losing her in April last year is still raw, it doesn't seem real that she's no longer with us. 'It meant the anger and hatred towards McGinn boiled up more than ever, he ruined her life and brought about her death. 'And now suddenly we're told that his parole board hearing is taking place on February 14th, nine months after Megan's death. It's sickening that this can be happening.' Parole Scotland has asked for impact statements from the families of both McGinn's victims to be read by members of the panel which will decide on his release. In their email they say: 'Things to include are the impact of offence, any licence conditions you would like to request such as not to approach, any geographical exclusions ie areas you would prefer they were excluded from and any other information you would like the Board members to consider.' Sam said: 'For us the impact of the offence is very clear - Megan is dead and he's to blame. I hope the parole board will take that firmly into mind as they decide whether he should be back on the streets. 'It's appalling that this is even being considered, but if that man is allowed back on the streets everyone should know his name and his face because we can't overstate how dangerous he is.' Megan's mum Gemma was only 15 herself when she met McGinn, who at that time was aged 40. She feels that she herself was the victim of a crime when the much older man became her partner. She said: 'Looking back I now realise of course that I was groomed by McGinn, I should never have been involved in a relationship with a man of his age. 'I was only 16 when I fell pregnant with Megan and it was only four years after that that he began abusing her. 'All this gets to court years later and he ends up serving three years in prison for ruining the lives of two girls. 'Megan was broken by what he did and that was made worse by the fact that members of his family didn't believe she was telling the truth. 'To go through that ordeal, find the courage to speak up and then to be called a liar was unbearable and in the end it was too much for my brave, beautiful daughter.' In January 2018, officers from Livingston's Public Protection Unit, launched an investigation into McGinn and discovered he had abused, assaulted and sexually assaulted the two victims between 2000 and 2018. As he was jailed Police Scotland said McGinn had been brought to justice. Detective Sergeant Hannah Traynor said: 'I would like to commend the bravery of the victims in this case. Thanks to their determination and courage throughout the investigation, we have been able to bring McGinn to justice for his heinous crimes. I hope this offers them some consolation but I am acutely aware they are left dealing with the horror of what he has done. 'We are resolutely committed to supporting victims of sexual crimes and anyone who has been a victim of sexual crime should feel able to report it to police, regardless of how long ago it happened. I would urge anyone who has been a victim of such crime to contact police.' For help or support, visit samaritans.org or call Samaritans for free on 116 123 A Connecticut investment banker has jumped to his death from a rooftop bar in New York City, a day after filing for divorce. Dale Cheney, 46, committed suicide on Wednesday at 6.30pm, leaping from Bar 54 at the Hyatt Centric in Times Square. Cheney, a father-of-three, filed for divorce from his wife a day earlier. In October, aspiring model Elizabeth Gaglewski took her own life at the same bar. The bar said in a statement that it was 'truly heartbroken', but it is yet to confirm if it will make any changes to its outdoor deck to prevent any additional suicides. The Harvard-educated banker had just filed for divorce. He is shown in a photo from his LinkedIn page Dale Cheney, 46, committed suicide on Wednesday at 6.30pm, leaping from Bar 54 (pictured) at the Hyatt Centric in Times Square 'We are truly heartbroken at the situation that occurred this evening outside our rooftop bar, and we are keeping the victims family and friends in our thoughts and hearts,' general manager Tom Bundell said. Cheney's family in New Canaan, Connecticut, declined to comment on Thursday. The New York Post reports that he and his wife had filed for divorce just a day before he took his life, and that police previously responded to their home twice in 2008 on domestic disturbance calls. One of the arguments was over finances, according to the Post. Dale and his wife Lauren live in a sprawling home in New Canaan, an affluent Connecticut suburb. They bought their home in 2018 for $1.6million. Cheney's sprawling home in New Canaan, Connecticut. The property is worth an estimated $3.5million His death comes just four months after 26-year-old Elizabeth Gaglewski jumped to her death from the same bar. At the time, friends told DailyMail.com that Elizabeth had seemed 'happy' before leaving the family home in Queens. They added that she had 'struggled to cope' after the death of her father, and had suffered with depression. She landed on a 27th floor balcony, but did not survive. In October, 26-year-old Elizabeth Gaglewski jumped to her death from the same bar The largest US defence contractor has said it is ready to ramp up its production of F-16 fighter jets as some of Ukraine's closest allies consider sending sending their aircraft to Kyiv. US aerospace company Lockheed Martin said it will build more F-16s to 'backfill' any European countries who wish to supply their own jets to Ukraine via a third-party transfer. It comes as Volodymyr Zelensky is now pushing for Western fourth generation fighter jets such as the US F-16, which can reach speeds of more than 1,200mph, to be sent to Ukraine after securing supplies of main battle tanks from Germany and the US. Frank St John, chief operating officer of Lockheed Martin, told the FT the company was 'going to be ramping production on Greenville [South Carolina] to get to the place where will be able to backfill pretty capably any countries that choose to do third-party transfers to help with the current conflict'. US aerospace company Lockheed Martin said it will build more F-16s (pictured) to 'backfill' any European countries who wish to supply their own jets to Ukraine via a third-party transfer Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured on January 24) is now pushing for Western fourth generation fighter jets such as the US F-16, which can reach speeds of more than 1,200mph, to be sent to Ukraine after securing supplies of main battle tanks from Germany and the US F-16 fighter jet Origin: US Contractor: Lockheed Martin Corp. Manufactured: 1978 to present Speed: 1,500 mph (Mach 2) Range: 2,002 miles Armor: 20mm cannon; external stations can carry up to six air-to-air missiles Cost: $18million Advertisement It comes as Dutch foreign affairs minister, Wopke Hoekstra, last week said it was looking into supplying F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. The Netherlands has around 40 of America's F-16s while seven other European Nato countries fly the jets, including Poland and Norway. But the Biden administration, which has so far rebuffed Kyiv's appeals for the fourth-generation fighter jets, must approve these third-party transfers whereby a countries re-export their US aircraft to Ukraine to defend its airspace against Russian attacks. 'Along with our international allies and partners, we are in regular communication with the Ukrainians on their needs and requests,' a US defense official told the newspaper. 'At this time we have nothing to announce regarding F-16s.' The F-16 fighter jet can fly for more than 500 miles and locate targets in all weather conditions as well as detect low flying aircraft in radar ground clutter. Washington announced yesterday it is sending 31 of its fast-moving M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, while Berlin will initially supply at least 14 Leopard 2 tanks and give permission to other NATO countries - including Poland, Finland and Denmark - to deliver their own to Kyiv. 'The next big hurdle will now be the fighter jets,' Yuriy Sak, an adviser to Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said. Ukraine's Air Force has a fleet of ageing Soviet-era fighter jets that came off the assembly line before Kyiv even declared independence more than 31 years ago. The warplanes are used for intercept missions and to attack Russian positions. But the Biden administration, which has so far rebuffed Kyiv's appeals for the fourth-generation fighter jets, must approve these third-party transfers whereby a countries re-export their US aircraft to Ukraine to defend its airspace against Russian attacks German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks next to a Leopard 2 battle tank of the German armed forces in October 2022 'If we get them (Western fighter jets), the advantages on the battlefield will be just immense... It's not just F-16s (U.S. multirole fighter jets): fourth generation aircraft, this is what we want.' Western military support has been vital for Kyiv and has rapidly evolved during the war. Before the invasion, even the idea of supplying lethal aid to Ukraine was highly controversial but Western supplies have since shattered taboo after taboo. 'They didn't want to give us heavy artillery, then they did. They didn't want to give us Himars systems, then they did. They didn't want to give us tanks, now they're giving us tanks. Apart from nuclear weapons, there is nothing left that we will not get,' Sak said. Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia last February, has also said it wants to receive long-range missiles from the West. Moscow reacted furiously on Wednesday after Germany approved the delivery to Ukraine of Leopard 2 tanks, the workhorse of armies across Europe, in a decision that is certain to gird Ukraine's offensive power. Justin Bronk, a researcher at the RUSI think tank in London, said Ukraine's Air Force would benefit greatly from Western fighters in terms of air-to-air and potentially air-to-ground lethality. But he said on Twitter they would still be at high risk from Russian surface to air missiles, forcing them to fly very low near the front line, something that "would dramatically reduce effective missile range and limit strike options". Despite any lack of significant palpable movement on the matter, Ukraine's Air Force has yearned for better aircraft throughout the war. A Ukrainian pilot codenamed Juice said last month that many of his peers in the Air Force were taking English lessons in their free time in anticipation that Kyiv would one day receive foreign aircraft such as the F-16 fighter. It comes as sales of U.S. military equipment to foreign governments rose 49% to $205.6 billion in the latest fiscal year, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday. Sales approved in the year included $13.9 billion worth of F-15ID fighter jets to Indonesia, $6.9 billion worth of Multi-Mission Surface Combatant ships to Greece, and $6 billion worth of M1A2 Abrams tanks to Poland. General Dynamics Corp makes the Abrams tank, Boeing makes the F-15 jet and Lockheed Martin Corp makes the ships. There are two major ways foreign governments purchase arms from U.S. companies: direct commercial sales negotiated between a government and a company, and foreign military sales in which a foreign government typically contacts a Defense Department official at the U.S. embassy in its capital. Both require U.S. government approval. The direct military sales by U.S. companies rose 48.6% to $153.7 billion in fiscal 2022 from $103 billion in fiscal 2021, while sales arranged through the U.S. government rose 49.1% to $51.9 billion in 2022 from $34.8 billion the prior year, the State Department said. The number of police-recorded sexual offences in England and Wales has hit a record high. There were 199,021 sex crimes logged by forces in the year to September 2022. This is up 22 per cent compared to the year ending March 2020 (163,244), prior to the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The figures, published on Thursday, also show the overall number of crimes recorded by England and Wales police forces exceeded pre-pandemic levels. There were 199,021 sex crimes logged by forces in the year to September 2022, according to ONS figures They sky-rocketed to reach 6.6 million in the 12 months to September. This was 10 per cent higher than the year to March 2020 when 6.1 million offences were recorded. The ONS urged 'caution' when interpreting the data on sexual offences, which could be affected by a 'number of factors'. This includes improvements in how police record crime as well as victims being more willing to come forward and report incidents in light of high-profile cases and campaigns. This comes after every police force in England was warned to root out sex offenders and to check staff have not 'slipped through the net' after Metropolitan Police's David Carrick rape scandal. Carrick, 48, who was known to colleagues as 'B***ard Dave', admitted to 80 sexual offences, including 48 rapes, while serving with the force between 2003 and 2020. He kidnapped, raped and murdered Sarah Everard while she walked home from a friend's house in Clapham in March 2020. The National Police Chiefs' Council is set to ask all forces to check their officers against national police databases to help identify anyone who has 'slipped through the net' before vetting standards were toughened. The number of police-recorded sexual offences in England and Wales has hit a record high, ONS data has found Meghan Elkin, from the ONS, said: 'While police-recorded sexual offences are the highest annual figures recorded for England and Wales, the crime survey shows no significant change in prevalence. 'The police figures are influenced by a number of factors including willingness to report. And for forces where data is available, we see that 22 per cent of all sexual offences reported last year had taken place over a year prior to the incident being recorded'. Liberal Democrat Spokesperosn for Women and Equalities, Christine Jardine MP said: 'These figures are frightening. The culture that is fuelling devastating violence against women and girls needs to be starved of its supply. 'With sexual offences increasing, police and the justice system must protect survivors and support their cases. They can achieve this through better training and resources for the police, allowing survivors to be listened to, supported, and ensuring that criminals are punished.' Chief executive at the charity Victim Support, Diana Fawcett said 'This huge rise in recorded sexual offences comes as the percentage of cases seeing justice has plummeted to an abysmal new low. 'Charges for rape and sexual offences have been falling sharply for the past six years the system is in crisis. We are on a path to destroying victims faith in the criminal justice system altogether. 'Police and the CPS have a duty to survivors who have experienced life-changing trauma they must do better and start delivering justice.' Since Sarah Everard's murder at least 16 Metropolitan Police officers have been convicted of crimes which the vast majority were for sexual offences or violence against women. One 22-year-old Met Police Officer faces jail after he admitted having sex with a 14-year-old school girl and possessing indecent images of children as young at two. PC Hussain Chehab pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual activity with a child, one of sexual communication with a child and three counts of making indecent photographs of children. Rape Crisis CEO, Jayne Butler said: 'The vast majority of rapes and sexual assaults never get reported to the police so it is encouraging that more sexual violence and abuse victims and survivors are coming forward to seek support and criminal justice. 'A rise in reports doesn't necessarily mean there has been an increase in the number of sexual offences being committed. 'It could be reflective of a gradual increase in survivors' willingness to pursue criminal justice, the growing number of adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse who are now coming forward, and potential changes in the way the police are recording crime. We do know, however, that the prevalence of sexual violence remains high, and with that, the demand for specialist support services has reached unprecedented levels. 'There are currently 14,000 survivors on waiting lists for Rape Crisis services, showing the urgent need for long-term, sustainable funding. We also know that a rise in reports does not equate to more survivors receiving justice. 'Statistics from the Home Office show that only 1 in every 100 reported rapes results in a charge. 'A significant rise in reports of sexual offences must be met with a rise in charges and convictions: the current rates are unacceptably low. Without this, we will not see rape justice.' The great-grandson of one of the victims of serial killer Harold Shipman has hit out at a 'despicable' advert used by a life insurance firm which featured the prolific murderer. DeadHappy has faced backlash over an advert posted on Facebook with an image of Shipman alongside text which said: 'Life insurance: Because you never know who your doctor might be'. In 1999 GP Shipman, then 52, was convicted of the murders of 15 of his patients. But further inquiries found evidence he may have killed more than 250 victims during his medical career in Greater Manchester, 80 per cent of who were elderly women. Tim Hill, 29, told MailOnline his great-grandfather Charles Henry Barlow was killed by Shipman and said he finds it 'utterly unconscionable for DeadHappy to use the image of Shipman for crude jokes and cheap publicity.' The advert by insurance company DeadHappy which many have criticised as 'unacceptable' Charles Henry Barlow, an 88-year-old former police sergeant from Hyde, died at his home on November 22, 1995 Charles Henry Barlow, an 88-year-old former police sergeant from Hyde, died at his home on November 22, 1995, only minutes after a visit from Shipman. The Shipman Inquiry concluded Mr Barlow was unlawfully killed. Mr Hill, who lives in Stockport, about six miles from where Mr Barlow was killed, said: 'Charles was my mother's grandad. 'I was two at the time of his death, however I do remember the distress of my mother and her father Charles jr around the time of the inquiry, after years of uncertainty surrounding his death. 'It was more about the time of the inquiry that I was aware of it, I was seven going on eight at the time. 'I remember a lot of the stress and upset of the family having to go through it.' Tim Hill says he remembers the stress his family went through during the Shipman Inquiry Speaking about how he felt when he saw the DeadHappy advert, he said: 'I was bewildered that anyone would agree to sign it off everyone who must have sat around at a meeting table. 'There's no consideration for the families. I'm not a close relative - but there are thousands of us who are affected by this, it's not distant memory, it's still something people will remember.' The design engineer added: 'I find it utterly unconscionable for DeadHappy to use the image of Dr Shipman for crude jokes and cheap publicity. 'This is not the first time they have skirted the edges of sensibility for the sake of 'provoking conversation' as they call it. ''Dark humour' can have a place in society, but it should not be the abuse of tolerance for the sake of publicity. 'They purposefully issue this style of content with the intent of causing a backlash and promoting their business.' He added: 'As the majority of Shipman's victims were elderly, I should imagine there are now thousands of their relatives around my age, in DeadHappy's target audience, who could have been exposed to this advert.' Tim says he is the great-grandson of Charles Henry Barlow, who was killed by Shipman in 1995 Shipman killed Mr Barlow and reported the death to the Coroner, the Shipman Inquiry's third report said. The report explained: 'The Coroner relied on the pathologist's view that death was due to bronchopneumonia. If he had had the advantage of a witness statement from Mr Norman Newton, a neighbour and friend of Mr Barlow who saw him daily, he would have learned that Mr Barlow was sitting in his chair drinking a cup of coffee only two hours before his death. 'Provided that the Coroner had sufficient medical knowledge, he would then have realised that Mr Barlow's condition two hours before death was not consistent with a death from bronchopneumonia. He would also have learned that Mr Barlow's enlarged goitre had not, so far as anyone knew, changed for a long time. 'The cause of death suggested by the pathologist would then have seemed an unlikely one. The Coroner would have realised that an inquest was necessary. Further investigations would have been required and might have revealed the truth.' Many expressed shock after DeadHappy's advert appeared online, describing it as 'disgusting'. DeadHappy's founder apologised and said sometimes as a brand they may 'step over the line'. Kathryn Knowles, founder of insurance broker Cura, told the Telegraph she would report the 'absolutely disgusting' advert to the Financial Conduct Authority, as well as the advertising watchdog. She said people within the industry were 'absolutely appalled'. 'I just don't see how anyone in their right mind could have thought this was the right thing to do,' she said. She asked why the company would put relatives of Shipman's victims, some of who are still alive, through that. 'WOW. DeadHappy way to get people talking about your product. Shame it included a mass murdering Doctor,' one wrote on Facebook. Another tweeted: 'So- @DeadHappy you're really going with this ad, with the tagline 'life insurance to die for'? Many have hit out at the advert, saying there's a 'limit' to advertising and saying it's not funny 'Seriously? I'm all for adverts pushing boundaries, but there's a line. And you've gone way past it. And you know you have.' One shocked critic wrote: '@deadhappy what on EARTH were the marketing team thinking using this as your advert? You should be ashamed of yourself! Those poor families :(.' DeadHappy founder Andy Knott reportedly accepted the advert was 'provocative' but said the motivation was to raise awareness of the need for life insurance. 'It is our intention to make people stop and think. If however you have been personally distressed by this advert we do sincerely apologise,' he told the Telegraph. 'We do take risks with our brand and sometimes we may step over the line, whatever or wherever that line may be, and whoever chooses to draw it.' MailOnline reached out to DeadHappy for further comment about the advert. Shipman was found guilty of 15 murders in 2000 for killing patients under his care - but hundreds of victims are said to have died at the hands of the GP in Hyde, Greater Manchester in the 1990s. The Shipman Inquiry, a two-year-long investigation of all deaths certified by Shipman, identified at least 218 victims and estimated his total victim count could have been around 250, the MEN reports. As a GP, Shipman presented himself as a pillar of the community but in reality, he used his position as a doctor to murder hundreds of people over 20 years. He received 15 life sentences with no parole and was incarcerated at Durham Prison. Shipman was then moved to Wakefield Prison in June 2003. On January 13, 2004, he took his own life in his prison cell. The Advertising Standards Authority has also been approached for comment on the advert. The National Archives is considering requiring all living former presidents and vice presidents to search their personal records for classified documents after such materials were found at the residences of Joe Biden, Donald Trump and Mike Pence all within the last year. Two people familiar with discussions told The Washington Post that the National Archives, which is responsible for document preservation at the conclusion of a White House administration, wants to make sure that no classified materials are inadvertently outstanding. At least 25 to 30 classified documents were found at President Biden's home in Wilmington, Delaware and at his think tank in Washington, D.C. in the last few months. Additionally, records with classified markings were found at the home of former Vice President Mike Pence in Indiana this month. The National Archives is considering requiring searches of all former living presidents and vice presidents' materials to check for classified documents after they were found at the homes of Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Mike Pence It follows an unprecedented FBI raid on former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida in August, which resulted in the recovery of more than 100 classified documents. The list of remaining living past executives includes former presidents Barack Obama, 61; George W. Bush, 76; Bill Clinton, 76; and Jimmy Carter, 98; as well as vice presidents Dick Cheney, 81; Al Gore, 74; and Dan Quayle, 75. Biden's lawyers found classified papers at his home and in his garage in Delaware, as well as at the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement offices in D.C. The documents were handed over to the Archives. Pence's lawyer Greg Jacobs said the former vice president gave the FBI permission to collect such materials last week after a lawyer found a 'small number' of documents with classified markings in a search of his home. Recent discoveries of sensitive records at the personal residences and workplaces of Trump, Biden and Pence underscored the limitations of the Presidential Records Act, which requires document preservation from executive figures and the turning over of these materials once they leave office. Hundreds of documents with classified markings were recovered from Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence last year Lawyers for former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence recently found classified documents in his Indiana home The Archives takes ownership of millions of presidential papers from outgoing presidents the second their successor is sworn in. This especially includes classified materials, which are considered government property. All items deemed as 'personal' are able to go home with former presidents. Since there is such a massive volume of documents at the conclusion of a presidency, compliance can be hard to monitor and enforce. An adviser for Obama's post-presidential office assured the Post Tuesday that classified records from the former president's time in the White House have all been submitted to the National Archives already. Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed special counsel Jack Smith to oversee the investigation into Trump's mishandling of classified materials. Trump has repeatedly slammed the special counsel, accusing Smith earlier this week of 'viciously harassing and bullying everyone in sight' in a Truth Social post. Garland also appointed a special counsel to investigate Biden's handling of classified materials following his departure from the White House when he served as Obama's VP. The move to appoint the special counsel is widely approved by more than eight in 10 Americans, according to polling. Kenny Xu is the author of 'An Inconvenient Minority', the President of Color Us United and a board member of Students for Fair Admissions Make America Stupid Again. This is the mantra of America's progressive left. The latest nauseating case in point is an exploding academic scandal in Virginia that first reared its ugly head at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. The state-chartered magnet school is regularly ranked as America's top school for math and science. It has produced Nobel Laureates, nuclear scientists, chess grandmasters, you name it. Every smart math kid in the United States knows about TJ's excellence. But apparently, the woke administrators at TJ don't want their students to know the truth about themselves. High school bureaucrats at TJ and at least 16 other schools in Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties have admitted to withholding National Merit Commended Students awards from their kids. The awards are among the most prestigious honors high school students can receive and they look great on a college application. But these educators claim they simply 'forgot' to notify their kids. Virginia's governor and attorney general suspect something else far more sinister - is going on. Attorney General Jason Miyares launched a civil rights probe into TJ and then expanded it as the scandal grew. 'My office will investigate the entire Fairfax County Public Schools system to find out if any students were discriminated against and if their rights were violated,' he wrote. Governor Glenn Youngkin believes that the left's 'maniacal focus on equal outcomes for all students at all costs' is behind this. He is right. Every smart math kid in the United States knows about TJ's excellence. But apparently, the woke administrators at TJ don't want their students to know the truth about themselves. (Above) Parents of students at Thomas Jefferson High for Science and Technology protest over alleged withholding of merit awards America's left is obsessed with making everything equal regardless of merit and regardless of the harm it may cause to innocent people. The not-so-secret truth about TJ is that the student body is 70% Asian American. Their admissions process is generally merit-based, and children of recent Asian immigrants are filling its classrooms. Some of these kids take college-level math courses in middle school to prepare for TJ. This competition and the sheer willpower that many Asian kids bring to the table have helped make TJ a crown jewel in the United States. This is something the so-called anti-racist, progressive lift can't abide. How do I know? Because recent reporting shows that just across the county border in Arlington County and the City of Alexandria, where there are far fewer Asian students, merit awards went out on time. The stomach-churning truth is that the progressive left hates Asian academic dominance, especially at one of the finest schools in America, because that proves the country is not racist. Asian Americans are 'the inconvenient minority.' They are a minority that disproves the leftist 'rule' of a structurally oppressive, white-supremacist culture. The success of Asian Americans in education proves that cultures of excellence are the real ingredients of success in America, not race. This is devastating to the left's ideology of victimhood and helplessness. National data reveals that Asian American students study an average of 110 minutes a day; whites study an average of 55; black kids study an average of 35. Math and science expertise are mostly developed through study and concentration habits that Asian American family culture fosters through intolerance for laziness and an emphasis on after-school drilling. Unfortunately, 'hard work' is foreign phrase for America's progressive Left. Atif Qarni, the Secretary of State of Fairfax County, said that Asian kids studying for the exam to get into TJ are comparable to those taking 'performance-enhancing drugs.' Yes, he compared studying for a test to cheating. America's left is obsessed with making everything equal regardless of merit and regardless of the harm it may cause to innocent people. Ibram X. Kendi, the author of the social justice text How to Be Antiracist, complains that testing is racist. He writes that 'the use of standardized tests to measure aptitude and intelligence is one of the most effective racist policies ever devised to degrade Black minds.' Kendi attempts to mask a cultural phenomenon in America: Asian American kids - on average - study more than non-Asian kids. For example, in 2014, The College Board, the U.S.'s largest standardized test maker, invited 1,075,000 American students to sign up for free test prep conducted by America's favorite test-prep guru, Salman Khan of Khan Academy. The kids who did at least 20 hours of Khan Academy test prep performed on average 110 points better on the SAT and this outcome was consistent for all demographic groups. The test was not racist. So why then do Black kids on average score below whites, who in turn score below Asians? The reason is because they simply did not study enough. The journalist, Paul Tough, found that 'Asian students spent almost twice as long on the [Khan Academy] site as either black or Latino students did.' But Tough interpreted this as a bad thing. Kenny Xu is the author of 'An Inconvenient Minority', the President of Color Us United and a board member of Students for Fair Admissions Tough dubbed Asian high performance a consequence of 'privilege' rather than the deserved fruit of their efforts. Of course, there are a multitude of factors that influence a student's ability to concentrate and study. These factors must be addressed by parents, educators, and policymakers to help every child achieve their potential. But it is wrong to attack Asian American achievement and denigrate the people who did the work. When framed this way, leftist solutions become irrelevant. Why give 'Black-majority schools' reparations money when the left doesn't recognize that study is the key to high achievement? Why install 'diversity, equity, and inclusion' training when inequitable outcomes are not about racism but culture? The left's response to Asian American achievement is not to hold them up as exemplars and reward them, but to scorn them. Leftists are zealous to defend their racism narrative with everything they got even if it comes at the cost of 'Making America Stupid Again.' Sadly, Asian-American kids don't receive any benefit from the left's supposed fight for 'racial equity.' Rather, they only receive its heel. A Holocaust survivor was scammed out of his $2.8million life savings by a woman he met on a dating app, federal prosecutors have charged. The con was allegedly carried out over the course of several years by 36-year-old Peaches 'Alice' Stergo, and eventually left the unnamed 87-year-old victim so destitute, he was forced to leave his Manhattan apartment. Meanwhile, feds wrote in an indictment filed Wednesday, Stergo lived like a queen, snapping up a $300,000 home in a posh private community in Florida, as well as Rolex watches, a boat, two cars, and several other luxury items, thanks to 62 checks loaned out by the unsuspecting senior. Stergo, who went by the alias 'Alice' when messaging her elderly mark, was arrested by federal agents on Friday, apprehended in her home state on charges of wire fraud. Facing up to 20 years in a federal prison if convicted, she will now be transferred to New York to face those charges, officials with the Justice Department said Thursday. The con was allegedly carried out over the course of several years by 36-year-old Peaches ' Stergo, and left the 87-year-old victim so impoverished, he had to leave his Manhattan home Meanwhile, feds wrote in an indictment filed Wednesday, Stergo lived like a queen, snapping up this $300,000 home in a posh private community in Florida, as well as Rolex watches, a boat, two cars (not pictured), and several other luxury items Michael J. Driscoll, assistant director of the FBIs New York field office, announced the charges Wednesday, saying that the suspect 'callously preyed on a senior citizen simply seeking companionship, defrauding him of his life savings' in the process. The indictment elaborated on the Stergo's alleged schemes, which prosecutors said began in 2017 when she told the victim that she needed a loan to pay off a lawyer so that she could collect a settlement she said she was due after a car accident. To start, officials said Stergo only asked for $25,000 - but the amount quickly burgeoned as the federal fraud suspect continue to request money, alleging the funds were still held up. When the man got suspicious, feds said the woman allegedly falsified documents and emails from a bank to convince him she was telling the truth, going as far as to impersonate a bank employee and create a fake email to reassure he would get paid. The lies allegedly lasted five years, before the man confided in his son that he had given away all he had, after being forced to move out of his apartment in New York City. Read the indictment here: The man's son would then reach out to authorities to tell them his father - who officials only identified as an '87-year-old Holocaust survivor' - had been scammed. That event, prosecutors wrote, transpired in October 2021 - by which point the victim had already sent out 62 checks to Stergo amounting to $2.8million. The checks were all deposited into accounts belonging to Stergo, according to the indictment, and helped her live high on the hog, going on luxury trips and purchasing the new condo - set in a private bayside community all while the senior fell into poverty waiting to be repaid. Federal prosecutors detailed the extent of Stergo's alleged crimes in eight-page indictment, citing how she used the funds to buy not only a home, but 'numerous cars,' including a Chevy Corvette and Suburban, both of which cost around $60,000 brand new. Feds detailed the extent of Stergo's alleged crimes in eight-page indictment, citing how she used the funds to buy not only a home, but 'numerous cars,' including a Chevy Corvette (seen in a stock image at left) and Suburban (right), both of which cost around $60,000 brand new Prosecutors said the suspect bought several Rolex watches and other luxury items with the money, which she received on almost monthly basis - often in increments of $50,000 'She has lived a life of luxury with the millions she received from the fraud: she bought a home in a gated community, a condominium, a boat, and numerous cars, including a Corvette and a Suburban,' the indictment read. It further revealed that during the course of the fraud, Stergo took several trips while 'staying at places like the Ritz Carlton, and spent many tens of thousands of dollars on expensive meals, gold coins and bars, jewelry, Rolex watches, and designer clothing.' Prosecutors cited that the items the defendant had bought came from stores such as 'Tiffany, Ralph Lauren, Neiman Marcus, Louis Vuitton, and Hermes,' noting their cost. Stergo was allegedly able to keep the masquerade going for nearly five years, during which she received almost monthly checks - often in increments of $50,000. The gated community where the suspect lives features amenities like Golf Courses, restaurants, and a personal spa for residents To accomplish this, the Florida woman allegedly impersonated a bank employee, and sent fake invoices to the victim, feds said, adding that the pair had become acquainted on an unnamed dating platform around 'six or seven years ago.' Only when the senior's son told him that he had been scammed, prosecutors said, he ceased writing checks. Stergos, who purchased her home in Champions Gate in 2020, is currently being held in Florida, where she is expected to appear before a federal court prior to being transferred and arraigned in New York to face the fraud charge. The gated community in which she now resides features amenities like Golf Courses, restaurants, and a personal spa for residents. A lawyer for the suspect was not listed in Wednesday's filing. Alex Murdaugh sobbed as his hysterical 911 call from the night of the double murders of his wife and son was played in court Thursday. The disgraced attorney, 54, is accused of shooting his wife, Maggie, 52, and younger son Paul, 22, at their sprawling hunting lodge to gain sympathy and distract attention away from his damning financial crimes. Murdaugh bowed his head forward, weeping as jurors heard his 911 call on the night of June 7, 2021, describing how Paul was 'bleeding out of his brain' and he could see a hole in Maggie's head. Fire chief Barry McRoy told the court that when he arrived Paul's 'brains were down by his ankles' and that he checked neither victim because 'both had injuries that were incompatible with life.' Police officer Capt. Jason Chapman said he found Paul lying facedown, his hands under his body and a smartphone propped on his back. His clothes were saturated in blood and water - Chapman said it was not clear where the water came from. It hadn't rained yet. Murdaugh earlier told 911 he had checked his wife and son's pulses - but Chapman noted there was no blood on his shirt or hands. He described Murdaugh as upset but said he was not crying, corroborating earlier deputies' testimony. Scroll down for live video. Alex Murdaugh cries as the murder of his wife and son is described by Colleton County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Daniel Greene Fire chief Barry McRoy (left) told jurors that when he arrived Paul's 'brains were down by his ankles' and that he checked neither victim because 'both had injuries that were incompatible with life.' Police officer Capt. Jason Chapman (right) said he found Paul lying facedown, his hands under his body and a smartphone propped on his back. His clothes were saturated in blood and water - Chapman said it was not clear where the water came from. It hadn't rained yet Buster, Maggie, Paul and Alex Murdaugh in a photo posted by Maggie online for Father's Day in 2020 Chapman told jurors that Murdaugh appeared to fixate more on Paul's body than Maggie's while he was observing him at the scene. The police captain was asked by the prosecutor about whether there was anything in Murdaugh's 911 call that stood out. The officer said 'it struck me as odd' when the defendant hung up and told the dispatcher he needed to call his family. In a stunning day of courtroom drama on day four of the Murdaugh double murder trial, it was revealed: Murdaugh sobbed and jurors covered their mouths as gruesome body cam footage was played showing the 'butchered' bodies The first cop on the scene saw Maggie and Paul Murdaugh lying in blood and brain matter, as well as significant volumes of water despite little rain Murdaugh's first statement to cops was about his son's boating accident The defendant had no blood on him - nor was he crying The alleged killer casually greeted one officer, saying: 'How ya doin?' Murdaugh's attorney ripped cops for failing to preserve the crime scene, telling one: 'You don't know what you're doing' One cop admitted failing to point out tracks and footprints, as it wasn't his job Police initially believed Paul may have killed his mother before shooting himself Law enforcement found a shotgun and shells, but no rifle - despite the crime scene being littered with high-caliber .300 Blackout rounds Murdaugh's attorney Dick Harpootlian grilled McRoy about tire tracks the fire chief said he spotted nearby. McRoy said he mentioned the tracks to one of the deputies but it did not appear they were taped off despite other vehicles arriving. Harpootlian earlier ripped Sgt. Daniel Greene for not taking photos of tire tracks or footprints, and not putting anything on his feet to preserve blood and brains spattered on the ground. The defense theory is that somebody else killed Murdaugh's wife and son in revenge for a boat crash during which Paul had been driving under the influence, killing a 19-year-old woman, in February 2019. Murdaugh claimed that he had been visiting his mother who suffers from Alzheimer's and arrived home to find Maggie and Paul dead near the estate's dog kennels. But prosecutors say cell phone pings will show Murdaugh was at the property when the pair were killed. In a horrifying 911 call, Murdaugh told the dispatcher through sobs: 'I can tell [Paul's] shot in the head and he's shot really bad ... He's got blood everywhere. I can see his brains.' He went on to describe how his wife was lying down nearby, telling the dispatcher 'she's got a hole in her head.' Murdaugh told the dispatcher his son 'has been being threatened for months and months and months'. Earlier the first police officer on the scene, Greene, told jurors he could not see any blood on Murdaugh and although he appeared upset, he did not see any tears either. Murdaugh sounded lucid as the officer questioned him and is even heard casually greeting an officer arriving on the scene, saying: 'How ya doin?' Greene, who said he saw multiple tire tracks incompatible with the number of vehicles at the hunting lodge, admitted that he did not photograph the tracks or footprints at the scene. He said he did not inform SLED (state law enforcement) about the evidence because it was 'not part of my job description'. The officer earlier showed jurors a shotgun Murdaugh was holding when he arrived - he secured the weapon in his patrol car because the defendant appeared 'upset and anxious'. Greene said that as he approached Murdaugh his 'immediate reaction was to start telling me about his son - about a boating accident'. At the time of his death, Paul was facing trial for the drunken boat crash which killed Mallory Beach. The prosecution's first witness Sgt. Daniel Greene shows the shotgun that he found Murdaugh holding at the scene which he took into his vehicle as Murdaugh appeared 'upset and anxious' Murdaugh claimed he had been visiting his elderly mother who suffers from Alzheimer's and arrived home to find Maggie and Paul dead near the estate's dog kennels During cross examination, Harpootlian attempted to skewer Greene about why he did not make a record or notify investigators of footprints and tire tracks in the wet grass. 'If you are standing in the spot and there was evidence there and tire tracks that evidence could help incriminate somebody or exculpate somebody. That is why you do not do these things, correct?' Harpootlian asked. Greene replied: 'That's why you do not contaminate the evidence, correct.' 'He [Murdaugh] talked about the tire tracks coming and going, and he told you those weren't his tire tracks correct,' Harpootlian said. Greene confirmed the defendant did say that. The officer said the extent of his job was to put up yellow tape to ensure no outsiders disturbed the scene. Despite his failure to preserve evidence, Greene told the attorney he was 'not aware' of any evidence being destroyed or contaminated. Cpl. Chad McDowell, of the Colleton County Sheriff's Office, was the second witness to the stand. Prosecutors shared his body camera footage, showing that he was the person whom Murdaugh greeted when he arrived on the scene. But McDowell said he had never met Murdaugh before. McDowell testified that he was careful not to step on any evidence as he assisted other officers in covering the bodies. He said he turned on his light in an effort to ensure he knew where he was treading and was 'careful' to avoid any shell casings or footprints. If he had noticed any evidence where he was walking, McDowell said, he would have 'stopped and notified detectives'. Under cross-examination, Harpootlian went after McDowell as he did with Greene, suggesting that he could have easily disrupted the crime scene. McDowell admitted he was not wearing plastic covering his feet, and acknowledged there may have been microscopic evidence he could not identify with his naked eye and a flash light. Harpootlian ripped the officer, saying: 'You don't know what you're doing.' Cpl. Chad McDowell, of the Colleton County Sheriff's Office, was the second witness to the stand. Under cross-examination, Harpootlian went after McDowell as he did with Greene, suggesting that he could have easily disrupted the crime scene. Harpootlian ripped the officer, saying: 'You don't know what you're doing.' A shed near the dog kennels at Moselle Hunting Lodge where Maggie and Paul Murdaugh were gunned down Greene had previously stated that when he arrived he could see Murdaugh at the end of the driveway. He had sped over in his patrol car after Murdaugh called 911. 'As I was approaching towards [Murdaugh] I could see the male lying on the ground to my left, and the female victim to my right. 'There was a large deal of blood that had pooled around his body, same for the female victim, also a lot of blood pooled around the body.' Greene added that there was 'a large amount of blood, as well as brain matter.' The cop said there was also what appeared to be a large volume of water around the bodies, despite the fact it was not raining when he arrived. The officer said he secured the shotgun, a Benelli Super Black Eagle 12-gauge, that Murdaugh was holding - taking it to his vehicle. He noted that shotgun shells were strewn across the driveway. The gun was later given to investigators and Greene stated he did not unload or modify the weapon before turning it over. He said he also noticed a number of tire tracks in the wet grass, more than could be explained by the vehicles at the scene. Murdaugh says he only came in and out of the property in a single vehicle. Greene said he lifted Paul's body as he continued to investigate the scene. Officers were working to rule out the possibility that Paul shot his mother before killing himself. Greene said he noticed there were rifle rounds, .300 blackout cases, surrounding Maggie's body, but did not appear to be many around Paul's body. In the footage a deputy can be heard remarking that there could not be a gun under Paul's body 'unless it's the shortest .300 Blackout that's ever been made.' The prosecution's case is that Murdaugh shot his son first with a shotgun before shooting Maggie with the AR-15-style rifle. The rifle has never been found. Buster Murdaugh, Alex's sole surviving son, listens to the harrowing evidence Thursday Murdaugh bowed his head forward as the body-worn footage was played, bobbing back and forth and biting his lip. In the video, Murdaugh is heard telling the cop he had been visiting his mother with late stage Alzheimer's. He said Maggie and Paul had been at the kennels when he left, but they were not back home when he came back. He said Maggie was not answering her phone and that when he arrived at the kennels to check on them he found their bodies. At one point Murdaugh is heard asking the cop whether he had checked his wife and son. 'Did you check them?' Murdaugh says. The cop replies, telling him that paramedics are on their way. 'What are they doing? Can they hurry?' Murdaugh asks. Speaking to the prosecutor, Greene said any reasonable person would have assumed the victims were dead at the scene. The body cam picked up Murdaugh calling his brother Randy on the phone, telling them Maggie and Paul are both dead. Then an officer walks by and Murdaugh pauses to greet him, saying: 'How ya' doin?' In the recording Murdaugh earlier told Greene: '[Paul's] been getting threats most of it's been benign stuff - we didn't take serious. 'He's been getting punched. I know that's what it is about.' Greene told the court that he had not asked Murdaugh about any boating accident. Murdaugh is seen being let out of the steel cage inside a black prison van by sheriffs in Walterboro Thursday morning Buster Murdaugh, Alex's sole surviving son, arrived at court Thursday with his girlfriend Brooklynn White. He could testify against his father later in the trial Murdaugh arrived at court Thursday wearing a white shirt and with his blazer draped over his wrists - concealing the handcuffs binding them - as sheriffs escorted him inside. Murdaugh smiled as he arrived at court Thursday wearing a white shirt and with his blazer draped over his wrists - concealing the handcuffs binding them - as sheriffs escorted him inside. Prosecutor Creighton Waters Wednesday told jurors the body-worn footage and recordings of Murdaugh from the night will play a key role in the trial. 'Watch those closely. Watch his expressions. Listen to what he's saying and what he's not saying,' the prosecutor said. Murdaugh wept during Wednesday's opening as jurors heard how he first blasted Paul with buckshot before picking up an AR-15-style rifle to shoot his wife Maggie twice in the head. The defendant's own attorney seized on the evidence of the brutality of these 'executions' to claim it was simply 'not believable' his client carried them out. The defense theory is that somebody else killed Murdaugh's wife and son in revenge for a boat crash (the Murdaugh boat Sea Hunt is pictured) during which Paul had been driving under the influence, killing a 19-year-old woman, in February 2019 Bottles and cans of beer found aboard the boat which Paul Murdaugh was driving under the influence Murdaugh's only surviving son Buster, 25 - who is set to testify in the court case - sat behind him as the horrifying evidence was laid out, staring into his back. Buster arrived at court Thursday with his girlfriend Brooklynn White, followed by Alex's brother John Marvin who is also expected to testify. Murdaugh allegedly called Marvin the night of the murders, and used that call as part of his alibi. Murdaugh's attorneys are yet to submit an alibi to jury, but in November they filed papers with the court claiming he was visiting his elderly mother at the time of the murders. His Alzheimer's-stricken mother, 83, is now reportedly on her deathbed and is not on either side's witness list. Buster arrived at court Thursday with his girlfriend Brooklynn White Buster Murdaugh and his girlfriend arrive in court this morning @Live5News pic.twitter.com/xPl8WeSJHi Blair Sabol-Live 5 News (@BlairSabolTV) January 26, 2023 Alexs brother John Marvin is also here today @Live5News pic.twitter.com/9nvHdMXVfx Blair Sabol-Live 5 News (@BlairSabolTV) January 26, 2023 9:00 am Alex Murdaugh returns to court, greets the deputies escorting him but does not respond to questions about seeing his son yesterday. @Live5News #Live5Murdaugh pic.twitter.com/f0hWZxAjEZ Blair Sabol-Live 5 News (@BlairSabolTV) January 26, 2023 The trial is taking place at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, a sleepy, rural town 50 miles west of Charleston in a low-lying region of South Carolina over which the Murdaugh family has wielded immense judicial and political power. Indeed, in the courtroom where Murdaugh faces judgment a portrait of his late grandfather - legendary longtime 14th Circuit Solicitor Buster Murdaugh Jr. - had hung on the wall before it was removed ahead of the trial. Prosecutor Waters described how Murdaugh shot Paul in the feed room of their hunting property at around 8.50pm - first with buckshot in the chest and shoulder, then a second shot to head, causing catastrophic damage. He said moments later Murdaugh picked up an AR-15 style rifle loaded with with .300 Blackout ammunition, shot his wife Maggie twice in the lower body, then twice in the head, killing her. Waters added that the victims never saw it coming. 'They were shot at close range and they did not have defensive wounds,' Waters told jurors. Murdaugh claims he was not there and at the family's dog kennels when the murders happened. But Waters said data from 'cell phones are going to show otherwise.' The prosecutor stressed that phone records will be critical in the case and the jury will hear that the Murdaughs were 'prolific' cell phone users. Waters added that bodycam footage and audio records of statements from the night of the murders will play a key role in the trial. Waters said Maggie was killed by a 'family weapon'. He cited evidence from a ballistics expert who said .300 Blackout casings found throughout the property have matching tool mark patterns. The prosecutor said that a Blackout rifle owned by the family has never been located. Alex Murdaugh's brother John Marvin Murdaugh (left) and his wife Liz Murdaugh, and Alex's son Buster Murdaugh (right) with his girlfriend Brooklynn White on Wednesday Murdaugh with his wife Maggie and sons Paul (left) and Buster THE KILLINGS AND EVIDENCE Murdaugh, 54, told police he found Maggie, 52, and their son, Paul, 22, dead outside their Colleton County home on June 7, 2021. He said he'd been gone for an hour to visit his ailing father and mother. Authorities released little information about the killings beyond saying that Maggie Murdaugh was killed with a rifle and Paul Murdaugh with a shotgun. Prosecutors have not detailed direct evidence linking Murdaugh to the deaths. So far, they have filed no confession or witness statements about the killings with the court and there is no evidence that either gun has been found. Video from Paul Murdaugh's phone timestamped not long before the killings shows the three talking without indication of anger. Alex Murdaugh's lawyers said he has never denied being at his home. There is DNA from the victims on Alex Murdaugh's shirt, but his defense said that came from checking for signs of life when he found their bodies. The defense and prosecution are fighting over whether to allow an expert to testify that the blood splattered onto Murdaughs shirt when his son was shot. Defense lawyers contend the expert testing the shirt is lying and destroyed it before the defense could conduct its own tests. Prosecutors are expected to rely heavily on evidence of Murdaugh's financial problems, which they said led him to kill to garner sympathy and buy time as he covered up his theft of clients' settlement money and other crimes. Murdaugh's attorneys contend it is absurd to say Murdaugh would have thought his wife and son dying violently would reduce scrutiny into his finances. Advertisement Waters added that a raincoat with gunshot residue was found at Murdaugh's mother's home following the killings. He also said the residue was discovered on the seat belt of his car. Waters concluded the opening by telling jurors they were assessing a complicated case and there would be a long trial ahead, but that once the 'puzzle pieces' start coming together - the 'building storm' will lead them to the inescapable conclusion that Murdaugh killed his wife and son. '(Alex) was the storm, the storm was coming for them, just like the storms are coming here right now, and the storm arrived on June 7, 2021. They died as a result,' the prosecutor said. In his defense, Harpootlian said that Murdaugh's son Paul was the 'apple of his eye' and dismissed the prosecutor's claims as conjecture. He described a Snapchat video taken by Paul an hour before the killings showing the father and son. 'They're laughing, they're having a good time,' Harpootlian said. Harpootlian said the shot that hit Paul in chest also struck his arm, indicating that he may have been holding his arms up when he was killed. Harpootlian said that prosecutors were merely speculating when they said there were no defensive wounds. He described how 'the gasses from that [second] shot literally exploded his head, like a watermelon hit with a sledgehammer.' 'All that was left was the front of his face, everything else was gone. His brain exploded out of his head. It hit the ceiling in the shed and dropped to his feet. Horrific. Horrible. Butchering,' Harpootlian said. 'So to find Alex Murdaugh guilty of murdering his son you have to accept that within an hour of having an extraordinarily bonding... you can see it in the Snapchat - that he executes him in a brutal fashion. Not believable.' He then went on to describe how there were no defensive wounds on Maggie because she was shot while running away - contrary to the prosecutor's claims she was caught unawares when she was killed. 'Who was Maggie running from?', Harpootlian asked. The defense lawyer said his client was hysterical and inconsolable when he called 911 after finding Maggie and Paul. Harpootlian said Murdaugh was so 'traumatized' after finding the pair that he loaded wrong-sized shells into a shotgun while fearing their killer was still 'out there.' He argued it was implausible that Murdaugh used two weapons to kill Maggie and Paul, saying it as much more likely the murders were carried out by two people. Harpootlian also questioned why no bloody clothes had been found, giving the gruesome way and close-range nature of the shootings. 'Where are the bloody clothes?' he asked. Harpootlian concluded: 'He didn't do it.' Alex Murdaugh pictured with his wife Maggie and their two sons Paul (left) and Buster Murdaugh, right, pleaded not guilty to the murders of Maggie, second from left, and Paul, second from right, in June but now his surviving son, Buster, left, could testify against him POWERFUL FAMILY The Murdaugh name is well-known in judicial circles in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Alex Murdaugh worked for the family law firm that had been in business in tiny neighboring Hampton County for a century, winning a number of multimillion-dollar settlements for fatal accidents and workplace injuries. Murdaughs father, grandfather and great-grandfather were the elected prosecutors for 87 years straight in Colleton, Hampton and three other counties. Typically, a portrait of Murdaugh's father hangs in the Colleton County Courthouse. Judge Clifton Newman ruled that it be removed for his son's trial. Advertisement Murdaugh is being tried by a jury of four white men, six white women and two black women. Deciding against the death penalty, state prosecutors are seeking a sentence of life in prison without parole. Prosecutors have said Murdaugh killed his wife and child to generate sympathy and distract from his financial crimes, an alleged motive that Murdaugh's lawyers have argued doesn't make sense. But he has adamantly insisted from the moment he found the bodies of his wife and youngest son shot multiple times that he was not the killer. Following the murder trial, Murdaugh will have to face more than 100 additional criminal charges, ranging from drug trafficking to allegations that he stole nearly $9 million from clients and other attorneys. Prosecutors say Murdaugh lured his wife and son to their 1,700-acre hunting lodge and shot them dead. The court also claims that his life was spiraling out of control amid years of opioid addiction and ballooning debts. Murdaugh pleaded not guilty in June, and the blockbuster trial is expected to include wild allegations of dark family secrets, financial ruin and hedonistic excess. In total, over 220 people could testify against Murdaugh in the trial, it was revealed Tuesday. Good Morning Britain presenter Neil Phillips has said the 17-year-old who robbed and spat on him and called him the N-word should have been sent to jail. Mr Phillips, GMB's North America correspondent, was assaulted in Euston, central London in early September last year by the teenager, who also stole his necklace. The juvenile was arrested after Mr Phillips chased and caught him with the help of two police officers. He appeared before magistrates and received a rehabilitation order. But Mr Phillips has said the criminal should be 'sent to prison' to understand the 'severity of his crimes'. Good Morning Britain presenter Neil Phillips has said the 17-year-old who robbed and spat on him and called him the N-word should have been sent to jail Mr Phillips, GMB's North America correspondent, was assaulted in Euston, central London in early September last year by the teenager, who also stole his necklace. Above: The photo Mr Phillips posted on Twitter of the teenager's arrest Mr Phillips took to Twitter to post a photo of his attacker being detained by police last year. He told his fans: 'I was mugged, racially assaulted, and spat on yesterday on a busy street in central London. I'm ok. Just shaken.' The presenter then thanked officers Sergeant Clark and PC Busson for helping to 'catch and detain' him. Speaking of the ordeal in the Mirror this week, he said: 'He was trying to pull my bag and everything around my neck. My T-shirt was ripped. 'But he managed to take off with a necklace and then that's when I realised having frozen for a couple of seconds, and then gave chase.' The star said he chased the robber through back streets until officers who were sitting in a van nearby saw and helped to apprehend him. Mr Phillips is seen with fellow GMB stars Richard Madeley and Charlotte Hawkins He was initially keen not to press any charges and told the teenager that if he gave him back his necklace, he would not pursue him further. The lout then spat at Mr Phillips' face and used the N-word. Mr Phillips got his necklace back after two-hour search, and the teenager was arrested for robbery and racially aggravated assault. The presenter said the attack turned his life 'upside down'. He said the fact that the youth used a racial slur demonstrates that there are 'still issues' with racism in Britain. Mr Phillips initially grappled with pressing charges but then decided to because of the fact he was spat at and racially abused. The criminal's punishment, handed down by a judge earlier this month, requires him to participate in a victim awareness and restorative justice project for 15 days. Mr Phillips added: 'I think by being held to account, it will show that the system does work however, I think we need more robust and tougher penalties holding people to account that think it's okay to demonise and to subject people to hate because it's a colour of their skin. I think it's unacceptable.' His attacker has asked to meet with him but the presenter has yet to decide whether or not to agree. A heartbroken Oklahoma community has gathered to mourn the loss of four-year-old Athena Brownfield, who was allegedly murdered on Christmas Day. Mourners at her funeral on Wednesday afternoon were seen wearing purple ribbons in tribute to her favorite color. Teddy bears and heart-wrenching notes were placed on the stage at the moving service. Family members spoke of the little girl's affection for her sister, who were so close they were 'joined at the hip.' Athena Brownfield, 4, was allegedly murdered on Christmas Day before her body was discovered following a desperate week-long search People from across Oklahoma gathered for Athena's funeral on Wednesday to pay their respects Athena was first reported missing on January 10 after a mail carrier found her five-year-old sister wandering alone outside in Cyril, Oklahoma. The postal worker called police, which prompted a desperate week-long search for Athena. Athena's two caregivers, Ivon and Alysia Adams, were arrested amid the search for the four-year-old. Alysia, 31, told investigators that her husband Ivon, 36, beat Athena to death on Christmas Day before burying her body near a property in Rush Springs. Athena's funeral was officiated by State Senator Roger Thompson, who spoke of her love for her sister and the heartbreaking impact her short life has had on those in the Cyril community. 'People from all walks of life immediately left everything they were doing to find this little lost girl,' he said. 'I didn't know her name a month ago, but this little girl has impacted my life. 'I want this girl to feel like she was loved, and that Oklahoma loves a little precious girl that many of us never met.' Ivon and Alysia's arrest lead to a multi-agency search by volunteers and law enforcement to find the four-year-old's body. Ivon and Alysia Adams, pictured, were arrested amid the desperate search for Athena's body, which was discovered on January 17 Teddy bears and notes were placed outside the youngster's home as a search was carried out for Athena earlier this month The massive search included helicopters, boats, all-terrain vehicles and a specially trained ground team. Athena's remains were tragically discovered on January 17, more than three weeks after she was allegedly killed. Alysia, who is related to Athena and her sister, admitted to investigators that the little girl died about about midnight on Christmas Day, according to KSWO. She said her estranged husband Ivon killed Athena after he began holding her in the air by just her arms, before beating her unconscious. Alysia said he then laid the child on the ground and struck her at least three more times. She told investigators Ivon then left the house on West Nebraska Avenue and drove away with the child's body. When he returned, he allegedly told Alysia he buried her near their old house in Rush Springs. The two caregivers were arrested amid the search for Athena, with Alysia Adams, left, admitting to investigators that her estranged husband Ivon, right, beat the four-year-old to death on Christmas Day A desperate search was carried out by volunteers and multiple law enforcement agencies to find the murdered four-year-old Phone records reportedly showed Ivon leaving the home and traveling to the area at about 4:15 a.m. Athena's remains are believed to have been found where Alysia said they'd been buried. Ivon was arrested in Arizona before being extradited back to Oklahoma, where he faces charges of first-degree murder and child neglect. Alysia was also arrested amid the search for Athena, and she faces two counts of child neglect. The search for Athena included helicopters, boats, all-terrain vehicles and a specially trained ground team Court documents also revealed that Athena and her sister had been living with the couple for up to two years, but they never took the girls to the doctor for checkups and never enrolled them in school. When Athena's sister was interviewed by authorities last week, she had told them she had been abandoned at home by herself and was 'tired of being alone.' The sisters' biological parents - who have not been named - have been interviewed by authorities and are cooperating with the investigation, the OSBI said. Athena's sister has been taken into protective custody. Officials revealed to 7News that Ivon and Alysia are both being held in solitary confinement in custody for their own safety, but rumors indicating they were injured in jail are believed to be false. A gag order has gone into effect for the upcoming trials of the two caregivers. All parties involved with the case, including attorneys and law enforcement agencies, are prohibited from releasing public comments or revealing information regarding the case prior to trial. A Kremlin official has warned that Russia will consider the use of any depleted uranium weapons in their new NATO tanks as nuclear 'dirty bombs'. The West finally agreed to arm Kyiv with dozens of state-of-the art tanks yesterday, modernising the attritional warfare seen on the battlefield in the past 11 months. Konstantin Gavrilov, head of Russia's delegation on the OSCE forum on security cooperation, claimed that Ukraine could arm their German-supplied Leopard 2 tanks with 'uranium core armour-piercing' shells. The ammunition known as the 'Silver Bullet', which was used by the US in the Gulf War and during Allied bombing in Kosovo and Yugoslavia, uses dense depleted uranium or spent uranium fuel to penetrate the thick steel of enemy tanks. A Leopard 2 main battle tank fires during exercises in Germany. Russia claims the tanks could be armed with uranium-core shells Depleted uranium is less radioactive than the isotopes used in nuclear bombs, but months after the end of Operation Allied Force in Yugoslavia, Italian soldiers were diagnosed with leukaemia linked to the Silver Bullet. On hitting a tank or bunker, they disintegrate, with up to 40 per cent of the uranium, which is still radioactive, turning into fine powder. The weaponry is largely discontinued and there is no evidence the Leopard 2 tanks are armed with the dangerous shells. But that has not stopped Russia alleging the West is planning to deploy them on the battlefield against Putin's troops. Gavrilov said: 'We warn Western sponsors of the Kyiv military machine from encouraging nuclear provocations and blackmail. 'We know that the Leopard 2 tank, as well as the Bradley and Marder infantry fighting vehicles, are armed with uranium-core armor-piercing projectiles, the use of which leads to contamination of the area, as happened in Yugoslavia and Iraq. 'If Kyiv is supplied with such shells for NATO heavy military equipment, we will consider this as the use of dirty nuclear bombs against Russia with all the ensuing consequences.' Vladimir Putin meets with Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar and President of the Federation of Jewish Communities Alexander Boroda at the Kremlin today A crater of an explosion is seen next to a destroyed house after a Russian rocket attack in Hlevakha today Russia has throughout the war accused the West and Ukraine of colluding to use nuclear weapons against Kremlin forces, without evidence. They claimed last year that Ukraine was preparing a 'dirty bomb' which disperses radioactive material upon explosion. The comments are the latest in Russia's sabre-rattling threats following the 'game-changer' decision to supply Ukraine with the tanks. Gavrilov said Germany was 'simply forced' by the US and NATO to give its tanks under the threat of international isolation after chancellor Olaf Scholz finally relented. The Kremlin claims the West is now 'directly involved' in the Ukraine war and Russia has already hit back with a barrage of missile strikes in Ukraine. The US and Germany finally agreed to give in to Volodymyr Zelensky's demands and send 31 M1 Abrams tanks, 14 Leopard 2 tanks, and give allies permission to send their own supply. Today, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: 'European capitals and Washington constantly give statements that sending various types of weapons, including tanks, in no way means their involvement in hostilities. We strongly disagree with this. In Moscow, this is perceived as direct involvement in the conflict and we see that this is growing.' Putin is also furiously retaliating by raining missiles down on Ukraine as an air raid was issued over the whole country in the early hours of this morning. Defending forces said they shot down all 24 drones fired from Moscow including 15 around Kyiv, with no reports of any damage so far, as civilians sheltered in subway stations amid the blitz. A missile flies over Kyiv this morning as Vladimir Putin retaliated against the West for its tanks deal 'The first Russian missiles have been shot down,' Andriy Yermak, head of Zelensky's office said. Russia has targeted critical infrastructure with missile and drone strikes since October, causing sweeping blackouts and other outages during the bitter winter. Despite the generous Western package, there are fears that Ukraine won't be able to actually use the tanks on the front line for months, potentially after Russia's anticipated spring offensive. The promised M1 Abrams tanks from the US are not even in supply at the moment and will take months to arrive before training can even commence, senior officials have said. An air raid alert was issued over the whole of Ukraine early this morning as defence units shot down a stream of incoming missiles Defending forces said they shot down all 24 drones fired from Moscow including 15 around Kyiv, with no reports of any damage so far People gather in a subway station being used as a bomb shelter during a rocket attack in Kyiv today Ukrainian civilians wait in subway stations underground while Russia pounded Kyiv with missiles Putin has wasted no time in punishing Ukraine by blasting missiles overnight, after a period of relative calm Fighting has re-intensified in Bakhmut after the tank deal ramped up the war following a period of relative calm The modern tanks need to be procured, then the US will begin a 'comprehensive training programme' for Ukrainian soldiers, which will also need spare parts and will require significant maintenance once deployed. Germany and European Leopard 2 tanks will likely arrive sooner but will still require training as Kyiv forces have become accustomed to their Soviet-era tanks used so far in the war. Germany's tanks would probably be ready in three or four months, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said. The fact that Leopard 2, M1 Abrams and Challenger tanks will all be arriving in the coming months, each needing separate parts and training, will complicate matters for Ukraine. Brad Martin, director of the RAND Institute for Supply Chain Security, told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme: 'Unfortunately, it does mean that each of these capabilities is going to need their own supply chains because they are different, their parts are different, the maintenance requirements are different. 'I don't know that it's such a large challenge that it can't be met but all things being equal it would be better to have common systems but they're working with what they have. 'The United States has a number of Abrams tanks and some of them would have to be refurbished in order to be exported... it's certainly true that they're not sitting there ready to go, work will have to be done to get any of them ready to be deployed. Germany will initially send 14 Leopard 2s to Ukraine, and aims to provide 80 tanks overall The US is sending dozens of M1A2 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in the coming weeks to help with their war-effort A Ukrainian soldier is seen on his way to frontlines with their armoured military vehicles as strikes continue This is what you're up against now, Putin: How America's Abrams, Germany's Leopard 2 and Britain's Challenger compare to Russia's outdated T-72 tanks as they are sent to help defend Ukraine - Click HERE to read more Germany's 55-ton Leopard 2 tank combines aspects of firepower, protection, speed and maneuverability - making it adaptable to many types of combat situations Advertisement 'A lot of this is rather complicated sophisticated stuff and it takes time to learn how to deal with this, training is going to be a very big issue. 'Supply chains and the acquiring of spare parts take time, and those two things together will be a challenge.' Western countries have made 'no clear indication' of how many tanks will be given to Ukraine, an advisor to the country's defence minister has said. Yuriy Sak told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: 'We need 300 to 400 tanks for this to be a game changer. 'This tank coalition consisting of different countries, we have no clear indication of how many tanks each country will provide. We have communicated to our partners that this is the number that we need. 'If you want missile terror to stop you need to receive the weapons that will allow us to defeat the enemy on the battlefield. 'The sooner we defeat Russia on the battlefield using Western weapons the sooner we will be able to stop this missile terror and restore peace.' Zelensky has praised the US and German commitments to send tanks and urged allies to provide large quantities of tanks quickly. 'The key now is speed and volumes. Speed in training our forces, speed in supplying tanks to Ukraine. The numbers in tank support,' he said in a nightly video address on Wednesday. 'We have to form such a "tank fist", such a "fist of freedom".' Ukraine has been seeking hundreds of modern tanks to give its troops the firepower to break Russian defensive lines and reclaim occupied territory in the south and east. Ukraine and Russia have been relying primarily on Soviet-era T-72 tanks. The promise of tanks comes as both Ukraine and Russia are expected to launch new offensives in the war. Maintaining Kyiv's drumbeat of requests for more aid, Zelensky said he spoke to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and called for long-range missiles and aircraft. Ukraine's allies have already provided billions in military support including sophisticated U.S. missile systems. The United States has been wary of deploying the difficult-to-maintain Abrams but had to change tack to persuade Germany to send to Ukraine its more easily operated Leopards. Biden said the tanks pose 'no offensive threat' to Russia and that they were needed to help the Ukrainians 'improve their ability to manoeuvre in open terrain'. Germany will send an initial company of 14 tanks from its stocks and approve shipments by allied European states. The Abrams can be tricky, but the Leopard was designed as a system that any NATO member could service and crews and repair specialists could be trained together on a single model, Ukrainian military expert Viktor Kevlyuk told Espreso TV. 'If we have been brought into this club by providing us with these vehicles, I would say our prospects look good.' Russia reacted with fury to Germany's decision to approve the delivery of the Leopards. 'This extremely dangerous decision takes the conflict to a new level of confrontation,' said Sergei Nechayev, Russia's ambassador to Germany. Pledges to Ukraine from other countries that field Leopards have multiplied with announcements from Poland, Finland and Norway. Spain and the Netherlands said they were considering it. A view shows a Puma infantry fighting vehicle during firing practice, at armoured infantry training area Altengrabow, Germany, today German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius is seen a day after finally agreeing to supply tanks to Ukraine Britain has offered 14 of its comparable Challenger tanks and France is considering sending its Leclercs. The Kyiv government acknowledged on Wednesday its forces had withdrawn from Soledar, a small salt-mining town close to Bakhmut in the east, that Russia said it captured more than a week ago, its biggest gain for more than six months. The area around Bakhmut, with a pre-war population of 70,000, has seen some of the most brutal fighting of the war. Ukraine's military said that Russian forces were attacking in the direction of Bakhmut 'with the aim of capturing the entire Donetsk region and regardless of its own casualties'. The Russian-installed governor of Donetsk said earlier that units of Russia's Wagner contract militia were moving forward inside Bakhmut, with fighting on the outskirts and in neighbourhoods recently held by Ukraine. Analyst Kevlyuk said losing Bakhmut would not change much in terms of the tactical scheme of things but that he was more concerned by Russian efforts to regroup and concentrate resources in the Luhansk region. Donetsk and Luhansk make up the Donbas region. Russian forces control nearly all of Luhansk, while Russians and their proxies say they control about half of Donetsk. Reuters could not verify battlefield reports. The 11-month war has killed thousands of people, driven millions from their homes and reduced cities to rubble. A man who cut the throats of his girlfriend and an associate after being released from jail has told jurors: 'I'm not a monster.' Lee Peacock, 50, is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of murdering Sharon Pickles, 46, and Clinton Ashmore, 59, in separate attacks in Westminster over two days in August 2021. Police had found Ms Pickles' body at her home after Peacock's father alerted officers that his son had visited him and confessed to killing three people by cutting their throats. In a note at the scene, Peacock allegedly wrote that Ms Pickles was 'meant to live' and he had sworn 'revenge' against those who took advantage while he was in jail. Lee Peacock, pictured,is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of murdering Sharon Pickles, 46, and Clinton Ashmore, 59,. He was arrested inside a houseboat on the Grand Union Canal. He was remanded in continuing custody having appeared via videolink at the Old Bailey earlier today Lee Peacock denied two counts of murder and the trial continues was after he remanded in custody having been charged with the murders of Sharon Pickles, left, and Clinton Ashmore, right, at separate addresses in central London, hours apart, last August Peacock, who was released from jail on June 4, tried to cut his own throat when he was tracked down to a houseboat on the Grand Union Canal after a five-day manhunt, jurors have heard. On Thursday, Peacock told jurors that he did not intend to hurt either victim, saying the death of his 'other half' was a 'pure accident' and Mr Ashmore attacked him first. He told jurors: 'I know I'm not a monster. I never wanted to harm my partner. Clinton, I'm sorry but he caused it. 'He moved in on my woman and then told me that he did and with a rain of punches.' Prosecutor Edward Brown KC had challenged Peacock's account of the killings. He said: 'So far as Sharon Pickles is concerned, your account is that it was a complete accident. And to the extent that you caused the injuries that you did in a sense you were in control of your actions but it was an accident?' Peacock replied: 'Not in any possible way did I intend to cause Sharon harm or serious harm. It's impossible. In 15 years I have known her I have never ever been violent to anyone.' Mr Brown said: 'I suggest you were exceptionally angry at the idea that Sharon had been having sexual relations - 'your girl'.' The defendant denied it but said he was angry at people he thought were 'cuckooing' her. The prosecutor challenged Peacock's claim that he killed Mr Ashmore in 'self defence' after being punched in the head. 'I suggest the prosecution does not have to prove a motive but there is one here - it was revenge. He was part of the group of people you blamed for Sharon's downfall as you saw it. 'It was planned to go and kill who you could find, who was responsible for Sharon's downfall,' Mr Brown said. Peacock responded: 'I was looking for people to help me.' Asked about the circumstances in which he produced his knife, he said: 'It was in my hand when I got it out to show him because he did not believe I killed Sharon - I did it and immediately I was horrified. 'It was immediately obvious, like I could not believe that someone could die that quickly.' Mr Brown said: 'This injury was approximately 4cm deep - that is approximately the length of the cutting edge of the blade. The neck is obviously a vulnerable part of the body and you knew that.' Peacock insisted he 'adored' Ms Pickles, adding: 'I sat in a cell for 18 months thinking about this - I don't know how this happened. 'I have no explanation. I do not know how my brain works, all I know it doesn't work correctly.' Mr Brown said Mr Ashmore had suffered nine knife wounds and asked if it was a 'coincidence' that both victims had cuts to the neck on both sides. Peacock said: 'Clinton was screaming at me going absolutely mental. In all my life in all the places around the world I have been I have never been in a fight.' He said it was 'absolutely frenzied' and he had been 'completely oblivious' to Mr Ashmore and Ms Pickles being in a relationship. Asked if all the injuries on Mr Ashmore were in self defence, he said: 'I did not know. I had the knife in my hand and he's coming at me.' Mr Brown asserted: 'You committed two terrible murders with your warped and angry mind, that's the reality and you confessed to two terrible murders, didn't you? 'You were determined to punish Sharon Pickles and you were determined to punish Clinton Ashmore. You intended nothing less that to kill each of them, didn't you?' Peacock denied it, saying: 'Sharon had done nothing wrong.' He denied two counts of murder and the trial continues. The Tories have been warned they are facing electoral 'doom' after a major new poll found the middle-aged think more similarly to their children than their parents. Research based on a survey of nearly 9,000 people found that, on a range of issues, Britons are holding on to 'young' views much later in life than their parents and grandparents did. The report by Portland Communications revealed that people were 'increasingly reaching middle age with the views they developed in their youth'. Those in their 40s and 50s were found to share the same beliefs as younger people about whether businesses should take a stand on social issues, or about discimination against LGBTQ+ people. Britons in their early and late middle-age also differed to older generations in their views on the cost-of-living crisis, Brexit, public services, and 'Britishness'. The Conservatives were warned the findings showed the party could no longer rely on voters becoming 'more Tory' as they become older. The breakdown of the traditional Tory coalition of middle-aged voters and those much older 'spells doom' for the Conservatives, the party was told. The Conservatives were warned the survey's findings showed the party could no longer rely on voters becoming 'more Tory' as they become older Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Cabinet ministers are today discussing the Tories' strategy for the next general election - but they've been warned they face a more long-term challenge Two-thirds of under-60s (66 per cent) thought it was important to fight discrimination against LGBTQ+ people - but only 48 per cent of those aged 60 or over felt the same Just 58 per cent of those aged 35-59 said they were 'proud' to be British, compared to 70 per cent of the over-60s The survey found that two-thirds of under-60s (66 per cent) thought it was important to fight discrimination against LGBTQ+ people, but only 48 per cent of those aged 60 or over felt the same. More than half (51 per cent) of those aged 45-59 believed businesses should take a public stance on the Black Lives Matter campaign, but this fell to 39 per cent among the over-60s. Just 58 per cent of those aged 35-59 said they were 'proud' to be British, compared to 70 per cent of the over-60s. Only 39 per cent of 45 to 59-year-olds said they would vote against re-joining the EU, while 56 per cent of those aged 60 and over still backed Brexit. More of those in their 40s and 50s said they were liberal (31 per cent) than said they were conservative (20 per cent), which was reversed for over-60s (27 per cent conservative, 22 per cent liberal). Amid the cost of living squeeze on households, only 43 per cent of 35 to 59-year-olds said they were better off than their parents were at their age, compared to 61 per cent of those aged 60 and over. The Portland report said: 'Simply put, the difference in views of the oldest and the youngest is becoming ever more polarised, with the middle aged increasingly leaning more towards the young, than the old. 'Its a trend which looks set to grow in years to come and carries major implications for businesses and organisations operating in the UK. 'It matters to brands, and for employers. It could also represent a post-dated death certificate for the style of politics which the current Conservative Party has depended on for decades, with voters getting reliably more Tory as they become older.' Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Cabinet ministers are today having an 'away day' at Chequers in Buckinghamshire, where they are expected to discuss the Tories' strategy for the next general election. And while the Conservatives are facing an immediate challenge in overhauling Labour's consistent poll lead over recent months, the party is also being warned of a longer-term hurdle. In an article for the Huffington Post website, Gabriel Milland, a partner at Portland, said: 'Without the "grey" vote, lumping the middle-aged in with those much older, there would not have been Tories in government since 2010. 'But if this coalition of the merely-getting-on-a-bit and the wrinkly is in the process of breaking down, then that spells doom for the Tories. 'The Conservatives won a majority in 2015 with just a quarter of the 18-24-year-old vote, fewer than half of whom bothered to turn out anyway. 'But the much bigger win in 2019 was greatly helped by winning half the 55 to 64-year-old group. And they vote in much larger numbers too.' He added that a 'cultural shift' in those in their middle age 'suggests that turning to the Tory fundamentals of faith and flag is not going to cut the mustard in retaining this group'. Doug Emhoff departed Thursday for an historic trip to Poland and Germany aimed at combating the rising tide of antisemitism around the world as he steps up his own role within President Joe Biden's administration. Emhoff's six-day trip will include a stop at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a visit to Schindler's Enamel Factory Museum, and a meeting with European envoys in Berlin. It comes as Emhoff raises his voice to speak out against antisemitism and takes on more high-profile solo engagement of his time in the administration. Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, is the first Jewish spouse of a president or vice president. 'He's a very strong asset to the administration and he's leaning harder into engagement,' a White House official told DailyMail.com of the second gentleman. Doug Emhoff left Thursday for a six-day trip to Poland and Germany to speak against the rising tide of antisemitism His advocacy increased after high-profile incidents of antisemitism in the United States, including one where former President Donald Trump dined with white nationalist Nick Fuentes and Kanye West, the rapper who is now know as Ye, at Mar-a-Lago. The trip will also have personal connotations for Emhoff, whose great grandparents fled persecution from what is now Poland at the beginning of the 19th century. The second gentleman spoke about what the issue means to him when hosted a roundtable with Jewish leaders at the White House last month, calling it an 'epidemic of hate.' 'I understand the weight of this responsibility - I do,' he said. 'And as second gentleman, let me reiterate, I will not remain silent. Im proud to be Jewish, and Im proud to live openly as a Jew. I am not afraid. We cannot live in fear. We refuse to be afraid.' Doug Emhoff, right with his wife Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden, is the first Jewish spouse of a president or vice president Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff (right), next to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (center) and Dr. Rabbi Aaron Glatt (left), lights the Liberty Bell menorah, during the menorah lighting ceremony in celebration of Hanukkah at the White House in December 2021 On his trip, Emhoff will be joined by Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, the U.S. special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism. At Auschwitz-Birkenauh, he will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day. And he'll visit other sites important to the Jewish community, including Schindler's Enamel Factory Museum - Oskar Schindler's story was popularized by the 1993 film 'Schindler's List' - and Krakow's Historic Jewish Quarter. In Berlin, Emhoff will visit the Museum of Jewish Life, the Memorial to the Victims of the Nazi 'Euthanasia' Murder, and the Holocaust Museum. Administration officials said Emhoff would spend a big part of his trip pushing back against Holocaust deniers. 'There'll be many events focusing on honoring the victims of the Holocaust, and having a second gentleman educating the public on the true nature of the Holocaust. You will see the second gentleman push back against Holocaust denial, distortion and disinformation,' a senior administration official said on a briefing call with reporters. Emhoff also will meet with European officials to emphasize the administration's commitment to countering global antisemitism. He will stress Biden and Harris are focused on the issue both globally and domestically. And he'll meet with Christian and Muslim groups to discuss the increase of hatred against religious groups. 'Interfaith dialogue has been an area of focus for a second gentleman, and the basic idea here, which he'll be speaking about throughout the trip, is that we know that Semitism is not only a threat to Jews, it is often often accompany or a precursor to other forms of hatred and intolerance, including against other ethnic or religious minority groups and immigrants,' the senior administration official said. Finally, he'll meet with Ukrainian refugees in both Poland and Germany. Emhoff, who practiced law in California but stepped down after Harris became vice president, took on a more visible role on the issue after a series of incidents shook up the American Jewish community. Trump hosted Fuentes, a Holocaust denier, and Ye, who praised Adolf Hitler, at Mar-a-Lago. Basketball star Kyrie Irving also promoted an antisemitic film on social media. And Twitter has been criticized for the increasing levels of antisemitic and other hate speech on its platform after chief executive Elon Musk restored people whose accounts had been suspended. 'As long as I have this microphone, I'm going to speak out against hate, bigotry, lies,' Emhoff said last month. 'I'm going speak out against those who praise fascist murderers and idealize extremists. I'm going to speak out against Holocaust deniers and then call those out who won't do it.' Suspended Tory MP Andrew Bridgen has confirmed he is suing Matt Hancock for 100,000 after the ex-health secretary condemned his 'anti-semitic' remarks about Covid jabs. Mr Bridgen was stripped of the Conservative Party whip earlier this month after causing widespread outrage when he compared the Covid vaccine rollout to the Holocaust. Amid the fury at the North West Leicestershire MP's comments, Mr Hancock accused Mr Bridgen of spouting 'disgusting and dangerous anti-semitic, anti-vax, anti-scientific conspiracy theories'. Mr Bridgen subsequently warned Mr Hancock he would pursue legal action unless he removed a 'defamatory tweet falsely alleging that I am antisemitic'. He today confirmed he was following through with that threat and a legal letter had been sent to Mr Hancock this week by lawyers acting on his behalf. Andrew Bridgen was stripped of the Conservative Party whip earlier this month after causing widespread outrage when he compared the Covid vaccine rollout to the Holocaust Matt Hancock accused Mr Bridgen of spouting 'disgusting and dangerous anti-semitic, anti-vax, anti-scientific conspiracy theories' In his initial tweet about Covid vaccines, Mr Bridgen wrote: 'As one consultant cardiologist said to me this is the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust' The letter, seen by the Daily Telegraph, states that Mr Bridgen wants Mr Hancock to 'retract and delete the defamatory statement contained in the tweet complained of with immediate effect'. It adds the former Cabinet minister should also 'apologise for the tweet complained of both orally in the House of Commons and in writing on Mr Hancock's personal Twitter account'. Mr Hancock is also told to 'acknowledge full and final settlement of any prospective claim in the form of a payment of 100,000 to be transferred into a legal fund on behalf of persons seeking collective redress for vaccine harms'. The legal action is being supported by the Reclaim Party and the Bad Law Project, which is linked to Reclaim Party leader Laurence Fox and claims to oppose 'political ideology disguised as law'. Mr Bridgen posted on Twitter this afternoon: 'I can confirm that Matt Hancock had a legal letter before action from @BadLawTeam on my behalf regarding defamation on Monday.' In his initial tweet about Covid vaccines that prompted his suspension as a Tory MP, Mr Bridgen wrote: 'As one consultant cardiologist said to me this is the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust.' Mr Bridgen later deleted the tweet but hit out at his suspension by the Tories. A spokesperson for Mr Hancock said: 'What Matt said was obviously not libellous and he stands by his comments. 'Rather than wasting his time and money on an absurd libel case he will undoubtedly lose, let's hope Bridgen does the right thing and apologises for the hurt he's caused and keeps his offensive view to himself in future.' A group of University of Minnesota Law School instructors administered popular artificial intelligence bot ChatGPT four law school exams that it took alongside real students, and discovered that the bot was a C+ student on paper. The ChatGPT bot is currently considered the world's most advanced example of generative intelligence. The instructors were curious about ways the bot might be used both to help students cheats and professors teach, so they decided to test its abilities. The AI robot passed four law classes in the bottom percent of the class at the University of Minnesota Law School (pictured) Jonathan Choi, the University of Minnesota associate professor of law whose idea it was to administer several law school tests to the ChatGPT bot Jon Choi, an associate professor of law, ran exam questions through ChatGPT and mixed the resultant exams in with students' tests. The bot ended up with a 'low but passing grade' in Constitutional Law, Employee Benefits, Taxation, and Torts. All told, it wound up with a C+ average. According to the paper, the bot came in 36th out of 40 students in Con Law, 18th out of 19 in Employee Benefits, 66th out of 67 in Tax, and dead-last out of 75 in Torts. Ultimately, the bot performed better on essays than on multiple choice questions, and performed particularly poorly at multiple choice questions involving math, which the paper's authors say it 'bombed.' The paper's authors explained that in essay questions, the bot was able to adequately recite legal rules and correctly describe cases (without proper citations), but was minimally skilled at 'spotting issues' and providing in-depth analysis. The three human graders, who are listed as the co-authors of the paper, graded the tests blind but said they had suspicions about which were AI generated exams. In all cases, they were correct about which ones were not written by humans. Robot answers, they noted, contained perfect grammar and were much more repetitive than human exams. Choi told Business Insider that, for the time being, it will remain relatively easy for professors to spot a ChatGPT generated exam or paper. But, a ChatGPT-generated rough draft of a paper that a student then edits and revises may prove a more difficult challenge. The point remains, however, that ChatGPT passed the exams, albeit not with flying colors. 'Although ChatGPT would have been a mediocre law student, its performance was sufficient to successfully earn a JD degree from a highly selective law school,' reads the paper. ChatGPT parent company OpenAI recently received a multi-billion dollar investment from Microsoft to continue building its intelligent tool Two of the listed co-authors of the paper, who successfully identified which tests were written by the AI robot The ChatGPT bot was given four law school exams at the University of Minnesota that it took alongside real students. It ultimately passed in the lowest quartile of the class Choi is also not discounting the fierce competition the bot encountered in Minnesota. 'I would say just on knowledge of the law and the ability to synthesize and make legal arguments, Minnesota students are going to be some of the best in the country,' Choi told BI. 'ChatGPT is performing near the bottom of a class in which 99% of the students will pass the bar exam. Almost all of the students are going to be successful in their careers. So, it's a tough comparison.' Choi is also deeply aware that ChatGPT is likely not going away and should not be ignored, especially if practicing attorneys begin to use it in their own law practices. 'If lawyers start to use these tools to augment their abilities to be lawyers, then we need to appropriately change our teaching and our tests,' he said. 'When they invented calculators, they didn't force students to continue doing math by hand. They allowed them to use calculators and just changed the nature of the test. So I think that's the task for legal education,' he said. Meanwhile, the company behind ChatGPT - OpenAI - just received a massive multi-billion dollar injection of cash from Microsoft, such that it may, in its own words, continue to develop its 'increasingly safe, useful, and powerful' product. A 13-year-old red-headed girl was stabbed with a pair of scissors at school 'by a boy making fun of the colour of her hair'. Daisy Andrew was left with two 15mm-deep wounds in her legs after the 'terrifying' attack earlier this week at Homewood School in Tenterden, Kent. Her father Robin Andrew, 43, claims a boy was making fun of her red hair while she was with a group of friends during break time. 'She told him to go away because she doesn't usually let stuff like that bother her,' he said. Daisy Andrew was stabbed in the back of her leg with a pair of scissors while at school Daisy Andrew's father Robin claims the attack took place because of her red hair The father added: 'She turned around and thought he had gone away, but then he produced half a pair of scissors and said, ''look I've got this shank here'' and stuck it in the back of her leg twice. 'Blood was all down her tights and filled up her shoe. She needs new shoes because we can't clean them out.' Daisy was then assessed by the school nurse and taken to A&E at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford. Since Tuesday's attack, the schoolgirl has been left with a slight limp and has been told to expect bruising. Police were alerted but parents of other pupils say they only found out about the 'awful' event when their children called them while 'crying' in the toilets. The school immediately alerted Daisy's mother, who took her to hospital. Mr Andrew went to the school and called the police. The school said it had also alerted officers. The father said: 'My other half took her to hospital they stuck the holes back together and plastered her up. 'I can't make sense of it because you don't expect it to happen at a countryside school. 'It's not the school's fault this has happened, but I hope appropriate action is taken. She should be able to go to school and feel safe.' Daisy was left with two 15mm-deep puncture wounds following the incident A spokesperson for the school said: 'Without seeking to minimise the impact on the victim, the incident has been exaggerated on social media. 'A minor injury was caused to the leg of a female pupil by a boy using a pair of small scissors. 'The school nurse dealt with the cut initially but, as a precaution, the girl went to A&E where the injury was examined and appropriate care and attention were provided. 'The police were informed, but did not attend the school.' The spokesperson said the boy's actions were 'clearly unacceptable' and school bosses are making further inquiries before taking any disciplinary action. They added: 'Both sets of parents have been supportive of the school's actions and the girl has expressed a wish to return to school as soon as possible.' Police confirmed they were contacted at 11.40am on Tuesday following a report that a child had been injured at a school in Tenterden. Officers are liaising with the school to establish the cause of the injury and the circumstances surrounding the incident. Homewood is the biggest school in Kent, with more than 2,000 pupils and currently has a 'requires improvement' rating from Ofsted. Before 2019, it was consistently rated 'good' by the watchdog. LSU student Madi Brooks was recorded arguing with one of the four men accused of her rape shortly before she wandered drunkenly into the night and was fatally hit by a car, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal. Madi, 19, directed 'choice language' at Casen Carver, 18, who was at the wheel of the car in which she was allegedly raped in the backseat by Kaivon Washington, 18, and an unidentified 17-year-old after meeting them for the first time at a college bar. The defendants along with fellow accused Everett Lee, 28 were driving around Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the early hours of January 15 trying to follow the student's directions for a location to drop her off after the alleged assault, their attorney Ron Haley told DailyMail.com. 'It is conversation pretty much an argument between her and the driver of the vehicle, which is Carver,' Haley said. 'Carver was frustrated that this was the third address that she had given and she wanted to go apparently to another location. It's him saying, listen we can't do this all night, make up your mind where you want to be.' Haley is using the clips from the video taken by Washington on his phone as part of the defense. Referring to the footage, he told DailyMail.com: 'The video does not show a sexual act.' Madi Brooks, 19, died after being hit by a ride-share car at 3am on January 15 when she was dropped off by four men who picked her up at a college bar Video shows Brooks, 19, directing 'choice language' at Casen Carver, 18, who is one of the four men accused of her rape The four men and sophomore Madi had met at riotous college bar Reggie's in the Tigerland district of Louisiana's capital and she 'drunkenly' staggered into their car with them as they left at 1.49am. Carver who told police he had never met Madi before asked her for her address 'but she fell over and could not answer him,' according to his East Baton Rouge Sheriff Office arrest warrant. He then drove to a nearby street and 'stated he overheard his 17-year-old friend as he asked the victim five times if she wanted to have sex with him,' continued the report. 'Mr. Carver stated the victim gave verbal consent.' Defense lawyer Ron Haley said the argument was because Madi was too drunk to give proper directions Carver told cops the 17-year-old and then Washington had sex with Madi while he and Lee remained in the front of the vehicle, which was last seen on the move at 1.59 am. Glimpses of Madi's last hour were captured by Washington in four video snippets after Carver drove to three locations in her quest for a place to stay the night, revealed attorney Haley. Haley said: 'She gets upset with them and uses some choice language directed at Carver. 'After that he verbally asked her to get out of the vehicle. She acquiesces and says, that's fine I'll Uber to wherever I need to go next. That pretty much is it. 'She got out at a parking lot of an apartment complex at the Pelican Lakes subdivision. After they had driven off, she walked to Burbank Drive and was hit by another vehicle.' Haley insisted: 'They did not just dump her out of the car, they did not force her out of the vehicle. 'After the verbal confrontation with the driver, he says "get out of the car"; she says "fine". 'The clips are not long, they are little snippets of pretty much the same thing. A bit of the argument, then another part of the argument. Then her getting out of the car. 'I think at one point one of the others tries to calm the situation down and say, look just kind of get back in the car. She doesn't want to. The driver is like, listen we got to go. She's left in the parking lot of this apartment complex.' 'Why did Washington video her? I don't know. Maybe just being silly and dumb clowning around. 'Washington is in the video himself, laughing at the back and forth between Miss Madison and the driver. This is opposed to someone showing a lot of maturity saying something like, hey it's been a long night, cut it out.' Kaivon Washington (left) Everett Lee, 28, were arrested on rape-related charges together with an unidentified 17-year-old boy Haley is using the clips as part of the defense and told DailyMail.com: 'The video does not show a sexual act' A coroner confirmed that Madi died from 'multiple traumatic injuries' when she was hit by a car after allegedly being raped The footage which is not time stamped was presented to Judge Brad Myers before a bond hearing for the accused on Tuesday. However he declared it showed the 'evidence was clear' and there was proof of criminality. California civil rights attorney Adante Pointer co-founder of Pointer and Buelna based in Oakland, California blasted him for the comment. He told DailyMail.com: 'The judge had already put his thumb on the scale.' Judge Brad Myers told the court on Tuesday that he viewed a video filmed by Washington after the alleged assault took place The four accused have all told Haley of their remorse over Madi's death 50 minutes after she exited Carver's vehicle, the attorney revealed. 'They have expressed their remorse to me,' he said. 'Nobody wanted her to die, It is a tragedy and they are upset. The argument that ensued, they wish they'd handled things differently. On a basic human level, absolutely they do feel remorse.' Washington and the 17-year-old are accused of third degree rape, while Carver and Lee are charged with principal to third degree rape meaning they were present but did not take part in the sexual assault. Third degree rape in Louisiana can be when a victim is unable to say no because they are too drunk to resist. A toxicology report revealed Madison had a blood-alcohol reading of .319, four times the legal limit for driving and borderline alcohol poisoning. However, Haley questioned DailyMail.com on how drunk the popular student was at the exact time of the alleged rape. 'Our defense is that the acts were consensual,' he said. 'From the research I have done most people could barely walk with a reading around .32. 'There is such a thing as rising alcohol levels. If you have five shots and are tested shortly afterwards your level would be lower than a test an hour later. 'The fact that at the time of her passing she was at a .319 does not necessarily mean that at the time some of these things happened, that she was at a .319. Those levels were rising. And that is going to be a part of our defense.' He admitted: 'You want to be as respectful as possible to Madison who lost her life. It is an uncomfortable line for us, I don't take pleasure in speaking about this. 'This is not in any way trying to disparage Madison, or upset her family - although I am sure that they are.' The four men and Madi met at riotous college bar Reggie's in the Tigerland district of the city The bar had regular nightly specials offering cheap drinks Madi (left) seen behind the bar at Reggie's with two sorority sisters. She had been drinking at the bar before she was allegedly raped and then fatally struck by a car Haley believes his clients are being 'tried in the court of public opinion' on the high-profile case, partly because he said they are also being blamed for Madi's death. 'I believe there has been a jump to correlate whatever happened in that car to her untimely death,' he told DailyMail.com. 'I believe there is enough break in the circumstances. There is a disconnect between what happened in the car and what ultimately led to her death. 'There's no winners in this. It's all losing and different degrees of losing. Someone has lost their life, these young men may lose their freedom.' Haley agrees the video shows Brooks to be highly intoxicated in the final minutes of her life. 'She looks pretty drunk,' he said. 'But she is having a conversation back and forth argument. She slurred her words. That is a factor to take into consideration, but I don't think that is the be-all and end-all.' Prosecutor Stuart Theirort said at the bond hearing that the state will seek upgraded charges of first-degree rape and plans to convene a grand jury in the case. Louisiana's first-degree rape statute carries a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole. All three adult suspects appeared in court via a video link and were ordered to remain under house arrest and wear ankle monitors. Carver is being held on a $50,000 bond, Lee on a $75,000 bond, and Washington on a $150,000 bond. Surveillance footage surrounding Reggie's bar, where the group met, shows Madi drunk and stumbling around, according to police documents. Louisiana Alcohol and Tobacco Control suspended the bar's license following the 'seriousness of the allegations and potential threat to public safety.' Meanwhile the bar has been assisting in collating more video for authorities to review from Madison's time in and around Reggie's. The bar's attorney Kris Perret told DailyMail.com: 'So far there is nothing we have seen that shows she was incapacitated.' And a general statement from Reggie's said: 'We continue to cooperate with state and local authorities, as we have since their first request. Surveillance footage surrounding Reggie's bar, where the group met, shows Madi (right) drunk and stumbling around, according to police documents 'We look forward to meeting with State ATC and East Baton Rouge ABC (Alcohol Beverage Control) officials as soon as possible to address their concerns and to ensure they have all of the complete and accurate facts and all information they require to complete their investigation.' The sheriff's office arrest warrant for Carver reveals Madi arrived at Reggie's at 10.06pm on January 14. The four defendants arrived 12 minutes later. Inside the bar, video footage reveals Madi and the 17-year-old were 'hugging and dancing'. The report continues: 'At 1am the victim was seen sitting on a stool by the counter at the bar. 'The victim was then seen getting up, adjusting her pants and stumbled backwards. The victim got back on her feet with the help of three individuals. 'At approximately 1.34am the victim was seen sitting on a bench by the entrance door. The victim was then seen getting up and fell. 'The victim was then seen grabbing Mr Carver's 17-year-old juvenile friend's hand while getting back on her feet at approximately 1.49am Mr Carver, the victim and the others were seen leaving the bar.' Madi was hit by the ride-share vehicle around 2.50am. The driver immediately called 911 and waited on the scene. Cops tested the driver, who was not impaired and is not facing charges. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, call the 24hr National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, call the 24hr National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 Patrick Clancy was allegedly out for 25 minutes to grab takeout when he found his wife unconscious after dropping from their second-floor window The husband of a midwife charged with strangling her two young children to death and attempting to kill her seven-month-old baby had allegedly gone out to grab food before the apparent murder-suicide attempt. Lindsay Clancy's husband Patrick had 'popped out for 25 minutes' to collect a takeout order on Tuesday night - but he returned to find his wife unconscious after plunging from the second-floor window of their home in Duxbury, Massachusetts. Their daughter Cora, five, and son Dawson, three, were found dead, with the Clancys' third child surviving and being rushed to the hospital with injuries. Friends of the family now claim that Patrick had started working from home to keep a watchful eye on his wife - who was also in an 'intensive' post-partum depression clinic five days a week. Father Patrick Clancy was out for 25 minutes to grab takeout for his family when he found his wife, Lindsay, unconscious after dropping for their second-floor window. Inside their home, daughter Cora (left) and son Dawson (right) were dead Lindsay had shared that she was suffering from postpartum anxiety following the birth of her third child, who survived the apparent murder-suicide attempt Local radio presenter John DePetro reported that friends of the depressed mother said: 'Her husband was working from home instead of going in to work to be able to try and support her daily while she went to a program 5 days a week for PPD. 'And in the 25 minutes it took him to pick up take out, the unthinkable happened.' Investigators are now looking into the possibility that Lindsay, 32, was suffering from postpartum psychosis. The mother-of-three had also previously shared online that she was struggling with postpartum anxiety. While Lindsay appeared to be a proud mother on Facebook, she shared about struggling with postpartum anxiety after the birth of her latest child. Last July, she wrote that six weeks after the child's birth, she was feeling 'dialed in' and sought to focus on exercise, nutrition and her mindset, which she claimed 'made all the difference.' In 2020, she wrote online: 'So unbelievably thankful for this family and life,' along with doting images of her children, reports Boston Globe. Friends said Patrick was working from home to help 32-year-old Lindsay, who was allegedly attending an 'intensive' postpartum depression program five days a week A memorial of flowers and toys was set up outside the home in Duxbury, Massachusetts Neighbors and those who do not know the family have added their own offerings Individuals were seen coming and going throughout the day Thursday outside of the home Lindsay, 32, (left) allegedly strangled her daughter Cora, five, (center right) and son Dawson, three, (center left) to death and tried to suffocate her baby son inside the family home. Her horrified husband, Patrick, 34, (right) discovered the scene Feelings of depression can be common after childbirth, but on rare occasions, they can lead to full postpartum psychosis. In this extreme form of PPD, a mother can suffer from severe depression and hallucinations, and can lead her to harm herself, her children, or both. The mother-of-three was on leave from her job as a labor and delivery nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. Lindsay, who is under police custody, will be arraigned once she is released from hospital on charges including two counts of homicide and three each for strangulation and assault and battery with a deadly weapon for the deaths of her two children. Officers arrived at the family home on Tuesday after the frantic husband had discovered his wife unconscious on the ground below a second-floor window. Five-year-old Cora and three-year-old Dawson were pronounced dead on arrival to hospital Pictured: A well-wisher dropping off items on Wednesday for the memorial over the tragedy that befell the community Pictured: A car parked in the Clancys' home with a 'Baby on Board' sticker It's a shocking story for the typically quiet Massachusetts suburb Some simply stopped by to pay their respects to the children They discovered the three young children 'unconscious' upstairs 'with obvious signs of trauma'. It appears they had all been strangled Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz said. Five-year-old Cora and three-year-old Dawson were pronounced dead on arrival to hospital while the seven-month-old baby was flown to Boston's Children's Hospital where he is alive and being treated by medics. Witnesses said the baby had been given CPR at the scene. 'We're all heartbroken right now,' Lindsay Clancey's father-in-law, Christopher Clancy, told the Boston Globe. On Wednesday, two Plymouth women, Donna Jesse, who identified herself as an aunt of the children, and Rita Musgrove, who said she was their great grandmother, left a bouquet of pink, red, and white roses outside the family's home. 'They were beautiful, beautiful children,' Jesse told the Boston Globe. Musgrove added: 'It's pretty shocking'. Lindsay and her seven-month-old son survived the apparent murder-suicide attempt and they are both being treated in hospitals in Boston. Pictured: Lindsay pictured with her surviving child in a Facebook post from September 2022 Police said Lindsay jumped from the second floor window of her home Pictured: Duxbury Police work at the scene where the two children were found dead Heartbreaking pictures show Cora, right and Dawson, left, smiling together John Sullivan, a neighbor whose yard is adjacent to the back yard at 47 Summer St., said he got a call Tuesday night from his son who told him a woman 'was laying down in the backyard.' He said he rushed to his neighbor's property where he saw first responders performing CPR on a baby outside 'Everybody is in a state of disbelief, it is tragic, the whole neighborhood is trying to process this whole thing,' Sullivan told CBS Boston. In a press conference Cruz said of the family: 'I cannot begin to fathom the pain, the depths of pain they must be feeling. 'This is an unimaginable, senseless tragedy, and it is an ongoing investigation.' Lindsay, pictured with Cora as a baby, is a midwife at Massachusetts General Hospital Lindsay pictured with her husband Patrick, 34, who called authorities after finding her lying unconscious outside their home on Tuesday evening Pictured: The backyard playground where the Clancy children played Cruz warned 'nobody's here to speculate', adding 'we're well aware of the fact that anybody charged with a criminal crime is presumed innocence until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt'. He wrapped up the conference by saying: 'Certainly our hearts and condolences go up to the Clancy family'. Cruz said they will now conduct autopsies to determine how the children died. Findings will be made public when a death certificate is issued. The hospital where Lindsay works said in a statement: 'We are shocked and saddened to learn of this unthinkable tragedy. We extend our deepest sympathies to all those affected by these devastating events.' If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, call the 24hr National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255; contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741; or chat with someone online at suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Cops investigating the brutal slaying of Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan have had accused killer Henry Tenon in their sights for months, DailyMail.com can reveal. The Jacksonville Beach Police Department on Wednesday announced that Tenon, 61, a convicted felon, has been charged with second degree murder with a weapon, conspiracy to commit murder, accessory to the fact and child abuse in a sensational development in the almost year-old case. Now, DailyMail.com has exclusively learned some of the steps law enforcement took to tie Tenon to the heinous crime, including evidence allegedly garnered from a raid on his former home in Jacksonville, Florida, late last summer and information gleaned from grilling his associates on numerous occasions in the months since. Suspect Henry Tenon had his first court appearance Thursday morning. He is charged with second degree murder with a weapon, conspiracy to commit murder, accessory to the fact, and child abuse second degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder for Bridegan's killing on February 16, 2022 Bridegan was killed on February 16, 2022, while driving from Jacksonville Beach, Florida, to his home in St. Augustine, after dropping off his 10-year-old twins with their mother Speaking on condition of anonymity one source who witnessed the raid said: 'It was crazy. There were Jacksonville Beach cop cars, the ATF, all down the street. They just descended on the home. 'They removed dozens of bags. They took all the electronics in the house, an old .32 pistol that you can't hardly get ammunition for anymore, clotheseverything. 'They went all through the place even into the attic taking samples for DNA. They were looking for a gun, they were really interested in a jacket of a particular color, and they were asking questions about Henry's truck.' According to the source, police questioned Tenon's friend, who currently lives at the Jacksonville residence which was raided, 'on at least four separate occasions' about the felon's movements and were keenly interested in the whereabouts of his truck. DailyMail.com can reveal law enforcement had their sights set on Tenon for months before his arrest and carried out a raid at his Jacksonville rental last summer, according to witnesses It has since emerged that Tenon's landlord since 2017 was Mario Fernandez, 34 - husband of Bridegan's ex-wife Shanna Gardner-Fernandez, 36 Property records show Fernandez (pictured with Shanna) sold the property in October 2022. According to a source, Fernandez had told his tenant he was planning to sell the property 'the month of or the month after Jared's death' The source said: 'Henry told his friend that his truck had broken down and he didn't have it anymore and wasn't fussed about getting it fixed because he had a Crown Vic [Ford Crown Victoria] to drive.' In the immediate aftermath of 33-year-old Bridegan's shocking murder on February 16, 2022 the solitary homicide in Jacksonville Beach that year police seemed to have little to go on. But key among the sparse details released was investigators' belief in the significance of a blue Ford F-150 from between 2004 and 2008 caught near the scene in blurred images reproduced on posters offering an escalating reward for information leading to an arrest. DailyMail.com has now learned that this vehicle matches the description of a truck owned by Tenon which went missing towards the beginning of last year, though the source could not say whether Tenon's truck disappeared before or after Bridegan's murder. Tenon had his first court appearance Thursday morning. He arrived shortly after 9:20am, dressed in prison greens, shackled and cuffed along with more than a dozen other prisoners scheduled for first hearings today. Tenon made his first court appearance shackled in green prison scrubs during which the judge confirmed he would be held without bond on the charges of murder and conspiracy to murder The judge however set a $500,000 bond for each of the two other crimes with which he has been charged In the early days of the investigation, police had sought a blue Ford F-150 that was filmed in surveillance cameras in the area around the time of the shooting The judge took Tenon's case first and in a brief hearing she confirmed that he would be held without bond on the charges of murder and conspiracy to murder. Meanwhile, bond for $500,000 was set for each of the two other crimes with which he has been charged, accessory after the fact to a capital felony and felony child abuse. He will be arraigned on the charges on February 16 one year to the day after Bridegan's murder. Tenon was already in jail on unrelated charges driving with a suspended license and illegal possession of a firearm when officers descended in a raid on his home on Potomac Avenue, Jacksonville. He had officially moved out of the unassuming property in December 2021, but the lease had been taken over by a friend and the friend's son, both of whom continued to let Tenon use the home as a base whenever he was in town. 'Henry rented the house for years, but he wanted to move to Georgia where he has family, so a friend of his and his son took over the lease and they let Henry stay there whenever he was in town which was a fair bit,' the source explained. DailyMail.com has now learned that this vehicle matches the description of a truck owned by Tenon which went missing towards the beginning of last year Jared was ambushed by his killer who'd placed a tire in the middle of a quiet stretch of road, surrounded by trees in Jacksonville Beach to ensure he would stop and get out of the car to remove it The Microsoft executive was found 2.2miles from Shanna's home after dropping off the kids on February 16 It has since emerged that Tenon's landlord since 2017 was Mario Fernandez, 34 the second husband of Bridegan's ex-wife Shanna Gardner-Fernandez, 36. Property records show that Fernandez sold the Potomac Avenue property in October 2022 having owned it since 2017. 'Mario had owned it for years then pretty much the month of or the month after Jared's death he told his tenant he was planning to sell it,' said the source. Shanna has now moved across country to West Richfield, Washington, while Fernandez is understood to have remained in Florida. Neither have been named as suspects. Bridegan was shot dead in what police described as a 'targeted attack' when taking his usual route home having dropped the twins he shared with his ex-wife back at what was then her home. As part of the contentious custody agreement following Bridegan and Shanna's divorce in 2016, the exes had a one week on, one week off, arrangement with twins, Abbie and Liam, now 10. The parent who did not have the children on any given week took them out to dinner that Wednesday. Bridegan was shot dead in front of his daughter Bexley last February. He is pictured left with his second wife, now widow, Kirsten, 31 Shanna has now moved across country to West Richland, Washington, while her second husband Mario remains in Florida Bridegan a father of four who also had two daughters, Bexley, 3 and London, 1, by his second wife, Kirsten, 31 was on his way home, just minutes away from the Fernandez household, when a tire in the road that police believe was placed as a trap forced him to stop and get out of his Volkswagen Atlas to move it. Bexley was strapped in her child's seat in the rear of his car and witnessed her father's swift and callous execution. Speaking to DailyMail.com after the horrific crime which sent shockwaves through the quiet Florida beach town, Bridegan's widow expressed her belief that whoever killed her husband was not acting alone. The crime, she said, seemed 'too sophisticated' to have been either opportunistic or enacted by a solo killer. State's Attorney, Melissa Nelson, echoed that in a press conference Wednesday in which Tenon's arrest was announced. 'We know Henry Tenon did not act alone,' she said. With law enforcement looking to bring further charges the investigation remains ongoing and details of Tenon's indictment will remain sealed for 30 days. She told DailyMail.com her 16-year marriage to a white man opened her eyes Jackson Public Schools board member refused to apologize for 'something that is true' A school board member who is facing calls to resign after tweeting 'whiteness is evil' has revealed her ex-husband of 16 years opened her eyes to how 'whiteness harms and destroys.' Kesha Hamilton, 41, from Michigan, hit headlines last week after writing a series of inflammatory tweets in which she claimed Caucasian people were more dangerous than 'wild animals.' The tweets have still not been deleted from her public profile and Hamilton told DailyMail.com she will not 'apologize for something which is true.' Michigan school board member Kesha Hamilton, pictured, has doubled down on tweets claiming 'whiteness is evil', adding she cannot apologize for 'something that is true' Hamilton said she was 'surprised' by the media attention around the tweets after some parents demanded she resign. The 41-year-old also opened up about how her views on whiteness were informed by her marriage to a white man whom she met at church as a teenager but divorced about six years ago. When asked if the divorce was amicable, she declined to comment. 'My ex-husband opened my eyes to how whiteness harms and destroys,' she told DailyMail.com 'We met in the same church as teenagers and everybody agreed it was a good match. We married when I was 20. 'It gave me a front row seat to how whiteness works and I wasn't prepared for how different our value systems were.' Hamilton has been actively defending herself on social media against the backlash Hamilton, pictured, wrote in December claiming 'whiteness is evil' while another post claimed white people were more dangerous than wild animals Hamilton, who shares six children with her ex, added: 'White people live in their own delusion that the world is peaceful and calm and loving and they don't want somebody coming in and destroying that.' Her comments come after she faced parents and teachers at a heated Jackson Public Schools (JPS) board meeting last week. Hamilton had to be flanked by extra security due to protests staged by a local far-right group. The outrage was sparked by a tweet she wrote on December 18 which read: 'Whiteness is so evil, it manipulates then says I won't apologize for my dishonesty and trauma inducing practices and thinks you should applaud it for being honest about its ability to manipulate and be dishonest.' In a separate post on December 3 she said: 'The last thing you have to worry about is an animal - though that could be a very real threat... more dangerous are any white folks you may see on the trail... be safe!' Hamilton campaigned extensively to get the board member role in 2020 - her term will expire at the end of 2026 though she is facing calls to resign now Hamilton, whose ex-husband is white, has still failed to delete the tweets Hamilton runs her own consultancy Diversity Minds Consulting LLC aimed at tackling racism One mom insisted during the meeting that the board member should resign, adding: 'Racist comments should not be condoned.' Hamilton told DailyMail.com: 'I cannot apologize for something that is true.' 'I am not saying white people are evil, I think white identity and whiteness is evil. 'Examples of whiteness include the murder of George Floyd, the racist criminal justice system, slavery, poverty. I think we can all agree those are evil.' She insisted that she had the support of about '75 percent' of the teachers and parents that JPS represents. But the mother hinted there were some tensions on the school board, which has refused to comment publicly on the case, admitting she was seen as a 'disrupter.' Jackson Public Schools represents several schools across Jackson, Michigan. Hamilton works as a board member for Jackson Public Schools in Michigan. The board has refused to comment publicly on the case Hamilton was elected as a board member in 2020 though her term expires at the end of 2026. It is unclear how much she is paid for the role. Last year, she became involved in a dispute with superintendent Jeff Beal who she accused of harassment and bullying. However, an independent investigation found there was not enough evidence to substantiate the claims. She also runs her own consultancy firm Diverse Minds Consulting, LLC, which claims to 'fill the gaps that exist in the messaging and training of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and anti-racism'. The widow of murdered Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan has said she is 'not surprised' that his suspected killer has ties to her husband's ex-wife. Convicted felon Henry Tenon, who has been charged with Bridegan's murder, rented his home in Jacksonville, Florida, from the new husband of Shanna Gardner-Fernandez, who divorced Bridegan in 2016. Kirsten Bridegan, who married Jared four years before the murder, said of the connection: 'I'm not surprised to be honest.' She told Fox News: 'They charged [Tenon] with conspiracy. That means there are more people. This was orchestrated, this was planned and this was specific to Jared.' Bridegan, 33, was killed on February 16, 2022, while driving from Jacksonville Beach, Florida, to St. Augustine, after dropping off his nine-year-old twins with their mother, Gardner-Fernandez. Kirsten Bridegan, who married Jared four years before the murder, said of the suspect's connection to Bridegan's ex-wife: 'I'm not surprised to be honest' Jared Bridegan, 33, pictured with daughter Bexley, was murdered on February 16, 2022, after dropping off his nine-year-old twins with their mother, Shanna Gardner-Fernandez Henry Tenon rented a home from the new husband of Shanna Gardner-Fernandez (left), who is Jared Bridegan's ex-wife and was arguing with Bridegan over finances and custody at the time of his death He also shared daughters Bexley, three, and London, one, with Kirsten. Bexley was in the car at the time of the killing. Tenon was arrested this week and remains in custody on charges of second degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. His arrest warrant is sealed so many of the details surrounding the case remain unclear. Tenon rented his home from Mario Fernandez, the new husband of Bridegan's ex-wife Shanna. The couple sold the house in October 2022 - eight months after the murder, and three months after Tenon was arrested for unrelated gun charges. Police said at a press conference on Wednesday that Tenon did not act alone, and that they continue to investigate. Jared was ambushed by his killer, who'd placed a tire in the middle of the road to ensure he would stop, get out of the car and walk towards it. Jared, Kirsten, the twins and their two daughters Brexley, two, and London, seven-months Shanna Gardner-Fernandez with the twins she shares with her ex-husband Jared Bridegan, who was killed in February 2022 Neither Shanna nor Mario, who moved cross country from Florida to Washington state, have been arrested. Kirsten told Fox News that her daughter, Bexley, continues to struggle with the trauma of witnessing her father's murder. 'She heard the noises of the shots that killed her dad, and she was alone wondering what happened to him, and he's not answering her for minutes and minutes are an eternity for a child. She's been through a lot.' Suspect Henry Tenon rented a home from the new husband of Jared Bridegan's ex-wife The ordeal has also separated the two sets of children. Gardner-Fernandez will reportedly not allow the twins to see their siblings London and Bexley. 'Bexley asks about her big brother and her big sister, and I just say, 'mom has tried'. I know they're hurting.' She added: 'I am angry. I think it would be strange if we weren't angry. A grave injustice has been done to our family and that includes [the twins] and it continues to be done.' According to sheriff's records, Tenon was arrested in August on unrelated gun charges. He will go before a judge tomorrow on murder charges. 'We know Henry Tenon did not act alone,' said State's Attorney Melissa Nelson at a press conference today. Tenon is facing life in prison on charges of second degree murder. Prosecutors today announced the case would go to a grand jury, and that they hope it will be elevated to a first degree murder charge. In addition to conspiracy to commit murder and second degree murder, Tenon has been charged with child abuse. It stems to the fact Bridegan's two-year-old daughter was in the vehicle when he was killed. Property records list Mario Fernandez, the new husband of Bridegan's ex-wife, as the owner of the property in Jacksonville where Henry Tenon lived Tenon was arrested last August by the same police department on charges of owning a weapon despite being a convicted felon, and driving without a license. His previous offenses include felony traffic violations like driving with a suspended license multiple times, along with misdemeanor assault and domestic violence charges. His long arrest record dates back to the mid 1990s. The killing was planned to happen in a stretch of residential road where there were no surveillance cameras or Ring doorbell cameras. Bridegan and his ex, 35, divorced in 2016 but were still arguing over finances and custody at the time of his death. For the last year, his widow, Kirsten Bridegan, has been told to stay silent on who she believed might have killed him. The Microsoft executive was found 2.2miles from Shanna's home after dropping off the kids on February 16. It was on a quiet patch of road, where there were no security cameras Jared was gunned down on a quiet stretch of road, surrounded by trees, in Jacksonville Beach on February 16. No cameras are thought to have caught the killing She did not allow their twins to attend the memorial service held for Bridegan by his family, and instead hosted her own farewell for him. Kirsten told DailyMail.com in an interview last April that he had 'no enemies - for the most part'. After his death, Shanna and her new partner - Mario Fernandez, 33, - moved across the country from Florida to Washington State. It's unclear how she and Mario met. DailyMail.com tracked the pair down in the months after Jared's death. Shanna, now covered in tattoos, was stern and refused to comment on the case. The note read the owner couldn't afford to care for the pup anymore A Tennessee animal shelter reunited an abandoned dog with her homeless owner after the fluffy companion was left with a heart-wrenching note that explained she didn't have the means to take care of her. Lilo was found walking around Chattanooga earlier this week with a note attached to her collar before ending up at the McKamey Animal Center with the help of a good Samaritan. The note read: 'My name is Lilo. Please love me. My mom can't keep me and is homeless with two kids. She tried her best but she can't get help. I cost too much for her. She really loves me and I'm a great dog and loved to be loved on. Please don't abuse me.' Shelter employees immediately wrote a now viral public letter to the dog's owner on Facebook titled 'A note to Lilo's mom,' begging her to reunite with pup in exchange for a 'safe haven.' A heartwarming photo later showed Lilo and her unidentified owner embracing upon being reunited. A Tennessee animal shelter reunited an abandoned dog named Lilo with her homeless owner. Pictured: the dog Lilo and her unidentified owner Lilo was found in Tennessee wandering the streets with a note attached to her collar that read: 'Please love me' The letter to Lilo's mom posted by the animal shelter garnered more than 3,000 shares, nearly 1,000 comments and 5,000 reactions. 'We are so sorry that you had to make the decision to leave her behind,' the letter read. 'We know many folks are struggling to care for their pets right now. We know how hard it must be to give up an animal you so clearly loved because you cant provide the care she needs. We understand.' The public's help ultimately led to the family reconnecting nearly a day later. The shelter posted a photo of the two while pledging to help the family stick together. 'While we can't share a lot of the details with you yet, we are actively working with the family to set them up with a safe haven, shelter, and resources to stay together and tackle homelessness.' 'But if you are reading this, we hope you will come forward to reclaim her. We will help you with whatever you need to care for her, to the best of our ability. Lilo definitely misses you, and we would like nothing more than to see her go back to the family she loves.' The note read the owner couldn't afford to care for the pup anymore and she needed a new home The pup was sent to the McKamey Animal Center (above) where employees sought to return Lilo to her owner Social media users who followed Lilo's story closely were in awe of the shelters outreach to help the family and demonstration of 'love and compassion.' 'Im so incredibly happy and relieved to see this update,' one person wrote. 'Though surely there are challenges still to overcome, their hearts are whole once again. Ill continue to watch for updates to see how we can support this family.' 'Wonderful news!! How can I help? I said I would provide food for several months (what brand ?) what about donations for the family?' another added. Many expressed their desire to help the family while others were eager to help the dog owner care for her kids. 'I would like to help this family also,' one person wrote. 'I have clothes/shoes/blankets/food etc if I knew what ages the children are and sizes.' CCTV from onboard a bus captured the dramatic moment a driver lost control of his steering wheel as the vehicle plunged into a lake. The terrifying footage was captured at the Atabey Ferry Port in the Battalgazi district in eastern Turkey. The bus rattled into the Karakaya lake as terror-stricken passengers clung onto seats and railings. Water cascaded into the bus with video showing the helpless driver and passengers as they were knocked back by the brutal force of the water. Incredibly everyone on board survived with locals breaking windows to drag passengers to safety. CCTV from onboard a bus captured the dramatic moment the driver lost control of his steering wheel as the vehicle plunged into a lake The bus rattled into the Karakaya lake as terror-stricken passengers clung onto seats and railings Water cascaded into the bus as footage captured the driver and passengers as they were knocked back by the brutal force of the water The terrifying moment took place at the Atabey Ferry Port in the Battalgazi district in eastern Turkey The CCTV footage from the front of the bus showed the driver as he began to lose control of his steering wheel moments before the horrific incident. His driver door swung open as he was jolted from side to side by the out-of-control vehicle. Further footage overlooking the dock showed that the driver lost control when maneuvering the vehicle next to the lake. In the middle of the bus, passengers were visibly shaken and could be seen asking each other what was going on. Just seconds later, the bus clattered into the lake and a giant force of water flew through the bus from the front wind-screen window. In the middle of the bus, passengers were visibly shaken and could be seen asking each other what was going on The bus clattered into the lake and a giant force of water flew through the bus from the front wind-screen window As waves of water gushed in, the onboard passengers were forced to jump on the seats to lift themselves above the flow Water shot through the middle of the bus, knocking the passengers back Local citizens acted at speed to help rescue the onboard passengers from the lake Locals managed to break the vehicle's windows and pull some of the petrified travellers out As waves of water gushed in, the onboard passengers were forced to jump on the seats to lift themselves above the flow. Locals acted at speed to help rescue the onboard passengers from the lake. They managed to break the vehicle's windows and pull some of the petrified travellers out. The local Malatya fire service rushed to the scene and helped the 10 passengers escape. Following the initial emergency response, a specialist underwater rescue team arrived to check that no other passengers had been on the bus at the time of the incident and were still trapped beneath the water. A specialist underwater rescue team arrived to check that no other passengers had been on the bus at the time of the incident The terrifying moment an out-of-control bus careers into a lake and fills with water in Turkey Footage overlooking the dock showed that the driver lost control when maneuvering the vehicle next to the lake Work has since begun to remove the bus from the lake, and an investigation into the cause of the incident is underway A total of three people were injured after the incident and were taken to a local hospital. Thankfully, no one onboard the bus suffered from life-threatening injuries as a result of the incident. Work has since begun to remove the bus from the lake, and an investigation into the cause of the incident is underway. Alleged incident said to have occurred while Lee was off duty during a night out A serving Metropolitan Police officer has appeared in court to deny sexually assaulting a woman. PC Chris Lee, 38, a street duties instructor who works with new officers, has been suspended by the force. He appeared at Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and blue tie. Serving Met officer PC Chris Lee, 38, denied sexually assaulting a woman during a night out PC Chris Lee wrapped up outside court in a hood and a hat as he left the premises earlier Lee spoke to confirm his name before entering a not guilty plea to a single count of sexual assault in November 2021. The incident is alleged to have occurred while Lee was off duty during a night out. Lee spoke to confirm his name before entering a not guilty plea to a single count of sexual assault in November 2021 Judge Fiona Barrie said Lee, from Surbiton, south-west London, faces a four-day trial starting on October 16. Lee, who is attached to the Central West Command Unit, was granted unconditional bail. Earlier this month, David Carrick, 48 a Met firearms officer who guarded parliament was revealed as one of Britain's worst ever serial rapists after admitting to 71 sex offences spanning nearly 20 years. A top barrister's ex-girlfriend continued to bombard him with texts despite a restraining order, a court heard. Helen Faure was handed a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years after breaching a restraining order five times. The 52-year-old was first hit with the restraint last June as she developed an 'extremely unhealthy obsession' for her ex-partner. It banned her from going within 200m of Charles Bear's home and contacting him at all, after his seven-year-old daughter was 'traumatised' by one incident. Helen Faure, 52, as handed a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years after breaching a restraining order that banned her from going within 200m of Charles Bear's home five times The court also heard that she sent Mr Charles Bear (pictured) more than a dozen texts between November 8 to 17 last year, despite being instructed not to contact him But Faure flouted these rules on a number of occasions when coming within 200 metres of his home while visiting his local coffee shop. The court also heard that she sent Mr Bear more than a dozen texts between November 8 to 17 last year, despite being instructed not to contact him. When Faure learned he had told police, she texted Mr Bear, saying: 'Piece of sh*t, calling 999 to cry.' An email referred to 'meat horror' - said to be a 'new obsession' of Faure 'linking the victim with particular forms of animal injury'. Faure admitted harassment, by breaching a restraining order on conviction at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court. Despite the 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years, magistrate Mark Oxman told Faure she was likely to be sent to jail if she did not stop. Faure admitted harassment, by breaching a restraining order on conviction at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court Mr Bear previously told the court he dated Faure for eight months before their relationship ended abruptly during a holiday in France last August. He said an argument erupted when Faure sent a postcard to Mr Bear's ex-partner. Mr Bear previously said: 'I said it would cause a great deal of distress to send that card. 'To my horror a few days later I received a WhatsApp picture from my ex of the card saying "what's this?" 'I made it quite clear that was the end between us. I said to her that what you have done is completely wrong.' Mr Bear, based at Fountain Chambers in Temple, specialises in 'commercial litigation and arbitration, fraud, shareholder disputes, aviation work, and judicial review' according to his firm's website. The KC is described in The Legal 500 as 'Probably the most outstanding trial and appellate advocate of his generation'. Following the break-up Mr Bear said Faure turned up uninvited at his home at all hours and called him up on his phone through the night. At the height of the issue, Faure followed Mr Bear into his home in upmarket Highgate, northwest London, and refused to leave as his family cowered in their bedrooms. Faure also sent a barrage of offensive emails to Mr Bear making derogatory remarks about him and family members. She turned up to Mr Bear's home repeatedly and waited outside his chambers in central London, it was previously heard. He claimed she also turned up 'begging' for cash and even hand-delivered a letter to his former partner with a list of texts between Mr Bear and herself. Faure denied stalking the lawyer between 29 September and 20 October 2021 but was convicted. A disabled 14-year-old who was raped by her own uncle has been refused an abortion in Poland, sparking outrage in the conservative country. The Catholic nation has some of the strictest laws on abortion in Europe, and doctors can even refuse to provide them on ethical grounds, a law which has been slammed by women's rights activists. Termination is only legal when the pregnancy is the result of a criminal act such as rape or incest, or when the woman's health is at risk. Even though the underage girl was clearly a victim of abuse, two separate hospitals in her region of Podlasie refused to treat her or even tell her where she could receive a legal abortion, a violation of the law. Pictured: A woman takes part in a protest in 2020 against tighter abortion laws in Poland The girl, who did not understand she was pregnant, was taken by her aunt to doctors who treated them 'brutally and inhumanely', she claimed. The aunt had even provided documents from a prosecutor saying an alleged rape had occurred and an abortion would be lawful, but doctors still turned them away. They were allegedly told: 'Not here, go away. We don't know where. It's none of our concern.' The aunt contacted reproductive organisation Federa who helped take the young girl to Warsaw where an abortion was performed safely and successfully. But the initial refusal of the local doctors has provoked outrage in the devoutly Christian nation where 92 per cent of its population are Catholic. Federa said in a statement: 'Warsaw doctors couldn't understand the conduct of the doctors from Podlasie. No empathy is an understatement. 'We have no words of indignation at such treatment.' The girl, who did not understand she was pregnant, was taken by her aunt to doctors who treated them 'brutally and inhumanely', she claimed (file image) A health ministry spokesman has confirmed that local hospitals failed to comply with the law and a probe has been launched. Wojciech Andrusiewicz told TVN: 'Such an abortion should either be carried out or they should indicate a place where such an abortion can be carried out, so the hospital acted against the statuary provisions.' Dr Artur Plachta, gynecologist and member of the Supreme Medical Chamber, told Fakty: 'I am ashamed of them because they did not help the child. 'This child suffered two dramas: she was raped by someone, even the closest person, and now she received a third "gift" from her medical colleagues: she was not helped.' The commissioner for patients' rights also said that while individual doctors can invoke the 'conscience clause' and refuse to perform an abortion, an entire hospital cannot. Conservative values have played a growing role in public life in Poland since the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party came into power in 2015 on a promise to defend what it sees as the nation's traditional, Catholic character. An estimated 100,000 took to the streets in 2020 to protest against draconian new abortion laws Opposition politicians are now calling for reform over the abortion laws which were strengthened in 2020, to much protest. Then, even abortions for malformed fetuses were banned, and 100,000 demonstrators took to the streets against the harsh measures. Aleksandra Gajewska MP said: 'This draconian law and climate of intimidation, falsely understood as defence of life, which applies only to the fetus and does not apply to the mother in any way, allowed doctors in hospitals in Podlasie to refuse to help a 14-year-old girl.' Katarzyna Kotula, an MP from the left-wing Lewica party, said: 'The conscience clause is a barbaric and inhumane law repeatedly exploited by doctors. It should be abolished.' Pawe Krutul, an MP from the same party who comes from Podlasie, added: 'Young girls are suffering because of your stupid laws. See what fate you have prepared for Polish women. It's a disgrace.' Donald Tusk, the former president of the European Council turned opposition leader in Poland, also blasted the government over the scandal. He said pregnancies are now in the hands of 'prosecutors or ruling party politicians'. A man arrested on suspicion of killing a drag queen in Cardiff has been released on bail. The 50-year-old man had been detained three days after the body of convicted child sex-offender Darren Moore, 39, was found in the city centre on January 22. The unnamed man arrested on suspicion of manslaughter has been released pending further enquiries, South Wales Police confirmed today. Mr Moore, who performed as a local drag queen known as Crystal Couture, went missing after his regular Saturday night show at a Cardiff gay club. He was last seen at 5am and was later found dead in an alleyway wearing a luminous green dress, his trademark blonde wig and heels. A local man arrested on suspicion of killing Darren Moore (pictured above) on January 22 has been released on bail The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Moore's death continue and police have not yet determined a cause of death Detective Chief Inspector Paul Raikes, from South Wales Police, said further examinations are ongoing to establish a cause of death. 'Initial investigations have so far not revealed or confirmed any obvious cause of death, however, extensive enquiries are continuing to establish the cause and circumstances of Mr Moore's death,' Detective Raikes said. Moore was an established member of the gay scene in the UK. As a teenager in 1999, and under a previous name of Darren Sewell, he was convicted of four counts of rape on a boy under the age of 16. Moore was then sent to a Young Offenders' Institution for three years. Upon his release, he was banned from having contact with children. He later breached this in 2011 when he worked as a children's gymnastics and dance tutor. The drag queen's family described him as: 'always the life and soul where ever he went' Mr Moore was a convicted child sex offender who was banned from coming into contact with children The 39-year-old had been working as a drag queen for hire. His official website for Crystal Couture states: his act is 'for audiences large and small and of all ages' and 'available for wedding, christening, birthdays, and celebrations if (sic) all types'. Since his death, tributes have poured in from friends and fans, particularly from Cardiff's LGBT+ community. The Cardiff gay bar, Golden Cross, tweeted under the headline Rest in Fabulousness: 'We are deeply saddened to learn of Darren Moore's passing. 'He was the life and soul of the Party and would always be entertaining the masses, usually accompanied with a round of shots.' Mr Moore's family have described him as 'a loving husband, son, brother, uncle and friend'. 'He was always the life and soul where ever he went, he was our social butterfly. He made sure he had a lot of time for people, and never judged others,' they said. His loved ones have asked for privacy at this difficult time. A GoFundMe fundraising page has been created to help his family pay for funeral costs and has amassed more than 6,000 in two days. The Cardiff city centre alleyway where Moore's body was found in the early hours of Sunday (January 22) A bouquet of flowers is left near the crime scene as tributes pour in from the local LGBTQ+ community Members of the LGBT community in Cardiff are speculating on social media that his death was a result of a vicious hate crime. However, police have asked people to 'refrain from speculating on social media about what has occurred and please let the police investigation take its course.' They are also appealing for information from anyone who saw Mr Moore in the early hours of Sunday or who was in the vicinity of Park Lane and Windsor Place between 3am and 7am. The investigation continues. A Texas man wanted for the murder of his DJ girlfriend, who was found strangled to death in a suitcase, was extradited from Panama to Colombia on Wednesday night. A spokesperson for Colombia's Office of the Attorney General confirmed to DailyMail.com that John Poulos, 35, is expected to appear before a judge Thursday and will be formally charged for killing 23-year-old Valentina Trespalacios. Poulos is facing four counts - aggravated femicide, concealment, alteration and destruction of evidence. 'It is an execrable, miserable crime, against an absolutely vulnerable woman and that must be punished to the fullest extent of the law,' said Miguel del Rio, an attorney for the family, according to Noticias Caracol. Colombia law enforcement guard John Poulos, of Texas, upon his arrival in the South American country Wednesday night after he was extradited from Panama. He is accused of murdering his DJ girlfriend, Valentina Trespalacios, who was found inside a suitcase in a dumpster in the capital city of Bogota on Sunday Valentina Trespalacios was beaten and strangled to death before she was stuffed into a suitcase that was dumped in a construction waste container near a park in Bogota, Colombia, on Sunday. The 23-year-old was dating John Poulos, a resident from Texas, who is accused of killing her and was scheduled to appear before a judge Thursday for his arraignment John Poulos (second from left) had his face covered with a jacket before he was placed in an aircraft in Panama for his extradition to Colombia on Wednesday night Trespalacios' body was stuffed into a blue luggage bag that was left inside a dumpster in the Colombian capital city of Bogota on Sunday afternoon. The gruesome discovery was made by a homeless person who was searching for recyclables. Surveillance footage showed a man tossing the suitcase, which was sealed with tape and locked, into the construction waste container next to a park. Poulos purchased a one-way ticket to Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, Panama, on Sunday. He was captured by Panamanian immigration and Interpol agents at the airport Tuesday evening moments before he was set to board a Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul Turkey with a connection Montenegro, where there is no extradition treaty to Colombia. He had also bought a one-way ticket from Panama City to Sao Paulo, Brazil, as part of an attempt to throw off his international manhunt. Poulos told authorities in Panama that the defunct Medellin Cartel was behind Trespalacios' murder and that he had fled Colombia because cartel members wanted to kill him. Colombian authorities have yet to corroborate his version of the events. High-ranking law enforcement officials traveled from Colombia to meet their Panama counterparts on Wednesday afternoon and presented a court order for Poulos' arrest and extradition. Trespalacios' hairstylist, Victoria Jimenez, confirmed to DailyMail.com on Wednesday that Poulos was married and had three children in the United States. She added that the mother of the children had obtained a restraining order because he was violent. John Poulos (left) had plans of living in Colombia full time and marrying his DJ girlfriend, Valentina Trespalacios (right). He was arrested in Panama on Tuesday, two days after her body was found inside a suitcase in a dumpster in the Colombian capital city of Bogota John Poulos (pictured) was taken into custody in Panama on Tuesday moments before he was about to board a flight to Turkey and then connect to Montenegro. He was extradited to Colombia on Wednesday night to face charges for the murder of his DJ girlfriend, Valentina Trespalacios Valentina Trespalacios (pictured) was dating her boyfriend John Poulos for eight months She said Trespalacios met Poulos through an online dating app. The couple had been dating for eight months and had planned to marry in the near future. Poulos, Jimenez said, had planned to travel to Colombia in February as part of his plans to find a home in Bogota and live there permanently with Trespalacios. She added that she and Trespalacios were going to go on a mini vacation double date in February with both of their boyfriends Jimenez also dates an American. Jimenez said that Poulos has become increasingly upset with Trespalacios because she had refused to publicize their relationships on her social media networks. She declined to go public because her accounts were only being used to promote her DJ work. Colombian agents escort John Polos (second to the right) after his arrival in Colombia on Wednesday night Turkish Airlines ticket purchased by John Poulos to travel from Panama City, Panama, to Istanbul, Turkey. The 35-year-old from Texas also had a connecting flight to Montenegro Poulos traveled from the United States to Colombia last week and picked up Trespalacios at her home and moved her into a residence he had rented out in the north side of Bogota. He accompanied Trespalacios to a gig at Nexxus bar early Saturday morning. After completing her, a friend invited Trespalacios to have a drink, but she declined to do so because she said that Poulos was in a bad mood. An autopsy report showed that Colombian DJ Valentina Trespalacios was beaten and strangled Witnesses saw them getting into Poulos' rental car with another male after leaving the bar it's been reported that the couple was returning to their new home. El Tiempo newspaper reported that investigators believe Poulos may have killed Trespalacios on Saturday morning and abandoned the body Sunday. An autopsy report showed that Trespalacios was beaten and strangled. A mugshot released by Panamanian authorities showed that Poulos had a scratch on the left side of his face, an indication that Trespalacios fought for her life while she was being attacked. President Biden is forging ahead with plans for a 2024 campaign - despite concerns about his age - as he eyes up wealthy Democratic donors to court in the coming weeks. Biden and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) will host fundraisers in Philadelphia and New York next week as the president travels to each state to tout his legislative successes. The pace and volume of such fundraisers is supposed to pick up in March, three sources told Reuters. The White House has repeatedly said Biden intends to run for president again in 2024, even as he would be 83 by the time he began his second term. President Biden is forging ahead with plans for a 2024 campaign - despite concerns about his age - as he eyes up wealthy Democratic donors to court in the coming weeks Biden is expected to formally announce his bid for the presidency after the Feb. 7 State of the Union address. So far Donald Trump is Biden's only opponent in the race. Trump announced his campaign in November and potential Republican challengers have held off on making any formal decisions. The president will need to seek out high-dollar donors from Wall Street and the tech industry - fields his administration has sometimes vilified - to match the over $1 billion war chest he amassed last election cycle. In 2020 Biden was the first presidential candidate to ever raise over $1 billion as he battled Republican incumbent President Donald Trump. The Democratic National Committee will also need to raise money to help defend a tough congressional map in 2024 that includes defending Senate seats in Ohio, West Virginia, Arizona and Montana. Outside groups raised another $580 million for Biden in 2020. Aides are divided over whether to rely on a super-PAC this time around for outside help, and, if so, which one, sources tell Reuters. Biden and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) will host fundraisers in Philadelphia and New York next week as the president travels to each state to tout his legislative successes The 2024 campaign trail will look far more busy for Biden, who spent much of the 2020 trail hosting virtual fundraisers from his home. This time around he'll have to not only attend traditional campaign stops and fundraising events but also tend to his official duties as president at the same time. Still, not all Democrats are sold on another Biden run. On Tuesday progressive Rep. Ro Khanna said a more business-friendly Democrat could challenge Biden in a primary. On NBC's 'Meet the Press' on Sunday, Sen. Joe Manchin did not rule out a presidential bid in 2024. 'I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that when I make my decision, I make it on based on what's best, what I think I can do to support, and best for my country and my state,' he said. 'I haven't decided on anything I'm going to do until I see the lay of the land is going to be at that time,' Manchin added. Police have closed their criminal investigation into the death of a woman who was killed by 'a frenzied pack of dogs' in Surrey and revealed that nobody has been prosecuted. The 28-year-old, as yet unnamed, was believed to have been walking a number of dogs in Gravelly Hill, Caterham when she was attacked on January 12. Eight dogs were seized at the scene and remain in police custody subject to forensic investigation, though no prosecutions are being brought against any individuals. Surrey Police said none of the dogs were banned breeds. A post mortem was carried out last week and a file is now being prepared for the Surrey coroner who is to open an inquest. Police at the remote spot Gravelly Hill in Caterham, Surrey , where a 28-year-old woman was mauled to death by the dogs it is believed she was walking Shiva, an 11st Leonburger, was among eight hounds with the victim. Shiva's owner says her dog is now 'missing' Senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Josephine Horner, said: 'This is a tragic incident in which a young woman lost her life. 'I know it has caused real concern locally and I thank the community for bearing with us whilst we conducted our inquiries. 'The criminal investigation has now concluded and the information we have gathered will be passed to the Surrey coroner to assist in the coronial process. 'The dogs continue to be cared for at private kennels to ensure their welfare and their owners are being kept informed. 'We appreciate this is a difficult and uncertain process for them as the forensic work continues.' The woman's family and the owners of the seized dogs have been updated. Earlier this month the first picture emerged of one of the dogs a large Leonberger called Shiva. Following the attack, Shiva's owner posted online that her dog was 'missing'. Another woman was hospitalised and eight dogs were recovered at the scene after police responded following the attack at 2.45pm yesterday Among the dogs being walked was a couple of dachshunds, (left) a cockapoo (right) the nation's favourite breed during lockdown a collie and Shiva (File photos) Armed officers were called to reports of a dog attacking members of the public in the remote beauty spot at 2.45pm on the day of the horror attack. Despite the best efforts of paramedics, a 28-year-old woman from London died at the scene. The dogs are thought to include a Leonberger, a cross between a Newfoundland and a St Bernard and two sausage dogs. It was not clear how many of them attacked the victim and only one of the dogs appeared to be of substantial size. A source close to the case earlier told the Daily Mail: 'She just had too many dogs. You cannot be in control with that amount of dogs. If something happens, it's like having seven small wolves attacking you. 'The dogs were in a frenzy, acting as a pack, and going for whatever was in front of them.' A second woman who received treatment for dog bites was discharged from hospital. The owners of dogs that kill someone can be jailed for up to 14 years or face an unlimited fine or both. A police officer at the scene of the tragedy, where a forensics tent had been erected A woman lays flowers where the dog mauling took place to pay her respects A 60-year-old woman on horseback previously spoke of seeing a blonde woman wearing a beige jacket, on the ground, sitting but never quite managing to stand up. 'When we saw her she was about 50ft away,' the horsewoman told The Mail on Sunday. 'She was swamped by at least four medium-sized dogs, maybe more, attacking her, pulling her at arms and sides and she was screaming and shouting.' But perhaps surprisingly, there was no barking.' The horsewoman, who believes she was the last person to see the victim alive, added: 'The dogs must have been on the lead because they were in such close proximity. 'I don't know why they kicked off the way they did. Maybe a couple were fighting with each other and she tried to intervene, and she got in the way and they saw red and just kept going. 'When she saw us she shouted: 'Turn back, turn back!'. 'I cannot see how she could have got up. Once you're down and the dogs are attacking like that, how you could get up? I imagine that is where the police found her.' The factually-challenged New York Republican claims to co-sponsor seven bills Republican Rep. George Santos is barreling ahead with the legislative work of Capitol Hill, he told DailyMail.com on Thursday, even amid the growing scandal over his unraveling backstory. The freshman New York congressman, representing parts of Long Island and NYC, has been under intense scrutiny after admitting to lying about his education credentials, personal background and career. Since then, details about his family heritage and source of his recent wealth have also come apart, inspiring multiple investigations into whether the lies broke any laws. Most recently, an amended Federal Election Commission filing has raised questions about who funded his campaign. One $500,000 donation that was reported to come from Santos' 'personal' funds now says it didn't - though it's still indicated to be a loan 'from the candidate.' Santos would not answer reporters' questions on the source of that money on Thursday morning as he entered his office shortly after 10am. He was spotted by reporters briefly entering and then exiting his office on Thursday morning The lawmaker had passed the threshold into his private workplace when he spun around upon hearing DailyMail.com's question on whether he'd been asked to co-sponsor any bills during his short time in Congress so far. 'Yes! Seven,' Santos said, pointing in the direction of DailyMail.com's reporter. Asked which ones, he added: 'Take a look! Seven!' A search of Congress' official website shows Santos is in fact co-sponsoring six bills - not seven. Among them is an impeachment resolution against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, led by Texas GOP Rep. Pat Fallon and co-sponsored by 34 other lawmakers. Another is a Constitutional amendment calling for term limits for members of Congress. That bill was brought by Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina and has 58 total co-sponsors. The most recent bill that Santos is listed as a co-sponsor on specifically targets his home state of New York's recent bail reform laws. House GOP Rep. George Santos of New York told DailyMail.com that he's been asked to co-sponsor seven bills Despite the mounting scrutiny around his backstory and multiple investigations, Santos is seated on two House committees and appears to be doing legislative work It would award $10million in Justice Department grants to states which laws mandate that courts 'consider dangerousness when determining bail or pretrial release.' 'To receive grant money, states with these laws must also take steps to hire and retain law enforcement or administer a public awareness campaign that combats anti-police sentiment and improves community-police relations,' a press release for the bill states. All 11 Republican members of New York's Congressional delegation are backing the bill, including its sponsor - House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik - third highest ranking Republican in the lower chamber. Stefanik has otherwise stayed mum on Santos, despite enthusiastically endorsing him and fundraising for his campaign in the lead-up to the November 8 race. She's now fielding questions herself, like the rest of House Republican leadership, about what she knew of Santos' lies and when. One of the most closely watched revelations encumbering the new lawmaker has been the issue of his wealth, which he previously claimed came from lucrative work on Wall Street. But since then, reports have indicated that Santos in reality spent some time working at a Queens call center, and was briefly part of a financial organization that the SEC had branded a 'Ponzi scheme.' The new FEC filing, first uncovered by the Daily Beast on Tuesday, shows that a $500,000 loan from to his campaign is no longer marked 'personal funds of the candidate' - though it had been in September 2022. But both versions still indicate it came 'from the candidate' - raising questions on whether it was funneled into his funds illegally. He's previously refused to answer questions on the source of $700,000 total of his own money that he purportedly loaned his campaign. Once asked about it by fellow GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida while he was hosting an episode of Steve Bannon's War Room, Santos said: 'Ill tell you where it didnt come from. It didnt come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma.' A Staten Island lawyer was fatally gunned down by robbers who stole his phone in a 'random' attack while he was on vacation in Chile. Eric Eugene 'Gene' Garvin, 38, was last seen in Santiago, Chile on January 14, where he was vacationing with a friend, who reported him missing. His body would be found in a hospital morgue a week later, his family revealed on Facebook. His devastated parents paid tribute to the man, with his father telling ABC 7: 'From a father's perspective, this is the darkest day in my life and my wife's life.' The lawyer was reportedly walking in a drug-infested area when he stopped to a take a photograph while on his way to dinner. He was then attacked by three to four men who shot him three times and stole his phone in what seemed to be a random attack. He died at the scene, according to his father. Eric Eugene 'Gene' Garvin, 38, (pictured) was last seen in Santiago, Chile on January 14, where he was vacationing with a friend, who reported him missing. His body would be found in a hospital morgue a week later, his family revealed on Facebook The lawyer (far right) was reportedly walking in a drug-infested area when he stopped to a take a photograph while on his way to dinner. He was then attacked by three to four men who shot him three times and stole his phone in what seemed to be a random attack 'What they told us is my son was innocently walking down the street, paused for a moment, took a snapshot of a building in a drug-infested area,' his father told ABC 7. He was set to fly to Argentina the following day with his friend, who later reported him missing, not knowing his friend's body was sitting in a morgue. On Monday, Eric Sr. and his daughter Naomi - who often traveled with her brother - traveled to Santiago to meet with several US Embassy Officials and Santiago detectives, among others in hopes of 'find out more about what happened' and to arrange for the lawyer's body to be brought back to the US. 'To date, Santiago authorities have not told us much. We are hoping we will learn more,' his father wrote on Facebook. 'From a father's perspective, this is the darkest day in my life and my wife's life,' his father Eric D. Garvin (pictured) said The lawyer, who had previously worked for the NYC Mayor's Office, is believed to have traveled to around 40 countries and 'never had a concern about going out of the country,' his sister told ABC 7. 'He made friends very quickly,' she told the outlet. Now, his sister is hoping others will be 'more like him.' She said: 'I want people to make space for each other. I want them to be curious about meeting each other and experiencing each other's cultures.' She also said Santiago officials have been helpful in the investigation and is hoping arrests will be made soon. Eric Jr. often traveled with his sister Naomi (pictured together in Cuba) and she said her brother was never scared to leave the country Eric Sr. (middle with son) traveled with his daughter to Santiago on Monday to meet with Embassy officials and police officials to learn me about his son's attack and to get the process started to move his son's body back to the US The Staten Island man had devoted his life to public service and has worked for City Council, in addition to the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice. He worked to combat gun violence in Brownsville, Brooklyn, while under former Mayor Bill de Blasio, among other initiatives. The father said his son often advocated for those who were overlooked by society and passionately worked to better their lives. Several of his former colleagues took to social media to remember the lawyer and advocate, who dedicated his life to public service. They called him a 'bright young man' and sent 'peace, love, and light to his family' Several of his former coworkers took to social media to honor the lawyer. Charles D. Fall, a New York State assemblyman, wrote on Twitter: 'Deeply saddened to hear the news of Eric Garvins passing. Eric was a dear friend to me and so many in our community. My heartfelt condolences are with Margie Garvin and the entire Garvin family.' Margie is Eric Jr.'s grandmother who is well-known in Staten Island for helping up voter registration and is lovingly referred to as the 'Mayor of Park Hill.' New York Council Member, Kamillah M. Hanks, wrote on Twitter: 'We are saddened to hear of the loss of Community Advocate Eric Garvin. Eric had a bright future ahead of him. We join the community in sending our prayers and condolences to the Garvin family.' Eric (left) pictured with Charles Fall, who posted a tribute to the lawyer on Twitter, writing that he was 'deeply sadden' by the news of his friend's passing Eric Jr.'s family wants the world to be more like him, as he was someone who made 'space' for other people and was 'curious about meeting each other and experiencing each other's cultures,' his sister said Elvin Garcia, who formerly worked in the Mayor's Office, said he 'couldn't believe' his friend had passed, writing: 'Eric Garvin was a dedicated public servant and really the nicest guy out there. He had his whole life ahead of him. Heartbreaking and shocking to hear this news. My heart goes out to his loved ones.' Jumaane D. Williams, who works in the Office of New York City Public Advocate, said Eric Jr. was 'a bright young man and committed public servant.' 'Eric Garvin will be deeply missed by the Staten Island community and by the entire city. We send peace, love and light to his family in the wake of a devastating act of gun violence,' he concluded on Twitter. A legal expert has warned that quadruple murder suspect Bryan Kohberger could have his conviction overturned if his current attorney does not recuse herself from the case after a 'glaring' conflict of interest came to light. Chief Public defender Ann Taylor is currently representing Kohberger, 28, as the case heads to trial, but she was previously the lawyer of Cara Northington the mother of murdered Xana Kernodle, 20. Xana was killed at a student house in Moscow, Idaho, with her boyfriend Ethan Chapin, 20, and roommates Maddie Mogen, 21, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, on November 13. Her mother has slammed Taylor after she was dropped by the attorney on January 5 the day that Kohberger appeared before an Idaho judge. Cara Northington said she has been left 'heartbroken' by the decision for Taylor to drop her case. Pictured L-R: Jazzmin Kernodle, Cara Northington and Xana Kernodle in 2018 Chief Public defender Ann Taylor is currently representing Kohberger, 28, as the case heads to trial Northington was at the time being represented for various drug charges by Taylor, who had worked with her on several occasions saying she was 'heartbroken' to be silently dropped. A legal expert is now calling for Taylor to recuse herself from the Kohberger case as he believes it could result in the suspected killer appealing any result in which he is found guilty. California Appellate and litigation lawyer Matthew Barhoma told DailyMail.com that Taylor seems to want to work on the case with Kohberger describing it as an 'odd and unique' situation. He said: 'Taylor had many prior dealings with the mother on multiple occasions and that heightens the conflict. You have to assume she received no confidential information from the mother that could bleed into this case. 'And then you have to question if you can do the job impartially, and it could affect Bryan who may not have a replaced attorney. 'It is an inherently difficult issue with no clear-cut answer and is a gray area. However if it were me, I would recuse myself from the case. Northington said that she felt betrayed that Taylor was now representing her daughter's alleged killer. Pictured - Xana (right) with her sister Jazzmin (left) California Appellate and litigation lawyer Matthew Barhoma (right) told DailyMail.com that Taylor (left) seems to want to work on the case with Kohberger A legal expert is now calling for Taylor to recuse herself from the Kohberger case as he believes it could result in the suspected killer appealing any result in which he is found guilty 'Another issue is that Idaho is quite small, so there may not be an alternate public defender with a large and separate office like they would have in LA. 'I would be surprised however if there is no one at all that could replace her. 'This kind of conflict happens all the time, especially in the public defender's office who represents many individuals. 'But the issue here is the fact that she has represented the victim's mom several times previously, so she is conflicted on the Bryan case. 'There is a very high likelihood that the parents are going to testify in the trial, especially if it becomes a death penalty trial. 'The parents and the families are going to stand up in court and testify, and in that instance, Taylor would be cross-examining her own former client.' Xana's mother has since claimed that she gave Taylor power of attorney because of her drug addictions and is unsure what happens next in her case. Northington slammed Taylor after she was dropped by the attorney on January 5 the day that Kohberger appeared before an Idaho judge Taylor is seen with Kohberger on January 5 - the day Taylor stopped representing Northington officially Northington was at the time being represented for various drug charges by Taylor, who had worked with her on several occasions saying she was 'heartbroken' to be silently dropped. PIctured: Ethan Chapin with Xana Kernodle Northington says that she 'trusted' the lawyer to help her, and is unsure if she even has new representation. She added that she feels 'betrayed' by Taylor, and felt that she had been 'abandoned by prosecutors' who knew Kohberger studies at WSU where Xana's sister Jaszzmin attends. Northington says that she 'trusted' the lawyer to help her, and is unsure if she even has new representation Barhoma went on: 'If Taylor does have power of attorney in the mother's case, I don't think she will for very long. Just looking at the mother's reaction - that tells you everything you need to know about the conflict. 'There is no way you can tell me that there isn't another attorney that could come in and replace her, and I would recuse myself from the case. 'On the other hand Bryan has the right to a speedy trial and that can't be impacted in a case like this. 'If Taylor continues to be his attorney and it does turn into a death penalty case, then in that predicament, then it gives a really good appellate argument to overturn his conviction or overturn the death penalty. 'It is a really difficult area to navigate, and I would recuse. If Bryan were to be found guilty and the death penalty was given, then he would have a very good appellate argument to get it overturned if Taylor was his lawyer.' Northington, who has long battled addiction, said she only found out that Taylor was representing her daughter's accused killer when a friend saw it on social media and told her. Best friends Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen, both 21, (pictured) were murdered along with roommate Xana Kernodle and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin, both 20 in an off-campus home in Moscow Xana's mother has since claimed that she gave Taylor power of attorney because of her drug addictions and is unsure what happens next in her case Northington, who has long battled addiction, said she only found out that Taylor was representing her daughter's accused killer when a friend saw it on social media and told her Some speculated that Taylor's appointment to represent Kohberger was one of necessity because in the small county, there was not an abundance of qualified public defenders. Taylor is one of just 13 public defenders in Idaho approved by the state's public defense commission to lead a capital punishment case. She's also the only one in all of North Idaho. Prosecutors have yet to indicate whether they will seek the death penalty in Kohberger's case, with Xana's mother adding that no one had contacted her from their office. It was unclear why a liaison officer from the Victim and Witness Coordinator team had not gotten in touch. Barhoma explained that it is 'plausible' that Taylor only became aware of the conflict after taking the case but believes that it 'would have come out earlier'. He added: 'There is a substantial conflict of interest, despite removing herself from the mother's case, she should get herself off Bryans case too. Kohberger, 28, was arrested on December 30 after weeks of thorough investigation by police in Moscow, Idaho, and the FBI Court documents filed the same day as his arrest stated 'compelling circumstances warrant the temporary sealing ordered in this matter.' 'But there seems to be an interest from her, that she wants to represent him. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt, it is obviously a high-profile case, and also her current client could be facing the death penalty and there is apparently no replacement for her so that is part of her duty to represent him. 'The likelihood of this becoming a death penalty case is high, which means the mom is going to take the stand, there is a chance that it won't happen but in the instance that it does I don't know what will happen. 'He could get a new trial, he could have his conviction overturned if he is found guilty, and everyone would have to go through the whole process again. I would just recuse myself if I were her, it is the smartest thing to do.' DailyMail.com did not receive a response to a request for comment from Taylor or the Public Defenders' office. Kohberger earned a psychology degree at community college in 2018, before studying psychology and criminal justice at DeSales University On the day of the attack, the department said that there was not an 'ongoing community risk' and added two days later that there was 'no imminent threat to the community at large' DailyMail.com did not receive a response to a request for comment from Taylor or the Public Defenders' office Kohberger was arrested on December 30 by a SWAT team at his parents home in Pennsylvania as they moved to search his apartment at Washington State University. He has previously indicated that he believes he will 'be exonerated', with his family unable to pay for him to have private representation. A new search warrant, made public on January 17, shows that police found several hair strands, including one suspected animal hair, a black glove, a computer tower and one unnamed item with a collection of 'dark red spots'. They also hauled away a pillow with a 'reddish/brown stain' on it and the top and bottom of a mattress cover with 'multiple stains'. Investigators, who raided the property back in December, also picked up receipts from Walmart and two Marshall's receipts, as well as collecting the contents of his vacuum cleaner. Authorities initially sealed the search warrant for the murder suspect's Washington home arguing that releasing the details could 'prematurely' end the investigation. However, the document has now been unsealed with the approval of Whitman County Prosecutor Denis Tracy, who filed the motion on January 17. It was unclear why a liaison officer from the Victim and Witness Coordinator team had not gotten in touch with Northington Kaylee with her dog Murphy. Idaho police have just confirmed that Murphy was in the house when she was brutally murdered Jack DuCoeur and Kaylee Goncalves, pictured, shared custody of the dog after they split up Court documents show that eight strands of hair were recovered from the apartment, as well as a 'possible' animal hair. They also recovered a Fire TV stick during their search. All the items are now being stored at the Washington State University Police department. Authorities reportedly said they wanted to see if any hair had been 'transferred' onto Kohberger and then back to his apartment including that of Kaylee Goncalves' dog Murphy. Murphy was found alive in Kaylee's room by investigators who were called to the scene, and has now been returned to her ex-boyfriend. The application also stated that the home where the students were murdered had a significant amount of blood from the victims including 'spatter and castoff blood'. Investigators believe that it was likely that the killer would have had blood evidence on their body or clothing, and hoped to find trace evidence in Kohberger's apartment. However, they did not describe the results of any of the testing in the documents and did not confirm if any hairs found matched the victims or Kaylee's dog. Law enforcement saw him multiple times outside of his parent's Pennsylvania home wearing surgical gloves Many are questioning why it took Dylan so long to raise the alarm, after hearing 'crying' and coming face to face with the killer. Pictured (L-R) Dylan Mortensen, Xana Kernodle, Bethany Funke, Kaylee Goncalves and Maddie Mogen The house in Moscow, Idaho. Bombshell documents reveal how police were led to the suspect His offices at Washington State University were also searched, but nothing was seized by officers. Initially, the court ruled that the warrant should be sealed until March 1, claiming that if it were made public there would be a threat to 'public safety'. Kohberger, 28, has yet to enter a plea for the murders of Maddie Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. Authorities released the probable cause affidavit against Kohberger just before his first hearing in Moscow, Idaho, on January 5. It reveals how Kohberger turned his phone off on the night of the murders in an alleged attempt to cover his tracks before the murder. He is even alleged to have returned to the scene of the crime at 9am on November 13 - just hours after police believe he committed the quadruple murder. The documents say that the criminal justice graduate stalked the property at least 12 times. Officials have not revealed the exact dates they believe he canvassed the three-story property but confirmed that, in August, he was pulled over just two minutes after leaving the area covered by the cell phone tower closest to the home. A Latah County Sheriff's deputy pulled him over on August 21 at 11.37pm as part of a traffic stop in which he provided his number. During the stop, which was recorded on the officer's body cam, Kohberger was driving his white Hyundai Elantra. The papers also included details on how Kohberger's DNA was found on a knife sheath close to the bodies of Maddie Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves. Authorities are still hunting for the murder weapon. A West Virginia man was arrested and charged for allegedly kidnapping a woman, threatening to kill her and burning her at least three times with a torch. Sammy Martz, 47, of Philippi, flashed a disturbing grin with both eyes wide open as police took his mugshot following his arrest on Tuesday. He told the officers he beat the victim and had burned 'her with a torch on at least three occasions,' WBOY reports. Police alleged Martz had 'tortured her by striking her all over her body, sitting on her and burning her with a butane torch.' Sammy Martz, 47, flashed a disturbing smile after being arrested for allegedly kidnapping a woman, threatening to kill her and burning her at least three times with a torch Officers were responding to a domestic disturbance call on Lander Road when they found the victim hiding under a neighbor's porch as she suffered from a 'swollen shut' eye. The woman told police Martz had hit her in the face when she was trying to leave the home early in the morning, and that he kept her there for four to five hours. She 'had escaped the residence via the rear window and ran from the residence to hide,' according to the criminal complaint filed against Martz. She also told officers that Martz had burned her in her stomach and leg and even threatened to kill her. As she was placed in EMS care, police entered the residence accompanied by the Barbour County Sheriffs Department and West Virginia State Police troopers. Deputies told WDTV that money, a 'substantial' amount of meth and a firearm were found in the home. He is being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail without bond as police say more charges could be levied against him The victim claimed Martz had a firearm, and after law enforcement announced themselves in the house, Martz came out from a bedroom and was taken into custody. Martz was charged with kidnapping and is being held in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail without bond. The Philippi Police Department said the investigation is on going and said more charges could be filed against Martz. Iraq has sentenced 14 ISIS fanatics to death by hanging for their role in the brutal massacre of hundreds of army cadets in 2014, judicial officials said. The massacre, one of the worst committed by ISIS in Iraq, saw the extremists in June 2014 abduct up to 1,700 mainly Shiite cadets from the Speicher military base in the Tikrit region and execute them. The Al-Rusafa Criminal Court in the capital Baghdad 'issued death sentences against 14 criminal terrorists for their participation in the Camp Speicher massacre in 2014', the judicial authority said in a statement, without specifying their nationalities. The 14 ISIS fanatics have 30 days to appeal the sentence. Decrees authorising executions must also be signed by Iraq's president. ISIS abducted up to 1,700 mainly Shiite cadets from the Speicher military base in the Tikrit region and executed them Harrowing images were released by the terror group in 2014 that showed gunmen shooting the men dead after forcing them to lie face down in a shallow ditch The Speicher massacre took place in 2014 in the early days of the terror group's offensive in Iraq, when it captured the country's second city Mosul and turned it into its stronghold. The terror group then moved south and seized Saddam Hussein's home town of Tikrit. They captured an estimated 1,700 Iraqi cadets who were fleeing from the Speicher army base. ISIS executed the recruits one by one. Harrowing images were released by the terror group that showed gunmen shooting the men dead after forcing them to lie face down in a shallow ditch. ISIS threw some of the bodies into the Tigris River, which runs through Tikrit, while others were buried in mass graves. Although definitions vary, the Speicher massacre is considered the second deadliest act of terrorism in history, only surpassed by the horrors of the September 11 attacks. Some 36 men were hanged for their participation in the massacre in 2016 The massacre sparked outrage across Iraq and partially fueled the mobilisation of Shiite militias in the fight against ISIS, a Sunni extremist group. In 2015, Iraqi forces arrested dozens of men linked to the massacre after retaking the town of Tikrit in 2015 with the help of US-led airstrikes. A year later, 36 men were hanged for their participation in the massacre. ISIS was eventually driven out by the Iraqi army and an international coalition in 2017. While Iraqi authorities do not give figures, several thousand people accused or convicted of ISIS links are currently detained in Iraqi prisons. The United Nations estimated in 2018 that more than 12,000 Iraqi and foreign 'combatants' were being held in Iraqi prisons. An Iraqi forensics team unearths bodies from a mass grave in the palace compound of former President Saddam Hussein on April 9, 2015 in Tikrit, Iraq But Iraq has also been criticised for carrying out hundreds of what human rights groups claim as fast-track trials using confessions obtained under torture or without proper defence. In 2021, Iraq executed 17 people for all crimes, according to rights group Amnesty International. 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. Gigi Sohn, President Biden's pick for a vacant seat on the Federal Communications Commission, is a proud member of a nonprofit that wants to uphold sex work online, and which honors sex workers including a dominatrix who boasts about urinating on people's faces. The organization is called the Electronic Frontier Foundation and is designed to protect free speech online. The group protested against SESTA - a legislation introduced under the Trump administration - that cracks down on sex trafficking in 2017, claiming it would 'censor' sex work. Sohn, 61, took her seat on the EFF's board in 2018, two years before the organization honored a sex worker called Mistress Blunt. Blunt, who sells her work on OnlyFans and other sites, was celebrated in 2020 with the EFF's 'Pioneer Award'. Gigi Sohn, Biden's pick to sit on the vacant fifth spot on the FCC, sits on the board of the EFF - a 'free speech' nonprofit that wants to uphold sex work online Among those celebrated by the EFF is Mistress Blunt, an OnlyFans dominatrix who won the nonprofit's 'Pioneer Award' in 2020 They have since partnered together again to protect sex workers' 'digital rights'. Sohn is up for a seat on the FCC for the second time, but the vote on whether or not she'll be sworn in remains in a deadlock. If she is given the position, she would tip the board's Democratic majority. Blunt did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's inquiries. A spokesman for EFF told DailyMail.com that Sohn had no role in selecting Blunt for the Pioneer Award. Sohn indicated in a February 2022 letter to the acting General Counsel for the FCC that she would step down from EFF if her government appointment was confirmed. On her social media pages, Blunt boasts about being able to teach 'c**ksucking techniques.' In her acceptance speech of the EFF's Pioneer Award, she said: 'Sex workers were some of the earliest adopters of the web. Mistress Blunt boasts about urinating on men's faces and taking their 'wallets' online The EFF honored Mistress Blunt with its Pioneer Award in 2020 and continues to work with her to protect sex work online Sohn joined the EFF in 2018 and remains a board member 'Sex workers were some of the first to use ecommerce platforms and the first to have personal websites. 'The rapid growth of countless tech platforms was reliant on the early adoption of sex workers... [but ]Not all sex workers have equitable access to technologies or the Internet. 'This means that digital freedom for sex workers means equitable access to technologies.' Sohn has not commented on her connection to EFF and whether she intends to use a seat on the FCC board to protect sex work. Biden re-nominated Sohn earlier this month along with a slate of other stalled picks. Mistress Blunt asks her followers and subscribers to buy her gifts from wish lists She is a proud proponent of online sex work and thinks that laws designed to combat sex trafficking and pedophilia could harm sex workers' safety The selections did not get approved by the US Senate which was split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking ties. The new Senate, however, has a slight Democrat majority that Biden hopes will push his nominees through. If confirmed, Sohn will become the first openly gay FCC commissioner. She and her wife Laura have been married since 2008. Sohn was an aide to Tom Wheeler when he was chair of the FCC under President Barack Obama. Democrats say she is uniquely qualified for the job. Sohn last year complained that she was the victim of 'unfair' and 'untrue' criticism from Republican Senators. Sohn's track record led to the Directors' Guild of America urging the Senate to reject her last year. They said she is a firm opponent of copyright law, so much so that placing her on the FCC would harm the economy by opening the door to widespread copyright theft. If confirmed, Sohn will become the first openly gay FCC commissioner. She and her wife Laura have been married since 2008. The death penalty has been a part of the United States justice system for hundreds of years - and the methods and laws surrounding its use have undergone several changes throughout that time. While the punishment remains hugely controversial, the U.S remains one of only a handful of developed countries which still uses the penalty in 2023. In 2022, there were 18 executions in the U.S, the fewest in any pre-pandemic year since 1991, as public support for the death penalty dwindles following a series of gruesomely botched executions. Methods through history have varied from lethal injection - currently the most common method - to hanging and death by firing squad. Despite hundreds of years using death as a punishment, the procedure still regularly goes wrong - with recent reports detailing how failed attempts at lethal injections have left prisoners writhing in excruciating pain. Jack Sullivan who murdered John Bradbury, a railroad officer, during a gun fight, is seen grinning and smoking a cigar a few moments before he took his last breath in the lethal gas execution chamber at the state prison on May 17, 1936 in Florence, Arizona The final person to be subject to a public execution was Rainey Bethea in Kentucky in 1936 (picture). His execution drew crowds of around 20,000 people - far more than usual - because it was the first to feature a female executioner An unknown prisoner is pictured in an electric chair in around 1900. The electric chair is still used as an option for execution in Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee A California Department of Corrections photograph, taken in 1996, shows the entrance to the execution chamber and the lethal injection table at California's San Quentin Prison A crowd waits below a platform where three men stand beside a hooded man with a noose around his neck, who is condemned to be hanged. Carrolltan, Missouri. Circa 1896 The 24 states which currently use the death penalty are: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wyoming. A moratorium is in place in California, Oregon and Pennsylvania. A further 23 states don't use the penalty at all. The first recorded execution in British North America is thought to be that of Captain George Kendall, who was killed by firing squad in the Jamestown colony of Virginia in 1608 for allegedly spying for the Spanish. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the death penalty was used to punish a wide range of crimes, including murder, treason, and even theft. Public executions in the United States took place until 1936. The final person to be subject to a public execution was Rainey Bethea in Kentucky in 1936 (pictured) A picture from November 1865 show a man springing the trap to kill convicted Civil War war criminal Henry Wirz in the grounds of Old Capitol Prison Reading the Death Warrant on Scaffold to Captain Henry Wirz, Commander of Fort Sumter, Washington DC, by Alexander Gardner, November 1865 Execution of a soldier of the 8th Infantry at Prescott in the Arizona Territory in 1877. The execution of William Carr. Dec. 17, 1897, in Liberty, Missouri In the early days of the United States, many states limited the use of the death penalty to only the most serious crimes, such as murder and treason. By the 20th century, the use of the death penalty began to decline, and several states abolished it altogether. The number of death sentences and executions have declined rapidly since the late 1990s. In 1999, there were 315 death sentences passed down, compared with 20 in 2022. There were 98 executions in 1999, one of the highest annual totals in recent memory. The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily suspended the death penalty in 1972, ruling that it was being applied in a discriminatory and arbitrary manner. However, in 1976, the Court reinstated capital punishment, which held that new death penalty statutes in Florida, Georgia and Texas were constitutional. Public executions in the United States took place until 1936. The final person to be subject to a public execution was Rainey Bethea, 26, in Kentucky in 1936. Richard Carpenter, convicted cop-killer, put up a desperate struggle as he was escorted into courtroom to hear his death sentence. He was killed by electric chair in 1958 Circa 1940: A doctor checks a criminal's heartrate as he sits in the electric chair A man strapped into an electric chair awaits his execution by electrocution in the United States in 1908. The first execution by electrocution was carried out in New York in 1890 on William Kemmler, 30, who was sentenced for the murder of his common-law wife, Matilda 'Tillie' Ziegler A priest giving the last blessing to a man sentenced to death on the electric chair in 1928 in the United States Three men stand next to an electric chair in the Cook County jailhouse, Chicago, Illinois, 1927 Artist's impression of execution by electric chair, prepared after experiments on the practicability of electrocution as method of execution. From Scientific American New York, 30 June 1888 Bethea was convicted after raping and killing 70-year-old Lischia Edwards in June 1936. A known criminal, he broke into Edwards' home, choked her and raped her. He stole several valuables, including jewelry, but was caught after leaving a ring of his own at the scene. His execution drew crowds of around 20,000 people - far more than usual - because it was the first to feature a female executioner. Officials in Kentucky were unhappy about the media circus surrounding the execution and the controversy began the process that ultimately ended the practise of public executions. The first execution by electrocution was carried out in New York in 1890 on William Kemmler, 30, who was sentenced for the murder of his common-law wife, Matilda 'Tillie' Ziegler. Kemmler, an alcoholic, was reported to have murdered Tillie the day after a night of drinking. He murdered her with a hatchet after accusing her of stealing from him and planning to run away with his friend. His execution was criticized by some as inhumane and several problems occurred, including the fact that Kemmler had to be shocked twice before he died. Ironically, the chair was intended to be more humane than hanging. The first use of the gas chamber for capital punishment in the U.S was against Gee Jon, a Chinese member of the Hip Sing Tong criminal society in San Francisco, in 1924 A gas chamber at San Quentin prison in California A crowd peers through the windows of the lethal chamber of the State prison at Las Vegas, where Ray Elmer Miller was executed in 1933 for the murder of his wife. He shot and killed his wife as she left an attorney's office in Reno. It is thought she was then seeking a divorce. Miller gave his reasons for killing, the theory that his wife was allowing their child to starve to death The media views the injection table as officials from San Quentin State Prison hold a tour of the newly completed Lethal Injection Facility, on Tuesday Sept. 21, 2010 in San Quentin, California In this Sept. 18, 2009 photo, Warden of the Louisiana State Penitentiary, Burl Cain, discusses the gurney used for lethal injections The execution chamber of the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre haute, Indiana, is shown from the media observation area in this undated photo The use of the electric chair as a method of execution quickly spread to other states in the U.S. By 1949, 26 states used the electric chair as their preferred method for executions. The New York Times report about the death described the electric chair as 'far worse than hanging' and described how 'an awful odor began to permeate the death chamber, and then, as though to cap the climax of this fearful sight, it was seen that the hair under and around the electrode on the head and the flesh under and around the electrode at the base of the spine was singeing. The stench was unbearable.' What happens during lethal injections? Though various states use different drug cocktails for executions, all are known to have issues. Medical experts say that lethal injection causes pulmonary edema, and 'the feeling of choking, drowning in [one's] own fluids, suffocating, being buried alive, and [a] burning sensation' while being 'unable to speak or scream.' Lethal injection has the highest rate of failure of any method of execution, according to advocacy group Reprieve. Advertisement The first use of the gas chamber for capital punishment in the U.S was against Gee Jon, a Chinese member of the Hip Sing Tong criminal society in San Francisco. He was sentenced to death in Nevada for the murder of a member of a rival gang in the state. Authorities initially tried to kill Jon by pumping cyanide gas into his prison cell as he slept - but the gas leaked out and the attempt failed. A chamber which could be sealed was developed. Inside, the subject is strapped to a chair which has a pail of sulfuric acid. The Death Penalty Information Center notes how 'a long stethoscope is typically affixed to the prisoner so that a doctor outside the chamber can pronounce death. 'Once everyone has left the chamber, the room is sealed. The warden then gives a signal to the executioner who flicks a lever that releases crystals of sodium cyanide into the pail. This causes a chemical reaction that releases hydrogen cyanide gas. 'The prisoner is instructed to breathe deeply to speed up the process. Most prisoners, however, try to hold their breath, and some struggle.' The first lethal injection carried out as a death penalty in the U.S was against Charles Brooks in Texas, in December 1982. In 1976, Brooks and an accomplice kidnapped and murdered a mechanic - and were both sentenced to death. Brooks' accomplice, Woody Loudres, later had the sentenced overturned and served 11 years of a 40-year sentence before he was released on parole. There were 18 executions in the US in 2022, the fewest in any pre-pandemic year since 1991. Executions were carried out in Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Mississippi and Alabama Outside of the pandemic years, the 18 US executions in 2022 represented the fewest of any year since 1991 There has been an abolitionist movement which calls to end the death penalty entirely since the 1800s. Various formal campaigns are currently active to lobby foir an end to the punishment. Arguments against its use include that it is an ineffective deterrent, it disproportionately impacts vulnerable communities, and that the judicial system can be prone to error, meaning the sentence can be wrongly passed down. The current amber weather warning for cold weather has been extended until Saturday. Experts at the UK Health Security Agency lengthened the level 3 cold conditions alert - which is already in place - until midnight on January 28. It came after the Met Office advised it that the wintry weather was going to go on for longer than originally thought. Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said: 'Cold weather can have a serious impact on health, particularly older people and those with pre-existing health conditions, as it increases the risks of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections. Temperatures are plunging overnight as the icy conditions continue into the weekend A woman covers up against the wet and windy weather on the Embankment opposite the London Eye in central London. The sun breaks the horizon behind St Michael's Tower on the peak of Glastonbury Tor this morning, as clearer skies are forecast for parts of the UK today and temperatures begin to rise to seasonal averages for January. 'During this period, it is important to check in on family, friends and relatives who may be more vulnerable to the cold weather. 'If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over the age of 65, it is important to try and heat your home to at least 18C if you can.' Jason Kelly, Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, said: 'Cold, icy and sometimes snowy conditions are in the forecast this week with the UK seeing more of a north-westerly regime, with temperatures well below average for the time of year. 'Wintry showers are likely at points through the week in the north of England. A couple cover up against the wet and windy weather on Westminster Bridge in central London A man covers up against the wet and windy weather on the Embankment opposite the London Eye in central London MANCHESTER: A worker de-ices a plane at Manchester Airport last week in the cold MANCHESTER: Ground crew cleared snow from the runways during the two-hour closure last week 'Warnings have been issued and ice is likely to be a hazard for much of the week with some tricky travel conditions possible. Maximum temperatures will largely only reach the low single figures with temperatures below freezing through most nights this week.' Forecasters say tonight will be a largely dry evening with clear spells, variable amounts of patchy cloud and daytime showers will ease and clear. Overnight will then be dry with clear spells although cloud will tend to build in from the east and a few isolated and light showers cannot be ruled out. Moderate northerly winds. Friday will be dry with some bright spells initially however large areas of cloud will build during the day although some brighter spells will break through at times. Outbreaks of rain and drizzle will spread into the north-west during the evening. Gentle to moderate winds will be locally brisk or strong. Saturday will be generally dry but dull with cloudy skies and there will be some patchy light rain or drizzle. The best of the sunny spells in the south. Overcast on Sunday with cloudy skies and outbreaks of rain will sink southwards across Scotland and Northern Ireland and may be heavy. Former President Donald Trump warned that sending tanks to Ukraine was the step before nuclear war as he claimed ending the conflict with Russia should be 'so easy.' 'FIRST COME THE TANKS, THEN COME THE NUKES. Get this crazy war ended, NOW. So easy to do!' he wrote on Truth Social Thursday morning. The Biden administration announced one day earlier that it would send 31 top-tier M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, yielding to President Volodymyr Zelensky's push for heavy armor to counter Russia's nearly yearlong invasion. The US is also providing 500 armored vehicles as part of the package. The move came just after Germany said it would soon provide 14 of its own Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and allow other European nations to re-export their own. President Biden announced on Wednesday that he would send 31 top-tier M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine U.S. Army M1A1 Abrams tank fires during NATO enhanced Forward Presence battle group military exercise The president also cautioned that the move was 'going to take time' a reference to the complex training involved with the weapons system, which he described as 'extremely complex to operate and maintain.' Germany had long pressured the U.S. to send tanks to Ukraine, but top Pentagon leaders were hesitant of the move, which is why it took almost a year into the war for Ukraine to get U.S. tank support. But Biden's decision to send tanks is a stark turn-around from remarks he made last year that were similar to Trump's. 'The idea that we're going to send in offensive equipment and have planes and tanks and trains going in with American pilots and American crews, just understand that's called World War III, okay? Let's get it straight here, guys,' he said last March. 'We will not fight the third world war in Ukraine.' French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday that he asked his defence minister to 'work on' the idea of sending some of France's Leclerc battle tanks to Ukraine. Ukraine has been struggling to gain an advantage after battlefield successes while fighting with the same Soviet-era T-72 tanks that Russia has. President Volodymyr Zelensky made a trip to the U.S. to plead his case for tanks in-person in December. The intelligence chief warned that China is greater long-term threat than Russia The director of Britain's GCHQ intelligence agency, Jeremy Fleming, is to step down from his role later this year. Since April 2017, Fleming has been director of GCHQ - often called 'Britain's listening post', which works to defend the UK from cyber attacks and terror plots. A spokesperson for GCHQ said: 'In line with normal practice, there will be an internal civil service competition to identify a successor. 'Sir Jeremy and the Board will continue to lead and oversee work at GCHQ until the summer.' Director of Britain's GCHQ intelligence agency, Jeremy Fleming, is to step down An aerial image of the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) in Cheltenham In October Sir Fleming said that Britain faces a 'sliding doors moment in history' with China, whose plans for global technological dominance pose a 'huge threat to us all'. The spy chief fears the hostile state is using key technologies to spread its influence around the world even using surveillance from space. In a speech, he raised the prospect that China is building a satellite system capable of tracking individuals around the world. Despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine, China still poses the greater long-term threat to global security, according to Sir Jeremy. He believes the Chinese Communist Party is learning lessons from Russia's 'staggering' losses in Ukraine, and is seeking to build a centralised digital currency to insulate itself from international sanctions if China invades Taiwan. In a speech last year, the intelligence chief raises the prospect that China is building a satellite system capable of tracking individuals around the world In 2017, Jeremy Fleming succeeded Robert Hannigan as director of the GCHQ, often referred to as 'Britain's listening post'. His appointment was announced by the then Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who said he is a 'dedicated public servant whose work over two decades in the intelligence services has helped to keep our country safe'. Mr Fleming, a career MI5 officer, previously was deputy director-general at the service. He first joined the government from the private sector in 1993, rising through the ranks to become one of MI5's most senior officials. This included work relating to international and Northern Ireland-related counter-terrorism, counter-espionage, cyber and protective security. In 2005, Mr Fleming joined the Board of MI5 with responsibility for technology. Two years later, he was seconded to the Home Office to be director of strategy for the newly formed Office for Counter Terrorism, leading on the revision of the Government's counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST. On returning to MI5, also known as the Security Service, he became the director for intelligence collection, overseeing a significant uplift in digital capabilities. He was promoted to assistant director general in 2011 and led MI5's preparations for the London 2012 Olympics. In April 2013, Mr Fleming was appointed deputy director general at the agency, with responsibility for its core operational work. According to a Government biography, he has 'played a lead role in shaping the organisation to disrupt the changing face of the threat from terrorist groups and hostile state actors'. He is also highly respected internationally at a time when intelligence agencies are grappling with a string of global threats. A priest claims he temporarily died during a heart attack and went to Hell where demons singing karaoke tortured him. Michigan pastor Gerald Johnson said Rihanna's hit son 'Umbrella' echoed through the gates of Hell during his bizarre visit to purgatory. Johnson said 'my spirit left my physical body' when he suffered the heart attack seven years ago. Michigan priest Gerald Johnson has made some shocking claims about what he witnessed when he was sent to hell following a heart attack in 2016 The priest revealed that Hell is filled with demonic renditions of Rihanna's 'Umbrella' Despite living his life as a man of God, he said he was stunned when he was denied entry into Heaven and instead plummeted down to the earth's core. Johnson took to TikTok to explain his 2016 journey into the abyss which he said he 'wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.' 'I thought I was going upward, because I thought that I had done so much good in this lifetime and helped so many people and made so many decisions that were Godly decisions,' he said. 'But as opposed to me going up, I went down. I went literally into the center of the Earth. That's where Hell is.' After entering the fiery depths, he was faced with cruel punishments befitting his place in Hell - including being tormented with demonic renditions of Rihanna's 'Umbrella' and Bobby McFerrin's 'Don't Worry Be Happy'. 'It just blew me away, it still baffles me to this day,' Johnson said. 'There was a section in Hell where music was playing. It was the same music we hear on the Earth, but opposed to entertainers singing it, demons were singing it. 'While up here, you can listen to music to get over a breakup like 'Don't Worry Be Happy' or 'Umbrella', but down there every lyric to every song is to torment you.' Johnson said his bizarre experience should serve as a warning to those who choose to enjoy chart toppers instead of hymns and prayers. As well as being forced to listen to fan-favorite hits in the fiery inferno, he also claimed to have witnessed the gruesome scene of a man being burned alive. 'The things that I saw were indescribable, it makes me emotional,' he said. 'His eyes were bulging and worse than that, he was wearing chains on his neck... it was a demon holding the chain.' Gerald claims sinners are doomed to listen to Bobby McFerrin's 'Don't Worry Be Happy' being belted out by demons After being resuscitated and brought back to reality, the pastor says he now believes his experience is proof that popular music is really the underworld's attempt to control people before they pass on. 'On Earth a lot of the lyrics and music are inspired by demons,' he claimed. 'People come into contact with demons who give them lyrics for the purpose of controlling people on Earth.' In his viral clip, which has been viewed by nearly four million TikTok users, the pastor warned others how to avoid the same hellish fate as he claims it is now clear to him why he was originally doomed. 'The root of it is that although I did good and gave a lot to people, the thing that I had in my heart was unforgiveness towards people that have done me wrong,' he said. 'That's my experience with Hell, it is a real place. God doesn't send people to Hell, people send themselves to Hell.' Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and several House and Senate Democrats tore into Joe Biden for his new migrant policies by claiming he is 'resurrecting' Trump-era border protocols and making it 'impossible' for immigrants to seek asylum. A group of nearly 80 lawmakers sent a letter to President Biden condemning his expansion of the use of the pandemic-era expulsion policy known as Title 42, as well as implementing new bans on asylum-seekers. The effort was led by Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker as well as Representative Ocasio-Cortez, known colloquially as AOC. 'There can be no confusing the Biden administration's immigration policy with the Trump administration's, but doing better than Trump shouldn't be the bar,' AOC said outside the Capitol on Thursday at a podium with a sign reading: '#AsylumIsARight' Booker also compared Biden's asylum policies at the southern border to Jews on the 'Voyage of the Damned' who were turned away from the U.S. when fleeing the Holocaust by ship during World War II. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined several other lawmakers who filtered in an out of a press conference on border policies. AOC slammed President Joe Biden for his new proposals to handle migration and said 'doing better than Trump shouldn't be the bar' 'We have dark chapters,' Booker said. 'Like when the St. Louis during the Holocaust sailed to our shores and was turned around where folks were sent back to those horrors and many died,' he noted. The group of more than a half dozen Democrats took turns speaking about border policies at the anti-Title 42 press conference, and vowed to 'hold Biden accountable' even though they are part of the same political party. 'We recognize that the United States is experiencing a difficult migration challenge at the southern border,' Menendez said without calling the situation at border a 'crisis'. 'We recognize that President Trump made a top priority to dismantle border and asylum processing as we know it.' The press conference came weeks after Biden announced new policies for the border, including expanding title 42 and requiring migrants to apply for asylum with a cellphone app before making the trek by plane or through a legal land or sea port of entry. 'Last year, President Biden promised to end Title 42,' AOC said at Thursday's press conference. 'Instead he is now expanding restrictions on asylum seekers.' 'This administration is making it effectively impossible to seek refuge at our border.' Figures released for December show that the number of encounters at the southern border are continuing to rise and reached a new all-time single month high of 251,487 Following Biden's announcement this month, the president visited the southern border for the first time nearly two years after taking office after a fair amount of pressure from Republicans to prove he was serious about solving the crisis with a trip to the barrier with Mexico. 'We are willing to hold administrations accountable for the rights of immigrants and immigrant families regardless of party or allegiance,' AOC said. 'Right is right. And our main allegiance is to the families immigrant and U.S. families.' Menendez said that Biden's new policies 'punish' asylum seekers, while Booker said policies are 'forcing' migrants to 'break laws' in order to flee their home countries to seek refuge in the U.S. 'You cannot make America great again by making America hate again,' Menendez said by employing former President Trump's often-repeated 2016 campaign slogan. Joe Biden released new policies this month to include expanding the pandemic-era expulsion policy known as Title 42 and requiring migrants to apply for asylum online before coming to the U.S. border. Pictured: Biden visited the border for the first time as president on January 8 after years of pleads from Republicans for him to survey the crisis Representative Cori Bush of Missouri, who was also at the press conference on Thursday, said Congress and Biden 'can do better than Title 42 and the asylum transit ban.' 'We can respect the dignity of immigrants,' she said, to which AOC said Bush 'brought it home.' Customs and Border Protection released new figures recently showing they encountered 251,487 migrants at the southern border in December a new record-high breaking the previous high from May 2022. More than 4 million migrants have hopped the border since Biden took office in January 2021. President Joe Biden finds himself trailing Pete Buttigieg in the latest New Hampshire poll where he is tied with Sen. Elizabeth Warren among Democrats in a state that gave his successful 2020 campaign a rocky start. Biden's overall popularity is also narrowly under water among Democrats in the state, where some party leaders have warned he could be vulnerable to an internecine challenge due to his low popularity. Biden, 80, is reportedly planning to launch his presidential reelection campaign next month, with a run that would likely clear much of the field, even amid some Democratic grousing about his performance. The special counsel probing classified documents uncovered at his home and office ads another wrinkle, likely dulling an attack he would have used against Trump, who was revealed to have hundreds of documents marked classified at Mar-a-Lago. President Joe Biden trails Pete Buttigieg in latest New Hampshire poll, in a state where he came in fifth in 2020 Buttigieg led likely Democrats with 23 per cent in the new University of New Hampshire Granite State Poll. Biden, who came in fifth in New Hampshire in 2020, trails with 18 per cent, tied with the liberal Warren, who has been a supporter of his agenda in the Senate. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who visited the White House this week, is at 15 per cent, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez at 6 per cent and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar at 5 per cent. That shows an uptick for Buttigieg, the telegenic Transportation Secretary who has moved his official residence to Michigan. Back in July, they were virtually tied, with Buttigieg at 17 and Biden at 16 per cent. Sanders barely edged Buttigieg to win New Hampshire in 2020. It also follows some bad press nationally for Buttigieg, amid a series of travel crises and reports about him traveling and being on paternity leave during supply chain and travel disruptions. The president is tied for second place among likely Democratic voters in New Hampshire Buttigieg has been a telegenic spokesman for the administration, although he has had to answer for some of the travel mayhem in recent months Liberal Sen. Elizabeth Warren is running even with Biden in the state Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders captured the neighboring state in the 2020 primary Leading among 'second choice' candidates is Vice President Kamala Harris, who is set to attend an event with Biden next week in Philadelphia. Two-thirds of state Democrats definitely or probably don't want Biden to run, compared to 27 per cent who do. His favorability is at 49 per cent, with a slight 51 per cent majority viewing him either unfavorably or neutral all among likely Democratic voters. It is not yet clear which if any Democrats would challenge an incumbent Biden, as he seeks to turn back Donald Trump and other Republicans. Author, activist and 'spiritual advisor' Marianne Williamson is planning to visit the state in the coming weeks, indicating a possible challenge. Biden will try to run on his record on the economy and having beaten Donald Trump once before. The U.S. economy grew by 2.9 per cent in the last quarter, based on government statistics released Thursday. He's known for his somewhat unique approach to fashion. But Boris Johnson extended his support for Ukraine to matters sartorial after a visit to Kiev last week. The former prime minister, who often excites comment for his dishevelled appearance, has been sporting a new hat in vivid colours in recent days. And now the head of the Ukrainian Railway has revealed it was a gift that he swapped for his usual tatty London Underground beanie. In a series of tweets the state-run operator 's chief executive Alexander Kamyshin revealed Mr Johnson popped in before catching a train during a trip to the capital to see President Zelensky. He joked that the new beanie, with a bright yellow bobble and writing saying 'carriage numbering starts from the head of the train', had made the former PM ' the most stylish man in London'. The former prime minister, who often excites comment for his dishevelled appearance, has been sporting a new hat in the colours of the war-torn country in recent days. Mr Johnson next to a heavily damaged residential building adorned with the work of world-renowned graffiti artist Banksy in the town of Borodianka, outside of Kyiv, last weekend He wrote: 'The story starts in Irpin, where Boris Johnson was during his recent visit to Ukraine. Look how grumpy he was. And I thought that the reason could be in his hat. That's a London Underground hat, btw. 'So when Boris visited our station shop, Oleksandr Pertsovskyi asked Boris Johnson whether he'd like to try a different hat. A proper one. Ukrainian Railways hat. 'We found a better hat for him then. And Oleksandr offered to change the hats right away. But Boris was not sure at the moment, as you see. So we simply presented him (with) a proper hat. 'But later on the train Boris tried our hat and understood it's a decent one. So he presented his old hat to Ukrainian Railways. So Boris left our train in a proper hat. 'And his old London Underground hat got back to Ukrainian Railways. And now Boris Johnson is the most stylish man in London. Meanwhile British media are wondering where he got such a cool hat.' Downing Street this week insisted Britain is still 'leading the way' in providing support to Ukraine after Mr Johnson's plea for a greater supply of Western military kit. The former prime minister, fresh from his surprise visit to Kyiv at the weekend, implored the US and European nations to heed Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelensky's call for more tanks. Mr Johnson, writing in the Daily Mail, asked 'just what the hell are we waiting for?' as he queried why not more of the West's 'abundance' of arms was being used to take on Russian forces. In a swipe at Washington DC, Berlin and London, the ex-premier questioned whether Western tanks currently needed to be 'guarding North Rhine-Westphalia', 'protecting Tennessee', or 'prowling the villages of Wiltshire'. In response to the former PM's remarks today, Downing Street highlighted Britain's recent commitment to send a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine and suggested Rishi Sunak would like to see other countries follow suit. But No10 insisted it would not 'dictate' to other nations on what they should be doing to support Kyiv amid growing international pressure on Germany to send its Leopard 2 tanks. If the most important dates in your life are getting married, getting divorced and buying a place to live, would you be happy if the lawyer handling your affairs turned up in a sequinned crop top and flares? Or maybe that controversial fake fur coat worn by Naomi Campbell in Paris this week which featured a huge she-wolf on one shoulder? Great if you want to scare everyone off, not so great if you're seeking a friendly result. For years, ambitious women have relied on a well-cut suit to ensure they are taken seriously at work. Not anymore. In fact, the new rules mean they might do better dressing like Katie Price or someone whose real job is pouring tequila slammers in a nightclub. Or Doja Cat, whose face and body were embellished with 30,000 scarlet sequins at the Schiaparelli couture show in Paris the other day? JANET STREET-PORTER: According to Ayesha Vardag (pictured), suits belong to 'bankers and estate agents'. She wants her staff to be able to express themselves and says gold leather trousers, scarlet Doc Martens, pink hair are all OK, adding: 'Be as wildly fabulous as you like' Once, the legal profession was the bastion of power dressing, but not anymore. This week, staff at top divorce lawyers Vardags were told by their boss they should dress like members of a high-end club, and forget wearing anything as conventional as a smart suit. According to Ayesha Vardag, suits belong to 'bankers and estate agents'. She wants her staff to be able to express themselves and says gold leather trousers, scarlet Doc Martens, pink hair are all OK, adding: 'Be as wildly fabulous as you like'. Ayesha - known as the 'diva of divorce' - specialises in high-profile break-ups, and won a landmark court case in 2010 which ensured pre-nuptial agreements are legally enforceable in England and Wales. Her company offers some of the most expensive legal advice around and clients include billionaires and royalty. They help rich people hang on to even more of their money when they separate from their partners. Unfortunately her latest 'briefing' was greeted with derision in legal quarters. One wag commented 'at least her staff do not have to dress like BA cabin crew, the look the managing partner seems to have perfected'. Miaow! Another wrote: 'A PR disastershe's more concerned about her staff than her profitability'. To be fair, Ms Vardag has a brilliant reputation, and has fought and won huge settlements for her female clients. Unfortunately, she has a reputation for being a stickler who micromanages every aspect of her teams' lives. Only a few years ago, she sent out an irate email because someone had been spotted in the office WEARING A CARDIGAN! Incandescent because her high standards had been breached, she fumed 'woollies are verboten'. The furore that resulted was dubbed 'Vardigan-gate'. Before she opened the flood gates to leather trousers and pink hair, Ayesha decreed that female staff should aspire to look as if they had been dressed by Dior, Chanel or Armani. Now she's thrown caution (and tailoring) out of the window. Having been divorced four times, I'm not sure I would have achieved the same result if my barrister had turned up in bondage trousers with a safety pin through his ear. JANET STREET-PORTER: Would you be happy if the lawyer handling your affairs turned up in a sequined crop top and flares? Or maybe that controversial fake fur coat worn by Naomi Campbell (pictured) in Paris this week which featured a huge she-wolf on one shoulder? Great if you want to scare everyone off, not so great if you're seeking a friendly result Legal advice is costly, and the stakes are high. I might sound like a dreary reactionary, but someone in a sharp suit is more likely to get the result you want. In the 21st century, it seems bizarre that dress codes exist at all outside the court room. Since Covid, working from home has meant that most of us spend our days in elasticated leisurewear, only bothering to dress formally above the waist when attending a meeting via Zoom. And yet, when you venture out at night, it's another matter entirely. Try and enter most of the top private London dining rooms and members' clubs - mostly started by people who were once flogging cheap frocks for a living - and you will find that snobbery has been reinvented to keep out the unwashed and unwanted. Ayesha Vardag might be scrapping the old dress code, but there's an equally restrictive new one in play when it comes to eating and drinking. Women fought for equality, and the right to dress as we please. But if we want to eat a burger and chips (or a baked potato filled with caviare) in some posh postcodes, then we better not wear trainers, jeans, leather jackets or crop tops. A new generation of restaurant, bar and club owners have decided to mimic the frowsy old buffers who set the rules in London's men-only clubs a century ago, coming up with their own bonkers dress codes, designed to exclude anyone whose face doesn't fit. But if you're rich and famous, it doesn't seem to matter. It's confusing and frustrating to say the least. Instead of enjoying a night out, you wonder whether you will get past the imperious doorman. At Christmas I refused an invitation to go to lunch at the traditional Reform Club in London's Pall Mall, because I received a note beforehand telling me trainers were banned 'unless the wearer produces a note saying they are being worn for medical reasons'. Jeans and denim were also banned. The idea of obtaining medical advice in order to eat a slab of lukewarm turkey and over cooked vegetables seemed daft, so I stayed at home and had a sandwich in my slippers instead. I had been told that this once-fusty male run establishment now welcomed women and counted some famous females among its members. But if women made up 50% of the management board, I am sure these out of date rules about trainers would no longer apply. They are just a form of discrimination, pure and simple. It's not that surprising that clubs established a hundred years ago as sanctuaries where men could avoid women (unless they were waitresses) and drink themselves into a stupor with other men might be reluctant to move with the times, but it seems bizarre that newer establishments should want to dream up their own complicated rules in order to appear 'exclusive'. Annabel's, which Ms Vardag cites as having the kind of dress code she admires - 'smart and elegant' - has a strict dress code dreamt up by its owner, Richard Caring. Night after night reality show stars parade on the pavement outside these clubs, revealing their 16th boob jobs, their surgically-enhanced bums, their droopy side boobs and everything in-between. As long as they are not wearing trainers, then I suppose it's ok. Another dining club in Mayfair, Harry's Bar, issues a dress code which states 'no trainers, no leather, no denim'.and on and on. Invited to a lovely birthday dinner there, I spent the evening fearful of being turfed out for daring to wear immaculate trainers under my long skirt. As for workwear, I'm worried that my new grey woollen suit by Sportmax, purchased at vast expense as my Xmas present to myself, will never come out of the wardrobe because it sends the wrong message. In short, is looking 'business-like' out of date in 2023? Might that explain our current economic woes? The gunman who killed 11 people at a Monterey Park ballroom studio before opening fire at a nearby dance hall was banned from both clubs, members have revealed. Dancers said Huu Can Tran, 72, was expelled from the Star Ballroom Studio and Lai Lai club about five years ago for pestering women and being too 'argumentative'. Tran shot 42 rounds into the ballroom on Saturday night in a Lunar New Year massacre in California, before driving to the nearby club where he was disarmed. Police on Thursday also revealed the weapon he used in the mass shooting was a Cobray model CM11-9 while a .308 caliber bolt action rifle was found at his home. Montery Park gunman Huu Can Tran, pictured, was banned from the Star Ballroom Dance Studio where he killed 11 people and the nearby Lai Lai club where he was disarmed Local dancer Pinki Chen (Pictured, right, with victim Ming Ma) claims the Monterey Park gunman had not visited the clubs in five to eight years Previous reports suggested Tran - who shot himself at the wheel of his vehicle the day after the massacre - was a regular at the Star Ballroom in Monterey Park, California. Police on Thursday said he was not known to his victims as he had not been to the studio for at least five years. Members of the tight-knight dance community told Dailymail.com on Thursday his absence was even longer as he had not been seen for almost eight years. Numerous dancers claimed Tran was banned from both of the clubs where he would later open fire after irritating dancers and teachers. 'When he would come to the dance halls, he would offer free lessons, but would tell the woman that in exchange she could only dance with him,' one dancer told DailyMail.com 'Many of the dancers and teachers complained that he was argumentative and ultimately Tran was no longer allowed back to either Star Dance Studio or Lai Lai.' The 11 victims of the horrific Monterey Park mass shooting that occurred amid Lunar New Year celebrations are identified as: My Nhan, 65, Lilian Li, 63, Xiujuan Yu, 57, Muoi Ung, 67, Hong Jian, 62, Diana Tom, 70, Yu Kao, 72, Chia Yau, 76, Valentino Alvero, 68, Wen Yu, 64, and Ming Ma, 72, Detectives recovered three firearms from Tran, including a Cobray model CM11-9, pictured, purchased in 1999 identified as the murder weapon A Hemet is a Savage Arms .308 caliber bolt action rifle was found in Tran's residence After being banned from the two dance studios, Tran reportedly spent his time at the Pavilion Club House in neighboring Granada Hills which closed its doors in 2018. Meanwhile another dancer said he used to see the murderer every Friday night between 2016 and 2017. In a We Chat group dedicated to the dance community, the dancer wrote: 'He talked to many dancing friends about his unfortunate life, divorce and not having a place to live. 'So, it could be imaged that he was very depressed. 'His biggest pride and joy were dancing, but it was taken away. The massacre in the Star Ballroom was the nation's fifth mass killing this month and the deadliest attack since May 24, when 21 people were killed in an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. The Lai Lai Ballroom and Studio near the site of a deadly shooting on Saturday 'In a lonely New Year Eve, he chose to bring the guns to destroy everything. For him, this is the end.' Tran is reported to have met his ex-wife at the Star Ballroom after he offered her free dance lessons. The pair were married for only a short period of time before he filed for divorce in 2005. Tran had been living at the Lakes at Hemet West, a mobile home park billed as a '55+ active living community', according to reports in the Los Angeles Times. It comes after officers revealed there was no known connection between Tran and his victims. Tran shot dead 11 people, aged between 57 and 76, but wounded a further nine. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said in a statement on Thursday: 'As of today, based on interviews, investigators have not been able to establish a connection between the suspect and any of the victims. Tran's white cargo van was pulled over by police on Sunday but he shot himself dead before a SWAT team stormed the vehicle 'The suspect was not married and was not romantically tied to any of the victims. According to witness accounts, the suspect has not frequented the location in the last five years.' 'It's frustrating when something like this happens that is so tragic. We are trying to understand it, and it doesn't make sense.' Investigators also recovered a total of three firearms registered to the suspect along with a motorcycle which they believe may have been an alternative getaway vehicle. The vehicle had been strategically placed on the 200 block of South Garfield Avenue in Monterey Park. The murder weapon was identified as a Cobray model CM11-9 (also known as Mac-10), police said. The weapon was not registered in the state of California and was purchased in 1999 in the city of Monterey Park. Meanwhile the gun used by Tran to commit suicide was identified as a Norinco 7.62 X 25mm pistol. A third weapon recovered from the suspect's residence in Hemet is a Savage Arms .308 caliber bolt action rifle. The suspect had no recent criminal history but records show that he was arrested 33 years ago in 1990 for unlawful possession of a firearm. Just weeks before the massacre he went to the police to report decades-old poisoning allegations against his family. The shootings during Lunar New Year celebrations sent a wave of fear through Asian American communities Members of the local community have left flowers at a memorial outside the Star Ballroom dance studio Hemet Police confirmed he had been to its station and promised to return with more evidence of his claims but failed to do so. Among those to be killed in the crossfire was Ming Wei Ma, 72. Reports have labelled Ma the owner of the studio but Chen claimed Ma was no longer the owner but rather a long-term manager of the studio. She said: 'My friend Mr. Ma was a man of honor and so kind and friendly to everyone. 'The kids referred to him as Grandpa Ma. Everyone in the dance community loved him so much, also those who were not dancers.' Ma leaves behind two children Ray and Mary. Tributes have also poured in for the other victims who include: My Nhan, 65, Lilian Li, 63, Xiujuan Yu, 57, Muoi Ung, 67, Hong Jian, 62, Diana Tom, 70, Yu Kao, 72, Chia Yau, 76, Valentino Alvero, 68 and Wen Yu, 64. Anybody with information about a motive in the case are being urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Emmanuel Macron's government is reluctant to join its Western allies in providing tanks to Ukraine, French diplomatic sources have said, arguing it is 'not a delivery competition' and that logistical and maintenance concerns would reduce military effectiveness. France has so far agreed to send AMX-10 RCs armoured combat vehicles, but stopped short of committing to sending their Leclerc main battle tanks. Paris argues that, unlike the German Leopards, which are omnipresent across Europe with as many as 2,000 available, there are only about 200 Leclercs. They are also no longer produced. 'I'm not saying it won't happen, but I don't think it would make a huge difference,' one diplomatic source told Reuters. 'This is not a delivery competition.' 'President (Volodymyr) Zelensky hasn't said he needs Leclerc tanks,' another diplomat told AFP. 'For any army, having 10 different types of tanks in its forces would create an almost insoluble logistical equation,' they concluded. A French Leclerc main battle tank shoots during an exercise at a training range in Smardan, eastern Romania, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and French Fresident Emmanuel Macron embrace after giving a press conference in Kyiv, on June 16, 2022 Yesterday, after weeks of bitter infighting, the US and Germany finally agreed to give in to Volodymyr Zelensky's demands and send 31 M1 Abrams tanks, 14 Leopard 2 tanks, and give allies permission to send their own supply. The deal has been hailed as a potential game-changer in the conflict. France meanwhile argues their Leclerc tank is heavy on maintenance making it difficult to create a logistical chain in Ukraine. Additionally, Paris would only be able to provide a small number, making their value on the ground limited given increased maintenance and training costs. The government said it would make a decision soon on whether to join its Western allies in sending tanks, but for now has limited its supply of armour to the AMX-10 RC infantry fighting vehicles. French foreign minister Catherine Colonna today arrived in the Black Sea port city of Odesa to share talks with her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba. The question of whether France will provide Leclerc tanks is likely to be high on the prioirty list. Russia yesterday lashed out at the decision of the US and Germany to send tank battalions to Kyiv, threatening to escalate the war beyond the borders of Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: 'European capitals and Washington constantly give statements that sending various types of weapons, including tanks, in no way means their involvement in hostilities. We strongly disagree with this. In Moscow, this is perceived as direct involvement in the conflict and we see that this is growing.' A missile flies over Kyiv this morning as Vladimir Putin retaliated against the West for its tanks deal Defending forces said they shot down all 24 drones fired from Moscow including 15 around Kyiv, with no reports of any damage so far People gather in a subway station being used as a bomb shelter during a rocket attack in Kyiv today Putin retaliated by raining missiles down on Ukraine as an air raid was issued over the whole country in the early hours of this morning. Defending forces said they shot down all 24 drones fired from Moscow including 15 around Kyiv, with no reports of any major damage, as civilians sheltered in subway stations amid the blitz. 'The first Russian missiles have been shot down,' Andriy Yermak, head of Zelensky's office said. Russia has targeted critical infrastructure with missile and drone strikes since October, causing sweeping blackouts and other outages during the bitter winter. Despite the generous Western package, there are fears that Ukraine won't be able to actually use the tanks on the front line for months, potentially after Russia's anticipated spring offensive. The promised M1 Abrams tanks from the US are not even in supply at the moment and will take months to arrive before training can even commence, senior officials have said. Ukrainian civilians wait in subway stations underground while Russia pounded Kyiv with missiles Putin has wasted no time in punishing Ukraine by blasting missiles overnight, after a period of relative calm Fighting has re-intensified in Bakhmut after the tank deal ramped up the war following a period of relative calm The modern tanks need to be procured, then the US will begin a 'comprehensive training programme' for Ukrainian soldiers, which will also need spare parts and will require significant maintenance once deployed. Germany and European Leopard 2 tanks will likely arrive sooner but will still require training as Kyiv forces have become accustomed to their Soviet-era tanks used so far in the war. Germany's tanks would probably be ready in three or four months, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said. The fact that Leopard 2, M1 Abrams and Challenger tanks will all be arriving in the coming months, each needing separate parts and training, will complicate matters for Ukraine. Brad Martin, director of the RAND Institute for Supply Chain Security, told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme: 'Unfortunately, it does mean that each of these capabilities is going to need their own supply chains because they are different, their parts are different, the maintenance requirements are different. 'I don't know that it's such a large challenge that it can't be met but all things being equal it would be better to have common systems but they're working with what they have. 'The United States has a number of Abrams tanks and some of them would have to be refurbished in order to be exported... it's certainly true that they're not sitting there ready to go, work will have to be done to get any of them ready to be deployed. Germany will initially send 14 Leopard 2s to Ukraine, and aims to provide 80 tanks overall The US is sending dozens of M1A2 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in the coming weeks to help with their war-effort A Ukrainian soldier is seen on his way to frontlines with their armoured military vehicles as strikes continue This is what you're up against now, Putin: How America's Abrams, Germany's Leopard 2 and Britain's Challenger compare to Russia's outdated T-72 tanks as they are sent to help defend Ukraine - Click HERE to read more Germany's 55-ton Leopard 2 tank combines aspects of firepower, protection, speed and maneuverability - making it adaptable to many types of combat situations Advertisement 'A lot of this is rather complicated sophisticated stuff and it takes time to learn how to deal with this, training is going to be a very big issue. 'Supply chains and the acquiring of spare parts take time, and those two things together will be a challenge.' Western countries have made 'no clear indication' of how many tanks will be given to Ukraine, an advisor to the country's defence minister has said. Yuriy Sak told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: 'We need 300 to 400 tanks for this to be a game changer. 'This tank coalition consisting of different countries, we have no clear indication of how many tanks each country will provide. We have communicated to our partners that this is the number that we need. 'If you want missile terror to stop you need to receive the weapons that will allow us to defeat the enemy on the battlefield. 'The sooner we defeat Russia on the battlefield using Western weapons the sooner we will be able to stop this missile terror and restore peace.' Zelensky has praised the US and German commitments to send tanks and urged allies to provide large quantities of tanks quickly. 'The key now is speed and volumes. Speed in training our forces, speed in supplying tanks to Ukraine. The numbers in tank support,' he said in a nightly video address on Wednesday. 'We have to form such a 'tank fist', such a 'fist of freedom'.' Ukraine has been seeking hundreds of modern tanks to give its troops the firepower to break Russian defensive lines and reclaim occupied territory in the south and east. Ukraine and Russia have been relying primarily on Soviet-era T-72 tanks. The promise of tanks comes as both Ukraine and Russia are expected to launch new offensives in the war. Maintaining Kyiv's drumbeat of requests for more aid, Zelensky said he spoke to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and called for long-range missiles and aircraft. Ukraine's allies have already provided billions in military support including sophisticated U.S. missile systems. The United States has been wary of deploying the difficult-to-maintain Abrams but had to change tack to persuade Germany to send to Ukraine its more easily operated Leopards. Biden said the tanks pose 'no offensive threat' to Russia and that they were needed to help the Ukrainians 'improve their ability to manoeuvre in open terrain'. Germany will send an initial company of 14 tanks from its stocks and approve shipments by allied European states. The Abrams can be tricky, but the Leopard was designed as a system that any NATO member could service and crews and repair specialists could be trained together on a single model, Ukrainian military expert Viktor Kevlyuk told Espreso TV. 'If we have been brought into this club by providing us with these vehicles, I would say our prospects look good.' Russia reacted with fury to Germany's decision to approve the delivery of the Leopards. 'This extremely dangerous decision takes the conflict to a new level of confrontation,' said Sergei Nechayev, Russia's ambassador to Germany. Pledges to Ukraine from other countries that field Leopards have multiplied with announcements from Poland, Finland and Norway. Spain and the Netherlands said they were considering it. A view shows a Puma infantry fighting vehicle during firing practice, at armoured infantry training area Altengrabow, Germany, today German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius is seen a day after finally agreeing to supply tanks to Ukraine Ukraine acknowledged on Wednesday its forces had withdrawn from Soledar, a small salt-mining town close to Bakhmut in the east, that Russia said it captured more than a week ago, its biggest gain for more than six months. The area around Bakhmut, with a pre-war population of 70,000, has seen some of the most brutal fighting of the war. Ukraine's military said that Russian forces were attacking in the direction of Bakhmut 'with the aim of capturing the entire Donetsk region and regardless of its own casualties'. The Russian-installed governor of Donetsk said earlier that units of Russia's Wagner contract militia were moving forward inside Bakhmut, with fighting on the outskirts and in neighbourhoods recently held by Ukraine. Analyst Kevlyuk said losing Bakhmut would not change much in terms of the tactical scheme of things but that he was more concerned by Russian efforts to regroup and concentrate resources in the Luhansk region. Donetsk and Luhansk make up the Donbas region. Russian forces control nearly all of Luhansk, while Russians and their proxies say they control about half of Donetsk. Reuters could not verify battlefield reports. The 11-month war has killed thousands of people, driven millions from their homes and reduced cities to rubble. New Hampshire is ripe for an insurgent candidacy because the state will likely lose its first-in-the-nation primary with President Joe Biden's blessing Author and self-help guru Marianne Williamson is headed to the early primary state of New Hampshire as she contemplates another run at the White House. Williamson competed in the 2020 Democratic primary and created viral debate moments like when she said that her rivals' 'wonkiness' wouldn't triumph over the 'dark psychic force' of 'collectivized hatred' brought about by former President Donald Trump. 'New Hampshire is an important state and I had a wonderful time there when I ran before,' Williamson told The Washington Post. 'I felt a deep connection to my New Hampshire supporters and I'm going back in a few weeks to connect with some old friends and new ones.' Williamson told the paper that she wouldn't be doing any 'public talks,' but instead would use the time on the ground to talk to people before making an 'informed decision.' The author had previously put out a statement previewing her Granite State travels and also appeared on The Hill TV's Rising program where she teased a run - saying she would likely do so as a Democrat and not a third-party contender. Author and self-help guru Marianne Williamson is headed to the early primary state of New Hampshire as she contemplates another run at the White House On Wednesday, she appeared on The Hill TV's Rising program and indicated she would likely run as a Democrat if she chose to launch a 2024 White House bid 'If I run, clearly there are forces within the Democratic Party who will be trying to invisible-ize me. I think they would have an easier time trying to invisible-ize me if I run third party,' she said Wednesday. 'If I do run and I run as a Democrat, I will be more inconvenient to the people who need to be inconvenienced.' President Joe Biden has made New Hampshire ripe ground for an insurgent's bid as he's pushed the Democratic Party to reorder the primaries - giving South Carolina, where he mounted a comeback in 2020, first place. Traditionally, Iowa holds the first presidential caucus followed by New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary. In 2020, however, Iowa's Democratic Party's mobile tool to count caucus results failed and the winner of the contest wasn't known for hours. New Hampshire's primary was conducted without any major hiccups. Still, with Biden's blessing, New Hampshire's primary would be held the same day as Nevada's contest, a week after South Carolina's voters headed to the polls. That runs counter to a New Hampshire state law that mandates the first primary. Williamson dropped out in 2020 before the Iowa caucuses and then threw her weight behind Sen. Bernie Sanders after his win in the Nevada caucuses Williamson is pictured endorsing Sanders in Austin, Texas on February 23 ahead of Super Tuesday She then called it a 'coup' that several moderate candidates dropped out and backed Biden, essentially killing Sanders' chances of winning the 2020 Democratic primary New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley warned Democratic leaders in a letter that there could be trouble if the Granite State loses first position, writing it could 'create an opening for an insurgent candidate - serious or not - who can garner media attention and capitalize on Granite Staters' anger about being passed over by [Biden's] campaign.' And Williamson already has beef with Biden, over how he won the 2020 Democratic primary. Williamson called it a 'coup' when moderate Democratic candidates Sen. Amy Klobuchar and now Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg dropped out and endorsed Biden before Super Tuesday, essentially killing Bernie Sanders' presidential hopes. After dropping her own bid before the Iowa caucuses, Williamson endorsed Sanders after his blowout win in the Nevada caucuses - the third presidential contest. But Sanders' momentum was stalled by Biden's first place finish in South Carolina and every moderate getting behind him before and directly after Super Tuesday. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer accused the Biden administration of a 'coordinated effort' to shield the president's son from scrutiny on Thursday. It comes in response to the Treasury Department blocking - at least temporarily - House Republicans' request for documents related to Hunter Biden's financial transactions. A Treasury official told Comer that he would need to supply additional details for his request. The business dealings of Hunter Biden as well as if and how they ensnare President Joe Biden himself are a top priority for Comer's investigative panel - something he's made clear even before Republicans took control of the House at the beginning of this year. 'At the start of the Biden Administration, the Treasury Department changed longstanding policy to severely restrict Congress access to suspicious activity reports,' Comer said in a statement obtained by DailyMail.com. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer has pledged to investigate the Biden family's finances He accused the Treasury Department of running cover for the president's family (pictured: Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen) 'Now, Bidens Treasury Department appears to be going even further to restrict access.' He continued, 'This coordinated effort by the Biden Administration to hide information about President Biden and his familys shady business schemes is alarming and raises many questions.' 'We will continue to press for access to suspicious activity reports generated for the Biden family and their associates, and will use the power of the gavel to get them if needed.' Comer had asked Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on January 11 to hand over any suspicious activity reports related to the bank accounts of Hunter Biden and others in the Biden family. But Treasury Legislative Affairs head Jonathan Davidson told Comer on Wednesday that the department would 'make determinations concerning how to accommodate legitimate legislative needs while also protecting Executive Branch interests, including law enforcement needs' - only upon receiving further information from him. The Treasury turned down Comer's request for reports of suspicious bank activity by Hunter Biden (pictured) and other members of the president's family Comer explained in his letter to Yellen that his committee's main purpose in the probe was to investigate whether Biden himself was affected by his son's alleged suspicious bank activity. 'The Committee is investigating President Bidens knowledge of and role in these schemes to assess whether he has compromised our national security at the expense of the American people,' the Kentucky Republican wrote. 'Additionally, we will examine drafting legislation to strengthen federal ethics laws regarding employees and their families.' He said his committee would also 'examine and make recommendations regarding federal laws and regulations to ensure that financial institutions have the proper internal controls and compliance programs to alert federal agencies of potential money laundering activity.' The president has repeatedly denied having any benefit or participation in his son's foreign business deals, which are currently under investigation by the U.S. attorney in Delaware. Aircraft manufacturer Boeing has pleaded not guilty to charges the manufacturer deceived federal authorities over the safety of its 737 MAX jets following two high-profile crashes in 2018 and 2019. Boeing's chief safety officer, Mike Delaney, entered the not-guilty plea on behalf of the plane-maker in an arraignment Thursday. A not-guilty plea is standard in deferred prosecution agreements. It comes after US District Judge Reed O'Connor last week ordered Boeing to appear to be arraigned after he ruled that people killed in the two Boeing 737 MAX crashes are legally considered 'crime victims.' Today's ruling marks the first time the company has been forced to publicly answer to a criminal charge connected to the 2018 and 2019 disasters, which occurred in Indonesia and Ethiopia, respectively. The aircraft manufacturer pleaded not guilty to charges charges the manufacturer deceived federal authorities over the safety of its 737 MAX jet following two crashes in 2018 and 2019 The not-guilty plea from the manufacturer comes after families of 350 killed in the two high profile crashes called for increased transparency on the safety of the bestselling jet. Pictured are family members and their attorney Paul Cassell (center) outside the hearing in Forth Worth The two crashes killed a total of 346 people, and left all Max jets grounded worldwide for nearly two years. They also cost Boeing more than $20 billion, and led to a 20-month grounding for the best-selling plane. The planes, however, were cleared to fly again in 2021, after Boeing overhauled an automated flight-control system that activated erroneously in both crashes, after promising to look into the plane's safety issues. US District Judge Reed O'Connor last week ordered Boeing to appear to be arraigned after he ruled that people killed in the two Boeing 737 MAX crashes are legally considered ' crime victims' Families of the nearly 350 killed in crashes, one of which transpired in 2018 in Indonesia and another in 2019 in Ethiopia, objected to a plea deal last week, and are calling for O'Connor name an independent body to oversee Boeing's compliance. They are also demanding the judge impose a standard condition that Boeing commit no new crimes, and disclose to the public, as much as possible, of the moves its corporate compliance office have adopted to avoid such incidents. Under a controversial deal reached in 2021, the Justice Department had agreed not to prosecute the company for conspiracy to defraud the government, granting it legal immunity. Families of the victims quickly spoke out against the decision, however, demanding justice for the victims. Both Boeing and the DOJ opposed reopening the agreement. Under a deal reach in 2021, the Justice Department had agreed not to prosecute the company for conspiracy to defraud the government. Families of the nearly 350 victims quickly spoke out against the decision, culminating in the current lawsuit Relatives of crash victims mourn at the scene where the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 passenger jet crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 157 on board. Families have since challenged a massive $2.5b settlement reached in 2021 that granted the company immunity In a court filing in November, following more than a year of backlash, the Justice Department said it did not oppose an arraignment for Boeing, but said undoing the agreement 'would impose serious hardships on the parties and the many victims who have received compensation.' Boeing, however, said that it opposes any efforts to reopen the agreement, calling it 'unprecedented, unworkable and inequitable.' It comes as the Arlington, Virginia-based plane manufacturer has doled out $500million in victim compensation to the families, as well a $243.6million fine and $1.7billion in further compensation to airlines grounded the disasters. The total settlement amounted to $2.5billion. The Arlington, Virginia-based plane manufacturer declined to comment when reached by DailyMail.com. Forensic teams and workers are pictured on March 12, 2019, recovering wreckage from a Boeing Max flight that crashed outside of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia That crash came five months after another flight on a Boeing 737 MAX jet left 189 people dead in Indonesia. Pictured are inspectors at the site of the Lion Air Flight crash in November 2018 In a brief filed Wednesday, lawyers representing the relatives of some of the passengers killed in the two crashes accused the company of the 'deadliest corporate crime in US history.' The sprawling fraud conspiracy lawsuit comes five years after the launch of Boeing's commercial jet in 2017, and four years after the aircraft's first crash in Indonesia. Officials, however, would only choose to ground 737s after a second crash, this time in Ethiopia, just five months later. Boeing Max 737's two deadly crashes: What happened? Boeing was forced to ground the 737 Max after the crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia happened less than six months apart. The first disaster happened October 29, 2018, when a Max flying as Lion Air flight JT 610 fell into the Java Sea 15 minutes after taking off from Jakarta. All 189 aboard the plane died, including 180 Indonesians, one Italian and one Indian. The second crash occurred on March 10, 2019, when Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302, which also was a Max jet, took off from Bole International Airport in the Ethiopian capital and crashed. All 157 people onboard the plane died. US carriers American, United and Southwest had to cancel flights for the holidays, including over Christmas and into the new year, after the plane was grounded around the world. Boeing reported on July 14, 2019, that customers canceled orders for 60 of the grounded 737 MAX jets in June. The aircraft maker removed another 123 planes from its backlog over doubts that the deals will be completed. Advertisement Following an investigation in 2020, Boeing blamed both crashes on a failure in the planes flight control system, which caused the plane's to turn sharply downwards while in the air. 737 MAX jets were once again cleared to fly in November 2021, after two years of being grounded, with Boeing at the time branding the planes safe for passengers Boeing had previously agreed to a $200million penalty from the Securities and Exchange Commission to settle charges that it 'negligently violated the antifraud provisions,' of US securities law. The agency argued that just one month after the first crash, the company 'selectively highlighted certain facts, implying pilot error and poor aircraft maintenance' was what led to the crashes, instead of a technical issue. That release failed to disclose that the company knew a key flight handling system, the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System posed safety issues and was never redesigned, the SEC argued. Then, after the second crash, the agency said, Boeing and Muilenburg assured the public that there was 'no surprise or gap' in the federal certification of the MAX despite being aware of contrary information. 'In times of crisis and tragedy, it is especially important that public companies and executives provide full, fair, and truthful disclosures to the markets,' said SEC Chair Gary Gensler in a press release. 'The Boeing Company and its former CEO, Dennis Muilenburg, failed in this most basic obligation. They misled investors by providing assurances about the safety of the 737 MAX, despite knowing about serious safety concerns.' The SEC said both Boeing and Muilenburg, in agreeing to pay the penalties, did not admit or deny the agency's findings. Boeing said the agreement 'fully resolves' the SEC's inquiry and is part of the company's 'broader effort to responsibly resolve outstanding legal matters related to the 737 MAX accidents in a manner that serves the best interests of our shareholders, employees, and other stakeholders,' a company spokesman said. 'We will never forget those lost on Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, and we have made broad and deep changes across our company in response to those accidents.' New data showed 80 were referred to Prevent over interest in incel ideology Individuals were flagged over their interest in multiple murders at schools Nearly 500 suspects who were obsessed with school massacres have been referred to the Governments flagship anti-extremism programme. The Home Office published a breakdown for the first time showing there were 499 cases scrutinised by the Prevent scheme over the past three years. The individuals were flagged over their interest in multiple murders at schools, such as cases in the United States including the Virginia Tech shooting, which claimed 33 lives, and Sandy Hook, which claimed 28. There were 154 individuals referred to Prevent in 2021-22 over their fixation on school murders. Nearly 500 suspects who were obsessed with school massacres have been referred to the Governments flagship anti-extremism programme. Pictured: Weatherby pump action shotgun (top) used by Jake Davison next to a police issue tactical single barrel 12-gauge pump action shotgun (below) shown in the inquest into the deaths of five people shot dead by Jake Davison New data showed that 80 individuals were referred to Prevent over their interest in incel ideology in the past two years. The incel, or involuntarily celibate, ideology typically involves young men who espouse violence against women who they blame for their own unattractiveness. It is thought to have played a role in the case of Plymouth gunman Jake Davison (pictured) who murdered five people with a pump-action shotgun in 2021 Of those, 38 cases scrutinised by an expert panel were deemed serious enough for the individual to be placed on a Channel course, which seeks to address their violent ideology. The Home Office said the cases involved individuals who expressed an interest in extremely violent images and content, including school massacre incidents. A spokesman added: This often does not amount to actions to undertake an attack themselves but can be indicative of wider safeguarding concerns and a potential susceptibility to radicalisation. The new data also showed that 80 individuals were referred to Prevent over their interest in incel ideology in the past two years. Of those, 77 took place in 2021-22, and 23 went on to be adopted as Channel cases. All but one of the 77 were male. The incel, or involuntarily celibate, ideology typically involves young men who espouse violence against women who they blame for their own unattractiveness. It is thought to have played a role in the case of Plymouth gunman Jake Davison, who murdered five people, including a young girl, with a pump-action shotgun in Plymouth in 2021. Davison, 22, had posted a series of hate-fuelled online rants against women. The Home Office published a breakdown for the first time showing there were 499 cases scrutinised by the Prevent scheme over the past three years. Pictured: Photographs of the component parts of the 'trap' shotgun cartridge shown during Davison's inquest The individuals were flagged over their interest in multiple murders at schools, such as cases in the United States including the Virginia Tech shooting, which claimed 33 lives, and Sandy Hook, which claimed 28. Pictured: An aerial view of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14, 2012 Incel mass murderer was granted a firearms licence despite 'unhealthy' gun obsession, inquest hears: Click here to read more Jake Davison was approved for a licence in 2017 when he was just 18 Advertisement The Home Office data, published today, showed that in the year to the end of March there were a total of 6,406 referrals to Prevent - and nine out of 10 were male. For the first time, the education sector made more referrals - just over 2,300 - than the police. Under-15s are making up an ever-growing proportion of those referred to Prevent. The figures show 29 per cent of the total, or 1,829 cases, were aged 14 or under. Under-15s also made up the largest proportion of cases escalated at a Channel panel, with 299 of the total 804 cases deemed serious enough for direct intervention by the authorities. For the second year running there were more referrals to Prevent involving people suspected of having extreme Right-wing ideologies (1,309) than those suspected of holding Islamist beliefs (1,027). Extreme-Right wing suspects made up the largest share - 42 per cent - of cases that were escalated to the Channel scheme. Former Chief Crown Prosecutor for northwest England, Nazir Afzal, warned in 2021 that up to 10,000 men and boys in the UK follow incel forums and may be at risk of radicalisation. A previous Home Office-backed report said anti-extremism laws had failed to keep pace with dangers posed by rising threats such as incels. The Commission for Countering Extremism said in February 2021 that the woman-hating cult amounted to hateful extremism and its followers create a climate conducive to terrorism, hate crime and violence. Former Vice President Mike Pence's team didn't start packing up his documents until after January 6, due to then President Donald Trump's insistence that everyone in the administration act like they were staying for a second term. CBS News reported Thursday on why the ex-vice president's aides got a late start in moving him out of his office after he and Trump lost the 2020 election to President Joe Biden. Trump had refused to concede the election to Biden and lied about there being widespread fraud in an attempt to stay in office. However, the election was certified for Biden in the early hours of January 7, 2021, after Pence refused to cooperate in a fraudulent attempt to choose fake slates of Trump electors over legitimate ones for Biden in swing states - with the votes delayed due to the MAGA attack on the Capitol. Former Vice President Mike Pence's team didn't start packing up his documents until after January 6, due to then President Donald Trump's insistence that everyone in the administration act like they were staying for a second term, CBS News reported Thursday Pence's packing commenced after that. Pence gave Biden some political cover this week with the announcement that classified documents were found at his Indiana home. On Wednesday, CNN reported that the documents were background briefings ahead of foreign trips. The documents - around 12 - were found on January 16, and on January 18 Pence's aides alerted the National Archives. Sources now tell CNN that the documents were of a lesser classification than the top-secret papers found at Biden's Delaware home and Washington, D.C. office and the more than 300 files found at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. It is not unusual for senior government officials to have classified documents in their homes, as they are required for late-night research and reference, but they should be turned over to the National Archives once the official leaves office. Biden and Pence followed procedure by immediately informing the authorities as soon as the documents were found. Classified documents were found at Pence's $1.9 million Carmel, Indiana home earlier this month, with the former vice president promptly informing the National Archives and turning them over to the FBI Pence's team didn't start packing up his office until after January 6, due to Trump wanting it to look like the administration was staying for a second term. The vice president's main office is located in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (pictured) next to the White House Trump, on the other hand, dragged his heels for 15 months, driving the FBI to ultimately raid his Florida home to seize the documents and confiscate them. Earlier on Wednesday, a top Democrat applauded Biden and Pence's handling of the matter - while admitting he was 'frustrated' they had removed the documents in the first place. 'I'm frustrated if anyone doesn't handle confidential secret documents in the manner in which they're supposed to,' said Rep. Pete Aguilar, the chairman of the Democratic Caucus, at a news conference on Wednesday. 'It's clear some protocols weren't followed.' Aguilar, a California Democrat, reflected a growing sentiment on Capitol Hill: lawmakers feel their rules for viewing sensitive material are treated with more care than those across town at the White House complex. 'I go to the security facility and read documents often. There's a process by which we are allowed to do that,' Aguilar said. Aguilar said Biden and Pence handled finding documents 'the way they should - letting everyone know and talking to the Archives and law enforcement agencies about what was found.' 'It's clear that the former president didn't handle this appropriately,' Aguilar said, referring to Trump. '[He] obstructed every possible avenue in which authorities could leave that material and lied about the material possessions. So you view them differently. But I think altogether, it's a disappointment,' the caucus chair added. Former President Donald Trump told Pence not to pack up until after January 6, 2021 according to CBS News Vice President Pence was inside the Capitol when the Trump supporters stormed Congress on January 6, 2021. A small number of documents, taken into FBI custody on January 19, were inadvertently boxed and transported to the former vice presidents home at the end of the last administration, Pences lawyer, Greg Jacob, wrote in a letter to the National Archives shared with The Associated Press. Four boxes containing copies of administration papers - two in which 'a small number' of papers bearing classified markings were found, and two containing 'courtesy copies of vice presidential papers' - were discovered, according to the letter. Arrangements were made to deliver those boxes to the National Archives on January 23. James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky and chair of the House Oversight Committee, said Pence reached out to offer his cooperation with the congressional panel. 'Former Vice President Pence's transparency stands in stark contrast to Biden White House staff who continue to withhold information from Congress and the American people,' Comer said in a statement. Republican Caucus Chair Elise Stefanik of New York also drew a stark contrast between Pence's and Biden's handling of classified documents. '[Pence] came forward and proactively reached out and is following the process,' she said. 'In the case of Joe Biden, he has had classified documents going back to his time in the Senate where he started serving before I was born,' she said. 'So, this is a longstanding national security threat, setting aside the fact that Hunter Biden also had access and used as his home address where those documents were improperly and illegally stored,' Stefanik added. Nicola Sturgeon said she believes it's not possible to have rapist in a women's jail Transgender rapist Isla Bryson has today been moved out of Scotland's only all-women's prison to a male jail within hours of a humiliating U-turn by Nicola Sturgeon. Bryson, named Adam Graham until 2020, was removed to a male wing of a prison this afternoon. A vehicle believed to be transporting Bryson was pictured leaving Cornton Vale jail in Stirling at around 2.30pm and it arrived at a replacement facility at 5.20pm. The SNP leader revealed the U-turn just 24 hours after her own justice secretary Keith Brown backed the Scottish Prison Service's decision to put the transgender double rapist with female inmates in Cornton Vale. Bryson's estranged wife Shonna Graham, 31, told MailOnline her former partner's transition was a 'sham for attention' and he was 'bull******** the authorities' to avoid a male prison. Critics said the rapist was a threat to female inmates. A prison van believed to be transporting Isla Bryson to a men's prison was pictured leaving Cornton Vale women's prison in Stirling at 2.30pm this afternoon The vehicle is understood to have reached the new facility at around 5.20pm Today Ms Sturgeon revealed the abuser who was born a man, still has a penis and only began transitioning after being charged with rape would be moved out of the all-female prison after just two days there. The First Minister did not say where Bryson will be sent but her spokesman later confirmed it would 'not be on the female estate'. Ms Sturgeon told First Minister's Questions: 'I don't think it's possible to have a rapist within a women's prison'. Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said today: 'It should not have taken public disgust and a slew of negative headlines about a double rapist being sent to a women's prison for Nicola Sturgeon to realise this was completely unacceptable and wrong.' Meanwhile, Mr Ross accused Ms Sturgeon of 'hiding behind' the Scottish Prison Service when she suggested it was responsible for the decision. Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed Isla Bryson will not remain in a women's prison while speaking to the Scottish Parliament today Isla Bryson, 31, (right), who was born Adam Graham (left), was convicted of raping two women while a man. After two days at a women's jail the rapist will be moved to a male prison Revealed: SNP's flip-flopping over Isla Bryson decision Tuesday: Bryson is convicted for the rape of a woman in Clydebank, East Dunbartonshire, in 2016 and a rape against a second woman in Drumchapel, Glasgow, in 2019. She is moved to Cornton Vale women's prison in Stirling for sentencing. Wednesday: Following an outcry from women's campaigners, Number 10 weighs in to express concern about the placement, with Rishi Sunak's spokesman saying he 'understands the concerns'. However, SNP Justice Minister Keith Brown expresses his confidence in the Scottish Prison Service and refuses to intervene. He adds that the controversial Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill would have no implication on which prisons transgender people are held in. Thursday: In a 'screeching' u-turn within 24 hours of Mr Brown's comments, Nicola Sturgeon announces that Bryson will be transferred from Scotland's only all-women's prison to a male jail. Advertisement At First Ministers' Questions, he cited rules that grant ministers the power to direct 'supervision levels' criteria for prisoners, and this must be reviewed 'within 72 hours of reception'. Scottish Tory MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston said: 'It is shameful that Nicola Sturgeon refuses to admit that her government and her own SNP ministers have allowed a double rapist to be held in a women's prison.' His colleague Tess White added: 'A predatory double rapist being held in a women's prison for any length of time is dangerous. 'An SNP minister defended the decision one day then Nicola Sturgeon backtracked the next. What would have happened if there hadn't been a public backlash?' Ms Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament: 'The risk assessment is under way. However, as in all cases, the Scottish Prison Service will not wait until an assessment is completed if they think action is required more quickly and this prisoner is not going to be incarcerated in Cornton Vale women's prison. 'In terms of the interim situation, and how the situation I said there is going to be achieved, I've got to be mindful of allowing the Scottish Prison Service to do their operational job and to do that properly.' Referring to the Bryson case, Ms Sturgeon confirmed: 'This prisoner will not be incarcerated in Cornton Vale women's prison short term or long term'. Late, the First Minister told journalists that no 'formal direction' had been given to the prison service by the Government on where Bryson should be imprisoned. A source told BBC Scotland after it emerged the rapist would be moved that Ms Sturgeon 'believes that is the right call'. The row has engulfed the Scottish Government and its First Minister, whose controversial Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill which would allow anyone over 16 to 'self-identify' as the opposite sex without needing medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria has not yet been legally ratified. Amid protests about the decision to send Bryson to Cornton Vale, Ms Sturgeon said: 'It would not be appropriate for me in respect of any prisoner to give details of where they are being incarcerated. 'But given the understandable public and parliamentary concern in this case I can confirm to parliament that this prisoner will not be incarcerated at Cornton Vale women's prison. I hope that provides assurance to the public.' Bryson only started to transition after appearing in court on the rape charges. MPs and MSPs warned that female inmates could be at risk and the move sent a signal that male sex offenders could 'game the system'. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on the way to First Minister's Questions where she performed the U-turn Transgender rapist Isla Bryson was sent to a women's prison despite carrying out the crimes as a man and transitioning after being charged It came as a retired governor of Cornton Vale jail declared today that if she were still in charge and had to take in sex attacker Bryson, she would quit. Rhona Hotchkiss believes it is 'appalling' that the 31-year-old was sent to the all-female jail after being convicted of raping two women while still a man named Adam Graham. Bryson is being held at Scotland's only full female jail while risk assessments are carried out ahead of sentencing on February 28. Critics said the abuser is a danger to women and the case has prompted calls for Ms Sturgeon's stalling Gender Recognition Reform Bill to be reviewed. Miss Hotchkiss is an ally of JK Rowling and director of the author's Beira's Place project a 'woman-only' sexual violence support service in Edinburgh that does not cater for trans women. The retired prison boss said: 'This [Isla Bryson] would have been a resignation issue for me. I am absolutely clear about the fact that they should be in a male prison you simply cannot have someone like this terrorising women. 'It's appalling. The thought that a double rapist can identify his way into a women's prison should shock everyone. 'The other shocking aspect is, the Scottish parliament could have chosen to legislate against that happening and they didn't.' Rhona Hotchkiss (bottom right) is a director of the women-only sexual violence support service Beira's Place in Edinburgh, which will not cater for trans women. It is funded by Ms Rowling, who is a director with (left to right back row) Susan Smith, Johann Lamont and Margaret McCartney Miss Hotchkiss told LBC Radio: 'Before I left I was in a very difficult situation where I was refusing to force female staff to search male-bodied prisoners and I was told that I would be making life very difficult for myself. 'Had I not been going to take early retirement anyway, I would have stayed and pursued that. But today, this would have been a resignation issue for me. 'I have no doubt this is a red line I would not have crossed and as the governor of Cornton Vale I would have refused to have this person in my prison.' Scotland's First Minister was questioned at a press conference on Monday at St Andrew's House in Edinburgh about appalling signs at the Rally for Trans Equality in Glasgow on Saturday. Police Scotland has said it is investigating after reports into a sign at the rally. SNP MP Kirsten Oswald and her party colleague, MSP Kaukab Stewart, were pictured with signs in the background calling to 'decapitate TERFs [trans-exclusionary radical feminists]'. Miss Hotchkiss tweeted of Ms Sturgeon: 'Women have been telling her for years that violent misogyny is a cornerstone of trans ideology & she's been ignoring us. She still is'. It comes as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab slammed Ms Sturgeon over the prison scandal. Downing Street showed 'concerns' about the Scottish government putting the male-bodied rapist in a women's prison. The Prime Minister's spokesperson said he had 'seen the reporting and understands the concerns' over the decision to let the transgender woman be held in a women's prison despite raping two women. Mr Raab tweeted such a move would not happen south of the border, after the Government overhauled rules to stop transgender sex offenders from being held in women's prisons. Under the changes, Mr Raab said transgender women who had committed sex crimes or retained male genitalia could not be held in women's prisons except in the most exceptional cases authorised by ministers. Both Downing Street and the Ministry of Justice revealed they were powerless to stop the Scottish government's move as criminal justice is a devolved responsibility. The decision has no wider impact on the UK's equality laws or practices in English and Welsh jails. A government source told The Telegraph: 'The point is that we are taking a more common sense approach. We are going further in our reform of the prison rules in a way that the public would expect to ensure that prisoners get the safety they would expect behind bars.' Labour's confusion over transgender double rapist as MP says sex predator 'deserves respect and support to transition safely' - while fellow party MP Yvette Cooper warns 'dangerous' attacker 'should not be in a women's prison' A Labour MP today sparked fury as she insisted double rapist Isla Bryson deserves 'respect' to 'transition safely' to a woman after being placed in a women's jail, declaring: 'We need to just be fair'. Paulette Hamilton, who represents Erdington in Birmingham, has said that Bryson must have the same support as the female prisoners experts believe the sex attacker poses a danger to at Cornton Vale prison in Stirlingshire. She said: 'This gentleman transitioning to a female, we're a democratic country - we have to treat him fairly. We have to respect that he is transitioning to a woman'. Labour has been accused of being 'all over the place' on gender and Yvette Cooper tried to give frontbench clarity on the issue today declaring it is a 'dangerous' decision not to place Bryson in a male jail. Paulette Hamilton, a Birmingham Labour MP, said that rapist Isla Bryson should be given the support necessary to 'transition safely' to become a woman as Yvette Cooper, Shadow Home Secretary, said it 'should be straightforward' that someone who has committed crimes against women shouldn't be housed with women But asked how she would deal with the case, Labour's Paulette Hamilton said: 'For myself as an MP in a constituency where I have a number of people who have contacted me that are transitioning. I think all they want us to be is just fair towards them. We need to just be fair and he has a fair hearing'. Times Radio presenter Jane Garvey said: 'The person has had a fair hearing and has been found guilty of two rapes' before co-host Fi Glover said: ''I think a lot of people feel uncomfortable knowing who is the more vulnerable whose rights need to be respected the most'. Ms Hamilton responded: 'So what are you trying to get me to say? I'm going to be honest with you because I'm not going to tell you 'we're gonna kill him because he wants to be transitioning'.' She added: 'I have to say I would be more concerned about the women in this circumstance if you are asking me outright. But saying all of that, transitioning he will get the support he needs to ensure that he transitions safely'. This morning Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was clear that the transgender rapist should be sent to a male prison after being accused of 'gaming the system' by self-identifying as a woman after being charged as Adam Graham. Ms Cooper told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'This dangerous rapist should not be in a women's prison'. And in an attack on Nicola Sturgeon after the Scottish First Minister refused to move the transgender double rapist, she said: 'It should be clear that if someone poses a danger to women and committed crimes against women they should not be being housed in a women's prison. 'That is straightforward and I think most people would agree with that.' Labour has been accused of having accused of having a problem with women with Sir Keir Starmer famously refusing to say last year if 'a woman can have a penis'. He later clarified that the 'vast majority' of women do not have a penis, causing yet more confusion. Downing Street said yesterday it has 'concerns' about the Scottish government putting a male-bodied rapist in a women's prison and Ms Cooper said the same in stronger terms. The Prime Minister's official spokesperson said he had 'seen the reporting and understands the concerns' over the decision to let transgender woman Isla Bryson - formerly known as Adam Graham - be held in a women's prison despite raping two women. Justice Secretary Dominic Raab tweeted that such a move would not happen south of the border, after the Government overhauled rules to stop transgender sex offenders from being held in women's prisons. Under the new changes, Mr Raab said transgender women who had committed sex crimes or retained male genitalia could not be held in women's prisons except in the most exceptional cases authorised by ministers. Both Downing Street and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) revealed they were powerless to stop the Scottish Government's move because criminal justice is a devolved responsibility. Former Cabinet minister Lord Blunkett said this week the opposition must treat people with respect but not do anything to undermine women's rights. He also went against party policy by backing the UK Government's decision to block Scotland's radical self-ID reform that would have allowed 16-year-olds to legally change sex. As the damaging row over Labour's 'woman problem' continued, it emerged that its chief whip had told backbencher Lloyd Russell-Moyle to apologise for shouting down and trying to intimidate two female MPs, including one from his own party. Labour defended its MP, Rosie Duffield, who likened her membership to being in an abusive relationship, after briefings that she spent too much time with fellow women's rights campaigner JK Rowling. Lord Blunkett, who served as home secretary and education secretary under Tony Blair, made his critical comments on the BBC's Politics Live programme yesterday [wed]. He said that ministers had been right to use the so-called Section 35 order for the first time to stop Scotland's transgender reforms becoming law, even though Scottish Labour voted for them and Sir Keir Starmer's spokesman said the veto was unnecessary. Lord Blunkett went on: 'I'm sick and tired of identity politics, having to debate it over and over again.' He said respect and genuine equality were needed, adding that Mr Russell-Moyle was right to apologise to Tory MP Miriam Cates for 'expressing a perfectly reasonable point of view' on safeguarding. And he said it was 'just not acceptable' for convicted rapist Adam Graham to identify as a woman and be sent to a women's prison in Scotland. Last night Miss Duffield spoke out again on Labour's woman problem. She told Talk TV it is 'kind of mad' and 'dystopian' that Sir Keir cannot say if women can have penises, and that she had 'no idea' what he personally believes on the topic. She suggested that the party leader felt unable to defend her because of pressure from student groups and activists, and said part of the problem was that Labour had so many men in senior posts. Asked what her message to Sir Keir was, she replied: 'I think I'd like him to listen to women's groups. I'd like to know that he's met with those people that are really concerned about this.' Experts warn the revelations Prince Andrew's sex abuse accuser makes about paedophile Jeffrey Epstein will 'cause problems' for the disgraced royal and Buckingham Palace as Andrew tries to restore his reputation. Virginia Giuffre accused the Duke of York of sexually abusing her when she was a minor under US law but Andrew has consistently denied the allegations. Andrew, 62, recently told friends that his poor reputation could soon be restored, despite reports that the King and Prince William are 'convinced he has no future as a working royal.' Royal Commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline today that Andrew's public comeback is a 'Sisyphean task' and requires a 'miracle, not public support from prison from Ghislaine Maxwell.' Scepticism about the Duke's alleged comeback come amid growing fears that Ms Giuffre's forthcoming memoir will be released just weeks before the King's coronation and overshadow the historic ceremony. Virginia Giuffre's memoir will 'cause problems' for the disgraced royal and Buckingham Palace as Prince Andrew (pictured yesterday) tries to restore his reputation Virginia Giuffre accused the Duke of York of sexually abusing her when she was a minor under US law but Andrew has consistently denied the allegations. Andrew, Ms Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell are pictured together in London in 2001 'Andrew may have secured an agreement for Virginia Roberts Giuffre never to speak out against him publicly when he settled her civil suit which alleged that she had had non-consensual sex with him on three occasions,' Mr Fitzwilliams warned. 'If this is so, the fact that she is writing her memoir may not concern him and his legal team unduly. If not it will obviously be of very considerable concern.' The royal expert, addressing multiple reports that Ms Giuffre has signed a book deal worth millions, says the memoir will 'cause problems for the Palace as whenever she is in the news it is linked in the public mind with him.' 'Obviously any new revelations would be of enormous concern,' he added. Royal Commentator Richard Fitzwilliams (pictured) told MailOnline today that Andrew's public comeback is a 'Sisyphean task' Mr Fitzwilliams noted how reports indicate Andrew has been asked to 'vacate his suite of rooms in Buckingham Palace.' This comes after he was stripped of all military titles and patronages last year and ordered by Buckingham Palace not to use his HRH title. The Palace also ruled out a return to public duties. 'Andrew has undoubtedly been given hope by the settling of all legal issues between Giuffre and the top American lawyer Alan Dershowitz in which she admitted she may have made a mistake in claiming that he had abused her as a teenager,' the expert alleged. 'However to actually clear his name it would also be necessary to have some credibility in the court of public opinion where his ratings are terrible. 'He is in disgrace, cannot use his HRH and carries out no royal duties. He has not been convicted of any crime so he sees no reason to do penance, but he promised to help the FBI in their investigations into Epsteins crimes and does not appear to have done so.' Mr Fitzwilliams also noted how Andrew denies ever meeting Giuffre yet the pair 'appear' to be pictured together with Maxwell in 2001. The expert continued, claiming the Duke's interview with the BBCs Emily Maitlis has become 'infamous and has made a public comeback all but impossible.' 'If he attends a royal event it can overshadow it and King Charles and William are convinced he has no future as a working royal,' Mr Fitzwilliams argued. 'For a real comeback, which the public would accept, he needs a miracle and not public support from prison from Ghislaine Maxwell, his close friend who is also a convicted sex offender. It is a Sisyphean task.' MailOnline has contacted Buckingham Palace and Andrew's attorneys for comment. 'For a real comeback, which the public would accept, he needs a miracle and not public support from prison from Ghislaine Maxwell, his close friend who is also a convicted sex offender,' Mr Fitzwilliams claimed. Maxwell (pictured during a TalkTV interview) recently said Andrew was a 'dear friend' and said the accusations against him were unfounded Scepticism about the Duke's alleged comeback come amid growing fears that Ms Giuffre's forthcoming memoir will be released just weeks before the King's coronation. Virginia Giuffre and lawyer David Boies are pictured in August 2019 at Federal Court in New York READ MORE: Fears Prince Andrew's accuser Virginia Giuffre 'could time release of her memoir for the crowning of King Charles' Fears are growing that King Charles' coronation could be overshadowed by the release of Virginia Giuffre's memoir Advertisement Multiple reports claim that Ms Giuffre, 39, has signed a book deal worth millions in which she is expected to detail her experience as a teenager in Epstein's sex ring. She and Andrew are said to have agreed to a gag clause which will expire in March, a year after they settled her civil rape claim against him. With this clause lifting within weeks, it is suspected that Ms Giuffre, who is married with children, will likely be free to publicly address how she was sex trafficked by Epstein and Maxwell. Some suspect she may have agreed to not repeat her allegations about Andrew, or discuss him in relation to the criminal couple. Publishing insiders have said that Ms Giuffre's memoir could be released just weeks before Charles' coronation, telling The Mirror: 'There will be no bigger occasion for her book than the crowning of the king.' 'All eyes will be on the royal family in the weeks leading up to Charless coronation,' the insider alleged, noting that 'book releases are all about timing.' Ms Giuffre's publisher wants to capitalise on the fact that a global audience will be talking about the May 6 coronation and what royal festivities Andrew will be invited to partake in. The insider added that Ms Giuffre's memoir, which is said to have been 12 years in the making, may not be able to directly repeat her allegations about the prince but will still 'pour further embarrassment on Andrew, the royals and the biggest day of his own brothers life.' Ms Giuffre's book deal is said to be worth 'millions,' multiple sources told the New York Post. It also comes amid reports that Andrew has amassed a war chest worth as much as 10million in preparation to launch a legal challenge to his settlement with Ms Giuffre. The settlement is reported to be a considerable sum of money, with some estimates around 12million. The Duke of York is consulting with lawyers in an attempt to get Virginia Giuffre, formally known as Virginia Roberts. to retract her allegations against him Prince Andrew (pictured yesterday) reportedly recently claimed to friends that a 'mystery development' will restore his disgraced reputation within the coming months Meanwhile, The Daily Mail has revealed that Andrew has been assuring friends there is about to be a development which will restore his tainted reputation. The Duke of York is regularly voted the least popular member of the Royal Family and was stripped of his public duties following the revelations over his relationship with paedophile Epstein, yet his self-belief remains undiminished. If not quite back up to the heroic status he enjoyed as a helicopter pilot in the Falklands War, then at least to what it was before he was photographed in New York's Central Park talking to Epstein, shortly after the latter's release from prison in 2009 after serving a puzzlingly short sentence for sex offences. 'He says that details are about to be made public which will change people's perceptions of him,' insiders told Richard Eden. 'He says that it will happen next month.' Although Andrew did not elaborate further, the Mail on Sunday reported at the weekend that he is to launch a dramatic bid to overturn the multi-million-pound settlement he struck with Giuffre. It is understood Andrew has consulted lawyers in an attempt to get Giuffre to retract her allegations and possibly secure an apology. He was inspired to act after Ms Giuffre dropped her lawsuit against another man she accused of sexual assault, admitting that she 'may have made a mistake' in identifying him. But Ms Giuffre has always maintained her case against the Duke was valid. Ms Giuffre alleges she was groomed by Epstein and his associate Maxwell, and forced to have sex with Andrew on several occasions. Pictured: Prince Andrew, Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein and Caroline Stanley in June 2000 Ms Giuffre, who is married with children, will likely be free to publicly address how she was sex trafficked by Epstein and Maxwell in her forthcoming memoir. Epstein and Maxwell are pictured together in an undated photo obtained by the US District Court for the Southern District of New York READ MORE: Ghislaine Maxwell launches desperate new defence of 'dear friend' Prince Andrew Ghislaine Maxwell called Prince Andrew her 'dear friend' and branded the accusations against him baseless in a desperate new defence of the Duke in a bombshell interview with Talk TV Advertisement Andrew's relationship with Epstein was raised once again in a bombshell interview with Maxwell on TalkTV. Speaking from prison, Maxwell said Prince Andrew was a 'dear friend' and said the accusations against him were unfounded. In her first TV interview since she was jailed for child sex trafficking, the British socialite also claimed the infamous photo of her, Andrew and Ms Giuffre was a 'fake'. Andrew is expected to claim that he never met Ms Giuffre and to argue that the photo is fake in his future legal action. However, several high-profile forensic experts who have examined the photo, in which Andrew has his arm around a young Ms Giuffre, have said they believe it to be real. Ms Giuffre alleges she was groomed by Epstein and his associate Maxwell, and forced to have sex with him on several occasions. Andrew denied ever meeting Ms Giuffre in a disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019. He famously claimed he was at a Pizza Express in Woking at the time of one of the incidents mentioned by his accuser. The son of the late Queen Elizabeth has suffered a series of humiliations since his car crash Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis in November 2019, as institutions have severed ties with him. The most shattering blow, Mr Eden was told, was the abrupt curtailment of his role as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, reported by the Daily Mail just before Christmas. He had already withdrawn from duties with the Grenadiers but had done so in the belief that he would, in time, return to them. 'He says that Her Majesty [Queen Elizabeth] gave him her word that stepping down was only a temporary measure. He says that he wasn't told in advance that he was about to be booted out, nor, obviously, that Camilla would be replacing him. He says that he just heard about it ''in the media''.' New surveillance video has revealed the moment a Texas man allegedly placed a suitcase with the dead body of his DJ girlfriend into the trunk of a rental car before he abandoned it in a dumpster in the Colombian capital of Bogota. John Poulos, 35, is seen pushing a food cart with the suitcase Sunday morning just after 10 am through the parking lot at the building where he had rented out an apartment for him and Valentina Trespalacios, 23, in the north side of Bogota. Poulos placed the cart near the left side of the car and walked down the garage and appeared to check to see if there are any other tenants in the area. He walked back and drags the cart near the trunk and checked his surroundings. He then drank a beverage out of a bottle and walked back to the cart. John Poulos is captured on camera lifting a suitcase that contained the body of his dead girlfriend, Valentina Trespalacios, inside a Volkswagen Voyager, on Sunday morning. The luggage bag was found inside a dumpster by a homeless man who was searching for recyclables. Poulos fled that same day to Panama, where he was arrested Tuesday night Valentina Trespalacios was beaten and strangled to death before she was stuffed into a suitcase that was dumped in a construction waste container near a park in Bogota, Colombia, on Sunday. The 23-year-old was dating John Poulos, a resident from Texas, who is accused of killing her and was scheduled to appear before a judge Thursday for his arraignment John Poulos (pictured) was taken into custody in Panama on Tuesday moments before he was about to board a flight to Turkey and then connect to Montenegro. On Wednesday, a Colombian judge approved a request by the Office of the Attorney General in Colombia that was required to present to Panamanian authorities to process Poulo's extradition Poulos pulled the cart near the trunk and at first struggled to lift the luggage bag, which he covered with a sheet, before he was finally able to put it into the trunk. He then drove off and allegedly dumped the suitcase inside a construction waste container in the south side of Bogota. Additional security camera footage showed Poulos arriving at the eighth floor apartment with his luggage Thursday evening. The camera also showed him with Trespalacios arriving Friday shortly after 7pm with her belongings. A second video clip also showed the alleged murderer leaving the apartment at 10:43pm and returning at 10:46pm with their food delivery order. On Sunday, around 10 am, Poulos appeared on camera but without Trespalacios, and could be seen pushing a cart with their belongings. Trespalacios' body was discovered by a homeless person who was searching the dumpster for recyclables Sunday around 2pm. John Poulos (left) had plans of living in Colombia full time and marrying his DJ girlfriend, Valentina Trespalacios (right). He was arrested in Panama on Tuesday, two days after her body was found inside a suitcase in a dumpster in the Colombian capital city of Bogota. Poulos is awaiting his extradition to Colombia A surveillance camera showed John Poulos arriving with his girlfriend Valentina Trespalacios on Friday evening, two days before he allegedly beat and strangled the 23-year-old DJ and stuffed her body into a suitcase that was found in a dumpster in Bogota, Colombia Poulos pushes a food cart with the luggage bag where he stuffed Trespalacios body on Sunday, about four hours before a homeless man discovered the suitcase in a dumpster After abandoning the suitcase, Poulos headed to El Dorado International Airport and fled on a flight to Panama City, Panama. On Tuesday, Panamanian immigration agents and Interpol officers responded to a request from the Colombian National Police and intercepted Poulos at Tocumen International Airport moments before he was about to board a Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul, Turkey. He also had a connecting ticket to Montenegro, which does not have an extradition agreement with Colombia. Poulos told authorities in Panama that the defunct Medellin Cartel was behind Trespalacios murder and that he had fled Colombia because cartel members wanted to kill him. John Poulos places the luggage back containing the dead body of his girlfriend, Valentina Trespalacios, in the trunk of a Volkswagen Voyager, on Sunday morning Turkish Airlines ticket purchased by John Poulos to travel from Panama City, Panama, to Istanbul, Turkey. The 35-year-old from Texas also had a connecting flight to Montenegro Valentina Trespalacios had opportunities to DJ in Chile, Mexico and Brazil, her family said A homeless man was searching through a waste container in the Bogota neighborhood of Los Cambulos when he discovered the suitcase with Valentina Trespalacios' body Colombian authorities have yet to corroborate his version of the events. Poulos was turned over to Colombian law enforcement on Wednesday night and arrived in Bogota during the early hours Thursday. A spokesperson for Colombia's Office of the Attorney General confirmed to DailyMail.com that Poulos was scheduled to appear before a judge Thursday and arraigned for killing Trespalacios. Poulos is facing four counts - aggravated femicide, concealment, alteration and destruction of evidence. Trespalacios hairstylist, Victoria Jimenez, confirmed to DailyMail.com on Wednesday that Poulos was married and had three children in the United States. She added that the mother of the children had obtained a restraining order because he was violent. She said Trespalacios met Poulos through an online dating app. Colombian DJ Valentina Trespalacios (pictured) was found dead in a suitcase that was tossed inside a dumpster in Bogota. Her boyfriend, John Poulos, of Texas, has been accused of her murder The couple had been dating for eight months and planned to marry in the near future. Poulos, Jimenez said, had planned to travel to Colombia in February as part of his plans to find a home in Bogota and live there permanently with Trespalacios. She added that she and Trespalacios were going to go on a mini vacation double date in February with both of their boyfriends Jimenez also dates an American. Jimenez said that Poulos has become increasingly upset with Trespalacios because she had refused to publicize their relationships on her social media networks. She declined to go public because her accounts were only being used to promote her DJ work. The mystery around the disappearance of factory worker Deborah Wood almost three decades ago has taken a fresh twist after the managers of the pub where she was last seen told a cold case review that sadistic killer John Taylor was a regular there. Deborah, 20, was last seen alive leaving Big Lil's bar in Leeds after having a drink with her father on January 4, 1996. Her body was found ten days later. Now Garth Durkin and Allan Moss, who ran Big Lil's, have revealed that Taylor would wander around the pub, chatting up other customers. Deborah Wood (pictured), 20, was last seen alive leaving Big Lil's bar in Leeds after having a drink with her father on January 4, 1996. Her charred body was found ten days later Taylor is likely to die behind bars for murdering Leanne Tiernan, 16, in 2000 and a string of rapes and other sex attacks over three decades. But detectives believe he may have killed four other young women in West Yorkshire before they caught him. Moss says he remembers Taylor and recalled: 'He used to come in just after 5pm, probably when he finished work. He was a bit of a creep - touchy, touchy, feely, feely. I didn't like the man. That's it, pure and simple. 'He was one of them that used to wander round and talk, and it was mainly females he'd talk to. He was hands-on, putting his arm around them and rubbing his hand up and down and feeling. Sadistic killer John Taylor (pictured) has been identified as a potential suspect 'The younger the female the better. If you're asking me: 'Did he leave with her that night?' I couldn't tell you. But if he'd have been in that night, she's gone missing, he'd have been talking to her.' Mr Moss was talking on a cold case investigation, by Silent Witness star Emilia Fox and criminologist Professor David Wilson, for their TV series In the Footsteps of Killers on Channel 4. The show uncovered Moss and his former colleague Durkin as potential witnesses after Deborah vanished. Durkin told the programme: 'If they had approached me, I would have sat with the police in my office. We would have gone through the video tape, and we would have pointed out all the regulars. 'Allan would have remembered all their names and that's how it would have been done because we've done this with the police over other incidents. As far as I can remember and it's a long time ago I didn't even have one police officer speak to me, show me a picture.' Deborah's charred body was found on January 14 on an embankment near Burley Park rail station in Leeds a 12-minute walk from Taylor's home in Bramley. Deborah's brother Craig was also interviewed for the show. He believes that a necklace found in Taylor's car belonged to his sister. 'About five years ago. a plain clothed CID officer went round to mum's house, showed her the jewellery, and said: 'Do you recognise any of this jewellery?' She said he didn't even take it out of the bag to show her. 'As soon as she said she couldn't recognise it or couldn't even see it, she said he was gone. When she told me this, I was quite annoyed because if there's any jewellery to be shown, why don't they show my other two sisters or me? But they didn't.' 'What a bombshell,' said Wilson. 'He says that the necklace that the police put into the public domain is the same as the necklace worn by his sister.The more we've looked at this and the more we've processed the information we've discovered; John Taylor should certainly be considered as a suspect in relation to who it was that murdered Deborah Wood.' Deborah's brother Craig Wood believes a necklace found in the car of Taylor after the murder of 16-year-old Leanne Tiernan in 2000 used to belong to his sister Craig told the Channel 4 show he was watching a documentary of Leanne Tiernan and near the end the police said they'd discovered a necklace in Taylor's car. Craig said he believes that the necklace was Deborah's and it's the vital piece of evidence linking Taylor to her murder Craig believes the case was mismanaged from the start. He and his now-deceased mum Linda heartbreakingly only found out about Deborah's murder on TV. He said: 'A local television channel described about a body being found at Burley Railway Station. 'My mum sort of had an inkling that the clothes that were described were the clothes that my mum had bought her. You just have a gut feeling.' Six years after Deborah's killing, delivery driver Taylor was jailed for life for the murder of Leanne. He had snatched the 16-year-old on her way home from a Christmas shopping trip. Divorced dad of two Taylor, a keen poacher and animal breeder, strangled her and kept her body in his kitchen freezer for nine months before dumping it in woodland. The judge told Taylor at Leeds crown court: 'You carried out a 20-year campaign of rape and assaults fuelled by sadistic desire to inflict pain for sexual gratification.' They described him as a 'sexual sadist who exudes evil'. Deborah's burned body was discovered on an embankment near Burley Park rail station in Leeds a 12-minute walk from Taylor's home in Bramley. Taylor was given a 30-year jail sentence for the murder of Leanne Tiernan and a string of sex attacks on women Chris Gregg, former head of CID at West Yorkshire Police, worked on the Leanne murder case and believes Taylor had killed before. He said: 'He is one of the most dangerous sexual predators in the prison system. He is one of the most evil predators I have ever had the misfortune to come up against.' Two years after he was jailed for life for Leanne's murder, Taylor pleaded guilty to two rapes and was given a 30-year term after a police review of unsolved sex crimes. And in 2018 a judge imposed a full-life tariff on him for another 16 offences including three of rape against five victims between 1977 and 1996. In the Footsteps of Killers: The Murder of Deborah Wood is available to watch on Channel 4. Gov. Ron DeSantis weighed in on the battle for chair of the Republican National Committee, throwing his support behind challenger Harmeet Dhillon and spelling out the need for new blood after disappointing midterm elections. It sets up a proxy clash between two of the Republican party's heavyweights and possible 2024 rivals, as former President Donald Trump is quietly backing incumbent Ronna McDaniel. 'I think we need a change, I think we need to get some new blood in the RNC,' DeSantis said. 'I like what Harmeet Dhillon has said about getting the RNC out of DC [...] We need some fresh thinking.' #BREAKING: Gov. Ron DeSantis praises Harmeet Dhillon (@pnjaban) in bid for RNC chair "I think we need a change, I think we need to get some new blood in the RNC. I like what Harmeet Dhillon has said about getting the RNC out of DC [...] We need some fresh thinking." pic.twitter.com/Y5W78v4RC6 Floridas Voice (@FLVoiceNews) January 26, 2023 Ron DeSantis's decision to back Harmeet Dhillon for RNC chair sets up an arm's length battle with Donald Trump, whose aides are quietly backing incumbent Ronna McDaniel His intervention comes as the 168 members of the RNC are gathered for their winter meeting in California. They are due to pick their chair for the next two years in a secret ballot on Friday. McDaniel's team is convinced they have the votes needed to secure a fourth term. But Dhillon's supporters say fresh thinking is needed to make Republicans more competitive in elections. 'We've had three substandard election cycles in a row - '18, '20, and '22,' DeSantis told Florida's Voice. 'And I would say of all three of those, '22 was probably the worst given the political environment of a very unpopular president in Biden. 'Huge majorities of the people think the country is going in the wrong direction. 'That is an environment that's tailor made to make gains in the House and the Senate and state houses all across the country. And yet that didn't happen. 'In fact we lost ground in the Senate.' Harmeet Dhillon is running to unseat Ronna McDaniel as chairwoman, saying a change is needed after several cycles of disappointing election results DeSantis has yet to reveal his 2024 plans. But he comes off a landslide victory in his own state last year, and has excited a large wing of the Republican Party with his culture war credentials, and relative youth at the age of 44. Dhillon said she welcomed the comments of DeSantis which reflected grassroots' feeling. '85, 90, 95 percent of Republicans are supporting a change in leadership at the RNC,' she said. 'And so I'm sure Governor DeSantis is hearing it and I'm sure frankly, every Republican elected official around the country is hearing that.' Trump remains the only declared candidate for 2024, and is reported to be quietly backing McDaniel, whom he helped propel to the top of the RNC. He cannot weigh in publicly for fear of upsetting the committee's neutrality in the nomination process. But the Associated Press reported that former White House adviser Kellyanne Conway and former chief of staff Reince Priebus will be in McDaniel's unofficial whipping team. And aides have quietly let it be known that he wants McDaniel to return for a fourth-term. The contest has split MAGA world, however. Kari Lake, who lost her bid to become governor of Arizona last year, is campaigning for Dhillon as members gather at a luxury California hotel for the election. Trump loyalist and conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell has also jumped ship, and is running against McDaniel but has little chance of winning. Actress Eva Green made 'excessive creative and financial demands' and had expectations that were 'incompatible' with the budget of the 4million project, the High Court was told. The Casino Royale star, 42, had been due to star in sci-fi film A Patriot before production was shut down in October 2019. She is suing production company White Lantern Films and a second defendant, SMC Specialty Finance LLC, claiming she is entitled to her million-dollar (approximately 810,000) fee for the movie, despite its cancellation. Ms Green, who was also executive producer on the project, claims she is owed the money under a so-called 'pay or play' provision which guarantees the individual payment regardless of whether or not the work is completed. White Lantern Films is defending the case and bringing a counterclaim against the French actress, alleging she repeatedly made 'unreasonable demands' and undermined the film's production. Bond girl Eva Green, pictured in Casino Royale with Daniel Craig, is at the High Court in a legal battle over the demise of a 4 million film project Former Bond girl Eva Green (pictured) ranted that 'my name is Cruella', called a movie producer a 'f****** moron' and labelled the financial backers of her film 'a***holes' before the 4 million project fell apart, court documents reveal Producers Terry Bird (left) and Jake Seal were mentioned in the texts Lawyers for the company and its lender SMC Speciality Finance claim she expressed 'sheer hostility' in messages referring to members of the production, and conspired with the director and producer to secure the film rights and make a different film. On the first day of a trial in London on Thursday, Max Mallin KC, for White Lantern Films, accepted Ms Green had a commitment to making a film but one 'she wanted to make'. He said she had 'not only not a commitment, but a vitriolic aversion to making a film that White Lantern could and was going to make'. 'We have got a critical split between the expectation of Eva Green and the film she wanted to make and what the budget could afford,' the barrister said. Mr Mallin said that Ms Green, who was not present at court on Thursday, had 'animosity' towards a vision for the film held by one of the film's executive producers, Jake Seal. In written arguments, the lawyer said the 'adequately resourced' film 'could and would have been produced had the lead actor and essential element not pulled out'. 'Ms Green's expectations for the film were incompatible with its budget: it was an independent film in contrast to the large-budget studio films to which Ms Green was then accustomed,' Mr Mallin said. He added: 'The clash between Ms Green's expectations and reality was demonstrated continually by Ms Green's failure to engage responsibly in pre-production and her repeatedly making unreasonable demands of White Lantern.' Mr Mallin alleged that Ms Green had made a 'fraudulent misrepresentation' that she was 'ready, willing and able' to fulfil her contract. He claimed a 'scheme' was devised between the actress, writer and director Dan Pringle and producer Adam Merrifield - allegedly described by the latter as 'Operation Fake It!' - to secure her fee and make a separate film without SMC involved. In a message to Mr Pringle, Ms Green claimed her 'soul will die' if she was to make the film with Mr Seal at the Black Hangar production facility in Hampshire, Mr Mallin said. Ms Green played foreign liaison agent Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale Ms Green is due to give evidence on Monday next week, but did not attend today's hearing due to a scheduling conflict. The High Court heard she signed on to A Patriot with Helen Hunt and Charles Dance in 2019, but they had both dropped out by the time of its collapse in autumn of that year. At the start of the eight-day trial today, Ms Green's barrister Edmund Cullen KC told the court Ms Green wanted to get the film made but 'the financial plan was never going to work'. He added: 'This was, for her, a passion project. The theme of the film concerns an issue of great concern to her, namely the climate catastrophe. 'She loved the script and wanted the film to be made, she bent over backwards to get this done.' In their written defence, lawyers for White Lantern Films said Ms Green had expressed 'a lack of confidence and dissatisfaction' with some of the production crew. Max Mallin KC, for White Lantern, claimed she was 'increasingly reluctant to be involved in the production', in breach of contract. In text messages used in White Lantern's claim, Ms Green is said to refer to one of the film's executive producers, Jake Seal, as 'evil', a 'devious sociopath' and 'a liar and a mad man'. 'I cannot believe that Moron Jake... pure vomit,' read another message said to be from Ms Green sent in August 2019. She is also said to have called production manager Terry Bird 'a f****** moron' and described Mr Seal and Mr Bird as 'total a***holes'. A scene from the iconic 2006 film featuring the actress with Daniel Craig The trial in London began this morning and is due to last eight days. Green (pictured) was not present this morning but will give evidence later However, Mr Cullen told the court: 'This case is designed to paint my client as a diva to win headlines and damage her reputation.' He added it was 'really extraordinary' that Ms Green was faced with a case that 'she was somehow trying to undermine the project all along by making unreasonable demands'. 'She repeatedly agreed to postpone the start of principal photography. She agreed to the move of the production from Ireland to the UK. She made repeated offers to use part of her fee to fund the production costs.' In written submissions, Mr Cullen said White Lantern's defence to the case was 'an artificial construct which bears no reality to the factual and legal position as it existed at the time'. 'It seems to be designed to blacken the name of an actor who has not breached a contract or missed a day's shooting in a career spanning 20 years,' he added. Mr Cullen later said that the text messages 'must be seen in context' of negotiations over buying out a lender to White Lantern in return for rights to the script. Ms Green is understood to risk facing a legal bill of more than 4 million if she loses the case Sparks flew during the summer of 2019 after the film's producers haggled over the rates of pay to meet the demands of Ms Green's preferred team He added: 'They are in essence an informal venting of a stream of consciousness as events unfolded. 'The language is unguarded and at times strongly, and perhaps carelessly, expressed. 'They are contradictory and volatile, reflecting the personalities of those involved and the extreme tension surrounding the film's production.' The barrister said White Lantern has 'sought to lay every failure of the production at Ms Green's door'. He later told the court that the production was in a 'state of complete dysfunction' and that the 'reality' was 'this was a production which could never have actually been made and the defendant knew it'. Mr Justice Michael Green is expected to give his decision at a later date. Ms Green pictured in London in June 2021 during filming for a mystery project A project manager who was given a 10,000 fine for not wearing a facemask at a Tube station has successfully had the heavy sum quashed on appeal - but still has to pay the original 200 penalty. Sean Howson, 40, was stopped by police at Green Park station, where he was using his coat to cover his nose and mouth. Southwark Crown Court heard that Mr Howson was surrounded by five police officers, despite the fact that several other people at the station were not wearing masks on December 28, 2021. In January 2022 he was served with a fixed penalty notice of 200, which he did not pay and he was subsequently fined 10,000 last July. But the judge made it clear that Howson should have paid the initial fixed penalty, and he will now have to pay that 200 fine. Sean Howson, 40, was stopped by police at Green Park station, where he was using his coat to cover his nose and mouth, Southwark crown court heard Tom Daniel, prosecuting, said: The consequences of the pandemic were devastating for many people in this country. The cost of the pandemic and of dealing with it were vast. The evidence was that face masks played a part in stemming the flow of the virus. Mr Howson represented himself at court to appeal against the fine. He said: I was covering both my face and my nose with a jacket. I asked them under what regulation I was being stopped. They did not answer. While speaking to the officers I saw that a number of people at the station without face coverings or without face masks. They said that we are dealing with you so we are not focusing on them. There were five police officers surrounding me at the time. One might argue that a jacket is a type of covering. At Southwatk Crown Court, the 10,000 sum was dismissed but the judge made it clear that Howson should have paid the initial fixed penalty. He will now have to pay that 200 fine Mr Howson added: I am not known to any legal system, nor have I ever been in any issue with the law. I have no charges at all in relation to Coronavirus regulations. I have members of my family who have been struck down by Covid. Mr Howson, who works as a project manager in the construction industry, said the fine was manifestly excessive. The judge, Mr Recorder Jonathan Bellamy said: We have no doubt that the appeal should be allowed. The fine was manifestly excessive. In June 2020, the government introduced regulations that required people to wear face coverings on public transport and in indoor settings such as shops. In January 2021, just under 1,000 people had been fined for not wearing face masks in England and Wales. Figures suggest that black, Asian and ethnic minority men were disproportionately targeted with fines for not wearing face coverings. Mr Howson, of Cobham, Surrey, faced one count of entering or remaining in a relevant place without a face covering. According to his LinkedIn profile he works in project management at GVA Second London Wall and gained a BSc Honors from the University of Brighton and an MBA (Master of Business Administration) from the University of Reading. A new gold statue that pays tribute to Ruth Bader Ginsburg's fight for abortion rights has been called 'satanic' and mocked for its horns and tentacles after it was unveiled in New York. The eight-foot sculpture, named 'NOW,' stands on the courthouse of the Appellate Division building in the Flatiron District, alongside statues of famed lawmakers like Moses, Confucius and Zoroaster. Unlike the other statues, however, it bears little resemblance to its inspiration. Ginsburg served on the Supreme Court championing women's rights before her death in 2020. The sculpture's hair is like a ram's horns and its arms have been replaced with protruding tentacles. Pakistani-American Artist Shahzia Sikander, 53, told The New York Times the statue was meant to symbolize 'a fierce woman and a form of resistance in a space that has historically been dominated by patriarchal representation.' Many on social media, however, condemned the design, calling it a 'satanic' eyesore that resembles 'Medusa' as it stands on the historic rooftop. The widely mocked sculpture on the courthouse of the Appellate Division building in the Flatiron District, alongside statues of famed lawmakers like Moses, Confucius and Zoroaster This is NOW 2023 (Bronze) being installed Jan 14th on the roof of the Appellate Division Courthouse of New York State on Madison and 25th pic.twitter.com/BqinlBlUW0 Shahzia Sikander (@shahziasikander) January 16, 2023 New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino was among many on Twitter who believed the statue more closely looked like the Greek monster of legend than the late Ginsburg. 'Was there any public input whatsoever before a satanic golden medusa demon with tentacle arms was installed atop a downtown courthouse,' Paladino asked on Twitter. 'Who thinks this is okay? And how do we go about removing it?' Stephen Miller, who served as a senior advisor to former President Donald Trump, summarized it as 'a visual desecration of the landscape.' Radio show host Derek Hunter also chimed in on the new statue, writing: 'Justice is no longer blind, it's just ugly and stupid.' Many took to Twitter to brutally bash the design of the controversial statue One Twitter user pointed out that the statue is too much of a step away from the classical look of the other figures atop the courthouse. 'Not only does it look satanic and have no historical relevance, but look at the craftsmanship,' they wrote. 'A far cry from the intricate robes of the other stone statues.' Another Twitter user echoed those views and said it further emphasized the problem with modern art. 'I like how it is right next to the old statues so that everyone can very clearly see how ugly modern art is compared to what was historically made,' they wrote. Many on Twitter also shared memes to emphasize just how much the statue stood out, while others compared it to the heavily criticized 'The Embrace' statue honoring Martin Luther King Jr. that was unveiled earlier this month. Many on Twitter also mocked how the statue stood out like a sore thumb atop the courthouse Others posted memes about the statue and even likened it to the controversial Martin Luther King Jr. statue, The Embrace, which was unveiled earlier in January Sikander said her work was called 'NOW' because it represented the urgency to protect women's reproductive rights after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last June. 'With Ginsburg's death and the reversal of Roe, there was a setback to women's constitutional progress,' she wrote in her artist's statement. She said the 'horns' were designed as a symbol to the figure's 'sovereignty, and its autonomy.' The sculpture will remain at the courthouse rooftop until June, when it will be removed and transported to be displayed in Houston, Texas. Pakistani-American Artist Shahzia Sikander (above), who created the statue, said it was meant to symbolize 'a fierce woman and a form of resistance in a space that has historically been dominated by patriarchal representation' The statue will remain perched atop the courthouse until June President Biden helped his convict 31-year-old niece Caroline Biden land an interview for a job at Masimo Corporation, whose owner is one of his biggest donors, but she balked at the $85,000-a-year salary, records from Hunter Biden's laptop show. Caroline, the daughter of Joe Biden's brother Jim and his wife Sara, in 2017 pled guilty to buying more than $100,000 worth of makeup on a stolen credit card. She managed to get out of a grand larceny charge and the two-year prison sentence that carried, but was sentenced to two years' probation, which she wanted to serve in Los Angeles to be near her cousin Hunter Biden. Hunter then applied for an apartment for her in Los Angeles under his own name - only messages and emails on the laptop revealing he wouldn't be the one living there, according to correspondence on Hunter's abandoned laptop first reported by the Free Beacon. Caroline Biden and Hunter Biden are pictured together Another photo from Hunter Biden's laptop of the Biden family's self-proclaimed 'two crazies' As a term of transferring her probation from New York City to Los Angeles, Caroline had to accept a job. The property manager never accepted the application for the apartment, and Caroline never made it out to Los Angeles, as she bombed the interview for the job at Masimo, a medical technology company. Records show Jim Biden had asked Hunter to convince his cousin Caroline to accept a job, after a lifetime of only holding cushy jobs she had secured through her family name, according to the Free Beacon. Emails show the job she was interviewing for in July 2018 at Masimo promised $85,000 per year plus a guaranteed 10 percent bonus plus stock options. 'That's below minimum wage in California after taxes,' Caroline wrote in an email to her father. 'I cannot take this job. I have never made this little money in my life.' Caroline said she could not accept a job that would pay her 'less than $180,000.' She then appeared to 'bomb' the interview, get passed up for the job, but was offered an internship at the company as a favor to her uncle Joe. 'I didn't get the job,' Caroline texted her cousin Hunter. 'I was given an intern job at 31 years old because of your dad asking him to give me something even though I bombed it.' By July 28, Caroline texted Hunter that his father Joe was 'done' with her. 'Your dad told me he was done with me yesterday,' she said, adding her dad wouldn't let her go out to California to see Hunter without a place to stay. After taking over the presidency Biden put the founder of Masimo, Joe Kiani, on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Kiani's company has received almost $3 million in federal government contracts since Biden took office. In 2017 the Masimo Foundation donated at least $1 million to the Biden foundation and Kiani and his wife donated $500,000 to the Biden foundation personally. Kiani bundled more than $1 million in campaign donations, gave $750,000 of his own money to a pro-Biden super PAC and his foundation gave another $1 million to Biden's inaugural committee. Caroline said she could not accept a job that would pay her 'less than $180,000' Caroline pictured walking into court after she stole $110,810 in a credit card scam Caroline would not accept an $85,000-a-year job, even though she was on probation for stealing over $100,000 Text exchanges between Hunter and Caroline reveal how they knew themselves to be the 'two crazies' of the Biden family. 'Your dad thinks you're a good influence which you are,' Caroline wrote to Hunter, then in the throes of drug addiction. 'The majority of my family thinks I'm nuts and untalktoable,' she wrote in another message. In other messages, she complained 'our family's sick' and said she had 'no relationship with my nuclear family.' She insisted she had to do 'everything on my f***ing own.' Caroline's father Jim also reached out to Hunter for help with his daughter. 'I need help with Caroline, she is off the rails,' he told Hunter in a July 13, 2018 text message. After the job and apartment fell through, Caroline texted her cousin: 'I'm a LOSER. THERE IS NO PLAN.' 'Please stop Caroline you promised you wouldn't do exactly what youre [sic] doing. So stop take your f***ing meds stop going tisane [sic] at 2Am and live [sic] everyone aloe [sic] until you get back here to torture me. And dont stress about the job s***head. You are crazy im crazy and two crazies make .... double the cray I guess,' Hunter replied. 'It'll be fun we may just blow up a house and rob banks together,' he added. 'Lets start with Hallies car. She's truly killing me--' Hunter said, referencing his sister-in-law and ex-lover. In 2020, Caroline was arrested for driving under the influence in Pennsylvania, where she grew up. She managed to avoid serving time after negotiating a plea bargain. A Minnesota woman has pleaded guilty to leaving her newborn baby to die at a lake located on the Mississippi River in 2003 - as authorities also found her DNA on a second set of remains from 1999. Jennifer Matter, 50, admitted to police that she had given birth to a baby boy at Methodist Beach in 2003 and left him there with no intention of coming back - despite it only being a freezing 32 degrees outside. For years, the town of Red Wing has been searching for the mother, who was arrested on May 10, 2022, in Belvidere Township. DNA samples from both infants were taken and using genealogy, detectives were able to link the baby boy and a baby girl - who were found on the Mississippi River four years apart - to Matter. Both babies were found with their umbilical cords still attached and both were conceived with different men, according to Fox 9 Minneapolis. Neither baby belonged to her ex-husband, whom she has two other children with. Jennifer Matter, 50, was arrested on May 10, 2022, and pleaded guilty on Wednesday for the death of her baby boy in 2003 Matter (middle, with her daughter, left) admitted to giving birth to a baby boy on a shore at Methodist Beach and leaving her child behind in the freezing December weather She was also connected through DNA to a 1999 baby girl (left), who she eventually admitted to dumping at a harbor overnight after giving birth in her bathroom. Both babies were found with their umbilical cords attached and were conceived through different men (pictured right: the 2003 baby) Investigators got in contact with a relative to 'quickly confirm the identity of the babies' mother' and they eventually spoke to the father of the first baby in 2021, which lead them to her. When she was interviewed by police, Matter, who is divorced, denied knowing anything about the case. Even after her DNA sample matched with the infants, she continued to deny knowing either baby existed. However, upon a third interview with authorities, she admitted she knew about the first baby, but had been 'in and out of jail, drinking too much, and doing a lot of stupid things' at the time. When Matter dumped the first baby in 1999, she was already a mother-of-two. She told detectives she was unaware she was pregnant and had given birth to a stillborn baby in a bathroom at home after dropping her children off at school. She then dumped the 'blue' baby in a boat harbor overnight, according to court documents viewed by Kare 11. The baby was later found by fisherman. She admitted she should've have sought help, but said her 'mind was not there.' Charges have not been filed for the 1999 baby, but on Wednesday, Matter did plead guilty the 2003 child. Fishermen found the first baby after she dumped her at a harbor (pictured). She has not faced charges for the first baby and it is unclear if she will The second baby was found by teenagers in December 2003 on the beach (pictured). She pleaded guilty to the charges pertaining to the second baby on Wednesday and could face up to 27 years in prison if convicted Four years later, she would dump another baby a public beach in Frontenac after she went into labor on the shore. Unlike the first baby, she admitted the baby was 'breathing fine,' but she was 'trying to lay low because she had an arrest warrant and believed cops were looking for her.' A group of teenagers had found the second child on December 7, 2003. Matter had left the child with hopes that 'someone in the nearby houses would find the baby,' court documents said, according to CBS News. 'I left (the baby) on the beach, walked away, got into my car, and drove away with no intention of returning,' she wrote in a plea agreement. Matter could face up to 27 years in prison for the 2003 baby. It is unclear if prosecutors are considering further charges for the 1999 baby. Matter will be sentenced on April 28. The transgender double rapist who was originally sent to an all-female jail had enrolled in a beauty course while awaiting trial. Isla Bryson, previously known as Adam Graham, attended Ayrshire College's Kilwinning Campus in 2021, the college confirmed to MailOnline today. The convicted rapist began taking the beauty course, which reportedly involved both classroom work and practical applications, after having been charged for sex attacks. Bryson, 31, was convicted this week of raping two women in 2016 and 2019 following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow. The criminal was moved to a male prison today after outrage from campaigners, politicians and a United Nations human rights expert. Bryson will return to court for sentencing next month. Isla Bryson (pictured on Monday) attended Ayrshire College's Kilwinning Campus in 2021 while awaiting trial for rape Bryson began taking a beauty course at Ayrshire College (pictured), which reportedly involved both classroom work and practical applications, after having been charged for sex attacks Bryson was enrolled at the college for a three-month period in 2021 and is no longer enrolled, Ayrshire College spokesperson told MailOnline today. The spokesperson added: 'Ayrshire College had no prior knowledge of this individual being charged with any offences. 'We will not be making any further comment on this matter.' Bryson's course was almost exclusively comprised of female students, most of whom were 'much younger' than the convicted rapist, reports indicate. Susan Smith, of the campaign group For Women Scotland, suspects the rapist's classmates did not know about the charges because they were filed under Bryson's 'original name.' 'Presumably they knew him by his new name, so they probably wouldn't have been able to find out anything about this person,' Ms Smith told STV News today, adding that it is 'absolutely terrifying that people can hide their identities and gain access to young women in this way.' Bryson, previously known as Adam Graham (pictured), was convicted this week of raping two women in 2016 and 2019 following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow Bryson, 31, was moved to a male prison today after outrage from campaigners, politicians and a United Nations human rights expert. The rapist will return to court for sentencing next month. Pictured: A prison van believed to be transporting Isla Bryson to a men's prison is seen leaving Cornton Vale women's prison in Stirling at 2.30pm this afternoon The vehicle is understood to have reached the new facility at around 5.20pm Transgender double rapist Isla Bryson leaves women's prison after 48 hours: CLICK HERE TO READ MORE Transgender rapist Isla Bryson has today been moved out of Scotland's only all-women's prison to a male jail within hours of a humiliating U-turn by Nicola Sturgeon Advertisement News of Bryson's enrolment at Ayrshire College comes just hours after the rapist was moved out of Scotland's only all-women's prison to a male jail within hours of a humiliating U-turn by Nicola Sturgeon. Ms Sturgeon told First Minister's Questions: 'I don't think it's possible to have a rapist within a women's prison'. A vehicle believed to be transporting Bryson was pictured leaving Cornton Vale jail in Stirling at around 2.30pm and it arrived at a replacement facility at 5.20pm. The SNP leader revealed the U-turn just 24 hours after her own justice secretary Keith Brown backed the Scottish Prison Service's decision to put the transgender double rapist with female inmates in Cornton Vale. The move comes after campaigners, politicians and a United Nations human rights expert all raised concerns over Bryson being housed in a women's prison. MPs and MSPs warned that female inmates could be at risk and the move sent a signal that male sex offenders could 'game the system'. Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said today: 'It should not have taken public disgust and a slew of negative headlines about a double rapist being sent to a women's prison for Nicola Sturgeon to realise this was completely unacceptable and wrong.' Bryson had only started to transition after appearing in court on the rape charges. The rapist's estranged wife Shonna Graham, 31, previously told MailOnline her former partner's transition was a 'sham for attention' and he was 'bull******** the authorities' to avoid a male prison. Transgender rapist Isla Bryson was sent to a women's prison despite carrying out the crimes as a man and transitioning after being charge Bryson's estranged wife Shonna Graham, 31, previously told MailOnline her former partner's transition was a 'sham for attention' and he was 'bull******** the authorities' to avoid a male prison. Pictured: Shonna Graham and Isla Bryson - then Adam Graham - on their wedding day Nicola Sturgeon (pictured today) confirmed that Isla Bryson will not remain in a women's prison while speaking to the Scottish Parliament today Bryson's case comes weeks after the Scottish parliament passed a bill to make it easier for people to change their legal gender, drawing criticism from some women's rights campaigners who argue that predatory men could use it to access single-sex spaces such as bathrooms. The controversial bill, passed in December, made Scotland the first nation of the UK to back a self-identification process for changing gender, including removing the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria and lowering the minimum age to 16 from 18. The bill has deepened a rift with the government of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in London, with the two already at loggerheads over whether Scotland can hold another independence referendum. Scotland's devolved parliament can make its own laws, but the UK can veto legislation if it deems it to interfere with matters within the national jurisdiction. Britain's move to block the gender bill is the first time it has invoked that power. Ms Sturgeon has called the UK's blocking of the bill a 'full-frontal attack' on the Scottish Parliament. A nurse recalled the distressing circumstances leading to a baby girl's death, while giving evidence today at the murder trial of Lucy Letby. Fellow nurse Letby, 33, is accused of murdering the baby girl, known as Child I, on her fourth attempt, while she was being cared for at the Countess of Chester Hospital's neo-natal unit. Her then colleague was asked if she could recall a later conversation with Child I's mother, who had returned to the unit to drop off cash she had raised. She had looked after Child I the night before she died on October 23, 2015, and had dressed the baby, who had become 'very unsettled', Manchester Crown Court heard. Letby is accused of overfeeding Child G with milk through a nasogastric tube (NGT) and/or injecting air into the tube The nurse, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: 'Mum came in and asked why I had dressed her and I explained I wanted to see if it settled her. 'I don't remember saying to her that (Child I) didn't die of prematurity. I only remember the babygro part of the conversation.' Letby's alleged victim weighed just 2lb 2oz at birth in August 2015, but by September 29 was noted by medics to be 'gaining weight nicely' and 'doing OK'. On the afternoon of September 30 she required breathing assistance from nursing staff via a face mask, after she had a large vomit and her blood oxygen levels and heart rate plummeted. The defendant, who was Child I's designated nurse on the shift, handed over her care to night-shift nurse Bernadette Butterworth in the early evening, when the youngster deteriorated once more. The oxygen facemask was used again but no chest wall movement was detected, the court heard. A baby girl allegedly attacked by nurse Lucy Letby as she turned 100-days-old was 'very poorly' after suddenly deteriorating overnight, a court has heard (Pictured, Letby with a baby at the Countess of Chester Hospital) Miss Butterworth noted Child I's swollen tummy and asked Letby to aspirate her nasogastric feeding tube, which obtained a 'fair amount of air' and 2ml of milk. She told the court: 'She settled down. She came back to normal, her heart rate and respiratory rate.' Doctors suspected a bowel problem as they prescribed antibiotics and ordered blood tests and X-rays. On the afternoon of October 1, Letby messaged a colleague: '(Child I) was found gasping in cot, full resus and vented. Don't know why. Wasn't nice.' In a statement to the court, another nurse, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said that at about this time there were 'massive staffing issues' and people were coming in to do extra shifts on the unit. She said it was 'mainly Lucy doing a lot' of extra shifts as she was qualified to carry out emergency care if required. The nurse added: 'Lucy was young, living in a doctors' halls of residence and saving to buy a house. 'She was single and was willing and wanting to do extras.' The Crown say Letby made further bids to kill Child I in the early hours of October 13 and 14 before her final successful attempt later that month. It is alleged she harmed the youngster by either injecting air into her feeding tube and bloodstream, or overfeeding her with milk. The defence say Child I's clinical problems 'may have been inevitable given her extreme immaturity'. Letby, originally from Hereford, denies murdering seven babies and attempting to murder 10 others between June 2015 and June 2016. The trial continues on Friday. The city of Algeciras was united in mourning Thursday a day after a machete-wielding Moroccan man stormed two churches, killing a sexton and seriously wounding a priest in bloodshed that left residents reeling in the multicultural southern Spanish port. The violence took place on Wednesday evening as worshippers met to celebrate the Eucharist at two nearby churches in the city with the 25-year-old alleged assailant Yassine Kanjaa arrested at the scene. As investigators pressed ahead with a terror probe, police staged an early-morning raid on his home, with the interior ministry saying he had been served with a deportation order in June but had no prior convictions and had not been under surveillance. In 2019, he had been deported from Gibraltar on grounds of illegal entry, a government statement from the tiny British enclave said. People light candles next to a memorial site for a church sacristan who was killed Wednesday in Algeciras, southern Spain, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023 People light candles and lay flowers after an attack in a church in Alta square, in Algeciras, southern Spain, on January 26, 2023. - Spain opened a terror probe on January 25 after a man wielding a bladed weapon stormed a church in southern Spain killing one and severely wounding a priest, legal sources told AFP Police secure the area near the church where a man was killed the day before in Algeciras, southern Spain, on January 26, 2023 The body of a dead man lays on the ground under a medical blanket as police secure the area in Algeciras, southern Spain, on January 25, 2023 'The individual who was arrested last night by the Spanish authorities... had also been arrested by the RGP (Royal Gibraltar Police) in August 2019 when, along with others, he came ashore from a jet-ski without the necessary documentation,' it said. He was deported on August 8 along with three other immigrants, it said. At midday, many hundreds of mourners gathered in stunned silence outside Nuestra Senora de La Palma church where the sexton Diego Valencia was killed, many of them breaking down in tears, an AFP correspondent said. 'We have lived here for years and we have always been very welcomed,' said Nawal Montaguikie, a Moroccan woman in her 40s who remembered Valencia as 'a gentle person'. 'What did he do to deserve this?' she said, her voice trembling with emotion. 'We condemn this man and what he's done. I hope he rots in jail.' Assailant is pictured wielding a large machete, attacking a priest and a sexton in two churches The attacker's machete-like blade is pictured lying on the floor following the assault Also there was Juan Jose Marina, La Palma's parish priest, who had not been present when the attack occurred that claimed his sexton's life. 'If I am alive, it's because Diego died instead of me. I was supposed to be there,' he said brokenly, his eyes swollen from weeping. At the time, he was conducting a service elsewhere. Many in the crowd were visibly moved, among them family members, police officers, town council employees and several veiled women, who couldn't hold back their tears. Local media said the suspect lived near the churches which are just 300 metres apart in the town of around 120,000 residents. Although Spain's top criminal court opened a terror investigation, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said it was not yet possible to say whether the incident was of a 'terrorist nature' but confirmed there were 'no third parties involved'. Muslim women hold signs reading 'Islam has nothing to do with it' and 'we are sad, in shock' Relatives of a victim and a priest observe a moment of silence a day after a 25-year-old Moroccan suspect attacked two churches, in Algeciras, Spain January 26, 2023 A man kneels down next to a memorial site for a church sacristan who was killed Wednesday in Algeciras, southern Spain, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023 The suspect, seen in police footage with a beard and wearing a black, white and grey hoodie, entered the church of San Isidro armed with a machete just after 7:00 pm (1800 GMT) and 'attacked the priest, leaving him seriously wounded,' the interior ministry said. 'Subsequently, he entered the church of Nuestra Senora de La Palma in which, after causing damage, he attacked the sexton (who) managed to get out of the church, but was caught by the attacker outside and sustained mortal injuries.' Witnesses told local media he was shouting and started hurling icons, crosses and candles to the floor. The priest, 74-year-old Antonio Rodriguez, sustained injuries to the neck while celebrating the Eucharist at San Isidro church, his parish said, describing his condition as 'serious but stable'. Outside the church, mourners laid flowers and lit candles in memory of a man who was a well-known figure within the local Catholic community. A man reacts next to a memorial site for a church sacristan who was killed Wednesday in Algeciras, southern Spain, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023 Women light and place a candle a day after a 25-year-old Moroccan suspect attacked two churches, in Algeciras, Spain January 26, 2023 'In Algeciras, we've always boasted about the fact that we have people from 129 different nationalities living together in peace and harmony and we've never had any incident nor tension,' Mayor Jose Ignacio Landaluce told TeleMadrid TV. 'What has happened now is more than we can take in, it grieves us and worries us because when a fuse like this is lit, it has to be put out quickly to prevent it from causing damage that nobody wants.' Speaking at the rally, local Muslim community spokesman Dris Mohamed Amar said they were there to 'publicly show our pain in the face of this harrowing atrocity'. 'We robustly condemn this murderous act against a man of peace, an unarmed man, a noble man. We hope this act does not bring into question the harmony that exists between different communities in Algeciras,' he said. Cesar Garcia Magan, who heads the Episcopal Conference grouping Spain's leading bishops, described the attack as 'reprehensible, unjustifiable and abhorrent', but warned against 'the danger of demonising certain groups'. A DJ was forced to make an embarrassing escape backstage after accidentally blasting herself in the face with a confetti cannon. Flavia Ribeiro, known as DJ Flavinha, suffered first-degree burns and cuts to her face after the confetti cannon fiasco at a show in Santa Catarina, Brazil, on Saturday. Despite the searing pain, the fearless disc jockey returned to the stage and continued her set before eventually rushing to hospital when she 'couldn't take any more pain.' DJ Flavinha was forced to make an embarrassing escape backstage after accidentally blasting a confetti cannon directly into her face She suffered first-degree burns and cuts to her face following the blast, but returned to continue her set for another 20 minutes after the accident A viral clip of the humiliating injury has been viewed by 10s of millions of people since it emerged online following the disastrous performance. Footage of the blast shows DJ Flavinha first bringing out the confetti cannon as she amps up the crowd, unaware that her antics would soon backfire. While her music set boomed in the background, Ribiero raised up the cannon to blast it over the crowd, seemingly clueless to the fact she was holding it the wrong way round. After painfully firing the gas-powered device into her face, Ribiero is seen hastily running away from the shocked crowd and towards the back of the stage. Following her embarrassing performance, the artist addressed the incident in a video to her 33,000 followers on Instagram. Ribiero was seen in clip the with bandages on her neck and several cuts to her face. 'My video is rolling everywhere. There was an accident,' she said. The DJ spoke to her fans after the accident, where she revealed that she carried on her set until she 'couldn't take any more pain' DJ Flavinha, real-name Flavia Ribiero, addressed the embarrassing misfire on Instagram, telling her fans she is 'recovering and it's all right' The artist told her thousands of Instagram followers she is 'recovering' after making the embarrassing blunder 'I ran behind the sound equipment and kept playing even with a lot of blood dripping, with a lot of pain. 'I threw my hair forward and I stayed there. People on my team wanted to take me out, and I didn't want to leave.' However, her gallant attempt to tough it out only lasted around 20 minutes, and she admitted that eventually she 'couldn't take any more pain.' 'I left the stage, went to the emergency room of the event and then to the hospital. 'Now I'm recovering and it's all right. 'I'm going to leave the video so you can see what happened, because a lot of people texted me. 'Thank you for the affection, people.' The confetti cannon used by Ribiero has been previously warned about by the Santa Catarina Fire Department, the same coastal region where the DJ suffered the blast, reports Globo. The devices are reportedly available at common festive goods stores in Brazil as long as they don't contain gunpowder. The department has said that the equipment, which is usually gas-powered, is lacking 'a specific standardization', adding to the risk of injury. Tahir Zarif, 31, fled to Pakistan after the brutal killing but was extradited to the UK A gunman who fled the UK after shooting a businessman dead in a botched robbery has been jailed for life after being extradited from Pakistan. Tahir Zarif, 31, brutally murdered warehouse manager Akhtar Javeed in Birmingham during an armed robbery before he fled to Pakistan. Footage released today shows Zarif being taken off a plane in handcuffs after he was extradited in 2020. Zarif and three other men raided the Direct Source 3 warehouse on Rea Street in Digbeth, Birmingham in 2016 as they searched for cash. Tahir Zarif is pictured as officers prepare to arrest him on the flight following his extradition to the UK Shocking footage shows Zarif during the robbery in 2016 before he murdered Akhtar Javeed The gang demanded that Mr Javeed hand over the money, threatening him with their weapons. Zarif then brought him to the warehouse safe and shot him in the leg as he tried to force him to open it. When Mr Javeed tried to escape, he was shot twice more by Zarif at point black range, shown in shocking CCTV footage played at the trial. He then stumbled out into the street before collapsing and dying of his gunshot wounds. The rest of the gang were arrested and imprisoned following the botched robbery as Zarif fled overseas. Today, he was jailed for life with a minimum of 30 years for Mr Javeed's murder. Zarif has also been sentenced to 18 years in jail for conspiracy to rob, and handed two seven year sentences for firearms offences. These will run concurrently alongside his life sentence. Speaking after the killer was jailed, Mr Javeed's daughter Lilas said: 'It's been six years and nine months since my father's life was taken by Tahir Zarif. Akhtar Javeed, whose daughter described him as an 'honourable gentleman', was murdered by Zarif in the botched robbery 'My father has been in our thoughts every day since. As I have said before my father was an honourable gentleman. 'Another man's greed led to my father's unlawful death. We are grateful to West Midlands Police for their hard work in ensuring justice is served.' Detective Inspector Ranj Sangha said: 'Despite most of the gang being jailed for this horrific crime back in 2016, we refused to rest until Zarif, who fired the fatal shots, was brought to justice. 'We worked really closely with partners in this country and in Pakistan to get this result, and I hope Mr Akhtar's family can get some sense of closure from today.' A Sky News commentator has slammed Mike Carlton for ridiculing a body image campaigner who was named 2023 Australian of the Year. Sophie Elsworth, who is the media writer for The Australian newspaper, tore into the left-leaning journalist over his tweet about Taryn Brumfitt. Ms Brumfitt is a former bodybuilder turned body image activist who was crowned our top Aussie at a glittering ceremony in Canberra on Wednesday night. She has been championing body positivity for the last decade and encourages mothers to walk around naked in front of their children to make them more comfortable about the natural changes that happen to a body over time. Carlton took aim at Ms Brumfitt on Wednesday night, saying the Australian of the Year award should have gone to someone who doesn't 'make a buck out of saying it's ok to be a bit fat.' Ms Brumfitt, 44, is an activist, writer, director and public speaker who has been on a decade-long mission to change how we perceive ourselves Carlton said he believed the Australian of the Year accolade should have been given to a different recipient like a healthcare worker. 'My Australian of the Year would be a doctor or nurse working nights in intensive care or the ED, dealing with COVID and daily death,' he wrote. 'Real, compassionate work. For very little money. NOT someone who makes a buck out of saying it's ok to be a bit fat. Good night.' Ms Elsworth is among a growing list of women who have spoken out against Carlton with the commentator labelling him an attention seeker on Thursday night. 'I'm loathe to talk about Mike Carlton because he has this habit of inserting himself into the story, and then he loves the attention that comes with it,' she told Sky News. 'But I think he's completely missed the point of the Australian of the Year here, she's really focused on body image and hopefully a lot of Australians will learn they don't have to have the perfect body. 'I think social media's done immense damage on the body image perceptions that we have in society and I think a lot of good will come out of this.' 2GB host Ben Fordham joined the pile-on in a withering spray. 'I think Mike needs to take his happy pills instead of trolling a woman who is on a mission to help kids,' he said. Mr Carlton slammed the decision in an inflammatory tweet saying the award should have gone to someone who doesn't 'make a buck out of saying it's ok to be a bit fat' In a tweet posted after the announcement of Ms Brumfitt as the winner of the top Australia Day gong in Canberra on Wednesday night, veteran journalist Mike Carlton made his view of the decision known on his account with nearly 194,000 followers Mr Carlton also tweeted 'Who ? ? ?' when news of Ms Brumfitt's award first broke on Wednesday night 'Every little girl should grow up seeing her mother naked' Former bodybuilder Taryn Brumfitt regularly walks around her home naked Australian of the Year Taryn Brumfitt has revealed how she regularly walks around naked in front of her two sons - Oliver, 11, and Cruz, 9 - and daughter Mikaela, 8. The former bodybuilder turned activist believes it's vital for them to know how a woman's body changes with age and insists they are all comfortable with her nudity. 'It's something I do mainly for my daughter's benefit,' she says. 'I know that, as a girl, it's especially important she sees me unclothed it facilitates an ongoing dialogue between us about the female body, and the way it changes throughout the course of a woman's life. 'In fact, I believe that every little girl should grow up seeing her mother naked on a regular basis.' Advertisement Sharna Bremner, the founder and director of End Rape on Campus Australia, tweeted: 'Eating disorders are the third most common illness among young women in Australia & have the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric disorders,' she posted. 'These two (Carlton and fellow journalist and supporter Paul Bongiorno) should be ashamed of their ignorance & s****y remarks.' 'Disgusting, ignorant old white men. F*** them,' another person responded. 'I'm really sad to see this, it shows how much more education is needed around eating disorders, and for men to understand the female experience of being reduced to ornamentation our whole lives,' tweeted Sonya Semmens. The negative reaction to his tweet caused Mr Carlton to begin blocking those who objected to his view of Ms Brumfitt's award. 'Must have blocked around sixty morons of one sort or another in the last 24 hours. But it's a sunny day and I have better things to do,' he posted early on Australia Day. Ms Bremner also shared a screenshot in which Mr Carlton had blocked her from his account. Ms Brumfitt, 44, is an activist, writer, director and public speaker who has been on a decade-long mission to change how we perceive ourselves. The Body Image Movement, which she founded in 2012, teaches people - young women in particular - to love and appreciate their bodies and has taken her to a global audience from her humble hometown of Adelaide. In her speech accepting the award, Ms Brumfitt said body shaming had become a chronic national problem, with 70 per cent of schoolchildren citing it as their number one concern. 'We're facing a paediatric health emergency with rates of suicide, depression, eating disorders, anxiety and steroid use related to body dissatisfaction soaring,' she told the audience. 'We now know that young people with poor body image are 24 times more likely to be depressed and suffer from anxiety. 'There is so much despair in this nation for children and adults when it comes to what we think and how we feel about our bodies. 'Australia, it is not our life's purpose to be at war with our body.' RNC challenger Harmeet Dhillon's campaign was force into an embarrassing u-turn on Thursday when it added a photograph of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to its endorsements web page, before quickly deleting it. It came after DeSantis said that the Republican National Committee needed new blood after a series of bad election results. If it sounded like an endorsement of the candidate running against three-term incumbent Ronna McDaniel, Dhillon herself was quick to make clear that it was not. She has promised to be a neutral chair, if elected, throughout the 2024 nominating process that could pit DeSantis against former President Donald Trump. Harmeet Dhillon's campaign added Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to the endorsements page of its website, before quickly deleting it. Dhillon has made clear that she does not want endorsements of possible 2024 runners so as to remain neutral, if elected #BREAKING: Gov. Ron DeSantis praises Harmeet Dhillon (@pnjaban) in bid for RNC chair "I think we need a change, I think we need to get some new blood in the RNC. I like what Harmeet Dhillon has said about getting the RNC out of DC [...] We need some fresh thinking." pic.twitter.com/Y5W78v4RC6 Floridas Voice (@FLVoiceNews) January 26, 2023 'I don't call that an endorsement,' she said about DeSantis. 'I call that answering a question and weighing in an endorsement of something on somebody stationery that says I heartily endorse this person.' In contrast, she has pointed out that close Trump allies have arrived in California for the RNC meeting to whip votes for McDaniel. Which made the appearance of DeSantis' picture on her website as an 'endorsement,' all the more embarrassing. It was quickly removed, but not before a McDaniel supporter had grabbed a screenshot and passed it on to DailyMail.com. Instead, the video of his interview with conservative Charlie Kirk was posted on the site ... without calling it an endorsement. The Florida governor made his feelings clear. He said it was time for a change after three cycles of electoral defeat. 'I think we need a change, I think we need to get some new blood in the RNC,' DeSantis said. 'I like what Harmeet Dhillon has said about getting the RNC out of DC [...] We need some fresh thinking.' Harmeet Dhillon is running to unseat Ronna McDaniel as chairwoman, saying a change is needed after several cycles of disappointing election results In Dhillon has promised to move home from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., if elected. But talking to reporters on the terrace of the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach, California, she distanced herself from talk of endorsement as part of her promise to lead a neutral RNC when it came to 2024 nominations. 'At the end of the day, we need to assure all of the likely candidates and candidates that this will be a fair process,' she said. 'I know everybody wants to say that they pay lip service to it. But President Trump's team is here whipping votes for Ronna. 'That's a fact many of you have reported on. And so I think that speaks for itself.' It is a reminder of the bitter tone of much of the race. Members of the committee have seen their contact details posted online, drawing a deluge of messages in favor of one candidate or the other. Now they are preparing to vote on Friday to pick a chair for the next two years. Ron DeSantis's decision to back Harmeet Dhillon for RNC chair sets up an arm's length battle with Donald Trump, whose aides are quietly backing incumbent Ronna McDaniel His intervention comes as the 168 members of the RNC are gathered for their winter meeting in California. McDaniel's team is convinced they have the votes needed to secure a fourth term. But Dhillon's supporters say fresh thinking is needed to make Republicans more competitive in elections. 'We've had three substandard election cycles in a row - '18, '20, and '22,' DeSantis told Florida's Voice. 'And I would say of all three of those, '22 was probably the worst given the political environment of a very unpopular president in Biden. 'Huge majorities of the people think the country is going in the wrong direction. 'That is an environment that's tailor made to make gains in the House and the Senate and state houses all across the country. And yet that didn't happen. 'In fact we lost ground in the Senate.' Rooms at the Walforf Astoria Monarch Beach, California, start at more than $820 plus a $55-a-night resort charge and taxes DeSantis has yet to reveal his 2024 plans. But he comes off a landslide victory in his own state last year, and has excited a large wing of the Republican Party with his culture war credentials, and relative youth at the age of 44. Dhillon said she welcomed the comments of DeSantis which reflected grassroots' feeling. '85, 90, 95 percent of Republicans are supporting a change in leadership at the RNC,' she said. 'And so I'm sure Governor DeSantis is hearing it and I'm sure frankly, every Republican elected official around the country is hearing that.' Trump remains the only declared candidate for 2024, and is reported to be quietly backing McDaniel, whom he helped propel to the top of the RNC. He cannot weigh in publicly for fear of upsetting the committee's neutrality in the nomination process. But the Associated Press reported that former White House adviser Kellyanne Conway and former chief of staff Reince Priebus will be in McDaniel's unofficial whipping team. And aides have quietly let it be known that he wants McDaniel to return for a fourth-term. The contest has split MAGA world, however. Kari Lake, who lost her bid to become governor of Arizona last year, is campaigning for Dhillon as members gather at a luxury California hotel for the election. Trump loyalist and conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell has also jumped ship, and is running against McDaniel but has little chance of winning. The U.S. military carried out a 'precision operation' in Northern Somalia that took out a Bilal al-Sudani, a 'key operative and facilitator,' senior U.S. officials said Thursday. Al-Sudani was killed January 25 inside the mountainous cave complex where he was located after 'careful planning,' according to the officials, who said 10 ISIS compatriots died with him. The operation came in a remote mountainous cave complex inside the troubled nation on the Horn of Africa, where both the Islamic State and al-Shabab operate and are contesting government forces. The officials revealed scant information about the nature of the operation including how exactly the U.S. carried out the 'kinetic operation.' In the past, the U.S. has used armed drones, attack helicopters, and bunker-busting bombs to take out terror targets. President Biden authorized the operation last week, after 'careful consideration of its risks and benefits' by a team of officials who recommended the action. The development comes days after an explosion ripped through buildings near the mayor's office in Mogadishu, and after a U.S. military strike killed nearly 30 al-Shabaab fighters near the town of Galcad. President Joe Biden authorized the 'precision strike' days ago, according to a senior administration official Police officers stand near the bodies of alleged Al-Shabaab militants who have been killed after the siege at the Mogadishu Municipality Headquarters in Mogadishu on January 22, 2023.The U.S. announced that an operation had taken out key ISIS operative Bilal al-Sudani in northern Somalia Biden was briefed on the operation, which was months in the making, by the Defense Department once planning reached a 'critical stage' last week. He was joined by his Director of National Intelligence, counterterrorism advisors, the deputy director of the CIA, and the attorney general, and other senior team members in advance of the operation. Officials said the 'intended capture' of Al-Sudani was deemed the 'best option' for intelligence gathering and other reasons. That came after a 'careful evaluation' of whether 'alternative options existed .. with even lower risk.' According to a statement by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the U.S. military 'conducted an assault operation in northern Somalia that resulted in the death of a number of ISIS members' including al-Sudani. Austin said he was 'responsible for fostering the growing presence of ISIS in Africa and for funding the group's operations worldwide, including in Afghanistan.' He said it 'leaves the United States and its partners safer and more secure' and reflects our 'steadfast commitment' to protecting Americans from terrorist threats. No civilians were harmed, he said. An official said even the intended capture operation could result in death of the target, 'as it ultimately did.' Officials gushed about the planning and precision, even while holding back details for now. Planning included construction of a special site to recreate the mountainous terrain. The execution was 'careful, precise and effective.' The only injury to the U.S., even amid the bloodshed, was a 'dog bite by one of our own canines on one of our own service members. Thats how precise.' 'Thankfully, and based on extensive planning and exquisite execution of the plan, there were no casualties among American service-members or civilians,' said the official. 'We had prepared for the possibility of capturing Sudani, but the hostile force's response to the operation resulted in his death,' said the official, without providing further detail on what precisely led to his killing. Al-Sudani backed the expansion of the terror group across Africa and beyond, according to administration including the ISIS Khorosan branch in Afghanistan, known as ISIS-K, 'one of the most lethal branches,' said an administration official. In May, Biden ordered the deployment of hundreds of US special forces back to Somalia, after predecessor Donald Trump pulled out most of the 700 ground forces who were there, approving a target list of al-Shabaab leaders. Two bungling crooks were caught trying - and failing - to steal money from an ATM at a gas station for five minutes during a early morning raid in Washington. The unidentified men can be seen on surveillance footage breaking into Ben's Market/76 gas station on Blaine Road at around 4.30am on January 17. Deputies were alerted to the break-in after two crooks used a stolen red Jeep and a tow strap to bring into the convenience store and steal an ATM machine. The men, dressed in hoodies and hats, can be seen pulling up to the pumps before taking out a yellow tow strap and attached it to the back of the car. Next, the man in the orange hoodie attaches the other side to the front doors of the gas station while the driver pulls away and busts open the door. Two crooks broke into a Washington gas station at 4.30am on January 17. They attempted to steal money out of an ATM machine after they broke into the store, but were unable to They eventually abandoned the scene after they were unable to get their hands on the money The man in the orange hoodie trying to retrieve the cash from the machine, even after his partner in crime busted it up a little, but he was unable too He then backs up as the man in the orange jacket runs inside and shimmies out the heavy ATM machine just inside the doors. One of the crooks manages to get the machine upright - albeit upside down - while his partner in crime continuously pulls forward and then reverses. As the other man is struggling to open the ATM, the driver takes matters into his own hands and backs up over the machine repeatedly. Despite the entire plastic front of the machine coming off, they are still unable to access the precious paper inside. The driver backed into the store and ATM to try to open it (pictured) When ramming the car into the ATM and building several times didn't work, they resorted to running over it near the gas pump The man in the orange hoodie drags the machine up to the passenger side door before abandoning it next to a gas pump, while the driver turns the vehicle forward and hits it again and again. When the two men realize the crime is fruitless, the orange hoodie man hops back into the passenger's seat and they take off in their stolen getaway car. The car, which was stolen from Bellingham the same morning, was later found abandoned in the woods. The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office is still looking for the men are encouraging anyone with information to come forward. New York Mayor Eric Adams has committed to using his second year in office to provide free healthcare to the city's homeless and crack down on its 'most wanted' criminals. Adams made the vow on Thursday during his second-ever State of the City speech at the Queens Theatre in Flushing. Although the mayor provided little by way of details as to how the scheme - which could cost the city millions - would be funded in practice, he explained that providing free healthcare to those experiencing homelessness would alleviate pressure on the city in the long run. He said during the address that his Working People's Agenda for 2023 was built on 'four pillars that are essential to building a city': jobs, safety, housing, and care. The cleanliness of the city's streets was also addressed, with the mayor saying he would continue to fight 'rats, trash and traffic'. During his first State of the City speech in 2022, his emphasis had been on public safety. Mayor Eric Adams has committed using his second year in office to provide free healthcare to the city's homeless and cracking down on its worst criminals He said during the address that his Working People's Agenda for 2023 was built on 'four pillars that are essential to building a city': jobs, safety, housing, and care He announced during the speech on January 26 that his administration would work with the federal government to allow New Yorkers that have been homeless for more than seven days access to free healthcare. 'Connecting New Yorkers experiencing homelessness to ongoing primary care, behavioral health care, and social services is more cost-efficient than the cycle of hospitalizations and emergency room visits that so many people experience,' he said. Adams also took the opportunity to raise the issue of crime. Although the city's murder and shooting rates dropped in the first half of this month as compared with last year, certain types of crimes remain up, such as rape and robbery, as well as overall crimes. But on Thursday the mayor committed to making the streets and neighborhoods safer by taking the most-wanted criminals off the streets, who he said are responsible for much of the crime in the city. 'We are getting New York City's 'Most Wanted' off our streets and investing millions to make our city cleaner and greener,' he said. 'Time after time, we see crime after crime from a core group of repeat offenders. There are roughly 1,700 known offenders that are responsible for a disproportionate amount of violent crime in our city,' he said. Eric Adams pictured distributing food to New Yorkers in need on January 25 Adams was quick to pay compliments to Governor Kathy Hochul, who was in the front row of the Queens Theatre on Thursday. 'On so many issues, she has been there for our city right from the start,' Adams said. Several items on his agenda will require support from Albany. Adams was prepared to acknowledge that there are issues with how criminals are handled and that there is a backlog of criminal cases to be handled. He said: 'We look forward to working with the Governor and the legislature to make changes in the law that ensure defendants are provided with the speedy trial that our Constitution guarantees and that victims and their families are provided justice in a timely manner. 'That means making sure our district attorneys and public defenders have the resources they need to clear the backlog of cases.' He announced that the city will also work with Albany to push a new bill to increase penalties for aggressive and law-breaking drivers. 'We must treat traffic violence the same way we treat other dangerous crimes,' he said. Adams suggested that providing free healthcare to those experiencing homelessness would alleviate pressure on the city in the long run Adams made continued reference to the working people of the city. 'Without a strong working class, this city cannot survive. That's why, today, I've outlined how we plan to build a city for working people, one that is more affordable, safer, cleaner, and more livable,' said Mayor Adams With regards to work, Adams also mentioned the launch of an 'Apprenticeship Accelerator' that would aim to place 30,000 New Yorkers in apprenticeship programs by 2030, with roles in technology. There was a noticeable absence of reference to asylum seekers, despite the fact Adams has been especially vocal about the issue recently. After a visit to El Paso earlier this month he labeled the border crisis a 'disaster' and said the city might need $2billion in federal assistance to manage the migrants arriving in the city. His only mention of the issue came around an hour into the speech. 'Over the past year, our ability to care was put to the test by the asylum seeker crisis. New Yorkers rose to the occasion, as they always do,' he said. 'Since last spring, we have had more than 42,000 asylum seekers arrive in our city, and we have provided them with shelter, food, education, health care, and legal support.' Crime statistics in New York for the first half of January showed that although murders and shootings are down, overall crime is up Crime spiraled during the pandemic and since then homeless people have flocked to ATM vestibules, using them to shelter while they sleep A homeless person's belongings lie scattered inside a Wells Fargo ATM vestibule in Los Angeles At the beginning of the month the NYPD released statistics summarizing crime throughout 2022. Those numbers painted a bleak picture of the city's efforts to address crime that's rocketed since the pandemic - a campaign that had been touted as successful several times over the year Adams. Adams' State of the City address and plan to help the homeless comes just days after Chase announced banks in New York City will close ATMs by 5pm due to 'rising crime and vagrancy', The bank said vestibules at a small number of branches across the city would be closed at 5pm or 6pm, aligning with normal hours of its other banking services. In a tweet, Chase said this was 'due to rising crime and vagrancy that occurred in these previously 24/7 vestibules.' But the bank - which has assets worth more than $3tn - declined to confirm the number of branches or neighborhoods affected. In a statement to DailyMail.com, Chase said: 'We review our ATM hours on a case-by-case basis and for a variety of reasons may decide to temporarily close some overnight.' A Louisiana man was sentenced to 45 years in prison on Wednesday after he to kidnap and attempted to murder gay teens Jeffrey Dahmer style in attempt to 'satisfy a compulsive murder-fantasy.' Chance Seneca, 21, pleaded guilty in September on kidnapping charges after it was revealed he used the Grindr dating app and Snapchat to persuade men into meeting with the goal of 'murdering and dismembering' them. Seneca spent months perfecting his murder-kidnapping plan to mirror Dahmer's actions of targeting gay men, killing them and eating and preserving their bodies, the Department of Justice wrote in a press release. The attempted serial killer's first victim was then 18-year-old Holden White - who Seneca successfully coaxed and used several methods in attempt to kill him. 'The facts of this case are truly shocking, and the defendant's decision to specifically target gay men is a disturbing reminder of the unique prejudices and dangers facing the LGBTQ+ community today,' Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said. Chance Seneca, 21, was sentenced to 45 years in prison on Wednesday after he attempted to kidnap and murder gay teens Jeffrey Dahmer style The attempted serial killer previously admitted to targeting his first victim - then 18-year-old Holden White (above). He survived the several ways in which Seneca attempted to kill him Seneca, who is also gay, drove White to an isolated Lafayette Parish home where he took out a handgun and forced the victim to put on handcuffs on June 19, 2020. White was then was stabbed, strangled and battered by Seneca until the kidnapper believed he was dead. 'Seneca then attempted to dismember him,' the press release reads. While it appeared Seneca had plans to attack other gay men, he then called Lafayette police and confessed to killing a man. The police affidavit read that Seneca requested to be put into a mental institution. A hammer, a saw and an ice pick were discovered at the crime scene. White was able to survive the attack and spent days in a coma and about a month in the hospital. It was later revealed that Seneca also used the dating app to meet with another gay man the night before White was attacked - but he chose to allow the man to survive. White posted a Facebook update on the date of Seneca's hearing writing: '45 years' White attended the hearing and spoke about the physical and mental lingering pain of the attack White posted a Facebook update on the date of Seneca's hearing writing: '45 years.' He attended the hearing and spoke about the physical and mental lingering pain of the attack, including the loss of feeling in his left hand, according to The Advocate. While Seneca was sentenced to decades in prison, White fears that it isn't enough. 'I'm scared for me and for other future victims he might harm,' White said. 'I'm scared an 18-year-old, like I was, will have their life forever changed by a date... I don't need anyone getting hurt the way that I did.' The Netflix series based on notorious serial killer Jeffery Dahmer was released in September 2022 starring Evan Peters. It quickly rose to one of the most watched shows on the streaming platform at the time. Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer (above) murdered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991. The gruesome murders involved rape, necrophilia and cannibalism The Jeffrey Dahmer Story featuring Evan Peters (above) quickly rose to one of the most watched series in Netflix last year Similarly, others have tried to copy Dahmer's infamous slayings, including a Michigan man who was sentenced to life in prison last month for brutally murdering and eating the genitals of a college student. Mark Latunski, 52, was sentenced for the murder of Kevin Bacon, 25, on December 24, 2019. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Latunski pleaded guilty in September to killing Bacon, who he met through the Grindr dating app, and eating parts of his body, including one testicle, at his Bennington Township home. Bacon's body was discovered in the basement of Latunsku's home on December 28, 2019 after his roommate told police he went to meet someone he met on the dating app. His family reported him missing after he didn't show up to Christmas breakfast. Mark Latunski, 52, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole last month for the murder of his Grindr date three years ago GOP Rep. Chip Roy is introducing a bill to defund public schools that practice 'racist teaching' by exposing students to 'divisive concepts' like critical race theory. The Combating Racist Teaching in Schools Act, or CRT Act, would block federal funding at K-12 schools that promote such 'race-based theories.' The legislation identifies teachings such as those that say 'any race is inherently superior or inferior to any other race, color, or national origin'; 'the United States is a fundamentally racist country'; or that 'the Declaration of Independence or Constitution of the United States are fundamentally racist documents.' It also targets teachings such as race-based conscious or sub-conscious bias or teachings that members of one race are responsible for actions committed by other members of their race. 'The American people gave House Republicans the power of the purse in November. We must use this power to stop funneling dollars into an education system that is poisoning the minds of our children and put parents back into the drivers seat of their kids' education,' Roy, R-Texas, said in a statement to DailyMail.com. GOP Rep. Chip Roy is introducing a bill to defund public schools that practice 'racist teaching' by exposing students to 'divisive concepts' like critical race theory Roy highlighted the legislation along with another bill he's leading, the SCHOOL Act, which would send federal education funds to follow a student, rather than a school, meaning they could choose to use those funds on private schools or homeschooling. The CRT Act is co-sponsored by Reps. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., Pete Sessions, R-Texas, Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., Dan Bishop, R-N.C., Tom McClintock, R-Calif., and Alex Mooney, R-W.Va. Numerous instances over the past year have called attention to teachings that focus on institutional and inherent racism in America, causing an uproar among Republican lawmakers. People protest outside the offices of the New Mexico Public Education Department's office, Friday, Nov. 12, 2021 States like Florida and Georgia banned critical race theory from its classrooms. In October a study found critical race theory was being taught to millions of American schoolchildren every day. Researchers at the Manhattan Institute, a right-wing think tank with a record of spotlighting CRT, found 93 percent of respondents, aged 18-20, had learned about at least one aspect of the controversial racial justice theory in schools. CRT rests on the premise that racial bias intentional or not is baked into US laws and institutions, and that the legacy of slavery and Jim Crow racial segregation laws continues to create an uneven playing field for nonwhite Americans. Conservatives say teaching about the evils of slavery and racism is one thing - focusing on the 'woke' CRT ideology is another. Embattled New York Republican Rep. George Santos said on Thursday that he 'stands by' his belief that pedophile Jeffrey Epstein was 'murdered,' a claim he made on a podcast in August 2020. Speaking to reporters outside of his office including DailyMail.com, Santos also denied ever claiming he survived an assassination attempt - one of the latest in a string of public relations crises for the freshman congressman. Santos told The Rory Sauter Show in August 2020 that he had met Epstein a 'couple' of times and described him as a 'cordial gentleman,' and said multiple times that he believed the disgraced financier did not commit suicide. Asked by DailyMail.com if he still believes the murder conspiracy theory now, Santos replied: 'I stand by that comment.' Another past clip, resurfaced by MSNBC, purportedly shows Santos stating in Portuguese: 'We have already suffered an attempt on my life, an assassination attempt, a threatening letter, having to have the police, a police escort standing in front of our house.' But Santos told reporters on Thursday: 'The interview was conducted in Portuguese, and whoever translated it, translated it poorly.' He clarified that he was referring to 'death threats.' 'Like every member of Congress receives them all the time. I can give you a stack of them,' Santos said. He told reporters earlier on Thursday that he would 'soon' hold a press conference to discuss the mounting controversies but refused to elaborate with a specific date. In his August 2020 podcast appearance, Santos was pressed by the far-right host on a theory that Epstein was still alive. Santos maintained he was murdered - but added 'anything can happen' in this day and age. Epstein killed himself while awaiting court proceedings in a New York City jail after he was charged with sex trafficking and other counts in 2019. His death has sparked conspiracy theories that he was killed to protect more powerful people who participated in his alleged child trafficking rings. Embattled Republican Rep. George Santos told reporters he did not claim to be the victim of an assassination attempt The freshman congressman has admitted to lying about his educational and career credentials and fabricating details about his heritage. Since then he's faced growing scrutiny as more of his backstory unravels. Among the most recent revelations is that his mother was not in New York City's World Trade Center during the September 11 terror attacks - as he'd claimed - but that she was in Brazil, her country of origin. But in the 2020 interview, Santos said without elaborating that his mother had 'fled socialism in Europe.' Pressed on the theory of Epstein still being alive, he eventually seemed to concede, 'Look, it's 2020. I've seen the most bizarre, unthinkable, and unimaginable happen this year.' 'I wouldn't put it past me that he's still walking around and then we're all like, "Oh, my God, that guy's alive," and we can't tell. So you know what, it's 2020, anything can happen.' But Santos maintained his belief the disgraced billionaire was murdered - while revealing they'd been face-to-face while questioning the circumstances of his death. He said Epstein's former girlfriend and accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell 'should be offered the protections of...foreign custodianship, so that she is not murdered just like Epstein was, and doesn't go to the tomb with all the dirty secrets of the higher-ups in the control of this country' 'I met Epstein in a couple of private equity conferences,' Santos said. 'I'm six-two, and the guy was taller than me. There's just no way you can hang yourself off of a bunk bed at that height.' Asked about what Epstein was like in person, Santos first said he did not 'really get to know a good feel for the guy' but seemed to praise his character from the little he did claim to know. 'From what I- have my you know, my coffee, hi and bye, two minute conversation standing by a pastry table, grabbing some coffee - he was a very pleasant individual,' Santos said. 'I'm not saying he's a pleasant person, and especially after everything that's come out in media, but you know, a very pleasant guy, very cordial gentleman and kind.' He added, 'Who would know that guy has an island that sex trafficked little girls and boys, to you know, satisfy the pleasure of Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton?' Authorities say they know Tenon was not a sole actor but a co-conspirator with another person or persons Kirsten Bridegan has a message to anyone who was involved in her husband Jared's brutal killing and still at large 'Enjoy your freedom while you can.' Because the net, she is sure, is closing. It is almost a year since father of four Microsoft executive, Jared Bridegan, 33, was shot dead in a callous and 'targeted' attack. He was moments from his ex-wife Shanna, 36, and her husband, Mario Fernandez, 34, having just dropped off the twins they shared at her then marital home. His daughter Bexley, then two, was strapped in the back of his car. Kirsten was home with their recently born second daughter, London, then six months. His final words to his wife, now widow, were 'I'll be home soon.' Thursday, Kirsten, 31, spoke to DailyMail.com alongside her brother-in-law Adam Bridegan, 36, as they digest the most significant development yet in the investigation into Jared's murder. Kirsten Bridegan tells DailyMail.com that she has a message for anyone involved in her husband's killing: 'Enjoy your freedom while you can' Father of four, Microsoft executive, Jared Bridegan, 33, was shot dead in a callous and 'targeted' attack last year It was less than 36 hours since Jacksonville Beach Police announced the arrest of Henry Tenon, 61, now charged with second degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, accessory to a capital felony and felony child abuse. In that time, it has emerged that Tenon was a tenant of Fernandez a connection that, Kirsten describes as 'sickening.' It's also been claimed that Tenon would carry out jobs for Fernandez at the landlord's various properties. Henry Tenon, 61, is charged with murder in the death of Jared Bridegan, 33 Kirsten said, 'We were fortunate, we were informed a bit ahead of time that they had arrested someone. It's hard to describe [that moment]. Your stomach just drops. You have a whole bunch of questions. How did you find this person? What do they look like?' Kirsten asked to see a picture of Tenon a man of whom she had never heard before police gave a press conference to announce the news yesterday. The revelation that he had a connection to Fernandez is information that she and the rest of Bridegan's family are still processing. She said, 'It's sickening because we do know Mario and so the fact that Henry is connected to him. It's pretty sickening.' Kirsten has always been certain that whoever shot her husband lured to get out of his car in a quiet stretch of road by a tire left there as a trap was not acting alone. Yesterday State Attorney Melissa Nelson doubled down on that with the assertion that authorities know Tenon was not a sole actor but a co-conspirator with another person or persons. According to Adam that is difficult knowledge to deal with. He said, 'Yeah it is very sickening, That we have to attend a press conference where it's announced that my brother was murdered and that there's a conspiracy behind it. 'We have no idea how far that conspiracy went, how deep that it went. And to know that this individual or these individuals are currently living among us? It's scary.' Tenon's landlord since 2017 was Mario Fernandez, 34 husband of Bridegan's ex-wife Shanna Gardner-Fernandez, 36 Shanna has now moved across country to West Richland, Washington, while her second husband Mario remains in Florida. She has taken the twins she shares with Bridegan She spoke as Tenon's former roommate told the New York Post that he worked for Fernandez and had a girlfriend who received treatment from a methadone clinic. 'Henry seemed like a quiet guy, up early every morning for work, just doing his thing,' the roommate said. I know he did little jobs for Mario here and there when he asked him to.' He said police visited Tenon's home in Jacksonville several times after the suspected killer was arrested in August last year on separate charges. 'They kicked the door down one time. They turned the whole place over. They were looking for a gun, his truck, they took all of his clothes.' Bridegan's callous killing on February 16, 2022, shocked the quiet oceanside town of Jacksonville Beach. It was the only homicide in the town that year. The fact that his little girl, Bexley, bore witness to the horror, sitting in her car seat for a full three minutes before emergency services arrived only added to the tragedy. Today Bexley is three and, Kirsten said, still impacted by what she saw that February evening, but she is 'moving in the right direction.' She explained, 'At first, she talked a lot about things that she heard and saw. And now it's progressed more into memories of dad, or you know, 'My dad died but he's in heaven.' 'We still have moments. There are days when she will just break down and we will just hold each other. She has fear that I'll be taken away from her as well and those are the most difficult moments, when I have to leave her for an appointment or something.' It was her experience of that night that inspired Kirsten and Bridegan's family to establish the Bridegan Foundation with the aim of creating and distributing, 'Bexley's Boxes.' These boxes will be available to police and emergency services dealing with children involved in traumatic experiences and crimes and offer items of practical support and emotional comfort. Kirsten said, 'So just for months and months after February 16 I relived Bexley's' experience. When I got to the police station she needed a diaper change, I hadn't brought a diaper with me. I had rushed there. They had one but it wasn't her size. We made it work but there just wasn't a lot available to her. And on top of that I had to leave her again to be interviewed. 'So, the more I thought the more I wanted to make a difference for other kids. It started out small thinking maybe I'd do two or three boxes [at police departments] filled with all these essential as well as toys to keep them distracted.' Tenon made his first court appearance Thursday shackled in green prison scrubs during which the judge confirmed he would be held without bond on the charges of murder and conspiracy to murder The judge set a $500,000 bond for each of the two other crimes with which he has been charged The Microsoft executive was found 2.2miles from Shanna's home after dropping off the kids on February 16 Kirsten shared the idea on Instagram and was overwhelmed by an outpouring of support and the desire to help by donating goods or funds to buy them. Now, she and Bridegan's family's goal is to have filled and distributed 16 boxes by February 16 this year. According to Adam it's an attempt to bring 'light' to a very dark situation and something in keeping with his late brother's love for his own children. A card offering advice to officers dealing with traumatized children will be included in each box. And while Bridegan's youngest may have no memory of her father she has, according to her uncle, many of his personality traits. He said, 'London's adventurous. She'll go and try things, fall down and get right back up. She's very determined and that's how Jared was when he was very little. 'I see the resemblance Jared's living through Bexley and London and that's really special.' But where Bexley and London were once close to their older stepsiblings, twins Abbie and Liam, now 10, there has been no communication between the four since last April. Custody of the twins had been at the center of an ongoing and litigious battle between Bridegan and his ex, Shanna, since their divorce in 2016. But according to Kirsten the children were always close. She said, 'Abbie was incredibly close to Bexley. They were two peas in a pod. Bexley followed Abbie everywhere. Abbie wanted to be with her baby sister and felt the same about London. Obviously, she was only six months, but Liam loved cuddling with her.' But Kirsten's requests to Shanna for FaceTime with her girls' half siblings have, she said, fallen on deaf ears and they have had no contact since the twins' birthday in April. It is not something on which Kirsten is prepared to give up, she said. 'We're truly the ones that can understand the trauma and horror that they are living with because we're living it too.' Kirsten was supported by her brother-in-law Adam Bridegan, 36, as they digest the most significant development yet in the investigation Their daughter Bexley bore witness to her father's murder, sitting in her car seat for a full three minutes before emergency services arrived Kirsten and Bridegan's family are establishing the Bridegan Foundation with the aim of creating and distributing, 'Bexley's Boxes' in police stations Bexley's Boxes will be available to police and emergency services dealing with children involved in traumatic experiences and crimes and offer items of practical support and emotional comfort Kirsten and Bridegan's family's goal is to have filled and distributed 16 Bexley's Boxes by February 16 this year - the one-year anniversary of her husband's death Yesterday's arrest may have brought hope for a conclusion and the justice for which Bridegan's family is so vehemently praying, but they are schooling themselves to be patient and have faith in investigators' continued efforts. The investigation is ongoing with the tip line still open and, as authorities have made clear, Tenon's co-conspirator or co-conspirators remain at large. Adam said, 'I would say to Tenon it's never too late to do the right thing and I hope he's talking.' Henry Tenon's next date in court has been set for February 16 the anniversary of Bridegan's death. The family has already requested that be changed. Kirsten said, 'We want to be there but we just want to have that day to feel what we feel. So it'll likely be that week but not that day. 'We are grateful for every single tip that has been called in and every prayer offered and everyone who keeps Jared's story out there and alive. 'We are not going to stop until every single person who had a hand in this is brought to justice.' For more information or to donate to Bexley's Boxes go to www.brideganfoundation.org Told a US podcast what happened a month before he was charged Outback Wrangler Matt Wright has sensationally admitted interfering with his friend's dead body while waiting for a rescue chopper to evacuate them after his co-star died in a horror helicopter smash. The celebrity crocodile hunter claimed he covered the body of his deceased mate Chris Wilson, 34, after arriving at the site of the fatal crash on February 28 last year. Wright, 43, has since been hit with a range of charges, including destroying evidence and attempting to pervert the course of justice. Wilson was collecting crocodile eggs in a remote area of West Arnhem Land, in the Northern Territory, when the chopper he was dangling 30 metres from hit trees and smashed into the ground. Matt Wright spoke candidly about the smash on The Bailey Show podcast, recorded in October (pictured on the podcast) Matt Wright (pictured with wife Kaia) was charged with seven offences relating to the chopper crash, including attempting to pervert the course of justice, destroying evidence, and fabricating evidence An investigation was launched into the crash, resulting in Wright, former police officer Neil Mellon, and bush pilot Michael Burbidge being charged over the crash. The reality TV star has remained silent about the smash since he appeared in Darwin Local Court on November 28 - but now he has spoken candidly about the accident on The Bailey Show podcast. The US-based podcast was recorded in October - before Wright was charged - to promote his new Netflix series Wild Croc Territory, but the interview was only released last month. In the show, Wright said to host Jason Bailey: 'We had to cover his body and load him into the flight, into the rescue chopper and stuff.' He explained the police investigation was because Mellon, a former police officer who allegedly went to the site with Wright, 'didn't probably do exactly what cops were meant to do and it was in the middle of the bush'. 'Other cops weren't there so they're trying to work out what was going on,' he said. Wright explained he didn't know what the correct police protocols were at a crash site, and described it as a 'learning' process. 'We're learning a lot through this,' he said. 'What you can do and what you can't do in an accident site and, unfortunately, probably some of the stuff that we did at the site wasn't in protocol to what the police would have wanted us to do and that's what they're looking into.' Wright said the situation was 'pretty sh*tty' because it was hard to grieve Mr Wilson while police were investigating. Chris 'Willow' Wilson (pictured) died in the crash in west Arnhem Land while collecting crocodile eggs Mr Wilson was collecting crocodile eggs in a remote area of west Arnhem Land when the Robinson R44 helicopter he was hanging 30 metres below collided with trees and the ground 'It's ongoing investigations, you know, it will take its course over time and the cops will get what they want to get and we'll move.' He said the crash was difficult for him to talk about because Wilson had a wife and kids. On the day of the crash, three choppers set off from Noonamah at around 7am for a crocodile egg collection operation in West Arnhem Land. After stopping to re-fuel at about 8.30am, the crew flew to a staging area in King River, and at 9am, two of the three helicopters, carrying Mr Burbidge and Ty Richardson, and Jock Purcell and Tim Luck, left to begin collecting eggs 12km away. The third chopper was carrying Mr Wilson and his pilot Sebastian Robinson, who instead began their operation at a nearby nest. It was not until just after 10am when the two other crews were having morning tea that they began to wonder about Mr Wilson and Mr Robinson. Police officer Neil Mellon (above) was arrested on August 25 after allegedly interfering with the helicopter crash scene that killed Outback Wrangler star Chris Wilson Matt Wright is pictured arriving at Darwin Local Court in November. He was granted bail Burbidge then returned to look for them alone and found the wreckage of the aircraft and Mr Wilson's body lying 40m away, while the pilot was critically injured. Burbidge is then understood to have left the scene to get reception and call for help, before returning to the site of the crash with Mr Richardson, Mr Purcell and Mr Luck. CareFlight arrived at the crash site at 12.30pm and airlifted Mr Robinson to hospital. About 10 minutes later, police officer Neil Mellon, Wright and crocodile farmer Mick Burns arrived at the scene. The group of seven stayed with Mr Wilson's body until Careflight returned at 4pm to retrieve it. They then flew to Mr Wilson's property to console his wife, who was already surrounded by their own wives. In the wake of the crash that stunned fans of the National Geographic show, Wright, Mellon and Burbidge were hit with a string of charges. Wright (pictured with his wife and son) was charged over the crash in late November which was followed by a brief hearing at the Darwin Local Court. His matter will be mentioned again in March Mellon is accused of interfering with the scene and was arrested as he arrived for work in August, 2022. Police allegedly found illegal wildlife, fireworks and firearms during a raid of his home. Wright was charged over the crash in late November which was followed by a brief hearing at the Darwin Local Court, where he was given bail. His charges include attempting to pervert the course of justice, destroying evidence, fabricating evidence, two counts of unlawful entry, making a false declaration and interfering with witnesses. Burbidge was charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, destruction of evidence, providing a false statement in a statutory declaration, and attempt to pervert the course of justice. Wright relocated from Darwin to the Gold Coast with his wife and two of his children in August where he remains on bail. His matter was mentioned in Darwin Local Court on January 25. He is due back in court on March 9. An Islamic extremist who killed eight people with a speeding truck in a 2017 rampage on a popular New York City bike path was convicted Thursday of federal crimes and could face the death penalty. Sayfullo Saipov bowed his head as he heard the verdict in a Manhattan courtroom just a few blocks from where the attack ended. Prosecutors said the Halloween rampage was inspired by his reverence for the Islamic State militant group. The dozen jurors deliberated for about seven hours over two days before convicting Saipov, 34, of 28 counts of crimes that include murder in aid of racketeering and supporting a foreign terrorist organization. Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, 34, repeatedly proclaimed his support for ISIS following the 2017 attack, during which he allegedly plowed through a crowd of people on an NYC bike path Jurors will return to court no earlier than February 6 to hear more evidence to help them decide whether he should be executed or spend the rest of his life in prison. A death sentence for Saipov, a citizen of Uzbekistan, would be an extreme rarity in New York. The state no longer has capital punishment and the last state execution was in 1963. A federal jury in New York has not rendered a death sentence that withstood legal appeals in decades, with the last execution in 1954. Even before the trial, there was no doubt Saipov was a killer. His lawyers conceded to the jury that he rented a pickup truck near his New Jersey home, steered it onto the path along the Hudson River, and mowed down bicyclists for blocks before crashing into a school bus near the World Trade Center. He emerged from his truck yelling 'God is great,' in Arabic, with pellet and paintball guns in his hands before he was shot by a police officer who thought they were real firearms. The vehicle attack killed a woman visiting from Belgium with her family, five friends from Argentina, and two Americans. It left others with permanent injuries, including a woman who lost her legs. Sayfullo Saipov bowed his head as he heard the verdict in a Manhattan courtroom just a few blocks from where the attack ended Saipov, a citizen of Uzbekistan, would be an extreme rarity in New York. The state no longer has capital punishment and the last state execution was in 1963 A New York City police officer stands next to a body covered under a white sheet near a mangled bicycle along a bike path 'His actions were senseless, horrific, and theres no justification for them,' defense attorney David Patton told the jury during the trial. The defense asked jurors to acquit Saipov of racketeering charges, saying he intended to die a martyr and was not conspiring with the Islamic State organization, despite voluminous amounts of propaganda from the group found on his electronic devices and at his home. Saipov did not testify at his trial. He sat quietly each day, unlike at a 2019 pretrial hearing where he insisted on questioning the judge about why he should be judged for eight deaths when 'thousands and thousands of Muslims are dying all over the world.' Saipov moved legally to the U.S. from Uzbekistan in 2010 and lived in Ohio and Florida before joining his family in Paterson, New Jersey. The vehicle attack killed a woman visiting from Belgium with her family, five friends from Argentina and two Americans. It left others with permanent injuries, including a woman who lost her legs A paramedic looks at a body covered under a white sheet along a bike path after the rampage Five members of this group of Argentinian friends were also killed. They are Hernan Diego Mendoza (far left), Alejandro Damian Pagnucco (second from left), Ariel Erlij (third from left), Diego Enrique Angelini (second from right) and Hernan Ferruchi (third from right) New Jersey resident Darren Drake, 32, and Belgian tourist Ann-Laure Decadt, 31, were killed Nicholas Cleves, 23, was the only New Yorker killed. His mother could not attend the memorial because she was only told about the service by the mayor's office at 4pm Tuesday A group pauses, with some in prayer, at a makeshift memorial on a New York City bike path Prosecutors said Saipov attacked civilians to impress the Islamic State group so he could become a member and appeared pleased with his work, smiling when he spoke to an FBI agent afterward. Among those testifying were several family members from Belgium who were injured in the attack. Aristide Melissas, a father, said he had challenged family members to race their bikes to the World Trade Center, with the loser paying for ice cream. When he was struck by Saipovs truck, his skull was fractured. He underwent brain surgery. His wife, Marion Van Reeth, spoke of waking up in a hospital to learn her legs had been amputated. Saipovs lawyers have said the death penalty process was irreparably tainted by former President Donald Trump, who tweeted a day after the attack that Saipov 'SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY!' President Joe Biden subsequently instituted a moratorium on executions for federal crimes. Until Saipov's trial, Biden's Justice Department, under Attorney General Merrick Garland, had not launched any new attempt to obtain the death penalty in a federal case. But Garland has allowed U.S. prosecutors to continue advocating for capital punishment in cases inherited from previous administrations. It has been a decade since a jury in New York last considered the death penalty. Federal juries in Brooklyn twice gave a death sentence to a man who murdered two New York police detectives, once in 2007 and again in 2013, but both sentences were tossed out on appeal. A judge ultimately ruled the killer was intellectually disabled. In 2001, just weeks before the Sept. 11 attacks, federal jurors in Manhattan declined to impose a death sentence on two men convicted in the deadly bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa. The men's lawyers had urged jurors not to make the defendants into martyrs. The Biden administration administration's plan to send Ukraine a battalion of lethal Abrams tanks will be hampered by the production timeframe and the Pentagon's insistence that it does not have any in surplus, the Defense Department revealed Thursday. Unlike some of the high-tech weaponry the U.S. has been shipping to Ukraine as part of a multi-billion effort to deter Russia's invasion, the U.S. military does not 'have these tanks available in excess in our U.S. stocks,' deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh' told reporters. The means it could take months before the tanks, which President Biden called the most capable in the world, reach their destination. It is anyone's guess what the state of play in the war will be at that point. The one-year anniversary of Russia's brutal invasion is approaching. 'These things are going to require training maintenance, sustainment, that is going to take a very long time to also train in Ukrainians on,' Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh Singh told reporters Thursday, a day after Biden announced the transfer. 'These things are going to require training maintenance, sustainment,' Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters. Since the military says it doesn't have any excess Abrams tanks, it will take about a year before they make it to Ukraine. President Biden announced the transfer Wednesday 'We took that into account. Thats why we are using the USAI capability in order to procure these tanks for the Ukrainians,' she said, referencing the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. Officials said it could take up to a year before the the Ukrainian military is using Abrams tanks on the ground to try to retake territory captured by the Russians with fears of a new Russian offensive this spring. The government will buy the tanks new from defense contractor General Dynamics, which makes the tanks in its Ohio plant. As with other sophisticated military hardware, the government will have to make sure it is not providing certain ultra-sophisticated components to keep them out of enemy hands. The White House has said there are no indications U.S. equipment provided to Ukraine has made its way to Russia or adversaries. The U.S. will be providing its more advanced M1A2 Abrams model. The tank runs on a gas turbine engine, which provides speed and efficiency. But it also requires training, and the U.S. plans to train Ukrainians in a location yet to be determined on how to operate them. Russian launched what Ukraine called a 'massive' volley of missile strikes on Thursday, the day after the announcement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed his call for even more weaponry, including fighter jets. 'We have to unlock the supply of long-range missiles to Ukraine, it is important for us to expand our cooperation in artillery, we have to achieve the supply of aircraft to Ukraine. And this is a dream. And this is a task,' he said. Biden announced Wednesday that the U.S. is sending an entire battalion of 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, yielding to President Volodymyr Zelensky's push for heavy armor to counter Russia's nearly yearlong invasion. The U.S. will supply highly lethal M1A2 Abrams tanks, the more sophisticated version, to Ukraine. But it could take up to a year for them to get there The announcement followed a complicated diplomatic dance that has seen Germany announce its own decision to send 14 tanks to Kiev, with more on the way. The US is also providing 500 armored vehicles as part of the package. Biden called the M1 Abrams tanks 'the most capable tanks in the world' and said they would 'enhance Ukraine's capacity to defend its territory to achieve its strategic objectives.' He added that the Ukrainian military would use the armor to 'liberate their land.' President Joe Biden announced the US would send 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. He called them 'The most capable tanks in the world' The president also cautioned that the move was 'going to take time' a reference to the complex training involved with the weapons system, which he described as 'extremely complex to operate and maintain.' And he thanked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for the German government's contribution. 'Germany has really stepped up,' he said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked repeatedly for tanks as the next phase of the war in looms, but U.S. President Joe Biden has adopted a cautious approach Russia warns 'nothing good' will come of German tanks fighting in Ukraine Polish soldiers in German-made Leopard 2 tanks which German chancellor Olaf Scholz has been blocking from being sent to Ukraine Advertisement Biden responded to a question about whether Germany forced him to change his mind on sending the tanks. 'Germany didnt force me to change my mind. We wanted to make sure we were all together. Thats what we were going to do all along, and thats what were doing right now,' the president said. After the president spoke, security spokesman Adm. John Kirby pushed back on claims the U.S. had done a turnaround to accommodate Germany. 'Tanks were never off the table,' Kirby said. He said it would take months to get the tanks to Ukraine, since the U.S. doesn't currently have any in excess stock that aren't being used. He said training requirements wouldn't slow the process, at least not by much. 'Today well be announcing that the United States will send 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, which is the equivalent of one Ukrainian tank battalion,' a senior administration official told reporters on a call Wednesday. The Pentagon is also providing eight M88 recovery vehicles, to help keep the Abrams tanks 'up and running,' according to a senior administration official. The tanks come as the US is stepping up its 'combined forces' training for Ukrainian forces outside of Ukrainian territory allowing them to better integrate air, ground, and armored forces in a more sophisticated form of warfare. The Biden administration is sending Abrams M1 tanks to Ukraine Biden called the Abrams tanks 'the most capable tanks in the world.' Here US Army Sgt. 1st Class Corey Troxell, fires blank rounds through a .50 caliber machine gun mounted to an M1A2 Abrams tank during a simulated battle drill Brigadier General Pat Ryer, the press secretary for the Pentagon, told CNN when asked if fighter jets will be made available to Zelensky, he said that nothing is off the table. 'We're going to continue to adapt, to ensure that Ukraine has the support they need to be successful, not only in defending their territory, but also taking back their sovereign territory.' The latest lethal aid package 'enables them to retake territory,' said the senior administration official. The moves come despite the Kremlin blasting it as an 'extremely dangerous' decision and a 'blatant provocation' one year after it invaded its neighbor. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that his country was sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine Tanks for these: This combination of file photographs created on January 25, 2023, shows (TOP L/BOTTOM R): A British Challenger tank, a French Leclerc tank, a Polish German Leopard tank, and a US Abrams tank The president spoke with President Macron of France, Chancellor Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Meloni of Italy, and Prime Minister Sunak of the United Kingdom 'as part of our close coordination on support for Ukraine,' according to the White House. 'It is the most capable tank in the world, but its also the most sophisticated,' said an administration official, noting the training and supply chain issues that come with it. 'That will significantly strengthen their combat capabilities and demonstrates also the unity and resolve of NATO allies and partners in providing support to Ukraine,' NATO Secretary Gen. Jens Stoltenberg said of Germany's decision, speaking to CNN Wednesday, also stressing the ability to improve Ukraine's ability to retake territory. The US and allies are also providing anti-tank weapons and ammunition. A Ukrainian service member fires a RPG-7 anti-tank grenade launcher in Zaporizhzhia Region, Ukraine, January 23, 2023 Germany announced that it will send German-built Leopard 2 battle tanks, with an initial company of 14 vehicles. The aim would be to ultimately provide two battalions worth, which would amount to 80 to 100. The Leopards are widely used in western militaries, and other countries have been seeking Germany's authorization to send their own. The British government announced this month it would send its own squadron of 14 Challenger 2 battle tanks, while the Polish government has been girding to send 14 of its Leopard 2s, after seeking Germany's approval. Berlin gave the green light on Wednesday. Last week, the UK said it would send Challenger 2 tanks (pictured above) to Ukraine Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday called the moves by the US and Germany 'long overdue.' 'Now that Berlin is taking a step, I hope that other European countries with tanks in their inventory will move expeditiously to send them to Ukraine,' he said on the Senate floor. Last week, the U.K. announced it was sending Challenger 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine, but that did not spur the U.S. or Germany to immediately follow suit. Forget TikTok and Instagram - children and teenagers want to learn Morse Code! Despite being created 180 years ago and not being a requirement for amateur radio operators to learn since 1990, it has been kept alive by radio enthusiasts - and now more young people are getting involved. A combination of pandemic lockdowns forcing youngsters to learn something new, and the use of Morse Code by popular K-Pop bands, has led to 'a renaissance' in teens wanting to learn the once groundbreaking form of communication. From five-year-olds to 99-year-old war veterans, people all over the world are tapping in to communicate with others on the radio. Morse Code is making a comeback with more children and teenagers wanting to learn the skill. Pictured: A Morse Code machine used to tap out different messages on the airwaves The International Morse Code became vital during times of conflict such as World War Two, the Vietnam War and even the beginning of the Cold War How does Morse Code work? Morse Code was invented in 1844 by Samuel Morse. The code assigned dots and dashes to each letter of the English alphabet. It was initially used for the telegraph, sending electrical signals across wires and between stations. To begin with, it was used by creating marks on a piece of paper that the telegraph operators would then translate back to English. But operators quickly realised that they could understand the code just by listening to the clicks of a receiver. So paper was replaced with a receiver that made a more pronounced beeping sounds. These beeping sounds were eventually sent over radio wires, undersea cables and radio circuits where they were received, translated and written down. Source: History.com Advertisement In Long Island, 70-year-old Howard Bernstein said he has loved radio since he was a young child, listening to shortwave radio and the BBC from across the pond. 'Radio is in my genes', he told MailOnline, as he recalled first learning Morse Code 57 years ago, at the age of 13. His father had been a radio operator who used the skill to communicate with allies while flying a B-17 out of RAF Polebrook in Northamptonshire during the Second World War. Now, more than half a century later, Bernstein is teaching the same skill to hundreds of children and teenagers - some young as five - who are turning their backs on social media for a few hours each week to learn Morse Code. In 2017, Bernstein and his friend Richard Collins decided to form a community group for fans of amateur radio in and around New York. The Long Island CW Club soon started gaining traction, with more and more recruits joining from other states across the US. Soon enough, the club had become a global hub for amateur radio fans, attracting members from 47 countries worldwide, including a considerable number of Brits. Mr Bernstein said: 'It all began online and on Zoom. I found this very early on because I was coincidentally using this for work. 'It really helped propel the club, and then when Covid hit that spurred it on even more. In 2017, Howard Bernstein (pictured) and his friend Richard Collins decided to form a community group for fans of amateur radio in and around New York The Long Island CW Club has thousands of members from 47 countries worldwide. Pictured: Mr Bernstein's radio station in Long Island filled with his radio equipment collection Morse Code in the military Following its success in the late 1800s, Morse Code was adopted to be used for high-speed international communication. This included the International Morse Code being used during times of conflict. It was used in World War II, the Vietnam War, Korean War and early stages of the Cold War. Battleships and war planes would use the system to send important messages over long distances, including passing information back to mainland Britain. The code was also used regularly by the shipping industry up until the early 1990s when it was largely disbanded. Source: Britannica Advertisement 'The majority of people using ham radio are over the age of 50 but there's a lot of younger people coming through now, which is really refreshing. 'There's really a renaissance with the youth coming back to learn Morse Code.' Today, 3,500 members log on each week to practice their skills and learn more about the communication form - 400 of those being children and teenagers. Each week, the society runs around 80 classes and forums on Zoom, in what Mr Bernstein calls an 'around the clock' operation. Classes allow people to learn Morse, practice it in conversation with other people and listen to presentations about the history of the code or discussions about how it could be used in the future in military warfare or even in space. He added: 'We had no idea kids would be interested in this and we did not think about it until one of our members, who worked with kids for a living, offered to teach them during the Covid lockdown. 'Over the pandemic people were joining more. 'Parents loved their kids learning it as it was still quite academic. 'We started with the kids of members and continued to grow from referrals.' But why are younger people trying to learn the code, when there are so many other distractions online? South Korean K-pop boy band, TXT (pictured) have used Morse Code in their music, music videos and even to send messages to fans about upcoming releases K-Pop band NU'EST have also used Morse Code in their songs and music videos. Their music video help me shows a person tapping Morse Code at the beginning of the song Mr Bernstein said people are 'tiring of cell phones and computers - everything that gives instantaneous gratification'. Further to that he says it is 'a very efficient way to communicate' and has a 'romantic element' to it. Back in the UK, Michael Stanton, 56, who helps run the Long Island CW Club from Thatcham, West Berkshire, said K-Pop is partially responsible for the surge in popularity from younger generations. South Korean boy bands NU'EST and TXT have both used Morse Code within their music videos, and even communicate hints about upcoming songs to fans. Pictured: A radio dispatcher in 1937 who went out messages in Morse Code to vehicles after receiving 999 calls. Mr Stanton explained to MailOnline: 'I found that young people between the age of 11 and 14 enjoy it but when they get older, they have more going on, exams, drinking, partying, dating - all those sorts of things. 'It is then only when people get to around 40 or 50 that they realise they have more money and time to get into amateur radio. 'However, during the lockdowns, the internet exploded, the ways of communicating got better and lots of the radio things we were doing moved to the internet - including the ability to use Morse Code. 'This made it more accessible to all age groups. 'At the same time there have been a few K-Pop bands, TXT being the most notable, that have been using Morse Code.' K-Pop fans have lapped up TXT and NU'EST's use of Morse Code in their songs, music videos and even promotions on their website At the start of TXT's song Crown, Morse Code is used to spell out the title before the song gets underwa. Similarly, NU'EST's song Help Me spells out its title at the start of the song, as translated by Bernstein. NU'EST even had flashing lights, communicating in Morse Code, on their website to reveal the titles of their upcoming songs. This prompted young fans of the bands to scour the internet trying to find out the hidden meaning of the beeps. Tom Read, 52, from Cheshire is a member of Summits on the Air (SOTA) 'These bands have used Morse Code quite a lot in their music and communicating with fans. It is mostly written down, but in their music, they obviously use the sounds,' Mr Stanton, who learned the skill 35 years ago, explained. 'And that sparked quite a lot of interest amongst the younger generation, teenagers who think "hey my pop idols do this Morse Code thing, it seems quite cool, I can have secret conversations with people using it".' Elsewhere across the UK, amateur radio is being used during hikes, attracting people of all ages to get outside and communicate via radio. Summits on the Air (SOTA) was created 20 years ago and is now operating in almost 100 countries worldwide. It is a scheme that rewards radio amateurs who make contact with each other from summits around the world. Amateur radio operators set up temporary portable stations on mountain summits, where there are favourable conditions on the radio, benefiting from lower background noise than in urban environments. It means more distant stations can be heard and hopefully contacted, from even as far away as Australia. Using efficient modes such as Morse further enhances the chances of such communication. Tom Read, 52, from Cheshire, said: 'It started just over 20 years ago and was designed to get people involved in ham radio a little more active, because it had this stereotype of being used by old men who sat in sheds and weren't particularly active. 'When it started there were just a few dozen people involved in England and Wales, but now it has gone completely worldwide. 'It has got tens of thousands of participants, attracting the full spectrum of ages and genders.' In a world where technology is continually advancing, Morse Code appears to offer an escape for some, providing a focus on communicating with others away from the pesky troubles of using social media. Artemis was the twin sister of Apollo and goddess of the moon in Greek mythology. NASA has chosen her to personify its path back to the moon, which will see astronauts return to the lunar surface by 2025 - including the first woman and the next man. Artemis 1, formerly Exploration Mission-1, is the first in a series of increasingly complex missions that will enable human exploration to the moon and Mars. Artemis 1 will be the first integrated flight test of NASAs deep space exploration system: the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the ground systems at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Artemis 1 will be an uncrewed flight that will provide a foundation for human deep space exploration, and demonstrate our commitment and capability to extend human existence to the moon and beyond. During this flight, the spacecraft will launch on the most powerful rocket in the world and fly farther than any spacecraft built for humans has ever flown. It will travel 280,000 miles (450,600 km) from Earth, thousands of miles beyond the moon over the course of about a three-week mission. Artemis 1, formerly Exploration Mission-1, is the first in a series of increasingly complex missions that will enable human exploration to the moon and Mars. This graphic explains the various stages of the mission Orion will stay in space longer than any ship for astronauts has done without docking to a space station and return home faster and hotter than ever before. With this first exploration mission, NASA is leading the next steps of human exploration into deep space where astronauts will build and begin testing the systems near the moon needed for lunar surface missions and exploration to other destinations farther from Earth, including Mars. The will take crew on a different trajectory and test Orions critical systems with humans aboard. Together, Orion, SLS and the ground systems at Kennedy will be able to meet the most challenging crew and cargo mission needs in deep space. Eventually NASA seeks to establish a sustainable human presence on the moon by 2028 as a result of the Artemis mission. The space agency hopes this colony will uncover new scientific discoveries, demonstrate new technological advancements and lay the foundation for private companies to build a lunar economy. Who is Victor Glover? The man set to become NASA's first black astronaut to orbit the moon Victor Glover (pictured) was selected as an astronaut in 2013 and became the first African American ISS expedition crewmember to live on the ISS seven years later NASA is set to send the first-ever black astronaut to the moon. Victor Glover, 46, was selected to take part in the space agency's Artemis II mission the US' first lunar mission in a half-century. The Pomona, California, native will be the first person of color to travel into deep space, hundreds of thousands of miles beyond the low-Earth orbiting International Space Station (ISS). NASA officials say the diverse crew assignments signify the cultural shifts that have taken place since the original Apollo missions, which ended in 1972, at a time when white men dominated space exploration. Glover was also the first black man to ever live on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2020 and is among 15 African Americans to be selected as an astronaut. In his esteemed career since being selected as an astronaut in 2013, Mr Glover has logged over 3,000 flight hours in 40 different aircraft. Artemis II - which will launch in November 2024 - will see the four-man crew orbit the moon in the Orion spacecraft but not land. Their goal is to test new technology, including heat shields that protects Orion as it travels 24,500 mph in 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit on its way back. If successful, NASA plans to launch an expedition to land on the moon titled Artemis III. Another success would spell out a trip to Mars for NASA. I wanna thank God for this Amazing opportunity, Mr Glover said during a new conference Monday. This is a big day. We have a lot to celebrate. Its so much more than the four names that have been announced. We need to celebrate this moment in human history. 'Artermis II is more than a mission to the Moon and back. Its more than a mission that has to happen before we send people to the surface of the moon. It is the next step on the journey that gets humanity to Mars. This crew will never forget that. Mr Glover was born in 1976 in Pomona, around 30 miles east of Los Angeles. The city is far from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, known for its high poverty rate and relatively high crime. Mr Glover grew up in Ponoma, CA, 30 miles east of Los Angeles He said his parents and teachers served as mentors as him growing up. 'Early on in life it had to be my parents; they encouraged me and challenged me and held me to high standards. Outside of home, I had teachers that did the same,' he told USA Today in 2017. 'They all challenged me, and they encouraged me.' Mr Glover continued that his teachers and parents urged him to go the engineering school and eventually become a test pilot leading to him becoming an astronaut. He graduated from Southern California's Ontario High School in 1994, and went on to attend California Polytechnic State University, before completing his graduate education at Air University and the US Naval Academy. 'Im the first person in my family to graduate from college, and being at graduation with my mom and my dad and my stepdad and my little brothers and my grandparents,' he said to USA Today. 'That was unreal, that was cool and it was special for me.' In 1999 he was commissioned as part of the US Navy. After completing flight training in Corpus Christy, Texas, he was 'given his wings' and awarded the title of pilot in 2001. He then moved to San Diego to learn to fly the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, known as one of the Navy's more versatile aircraft. After spending the next two years training in Florida and Virginia, he was deployed to Iraq in 2004 for six months. Mr Glover was working in the office of the late Sen John McCain as a legislative fellow when he was selected by NASA to become an astronaut in 2013. NASA only selects a handful of the thousands of people that apply to be a member of the nation's astronaut corps each year. Only 15 black astronauts have ever been selected out of 348. A vast majority of the 41 current astronauts have a military background, like Mr Glover. He completed his astronaut training in 2015. Three years later, he was selected to be a part of the first ever operational flight of SpaceX's Crew Dragon, a reusable aircraft designed by the firm Elon Musk found in 2002. As part of that mission, he would live on the ISS from November 17, 2020 to May 2, 2021. The nearly six-month-long stay on the station makes him the first black astronaut to inhabit it. Jeanette Epps, 52, who was selected to be an astronaut in 2009 is set to become the second African American, and first black woman, to live on the ISS after the launch of Boeing Starliner-1 in 2024 or later. In 2020, Mr Glover said it was an honor to be the first black person selected to the ISS. 'It is something to be celebrated once we accomplish it, and I am honored to be in this position and to be a part of this great and experienced crew,' he said during a news conference. 'I look forward to getting up there and doing my best to make sure, you know, we are worthy of all the work that's been put into setting us up for this mission.' In an interview with The Christian Chronicle later that year, he said there were qualified black astronauts that should have earned the honor before him. 'I've had some amazing colleagues before me that really could have done it, and there are some amazing folks that will go behind me,' he said. 'I wish it would have already been done, but I try not to draw too much attention to it.' Who is Christina Koch? The first female NASA astronaut set to orbit the moon Christina Koch is set to become the first woman to go around the moon when NASA's Artemis II mission takes off next year. Christina Koch, 44, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, is set to become the first woman to go around the moon The Grand Rapids, Michigan native, 44, is already the record-holder for the longest amount of time a woman has spent in space, 328 days, and for taking part in the first all-female spacewalk in 2019. Selected to become an astronaut in 2013, Ms Koch said she has not followed a 'checklist' in order to become an astronaut but instead chased her passions whether this be rock climbing, sailing or even learning to surf in her 40s. She said in 2020: 'I really don't remember a time when I didn't want to be an astronaut. 'For me, I learned that if I was going to be an astronaut, it was because my passions had turned me into someone that could contribute the most as someone contributing to human space flight.' While she's exploring space, her husband Robert will be left taking care of housework and the couple's puppy, LBD. It is not believed that they have children. 'Am I excited? Absolutely!' she said at a news conference at the crew's announcement Monday. The one thing I'm most excited about is that we will carry your excitement,your aspirations, your dreams, on this mission. She also said: We are going to launch from Kennedy space center, we are going to here the words go for launch on top of the most powerful rocket NASAs ever made. NASA has sent a total of 355 people to space so far, of which some 55 have been women or 15 percent. It has also sent 24 people to orbit the moon and 12 to walk on the lunar surface who were all men. Russian Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman to ever leave the earth's atmosphere setting off in 1937. American women did not get sent to space until 1983. Ms Koch, however, will make history on the Artemis II mission when she completes her long-awaited trip around the moon. She revealed her love of space in a video when she was announced as a member of the Artemis I team in 2020. The astronaut said: 'I am someone who has loved exploration on the frontier since I was little. 'I used to be inspired by the night sky and throughout my career, it's been this balance between engineering for space science missions and doing science in really remote places all over the world. 'I loved things that made me feel small, things that made me ponder the size of the universe, my place in it and everything that was out there to explore.' She added: 'I didn't necessarily live my life following check boxes of how you could become an astronaut. 'But I followed those passions and one day I looked at what I had become and the skills I had gathered and I asked "could I sit across from a table and present myself as someone who could do this well?". And I thought, I'm going to give this a shot.' She went to North Carolina State University in Raleigh to get a bachelor's and a master's in Electrical Engineering. She then became an Electrical Engineer at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, before becoming a research associate for the United States Antarctic Program living an entire year in the Arctic. Ms Koch was one of eight selected as part of NASA's 21st class of astronauts in 2013. After two years of training, she became a full-fledged astronaut. Her first space flight came in 2019 when she was sent to the International Space Station (ISS) to work as a flight engineer. She stayed up there for 328 days, taking the record for the longest spaceflight by a woman. The previous record holder, Peggy Whitson, was in space for 288 days. While in space she also took the record for the first all-women space walk when an astronaut gets out of a vehicle while in space with Jessica Meir. The pair spent seven hours and 17 minutes on the side of the ISS as they worked to replace a power controller. The walk also included a brief call with President Trump. Upon her return to Earth in 2020, Ms Koch said she felt 'like a baby' who was two weeks old and working hard to hold up its head. Back on Earth, she lives in Galveston, Texas, just outside of the Houston area. Among her interests are backpacking, running, yoga, photography and travel. Now she will be a part of a groundbreaking mission in NASA's goal towards putting a man on Mars. The Artemis II mission marks NASA's first trip to the moon in half a century. It says it will be performed to help test kit in preparation for getting humans onto Mars. The agency sent an empty Orion capsule around the moon last year before it returned to Earth in a long-awaited dress rehearsal. If this latest mission goes well, then another flight to land people on the moon will be sent in 2025 as part of tests ahead of getting people onto Mars. Approximately 11 monstrous stingrays measuring up to 10 feet long were tagged in the wild by divers, allowing them to see the wondrous world of the critically endangered species. The mission revealed these elusive smalleye rays can dive more than 650 feet below the surface and swim hundreds of miles per day - facts not previously known to the scientific community. Smalleye rays have only been previously studied through images, but the tagging is expected to produce new information that could lead to better protection for the species. The program will take years to gather and analyze enough data to understand these creatures, but the National Geographic explorers who tagged the rays told NatGeo that it 'promises a tantalizing glimpse into the lives of a mysterious species. Smalleye stingrays are the largest species of their kind. These monstrous creatures can grow up to 10 feet long, with a stinger that measures the same as a human arm The smalleye, given its name because of its raisin-sized eyes, has a wingspan that stretches over seven feet, weighs up to 790 pounds and is distinguished from other rays by the white dorsal spots on its back. Using this criteria, scientists have been able to examine photo IDs to study this rare animal in southern Mozambique, one of the only locations where it is regularly seen. READ MORE: Climate change threatens marine life in 70 percent of the most biodiverse areas of Earths oceans Future rates of warming threaten marine life in more than 70 percent of the most biodiverse parts of Earth's oceans, new research reveals. Advertisement While most stingrays avoid humans, the smalleye appears inquisitive, sometimes swimming within feet of scuba divers. Before the early 2000s, there were only a few verified live sightings of smalleye stingrays. In the past fifteen years, biologist Andrea Marshall and her colleagues from the Marine Megafauna Foundation have spotted more than 70 off the coast of Mozambique. However, their most recent expedition is the first time these rays have been tagged in their natural habitat. Marshall told National Geographic that she immediately dove into the waters when she spotted the first ray. With a six-foot-long pole in her hands, she touched the animal and extracted a skin sample for further analysis. And while the fish appeared calm, Marshall stayed aware of its stinging spin, the length of a human forearm. One small wrong would 'would put us in mortal danger,' she said. While the program is still very young, the team already sees the fruits of their labor. Researchers have theorized that smalleye stingrays travel long distances, but this idea was only made with photographs, but the tags provide concrete evidence. Marshall and her team are now looking to uncover why this species embarks on long stretches. National Geographic explorers have been studying these critically endangered fish for years. Here is a photo from a 2019 study The team recently tagged 11 of them in the wild - the first time this has ever been done This allows researchers o see the wondrous world of endangered species. The mission revealed these elusive smalleye rays can dive more than 650 feet below the surface and swim hundreds of miles per day The tags also reveal smalleyes congregate around reefs at night, particularly between midnight and 6 am, which suggests the massive fish eat during the evening hours. More exciting is the data shows these rays rest on the seafloor. Previously, the majestic creatures have only been observed swimming - no one has ever seen one inactive. The smalleye, given its name because of its raisin-sized eyes, has a wingspan that stretches over seven feet Marshall said one of the tagged rays buried itself in the sand and the behavior may be due to them consuming large meals at once and then needing time to digest. Melissa Hoboson, who wrote about Marshall's mission, said many questions still remain. 'Why are smalleyes so big? What are they doing on the reef at night? Are they giving birth in the area?' Hobons writes. Everyone has a type, be it curvy, muscular or 'dad bod', but it turns out that who you are attracted to is dictated by the current state of the world. Researchers at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands have found that women are more attracted to rugged men like Chris Hemsworth and Jason Momoa during times of uncertainty. This look is defined by a sharper nose and chin, more angular jawbone and higher cheekbones. However, under the same circumstances, men tend to be more attracted to women with 'tender' faces like Selena Gomez, featuring smoother lines, shadows and outer facial contour, as well as more rounded lips, cheeks and nose tip. Researchers at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands have found that women prefer men who look 'tougher' during times of uncertainty. Pictured: Jason Momoa However, in uncertain times, men tend to be more attracted to women with more 'tender' faces. Pictured: Results of first study HOW DOES UNCERTAINTY IMPACT WHO WE ARE ATTRACTED TO? Researchers at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands have found that women prefer men who look 'tougher' during times of uncertainty. However, under the same circumstances, men tend to be more attracted to women with more 'tender' faces. The authors hypothesise this is because of an 'increased desire for a stereotypical partner type inferred from such facial features'. For the men, this was for a woman they see as caring, but for a woman this is a man they see as strong, as it 'provide[s] a feeling of predictability'. Advertisement The authors hypothesise this is because of 'increased desire for a stereotypical partner type inferred from such facial features'. For the men, this was for a woman they see as caring, but for a woman this is a man they see as strong, as it 'provide[s] a feeling of predictability'. 'These results show that partner preferences are not fixed, but are affected by fleeting psychological states, such as feelings of uncertainty due to external, unpredictable events,' they wrote. For many of us, the past few years have been chaotic to say the least, with the COVID-19 pandemic, cost of living crisis and ever-changing government. These external factors can affect our health in a myriad of ways, including through sleep deprivation, brain fog and depression. During times of uncertainty, studies have shown that people tend to search for order and structure, sometimes by increasing their support for religion, the government or conspiracy theories. For their study, published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, researchers wanted to assess whether periods of unpredictability impact the type of partner people go for. They recruited students and individuals from the Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) work-distribution website to take part in three studies. For the first study, participants were presented with four different male or female faces which had been digitally altered to look more tough or tender (pictured). They then had to rate them on their attractiveness, likeability and how much they would like to go on a date with them After analysing the results of the two studies, the researchers found that women found tougher male faces and stronger partners more attractive after reflecting on times of uncertainty than certainty. This look was defined by a sharper nose and chin, more angular jawbone and higher cheekbones For the first study, 173 MTurk workers were told to write a story with a maximum of 100 words about a situation where they felt certain or uncertain, reflecting on how they felt at the time. Certain times might feature financial stability and job security, while uncertain times may involve financial crisis or shifts in political climate. They were then presented with four different male or female faces which had been digitally altered to look more tough or tender. The participants were asked to rate the faces on their attractiveness, likeability and how much they would like to go on a date with them. In the second study, 174 students again had to write a story about an uncertain or certain period in their life. Next, they had to imagine they were looking for a date, and indicate the extent they would be drawn towards a caring or strong partner. After analysing the results of the two studies, the researchers found that women found tougher male faces and stronger partners more attractive after reflecting on times of uncertainty than certainty. Men, however, rated tender faces more highly and looked for a more caring partner under uncertain conditions over certain ones. Men, however, rated tender faces as more attractive under uncertain conditions over certain ones. Tender features include an smoother lines, shadows and outer facial contour, as well as more rounded lips, cheeks and nose tip. Pictured: Selena Gomez In the second study, participants had to imagine they were looking for a date after thinking of an uncertain or certain period in their life. They had to indicate the extent they would be drawn towards a caring or strong partner. Pictured: Results of second study For the third study, 141 students were asked to either think of a caring partner who 'makes [them] feel at home and is comforting' or a strong partner who 'provides protection and [they] can rely on when needed'. They were then told to imagine they were looking to date someone who fits that brief, and asked to rate the faces from the first study by attractiveness. The results showed that people saw tender facial features as caring and tougher facial features as strong when presented by the opposite sex. The researchers wrote: 'We show that when facing uncertainty, women are more attracted to men with tougher versus more tender facial features, whereas men are more attracted to women with more tender versus tougher facial features. 'These findings have implications for our understanding of how and why partner preferences are influenced by uncertainty.' For the third study, students were asked to either think of a caring or strong partner. They were then told to imagine they were looking to date someone who fits that brief, and asked to rate faces with tender or tough features by attractiveness. Pictured: Results of the third study Drones could soon be forced to have electronic number plates so they can be tracked by police. The move is part of regulations being drawn up by the Government that would allow a drone's speed, height, take-off point and its operator's location to be tracked. Remote ID technology will be installed in the devices, working in a similar way to the automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system used on cars, vans and lorries. It comes amid growing concern that Britain's drone registration scheme is not being enforced properly and that the aircraft could be used by terrorists to cause serious harm or economic damage. Drones could soon be forced to have electronic number plates so they can be tracked by police and security teams as they fly through the skies What are the current drone regulations in the UK? According to the Civil Aviation Authority, anyone with a drone weighing more than 250g needs to pass a test and get a flyer ID from the authority. The test is completely free and available online. It also has a number of key rules, based on the risk of flight, such as where you fly, the proximity to people and the size and weight of your drone. The key rules are: Never fly more than 400ft (120m) above the ground Always keep your done or model aircraft in sight Never fly in an airport's flight restriction zone unless you have permission Source: Civil Aviation Authority Advertisement Before flying most drones or model aircrafts outdoors in the UK, users are expected to register the device. But there are concerns that a large number of drones do not have the proper technology to enforce the registration. One source told the Telegraph the situation was like 'the Wild West'. A report by PwC last year found that more than 900,000 drones could be in the UK's skies by 2030 as well as 650,000 jobs relating to a sector that relies on drones. The Government is now hoping the aerial equivalent of an ANPR system will be added on to drones. This would work in a similar way as ANPR cameras work to identify road users for breaking the law. The Civil Aviation Authority regulator commissioned aviation agency Murzilli Consulting to draw up a report to 'develop a strategy for any future remote ID requirement for UK drone and remotely piloted services'. Its chief executive, Lorenzo Murzilli, said the Swiss U-space Implementation Program (Susi) will focus on setting up a partnership with government bodies and industries to find Remote ID solutions. It is not a new concept the US recently passed legislation for the system, with plans for regulation to start in September. Government officials are believed to be working towards a deadline of April 1, 2026, to get the ID systems up and running in the UK, with plans to be announced in March. Government officials are hoping to push through the new plans and have them implemented by April 1 2026 READ HERE: The drone doctor that can drop off your drugs: Robots flying at 90mph and up to 130ft in the air could soon be used to deliver life-saving medical supplies Makers Blueflite said its drones and the platform they run on were the 'first of their kind' Advertisement It comes as 8million is being spent to deploy anti-drone detectors around nuclear plants, transport hubs, oil rigs and other sensitive infrastructure to protect them from aerial terrorist attacks. The Home Office, which has been commissioned for the project, will also use the drone detectors at major public events including the King's Coronation and Eurovision contest in May. The security system will mean police can track any small or medium-sized drone. With scanning technology, they are then able to spot potential threats even when they are not emitting a signal. As a result, no-fly zones will be better policed, as well as high security areas such as prisons, military bases and royal palaces. A Home Office spokesman said: 'The Home Office works closely with police to ensure they can deter, detect and disrupt the misuse of drones and keep the public safe. 'We are empowering the police and other operational responders through access to the latest advances in counter-drone capabilities, training, and appropriate legislative powers. 'However, it is a long-standing policy that we do not comment on security arrangements.' A huge asteroid the size of a London bus will fly within 2,100 miles (3,400 km) of Earth tonight - the fourth closest approach on record. Known as '2023 BU', this space rock was only discovered by NASA scientists on Saturday, and is set to pass by our planet's surface at about 00:30 GMT (19:30 ET). It will race past at 33,000 mph at a distance of 6,500 miles (10,500 km) from the Earth's centre. A live stream of the event, hosted by the Virtual Telescope Project (VTP) in Italy, will begin at 19:15 GMT (14:15 ET), ensuring those without a telescope can still witness it. The space rock, known as 2023 BU, was only discovered by NASA last weekend but is set to come within 2,100 miles (3,400 km) of Earth tonight at about 00:30 GMT (19:30 ET) This orbital diagram from CNEOS shows 2023 BUs trajectory (red) during its close approach with Earth tonight. The asteroid will pass about 10 times closer to Earth than the orbit of geosynchronous satellites (green) What is a 'potentially hazardous' asteroid? A potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA) is an asteroid whose orbit comes nearer than 0.05AU (about 7.5 million km) to the Earth. It also is at least 100 metres (300 feet) in diameter. The International Astronomical Union claims there are around 1,500 potential hazardous asteroids. Although these are not a risk to Earth as of yet, asteroid this large have the potential to cause devastation if they were to land on our planet, especially in highly-populated areas. It is believed one hits Earth once every 200-300 years. Advertisement 2023 BU is so small that it will be too faint to be seen with the naked eye, shining at a maximum of 11.3 magnitude. It measures about 12.4 by 27.8 feet (3.8 by 8.5 metres), which is around the same size as the original Routemaster London bus. Therefore it has to be picked up by large, powerful telescopes, such as the VTP's 14-inch and 17-inch robotic ones in Ceccano. According to astronomer Jonathan McDowell, the 'asteroidlet' was within the orbit of the moon yesterday afternoon. However, experts have calculated its orbit and insist there is no chance of 2023 BU hitting Earth on this particular approach. Space rocks that are smaller than 82 feet (25 metres) across most likely burn up if they enter the Earth's atmosphere, NASA says. This would cause little to no damage on the ground, but some of the bigger debris may fall as small meteorites. NASAs Scout impact hazard assessment system, which is maintained by NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), quickly determined that 2023 BU would miss Earth. Davide Farnocchia, a navigation engineer who developed Scout, said: 'Scout quickly ruled out 2023 BU as an impactor, but despite the very few observations, it was nonetheless able to predict that the asteroid would make an extraordinarily close approach with Earth. 'In fact, this is one of the closest approaches by a known near-Earth object ever recorded.' Comparison: The space rock measures about 12.4 by 27.8 feet, which is around the same size as the original Routemaster London bus NASAs Scout system shows the deflection of asteroid 2023 BUs trajectory (red) caused by Earths gravity. The orbit of geosynchronous satellites (green) and the orbit of the Moon are also depicted (grey) A live stream, hosted by the Virtual Telescope Project (VTP) in Italy, will be made available for people to witness the event from 19:15 GMT (14:15 ET) tonight Why has asteroid 2023 BU only just been seen? Some asteroids can 'sneak up' on us thanks to a quirk of the Earth's rotation that makes them seem like they are barely moving making them hard to detect. This is the warning of NASA-funded experts who investigated how telescopes nearly missed a 328-feet-wide asteroid that came within 43,500 miles of Earth back in 2019. The space rock, dubbed '2019 OK', was the first object of its size to get that close to our planet since 1908 but it was only spotted 24 hours before its closest approach. The reason, the team determined, is because it was moving towards us in such a way that its motion across the night sky was counteracted by the Earth's spin. Thus to early warning systems like Pan-STARRS1 at Hawaii's Haleakala Observatory 2019 OK looked stationary, so did not set off the automated detection software. In fact, the experts said, up to half of asteroids approaching Earth from a danger zone east of 'opposition' likely undergo periods of such apparent slow motion. Advertisement Although it won't impact us, by some definitions the asteroid will technically pass through the uppermost region of our planet's atmosphere, known as the 'exosphere'. This extends from around 6,000 miles (10,000 km) up to a maximum distance of 120,000 miles (193,000 km) above Earth. However, most scientists don't consider this region to be a true part of the Earth's atmosphere because the air is so thin. Nevertheless, asteroid 2023 BU will pass well within the orbit of geostationary satellites above South America, but still far away from the International Space Station at 250 miles (400 km) from the Earth. This will be the fourth closest pass of our planet out of more than 35,000 past and future approaches, according to CNEOS, which holds data covering the period of 300 years from 1900 to 2200. Most asteroids pass beyond the distance of the moon which is 240,000 miles away but this one is far closer. The space rock was discovered by astronomer Gennadiy Borisov at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory in Nauchnyi, Crimea on January 21. He is famous for spotting the first comet ever seen that had travelled into the solar system from interstellar space, called 2I/Borisov. 2023 BU currently orbits the sun every 359 days, while its circular path occasionally intersects Earth's orbital trajectory around our star. NASA says its proximity to Earth during tonight's fly-by will be close enough for our planet's gravity to lengthen its orbit to 425 days, and make its path more elongated. It will next pass relatively close to us on December 6, 2036, but on that occasion will be well beyond the orbit of the moon. Small (6 metre?) asteroidlet 2023 BU now within the orbit of the Moon, on a 3600 x -151800 km x 128.7 deg Earth flyby orbit with perigee at 0025 UTC Jan 27. No close passes to any spacecraft as far as I can tell. Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) January 25, 2023 Known as 2023 BU, the object is about half the size of the famous Chelyabinsk meteor (pictured) that hit Earth 2013 NASA deems the asteroid a 'near-Earth object' (NEO) because its orbit sees it come within 120 million miles (195 million km) of the sun, but it is not a 'potentially hazardous asteroid' because it is not large enough to cause significant damage in the event of impact. In February 2013, a meteor that blazed across southern Urals and came down in Chelyabinsk, Russia was the largest recorded meteor strike in more than a century. More than 1,600 people were injured by the shock wave from the explosion, estimated to be as strong as 20 Hiroshima atomic bombs, as it landed near the city. The fireball, measuring 60ft (19 metres) across, screamed into Earth's atmosphere at 41,600 mph and much of it landed in a local lake called Chebarkul. Last year, experts warned that some asteroids can 'sneak up' on us thanks to a quirk of the Earth's rotation that makes them seem like they are barely moving making them hard to detect. In fact, they said up to half of asteroids approaching Earth from a danger zone east of 'opposition' likely undergo periods of such apparent slow motion. The NASA-funded experts investigated how telescopes nearly missed a 328-feet-wide asteroid that came within 43,500 miles of Earth back in 2019. Degradation is where trees are affected by human activity like logging and fires Scientists frequently warn about deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. But a lesser-known process called 'degradation' where trees have been affected by logging, mining, fires, expansion of roads or other human activity is just as harmful. According to a new study, 38 per cent of what's left of the Amazon has been degraded in some way by humans more than previously realised. To put that into perspective, it's the equivalent to 10 times the size of the UK. Land degradation is where trees have in some way been affected by logging, mining, fires, expansion of roads or other human activity. This photo of in Belterra in the Brazilian Amazon was taken in 2018, three years after a fire affected this logged forest that was also affected by edge effects What is degradation? Degradation is where the value or wellbeing of land is negatively affected by human-induced processes. Examples of such processes include logging, mining, fires, expansion of roads. These activities can pollute or degrade the quality of soils and land utility. Degradation negatively affects food production, livelihoods, and the production and provision of other ecosystem goods and services. Desertification is a form of land degradation by which fertile land becomes desert. Source: WHO Advertisement The new study follows the appointment of a new Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has vowed to give the Amazon rainforest better protection. It's been authored by a team of international researchers, from institutions including Lancaster University and University of East Anglia. Findings were based on satellite imagery and a review of published data outlining changes in the Amazon region between 2001 and 2018. 'Degradation benefits the few, but places important burdens on many,' said co-author Dr Rachel Carmenta at the University of East Anglia. 'Few people profit from the degradation processes, yet many lose out across all dimensions of human well-being including health, nutrition and the place attachments held for the forest landscapes where they live. 'Furthermore, many of these burdens are hidden at present; recognising them will help enable better governance with social justice at the centre.' The Amazon spans 2.1 million square miles across eight countries Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname but the majority, around 60 per cent, is within Brazil's borders. As a result, much of the battle against degradation and deforestation is the job of the Brazilian government. Photo taken in 2019, four years after a fire affected this forest fragment, which has been previously also affected by multiple anthropogenic disturbance, including selective logging, edge effects and fires. Photo taken in Belterra, in the Brazilian Amazon Photo taken in 2015 of a burning forest in Belterra, in the Brazilian Amazon. In this photo, the flames are about 30cm high. The continuous fire line can be seen at the back of the photo, together with a lot of smoke The new study follows the appointment of a new Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, (pictured here at COP27 in Egypt in November) who has vowed to give the Amazon rainforest better protection Brazil's new president to reverse Amazon deforestation Brazil's new president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has vowed to reverse Amazon deforestation after inaction from the previous premiership. Speaking to a cheering crowd, he pledged to 'undertake a big fight against deforestation' at COP27 in November. The newly inaugurated president had a narrow victory over former President Jair Bolsonaro in the general election in October. Bolsonaro's calls to clear land in the country's proportion of the Amazon during his rule was to drive economic development. On average, three years under Bolsonaro (2019-2021) saw a 52.9 per cent increase in deforestation compared with the three previous years (2016-2018), said Greenpeace. Bolsonaro advanced 'radical legislative proposals' that reward land grabbing, undermine Indigenous Territories and end environmental licensing requirements, all of which encourage deforestation, the charity said. Advertisement Although the two are sometimes confused, degradation is different from deforestation, where the forest is removed altogether and a new land use, such as agriculture, is established in its place. Although highly degraded forests can lose almost all of the trees, the land use itself does not change. However, in both cases the capacity of a forest to store carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas, are compromised. Trees help stop climate change by removing CO2 from the air, using it for photosynthesis and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere. Forests are therefore important 'carbon sinks' ecosystems that are capable of capturing and storing large amounts of CO2. 'The disturbance of the remaining forest causes a long term loss of their capacity to store carbon,' study author Jos Barlow, a professor of conservation science at Lancaster University, told MailOnline. 'For example, when fire escapes into a rainforest, it kills around 40 per cent of the trees. 'The dead trees then decompose, or are burned by a subsequent fire, releasing carbon into the atmosphere. 'Furthermore, these emissions are not offset by the growth of new trees, which store very little carbon compared to the large trees that have been lost.' According to the study, four key factors drive forest degradation forest fire, selective logging (such as illegal logging), extreme drought and what's known as 'edge effects', which means changes that occur in adjacent areas. Four key disturbances drive forest degradation - forest fire, edge effects (changes that occur in forests adjacent to deforested areas), selective logging (such as illegal logging) and extreme drought. Different forest areas can be affected by one or more of these disturbances Different parts of the forest can be affected by one or more of these disturbances, which are all causes of degradation. Up to 38 per cent of the remaining Amazon forest area equivalent to 10 times the size of the UK has been affected by degradation. This is causing carbon emissions equivalent to or greater than those from deforestation, says the study, published in the journal Science. The authors propose creating a monitoring system for forest degradation, as well as prevention and curbing of illegal logging and controlling the use of fire. One suggestion is the concept of 'smart forests' which, like the idea of 'smart cities', could use sensors to collect data to improve the quality of the environment. Javier Hernandez has posted a picture of himself smiling happily alongside Wayne Rooney - seven years after hinting Rooney was behind his Manchester United exit. The Mexican striker, 34, played alongside Rooney for four seasons at Old Trafford from 2010 to 2015, winning two Premier League titles together, before being sold to German side Bayer Leverkusen. Hernandez revealed in a 2016 interview that the English star was the reason he left United - but there seemed to be no hard feelings as he posed with the Red Devils legend. Mexican striker Javier Hernandez (left) posted a picture of himself smiling happily alongside his former Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney (right) in Los Angeles on Tuesday In a post on Twitter, 'Chicharito' said: 'It's great to see you again after all this time. Thanks for all the memories we shared on and off the field. Wish you nothing but the best! @waynerooney #OnceARedAlwaysARed'. Rooney responded: 'Great to see you mate. Special memories,' with a handshake emoji. The duo are now both in the top American league MLS, with Hernandez playing at LA Galaxy and Rooney managing DC United. The news comes seven years after Hernandez hinted Rooney was behind his Old Trafford exit The pair, who played in 98 United matches together for four seasons, combined for 14 goals Back in 2016, Hernandez said: 'When I left, he [then-United manager Louis van Gaal] told me my chances and my opportunities were going to be less because his main striker was going to be Wayne Rooney. 'If he wasn't fit, for example, I was going to play, but when he was ready, he would play.' The duo played 98 times together for United, combining for 14 goals, most notably the second in a 2-0 Champions League semi-final win against Schalke in 2011. Rooney is in California because his DC United side travel to Los Angeles to face LAFC in a pre-season friendly in early February. A Russian-born player will face one from Belarus in the final of an Australian Open that has become increasingly caught up in wider geopolitical issues. Elena Rybakina - who has based herself in, and represented, Kazakhstan as an adult - is the latest player who will have to counter the high volume power of Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka to repeat her relatively low-key success of last summer. Due to Wimbledon's pointless status Rybakina will be the lower ranked player at 25, but she again showed she is far better than that in beating another from Belarus, Victoria Azarenka, 7-6 6-3. The Australian Open women's final will be played amid a tense political backdrop in Melbourne Belarusian star Aryna Sabalenka defeated Magda Linette of Poland to make the final Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina - who was born in Russia - will compete for the grand slam title There have been tensions in Melbourne with some fans showing their support for Russia's war on Ukraine Former world number one Azarenka was the third Grand Slam winner in succession that she has overcome, watched by her sister and her parents, with the latter two unable to make it to SW19 last summer. 'She came to Doha last year and then the second time she came at Wimbledon and I won,' she said. 'This time she's here with my parents, mom and dad, it's first time they're all together and I'm super happy that we can spend evenings together.' Sabalenka, who delivers her meaty groundstrokes with a screech, has been tipped to win a Major for several years, but has suffered from nerves in her previous three semi-finals and lost them all. She made no mistake against Poland's Magda Linette once she had stormed through the tiebreak 7-1 and finished it off 7-6 6-2. She has now played twenty sets this year and won all of them. With the Australian Open allowing allcomers, the winner on Saturday will be rewarded with a full quota of ranking points. 'Each of the restaurants listed here has been sampled and tested without fear or favour,' he reveals Advertisement So many restaurants, so little time. Paris has nearly 40,000 places in which to eat out, more than any other European city. But how to make the most of them? Visitors are so spoilt for choice that it's almost impossible to draw up a meaningful shortlist, especially if, like most travellers from Britain, you are only staying for a weekend. The sheer variety of establishments is overwhelming neighbourhood bistros, chic ethnic cafes, brassy noisy brasseries, high-end restaurants graced with Michelin stars just where do you start? Price will be a factor, but in these straitened times we are pleased to report that in general most Parisian restaurants offer excellent value for money - especially at lunchtime when even the smartest establishments offer some sort of set menu, often with a drink or two thrown in. Some horrors remain especially in the tourist areas, but another positive sign is that service in Paris is much improved in recent years grumpy waiters who much prefer moaning to waiting appear to be on the way out. Maybe they've all moved to Britain. So, this then is The Mail on Sunday's definitive guide to choosing a restaurant in Paris, written by a former resident and lifelong Paris enthusiast. It's an eclectic mix, but each of the restaurants listed here has been sampled and tested without fear or favour. Bon Appetit! LE TRAIN BLEU Le Train Bleu's (above) regulars have included Brigitte Bardot, Coco Chanel and Jean Cocteau, Mark reveals Le Train Bleu features retro classics that hark back to the restaurant's golden age Nearby: Gare du Lyon, Jardin des Plantes Afternoon Nap: Mercure Paris Gare du Lyon (accor.com). Probably the world's most glamorous station buffet certainly the only one with two Michelin stars. It is approached from the concourse of Gare Du Lyon, the huge SNCF terminus in the southeast of the city from which travellers are whisked - strikes permitting - at high speed to the Alps and the French Riviera. It's an extraordinary restaurant, a gilded, Belle Epoque temple to the importance of the railways and a breath-taking reminder that no one should travel on an empty stomach. Regulars have included Brigitte Bardot, Coco Chanel and Jean Cocteau. Opened in 1900, it was painstakingly refurbished in 2014. Arrive at least three hours early for your train to make the most of its sumptuous interiors - and the knock-out food. The menu is overseen by Michel Rostang, who has his own celebrated (and also starred) restaurant, Maison Rostang, close to the Arc de Triomphe. It features retro classics which hark back to the restaurant's golden age - lamb is carved at the table from a trolley, steaks are flambeed at the table with precision. A seven-course set menu costs just over 100, without drinks - two courses, which includes the roast lamb and a dessert is 43 (www.le-train-bleu.com). Enjoy 'exemplary chips, perhaps the best in Paris' at Le Trumilou LE TRUMILOU Nearby: Hotel de Ville, Place de Vosges and Notre Dame (still closed after the 2019 fire). Afternoon nap: Hotel du Jeu de Paume (www.jeudepaumehotel.com). Run by the same family for three generations since 1964, Le Trumilou has remained unchanged since it opened. And that's its charm. It offers a sepia-tinted snapshot of post-war Paris and it is typical of many family-owned restaurants that are sadly disappearing. Go there while you can. I've been coming here since the 80s - and it remains a firm favourite. Don't expect innovation, kumquats, quinoa, sashimi or espresso martinis - just solid classic French dishes and robust red wines. Customers are an egalitarian mix: young families, middle-aged men with their noses in dog-eared paperbacks and ageing maiden aunts who come here to gossip. Trumilou itself reminds me of a maiden aunt: slightly decaying and scruffy at the edges, but homely and comforting. The stand-out dishes are cote du boeuf (for two) and whole duck cooked in prunes. Exemplary chips, perhaps the best in Paris. Make sure you come here hungry. Three-course a la carte lunch or dinner for two with wine, approx 80. Set menu at lunchtime approx 20 (letrumilou.fr). BOUILLON CHARTIER Bouillon Chartier, pictured, has been classified as a national monument and is revered as such by the regulars Enjoy no-nonsense bistro fare at Bouillon Chartier Nearby: Grand Boulevards. Afternoon nap: Hotel Grand Boulevard (www.grandsboulevardshotel.com). Bouillon Chartier has set the standard for Parisian comfort food for more than a century; it's a huge art nouveau space close to the upmarket department stores. It started life as an art deco 'bouillon', a restaurant catering to the masses. It has since been classified as a national monument and is revered as such by the regulars. The food is no-nonsense bistro fare (start with celeriac remoulade and half a dozen snails, followed by a piece of beef with pepper sauce and chips, or veal Marengo) and watch the waiters in action. They move at breakneck pace, scribbling orders down on the white paper table 'cloths.' Remarkably patient, they lack the authentic shoulder-shrugging rudeness of most Parisian waiters that will change, however, if you yell out 'garcon' in cod French. Prices are very reasonable you can easily have two courses with wine for less than 20 a head, but get here early. The lunchtime queue forms at about mid-day, even earlier at weekends (www.bouillon-chartier.com). ALCAZAR Nearby: Boulevard Saint Germain, Institut de France. Afternoon nap: Hotel de Buci (www.buci-hotel.com). The 6eme arrondissement has become the most expensive area in Paris; a two-bedroom flat can cost 2million. Once a student enclave - and a key battleground in the 1968 riots when cobblestone-lobbing demonstrators took on the French police - only the richest of students can now afford to live here. The sleek and trendy Alcazar, designed and once owned by the late Sir Terence Conran, is an airy, plant-filled space with plenty of room and an inventive menu. Vegetarians, unusually in this city of carnivores - will not be disappointed; they will find at least a handful of dishes to suit. Some main courses - such as ceviche with guacamole - reflect 'fusion' rather than French food, but you will also find a handful of classics. Lunch 60 a head, dinner 80 (www.alcazar.fr). BRIGITTE Enjoy brilliant food in an understated setting at Brigitte before strolling to the Arc de Triomphe, which lies nearby Brigitte (above) offers a superb wine list that's strong on white Burgundies Nearby: Parc Monceau, Arc de Triomphe. Afternoon nap: Hotel Duette (www.hotelduette.com). Brigitte styles itself as an informal bistro but it is much more than that. It's a serious restaurant, not quite in the Michelin-star league but offering brilliant food in an understated setting. Close to the lovely Parc Monceau, in one of the city's most expensive areas, it has built up a loyal clientele. It's popular with well-off families for Sunday lunch and gourmand businessmen - they tend to let their belts out a notch on Friday lunchtimes, so if you want to go then, make sure you book. The menu is classic bistro, with some trendier innovations. Expect hearty staples such as oeufs en cocotte with lentils, hare stuffed with truffles and foie gras and blanquette de lotte (monkfish in a white wine and cream sauce). A three-course lunchtime menu is excellent value at 27; but an a la carte dinner can easily nudge 100 a head. Superb wine list, strong on white burgundies, starting with a Petit Chablis at 27 (www.restaurantbrigitte.fr). MARSAN Afternoon nap: Hotel Lutetia (www.hotellutetia.com). Helene Darroze is part of a new wave of female Parisienne chefs whose flair has forced many men chefs back into the kitchen for a rethink. She splits her time at this two-Michelin-starred restaurant - in the swanky sixth arrondissement - and the Connaught in London, for which she holds three stars. The ever-changing menu makes the most of ingredients and techniques from the southwest, the region that she still calls home. It might include duck foie gras, blue lobster poached in tandoori butter and pigeon from Aquitaine. This is a serious, spacious restaurant, with serious prices. The lunch menu comes in at about 90 each (without drinks), a full-on nine-course blow-out dinner for two with wine pairing will set you back 824. Although the prices here can be eye-watering, the atmosphere, unlike many Michelin-garlanded restaurants is unstuffy. That's partly because the local clientele - drawn from fine art and fashion - are relaxed in their wealth. In these parts, even the billionaires wear chinos (www.marsanhelenedarroze.com). LA BOITE AUX LETTRES A short menu offers unexpected gems at La Boite aux Lettres, which lies in the outrageously touristy Montmartre neighbourhood Lunch is 30 a head at La Boite aux Lettres Landmarks: Sacre Coeur, Montmartre Museum Afternoon nap: Hotel Particulier Montmartre (www.hotelparticulier.com). Even in the autumn and winter tourists invade Montmartre, the picturesque little community on the hill that is both separate from the city and inexorably linked. During the day the area reaches peak tackiness, with the Place du Tetre inundated with hungry crowds. Conventional wisdom has it that you should not eat anywhere in Montmartre, nor buy the rip-off art and some of the 'restaurants' are indeed truly awful, charging rip-off prices for abysmal food. Expect to pay 10 for a 'pinte' of beer the standard measure - and perhaps 18 for a mediocre factory chicken salad or reheated pizzas. Thankfully, however, not all is rotten in the state of Montmartre. A handful of family-run bistros offering excellent good-value food remain La Boite aux Lettres is one. Inevitably in a section of the city where space is at an absolute premium, tables are tightly packed. A short menu offers unexpected gems in an outrageously touristy neighbourhood. Try the veloute, a creamy soup that changes every day, or an intriguing fish dish such as the pollock with aubergine 'caviar'. Still independently run by the third generation of the Chartier family, the restaurant is perfect for restoring body and spirit at the end of the long climb up the hill. Lunch 30 a head; dinner 45 (www.laboiteauxlettres.com). LE SANCERRE Landmarks: Picasso Museum, Pompidou Centre. Afternoon nap: Hotel Caron de Beaumarchais (www.carondebeaumarchais.com). Le Marais is the old Jewish quarter of Paris which dates back to the 18th century. It has an intimate, almost rustic feel, far removed from the Hausmann boulevards and stately squares that make up so much of the city. At its heart is the Rue de Bretagne, an elegant street full of small bars and independent restaurants, most of them with terraces that offer a prime spot for people watching at all times of the year and they are at their most alluring in November and December. Le Sancerre is my own personal favourite, offering first-rate bistro fare including oysters and moules mariniere, and a brilliant wine list they are particularly strong on Sancerre and Saumur, the grand whites from the Loire (www.lesancerre3.com). LA BRASSERIE DE L'ISLE SAINT-LOUIS La Brasserie de L'Isle Saint-Louis, which sits on the edge of the tiny Ile Saint-Louis, has a charming intimacy Landmarks: Notre Dame, Holocaust Museum. Afternoon nap: Hotel St Louis-en-Ile (www.saintlouisenlisle.com). Another period piece. this time dating from the 50s; decor remains much the same although the menu has undergone modest refurbishment. Paris is full of brasseries informal cafes that sell strong draft beer and hearty food - but many of those on the grander boulevards tend to be soul-less food factories. This place, sitting on the edge of the Ile Saint-Louis a tiny enclave of fewer than 5,000 residents just east of Notre-Dame - has a charming intimacy, like the island itself. The menu in common with those of many brasseries is made up principally of food from the Alsace region in eastern France. It's mainly solid, honest-to-goodness winter fare such as sauerkraut served with sausage and bacon and ham hock. Wash it down with Mutzig, a strong lager originating in Alsace. Lighter eaters might be tempted by the sole meuniere, a highly recommended old-school classic. Lunch or dinner: 45-50 a head (labrasserie-isl.fr). CLAMATO Clamato, pictured, is a part of a small independent chain that specialises in natural wines and seasonal dishes Nearby: Place de Bastille, Opera Bastille. In the past few years, the small streets around Place de Bastille have spawned a huge number of independent restaurants often informal, and aimed at a younger, discerning crowd. Clamato's is just one its pared-back minimalist look is a perfect fit for the youthful feel of the area. It can be frantic in the evenings so go at lunchtime. The restaurant is a part of a small independent chain, which specialises in natural wines and seasonal dishes. The oysters and other shellfish are sublime, but try to leave room for the whole sea bass served with a Bearnaise sauce. Lunch or dinner for two: about 60 each, but go easy on the booze. A gin and tonic is 11 (www.clamato-charonne.fr). LE VAUDEVILLE Mark declares this eatery as 'the most beautiful art deco brasserie in the whole of the city' Nearby: Boulevard Hausmann, Place de l'Opera. The most beautiful art deco brasserie in the whole of the city, Le Vaudeville was refurbished painstakingly in 2018 It is a glorious spot, surprisingly intimate with a long-established clientele, including journalists from Agence France-Presse and brokers from the French stock market. They come here principally for the seafood; huge plateaux of raw shellfish, brought out by lightning-fast waiters for the regulars to drool over before washing them down with white burgundy. Expect lobster, crab, oysters, whelks, langoustines, succulent brown shrimps or dictate your own preference. Paris has a long-standing love affair with oysters - even the street markets have stalls where they shucked on the spot - but this must be the most memorable setting in which to enjoy them. Platters start at about 27 for two; menus start at about 21 for two courses. A la carte dinner for two - about 100 (www.vaudevilleparis.com). Steven Smith of Freemasons at Wiswell in the Ribble Valley reveals his recipe The Lancashire hotpot is one of the most comforting winter warmer dishes (file photo) Its one of the most comforting winter warmer dishes and a top chef has revealed how to rustle up a gourmet, posh version. Award-winning chef Steven Smith has revealed his tips for creating the ultimate Lancashire hotpot, as well as sharing his secret to not burning the all-important layer of sliced potatoes on top of the lamb-based dish. Steven is the culinary maven behind Freemasons at Wiswell, the Lancashire pub that was recently named the UK's third-best gastropub in the prestigious annual Top 50 Gastropubs Awards. Not only that, but the pub which lies in the charming village of Wiswell in the Ribble Valley has an impressive three AA rosettes to its name. Speaking to MailOnline Travel, Steven says: The recipe for a hotpot wants to be really simple as its typically a paupers dish and so has simple, humble ingredients. Award-winning chef Steven Smith has shared his Lancashire hotpot recipe and revealed his secret to not burning the all-important layer of sliced potatoes on top Breaking down the Northern staple's key ingredients, he continues: At the Freemasons at Wiswell we always use lamb neck as it falls apart perfectly, some sliced onions, peeled sliced carrots, lamb stock and flour - thats it. For the lamb stock, this is best if its homemade using leftover lamb bones from a roast lamb dish, plus onions, garlic and any vegetables that need using up at home such as celeriac, leeks, carrots and greens. To add more depth of flavour, season liberally with salt and pepper, and feel free to chuck in some juniper berries, cloves and bay leaves. Throw everything into a large saucepan, cover with water and simmer for a few hours. A longer cooking time equals a better hotpot, Steven reveals. The chef, who has been running Freemasons at Wiswell since 2009, explains: The longer you simmer, the better flavour you will have. He continues: 'Once youre ready to layer [the meat with potatoes], we always line the casserole dish with lamb fat which provides added flavour.' Steven is the award-winning chef-patron behind Freemasons at Wiswell, the Lancashire pub that was recently named Britains third-best gastropub in the prestigious annual Top 50 Gastropubs Awards What's the trick to preventing the spuds on top from burning? Steven explains: Traditionally you want to make a really crispy top potato layer. You can easily burn this, so how we do this at the Freemasons is to slice thicker potatoes for the top layer and top this with the lamb fat. For the other layers, you want to slice the potatoes really thin. Next, its time to pop your dish in the oven. Steven says: Once youve layered your hotpot, cook the dish with tin foil at about 180C in a conventional oven - or 160C for a fan oven - for two hours. Then, when you take the tin foil off, make sure to turn the oven up high to make sure the potatoes on top are really crispy. The chef also has a recipe up his sleeve for a fancier take on the traditional Lancashire dish. He reveals: If you really want to go posh, which we do sometimes, we put lamb kidneys and sweetbreads in the dish as well. Those wanting to sample Stevens culinary creations for themselves can stop by the gastropub to dine on a tasting menu or to enjoy one of his chefs table experiences, which offer the chance to see him at work in the kitchen. Ben Smithson from The Points Guy UK in a windowless window seat On a plane, when is a window seat not a window seat? When its one of the dreaded windowless seats. Yes, believe it or not, not every cabin window seat on a passenger aircraft comes with an actual window, as Twitter users have recently been complaining about. Traveller Kalie Marsch posted a picture of her windowless window seat with the caption: Ive made a terrible, terrible, terrible mistake. And other Twitter users were quick to offer their sympathy. Susan Conroy McLeod wrote: The worst. Im an obsessive window-seater and this would make me have a slight panic attack. And Timmo. Capt Yank&Bank, said: The least they could do is have a picture of a window there! Travel site The Points Guy UK has also experienced the windowless window seat and sent MailOnline Travel a picture of team member Ben Smithson in one (looking mysteriously delighted with his berth). Ive made a terrible, terrible, terrible mistake. pic.twitter.com/PLQOqnoJLy Kalie Marsch (@kaliemarsch) January 20, 2023 So why do planes feature windowless window seats? Nicky Kelvin, Head of The Points Guy UK, said: Theyre often due to the manufacturer using that space to feed through certain avionics (aviation electronics) or essential components such as air-conditioning ducts. On www.seatguru.com seats that put the traveller at a disadvantage in some way are marked in red Hover your mouse over a seat marked in red on Seat Guru and a pop-up message will reveal why it carries a warning Frequently emergency exit window seats dont include a window view as design dictates window placement on the emergency exit door, which often results in an obscured view. So is there a guaranteed method for avoiding them? Your best bet is to use www.seatguru.com. On this site travellers input their airline and flight number to yield a seat layout for the aircraft theyll be flying on. Seats that put the traveller at a disadvantage in some way are marked in red. Hover the mouse cursor over the seat and a pop-up message will reveal why the seat is carrying a warning, including whether it features a window or not. Anyone who finds the codes will be entered into a draw to win a seven-night trip on a Celebrity Cruises ship Advertisement If youre eagle-eyed enough, you could win yourself a free holiday. Celebrity Cruises has released five ultra-high-resolution interactive pictures of stunning European destinations, with each picture containing a hidden X symbol - Celebrity Cruises logo - that contains a unique code. Zoom in closely anyone able to track down all five camouflaged codes will be entered into a draw to win a seven-night trip for two across Europe on a Celebrity Cruises ship. Celebrity Cruises various social media channels will be drip-feeding clues about the location of each X throughout the two-week competition, which launches today, January 26. Captured by London-based panoramic photographer Will Pearson, and Aleksandr Reznik, the pictures are composed of hundreds of photographs stitched together to create a single image that contains a staggering four billion pixels. They were captured on the Greek isle of Santorini, Athens, the historic Croatian city of Dubrovnik, Barcelona and Florence - locations that appear on Celebrity Cruises' summer cruise itineraries. Jo Rzymowska, Managing Director of Celebrity Cruises, EMEA, says: We are thrilled to announce the launch of this new interactive challenge, which brings to life some of the stunning destinations we sail to in Europe, as well as giving away an incredible luxury cruise holiday for two to a lucky winner. We wanted something which allowed in-depth discovery of the places our ships visit during their sailings, and the images highlight the unique beauty and charm of these magnificent cities, and give a small glimpse into just what you can discover when you travel with us. Below you'll find a static image followed by the interactive version. See if you can take on the challenge. Visit celebritycruises.com/gb/findthex to enter the competition. ATHENS Click on this link here if using a mobile phone to see the interactive version. Celebrity Cruises has released five ultra-high-resolution interactive pictures of European destinations - including Athens (above) - with each picture containing a hidden X symbol that contains a unique code BARCELONA Click on this link here if using a mobile phone to see the interactive version. The interactive pictures are composed of hundreds of photographs stitched together to create a single image that contains a staggering four billion pixels. Above is a static version of the Barcelona shot FLORENCE Click on this link here if using a mobile phone to see the interactive version. The Italian city of Florence. Those who find the hidden codes will be entered into a draw to win a seven-night cruise holiday SANTORINI Click on this link here if using a mobile phone to see the interactive version. The pictures were captured in locations that appear on Celebrity Cruises' summer cruise itineraries, such as Santorini (above) DUBROVNIK Click on this link here if using a mobile phone to see the interactive version. The original Ghostbusters stars - Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver and Dan Aykroyd - will reprise their iconic roles in the next film in the storied franchise. They stars of the 1984 classic will reportedly appear in the Ghostbusters: Afterlife sequel with filmmakers planning to shift the action from New York to London. A source told The Sun newspaper's Bizarre column: 'Studio bosses are taking a classic franchise, setting it in a new location but keeping the magic of the original. It's going to be brilliant.' Back for more: The original Ghostbusters stars - Bill Murray , Sigourney Weaver and Dan Aykroyd - will reprise their iconic roles in the next film in the storied franchise. Seen in 1989 Flashback photo with the friends: Murray, Aykroyd and Weaver seen in the 1980s Ghostbusters has always been synonymous with New York, but to mix things up this time the team was thinking of other great cities with a haunted history, it was added. 'London is perfect. It gives so much license to look back at classic landmarks and British history, but still in an urban setting,' it was shared. 'The plans look very cool, and getting the original stars interested wasn't difficult. They all love the movies and look back at them very fondly.' The news comes a month after it was announced Gil Kenan will be directing the sequel, with Ghostbusters Afterlife filmmaker moving into a writer-producer role. Weaver: She is seen in the film, left, and, right, at the AFI Awards Luncheon at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on January 13 Lost in Translation: Bill Murray will return as Dr. Peter Venkman, a role he also played in 2021's Ghostbusters: Afterlife; right at the Rome Film Fest 2019 Gil said: 'It's an absolute honour to pick up the proton pack and step behind the camera for the next chapter of the Spengler family saga. 'I just wish I could go back to 1984 and tell the kid in the sixth row of the Mann Valley West that one day he was going to get to direct a Ghostbusters' film.' Jason the son of the late Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman said: 'A few years ago, my father handed me the keys to Ecto-1, and together we made Ghostbusters: Afterlife.' Ghostbusters: Afterlife cast members Paul Rudd, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace and Carrie Coon will all return for the next installment in the franchise. 'Studio bosses are taking a classic franchise, setting it in a new location but keeping the magic of the original, the source told The Sun. 'It's going to be brilliant.' Blues Brother: Dan Aykroyd will return as Ray Stanz for the 2023 film In June, Sony announced that the new Ghostbusters film will hit theaters December 20, 2023, as reported by Deadline. The 2021 film was a sequel to the original Ghostbusters (1984) movie. There was also a poorly received Ghostbusters II released in 1989. The 2016 Ghostbusters starring Kristin Wiig, Leslie Jones, Melissa McCarthy and Kate McKinnon was a reboot of the original film. The upcoming film is expected to both pay homage to the 1984 film and continue the storyline of the series. Shemar Moore gave his four million Instagram followers a glimpse of his new baby daughter Frankie for the first time on Wednesday. The 52-year-old S.W.A.T. star loving cradled the little girl in the adorable picture as he gushed about being a 'girl daddy.' He previously shared the news on Tuesday that his girlfriend Jesiree Dizon, 39, had given birth to their first child. In his photo, Moore leans his face close to Frankie, who was swaddled in a blanket and appeared to be snoozing peacefully in his arms. First loo: S.W.A.T. star Shemar Moore shared a first photo of his adorable daughter Frankie on Wednesday, a day after he and girlfriend Jesiree Dizon, 39, confirmed her birth 'FRANKIE MOORE!!!! BABY GIRL in da building!!!' Shemar enthused in his caption, noting that she had been 'Born January 24 at 3:38pm. 7.1 Pounds 20 inches. 10 fingers n 10 toes' He wrote that the little girl was 'Already THE LOVE OF MY LIFE!!' while bragging, 'Im a Girl Daddy!!!!' He added that, 'DREAMS COME TRUE!!' while noting that his late mother Marilyn Wilson Moore who died in 2020 was 'in heaven puff puff passing, drinking her wine, and doing her happy dance' 'I LOVE and MISS YOU everyday Mom,' he added lovingly. 'Frankie is gonna grow up to be a KILLA!!! Watch out World, here comes Frankie Muthaf***in Moore"!!!!' Over the moon: He wrote that the little girl was 'Already THE LOVE OF MY LIFE!!' while bragging, 'Im a Girl Daddy!!!!' and noting how happy his later mother would be 'in heaven'; seen in 2019 TV star: Moore is best known for his 19942005 stint on the Young And The Restless, as well as appearing on Criminal Minds from 2006 to 2016. He has led S.W.A.T. (pictured) since 2017 A representative for Moore previously confirmed Frankie's birth to People on Tuesday. 'Shemar Moore and his partner, Jesiree Dizon, are happy to announce the birth of their baby girl. The family is very happy and healthy,' they said. Although Frankie is Moore's first child with Dizon, she also has a five-year-old daughter named Charli from her relationship with the actor Stephen Bishop, as well as a son named Kaiden from another relationship. Moore and his wife received words of support from fellow actors such as S.W.A.T.'s David Lim, Nut Devahastin and Bill Bellamy. The Criminal Minds actor revealed earlier this month on The Jennifer Hudson Show that he 'is about to be a daddy' and that he had began to worry 'that ship had sailed' on being a parent. He said that the due date was around the third anniversary of his mother's death on February 8, 2020. He said: 'On February 8th I'm gonna make one of her dreams come true because in real life Shemar Moore is about to be a daddy,' which prompted the audience to cheer. Happy: The actor said on Instagram Tuesday, 'Ya boy is officially a Dad!!! Dreams come true!! The rest of my life is here!' Feedback: The star received a number of upbeat responses to his post Fame: The actor is best known for shows such as S.W.A.T., Criminal Minds and The Young and the Restless Daddy! Shemar Moore revealed he is just one month away from becoming a father, after beginning to worry 'that ship had sailed,' on The Jennifer Hudson Show Exciting: While chatting with the 41-year-old EGOT winner's talk show, the actor, 52, revealed the exciting news that he preparing to welcome his first child 'Congratulations!' Hudson told him. 'That's news! And your mama is gonna be so proud, smiling at you from heaven.' Moore then said: 'I'm sorry she can't be here. I was worried for a while that maybe that ship had sailed' Despite feeling that his life is already 'pretty grand,' Moore predicted fatherhood will be 'the best' experience. On his Instagram, Moore shared a sweet video from his gender reveal party shared a sweet video from his gender reveal party, in which he learned he would be having a little girl as a helicopter released pink smoke. His loved ones clapped and he beamed with joy while holding up a 'Girl dad' t-shirt. Girl dad! On his Instagram, Moore shared a sweet video from his gender reveal party Overjoyed: His loved ones clapped and he beamed with joy while holding up a 'Girl dad' t-shirt In 2016, the S.W.A.T. star revealed he stepped away from Criminal Minds and his beloved character Derek Morgan to focus on his family. 'I need balance in my life. I love what I do for a living, I love it from action to cut, but I also want to walk my dogs, travel, get married, have kids. I want balance, and it's hard to do with the schedule that we have,' he told TV Line, at the time. The hunk has done his best to push through a challenging three years, which included the devastating loss of his mother and battling COVID-19. Making memories: The pair learned they would be having a little girl as a helicopter released pink smoke 'Your boy got butterflies!' he confessed to the camera ahead of finding out his baby's gender One of each: His partner, who has a son from a past relationship, said she would 'love a boy' because they are so easy, but would thrilled to have a girl too Look up! Moore couldn't hide his excitement when he saw the pink shirt Upon announcing her passing to the world, he told fans in an Instagram video that he was 'heartbroken.' 'I don't know life without this woman. I don't know what to do but I will figure it out because that's what she would want,' he said. 'Everything I've accomplished is because of this amazing woman. My mother is gone, she ain't here no more. But she's here,' he wrote. Additionally, the performer called his mom his 'best friend and partner in crime and that he crime,' in addition to saying he missed her 'more than' he 'ever thought possible.' White Lotus star Beatrice Granno stunned at Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday when she attended the Valentino Haute Couture show in a chic ensemble of red and beige. The 29-year-old actress who recently shot to fame playing a seductive songstress on the acclaimed HBO hit wore an oversized jacket and matching tights patterned with Valentino's iconography. This is the second major fashion moment in one week for Granno, as she recently rocked flirty pink lingerie for a SKIMS ad alongside her White Lotus co-star Simona Tabasco, 28. Couture queen: Beatrice Granno, 29, stunned at Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday when she attended the Valentino Haute Couture show in a chic ensemble of red and beige Outfitted in Valentino from head to tow, Beatrice posed with confidence when she arrived at the A-list event. Her tights showcased her incredible legs, which were accentuated by crimson stilettos. Granno's tights, shirt and clutch are from the brand's luxurious 'Toile Iconographe' collection. Chic: The White Lotus star who shot to fame playing a songstress on the acclaimed HBO hit wore an oversized jacket and matching tights patterned with Valentino's iconography The Rome native oozed star power from behind her black shades and her radiant features sported flawless glam. Crimson lips popped against her porcelain complexion and she wore her hair back in an elegant style. The Italian beauty was treated to a front-row seat at the show and thoroughly loved everything she saw. Stunner: Granno's tights showcased her incredible legs, which were accentuated by crimson stilettos Gorgeous: The Rome native's radiant features sported flawless glam. Crimson lips popped against her porcelain complexion and she wore her hair back in an elegant style Taking to her Instagram Story, Beatrice shared a snippet of Valentino's gorgeous collection strutting down the runway. 'What a stunning show @maisonvalentino,' Granno captioned her video. 'Absolutely IN LOVE.' The breakout talent palled around with Disney starlet Dove Cameron, 27, and British pop star Charli XCX, 30. Making friends: The breakout talent palled around with Disney starlet Dove Cameron, 27 Celebrity pals: British pop star Charli XCX, 30, joined Granno and Cameron at one point for a picture Starstruck: Anne Hathaway was a highlight for Beatrice. Captioning a selfie with the 40-year-old Oscar Winner, she wrote: '@annehathaway love you so much' But it was Anne Hathaway who dazzled in an embellished minidress who caused Beatrice to be starstruck. Captioning a selfie with the 40-year-old Oscar Winner, Granno wrote: '@annehathaway love you so much.' And Beatrice is still coming down from the high of having Kim Kardashian sing her praises earlier this week. Fashionista: Taking to her Instagram Story, Beatrice shared a snippet of Valentino's gorgeous collection strutting down the runway. 'Absolutely IN LOVE,' she wrote Posting the SKIMS ad that starred Granno and her White Lotus co-star Simona Tabasco, Kardashian raved: 'I watched The White Lotus and had to have my girls!' The new SKIMS ad comes after Simona and Beatrice captivated viewers playing Mia and Lucia, sex workers and best friends, on season two of the megahit show. The duo were friends before they were cast on the series, and they even assisted one another with their auditions, according to ET. 'I think we used a lot of our friendship in the show,' Beatrice told the outlet, adding: 'That was incredible because I think The White Lotus experience really brought us closer.' Alice Eve is that rare creature in showbusiness - an actress who doesn't take herself 'too' seriously. The daughter of Waking The Dead star Trevor Eve and actress Sharon Maughan, 40, has been at The Why Not Institute in London to learn about the art of clowning. She took to Instagram on Wednesday to share an array of snaps from the workshops as she appeared to have had the time of her life at the two-week long course. Clowning around! Alice Eve is that rare creature in showbusiness - an actress who doesn't take herself 'too' seriously In one snap, the Men in Black 3 star wore a blonde wig adorned with a large pink bow and sported a red nose as she posed for a selfie. She kept it casual in a white turtleneck dress with a brown belt and a cream cardigan, while she completed her outfit with blush gloves. In other pictures, Alice was seen grinning as she posed with a host of other people who attended the fun-filled workshops. 'I had the most wonderful two weeks,' she said of the experience in an accompanying caption. Fun times: The daughter of Waking The Dead star Trevor Eve and actress Sharon Maughan, 40, has been at The Why Not Institute in London to learn about the art of clowning All smiles: In other pictures, Alice was seen grinning as she posed with a host of other people who attended the fun-filled workshops 'It was a deeply transformative experience and more emotional than I anticipated. 'The innocent foundation to the art form allows for a sense of joy to enter the room, and with it, cynicism disappears. When that happens, you realise what a cloud of it we live under. 'I am deeply grateful to Angela De Castro for teaching us that gentle curiosity is the doorway into the present moment; and existing in that state is an art form in itself.' Alice got her first ever film role in Starter For Ten alongside James McAvoy in 2006 and went on to play the lead in 2010's She's Out of My League. Workshops: 'I had the most wonderful two weeks,' she said of the experience in an accompanying caption The star is now well-known for her performance in mini series Belgravia, Star Trek Into Darkness and Sex In The City 2. She is also the daughter of Shoestring star Trevor Eve and Sharon Maughan, best known for the Gold Blend TV ads in the 1980s. In her personal life, Alice was married to financier Alex Cowper-Smith but they divorced in 2017. Bruno Tonioli is believed to have joked that he was 'told off' during his first day filming for the Britain's Got Talent auditions on Tuesday. The new judge, 67, had an eventful first day at the London Palladium after taking on his new job as he pushed the golden buzzer too early for one act. And Bruno reportedly turned to the audience to joke that he had already been 'told off' as he gushed over how much he was enjoying being a judge already. Oops! Bruno Tonioli is believed to have joked that he was 'told off' during his first day filming for the Britain's Got Talent auditions on Tuesday Alesha Dixon - who joins him on the panel with Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden - reportedly had to rein in Bruno as he became overexcited during the auditions. According to The Sun, Bruno told the audience: 'I've had so much fun, I've already been told off. I'm loving it!' It was claimed Bruno had to be rapped on the knuckles after he couldn't help but jump to his feet during filming, with Alesha, 44, reportedly telling him to sit down. Bruno appeared to be just as thrilled after filming on Wednesday as he flashed a massive grin while leaving the London Palladium after the second day of auditions. 'I've already been told off!': Alesha Dixon reportedly had to rein in Bruno as he became overexcited during the audition During the first day of filming, Bruno created some trouble when he pushed the golden buzzer too early, warm-up act Adam Khan reported. They said Bruno had pressed the Golden Buzzer too early to avoid being beaten to the chase by Simon Cowell and Alesha Dixon, and so had pressed it during the act. As a result, the moment had to be recorded all over again so that the cameras could be set up properly. Adam tweeted: 'So I just witnessed #BGT history!!! An act came on it was pretty clear Alesha and Simon both wanted to press the#GoldenBuzzer... Awkward: The new judge, 67, had an eventful first day at the London Palladium after taking on his new job as he pushed the golden buzzer too early for one act 'So Bruno beat them to it and pressed it *during the act*! They were performing with confetti falling on them and the BGT theme playing in the back!' 'We now have to re-record the #GoldenBuzzer moment because no cameras were properly in place as nobody expected it to happen during the act.' Elsewhere inside the first day of auditions, Ant and Dec introduced the four judges to the stage as they walked out to Survivor's Eye Of The Tiger. Jesting that Simon has 'teased' him with the job for years, one fan filmed from the audience as Bruno told the audience: 'Thank you very, very much. I am thrilled to be here. Antics: Bruno reportedly turned to the audience to joke that he had already been 'told off' as he gushed over how much he was enjoying being a judge already Good spirits: Bruno appeared to be just as thrilled after filming on Wednesday as he flashed a massive grin while leaving the London Palladium after the second day of auditions Turning to Amanda and Alesha, he continued: 'Look at these girls, they are stunning. And my old friend Simon, what an honour it is to finally work with you, he's teased me with this for years, years and years and years. 'Honestly, I am thrilled to be here. Emotional, and very, very nervous.' While Alesha then shared: 'Well, do you know what Bruno? I think you should have a go at pressing the buzzer.' The judges and audience then counted him down as the pro pushed on the buzzer, with Alesha adding: 'Welcome to the show', before he thanked his fellow panel and gave them each a hug. Casual: On Wednesday, Ant McPartlin was also seen leaving the London Palladium and cut a casual figure in black jeans and a grey shirt Suave: He was also joined by his co-host Declan Donnelly, who looked smart in blue jeans and an olive polo shirt, which he styled with a green jacket Dapper: The presenter kept comfortable in a pair of brown boots and bundled up with a grey scarf swept across his shoulders It comes after it was reported Bruno would triple the salary he received on Strictly Come Dancing by joining the ITV judging panel. The former Strictly judge replaced David Walliams, who left the show last year, after ITV bosses who wanted comedian Alan Carr were overruled by boss Simon Cowell. Bruno, who is said to be 'delighted' to return to Saturday night prime time TV in the UK, will now overshadow his former Strictly co-stars wage by three times with his reported 850,000 pay packet. Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel-Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke are all believed to earn 250,000 per series on the Strictly judging panel. Gal Gadot showed off her trendy style while stepping out for lunch at Nobu, Malibu, on Wednesday. The Wonder Woman star, 37, rocked a black leather motorcycle jacket and a pair of distressed blue jeans to the celebrity beloved Japanese beachfront eatery. The Israeli actress who will not be starring in Wonder Woman 3 after the project was axed by Warner Bros was joined by her businessman husband Yaron Varsano, 48, to whom she's been married since 2008. Rocker chic: Gal Gadot showed off her trendy style while stepping out for lunch at Nobu, Malibu, on Wednesday Gal kept warm during the outing, wearing a blue zip-up sweater and grey t-shirt underneath her jacket. The actress accessorized her look with chunky black boots that zipped up in the front. The Death on the Nile beauty wore her chocolate brown tresses pulled into a messy bun and appeared to go makeup free for the day. Cool gal: The Wonder Woman star, 37, rocked a black leather motorcycle jacket and a pair of distressed blue jeans to the celebrity beloved Japanese beachfront eatery Meanwhile her other half rocked a red plaid button-up over a grey T-shirt. He paired the outfit with blue jeans and sported black sunglasses. The couple celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary last year. Gal and the real estate developer share three daughters together, Daniella, one, Maya, five, and Alma, 11. Lunch with the hubby: The Israeli actress was joined by her businessman husband Yaron Varsano, 48, to whom she's been married since 2008 The outing comes after it was revealed last month that Warner Bros. would not be moving forward with Wonder Woman 3, which came as a shock to DC fans. It's been reported that it was scrapped after director Patty Jenkins - who helmed the first two female-led superhero movies - rejected studio notes on her treatment for the sequel which led to her exiting the project, according to The Wrap. According to sources, Jenkins had turned in her treatment and it was not well received by studio execs. Going strong: Gadot and the real estate developer celebrated their 14 wedding anniversary last year. The couple share three daughters together, Daniella, one, Maya, five, and Alma , 11 Warner Bros. Film Group Co-Chairpersons and CEOs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy were cited as the ones who rejected Jenkins' treatment and did not plan to 'move forward with the film in its current iteration.' It was also claimed that the studio's new CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran agreed that Jenkins' version of the film didn't work. This was communicated to Jenkins and De Luca and Abdy wondered if the director would be willing to move the sequel in a different direction. It was alleged that pair's offer was refused by Jenkins and she accused them of not understanding her vision or the trajectory of Wonder Woman as a whole. Axed: The outing comes after it was revealed last month that Warner Bros. would not be moving forward with Wonder Woman 3. Gal starred as Wonder Woman in the first two films; Pictured in a still from Wonder Woman 1984 '[Jenkins] let them know that they were wrong, that they didn't understand her, didn't understand the character, didn't understand character arcs and didn't understand what Jenkins was trying to do,' an insider claimed. The studio allegedly gave Jenkins another chance to 'pitch a different direction for Wonder Woman' but, once again, she refused. Since they had no plans to use her sequel treatment, Jenkins decided to walk away and move on to her next film project. It was claimed that Jenkins also had no interest in hearing CEOs Gunn and Safran's input - though they were reportedly uninvolved in the situation. The first Wonder Woman movie debuted in 2017, and was followed by its 2020 sequel Wonder Woman 1984. Joey Essex's ex-girlfriend Lorena Medina has claimed they have been exchanging 'romantic' messages after Vanessa Bauer shut down rumours of a romance with him. The Dancing On Ice star's model ex Lorena, 30, said they are still in touch and claimed Joey told her that he 'always' thinks about her. It comes after his professional dance partner Vanessa, 26, shut down any rumours of a romance between herself and the TOWIE star, 32. Flirty? Joey Essex's ex-girlfriend Lorena Medina has claimed they have been exchanging 'romantic' messages after Vanessa Bauer shut down rumours of a romance with him Now, Lorena has claimed Joey told her that he hasn't had a 'connection' with anyone since their romance, but geography has proved to be a hurdle for them. She told The Sun: 'We have been speaking a bit romantically, Joey told me he always thinks about me. 'He said that he hasn't been able to find that connection with anyone since me and I said, "Me too. I haven't found it yet either", and Joey said, "Well, if you come to London I'll come to see you". 'We both know the attraction is there - the constant love is still there - but I am in different countries working on my singing career and he is in England.' Romantic: The Dancing On Ice star's model ex Lorena (pictured in January 2020), 30, said they are still in touch and claimed that Joey told her that he 'always' thinks about her Joey and Lorena enjoyed a whirlwind romance for a few months in 2020 before she broke up with him after he had a 24-hour partying session with Rita Ora and his pals. Lorena said they hadn't spoken until seven months ago, when she rang him during a boozy night out in Columbia, and that they have been in touch since. MailOnline has contacted Joey's representatives for comment. It comes after both Vanessa and Joey have played down rumours of a romance blossoming between them as they compete on Dancing On Ice together. Exes: Lorena claimed Joey told her that he hasn't had a 'connection' with anyone since their romance, but geography has proved to be a hurdle for them Appearing on Good Morning Britain earlier this week, he said: 'I'm single, Vanessa's single. We go to the ice every day, it's cold, do you know what I mean? 'We've got to keep each other warm! But yeah, it's all good.' Meanwhile, Vanessa admitted that they are 'having a lot of fun' but shut down any rumours of a romance between herself and Joey. Despite putting on a close display on social media and being subject to a wave of romance rumours over the last few months, she confirmed that they are simply 'just skating partners'. Denial: It comes after his professional dance partner Vanessa, 26, shut down any rumours of a romance between herself and the TOWIE star, 32 Speaking to The Sun at Elf The Musical's press night in London, Vanessa was asked whether there was any truth to rumours of a blossoming relationship between her and Joey. 'We are just skating partners,' she firmly said, while responding the same to any chance of romance in the future. Vanessa's comments came following reports that she and Joey have been growing close and are reportedly 'super flirty'. The rumours began to swirl after Joey was spotted sharing a kiss with Love Island's Maura Higgins during this year's National Television Awards. Rumours: Vanessa admitted that they are 'having a lot of fun' but shut down any rumours of a romance between herself and Joey A source told The Sun: 'Joey and Vanessa have grown close incredibly quickly. 'Right now they have managed to keep everything professional but it's safe to say they are both super flirty. 'They are going to spend a lot of time together over the next few months due to rehearsals so it's easy to see how romance could blossom.' Elsewhere, Joey and his ex-girlfriend Lorena parted ways back in 2020 after a whirlwind romance which saw them move in together. Growing close: Vanessa's comments came following reports that she and Joey have been growing close and are reportedly 'super flirty' At the time of their break-up, Lorena said they had fallen out after Joey headed to an afterparty at Rita's home in Holland Park. The model said despite there being no indication that Joey had cheated on her, Joey's late night was the final straw in their crumbling relationship. She said: 'I knew Joey had spent the night out because I had talked to him when he was in the cab on the way back to Essex. 'He told me, "I had a crazy night and I stayed at my friend's" and that was fine. But he didn't tell me it was a girl and he didn't mention Rita Ora. I told Joey, "This s*** can't happen. Are you crazy?"' Lorena said she then told Joey she could no longer trust him and the pair decided to go their separate ways. The model and Joey first got together while filming MTV's Ex On The Beach in Spain last summer. And the couple quickly became inseparable after Lorena, who is originally from Mexico, moved into his home in Chigwell, Essex, just a few months later. Lorena said the wild party was the final straw after a raft of other arguments over jealousy and insecurity. The Young and the Restless actress Tracey E. Bregman was presented with an Emmy trophy on Tuesday's edition of The Talk to replace one she lost in the Woolsey Fire more than four years ago. The Germany-born actress, 59, appeared on the CBS daytime show alongside her costar Christian LeBlanc, 64, who portrays her husband on the long-running soap opera. 'I would like to present this, an Emmy for Outstanding Ingenue in a Daytime Drama Series,' LeBlanc said to the actress, who plays Lauren Fenmore. 'But this time it's from the people who love and respect you and cherish you: Your CBS, your Young and the Restless family and I'm so honored to be able to give it to you.' The latest: The Young and the Restless actress Tracey E. Bregman was presented with an Emmy trophy by her costar Christian LeBlanc, 64, on Tuesday's edition of The Talk, to replace one she lost in the Woolsey Fire more than four years ago Bregman said she was 'so overwhelmed to have this,' adding, 'I can't thank you enough.' Bregman initially won the honors for Outstanding Ingenue/Woman in a Drama Series at the 1985 Daytime Emmys; she has subsequently been nominated in 1987, 2006, 2008 and 2016. Bregman told Deadline that she was grateful to the show and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in replacing the lost treasure. 'I tried not to go into the ugly cry on the air,' she said. 'Thanks to my Young and Restless family, NATAS, The Talk and everyone who made this moment happen. My heart is so full.' Bregman said she was 'so overwhelmed to have this,' adding, 'I can't thank you enough' A cake was also brought on the set of the talk show for the momentous occasion Bregman called Tuesday's outing 'one of the most extraordinary and heartfelt experiences of my career' She called Tuesday's outing 'one of the most extraordinary and heartfelt experiences of my career.' NATAS President and CEO Adam Sharp said the academy was 'happy' that the Emmy statue is 'back home where it belongs.' Sharp added: 'We were devastated to learn of the destruction of Tracey's home, and with it, her well-earned Emmy Award. As our judges acknowledged, the Emmy statuette is a symbol of her hard work and outstanding dedication to her craft.' Bregman took to Instagram in November of 2020 with a post showing the home burning on the second anniversary of the devastating blaze. LeBlanc portrays the husband of Bregman's character on the long-running soap opera Bregman initially won the honors for Outstanding Ingenue/Woman in a Drama Series at the 1985 Daytime Emmys; she has subsequently been nominated in 1987, 2006, 2008 and 2016 Bregman has an extensive legacy in the soap opera world, having appeared on 1,749 episodes of The Young and the Restless; 351 episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful; and 166 episodes of Days of Our Lives Bregman took to Instagram in November of 2020 with a post showing the home burning on the second anniversary of the devastating blaze 'Yes, the loss of my home and my friends homes has been devastating and so many precious things lost, I still go to reach for something and realize it is gone,' she captioned the shot. 'As you know, I look for the good in everything or try to. So many beautiful silver linings, people met and journeys started and friends who truly showed me the true meaning of friendship because of this experience.' Bregman said that there has been a 'bonding experience' amid the rebuilding process, adding that she was 'forever grateful' to firefighters and community members 'who stepped up to help all of us and to our neighbors that showed up in such extraordinary ways.' Bregman has an extensive legacy in the soap opera world, having appeared on 1,749 episodes of The Young and the Restless; 351 episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful; and 166 episodes of Days of Our Lives. The Young and the Restless can be seen on CBS weekdays at 12:30/11:30c. Dove Cameron wowed in an all-red ensemble on Wednesday while attending the Valentino show as part of Paris Fashion Week. The 27-year-old entertainer wore a bright floor-length, button-down shirt dress for the fashion house's haute couture spring summer 2023 show. Dove exposed one shoulder in the dress that featured a wide collar and loose sleeves. Fashion fan: Dove Cameron wowed in an all-red ensemble on Wednesday while attending the Valentino show as part of Paris Fashion Week The former Disney Channel star also donned red leggings and completed her outfit with open-toed red platform heels. Dove had her red hair pulled back into a high ponytail and parted down the middle with two strands framing her face. She accentuated her natural beauty with matching eye makeup and lipstick. Dove accessorized with a dangling earring and several rings and also carried a red Valentino bag. Shirt dress: The 27-year-old entertainer wore a bright floor-length, button-down shirt dress for the fashion house's haute couture spring summer 2023 show All red: The former Disney Channel star also donned red leggings The former Liv And Maddie star is a full-on fashionista as she also attended the Giambattista Valli fashion show on Monday in Paris. Dove recently performed onstage from Disneyland in Anaheim, California, during the annual Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest. She performed last month at KIIS FM's 2022 Jingle Ball at The Kia Forum Presented by Capital One in Los Angeles. Platform heels: Dove completed her outfit with red platform heels Valentino bag: Dove accessorized with a dangling earring and several rings and also carried a red Valentino bag The impressive lineup of stars also included: Dua Lipa , Jack Harlow, Pitbull, Khalid, Lewis Capaldi, Ava Max, Jax, and Nicky Youre. Dove in November won Best New Artist at the 2022 American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. She has released the singles Boyfriend, Breakfast and Bad Idea ahead of her debut album Celestial Body that is expected to be released in 2023. Dove stars in the musical comedy Schmigadoon! that premiered on the Apple TV+ streaming service in July 2021. Season two of Schmigadoon! will premiere on April 7. Advertisement Salma Hayek left little to the imagination as she rolled up to the Miami premiere of Magic Mike's Last Dance with her hunky co-star Channing Tatum on Wednesday. The actress, 56, hit the red carpet in a daring black netted dress that showed off her fit hourglass physique from head-to-toe. It was covered in vibrant floral appliques, giving the edgy look a feminine touch. Wow! Salma Hayek left little to the imagination as she rolled up to the Miami premiere of Magic Mike's Last Dance with her hunky co-star Channing Tatum on Wednesday. The actress, 56, hit the red carpet in a daring black netted dress that showed off her fit hourglass physique To protect her modesty, the Frida star rocked a busty black bra and matching panties beneath her see-through dress. Hayek paraded around the Regal South Beach Movie Theater in gold platform sandals that coordinated with her blingy chains and drop earrings. One of her wrists was decked out with an array of shiny gold bracelets. Hayek's silky brunette hair was slicked back and swept up in a Madonna-style ponytail that cascaded down her back. Busty: To protect her modesty, the Frida star rocked a busty black bra and matching panties beneath her see-through dress. Salma's silky brunette hair was slicked back and swept up in a Madonna-style ponytail that cascaded down her back Suave: For Wednesday's big premiere, Tatum, 42, looked suave in a stylish black suit with a plain black tee tucked into the trousers Magic Mike, himself! Though Salma is a new addition to the Magic Mike franchise, Tatum has been the leading man since the first film in 2012 Director: Tatum posed for photos with one arm wrapped around his sexy co-star before they mingled with director, Steven Soderbergh, who has helmed all three Magic Mike films Though Hayek is a new addition to the Magic Mike franchise, Tatum has been the leading man since the first film in 2012. For Wednesday's big premiere, Tatum, 42, looked suave in a stylish black suit with a plain black tee tucked into the trousers. He was freshly shaven with his cropped brunette hair swept to one side. Tatum posed for photos with one arm wrapped around his sexy co-star before they mingled with director, Steven Soderbergh, who has helmed all three Magic Mike films. Coming soon! Magic Mike's Last Dance is the final film in the trilogy; (L-R) Gregory Jacobs, Steven Soderbergh, Nick Wechsler, Reid Carolin, Channing Tatum and Salma Hayek at Wednesday's premiere in Miami Fun: Tatum posed prom-style with the film's producer Reid Carolin and a female guest Screening: Once the red carpet wrapped, the cast, crew and attendees filed into the theater for the screening Glam: Hayek slipped out of her netted dress and into a sparkly cut-out dress adorned with gold sequins; seen with director Steven Soderbergh Once the red carpet wrapped, the cast, crew and attendees filed into the theater for the screening. Hayek slipped out of her netted dress and into a sparkly cut-out dress adorned with gold sequins. In what appeared to be the movie theater's lobby, guests were treated to some Magic Mike-style entertainment. During the high-energy performances, Tatum was captured 'making it rain' money in the direction of the shirtless dancers. Mike makes it rain! During the high-energy performances, Tatum was captured 'making it rain' money on the shirtless dancers as the audience looked on in awe Money man: The leading man appeared to be having a blast with his co-stars as he swept the hefty stack of bills into the air All on film: Audience members got a huge kick out of watching Tatum and the entire display was caught on film The leading man appeared to be having a blast with his co-stars as he swept the hefty stack of bills into the air. Audience members got a huge kick out of watching Tatum and the entire display was caught on film. Magic Mike's Last Dance is the final film in the trilogy and will hit theaters on February 10. Into it! With three movies and tons of dance moves under his own belt, Tatum appeared to be admiring the Magic Mike troupe's routines Supportive: He cheered them on while standing stage left The synopsis reads: 'Mike Lane [Tatum] takes to the stage once again when a business deal that went bust leaves him broke and bartending in Florida.' Then comes Hayek's entrance: 'Hoping for one last hurrah, Mike heads to London with a wealthy socialite who lures him with an offer he can't refuse,' it continued. 'And an agenda all her own. 'With everything on the line, he soon finds himself trying to whip a hot new roster of talented dancers into shape.' Dressed to impress: Kat Castro and Athena Dion posed up in vibrant neon looks and matching orange wigs for their red carpet stint Stunning: Kiana De Van Der Schueren (left) and Kylie Shea (right) looked sleek in all-black Muscle men! The cast of Magic Mike's Last Dance showed off their chiseled physiques by going shirtless on the red carpet Showtime: In what appeared to be the movie theater's lobby, guests were treated to some Magic Mike-style entertainment This included lap dances... ... as well as a showcase of impressive tricks and unparalleled athleticism In December, two sizzling teaser posters for Magic Mike's Last Dance were released online featuring Tatum and Hayek. Both showed a shirtless Tatum intimately wrapping his arms around Hayek from one of their steamiest scenes yet for the upcoming installment. In the poster, Tatum's character is shirtless and stands behind Hayek as they gaze intimately into each other's eyes. The highly-anticipated film's very first trailer debuted in November, giving fans a preview of Tatum and Hayek's characters meeting at a cocktail party and the events that subsequently ensue. Tease: In December, two sizzling teaser posters for Magic Mike's Last Dance were released online featuring Tatum and Hayek First trailer: The highly-anticipated film's very first trailer debuted in November, giving fans a preview of Tatum and Hayek's characters meeting at a cocktail party and the events that subsequently ensue After they meet, Tatum's character Mike proceeds to tell Hayek's character - whose name is still unknown at this time - that he's not just a bartender. When all the guests leave, he gives her a private show. At the end of the interactive dance, Hayek's character said, 'You gave me this unexpected, magical moment that made me remember who I really was.' Hayek's role was originally set to be played by Thandiwe Newton, but the actress suddenly exited the project after an alleged on set spat with Tatum. Anne Hathaway enjoyed a very rare date night with her husband Adam Shulman on Wednesday when they attended the Valentino Haute Couture show during Paris Fashion Week. The 40-year-old Oscar winner who dazzled alongside Rosie Huntington-Whiteley at the A-list show rocked a stunning leopard-print minidress from the luxury fashion house. The exceedingly private pair rarely attend events together, but Shulman, 41, looked dashing in a long gray coat as he accompanied his superstar wife. Special: Anne Hathaway, 40, enjoyed a rare date night with her handsome husband Adam Shulman, 41, on Wednesday when they attended the Valentino Haute Couture show during Paris Fashion Week Shimmering in bedazzled leopard print, Anne commanded attention in her minidress and sexy leggings. The Devil Wears Prada star exuded chic appeal in her leopard stilettos, and she even carried a matching clutch. Tasteful jewelry adorned her hands and ears while her radiant face was aglow with soft, flawless glam. Adam who is an actor-turned-jewelry designer pulled off a debonair look with his silver mane of hair. Sporting some winter scruff, the New York native donned a stylish sweater with black pants and dress shoes. Stunning: The Oscar winner rocked a stunning leopard print minidress from the luxury fashion house while Shulman looked dashing in a long gray coat Debonair pair: The Devil Wears Prada star exuded chic appeal in her leopard stilettos and she even carried a matching clutch. Adam an actor-turned-jewelry designer pulled off a debonair look with his silver mane Sweet: Hathaway has been married to Shulman since 2012 and the couple share two sons: Jonathan, six, and Jack, three Hathaway has been married to Shulman since 2012 and the couple share two sons: Jonathan, six, and Jack, three. In an October interview with Sirius XM's Jess Cagle, Anne spoke about being 'choosier' when it comes to picking roles, saying: 'I have to say, the "kids" thing has been the biggest shift.' '[Kids] kind of re-prioritized everything,' she told Cagle. 'So it's actually made me a bit choosier because something really has to be so excellent to spend time away from them because they're so precious to me.' Calling her sons 'the most sacred part of [her] life by a long shot,' Anne went on to add: 'When I do accept something, it puts greater pressure on me to make it worth the time that I've spent away from them.' Love of her life: In an interview with Harper's Bazaar UK in 2014, the Les Miserables star said of Shulman, 'I knew from the second I met him that he was the love of my life' Learning to trust: Hathaway was still recovering from a difficult breakup when she met Adam, causing her to be apprehensive at first. 'I took my trust out for a ridiculous joyride with him,' she told Harper's Bazaar UK. 'It was scary' Better and better: The Princess Diaries star gave her future husband a chance, explaining that their relationship 'kept getting better and better' In an interview with Harper's Bazaar UK in 2013, the Les Miserables star said of Shulman: 'I knew from the second I met him that he was the love of my life. I also knew that I couldn't have met him at a worse time.' Hathaway was still recovering from a difficult breakup, causing her to be apprehensive at first. 'I took my trust out for a ridiculous joyride with him,' she said. 'It was scary.' The Princess Diaries star gave her future husband a chance, explaining that their relationship 'kept getting better and better.' 'He walks into a room,' gushed Anne, 'and I light up. I can't help it.' James Van Der Beek and his wife Kimberly Van Der Beek are the proud parents of six children. And on Wednesday the former Dawson's Creek star paid extra special attention to daughter Annabel when he posted a series of daddy-daughter snaps, while wishing her a very happy birthday. '9 years old today. 9 years of getting to live in the same house with sweet, loving kindness personified,' Van Der Beek, 45, began the post, which was just the first of many loving compliments he heaped his little girl's way. Birthday girl: James Van Der Beek, 45, took to his Instagram page to wish his daughter Annabel a happy ninth birthday on Wednesday The Connecticut native, who left Los Angeles to raise his family on a spacious ranch in Austin, Texas in 2020, went on reveal that he 'always knew' Annabel was different from 'the moment you came out.' He also confessed to Annabel always being the winner of any kind of 'Make Dad Laugh competition, no matter my mood,' he continued in his birthday tribute. 'Sensitive people can be a bit more vulnerable to what this world throws at them, but may you are always find refuge inside that beautiful, soft heart of yours,' he said of his second oldest daughter, before adding, 'fully confident that gift of your presence is enough to offer joy to whomever is near - IF people are open. If theyre not it's their loss, not yours.' Sounding as if he had an extra bright twinkle in his eye, Van Der Beek concluded, 'Keep shining, kid. Keep dancing, keep laughing, and keep expressing every feeling as it comes up for you. We're here for ALL of it. I love you.' Loving: The actor described Annabel as 'sweet, loving kindness personified' in his birthday tribute on Instagram Fun: The birthday girl showed off her playful side by making faces towards the camera Show time; The blonde cutie also made a few funny faces as the camera rolled The series of nine photos, one for each year of her life, all appear to have been taken at the Van Der Beek's Texas ranch. Nearly all of them show the proud papa with his arms lovingly wrapped around the adorable girl, while dressed for warmth in a brown furry coat and a flannel scarf around his neck. He also donned a tan beanie cap over his short salt-and-pepper hair as he got playful with Annabel in the impromptu photoshoot. Dressed in white sweatpants and a pink sweatshirt, Annabel returned the favor and showed off her playful side by opening her mouth open to make it look like she was startled. The Connecticut native also revealed how Annabel would always win a 'make dad laugh competition' no matter Smiles: Daddy and daughter both laughed it up during the impromptu photoshoot There's also where she made a funny face by bulging her eyes and putting her index pinger over her lips. At one point, her dad came in to give her a kiss on the cheek, which she reciprocated by sticking her hand in front of his face. In the one photo that didn't include her father, Annabel can be seen sitting behind the wheel of the family car while staring to her left straight at the camera. Her adoring mother took to her Instagram page and shared a photo of her husband strumming his guitar and singing to their daughter on Tuesday night, the day before her actual birthday. Behind the wheel of life: In the one photo that didn't include her father, Annabel can be seen sitting behind the wheel of the family car while staring to her left straight at the camera Southern trail: The photos all appeared to be shot at the Van Der Beek's ranch in Austin, Texas '@vanderjames singing Annabel her good night song that he has sang to her since she was a baby on her last night as an 8 year old,' she wrote across the bottom part of the picture. Along with the birthday girl, the couple are also the proud parents of daughters Gwendolyn, four, Emilia, six, and Olivia, 12, and sons Jeremiah, one, and Joshua, 10. The Van Der Beeks tied-the-knot back in August 2010, in a small ceremony at the Kabbalah Center near Dizengoff Plaza in Tel Aviv, Israel Special song: Annabel's mother, Kimberly Van Der Beek, took to her Instagram page and shared a photo of her husband strumming his guitar and singing a good night song to their daughter on Tuesday night, the day before her actual birthday Family matters: Along with the birthday girl, the couple are also the proud parents of daughters Gwendolyn, four, Emilia, six, and Olivia, 12, and sons Jeremiah, one, and Joshua, 10 James and Kimberly made the decision to leave Los Angeles and move to Austin, in part, to bring the family closer to nature. 'I know for me, it's been really centering and I feel like for the kids, it's been grounding, and a different kind of education that we never could have offered them in a classroom,' Van Der Beek told People. 'We love it. We have a lot more space,' the Varsity Blues alum explained to Fox News Digital this past summer. 'We all need a more immediate connection to nature. It's been a really, really great move and the kids are really happy.' The Iconic Series, Dawson's Creek, is available only on Stan in Australia. Alessandra Ambrosio looked like a bronzed goddess at a lavish party hosted by Nespresso on Wednesday afternoon in her native Brazil. The supermodel, 41, flaunted her killer legs as she posed for stunning snapshots on a rope swing during the festivities. Later, Alessandra hung out by the pool where she twirled for the cameras in her sexy fringe dress. Goddess: Alessandra Ambrosio looked like a bronzed goddess at a lavish party hosted by Nespresso on Wednesday afternoon in her native Brazil. The supermodel, 41, flaunted her killer legs as she posed for stunning snapshots on rope swing during the festivities Flirty in fringe: Later, Alessandra hung out by the pool where she twirled for the cameras in her sexy fringe dress The champagne-toned number had a sparkly knit bodice with a chest cut-out that showed off Alessandra's cleavage. She slipped her feet into tan leather sandals and accessorized with slim gold bangles. The former Victoria's Secret Angel's gave her silky brunette hair a middle part and left it down. Peekaboo: The champagne-toned number had a sparkly knit bodice with a chest cut-out that showed off Alessandra's cleavage Beaming: She smiled while posing a bright yellow Nespresso arch Total pro: Alessandra was a total pro as she offered a number of poses during her time on the swing As for makeup, Alessandra drenched her plump pout in a mauve lip gloss framed by deep nude lip liner. Her sultry stare was amped up with smudged out eyeliner and her complexion had a radiant finish. The runway maven's toes were painted red while her manicure was a milky pink. Glowing: Alessandra rocked a fresh tan after spending her time at the beach in Ipanema, which is in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, this week Brunette beauty: The former Victoria's Secret Angel's gave her silky brunette hair a middle part and left it down Sultry: Her sultry stare was amped up with smudged out eyeliner and her complexion had a radiant finish Alessandra rocked a fresh tan after spending her time at the beach in Ipanema, which is in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, this week. She appeared to be enjoying herself at Wednesday's shindig as she was often captured flashing wide smiles in the direction of fellow guests and photographers. Alessandra took fans along by sharing footage from the Nespresso event to her Instagram Story, including from her swing photoshoot. Having a ball: She appeared to be enjoying herself at Wednesday's shindig as she was often captured flashing wide smiles in the direction of fellow guests and photographers Muah! Alessandra blew kisses She also uploaded an image of herself posing in front of a mirror in what appeared to be her own private bungalow. In a follow-up clip, the mother-of-two was in the backseat of an SUV as she showcased her filtered face to her nearly 12million followers. Alessandra arrived in Brazil over the weekend, where she reunited with a number of her close pals. Behind-the-scenes: Alessandra took fans along by sharing footage from the Nespresso event to her Instagram Story Outfit check: Alessandra uploaded an image of herself posing in front of a mirror in what appeared to be her own private bungalow Selfie time! In a follow-up clip, the mother-of-two was in the backseat of an SUV as she showcased her filtered face to her nearly 12million followers In a series of snaps posted Wednesday, Alessandra was seen enjoying a meal and drinks with activist/artist Matheus Mazzafera. The two clanked glasses as they dined alfresco so they could soak up Brazil's stunning scenery. For the lunch, Alessandra slipped into a sexy white linen minidress with a plunging neckline. It was styled with leather sandals and a beaded clutch. She further accessorized by hiding her brown eyes behind sunglasses. Back home! Alessandra arrived in Brazil over the weekend, where she reunited with a number of her close pals Rachael Finch celebrated Australia Day by hitting the beach for a summer swim. The model and fitness influencer, 34, showed off her taut physique in a flattering brown bikini at Coogee Beach. Rachael was joined by her husband, dancer Michael Miziner, and their children, Dominic, three, and daughter Violet, seven. Rachael Finch celebrated Australia Day by hitting the beach for a summer swim on Thursday The couple looked very much in love as they held hands on the shore and waded through the water together. Earlier this month, Rachael took to Instagram to share a gushing tribute to her husband as they celebrated their nine year wedding anniversary. 'The best decision I ever made in my life is you. 9 years married, 12 together, feels like 5 minutes,' she captioned a photo of the couple looking as loved-up as ever. The model and fitness influencer showed off her taut physique in a flattering brown bikini at Coogee Beach The 34-year-old's toned curves were on display in the skimpy swimwear The former Miss Universe 2009 pulled up her bikini bottoms to protect her modesty Rachael shared a photo of the couple ringing in the new year alongside their two children Dominic, three, and daughter Violet, seven. The former Miss Universe Australia recently told fans that compromise and communication are key for a successful marriage. 'What are ways to create and support a happy marriage?' one fan asked Rachael. She explained: 'Work together, learn to compromise, communicate, continue to evolve as a couple, take time out for just the two of you, to keep an open mind and find fun in every day.' Rachael was joined by her husband, dancer Michael Miziner, and their children, Dominic, three, and daughter Violet, seven Rachael and Michael looked overjoyed as they splashed around in the sea The happy couple stared affectionally at each other as the salty seawater swirled around them The couple looked very much in love as they held hands on the shore and waded through the water together Rachael met her husband Michael on the 2010 season of Dancing With The Stars - he was her dance partner, and she a contestant. The couple, who married in 2013, now balance parenthood with a burgeoning fitness empire. They share daughter Violet, seven, and son Dominic, three. Last year, Rachael and Michael celebrated their wedding anniversary by sharing a video to Instagram in which they did a couples quiz, hosted by Rachael's sister. Rachael whipped out her iPhone to snap a few family photos It's no surprise that Rachael had an incredibly fit physique considering her career as a fitness influencer The model boasts 322,000 followers on Instagram who follow her for health and fitness tips The brunette gazed adoringly at her daughter Violet in the surf As Rachael and Michael sat on their bed, the model giggled as her sister fired off sweet questions. Those questions included, 'Who initiated the first kiss' and Rachael pointed to herself to indicate it was her. Asked who was 'more patient', Michael said it was him, and he also said 'I love you' first. Michael likewise said he was the 'social butterfly' of the pair, but Rachael was more likely to get a tattoo. Candice Swanepoel kept her fans engaged on Wednesday as she appeared on Instagram with a tantalizing new post. The 34-year-old supermodel who was briefly linked to Kanye West last year showed off a new look of bouncy, voluminous curly hair while on the set of a photo shoot. The South Africanborn beauty looked breathtaking as she wrote in the caption, 'Curly C is a whole mood.' Social media interaction: Candice Swanepoel kept her fans engaged on Wednesday as she appeared on Instagram with a tantalizing new post For the seconds-long Instagram reel, the mother-of-two donned a plush white robe, pulling her arms out of the sleeves. She let the belted cloak fall off her shoulders, enticing viewers as she teased her back and chest while she flashed cleavage. The 5ft10in goddess looked ethereal as her blonde locks tumbled down her back and over her face in perfectly coiled ringlets. She used a softening filter that smoothed out her stunning visage and gave her complexion a glowing finish. Fresh look: The 34-year-old supermodel showed off a new look of bouncy, voluminous curly hair while on set of a photo shoot The former Victoria's Secret Angel went for a less-is-more approach as she rocked an understated nude manicure. Her darker eyebrows were immaculately shaped to provide a frame for the rest of her features. Swanepoel, who designs swimsuits for her line Tropic of C, used a touch of blush on her cheeks and played up her plump pout. As she gazed into the camera, she stood underneath industrial lights and beams inside the warehouse-like setting of the project. Ethereal: The South African-bred beauty looked breathtaking as she wrote in the caption, 'Curly C is a whole mood' Stunning: For the seconds-long Instagram reel, the mother-of-two donned a plush white robe, pulling her arms out of the sleeves Swanepoel was also present on social media earlier this week as she shared a clip from a yoga session with her nearly 19 million Instagram followers. She donned a tight, teal crop top with matching pants in the clip, flashing her taut midriff. The media sensation captioned the snippet, 'A quick check in with myself amidst a lot of travelWho else isolates themselves to recharge?' Swanepoel has been on the move in recent weeks, and has shared photos and videos from various tropical locations. Hulk Hogan's 2.2 million Twitter followers were quite surprised on Wednesday when he sent out a surprising tweet. The 69-year-old pro wrestling legend (born Terry Gene Bollea) took to Twitter on Wednesday evening, tweeting, 'I ran out of toilet paper brother, help!!!!!!!!' The tweet was quickly deleted and wasn't addressed by Hogan, who continued tweeting as usual after it was deleted, leading fans to wonder if he was briefly hacked. Surprised: Hulk Hogan's 2.2 million Twitter followers were quite surprised on Wednesday when he sent out a surprising tweet Tweet: The 69-year-old pro wrestling legend (born Terry Gene Bollea) took to Twitter on Wednesday evening, tweeting, 'I ran out of toilet paper brother, help!!!!!!!!' It also isn't clear how long the tweet was up before it was deleted, though Hogan didn't waste time returning to regularly-scheduled tweeting. He later posted a photo of him flanked by other wrestling luminaries such as Jimmy Hart, Ted DiBiase, Diamond Dallas Page, Madusa and I.R.S. Hogan also shared a video of his pristine muscle car he dubbed 'Black Beauty' that was coming out of its garage and ready for the 'mean streets of Clearwater' Florida. New tweets: He later posted a photo of him flanked by other wrestling luminaries such as Jimmy Hart, Ted DiBiase, Diamond Dallas Page, Madusa and I.R.S. Car: Hogan also shared a video of his pristine muscle car he dubbed 'Black Beauty' that was coming out of its garage and ready for the 'mean streets of Clearwater' Florida While Hogan did delete the tweet, that didn't stop hordes of fans from commenting on the Hulkster's supposed need for TP. @QuirkyGoose tweeted, 'Today will go down in history, the day where Hulk Hogan tweeted he was out of toilet paper.' @ChimpZMan tweeted a photo of the 80s wrestler Kamala, adding, 'I've always got extra toilet paper for you brother...' History: @QuirkyGoose tweeted, 'Today will go down in history, the day where Hulk Hogan tweeted he was out of toilet paper' Extra: @ChimpZMan tweeted a photo of the 80s wrestler Kamala, adding, 'I've always got extra toilet paper for you brother...' @LetsGoBackToWCW shared a photo of a bidet, adding, 'Hulk Hogan running out of toilet paper is a reminder people should consider switching to a bidet.' @Xposin_ added, 'Remember, brother, if you run out of toilet paper again, just use the pages from Dianetics.' @DavidWeissman added, 'Hulk Hogan asking for toilet paper help was certainly not on my 2023 bingo card.' Bidet: @LetsGoBackToWCW shared a photo of a bidet, adding, 'Hulk Hogan running out of toilet paper is a reminder people should consider switching to a bidet' Dianetics: @Xposin_ added, 'Remember, brother, if you run out of toilet paper again, just use the pages from Dianetics' Bingo: @DavidWeissman added, 'Hulk Hogan asking for toilet paper help was certainly not on my 2023 bingo card' @DavidBixenspan added, 'This is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I was not expecting Hulk Hogan to tweet an intended text to someone he was begging to get him toilet paper for a bathroom emergency.' Hogan made headlines last year when a new biopic about his life in and out of the ring moved forward with Chris Hemsworth playing him. He also surprisingly split with his wife Jennifer McDaniel after 11 years of marriage before dating a new woman named Sky. Beautiful: @DavidBixenspan added, 'This is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I was not expecting Hulk Hogan to tweet an intended text to someone he was begging to get him toilet paper for a bathroom emergency' Headlines: Hogan made headlines last year when a new biopic about his life in and out of the ring moved forward with Chris Hemsworth playing him Iggy Azalea looked every bit the blonde bombshell in scintillating footage from her latest sexy shoot that she shared to Instagram on Wednesday. The rapper/model, 32 - who recently received backlash over her OnlyFans account - sizzled in a skimpy red two-piece swimsuit while lounging on a couch. She flashed major underboob in a scarlet bandeau top that had a plastic tortoise shell ring hovering over her cleavage. Blonde bombshell: Iggy Azalea looked every bit the blonde bombshell in scintillating footage from her latest sexy shoot that she shared to Instagram on Wednesday The matching bikini-style bottoms sat low on Iggy's hips, allowing her chiseled abs to take center stage. Iggy's long, bleach blonde tresses were swept behind her shoulders in beachy waves. As for makeup, the Fancy hitmaker opted for a minimalist look consisting of a peachy flush, black mascara and nude lipstick. In the footage, Iggy's body rested comfortably atop the couch's beige cushions with one arm positioned above her head. Red hot! The rapper/model, 32 - who recently received backlash over her 'artistic' OnlyFans account - sizzled in a skimpy red two-piece swimsuit while lounging on a couch Skimpy: She flashed major underboob in a scarlet bandeau top that had a plastic tortoise shell ring hovering over her cleavage Palm leaves hovered over the musician and the semi-sheer white curtains behind her were drawn. While smoldering at the camera, Iggy suddenly burst into laughter and took a moment to adjust her bathing suit top. Five days earlier, Iggy set temperatures soaring as she showcased her derriere in a pair of gray briefs. She styled her lower half with a baby tee that she pulled up to expose her taut tummy. Chiseled: The matching bikini-style bottoms sat low on Iggy's hips, allowing her chiseled abs to take center stage Laugh it up: While smoldering towards the camera, Iggy suddenly burst into laughter and took a moment to adjust her bathing suit top Out of the blue, Kim Kardashian ended up re-sharing the sexy shot with her 342 million followers on Wednesday. She did so because Iggy's underwear was from Kim's shapewear brand SKIMS. The 42-year-old mogul's support came as a total shock to Iggy, who responded with: 'Excuse me while I pass away' Iggy did not tag SKIMS in her post, so it's safe to assume that Kim discovered the snap all on her own. Major: Out of the blue, Kim Kardashian ended up re-sharing a sexy shot of Iggy in her underwear with her 342 million followers on Wednesday. She did so because Iggy's underwear was from Kim's shapewear brand SKIMS The 42-year-old mogul's support came as a total shock to Iggy, who responded with: 'Excuse me while I pass away' The Work hitmaker shocked fans earlier this month when she made the decision to launch an OnlyFans page. OnlyFans is a subscription site that's often used to share NSFW content among other things. As of now, Iggy charges $25 per month or $240 for a 12 month subscription. But users have to pay more via upselling to access sexier stuff. If you tip the star $250, you get to become a 'VIP' for 12-months, which includes one free exclusive photo and some other unknown benefits. In a recent report by Forbes, the Australian beauty's post advertising her VIP subscription had racked up almost $16,000 in tips in a week. And while the rapper's racy new venture is predicted to earn her upwards of seven figures, some fans claim that she's not showing enough skin to justify the pricey subscription fees. Due to the overwhelming criticism, Iggy had to limit comments on her Instagram page, with one fan writing: 'Don't waste your time fellas' Though Iggy is scantily-clad in her images, she's taken a more 'artistic' approach. Shock: The Work hitmaker shocked fans earlier this month when she made the decision to launch an OnlyFans page And while the rapper's racy new venture is predicted to earn her upwards of seven figures, some fans claim that she's not showing enough skin to justify the pricey subscription fees Earlier this week, Iggy teased her 'Hotter Than Hell project' by sharing psychedlic images of herself highlighting her ample bust in a green lace bra. Hotter Than Hell is a 12-month multimedia project she's been rolling out on OnlyFans. 'Link in bio for more art etc. it's all living on my OnlyFans page!' she noted in the caption. Pip Edwards found herself at the centre of a wild argument between her ex Michael Clarke and his new girlfriend Jade Yarbrough in Noosa earlier this month. But the P.E Nation founder didn't appear to have a care in the world on Thursday as she spent Australia Day at Sydney's Camp Cove. The 40-year-old showed off her incredible figure and toned abs in a skimpy bikini as she enjoyed a relaxing day at the beach. Pip Edwards showed off her incredibly toned figure in a skimpy bikini as she spent Australia Day at Sydney's Camp Cove The 40-year-old flaunted her incredible figure and toned abs in the two-piece as she enjoyed a relaxing day at the beach The mother-of-one flaunted her washboard abs in the bright yellow bikini top and G-string bottoms. She protected herself from the summer sun with blue sunglasses and a hat and tied her locks back. After enjoying a dip in the water, Pip stretched out her body as she relaxed on the sand. The mother-of-one flaunted her washboard abs in the bright yellow bikini top and G-string bottoms Pip protected herself from the summer sun with blue sunglasses and a hat and tied her locks back After enjoying a dip in the water, Pip stretched out her body and relaxed It comes two years after Pip issued a public apology to those she offended by sharing conflicting messages about Australia Day. In 2021, the activewear designer came under fire after she uploaded a post on Instagram condemning the national holiday - just hours before attending an Australia Day party where the Aboriginal flag was mistakenly flown upside down. 'I want to express my sincere apologies to those that I have offended,' Pip said. It comes two years after Pip issued a public apology to those she offended by sharing conflicting messages about Australia Day The activewear designer came under fire after she uploaded a post on Instagram condemning the national holiday - just hours before attending an Australia Day party where the Aboriginal flag was mistakenly flown upside down 'My intentions were always from a good place, in support of all people, wanting unity and community in this country and globally,' she continued. Pip insisted she had 'no idea' the Aboriginal flag was upside down in the photos she uploaded from the backyard party. 'I innocently did not realise that the Aboriginal flag was upside down and was more focused on the idea of raising both flags together on the one pole, flying as one. I understand it was a huge mistake to not know at the time but my intention was never to cause disrespect,' she wrote. She also expressed regret over sharing another Australia Day post that read: 'A day to celebrate the land that we live and thrive on. I love you, Australia.' Apologising for her choice of words, Pip said she'd made the error of incorrectly using the phrase 'celebrate the land' when she should have said 'acknowledge the land'. 'Again, a big mistake on my part and for that I deeply apologise,' she concluded. Pip insisted she had 'no idea' the Aboriginal flag was upside down in the photos she uploaded from the backyard party She also expressed regret over sharing another Australia Day post that read: 'A day to celebrate the land that we live and thrive on. I love you, Australia' Apologising for her choice of words, Pip said she'd made the error of incorrectly using the phrase 'celebrate the land' when she should have said 'acknowledge the land' Earlier this month, Pip was dragged into a stoush between her ex Michael Clarke, his girlfriend Jade Yarbrough, as well as Karl Stefanovic and his wife Jasmine. Extraordinary footage emerged last Wednesday of a heated exchange between the couple while they were on holiday in Noosa, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. In the video, which was filmed by an onlooker on January 10 and sold to The Daily Telegraph for a reported $10,000, Yarbrough accused the former Test captain of cheating on her with his former flame Edwards on December 17. Others in the group, including Stefanovic, his wife Jasmine - Yarbrough's older sister - and celebrity accountant Anthony Bell, tried to defuse the fracas. Yarbrough and Clarke, who was limping in the footage after hurting his hamstring, have since been slapped with 'public nuisance' fines. Stefanovic is yet to make a statement on the matter, but was asked about the footage during an event at the Australian Open last Thursday. According to the Herald Sun, he smiled when asked if he wanted to comment but refused to say anything. 'You know what the answer is going to be,' he replied. Earlier this month, Pip was dragged into a stoush between her ex Michael Clarke (left), his girlfriend Jade Yarbrough (right), as well as Karl Stefanovic and his wife Jasmine Extraordinary footage emerged last Wednesday of a heated exchange between the couple while they were on holiday in Noosa, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast In the video, which was filmed by an onlooker on January 10 and sold to The Daily Telegraph for a reported $10,000, Yarbrough accused the former Test captain of cheating on her with his former flame Edwards on December 17 A remorseful Clarke has since taken full responsibility for what happened. 'I'm absolutely gutted I've put people I hold in the highest regard in this position. My actions in the lead-up to this altercation were nothing short of shameful and regrettable,' he said. 'I am shattered that because of my actions I've drawn women of class and integrity, and my mates, into this situation.' Edwards also issued a statement on the night the footage was released. 'This is not my circus. Yet again, Michael in his true nature has not taken responsibility for his actions and I was blatantly lied to,' she told Daily Mail Australia. A remorseful Clarke has since taken full responsibility for what happened Edwards also issued a statement on the night the footage was released Selling Sunset's Amanza Smith and Chelsea Lazkani took their street fashion to the next level on Wednesday when they rocked over-the-top looks. Amanza, 45 who recently went public with her story of sexual abuse channeled the preppy edge of Gossip Girl while Lazkani, 29, oozed the glam of Clueless. The reality star's were seen outside of the Oppenheim Group in West Hollywood, posing up a storm in their incredible outfits. Over the top: Selling Sunset's Amanza Smith, 45, and Chelsea Lazkani, 29, took their street fashion to the next level on Wednesday when they rocked over-the-top looks With half of her hair worn up in pigtail buns, Amanza wore the rest of her lustrous brunette waves styled down her back. She sported a navy flannel blazer with a punkish red crest. The bombshell belted her look to accentuate her incredible figure and flaunted her sculpted legs. She accessorized her blazer with a slim chain and wore bright white platform boots. One eye-popping element to Amanza'a outfit was a sultry crimson bustier that peeked out from behind the plunging neckline of her blazer. Preppy and bratty: Amanza channeled the preppy edge of Gossip Girl while Lazkani, 29, oozed the glam of Clueless Gossip Girl vibes: With half of her hair worn up on pigtail buns, Amanza wore the rest of her lustrous brunette hair styled in waves down her back. She sported a navy flannel blazer with a punkish red crest Sexy flourishes: One eye-popping element to Amanza'a outfit was a sultry crimson bustier that peeked out from behind the plunging neckline of her blazer Lazkani was Cher Horowitz-meets-Barbie in her belly-baring pink ensemble. Wearing a long-sleeved bralette top that showcased her ample assets, the realtor rocked a teardrop pearl broach at the center of her bosom. She pulled off a pair of large rose earrings while her hair was an elaborate array of flowing locks. The reality star's glam featured angelic eyeshadow and heavy gloss to her lips. She posed on the asphalt in silver platform stilettos. Asphalt runway: Lazkani was Cher Horowitz-meets-Barbie in her belly-baring pink ensemble Fashion A game: The reality star's glam featured angelic eyeshadow and heavy gloss to her lips. She posed on the asphalt in silver platform stilettos When it comes to Chelsea Lazkani, season five's breakout star has become a force to be reckoned with after entering the show as Christine Quinn's sidekick. The London-born realtor quickly won over her fellow cast members with her directness and established herself as a strong presence on the show. 'It was an extremely nerve-wracking experience,' Chelsea told Vogue of coming onto the show. 'People may not see that, but I was scared when the cameras were on.' After the mother of two gained her footing in front of the cameras, she went to work bringing in major business to the brokerage firm and impressing fans with her ostentatious fashion. And bringing your ultimate fashion A game is a must on Selling Sunset. Channel Seven reporter Angie Asimus has welcomed her second child, a baby girl named Scarlett, with her husband Chris Abbott. The joyful news was announced on Sunrise on Thursday by Angie's co-star Edwina Bartholomew. 'Some very exciting baby news, our very own Angie Asimus has welcomed her baby girl Scarlett,' she told viewers. It's a girl! Channel Seven reporter Angie Asimus (pictured) has welcomed her second child with husband Chris Abbott 'She was born late last night, weighing in at 3.27 kilos. Wednesday was supposed to be mum's last day of work, so poor Angie on her first day of maternity leave - no rest there.' Edwina said 'mum and bub are both healthy and happy and doing very very well'. 'I spoke to Angie this morning. She said she's looking for tips on how to handle two. So if any viewers have them, please provide them to both of us,' she added. The news was announced on Sunrise by Angie's co-star Edwina Bartholomew, who said: 'Some very exciting baby news, our very own Angie Asimus has welcomed her baby girl Scarlett' Angie also shares two-year-old son Austin with her husband Chris. Angie and Chris tied the knot in a romantic ceremony in February 2020 after 12 years together. The presenter had shared a post to Instagram on Monday announcing it was her 'last 6pm read of the summer. Not long to go now'. The presenter had shared a post to Instagram on Monday announcing it was her 'last 6pm read of the summer. Not long to go now' She announced her pregnancy in August, writing: '2023 is looking good'. Angie is currently a weather presenter on Seven News Sydney and she also presents Seven News at 5. She is also a regular fill in presenter on Sunrise and Weekend Sunrise. Years before making her hosting debut on Saturday Night Live - which garnered season-best ratings over the weekend - Aubrey Plaza once auditioned to be on the show herself. The 38-year-old comedienne is coming off a huge year in 2022 with critically-acclaimed performances in HBO's The White Lotus and Netflix's Emily the Criminal. Before she hosted SNL, she revealed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that she tried out for SNL, but never made it to the final audition with creator Lorne Michaels. Auditions: Before she hosted SNL, she revealed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that she tried out for SNL, but never made it to the final audition with creator Lorne Michaels Host: Years before making her hosting debut on Saturday Night Live - which garnered season-best ratings over the weekend - Aubrey Plaza once auditioned to be on the show herself 'I didn't make it to the Lorne audition, the famous final audition, but I did like a preliminary, like first-round showcase at UCB,' Plaza revealed. When Fallon asked if she did any characters, Plaza revealed, 'I remember one character I did was like a Puerto Rican news reporter that was trying to make all the news stories sexy, even if they were like horrific news stories, and I was just trying to sex up the news.' She added the other character she did during the audition was, 'a pill-popping housewife who had her own talk show called Celebri-tails, where I would just name celebrities and name what kind of tail they would have.' Audition: Before she hosted SNL, she revealed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that she tried out for SNL, but never made it to the final audition with creator Lorne Michaels Character: She added the other character she did during the audition was, 'a pill-popping housewife who had her own talk show called Celebri-tails, where I would just name celebrities and name what kind of tail they would have' 'Like I would say, "Lindsay Lohan would have like a bushy squirrel's tail,' Plaza added. After the audition, she went on to intern in the design department for the four set designers on SNL. 'They loved me because I did not care about set design at all and they wanted an intern who had no interest in learning what they did because they're moody bastards,' Plaza said with a laugh. Tail: 'Like I would say, "Lindsay Lohan would have like a bushy squirrel's tail,' Plaza added She added that she 'loved them' but they were so moody their office was nicknamed, 'The Moody Room' on the set. When asked who was on the cast then, Plaza said she didn't talk with the cast because she was an intern and just 'lurking in the shadows.' 'I studied like a sponge. I was just, like, creepy. I was like a creepy stalker. Like now I'm gonna host it so my master plan worked,' Plaza added. She is never shy showing off her incredible figure. And Carol Vorderman put her gorgeous curves on display in a pair of red leather trousers as she made a stylish appearance at the Noises Off press night on Wednesday. The television personality, 62, looked great as she arrived at the Phoenix Theatre in London in the tight leggings. Stunning: Carol Vorderman put her gorgeous curves on display in a pair of red leather trousers as she made a stylish appearance at the Noises Off press night on Wednesday She added to her look with a black and white striped T-shirt and cinched herself in at the waist with a statement belt. The Countdown star boosted her height with heeled black boots and covered up from the rain in a bomber jacket as she stepped out in the dreary conditions. Carol wore her honey tresses in loose waves over her shoulders and opted for a typically bronzed makeup look. Style: The television personality, 62, looked great as she arrived at the Phoenix Theatre in London in the tight leggings It comes after earlier this week Carol candidly discussed her sex life during an appearance on Monday's This Morning and admitted they often start off as friends before an 'extra frisson' occurs. She admitted her lovers 'all know about each other' and said life has changed since she dreamed of being married to one man when she was in her 20s. Carol, who divorced second husband Patrick King in 2000, went on to gush about the arrangement revealing she doesn't get jealous as she 'never asks' about her partners personal lives. Outfit: She added to her look with a black and white striped T-shirt and cinched herself in at the waist with a statement belt She said: 'They do know about each other now. We all have to be on the same page. They have their lives and I don't need to know about that'. Going on to reveal that her one rule is always to 'do no harm'. She said: 'It was interesting I talked about it [multiple partners] off the cuff but the reaction was almost all positive'. 'When I was in my 20s I wanted to get married and have children. In my 60s I have a full life and I live with my children'. Candid: It comes after earlier this week Carol candidly discussed her sex life during an appearance on Monday's This Morning and admitted they often start off as friends before an 'extra frisson' occurs 'I don't want to settle with anybody, I love my job, the business of education, a busy home. People don't want just one partner, were all single. There's one rule do no harm'. She continued: 'Societies rules were very different and if a woman had a child without being married it was awful. 'I went to Cambridge [University] at 17 and my mum sat me down and told me I need to think about settling down to get married. 'I think age 50 plus you have to think do you want another man to live with you or do you want the nice bits'. Admitting that she 'doesn't need to know' about her partner's personal lives or has no idea even if they have their own friends. 'I'm only talking about it because there was such a reaction to it and a lot people are shamed by society so why not talk about' 'Love can be very unhappy and isn't the goal to just be happy.' Jessica Alves caught the eye on Wednesday evening as she attended the press night for London show Dirty Dancing at the Dominion Theatre. The former Celebrity Big Brother star, 39, displayed her curvaceous figure in a glimmering mesh minidress for the night out. Complete with silver jewel embellishing, a chain drop sleeve and a high neck design, the garment looked ultra-glamorous as she hit the town. Head-turning: Jessica Alves, 39, made an eye-catching entrance in a nude mesh mini dress with jewel embellishing as she attended the VIP Dirty Dancing press night on Wednesday Jessica teamed the number with a pair of sheer tights and small glittering pointed heels. She opted for a glamorous face of makeup, with a statement winged eyeliner, heavy blush and peach glossy lip. Upon arrival, Jessica kept warm by wrapping a caramel cropped faux fur coat over her shoulders, before ditching it for some snaps on the pink carpet. Statement! The glamorous dress was complete with silver jewel embellishing, a chain drop sleeve and a high neck design Glamour: While Jessica opted for an ultra-glamorous palette of makeup, with a statement winged eyeliner, heavy blush and peach glossy lip - arriving to the night with a pal Jessica joined a slew of celebrities who came out to see the West End musical, including Love Island's Tasha Ghouri, Paige Thorne, Billy Brown, Josh Le Grove and Samira Mighty. While TOWIE's Ferne McCann was also in attendance. The synopsis of the musical, which is returning to the West End from 21st January to 29th April, reads: 'Its the summer of 1963, and 17 year-old Frances Baby Houseman is about to learn some major lessons in life as well as a thing or two about dancing. And the outing shows that Jessica is back on her feet after a period of rest Istanbul's Hagia Sogia Mansions, after ending up in hospital following a bum implant procedure. Jessica recently told MailOnline she is feeling 'much better now' and is 'able to walk' and do things normally again after her surgery. Wrapping up: Upon arrival, Jessica kept warm by wrapping a caramel cropped faux fur coat over her shoulders, before ditching it for some snaps on the pink carpet Bit chilly? She teamed the number with a pair of sheer tights and small glittering pointed heels Theatre time! Jessica beamed inside the event with pal Scott McGlynn Jessica had her implants replaced from 625cc to 1050cc and a nose job in a successful round of surgery five weeks ago in Istanbul, Turkey. However, she revealed that her butt implants became 'displaced' after she got up too soon while she was still recovering from surgery. The TV star said: 'The guide lines from the doctor was not to sit down for too long in the next 3 weeks, no sex for 4 weeks, no gym for 3 month and no dancing for 8 weeks. 'Due to going to a Xmas Party and dancing too much it [1050 cc implant] moved out of place. Now my New Years Eve is also ruined as I will spend it in bed at a hotel in Istanbul.' She's believed to be expecting her second child - her first with fiance Lorri Haines. And Ferne McCann covered up in an oversize checked scarf and pinstripe blazer as she attended the Dirty Dancing musical press night at London's Dominion Theatre on Wednesday amid pregnancy rumours. The reality star, 32, kept cosy in a pale pink beret, teamed with a maroon jumper and leggings. Radiant: Ferne McCann covered up as she attended the Dirty Dancing musical press night at London's Dominion Theatre on Wednesday amid pregnancy rumours The former TOWIE personality completed her look by rocking a pair of chunky black boots and styled her short brunette tresses poker straight. Ferne seemed in high spirits as she enjoyed her night out amid claims she is pregnant with her second child. The First Time Mum star is yet to comment on the reports. A friend told The Sun last week: 'Ferne is over the moon. From the moment she met Lorri she knew she wanted to marry him and have his kids. Glowing: The reality star, 32, kept cosy in a pale pink beret and oversized checked scarf, teamed with a maroon jumper, pinstripe blazer and leggings Stunning: Ferne seemed in high spirits as she enjoyed her night out amid claims she is pregnant with her second child 'They're both ready to commit and are looking forward to their future together.' She is said to be expecting a baby with her businessman fiance Lorri Haines, 31, six months after the couple announced their engagement. Mother-of-one Ferne met her partner during a trip to Dubai just over one year ago and he proposed during a romantic holiday to France in July 2022 after just six months of dating. Ferne has a daughter Sunday, five, from a previous relationship with jailed acid attacker ex-boyfriend Arthur Collins. Chic: The former TOWIE personality completed her look by rocking a pair of chunky black boots and styled her short brunette tresses poker straight Lorri also has a son the same age as Sunday with his former partner. Ferne has made no secret of her desire to start a family with her partner of a year, saying she wanted a baby before the couple started planning their wedding. Speaking in September after announcing her engagement, Ferne told Closer magazine: 'I haven't thought too much about wedding plans, we made the decision that we would like to have another baby first. 'I'd love for Sunday to have a sibling, and extend and grow our family. I really want a baby now, I'm so ready, but every baby is a miracle, and it will happen when it's meant to be.' Looking to the future, Ferne said she definitely wants to have more children and joked about having as many as 10 kids, adding that she wants to move to the countryside by the time she is 40. Happy news: Ferne is believed to be expecting her second child - her first with businessman fiance Lorri Haines, 31 (pictured together last month) Ferne's first pregnancy with Sunday was marred with controversy after her boyfriend at the time, Arthur Collins, was arrested for orchestrating an acid attack. Collins is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being found guilty of carrying out a brutal acid attack in 2017. Ferne has raised Sunday as a single parent. Earlier this month, Ferne heaped praise upon Lorri as she shared a photo dump to Instagram on their one-year anniversary. The TV personality looked happier than ever as she cosied up to the businessman during a luxury getaway to Soho Farmhouse private members' club in Oxfordshire. Ferne posted photos of the couple enjoying a stroll in the countryside, as well as a cycle and a roast dinner, before they posed for a beaming mirror selfie in matching robes. Cute: Mother-of-one Ferne met her partner during a trip to Dubai just over one year ago and he proposed during a romantic holiday to France in July 2022 after just six months of dating She wrote in her caption: 'Celebrating our one year anniversary. I've learnt so much about love since being in this relationship. Perhaps before I had a warped idea of what love actually was. 'Love isn't all happiness. Romantic dates, lust, laughter, snuggles, cosy dinners and endless joy. No, love means warts n all & showing up no matter what. 'The good the bad and the ugly. So Thankyou @lozzahaines for showing up through the good times and the really really really s**tty times! 'It's not been the easiest first year of a relationship but it's also not been a total write off. So with the ebb and flows, I am super happy to have you by my side. Here's to many more babe.' Emilia Clarke reunited with her Game Of Thrones co-star Jason Momoa in a series of sweet Instagram snaps on Wednesday. The pair, who famously starred together in the first series of HBO show back in 2011, could be seen chatting together backstage at the Sundance Film Festival, with the actress gushing she 'felt like a Khaleesi all over again!' Emilia, 36, played the Mother Of Dragons Daenerys Targaryen, who was forced to marry Jason's Khal Drogo, but he is sadly smothered to death by his wife after being left catatonic by a battle injury. Back together! Emilia Clarke reunited with her Game Of Thrones co-star Jason Momoa in a series of sweet Instagram snaps on Wednesday Gushing about her time at the festival in Salt Lake City, Emilia appeared in a series of fun images in front of a firepit, poking fun at her character's ability to walk on hot coals. Another image showed herself and Jason, 43, chatting backstage after she attended the premiere of her new film The Pod Generation. Emilia captioned her post: 'Oh thank you @sundanceorg for making me feel like a Khaleesi all over again! (Complete with fire that I learnt I can't walk through) 'What a snowy wonderland of people I love and admire with films that bring the HEAT! ITS POD GENERATION TIME BABY!!' Blast from the past! The pair famously starred together in the first series of HBO show in 2011 as Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo Good time? Gushing about her time at the festival in Salt Lake City, Emilia appeared in a series of fun images in front of a firepit, poking fun at her character's ability to walk on hot coals Having fun? The actress larked about in the snow in Salt Lake City during her trip to the festival to attend the premiere of her film Pod Generation Emilia and Jason played lovers on Game Of Thrones' first series with Daenerys forced to marry Khal by her vile brother Rhaegar. Despite originally despising her husband, Daenerys grew to love Khal's softer side, and was devastated when she lost their unborn child. Khal was eventually left in a vegetative state after contracting sepsis from a battle injury, with wife Daenerys smothering him to death, and using his funeral pyre to awaken her dragons. Loving it! Emilia captioned her post: 'Oh thank you @sundanceorg for making me feel like a Khaleesi all over again! (Complete with fire that I learnt I can't walk through)' Giddy: She continued to write: 'What a snowy wonderland of people I love and admire with films that bring the HEAT! ITS POD GENERATION TIME BABY!!' Emilia was starring in the Sundance film Pod Generation, opposite Chiwetel Ejiofor, with the pair playing a couple dealing with futuristic technological developments that allow for the creation of artificial wombs, or 'pods.' Meanwhile Jason was promoting his documentary Deep Rising, about the controversial practice of ocean-floor mining. It comes after Emilia revealed she would cry before the sex scenes with Jason on Game of Thrones as she didn't know about the nudity ahead of accepting the role. Enemies to lovers: Emilia and Jason played lovers on Game Of Thrones' first series with Daenerys forced to marry Khal by her vile brother Rhaegar The star admitted she was 'terrified' of the sex scenes because she 'didn't know what to do'. Emilia, who was just 23 at the time, was 'fresh from drama school' and had 'never been on a film set before' and had to strip naked in front of 'all those people'. Speaking on the Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard podcast in 2019, Emilia said: 'I took the job and then they sent me the scripts and I was reading them, and I was like, "Oh, there's the catch!" 'But I'd come fresh from drama school and I approached it as a job: if it's in the script then it's clearly needed. 'I've never been on a film set like this before and I'm now on a film set completely naked with all of these people, and I don't know what I'm meant to do, and I don't know what's expected of me, and I don't know what you want, and I don't know what I want. Best pals! Since starring on Game Of Thrones together, Jason and Emilia have reunited multiple times (pictured in August 2021) 'Regardless of there being nudity or not, I would have spent that first season thinking I'm not worthy of requiring anything. I'm not worthy of needing anything at all.' However, she did credit Jason, 43, who portrays Khal Drogo, for making filming as easy as possible as she felt 'imposter syndrome'. During the hit series, Momoa's character 'virtually rapes' her on their wedding night and Emilia said she feels 'fortunate' for how the actor handled the scene. 'He was crying more than I was. It's only now that I realise how fortunate I was with that, because that could have gone many, many, many different ways,' she added. Emilia explained how the Aquaman star put her at ease due to having 'experience' in the industry and showed her the ropes. The actress added: 'He was always like, "Can we get her a f***ing robe? She's shivering!" He was so kind and considerate and cared about me as a human being.' Rebecca Lobie, the free-spirited cousin of Bindi Irwin, left little to the imagination on Thursday as she joined a bevy of bikini-clad babes for an Australia Day party at The Candy Shop Mansion. The event was hosted by tobacco tycoon Travers 'The Candyman' Beynon at his palatial property in Helensvale on the Gold Coast. Rebecca, an adult model who is the niece of the late 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin, showed off her figure in a barely there swimsuit. Rebecca Lobie, the free-spirited cousin of Bindi Irwin, left little to the imagination on Thursday as she joined a bevy of bikini-clad babes for an Australia Day party at The Candy Shop Mansion The mother of two put on a busty display in the one-piece, which featured a plunging neckline and side cut-outs. The blonde bombshell completed her look with towering studded heels, and wore her blonde locks out for the wild, invite-only party. The raunchy social media star kept her accessories minimal, carrying a simple clutch for her necessities. Rebecca, an adult model who is the niece of the late 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin, showed off her figure in a barely there swimsuit Married At First Sight star Tamara Djordjevic also made sure she was still in the headlines ahead of the new season premiere next week. The reality TV star turned heads in a tiny pink bikini as she posed with fellow MAFS bride Samantha Moitzi outside the gates of Beynon's mansion. Tamara kept things relatively classy, covering up her bottom half with a mini sarong as she posed beside an array of expensive cars. Married at First Sight's Tamara Djordjevic (right) turned heads in a tiny pink bikini as she posed with fellow MAFS bride Samantha Moitzi (left) outside the gates of Beynon's mansion She completed her look with a Louis Vuitton bag and pink slides. Samantha opted for a white bikini, crocheted cover-up and always-fashionable black bag for the debaucherous event. Later in the evening, she was seen having fun with her gal pal in the swimming pool. Later in the evening, Tamara was seen having fun with her gal pal in the pool Sun's out, tongues out! Samantha unleashed her cheeky side once inside the party Beynon, 50, looked every inch the stylish host in a white ensemble that featured an open waistcoat to highlight his muscular, tanned physique and matching pants. The buff Freechoice Tobacco entrepreneur completed his look with a stylish Panama hat and designer shades. He posed with his glamorous wife Taesha, who had heads spinning in a pink leather bustier and racy bottoms entangled in a spider's web of crisscross detailing. The brunette bombshell was later seen kissing a fellow partygoer. Beynon, 50, looked every inch the stylish host in a white ensemble that featured an open waistcoat to highlight his muscular, tanned physique and matching pants The buff Freechoice Tobacco entrepreneur completed his look with a stylish Panama hat and designer shades. He posed with his glamorous wife Taesha and their shared girlfriend Beynon is the owner and managing director of the Freechoice Tobacco chain, and is said to have a net worth of $200million Brunette bombshell Taesha was seen kissing a fellow partygoer Travers certainly had his hands full on the night Travers is the owner and managing director of the Freechoice tobacco chain and it is said to be worth $200 million. His extravagant Australia Day party is the hottest ticket on the Gold Coast with only 1200 hand-picked guests invited. The Candy Shop Mansion boasts 15 bedrooms, 19 bathrooms and a 21-car garage with a 250,000-litre infinity pool and swim-up bar. Also in attendance on the night was Travers' children, son Valentino (right), and fashion model daughter Lucciana (left) Valentino made a style statement in a bold printed shirt and skin tight black shorts. He completed his look with a pair of Louis Vuitton sneakers and designer shades. Pictured, left, Jade Pywell Travers' children, son Valentino and fashion model daughter Lucciana, were also in attendance. Valentino made a style statement in a bold printed shirt and skin tight black shorts. He completed his look with a pair of Louis Vuitton sneakers and designer shades. Lucciana, meanwhile, turned up the heat in an off-white bikini top that could barely contain her ample assets, matched with a floor length skirt with a thigh-high split. She completed her look with a pair of strappy heels. It wasn't long before the event got wild, with many throwing caution to the wind. Travers is the owner and managing director of the Freechoice tobacco chain and it is said to be worth $200 million It wasn't long before the event got wild, with many throwing caution to the wind One leggy blonde donned a bikini adorned with the Australian flag Travers' extravagant Australia Day party is the hottest ticket on the Gold Coast with only 1200 hand-picked guests invited The Candy Shop Mansion boasts 15 bedrooms, 19 bathrooms and a 21-car garage with a 250,000-litre infinity pool and swim-up bar Two guests pulled together quite the look, with one favouring a baby doll dress, while the other opted for a more daring style Bare bottoms and tan lines were a sight to behold at the exclusive event One invitee decided to squeeze in some yoga on the Candyman's well-manicured lawn There was a lot to laugh about on the public holiday Guests who worked up an appetite were well looked after Ashley Roberts has stripped completely naked while getting steamy in the sauna following a sweaty workout. The former Pussycat Doll, 41, took to Instagram on Wednesday afternoon after heading to the London Cryo wellness centre in Belgravia. Following her shift at Heart FM in the morning alongside co-star Amanda Holden, the TV and radio presenter put her incredible physique on display while posing up a storm with nothing on. Sizzling: Ashley Roberts has stripped completely naked while getting steamy in the sauna following a sweaty workout The snaps were shared with her 702,000 followers on the social media platform via her stories, where she posted multiple takes of her in the red-lit room. Throwing her blonde tresses into a high-top messy bun, Ashley let her tousled fringe frame her face. She let her figure do the talking as she posed with her posterior facing the camera and giving a look back. Another angle also showed her curves side-on, with her leg pictured hanging over the seat of the sauna, showing she was wearing nothing. Naked:The former Pussycat Doll, 41, took to Instagram on Wednesday afternoon after heading to the London Cryo wellness centre in Belgravia Stripping down: Following her shift at Heart FM in the morning alongside co-star Amanda Holden, the TV and radio presenter put her incredible physique on display while posing up a storm with nothing on She held onto a white towel which sat on her midriff while she showed off her bare body. Ashley captioned the sexy snaps: 'I'm hooked to the heat hunni'. The radio host headed into work on Thursday morning looking chic as ever and refreshed from her trip to the spa. With a full face of makeup and her signature ponytail styled with her fringe perfectly, Ashley wore a ribbed mini dress which put her slim pins on display. Stepping out: The radio host headed into work on Thursday morning looking chic as ever and refreshed from her trip to the spa Feeling refreshed: With a full face of makeup and her signature ponytail styled with her fringe perfectly, Ashley wore a ribbed mini dress which put her slim pins on display She slipped her feet into a pair of leather heeled boots which complimented her white leather handbag. Ashley's long stone-coloured trench coat reached her ankles and kept her warm on a chilly day for the capital. She added a pair of funky black sunglasses while heading into her shift for the morning while stepping through Leicester Square. It comes after Ashley's stalker has been in the docks on trial at Croydon Crown Court. Wow: She slipped her feet into a pair of leather heeled boots which complimented her white leather handbag Lewis Langley, 47, is said to have regularly 'loitered' outside the Heart Radio DJ's office building in Leicester Square, central London. On one occasion in October last year, he allegedly followed the former Strictly Come Dancing star as she left to get into her waiting car before blowing kisses at her through the window. He is said to have regularly attended the DJ's workplace early in the morning as Ms Roberts arrived, during a stalking campaign between May and October last year. Langley was arrested in August last year, when the police told Ms Roberts he had mental health issues and believed he was in a 'romantic relationship' with her, the court heard. She recently sparked a huge debate after revealing how often she changes her bedding. And Stacey Solomon was dishing out more handy tips on Wednesday as her organisation show Sort Your Life Out returned for a second series. As they helped a family of four rid their home of clutter, the Loose Women star, 33, and her crack team of storage and cleaning experts offered advice on how to save money amid the cost of living crisis, including the act of bulk buying. Helping hand: Stacey Solomon was dishing out more handy tips on Wednesday as her organisation show Sort Your Life Out returned for a second series The episode saw Stacey, professional organizer Dilly Carter, carpenter Robert Brent and cleaning expert Iwan Carrington head to the two-bedroom rented London home of High school sweethearts Charlotte and Dan and their two daughters Mia and Cece. There, they attempted to help the family transform their home and make more space by sorting out their mounds of belongings and clutter, with the kitchen in particular brimming with excess products. But as Dilly urged the family to stop bulk buying unless they have space after spotting an unused bottles of ketchup, Stacey was quick to jump in and point out that buying in bulk could save poorer families money in the long run. Tips: The Loose Women star, 33, and her crack team of storage and cleaning experts offered advice on how to save money amid the cost of living crisis, including the act of bulk buying She remarked: 'Sometimes it's so much cheaper to bulk buy, whether you've got the space or not. 'It's not fair that the people with the big houses get to save on their products and the people with the small houses have to buy individuals.' Going on to encourage the act, the soon-to-be mother-of-five chanted: 'Bulk buying for everyone!' Meanwhile, Iwan shared handy cleaning advice that could help people save money on their heating bill. Cluttered: They attempted to help the family transform their home and make more space by sorting out their mounds of belongings and clutter, with the kitchen in particular brimming with excess products Remark: As Dilly urged the family to stop bulk buying unless they have space, Stacey was quick to jump in and point out that buying in bulk could save poorer families money in the long run Advice: 'Sometimes it's so much cheaper to bulk buy, whether you've got the space or not. It's not fair that the people with the big houses get to save on their products and the people with the small houses have to buy individuals' Once the house was empty, with the family's possessions in a local warehouse for sorting, Iwan headed back into the home to demonstrate his cleaning trick with the help of a microfibre radiator brush that looked like 'Marge Simpson's hair.' He explained: 'This is really perfect for getting in between these convector fins. 'These are the bits in your radiator that transfer all the heat, and what happens if all the dust is in there it actually stops them working so effectively.' With the removal of the built up dust, the circulation and efficiency of the radiator would improve making it cheaper to run and thus saving money. Team: Stacey, professional organizer Dilly Carter, carpenter Robert Brent and cleaning expert Iwan Carrington headed to the two-bedroom rented London home of Charlotte and Dan and their two daughters Genius; Meanwhile, Iwan shared handy cleaning advice that could help people save money on their heating bill It comes after Stacey caused a stir by revealing how often she changes her bedding during a radio appearance on Tuesday morning. The Sort Your Life Out host, who has garnered thousands of fans over her tidying tricks, weighed in on how regularly bed linen should be changed. Stacey was quizzed by Hits Radio host James Barr, who asked how long he should be switching his bedding now that he is recently single. The pregnant TV star initially said: 'Once a week, I'd say.' Debate: It comes after Stacey caused a stir by revealing how often she changes her bedding during a radio appearance on Tuesday morning James reacted with surprise and Stacey then changed her answer to once a month, encouraging him to 'wallow in his own filth'. She then said: 'Do you know what? While you are single and enjoying that life, wallow in your own filth for a little while. 'You've got no one to impress. You know when you're single and you don't have to shave your legs ? So you just go full Gruffalo. I feel it's the same.' Katie Piper is heading to the US to film a brand new documentary for the W channel, where she will investigate women who are pregnant while in prison. The TV personality, 39, will be visiting females who are juggling pregnancy while serving their time, as they face heart-wrenching decisions on the fate of their children. Dubbed Katie Piper: Babies Behind Bars, the series will feature five episodes and is set to begin filming next month for a late 2023 release. 'I have no idea what to expect': Katie Piper, 39, is setting out to investigate pregnant mothers inside US prisons for her touching new Babies Behind Bars documentary The author and Loose Women panellist is set to immerse herself in the United States judicial system for the new series. Already a volunteer in UK prisons, Katie is intrigued to see how different things will be across the pond in some of the most spoken-about prisons. She explained: 'I am thrilled to be working with the W Channel in 2023. I have always had a strong interest in real-life documentary formats and Piper Behind Bars is already proving to be a fascinating project. 'As a long-standing volunteer in UK womens prisons, Im intrigued by the varying treatment within the US system. Mothers in prison: The author and Loose Women panellist is set to immerse herself in the United States judicial system for the new series about mothers inside prison (pictured with her daughter penelope, now five) Mother: Katie has two children with husband Richard James Sutton; Belle Elizabeth, eight, and Penelope, five - and is intrigued to see how pregnant women are treated behind bars 'I have no idea what to expect when Im across the Atlantic, but thats the magic of a documentary. I can't wait to see how this project unfolds.' The blonde beauty will be talking with women who are not only negotiating a prison term but who are also parents and coming to terms with what that means for their children's future. While the series will also look into how women in prisons are looked after and treated while pregnant. She explained: 'I have no idea what to expect when Im across the Atlantic, but thats the magic of a documentary. I can't wait to see how this project unfolds' Katie has two children with husband Richard James Sutton; Belle Elizabeth, eight, and Penelope, five. The show's comissioning editor shared: 'The complexities of women within the criminal justice system is a subject that desperately needs to be explored further and with Katie at the helm we hope to ask a pivotal question about whether anyone should ever have to give birth behind bar'. And it's not the first time she has taken to the screen in a documentary format, appearing in four part series Katie: My Beautiful Face in 2009 and Katie: My Beautiful Friends in 2011. The first series came a year after Katie was the victim of a vicious acid attack, deciding to tell her story through the documentary. While the second followed her progress two years after the attack and also showed her setting up her charity, the Katie Piper Foundation. Following her journey to rebuilding her face after the attck, she also appeared on Channel 4 show Katie: The Science of Seeing Again. Katie Piper: Babies Behind Bars will air on Channel W and UKTV Play in 2023. She's well-known for playing hapless Heather Trott in EastEnders, who was sadly killed off from the BBC soap back in 2012. But Cheryl Fergison looked worlds away from the frumpy launderette worker as she put on a glam display to attend the press night for Dirty Dancing at the Dominion Theatre in London on Wednesday. The actress, 57, displayed a slimmed down figure from her time on the box, looking lovely in an all-black ensemble worn under a long open patterned shirt. Wow! Ex-EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison, (left) looked worlds apart from onscreen character Heather Trott at the press night for Dirty Dancing at the Dominion Theatre on Wednesday She covered her curly locks with a black beret and completed her look with a slick of berry lipstick and her character's famous alice band was nowhere in sight. Cheryl has credited her off her transformation with a recently re-discovered love of roller-skating. Sharing a picture of herself on her skates, she wrote on Instagram: 'Not been on Roller Skates since I was about 13 years old. Back at it: Cheryl has credited her off her transformation with a recently re-discovered love of roller-skating saying: 'the fear of falling now is real' 'I wasnt a bad skater from 7-13 but then never went again until today the fear of falling now is real. 'But the fun and exercise is a real feel good factor and so cheap too 5 to Skate and 2 roller boot hire blooming bargain and such family fun too.' Cheryl first appeared in EastEnders in 2007 and was involved in a number of storylines including her marriage to Minty Peterson and having a baby with Darren Miller. Smiling Cheryl looked lovely as she posed for pictures at the Dominian theatre on her night out Stylish: She wore an all-black ensemble with a patterned open long shirt worn over the top Heather was later killed off in 2012 when Ben Mitchell hit her over the head with a photo frame. Last year, Cheryl insisted her husband Yassine el Jamouni isn't a 'gold digger' after being subjected to cruel trolls, and said that they are still happily married 12 years on. She exchanged vows with the rarely-seen shop assistant, 36, back in 2011 - however their relationship has been plagued with doubts. She went on to claim the naysayers are sexist and that they wouldn't question Mick Jagger, 79, for his union with ballerina Melanie Hamrick, 36. She told The Mirror: 'The world has become so cynical. People think it's got to be a con, it's got to be a problem. But I say, "It hasn't got to be anything. Just stop it!" Stunning: The former EastEnders star looked incredible last year in a paisley dress when she attended a festival in Cheshire 'It seems to be quite cool for the men, like Mick Jagger, to date younger. And it seems okay for them to have someone else two years later. 'Well we don't care. It really is absolutely water off a duck's back to us now. I just feel sorry for them, that they need to criticise our life.' Despite Heather being unlucky in love, in real life, the actress enjoyed a whirlwind romance with her second husband after meeting him online in 2010. She soon jetted out to his hometown of Agadir and they got hitched by the following June. Cheryl previously revealed she didn't reveal her identity to the Moroccan for five months after they starting messaging online. Amazing: The star first appeared in EastEnders in 2007 and was involved in a number of storylines including her marriage to Minty Peterson and having a baby with Darren Miller (pictured in 2011) Talking to Loose Women in 2017, the soap star said she enjoyed an 'old-fashioned' courtship with her then 30-year-old partner. She said: 'We met online and wrote to one another on the computer and spoke on the computer. It was very old-fashioned. 'He didn't know what I did for a living. I didn't show him my picture. It was five months of chat before we met each other. 'I saw him and it was like "ping". I knew he was the man I was going to marry and I had been married once before.' Addressing the 21-year age gap, Cheryl said that 'age doesn't matter' and 'no one blinks when a man does it.' She continued: 'Thank goodness we're not all the same. I think do whatever you are comfortable with.' Billionaire Bill Gates was spotted attending the Australian Open in Melbourne on Thursday night. The Microsoft founder, 67, kept a low profile in a black cap as he watched the women's semi-finals with his sister Kristianne Gates. The tech tycoon and philanthropist was all smiles as he watched the match between Elena Rybakina and Victoria Azarenka. Billionaire Bill Gates sat courtside at the Australian Open as he watched the women's semi-finals with his sister Kristianne on Thursday night He wore a beige shirt and matching coloured shorts as he pointed to the players and chatted to his sister. The Microsoft founder is currently down under after attending a meeting with Anthony Albanese, the Prime Minister of Australia. The two met at the PM's residence at Kirribilli House to discuss climate change, energy and health issues. The Microsoft founder, 67, kept in a low profile in a black cap as he watched the women's semi-finals with his sister Kristianne Gates is visiting the country with the Gates Foundation and representatives from his Breakthrough Energy company, which drives innovation in sustainable energy and in technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He thanked and commended the prime minister for his 'great partnership' on international health issues, including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Gates also made headlines on his trip after warning that Australia had to be ready for the next pandemic, which he said could be man-made and far more brutal than Covid-19. The tech tycoon and philanthropist watched the match between Elena Rybakina and Victoria Azarenka Speaking to the Lowry Institute in Sydney earlier this week, Gates said political leaders needed to set aside their differences and work together to prepare for the next virus. 'With the pandemic we were foolish not to have the tools, the practice and global capacity to be on standby like we do with fire or earthquakes,' he said. The billionaire philanthropist called for greater global cooperation and said that the Covid-19 pandemic as an example of how countries could improve on their response if they worked together. The Microsoft founder is currently down under after attending a meeting with Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of Australia But the tech pioneer has also been criticised for the use of his $70 million private jet while continuing to preach about the dangers of climate change. The $70m Gulfstream, which was spotted on the tarmac at Sydney's Kingsford Smith airport, burns around 1,700 litres of fuel per hour. Gates owns one private jet, which has drawn criticism from some of his critics. However, he is known to offset his carbon emissions by using sustainable jet fuel and providing funds to a direct air capture company to remove carbon dioxide from the air. She is yet to confirm rumours that she is pregnant with her second child. And Ferne McCann wrapped up warm in a cosy taupe teddy fur hoodie and black leggings as she headed home from the gym on Thursday. The former TOWIE star, 32, cut a casual figure in the simple cover-up as she walked back to her car following the workout. Relaxed: Ferne McCann, 32, wrapped up warm in a cosy taupe teddy fur hoodie and black leggings as she headed home from the gym on Thursday Keeping warm in the chilly January weather, Ferne opted for the loose taupe hooded top following her trip to the gym. The First Time Mum star sported her black exercise leggings with her brunette tresses swept up in a high ponytail. In recent weeks, rumours have been swirling that Ferne is expecting her second child, her first with fiance Lorri Haine. Out and about: The former TOWIE star cut a casual figure in the simple cover-up as she walked back to her car following the workout Keeping warm? Keeping warm in the chilly January weather, Ferne opted for the loose taupe hooded top following her trip to the gym Low-key: The First Time Mum star sported her black exercise leggings with her brunette tresses swept up in a high ponytail On Wednesday, she covered up in an oversized checked scarf and pinstripe blazer as she attended the Dirty Dancing musical press night at London's Dominion Theatre. Ferne seemed in high spirits as she enjoyed her night out amid claims she is pregnant with her second child. The First Time Mum star is yet to comment on the reports. A friend told The Sun last week: 'Ferne is over the moon. From the moment she met Lorri she knew she wanted to marry him and have his kids. Stepping out! Ferne's outing comes after it was reported that she is pregnant with her second child, though she is yet to comment on the claims Low-key: With her water bottle and phone in hand, Ferne was seen making her way home from the gym Radiant: On Wednesday, Ferne covered up in an oversized checked scarf and pinstripe blazer as she attended the Dirty Dancing musical press night at London's Dominion Theatre Glowing: She kept cosy in a pale pink beret and oversized checked scarf, teamed with a maroon jumper, pinstripe blazer and leggings Stunning: Ferne seemed in high spirits as she enjoyed her night out amid claims she is pregnant with her second child 'They're both ready to commit and are looking forward to their future together.' She is said to be expecting a baby with her businessman fiance Lorri, 31, six months after the couple announced their engagement. Mother-of-one Ferne met her partner during a trip to Dubai just over one year ago and he proposed during a romantic holiday to France in July 2022 after just six months of dating. Ferne has a daughter Sunday, five, from a previous relationship with jailed acid attacker ex-boyfriend Arthur Collins. Chic: The former TOWIE personality completed her look by rocking a pair of chunky black boots and styled her short brunette tresses poker straight Lorri also has a son the same age as Sunday with his former partner. Ferne has made no secret of her desire to start a family with her partner of a year, saying she wanted a baby before the couple started planning their wedding. Speaking in September after announcing her engagement, Ferne told Closer magazine: 'I haven't thought too much about wedding plans, we made the decision that we would like to have another baby first. 'I'd love for Sunday to have a sibling, and extend and grow our family. I really want a baby now, I'm so ready, but every baby is a miracle, and it will happen when it's meant to be.' Looking to the future, Ferne said she definitely wants to have more children and joked about having as many as 10 kids, adding that she wants to move to the countryside by the time she is 40. Happy news: Ferne is believed to be expecting her second child - her first with businessman fiance Lorri Haines, 31 (pictured together last month) Ferne's first pregnancy with Sunday was marred with controversy after her boyfriend at the time, Arthur Collins, was arrested for orchestrating an acid attack. Collins is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being found guilty of carrying out a brutal acid attack in 2017. Ferne has raised Sunday as a single parent. Earlier this month, Ferne heaped praise upon Lorri as she shared a photo dump to Instagram on their one-year anniversary. The TV personality looked happier than ever as she cosied up to the businessman during a luxury getaway to Soho Farmhouse private members' club in Oxfordshire. Ferne posted photos of the couple enjoying a stroll in the countryside, as well as a cycle and a roast dinner, before they posed for a beaming mirror selfie in matching robes. Cute: Mother-of-one Ferne met her partner during a trip to Dubai just over one year ago and he proposed during a romantic holiday to France in July 2022 after just six months of dating She wrote in her caption: 'Celebrating our one year anniversary. I've learnt so much about love since being in this relationship. Perhaps before I had a warped idea of what love actually was. 'Love isn't all happiness. Romantic dates, lust, laughter, snuggles, cosy dinners and endless joy. No, love means warts n all & showing up no matter what. 'The good the bad and the ugly. So Thankyou @lozzahaines for showing up through the good times and the really really really s**tty times! 'It's not been the easiest first year of a relationship but it's also not been a total write off. So with the ebb and flows, I am super happy to have you by my side. Here's to many more babe.' Pete Wicks has confirmed his shock departure from The Only Way is Essex, after seven years on the show. The reality star, 34, shared a lengthy post on his Instagram stories on Thursday, thanking fans for their support over the years and saying 'the time has come for me to take a step back'. It comes after MailOnline exclusively revealed that Pete was leaving the show and set to announce his departure. 'The time has come for me to take a step back': Pete Wicks thanked fans for their support on Thursday as he confirmed his shock departure from TOWIE 'Just wanted to let you all know that the time has come for me to take a step back from TOWIE as a regular cast member,' his post began. 'The show has been a massive part of my life for such a long time and has opened so many doors for me in my career.' He then went on to thanks staff and production and his devoted fans. 'As much as I am excited to move into a new chapter in my life, I will sincerely miss filming every day with the cast and crew.' Shock exit: He has been on the show for seven years 'Just wanted to let you all know that the time has come for me to take a step back from TOWIE as a regular cast member,' his post began He added: 'Lastly, I just want to say thank you to the fans of the show for your support and putting up with having to see my face on your screens every week!' 'Don't stress thought, you may still see me pop up every now and then, I will always be part of the TOWIE (highly dysfunctional) family.' MailOnline revealed on Wednesday that Pete had sensationally quit the show after seven years. The reality personality, 34, quit the series to focus on new TV projects. After seven years on the show, which has seen the long-haired hunk rise to fame thanks to his relationships with former cast mates Megan McKenna, 30, Chloe Sims, 41, and Ella Rae Wise, 22, Pete is looking to explore fresh opportunities away from the world of reality TV. A source told MailOnline Pete's departure was a huge blow for ITVBe executives, who already suffered the loss of longstanding cast member Chloe, as well as her sisters Demi and Frankie, last year. Moving on: MailOnline revealed on Wednesday that Pete had sensationally quit the show after seven years An insider revealed: 'Pete is a hugely loved member of TOWIE both among viewers and the cast. 'But it's time for him to move on now, he's slightly older than the rest of the cast, and he's hoping to achieve more in his career after being on the show for such a long time. 'It's been a monumental stint and his storylines will go down in TOWIE history but for now he's taking a step away.' A second source added: 'Pete will continue to cameo on TOWIE when it makes sense to appear alongside his friends, but he will no longer be a fully-fledged cast member.' What a stint! After seven years on the show, which has seen the long-haired hunk rise to fame thanks to his relationship with ex co-star Megan McKenna, Pete is looking to explore fresh opportunities (pictured in 2016) Huge blow: A source told MailOnline Pete's departure has been a huge blow for ITVBe executives, who already suffered the loss of longstanding cast member Chloe Sims last year (pictured in 2019) Pete joined TOWIE in 2015 introduced as James Lock's best pal and immediately set eyes on Jess Wright. He soon became a main character on the series, romancing the likes of The X Factor: Celebrity winner Megan, who he had a tempestuous relationship with. Their romance came to an explosive end when Megan discovered Pete had been sending explicit text messages to his ex-girlfriend Jacqui Ryland. He dated Miss Great Britain and co-star Shelby Tribble, who's since had a baby with former TOWIE cast member Sam Mucklow. He later had a rocky relationship with Chloe, who was left brokenhearted when Pete wasn't prepared to commit and it dramatically impacted their friendship. Remember that? Pete joined TOWIE in 2015 introduced as James Lock's best pal and immediately set eyes on Jess Wright (pictured in 2017) Pete became known for his womanising ways, which in recent years has been captured on E4 series Celebs Go Dating. He most recently shared a 'flirty friendship' with co-star Ella, who's 12 years his junior. The TV star is the latest in a long line of veterans that have left the show in recent years including Gemma Collins, Bobby Norris, James Argent, and Liam Gatsby. After meeting on Celebs Go Dating in 2018, Pete and Made In Chelsea's Sam Thompson became close friends and have collaborated on many social media videos, as well as presenting Pete & Sam's Reality News together on E4. The duo are also starting to record the second series of their podcast Staying Relevant this week. Last year, Pete was forced to quit Channel 4 show SAS: Who Dares Wins after he was challenged to jump out a helicopter into a lake but managed to knocked himself unconscious with his huge backpack. He suffered from broken ribs and admitted the experience would 'f***ing haunt him' because he doesn't usually 'fail things'. Emily Atack has spoken out about the barrage of explicit messages she receives on a daily basis in the first trailer for her new BBC Two show Emily Atack: Asking For It? The TV presenter, 33, has had to put up with online sexual harrassment since her teens and in the trailer and admitted she is 'nervous' about going public with them. The comedian admitted she sometimes worries if the messages are 'her fault' because she shares snaps of herself in bikinis and other revealing clothing online. Horrifying: Emily Atack has spoken out about the barrage of explicit messages she receives on a daily basis in the first trailer for her new BBC Two show Emily Atack: Asking For It? In the trailer, Emily says: 'Every morning when I wake up, I see a man's penis I haven't asked to see.' The former Inbetweeners actress is seen in her kitchen, scrolling through her phone, as she counts the number of messages she's received. She says: 'This morning, I've had... Does, I want to see your t**s count?... 37. This man sends me pictures of him doing handstands all the time. She adds: 'Eight o'clock this morning, this lovely, big, veiny penis there. That actually did put me off my scrambled eggs to be fair.' Candid: The TV presenter, 33, has had to put up with online sexual harrassment since her teens and in the trailer and admitted she is 'nervous' about going public with them Several sexually explicit messages Emily has received online appeared on screen as she can be herd saying: 'It's the ultimate disrespect. 'It's the ultimate thing of going, "I think you're easy access and you're up for it." 'It was in lockdown when things got really, really bad. I felt sick knowing what I was about to see. And I started to put up these messages on my Instagram. 'I wanted to know how many other people were receiving them. It made me realise it's happening to so many people.' Emily said: 'It was in lockdown when things got really, really bad. I felt sick knowing what I was about to see' Show: The comedian admitted she sometimes worries if the messages are 'her fault' because she shares snaps of herself in bikinis and other revealing clothing online Trolls: Several sexually explicit messages Emily has received online appeared on screen as she can be herd saying: 'It's the ultimate disrespect' Emily is then seen speaking to several other women - including a teenage girl - who have been subjected to online sexual harassment. At the conclusion of the trailer, she says: 'I want it to stop. It's about catching these people before they do the worst thing. This is what people have to understand. 'I'm nervous about going public about all of this because I put bikini photos up on my Instagram. You know, I talk about sex in my shows and I'm very cheeky and flirty. 'There'll be people saying, "you asked for this negative attention, what do you expect?" You do sit there and go, "is this my fault? Is this something I'm putting out there?" ' Documentary: At the conclusion of the trailer, she says: 'I want it to stop. It's about catching these people before they do the worst thing. This is what people have to understand' In April last year, Emily hit out at her male fans who bombard her with unsolicited pictures of their penises on social media. The actress said she's likely to receive 'about 10 penises I have not asked to see' before breakfast. She told the Mirror at the time: 'If someone sends me a sexually explicit message, I'm like, "Why have they said that to me?" 'It makes you question who you are and why you're single.' Speaking about her love life, she also joked: 'I try and stay away from things that aren't good for me.' Emily Atack: Asking For It? airs from January 31 on BBC iPlayer. EastEnders' Whitney Dean and Zack Hudson will discover that their unborn baby has been diagnosed with Edwards Syndrome in a hard-hitting new storyline. The mother-to-be will learn of her child's birth defect in an upcoming ultrasound, with bosses working closely with Antenatal Results and Choices and SOFT UK to accurately portray the impact of the genetic condition. Whitney's heartache around her baby's diagnosis comes as Zack continues to keep his positive HIV status a secret from her, despite insistence from his family that he needs to tell the truth. Sad: EastEnders' Whitney Dean and Zack Hudson will discover that their unborn baby has been diagnosed with Edwards Syndrome in a hard-hitting new storyline Whitney (Shona McGarty) and Zack (James Farrar) will receive the diagnosis later this month when an ultrasound scan identifies a birth defect which prompts further testing. EastEnders is working closely with Antenatal Results and Choices and SOFT UK to accurately reflect and raise awareness of Edwards' Syndrome whilst sensitively portraying the tough decisions that prospective parents are faced with following a diagnosis. Edwards Syndrome, is a rare but serious genetic condition, and 95 per cent of babies with the disorder die before they are born, while those delivered tend to pass away within minutes. If a baby survives, symptoms can include low birth weight, cleft lip or palate, heart and kidney problems, hernias, bone abnormalities, frequent lung and urinary infections and severe learning disabilities. Tragic: The mother-to-be will learn of her child's birth defect in an upcoming ultrasound, with bosses working closely with Antenatal Results and Choices and SOFT UK Jan Fowler, Chair at SOFT UK said: 'At SOFT UK, we support families impacted by Edwards' or Patau's Syndrome and we were pleased to be able to work with the EastEnders team on how they could approach the story of Whitney and Zack's baby's diagnosis of Edwards' Syndrome in an accurate and sensitive way. 'Around 3 in every 10,000 births in the UK are affected by Edwards' syndrome each year and many parents contact SOFT for help. 'We provide parents with comprehensive advice and support whether they decide to end their pregnancy or to continue. We also support families whose living children have Edwards' or Patau's.' Scary: Whitney and Zack will receive the diagnosis later this month when an ultrasound scan identifies a birth defect which prompts further testing (pictured in a previous episode) WHAT IS EDWARDS' SYNDROME? Edwards' syndrome, also known as trisomy 18, is a rare but serious genetic condition. More than 95 per cent of babies with the disorder die before they are born, statistics show. Those that are delivered tend to pass away within minutes. Some infants with a less severe form of the disease live beyond a year, but it is very rare to survive into adulthood. Edwards' syndrome occurs when a baby has three copies of chromosome number 18, rather than the usual two. This severely disrupts their development. The condition is thought to affect between one in every 6,000 to 8,000 births worldwide. It is rarely inherited and usually comes about at a random time during the formation of the sperm or egg. If a baby survives, symptoms include: Low birth weight Small, abnormally-shaped head Small jaw and mouth Long fingers that overlap and underdeveloped thumbs Low-set ears Cleft lip or palate Heart and kidney problems Feeding and breathing issues Hernias in the wall of the stomach Bone abnormalities that lead to a curved spine Frequent lung and urinary infections Severe learning disabilities Edwards' syndrome is looked for in the scan pregnant women are offered on the NHS at 10-to-14 weeks. Some women choose to terminate their pregnancy if Edwards' syndrome is diagnosed. There is no cure. Treatment focuses on addressing life-threatening issues, such as infections and heart defects. If a child survives, they may need phsyio or occupational therapy to help with their movement. Source: NHS Advertisement Jane Fisher, Director at Antenatal Results and Choices said: 'At ARC we hear daily from expectant parents dealing with the shock of being told their baby is not developing as expected, as is sadly the case for those who receive an Edwards' Syndrome diagnosis. 'This is a distressing and often isolating time for expectant parents as they try and navigate their next steps in a state of emotional turmoil and it's rarely spoken about. 'Well done EastEnders for tackling this difficult subject and we are pleased they involved us to help them treat the storyline with such sensitivity and compassion.' Chris Clenshaw, EastEnders' Executive Producer said: 'It was imperative for us to work alongside Antenatal Results and Choices and SOFT UK to accurately present, and sensitively portray, such an emotional storyline that many parents may relate to. 'Shona [McGarty] and James' [Farrar] performances have thoughtfully portrayed the realities of the diagnosis and the decision making process with compassion and understanding. 'We hope that this story resonates with the audience, and that we represent it as sensitively, and as accurately as possible.' What's happened? It was revealed earlier this week that Whitney will receive concerning news about her pregnancy in next week's episodes It was revealed earlier this week that Whitney will receive concerning news about her pregnancy in next week's episodes of EastEnders, Whitney becomes concerned when she starts spotting and heads to the hospital to be checked out, and is stunned when her doctor shares her ultrasound has flagged up a situation with her child. As Whitney comes to terms with the news, Zack admits he feels deeply shameful of his HIV diagnosis, and despite Sam Mitchell's insistences, refuses to share his status with the mother-to-be. Woes: Meanwhile, Zack admits that he is deeply shameful of his HIV diagnosis, and despite distancing himself from Whitney, is urged to come clean and tell her Desperate to keep a distance from Whitney, Zack tries to help her by asking Kat to give her the buggy she needs without revealing he bought it. Unaware of his HIV diagnosis, Kat (Jessie Wallace) can't understand why Zack won't be there for the baby, and he panics when he questions Sam on her decision to stay in Walford. When he tries to probe further, Zack says too much and Sam is suspicious. Sam realises the text from the GUM (genitourinary medicine) clinic was about Zack, and he tells her he's HIV positive. Scared: Whitney is panicked when she experiences spotting, and Kat offers to go with her to the hospital to get checked out Upsetting: At the hospital, Dr Lane shares the news with Whitney that something concerning has been flagged up on her ultrasound Meanwhile Whitney is panicked when she experiences spotting, and Kat offers to go with her to the hospital to get checked out. Having discovered he is HIV positive, Sam finds Zack to talk about his diagnosis and how she can be there for him. Zack admits he is feeling deep shame and terrified about the stigma surrounding HIV, and Sam is furious when he admits he hasn't picked up his medication, insisting he needs to be honest with Whitney. Speaking at last: After his conversation with Sam (pictured), Zack finally goes to see Whitney, and she reveals the news about their baby - will he come clean about his HIV diagnosis? Left in a daze by the news about her baby, Whitney struggles alone as Zack is yet to return her calls. Kat suggests that she shouldn't write him off just yet, and lets slip that he bought her the buggy. Later, Kat collars Zack, and he tells her he's going to Whitney's place straight away, and as he profusely apologises, Whitney reveals the news about the baby. Will Zack come clean to her about his HIV diagnosis? EastEnders airs on Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and iPlayer. Alessandra Ambrosio looked heavenly while out to dinner with some friends in Brazil on Wednesday night. The former Victoria's Secret model, 41, flaunted her fantastic figure while wearing a white slit dress in Ipanema, located in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, in her native country of Brazil. Her dress featured two cutouts on her stomach, with only a thin piece of fabric connecting the dress's top and bottom. Supermodel: Alessandra Ambrosio looked heavenly while out to dinner with some friends in Ipanema The cutouts showed off Alessandra's toned stomach, and the slit flaunted her fantastic legs. Her long locks were left down and straightened, and she kept jewelry to a minimum with a bracelet and earrings. For shoes, she wore a pair of yellow open-toed heels, and she carried with her an orange purse. Accompanying her at dinner were several of her friends, including one of her best friends, Matheus Mazzafera, and her business partner Gisele Coria. Also there was publicist Milan Blagojevic. Angelic: The 41-year-old wore a white slit dress featuring two cutouts on her stomach with only a thin piece of fabric connecting the dress's top and bottom Out on the town: The model was joined at the restaurant by Matheus Mazzafera, Gisele Coria, Raul Gutierrez and Milan Blagojevic among others The beauty also shared some photos on Instagram while at the beach in a white one-piece bathing suit that showed off her long supermodel legs. She posed up a storm with two of her pals, Matheus and Gisele. The beauty soaked in the sun in her swimsuit, which also had plunging neckline that cut off right below her chest and an open back. Alessandra accessorized with a number of gold jewelry pieces, including two chains and a bracelet. Stopping for a chat: She left her long locks down and straightened, and she kept jewelry to a minimum with a bracelet and earrings Pals: The beauty donned a white one-piece bathing suit that showed off her long supermodel legs She also sported a pair of sunglasses and wore her brunette locks down and unstyled. The GAL Floripa co-founder captioned her post: 'Rio 40.' In one of the pictures, Matheus held his thumbs up as Alessandra draped one arm over his shoulders. For another, the pair were turned towards each other and laughing. Another shot included Gisele, who is also a co-founder of Alessandra's brand GAL Floripa. Soaking in the sun: The GAL Floripa co-founter took photos with one of her best friends, Matheus Mazzafera and her business partner Gisele Coria Laughs: Alessandra sported a pair of sunglasses and wore her brunette locks down and unstyled The outings come as the homesick model revealed she was missing her kids, as she shared an old snap of herself in bed with her 10-year-old son Noah Phoenix Mazur on Sunday. The CAA Model captioned her Instagram post with the Portuguese phrase 'my cuddle.' Alessandra shares custody of Noah and daughter Anja, 14, with ex-fiance Jamie Mazur. Chloe Burrows turned heads in a skintight racy black jumpsuit on Wednesday as she posed for sizzling snaps on Instagram ahead of partying in Miami. The former Love Island star, 26, wowed in the daring extreme plunging number which boasted two cut-outs on her waist. She added inches to her frame in a pair of strappy matching heels and toted her belongings around in a designer bag. Hot! Braless Chloe Burrows turned heads in an extreme plunging racy black jumpsuit on Wednesday as she posed for sizzling snaps on Instagram ahead of partying in Miami The reality star slicked her long blonde tresses back in a stylish ponytail from a centre parting as she posed in her hotel room by a large window. Chloe turned up the heat by accessorised with several pieces of gold jewellery and applied a flawless palette of makeup to accentuate her beauty. She penned to the post: 'We in Miami!' Dressed to impress: The former Love Island star, 26, wowed in the daring extreme plunging number which she teamed with strappy matching heels while posing in a hotel room Chloe is joined on the lavish getaway by former Love Island co-star Millie Court as the pair attended the Magic Mike's Last Dance premiere on Wednesday evening. The blonde duo posed up a storm for a gallery of snaps as they hit the star studded red carpet together. Chloe looked sensational in a stylish brown glittering mini skirt and coordinated tank top as she posed on the red carpet. Meanwhile Millie left little to the imagination as she flashed her under boobs in a racy black cut out dress. Selfie! Chloe is joined on the lavish getaway by former Love Island co-star Millie Court as the pair attended the Magic Mike's Last Dance premiere on Wednesday evening Posing up a storm: The blonde duo posed up a storm for a gallery of snaps as they hit the star studded red carpet together Giving the film a review after, Chloe said: 'That is the sexiest film I have ever seen. I don't really go to the cinema but if you go, go and see Channing Tatum take his clothes off and the sexy dancing.' Millie added: 'He's so fit!' It comes after Chloe and Millie returned from an incredible trip to Dubai earlier this month where they also openly documented their break on social media. The pair found fame on series seven of Love Island, Chloe came runner up with then boyfriend Toby Aromolaran to Millie and then beau Liam Reardon. She has escaped the frosty British weather by jetting off to Mexico. And Maura Higgins put on a leggy display as she enjoyed a late night trip to the beach in Tulum on Wednesday. The former Love Island star, 32, looked incredible as she donned a white sleeveless dress with a high leg split and plunging neckline. Looking good Maura Higgins put on a leggy display in a white sleeveless dress as she enjoyed a late night trip to the beach in Tulum on Wednesday The garment highlighted the model's jaw-dropping figure while she also sported a pair of beige boots. Styling her brunette locks into curls, Maura showcased her sun-kissed tan as she made the most of her trip. Wearing a light palette of makeup, the Irish beauty completed her look with a pair of silver hoop earrings. On Monday, Maura displayed her washboard abs in a very skimpy bikini during another trip to the beach. Pose: The garment highlighted the model's jaw-dropping figure while she also sported a pair of beige boots The reality star looked incredible in the floral patterned two-piece while sipping on a coconut. It comes after Maura had an unexpected brush with a famous face as she caught an early morning flight last Wednesday. The former Love Island star took to her Instagram Stories to reveal that she had bumped into Northern Irish actor Jamie Dornan in the airport. She shared a smiling selfie of them both and cheekily wrote alongside the snap, 'wearing grey for Mr Grey', referring to his role as Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades trilogy. Sun-kissed: On Monday, Maura displayed her washboard abs in a very skimpy bikini during another trip to the beach Famous face: It comes after Maura had an unexpected meeting with Irish actor Jamie Dornan as she caught an early morning flight last Wednesday In the picture, Irish TV personality Maura cut a sporty figure in a short-sleeved grey T-shirt and showed off her natural good looks as she went make-up free. She swept her brunette tresses back into a ponytail with strands falling loosely around her face and flashed a huge grin as she posed with Jamie. The Fall star Jamie kept it casual in a grey T-shirt, which he teamed with a white hoodie and black padded jacket. He sported a well-groomed beard and styled his dark locks in a curled slicked back style as he prepared to catch his flight. Yazmin Oukhellou has 'been in a secret feud' with her TOWIE co-stars Junaid Ahmed and Dani Imbert which is said to be another reason behind her shock exit from the show. Yesterday it was revealed that the reality star, 28, has decided to walk away from the hit ITVBe series almost six years after she first joined the show, according to The Sun. It was claimed that Yazmin has decided against joining the next series to process the 'trauma' of what she has been through with the loss of her ex boyfriend Jake McLean - and now it is understood a feud with her friends has contributed to her exit. Feud: Yazmin Oukhellou has 'been in a secret feud' with her TOWIE co-stars Junaid Ahmed and Dani Imbert which is said to be another reason behind her shock exit from the show Yaz has unfollowed Junaid and Dani on Instagram - and they the same to her - amid their bitter dispute. An insider told the publication: 'Yaz has fallen out with Junaid and Dani and no longer follows them on social media, while they have also unfollowed her. 'The reason for their beef is a bit of a mystery, but it's been rumbling for a while and things got pretty toxic.' 'While it wasn't the sole reason for Yaz choosing to leave Towie, it certainly contributed to her decision as she didn't want to film with them.' Reveal: Yesterday it was revealed that the reality star, 28, has decided to walk away from the hit ITVBe series almost six years after she first joined the show, according to The Sun "After what she has been through in the last year with the crash and losing Jake, she doesn't want that kind of friendship drama in her life." Yazmin's exit comes just seven months after escaping a horror car crash which killed her ex-boyfriend Jake McLean. Yazmin was caught up in a horror crash in Turkey in July when Jake's blue Mercedes E class saloon plunged down from a mountainous road and into a ravine in Bodrum. Split: Yaz has unfollowed Junaid and Dani on Instagram - and they the same to her - amid their bitter dispute Argument: An insider told the publication: 'Yaz has fallen out with Junaid and Dani and no longer follows them on social media, while they have also unfollowed her' An insider told the publication: 'Yaz has decided to step away from the next series of Towie and focus on recovering from the trauma of what she has been through over the last year. 'She needed a break after everything to process what's happened, so she has decided to leave the show and will not be in the next series. 'The door is always open for her to return, and Towie bosses were keen not to lose her but totally respected her wishes and want her to put herself first.' Exit: It was claimed that Yazmin has decided against joining the next series to process the 'trauma' of what she has been through with the loss of her ex boyfriend Jake McLean - and now it is understood a feud with her friends has contributed to her exit Hard times: Yazmin was caught up in a horror crash in Turkey in July when Jake's Mercedes E class saloon plunged down from a mountainous road and into a ravine in Bodrum Yazmin first appeared on TOWIE on its 20th series back in March 2017 alongside her then-boyfriend James Lock. The news of her reported departure comes just hours after MailOnline revealed that Pete Wicks is also quitting the show. MailOnline has contacted TOWIE and Yazmin's representatives for comment. In July, Yazmin was a passenger in the car with Jake when he crashed the vehicle in Turkey and lost his life at the age of 33. Stepping back: The reality TV star, 28, has decided to walk away from the hit ITVBe series almost six years after she first joined the show, according to reports The on-off couple were on holiday together when Jake crashed the car off a cliff in Bodrum and died at the scene. Yazmin told The Sun that to survive the smash she climbed down a cliff covered in blood with a broken arm and now she has permanent physical scarring. After being told by doctors that she was lucky to walk away from the devastating accident, Yazmin confessed to experiencing sleepless nights and needing therapy because she couldn't understand why she had been given a second chance at life. In July last year, she said: 'I severed an artery and a nerve, that's why I bled so much. The doctors called me an angel, a miracle, because it's a notorious spot and people have never survived. Horror crash: Yazmin told The Sun that to survive the smash, which killed Jake, she climbed down a cliff covered in blood with a broken arm and now she has permanent physical scarring 'Now I'm just wondering how the hell did my partner die while I've survived? It's made me look at life totally differently.' Yazmin was reportedly banned from attending Jake's funeral after his family blamed her for his sad passing and said the couple had been arguing at the point of the crash. Elsewhere, MailOnline exclusively revealed on Wednesday that Pete Wicks has sensationally quit TOWIE after seven years. Star: Yazmin first appeared on TOWIE on its 20th series back in March 2017 alongside her then-boyfriend James Lock (both pictured in 2019) The reality personality, 34, is set to announce to his loyal fanbase that he is taking a step away from the ITVBe series to focus on new TV projects. After seven years on the show, which has seen the long-haired hunk rise to fame thanks to his relationships with former cast mates Megan McKenna, 30, Chloe Sims, 41, and Ella Rae Wise, 22, Pete is looking to explore fresh opportunities away from the world of reality TV. A source told MailOnline Pete's departure has been a huge blow for ITVBe executives, who already suffered the loss of longstanding cast member Chloe, as well as her sisters Demi and Frankie, last year. Farewell: Elsewhere, MailOnline exclusively revealed on Wednesday that Pete Wicks has sensationally quit TOWIE after seven years An insider revealed: 'Pete is a hugely loved member of TOWIE both among viewers and the cast. 'But it's time for him to move on now, he's slightly older than the rest of the cast, and he's hoping to achieve more in his career after being on the show for such a long time. 'It's been a monumental stint and his storylines will go down in TOWIE history but for now he's taking a step away.' A second source added: 'Pete will continue to cameo on TOWIE when it makes sense to appear alongside his friends, but he will no longer be a fully-fledged cast member.' MailOnline has approached TOWIE and Pete's spokesperson for comment. Leaving: After seven years on the show, which has seen him rise to fame thanks to his romance with Megan McKenna, Pete is looking to explore fresh opportunities (pictured in 2016) Blow: A source told MailOnline Pete's departure has been a huge blow for executives, who already suffered the loss of longstanding cast member Chloe Sims last year (pictured in 2019) Pete joined TOWIE in 2015 introduced as James Lock's best pal and immediately set eyes on Jess Wright. He soon became a main character on the series, romancing the likes of The X Factor: Celebrity winner Megan, who he had a tempestuous relationship with. Their romance came to an explosive end when Megan discovered Pete had been sending explicit text messages to his ex-girlfriend Jacqui Ryland. He dated Miss Great Britain and co-star Shelby Tribble, who's since had a baby with former TOWIE cast member Sam Mucklow. He later had a rocky relationship with Chloe, who was left brokenhearted when Pete wasn't prepared to commit and it dramatically impacted their friendship. TOWIE star: Pete joined TOWIE in 2015 introduced as James Lock's best pal and immediately set eyes on Jess Wright (pictured in 2017) Pete became known for his womanising ways, which in recent years has been captured on E4 series Celebs Go Dating. He most recently shared a 'flirty friendship' with co-star Ella, who's 12 years his junior. The TV star is the latest in a long line of veterans that have left the show in recent years including Gemma Collins, Bobby Norris, James Argent, and Liam Gatsby. After meeting on Celebs Go Dating in 2018, Pete and Made In Chelsea's Sam Thompson became close friends and have collaborated on many social media videos, as well as presenting Pete & Sam's Reality News together on E4. The duo are also starting to record the second series of their podcast Staying Relevant this week. Last year, Pete was forced to quit Channel 4 show SAS: Who Dares Wins after he was challenged to jump out a helicopter into a lake but managed to knocked himself unconscious with his huge backpack. He suffered from broken ribs and admitted the experience would 'f***ing haunt him' because he doesn't usually 'fail things.' Ruby Stokes attended a special screening of her new series Lockwood & Co on Thursday night. The Bridgerton star, 22, is playing Lucy in the show, who has psychic powers and it premieres on Netflix on Friday. She looked stylish in a red shift dress with a ruched skirt and paired the look with matching heels for the event at the Courthouse Hotel in London. Glam: Ruby Stokes attended a special screening of her new series Lockwood & Co on Thursday night Ruby's frock also featured a belt which accentuated her slim figure and eye-catching puffed shoulders. The glamourous star wore her brunette locks in loose curls, swept into a side parting. She went for a classic slick of red lipstick and a neutral makeup palette. The synopsis of the series based on the novel by Jonathan Stroud reads: 'A tiny startup, run by two teenage boys and a newly arrived, supremely psychically gifted girl, a renegade trio destined to unravel a mystery that will change the course of history.' Gorgeous: The Bridgerton star, 22, is playing Lucy in the show, which premieres on Netflix on Friday Ruby was joined at the screening by other stars of the series including Rhianna Dorris, Ali Hadji-Heshmati and Paddy Holland, brother of fellow actor Tom. Rhianna, who plays Kat Godwin in the show, wowed in a plunging scarlet dress with a daring thigh split for the screening. She paired the look with block black heels and wore her raven tresses in a slick bun. Racy: Rhianna Dorris wowed in a plunging scarlet dress with a daring thigh split for the screening Beauty: She paired the look with block black heels and wore her raven tresses in a slick bun for the event Meanwhile, Paddy, who plays Bobby Vernon in the series, looked dapper in a burgundy zip-up jumper paired with straight-leg black trousers. He opted for a leather jacket to complete his look, as well as shiny black shoes. And Ali, who stars as George Karim, went for a lilac cardigan with a stylish white t-shirt and silver chain. The star added a leather jacket and black trousers to the outfit as well as lace-up shoes. Co-stars: Paddy sported a burgundy zip-up jumper and Ali went for a lilac cardigan with a stylish white t-shirt Novellist: The synopsis of the series based on the novel by Jonathan Stroud, pictured on the carpet, reads: 'A tiny startup, run by two teenage boys and a supremely psychically gifted girl, a renegade trio destined to unravel a mystery The cast, which also features Hayley Konadu, Jack Bandeira, Cameron Chapman, and Rico Vina, smiled for pictures on the red carpet as they enjoyed a night out together. They were also seen laughing as Ruby made a shocked face during the photo call. Speaking to BT on Thursday, the director and writer of the series, Joe Cornish, explained the hook for the show, which is adapted from the first two books of the five: 'Its kids with weapons turning up at a house to take on a ghost. 'There is a deeper story going on and a little breadcrumb trail, but hopefully not in a way that makes you feel like youre missing out moment to moment.' Full cast: The cast smiled for photos on the red carpet as they enjoyed the night together. (pictured L-R: Hayley Konadu, Jack Bandeira, Ali, Ruby, Cameron Chapman, Rhianna, Paddy and Rico Vina) He explained that for the show, he and the crew took inspiration from a number of ghost films. The director added that to make the ghouls on the series, the crew also looked at Victorian spirit photography as a reference. Joe also said they looked at Poltergeist to create more of the effects and make things look convincing. Friends: The group were also seen laughing as Ruby made a shocked face during the photo call (pictured L-R: Hayley, Jack, Ali and Ruby) The director and writer also spoke of the Jonathan's involvement in the series, telling Forbes that he was 'very trusting.' He added: 'He understands that books and moving images are a different medium. But he was very heavily involved. 'We showed him all of the scripts, he came to set a whole bunch, and he was thrilled to see all the stuff that he'd imagined coming to life.' Kim Kardashian proved that she is not a regular mom, she's a cool mom as she joined her budding TikTok star daughter North West in another cute dancing video. The 42-year-old SKIMS mogul - who recently revealed who was in her private family group text chat - moved and grooved in the latest clip posted onto her joint TikTok account with nine-year-old daughter North. The nine second video was set to the tune of an original TikTok sound from user @dogs.universal which appeared to be a mash-up of Adele's Saturday Night Live introduction of H.E.R. and 1955 The Platters classic Only You. Dynamic duo: Kim Kardashian proved that she is not a regular mom, she's a cool mom as she joined her budding TikTok star daughter North West in another cute dancing video North showcased her natural charisma as she raised an eyebrow while lip-synching Adele saying: "Ladies and gentlemen, H.E.R.' That is when the song kicks in as both the mother and daughter enthusiastically point toward the camera to the lyrics 'only you.' Kim quickly gets caught in the absurdity of it all as she begins laughing and does not continue dancing for the rest of the short clip before giving one last point toward the camera. Lovely: The 42-year-old SKIMS mogul moved and grooved in the latest clip posted onto her joint TikTok account with nine-year-old daughter North North showcased her natural charisma as she raised an eyebrow while lip-synching Adele saying: "Ladies and gentlemen, H.E.R.' Kim also took to Instagram on Thursday to share snaps from a fashionable outing with North from back in September. She and her daughter were seen exiting a photoshoot in Milan as Kim shined in a silver satin pajama set. The businesswoman opted for comfort as she left a set in the heart of Milan and donned an off-white bustier top with thin straps. Bond: Kim also took to Instagram on Thursday to share snaps from a fashionable outing with North from back in September Throwback: She and her daughter were seen exiting a photoshoot in Milan as Kim shined in a silver satin pajama set Shining star: She added a silver satin blouse with front pockets which was secured and tied with a belt of the same material to accentuate her slim waist. One side of the shirt fell down her right arm, creating an off-the-shoulder look She added a silver satin blouse with front pockets which was secured and tied with a belt of the same material to accentuate her slim waist. One side of the shirt fell down her right arm, creating an off-the-shoulder look. Kim slipped into a pair of loose-fitting, matching bottoms that were cuffed at her ankles. To complete her fashionable ensemble, The Kardashians star slipped into a pair of see-through, pointed heels. Kim's blonde hair was parted in the middle, and flowed down straight past her shoulders. Sweat session: Kim had a busy Thursday morning as she shared a snap of her pirate black Yeezy 250 sneakers next to a medicine ball and dumbbells during her morning workout Her jewelry was minimalistic, comprising of dainty silver necklaces that contained a cross-shaped pendant The star's makeup look was clean and simple, with a touch of black mascara to make her eyes pop, along with a nude-colored glossy lipstick. Her daughter, North, whom she shares with her ex-husband, Kanye West, also opted for comfort. She was pictured wearing a short-sleeved white T-shirt from her mother's Ciao, Kim Dolce & Gabbana collection. Kim had a busy Thursday morning as she shared a snap of her pirate black Yeezy 250 sneakers next to a medicine ball and dumbbells during her morning workout. She also promoted the latest vanity bag for her skincare brand SKKN. Proud: She also promoted the latest vanity bag for her skincare brand SKKN Nice: She held up the grey bag for the camera Kanye West wore a German armed forces t-shirt as he went shopping with new wife Bianca Censori at under-fire Balenciaga in LA on Wednesday. The disgraced rapper, 45, who saw his career and net worth go in free-fall after a series of anti-Semitic remarks, wore a T-shirt emblazoned with a vintage logo of the Bundeswehr - the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. The logo was previously used for the German military in the post Second Word War era - following the Holocaust in which six million Jewish people were murdered by the Nazi party, under the direction of Adolf Hitler. The logo features the Bundesadler (Federal Eagle) -which has been used in the German coat of arms since 1945. Kanye's new wife Bianca wore an extravagant yellow furry jacket and sported slicked back tresses as she joined her new spouse at the shop. Outing: Kanye West wore a German armed forces t-shirt as he went shopping with new wife Bianca Censori at Balenciaga in LA on Wednesday Logo: The disgraced rapper, 45, who saw his career and net worth go in free-fall after a series of anti-Semitic remarks, wore a T-shirt emblazoned with a vintage logo of the Bundeswehr - the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany The pair ignited further controversy by visiting Balenciaga, which has suffered a monumental fall from grace after kids were used in ad campaigns holding bondage teddy bears. The brand cut ties with West back in October amid his anti-Semitism scandals. Uproar over the campaign in November came days after the brand was called out over a separate ad campaign that was entirely its own doing, which showed young children posing with bondage-clad teddy bears. A Twitter user also discovered that one of the photos in the shoot contained an excerpt from the 2008 US Supreme Court opinion in United States v. Williams, which upheld part of a federal child pornography law, which Twitter's own fact-checkers confirmed. The brand apologised and said it was suing ad production company North Six Inc., as well as set designer Nicholas Des Jardins and his own brand for including images of legal documents on the US Supreme Court's decision on child pornography laws in the ad campaign - but in December Balenciaga dropped the $25million lawsuit. Shopping: Kanye's new wife Bianca wore an extravagant yellow furry jacket and sported slicked back tresses as she joined her new spouse at the shop Attire: The star showed off the logo on his shirt as he went about his day New couple: The newlyweds looked relaxed as they headed to the mall Rare sighting: The pair shocked the world earlier this month with their marriage Outing: Kanye wore a black padded jacket and boots as he grabbed a coffee Kanye was first pictured wearing a wedding band earlier this month, with sources saying the ring symbolises his commitment to Boanca following the ceremony. Despite the wedding ceremony, the union isn't legal because the pair do not appear to have filed a marriage certificate, DailyMail.com reports. It's not clear how long they have known each other or how long they had been dating, but Bianca joined Kanye's Yeezy company in November 2020. She is listed as Head of Architecture and secured the position after obtaining a Master's in building design at Melbourne University in Australia. It comes after Kanye settled his divorce with Kim in November. They married in 2014 in a lavish Florence ceremony after three years of dating. Walk and talk: Kanye was seen exiting the shop with his new bride Shopping: The disgraced rapper picked out some items at the under-fire brand Leggy: Bianca showed off her toned legs in knee-high boots Newlyweds: The pair made their way to a waiting car Shopping: The pair were seen checking out some Balenciaga items Retail therapy: Kanye appeared to have gone on quite the shopping spree as bags were loaded into his car Splashing the cash: The rapper, who has lost his billionaire status due to anti-Semitic behavior, splashed the cash Last month, Kanye paid tribute to his 'wife' by releasing the track, Censori Overload, a play on her last name. In the lyrics he revealed that he stayed celibate before tying the knot, singing: 'And The Bible said, I cant have any more sex 'til marriage.' West has been keeping a relatively low profile in the six weeks since a December 1 appearance on Alex Jones' show Infowars in which he lavished praise on Nazis and Adolf Hitler. 'He didn't kill six million Jews,' West said on the program, in which he appeared alongside white supremacist Nick Fuentes. 'That's just factually incorrect. I'm not trying to be shocking. I like Hitler. The Holocaust is not what happened ... Hitler has a lot of redeeming qualities ... every human being has something of value that they brought to the table, especially Hitler.' Marriage: Kanye settled his divorce with Kim in November last year after the reality star filed for divorce in February 2021 following nearly seven years of marriage (pictured in 2019) Family: Kim filed for divorce that February after nearly seven years of marriage. The former couple share four children: North, nine, Saint, seven, Chicago, four, and Psalm, three The appearance came prior to West being banned from Twitter later that day for posting a picture of a swastika interlaced with a Star of David The turbulent day capped off a two-month stretch in which West dominated the headlines after making a series of anti-Semitic remarks, leading to a number of companies to break ties with him. The race-related controversies kicked off October 3 when he and and conservative commentator Candace Owens donned tops that read White Lives Matter during a Paris Fashion Week showcase for his Yeezy line. Vile: Ye declared he was going 'death con 3 on [the] Jewish people' last year Downfall: The turbulent day capped off a two-month stretch in which West dominated the headlines after making a series of anti-Semitic remarks, leading to a number of companies to break ties with him West faced restrictions on his social media sites after he tweeted October 8: 'I'm a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I'm going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE ... The funny thing is I actually can't be Anti Semitic because black people are actually Jew also ... you guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda.' The professional fallout to West's repeated statements about anti-Semitism included Adidas cutting their ties with him October 25 over his conduct. Foot Locker and Gap have pledged to remove Yeezy from its shelves, while fashion mainstays including Vogue magazine and Balenciaga publicly distanced themselves from the rapper/fashion designer. The talent agency CAA dropped West from its roster, while a documentary about West made by the studio MRC was shelved. Coronation Street took a dramatic turn on Thursday night as Max Turner was charged with incitement to commit murder after Blake stabbed Alya. The teenager was left terrified when he was arrested by DS Swain and hauled in for police questioning after the shocking racially motivated stabbing at Speed Daal. Despite Max protesting that he did not order Blake to commit any violent acts, he was charged with incitement to commit murder for his racist propaganda videos. Shock: Coronation Street took a dramatic turn on Thursday night as Max Turner was charged with incitement to commit murder after Blake stabbed Alya His arrest comes after Blake (Adam Little) had revealed it was Max's (Paddy Bever) racist videos that inspired him to carry out the horrifying attack. Blake had attended an event to highlight Weatherfield's refugee drop-in centre armed with a knife as he planned to attack event organiser Maria Connor. But Alya Nazir (Sair Khan) jumped in the way after seeing Blake charging at Maria and was stabbed before the teenager was wrestled to the ground. And in the aftermath of the attack, which saw Alya suffer a punctured lung, Max tried to run away after hearing Blake blame him, before being arrested and charged himself in connection with the attack. Attack: His arrest comes after Blake (Adam Little) had revealed it was Max's (Paddy Bever) racist videos that inspired him to carry out the horrifying attack (pictured) Max was first seen carrying multiple bags as he tried to run away from home in the early hours of the morning, before his adoptive father David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd) and Gail stopped him to ask where he was going. To which Max replied: 'I can't stop here, everyone thinks I was part of what Blake did.' 'What if he says something to the police? When they were dragging him off, he made out like I told him to do it,' he added. But David insisted: 'Put your bag down, we can sort this out together.' Arrest: The teenager was left terrified when he was arrested by DS Swain and hauled in for police questioning after the shocking racially motivated stabbing at Speed Daal David then asked for help from his half-sister Sarah Platt (Tina O'Brien), mother Gail Platt (Helen Worth) and lawyer Adam Barlow (Sam Robertson). As the group all gathered at David's house, Max showed them the racist propaganda videos Griff persuaded him to make but insisted he had nothing to do with the stabbing. However, Adam admitted that he could be charged with inciting violent because of the videos he created, for which he could face up to 10 years in prison. In shocking scenes, Max was then handcuffed and arrested for incitement to commit murder as David and a tearful Gail watched on. Charged: Despite Max protesting that he did not order Blake to commit any violent acts, he was charged with incitement to commit murder for his racist propaganda videos In police questioning, Max continued to insist that he did not 'inspire' Blake to commit the violent act and said he had 'saved lives' by earlier warning people about the bomb. After becoming influenced by Griff, he learned that he had planted a bomb in Speed Daal's van and told residents, with Alya saving dozens of lives by driving the van away from the street. Referring to the incident in police questioning, Max said: 'I had no idea what Blake was planning, I'm not racist. I expressed my opinions on my videos but I didn't want anyone to get hurt. 'I warned people about the bomb, I saved lives. How is this anything to do with me?' Protesting: In police questioning, Max continued to insist that he did not 'inspire' Blake to commit the violent act and said he had 'saved lives' by earlier warning people about the bomb DS Swain (Vicky Myers) hit back with: 'Blake is saying your videos influenced his actions.' But Max fumed: 'That's ridiculous!' Max then tried to explain how he became influenced by Griff Reynolds (Michael Condron), saying he was 'lonely' after his mother Kylie Platt (Paula Lane) was killed. He tearfully said: 'I've never had a hand-out, or a leg-up, or extra help or whatever. Despite the fact that I've got ADHD and can't get back into school. 'Despite the fact that my mum was stabbed to death outside my house. You learn to fend for yourself, you know, it's lonely. Tension: However, the episode came to a dramatic end as Max was charged with incitement to commit murder as the scared teenager looked to David for help 'And then, someone comes along and tells you, you're not mad, you're not worthless, you're not alone.' However, the episode came to a dramatic end as Max was charged with incitement to commit murder as the scared teenager looked to David for help. As well as Max facing the consequences of his connections with Griff, Alya was also seen recovering in hospital after Blake's horrific attack. The episode opened with Alya waking up following her life-saving operation after she suffered a punctured lung in the shocking stabbing. Criticism: It comes after Corrie fans slammed its latest racism storyline as too 'shocking' to air before the watershed as Blake stabbed Alya in Wednesday's scenes She was visited by Maria, who shared her gratitude for Alya saving her life, saying: 'I'm so, so sorry, I can never repay you for what you did.' Alya later became tearful as she recovered in the hospital, saying: 'I don't know what's come over to me, I keep thinking what would have happened if Gary and Daryan hadn't have been there, if they'd reacted a second later.' Alya was later discharged from hospital and was greeted by Sarah on her doorstep, who tried to persuade her that her nephew Max had nothing to do with the stabbing. 'Max genuinely had nothing to do with what happened to Alya,' Sarah insisted. Racism: In Wednesday's tense scenes, Blake was fuelled by hatred and decided to go to an event at Speed Daal, live-streaming his intent to disrupt the event However, Alya apologised and said she needed to go into the warm and lie down, with a dejected Sarah leaving. Elsewhere, Carla Barlow (Alison King) tried to fire Stephen Reid (Todd Boyce) from his job at Underworld for lying to a client and pretending to be a 'top consultant'. But Stephen claimed his estranged wife Gabrielle (Helene Maksoud) had buried him in 'red tape' and stopped him from accessing his money, and he agreed to help out with stitching at the company, managing to keep his job and avoid firing. Stephen is soon set for a dramatic exit from the soap opera as his life of crime begins to catch up with him. Event: Blake continued to film Maria (pictured) addressing the crowds at the event, addressing Griff's terror attack, which saw him plant a bomb in Speed Daal's van It comes after Corrie fans slammed its latest racism storyline as too 'shocking' to air before the watershed as Blake stabbed Alya in Wednesday's scenes. Troubled teenager Blake arrived at an event to highlight Weatherfield's refugee drop-in centre armed with a knife as he planned to attack event organiser Maria Connor. But Alya Nazir jumped in the way after seeing Blake charging at Maria brandishing a knife and was stabbed before the teenager was wrestled to the ground. Alya was rushed to hospital and Blake then revealed it was teenager Max Turner's racist propaganda videos that inspired him to carry out the attack. Shock: After getting his phone back from David, Max tuned back into the live stream and saw Blake reveal a knife and immediately ran to Speed Daal to warn the guests However, Corrie viewers were quick to take to Twitter to comment on the tense storyline, describing it as 'shocking' content for before the 9pm watershed on ITV. One fan wrote: 'Omg I think the way this storyline is being told is downright offensive.' While another said: 'Wow what's happened to #coronationstreet disgusting airing this!' A third tweeted: 'Thank God that's over, it's getting worse,' while a fourth added: 'I'm disgusted at what you have shown on coronation street tonight before the watershed.' 'You can literally hear my eyes rolling because of how ridiculous it is,' a fifth penned. 'Disgusting': However, Corrie viewers were quick to take to Twitter to comment on the tense storyline, describing it as 'shocking' content for before the 9pm watershed on ITV Drama: Other viewers shared their sympathy for Alya as she has been involved in a lot of drama on the show, saving residents' lives by driving a van into a canal after a bomb was planted in it Meanwhile, other viewers shared their sympathy for Alya as she has been involved in a lot of drama on the show in recent weeks, saving residents' lives by driving Speed Daal's van into a canal after a bomb was planted in it. One person said: 'That's TWICE poor Alya has been hurt in the process of protecting people.' Another wrote: 'F**king hell Alya. They're really using her as a punchbag these past few weeks!' While a third gushed: 'No one praises Alya enough. She's literally the most selfless person on that street. Took the van with a bomb in to save everyone, then jumped in, and took the stab meant for Maria.' Anger: However, Gary Windass (Mikey North) stopped Max from entering the event, grabbing him by the jumper and saying that people didn't 'want him here' Previously speaking of the storyline, producer Iain Macleod said: 'We are exploring a very 21st Century problem: teenagers self-radicalising through watching extreme content online. 'In the end, we wanted this to be a story about communication within families - what are the right and wrong ways to talk to younger family members who are gravitating towards extreme views?' In Wednesday's tense scenes, Blake was fuelled by hatred and decided to go to an event at Speed Daal, which was organised by local councillor Maria to highlight the Weatherfield refugee drop. In a live stream, he revealed his intent to disrupt the event, saying: 'It's time to fight back, it's time for somebody to do something that makes people sit up and notice.' Attack: Blake then pulled a knife out of his pocket with Daryan Zahawi (Twana Omer) shouting words of warning as the teenager ran at Maria brandishing the weapon Max was seen smiling as he listened to Blake's racist comments, before his adoptive father David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd) snatched his phone away from him. David then asked Max to attend the drop-in centre, saying that he believes it will do Max 'good' to hear other people's points of view, but the teenager describes it as a 'waste of time'. Blake then talked his way into Speed Daal and continued to live stream from inside the drop-in event, saying: 'You better watch this, because I'm going to be all over the news tomorrow, and you're going to see it live right now.' Blake continued to film Maria addressing the crowds at the event, addressing Griff's terror attack, which saw him plant a bomb in Speed Daal's van. Wrestling: But Alya jumped in the way and was stabbed, with Gary and Daryan then wrestling Blake to the floor as he brandished the knife After getting his phone back from David, Max tuned back into the live stream and saw Blake reveal a knife and immediately ran to Speed Daal to warn the guests. However, Gary Windass (Mikey North) stopped Max from entering the event, grabbing him by the jumper and saying that people didn't 'want him here'. Blake then pulled a knife out of his pocket with Daryan Zahawi (Twana Omer) shouting words of warning as the teenager ran at Maria brandishing the weapon. Noticing what the teenager was doing, Alya bravely jumped directly in front of Blake and he stabbed her in the stomach. Motive: Blake was then escorted out of the drop-in centre in handcuffs when he told Max that he was his 'inspiration' for the attack As horrified guests fled out on to the street, Gary and Daryan wrestled Blake to the floor as he brandished the knife. Blake was then escorted out of the drop-in centre in handcuffs when he told Max that he was his 'inspiration' for the attack. Alya was then rushed to hospital for a life-saving operation, with doctors revealing she had punctured a lung in the attack. It is the latest twist in a hard-hitting storyline which saw Max groomed and radicalised by older figures as he became more estranged from his own family. Injured: Alya was then rushed to hospital for a life-saving operation, with doctors revealing she had punctured a lung in the attack The lonely and vulnerable teenager was targeted by a gang of extremists, ultimately putting his own life and that of his friends and family in danger. When Max first came in contact with Griff, he was made to feel very isolated and was eventually asked to join the gang alongside his girlfriend Lauren. Lauren's extremist ideology also influenced him to become worse in his racist ways, with Alya even approaching Max with her concerns about his girlfriend's views, but he defended her actions. In one episode, Max also watched an alarming propaganda film which further encouraged him to go against Muslims. Groomer: It is the latest dramatic twist in a hard-hitting storyline which saw Max groomed and radicalised by Griff, (Michael Condron - pictured), as he became estranged from his family After becoming more isolated, Max quickly fell under Griff's spell, who then used the teenager's computer skills to spread his group's racist propaganda. But after Max learned that Griff had planted a bomb in Speed Daal's van, he told the residents and Alya managed to save dozens of lives by driving the van away from the street. However, Coronation Street fans were left in shock with the tense storyline, which has been quite extreme in comparison to the usual soap dramas. Some viewers slammed the 'disgusting' racism storyline, with Ofcom receiving 139 complaints about his radicalisation. Lonely: After becoming more isolated, Max quickly fell under Griff's spell, who then used the teenager's computer skills to spread his group's racist propaganda More Ofcom complaints were lodged when Max turned against a refugee from Iraq. The TV regulator said that there were 139 complaints which 'related to the racial violence storyline'. Producer Iain MacLeod said of the storyline when it begun: 'Overall, Max's story is one about the grooming of a vulnerable teenager at a point where he's feeling most alienated and disenfranchised. 'The story will encompass the 'traditional' recruitment techniques of extremists groups, and we'll see Max befriended in person by older, mentor-like figures that will give him a sense of loyalty and brotherhood.' Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX. Chrisean Rock was spotted purchasing a lavish wedding dress at a Los Angeles bridal shop on Wednesday. Now sources have told TMZ that the 22-year-old star will tie the knot on Friday. Witnesses at the bridal shop told the outlet that the influencer told employees onlookers she 'needed the perfect dress' for her nuptials, although she did not disclose who the groom was. However, there is speculation she could be saying 'I do' to Blueface, whom she has been linked to since 2020. Rock announced last week that she was expecting her first child with the rapper, 26. Blueface, however, has adamantly denied that he is the father. Wedding bells: Chrisean Rock, 22, was spotted purchasing a wedding dress on Wednesday, with witnesses telling TMZ she planned to tie the knot on Friday; seen earlier this month in North Hollywood The TikTok star was seen entering the popular shop called Anita's, which is located in LA's fashion district in photos obtained by TMZ. According to the tabloid, sources explained that Chrisean didn't take long to find the perfect wedding dress. After taking a gander around the store, the media personality, who currently boasts 2.6 million followers on Instagram, found a stunning gown placed on a mannequin. The star only tried the dress on once and put a down payment on the item for the upcoming ceremony that is just around the corner. The big purchase comes nearly one week after Chrisean announced on her Instagram stories that she was pregnant and was 'deciding to keep' the baby. Possible groom: Although the TikTok star did not disclose who the groom was, there is a possibility she is marrying boyfriend, Blueface, despite their rather tumultuous relationship and past domestic violence allegations; the two seen in June 2022 in Houston The Disrespectful rapper claimed on Twitter that he was not the father, and additionally, was no longer dating the star. Blueface, whose real name is Johnathan Porter, penned, 'To answer y'all questions yes me an rock are officially done its strictly business I tried it an clearly it wasnt giving before she announcesshes pregnant with somebody elses child not mine (praying hands emoji).' The music artist claimed Chrisean had been with 10 different men and that he won't believe the baby is his until he sees the results of a DNA test. He is already father to five-year-old son, Javaughn, from a previous relationship. Chrisean responded to that with, 'Promise you. I dont need a cent from u . Then wen we do a DNA test and its yours just know Ill tell my children you died so u wouldnt have a excuse to be in the child life. This my baby n dats dat.' Blueface then went on to share video of his 26th birthday celebrations on Instagram stories even as Chrisean wrote, 'Happy Birthday Baby Daddy' on Twitter. Baby news: The wedding dress purchase comes nearly one week after Chrisean announced on her Instagram stories that she was pregnant and was, 'deciding to keep it' Denial: After the media personality revealed the baby news on Instagram, the rapper denied that the child was his In the clips shared onto her Instagram story, the media star could be seen wearing a hot pink track suit during a visit to the doctor. The influencer said, 'I want either twins or triplets,' and seems to be referring to past abortions when she said, 'cause that's how many I killed. 'I'm going to have a family, and we're going to have the big baby shower... (sobs) so pray for me,' she continued to explain to her fans. Shortly before the pregnancy announcement, both Chrisean and Blueface, who star in their own reality show titled Crazy In Love, sat down for an interview with Revolt TV's The Jason Lee Show earlier this month. The TikTok personality opened up about her relationship with the rapper, and expressed, 'He feels like home to me,' adding that, 'God will send people throughout my life; he has just been my destination.' However, the two have had past altercations, including last month in December when they both jumped onto social media to seemingly show the aftermath of a fight. The rapper could be seen with two black eyes, which he had allegedly gotten from Chrisean. Excited: The influencer said 'I want either twins or triplets,' and seems to be referring to past abortions when she say 'cause that's how many I killed' Tumultuous relationship: The TikTok personality opened up about her relationship with the rapper, and expressed that, 'He feels like home to me,' on Revolt TV's The Jason Lee Show earlier this month; the couple seen in June 2022 in Beverly Hills Volatile past: Last month in December, the two stars jumped onto social media to seemingly show the aftermath of a fight with the rapper showing two black eyes, which he had allegedly gotten from Chrisean According to TMZ, Chrisean was also seen getting into a 'brawl' with two women as she tried to get to Blueface after crashing his 26th birthday party on Saturday, shortly after her pregnancy announcement. The incident reportedly occurred just one block away from the rapper's house, and ended with the two stars returning to their separate vehicles. 'For me, I know when I do fight [Blueface], I be immature for real. It be on some immature s**t,' the TikTok star admitted during the interview, later adding, 'Me? I will drink, go Live, go crazy, and slap him real quick here and there. Other than that, we on to something.' Blueface also commented on Chrisean and stated that, 'She is just the best worst thing that could happen to you.' Two months earlier in November, the Holy Moly rapper was arrested on attempted murder charges for shooting at a truck driver along the Las Vegas strip. The musical artist expressed, 'I only play defense,' on the topic. His court date is reportedly scheduled for later this month in January. Chrisean defended Blueface, explaining that he, 'is not a bad person. Hes not an abuser. Were just here learning, figuring things out. We met each other how we met each other, but thats it.' Nicole Kidman and Zoe Saldana seemed to be having a great time as they were seen filming their upcoming television series Lioness on Thursday. The 55-year-old Big Little Lies star and the 44-year-old Avatar: The Way Of Water actress showed off wide grins as they chatted on the set, which had migrated to a boat in the Port of Palma De Mallorca, Spain. The scenes they were filming also appeared to mark the first time the two leads were spotted filming together, after they were previous spotted filming separate scenes in Spain. Their new series Lioness, which was created by Yellowstone mastermind Taylor Sheridan, features Kidman also an executive producer on the show as CIA Senior Supervisor Kaitlyn Meade, who has developed a reputation for ascending through the ranks at the agency by playing the political game. Leading ladies: Nicole Kidman, 55, was seen chatting with costar Zoe Saldana, 44, on a boat as they filmed their spy thriller series Lioness in Port of Palma De Mallorca, Spain Zoe, who is also executive producing the project, will star as Joe, the station chief of the CIA's Lioness program. Her job requires her to train female operatives to go undercover in the field. According to the show's official synopsis, a young marine recruited through the program will be tasked with befriending the daughter of a terrorist in hopes of bringing his organization down from within. Nicole appeared to be in such a good mood that she was seen taking a quick jog across the yacht's deck. Together at last: The scenes they were filming also appeared to mark the first time the two leads were spotted filming together, after they were previous spotted filming separate scenes in Spain Their new series Lioness features Kidman also an executive producer on the show as CIA Senior Supervisor Kaitlyn Meade, who has developed a reputation for ascending through the ranks at the agency by playing the political game Back in black: She rocked a comfortable casual outfit featuring a puffy black down vest over a charcoal long-sleeve shirt. The 5ft11in beauty pair was clad in a pair of slim black jeans that emphasized her long, rim legs, and she matched the pants with a set of rugged black boots She rocked a comfortable casual outfit featuring a puffy black down vest over a charcoal long-sleeve shirt. The 5ft11in beauty pair was clad in a pair of slim black jeans that emphasized her long, rim legs, and she matched the pants with a set of rugged black boots. She wore her long blond hair tied back in a braided ponytail, and she wore a stylish pair of aviator sunglasses. Nicole was also seen covering up with with a thick gray coat, and she looked chic with a tan fedora. She wore her long blond hair tied back in a braided ponytail, and she wore a stylish pair of aviator sunglasses Looking cool: Nicole was also seen covering up with with a thick gray coat, and she looked chic with a tan fedora Zoe was spotted looking similarly casual with a gray sweater and black pants. She contrasted the dark items with brilliant white sneakers, and she carried a luxurious black leather backpack slung over one shoulder. Like Nicole, she wore her dark hair tied back in a long, voluminous ponytail, and she sported a chic set of shades. It wasn't clear from the actress' outfits if they were wearing their costumes or their own clothes. Zoe could be seen with her jaw open as she joyfully greeted someone on set. No fuss: Zoe was spotted looking similarly casual with a gray sweater and black pants Baggage: She contrasted the dark items with brilliant white sneakers, and she carried a luxurious black leather backpack slung over one shoulder Casual: It wasn't clear from the actress' outfits if they were wearing their costumes or their own clothes Nicole and Zoe's Paramount+ show is likely to have plenty of veracity, as it is based on a real-life CIA program. In addition to its two female leads, Laysla De Oliveira will also be starring on the series in a major role. The series has been able to attract some major star power, as Morgan Freeman will also be featured in a supporting role. Brittney Spears' husband Sam Asghari, who has lately been trying to boost his profile as an actor, will guest star as Kamal, an unapologetic womanizer. Inspired by real life: Nicole and Zoe's Paramount+ show is likely to have plenty of veracity, as it is based on a real-life CIA program The cast: In addition to its two female leads, Laysla De Oliveira will also be starring on the series in a major role The series has been able to attract some major star power, as Morgan Freeman will also be featured in a supporting role Minor role: Brittney Spears' husband Sam Asghari, who has lately been trying to boost his profile as an actor, will guest star as Kamal, an unapologetic womanizer In addition to some friendly chatting between takes, Zoe got playful when she appeared to snap a selfie that also captured Nicole, who was standing behind her, even as the film crew continued to work around them. Lioness will join creator and showrunner Taylor Sheridan's other high-profile projects, many of which are for Paramount+ or the Paramount Network. In addition to the hit flagship series Yellowstone, Sheridan created the single-season prequel series 1883, as well as the currently airing prequel 1923, which stars heavyweights Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren. Sheridan also created the popular Sylvester Stallonestarring series Tulsa King, which was renewed for a second season after wrapping its first season earlier this month, and he co-created Mayor Of Kingstown, which stars Jeremy Renner, who is currently recovering at home after he was run over by his own snow plow. On a role: Lioness joins creator Taylor Sheridan's other high-profile shows, including Yellowstone, 1883, 1923, Tulsa King and Mayor Of Kingstown, all of which aired on Paramount+ or the Paramount network She may host Australia's most popular breakfast show, but during the early days of her career Natalie Barr was struggling to get a foot in the door at Channel Seven. The 54-year-old was clearing out her childhood home in Bunbury, WA, when she discovered a rejection letter from Seven's Perth bureau, dated June 1987. Her mother Julie had kept the letter, which Natalie received at age 19, as a reminder of how far her daughter had come in her journalism career. She may host Australia's most popular breakfast show, but during the early days of her career Natalie Barr (pictured) was struggling to get a foot in the door at Channel Seven Natalie had applied for an entry-level job in the Perth newsroom but was told there weren't any 'suitable positions' for her. However, the HR manager reassured the young reporter they would keep her details 'on file' for future job openings. 'Keep trying, kids, thats the lesson here,' said Natalie, who is now one of Seven's most high-profile presenters. She revealed there was a large pile of similar rejection letters, but it did not stop her determination to succeed in the industry. The 54-year-old was clearing out her childhood home in Bunbury, WA, when she discovered a rejection letter from Seven's Perth bureau, dated June 1987 'Basically every television network, radio station and newspaper in the entire state rejected me,' she said. Her expression of interest was one of many she had sent to media outlets, such as the ABC and the Sunday Times, when she was a budding reporter. She found the letter during a visit to her home town, which coincided with a week-long series of segments promoting Western Australia. Natalie (pictured with her mother Julie) found the letter during a visit to her home town, which coincided with a week-long series of segments promoting Western Australia During her search, Natalie and her mother also uncovered family photos and school reports. Natalie became a co-host of Sunrise in March 2021 after Samantha Armytage resigned from the position. She had previously been the show's long-serving newsreader. Actor Wally Campo, who was in a string of movies by the directors Burt Topper and Roger Corman, has died of natural causes at the age of 99. His musician son Tony Campodonico broke the news to The Hollywood Reporter this week, revealing that the death occurred on January 14. One of Campo's best known gigs was a dual role in Corman's original 1960 film The Little Shop Of Horrors, which was later adapted into the better-known musical. Throwback: Actor Wally Campo, pictured in Roger Corman's original 1960 film of The Little Shop Of Horrors, has died of natural causes at the age of 99 He both narrated the picture and appeared in it as Sergeant Joe Fink, one of the cops who tries to uncover the murderous secret at the heart of the storyline. Campo, who died just three months shy of his centenary, was born in Stockton, California in April 1923 and christened Wallace Joseph Campodonico. After America entered World War II, he served in the United States Army and over the course of hostilities wound up at Iwo Jima. He returned to Stockton after the war and went to the College Of The Pacific - as well as embarking on an acting career in the local theater scene. Legendary: The Little Shop Of Horrors was one of a series of movies Campo made with the 'Pope Of Pop Cinema' Roger Corman, a pioneering indie filmmaker Campo was still known as 'Wallace Campodonico' when he acted in Eugene O'Neill's Ah, Wilderness! for the Stockton Community Players, per the local press. As the 1950s took off, he struck out to Los Angeles and met his future wife in an actress called Geraldine Matthews, whom he worked with onstage. In the 1950s and 1960s he acted in a series of pictures by the 'Pope Of Pop Cinema' Roger Corman, a pioneering indie filmmaker. Known for his inventiveness with a shoestring budget, Corman made a stunning array of cult movies and in doing so helped kick-start the careers ranging from Jack Nicholson and Dennis Hopper to Sylvester Stallone. Classic: Campo's association with him began at the 1958 film Machine-Gun Kelly, starring a smoldering Charles Bronson in his first lead role Campo's association with him began at the 1958 film Machine-Gun Kelly, starring a smoldering Charles Bronson in his first lead role. After that picture, Campo went onto act for Corman in the 1960 movie Ski Troop Attack and the 1962 Edgar Allan Poe anthology Tales Of Terror. The year he made his first picture with Corman, 1958, was also the year Campo began his professional association with another cult filmmaker, Burt Topper. What a cast: After that picture, Campo went onto act for Corman in the 1960 movie Ski Troop Attack and the 1962 Edgar Allan Poe adaptation Tales Of Terror Campo led the cast of Topper's debut Hell Squad, a World War II movie about American servicemen who get lost in Tunisia and fall prey to the Nazi Afrika Korps. He continued working with Topper, first in Tank Commando about the war in Italy and then 1961 the Korean War picture War Is Hell!. In 1964 he had a supporting role in Topper's serial killer film The Strangler, led by Victor Buono as the doll-collecting title character. Throwback: Campo led the cast of Topper's debut Hell Squad, a World War II movie about American servicemen who get lost in Tunisia and fall prey to the Nazi Afrika Korps Campo also worked with the legendary pulp director Sam Fuller in Shock Corridor, a 1963 psychological thriller set in a mental hospital. In 1969 Campo made his own directorial debut with Mark Of The Gun working with cinematographer Laszlo Kovacs, who that year also lent his talents to Easy Rider. He is survived by his son Tony Campodonico and daughter-in-law Cheryl, as well as his grandchildren Jade and Laurena. Sarah Jessica Parker stepped out in another boundary-pushing look while dressed in character as Carrie Bradshaw on set of And Just Like That on Wednesday afternoon. As she filmed on the streets of New York City, the six-time Golden Globe winner, 57, showed off her funky style in a beaded blue and striped blouse, a floral coat, white pleated skirt and a pink crossbody handbag. The mother-of-three completed her look with a textured belt, brown booties and two layered necklaces, including one with a sea shell pendant. Stylish: Sarah Jessica Parker stepped out in another boundary-pushing look while dressed in character as Carrie Bradshaw on set of And Just Like That on Wednesday afternoon While strutting down the street as her blonde tresses blew gently in the wind, the Sex and the City star carried her essentials in a beige tote bag, which read: 'Out getting ribs.' At one point, Parker was seen chatting on the phone as cameras filmed her every step. Her latest sighting comes just one day after shooting a scene with John Corbett, who played her on-and-off boyfriend and later fiance Aidan Shaw on seasons three and four of Sex and the City. On set: As she filmed on the streets of New York City, the six-time Golden Globe winner, 57, showed off her funky style in a blue and striped blouse with pearl embellishments, a floral coat, white pleated skirt and a pink crossbody handbag Cool girl: The mother-of-three completed her look with a textured belt, brown booties and two layered necklaces, including one with a sea shell pendant Their on-screen reunion comes 13 years after he last played the role of the lovable furniture designer in the much-derided 2010 film, Sex And The City 2. While filming, his character was not wearing a wedding ring, which may indicate he is no longer with on-screen wife Kathy. The last viewers saw of Aidan was back in Sex And The City 2, when he and Carrie unexpectedly crossed paths in Abu Dhabi. Funny: While strutting down the street as her blonde tresses blew gently in the wind, the Sex and the City star carried her essentials in a beige tote bag, which read: 'Out getting ribs' Season two: At one point, Parker was seen chatting on the phone as cameras filmed her every step The pair arranged to meet for dinner - despite Charlotte's warnings that Carrie was 'playing with fire' - and shared a clandestine kiss after flirting over appetizers. Fans were left shocked when the previously loyal Aidan cheated on his furniture-designing spouse - with whom he had sons Tate, Homer, and Wyatt. Consumed by guilt, Carrie abandoned Aidan at his hotel, and quickly told husband Big, who ghosted her, before presenting her with a black diamond engagement ring. Gorgeous: Parker was dressed in character as Carrie Bradshaw Stopping to talk: The star was seen chatting on the phone at one point She later told Charlotte the kiss made her realize how she used to be, 'desperate, needy and chasing after a guy who didn't want me' - referring to Big's toxic and gaslighting behavior towards her in the six seasons and first film, where he jilted her, John portrayed Carrie's former boyfriend and later on, her fiance, in season three and season four of the hit HBO series. The pair first met in his furniture store before striking up a romance which left Carrie 'freaked out' due to how smoothly their relationship was going. He's back! Her latest sighting comes just one day after shooting a scene with John Corbett, who played her on-and-off boyfriend and later fiance Aidan Shaw on seasons three and four of Sex and the City She later had a three-week affair with Mr. Big - then married to the much-younger Natasha Naginsky - before breaking it off and telling a heartbroken Aidan, who promptly dumped her. In season four they met once more at the opening of Aidan and Steve Brady's bar, Scout, with Carrie begging a dismissive Aidan for another chance. After they reignited their romance following a passionate one-night stand, her refusal to cut Big out of her life put strain on the romance. Three's a crowd: Carrie first dated Aidan in season three, before cheating on him with Big, then reignited a romance in season four, before ending their engagement (pictured SJP, Aidan and Big, played by Chris Noth in season four) A smitten Aidan later proposed to an unsure Carrie, who accepted but would only wear her engagement ring on a chain around her neck. Their romance ended once and for all in season four where she admitted she wasn't ready to marry Aidan. He was seen one last time in season six, when Carrie ran into him and his baby son, with Aidan revealing he had married a fellow furniture designer. And Just Like That... has followed Carrie's journey as she moves on with her life following the death of her true love Big - leaving the path open for her to reignite romance with Aidan. Lies: In 2021, when season one of the Sex And The City sequel was in the works, the actor had teased he would be in the reboot. However, to the fans' dismay, he never appeared in any of the episodes She was last known to have been dating her podcast producer Franklyn. In 2021, when season one of the Sex And The City sequel was in the works, the actor had teased he would be in the reboot. However, to the fans' dismay, he never appeared in any of the episodes. AJLT writer Julie Rottenberg and executive producer Michael Patrick King later told Deadline: 'John Corbett should be writing personal apology notes. We didn't say anything.' Valerie Bertinelli and Wolfgang Van Halen paid tribute to Eddie Van Halen on what would have been his 68th birthday Thursday. Bertinelli, 62, posted an emoji of a white heart alongside a shot of her with the late rock legend and her former husband, who she was wed to from 1981-2007. The actress also posted another shot with their musician son, 31, and the legendary guitar player, who died at 65 in October of 2020 following a stroke and longtime cancer battle. The latest: Valerie Bertinelli, 62, and Wolfgang Van Halen, 31, paid tribute to Eddie Van Halen on what would have been his 68th birthday Thursday Wolfgang shared a shot as he posed alongside his late father while holding a guitar. He captioned the shot, 'Happy 68th Birthday Pop. Wish I could give you a big hug and tell it to you in person. I love and miss you more than you could ever know.' Bertinelli, best known for her work on One Day at a Time, Touched by an Angel and Hot in Cleveland, last year revealed in her memoir Enough Already: Learning to Love the Way I Am Today that Eddie's last words to her were 'I love you.' Bertinelli and Van Halen were married for 26 years and stayed closed after their 2007 divorce, Bertinelli wrote, as she was by his side when he was dying. Bonding: Wolfgang shared a shot as he posed alongside his late father while holding a guitar Quality time: Bertinelli was seen with the late rock legend and her former husband, who she was wed to from 1981-2007 Legacy: The late artist on tracks such as Jump, Hot for Teacher and Beat It was pictured playing in Chula Vista, California in September of 2015 In an excerpt of the memoir, Bertinelli revealed the touching last words they exchanged prior to his death at age 65, as well as the gift her 'soulmate' gave her during his battle with cancer. Bertinelli and the ex-couple's son Wolfgang were among the loved ones spending time with Eddie during his final weeks of life in the hospital. Also there was Van Halen's second wife, Janie Liszewski, and his brother, Alex Van Halen. The rocker had been suffering from pneumonia, the bone marrow disorder myelodysplastic syndrome, and lung cancer, but ultimately died of a stroke. Bertinelli revealed the poignant last words her ex-husband said to her and their son. '"I love you" are the last words Ed says to Wolfie and me," Valerie recalled, 'and they are the last words we say to him before he stops breathing.' Bertinelli, whose connection with Eddie grew stronger as his cancer spread and he approached the prospect of death, also recalled the touching gift he gave her a year before his death. Strong bond: Valerie Bertinelli and her ex-husband Eddie Van Halen still cared deeply for one another even after their split; pictured 2001 'I just love you': Valerie, whose connection with Eddie grew stronger as his cancer spread and he faced the prospect of death, also recalled the touching gift he gave her a year before his death Eddie had purchased Valerie a gold bar the size of a pendant while undergoing cancer treatment in Germany. The rocker requested to speak with her privately on Thanksgiving Day in 2019 and gave her the touching gift after they went to a friend's car to talk. 'I hope you don't think it's weird, you know, that I bought my ex-wife this gift and didn't get my wife anything,' Eddie said with tears in his eyes. 'I just love you.' 'He wants me to know he messed up [during our marriage],' Valerie wrote. 'I contributed to our troubles too and I am also sorry.' Remorse: Valerie also expressed regret over holding herself back from deepening their friendship during his battle with cancer Valerie also expressed regret over holding herself back from deepening their friendship during his battle with cancer. Though they were both remarried, Valerie says both of their marriages were facing issues. 'There is no chance we are going to get back together,' she said, 'but I do know if one of us were to open up, the other one would too, and I don't want to get into that.' Valerie struggled to describe their relationship but said there was 'no greater love' than the one they had for one another. 'We made this beautiful son': Valerie struggled to describe their relationship but said there was 'no greater love' than the one they had for one another 'I can't explain the feelings Ed and I had for each other,' she wrote. 'Who really knows had he not died. I doubt it. I loved him more than I know how to explain and there's nothing sexual about it. It was more than that. And Ed and I understood that.' 'There is no greater love than what we had between the two of us and with that, we made this beautiful son.' Valerie ultimately filed for legal separation from her second husband Tom Vitale in November 2021, but said her 'love' for Eddie played no role in their split. 'We grew apart,' the Hot In Cleveland actress said. 'The decision has nothing to do with my love for Ed. I wish Tom the best and I know he feels the same way about me.' Randall Emmett has had the restraining order from his ex-wife Ambyr Childers dismissed after a recent report that they were working on a settlement. The 51-year-old embattled film producer's court order from the 34-year-old actress was dissolved on Thursday. A rep for Randall Emmett told DailyMail.com: 'As stated on the record in court this morning by attorney Heather Patrick, Ambyr and Randall have settled their differences, and Ambyrs request for a restraining order has been dismissed. 'Randall is glad this matter is resolved and behind him": Randall Emmett has had the restraining order from his ex-wife Ambyr Childers dismissed, as the former couple are seen together in January 2015 'Randall is glad this matter is resolved and behind him.' This came just a day after a report that the former couple are attempting to settle their issues out of court according to new legal documents obtained by Page Six. The ex spouses were scheduled to have a hearing but have since opted to reschedule to January 26 as they are 'working on a settlement' DailyMail.com has reached out to both parties for comment as a representative for Emmett declined to comment and Childers's reps did not immediately respond to the request for comment. Interesting: It was reported on Wednesday that the former couple (pictured in June 2013) were reportedly working on a settlement in their restraining order court battle according to new legal documents obtained by Page Six Nearly two months after she first sought a restraining order against ex-husband, Childers was finally granted one three days before Christmas. Emmett was ordered to stay 100 yards away from Childers who he was married to for eight years from 2009 to 2017, according to The Los Angeles Times. He was also forbidden from contacting Childers, unless it is a, 'brief and peaceful interaction' about visitation for London and Rylee. Childers' first request for a domestic violence restraining order was denied due to lack of evidence, though she submitted a new request. Developments: The ex spouses were scheduled to have a hearing but have since opted to reschedule to January 26 as they are 'working on a settlement,' she is seen in April 2022 At the center: DailyMail.com has reached out to both parties for comment as a representative for Emmett (pictured in November) declined to comment and Childers's reps did not immediately respond to the request for comment. Emmett came under fire back in June when an investigation by the L.A. Times accused the producer of exchanged acting roles for sexual favors. The investigation also added that he still owes various investors millions of dollars and that he forced assistants to engage in illegal behavior on his behalf, all of which Emmett denied. Childers claimed in her latest court filing that Emmett was 'physically and emotionally abusive' while they were married. Nearly two months after she first sought a restraining order against ex-husband , Childers (Pictured in April 2022) was finally granted one three days before Christmas Contentious: Emmett was ordered to stay 100 yards away from Childers who he was married to for eight years from 2009 to 2017, according to The Los Angeles Times She added that when he asked her to sign a post-nuptial financial agreement in 2015, and she refused, he got so upset and put his left hand on her neck, 'squeezing with such force that [Childers] had difficulty breathing.' Childers claimed that in 2016, when he brought up the proposed agreement again, Emmett, 'again attempted to strangle' Childers. Emmetts litigation attorney, Suann C. MacIsaac, said in another statement, 'Mr. Emmett adamantly denies all of the allegations in Ms. Childers recent declaration.' 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Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, Vice-Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta during the 74th Republic Day parade celebrations in Vishakhapatnam on Thursday. (Photo: @IN_HQENC) Visakhapatnam: Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, Vice-Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, has praised the architects of Indian Constitution, saying that they not only laid down fundamental rights but also enshrined in it the fundamental duties of every citizen for ensuring equality, justice and freedom for all. The Vice-Admiral was addressing the 74th Republic Day parade in Visakhapatnam on Thursday. He reviewed a ceremonial parade comprising a 50-member Guard of Honour and 18 marching platoons at the parade grounds. The personnel on parade were drawn from all ships, submarines, air squadrons, and naval establishments apart from the DSC personnel and the Sea Cadet Corps of the ENC. Vice-Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Chief of Staff, ENC, was the conducting officer of the parade with the flag officers, commanding officers, naval personnel and their families, including veterans and schoolchildren in attendance. The event was also witnessed by the veteran sailors of the 1973 batch visiting INS Circars for their golden jubilee. The commander-in-chief complimented the smart turnout for the excellent parade. He extended his Republic Day greetings to all naval personnel, defence civilians, veterans and their families and congratulated the award-winners for their devotion to duty. The ceremony concluded with the singing of the National Anthem. A military contingent from Egypt marches past during the 74th Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path, in New Delhi, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. (PTI Photo/Shahbaz Khan) NEW DELHI: On a day when Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi attended Indias Republic Day parade as the chief guest, the two nations issued a joint statement late on Thursday evening "condemning the use of terrorism as a foreign policy tool". Both "emphasised the need for concerted and coordinated action by the international community with the objective of eradicating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism." Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Egyptian President "called for zero tolerance for terrorism and for all those who encourage, support and finance terrorism or provide sanctuaries to terrorists and terror groups -- whatever their motivation may be," the joint statement in a thinly veiled pointer at Pakistan said without naming it. Calling for tough action against terrorism, the joint statement said, "They (the two leaders) reiterated their condemnation of efforts, including by states, to use religion to justify, support and sponsor terrorism against other countries. They also called upon all countries to work towards rooting out terrorist networks and their safe havens, infrastructure, their financing channels and preventing cross-border movements of terrorists." According to the statement, the two leaders "appreciated that bilateral military-to-military cooperation has reached a new level. They agreed to further enhance and deepen defence cooperation in all fields, especially by exchanging technology between defence industries, widening the footprint of military exercises and... emphasised the need for co-production in the defence sector." It was also announced that both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to promoting the values of peace, tolerance, and inclusion, as well as working together to combat terrorism and violent extremist ideologies. "They emphasised the need for a holistic approach to counter terrorism and violent extremism, which includes inter alia disrupting the use of the internet and social media and preventing the use of religious centres to radicalize youth and recruit terrorist cadres," the statement said. "The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism, the principles of the United Nations Charter, international law, the founding values of the Non-Aligned Movement and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states. The two sides take into consideration the cultural and social sensitivities of all states," the joint statement said. On trade and investment, Mr Sisi sought Indian investments in Egypt, particularly in sectors such as infrastructure, petrochemicals, energy, agriculture, healthcare, education, skills development and IT. The joint statement said: "The two leaders appreciated the strong bilateral economic engagement and expressed satisfaction at the current level of bilateral trade at a record high of $7.26 billion in 202122, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. They expressed confidence that a bilateral trade target of $12 billion could be achieved within the next five years by both countries, by diversifying the trade basket and focusing on value addition." It added: "Both leaders welcomed the expansion of Indian investments in Egypt, which is currently more than $3.15 billion. They agreed to encourage businesses from their respective countries to explore emerging economic and investment opportunities in each others countries. Egypt welcomes the flow of more Indian investments and promises to offer incentives and facilities as per applicable regulations and frameworks... In this context, the Egyptian side considers the possibility of allocating a special area of land for the Indian industries in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCEZ) and the Indian side can arrange for the master plan." Modi meanwhile, tweeted, "I am grateful to President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for gracing this years Republic Day celebrations with his august presence." HRDA General Secretary Dr G. Srinivas said the government should immediately issue the election notification, as per the High Court order. (Photo: PTI/Representational) HYDERABAD: The Telangana Doctors Federation (TDF), in an online meeting with the health department on Wednesday night, threatened to protest if the government fails to hold elections to the Telangana State Medical Council within the stipulated time. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA) and Telangana Junior Doctors Association (TJUDA). TDF President Dr K. Anvesh said that all organisations, including UG and PG students from medical colleges and practising doctors, would hold a Vaidya Garjana in Hyderabad. HRDA General Secretary Dr G. Srinivas said the government should immediately issue the election notification, as per the High Court order. The organisations decided to submit representations of their demands to all officials concerned and discuss their action plan in the next online meeting on Saturday. Touching other issues, HRDA president Dr K. Mahesh Kumar said that quackery has become like naatu saara (countrymade liquor), as it was endangering the lives of the common man. Meanwhile, TJUDA leaders Dr Kaushik, Dr Rahul and Dr Karshini proposed to mobilise medical students to better public health in the state. TDF convener Dr Vijayender said permanent recruitment, both in teaching and non-teaching hospitals, should be done as per the increased number of medical seats, while the number of hospitals should be increased in accordance with the population ratio, as directed by the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS). Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy along with his wife YS Bharati Reddy attended the customary At Home' hosted by Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan at Raj Bhavan on the occasion of the 74th Republic Day celebration on Thursday. (Photo: Twitter) Vijayawada: AP Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan has said the state government lived up to the essence of the Constitution in the past 43 months. "Establishing that our state government is not a government of words but a government of deeds, we have brought in real Gram Swaraj in just 43 months, which cannot be seen anywhere in the country," he said. The Governor stated so after unfurling the national flag on the occasion of 74th Republic Day at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation Stadium here on Thursday. Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy was among those present. The masses, including political leaders, expected a mention of the Three Capitals in the Republic Day speech but there was none. Addressing the gathering, the Governor stated that it was 73 years since the Constitution came into being. "It is imbibed with the highest levels of human values. The essence of the 73-year-old Constitution is being carried out by the state government in its true letter and spirit in the past 43 months of governance," he said. The Governor said the state government, realising that no serious effort had been made before this period to change the fate of the marginalised sections, has embarked upon an unprecedented Direct Benefit Transfer system. "Through this, Rs 1.82 lakh crore has reached the intended beneficiaries till date, in a most transparent manner. During the tough times of Covid-19, despite strains on finances, the state government had provided financial aid through the Navaratnalu during the period of distress." Harichandan said, "I am happy that, for the period June 2019 to 31 December 2022, the investment inflow has been robust, with the establishment of 109 large industries with an investment of Rs 54,236 crore." In MSME sector, 1,45,496 units were established with an investment of Rs 72,608 crore, providing employment to 11,19,944 persons. "AP is categorised as Top Achiever in the Ease of Doing Business under the Business Reform Action Plan for the year 2020-21 and the state is ranked No.1 in the State Business Reform Action Plan released by the central government and the World Bank." "The GSDP growth rate of Andhra Pradesh is 11.43 per cent at constant prices during 2021-22, higher than the national GDP growth of 8.9 per cent. The Per Capita Income increased to Rs 1,70,215 in 2020-21 from Rs 1,68,480." The Governor said the Jagananna Amma Vodi with a motto that No mother shall be deprived of sending her children to school because of poverty, the state government has so far credited Rs 19,617 crore directly into the accounts of 44.49 lakh mothers, thereby benefiting 84 lakh children through this scheme. He explained that under Mana Badi Nadu-Nedu, a total revamp of infrastructure has been taken up in 45,484 government schools, 471 government junior colleges, 151 government degree colleges, 3,287 government hostels, 55,607 Anganwadis, with an expenditure of around Rs 17,805 crore in 3 phases. The Governor said the state has introduced English as medium of instruction with CBSE syllabus in government-run schools from primary levels itself. "This is aimed to transform poor students into Global Citizens." Further promoting digital learning, it has provided 5,18,740 electronic tabs worth Rs 688 crore to 4,59,564 students of the 8th standard. Harichandan said Andhra Pradesh has witnessed an unprecedented Welfare and development momentum during the past 3 and a half years and "the government has taken up the Gadapa Gadapaku Mana Prabhutvam programme under which MLAs are visiting all households under their jurisdiction to create awareness among people on government welfare schemes and to address their grievances." To provide houses to all under Navaratnalu Pedalandariki Illu, work on 18.63 lakh houses with a project cost of Rs 33,544 crore was taken up and, of these, 2.3 lakh houses were completed and the remaining houses were at various stages of construction, he added. Education minister Botsa Satyanarayana. (Photo: Facebook) Vijayawada: Education minister Botsa Satyanarayana has reaffirmed that the YSRC government adhered to development of three regions of the state through the Three Capitals plan, under the decentralised development policy, and would not flinch back from the decision. He criticised the "provocative" statements of Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan against decentralised development. The YSRC party policy is not three states, but comprehensive development of three regions. He said that time and again CM Jagan Mohan Reddy has been saying this. Jagan Mohan Reddy has knowledge, experience and commitment. "We are pressurising CM to shift Executive Capital to Visakhapatnam by Telugu New Year Ugadi to start the administration from Vizag." He said that, without basic knowledge, Pawan Kalyan compared decentralisation to the partition of Bengal and the Vande Mataram movement. Minister Satyanarayana said that even after being in politics for almost 15 years, the celebrity party leader (Pawan) could not win an MLA at least once. Slamming Pawan Kalyan for his comments on the Republic Day regarding funds for SCs development, minister Satyanarayana said Pawan Kalyan does not know about the SC sub-plan and was ignorant that the Planning Commission had abolished it in 2014 and at present it is called SC component. He stated that the YSRC government has provided more than Rs 60,000 crore of benefits to the SCs through 32 schemes under the DBT and non-DBT systems and more than Rs 16,000 crore benefits to STs. Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan. (File Photo: DC) Hyderabad: Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan's Republic Day address drew sharp reactions, including critical remarks, from BRS leaders here on Thursday. Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and Legislative Council Chairman Gutha Sukender Reddy found fault with the Governor while minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav came down heavily for Dr Soundararajan for delivering a 'political speech' on Republic Day. He said the state government would write to President Draupadi Murmu complaining against the 'unconstitutional functioning' of the Governor. "Her comments were unwarranted. It is unfortunate that the Governor chose to breach norms on the day when our Constitution came into force in 1950," Yadav said. MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha "thanked" the Governor for what she called echoing the vision of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao." In a Twitter reaction to the Governors address, she wrote, "Choosing countrys infrastructure over Central Vista during the pandemic, is what we demanded. Choosing farmers, labourers, unemployed youth over focusing on wealth generation for a few is exactly what we have been fighting for. Thank you for echoing the vision of CM KCR Garu (sic)." Sukhender Reddy, while referring to the Governor's call to protect democracy in the state, said, "There is no threat to democracy in Telangana. Those who are criticising the state government or question what it has achieved should also tell about what the Centre has done in the last eight years. When questioned, they talk of laying national roads. We cannot help if someone fails to notice the development achieved by Telangana in the last eight years. It's not proper to criticize farmhouses and construction of new buildings." Srinivas Reddy said those holding constitutional positions should talk more responsibly. It's not proper to criticise someone just to show their presence, he said. BJP legislator Etala Rajendar. (Photo: Facebook @Eatala Rajendar) HYDERABAD: Former minister and BJP legislator Etala Rajendar has left the saffron party red-faced by going public against his party leaders, whom he described as coverts of BRS supremo and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. Humiliated over the recent showdown with fellow BJP leader G. Vivek on repayment of loans to the latter, Rajendar rushed to the media on Wednesday and made a controversial statement that Rao had his moles in all Opposition parties and dropped enough hints that the unsavoury episode was a part of Raos efforts to defame him through coverts. Highly-placed sources in the BJP told Deccan Chronicle that Rajendar was advised against going public as senior leaders suspected that he would retaliate, further embarrassing the party. "We all felt Vivek shouldnt have raised the issue at a public function, drawing attention of not only party leaders but others as well," a senior leader said, adding that Rajendar addressing the media would only escalate matters. Wasting no time, Pradesh Congress Committee president A. Revanth Reddy took full advantage of Rajendars remarks and said the latter was ill at ease in the BJP, which had a tacit understanding with the BRS. In a strategic move, the Congress made overtures to Rajendar, as was evident from one leader after another extending sympathies to the former minister and other outsiders who had joined the BJP, and suggesting to them to shun the saffron brigade. Interestingly, the talk of all anti-Chandrashekar Rao forces floating a new party, which was in the air several months ago, was also revived. The infighting in the state BJP, which is divided between the natives and migrants, has intensified in the recent past after Rajendar is said to have staked claims for the top post in place of incumbent Bandi Sanjay Kumar. Sources close to him said he was of the strong view that the present strategy of communal polarisation would not work in Telangana and it was essential to pull in the minority, Christian and Dalit votes to dethrone Chandrashekar Rao and had conveyed the same to party central leadership. "Rajendar will help consolidate all the forces that were active in the Telangana agitation and are unhappy with the present dispensation," a close aide of Rajendar said, adding that these forces include even Left sympathisers. There was stiff resistance within the BJP to Rajendars moves and, shedding their differences, all senior BJP leaders including Union minister G. Kishan Reddy rallied behind Sanjay. National president of the BJP's minority morcha Jamal Siddiqui. (Photo: Twitter) HYDERABAD: Going all out for the 2024 general elections, the BJP will be launching a major membership drive among minority communities. The party has identified at least 60 minority-dominated constituencies across the country and will launch a drive in February to make at least 5,000 new members in each of these earmarked constituencies. Besides the membership drive among the minority communities, the party will also identify 5,000 "prominent minority citizens" from across the country who will be made aware of the Union government's welfare schemes. These "prominent citizens" will eventually have an interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The national president of the BJP's minority morcha Jamal Siddiqui told this newspaper that the party's minority wing is launching a membership drive in February in 60 parliamentary constituencies. These constituencies are dominated by the minority communities. "The membership drive will focus on 60 out of 106 Lok Sabha constituencies having 30 to 98 per cent minority population. During the drive, which will end in May, 5,000 new members from minority communities will be enrolled in each constituency," Mr Siddiqui said. It is learnt that of the 60 Lok Sabha seats identified by the saffron party, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh have 13 parliamentary constituencies each, 10 in Kerala, including the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, six in Assam, five in Jammu and Kashmir, four in Bihar, three in Madhya Pradesh, two each in Telangana and Haryana and one each in Maharashtra and Lakshadweep. Mr Siddiqui also said that the BJP minority morcha will be reaching out to 5,000 non-political influential and prominent citizens of minority communities with details about the welfare-centric governance of the Modi government in the coming months. "We will identify 5,000 prominent persons, which include doctors, lawyers, businessmen and other professionals from minority communities and explain to them about the welfare and development initiatives of the Modi government. We are also planning an interaction of these prominent persons with the Prime Minister," he said. The BJP minority mohalla will hold a two-day national executive meeting in Chhatisgarh beginning February 1 to discuss and finalise other minority outreach programs. "Other programmes and events of the minority morcha will be discussed and finalised at the meeting of our national executive in Chhattisgarh," Mr Siddiqui added. Supporters of Pakistans ousted prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday gathered outside his residence here to provide security and resist his possible arrest, days after the caretaker government of Punjab province withdrew the additional security provided to him following an assassination attempt. The additional security provided to Khan, the chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, in November was removed on Tuesday night. "The Punjab government under CM Mohsin Naqvi has withdrawn additional police security of Khan and also former chief minister and Khan's ally Chaudhary Parvez Elahi," a government official told PTI. Also Read | With Nawazs return to Pak, another peace initiative? He said the commandos of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province who were deployed at the Zaman Park Lahore residence of Khan have also been withdrawn following dissolution of the assembly and installation of a caretaker setup there. The PTI chief's security was beefed up following a gun attack on him in November last in the Wazirabad area of Punjab province. PTI Punjabs senior leader Musarrat Cheema said that a number of party workers are stationed outside Khans residence. "A good number of PTI workers have been camping outside Khan sahib's residence for the last two days to resist any possible attempt to arrest him," Cheema told PTI. She said a 'puppet' caretaker Chief Minister has been installed to take action against the PTI leadership. Also Read | Pakistan provincial assembly dissolved on orders of former PM Khan Cheema said the PTI workers would not only provide security to Khan but stop the government from arresting him. On Wednesday, Police arrested PTIs senior leader Fawad Chaudhry during a predawn raid on charges of "inciting violence against a constitutional institution. Former interior minister Sheikh Rashid said that there are chances that Imran Khan may be poisoned. "I have asked Khan to be very careful as a conspiracy is being hatched to give him poison in his food," Rashid said. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, however, claimed that the government has no plans to arrest Khan. Earlier, Khan said he sacrificed the partys governments in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa because the country needed free and fair elections. He demanded that the judiciary ensure that general elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa be held within 90 days of the dissolution of assemblies. If there is a Constitution and law in this country, the election cannot go beyond 90 days, he said and urged the Chief Justice of Pakistan to look into the matter. Khan said that he is shocked to see how the military establishment has chosen to side with those (Sharifs and Zardaris) who had been looting the country for the past three decades. The provincial assemblies in the two provinces Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-- were dissolved prematurely this month by the PTI party to force the federal government in Islamabad to call for early general elections. However, the federal government refused to bow before the pressure and has been so far adamant to hold elections on time after August this year. Mohsin Naqvi was sworn in as the caretaker chief minister of Punjab on January 22, while Mohammad Azam Khan as the chief executive of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 21. Neither France nor its allies are fighting a war against Russia, the French foreign ministry said Thursday, following a Western decision to send heavy tanks to Ukraine to repel the Russian invasion. "We are not at war with Russia and none of our partners are," ministry spokeswoman Anne-Claire Legendre said. "The delivery of military equipment... does not constitute co-belligerence." Legendre spoke after German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Wednesday said it was important for Western partners to coordinate military aid to Kyiv. "The crucial part is we do it together and we do not do the blame game in Europe because we are fighting a war against Russia and not against each other," she said. On Wednesday, Germany said it would deliver 14 of its top-of-the-line Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, a much-awaited decision that opens the floodgates for several other European countries armed with Leopards to send their own contributions. The United States announced it would also provide 31 Abrams tanks. The Kremlin has said Moscow perceives the tank deliveries "as direct involvement in the conflict". Uzbekistan will import natural gas from Russia for the first time ever as the Central Asian country faces an energy crisis, authorities said Thursday. Despite being home to a wealth of natural resources, including gas, Uzbekistan has faced energy shortages amid historically cold temperatures. Like its neighbours Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Uzbekistan suffers frequent power and heating cuts due to ageing infrastructure. An energy ministry spokesman told AFP the gas deliveries, via an agreement with Russian energy giant Gazprom, will begin on March 1. Uzbek gas firm Uztransgaz said the country had never imported Russian gas before. The amount of deliveries and the cost of the transaction have not been made public. The agreement comes as Russia has slashed exports to Europe amid tensions over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and is seeking to redirect them to Asia. European countries have also sought to reduce their reliance on Russian gas since the war broke out in February 2022. JD(U) is sure about Bharat Jodo Yatra will go a long way in helping to formulate joint strategies for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections but its president Rajiv Ranjan 'Lalan Singh' will not fly to Srinagar next Monday to join the culmination of Kanyakumari to Kashmir padayatra owing to other engagements. As he joined a group of parties like Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, CPI(M) and JD(S) in skipping the January 30 rally, Singh conveyed his inability to attend the historic event in a letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge but emphasised that the need of the hour is a "unified Opposition" and that Congress should take "appropriate steps" in this direction. Kharge had written to presidents of 23 like-minded parties inviting them to the Srinagar rally. However, he had not invited parties like AAP, BRS, BJD, Akali Dal, AIUDF and YSR Congress. In the letter sent on Thursday, Singh said as JD(U) president, he was wishing the event "every success" on behalf of the party and its supreme leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. He said he sincerely believes that the yatra has also given an opportunity to "study, experience and sense the mood and anxiety" of the people first-hand, which he was sure will go a long way in "helping us formulate joint strategies" in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. "My party sincerely feels that the need of the hour is a unified Opposition and expects that the Indian National Congress takes appropriate steps in this direction," he said. #BaharatJodoYatra ...will go a long way in helping us formulate joint strategies in the run upto 2024 polls: JD(U) Prez Lallan Singh. He will not be going to Srinagar to attend BJY rally as he will be in Nagaland @DeccanHerald pic.twitter.com/QYmU6o6SsM Shemin (@shemin_joy) January 26, 2023 Sharing the sentiments Kharge expressed in his letter inviting Singh to the rally, he said there are no two opinions that there is decline in democratic values in the country and the institutions that are supposed to ensure checks and balances on unrestrained executive power are being systematically destroyed."The pace at which the country is fast transforming itself from an electoral democracy to an electoral autocracy, to say the least is, frightening," he said but added, he wanted to be present at the "historic event" but he regrets his inability to do as he need to be present at the launching of the party's election campaign in Nagaland on the same day. India has done well to extend concrete support to Sri Lankas economic recovery. New Delhi has sent a written financial assurance to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expressing support for Sri Lankas loan programme with financing/debt relief consistent with restoring the islands public debt sustainability. With this written support to Sri Lanka, India has become the first of Sri Lankas creditors to officially back its debt restructuring programme. As a result of its flawed policies and excessive borrowing for vanity projects, and following the pandemic lockdowns, the Sri Lankan economy collapsed last year. Its depleted foreign exchange reserves forced it to default on debt payments. A desperate Sri Lankan government turned to the IMF, which late last year agreed to extend a $2.9-billion loan to the country. However, unlocking the loan required Sri Lankas creditors to provide adequate assurances. Over the past year, Sri Lankas creditors responded to the crisis either with mere verbal expressions of support, or worse, as in Chinas case, silence. It is here that India set itself apart. It extended lines of credit and sent humanitarian aid. And now it has led by example to support Sri Lankas economic recovery with written assurance. With New Delhi showing the way, other creditors, including China, are expected to follow. Sri Lankas problems are far from over. Restructuring its economy as per the IMFs demands is bound to trigger mass protests that could quickly take an anti-India turn. Delhi should nudge Colombo to avoid coercive measures in dealing with unrest. However, it must ensure that it is not seen to be meddling in the islands politics. Geographic proximity and historical, cultural and ethnic ties have traditionally determined Indias policy toward Sri Lanka. However, Chinas rising clout over the island has been of immense concern to India as it has ramifications for Indias security. Consequently, wariness of China has driven New Delhis heightened engagement with Sri Lanka in recent years, prompting India to pour in millions of dollars in projects that are aimed more at keeping China out rather than promoting Indian interests. Such projects do not have the support of the Sri Lankan people either, which means Delhi may be unwittingly stirring anti-India sentiment in the island. India must promote people-centric projects as it has in some African countries. Crafting our Sri Lankan policy according to what China does or doesnt do is not in Indias interest in the long run as that will essentially be a reactive policy. Rather, India must craft its policy vis-a-vis its smaller neighbours based on a vision for the betterment of the region. Economic and strategic benefits will follow. In August, in Prague, the chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, said it bluntly: The centre of Europe is moving eastward. Russias invasion of Ukraine has been a shock to the complacent European order, both to the European Union and to NATO. And it has underscored and enhanced the influence of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Poland and the Baltic states have driven the moral argument to support Ukraine, filling a near-vacuum early in the war, when Europes traditional leaders, France and Germany, appeared paralysed. But the war has also brought new urgency and energy for the enlargement of the European Union to the Western Balkans and beyond, with offers of candidacy for Ukraine and Moldova. Vocal pressure from Eastern and Central Europe was crucial to the decisions this week, after months of wrangling and resistance, to give Western tanks to Ukraine. On Wednesday, Scholz announced that his country would supply some of its Leopard 2 tanks and allow other countries to send theirs, and President Joe Biden said he would send Abrams tanks, which gave Scholz the political cover he wanted. The war is also accelerating what Scholz implied: that the balance of power in Europe is shifting, too, along with its centre, away from Old Europe, which valued and cultivated its ties to Moscow, to the newer members to the east and north, with their raw memories of Soviet occupation and their reluctance to cede chunks of their reestablished sovereignty to Brussels. Scholz is right, said Timothy Garton Ash, a European historian at St Antonys College, Oxford. The voices of Central and Eastern Europeans are being listened to more and taken more seriously in the councils of Europe, and there is a big eastern enlargement agenda on the table. With a major war within its borders, Europe is more about hard power now than before, he said. So having a Central and Eastern Europe that takes security seriously has an impact. Poland has a rapidly expanding military the government said last year that it planned to double the size of the countrys armed forces and has ordered a large amount of sophisticated new arms, making it a more important player in both the EU and in NATO. Poland was a prime lobbyist to try to persuade a reluctant Berlin to send German tanks to Ukraine and authorise other countries to do so. Power has moved east, and Ukraine will cement this trend, said Jana Puglierin, Berlin director of the European Council on Foreign Relations. One can extrapolate too much from the Ukraine war, she said, but you see the clear pattern in moral leadership. Central and Eastern European countries, Puglierin said, see themselves as the freedom fighters in the EU and defending its values, standing up to dictatorship. They feel vindicated in their long-standing warnings about Russias neo-imperialism, its president, Vladimir Putin, and Europes dependence on Russian energy in contrast to what they see as Western Europes naivete about diplomacy and trade with Russia. Acting early to provide Ukraine military support and to welcome refugees, these countries have helped shape the narrative for Europe, while in Berlin and Paris, too, there was such a vacuum, negotiating with Putin to the last and surprised by the invasion, Puglierin said. The eastern countries were quick movers and much more credible, and we were speechless and frozen. Germany and France have also had to confront the failure of their traditional policy of European security with Russia, not against it. President Emmanuel Macron of France persists in hoping to be part of any future peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, going so far as to talk of giving Russia security guarantees, which has enraged many in Europe, not just in the east. The war has also made Macrons aspiration for an autonomous European defence seem hollow, given the sharply enhanced role of NATO and the US in the past year. The eastern countries are not big fans of EU defence they want the US and NATO, Puglierin said. Germany, too, wants to enhance the trans-Atlantic relationship and depends on Washington, even as it tries to rebuild its own paltry military. So France will lose some allies and be outnumbered, she said. Weakened within Europe, at least for now, France will also be less influential in a more active and aggressive NATO. The alliance is more reliant on American arms and leadership than it was before the war, not less so, and it is expected to expand soon with the new membership of Sweden and Finland. Germanys new government, led by Scholz, was unprepared for war, let alone for a sudden cut-off of Russian energy and trade. With rising concern about similar dependence on China, Germany faces the need to reshape its export-driven economy, built on cheap Russian gas and unfettered trade with China. In the longer run, the prospect of a larger and more eastern Europe will be a source of great strength for the German economy, Garton Ash said, with Ukraine representing a vast potential for development. Still, France and Germany are on the back foot in Europe for the near future, at least. Luuk van Middelaar, a historian of the European Union, notes that since the war began, both Poland and Hungary have been treated more gently by Brussels in the ongoing struggle with them over the rule of law. Politically and morally, Poland is off the hook because of the role it plays as a front-line state, delivering arms and accepting refugees, he said. The power of the French-German couple has been waning for some time. Van Middelaar drew a comparison between the war in Ukraine and another tectonic shock to Europe, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany. Francois Mitterrand and Helmut Kohl, the French and German leaders in that earlier time, had fierce conflicts over reunification, but they had been working closely together for years. When Russia invaded Ukraine, Scholz, who had been in office less than three months, and Macron barely knew one another. There was no working relationship or professional intimacy, which you need at such moments, van Middelaar said, so there has been a lot of internal suspicion and underlying discomfort about how to deal with this new continent where Russia is a foe and Germany has to rethink its economic and political model. That has created a void in leadership that the countries of Central and Eastern Europe have tried aggressively to fill. District in-charge Minister K C Narayana Gowda on Wednesday said that Abhishekh Ambareesh, the son of actor-turned-politician the late Ambarish, might join the BJP. Gowda said, "We have held discussions with Abhishekh in Mandya on joining the BJP. I would announce the result in two days." Speaking to media persons, he said, "It is believed that Abhishekh will enter politics and the discussions are already in progress in this regard. If he embraces BJP, the party would benefit from it. We have held discussions with Mandya MP Sumalatha, mother of Abhishekh." Gowda, who represents Krishnaraja Pete in Mandya district, said Ambarish is from Mandya and if Abhishekh contests the upcoming Assembly polls from there on a BJP ticket, it would be good for the party. Local politicians have been accused of seeming quite happy to accept some crumbs from the table of the Norths Belfast-centric economic policy. The stinging criticism came from Creggan community worker, Conal McFeely. It followed last weeks revelation, no Derry projects received second round British Government Levelling-Up funding, even though a number submitted applications. Speaking to Derry Now, Mr McFeely said the Belfast-centric status quo needed to be challenged. It is not being challenged in the North West and that is a criticism of our local politicians who for the most part seem quite happy to accept some crumbs from the table. He added: In terms of the Levelling-Up Fund, 120 million has been doled out in the North and of that only 16 million has been allocated to the North West and there was nothing allocated in this round of funding. The Levelling-Up Funds is supposed to be for projects which increase productivity, job opportunities, and pay rates for particular regions. I have spoken to people involved in administering the Levelling-Up Fund and they said it is about helping communities to save local community assets and the regeneration of local towns. It is also about investment, culture, and heritage and the upgrading of local transport systems. Essentially, it is about targeting areas in greatest need. I would challenge anyone to identify an area more in need than the North West. Now, if we compare Derry and Belfast, Belfasts economy has grown by more than 14% in real terms since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, whereas the Derry economy has contracted by 7% in those years. In Belfast, income per capita has grown by 14% in real terms since the Good Friday Agreement but the Derry income per capita has fallen by 12% in real terms. The per capita income in Belfast remains double that of Derry (31K/15K). Belfast has been among the top 20 UK government districts for economic performance since 1997 and Derry has been among the bottom 5% of all UK government districts for economic performance since 1997, he said. According to Conal McFeely, Derry and Strabane have topped virtually every table in respect of deprivation and economic inactivity for decades. We have seen very little benefit here of what people refer to as the peace dividend, he said. And the recent revelations in respect of Invest NI (for every job Invest NI supported in Derry and Strabane, it has supported 25 in Belfast) demonstrate a systemic failure to see Derry and the North West as a suitable region for investment. In terms of levelling up, I have stated for a while, along with others, that the North West needs a dedicated regional development strategy, which would help the region to level up in relation to the rest of the North and in relation to the rest of this island. Arguably much of the current funding under Levelling Up has been peace-meal with little in terms of a wider strategic cohesive plan behind it. If Levelling Up is to be a meaningful initiative then the programme must address some of the more structural issues facing those areas which are most disadvantaged. To that end, we met with the people who came to the city to talk about the Levelling-Up Fund. We provided them with a very detailed vision for the North West. We put it to them that if they were serious about the Levelling-Up agenda, there was only one strategic project/vision which would make a significant, long term economic and social impact on this region, the development of an independent university for the North West. We also had very detailed conversations with the Irish Government regarding the North West, particularly the problems facing Derry and Donegal. We argued, being a border region, the North West had suffered disproportionately ever since partition, and Brexit has only exacerbated these issues further. During that particular process, the British Government put out a command paper which talked about the need for a cross-border university initiative, so we also argued, there was a unique opportunity for the British Government, if it was serious about the Levelling-Up agenda for this part of the world, to develop an independent, cross-border university as an initiative to offset the effects of Brexit, with Irish Government support, potentially through the Shared Island Initiative said Conal McFeely. Conal McFeely said the uniqueness of the model proposed meant it could secure funding from the British Government, the Executive and the EU. We also put forward proposals regarding the lack of job opportunities for the next generation coming up and the fact we still have some of the highest levels of economic inactivity and job opportunity, said Conal McFeely, who added the proposals had been submitted to the Levelling-Up team, the Irish Government and circulated to local representatives and Stormont. One of the projects which received Levelling-Up funding last week was a new university (the Multiversity project) for Blackpool, an area similar in size (in terms of population) to Derry/Strabane, albeit already more affluent than the North West. Conal McFeely added: Blackpool is a more affluent area than Derry and Strabane, yet it has received 40 million plus for a university, which they are saying is crucial for that particular region. Why can that not apply here? We are at the bottom of all indices of economic deprivation. We have been battling now for well over 50 years to actually have a proper university structure in the North West. Any economist will tell you a region like Derry and Strabane, which does not have a proper university (with Belfast commanding 80% of University numbers in the region) will always be on the back foot. If the British Government has already stated in a command paper there is a need for a cross border university and if the Council has also said over the years we need a properly resourced university, my question to Council and government(s) is, Why then are you not championing an independent university? I ask the same of our political elite up in Stormont. Why are they not saying, enough is enough in terms of Derry not having the opportunity to go forward. A properly resourced, independent university, is key to any sort of regeneration, as is a proper transport infrastructure. We have neither. Conal McFeely added: We were told under the Good Friday Agreement there would be equality of opportunity across the region. The fact is there is still no equality of opportunity across the North. And talking about Levelling-Up in a wider context, people should have decent wages and we need investment in our health service, public sector and social economy. We should also not be timid in our demand from government we should be looking at projects which Think Big and Think Differently for the North West aspirational projects which provide hope for future generations and which have the most desirable long term outcomes in mind i.e. sustainable well paid jobs which provide a platform/foundation for a step change in regional capacity building and community wealth building. To resolve disadvantage, the status quo needs to be challenged, the current Belfast- centric investment needs to be addressed. The Cost of Living crisis is crippling communities - now is the time for our leaders to step up to the plate and demand the change/investment which has been needed in the North West for decades Concerns regarding the stark, systemic underfunding of education in the North of Ireland have been highlighted by the chief executives of the main education bodies here. In an open letter to the British Secretary of State, Chris Heaton-Harris, and the head of the civil service, Jayne Brady, the seven chief executives cited evidence provided by the Institute of Fiscal Studies. Their letter said: The Institute for Fiscal Studies has clearly highlighted this stark systemic underfunding of our education system. Their analysis evidences that since 2009-10, spending per pupil has been consistently highest in Scotland and generally lowest in NI. In 2021-22, spending per pupil is estimated to be 7,600 per pupil in Scotland but only 6,400 in NI. Spending per pupil in England is expected to be 6,700 with the equivalent figure being 6,600 in Wales. We question the lack of parity. Why is the education of a young person in NI valued less than those in England, Scotland and Wales? The open letter was signed by Gerry Campbell (Council for Catholic Maintained Schools), Maria Thomasson (Comhairle na Gaelscolaiochta), Mark Baker (Controlled Schools Support Council), Fintan Murphy (Catholic Schools Trustee Service), Nuala ONeill (Governing Bodies Association NI), Roisin Marshall (Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education), and Dr Andrew Brown (Transferor Representatives Council). The educationalists said they would be failing children and young people here if they did not share their significant concerns about the impact of the current crisis in education funding. The added: Without question, reduction in funding and ongoing under investment will negatively impact the quality of education of every child and young person living in Northern Ireland. This is inequitable, as the funding for our children and young people is already significantly lower than that received by those in other regions. In Autumn 2022, the Chancellor announced 2.3 billion of additional funding for schools in England in each of the 2023-24 and 2024-25 years, enabling continued investment in high quality teaching and importantly restoring per pupil funding to 2010 levels in real terms. Schools in Northern Ireland have not started from a position of equal funding with their counterparts. Even considering the allocation of funding through Barnett consequentials, Northern Ireland schools will not be able to restore 2010 levels of pupil funding comparable with proposals for England. Why is there such a lack of equality between the important funding commitments given to English pupils and our children and young people? According to the seven signatories, the current generation of children have already been adversely affected as a result of the pandemic. They said: Schools face additional challenges as they support mental wellbeing and recovery of learning. These challenges will be compounded by a lack of educational funding, more money needs invested to support learning, yet we are looking at further cuts. Our schools are telling us that unless this under investment is addressed, it will be impossible to continue to provide our children and young people with an education that ensures they have the best start in life. There is now a need for an urgent meeting involving everyone with a concern for the future of our children and young people. The focus must be on the restoration of education funding to levels that can fully support the needs of schools and ensure children have the best start in life. Failure to address this problem will have a negative impact for many generations to come. Education is essential to the creation of a sustainable economy for all. It is therefore imperative that we act now to ensure that our children and young people have and contribute to a positive future. There was sadness in Derry and Inishowen at the recent passing of popular Gaeilgeoir, Liam Mac Lochlainn. A former teacher at St Columbs College in Derry, Liam was the beloved husband of the late Irene, loving father of Carol Anne, Catherine, Neil, Michael and David, dear father-in-law of Conor, Niamh and Siobhan, devoted daideo of Lewis, Aoife, Callum, Leah, Ciara, Molly and Naoise and dear brother of John, Anne and the late James and Gerald. Liams Requiem Mass and interment will take place in Glasgow. Last St Patricks Day, Derry News spoke to Liam about his gra for Fheis Dhoire Cholmcille, which was celebrating its 100th birthday. Liam also contributed to the forthcoming book Feis Dhoire Cholmcille: Celebrating a Century of Culture. As well as being a retired teacher, Liam was an author and experienced Feis adjudicator. A Glengad native, he poignantly described how Irish disappeared from the North Inishowen fishing village as a living language in just two generations. There was not much Irish in our house, said Liam, but my grandfather used to say his night prayers in Irish. My father's nickname shows how Irish died out in Glengad. He was called, John William Owen. Owen or Eoghan was purely Irish; William or Uilliam was Irish and English; and John was completely English. Irish had disappeared as a living language in two generations. I went to school in Scotland. There was no Irish taught in the schools there, instead I attended Conradh na Gaeilge classes in Glasgow. I was greatly helped by the late Padraig O Gallchoir (Padraig Hannah Moire) from Rannafast. I, eventually, became a tutor with Conradh. I taught Irish to adults in my own school in Glasgow, and some students passed their GCSE, said Liam. Liam's family emigrated from Inishowen to Scotland when he was four years old and his sister, Annie, was two. He vividly recalled the experience in the book 'Tar isteach A walk down memory lane' which detailed the history and families of Glengad and Inishtrahull, the most northerly island of Ireland, 10 kilometres northeast of Malin Head. Liam edited the book and the proceeds went to the Alzheimers Society (Donegal Branch Home Care) and Glengad Community Centre. Describing the move as 'traumatic, 'Liam said: I asked the Brian's across the road to hide me in the churn before we went away. Anne never stopped crying. Take me across the road to papa (granddad) was what she kept saying when we landed in Glasgow. She did not eat for a week. My mother took her to the doctor and he said, Give her three more days. If she does not eat within three days, you will have to send her back to Ireland. And the end of a week she took some of my fathers egg and she settled down after that. We stayed in the house of my aunt Anne, my mother's sister. Apparently, when I went into the living room in the flat, I began looking behind the radio. 'What are you looking for?' my aunt asked me. 'The little man playing the melodeon,' I answered. That was the first time I had seen a radio. Everything was new: electric light, running water, a toilet, a gas stove in the house. Outside there were buses, cars, trams, big shops, factories. It was a completely different world, said Liam. Liam's father worked first of all as a labourer on a building site and then in a foundry in Paisley. Liam added: Both jobs were tough and poorly paid. Three other children were born over there: James, John and Gerald. My father was not able to return home every year, but he kept in touch with Glengad through letters and through other people who came to Scotland from Glengad. My mother was Scottish, of Irish descent. She knew a little French and I think that aroused my interest in languages. She liked Irish songs: I think she was more Irish than many people who were born and reared in Ireland. She was a housewife for most of her life. Life in Scotland was not easy, but we were able to get a good education. We were able to benefit from the health service and living standards were higher than back in Ireland. Although we were brought up in Scotland, the whole family was aware of where we came from, said Liam. When he came home to Ireland, Liam was employed as a teacher in St Columb's College in Derry. He took up the story: Father (now Archbishop) Martin asked me to contribute a poem in Irish to the Feis Dhoire Cholmcille brochure. I was also asked to select the poems for An Teanga, which I did for a number of years. I also entered students from St Columb's for some of the competitions. These included action poetry and an audio-visual presentation on the life of St. Colm Cille. I also adjudicated at the Feis and I enjoyed this thoroughly. The standard of Irish was extremely high and the enthusiasm of the young people was impressive. I have adjudicated at Feis Ghlaschu, the Glasgow Feis, and again the standard of Irish was amazing. Both adults and children showed a level of fluency which is difficult to achieve outside of Ireland with few opportunities to practise, said Liam. Liam said he passionately believed Derry Feis played a central role in the cultural life of the city, promoting Irish culture in Derry and beyond. He added: The Teanga section is particularly important since it showcases the language in poetry, prose and song. It gives people the opportunity to use and enjoy the language outside of the classroom. Liam's weekly Irish column in the Journal, a short article and a translation, was greatly appreciated among Irish speakers, learners and those who are fluent in the language, in Derry and further afield. I often write about current affairs, he said, which shows that Irish is a modern language that can deal with modern themes. I also write historical articles, which I hope make people proud of their country's past. This is perhaps the only opportunity some people have to read Irish in the course of the week. I suppose I am basically optimistic about the future of the language. Through Irish medium schools (Gaelscoileanna) the number of fluent speakers is increasing every year. But governments and local authorities could do much more to promote the language. Irish education is not sufficiently funded. School buildings are often in a state of disrepair. There should be more courses for teachers. I must say in passing that we should be proud of the Irish nurseries, the three Irish primary schools and the Irish language stream in St Brigid's College in Derry City whose teachers do a first rate job, said Liam. Although Liam was of the opinion Irish language newspapers and magazines had died through a lack of support, he encouraged Irish speakers to support the remaining publications. Books in Irish are now readily available in the town, so there are no excuses, he smiled, while congratulating Feis Dhoire Cholmcille on successfully reaching its 100th birthday. Liam Mac Lochlainn: Ar dheis De go raibh a anam. Camaraderie was the refrain on the lips of every member of the Colmcille choir enjoying their Golden Jubilee (plus two) civic reception in Derrys Guildhall. Hosting the ebullient event on Friday evening, Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Sandra Duffy, described the Colmcille choir as one of the finest throughout Ireland. Mayor Duffy then presented the choirs musical director, Sheila Carlin, with a piece of commemorative crystal. Speaking to Derry Now, Colmcille choir matriarch, Ursula Clifford, encouraged anyone with an interest in singing to think about joining. We would definitely welcome new members, said Ursula. Just come along to the First Derry Presbyterian Church any Wednesday between 8.30pm and 10pm. You will find us rehearsing in the church hall. According to Ursula, the iconic Colmcille choir was founded by the then Fr Edward Daly in November 1970. He was interested in rejuvenating the city centre, particularly St Columbs Hall, said Ursula. Then, Mr Patrick Carlin, who had volunteered as well, held auditions. He decided he would just have the women, so that was how the Colmcille choir evolved. Bishop Daly was our patron and encouraged us in everything. He was insistent we would always rehearse in St Columbs Hall because its constitution, which I have read, is written on a parchment scroll, said it should be used for the promotion of Irish culture. Fr Con McLaughlin, who used to be incharge of the Hall, even travelled with us when we were singing in Rome and Wales. Ursula recalled the names of some of the original members of the Colmcille choir: Angela Morrison, Anne Gallagher, Breedge OConnell, Marge Doherty, Agnes Doherty, Pat McGuinness, Grace McGuinness and Mary Coyle. Then you had the young ones, she said, Michelle Doherty, Majella Owens, Anne Doherty and Margaret Kelly. Mr Carlin had us singing a wide variety of material. He was fantastic at arranging music. We won rings round us at the Portstewart feis and we even sang at the Eisteddfod in Wales. By that time we had the green and white uniforms we still wear to this day. He then decided we were going to compete in the Oireachtas in Dublin. Back in the 1970s, John Hume organised a trip to the States for us, where we sang at the Consulate in New York and the Embassy in Washington. We also sang for Teddy Kennedy in the Russell Senate Building on Capitol Hill. Years later, we sang for President Clinton at the Speakers Lunch one St Patricks Day. When Bishop Daly was celebrating the Silver Jubilee of his Ordination, he went back to Rome because he was at the Irish College there. That was another St Patricks Day and the Colmcille choir had a private audience with Pope John Paul II, who is now a saint. We presented him with a number of gifts. Peggy Cassidy got shirts made for him in the factory, Breege OConnell presented him with the Shamrock, and Catherine Quigg gave him the bouquet. After Mass, he took us into a big reception room and we sang the Polonaise, a rebel song about Poland. He then gave us each a Rosary and a booklet. He actually shushed some priests who began talking when we were singing the Polonaise, laughed Ursula. In their 52 short years, the Colmcille choir has entertained audiences in California, Florida, the EU Parliament and Paris. These wonderful women have sung in choral competitions in Prague, Barcelona and Prague, winning prizes in Salzburg and Lake Garda. Before Christmas, the choir celebrated its Golden Jubilee (plus two) by singing at Mass in Dublins Pro-Cathedral, followed by a trip to see My Fair Lady at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre. Summing up what the Colmcille choir meant to her, Ursula instantly replied: Lasting friendships, the joy of singing together, and appreciating fine conductors. We were privileged to sing at the Bloody Sunday 50th anniversary concert last year, when we sang Anthem from Chess and dedicated it to Ukraine. We also sang at the Bloody Sunday conference in June and the Centenary Concert of Feis Dhoire Cholmcille at Easter. We also sang at the Craft Fair in the Guildhall and Christmas and were joined that day by the late Breedge OConnell, who sadly passed away recently. Every time the choir went on a trip, Breedge would have given each of us a wee gift to reflect an aspect of our personality. This particular time, she had got a wee spring, to put a spring in the step of a choir member who walked very slowly. Well, we were having a meal in Castleblayney and who came in but Dick Spring TD electioneering. Breedge was all, Mr Spring, Mr Spring, heres a wee present for you and she gave him the spring. He could not believe his eyes. We all loved Breedge and her portable bar. Enough said Ursula. Sheila Carlin, Colmcille choirs musical director has been there since the beginning. Her father, Patrick, was the original conductor. Sheila described the choir as a big family Poignantly she added: It is strange the coincidences that happen in the choir, for example, this month, one of the founder members, Breedge O'Connell (nee Doherty), passed away and a week later one of the youngest members of the choir had a baby. That kind of thing has been going on right throughout the 52 years, in fact, we used to have a maternity dress which was passed around but we are getting a bit older now and there are not so many of those. My favourite thing about the choir would be working for concerts and particularly working for competitions. We have been abroad for competitions. Our best one would have been in Prague where we did two competitions and sang songs in five languages. The work that goes into something like that is incredible. We have a few lovely pieces, standards, for example one of the very first pieces my father arranged was the Battle Hymn of the Republic, which has become our anthem, said Sheila. Susan Spence joined the Colmcille choir 20 years ago. She said: When you are singing in a choir, you are not thinking about anything else. When you are singing, everything else goes out of your head. It is just great for the mind and very, very enjoyable. I love being part of the choir for the singing and because they are a lovely group of women, who I had never met before. They just welcomed me in. I am First Derry Church so we were able to move there for rehearsals when St Columbs Hall became unavailable. We also sing there occasionally. Marjorie Donaghey, who joined the choir in 1985, said she loved the camaraderie and the friendship. It brings a sense of ease and relaxation. It is a really friendly, welcoming place and I would recommend it to anybody. Agreeing, choir secretary Anne Gallagher said she appreciated all of the friendships she had built up in the choir over the years. You can share your troubles and your joys with all the choir members and it is people that sit beside you that you can confide in. They are there for you. It is an extended family. One of the choir highlights for me was when we went to Wales and we sang a piece that was specially commissioned by Redmond Friel, the great Derry musician who taught Phil Coulter the piano. Her friend, Angela Morrison, also a founder member, said she loved the girls, the fun, the camaraderie. We also sing in a lot of languages which I love. It is good fun learning those pieces too and then performing. Camaraderie and musicality were Catherine Ellis favourite Colmcille choir highlights. Sheilas dedication to the choir is also just something else, she said. It really is her baby. We are of varying ages and different places and Sheila brings us all together. She really does know what shes at. I love our classical religious repertoire. We also would sing May it be from Lord of the Rings which is ethereally beautiful. I would encourage new members to come along and get involved. Anyone, any age, with a love of music and singing, wondering if they should do it, yes you should. It is immediately obvious. Terence McDowell loves teaching, loves being principal of St Eithnes primary school, and has a great regard for the whole school community. Smiling he told Derry Now: St Eithnes is not just a building, it is a beautiful school and we are blessed with gorgeous children. We can take them anywhere, for anything, and we get nothing but compliments. We are also supported by fantastic families. St Eithnes is very much a family in itself. I always say, Every child who joins St Eithnes, joins the St Eithnes family. The children are so kind and caring towards each other, they really are. We won a School of Sanctuary award during the year, which celebrated St Eithnes inclusiveness and diversity. We welcome children from many different backgrounds, religious, geographical, socio-economic, our door is open to all children and they are all treated exactly the same way. We were delighted to have the School of Sanctuary award. We do make an effort to open the childrens experiences to different cultures and religions. St Eithnes believes in opening the world to the children, said Mr McDowell. Born in Rathlin Drive in Creggan, Mr McDowell was one of 10 children. One of the big Derry families as he said himself. Sadly, Mr McDowells Mammy, Susan, passed away in 2014, the year he took up his post in St Eithnes but his Daddy, Eamon still lives in Carnhill, which became the familys home when he was two, shared by his brothers and sisters, John, Catherine, Patrick, Susan, Eamon and Geraldine (the first set of twins), Helen, Ciaran and myself (the second set of twins) and then Julie, said Mr McDowell with affection. Mr McDowell was one of the first Primary One pupils to attend the recently opened St Brigids Primary School. He then went to St Brigids College, where he completed his O Levels, before moving to St Columbs College for his A Levels. After that I trained in St Marys College in Belfast, he said. My educational experience encouraged me to become a teacher. I always wanted to be a teacher because of the positive experiences I had in school. I loved school. I loved primary school. I had great teachers. The same at post-primary, just lovely, lovely people. My primary education was very positive. The class sizes then were huge. There were 30 or 35 pupils at one point in our class. Teachers then had a lot to contend with. There was no such thing as classroom assistants then. At St Marys I specialised in ICT with Education and I was the first person to get a First Class honours degree in the ICT Department there. I was offered a job in Belfast but, being from Derry and a homebird, I had to get back to Derry. I had a job for a year in Long Tower and then I was offered a scholarship to go and study for a Masters in Notre Dame in the United States, so I went there for a year and then came back to Long Tower, said Mr McDowell," and was there for nine years. Mr McDowell then worked for the Education Board as an advisory teacher helping to train teachers and support teachers in schools, before taking up the post of vice principal in Nazareth House PS. I was there for 10 brilliant years. I loved Nazareth House, with Paul OHea who was the principal, he said. Then I got the principals job in St Eithnes, where I have been in post for nine years now. We actually celebrated our official 20th anniversary two years ago, although the school actually opened two years before that. Gerry Cosgrove was the principal before me. He was here when the school opened. If you walk around St Eithnes, you will see it is beautiful. It really is so well resourced and bright and very well maintained, added Mr McDowell. St Eithnes takes students from all areas of the city and has an average class size of 23, which is very positive. The school also received the Digital Schools award last year, in recognition of how innovative it is in the delivery of ICT, as Mr McDowell said, Not just within the school but reaching beyond the borders of the school. Post covid, St Eithnes initiated our Engage programme. We have an excellent teacher who did great work with individual pupils and small groups, mainly around language development. We have also developed our nurture area, our umbrella room, which is a huge success. All of our staff are trained in TheraPlay and our children go to the umbrella room to address wellbeing needs. I think this is excellent because a lot of those needs were recognised after covid. It is a wonderful resource. I am optimistic for the future of St Eithnes as we head towards our Silver Jubilee. We are so proud of the Digital Schools and Schools of Sanctuary awards and we are working towards some other awards this year. We are going from strength to strength. It is a pleasure to work here,it really is. The staff are so professional and so engaged with the children and the childrens education, which makes my job all the easier. Admissions formally close on January 27 but if anybody choses to apply after that, come and talk to us in the school. We have never turned any child away, smiled Mr McDowell. SDLP Policing Board member Mark H Durkan has said the loss of over 300 police officers will have a significant impact on policing in the North. The PSNI will also lose over 100 support staff due to budgetary pressures. Mr Durkan called for the British government to step in and ensure proper funding for the PSNI. Foyle MLA Mr Durkan said: Policing has come a long way, it has been a major achievement of the last 25 years and those gains should be carefully guarded. "The confirmation of cuts to numbers and services in the coming year - with the risk of more to follow in future years is deeply worrying for policing and for society generally. This confirms both the urgency of the restoration of government in Belfast and a big change of approach from London. The New Decade New Approach agreement contained a commitment to 7,500 officers and instead of reaching that number we are getting further and further away. While I have no doubt the PSNI will do their best to mitigate these cuts they will inevitably result in criminals evading justice and the impact on victims of crime being compounded because of the lack of officers available. The effective operation of the rule of law is pivotal in NI, for the safety of citizens and our community and for managing any instability, be it current or emerging. "This requires a special funding measure from London which holds the purse strings. This is what the SDLP calls for and without delay." When police attended an incident in Shipquay Street in Derry they had occasion to search a former soldier in the Irish army and they found cocaine and Pregablin the local Magistrate's Court heard today. Barry Fitzgerald (33) of Alma Place in Derry admitted possessing the drugs on December 27 2022. The court heard that Fitzgerald made full admissions to possessing the drugs and said the cocaine was for personal use and the Pregablin for pain relief. The court was then told about another incident on December 8 last year. On that date ambulance staff contacted police about a suspected overdose. They found Fitzgerald 'slumped over the steering wheel' of a vehicle and he was difficult to rouse. The court heard that there were both full and empty wine bottles in the vehicle. After he was roused Fitzgerald refused to give a sample of breath. When questioned about having no insurance he said he had only bought the vehicle. Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said his client was a former soldier in the Irish army who had developed issues with drugs. He said he was 'doing great harm to himself' and added that Fitzgerald's mother was hoping he would seek professional assistance on release. Fitzgerald was fined 500 and disqualified for 8 months. 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. For Immediate Release DHS Seeks Ideas for $8 Million in Opioid Settlement Funds Survey results will help prioritize how to best address opioid use disorder The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is asking the public to share thoughts on how to use a second round of opioid settlement funds to provide guidance on where money should be spent to reduce harms associated with opioid use disorder. Approximately $8 million will be available to support existing or new projects and programs in communities across Wisconsin. People can make their recommendations in a survey starting today through February 17, 2023. The survey is available in English and Spanish. The responses we received from the public and partners during listening sessions last year reminded us that addressing opioid use disorder in communities is not one-size-fits- all, said Paul Krupski, DHS Director of Opioid Initiatives. Our plan reflects the specific needs of Wisconsinites, and we intend to use feedback from this years survey to do the same. In 2022, the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) announced final approval of an agreement with the nations three major pharmaceutical distributors (Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen) and Johnson & Johnson. Payments from the distributors will continue for 18 years. Payments from Johnson & Johnson will continue for nine years. The funds that Wisconsin DOJ helped secure from opioid companies will aid communities across Wisconsin in combating the opioid epidemic, said Attorney General Josh Kaul. Input from those impacted by the epidemic will help maximize the good that these funds can do for Wisconsinites. DHS is required to submit a plan for anticipated settlement funds to the Joint Committee on Finance every year. The plan submitted to JFC in July 2022 included strategies to support data collection and surveillance, prevention, harm reduction, treatment, recovery, capital projects, and funding for tribal nations. The legislatures Joint Committee on Finance approved a modified version of the $31 million plan for 2022 which included funds for: Supporting school-based prevention programs - $250,000 Supporting community-based prevention programs - $750,000 Expanding the NARCAN Direct Program - $3 million Establishing and fund a program to distribute fentanyl test strips - $2 million Supporting medication-assisted treatment - $2 million Expanding the hub-and-spoke health home pilot program - $1 million Supporting room and board costs for Medicaid members in residential substance use disorder treatment - $2.5 million Supporting renovations or construction of care and treatment facilities - $10 million Creating an overdose alert system - $500,000 Supporting tribal nations - $6 million Supporting law enforcement agencies - $3 million The second year of funding can be used for existing programs or toward new projects to address impacts of the opioid epidemic in communities statewide. Wisconsin has made huge strides to address opioid use disorder in the state since a nationwide opioid epidemic was identified in the early 2000s. This includes immediate and long-term projects like expanding the availability of NARCAN to reverse opioid overdoses, making fentanyl strips more widely available, and planning to expand the hub-and-spoke health program which treats the whole person, not just the substance use disorder. While data for 2022 has yet to be finalized, 2021 data show there were 1,427 opioid overdose deaths in Wisconsin. An increase in overdose deaths can be traced in large part to the addition of fentanyl, a powerful, synthetic drug, in substances like opioids. Deaths from opioids are preventable and Governor Evers and DHS remain focused on our mission to provide hope and healing to the Wisconsinites affected by opioid use disorder, Krupski said. We look forward to hearing ideas for using this next round of settlement funds toward that goal. If you or someone you love needs help for an opioid use disorder or other substance use issue, contact the Wisconsin Addiction Recovery Helpline. Call 211 or 877-947-2211. For more information on opioid use disorder, prevention, and treatment options, visit the Dose of Reality webpages. Infinix has launched its latest budget offering in India, the Infinix Note 12i. The Infinix Note 12i has been launched in India at a price of Rs 9,999 onwards excluding all discounts. The smartphone has been launched with an AMOLED display, a MediaTek Dimensity chipset, and more. The Infinix Note 12i will go on sale starting January 30, along with a special offer for Jio customers. Infinix Note 12i price and availability The Infinix Note 12i has been launched in a single 4GB RAM + 64GB storage variant. The smartphone is priced at Rs 9,999 in the country, without factoring-in the discount for Reliance Jio users. The smartphone will go on sale starting January 30 and will be sold via Flipkart. With the Infinix Note 12i, Reliance Jio users also get an additional Rs 1,000 cashback as part of the Jio Exclusive Program. Infinix Note 12i specifications Coming to specifications, the Infinix Note 12i has been launched with a 6.71-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate and 1,000 nits of claimed peak brightness. The display also comes with a 180Hz touch sampling rate. Further, the Infinix Note 12i is powered by MediaTeks Helio G85 chipset paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, which can be expanded via a microSD card slot. Apart from this, the Infinix Note 12i comes with a triple rear camera setup that includes a primary 50-megapixel shooter, a 2-megapixel depth sensor, and a third lens. Up front, the Infinix Note 12i comes with an 8-megapixel selfie snapper, which also includes a dual LED flash. Further, there is a 5,000mAh battery on the Infinix Note 12i with support for 33W fast charging. Other features on the Infinix Note 12i include a DTS dual speaker system, an immersive gaming system with the latest graphic enhancement features and a Dar-Link 2.0 Game Boost technology that optimises the RAM and GPU for enhanced gaming performance. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. The Governments housing targets are fatally flawed, arent based on evidence and need to be significantly increased, the Dail has heard. Taking Leaders Questions on Thursday, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan conceded that the coalition government should err on the side of more housing being needed. An average target of 33,000 new houses a year coming on stream between now and 2030 has been set under the governments Housing for All plan, but ministers have conceded that given Irelands rising population, it would need closer to 40,000 homes a year. It comes as the Irish Times reported that research by the Housing Commission says Ireland may need up to 62,000 homes built annually until 2050 to meet demand almost double the current target. Sinn Feins Pearse Doherty said that based on this, even if you met your targets by 2030 there would be a shortfall of as much as 245,000 homes. He said that this was alarming for everybody, and that the Housing Commissions numbers show that the governments targets are fatally flawed. So it is obvious that the governments housing targets need to be revised, and revised up significantly, and revised up immediately. The current targets arent based on evidence or objective assessment of needs. Instead, theyre a result of political manoeuvring, boasting the targets are met when the targets themselves are clearly, clearly flawed. Eamon Ryan responded by saying the government wants to exceed their housing targets, and that they dont represent a limit on ambition. We want to smash those targets, he said. Mr Ryan said the housing figures were for the time period up to 2030, while the Housing Commissions estimates were up to 2050 and warned against comparing apples and oranges. He also said of the Housing Commissions figures: We asked for it. Were the people who brought forward that analysis, and in July when they present their work, of course (well) present it, as part of getting the analysis right to get the solutions right. We will need to go more, higher, further, because more people are coming into our country than were expected. Mr Ryan said that the Land Development Agency will play a greater role in increasing housing supply, as the states going to have to take a bigger role in housing provision. In instances where the market is failing, where built-to-rent apartments, particularly in the centre of our towns and cities are not rebuilt, I believe we should step in and take on that development not to be afraid for the state to do more, he said. Figures released on Thursday by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) showed there were 29,851 new homes built in 2022, an increase of 45.2% on 2021 and up 41.3% on 2019. This exceeds the targets of 24,600 new builds in 2022, but Taoiseach Leo Varadkar admitted yesterday that they included only 6,500 social homes falling short of its 9,000 target. Raising the issue of a deal between a UK firm and the semi-state forestry agency Coillte, which operates independently from government, Labour leader Ivana Bacik said she was gravely concerned about the deal. In order to help meet Irelands climate targets, the 200 million-euro Irish Strategic Forestry Fund is asking that land be provided so that new forests can be planted. Concerns have been raised by politicians, farmers and local communities in recent weeks about a deal between the asset management firm Gresham House and Coillte under this fund to build forests. In response to government stating that it had not approved the move, and that the deal was not its preferred option, Ms Bacik asked if Coillte had gone rogue on the government. This Gresham deal is not the future of Irish forestry, it cannot be, Mr Ryan said. Ms Bacik said: We dont even have a working forestry programme the Government is meeting just one quarter of its own afforestation targets and the licensing system for the planting of trees is in total disarray. I understand that there are delays of two years for the approval of afforestation licences, she said, calling the governments plans inadequate and baffling. You would want your head examined not to start investing in forestry under the programme that we put in place, Mr Ryan responded. Outside the Dail, dozens of people from the Save Our Forests, Save Our Lands Coalition gathered to protest against the deal. Post-primary schools in Louth are being invited to join a new Irish language initiative Spraoi23 which is aimed at cultivating a love of the Irish language, by engaging students in activities through the medium of Irish. The initiative is being run by Education and Training Boards Ireland, in conjunction with An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaiochta. Spraoi23 invites schools to partake in a range of different competition categories from blogging and rapping to art design and the creation of new seanfhocal. The programme is open to all students in post-primary schools across the country, not just those under ETB patronage. The programme also welcomes engagement from both students in Irish-medium and English-medium schools, with each category carrying prizes for both Irish-medium and English-medium entries. Speaking at the launch, ETBI General Secretary Paddy Lavelle commented: At Education and Training Boards Ireland we recognise the importance of the Irish language and the relationship our students have with it. "Through this inclusive approach of offering opportunity to all learners to participate, not just within the ETB sector, we feel that it will be a positive step forward in promoting a love of An Ghaeilge. "SPRAOI23 will complement the excellent teaching that goes on in our ETB schools and indeed all schools across the country. Students will be enthused by the vast range of creative and fun competitions afforded to them and should hugely benefit from them. Gean Gilger, Educational Policy and Development Officer in Education and Training Boards Ireland and coordinator of the ETBI Spraoi23 programme has designed a programme that aims to inspire the creativity and participation of students. We wanted to include competitions that were fun for all, with the potential for solo or group participation and mindful of all learners level and ability. "While there are opportunities for rapping, creation of new seanfhocal and celebration of the traditional arts through Agallamh Beirte and Luibini competition, we are particularly excited about Cumarsaid le Cairde which will see our Irish-medium schools connect with another school and engage in a number of activities under the supervision of their teachers. Spraoi23 is funded by An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaiochta (COGG). Also speaking at the launch, Chief Executive Jacqueline Ni Fhearghusa commented: An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaiochta (COGG) greatly welcome the upcoming Spraoi23 programme of events. "COGG are delighted to provide funding to ETBI to support the programmes wide range of fun-generating and diverse competitions. Students will have fantastic opportunities to interact in Irish through fun activities in addition to showcasing their creative, innovative and digital skills through: blogs, videos, music, art, photography and luibini. We wish Spraoi 23 and the students efforts every success. To support and encourage students to engage, former ETB student, Aindriu de Paor, broadcaster and presenter with RTE 2FM is proud to take on the role of Ambasadoir Spraoi23. Speaking at the launch, Mr. de Paor commented: I attended Gaelcholaiste Cheitinn in Clonmel, a Tipperary ETB school and I have been very fortunate since that my journey with the Irish language has opened so many doors for me throughout my career. I am honoured to be Ambassador for this brilliant initiative and I look forward to engaging with students over the coming months. Spraoi23 will run through to the end of April with a celebratory prize-giving ceremony in May. All information can be found at https://events.etbi.ie/ SPRAOI23. McGahon Surveyors, with offices in Dundalk and Newry celebrated 45 years in business before the Christmas break. The firm, set up in 1977 in Dundalk, by Damien McGahon, has been going from strength to strength over the past four and a half decades. The team provide Quantity Surveying and Cost Consultancy services to the Public and Private Sectors in the fields of Health, Education, Housing, Sport & Leisure, Commercial and Civic. The office in Dundalk has continued to grow and develop from its inception in the town in 1977. To build on this growth, and establish cross border links, the firm established an office in Newry in 2014 which has gone from strength to strength. The two offices collaborate on many projects with the Newry office solely responsible for delivering McGahons NI portfolio of work. Joe Beggs, Managing Director of McGahons Surveyors said, We are delighted to be celebrating this milestone. I have worked under the McGahon brand name for over two decades. "Originally established by Damien McGahon, the brand equity and reputation that has been built up by the team over the years on both sides of the border is invaluable. We are proud to continue to retain the name and build upon that reputation by offering a quality and professional service. "We are proud to have such a long-established history in Dundalk and across Ireland, based on the quality of our work and the quality of our people. It is great to share this milestone with our team and indeed to accept the many good wishes from our clients and stakeholders. "It is equally important to acknowledge the place our Newry office now has in our Company, especially given recent issues surrounding Brexit and the Protocol. We continue to work seamlessly across all of our projects which is testament to our staff and Design Team partners across Ireland. Donal Mooney, Director of the Company said, We employ 25 people across the organisation and I would like to thank our team for their dedication and commitment to service excellence. We are working on our strategic direction for the future, and we look forward to continued growth in the years ahead. McGahon Surveyors is based at Quayside Business Park in Dundalk and St. Colmans Park in Newry. Tanaiste and Minister for Defence Micheal Martin has paid tribute to Private Sean Rooney on a visit to Lebanon. Mr Martin laid a wreath at a monument in Tebnine. The monument is dedicated to Irish peacekeepers who have lost their lives while on duty and now bears the name of Private Rooney. Members of the 121st Infantry Battalion of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), with whom Private Rooney was serving, met with Mr Martin. The Tanaiste said: Private Rooneys death was a shocking reminder to all of Ireland of the risks taken by each and every one of you, in discharging your duty and maintaining our countrys proud record and reputation. I can say with confidence that the outpouring of sympathy and support for Private Rooney and his injured colleagues in Oglaigh na hEireann is a true expression of the regard in which you are held and a reflection of the pride of the Irish people in what you do. This tragic event has brought home to all of us the fragility of peace here in Lebanon and the tragedy that war and conflict can bring to so many innocent people. Mr Martin urged soldiers to seek the support if required and vowed to bring those responsible to justice. He said: The Government is absolutely determined that all of the facts and circumstances of the incident are fully established and that no stone will be left unturned. I will meet both the Lebanese Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Defence and I will impress upon them the need to ensure that the Lebanese investigation is as thorough and complete as possible. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, met with Mr Martin and said: Renewed my condolences for the loss of Private Sean Rooney. Suaimhneas Siorai Air. I also wish the injured a speedy recovery, especially Trooper Shane Kearney who suffered serious injuries. Accountability for this act must be ensured. A 24-year-old peacekeeper, Private Rooney was shot dead when the vehicle he was driving came under attack in the Al-Aqbieh area of south Lebanon on December 14. Private Rooney was a native of Dundalk and had lived in Newtown for the last decade. A man who seriously assaulted another man at a house party was sentenced at Dundalk district court last week to carry out 200 hours community service in lieu of a four-month sentence. Dean Reid (27) with an address at Beau Park, The Loakers, Blackrock was charged with assault causing harm arising out of the incident at Clontygora Court, Dundalk on December 12th 2020. The injured party, who told gardai who came upon him with a bloodied face that he had fallen and hit a kerb, presented himself at the Garda station two days later, to say he had been assaulted at a house party and named the defendant as his assailant. In evidence, the man said it was the first time he had met Dean Reid. He told how he has been left with a scar on his forehead and he's been left with anxiety. He added he was scared to go to the shop near Oriel Park "in case I'm jumped or assaulted". The Defence solicitor said there had been a perception of the injured party causing an 'irritation' and something inappropriate had happened and his client had struck the victim, but stressed that it was accepted that there wasn't anything untoward involving the complainant. This week the Defence solicitor stressed that his client hasnt come to Garda attention since and explained that his client is a street musician in receipt of State assistance, who has ambitions of giving lessons and while he has given them in a local school, he wasnt getting paid and it had been made clear that compensation would not be forthcoming. After being told the defendant was assessed as being suitable for community service, Judge Eirinn McKiernan made an order for 200 hours in lieu of a four-month sentence. EBRD invested record US$ 900 million in Uzbekistan in 2022 Major renewable energy projects financed Support for Foreign Investors Council In 2022 the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) invested almost US$ 900 million (839 million) in 26 projects in Uzbekistan, making it the leading recipient of its funding in Central Asia for the third year running. Investments were made in sectors ranging from renewable energy to banking. The previous record for hte Bank's annual investment in the country was US$ 690 million, set in 2021. The EBRD continued working on the improvement of the investment climate in Uzbekistan by facilitating the first plenary session of the Foreign Investors Council, which will serve as a platform for dialogue between foreign investors and the authorities fostering reforms. The EBRD, which became fully aligned with the Paris Agreement at the start of 2023, continued providing support for Uzbekistans green transition. The EBRD arranged two syndicated loans collectively worth US$ 520 million to help construct and put into operation two wind power plants with a total installed capacity of 1 GW in the Bukhara region. This financing is the EBRDs largest renewable energy project to date across its regions. The Bank also organised a financing package of US$ 74 million for the development, construction and operation of a 500 MW greenfield wind power plant in the Navoi region of Uzbekistan. This was the first project in Central Asia to use the Identiflight able to detect and monitor species at risk of collision and trigger an automatic curtailment of selected turbines. The EBRD and the Ministry of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction of Uzbekistan agreed to jointly develop a national methane emissions programme, which will become a key planning tool for achieving the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) objective of reducing methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030. Last year Uzbekistan became only the second country in Central Asia to join the GMP. Outside the energy sector the EBRD extended long-term sovereign loans collectively worth up to US$ 120 million for the regional utility companies responsible for solid waste management in Khorezm and Karakalpakstan. The project will contribute to Uzbekistans decarbonisation efforts in line with the Paris Agreement and support the national solid waste management strategy. In the financial sector the EBRD increased new trade finance limits worth US$ 210 million for Asakabank, Ipoteka Bank, the National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity of Uzbekistan and SQB Bank. The deal will better enable private domestic businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to import necessary goods, services and equipment and to export their products. A financial package of US$ 10 million provided by the EBRD to Ipak Yuli Bank will improve access to green technologies for local households and SMEs and promote womens entrepreneurship. The EBRD also invested additional capital of US$ 7 million in TBC Bank Uzbekistan and entered a US$ 20 million cross-currency swap with Uzbekistan, which will help the country to develop the derivatives market and hedge currency risk arising from foreign currency borrowing. The Bank channelled 14 million into supporting operations of the countrys leading brewer, UzCarlsberg, and provided US$ 15 million to Tashkent Pipe Plant, which will be able to launch the production of longitudinal submerged arc-welded pipes. Jointly with SQB Bank, the EBRD is supporting the expansion of one of the countrys leading retailers of consumer electronics and household appliances, Idea Concept Group. A 7 million grant provided by the Environmental Remediation Account for Central Asia (ERA), managed by the EBRD, will finance environmental remediation works at two former uranium mining sites Yangiabad and Charkesar located in the mountains to the east of the capital Tashkent. In 2022 the EBRDs Advice for Small Business Programme in Uzbekistan launched almost 100 advisory projects thus increasing its outreach to domestic SMEs by 50 per cent. Half of them were with women entrepreneurs and over 40 per cent were in rural areas. More than 10,000 entrepreneurs around the country were reached through specialised trainings, networking and knowledge sharing events. Loans were extended to a number of local companies including a furniture producer Gulobod Mebel, a dairy company Tillo Domor and an electronic goods retailer Sifat-Biznes-Savdo. Uzbekistan will host the EBRDs 32nd Annual Meeting and Business Forum, which will take place in Samarkand on 16 to 18 May 2023. The event is the largest of its kind for the regions where the Bank invests and is accompanied by an international Business Forum. To date, the EBRD has invested almost 3.9 billion in 128 projects across the country. THE Office of Public Works (OPW) has said it cannot commit to an exact date for the reopening to the public of one of Corks most important heritage sites, but has said it is working toward a target of 2024, a full eight years after conservation works began there. Barryscourt Castle in Carrigtwohill closed for extensive works in 2016, and now the OPW, responding to a parliamentary question from Cork East TD Sean Sherlock, has confirmed it will remain closed until at least next year. The OPW said the next stage of works at the castle cannot commence without ministerial consent from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Barryscourt Castle was the seat of the great Anglo-Norman Barry family and is described by Heritage Ireland as one of the finest examples of a restored Irish tower house. The site of the castle has been inhabited for over a thousand years, with evidence of a wooden mill there dating back to the seventh century. Dating from between 1392 and 1420, the castle has an outer bawn wall and largely intact corner towers, with the ground floor of the Tower House containing a dungeon into which prisoners were dropped via a drop-hole located on the second floor. The Barrys supported the Fitzgeralds of Desmond during the Irish rebellions of the late sixteenth century, and to prevent it being captured by Sir Walter Raleigh and his army, the Barrys partially destroyed the castle. Barryscourt Castle, Carrigtwohill. During the Irish Confederate War of the seventeenth century, Barryscourt Castle was once again attacked, and cannon balls lodged in the wall above the castle entrance bear witness to this conflict. Barryscourt Castle has been extensively restored, with the main hall and great hall completed and fittings and furnishings reinstated. The castle closed to the public for a major repair and conservation project in 2016 after it was discovered that damp penetration had caused the internal electrical system to become unsafe. Responding to Mr Sherlocks parliamentary question, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe said works completed to date by the OPW included the erection of scaffolding, pointing and regrouting, lead-work and works in relation to the lowering of the ground water level around the castle. DELAY Mr Donohoe said those labour-intensive works had been delayed by the pandemic and its related restrictions. The next stage of works, which will require ministerial consent from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, includes the design of new mechanical and electrical systems for the Castle. The proposed mechanical and electrical installation works will commence when repointing and grouting work are complete on site and the building has sufficiently dried out, Mr Donohoe said. To this end, OPW are currently working on the design for these new mechanical and electrical systems which will include the installation of new heating system, lighting system, fire alarm, emergency lighting, external lighting and CCTV. Mr Donohoe said this work was at an advanced stage and it was hoped that a final design could be signed off before the end of the first quarter of this year. That work would then go out to tender and, once a contractor was engaged, ministerial consent would then be required before the work could be carried out. I would like to reassure the Deputy that as soon as consent is granted, these works will be prioritised for completion, Mr Donohoe said. Regrettably, I cannot confirm an exact re-opening date for the castle but the OPW is working towards a staggered reopening of the site to the public during the 2024 season. Mr Sherlock said the lack of a re-opening date was very disappointing. Yet again we have another barrier in place for the reopening of Barryscourt, this time through ministerial consent. This issue has dragged on for far too long. We need a proactive approach to opening it up again to the public and we need that ministerial consent fast-tracked, Mr Sherlock said. The late Matthew Healy who died while in hospital in Cork has been described as one of the gentlest people you could meet. The funeral mass of the retired farmer from Berrings, who died following an alleged violent attack by a fellow patient on a general ward at the Mercy University Hospital, was held at Saint Marys Church in Berrings on Thursday afternoon. The widower, aged 89, was predeceased by his wife Delia, who died earlier this month, and his daughter who lost her life in an accident at a young age four decades ago. Chief celebrant for the funeral mass, Father Patrick McCarthy, curate of Inniscarra Parish, described Mr Healy as the gentlest people who from an early age assumed great responsibilities in an era that wasnt mechanised. Everyday life was tough and hard; however goodness triumphed over hardship, for he was one of the gentlest people you could meet. Acknowledging the many people joining the mass by webcam, he said that people may be surprised to learn that Mr Healy was keen on technology, owning a video camera back in the 1970s and 80s. The big heavy ones youd have to carry on your shoulders. Our local school used to ask him to record their major events. On our mementos table is his iPad, which, among other things, he used to follow the mass locally on webcam when he wasnt well enough to come to church. Matthew Healy aged 89, was predeceased by his wife Delia, who died earlier this month, and his daughter who lost her life in an accident at a young age four decades ago. Father McCarthy went on to say that Mr Healys family meant everything to him and he was proud of each and every one of his children and grandchildren, always asking after them. The picture on the table of mementos was taken on the occasion of the birth of the grandchild named after him thirteen years ago. It is a beautiful picture with real joy on the faces of Matthew and Delia. May that picture, with the joy it expresses, be our lasting memory of both Matthew and Delia. A CORK woman has realised her dream of stepping onboard the QE2 with a special souvenir to reiterate the ships links to Cork. Victoria Piper still fondly recalls asking a teacher at her former secondary school Colaiste Muire in Crosshaven to excuse her from class so she could photograph the vessel from the school yard. That was back in 2008 when the Port of Cork welcomed the worlds most famous cruise liner, Queen Elizabeth II, as part of her farewell voyage. The QE2 was tied up at the Deepwater Quay in Cobh before departing for Liverpool. Edinburgh and Newcastle were also included in the itinerary before the vessels eventual return to Southampton. It has since been repurposed as a floating hotel in Dubai. Victoria was recently photographed on board with a Port of Cork souvenir she received in 2008 to commemorate the ships visit to Cobh. I had always had a fascination with the QE2 and my teacher at the time was really good to let me out of class to photograph it as our school was overlooking the harbour, she said. When the ship came in, they were giving out Port of Cork handkerchiefs on the quayside so people could have them as souvenirs. My aunt picked one up for me because she knew how much it would mean to me. Ive held on to it ever since. The photograph Victoria captured has taken pride of place on the wall of the familys sitting room ever since. I happened to have computer studies at school that day, so I emailed the picture to my uncle Kevin who sadly has passed away since. He had the picture blown up and framed for me. He even added a picture by-line to it with my name which was a real novelty at the time. He and my aunt Marie called to my house on my birthday a few days later and gave it to me as a gift. DREAM Victoria, who hails from Crosshaven was delighted to fulfil her dream of enjoying afternoon tea on the ship while holidaying in Dubai. I got to see every part of the ship thanks to the tour guide, she said. Ill never forget how beautiful and elegant the ship looked after seeing it from my school and I am glad to have experienced the opportunity to finally step inside. She explained what attracted her to the former cruise ship. Its a different way of life and a different way of cruising that has always been very attractive to me. Back then, it was men in tuxes every evening and women in ballgowns. It just seemed like a lovely place to be. Victoria is glad she has held on to the Port of Cork souvenir years after that memorable day. I always held on to the handkerchief. If you have something you treasure you will never lose it. The Queen Elizabeth II was launched in Clydebank from the yard of John Brown on September 20, 1967, and began her official maiden voyage to New York in May 1969. It is known as the worlds most famous ocean liner. In 2008 it had already clocked up more than 5.6 million nautical miles before it became a hotel. LAST Tuesday, I went to sit at a meeting of the Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee, as I have done for the last three years. It is a purely consultative committee and I am becoming increasingly jaded and cynical about what its purpose is. Each meeting, we go through the seven official halting sites managed by Cork City Council and listen to a litany of inhumane conditions people are living in. There are electricity points that are overloaded, lack of plumbing and running water; frosty weather and damp conditions bring respiratory illnesses to young children and older people. But, if I take it that there are seven sites, and the most populated one has 38 families, then there can only be at most 250 families in these conditions. A scale of public provision which is normally completely within the capacities of the council. So why is it that, apart from essential stabilisation works at the Spring Lane site, Cork city joins a long list of other local authorities across the Irish state which have failed to draw on available funding? The state funding in question is meagre this year at 18 million to fund accommodation in 31 local authorities. It is a reduction from 21 million in 2021, though of course ministerial announcements rarely point out decreases. The government says it is making money available, but then it is not giving already reluctant local authorities the wherewithal to actually use it. LORNA BOGUE, An Rabharta Glas Councillor for Cork City South East. Case in point: Cork city council is only getting a Traveller outreach officer now. Nothing has been done for so long, it can only be a deliberate strategy to assimilate this community and stamp out their way of life. In short, structural racism. An inaccurate trope circulating presently is that the Irish state treats some marginalised groups more favourably than others. I think the opposite is true. The Irish State treats all marginalised groups with the same contempt, cruelty and hypocrisy. This failure is structural, not specific, and has been a consistent feature throughout the existence of the State. The true nature of Irelands land-of-a-thousand-welcomes schtick follows the same logic as the collective pretence that Irelands ability to attract Apple and Facebook is something to do with the unique productive capacity of the Irish worker and is nothing to do with corporation tax. These are stories we tell ourselves that prevent us from addressing structural issues. The coming to power of the Green Party was supposed to address the fraying at the edges of the States humanitarian reputation as generous benefactors to refugees and migrants of necessity. Direct Provision, the emergency system for incarcerating asylum-seekers in unsuitable accommodation instigated in 1999, had by 2020 become a permanent cash cow for hoteliers. The Green Partys promise during the programme for government negotiations was that Direct Provision would be abolished within the first 100 days of the new coalitions term. We are now approaching 1,000 days since Roderic OGorman took ministerial responsibility for this. An indication of the likelihood of this changing significantly in the next 1,000 days, and of how the eradication of structural racism under Green Party care is going, is what has occurred at the Jesuit Refugee Centre in Knockalisheen, Co. Clare since before Christmas. When it became headline news for the third night in a row during the cold snap in December, 2022, that around 100 Ukrainian refugees were being housed in outdoor tents that fell below international standards of the duty of care owed by recipient countries, an urgent promise arrived as a Christmas present to the refugees and those concerned for their welfare. They would be urgently rehoused in more appropriate accommodation. What wasnt mentioned was that the inhumane accommodation they departed in the days that followed would be inhabited in the first weeks of 2023 by 88 regular Direct Provision prisoners arriving in Ireland over the holiday period. The only thing that changed in that period was the minister in charge. The hapless Roderic OGormans wings were clipped in the cabinet reshuffle and his party colleague Joe OBrien relayed the baton and has been using it to bat down any suggestion that his partys promises on going into government were lies. By comparison, one has only to look at the campaigns to end Direct Provision, the thousands of offers to house refugees that went unanswered by the State, and individuals like Sean Binder who are willing to risk jail in Greece to rescue refugees from drowning at the edges of EU policy. People do these things, politicians sweep in later to claim credit. Enter Grace O Sullivan MEP who went to Greece, not to rescue refugees, but to rescue the hollow humanitarian image of the Green Party to be seen at this high-profile case. Refugees from any country, Travellers, victims of institutional abuse in Ireland are subjected to a permanent, uniform policy of contemptuous cruelty which the Green Party promised to do something about, but hasnt. Sitting in the Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee as part of a stakeholder engagement charade in lieu of fulfilling real humanitarian responsibilities to people who rely on the council for the very basics, I ponder over what the alternative is. And its obvious. Make the restitution of dignity to the people weve failed our 2023 resolution, by procuring the couple of hundred appropriate housing units required, and call bluff on the States structurally racist long-game. Lorna Bogue is a Councillor with Cork City Council representing Cork City South East. She is the leader of an ecosocialist political party, An Rabharta Glas - Green Left. Regency trial After hearing evidence for 52 days, the Special Criminal Court will deliver a judgment in April in the trial of Gerard The Monk Hutch, who is charged with the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne at the Regency Hotel, and his two co-accused who deny participating in the murder. Presiding judge Ms Justice Tara Burns, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Grainne Malone, said the court would notify parties if the judgment for the three accused is available before April 17th next. Earlier on the final day of the trial, the defence barrister for a builder, who denies participating in the murder of Mr Byrne, gave his closing speech to the non-jury court submitting that there are a number of holes in the prosecution's case. Government 'determined' to get justice for Private Rooney The Government is absolutely determined to see those responsible for the killing of a peacekeeper in Lebanon brought to justice. Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin was speaking as he visited Irelands peacekeeping troops at Camp Shamrock in the country. The Tanaiste laid a wreath at a memorial to Private Sean Rooney who was killed in a shooting incident in December. Mr Martin, who was due to meet the Lebanese ministers for foreign affairs and defence several hours later, said he will impress upon them the need to ensure that the Lebanese investigation is as thorough and complete as possible. Engineer accused of stealing Dublin rental car and bringing it to Norway A Norwegian engineer has been extradited to Ireland accused of stealing a rental car he allegedly hired in Dublin before driving back to his home country two years ago. Bjorn Tveter, 40, from Langelandsfjellet, Jessheim, Norway, appeared at Dublin District Court on Thursday. He is charged with stealing the Audi from a Dublin car rental firm and using false documentation to hire the vehicle on November 25th, 2020. Detective Garda Dominic McGrath told the court the accused replied not guilty to the motor theft offence and thats true when the documents charges were put to him. Novak Djokovic's father spotted at pro-Russia demonstration Footage has emerged showing Novak Djokovics father at a pro-Russian demonstration at the Australian Open on Wednesday. A group gathered on the steps outside Rod Laver Arena following Djokovics quarter-final victory over Russian Andrey Rublev holding Russian flags, one of which bore the face of Vladimir Putin, and chanting Serbia, Russia. And a post on a pro-Russian YouTube channel shows Srdjan Djokovic standing with a man holding the Putin flag and wearing a T-shirt with the pro-war Z symbol on it. By Rebecca Black, PA Two missing prisoners who were both convicted of murder have been arrested, police said. Alison McDonagh and Stephen McParland were spotted together at Lanyon Place railway station in Belfast on Saturday. McDonagh, 49, was convicted of murder in 2004 after stabbing George McDowell in north Belfast. McParland, 54, was jailed for murder in 2008 after being convicted of attacking Gary McKimm, with whom he had been drinking in east Belfast, in 1997. Police said the pair were arrested in the Newry area on Thursday afternoon. A PSNI spokesman said they will now be returned to the custody of the Northern Ireland Prison Service. We would like to thank the public for their assistance, he added. AN insight into the experiences of three women who spent time in mother-and-baby homes has been made into a musical event, with the recorded spoken voices of the women included as well as an exhibit and animation. A Mothers Voice, which takes place at Triskel on January 27, at 8pm, is the brainchild of Beth McNinch. She is the founder, artistic director and principal violist of Musici Ireland, a multi-instrumental ensemble. Sibling composers, Linda and Irene Buckley, from Cork, whom Beth calls a dream team, have composed the music for this project which will be performed by the ensemble. Beth, originally from the UK, has been based in Wexford for 15 years. Her mother was adopted as an illegitimate child. Looking back on her own childhood, Beth now recognises the stigma her mother lived with along with having a feeling of not knowing where she came from. Composers Irene and Linda Buckley from Cork. Reading a lot of material around mother-and-baby homes in this country, Beth says the stories resonated with her. My mother started opening up in phone conversations about things that we hadnt really talked about before. As an artist, I felt the need to do something. The stories also haunted me as although I have two boys myself, I have had multiple miscarriages, so I have some experience of infant loss. Stressing that she is not an expert on mother-and-baby homes, Beths project is an artistic response to the grim times that single pregnant women lived through, not all that long ago. The womens voices were muted. I thought it important to give women a voice and a platform. "Hopefully, the performance will travel around the world to help these stories stay alive. "I found three wonderful women who were kind enough to share their stories. The project has developed into something quite magical. I really wanted to work with the recorded voices of the women and the emotion in their voices, telling a story that is really powerful. Dubliner Sheila OByrne, who lived in Cork for 24 years, working in catering at the then Cork Institute of Technology, was 18 when she became pregnant in the 1970s. My parents werent too happy. Back then, it was original sin. You brought shame on your family and your parish. I felt terrible even though I hadnt done anything wrong. The set design as part of A Mother's Voice Sheila was sent to St Patricks Mother and Baby Home on the Navan Road in Dublin which was run by the Daughters of Charity. I was told I was damaged goods. They worked you to the bone. I had to look after the sick and dying babies there. The nuns didnt like me because I was able to stand up for myself. I had to scrub the floors on my hands and knees as well and wash the habits of the nuns and polish their shoes. There was a craft room where I used to make rosary beads. The nuns begrudged me washing my own clothes. My daddy used to come up every week with a change of clothes for me. While in labour, Sheila claims she was kept outdoors for hours. She had a breech birth but wasnt given any painkillers. She gave birth to a mixed race baby boy. The infant was adopted at three months. Before he went away with his adoptive parents, Sheila was allowed to see her son but wasnt permitted to hold him. An animation, as part of A Mother's Voice. She subsequently spent years and years trying to find him. Eventually, politician Billy Kelleher helped her, allocating a social worker to the case. When I found my son, he was 40. I meet him now on and off. He is very successful and private. I am grateful to the couple that adopted my son. They gave him a home and a good life and an education. Sheila didnt have any more children. Not after what I went through, she says. Deirdre Wadding was 18 when she became pregnant in 1980. The Wexford-born woman was studying to be a primary school teacher in Dublin at the time. Back then, it was the norm to be sent away to the likes of Bessborough in Cork where I went, she said. Performers from Musici Ireland. Deirdres parents were devastated. My mother had a fairly sheltered upbringing. Both of my parents would have been very devout Catholics... "From the kind of brainwashing my mother would have grown up with, she thought my life would be over if I kept my child. While she wasnt treated badly at Bessborough, Deirdre says she knows others there were abused. We had nuns in our family. I feel there was probably a class system at Bessborough. When her son was born, Deirdre wanted to keep him like any mother would. When I put that forward, guilt and shame was loaded on me. My mother said: where would you live? During my time in college, there was the Eileen Flynn case in Wexford. (Eileen was a school teacher who was dismissed from her job in 1982 for cohabiting with a married man). The late father of Deirdres son was instrumental in finding the young man. Deirdre has a good relationship with her son who was adopted by a couple in Cork. I actually had a second child who was adopted. I was so broken after my first child being adopted that I had this obsession to have another baby who would make everything all right. But when I got pregnant, reality came crashing down. My father had a heart condition and my mother had been unwell. I just thought I couldnt do it to them. I went to the Good Shepherds in Dunboyne and gave up my second child. "My mother found out along the way and said I surely couldnt keep the second child because how would the first child feel at being adopted if he found out. Deirdre has contact with her second child but says it is different, much more boundaried. He moved to Australia when he was six with his family. In 1993, Deirdre had the first child she was able to keep, followed by two more children. Cait (not her real name) was 22 when she became pregnant in the early 80s which, she says, would have been a big shame in the farming community she lived in. Cait was an only child whose father had died when she was very young. There was just me and my mother. It was a horrific shock for her. I made my own enquiries getting in touch with a Catholic agency. Cait spent six months in the Good Shepherd Mother and Baby home in Dunboyne. She found the experience very lonely. Initially, her duties included washing stairs. Then I was promoted to do the church duties in a little chapel attached to the home. Cait would lay out the vestments for the priests and counted the communion hosts. She found the nuns to be nice. It was a lay person in authority that later treated her badly. I had a baby girl. I was over the moon. It was the most exciting thing that ever happened to me. I was determined to keep her. But a social worker tried to persuade Cait not to keep her daughter. Cait, who suffered a slight nervous breakdown a few weeks after my daughter was born, was put under the care of a consultant in a psychiatric unit until the adoption papers were signed. She was put on a drug, a long-acting injectable that has since been taken off the market. The consultant tried to portray Cait as a schizophrenic, asking her if she was hearing voices. He kept telling me to have my baby adopted, saying I would not be a fit mother. Caits care was transferred to her GP. I had no psychological issues since. A Mothers Voice is Supported by the Arts Council and Triskel Art Centres WRITE RECORD PERFORM residency and The Kingsley Hotel. Tickets are 10, proceeds will go to OSS. See https://triskelartscentre.ie/events/a-mothers-voice-with-musici-ireland Solar-powered feed mill in Mindanao, Philippines, to be operational in Q1 A 50-kilowatt solar-powered feed mill in Kidapawan City, Mindanao, the Philippines, has been completed and expected to be operational within the first quarter this year, the local government announced. The facility was built under the Integration of Productive Uses of Renewable Energy for Sustainable and Inclusive Energization (I-PURE) in Mindanao funded by the European Union and implemented by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA). Kidapawan mayor Jose Paolo M. Evangelista said in a statement that the city government, which will manage the storage and milller, will save on energy cost for processing corn and rice used as feeds for farm animals. The on-grid green energy facility is located at the City Agriculture Office's Demo Farm. The feed mill is one of the 10 pilot projects under the I-PURE Mindanao programme, which combine agricultural and renewable energy development by supporting areas that are already productive but unable to expand due to lack of power supply. The EU has provided about 264.91 million (US$4.9 million) for the programme, which covers communities within the provinces of Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and Cotabato in the Soccsksargen region, and Tawi-Tawi and Lanao del Sur in the Bangsamoro region. - BusinessWorld Mississippi State University appoints new head for poultry science department Mississippi State University (MSU, US) has welcome poultry pathogen specialist Ken Macklin as the new head of its Department of Poultry Science. Macklin has joined the department after serving as a research professor and extension specialist at Auburn University. He has over 25 years of experience researching diseases that affect poultry, with special expertise in genetics, immunology and bacteriology. Macklin is a member of the Alabama Poultry and Egg Association, Southern Poultry Science Society and Poultry Science Association, a board member of the Southern Conference on Avian Diseases, and until his move to MSU, served as treasurer for the AU chapter of Sigma Xi, a non-profit honor society for scientists and engineers. "I am most excited about coming to MSU and working with all the great faculty, staff and students in the department and university," Macklin said. "I know that together, we will be able to accomplish great things. "At this moment, I want the department to reach its goal of building a feed mill. Additionally, I would like to increase our visibility on the state and national levels for our academic and research programmes and our work with industry stakeholders." Macklin's current research involves determining the effect of feed additives on common foodborne bacteria and pathogens in poultry. He also is exploring management practices that will reduce both poultry and food pathogens in poultry houses, since reducing these pathogens will improve bird health and performance and reduce the incidence of the pathogens entering the human food chain. "I am confident in Dr. Macklin's leadership and ability to lead the Department of Poultry Science," said Scott Willard, dean of MSU's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. "His research will contribute to our state's largest agricultural commodity, ensuring food quality and safety for the poultry industry while also training the next generation of poultry leaders." At Auburn, Macklin had a 50% Extension appointment, and his programmes were aimed at educating both the commercial poultry industry and small flock producers in the areas of biosecurity, poultry health, food safety and environmental issues. "We are excited to have Dr. Macklin join our Extension team to deliver research-based education to the poultry industry and to the many backyard growers that depend on best practices developed by MSU Extension to help them produce successful flocks," said Steve Martin, interim director of the MSU Extension Service. "Dr. Macklin understands the land-grant mission of teaching, research and service, and his previous Extension experience will be an asset to the state and the industry." Macklin received his PhD in poultry science from Auburn University in 2003 and his master's and bachelor's degrees in biology from Northern Illinois University in 1995 and 1992, respectively. - MSU Dutch hacker arrested for trying to sell the personal information of nearly every Austrian citizen The personal data includes full names, addresses and dates of birth. Dutch authorities arrested a hacker for obtaining and trying to sell the personal information of nearly every Austrian citizen in May 2020, according to Reuters. It includes almost nine million data sets, roughly lining up with Austrias population. The defendant, arrested in November in an Amsterdam apartment, was reportedly already known to international police. The 25-year-old defendant also offered similar data sets from Italy, the Netherlands and Colombia. Dutch police waited until now to announce the arrest to avoid hindering ongoing investigations. Authorities say the hacker posted the information in an online forum. Police say the trove consists of registration data, essential info residents must provide to authorities. That includes their full name, address and date of birth but not financial info, fortunately. Nevertheless, the police confirmed the materials authenticity, adding that since this data was freely available on the Internet, it must absolutely be assumed that these registration data are, in full or in part, irrevocably in the hands of criminals. Joshua Browder, the CEO of New York startup DoNotPay, recently announced that his company's bot will represent a defendant fighting a traffic ticket in the courtroom on February 22nd. "DoNotPay A.I will whisper in someone's ear exactly what to say. We will release the results and share more after it happens," he said. We may never know how the "robot lawyer" will fare in court, though, because a few days later, Browder announced that DoNotPay is postponing its court case after reportedly receiving jail threats from state bar prosecutors if he was to go through with his plan. The CEO told NPR that multiple state bar associations had threatened his company, and one even said he could be imprisoned for six months. He told the media organization: "Even if it wouldn't happen, the threat of criminal charges was enough to give it up. The letters have become so frequent that we thought it was just a distraction and that we should move on." While the State Bar of California refused to talk about DoNotPay's situation, it told NPR that it has a duty to investigate potential instances of unauthorized law practice. Browder originally created DoNotPay as a free AI-powered chatbot that can help draft letters and fill out forms for various legal matters, including appeals for parking tickets. The company's "robot lawyer" is said to be powered by several AI text generators, including ChatGPT and DaVinci, that have been tuned to focus on law. A defendant using the technology in court would have worn smart glasses to record the court proceedings, as well as a headset that would give the AI a way to tell them what to say. As CBS News said in a previous report, though, the tech isn't legal in most courtrooms. Also, in some states, all parties must consent to being recorded. DoNotPay looked at 300 cases, but only two were viable candidates. In the end, Browder reversed course and suggested the company will instead fixate on consumer rights issues, specifically lowering medical bills, cancelling subscriptions and disputing credit reports, among others. Subscribe to the Engadget Deals Newsletter Great deals on consumer electronics delivered straight to your inbox, curated by Engadgets editorial team. See latest Subscribe Please enter a valid email address Please select a newsletter By subscribing, you are agreeing to Engadget's Terms and Privacy Policy. On January 24th, Kathryn Tewson took to Twitter to share an in-depth analysis of the platform after attempting to generate a Defamation Demand Letter, Divorce Settlement Agreement and a Sue Anyone in Small Claims Court document. They found the process to be confusing, often finding DoNotPay switched focus on the action they wished to take. "There is literally nothing AI about this. This is a straight-up plug-and-chug document wizard, and it is not well done at all," Tewson remarked, adding: "Let me be clear: this is a terrible demand letter. Absolutely terrible. Useless or worse than useless if an actual attorney saw this, she would instantly know that the sender was unsophisticated, unrepresented, and gullible af." NPR said, however, that the CEO is still hoping that artificial intelligence could eventually help people in the courtroom. "The truth is, most people can't afford lawyers. This could've shifted the balance and allowed people to use tools like ChatGPT in the courtroom that maybe could've helped them win cases," he told the organization. If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Five fired Memphis police officers were charged Thursday with second-degree murder in the arrest and death of Tyre Nichols, a Black motorist who died three days after a confrontation during a traffic stop. Hollywood, CAThe recently released serial killer, Without Redemption: Creation & Deeds of Freeway Killer Bill Bonin, His Five Accomplices & How One Escaped Justice, is beginning to get noticed at various production companies and studio offices in Hollywood. The book contains a number of elements extremely unique to serial killer stories, foremost being the use Bonin's personal jailhouse diaries and written murder confessions, written shortly after his arrest and hidden away for over 40-years. Next is co-author Vonda Pelto, a Clinical Psychologist, having the opportunity to talk with Bonin on numerous occasions before, during and after his LA trial. Through the use of the diaries, plus thousands of pages of official investigative documents, the authors solved two 40-year unsolved homicides and discovered how one day, in the midst of Bonin's ten-month 22-victim murder spree, changed everything to follow. It took years of writing and research to fully divine the true significance of that day, when four principal players all crossed paths, but it also related to the unsolved homicides and Bonin's ultimate fate in court. In fact, the authors did not fully grasp the implications, of that day, till the three-year journey writing the book was complete, a real nice piece of investigative research. Without Redemption will make a compelling a compelling mini-series of docudrama, or even a feature film. Most tragically, the authors found that Bonin was arrested THREE TIMES during his reign of terror and let go every time. Without Redemption Book Trailer Radio Show Video of Vonda Pelto on Gary Nolan Radio Show Written Redemption was written on a number of parallel tracks that constantly intersect: First, it is the most detailed historical biography ever written about Bill Bonin, the notorious Freeway Killer responsible for murdering 22 teenage boys over ten-months in 1979-80. Second, it is a psychological roadmap which charts the evolution of Bonin's personality from abused child to sexual predator to serial killer. This is accomplished using documents from his childhood, war service, multiple California government mental health and penal institutions, witness testimony and the expertise of Clinical Psychologist Vonda Pelto, Ph.D., who had many sessions with Bonin and two of his accomplices while working in Los Angeles Men's Central Jail. Third, it is a narrative which, using long hidden documents, reveals the inner workings of Bonin's mind, showing how he thought, felt, planned and viewed the world. The narrative displays Bonin, an abused high school dropout, cleverly manipulating lawyers, judges, doctors, social workers, friends, family, probation officers, government bureaucrats, detectives, journalists and, most tragically, the innocent victims of his rage. Fourth, Without Redemption reveals the complex story of what happened after Bonin's final arrest, when so much was in flux and so many moving parts were swirling about. Archived investigative documents, collected from a variety of sources, brings to light a number of surprising, shocking, sad and even funny events from those ten tumultuous months from June 1980 to March 1981. Finally, it is a book which solves two 40-year-old murder mysteries and unlocks how one day of crossroads and coincidences, in the midst of the murder spree, profoundly impacted many lives and future events. The most detailed bio of serial killer Bill Bonin ever written using previously hidden documents. How childhood abuse & Vietnam War service helped create what followed. How Bonin manipulated California judicial, mental health & prison systems for nine years before the killings. Interviews of Bonin, Miley & Munro with Vonda Pelto, Ph.D. before, during & after his Los Angeles trial. Bonin's jailhouse writings offer new perspective on his brutality, methods, thoughts and personality. How & Why Bonin covered for accomplice Eric Wijnaendts, who helped him with two murders. How & Why March 24, 1980 is a key date in the Bill Bonin story. Without Redemption: Creation & Deeds of Freeway Killer Bill Bonin, His Five Accomplices & How One Escaped Justice, Paperback ISBN: 979-8841931249, Hard Cover ISBN: 979-8844477775. For more info go to www.WithoutRedemption.com and purchase copies at Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Media Contact: For interviews or to request review copies contact Flotsam PR at 319-504-3788 or flotsampr@pm.me. About the Authors: Vonda Pelto, Ph.D., author of Without Remorse and co-author of Without Redemption, was born and raised in the small town of Needles, California, in the barren desert. Brought up in a strict Southern Baptist household, her sheltered childhood and family life meant Vonda was in for a rude awakening when she was hired for a unique job. After the unexpected January 1981 jailhouse suicide of Freeway Killer Vernon Butts, the Los Angeles County Mental Health & Sheriff's Departments needed a new strategy to prevent this from happening with any other high-profile inmates awaiting or standing trial. Michael B. Butler, author of A World Flight Over Russia, is a professional photographer who has worked extensively in book, travel and corporate PR. His assignments documenting the 50th Anniversaries of Pearl Harbor and D-Day, flying around the world across Russia on the World Flight in July 1992, documenting a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with 700 Christians in 2013 and multiple PR junkets to Ireland and Tahiti added ample materials to his media library. Sen. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell, testifies in favor of Senate Bill 154 in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan) Legislation to exclude abortion from Montanas constitutional protection for privacy advanced Wednesday in the Senate, as did a controversial GOP bill to reduce income taxes. Senate Bill 154 to exempt abortion from privacy protection earned 28-21 approval with little discussion and some Republican support. Sen. Wendy McKamey, R-Great Falls, stood up to break with her party on SB 154. She said her record shows shes adamantly pro-life personally. But she said privacy is privacy. If enacted, this bill would be unconstitutional, McKamey said. Few people spoke to that bill, but Republicans and Democrats sparred over a taxation proposal, Senate Bill 121. SB 121 passed second reading on party lines. It would drop the top income tax rate from 6.5% to 5.9% and increase the earned income tax credit. Sen. Greg Hertz, R-Polson, responded to criticism from Democrats who said the cuts were going to the wealthiest Montanans and people on the lower end were getting just crumbs. Top earners pay most of the taxes in the state, he said, and Republicans are making headway on lowering taxes for all people. Im not sure how we can please this side of the aisle sometimes, Hertz said of Democrats. Sen. Daniel Zolnikov, R-Billings, offered one example of a benefit to people who dont have big salaries. Right now, he said, someone earning $34,000 would pay $1,600 in taxes, but if the bill becomes law, that single earner will pay $940. Tell me how that does not benefit low-income individuals? Zolnikov said. We are doing that. Attempts to amend the bill failed, but Republican Brad Molnar of Laurel joined Democrats in calling for more help for people at the bottom end of the income scale. In support of a couple of changes that didnt get traction, Sen. Mary Ann Dunwell, D-Helena, said all Montanans should see a fair tax benefit. Certainly, people at the top pay more hard dollars, she said, but those on the other end need help to buy eggs and shoes for their children. She tried to bump the earned income tax credit, which helps people who earn less, from 3% of the federal credit to 60%. As proposed, the bill would push it from 3% to 10%, but Dunwell said President Ronald Reagan called the EITC the No. 1 tool to fight poverty. Well, lets fight for Montanans in poverty, Dunwell said. Vote yes. Not enough people voted yes on the amendment for it to pass. However, a majority said yes to the main bill, SB 121, sponsored by Sen. Becky Beard, R-Elliston. Sponsored by Sen. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell, SB 154 to say abortion isnt part of Montanas right to privacy passed second reading as well. Regier characterized the change as one that would clarify the privacy right. He said one point that gets lost but he believes is important is that the constitution protects the right to individual privacy, not privacy on its own. But he said abortion isnt just about an individual. It involves another set of fingerprints, Regier said. It involves another individual. Our right to privacy should not apply to an abortion any more than a right to privacy applying to child abuse or abuse in a spouse. Last summer, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, which protected abortion through privacy, and Regier said courts can be wrong. As such, he disputed the idea that the Montana Supreme Courts decision in Armstrong v. State, which also protects medical care and abortion through privacy, was a reason to oppose his bill. However, Sen. Shannon OBrien, D-Missoula, said the majority of Montanans dont support restricting access to comprehensive health care for women. This bill, as mentioned before, is blatantly unconstitutional and will be litigated, and this thus becomes a waste of taxpayer time and dollars, OBrien said. In addition to McKamey, Republican senators who opposed SB 154 were Bruce Gillespie of Ethridge, Dan Salomon of Ronan, Russ Tempel of Chester, Terry Vermeire of Anaconda, and Jeff Welborn of Dillon. Another tax bill, one sponsored by Hertz, also got a greenlight on second reading, albeit without support from Democrats or Molnar. The bill raises revenue from multistate corporations that do business in Montana, Hertz said. For example, he said right now, a company that manufactures in Montana but sells products mostly outside of Montana is penalized. With his bill, he said, if just 10% of the companys sales are in Montana, just 10% will be taxed. Some corporations are going to be paying more because they should pay more, Hertz said. The Senate also passed a bill by Sen. Susan Webber, D-Browning, to revise a five-year temporary tax exemption so it applies to tribal members who want to move their fee property into trust. Webber said some people want their land in fee so it can be used as collateral because some banks still wont make loans to Native Americans but she said people should have the option to put their land in trust and get the benefit. Passed unanimously, Senate Bill 119 grants the exemption while the trust application is in the works. The post Major GOP legislation on abortion, taxes, advances in Senate appeared first on Daily Montanan. Poultry giant 2 Sisters has announced it may close its Llangefni factory, which employs 730 people, following a review into the processing site. 2 Sisters Food Group said the site, located in Anglesey's second-largest town, was 'not sustainable' as the firm continues to battle the bird flu crisis and surging production costs. A spokesperson for the poultry processor - one of the UK's largest - said the factory was "old, one of our smallest sites and lacking space to be efficient." "The cost to produce here is higher, and it would require significant investment to bring it up to the standards of our other factories. "Our products can be made more efficiently elsewhere across our estate," the spokesperson said. The Llangefni site was bought in 2013, but despite 5 million being invested there, the company said it lacked efficiency. The statement added: "Clearly this will be extremely disappointing news for our Llangefni colleagues, and it is no reflection of their continuing hard work and commitment. "However, we have a duty to remain competitive and protect our wider business on which many thousands of people depend." The firm said it would now hold consultations with all affected employees and their representatives, while exploring options before making any final decisions about the closure of the site. The statement said: "These options will include all redeployment opportunities in the region with the help of all relevant support agencies, both inside and outside the business." Responding to the news, local MP Virginia Crosbie, who represents the constituency Ynys Mon, said the closure was "devastating" for the local area. "It appears [2 Sisters] has been badly affected by a range of issues with energy cost rises in April being a major part of the decision to consult on a closure to protect other parts of the business," she said. "I will be speaking to the unions very soon and I would support a task group being set up to help navigate what is happening and what could happen, if the factory closes." Defra has announced more detail on the future of the ELMS and brought forward a broader, more flexible offer for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). Six new standards for the SFI have been unveiled today by Defra as part of a long-awaited announcement on the government's Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS) programme. These are hedgerow management, integrated pest management, nutrient management, arable and horticultural land, improved grassland and low input grassland. They build on the three existing standards to improve soil health and moorlands introduced in 2022 which nearly 1,900 farmers already have in agreements. Farmers will be able to apply online for the new SFI options in the summer, Defra explained. It has also detailed what farmers will be paid to deliver through the Countryside Stewardship Plus, previously known as the Local Nature Recovery scheme. This will see around 30 additional actions available by the end of 2024, building on the more than 250 actions farmers can take at present. Countryside Stewardship Plus will reward farmers for taking coordinated action, working with neighbouring farms and landowners to support climate and nature aims. Defra confirmed that the scheme will also be improved so farmers benefit from greater flexibility over when they can apply and how they manage their agreements. Access will be improved for tenant farmers, the department said, as well as increased access to Higher Tier options and agreements. Elsewhere, following high demand last year, Defra also confirmed it will open applications for the second round of the Landscape Recovery scheme in the spring. This scheme supports ambitious large-scale nature recovery projects, focusing on net zero, protected sites and habitat creation. Responding to today's raft of announcements, NFU vice president David Exwood said the government had provided some of the clarity the union had been asking for. For farmers and growers making crucial long-term decisions, its vital they have the full scheme details as soon as possible and know how the different schemes will work together. "A speedy application and payment process will also be key to give farm businesses some much-needed security," he explained. If ELMS is to be successful, weve always said that it needs to be simple, provide certainty and fairly reward farmers for taking part. "This means schemes being developed that are inclusive and available to every farm business - whether upland or lowland, tenant or owner-occupied." The Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) said the news was a positive development, but warned that further join-up between individual actions was necessary to deliver on targets. "Individual actions on their own wont achieve our climate and nature targets," said Martin Lines, NFFN chair, "There remains the need for join-up between actions to avoid a piecemeal approach. Mr Lines also called on the wider farming industry to make the scheme a success and show genuine value for public money. Now that the government has provided clarity on payment schemes, industry must step up and grasp the opportunity of maximising the potential that farming with nature can bring," he said. "For many farmers, this will be the beginning of a journey to nature-friendly farming and Defra must pull out all the stops in giving farmers consistent support and a clear roadmap. But Mark Tufnell, president of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), warned that there was 'little new' for those on moorlands or "the hard-pressed hill farmer struggling to earn a living". "The stakes for farmers could not be higher, and it is incumbent on UK government to make these schemes accessible to all types of farms, thus giving the industry the confidence we need to make these schemes work. For our part, we encourage every farmer to look very closely at these schemes." African swine fever (ASF) has been detected in wild boar in Greece for the first time, as Red Tractor recently warned the disease would 'devastate' the UK's national herd. A wild boar in the Central Macedonia region, a mountainous area of Greece about 7km from the Bulgarian border, was found earlier this week with the disease. ASF has been a known problem among the wild boar population for some years in Bulgaria. Whilst this is the first outbreak in wild boar in Greece, ASF was detected in a backyard herd in February 2020 in Central Macedonia, 40km south of the new finding. The 2020 outbreak was an isolated case and of the 32 pigs on the farm, only one tested positive. Whilst ASF doesnt affect humans, it is a highly contagious and fatal notifiable disease that is present in parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Mainland Italy recently confirmed its first ever case of the strain currently circulating in Europe, Asia, and Central America. In the UK, risk of ASF remains 'high' for human-mediated transmission. Red Tractor recently warned that the UK would be 'devastated' if the disease were to reach its shores. Responding to the new outbreak in Greece, the National Pig Association (NPA) said it served as a reminder that there was a wildlife vector contributing to the movement of the disease in Europe. "In this country we must be cognisant of this movement and any shift this this makes on the risk to the British pig herd," the body said. In October 2022, authorities in Dover uncovered and seized large volumes of raw meat from countries that had reported ASF in their pig herds. The risk of ASF infected pork being brought into the UK via people is risk assessed as high, even though the overall risk for all pathways is medium. The Agricultural Wages Board for Northern Ireland has announced increases to the wage rates for agricultural workers. Following a meeting on 20 January 2023, the Board has proposed to increase the existing minimum rates for agricultural workers by 8.5 percent. Grade 1, the minimum rate - applicable for the first 40 weeks cumulative employment - has been increased to 7.54 per hour. Grade 2 Standard worker has risen to 8.13 per hour; Grade 3 Lead worker 10.16 per hour; and Grade 4 Craft Grade 10.92 per hour. Grade 5 Supervisory Grade has increased to 11.49 per hour, and the final grade, Grade 6 Farm Management Grade, has increased to 12.48 per hour. In addition, the accommodation offset has now risen to a maximum of 51.27 per week. The Agricultural Wages Board was established in 1977 and meets each year to consider changes to the rates of pay and related conditions for agricultural workers. It consists of 15 members: three members appointed by the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, one of whom is Chair of the Board. It also consists of six members nominated by the Ulster Farmers' Union as representatives of agricultural employers and six members nominated by Unite the union. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Worlds major cotton producer and exporter Brazil exported cotton (HS code 5201) worth $3.342 billion in the first eleven months of 2022. China was the top buyer of Brazilian cotton with a share of 28.81 per cent amounting to $963.044 million in the same period. Brazils total cotton exports to the world increased in value but declined in volume in 2022. The shipment to China increased by 23.84 per cent from the exports in the corresponding period of last year when they were noted at $777.660 million, according to Fibre2Fashions market insight tool TexPro. World's major cotton producer and exporter Brazil exported cotton (HS code 5201) worth $3.342 billion in the first eleven months of 2022. China was the top buyer of Brazilian cotton with a share of 28.81 per cent amounting to $963.044 million in the same period. Brazil's total cotton exports to the world increased in value but declined in volume in 2022. Besides China, Brazil exported cotton worth $492.038 (14.72 per cent) to Vietnam, $445.619 (13.33 per cent) to Bangladesh, $431.551 (12.91 per cent) to Pakistan and $430.163 (12.87 per cent) to Turkiye, as per TexPro. Brazils cotton exports to the world increased in terms of value but decreased in terms of volume. The shipment was $3.676 billion (1.803 billion kg) in 2022. In the previous years, the exports had amounted to $3.405 billion (2.016 billion kg) in 2021, $3.226 billion (2.125 billion kg) in 2020, $2.640 billion (1.613 billion kg) in 2019 and $1.686 billion (0.974 billion kg) in 2018. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL) Annual UK car production falls -9.8% to 775,014 units in 2022 as global chip shortages and structural changes depress output. Record levels of electrified vehicle production with almost a third of all cars made fully electric or hybrid - worth 10 billion in exports alone. Volumes for UK rise 9.4% but fail to offset declining exports, down -14.0%, with some eight in 10 cars shipped overseas. Auto sector, which is integral to levelling up, net zero and advancing global Britain , calls for dedicated framework to drive rapid upscaling of UK battery production and shift to EVs. LONDON, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- UK car production declined -9.8% in 2022 to 775,014 units, according to the latest figures issued today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). December rounded off a volatile year, with output down -17.9% in the month after growth in October and November, with most of the year's volume loss occurring in the first half. The annual total was 84,561 units down on 2021 and -40.5% off the 1,303,135 cars made in 2019 pre-pandemic, equivalent to a loss of more than half a million cars.1 The main reasons for the depressed output were the crippling global shortage of semiconductors, which limited the ability to build cars in line with demand; significant structural changes, reflecting a loss of production at two volume manufacturing sites; and the impact of supply chain pauses in China due to Covid lockdowns. Despite these challenges, UK factories turned out a record 234,066 battery electric (BEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and hybrid (HEV) electric vehicles, with combined volumes up 4.5% year-on-year to represent almost a third (30.2%) of all car production. Total BEV production rose 4.8%, with hybrid volumes up 4.3%, and boosting output of these vehicles will be critical in the attainment of net zero, for both the UK and major overseas markets. The figures come as fresh SMMT analysis confirms the increasingly important role of electrified vehicle production to the UK economy, especially the value of exports. Since 2017, the value of BEV, PHEV and HEV exports has risen seven-fold, from 1.3 billion to more than 10 billion. As a result, electrified vehicles represent 44.7% of the value of all UK car exports, up from a mere 4.1%. BEVs, in particular, are critical to the future prosperity of the UK, with their export value up more than 1,500%, from 81.7 million to 1.3 billion.2 The UK's strength in specialist, luxury and performance car makers was also further underlined, with output climbing 6.6% to 32,575 units, worth an estimated total of 3.7 billion at factory gate prices, driven by a number of new launches and models in high demand from buyers around the world. These manufacturers play an important role in the development of advanced automotive technologies such as light-weighting and electrification which, in turn, can help advance wider industry. Total annual output for the UK market grew 9.4%, but this was not enough to offset a -14.0% drop in exports. Nearly eight in 10 cars (606,838 units) were built for overseas markets, compared with 168,176 for British buyers, emphasising the importance of free and fair global trade. The EU remained by far the sector's largest market, even as shipments declined -10.0%, with 57.6% of exports (349,424 units) heading into the bloc. While exports to the US and China also fell, down -31.6% and -8.3% respectively, the number of cars sent to Japan (+5.7%), South Korea (+32.8%), Australia (+4.7%), Switzerland (+2.7%) and South Africa (+23.0%) all increased, although together these represented just 8.4% of exports. Exports to Russia, a top 10 export market in 2021, meanwhile, fell -78.3%, with shipments made before the outbreak of war in Ukraine and the cessation of business. Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, "These figures reflect just how tough 2022 was for UK car manufacturing, though we still made more electric vehicles than ever before - high value, cutting edge models, in demand around the world. The potential for this sector to deliver economic growth by building more of these zero emission models is self-evident, however, we must make the right decisions now. "This means shaping a strategy to drive rapid upscaling of UK battery production and the shift to electric vehicles based on the UK automotive sector's fundamental strengths - a highly skilled and flexible workforce, engineering excellence, technical innovation and productivity levels that are amongst the best in Europe." Even amid the tough economic and political setting, UK Automotive is integral to ambitions on levelling up, delivering net zero and advancing global Britain. In 2022, publicly announced investment for the sector reached a total of 4.5 billion, with major new commitments to electrification in Crewe and Merseyside. This was down slightly from the potential 4.9 billion announced in 2021, which included the proposed development of a new battery gigafactory in the West Midlands.3 Given the global and domestic challenges, industry is looking for a dedicated framework to position the UK as one of the world's most competitive locations for advanced automotive manufacturing. This framework must address soaring energy costs and the threat of increasing global protectionism, provide fiscal measures to encourage investment in zero emission technologies and equip the UK's talented workforce with the right skills to deliver these vehicles. Looking forward, the latest independent outlook expects that, with easing semiconductor shortages, UK car and light van output should rise by 15% to 984,000 units in 2023 (842,200 cars and 141,800 light vans), an uplift worth some 3.9 billion. By 2025, production volumes are projected to surpass a million vehicles.4 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1989252/SMMT_top_export_markets_2022.jpg Hi-res charts available via Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ha805ahsg1cr6lw34ilys/h?dl=0&rlkey=36sg3zwkhx460tet4z6lvvirz View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/smmt--2022-uk-car-production-down-but-electric-vehicle-output-surges-to-new-record-301729760.html Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 25, 2023) - Kuya Silver Corporation (CSE: KUYA) (OTCQB: KUYAF) (FSE: 6MR1) (the "Company" or "Kuya Silver") announces that, pursuant to its 10% rolling equity incentive plan, it has approved the grant of 650,000 restricted share units ("RSUs") and 550,000 stock options ("Options") to acquire common shares in the capital of the Company (each a "Common Share"), to certain officers and employees (the "Equity Grant"). The Options are exercisable until January 25, 2028 at a price of $0.35 per Option and are subject to vesting provisions. The RSUs will vest and convert into Common Shares, for no additional consideration, in tranches. Any Common Shares issued pursuant to the Equity Grant, are subject to a hold period expiring May 26, 2023, unless written approval to issue the Common Shares without the hold period is obtained from the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "Exchange"). The Company also announces that it is completing a debt settlement with Electra Battery Materials Corporation effective January 31, 2023, which will result in an aggregate of $150,000 of indebtedness being retired in consideration for the issuance of Common Shares at a deemed price per Common Share equal to the volume weighted average closing price of the Common Shares on the Exchange for the 20 trading days immediately prior to the issuance being completed (the "Debt Settlement"). The debt relates to a reimbursement of prior exploration expenditures made by Electra on behalf of Kuya Silver. The Common Shares issued in connection with the Debt Settlement are subject to a hold period expiring May 26, 2023. About Kuya Silver Corporation Kuya Silver is a Canadian-based mineral exploration and development company with a focus on acquiring, exploring, and advancing precious metals assets in Peru and Canada. For more information, please contact: David Stein, President and Chief Executive Officer Telephone: (604) 398-4493 info@kuyasilver.com www.kuyasilver.com Reader Advisory This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information," including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may," "would," "could," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "must," "next," "propose," "new," "potential," "prospective," "target," "future," "verge," "favourable," "implications," and "ongoing," and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking information. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing statements, any discussion of the potential of exploration targets is forward-looking information. Investors are cautioned that statements including forward-looking information are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking information as a result of various factors, including but not limited to fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market, and business conditions. There can be no assurances that such forward-looking information will prove accurate, and therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of the risks and uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/152515 Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - January 25, 2023) - Meteorite Capital Inc. (TSXV: MTR.P) ("Meteorite") and Kobo Resources Inc. ("Kobo" and together with Meteorite, the "Companies") are pleased to announce that further to the news release dated January 17, 2023, the Companies have today entered into an engagement letter (the "Engagement Letter") with Leede Jones Gable Inc. (the "Agent"), pursuant to which the Agent and a syndicate of agents (collectively the "Agents") will act on behalf of the Companies on a commercially reasonable efforts basis to complete a private placement financing (the "Capital Raising Transaction") of subscription receipts (the "Subscription Receipts") at a price of $0.25 per Subscription Receipt for minimum aggregate proceeds of at least C$3,500,000 up to a maximum of $5,000,000 (or $5,750,000, assuming full exercise of the Agent's Option described below) on or prior to closing of the previously-announced proposed reverse takeover transaction pursuant to which Meteorite would acquire all of the securities of Kobo, with such transaction constituting Meteorite's "Qualifying Transaction" as such term is defined in Policy 2.4 - Capital Pool Companies (the "Policy") of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") Corporate Finance Manual (the "QT"). Kobo intends to complete the QT of Meteorite, a capital pool company listed on the TSXV (TSXV: MTR.P), by way of a three-cornered amalgamation (the "Amalgamation") pursuant to which Meteorite will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Kobo ("Kobo Shares"), in exchange for post-Consolidation (as such term is defined below) common shares of Meteorite ("Resulting Issuer Common Shares") and Kobo shall amalgamate with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Meteorite, such that Kobo will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Meteorite as it exists (the "Resulting Issuer") following the completion of the Amalgamation. Immediately prior to the Amalgamation, Meteorite shall have completed a consolidation of its issued and outstanding common shares (the "Consolidation") on the basis of 0.2 post-Consolidation Meteorite common shares (each a "Post-Consolidation Common Share") for every one (1) pre-Consolidation Meteorite common share held. The completion of the QT and Capital Raising Transaction shall be subject to the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals and the other conditions listed in the Agency Agreement (as defined below). Each Subscription Receipt will entitle the holder thereof to receive, without any further action by the holder of such Subscription Receipt or any additional consideration, and subject to adjustment, one unit (a "Unit") of the Resulting Issuer. Each Unit will be comprised of one Resulting Issuer common share issued on a post-Consolidation basis (the "Resulting Issuer Common Shares") and one half of one Resulting Issuer Common Share purchase warrant ("Warrant") entitling the holder to purchase, subject to adjustment, one Resulting Issuer Common Share at an exercise price of $0.40 for 24 months after the escrow release date set out in the agency agreement to be signed in respect of the Offering (the "Agency Agreement"). For the purposes hereof, Subscription Receipts issued by Kobo shall be referred to as "Kobo Subscription Receipts" and Subscription Receipts issued by Meteorite shall be referred to as "Meteorite Subscription Receipts". Pursuant to the QT, if the escrow release conditions set out in the Agency Agreement have been satisfied prior to the escrow release deadline set out therein, the Kobo Subscription Receipts will be converted into Kobo Units (without payment by the holders of the Kobo Subscription Receipts of any additional consideration therefor) immediately prior to the completion of the QT and then the Kobo Common Shares will be exchanged for Post-Consolidation Common Shares, being Resulting Issuer Common Shares. The Warrants and all other securities of Kobo that are exercisable for Kobo Shares will become exercisable for Resulting Issuer Shares. If the escrow release conditions set out in the Agency Agreement have been satisfied prior to the Escrow Release Deadline set out below, the Meteorite Subscription Receipts will be converted into Units of the Resulting Issuer (without payment by the holders of the Meteorite Subscription Receipts of any additional consideration therefor). The Resulting Issuer securities issued in exchange for Meteorite Subscription Receipts will be subject to a trading restriction of four months and one day from the date of closing of the Capital Raising Transaction. In the context of the Capital Raising Transaction, the Companies will grant the Agent an option to increase the size of the offering by up to 15%, exercisable in whole or in part at any time within 48 hours of the closing date of the Capital Raising Transaction (the "Agent's Option"). Upon fulfilment of all escrow release conditions described in the Agency Agreement, each Subscription Receipt will entitle the holder thereof to receive, without any further action by the holder of such Subscription Receipt or any additional consideration, and subject to adjustment, one Resulting Issuer Common Share and one-half of one Resulting Issuer Common Share Purchase Warrant. Completion of the Capital Raising Transaction will be subject to the entering into by the Companies and the Agents of an agency agreement in respect of the Capital Raising Transaction (the "Capital Raising Agency Agreement"). The Capital Raising Agency Agreement will include the terms and conditions provided herein, industry standard covenants, representations and warranties and provisions regarding legal opinions, indemnification, contribution, termination clauses and other relevant matters as the Companies and the Agents may agree. In consideration for the Agent's services with respect to the Capital Raising Transaction, the Companies shall (i) pay the Agents a cash fee of 6% of the aggregate gross proceeds of the Capital Raising Transaction (including the Agent's Option) (the "Agent's Cash Compensation"), and (ii) either Kobo or Meteorite shall issue warrants (the "Agent's Compensation Warrants") to purchase that number of Units of the respective Company equal to 6% of the quotient of the aggregate gross proceeds of the Capital Raising Transaction (including the Agent's Option) divided by $0.25 (the "Subscription Price"). Any Agent's Compensation Warrants issued by Kobo, shall be issued on the closing of the Capital Raising Transaction, while any Agent's Compensation Warrants issued by Meteorite shall be issued on a post-Consolidation basis by the Resulting Issuer on the closing of the QT. Each Agent's Compensation Warrant shall be exercisable at the Subscription Price for a period of 24 months. The number of Agent's Compensation Warrants and exercise price will be subject to adjustment to acquire common shares of the Resulting Issuer. The remuneration payable by Meteorite as the Agent's Cash Compensation will to be paid only at the closing of the QT. The Companies shall pay the Agent (i) a cash corporate finance fee (the "Cash Corporate Finance Fee") which is equal to 2% of the gross amount of the Capital Raising Transaction plus applicable taxes, subject to a minimum Corporate Finance Fee of $75,000, plus applicable taxes, such minimum only effected in the event the Capital Raising Transaction is completed, and (ii) either Kobo and/or Meteorite shall issue warrants (the "Corporate Finance Compensation Warrants") to purchase that number of common shares of the respective Company equal to 2% of the quotient of the aggregate gross proceeds of the Capital Raising Transaction (including the Agent's Option) divided by the Subscription Price. The Corporate Finance Compensation Warrants issued by Kobo, shall be issued on the closing of the Capital Raising Transaction, while any Corporate Finance Compensation Warrants issued by Meteorite shall be issued on a post-Consolidation basis by the Resulting Issuer on the closing of the QT. The Corporate Finance Compensation Warrants shall otherwise have the same terms as the Agent's Compensation Warrants (collectively, the Agent's Cash Compensation, the Agent's Compensation Warrants, the Cash Corporate Finance Fee, and the Corporate Finance Compensation Warrants, the "Capital Raising Commission"). The remuneration payable by Meteorite as the Cash Corporate Finance Fee will to be paid only at the closing of the QT. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Companies shall be entitled to provide a President's List of subscribers (the "President's List") without limitation in aggregate subscriptions sold under the Capital Raising Transaction. The Companies will provide the Agent with the President's List for approval, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld. In respect of President's List subscriptions, the Agent's Cash Compensation shall be reduced to 2% of such gross proceeds and the Agent's Compensation Warrants shall be reduced to zero as it relates to such subscriptions. The proceeds of the Capital Raising Transaction are expected to be used to fund (i) the exploration and other expenses relating to the Kossou Gold Project (as defined below), (ii) the expenses of the QT and the Capital Raising Transaction, and (iii) the working capital requirements of the Resulting Issuer. About Kobo Kobo was incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Quebec) on December 14, 2015 under the name 9333-9141 Quebec Inc. On March 4, 2016, Kobo changed its name to Kobo Resources Inc.. Kobo's head office and registered office are located at 388 Grande-Allee East, Suite 101, Quebec, Quebec, G1R 2J4. Kobo is a junior Canadian exploration and mining development company focused on acquiring, exploring and developing gold property assets located in West Africa and primarily in Cote d'Ivoire. Kobo, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, KOBO Ressources Cote d'Ivoire S.A., owns two research permits for gold (being the Kossou Permit and the Kotobi Permit) covering 449km2 and has three pending applications covering 1,068km2. As at the date hereof, Kobo's sole material asset is the Kossou Permit, which forms the basis of its Kossou gold project (the "Kossou Gold Project"). About Meteorite Meteorite exists under the provisions of the Canada Business Corporations Act with its registered and head office located at 1 Place Ville Marie, Suite 3900, Montreal, Quebec. It is a capital pool company and intends for the QT to constitute its "Qualifying Transaction" as such term is defined in the Policy. Meteorite is a "reporting issuer" within the meaning of the Securities Act of each of the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. Further Information All information contained in this news release with respect to Meteorite and Kobo was supplied by the parties respectively, for inclusion herein, without independent review by the other party, and each party and its directors and officers have relied on the other party for any information concerning the other party. For further information regarding the QT, please contact: Charles R. Spector, Director, Meteorite Capital Inc. Telephone: (514) 878-8847 Email: info@Meteoritecapital.com Edouard Gosselin, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Kobo Resources Inc. Telephone: 1-418-609-3587 Email: egosselin@kobores.com Completion of the Capital Raising Transaction and the QT is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance. Where applicable, the QT cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Capital Raising Transaction and the QT will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the QT, any information released or received with respect to the QT may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative. The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Capital Raising Transaction or the proposed QT and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. NEITHER THE TSXV NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSXV) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: the terms and conditions of the proposed QT; the terms and conditions of the proposed Capital Raising Transaction; use of funds; and the business and operations of the Resulting Issuer after the proposed QT. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and the delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law, Meteorite and Kobo assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for release publication, distribution or dissemination directly, or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/152551 Timmins, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 25, 2023) - Emerald Geological Services would like to cordially invite you to visit us at Booth #428 at the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference (VRIC) to be held at the Vancouver Convention Centre West (1055 Canada Place, Vancouver) on Sunday January 29 - Monday January 30, 2023. Notable keynote speakers include former Premier of BC Christy Clark and former Premier of Saskatchewan, Brad Wall. Other keynote speakers will include dozens of globally respected economists, legendary money managers, and investors. "We are entering a new era of de-globalization. The trust that allowed for global trade over the last 30 years has shifted irreversibly and countries are now scrambling to secure supplies of natural resources as a matter of national security. As a result, demand for key resources, will skyrocket. We have gathered over 300 companies that are exploring for and producing these natural resources so investors can position themselves accordingly," said Jay Martin, Host of the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference. For more information and/or to register for the conference please visit: https://cambridgehouse.com/vancouver-resource-investment-conference. We look forward to seeing you there. About the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference: The Vancouver Resource Investment Conference has been the epicentre of junior mining investment in Canada for 25 years and attracts over 5000 mining investors annually. Previous years have been attended by former Prime Minister Stephan Harper and former President of Mexico Felipe Calderon. The VRIC will include a marketplace of over 300 investment opportunities in the mining industry, spanning early-stage exploration to advanced producing mines. For further information: Bruce MacLachlan President & CEO 1-705-266-0847 bruce@emeraldgeologicalservices.com www.emeraldgeologicalservices.com SEOUL, South Korea, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GenKOre, Inc., a Korea-based biotech company with hypercompact CRISPR-Cas tools, announced that it has entered into a strategic research collaboration with a US-based biopharma company for the development of in vivo gene editing therapies. This collaboration will utilize GenKOre's proprietary CRISPR-Cas platform, TaRGET ( T iny nuclease, a ugment R NA-based G enome E diting T echnology). The TaRGET platform is distinct from the most popular genome editing technology, CRISPR-Cas9, in that the whole editing module can be delivered with a single AAV vector. Based on their TaRGET platform, GenKOre has developed different modalities of editing tools including TaRGET-CUT, TaRGET-Adenine Base Editing (ABE), TaRGET-AI (Gene Activation and Inhibition system). and TaRGET-FREE (Gene knock-in) . "This collaboration reflects the strength and potential utility of TaRGET platform in the application of in vivo gene-editing therapy", said Yong-Sam Kim, CEO of GenKOre. "Not only will this collaboration provide an opportunity to validate the applicability of TaRGET platform to in vivo therapy, but we will also expand the utility of our technologies to a wider spectrum of rare diseases." The collaboration was built on the mutual interest in forging transformative therapeutics for patients with rare diseases. Under the terms of the agreement, GenKOre will receive up to 300 million USD including an upfront, option exercise fees and milestone payments upon successful achievement of R&D and commercial milestones across two in vivo disease targets. In addition, GenKOre will receive research funding and tiered royalties up to a double-digit percentage of net sales. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1986374/GenKOre.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/genkore-announces-collaboration-with-a-us-based-company-on-in-vivo-gene-editing-therapy-301725691.html Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - January 25, 2023) - Troilus Gold Corp. (TSX: TLG) (OTCQX: CHXMF) (FSE: CM5R) ("Troilus" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that it will be exhibiting and presenting at the upcoming Metals Investor Forum (MIF) taking place on January 27th and 28th, 2023, and at the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference (VRIC) on January 29th and 30th, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Details of both conferences are found below. The Company invites you to attend or tune-in virtually to learn about the latest developments at its gold and copper Troilus Project, located in north central Quebec, Canada. Metals Investor Forum When: Friday, January 27th and Saturday, January 28th, 2023 Location: Fairmont Pacific Rim, 1038 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC Panel Discussion with Troilus: Friday, January 27th at 10:40am PST/ 1:40pm EST For more information or to register for the hybrid in-person and virtual MIF conference, please visit https://metalsinvestorforum.com/. The Troilus team cordially invites you to visit its booth at either of the conferences (VRIC booth #710). In addition to exhibiting, the CEO of Troilus, Justin Reid, will be providing, at both conferences, an update on the latest news and developments at its Troilus Project and expected milestones for 2023. Vancouver Resource Investment Conference When: Sunday, January 29th and Monday, January 30th, 2023 Location: Vancouver Convention Centre West, 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC Troilus Booth: #710 Troilus Presentation: Monday, January 30th at 1:20pm PST For more information or to register for VRIC, please visit https://cambridgehouse.com/vancouver-resource-investment-conference. About Troilus Gold Corp. Troilus Gold Corp. is a Canadian-based junior mining company focused on the systematic advancement and de-risking of the former gold and copper Troilus Mine towards production. From 1996 to 2010, the Troilus Mine produced +2 million ounces of gold and nearly 70,000 tonnes of copper. Troilus' claims cover 435 km in the top-rated mining jurisdiction of Quebec, Canada, within the Frotet-Evans Greenstone Belt. Since acquiring the project in 2017, ongoing exploration success has demonstrated the tremendous scale potential of the gold system on the property with significant mineral resource growth. The Company is advancing engineering studies following the completion of a robust PEA in 2020, which demonstrated the potential for the Troilus project to become a top-ranked gold and copper producing asset in Canada. Led by an experienced team with a track-record of successful mine development, Troilus is positioned to become a cornerstone project in North America. For more information: Caroline Arsenault VP Corporate Communications +1 (647) 276-0050 info@troilusgold.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "continue", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "will", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are made based upon certain assumptions and other important facts that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performances or achievements of Troilus to be materially different from future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which Troilus will operate in the future. Certain important factors that could cause actual results, performances or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, amongst others, currency fluctuations, the global economic climate, dilution, share price volatility and competition. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Troilus to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: there being no assurance that the exploration program will result in expanded mineral resources; risks and uncertainties inherent to mineral resource estimates; the impact the COVID 19 pandemic may have on the Company's activities (including without limitation on its employees and suppliers) and the economy in general; the impact of the recovery post COVID 19 pandemic and its impact on gold and other metals; the receipt of necessary approvals; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; future prices of mineral prices; accidents, labour disputes and shortages; environmental and other risks of the mining industry, including without limitation, risks and uncertainties discussed in the most recent Technical Report and in other continuous disclosure documents of the Company available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Although Troilus has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Troilus does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/152552 MADRID (dpa-AFX) - Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy S.A. (GCTAF.PK) said that a majority of its shareholders approved the delisting of its shares from Spanish stock exchanges, following a successful tender offer by German parent Siemens Energy AG (SMEGF.PK SMNEY.PK). The delisting of the Siemens Gamesa shares is now subject to authorization by the National Securities Market Commission and the settlement of all the purchase transactions. Siemens Energy said in May 2022 that it offered to buy remaining about 32.9 percent stake in Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy for 18.05 euros per share in cash. The company already owns about 67.1 percent stake in the Spanish-German wind turbine maker. The National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) authorized the offer in November 2022 and 77.88 percent of Siemens Gamesa's minority shareholders tendered their shares during the acceptance period, which closed on December 13, 2022. As a result, Siemens Energy's stake in Siemens Gamesa now increased to 92.72 percent. In December 23, 2022, Siemens Energy placed a standing purchase order at 18.05 euros to the remaining shares of Siemens Gamesa, which will be in force until the CNMV suspends its trading. At the Extraordinary General Meeting on Wednesday, Siemens Gamesa shareholders also approved all items on the agenda, including the amendment of the by-laws of the company in order to adapt them to the regulations for non-listed companies. Siemens Gamesa said it will reduce the number of members on the Board of Directors from ten to three. Board members Francisco Belil, Gloria Hernandez, Harald von Heynitz, Maria Ferraro, Rudolf Krammer and Mariel von Schumann, who submitted their resignations in December 2022, will leave Siemens Gamesa once the company is delisted. The company stated that Chairman Christian Bruch and CEO Jochen Eickholt will remain on the new board along with Anton Steiger, who serves as a non-executive proprietary director. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Not for distribution to United States news wire services or for dissemination in the United States VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 25, 2023 / Lucky Minerals Inc. (TSXV:LKY)(OTC PINK:LKMNF)(FRA:LKY) ("Lucky" or the "Company") announces a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of up to 12,500,000 units ("the Units") at a price of $0.056 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to approximately CDN $700,000. Investors in the Offering will include Mr. Michael Gentile, who will maintain his share position in the Company at 19.9% on a partially diluted basis. Each Unit of the Offering is comprised of one common share (a "Share") and one full three-year transferable common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one additional Share at a price of CDN $0.10 per Share, until the date that is 36 months from the closing (the "Closing") of the Offering. All the Shares and Warrants issued in connection to the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day from the date of issuance. The Company may pay finders' fees on a portion of the Offering in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to support the drill program at the Company's Fortuna Project in Ecuador and for general working capital purposes. Mr. Gentile's participation in the Private Placement constitutes a related party transaction under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying upon exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a), respectively, as neither the fair market value of the Units issued to related parties nor the consideration for such Units will exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company intends to file a material change report within the required time-frame, which will contain the prescribed disclosure relating to this related party transaction. The Offering is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Francois Perron" Chief Executive Officer About Lucky Lucky is an exploration and development company targeting large-scale mineral systems in proven districts with the potential to host world class deposits. Lucky owns a 100% interest in the Fortuna Property. The Company's Fortuna Project is comprised of twelve contiguous, 550 km2 (55,000 Hectares, or 136,000 Acres) exploration concessions. Fortuna is located in a highly prospective, yet underexplored, gold belt in southern Ecuador. Qualified Person Victor Jaramillo, M.Sc.A., P.Geo., Lucky's Exploration Manager and a qualified person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, is responsible for supervising the exploration program at the Fortuna Project for Lucky Minerals and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. Further information on Lucky can be found on the Company's website at www.luckyminerals.com and at www.sedar.com, or by contacting Francois Perron, President and CEO, by email at investors@luckyminerals.com or by telephone at (866) 924 6484. Or by contacting: Renmark Financial Communications Inc. Kerry Schacter kschacter@renmarkfinancial.com Tel: (416) 644-2020 or (514) 939-3989 www.renmarkfinancial.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Adjacent Properties and Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: uncertainties related to exploration and development; the ability to raise sufficient capital to fund exploration and development; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; increases in input costs; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological or operational difficulties or inability to obtain permits encountered in connection with exploration activities; and labor relations matters. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company's forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations also include risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will not update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements unless required by Canadian securities law. SOURCE: Lucky Minerals Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/736820/Lucky-Minerals-Announces-up-to-CDN-700000-Non-Brokered-Private-Placement TOKYO, Jan 26, 2023 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (hereafter, Mitsubishi Motors) announced that the all-new eK X EV (pronounced "eK 'cross' EV"), an all-electric kei-car(1),(2), has earned the Five Star Award, the highest rating, in the Vehicle Safety Performance 2022 car assessment by Japan New Car Assessment Program (JNCAP)(3).Mitsubishi Motors remains committed to its safety-oriented philosophy of achieving a mobility society with zero traffic accidents through continued efforts to develop and spread safety technology, and to spread knowledge about traffic safety.In order to make it easier for buyers to choose cars with better safety while also promoting the development of safe vehicles by automakers, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) and the National Agency for Automotive Safety & Victims' Aid (NASVA) perform various assessment tests each year for car safety performance mainly on high sales volume cars and publish the results. Only the cars that earn the highest evaluation (A rank) in both collision safety performance and preventive safety performance, and are equipped with an automatic accident emergency call system subsequently receive the Five Star Award, representing the highest assessment.Website of the NASVAwww.nasva.go.jp/mamoru/en/www.nasva.go.jp/mamoru/en/assessment_car/detail/249Collision safety performanceThe eK X EV comes standard equipped with driver and passenger SRS airbags, front seat-mounted side SRS airbags, and side curtain SRS airbags, as well as driver SRS knee airbag that cushion the driver's lower body to mitigate leg injuries while improving protective efficiency by holding the body in position. The seven airbags enhances collision safety performance.Preventive safety performanceActive safety technologies are standard equipped on all vehicles, combining nine advanced driver assist features including the Forward Collision Mitigation system (FCM) that alerts the driver and applies the brakes to assist in avoiding collisions or mitigating collision damage whenever it detects vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists ahead and determines a risk of collision, as well as Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) that alert the driver if the vehicle is about to drift from its lane and support in returning the vehicle by applying the brakes in a short period of time, and Emergency Assist for Pedal Misapplication (EAPM) that alerts the driver and applies the brakes to assist in avoiding collisions or mitigating collision damage whenever it detects obstacles ahead such as vehicles, pedestrians and walls, and the driver applies the wrong pedal.Automatic accident emergency call systemThe eK X EV is equipped with emergency call system (with automatic emergency notification feature when airbags deploy)(4) to connect with HELPNET operation center at the press of a button during a medical emergency or when seemingly in danger. Additionally, if an accident does occur, it automatically connects to a call center in conjunction with the deployment of the airbags and is also compatible with the D-Call Net system that makes early-stage decisions on mobilizing rescue services such as Doctor Helicopters, or air ambulance.Special website for eK X EV (in Japanese only):https://www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp/lineup/ek_x_ev/special/Product website for eK X EV (in Japanese only):https://www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp/lineup/ek_x_ev/index.htmlThe eK X EV is a new EV model in the eK X series(5), Mitsubishi Motors' kei-car series with an SUV flavor and a driving range of 180 kilometers (km, in WLTC mode)(6),(7) on a single charge that is sufficient for everyday use. It also combines spacious and pleasant cabin space and user-friendliness with the smooth, powerful driving experience of EVs, a quiet and comfortable ride, as well as advanced driver assistance systems and connectivity.(1) Kei-car is a vehicle category in Japan for microcars.(2) The eK X EV is a model designed under planning and development management by NMKV Co., Ltd., a joint venture of Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors. The results of the Nissan Sakura were used in this evaluation, while some of the evaluations were conducted using the eK X EV. The Nissan Sakura also received the Five Star Award.(3) JNCAP is a joint project by the MLIT and NASVA.(4) Installation of the smartphone application My MITSUBISHI CONNECT and user registration are required to use the service. Emergency call system is an emergency calling service (HELPNET) provided by Japan Mayday Service Co., Ltd. D-Call Net is a registered trademark of Emergency Medical Network of Helicopter and Hospital (HEM-Net), a certified non-profit organization. Doctor Helicopters might not be able to mobilize depending on circumstances such as location, time of day, or weather.(5) Lineup includes eK X, a height-wagon kei-car, and eK X space, a super height-wagon kei-car.(6) In Japan, approximately 80 percent of users of kei-cars and compact cars drive 50 km or less per day (Mitsubishi Motors' survey). Accordingly, it is estimated that most users can drive for two days without recharging.(7) WLTC, or Worldwide harmonized Light duty Test Cycle, is an internationally recognized test cycle that is composed of urban, suburban, and highway driving modes with average usage ratios.About Mitsubishi MotorsMitsubishi Motors Corporation (TSE:7211), a member of the Alliance with Renault and Nissan, is a global automobile company based in Tokyo, Japan, which has about 30,000 employees and a global footprint with production facilities in Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, mainland China, the Philippines, Viet Nam and Russia. Mitsubishi Motors has a competitive edge in SUVs, pickup trucks and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and appeals to ambitious drivers willing to challenge convention and embrace innovation. Since the production of our first vehicle more than a century ago, Mitsubishi Motors has been a leader in electrification -- launched the i-MiEV - the world's first mass-produced electric vehicle in 2009, followed by the Outlander PHEV - the world's first plug-in hybrid electric SUV in 2013. The company announced a three-year business plan in July 2020 to introduce more competitive and cutting-edge models, including the Eclipse Cross (PHEV model), the all-new Outlander and the all-new Triton/L200.For more information on Mitsubishi Motors, please visit the company's website at www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/Source: Mitsubishi MotorsCopyright 2023 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. GMO Research (TOKYO: 3695) conducted an overseas travel survey in the last quarter of 2022 to understand the differences in travel patterns between Europe, North America, and the APAC region. The survey was conducted within its panel networks with 3,000 respondents across six countries, America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Australia. GMO Research had previously conducted the same survey1 in October 2022 using the ASIA Cloud Panel2 targeted at 3,328 monitors in 10 Asian countries and regions. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230125005294/en/ Will Travel Industry Recover in 2023? International Travel Survey in EU/North America/APAC. (Graphic: Business Wire) Europe and the US remain popular destinations among respondents. The top three international countries that respondents from North America would most like to visit in the future were: Italy (10.5%), the United Kingdom (9%) and Australia and Japan (both tied at 6.8%).3 The US is a popular destination for Europeans and respondents in the APAC region. The Europeans polled also indicated their preference to travel to other countries within their region, mainly Spain (9.3%) and Italy (7.7%). This is similar to those surveyed in the APAC region, indicating their preference for regional travel, visiting Japan (20.3%) and South Korea (6.6%). (Chart 1) When looking at the reasons for each of the countries selecting the US as their chosen country to visit, the most common reasons included 'many tourist attractions (25.4%)', 'unique cultural experiences (13.5%)' and 'its own natural landscape (9.9%).' In comparison, respondents would like to visit Italy as it offered 'traditional food/drinks (29%)', 'unique cultural experiences (24.2%)', and 'historic buildings/sites (12.6%)'. A significant number of respondents chose Spain as their destination in the future for its 'beach resorts' (36.1%). (Chart 2) Frequency of travel In the coming year, the majority of respondents in North America (63.1%), Europe (69.4%) and APAC (56.9%) plan to travel overseas at least once. Specifically, 30-40% of respondents in the U.K., Germany, France and Canada plan to travel abroad twice or more, indicating a high willingness to travel (Chart 3). However, in comparison, most respondents in Japan (88.6%) and Indonesia (73.2%) have yet to make plans to travel overseas, suggesting that many in Asia remain cautious about international travel. Information sources on overseas travel When gathering information on overseas travel, 'web search' and 'word of mouth from friends/acquaintances' emerged as the most common sources across all countries. 'Travel blogs' and 'online travel agencies' were also frequently used. However, the use of 'SNS' (social media) as a source of information varies, with a significant number of respondents in Japan, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Germany and France citing it as a source, compared to the relatively low percentage of respondents in North America. About GMO Research, Inc. GMO Research Inc. offers an online audience engagement platform that gives access to a multi-country online panel network, the Cloud Panel. The Cloud Panel currently consists of over 52 million4 online consumer panellists across 16 APAC countries, and more than 45 partner countries. Our services range from full service, game research, project management, sample only, qualitative research, and translations, to DIY. To learn more about GMO Research, visit gmo-research.com. --------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Read more about the International Travel Survey in Asia here. 2 ASIA Cloud Panel is a consumer panel that is specialised for the Asian regions in the GMO Research Cloud Panel Internet research services. 3 Travel within North America (US/Canada) is excluded. 4 Data as of January 2023. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230125005294/en/ Contacts: GMO Research, Inc. Willy Tey APAC Sales willy.tey@gmo-research.jp Elliptic Labs (OSE: ELABS), a global AI software company and the world leader in AI Virtual Smart Sensors, has signed its first Chromebook proof of concept agreement with an existing PC/laptop customer. This agreement will cover the implementation of Elliptic Labs' AI Virtual Human Presence Sensor to provide human presence detection for potential use on the PC/laptop customer's future Chromebook laptops, tablets and PCs. Chromebooks run Google's ChromeOS as its operating system, instead of Microsoft Windows operating system. According to a Statista report from February 2022, Chromebooks were projected to make up 12.5% of all laptops shipped for the year. "Expanding our AI Virtual Human Presence Sensor into Chromebooks is a great opportunity for Elliptic Labs," said Laila Danielsen, CEO of Elliptic Labs. "Chromebooks make up a sizeable segment of the laptop market and this project demonstrates that the AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform is the natural choice for our PC customers for their complete product portfolio, from high-end devices to more cost effective, essential devices. We are excited to continue to execute on our mission to empower all devices to be greener, smarter, and more human friendly." AI Virtual Smart Sensor, AI Virtual Human Presence Sensor, and AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform are trademarks of Elliptic Labs. All other trademarks or service markets are the responsibility of their respective organizations. Elliptic Labs' AI Virtual Human Presence Sensor Elliptic Labs' AI Virtual Human Presence Sensor detects when a user is present in front of a PC/laptop system. This allows the device to sleep when a user is absent, conserving battery life and electricity, and safeguarding it from unpermitted access. Human presence detection is becoming a core capability in the PC/laptop industry, but it is currently featured only in high-end devices due to the cost, risk, and design limitations associated with a dedicated hardware presence sensor. Elliptic Labs' software-only AI Virtual Human Presence Sensor delivers robust human-presence detection that allows OEMs to easily and affordably incorporate human presence detection across a wide range of devices. About Elliptic Labs Elliptic Labs is a global enterprise targeting the smartphone, laptop, IoT, and automotive markets. Founded in 2006 as a research spin-off from Norway's Oslo University, the company's patented software uses AI, ultrasound and sensor fusion to deliver intuitive 3D gesture, proximity-, presence-, breathing- and heartbeat-detection experiences. Its scalable AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform creates software-only sensors that are sustainable, human-friendly and already deployed in hundreds of millions of devices around the world. Elliptic Labs is the only software company that has delivered detection capabilities using AI software, ultrasound, and sensor fusion deployed at scale. The company joined the Oslo Brs main listing in March 2022. Elliptic Labs is headquartered in Norway with presence in the USA, China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. Its technology and IP are developed in Norway and are solely owned by the company. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230125005228/en/ Contacts: PR Contacts: Patrick Tsui pr@ellipticlabs.com Investor Relations: Lars Holmy Lars.Holmoy@ellipticlabs.com Nokia Corporation Stock Exchange Release 26 January 2023 at 8:05 EET Proposals of the Board to Nokia's Annual General Meeting 2023 - proposed that the Board be authorized to distribute an aggregate maximum of EUR 0.12 per share and that Timo Ahopelto and Elizabeth Crain be elected as new Board members Nokia Corporation's Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 4 April 2023 at 13:00 (EEST) at Messukeskus Siipi Conference Centre, Rautatielaisenkatu 3, Helsinki, Finland. The Board submits the following proposals to the Annual General Meeting. Complete proposals are available as of today at www.nokia.com/agm. The notice of the Annual General Meeting with more detailed information on the participation and voting will be published separately at a later date on the company's website and by a stock exchange release. Authorization of the Board of Directors to decide on the distribution of dividend and assets from the reserve for investedunrestrictedequity The Board proposes to the Annual General Meeting to be authorized to decide in its discretion on the distribution of an aggregate maximum of EUR 0.12 per share as dividend from the retained earnings and/or as assets from the reserve for invested unrestricted equity. The authorization will be used to distribute dividend and/or assets from the reserve for invested unrestricted equity in four installments during the period of validity of the authorization unless the Board of Directors decides otherwise for a justified reason. The proposed total authorization for asset distribution is in line with the Company's dividend policy. The authorization would be valid until the opening of the next Annual General Meeting. The Board would make separate resolutions on the amount and timing of each distribution of the dividend and/or assets from the reserve for invested unrestricted equity so that the preliminary record and payment dates will be as set out below. Nokia shall make a separate announcement of each such Board resolution. Preliminary record date Preliminary payment date 25 April 2023 4 May 2023 25 July 2023 3 August 2023 24 October 2023 2 November 2023 30 January 2024 8 February 2024 Each installment based on the resolution of the Board of Directors will be paid to a shareholder registered in the Company's shareholders' register maintained by Euroclear Finland Ltd on the record date of the relevant installment. Board composition and remuneration Bruce Brown and Edward Kozel have informed the Board's Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee that they will no longer be available to serve on the Nokia Board of Directors after the Annual General Meeting. The Board proposes, on the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee, that the number of Board members be ten (10). However, should any number of the candidates proposed by the Board not be able to attend the Board, the proposed number of Board members shall be decreased accordingly. On the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee, the Board of Directors further proposes that the following current Board members be re-elected as members of the Nokia Board of Directors for a term ending at the close of the next Annual General Meeting: Sari Baldauf, Thomas Dannenfeldt, Lisa Hook, Jeanette Horan, Thomas Saueressig, Sren Skou, Carla Smits-Nusteling and Kai Oistamo. In addition, it is proposed that Timo Ahopelto, entrepreneur and Founding Partner of Lifeline Ventures, a venture capital firm; and Elizabeth Crain, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Moelis & Company, a global investment bank, be elected as new members of the Board of Directors for a term until the close of the next Annual General Meeting. Resumes of the Board candidates are presented in the Board's proposal available as of today at www.nokia.com/agm. The Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee will propose in the assembly meeting of the new Board of Directors on 4 April 2023 that Sari Baldauf be re-elected as Chair of the Board and Sren Skou be re-elected as Vice Chair of the Board, subject to their election to the Board of Directors. To ensure the competitiveness of the Board remuneration and reflecting the fee development in Nokia's global peer group, the Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee has resolved to recommend to the Board that the annual fees of Board members, save for the Chair of the Board, would be proposed to be increased by EUR 15 000. Other remuneration payable to the Board members would remain at an unchanged level. Consequently, on the recommendation of the Board's Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee, and in line with the Company's Remuneration Policy, the Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting that the annual fees payable for a term ending at the close of the next Annual General Meeting be as follows: EUR 440 000 for the Chair of the Board; EUR 210 000 for the Vice Chair of the Board; EUR 185 000 for each member of the Board; EUR 30 000 each for the Chairs of the Audit Committee and the Personnel Committee and EUR 20 000 for the Chair of the Technology Committee as an additional annual fee; and EUR 15 000 for each member of the Audit Committee and Personnel Committee and EUR 10 000 for each member of the Technology Committee as an additional annual fee. The Board proposes that in line with the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines, approximately 40% of the annual fee be paid in Nokia shares either purchased from the market on behalf of the Board members or alternatively delivered as treasury shares held by the Company as soon as practicable after the Annual General Meeting. The rest of the annual fee would be paid in cash to cover taxes arising from the remuneration. In addition, the Board of Directors proposes that the meeting fees for Board and Board Committee meetings paid to all Board members remain at the current level. The meeting fees are based on potential travel required between the Board member's home location and the location of a meeting and paid for a maximum of seven meetings per term as follows: EUR 5 000 per meeting requiring intercontinental travel; and EUR 2 000 per meeting requiring continental travel. Only one meeting fee is paid if the travel entitling to the fee includes several meetings of the Board and the Board Committees. Moreover, it is proposed that members of the Board of Directors shall be compensated for travel and accommodation expenses as well as other costs directly related to Board and Board Committee work. The meeting fees, travel expenses and other expenses would be paid in cash. Auditor election and remuneration On the recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting that Deloitte Oy be re-elected as the auditor of the Company for the financial year 2024. It is also proposed that the elected auditor for the financial year 2024 be reimbursed based on the invoice of the auditor and in compliance with the purchase policy approved by the Audit Committee. Authorization to the Board to issue shares and repurchaseCompany'sshares The Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorize the Board to resolve to issue in total a maximum of 550 million shares through issuance of shares or special rights entitling to shares under Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Finnish Limited Liability Companies Act in one or more issues during the effective period of the authorization. The Board may issue either new shares or treasury shares held by the Company. Shares and special rights entitling to shares may be issued in deviation from the shareholders' pre-emptive rights within the limits set by law. The authorization may be used to develop the Company's capital structure, diversify the shareholder base, finance or carry out acquisitions or other arrangements, to settle the Company's equity-based incentive plans or for other purposes resolved by the Board. It is proposed that the authorization be effective until 3 October 2024 and terminate the authorization for issuance of shares and special rights entitling to shares resolved at the Annual General Meeting on 5 April 2022. The Board also proposes that the Board be authorized to resolve to repurchase a maximum of 550 million shares. The repurchases would reduce distributable funds of the Company. The shares may be repurchased otherwise than in proportion to the shares held by the shareholders (directed repurchase). Shares may be repurchased to be cancelled, held to be reissued, transferred further or for other purposes resolved by the Board. It is proposed that the authorization be effective until 3 October 2024 and terminate the authorization for repurchasing the Company's shares granted by the Annual General Meeting on 5 April 2022 to the extent that the Board has not previously resolved to repurchase shares based on such authorization. 550 million shares correspond to less than 10 percent of the Company's total number of shares. The Board shall resolve on all other matters related to the issuance or repurchase of Nokia shares in accordance with the resolution by the Annual General Meeting. Othermatters to beaddressed by the Annual General Meeting Furthermore, the Annual General Meeting would address adopting the Company's financial statements for the financial year 2022, discharging the members of the Board of Directors and the President and Chief Executive Officer from liability for the financial year 2022 and adopting, in an advisory vote, the Remuneration Report for the Company's governing bodies. The Remuneration Report for 2022 as well as the "Nokia in 2022" annual report, which includes the Company's Annual Accounts, the review by the Board of Directors and the auditor's report, are expected to be published and available at www.nokia.com/agm in week 9 of 2023. The Remuneration Report for 2022 will also be published by a stock exchange release. About Nokia At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. As a trusted partner for critical networks, we are committed to innovation and technology leadership across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. We create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs. Adhering to high standards of integrity and security, we help build the capabilities needed for a more productive, sustainable and inclusive world. Inquiries: Nokia Communications Phone: +358 10 448 4900 Email: press.services@nokia.com Maria Vaismaa, Global Head of Public Relations Nokia Investor Relations Phone: +358 40 803 4080 Email: investor.relations@nokia.com Deal aims to fast track up to 500MW of electricity capacity via Powerships Moldova , Romania are most likely locations for vessels to feed into Ukraine's grid LONDON, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Karpowership has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with state-owned trader JSC Energy Company of Ukraine (ECU) to enhance electricity supply cooperation and to fast track the use of floating power stations to alleviate the nation's energy crisis. Karpowership, which provides reliable and flexible floating electricity solutions across 13 countries, and ECU -- a purchaser, seller and supplier of energy resources -- will work alongside national and international organizations to develop and finance the implementation of 500 MW, enough to power over 1 million households. Among the options being considered are for floating power stations, known as Powerships, to be moored offshore Moldova and Romania, with electricity connecting to Ukraine's grid via transmission lines. As a result, Karpowership and ECU will engage Moldovan and Romanian authorities to assess the viability of these two options. 'Karpowership is delighted to work with ECU to ease Ukraine's power crisis,' said Zeynep Harezi, Karpowership's Chief Commercial Officer. 'Powerships are a fast, reliable, and flexible solution to the nation's electricity shortages, and we are ready to support Ukraine in getting the energy it needs as soon as possible.' Both parties have agreed to hold regular meetings to jointly develop and implement the project and work together to secure the necessary permissions and approvals to collaborate with third parties, including international organizations, to achieve this. 'Ukraine's energy system has suffered 12 massive Russian attacks, resulting in damage to its power generation infrastructure and electricity shortages. While the war continues, building new power units to recover lost or damaged generation capacity is not a feasible option and we need to look for innovative solutions to the current crisis,' said ECU Chief Executive Officer Vitaly Butenko. 'Karpowership technology allows for rapid deployment of new power generation capacity which will be transferred to the Ukrainian grid. We believe this can create a regional paradigm shift for solving Ukraine's energy crisis while the nation's infrastructure is being subjected to Russian attacks,' Butenko added. Karpowership already operates across Africa, in New Caledonia and Brazil and has been in talks with several European countries to supply as much as 2 GW of electricity via Powerships to help ease the region's energy crisis. Its fleet of 36 Powerships connects directly to a country's electricity grid, leveraging existing infrastructure, and can do so in less than 30 days. Powerships are cheaper, quicker, and more flexible than land-based power facilities and leave a minimal environmental footprint when decommissioned. They are simply unplugged and re-deployed wherever they are most needed. Karpowership's vessels are multi-fuel enabled, operating on either liquefied natural gas, low sulphur fuel oil or biodiesel. Because Powerships are delivered with all the infrastructure they need, there is also minimal disruption to local communities onshore. For more information on Karpowership and its fleet of floating power solutions, visit https://karpowership.com/en/. Media Contact: karpowership@actumllc.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1989974/KPS_ECU_MOU.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/karpowership-and-ukraine-sign-energy-cooperation-mou-to-ease-power-crisis-301730926.html PARIS (dpa-AFX) - Getlink SE or Groupe Eurotunnel (GRPTY), a manager and operator of infrastructure of the Channel Tunnel between England and France, on Thursday reported a surge in revenue for the fourth-quarter and fiscal 2022, supported by the performance of Eurotunnel and Europorte. For the final quarter, the Paris-headquartered firm reported revenue of 562.7 million euros, compared with restated 223.3 million euros of last year quarter. Revenue from Eurotunnel was at 248.4 million euros as against restated 191.1 million euros, recorded a year ago. Revenue from Europorte moved up to 36.4 million euros from previous year's restated 32.2 million euros. For the full-year, the European public firm registered revenue of 1.606 billion euros, higher than restated 774 million euros of last year. Eurotunnel's full-year revenue stood at 1.049 billion euros, versus restated 644 million euros of previous year. Revenue from Europorte was at 137 million euros, compared with restated 130 million euros of 2021. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. HIGH VIEW secures long-term satellite capacity at SES's prime TV neighborhood to launch four free-to-air music TV channels in February German music fans will be able to enjoy a new selection of music TV channels as HIGH VIEW, an independent Munich-based media company, and SES has expanded their long-term partnership. Under the new multi-year agreement, HIGH VIEW will be leasing additional satellite capacity on SES's prime TV neighborhood at ASTRA 19.2 degrees East to broadcast four free-to-air SD channels. Starting 1 February, HIGH VIEW will further grow their established DELUXE MUSIC brand and broadcast DELUXE DANCE by Kontor, DELUXE FLASHBACK, DELUXE ROCK, and DELUXE RAP. "The launch of the four new free-to-air music channels marks an important milestone in expanding HIGH VIEW's music offerings to address the diverse musical tastes of our German audience. With the wide reach satellites can offer, SES and their ASTRA satellites are an essential and reliable partner for building our DELUXE MUSIC brand and making sure we continue to deliver new content to our loyal viewers and listeners," said Ulrike Unseld, responsible for sales and the music portfolio at HIGH VIEW. "We are delighted to expand our partnership with HIGH VIEW with another multi-year contract to carry their new free-to-air suite of channels on our satellites," said Christoph Muhleib, Managing Director of SES Germany. "Without a doubt, DELUXE MUSIC is one of the most popular and iconic music brands in Germany. With their four new channels, HIGH VIEW can leverage the 17 million TV household reach of our ASTRA satellites at 19.2 degrees East to ensure their diverse and entertaining musical content is enjoyed by the widest audience possible." Follow us on: Twitter Facebook YouTube LinkedIn Instagram Read our Blogs Visit the Media Gallery > About SES SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless connectivity around the world. As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES operates the world's only multi-orbit constellation of satellites with the unique combination of global coverage and high performance, including the commercially-proven, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit O3b system. By leveraging a vast and intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES is able to deliver high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to the world's leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SES's video network carries ~8,000 channels and has an unparalleled reach of 366 million households, delivering managed media services for both linear and non-linear content. The company is listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230125005880/en/ Contacts: For further information please contact: Suzanne Ong External Communications Tel. +352 710 725 500 suzanne.ong@ses.com MADRID, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- During FITUR 2023 Colombia's business forecast amounted to US $15,647,570 -- an 85% increase compared to the previous edition. Under the leadership of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Tourism -- and supported by ProColombia -- Colombia participated with a delegation of 38 companies, operators, regional promotion entities, and an airline. Colombian companies held 578 meetings with business representatives from 48 countries including Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, Mexico, and Italy during the days aimed at professional audiences (January 18-20). In addition, 90% of the delegation confirmed to have found potential business opportunities. Arriving at the international fair with the slogan "Colombia: World Power for Life," country representatives served an average of 950 cups of coffee per day at the bar hosted by the National Federation of Coffee Growers. Over the weekend hundreds of visitors came to the Colombia stand to enjoy its cultural displays, which included vallenato performances by Jorge Antonio Onate, folkloric dances performed by the Macondo Native Cultural Association, dances by Bailable Cali, and the typical culinary tastings hosted by the legendary restaurant Patacon Pisao. While in Madrid, the Colombian delegation met with several key players, including the Institute of Foreign Trade, the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, and the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations. Likewise, meetings were held with various international organizations, including the World Tourism Organization and the Development Bank of Latin America. In fact, strategic meetings were even held with representatives from Costa Rica, Mexico, Venezuela, and Guatemala, as well as several media outlets. Vice Minister of Tourism Arturo Bravo highlighted that "FITUR has become one of the most important platforms for tourism business in Latin America, and Colombia is positioned among the region's most attractive countries, due to its natural and cultural diversity." Bravo added that throughout the five days of the fair, "we showcased what Colombia has to offer to travelers-including new peace destinations. We also participated in several international events in which we had the opportunity to share how tourism is beginning to contribute to lasting peace and environmental regeneration. Our new management model is attractive to other countries because it is carried out in harmony with its natural surroundings." ProColombia President Carmen Caballero affirmed, "FITUR has been key in generating business in the Colombian tourism sector. The results from the fair prove it. I also want to highlight the back-to-back schedule we have had throughout the fair, meeting with the international tourism scene's key players-from both the public and private sectors-who are helping us position ourselves as a sustainable and biodiverse destination that supports its communities." During the fair, the Illustrated Manual for Magdalena River Tour Guides was also launched. In addition, a kitesurfing guide was released so that travelers, amateurs, and professionals can learn about various destinations across Colombia where they can practice this sport. Additionally, four new tourism routes specialized in handicrafts, led by Artesanias de Colombia, were presented. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1989995/ProColombia.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/colombias-business-forecast-at-fitur-surpasses-us-15-6-million----85-higher-than-the-previous-edition-301730977.html More funding, political will and collaboration needed to continue the fight against neglected tropical diseases Simple treatments can protect people from Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), which, if left untreated, lead to disabilities, including blindness and disfiguration. Christian Blind Mission (CBM) recently celebrated the milestone of the 600 millionth dose of medicines to protect communities from NTDs. Ten-year-old Surayya in Nigeria was the recipient of this historic dose and is now protected. But more needs to be done: On the occasion of the World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day (30 January), CBM reaffirms its commitment to stay the course and calls on partners to join them in the fight against NTDs. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005499/en/ Surayya was the recipient of the 600 millionth dose against NTDs administered by CBM with their partners. The administration of the dose took place at a celebration event in Jigawa, Nigeria. Nigeria was chosen as the location of this event, since 200 of the 600 million doses have been administered in the country. (Photo: CBM) Surayya is ten years old and lives in Jigawa State, Nigeria, with her parents and her younger brother. Nigeria is endemic for lymphatic filariasis, also known as LF, putting millions of people at risk for the disease. LF is one of the 20 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). It is particularly widespread in tropical regions around the world. Transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito, it often severely disfigures those affected. Symptoms include abnormally enlarged body parts, more commonly known as Elephentiasis". These deformities are not only frightening and painful, they often lead to exclusion and poverty. Medicines and more Surayya has always lived with the danger of being affected by LF. But that does not have to be the case: because preventive medication can protect her, her family, and friends. That is why CBM has been distributing donated tablets against this and other NTDs for decades. They act like a strong shield and, when administered regularly, protect people from these diseases. Surayya received Mectizan (donated by Merck Co. Inc., Rahway, NJ) and albendazole (donated by GSK) to protect her against LF. Besides the preventive drug distributions, CBM's partners support community members with NTD morbidities through physiotherapy and hygiene measures. This alleviates their pain. Partners also raise awareness at the community-level so that those affected are no longer stigmatised. CBM trains health workers and ensures that community members have access to clean water and sanitary facilities all of which helps in the fight against neglected tropical diseases. In Nigeria, CBM has been involved in the comprehensive fight against NTDs for more than 45 years. CBM needs your support in the fight against NTDs What is still missing is more investments in the fight against NTDs. 1.7 billion people worldwide are threatened by these diseases and urgently need our support, just like Surayya. About CBM Christian Blind Mission (CBM) is one of the leading international organisations for inclusive development cooperation. It supports people with disabilities in the poorest countries of the world and has been doing so for more than 110 years. Together with its local partners, it ensures that the lives of people with disabilities are fundamentally and permanently improved. It provides medical aid and advocates for equal participation in society. The goal is an inclusive world in which people with and without disabilities can contribute their abilities and no one is left behind. Last year, CBM supported 492 projects in 46 countries. More at www.cbm.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005499/en/ Contacts: CBM Christoffel-Blindenmission Christian Blind Mission e.V. Team PR Tel.: +49 (62 51) 1 31 1 90 Fax: +49 (62 51) 1 31 1 99 E-Mail: presse@cbm.org www.cbm.org RABAT, Morocco, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Vice President of Saudi Arabia's State Security, Abdullah Fahad Salih Al-Owais, was received on Tuesday in Rabat by the Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance of Morocco, Abdellatif Hammouchi, on a working visit to Morocco leading an important security delegation. This was reported by the website barlamane.com. The Saudi delegation included the head of the Directorate General for Countering Extremism and the head of the Directorate General for Conventions and International Cooperation, as well as experts and Saudi state security officials, according to a statement from Morocco's Directorate General for Territorial Surveillance (DGST). This visit, which reflected the cooperative relations in the field of intelligence and security coordination between the DGST and the Presidency of Saudi State Security, highlighted the common desire of both sides to consolidate this bilateral cooperation in the service of the security and safety of their citizens, the same source added. At the end of the visit, Hammouchi and Salih Al-Owais signed a cooperation agreement between the DGST and the Presidency of Saudi State Security in the field of counterterrorism. The agreement covers the organisation and development of security cooperation and coordination in various areas related to combating terrorism and terrorist financing operations, the website reported. The DGST and the Presidency of Saudi State Security intend to develop their security and intelligence relations, to coordinate efforts in the fight against terrorism and extremism, with the aim of depriving terrorist organisations of any support base, recruitment ground and financial resources, the statement concluded. For more information: LaPresse SpA Communication and Press Office Director Barbara Sanicola - barbara.sanicola@lapresse.it A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2a41d4e7-ea1e-441e-a606-6c962777ee94 The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress. Live event at Prague Congress Centre May 9-11-a true peer-to-peer conference with invaluable networking time to connect, collaborate, and engage with the N-able team and fellow MSPs N-able, Inc. (NYSE: NABL), a global software company helping IT services providers deliver remote monitoring and management, data protection as-a-service, and security solutions, today announced the full line-up for its Empower conference at Prague Congress Centre, May 9-11. The agenda includes three days of networking and learning opportunities, 30+ hours of educational content, an expert cybersecurity keynote speaker, and four programming tracks-all geared towards helping MSPs scale and grow their business. The spring event will continue the focus on helping attendees "Own the Cloud." The massive increase in remote work and expanding software-as-as-service (SaaS) business models have turned the cloud into an opportunity for many MSPs. Empower will give N-able partners the chance to attend educational sessions to learn how to introduce, elevate, secure, and manage their cloud journey. "It's the platinum standard," says Ted Clouser, President and CEO of PCA Technology Solutions. "When we come to Empower, we have that accessibility to leadership, we get taught some good things and we interact with our other MSPs across the globe. I have a peer group, it just unofficially formed through Empower." In addition to N-able executives, who will be taking the main stage to provide key insights on the N-able business, roadmap, and partner initiatives, the conference will feature Keren Elazari, a former hacker turned internationally recognized cybersecurity expert, analyst, and author with more than 20 years of experience in the field. Elazari covers emerging security technologies and trends as an independent strategic advisor working with leading technology providers, government agencies, innovative start-ups, and Fortune 500 companies. In 2014, Elazari became the first Israeli woman to speak at the prestigious TED Conference and her talk at the event has been viewed by millions, translated into 30 languages, and chosen for TED's "Most Powerful Ideas "Coming off the insights, engagements, and success of Empower in Las Vegas, we are looking forward to continuing the conversation around 'Own the Cloud' in Prague," said David Weeks, VP of partner experience, N-able. "This event will have tons of content that can help boost your team's technical, business, sales, and marketing prowess and we've designed our sessions so that every MSP owner or employee walks away with knowledge that can help them improve. In essence, we are here to listen and learn from each other. From all of us here at N-able, we cannot wait to see you in May." About N-able N-able fuels IT services providers with powerful software solutions to monitor, manage, and secure their customers' systems, data, and networks. Built on a scalable platform, we offer secure infrastructure and tools to simplify complex ecosystems, as well as resources to navigate evolving IT needs. We help partners excel at every stage of growth, protect their customers, and expand their offerings with an ever-increasing, flexible portfolio of integrations from leading technology providers. n-able.com 2023 N-able Solutions ULC and N-able Technologies Ltd. All rights reserved. The N-able trademarks, service marks, and logos are the exclusive property of N-able Solutions ULC and N-able Technologies Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Category: Company View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005200/en/ Contacts: Karla Walls Karla.walls@n-able.com Carson City, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - January 26, 2023) - ACME Lithium Inc. (CSE: ACME) (OTCQX: ACLHF) (the "Company", or "ACME") and ASTERRA, an Israel-based satellite technology company are pleased to jointly announce that they have signed a teaming agreement, to utilize ASTERRA's Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data analytics, patented algorithms and artificial intelligence, ("ASTERRA Technology") to identify lithium specific targets. ACME Lithium is the first in the United States to use ASTERRA's technology. Further to the news release dated January 19, 2023, the recent geological field review and sampling program at Fish Lake Valley, Nevada resulted in the highest surface lithium values to date with up to 1325 ppm lithium. As a pilot project, identification of this particular high grade lithium target utilized ASTERRA's satellite-based technology. The use of ASTERRA's technology produced approximately double the likely locations of lithium above 100 parts per million (ppm) over traditional methods of geochemistry exploration. These values were located at coordinates pinpointed by ASTERRA 's satellite technology, with the results confirmed by an independent lab. "This collaboration and initial case study with technology leader ASTERRA confirms historical and new lithium occurrences on the property and that certain areas are enriched in lithium. We are excited to move forward with ongoing work at multiple projects," added Steve Hanson, President and CEO of ACME Lithium. "The use of ASTERRA technology in collaboration with ACME Lithium drives an unprecedented efficiency in the high-cost activity of identifying lithium showings and potential deposits," said Elly Perets, Chief Executive Officer of ASTERRA. ASTERRA's complex artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms extract the signal of lithium concentration underground from satellite-based PolSAR data and can potentially pinpoint locations containing various grades of lithium. This technology could give ACME a way to find targeted locations of lithium while potentially reducing exploration time and costs. ACME and ASTERRA are currently evaluating a second project utilizing this new ground breaking technology. William Feyerabend, Certified Professional Geologist is a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 and has supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release. About ASTERRA ASTERRA (formerly Utilis) provides geospatial data-driven platform solutions for water utilities, government agencies, and the greater infrastructure industry in the areas of roads, rails, dams, and mines. ASTERRA services use Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PolSAR) data from satellites and turn this data into large-scale decision support tools. The company's proprietary algorithms, scientists, and engineers are the keys to their mission, to become humanity's eyes on the Earth. ASTERRA is investing in artificial intelligence (AI) to bring its products to the next level. Since 2017, ASTERRA technology has been used in over 64 countries, saving over 276,000 million gallons of potable water, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 176,640 metric tons, and saving 690,000 MWH of energy, all in support of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. ASTERRA is headquartered in Israel with offices in the United States, United Kingdom, and Japan. About ACME Lithium Inc. Led by an experienced team, ACME Lithium is a mineral exploration Company focused on acquiring, exploring, and developing battery metal projects in partnership with leading technology and commodity companies. ACME has acquired or is under option to acquire a 100-per-cent interest in projects located in Clayton Valley and Fish Lake Valley, Esmeralda County Nevada, at Shatford, Birse, and Cat-Euclid Lakes in southeastern Manitoba, and at Bailey Lake in northern Saskatchewan. On behalf of the Board of Directors Steve Hanson Chief Executive Officer, President and Director Telephone: (604) 564-9045 info@acmelithium.com Neither the CSE nor its regulations service providers accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Forward-Looking Statement This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur and in this news release include but are not limited to the attributes of, timing for and expected benefits to be derived from exploration, drilling or development at ACME's project properties. Information inferred from the interpretation of drilling, sampling and other technical results may also be deemed to be forward-looking statements, as it constitutes a prediction of what might be found to be present when and if a project is actually developed. ACME's project location adjacent to or nearby lithium projects does not guarantee exploration success or that mineral resources or reserves will be defined on ACME's properties. Exploration, development, and activities conducted by regional companies provide assistance and additional data for exploration work being completed by ACME. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to fluctuations in metal prices; uncertainties related to raising sufficient financing to fund the planned work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; changes in planned work resulting from weather, logistical, technical or other factors; the possibility that results of work will not fulfill expectations and realize the perceived potential of the Company's properties; risk of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in the work program; the risk of environmental contamination or damage resulting from the Company's operations and other risks and uncertainties. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/152540 The Kingston, Ontario, RapidSX Demonstration Plant ("Demo Plant") commissioning process is underway, once commissioned the plant is designed to demonstrate: the techno-economic advantages of the RapidSX technology platform processing tens of tonnes of heavy and light mixed rare earth element concentrates running thousands of semi-continuous run-time hours producing high-purity NdPr, praseodymium, neodymium, terbium, and dysprosium rare earth elements for early OEM product qualification trials Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 26, 2023) - Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSXV: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) ("Ucore" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the commissioning process for its RapidSX Demonstration Plant ("Demo Plant") for the separation of heavy and light rare earth elements ("REEs"). The Demo Plant is located within Ucore's 5,000 square foot RapidSX Commercialization and Demonstration Facility ("CDF") in Kingston, Ontario, and is run by its laboratory partner, Kingston Process Metallurgy Inc. ("KPM"). Figure 1 - Close-up Partial Views of Ucore's RapidSX REE Separation Demo Plant in Kingston, Ontario To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1119/152581_ucorefig1.jpg. Commissioning of the Demo Plant is underway. Once commissioned, the Demo Plant is designed to demonstrate the techno-economic advantages, scale-up, and commercial durability of the RapidSX technology platform by processing tens of tonnes of North American-friendly sources of mixed rare earth chemical concentrates in a simulated production environment. The planned output products are high-purity NdPr, praseodymium, neodymium, terbium, and dysprosium REEs, to be incorporated into the early stages of original equipment manufacturers' ("OEM") qualification trials. Simultaneously, Ucore, its engineering partner, Mech-Chem Associates, Inc. ("Mech-Chem"), and KPM are developing the full-scale engineering for the Company's first Strategic Metals Complex ("SMC"). The SMC is a planned REE separation and rare earth oxide production plant slated to commence construction in the US State of Louisiana this year. It is scheduled to initially process 2,000 tonnes of total rare earth oxides ("TREO") by the end of 2024, increasing to 5,000 tonnes in 2026. "We are extremely pleased with the work at the CDF in concert with our partners, KPM, Mech-Chem, and a host of other supporting contractors and vendors. As we work toward near-term commercial deployment of the RapidSX rare earth element separation technology in North America," stated Mike Schrider, P.E., Ucore's VP and COO. "Implementing the Demo Plant commissioning process is a huge milestone for the team, and this is scheduled to be followed by a series of heavy and light rare earth element process demonstrations separating tens of tonnes of mixed rare earth concentrates over thousands of hours of facility run-time." # # # About Ucore Rare Metals Inc. Ucore is focused on rare- and critical-metal resources, extraction, beneficiation, and separation technologies with the potential for production, growth, and scalability. Ucore has an effective 100% ownership stake in the Bokan-Dotson Ridge Rare Earth Element Project in Southeast Alaska, USA. Ucore's vision and plan is to become a leading advanced technology company, providing best-in-class metal separation products and services to the mining and mineral extraction industry. Through strategic partnerships, this plan includes disrupting the People's Republic of China's control of the North American REE supply chain through the near-term development of a heavy and light rare-earth processing facility in the US State of Louisiana, subsequent SMCs in Alaska and Canada and the longer-term development of Ucore's heavy-rare-earth-element mineral-resource property at Bokan Mountain on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska. Ucore is listed on the TSXV under the trading symbol "UCU" and in the United States on the OTC Markets' OTCQX Best Market under the ticker symbol "UURAF." For further information, please visit www.ucore.com/corporateupdate. About RapidSX Technology Innovation Metals Corp. ("IMC") developed the RapidSX separation technology platform with early-stage assistance from the United States Department of Defense ("US DoD"), later resulting in the production of commercial-grade, separated rare-earth elements at the pilot scale. RapidSX combines the time-proven chemistry of conventional solvent extraction ("SX") with a new column-based platform, which significantly reduces time to completion and plant footprint, as well as potentially lowering capital and operating costs. SX is the international rare-earth element ("REE") industry's standard commercial separation technology and is currently used by 100% of all REE producers worldwide for bulk commercial separation of both heavy and light REEs. Utilizing similar chemistry to conventional SX, RapidSX is not a "new" technology but represents a significant improvement on the well-established, well-understood, proven conventional SX separation technology preferred by REE producers. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements." All statements in this release (other than statements of historical facts) that address future business development, technological development and/or acquisition activities (including any related required financings), timelines, events, or developments that the Company is pursuing are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance or results, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Regarding the disclosure in the press release above, including in the "About Ucore Rare Metals Inc." section, the Company has assumed that it will be able to procure or retain additional partners and/or suppliers, in addition to Innovation Metals Corp. ("IMC"), as suppliers for Ucore's expected future Strategic Metals Complexes ("SMCs"). Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be found to complete the Demo Plant commissioning and demonstration schedule and also later prepare a new National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") technical report that demonstrates that the Bokan Mountain Rare Earth Element project ("Bokan") is feasible and economically viable for the production of both REE and co-product metals and the then prevailing market prices based upon assumed customer offtake agreements. Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be secured to continue the development of the specific engineering plans for the SMCs and their construction. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, without limitation: IMC failing to protect its intellectual property rights in RapidSX; RapidSX failing to demonstrate commercial viability in large commercial-scale applications; Ucore not being able to procure additional key partners or suppliers for the SMCs; Ucore not being able to raise sufficient funds to fund the specific design and construction of the SMCs and/or the continued development of RapidSX; adverse capital-market conditions; unexpected due-diligence findings; the emergence of alternative superior metallurgy and metal-separation technologies; the inability of Ucore and/or IMC to retain its key staff members; a change in the legislation in Louisiana or Alaska and/or in the support expressed by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority ("AIDEA") regarding the development of Bokan; the availability and procurement of any required interim and/or long-term financing that may be required; and general economic, market or business conditions. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined by the TSXV) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CONTACT Mark MacDonald Vice President, Investor Relations Ucore Rare Metals Inc. 1.902.482.5214 mark@ucore.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/152581 Denver, Colorado--(Newsfile Corp. - January 26, 2023) - CBD of Denver, Inc. (OTC Pink: CBDD), a full-line CBD and Hemp oil company ("CBDD") and a producer, distributor of Cannabis and CBD products in Switzerland, Europe and US provides information on Berlin R13, Libra 9 GMBH, The Magic Lappen and its founder Axel Reinke. Axel Reinke has been a successful inventor and entrepreneur most of his life. His talent is taking an idea from concept to a viable retail product. What makes him special is his ability to research competition, and being able to implement and take a product to market through his extensive retail network throughout Germany. In 2017, Axel bought My Towel AG, a disinfectant towel which can be use on any surface. During the Covid pandemic the product was very successful and Axel sold over a million My Towels. Berlin R13 is a commercial Nanotechnology based anti-slip preparation which when applied on a wet slippery surface renders it safe to walk on. There are approximately 20,000 deaths each year from bathtub slips in Germany alone. Axel worked with the Ministry of Health to have the product acknowledged by Health Insurance Companies to allow them to pay for the applications for their customers. Berlin R13 has also been sold and used by many 5 Star Hotels and public swimming pools throughout Germany and France. This product has applications throughout the commercial market. CBDD's plan is to market the product in Switzerland and the rest of Europe Libra 9 owns the rights to The Magic Lappen which is a household consumer product that utilizes a proprietary formulation to clean any glass or shiny surfaces with ease. The product is a towel and when water is applied will clean any glass, mirrored or high-gloss surface. CBDD is considering branding The Magic Lappen separately for use in the automotive industry. It is currently a product for home use on glass, mirrors and high gloss surfaces. It will also be a product for marine and boat applications. The Magic Lappen is new to the market and is already selling very well in Germany. CBDD through its letter of intent has first right of refusal on these products. Based on the demand in Germany, the company recognizes the enormous sales potential when marketed in Switzerland and throughout Europe. When the acquisition is complete, the company will look to rebrand the products for the American market. "We are excited about our association with CBDD and the distribution network they bring to the table. I currently have a booth at the German Boat Show. I have been demonstrating and selling The Magic Lappen. The interest has been fantastic and sales have been very strong," states Axel Reinke. CBDD will continue to expand their CBD and Cannabis division. The company is actively working on new partnerships, mergers and acquisitions within the industry. Follow CBDD on Twitter Twitter Follow The Magic Lappen Instagram TikTok About CBD of Denver, Inc. is focused on using equity to acquire profitable assets at attractive valuations to create value for all our shareholders. Our team is focused on sourcing high margin & innovative products that align with our company values. Information contained herein includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or future financial performance, involving known and unknown risks and you should not place undue reliance on these statements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events. We assume no obligation publicly about update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason. Contact Info: info@cbdofdenver.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/152577 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 26, 2023) - NuGen Medical Devices Inc. (TSXV: NGMD) (the "Company") announces that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement of units as described in its press release dated December 28, 2022 for total aggregate proceeds of $125,000. No additional tranches will be completed. The proceeds will be used by the Company for corporate and general working capital purposes. Further, the Company is pleased to announce a new non-brokered private placement financing (the "Offering") for up to 50,000,000 units (each a "Unit") of the Company at a price of $0.05 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to $2,500,000. Each Unit will be comprised of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company and one (1) common share purchase warrant exercisable at a price of $0.05 per common share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance. Gross proceeds raised from the Offering will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. Closing of the Offering is subject to receipt of all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, including the approval of TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance and the resale rules of applicable securities legislation. The Offering is expected to close on February 7, 2023. Subject to the closing of the Offering in the minimum amount of $2,250,000, the Company has agreed to appoint Richard Buzbuzian as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company replacing Derek Lindsay who will resign as an officer and director of the Company upon such appointment. The Company intends to announce a director to fill the vacancy created by Mr. Lindsay's resignation should the minimum financing be closed as noted above. Richard Buzbuzian is a capital markets executive with over 25 years of investment experience in Canada and Europe. Most recently, Mr. Buzbuzian was president of Drone Delivery Canada, which he co-founded and assisted with its going public transaction and financing activities in raising over $120M. Mr. Buzbuzian holds a degree from the University of Toronto. Further, the Company would like to announce that William Cleman has resigned as a director of the Company and will be replaced by Philip Cortese and Veronique Laberge has decided to resign as CFO and Corporate Secretary of the Company effective January 31, 2023. The Board thanks both Mr. Cleman and Ms. Laberge for their contributions to the Company and wish them all the success in the future. The Company welcomes Mr. Philip Cortese to its board of directors and is actively searching for a CFO and Corporate Secretary to replace Ms. Laberge. Mr. Cortese is a seasoned Banker with over 30 years of experience in the Financial Institution Industry and has held senior managerial positions at RBC, TD Bank and CIBC for over half of those years. In 2002, he was recruited by TD Bank to head the Quebec office of their Real Estate Financing Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (CMBS) origination group as Vice President for the Quebec region. The CMBS group originated close to a billion dollars of new commercial mortgages over a period of just 4 years. In October of 2012, he joined a local real estate Investor Mr. Kheng Ly and together, branded the development company now known as Brivia Group. Mr. Cortese is a former Canadian Securities Institute graduate and a licensed Commercial Real Estate Broker. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or the securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold within the United States (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements. About NuGen Medical Devices NuGen is an emerging specialty medical device company developing the next generation of needle-free technologies and other innovative medical delivery products. The company's products, which include the InsuJet and PetJet needle-free injection systems, are designed to improve the lives of millions of people and animals. NuGen continues to receive approval in numerous countries, including Canada. NuGen's products are designed for use in several important fields including, but not limited to, diabetes, veterinary medicine, and vaccines. For further information, please visit: Website: www.nugenmd.com Twitter: @NuGenMD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nugenmd/ For further information, please contact: Veronique Laberge Chief Financial Officer NuGen Medical Devices Inc. vlaberge@nugenmd.com Investor Relations Contact: Kin Communications Inc. NGMD@kincommunications.com (604) 684-6730 Twitter: @KinComm Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Information: Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/152584 Marshall, whose 25-year career includes roles as the Head of Experiential Marketing at Morningstar and the President of the American Marketing Association Chicago, will work closely with leadership to build the brand of the industry-leading VR company LONDON, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mesmerise , the enterprise's trusted guide to the Metaverse, today announced the appointment of Leslie Marshall as its first Chief Marketing Officer. Marshall, who previously served as the Head of Experiential Marketing at Morningstar , will work with Mesmerise's leadership to showcase the Mesmerise story and brand, identify opportunities to drive innovation, and accelerate revenue. An accomplished enterprise marketer, Marshall will tap her multiple decades of experiential marketing, product marketing, brand management and digital transformation experience to help Mesmerise capitalize on a period of accelerated growth and interest in the Metaverse. With Marshall at the helm, Mesmerise will further build out efforts in brand, digital, communications, and content strategy, bringing on new team members in both the U.S. and U.K. "We are thrilled to welcome Leslie to the Mesmerise team," said Andrew Hawken, CEO and Co-Founder of Mesmerise. "With her decades of experience working at the cutting edge of marketing for the enterprise, we could think of no better leader to help us build the enterprise VR brand of the future." "Mesmerise has become an indispensable guide to VR and the Metaverse over the years," said Marshall. "I'm incredibly energized by the work that they've done in defining the space and leading some of the world's largest companies into this new era of technology. I'm looking forward to working with their world-class team to capitalize on the incredible opportunity in front of us." Prior to joining Mesmerise, Marshall spent sixteen years at Morningstar, most recently serving as the Head of Experiential Marketing where she led the team that defined and executed the digital transformation of Morningstar's popular and industry-renowned event series. Her team won multiple industry awards for their groundbreaking work while introducing best-in-class digital practices that significantly enhanced attendee experience and brand exposure. At Morningstar, Marshall worked closely with Mesmerise to introduce, develop and host the VR component of the annual Morningstar Investment Conference for three years running, in addition to cultivating groundbreaking interactive VR experiences, Sustainable City and Bee Game. In addition to her role at Mesmerise, Marshall also serves as the President of the American Marketing Association's Chicago chapter. About Mesmerise Mesmerise, the trusted guide to the Metaverse, helps leading enterprises, including Morningstar, Wells Fargo, and Allianz, host immersive meetings, conferences, training sessions, and events in virtual reality. Through Mesmerise's proprietary Gatherings platform, global companies can bring their teams together to host custom virtual experiences for any occasion utilizing a dedicated digital headquarters. Mesmerise was founded in 2016 by Andrew Hawken and Daglar Cizmeci, originally launched in the U.K. Today, the company's immersive VR experiences span the globe with nearly 200 employees worldwide. The company is based in London with U.S. headquarters in Santa Monica, California. To learn more about Mesmerise, visit www.mesmerisevr.com . Media Contact: catie@haymaker.co Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1990000/Mesmerise2023_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/mesmerise-appoints-veteran-marketer-leslie-marshall-as-chief-marketing-officer-301731246.html ELKO, NV / ACCESSWIRE / January 26, 2023 / Lithium Corporation (OTCQB:LTUM) ("LTUM" or "the Company"), a North American company focused on energy metals for the growing energy storage sector and high-tech industries, is pleased to announce the Company has staked a new lithium clay prospect in Nye County, Nevada. To-date, the Company has staked 58 claims covering an area of approximately 1,120 acres. Prospecting by Lithium Corporation during 2022 determined an area of anomalous lithium occurs in sedimentary rocks in the vicinity of the Powerline Road, north of Tonopah. This prospect is hosted in Siebert Formation lacustrine claystones. It is located approximately 28 miles (45 kilometers) to the northwest of American Lithium's Tonopah lithium clay project that occurs in a similar depositional environment, and in identical lithologies of the same formation. During the past couple of months, the Company conducted preliminary work on the prospect and is currently formulating plans for additional work in the near future. About Lithium Corporation Lithium Corporation is an exploration company based in Nevada devoted to the exploration for energy storage related resources throughout North America, and looking to capitalize on opportunities within the ever-expanding next generation energy storage markets. The Company has maintained a strategic alliance with Morella Corporation (the Company's single largest shareholder) for the past ten years, and also entered into a formal agreement with Morella with respect to earn-ins on the Company's Fish Lake Valley lithium-in-brine prospect in Esmeralda County, and the North Big Smoky lithium-in-brine prospect in Nye County, Nevada. Website: www.lithiumcorporation.com. Contact Info Tom Lewis, CEO 775-410-5287 info@lithiumcorporation.com Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This current report contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with mineral exploration and difficulties associated with obtaining financing on acceptable terms. We are not in control of minerals prices and these could vary to make development uneconomic. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our most recent annual report for our last fiscal year, our quarterly reports, and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Lithium Corporation (OTC-LTUM) 1031 Railroad St. Ste 102B Elko NV 89801 (775) 410-5287 www.lithiumcorporation.com SOURCE: Lithium Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/736756/Lithium-Corporation-Stakes-New-Property BANGOR, ME / ACCESSWIRE / January 26, 2023 / Penquis is receiving $3.3 million to support a project that may transform housing construction methods in Maine and across the nation while addressing the state's housing crisis. The project has secured private funding as well, garnering the support of KeyBank Foundation, which awarded Penquis a $300,000 grant in support of the initiative. Penquis has also secured funding from NeighborWorks America, a congressionally chartered nonprofit organization that supports community development throughout the US. "At KeyBank, we believe everyone deserves a safe, secure and affordable home, and one of our community investment priorities is affordable housing," says Tony DiSotto, Maine market president for KeyBank. "The application of the technology developed by the University of Maine to address the affordable housing crisis here in Maine and throughout the world is groundbreaking and exciting, and KeyBank is proud to partner with Penquis CAP, University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center and MaineHousing on the nine-home pilot program, which is the first step in creating a new manufacturing process, new jobs, and most importantly, new affordable homes in our community." KeyBank Foundation's grant is made under Key's National Community Benefits Plan established in 2017, which has already delivered more than $29 billion in lending and investments across Key's national footprint supporting affordable housing and community development projects, home and small business lending in low- and-moderate income communities, and philanthropic efforts targeted toward education, workforce development, and safe, vital neighborhoods. KeyBank is also the #2 affordable housing lender in the country, lending $5.1 billion to affordable housing projects in 2021. "Our state is facing a housing crisis that will take ingenuity and creative thinking to solve. Thankfully, that's exactly what we're seeing in this collaborative partnership with Penquis, the University of Maine and MaineHousing. By scaling up UMaine's pioneering BioHome3D technology for use in the greater Bangor area, we are taking a positive step forward in building more housing and in supporting our economy," says Gov. Janet Mills. "I am proud to see our support through the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan and our most recent budget continue to yield progress, and I look forward to seeing how innovation like this can help us deliver safe places for Maine people to live. I thank Penquis, the University of Maine and MaineHousing for their collaboration, our congressional delegation for their work to provide funding, and the KeyBank Foundation for its generous support." "New solutions are needed to address the housing affordability crisis in Maine," says Jason Bird, director of housing development for Penquis, noting that Maine has an estimated shortage of 20,000 to 25,000 affordable rental units. "One of the greatest challenges is the cost and slow pace of housing construction. This project is investigating ways to create units more quickly and inexpensively, as well as more sustainably." The project, using UMaine's BioHome3D technology, is a collaborative effort involving Penquis, the University of Maine's Advanced Structures and Composites Center and MaineHousing. New materials and methods developed by the University of Maine will be used to create a first-in-the-nation bio-based 3D-printed neighborhood. The neighborhood will be located in the Greater Bangor area and consist of nine homes that will provide housing for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The homes will be printed using a mix of recycled plastic and wood fiber waste from the Maine woods. Current onsite 3D-printing technology using concrete has limited construction seasons in colder climates and can only print the walls of the structure. The technology developed by the University of Maine can print the entire structure of a home including the walls, floors and roof, and the homes can be fully recycled. The nine homes will be constructed in UMaine's planned Factory of the Future laboratory over four years in phases, allowing time to evaluate and modify the home's design based on housing performance, cost and feedback from the homes' occupants. The goal is to optimize the home's design and minimize cost in order to make this new type of construction commercially viable. "Following the recent unveiling of the first BioHome3D prototype at UMaine, we look forward to scaling up the design and production of the technology and demonstrating construction of a neighborhood. The GEM Factory of the Future Laboratory at UMaine is now being designed to allow scaling up of the BioHome3D technology and the training of the workforce. "We thank our congressional delegation, led by Senators Collins and King, for supporting this new funding, as well their leadership to secure critical funding for the GEM Factory of the Future," says Habib Dagher, executive director of UMaine's ASCC. "The GEM Factory of the Future is a first-of-its-kind research and learning environment in next-generation large-scale digital manufacturing technology, combining engineering and computing/AI. It is key to implementing this 3D-printed neighborhood project and will provide students with immersive training internships at the intersection of engineering and computing," says Joan Ferrini-Mundy, president of the University of Maine and vice chancellor for research and innovation for the University of Maine System. In addition to helping to address Maine's housing crisis, the BioHome3D technology will expand economic development opportunities in the state. The project could help create an entirely new industry, using large area additive and hybrid manufacturing, that will increase demand for locally-sourced materials, provide business opportunities for Maine forest-product suppliers and create new jobs in construction and manufacturing. The potential to address the housing crisis while spurring Maine's natural resource economy is what earned the project $3 million in congressionally directed spending. "The University of Maine and Penquis' production of the first 3D-printed house is a transformational achievement that lays the foundation for the future of affordable housing," says Senator King. "As the state and nation face a serious housing shortage, this funding will build on the success of the BioHome3D project and support Penquis' 21st century approach to housing construction. I'm proud to have helped secure this well-deserved congressionally directed spending and look forward to seeing how the project continues to develop Maine-made solutions to housing challenges." About Penquis: Established in 1967, Penquis is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting Maine families in becoming healthy, safe, connected, and financially secure. Penquis is Maine's largest community action agency serving primarily low- and moderate-income individuals in Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Knox counties, with an even broader impact across all 16 counties. Penquis programs focus on four areas: economic security, school readiness, reliable transportation and healthy lives. Penquis touches the lives of approximately 6,000 people every day and more than 30,000 each year. About KeyBank Foundation: KeyBank Foundation serves to fulfill KeyBank's purpose to help clients and communities thrive, and its mission is to support organizations and programs that prepare people for thriving futures. The Foundation's mission is advanced through three funding priorities - neighbors, education, and workforce - and through community service. To provide meaningful philanthropy that transforms lives, KeyBank Foundation listens carefully to understand the unique characteristics and needs of its communities and then backs solutions with targeted philanthropic investments. KeyBank Foundation is a nonprofit charitable foundation, funded by KeyCorp. About KeyBank/KeyCorp KeyCorp's roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $189.8 billion as of December?31, 2022. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit?https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC. About the University of Maine: The University of Maine, founded in Orono in 1865, is the state's land grant, sea grant and space grant university, with a regional campus at the University of Maine at Machias. UMaine is located on Marsh Island in the homeland of the Penobscot Nation. UMaine Machias is located in the homeland of the Passamaquoddy Nation. As Maine's flagship public university, UMaine has a statewide mission of teaching, research and economic development, and community service. UMaine is the state's public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution. It attracts students from all 50 states and 86 countries. UMaine currently enrolls 11,571 undergraduate and graduate students, and UMaine Machias enrolls 763 undergraduates. Our students have opportunities to participate in groundbreaking research with world-class scholars. UMaine offers 77 bachelor's degrees and six undergraduate certificates, as well as more than 100 degree programs through which students can earn doctoral or master's degrees, professional master's degrees, and graduate certificates. UMaine Machias offers 18 associate and bachelor's degrees, and 14 undergraduate certificates. The university promotes environmental stewardship, with substantial efforts campuswide to conserve energy, recycle and adhere to green building standards in new construction. For more information about UMaine and UMaine Machias, visit umaine.edu and machias.edu. About the Advanced Structures and Composites Center: The University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC) is a world-leading, interdisciplinary center for research, education, and economic development encompassing material sciences, advanced manufacturing, and engineering of composites and structures. Since its founding in 1996 with support from the National Science Foundation, the ASCC has financially sponsored more than 2,600 students, received 120 patents, welcomed over 30,000 visitors, created 14 spinoff companies, and honored with more than 40 national and international awards for research excellence. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from KeyBank on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: KeyBank Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/keybank Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: KeyBank View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/736873/KeyBank-Foundation-Grants-300000-in-Funding-to-Support-Innovative-3D-Printed-Housing-Solution CARDIFF, Wales, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Elite ServiceNow Partner FlyForm has appointed a managing director in its drive towards a target 21 million turnover in 2023. Founded in 2015, the business solves client problems using the cloud-based workflow automation platform to help companies transform the way they work to drive discipline, efficiency and productivity. With Client Satisfaction currently at an impressive 4.97/5, the company employs 80. As Managing Director, Rob Rees will focus on expanding the company's public sector and commercial client base, which already includes the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency, Home Office, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Government Property Agency as well as a wide variety of commercial clients. Rees joined FlyForm, based at Cardiff's Capital Tower, as Operations Director in January this year. He was previously Group Operations Director for a Microsoft Gold partner. Before that he held similar roles in bespoke digital software operations and large digital transformation & outsourcing services. Phil Davies, FlyForm Group Ltd CEO and co-founder with Arron Davies, said: "Rob was first engaged to mature and grow our professional services and managed service business lines. He quickly took responsibility for significant operational areas of the business, readying them for scale-up. This focus on stable growth combined with extensive focus on people development made him a natural fit for managing director. "We have achieved year-on-year growth of more than 40 per cent over the past three years and this is an extremely exciting period both for our organisation and the ServiceNow ecosystem as a whole. Rob's track record of driving growth in cloud services organisations will enable FlyForm to not only maintain but accelerate its growth rates as we continue our journey as one of the world's leading ServiceNow partners." Rob Rees said: "The opportunity to serve with a talented team on a mission to positively impact people's lives through the power of technology is exciting. The ServiceNow ecosystem is red hot. It embodies a platform that transforms business." In line with the MD appointment, co-founder Arron Davies also takes on a newly created Non-Executive Director role. Arron says, "Focussing on employee well-being and advising on client success offers me the opportunity to directly impact the success of FlyForm whilst allowing Rob to orchestrate the execution of our business strategy. I can't wait to get stuck in." Phil Davies alongside FlyForm was named in this year's Lloyds Bank/The Times Top 50 Ambitious Business Leaders - Ones to Watch. In 2021 the company made the Fast Growth 50 for the fastest-growing technology and digital business in Wales, and in 2022 was acknowledged as one of the 50 fastest-growing companies in Wales for the 3rd year running, garnering the coveted 'Sustained Growth Award' Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1990481/FlyForm_Rob_Rees_And_Phil_Davies.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1196653/FlyForm_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/flyform-appoints-md-in-drive-for-growth-301731593.html AECI LIMITED Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa (Registration number: 1924/002590/06) Share code: AFE ISIN: ZAE000000220 Hybrid code: AFEP ISIN: ZAE000000238 Bond company code: AECI LEI: 3789008641F1D3D90E85 (AECI or the Company) Update on Retirement of AECI Group CEO and Appointment of Acting Group CEO Shareholders and noteholders are referred to the announcement released on SENS on 27 July 2022, wherein it was advised that Group Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") Mark Anthony Dytor will formally retire with effect from 31 July 2023. Shareholders and noteholders are advised that Mark has decided to accelerate his retirement which will take effect from 31 January 2023 to pursue other interests. Chairman of the Board, Dr Khotso Mokhele commented "The Board would like to thank Mark for his quality leadership and diligent service to the Group over the last 39 years, in senior roles across the organization. Notably, Mark excelled at raising our health and safety performance and displayed excellent leadership guiding the organisation through the Covid pandemic. Fostering an innovation culture, he has placed the group on path to a greener future. The Board wishes Mark everything of the best in his future endeavors." Furthermore, as announced on SENS on 27 July 2022, the AECI Board of Directors (the Board) has initiated an extensive search process to identify a permanent Group CEO. The search process is being led by the Chairman of the Board, Dr Khotso Mokhele and supported by a Search Committee compromising both local and international directors. The appointment of a suitable successor is at a very advanced stage of conclusion. In the interim, the Board has appointed Mr Sam Coetzer, a current Independent Non-Executive Director of AECI, as acting Group CEO with effect from 1 February 2023 until the Board has completed its CEO appointment process. Dr Khotso Mokhele further commented, "We are extremely confident that Sam, with his vast local and international knowledge particularly in the mining industry, will provide the AECI Group with great leadership until the new Group CEO has been appointed. Sam is a global mining executive with over 30 years of international experience, where he has operated in South Africa, Canada, the USA, South America, Australia, Tanzania and Fiji. Over and above his executive and non-executive roles, Sam has held numerous leadership positions at other international companies (including Kinross Gold, Xstrata and Placer Dome/Barrick). We could not have asked for a better individual to steer the helm until the CEO appointment process is complete. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Sam, for accepting the interim role." The Board will assess if any changes are required to be made to any of the committees as a result of Mark's retirement. C Singh Group Company Secretary Woodmead, Sandton 26 January 2023 Equity Sponsor and Debt Sponsor Rand Merchant Bank, a division of FirstRand Bank Limited Clickjacking click fraud tricks website visitors into clicking on pay-per-click adverts without their knowledge or consent BERLIN, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Polygraph, a cybersecurity company specializing in click fraud prevention (https://polygraph.net/articles/how-to-prevent-click-fraud.html), is advising advertisers to be aware of an "old school" click fraud technique which is making a comeback. Clickjacking click fraud (https://polygraph.net/articles/what-is-click-fraud.html) is a technical sleight of hand which tricks website visitors into clicking on adverts without their knowledge or consent. For example, a website may display a pop-up message claiming a virus is downloading, with a "Cancel" button enticing the visitor to cancel the download. In reality, no virus is downloading, and the cancel button is covered by an invisible advert, placed there by the website owner with the goal of hijacking visitors' clicks. According to Trey Vanes, Polygraph's head of marketing, clickjacking is making a comeback as a click fraud technique. "We monitor the activities of click fraud gangs (https://polygraph.net/articles/the-anatomy-of-a-click-fraud-gang.html)," said Vanes. "Typically, they use bots to generate fake clicks on ads, but we're seeing a resurgence in the use of clickjacking as a click fraud technique. "Criminals use a little bit of programming code to place invisible adverts on their scam websites, and use psychological trickery to coerce visitors to unknowingly click on the ads." Vanes says the reason for clickjacking's resurgence is the lack of effort by some advertising networks to detect clickjacking click fraud. "One of the major advertising networks isn't checking ad clicks for clickjacking," said Vanes. "This is puzzling, since clickjacking is easy to detect, so there's no clear reason why the advertising network is choosing to ignore it." Vanes says it is important advertisers do not rely on their advertising networks to protect them from click fraud. "We see a lot of bad behaviour by some of the advertising networks," said Vanes. "A large advertising network appears to be doing no click fraud detection (https://polygraph.net/articles/how-to-detect-click-fraud.html) at all, which means click fraud techniques like clickjacking, and even the most simplistic bots, are being given a pass. "Polygraph (https://polygraph.net/) helps you protect your ad campaigns from click fraud, including clickjacking, bots, and other forms of trickery. We tell you which scam websites are clicking on your ads, which of your ad keywords are being targeted, and provide details of every fake click so you can apply for click fraud refunds from your advertising network (https://polygraph.net/articles/how-to-get-click-fraud-refunds-from-microsoft-ads.html). "Additionally, by using the data provided by Polygraph, you can block the scam websites from being able to click on your ads in the future, and adjust your ad keywords so they're no longer being targeted by bots." "Don't let click fraud scammers and their enablers steal your advertising budget," added Vanes. For more information, please visit https://polygraph.net About Polygraph Established in Berlin, Germany in 2021, Polygraph monitors the activities of click fraud gangs, including how they operate, who they target, the techniques they use, and how to detect their fraud. We go far beyond bot detection to ensure your ad budget is not stolen by cyber-criminals. Contact Details: 114A Friedrichstrasse Berlin, BE 10117 Germany Trey Vanes, Polygraph +49 (030) 2204 4851 Escalade-Sport at Cadillac Dublin Virtual Showroom Varun Shah, CEO & CO Founder Eccentric Inc Jessie Dosanjh, Dublin Cadillac Joe Castelino, Stevens Creek Volkswagen DALLAS, TX, Jan 26, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - Eccentric Engine (Eccentric Inc.), a digital auto retail experience platform company and home to top automotive brands in India in their digital transformation journey, has now set eyes on a truly global footprint. They are now gearing to deliver their flagship offering, 'Virtual Retail Cloud' in January to U.S. dealerships.Eccentric Engine is now registered as Eccentric Inc. in the U.S. (Eccentric Engine in India) and plans deep investment in industry agnostic virtual tools, which are being deployed for the U.S. automotive retail market this month. The first showcase of their new metaverse tech will be at the North American Dealer Association (NADA) conference for top dealers and auto OEMs from January 26-29 in Dallas.Varun Shah, Co-Founder and CEO Eccentric Engine said, "We are excited about the growth path of Eccentric Engine and transforming the company to become a global player. We look forward to extending the best of virtual retailing to our OEM & Dealer partners across the world. By virtue of Virtual Retail Cloud, we welcome new car dealers across North America to adopt a scalable and cutting-edge retail experience."The U.S. market is experiencing a sea of concepts in automotive retail metaverse, of which, several concepts were featured at the 2023 CES in Las Vegas, NV, USA earlier in the month. At the 2023 NADA Show, Eccentric Inc. will demonstrate ready-to-use solutions on how virtual retailing, which encompasses 3D & AR-VR, can actually be deployed at scale for North American dealerships.Shah added, "Over the past year, I met a diverse group of global dealers, spent time onsite to understand global dealership models, customer expectations and the gaps that existed. The dealers had a broken experiences, and wished to provide their buyers one-stop solution to their prospects to enable a faster and intelligent purchase decision. Unlike other technology companies, we have honed the expertise to deploy and measure at scale."Eccentric Inc. has signed up two new customers in the Bay Area, Stevens Creek VW (American Motors Group) and Dublin Cadillac (California Automotive Retailing Group). The 3D platform will allow dealerships to design unique virtual retail interfaces to help buyers explore cars in an immersive experience and make an informed decision.Joe Castelino, Fixed Operations Director, American Motors Group, owner Stevens Creek Volkswagen, remarked "Being in the heart of Silicon Valley, technology is a way of life for our customers. We are excited to partner with Eccentric Engine to offer an engaging and decisive retail journey for our customers. Their rich expertise in automotive digitalization spans a decade and we are looking forward to build together a transformative customer journey. The shift from multi-click, multi-page experience to a single seamless virtual interface, from 2D to 3D, is what excites us."Eccentric Engine reveals that their new virtual retailing cloud is an ecosystem and will need every ounce of intelligence, hard work and creativity. Eccentric Engine plans to leverage millions of interactions it registers on its platform to obtain unique customer insights and build several use cases. Here is a sneak peek into their international roadmap with the Virtual Retail Cloud services:- Put together the right standards that will help dealers/OEMs develop and maintain experiences such as Loading Time, Device Performance and Latency know-how.- Develop and build an exclusive 3D warehouse for quick deployment, reducing OEM dependency- Equip OEMs & Dealerships with capabilities to create virtual experiences. An example of this is a no-code platform for any website partner to develop journeys in virtual retailing.- Robust back-end analytics through Eccentric Inc.'s comprehensive engine that will offer deep insights on buyer preferences.- Actively syndicate learnings from deployments across dealerships & OEMs around the worldJessie Dosanjh, President, California Automotive Retailing Group, owner of Dublin Cadillac stated, "We pride ourselves in being a progressive & trusted group. Cadillac is a luxury brand and we are excited to bring to our customers, premium digital shopping experiences through our new partner Eccentric Inc. Thanks to their capabilities, our buyers will be more confident about their purchase. We look forward to having virtual retailing capabilities on our website & within our store premises."A McKinsey Automotive report estimates that more than 25% of the current US$ 3 trillion new cars market is set to go virtual by 2025 globally. By 2025 more than 100 million interactions will be powered by Eccentric Engine."The Virtual Retailing cloud ecosystem will be a game changer to empower buyers across the world. We are proud of our partnerships in USA, Japan, South Africa and Indonesia that is already enabling this" concluded Shah.About Eccentric EngineFounded in 2012, Eccentric Engine is a pioneer in Automotive Visualization, Retail and Ecommerce with suite of proprietary technology solutions such as One 3D platform, Experience Manager and Conceirge to delivers seamless omnichannel experiences. Their technology enables creators globally to 'show better and sell faster' on web browsers and empowers customers by allowing them to access products across all devices. https://eccentricengine.comFor Media Enquiries:Varun Shah, CEO Eccentric Engine,San Ramon, CA, varun@eccentricengine.comDeeptie Sethideeptie@vividenterprises.comSource: Eccentric EngineCopyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. The ejection of France does not mean that there will be no NATO countries in the region. Both the United States and Britain have a large footprint from Morocco to Niger, with the United States trying to draw African countries into its contest against China and Russia. by Vijay Prashad On January 18, 2023, the government of Burkina Faso made a decision to ask the French military forces to depart from the country within a month. This decision was made by the government of Captain Ibrahim Traore, who staged the second coup of 2022 in Burkina Faso in September to remove Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who had seized power in a coup detat in January. Traore, now the interim president of Burkina Faso, said that Damiba, who is in exile in Togo, had not fulfilled the objectives of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguarding and Restoration, the name of their military group. Traores government accused Damiba of not being able to stem the insurgency in the countrys north and of colluding with the French (alleging that Damiba had taken refuge in the French military base at Kamboinsin to launch a strike against the coup within a coup). Soldiers of the French military mission in Mali fold a French flag at an undisclosed military installation during Frances withdrawal from the country on August 11, 2022 [ Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images] France entered the Sahel region in 2013 to prevent the southern movement of jihadist elements strengthened by the war in Libya, prosecuted by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In the past few years, anti-French sentiment has deepened in North Africa and the Sahel. It was this sentiment that provoked the coups in Mali (August 2020 and May 2021), Guinea (September 2021), and then in Burkina Faso (January 2022 and September 2022). In February 2022, Malis government ejected the French military, accusing French forces of committing atrocities against civilians and colluding with jihadi insurgents. Burkina Faso has now joined Mali. The ejection of France does not mean that there will be no NATO countries in the region. Both the United States and Britain have a large footprint from Morocco to Niger, with the United States trying to draw African countries into its contest against China and Russia. Regular trips by U.S. military leaderssuch as U.S. Marine Corps General Michael Langley (commander of U.S. Africa Command) to Gabon in mid-January and by U.S. civilian leaderslike Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to Senegal, South Africa, and Zambiaare part of a full-court press to ensure that African states forge closer ties with the United States and its allies over China. The designation of Russias Wagner Groupwhich is said to be operating in the Sahelas a transnational criminal organization by the United States and the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, held in mid-December, are both attempts to draw African states into a new cold war. Almost half of the Burkinabe population lives below the poverty line, and more than 630,000 people are on the brink of starvation, in the country, according to the UN. The country is, however, not poor with its gold export reaching $7.19 billion in 2020. These gains do not go to the Burkinabe people but go to the large mining companies. Ejection of the French military will not be the answer to these deep-seated problems faced by Burkina Faso. Vijay Prashad is an Indian historian, editor and journalist. He is a writing fellow and chief correspondent at Globetrotter. He is an editor of LeftWord Books and the director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. He is a senior non-resident fellow at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China. He has written more than 20 books, including The Darker Nations and The Poorer Nations. His latest books are Struggle Makes Us Human: Learning from Movements for Socialism and (with Noam Chomsky) The Withdrawal: Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and the Fragility of U.S. Power. NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 26, 2023 / Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable Meet Ryan Spicer Name: Ryan Spicer, Corporate Responsibility | ESG | Sustainability Company: Keurig Dr Pepper Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn and Twitter Welcome to our series aimed at spotlighting the individual leaders within BIER member companies and stakeholder organizations. Learn how these practitioners and their companies are addressing pressing challenges around water, energy, agriculture, climate change, and what inspires each of them to advance environmental sustainability in the beverage sector and collectively, overall. Briefly describe your role and responsibilities and how long you have worked with your company. I've been with Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) for about nine months and came PepsiCo where I held several climate-focused roles, including fleet climate strategy and global operations. I also worked within the global sustainability office where I focused on PepsiCo's operational fleets' carbon emissions - primarily Scope 1 and Scope 2 - and gained valuable experience with electrification and renewable electricity agreements. Prior to PepsiCo, I was the first sustainability manager for the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport. In this small organization, I learned on the fly how to define sustainability for an organization and what it would look like for DFW, meaning my experience stretched across the full scope of sustainability. My time at PepsiCo and DFW provided invaluable experiences, but I was eager to work somewhere where I could drive a broader sustainability agenda. Now at KDP, I work across climate and water strategies and am helping to shape how we create meaningful impact. How has the company's sustainability program evolved over the years, and what are your specific priorities for 2023? Being relatively new to KDP, I have a helpful external perspective of the company's sustainability evolution. KDP grew heavily in the last decade, bringing together Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR), Keurig and Dr Pepper Snapple Group to form the current company, Keurig Dr Pepper. The growth resulting from bringing together hot and cold beverages at scale has created a dynamic corporation and, of course, also broadened the complexity of the company's sustainability agenda. At KDP, we focus on our greatest opportunities for impact through our Drink Well, Do Good corporate responsibility platform. This covers the areas of the environment, our supply chain, the health and well-being of our consumers and with our people and communities. Over the past few years, we've witnessed big shifts in the ESG landscape and that continues to impact how we shape our ESG agenda, sustainability goals and progress. For background, Dr Pepper has a large fleet and operations in water-stressed areas, while GMCR has a small fleet and operations in non-water-stressed areas. To address this while satisfying evolving regulation and stakeholder demands, KDP must have a measured approach to determine how we set goals and targets that are meaningful across the company. While there is temptation to be overly ambitious and bold, KDP's approach is to stay aggressive while ensuring we have a focused plan and strategy that is executable against our goals. Only then can we measure our progress and know that our work is driving a positive impact. Take our water stewardship efforts, for example. KDP has operations across California, Florida, Texas, and Mexico, it is essential that our business understands the impact we have on local communities. In 2023, we will continue to build on replenishment, but also account for water use across our value chain, including water quality and access to water in our highest risk water areas. I can say that water stewardship is a personal passion of mine, and there are so many moving pieces, it keeps my job challenging, fun and very interesting. Learn more about Ryan Spicer in this BIER Member Spotlight. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/beverage-industry-environmental-roundtable Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/736917/BIER-Member-Spotlight-Ryan-Spicer Potential attendees of the BermudaBusinessDevelopmentAgency's (BDA) second annual Bermuda Risk Summit, being held at the Hamilton Princess Beach Club from March 6-8, are reminded the early bird registration price will end tomorrow, Friday, 27 January Included in the early bird price are keynote breakfasts, networking breaks and lunches, an evening seaside soiree, and an island lunch cruise. Overseas guests should also act before midnight on Monday, February 6 to secure special hotel room rates starting at $359 (plus tax). From February 7, hotel room rates will increase significantly, or be completely sold out, due to limited availability. To book your room please call 1-441-295-3000 or the Global Reservations Centre on 1-800-441-1414. Alternatively, click hereto reserve your room online. Please use the booking code: 'BermudaRisk' to take advantage of the preferred rate. The Bermuda Risk Summit, which has the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers (ABIR) and EY as headline sponsors, will kick off with a keynote conversation featuring Bermuda's Premier, The Hon. David Burt, JP, MP. The keynote conversation will be followed by a group CEO panel moderated by Sophie Roberts, Head of The Insurer TV, that includes Peter Bell, CEO Managing Director, Everest Re, Stephen Catlin, Executive Chairman, Convex (Past Chair Deputy Chair ABIR), Christopher Schaper, CEO, AIG Re (ABIR Deputy Chair), and Megan Thomas, CEO, Hamilton Re. In terms of sponsorships, the BDA is pleased to announce that Hyperexponential have come on board as a diamond sponsor, SS&Cis a gold sponsor, AMBestand KirklandEllisare silver sponsors, Demotechis WIFI sponsor, Aon is a supporting sponsor, and The Insurer is our official media partner. Other sponsorship opportunities are still available. Please e-mail bermudarisk@bda.bm if you wish to participate. The overall theme of the 2023 Bermuda Risk Summit is 'Innovation,SustainabilityandCollaboration.' Some of the speakers confirmed to date include John Huff, CEO, ABIR, who will moderate a global capacity shortfall panel with Chris Bonard, CEO, ED Broking (Bermuda) Limited and Lara Mowrey, Global Head of Distribution, Guy Carpenter. Suzanne Williams Charles, Director of Policy and Regulation, ABIR will moderate a panel of international regulators featuring Chlora Lindley-Myers, President, National Association of Insurance Commissioners and Gerald Gakundi, Director, Supervision (Insurance), Bermuda Monetary Authority and Andrew Dyer, Head of London Markets, Bank of England. Craig Redcliffe, Partner, EY will moderate an evolution of partner capital panel featuring Jasmine Desilva, SVP ILS, Artex Capital Solutions, and Julia Henderson, Chief Commercial Officer, Vesttoo. Joseph Petrelli, President, Demotech and Todd Kozikowski, President, 44North, LLC, will present their findings on Florida's disparate litigation levels Christian Dunleavy, Group Chief Underwriting Officer, Aspen, Chris Hayward, Chief Underwriting Officer, MS Amlin Reinsurance and Kostya Zolotusky, CEO, Itasca Re will explore the growing significance of specialty lines Kerr Kennedy, Associate Partner, EY, will moderate the future of cyber reinsurance panel with Yosha Delong, Global Head of Cyber, Mosaic Insurance, Noel Pearman, SVP, Cyber Product Line Leader, AXA XL, Sebastien Plummer, Cyber Specialist Broker, Gallagher Re, and Edouard Von Heberstein, CEO Spectra. William C. Stone, founder, chair and CEO of SS&C, will speak about how (re)insurers can leverage innovation and technology with Alex Huang, Chief Risk Officer, Sun Life International. Susanne Murphy, Insurance Regulatory Consultant, Meenan P.A. will discuss market perspectives from Florida's C -Suite with Tom Gallagher, COO, People's Trust Insurance Company. Edward Mishambi, SVP and Chief Risk Officer-Europe, Renaissance Re who will moderate a panel entitled global financing conditions a rating agency discussion that features Peter Giacone, Global Head of Insurance, KBRA, Stefan Holzberger, Chief Rating Officer, AM Best, and Joseph Petrelli. A panel discussing investor's experiences of Bermuda featuring Scott Frederick, Managing Partner, Sands Capital Ventures, Adrian Jones, Managing Director, Re/Insurance and Partner, HSCM Ventures, and Armin Rothauser, Senior Partner, Castlelake Investments will be moderated by Stephen Weinstein, past BDA Chair. Curtis Dickinson, Executive Adviser, Bermuda International Long-Term Insurers and Reinsurers (BILTIR) will moderate an updates from the life sector panel featuring Mark Yu, Head of Enterprise Capital Strategy, New England Asset Management, James Claxton, Associate Partner, EY, Martin Maringi, Deputy Director, Supervision (Insurance), BMA and Michelle Moloney, EVP Chief Risk Officer, Pacific Life Reinsurance. Saadia Savory, Vice President, Excess Casualty, Aspen, and Shannon Totten, SVP, Casualty Insurance Practice Leader Bermuda, Sompo International, will discuss Bermuda's vibrant casualty lines of business And finally, Gero Michel, Group CRO, AIG Re will discuss the future of risk with Tom Johansmeyer, SVP, Head of PCS, Verisk and Andrew Smith, Chief Risk Sustainability Officer, Conduit Re. The full agenda is available on the BDA website. CONNECTING BUSINESS The BDA encourages direct investment and helps companies start up, re-locate, or expand their operations in our premier jurisdiction. An independent, public-private partnership, we connect you to industry professionals, regulatory officials, and key contacts in the Bermuda government to assist domicile decisions. Our goal? To make doing business in Bermuda smooth and beneficial. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005802/en/ Contacts: Stuart Roberts, Director of Communications PR stuart@bda.bm +1 441 292 7774 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 26, 2023) - Nevada Vanadium Mining Corp. ("Nevada Vanadium" or the "Company") announces that it proposes to undertake a non-brokered private placement (the "Placement") of up to 2 million Units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.14 per Unit to raise aggregate gross proceeds of up to $280,000. Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company and one share purchase warrant with each warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional share of the Company at a price of $0.18 per share for 3 years. The securities issued as part of the Placement will be subject to a hold period of four months plus one day from the date of issue. Closing of the Placement is expected to occur on or about February 15, 2023. Insiders of the Company may participate in the Placement. As such, the issuance of Units to insiders pursuant to the Placement would be considered a related party transaction within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company would rely on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements provided under sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(a) of MI 61-101 on the basis that any participation in the Placement by insiders would not exceed 25% of the fair market value of the Company's market capitalization. The Company will file a material change report in respect of any related party transaction in connection with the Placement. A Finder's Fees of up to 7% Finder's Units may be payable in connection with the Placement. Each Finder's Unit will consist of one common share of the Company and one non-transferable share purchase warrant with each warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional share of the Company at a price of $0.18 per share for 3 years. Proceeds of the Placement are expected to be used for project advancement, working capital and general corporate purposes. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. About Nevada Vanadium Mining Corp. Nevada Vanadium Mining Corp. is a Canadian reporting issuer, holding a 100% interest in the Gibellini Vanadium project in Nevada, United States. To find out more about Nevada Vanadium, visit www.nevadavanadium.com NEVADA VANADIUM MINING CORP. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Ron Espell" CEO For more information about Nevada Vanadium, please contact Investor Relations: info@nevadavanadium.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this news release, including statements which may contain words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", or similar expressions, and statements related to matters which are not historical facts are forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements, which reflect management's expectations regarding Company's future growth, results of operations, performance, and business prospects and opportunities, are based on certain factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and the documents incorporated by reference herein are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. In addition, although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events, or results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release any future revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as expressly required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/152605 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 26, 2023 / Enbridge Gas Inc. (Enbridge Gas), along with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and the province of Ontario, announced the official launch for the co-delivery of the Canada Greener Homes Grant through a single window to all eligible Ontarians via Enbridge Gas' enhanced Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+) program. Ontarians are encouraged to visit the website for program details, eligibility criteria, and to learn how to apply. Through the HER+ program, rebates are provided towards the cost of eligible retrofits such as home insulation, windows, doors, and renewable energy systems as a comprehensive offer to help Ontarians optimize energy savings in their homes. Eligible Ontarians can receive Canada Greener Homes grants of up to $5,000 and current Enbridge Gas customers, who are eligible, can apply for up to $5,000 more funded by Enbridge Gas, for a combined total of up to $10,000. Additionally, participants can offset the cost of their EnerGuide home assessment with a rebate of up to $600. With building heat being one of the top three sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Ontario, this agreement will contribute to the national efforts to reduce emissions across the building sector while saving residents money on their utility bill and ensuring more climate-resilient communities for generations to come. The Government of Ontario recommended Enbridge Gas to the Government of Canada as the co-delivery partner for the Canada Greener Homes Grant in the province. This collaboration will enable more efficient program delivery for Ontarians, as Enbridge Gas serves more than 75 percent of provincial residents. In doing so, the Province of Ontario joins Quebec and Nova Scotia who already have co-delivery agreements to deliver the Canada Greener Homes Grant. Since 1995, through previous conservation programs with residential, commercial and industrial customers, Enbridge Gas has saved its customers 30 billion lifetime cubic meters of natural gas and 56 million tonnes of GHG emissions. That's roughly equivalent to removing more than 12 million cars off the road or heating over 13 million natural gas homes, every single year. Quick Facts The Canada Greener Homes Initiative will deliver up to 1.5 megatonnes in emissions reduction annually by 2026 and is expected to generate over 110,000 direct and indirect jobs across Canada, building on the more than 436,000 direct jobs the energy efficiency sector accounted for in 2018. As of January 11, 2023 the Canada Greener Homes Initiative has issued $132 million in grants to more than 33,000 homeowners, including more than $14 million to almost 5,400 homeowners in Quebec and Nova Scotia, and approved more than 7,625 loans nationwide. As of May 1, 2019, Enbridge Gas' Home Energy Conservation (HEC) and Home Reno Rebate (HRR) merged to become the Home Efficiency Rebate (HER) program. Since, Enbridge Gas has provided rebates to more than 80,000 customers. "Enbridge Gas strongly champions conservation efforts, and believes that maximizing energy efficiency is essential to achieving our collective national goal of reaching net zero energy-related emissions by 2050. The enhanced HER+ program is an excellent example of governments and utilities working together to deliver programs that are complementary and coordinated in order to streamline processes and maximize benefits to participants." - Michele Harradence, President, Enbridge Gas Inc. "This announcement represents a step forward in reducing emissions, reducing utility bills and creating sustainable jobs in Ontario. The delivery of the Greener Homes Grant in Ontario with Enbridge Gas takes advantage of existing infrastructure to rapidly deploy cost- and climate-saving retrofits across the province while simplifying the process for residents." - Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources "Energy conservation is an important part of Ontario's plan to build a cleaner, greener Ontario. By bringing together Ontario's natural gas conservation programs, delivered by Enbridge Gas, and the federal government's Greener Homes Initiative we are providing families with access to increased financial supports that will help them reduce their energy costs and emissions. This builds on our recent announcement that Ontario was increasing funding for the province's electricity energy-efficiency programs by $342 million." - Todd Smith, Ontario's Minister of Energy About Enbridge Gas Inc. Enbridge Gas is Canada's largest natural gas storage, transmission and distribution company based in Ontario, with over 170 years of service to customers. The distribution business provides safe, affordable, reliable energy to about 3.8 million customers and is leading the transition to a clean energy future through net-zero emissions targets and investments in innovative low-carbon energy solutions. The storage and transmission business offers a variety of storage and transportation services to customers at the Dawn Hub, the largest integrated underground storage facility in Canada and one of the largest in North America. Enbridge Gas is owned by Enbridge (ENB), a Canadian-based leader in energy transportation and distribution. Learn more at enbridgegas.com. About the Canada Greener Homes Initiative The Canada Greener Homes Initiative provides grants and a loan for home evaluations and for retrofits. The eligible retrofits include home insulation, windows and doors, air sealing, and mechanical and renewable energy systems. By making home retrofits, you will help Canada meet its 2030 climate change commitments and significantly contribute to Canada's goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. For homeowners, it means a more comfortable home, a more affordable home, and a healthier planet. Media contacts: Krista Luxton, External Communications, Enbridge Gas Inc., enbridgegasmedia@enbridge.com; Natural Resources Canada, Media Relations, 343-292-6100, media@NRCan-RNCcan.gc.ca; Keean Nembhard, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Natural Resources, 613-323-7892, keean.nembhard@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Enbridge on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Enbridge Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/enbridge Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Enbridge View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/736947/Enhanced-Energy-Efficiency-Rebates-Now-Available-Through-New-Agreement-Between-Enbridge-Gas-and-the-Canada-Greener-Homes-Grant Bel Air, Maryland--(Newsfile Corp. - January 26, 2023) - Rock Spring Financial Group LLC is bringing over 20 years of industry experience to a next generation of home buyers through the latest social media platforms and trends. This company is actively working to bring a better understanding of the housing market to younger generations through an emphasis on their social media presence. The real estate and housing markets have been fluctuating wildly throughout the past decade, leading Millennials and Gen Z (the next generations in line to become homeowners) in a daze regarding trends and market strategies. It is estimated that only 9% of millennials own homes as of 2020 and that 71% of that generation can afford less than half of the homes on the market. Rock Spring Financial Group is a local brokerage firm located in central Maryland that is working to change the narrative for younger Americans who may feel this lingering heaviness when it comes to buying a home. Rick Metzgar, an Independent Mortgage Broker, as well as the Founder of Rock Spring Financial Group has realized the potential that social media has on educating younger generations, especially when it comes to something as crucial as buying a house and securing a mortgage. "Our company is known for its hyper-local involvement and support of the area's nonprofits," Metzgar explains. "We pride ourselves on providing one-on-one relationships backed by a team of professionals." This is seen throughout the company's various TikTok videos, which follow social trends as a way to reach an audience that otherwise may lack the financial understanding it takes to own a home and apply for a mortgage. This company has been utilizing their updated TikTok profile to reach a new audience by creating content that appeals to the platform's user base. This kind of boosted social media presence can allow Rock Spring the opportunity in the future to also collaborate with influencers on the platform to help spread their message and create more visibility for their brand, something not typically seen in traditional financial/real estate literacy programs. Rock Spring works to guide them through each step of applying and completing the process for securing any type of mortgage, from purchasing their first home to a reverse mortgage to provide for their retirement. Rock Spring Financial Group is a local brokerage firm located in Bel Air, Maryland. Founded by Rick Metzgar, the company works to help its clients secure mortgages and simplify the home buying process. Their recent active presence on TikTok aims to provide the next generation with the skills they need to find financial literacy in a conceding home market. For more information about Rick and Rock Spring, visit their website and Social Media platforms. Rick Metzgar rickm@rockspringfinancial.com https://rockspringfinancial.com/ (443) 801-6389 TikTok: @mortgagefather To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/152629 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 26, 2023 / Case IH and New Holland, global agricultural brands of CNH Industrial (NYSE:CNHI), have been awarded 2022 Good Design Awards. The Case IH Patriot 50 series sprayer and New Holland's Straddle Tractor Concept and TK4 Tractor received recognition. Case IH's Patriot 50 series sprayer is designed to help farmers work more productively and efficiently. From the comfort of the well-appointed cab, the operator has complete control of the vehicle's advanced connectivity solutions and integrated spray technology. The latter produces reports on the vehicle's spray rates which allows operators to accurately calculate input prices. New Holland's Straddle Tractor Concept was realized in collaboration with renowned automotive design house Pininfarina. It satisfies the requirements posed when working in narrow vineyards. Its futuristic design, combining form and function, has also been created as ready for electric traction demonstrating New Holland's commitment to more productive and sustainable agriculture. New Holland and FPT Industrial's TK4 Methane Power vineyard crawler tractor blends style, function, and sustainability. It is powered by the FPT Industrial F28 engine which runs on biomethane. CNH Industrial is committed to making agribusiness ever more efficient and sustainable. Our partnerships with industry-leading innovators help us to achieve this goal. The Good Design Awards are organized by the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design and Metropolitan Arts Press Ltd. They recognize the most innovative and cutting-edge industrial, product, and graphic designs produced around the world. The selection criteria are based on the highest aesthetic in terms of innovative design, new technologies, form, materials, construction, concept, function, utility, energy efficiency, and sensitivity to the environment. Building products worthy of such prestigious awards once again demonstrates our commitment to excellence in design and innovation for the world's farmers. View original content here. New Holland TK4 Methane Power vineyard crawler tractor View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CNH Industrial on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: CNH Industrial Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cnh-industrial Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: CNH Industrial View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/736997/Case-IH-and-New-Holland-Win-2022-Good-Design-Awards Confirms extension on Series A debt obligations to February 28th, 2023 SAN DIEGO, CA and TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 26, 2023 / StateHouse Holdings Inc. ("StateHouse" or the "Company") (CSE:STHZ)(OTCQX:STHZF), a California-focused, vertically integrated cannabis enterprise, today announced the launch of its new industry leading high-value customer loyalty program "TOPS". Customers enrolled in TOPS will receive 1 point per $1 dollar spent (taxes excluded), as well as 1.5 points per $1 dollar spent on in-house brands, including Kingpen/Kingroll, Fuzzies/Sublime, Urbn Leaf, Loudpack, Smokiez, Harborside Farms, Dime Bag, and Key. Subject to certain terms and conditions, TOPS members can receive $10 in savings for every 100 points earned and qualifying participants can also earn bonus points, including 100 points for new sign-ups, 100 points on their birthday, in addition to other ongoing promotion activities. TOPS members can accrue and redeem points in-store at all Harborside & Urbn Leaf locations, as well as online and delivery. To receive more information on the benefits of the TOPS rewards programs and begin accruing points, customers are encouraged to enroll either in-person at a retail location or online at www.Shopharborside.com/tops-loyalty-rewards or www.UrbnLeaf.com/tops-loyalty-rewards. "We are incredibly excited to roll-out TOPS, one of the industry's highest value loyalty programs," said Ed Schmults, Chief Executive Officer of StateHouse. "We have a significant opportunity to engage with our valued customer base, which following the integration of our Harborside and Urbn Leaf dispensaries represents in excess of 800,000 unique customers. We are proud to offer our customers one of the best incentives to trust us with their business, especially during this time of rising costs, and look forward to continuing to exceed their expectations for both quality and value." Financing Update As previously disclosed on December 30, 2022, the Company continues to engage in discussions related to potential future financing options. In addition, the Company's series A debtholders have granted StateHouse a further one-month extension to February 28th, 2023, on repayment of the Company's outstanding debt obligations in respect of its Series A Indebtedness. About StateHouse: StateHouse, a vertically integrated enterprise with cannabis licenses covering retail, major brands, distribution, cultivation, nursery and manufacturing, is one of the oldest and most respected cannabis companies in California. Founded in 2006, its predecessor company Harborside was awarded one of the first six medical cannabis licenses granted in the United States. Today, the Company operates 14 dispensaries covering Northern and Southern California and one in Oregon, and cultivation and production facilities in Salinas and Greenfield, California. StateHouse is a publicly listed company, currently trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") under the ticker symbol "STHZ" and the OTCQX under the ticker symbol "STHZF". The Company continues to play an instrumental role in making cannabis safe and accessible to a broad and diverse community of California and Oregon consumers. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. To the extent any forward-looking information in this news release constitutes "financial outlooks" or "future-oriented financial information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates, and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements relating to the Company's future performance, potential future financing, the customer service experience, and TOPS loyalty program. These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's operations; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; expectations regarding the size of the cannabis markets where the Company operates; changing consumer habits; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives; plans for expansion and acquisitions; political and social uncertainties; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; employee relations; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on cultivation, production, distribution, and sale of cannabis and cannabis-related products in the markets where the Company operates; and the risk factors set out in the Company's management's discussion and analysis for the period ended September 30, 2022 and the Company's listing statement dated May 30, 2019, which are available under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. The Company, through several of its subsidiaries, is directly involved in the manufacture, possession, use, sale, and distribution of cannabis in the recreational and medicinal cannabis marketplace in the United States. Local state laws where the Company operates permit such activities however, investors should note that there are significant legal restrictions and regulations that govern the cannabis industry in the United States. Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under the United States Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal under federal law in the United States to, among other things, cultivate, distribute or possess cannabis in the United States. Financial transactions involving proceeds generated by, or intended to promote, cannabis-related business activities in the United States may form the basis for prosecution under applicable United States federal money laundering legislation. While the approach to enforcement of such laws by the federal government in the United States has trended toward non-enforcement against individuals and businesses that comply with recreational and medicinal cannabis programs in states where such programs are legal, strict compliance with state laws with respect to cannabis will neither absolve the Company of liability under United States federal law, nor will it provide a defense to any federal proceeding which may be brought against the Company. The enforcement of federal laws in the United States is a significant risk to the business of the Company and any proceedings brought against the Company thereunder may adversely affect the Company's operations and financial performance. For further information: StateHouse Holdings Inc., Ed Schmults, CEO, or Angela Pih Head of Marketing 800-892-4209 Investor Contact: MATTIO Communications Rob Kelly statehouse@mattio.com SOURCE: StateHouse Holdings Inc View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/736991/StateHouse-Launches-New-High-Value-Customer-Loyalty-Program-TOPS Kelowna, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 26, 2023) - Fission 3.0 Corp. (TSXV: FUU) (the "Company") announced today that it has been requested by OTC Markets Group Inc. ("OTC Markets") to issue a statement about recent promotional activity concerning its common shares traded on the OTCQB market. On Wednesday, January 18, 2023, OTC Markets informed the Company that it became aware of certain promotional activities concerning the Company and its common shares traded on the OTCQB market, including the distribution of three promotional newsletter emails published by Crush the Street and Wealth Research Group, affiliates of Gold Standard Media, LLC ("Gold Standard"). The Company entered into an advertising agreement with Gold Standard on January 10, 2023, whereby Gold Standard, along with its affiliates, would provide certain advertising services to the Company (the "Advertising Agreement"). The Advertising Agreement has a one-month term, which commenced on January 17, 2023, and an upfront payment of US$500,000 payable to Gold Standard on January 13, 2023. Gold Standard is arm's length to the Company. The Company became aware of the distribution of each newsletter as of January 16, 2023. None of the Company or its officers are involved, directly, with the creation of the materials distributed by Gold Standard. The Company provided Gold Standard with publicly available source information for their disclosure and the only editorial control the Company exercised over the materials involved reviewing the materials for accuracy prior to their dissemination. Each of the newsletters presented factual statements regarding the uranium market, the Company's investors, the Company's current market cap, and indicated the Company's attractiveness to investors. The Company understands the promotional activity may have coincided with increased trading activity in its common shares. The Company does not believe the promotional activities were a factor in any increase in trading volume of its common shares. The Company has experienced strong market activity beginning in November of 2022 whereby the market price of its common shares have gone from a price of $0.07 to $0.42 (an increase of 600%), the Company has not seen a direct correlation to the new marketing distribution by Gold Standard and market activity. The Corporation has made and disclosed a uranium discovery that has produced a large amount of investor interest. In conjunction to this, over the last 5 months the Company had a total of 20,092,172 warrant and option exercises which it believes is contributing to the majority of the market activity as securityholders seek to fund their exercise purchases. Market interest in uranium is currently high and is impacting many corporations which have exploration or mining projects within the uranium market. Market price for uranium in the past five years has increased many times over and is fueling investor interest, and the Company believes that its current projects and the disclosure of project activities is driving the market activity of its common shares. The Company has determined that certain statements included in the newsletters are promotional but confirms that the materials contain no factual inaccuracies or any material non-public information, and, except as noted, confirms it had no editorial control of the content. Statements made on the promotional materials and the potential performance of the Company's common shares are forward-looking and speculative in nature. Outside of the paid promotional campaign by Gold Standard, disclosure of previously publicly disclosed information about the Company to Gold Standard and a review of certain prior drafts of the newsletters produced by Gold Standard, to the Company's knowledge, after inquiry of its management and the directors, neither the Company, nor any of its officers, directors, controlling shareholders or any third party service providers have been involved with the creation, distribution, or payment of promotional materials related to the Company and its securities. All insiders are required by securities regulations to post and make public any acquisitions or dispositions of securities. The Company relies on its insiders to post and track their positions. Certain officers, directors and insiders were granted RSU's Dec 12, 2022, which have been filed on the System for Electronic Disclosure by Insiders. Devinder Randhawa, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company, has purchased the Company's securities within the past 90 days. To the Company's knowledge, after inquiry of its management and the directors, neither the Company, nor any of its controlling shareholders or third-party service providers have sold or purchased the Company's securities within the past 90 days. The Company, in December of 2022, had a public offering of flow through shares which were made available to insiders to participate in and any such participation was disclosed. The Company also entered into an engagement agreement with Sprott Capital Partners ("SCP") on January 10, 2023 to act as financial advisors to the Company on strategic matters, including the procurement of potential strategic investors (the "Engagement Agreement"). Pursuant to the Engagement Agreement, the Company has agreed to pay SCP a $10,000 monthly work fee, which will be offset against any fees SCP would receive if it acts as a financial advisor related to any acquisition, divestiture, spin-out, sale or any other corporate transaction related to the Company. The Engagement Agreement has a 24-month term which commenced on January 10, 2023, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the terms of the Engagement Agreement. Other than the engagement of Gold Standard and SCP, the Company has not engaged any third-party providers to provide investor relations services, public relations services, marketing, or other related services including the promotion of the Company or its securities in the last twelve months. The Company has not issued shares or convertible instruments allowing conversion to equity securities at prices constituting a discount to the current market rate at the time of the issuance in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. About Fission 3.0 Corp. Fission 3.0 Corp. is a Canadian based resource company specializing in the strategic acquisition, exploration and development of uranium properties and is headquartered in Kelowna, British Columbia. Common shares are listed on the TSXV under the symbol "FUU". ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Dev Randhawa" Dev Randhawa, CEO For more information, please contact ir@fission3corp.com Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/152645 Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - January 26, 2023) - Builders Capital Mortgage Corp. (TSXV: BCF) ("Builders Capital") is pleased to announce that it has completed a non-brokered private placement of 10,752 Class A Non-Voting Shares (the "Class A Shares"). This placement consists of 10,752 Class A Shares issued at a price of $9.30 per share for gross aggregate proceeds of $100,000. No new control persons will be created as a result of this private placement. There is a four month hold period on the Class A Shares issued pursuant to this private placement which expires on May 27, 2023. The proceeds from the private placement will be used to fund additional loans to approved members of the home construction industry and to add to working capital. Builders Capital confirms that there are no material facts or material changes related to the company which have not been generally disclosed. For further information, please contact: John Strangway, Chief Financial Officer Telephone: (403) 685-9888 Builders Capital Mortgage Corp. 1414 8 St SW #260 Calgary, AB T2R 1J6 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/152660 HBM Alpha Therapeutics, a Cambridge, MA-based biotechnology company incubated by Harbour BioMed (HKEX: 02142), raised a Seed funding round of undisclosed amount. The company intends to use the funds to advance its leading programs, novel antibody therapies to treat congenital adrenal hyperplasia and polycystic ovary syndrome, with the lead candidate currently in IND-enabling stage. HBM Alpha Therapeutics is a company presently developing antibody therapeutics aimed at the rare genetic disease congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Its therapeutics could also be indicated for other endocrinological diseases related to the dysregulation and function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. HBMAT was founded on the expertise of Harbour BioMeds antibody discovery and development capabilities, and expertise in the molecular pathogenesis and treatment of endocrine disorders of HBMATs Scientific Founder Dr. Joseph Majzoub, Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at Boston Childrens Hospital. HBMAT has licensed relevant technologies from Boston Childrens Hospital. Dr. Majzoub chairs the Scientific Advisory Board for HBMAT and is a shareholder of the company. At present, HBMATs Scientific Advisory Board comprises Dr. Majzoub, Dr. Frank Grosveld, Co-founder and CSO of Harbour Antibodies and the inventor of Harbour Mice, and Dr. Ieuan Hughes, a paediatric endocrinologist and an emeritus professor of paediatrics at the University of Cambridge. FinSMEs 26/01/2023 How The Worlds 3rd Richest Man Gautam Adani Is Pulling The Largest Con In Corporate History Excerpts of the research paper published by Hindenburg Research Today we reveal the findings of our 2-year investigation, presenting evidence that the INR 17.8 trillion (U.S. $218 billion) Indian conglomerate Adani Group has engaged in a brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud scheme over the course of decades. Gautam Adani, Founder and Chairman of the Adani Group, has amassed a net worth of roughly $120 billion, adding over $100 billion in the past 3 years largely through stock price appreciation in the groups 7 key listed companies, which have spiked an average of 819% in that period. Gautam Adani, chairman, Adani Group [ Photo: Narendra Bisht/ Fortune India] Our research involved speaking with dozens of individuals, including former senior executives of the Adani Group, reviewing thousands of documents, and conducting diligence site visits in almost half a dozen countries. Even if you ignore the findings of our investigation and take the financials of Adani Group at face value, its 7 key listed companies have 85% downside purely on a fundamental basis owing to sky-high valuations. Key listed Adani companies have also taken on substantial debt, including pledging shares of their inflated stock for loans, putting the entire group on precarious financial footing. 5 of 7 key listed companies have reported current ratios below 1, indicating near-term liquidity pressure. The groups very top ranks and 8 of 22 key leaders are Adani family members, a dynamic that places control of the groups financials and key decisions in the hands of a few. A former executive described the Adani Group as a family business. The Adani Group has previously been the focus of 4 major government fraud investigations which have alleged money laundering, theft of taxpayer funds and corruption, totaling an estimated U.S. $17 billion. Adani family members allegedly cooperated to create offshore shell entities in tax-haven jurisdictions like Mauritius, the UAE, and Caribbean Islands, generating forged import/export documentation in an apparent effort to generate fake or illegitimate turnover and to siphon money from the listed companies. Gautam Adanis younger brother, Rajesh Adani, was accused by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) of playing a central role in a diamond trading import/export scheme around 2004-2005. The alleged scheme involved the use of offshore shell entities to generate artificial turnover. Rajesh was arrested at least twice over separate allegations of forgery and tax fraud. He was subsequently promoted to serve as Managing Director of Adani Group. Gautam Adanis brother-in-law, Samir Vora, was accused by the DRI of being a ringleader of the same diamond trading scam and of repeatedly making false statements to regulators. He was subsequently promoted to Executive Director of the critical Adani Australia division. Gautam Adanis elder brother, Vinod Adani, has been described by media as an elusive figure. He has regularly been found at the center of the governments investigations into Adani for his alleged role in managing a network of offshore entities used to facilitate fraud. Our research, which included downloading and cataloguing the entire Mauritius corporate registry, has uncovered that Vinod Adani, through several close associates, manages a vast labyrinth of offshore shell entities. We have identified 38 Mauritius shell entities controlled by Vinod Adani or close associates. We have identified entities that are also surreptitiously controlled by Vinod Adani in Cyprus, the UAE, Singapore, and several Caribbean Islands. Many of the Vinod Adani-associated entities have no obvious signs of operations, including no reported employees, no independent addresses or phone numbers and no meaningful online presence. Despite this, they have collectively moved billions of dollars into Indian Adani publicly listed and private entities, often without required disclosure of the related party nature of the deals. We have also uncovered rudimentary efforts seemingly designed to mask the nature of some of the shell entities. For example, 13 websites were created for Vinod Adani-associated entities; many were suspiciously formed on the same days, featuring only stock photos, naming no actual employees and listing the same set of nonsensical services, such as consumption abroad and commercial presence. The Vinod-Adani shells seem to serve several functions, including (1) stock parking / stock manipulation (2) and laundering money through Adanis private companies onto the listed companies balance sheets in order to maintain the appearance of financial health and solvency. Publicly listed companies in India are subject to rules that require all promoter holdings (known as insider holdings in the U.S.) to be disclosed. Rules also require that listed companies have at least 25% of the float held by non-promoters in order to mitigate manipulation and insider trading. 4 of Adanis listed companies are on the brink of the delisting threshold due to high promoter ownership. Our research indicates that offshore shells and funds tied to the Adani Group comprise many of the largest public (i.e., non-promoter) holders of Adani stock, an issue that would subject the Adani companies to delisting, were Indian securities regulator SEBIs rules enforced. Many of the supposed public funds exhibit flagrant irregularities such as being (1) Mauritius or offshore-based entities, often shells (2) with beneficial ownership concealed via nominee directors (3) and with little to no diversification, holding portfolios almost exclusively consisting of shares in Adani listed companies. Right to Information (RTI) requests we filed with SEBI confirm that the offshore funds are the subjects of an ongoing investigation, more than a year-and-a-half after concerns were initially raised by media and members of parliament. A former trader for Elara, an offshore fund with almost $3 billion in concentrated holdings of Adani shares, including a fund that is ~99% concentrated in shares of Adani, told us that it is obvious that Adani controls the shares. He explained that the funds are intentionally structured to conceal their ultimate beneficial ownership. Leaked emails show that the CEO of Elara worked on deals with Dharmesh Doshi, a fugitive accountant who worked closely on stock manipulation deals with Ketan Parekh, an infamous Indian market manipulator. The emails indicate that the CEO of Elara worked with Doshi on stock deals after he evaded arrest and was widely known as a fugitive. Another firm called Monterosa Investment Holdings controls 5 supposedly independent funds that collectively hold over INR 360 billion (U.S. $4.5 billion) in shares of listed Adani companies, according to Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) data and Indian exchange data. Monterosas Chairman and CEO served as director in 3 companies alongside a fugitive diamond merchant who allegedly stole U.S. $1 billion before fleeing India. Vinod Adanis daughter married the fugitive diamond merchants son. A once-related party entity of Adani invested heavily in one of the Monterosa funds that allocated to Adani Enterprises and Adani Power, according to corporate records, drawing a clear line between the Adani Group and the suspect offshore funds. Another Cyprus-based entity called New Leaina Investments until June-September 2021 owned over U.S. $420 million in Adani Green Energy shares, comprising ~95% of its portfolio. Parliamentary records show it was (and may still be) a shareholder of other Adani listed entities. New Leaina is operated by incorporation services firm Amicorp, which has worked extensively to aid Adani in developing its offshore entity network. Amicorp formed at least 7 Adani promoter entities, at least 17 offshore shells and entities associated with Vinod Adani, and at least 3 Mauritius-based offshore shareholders of Adani stock. Amicorp played a key role in the 1MDB international fraud scandal that resulted in U.S. $4.5 billion being siphoned from Malaysian taxpayers. Amicorp established investment funds for the key perpetrators that were simply a way to wash a clients money through what looked like a mutual fund, according to the book Billion Dollar Whale, which reported on the scandal. Delivery volume is a unique daily data point that reports institutional investment flows. Our analysis found that offshore suspected stock parking entities accounted for up to 30%-47% of yearly delivery volume in several Adani listed companies, a flagrant irregularity indicating that Adani stocks have likely been subject to wash trading or other forms of manipulative trading via the suspect offshore entities. Evidence of stock manipulation in Adani listed companies shouldnt come as a surprise. SEBI has investigated and prosecuted more than 70 entities and individuals over the years, including Adani promoters, for pumping Adani Enterprises stock. A 2007 SEBI ruling stated that the charges leveled against promoters of Adani that they aided and abetted Ketan Parekh entities in manipulating the scrip of Adani stand proved. Ketan Parekh is perhaps Indias most notorious stock market manipulator. Adani Group entities originally received bans for their roles, but those were later reduced to fines, a show of government leniency toward the Group that has become a decades-long pattern. Per the 2007 investigation, 14 Adani private entities transferred shares to entities controlled by Parekh, who then engaged in blatant market manipulation. Adani Group responded to SEBI by arguing that it had dealt with Ketan Parekh to finance the start of its operations at Mundra port, seemingly suggesting that share sales via stock manipulation somehow constitutes a legitimate form of financing. As part of our investigation, we interviewed an individual who was banned from trading on Indian markets for stock manipulation via Mauritius-based funds. He told us that he knew Ketan Parekh personally, and that little has changed, explaining all the previous clients are still loyal to Ketan and are still working with Ketan. In addition to using offshore capital to park stock, we found numerous examples of offshore shells sending money through onshore private Adani companies onto listed public Adani companies. The funds then seem to be used to engineer Adanis accounting (whether by bolstering its reported profit or cash flows), cushioning its capital balances in order to make listed entities appear more creditworthy, or simply moved back out to other parts of the Adani empire where capital is needed. We also identified numerous undisclosed related party transactions by both listed and private companies, seemingly an open and repeated violation of Indian disclosure laws. In one instance, a Vinod Adani-controlled Mauritius entity with no signs of substantive operations lent INR 11.71 billion (U.S. ~$253 million at that time) to a private Adani entity which did not disclose it as being a related party loan. The private entity subsequently lent funds to listed entities, including INR 9.84 billion (U.S. $138 million at more recent substantially lower exchange rates) to Adani Enterprises. Another Vinod Adani-controlled Mauritius entity called Emerging Market Investment DMCC lists no employees on LinkedIn, has no substantive online presence, has announced no clients or deals, and is based out of an apartment in the UAE. It lent U.S. $1 billion to an Adani Power subsidiary. This offshore shell network also seems to be used for earnings manipulation. For example, we detail a series of transactions where assets were transferred from a subsidiary of listed Adani Enterprises to a private Singaporean entity controlled by Vinod Adani, without disclosure of the related party nature of these deals. Once on the books of the private entity, the assets were almost immediately impaired, likely helping the public entity avoid a material write-down and negative impact to net income. Adani Groups obvious accounting irregularities and sketchy dealings seem to be enabled by virtually non-existent financial controls. Listed Adani companies have seen sustained turnover in the Chief Financial Officer role. For example, Adani Enterprises has had 5 chief financial officers over the course of 8 years, a key red flag indicating potential accounting issues. The independent auditor for Adani Enterprises and Adani Total Gas is a tiny firm called Shah Dhandharia. Shah Dhandharia seems to have no current website. Historical archives of its website show that it had only 4 partners and 11 employees. Records show it pays INR 32,000 (U.S. $435 in 2021) in monthly office rent. The only other listed entity we found that it audits has a market capitalization of about INR 640 million (U.S. $7.8 million). Shah Dhandharia hardly seems capable of complex audit work. Adani Enterprises alone has 156 subsidiaries and many more joint ventures and affiliates, for example. Further, Adanis 7 key listed entities collectively have 578 subsidiaries and have engaged in a total of 6,025 separate related-party transactions in fiscal year 2022 alone, per BSE disclosures. The audit partners at Shah Dhandharia who respectively signed off on Adani Enterprises and Adani Total Gas annual audits were as young as 24 and 23 years old when they began approving the audits. They were essentially fresh out of school, hardly in a position to scrutinize and hold to account the financials of some of the largest companies in the country, run by one of its most powerful individuals. Gautam Adani has claimed in an interview to have a very open mind towards criticismEvery criticism gives me an opportunity to improve myself. Despite these claims, Adani has repeatedly sought to have critical journalists or commentators jailed or silenced through litigation, using his immense power to pressure the government and regulators to pursue those who question him. We believe the Adani Group has been able to operate a large, flagrant fraud in broad daylight in large part because investors, journalists, citizens and even politicians have been afraid to speak out for fear of reprisal. We have included 88 questions in the conclusion of our report. If Gautam Adani truly embraces transparency, as he claims, they should be easy questions to answer. We look forward to Adanis response. Click here to read the complete report Queer Spaces, a Los Angeles, California-based provider of a platform for building queer communities, raised an undisclosed amount in funding. Social Discovery Group made the investment, along with over 100 backers including Gaingels, Mana syndicates, and tech luminaries such as Mark Suster (Upfront), Sean Rad (Tinder), and Sam Altman (OpenAI). The company intends to use the funds to release a preliminary Android version in December, release its Version 2.0 of Spaces, which will offer a more streamlined way of matching users with its lineup of new spaces, chat topics, and users. Queer Spaces is building Spaces, a group chat platform for queer communities and a place for all queer people to connect over their favorite topics and interests, plan meetups and hang out. The platform grew to more than 25,000 users and 2,500 spaces in December. Examples of spaces include Gaymers, Trans Space, Tarot & Relationships, Black LGBTQ+, Queer Art, Transgender Motorcycle Riders, and AuDHD babes. Founded in 1993, Social Discovery Group (formerly SDVentures) is a global tech company uniting 40+ brands, an investment fund, and a venture studio. SDGroup is comprised of social discovery companies focused on solving the problem of loneliness, isolation, and disconnection with the help of digital reality. SDGroup has offices across five continents and a team of more than 700 professionals serving 250+ million users across 100 countries. FinSMEs 26/01/2023 More information at queerspaces.com About Social Discovery Group TP24, a Zurich, Switzerland-based fintech lending platform, received mezzanine funding facility from Channel Capital Advisors. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. The company intends to use the funds to free up equity capital to accelerate business growth and drive global expansion plans. TP24 is a data-driven business lender providing working capital facilities to SMEs seeking a reliable financing solution. The receivables-backed financing solution provides mid-sized businesses with needed liquidity and enables them to become more independent from banks. At the same time, the over-collateralized security structure and an insurance wrapper provide debt investors with an increased level of security, even compared to alternative lenders in the market. Channel is an FCA-regulated alternative investment fund manager (AIFM) specialising in fintech, working capital and trade finance investments. Since 2014, the London-headquartered company has deployed more than $9 billion of assets across fintech lending and working capital financing, including trade receivables, inventory, and supply chain finance. FinSMEs 26/01/2023 It is difficult to convey the extent of the brutality inflicted on Syrias tormented civilians since the uprising began in 2011, since raw numbers have a numbing effect. Following excerpts adapted from the authors new book, Syria Betrayed: Atrocities, War, and the Failure of International Diplomacy published by Columbia University Press. by Alex J. Bellamy Everybody had their agenda and the interests of the Syrian people came second, third, or not at all. Lakhdar Brahimi, UN special envoy for Syria, August 31, 2015 In Early 2011 the world was stunned as the Arab Spring tore through Tunisia, then Egypt, and then Libya, Bahrain, Oman, Yemen, and Jordan. Syria stood at the precipice. As diplomats at the United Nations argued about what to do in Libya and the deteriorating situation in Cote dIvoire, few understood that Syria was descending into a hell of civil war that would consume more than half a million lives, displace more than half the countrys population, host the brutally genocidal Islamic State, and draw in the militaries of Iran, Hezbollah, Russia, the United States, Turkey, and others. As Syrias tragedy unfolded, not one foreign government consistently prioritized the protection of Syrians from atrocity crimes. Not only did they do little to alleviate suffering, much of what they did made matters worse. They betrayed Syrias civilians by breaking the trust between peoples, states, and global institutions exemplified by the responsibility to protect. A kid in Syria [Photo credit: Talha Nair/ Unsplash] It is difficult to convey the extent of the brutality inflicted on Syrias tormented civilians since the uprising began in 2011, since raw numbers have a numbing effect. Syrians have been shot in the streets as they protested. Tens of thousands were hauled into prisons and tortured until dead. Tens of thousands more live on in those conditions. Barrel bombs packed with high explosives, nails, and other makeshift shrapnel have been hurled indiscriminately by the dozen into civilian neighborhoods. Men, women, and children have been gassed to death with sarin and chlorine. Civilians have been shot, knifed, beheaded, and even crucified. They have been denied food, water, and medicine to the point of malnutrition. Children have had their homes brought down on top of them and have been raped, shot, tortured, and forcibly recruited into armed groups. Women and girls have been kidnapped, trafficked, and sold as sex slaves. Schools have been systematically targeted and destroyed. Hospitals and medical centers suffered the same fate. The government and its allies were not responsible for all Syrias atrocities, but they were responsible for the overwhelming majority. Syrian civilians found themselves trapped between ISIS extremism and its deranged ideology enforced by beheading, immolation, and slavery and the indiscriminate barrel bombs, artillery fire, rockets, missiles, and militia of the government and its allies. Yet even at the peak of ISISs power in Syria, jihadists killed Syrian civilians at a lower rate than the government. Different datasets record the number of civilians killed by the government and its allies in the decade between 2011 and 2021 as being between 175,000 and 207,000. In comparison, those same datasets record that ISIS was responsible for the deaths of between 5,000 and 6,500 Syrian civilians. The number of civilians killed by other opposition groups ranges between 6,000 and 11,000. Put another way, the Syrian government and its allies are likely responsible for between 86 and 94 percent of all civilian deaths directly caused by the war. These stark discrepancies show that while opposition groups certainly perpetrated atrocities, they did not do so on anything like the scale perpetrated by the government and its allies. There is no place for moral equivalency in the story of Syrias war. More than sixty years earlier, the newly established United Nations General Assembly adopted a convention to prohibit genocide and establish a legal duty to prevent it. Two years later the four Geneva Conventions established what we today call International Humanitarian Law. Additional protocols agreed to in 1977 stipulated that the civilian population as such, as well as individual civilians, shall not be the object of attack. Acts or threats of violence the primary purpose of which is to spread terror among the civilian population are prohibited (article 13, protocol II). The protocols required that any use of force be strictly confined to military goals and established the legal principle of discriminationthe rule that soldiers are obliged to discriminate between soldiers and civilians and should refrain from violence if they cannot tell the difference. Violations of these laws have become known as war crimes and crimes against humanity. New laws restricted the use of Certain Conventional Weapons (1980, 1995, 1996, 2008). The Chemical Weapons Convention in 1997 prohibited possession, manufacture, and use of chemical weapons, and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons was established to oversee it. In the same year, the Ottawa Treaty banned the manufacture, stockpiling, and use of antipersonnel land mines. In 2008 cluster munitions were also prohibited, by a treaty that garnered the support of more than a hundred states. The scope of legal obligations doesnt end with the prohibition of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, however. States have legal obligations to prevent these crimes, protect their victims, and promote compliance with the law. These laws reshaped expectations about how war ought to be conducted and civilians protected from its worst ravages. They established legal limits to what a government can lawfully do to its people. They codified the notion that sovereignty entails legal responsibilities as well as rights. But these laws always stood in tension with two harsh political realities: First, that in war power tends to matter more than justice, since when the fighting starts actors rarely yield to law and justice alone. Indeed, it is precisely because they disagree about what justice is and what it entails that they fight. Second, that for all the talk of the rights of individuals and groups to protection from atrocity crimes, governments have tended to privilege sovereigntyespecially their ownover the protection of basic human rights. There is a good reason for that, for sovereignty and its attendant right to noninterference protects postcolonial and small states from the coercive interference of the powerful and helps maintain a basic condition of orderly conduct among states. The awkward juxtaposition of the humanitarian aspirations expressed in international humanitarian law and a sovereignty-based international order raised difficult practical and ethical questions about what to do when states themselves committed atrocities against sections of their own population. The result was an acute gap between what the law said about how states should behave and how they actually behaved. Genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity persisted, often untroubled by outside interference. This became a matter of global concern after the Cold War and high-profile failures to stem genocide in Rwanda and Srebrenica; mass killing and ethnic cleansing in Angola, Bosnia, Burundi, Croatia, East Timor, Kosovo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Zaire/Democratic Republic of Congo; and state repression in Iraq. Time and again, international society proved unwilling or unable to uphold its own laws in the face of such disasters. The principle of the responsibility to protector R2P as it has become knownwas devised as a way of navigating these dilemmas. Unanimously endorsed by the UN General Assembly in 2005, the principle meant that governments recognized they have a responsibility to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity. They agreed to encourage and help one another fulfill their responsibility. They also pledged to use diplomatic, humanitarian, and other peaceful means to protect populations and decided that when a state is manifestly failing to protect its population from atrocities, the international community has a responsibility to take timely and decisive action to do so, using all necessary means through the United Nations Security Council. This commitment was made unanimously by the largest ever gathering of Heads of State and Government at the United Nations in 2005. It was reaffirmed by the General Assembly in 2009 and 2021. At the time of this writing, R2P had featured in ninety-two UN Security Council resolutions and statements and fifty-eight resolutions of the UN Human Rights Council. All this counted for little in Syria. This book explains how and why the world failed to fulfill its responsibility to protect Syrians. Ultimately, it is a story of priorities, of how other things came to be seen as being more important than protecting Syrians from their government. So-called realists might say that this is inevitable; that we live in a brutal and illiberal world where power matters more than justice and where even trying to stop atrocities in other countries invariably makes things worse. But this takes too much for granted. It ignores evidence that determined action can mitigate and end atrocities.1 And, like all structural theories, it absolves individuals of responsibility for their choices. As I will show, political leaders were presented time and again with choices, and almost every time they chose not to make alleviation of Syrias suffering their priority. These choices had direct, sometimes immediate, consequences for the lives of Syrians, usually for the worse. Things could have been different. Steps could have been taken to save lives, perhaps even lots of lives. I will show how decision making was guided by shibboleths; false assumptions that were exposed one by one. Chief among them was the conviction that Syrias president, Bashar al-Assad, could be persuaded to reform or agree to share power through a political settlement. Foreign actors clung to that belief despite its evident faults even as their peace processes zombified. There were other shibboleths too, about the impossibility of using force to good effect, about the oppositions inherent extremism, and about Russian good faith. There are innumerable ways of telling this tragic story, but however one tells it, the central point remains the same: that despite moral imperatives, legal obligations, and our knowledge of what happens when the world turns a blind eye to atrocities, governments and international organizations chose not to prioritize the protection of Syrians because they thought other things were more important. First, Syrias civilians were betrayed by their own government. To Assad, killing civilians was always a price worth paying for regime survival. Then, they were betrayed by the governments foreign allies who blocked any meaningful multilateral approach to the crisis. Almost from the start, Assads tottering government depended for its survival on foreign allies, principally Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah, cheered on from the sidelines by China and to a lesser extent, at the beginning at least, India, Brazil, and South Africa. Then those who claimed to be the friends of Syrias people, their most immediate neighbors, betrayed them. For all their posturing, Syrias Arab neighbors also had other priorities and were often more concerned with their own survival and legitimacy and their regional competition for hegemony, status, and influence, than they were with the plight of Syrians. They competed against one another as much as with Damascus and fostered the fragmentation and radicalism that doomed Syrias opposition. Turkey stayed the course longer than the others but mainly because it had a Kurdish problem and a refugee crisis to resolve. And then, those states most vociferous in their support for R2P and the principles of protection betrayed Syrias civilians. The West stridently condemned the violence, demanded reform, and agonized over what to do. Admittedly, the actions of others presented concerned Westerners with few appealing options. But protecting Syrias civilians was never their main priority either. For the United States at different times, priorities included military withdrawal from the Middle East, combatting Islamist terrorism, rapprochement with Iran, and protecting itself and its allies from the perceived threat posed by refugees fleeing for their lives. For Europeans, distracted by economic crisis and disunity, fear of terrorism and refugees always loomed larger than humanitarian concerns. Priorities shifted, but the protection of Syrian civilians was rarely even close to being at the top of the list. Even the United Nationsthe institution entrusted to implement R2Psuccumbed. As earnest efforts to negotiate peace crumbled, the organization propped up a zombie peace process that helped Assad while its humanitarian agencies funneled millions of dollars to the government and hundreds of millions of dollars worth of aid to government-controlled areas, despite that same government prohibiting the flow of aid to opposition areas it was besieging, bombarding, and starving. Thus did the United Nations aid and abet a government strategy based on atrocities. Click here to order your copy of this book Alex J. Bellamy is professor of peace and conflict studies and director of the Asia Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect at the University of Queensland, Australia. He is the author of World Peace (And How We Can Achieve It) (2019) and coauthor of Responsibility to Protect: Promise to Practice (2018), among other books. The festival of lights, Diwali, is one of the biggest festivals celebrated by Indians across the world. No festival is complete without some fantastic photographs. However, for the perfect photo, you need a versatile camera setup with a range of features. With the ongoing offers for the festive season, several OnePlus flagship phones are available with discounts to bring our the Pro photographer in you. OnePlus 10 Pro The flagship OnePlus 10 Pro smartphone has a 48MP main rear camera with OIS, 50MP 150 ultra-wide second gen camera with macro option and a 8MP telephoto camera with 3.3x optical zoom. It is the companys first smartphone to support 10-bit color photography for all three rear cameras. This offers wider gamut coverage for smooth color transitions, offering the best experience to capture the image during the festive season. The second-generation Hasselblad Pro Mode offers 12-bit RAW photography from all the rear cameras, and there is also RAW+ option if you want to edit the colours in the image to your teases. The 50MP 150 ultra-wide camera on the OnePlus 10 Pro also offers Fisheye Mode. You can use the macro mode in the ultra-wide camera to capture the flame on the candles or Diyas. It also has a LOG format option for videographers. In terms of video capabilities, the OnePlus 10 Pro can shoot 8k video at 24 fps and 4K video at 120fps. Considering various situations and lighting conditions, the OnePlus 10 Pro is the best camera smartphone for this festive season. All these together delivers a stunning photograph you just need for the festive season. OnePlus 10R and the OnePlus 10R Prime Blue Edition The OnePlus 10R and the OnePlus 10R Prime Blue Edition offer a triple rear camera set up on the back, highlighted by a 50MP (Sony IMX766) primary shooter on the top and backed by an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro lens just below it. The 50MP Sony IMX766 was hand-picked for its 1/1.56-inch large sensor size, 1.0 m pixel size, and its support for OIS that, combined with its ability to let in 56% more light, allow the device to capture brighter and more detailed photos in dimly lit environments. Shooting in low light mode can be tricky, but not with the OnePlus smartphones. The Nightscape 2.0 feature helps you take a clear picture even in the low light condition without any detail loss. The Video Nightscape uses AI computational videography for the best quality low-light videos. Talking about AI, the phone also has Video HDR mode that improves the brightness, color, and contrast of video clips when shooting in backlit environments, uneven lighting, or at nighttime. The Pro mode lets you tune the settings (ISO, Aperture, and White Balance), and of course, the frame for the best output, especially if you are shooting fireworks in the dark sky. OnePlus 10T The OnePlus 10T has a triple camera setup that consist of a primary 50 MP Sony IMX766 sensor with Optical (OIS) and Electronic (EIS) image stabilization, an ultra-wide camera with a 119.9 field of view, and a 2MP macro camera that allows us to zoom out and zoom in. The OnePlus 10Ts Sony IMX766 sensor is a large 1/1.56-inch sensor that has already been used by several OnePlus smartphone feature 10-bit color image capture for 64 times more color than devices that capture in 8-bit color. This lets you capture the festive spirit the best way. The OnePlus 10T supports OnePlus new Image Clarity Engine (ICE), which includes an upgraded algorithm that allows the device to snap photographs faster and with higher detail. Furthermore, the phone takes tens of images and chooses the best one to be the final image. This process is much faster on the updated ICE than on older OnePlus devices, so you can capture more moments without missing any. The OnePlus 10Ts main rear camera takes better HDR photos by using the companys HDR 5.0 and TurboRAW algorithms and the power of the Sony IMX766 sensor. Finally, the OIS and the unique Nightscape algorithm work together to create nighttime images that are brighter, clearer, and more detailed. All these let you capture the best festive photos both in daylight and low-light without losing any details. OnePlus Flagship Smartphone offers for the festive season Get INR 5000 discount on the OnePlus 10 Pro, INR 2000 on the OnePlus 10R, and the OnePlus 10R Prime Blue Edition. Avail an instant bank discount of INR 6000 on the purchase of the OnePlus 10 Pro, INR 3000 on the OnePlus 10R and OnePlus 10R Prime Blue Edition, and INR 5,000 on the OnePlus 10T, via ICICI Bank Debit and Credit Card transactions on OnePlus.in, OnePlus Store App, Amazon.in , and OnePlus Experience Stores and other offline partner stores. Note: These offers are only valid for a minimum purchase value of INR 53,599, INR 28,049, INR 28,049, and 44,999 for the OnePlus 10 Pro, OnePlus 10R, OnePlus 10R Prime Blue Edition, and the OnePlus 10T Respectively. Purchase the OnePlus 10 Pro, OnePlus 10R, OnePlus 10R Prime Blue Edition, as well as the OnePlus 10T with up to 9 months and 6 months no cost EMI respectively on ICICI Bank Card transactions on OnePlus.in, OnePlus Store App, Amazon.in, OnePlus Experience Stores and offline partner stores. Axis bank Customers can avail of instant bank discounts of INR 6000 on the purchase of the OnePlus 10 Pro, of INR 3000 on the OnePlus 10R and OnePlus 10R Prime Blue Edition, and of INR 5,000 on the OnePlus 10T, via Axis Bank Debit and Credit Card transactions on OnePlus.in, OnePlus Store App, Amazon.in, and OnePlus Experience Stores and other offline partner stores. Purchase the OnePlus 10 Pro, OnePlus 10R, OnePlus 10R Prime Blue Edition, as well as the OnePlus 10T with up to 9 months and 6 months no cost EMI respectively on Axis Bank Card transactions on OnePlus.in, OnePlus Store App, Amazon.in, OnePlus Experience Stores and offline partner stores. Note: These offers are only valid for a minimum purchase value of INR 56,949, INR 29,749, INR 29,749, and 42,999 for the OnePlus 10 Pro, OnePlus 10R, OnePlus 10R Prime Blue Edition, and the OnePlus 10T Respectively. OnePlus and iOS users can exchange their older smartphones to avail an additional exchange offer of INR 10,000 on OnePlus 10 Pro 5G, INR 3000 on OnePlus 10R 5G and INR 5000 on the OnePlus 10T 5G on OnePlus.in, OnePlus Store App, Amazon.in and OnePlus Experience Stores and partner stores. Users opting for purchase via Bajaj Finserv and HDFC Finance can avail of 12 months no-cost EMI on purchase of the OnePlus 10 Pro, OnePlus 10R 5G, OnePlus 10R Prime Blue Edition, OnePlus 10T 5G, and OnePlus 9 series. Offer available across OnePlus Experience Stores and partner stores from 1 st October 2022 to 31 st October 2022. Noise has launched their first gaming TWS, named Noise Buds Combat in India, following the launch of the Noise Air Buds 2 last year. These buds are specifically designed for prolonged gaming sessions and come equipped with additional features. The Noise Buds Combat, a new TWS earbuds by Noise, is engineered to provide crystal-clear and authentic audio for gaming enthusiasts. With low latency at under 40ms, 36 hours of total playtime, and Quad Mic ENC for environmental noise cancellation, these earbuds offer an uninterrupted audio experience for gaming, calls, virtual meetings, and seamless communication. The earbuds are also designed for portability and durability, with a featherlight case, USB Type-C charging, and IPX5 sweat and water resistance. 13mm drivers and Bluetooth 5.3 technology provide premium high-quality audio without lag, making them ideal for daily gamers and students. The modern design, quad mic ENC, and 36 hours of battery life ensure that your gaming experience is uninterrupted. Quick specifications: Noise Buds Combat In-ear design with On ear touch controls 13mm Speaker driver Bluetooth v5.3; A2DP, HFP, HSP, AVRCP profile support Ultra-low latency up to 40ms Quad Mic ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation) ANC (FF): Yes (25dB) Up to 8hrs on a single charge and 37hrs of charge with the case Instacharge, USB Type-C Charing; Charging Indicator IPX5 Water-resistant Voice assistant support Pricing and availability The Noise Buds Combat is now available for purchase at a special launch price of Rs. 1,499. They come in three color options: Stealth Black, Covert White, and Shadow Grey. They can be purchased on Flipkart and GoNoises website starting today. Commenting on the launch, Amit Khatri, Co-Founder, Noise, said, Okinawa Autotech, a renowned manufacturer of electric two-wheelers in India, announced the opening of their first Research and Development (R&D) center in Europe, located in Italy. The establishment of this center is a result of their strategic partnership with Tacita, and a significant investment of 25 million euros will be made over the next three years. Plans to invest on new product development including in-house e-powertrain The new Center of Technology will be led by Tacita Co-Founder, Mr. Pierpaolo Rigo, and work with Okinawas R&D team in India. It will bring together top industry talent to improve product performance and design. The global R&D center will concentrate on developing new products, enhancing existing ones, and creating an advanced e-powertrain for future products. To unveil electric cruiser motorcycle soon in India The center will employ around 50 experts from India and abroad, and will also have an employee exchange program with Tacita to enhance skills on both domestic and international levels. The first product to be developed at the global center will be an electric cruiser motorcycle set to be launched in India in the near future. The motorcycle will feature the latest EV technology and top-notch performance in its segment globally. Speaking on the announcement, Jeetender Sharma, MD & Founder, of Okinawa Autotech said, Google India has recently been subjected to legal scrutiny by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). The company has been accused of abusing its market dominance in areas such as online search and Android app stores. The problems have been ongoing for months, and Google has finally agreed to comply with local laws and regulations. Google has made significant changes to its platforms and operations in India, and said that it has informed the CCI of how it will comply with their directives. In addition to these modifications, Google has stated that it will continue to challenge certain aspects of CCIs directive. Google Says, We continue to respectfully appeal certain aspects of the CCIs decisions and will champion our core principles of openness, expanding user choice, providing transparency and maintaining safety and security that have served the interests of the larger ecosystem. This changes most notable aspect is that OEMs can now license individual Google apps for pre-installation on their devices. This means that OEMs are not required to install all Google Apps before shipping devices to customers. Another significant change is that users in India will soon be able to select their default search engine via a choice screen that will appear when they set up a new Android smartphone or tablet in India. Some Key Changes by Google for India OEMs will be able to license individual Google apps for pre-installation on their devices. Indian users will now have the option to choose their default search engine via a choice screen that will soon start to appear when a user sets up a new Android smartphone or tablet in India. Google is updating the Android compatibility requirements to introduce changes for partners to build non-compatible or forked variants. User choice billing will be available to all apps and games starting next month. Through user choice billing, developers can offer users the option to choose an alternative billing system alongside Google Plays billing system when purchasing in-app digital content. Google recently made changes to the Android installation flow and auto-updating capability for sideloaded apps and app stores, while ensuring users understand the potential security risks. Google is also expanding their online resources such as Help Center articles and FAQs to provide more detail on services provided by Google Play and how and when Google Plays service fee applies. The company has reaffirmed its commitment to Indias digital transformation. Google has not specified a timetable for implementing these changes. Following Googles statement that significant work will be required on our end, we hope that these new changes will take some time to reach end users. Regarding the Update to Android and Google Play in India, Google said, Swiss Re Ltd / Key word(s): Personnel Swiss Re's Group Chief Underwriting Officer Thierry Leger to step down 26-Jan-2023 / 17:45 CET/CEST Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Article 53 LR Zurich, 26 January 2023 Swiss Re's Group Chief Underwriting Officer Thierry Leger is stepping down as member of the Group Executive Committee and from the role as Group CUO with immediate effect to pursue a role outside the company. Group Chief Executive Officer Christian Mumenthaler said: "Over the past 25 years with Swiss Re, Thierry made great contributions to many parts of our business, from Reinsurance to former Life Capital Business Unit, to Group Underwriting. Since his appointment as Group CUO in 2020, he has successfully evolved our underwriting capabilities through utilising cutting-edge research, access to more and better data and analytics. On behalf of the entire Group Executive Committee, I would like to thank Thierry for his dedication and commitment to Swiss Re and wish him all the success for the future." Group Chief Executive Officer Christian Mumenthaler will take over Thierry Leger's responsibilities ad interim. For further information please contact Swiss Re Media Relations: + 41 (0)43 285 7171 or Media_Relations@Swissre.com. Please use this link to access the Swiss Re website. Swiss Re The Swiss Re Group is one of the worlds leading providers of reinsurance, insurance and other forms of insurance-based risk transfer, working to make the world more resilient. It anticipates and manages risk from natural catastrophes to climate change, from ageing populations to cyber crime. The aim of the Swiss Re Group is to enable society to thrive and progress, creating new opportunities and solutions for its clients. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, where it was founded in 1863, the Swiss Re Group operates through a network of around 80 offices globally. Cautionary note on forward-looking statements Certain statements and illustrations contained herein are forward-looking. These statements (including as to plans, objectives, targets, and trends) and illustrations provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to a historical fact or current fact. Further information on forward looking statements can be found in the Legal Notice section of Swiss Re's website. End of Inside Information by Austin Bay January 26, 2023 No matter the outcome on the battlefield, the Ukraine War already has a clear winner: that small band of long-range planners, logisticians and military analysts who have insisted "cutting corners in maintaining war reserve stocks was a false economy..." Definition of war reserve stocks: warfighting material, produced in peacetime or left from a prior conflict, that is stored for use in a future war. Full disclosure: I'm an associate editor at StrategyPage.com. I pulled the "cutting corners" quote from an April 2016 StrategyPage "Procurement" update that discussed the major shortage of "smart" air-delivered munitions created by the 2011 NATO war in Libya. The lingering shortage impeded U.S. and allied operations in Iraq and Syria in 2015. Why? Replenishing depleted war material stockpiles, especially munitions, takes time and money. Long-range stockpile replenishment and anticipated munition expenditure are budget items that rarely get press attention. When senior Pentagon officials are asked to testify, they have to admit that "munition expenditure" depends on the situation -- who is fighting (America or an ally?), when the fight occurs (next week or in 10 years?), where the fight occurs (Taiwan, Syria, Poland?) and the weapon systems required to win the battle. Doing this takes military judgment, budget foresight, an assessment of evolving U.S. and allied interests, estimates of current and future manufacturing capacity and a detailed knowledge of, oh, several thousand weapons systems, their munitions and how they are employed. Typical Beltway scenario: "Oh, so your request is based on a guess, General?" snarks the congresswoman from the Bronx. Gee, I think we have just found money to fund my favorite critical race theory program. StrategyPage reprised the 2016 quote in an update published this month. Why? Because The Ukraine War has demonstrated "deep preparation" for war matters and the Beltway and major media are suddenly interested. The demand for specific Western nation-supplied weapon systems by Ukraine and the munitions expenditure rate reflects the larger operational phases we have witnessed on the battlefield. Russia launched ground and air operations in late February and early March 2022. Russia relied on armored columns (tanks and armored infantry vehicles) and aircraft and helicopter strikes. The Kremlin attempted to use maneuver and conduct a mobile war. The Trump administration had supplied Ukraine with infantry-portable Javelin Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs). It was a godsend. Ukrainian soldiers knew how to use them, and they devastated stalled Russian armored columns. (It helped that the poorly trained Russians couldn't integrate infantry and tanks in effective combat teams.) U.S. Stinger and British Starstreak portable anti-aircraft missiles denied Russia air superiority. Ukrainian valor and hi-tech Western weapons defeated the Russian offensive. By mid-April 2022 Western nations had provided Ukraine with some 90,000 portable anti-tank and air defense weapons -- a lot of weapons. We move to the more static phase -- the artillery slugfest reminiscent of WWI. According to estimates I've read, the U.S. has supplied Ukraine with around one million 155 mm artillery shells. In doing so, StrategyPage reports the U.S. has depleted its artillery shell war reserves. South Korea replenished a portion of the U.S. shortfall, which should give the U.S. time to increase production. StrategyPage says, however, "the 155mm shell reserves won't be restored to 2021 levels until 2027 or 2028." Ukraine's artillery star has been the U.S.-made Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) fired by the HIMARs wheeled launcher. The GMLRS is a very smart weapon. I've seen no estimates on the number of rockets fired but it has to be in the thousands. The GMLRS is a critical Army and Marine weapon on every battlefield but has real utility in a war with China. The expended rockets must be replaced. StrategyPage's report made that point for all U.S. munitions: "While European NATO nations don't have to worry about their major threat, Russia, while they rebuild their war reserves, the Americans have to plan for potential conflicts elsewhere, like China, North Korea and Iran." Congress needs to do its duty and replenish the U.S. munition stockpile. Previously a reporter at a local newspaper, Megan is looking forward to dipping her toes in the world of franchises. Her reporter experience gave her the chance to learn about anything and everything in her community, and shes looking forward to narrowing that broad experience into our publication. Follow Megan Glenn 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 Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021. All amounts expressed in US dollars BULYANHULU, Tanzania, Jan. 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD) (TSX:ABX) Barricks two gold mines in Tanzania, North Mara and Bulyanhulu, boosted their combined output to 547,0001 ounces in 2022, achieving another step towards their potential Tier One2 status in the groups asset portfolio as a combined complex. At the same time, exploration is continuing to deliver opportunities to grow the mineral reserves net of depletion at both mines. North Maras transition to owner-mining is successfully ramping up its ongoing open pit expansion with improved efficiencies and costs, while technological advances in the underground operation are increasing productivity. The restart of mining at the Gena pit is on track. At Bulyanhulu the main focus is on ramping up the development of its declines to access the new Deep West mineral reserves and defining further exploration potential in Reef 2. Briefing media and other stakeholders here today, Barrick president and chief executive Mark Bristow said since the company took over control of the mines in 2019 it had completely transformed what were effectively dead or dying operations into valuable assets in terms of their current performance, their future prospects and their social licence. Today the mines are recognized by both the government and communities as socially responsible businesses creating and sharing enormous benefits for all their stakeholders, and as a key partner in Tanzanias socio-economic development, he said. Last year North Mara was officially recognized as Tanzanias largest taxpayer and Bulyanhulu was awarded the Best Compliant Employer prize by the National Social Security Fund. North Mara and Bulyanhulu also received the first and second runner-up recognition awards, respectively, for the Export of Minerals and the generation of foreign currency. Theyve both come a very long way and we look forward to continuing that journey through our Twiga partnership with the government. Since the take-over in 2019, Barrick has pumped $2.4 billion into the Tanzanian economy. Last year it paid $303 million in taxes, royalties, levies, dividends and shareholder loan repayments and $476 million to local suppliers. As the mines have grown they have continued to prioritize local employment. Their workforce is already 96% Tanzanian, with 45% of new hires drawn from the surrounding communities. Through their community development committees, the mines have invested more than $10 million in projects to improve healthcare, education, access to potable water and the road infrastructure. Barrick Enquiries Corporate communications and country liaison manager Georgia Mutagahywa +255 754 711 215 Email: georgia.mutagahywa@barrick.com Investor and media relations Kathy du Plessis +44 20 7557 7738 +27 83 266 5847 Email: barrick@dpapr.com Website: www.barrick.com Endnote 1 On a 100% basis. Endnote 2 A Tier One Gold Asset is an asset with a reserve potential to deliver a minimum 10-year life, annual production of at least 500,000 ounces of gold and total cash costs per ounce over the mine life that are in the lower half of the industry cost curve. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information Certain information contained or incorporated by reference in this press release, including any information as to our strategy, projects, plans, or future financial or operating performance, constitutes forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The words potential, create, continue, opportunity, on track, future prospects, projects, look forward, continue, would, will, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements including, without limitation, with respect to: future production and cost levels for the North Mara and Bulyanhulu mines and their Tier One potential as a combined complex; opportunities to grow mineral reserves at North Mara and Bulyanhulu through exploration; the anticipated benefits of North Maras open pit expansion project and increased productivity from the underground operation through optimization and technological advancements; the potential for Barricks partnership with the Government of Tanzania to deliver long-term value to the Tanzanian economy and create benefits for employees, suppliers and other local stakeholders; Barricks sustainability initiatives in Tanzania including planned investments by Barrick in Tanzania including to develop healthcare, education, potable water and road infrastructure; Barricks contributions to the local economy, including local hiring and procurement programs and spending. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions including material estimates and assumptions related to the factors set forth below that, while considered reasonable by the Company as at the date of this press release in light of managements experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold, copper, or certain other commodities (such as silver, diesel fuel, natural gas, and electricity); the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; changes in mineral production performance, exploitation, and exploration successes; risks associated with projects in the early stages of evaluation, and for which additional engineering and other analysis is required; risks related to disruption of supply routes which may cause delays in construction and mining activities, including disruptions in the supply of key mining inputs due to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia; failure to comply with environmental and health and safety laws and regulations; timing of receipt of, or failure to comply with, necessary permits and approvals; uncertainty whether some or all of the targeted investments and projects will meet the Companys capital allocation objectives and internal hurdle rate; changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls or regulations and/ or changes in the administration of laws, policies and practices, expropriation or nationalization of property and political or economic developments in Tanzania and other jurisdictions in which the Company or its affiliates do or may carry on business in the future; our ability to convert resources into reserves; increased costs, delays, suspensions and technical challenges associated with the construction of capital projects; the impact of inflation, including global inflationary pressures driven by supply chain disruptions caused by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and global energy cost increases following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia; risks associated with working with partners in jointly controlled assets; damage to the Companys reputation due to the actual or perceived occurrence of any number of events, including negative publicity with respect to the Companys handling of environmental matters or dealings with community groups, whether true or not; risks associated with new diseases, epidemics and pandemics, including the effects and potential effects of the global Covid-19 pandemic; litigation and legal and administrative proceedings; employee relations including loss of key employees; increased costs and physical risks, including extreme weather events and resource shortages, related to climate change; and availability and increased costs associated with mining inputs and labor. Barrick also cautions that its guidance may be impacted by the unprecedented business and social disruption caused by the spread of Covid-19. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion, copper cathode or gold or copper concentrate losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks). Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect our actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, us. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Specific reference is made to the most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information Form on file with the SEC and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities for a more detailed discussion of some of the factors underlying forward-looking statements and the risks that may affect Barricks ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Barrick disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. THE CHANNON, Australia, Jan. 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Australias own Queen of lemon herbs lemon myrtle made a bold debut at Europes largest hospitality trade expo SIRHA, held over the past five days in Lyon, France. Visitors to the show were able to sample the incredible flavour intensity of lemon myrtle leaf at the Sens Gourmet stand, with Australian Native Products now part of this cutting-edge distributors family of innovative ingredients. In addition, lemon myrtle was on the menu at the world-renowned Bocuse dOr culinary contest, with Australias contender Alex McIntosh including it in his dishes to wow the judges. Lemon myrtle is often described as more lemony than lemon, due to its high concentration of citral, which gives an intense citrus hit coupled with sweetness and cooling on the palate. Chefs and food manufacturers all over the world are discovering that this distinctive citrus flavour is ideal to enhance both sweet and savoury dishes, as well as hot and cold beverages. We are thrilled with the reception our lemon myrtle has received at SIRHA Lyon, says Ross Norris, General Manager of Australian Native Products. Although lemon myrtle is already well known for antibacterial and antifungal properties in cleaning and wellness products, and it is highly sought-after in teas, we are still exploring its vast potential as a culinary ingredient. Sens Gourmets founder and owner Jean-Michel Thirion agrees. I first discovered lemon myrtle 25 years ago, but had difficulty sourcing it. Now it is great to partner with Australian Native Products to give chefs in Europe access to this incredible ingredient. My company prides itself on providing unique flavours to chefs who are at the forefront of innovation, so I was very pleased to be able to show them lemon myrtle at SIRHA Lyon. As the worlds most prestigious competition for chefs, Bocuse dOr is known as an incubator of culinary ideas and the perfect platform to showcase the versatility of lemon myrtle. Australian Native Products is a proud sponsor of the Australian Bocuse dOr team, and competitor Alex McIntosh said lemon myrtle was an integral component of his dishes. In the first part of the challenge I included lemon myrtle in a mousse as part of the dessert, and it was perfect in the sauce that accompanied the main course, he says. Lemon myrtle gives a real lemony kick, and I love the cooling finish on the palate. Ross Norris says he is blown away by response he has had from the many chefs and visitors to SIRHA who tried lemon myrtle. Its clear that chefs looking for a creative edge are very excited by this Australian lemon herb. We believe it will soon be appearing on menus at premium restaurants around the world and we are thrilled to be able to meet demand for this unique and exciting ingredient. With organic and conventional farms in Queensland and New South Wales, we strive to live true to our purpose of helping people improve their wellbeing by nourishing through nature, he adds. And by bringing products to market that utilise the functional benefits of lemon myrtle, we will share this amazing plant with the world. Australian Native Products is the world's largest grower, processor and marketer of both organic and conventional lemon myrtle, providing a complete supply chain from farm to table. With a vision to unlock the hidden benefits of native Australian botanicals, this dynamic company has been making consistent investments in sustainable farming, manufacturing innovation, product development and market access, all while raising awareness and making stock available to customers globally. Media Contact: Hui Li Executive Director, Australian Native Products hui@australiannativeproducts.com.au +61 434 223 121 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2c53adfa-d132-4d3c-8995-a7bbe004eba4 Portland,OR, Jan. 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the Malaysia Water Purifier market is expected to account for $256.3 million in 2021 and to grow at an 8.1% CAGR to $536.6 million by 2031. The report examines changing market dynamics, major segments, the value chain, the competitive scenario, and the regional landscape. This research can help market leaders, investors, shareholders, and startups develop long-term growth strategies and gain a competitive advantage. Download Sample Copy of Report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/4992 Report coverage & details: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20222031 Base Year 2021 Market Size in 2021 $256.3 million Market Size in 2031 $536.6 million CAGR 8.1% No. of Pages in Report 200 Segments covered Technology, End User, Distribution Channel, and Portability. Drivers Surge in incidence of waterborne diseases Upsurge in concern towards health Development of the food and beverage industry Opportunities Surge in awareness about purified water Restraints High maintenance cost of water purifiers Covid-19 Scenario: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had a positive impact on the growth of the Malaysia Water Purifier market. The increased demand for water purifiers to combat waterborne diseases led to increased demand for water purifiers. During the pandemic, the demand for water purifiers increased significantly for establishments such as hospitals, covid relief centers, and vaccination centers. The purifiers were provided by many companies through their CSR initiatives, leading to an increase in the sales of water purifiers in Malaysia. The research provides detailed segmentation of the Malaysia Water Purifier market based on technology, end user, distribution channel, and portability. Tables and figures are used in the study to discuss segments and their sub-segments thoroughly. Market participants and investors can plan their strategies based on the top revenue-generating and fastest-growing segments in the research. Based on technology, the RO purifier segment held the highest share in 2021, accounting for more than 65% of the Malaysia Water Purifier market. It is expected to continue its dominance in the market during the forecast period. The RO purifier segment is expected to register the highest CAGR of 8.5% from 2022 to 2031. In terms of end users, the residential sector accounted for the largest share in 2021, making for about two-thirds of the Malaysia Water Purifier market. This segment is anticipated to continue to dominate the market in terms of revenue during the industry's forecast period. But from 2022 to 2031, the commercial water purifier segment is anticipated to have the most significant CAGR of 8.6%. The retail segment of the distribution channel held close to 75% of the Malaysia Water Purifier market in 2021, according to the distribution channel, and is anticipated to maintain its dominant position over the course of the forecast period. During the forecast period, the online segment is expected to increase at the highest CAGR of 9.6%. Based on portability, non-portable water purifiers had the most significant market share in Malaysia in 2021, accounting for more than 95% of the market. It is anticipated that they would continue to hold the majority of the market in revenue until 2031. Additionally, during the projected period, the portable water purifier segment is anticipated to have the quickest CAGR of 9.8%. Purchase Inquiry: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/4992 Leading market players of the Malaysia Water Purifier market analyzed in the research include Amway (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Bio Pure (Elken Global Sdn. Bhd.), Coway (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., CUCKOO, International (Mal) Sdn. Bhd., Diamond (Malaysia), LG Electronics Inc., Nesh Malaysia, Panasonic Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., SK Magic (Malaysia). These important market players for water purifiers in Malaysia are thoroughly examined in the study. These businesses have implemented different strategies to grow their market share and maintain dominating positions in various geographies, including new product releases, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others. The study highlights company performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic actions made by market participants to illustrate the competitive environment. Trending Reports in Consumer Goods Industry (Book Now with 10% Discount): Water purifier Market is projected to reach $92,082.60 million by 2031 POU Water Purifier Market Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 2021-2031 Water Filter Market Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 2021-2030 India & Southeast Asia Residential Water Purifier Market Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 2021-2031 Africa Water Purifier Market is Estimated to Reach $617.7 Million by 2027 About Us: Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 3D secure payment authentication market is anticipated to reach US$ 1.28 billion in 2023 and is likely to record a CAGR of 12.2% between 2023 and 2033. The 3D secure payment authentication market is expected to reach US$ 4.06 billion in 2033. The rise in online fraud, including identity theft and illegal card use, is the ground for the sector's expansion. Due to the growth in smartphone sales and internet usage, e-commerce and mobile commerce sales are rising globally. Online fraud has significantly increased as a result of the rise in popularity of online shopping portals and the accessibility of online payment options. This aspect is fueling the adoption of 3D authentication technology. Ask for In-depth Report Sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-16537 Emerging Hotel Industry Adoption of Payment Secure Platforms is Sparking Market Growth Fast adopters of new technologies, such as computerized table service and app-based ordering, include hotels and restaurants. Customers can now order and pay using a variety of mobile platforms that offer a wide range of payment options. Diverse hotels, resorts, and tourist attractions allow purchases and transactions online for services like booking rooms and other items. Online fraud can happen during a reservation transaction. Therefore, this boosts the adoption of 3D secure payment authentication along with 3D secure payment authentication market trends. North America Outlook The 3D secure payment authentication market in North America is extremely competitive due to significant technological advancements. The government's overall investment in research and development has increased drastically, including in the United States. The demand for increased security in online transactions has recently increased in the United States. As retailers all over the United States started implementing EMV technology at Point-Of-Sale (POS) terminals, card fraud in person became more and more challenging. This caused criminal activity to start moving online. Key Takeaways With a 3D secure payment authentication market share of 38.85% of the total sales, the component category's merchant plug-in segment led the market. The component category's access control server segment in the 3D secure payment authentication market is predicted to increase strongly. The bank's segment gained a huge revenue share of more than 59.70% in application category revenue in 2023. The application category's merchants & payment gateway section are predicted to increase at the maximum rate throughout the projection period. In 2023, North America dominated the market and contributed to more than 28.90% of total sales. Over the forecast period, the Asia Pacific 3D secure payment authentication market is anticipated to experience swift growth. Read Full Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/3d-secure-payment-authentication-market Competitive Landscape In order to increase their visibility and solidify their market share, 3D secure authentication solutions providers are using development strategies in practice. To increase their 3D secure payment authentication market share, providers of 3D secure authentication have implemented significant expansion initiatives, such as product acquisitions, collaborations, and launches, as well as creating regional and international distribution networks. Recent Developments Launch Everlink Payment Services Inc. declared in January 2022 that it had finished the 3D secure certification process. The VISA Consumer Authentication Service (VCAS) introduced a 3D Secure Payment Authentication Service for both Mastercard and Visa card products as a consequence of certification. Using the 3D Secure Payment Authentication Service, the company hopes to lower CNP transaction fraud. Uber Technologies, Inc. stated in May 2019 that it had chosen the payments platform Adyen to use its 3D secure payment authentication solution. Uber Technologies, Inc. chose this option to give its consumers a simple and satisfying payment experience. Key Segments By Component: Access Control Server Merchant Plug-in Others By Application: Banks Merchants & Payment Gateway By Region: North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America The Middle East and Africa Pre-Book Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/16537 Table of Content 1. Executive Summary | 3D Secure Payment Authentication Market 1.1. Global Market Outlook 1.2. Demand-side Trends 1.3. Supply-side Trends 1.4. Technology Roadmap Analysis 1.5. Analysis and Recommendations 2. Market Overview 2.1. Market Coverage / Taxonomy 2.2. Market Definition / Scope / Limitations 3. Market Background 3.1. Market Dynamics 3.1.1. Drivers 3.1.2. Restraints 3.1.3. Opportunity 3.1.4. Trends 3.2. Scenario Forecast 3.2.1. Demand in Optimistic Scenari o 3.2.2. Demand in Likely Scenario 3.2.3. Demand in Conservative Scenario 3.3. Opportunity Map Analysis 3.4. Investment Feasibility Matrix 3.5. PESTLE and Porters Analysis 3.6. Regulatory Landscape 3.6.1. By Key Regions 3.6.2. By Key Countries 3.7. Regional Parent Market Outlook Ask Analyst: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-16537 Explore FMIs Extensive Coverage on Technology Domain: Location Based Marketing Services Market Size : The location based marketing services market is anticipated to progress at a CAGR of 18.1% during the period of 2022-2032 Micro Mobile Data Center Market Review : The micro mobile data center market is predicted to grow from US$ 4.1 Billion in 2022 to US$ 16.8 Billion in 2032. IT Asset Management Market Research : The IT asset management market is anticipated to have document a CAGR of 6.9% during the period of 2022-2032. Life Science Analytics Market Overview : The global life science analytics market is projected to grow at US$ 24.8 Billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 10.7%, reaching US$ 68.6 Billion by 2032 Payment Processing Solutions Market Forecast : The global payment processing solutions market is expected to reach US$ 90.4 Billion in 2022, from US$ 82 Billion in 2021. From 2022 to 2032 About Future Market Insights, Inc. Future Market Insights, Inc. is an ESOMAR-certified business consulting & market research firm, a member of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce and is headquartered in Delaware, USA. A recipient of Clutch Leaders Award 2022 on account of high client score (4.9/5), we have been collaborating with global enterprises in their business transformation journey and helping them deliver on their business ambitions. 80% of the largest Forbes 1000 enterprises are our clients. We serve global clients across all leading & niche market segments across all major industries Contact Us: Future Market Insights Inc. 1602-6 Jumeirah Bay X2 Tower, Plot No: JLT-PH2-X2A, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, United Arab Emirates T: +1-845-579-5705 LinkedIn| Twitter| Blogs | YouTube For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com English French TORONTO, Jan. 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited (BlackRock Canada), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. (BlackRock) (NYSE:BLK) today announces additional information regarding the termination of the following fund (the Terminating Fund) that was announced on November 10, 2022. Fund Name Ticker iShares Short Duration High Income ETF (CAD-Hedged) CSD The units of the Terminating Fund were delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange on January 18, 2023. The proceeds from the liquidation of the assets, less all liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with this termination of the Terminating Fund (the Termination Proceeds) were determined on January 25, 2023 and are as follows: Fund Name Final Distribution (CAD) Post-distribution net asset value per unit (CAD) Termination Proceeds per unit (CAD) Income per unit Capital gains per unit iShares Short Duration High Income ETF (CAD-Hedged) $0.07993 $15.187972 $15.267902 Each unitholder will receive the Termination Proceeds (including the final distribution) on a pro rata basis and in the currency shown in the table above and no further action is required by unitholders. The proceeds of termination will be paid out to CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc. on or about February 1, 2023, which investors will receive thereafter based on individual brokerage processing times. About BlackRock BlackRocks purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate About iShares ETFs iShares unlocks opportunity across markets to meet the evolving needs of investors. With more than twenty years of experience, a global line-up of 1300+ exchange traded funds (ETFs) and US$2.91 trillion in assets under management as of December 31, 2022, iShares continues to drive progress for the financial industry. iShares funds are powered by the expert portfolio and risk management of BlackRock. iShares ETFs are managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investing in iShares ETFs. Please read the relevant prospectus before investing. The funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional. Contact for Media: Reem Jazar Email: reem.jazar@blackrock.com Seoul, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cancer Biomarkers Market study by "Data Bridge Market Research" provides details about the market dynamics affecting this market, Market scope, Market segmentation, and overlays shadow upon the leading market players highlighting the favorable competitive landscape and trends prevailing over the years. Cancer Biomarkers Market research report execution is becoming very vital for businesses to gain success because it offers many benefits including insights into revenue growth and sustainability initiative. This industry report also offers businesses the company profile, product specifications, production value, manufacturer's contact information, and market shares for the company. Moreover, the Cancer Biomarkers Market business report blends together all-inclusive industry analysis with particular estimates and forecasts to provide complete research solutions with the greatest clarity for strategic decision-making. Data Bridge Market Research analyses that the cancer biomarkers market is expected to undergo a CAGR of 13.11% during the forecast period. This indicates that the market value, which was USD 11.66 billion in 2021, would rocket up to USD 51.14 billion by 2029. Lung Cancer dominates the product segment of the cancer biomarkers market owing to the fact that lung cancer has the highest prevalence rate in the world as compared to other cancer types. The market report curated by the Data Bridge Market Research team includes in-depth expert analysis, patient epidemiology, pipeline analysis, pricing analysis, and regulatory framework. Download the Exclusive Sample of the Cancer Biomarkers Market Report in PDF Version @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-cancer-biomarkers-market Market Overview: - From the name itself, it is clear that cancer biomarkers are the biomolecules that are used for determining cancer in the body. The cancer biomarkers are effective in diagnosing the cancerous cells in a particular area or organ in the body. These biomolecules are analysed by collecting samples of stool, urine, tumour tissue, blood, and other bodily fluids. Cancer is one of the highest prevailing diseases in the world. According to a report by World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is the second most leading cause of deaths globally. In many cases, cancer isnt diagnosed up until the last stage and it is very difficult for the body to recover from that stage. This led to the introduction of biomarkers in the field of diagnostic technology. Cancer biomarkers are increasingly gaining importance in the developing economies coupled with growing awareness about them in the remote areas. Opportunities Furthermore, an upsurge in the public-private funding for target research activities, increasing popularity of personalized medicine, increasing awareness regarding malignancies among patients and rising product innovations and development owing to technological advancements all around the world will extend profitable opportunities for the market players in the forecast period of 2022 to 2029. Additionally, surging number of strategic collaborations, rising internet penetration rate, growing number of hospitals and laboratories, higher acceptance of treatments for cancer in the developing regions and increasing per capita expenditure on health care will further expand the market's growth rate in the future. Recent Development In March 2021, Roche received approval from US FDA for VENTANA ALK (D5F3) CDx Assay. In July 2020, Thermo Fisher Scientific signed a companion diagnostic (CDx) agreement with Vhugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd to increase the use of Oncomine Dx Target Test in Japan. Some of the major players operating in the Cancer Biomarkers market are: Abbott. (US) DiagnoCure Inc. (Canada) Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (US) Illumina Inc. (US) QIAGEN (Germany) F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Switzerland) Agilent Technologies Inc. (US) Quest Diagnostics Incorporated. (US) Merck KGaA (Germany) Hologic Inc. (US) BD. (US) GlaxoSmithKline plc. (UK) Novartis AG (Switzerland) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (US) Eli Lilly and Company (US) Pfizer Inc. (US) Genomic Health Inc. (US) bioMerieux SA (France) Astellas Pharma Inc. (Japan) and Myriad Genetics Inc. (US) among others. Grab the Full PDF Research Report @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/checkout/buy/enterprise/global-cancer-biomarkers-market Market intelligence platform will help you understand: Identify emerging market trends & dynamics Market intelligence with quality and accuracy Benchmark against competitors & industry Explore competitive strategy & market share Discover regional market opportunities Deliverable formats include PDF, PPT, Excel & Online Dashboard Data Bridge Market Research employs a comprehensive and iterative research methodology focused on minimizing deviance in order to provide the most accurate estimates and forecasts possible. The company utilizes a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches for segmenting and estimating quantitative aspects of the market. In Addition, a recurring theme prevalent across all our research reports is data triangulation which looks market from three different perspectives Cancer Biomarkers Market Scope: Type Genetic Biomarkers Protein Biomarkers Other Cancer Biomarkers Cancer Type Breast Cancer Prostate Cancer Colorectal Cancer Blood Cancer Melanoma Ovarian Cancer Liver Cancer Stomach Cancer Other Cancer Types Technology Imaging Technologies Omic Technologies Cytogenetic-Based Tests Immunoassays Applications Drug Discovery and Development Personalized Medicine Diagnostics Others End-user Hospitals Academic and Cancer Research Institutes Ambulatory Surgical Centres Diagnostic Laboratories Critical Insights Related to the Cancer Biomarkers Included in the Report: Exclusive graphics and Illustrative Porters Five Forces analysis of some of the leading companies in this market Value chain analysis of prominent players in the market Current trends influencing the dynamics of this market across various geographies Recent mergers, acquisitions, collaborations, and partnerships Revenue growth of this industry over the forecast period Marketing strategy study and growth trends Growth-driven factor analysis Emerging recess segments and region-wise market An empirical evaluation of the curve of this market Ancient, Present, and Probable scope of the market from both prospect value and volume Get a Detailed Summary of the Research Report @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-cancer-biomarkers-market Cancer Biomarkers Market Dynamics The rise in the prevalence of cancer The surging prevalence of cancer especially lung cancer all around the globe is one of the major factors responsible for fostering growth in the market value. According to a recent data, more than 70% of deaths occur from cancer in low- and middle-income countries. Factually, 1 in 6 people suffer from some or the other cancer. Research and development proficiencies Rising expenditure for research and development proficiencies especially in the developed and developing economies pertaining to the medical instruments and devices will further create lucrative market growth opportunities. Research and development proficiencies being conducted for drug discovery is also bolstering the market growth rate. Government investments on healthcare infrastructure The increase in the funding by the federal government is set to drive the market growth rate. Moreover, growth and expansion of healthcare industry being driven by both public and private players especially in the developing economies will create lucrative personal health devices market growth opportunities. Additionally, surge in the personal disposable income level, introduction of technologically driven product in hospitals and increasing investment for the development of advanced, governmental support in approving the novel drugs pertaining to the cancer biomarkers, positively affect the market growth rate. Market Regional Analysis/Insights: The countries covered in the cancer biomarkers market report are U.S., Canada and Mexico in North America, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Rest of Europe in Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia-Pacific (APAC) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC), Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, South Africa, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa (MEA) as a part of Middle East and Africa (MEA), Brazil, Argentina and Rest of South America as part of South America. North America dominates the cancer biomarkers market because of the strong base of healthcare facilities, rising investment from key players in the growth of the advanced devices, growing number of processes pertaining to drug development, detection of specific tumours, monitoring biological response to cancer therapy and rising number of research activities in this region. Asia-Pacific is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period of 2022 to 2029 due to the increase in government initiatives to promote awareness, rise in medical tourism, growing research activities in the region, rising prevalence of cancer and the growing demand for quality healthcare in the region. For More Insights, Grab Full TOC @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/toc/?dbmr=global-cancer-biomarkers-market Browse Related Reports: Europe Cancer Biomarkers Market , By Product (Consumables, Services, Software, Growth Hormone Therapy), Type (Safety Biomarkers, Efficacy Biomarkers, Validation Biomarkers, Protein Biomarkers, Pharmacodynamics Biomarkers, Genetic Biomarkers), Profiling Technologies (OMICS, Imaging Technology, Immunoassays, Cytogenetics and Bioinformatics), Service (Sample Preparation, Assay Development, Biomarkers and Testing), Application (Diagnostics Development, Drug Discovery and Development, Personalized Medicine, Disease-Risk Assessment, Others), Disease (Prostate Cancer, Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Cervical Cancer, and Other Diseases), Indication (Cancer, Cardiovascular Disorders, Neurological Disorders, Immunological Disorders, Others) Industry Trends and Forecast to 2030. https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/europe-cancer-biomarkers-market North America Cancer Biomarkers Market , By Type (Genetic Biomarkers, Protein Biomarkers, Other Cancer Biomarkers), Product (PSA, HER-2, EGFR, KRAS, Others), Cancer (Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Blood Cancer, Melanoma, Ovarian Cancer, Liver Cancer, Stomach Cancer, Others), Technology (Imaging Technologies, Omic Technologies, Cytogenetic-Based Tests and Immunoassays), Applications (Drug Discovery and Development, Personalized Medicine, Diagnostics and Others), End User (Hospitals, Academic and Cancer Research Institutes, Ambulatory Surgical Centers and Diagnostic Laboratories), Country (U.S., Canada, Mexico) Industry Trends and Forecast to 2029. https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/north-america-cancer-biomarkers-market Biomarkers Market , By Type (Safety, Efficacy, Validation), Application (Diagnostics Development, Drug Discovery and Development, Personalized Medicine, Disease-Risk Assessment, Others), Product Type (Consumables, Services, Software), Technology (Safety Biomarkers, Efficacy Biomarkers, Validation Biomarkers), Indication (Cancer, Cardiovascular Disorders, Neurological Disorders, Immunological Disorders, Others) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-biomarkers-market Europe Biomarkers Market , By Type (Safety Biomarkers, Efficacy Biomarkers, Validation Biomarker), Product (Consumables, Services, Software, Growth Hormone Therapy), Mechanism (Genetic, Epigenetic, Proteomic, Lipidomic, and Other Mechanisms), Application (Diagnostics Development, Drug Discovery and Development, Personalized Medicine, Disease Risk Assessment, Others), Disease Indication (Cancer, Cardiovascular Disorders, Neurological Disorders, Immunological Disorders, Others) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/europe-biomarkers-market North America Biomarkers Market , By Type (Safety Biomarkers, Efficacy Biomarkers, Validation Biomarker), Product (Consumables, Services, Software, Growth Hormone Therapy), Mechanism (Genetic, Epigenetic, Proteomic, Lipidomic, and Other Mechanisms), Application (Diagnostics Development, Drug Discovery and Development, Personalized Medicine, Disease Risk Assessment, Others), Disease Indication (Cancer, Cardiovascular Disorders, Neurological Disorders, Immunological Disorders, Others), Country (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/north-america-biomarkers-market Neuro logical Biomarkers Market , By Product Type (Genomics Biomarker, Proteomics Biomarker, Imaging Biomarker, Metabolomics Biomarker, Others), Indication (Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Parkinsons Disease, Schizophrenia, Huntingtons Disease, Alzheimers Disease, Depression, Multiple Sclerosis), Imaging Techniques (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Conventional Structural MRI, Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Positron Emission Tomography), Services (Sample Preparation, Assay Development, Biomarker Validation and Testing), End- User (Clinical Diagnostics, Pharmaceutical And Biotechnology Companies, Research Organizations), Country (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, Italy, U.K., France, Spain, Netherland, Belgium, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, Rest of Europe, Japan, China, India, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia-Pacific, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East & Africa) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-neurological-biomarkers-market About Data Bridge Market Research: An absolute way to forecast what future holds is to comprehend the trend today! Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavours to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process. Data Bridge is an aftermath of sheer wisdom and experience which was formulated and framed in the year 2015 in Pune. Data Bridge Market Research has over 500 analysts working in different industries. We have catered more than 40% of the fortune 500 companies globally and have a network of more than 5000+ clientele around the globe. Data Bridge adepts in creating satisfied clients who reckon upon our services and rely on our hard work with certitude. We are content with our glorious 99.9 % client satisfying rate. Contact Us: Data Bridge Market Research US: +1 888 387 2818 UK: +44 208 089 1725 Hong Kong: +852 8192 7475 Dublin, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Advanced Wound Care Market by Product (Dressings (Foam, Hydrocolloid, Film, Alginate), NPWT, Debridement Devices, Grafts, Matrices, Topical Agents), Wound Type (Surgical, Traumatic, Ulcers, Burns), End User (Hospital, Homecare) - Global Forecast to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The advanced wound care market is valued at an estimated USD 11.3 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 17.7 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 9.4% during the forecast period. The rising prevalence of diseases and ailments that impair the ability to heal wounds as well as rising spending on chronic wounds are some of the factors driving market expansion. On the other side, the usage of advanced wound care products and devices are quite expensive and also carry a number of hazards, which act as the main obstacles to the growth of this market. The grafts & matrices segment accounted for the highest growth rate in the advanced wound care market, by product, during the forecast period The advanced wound care market is segmented into dressings, devices & accessories, grafts & matrices, and topical agents based on product. In 2021, grafts & matrices segment accounted for the highest growth rate in the advanced wound care market. The rising geriatric population, increased demand, and rising prevalence of target illness such as leg ulcers are all factors influencing the growth of this market segment. Surgical & traumatic wounds segment accounted for the highest CAGR Based on wound type, the advanced wound care market is segmented into surgical & traumatic wounds, diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, venous leg ulcers, and burns & other wounds. In 2021, the surgical & traumatic wounds segment accounted for the highest growth rate. Factors contributing to the growth of this market segment is due to rise in chronic diseases and the amount of surgical operations being performed. Asia Pacific: The fastest-growing region advanced wound care market The global advanced wound care market is segmented into North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. The Asia Pacific region is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The market is expected to grow as a result of factors like the rising demand for precise technologies, growing incidences of diabetes, increasing healthcare spending, the expansion of private hospitals in rural areas in various APAC countries, increasing medical tourism for treatments, and the existence of high-growth markets are expected to boost the market growth. The low labor costs and the hospitable regulatory climate in this region are also anticipated to fuel market growth. Market Dynamics Drivers Growing Prevalence of Diseases & Conditions Affecting Wound Healing Capabilities Growing Geriatric Population Increasing Prevalence of Diabetes High Incidence of Obesity Increasing Number of Surgical Procedures Increasing Number of Traumatic Wounds Increasing Spending on Chronic Wounds Increasing Incidence of Burn Injuries Technological Advancements Restraints High Cost of Advanced Wound Care Products Risks Associated with Use of Advanced Wound Care Products Opportunities Growth Potential of Emerging Economies Trends Acquisitions by Leading Companies Focus on Expanding Capabilities of Current Technologies and Launching Novel Products Smart Advanced Wound Care Crab Shell Bandages Color Changing Dressings Integration of Nanotechnology in Advanced Wound Care Products Novel Wound Assessment/Measurement Devices Key Topics Covered: 1 Introduction 2 Research Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Premium Insights 5 Market Overview 6 Market, by Product 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Dressings 6.3 Devices & Accessories 6.5 Topical Agents 7 Advanced Wound Care Market, by Wound Type 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Surgical & Traumatic Wounds 7.3 Diabetic Foot Ulcers 7.4 Pressure Ulcers 7.5 Venous Leg Ulcers 7.6 Burns & Other Wounds 8 Market, by End-User 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Hospitals, Ascs, and Wound Care Centers 8.3 Home Care Settings 8.4 Other End-Users 9 Market, by Region 10 Competitive Landscape 11 Company Profiles 12 Appendix Companies Mentioned 3M Company (US) Advancis Medical (UK) B. Braun SE (Germany) Bioventus LLC (US) Cardinal Health Inc. (US) Carilex Medical (Germany) Coloplast A/S (Denmark) ConvaTec Inc. (UK) DeRoyal Industries, Inc. (US) DermaRite Industries, LLC (US) HAROMED B.V. (Belgium). Hollister Incorporated (US) Integra LifeSciences (US) Kerecis (Iceland) Lohmann & Rauscher GMBH & CO. KG (Germany) MIMEDX GROUP, INC.(US) Medline Industries, LP (US) Mil Laboratories Pvt. Ltd. (India) Molnlycke Health Care AB (Sweden) Organogenesis Holdings Inc. (US) PAUL HARTMANN AG (Germany) Pensar Medical, LLC (US) Shield Line (US) Smith & Nephew (UK) Winner Medical Co., Ltd. (China) Wuhan VSD Medical Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (China) ZENIMEDICAL (US) Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (US) For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/rdmbjk-wound?w=12 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment RABAT, Morocco, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Vice President of Saudi Arabias State Security, Abdullah Fahad Salih Al-Owais, was received on Tuesday in Rabat by the Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance of Morocco, Abdellatif Hammouchi, on a working visit to Morocco leading an important security delegation. This was reported by the website barlamane.com. The Saudi delegation included the head of the Directorate General for Countering Extremism and the head of the Directorate General for Conventions and International Cooperation, as well as experts and Saudi state security officials, according to a statement from Morocco's Directorate General for Territorial Surveillance (DGST). This visit, which reflected the cooperative relations in the field of intelligence and security coordination between the DGST and the Presidency of Saudi State Security, highlighted the common desire of both sides to consolidate this bilateral cooperation in the service of the security and safety of their citizens, the same source added. At the end of the visit, Hammouchi and Salih Al-Owais signed a cooperation agreement between the DGST and the Presidency of Saudi State Security in the field of counterterrorism. The agreement covers the organisation and development of security cooperation and coordination in various areas related to combating terrorism and terrorist financing operations, the website reported. The DGST and the Presidency of Saudi State Security intend to develop their security and intelligence relations, to coordinate efforts in the fight against terrorism and extremism, with the aim of depriving terrorist organisations of any support base, recruitment ground and financial resources, the statement concluded. For more information: LaPresse SpA Communication and Press Office Director Barbara Sanicola - barbara.sanicola@lapresse.it A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2a41d4e7-ea1e-441e-a606-6c962777ee94 The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress. Dublin, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Bathtub Global Market Report 2022" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the global bathtub market. The global bathtub market is expected to grow from $8.04 billion in 2021 to $8.28 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.9%. The bathtub market is expected to grow to $9.29 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 2.9%. Reasons to Purchase Gain a truly global perspective with the most comprehensive report available on this market covering 12+ geographies. Understand how the market is being affected by the coronavirus and how it is likely to emerge and grow as the impact of the virus abates. Create regional and country strategies on the basis of local data and analysis. Identify growth segments for investment. Outperform competitors using forecast data and the drivers and trends shaping the market. Understand customers based on the latest market research findings. Benchmark performance against key competitors. Utilize the relationships between key data sets for superior strategizing. Suitable for supporting your internal and external presentations with reliable high quality data and analysis Major players in the bathtub market are Jacuzzi, Jaguar, Kohler Co., RAK Ceramics P.J.S.C., Roca, Villeroy & Boch, Orans, Colston, Johnson, American Bath Group, Eczacibasi Group, MUNK, Arrow, Appollo, Duravit, Kaldewei and TOTO Ltd. The bathtub market consists of sales of bathtubs by entities (organizations, sole traders, and partnerships) that refers to a large vessel for holding water in which a person may bathe. A bathtub is generally placed in the restroom as stage alone institution or in confluence with a shower. Utmost ultramodern bathtubs are made of fiberglass or Acrylic, but some may be available in ceramic or over steel or cast iron and sometimes a leakproof wood. Ultramodern bathtubs may have waste water out points and include a tap on top. Generally, many bathtubs are in recent gular shape but with the arrival of acrylic thermoformed cataracts, further shapes are getting available. The main types of bathtubs are acrylic, cast iron, and fiberglass. Acrylic tubs are comprised of vacuum-formed acrylic sheets that are typically bonded with fiberglass for further strength. Because the material is naturally soft and elastic, it's ideal for a wide range of tub shapes and sizes. Bathtubs are of various shapes such as rectangular, square, oval that is installed free standing, alcove, drop-in in a residential or commercial building. North America was the largest region in the bathtub market in 2021. Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the bathtub market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, and Africa. The bathtub market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides bathtub market statistics, including bathtub industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a bathtub market share, detailed bathtub market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the bathtub industry. This bathtub market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry. The expansion of the hospitality industry is driving the growth of the bathtub market. Many hotels and resorts have bathtubs installed in their guest rooms to provide a luxurious and comforting experience to travelers. According to IBEF, an Indian Government export promotion agency, in 2020, In India, the tourism industry employed 39 million people, accounting for 8.0 % of the country's overall workforce. It is estimated to employ almost 53 million people by 2029. Moreover, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, a forum for the travel and tourism industry, India placed 10th out of 185 nations in terms of overall contribution to GDP from travel and tourism in 2019. In 2019, travel and tourism contributed 6.8% of the entire economy's GDP or Rs. 13,68,100 crore (US$ 194.30 billion). Such a rise in the travel industry is expanding the hospitality industry driving the growth of the market. Technological advancement is a key trend gaining popularity in the bathtub market. Major companies operating in the bathtub market are focused on bringing advancements in technologies to offer an enhanced product to its customer. For instance, in January 2022, Kohler launched the PerfectFill technology bathtub. The bathtub has voice command technology that uses Alexa to fill and remove water into and from the bathtub. PerfectFill is made up of a drain kit and a digital valve that work together to bring the bath to the temperature and depth that is chosen. In October 2020, Centerbridge Partners, L.P a leading global financial investment firm headquartered in New York, USA has acquired American Bath Group LLC through its affiliates Lone Star Funds for an undisclosed amount. As a result of this acquisition, Centerbridge Partners can strengthen its portfolio of a business and can also expand its overall company growth, and strengthen its operations. American Bath Group LLC is a leading global manufacturer of restroom fittings like bathtubs, showers, and many more headquartered in Tennessee USA. The countries covered in the bathtub market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA. Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 175 Forecast Period 2022 - 2026 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $8.28 billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2026 $9.29 billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 2.9% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 2. Bathtub Market Characteristics 3. Bathtub Market Trends And Strategies 4. Impact Of COVID-19 On Bathtub 5. Bathtub Market Size And Growth 5.1. Global Bathtub Historic Market, 2016-2021, $ Billion 5.1.1. Drivers Of The Market 5.1.2. Restraints On The Market 5.2. Global Bathtub Forecast Market, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion 5.2.1. Drivers Of The Market 5.2.2. Restraints On the Market 6. Bathtub Market Segmentation 6.1. Global Bathtub Market, Segmentation By Type, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion Acrylic Cast Iron Fiberglass 6.2. Global Bathtub Market, Segmentation By Shapes, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion Rectangular Square Oval 6.3. Global Bathtub Market, Segmentation By Installation, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion Free Standing Alcove Drop In 6.4. Global Bathtub Market, Segmentation By Application, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion Residential Commercial 7. Bathtub Market Regional And Country Analysis 7.1. Global Bathtub Market, Split By Region, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion 7.2. Global Bathtub Market, Split By Country, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/vrutw4-global?w=12 Attachment Dublin, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Procurement Analytics Global Market Report 2022" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the global procurement analytics market. The global procurement analytics market is expected to grow from $3.41 billion in 2021 to $4.07 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.40%. The procurement analytics market is expected to grow to $8.36 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.71%. Reasons to Purchase Gain a truly global perspective with the most comprehensive report available on this market covering 12+ geographies. Understand how the market is being affected by the coronavirus and how it is likely to emerge and grow as the impact of the virus abates. Create regional and country strategies on the basis of local data and analysis. Identify growth segments for investment. Outperform competitors using forecast data and the drivers and trends shaping the market. Understand customers based on the latest market research findings. Benchmark performance against key competitors. Utilize the relationships between key data sets for superior strategizing. Suitable for supporting your internal and external presentations with reliable high quality data and analysis Major players in the procurement analytics market are SAP, Oracle, Coupa Software, Genpact, Rosslyn Data Technologies, IBM, Cisco, Microsoft Corp, BirchStreet Systems LLC, Sievo, Corcentric, Zycus, Amazon Web Services, Inc, and JAGGAER LLC. The procurement analytics market consists of the sales of procurement analytics solutions and services by entities (organizations, partnerships, and sole proprietors) that refers to software, which automates spend analysis and purchase analysis and operates completely organizations' expenditure through an insightful dashboard. These procurement analytics solutions collect data from various sources such as ERPs, process raw data into use-case taxonomies, and display in visualization dashboards. The main components of procurement analytics are solutions and services. The procurement analytics solutions refer to procurement analytics software and tools that operate on on-premise or cloud platforms. The key applications of procurement analytics include supply chain analytics, risk analytics, spend analytics, demand forecasting, contract management, vendor management, and category management. They are used by end-use industries ranging from retail and e-commerce, manufacturing, government and defense, healthcare and life sciences, telecom and IT, energy and utilities, banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI), others. North America was the largest region in the procurement analytics market in 2021 and is also expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the procurement analytics market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. Growth in e-commerce and the organized retail industry is expected to propel the growth of the procurement analytics market. E-commerce refers to a medium used by customers and vendors to buy or sell goods and services from the Internet from websites, applications and others through computers, tablets, smartphones, and other smart devices. Procurement analytics is widely used by e-commerce giants and organized retail stores, as it offers data-driven analysis of customer behaviours and spending analysis. For instance, in Dec 2021, according to the Indian brand equity foundation, e-commerce turnover in India reached $50 billion in 2020 and evolved as the eighth-largest market for e-commerce across the globe, and it is predicted to reach $350 billion by 2030. Thus, an increase in usage of e-commerce and the organized retail industry is expected to boost demand for procurement analytics during the forecast period. Technological advancements such as artificial intelligence (AI) and cognitive computing are gaining popularity in the procurement analytics market. Major companies operating in the procurement analytics sector are focused on developing and implementing new technological solutions such as AI to expand their product portfolio and strengthen their position in the market. For instance, in April 2020, Digitate, a software venture of Tata Consulting Services, launched ignio Cognitive Procurement, to assist enterprises in making data-driven decisions making. This product utilizes AI/ML to increase the speed and accuracy of the process and assist enterprises in understanding procurement behaviour, monitoring transactions, and others. In February 2020, McKinsey & Company, a USA-based management consulting company acquired Orpheus GmbH for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition by McKinsey & Company is focused on expanding its product offering related to digital process solutions, and expanding its business presence across the globe. Orpheus GmbH, is a Germany-based company involved offering to spend analytics solutions. The countries covered in the procurement analytics market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA. Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 175 Forecast Period 2022 - 2026 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $4.07 billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2026 $8.36 billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 19.7% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 2. Procurement Analytics Market Characteristics 3. Procurement Analytics Market Trends And Strategies 4. Impact Of COVID-19 On Procurement Analytics 5. Procurement Analytics Market Size And Growth 5.1. Global Procurement Analytics Historic Market, 2016-2021, $ Billion 5.1.1. Drivers Of The Market 5.1.2. Restraints On The Market 5.2. Global Procurement Analytics Forecast Market, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion 5.2.1. Drivers Of The Market 5.2.2. Restraints On the Market 6. Procurement Analytics Market Segmentation 6.1. Global Procurement Analytics Market, Segmentation By Component, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion Solutions Services 6.2. Global Procurement Analytics Market, Segmentation By Deployment Mode, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion Cloud On-Premises 6.3. Global Procurement Analytics Market, Segmentation By End User, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion Retail and E-commerce Manufacturing Government and Defense Healthcare and Life Sciences Telecom and IT Energy and Utilities Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance Others 6.4. Global Procurement Analytics Market, Segmentation By Application, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion Supply Chain Analytics Risk Analytics Spend Analytics Demand Forecasting Contract Management Vendor Management Category Management 7. Procurement Analytics Market Regional And Country Analysis 7.1. Global Procurement Analytics Market, Split By Region, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion 7.2. Global Procurement Analytics Market, Split By Country, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3nub33 Attachment DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla., Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tiler Peck is a world-renowned Prima ballerina known for her versatility and musicality. She has worked in film, musical theater, and television. In addition to being recognized as one of the top three American ballerinas, Peck is also an actress, designer, and choreographer. Tiler's ambassador position with So Danca will bring awareness to the dancewear brand and will also reflect the versatility of So Danca. "Our relationship with Tiler goes beyond a dancewear deal," adds Helena Hines, So Danca COO. "We are working together to grow the business and elevate it within the dance community. We have the utmost respect for one another and have a focus on the future generation." So Danca now sells everything from pointe shoes to tap shoes to workout clothes and more. So Danca dancewear caters to individuals of all shapes and sizes, who practice all forms of dance. In representing the brand, Peck will help showcase the breath of the collection and speak about the company's ethos of inclusion. Peck says "So Danca is driven by inspired leadership with commitment to excellence and innovation, which collectively serve as the cornerstone of our partnership." For more information, visit www.sodanca.com or email inquiries@sodanca.com. #### About So Danca So Danca was founded in 1986 in Brazil. Today, the So Danca dancewear brand continues to revolutionize the industry design standards by creating products with an innovative spirit for everyone passionate about the art of dance. So Danca draws dancers into design concepts and community with the extended So Danca family including top international dancers, prestigious ballet companies, colleges, and businesses from all over the world. So Danca is now the leading provider of quality dancewear and dance supplies in over 35 countries across the world. Contact Information: Helena Hines COO hhines@sodanca.com 9544283434 Related Images Image 1: So Danca Announces Tiler Peck As New Brand Ambassador So Danca has named New York City Ballet principal dancer, Tiler Peck, their newest brand ambassador. This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pan American Energy Corp. (the Company or Pan American) (CSE: PNRG) (OTC PINK: PAANF) (FRA: SS6) is pleased to announce the Company has committed to drilling eleven (11) high priority drill targets for an estimated budget of C$1.5M starting February 2023 at its 17,334 acres Horizon Lithium Project (Horizon). RESPEC Consulting Inc. (RESPEC), Pan Americans strategic technical partner for Horizon, has been commissioned to design, manage, contract, and run the drilling program. Pan Americans CEO, Jason Latkowcer, commented, Our prior preparation leading up to this fully funded drilling program has instilled tremendous confidence in our chances of success. RESPEC recently completed a drilling program at a nearby lithium venture and is currently engaged to perform an independent analysis of American Battery Technology Corps exploration results to quantify the magnitude of their lithium-bearing resource immediately adjacent to Pan Americans Northern border. Upon completion, this program is designed to further quantify the existence of a valuable lithium deposit at Horizon. We will focus on overburden assessment, concentration of lithium, depth of mineralization, thickness of the ore zone, and the breadth of the resource. The Company is currently permitted for nineteen (19) drill holes and has submitted an amendment application to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to increase to a total of twenty-two (22) as seen in Figure 1. Drill targets will be re-evaluated upon the completion of the initial 11 high-priority drill holes. Figure 1 - Drill Hole Locations Figure 2 - Drill Hole Locations 2 About Pan American Energy Corp. Pan American Energy Corp. (CSE: PNRG) (OTC PINK: PAANF) (FSE: SS6) is an exploration stage company engaged principally in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties containing battery metals in North America. The Companys maiden asset is the 100% owned Green Energy Lithium Project, located in the Paradox Basin, Utah, USA. The Company has also entered a property option agreement with Horizon Lithium LLC with the right to acquire 100% interest in the Horizon Lithium Project, located within the Clayton Valley Tonopah Lithium Belt, Nevada, USA. The Company executed an option agreement in Canada with Magabra Resources with the right to acquire up to 90% interest in the drill-ready Big Mack Lithium Project, 80 km north of Kenora, Ontario. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Jason Latkowcer CEO & Director Contact Phone: (585) 885-5970 Email: info@panam-energy.com Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Companys current beliefs or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the Companys planned drilling and sampling program, including the date upon which the Company expects to announce its phase one plans, the amount of drilling to be contained in such program and the proposed location of the exploration undertaken as part of the program, and the potential commercialization of the Property. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information, including, in respect of the forward-looking information included in this press release, the assumption that: the Company will be successful in commercializing the Property and that the Company will undertake its planned drilling and sampling program on the timeline and parameters that are currently expected. Such assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company. Although forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions of the Companys management, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters or delays as plans continue to be redefined, that mineral exploration is inherently uncertain and that the results of mineral exploration may not be indicative of the actual geology or mineralization of a Project, and that mineral exploration may be unsuccessful or fail to achieve the results anticipated by the Company, including the establishment of a commercial mining operation. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/77b35650-fbb7-40be-87e6-c4e015bd328c https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/06a8f1f0-3878-4821-89c5-dfe1e5ce994e VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Three Sixty Solar Ltd. (NEO: VSOL) (OTC: VSOLF) (Three Sixty, Three Sixty Solar, or the Company), an innovative alternative energy design, manufacture, and sales organization focused on solar equipment supply to the global marketplace, is excited to announce that the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) has completed their preliminary review of the Companys patent application and declared the key claims pass the tests for patentability: being novel, inventive, and having industrial applicability. Brian Roth, CEO of Three Sixty Solar states, Im very encouraged by this positive response from ARIPO. Based on their feedback, we have every indication that the key differentiators in our technology are patentable and we believe that our patent applications, if approved, can successfully provide competitive protection in the markets where we operate. This is a big strategic step for us towards maintaining an advantage in the marketplace for years to come. Following a period of technical development and engineering, Three Sixty Solar applied for PCT patent protection with the World Intellectual Property Organization. In April of 2021 the Companys PCT filing was internationally published, giving Three Sixty until April 2022 to choose which countries and jurisdictions to file patent applications with local offices. In March and April of 2022, Three Sixty submitted patent applications in each of the markets where the Company expects to operate commercially in the years ahead, including the United States, Canada, the European Union, and others. Three Sixty Solar has received notification from ARIPO that the organization has completed their initial review of the Companys patent application. According to their review, the four primary claims that differentiate Three Sixty Solars technology all pass the three tests for patentability; the claims are novel, inventive, and have industrial applicability. These three patentability tests are the same ones considered by all the jurisdictions where Three Sixty has filed for patent protection and each jurisdiction is required to perform similar global searches for prior art. The Company is encouraged that the US PTO and other patent offices will reach the same positive conclusion as ARIPO regarding patentability of the primary claims. The Companys original application was written with several broader claims that must now be narrowed to focus on the four novel and inventive claims for the patent application to go through secondary review and approval. Three Sixty expects to submit these revised claims, focused on the patentable claims in the coming weeks, well ahead of a June deadline set for response by ARIPO. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, --Brian Roth Brian Roth, Chief Executive Officer & Director Three Sixty Solar Ltd. www.threesixtysolar.com About Three Sixty Solar Ltd. (NEO: VSOL) (OTC: VSOLF) Three Sixty Solar Ltd. is an innovative alternative energy design, manufacture, and sales organization which focuses on solar equipment supply to the global marketplace. The Companys premier product line is the patent pending SVS series commercial solar tower. According to Statistics MRC, the solar farm sector is set to grow to around $296 billion by 2028. Three Sixty Solars unique tower concept is a high density, clean energy solution that uses up to 90% less land space than conventional solar farms and can co-locate adjacent to homes, retail, agriculture, and industry, thus minimizing line loss and maximizing energy delivery in places where renewables have been difficult to install until now. In multi-tower applications, developers can utilize the spaces between towers to better leverage land assets through additional revenue generating activities. Designed to withstand major instances of extreme weather, Three Sixty Solar offers a clean energy solution with minimal environmental and habitat impact. To find our more, visit: www.threesixtysolar.com and please watch our video. To stay informed, please sign up to receive news alerts and follow us on Instagram (@threesixtysolar.vsol), Twitter (@ThreeSixtySolar), and Facebook (@threesixtysolar.vsol). Forward Looking Information Disclaimer This letter contains statements and information that, to the extent that they are not historical fact, may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information may include financial and other projections, as well as statements regarding future plans, objectives, or economic performance, or the assumption underlying any of the foregoing. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as may, would, could, will, likely, except, anticipate, believe, intend, plan, forecast, project, estimate, outlook, or the negative thereof or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Examples of such statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the ability of the Company to acquire patents for their technology, the decisions to be reached by ARIPO, the US PTO and other patent offices regarding the patentability of the Companys products, and how any patents may assist the Company to maintain competitive protection in the markets in which it operates. Forward-looking information is based on the assumptions, estimates, analysis, and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect. The material factors and assumptions used to develop the forward-looking information contained in this news release include, but are not limited to, key personnel and qualified employees continuing their involvement with the Company; the Companys ability to secure additional financing on reasonable terms; the competitive conditions of the sector in which the Company operates; and laws and any amendments thereto applicable to the Company. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, risks relating to the future business plans of the Company; risks that the Company will not be able to retain its key personnel; risks that the Company will not be able to secure financing on reasonable terms or at all, as well as all of the other risks as described under the heading Risks Factors in the Companys filing statement dated August 3, 2022 filed under the Companys profile at www.sedar.com. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking information. Further, any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Companys management to predict all such factors and to assess in advance the impact of each such factor on the Companys business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking information to reflect information or events after the date on which it is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law, including securities laws. Neither the Neo Exchange Inc. nor any securities regulatory authority has approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. CONTACT INFORMATION Three Sixty Solar Ltd. Investor Relations Email: investors@threesixtysolar.com Telephone: +1 (778) 383-6743 Sales & Inquiries Email: info@threesixtysolar.com Telephone: +1 (877) 684-1972 New Delhi, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the Taiwan online P&C insurance market is currently in a fledgling state, with only a handful of insurers offering digital sales capabilities, the potential for growth in the sector is significant. According to our study, only 2% of P&C insurance premiums in Taiwan were sold online in 2018, which is significantly less than the 15% in South Korea and 10% in China. However, the market has seen a significant improvement in the overall adoption in last 4 years and the number has reached to over 9%. Get Free sample copy of this report @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/taiwan-online-property-casualty-insurance-market The main reason for the lack of online sales is due to low awareness of the option among consumers and a lack of understanding of how to purchase policies online. However, as technology continues to advance and more and more people turn to the internet to make their purchases, the Taiwan insurance market is expected to see a significant increase in online premiums. Astute Analytica says that by 2030, 30% of all P&C insurance premiums in the Taiwan online P&C insurance market will be sold online. This is a ten-fold increase from 2018 levels, and it is driven by the increasing popularity of mobile devices and internet usage in Taiwan. With over 80% of the population owning a smartphone and internet penetration reaching 70%, insurers have a large potential customer base to reach with their digital offerings. As insurers become more sophisticated in their use of data and analytics, they will be able to identify and target potential customers more effectively. This will allow insurers to offer more personalized products and experiences, which will further drive the uptake of online insurance products. The Taiwan insurance industry is on the cusp of a digital revolution, and insurers that are able to adapt and capitalize on this trend will be the ones that come out on top. Astute Analyticas Survey Reveals 48% of Market Players are Facing Challenges Acquiring New Customers in Taiwan Online P&C Insurance Market The survey of Taiwan Online P&C insurance market finds that while the majority of respondents (56%) said their organizations have no plans to offer P&C insurance products online, a significant minority (44%) are planning to offer them in the next 12 months. Of those who are planning to offer online P&C insurance products, nearly half (48%) said they would do so within the next six months, and another quarter (26%) said they would do so within the next 12 months. The remainder were unsure or did not respond. When asked about the reasons for their plans to offer online P&C insurance products, respondents cited several factors, including customer demands (54%), competitive pressure (40%), and lower costs (36%). Other reasons given included improve customer service (30%), regulatory pressure (24%), and a desire to reach new customers (20%). When asked about the challenges in the Taiwan online P&C insurance market they anticipate in offering online P&C insurance products, respondents cited several factors, including customer acquisition (48%), product customization (46%), and integrating with existing systems (42%). Other challenges mentioned included pricing (38%), fraud detection (34%), and ensuring a good user experience (30%). Top 4 Players Generates Over 40% Market Revenue and Taking Every Possible Efforts to Keep Their Position Intact The Taiwan online P&C insurance market is highly concentrated, with the top 4 companies accounting for a significant market share of over 40%. These companies, namely Fubon Insurance Co Ltd, Hotai Motor, The Taiping Insurance Co., Ltd, and Shin Kong Fire & Marine Insurance Co. Ltd. have established themselves as market leaders through their strong brand presence, extensive distribution networks, and diversified product portfolios. These companies have also been instrumental in driving the market's growth through their investment in technology and digitalization efforts. They have been leveraging advanced technologies such as blockchain, AI, and big data analytics to improve their customer experience, streamline their operations, and enhance their fraud detection capabilities. Most of these players in the Taiwan online P&C insurance market have been actively expanding their customer base through strategic partnerships, acquisitions, and collaborations. For instance, Fubon Insurance has formed a strategic alliance with Taiwan's leading mobile wallet provider, Line Pay, to offer customers a seamless and secure way to purchase insurance policies. These market leaders are also focusing on sustainable and responsible investments to drive growth and cater to the changing customer demands. They are actively investing in renewable energy and social impact funds, which are becoming increasingly popular among Taiwanese customers. These investments not only provide a positive impact on the environment and society, but also generate a stable return for the company and its shareholders. Astute Analytica Found 65% of Revenue in Taiwan Online P&C Insurance Market Comes From 1 Year policy Plan According to recent market research, the one-year coverage segment dominates the Taiwan online P&C insurance market, accounting for a staggering 65% of the overall market share. This trend is driven by several factors, including the convenience of purchasing insurance online, the ability to compare and select coverage options quickly, and the increasing awareness of the importance of having insurance among Taiwan consumers. Government data shows that the number of online insurance policies sold in Taiwan has been steadily increasing in recent years, with a significant spike in 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a greater awareness of the need for protection against unexpected events. Additionally, data from insurance providers in the Taiwan online P&C insurance market shows that the majority of online insurance policies sold in Taiwan are for one-year coverage, with the most popular products being personal accident, travel, and health insurance. Insurance providers in Taiwan are also responding to the trend by offering a wide range of one-year coverage options and providing customers with personalized recommendations based on their needs and budget. With easy access to information and a wide range of options, consumers in Taiwan are increasingly turning to online insurance providers for one-year coverage. Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.astuteanalytica.com/industry-report/taiwan-online-property-casualty-insurance-market Taiwan online P&C Insurance Market: Trends and Outlook. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the insurance industry in Taiwan, with the P&C insurance sector showing relative resilience with a premium growth of 2.8% in 2020. The pandemic has accelerated the trend towards online insurance, with online sales of P&C insurance products in Taiwan growing by 27% in 2020. The increasing penetration of mobile devices and internet access, and changing consumer behavior are driving this trend. Insurers are investing in their digital capabilities and improving their online customer experience to respond to this trend. The pandemic has also accelerated the shift towards health and wellness products in the Taiwan online P&C insurance market, with an increase in demand for policies that cover fitness and health-related activities. Sales of health insurance policies rose by 30% in Taiwan during 2020. Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important issue for Taiwanese consumers, with growing awareness of environmental issues and social responsibility translating into increased demand for green products. Some of the Top Market Players Are: AIU Insurance Company Asia Insurance Co., Ltd. BIDV Insurance Corporation Cathay Century Insurance Co Ltd. Chung Kuo. Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd. Fubon Insurance Co., Ltd Hotai Motor Shin Kong Fire & Marine Insurance Co., Ltd. HUA NAN FINANCIAL HOLDINGS CO., LTD. Taian Insurance Co., Ltd Taiwan Fire & Marine Insurance Co., Ltd. PCA Assurance Co., Ltd. The Taiping Insurance Co., Ltd. Tokio Marine Newa Insurance Co., Ltd Union Insurance Zurich Insurance (Taiwan) Ltd. Other Prominent Players Directly Purchase a copy of report with TOC @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/inquire-before-purchase/taiwan-online-property-casualty-insurance-market About Astute Analytica Astute Analytica is a global analytics and advisory company which has built a solid reputation in a short period, thanks to the tangible outcomes we have delivered to our clients. We pride ourselves in generating unparalleled, in depth and uncannily accurate estimates and projections for our very demanding clients spread across different verticals. We have a long list of satisfied and repeat clients from a wide spectrum including technology, healthcare, chemicals, semiconductors, FMCG, and many more. These happy customers come to us from all across the Globe. They are able to make well calibrated decisions and leverage highly lucrative opportunities while surmounting the fierce challenges all because we analyze for them the complex business environment, segment wise existing and emerging possibilities, technology formations, growth estimates, and even the strategic choices available. In short, a complete package. All this is possible because we have a highly qualified, competent, and experienced team of professionals comprising of business analysts, economists, consultants, and technology experts. In our list of priorities, you-our patron-come at the top. You can be sure of best cost-effective, value-added package from us, should you decide to engage with us. Contact us: Aamir Beg BSI Business Park, H-15,Sector-63, Noida- 201301- India Phone: +1-888 429 6757 (US Toll Free); +91-0120- 4483891 (Rest of the World) Email: sales@astuteanalytica.com Website: www.astuteanalytica.com LONDON, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For the last 20 years, Classic Parade has supplied driving enthusiasts with luxury supercars for hire. Vehicles can be reserved at any time and delivered to any address within the UK. Aiming to bring the global driving community together, Classic Parade is hosting its first-ever supercar rally in the Summer of 2023. Drivers will be able to reserve any vehicle from Classic Parades fleet prior to the event or bring their own vehicle. The official rally will take place over 7 days with stops in multiple cities along the way. Once drivers and their guests families are welcome arrive in London, they will spend a night at the Blakes Hotel in South Kensington, receive their supercar, and be greeted with a welcome dinner. The 7-day itinerary is as follows: Day 1: Arrive in London, UK Day 2: Travel from London, UK to Paris, France Day 3: Travel from Paris, France to Bordeaux, France Day 4: Wine Tasting Day in Bordeaux, France Day 5: Travel from Bordeaux, France to Toulouse, France Day 6: Travel from Toulouse, France to Peniscola, Spain Day 7: Travel from Peniscola, Spain to Ibiza, Spain The team at Classic Parade has curated a travel experience filled with 5-star accommodations, world-renowned dining experiences, and more. A few of the hotels along the way are Hotel de Crillon in Paris, Le Boutique Hotel and Spa in Bordeaux, and Hotel Servigroup Papa Luna in Toulouse. There will also be multiple Michelin-star meals included in the trip. Reservations and accommodations are all planned and coordinated by Classic Parade to alleviate any booking confusion and keep drivers in sync throughout the experience. Beyond meals and hotels, Classic Parade has planned activities throughout the rally. On days when there is less driving time, guests can take part in helicopter rides through Paris, private tours, wine-tasting, and spa treatments. None of these activities are mandatory; they are meant to enhance the guests experience, but guests can opt out to plan their own activities or have added downtime. Classic Parades team has been in the supercar for hire business for decades, but this is the first official group rally planned by the organization. Drivers must be at least 25 years of age, but family members and guests of all ages are encouraged to join. The cost of reserving a vehicle has a wide range, depending on the type of vehicle and the hire duration. A security deposit of around 50,000 or more is required. This will cover any damages that occur during the rally, and when the vehicle is back in Classic Parades possession, the security deposit will be returned. If you are interested in joining the supercar rally and driving from London to Ibiza this summer, contact the team at Classic Parade for the next steps. They can be reached at rent@classicparade.co.uk or +44 (0) 333 355 3595. The team is available 24 hours, 7 days a week to answer questions or finalize supercar hire details. If you are not interested in joining the rally but would like to secure your supercar for hire for personal use, the team can assist with those bookings as well. Contact Classic Parade +44 (0) 333 355 3595 rent@classicparade.co.uk A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2f11296e-b4b2-46dd-94df-4b29e222e10b Cincinnati, Ohio, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leslie Lloyd MBA, BSN, RN, CIC, a healthcare surveyor for DNV, was recently awarded Infection Preventionist of the Year by the South Carolina Palmetto Chapter of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). We consider it an honor to have someone of Leslies caliber guiding our approach to infection prevention, said Ronell Myburgh MHA, MBA, BSN, RN, Director, Certifications for DNV Healthcare USA Inc. Her passion for her work is contagious. Leslies efforts to advance infection prevention programs at DNV demonstrate her commitment to keeping patients safe from infection. She has played a pivotal role in guiding both DNVs Certification in Infection Prevention (CIP) for hospitals, and the Advanced Sterile Processing Program Certification (ASPC). Additionally, she collaborated with DNV Maritime to develop CIP for Maritime (CIP-M), in response to COVID-19s impact on the cruise industry. The CIP-M program provided cruise lines a desperately needed path to demonstrate their readiness for a safe return to operation. In 2022, Leslie achieved noteworthy accomplishments in her work with Infection Prevention, stated Michelle W. King, MT (ASCP), MPH, CIC (Current APIC SC Palmetto Chapter President). APIC SC Palmetto values her participation in the chapter and her passion for the work. Leslie has applied her expertise beyond developing certification programs by helping create training and education programs. She has also participated as a presenter on the topic of infection prevention for webinars and conferences around the globe. APICs national award, Heroes in Infection Prevention, was presented to Leslie and her DNV colleague, Jeremy Gibson-Roark RN, CIC, at the 2021 National APIC Conference. David Tellez, Regional Lead, DNV Supply Chain & Product Assurance, stated, Leslies work across industries and across programs is a testament to the collaborative way we do business. Tellez further stated, We appreciate her dedication to patient safety. Infection Preventionist of the Year Award Criteria The nominee shall be a member of the APIC South Carolina Palmetto Chapter of APIC and shall not be a current member of the Awards Committee. The nominee must be active in the practice of infection prevention and control and shall have achieved noteworthy accomplishments in one or more of the following categories during the award year. Clinical The nominee contributed to patient safety in a significant fashion by designing and/or implementing infection prevention and control practices that resulted in a positive outcome (reduced infection rate or increased compliance with nationally recognized standards). Educational The nominee contributed in a significant fashion to the education of medical and paramedical colleagues concerning the principles and practice of infection prevention and control. This may take the form of participation in in-service programs, the composing of instructional tapes, or other resources. Research/Publication (including abstract development) The nominee contributed to a significant degree to the discovery of new and effective means of healthcare-associated infection prevention and control. Service The nominee demonstrated significant commitment to the field of infection prevention and control through service to the chapter or national activities. Other areas of accomplishment for consideration: a. Cost containment ideas b. Continuing education c. Certification d. Community related work e. Outbreak investigation About DNV DNV is a global independent certification, assurance, and risk management provider, operating in more than 100 countries. Through its broad experience and deep expertise, DNV advances safety and sustainable performance, sets industry benchmarks, drives innovative solutions. Whether certifying a companys management system or products, accrediting hospitals, providing training, assessing supply chains or digital assets, DNV enables customers and stakeholders to make critical decisions with confidence, continually improve and realize long-term strategic goals sustainably. DNV draws on its wide technical and industry expertise to help companies worldwide build consumer and stakeholder trust. Driven by its purpose, to safeguard life, property, and the environment, DNV helps tackle the challenges and global transformations facing its customers and the world today and is a trusted voice for many of the worlds most successful and forward-thinking companies. For more information about DNV, visit www.dnvhealthcare.com. Attachments Northville, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northville, Michigan - Northville Chiropractic in Northville, MI, is happy to announce the launch of their new website and they expect it to highlight the kind of treatment that they provide. Rather than simply providing treatment for pain, they offer the optimization of the quality of life of their patients. Dr. Josh Howe, the chiropractor behind Northville Chiropractic, tends to spend more time during the first visit to ensure a thorough evaluation of the bodys ability to heal is performed. They primary goal is to help clients learn how to maximize their health. They want to clarify that they dont treat anything but instead, they merely remove obstructions to help the body to function at a higher level. The service areas of Northville Chiropractic include Northville and the neighboring areas of: South Lyon, Plymouth, Canton, Novi, Farmington, Wixom, and Milford. Dr. Josh Howe says, My life mission is to use advanced knowledge, life experience and natural talents to educate, inspire, empower, and help people to live long, healthy, and fruitful lives expressing their full potential. The website will help us expand the number of people that can be reached. Northville Chiropractic provides natural pain relief for patients even though their top priority is to help people in reaching ideal wellness. Because of the body functioning more normally under care, patients are also able to achieve relief from a broad range of symptoms as well. And because Dr. Howe had been well trained under experts, after a thorough evaluation, he will determine what is required to make the patient feel better and have a quality of life that is at a higher level. The systematic chiropractic approach that they use may enable patients to achieve relief from chronic conditions such as headaches, neck and back pain, acid reflux, numbness, tingling, and sciatiaca. The chiropractic care provided may also help improve energy levels and quality of sleep, while also enabling patients to feel less stressed. Evidence of the high quality of chiropractic care provided at Northville Chiropractic can be obtained from the highly positive reviews they have been receiving. In fact, they have an enviable overall rating of 5.0 out of 5 stars on Google. In a recent review, Stephanie R. gave them a five star rating and said, I've been going to Dr. Howe for a couple years. I started going to him because he performs full spine diversified and Gonstead adjustments. He first fixed a bad pelvic tilt that was causing multiple issues. A year later I slipped on ice and got a neck and lower back injury the he helped heal and continues to keep it that way. He is passionate and knowledgeable about holistic health, always sharing and starting meaningful conversations. Highly recommend. Northville Chiropractic was founded by Dr. Josh Howe, who is a graduate of the renowned Life University and had been under the long-term care of Dr. Jame ODell. This means that he had first-hand experience on the advantages provided by regular chiropractic care. Due to his experience, it became clear to him that chiropractic care provide the best way for him to help people get back and improve their health. It was while he was working on his doctoral program in Georgia that he also completed an optional internship with Dr. Robert Braile, a heavily involved chiropractor of 40 years. And shortly after his graduation, Dr. Howe was able to serve as associate doctor at East Stadium Chiropractic Wellness Center in Ann Arbor, MI, where he cared for patients from all walks of life and all ages, allowing him to further improve on his craft under the mentorship of renowned and successful chiropractor Dr. Brian Kroes. Those who are interested in learning more about the chiropractic services available at Northville Chiropractic can visit their website or contact them on the phone or through email. People who would like to now more about the chiropractic clinic can also check out their social media page. ### For more information about Northville Chiropractic, contact the company here: Northville Chiropractic Dr. Josh Howe (248) 348-6166 drhowe@northvillechiropractic.com 412 N Center St, Northville, MI 48167 New York, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "East Africa SOC as a Service Market" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06412343/?utm_source=GNW e This is ascribed to the increasing need for the efficient management of digital transactions, rising government support, evolving IT sector, and growing security concerns across companies in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania. In addition, the rising uptake of connected devices and expanding retail market are projected to boost the requirement for cloud-delivered security operations centers across East Africa. Increasing Incidence of Cyberattacks Fueling SOC as a Service Demand ? Cloud computing and the internet facilitate consumers and organizations in buying and selling products online. But, this raises the risk of data breaches and digital frauds. ? Globally, cases of cyberattacks have increased by 50% annually in the last few years. In this regard, the growing acceptance of remote working models and the BYOD culture boosts the industry growth. SOC as a Service Widely Adopted in Large Enterprises ? Large enterprises would dominate the market in 2030, with $114.8 million in revenue. These companies have a huge number of enterprise applications and databases; therefore, they need advanced solutions for detecting, preventing, and effectively tackling cyberattacks. ? Furthermore, MNCs with multiple streams of revenue and large corporate networks opt for SOC as a service solutions to comply with the government mandates for customer data protection. High Susceptibility to Cyberattacks Driving Solution Demand in BFSI Sector ? On the basis of end user, the market is dominated by the BFSI sector, because it lures cybercriminals due to the very nature of its business. On an average, on the first working day, a finance professional in an MNC can access around 11 million digital files. ? The BFSI sector is the target of 70% of the cyberattacks. Moreover, more than 30 billion accounts could experience a breach by 2030. Financial organizations are at a perpetual risk of phishing attacks, wherein each data breach leads to losses of about $6 million. Kenya Is Largest User of SOC as a Service in East Africa The market in Kenya is projected to generate $59.1 million revenue in 2030, compared to $29.4 million in 2022, witnessing an 8.8% CAGR. It is ascribed to the growing adoption of cloud-based SOCs in the IT and telecom, retail, BFSI, and healthcare industries and supportive laws for data protection in the nation, including the Data Protection Act 2019. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06412343/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ WESTPORT, Conn., Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HMG Strategy, the Worlds #1 digital platform for enabling technology executives to reimagine the enterprise and reshape the business world, is excited to be hosting its 2023 Phoenix CIO Executive Leadership Summit on March 24 at the JM Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa. HMG Strategys highly interactive events bring together the worlds most distinguished and innovative business technology and security leaders to discuss the most pressing leadership, innovation, strategic, cultural, technology and career challenges and opportunities that they face today and into the future. World-class technology leaders and industry experts speaking at this popular in-person event will explore opportunities for tapping hot technologies such as AI, ChatGPT, cloud platforms and cybersecurity technologies to help move the needle for the business and to safeguard the enterprise. Technology executives are ideally positioned to help the C-suite and line-of-business leaders to help identify new revenue opportunities and fresh go-to-market strategies, said Hunter Muller, Founder and CEO of HMG Strategy. CIOs and technology executives who are able to identify how technologies can be utilized to drive new business opportunities can deliver clear-cut value to the enterprise. Prominent executives speaking at the 2023 Phoenix CIO Executive Leadership Summit will include: Max Chan , CIO, Avnet , CIO, Avnet Gunjan Goel , CIO, ST Engineering North America, Inc. , CIO, ST Engineering North America, Inc. Frank Grimmelmann , Founder, President & CEO/Intelligence Liaison Officer, Arizona Cyber Threat Response Alliance , Founder, President & CEO/Intelligence Liaison Officer, Arizona Cyber Threat Response Alliance Laura Hemenway , Founder and Principal, Paradigm Solutions, LLC; Treasurer, SIM Arizona , Founder and Principal, Paradigm Solutions, LLC; Treasurer, SIM Arizona Scott Hicar , SVP & CIO, Benchmark Electronics , SVP & CIO, Benchmark Electronics Bipin Jayaraj , SVP & CIO, Rogers Corporation , SVP & CIO, Rogers Corporation Bianca Lochner , CIO, City of Scottsdale , CIO, City of Scottsdale Fred Mapp , President & CEO, Quality Service Solutions, LLC , President & CEO, Quality Service Solutions, LLC Tom Peck , EVP, Chief Information and Digital Officer, Sysco , EVP, Chief Information and Digital Officer, Sysco Gail Ricketts , IT Compliance Manager, Axon , IT Compliance Manager, Axon Bhavin Shah , CEO & Founder, Moveworks , CEO & Founder, Moveworks Simon Taylor, EVP, PacketWatch; President, SIM Arizona Valued Partners for the 2023 Phoenix CIO Executive Leadership Summit include 8x8, Akamai, Aryaka, BetterCloud, Box, Darktrace, Delphix, Fortinet, LastPass, Moveworks, Nutanix, Palo Alto Networks, Ping Identity, ReliaQuest, RingCentral, SafeGuard Cyber, SAP, SentinelOne, SHE Informationtechnologie AG, SIM San Arizona, Tonkean, Upwork, Zoom, and Zscaler. To learn more about the 2023 Phoenix CIO Executive Leadership Summit and to register for the event, click here. HMG Strategy will also be hosting its 2023 Silicon Valley Global Innovation Summit on February 28 at the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara. At this well-attended, in-person innovation conference, top-tier CIOs, CISOs, industry executives and venture capitalists will share their views as to how CIOs, CISOs and other senior technology executives are working with fellow members of the senior leadership team to drive innovation that can deliver demonstrable value and positively impact business outcomes in a challenging global economic environment. World-class CIOs, CISOs, technology leaders and industry experts speaking at the 2023 Silicon Valley Global Innovation Summit will include: Merav Bahat , Co-Founder and CEO, Dazz , Co-Founder and CEO, Dazz Ashwin Ballal , Ph.D., EVP & CIO, Medallia , Ph.D., EVP & CIO, Medallia Cassie Crossley , Director, Product & Systems Security, Head of Business Engagement, Schneider Electric , Director, Product & Systems Security, Head of Business Engagement, Schneider Electric Todd Dekkinga , CISO, Zluri , CISO, Zluri Stuart Evans , Distinguished Service Professor, Carnegie Mellon University i-Lab , Distinguished Service Professor, Carnegie Mellon University i-Lab Ken Grady , CPO & CIO, IDEXX Laboratories , CPO & CIO, IDEXX Laboratories Brian Hoyt , CIO, Unity Technologies , CIO, Unity Technologies Tony Leng , Managing Director, Practice Lead and OMP, Diversified Search , Managing Director, Practice Lead and OMP, Diversified Search Jeff McKibben , CIO Ultra Clean Technology , CIO Ultra Clean Technology David Owens , SVP & General Manager, Digital Transformation Solutions, HARMAN International , SVP & General Manager, Digital Transformation Solutions, HARMAN International Gautham Pallapa , Senior Executive Advisor & CIO/CDO (App Modernization, Digital Transformation & Hybrid Cloud) VMware , Senior Executive Advisor & CIO/CDO (App Modernization, Digital Transformation & Hybrid Cloud) VMware Tom Peck , EVP, Chief Information and Digital Officer, Sysco , EVP, Chief Information and Digital Officer, Sysco Wendy M. Pfeiffer , CIO & SVP, Nutanix , CIO & SVP, Nutanix Eli Potter , VP, Data and Systems, Insight Partners , VP, Data and Systems, Insight Partners Raj Ramachander , SVP IT; Supply Chain, Manufacturing and Member Experience (CX), Peloton Interactive , SVP IT; Supply Chain, Manufacturing and Member Experience (CX), Peloton Interactive Parul Saini , Global Head of Business and Enterprise Applications, Uber , Global Head of Business and Enterprise Applications, Uber Ashish Seth , VP of Product Management, Customer Engagement, RingCentral , VP of Product Management, Customer Engagement, RingCentral Piyoush Sharma, Co-Author, The Purple Book of Software Security; Head of Enterprise Security & Technology Operations, Zuora Valued Partners for the 2023 Silicon Valley Global Innovation Summit include 8x8, Akamai, Aptum, BetterCloud, Box, Darktrace, Dazz, Delphix, Equinix, Fortinet, HARMAN International, LastPass, Nutanix, Palo Alto Networks, Ping Identity, ReliaQuest, RingCentral, SafeGuard Cyber, SAP, SIM San Francisco Bay Area, Tonkean, Upwork, Zoom, and Zscaler. To learn more about the 2023 Silicon Valley Global Innovation Summit and to register for the event, click here. HMG Strategy will also be hosting its 2023 Dallas CIO Executive Leadership Summit on April 6 at Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, TX. At this summit, CIOs, CISOs and global technology executives from the Greater Dallas/Fort Worth area will share different ways they are leveraging innovative technologies and partnerships to help support cost containment and to drive business growth. Distinguished technology executives speaking at the 2023 Dallas CIO Executive Leadership Summit on April 6 will include: Srini Alagarsamy , VP, Digital Technology, GM Financial , VP, Digital Technology, GM Financial Michael Anderson , Special Agent in Charge, Chicago, FBI , Special Agent in Charge, Chicago, FBI Chris Andrews , CIO, Unleashed Brands , CIO, Unleashed Brands Renee Arrington , President, COO & Director, Pearson Partners International , President, COO & Director, Pearson Partners International Patrick Benoit , Global CISO, Brinks , Global CISO, Brinks Nellson Burns , Managing Partner, Destination IT, LLC , Managing Partner, Destination IT, LLC Kevin Christ , Partner, Concentre , Partner, Concentre Mignona Cote , Chief Security Officer, NetApp , Chief Security Officer, NetApp Blake Holman , CIO, BBG , CIO, BBG Stuart Kippelman , CIO, Parsons Corporation , CIO, Parsons Corporation Andy Laudato , COO, The Vitamin Shoppe , COO, The Vitamin Shoppe Tony Leng , Managing Director, Practice Lead and OMP, Diversified Search , Managing Director, Practice Lead and OMP, Diversified Search Bhavin Shah , Founder & CEO, Moveworks , Founder & CEO, Moveworks Thomas Sweet , CIO, Industrial Refrigeration Pros , CIO, Industrial Refrigeration Pros Denis Zerr, CIO, Radiology Partners Valued Partners for the 2023 Dallas CIO Executive Leadership Summit include 8x8, Abnormal Security, Akamai, Apptio, Aptum, Aryaka, BetterCloud, Box, Darktrace, Delphix, Fortinet, LastPass, Moveworks, Nutanix, Palo Alto Networks, Ping Identity, RingCentral, SafeGuard Cyber, SAP, SIM Dallas/Fort Worth, Tangoe, Tonkean, Upwork, Zoom, and Zscaler. To learn more about the 2023 Dallas CIO Executive Leadership Summit and to register for the event, click here. To learn more about HMG Strategys upcoming schedule of CIO & CISO summits, click here. About HMG Strategy HMG Strategy is the world's leading digital platform for technology executives to reimagine the enterprise and reshape the business world. The HMG Strategy global network consists of more than 400,000 CIOs, CTOs, CISOs, CDOs, senior business technology executives, search industry executives, venture capitalists, industry experts and world-class thought leaders. HMG Strategys global media model generates more than one million impressions per week, providing vast opportunities for business technology leaders and sponsor partners to promote themselves and their brands. HMG Strategy was founded in 2008 by Hunter Muller, a leadership expert who has worked side-by-side with Fortune 2000 executives with strategic planning and career ascent for the past 30+ years. HMG Strategys regional CIO and CISO Executive Leadership Series, authored books and Digital Resource Center deliver unique, peer-driven guidance from CIOs, CISOs, CTOs, CDOs and technology executives on leadership, innovation, transformation and career ascent. HMG Strategy offers a range of peer-led advisory services such as its Global CIO & CISO Executive Leadership Alliance (CELA) service which bring together the worlds top CIOs, CISOs and technology executives to brainstorm on the top opportunities and challenges facing them in their roles. HMG Strategys Global Advisory Services are a unique set of peer-driven research services that are designed to keep business technology executives up to speed on the latest leadership, business, technology and global macro-economic trends that are impacting businesses and industries. To learn more about the 7 Pillars of Trust for HMG Strategy's unique business model, click here . A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/43cfc6f4-fe09-4c44-9fd0-e2a37a14f092 ATLANTA, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OMP, a leading supply chain planning solutions provider, is launching the Spark Initiative to explore an outside-in approach to supply chain planning. With the Spark Initiative, OMP wants to improve decision-making for their customers by introducing a new way of thinking about supply chain planning. The initiative's goal is to provide a platform for the OMP Community to test, learn, and share outside-in capabilities using massive amounts of external data and state-of-the-art technology. Unlocking a wealth of external data The new planning approach empowers supply chain leaders to leverage the wealth of external market, channel, and supplier data that is available to businesses but is often untapped. This data includes climate and weather patterns, consumption trends, variable holidays, economic and political factors, and data from smart devices. Companies that adopt the approach and set up bi-directional data flows will be able to create optimal planning scenarios and make better decisions. Piloting outside-in planning processes Joining forces with the research firm Supply Chain Insights, OMP is inviting customers to submit their real-world business cases to build, test, and validate the potential of an outside-in planning approach. A handful of companies will be selected to participate in the research. Once the pilot tests are completed, the findings will be publicly shared with the industry. Support from industry leaders The Spark Initiative think tank is supported by a board of business leaders, industry professionals, academics, and OMP experts. Led by Lora Cecere, CEO of Supply Chain Insights, this advisory board will drive the agenda, advise on the conceptual framework, and monitor the pilot tests. "I'm excited to participate in the Spark Initiative because it's the next frontier in supply chain planning," says Dave Winstone, Spark board member and Global ISC Director at Dow. "How do we harness all these signals out there? How do we identify which ones matter most to our business? What do they mean to us and to our ecosystem partners? In the end, it's not companies that compete, but the ecosystems around us. We have to make the ecosystems more effective to be able to stay competitive. And I believe this initiative will bring us one step closer to that goal." "Now is the time for supply chain leaders to redefine their planning processes," adds Philip Vervloesem, SVP OMP USA. "The active participation of Fortune 500 companies like Dow, General Mills, Nestle, and Land O'Lakes confirms the need to explore groundbreaking ways of planning. I look forward to deep-diving into this fresh pool of possibilities together with our valued customers." Launched in November 2022, the initiative is shifting into higher gear in 2023. Learn more about the Spark Initiative. Contact Information: Philip Vervloesem Senior Vice President OMP USA pvervloesem@omp.com +1-770-956-2723 Related Images Image 1: The Spark Initiative OMP, a leading supply chain planning solutions provider, is launching the Spark Initiative to explore an outside-in approach to supply chain planning. This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Memphis, TN, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Civil Rights Museum brings civil rights legend David J. Dennis, Sr. and his son David J. Dennis, Jr. to discuss their book, The Movement Made Us, to open this seasons Book and Author Series on Thursday, February 2, at the Museum. The duo will also present an in-person teachers workshop on Saturday, February 4, to help educators use firsthand accounts as powerful teaching tools on the American Civil Rights Movement. The Movement Made Us is a dynamic family exchange that pivots between a father's and son's voices. It is a unique work of oral history and memoir, chronicling the extraordinary story of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and its living legacy embodied in Black Lives Matter. David Dennis Sr., a core architect of the movement, speaks out for the first time, swapping both harrowing and joyful recollections with David Jr., a journalist working on the front lines of change today. The National Civil Rights Museum is honored to host David Dennis Sr and his son Dave Dennis Jr. Mr. Dennis is a prominent figure in the museum, appearing in several of our galleries, said Dr. Noelle Trent, the museums Director of Interpretation, Collections, and Education. We are delighted that our audience has the opportunity to hear firsthand about critical moments in the Movement from the Freedom Rides to Freedom Summer and beyond. A legend of the 1960s Movement, David Dennis Sr. began as a student activist at Southern University in Baton Rouge, where he led student sit-ins at Woolworth counters. After he was forced to leave Southern, he attended Dillard University in New Orleans. He was a part of the Freedom Rides of 1961 from Washington, DC to New Orleans. He was arrested in Jackson, MS with hundreds of student Freedom Riders and jailed in the notorious Parchman Prison. In the book, there are scenes from across David Sr.s life, as he becomes involved in the movement, tries to move beyond it, and ultimately returns to it to find final solace and a new sense of self. An autographed copy of The Movement Made Us is available in the museums online store. The hybrid Book & Author Series event begins at 6:00 pm Central and is free and open for registration. For more information, visit civilrightsmuseum.org. About the National Civil Rights Museum The NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM, located at the historic Lorraine Motel where civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, gives a comprehensive overview of the American Civil Rights Movement from slavery to the present. Since the Museum opened in 1991, millions of visitors from around the world have come, including more than 90,000 students annually. Serving as the new public square, the Museum is steadfast in its mission to honor and preserve the site of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.s assassination. It chronicles the American civil rights movement and tells the story of the ongoing struggle for human rights, serving as a catalyst to inspire action to create positive social change. A Smithsonian Affiliate and an internationally acclaimed cultural institution, the Museum is recognized as a 2019 National Medal Award recipient by the Institute of Museums and Library Services (IMLS), the top national honor for museums and libraries. It is a TripAdvisor Travelers Choice Top 5% U.S. Museum, USA Today's Top 10 Best American Iconic Attractions; Top 10 Best Historical Spots in the U.S. by TLC's Family Travel; Must See by the Age of 15 by Budget Travel and Kids; Top 10, American Treasures by USA Today; and Best Memphis Attraction by The Commercial Appeal and the Memphis Business Journal. Attachment NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With lead litigator Richard Jaffe, Esq., Physicians for Informed Consent (PIC), a nonprofit educational organization, succeeded this week in blocking the enforcement of AB 2098/Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 2270 (2:22-cv-01980-WBS-AC). The doctor-censorship law targeted supposed COVID-19 "misinformation" spoken to patients. The judge criticized the new law for its vagueness and granted the multiple plaintiffs' requests for preliminary injunction, thereby protecting all PIC members from enforcement of AB 2098at least until the case, Hoang et al. v. Bonta, is finally decided. Senior Judge William B. Shubb of the Eastern District of California Court in Sacramento, in his preliminary injunction order, thoroughly dissected the meaning of AB 2098's definition of "misinformation" ("false information that is contradicted by contemporary scientific consensus contrary to the standard of care") and determined that it caused the statute to be "unconstitutionally vague." He wrote: "Put simply, this provision is grammatically incoherent." "The statute provides no means of understanding to what 'scientific consensus' refers." "By its very nature, the standard of care applies to care, not information." "The statute improperly conflates 'information' with 'advice' or 'treatment.'" "More importantly, defendants' interpretation does nothing to address the chilling effect caused by the statute's unclear phrasing and structure." "...drawing a line between what is true and what is settled by scientific consensus is difficult, if not impossible." "...because COVID-19 is such a new and evolving area of scientific study, it may be hard to determine which scientific conclusions are 'false' at a given point in time." Judge Shubb favorably referenced cardiologist, PIC member, and expert witness Dr. Sanjay Verma's declaration frequently in his preliminary injunction order to underscore the vagueness of AB 2098. For example, Judge Shubb wrote, "Dr. Verma cites numerous examples of contrary guidance provided by the CDC on the issues of masking and vaccination." Dr. Shira Miller, PIC founder and president, was present at the hearing. After reading the Court's order, Dr. Miller shared her optimism: "We are grateful for the Court's decision and hopeful that soon all California physicians will be able to stop self-censoring and be able to communicate openly and honestly with their patients." The court has not ruled yet on the merits of PIC's first amendment arguments, and until the case is decided only PIC members and Children's Health Defense, California Chapter, members are protected by the preliminary injunction, as well as the physicians in the related Heg et al. v. Newsom lawsuit, as the Court expressly stated, "Pending final resolution of this action, defendants, their agents and employees, all persons or entities in privity with them, and anyone acting in concert with them are hereby ENJOINED from enforcing Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 2270 as against plaintiffs, plaintiffs' members, and all persons represented by plaintiffs." Physicians for Informed Consent is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit educational organization supported only by the generous contributions of our members and supporters. Click here to join today. ### Contact Information: Greg Glaser General Counsel info@picphysicians.org 925-642-6651 Related Images Image 1 Lead attorney Rick Jaffe, Esq., outside Robert T. Matsui Federal Courthouse in Sacramento, CA, after AB 2098 preliminary injunction hearing on Jan. 23, 2023. This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Durham, North Carolina, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cumulus Encrypted Storage System (CESS), the 3rd generation decentralized cloud-based data storage protocol built exclusively for Web3, was invited to join the Digital Assets at Duke (DA@D) conference held at Duke University. The project was represented by Nicholas Zaldastani, the Co-Founder and Chairman of CESS; among other guests - officials from the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Goldman Sachs, Galaxy Digital, blockchain intelligence analysis company TRM Labs, and blue-chip Web3 firms Uniswap, Coinbase, and Binance. Digital Assets at Duke University The conference brought together key industry players, regulatory experts, and researchers across the fields of Web3 and digital assets to discuss the development, delivery and governance of the next generation of digital asset environments. It was hosted by the Duke Pratt School of Engineering and the Duke Financial Economics Center and explored new frontiers in digital asset development, investment, and regulation. Some of the topics included NFTs, cryptocurrencies, DeFi, stablecoins, central bank digital currencies, and much more. CESS co-founder Zaldastani talked about how blockchain developers can build a safer world. He is particularly suited to leading discussions on this topic as CESS aspires to provide the next-gen of global decentralized data cloud storage services for Web3, which includes support for large-scale commercial use cases that require high-end security, performance, storage, and high-frequency trading. Also, as a serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist who has led and invested in companies specialized in distributed computing, encryption, information and data storage, cybersecurity, and mobile applications, Zaldastani has supported the growth of Oracle, SABA, Open Horizon, World Energy Solutions, Salary.com, and BrainTap. Furthermore, his professional affiliations include board leadership at the Duke University Engineering School, World Energy, The American Academy in Tbilisi, and Dr. Ozs HealthCorps. Duke Pratt School of Engineering As such, Zaldastanis insights and recommendations to the panel, conference attendees and viewers and listeners around the world are invaluable if safe, secure, performant, and reliable cloud-based and Web3 solutions are to be developed for the internet of the future. Commenting on the event, Nicholas Zaldastani said: At CESS, we were thrilled to participate in DA@D. By bringing together industry experts, regulators, developers, researchers and investors the conference helped showcase how innovative solutions such as those being built by CESS can create value, lower costs, improve outcomes and experiences, and deliver user-focused solutions that are fast, performant, cost-effective, and secure. Web3 applications stored on CESSs next-generation decentralized cloud storage protocol will be the standard of the future, and we were happy to meet with like-minded technologists and high-profile investors and decision-makers to discuss opportunities and best practices that can work to the benefit of all. One of the niche topics touched upon by Zaldastani was CESSs recent completion of the development of its Decentralized Object Storage Service (DeOSS). The service was completed in Q4, 2022, and was launched on the CESS cloud storage data network V0.5.3 testnet, making CESS the first-ever decentralized storage network to launch decentralized object storage services. With object storage, users can dynamically process and analyze stored unstructured data instead of using just static or structured data. Since todays leading Object Storage Services, such as Google Cloud and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are centralized, with the centralized platform ultimately controlling the data stored on its servers, a break from this structure to a more transparent, decentralized, and owner-owned-and-controlled structure is needed, one that adheres to the basic principles of Web3 and blockchain. Since CESS is built for Web3, its DeOSS solution is also optimized to work with both structured and unstructured data while retaining the users control and ownership of all stored data a major step forward for the decentralized movement as a whole. In doing so, CESS formally brings the high scalability, user-friendly operation and cost-efficiency of traditional OSSs to users via a decentralized offering. CESS also features a multilayer architecture in which the performance of each layer is independent of other layers, a design approach that helps to balance system load while also solving the miners dilemma using a trustless and low-energy consensus mechanism (called RS) that guarantees the integrity of consensus nodes. CESS also comes with several innovative advancements such as storage space pooling to maximize storage efficacy and Trusted Execution Environments (TEE) that ensure data security and protection. In this way, CESS is set to become the enterprise-grade cloud-based storage solution of choice for users and businesses all around the world. To learn more about CESS, please visit https://cess.cloud. To learn more about DA@D, please visit https://www.digitalassetsatduke.org/about/. About CESS Cumulus Encrypted Storage System (CESS) is a secure, efficient, and scalable decentralized cloud storage network that provides data storage services and data sharing platforms for Web3.0. It is the first decentralized storage network that offers full-stack data solutions for large-scale commercial applications. As an open-sourced and public blockchain, CESS is positioned to be the underlying network infrastructure that is equipped with integrated APIs and SDK for easy dApps deployment. It supports WASM and is compatible with EVM smart contracts, making CESS widely available for large-scale commercial applications with its superior performance in data handling. Through a variety of innovative technologies combined with meticulous engineering design, CESS effectively manages the storage space resources of all miners across the globe, allowing the CESS network to truly realize the decentralization protocol. CESS adopts multiple mechanisms and proprietary technologies to ensure the integrity, security, traceability, and privacy of data. Random Rotational Selection mechanism (RS) REsolves the Miner's Dilemma and ensures a stable and efficient network. Proof of Reduplication and Recovery (PoDR) guarantees data availability and security. And Multi-Format Data Confirmation (MDRC) provides data ownership protection. All incentives are guaranteed by a set of transparent and fair incentive mechanisms. Anyone can join CESS fairly to become candidate consensus miners through RS, preventing large nodes from having a monopoly on the network. RS also achieves low gas fees and 10,000 TPS. CESS supports use cases such as Metaverse, NFT, DeFi, streaming media, social media, and all Web2 and Web3 storage, helping to build a diverse and robust ecosystem where transactions are secured by encryption and data ownership is returned to its rightful owners. Media contact: Robert Penington Robert@thronepr.com San Antonio, Texas, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clearday, Inc. (OTCQX: CLRD), the Company or Clearday or we, retained ClearThink Capital LLC, a boutique investment and transactional advisory firm, to support Cleardays strategy to explore transactions to unlock the value of its innovative care businesses through a deSPAC transaction. ClearThink has a team of seasoned finance, investment banking, law, marketing, technology, medical, life science, and operations professionals with extensive experience in structuring and executing, and advising with respect to a range of transactions, including providing guidance to companies engaged in transactions with Special Purpose Acquisition Corporations (SPACs) a deSPAC, which is one of transaction structures that Clearday believes would unlock the value of its innovative care businesses such as robotic service and digital services. ClearThinks services will complement the services provided by Cleardays primary investment bank advisor, DelMorgan & Co., which will continue to work with Clearday to help raise capital for our businesses, including our innovative care solutions and real estate opportunities. Clearday operates a platform of Senior Care products and services, including traditional residential care and Adult Daily Care Services, and has developed a groundbreaking digital care platform, Clearday at Home. Clearday at Home is a stand-alone service providing support for patients and caregivers in a community environment, daily care and the at-home care market. It is also a key component in Cleardays Companion Robotics platform that is designed to deliver best-in-class companion services, including fleet management that elevates non-acute care. We believe we are at an important juncture as we have a number of growth alternatives available stemming from our industry experience and extensive domestic and global networks. James Walesa, Founder and CEO of Clearday, noted that we believe that our innovative care businesses are significantly undervalued at our current common stock price and that ClearThinks significant relationships and experience in SPAC transactions will greatly assist us, including completing the negotiation of a letter of intent for a deSPAC transaction that we are considering. He added, The Clearday team has worked diligently on behalf of our shareholders for years. Today, in early 2023, we are thrilled to work with our advisors to maximize our shareholder value as the economy and markets rebound from a challenging 2022. Next Phase of Growth Clearday has made significant investment to provide services to support the growth of the Aging in the Right Place market. The shift from the residential-care-only focused companies to those providing multiple points of care has increased, we believe, due in large part, to Covid changing consumer buying habits and worker availability. Cleardays platforms provide best-in-class patient engagement and stimulation and help align behavior to provide a safe environment in Senior Care. Clearday has built industry relationships with leading care providers in Texas, Florida, North Carolina and Pennsylvania spanning assisted living, skilled care and support to U.S. veterans. Clearday will work with ClearThink and DelMorgan to assess a number of alternatives in connection with our plans to finance our business and developments and uplist to an exchange, including discussions with SPACs that may provide capital to finance our businesses. These business include working with the TRECS Institute. This highly regarded non-profit specializes in targeting Revolutionary Elder Care Solutions. Clearday and TRECS will work together to accelerate Cleardays opportunities in the Skilled Nursing/Nursing Home sector across the United States. About Clearday Clearday is an innovative non-acute longevity healthcare services company with a modern, hopeful vision for making high-quality care options more accessible, affordable, and empowering for older Americans and those who love and care for them. Clearday has a decade-long experience in non-acute care through its subsidiary Memory Care America, which operates highly rated residential memory care communities in four U.S. states. Clearday at Home its digital service brings Clearday to the intersection of telehealth, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), and subscription-based content. Learn more about Clearday at www.myclearday.com . About The TRECS Institute The mission of The TRECS Institute is to identify, research, test and promote opportunities that improve the quality of care provided to senior citizens and others in need of long-term care support, in the most cost-effective manner possible, regardless of care setting. In recognizing that the quality of care provided to the elderly is so closely tied to the commitment and training of the individual worker, TRECS will place recruitment, training and retention of staff at all organizational levels a top priority. Having recognized the positive impact technology can have, not only in improving the quality of care but also in controlling costs, another focus of the TRECS Institute will be to find technology that can be integrated into the industry to achieve our goals. Finally, once improvements have been identified, the TRECS Institute is committed to making those findings available to facilities across the nation, maximizing the impact of these positive and successful initiatives in better caring for our nations senior citizens. Learn more about TRECS at http://thetrecsinstitute.org. About ClearThink ClearThink Capital LLC is a boutique transactional and strategic advisory firm. ClearThink features a team of seasoned finance, investment banking, law, marketing, technology, medical, life science, and operations professionals with extensive experience in structuring, executing and advising with respect to growth capital, commercial credit, M&A Advisory & Finance, complex corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, strategic relationships and joint ventures, and Special Purpose Acquisition Corporations (SPACs). Learn more about ClearThink at www.clearthink.capital. About DelMorgan & Co. Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, DelMorgan & Co. (www.delmorganco.com) is an internationally recognized investment bank and financial advisor. With over three decades of experience and over $300 billion in successfully completed transactions, the professionals at DelMorgan & Co. provide world-class financial advice and assistance to companies, institutions, governments and individuals around the world. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain 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. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terms such as "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "continue," "could," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "should," "will," "expect," "objective," "projection," "forecast," "goal," "guidance," "outlook," "effort," "target," "trajectory," "focus," "work to," "attempt," "pursue," or other comparable terms. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors we believe are appropriate in the circumstances and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Clearday's views as of any date subsequent to the date hereof. This release includes information from third sources from published reports providing such information and we have assumed the accuracy of such reports without independent investigation or inquiry. This communication is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to purchase any securities of the Company. Media Inquiries Investor Relations Ginny Connolly info@myclearday.com 210-451-0839 San Francisco, California, USA, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Danish high-security smart card provider CardLab ApS (CardLab) has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with WiBioCard, which has recently licensed CardLabs biometric card technologies. The new partnership will see WiBioCards personnel located in Italy working closely alongside CardLabs Denmark-based personnel to combine their respective solutions into a fully integrated card and backend authentication solution. US Capital Global Securities LLC, an SEC-registered broker-dealer affiliate of global financial group US Capital Global, has structured a $10 million investment opportunity in CardLab, which remains open to eligible investors. With offices in San Francisco, Dallas, Miami, London, Milan, and Dubai, US Capital Global is a full-service private financial group with an established track record in investment banking, asset management, and capital formation services. CardLab has a solid portfolio of biometric card solutions, a full backend authentication system, strong IP patent estate, and is a unique Authentication as a Service provider of fully encrypted biometric card hardware and supporting software platforms. CardLab provides next-generation electronic card development and production services that enable manufacturing of proprietary custom smart cards from initial concept to mass production. WiBioCard has a very strong partnership network for applications requiring secure customer identification having its own authentication system that can integrate biometric card solutions as a top Cybersecurity provider. The synergistic collaboration will greatly enhance the value and capabilities of both companies in this very active sector. Frank Sandelv, CEO at CardLab, said: CardLab has created card solutions to help fight fraud and identity theft, provide unique identity, and simultaneously offer full privacy protection. During the recent pandemic we saw the importance of secure authentication as remote work and other evolving workplace environments prompted hacker attacks to skyrocket, causing huge losses for companies and individuals. The collaboration between WiBioCard and CardLab provides a valuable new opportunity for our customers, which range from companies to government institutions, to solidify a far more convenient solution, superior protections, and employ efficient cybersecurity tools to safeguard their critical data in a highly secure system. Charles Towle, CEO at US Capital Global Securities, said: We are extremely pleased to celebrate this important milestone achievement with our client CardLab Aps, the next generation in cyber solutions. Nominated by the European Commission as one of Europes most innovative high-tech firms, CardLab has grown into a world leader in the biometric smart card industry with customers across Europe, Asia, and North America. If you are interested in this innovative and rapidly expanding organization, the opportunity to participate in its $10 million equity offering remains open to eligible investors. Last year, CardLab was designated the Most Secure and Innovative Cyber Security Protection Solution by Business World Magazine, alongside several other industry awards by World Business Outlook, including Best Card Security Solutions Provider Denmark 2022. About CardLab ApS Based in Denmark, CardLab is a world-leading technology provider to the digital identity and powered smart card industry. CardLab develops and commercializes ISO 7810 compliant secure card products, including a fingerprint card authentication solution for payment, ID, access control, blockchain and cryptocurrency platforms, and cyber security. With manufacturing partners in Asia and the United States and its own factory in Thailand, CardLab provides high-quality technical design and manufacturing support for card solutions, including scalable security levels and existing infrastructure compatibility, making implementation affordable for end users. www.cardlab.com About US Capital Global US Capital Global Securities LLC (USCGS) is the FINRA-member broker-dealer division of US Capital Global that acts as placement agent for growth-stage companies, projects, and investment funds. Since 1998, US Capital Global has been committed to providing lower middle market businesses and investors with sophisticated debt, equity, and investment opportunities usually available only to larger middle market companies and institutional investors, using the latest FinTech and RegTech innovation. US Capital Global entities manage direct investment funds and provide wealth management and capital raise services. USCGS or its affiliates may provide advice to, be compensated by, may have other business relationships with, or may from time to time acquire, hold, or sell a position in the securities of the issuers mentioned herein. Any such offer or solicitation shall be made only pursuant to the confidential private placement memorandum. View USCGS Form CRS at www.uscapglobalsecurities.com/crs.html. To learn more about the investment opportunity in CardLab Aps, email Lisa Terk, Senior Vice President, at lterk@uscapglobal.com or call+1 415-889-1026. Attachment Investors can contact the law firm at no cost to learn more about recovering their losses LOS ANGELES, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises Planet Fitness, Inc. (Planet Fitness or the Company) (NYSE: PLNT) investors that the firm has initiated an investigation into possible securities fraud and may file a class action on behalf of investors. Planet Fitness investors that lost money on their investment are encouraged to contact Lesley Portnoy, Esq. Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy , by phone 844-767-8529 or email : lesley@portnoylaw.com, to discuss their legal rights, or click here to join the case via www.portnoylaw.com . The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors options for pursuing claims to recover their losses. The Bear Cave, a market analyst, published a report on January 19, 2023, titled "Problems at Planet Fitness." The report claimed that Planet Fitness had provided inaccurate information on market saturation during an investor presentation, and that they had a standard practice of overbilling and hindering members from canceling their memberships, leading to multiple lawsuits. The Bear Cave questioned whether Planet Fitness was a legitimate gym franchise or an illegal billing operation with gyms on the side. Following the release of this report, Planet Fitness's stock price dropped by 2.4% or $1.96 per share during intraday trading. Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information. The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims against caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq. Admitted CA and NY Bar lesley@portnoylaw.com 310-692-8883 www.portnoylaw.com Attorney Advertising South Africa: SA sets up new frontier against prostate cancer The fight against prostate cancer, which is one of the top five cancers reported among men in South Africa, is being given another boost through the construction of a new state-of-the-art facility at Steve Biko Academic Hospital (SBAH) in Pretoria. Health Deputy Minister, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, together with the European Union Commissioner of Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, on Thursday visited the facility, which is still under construction. The setting up of the crucial unit emanated from collaboration between the University of Pretoria (UP) and the European Commissions Joint Research Centre in 2017 to offer services for prostate cancer to South African patients. More than 300 South African prostate cancer patients have been successfully treated with Targeted Alpha Therapy (TAT) through this collaboration. According to the European Commission, TAT is based on the coupling of alpha particle-emitting radioisotopes to tumour-selective carrier molecules, such as monoclonal antibodies or peptides. These molecules can selectively target tumour cells, even if they are spread throughout the body. The treatment is offered to prostate cancer patients through compassionate use and improved protocols for patient treatment, the Health Department said. According to UP, other joint studies will lead to the development of TAT for other types of cancer, with a particular focus on breast cancer. The Deputy Minister has described the move as a signal to an important era of collaboration with their European Union (EU) counterparts to enhance healthcare research, as both parties jointly endeavour to leave no one behind. Dhlomo thanked the SBAH team for the commendable research they have undertaken over the past years in the area of nuclear medicine. I agree that the concept of nuclear medicine is not spoken about. However, nuclear medicine has played a critical role in the health sector over many years in the diagnosis of many ailments. It is quite encouraging to see how this practice has evolved over the years to play an increasingly important role in therapeutics as well. I am informed that there is a new area of radiation medicine called theranostics, which engulfs both diagnostic and therapeutic use of nuclear medicine, Dhlomo said. South Africa, the Deputy Minister said, continues to experience a quadruple burden of disease, including a high burden of HIV and AIDS, TB and an increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, of which cancer is a high priority. Nuclear medicine plays a critical role in enhancing our response to our complex burden of disease, Dhlomo said. He said cancer has become one of the leading causes of death and suffering among communities in low and middle-income countries. The top five cancers in men include prostate (25.29%), followed by colorectal (5.63%), lung (4.01%), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (3.2%) and melanoma (2.74%). In women, the top five cancers include breast (23.22%), cervix (15.85%), colorectal (4.46%), uterus (3.6%) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (2.55%). As we aim to create equity in access to care among all our communities, government has an obligation not only to ensure implementation of preventative strategies where applicable, but also to create access to early detection as well as appropriate and timeous treatment of cancers to improve our survival rates. It is also necessary for us to recognise the need for research and innovation to enhance treatment outcomes. I firmly believe that creating basic access to diagnosis and treatment can co-exist with our endeavours to be innovative, said Dhlomo. He expressed enthusiasm to learn more about the role played by the new modality, an alpha-emitting Actinium-225 in the treatment of prostate cancer, which will contribute to reducing the burden of disease. I believe that the ongoing research collaboration between the Department of Health, the SBAH and our EU counterparts will help expand the use of this treatment modality to other types of cancer, such as breast cancer, in the future. He believes that the Nuclear Medicine Research Institute (NuMeRi), having reached a construction completion stage at SBAH, will immensely contribute toward the realisation of this mission. Dhlomo paid tribute to the hospital for reaching this milestone and recognised the outstanding research work done by Professor Mike Sathekge, the Head of the Nuclear Medicine Department at UP and SBAH, and his team. Commendig the development of the facility, Kyriakides said Europe and South Africa have a strong partnership through the development, manufacturing and access to COVID-19 vaccines in Africa and worldwide. Both parties also discussed ways to extend cooperation in other key areas of health. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-01-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Press Release January 26, 2023 Cayetano's 'Presyo Trabaho Kita/Kaayusan' (PTK) program continues to empower Davaoenos post-pandemic Amid soaring prices of basic commodities in the country, Davaoenos from different sectoral groups are continuing to benefit from low-interest loan programs under a 10-year-old livelihood initiative of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano. "Presyo, Trabaho, Kita/Kaayusan" or "PTK" is a livelihood program for existing sectoral groups, which was launched by Cayetano in 2013 with the main objective of providing Filipinos with easy access to capital through low-interest loans. In an effort to ensure their growth, the team of the PTK program on Thursday visited the San Isidro Farmer Consumers Cooperative, Queens Livelihood Association 'Davao Queens', Quarry Sidecar Association of Bankerohan Inc. (QUASCABI), and Madalo Bankerohan Sidecar Operators and Drivers Association, Inc (MABASCODAI) in Davao City. The cooperatives' presidents shared that the capital provided to them under the 'Presyo, Trabaho, Kita/Kaayusan' program sustained them before, during, and after the pandemic. Before the pandemic, San Isidro Farmer Consumers Cooperative President Paterno Guarde said their group was able to get their assets to over 200 percent of the initial P100,000 capital, enabling them to provide loans to their members and even to the people living in their area. While collecting payment became difficult during the pandemic, Guarde said the availability of funds from their cooperative provided the safety net their members needed - a benefit they were able to get since they became a beneficiary of PTK in 2014. Davao Queens likewise received their initial capital from PTK in 2014, which they used to put up a grocery store. Now, Davao Queens President Bing Apa said they are using the fruit of the PTK fund to buy raw materials and ingredients for household commodities such as soap and peanut butter which they sell. Apa added that they have expanded into various chapters across Davao City, each with a president and a set of officers. Meanwhile QUASCABI, a group of tricycle drivers and operators, received financial aid under PTK in September of 2015, which helped their members purchase their basic needs. Years later, their cooperative has built their own office with equipment such as compressors, car wash sets, and even supplies such as spare tires. MABASCODAI likewise became a beneficiary back in September 2015. To date, their cooperative has been helpful to their members by providing financial assistance. In July 2022, with the goal of exponentially growing the PTK, Cayetano filed in the Senate the Puhunan Tungo sa Kaunlaran (PTK) Act to institutionalize the program and be able to help more Filipinos nationwide. "Many Filipinos have the talent, skill, drive, and perseverance to run a good business. However, the lack of access to capital and affordable financing limits their opportunity to start their own business, and the same impediment hinder those who currently have businesses to expand," Cayetano said in the explanatory note. The PTK currently has more than 200 beneficiary groups across the country, composed of public utility vehicle drivers and operators, market vendors, women, farmers, and fisherfolk, among others. Economic Crisis: "Government placing too much emphasis on debt exchange" - Forum Kweku Zurek Business News Jan - 26 - 2023 , 15:44 Speakers at a public forum on Ghana's Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) have accused the government of placing too much emphasis on restructuring debt in its attempt to tackle the economic crisis instead of employing fiscal consolidation and structural reforms as a cure. According to them, the country must adopt a "triangular approach" of reducing domestic debt as well as fiscal and structural adjustments to tackle the economic crisis and secure a US$3 billion facility from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It is hoped that the facility will stabilise the economy which is currently choked with debts totalling GH467 billion as of December 2022. They argued that too much focus on debt restructuring was unfair because it loads the entire burden of fixing the economy on only a section of society. Forum The forum organised by the Economic Governance Platform today in Accra was themed: "Ghana's Debt Exchange Program in Context: Is it a make or break for an IMF Bailout or there are viable alternatives?". Speakers A Speaker at the forum, Professor Godfred Bokpin said the government had presented the DDEP as the magic bullet for sealing an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme but this was not the case. "If we don't ensure the fair and equitable adjustment between fiscal, structural and debt restructuring then we will be burdening creditors unnecessarily and that is not fair," Prof. Bokpin said. He said the challenges with the economy could rather be traced to poor governance structures that manifest later in economic mismanagement. "Governance reform should be placed even higher ahead of fiscal, ahead of debt. Then the next layer should be a debt restructuring. We have turned it the other way round by saying that debt it rather the saviour". He added that cuts could also be made in the size of government as well as the country's highly commercialised and monetized democracy. An Economist and Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana Business School urged all Ghanaian citizens to take an interest in the current economic crisis. He called for a broader discussion on how the Ghanaian economy would be run after the next IMF programme. The Director of Research of the Institute of Economic Affairs reiterated calls for an amendment to the current terms of the DDEP. He called for a shorter maturity for funds that will be affected by the DDEP and a new coupon rate of between eight to 12 per cent on existing bonds. He also called the abolition of the 4-year moratorium on the payment of principals. Ghana ready for full operationalisation of AfCFTA Deputy Trade Minister Emmanuel Bruce Business News Jan - 26 - 2023 , 10:44 A DEPUTY Minister of Trade and Industry, Herbert Krapa, has said that the country was ready for the full operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. He said the customs unit of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) was ready and had the competence to provide certificates of origin including all the requirements in place for the smooth take-off of the agreement. We have everything in place and we are part of the seven countries which have already traded under the Guided Trade Initiative, he said in an interview on the sidelines of the 1st Annual General Assembly Meeting of the African Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs). Three years after the launch of the AfCFTA, African countries are yet to take full advantage of the agreement due to the inability of some countries to submit their tariff schedules to the AfCFTA Secretariat for technical validation. The AfCFTA agreement when fully operationalised is expected to create a market size of over 1.4 billion people with a combined Gross Domesatic Product (GDP) of about $4 trillion. It is also projected that Africa could see foreign direct investments increase by between 111 per cent and 159 per cent under the AfCFTA, with wages also expected to rise by 11.2 per cent for women and 9.8 per cent for men by 2035. About 50 million people could also escape extreme poverty by 2035, and real income could rise by nine per cent; under deep integration, Africas exports to the rest of the world are also projected to go up by 32 per cent by 2035, with intra-African exports also growing by 109 per cent, led by manufactured goods. Although these statistics make a good case for the need to fully operationalise AfCFTA, that is yet to happen. Mr Krapa, however, hinted that Ghana was not part of the countries delaying the full operationalisation of the agreement. Support to private sector The deputy minister also noted that the ministry was currently collecting data that would enable it to develop a special package for companies which sought to take advantage of AfCFTA. He said the package, when ready, would be submitted to Cabinet for approval, then later to Parliament for approval. Among other things, he said the package would consider areas such as the cost of power, cost of credit and cost of infrastructure. He said the move was aimed at making Ghanaian companies more competitive on the continent. We are paying attention to some of these things so that we will be able to take full advantage of the AfCFTA agreement, he stated. Unlocking Africas potential In his opening remarks at the meeting, the CEO of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Yofi Grant, said AfCFTA held the key to unlocking Africas full potential when fully operationalised. Africa accounts for just 2.3 per cent of global exports with an export basket heavy on primary commodities and natural resources. While only 16 per cent of the continents exports are destined for other African countries, much of this trade is in semi-processed and processed goods. Mr Grant said strengthening regional trade was, therefore, crucial to support greater value addition, diversifying supply chains, boosting resilience to crises and industrialising ultimately contributing to job creation and better livelihoods on the continent. In 2050, the African population will be one-fourth of the entire world population and I have a dream, a dream that keeps me up at night, a dream that has Africa being a recipient of one-fourth of Global FDI, is this dream possible? I say yes. Its not only possible but inevitable, he stated. He said that dream was inevitable because Africa had 30 per cent of the world's mineral reserves, eight per cent of natural gas reserves, 12 per cent of oil reserves, 90 per cent of the world's chromium and platinum, 40 per cent of the world's gold, and 65 per cent of the world's arable land. Insurance industry succumbs to govt pressure - Accepts revised conditions under debt exchange programme Charles Benoni Okine Business News Jan - 26 - 2023 , 14:07 The government and the insurance industry have fundamentally reached a deal on the terms of participation of insurance companies in the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP). On similar lines as the agreement with the banks late last week, the GraphicOnilne has picked information from sources that the new agreement with the insurance industry encompasses final improvements to the terms of the programme. The banks agreed to terms including; an agreement to pay five per cent coupon for 2023 and a single coupon rate for each of the twelve new bonds resulting in an effective coupon rate of nine per cent, clarity on the operational framework and terms of access to the Ghana Financial Stability Fund (GFSF) and the removal or amendment of all clauses in the Exchange Memorandum that empowers the Republic to, at its sole discretion, vary the terms of the Exchange. The sources did not give further details but the GraphicOnline can confirm that the agreement, albeit, reluctantly agreed by the insurance companies, is no different from the one agreed with the banks. A joint statement to that effect is expected later in the day and the GraphicOnline will keep readers up-to-date with further details on the deal. Impact The insurance sector is expected to take a huge hit of 40 per cent on its investments as the deadline for Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) approaches. Although sector players were strongly pushing for an exemption from the exercise to enable it to honour its claim payments timeously, the government said: Total exemption is not an option. Data available to GraphicOnline indicate that the sector has 40 per cent of its investments amounting to some GH4.6 billion directly exposed to Government of Ghana securities with an additional 10 per cent invested in licensed banks and fund managers. The third quarter of last years financial analysis showed that assets of non-life insurance companies stood at GH4.92 billion while that of life was GH6.60 billion. That brings the total to GH11.53 billion out of which 40 per cent is at risk of being either lost or placed in the worst state. At his official inauguration, the new President of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Ghana (CIIG), Mr Solomon Lartey, warned that insurance companies might not be able to meet their obligations with total liabilities amounting to GH5.96 billion under the current DDEP programme. The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, had warned last week that the government could not guarantee a total exemption of insurance companies under its DDE programme. The Insurance Sector challenges come at a time the entire financial sector was facing severe challenges on account of the DDEP. The banks are equally reeling under a lot of pressure with some four banks considered to be under stress. The government is seeking a US$ 3 billion IMF bailout as its debt to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio reaches an unsustainable level of almost 100 per cent. In an industry such as insurance, liquidity is a key component of the business. In Ghana, insurance companies pay as much as GH4.3 million daily as claims to deserving clients and it is feared that should the exercise be carried out without proper measures to ensure liquidity, the consequences could cripple the sector. Daily Graphic Editorials Pretend play: Tool for language development Josephine Ohenewa Bampoe Editorials Jan - 25 - 2023 , 12:24 There are several ways children learn about the world when they are developing. One of such ways is through pretend play. Pretend play involves imagining and doing. It has a significant impact on the development of speech, language and communication skills. Children like using their imagination to role-play a parent, a doctor or a nurse, for instance. When I was growing up, we used to pretend to be mothers with our dolls and may have someone play the role of a father. In Ghana, most children engage in this pretend play often referred to as maame ni paapa (Mummy and Daddy) i.e. when children pretend to be parents. Children learn by observing, imagining and doing. Nearly every child engages in pretend play of some kind. Importance A childs ability to engage in pretend play helps in their developmental skills and these include: Language and communication skills Children often use language during pretend play. According to research, children who engage in pretend play often use higher forms of language than they would use in everyday situations. They use words and phrases to pretend to be mothers, fathers or babies. Pretend play gives children the opportunity to experiment with and learn about the power of language. Children learn about new vocabulary during pretend play with other children. In engaging in different pretend plays, they learn words that apply to different situations and use them to communicate. Their listening skills are also developed when playing. Social & Emotional skills During pretend play, children learn about the world and how to be in someones shoes. They do these by playing different roles. By learning to empathise, they learn to become responsible and to share responsibility with others and to develop their self-esteem and self-awareness. Children are naturally selfish but through pretend play, they develop the skills of co-operation by responding positively to the feelings of others. Pretend play involves deciding on roles with others and working together to achieve that purpose, thereby working collaboratively and developing social interaction skills. Imaginative skills Early pretend play offers children the opportunity to exercise their imagination and to learn how to think for themselves, according to research. The ability to use our imagination is an important skill needed throughout the lifespan to be able to carry out our daily living such as making decisions, making plans, organising things, solving problems, among others- Life skills. Physical development Pretend play is often physical and helps children to be active, to exercise and to develop their motor skills. Children develop their gross motor skills, for instance, when they run after each other and climb things. Their fine motor skills are developed when they pretend to be cooking for the family, dressing the baby, among others. Encouraging pretend play To encourage pretend play, you need to play face-to-face with your child. Get down to the childs level (i.e., sitting or kneeling on the floor) so that your faces are at the same level. Follow the childs interest. Have a choice of toys (these can include a ball, car, baby, puzzle, toy phone, toy cooking set, doctor set, etc.) on the floor. Allow the child to choose what to play with. Pretend play has several benefits for a childs development. Award-winning rapper Gambo announces USA tour GraphicOnline Showbiz News Jan - 26 - 2023 , 05:49 An award-winning Ghanaian musician, Bashir Annan, popularly known in showbiz as Gambo, is billed to embark on his tour of the United States of America (USA). The 'Drip' Rapper will commence his major tour of 2023 in Washington DC in February. His tour will see him visiting Virginia, New York and Maryland. The crooner of Ghana's most popular wedding song, 'Settle', will use the tour to interact with several of his fans in the USA. In 2023, the 'Boys Aye Wild' hitmaker is expected to release a new Extended Play (EP), a follow-up to his highly successful 'New Era' EP. The US tour comes after the Vodafone Ghana Unsung Artist of the Year embarked on similar tours in Tanzania and Nigeria in 2022. In Tanzania, he did his first-ever East African collaboration as he featured Young Dee also known as Young Daresalama on a single titled: 'Sio Simple.' Aside his tours in Tanzania and Nigeria, Gambo was in UK in the past year where he left fans who attended the Ghana Music Awards UK (GMA UK 2022) virtually dazzled with his incredible performance. Australia Day: Australia-Ghana partnership deepens Her Excellency Berenice Owen-Jones, Australian High Commissioner to Ghana Opinion Jan - 26 - 2023 , 10:54 Australia Day, marked on January 26 every year, is an occasion to celebrate contemporary Australia and its people, reflect on what it means to be Australian, and acknowledge our history. It was on January 26, 1788 that the First Fleet of 11 convict ships arrived in Sydney Harbour from England, so beginning the first permanent settlement of Europeans on Australian soil. The Commonwealth of Australia itself came into being on January 1, 1901. But that is just the most recent part of our story because prior to European settlement, Australia was settled by indigenous Australians for many millennia according to some scholars for as long as 60,000 years the worlds oldest continuing civilisation. Worlds sixth largest country Australia a continent and the sixth largest country in the world is a nation like no other. It is one of 17 countries that together account for more than 70 per cent of the worlds species. We are also home to almost 10 per cent of the world's biodiversity, from tropical rainforest in the north, to the red deserts of the centre, and the snowfields of the south-east. Modern Australia is a thriving nation, a G20 member with the 12th largest economy, influential in its own region the Indo-Pacific and with global interests and partnerships. We have a highly skilled workforce and some of the highest living standards in the world. Australian cities are regularly listed in the top ten most liveable cities in the Economist Intelligence Units global liveability index. Innovation is in our DNA, and drives Australian enterprise, science and research sectors as well as responses to global crises. 300 different ancestries Our success as a nation reflects our varied origins. Australia is home to people from more than 300 different ancestries. We are an egalitarian nation whose citizens share common ground with so many of the worlds peoples. The world has come to Australia, and as a result, Australia is profoundly connected to all regions of the world through family, ethnic and cultural ties. This is an asset an element of national power that few countries can match. Today, more than 7,500 Ghanaians call Australia home. As well as deep people-to-people links, we have a long-standing bilateral relationship with Ghana Australia was one of the first countries in the world to recognise the newly independent Ghana in 1957. This relationship is underpinned by cooperation through the Commonwealth and other international organisations, as well as shared values and interests including in supporting the international rules-based order; free trade and investment; and action on climate change. Ghanas commitment to peace Australia particularly values Ghanas commitment to peace and security on the international stage including during its current tenure on the United Nations Security Council and in the region. We share concerns over the growing threat of terrorist activity in the Sahel and appreciate the challenge this is presenting for coastal states. We are helping build capacity in countering terrorism and violent extremism including through the International Counter-Terrorism Academy in Cote dIvoire and the UN Office of Counterterrorism in Morocco. The annual West Africa Mining Security Conference, organised by the Australian High Commission in Accra, also brings together subject matter experts, security practitioners, academics and the mining industry to discuss regional trends and operational challenges. Australias investments Our commercial links are also significant, underpinned by Australias investment in the mining sector. Australian companies are involved in every aspect of the industry, from surveying and exploration, mine design and construction, to contract drilling and excavation. These companies play a significant role in the development of Ghanas extractives sector. For example, Australian mining exploration company Atlantic Lithium is developing what will be Ghanas first lithium mine. Australian companies have an excellent track record of initiatives aimed at improving the infrastructure and social welfare of staff and local communities as well as transferring knowledge, skills and expertise to their Ghanaian workforce many of whom are now in key mining positions right across Africa and in other parts of the world. With Australian mining companies current and prospective investment across Africa estimated at over $40 billion Australian Dollars (AUD), this fruitful partnership will continue. Direct Aid Programme Since 2004, in Ghana and across West Africa, the Australian High Commission has delivered over 200 projects through our Direct Aid Programme, bringing tangible benefits to local communities in the areas of health and sanitation, education and skills training, human rights, income generation, renewable energy and womens economic empowerment. In the last two decades the Australian Government has also supported over 400 Ghanaians to undertake study, research and professional development at premier Australian tertiary institutions through the Australia Awards programme. These scholars were able to tap into Australias leading-edge expertise in fields such as public policy, health, agricultural technologies, renewable energy and mining, and have returned to Ghana with knowledge, skills and networks that will benefit their workplaces and communities. Collaboration with Ghana These links contribute to our collaboration with Ghana and other African countries in responding to the challenges of climate change, food insecurity, water scarcity and energy transition. More broadly, education is a promising avenue for Australia and Ghana to continue to further develop our relationship. Australia has a world class-education system and is the worlds third most popular destination for international students. Looking to the future, there are exciting times ahead for Australia in Ghana, as the Australian Government reinvigorates ties with Africa. Just last month, Australian Assistant Foreign Minister the Hon. Tim Watts visit to Ghana underscored that we have important bilateral, strategic and economic interests. Strengthen our partnership We will continue to strengthen our partnership to promote an international system governed by rules; to combat terrorism; to tackle climate change; to develop our economic links; and share knowledge and skills. Australian mining companies will continue to contribute to Ghanas economic development. At the same time, we will diversify our economic links, and take up opportunities in education, green energy, food and agriculture, as well as science and technology. Australia and Ghana are on the opposite sides of the world but together we can continue to overcome the tyranny of distance. Celebrating Indian Republic @ 74 Sugandh Rajaram Opinion Jan - 26 - 2023 , 11:16 Seventy-four years ago today (January 26, 2023), India became a Republic, adopting a Constitution deep-rooted in its civilisational values, culture and heritage. It paved the way for an independent India to tread steadfastly, dealing with all the challenges resulting from its colonial past on the path of national development. And, after more than seven decades of its journey, the Indian Republic is, today, celebrating 75 years of independence with a celebration of its achievements and new resolve to work harder to scale the new heights so that India @100 would be the nation which the founders had dreamt of. Strong democracy Today, India is rapidly emerging as the strongest democracy in the world. It is not only the largest democracy population-wise, but also the most vibrant and functional democratic governance system globally. Its polity is comprehensively representative of a large and diverse nation, both vertically and horizontally, which means there is not a section of the society or a region of the country which has no political representation. Indians 1.4 billion people strongly believe in the spirit and tenets of the idea of India, with enthusiastic and wholehearted participation in electing their representatives from time to time. Elections in India are not only the largest such exercise in the world, but also the only one which is now digital in nature, since the voting is 100 per cent electronic. This is not a mean achievement for a huge and diverse country like India, which was destroyed by the centuries of oppression of foreign rule and colonisation. This was possible not just because of the spirit and grit of Indian people, but because of the toil of the members of the Constituent Assembly in laying the strong foundation to build the Republic, and that is why when India is celebrating 75 years of independence, it is also the time to celebrate the success of Indian Republic. New global economy On such strong foundation, a new India is being built, which has emerged as the new global economic powerhouse presently, as the 5th largest economy of the world. It is expected that by 2028, India will be the 3rd largest economy and by 2047, when India becomes 100 years old since its independence, it will be a $26 trillion economy. Indias economic achievements are the direct result of its credentials as a Republic. Indias Republic is held high and celebrated by its more than one billion young people. As the largest young nation in the world, India focuses in a big way on technology, innovation, creation and futuristic vision. It is fast emerging as the manufacturing hub for the world. It is already the pharmacy of the world and soon will be the knowledge capital of the world. With more than 90,000 registered start-ups and more than 100 Unicorns, it is already the third largest start-up eco-system in the world. Putting in place such an eco-system is bound to unleash new energies of the young Indians. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, which badly hit a big and diverse country like India, it is the fastest growing major economy in the world. The efforts are on to build a trustworthy global supply hub which will not allow for a disruption of the supply chains if the pandemics are to reoccur in future. This sense of global responsibility comes from the tenets of the Indian Republic. Transformation The Republic celebrates the transformation leading to huge growth, and at the same time, ensures that it is balanced with inclusion and sustainability. Inclusion, both vertically and horizontally, i.e. through all the sections of the society and through all the regions of India, is an important value of the Indian Republic, which has been the touchstone of the developmental policies and efforts in India. At the same time, the Republic ensures that the developmental efforts are sustainable with due attention given to mother nature. With all these strengths of the Indian Republic, India readies itself to take the mantle to be a leader of global growth and prosperity. Indias leadership is deep-rooted in its civilisational thoughts of Vasudev Kutumbakam i.e. considering the whole world as one family. Indias commitment is towards the well-being of the whole of humanity, transgressing all boundaries. While celebrating the achievements of 75 years since independence, India would like to share it with the whole world, especially with the partners and the friends in the Global South. In this regard, during its present G-20 Presidency, convening the Voice of the Global South Summit by India was immensely significant. It clearly brings out the spirit of inclusion that India would like to push for in global growth and prosperity. Certainly, this comes from Indias experience as a Republic. Ghana as an old and close partner of India greatly benefits from the achievements, lessons and experiences of the Indian Republic. India values its friendship with partners, including Ghana, while it moves on in its global leadership. India attaches immense significance and importance to its commitment as the prime partner of Africa and Ghana in their national development by working together to build their capacities. India has demonstrated its commitment by taking deliberate efforts, politically, economically and socio-culturally, and establishing itself as one of the largest trade, investment and development partners of Ghana, bringing the two countries and the two peoples together. When we are celebrating the 74th Republic Day today, India is looking forward to deepening that commitment with reinvigorated efforts. The writer is the High Commissioner of India to Ghana Some of my bosses in Ghana in early days of my career - A celebration of Kwame Addae and his friends Yaw Nsarkoh Opinion Jan - 26 - 2023 , 15:05 The National Service Year and the Unilever interview process My story with Unilever begun by accident. Out of university in Quarter 4, 1992, I went to the National Service Secretariat and I had been posted to Unilever Ghana. I reported for work and was assigned to work in the Quality Assurance Department. My direct boss was Joseph Tusah, and the head of the Quality Assurance Department was Pamela Aba Turkson. Both people took a special interest in me. Aunty Aba, as we all called her, adopted me as her younger brother and challenged me a lot professionally. I spent many long hours labouring at the computer placed in her office; in those days there was no E-mail, no mobile phones, no internet and therefore no social media. But from the very beginning, Aba was determined that I would gain world class skills in computing and she pushed me to do so. Joseph Tusah, my very first line manager ever, made loads of time to give me advice about life in general and career development. He was a hilarious character who was very easy to talk to. He represented me well to the Quality Assurance workforce, and, as a result, I made great friends among that team. They all wanted to help me with whatever I needed. Tusah was a special kind of boss; a brother, a friend who encouraged me as well as stretched me. After a few months of national service, he encouraged me to think about becoming a management trainee and to work hard at it, beginning with making a positive impression on Aunty Aba. There is a sense in which it is because of Joseph Tusah that I ended up pursuing a career in Unilever. By the end of the national service year, Aunty Aba never missed an opportunity to let me know I had done exceedingly well. She let everyone know how proud she was of me and how much she supported me. But she also let me know that while she would very highly recommend me to be recruited as a management trainee, it was not her decision to make. I would have to compete in an elaborate interview process. And so the process begun: applied to Unilever in response to the newspaper advert (I still have a photocopy of my handwritten application stating I was a man of integrity). Then I received a telegram inviting me for an aptitude test. I prepared for this test like my life depended on it, using the GRE texts on logical reasoning and aptitude tests. I was later told I aced these exams. As a result of my passing these exams, I received a comprehensive set of application forms from Unilever. This was delivered by hard copy and I had to fill them in by hand. When I had done my first draft on a photocopy, I sought out my long-time friend and classmate from Livingstone House Achimota School, Johnny Akoto. He had also been my room-mate in both sixth form and at Katanga Hall in university. Johnny was an extraordinarily intelligent and militant chemical engineer. In our Katanga days, he was a fearless activist for justice a guy none in our generation will ever forget. Johnny looked at my responses carefully and gave me invaluable advice on how to modify some of my responses. I took the advice with humility and improved my answers. Very early on, I believed in the power of networks and their ability to challenge you to excellence. Even now, I read my filled application letter with pride it defined values that have stuck with me for the three decades of my professional life. The interview and becoming a management trainee I submitted my application form and got invited for the interview. My father was delighted that I was going to get a job at David Andohs company. My interview was scheduled to begin at 9.00 am but my father drove me to Swanmill, the Unilever head-office in central Accra that morning. By 7.30 am, he had dropped me off and I waited by reading and re-reading a copy of my application form. Finally, the interview started and I was like a man possessed. I had to discuss the answers on my application form with a panel of Unilever directors. By this time I knew the contents of the form inside-out and had detailed reasoning for every word that I had put down. Then we had to discuss management case studies in groups. And finally, I had to pick a topic from a box on current affairs and speak to it without notes for ten minutes. Mine was, The Middle East Conflict. This was a subject I knew well and had deep interest in, so I had no problem speaking to it. Even though I had studied engineering, the Katanga Hall Porters Lodge was a world class think-tank and debating society on current affairs and geopolitics. I was always at the Porters Lodge in my Katanga days, sometimes till dawn. So this was a relatively easy topic for me. Robert Adu Mante was the Personnel director of Unilever then. I knew about him but had never physically met him. He was on the interview panel which was being managed by the Personnel Adviser, a Nigerian called Emmanuel Imoagene. Robert Adu-Mante was relatively quiet during the interview. But I sourced energy from him. Anytime I looked at him, his expression said to me in some inscrutable way: "young man you are doing well, carry on." Days after the interview, Robert Adu-Mante sent for me to come to his office. He was full of praise and said that in less than a month, I could expect an appointment letter. I was due to travel out of the country soon but there was no way I was going to jeopardise getting a job as a management trainee at Unilever, so I cancelled the trip and waited for the letter which did come as promised. In life there will always be many options but one has to choose and sacrifice for what is deemed important. You cannot have everything. 1st December 1993, I started my induction as a Management Trainee. Emmanuel Imoagene, the Personnel Adviser took me aside and remarked: young man, you will one day go to the very top of this organisation. I very sincerely was not entirely sure what he saw in me but I was nonetheless glad that he made that comment. My Management Trainee induction started in earnest. I found myself on the directors floor meeting Martin Esson-Benjamin, the then Marketing Director. I remember as if it just happened, that he looked at me sternly and asked: are you the son of Professor Nsarkoh? I said I was, and he responded: Then you have a family reputation to protect and I will really hold you to high standards. I came to know Martin Esson-Benjamin as a stickler for excellence and a very hard working man who left nothing to chance. He was very proud of the marketing function and he let it be known and I was very inspired by him. Unfortunately for me, he was promoted soon after I joined to become Managing Director of a brewery owned by Unilever at the time, so I did not get to know him too well. Until much later on in life, we reunited on social media. I have never had the opportunity to tell him how inspired we were by him at the time. Dr. Carl Irvin, the Technical Director during my year of national service had sat on my interview panel. He was a hard man from Britain, perhaps even a brutal man but when I called on him at his office he was delighted and said: you did very well at the interview young man, now excel as an engineer. Within months of my becoming a Management Trainee, his tour of duty ended and he returned to the UK. Our paths have never crossed since. Till the end of the process, no one ever promised me a great salary. All everyone said, is that at Unilever I will be trained to get to the top of my profession. That was what drove my choice. Yaw Nsarkoh, who in his student days in a confrontation with one of his lecturers had been told will never get a job had landed a job. All praise to God. Enter Kwame Addae I was working as a Shift manager at the Foods Factory, as part of my Management Traineeship when Kwame Addae returned from expatriation in India to take up the role of Technical director. My direct line manager was Kofi Folson, a Chemical Engineer to whom I owe much for training me in Manufacturing and Food Technology. During my National Service, Kofi Folson gave me a ride to work almost everyday. An invaluable help for which I cannot ever say thank you enough. Kwame Addae had done many important jobs in Unilever before becoming Technical Director. He had been for example, Personnel Director and Deputy Technical Director. His reputation was already larger than life. In introducing Kwame Addae to us, his predecessor Dr. Carl Irvin told us, "Kwame Addae is a detonator!" We were soon to learn why. Kwame was returning from India, which housed one of Unilevers most revered operations, Hindustan Lever. He had incredibly high, world class performance standards. Physically a diminutive man, he had the energy, determination and drive of a thousand giants. In pursuing excellence, Kwame Addae was simply fearless and indefatigable. He was tough, he was challenging and he could be rough when he needed to be. He held very high standards on integrity. You breached them and you were a goner. His famous 9.00am morning reviews with all the engineers was the scene of spit fire accountability. We stood on our feet as he reviewed the quality of production from the previous day shift by shift, hour by hour. Those were the days, those indeed were the days. Kwame Addae was a big picture guy who was also deep in the details. He knew what was going on. No one could sell bull shit to Kwame Addae. As himself would often say, dont mess around. If you promised to deliver something, you did everything in your power to do so. The man was as tough as nails. Yet, in my experience, there has never been a Director more loved by the workforce. We all talked and moaned about Kwame Addae and his pressure to deliver. But we deeply respected him for many things. He was egalitarian in spirit and instinct. He loved walking around the factory floor. Many times he would spend hours talking to shopfloor workers. Even as a young and junior engineer then, Kwame Addae would invite me to his office to discuss my trend monitoring reports for the vegetable oils refinery. He was deeply interested in our professional development and he pushed us to excel. Under Kofi Folson's leadership, we upgraded refinery capacity by 25% through process optimisation only. Unheard of in those days. Put Kwame Addae anywhere people were, and they would soon roar with laughter. He had a funny story for every occasion. This was the tough boss who nonetheless always had people laughing. He was a true Katanga boy, at ease with people. Kwame Addae challenged me and grew me. Sometimes I absolutely hated him for being so demanding. But no one built my confidence and values as a professional as much as Kwame. I still remember some of the Kwame Addaeisms. His constant pitch for eternal vigilance. Him repeating Ashok Ganguly's, "Time is inelastic" and "Question Everything." Kwame Addae was an engineer philosopher. Tough as nails though he was on the exterior, in time through strange circumstances, I got to know he had a heart of gold. And was very committed to the success of his teams. He just did not verbalise this much. He called me "Yaw Nsarkoh, the great." One day his secretary mistakenly sent me a report Kwame Addae had written about me. Before he rushed back for it, the young cheeky me had read it. And tears welled in my eyes. Kwame had praised me professionally to the skies. And predicted in writing, all of three decades ago, that I would go very far in my career. I was stunned. Kwame Addae, the pressure bucket? He loved his people but like many of our African parents, he showed his love by doing not saying. He gave me big professional break throughs, like sending a very young me to Canada for the North American World Class Manufacturing Workshop an experience that changed my professional life by giving me early exposure to what it means to be world class. That opened my eyes. One day the driver of Kwesi Okoh, then Customer Service Director, came to me and said that once when driving his boss and Kwame Addae, the latter had had a lot of great things to say about me. He said he knew earning those compliments from Kwame would have required lots of hard work. So I should keep doing what I was doing. This incident has stayed with me throughout my career. Organisational logic is not what the organogram says. The drivers and the tea servers and security people and cleaners must receive equal respect. Because often they know what is going on in the organisation even more than the senior managers. Such was Kwame if he had a tough message for you, he told you to your face. But he would never make you feel you owed him something because he did not even let people know when he supported them. He kept quiet about that wanting nothing back from anyone. He promoted me to full management in what was most likely a record for the time. When I said thank you, he simply said: you deserve it. The bouillon cubes factory story Once, Kwame Addae asked me to come to his office in the morning. At the time we had just started bouillon cubes manufacture in our Tema factory. The factory was going through teething problems. As I climbed the stairs to the then directors floor, I saw Kwame Addae standing with Mike McGrath, the Finance Director at the time. Kwame boomed: That is the young man, I was just talking about to the board. Yaw Nsarkoh, the great, I will assign him to the bouillon cube factory and in weeks all the problems will disappear. Huh?! What was Kwame Addae doing? I did not know what bouillon cubes were. I had never seen a bouillon cubes factory and here he was presenting me as the solution to the problem. Did he want me to fail? He just told me, I know you have the leadership capability to do it, I will support you. As a young engineer, I went back to my little factory corner crestfallen and broken, in complete panic. Why had Kwame Addae turned against me this way? Why did he want me disgraced? Why was he setting me up for certain failure? But after two days, after I had prayed incessantly, I went to the factory and called a meeting with the workforce. I had nothing but my notebook and a pen. I confessed to the team that I knew nothing about bouillon cubes manufacturing but I was confident they did. So they should tell me what needed to be done. Impressed that I had shown this vulnerability, they made several suggestions. So I asked why they had not done this in the past, if they knew the answers? And the answer they gave me taught me something about the importance of the tolerance of honest-failure I never forgot in my career. The work force believed deeply that if they tried something they had not been directly told by an engineer and it did not work, they would be blamed. I explained that this was not the case and that I, as their leader, will accept responsibility. I was not really sure why I said that but soon something went wrong and I was on trial before their eyes. Trembling, I walked up to Kwame Addae and accepted responsibility, saying I had asked the work force to try and something relatively minor had gone wrong. He listened quietly and then commended me for taking responsibility and owning up and asked me to go and continue my work. From that day, the mood in the factory changed. Word went round, as it does on shopfloors, that the young engineer would stand by them if something went wrong. They wanted me to succeed as a result and they set about making changes. In weeks, the factory was humming and the problems were gone. I had become a part of organisational folklore. Yaw Nsarkoh had again turned something around. Without any false modesty, not one of the actual engineering solutions came from me, it was all the shop floor implementing what it knew. This has been a feature of my career people know what to do, create the climate for them to do what they know and they will make you and themselves fly. I learned from that incident, and I have told this story all over the world in the years since, that if you truly respect people as human beings and treat them with dignity, most will die for the cause. But often in organisations, we get intoxicated by hierarchy and then treat people with indignity and are surprised that productivity is low. Human beings want to be treated with dignity everywhere. That is when they thrive. Kwame Addae and my move from Engineering to Marketing. Back in the day we had the tradition of the Unilever Managers Course. Young managers would be taken to one of the top Accra hotels for a week for a residential course, where the senior leaders of the business came to teach us about every aspect of the business. Festus Odimegwu, the then Marketing Director, had taken the Marketing Module that year when I attended this course at Wangara Hotel. For two and half hours, in one of the most energetic and most passionate marketing presentations I have ever seen in my long career, Festus shook us from the crown of our heads to our toe nails and the soles of our feet. Here was a man who had read nearly every management text book there was. He knew philosophy and invoked Plato to explain the role of marketing. I was totally blown away by the guy I was meeting for the first time. He made marketing seem attractive to me. It had never been before. So when we got back to the office after the course, I sent a short E-mail to Festus to thank him for his presentation. The very next day, he called me to his office. We had a long chat that led to him adopting me as his mentee. He was certain that I would do very well in Marketing and he started a campaign that I should be moved from Engineering to Marketing. Festus was the kind of man that people did things for just so they could get rid-off hm. He never stopped when he wanted something done. Until you gave him what he wanted, he could harass you to breaking point. It was not very long when people started to call me to come and meet them because Festus had told them they had to meet me. As fate would have it, Festus ended his tour of duty and returned to Nigeria to become Managing Director of Heineken there. Kwame Addae had also moved to Malaysia. But Festus has sowed the seed and in time, the new Marketing Director, Roy Williamson, invited me for a conversation. Everyone thought I should be delighted to move to Marketing. But they were confused that I seemed hesitant and frightened. Unknown to them, my Technical Director after Kwame Addae left, was not happy that I was leaving Engineering. He argued that he too needed good talent. And he wobbled me by saying I was doing very well in engineering but that if I left and went to marketing, there would be no return ticket. I was in panic. While this was going on, Roy Williamson was also beginning to get impatient with my dithering and indecision. I did not want to disclose to him the pressure I was under from his colleague. What was I to do? Stranded, lost, confused, at my absolute nadir and with my confidence shaken, one late evening I called Kwame Addae. He had moved on from being Technical Director then. He listened to me patiently, as I rambled and waffled. When I was done, he laughed and then said something I have never forgotten: Never fear Yaw, you will succeed. What can go wrong? Accept the job and you may just enjoy it and learn a lot. All my fear deserted me and I accepted the move to marketing. As they say, the rest is history. Roy Williamson who had initially been frustrated by my indecision was to become one of my most important supporters. Roy made me a marketer and put his own career on the line to keep me in marketing. I will not explain the reason why what he did at the time was a risk. I write today to celebrate people not to denigrate anyone. He became a mentor for life - Kwame Addae I could recount many more such stories. In time, Yaw Nsarkoh ,the great became Professor Yaw Nsarkoh, the great! Kwame Addae always addressed me as such when he saw me. Whenever Unilever issued any new publications on anything related to my field, he would lend me his copy to read. One time he asked me to lecture the entire technical function including himself and many accomplished engineers many years my senior, on oil processing and the biochemistry of vegetable oils. For weeks I was immersed in books, as this was not a subject that I could claim any expertise in. But that was Kwame Addae, always challenging people to breach new frontiers. Throughout my career, wherever I have been in the world, whenever I have been stuck, I have reached out to him for his wisdom. Even in his retirement, he has always been there for me. God gives us people on earth as guardian angels. Among mine, professionally, were Kwame Addae and his friends. When we tell our stories in later life, we should always remember that whatever we achieved is because we stood on the shoulders of giants. And we must never forget them. I am glad that in the evening of my executive career and Unilever career, I am able to say a public thank you to all these people and that they are all still around to hear it. Never one for hogging the lime-light, Kwame has kept a low profile in retirement. When I am down about this Robinson Crusoe Society that Ghana has become, I wonder what our politics would have yielded if it was men with the cast of mind and worth ethic of Kwame Addae that had made it to the top. Chief of Staff to the President, Kwame Addae; he would drive implementation in cabinet more than Lee Kwan Yew and Paul Kagame and Deng Xiaopeng put together. Or else the Ministers will not sleep. What you promise to Kwame Addae, you give to Kwame. The President himself would have had fire on his head if he slacked. Alas, this broken politics of ours has no place for such excellent resources. He is too honest, too professionally disciplined, too inflexible when it comes to upholding high standards, too fearless in holding people accountable. No surprise we are what we have become. Final words I write, as the muse dictates. All the people I have mentioned are still alive. I am grateful to God for putting these people in my career and life. Without them, I would have gone nowhere in my corporate career. I have never forgotten this. None of them is infallible. Not one is perfect. The perfect human does not exist. My purpose is to thank them in our lifetime, not to deify them. I am not one who ever presents anyone as perfect. I have thanked them for specific contributions to my development. No more. If I can contribute to others, in my lifetime, the way Kwame Addae and the others mentioned did to me, my life work would have been done. So help me God. Adani Group: Asia's richest man hits back at 'con' allegations International News Jan - 26 - 2023 , 14:32 A company owned by Asia's richest man has hit back at a report which accused the firm of "brazen" stock manipulation and accounting fraud. The Adani Group, founded by Gautam Adani, called the report by a US investment firm "malicious" and "selective misinformation". The group lost almost $11bn (8.7bn) of its market value after the research was made public on Wednesday. It is now considering legal action against New York's Hindenburg Research. Adani Group is one of India's biggest companies, and has operations in a wide range of industries including commodities trading, airports, utilities and renewable energy. It is led by Indian billionaire Mr Adani who is the the world's fourth richest man, according to Forbes magazine. Hindenburg, meanwhile, specialises in "short-selling", or betting against a company's share price in the expectation that it will fall. In its report, Hindenburg accused Mr Adani of "pulling the largest con in corporate history". This came days ahead of a planned sale of Adani Group shares to the public. The report questioned the Adani Group's ownership of companies in offshore tax havens such as Mauritius and the Caribbean. It also claimed Adani companies had "substantial debt" which put the entire group on a "precarious financial footing". The school dropout who became Asia's richest man Asia's richest men battle to dominate 5G in India But on Thursday, Adani Group said it was evaluating "remedial and punitive action" against Hindenburg Research in the US and India. Adani said it had always been "in compliance with all laws". "The volatility in Indian stock markets created by the report is of great concern and has led to unwanted anguish for Indian citizens," said the group head of Adani's legal team, Jatin Jalundhwala. "Clearly, the report and its unsubstantiated contents were designed to have a deleterious effect on the share values of Adani Group companies as Hindenburg Research, by their own admission, is positioned to benefit from a slide in Adani shares." The group's flagship firm, Adani Enterprises, is scheduled to begin selling its shares to the public on Friday. Political response Opposition politicians who have long alleged that Mr Adani has benefitted because of his proximity to the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi have been quick to react to the report. "Considering that detailed research is out in the public domain, it is important that the government of India takes note of the charges made," tweeted Priyanka Chaturvedi, member of parliament and Shiv Sena Leader. Another popular South Indian politician, Mr KT Ramarao, called on India's investigative agencies and market regulator to open a probe into the Adani Group's operations. But regulators are unlikely to initiate any action independently, say experts. "The Security and Exchange Board of India [which regulates listed companies in India] will act only if there is a specific complaint sent to it. And in this case there isn't," said Shriram Subramaniam, founder and managing director of InGovern Research, a consultancy that advises investors on governance issues. "There are many allegations in the report that have been the subject of regulatory scrutiny in the past." The BBC contacted the market regulator but received no response. While it appears that the decks are clear for Adani Group to proceed with its $2.4bn public share sale on Friday, the allegations in the report could put some investors off, said Ambareesh Baliga, a financial markets analyst. But the longer term consequences of the report could hit Adani Group harder. Andy Mukherjee, a columnist at the news service Bloomberg, said that beyond Adani, there were "many questions about the integrity of the broader Indian market, which is caught between the pressures of financial globalisation and political nationalism". He added: "Is the Security and Exchange Board of India waiting for a public outcry to go in and clean up the market?" Pope Francis says Homosexuality is not a crime but... International News Jan - 26 - 2023 , 10:02 Pope Francis has criticised laws that criminalise homosexuality as unjust, saying God loves all his children just as they are, and calling on Catholic bishops who support the laws to welcome LGBTQ+ people into the church. Being homosexual isnt a crime, Francis said on Tuesday in an interview. Francis acknowledged that Catholic bishops in some parts of the world support laws that criminalise homosexuality or discriminate against LGBTQ+ people, and he himself referred to the issue in terms of sin. But he attributed such attitudes to cultural backgrounds and said bishops in particular need to undergo a process of change to recognise the dignity of everyone. These bishops have to have a process of conversion, he said, adding that they should apply tenderness, please, as God has, for each one of us. Franciss comments, which were hailed by gay rights advocates as a milestone, are the first uttered by a pope about such laws. But they are also consistent with his overall approach to LGBTQ+ people and his belief that the Catholic Church should welcome everyone and not discriminate. Some 67 countries or jurisdictions worldwide criminalise consensual same-sex sexual activity, 11 of which can or do impose the death penalty, according to The Human Dignity Trust, which works to end such laws. Experts say even where the laws are not enforced, they contribute to harassment, stigmatisation and violence against LGBTQ+ people. The UN has repeatedly called for an end to laws criminalising homosexuality outright, saying they violate rights to privacy and freedom from discrimination and are a breach of countries obligations under international law to protect the human rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Declaring such laws unjust, Francis said the Catholic church can and should work to put an end to them. It must do this. It must do this, he said. Francis quoted the Catholic catechism in saying gay people must be welcomed and respected, and should not be marginalised or discriminated against. We are all children of God, and God loves us as we are and for the strength that each of us fights for our dignity, Francis said. Franciss remarks come ahead of a trip to Africa, where such laws are common, as they are in the Middle East. Many date from British colonial times or are inspired by Islamic law. Some Catholic bishops have strongly upheld them as consistent with Vatican teaching, while others have called for them to be overturned as a violation of basic human dignity. On Tuesday, Francis said there needed to be a distinction between a crime and a sin with regard to homosexuality. Church teaching holds that homosexual acts are sinful, or intrinsically disordered, but that gay people must be treated with dignity and respect. Francis articulated the position: Its not a crime. Yes, but its a sin. Fine, but first lets distinguish between a sin and a crime. Its also a sin to lack charity with one another, he added. Francis has not changed the churchs teaching, which has long riled gay Catholics. But he has made reaching out to LGBTQ+ people a hallmark of his papacy. The popes comments didnt specifically address transgender or nonbinary people, just homosexuality, but advocates of greater LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Catholic Church hailed the popes comments as a momentous advance. His historic statement should send a message to world leaders and millions of Catholics around the world: LGBTQ people deserve to live in a world without violence and condemnation, and more kindness and understanding, said Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of the US-based advocacy group Glaad. US bars entry for Nigerians 'undermining' democracy International News Jan - 26 - 2023 , 05:59 The United States government has announced a visa ban on some unnamed Nigerians for undermining the democratic process in a recent Nigerian election. In a statement on Wednesday, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken described the action as a reflection of his governments commitment to supporting Nigerias aspiration to combat corruption and strengthen democracy and the rule of law. The senior US diplomat explained that the individuals affected will not be granted visa to enter the US, under a policy to restrict visas of those believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Nigeria. He also said that their family members may also be subject to these restrictions. Additional persons who undermine the democratic process in Nigeriaincluding in the lead-up to, during, and following Nigerias 2023 electionsmay be found ineligible for US visas under this policy, the statement said further. Mr Blinken, however, clarified that the visa ban was not targeted at the Nigerian people or the government. It comes barely two months after the political counsellor at the US embassy in Nigeria, Rolf Olson, made a similar statement. In the lead up to the Edo and Ondo governorship polls of 19 September and 10 October 2020, the US government had also announced visa restrictions on some individuals. The country is due to hold general elections on 25 February. Working visit of Prof. Robert DUSSEY in Ouagadougou Press Release Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Togolese Abroad January 25, 2023 1. H.E. Prof. Robert DUSSEY, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Togolese Abroad made, this Wednesday, January 25, 2023, a working visit to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso during which he was received in audience by H.E. Captain Ibrahim TRAORE, Head of State and President of the Transition. He carried a message from H.E. Mr. Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, President of the Republic, to H.E. Captain Ibrahim TRAORE. 2. During the interview with H.E. Captain Ibrahim TRAORE, H.E. Prof. Robert DUSSEY sent him the warm greetings of H.E. Mr. Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE and welcomed the quality of the historical relations and bilateral cooperation between Burkina Faso and Togo. 3. President TRAORE recalled the excellent relations of good neighborliness and fraternity between our two countries and thanked H.E. Mr. Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE for his initiatives to support the Transition, which is working to meet the security challenges linked to the fight against terrorism and those political relating to the return to constitutional order. 4. President TRAORE and Minister DUSSEY then proceeded to a broad exchange of views on issues of common interest at the bilateral level, but also at the regional level. 5. The two personalities, at the bilateral level, discussed security issues, in particular those relating to the fight against terrorism at the border of their countries where the populations are subjected to abuses by extremist armed groups. They reaffirmed the commitment of the two countries to intensify joint bilateral security initiatives and to further mobilize in the response to terrorism. 6. Regarding political issues, Minister DUSSEY welcomed the efforts of the government of Burkina Faso to return to a regular constitutional life and reaffirmed Togos full support for the transition process. 7. At the regional level, H.E. Captain Ibrahim TRAORE and H.E. Prof. Robert DUSSEY noted with concern the expansion of the terrorist threat throughout the sub-region and underlined the need for the States of the space to strengthen their cooperation in the service of the promotion of peace and the defense of collective security. 8. The head of Togolese diplomacy also met with H.E. Mrs. Olivia Ragnaghnewende ROUAMBA, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabe Abroad. During their discussions, the two ministers underlined the need for Africa to increase its endogenous capacities in order to deal effectively with its problems, as well as the need for the countries, in accordance with their international commitments, to favor peaceful and diplomatic means and mechanisms for resolving their differences. Done in Ouagadougou, January 25, 2023 N.B : Illustration, Prof Robert DUSSEY and his Burkinabe counterpart, Ms. Olivia Ragnaghnewende ROUAMBA Zambia removes ridiculed statue of iconic leader International News Jan - 26 - 2023 , 06:10 A statue honouring Zambia's first President, Kenneth Kaunda, has been removed after weeks of ridicule. Residents of Kabwe town in Central Province disapproved of the workmanship, with most saying the statue looks nothing like Kaunda. Earlier this month the authorities wrapped up the statue in protective sheet after it was targeted by vandals. Many Zambians have been comparing the Kabwe statue to another one of Kaunda unveiled in the capital Lusaka in December, which some have described as "stately" and "respectable". Dr Andrew Mulenga, a historian and academic head at Zambia's Open Window University for the creative arts, says he has an idea why the Kabwe sculpture drew condemnation in comparison to the one in Lusaka. Drawing from my experience on covering the visual arts, the Zambian audience prefers naturalistic or hyper realistic artworks. In other words, it prefers an artwork that bears an almost photographic resemblance to its subject. This is why genres such as abstract art dont sit very well, he said. From what I observed on social media, the Kabwe statue... was continuously made fun of as being a caricature owing to its somewhat quirky anatomical features and poor craftsmanship. The authorities in Kabwe finally removed the statue on Wednesday morning, but it's unclear if it will be displayed elsewhere or if another one will be commissioned. Kaunda died two years ago aged 97 - he was the last of the generation of African leaders who fought against colonial rule. Ghana Education News Kanda Cluster of Schools gets library Jemima Okang Addae & Diana Mensah Education Jan - 26 - 2023 , 03:32 The Samira Empowerment and Humanitarian Projects (SEHP) has inaugurated a library for the Kanda Cluster of Schools in Accra. The library, dubbed: SEHP Learning and Literacy Centre, will be a hub of activity and learning for the pupils. It will also guide and support their pursuit of academic and personal goals. The centre has a seating capacity of 60 and an ICT laboratory with five computers. The Founder of the SEHP and wife of the Vice-President, Mrs Samira Bawumia, said the centre represented the foundations commitment to education, knowledge and future of the children. This centre is a testament to the importance of education and power of knowledge. It is a symbol of our commitment to providing students with the resources they need to succeed, she stated. She explained that libraries played vital roles in the educational journey of learners as they provided access to information, resources and technology that helped to grow the learners. She said the foundation aimed to improve literacy, critical thinking and promote a culture of reading among learners in the country. Mrs Bawumia said through the foundations Library-in-a-box initiative which provided books to schools with under-stocked libraries or no libraries, the foundation had donated over 200,000 books to 64 basic schools across the country. The learning and literacy centre, she said, would aid the learners to acquire valuable ICT skills, research the Internet and become better readers. It is a gateway to the world of knowledge and learning; a place where students can come to discover new ideas, perspectives and ways of thinking, she added. Interventions The Deputy Minister of Education, Gifty Twum Ampofo, said with the emergence of free education and other government interventions, learners should not blame anyone for not succeeding in the classroom. She said the library should bolster the learnerss knowledge base to be critical thinkers. She said the ministry would ensure that the school and learners utilised the library efficiently and maintained it. Libraries The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Library Authority, Hayford Siaw, said one of the issues Ghana faced was that no conscious efforts were made to invest into school libraries. He said if resources were provided to schoolchildren, they would develop the habit of reading, noting that within the past six years, there had been an increase of libraries from 61 to 115. "In 1981, there were 36 libraries with 1, 049,000 books. But there has been an increase since 2019, with about 1.3 million books in public libraries," he added. The Director of Education for Ayawaso East Municipal Assembly, Adisa Tassa, said the initiative would encourage learners to patronise the SEHP learning and library centre instead of going to gaming centres. She said the library was going to serve as an enrolment drive for the schools in the Kanda enclave and reduce issues of truancy and absenteeism to the barest minimum. This will go a long way to improve learning outcomes in the schools. A reading child is a winning child, and since we now have an unlimited number of books accessible to the children, the performance of learners is going to be enhanced, she stated. Murder of GPHA staff: 2 accused persons discharged and re-arrested Benjamin Xornam Glover Jan - 26 - 2023 , 15:11 The two accused persons in the murder case of Mrs Josephine Asante, a former Marketing and Public Affairs Manager of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), have been discharged. They were discharged Thursday by the TDC District Court in Tema after four years of trial. However, Graphic Online's Benjamin Xornam Glover reports from Tema that they were re-arrested by the police. The two are Amos Apeku, personal driver of the deceased and Christian Adjei, a houseboy. They were arrested in connection with the death of the former Marketing and Public Affairs Manager of GPHA four years ago. However after years of court processes, the Attorney-General's Department advised that the two suspects be discharged after the case had gone cold. The A-G's advise was read in the court presided over by Benedicta Antwi on Thursday (Jan 26, 2023). But shortly after the court proceedings, the two were re-arrested by personnel from the Cold Case Unit under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service. Background Ms Asante died on January 13, 2019 at her residence at EMEFS Estates near Afienya in the Greater Accra Region. She was said to have been attacked in her bedroom after returning from a staff party. According to a police report, she was locked inside her room after the alleged murder incident. The body was discovered the following morning after occupants of the house found the keys to her bedroom on the compound. The assailant(s) did not take anything away. The two were arrested as part of police investigations, charged and arraigned at the TDC District Court. They were granted bail by the High Court in Accra. Air Vice Marshal Frederick Asare Kwasi Bekoe is now Chief of Air Staff Graphic.com.gh Jan - 26 - 2023 , 18:06 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has appointed Air Vice Marshal Frederick Asare Kwasi Bekoe as Chief of Air Staff, with effect from today, Thursday, January 26, 2023. This comes after the completion of the tour of duty and subsequent retirement from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) of his predecessor, Air Vice Marshal Frank Hanson. The appointment was done by the President in consultation with the Council of State and in accordance to the provisions of Article 212 of the 1992 Constitution. President Akufo-Addo has therefore, expressed his gratitude to the former Chief of Air Staff for his dedicated and meritorious service to the Ghana Armed Forces and to the nation, and wished him well in his retirement. A press statement signed and issued on Thursday night (Jan 26, 2023) by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin announced the new appointment. Call your officer to order - Chief urges IGP Ezekiel E. Sottie, Jan - 26 - 2023 , 11:02 The Divisional Chief of Okper, one of the six divisions of Yilo Krobo in the Eastern Region, Nene Anyeenorgu Teye Agor IX, has made a passionate appeal to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Dampare, to as a matter of urgency call his police officer, Chief Inspector Dennis Yao Terkpertey to order as he is allegedly causing conflict, panic and mayhem in Somanya. Nene Teye Agor IX said his attention was drawn to a video circulating on social media by a self-styled Nene Nanekey Terkpertey Ofori Agor IX as the Divisional Chief of Okper whereas he was not. As a member of the Yilo Paramountcy, I have the permission from my other five divisional chiefs to put on record that the chiefs of the traditional area have no hand in the said video circulating on social media and its content, he said. Impostor Nene Agor alleged that Chief Inspector Terkpertey, the author of the said video, was an impostor and not a divisional chief as he claimed. He further said the police officer does not hail from any of the royal families within the Yilo Krobo Traditional Area which qualifies him as a divisional chief let alone for Okper Division. According to Nene Anyeenorgu Agor, Mr Terkpertey is using his position as a police officer to deceive the general public that he is a chief and has taken the tangent to vilify peoples hard-earned reputation thereby causing fear and panic within the Yilo Krobo Traditional Area. Addressing the press at Ogome, a suburb of Somanya, on Tuesday, January 23, 2023, Nene Anyeenorgu Agor said the people of Okper Division and the Yilo Krobo Traditional Area at large were not tribalistic and highly condemned the attempt by Mr Terkpertey of inciting Krobos against other tribes in Yilo Krobo who were helping one way or the other in developing the area. We the chiefs of Yilo Krobo stand for peace and development of our area and for that matter all investors irrespective of their tribes are always warmly welcome to help us develop our traditional area, he stressed. Petitions He said there were several petitions to the IGP about the actions of Mr Terkpertey but to no avail. He said two years ago, he, Nene Anyeenorgu Agor, together with five other divisional chiefs, was in the IGPs office and officially submitted complaints against Mr Terkpertey with documents and video evidence but till date no response had come from the IGP. Its been over two years now and it appears the police administration is not interested in calling their officer to order. The continuous silence of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) has empowered Mr Terkpertey to improve upon his modus operandi of destroying Yilo Krobo by consistently causing chaos and conflict. He has now taken the tangent of inciting one ethnic group against the other in the traditional area, Nene Anyeenorgu alleged. Supporting his claim, Nene Anyeenorgu gave out some documents from Odumase-Krobo Circuit Court dated December 10, 2021 to the press which restrained Mr Terkpertey and five others to coronate the unveiling of any chief and queen mother within Okperpiem community in Yilo Krobo. He ended, Mr IGP, kindly call your officer to order. The continuous silence of the entire police service is a proof of selective justice which does not bring public confidence in the police administration. If nothing at all, your hard-earned integrity and that of the service has to be protected. Finance Ministry develops expenditure management guidelines Mary Anane-Amponsah Jan - 26 - 2023 , 09:35 The Ministry of Finance has started the preparation of a guideline for the management of expenditure during emergencies. The Emergency Expenditure Management Guideline is expected to provide the government with administrative protocols in times of emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure compliance with relevant Public Financial Management (PFM) regulations. The guidelines, which are part of actions being taken by the ministry after the Auditor-Generals Special Audit Report of Government of Ghana COVID-19 expenditure, are also expected to enable the government to provide timely responses to emergencies. Steps In a statement issued yesterday, the Ministry of Finance welcomed the Auditor-Generals report and gave the assurance that steps were being taken to address all issues. They include meetings to engage with the implementing agencies to evaluate actions taken to implement the recommendations in the audit report. Context The Ministry of Finance commissioned an audit on July 14, 2022 last year as part of best practice to understand the expenditure better to enable it to correct any anomalies going forward. Infractions The audit report recommended a number of actions including the recovery or utilisation of an amount of $81.87 million due from undelivered COVID-19 vaccines, to delivery of 26 ambulances worth $607,419.02, the use of Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) to disburse monies to service providers, and a refund of unapproved sums of money to certain institutions, among others. The Auditor-General said its examination indicated that as of June last year, $5.60 million out of $13.44 million worth of medical supplies sent to the Noguchi Memorial Institute remained unused. It said the medical supplies included Antigen Test kits valued at $3.64 million and recommended that the Medical Director of the institute, Prof. Dorothy Yeboah Manu, should ensure that the items were utilised. Report timely The ministry said the audit report confirmed the total resources mobilised for the COVID-19 response over the period March 2020 to June 2022 at GH21.84 billion. It said as indicated in the report, the funds mobilised were to address finance direct COVID-19 intervention expenditures and support the funding gap in the budget, which was occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on revenue mobilisation. Hence, as reported on page 11, paragraph 31 of the report, the 53.8 per cent and 46.2 per cent spent on direct COVID-19 interventions and for general budget support respectively, were consistent with the mandate approved by Parliament, the ministry said. It said the Ministry of Finance coordinated the mobilisation and disbursement of funds for the COVID-19 responses by the government in accordance with the Public Financial Management Act, to ensure the timely release of funds to save lives, livelihoods and property. The Ministry of Finance takes note of the Auditor-Generals report. The ministry wishes to commend the Auditor-General on the publication of the Special Audit Report of Government of Ghana COVID-19 expenditure which was commissioned by the Minister for Finance on 14th July 2022 and the timely release of the Audit report, it said. The statement further gave the assurance that the ministry would continue to apply its best efforts to enforce and enhance expenditure management and accountability to ensure proper utilisation of tax revenue to the full benefit of citizens. Galamsey equipment destroyed at Bekwai Rosalind K. Amoh Jan - 26 - 2023 , 10:32 The Forestry Commission (FC) has burnt some mining equipment seized from illegal miners operating within forest reserves in the Ashanti Region. The equipment include 12 excavators, 12 heavy duty pumping machines and make-shift wooden housing structures. The mining equipment were seized at the Bunusu portion of the Oda River Forest Reserve and the Koboro-Odaho portions of the Apamprama Forest Reserves, both in the Bekwai Forest District. These followed an operation by staff of the Bekwai Forest District of the Ashanti Regional Forest Services Division (FSD) of the commission, with support from the rapid response team of the commission. Also, three Chinese undertaking illegal mining in the Oda River Forest Reserve are currently facing trial at the Bekwai Circuit Court following their arrest in December last year. Patrol The Regional Manager of FSD, Ashanti Region, Clement Omari, explained in an interview that the exercise formed part of the war the FC was waging against illegal mining in the nations forest reserves. He said staff of the FSD were on their normal patrol duties in the two forest reserves when they discovered the excavators operating in the reserves. No arrests have been made yet, while no one has also come forward yet to claim ownership of the equipment. Oda River Forest Reserve The Oda River Forest Reserve is one of the prime production forest reserves in the Ashanti Region for timber production. It covers an area of 164.43km, out of which about 32.86km, which represents about 20 per cent of the reserve, lies within the Amansie West Administrative District whereas the remaining 80 per cent (131.57km) falls under the Amansie Central Administrative District. Both the Oda River and Apamprama Forest Reserves serve as watersheds for the Oda River, which is one of the major rivers in Ghana. It is home to a wide variety of biodiversity and serves as a source of drinking water to communities downstream, including the Obuasi Municipality. Ghana committed to safeguarding human rights - Attorney-General Delali Sika Jan - 26 - 2023 , 09:41 Ghana is committed to safeguarding the human rights and freedoms of all persons and, thus, prohibits all forms of violence against all persons, the Attorney-General (A-G) and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has said. According to him, the state did not allow or support indignity and harm to persons, including minority groups, the vulnerable and even those serving punishment imposed by law. Ghana is committed to respecting and protecting human rights and freedoms of all persons, the state is committed to the protection of all persons from all forms of brutality targeted at any group of persons including all minority groups. All crimes of violence when reported are effectively investigated by the necessary authorities and perpetrators are brought to justice, he intimated. Mr Dame was speaking on the state of human rights in Ghana at the 42nd Session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) held at the United Nations Human Rights Council Headquarters in Geneva, last Tuesday. The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a process through which all United Nations (UN) member states are provided the opportunity to review the human rights records of all other member states. Ghana, a member of the UN, has been part of the UPR since its introduction in 2006 under the resolution that established the UN Human Rights Council, with the responsibility of promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. Ghanas first, second and third UPR reviews took place in May 2008, October 2012 and November 2017, respectively, with the current one being the fourth review. The A-G led Ghanas delegation, made up of the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu; the Solicitor-General, Helen Akpene Awo Ziwu; the Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Joseph Whittal, and other government officials to attend the UPR which was also broadcast virtually via a webcast. Also present for Ghanas review was a group of civil society organisations (CSOs) led by the POS Foundation and its Executive Director, Jonathan Osei Owusu, the convenor of the CSOs action group on the UPR. The documents on which Ghanas human rights review was done were national reports through information provided by the State under review, information contained in the reports of independent human rights experts and groups, known as the Special Procedures; human rights treaty bodies and other UN entities, as well as information provided by other stakeholders, including national human rights institutions, regional organisations and CSOs. On the issue of actions or measures taken to address discrimination against minority groups such as women, children and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA+) community, the A-G said the state did not support any actions that negatively impacted minority groups or those of different sexual orientation. He made reference to the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill which is meant to curtail homosexual activities. The state does not lend its support to any person or organisation that advocates or inflicts harm on all persons, including minority groups and those of different sexual orientation. The government, through the Attorney-General, has stated its position on the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021 currently before Parliament which is to ensure that the bill is in compliance with the provision of the constitution of Ghana particularly chapter five of human rights and fundamental freedom, he noted. Corruption Mr Dame said Ghana had put in measures to deal with corruption which inhibited the achievement of the sustainable development goal on eradication of poverty, a key indicator for the promotion of human rights. Since 2017 the Government of Ghana has put in efforts to combat corruption, through establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor to investigate and prosecute bribery and related criminal cases and the passing of the Witness Protection Act which is to protect persons who assist law enforcement agencies by disclosing information, he noted. Civil and political rights Additionally, the A-G said the country was committed to promoting the civil and political rights of persons as stipulated by the laws of the country. For instance, the government has put in place measures to curtail issues of law enforcement officers taking the law into their hands to brutalise people and abuse their rights "They are trained not to engage in an act of torture on the conduct of arrest, investigation and interrogation. Acts of excessive use of force by police officers are thoroughly investigated and disciplinary measures duly instituted, he said. Economic, social, cultural rights. The A-G added that Ghana had also put in place the legal regime as well as practicable measures to promote the economic, educational, cultural and social rights of people. "The Constitution provides for all persons to have access to education and to realise this, basic education shall be free in Ghana and there is the progressive introduction of free education at the secondary level. There is also the Back-to-School Campaign which aims at ensuring that children including pregnant schoolgirls and persons with disabilities have access to education. Ghana Accountability Learning Project aims to improve the quality of education in low performing basic education school. he noted. Health In the area of health, the A-G noted that initiatives introduced by the government were geared towards access to quality health care for all. We have the Agenda 111 which is to build 111 hospitals across the country to improve healthcare services. There are also drones for delivery of emergency health commodities and blood to hospitals and healthcare facilities in remote areas. Ghanaians laud govts response to COVID-19 but say funds were lost to corruption - Afrobarometer GraphicOnline Jan - 26 - 2023 , 09:15 A majority of Ghanaians say the government has performed well in managing the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but a similar proportion believe that some or a lot of funds intended for the pandemic response have been lost to corruption, the latest Afrobarometer survey shows. In the April 2022 survey, a quarter of respondents reported that a member of their household had lost a job or primary source of income due to the pandemic. Few Ghanaians reported that their household received pandemic-relief assistance from the government, while many said the distribution was unfair. Key findings of the survey As of April 2022, about a quarter (26%) of Ghanaians said a member of their household had lost a job, business, or primary source of income due to the pandemic, while 2% reported that someone in their household had become ill with COVID-19 or tested positive for the virus (Figure 1). Overall, three-fourths (76%) of Ghanaians said the government had performed fairly well or very well in managing the response to the COVID-19 pandemic (Figure 2). o On specific aspects of the pandemic response, smaller majorities expressed satisfaction with the governments efforts to ensure that health facilities were adequately resourced (61%) and to minimise disruptions to childrens education (59%). Only half (50%) praised the governments provision of relief to vulnerable households (Figure 3). Only two in 10 Ghanaians (20%) reported that their household had received COVID-19 relief assistance from the government, while 80% said they had not (Figure 4). Only three in 10 citizens (31%) said that COVID-19 relief was distributed somewhat fairly or very fairly, while two-thirds (67%) said the distribution was unfair (Figure 5). And more than seven in 10 (72%) believe that some (28%) or a lot (44%) of the resources intended for the COVID-19 response were lost to corruption (Figure 6). The Afrobarometer team in Ghana, led by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development, interviewed a nationally representative sample of 2,369 adult Ghanaians in April 2022. A sample of this size yields country-level results with a margin of error of +/-2 percentage points. Read the entire survey below; Government urged to be transparent on IMF dealings Mary Anane-Amponsah Jan - 26 - 2023 , 15:23 THE government has been urged to be transparent in its dealings with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) by making all conditions required by the fund public for the people to buy into the deal. According to a civil society organisation, Think Progress Ghana, the need to come clear on the conditions by the fund had become critical in order that the government would not consider implementing policies such as the domestic debt exchange programme (DDEP). In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the Deputy Executive Secretary of the organisation, Alex Annan Abakah, demanded a full disclosure and transparency in the negotiations by the government and the IMF so far. Citizens deserve to know what led us into this economic crisis. The government must be truthful and tell us how we got here, he added. According to him, the inability of the nation to honour its debt obligations was not caused by external factors alone, but was also due to excessive borrowing and mismanagement of resources. It is unfortunate the government has announced that it is going to include individual bondholders in the domestic exchange programme. The financial impact of this decision on the people will be too much to bear, he said. Consultations Mr Abakah urged the government to deepen consultations with all stakeholders on the debt restructuring programme. He said punishing individual bondholders, especially pensioners who survived on the interest of their investments, while government officials continue to live lavish lifestyles from taxpayers money is not the best way to deal with the economic crisis. We can also make a lot of savings from eliminating wasteful government expenditure by reducing the size of the government, fighting corruption and retrieving stolen public funds from corrupt officials, Mr Abakah said. He further urged the government to prioritise key projects and not to continue investing on initiatives he claimed did not bring significant development in the country. ROPAL Implementation On the Representation of the Peoples (Amendment) Law (ROPAL), Mr Abakah called on the government to suspend any plans of implementing the programme since it would put more financial burden on the nation. Instead, he said, the government should focus on addressing electoral challenges to ensure free and fair elections in 2024. The law, which is yet to be implemented, allows Ghanaians living abroad to participate in the electoral process in the country. SITEKI Former Siphofaneni Member of Parliament (MP) Gundwane Gamedze is late. His sudden death, after a short illness, sent shockwaves among the people of Siphofaneni and close acquaintances, who took to social media to mourn the former legislator and businessmans demise. His brother, Richard Gamedze, confirmed the death yesterday afternoon but asked that the family be given a chance to meet and issue an official statement. It was established that Gundwane died while admitted to Sithobelweni Clinic yesterday. Though some said he died from a sudden heart attack, this could not be immediately confirmed by the family yesterday. Worth mentioning is that in May last year, the late former MP was nominated during the by-elections at Siphofaneni Inkhundla but declined to stand, citing that he was not well and currently nursing an illness. He further mentioned that his old age would stand in the way of effectively representing the people of Siphofaneni. Eventually, the by-elections were won by Nomalungelo LaZwide Simelane, wife to former MP Mduduzi Gawuzela Simelane. Former Deputy Senate President Ngomyayona Gamedze, who is his close relative, also confirmed the news and mentioned that he was on his way to meet the family. My brother has died. I am going down to Siphofaneni to get more details about his death. I knew that he suffered a heart attack, of late. I will get more information when I reach home, he said. House of Assembly Speaker Petros Mavimbela, who doubles as MP, said he had been informed about the sad news. The Speaker described Gundwanes demise as shocking, considering that he was one of the MPs entrusted to lead the people of Siphofaneni for four terms, consecutively, together with Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo. He also pointed out that the late Gundwane was a respectful person, who was the Parliaments encyclopedia when it came to issues of Parliament caucus. The Speaker further sent his condolences to the family, relatives, MPs, Siphofaneni constituents and the nation for the loss. We are so shocked about his death as he was an old ox, who trained us on parliamentary issues. He has always embraced respect and is one human being who was loved by the people, hence he served four consecutive terms in parliament, the Speaker said. Meanwhile, Lobamba Lomdzala MP Khumalo described the late Gundwane as a humble, respectful, unsophisticated and a good gentleman during his time in Parliament. MP Khumalo said sometimes he felt that Gundwane was too honest for politics. He recalled that the deceased shared a lot of moments when they were both elected and won elections in 2008, mentioning that he told him he would choose a car that was similar to the one he would buy. He told me to do all the paperwork and he would just sign. Indeed, his brand new double cab Ford Ranger was delivered to my home, where it spent its first night. Even after he left Parliament, I would make it a point to pass by his home whenever I was driving through Siphofaneni. We referred to each other as Mnaketfu (brother) not by the usual Parliament decorum of Mhlonishwa (Honourable), he said. The Lobamba Lomdzala legislator said the country and the nation had lost the first gentleman of politics, while he personally lost a brother and friend. A gentle giant has fallen. May his soul rest in paradise, Khumalo said. Institute to weed out unlicensed procurement officers Mary Anane-Amponsah Jan - 25 - 2023 , 12:05 As part of measures to block revenue leakages associated with government projects to protect the public purse, persons without licence will soon cease to operate as procurement officers in the country. This will be made possible through a new bill, the Procurement Practicing Bill, which is at the draft stage, to regulate, sanitise and monitor the work of procurement officers in the country. The President of the Ghana Institute of Procurement and Supply (GIPS), Simon Annan, made this known when officials of the institute engaged officials of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) as part of key stakeholders engagement to discuss issues concerning procurement. Mr Annan said procurement formed 70 per cent of the national budget, and that it would serve the country well when properly done. He indicated that procurement had become a means of siphoning money from public coffers, and, therefore, required more action to ensure that the right things were done to save the country from losing further resources. The meeting was to establish collaboration between the two institutions to support each other in dealing with issues of procurement in the country. Collaboration As part of the collaboration, the institute was to provide capacity building for investigators of EOCO and to also support investigations in procurement related crime cases. EOCO was also to input the draft bill to enable it tackle the issues of procurement when it became a law. Currently, major issues in the country, including the National Cathedral, the Northern Development Authority, the Auditor-Generals report on COVID-19 fund, he noted, bordered on procurement. Most of the infractions, he said, were caused by persons who did not handle issues of procurement professionally leading to losses and corruption, adding that there were many certified professionals who employers must engage to provide the needed professional services. Mr Annan said the institution was putting in major efforts to ensure that the draft bill received the needed attention to become a law to regulate the work of procurement officers in the country. We think that procurement cannot be abused because it is a developmental tool, and, therefore, as an institute, we have to do things right to make sure that we sanitise the system, he said. Capacity The Executive Director of EOCO, Commissioner of Police Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, said the decision to provide capacity for investigators was in the right direction, and, therefore, EOCO was prepared to sign a memorandum of understanding with the institute for such engagement. If you are investigating procurement related issues and you the investigator dont understand the issues, it would not yield the best result, she said. EOCO, she said, needed the collaboration and would offer all the needed support because it believed in building the right structures, and, therefore, working together would help to minimise the procurement infractions and block revenue leakages in the system. Lands Minister launches Bongo-Soe community mining scheme Gilbert Mawuli Agbey Jan - 26 - 2023 , 11:22 The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has launched a community mining scheme at Bongo-Soe in the Bongo District. It is the first-ever community in the Upper East Region and the second to be sited in the five regions of the north. The first community mining scheme was opened at Tinga in the Bole District in the Savanna Region in 2020. The scheme is being operated by the Bongo-Soe Community Mining Limited which has been granted a licence by the ministry to operate on a 25-acre gold mining concession in the community. Historical conclusion Speaking at the ceremony last Tuesday, Mr Jinapor said historically, geologists had come to the conclusion that it was only the southern part of Ghana that had deposits of mineral resources. Today, geological data has proved everyone wrong as it has turned out that the five northern regions have huge deposits of, particularly gold, which could be harnessed to transform northern Ghana. The minister noted that the Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited operating in the Talensi District in the Upper East was on course to become one of the biggest mining firms in the country. Owing to the discovery of huge deposits of gold in the north, it is, therefore, important to properly organise the exploitation and utilisation of the mineral resources towards the growth and development of the northern regions, Mr Jinapor said. Not repeat mistakes The sector minister re-emphasised the need to avoid the mistakes of the past by mining in a manner that would not degrade the landscape, water bodies and the environment as that would have dire consequences on the local people. Mr Jinapor called for a paradigm shift towards the construction of a mining industry, particularly, in the Upper East Region, with strict adherence to environmental protection for the ultimate benefit of all. I wish to urge the company to do things differently in their operations so as to bring the needed benefit to the people and residents within the operational areas of the mining company, the minister stressed. Laid down protocols Mr Jinapor further entreated management of the mining company to adhere to all the laid down protocols to save lives and protect the environment. Abide by the manual developed for community mining schemes and not go through the backdoor to engage in galamsey, he urged the company. The minister also cautioned the Bongo-Soe Community Mining Limited not to use its community mining licence to engage in illegal mining. He also urged the company to undertake concurrent reclamation of land and revegetation in a bid to protect the environment. Mr Jinapor further warned the company not to employ foreigners as the community mining scheme was the preserve of Ghanaians, noting if the owners did not comply with the regulations, I will not hesitate to swiftly revoke the licence and close down the scheme. While urging the managers of the scheme to work closely with relevant stakeholders in their operations, Mr Jinapor expressed optimism that the scheme would offer employment opportunities to many youth in the area. Abundant natural resources The Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, said the region was endowed with huge deposits of gold which could be tapped to change the fortunes of the region. He appealed to the ministry to consider launching similar community mining schemes in Talensi, Zebilla and Sumbrungu which were endowed with gold deposits to fast-track the transformation of such areas. Other speakers The District Chief Executive of Bongo, Rita Atanga, said the establishment of the mining scheme was a unique opportunity for the youth to get jobs to earn a living, improve their lives and take care of their immediate families. The Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area, Naba Salifu Atamale Lemyaarum, who chaired the event, said the discovery of gold in the area would save the people from poverty which had impoverished them for many years. Q3 General Construction set to dredge Owabi dam graphic.com.gh Jan - 26 - 2023 , 10:12 Residents of Kumasi and its environs in the Ashanti Region will no longer have to worry about imminent water shortage as Q3 General Construction and Civil Engineering Dredging Works Limited has sealed a contract with the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to dredge the Owabi dam. The exercise will help to improve the operations of the GWCL, hence improving water supply to residents in the catchment areas of the dam. The Owabi dam is one of two dams that serves as the main source of water supply for the residents of Kumasi Metropolis and its environs. The dam serves the north-western part of the Kumasi Metropolis, including Kwadaso, Asuoyeboah, Abuakwa, Nkawie, and Akropong. The dam, which was built in 1926 is heavily silted and has not seen any major rehabilitation works. Additionally, human encroachment has also eroded a portion of its forest cover, exposing it to environmental degradation. The Chief Manager of the project, Ing. Francis Adjei Boateng, from the GWCL who presented the contract to Q3 stated that the rationale to dredge the dam was to improve the active storage capacity of the Owabi Reservoir. He stressed the need for the company (Q3) to apply its professional experience when working on the project. For him, It has therefore become crucial to dredge the dam to save residents from perennial flooding that threatens lives and property. For her part, Mrs. Leonara Appiah of Q3 General Construction and Civil Engineering Dredging Works Limited said the dam is going to be dredged by specialist equipment which breaks up the mud. "It's going to be a spectacle to watch, she noted, pointing out that about 50,000 cubic meters of segment and weeds in reservoir are going to be disposed off. World Bank rewards nation for emission reduction Timothy Ngnenbe Jan - 26 - 2023 , 10:17 The World Bank has supported the country with over $4.8m for reducing deforestation and forest degradation emissions, commonly known as REDD+. The World Bank Trust Fund paid the money as a reward for the effort of the country in reducing 972,456 tonnes of carbon emissions under the first monitoring period of the programme which runs from June to December 2019. Ghana, thus, becomes the second African country after Mozambique to receive the money from the global fund. The payment is under the multilateral lenders Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), a global partnership of governments, businesses, civil society and indigenous peoples organisations focused on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. It is also focused on forest carbon stock conservation, sustainable management of forests, and the enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries. The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, said the money hit the dedicated account last Tuesday. He said independent validation and verification processes were also ongoing for the payment of the second tranche, covering the monitoring period January 2020 to December, 2021. Allocations The minister said 69 per cent of the money would be allocated to local communities since they represented the key actors in generating emission reductions, while the remaining 31 per cent would be shared among related stakeholders. According to him, the feat attained by the country was a positive sign that measures rolled out by the government to tackle deforestation and preserve forest resources were yielding the needed results. He said it was also a justification that the years of dialogue, consultations and negotiations with local communities, traditional authorities, government agencies, the private sector, civil society organisations (CSOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on sustainable climate-actions had paid off. "The road to global 1.5 degrees cannot be achieved without healthy standing forests, and we are committed to making it possible, the minister added. Mr Jinapor further said that the country would take advantage of the carbon market to make money to meet the national determined contributions. "It is a two-pronged approach to contribute to the global effort at halting climate change and also making money for our people," he said. Significance The World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, Pierre Laporte, said the payment was the first of four under the countrys Emission Reductions Payment Agreement (ERPA) with the bank meant "to demonstrate potential for leveraging results-based payments for carbon credits. In a statement issued last Tuesday, he said Ghana was eligible to receive up to $50m for 10 million tonnes of carbon emissions reduced by the end of 2024. That would, however, be subject to showing results from actions taken to reduce deforestation, Mr Laporte added. According to the World Bank, those actions were within a six-million hectare stretch of the West African Guinean Forest, where biodiversity and forests were under pressure from cocoa farming, unsustainable harvesting and small-scale mining. 73 NDC MPs sign petition against reshuffle Enoch Darfah Frimpong Politics Jan - 26 - 2023 , 18:00 Out of the 137 minority Members of Parliament, 73 of them have signed a petition asking the National Executive Committee of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to reverse the decision to reshuffle the Minority leadership. The petition reads: "We the undersigned NDC Members of Parliament have taken note of a letter signed by our party General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey, dated 23rd January 2023, and addressed to the Speaker of Parliament. "The letter purportedly makes changes to the leadership of our caucus. With all due respect, to the leadership of our party at all levels, we wish to request that they patiently broaden and deepen consultations on the subject again, because we have doubts about how thorough the process was." "We are concerned that this critical decision didn't seem to have taken into consideration the unity of purpose and focus of our caucus. "The caucus requires to deal with the Electoral Commission's intention to introduce a new C.I., the government's IMF negotiations and its intended reintroduction of the Agyapa deal before the House. "We also think this decision may have unintended consequences as we go into our parliamentary primaries. "Therefore, in the light of the party's National Executive Committee's decision at its last meeting to extend the mandate of all Directors to the end of May 2023, we respectively request that to be extended to all leadership of the party, including parliament. "Until then, without disregarding the letter sent by the General Secretary of our party and without malice towards our colleagues opposed as new leaders, we undersigned NDC members of parliament resolve to stand by our current leadership until the process of consultation is satisfactory to all concerned." Related: Muntaka: Decision to change Minority leadership is from few individuals Already, the Member of Parliament for Asawasi in Kumasi, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka says the minority leadership were not consulted before the announcement of their removal from office, neither was the entire parliamentary caucus also consulted. At a press conference in Accra Thursday, Muntaka said it was a decision by some people in the party and the General Secretary went ahead and wrote a letter to that effect. He argued that the right thing to do was to have consulted the entire minority caucus before any decision of that nature had been taken since the party cannot just sit somewhere and appoint leaders for MPs. "I serve on NEC (National Executive Committee), I serve on FEC (Functional Executive Committee), I go to Council of Elders as an observer and I am also on the political committee as an observer. Congress, all of us as members of parliament are members of congress and the Minority Leader is also on all these levels." "At no such meeting, was there any agenda to discuss this, so it is clear that it is a letter just written by the General Secretary, but the decision will just be the decision of some few people in the party and we believe that our party should sit up, because Article 55 of the 1992 Constitution is very clear, it says that everything that we do, we must follow democratic principles. "We were never consulted. I mean, I heard some officers saying that some elders were sent to talk to us". "I would be be very happy to be mentioning which elder was sent to me to talk to me, because no elder spoke to me," he said. Mr Muntaka said they were concerned that the decision taken was not from the party but a decision of some individuals, a few people in the party. more to follow... Writer's email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Follow @enochfrimpong Follow @Graphicgh Ato Forson's first statement as Minority Leader - Well work to unite and represent collective goals of Minority Caucus Nana Konadu Agyeman Politics Jan - 26 - 2023 , 10:32 The new Minority Leader in Parliament, Cassiel Ato Forson has appealed to the rank and file of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to keep calm as he and the caucus leaders will work with due diligence to represent the collective goals of the party. In his first public statement after last Tuesday's announcement that he has replaced Haruna Iddrisu as Minority Leader, Dr Ato Forson assured that as the new leader, he would pursue the interest of the NDC with unwavering dedication and high integrity. He, therefore, called for the support of the entire Minority Caucus in Parliament so we shall succeed. Ill unite Minority Caucus Addressing the press in Parliament Thursday morning (Jan 26, 2023), Dr Forson said My number one agenda is to unite the Minority Caucus. Things of this nature (change) happen but obviously there is the need for us to show leadership and we will do just that. I will appeal to the rank and file of our great NDC party to keep calm; members of Parliament are in good hands and we will work with them with due diligence, he stated. He was joined at the maiden press conference by the new Minority Chief Whip, Governs Kwame Agbodza, and the retained First Deputy Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim. Appreciation The MP for Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam noted that obviously he and other newly appointed leaders of the Minority Caucus were not new in Parliament. He said he had been in the House for 14 years and had known the capabilities of all our colleagues, some I met and some I came to meet. I have worked closely with most of our colleagues and I can assure you that together we shall succeed, he said. He indicated he had been humbled that he had been chosen to lead our gallant NDC Minority Caucus in Ghanas Parliament I wish to use this opportunity again to thank the leadership of our great NDC party who have placed their trust and confidence in me. I am also deeply grateful to our colleagues, the rank and file of our party the NDC, and the people of Ghana for their profound support and solidarity, he said. Olive branch Dr Forson pointed out that as part of the reconciliation process, he had had truthful, positive and in fact frank conversation with the outgoing Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu. I commended him for his admirable leadership and stewardship when he was granted opportunity by the party, he said. Focus Dwelling on his agenda as a leader, he said most importantly, he would focus the next month to tackle three things. First, he said the governing party must know that the people of Ghana were calling on them to downsize the government to reflect the mood of the country. You are asking people to forgo their coupons (interest) and you are asking the ordinary Ghanaian to sacrifice his payouts. So therefore, if his Excellency the President intends to reshuffle his government, let it be known that we in the NDC will not accept an attempt to increase the size of government and if the current size of his ministers increase by one, that one person may not receive our cooperation, he said. He also assured Ghanaians that as part of our engagements with the Finance and Health committees, there has been an agreement to hold a public hearing on the COVID-19 expenditure, beginning February 7, 2023. At that point, we will pay due diligence to the duties given to us by the people of Ghana. Finally, we will embark on a roadshow where we will galvanise the people of Ghana and educate them on the meaning what this economic crisis is going to take us through, he said. Changes in NDC parliamentary leadership: MPs, party faithful express varied opinions Samuel Duodu & Nana Konadu Agyeman Politics Jan - 26 - 2023 , 10:53 Days after the National Democratic Congress (NDC) effected changes in the leadership of the Minority in Parliament, there have been varied reactions by party faithful with some Minority MPs calling on the leadership of the party to reconsider the decision. While some think the changes would bring vibrancy in the party in preparation for the 2024 elections, others think the timing was not appropriate as the outgone leadership had lived up to expectation and needed to be maintained. The party last Tuesday announced changes in the leadership of the Minority Caucus by appointing Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Kwame Governs Agbodza and Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah as new leaders to replace Haruna Iddrisu, James Klutse Avedzi, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka as Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader and Minority Chief Whip, respectively. Until their elevation, Dr Forson was the Ranking Member on the Finance Committee while Mr Armah-Kofi Buah and Mr Agbodza were the Ranking Members of Trade and Industry, Roads committee respectively. Disillusionment Speaking to the Daily Graphic, a former Minority Leader, Cletus Avoka, said given the crucial timing of the 2024 general election, the national leadership of the party must consider rescinding its decision to change the leadership of the party in Parliament. This will be a good arrangement, the former Minority Leader said, arguing that in a bid to foster cooperation among Minority MPs, the newly proposed leaders should decline acceptance of their appointments. It will be unfortunate if they do not listen to this suggestion and if that happens, I can see the Minority Caucus not necessarily being fractured but some of them will be disillusioned that you cannot get the best out of them again. The discipline may not be the same like the way we used to have where Chief Whip can have absolute control over members and this is something we must try to avoid. Mr Avoka expressed worry that if the national executive declined his suggestion, my fear is that the unity of purpose we used to have as opposition may not be the same 100 per cent that we are having now. I respect decision but. The MP for Twifo/Atti-Morkwa, David Vondee, said there were about 50 to 60 Minority MPs that had registered their concerns over the changes made by the partys leadership in Parliament. The concern is about the process, the timing of the change and the way the communication was done, he said. In his view, the appointment or election of newly proposed parliamentary leaders, whom he described as very good friends of his, in critical times must not be done in a way that would continuously deprive them of maximum support to enable them to achieve the expected result. We are in the midst of the New Patriotic Party trying to bring back to Parliament the Agyapa Royalties deal and playing with the National Cathedral issue which is shrouded in so many scandals. Mr Vondee noted that the process for change should be conducted in a manner that at the end of the day would allow the new Minority Leader, Dr Forson, and his team to enjoy the cooperation and support of Minority MPs. Haruna got the Speaker of Parliament elected, got a whole government budget rejected and so on. He was able to do that because he got the absolute support from the caucus. Haruna has become an institution, not an individual, and if you deal with such a person in this crucial time, you need to be so circumspect in order not to lose those clouts around him, he said. He added that: I respect the national leadership position but my opinion is that we can communicate that decision better than we are doing currently, Mr Vondee said. Chairmans explanation The National Chairman of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, hours after the announcement was made in an interview with the Daily Graphic, explained that the move was part of the partys reorganisation for the 2024 general election. According to him, there had been a series of changes across all levels of the party towards the 2024 polls. From branch elections, constituency elections, regional elections and national elections, Mr Asiedu Nketiah said it was now time to introduce new faces to the partys frontline in Parliament, hence the change. In his view, the timing is right. Reactions However, hours after the announcement on the same day, some aggrieved supporters of the NDC in Tamale besieged the Tamale South Constituency office in protest of the removal of Mr Iddrisu as the Minority Leader in Parliament. They claimed that the decision of the party to remove the Tamale South legislator was unfair and unjustifiable, and could cause the defeat of the party, especially in the Northern Region. They, therefore, issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the leadership of the NDC to reverse the decision or risk incurring their wrath. Unpopular decision Mohammed Fugu reports from Tamale that the Tamale South Constituency Chairman of the NDC, Rauf Sumani, described as surprising and unpopular the changes in the leadership of Parliament. We have never witnessed anything like this since 1992, we do not understand. Why do they want to sabotage Haruna Iddrisu? The key message we want to send to the partys national chairman and general secretary is that the decision is not good. Nobody is aware of this. It was only the party leadership that did this. The decision should be reversed within 24 hours, he fumed. A group calling itself Concerned Dagbon Youth has also accused the leadership of the NDC of engaging in tribal machinations which will harm not only the immediate past Minority Leader but also the party. According to the group, the changes were motivated by tribal sentiments and would go on to affect the fortunes of the NDC. Congratulations Meanwhile, the leadership of the NDC in the Central Region has congratulated Dr Forson on his appointment as the new Minority Leader in Parliament. A statement signed by the Regional Secretary, Gabriel Nii Kommey Adams, said Dr Forson's elevation offered ample testament to his hard work and dedication to the cause of the party in Parliament and to the country in general over the years. He joins a distinguished array of sons and daughters of the region, who have brought honour to the region through their meteoric rise to various high offices, it added. The statement said the Central Regional branch of the party had absolute confidence in Dr Forsons ability to perform excellently in his new role of leading the Minority in Parliament to keep the marauding and underperforming Akufo-Addo government in check. That, they believed, Dr Forson could do by subjecting the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to strict legislative oversight and scrutiny to protect the citizenry from the abysmal and appalling governance they have offered. Acknowledgement The statement went on to acknowledge the significant contributions of the immediate past Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, and his leadership team's contributions to the party and the countrys parliamentary democracy. Kyerematen pledges to collaborate with clergy Daily Graphic Politics Jan - 26 - 2023 , 10:58 A flagbearer aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alan Kyerematen, has pledged to work closely with the leadership of the clergy, if elected as the Presidential Candidate of the NPP and eventually President of Ghana. The former Minister of Trade and Industry made the pledge at a private breakfast meeting with some leaders of the Ghanaian Christian community in Accra last Tuesday. Politics and religion interwoven Describing politics and religion as 'two sides of the same coin', at the meeting, Mr Kyerematen said the bond between politics and religion was interwoven, adding that they were 'two varied ways of leadership'. "Both politics and religion revolve around leadership and followership, while politicians take care of the physical wellbeing of the people, the clergy takes care of their spiritual wellbeing, he told the clergy present. He cited his Great Transformational Plan (GTP), recently launched in his national broadcast, as one of many prospects to steer the affairs of the nation to prosperity. "When Ghana prospers, the people of Ghana will also prosper", the former Trade and Industry Minister said. He promised to continually exhibit humility and leadership of service to the people, which had always been his hallmark. Present Mr Kyerematen was accompanied by his wife, Patricia Christabel Kyerematen, and their two sons. Some of the clergy members present included Rev. Ekow Amponsah of Global Revival Ministry, Rev. Dr Cyril Fayose of the Christian Council of Ghana, Emmanuel Adjei, Prayer Palace International; Rev. Ernest O. Amoako, Fire Generation Chapel; Rev. Joshua Obeng, Cavalry Charismatic Centre, Kumasi; Rev. Gyasie Emmanuel, Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), and Prophet Samuel Atanga CAC. The others are Pastor Kobi Acheampong, Alive Chapel International; Apostle Nana Kwarteng Amanfo, Sankofa Ministries; Asare Shadrack, Fire Generation; Pastor Nii Lantey Thompson; Rt Rev. M.A Bossman, Methodist Church Ghana, and Dr Samuel Donkor, All Nations Full Gospel Church Ghana. Muntaka: Decision to change Minority leadership is from few individuals Enoch Darfah Frimpong Politics Jan - 26 - 2023 , 17:40 The Member of Parliament for Asawasi in Kumasi, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka says the minority leadership were not consulted before the announcement of their removal from office, neither was the entire parliamentary caucus also consulted. At a press conference in Accra Thursday, Muntaka said it was a decision by some people in the party and the General Secretary went ahead and wrote a letter to that effect. He argued that the right thing to do was to have consulted the entire minority caucus before any decision of that nature had been taken since the party cannot just sit somewhere and appoint leaders for MPs. "I serve on NEC (National Executive Committee), I serve on FEC (Functional Executive Committee), I go to Council of Elders as an observer and I am also on the political committee as an observer. Congress, all of us as members of parliament are members of congress and the Minority Leader is also on all these levels." "At no such meeting, was there any agenda to discuss this, so it is clear that it is a letter just written by the General Secretary, but the decision will just be the decision of some few people in the party and we believe that our party should sit up, because Article 55 of the 1992 Constitution is very clear, it says that everything that we do, we must follow democratic principles. "We were never consulted. I mean, I heard some officers saying that some elders were sent to talk to us". "I would be be very happy to be mentioning which elder was sent to me to talk to me, because no elder spoke to me," he said. Mr Muntaka said they were concerned that the decision taken was not from the party but a decision of some individuals, a few people in the party. Below are snippets of Muntaka's statement at the press conference "We are equally concerned that the letters that were issued were not the decision of the party. "Our party as NDC has four decision making groups. First the Congress where all delegates meet to take decisions, second is the National Executive Committee (NEC), and then third is the Function Executive Committee. "It is when this group take a decision then you get the General Secretary and the principal officers implement. "Then we also have the Council of Elders, even though our constitution say that they are advisory, sometimes periodically they also give directions and then the party tries to implement. "I serve on NEC, I serve on FEC, I go to Council of Elders as an observer and I am also on the political committee as an observer. Congress, all of us as members of parliament are members of congress and the Minority Leader is also on all these levels. "At no such meeting, was there any agenda to discuss this, so it is clear that it is a letter just written by the General Secretary, but the decision will just be the decision of some few people in the party and we believe that our party should sit up, because Article 55 of the 1992 Constitution is very clear, it says that everything that we do, we must follow democratic principles. "So we want to urge the General Secretary, and the most shocking part of it is that, we were not consulted. I mean I heard some officers saying that some elders were sent to talk to us". Follow @Graphicgh "I would be be very happy to be mentioning which elder was sent to me to talk to me, because no elder spoke to me." "And then without casting any insinuation and also creating doubt in the capability of our colleagues, Honourable Ato Forson, Honourable Kwame Agbodza and Honourable Armah Kofi Buah, these are our colleagues and we should be working very closely together. Myself, Honourable Avedzi and the leader (Haruna) himself, we will have to be grateful to this caucus, any day that they decide, we've had enough of you, maybe we want to change direction, we want to change energy, we will be thankful for the opportunity given us." In 2021 the party... came to our caucus meeting and suggested names were 'seived' and I remember very well, the first question they asked the general caucus was do you want to retain your leadership or you want to change them, and there was a loud applause that we want to maintain them, and even that they said they wanted to be sure because there were some other names that were also coming up. Each regional caucus was asked to go back and having the names that had come up, consider their choice, seal it in an envelop and give it to the national party, which is exactly what happened. So it was taken to the political committee, it was summarised and then there was another caucus meeting to announce the decision from the various 16 regional caucuses, I want to say that this is consultation, and this a caucus electing its leaders. "I'm sorry to say, you have youth organisers in our party, they need to elect their leaders, women organisers meet to elect their leaders, and it is shocking for Parliamentarians to be told that leaders are chosen for them. "I have served, this was my third term in the leadership, there was not a single time that I was written to that I have been appointed as so and so to serve in any capacity. And do you know natural justice and the laws of our country, if you cannot write a letter to appoint, how can you write a letter to dis-appoint. We don't want this controversy at this time, or the letter to dismiss. I want to also remind some of officers about our national constitution, Article 296, where when discretion is given you, that discretion, how it should be exercised, so we don't want to create enmity among us unnecessarily but we believe that the right process should be done, and believe me, if the right process is done, you will come to the caucus, the regional caucuses will resolve that they want to change their leaders.., we will be very happy and thank them for the opportunity to serve... because we took over from others. Our plea is that when this petition gets to the Council of Elders, we hope that they will help fast track a reconciliation meeting that will help us to resolve all this before Parliament resumes so that we don't have to saddle ourselves with this controversy, when NPP is really messing up completely. There are so many issues that we need to focus on, this is not the time for us to be focusing on the internal division among ourselves, I don't think this is healthy. Writer's email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Follow @enochfrimpong Follow @Graphicgh Support new Minority leaders to better lots of Ghanaians - Dr Ato Forson Nana Konadu Agyeman Politics Jan - 26 - 2023 , 18:46 The new Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has appealed to the rank and file of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) not to dwell too much on the recent reshuffle in the parliamentary leadership of the party but rather support the new leaders to succeed. He said they should focus on what the new leadership in Parliament would do as a political party to better the lots of the people of Ghana. "The work given to the new leaders will require dedication to execute and we assure the party that we will deliver on the what the party expects of us," he said. Courtesy call Dr Forson made the appeal after the new Minority leaders paid a courtesy call on the national leadership of the NDC at the party's headquarters in Accra today. They held a closed-door meeting to deliberate on ways to resolve a brewing tension within the party following the change in leadership of the party in Parliament. They also came up with roadmap aimed at fostering unity and undertaking a number of activities to bring together members of the party. The call was to thank the national leadership for the honour shown them and the confidence reposed in them. At the meeting were the National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah; the General Secretary, Fiif Kwetey, and the National Organiser, Joseph Yammin. Resolving outstanding concerns Dr Forson said the new Minority leadership had agreed with the party's leadership to undertake a series of activities to fortify the fortunes of the party beginning today (Jan 26). He said the Minority Caucus would have its maiden meeting with its leadership and the party's leadership on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. "It is our hope that from that we will resolve all outstanding concerns, he said. Products of Harunas leadership He also assured our formal Minority leaders that the current leadership would work with them in good faith and advance the interest of the Minority Caucus. We know obviously that the honourable, Haruna's leadership chalked a lot of successes and we recognise that all of us are products of this leadership. "Honourable Muntaka is a stalwart and we in this leadership will often defer to them as long as decisions are concerned and to seek their inputs before the final decisions will be made. Dr Forson added that: We believe that this team will deliver the NDC a victory from the parliamentary side and we are determined to do just that. Working together Mr Kwetey expressed appreciation to the supporters of the party for their continued faith and support for the leadership of the party. "We are here because of them and we have been elected to work on their behalf. "We are heartened and gladdened that they continue to stand firmly behind us as leaders and they are fully conscious of the fact that we will do anything to ensure that this political party is a solid vehicle to be able to deliver its mandate," he said. He pointed out that the Minority group in Parliament represented a very important wing of the party and the work ahead required much inputs from them. "They understand that as a wing of the party, they need to work with the leadership of the party to ensure that we deliver the aspirations of our people and take power from the most abysmal and incompetent government," he said. Meanwhile, the new Minority leaders also called on the Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, at his residence at Oyarifa, where they held a closed-door meeting with him. Briefing the press after the meeting, the Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah, said the meeting allowed them to gain from the wise counsel of the Speaker on the way forward. IVECO BUS, a brand of Iveco Group N.V., signed a framework agreement with the Flemish government-owned public transport enterprise De Lijn for the sale of a first batch of 65 E-WAY full electric city buses and further batches up to a total of 500 vehicles. The vehicles will be deployed in several cities in Flanders, with deliveries beginning in 2024 and potentially continuing over six years. All together they will come to represent the largest fleet of IVECO BUS articulated electric buses in operation. The E-WAY bus has 800 units already in operation that have completed 42 million km. Available in 4 different lengths, it offers a choice of overnight slow charging or fast charging using a pantograph. The 18m-long articulated units for De Ljin will be equipped with a high-performance battery pack assembled at the new FPT Industrial ePowertrain plant in Turin, the manufacturing site fully dedicated to the production of Iveco Groups electric powertrain range and its first totally carbon-neutral plant. MAHLE Powertrain is leading a project to develop sustainable propulsion solutions to retrofit to high-performance marine vessels where battery and other electrified technologies may not prove practical. The collaboration with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), the University of Nottingham and Clean Air Power will initially target search and rescue vessels. The low energy density and high weight of current battery technologies, coupled with the need to quickly replenish for the next mission, means that alternative green propulsion solutions are required. RNLI lifeboat MAHLEs Jet Ignition (MJI) technology (earlier post), optimized for hydrogen combustion under the name HyJet, enables the ignition of sustainable fuels in clean combustion engines. The project will aim to deliver retrofit solutions at scale across commercial, professional, and governmental fleets. The current and predicted future state of battery technology cant offer the range and performance required by the RNLI at an acceptable weight for retrofit to its lifeboats. Martin Berger, Vice President Corporate Research and Advanced Engineering at MAHLE The RNLI has committed to eliminating or reducing impacts on the environment, and to become a low-carbon, climate-resilient organization. Fuel for our lifeboats, rescue watercraft and logistics vehicles account for around 57% of our total energy use. The HyJet project offers an exciting opportunity to investigate and learn about potential solutions that could help meet our challenging sustainability targets and to fulfil our ambition to move away from fossil fuels. Victoria Limbrick, Carbon & Energy Manager, RNLI MAHLEs Jet Ignition technology consists of a small pre-chamber which can be fitted into the cylinder head. Combustion is initiated in this pre-chamber, with the resulting hot combustion gas forced through small orifices into the main combustion chamber as a series of jets which quickly and uniformly ignite the remaining mixture. This ensures clean, efficient combustion throughout the main chamber with little or no pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, even when operating with lean hydrogen mixtures or other sustainable fuels that are well beyond the capability of traditional spark ignition systems. The HyJet (Hydrogen Jet ignition) project will begin by analyzing usage data collected from the RNLIs vessels during real-world operation to establish the fleet requirements and to help identify the optimum approach for clean operation. This technology-agnostic approach will also consider the issue of on-board fuel storage and refuelling, critical to deployment in an emergency setting, and will also assess the impact on vessel safety standards and regulatory compliance. Marine engines are typically designed with long service lives in mind and are fitted to vessels that are required to operate for many decades. Key to the success of HyJet is a focus on a cost-effective solution that can be retrofitteda concept already proven by MAHLE Powertrains experience in the passenger car and heavy-duty sectorsopening the door to rapid decarbonization of existing fleets. Headed by MAHLE Powertrain, the all-British consortium comprises Clean Air Power, providers of the critical fuel injection system, and the University of Nottinghams renowned Powertrain Research Centre with responsibility for fuel storage assessment and testing. Hybrid Marine Power will act as a consultant, providing legislative impact analysis alongside their experience of marine safety standards and the wider industry. Funded by the Department for Transport as part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, HyJets findings lay the foundations for a follow-on project to create a real-world demonstrator vessel. The projects focus on commercialization will establish a clear route to market that can be scaled throughout the marine sector, helping it to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate the transition towards net zero. MAHLE has a broad expertise in maritime propulsion and collaborates closely with leading shipbuilders to develop components for modern and efficient engines as well as for fuel cell based maritime propulsion solutions. The range of products extends from fuel cell thermal management solutions over coolers, radiators, engine components and power cell units up to filtration solutions for clean shipping. BMW i Ventures announced a lead investment in AMPECO, an electric vehicle charging management platform that enables large-scale public, business, fleet, and residential providers to manage EV chargers at scale. The funding will be used to drive further expansion into North America and Europe, while also growing AMPECOs engineering and product innovation teams. AMPECOs hardware-agnostic white-label solution for customized charging systems gives charging network operators full ownership over all aspects of their business, enabling them to select their preferred hardware partners, manage branding, customer relations, partnerships, and payment flows. AMPECO's solution also seamlessly integrates with smart meters, building management systems, and renewable energy sources to maximize efficiency. Over the past four years, AMPECO has established a leading global presence, representing 62,000 charging points in more than 45 markets with a focus on Europe and North America. Green River Police Department reports for Jan. 12 At 6:37 p.m., officers initiated a traffic stop in the area of Uinta Drive and Shoshone Avenue and issued the driver, Kacie Austin, 20, of Green River, a citation for an alleged when headlights required violation. At 11:17 p.m., officers initiated a traffic stop in the area of E Teton Boulevard for a speed offense. Officers met with the driver and detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage. Officers discovered the driver to be under the legal drinking age, but the driver was not over the legal BAC limit or found to be driving unsafely. Officers gathered information, issued the driver, Damien Pfeifer, 18, of Green River, citations for alleged speed and underage consumption, and completed a report of the incident. Jan. 13 At 12:40 a.m., officers initiated a traffic stop in the area of California Drive and East Teton Boulevard and issued the driver, Jett Kuckert, 23, of Green River, a citation for alleged failure to provide proof of liability insurance. At 6:27 a.m., officers responded in response to a report of two young children that had wandered into a store looking for their parent/guardian. Officers made contact with a parent/guardian, who was in the area, that responded to the scene to retrieve the children. Officers gathered information and completed a report of the incident. At 10:16 a.m., officers responded to N 1 East Street concerning a suspicious subject. It was reported an unknown male knocked on the door and requested to come in to appraise their house. The reporting party did not know the subject nor did they request an appraisal. The subject made claims to know a family member, who the reporting party had said an unknown name to confirm the subject was lying. They were not allowed in the house, and eventually left. Officers were unable to locate the suspicious subject, gathered information, and completed a report of the incident. At 1:07 p.m., officers were dispatched to 200 Uinta Drive, Family Dollar, for a trespass complaint. Contact was made with the store manager who advised they have been having issues with two individuals that keep coming into the store, who they believe are stealing items. The manager requested trespass notices be given to the two individuals. Officers met with the two subjects, issued the trespass warnings, and completed a report of the incident. At 2:05 p.m., officers conducted a traffic stop and issued the driver, Krista Fullerton, of Green River, a citation for alleged expired temporary license permit/improper registration. Jan. 15 At 11:39 a.m., officers responded to the area of Cedar Street for a report of a two-vehicle collision. It was reported one vehicle was traveling southbound as a second vehicle was traveling northbound on the curve of Cedar Street, when the front of the first vehicle slid and struck the front drivers side of the second vehicle. Officers met with both drivers, gathered information, and completed a report of the incident. Jan. 16 At 3:15 a.m., officers observed the front passenger side mirror of their patrol vehicle to be cracked and the front of the mirror to be broken. Officers observed pieces of broken plastic on the street near where their patrol vehicle had been parked and unattended. Officers gathered information and completed a report of the incident. Jan. 17 At 1:06 a.m., officers responded to 59 Uinta Drive (Maverik) for a report of a larceny. Officers met with an individual who reported their wallet missing after they had left it on the counter. Officers gathered information on a possible suspect and completed a report of the incident. At 10:28 a.m., officers collected medications from the prescription medication drop off box in the lobby, booked them in for future destruction, and completed a report of the incident. At 2:24 p.m., officers responded to the GRPD 375 west parking lot at W Flaming Gorge Way in reference to a two-vehicle collision. It was reported the first vehicle was parked in the north side of the parking lot facing north and a second vehicle was parked facing south in the next parking lane to the south. As the second vehicle was reversing, the rear bumper made contact with the rear bumper of the first vehicle, which was parked and unoccupied. Officers gathered information and completed a report of the incident. At 7:09 p.m., officers were dispatched to Midwest Drive for a subject removal. Officers met with the reporting party who requested to have an individual removed from their property after a verbal confrontation had taken place. Officers met with the individual who agreed to leave the residence without further incident. Officers gathered information and complete a report of the incident. At 11:07 p.m., officers conducted a traffic stop in the area of 2nd South and Uinta Drive and issued the driver, Jacob Spalding, of Green River, a citation for alleged expired temporary license permit/improper registration. Jan. 18 At 7:40 a.m., officers responded to the intersection of Uinta Drive and Riverview Drive for a report of a two-vehicle collision. It was reported both vehicles were stopped at the intersection in the east northbound lane with the first vehicle behind the second vehicle. The driver of the first vehicle stated their foot slipped off of the brake pedal and the vehicle rolled into the second vehicle. Officers gathered information and completed a report of the incident. At 11:55 a.m., officers responded to Logan Street for a report of fraud. Officers met with an individual who reported they are trying to sell an item on Facebook and received a check for $2,600.34 over the amount asked, and now they are getting pressure from the buyer to send back the difference. Officers contacted the company listed on the check and they advised the check was fraudulent. Officers gathered information and completed a report of the incident. At 7:51 p.m., officers responded to a report of domestic violence. Officers met with the parties involved in a verbal confrontation. A previous altercation was reported as well, and officers gathered information. Officers conducted a civil standby while the parties were separating and completed a report of the incident. Jan. 19 At 12:40 p.m., officers responded for an agency assist. Drugs and paraphernalia were located and seized by officers. Officers gathered information and completed a report of the incident. At 4:56 p.m., officers were in the area of Iowa Circle and observed deer actively eating a large pile of bird seed. Officers made contact with the homeowner, advised of the City Ordinance 6-9(a), restricting the feeding of wildlife, and issued a citation to Linda Malone, of Green River, for allegedly feeding deer. Officers gathered information and completed a report of the incident. At 6:59 p.m., officers responded to the 1775 Hitching Post Dr (GR Rec Center) parking lot for a report of a two-vehicle collision. It was reported one vehicle was parked facing west and a second vehicle was parked facing west in the parking lane to the east of the first vehicle. As the first vehicle was backing out of the parking space, the rear of the vehicle struck the front of the second vehicle. Officers gathered information, issued the driver of the first vehicle, Karilynn Crowell, of Green River, a citation for alleged inattentive driving with a crash, and completed a report of the incident. Jan. 20 At 8:20 p.m., officers responded to the Mustang Motel located at 550 E Flaming Gorge Way for a report of a theft. Officers met with an individual who reported items missing from their room. Officers met with the staff and learned the items had been removed from the room for safety reasons, but they would return the property upon check out. Officers gathered information and completed a report of the incident. At 11:03 p.m., officers responded to Oklahoma Drive for a report of three suspected juveniles that ding-dong-ditched their residence. Officers reviewed video footage, gathered information, and completed a report of the incident. Jan. 21 At 7:57 p.m., officers responded to the area of Riverview Drive near Aspen Street in reference to a REDDI report. Officers contacted the reporting party, who directed officers to the vehicle they had been following from Rock Springs. Officers made contact with the driver and detected a strong odor of alcoholic beverages. The driver was found to be impaired and not able to safely operate a motor vehicle. Officers placed Cactus Brown, 33, of Missouri, under arrest and issued a citation for alleged DWUI - incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle. Officers transported Brown to the Sweetwater County Detention Center and completed a report of the incident. Jan. 22 At 2:02 a.m., officers responded to Cumorah Way in reference to a report of an attempted scam. Officers met with an individual who reported they had accepted a request on SnapChat from an individual whom other friends had recommended to them. They advised shortly after accepting the request, they started to receive blackmail threats. The reporting party stated they thought that someone may have hacked their SnapChat account. Officers gathered information and completed a report of the incident. At 4 a.m., officers responded in reference to a juvenile runaway. Officers met with a parent/guardian who reported the juvenile missing. Officers gathered information and contacted the Rock Springs Police Department who was able to make contact with the juvenile. The juvenile was returned home and officers completed a report of the incident. At 8:06 a.m., officers responded to 801 Cemetery Road (Riverview Cemetery) for a report of property damage. Officers observed the lock on the gate to be broken. Officers gathered information, determined the lock was damaged due to corrosion, and completed a report of the incident. At 4:30 p.m., officers responded to Indian Hills Drive for a report of an animal bite. Officers met with an individual who reported their grandchild was bitten by their dog. The owner of the dog wished to surrender the dog due to recent aggression issues, and would provide a copy of vaccination records to animal control. Officers met the owner at the animal shelter, booked in the dog, gathered information, and completed a report of the incident. The ACLU of Wyoming opposes Senate File 117, legislation that would ban classroom discussions related to sexual orientation and gender identity in Wyomings public schools. The government censorship bill, which closely mirrors Floridas Dont Say Gay bill that was signed into law last year and is currently being challenged in federal court, would silence students from speaking about their LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit family members, friends and neighbors and would create costly new liabilities for school districts. Under the bill, any parent who thinks that a classroom discussion was inappropriate or who is unsupportive of a districts policies would be given broad powers to sue for damages and attorneys fees. This is a dangerous bill that wrongfully censors students and teachers right to free speech. It is always appropriate for kids to talk about themselves, their experiences and their families. These are not taboo subjects, but banning them makes them seem so, said Antonio Serrano, ACLU of Wyoming advocacy director. The government should never be in the business of passing censorship bills, especially those that harm our kids. Children should not have to hide their identities in a place where they should feel safe to be themselves: Wyoming schools. Additionally, the overly broad language of Senate File 117 could create dangerous confusion about what teachers, staff and students are allowed to say and study in school. It will limit teachers ability to give students the education and support they need, and it will foster an information vacuum that further endangers already-vulnerable young people. Senate File 117 also could stop teachers from responding to anti-LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit bullying or harassment, Serrano said. The vague language makes it unclear when standing up for students would mean breaking the law. Wyomingites must not allow the government to suppress First Amendment rights in the classroom without a fight. About the ACLU of Wyoming The American Civil Liberties Union of Wyoming is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of civil liberties and civil rights. The ACLU of Wyoming is part of a three-state chapter that also includes North Dakota and South Dakota. The team in Wyoming is supported by staff in those states. The ACLU believes freedoms of press, speech, assembly, and religion, and the rights to due process, equal protection and privacy, are fundamental to a free people. In addition, the ACLU seeks to advance constitutional protections for groups traditionally denied their rights, including people of color, women, and the LGBTQ communities. The ACLU of Wyoming carries out its work through selective litigation, lobbying at the state and local level, and through public education and awareness of what the Bill of Rights means for the people of Wyoming. MBABANE Some parents and guardians who had gone to register their children for the OVC grant at the Social Welfare Offices in different parts of the country, were subjected to long queues and ended up sleeping outside Hluthi Police Station. The parents who were found outside the police station on Tuesday night narrated that the reason that led them to that situation was because they wanted to be the first in the queue to register for the grants for their children. The parents said clearly, there were many of them who needed the assistance, hence the long queues. One parent said on Tuesday, she arrived at the said offices at around 5am but she could not get help, hence she decided to sleep at the cop shop in order to be the first in line the following day, which was yesterday. The parent said since there were many of them, they decided that the only place they felt safe at was at the Hluthi Police Station. One of the parents, Nomathemba Mabuza, lamented that the police officers at the said police station did not allow them to sleep inside the stations reception area but left them outside. Mabuza said such was painful because it was not safe for them to sleep outside and they were also subjected to the cold at night as Hluthi is in the Highveld, which is cold. She said in as much as it was summer, the night temperatures often dropped. Another parent from Nsingizini said another factor that pushed them to sleep at the police station was that after seeing that they could not get help at the Social Welfare Offices, they could not go back to their homes since it was too far. She said it was costly for them to do many trips. She also lamented that there was scarcity of public transport in their area such that even the available ones started operating at 7am and reached Hluthi after 8am, which was quite late for them. Queues The long queues were not only experienced at Hluthi, but even in other towns like Manzini, where a large number of parents were also found waiting to be attended to. Various economic factors have led to the parents seeking governments assistance in paying school fees for their children, through the OVC fund. The fund is administered by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM). It was gathered that on Tuesday, when schools opened, the parents went to register their children in their respective schools, where head teachers asked them who would pay the fees. The parents informed the head teachers about their plight and the latter gave them letters to submit to the Department of Social Welfare. According to the parents, they would then be required to go and seek another letter from their imiphakatsi, which would confirm the vulnerability of the child in question. From there, the parents are expected to depose to an affidavit, confirming the vulnerability of the child or children, then one would submit all these documents to the nearest Social Welfare Offices. Director of Social Welfare in the Deputy Prime Ministers Office Mcusi Shongwe, said the long queues in their different offices in the regions were regrettable. He noted that as an office, they were aware of the long queues which were mainly of parents who had come to apply for the OVC grants. He said this was the time the queues were expected to be long as parents would come for the said grants. Shongwe said they were not happy about the situation but it was beyond their control as they were currently faced with a shortage of staff or social workers. He said such was caused by the current hiring freeze. He noted that in some places like Hluthi, there was only one social worker who was responsible for attending to the parents and screened their applications. Shongwe said besides the OVC grant applications, the officer was also expected to attend to other social issues like the new elderly and disability grant applications, gender-based violence (GBV) cases and many other social issues. The officers are overstretched, said Shongwe. Dear Editor, US Senator Lummis voted YES on H.R. 8404, which is falsely titled the Respect for Marriage Act. There were many reasons to oppose this bill. One is that they disrespect marriage (a God-ordained institution) by seeking to change its meaning. Since our nations founding documents -- the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights -- are based on the premise that rights come from God, H.R. 8404 are antithetical to our nations values. H.R. 8404 also was unconstitutional, since marriage is a state matter, not a federal one, under the Constitution. James Madison, the father of the Constitution, said that while the states have wide latitude in the types of laws they pass (under the federal system of government the Constitution created), the powers of the United States government are few and defined. The areas in which the Constitution allows Congress to make laws are defined and listed in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. Defining marriage is not one of those powers. One of the biggest ways Elected Officials lose credibility is not representing the voters that placed them in office. The best way to gain credibility is by holding people accountable. Silence means consent. People all over the state are watching to see what is considered acceptable to the voters. I hope this abuse of US Senator Lummiss oath of Office is dealt with swiftly and firmly. Please take the time to contact your local Republican Precinct Committeeman or Woman and ask them to support a resolution to censor US Senator Lummis. Rick Martin Laramie, Wyoming Wyoming's state seal was officially adopted just under 130 years ago, but two of the proposed seal designs that preceded it caused quite a scandal. From 1869 to 1890 Wyoming was a U.S. territory, achieving statehood on July 10, 1890. During its territorial years - and for three years into statehood - it had a territorial seal that depicted agricultural and mining implements, an arm holding an upright saber, a scene with mountains and a train, the motto "Oedant Arma Toga," ("Let Arms Yield to the Toga") and the year 1868, when the Wyoming Organic Act was signed. (The territorial government would not be established until 1869.) Wyoming's first state legislature convened on November 12, 1890. Early in that session, State Senator Fenimore Chatterton of Carbon County, and House Members Nat Baker (Converse County) and H.E. Buechner (Laramie County) formed a joint committee to consider designs for a state seal. Several were weighed, including one submitted by Buechner; that of a robed woman with broken chains on her wrists standing above a banner reading "Equal Rights" - in recognition of Wyoming's landmark adoption of women's suffrage - and pointing to a star bearing the number "44," commemorating the fact that Wyoming was the 44th state created. In the background was a composite scene depicting agriculture, mining, and oil drilling rigs. It was this design the committee decided to recommend. Chatterton wrote and introduced a senate file calling for adoption of the design, which passed both the senate and the house. Writing in 1975, historian Tom Bohnsack described what happened next: Chatterton was chosen or volunteered to carry the enrolled act to Dr. Amos Barber, who was serving as acting governor, but while en route from the house chamber in January of 1891, he removed the Buechner design and replaced it with one of his own. It, too, featured a woman pointing to a star labeled "44," but this woman was nude. Chatterton's design was quite crude, and a decision was made to have it redrawn. A Rawlins artist was chosen for the makeover, which was a definite improvement in terms of artistic quality, but the woman in the second version was just as naked. Chatterton and the design were savagely mocked in the press, even at the national level. (The New York Sun editorialized about the seal that "...just who the offenders are has not been discovered, but they have been able to do more damage to the reputation of Wyoming in a few days than did all the seal makers of Albany to this state in thirty years.") The uproar went on for months, and in response it was decided to replace the Chatterton design altogether. A Philadelphia artist named Edmund Stewardson was selected to design a new seal, which he submitted to Barber in February of 1892. Barber approved of his design and commissioned him to create a plaster model, which arrived in Cheyenne in March. In 1893, Wyoming's second state legislature approved Stewardson's creation, which featured a thoroughly-robed woman, a stockman-farmer, a miner, an "Equal Rights" banner, and scrolls labeled "Cattle," "Mines," "Grain," and "Oil," four of Wyoming's top industries. (One additional alteration would be made. "Cattle" would be changed to "Livestock" in recognition of the sheep industry. It has remained Wyoming's state seal ever since.) Photo courtesy of the Sweetwater County Historical Museum Chatterton's redrawn design for Wyoming's state seal featured a nude woman, causing many objections. By the time the bill passed Wyoming had a new governor, Dr. John Osborne of Rawlins, who signed the new seal into law not long after taking office in 1893. (Osborne is famous - or infamous - for his footwear. After an outlaw named Big Nose George Parrott was lynched by a mob in Rawlins in 1881, Osborne and another physician named Thomas Maghee took charge of his body for medical study. Osborne skinned Parrott and had the skin incorporated into a pair of shoes, which he wore to his inaugural ball.) The state seal affair was not the last controversy in Fenimore Chatterton's life. Elected Wyoming's Secretary of State in 1898, he was appointed to serve out the term of Governor DeForest Richards, who died in office in 1903. He was not nominated by the Republican party to run for the office in his own right in the 1904 election, and it's thought this was due to his refusal to commute the death sentence of Tom Horn, who was convicted in the 1901 murder of Willy Nickell. Horn was hanged in Cheyenne on November 20, 1903. Chatterton served as Secretary of State until 1907. He left public service and practiced law until 1932, when he retired. He died in 1958 at age 97. Samsung's Galaxy A54 is just around the corner and the phone was just certified by the FCC. The listing, published by the US regulator, revealed that an SM-A546E will have a battery with a minimal capacity of 4,905 mAh and support 25W fast charging. Samsung Galaxy A54 renders The Samsung Galaxy A54 is likely to have at least 5,000 mAh capacity, although previous rumors suggested a slight increase to 5,100 mAh. The FCC filing revealed it could be charged with a Samsung EP-TA800 adapter, which is a 25W Power Delivery USB-C charger, but we doubt it will ship in the retail box. Geekbench also leaked some phone specs, including a yet-to-be-announced Exynos 1380 chipset, at least 6GB RAM and Android 13 out of the box. The last two Galaxy A5x series phones came in March, and if Samsung sticks to that timeline , we have just two months until the A54 goes official. Via Attorney General Doug Moylan is asking the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to intervene in a local dispute over whether he and his immediate family members can act as Section 8 landlords. A public spat between Moylan and Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority Deputy Director Fernando Esteves broke out this week after the agency informed Moylan that his father, Richard Moylan, couldnt act as a landlord for the Section 8 housing program. The attorney general has since recused himself from all GHURA matters. Moylan late Tuesday night emailed HUD for intervention as GHURAs board of commissioners seek legal review. Public officials, such as the governor, senators and Guams delegate, arent allowed to receive subsidies as landlords under GHURAs Section 8 housing program because they have direct influence over policy that affects GHURA. Immediate family members also are disqualified. Moylan, who was attorney general almost two decades ago, said his office was never included before and that he doesnt have immediate jurisdiction over GHURA matters. My dad is 83 years old. And hes living on on his house and the rental. My moms passed away. And hes suffering because this bureaucrat came up in his mind and included the attorney general in the program, Moylan said. Esteves unilaterally decided to include the attorney general in the program without legal review, Moylan said. The matter went beyond just him and his father, he said, as it opened the door for any public official to be shut out of the program. Thats what he says: Because you affect us. Therefore, you cannot be part of part of our program. Well, if you look at all the government officials, in some way they affect GHURA, he said. Moylan submitted Freedom of Information Act requests for conflict of interest notices sent to previous attorney generals and justices in the local and federal courts. Esteves, who was appointed in August, said he couldnt speak for what was done in previous years, but the decision to disqualify the attorney general from the Section 8 program was done based on a review of federal laws. There had been previous opinions where they thought somebody was was not conflicted (in the Section 8 program) and, ultimately, they werent right. HUD didnt agree, we ended up in court over it and that became a loss for GHURA, Esteves said. We did take a look at it right with this election cycle and who it should include and, you know, based on the federal regulations. It was done to protect the agency and keep it out of court and those who might inadvertently be collecting subsidies under the program when they werent allowed to. Responding to Moylan, Esteves added that he had never performed a legal analysis, only an administrative one. Obviously, new information could change something. But based on the administrative review, based on the rules and regulations of the program, our policies and our analysis, whether or not (Moylan) had functions and responsibilities relative to the programs to our program? Yes, I stand by that, subject to legal opinion. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero is asking the Supreme Court of Guam whether the islands 1990 abortion ban, which has sat dormant for more than 30 years now, is able to be revived. Leon Guerrero submitted three questions about the ban to the islands high court on Monday, filings show. Her administration has supported access to abortion, and the filing, prepared by Adelups lawyers, lays out arguments for why the 1990 ban should remain void. The governors request comes as Attorney General Doug Moylan prepares to seek the injunction on the ban, Public Law 20-134, to be removed. Since the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the national right to an abortion last June, Guam and other jurisdictions in the U.S. have had to grapple with what to do about old abortion bans that were previously found unconstitutional, such as Public Law 20-134. Guam law uniquely allows the islands governor to put legal questions directly to the high court, in matters of great public interest. Leon Guerrero asked the court: Whether the abortion ban is void forever and cant be revived. Whether the Legislature has the authority to pass unconstitutional laws. Whether laws passed since the ban was put in place make it unenforceable. Adelups lawyers make three arguments for why the ban should remain dead: First, because the law was found unconstitutional when it was passed, it was void from the get go and should remain void forever, the filing states. Second, the Guam Legislature gets its power to pass laws directly from the Organic Act of Guam, a federal law, the filing states. The Organic Act does not allow the Legislature to pass laws that are inconsistent with U.S. law, or the Constitution. Finally, the 1990 ban is incompatible with laws passed since 1990, which govern the regulation of abortion, the filing states. A similar argument was made in the legal battle over the state of 1864 abortion ban, which was ultimately declared unenforceable, the New York Times reports. The governors filing states that beyond being a substantial shift in how abortion is handled on Guam, a resurrection of the ban would have broader implications about the Guam Legislatures authority to pass laws. Moylan to proceed Moylan told the newspaper Thursday his plans to have the injunction lifted have not changed, but his office is reviewing the filing from Adelup. Public Law 20-134 was enjoined by the federal District Court of Guam, he said, not the local Supreme Court. In fact, the Supreme Court of Guam did not exist when the abortion ban was enacted and subsequently struck down in 1990. The court was established by the {span}Frank G. Lujan Memorial Court Reorganization Act in 1992. {/span} The only court(s) that have jurisdiction to lift that injunction are the federal courts, Moylan said. Whatever opinion the Supreme Court of Guam issues will not be binding. However, it is possible that the legal analysis could be used by the District Court once it picks up the issue, which would explain the maneuvering by Adelup, he said. Our Supreme Court, whatever they issue, a decision, an opinion, its always important. But whether or not it affects a brethren court, which is the U.S. District Court of Guam, is a separate matter, Moylan said. He said the District Court has the final say over the laws constitutionality. In a field where U.S. Marines battled Japanese forces 79 years ago, dignitaries from Guam and the armed services gathered Thursday morning. The ceremony marked the official reactivation and renaming of U.S. Naval Support Activity Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz. The first Marine Corps base activated since 1952, Camp Blaz is named after the late Brig. Gen. Vicente Ben Tomas Garrido Blaz, the first CHamoru Marine to attain the rank of general officer. Blaz, who was a teenager on Guam when the Americans recaptured the island from the Japanese in World War II, joined the Marine Corps Reserve and later became a commissioned officer. Following his 29-year career in the Marine Corps, he was elected to serve four terms as Guams delegate to Congress. He died in 2014. Members of the Blaz family, as well as government officials, were present for the ceremony at the War in the Pacific National Historical Park. After the liberation of Guam in 1944, Marines maintained a presence on the island until November 1992, when Marine Barracks Guam was deactivated. In October 2020, Camp Blaz was administratively activated. Thousands of Marines are scheduled to be moved from Okinawa to the new Guam base. Commercial rocket provider Virgin Orbit has postponed the plan to launch small satellites from the island, Guam International Airport Authority Deputy Executive Manager Ricky Hernandez told military engineers and guests on Thursday. Virgin Orbits plan to start operations on Guam was first announced in April 2019. We like to say its not dead, that its just postponed or indefinitely suspended, Hernandez told members and guests of the Society of Military Engineers Guam Post. Hernandez, after the meeting, said there was no formal indication from Virgin Orbit, but that talks stalled with the proliferation of demand for similar operations stateside. The governors office in 2019 announced that Guam was selected as a launch site for Virgin Orbits new commercial service that will take satellites into space. Two years later or in August 2021, the Federal Aviation Administration completed its environmental review, concluding that the launches would not significantly affect the quality of the human environment. That study brought Virgin Orbit a step closer to using Andersen Air Force Bases runways to stage future launches of small satellites using the LauncherOne rocket. At the time, Virgin Orbit proposed a maximum of 25 launches from 2021 to 2025 using its Boeing 747-400 carrier aircraft and LauncherOne rockets from the base. Andersen took part in the environmental review process. But since then, not much has been heard about the Guam plan. The topic was brought up during a question-and-answer with Hernandez at the SAME Guam Post meeting. When asked whether the space project is real, Hernandez responded, We like to say it is. They were partnering with the military. This is Virgin Orbit, whos the private contractor for that, and we were working alongside that project to do some commercial takeoff, so horizontal takeoff and to send some satellites into space. Hernandez said GIAA understands theres high demand for this type of activity elsewhere in the United States. So what had occurred is, I think, on Andersen Air Force Base, they were working on the environmental study. I think thats substantially complete or near complete, and we were going to (be) kind of piggybacking off of that environmental study. And Virgin Orbit basically pulled out and suspended that operation. We tend to think were just postponing it, but for the commercial operation, were looking at getting a commercial permit from FAA, but its a lengthy process, he said. Guam recovery Hernandezs main presentation was about the airport authoritys capital improvement projects and investment strategy for the A.B. Won Pat International Airport. After seeing a drastic drop in traffic because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the airport has been on a road to recovery, he said. The Guam airport saw record-breaking enplanements of 1.885 million in pre-pandemic fiscal year 2019, while the Guam Visitors Bureau saw arrivals of 1.6 million. In fiscal 2022, GIAA saw 418,234 enplanements, and GVB recorded 215,928 visitors, Hernandez said. Numbers are different because GVB does not include transit passengers and returning residents, he said. But its important to note how we are recovering on a monthly basis, Hernandez said. The average monthly enplanements from October to December was about 41% of FY 2019 levels, while arrivals were at 34% of pre-pandemic levels. There are also lots of projects and funding lined up for the airport. Officials expect more than $50 million from the FAA Airport Improvement Program entitlements and the Congressional bipartisan infrastructure law. GIAA is working on updating its 2012 master plan and had just awarded a design contract for the replacement of 335,000 square feet of roofing. It also substantially completed a $23.4 million facility, and completion of the first few phases of a $25 million runway rehabilitation. MANZINI The hurried burial of slain gunman Mlandvo Khumalo has been explained by the police, though his family remains tight-lipped. Police claim that they had to assist and bury the killed gunman yesterday morning as his family said it needed their assistance. Khumalo was yesterday morning buried by his family in the presence of heavily armed police officers at the Ngwane Park Cemetery, which is located about five kilometres south of the Manzini Central Business District. The funeral was held five days after the initial date which had been announced. Initially, his funeral was scheduled for Saturday but had to be postponed as the police claimed there were ongoing investigations at the time. Postponement The police, following the postponement of the funeral, highlighted that there were some investigative processes which had not been completed, which fortunately, were deliberated upon with the family and led to the funeral being postponed. Subsequent to this, yesterday, the funeral was conducted under the heavy presence of fully-armed police officers. The news of Khumalos funeral started to circulate around 7:30am on social media. When this publications reporter arrived at the cemetery, police officers from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and Lukhozi were busy with preparations to bury Khumalo. The law enforcers were partitioned into groups as some of them were in strategic places, manning security. In fact, there were police cars at different intersections of streets which pass through the cemetery. On the other hand, at the cemetery, some of the officers who were manning security were seen carrying assault rifles and clad in bulletproof vests. Also, on sight, there were no undertakers; but police officers were engaging on the role for the day. It was observed that some people, reportedly related to the deceased, were seen standing at a distance in a group and watching the proceedings. Near where there was activity, there were four vehicles. Three of the vehicles were unmarked white Isuzu double cabs, while the other vehicle was a marked bakkie from the Scenes of Crime Department, which is customised for loading bodies. Meanwhile, an effort by this publication to get closer to the burial site was thwarted as three police officers approached its vehicle. The officers led a male who was said to be a family member to the deceased and was tasked with identifying if the occupants of the vehicle were known to the family. After reporting that they (Times of Eswatini crew) were not known to him, the three police officers were informed that the vehicle was travelling journalists and they reported that back to their senior, who said he did not care as no person was allowed at the area. Impeccable sources claimed that the service did not exceed two hours and an effort to get a comment from the family of the deceased proved futile as the sister, Nokuthula Sibiya, was contacted at about 2:45pm, but did not want to engage on the subject. Terminated After this reporter had introduced himself to Sibiya, she abruptly terminated the call and thereon when contacted again, her phone rang unanswered. Also, the father to the deceased acted in a similar manner. He was contacted immediately after engaging Sibiya. On the other hand, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile claimed that the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) assisted the family following that it had faced challenges with the burial. Vilakati supposed that the family needed assistance and engaged them (police) after experiencing difficulties with burying Khumalo, as there was a challenge with those who had committed in assisting them with the burial. On the issue of the heavily armed officers manning roads leading to the cemetery and also where the burial was ongoing, Vilakati said her office did not respond to issues revolving around security. Meanwhile, this publication last week reported that following complaints from stakeholders, the Executive Committee of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Burial Services withdrew its E15 000 worth casket donation, which was extended to the Khumalo family for the funeral of Khumalo. In a statement, it was said the decision to withdraw the donation stemmed from several complaints from members of the organisation. The SNAT Burial Executive said since the announcement was made on the donation to the family, their office had been flooded by complaints and mumbling from their stakeholders. The executive committee said it had noted that the decision to donate the casket to the Khumalo family was not sitting well with a majority of their stakeholders, particularly the members, who were the owners of this business. Review To that point, the executive committee of the burial services felt duty-bound to review its decision, read the statement. Khumalo was shot dead on January 7, 2023, by security personnel after he purportedly shot a member of the Kings regiment, Fanafana Bhembe (57) at Mahlabatsini around Matsapha; a peri-urban settlement characterised by accommodation targeting low-income earners working in the two towns Manzini and Matsapha - sandwiching it. It is also in close proximity to Phocweni Army Barracks and also Masundvwini High School. This followed an almost four-kilometre chase between the deceased and security personnel. He died while he had been listed as a most wanted individual by members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) as they had circulated a picture of him on their social media platforms, claiming that he was considered armed and dangerous. According to sources, in December 2022, the deceased allegedly participated in an arson attack, where twin girls aged seven were killed. He was said to have been under investigation for delivering fatal gunshots to a pair of police officers at Mathangeni and Sigodvweni on different dates. Investigated Sources claimed that he was also being investigated for injuring a police officer through a gunshot while the law enforcer was attending to a traffic accident at New Villlage. He was also reportedly wanted by the police in connection with the shooting of a law enforcer around KaPhunga, who was rushed to hospital sometime last year. The sources purported that Khumalo was also fingered to have shot a warrior who was walking to his homestead after attending the recently ended Incwala Ceremony at Mbekelweni. Furthermore, the sources claimed that Khumalo was suspected to have been the one who shot at a REPS escort vehicle assigned to the Office of the Prime Minister, Cleopas Sipho Dlamini. Have an idea? Want to praise or comment on something? Submit your letter to the editor. A 19-year-old man was arrested and a 13-year-old boy taken into custody in an animal abuse investigation on Jan. 25, 2023. By William Schwartz | Published on 2023/01/25 On January 25th actress Kim Hyun-joo held an interview where she talked about her latest film, "Jung E" which was released worldwide via Netflix this past January 20th. There she plays a legendary mercenary as well as her own AI clone. "Jung E" has gained some attention for being the last work from actress Kang Soo-yeon who plays her daughter, her researcher. Kang Soo-yeon died last May after filming was completed, with "Jung E" being her first screen acting project in ten years. Advertisement From January 20th to January 22nd, "Jung E" has accumulated 19.3 million hours viewed worldwide via Netflix, the most for any non-English film and the second most if English films are included. FlixPatrol currently has "Jung E" as the second most popular Netflix movie in the world, and the most popular in Egypt, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. Kim Hyun-joo described her interest in the project as stemming from the desire to try something new. Kim Hyun-joo claimed that writer/director Yeon Sang-ho awakened that desire. She was curious how the tituler role of "Jung E" could be properly expressed. Kim Hyun-joo said she was not grabbed by the script, but was interested by the idea of doing South Korean science fiction and believed Yeon Sang-ho was up to the task. She knew that he had done similar projects in the past, and had the right crew to work with in order to pull it off. Kim Hyun-joo claimed that "Jung E" had very unusual action but noted that her work on "Hellbound" which was also led by Yeon Sang-ho helped prepare her for the adjustment. Kim Hyun-joo said she was more used to acting with her emotions than her body, and that she had a lot of fun sweating at the Action School while trying to learn how to do both at once. Kim Hyun-joo expressed the wish to have done more action while she was younger, but was unsure if her stamina was as strong then. Kim Hyun-joo said that she was happy when her work comes out well. Kim Hyun-joo was unsure how well the Korean sensibility of "Jung E" was appreciated overseas, but she felt that sensibility was very fresh and special. Kim Hyun-joo believes that "Jung E" came out the way that Yeon Sang-ho intended it to come out, as "Jung E" is a robot that looks like a human. Kim Hyun-joo's next project will be the zombie drama "The Bequeathed" also from Netflix later this year. Written by William Schwartz ___________ "Jung E" is directed by Yeon Sang-ho, and features Kang Soo-yeon, Kim Hyun-joo, Ryu Kyung-soo, Lee Dong-hee-II, Han Woo-yeol, Yun Ki-chang. Release date in Korea: 2023/01/20. Saudi Arabia reiterated its commitment to build bridges across geopolitical and economic divides at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2023 Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland last week. Geopolitical stability is key to energy security, and the kingdom has become the meeting place between East and West, said Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who led the Saudi delegation of nine ministers and high-level officials. During the week, Saudi Arabia hosted a dialogue titled Toward a Resilient Urban Resource Nexus, with key international public and private sector stakeholders from regional and global organizations discussing the sustainability of future cities. Multilateral meeting Prince Faisal, Princess Reema, Alswaha, Alkhorayef and Alibrahim participated in a multilateral meeting with WEF leadership, Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, and Brge Brende, President, to explore areas of mutual interest. During the meeting, Alswaha, Chairman of the Board of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and Chairman of the Board of The Research, Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA) and Brende, signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to establish a new accelerator programme to help ignite innovation in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi delegates highlighted the kingdom's role as a Pioneering Partner in the Forum's Global Collaboration Village, which will leverage the Metaverse to serve the global community. Energy transition Separately, the Ministry of Investment, in coordination with the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, organised a high-level dialogue for executives from the energy, petrochemicals and mining sectors to discuss the impact of the energy transition, the role of petrochemical industries and investments needed to achieve net zero by 2060. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabias Ministry of Economy and Planning in collaboration with the WEF open innovation platform UpLink launched a challenge to crowdsource transformative solutions to secure local food in countries impacted by low rainfall, drought and desertification. The Food Ecosystems and Arid Climates Challenge is a global call for food entrepreneurs, start-ups, social ventures, and SMEs to submit solutions that incorporate low or high technologies or ancestral responses. WEF Jobs Consortium Also, during the week, Saudi Arabia represented by the Ministry of Economy and Planning joined the WEF Jobs Consortium, a coalition of CEOs, IOs, ministers and other leaders with a common aim to promote a better future of work for all by enabling job creation and job transitions. The Saudi Arabian delegation also engaged in a wide range of bilateral meetings, dialogues with global leaders, ministers and CEOs and for the first time public panel sessions as part of WEFs Open Forum. These included discussions with high-level public and private sector representatives from several countries and were an opportunity to share the kingdoms vision while exploring potential partnerships and areas of collaboration.-- TradeArabia News Service Published on 2023/01/26 | Source New stills added for the Korean movie "Phantom" (2023) Advertisement Directed by Lee Hae-yeong With Sol Kyung-gu, Lee Hanee, Park So-dam, Park Hae-soo, Kim Dong-hee, Seo Hyun-woo,... Synopsis "A shout out to the phantom. Start the operation". In 1933, the "Phantom", a spy of the anti-Japanese organization Black Team in Gyeongseong, a Japanese colonial era, is secretly active. Kaito, the newly appointed captain of the security forces, tries to prevent the Black Team from assassinating the governor. It sets a trap to catch the "Phantom" in the Japanese Government-General of Korea. The suspects are suspected of being 'phantoms' and trapped in a remote hotel on the edge of the cliff. Governor General's Communications Division Supervisor, Junji, Cha-kyeong in charge of ciphertext records, Yuriko, Secretary for Political Affairs, Chief of the Sky Command in charge of decryption and Baek-ho, a communications department employee, only have one day. "Phantom" must survive, save his comrades, and succeed in the assassination of the governor. Doubts and boundaries grow between those who want to return home safely... Will the "Phantom" be able to succeed in the operation? "You can't stop until you succeed". Release date in Korea : 2023/01/18 Iraqi court sentences to death 14 more convicts in 2014 airbase massacre - Authorities Cairo, Jan 26 (UNI) A court in Iraq has sentenced to death 14 more convicts in the 2014 massacre at the Majid al Tamimi Airbase, formerly known as Camp Speicher, near the city of Tikrit in the northern Saladin province, the Supreme Judicial Council said on Thursday. "The Central Criminal Court ... sentenced 14 terrorist criminals to death for participating in the 2014 Speicher massacre," the council said in a statement. The massacre at the Speicher airbase took place in June 2014 after its capture by militants of the Islamic State terrorist group (IS, banned in Russia). According to various estimates, IS militants killed about 1,700 Iraqi soldiers, whose bodies were later found in mass graves near the base. In August 2016, Iraqi Justice Minister Haidar Al Zamily announced the execution of 36 convicts in the massacre case. An Iraqi court later sentenced another 27 convicts in the case to death. The mercenaries of "Al-Fateh al-Muben" bombed with heavy machine guns, group of Damascus government forces on the axis of Saraqib town within the "De-escalation" area in the eastern countryside of Idlib, no information has been received about deaths so far, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. In the same context, the Damascus government forces fired a number of mortar shells around the town of Ma'arat al-Naasan in the northern countryside of Idlib, amid the flight of a Russian drone over the area. Sh-S ANHA The Turkish occupation state continues to increase attacks on Basur Kurdistan with internationally banned chemical weapons, amidst Iraqi, Arab and international silence, all eyes are on the Iraqi Parliament, which represents the people to prevent such abuses that are rejected and criminalized by all the laws. It was scheduled to hold a parliamentary session to discuss the Turkish attacks on Iraq. Including the bombing with chemical weapons, and forcing the Iraqi government to respond to these blatant abuses that claimed the lives of dozens of unarmed citizens and destroyed the infrastructure and agriculture in the northern regions of the country. On this, the representative of the coordination framework, Rafik Al-Salihi, said, "The Iraqi parliament is continuing to hold this session, but there are some reasons that led to its postponement." " For reasons including the crisis of the high exchange rate of the US dollar against the Iraqi dinar, and Washington's pressure on economic, financial and monetary policy, in addition to the short legislative recess that was in Parliament, all of which led to the postponement of the session," Al-Salihi added, in a statement to Roj News Agency. Al-Salihi made the point clear, "We at the Iraqi parliament with session being held as soon as possible, since these attacks are unacceptable, affect national sovereignty and contribute to the killing and displacement of our Iraqi people." The deputy in the Iraqi parliament, Soran Omar, had called for the government of Muhammad Shia al-Sudani to investigate the Turkish regime's use of chemical weapons against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in southern Kurdistan. Omar said, in an official letter addressed to Al-Sudani, that "no official position has been taken regarding the attacks launched by Turkey on Iraq and southern Kurdistan," noting that "the First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives had already sent a letter to the Foreign Ministry demanding the formation of an investigation committee on the use of chemical weapons by Turkey, but no decision has been taken in this regard. Worth to note that the Turkish occupation army uses types of heavy and light weapons in Iraq, including armored vehicles, tanks, missiles, helicopters, several types of explosives and light weapons, in addition to internationally banned chemical weapons. a.k ANHA KONE plans to renew its operating model to strengthen its competitiveness and customer focus. The target is to drive KONEs strategy forward with greater speed and efficiency and operate more closely with customers, through stronger geographic Areas. The companys geographic Areas will have greater accountability for their commercial strategy. This will give them even more flexibility to respond to local customer needs and market conditions, as well as equipping them better to capture growth opportunities. The role of global functions will be to ensure a common direction and the strategic development of KONEs businesses. Through global product and services platforms, supply chain and technology & innovation development, KONE will retain the benefits of scale and ensure long-term competitiveness. Rapidly changing environments provide great opportunities to further strengthen both our market position and differentiation. Market developments over the coming years are expected to differ significantly across geographic Areas. With a simpler operating model, strengthened accountability, combined with our leading product and services platforms, we aim to improve our growth and profitability. By speeding up the execution of our strategy we can further increase the value we create for our customers, says Henrik Ehrnrooth, President and CEO, KONE Corporation. Planned organizational structure and composition of the Executive Board under the new operating model The proposed new structure is planned to be effective on July 1, 2023, at which point the roles mentioned below will form KONEs new Executive Board led by President and CEO Henrik Ehrnrooth. Geographic Areas: Greater China, led by Joe Bao Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, led by Samer Halabi Europe, led by Karla Lindahl . Current Areas of Central and North Europe and South Europe and Mediterranean are planned to be combined to form Europe Americas, led by Ken Schmid Global functions: Finance, led by Ilkka Hara People & Communications, led by Susanne Skippari Legal, led by Johannes Frande Commercial & Operations, led by Hugues Delval . This new global function would bring together the competence of our global business lines (new equipment, modernization, and maintenance), marketing and brand, and field operations development, to strengthen lifecycle thinking and work closer together, while continuing to address the distinct characteristics of our businesses Strategy & Transformation, led by Axel Berkling . This new function would ensure a common direction and the right strategic priorities Supply Chain, led by Mikko Korte . As a new function, Supply Chain would be accountable for manufacturing, sourcing, logistics, and for ensuring the most competitive and resilient supply chain in the industry Technology & Innovation, led by Tomio Pihkala . Technology & Innovation would continue to drive KONEs innovation, execute on the R&D roadmaps and ensure competitive IT systems The current Executive Board remains in place and continues to lead through the transition until July 1, when the new structure becomes effective. Two current Executive Board members will step down from the Executive Board at that time: Tricia Weener , who leads the Marketing & Communications function in the current organization, and , who leads the Marketing & Communications function in the current organization, and Maciej Kranz, who leads KONEs current Technology & Innovation function. I would like to extend my gratitude to the great contributions of Tricia and Maciej. They have both successfully driven significant changes that have advanced our strategy to expand the scope of business with our customers, as well as embed sustainability in all our offering and operations. Since Tricia joined KONE, she has established a step-change and clear vision on how we create concrete value through marketing and our brand. She has also established and led our Marketing and Sales Renewal program to create a competitive advantage for KONE. Marketing and Sales Renewal remains a core strategic program for KONE going forward. Maciej has significantly strengthened our People Flow vision by embedding digital solutions as part of our core offering. Today, KONE is showing the way in our industry, in particular with digital and sustainable solutions. I wish them both the best of luck in their next endeavors. These planned changes will be reflected across the rest of the organization, and the plans for the new structure and operating model will form during the coming months. Design work and consultation processes will commence in those units, where applicable. Initial estimates are that the planned measures could result in the reduction of approximately 1,000 jobs globally, of which 150 are expected to be in Finland. The detailed impact of the changes will be communicated, and when necessary, negotiated locally as the plans progress. The planned changes are estimated to generate annual cost savings of around EUR 100 million. The cost savings are expected to be achieved gradually as of the second half of 2023 with full impact from 2024 onwards. Restructuring costs related to the program are expected to amount to a total of approximately EUR 130 million, the majority of which are expected to accrue during 2023. HT Source: KONE The next main exhibition to open at the Design Museum will introduce us to the world of artist and designer Kustaa Saksi (b. 1975), who is renowned for his textile designs. Founded in 1873 , the Design Museum turns 150 this year. During its anniversary year, the museum will feature works by some of the most compelling names in design today. The exhibition Kustaa Saksi: In the Borderlands includes a wide selection of his textile art works, created with jacquard weaving technique between 2013 and 2023. A number of large works specially commissioned for the exhibition will also be on show. The exhibition In the Borderlands explores moments between reality and illusion, which are the starting point for many of Saksis works. First Symptoms is a series of works in which the artist visualizes his experiences of the visual disturbances that often accompany migraines with aura, while the works in the Hypnopompic series explore the hallucinations experienced in the moments between sleep and wakefulness. The new and the old meet in Saksis works. Modern designs and prints come together with jacquard weaving technique and Finlands long tradition of textile making. His works also find their place among the surge of modern designers who seek to revolutionize woven textile traditions by testing new kinds of techniques and visuality. Saksi uses a wide array of materials in his textile designs, introducing rubber, metal, acrylic and phosphorescent threads to complement natural materials. At the Design Museum from 5.5. to 15.10.2023 Tomi Leppanen: Tauko Paus Pause Graphic Designer of the Year 2023 award exhibition The Design Museum Gallery will host the Graphic Designer of the Year 2023 Award exhibition Tauko Paus Pause by Tomi Leppanen (b. 1976) in the spring. Specializing in visual identities, Leppanen is most famous for his minimalistic design style. His work is often inspired by a simple concept, a playful idea or random observation. The Graphic Designer of the Year is an award granted by Grafia, Association of Visual Communication Designers in Finland, for distinguished contributions to visual design or other efforts to raise the level and appreciation of Finnish visual design. At the Design Museum Gallery, 24.3. to 27.08.2023 Jenny Nordberg: Strategies for Moving Freely This years Helsinki Design Week will kick off with the opening of the Gallery exhibition Strategies for Moving Freely by Swedish designer Jenny Nordberg. This will be the first solo exhibition by Nordberg in Finland. She is known for her insightful approach on mass production, over-consumption and the duty of designers to take action to confront these and other issues. Nordbergs works often take a humorous, almost peculiar form. Rather than taking a judgmental stance, she has a positive, solution-oriented approach to serious themes. the exhibition includes a number of Nordbergs recent works, completed during the years of the pandemic. At the Design Museum Gallery, 8.9. to 31.12.2023 Celebrations of Design Museums 150th anniversary throughout the year The Design Museum turns 150 this year. Founded in 1873, the museum has operated in its present facilities, originally built for school use, since 1978. In its anniversary year, the Design Museums work looks to the future and the new Museum of Architecture and Design. The world needs creativity that breaks boundaries and the capacity to work together for a more sustainable future. This is why the need for creative sectors, like architecture and design, is greater than ever. The new Museum of Architecture and Design will not merely fulfil the needs of today or look back on our spectacular history. We are building the foundations for the next 150 years to come, and our goal is to make the tools offered by the design sectors accessible to everyone, says Jukka Savolainen, Director of the Design Museum. The 150th anniversary year will be visible in the museums activities in many ways. The first opportunity to participate in the festivities will be during the Design Evening in January. The free evenings organized on a monthly basis will turn into whole-day events, and entry will be free of charge during the opening hours of the museum, from 11 am to 8 pm. The Design Evening on January 31st will offer programmes in connection with the Antti + Vuokko Nurmesniemi exhibition: guided tours, a panel discussion on Vuokko Nurmesniemis career, and an open workshop. HT Source: Design Museum The position, it added, could also create uncertainty about a partial transfer of power from the ministries to the office of the prime minister. THE MINISTRY for Foreign Affairs has rejected the idea of setting up a position for a security policy advisor under the office of the prime minister, arguing that it would blur the division of responsibilities between the office and ministries responsible for security policy, reports YLE. The office of the prime minister floated the idea of establishing the position a couple of weeks ago, saying the advisor and the special unit they would head would strengthen the capabilities of the office to assist the prime minister in security policy issues falling within his or her purview as required by the looming membership in Nato. The intention was to recruit the advisor as soon as this spring so that the advisor was familiar with the issues by the time the next prime minister takes office. While the Ministry for Foreign Affairs did not deny that the prime minister needs more support on security policy issues, it estimated that the support provided by special advisors should continue to suffice and that setting up the position could disproportionately elevate security policy in terms of assisting the prime minister. The ministry viewed that the position should not be established until the next government has had the opportunity to comment on it and until Finland has acceded to Nato. The statement was signed by Jukka Salovaara, the permanent state secretary at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and presented by Piritta Asunmaa, the head of political department at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto (Greens) on Tuesday expressed his reservations about the idea of the outgoing government setting up and filling the position. Ive said as a politician that when the parties that will form the government convene, the legacy of the previous government isnt always a positive if there have been some last-minute appointments, he was quoted saying by YLE. Minister of Defence Mikko Savola (Centre) similarly estimated that there is no reason not to postpone the decision until the next electoral term. Aleksi Teivainen HT Addressing a press briefing on Tuesday, the US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said that the US has been very clear about its views on Finland and Sweden's candidacies for NATO membership in public, as well as in private. The United States said on the candidacies of Sweden and Finland for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) that the two Nordic countries are ready and should be added to the world's strongest defense alliance at the earliest possible opportunity. "The issue of Sweden and Finland is not a bilateral issue. We have been very clear in public, and we have been very clear in private about our views on Finland and Sweden's candidacies for NATO membership. We believe they are ready, we believe they should be added to the world's strongest defense alliance at the earliest possible opportunity," he said. Responding to a media query on Finland and Sweden returning to functional dialogue on NATO membership, the US State Department Spokesperson said that the US will continue to voice its support for the candidature of the two Nordic countries. "We can continue to voice our support for their candidacies. We can continue to engage in public and in private with Turkey and make it clear that we believe that these two countries are ready. That they are prepared, that they should be admitted to the alliance at any possible opportunity," Price added. Sweden and Finland have been jointly applying to join NATO, but Turkey has so far blocked the expansion, citing concerns that Sweden needs to crack down on exiled Kurdish militants and their sympathizers and extradite critics of Turkish President Erdogan, reported Euronews. The joint bid by Sweden and Finland to join NATO requires the approval of all existing members, including Turkey. Until now, the two countries have been committed to joining the alliance together. Furthermore, the US State Department Spokesperson also spoke at length on the issue of the burning of the Quran in Stockholm, Sweden. Describing the incident as reprehensible and disgusting, the US State Department Spokesperson said that no one in this administration is voicing any degree of support for this vile action that took place. Calling Sweden a 'vibrant democracy', he further added, "The reason something like this could happen precisely because Sweden upholds freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and when you provide people with those freedoms, you safeguard those freedoms, sometimes they make terrible decisions. They do awful things." HT Source: ANI Nature reserves, Special Areas of Conservation, and other forms of protected habitat have long been regarded as critical tools in conservation efforts to preserve and restore natural habitats. According to a new study led by researchers from the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, protected natural areas in the UK are struggling to halt declines in insects and spiders that have occurred over the last 30 years (UKCEH). However, the new study, which collected nearly one million records for more than 1,230 invertebrate species between 1990 and 2018, suggests that these protected areas are just as vulnerable to the country's overall biodiversity decline. The authors found that protected areas were richer in species than unprotected areas of the country, but both areas have suffered similar rates of decline in native insects and spiders over the past 30 years. Pollinators, such as bees and hoverflies, have suffered particularly severe declines, according to the findings. The results suggest that while protected areas are helping to conserve valuable habitats and the species within them, they need more assistance to tackle wider threats posed by climate change, pollution and invasive species that are causing biodiversity loss across the country. "We see parallel trends for invertebrates in both protected and unprotected areas," said Dr Rob Cooke, an ecological modeller at UKCEH and lead author of the study. "It is worrying, as you would expect species to show more positive trends in protected areas." The declines found in the study equate to the loss of more than three species per decade for protected areas and less than two species per decade for unprotected areas. The study, which is published in the journal Biological Conservation, used data from a number of different invertebrate recording schemes across the UK that contained observations of ants, bees, hoverflies, ladybirds, spiders and wasps. Dr Cooke, together with UKCEH colleagues Dr Francesca Mancini, Dr Robin Boyd, Dr Nick Isaac and researchers at the University of Sheffield, then examined changes in biodiversity throughout the study period. They found there was almost double the number of rare species in protected areas compared to unprotected parts of the UK. The trends of these rare species also remained stable in both protected and unprotected areas, suggesting they were benefiting from conservation efforts. But the authors found strong declines for common species, especially in protected areas. Dr Cooke said: "Protected areas are often designated specifically to help rare species. But the more common species appear to be falling through the cracks. It should serve as a warning as today's common species can be tomorrow's rare species." The researchers conclude that a large number of protected areas around the UK could play a bigger role in the future. Protected areas have supported some notable conservation success stories, such as the bittern, the ladybird spider and the chalkhill blue butterfly. But the authors suggest more can be done to ensure protected areas are benefitting all of the country's biodiversity. They say evidence-based policies, targets and management focused more on the effectiveness, rather than just the coverage of protected areas, may be needed. Dr Cooke added: "I think the positive thing we can take from this is that we have a clear opportunity to make protected areas better for biodiversity." HT Source: ANI YOGA classes will be held at the Quaker Meeting House in Northfield End, Henley, from 6.30pm to 7.30pm every Thursday, starting on February 23. Alexandra Shah will lead the sessions, which cost 5 each with all the proceeds going to local good causes. For more information, visit www.alexandrashah.com Press Release January 26, 2023 LAPID BILL MANDATING FREE TRANSPORT OF RELIEF GOODS FILED IN THE SENATE Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid filed a measure seeking free freight services for the transport of relief goods in areas devastated by calamities, ensuring immediate disaster response to calamity-stricken areas. Lapid filed Senate Bill No. 1767 mandating common carriers, freight forwarders and other similar entities to deliver goods and services for free to areas where they operate. "Sa panahon ng sakuna at trahedya, wala tayong ibang aasahan kundi ang ating mga kababayan na busilak ang loob at wagas ang kabutihan. Sa ating panukalang batas na ito, nais natin na makatuwang ang ating mga kapatid sa industriya ng freight forwarding kung saan malaki ang kanilang gagampanan sa ating hangaring maghatid ng tulong sa ating mga kababayan sa panahon ng mga kalamidad," he said. In filing the measure, Lapid cited that the Philippines is one of the countries with the highest risk during natural calamities due to its location in the Pacific Ring of Fire and typhoon belt. Therefore, according to the Senator, "it is crucial to make sure that those who have been severely impacted by the tragedy receive proper humanitarian aid and assistance at the soonest possible time." Here, the Law and Order Cluster of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) shall be responsible for providing security and traffic management assistance to the Response Cluster's operations to facilitate the speedy movement of people, goods and equipment to the affected population and responding agencies. SB No. 1767 likewise requires the Department of Transportation (DOTr), through the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in coordination with the NDRRMC, to implement the provisions of the measure, monitor and oversee the compliance of freight service companies providing logistics services. Lapid's bill, to be known as "Free Transportation of Relief Goods Act," cites that due to the archipelagic nature of the Philippines, shipping relief supplies typically entails high freight, arrester service, pilotage, and other port fees, particularly if inter-island crossing or long-distance land travel are required. These expenses, Lapid said, "are covered by relief and aid groups, but the money might have been used to buy more food and nonfood supplies to provide to catastrophe victims." "With the help of officially accredited relief groups, this measure aims to formalize a system of offering free freight services for the transfer of aid supplies to disaster-stricken areas," the bill's explanatory note read. It can be recalled that the Senator filed the same bill in the previous congress logged as SB No. 1151. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit (New York Jewish Week) - While hiding from the Nazis, the German Jewish artist Charlotte Salomon began a series of autobiographical paintings and texts with a painfully simple description of her aunt, and namesake's, suicide: "Scene 1: 1913. One November day, a young girl named Charlotte Knarre leaves her parents' home and jumps into the water." Intense and memorable, that image is the launching point for "Life? or Theatre?", a series of hundreds of gouaches Salomon made between 1940 and 1942. Best described as an "autobiographical play," it features personal stories illustrated with vib... (JTA) Heirs of a German-Jewish banker are suing a Japanese insurance company for the return of one of Vincent van Goghs famed Sunflowers paintings or at least $750 million in punitive damages. In December, Julius H. Schoeps, Britt-Marie Enhoerning and Florence Von Kesselstatt, heirs of Paul von Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, filed a 98-page complaint with an Illinois federal court alleging that Mendelssohn-Bartholdy was forced to sell the painting in 1934 as the result of racially exclusionary Nazi policies and concomitant coercion calculated to evict Jews from the economy and socie... This toy kitchen will form part of the "Sixteen Objects" exhibition. (JNS) - An exhibition of Holocaust-era items from the collections of Yad Vashem whose stories are intertwined with Jews from Germany will open in the Bundestag next week, ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Jerusalem-based Holocaust remembrance center announced Tuesday. The exhibition, titled "Sixteen Objects," was inaugurated on Jan. 24 by the Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan, on his first-ever visit to Germany, and Bundestag President Barbel Bas. Initiated by the German Society for Yad Vashem to mark the Jerusalem institution's 70th anniversary, it will feature unique Hol... ISTANBUL (JTA) Shtisel, a TV series about haredi Orthodox Jews that became an international phenomenon after Netflix picked it up in 2018, is getting a Muslim makeover for Turkish audiences, according to Turkish media. A new show titled Omer has begun production and will premiere sometime in 2023 on Turkeys STAR TV, Turkish media reported. Not much is known about the shows plot. A trailer depicts the protagonist Omer, played by Selahattin Pasali, standing at the precipice of a mosque and seemingly stuck between the calls of an imam on one side and a woman with... Jews deported from the Warsaw Ghetto following the revolt of April-May 1943. (JNS) - POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews revealed on Monday new-found images of the Nazis mercilessly putting down the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Revolt. Captured in secret by a Polish firefighter while German forces set fire to the Jewish ghetto, the photographs were recently discovered by the photographer's son in a family member's attic. The photographer, Zbigniew Leszek Grzywaczewski, spent nearly four weeks in the ghetto (most likely between April 21 and May 15, 1943). In a diary he kept during the conflict, he wrote: "The image of these people being dragged out of there [out of the... (Jewish Journal via JNS) On Aug. 15, 1942, a 12-year-old boy named Shmulik slipped out of the Bobov ghetto in search of a place to hide. The day before, all of the inhabitants of the ghetto had been taken into the woods and shot. Shmulik, who was still wearing his pajamas, managed to survive by hiding in a crawl space between the roof and the attic. As he wandered out of the ghetto, he found his way to the home of Polish peasant woman, Balwina Piecuch, who had treated his family kindly in the past. When he arrived at her doorstep, Balwina immediately took Shmulik in, locked the door and... (JNS) A recent surge in legal immigration has led to a decrease in Israels Jewish majority, according to an analysis of data from Israels Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Channel 14 reported on Sunday. The Israeli Immigration Policy Center, an NGO established in 2012 to promote immigration policy which serves Israels strategic interests, found that last years 23-year record in the number of new immigrants had resulted in a 0.3 percent decline in Israels Jewish majority, to 73.6 percent from 73.9 percent at the end of 2021. This continues a 30-year trend, with the cou... A migrant from Mexico scaling the border fence into the United States. (JNS) - In a speech on border security and enforcement Thursday, President Joe Biden compared asylum seekers at America's southern border to Jews fleeing Nazi Germany. The remark came in response to a question about whether Biden viewed migration as a human right. "Well I think it is a human right if your family is being persecuted," Biden said. "I thought it was a human right for, you know, Jews in Germany to be able to go [...] escape and get help where they could." Vice President Kamala Harris nodded in agreement with the president's remarks. Biden went on to say that Americans have basi... Join Congregation Ohev Shalom on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023 in welcoming Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jonathan Kaufman as the first speaker in the Bernard and Samra Gotlib Jewish Speaker Series. Kaufman will speak about his latest book, "The Last Kings of Shanghai The Rival Jewish Dynasties That Helped Create Modern China." Kaufman is the author of two other well-reviewed books, "A Hole in the Heart of the World: Being Jewish in Eastern Europe" and "Broken Alliance: The Turbulent Times Between Blacks and Jews in America," which won the National Jewish Book Award. "The Last Kings of Shangh... (JNS) George Washington University responded to the new antisemitism-related complaint against the university, which the Israel education organization StandWithUs filed with the U.S. Department of Educations Office of Civil Rights. The George Washington University strongly condemns antisemitism and hatred, discrimination and bias in all forms, the universitys official Instagram account stated. The university further said it was committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment where all feel safe and free of harassment, hostility or marginalization. On Thu... (JNS) Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Sunday that profound disagreement over the governments judicial reform plan was tearing the country apart, and vowed to work towards averting a constitutional crisis. We are in the grips of a profound disagreement that is tearing our nation apart. This conflict worries me deeply, as it worries many across Israel and the Diaspora. The foundations of Israeli democracy, including the justice system, are sacred and we must strictly safeguard them, even at a time of fundamental arguments and debates about the relationship between the d... Druze high school students discuss "soft skills" with University of Haifa student mentors during a weekly meeting in the northern Galilee village of Horfeish, Israel. HAIFA - On a recent chilly morning, six Israeli Druze women gathered in a room at the University of Haifa library to discuss the joys and frustrations of living in a modern, Jewish, largely secular country. Chatting in Arabic and Hebrew, many of the women, all students at the university, spoke about the challenges of balancing their traditional Druze identity with their modern Israeli aspirations. "I spend two hours each way to come to school. But my education is so important, I'd do it even if I spent 10 hours a day," said Walaa Bader, 20, an Arabic literature and music major from Horfeish... (JNS) Israel on Sunday revoked the VIP pass of Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki, in line with a Cabinet decision last week to sanction Ramallah in response to the U.N.s passage, at the P.A.s behest, of a resolution asking the International Court of Justice to weigh in on the legal status of Judea and Samaria. Border officials stopped al-Malki as he crossed from Jordan into the P.A., and confiscated the travel document allowing him to expedite or altogether bypass normal security checks in Judea and Samaria. In the diplomatic sphere, the Security Cabinet con... WASHINGTON (JTA) Republican Party officials in Rep. George Santos Long Island district called on the serial fabricator to quit, citing among other lies his claims to Jewish and Holocaust heritage. The call Wednesday by officials of the Nassau County Republican party was significant because the Republican majority in the U.S. House of representatives is precarious just five members and the Republican Santos 3rd District could easily swing back to Democrats in a special election. Today, on behalf of the Nassau County Republican Committee, Im calling for his immediate re... Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with AIPAC President Betsy Korn and CEO Howard Kohr in Jerusalem, Jan. 17, 2023. (JNS) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday stressed the importance of bilateral relations with the United States in a meeting with top officials from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Netanyahu met with AIPAC President Betsy Korn, CEO Howard Kohr and Israel Director Cameron Brown. The Israeli leader also emphasized that the country's main struggle has been-and remains-against Iran. Netanyahu earlier this month addressed the AIPAC Political Leadership Forum, focusing on the importance of U.S.-Israel cooperation to curb Tehran's nuclear program. "The time has com... (JNS) Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, a vocal defender of the Jewish state, recently rebutted an absurd Holocaust parallel drawn by President Joe Biden. When asked by a reporter whether immigration was a basic human right, Biden responded, Well, I think it is a human right if your family is being persecuted, if youre being dealt with in a waylike I thought it was a human right for you know, Jews in Germany to be able to go and escape and get help where they could. But the other side of this is, theres also, the people in this country have basic rights that are here... (JNS) - As of the new year, a total of 1,116 global entities have adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's Working Definition of Antisemitism. According to the Combat Antisemitism Movement, this includes 18 U.S. states that adopted the IHRA definition via legislative or executive actions in the course of 2022, bringing the total number to 30. American cities such as Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., El Paso and Wichita have all adopted the definition, as have seven out of the 10 Canadian provinces (including British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan... (JNS) Punitive measures imposed by Israel on the Palestinian Authority will promptly lead to its collapse, P.A. Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said on Monday. Israels Security Cabinet last week approved the measures in response to what it described as the P.A.s ongoing political and legal war against the Jewish state. They came a week after the U.N. General Assembly, at the urging of the P.A., passed a resolution calling on the International Court of Justice to render urgently an advisory opinion on Israels prolonged occupation, settlement and annexati... (New York Jewish Week) Three state lawmakers are asking if Yeshiva University misrepresented itself as a secular institution in order to qualify for more than $230 million in public funds. Their letter demanding a full accounting from the Modern Orthodox flagship is the latest twist in the universitys attempts to block an LGBT student club from getting official campus recognition. In fighting court orders to accept the club, Y.U. has been insisting that, despite a charter that describes it as a secular institution, it has a distinct religious character and thus is not bound by stat... From left to right: Hadar Goldin, Oron Shaul, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed. The bodies of IDF soldiers Goldin and Shaul, and live Israeli civilians Mengistu and al-Sayed, are being held by Hamas in Gaza. (JNS) - Israel's Foreign Ministry revealed that it had sent a letter to world leaders calling on them to help secure the release of Israelis being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The letter was sent to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Mirjana Spoljaric Egger,and Pope Francis, among others. Hamas released an undated video purportedly of Israeli captive Avera Mengistu, who crossed into the Gaza Strip on his own accord in 2014. Hamas is also holding Israeli Hisham al-Sayed, who in 2015 also crossed into Gaza of his own volit... (JNS) Over the past several weeks, the anger of the opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus newly elected government has reached hysterical, and even apocalyptic, tones. This should seem familiar to Americans, who have grown accustomed to the same kind of fever-pitch discourse ever since the emergence of Donald Trump on the political scene. Indeed, his presidency wasnt merely opposed by foes; it was resisted, with conspiracy theories about his colluding with Russia to steal the 2016 election. Since 2020, many on the right are so disillusioned by the results of... (JNS) In Mexico City last week, the president of the United States met with the president of Mexico and the prime minister of Canada for what was dubbed the Three Amigos Summit. The notion that Joe Biden, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Justin Trudeau resemble Steve Martin, Chevy Chase and Martin Shortstars of the 1986 cult classic comic film Three Amigos!seems far fetched. Do these politicians make you laugh? On second thought. But seriously folks, their Declaration of North America listed six pillars. Topping the list (of course): diversity, equity and incl... (JNS) The Palestinian Authority and its supporters have a new enemy: the Louvre. The worlds most-visited museum, the famous French institution that holds some of the greatest works of art and antiquities, is likely to find itself on anti-Israel boycott lists around the world. This is because among the Louvres storied collections is a slab of stone with an inscription that affirms the ancient connection of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel. The stone, known as the Mesha Stele, was first discovered in 1868 near the Dead Sea, but its inscription, written in the language of the... Jumeirah Group has appointed Muneera Al Taher as vice president of human resources operations and Emiratisation - group and corporate. She was previously senior HR and Emiratisation director. In her new role, she will steer the implementation of the global HR strategy across all Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts. She will also be continuing her duties in overseeing the Emiratisation strategy for the group. The UAE leadership has a vision to empower Emiratis across the semi-government and private sectors. Jumeirah's Al Taher pioneered the group's agenda for attracting attracting top talent, introducing new development programmes and supporting growth of Emirati employees. Prior to this role, Al Taher worked as the director of human resources at Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, where she overaaw the performance culture and team development. She has worked as an Emiratisation and learning and development manager in a corporate capacity since 2013. The team at Kimpton Gray Hotel, a luxury Chicago Loop hotel located in one of the city's most historic structures, is proud to announce a new addition to the food and beverage leadership team: Aaron Munson, Executive Chef for the hotel and Boleo. Chef Aaron's culinary adventure began as a child when he lived in India for a year, and he has never stopped exploring and experimenting with different types of food since. In 2009, he moved to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico where as Chef de Cuisine at Capella Pedregal he was responsible for menu creation for three restaurants, three bars, daily pool amenities, 24-hour room service and banquets. After four years, he settled in Chicago as the Executive Chef for Capella Hotel Group at Wyndham Grand where he oversaw 8,000 square feet of event space that in 2014 received "Best of Weddings" by The Knot. Shortly thereafter Chef joined the team at DIRTT Showroom as the executive chef where he developed a seasonal menu and beverage program for the Chicago showroom that offers unparalleled culinary experiences for their clients. After a few years, he accepted a new executive chef position at Hyatt Centric and reopened a culinary program after a 14-month shutdown while simultaneously elevating the menu concept. In his new role as the hotel's executive chef, he will oversee Boleo, Vol. 39, and all banquet, catering and private dining events for guests. Since joining the team, Munson has worked alongside the Vol. 39 team to reimagine a brand-new menu of elevated bites to accompany the sophisticated cocktail lounge's thoughtful beverage menu. A newly inspired menu at Boleo will also launch in the coming months as just one of the exciting changes arriving at the South American rooftop restaurant this spring. Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort has appointed Michael Robinson as General Manager effective January 2023 at their 11-acre urban escape on the Chao Phraya River. In his new role, Michael will oversee all operations, including 281 guestrooms and 95 suites, 11 restaurants and bars, luxury river cruise Loy Pela Voyages, Anantara Spa, BDMS Wellness Clinic Retreat, and extensive meeting and event facilities. The New Zealand national joins Anantara Riverside Bangkok from FCC Angkor by Avani in Siem Reap, where he worked as general manager from 2020 driving revenue through game-changing storytelling and guest experiences. Prior to taking the helm at the historic Minor-managed property in Cambodia, Michael led the team at another Grand Dame, the storied Caravelle Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. He joined the property in 2016 as Director of Rooms and was promoted to his first general manager role there the same year. Michael's long career in hospitality has seen him work across the USA, Middle East and Asia, starting with a trainee role with Hyatt Regency La Jolla, San Diego, USA. In 2009, Michael moved to the Middle East as pre-opening Assistant Manager - Front Office with Grand Hyatt Doha in Qatar, followed by a stint at Park Hyatt Dubai. Michael holds a bachelor's degree in international hotel management from the International College of Hotel Management (ICHM) in Adelaide, Australia and a Swiss Hotel Association Diploma of International Hotel Management. Kevin Lalli has been appointed Executive Chef for Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square, as announced by General Manager Karla Erales. Prior to returning to Sofitel, Chef Lalli was the executive chef for Prime 25 in Colorado Springs, Colorado beginning in September of 2021. During his time at the high-end steakhouse, he increased sales by 25%. Chef Lalli was the executive chef for Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette square from April of 2018 until the spring of 2021. He oversaw the opening and daily operation of Opaline Bar & Brasserie, in-room dining and banquets while managing a team of 25. Previously, Chef Lalli was the traveling corporate executive chef for Barcelona Wine Bar in DC from 2016 until 2018. He was responsible for nine restaurants in three regions. A graduate of Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, he earned an Associate in Applied Sciences, Culinary Arts Degree. A native of Newport, Rhode Island, Chef Lalli's fondest childhood memories took place while cooking with his mother, a hobby that blossomed into a celebrated culinary career. Glion Institute of Higher Education will be partnering with the second edition of the "EXCELLENCE by Vendom" luxury recruitment fair Glion Institute of Higher Education, a leading business school specializing in hospitality and luxury, has joined forces with The Vendom Company for the second edition of the "EXCELLENCE by Vendom" trade show dedicated exclusively to recruitment in the luxury sector. The show will be held this year, in virtual and face-to-face mode. At the Hotel Le Marois in Paris on January 26th and also online on January 25th, 26th and 27th. Created by The Vendom Company's CEO, Laetitia Girard, the new edition of the "EXCELLENCE by Vendom" recruitment fair capitalizes on the success of its predecessor which took place from 7 to 9 October 2021, bringing together 100 luxury professionals, brands and schools. In all, an audience of more than 3,000 talents from across Europe, the Middle East and Asia attended the talks and online workshops available during the latest edition of the show. In 2023, The Vendom Company is innovating by changing the format of the EXCELLENCE by Vendom trade show, which will be held online over three days, as well as physically in Paris for one day at the Hotel Le Marois. The new edition will be based on lively exchanges, while enabling professionals and candidates to follow it from everywhere in the world. This annual event is aimed at recruiters, candidates, hotel and luxury management schools. Embodying the luxury industry's cherished values of integrity, passion, excellence and commitment, the days are organized around online or face-to-face private interviews with recruiters, workshops and talks of which the content has been designed in collaboration with Glion, a benchmark educational institution in the hospitality industry. "EXCELLENCE by Vendome 2023 will bring together professionals and aspiring professionals from the world of luxury in a common development dynamic: our objective is to effect a paradigm shift in recruitment by returning to its very essence - human beings - as well as to promote enhanced knowledge of luxury Maisons and job opportunities", says Laetitia Girard. "The employability of our students is one of the great strengths of our institution. This show is a unique opportunity to discover these exceptional Maisons and their leaders. For luxury industry players, this is a not-to-be-missed event enabling them to identify future talents", comments Francine Cuagnier, Marketing Director Glion. Designed in collaboration with Glion, an academic institution renowned for its excellence, the program of talks will enable luxury industry stakeholders to share their thoughts on major issues in the sector and recruitment through a series of four round-table discussions featuring exceptional figures*: PEOPLE to PEOPLE Francois-Henry BENNAHMIAS, CEO Audemars Piguet Maud BAILLY, CEO Sofitel, MGallery and Emblems LUXURY SPEAKS SUSTAINABILITY Manuel MALLEN, CEO Maison Courbet Emilie METGE VIARGUES, CEO of Christofle LUXURY AND TRANSMISSION Guy BERTAUD, CEO Maisons Pariente Thierry MARX, Michelin-starred chef of the "Sur Mesure" restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental Paris HISTORY AND MINDSET OF LUXURY Stanislas DE QUERCIZE, President and Founder SAVIH, Member of the Board Christian Louboutin, Messika Paris, former President Van Cleef & Arpels and former President Cartier International Jean-Luc NARET, CEO of JLN & CO - former CEO La Reserve Hotels - former CEO Michelin Guides Veronique BEAUMONT, Managing Director, COO at ESMOD International For more information please contact Santnah Nunkoo Key Takeaways The Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service supports students interested in pursuing public service careers with an academic scholarship, exposure to travel, and connections to a network of leaders. The Obama Foundation has opened 2023 applications for the Voyager Scholarship, The Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service. Funded by a $100 million personal contribution from Airbnb Co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky to the Obama Foundation, the Voyager Scholarship provides college students with last-dollar financial aid to help alleviate the burden of college debt, provide meaningful travel experiences to expand their horizons, and offer a network of mentors and leaders to support them throughout their careers. The two-year scholarship program for US-based students in their junior and senior years of college offers unique opportunities for those who are committed to pursuing careers that serve the public and their communities. Last year, as part of our commitment to empower, inspire, and connect people to change their world, we welcomed the inaugural cohort of 100 Voyagers to the Obama Foundation family. They represent 35 states and territories, 70 colleges and universities, and are among the brightest and most inspiring young people I have ever met. Each and every one of them shares a passion for public service and the determination to change their world for the better. If this sounds like a rising college junior you know, I hope you will encourage them to apply for the Voyager Scholarshipthe Obama Foundation stands ready to empower leaders to bridge divides and take on the biggest challenges of our time. Obama Foundation Chief Executive Officer Valerie Jarrett Applications are now open to undergraduate students entering their junior year of college in Fall 2023 at an accredited four-year college or university in the US. Students from two-year and four-year colleges are welcome to apply. Voyager Scholarship for Public Service recipients will receive: Up to $50,000 in financial aid: Students will receive up to $25,000 per year in financial aid for their junior and senior years of college. This financial aid should alleviate the burden of college debt so that students can afford to pursue a career in public service. Students will receive up to $25,000 per year in financial aid for their junior and senior years of college. This financial aid should alleviate the burden of college debt so that students can afford to pursue a career in public service. Summer Voyage: Students will receive a $10,000 stipend and credits for Airbnb housing to pursue a summer work-travel experience between their junior and senior year of college. The students will design their own Summer Voyage to gain exposure to new communities and experience in a chosen field. Students will receive a $10,000 stipend and credits for Airbnb housing to pursue a summer work-travel experience between their junior and senior year of college. The students will design their own Summer Voyage to gain exposure to new communities and experience in a chosen field. 10-year travel stipend: After graduation, Airbnb will provide the students with a $2,000 Airbnb travel credit every year for 10 years, totaling $20,000. This will allow students to continue to broaden their horizons and forge new connections throughout their public service careers. After graduation, Airbnb will provide the students with a $2,000 Airbnb travel credit every year for 10 years, totaling $20,000. This will allow students to continue to broaden their horizons and forge new connections throughout their public service careers. Fall Summit: Students will be invited to a fall summit to help define their public service voyage. Theyll hear from guest speakers on different approaches to service and connect with other scholarship recipients. Students will be invited to a fall summit to help define their public service voyage. Theyll hear from guest speakers on different approaches to service and connect with other scholarship recipients. Network of leaders: Throughout the program, students will be invited to an ongoing speaker series, giving them access to a network of leaders. This network of leaders will expose them to new areas of service and innovations happening in their fields. After graduation, they will join the Obama Foundations global community, providing them with Foundation resources and programming. Applications will be accepted beginning today and must be received by March 22, 2023 at 3:00 PM CT. 100 students will join the second cohort of Voyagers. Accepted students will be notified in July. For more information and to apply, visit voyager-scholarship.obama.org. About Airbnb Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 4 million Hosts who have welcomed more than 1 billion guest arrivals across over 220 countries and regions. Travel on Airbnb keeps more of the financial benefits of tourism with the people and places that make it happen. Airbnb has generated billions of dollars in earnings for Hosts, most of whom are individuals listing the homes in which they live. Among Hosts who report their gender, more than half are women, and one in five employed Hosts are either teachers or healthcare workers. Travel on Airbnb also has generated more than $4 billion in tax revenue around the world. Airbnb has helped advance more than 1,000 regulatory frameworks for short-term rentals, including in 80% of our top 200 geographies. In late 2020, to support our continued expansion and diversification, we launched the City Portal to provide governments with a one-stop shop that supports data sharing and compliance with local registration rules. We continue to invest in innovations and tools to support our ongoing work with governments around the world to advance travel that best serves communities. About Airbnb.org Airbnb.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating temporary stays for people in times of crisis around the world. Airbnb.org operates independently and leverages Airbnb, Inc."s technology, services, and other resources at no charge to carry out Airbnb.org"s charitable purpose. The inspiration for Airbnb.org began in 2012 with a single host named Shell who opened up her home to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. This sparked a movement and marked the beginning of a program that allows Hosts on Airbnb to provide stays for people in times of need. Since then, the program has evolved to focus on emergency response and to help provide stays to evacuees, relief workers, refugees, asylum seekers, and frontline workers fighting the spread of COVID-19. Since then, Hosts have offered to open up their homes and helped provide accommodations to 100,000 people in times of need. Airbnb.org is a separate and independent entity from Airbnb, Inc. Airbnb, Inc. does not charge service fees for Airbnb.org supported stays on its platform. Airbnb Press Airbnb Press Office Airbnb As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. If you have already been getting our print edition mailed to you and you were never mailed a login and password you can create one yourself and attached the customer account and zip to get access. You simply use the account number and zip from the front cover of your print edition. 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If you have an existing print subscription, please make sure your email address on file matches your HudsonValley360 account email. Calls to end fees that venues charge artists to sell merch grow louder Testimony before the Senate judiciary committee and the operator of more than 10 live venues have added momentum to a movement demanding that music venues and promoters eliminate the fees they charge artists to sell merch at shows. were providing all of the customers and yet receive no cut from their many ancillary revenue streams. Venues and promoters typically charge 15% to 35% of sales for the privilege of selling merch at their own shows, even though its the artist thats drawn the fans doing the buying. In most instances, the artist must also pay to staff the merch table. Clyde Lawrence The argument is that the venue is providing us the retail space for us to sell our merch, Clyde Lawrence of the indie band Lawrence told the Senate Judiciary Committee this week. But were providing all of the customers and yet receive no cut from their many ancillary revenue streams. Live Nation getting around 20% of our gross merch sales while we get nothing on ticketing fees, bar tabs, coat checks, and parking passes doesnt make a lot of sense to me, Lawrence stated. This industry only works if artists of all levels are able to afford to tour. His testimony inspired the operator of 10 music venues and several significant festivals to take action. In a move that he says will cost the company several hundred thousand dollars a year, Ineffable Music Group CEO Thomas Cussins announced they would no longer charge artists 20% for selling merch. Thomas Cussins We are on the ground and hearing from artists every day, Cussins, whose portfolio also includes a management company and record label, told Billboards Dave Brooks. We are seeing how much the costs of everything have gone up from buses to hotels to flights. So even though the club business is a marginal business, any action we can take to help to insure a healthy, vibrant concert ecosystem is important. This industry only works if artists of all levels are able to afford to tour. In short, Cussins hopes to make up the shortfall by doing his part to build a healthier touring ecosystem. Global MyMerch campaign This weeks spotlight on the merch fees adds momentum to a growing #MyMerch movement. Late last year, the US-based Union of Musicians and Allied Workers (UMAW) joined the UKs Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) in calling for an end to all merch fees. This is an exploitative practice that interferes with one of the few ways fans can directly support artists in this challenging economic climate, and it must stop, declared the UMAW. The #MyMerch campaign calls on venues, festivals, and promoters to sign up as 100% Venues that take no cut of sales. Adding Ineffables dozen or so properties, more than 125 North American venues have taken the pledge so far. See the list here. Bruce Houghton is the Founder and Editor of Hypebot and MusicThinkTank, a Senior Advisor at Bandsintown, President of the Skyline Artists Agency, and a professor for the Berklee College Of Music. Share on: How to listen to music with intent Musician and Contemporary Writing and Production major at he Berklee College of Music, Tavi Kaye, discusses how to make listening to music an experience. by Tavi Kaye from the Berklee Online takenote blog My first memorable experience of connecting to music was when my second grade English teacher played the Beatles Hello, Goodbye on a CD player. My family would often play the Beatles at home on an iPod connected to speakers, but this was the first time I truly connected with a song and understood what I was listening to. I was compelled to ask my mom how I could listen to these songs whenever I wanted. This was my foundational experience with listening to music on a medium, that medium being the iPod shuffle. There are many different media through which music can be consumed: it can be live, on the radio, on a CD, or heard through a streaming service. Music does not exist in a vacuum: the medium on which it is transmitted will influence a persons perception of the music itself. The medium is the message, as philosopher Marshall McLuhan said. So sure, the medium can have its fair share of influence on the artist and their work, but what about on the listener? Is the medium capable of having any effect on our approach to music? Although this is based purely on my personal experiences, Id like to share a few arguments as to why the medium through which we listen to music is more important than we might think. Song-Focused Listening Growing up in the 2000s, I experienced music mostly through MP3s. Id store songs that I liked into my iTunes catalog, to then transfer them onto my iPod. This allowed me to experience music on the go, be it in the car with an aux cable or walking down the streets with my earbuds. But I never found myself listening to albums in their entiretyit may be because I had the option to buy the singles for 99 instead of paying for a full album (something that was not available during the vinyl and CD era), or simply because I was never introduced to the album as a concept. I would download songs that I had heard on the radio or in a movie. If I wanted to explore a band, I would simply look up their most popular songs and not take the trouble to dive in a bit deeper. This oversight is obviously on me, and I cant blame the internet for my limited research, since it is basically a limitless resource of information. But maybe limits are good. If Id had a more limited set of music I could listen to, for example, a set of 10 albums in my personal collection, I probably would have had a more personal connection to those projects. It might differ from person to person, but what Id like to emphasize is the importance of the listeners participation with music and art in general. In the digital age, music can be perceived and treated as if it were easily disposable because of how easy, and relatively inexpensive it is to listen to whatever you want whenever you want. When you take away the friction of going to a music store and exchanging your hard-earned cash for a physical album, it can make us complacent to just how special the listening experience really is. This is because there isnt as much weve had to sacrifice for it. However, Ive learned that there are ways to incorporate some intentionality back into the music listening experience, even when you are listening digitally. It just requires some patience. Album-Focused Listening My shift toward an album-focused listening experience began when I began my freshman year in high school. I had just started at a new school and I was eager to find friends who were passionate about music like I was. With one new friend in particular, we talked about the bands we both liked, but whenever I mentioned a track from a certain band, he would proceed by asking me what album it was from. I remember feeling confused by the question and wondering why he paid attention to an aspect that I would completely disregard. His approach to music was completely different from mine. Even when I asked him to recommend songs from an artist, he would only recommend the albums, leaving me even more frustrated and confused. So, I finally gave the album a try, but found the experience to be time-consuming and tiresome, having trouble focusing for an hour just listening to music. Lets be honest, most modern pop albums are not designed to be listened to all the way through, which makes the experience arduous. They are designed with a few hit singles in mind, which make their way onto playlists with other artists, or onto the radio. Of course there are exceptions, and more and more were seeing one album dominate the music charts: take for example Taylor Swift, whose 2022 album Midnights claimed 10/10 spots on the Billboard music charts, and Drake, whose 2021 album Certified Lover Boy claimed nine out of 10 spots. It wasnt until I listened to Pink Floyds The Wall that I realized the potential an album could have. Listening to the seamless transition between The Happiest Days of Our Lives with Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2, or Young Lust with Empty Spaces was one of those ear-opening experiences Ill never forget (I literally fell to the floor when I heard the aforementioned Pink Floyd transition). I remember asking myself if that sort of groundbreaking transition was allowed. It seems like a silly question, but I was so used to measuring music by the individual tracks that the possibility of one track intertwining with the other never crossed my mind. The Vinyl Era Had I grown up in the vinyl era, the process of listening to albums in order would have been the norm. Of course there were still plenty of people who cared more for the artists hits instead of their albums, but if you had an individual track you wanted to listen to, youd have to buy the album in its entirety, buy the single, or at the very least, tape the song off the radio. The first two methods favored record companies, since they could profit off a hit song by forcing the consumers to buy more than just the song they wanted. Its not surprising that concept albums were popularized during the vinyl era; it wouldnt be commercially viable for a radio station to play songs that work best in their bigger context. When the Beach Boys recorded Pet Sounds (1966), studio executives were worried about the public reaction to their sonic shift. They were no longer the loveable surf-rock group with their two-minute radio-friendly singles: now they (well, mostly Brian Wilson) were committed to the exploration and experimentation of their sound within the album. With the growth of the countercultural movement, we started to see more artists pursue albums as an attempt to tell a bigger story, with a focus on lyrical and musical motifs, and a unified sonic realm. The two-sided format of the disc can also implement meaning and influence to the music. In the Beatles Abbey Road (1969), the A-side of the vinyl includes hit after hit, concluding with I Want You (Shes So Heavy), a riveting track that ends with what seems to be an upcoming storm (my interpretation at least). But after you flip the record over to its B-side, youll feel the sky clearing with George Harrissons soft voice telling you Here Comes The Sun. The rest of the B-side is a medley of songs which match together so well that they are often referred to by the name of The Long One. This relationship between an A-side with hit songs and a more experimental B-side can also be heard in Kate Bushs Hounds of Love (1982), which recently experienced a massive revival, thanks to the inclusion of the song Running Up That Hill in Stranger Things. One could only wonder if these creative choices would have been allowed by record labels if they were recorded during the digital age. But there is another element to vinyl that may be seen as an obstacle to our current standard: the requirement of a dedicated listening space. This obstacle can be seen as a blessing in disguise. Those who still listen to vinyl records today would agree that there is more of a ritualistic feel to it compared to our approach with digital music. The act of removing the record from its jacket, blowing off the dust, letting the needle drop and sitting down to listen: All of these factors contribute to the importance of being present, and causes us to treat music in a less disposable way. There is nothing wrong with putting on music in the background, but youll never get the full experience unless you are present and focused. Lyrics and Cover Art Yet its hard to focus, especially in a generation thats so used to instant gratification. Its not big news to say that the internet and the mass consumption of all different types of media made for a bad influence on our attention span. One of my issues when trying to listen to albums was that at times my mind would easily drift off, especially if Id be listening to it on my phone where at any moment a notification bell would ring and shift my attention towards it. My solution to the problem was to focus on reading the lyrics. This not only kept my mind quiet (as it was focused on the reading), but it also made me realize the importance of the lyrics themselves. I know this is something thats different for each person, but when I listen to music, my mind usually focuses on the melody and instrumentation. As a kid I never gave the lyrics any credit; they were usually perceived as meaningless phonetics with only a few words standing out (like a Cocteau Twins song). I like to think that I killed two birds with one stone with this discovery. But it also highlights the importance of visual stimulation, something not present at all during my MP3 days. With CDs and vinyls you have an object to look at, which consists of cover art and liner notes. Many of these liner notes had the lyrics to the songs included in them, as well as information regarding the producer, session musicians, recording studio, and fun facts about the recording process. You can argue that you could easily look up these facts on the internet, but why would a kid necessarily think of doing that? Most songs on the mobile version of Spotify feature an interaction for lyrics, but these are sourced from a third party and have been criticized for their inaccuracy. As I said before, maybe limitations were a good thing. When stuck with a material object like a CD, your resources are limited, but that in turn gives you the freedom to look over every single detail. Even if the facts are on the internet, youre not face-to-face with them. Furthermore, the cover art brings another dimension to the experience of music. If you only listened to In the Court of the Crimson King through digital media, you might not know that the original artwork shows the terrified face of the Schizoid Man on the cover square expanding to show a wild ear on the other side of the records jacket. If you only know Bruce Springsteens Born to Run from a digital square, you likely dont know that hes leaning on E Street sax player Clarence The Big Man Clemons when you open the cover. On the other hand, we now see streaming services providing animated covers, something thatd be impossible in the older media. The Streaming Era Now its time to address the elephant in the room. Are streaming services good for listening? There are plenty of other articles that tackle the quality of sound, as well as the issue of underpaid artists and the growing disparity between these artists and the record companies that own their copyrights. But at the same time one could argue that streaming services saved the industry from the threat of peer-to-peer file sharing (a.k.a. music piracy). But this article is focusing on the listeners experience, and as someone who transitioned from those file-sharing platforms to the more morally-digestible world of streaming services, I can see both ups and downs. Although streaming services seem to be a continuation of the push for singles, with its abundance of playlists that show off one or two songs from an artist, it also gives its users access to a pretty much unlimited collection of albums. One of the major drawbacks from vinyl and CDs are their prices. It seems like a risky endeavor to spend 15-20 bucks on an album you dont even know if youll like (or maybe that risk is part of the experience after all). But at least for the case of the non-digital purchases, you get to actually own the record. Theres no such thing as a record collector in the steaming world. Maybe youre proud of your long list of albums saved in your Spotify account (I sure am), but what if the company eventually fails? Wheres that music going? The use of both vinyl and streaming services seems to be the rising norm among people who have an interest in analog music. I have a friend who likes to separate his digital collection from his physical one. Whenever he buys a new record, he proceeds to delete the album from his saved music in Spotify. His end-goal is to grow his vinyl collection and not have to depend on the digital outlets he uses. Yet he still appreciates music streaming because he can listen to albums that were on his checklist without having to commit to a purchase. The Future of Listening Nowadays with social media and apps like TikTok, we are seeing a new trend of songs being diminished to only 15 seconds (and therefore sped up and high-pitched). But were also seeing how TikTok offers a new means of music discovery for independent artists. If theres anything we can surmise after reviewing the various listening methods of the past and present, its that music is going to keep becoming easier to listen to. And as it becomes easier, we can either consume in great quantities, mindlessly, or we can apply some of the same intentionality behind listening to physical music to digital music. That might mean setting aside some dedicated time to stream an album all the way through on your speakers, creating a list of your favorite albums (either on Spotify or in a Google Doc) and listening through one per day, or creating a hybrid digital and vinyl collection like my friend. It could also look like going through your saved TikTok videos to find the 15-second song you liked, finding it on Spotify, and listening to more songs by that particular artist. It might also mean going to see live music more often. As the times and technologies change, we can still reap all the benefits and ease of digital music, while still taking the time to deeply connect with music we love. Ottavio Kaye is a member of the Class of 2024 at Berklee College of Music, majoring in Contemporary Writing & Production. He plays guitar, keyboard and likes to compose in his free time. Raised in Rio de Janeiro, he learned to enjoy both the serenity of nature as well as the chaos of the city, and he tries to incorporate that dichotomy into his music. He also expresses his passion for music and the arts through the articles that he has written for Take Note. Share on: Williamstown Fire District Panel OKs 10% Station Cost Cut WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. The committee that oversees the Fire District on Wednesday agreed to lower by 10 percent its request to voters to fund a new station on Main Street. Prudential Committee Chair David Moresi asked his colleagues to hold off on a planned review of the warrant for the Feb. 28 special district meeting to seek borrowing authority to fund the building project. Instead, Moresi, who also serves on the district's Building Committee, told the three other members of the Prudential Committee in attendance that he would call a special meeting of the panel to approve new warrant article language requesting authority to spend up to $22.5 million on the new station. That is down from the $25 million figure in an article the committee approved earlier this month Moresi told the Prudential Committee that the lower figure reflects the results of an ongoing value engineering process on the project and does not impact the district's commitment to provide a facility that meets the needs of the Fire Department. It does not indicate any intent to back off on the district's commitment to build a sustainable station in line with a 2021 annual town meeting vote committing the town to a net-zero carbon emissions goal, he said. Moresi said the sustainability dimension of the project will ultimately add more than $1 million to the bottom line, but "the end result will justify the investment." After Wednesday's monthly Prudential Committee meeting, Moresi said the $22.5 million figure was the product of continued examination of the project's scope and cost estimates by himself and other members of the Building Committee. The Prudential Committee members were not informed of his plan to seek a reduction in the project cost before Wednesday's meeting, Moresi said. None of the members present John Notsley, Alex Steel and Joe Beverly challenged Moresi on the suggestion or asked for specifics on how he expected to drive down the project's cost. "I think this shows the town and voters our concern for the expense, and I think it's a step in the right direction," Notsley said. "I think we'll make due with the amounts we obtain at the special meeting, and it will give us a station that sustains us for 50 to 100 years." A two-thirds vote of the residents attending the Feb. 28 meeting at Williamstown Elementary School will be needed for the district to borrow the funds needed to build the station. Last week, two members of the Select Board attended a meeting of the district's Building Committee to encourage the panel to drive down the "ask" to voters. Questions also have been raised in the last week on social media about the potential cost of the project. One of the Select Board members who went to the Building Committee last week, Chair Hugh Daley, spoke to the Prudential Committee on Wednesday evening. "I'm glad to hear you guys are looking at costs," Hugh Daley told the panel. Daley asked the district to be clear to voters in the outreach leading to the Feb. 28 vote about the relationship between the town and the Fire District, a separate taxing authority apart from town government. Unlike the regional school district, which gets its annual operating budget through an assessment that is OK'd by town meeting in the spring, the Fire District is completely independent from the town. As a matter of convenience, property owners receive one property tax bill, but that bill has separate lines for the town (including the school budget assessment) and the Fire District. All residents of the town also are members of the district and, if registered to vote, eligible to participate in both annual Fire District meetings in the spring and the special district meeting on Feb. 28. Daley stressed to the Prudential Committee that while he knows the department needs a new station, he is concerned about the impact on local taxpayers if the cost is too high. "Functionally, you're the left pocket, we're the right pocket, but it's all the same pair of pants," Daley said. Moresi, the principal of Moresi and Associates development of North Adams, said the $22.5 million number he proposed for the special district meeting warrant still is a high-end estimate and that he would push to continue driving down costs. "That [$22.5 million] does not take into account further anticipated cost reductions, which may incorporate gifts and grants," Moresi said. After the meeting, Moresi said the Fire District has not heard an answer from Williams College in response to a request for financial support for the station project. The college's Board of Trustees discussed that request at its October meeting, a college spokesperson said in the fall. The trustees met last weekend and are not scheduled to meet again until mid-April, six weeks after the special Fire District meeting. Williams is the town's single largest taxpayer due to its non-exempt landholdings, but much of its property and buildings are tax exempt. In light of that fact, the school long has had a payment in lieu of taxes agreement with the Fire District to support operating expenses of the town's call volunteer fire department. Senior horticulture student Christine Hayes trims plants in the greenhouse at Taconic High. She hopes to own florist shop one day. Senior Amelia Moro, who lives outside of Pittsfield, has traveled to Taconic to attend the early childhood program. Sophmore Evan Bachand chose the business technology program because he said it will provide meaningful skills that can be used in a variety of careers. The school offers more than a dozen vocational career pathways. PreviousNext Ahead of Taconic Vote, Students Talk Vocational Programs Sa'lina Rheaume with other electrical program students at Taconic. She sees her education as being rewarding and leading to a well-paying career. PITTSFIELD, Mass. Sa'lina Rheaume went through the career exploration program at Taconic High School before finding electrical work to be rewarding as well as being the potential for a well-paying career. "At first I was nervous because I know a lot of females don't go into this field, but I've actually been enjoying it a lot and when I finish a project it makes me very happy," the 10th-grader said. "Especially when it works." She is very excited to be eligible for the co-op program that will allow her to get experience in the field. And she thinks Taconic becoming a full vocational school would give students many opportunities to learn different skills. The School Committee was supposed to vote on the Taconic proposal Wednesday night but because of a snowstorm, postponed until next week. Staff and students are supportive of the move to a Career Technical Educational program. If implemented, the high school will only accept CTE students. "I think that this is an exciting opportunity for our community," said Principal Matthew Bishop. "This proposed move allows both high schools to offer unique pathways for our students, with both schools focusing on career and college readiness. "The proposed transition allows more opportunity for students to attend our highly technical and academic vocational programming. Having served the community in both high schools, I honestly believe that the residents and future high schoolers of Pittsfield don't lose anything in this move, but gain a powerful choice." This vote has been two years in the making and is fueled by a lack of space for non-CTE students because of the popularity of Taconic's vocational programs. There are over a dozen pathways students can choose from including advanced manufacturing and health technology along with state-of-the-art facilities that were a part of the $120 million building completed in 2018. Sophomore Evan Bachand chose the business technology program because he said it will provide meaningful skills that can be used in a variety of careers. At the time, his class was learning the ins and outs of Excel. "I chose the business CTE because I figured even if I don't go down a career path that is business related, I still learn skills I can use for my whole life," he said. Taconic also has its own horticulture building complete with a large greenhouse. "I think it's really great that we're getting so much more kids into shops," senior horticulture student Christine Hayes said while trimming greenery. She has always wanted to own a florist shop and was convinced to join the program after seeing the greenhouse. Hayes hopes to attend the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst next year. Senior early education student Amelia Moro also came to Taconic for the program, traveling from out of town each day to attend. "I love it, I like the real-life experiences and the skills that we learn as well," she said while working with children in the school's day-care center. A rendering of possible configuration of a new Williamstown fire station. Williams College Commits $5 Million to Fire Station Project Updated at 1:18 p.m. to clarify the level of bonding authority that Fire District officials plan to seek on Feb. 28. WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. Williams College on Thursday morning announced it is committing $5 million toward the cost of building a new fire station on Main Street. College President Maud Mandel announced the result of this past weekend's meeting of the college's Board of Trustees in an email to the college community, and the district issued a news release shortly after. "[T]he board agreed to contribute a total of $5 million toward construction of Williamstown's new fire station at a rate of $1 million per year over the next five years," Mandel wrote. "Our campus community relies heavily on local first responders, including student and staff volunteers, and it is important that Williams help the district provide them with a modern and safe facility." At its meeting Wednesday afternoon, the Prudential Committee, which oversees the Fire District, decided to reduce the amount of money that the district wants to spend on building a replacement to the cramped, outdated facility on Water Street. Currently, the Prudential Committee plans to seek $22.5 million to build a new station. That is the number that voters will be asked to approve at a Feb. 28 special Fire District meeting. But district officials intend the $5 million from the college or any other gifts or grants to reduce the amount of that $22.5 million that ultimately will be borne by taxpayers. A two-thirds majority at the Feb. 28 meeting, being held at 7 p.m. at Williamstown Elementary School, will be necessary for the project to move forward. On Thursday, the chair of the Prudential Committee applauded news of the college's donation. "For more than a hundred years, the college has voluntarily contributed annually to the district's operating budget, and it now caps our long relationship with this remarkable gift," David Moresi said in a news release. "Adding even more meaning to their announcement is that it comes while the college, because of the current economic climate, is having to tighten its belt. It would have been understandable if in that situation Williams' leaders had concluded that they couldn't help out at this time. But instead they did this." Williams has a payment in lieu of taxes agreement with the Fire District under which a contribution from the school each year goes to support the fire department's operational expenses. In recent years, Williams also has provided financial support to capital projects for the Williamstown Police Department and Mount Greylock Regional School District. Moresi on Thursday noted that the college's support of the fire service in town goes beyond writing a check. "Williams has been a close partner of the Williamstown Fire District for many years," Moresi said. "The college has long let its staff members who serve as volunteer firefighters leave their jobs to respond to fire calls. This significantly shortens our response times to call scenes. "Williams students actively volunteer with the district as firefighters." On Wednesday evening, Fire Chief Craig Pedercini informed the Prudential Committee that the department recently added three more college students to its roster of call-volunteer firefighters. NAACP Berkshire Chapter President Dennis Powell presents Fred Miller, CEO of the Kaleel Jamison Consulting Group, with the W.E.B Du Bois Freedom Award in this screenshot of the virtual event. Berkshire NAACP Freedom Fund Awards Honor Activists PITTSFIELD, Mass. The Berkshire NAACP held its annual Freedom Fund award ceremony virtually this past weekend, recognizing three individuals for their commitment to community and justice. The event raises funds to provide stipends to local Black, immigrant and other students of color who pursuing higher education. "Since 1980, the total cost of four-year public and four-year private college has nearly tripled. Federal support has not kept up. Pell Grants once covered nearly 80 percent of the cost of a four-year public college degree for students from working families but now only cover a third," board member Shirley Edgerton said. "That has left many students from low and middle-income families with no choice but to borrow if they want to get a degree. The NAACP is committed to addressing the burdens of loans acquired while pursuing an education to be self-sufficient and a contributing citizen and, for some, a change agent." Local activist Kelan O'Brien was honored with the Jahaira DeAlto Legacy Award for community service, named after the former Pittsfield resident and transgender activist who was murdered in 2021. O'Brien is the former chair of Berkshire Pride, where he and DeAlto built a friendship, and has been involved with various other community groups. He is now focusing on obtaining a master's degree. "Sometimes as I am working on papers or assignments and I'm thinking about whether or not I'm on the right path, I remember that Jahaira was always dedicated to learning and was working towards her own degrees," he said. "There is power in education and I think it's very fitting to have her name a part of tonight's ceremony which is uplifting our local Black and African American youth and raising funds to support their higher education journeys." O'Brien recognized that Jasmine "Star" Mack was killed in Washington, D.C., earlier this month. She's the first recorded death of a transgender person from violence in 2023. He asked for a moment of silence for Star, DeAlto, and all of the other lives that have been lost. Rhonda Anderson, Western Massachusetts commissioner on Indian Affairs, was presented the Indigenous Peoples Award by Larry Spotted Crow Mann, who was the first recipient of the award last year. Anderson is an Alaskan native and the founder and co-director of the Ohketeau Cultural Center in Ashfield alongside Mann. "The inclusion of indigenous peoples by the NAACP Free Fund is a culmination of nearly 70 years of unity and recognition in the efforts against racism and the fight for freedom from colonization," she said. "Indigenous peoples have long struggled and are still working for civil rights and basic humanity in the United States and Canada. This unity is important because we cannot do the vital work of social and racial justice without the work of undoing settler colonialism and the resulting systems of oppression, marginalization, and invisibility." She pointed out that the award was named after Dorothy "Aunt Dot" Davids, who broke barriers in education as an author of curricula and history who worked at the National Congress of America Indians, and recognized several other indigenous leaders who paved the way for her work. Fred Miller, CEO of the Kaleel Jamison Consulting Group in Troy, N.Y., was honored with the W.E.B Du Bois Freedom Award. His business is the oldest inclusion and diversity firm in the country, having worked with multiple Fortune 500 companies, large non-profits, and government agencies throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Miller was the first person of color and the first African American to join the Connecticut General Life Insurance Co., beginning as a management trainee and working his way up to an officer of the company. He also has emeritus status at One World Everybody Eats, the Sage Colleges, and the National Training Labs. The consulting group has been around since 1970 and Miller has been involved since 1972. He calls himself a "dinosaur that can still dance." "Mainly we're in the corporate sector because I feel there's a lot of power in the corporate sector and there's a real need to change that sector," Miller said. "And I've dedicated my life to making that sector more humane, a place where people can be human and bring themselves to the organization and that everybody can be a part of the organization and the success of that organization." He reflected on his time at Connecticut General in the late 1960s when Black men were shining the shoes of executives. This made Miller wonder how he was seen, as the only other Black people at the company were in the cafeteria and shining shoes. "That's some of what we had to deal with as we tried to change organizations," he said. "So I'm trying to make an organization, again, where people can be human or people can bring their humanness to the organization and bring all the dimension of who they are to the organization and not have to hide part of themselves or leave part of themselves in a parking lot or whatever way they took to get to work." Miller spoke at length about the journey of life and how it has many doors that can mean different things depending on your perspective. For example, some doors can be imprisoning and some can open to new opportunities. He gave audience members tips on how to make positive changes in themselves and their community which included pushing back when their values are diminished or threatened, representing others who do not have the same opportunities, and never feeling that it is too late to be a good person. He said love, kindness, hope, and forgiveness go a long way. "In this world with so many challenges coming in so many ways, we need to be our best at every moment of time," Miller said. "Take advantage of the door or use take advantage of breathing air and being around. Take advantage of being in a community, take advantage of being with somebody else and assisting them." Former Freedom Fund recipients Keya Robertson, Fleur Sereko, Sadiya Quetti-Goodson, and Ornella Bamba spoke of how the funds aided them and the program's importance. "I think that it is very important to help young people of color in their educational journey because as a black woman, I am really very aware that black people have a lack of representation in the schools and the educational system really just anywhere," Sereko said. Bamba said not having the proper financial support going into college plays a major role in a student's experience because it can cause them to have stress that affects their academic performance. "They then go to financial aid to try to plead with financial as to why they should be given more money, as to why they should be given help or more scholarships just to be told 'no,'" she added. "That's a problem that has to change." President Dennis Powell closed the ceremony by urging viewers to be present in their communities and in their nation. "All of our rights are under attack right now. The right to vote and have our vote counted, the right to fair elections, the right to protest, the right of women to control their bodies, the right to quality and equitable education, and the right for our children to learn about critical race history," he said. "The right to love and marry whom we choose, the right to be different, and the right to be Black without being seen as a threat, invisible, or less than. We the people have to take back these rights." Powell said voting, running for office, attending city or town meetings, and keeping elected officials are all actions that can be taken. "In short, don't just live in a community. Get involved in your community," he said. "Not doing so is not an option. Prosperity means future generations. Our children and grandchildren will deal with our lack of physical and personal responsibility for many years to come." In this age of digital learning, it is ideal for every school to leverage an effective Learning Management System (LMS) platform to ensure that it can continue providing a facility for learning and fostering growth for every learner. What are the key things a learning institution must look out for when choosing the right LMS platform? For Quipper, one of the leading education technology (edtech) platforms in the Philippines, there are many factors that every learning institution must look out for to ensure that the LMS platform would improve the instructional and learning experience not only for students but also for admins, teachers, and parents. Here are some factors to consider when choosing an LMS, as shared by Quipper: A flexible and adaptable platform for different learning modalities. A good LMS platform matches the diverse needs of learning modalities, such as face-to-face, blended, and distance learning. Quipper was made and catered to support different modalities because of its flexible features. It is an all-in-one tool that allows teachers to create their own modules and assessments. At the same time, they can use ready-made learning materials that they can easily tweak according to the needs or learning modality of the students. Access to a platform with good communication functions. To ensure students get an adequate learning experience, a reliable messaging platform is a plus. This ensures that the teachers and students can quickly give and receive feedback, making learning more accessible and hassle-free. It is also vital that an LMS platform can integrate and support other software, like video-conferencing tools, that educators can use in their classes. These functions can also be accessed and utilized on Quipper, with their feature that lets teachers regularly communicate with students. In the Messages feature, teachers can create a class announcement for an entire class or send an individual message to students. Choose a data-driven platform. To monitor the student's growth effectively, a school should consider finding an LMS to help them see the problems students encounter based on their class records and data. For Teachers, it'll be good to have an LMS that can automatically check, record, and store data such as quizzes, assignments, and exams, so they know which students are having difficulty learning a lesson. The good thing is Quipper can generate this information along with which lessons are least learned. Through data, they can create insights that they could use to improve their practice or help a struggling student. Accessible and reliable for all. A platform with a user-friendly interface is a must to make learning fun and conducive for learners. It should be easy to navigate for users of all ages and is designed to make online learning and teaching more enjoyable. It would also be helpful to look for an LMS company that provides good customer support whenever the admin, teachers, students, and parents have difficulty accessing or using the platform. All these factors make for a good LMS platform that could help educators ensure a conducive and effective learning experience for all learners. Meanwhile, these capabilities empower students, the school, and its educators. Quipper provides all these through its LMS platform, innovated to keep up with the changing technology and learning trends. To learn more about Quipper Philippines and its other programs and initiatives, visit www.quipper.com/ph. GCash, the countrys leading mobile wallet, recently achieved a compliance certification from the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS), assuring every Filipino of the e-wallets commitment to the highest quality standards on data security. (L-R) GCash Chief Information Security Officer Mark Frogoso, GCash Chief Commercial Officer Ren-Ren Reyes, GCash Chief Technology and Operations Officer Pebbles Sy, ControlCase President Suresh Dadlani, ControlCase Head of Business Development Michelle Mascardo, GCash Head of Customer Experience Management Joanne Avendano, GCash Head of Wealth Management Jong Layug, and GCash Chief People Officer Robert Gonzales. PCI-DSS is a standard that is being administered by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI-SSC) which includes top global credit card brands such as MasterCard, Visa, American Express, JCB International, and Discover Financial Services. The standard ensures that all companies which accept, process, store, or transmit credit/debit cardholder information maintain a secure environment to protect customers. Compliance is validated annually by an external Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) such as ControlCase Inc., a global provider of certification, cybersecurity, and continuous compliance services, which also conducted the assessment of GCash. This certification is a testament to our commitment of adhering to only the highest standards in safety and security. This is proof that, at GCash, we take data privacy and cybersecurity very seriously, as it is one of our key pillars in ensuring our customers have the best experience when they use our services. GCash will continue to pursue more global industry best practices to better serve our 71 million customers, GCash President and CEO Martha Sazon said. The formal awarding ceremony was held at the GCash headquarters. It was attended by key officials of the company as well executives from Globe Group, the parent firm of Mynt which operates GCash. The ceremony was also graced by ControlCase president Suresh Dadlani and its head of business development Michelle Mascardo. Also present at the event were project team members from GCash's Information Security Group, Technology and Operations, along with other business support teams. As it continues to expand its services and reach more unserved individuals, GCash remains steadfast in boosting the apps safeguards while continuously strengthening its sense of accountability, ethics, and compliance to further improve customers experience and provide them safe, secure, and more convenient digital financial solutions. The Municipality of General Mariano Alvarez, led by Mayor Maricel Torres, signed a memorandum of agreement with Uplink Integrated Solution Inc. and Starpay Corporation for its e-gov online system. The agreement will fast-track transaction payments for the LGUs Electronic Business One-Stop Shop (E-BOSS). GMA Cavite Municipal Mayor Maricel Torres and Vice Mayor Percival Cabuhat with Starpay President Lamberto Scarella and Starpay Head of Operations Richard Rosettes. Residents and entrepreneurs of GMA Cavite have been processing their business permits and taxes using E-BOSS. With Starpay, they do not have to physically visit the municipal office for payment transactions. Upon completion of the online forms, and submission of required documents, business owners will receive their assessment via email together with payment instructions. Simply scan the QR code using the Starpay app. and transfer the required amount. Payors can also scan the QRPH-compliant application to settle payments. The app is equipped with an interoperable QRPH standard, so even non-Starpay users can settle their payments by simply scanning the Starpay QR code. The partnership is in line with the initiative towards a One Digitized GMA. Patuloy po nating pagsisikapang maabot ang One Digitized GMA! Tuloy na at mag uumpisa na ating online payment with Starpay, Mayor Maricel Torres said. Starpay began its cashless payment rollout for public markets in December 2022. During the holiday season market shoppers in Baguio, Davao and Tagbilaran discovered the convenience of cashless payment for fresh meat and produce using Starpay. The event is under the PalengQR PH Plus initiative of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). "We have been targeting users at the community level, to grow our client base. So far the public has been very receptive because the platform is user-friendly and very convenient, shared Starpay President Lamberto Scarella. Organizations and LGU units who wish to kickstart the transformational efforts can send an email to partnerships@starpay.com.ph. Starpay Corporation is a licensed electronic money issuer, regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Starpay is available for download at Google Play Store, Apple App Store, and Huawei App Gallery. Saraswati Puja, a religious festival observed primarily in West Bengal and other eastern states, is being celebrated in Bangladesh with much enthusiasm, especially among students. The ethos of the festival which falls on Basant Panchami is marked by the worship of Goddess Saraswati embodying knowledge, wisdom, education, art, culture and music. The festival also marks the beginning of spring and celebrated with the colour yellow. Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid and the countrys Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have greeted citizens on the occasion. In Dhaka, the Puja is particularly celebrated at the state funded Jagannath University. Apart from Jagannath University, the Puja is also being held at at Ram Krishna Mission, Siddheswari Temple, Supreme Court premises, Farashganj, Shakhari Bazar, Tanti Bazar and different other places in old Dhaka, Banani, Dhaka College, Eden Girls College, Ramna Kali Mandir and Maa Anandamayi Ashram, Tejgaon College, Stamford University and different educational institutions in the city, reported Bangladeshi news organisation JagoNews. The day is also marked for a ritual called Hatekhori when toddlers are made to pick up a pencil or a chalk for the first time to scribble something. Though it is a Hindu religious festival, it is a celebration of knowledge, art and culture, which is something universal and students across the country mark this occasion, a resident of Dhaka told India Narrative. Also read: Bangladesh to get new President as first phase of political transition begins KATHMANDU: Nepals top dignitaries including Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun joined celebrations marking Indias 74th Republic Day at the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. Addressing the programme, Indias Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava, highlighted age-old friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries. He recalled the high-level exchanges including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Lumbini, the birth-place of Lord Buddha, in May last year and then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deubas visit to New Delhi in April of the same year. These visits were instrumental in further strengthening our friendship. The top leadership of the two countries are committed to take forward our ongoing cooperation, he said. The 74th Republic Day of India was celebrated at the Embassy today. The celebrations began with unfurling of the national flag by Ambassador of India to Nepal Shri Naveen Srivastava who then read out address to the nation from Honble President of India. pic.twitter.com/dm3qf9NqPv IndiaInNepal (@IndiaInNepal) January 26, 2023 Top political figures including Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress, government secretaries, lawmakers, civil society members, businessmen, Indian diaspora in Nepal, and journalists attended the reception. The programme included a cultural performance. Earlier today morning, India honoured widows and next of kin of deceased Gorkha soldiers of Indian Armed Forces on the occasion of 74th Republic Day of India. Ambassador Srivastava felicitated war widows and next of kins of deceased soldiers by disbursing their dues of Nepali rupees 4.60 crore and blankets. Reiterating its commitment to helping the retired soldiers, the Indian embassy unveiled the Bhu Puu-2022 magazine covering the welfare initiatives of the Government of India for ex- Gorkha servicemen domiciled in Nepal. The celebrations began with unfurling of the Indian national flag by Ambassador Srivastava. The envoy recited the address to the nation from President of India Droupadi Murmu. In her speech, President Murmu noted the encouraging progress made by India, on the economic front to achieve Gandhijis ideal of Sarvodaya or the upliftment of all, despite global economic uncertainties. The message also underscored that Indias Presidency of the G20 is an opportunity to promote democracy and multilateralism for shaping a better world and a better future. On the occasion, Ambassador Srivastava also presented books to various institutions. The embassy is gifting books worth Nepali rupees 1.6 million to 23 institutions of Nepal, the embassy said in a press statement. The celebrations witnessed renditions of patriotic songs and performances by students of Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre of the Embassy and Kendriya Vidyalaya School, Kathmandu. Also Read: I will visit India soon, says Nepals Prime Minister Prachanda Ideas arent conceived in a vacuum. They have certain archetypes upon which they are based. These may be symbolic or literal. The Constitution of India is a physical, palpable document that is based upon the constitutions of different countries - Germany, the UK, the USA, Ireland, France, South Africa, Japan, the USSR and Canada. Some of the elements borrowed from these countries are not structured and definitive such as Directive Principles of State Policy from Ireland, and Federalism from Canada, but they espouse universal human values such as liberty, equality and fraternity as the values begotten by the French revolution in 1789 in France. File Photo The present Constitution of India, though inspired by foreign countries, had a structure in place before these ideas were borrowed and a final document that was to govern Independent India was drafted by the constituent assembly from 1946-1950. writes the Constitution of India.net. The website further mentions, the selected documents may be broadly categorized by their creators: British documents and Indian documents. The British Government of India Acts of 1919 and 1935 left a significant trace on the Constitution of India 1950. The Swaraj Bill of 1895 and the Nehru Report of 1928 had a similar effect in shaping Indian constitutional design. The Government of India Act of 1919 The Government of India Act 1919 was the codified version of the Montag-Chelmsford reforms and had 47 sections and 5 schedules. The Act was responsible for introducing diarchy in the Indian subcontinent. The Act created 11 provinces and allowed a limited form of Indian representation by letting the Indians have the public health and education portfolio. It also had a provision for review after 10 years. Lawcorner The first world war had ended in 1918 and Britain suffered heavily. In India, radical nationalists were growing assertive and violent and the British government wanted to favour the moderate section of the Indians over the radicals and so, the Government of India Act was passed. The Act would give some modicum of authority to Indians by allowing them some portfolios in the government functioning. The Act began by stating that.It is the declared policy of Parliament to provide for the increasing, association of Indians in every branch of Indian administration, and for the gradual development of self-governing institutions, with a view to the progressive realization. The Government of India Act 1935 The Government of India Act was passed by the British parliament in 1935 and came into effect in 1937. It was based on a report by a Joint Select Committee, led by Lord Linlithgow, set up the two houses of the British parliament. The report, in turn, was the result of the Joint Committees scrutiny of the White Paper a scheme of constitutional proposals - prepared by the British government close on the heels of the Round Table conferences. Twitter The Act was written in a legal style, organised around 11 'Parts' and 10 'Schedules'. Each part was further divided into chapters. It is considered to be one of the longest pieces of legislation passed by the British parliament - parliamentary debates around the Act involved 2000 speeches. Constitution.net writes. The Swaraj Bill of 1895 The Constitution of India Bill 1895, also referred to as Swaraj Bill, was written during the emergence of Indian nationalism and (amidst) increasingly vocal demands by Indians for self-government - albeit within the British Empire. The author of the document remains a mystery; Annie Besant seems to suggest that the document was influenced was Bal Gangadhar Tilak who was the force behind calls for Swaraj. It was the first modern Indian document that attempted to govern the Indian subcontinent and contained 110 articles and covered basic fundamental rights such as the rights to free speech and property, and equality before the law. The Nehru Report 1928 The Simon Commission was appointed by the British government in 1927 to look into the Government of India Act of 1919. The Commission would look into the matter that concerned the fate of the Indian people, without having a single Indian member. And this did not sit well with the nationalist discourse raging at the time. The British, while acknowledging the discontentment among the nationalist leadership did not change the composition of members and instead asked the leadership to draft a constitution. The Indian response to this challenge was the Nehru Report of 1928. AFP Constitution of India.net reads, The Report read like what it claimed to be a constitutional document. written in a legal style containing 22 chapters and 87 articles. The very first article of the Report unequivocally claimed dominion status for India. Other notable features included a section on fundamental rights: the right to free expression and opinion, equality before the law, right to bear arms, freedom of conscience, free profession and propagation of religion. The most remarkable provision was the right to free and elementary education. The Report introduced a parliamentary system of government along with universal adult suffrage. On the communal question, the Report proposed reservation for Muslims in legislatures, however, these were restricted to only those constituencies where Muslims were in a minority. Also, there was no mention of separate electorates for Muslims. of responsible government in British India as an integral part of the empire. The year 1978 saw a new Prime Minister in Morarji Desai. The year was an important watershed moment for Indian politics as this was the first time that a party other than the behemoth Congress party, the Janata party, came to power. Morarji Desai was the leader of the Janta party and when the Emergency was lifted in 1977, the parties opposed to the Congress were united in their efforts to oust Indira Gandhi from Office. Come March 1977, Janata Party won 345 seats and Desai assumed office as the Prime Minister of India. The Emergency was lifted, the party whose excesses were felt by the opposition and the press was ousted, and a new promise beamed on the horizon and PM Morarji Desai became the collective hope of the country to power it to newer heights. On the eve of Republic Day in 1978, a new India, free from the yoke of the Emergency welcomed Patrick Hillery of Ireland as the Chief guest for the event. Why an Irish President? Twitter|@eurireland Ireland and India share deep historical and cultural ties. The Indian Embassy in Ireland mentions on its website, India-Ireland interactions date back to the 19th C(century), when a significant number of Irishmen joined the British Civil Service, medical, engineering and army services. During this period, Irish missionaries and educationists also spread out into all regions of India. Links were further strengthened by connections between the nationalist movements of the two countries since the early 1900's. Noble laureates Rabindranath Tagore and W.B. Yeats inspired each other. Diplomatic relations were established in 1947 between the two countries. In 1951, India established its embassy in Dublin. And in April 2019, the Irish government inaugurated a full-fledged consulate general in Mumbai. Countries standing together in the face of terrorism Ireland has been a constant supporter of India against terrorist attacks,In the aftermath of the Pulwama cross-border terrorist incident, then Irish Deputy PM and FM Simon Coveney issued a statement (19 Feb 2019), strongly condemning the suicide bombing, expressing concern at the increasing levels of violence in the region and maintaining that Ireland will continue to work with India and the international community to support a comprehensive international response to preventing and countering terrorism. Twitter|@lorraineelizab6 Ireland investing in Indias growth The togetherness enjoyed between the two countries culminated in President Hillerys visit to India as a Republic Day chief guest and relations have continued strong over the years with Irish companies making investments in Make in India, Digital India, Clean India and Smart Cities. Ireland has strengths in sectors like agriculture; clean technologies; fin-tech, med-tech; aviation; and tourism. Major Irish companies which have presence in India are CRH Taxback Group, Connolly Red Mills, Globoforce, Keventer, ICON, Kerry Group, Diageo, Glanbia. Major Indian companies which have presence in Ireland include Pinewood/Wockhardt, Reliance Genemedix, Crompton Greaves, Deepak Fasteners, Jain Irrigation Systems, Shapoorji Pallonji, Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Wipro, TCS, Infosys and HCL. Post-Covid, Irish industry can contribute to our Atmanirbhar Bharat programme, specially in digital-tech sector. There are possibilities in medical research, pharmaceuticals as well as frontier technologies like AI, i-cloud messaging, IoT, RFID, cyber security and VR applications. AFP India-Ireland: a hub of research The cultural exchange between the two countries also rests on a vibrant student community,Ireland has become a significant destination for Indian students seeking higher education, particularly post-graduate, doctoral and post-doctoral students in the areas of engineering, technology, medicine, and management. There are about 5,000 Indian students in Irish higher educational institutions. The Trinity College and Thapar University, Patiala have an MOU for joint degree programme in five engineering and science disciplines. New forms of S&T collaboration between Indias Dept of S&T and Science Foundation, Ireland are being explored. A short-duration ICCR Chair on Politics and International Affairs exists at the Dublin City University (DCU). The Republic Day Parade on 26th January 2022 is going to be different, for two reasons. This year is the 75th anniversary of Indias independence, and also the 50th anniversary of the end of 1971 war, which resulted in a resounding victory for India. With 75 aircraft of different types taking part, the fly-past this year is reported to be the largest and the grandest till date. So, if youre an aviation enthusiast, like Ive been for half a century, dont miss the event on your TV. If you have read the series of my articles on the 1971 war, explaining the exploits of the Indian Air Force (simply and briefly - thats the USP!), youll be aware of the major air actions of that war. Some of those actions will also be on display on IAFs tableaux, including this painting. My friend, Fighter Pilot turned Aviation Artist, Group Captain Deb Gohain, has immortalised this and many other such moments of history in his paintings. Painting by Group Captain Deb Gohain This painting shows our paratroopers jumping out of a formation of Dakota aircraft over Tangail in Bangladesh, to cut off the retreating Pakistani Army. One Dakota and two Dornier transport aircraft will fly the Tangail formation to commemorate the strategic paradrop that surprised the Pakistani Commanders and led to the speedy fall of Dhaka. The venerable old Dakota, which first flew in early 1930s, is no more flying with the IAF. The one that will fly over the parade is lovingly and painstakingly maintained flying fit by the personnel of IAFs Vintage Aircraft Flight. Similarly, the Meghna formation of a Chinook heavy lift helicopter with four Mi-17s will re-create the innovative use of helicopters to move our Army troops across the Meghna river in Bangladesh. Painting by Group Captain Deb Gohain One IAF tableau will have a large model of the Gnat airplane, that, after it downed many of the much more advanced fighters of the PAF, was nicknamed Sabre Killer. Painting by Group Captain Deb Gohain Another tableau will feature a model of the MiG-21 fighters that achieved air supremacy over the then East Pakistan right in the beginning, and helped speed up the end of the war by an accurate psychological blow with a strike on the Governors house. Painting by Group Captain Deb Gohain In addition to all the IAFs frontline aircraft, Army and Naval planes too shall participate in the fly-past, like they always do, because Air Power of any nation includes all its flying assets, including those of the civil airliners. The only aircraft that took part in the 1971 war, and is still flying in the IAF, in its newer version, is the MiG 21. But it is not a part of the fly-past. In the days of Atmanirbhar Bharat the much touted indigenously manufactured Tejas aircraft is also not flying over the parade. Wondering why? You probably know that the ill-informed call the MiG-21 a flying coffin. I flew it for 21 years, and even if we know better, its still a single-engine fighter plane, vulnerable to something as unpredictable and unavoidable as a bird hit. The small delta winged plane, flying purely by the brute force of its engine, can glide no better than a brick. Ditto for the Tejas, because these two are single-engine aircraft. And this is also the reason Suryakiran, the IAFs 9 aircraft team that creates such fluid poetry with their amazing close formation aerobatics, will not participate, because they fly the single engine Hawk aircraft. With thousands of people packed together on Raj Path, we just cannot afford to have a bird hit to a single-engine aircraft. So, the decision to not fly them in the fly-past is a victory of pragmatism over sentimentality. In the earlier years, we did fly single-engine aircraft over the RD Parade; but those days, firstly, we had little choice because there werent any twin-engine fighter planes in the IAF, and secondly, there was plenty of open space across the Yamuna to glide to, and force land or eject over, in case of any trouble. That space is not so open anymore. Map Interestingly, the first time we had a Made in India airplane fly past over the republic day parade, was when a Hindustan Trainer-2 (HT-2 which I too flew in 1982) took part in the parade in 1953. Heres an abridged version of the press cutting, dug up from the archives by a friend who is not a pilot, but the son of one, and is an aviation history enthusiast. By Anchit Gupta The Republic Day parade has thousands of participants, including school children, and the timing of the fly past, despite great discipline, is flexible. So, our aircraft have to adjust, and have to advance or delay their arrival by a few seconds - yes, seconds! The fly-past is a huge and complicated exercise involving hundreds of aircraft, thousands of personnel, tens of bases and precision in seconds. The planes must fly past the dais, accurately, not only at the given time but also at the given speed and height, exactly over the given point, which actually is not over the Raj Path, but slightly north, over the canal that runs parallel, so that the spectators and the cameras can easily see the aircraft formations flying fast past them, without craning their necks. Map But there lies a problem. In January, the visibility is very poor in Delhi. Even after using modern navigational equipment, since their accuracy is not adequate, the formation leader must see that canal and align the aircraft with it, while the other members maintain their positions close to the leader. This is not at all a straightforward task. Mistakes do happen sometimes, though extremely rarely, but, using split-second decisions and lightening reactions, we recover and carry on! From personal archives of a veteran. This photo is from the long past, when two formations came too close because of poor visibility, but the pilots acted fast and saved the situation. One of the many complications in this exercise used to be - of all things - the units of measurement. Some aircraft had instruments measuring height in feet and speed in miles per hour, while the Western origin airplanes measure height in feet and speed in knots (nautical miles per hour) and the Russian planes display height in metres and speed in kilometers per hour! Another reason is because the airplanes come to overfly the parade from all over the country. Smaller planes come from closer bases like Hindan and Sarsawa; while others fly in from Agra, Adampur, Ambala, Halwara, and Jodhpur. I know of Naval long-range aircraft flying all the way from Arkonam near Chennai, 1800 kilometers from Delhi, flying 3 hours each way to spend 10 seconds over the dais. It is a tribute to the professionalism of the people involved, that all the planes fly accurately and on time. Reports say this would be the largest and the grandest fly-past ever. Well, I know of larger fly-pasts on RD Parade, and some veterans remember having flown in a fly-past comprising 144 aircraft. So, this may not be the largest, but it sure is the first one with so much historical significance. Dont miss it! It had been six months since the Indira Gandhi government declared the Emergency in June 1975. The seventh month of the government Act hosted French Prime Minister Jacques Chirac as the Chief Guest. The Emergency was to haunt the Congress Party as a spectre in the following decades. But what is the Emergency and why was it invoked? What is an Emergency? Article 352 mentions the Emergency in the Indian Constitution. The emergency gives the Central government power to suspend citizens' fundamental rights and curb other liberties people enjoy in normal circumstances. The Emergency of 1975 is regarded as a blot on Indian democracy, as it was the first time that the government imposed the Emergency due to political reasons. The earlier invocations followed cross-border turmoil: the wars with China and Pakistan in 1962 and 1971 respectively. Jacques Chirac a brief profile BCCL Jacques Chirac (1932-2019) was a French politician, who served as the countrys president and prime minister from 1974-1976 and then from 1986-1988; he also assumed office as the President from 1995-2007. Chiracs affability extended was a constant with India; he enjoyed a positive relationship with Primer Ministers ranging from Indira Gandhi to Manmohan Singh. Chirac saw India beyond just snake-charmers and Jodhpur He viewed India as a major and emerging superpower and at par with China. He was the first French leader to understand India. He took a bet on India that paid off, writes The Print quoting Mohan Kumar, Indias former ambassador to France. Chirac was the first Western leader to travel to India since the Emergency Declaration and held that this was an internal matter of India. He was an all-weather friend to India and stood by the countrys side when India was seeing itself as a pariah in the aftermath of the Pokran nuclear missile tests in 1998 and the threat of economic sanctions courtesy of the USA and other vested interests. India-France Relations The three main foundations of India-Frances Strategic Partnership are cooperation in the fields of defence, space, and civil nuclear energy. Apart from these traditional fields of cooperation, India and France are increasingly engaged in new areas of cooperation like climate change, sustainable growth and development, the International Solar Alliance etc. the Embassy of India in Paris writes. France has been persistent in backing India's demand for permanent membership in the Security Council. That also includes Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) and the Australia Group (AG). BCCL The countries on terrorism Both countries are unanimous in their stand against terrorism and have agreed for the adoption of Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) in the United Nations. In Defence During the visit of President Macron to India, the two countries decided to create an annual defence dialogue at the Ministerial level. Regular exchange of visits at the level of Services Chiefs already takes place. The three services also have regular defence exercises; viz. Exercise Shakti (Army; the last one took place in January-February 2018 in France), Exercise Varuna (Navy; March 2018 in Goa), Exercise Garuda (Air Force; June 2014 at Jodhpur). Apart from service-level staff talks, the two sides have a High Committee on Defence Cooperation (HCDC) which meets annually at the level of Defence Secretary and the French Director General of the Directorate of International Relations and Strategy (DGRIS). The last HCDC meeting was held in New Delhi in March 2016. Apart from this, various staff courses, training programmes etc. also regularly take place. The Embassy further writes about the major defence deals between the governments of India and France: purchase of Rafale aircraft and the Scorpene rocket. AFP The Rafale Aircraft The Inter-governmental agreement for the purchase of 36 Rafale jets by India in flyaway condition was signed in New Delhi on 23 September 2016 by Raksha Mantri Manohar Parrikar and French Defence Minister Le Drian. The Scorpene Rocket The contract for six Scorpene submarines from M/s DCNS was signed in October 2006. All six vessels are to be built under technology transfer at the Mazagaon Docks Ltd. Project implementation is underway. The first submarine INS Kalvari was commissioned in October 2017. The robust relationship with France during Chiracs term as the prime minister and the president has grown stronger in the present times under President Macron of France and Prime Minister Modi of India and the purchase of state-of-the-art defence equipemnts- Rafale and the Scorpene rocket is a testament to our strong bond. A Madhya Pradesh doctor who treats people for a nominal fee of Rs 20 has been honoured with the Government of India's fourth highest civilian award, Padam Shri. Dr M C Dawar, 77, found a place in the Padma awards list announced on Wednesday evening on the occasion of the 74th Republic Day. For 2023, the President has approved conferment of 106 Padma Awards incl 3 duo cases. The list comprises 6 Padma Vibhushan, 9 Padma Bhushan & 91 Padma Shri. 19 awardees are women & the list also includes 2 persons from category of Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI and 7 Posthumous awardees pic.twitter.com/Gl4t6NGSzs ANI (@ANI) January 25, 2023 Dr Dawar, who examines around 200 patients per day, started treating people for Rs 2 and currently charges just Rs 20 as his fees. He was born on January 16, 1946 in Punjab, Pakistan and after the partition, he shifted to India. In 1967, he completed his MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) from Jabalpur. He has also served in the Indian Army during the Indo-Pak war in 1971 for around a year. After that, he has been providing health care services to people in Jabalpur since 1972 at a minor charge. Twitter "Hard work pays off sometimes, even if it is delayed. It is a result of that and it is the blessings of the people that I have received this award," Dr Dawar told ANI after being conferred with Padma Shri. Talking about his life experiences, he said, "There was definitely a discussion in the house about charging such a low fee, but there was no dispute about it. Our only aim was to serve the people, so that is why the fees were not increased. The basic mantra of success is if you work patiently, then you definitely get success and success is also respected." Twitter Dr Dawar's son Rishi said, "We used to think that awards are given only because of political reach, but the way the government is finding and honouring the people working on the ground, it is a very good thing and our father has received this award." "It is a matter of great pride for us, for our family and for our city," said Suchita, daughter-in-law of Dr Davar. India's top civilian award, under the three categories of Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, has been given to 106 people this year. Honoured & grateful. Thank you, GoI, for acknowledging my contributions, my passion & purpose - cinema & arts, that allowed me to contribute, not only to the film industry but also beyond. I owe this to my father: Actor Raveena Tandon (Pic: Raveena Tandon's Instagram Handle) https://t.co/2FoXnDbz6W pic.twitter.com/i7m0BJBg8T ANI (@ANI) January 25, 2023 RRR movie composer MM Keeravaani and actress Raveena Ravi Tandon are among the 91 awardees of Padma Shri. The Padma Award is one of the highest civilian awards in India, established in 1954. These awards are given to recognize exceptional achievements in various fields, such as the arts, literature, science, and public service. For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Google announced on Wednesday that it was making various changes to its Android ecosystem after strict antitrust directives were upheld against the US tech giant last week. Now, Google will allow device manufacturers in India to license individual apps for pre-installation. The company will also let users choose their default search engine. Last week, the Supreme Court upheld antitrust orders against Google after the company challenged a ruling by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). The ruling asserted that Google had been using its market position to prioritise its own services and ordered Google to make changes. Unsplash Google to make sweeping changes "Implementation of these changes across the ecosystem will be a complex process and will require significant work at our end and, in many cases, significant efforts from partners, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and developers," Google said in a blog post. Unsplash Google will also now let users choose their preferred mode of billing for apps and games starting next month. "Through user choice billing, developers can offer users the option to choose an alternative billing system alongside Google Plays billing system when purchasing in-app digital content," the post said. Also read: Explained: How Will The CCI Ruling Affect Google? Google has been pushing back against antitrust rulings in India and the world. Earlier, Google had accused the CCI of copy-pasting European Commission's landmark 2018 ruling against Google. It fined Google $4.3 billion for unlawful restriction on Android device makers and the tech giant is challenging the fine. Unsplash In October, the CCI ruled that Alphabet-owned Google exploited its market dominance, restricted device makers from pre-loading apps, and prevented users from using other search engines. A fine of $161 million (Rs. 1,300 crore) was also imposed. Unsplash Google warned the Supreme Court that this ruling would slow down the growth of Android ecosystem and that it would be forced to rework its arrangements with 1,100 device manufacturers and thousands of app developers. Also read: India's Antitrust Body Denies 'Copy-Pasting' EU's Order Against Google But the Supreme Court did not block the rulings on Google's request. "We continue to respectfully appeal certain aspects of the CCIs decisions and will champion our core principles of openness, expanding user choice, providing transparency and maintaining safety and security that have served the interests of the larger ecosystem," Google wrote. What do you think about Google's antitrust troubles in India? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com. Scientists from India and Canada recently detected a radio signal coming from a galaxy situated nearly nine billion light years away! Their findings suggest that the signal would have been emitted when the universe was just 4.9 billion-years-old, even older than our solar system that was formed about 4.5 billion years ago. According to Arnab Chakraborty, the study's co-author and a post-doctoral researcher at McGill University, the detection of this signal is "the equivalent to a look-back in time of 8.8 billion years." National Centre for Radio Astrophysics How was this signal captured? In the study, scientists outlined how researchers captured the most far-off signal ever in a specific radio wavelength known as the 21 centimetre line or the hydrogen line. This helps scientists peek into galactic structures. "A galaxy emits different kinds of radio signals," said Chakraborty. "Until now, its only been possible to capture this particular signal from a galaxy nearby, limiting our knowledge to those galaxies closer to Earth." Swadha Pardesi The distant galaxy is known as SDSSJ0826+5630. Usually, such signals are too faint to be detected by radio telescopes. It was due to a naturally-occurring phenomenon called gravitational lensing that scientists captured a faint signal from a "record-breaking distance." Also read: Strange 'Structures' Spotted In A Bright Black Hole Are Shooting Radio Emissions Nirupam Roy, the study's co-author and an associate professor of physics at the Indian Institute of Science said that "gravitational lensing magnifies the signal coming from a distant object to help us peer into the early universe." Chakraborty & Roy/NCRA-TIFR/GMRT "In this specific case, the signal is bent by the presence of another massive body, another galaxy, between the target and the observer. This effectively results in the magnification of the signal by a factor of 30, allowing the telescope to pick it up," Roy explained. Also read: New Image Shows Mysterious 'Odd Radio Circles' That Are Bigger Than Milky Way The signal was captured using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope that is situated in Maharashtra. Scientists claim that their findings prove how faint signals from faraway galaxies may be detected using low-frequency radio telescopes with the help of gravitational lensing. The findings were published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. What do you think about such stellar space discoveries? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com. January 26th is celebrated as India's Republic Day because it marks the date in 1950 when the Constitution of India came into effect, replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India and making India a republic. The Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949, and was officially implemented on January 26, 1950, with a ceremony at the Irwin Stadium, New Delhi, which was attended by dignitaries from all over the world. The Constitution Of India Unsplash The Constitution of India is a document that lays out the fundamental principles and laws of the Indian government and society. It establishes the framework for a federal system of government with a president as the head of state and a prime minister as the head of government. It also guarantees certain fundamental rights to all citizens, such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly. The Constitution of India was written by a Constituent Assembly, which was elected in 1946 by the members of the National Assembly, the lower house of the Indian Parliament. Let us do everything within our capacity to promote JUSTICE, LIBERTY,EQUALITY and FRATERNITY in the REPUBLIC OF INDIA. Happy #RepublicDay .#ConstitutionOfIndia pic.twitter.com/mfrUrnGXCG Vishnu (@MVRaoIPS) January 26, 2023 The Assembly was tasked with drafting a new constitution for India in the wake of the country's independence from British rule in 1947. The drafting process was led by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, a prominent leader of the Dalit community and a constitutional expert. The drafting of the Constitution took place over a period of three years, with numerous debates and discussions on the various provisions and articles. The Constitution was finally adopted on November 26, 1949, but it came into effect only on January 26, 1950. The day is celebrated as Republic Day in India to commemorate the coming into force of the Constitution of India. On January 26th, A Lot Of Things Happen Unsplash The main Republic Day celebration is held in the national capital, New Delhi, at the Rajpath before the President of India. On this day, a grand parade is held, which is attended by dignitaries from all over the world along with the general public. The parade begins at Rashtrapati Bhavan and proceeds to India Gate. It is a display of India's cultural and military heritage. In conclusion, January 26 was chosen as India's Republic Day because it marks the date in 1950 when the Constitution of India came into effect, replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India and making India a republic. The Constitution of India is a document that lays out the fundamental principles and laws of the Indian government and society and guarantees certain fundamental rights to all citizens. The day is celebrated as Republic Day in India to commemorate the coming into force of the Constitution of India and is celebrated with a grand parade and cultural program. What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. Interest in captives has risen sharply over the last three years, with our clients either owning, growing or looking to open a captive, said Etienne Champion, chief underwriting officer, APAC & Europe at AXA XL. They are a strategic risk management tool for our clients and an area of growth for our business. The year 2023 had just begun, and cybercriminals have wasted little time in targeting Canadian organizations in high-profile cyber incidents. Last week, Nunavuts power utility company Qulliq Energy Corporation reported that it was the target of a cyberattack that crippled its computer systems. Out of precaution, the company also advised customers to monitor their bank accounts and credit cards for any suspicious activity, and disabled credit card payments for the time being. "Unfortunately, bad actors know to target victims at their most vulnerable, such as after a storm-related loss," added King. "Beware of anyone who shows up at your home or place of business immediately after a storm. Your first call after a disaster should be to your insurance company to file a claim. Whether it's a contractor or public adjuster, do your research and verify credentials before signing any contracts or agreeing to any services." According to Zurich, the joint offering will be initially available in the US, Germany and Switzerland. It will help businesses tackle both sides of the climate challenge at the same time, by helping them to define and execute their short- and long-term climate resilience objectives, as well as their net-zero goals. It will focus on measuring physical climate risk and emissions, helping establish a strategy to reduce each, and overseeing implementation of actions that will meet local regulatory and sustainability reporting requirements. Many carriers dont have the in-house talent to do the work. So, theyre going to have to go out and seek aid from an outside commercial entity. They should have a list of things that they require from that entity before they choose to engage; otherwise, it could create a massive amount of liability, Daley said. Ive found that all my challenges and opportunities have given me a chance to get to know myself better, which is key for a leader. It has allowed me to develop into a better, more effective leader for my teams and organizations. It is fair to say I have not met a challenge or opportunity that I didnt like and, as I mentor young professionals and I learn from them, I hope to instil some of that personal fortitude and resilience to help them respond and thrive in these challenging, uncertain times. Former Munster rugby player John Kelly has been appointed as a partner in Deloittes audit and assurance practice. Based in Deloittes Cork office, John joins the firms Consumer & Technology business team, with a particular focus on privately-owned businesses in the Munster region. John said: As the reporting requirements of businesses continue to evolve, Im excited to be re-joining the worlds largest professional services firm to support local and international clients with their complex accounting matters. The scale and breadth of Deloittes clients in the Munster region is hugely impressive and I look forward to engaging with locally based businesses to support them with their accounting needs. John brings a wealth of experience to his role supporting large privately owned businesses in a wide range of sectors including manufacturing, pharmaceutical, retail and not-for-profit. John has more than 15 years experience providing audit and advisory services to both international and local companies, including five years spent as part of Deloittes Audit & Assurance team where he was focused primarily on privately held companies. He also spent time working in an industry role in controllership, project management and technical accounting. Johns appointment to partnership also comes after a 10-year career as a professional rugby player, representing Munster and Ireland. He has also held a voluntary role as the chair of Munster Rugbys professional game board, a group with oversight of the strategy and development of professional rugby in the province. He is a member of CPA Ireland and holds and B Eng in Civil Engineering and a H Dip in Applied Science. Hundreds of climate and environmental groups have criticised the nomination of an oil executive to oversee the United Nations climate negotiations at Cop28 this year. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), host of the UN climate talks this year, named Sultan al-Jaber to the presidency of the conference from November 30 to December 12. The company he runs as chief executive, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, produces four million barrels of crude oil per day and hopes to expand to five million daily by the end of the decade. Revenues generated from the sale of that oil are critical to the economic health of the UAE, which is among the worlds top 10 oil producers. There is no honour in appointing a fossil fuel executive who profits immensely off of fuelling the climate crisis to oversee the global response to climate change And the burning of that oil creates carbon dioxide emissions while the climate crisis is worsening. Activists said the selection of Mr al-Jaber threatens the legitimacy and efficacy of the conference. There is no honour in appointing a fossil fuel executive who profits immensely off of fuelling the climate crisis, to oversee the global response to climate change, read the letter to UN officials. The letter goes on to say the nomination of an oil executive to oversee the climate talks exemplifies the influence that fossil fuel companies have over international climate policy. Some of the worlds largest environmental and climate action groups, such as 350.org, Friends of the Earth International and Greenpeace, signed the letter, along with five of the nine coalitions of non-governmental organisations that represent different sectors of the global population at the climate talks. The groups said leadership of the climate talks must be free of fossil fuel influence. In addition, they demanded fossil fuel companies be excluded from sponsorships, partnerships and rule-making processes at the conference and that it needs to focus on those most affected by climate change in the negotiations and solutions. Before the letter, several others had weighed in on the nomination of Mr al-Jaber. John Kerry, the United States climate envoy, backed the nomination. Former US vice president and climate leader Al Gore criticised the selection of Mr al-Jaber during the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this month. Activists with the youth climate action group Fridays for Future also voiced their unhappiness with the move while in Davos. Burma 18 Myanmar Junta Officials Defect in Gangaw The entrance to the town of Gangaw in Magwe Region. / CJ Eighteen civil servants working for the military regime in Gangaw Township, Magwe Region have defected to the Peoples Administration body under Myanmars civilian National Unity Government (NUG), the administration said on Tuesday. The mass defections came five months after the Gangaw Peoples Administration announced it was running the townships governing and judicial processes effectively and urged all government staff working for the regime to switch sides. The administration also warned it would take severe action against any government servants who threatened former civil servants who have joined the nationwide Civil Disobedience Movement by refusing to work for the junta. On Tuesday, 17 staff from the junta-run township education department and a clerk from its general administration department defected, the Peoples Administration said. Around 70 to 80 percent of judges, police, firefighters and government administrators resigned their posts in Gangaw in late 2021 after the anti-regime Yaw Defense Force (YDF) told junta-controlled staff to quit. In early 2022, Magwe Regions junta-appointed cabinet admitted the regime had almost lost control in six of the regions 25 townships due to the attacks by anti-regime Peoples Defense Forces. Regional security minister Colonel Kyaw Kyaw Lin also confessed in 2022 that the junta administration had broken down in Gangaw District since July 2021 when the PDFs emerged. Burma Myanmar Junta Forces Raid Charity Clinic, Detain Founding Monk Patients are seen at the Shwe Taung Myittar clinic last year. / CJ Regime troops have raided the Shwe Taung Myittar philanthropic clinic in Monywa Township, Sagaing Region and arrested the founding Buddhist monk for employing striking medics. Around 15 soldiers arriving in two vehicles on Sunday raided the clinic at the Pyi Lone Chan Thar Buddhist monastery looking to arrest doctors and a nurse participating in the anti-regime Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), according to Monywa residents. The locals said the charity clinic treat treats around 200 patients a day, most of them pregnant women. Some patients and the CDM medics managed to escape the raid, which followed two raids in December. First, the abbot of the Pyi Lone Chan Thar monastery was arrested. The soldiers came back at the afternoon in two vehicles to destroy and seize clinic materials. They stopped pedestrians and forced them to carry beds from the clinic to [the juntas] vehicles, a resident told The Irrawaddy. Four days since his arrest, the fate of the monk remains unknown. Not only Monywa residents, but also patients from nearby villages relied on the Shwe Taung Myittar philanthropic clinic. There are a lot of pregnant women who were planning to deliver their children at the Shwe Taung Myittar clinic. I feel so sorry for them, a pregnant woman from Monywa said. The abbot formed the clinic many years ago for patients who cant afford health services, according to a charity worker in Monywa. With such a clinic suddenly being raided and closed, the patients who rely on it face many hardships, he told The Irrawaddy. Regime troops raided the Shwe Taw Win Private Hospital in Monywa on the same day and arrested the head of the hospital and two health workers. The two raids occurred just days after pro-junta agitators urged via the social media app Telegram that CDM medics at the clinic and private hospital be arrested. The CDM movement has dealt a major blow to the regimes efforts to exert control over the country since the coup last year, with the state healthcare sector hobbled by a large number of striking employees. Junta officials have frequently carried out surprise checks on private hospitals in cities to see if they are employing striking government health workers. The regime forced five private hospitals in Mandalay to close in late December, claiming they employed CDM staff. Burma Myanmar Junta Hits EV Accelerator Amid Rolling Power Outages Electricity-vehicle charging points. Amid frequent power outages across the country since late 2021 following the coup earlier that year, Myanmars military regime is working to build charging stations in the administrative capital of Naypyitaw and along Yangon-Mandalay Highway. The junta-controlled Electricity Ministrys electric-vehicle committee has informed 38 filling stations along the highway to contact a local company called Grand Sirius if they want to run a charging station on their premises. However, the majority of fuel suppliers have no interest in operating charging stations, according to fuel importers interviewed by The Irrawaddy. A senior official from a local fuel company said: It would be a hassle for filling stations as they were not designed for that service when they were built. Filling stations will make it happen because they are being held at gunpoint. But they will only do it for show. The plan is not practical because filling stations currently have to operate with generators for hours per day as the regime cant supply electricity round the clock. The regime has notified petrol stations that Grand Sirius is selling 60kW charging facilities manufactured by Chinas Linkcharging Technology. Grand Sirius signed a deal with Chinas Hozon Auto in September to manufacture NETA electric vehicles (EVs) and provide services in Myanmar. The Irrawaddy contacted Grand Sirius for details about the deal but got no response. One auto dealer, commenting on condition of anonymity, said: In other countries, electric vehicles are promoted to reduce fuel consumption. But here, we dont have a regular supply of electricity even in the cold season [when hydropower dams that are Myanmars main source of electricity should be replenished by the rainy season]. If we would need to use more energy for those electric vehicles, then this system is meaningless. The commercial capital Yangon and the second city of Mandalay are still suffering rolling blackouts, while the picture in other parts of the country is even worse. Meanwhile the regime is busy importing EVs before the infrastructure to support them has been built in Myanmar. And it wont be able to provide the specific voltage needed for charging stations, the auto dealer added. Electric vehicles have become popular internationally because they dont require fuel and they emit no or little pollution. In its bid to promote their use in Myanmar, the regime has waived import tax on electric trucks, cars, three-wheelers, motorbikes and spare parts until the end of fiscal 2022-23 in March. The regime has issued EV import licenses to nine companies, to replace conventional-fuel taxi and public transport fleets, according to local car dealers. However, it has not released the names of those companies. Considering the power outages, [the regime] should have also exempted import tax on trailers, so electric vehicle owners can tow generators and charge as they drive, a fuel supplier remarked sarcastically. Despite the blackouts, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing likes to talk about running electric buses and subways in meetings on the economy. Japans Nissan, a couple of Chinese companies and local firm Khaing Kahing Sangda currently manufacture and/or sell EVs in Myanmar. Myanmar recently received its first batch of 40 EVs from China, junta-controlled newspapers reported on Wednesday. Chin Dwin Shan Co will run 10 electric taxi cabs based at Yangon International Airport, while NPK Motors will run 10 electric cabs at Naypyitaws Thabyaygon Market. The cab companies have chosen the e2 model manufactured by Xian-based BYD. The two taxi firms were the first to import electric vehicles after the regime granted import licenses to 26 companies. Burma Myanmar Junta Troops Detain Eight Displaced Villagers During Sagaing Raids More than 80 villages in Sagaings Taze have been hit by junta arson attacks since the 2021 coup. / TSO Junta troops detained eight displaced people including a woman in northern Taze in Sagaing Region on Monday. The eight remain in military custody. Four men and one woman from Falan Chaing Village and three men from Ywathit Village were arrested when junta troops raided their villages. They had been living in makeshift tents in farms near their villages since fleeing previous raids. We havent heard anything about them since their detention. We are concerned for their safety, one resident told The Irrawaddy. Around 100 junta troops from Kale-based Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 361, Homalin-based LIB 369 and local pro-regime Pyu Saw Htee militias from Taze Township raided Falan Chaing and Ywathit villages on Monday. One displaced resident from Ywathit Village said: They opened fire on displaced people. So we fled for our lives leaving behind our farm huts. They set fire to three huts along with motorbikes, utensils and food. Troops from three LIBs as well as Pyu Saw Htee militias have been raiding villages in Kantbalu, Taze, Ye-U and Kyunhla townships. In previous raids, junta troops returned to their bases after raiding villages. But since the second week of December, junta troops have been stationed in villages of Pyu Saw Htee strongholds, from where they raid surrounding villages, according to local revolutionary forces. A member of Taze Township Peoples Defense Force said: Junta troops and Pyu Saw Htee militias have been raiding villages in Kantbalu, Taze and Kyunhla townships. Previously, they would retreat after raiding villages. But since the second week of December, they have changed their tactics with some stationed in villages and some moving around. They would raid villages in northern Taze every few days. So, it is important for locals to avoid routes on which they might encounter junta troops. Junta troops have been deployed at an intersection near the border of Kantbalu, Taze and Ye-U townships for a month. The outpost is fortified with trenches and bunkers made out of sandbags. They raided two villages on Wednesday. As of Jan. 1, a total of 3,474 houses had been torched in 83 villages in Taze and 299 others destroyed since the coup in February 2021. Nine religious buildings, a school and a clinic were also torched, according to the civilian Peoples Authority of Taze Township. The juntas arson attacks have left 15,630 people homeless while 18,000 displaced civilians still cant return to their homes. Burma Myanmar UN Ambassador Demands International Intervention to Protect Civilians from Junta Atrocities Myanmar's UN ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun. Myanmars ambassador to the United Nations U Kyaw Moe Tun has told the global body to uphold the responsibility to protect principle and ensure accountability for atrocities committed by the junta. Since crackdowns on peaceful protesters after the 2021 coup, Myanmar has asked the UN to apply the principle to stop the junta killing civilians and help those affected by massacres, war crimes, airstrikes and arson attacks. Speaking at a special UN meeting to prevent genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity on Tuesday, U Kyaw Moe Tun said it was regrettable that earlier calls for the UN to exercise the principle and no-fly zone were ignored. He said the global body should speak with a single voice, uphold the responsibility to protect and act collectively, using all tools to prevent junta atrocities and end the cycle of impunity. Referring to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres comments on November 12 that the international community had failed Myanmar, U Kyaw Moe Tun said: We are hopeful that with decisive and timely action from the UN, the secretary general doesnt need to repeat [his apology] this year. U Kyaw Moe Tun said creating an elected government that controlled a professional military and ended impunity would stop the atrocities. Since the 2021 coup, the junta has killed at least 2,827 people and detained more than 17,400, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a human rights group tracking the regime. Junta airstrikes had killed at least 155 civilians by November and injured around 190. In a speech at the UN in 2021, U Kyaw Moe Tun rejected military rule and pledged his loyalty to the ousted National League for Democracy government and has since represented the civilian National Unity Government. The junta has tried unsuccessfully to replace him and there was a reported assassination attempt which resulted in FBI arrests. Burma Resistance and Myanmar Junta Deaths Reported in Sagaing Fighting -- At least 15 Myanmar junta troops and six resistance fighters have been killed in five days of clashes in Wetlet Township, Sagaing Region, according to the Peoples Army to Fight Dictatorship (PAFD) resistance group. Clashes broke in and around Wetlet town on January 20 with the PAFD and allied groups occupying junta-controlled government offices for several days, a PAFD representative told The Irrawaddy on Thursday. After a series of rural clashes, resistance fighters raided the Irrigation and Water Resources Department and Electric Power Corporation offices in Wetlet on Monday and Tuesday. Junta troops responded by burning down villages in the township, the group said. Between Monday and Wednesday, more than 60 Wetlet-based troops torched hundreds of houses in three villages, according to the Wetlet True News site that reports on regime activity. On Wednesday, PAFD fighters were ambushed by regime troops while heading to Hmue Gyi village to put out fires after a junta raid. Six resistance fighters were killed, two injured and two detained by regime forces, the group said. A pro-regime Telegram channel reported that the bodies of five resistance fighters were seized along with homemade bombs and a vehicle in the shootout near Mhue Gyi. Our forces traveled to Hmue Gyi to put out the fire after receiving a report that regime forces had left the village. But we were ambushed at the village, the PAFD representative said. After the ambush, resistance forces retreated from Wetlet town, the PAFD said. 2022 had proven challenging for Australia, with economic turmoil and market volatility in the face of supply chain issues, political conflicts, and talent acquisition and retention difficulties, according to robotic process auttomation provider SS&C Blue Prism. SS&C Blue Prism says organisation leaders should prepare for challenges around procuring talent, building the right flexible workplace culture, and delivering operational resilience. To help organisations achieve IA success, leaders from the global SS&C Blue Prism team predict the following trends will become key priorities in 2023: 1 What building the right workplace culture could look like in 2023 Organisational culture plays a critical role in the success of any digital transformation initiative. Workers are the heart of an organisation, so without their buy in, no digital transformation initiative stands a chance of success. Workers drive home business objectives, and when it comes to digital transformation, they are the ones using, implementing, and sometimes building automations. Curiosity, innovation, and the willingness to take risks are essential ingredients to transformative digitalisation, as labor supply issues are predicted to continue into 2023 and beyond. 1 Unified workforces: The rise of human-digital collaboration For all companies to leverage AI in 2023, the rise of human and digital worker collaboration is vital for a successful outcome. AIs increasing prominence in all workspaces will mean human-digital collaboration will take center stage. When AI is combined with the application of RPA and business process management (BPM), workflows are transformed as human and digital workers collaborate, serving complementary roles. Organisations can map out and manage end-to-end processes using BPM, with AI-driven RPA executing routine tasks along the way, while humans focus on complex or out-of-the-ordinary tasks. A seamless blend of the human and digital workforce will become more of a reality, as organisations continue realising more of the tangible benefits of this transformative approach. The federal government in Australia now estimates that 87% of todays jobs require digital literacy and 250,000 new jobs are going to be created in the coming years thanks to automation. 1. Growing demands will make smart CX a key priority area In order for organisations to be the top competitors in the market space for 2023, the growing customer demand for better customer experience must be met. Driven largely by the pandemic, which forced many organisations to ramp up their digital transformations and give CX a digital-first focus. In 2022, customer experience (CX) was the fastest-growing priority area for customer care leaders. Going into 2023, not only will this continue, but it will also push the need for digitalisation to meet the growing demands and expectations of customers who will expect high levels of convenience and personalisation, all of which can only be delivered with the support of AI, ML, and data analytics. 1. Federated development as the operational standard A robust operating model that can facilitate digitalisation through citizen development and federated development is a big prediction for 2023, amid a lack of resources. According to the Equinix 2022 Global Tech Trends, 65% of Australian IT decision makers think that their main business threat is the current talent shortage. Intelligent automation has become imperative for businesses long-term viability. However, skills gaps and difficulties with talent acquisition, including attracting talent and increasing costs for highly skilled technologists, have made it a struggle to gain the full benefits of digital transformation. 1. IA integration to unlock untapped value One of the biggest obstacles organisations have observed in their digital transformation journeys is a lack of coordination, leading to haphazard development and siloed data. This prevents IA from being integrated throughout the organisation across departments, processes, and tasks. Going into 2023 you can expect an increase in demand for platforms that offer a comprehensive portfolio of advanced technologies that enable streamlined integration. Departments will no longer only have ownership over one advanced technology, instead, IA platforms will be used like a toolbox using the best tool or tools for a given situation. Integration will also enable workers to have access to the right data when they need it, thanks to cross-departmental barriers being broken down. Integration is essential to effective digitalisation, so with this trend we will see new levels of value, efficiency, and productivity unleashed. 1. Mass adoption of cloud-enabled technologies The rise of cloud- enabled technologies is an important prediction that will grow long into Australias technological future. Traditional financial players in particular are widely positioned to embrace the benefits of cloud tech in 2023. Increasing competition from the rise of fintech and challenger banks along with the growth of remote operations, have made cloud-enabled technologies essential in this sector. The agility, scalability, and reduced costs are another key draw going into 2023, amid financial volatility and ever-changing consumer preferences and demands. So, expect some cloudy days in 2023. 1. The growth of organized citizen development and flexible demands 2023 is the time to refocus and reset the way of working to focus on the amazing tasks humans can perform and the agility, resilience, and sustainability they can bring to more fulfilling roles. Many businesses are looking for ways to democratise development and create automation-enabled workflows. With just a bit of training, business users or technologists employees that use tech or analytics skills outside of the IT team can build applications that drive productivity. Employers must additionally meet the flexible demands of employees. However, there are no flexible demands from customers. Therefore, employees must reach a balance to exceed the high levels of customer service for 2023. 1. Generative AI driving forward digital-first operations The next big shift in artificial intelligence a component of IA is undoubtedly generative AI. In the last 12 months alone, we have seen extraordinary advancements in AIs ability to turn text intoalmost anything. We have seen AI generate images, code, and even applications from text. With these developments, we can say that text to automation, using generative AI is just around the corner, with the first commercially available offering to appear on the market in 2023. Welcome to the age of AI-developed digital transformation, it will be as simple as saying, Computer, automate this task for me. 9. Resilience and agility rather than transformation The economic gloom experienced in 2022 is, unfortunately, predicted by many to carry on well into 2023. As companies prepare, they will focus on automation efforts that drive resilience and agility, rather than transformation. Businesses will improve what they have increasing utilisation rates, bettering processes, and procedures. Organisations will also focus on how to keep costs down, whilst tackling high levels of inflation. These initiatives sound simple, but they will have big impacts and pave the way for more effective transformation down the road. Businesses will utilise the power of data to ensure the processes that they do automate are going to produce the best results, this process mining will be an integral part of automation efforts in 2023. Ensuring the federated model and organised citizen development are carried out well will foster greater efficiency in the volatile market. 2023 will be the year of quality over quantity, which will equip organisations with resilience, and set them up for long-term success. Manufacturers of chip-making equipment ASML has defied US bans on chip technology eports to china, according to data and analytics company GlobalData. Josep Bori, Thematic Research Director at GlobalData says that ASMLs Q4 2022 results are very strong, particularly considering the headwinds caused by the US ban on chip technology exports to China and softening consumer demand. With revenue growth reaccelerating in Q4 and a confident 2023 outlook, the company remains very well positioned. Its extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) machines, capable of manufacturing the smallest chips (i.e., 7, 5, and soon 3nanometer nodes), accounted for 49% of total system sales in Q4, just shy of Q3. Encouragingly, all five of its EUV customers have already placed orders for the most advanced High NA product offerings. While the quarterly decline in net bookings could be a concern, these are notoriously volatile and, on a yearly basis, were up 17%. ASMLs manufacturing technology leadership places it front and center of any countrys artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, as advanced AI chips require this miniaturisation level. GlobalData report, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Thematic Research, predicts that the accelerating adoption of AI in commercial and military use cases will drive the global AI chips revenue at a compound annual growth rate of 30% from $12 billion in 2021 to $130 billion in 2030. The managements outlook statement noted that customers expect a market rebound in the second half of 2023, so orders remain strong. Their description of the macroeconomic backdrop as uncertainty caused by a risk of recession suggests confidence levels are higher than at the end of last year when a recession was seen as inevitable. If the second half of 2023 sees a market rebound, ASML and TSMC will have weathered this downturn considerably better than the broader sector strengthening their position as top-quality semiconductor stocks in investors minds. That said, investors confidence in ASMLs ability to deliver on its 2023 outlook will hinge on two factors: potential escalation of the US/China trade dispute and the Dutch vendor's willingness to challenge US export bans. The management has been very vocal recently, specifically highlighting the uneven impact of the China export bans on ASML versus its US peers, such as Applied Materials, Lam Research, and KLA. However, ASMLs compliance is not merely a matter of goodwill due to political pressure. The US has full jurisdiction over ASMLs San Diego subsidiary Cymerthe sole intellectual property (IP) owner and manufacturer of critical component, laser produced plasma (LPP) EUV lithography light source which means that Washington effectively holds the nuclear button. The US can significantly disrupt ASMLs EUV business if it does not comply with the export bans. Further, the impacts of such a scenario would not only affect ASMLs business in Chinaeven if de minimis rules may pose some complications. From a broader sector perspective, the fundamental question in the coming months is how sustainable is the compliance of ASML, TSMC, Samsung, and Canon to expanding US restrictions on the export of advanced chips and tools to China. Remaining neutral will become increasingly difficult for companies based in Taiwan, South Korea, the Netherlands, or Japan, despite the significant economic costs of not doing so. The US export bans on chip technology transcends the semiconductor industry. In GlobalDatas view, this is about AI dominance, which underpins what many call the fifth industrial revolution, and, ultimately, about global economic leadership in the next few decades. This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. Norwegian police said Wednesday they had released a man claiming to be a former member of Russian mercenary group Wagner, who fled to Norway nearly a fortnight ago. Andrei Medvedev, 26, crossed the Russian-Norwegian border in the country's far north in the early hours of January 13 and sought asylum in the Scandinavian country. He was arrested on Sunday for refusing to follow restrictions imposed by police since his arrival in the country, according to his lawyer. On Wednesday, immigration police released Medvedev from the Trandum immigration detention centre "on condition that he stays in a specific place," Jon Andreas Johansen, a police official in charge of immigration affairs, told AFP in an email. Medvedev claims to have fought in Ukraine as a member of Wagner for four months before deserting in November, when the paramilitary organisation led by businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin allegedly extended his contract against his will. A potentially valuable witness in shedding light on the group's reported brutality in Ukraine, Medvedev -- who claims to have witnessed executions of other members for refusing to fight -- has been questioned by Norwegian authorities since arriving in the country. Many questions remain about Medvedev's past and the circumstances of his escape, with some experts saying he could not have crossed the heavily guarded border without assistance. He claims to have dashed across the frozen Pasvik river that marks part of the Russian-Norwegian border while being chased by attack dogs and Russian border guards, who fired at him. AFP has not been able to independently confirm his account of events. Since his arrival in Norway, Medvedev has been interviewed as a "witness" by Norway's Criminal Investigation Service (Kripos), which is part of the international investigation into war crimes in Ukraine. "He said earlier that he had been a member of the Wagner group, and it is interesting for Kripos to gather more information about this period," the organisation said. Both police and his lawyer have ruled out deportation to Russia. In an interview with the rights group Gulagu.net, the ex-mercenary said this week that he feared for his life if he were to be sent back to his country. President Vladimir Putin launched the biggest attack on a European country since World War II when he ordered Russian troops to invade Ukraine on February 24. Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the 11-month-old war, which looked set to enter a new stage on Wednesday with Germany's decision to send Kyiv some of its powerful Leopard tanks. Here is a timeline of the main developments: - February 2022: invasion - Putin announces a "special military operation" in Ukraine on February 24, saying he wants to demilitarise and "de-Nazify" the country as well as protect the predominantly Russian-speaking east from "genocide". A full-scale invasion starts, with missile strikes on several Ukrainian cities that sparks a refugee crisis. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stays in the capital Kyiv to lead the resistance. The West imposes unprecedented sanctions on Russia and the European Union and United States send Ukraine weapons and aid. - March: advances in south but Kyiv holds - Russian forces make gains in the south, seizing the city of Kherson, close to the Russian-annexed Crimea peninsula. Russian forces also attempt to surround Kyiv and take Ukraine's second city of Kharkiv in the northeast but meet fierce resistance. A month into the fighting, Russia withdraws from the north to focus on the eastern industrial Donbas region, partly held by Russian-backed separatists, along with the south. - April: war crimes revealed - In early April, AFP discovers the bodies of at least 20 civilians lying on a single street in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha -- the first of several grisly discoveries in towns that Russian forces had occupied which spark an international outcry and war crimes investigations. - May: Mariupol falls - On May 21, Russia announces the fall of the southeastern port city of Mariupol, which had been relentlessly bombed, after the last Ukrainian troops holding out at a steelworks surrender. Sweden and Finland request membership of NATO, fearing they could be future targets of Russian aggression. - June: Donbas battle rages - In June, Russia takes the Donbas city of Severodonetsk after one of the bloodiest battles of the war, followed soon after by the neighbouring city of Lysychansk. - July: gas supplies cut - On July 22, Kyiv and Moscow sign a deal to resume grain exports from Ukraine, in a bid to relieve a food crisis aggravated by Russia's blockade of the country's ports. Russian gas giant Gazprom slashes its supply to Europe through the Nord Stream pipeline, fuelling fears of gas shortages in Europe. - August: battle for Bakhmut - Kyiv launches a major offensive to retake Kherson as a major battle begins for the eastern town of Bakhmut, spearheaded on the Russian side by the Wagner mercenary group. - September: annexation - Ukraine retakes hundreds of towns and villages in a lightning counter-offensive around Kharkiv. Putin launches a partial draft of 300,000 reservists, sparking an exodus of young Russian men of military age. On September 30, he formally annexes the Ukrainian regions of Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. - October: power supply hit - On October 8, Ukrainians celebrate after an explosion causes major damage to a bridge linking Crimea to the Russian mainland -- a symbol of Moscow's annexation of the peninsula. Putin blames Ukrainian secret services for the attack. Russian forces retaliate with a barrage of strikes on energy infrastructure in Kyiv and other cities, leaving millions without power in what becomes its new modus operandi throughout the winter. - November: retreat from Kherson - On November 9, Moscow orders its troops to retreat from Kherson in the face of advancing Ukrainian forces, marking a stunning defeat in one of the regions it annexed. Jubilant residents hail Ukrainian forces as liberators. - December: Zelensky goes to Washington - On December 22, Zelensky visits Washington on his first overseas trip since the war began. He keeps on his trademark fatigues for a meeting with President Joe Biden and a historic address to Congress. - January 2023: tanks on the way - Russia suffers its biggest single loss of life since the invasion in a Ukrainian attack on a temporary base in eastern town of Makiivka on January 1. Moscow says 89 soldiers were killed in the hit which leads to rare displays of public grief in Russia. On January 25, after multiple appeals from Zelensky, Germany finally agrees to send Ukraine some of its powerful Leopard tanks and to allow other countries to also send some of their stocks. On the same day Ukraine admits to AFP that it has pulled out of Soledar near Bakhmut, two weeks after Russia announced it had 'liberated' the mining town. doc-cb/jmy/yad APRIL GAZPROM President Vladimir Putin launched the biggest attack on a European country since World War II when he ordered Russian troops to invade Ukraine on February 24. Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the 11-month-old war, which looked set to enter a new stage on Wednesday with Germany and the United States's decision to send Kyiv powerful tanks. Here is a timeline of the main developments: - February 2022: invasion - Putin announces a "special military operation" in Ukraine on February 24, saying he wants to demilitarise and "de-Nazify" the country as well as protect the predominantly Russian-speaking east from "genocide". A full-scale invasion starts, with missile strikes on several Ukrainian cities that sparks a refugee crisis. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stays in the capital Kyiv to lead the resistance. The West imposes unprecedented sanctions on Russia and the European Union and United States send Ukraine weapons and aid. - March: advances in south but Kyiv holds - Russian forces make gains in the south, seizing the city of Kherson, close to the Russian-annexed Crimea peninsula. Russian forces also attempt to surround Kyiv and take Ukraine's second city of Kharkiv in the northeast but meet fierce resistance. A month into the fighting, Russia withdraws from the north to focus on the eastern industrial Donbas region, partly held by Russian-backed separatists, along with the south. - April: war crimes revealed - In early April, AFP discovers the bodies of at least 20 civilians lying on a single street in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha -- the first of several grisly discoveries in towns that Russian forces had occupied which spark an international outcry and war crimes investigations. - May: Mariupol falls - On May 21, Russia announces the fall of the southeastern port city of Mariupol, which had been relentlessly bombed, after the last Ukrainian troops holding out at a steelworks surrender. Sweden and Finland request membership of NATO, fearing they could be future targets of Russian aggression. - June: Donbas battle rages - In June, Russia takes the Donbas city of Severodonetsk after one of the bloodiest battles of the war, followed soon after by the neighbouring city of Lysychansk. - July: gas supplies cut - On July 22, Kyiv and Moscow sign a deal to resume grain exports from Ukraine, in a bid to relieve a food crisis aggravated by Russia's blockade of the country's ports. Russian gas giant Gazprom slashes its supply to Europe through the Nord Stream pipeline, fuelling fears of gas shortages in Europe. - August: battle for Bakhmut - Kyiv launches a major offensive to retake Kherson as a major battle begins for the eastern town of Bakhmut, spearheaded on the Russian side by the Wagner mercenary group. - September: annexation - Ukraine retakes hundreds of towns and villages in a lightning counter-offensive around Kharkiv. Putin launches a partial draft of 300,000 reservists, sparking an exodus of young Russian men of military age. On September 30, he formally annexes the Ukrainian regions of Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. - October: power supply hit - On October 8, an explosion causes major damage to a bridge linking Crimea to the Russian mainland -- a symbol of Moscow's annexation of the peninsula. Putin blames Ukrainian secret services for the attack. Russian forces retaliate with a barrage of strikes on energy infrastructure in Kyiv and other cities, leaving millions without power in what becomes its new modus operandi throughout the winter. - November: retreat from Kherson - On November 9, Moscow orders its troops to retreat from Kherson in the face of advancing Ukrainian forces, marking a stunning defeat in one of the regions it annexed. Jubilant residents hail Ukrainian forces as liberators. - December: Zelensky goes to Washington - On December 22, Zelensky visits Washington on his first overseas trip since the war began. He meets President Joe Biden and addresses Congress. - January 2023: tanks on the way - Russia suffers its biggest single loss of life since the invasion in a Ukrainian attack on a temporary base in the eastern town of Makiivka on January 1. Moscow says 89 soldiers were killed in the hit. On January 25, Germany finally agrees to send Ukraine some of its powerful Leopard tanks. Moscow's ambassador to Germany, Sergei Nechaev, warns that the "extremely dangerous decision takes the conflict to a new level of confrontation." The United States follows, announcing that it will provide 31 Abrams tanks. Biden says the delivery poses no "offensive" threat to Russia. Norway also says it will send Leopard 2 battle tanks. The Ukrainian presidency says the Western tanks "will determine our future victory". On the same day, Ukraine admits to AFP that it has pulled out of Soledar near Bakhmut, two weeks after Russia announced it had "liberated" the mining town. doc-cb/jmy/mw/kjm APRIL GAZPROM Go Yoon Jung continues to show her great improvement in acting through her works; from "Law School" to "Sweet Home" and most recently, "Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow." After the success of the fantasy series, Go Yoon Jung focuses on her forthcoming works this 2023. Here's where to see more of the breakthrough star of the year! Go Yoon Jung Returns With New Fantasy Series Through the work "Alchemy of Souls," Go Yoon Jung has cemented her name as one of the most promising stars in the industry today. She has also gained a huge cult following from different parts of the world. At the moment, Go Yoon Jung has a whopping 4.1 million followers on her personal Instagram account. With the success of the drama, many fans couldn't wait to see more of the actress on the screen this 2023. Luckily, Go Yoon Jung is making her return to the small screen with Disney+ drama "Moving," which tells the supernatural phenomena of three high school students and their parents who discover their own super powers. Though it's a work that didn't cast Go Yoon Jung in the main ensemble, the actress still couldn't let the opportunity go. In the series, Go Yoon Jung plays the role of Ryu Seung Ryong's daughter. The two of them possess the ability to feel absolutely no pain. Apart from that, Han Hyo Joo, Jo In Sung, Cha Tae Hyun and more are also present in the forthcoming work. "Moving" is currently in its post production process and it is slated to air its 20 episodes in the second half of 2023 on Disney+! Go Yoon Jung's 'Hunt,' 'Sweet Home' and Other Works While the actress starred in many works like "Law School" and "He Is Psychometric," the A-lister works "Hunt" and "Sweet Home" remain as Go Yoon Jung's most notable works. Led by Song Kang, "Sweet Home" depicts the mystery that takes place inside an apartment, which houses different people with different monsters to hide. In the series, Go Yoon Jung plays the role of a medical practitioner; a strong woman who puts others first before herself. On the other hand, the rising actress made her Cannes debut with the Lee Jung Jae-directed film "Hunt" in 2022. Set in 1980, the film depicts the gravity-defying stories of spies who were deployed to North Korea whilst hunting down the mole inside their base. The film was led by real life best friends Lee Jung Jae and Jung Woo Sung. In the film, Go Yoon Jung transformed into a college student under Lee Jung Jae's protection. Have you seen Go Yoon Jung's previous works? Are you excited to see the premiere of "Moving"? Tell us what you think in the comments below! KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Lee Sung Min dishes on his experience filming "Reborn Rich," especially the most talked-about the episode when he and Song Joong Ki were in a car crash as well as the delirium scene. Moreover, the veteran actor talks about the highlight of his marriage and having a daughter. The 54-year-old actor gained the viewers' attention after landing the role of Jin Yang Chul in "Reborn Rich." In the hit JTBC series, Lee Sung Min's character is the founder of one of Korea's leading conglomerates, Sunyang Group. He is also Song Joong Ki's grandfather as the Hallyu star plays the third-generation chaebol, Jin Do Joon. During the drama's broadcast, viewers are hooked on the story, especially the connection between Jin Yang Chil and Jin Do Joon. Lee Sung Min also received massive praise for his amazing portrayal of the Sunyang founder. During his guest appearance in "You Quiz on the Block," the veteran actor spoke about two particular scenes in "Reborn Rich." Lee Sung Min Reveals What Really Happened During the Car Crash, Delirium Scene When asked by Yoo Jae Suk if he predicted "Reborn Rich's" huge success, the veteran actor said that he didn't expect the reaction of the viewers. However, his main focus was to perfectly play the character who is much older than he is. The host also brought up the iconic car scene and when Jin Yang Chul had delirium. Lee Sung Min then revealed he was filming another project at the time he is set to shoot the delirium scene. As for the car crash scene, the actor said that CGI helped them enhance the scene to make it believable. "The car accident scene was actually filmed with the car parked and was retouched using CG. Song Joong Ki and I just shook our bodies back and forth and glass pieces were thrown at us," he said. To recall, the said scene was when Chairman Jin Yang Chul is set to announce that his grandson, Jin Do Joon, will run one of the conglomerate's biggest departments. However, one of their family members planned their assassination. Jin Yang Chul was able to survive the car crash, but encountered a major health problem after being diagnosed with delirium. Lee Sung Min Shares Struggle During His Early Stage of Marriage He might be one of South Korea's top stars but Lee Sung Min had his fair share of struggles during the early stage of his career and marriage. He revealed that his wife was the first one who asked him out on a date, adding that he was very "thankful how she pulled through for 10 years" until they were able to live decently. Lee Sung Min also talked about the struggles of pursuing his acting career and at the same time building his own family. "We couldn't afford to go on a honeymoon, so we got married in Daegu and went to Gyeongju for our honeymoon," he said, adding that they had their child during their honeymoon. "But we couldn't afford to be happy," he said. He also revealed that they had no money. "Even though we could endure the difficulties, we couldn't make the child suffer," Lee Sung Min furthered, expressing his disappointment at the time. Now, he is among the respected actors in both K-dramas and movies, and also set to star in multiple projects this 2023. KDramastars owns this article Written by Geca Wills Han Ga In recalls the time she starred in "The Moon Embracing the Sun" and played Kim Soo Hyun's lover. The novel-based K-drama was a huge hit in 2012 as it depicts a love story between the ruler of Joseon, King Lee Hwon, played by Kim Soo Hyun, and a female shaman named Wol, portrayed by Han Ga In. After 11 years since it aired, the actress took a trip down memory lane and spoke about what it's like to work with Kim Soo Hyun. Han Ga In Hesitant to Play Kim Soo Hyun's Loveline in 'Moon Embracing the Sun' Because of Their Age Gap While Han Ga In was dubbed as the "Queen of Ratings" at the time, due to soaring viewership of "Moon Embracing Sun" and even landed as one of the most-watched K-dramas of the year, the actress once confessed that she had doubts to accept the offer. As obtained by a media outlet, during her guest appearance in "Radio Star" the South Korean beauty says that she is "worried" to star alongside Kim Soo Hyun and play as his lover. "'I'm way older than Kim Soo Hyun.' He's six or seven years younger than me," she says, explaining the reason why she was hesitant to be his leading lady. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Kim Soo Hyun's Fan Meeting Reportedly the 'Most Expensive' Among Hallyu Stars For THIS Reason Besides their huge age gap, Han Ga In also talked about the difference between their image. At the time, she was married to actor Yeon Jung Hoon who is also her co-star in the 2003 K-drama "Yellow Handkerchief." On the other hand, Kim Soo Hyun was a rising star back then and had wrapped up his hit K-drama "Dream High" where he plays a high school student alongside Bae Suzy, IU, Ok Taec Yeon, and more. "I thought it would be hard for the viewers to get immersed in the drama," she said adding that the actor portrayed a royal while she played a character of lower class and thought that they wouldn't look good together. Interestingly, the historical K-drama gained positive responses from the viewers. Apart from getting a double-digit rating for its pilot episode, the "Moon Embracing the Sun" finale scored 46.5 percent nationwide while 42.2 percent in metropolitan areas. What's Next for Han Ga In? After "Moon Embracing Sun" Han Ga In went on hiatus but return to the small screen after six years with the thriller romance series "Mistress." She starred alongside Shin Hyun Bin, Choi Hee Seo, and Gu Jae Yi as the drama depicts the story of the scandalous lives of a group of four girlfriends. Although she didn't return to making K-dramas, Han Ga In is active in variety shows. In 2022, she headlined various programs like "Circle House" on SBS with Lee Seung Gi as well as "Sing for Gold" which recently concluded. KDramastars owns this article Written by Geca Wills Alberta Premier Danielle Smith gives an Alberta government update in Calgary on Jan. 10, 2023. Smiths long-promised public health science advisory panel, which has been beset by slipped deadlines and confusing messaging, has the NDP Opposition questioning whether it exists or ever will. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh Toronto Mayor John Tory, speaks during a press conference in Toronto, Monday, June 27, 2022. Canada's mental health crisis demands a national summit with representation from all levels of government, Tory said Wednesday, claiming a lack of provincial and federal support is offloading responsibilities onto "ill-equipped" municipalities.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston Police cars surround a TTC streetcar on Spadina Ave., in Toronto on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 after a stabbing incident. The Toronto mayor and police chief along with the head of the city's transit operator are set to hold a press conference on transit safety after several violent incidents on the system recently. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey WHEATLAND A proposal to install a solar farm capable of generating enough power for 1,800 homes, or 150% of all households in the town, has cleared its first hurdle. The Salix Solar Project, proposed by Madison-based OneEnergy Renewables, received unanimous approval from the Wheatland Plan Commission and it is now headed to the Town Board for formal consideration Jan. 30. The commission voted 6-0 in favor of a conditional use permit that would allow the company to construct the 7.5-megawatt system on 34 acres spanning two parcels on farmland owned by J&S Real Estate Co. LLC. The proposed solar farm site is located just north of highways 50 and 83 near the Fox River and south of Highway K. During the Plan Commissions Monday night meeting, representatives of OneEnergy gave a 20- to 25-minute presentation on the proposed project. With its 16,380 solar panels made of crystalline silicone, it would capture and harness the suns energy to produce 15,000,000 kWh per year. According to the project data, that is enough electricity to power 1,800 average Wisconsin residences, or 150% of the homes in Wheatland. The town had 1,200 households based on 2000 Census figures. The system would connect to existing three-phase power lines located at highways 50 and 83 near the railroad tracks. OneEnergy project development managers Peter Murphy and Seamus Fitzgerald answered questions that included everything from how much reflection would come off the solar arrays to the sites eventual decommissioning after 40 years, Town Clerk Sheila Seigler said. Increase in solar projects According to the developers presentation, solar projects have increased throughout the state as the cost to generate power via the renewable energy source has decreased 10-fold in just over a decade. In Wisconsin, the price to produce power via solar energy has plummeted from 36 cents per kWh in 2009 to just over 3.6 cents per kWh in 2021, or a drop from $360 to $36 annually. Among the benefits of smaller-scale solar farms in Wisconsin include promoting a level of energy independence from conventional sources and reliable income for farmers and landowners. According to their presentation, the Wheatland site was selected because of its proximity to existing electrical infrastructure, its suitability for capturing the suns rays and interest from the landowner. Crews would install bifacial panels that would sit on steel racking. The panels in the array are designed to harness and generate energy from both sides, enabling a more productive system. Plan Commission and Town Board Chair Robert Glembocki said that some residents wondered about the amount of reflection coming from the panels. Developers assured them the system was designed to have minimal reflection. Inverters and transformers would also be installed. Around the perimeter, agricultural-style wire fencing would surround the site, which would later be seeded with perennial native pollinator flowers and grasses resulting in a low-growing meadow on what had most recently been a cornfield. Preventing overgrowth Glembocki said developers were asking if they knew anyone with animals to graze upon the vegetation to prevent overgrowth. I mean they actually asked if there were any sheep farmers around the area to help with the foliage because they would grow so high, he said. You cant have that stuff growing up over the panels. According to the project details, the site would be decommissioned after 40 years, with all parts of the system dismantled and disposed of and the land returned to its former agricultural use, a requirement under county regulations. In November the County Board, which has the last say on whether to approve the solar farm, established an ordinance specifically addressing solar energy systems under 100 megawatts. The ordinance spells out terms for siting, construction, maintenance, operation and decommissioning regulations, which the developer must satisfy in order to receive the necessary approval from the county. First of its kind in county If approved, Wheatland would have Kenosha Countys first community-scale solar energy farm. OneEnergys plan calls for construction to begin this summer with the site operational by Dec. 1. Currently, construction is underway on a 200-megawatt system enough electricity to power 60,000 homes each year in the Town of Paris. The Paris Solar Energy Center LLC, located on 1,500 acres of a 5,300-plus acre parcel about 1.5 miles west of Interstate 94, is Wisconsins first and largest utility-scale solar farm with battery back-up. Paris solar utility is administered by the states Public Service Commission. Because Wheatlands site is under the 100-megawatt threshold, its use, by ordinance, is under county jurisdiction. OneEnergys application served as the impetus for enacting the ordinance as county planning officials have anticipated growing interest in leasing local farmland to accommodate smaller-scale solar energy systems. According to a recent University of WisconsinStevens Points Center for Land Use study, Kenosha County ranked in the top 10 of 72 counties for solar farm suitability, of any magnitude. The rankings were based on criteria that included proximity to infrastructure, power lines, slope of the land and lands that are agricultural or cannot be developed. How US renewable energy adoption compares to other major emitters How US renewable energy adoption compares to other major emitters The US, China, EU, and India accounted for 58% of global greenhouse gas emissions from energy in 2021 In 2019, US renewable energy consumption was on par with China Renewable energy as a share of energy sourcing has grown 64% since 1980 Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! In this episode, we will be discussing the role of health system specialty pharmacies in improving patient outcomes. Our guest, Chelsey Lindner, is a clinical pharmacist who will share her insights on the unique combination of expertise and resources that these pharmacies offer to provide holistic support for cancer patients. She will also discuss the integrated care model, which has been proven to provide patients with the support they need to navigate their treatment journey. Health system specialty pharmacies have been shown to help mitigate the access, safety, and follow-up issues that can lead to diminished health outcomes for cancer patients. By committing to integrated care, health systems can close the remaining loopholes in cancer treatment and improve patient outcomes. Join us as we explore the important role of health system specialty pharmacies in cancer care. Chelsey Lindner is a clinical pharmacist. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, Integrated care is the key to optimizing cancer outcomes. The Podcast by KevinMD is brought to you by the Nuance Dragon Ambient eXperience. With so many demands on their time, physicians today report record levels of burnout. Burnout is caused by many factors, one of which is clinical documentation. Studies indicate physicians spend two hours documenting care for every hour spent with patients. At Nuance, we are committed to helping physicians do what you love care for patients and spend less time on clinical documentation. The Nuance Dragon Ambient eXperience, or DAX for short, is an AI-powered, ambient clinical intelligence solution that automatically captures patient encounters securely and accurately at the point of care. Physicians who use DAX have reported a 50 percent decrease in documentation time and a 70 percent reduction in feelings of burnout, and 83 percent of patients say their physician is more personable and conversational. Rediscover the joy of medicine with clinical documentation that writes itself, all within the EHR. VISIT SPONSOR https://nuance.com/daxinaction SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RATE AND REVIEW https://www.kevinmd.com/rate FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/kevinphomd FOLLOW ON TIKTOK https://www.tiktok.com/@kevinphomd GET CME FOR THIS EPISODE https://earnc.me/bH5axz Powered by CMEfy. The Doomsday Clock has moved closer to midnight than it has ever been, and is now just 90 seconds away from striking 12, scientists have said. The clock, a symbolic timepiece showing how close the world is to ending, has been moved forward by 10 seconds by its keepers. The announcement means the perceived threat is now more severe than it was last year, with the scientists citing unprecedented danger posed by the Russia-Ukraine war. Rachel Bronson, chief executive of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, said: As UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres warned this past August, the world has entered a time of nuclear danger not seen since the height of the Cold War. Speaking about the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, she said: There is no clear pathway for forging a just peace that discourages future aggression under the shadow of nuclear threat. The US government, its Nato allies and Ukraine have a multitude of channels for dialogue. We urge leaders to explore all of them to their fullest ability. Ms Bronson added: We move the clock forward, the closest it has ever been to midnight. It is now, 90 seconds to midnight. "We move the Clock forward, the closest it has ever been to midnight. It is now, 90 seconds to midnight." #DoomsdayClock https://t.co/vNLOCAAx5E pic.twitter.com/Wg4l8fZUU0 Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (@BulletinAtomic) January 24, 2023 In a statement, the scientists said Russias invasion of Ukraine has raised profound questions about how states interact, eroding norms of international conduct that underpin successful responses to a variety of global risks. The statement added: Russias thinly veiled threats to use nuclear weapons remind the world that escalation of the conflict by accident, intention, or miscalculation is a terrible risk. The possibility that the conflict could spin out of anyones control remains high. The scientists said they were also concerned about Chinas expansion of its nuclear capabilities as well as North Korea stepping up its intermediate and longer-range missile testing. They also warned that the US, Russia, and China are pursuing full-fledged nuclear weapons modernisation programs, setting the table for a dangerous new third nuclear age of competition. The countdown was established in 1947 by experts from The Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists who were working on the Manhattan Project to design and build the first atomic bomb. The concerned US scientists set up the Doomsday Clock to provide a simple way of demonstrating the danger to the Earth and humanity posed by nuclear war. The Bulletin is an independent non-profit organisation run by some of the worlds most eminent scientists. The clock first started ticking at seven minutes to midnight and has moved forwards and backwards over the years as the threats to the world changed. Leaders need a crisis mindset to tackle the existential threats facing humanity, as set out starkly by the @BulletinAtomic's #DoomsdayClock. Read The Elders' statement: https://t.co/RqJDqZpplQ pic.twitter.com/lbcfdEfjOL The Elders (@TheElders) January 24, 2023 In 2020, the clock was set at 100 minutes to midnight, and remained unchanged for the next three years. Although originally intended to warn of the threat of nuclear Armageddon, the Doomsday Clock also takes into account the likelihood of other emerging threats such as climate change and advances in biotechnology and artificial intelligence. Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said: We are on the brink of a precipice. But our leaders are not acting at sufficient speed or scale to secure a peaceful and liveable planet. From cutting carbon emissions to strengthening arms control treaties and investing in pandemic preparedness, we know what needs to be done. The science is clear, but the political will is lacking. This must change in 2023 if we are to avert catastrophe. This year's St Brigids day service led by the Kilkenny Gospel Choir will take place on Wednesday, February 1 in St Fiacres Church Loughboy Kilkenny at 7.30pm. As we approach the world day of prayer for cancer, the service will remember all those whose lives have been touched by cancer. St Brigid, 'the Mary of the Gael', as she has been known to generations of Irish people, commands affection and respect. She is remembered for her hospitality and hard work - as a woman of God and a woman of the people. Brigid's life began in Faughart, a few miles from Dundalk, in the year 453. Her father was chieftain named Dubthach, and her mother was Brocessa, a Christian bondswoman. Shortly after Brigid's birth, Dubthach's wife persuaded him to send Brocessa away, to Murroe in east Limerick. Years later, Brigid returned to her father's house, taking her mother's place in the usual round of slave duties - minding the livestock, serving at meals. It was already apparent that Brigid had a calling as she constantly reached out to the poor. Brigid's genius for leadership and organisation came into its own. A woman of wisdom and common sense, she made provision for the sick, tending to them with her knowledge of contemporary medicine. She established schools, set sisters to work making vestments, and she organised the Episcopal government of her city. More than anything else, however, Brigid was renowned for her hospitality. After some years in charge at Kildare, Brigid was the most prominent religious leader in the Liffey plain. Many and notable are the names who came to her for help. St Fiacre sought her guidance in the founding of his monastery in Laois, as did St Finnian for his monastery at Clonard. She died shortly after her 70th birthday. Her spirit lives on in the hospitality afforded by the nuns at Kildare, and she is remembered in posterity as a patron of Irish women and motherhood, someone to call on for help in domestic matters and in times of sickness and loss. This year's service will include holy water from the well of St Brigid, which will be available, as well as red flannel associated with the healing ministry of St Brigid. All are invited to bring their St Brigids Crosses to be blessed or buy them on the night. "Every year hundreds of people attend the service and take the water and red flannel home with them invoking the protection of St Brigid," says Fr Willie, who will lead the service. "It is said that St Brigids cloak was made of red flannel and when she spread her cloak over the sick, the worried or the anxious they were healed. "At this difficult time in the lives of all people its important we are united in support of each other and what better way than to gather and pray for each other," said Fr Willie. "This year we chose to remember all who have been touched by cancer, loss and depression and this is in response to the many people who ask the choir to remember them because they have had the experience of hurt in their families." For further information on the night contact the Kilkenny Gospel Choir at kilkennygospelchoir@gmail.com. IFA President Tim Cullinan set out the Associations commitment to meeting the sectors climate targets at its AGM on Tuesday. Addressing the 68th Annual General Meeting of the Irish Farmers Association in the Irish Farm Centre, Mr Cullinan warned this would only be possible if the Government plays its part. If we get the right supports and fair measurement, our sector has a real opportunity to lead the way in reducing climate emissions, he said. This will only happen if the Government brings farmers with them. Our message to the Taoiseach and the Minister for Agriculture will be that the emphasis must be on reducing emissions, not on reducing output. Engage with farmers to agree on a way forward, Mr Cullinan said. We need to hear from the Minister what his proposals are to provide economic viability for our vulnerable beef, sheep and tillage sectors. We need a plan for the sustainable growth of all our sectors. It is time to stop talking them down, he said. Forcing farmers to re-wet their land is not the way to go. Doing a deal with an investment house from the UK to buy up land for forestry is not the way to go. And locking farmers out of an agri-environment scheme is definitely not the way to go, the IFA President told those gathered. Year Ahead Looking to the year ahead, the IFA President pointed to several key priorities for the Association. He outlined that as the agri sector is the most exposed to Brexit, it must follow that the majority of the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) should come to those most impacted. He said it was exceptionally worrying that farmers had received nothing to date, given the fund has to be used by the end of this year. The IFA President was critical of the decision by An Taisce to challenge the Nitrates Action Programme in the courts, describing them as being anti-dairy farming in particular. He said, Despite all the changes, they want to eliminate the derogation. The dairy expansion has been a huge success story for farmers, rural Ireland and the economy. We will be in court to represent our members. And we will fight tooth and nail to keep farmers in business. The IFA President was critical of the very small but vocal anti-farming lobby that is currently operating a misleading national advertising campaign, completely unregulated. He said, We live in an era where we have full accountability for every penny our politicians spend during election time. Meanwhile, we have a group spending hundreds of thousands on adverts to undermine our sector. Nobody knows where the money comes from. When we complained to the Advertising Standards Authority in 2019, they washed their hands of it. The Government needs to regulate this space. Any organisation running a political campaign needs to show where their money is coming from. He concluded by urging the Minister to appoint a food regulator without further delay. Pigs, poultry, horticulture and potatoes have suffered badly. They all have one thing in common. They depend on the home market. Our retailers had to be dragged kicking and screaming to give increases to these sectors. They need to take a hard look at themselves. This week, the Bill to appoint a Food Regulator is back before the Dail. It is long overdue. The Minister needs to make this happen. Over the last 10 years, 190 people have lost their lives in farming related work activity in Ireland. Of these fatalities, 34 involved livestock. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has begun a two-week farm safety inspection campaign with a focus on the safe management of livestock during calving season, when the risk of injury to farmers increases significantly. Carrying out risk assessments on the work to be done and planning ahead are essential when handling livestock. Well-designed and maintained handling facilities are key factors for the safe handling of all livestock and prevention of injury to handlers. Many serious injuries involving livestock handling could be prevented with better handling facilities. According to Pat Griffin, Senior Inspector with the Health and Safety Authority, During this calving season we urge farmers to plan ahead and put safety measures in place as cows, and in particular heifers, can be unpredictable before, during or after calving and may become aggressive. Good holding areas and calving facilities where cows can be monitored remotely are important and can help reduce farmer fatigue. Well-prepared calving units with clean bedding, calving gates, planned escape routes and the necessary equipment will ensure safety and reduce stress. With much of calving happening during short and dark evenings, or at night, farmers are encouraged to have plenty of well-positioned lights in calving units and around the farmyard as this will greatly improve visibility and safety. Key questions to ask whilst working with livestock: Are handling facilities including calving boxes adequate for your herd size? Is there adequate lighting in the yard and farm buildings? Do you need help? Are the extra resources trained and experienced? Is there a plan in place to minimise the risk of attack? Is an adequate physical barrier established between the farmer (worker) and the freshly calved cow when tagging, treating and handling calves? Are facilities and procedures adequate for separating, loading and unloading animals? Pat Griffin added, Working with livestock is a key injury trigger and farmers must prioritise their physical safety. During this time of year, which includes the calving period, increased fatigue and stress levels are common. However, early planning and preparation can make a significant difference in the safe management of calving time. Clean and organised yards will help eliminate injury from slips, trip and falls and also allows all the necessary items to be easily found and help prevent injury or even death, Mr Griffin advised. Post-primary schools in Kilkenny are being invited to join a new Irish language initiative Spraoi23 which is aimed at cultivating a love of the Irish language, by engaging students in activities through the medium of Irish. The initiative is being run by Education and Training Boards Ireland, in conjunction with An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaiochta. Spraoi23 invites schools to partake in a range of different competition categories from blogging and rapping to art design and the creation of new seanfhocal. The programme is open to all students in post-primary schools across the country, not just those under ETB patronage. The programme also welcomes engagement from both students in Irish-medium and English-medium schools, with each category carrying prizes for both Irish-medium and English-medium entries. Speaking at the launch, ETBI General Secretary Paddy Lavelle commented: At Education and Training Boards Ireland we recognise the importance of the Irish language and the relationship our students have with it. Through this inclusive approach of offering opportunity to all learners to participate, not just within the ETB sector, we feel that it will be a positive step forward in promoting a love of An Ghaeilge. SPRAOI23 will complement the excellent teaching that goes on in our ETB schools and indeed all schools across the country. Students will be enthused by the vast range of creative and fun competitions afforded to them and should hugely benefit from them. Gean Gilger, Educational Policy and Development Officer in Education and Training Boards Ireland and coordinator of the ETBI Spraoi23 programme has designed a programme that aims to inspire the creativity and participation of students. We wanted to include competitions that were fun for all, with the potential for solo or group participation and mindful of all learners level and ability. While there are opportunities for rapping, creation of new seanfhocal and celebration of the traditional arts through Agallamh Beirte and Luibini competition, we are particularly excited about Cumarsaid le Cairde which will see our Irish-medium schools connect with another school and engage in a number of activities under the supervision of their teachers. Spraoi23 is funded by An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaiochta (COGG). Also speaking at the launch, Chief Executive Jacqueline Ni Fhearghusa commented: An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaiochta (COGG) greatly welcome the upcoming Spraoi23 programme of events. COGG are delighted to provide funding to ETBI to support the programmes wide range of fun-generating and diverse competitions. Students will have fantastic opportunities to interact in Irish through fun activities in addition to showcasing their creative, innovative and digital skills through: blogs, videos, music, art, photography and luibini. We wish Spraoi 23 and the students efforts every success. To support and encourage students to engage, former ETB student, Aindriu de Paor, broadcaster and presenter with RTE 2FM is proud to take on the role of Ambasadoir Spraoi23. Speaking at the launch, Mr. de Paor commented: I attended Gaelcholaiste Cheitinn in Clonmel, a Tipperary ETB school and I have been very fortunate since that my journey with the Irish language has opened so many doors for me throughout my career. I am honoured to be Ambassador for this brilliant initiative and I look forward to engaging with students over the coming months. Spraoi23 will run through to the end of April with a celebratory prize-giving ceremony in May. All information can be found at https://events.etbi.ie/ SPRAOI23 Neurological patients in Kilkenny are being failed by the current shortfall in community neurorehabilitation teams in Ireland. Thats according to the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI) who have launched a new campaign seeking commitments from elected representatives and the HSE to tackle the absence of a community neurorehabilitation team in CHO Area 5, which includes Kilkenny services. There are only two community neurorehabilitation teams in Ireland, despite nine teams being required which is outlined in the Implementation Framework (2019-2021) for the National Neurorehabilitation Strategy. This means that only 15% of neurological patients in Ireland have access to teams that provide vital care to support their recovery. Funding has been promised for a network of nine community teams around the country. In CHO Area 5, which includes Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford, Carlow and South Tipperary, no team has been funded yet. Speaking at the launch, Magdalene Rogers, NAI Executive Director, said: Once a person receives a diagnosis of a neurological condition, they need to be supported in their recovery and the management of their condition. Thats what a community neurorehabilitation team does. It brings together health care professionals from a range of disciplines such as an occupational therapist, a speech and language therapist, a physiotherapist and a clinical psychologist to enable a person living with a neurological condition to live well. As well outlining the positive impact a community neurorehabilitation team can have on a patients recovery, the NAI presented a clear economic rationale for urgently establishing the teams in the seven CHOs that do not have a team in place. Ms Rogers continued: "For every euro spent on a community neurorehabilitation team, the health service saves 11 euro. Having these teams in place is vital in reducing the length of stay and delayed discharges and therefore freeing up beds in acute hospitals. The support of neurorehabilitation teams is also proven to prevent unnecessary admissions to hospitals and improves the overall well-being and quality of life of patients with a range of neurological conditions. We have estimated that having these vital teams in place could save up to 42,000 bed days annually. We are calling on elected representatives in Kilkenny and the HSE to commit to delivering these services for the people of Kilkenny. There is still no funding in place for a team in the CHO 5 region. Having a team in place here would have a significantly positive impact on the lives of those living with neurological conditions in Kilkenny, Carlow, Waterford, Wexford and South Tipperary. At the campaign launch, Mary Casserly, from Wexford, who is living with Parkinsons Disease described her experience, I was diagnosed with early onset Parkinsons Disease at 53. I didnt know anything about the disease and I didnt know where to turn. I found it difficult to get useful information on Parkinsons Disease that was relevant to early onset. Early intervention is key when you receive this diagnosis. We need physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, nutritional advice, occupational therapy, and psychological support, to give us the skills to live well with Parkinsons Disease. Having a team in place in the community would allow people living with Parkinsons Disease to have a sense of ownership of the management of the disease. People living with a neurological condition need timely access to rehabilitation. We shouldnt have to fight for these services. We need our represented electives and the HSE to take action now. Professor Ronan Collins, National Clinical Lead for Stroke also spoke at the online launch event. The Patients Deserve Better campaign brings together over 22 non-profit organisations working with people with neurological conditions. The Patient Deserve Better campaign is a joint initiative brought to you by NAI and Roche Products (Ireland) Ltd. Collusion with loyalist paramilitaries was not a government policy, former UK prime minister Sir John Major has said. Sir John was answering questions from Sinn Fein MP John Finucane, whose father Pat was murdered by loyalists in 1989. During a meeting of an Irish government committee, Mr Finucane outlined to Sir John reports which he said found evidence of collusion. A report by former UN war crimes prosecutor Sir Desmond de Silva into the murder of Mr Finucane found significant levels of state collusion involving the Army, police and MI5, but said there was no evidence of an overarching state conspiracy. Sir John had been giving evidence to the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, which includes elected members from Northern Ireland as well as the Irish Republic, Mr Finucane thanked Sir John for the role he played in the peace process. He went on to raise the agent Brian Nelson, the murder of his father and the importation of arms from South Africa for loyalist paramilitaries. What we know now from investigations and reports by Lord Stevens, by former Canadian supreme court judge Peter Cory, by Sir Desmond De Silva, the scale of collusion between British intelligence organisations and loyalists that was ongoing from the earliest days of the conflict, Mr Finucane said. All reports confirmed that collusion existed between British intelligence agencies and loyalist paramilitaries. Mr Finucane asked Sir John if he had been briefed on this strategy. Sir John extended his condolences to Mr Finucane on the death of his father. I am surprised at the comments you make about collusion between the intelligence agencies and the loyalist paramilitaries. Im puzzled, I was certainly never briefed on that, he said. I certainly wasnt aware of either of the things you mentioned, arms from South Africa or indeed anything else, I wasnt briefed on them then and nor have I been briefed in the papers I have seen subsequently. I do know emphatically it was not the policy that I was aware of, either as foreign secretary or later as prime minister, that there was any such collusion. That was not something that I was aware of. Sir John said he would deplore collusion, adding: It certainly wasnt something which I was aware, there was a great deal of discussion, Irish politicians with the paramilitary bodies, I think that is certainly beyond doubt, but the intelligence agencies is a proposition I am much less certain about, I could make inquiries, but I dont think that helps anyone very much at this stage. I was certainly not briefed about it so I certainly didnt actively approve of it because I wasnt aware of it. Mr Finucane also took issue with a comment in Sir Johns opening remarks, when in reference to Sinn Feins calls to take the gun out of Irish politics, Sir John said the Army and the police did not bomb, murder or knee-cap. In reference to the Governments controversial draft legacy legislation which proposes to stop court cases around Troubles crimes, Sir John said he was reluctant to comment as he is no longer in Parliament and not privy to discussions on legacy. Racing enthusiasts from all over Ireland are descending upon Gowran Park Racecourse this afternoon for the time-honoured Goffs Thyestes Chase. The feature race on the day is due to go to post at 3.25pm and is supported by six other races most notably the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle with a 40,000 prize up for grabs in this staying hurdle contest. A list of Thyestes winners reads like a who's who of Irish jump racing stars - from Arkle to Hedgehunter from Flying Bolt to Djakadam. Goffs Thyestes Day really kick starts our season in Gowran Park and we really appreciate how racing people from far and wide support this day every year in their thousands," says Gowran Park General Manager Eddie Scally. "The Goffs Thyestes Chase is this regions biggest and most iconic race where horses, trainers and jockeys have the chance to put their name in the history books. We love to see our winners go on to challenge for Grand Nationals and Gold Cups, but I always remember Ruby Walsh after winning on Invitation Only being asked what next for the horse? His reply was simply 'I dont know, and I dont mind, hes won a Thyestes' - this for me just sums up what the Goffs Thyestes Chase means to the racing world." The British financier, author of the Magnitsky Act, Bill Browder met with the uncle Timur Alasania and Massimo D'Angelo, the lawyer of ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili.Browder wrote on Twitter that at the meeting they discussed the completion of the Magnitsky list in the Saakashvili case."Just finished meeting with Timur Alasania (Mikheil Saakashvili's uncle) and Massimo D'Angelo (Saakashvili's lawyer) to discuss finalising a Magnitsky list for those torturing Mikheil in prison. Mikheil is dying and time is of the essence," Browder wrote.On January 8, Mikheil Saakashvili wrote an open letter to the author of the Magnitsky Act, Bill Browder and asked him to help local Georgian groups compile a new list of Magnitsky, before the fatal outcome. Browder responded to Saakashvili's letter and asked the ex-president to have his team prepare documents on who is obstructing medical treatment and who is responsible for his 'poisoning' and 'torture'.The fifth meeting of the high-level strategic dialogue on security issues between the European Union and Georgia was held in Tbilisi.According to the information, the meeting confirmed the interest and firm desire of both sides, Georgia and the European Union, to deepen cooperation, including in foreign policy and security issues, as provided by the association agreement.The parties emphasized the historical importance of the decision made by the European Council on June 23, 2022, which recognized the European perspective of Georgia.The EU side positively evaluated the role of Georgia as an important partner in the missions of the common defense and security policy of the European Union. The parties expressed their readiness to further deepen cooperation in the field of security in accordance with the priorities defined by the strategic compass of the European Union, as well as for the purpose of combating hybrid threats and strengthening Georgia's resilience and capabilities, including through the European Peace Instrument. The FBI has seized a website that a notorious ransomware gang, which has extorted more than $100 million from victim organizations, has used to shame its victims, according to a posting on the website. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close President Barack Obama (center) speaks as former Presidents Bill Clinton (left) and George W. Bush (right) listen in the Rose Garden at the White House in January of 2010. Officer Andy Anderson and his dog Merlin, a nearly 7-year-old Belgian Malinois, made the bust last Wednesday at an Oak Grove business Korea's SK Group said Monday it has signed a partnership deal with the sovereign wealth fund of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to establish a carbon credit market in Asia, as part of efforts to tackle climate change in the private sector. SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, CEO of Mubadala Investment Company, in Abu Dhabi on Sunday (local time), while accompanying President Yoon Suk Yeol on his four-day state visit to the Middle Eastern country, SK said. Chey is traveling as part of the business delegation representing some 100 Korean companies. Under the MOU, SK and Mubadala will work together to create a voluntary carbon market, where companies can trade carbon credits certified by private entities, SK said. The two sides will seek to form a working group to materialize the partnership and work out details for the cooperation, especially on how to establish the methodologies to certify the carbon reduction and build transparency and credibility of such a market. In 2021, SK launched an in-house "carbon reduction certification center" as the first private enterprise in Asia to evaluate the greenhouse gas emissions by its affiliates and certify their performance in carbon reduction efforts. Mubadala, with $284 billion in assets, has a wide range of investment portfolios in eco-friendly areas, including an equity investment in AirCarbon Exchange, a Singapore-headquartered carbon credit exchange platform. (Yonhap) From left, KT CEO Ku Hyeon-mo, BC Card CEO Choi Won-seok, Director General of Payment System Department at the Bank of Mongolia (BoM) Anar Enkhbold and Governor of BoM Lkhagvasuren Byadran pose after singing the N2N (Korea-Mongolian card payment linkage) business contract at BoM's headquarters in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Thursday. Courtesy of KT By Kim Jae-heun KT will expand business cooperation with the Mongolian government to secure mineral resources including rare earth elements to be imported to Korea, according to the company, Thursday. The company signed a strategic partnership with the Mongolian government to help realize the country's digitalization. The government, which announced its New Growth Policy for the country's economic development in 2021, is pushing for digitalization of all industries. First, KT and the Mongolian government signed a memorandum of understanding to supply mineral resources in Korea. Mongolia produces more than 80 kinds of mineral resources including copper, fluorite, gold, iron, zinc and rare earths, accounting for 16 percent of the world's reserves. The company expects this strategic partnership will contribute not only to Mongolia's industrial development, but also to the growth of the future value industry here. Specific measures on supplying the resources will be provided after the discussion. KT CEO Ku Hyeon-mo was also tapped as the chief technology officer of the Mongolian government. Ku became the first foreign businessman to take the honor. "KT's growth strategy and know-how in its expert business fields built over the past three years will lead the development of domestic and foreign businesses and make it the first year of global growth," Ku said. With Ku's appointment, KT will form a working group for the Mongolian government's digital transformation plan and lay the foundation for mutual cooperation. The company's affiliates have inked business deals with local authorities in charge of all industries including finance, medical care, digital conversion and media. KT also signed an agreement with Hanaro Medical Foundation and Mongolia's Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to establish an ICT-based health examination center in the East Asian country. BC Card will carry out an online card payment project with the Mongolian Central Bank and talk over the establishment of integrated national payment and purchase systems. KT is the parent company of BC Card. The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Mongolia is reviewing the introduction of Korean-style electronic vouchers. KT's media subsidiary, KT Studio Genie, will sign a business agreement for culture and tourism development, exchange programs with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia, and review the production of Mongolian-related content. Stray Kids is reportedly joining the Lollapalooza Paris 2023 as headliner! See more of the details here. Stray Kids Joins As Headliner on Lollapalooza Paris 2023 On January 25, Lollapalooza Paris posted on their official Twitter an announcement regarding Lollapalooza Paris 2023. On the post, they included Stray Kids as headliner for the event! They were also joined by fellow headliners, Rosalia and Kendrick Lamar. It also featured other known artists, listing popular names such as Lil Nas X, Lindsey Stirling and more. Its caption stated that the artists listed are the official lineups for the upcoming music festival. They expressed their excitement regarding Lollapalooza Paris 2023, which will be held on July 21, 22 and 23. ANNONCE | Nouveaux noms et pass 1 jour ! Nous sommes heureux de devoiler aujourd'hui la suite de la programmation de la 5e edition de #LollaParis qui se deroulera les 21, 22 et 23 juillet 2023 ! Les pass 1 jour seront disponibles vendredi a 10h sur https://t.co/8XpOmfCwYo. pic.twitter.com/TmLhm5tHgt Lollapalooza Paris (@lollapaloozafr) January 25, 2023 Furthermore, they also added that the 1-day passes will be available on their official website. STAYs were thrilled with the news, leading them to express their excitement with Stray Kids headlining the festival. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: These Two Stray Kids Members Fought a Lot in the Past-but Made Up Naturally Some fans even hoped that Stray Kids members will get the chance to talk with other popular stars on the event, specifically rapper Changbin, who is a fan of Kendrick Lamar. Others remarked on how huge this is for the group, since they are headlining alongside two of the most popular artists worldwide. See their comments below: "A full set, wow! I can't believe they're headlining. I'm praying Changbin can meet Kendrick, he's his favorite rapper and one of his biggest inspirations. I hope they can all meet Rosalia for my mental health, the headliners are 3 of my favorite artists." "Impressive. Good for them, they deserve the recognition. They are headliners along Rosalia and Kendrick Lamar. That's huge." "Kendrick is one of Changbin's all-time favorite idols, so I really hope they get to meet him despite the different days. Stray Kids' iTunes and overall streaming numbers in Europe are no joke." "OMG I am super excited for their performance. My boys made it! I am proud of guys!" "Wow that's pretty big. They've always had a really sizeable international fanbase and they've come off a pretty solid tour, so I'm not surprised this was the next step for them." Stray Kids' Album 'ODDINARY' Reaches Historic Billboard Feat In other news, Stray Kids' album "ODDINARY" maintained its position on the Billboard charts. The album stayed in Billboard 200, which lists the most popular albums in United States, the world's largest music market. At the week's end on April 30, 2022, "ODDINARY" ranked at No. 117 on Billboard 200. Making this achievement, the release became Stray Kids' first K-pop album to remain in Billboard 200 for five consecutive weeks. They are also the eighth K-pop group to accomplish the feat, following groups BTS, BLACKPINK, TWICE. SuperM, NCT, NCT 127 and TXT. Are you excited for Stray Kids in Lollapalooza Paris 2023? Let us know in the comments below! Read KpopStarz for more K-pop news. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: K-pop Idols Lip Sync? Stray Kids Bang Chan Reveals Why They Don't Always Sing Live KpopStarz owns this article Written by Israel Monte Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. The Commission decided today to refer Ireland to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to correctly transpose the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC) into national law. The Directive establishes a framework for protecting inland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwater by preventing their further deterioration, preventing pollution as well as protecting and enhancing water dependent ecosystems and water resources. It requires that all inland and coastal waters reach at least good status by 2027 at the latest. To achieve this, Member States are to establish river basin management plans and programmes with measures. This is an important aspect of the European Green Deal's zero pollution ambition, aiming for water pollution to be reduced to levels no longer considered harmful to human health and natural ecosystems. EU Member States were required to transpose the Water Framework Directive into national law by 22 December 2003. Ireland initially adopted legislation, but the Commission found it to be insufficient. The Commission sent a letter of formal notice to Ireland in October 2007, followed by a reasoned opinion in November 2011. The Commission reassessed the case after Ireland adopted new amending legislation and also took into account the Court of Justice's caselaw interpreting some of the provisions of the Directive. The Commission sent an additional letter of formal notice to Ireland in January 2019, followed by an additional reasoned opinion in October 2020. Despite some progress and the adoption of new legislation in June 2022, the Irish authorities have not yet fully addressed the grievances, over 20 years after the entry into force of this Directive. Ireland's transposing law still needs to provide for appropriate controls in the following areas: water abstraction, impoundment and activities causing hydro-morphological changes such as dams, weirs and other interferences in natural water flow. The Commission considers that efforts by the Irish authorities have to date been unsatisfactory and insufficient and is therefore referring Ireland to the Court of Justice of the European Union. Background The Water Framework Directive, which came into force in 2000, provides a framework for integrated water management in river basin districts across the European Union. It obliges Member States to protect and restore all bodies of ground water and surface water (rivers, lakes, transitional and coastal water) to achieve "good status" by 2027 at the latest. Ireland presented a new Water Environment Bill on 28 September 2022 which is now with the Irish Parliament for debate and adoption. The memo accompanying the Bill states that the aim of this legislation is to answer the Commission's infringement with regard to creating new powers to control water abstraction and impoundment activities. The Bill provides for a new regulatory framework, the details of which will then need to be filled in with implementing regulations. It is not clear how long it will take for full compliance to be achieved. For More Information Water Framework Directive webpage Infringement decisions database EU infringement procedure Link to January 2023 infringements package Zarazeno ct 26.01.2023 12:01:00 Zdroj Evropska komise Original ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/documents?reference=IP/23/166&language=cs lang en New Delhi [India], January 26 (ANI): The grand parade of Republic Day 2023 at Kartavya Path was special for India as the participants gave a push to the theme of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' by showcasing indigenously developed weapon systems. This year, only Made-in-India weapon systems were showcased at the Republic Day parade, which included ammunition showcasing India's indigenization power such as 21 Gun Salute through 'Made in India' 105 mm Indian Field Guns, recently inducted LCH Prachand, the K-9 Vajra howitzers, MBT Arjun, Nag anti-tank guided missiles, Akash air defence missiles, and the Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicles. Also Read | Indian Navy Tableau Showcases the Multi-dimensional Capabilities of Nari Shakti Latest Tweet by DD News. Notably, the Defence Services witnessed path-breaking reforms with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the helm of affairs to transform the military into a modern, Atmanirbhar, youthful and tech-savvy force. The seamless modernization plan focused on developing 'Force Capabilities', the creation of Self Reliant Defence ecosystem with Make-in-India pursuit, and a learner and agile Army driven by technology. Also Read | Republic Day 2023: BSF Unfurls National Flag at Attari Border, Exchanges Sweets with Pak Rangers. The doctrinal and operational studies continued on the establishment of theatre commands to enhance Op preparedness, synergy, and combat potential of the Armed forces. Many decisions on re-structuring were also satisfactorily implemented. The defence forces were further strengthened with the appointment of General Anil Chauhan as the Second Chief of Defence Staff. For the first time, the 21 Gun Salute was given to President Droupadi Murmu during the parade with 105 mm Indian Field Guns on Kartavya Path replacing the British-made 25-pounder guns. MBT Arjun The Main Battle Tank ARJUN of the 75 Armoured Regiment was led by Captain Amanjeet Singh. The motto of MBT Arjun is`Sahasam Vijayate'. The State of the art MBT ARJUN is third generation main battle tank developed indigenously by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Arjun features a 120 mm main rifled gun, a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, and a 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun. It is powered by a 1400 HP Diesel engine and can achieve a maximum speed of 70 km/h (43 mph) and a cross-country speed of 40 km/h (25 mph). The four-men crew MBT is augmented with an array of systems including a Fire Control System, Integrated Fire Detection & Suppression System, and NBC protection systems. The newly developed Kanchan armour provides all-round anti-tank warhead protection, much higher than available in comparable third-generation tanks. Nag Missile System (NAMIS) The NAG Missile System of 17 Mechanised Infantry Regiment was led by Lieutenant Siddhartha Tyagi. The System popularly called NAMIS is a tank destroyer indigenously designed by the Defence Research & Development Laboratory Hyderabad, a lab of DRDO. The motto of NAMIS is `Satrah Mech - Har Maidan Fateh. It consists of a tracked Armoured Fighting Vehicle, which has a crew-less turret capable of firing six 'Nag' Anti-Tank Guided Missiles. NAMIS has been developed for the recce and support units of the Mechanised infantry to reinforce and enhance anti-tank capability along our borders during offensive and defensive operations. The Nag missile is a Fire and Forget ATGM with an effective range of 5km. The tandem warhead with the capability to lock-on- before launch and top-attack, accurately hits the targets that are moving or trying to escape. The NAMICA has a crew of four and apart from other niche technologies, it has an integrated satellite cum inertial navigation system, NBC protection, radio sets for encrypted communication, on-board Auxiliary Power Unit for silent operations and Nag Missile Checkout Equipment for health check of ATGMs before firing. NAMIS is a game-changer and the successful development of this modern weapon system for the Indian Army has propelled India into the select club of countries which have developed their own fire-&-forget top-attack tactical ATGMs integrated on AFVs. Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicle (QRFV) The Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicle was led by Captain Naveen Dhatterwal of the 3 Ladakh Scouts Regiment with a motto of War Cry: `Ki Ki So So Lahargyalo' which means 'Victory to God. These vehicles under Atma Nirbhar Bharat Scheme are being manufactured by TATA Advance System and Bharat Forge Limited for the Indian Army and are a shining example of the Indian Army's quest for self-reliance. This 4x4 wheeled Armoured Platform has full Armour Protection with a 360 Degree Turret which mounts a 7.62mm Medium Machine Gun, can carry 10 Fully Armed Troops. The vehicle is ideally designed for troops operating in Ladakh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. The vehicle is also Mine and Bullet Proof which makes it suited as an Escort vehicle and special response for CI OPS. It has a maximum speed of 80 km/h with an OP range up to 600 kms and can negotiate a gradient up to 25 degrees. 10m Short Span Bridge The 10m Short Span Bridge of 64 Assault Engineer Regiment led by Captain Shivashish Solanki is a mechanically launched Assault Bridge designed by DRDO to help Combat Engineers in Crossing formidable obstacles like Canal or Nallahs in a matter of minutes. The motto of 10 meter Short Span Bridge System was Agrani Ajay' which means 'Always Leading and Unconquerable. These Bridges can be utilized by mechanised and armoured columns to speedily cross the obstacles and destroy the enemy. These indigenous bridges signify that no obstacles remain impediment to the Mechanised Forces of Indian Army and are a step forward to Atmanirbharta in defence. The Regiment will celebrate 50 years of glorious history on 30 Sept 2023. Mobile Microwave Node and Mobile Network Centre Mobile Microwave Node and Mobile Network Centre of Corps of Signals was led by Major Mohd Asif Ahmed of 2 AHQ Signal Regiment with a motto of `Teevra Chaukas' which means 'Swift and Secure? The column consists of two vehicles, a `Mobile Microwave Node' along with 'Mobile Network Centre Major Mahima Kataria of 2 AHQ Signal Regiment is in charge of the Mobile Network Centre. The Mobile Microwave Node of the Indian Army is capable of extending high-speed operational communications to Tactical Battle Area. The Node is mounted on a High Mobility Vehicle platform and housed in an NBC proof ruggedised shelter to provide matching mobility and sustenance to mobile mechanised operations. The vehicle can operate on optical, microwave and satellite media to provide triple play services to include voice, data and video to field formations in active hostilities. The Mobile Network Centre is a next-generation network vehicle and enabler of network-centric operations. It hosts three core functionalities of Network Operations, Security Operations and the Data Centre. It acts as a force multiplier by enhancing battlefield transparency and increasing situational awareness. The vehicle has a crew of six led by an officer and is equipped with IMS core, aggregation routers access switches, large screen displays, and high-speed processing platforms. The mobile node is developed indigenously and upholds the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Mission. Wheeled Armoured Platform - WHAP 8x8 on 70-ton trailer Wheeled Armoured Personnel Carrier, WhAP 8x8, carried on a specialist 70-ton Trailer is indigenously designed and developed by DRDO. WhAP is a modular, 8x8-wheeled combat platform. WhAP is a state-of-the-art customisable platform for roles such as Infantry Vehicle, CBRN Vehicle, ATGM carrier. The Armoured Personnel Carrier variant on display is integrated with 30mm turret, composite armour and innovative blast protection. This amphibious vehicle can cross rivers and canals and its maximum on-road speed is 100 km/h. The 70-ton trailer is equipped with state-of-the-art hydraulic suspension for better mobility, steerable axles, and a hydraulic ramp for ease of loading and unloading of heavy payloads. The trailer which is capable of negotiating sharp turns and gradients has undergone extensive trials with MBT Arjun as payload. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], January 26 (ANI): Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Thursday slammed Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao for not attending the Republic Day celebrations at Raj Bhavan and said that the state government "undermined" the event. "Telangana undermined the Republic Day activity. They didn't have any public program. They wanted me to unfurl the flag at Raj Bhawan itself. No public participation as they did not follow the standard operating procedure (SOP) guidelines from the central government," Soundararajan told ANI. Also Read | Republic Day 2023: Punjab Witnessing Holistic Development, Says CM Bhagwant Mann at 74th R-Day Function (See Pics). The Governor further claimed that she didn't get any response to the letter she wrote to the government asking for organising the programme with public participation. "I didn't expect Telangana CM to attend the program because two months back I wrote a letter saying that this time the program should be conducted in a grand manner with public participation. But they didn't respond to that letter," he said. Also Read | Bihar: Pakistani Flag Found Hoisted on Rooftop in Purnea on Eve of 74th Republic Day, Investigation Underway. Coming down heavily on the state government, the Governor said that in the state's history, it would be registered that the Constitution is not "respected". "Just two days back they gave a letter saying that it should be conducted at Raj Bhavan only. In that letter also they didn't mention that CM will attend it. But people are watching, in Telangana's history it will be written that Constitution is not respected," she said. The Governor unfurled the national flag which was followed by the national anthem on the occasion of the 74th Republic Day. However, the Chief Minister of Telangana K Chandrasekhar Rao skipped the Republic Day celebrations. The Telangana High Court on Wednesday, while hearing a petition seeking a direction to the government to organise the parade as part of the celebrations, directed the State government to conduct Republic Day celebrations in a grand manner, with a ceremonial parade, as per the instructions issued by the Central government. The counsel of the petitioner contended that earlier Republic Day was celebrated at Parade Ground here in a grand manner and many people used to visit and witness the celebrations (which was not happening now). Earlier in his Republic Day speech, Soundararajan attacked the state government and said that everyone should have an equal share in development. "New buildings are not for development. Nation building is for development. All the farmers and the marginalised people should have farms and houses, a few should not have farmhouses. That is not the development. Everyone should have an equal share in the development," she said taking a dig at KCR. Soundararajan appealed to the young people of the state to remain strong and have faith in their ability to remove the throne or crown that is the cause of their stress. She cited Ambdekar's saying that only a few sections should not have all privileges and burdens. Opposition parties, especially the BJP, have been targeting KCR for his farmhouse and also the palatial official residence Pragati Bhavan built a few years ago. (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, January 26: The All India Congress Committee on Wednesday night released a list of 55 candidates for the upcoming Meghalaya Assembly election after the party's Central Election Committee meeting, said an AICC press release. The party has fielded Shillong Lok Sabha MP Vincent Pala from the Sutnga Saipung constituency, added the press release. Last week, the lone Nationalist Congress Party MP Saleng Sangma switched over to the Congress. He has been fielded by the party as the candidate from the Gambegre constituency, as per the statement. Meghalaya Assembly Election 2023: TMC To Release Manifesto for Northeastern State on January 24 Meghalaya Assembly Elections 2023: Congress Candidates' List Heartiest congratulations to all the Congress candidates. The winning of Candidates will set the benchmark in development of Meghalaya & citizens will be empowered with each passing day. #CongressForMeghalaya pic.twitter.com/AoaOboLdVQ Meghalaya Congress (@INCMeghalaya) January 25, 2023 Most of the candidates being fielded by Congress are fresh faces. On Wednesday, the Election Commission announced the schedule for Assembly elections in the northeastern Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland to be held in February-March this year. The results of all three states will be declared on March 2, 2023. Tripura Assembly Elections 2023: BJP To Conduct Election Committee Meeting on January 27. "Voting for Assembly elections in Tripura will be held in a single phase on February 16 and in Nagaland and Meghalaya on February 27. The results will be declared on March 2," Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said during a press conference. The CEC had said that the terms of the poll-bound states of Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura are coming to an end on March 12, 15, and 22 respectively. "The term of Assemblies of respective states in Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura are respectively due to expire on March 12, 15, and 22. The 3 states have 60 Assembly constituencies each," the CEC had said. Detailing the number of voters in the poll-bound states, Kumar said, "There are more than 62.8 lakh electors combined in Nagaland, Meghalaya & Tripura including - 31.47 lakh female electors, 97,000 80+ voters, and 31,700 PwD voters. Over 1.76 lakh first-time voters to participate in the elections in 3 states." He also informed that there will be some polling stations managed completely by PwDs and women staff. Women will be in command in 376 PS across Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura. Noting that the three states have "terrain-related challenges", Kumar reiterated the ECI's commitment in conducting free and fair polls. "The three states have terrain-related challenges, but the Commission is committed to participating in free and fair participative accessible and ethical elections in these three states," he said. The CEC said that the officials from the Commission recently visited the three states and met the officials regarding the poll preparations and directed them to resort to "zero tolerance" for any kind of violence during the elections. "We recently visited these three states from January 11 to 15, and met all the district collectors, SPs, DGs and all the enforcement agencies. There are only 2-3 states of the entire country in which pre-poll, during the poll or post-poll violence is left. there was no violence in the last 12 elections. With the help of the district administration, we have told them very clearly that society should have zero tolerance for any kind of violence during the elections," he had said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Goa [India], January 26 (ANI): Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Ship 'Apoorva' successfully rescued three fishermen who had wandered due to flooding off Goa on Thursday, it said in a release. The three Indian fishermen were rescued from the fishing boat Sea Queen in distress due to flooding off Goa, it added. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Man Rapes, Murders Four Elderly Women in Ayodhya, Arrested. According to the statement, the fishermen were provided first aid and handed over to the fisheries department. Further details are awaited. Also Read | Lucknow: Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey Sainik School Rusticates Six Students After Violence During Republic Day Rehearsal. Earlier in the month, the ICG rescued about 511 pilgrims of Gangasagar Mela stranded at sea in two different ferries, off Kakdwip in West Bengal. Upon receipt of the information, the operations team of the Coast Guard swung into action and immediately dispatched two Air Cushion Vehicles (Hovercraft) from Haldia and Frazerganj to provide rescue assistance, an official statement had said earlier in the month. Similarly, on January 19, the Indian Coast Guard safely evacuated a 65-year-old American patient from MV World Odessey, a cruise vessel with 175 passengers on its way to Kenya. James Douglas Shirley was reported with a retinal displacement and required urgent hospitalization for surgery. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], January 26 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Governor Rajendra Arlekar hosted 'At Home' at Raj Bhawan on the occasion of Republic Day on Thursday. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was present on the occasion. Justice Virender Singh, Judges of Himachal Pradesh High Court, Chairman and vice-chairman of various Commissions, Boards, Corporations and Vice Chancellors, senior State Civil, Police and Military officers, prominent citizens of the town and ex-servicemen were also present on the occasion among others. Also Read | Delhi Mayor Election 2023: AAP Moves Supreme Court Seeking Time-Bound MCD Mayoral Polls, Barring Aldermen From Voting. Earlier, in the day, Governor Rajendra Arlekar unfurled the national flag on the occasion of the 74th Republic Day. The Governor inspected the parade and took a salute from a march past, led by Parade Commander Lieutenant Karan Gogna from 22, Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. Also Read | Dog Attack in US: Minor Boy Mauled to Death by Four Canines in Idaho, Mother Injured While Saving Him. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was also present on the occasion. The contingents of the Army, Indo-Tibet Border Police, the Himachal Pradesh Armed Police, Uttarakhand Police, State Police, Home Guards, Fire Services and Himachal Pradesh Postal Services, Disaster Management, ex-servicemen, National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme Cadets, Bharat Scout and Guide performed the march past on the occasion of Republic Day. The troupes from Chamba and Hamirpur districts, Government Senior Secondary School, and a cultural troupe from Kinnaur were part of the cultural performances. The Governor also presented the prizes to all the participants in the presence of the Chief Minister. Giving the message of 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao', the Governor and the Chief Minister appealed to voluntarily contribute towards 'Sukh-Ashray Kosh'. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Guwahati (Assam) [India], January 26 (ANI): Assam Chief Minister Himanata Biswa Sarma on Thursday, attended as Chief Guest the State government's centrally-held 74th Republic Day celebrations at the Veterinary College Playground, Khanapara in Guwahati. The Chief Minister also hoisted the National Flag and delivered the Republic Day speech, as Governor Professor Jagdish Mukhi went to attend the Republic Day celebrations at Nagaland, informed a press release. Also Read | Republic Day 2023: PM Narendra Modi Thanks World Leaders for Their Greetings on India's 74th R-Day. The Chief Minister in his speech paid rich tributes to the freedom fighters who had made immense and incomparable contributions towards the nation's freedom struggle through their sacrifices. He also remembered "Father of the Nation" Mahatma Gandhi for his role in India's struggle for Independence. Also Read | Baba Ramdev Says Pakistan Will Be Divided into Four Parts; Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan Will Merge with India. He paid his tributes to the fallen heroes of the military, paramilitary and state police forces who had made the supreme sacrifices securing the unity and integrity of the nation, the release added. Chief Minister Sarma said, "The provisions of the Constitution of India reflect the hopes and aspirations of the citizens of India, while at the same time ensuring the nation is run and administered according to the law laid down for the purpose. The Constitution clearly outlines the responsibilities and duties on the part of the citizenry as well as the government," the Chief Minister said. "The Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties remind us of our obligations towards obeying the law of the land," he added. The Directive Principles of State Policies lends the character of a "welfare state" to the administrative set-up. Empowerment of the scheduled communities along with protection of their cultural, and political rights has been taken care of by the Constitution, he added. The Chief Minister further added that "The Indian Constitution, unlike its counterparts in other parts of the world, isn't merely a book containing details about legislations but a document for political and social justice. The "welfare" component of the Constitution is well-reflected in all its provisions. The Assam CM said the Constitution of India emphasises friendly relations between nations and opposes colonialism and the subjugation of one nation by another in all its forms. He further remarked that India isn't a nation-state but a civilization and that the framers of the Constitution were very much mindful of this fact. He said this civilizational trait makes the concept of secularism and socialism in India very different from those in practice in other nations. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this great civilization is moving forward towards attaining its rightful place of a world leader on its 100th year of Independence in 2047, he added. Chief Minister Sarma said Assam as a constituent of the Union of India has also been rapid strides on multiple fronts. Once considered a restive region, Assam today is often referred to as one of the most peaceful geographical and political entities. "The historic Bodo Accord of 2020, agreements with Karbi and Adivasi militant groups have been instrumental in establishment of peace in the State," he said. "Unlike previous years, not a single rhinoceros was killed by poachers in 2022 and this can rightly be called a great achievement for the State. The historic Charaideo Maidams are on the way to being recognised as World Heritage Site by UNESCO, he added. "The current dispensation in the state is mindful of the cultural sensitivities of the residents of the State and has, therefore, taken measures such as development of Batadrava than into a world-class religious-tourism site. Steps have also been taken to redevelop the areas surrounding the historic Rang Ghar in Sibsagar," he said. The CM today also declared a Rs 300 crore plans to develop areas surrounding Kamakhya Temple. The Chief Minister also spoke about steps for the conservation, and protection of wildlife and forest resources. "The government is promise-bound to provide land rights to the residents of the State through measures such as Mission Basundhara," he added. The Chief Minister stated that in days to come, the government is going to launch a "Health Services Utsav" aimed at taking healthcare delivery to the last mile. "In line with Gunotsav, government officials shall visit and evaluate qualitative parameters of government hospitals under the policy," he said. Touching upon the subject of maternal and child mortality, CM Sarma blamed the practice of child marriage as one of the prime reasons behind many such cases, adding the government was duty-bound to crack down on practices such as child marriages. The Chief Minister appealed to the residents to become stakeholders in the forward march of the State towards progress and growth. He exuded confidence that the state would be able to make commendable contributions towards the process of nation-building in days to come. (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 and Kashmir [India], January 26 (ANI): Indian Army troops along with National Cadet Corps Cadets and school students of the local area from Gulmarg celebrated the 74th Republic Day in the Gulmarg Sector of Jammu & Kashmir. On the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Indian Army commemorated the event with a weapon display and various fun activities for the students. The event commenced with the speech by Gallantry Award Winner, Col Gurpreet Singh, SM, followed by flag hoisting and weapon display. Also Read | Gurugram Shocker: Dalit Man Brutally Thrashed by Four for Rs 3,000 at Ghoshgarh Village, Dies During Treatment. Civil dignitaries like the CEO of GDA and the SHO were present for the occasion. The event terminated with the interaction of Indian Army troops with students which acted as an inspiration.Students' enthusiasm was visible despite the sub-zero temperatures and challenging weather conditions in the region. These occasions will motivate the local youth of Jammu & Kashmir, which will further help in nation-building. Earlier in the day, the Border Security Force and the Pakistan Rangers exchanged sweets at the International Border on the occasion of the 74th Indian Republic Day in a cordial atmosphere here. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: Students in NCC Uniforms Chant 'Allah-Hu-Akhbar' at Aligarh Muslim University Campus on Republic Day, Probe Ordered. In Jammu and Kashmir, the personnel at the IB exchanged sweets with the Pakistan forces in the RS Pura area. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also distributed sweets among the personnel. He also took to Twitter and wished everyone Republic Day. "Happy Republic Day to all countrymen. This day is an opportunity for all Indians to strengthen the country's constitutional traditions and rededicate themselves to the resolve to build a new India. Salute to all the constitution makers and freedom fighters of India," Rajnath Singh tweeted. On the occasion of the 74th Republic Day, in the Fulbari region of West Bengal's Siliguri, the BSF also exchanged sweets with its counterpart Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) at the India-Bangladesh Border. Talking to ANI, Company Commander, 176 Battalion, Shailendra Singh said that they had exchanged sweets with the personnel at the Bangladesh border to keep the good relations between the countries intact. Earlier in the day, patriotic zeal and fervour gripped the Attari-Wagah border in Punjab's Amritsar, and the BSF offered sweets to Pakistan Rangers at the Attari-Wagah border. A few metres away from the zero line and Pakistan posts, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the BSF) unfurled the Tricolour and sent a loud message that the national flag of the country will remain fluttering. Talking to ANI, BSF commandant Jasbir Singh extended Republic Day wishes to all the countrymen and said, "JCP Attari has made a unique identity as the symbol of nationality, a retreat ceremony takes place every evening and thousands of people come here daily to boost the morale of the personnel here." He said they have organised a number of programmes here and also offered sweets to the Pakistan Rangers. Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu led the nation on Thursday celebrating the 74th Republic Day from Kartavya Path in New Delhi. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was the Chief Guest at the parade. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mysuru, January 26: Karnataka's Cooperation and District In-charge Minister ST Somashekar said that Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has launched Leopard Task Force teams to capture leopards and prevent their menace in Tirumakudalu Narasipura city. Presiding over a meeting on the human-wildlife conflict at the Zila Panchayat hall, the Minister said that action should be taken to capture leopards which cause a menace in the area. Karnataka: Hunt Continues for Man-Eater Leopard in Mysuru and Four Prowling Leopards in Bengaluru. He informed the forest department officials that all necessary assistance will be provided by the government to curb the issue. Earlier, CM Bommai instructed the police and the forest department personnel to patrol the district with weapons. Ashwin Kumar, the MLA of T Narasipura assembly constituency, said, "The locals are scared of continuous leopard attacks. A lot of leopards and cubs have settled in the area. Action must be taken to remove the animals from the district." He appealed to contain the leopard menace by using special shooters. District Collector of the area K V Rajendra informed that four people have been attacked by the wild animals in the district. "Hon'ble Chief Minister has given permission to form Leopard Task Force in Mysuru district." Leopard Attack in Karnataka: Big Cat Attacks Puppy in Brick Factory in Ramanagara, Takes it Away (Watch Video). Meanwhile, the Deputy Conservator of Forest informed that three leopards and five cubs have been captured in the month of January so far. "Bounties have been placed for leopard capture. 158 officers and staff have been assigned to different teams for the operation. Teams are patrolling at night," he said. He said that drones have been used and as many as 73 leopards have been captured in the district since April 2022. District-level officials including District Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Purnima, Legislative Council Member Manje Gowda and District Superintendent of Police Seema Latkar were also present in the meeting. (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 26 (ANI): Listing the recipients of this year's Padma awards on the eve of the country's 74th Republic Day, the BJP-led government at the Centre on Wednesday kept up with its transformative political culture of honouring leaders in the Opposition with the country's top civilian honours. And, the latest in the line of Opposition leaders to be honoured by the BJP government with a Padma award is late Samajwadi Party (SP) patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav. Also Read | West Bengal Shocker: Assistant Sub-Inspector Opens Fire on His Senior at Police Barrack in Technocity Station Near Kolkata, Arrested. As declared on Wednesday, the former UP chief minister and Defence minister, who went by the nickname 'Netaji', will be conferred posthumously with the Padma Vibhushan, the country's second-highest civilian honour after Bharat Ratna, this year. A host of other Opposition leaders, including former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, former Congress leader and Jammu & Kashmir CM Ghulam Nabi Azad and the late former Assam CM Tarun Gogoi were honoured with Padma awards earlier. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Man Kills Wife Over Infidelity in Gorakhpur, Surrenders Before Cops. However, the family members of Bhattacharya, a CPM stalwart, refused to accept the award last year. While the late former Assam CM Gogoi was conferred with the Padma Bhushan in 2021, late former President and Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee with the Bharat Ratna in 2020. Ghulam Nabi Azad, who quit the Congress and floated a separate outfit, was confeerred with the Padma Bhushan last year. Former Maharashtra CM and NCP chief Sharad Pawar and former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma (posthumously) were also awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2017. Former Nagaland CM SC Jamir was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 2020 while Nagaland Congress leader Tokheho Sema also received the country's third highest civilian honour in 2016. Also among the Opposition leaders to be conferred with the Padma awards by the Narendra Modi government were former Rajya Sabha MP Tarlochan Singh and PDP leader Muzaffar Baig. In 2005, the then UPA governmnent led by the Congress, conferred the Padma award on the esrtwhile Janata Party leader and social worker Mohan Dharia. However, he was recognised more for his social work than being a leader in the Opposition. Not unlike previous years, the government this year will honour distinguished persons from diverse fields with Padma awards. They include MM Keeravani, the music composer behind the cult 'RRR' chartbuster 'Naatu, Naatu', which won the Golden Globe and the Critics Choice awards this year, and 102-year-old Sarinda player and one of West Bengal's most celebrated folk artistes, Mangala Kanti Roy. Both will be conferred with the Padma Shri this year. Also among the Padma recipients this year are 12 distinguished persons from the Northeast, which has been at the forefront of the Centre's 'Look East' policy. Retired Army doctor Munishwar Chanddawar (77), who treats his patients at a meagre fee of Rs20 in his native Madhya Pradesh, has also won a Padma award this year. A veteran of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War has been practising medicine in Jabalpur for over 5 decades. 98-year-old Tula Ram Upreti, a small farmer from Sikkim, has also been awarded Padma Shri for being a role model in Organic Farming practice over the past 70 years. The Padma Awards website says, "The Padma awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India announced annually on the eve of republic day. The awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service). The award seeks to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved." The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year. The nomination process is open to the public and even self-nominations are considered. The Padma Awards Committee is headed by the Cabinet Secretary and also includes Home Secretary, Secretary to the President and four to six eminent personalities as members. The recommendations of the committee are submitted to the Prime Minister and the President for approval. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Haridwar, January 26: Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Thursday said Pakistan will soon be divided into four parts, its occupation of PoK will cease and Balochistan, Punjab and Sindh will merge with India. Baba Ramdev, who spoke to the media here, greeted people on the 74th Republic Day and urged them to take pledge that they will work for healthy, prosperous and developed India. "Balochistan, PoK and Punjab in Pakistan will become separate nations. PoK (Pakistan occupied Kashmir) will merge with India and then Balochistan will itself want to merge with India because Punjab, Sindh, they have cultural similarity with India. Very soon Pakisan will be divided into parts. Punjab Sindh province will also be merge with India. Balochistan will also merge with India and India will become a superpower. This is the demand of the coming time and this is going to happen," Baba Ramdev said in response to queries. International Yoga Day 2022: 'Yoga is Spiritual, Not Religious,' Says Baba Ramdev. Asked about the controversy pertaining to remarks of Dhirendra Shastri of Bageshwar Dham, Baba Ramdev said ill-conceived efforts are being made for character assassination and this was a conspiracy by anti-national elements. "Religious terrorism is taking place to show Sanatan Dharma in poor light. The universal values, the internal values are Sanatan dharma...allegations are being made sometimes on the pretext of our scriptures, sometimes on the character of great men, these ill-conceived efforts are being made by anti-national, international organisations and they want to show India in a poor light due to their ill-intentions and intellectual bankruptcy. The country should oppose it unitedly," he said. Self-Styled Godman Dhirendra Shastri Alias Bageshwar Dham Sarkar Says 'Support Me for A Hindu Nation'. Dhirendra Shastri had hit the headlines after his controversial remark saying "support me and I will give you a Hindu nation". Shastri said that India is such a country that even Tulsi Das had to face challenges, adding, "Any priest, cleric or person who challenges Sanatan Dharma will get the reply. But then I am saying, you support me, I will give the Hindu nation". Dhirendra Shastri was addressing a gathering organized from January 17 to January 23 at Dahihandi Maidan in Gudhiyari, in Raipur. A "divine court" was also organized by Dhirendra Shastri on January 20 and 21. (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 26: The national capital witnessed a spectacular presentation of discipline and grit as Army contingents and other personnel marched on the Kartavya Path on the 74th Republic Day. President Droupadi Murmu unfurled the national flag at Kartavya Path, which was followed by the national anthem and 21-gun salute. Republic Day Parade 2023 Kicks Off With Egyptian Army Contingent's March on Kartavya Path for the First Time (Watch Video). Republic Day 2023 Celebrations From Kartavya Path: Marching Contingents Showcase Indias Military Might: The Naval contingent of 144 young sailors led by Lt Cdr Disha Amrith as Contingent Commander marches down Kartavya Path The marching contingent for the first time in history consists of 3 women and 6 men Agniveers pic.twitter.com/jcdUrEVxAj ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2023 Delhi | Marching contingents march down the Kartavya Path on the 74th Republic Day pic.twitter.com/nQs45k9thP ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2023 The parade started with Parade Commander, Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, a recipient of Ati Vishisth Seva Medal, marching down the Kartavya Path, followed by the Parade Second-in-Command, Major General Bhavnish Kumar. The proud winners of the highest gallantry awards -- the Param Vir Chakra and the Ashok Chakra -- followed the Parade Commander. Republic Day 2023: President Droupadi Murmu Unfurls Tricolour, Gets Ceremonial 21 Gun Salute (See Pics). Subedar Major (Honorary Capt) Bana Singh, Param Vir Chakra (Retd), 8 JAK LI Subedar Major (Honorary Capt) Yogender Singh Yadav, Param Vir Chakra, 18 GRENADIERS (Retd) Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar, Param Vir Chakra, 13 JAK RIF. The Param Vir Chakra is awarded for the most conspicuous act of bravery and self-sacrifice in the face of the enemy. The Ashok Chakra is awarded for similar acts of valour and self-sacrifice but, other than, in the face of the enemy. The Ashoka Chakra awardees include Maj Gen CA Pithawalla, Ashok Chakra (Retd), Colonel D Sreeram Kumar, Ashok Chakra, Lt Col Jas Ram Singh, Ashok Chakra (Retd). For the first time, an Egyptian Army contingent led by Colonel Mahmoud Mohamed Abdel Fattah El Kharasawy marched on Kartayvta Path. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was the Chief Guest on the occasion. The military parade group of the Egyptian Armed Forces consisted of 144 soldiers representing the main branches of the Egyptian Armed Forces reflecting the greatness of the Egyptian state and its pride in its ancient history. Following this, the first contingent in the uniform of the 61 Cavalry, led by Capt Raizada Shaurya Bali, marched on the Kartavya Path. Raised in 1953, the 61st Cavalry is the only serving active Horsed Cavalry Regiment in the World, with the amalgamation of all the 'State Horse Units'. The Regiment has won 39 Battle Honours and stands tall in Equestrian and Polo with 1 Padma Shri, 1 Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak, 12 Arjuna Awards, 06 Vishisht Seva Medals, 54 Chief of Army Staff Commendation, 1 Chief of Air Staff Commendation, 2 Chief of Staff Committee Commendation, 2 Chief of Naval Staff Commendation, 8 Vice Chief of Army Staff Commendation, 8 Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Commendation, 1 Vice Chief of Naval Staff Commendation and 191 General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Commendations. Mechanised Infantry Regiment, commanded by Capt Harshdeep Singh Sohi, was the next to follow after the advanced light helicopters' fly past. The Mechanised Infantry, dubbed as 'Tomorrow's Regiment in Today's Army', is the youngest regiment of the Indian Army. The Mechanised Infantry Regiment has the singular distinction of having been awarded 3 Param Vir Chakras, 5 Ashok Chakras, 12 Maha Vir Chakras, 3 Kirti Chakras and 55 Vir chakras, besides a multitude of Sena Medals. The Combined Band of Armoured Corps Centre & School, Parachute Regimental Centre, and Rajputana Rifles Regimental Centre, comprising 100 musicians, was the next to follow. The band was led by Sub Rajender, Rajputana Rifles Regimental Centre, and assisted by Naib Risaldar Mantu Mondal of Armoured Corps Centre & School and Subedar Rajender Singh of Parachute Regimental Centre. The next contingent marching was the Punjab Regiment led by Capt Aman Jagtap of 23 Punjab Regiment, Longewala. The Regiment has to its credit 53 Battle Honours, which includes 43 from Pre-Independence era and 10 Post-Independence period. Punjab Regiment has to its credit a total of 2,329 honours and awards and it is one of the highest decorated Regiments of the Indian Army. The next contingent was of the Maratha Light Infantry led by Capt Shashwat Singh Dabas of the Second Battalion of Maratha Light Infantry, also known as Kali Panchwin. The Maratha Light Infantry is one of the oldest and most decorated Regiment of the Indian Army. Its glorious history spans over 254 years. The men draw their inspiration from the leadership qualities and indomitable fighting spirit of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the great Maratha military genius. Today the Maratha Light Infantry had 21 active Battalions, four Rashtriya Rifles Battalions and two Territorial Army Battalions. It also had 2 PARA, 21 PARA (Special Force), 34 Field Regiment, 36 Medium Regiment, 10 Mechanised Infantry, INS Mumbai, 20 Squadron Air Force and Indian Coast Guard Air Station, Daman affiliated to the Regiment. The post-Independence distinction earned the Regiment 16 Battle and Theatre honours' and 2373 Gallantry awards; which include five Ashok Chakras, five Mahavir Chakras, 15 Kirti Chakras, four Uttam Yudh Sewa Medals, 44 Vir Chakras, 64 Shaurya Chakras, 14 Yudh Sewa Medals and 430 Sena Medals. Next to follow was the Combined Band of Rajput Regimental Centre, SIKH Regimental Centre and SIKH LI Regimental Centre comprising of 100 Musicians. The band was led by Subedar Kulwant Singh of SIKH Regimental Centre and assisted by Naib Subedar Jatinder Singh of SIKH LI Regimental Center and Havildar Laxman Singh of Rajput Regimental Centre. The next contingent was of the Dogra Regiment, which was led by Capt Varun Singh of the 21st Battalion of Dogra Regiment. The Dogra Regiment is an Infantry Regiment which traces its roots from the 17th Dogra Regiment of the British Indian Army. The Bihar Regiment led by Major Ratnesh Tiwari from 12th Battalion was the next contingent to coin towards the saluting dias. The 1st battalion of the Bihar Regiment, an all-Bihar Battalion was raised during World War 2. Following this, the Combined Band of Assam Regimental Centre, Mahar Regimental Centre and Jammu & Kashmir Rifles Regimental Centre comprising of 100 Musicians marched past the dais. The band was led by Subedar Major Diggar Singh of Mahar Regimental Centre and assisted by Subedar Ashok Kumar of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles Regimental Centre and Naib Subedar Santosh Kumar Pandey of Assam Regimental Centre. The band played 'Veer Kargil'. The next marching contingent was Gallant Gorkhas' from illustrious Gorkha Brigade led by Lt Indrajeet Singh Sikarwar of the 3 Battalion of the 9 Gorkha Rifles (CHINDITS). Gorkha Brigade is a testimony of strong cultural & historical relations between India and Nepal. The bonding of Gorkha community, transcends across international boundaries Gorkha Brigade comprises of 7 renowned Regiments of Indian Army, which include 1st, 3rd, 4th, 8th, 9th and 11th. The next to march was world-renowned brass band of the Indian Navy, comprising 80 musicians and led by M Anthony Raj, MCPO Musician Second Class, playing the Indian Navy Song tune `Jai Bharti'. The next that followed was the Naval Contingent of 144 young sailors led by Lt Cdr Disha Amrith as Contingent Commander and Lt Ashwani Singh, Sub Lt Priyanka Sharma and Sub Lt M Aditya as Platoon Commanders. The notable thing was that the marching contingent, for the very first time in history, consisted of 3 women and 6 men Agniveers. Warrant Officer Ashok Kumar led the Air Force Band, which played the tune 'Sound Barrier Quick March'. The band comprised three Drum Majors and 72 Musicians. The IAF marching contingent comprised of 144 Air Warriors and 4 Officers led by Sqn Ldr Sindhu Reddy will march past the Kartavya Path in 12x12 Box formation. The three supernumerary officers marching behind the contingent commander were Flight Lieutenant Ayush Agarwal, Flight Lieutenant Tanuj Malik and Flight Lieutenant Pradhan Nikhil. The mixed contingent of gallant soldiers of the Assam Rifles was the next to march. This magnificent force, aptly called the 'Sentinels of the North East', have always been the First Responders in all eventualities in the Northeast, earning them the adulations of fellow citizens as well as the title 'Friends of the Northeast'. Following the Assam Rifles mixed marching contingent was the Assam Rifles Band, which played the Assam Rifles song, 'Assam Rifles ke Sipahi, Desh ki Humne Shaan Badayee'. Assam Rifles Brass Band consisting of 35 Musicians is led by Warrant Officer Rajesh Kumar. The Indian Coast Guard -- 'Sentinels of our Seas' contingent was led by Deputy Commandant Rohit Singh followed by Deputy Commandant Akin Zutshi two lady officers of the Guard Assistant Commandant Mansi Shelar and Assistant Commandant Nimisha Soparkar. Indian Coast Guard is the First force to employ women in an operational role at sea. Inspector Shamsher Lal led the Central Reserve Police Force Brass Band consisting of 102 personnel that is playing the tune, 'Desh Ke Hum Hai Rakshak'. Following the band was an all-women contingent from CRPF- 'Peacekeepers of the Nation', led by Assistant Commandant Poonam Gupta. The Force has the distinction of raising the first-ever women-armed police battalion in the world. Constable Kamlesh Kumari was conferred Ashok Chakra, the highest peacetime award for gallantry for her supreme sacrifice while responding to the Parliament Attack. Repulsion of Chinese aggression by the CRPF at Hot Springs Ladakh on October 21, 1959 is celebrated as the Police Commemoration Day. The CRPF is the largest Para Military Force in the world having 246 battalions with over 3.42 lakh personnel. Constable Suresh Chand Saini led the Railway Protection Brass Band, consisting of 92 personnel. They played 'Gangotri'. Next to approach the saluting dais was the contingent of the 'Railway Protection Force led by Assistant Security Commissioner Saurav Kumar, IRPFS. Band Master Inspector Rajender Singh led the Delhi Police Band, comprising an Inspector, nine Sub Inspectors, nine Assistant Sub Inspectors, 15 Head Constables and 42 Constables. The Delhi Police Women Pipe Band comprising of 35 Women Constables participated in Republic Day Parade for the First time. The band played the 'Delhi Police Song'. The next to march was the 15-time winner of the best marching contingent of RD Parade, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Shweta K Sugathan, IPS. The Red Safa clad smartly-attired personnel, from the Delhi Police marching contingent comprises an Assistant Commissioner of Police, two Sub-Inspectors, 44 Head Constables and 100 Constables. Following the Delhi Police march, the regal Camels of the BSF under the command of Deputy Commandant Manohar Singh Kheechee marched on the Kartavya Path. For the first time, women riders on their decorated camels followed by the 'CARAVAN' participated in the Republic Day Parade 2023 showcasing the theme of empowerment of Indian women in various fields. The Camel Mounted Band of the BSF came next to it which consisted of 35 band players and is led by Band Master Sub Inspector Bodhraj. Bandsmen played the melodious tune of 'Hum Hai Seema Suraksha Bal, Bahaduro Ka Dal'. Raised in 1986-87 by the Rajasthan Frontier of the BSF, the band is a permanent feature in the Desert and Marwar Festivals and also participated in various tattoo shows. The National Cadet Corps (NCC) Boys Marching contingent, comprising 148 Senior Division cadets, was led by Senior Under Officer Pujari Sivanand of the Maharashtra Directorate. Senior Under Officer Sonali Sahoo of Odisha Directorate headed the NCC Girls Marching contingent, consisting of 148 Senior Division Cadets drawn from all 17 Directorates. The combined Band of NCC Boys Scindia School Gwalior and NCC Girls Birla Balika Vidya Peeth Pilani, Rajasthan was led by Senior Under Officer Abhisekh Chauhan and Sweksha Gupta. The band played 'Sare Jahan Se Acha'. Senior Under Officer Sonali Sahoo of NCC Directorate, Odisha led the NCC Contingent consisting of 148 Senior Division Cadets drawn from all 17 Directorates of the NCC. The next contingent to follow was the National Service Scheme, known as NSS. The contingent comprised 148 volunteers. The National Service Scheme has 3.91 million volunteers in its fold, drawn from 657 Universities, 51 Directorates and two Councils, 20,669 Colleges and Institutions of Higher Learning and 11,998 Senior Secondary Schools. The Contingent marched under the command of Aanchal Sharma from Himachal Pradesh, Regional Directorate of NSS, Chandigarh. NSS volunteers. (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 26 (ANI): As India marks its 74th Republic Day on Thursday, security has been increased across the national capital to ensure a peaceful celebration of the event. This also comes in the wake of the arrest of two terrorists in Delhi earlier this month who were in touch with foreign terrorist organisations, police had earlier said. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: Man Rapes 7-Year-Old Girl in Ballia, Sentenced to Life Imprisonment. In light of some reports on threats from anti-social and terrorist elements to the Republic Day celebrations, flying of sub-conventional and aerial platforms in the National Capital Territory of Delhi has been prohibited until further notice. The Delhi Police Commissioner, in an order issued on Monday, said some criminal and anti-social elements inimical to India may pose a threat to the safety of the general public, dignitaries, and vital installations. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Mentally Unstable Man Kills Father in Bhadohi, Arrested. According to the Delhi Police, around 65,000 people will attend the parade on January 26, for which they can register through a QR code. Entry will be given only to valid pass holders and ticket buyers. About 6,000 jawans have been deployed for security for the January 26 parade, which includes the paramilitary forces, and NSG apart from Delhi Police. Movement on Kartavya Path will be monitored with the help of around 150 CCTV cameras, which also have high-resolution cameras. The high-rise buildings around the Kartavya Path and parade routes have also been closed from the evening of January 25. Entry of heavy vehicles is also restricted in Delhi from Wednesday night. Heavy vehicles have been stopped at all the borders of Delhi. This time heavy vehicles are not allowed to enter inside the Ring Road, ie towards New Delhi. Vehicles with passes are given entry into these areas. "Entry will be given in the New Delhi district only after verifying the local people," officials said. According to the Delhi Police, around 30,000 people are expected to reach through the metro to watch the parade, for which the Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan metro stations have been made available. All metro stations are open this time. The movement of vehicles has been stopped on all major routes including Kartavya Path, Janpath, India Gate, and Copernicus Marg from early 4 am. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is the Chief Guest on this year's Republic Day. (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 26: On the occasion of the 74th Republic Day, the Indian Air Force (IAF) presented a spectacular flypast and air display with 50 aircraft and helicopters of the three forces -- Air, Navy, and Army. This included 45 aircraft of the Air Force, one from the Navy, and four helicopters of the Army that exhibited their aerobatics and professional skills. Republic Day 2023: BSF Unfurls National Flag at Attari Border, Exchanges Sweets with Pak Rangers. Among the aircraft, some were: Baaz, comprising three MiG- 29 ac formations flew in the VIC echelon. Republic Day 2023 Parade: Marching Contingents at Kartavya Path Showcase Indias Military Might (See Pics and Video). Prachand, which comprised an LCH AC in lead with two Apache Helicopters and Two ALH Mk-IV ac in echelon flew in five ac Arrow Formation. Flypast by 50 Aircraft: The grand finale of the 74th Republic Day parade comprises 45 IAF aircraft, one from Indian Navy and four helicopters from Indian Army pic.twitter.com/2KwLqOYrZb ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2023 Republic Day 2023 Flypast Videos: #WATCH | 'Baaz' formation comprising three Mig 29 multirole fighters at the 2023 Republic Day flypast (Video source: Western Air Command, IAF) pic.twitter.com/WH5HaWbvsR ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2023 #WATCH | A AEW&C - Netra in the center flanked by four Rafale multi-role fighters in 'Netra' formation at Republic Day flypast (Video source: Western Air Command, IAF) pic.twitter.com/heDi8lYPiL ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2023 #WATCH | 'Amrit' formation with six Jaguar Deep Penetration Strike Aircraft of the IAF on 2023 Republic Day (Video source: Western Air Command, IAF) pic.twitter.com/jT51f9ciYv ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2023 After Prachand, a Tiranga formed by five Sarang (ALH) flew in the Ladder Formation and streamed the Tricolour. Comprising a Dakota ac in lead with two Dornier ac in echelon, a Tangail was formed that flew in 'vic' formation. After Tangail, the Vajraang comprising one C-130 with four Rafale flew in Abreast formation. Watch Video: Later, the 'Garuda' formed with IL 38 SD, and AN32 ac flew in Vic formation. Forming an Arrow while flying, the Netra comprising of 1 x AEW & C ac with four Rafale ac in echelon also flew. Bheem, comprising one C-17 ac with two Su-30 ac in echelon streamed fuel and flew past in 'Vic' formation. Amrit, comprising six Jaguar ac, flew the water channel North of Kartvya Path in the form of an Arrowhead. For the formation of Trishul, three Su-30 Mki ac at 900 kmph flew over the water channel North of Kartvya Path along with the IAF Marching Contingent. Approaching the Dais, the formation pulled ug outwards for Trishul manoeuvre. Vijay, one Rafale ac also flew in at 900 kmph behind the Trishul formation over water channel North of Kartavya Path. The aircraft pulled up for Vertical Charlie and carried several turns while approaching the Dais. Droupadi Murmu led the nation on Thursday in celebrating the 74th Republic Day from the Kartavya Path. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was the Chief Guest at the parade. Building on last year's celebrations, in the 75th year of Independence, being celebrated as 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav', the celebrations this year were marked by zeal, enthusiasm, patriotic fervour, and 'Jan Bhagidari' as envisioned by Prime Minister Modi. The week-long celebrations commenced on January 23, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. To mark the occasion, a one-of-a-kind military tattoo and tribal dance festival 'Aadi Shaurya - Parv Parakram Ka' was organised in New Delhi on January 23 and 24. The events will culminate on January 30, which is to be observed as Martyrs' Day. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington, Jan 26 (PTI) Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has claimed that India, which has charted an independent course on foreign policy, was forced to change its strategic posture and join the four-nation Quad grouping due to China's aggressive actions. India and China are locked in a lingering border standoff in eastern Ladakh for over 31 months. Also Read | Germany Knife Attack: Two Killed, Five Injured in Assault Inside Kiel-Hamburg Train, Suspect Arrested. The bilateral relationship came under severe strain following the deadly clash in Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh in June, 2020. India has maintained that the bilateral relationship cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border area. Also Read | US: Female Teacher Rapes Student in Exchange for Giving Him 'Good Grades' in Missouri, Faces seven Charges for Sex Crimes. In his latest book 'Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love' that hit the stores on Tuesday, Pompeo called India the wild card in Quad because it was a nation founded on socialist ideology and spent the Cold War aligning with neither the US nor the erstwhile USSR. The country (India) has always charted its own course without a true alliance system, and that is still mostly the case. But China's actions have caused India to change its strategic posture in the last few years, Pompeo wrote in his latest book. Pompeo, 59, who is widely speculated to run for the Presidential elections in 2024, explains how the Donald Trump administration succeeded in bringing India on board the Quad grouping. The US, Japan, India and Australia had in 2017 given shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the Quad or the Quadrilateral coalition to counter China's aggressive behaviour in the resource-rich Indo-Pacific region. China forged a close partnership with Pakistan India's arch rival as one of the first steps in its Belt and Road Initiative. "In June 2020, Chinese soldiers clubbed twenty Indian soldiers to death in a border skirmish. That bloody incident caused the Indian public to demand a change in their country's relationship with China, Pompeo writes. India banned TikTok and dozens of Chinese apps as part of its response. And a Chinese virus was killing hundreds of thousands of Indian citizens. I was sometimes asked why India had moved away from China, and my answer came straight from what I heard from Indian leadership: 'Wouldn't you?' times were changing and creating an opportunity for us to try something new and pull the US and India more closely together than ever, Pompeo writes. In his book, Pompeo describes the former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as a global leader of extraordinary courage and vision. He is regarded as the father of the Quad, demonstrating his foresight in viewing the CCP as a threat. He also coined the idea of a free and open Indo-Pacific a concept that has gained lasting currency in diplomatic circles. It's worth repeating: What a loss it was for the world that this outstanding leader was assassinated in 2022, Pompeo writes. Pompeo also praised former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison for displaying courage and standing up against Chinese aggression. The Japanese and Australian legs of the Quad were strong and getting stronger with our support, he added. China is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea. China claims sovereignty over all of the South China Sea. Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan have counterclaims. Beijing has also built up and militarised many of the islands and reefs it controls in the region. Both areas are stated to be rich in minerals, oil and other natural resources and are also vital to global trade. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington, Jan 26 (AP) The U.S. House overwhelmingly approved a resolution Wednesday expressing solidarity with people in Iran who have been risking imprisonment and even death to protest against the country's theocracy. The 420-1 vote marked the latest round of international condemnation against Iran's government, which has engaged in a brutal crackdown of its citizenry since the September death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody. Also Read | Google Said It Believes the Complaint from the U.S. Department of Justice Accusing the Latest Tweet by Reuters. It is vital that we in the U.S. House of Representatives, a body that is among the greatest symbols of freedom and democracy around the world, stand with one voice to affirm our support for the brave Iranian people, Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., said during floor debate Wednesday. The resolution was first introduced in the last Congress by several Republican and Democratic lawmakers and was revived earlier this month reflecting a rare point of consensus for an increasingly divided Congress. Also Read | Germany Knife Attack: Two Killed, Five Injured in Assault Inside Kiel-Hamburg Train, Suspect Arrested. Its passage came days after the U.S., Europe and the United Kingdom imposed a series of fresh sanctions on dozens of Iranian officials and organisations, including the country's special military and police forces, for their violent clampdown. Activists say at least 16 people have been sentenced to death in closed-door hearings over charges linked to the protests. Death sentences in Iran are typically carried out by hanging. At least 517 protesters have been killed and over 19,200 people have been arrested, according to Human Rights Activists in Iran, a group that has closely monitored the unrest. Iranian authorities have not provided an official count of those killed or detained. The protests began in mid-September when 22-year-old Amini died after being arrested by Iran's morality police for allegedly violating the Islamic Republic's strict dress code. Women have been at the vanguard of the protests, with many publicly stripping off the compulsory Islamic headscarf, known as the hijab, in defiance of the government. The protests mark one of the biggest challenges to Iran's theocracy since the 1979 revolution and the reaction from the government has been severe. Security forces have used live ammunition, birdshot, tear gas, and batons to disperse protesters, according to rights groups. We want the Iranian people to know that we see you. We know the risk you're taking and the danger that you face, Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., ranking chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said on the House floor. Stay strong. He added, Stay strong as freedom will always win over tyranny. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Rio de Janeiro [Brazil], January 26 (ANI): The Academy of Letters of Brazil (ALB) in a Plenary Session held on January 19, 2023, ratified the election of poet-diplomat Abhay K as a foreign corresponding member of the Academy. Speaking on the occasion Marcos Freitas, the President of the ALB said, "India, the cradle of World Literature, has always been a source of wisdom and fruitful exchanges with Brazil. Following this tradition, Abhay K, even before his arrival as a diplomat in Brazil, edited CAPITALS - an anthology of poems on 185 capital cities of the world (Bloomsbury), which included a poem on Brasilia. During his diplomatic mission in Brazil as India's Deputy Ambassador (2016-2019), he organized the monthly literary event Chai com Letras (Tea with Letters), where he brought together poets and writers from Brasilia and other cities in Brazil." Also Read | US: FBI Raids Secret Chinese Police Station in New York. "Abhay K also edited and translated 'New Brazilian poems--A bilingual anthology after Elizabeth Bishop' (Ibis Libris 2019), which presents the work of 60 Brazilian poets in English translation. This landmark anthology is the continuation of the work of Elizabeth Bishop, one of the greatest poets of the 20th century," added Freitas. ALB is like the French Academy of Letters has 40 active members, who are elected by their peers. The Academy has already had great names in Brazilian Literature in the past such as Ledo Ivo, Almeida Fischer, among others. Also Read | Republic Day 2023 Wishes: France President Emmanuel Macron, Russia's Vladimir Putin, Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Other World Leaders Extend Warm Greetings to India on Its 74th R-Day. Its membership currently includes noted writers such as Anderson Braga Horta, Fabio Lucas, Flavio Rene Kothe, Ruy Espinheira Filho, Paes Loureiro, Antonio Miranda, among others. Similar to the French Academy of Letters, the ALB has in its statute the possibility of having up to 20 foreign corresponding members. They include renowned foreign writers, and representatives of World Literature, especially those who have a special relationship with Brazilian Culture and Literature. In the election process, they need to be nominated by at least five active members and approved by the General Assembly, by a majority of voters. Abhay K (India), Indran Armirthanayagam (Sri Lanka/USA) and Alfredo Perez Alencart (Peru/Spain) are the first three elected to compose the board of foreign corresponding members. During his stay in Brazil Abhay K also wrote a collection of poems on Brazil's capital, Brasilia, titled The Prophecy of Brasilia (Colletivo Editorial, 2018) and a collection of poems on Latin America titled The Alphabets of Latin America. (Bloomsbury India). His edited volume 100 Great Indian Poems was translated into Portuguese and was published by the University of Sao Paulo as 100 Grandes Poemas da India. He also wrote an article highlighting the work of Brazilian poet Cecelia Meireles who visited India in 1953 and wrote a book of poems on India. Abhay K received SAARC Literary Award in 2013 for his contributions to South Asian Poetry and is the author of a dozen poetry collections and editor of half a dozen books including The Book of Bihari Literature (HarperCollins India). (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Abu Dhabi [UAE], January 26 (ANI): The Islamic world is worried about the Taliban's interpretation of Islam as it poses political challenges. The Taliban has enforced Sharia laws based on their own interpretation of Islam, according to Dubai-based media network Al Arabiya Post. Taliban leaders, however, insist that their policies are based on Islamic jurisprudence. Also Read | McDonald's Customer Eats Meal Slowly, Gets Fined Rs 10,000 for Violating 90-Minute Parking Time Limit. Columnist Mohammed Amir Rana, writing for the Dawn newspaper, claimed that Pakistan is among those Muslim countries that have distanced themselves from the Afghan Taliban's conception and enforcement of Islamic laws. The ideological influence of the Taliban, a hard-line Sunni organization in Pakistan, is today visible in the form of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Every step that the Taliban has taken to enforce Sharia and make the women of Afghanistan outcasts in their own land, pushes Pakistan further away from its historical links with the Taliban much to its discomfort, according to Al Arabiya Post. Also Read | Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos's Girlfriend, Prepares For All-Female Flight on Blue Origin Mission. Even the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), took notice of the Taliban's actions against Afghan women and reminded the Taliban to mend its ways. The 57 OIC member countries in December 2022, held a special meeting on Afghanistan and urged the Taliban to abide by the "principles and purposes" enshrined in the United Nations Charter. The OIC also called on the Taliban to reconsider the "un-Islamic" ban on women's education and launched a campaign to teach the Taliban the real Islam that encourages education for women, according to the Al Arabiya Post. It said that the OIC Executive Committee, headed by Saudi Arabia, met again in January 2023 to discuss Afghanistan. The meeting inter alia recalled that "the right of women and girls to access all levels of education, including university level, is a fundamental right in keeping with the teachings of the noble Islamic shariah". The Taliban's ban on women's education contradicted Islamic law, according to the Grand Imam of Egypt's Al-Azhar University. According to the Al Arabiya Post, the Islamic world is thus rightly worried about the Taliban's interpretation of Islam as it poses a political challenge. Today, many Islamic societies have developed compatibility with modern values of freedom and human rights. However, the Taliban leaders insist that their policies are based on Islamic jurisprudence. Earlier, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called on the Taliban in Afghanistan to reverse the ban on girls' access to secondary and higher education. Calling education a fundamental right, Guterres said that now is the time for all nations to ensure actual steps to develop welcoming and inclusive learning environments for all. "Now is also the time to end all discriminatory laws and practices that hinder access to education. I call on the de facto authorities in Afghanistan in particular to reverse the outrageous and self-defeating ban on access to secondary and higher education for girls," the official spokesperson of the UN Secretary-General has said. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], January 26 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for gracing the Republic Day celebrations. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said, "I am grateful to President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for gracing this year's Republic Day celebrations with his august presence.@AlsisiOfficial". Also Read | Truck Maker Volvo Warns of Lingering Supply Strains Latest Tweet by Reuters. India is celebrating its 74th Republic Day with great fervour. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was the Chief Guest at the parade. On this day, 74 years back, India officially adopted its Constitution following its Independence. Earlier today, President El-Sisi attended the Republic Day parade as the chief guest. For the first time, an Egyptian leader has been invited on India's Republic Day. Also Read | Republic Day 2023: PM Narendra Modi Thanks Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for Gracing 74th R-Day Parade Ceremony. El-Sisi, who is on a four-day visit to India, and accompanied by a high-level delegation will attend an 'At-Home' reception by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Later, El-Sisi will be called on by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and the two sides will hold a meeting. During the Republic Day Parade, a military contingent of the Egyptian Army marched towards the saluting dias on the Kartavya Path for the first time. The Egyptian military contingent led by Colonel Mahmoud Mohamed Abdel Fattah El Kharasawy consisting of 144 soldiers represented the main branches of the Egyptian armed forces. The Egyptian forces have considered it an honour and privilege to participate in India's Republic Day parade. The Egyptian contingent carries the legacy of one of the oldest regular armies known to humanity. Notably, the history of the Egyptian army goes back to 3200 BC when King Narmer unified Egypt. The old Kingdom was considered to be the height of Egyptian civilisation. The modern Egyptian army was established during the rule of Muhammad Ali Pasha who is widely considered the founder of modern Egypt. He formed an army with soldiers mainly conscripted of modern Egypt. India and Egypt are celebrating 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations this year. India has also invited Egypt as a 'guest country" during its G20 Presidency. Furthermore, the visit of El-Sisi is seen as a visit to bolster ties between India and Egypt and further deepen them. India and Egypt have "warm and friendly relations marked by civilizational, cultural and economic linkages and deep-rooted people-to-people ties", according to the statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington, Jan 26 (AP) Members of the Senate intelligence committee said Wednesday that they should have access to classified documents that were discovered in the homes of President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence, arguing that Biden's administration is stonewalling them over the matter. Senators reacted with swift, bipartisan anger after a classified meeting with National Intelligence Director Avril Haines, insisting they need to see for themselves what documents the three men were holding. Also Read | Germany Knife Attack: Two Killed, Five Injured in Assault Inside Kiel-Hamburg Train, Suspect Arrested. It is our responsibility to make sure that we, in the role of the intelligence oversight, know if there's been any intelligence compromised, said Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat. Warner and the panel's vice chairman, Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, held a joint news conference after they walked out of the meeting. Also Read | US: Female Teacher Rapes Student in Exchange for Giving Him 'Good Grades' in Missouri, Faces seven Charges for Sex Crimes. Members of Congress have sought access to the materials, or at least a risk assessment detailing what was within them, since the discovery of documents at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida last summer. But they say the administration has objected, arguing they can't provide that access as two special counsels at the Justice Department are investigating Trump and Biden's mishandlings of the documents. Senators argued that this doesn't follow precedent. In the Justice Department's Russia investigation, for example, committees had access to classified materials that were also part of then-Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe. The administration's position is untenable, Rubio said. The information we're asking for has no bearing whatsoever or would interfere in no way with a criminal investigation. The senators didn't say how they might retaliate if the administration isn't more forthcoming. But Rubio hinted earlier this week that they could withhold dollars from the intelligence community if Congress isn't given special access to the materials. I'm not in the business of threats right now, Rubio said. But I'm just saying every year this committee has to authorize how money is spent in (Biden's) agencies. Rubio noted that he and Warner also have responsibilities to authorise and move money around within the intelligence community. I think there'll be a keen interest in looking at that if in fact we can't get the answers that we need, he said. Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, a Republican member of the committee, said he and others may move to block quick consideration of some of Biden's nominees in the meantime. Congress will impose pain on the administration until they provide these documents, Cotton said after Wednesday's meeting. The frustration in Congress comes after months of waiting for a briefing on the documents seized at Trump's estate. According to the government, those documents seized at Mar-a-Lago and papers the Republican former president had turned over previously included highly sensitive Special Access Programme designations as well as markings for intelligence derived from secret human sources and electronic signals programmes. Those forms of intelligence are often produced by the CIA or the National Security Agency, and the underlying sources can take years to develop. A review by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence was meant to determine the possible damage if the secrets in those documents were exposed. In a letter last year to Congress, Haines said the ODNI would lead a classification review of relevant materials, including those recovered during the search. But lawmakers are still waiting on the details from that assessment, and they say they want access to the documents themselves as well. Lawyers for Pence said this week that an apparently small number of papers were inadvertently boxed and transported to his Indiana home at the end of the Trump administration. That revelation came after Biden's lawyers said they had discovered documents from his time as vice president in his Delaware home and his pre-presidential think-tank offices. Special counsels are investigating the Trump and Biden episodes. In all three matters, the significance of the classified material and whether its mishandling breaches national security are not publicly known. Warner said the Senate may try to find a way to put more safeguards around presidential transitions and the handling of documents. It's unclear how they would do that, and those talks have just begun amid the Biden and Pence revelations. Some members have long talked about putting new parameters about what is classified, reacting to concerns that some documents are kept secret when they don't need to be. We've got a broken system, Warner said. And we got to fix this for all folks leaving government. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bulandshahr, January 26: A young girl was attacked with a knife for allegedly objecting to a man spitting on her in Khurja region of Uttar Pradesh. The incident occurred when the girl was on her way to college, the police said. Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Landlord Kills PhD Scholar, Chops His Body Into Four Pieces in Ghaziabad; Arrested. A senior police officer said: "The girl, Sakshi, who was heading to her Polytechnic college, complained that the 25-year-old accused, Sonu, spit on her and after she objected to it, he stabbed her with a knife on her face. "We have arrested the accused and registered a case against him under section 307 (attempt to murder) of IPC." Viral Video: Scuffle Breaks Out Between Lawyer and Police Inspector Inside a Courtroom in UPs Bulandshahar. "Meanwhile, Khurja circle officer Dilip Singh said the girl was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she underwent treatment and was later discharged. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 27, 2023 10:48 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). An atmosphere of patriotic zeal and fervour gripped the Attari-Wagah border in Punjab's Amritsar as the country commemorates the 74th Republic Day on Thursday. The seat-sharing between the two parties was finalised in a meeting held in Delhi where the BJP high command consented to go with the same seat formula of 40:20 in the next month's assembly poll. However, it has created uproar, with BJP supporters demanding 30 seats in the alliance with NDPP. With Austin Butler receiving backlash for referring to Vanessa Hudgens as a "friend" when talking about Elvis, the actor has finally decided to credit to his ex-girlfriend for helping him out with the role. Saying that he owes her a lot for "believing' in him, Butler in an interview recalled how Hudgens pushed him to play the King of Rock. Vanessa Hudgens Comments 'Crying' Under a Post About Ex Austin Butler's Elvis Accent Being 'Genuine' Check Out What Austin Butler Had to Say: Austin Butler has now credited Vanessa Hudgens for helping him with Elvis role after receiving backlash: I was with my partner at the time. Wed been together for so long and she had this sort of clairvoyant moment and so I really, I owe her a lot for believing in me. pic.twitter.com/WxgAWXguf6 Pop Crave (@PopCrave) January 25, 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.) On the occasion of 74th Republic Day, President Droupadi Murmu led the nation in celebrating Republic Day. Egypts President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi also attended the ceremonial event as the chief guest of the Republic Day. Simultaneously, the National Anthem and 21-gun salute were presented. The national flag was unfurled first, followed by the national anthem with a booming 21-gun salute. Republic Day 2023: PM Narendra Modi Pays Tributes to Fallen Soldiers at National War Memorial on Occasion of Gantantra Diwas (Watch Video). See Pics: Delhi | President Droupadi Murmu leads the nation in celebrating Republic Day Egypts President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi attends the ceremonial event as the chief guest Simultaneously, National Anthem and 21-gun salute presented pic.twitter.com/hi3joxFs57 ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2023 Watch Video: LIVE: Republic Day Parade - 2023 https://t.co/wT9nGbWDGu President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 26, 2023 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) New Delhi, January 26: India is celebrating its 74th Republic Day today, January 26. As part of celebrations, Republic Day Parade is held at Kartavya Path in Delhi. State-owned public broadcaster Doordarshan National is hosting live streaming of the Republic Day Parade 2023 on its YouTube channel. A special Republic Day 2023 Parade live streaming begins at 9 am. The parade is scheduled to start at 10 am. Scroll down to watch the Republic Day Parade 2023 live streaming on Doordarshan National's YouTube channel. The Republic Day Parade includes march past by contingents of the Armed Forces and Paramilitary Forces, tableaux display by the states and central ministries, cultural performances by children, acrobatic motorcycle rides and a fly-past. Republic Day 2023: From Preamble to Its Adoption, All You Need To Know About the Constitution of India on the Day That Celebrates Its Enactment. India's Republic Day Parade 2023 Live Streaming: Republic Day 2023 Parade Live Streaming: India 74th Republic Day Parade, Flag Unfurling Live Streaming: (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.) Dairo Antonio Usuga David, also known as "Otoniel," was the most infamous drug trafficker and paramilitary leader in Colombia. He exported hundreds of tons of cocaine to the United States and was responsible for igniting a generation of violence across his country. However, the feared commander of the narco-paramilitary organization known as the Gulf Clan appeared contrite before a federal courtroom Wednesday, according to Vice. He sat in a blue jail smock and listened nervously as the judge read the counts against him from three federal indictments. He then mumbled the Spanish word for "culpable" or guilty three times. In his plea agreement, Otoniel, 51, admitted to smuggling a massive 96,856 kilograms of cocaine from Colombia and pledged to forfeit $216 million of drug revenues to the U.S. authorities. In exchange for his extradition, the United States decided not to keep the notorious drug lord detained for the rest of his days, even though Otoniel would ordinarily face life in prison for his crimes, as Colombia does not permit life imprisonment. Judge Dora Irizarry, who would decide Dairo Antonio Usuga's sentence, had told him that since he has no legal status in the U.S., he would be deported back to Colombia at some point after his release from prison. READ NEXT: 'Otoniel' Pleads Guilty in US Dairo Antonio Usuga Pleads Guilty "Tons of cocaine were moved with my permission or at my direction," Dairo Antonio Usuga, better known as Otoniel, told a Brooklyn federal court. "There was a lot of violence with the guerillas and the criminal gangs," he added, and acknowledged that "in military work, homicides were committed." Prosecutors have indicated that the Colombian drug lord will receive a sentence of at least 20 years in jail. According to Irizarry, the U.S. government dropped its demand for a life sentence in exchange for the extradition of the defendant from Colombia last year, AP noted. "With today's guilty plea, the bloody reign of the most violent and significant Colombian narcotics trafficker since Pablo Escobar is over," said Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace. Paul Nalven, Otoniel's defense attorney, described him as "very remorseful" and claimed his client was "a child of the cycle of violence" that had plagued Colombia his whole life. The attorney claims that Otoniel, who only completed fourth grade, was forced into guerrilla warfare when he was 16. After his capture, Otoniel asked his gang to stop attacking the police. He hopes the six-month ceasefire between President Gustavo Petro's government and five armed organizations, including the Gulf Clan, will lead to sustainable peace. "He'd like to see a better Colombia," Nalven said. Colombia Drug Lord Dairo Antonio Usuga and the Gulf Clan Formed in the first decade of this century by the heads of paramilitary groups that refused to sign a demobilization deal with other groups, the Gulf Clan also goes by the name Gaitanista Self Defense Forces of Colombia. The most recent boss of the Gulf Clan, Otoniel, had been on the DEA's most-wanted list for years. Hundreds of soldiers participated in an operation last year that resulted in his capture from his hiding place. The United States government had put a $5 million price on his head, per CBS News. The Colombia drug lord was initially prosecuted in 2009 on drug charges and accused of aiding a far-right paramilitary group listed as a terrorist organization by the United States government in Manhattan federal court. Between 2003 and 2014, he was accused of bringing in at least 73 metric tons of cocaine into the United States, according to indictments filed in federal courts in Brooklyn and Miami. It was speculated that the Gulf Clan was responsible for 30% of all cocaine shipped out of Colombia, the largest producer and supplier in the world, said Al Jazeera. READ MORE: Brazil Yanomami Indigenous People Living in Dire Conditions This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Otoniel: Colombia's most wanted drug lord captured - From Al Jazeera English The Biden administration implemented a new policy to curb illegal border crossings from Latin American and Caribbean countries, especially from Haiti, Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela. Now, the initial numbers are released and the new Biden policy seems to be working. Migrant arrivals at the U.S.-Mexico border from Haiti, Nicaragua, and Cuba, reached record levels in December, the highest in Joe Biden's presidency. However, a few weeks after Biden announced that he will be expanding his policy of offering legal pathways for Venezuelans to come to the United States for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua, those numbers have so far dropped, according to the Miami Herald. Immigrants From Haiti, Nicaragua, and Cuba Arriving Less According to the Department of Homeland Security The Biden policy was first made available for Venezuelans, seeing a huge drop in the number of Venezuelans trying to cross the border from Mexico. The new numbers from the Department of Homeland Security suggest it is also working for the other nationalities. The number of encounters with Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans unlawfully crossing the border had "declined 97% compared to December." "Encounters with individuals from these countries dropped from a 7-day average of 3,367 per day on December 11, to a seven-day average of just 115 on January 24," according to the DHS report. READ MORE: Migrants at the Border Could Now Apply for Asylum Online The DHS also pointed out that this drop happened even after the "typical seasonal decline over the holidays." Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated that this showed that the new measures are working. He then criticized some of the states who sought to block the measure as they will also be benefitting from these said "highly effective enforcement measures." He also warned that blocking this measure would cause more irregular migration, according to the Associated Press. The numbers from Customs and Border Patrol agents back the claim as they only recorded an average of 115 encounters with migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela per day at the U.S.-Mexico border. This is way down from the daily average of 3,367, last recorded on December 11. Texas Challenging New Biden Policy on Immigration The new policy will allow up to 360,000 people to enter the United States a year, as it offers a legal pathway for people to come into the country. However, Texas is trying to stop this large-scale humanitarian parole with a lawsuit, according to Yahoo! News. "This unlawful amnesty program, which will invite hundreds of thousands of aliens into the U.S. every year, will only make this immigration crisis drastically worse," said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. However, despite these claims, the migrants will still have to go through a vetting process. So far, 1,700 Cubans, Nicaraguans, and Haitians have reached the United States on humanitarian parole under the new Biden policy which was announced earlier this month. Thousands more are expected to arrive. The DHS also added that the numbers for the month of January were on track to be the "lowest since February 2021." READ MORE: Venezuelan Migrant Numbers at U.S.-Mexico Border Drop by 90% This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Border gaps near Yuma seeing less migrants - KGUN9 The Jared Bridegan killer has been arrested after the Microsoft executive was killed around a year ago in front of his daughter, who was a two-year-old at the time, according to Florida officials. Florida authorities identified the person responsible for Bridegan's murder as 61-year-old Henry Tenon, according to Fox News. He is charged with conspiracy to commit murder, second-degree murder, accessory to a capital felony, and child abuse. Investigators did not disclose the evidence linking Tenon to the Microsoft executive's murder. However, his most recent address has a connection to Bridegan's ex-wife, Shanna Gardner-Fernandez. Gardner-Fernandez's second husband, Mario Fernandez, owned the address where Tenon resided at the time of the murder. The property was at 5239 Potomac Avenue in Jacksonville, which was purchased in 2017 and sold in October, according to public records. The Jared Bridegan murder suspect seemed to have rented the property directly from Fernandez. Jacksonville Beach Police Department Chief Gene Paul and Melissa Nelson disclosed the recent developments in the case. Nelson noted that they knew Tenon did not act alone. One law enforcement official noted that Gardner-Fernandez and Fernandez are still suspects in Bridegan's murder. READ NEXT: Florida Man Admits Shooting Ex-Girlfriend 15 Times After She Refused to Answer His Calls and Texts Following Their Split Jared Bridegan Murder Bridegan was on his way back home on February 16 when he spotted a tire in the middle of the road in a quiet residential neighborhood. He then tried to move the tire and was then shot multiple times. Officials called it a "targeted" killing. Bridegan's daughter was still strapped into her car seat in his Volkswagen Atlas when a passerby saw Bridegan three minutes later. Emergency lights were flashing when officers arrived. The tire remained in the middle of the road near the Microsoft executive lying next to his open driver's door, according to police. The case has taken new speculations after his ex-wife was found to have about 300 entries and motions, with filings arguing over where to send their twins to elementary school. Court filings also showed accusations of mental and financial manipulation. Amid the case, Gardner-Fernandez and her husband have hired a criminal defense attorney despite not being identified as persons of interest or suspects at the time. A spokesperson for the couple noted that they were no longer speaking out of respect to Bridegan's wife, Kirsten Bridegan. They claimed that she specifically asked them not to speak to the media. Jared Bridegan Ex-Wife Gardner-Fernandez has been a target of media scrutiny and speculations since the Microsoft top official's murder and remained silent a first. In June 2022, she sat down for her only TV interview and talked for around 40 minutes while going through every detail of her life with Bridegan and her life after his death. Gardner-Fernandez said she was told not to speak publicly but decided to do so due to the level of speculation she was receiving. Bridegan and Gardner-Fernandez both wanted full custody of their twins, with court files detailing accusations of spying, deceit, and more. The two reached a custody agreement in the end. In the TV interview, she was asked if she had anything to do with the Microsoft top dog's murder, to which she answered "no." READ MORE: Rafael Caro Quintero's Wife Denies Legal Battle With Guadalajara Cartel Founder Over Alimony Demand This article is owned by Latin Post Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Microsoft executive murder: Jared Bridegan's killer didn't act alone, police say - from LiveNOW from FOX Randy Gonzalez, the father of the viral TikTok duo Enkyboys, passed away from colon cancer Wednesday morning in hospice, a source close to the family told TMZ. He was 35. In April last year, the dad of the viral TikTok Duo Enkyboys turned to GoFundMe to raise money for his care after being turned away from a cancer center at the University of Texas because they did not accept his insurance. To raise awareness about colon cancer, he and his son Brice took to social media, where they quickly became viral sensations for the infectious warmth of their father-and-son relationship. READ NEXT: Paris Hilton Reacts to a TikTok Influencer Randy Gonzales Informed His Fans About His Condition Randy Gonzales, the dad of TikTok duo Enkyboys, passed away on Monday after a valiant battle with stage 4 colon cancer, which he disclosed to his 15.4 million TikTok followers in April 2022, six months after his diagnosis. The father of three revealed to his adoring fans that doctors had given him only two to three years to live and that chemotherapy might add another five years to his life. When he updated his TikTok fans in early December, he said that everything was "going fine" besides that his current treatment strategy was "not working." Speaking to the camera as he stood next to his wife and their son Brice, 6, he said, "I do feel good," stating that he was simply glad that his family was back in Texas. In the video, he explains that he has been "sick all the time," which has kept him from posting. Randy Gonzales took to social media after receiving his diagnosis to express his determination to be "strong for the family" and raise awareness about colon cancer, per The Daily Mail. His cheerful attitude in the face of sorrow was tested when he described how he and his loved ones sometimes felt like they were "going through the motions" and trying to get through his cancer diagnosis "day by day." Gonzalez expressed his distress about having to undergo treatment in November, saying he had "barely started moving again." "Cancer sucks. It sucks the life out of you and makes you feel like you have nothing to live for but in reality, you do. You have to be strong to fight cancer and beat it," he said. The influencer continued, "I want to be a testimony of this in another year or so when I'm still alive." TikTok Duo Enkyboys Randy Gonzales and his son Brice, the TikTok Duo Enkyboys, have amassed 15 million followers thanks to their humorous videos. The pair's popularity has skyrocketed since they took the platform in 2019, according to MYSA. They have been featured on "Good Morning America" and other major news programs, and their videos have been shared on social media sites such as BuzzFeed and Yahoo Lifestyle. Their popularity continued to rise when Brice appeared in an episode of Lopez V. Lopez, George Lopez's new program, playing George's grandson and son of Mayan, Lopez's on-screen and real-life daughter. He co-stars with Selenis Leyva and Matt Shively, in addition to George and Mayan. Additionally, he starred in the Eva Longoria movie Flamin' Hot. The film centers on Richard Montaez, a Frito-Lay janitor who claims to have invented Flamin' Hot Cheetos in his own kitchen. Brice will portray one of Montaez's sons. Randy Gonzales is survived by his wife, Kimberly Gonzalez, son Brice, and daughters Lauran and Aubree. READ MORE: Colombia Drug Lord Otoniel This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Randy Gonzalez, Dad From TikTok Duo Enkyboys, Dead at 35 - From Entertainment Tonight January is often one of the coldest months in the northern hemisphere, including the usually warm and sunny Puerto Rico. Thus, it is often an excellent time to partake in some nice, warm Puerto Rican soups. Soups are a big part of Puerto Rican cuisine, with many having rice and noodles to help warm a person up. Even if it is not the cold month of January, which is considered the coldest month in the U.S. territory, soup can be enjoyed all year as a nice hearty meal. 5 Puerto Rican Soups to Warm You Up There are plenty of Puerto Rican soups to choose from, all complement the cold weather we are all experiencing now. So, here are five hearty soups from the island that will surely fill one up. Puerto Rican Sancocho Sancocho can be found throughout Latin America, but this Puerto Rican variant differs as it uses local ingredients found around the island, according to All Recipes. These include adding corn and pumpkin into the sancocho and other ingredients like ginger, cumin, and many more. However, like other sancocho recipes, this one is best served with a slice of bread. Asopao Asopao is a cross between a soup and a stew, as this thick and hearty dish contains plenty of ingredients like rice, peas, and pork. Beef or seafood can also replace pork. Variants also have other ingredients like ham, peppers, onions, tomatoes, olives, and sausages. This dish is often considered a staple of Puerto Rican cuisine, usually found in restaurants and served in most Puerto Rican households. READ NEXT: Decadent Mexican Sweets Sopa de Fideo (Puerto Rican Chicken Noodle Soup) Another staple soup dish in Puerto Rico is Sopa de Fideo, which uses sofrito as its base. The soup has noodles and is considered a chicken noodle soup. According to Latina Mom Meals, this dish has a wide variety of ingredients like carrots, red peppers, boneless chicken, celery, onions, and thin pasta, all cooked with a variety of traditional Puerto Rican seasonings. So, expect this dish to be very spicy and may even be able to clear your sinuses. Caldo Santo This traditional Puerto Rican soup is often served during the Holy Week when much of the Catholic-majority island sacrifice meat consumption. The soup uses coconut milk as its base, with fish, pumpkin, taro root, plantains, green bananas, sweet potatoes, sofrito, and achiote seeds. They are slowly simmered together to make a warm and flavorful soup. Sopa de Salchichon This dish is basically sausage noodle soup, with the popular Spanish sausage salchichon serving as the main ingredient. It is simmered together with other ingredients like potatoes, broken spaghetti, onions, garlic, sofrito, tomato sauce, olive oil, sazon spice blend, corn, olives, and coriander, according to Taste Atlas. READ MORE: Popular Empanada Varieties From Around Latin America This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Cooking Sopa de Salchichon - From Sharlene Colon Meta announced Wednesday that it would reopen its social media platforms to Donald Trump, saying it would reinstate the former president's access to Facebook and Instagram accounts. According to The New York Times, Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, said Trump will regain access to his accounts "in the coming weeks." It noted that Trump's accounts collectively had hundreds of millions of followers. The former president reportedly had the most followed account on Facebook when he was banned. Meta said it decided to reverse the bans on Trump as it had determined that the risk to public safety had "sufficiently receded" since January 2021. The company went on to say it would put new guardrails in place to "deter repeat offenses" in the future. Meta's president of global affairs, Nick Clegg, noted that the public should be able to hear what the lawmakers are saying, whether good, bad, or ugly. Clegg added that the public could make informed choices at the ballot box when public figures are available on social media platforms. However, the Meta official said it does not mean there would be "no limits" to what people can post on the platform. READ NEXT: Sean Hannity Says He Did Not Believe Donald Trump's Election Fraud Claims 'For One Second' Donald Trump Facebook and Instagram Ban In January 2021, Facebook's Oversight Board decided to keep Donald Trump off the social media platform "indefinitely and for at least the next two weeks" until there was a peaceful transition of power. Clegg said at the time that those were decisions that they "cannot duck." However, misinformation experts and civil rights said that Trump's social media suspension in 2021 was "too little, too late." Brian Friedberg, a senior researcher at the Harvard Shorenstein Center's Technology and Social Change Project, noted that it was exactly what they expected. Tech platforms were initially reluctant to police Trump's posts despite consistently violating hate speech regulations. Assistant professor of communication at Syracuse University and expert on social media, Jennifer M. Grygiel, said Trump's influence on social media spread propaganda and has gone unchecked. Grygiel noted that it was a product of "four years of systematic propaganda," which started from the presidency. Aside from Facebook and Instagram, Trump was also banned on YouTube due to concerns over "ongoing potential for violence." Twitter also banned Trump, with its former CEO Jack Dorsey saying that the ban was "a dangerous" move, which could result in "significant ramifications." Donald Trump's Return on Social Media Platforms In November, the new CEO of Twitter, Elon Musk, reversed the platform's ban on Donald Trump following a poll of his Twitter followers. Musk also disbanded Twitter's Trust and Safety Council, a group of outside experts who consulted with the company on sensitive matters. After the former president's account was allowed on the platform, his previous tweets became viewable, with the most recent one from January 8 2021 when he posted that he would not be attending President Joe Biden's inauguration. The former president had 88.8 million Twitter followers when he was banned. Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers criticized the reverse of Trump's ban on social media platforms. Rep. Jan Schakowsky said the Capitol community is still "picking up the pieces" from the riot. READ MORE: Donald Trump Admits He Didn't Win Presidential Election 2020 During Interview With Presidential Historians This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Meta Lifts Donald Trump's 2-Year Suspension on Facebook, Instagram - From NBC News U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Wednesday that the State Department is banning former Panama President Ricardo Martinelli from ever traveling to the United States. According to Blinken's statement, the U.S. is barring Martinelli's entry into the country due to "his involvement in significant corruption." The former president of Panama allegedly accepted bribes in exchange for improperly awarding government contracts when he was still in office. Blinken noted that this designation against the former president reaffirms "the commitment of the United States to combat corruption, which harms the public interest, hampers countries' economic prosperity, and curtails the ability of governments to respond effectively to the needs of their people." READ NEXT: Guatemala Sentences Ex-President and Ex-Vice President to Prison for Corruption Former Panama President Ricardo Martinelli's Sons Also Barred From Entering the United States Aside from former Panama President Ricardo Martinelli, the ban also applied to his two sons. According to the Associated Press, Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares and Ricardo Martinelli Linares have recently completed prison sentences in the U.S. Martinelli's two sons were convicted of conspiring to launder millions of dollars after they acted as middlemen for some $28 million in bribes from Brazilian construction company Odebrecht to a Panamanian official while their father served as president from 2009 to 2014. The Department of Justice said they laundered millions of dollars in bribe payments through bank accounts in "New York and elsewhere." The brothers returned to Panama on Wednesday, an official from the Central American country's National Immigration Service told the AP. The Martinelli brothers will be among the 36 people who will be going on trial for the Odebrecht scandal. The company allegedly bribed several officials from the Martinelli administration to be awarded a government contract. Their father and another former president of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela, are also among the individuals going on trial for the same case. The Martinelli brothers reportedly paid around $14 million bond ahead of their arrival to avoid detention in Panama. The two brothers had just completed three-year prison sentences in the U.S. They were also previously held in Guatemala for 23 months before they were extradited to the U.S. Ricardo Martinelli Claims He is Innocent, Plans to Run as President Again Despite the scandal, the elder Martinelli still hopes to run for re-election in the 2024 national elections. He publicly announced his intention to run for the presidency again last year. The former Panama president maintains that he is innocent and the accusations of corruption and bribery that were thrown against him and his administration are all just politically motivated. He faced a preliminary hearing last November for a different corruption case, and it showed that the funds used in the purchase of a news outlet during his term were illegal, according to the Guardian. The former president is expected to testify in both cases this year, with the Odebrecht trial expected to happen in August. READ MORE: Argentina Vice President Cristina Fernandez Found Guilty of Corruption This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: New Corruption Cases Emerge in Panama - From TeleSUR English Prince Andrew has reportedly told friends that a "mystery development" could save his reputation after the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, which led to his titles being revoked. A source told the Daily Mail that there are details about to be made public in February, which will change people's perceptions of the 62-year-old Duke of York. Andrew was stripped of his royal duties after revelations of his relationship with Epstein. Andrew does not elaborate on his claims, but the source noted that he is set to launch a bid to overturn the multimillion settlement he reached with Virginia Roberts, who accused him of sexual assault. It was reported that Andrew consulted lawyers to retract Roberts' allegations against him and possibly "secure an apology," the Daily Mail reported. The Duke of York was reportedly inspired to act after Roberts dropped her lawsuit against another man she accused of sexual assault. She admitted that she "may have made a mistake" in identifying him. However, Roberts maintained that her case against the duke was valid. Andrew has still claimed his innocence on the matter. Ghislaine Maxwell recently spoke to TalkTV from prison about Andrew being a "dear friend," adding that the accusations against him were unfounded. READ NEXT: Former Buckingham Palace Official Says He Suspected Ghislaine Maxwell Had Intimate Relationship With Prince Andrew Ghislaine Maxwell on Prince Andrew Ghislaine Maxwell said in her interview that the photograph of Prince Andrew with Virginia Roberts was a "fake." The 61-year-old disgraced socialite noted that she does not believe it's "real for a second." She added that there has "never been an original," adding that she has no memory of going to Tramp nightclub. Andrew has denied Virginia Robert's allegation that he was introduced to her at Tramp nightclub in London in 2001 with Maxwell. Maxwell did not offer any apology to Jeffrey Epstein's victims in the interview, instead saying that the victims should "take their disappointment and upset out on the authorities," who allowed Epstein to die in prison. She added that she believes the billionaire pedophile was murdered but offered no evidence to support her claims. In 2019, authorities reported that Epstein died by suicide while waiting for his trial. Maxwell said she hoped the victims got "some closure" through the judicial process. Prince Andrew Jeffrey Epstein Scandal Queen Elizabeth stripped Prince Andrew's military affiliations and royal patronages as he continued fighting the lawsuit filed against him by Virginia Roberts. Roberts accused the duke of having sexual relations with her when she was underage. It was during a period when Jeffrey Epstein was also abusing her. She noted that she is holding Andrew accountable for what he did to her when she was 17 years old. A judge also tossed Andrew's bid to dismiss the lawsuit. Due to the scandal, Andrew could no longer use the style "His Royal Highness" in any official capacity, according to reports. More than 150 veterans of the Royal Navy, Air Force, and Army had called on the queen to remove all his titles and ranks in the armed forces. The veterans' letter noted that Andrew had "fallen well short of" the military's highest standards regarding "probity, honesty and honorable conduct." READ MORE: Prince Andrew Reportedly "To Be Banished" From Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee Celebration This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Ghislaine Maxwell Calls Prince Andrew Photo with Virginia Giuffre a Fake - From NBC News An Ohio architect, his fiancee, and two of her relatives who went missing on Christmas Day in Mexico were found dead. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Champlin Architecture revealed the death of one of their employees, Jose Gutierrez, while spending the holidays in Mexico with his 31-year-old fiancee, Daniela Pichardo. "We will all miss him more than words can express," the company wrote. According to local media, Mexican officials discovered four bodies and a bullet-riddled van in Zacatecas state last week. Three bodies were identified as Pichardo, her 26-year-old sister, Viviana Marquez, and their 27-year-old cousin, Irma Vargas. The fourth body is believed to be the remains of Gutierrez, according to The New York Post. READ NEXT: Mexico: 400 Missing Persons Found Dead What Happened to the Missing Ohio Architect and His Fiancee? The van reportedly had blown tires and at least a dozen bullet holes. TV Azteca reported that it was likely the vehicle of the four that had been used to get around Zacatecas. After Christmas Day, Gutierrez and Pichardo's families never heard anything from them, News.com.au reported. They believed they had been kidnapped as several witnesses said they heard screams and watched the four being dragged into a van. The four reportedly went out to eat at a local bar before they were taken. The 36-year-old Ohio architect traveled to Mexico to visit his fiancee before their 2023 wedding date. His family noted that it was a trip that Gutierrez often makes. Gutierrez was born in Mexico and is the oldest of seven siblings. He got his master's from Miami University and worked as an architect for the Cincinnati firm. His family has said he was a role model who overcame all the odds to get his degree. The Cincinnati-based Champlin Architecture said it plans to create a scholarship in Gutierrez's name at his alma mater "to honour his impact to our firm and the community." Mexico's Zacatecas State in U.S. Travel Warning The U.S. State Department lists Zacatecas on its "do not travel to" advisory for Americans. The travel warning was issued due to the increasing violence and kidnappings in the state. Zacatecas has become the center for violence, with powerful organized crime groups fighting over the region's strategic location. The state has highways that head toward the northern border and the Pacific coast. Between 2015 and 2021, the number of murders in Zacatecas increased by 40%. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador responded to the growing violence in the area by sending around 4,000 members of the military last November. Government figures showed that at least 666 kidnappings were reported in Mexico from January to November last year, compared with 625 in 2021. READ MORE: California Mass Shooting This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Missing Ohio Architect, Fiancee Found Dead in Mexico - From New York Post The classified documents found at former Vice President Mike Pence's home reportedly included background briefing memos prepared for his foreign trips. A source told CNN that some of those government records were likely used to prepare Pence for foreign meetings while he was in office. The source added that the documents might have been overlooked as they were tucked into old trip binders during the packing process. Another source told the outlet that the classified documents would not have been visible unless the packers went through the binders page by page. Sources told CNN noted that these briefings sometimes include information on foreign leaders. However, there are times that it would also have more sensitive information. A U.S. official also told the outlet that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is working with U.S. intelligence agencies in reviewing the documents to determine the level of classification and possible risks of having such material placed in an unauthorized location. A source also told CNN that based on what they were told, there was nothing unusual with the documents, with the classification markings on the "lower level." READ NEXT: Joe Biden Under Scrutiny as Another Batch of Classified Documents Found at New Location Mike Pence Classified Documents Mike Pence's lawyers discovered the roughly 12 classified documents last week at the former vice president's home in Indiana. It was initially handed over to the FBI before being turned over to the National Archives, BBC reported. Before Pence discovered his own batch of classified documents, investigators were already looking into President Joe Biden and Donald Trump's classified materials. Pence's representatives sent a letter to the National Archives regarding the secret materials. In a separate letter, Pence's lawyers said the FBI bypassed "standard procedures" and requested the "direct possession" of the classified documents. Pence sought legal help from a specialist in handling the classified materials "out of an abundance of caution." Trump has defended his former vice president in a Truth Social post, saying that Pence "never did anything knowingly dishonest in his life." Pence initially said he was confident reviews of the classified documents in his home were done in a "thorough and careful way." Mike Pence's Previous Comments About the Classified Documents Mike Pence was asked several times over multiple interviews in the past five months if he took any classified materials with him when he left the White House. The questions started when the FBI searched Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida and found boxloads of classified documents. Pence answered the interviews by saying he had been careful and was unaware of any classified materials in his possession. He was asked in Iowa a day after the FBI searched Trump's home if he took any classified documents with him when he left office, to which he answered, "no, not to my knowledge." In an ABC interview, he also denied having classified documents taken from the White House, replying to the question with, "I did not," Newsweek reported. Currently, Donald Trump and Joe Biden are facing investigations for possession of classified materials. Trump earlier claimed that he had "declassified the documents" before he took those to Mar-a-Lago. READ MORE: Classified Documents Found in Joe Biden's Former Office as U.S. Vice President Being Reviewed by DOJ This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Documents Marked Classified Found at Mike Pence's Home - From CBS News Laurel, MS (39440) Today Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 54F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 54F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. What is expected to be the biggest ever Intercultural Day yet in Laois is being planned this Spring, thanks to the continued growth of new communities in the county. The Laois Africa Support Group (LASG) is hosting their inclusive community event after a two year Covid break. Chairperson Bolaji Adeyanju is inviting people from all the different cultures in Laois to take part. People from almost 100 countries now live in Laois, representing some 10% of the population. More than 8,000 people, representing almost 100 nationalities, live in Laois. At least 57 languages are spoken and more than 20 religions practised in the county. We are trying to get as much people as possible to participate from different migrant communities, and bring all those communities together. Introducing everyone the Irish communities is very important, but it is also important that we all find out about each other as well as about Ireland, to promote understanding, he said. The day will feature displays of foods to try, live world music, drama, spoken word and dancing, face painting and henna, with volunteers and artistes invited to register their interest now. We welcome anything and everything. We have invited the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth of Ireland Roderic O'Gorman. Not every county holds Intercultural days, we are one of the few and it has been so successful every year. The Laois community has been amazing. Cultures have been made so welcome, Bolaji said. There will be a Latvian group new to this year, and a Greek group. In particular we will have Ukraine culture and people really need to experience that for themselves, it's awesome, said Bolaji. A native of Nigeria, he said part of importance of the day is to show second generation children born in Ireland,more about their own unique cultures, to instil pride and grow awareness of other cultures too. I like to wear my own traditional dress and my hat. It's who I am, its a symbol, it's part of me. We want to keep our cultures alive and be proud of them. It is important to show our own ways of life, our dress, the way we talk. We say we are Irish as well, it is now our home. Our children have gone to school here, their friends are Irish. They know nothing apart from Ireland. Bolaji said. The day will take place on Saturday, April 22, with a venue yet to be confirmed but it will be in Portlaoise. Register your country and your interest by emailing info@laoisafrica.com or direct message the Laois Africa Support Group via their Facebook page. The day is sponsored by LASG and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. A woman who was allegedly trafficked and required to work as a prostitute in rural Ireland has told a jury that she came to Ireland under the illusion of work, with the intention to provide a better future for herself and her children. The woman, who can't be named for legal reasons, was giving evidence in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of Natalia Nogueira Da Silva and Ivanilce (Lisa) Vailones Fidelis. The woman told Paraic Dwyer SC, defending Ms Vailones Fidelis, that she had a good life in Brazil and had come to Ireland to save money to open her own business. If I said I lived on the streets with my children and was hungry, I'd be lying. I lived in a rented house and I had a dream to stop working for others and work for myself, she said, adding that she saw a chance to provide a better future for herself and her children by coming to Ireland. Ms Da Silva (32), of Cairn Hill View, Drumlish, Co Longford, has pleaded not guilty to one count of human trafficking a woman at an unknown location within the State, on dates between March 31, 2019 and May 18, 2019. She has pleaded guilt in front of the jury to one count of organising prostitution at an unknown location within the State on dates between December 5, 2018 and May 18, 2019. She has also admitted one count of facilitating the entry into the State of a person she knew to be illegal on March 31, 2019 at Dublin Airport, along with 33 counts of money laundering the proceeds of crime on dates between March 2020 and May 2021. Ms Vailones Fidelis (46) of Castle Manor, Racecourse Road, Roscommon, has pleaded not guilty to all 18 counts against her. She has denied two counts of human trafficking two women at various locations within the State on dates between December 2018 and May 2019. She has pleaded not guilty to one count of organising prostitution during the same time period. Ms Vailones Fidelis has further pleaded not guilty to 14 counts of money laundering the proceeds of crime on dates between January 2015 and December 2020 and one count of removing proceeds of crime from the State during the same time period. The State alleges that both accused trafficked two vulnerable Brazilian women for the purposes of exploiting them and taking advantage of their vulnerability to such an extent as to cause the trafficked person to have no real or acceptable alternative but to submit to being trafficked. The first complainant told Mr Dwyer, on Thursday, January 26, that she came to Ireland following a proposal that had no real base. I came under the illusion of work and this is not what I found here, she said. Speaking via video-link through an interpreter, the 35-year-old woman said she was told to tell the immigration office at the airport that she was coming to Ireland for holidays, not to work. The woman said she was instructed to say this by Natalia, but didn't know it was illegal. Mr Dwyer asked the woman if it was a condition of her residency in Ireland to co-operate with the investigation into her allegations. The woman said she had been identified by gardai as a victim of human trafficking, and was offered the choice to assist the investigation or return home. When I accepted the proposal to remain in the country and help the investigation, I was sure I should have a permanent visa so I could continue to help, she said. The woman said she believed it would be completely irresponsible and illegal to remain in the country if her immigration status was illegal. The woman said she was sure arrangements would be made in relation to her immigration status. The woman disputed Mr Dwyer's claim that her solicitor had written to the Department of Justice to push for her application for temporary residency to be reviewed quickly. She said this was delayed and her solicitor asked permission to write to immigration services to resolve this. Mr Dwyer asked the woman about her initial complaint to gardai, made at Dundalk Garda Station. She agreed with Mr Dwyer that she originally told gardai she had jumped from a car to escape, however, this was incorrect. The woman said she was trying to protect the identity of a woman who helped her to escape. Defence counsel asked the woman if a Spanish woman had suggested she could work for the same agent. The woman said the Spanish woman saw her crying in the kitchen after being threatened by Lisa. She asked me why I was crying and shaking, I told her what happened and she told me I had to escape as soon as possible, because if the men arrived and found me there, they would beat or kill me. The woman said the Spanish woman offered to put her in touch with her agent, but she chose to go to the garda station instead. At that moment, everything was very tense. I was very nervous; we were trying to find a way to which I could leave the situation in which I had been threatened. Defence counsel asked the woman why she told gardai not to follow up an allegation of rape she made about a man whose house she stayed in after she left Portarlington. The woman said a friend of hers had made arrangements for her to stay in this man's house, but she could not later recall the man's address as she was traumatised. She said she also could not contact the friend as she was instructed by gardai to have no contact with anyone involved in the trial. Mr Dwyer put it to the woman that this allegation was a total invention to improve her position in terms of residency. She strongly denied that. Mr Dwyer asked the woman why she didn't tell gardai that she suggested the name used on the profile on the 'Escort Ireland' website during a discussion with Lisa. The woman said she had had a conversation with Lisa about the name when she first arrived in Portarlington, but she hadn't known the name of the website at that time. The woman confirmed to Mr Dwyer that she had owned a property in Brazil, but this was sold to pay her mother's debts. The woman said she was renting before she came to Ireland. The woman said a friend told her she could come to Ireland, work for three months and earn money. She said her friend put her in touch with someone who could help her come to Ireland. The woman said this was Lisa. The woman told Mr Dwyer she hadn't known her friend was involved in sex work in Europe. She said she only had a conversation with her friend by phone about sex work on the night she arrived in Ireland, after she was told by Lisa she would working as a prostitute. The woman said Lisa gave her more details about working as a prostitute during a call the next day. The trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury. The main entrance to Portlaoise hospital is being reconfigured to create a more comfortable environment for patients, visitors and staff, according to the HSE. The main entrance is currently sealed off to allow construction workers carry out the work on the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise. The HSE outlined the work being carried out to the Leinster Express / Laois Live. The current works taking place in the Entrance Hall of Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise include a reorientation of the Reception desk and a relocation of the Admissions Office, which will be more convenient for patients. The main entrance doors will also be improved by extending the entry space into the lobby, resulting in a more comfortable environment for all patients, visitors and staff. Works are programmed to be completed in the Springtime, said a statement. Also in the pipeline is an investment of 14 million in a new Respiratory Assessment Unit, an extension to the Paediatric Unit, additional accommodation at ground floor and first floor. The Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council has opted to continue to fulfil her duties as a county councillor after becoming the first in Ireland to be entitled to step back from the council while on maternity leave. Fine Gael Cllr Thomasina Connell gave birth to a baby boy last December in the same month that the Government introduced new leglislation that gives maternity cover and supports to local representatives, in efforts to increase numbers of women in politics. Cllr Connell was back on duty in January, remotely attending the January meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District. She accepted congratulations from her colleagues on her new arrival, before getting back to tabling motions on behalf of her constituents. She since confirmed to the Leinster Express that she will be making use of one aspect of the new supports. The legislation allows a councillor to choose a temporary substitute for their seat, but it also offers the option to fund an administrative assistant if the public representative chooses to keep working, with final paperwork on this option still being drafted. Cllr Connell has opted not to appoint a substitute but will be availing of the allowance. She welcomed the support, speaking to the Leinster Express / Laois Live. "This is a great and very welcome piece of legislation. Every persons situation is unique to them and this legislation will give more choice and support to women, allowing them to decide what works best for them and their families," she said. The Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Members of Local Authorities) Bill 2022 was signed into law by President Michael D Higgins, on December 21, 2022. A spokesperson for the Department of Housing and Local Government explains what is offered. "The Local Government (Maternity Protection and other Measures for Members of Local Authorities) Act 2022 gives legislative effect to Government commitments to establish, for the first time, an entitlement of maternity leave to local authority elected members, equivalent to the current entitlement for employees under the Maternity Protection Act 1994. "The Act also provides for the possibility of the appointment by co-option of an individual as a temporary substitute for a councillor that takes maternity leave under the Maternity Protection Act 1994, or is absent due to illness or in good faith for another reason under Section 18 of the Local Government Act 2001. "In parallel, as part of a package of family-related supports for local authority elected members, an allowance for administrative supports will be introduced for councillors. Regulations are being drafted which will provide a family support allowance payable to councillors who are availing of maternity leave and are stepping back from their role as an elected member (and have not been replaced by a temporary substitute) or who have recently given birth and choose not to avail of maternity leave, to engage additional administrative or secretarial support to assist them in their role." The Department added that a councillor can avail of the administrative support ahead of the regulations being finalised. Cllr Connell contested the 2016 General Election for Fine Gael in Laois. She was elected to Laois County Council in 2019. Cluid Housing celebrated the landmark achievement of 10,000 homes in management at an event in Dublin with residents and colleagues. There are over 27,000 people currently living in a home managed by Cluid, 2,059 of whom are living in 690 units in Co. Kildare. Cluid is committed to providing quality housing and services that enable people to create homes and thriving communities and aims to increase its annual output over the coming years, with 15 building sites currently active. In 2022 alone, Cluid delivered over 1,000 new homes into management. Cluid is one of Irelands largest approved housing bodies (AHBs) providing affordable, high-quality homes and housing management services to people in housing need across 31 Local Authorities. In recent years Cluid has expanded its offerings to include 911 age-friendly homes delivered by Clann, its dedicated housing service for older persons. This model empowers residents to live for as long as possible in sustainable, secure, high-quality, affordable homes in their own community. The key to achieving this is to provide a safe and secure environment with access to all relevant services and community supports. Cluid has also led the sector in the delivery of over 270 Cost Rental homes. This new form of tenure in Ireland, allows residents to pay rents that are solely based on the cost to build, manage, and maintain the homes. Cluids Cost Rental schemes in Kildare Barnhall Meadows, Leixlip, and The Paddocks, Newbridge have all been hugely over-subscribed, with many times more applicants than available properties. Cluids Chief Executive Officer, Brian OGorman commented, Cluids vision is a society where everyone has a great place to live, and I am delighted to announce today that 27,099 people are living in our 10,272 homes. Everyone in Cluid has worked hard over the years to achieve this milestone and I would like to congratulate each of them. "We work closely with the Minister for Housing, the Housing Finance Agency and others in the housing sector and I would like to thank each of them for their ongoing support. Cluid is very proud of this achievement, but the work doesnt end here. We are committed to building on this number and giving more people and families the opportunity to live in secure, quality housing." Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh OBrien TD said, Reaching 10,000 homes in management is a significant milestone and I congratulate Brian and everyone in Cluid for their commitment and dedication to achieving it. The Governments Housing for All programme will exceed its targets for 2023, and it is milestones like this one today that are contributing to this success. While there is always more to be done, we should mark the milestones as they come and use them to encourage us to continue the hard work and ambition to achieve more for our communities. The residents are at the centre of Cluids work and that was seen at todays celebration, where residents were represented by members of Cluids National Residents Advisory Group (NRAG) and the Clann Residents Advisory Group (CRAG), as well as residents from the Marewood Court scheme in Ballymun, Dublin 11. Dorothy Seagrave, Cluid resident and member of the Cluid National Residents Advisory Group (NRAG) said, Its been wonderful to see the rapid and amazing change since I became a Cluid resident five years ago. Im particularly struck by the focus on building sustainable communities, and how residents have been encouraged to become more involved. This milestone, of 10,000 Cluid homes, is testament to staff and residents, past and present we got here as a group, and as a group we will go forward and achieve even more. Putting the residents and staff at the heart of activity is also a key strategic principle of Cluids new corporate strategy, Securing the Future, which was launched earlier this week. The strategy will direct Cluid in achieving its key objective of creating an environment to support the delivery of affordable homes and the provision of services to meeting the needs of our current and future residents. Repairs are currently being carried out on a burst water mains in West Kildare. Homes in Allen, Allenwood, Derrinturn, Coill Dubh, Prosperous, Kilmeague, Lullymore, Barnaran and surrounding areas are without water. The supply is expected to return after 3pm. Irish Water recommends that affected householders allow two to three hours after the estimated time of for the supply to return. It said dedicated water services crews are onsite working on repairs and are making every effort to minimise disruption and restore normal water supply as quickly as possible. Operations Lead for Uisce Eireann, Kevin Love, said: Uisce Eireann understands the inconvenience when a burst occurs and we would like to thank impacted customers in advance for their patience while we work to complete the repairs and restore normal supply as quickly as possible. The Uisce Eireann customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact us on Twitter @IWCare with any queries. For updates please see the Water Supply updates section of water.ie Hartley Residents Association in Carrick-on-Shannon are seeking a meeting with Leitrim County Council to discuss money paid by members in relation to a sewerage scheme that is no longer viable. Cllr Enda Stenson said all councillors were contacted by members and were informed there are a lot of people upset as they submitted funds into a scheme they hoped would be successful. Cllr Stenson stated, We don't know how to address the issues they have and asked that local authority officials meet with the residents to discuss what can be done and if and how funds can be recovered. Chairperson of Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District Sean McGowan said all councillors support this proposal. Cllr Des Guckian asked for the executive of Leitrim County Council to provide a summary and history of the scheme to date. Joseph Gilhooly, Director of Services outlined that the design and costing set out by the residents association were deemed not sustainable by the Department for a scheme. He said the scheme was under a Rural Group Water programme. He added that the Council did seek information from the Government department about the recovery of funds. In conclusion he said he will liaise with the councillors to arrange a meeting with Hartley Residents Association. In November last year, Leitrim County Council recommended that Hartley residents move on and wind up their application after their request for a Group Sewerage Scheme was denied. The Council had advised the group to seek payment of the grant towards their costs to date. But no details of how to recover costs were explained by the Council or the Group Water programme. Approximately 50 homeowners are affected in the Hartley area, and some may have to upgrade or replace individual septic tanks if they fail an inspection at their own cost. The Council has stated the town sewerage will not be extended to include these houses. Previously it was heard that a lot of time and effort was spent on the application and the residents were bitterly disappointed when their submission was not accepted. Drinks Ireland, the Ibec group that represents the Irish drinks sector, has announced the election of Pat Rigney as its Chairperson for the next two years. Pat is the founder and managing director of The Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney. The Shed Distillery is best known for Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin which it distils in Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim. Prior to founding the distillery in 2014, Pat had 25 years experience in the industry. Speaking upon his appointment, Pat said; I am passionate about our sector which is of huge importance to Ireland, especially the rural economy such as Leitrim, our local identity and heritage, with breweries, distilleries, cider producers, visitor centres and hospitality venues bringing jobs to communities throughout the country. We now have some 40 Irish whiskey distilleries, up from only four in 2010, and over 34 Irish gin producers on the island of Ireland. There are eight facilities in Ireland producing Irish Cream and 9 Poitin producers. As well as this, there are 100 brewing companies and about a dozen cider producers in the Republic of Ireland. The rise in local Irish distilleries and breweries has transformed the rural Irish economy, creating significant employment. Irish drinks brand exports have risen to 2billion, contributing 2.6 billion in VAT and excise payments to the Irish exchequer. But beyond these statistics are individuals, families, communities and companies working every day to produce Irish drinks brands which compete on the world stage for Ireland, and of which we should all be proud. I and my peers across Ireland are enormously proud to be part of this industry and its Irish heritage. I look forward to contributing to this great indigenous industry as Chair of Drinks Ireland. Too often the drinks industry is misrepresented and maligned at home. Our mission in 2023, and beyond, will be to rebalance the debate and to highlight the reality that alcohol consumption in Ireland is more balanced and moderate having fallen by a third since 2001, with Irelands consumption now within European consumption norms. Indeed, clear evidence is emerging that consumers, particularly young Irish adults are consuming our products in a more balanced and moderate way and are ahead of the often times outdated stereotypes put about in Ireland. I look forward to working with Director Cormac Healy, his team and the Drinks Ireland members as we continue to highlight the importance of the drinks industry to our economy, our heritage and communities throughout Ireland. A leading Professor at the University of Limerick has said that the continued trend towards imposing a corporate model in our public health system is compounding the services inability to deliver care to patients. Speaking in a New Video as part of the Irish Hospital Consultants Associations (IHCA) Care Cant Wait campaign, Prof Orla Muldoon says too much emphasis is being placed on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and not enough on providing the capacity and resources required for treating patients. The Professor of Psychology explains how this in turn has created a management class in the public health service of which many decision-makers are not medical professionals. She questions why the medical and surgical specialists and leaders in hospitals are not trusted to manage the system or the people they care for on a daily basis. Commenting, she said: We have this paradox where patients, once they get into the system, feel the quality of care is good. Yet, we dont really believe the people providing that care can take leadership roles in the delivery of the service. The IHCA has frequently pointed to consistent failures to deliver on plans, funding and Ministerial promises as being indicative of a waning motivation to fix the problems in the health service, at a time when significant effort is needed to implement practical and sustainable solutions. They say this is leading to the continued exodus of medical and surgical talent abroad, to better working conditions and services. Recent studies show almost 8 in every 10 Consultants are screening positive for burnout as they struggle to cope in an overstretched public hospital system where demand has outstripped supply. Prof Muldoon says that this is the case across the entire health system as those who we have tasked with caring for our most vulnerable increasingly describe the management structure and use of performance indicators as frustrating. Focus on delivery of care Prof Muldoon says this also shows that far too much focus is being placed on counting performance indicators rather than on providing the capacity and resources for the delivery of essential services to patients. This model of using KPIs to identify areas of improvement works in the private, corporate sector, because those entities are given all sorts of resources to help achieve their targets. But in the public health system you have more people counting performance indicators, but no extra resources allocated to the actual care. The IHCA have previously stated that a laser like focus is needed to deliver the two vital resources every patient needs hospital beds and hospital Consultants. The Association says 5,000 hospital beds are needed by 2030 to meet current and expected demand, given 870,000 people are currently waiting to be assessed or treated by a hospital Consultant including almost 97,000 children. Healthcare reform Prof Muldoon believes that the Government has taken their eye off the ball when it comes to the management structure within our health service. In the 10 years since the introduction of Consultant pay inequity, Outpatient waiting lists have surged by 200,000 (52%) and Inpatient/Day Case waiting lists have increased by 29,800 (58%). While there has been a more than a 300-fold increase in patients waiting longer than a year for hospital treatment1. The IHCA echo Prof Muldoons sentiment that reform is necessary and are urging the Government to focus on practical solutions to fill the 918 vacant Consultant posts on a permanent basis and increase the number of Consultants to at least the EU average. This is vital if the record hospital waiting lists are to be addressed. To achieve that, the Government must reach an agreement with the Association on a new Consultant contract that is attractive for our existing Consultants, our Consultants in training and the new medical talent that are needed to be attracted into permanent posts. In this file photo taken on March 16, 2016, French senator Michel Mercier delivers a speech at the Senate in Paris, France. FRANCOIS GUILLOT / AFP A French court on Thursday, January 25, found former justice minister and senator Michel Mercier guilty of embezzlement in a fake jobs scheme he ran for the benefit of family members. Mercier, 75, who served under former president Nicolas Sarkozy between 2010 and 2012, claimed tens of thousands of euros for his wife and daughter for parliamentary jobs they never carried out. The court handed him a suspended prison sentence of three years. Mercier gave "personal gain precedence over the public good", the court said in its verdict, calling Mercier's actions "serious." In his senator capacity, Mercier claimed 50,000 euros in salary for his wife Joelle between 2005 and 2009 and 37,000 euros for his daughter Delphine between 2012 and 2014. During that time, Delphine Mercier was living in London and did not set foot in the French Senate but her father said she was acting as his "cultural advisor." Neither Mercier nor his daughter were able to provide any proof of actual work done. Joelle Mercier, meanwhile, said during the trial that she had served as her husband's representative at village fairs and funerals. She was found guilty of conspiracy to embezzle public funds and of receiving stolen money and sentenced to a suspended prison term of 18 months and a 40,000 fine. The court handed the daughter a 12-month suspended sentence and a fine of 10,000. The move came in reaction to a public outcry over a high-profile case involving former right-wing prime minister Francois Fillon, who was found guilty of providing a fake parliamentary assistant job to his wife that saw her paid hundreds of thousands of euros in public funds. The "Penelopegate" scandal, revealed in a media report while he was the front-runner in the 2017 presidential race, torpedoed his political career and cleared a path for then-relatively unknown Emmanuel Macron. Read more Former French justice minister Michel Mercier tried for misappropriation of public funds Le Monde with AFP From left to right: Maria Malmer Stenergard, the Swedish migration minister, Ylva Johansson, the European commissioner for home affairs, and Gunnar Strommer, the Swedish justice minister, in Stockholm, on January 26, 2023. (Photo by Pontus LUNDAHL / various sources / AFP) PONTUS LUNDAHL/AFP Now that the Covid-19 pandemic is overcome, the issue of migration has risen once more to the top of Europe's agenda. In 2022, Frontex, the European border agency, recorded a 64% year-on-year increase in the number of irregular entries. Some 330,000 people arrived via the Mediterranean or the Balkans. Europe registered 914,000 asylum seekers the bulk of them arriving through legal channels including over 150,000 in France. These arrivals a long way off the record numbers seen in 2015, when there were almost 2 million irregular border crossings, and 2016 (500,000) have nevertheless led to a bottleneck in many countries' reception capacities, including Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and France. Like other European Union (EU) countries, they had taken the opportunity to close many reception centers due to falling numbers in previous years and are now facing both the arrival of new asylum seekers and Ukrainians seeking temporary protection. Around 9 million Ukrainians arrived in 2022, having crossed the border of an EU country. Increased political pressure From Amsterdam to Vienna, via Brussels, Rome and Stockholm, 2022 saw political pressure on the issue of migration gradually increasing. The issue will soon be discussed by European heads of state at a special European Council to be held on February 9 and 10. Ahead of that, the EU's 27 interior ministers are due to meet in Stockholm on Thursday, January 26, for an informal meeting. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Central Europe looks to restrain Balkan migration route On the agenda for discussion is the issue of deporting migrants whose applications for asylum or regularization have been rejected. This matter has been a bone of contention in France and Europe for the past 10 years. In 2020, 29% of irregular migrants were returned to their country of origin. This percentage fell to 24% in 2022, according to Eurostat data. "Every year there are around 300,000 deportation decisions in the EU member states but only around 70,000 people are being deported," said Ylva Johansson, the commissioner for home affairs. "This is now what needs to be increased." In 2020, the Commission made a more rigorous deportation policy one of the pillars of its Pact on Migration and Asylum a set of about 10 regulations, still under negotiation. According to Marta Gionco of the NGO Picum network (Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants), Brussels has become fixated on the issue of returns. "The word 'return' appears a hundred times in this pact, while the word 'right' appears only 14 times," she says. You have 47.27% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. A demonstrator holds placards during a protest to support the Burkina Faso President Captain Ibrahim Traore and to demand the departure of France's ambassador and military forces, in Ouagadougou, on January 20, 2023. OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT / AFP France said on Thursday, January 26, that it was recalling its ambassador from Burkina Faso, a day after agreeing to demands from the ruling junta to pull out troops from the former French colony in Africa's Sahel region. "In the context of the latest developments in Burkina Faso, we have decided to recall our ambassador to Paris for consultations on the state and perspectives of our bilateral relations," the foreign ministry said. Read more French troops to exit Burkina Faso within a month Burkina on Monday said it had asked France to withdraw within a month its contingent of some 400 troops currently stationed in the country and on Wednesday Paris agreed to do so. It marked the latest scaling down of France's military presence in Africa after the junta in neighboring Mali also insisted French troops leave and President Emmanuel Macron drew the curtain on the over decade-long anti-jihadist mission. Both Mali and Burkina Faso fell out with Paris after a military coup brought a junta to power and the French presence became increasingly unpopular among the public. Jihadist activity continues in the region while concern grows over the increasing influence of Russia, in particular through the presence of mercenaries from the Wagner Group run by an ally of President Vladimir Putin. Burkina is one of the poorest and most volatile in Africa. Thousands of troops, police and civilians have been killed and around two million people have fled their homes since jihadists launched an insurgency from neighboring Mali in 2015. More than a third of the country lies beyond the control of the government, and frustration within the army at the mounting toll triggered two coups last year. Le Monde with AFP FAILTE Ireland is branching out further in the Limerick region, now adding another location to its Irelands Hidden Heartlands brand. The Ballyhoura region is situated along the south and east borders of Limerick, with the brand now including the activity landscape in its upcoming tourist destination guide. Currently, the 68km Lough Derg Way which passes through counties of Limerick, Clare and Tipperary is included on the Hidden Heartlands list, as well as the popular Killaloe river cruises. The newest addition of Ballyhoura is an ideal candidate for Ireland's Hidden Heartlands brand, with hiking and bike trails, significant heritage sites, outdoor activities, and a variety of accommodations on offer. Marie Healy, Regional Development Officer of the Irelands Hidden Heartlands team, said: The inclusion of the Ballyhoura area is a seamless addition to the Irelands Hidden Heartlands brand at the southern end of the region, The inclusion of east County Limerick will also further align Ireland's Hidden Heartlands brand area with the geography associated with the Shannon Tourism Master Plan which was published last year. Between 2019 and 2022, Ballyhoura was part of Failte Irelands Wild Atlantic Way brand, and previously was part of Irelands Ancient East. The local tourism trade felt that these brand identities didnt quite fit. Margaret Atalla, Ballyhoura Failte DAC chairperson and owner of Deebert House Hotel in Kilmallock said: Irelands Hidden Heartlands proposition centres around being Active in Nature, and Ballyhoura fits naturally into this, Working with Irelands Hidden Heartlands will enhance the visitor experiences and strengthen our tourism offering whilst putting Ballyhoura Country firmly on the map. Often coined as the crossroads of Munster, the rural area of Ballyhoura has 54 communities within the locality as it rests on the border of Limerick, Cork and Tipperary. The small Limerick town of Kilfinane lies among the Ballyhoura mountain range and is the heart of the overall area. With the core of Failte Ireland's Hidden Heartlands brand being to uncover hidden gems and to encourage people to go off the beaten track, the rural area of Ballyhoura fits the criteria. Jana Mannion, Tourism Marketing Officer for Ballyhoura Country said: We are very much looking forward to working with Irelands Hidden Heartlands team on optimising the tourism potential and opportunities of Ballyhoura Country over the coming years. A GREY, cloudy, and downcast day befell Limerick city last Saturday, but that didnt stop 11,000 citizens from marching for their human rights. Chants and sounds of beating bodhrans commenced the march towards OConnell Street as the chorus began: Listen up HSE, give us back our A&Es. With placards in hand, reading everything from We want change, to Our children and parents are dying, the citizens of the Mid-West came together in solidarity for all of those who, as SIPTU Health Division Industrial Organiser Ger Kennedy put it, have paid the ultimate price. At Arthurs Quay, the campaigners gathered around to hear harrowing speeches from those who have needlessly lost family, friends and neighbours. Melanie Sheehan, grieving parent of 21-year-old Eve Cleary, who in 2019 was left on a trolley for 17 hours only to receive a fatal blood clot just hours after being discharged, shared the tragic story of her daughters death with the crowd stating: Eve asked all the right questions about her healthcare and she should be here today. A minutes silence was then held for Aoife Johnston, who at 16, died of meningitis after reportedly waiting 16 hours on a trolley at UHL. Her sisters wept as the people of Limerick paid respects to the young girl, and remembered the reason for their turnout. As people dispersed, Inga Ammonsen told the Limerick Leader of her own reason - the distressing story of her son Daniels death. Inga joined the campaign due to ongoing health problems. My kidneys are failing, she stated. Worried, she said: I am terrified that if my kidneys fail that Ill die out there. As she clutched his picture in her hands, Inga told the story of her son Dan, a type 1 diabetic, who was managing his condition with insulin. Ms. Ammonsen described the week leading up to his death back in February of 2021: He saw his girlfriend on Sunday 14 and on Sunday 21 they turned off the machine - he was dead. He wasnt looked after properly, she said bluntly. He died a week before his 29th birthday. Stories like these were shared among strangers as organiser of the event Mike Daly stood firm. This protest is not the end, this is only the beginning, he declared to the crowds. THE VISIT of Minister for Education Norma Foley marks the start of exciting times at Mungret Community College according to school principal Liam OMahoney. Norma Foley visited two Limerick schools last Friday, Castletroy College and Mungret Community College. Minister Foley made the trip to Mungret for a sod turning ceremony on the site of the schools new campus where construction got underway last October. Mungret Community College which opened in 2017 has a student population of 800 and is currently struggling for space and awaiting the new campus to be completed to increase the capacity to 1,000 students. This is the first year weve had Leaving Certificate students at the school, Principal OMahoney said. We started back in August of 2017 with 94 students in first year. Since then year after year weve built the school up to a population of 800." The construction of the new building is already moving forward at a great pace and were hoping that it will be complete in the next two years by June 2024, Mr OMahoney added. The new school campus has been designed by Healy Partners Architects on Glentworth Street in Limerick city. Coolsivna, a construction company from Mountbellew, County Galway are in charge of the development of the new state of the art school campus building. We have a good campus currently but the new building is what we really need, Mr OMahoney continued. The campus were on has been acquired for temporary use until the new building is ready. Part of our current campus of the old Mungret College has been converted and were using it as well as modular buildings at the moment, Mr OMahoney added. Mr OMahoney said the entire school body is very much looking forward to utilising the new building for many years to come. Were delighted with the way the school has developed into a school for the local community here in Mungret, Raheen and Dooradoyle. Mr OMahoney also mentioned that the secondary school works closely with the local primary schools: Limerick Educate Together National School, Gaelscoil An Raithin, St. Nessan's National School and St Pauls National School. Minister Foleys visit on Friday for the sod-turning marks the start of exciting times for education at Mungret Community College, Mr OMahoney continued. Were very proud of all our students, staff and all our local community who work with us to make sure we have a very modern educational experience, Mr OMahoney said of the experience that Mungret Community College bid to provide for their second level students and staff alike. Speaking to students, staff and members of the Board of Management, Minister Foley said: Its a great honour for me to be here and to have the opportunity to meet with all of you. Such a warm, warm welcome from all the student body that came out to meet with me. It greatly touched me. This is a great school. It has achieved so much in a short space of time and I think its just wonderful that this year we are looking at the Leaving Cert cohort who were the first students in the school. Thank you to the entire school community and your greatest resource in the school, your students. She continued: The Department is very proud that we are providing the resources to you, that you will have new facilities, greater facilities, better facilities. This is a school that has been achieved out of great determination. I wish you the very, very best in all that you choose to do. The new 11,000 square metre school building will feature 37 General Classrooms, a 2-classroom SEN facility, 2 DCG Rooms, 6 Science Labs, 2 Art/Craft Rooms, 2 Home Economics Rooms, 2 Technology Rooms, 2 Multimedia Labs, a Music Room, 2 Textile Rooms, a Construction Studies room, an Engineering Room, a Library, an Olympic-sized PE Hall and Fitness Suite, multiple ancillary spaces, and extensive external areas including 6 Hard Play Courts. Welcoming the Ministers visit, Mungret Community College Principal, Liam OMahoney said: We are really looking forward to moving into our new building. This school is all about our students. Minister, it was very important for us that it was our students Kate OBrien and Billy Leenane who were the first to greet you today. They were part of the First Year group that started in the school in August 2017. We are here to support our students and want the best for them. With our new building we are looking forward to adding to the excellent facilities already provided to the school by the ETB. Ireland has been referred to an EU court over its failure to adopt laws on protecting water quality, though the government argued it has already addressed the main issues. Despite new water quality powers being signed into law a day after the EU deadline, the European Commission is continuing with the legal action for not fully transposing its directive into national legislation. The directive in question, issued in 2000, requires that all inland and coastal waters reach a minimum of good status by 2027. It obliges EU countries to protect all bodies of ground water and surface water which includes rivers, lakes, transitional and coastal water. EU countries are asked to do this by drawing up river basin management plans and programmes that aim to reduce water pollution to levels that are no longer harmful to human health and ecosystems. Although Ireland has bolstered its water quality laws with new legislation, the Commission has concluded that the changes made are insufficient. The Commission has written to Ireland on several occasions since October 2007 urging it to fully transpose the directive. It said that despite some progress, the Irish authorities have not yet fully addressed the grievances, over 20 years after the entry into force of this directive. The Commission considers that efforts by the Irish authorities have to date been unsatisfactory and insufficient and is therefore referring Ireland to the Court of Justice of the European Union, it said on Thursday. It is understood the Commission was not aware that the governments Water Environment Bill was signed into law a day after the deadline until it announced it was taking legal action on Thursday, as the Irish government had not formally notified them of the development. The Bill provided for new powers to control water abstraction and impoundment activities among the concerns the Commission had raised previously. Despite this, the Commission said it remains unclear how long it will take until Ireland is fully compliant with the directive, and the legal action remains in place. The Department of Housing said in a statement that it published four sets of regulations on water policy in 2022 which addressed many of the issues of concern outlined by the Commission. The Water Environment (Abstractions and Associated Impoundments) Act 2022 was signed into law by the President on December 23 2022, it said a day after the deadline on December 22. It said that upon commencement, this will address a large proportion of the remainder of the concerns raised by the Commission in October 2020. The department is currently in preparation to formally notify the Commission of the publication of this Act, it added. These steps substantially respond to the issues raised by the Commission in the infringement case against Ireland. The department is committed to ensuring a robust legislative framework is established and in place to protect and enhance our water environment, in line with the requirements of the directive. On Thursday, the European Commission also referred Ireland, as well as several other EU countries, to court for failing to implement provisions to manage invasive alien species plants and animals accidentally or deliberately introduced to an area where they are not normally found. The 2015 regulation focuses on 88 species of concern, and is seen as important to implement in order to limit their ability to affect indigenous species, alter ecosystems, impact on agriculture and cause skin problems in humans. There are at least 12,000 alien species in the European environment, of which around 1015% are invasive. Former UK prime minister Sir John Major has said that no party or group should put peace in Northern Ireland in peril. Sir John also criticised the Northern Ireland Protocol as one of the least well-done negotiations in modern history. Just months ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday peace deal, the Stormont Assembly remains collapsed, with the DUP refusing to take part until issues around the protocol are resolved. The DUP argues the protocol undermines Northern Irelands position within the UK and hampers trade with Great Britain. Talks remain ongoing between the UK and the EU over the protocol, part of the post-Brexit deal which keeps Northern Ireland aligned with some EU trade rules, effectively placing a trade border in the Irish sea. Sir John was speaking at a meeting of a committee in the Irish Parliament on Thursday. The Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement is examining the peace accord 25 years on. Sir John outlined his part in the lead-up to the deal during his premiership from 1990 to 1997. He stressed that, to him, violence was as unacceptable in Northern Ireland as anywhere else in the UK, and he worked towards peace, adding that he visited the region more often than anywhere else as prime minister. He recalled working with Irish premiers including Albert Reynolds who he described becoming a cherished friend and John Bruton, and the start of a back channel communication between the UK Government and the Provisional IRA. Sir John repeated his assertion that he was assured the first message which helped set up the back channel came from former Sinn Fein vice president Martin McGuinness. Mr McGuinness, who is now deceased, denied that during his life. If he didnt send it, I think it is clear he was aware it was being sent and of the substance, Sir John added. Sir John expressed his revulsion at a number of terrorist atrocities, including the IRA bombing of Warrington in 1993, in which two boys Tim Parry and Johnathan Ball were killed, saying it almost brought the peace process to a halt. He described the Downing Street Declaration in December 1993 as providing a start. Ceasefires followed in 1994 and all-party talks started in 1996. The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement came in 1998 after Labours Tony Blair had become prime minister. Sir John told the Oireachtas committee the peace process was not down only to politicians, but to the Northern Ireland community, the churches, individual clerics and groups such as the peace women. With political uncertainty remaining in Northern Ireland, Sir John urged that the peace not be placed into peril. I hope that no one person, no group, no political party and no ideology will now risk imperilling the peace so carefully constructed by so many, for so long, he said. Asked about the protocol, Sir John described a very poor negotiation and said it must be put right and the sooner the better. I doubt there is a perfect solution, so often there isnt, he told the committee. It will mean a degree of flexibility on both sides of the negotiation, a degree of flexibility in London and a degree of flexibility in Brussels, there must be a way to improve the present circumstances even if it is not perfect. I think it is very important that it is treated as a matter of priority, to get that agreement, because it will enable the Executive to meet again, itll enable the other political problems unconnected with the peace process to be dealt with by elected politicians in the north, and it will go a long way to improving the relationship between London and Dublin. Sir John also dismissed arguments over sovereignty in the protocol row as semantic. If there were to be movements under Article 16 to disapply parts of protocol, I dont think an ideological concern about sovereignty would justify that, because the sovereignty point is, in terms of the extent to which it is applied in the Northern Irish question on trade, is semantic quite frankly, he said. I dont think anybody on the extreme fringes of politics should be in a position to wreck what has been brought together by the mainstream politics. I dont think anybody, whatever their personal concerns might be, really have a moral right to break apart the Good Friday Agreement and put us at risk to returning, if only partially, back to the troubles that existed before the Good Friday Agreement was finally signed. THE SAVOY in the heart of Limerick City is now home to a monthly members only wine event, which I had the pleasure of attending the launch of this week. The club is called Limerick and Clare Wine Lovers Club, founded by Michelin star Sommelier Nick OCallaghan - a Limerick native and a dear friend of mine. I so enjoyed attending the launch and I personally think that this wine club is a wonderful addition to the city, continuing on a monthly basis in the gorgeous Savoy hotel. Nicks knowledge is admirable as he has travelled all over Europe and beyond, studying in a wine tasting capacity. I hope that the people of Limerick will support and embrace this new club. You can contact the Savoy for more details. Clarins in the capital I also attended the Clarins event in the capital this week, where I enjoyed being in the company of many famous faces, including Limericks very own Louise Cooney. Clarins is an international makeup brand who have now opened their Boutique and Spa in Wicklow St, Dublin City where they are offering treatments and products for purchase. PICTURED: Proud natives! Celia Holman Lee pictured with husband Ger Lee and French Ambassador to Ireland Vincent Guerend I was delighted to have met many of Irelands fabulous bloggers again including James Patrice and Holly Carpenter. It is such a joy to see these young faces exploring the world of beauty and fashion, just as I did at their age. Clarins is a French makeup company who retails all over Ireland and I had been cordially invited to the event by none other than Dr Olivier Courtin Clarins - son of the founder of Clarins makeup. Dr Olivier Courtin Clarins said a few words today for the launch, as did French Ambassador to Ireland Vincent Guerend. I was honoured and overjoyed when he mentioned about being in Limerick at a fashion show that I had hosted in St Marys Cathedral last year, which combined French and Irish designers. I look forward to discussing with you all next week my latest endeavours, Love, XxCelia NEW DELHI : Japan's Suzuki Motor Company, the parent firm of India's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki, on Thursday said it will launch six battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in India by 2030, with BEVs accounting for 15% of its total sales in the country by the end of the decade. "In India, we will introduce the SUV battery EV announced at the Auto Expo 2023 in FY2024, with 6 models to be launched by FY2030. To provide a full range of products and services, Suzuki will provide not only battery EVs but also carbon neutral internal combustion engine vehicles that use CNG, biogas, and ethanol mixed fuels", Suzuki Motor Company said in a document discussing its growth strategy for 2030 across domestic and global markets. The Japanese auto giant aims to achieve carbon neutrality in its India operations by 2070, in-line with the government's own timeline for achieving net-zero emissions in the country. Maruti Suzuki showcased its electric concept SUV, the eVX, a grounds-up electric SUV with an expected range of 550 kilometers, that the company plans to launch in 2025. The Suzuki group will invest 10,000 crore for the production of EVs and batteries in India, the company said. India contributes 50-60% SMC's global operations, making it the Japanese automakers biggest market, Toshihiro Suzuki, President, SMC had told reporters on the sidelines of the recently concluded Auto Expo. Suzuki also expects that BEVs will account for nearly the same proportion of sales in its home market, Japan, as they will in India by 2030. The company has emphasized its vision to develop EVs grounds-up for India, so that it can benefit from scale and localization efforts, unlike the trajectory of other carmakers, such as Tata Motors, who have introduced two generations of EVs derived from their existing internal combustion-engine (ICE) portfolio. While both Suzuki and Maruti are preparing an EV platform, they are also taking a comprehensive view of the market with many other options such as ethanol and flex fuel vehicles, hybrids, and CNG. The company is in talks with the Indian government to determine the most effective solution for the Indian market, Suzuki had said. Maruti Suzuki recently showcased a flex-fuel engine prototype in its popular hatchback WagonR, which can run on ethanol-blended fuel in the 20%-80% range. Meanwhile, it is also strengthening its focus on biogas as an alternative fuel solution that can be used to power its CNG vehicles. Maruti Suzuki leads the passenger vehicle CNG vertical in India with nearly 70% market share. "While we expect the Indian market to grow toward FY2030, we also expect that increase in total CO2 emission amount is unavoidable, regardless of reduction in CO2 emission from products. We will challenge to strike a balance between increasing sales units and reducing total CO2 emission amount. Suzukis unique initiative to tackle this challenge is the biogas business, in which biogas derived from cow dungs, which are dairy wastes that can be seen mainly in Indias rural area, will be produced and supplied. This biogas can be used for Suzukis CNG models that account for approximately 70% of CNG car market in India", SMC said. The company has signed an MoU with the Indian government agency National Dairy to conduct verification of biogas and invested in Fujisan Asagiri Biomass that makes power generation from biogas derived from cow dungs in Japan, and are beginning its study, it added. Ahead of the 2023 Budget, officials from the Finance Ministry will hold the traditional halwa ceremony today. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be in attendance, alongside the Union Ministers of State for Finance and other senior officials. "The Halwa ceremony, marking the final stage of the Budget preparation process for Union Budget 2023-24, will be held tomorrow in the presence of Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in the Budget Press situated inside North Block," the finance ministry said in a series of tweets on Wednesday afternoon. The ceremony marks the beginning of compilation of budget documents. While it used to kick off an elaborate printing exercise, the Budget has been paperless for the past two years. Union Budget 2023-24 will also be delivered in paperless form. The Union Budget 2023-24 is to be presented on February 1 this year. The Budget documents will be available on the "Union Budget Mobile App" on both the Android and Apple OS platforms after the completion of the Budget Speech by the Finance Minister in Parliament on 1st February, 2023. (3/4) Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) January 25, 2023 Officials involved in making the budget undergo a lock-in process after the halwa ceremony in order to maintain secrecy. Following the dessert-centric send off ceremony they will move to the basement of the north block - emerging only after the presentation on February 1. Attended by all top officials, it also recognises and appreciates the many staffers who are part of the Budget-making process. The finance minister begins the ceremony by stirring the halwa in the kadhai and then serves it to colleagues at the ministry's headquarters in the national capital. The ceremony had been curtailed last year in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, sweets were provided to the core staff due to undergoing 'lock-in' at their workplaces. Also read: Budget 2023: Nirmala Sitharaman to lead halwa ceremony tomorrow - All you need to know about the tradition MUMBAI: The Adani Group is exploring legal options under both US and Indian laws against Hindenburg Research, which in a report called out debt and governance issues at the conglomerate , leading to stocks of group companies losing 85,000 crore in value in Wednesday's trade. "We are evaluating the relevant provisions under US and Indian laws for remedial and punitive action against Hindenburg Research," as per a comonay statement on Thursday citing Jatin Jalundhwala, Group Head - Legal, Adani group. Hindenburg claimed that its 129-page report was the result of two-year worth of efforts and its investigations led them to several countries, including the tax haven of Mauritius. Researchers from Hindenburg pointed out a complicated maze of transactions undertaken by many of the listed Adani Group firms. The report highlighted alleged shell firms founded in tax havens, including the United Arab Emirates and Mauritius, which have been used to give loans to some listed and private companies often without making requisite disclosures. Even if you ignore the findings of our investigation and take the financials of Adani Group at face value, its seven key listed companies have 85% downside purely on a fundamental basis owing to sky-high valuations," Hindenburg said in the report. The report said the investment group took a short position in Adanis companies through US-traded bonds and non-Indian-traded derivative instruments. In its statement, Adani group said that the maliciously mischievous, un-researched report published by Hindenburg Research on 24 January has adversely affected the Adani Group, its shareholders, and investors. The volatility in Indian stock markets created by the report is of great concern and has led to unwanted anguish for Indian citizens, it added. Clearly, the report and its unsubstantiated contents were designed to have a deleterious effect on the share values of Adani Group companies as Hindenburg Research, by their own admission, is positioned to benefit from a slide in Adani shares. [We hold short positions in Adani Group Companies through U.S.-traded bonds and non-Indian-traded derivatives, along with other non-Indian-traded reference securities."]," the statement said. We are deeply disturbed by this intentional and reckless attempt by a foreign entity to mislead the investor community and the general public, undermine the goodwill and reputation of the Adani Group and its leaders, and sabotage the FPO (Follow-on Public Offering) from Adani Enterprises," it added. The 20,000 crore follow-on public offer (FPO) of Adani Enterprises, which opens for public subscription on Friday and closes on 31 January saw a clutch of foreign and domestic investors buy shares worth almost 6,000 crore as part of the anchor book allocation. Investors who participated in the anchor book include Singapore based Maybank Securities Pte Ltd, insurance behemoth LIC, SBI Employees Pension Fund, SBI Life Insurance Co, HDFC Life Insurance Co, Abu-Dhabi-based sovereign wealth fund ADIA, Goldman Sachs Investment and Morgan Stanley Asia. The price band for the share sale has been fixed between 3112 and 3276, with an additional Rs64 discount for retail investors. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Swaraj Singh Dhanjal " Based in Mumbai, Swaraj Singh Dhanjal is responsible for Mints corporate news coverage. For the past eight years he has been writing on the biggest deals in private equity, venture capital, IPO market and corporate mergers and acquisitions. An engineer and an MBA, he started his journalism career in 2014 with Mint. " Read more from this author The Dutch central bank has imposed an administrative fine of approximately around 3.3 million euros on leading crypto exchange Coinbase. The reason behind the penalty is due to the exchange provided crypto services in the Netherlands in the past without registration. The central bank has given till March 2nd to Coinbase for opposing the fine. The fine was imposed on January 18. On its website, the central bank said, "on 18 January 2023, De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) imposed an administrative fine of 3,325,000 on Coinbase Europe Limited (Coinbase). The fine was imposed because Coinbase provided crypto services in the Netherlands in the past without registration with DNB, which is in non-compliance with the law." In the Netherlands, companies that wish to provide crypto services are required to register with DNB under the Dutch Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act. The central bank introduced the registration requirement for crypto exchanges and other crypto services providers on May 21, 2020, due to the high risk of money laundering and terrorist financing associated with crypto services. Notably, this is related to the anonymity associated with crypto transactions. Having a registration requirement mechanism in place, enables DNB to monitor the risk of illicit financial flows more effectively. According to the central bank, Coinbase's non-compliance with the guidelines is punishable by a category 3 fine. In its statement, the central bank explained that the base amount in this fine category is 2 million, with a minimum amount of 0 and a maximum amount of 4 million. It added, "The base amount has been increased due to the severity and degree of culpability of the non-compliance." Although while increasing the fine amount, DNB also took into account the fact that Coinbase is one of the largest crypto service providers globally. Moreover, Coinbase has a significant number of customers in the Netherlands that make use of its crypto services. Additionally, it said, "Coinbase has enjoyed a competitive advantage in that it has not paid any supervisory fees to DNB or incurred other costs in connection with DNBs regular supervision activities." Another reason for increasing the fine amount is the non-compliance persisted over a prolonged period which would be from 15 November 2020 until at least 24 August 2022 which is also the end date of DNB's examination. Further, the Dutch central bank revealed that Coinbase contravened the objectives of the guidelines in the past by providing crypto services in the Netherlands without registration with DNB. This meant that Coinbase was unable to report unusual transactions to the Financial Intelligence Unit-Netherlands during the period of non-compliance and until 22 September 2022. As a result, a large number of unusual transactions may have gone unnoticed by the investigative authorities during this period." "This is why DNB considers the non-compliance to be very severe," the central bank said. Still, DNB reduced the fine by 5% because the crypto exchange had intended to obtain registration with DNB. The crypto exchange had obtained its registration on 22 September 2022. The central bank has given Coinbase until 2 March 2023 to object to the fine. Billionaire Gautam Adani's group is looking to invest in petrochemical, mining, and metallurgical industries among others in Azerbaijan. Adani Group and Azerbaijan are planning to hold comprehensive discussions on future collaboration. Recently, Adani met with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in Davos. As per the statement released by the office of the President of Azerbaijan, during the discussions, both parties noted that "Azerbaijan is the initiator of the East-West and North-South transport corridors, as well as one of the major transport-logistics hubs, and explored potential avenues of cooperation in this respect." Thereby, the statement added, "the parties discussed Azerbaijan's attractiveness for foreign direct investments, the development of the country's economy, and the prospects for cooperation with the Adani Group in petrochemical, mining, and metallurgical industries, as well as other areas of mutual interest." Also, they acknowledged the significance of the Middle Corridor via Azerbaijan within the context of the East-West transportation corridor. Further, the statement highlighted that as per Gautam Adani, the firm has vast experience in the fields of port management, transport, and transportation in India and other regions of the world and has made direct investments in these fields in a number of nations. Accordingly, Adani and the Republic of Azerbaijan's President agreed "to conduct reciprocal visits of delegations and to hold comprehensive discussions on future collaboration." Asia's richest man is set to launch its much-awaited follow-on public offer (FPO) on Friday at a price band of 3,112 to 3,276 per FPO equity share. The FPO is to the tune of 20,000 crore. Bidding was allowed for anchor investors in the FPO on January 25, and the remaining investors including retail investors will be able to bid from January 27 to January 31st. If the FPO is fully subscribed, then Adani's 20,000 crore offer will become the second largest follow-on public offer in India after Coal India's 22,558 crore issue in 2015. Earlier in 2020, Yes Bank had launched a 15,000 crore FPO. From the total proceeds of the FPO, Adani plans to utilise 10,869 crore for green hydrogen projects, work at the existing airports, and construction of a greenfield expressway. MUMBAI : State Bank of India (SBI) is looking to hire retired employees from the public and private sectors with engineering background to offer technical expertise on lending to emerging sectors such as electric vehicles, green hydrogen, battery, and semiconductors, according to a document. The countrys largest lender is looking for domain experts who can assist its internal appraisal and monitoring teams on project finance proposals from these sectors, showed a SBI notice seeking applications. Selected candidates will receive a fixed salary of 300,000 per year. In addition, they will receive a variable pay of 75,000 for every assignment. These experts would be hired on a one-year retainership. SBI is also looking for experts in roads and telecom, apart from some of the emerging sectors cited earlier. Eligible candidates include retired senior executives from state-owned enterprises and private organizations, with an engineering degree either from an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), the Indian School of Mines, or other colleges. SBI said candidates should also have at least 25 years of experience, and ideally should have held senior positions like managing director, executive director, director (technical/projects), member (technical) and chief engineer. State Bank of India is looking for professionals with suitable domain expertise to provide relevant inputs.to fully grasp the nuances of various assumptions, events and situations which could have an implication on the risk parameters or mitigations, pace, and impact on the actual implementation compared to project schedule," it said. The bank wants these consultants to advise on the technical aspects, various assumptions of individual projects and that of the respective sectors. They have to attend meetings with consultants on technical issues during appraisal or during the monitoring phase, and provide support during the implementation of these projects. Their role includes advising the bank on the impact of variations in the technical specifications of the plant and machinery and operating parameters on the project during the project implementation, monitoring and control phases." As India shifts towards greener fuels, lenders are preparing to finance such initiatives. SBI and several other local banks have already been funding renewable projects. However, newer avenues like EVs and green hydrogen would require expertise beyond their existing project finance experience. The green transition also presents a lending opportunity for banks. In a speech on 6 January, Reserve Bank of India governor Shaktikanta Das cited estimates of the International Finance Corp. (IFC) on funding requirements for green transition in South Asia. He said that between 2018 and 2030, the funding requirements for investment in renewable energy, greening the vehicle fleet and making future building stock green and resilient to climate change risks in South Asia alone would be over $410 billion, $670 billion and $1.5 trillion, respectively. Earlier this month, the Union cabinet approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission, with an initial outlay of 19,744 crore. New Delhi: Japans Suzuki Motor Corp. on Thursday said it will introduce six battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in India by 2030, with BEVs accounting for 15% of its total sales in the country by the end of the decade. In India, we will introduce the SUV battery EV announced at the Auto Expo 2023 in FY2024, with 6 models to be launched by FY2030. To provide a full range of products and services, Suzuki will provide not only battery EVs but also carbon neutral internal combustion engine vehicles that use CNG, biogas, and ethanol mixed fuels," the parent of Maruti Suzuki, Indias top carmaker, said in a document outlining its growth strategy for 2030 across Japan and global markets. Suzuki aims to achieve carbon neutrality in its India operations by 2070 in line with the governments own timeline for achieving net-zero emissions in the country. At the recent Auto Expo, Maruti Suzuki showcased its electric concept SUV, the eVX, with an expected range of 550 kilometers, which the company plans to launch in 2025. The company said it will invest 10,000 crore to make EVs and batteries in India. India contributes 50-60% Suzukis global operations, making it the Japanese automakers biggest market, Toshihiro Suzuki, president, Suzuki Motor said at the Auto Expo. Suzuki also expects BEVs to account for nearly the same proportion of sales in its home market, Japan, as they will in India by 2030. The company has emphasized its vision to develop EVs grounds-up for India, so that it can benefit from scale and localization efforts, unlike the trajectory of other carmakers, such as Tata Motors, who have introduced two generations of EVs derived from their existing internal combustion-engine (ICE) portfolio. While both Suzuki and Maruti are preparing an EV platform, they are also taking a comprehensive view of the market with many other options such as ethanol and flex fuel vehicles, hybrids, and CNG. The company is in talks with the Indian government to determine the most effective solution for the Indian market, Suzuki had said. Maruti Suzuki recently showcased a flex-fuel engine prototype in its popular hatchback WagonR, which can run on ethanol-blended fuel in the 20%-80% range. Meanwhile, it is also strengthening its focus on biogas as an alternative fuel solution that can be used to power its CNG vehicles. Maruti Suzuki leads the passenger vehicle CNG vertical in India with nearly 70% market share. While we expect the Indian market to grow toward FY2030, we also expect that increase in total CO2 emission amount is unavoidable, regardless of reduction in CO2 emission from products. We will challenge to strike a balance between increasing sales units and reducing total CO2 emission amount. Suzukis unique initiative to tackle this challenge is the biogas business, in which biogas derived from cow dungs, which are dairy wastes that can be seen mainly in Indias rural area, will be produced and supplied. This biogas can be used for Suzukis CNG models that account for approximately 70% of CNG car market in India," SMC said. The company has signed an MoU with the Indian government agency National Dairy to conduct verification of biogas and invested in Fujisan Asagiri Biomass that makes power generation from biogas derived from cow dungs in Japan, and are beginning its study, it added. Tata Sons Ltd may invest $1.5-1.8 billion in the proposed airline behemoth created by the merger of Air India and Vistara, two people aware of the development said. On 29 November, Singapore Airlines and Tata Sons said they plan to merge Air India and Vistara, with Singapore Airlines holding 25.1% of the merged entity. The merger is expected to be completed by March next year. The board (of Tata Sons) has to decide on the exact amount to be invested in Air India-Vistara, among other initiatives by Tata group. A significant portion could be set aside for investment into Air India-Vistara combined," said one of the two people cited above, both of whom spoke on condition of anonymity. Both people said the investment would be primarily utilized to expand fleet; raise its market share beyond 30%; enhance customer service quality; increase global slot facilities and achieve the highest flight service quality worldwide. The investments by Tata Sons will be done from the proceeds received as dividend income from TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) and other group firms. About 80% of Tata Sons dividend income comes from TCS. Aviation is one of the key businesses under Tata Sons. The capital being considered to be infused into the entity is equivalent to 50-60% of the dividend income received from TCS in FY23," the person cited above added. As part of its strategy, Tata Sons may begin infusing capital in tranches, beginning in the first quarter of FY24. Most plans regarding funding requirements for various areas of the aviation business are ready. Once the regulatory approvals for the merger come in and the allocation is budgeted formally, the work will start. A total infusion of around $3 billion in phases should be good enough to start with. Further funding can be done after FY24 if the current investment works as per the plan," the person cited earlier said. According to regulatory filings, Tata Sons earned a total dividend income of around $2.92 billion from TCS alone in FY23. Tata Sons is the principal investment holding company of Tata group. Public charitable trusts hold 66% of the share capital of Tata Sons, which is registered as a core investment company with the Reserve Bank of India. According to an 8 December 2022 report by Crisil, Tata Sons financial strength comes from its ability to raise funds by the sale or pledge of its large portfolio of investments, mainly equity shares in TCS. Tata Sons holds equity stakes in many other Tata group firms, such as Tata Motors Ltd, Tata Steel Ltd and Tata Power Co. Ltd. As on 6 December 2022, the market value of Tata Sons investments was 11 trillion, of which TCS accounted for around 80%, according to Crisil. Even though the dividend is Tata Sons income and is not part of any plan to fund specific projects, there are several initiatives under Tata group that need funding, according to the two people. And the aviation business is one of the primary initiatives expected to receive a major share of Tata Sons FY23 dividend income, they said. A Tata Sons spokesperson said the company does not want to comment. TCS, Air India and Singapore Airlines did not respond to queries. The merged entity may receive at least $1.5 billion from Tata Sons, apart from an investment of almost an equal amount from Singapore Airlines," said the first person. Apart from the aviation business, the conglomerate may invest a significant amount of its FY23 dividend income in renewables, semiconductors and the groups ambitious digital initiative Tata Neu, according to the two people. For Tata Sons, TCS, Indias largest IT and software services company, has been the cash cow over the past decade. Tata Sons, which holds around 73% of TCS, earned a dividend income of 19,832 crore in the third quarter of FY23. This is over and above income from two interim dividends of 8 per share each, announced in the preceding two quarters. According to the two people, Tata Sons may also utilize another portion of the dividend income from TCS to strengthen the Tata Neu app. Tata Digital has been taking a number of initiatives to give Tata Neu a makeover so that it can compete with the likes of Reliance Industries Ltds Jiomart, Amazon and Flipkart. However, it could not be ascertained how much Tata Sons will set aside for its business ventures other than aviation. The company (Tata Sons) remains adequately resourced, which, along with regular dividend/buyback income from TCS, provides sizeable cash flow for debt servicing. Annual proceeds from dividend/buyback were over 20,000 crore in the last fiscal. Crisil Ratings believes Tata Sons will continue to manage its liabilities and cash prudently. Proposed investments this fiscal are likely to be funded largely through dividends from group companies," said the Crisil report. On 12 January 2022, the TCS board approved a proposal to buy back up to 40 million equity shares of the company for an aggregate amount not exceeding Rs.18,000 crore, or 1.08% of its total paid-up equity share capital, at Rs.4,500 per share. In the recent past, Tata Sons has invested by way of preferential issues and rights issues in Tata group companies such as Tata Motors, Tata Steel and Tata Power. It is also investing in new growth businesses, such as Tata Digital, Tata Electronics and Air India. Over the past few years, the Tata Group has been reorganizing businesses by function under various clusters to enable synergies and to simplify its structure," said Crisil. Examples include the completed merger of the defence businesses of various group entities into Tata Advanced Systems Ltd and the acquisition of the branded foods business of Tata Chemicals Ltd by Tata Consumer Products Ltd (formerly Tata Global Beverages Ltd). Similarly, Air India (owned by Tata Sons through its wholly owned subsidiary Talace Pvt. Ltd) subsumed Air Asia India Ltd as its wholly owned subsidiary. The management is focusing on increasing the contribution of the digital, electronics and aviation businesses (Air India, Vistara, AirAsia) to the groups profitability, which may require funding from Tata Sons towards growth capital in some of the entities. CRISIL Ratings believes that the investments will be funded largely through dividend/buyback income, with standalone debt remaining stable or even declining," added Crisil. Earlier, Tata Sons had dipped into its dividend income to invest 5,882 crore in Tata Digital in April 2022. Further, Tata Group has plans to foray into the semiconductor industry, for which a part of the Tata Sons dividend income will be used, according to the two persons. On the aviation front, Air India and Vistara will need approvals from a number of countries, apart from Indias Director General of Civil Aviation, Competition Commission of India, and Reserve Bank of India, in order to complete the merger. In addition, the merger requires the sanction of the National Company Law Tribunal and redemption or conversion of certain outstanding liabilities owed by the Airports Authority of India to Tata Sons (and/or its affiliates) on or before the filing of the merger scheme. Vistara is a 51:49 joint venture between Tata Group and Singapore Airlines. It typically takes six months for all the requisite approvals. According to the proposed merger agreement, Singapore Airlines 49% interest in Vistara will translate into approximately 20.6% of Air India after the merger. Singapore Airlines will pay cash amounting to Rs.2,058 crore at the time of completion of the merger to acquire an additional 4.5% stake. It has also agreed to invest up to Rs.5,020 crore for the various plans put in place by the Tata Group in FY23 and FY24 for fleet modernization, aircraft induction and other purposes related to Air India operations. Toyota Motor Corp. made Lexus President Koji Sato chief executive officer, replacing the long-serving Akio Toyoda as the the worlds biggest carmaker navigates the auto industrys once-in-a-generation shift toward electrification and greater automation. Toyoda, grandson of the Japanese car giants founder, becomes chairman effective April 1, the company said in a statement Thursday. He became CEO more than a decade ago and oversaw the Toyotas rise to become the worlds No. 1 maker of cars. Sato, 53, takes on leadership of Toyota at a watershed moment. The carmaker is facing criticism for its reluctance to plow headlong into electric vehicles, instead spreading its bets across various technologies such as battery-based EVs, hybrid technology, hydrogen-powered cars and traditional combustion vehicles. Im an engineer and have devoted myself to carmaking, and I will continue to do that as CEO," Sato said in an online briefing. Sato was appointed chief branding officer at Toyota in January 2021, according to the carmakers website. After graduating from Waseda University with a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering in March 1992, he joined Toyota in April of the same year. In early 2016, Sato was appointed chief engineer of Lexus International Co., and in April the following year, ascended to chief of Toyotas luxury arm. In September 2020, Sato was also appointed president of Gazoo Racing, its motorsport and performance road car brand. Satos appointment, and Toyoda making way, sends a clear message, said Mitsushige Akino, an analyst at Ichiyoshi Asset Management Co. The social and economic environment has become more volatile, and by becoming chairman, Akio Toyoda will be able to take a broader view of management," he said. Stronger management will be good for Toyota. By appointing Sato, who isnt a senior officer, as CEO, the message is that younger people should take over." The shift Toyoda is making isnt unprecedented. At 66, he will be moving into the chairmans role at around the same age as past CEOs of the carmaker, which tends to closely follow historical precedent. Katsuaki Watanabe ceded the role at 67. Before him, Fujio Cho left the position at 68, and Hiroshi Okuda at 66. Takeshi Uchiyamada, the current chairman, will step down. Toyoda was eyeing successors Toyoda is the second-longest tenured head of a major auto company, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. He took the reins at Toyota in 2009, shortly after Elon Musk assumed his post at Tesla Inc. During Toyotas annual shareholders meeting in June, Toyoda alluded to steps the company was taking to find and develop potential successors. Anyone following in his footsteps must have unshakable conviction on why Toyota exists" and a firm understanding of the companys philosophy, he said, adding that his goal will be to rejuvenate" management with the move. Carmakers from Volkswagen AG to Ford Motor Co. are pivoting swiftly away from combustion engine-powered cars for the new and future lineups, with many betting on electrification as the way forward. While Toyota is spending 4 trillion ($31 billion) to roll out 30 EV models by 2030, Toyoda earned a reputation as a contrarian on the future of the industry, saying he doubts consumers are ready for a wholesale shift at the pace some are projecting. That approach has been questioned by some, who see it as risking Toyotas long-term position as the worlds dominant automaker. Others, however, see it as a prescient longer-term bet. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. NEW DELHI : Changes made by Google in its policy to comply with directives of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) have received mixed reactions. While its supporters have hailed the changes as an unprecedented" step and a global precedent", Googles critics have termed it as a half move" and believe that the search giant should clarify its stance on items, including the rate of commission and fees. In a blog post on Wednesday, Google detailed its efforts to comply with CCIs recent orders on how app installations and billings are undertaken on Android devices. The changes include enabling phone makers the ability to choose individual Google apps to pre-install on their phones, and not making it compulsorily for them to offer all Google services. Other steps include allowing users in India to choose their preferred search engine, announcing compatibility for forked (or modified) operating systems based on the Android platform, and offering third-party billing services for any paid apps and in-app products and services on the Google Play Store platform. Its important to note that Google has not clarified what commissions it would continue to charge, even as it opens up third-party payment instruments for user-choice billing. The bigger issue here was Google charging a hefty fee from third-party payment services too, which is what would affect developers the most," said Rameesh Kailasam, president and chief executive of industry body, IndiaTech.org. He said the policy update would need further clarification in order to demonstrate true democratization of alternate access." Murugavel Janakiram, founder and CEO of matrimonial site Matrimony.com said Googles existing user-choice billing commission scheme is equally anti-competitive since it is a ploy to extract huge commissions from developers even when users avail third-party billing systems."We urge the CCI to engage with app developers to see whether the supposed user choice is at all an effective choiceor another attempt by Google to circumvent the law," he added. Prasanto Kumar Roy, a tech policy analyst, acknowledged that Googles policy update brings major changes to its business model" but noted that the updated policy needs more clarity in terms of how Google would fill the Play Store revenue void, if they dont charge brands and partners separate license fees (for their apps)." Google did not respond to emailed queries. Currently, Google charges a commission rate of 15-30% based on the revenue made by a developer who has published apps on the Play Store. In a pilot project introduced in September last year, Google allowed certain developers to offer third-party billing services (apart from Googles own payment instruments), amid mounting regulatory pressure on the company in the US, Europe and other parts of the world for anti-competitive practices. Google said at the time that it would offer developers a 4% discount in commission rates, if they used third-party billing systems. This meant that developers paying commissions to Google would pay 11% or 26%, depending on how much they earn from their apps and in-app products--a move that critics have termed as anti-competitive". There are those, however, who believe that Googles policy update complies with the CCI order, and that its lack of mention of Play Store commission does not count as non-compliance. Not mentioning the Play Store commission rate in its new policy is definitely not non-compliance with the CCI order. Since the latter is not a market price regulator, Google is well within its compliance limits to bring about the changes it did to user-choice billing on the Play Store, and not mention anything further," said Mathew Chacko, partner, technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) at law firm, Spice Route Legal. Chacko added that Googles policy compliance with the CCI order could set a global precedent. Previously, tech companies would have looked at the US and EUs (European Union) laws to understand compliance, and create their business policies and strategies based on these laws from the ground-up. Today, major tech companies have also begun looking into Indias laws, since the economic importance of the Indian consumer markets have grown exponentially. That is one of the biggest differences, and Googles policy change based on the CCI order could definitely be a precedent-setting step for global tech regulations," he added. NEW DELHI : New Delhi is set to host a rare strategic dialogue with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) focused on regional security issues in a development with potential global ramifications. The dialogue is expected to be held in early March, said people aware of the matter. Senior officials from Nato, including from its policy planning division, and officials from Indias ministries of defence and external affairs are expected to participate. Within South Asia, the security alliance of 30 countries from North America and Europe was present in Afghanistan, where Nato forces fought for 20 years until the US-led withdrawal in late 2021. The dialogue will likely focus on a range of themes, including the possibility of a stronger partnership between India and Nato focused on geopolitical challenges in the Indo-Pacific. Given the fact that India is increasingly multi-aligned, consultations or dialogues with even military alliances like Nato seem okay. The goal of multi-alignment is the preservation of Indias strategic autonomy so New Delhi can talk to Nato and also be a part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation with Russia and China," said Brahma Chellaney, professor of strategic studies at the Centre for Policy Research. Media reports had earlier indicated that India and Nato held a political dialogue in 2019 aimed at expanding cooperation. The same reports, never denied, indicated that the discussion had centred around China, the evolving situation in Afghanistan and terrorism. But Natos prioritization of Russia as a key threat and its relative ambivalence about the security challenge posed by China limited common ground between the two sides at the time. This latest round of talks occurs in a dramatically changed strategic landscape. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Talibans victory in Afghanistan and the escalating threat posed by China to India and other countries have altered calculations. In a dialogue such as this, China is going to be an issue of mutual interest given that India continues to face Chinese border aggression. Nato might like to have a better understanding of the threat India faces and how Chinas expansionist strategy operates," said Chellaney. This time around, Nato has adopted a more muscular approach in the aftermath of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Beijings support for Moscow and its unveiling of a no-limits partnership with Russia has hardened Natos outlook on the Asian giant. Natos new Strategic Concept, unveiled in June last year, squarely addresses the China challenge. The Peoples Republic of Chinas (PRC) stated ambitions and coercive policies challenge our interests, security and values. The PRC employs a broad range of political, economic and military tools to increase its global footprint and project power, while remaining opaque about its strategy, intentions and military build-up. The PRCs malicious hybrid and cyber operations and its confrontational rhetoric and disinformation target Allies and harm Alliance security," reads the document. The PRC seeks to control key technological and industrial sectors, critical infrastructure, and strategic materials and supply chains. It uses its economic leverage to create strategic dependencies and enhance its influence. It strives to subvert the rules-based international order, including in the space, cyber and maritime domains," the document goes on to add. The two sides are likely to look for common ground to address security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. In recent years, individual European nations like the UK, Germany and France have stepped up their military footprint in the region. It remains to be seen whether this development will have any consequences for Indias relationship with Russia given Moscows acrimonious relationship with Nato. Strategic experts think not. While India has made clear to Russia that we will not take sides on Ukraine with the West, we have also made clear that we will continue our dialogue with the US, Nato and the West on the Indo-Pacific and China. There is a clear difference between India and Russia over China," said Rajesh Rajagopalan, a professor of international politics at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Queries to the ministry of external affairs and Nato on Wednesday remained unanswered till press time on Thursday. Tata Steel, Jindal Steel and Power, JSW Steel, Adani Group and Vedanta Group are likely to bid for the governments majority stake in NMDC Steel Ltd, a steel plant separated from Indias largest iron ore producer, NMDC Ltd, three people familiar with the development said. The central government will sell 50.79% of its 60.79% holding in the under-construction steel plant at Nagarnar, Chhattisgarh, that is being built with an investment of 20,000 crore. The plant, with a capacity to produce 3 million tonnes per annum, is likely to be commissioned by the end of March. The plant will be a good strategic asset, especially for steelmakers looking to add capacity and quickly start production. With its proximity to iron ore mines and connectivity to ports, the steel plant presents a good set-up for integrated steel players," one of the three people aware of the development said, seeking anonymity. The government will transfer the management control to the winning bidder and list the shares on BSE. Spokespeople for Jindal Steel and Power and JSW Steel declined to comment. Adani Group, Vedanta Group, the ministry of finance, department of investment and public asset management (Dipam) did not respond to queries till press time. Tata Steel, as a principle, does not comment on speculative information regarding its future strategy," a company spokesperson said. The Chhattisgarh government has opposed the plants privatization and passed a resolution last year to purchase the plant if the Centre were to privatize it. However, it was unclear whether the state intended to submit a bid or had submitted the bid as of Thursday. The eligibility criteria set by the government specify that central, state or joint PSEs where the government has more than 51% ownership would not be permitted to participate in the bidding. The conditions also mention that interested bidders, either sole or consortium, should have a minimum net worth of 5,000 crore. Interested bidders have till 27 January to submit bids. Some of them sought clarity on issues such as the possibility and timing of the sale of the 10% equity NMDC will hold in the plant post the transaction. In the preliminary information memorandum, Dipam said the remaining 10% stake of the government in NMDC Steel would be offered to NMDC. In a recent response to queries from potential bidders, the department said details regarding supplementary transactions would be provided to shortlisted bidders during the second stage of the transaction. The ministry of corporate affairs approved the demerger of the steel plant from NMDC in October. In December, the government received an in-principle approval from BSE for listing NMDC Steel and has since started the process. The Centre first approved the disinvestment in October 2020 when the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its in-principle approval to the demerger of the Nagarnar steel manufacturing unit from NMDC and strategic disinvestment of the entity by selling the entire stake held by the government. With the initial expression of interest coming in by the month-end, the next steps, including combing through the bids, determining eligibility, opening up virtual data rooms and allowing qualified bidders to begin due diligence, are likely to push the transaction over to the next financial year. For FY23, the government has set a disinvestment target of 65,000 crore and currently has generated receipts worth 31,106 crore, of which 20,516 crore has come from the listing of Indias largest insurer, the Life Insurance Corp. of India (LIC), in the first quarter of FY23. For FY24, the government is expected to keep the target the same or lower than FY23s target, as several of the ongoing transactions, including IDBI Bank, HLL Lifecare, BEML, and Shipping Corp. of India, are set to spill over into the next year. T+1 settlement cycle: After inclusion of last set of 256 stocks on Friday this week, Indian stock market is going to become first in the world that will have T+1 settlement cycle for investors. So, from Friday, shares sold or bought would reflect in investors' demat account after a period of one day, leading to faster settlement and faster liquidity for stock market investors. However, market and investment experts believe that it may soon trickle to other asset class investors. They said that after implementation of T+1 settlement cycle in Indian stock market, such fast settlement cycle may get implemented in equity mutual funds and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). Expecting faster settlement cycle trickling down to mutual fund investors, Pankaj Mathpal, MD & CEO at Optima Money Managers said, "When stock market had T+2 settlement cycle, equity mutual funds had T+3 settlement cycle as mutual fund houses invest in stocks and they make payments after they receive payment from the markets. As the stock market had T+2 settlement cycle, equity mutual funds had T+3 settlement cycle. But, after the implementation of T+1 settlement cycle in Indian stock market, we are expecting announcement of T+2 settlement cycle for equity mutual funds in quick time." "For the retail investors, participation in debt funds, equity funds, hybrid funds and gold through ETF offerings is becoming increasingly popular. A faster liquidity in Mutual Funds through the ETF T+1 execution will increase the percentage share of investors taking the ETF route. This will also encourage an increase in ETF offerings, which is currently very small when compared to markets like US," said Divam Sharma, Founder at Green Portfolio a SEBI registered PMS provider. Click here for latest stock market news Expecting T+1 settlement cycle for ETF investors, Kartik Jhaveri, Director Wealth at Transcend Capital said, "Currently ETFs have T+2 settlement cycle as stock market has T+2 settlement cycle. But, from Friday, stock market is moving to a fully T+1 settlement mode and hence one can expect the same settlement cycle for ETF investors in near future. " Started in February 2022, T+1 settlement cycle in Indian stock market would become fully effective from Friday this week after inclusion of last set of 256 stocks, which includes all Nifty 50 and Sensex stocks like State Bank of India 9SBI), Reliance Industries Ltd or RIL, Infosys, Tata Motors, etc. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Know your inner investor Do you have the nerves of steel or do you get insomniac over your investments? Lets define your investment approach. Take the test More cheetahs will soon be making their way to the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. The South African government signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the translocation of 12 cheetahs on Wednesday, with the big cats slated to arrive by February-March. With this, the total number of cheetahs in India will rise to 20. Eight cheetahs from Namibia were released into the park in September last year as part of an ambitious project to revive India's extinct population. Discussions with South Africa had been underway for quite some time now, reaching an advanced stage in early January. Earlier this month, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had said that the park would soon open for tourists. At the time, he had also noted that more cheetahs are coming from South Africa". "I will call you to see the cheetahs in February. We are allowing (tourist visits) from February," he said while addressing the valedictory function of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention in Indore. The 12 cheetahs will include seven males and five females. They have been quarantined in South Africa for the last six months. According to India's reintroduction action plan, around 12-14 wild cheetahs (8-10 males and 4-6 females) that are ideal for establishing a new cheetah population would be imported from South Africa, Namibia and other African countries as a founder stock for five years initially and then as required by the programme. (With inputs from agencies) 74th Republic Day: President Droupadi Murmu will lead the nation in 26 January celebrations from Kartavya Path, formerly known as Rajpath, for the first time on Thursday. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade today. The parade will begin at 10.30 am today. It will showcase the country's rich tradition, cultural diversity and military's prowess. The parade will depict the emergence of New India. Around 65,000 people will attend the Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path today, for which they can register through a QR code, according to Delhi Police officials. Here are 10 points on Republic Day celebrations: 1) When the ceremonial parade will take place on Kartavya Path, six agniveers will be part of the Navy's marching contingent during the 74th Republic Day celebrations on Thursday. 2) Officials informed that the military assets which will be displayed during the parade include made-in-India equipment, showing the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat. 3) The defense ministry said that main battle tank Arjun, Nag Missile System (NAMIS) and K-9 Vajra will also be showcased during the parade. 4) The ceremony will commence with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the National War Memorial and paying tributes to the fallen heroes by laying a wreath. Thereafter, the PM along with other dignitaries will head to the saluting dais at Kartavya Path to witness the parade. 5) The national flag will be unfurled followed by the National Anthem with a booming 21-gun salute, as per the tradition. 6) Four Mi-17 1V/V5 helicopters of 105 Helicopter Unit will shower flower petals on the audience present at Kartavya Path, the defense ministry said in an official statement. 7) The parade will commence with the President taking the salute and then will be commanded by Parade Commander Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, a second-generation Army officer. Maj Gen Bhavnish Kumar, Chief of Staff, Delhi Area will be the Parade Second-in-Command. 8) Three Param Vir Chakra awardees and three Ashok Chkara awardees will also take part in the parade, and a "veterans tableau" will also be part of it with the theme -- 'Towards India's Amrit Kaal with a Resolve of Veterans' Commitment'. 9) For the very first time, a combined band and marching contingent of the Egyptian Armed Forces will be taking part in the ceremonial parade. 10) The Republic Day celebrations will take place on the revamped Central Vista avenue and will be the first at the ceremonial boulevard after Rajpath was renamed to Kartavya Path last year. (With inputs from agencies) National capital Delhi's Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has invited chief minister and Aam Aadmi party leader Arvind Kejriwal, his ministers and 10 AAP MLAs for meeting at Raj Niwas at 4 pm on Friday, news agency PTI quoted Officials. This comes after both heads of the national capital on the occasion of 74th Republic Day greeted people and asked them to strengthen democracy and the Constitution of the country. The chief minister also unfurled the national flag at his official residence in Civil Lines. Extending his good wishes to the people on the occasion, the LG paid tribute to freedom fighters and martyrs. He called upon people to safeguard, nourish and strengthen the ideals, values and provisions contained in the Constitution. "Let us again dedicate ourselves to safeguard, nourish and strengthen the ideals, values and provisions contained in our Constitution and move forward shoulder-to-shoulder for making a strong, peaceful and powerful India," Saxena said in a tweet. In his Republic Day message, Kejriwal asserted it was responsibility of all to strengthen democracy in the country. At the Delhi government's Republic Day function on Wednesday, he had raised the issue of alleged "harassment" faced by states and UTs at the hands of the Centre-appointed governors and LGs. On the eve of Republic day, on 25 January, the traditional 'at home' function at the Raj Niwas had presented a scene of bonhomie on Tuesday as Lt Governor VK Saxena and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal warmly greeted each other, amid their ongoing power tussle. The bonhomie between Saxena and Kejriwal comes amid an ongoing power tussle between them. On 16 January, AAP MLAs led by CM Kejriwal marched to the lieutenant governor's office in Delhi against alleged interferences in the elected government's functioning. Kejriwal had said that LG VK Saxena should not "behave like a headmaster" checking students' homework. In a joint statement between India and Egypt released on Thursday, later has expressed exploring possibility of land allocation to the Indian Industries at the Suez Canal Economiic Zone. The statement also said that "the Indian side can arrange for the master plan." Amid the ongoing visit of Egypt President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Egypt remained in spotlight in the Republic Day Parade 20203. The two nations have also reaffirmed their commitment to the founding values of the Non-Aligned Movement(NAM). Also Read: India and Egypt upgrade relationship to strategic partnership Egyptian President Adbel Fattah El-Sisi and PM Narendra Modi discussed on a wide range of topics and issues related to bilateral, regional and global issues on Wednesday. An engineering marvel, and a globally significant route for the countries to easily trade across the world, the Suez Canal, connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. It is one of the world's biggest trade routes. As of now, the trade route is essential to keep alive around 12 per cent of the global trade that passes through it each day. Also Read: Cyclone 2023: Indian-Egyptian Special Forces conduct heliborne operations The joint statement also stated India's commitment to encourage companies to explore their potential in overseas investments and also use the present investment opportunities in Egypt. "In this context, the Egyptian side considers the possibility of allocating a special area of land for the Indian industries in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCEZ), and the Indian side can arrange for the master plan," it said. Also Read: India signs agreement with Egypt for content exchange Suez Canal holds significant importance for Indian trade. According to a report, out of the total 4.8 million barrels per day of crude oil shipped and transported through the canal, 500,000 barrels/day of crude is shipped to India. It also added that the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism, UN Charter principles, international law, etc. Zero tolerance for terrorism India and Egypt also vowed to nurture their cultural and social ties by working to promote and safeguard basic principles through regular consultations and bilateral and multilateral coordination. The two nations expressed their concern about terrorism spreading its claws in the world. The two leaders criticised the use terrorism as foreign policy tool and called for zero tolerance for terrorism. "They also called upon all countries to work towards rooting out terrorist networks and their safe havens, infrastructure, their financing channels and preventing cross-border movements of terrorists," the statement added. The statement also informed about the plan to hold joint working group meeting on counter-terrorism on a regular basis to exchange information and best practices. (With agency inputs) Vedanta Resources founder Anil Agarwal has predicted that India at 100 will be led by women. Agarwal, in his latest LinkedIn post, shared a picture of himself with female cadets while publishing a post on his vision of India in the next 25 years. India is a land where dreams lead to endless possibilities. I see so many young people with passion in their eyes who work tirelessly to build our great nation. A nation we all salute, with deep respect, on this special day," Agarwal wrote. Also Read: Vedanta chairman celebrates Makar Sankranti in full traditional style Nothing makes me prouder than seeing our youth, especially our women, reach new heights - be it creating successful businesses or protecting us at Siachen glacier. Our women are not only leading our country, but also leading our companies and communities. From Rani Laxmibaii to Kalpana Chawla, zameen aur asmaan dono pe hamari betiyon ka raaj hai (our daughters are ruling everywhere, from the land to the sky)," added the billionaire businessman. As we celebrate our 74th Republic Day, I am confident that India@100 will be equally led by women who hold up half of our nation. Jai Hind," Agarwal concluded. Also Read: This is how I built my dream team: Vedanta's Anil Agarwal Agarwal earlier wrote about the similarities between a team captain and an entrepreneur. He came up with such thoughts while watching Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Chak De India. According to him, both captains and entrepreneurs have a strong team who work together to fulfil their dreams". Entrepreneurs need to find the strength of each member to build a winning team, just like how they did in the movie," he wrote. The Vedanta founder wrote that it was how he had built his dream team that helped him list the company on the London stock exchange. A good team needs players with diverse expertise who can help the overall game plan," he added. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sounak Mukhopadhyay Sounak Mukhopadhyay, who also goes by the name Sounak Mukherjee, has been producing digital news since 2012. He's worked for the International Business Times, The Inquisitr, and Moneycontrol in the past. He's also contributed to Free Press Journal and TheRichest with feature articles. He covers news for a wide range of subjects including business, finance, economy, politics and social media. Before working with digital news publications, he worked as a freelance content writer. Read more from this author In a step forward for Indias diplomatic outreach to West Asia, New Delhi and Cairo have elevated their bilateral relationship to the level of a strategic partnership. Under this new framework, both sides are set to intensify cooperation under four key pillars including political and security matters, economics and trade, cultural affairs and scientific and academic partnerships. Under the defence cooperation pillar, both sides will look into cooperation on training, joint exercises, industrial partnerships and defence platforms. Counter-terroirsm, cyber-security cooperation and countering radicalisation will also be a key focus of the bilateral partnership, said Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra at a press briefing. . Bolstering the security partnership, India has been invited to join the Egyptian tri-services exercises, named Brightstar, for the first time. These exercises will take place later this year. Both sides also upgraded their ambitions for the bilateral trade relationship. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra revealed that both sides have increased the target for bilateral trade levels to USD 12 billion. Both sides are also to boost trade in pharmaceuticals, infrastructure development and information technology among other fields. Given the challenges to supply chain security that were raised by the war in Ukraine, both sides agreed to build reliable supply chains for food, fertilisers and other key products. Egypt also thanked India for inviting it to attend the G20 Summit in India this year as a guest. President al-Sisi will have a packed schedule during his time in India. al-Sisi will be hosted by President Droupadi Murmu for a state banquet. President Sisi will have a bilateral meeting and delegation-level talks with the Prime Minister on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar will call on President Sisi. The visiting dignitary will also interact with Indian Business community at a business event on the same day, reads a press release by the Ministry of External Affairs. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra indicated that Prime Minister Modi will look to make a reciprocal visit to Egypt in the near future. MUMBAI : The maiden sovereign green bond issuance worth 8,000 crore was fully subscribed on Wednesday at a better- than-expected yield as local investors lapped up the bonds. The Reserve Bank of India sold 4,000 crore of five-year bonds at a coupon rate of 7.10%, five basis points below the sovereign yield of similar tenure. Another 4,000 crore of 10-year bonds were sold at 7.29%, six basis points below comparable government securities. The bids received were worth more than four times the amount on offer, with the five-year bond sold to 32 investors and the 10-year to 57 investors, according to the RBI. It (sovereign green bonds) was sold well at about 5 bps lower than normal bonds yield. It has all the features of GSEC plus a green bonds tag. Traders have taken it for a forthcoming demand to come up and make some profits. Eventually FPI who have compulsions to make green bonds investments shall be participating in due course," said Ajay Manglunia, managing director, JM Financial. The lower yields are indicative of the demand for these bonds, the proceeds from which will be deployed in public sector projects to reduce carbon emission. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid out plans to zero out greenhouse gas emissions by 2070. Traders say the maiden issue largely saw interest from domestic players, but demand from global investors will pick up going forward. While local banks and mutual funds do not have a specific mandate to invest in these green bonds, they can issuethese at par with other sovereign bonds. Meanwhile, insurance companies are allowed to classify these as infrastructure investments. Traders also believe that these bonds may not result in substantial reduction in savings for the government or reduction in borrowing limit. Karnataka Assembly elections 2023: Indian National Congress leader and former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramiah, on Thursday said he was confident that the Congress would win the next Assembly elections in the state. The leader of Opposition in the Karnataka State Assembly said this as the state is slated to go into elections in April-May this year. "The Karnataka Assembly elections are merely a few months away and the BJP's central leaders and ministers are making frequent visits to the state. One should remember that (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah, who has been visiting the state frequently, had also been behind bars and even if he visits the state for a hundredth time, the Congress will still win the elections 100 per cent," Siddaramaiah told mediapersons in Bengaluru on Thursday. The Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Hubbali and Belagavi over two days, on 27 and 28 January. Eyeing a return to power in Karnataka, the BJP has started its poll preparations in earnest by strengthening and restructuring its booth committees across the state. Karnataka is considered the party's gateway to the South and holding onto the reins in the southern state is central to the BJP's plans of making deeper electoral inroads into the South. A BJP insider had been quoted as saying on January 14, "We are working to reorganise and restructure our booth committees in Karnataka. Our 'Booth Vijay Abhiyan', 'Janaspandana Rally', 'Jana Sangathan Yatra' campaigns are also underway simultaneously to ensure our victory in the Karnataka Assembly elections. Our party leaders are reaching out to the people through these rallies, highlighting the high points of our governance at the state and the Centre." Further, according to the party insider, a 'Booth Vijay Rally' was organised from January 2 to January 12 during which party flags were raised in at least 25 houses at each booth. Apart from the 'Booth Vijay Rally', the BJP has also launched the 'Jan Spandan Yatra'. The yatra is being led by the BJP's state chief and also features the party's state in-charge. "With just three months left for the Karnataka elections, all prepeerations are underway to win the state and also with an eye on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections," a BJP source said. "The polls could be notified anytime in March and it doesn't make any sense to go for a Cabinet reshuffle at this time. However, the CM has proposed a name (for induction into the Cabinet) to the central leadership and a final decision will be made soon," the source added. Earlier, in December, Amit Shah stressed the BJP needs to strengthen its organisation in the southern part of the country, adding that Karnataka is the the party's 'gateway' to the South. The government has warned private sector banks that it will cut business ties with them unless they enthusiastically participate in the Centres financial inclusion programmes, such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), two people aware of the development said, a move that may potentially benefit state-run lenders. Officials of the department of financial services have told private banks to improve their performance on the governments financial inclusion initiatives or face sharp cuts in government business, the people said, requesting anonymity. The performance of private banks would be monitored for the next six months, and if they are still found wanting, a phased cut in government business will start, one of the two people said. The decision follows a meeting of secretary financial services Vivek Joshi with representatives of private sector banks, small finance banks and payment banks on Tuesday to review the progress made in various financial inclusion initiatives. Despite repeated reminders, private banks contribution to financial inclusion programmes remains less than 10%, and so the government cautioned them that any further slippage might result in withdrawal of government business, an official of the Indian Banks Association (IBA) said, requesting anonymity. The government has deposits of over 12 trillion, making the business very lucrative for private-sector banks. These not only help banks with earnings on commissions (around 5,000 crore) but, more importantly, help banks acquire new customers and expand their low-cost CASA (current account and savings account) deposits, boosting profits. While private sector banks share of total credit disbursal is now more than 40%, their participation in government-run financial inclusion schemes that seek to ensure access to financial services and credit to vulnerable groups has been lacklustre. For instance, private sector banks contribution to the PMJDY was only 3% until mid-last year, and their contribution to insurance schemesPradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojanawas 4%. For Atal Pension Yojana and Kisan Credit Card, private banks accounted for 7%. Furthermore, an August Reserve Bank of India study found that state-run banks still have more branches in rural areas (33.4%) than private banks (20.8%). Additionally, state-run banks share in rural lending remains high at over 70%, while private banks only account for a small 10-15%. The performance of private banks on financial inclusion parameter has been poor as the banks were looking to protect whatever business they had during the pandemic. This prevented the expansion of services in rural and unbanked areas. But with banks posting healthy performance now, financial inclusion plans may get the necessary speed. The government should allow more time to private and small finance banks to expand their play on financial inclusion," said an executive at a consulting firm, asking not to be named due to his business ties with private banks. Queries sent to the spokesperson for the finance ministry, and IBA remained unanswered till press time. The private sectors performance on PMJDY, which aims to provide at least one basic bank account per household, has also fallen short of government expectations. As of the end of July, over 450 million beneficiaries had Jan Dhan bank accounts, with 78% of these accounts opened by state-run banks. PMJDY accounts with private sector banks in rural and semi-urban areas stood at a mere 7 million as of July and were even lower in urban centres, at 6 million. As of now, India has about 12 public sector banks and more than 20 private sector banks. According to RBI, all banks, including subsidiaries of foreign banks, are required to enhance the flow of bank finance to the priority sector for the overall development of rural areas. In addition to President House being a significant element of his Google Doodle, it also has a depiction of spectacular bike pyramids formed by defence personnel on the parade. Some horsemen visible in the illustration remind us of the 61 Cavalry regiment, which is the only active horse cavalry unit in the world at present. Also Read: Republic Day 2023 Live Updates: R-Day parade to begin shortly at Kartavya Path Apart from this, the doodle also consists of other elements like CRPF marching contingent, India Gate, India's national bird- peacock, etc. Like every year, Google Doodle celebrated India's Republic Day with an illustration depicting India's culture and tradition. At the same time, such an illustration reminds the world about India's struggle to gain independence from the Britishers and form its constitution. Also Read: 74th Republic Day: Here are the many first to witness this 26 January After laborious discussions, and a total of three rounds of readings, India's constituent assembly was able to form the Indian Constitution on 26 November 1949. It was implemented on 26 January 1950. What does the Google Doodle artist, Parth Kothekar, has to say? The Ahmedabad-based guest artist Parth Kothekar said he couldn't believe it when he first got to know about the opportunity to create Google Doodle. Also Read: Delhi: Check Republic Day 2023 advisory, follow these routes to avoid traffic I had goosebumps! I reread the email multiple times as I couldnt believe it" said Parth Kothekar while explaining his first reaction to the news. He also added that he shared the news with his mother and sister. He also said that he had never thought that he would get such an opportunity. This papercut took me 4 days to complete 6 hours a day," said Parth. With this papercut illustration, the artist tries to demonstrate the complexity of India. He wished to present India's diversity in a single artwork so that the viewer can get a glimpse of the complexity of the nation. A child's fascination with the Republic Day Parade Answering the question of his inspiration behind the Doodle, Parth Kothekar said he wanted to create a portrait of India. He also shared his fascination with the exhibition that takes place during the Republic Day parade. The illustration artwork is his attempt to weave different strands and elements of the Republic Day parade together, according to Google's official page on Google Doodle. Parth also shared how mesmerised he used to get while watching the Republic Day parade during his school days. Receiving this opportunity enlivened that fascination and I thoroughly enjoyed diving into it as I went into details of every facet displayed on the papercut. I learned a lot through this process." said the guest artist. As Artificial intelligence continues to gain momentum, the world appears to have entered an era of AI-Diplomacy. On Thursday, Israeli leaders extended Republic Day wishes in a slew of Indian languages - with some help from modern technology. Ohad Nakash Kaynar, Israel's Deputy Chief of Mission opted to speak in Punjabi, while the country's political advisor Hagar Spiro-Tal extended her greetings in Rajasthani. Israeli spokesperson Muhamed Heib extended his Republic day wishes in Bengali, followed by Galit Laroche Falach's address in Marathi. Urdu and Assamese were among the other languages included in the clip. "Based on the history of our two ancient civilizations, India and Israel share a great strategic partnership. The love and respect between our people go beyond diplomacy. Israel wishes all Indians a very happy Republic Day," said Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon. #HappyRepublicDay India! The team of @IsraelinIndia join in on the celebration of @incredibleindia's rich heritage, and cultural diversity by wishing our dear Indian friends in some of their regional languages.#RepublicDay #RepublicDayIndia #RepublicDay2023 @mygovindia pic.twitter.com/NOl0k6smeG Israel in India (@IsraelinIndia) January 26, 2023 A video of Israeli Ambassador David Saranga explaining the methodology in fluent Hindi has also gone viral. The Head of Digital Diplomacy Bureau in the Foreign Ministry of Israel urged people to find out more about the country's technological innovations and its work with AI. "Shalom, I have always wanted to communicate with you in Hindi language. Now this is possible due to Israeli artificial intelligence that allows me to speak in any language," he can be heard saying in Hindi in the dubbed clip posted on the State of Israel's official Twitter account. Israel has credited a local company for the technology. We know everyone's talking about Chat GPT but we have officially found our next AI obsession. Thanks to Israeli company D-ID we can now communicate with audiences around the world in their native languages!" the official country handle wrote. Israeli forces in the West Bank killed 10 Palestinians Thursday, officials in the occupied territory said, nine of them in a raid the Israeli military described as a "counterterrorism operation". The bloodiest day in the West Bank in years erupted during a raid on the crowded refugee camp in the northern city of Jenin, where gunshots rang through the streets and smoke billowed from burning street barricades. Also Read: Israel is Indias top petro-product buyer The Palestinian health ministry said the death toll from the clashes rose to nine, including a woman, and that 20 people were wounded before the Israeli forces withdrew mid-morning. The military said Israeli forces came under fire during a "counterterrorism operation to apprehend an Islamic Jihad terror squad" and shot several enemy combatants. Also Read: India, Israel mark 30 years of diplomatic ties with opening of Centre of Excellence Since its records began in 2005, the United Nations has never recorded such a high death toll in a single operation in the West Bank. A tenth Palestinian was subsequently shot dead by Israeli forces in Al-Ram, near Ramallah, the Palestinian health ministry said. The official Palestinian news agency Wafa said he was shot in clashes which erupted during a protest against the killings in Jenin. Also Read: Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu likely to visit India in first half of this year The violence prompted the Palestinian Authority to announce it was cutting security coordination with Israel, a move criticised by the United States. Among those confirmed dead in Jenin was Majeda Obeid, 61, who lived some metres (yards) from the house targeted by the Israeli forces. Her daughter, Kefiyat Obeid, told AFP that her mother was shot as she peered out her window at the clashes. "After she finished her prayers, she stopped for a moment to look and, as she stood up, she was hit in the neck by a bullet and she fell against the wall and then to the floor," the 26-year-old told AFP, as bloodstains soaked into the rug of their home. 'State of panic' The military said the incursion targeted Islamic Jihad militants who were allegedly behind attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians and, according to Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, were planning "to conduct a terror attack in Israel". Three Palestinians were shot in a firefight, while Israeli forces shot a further two "fleeing the scene", an army statement said. Israeli forces also shot a sixth suspect inside a building, and other Palestinians were hit after firing on troops, the army said. "Claims regarding additional casualties during the exchange of fire are being looked into," it added. There were no casualties among the Israeli forces, the military said. Wisam Bakr, director of the Jenin Government Hospital, said there was a "state of panic" in the paediatric ward with some children suffering from tear gas inhalation. The Israeli military told AFP "the activity was not far away from the hospital and it is possible some tear gas entered through an open window". Jenin resident Umm Youssef Al-Sawalmi said homes were hit during the raid. "Windows, doors, walls and even the refrigerator, everything was damaged by the bullets," she told AFP. Islamic Jihad spokesman Tariq Salmi vowed that "the resistance is everywhere and ready and willing for the next confrontation". The latest deaths bring the number of Palestinians killed in the West Bank so far this year to 30, including fighters and civilians, most of whom were shot by Israeli forces. Saleh al-Arouri, deputy leader of Palestinian militant group Hamas which rules Gaza, vowed that Israel "will pay the price for the Jenin massacre". 'Bloody massacre' Washington on Thursday announced US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel next week to Israel and the Palestinian territories, where he will push for an "end to the cycle of violence". The Arab League held "the Israeli government led by (Benjamin) Netanyahu fully responsible for committing the horrific bloody massacre". The mounting toll follows the deadliest year in the Palestinian territory recorded by the UN. At least 26 Israelis and 200 Palestinians were killed across Israel and the Palestinian territories in 2022, the majority in the West Bank, according to an AFP tally from official sources. UN peace envoy Tor Wennesland said he was "deeply alarmed and saddened by the continuing cycle of violence in the occupied West Bank". Thousands flocked to funerals in Jenin, as the Palestinian presidency announced three days of mourning. It charged that Thursday's raid on Jenin was happening "under international silence". "This is what encourages the occupation government to commit massacres against our people in full view of the world," said Nabil Abu Rudeinah, spokesman for Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Former Secretary of State for United States Mike Pompeo's book has made some shocking revelations with regards to international relations and foreign policy. This includes India's stance with China, wherein both Asian countries are locked in a standoff for almost thirty one months now. Pompeo in his book stated that India was forced to change its strategic position and reverse its otherwise independent foreign policy and join the four-nation Quad, owing to China's aggressive actions. The strain in relations between India and China arose in 2020 when the Chinese and Indian army engaged in a deadly clash in Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh in June. Since then India and China has held several disengagement talks which has resulted to nothing. India has maintained that the bilateral relations between the two countries cannot be normal unless the border skirmishes have been resolved. In his latest book 'Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love' that hit the stores on Tuesday, Pompeo called India the "wild card" in Quad because it was a nation founded on socialist ideology and spent the Cold War aligning with neither the US nor the erstwhile USSR. "The country (India) has always charted its own course without a true alliance system, and that is still mostly the case. But China's actions have caused India to change its strategic posture in the last few years," Pompeo wrote in his latest book. Pompeo, 59, explains how the Donald Trump administration succeeded in bringing India on board the Quad grouping. The US, Japan, India and Australia had in 2017 given shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the Quad or the Quadrilateral coalition to counter China's aggressive behaviour in the resource-rich Indo-Pacific region. "China forged a close partnership with Pakistan - India's arch rival - as one of the first steps in its Belt and Road Initiative. "In June 2020, Chinese soldiers clubbed twenty Indian soldiers to death in a border skirmish. That bloody incident caused the Indian public to demand a change in their country's relationship with China," Pompeo writes. "India banned TikTok and dozens of Chinese apps as part of its response. And a Chinese virus was killing hundreds of thousands of Indian citizens. I was sometimes asked why India had moved away from China, and my answer came straight from what I heard from Indian leadership, 'Wouldn't you?' times were changing - and creating an opportunity for us to try something new and pull the US and India more closely together than ever," Pompeo writes. China is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea. China claims sovereignty over all of the South China Sea. Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan have counterclaims. Beijing has also built up and militarised many of the islands and reefs it controls in the region. Both areas are stated to be rich in minerals, oil and other natural resources and are also vital to global trade. It isn't called the miracle of birth for no reason. A passenger experienced labour and delivered a baby in midair while travelling on an Emirates flight on 19 January, The flight from Tokyo-Narita to Dubai International landed with an additional passenger onboard. The child was born on Flight EK 319, a 12-hour nighttime flight that landed on schedule despite a medical emergency, the airline told CNN. The parent and child "were in stable health and, upon arrival in Dubai, were met by local medical experts," Emirates told CNN. The crew handled the situation with speed and composure. Although pregnant women are not permitted to fly after a particular point in their pregnancies, giving birth on aeroplanes is not unusual, mostly because of unexpected medical problems. As long as there are no issues or concerns with their health, passengers can fly with Emirates up until their seventh month of pregnancy. On a Frontier Airlines flight from Denver to Colorado last May, a mother gave birth to a healthy baby boy in the restroom with the help of a flight attendant. A woman gave birth six hours into a journey from Accra, Ghana, to Washington Dulles International Airport in January 2022. She gave birth to her child on the cabin floor, near the emergency exits. On Wednesday a senior official informed that Nepal will send the black box of Yeti Airlines plane, which crashed in Pokhara and killed all 72 people on board, including five Indians, to Singapore for examination. Three members of the investigation panel would be flying soon to deliver the black box to Singapore's Transport Safety Investigation Bureau, according to Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane, a joint secretary at Nepal's tourism ministry and a member of the investigation committee of the air crash. Stating that the team would depart for the further investigatiom on Friday, Lamichhane declared, "Our team is heading towards Singapore in a couple of days carrying the black box," Nepal made the decision to send the black box to Singapore because the two nations have an agreement to cooperate in the field of aviation. As per the reports from The Kathmandu Post newspaper, Lamichhane was quoted as saying The examination of the black box in Singapore is free of cost." A flight data recorder (FDR) and a cockpit voice recorder (CVR) are two different types of recording devices that are included in the black box. The last exchanges between the pilots and the aviation control room are likely to be revealed to the investigators. The ATR-72 aircraft carrying 53 Nepalese passengers, 15 foreign passengers, including 5 Indians, and four crew members went down in Pokhara on 15 January carrying all 72 occupants. Health officials in Nepal reported on Tuesday that they had given 60 bodiesincluding those of 5 Indiansto the victims' families. 914 people have perished in air crashes in Nepal since the first disaster was recorded there in August 1955, according to the country's civil aviation body. The Yeti Airlines disaster in Pokhara is the 104th aviation accident in Nepal and the third deadliest in terms of fatalities. (With inputs from agencies) Numerous modern battle tanks will be delivered to Ukraine by Germany and the US. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomed the action as a potential turning point in the country's struggle to fend off Russia's invasion while the Kremlin branded it an "extremely dangerous" move. Hours after Germany declared it would deploy Leopard 2 tanks, US President Joe Biden announced the decision to supply 31 M1 Abrams tanks. Russia has declared that any Abrams combat tanks given by the US to Ukraine will "burn", deriding the anticipated delivery as an expensive folly. The workhorse of NATO troops throughout Europe, the Leopard 2 tank, was the choice of Germany to send to Ukraine in place of Bidens initially cautious deployment of the difficult-to-maintain Abrams. Also Read: Why Vladimir Putins New Year wishes to India is significant One of the few remaining taboos in Western assistance for Ukraine has been finally broken by Germany and the US: delivering weapons with a primary offensive rather than defensive objective. Germany announced that it would deploy further military supplies to Kiev, including heavy artillery, air defence, and several rocket launchers. "This extremely dangerous decision takes the conflict to a new level of confrontation," Sergei Nechayev, the ambassador of Moscow to Germany, expressed his rage at Berlin's declaration. Also Read: Vladimir Putin hints at ending Ukraine war soon after Volodymyr Zelenskyys US trip The ultimate goal would be to provide Ukraine with two Leopard battalions, usually made up of three or four companies each, the first of which would arrive in three to four months. While the Abrams and the Leopards are quite similar, the main difference is the engine. While the Abrams employs a more potent and intricate turbine engine, the Leopard 2 has a diesel-powered MTU MB 873 engine that is much simpler to maintain and more popular in Europe. Ukraine, as per some experts, may find it difficult to manage the logistical infrastructure for the Abram tanks, given how infrequently those are deployed in Europe. Additionally, the four-person tank will need additional training for the sophisticated equipment. With statements from Poland, Finland and Norway this week, the number of pledges from other NATO allies that field Leopards, which Germany produced in the numbers and exported to allies, increased significantly. Zelenskiy has asked allies to rapidly supply numerous tanks in significant quantities. "The key now is speed and volumes. Speed in training our forces, speed in supplying tanks to Ukraine. The numbers in tank support," he said on January 25. (With agency inputs) Indias oil processors are open to buying even more Russian crude if the price is right, said refinery executives, potentially providing a bigger outlet for Moscow almost a year after its invasion of Ukraine. The South Asian nation increased Russian oil imports in 2022, ending the year with record monthly volumes as discounted barrels enticed buying. Executives said more cheap crude may be available to India from early next month, with a European Union ban on seaborne Russian fuel shipments possibly weighing on refining rates in the key OPEC+ producer. India and China have become a crucial destination for Russian oil after many others shunned shipments due to the war in Ukraine. Indian refiners are able to turn cheap Russian crude into fuels such as diesel and then sell to regions including Europe, boosting profit margins for processors. The impending EU sanctions are expected to ratchet up demand for fuels from Asia. Its bit of a circular trade going on as India takes Russian crude that Western buyers dont want and refining it into products for resale to the West," said Mukesh Sahdev, the head of downstream oil trading at Rystad Energy. Indias crude imports rose to a record last year, although increased buying of Russian barrels has crimped flows from OPEC. Cartel members accounted for about 62% of total oil imports from April to December, compared with around 71% in the previous corresponding period, according to government data. The refinery executives said Indian processors will maintain their long-term supplies from producers such as Saudi Arabia, with any increase in Russian purchases done on a spot and opportunistic basis. Russian fuel oil flows to India have also surged, almost doubling month-on-month in December to more than 137,000 barrels a day, according to data from Kpler. The product can be used to upgrade other more valuable fuels or be used in power generation. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. One of the world's biggest hacking groups, Hive, was hacked in a joint US-German action to fail the gang from collecting more than $130 million in ransomware demands from around 300 victims, the FBI said on Thursday. These victims included hospitals and school districts of the country. The ransomware gang is infamous for targeting healthcare organisations. During investigation, the data received from the websites was handed over to the victims coming from 80 countries across the world,reported Bloomberg. Hive's servers were also seized by the German Federal Criminal Police and the Dutch National High Tech Crime Unit. The US government hackers used ethical methods to break into Hive's network to put the gang under surveillance, informed U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and Deputy U.S. Attorney General Lisa Monaco, at a news conference held on Thursday. This helped the government in getting access to digital keys used by the group to unlock the victim organisation's data. "Using lawful means, we hacked the hackers," Monaco told reporters. We turned the tables on Hive," they said. The news of the take-down was first leaked when Hive's website was replaced with a flashing message, "The Federal Bureau of Investigation seized this site as part of coordinated law enforcement action taken against Hive Ransomware,", reported Reuters on Thursday. In a statement from the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg police, German police commissioner, Udo Vogel, said Intensive cooperation across national borders and continents strengthened by the mutual trust is the key to fight against cybercrimes. How Hives take-down is different from other US high-profile ransomware cases ? Recent hacking of the ransomware gang by the US authorities is different from its previous high-profile ransomware cases as this time, victims were saved from paying the ransom. The US government's previous crackdown on hackers, like a cyber attack in 2021 against the Colonial Pipeline Co. resulted in the seizure of some $2.3 million in cryptocurrency ransom after the company had already made the payment to the hackers. This time, the government was able to intervene before Hive was able to demand the payments. The undercover infiltration, which started in July 2022, went undetected by the gang until now. More than 1500 victims fell prey to Hive According to the US Justice Department, Hive has targeted more than 1,500 victims in 80 countries and has collected more than $100 million in ransomware payments, reported Reuters. The news agency also informed that the investigative agency is expected to make some arrests in the case in the coming time. Hive was responsible for a minimum of 11 ransomware incidents that involved US government organisations like schools, and healthcare providers last year, said Canadian researcher Brett Callow, of cybersecurity company Emsisoft. "Hive is one of the most active groups around, if not the most active," he said in an email to Reuters. (With agency inputs) Virtual digital assets, or VDAs, have emerged in recent years as a global phenomenon, with investors fascinated by their potential, tech firms looking at use cases for blockchain technology with VDAs as equity, and governments apprehensive about their perceived risks to monetary and fiscal policy. VDAs have already gone through three boom-and-bust cycles. Not long ago, around early 2021, expectations had begun to get frothy, as the potential of this technology seemed endless, with tech-savvy experts fervently anticipating how crypto would transform every aspect of society. Investors in crypto appeared to be earning profits that traditional investment could not hope to rival. Even today, despite a crash in crypto prices and the collapse of crypto exchanges like FTX, Indias tax-deducted-at-source (TDS) record shows transactions of about 6,000 crore, a steep fall year-on-year, but significant nonetheless. In this nascent ecosystem, India was fast emerging as a global front-runner, with its deep pools of technical talent, a dynamic startup ecosystem and a government that was pursuing a digital revolution on a war-footing. According to a 2022 Nasscom report, 11% of the worlds Web3 workers are in India, with a remarkable 138% rise in blockchain and crypto-related jobs since 2018.World-class crypto-products were being developed here. Those exciting days have since come to an early end, partly because crypto exuberance was punctured by a series of scams, but also because our regulatory responses made it untenable. This was exacerbated by friendlier policies in other countries causing a brain-drain and cross-border diversion of investments. At the start of 2022, Indias government was looking to take a cautious approach to the crypto ecosystem. Instead of fashioning a regulatory framework for investments in VDAs with appropriate guard-rails for the protection of investors, it chose to impose a heavy tax burden on crypto transactions. On 1 February 2022, the government announced two new taxes: the first was a flat 30% tax on any gains from crypto transactions that could not be set off against losses in other crypto transactions; the second was a 1% TDS, effective 1 July 2022, on any transaction over 10,000. These measures were disproportionate to the tax regime for other asset classes, like mutual funds and shares, for which the equivalent tax is 15% and a set-off against losses is allowed. These moves were meant to disincentivize people from speculating on crypto assets, while giving the government a mechanism to monitor transactions. But they also delivered a critical blow to the Indian crypto ecosystem, with domestic crypto exchanges faced with decimation as their Indian users shifted to foreign exchanges to avoid scrutiny. While investors needed to be protected from poorly-managed products and occasionally also outright fraud, the governments tax policy instead of regulation and investor education had an adverse impact on Indias entire VDA ecosystem. While Indian VDA exchanges are strengthening systems and processes by introducing KYC norms, educating investors and even resorting to audits to publish proof of reserves, with such a regressive tax structure, there is no way of knowing precisely how effective these self-imposed regulatory measures will be. How did Indian investors react to the new policy? Evidence suggests that instead of exercising greater caution in trades, many migrated to offshore VDA exchanges that were seen to be shielded from the scanners of revenue officials. As a result, they are now at the mercy of foreign regulatory systems. An estimated half a million Indian investors were impacted by the FTX crash. Regulators like Japans Financial Services Agency are working on ring-fencing Japanese investors from the FTX fallout. India, however, by starving local VDA exchanges, has lost space to manoeuvre. Recent experience exposes the fact that by not bringing out regulation to treat crypto as an asset class for investment and instead imposing a disproportionately heavy tax regime, Indian VDA exchanges have lost out, potential new use cases for blockchain being developed have been discouraged, and most importantly, India faces the risk of losing out on a fast-rising Web 3.0 market as investments shift to other destinations. Indian policymakers and the Reserve Bank of India have taken the stance that VDAs offer no inherent value. While this can be debated endlessly, there is still increasing demand for such assets. The purpose of regulation is to protect investors and not just punish bad investment products. Despite 2022 being a year of crypto disasters and clean up, it is unlikely that investments in this space will cease entirely. The responsibility of Indian financial regulation, therefore, is to ensure that future investments are guided responsibly and bad outcomes are managed. While India tries to create a global consensus around VDA regulation, investments must be brought back to Indian exchanges, where they can be monitored effectively. To do so, our hostile taxation regime for cryptocurrencies must be rationalized and brought at par with other asset classes. Regulation should also streamline how crypto exchanges adhere to KYC and anti-money laundering principles, and ask them to publish proof of reserves. This ecosystem needs logical taxation and sensible rules. Aruna Sharma is a practitioner development economist and former secretary, Government of India. The recent blackout across Pakistan is a reminder of the enormous energy crisis confronting Islamabad. Pakistan, which is on the edge of bankruptcy, must focus on energy conservation and urgent power sector reforms. But an energy crisis doesnt confront Pakistan alone. It afflicts other South Asian nations including Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, damaging their economic prospects. A fast-growing India too cant afford to be complacent, as the acute power shortage in April last year demonstrated, more so as it competes with coal and natural-gas rich Asean countries like Vietnam and Indonesia to gain from Chinas decline and emerge as a manufacturing hub. India is likely to witness the worlds biggest rise in energy demand this decade, says the International Energy Agency. A massive energy crisis in Pakistan Pakistan energy minister Khurram Dastgir has asserted that the blackout was not a major crisis, but a consequence of the economic strife. On 23 January, authorities began the load shedding at night in the winter months to conserve fuel. When engineers rebooted the system, voltage fluctuations tripped the power grid stations, causing an almost 15-hour outage. The cascading blackout impacted large parts of the cash-strapped country of 220 million, from capital Islamabad to its economic nerve centre Karachi. The need for power sector reforms The country imports costly oil and natural gas to generate most of its power, but is running precariously low on forex reserves, and must conserve energy. Steep fuel costs and hefty transmission and distribution (T&D) losses have led to load shedding. Half-hearted power sector reforms have not yielded results so far. While generation capacity has been beefed up in recent years, T&D losses have been substantial because of poor infrastructure, power theft and unpaid bills. Indeed, its energy crisis over the decades has crippled its domestic industry. The textile industry is its lifeline and accounts for 60% of its exports, but Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association has warned of a 20% decline in exports if the power crisis persists. Energy crisis in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka too Acute power shortages pose a massive challenge for Bangladesh as well, a country that appeared to be on the cusp of an economic boom. The biggest victim is the country's ready-made garments industry, which accounts for over 80% of its exports. Soaring oil and gas prices have forced Bangladesh to shut some of its diesel power plants and run many at half capacity, leading to power shortages. Apparel exports contracted towards the end of 2022, as load shedding took its toll. The Asian Development Bank has revised its growth forecasts for Bangladesh in fiscal 2023, from 7.1% to 6.6%. And falling exports will erode its forex reserves, making it difficult to afford costly fuels. Meanwhile, a bankrupt Sri Lanka is unable to afford costly energy imports as the country faces its worst economic crisis in decades. India cant be complacent In April 2022 when India reopened after lockdowns, a spike in power demand amid a heat wave shrank coal stocks at power plants, unleashing a crisis. With coal supplies to power plants rationed, energy-intensive factories pulled power from the grid, aggravating the power shortage. The crisis showed that India must be ready with a war plan to meet the expected surge in power demand in the coming years. The International Energy Agency believes India will witness the worlds biggest jump in energy demand this decade. India will be competing with coal and natural-gas rich Asean to emerge as a manufacturing hub, hoping to gain from the erosion of China as the worlds factory. Vietnam is coal-rich, though its fast-growing economy has forced it to import coal as well. Indonesia has abundant natural gas while Malaysia has plenty of oil. And Asean countries have aggressive renewable plans as well. Vietnam, in particular, is building solar capacities aggressively. India too is transforming its power sector and diversifying its energy mix. Coals share in electricity generation is expected to decline from 75% to 55% by 2030, with renewables accounting for 35%. And it is pursuing next-gen power sector reforms, particularly in distribution through the Electricity Amendment Bill 2022. Among the grand showcases of the Republic Day parade is the might of our armed forces, whose big war weaponry is put on display each year. This year was no different, but it did have a twist. Only Made-in-India weapon systems were on display. The indigenously developed light combat helicopter Prachand, K-9 Vajra howitzers, battle-tank Arjun, Nag anti-tank guided missiles, Akash air defence missiles and our quick-reaction fighting vehicles were among the show-pieces that trundled along Kartavya Path. There was also the Brahmos missile. Our growing self-reliance in military hardware is a matter of pride, for being able to defend the country without importing supplies is a key measure of strategic autonomy. While India has played its geopolitical cards well, with equations maintained with countries on both sides of a global divide that deepened after Russias invasion of Ukraine, and neutrality has multiple advantages, we must cover the risk of technology denial as well. A push for equipment made at home also boosts domestic manufacturing. A country that makes its own arms is not just more secure, it has a better chance of enjoying positive economic spillovers. Late on Nov. 27, book editor Cao Zhixin, who was about to turn 26 years old, joined a protest near Beijings embassy district with a few of her friends. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision that accidentally made them symbols of the most public display of defiance in a generationas well as the states forceful response. Lying in bed each night, Andy Buelow often finds himself thinking one thought over and over: How awesome it was to ride the ferry across Lake Michigan as a kid. Mr. Buelow pictures himself back on the ship, imagining the whir of the engines, the smell of steam, the rushing water and the cold spray on his face. When I remember the feeling, I am asleep within minutes," says Mr. Buelow, 61 years old, the chief executive of a symphony orchestra in Muskegon, Mich. We know what were supposed to do before bed to ensure a good nights sleep: Set a fixed bedtime. Turn off our screens. Create a relaxing routine before bed. Now, sleep researchers say that what we think about as we try to go to sleep is just as important. They recommend that as we prepare to drift off, we practice something called savoring, which is imagining a positive experience weve had in great detail. Savoring is well-studied as a strategy to improve our general well-being. A considerable body of research shows that it can boost mood and help reduce depression and anxiety. Now, psychologists believe it can help us fall asleep and have better sleep quality, and are starting to study its effectiveness. Many of us ruminate as were trying to drift off. This is where savoring can help. It gives your brain something else to focus onsomething emotionally compelling and pleasurable," says Dana McMakin, a professor of psychology at Florida International University, who studies savoring. Savoring differs from other strategies you may use before going to sleep. When you savor, you try to re-create the positive emotional state of the experience. Its not the same as practicing gratitude, which involves thinking about something rather than trying to feel it. And its different from meditating or trying to be mindful, in which the goal is to quiet your mind. Savoring aims to fill it up with positive emotion. When you savor a happy memory, your brain reacts as if youre reliving that enjoyable experience all over again, says Sara C. Mednick, a neuroscientist and professor of cognitive science at the University of California, Irvine. The activity in your sympathetic nervous system, which is in charge of your stress response, reduces. And the activity in your parasympathetic nervous system, which restores the body to a calm state, increases. Ready to try savoring as a sleep aid? Heres how. Pick your happy memory beforehand. It could be something biga favorite vacation or the day your child was bornor something small, such as playing with your dog. It could also be something youre doing at the moment (snuggling in your cozy flannel sheets) or looking forward to doing in the future. When youre in bed trying to sleep, re-create it in your mind. Imagine it with all five of your senses, adding as many details as you can. Think of those same sensations in your body now. This will make blood flow to those parts and away from the worrying part of your brain, which will help you relax, Dr. Mednick says. I like to picture a walk on the beach with my dog, Scout. I start by envisioning the sound of the surf, the smell of the water, the breeze on my shoulders, the taste of the orange I brought as a snack and Scouts happy face. Get your ruminating out of the way early. Schedule a worry sessionat least several hours before bedtime. Set a timer at the beginning of your session for 15 minutes, then let your mind go hog-wild fretting. Write down all the worries that come to you. When the time is up, literally and figuratively close the book. This gives your brain an opportunity to worry and download the negativity early, to break the habit of ruminating at bedtime," says Wendy Troxel, a clinical psychologist, sleep scientist at Rand Corp. and author of Sharing the Covers: Every Couples Guide to Better Sleep." Practice during the day. Savoring on command may not come easily at first, as I discovered one recent night when I couldnt sleep and tried to wing it. I attempted to recall a memory from the weekend when I went sailing with friends. But I had trouble sticking with it, and as my mind continued to wander I found myself silently berating myself: Savor, damnit! Savor!" Practicing savoring during the day will train your brain to focus on positivity. It will strengthen the memory, which will help your brain recall it more easily next time, and calm your stress response down, says Dr. Mednick, author of The Power of the Downstate." She recommends 10 minute stretches several times a week. Stick with it. Like any new habit, it will take time to stick, says Zlatan Krizan, a professor of psychology and sleep scientist at Iowa State University. Dont give up if its hard at first. Mr. Buelow started savoring his happy memories of the old City of Midland 41" ferry before sleep when he was in his 20s. He grew up riding the ferry each summer when his family traveled from their home in Wisconsin to their summer cottage in Michigan, and the happy memory of those rides and the freedom he felt on them helped settle his racing mind. Although he rarely has trouble getting to sleep now, he still imagines himself on the ferry every night when he gets in bed. And if he wakes up in the middle of the night, he does it again. Sometimes he switches it uppicturing a night ride, or even a different ferry. But he always envisions the wind, waves and water. Riding the Midland helps me turn off my mind and sink into a sleep rhythm," he says. And its become a source of comfort." A team of researchers from China believe the Earths inner core has reversed its rotation after they analyzed earthquake-driven seismic waves as they pass through the Earth. In a study published Monday in the journal Nature Geoscience, researchers said the reversal of the inner core rotation would shorten the length of the day by a fraction of a millisecond over the course of a year, and might have a small effect on Earths magnetic field, but wouldnt affect life on the surface. The Earths inner core is made of iron and nickel and is separated from the rest of the solid Earth by the liquid outer core, enabling it to rotate differently than the rest of the planet. In theory it has been going on for a long time but we only have observations over a few decades," said Xiaodong Song, a seismologist at Peking University in Beijing, and a co-author of the new study. The spinning of the inner core is caused by the magnetic field that is generated by the liquid outer core, Dr. Song said. Understanding how the inner core rotates can help scientists figure out how the different layers of the Earth interact with each other. Dr. Song and co-author Yi Yang, also a seismologist at Peking University, analyzed seismic waves from similar earthquakes that have passed through the Earth along similar paths since the 1960s. They found that between 2009 and 2020, that rotation has stopped and might have reversed direction. We have those repeating earthquakes that happen at the same location," Dr. Yang said. It is like we are doing a CT scan for the Earth." John Vidale, a professor of earth sciences at the University of Southern California who wasnt involved with the study, said there may be other interpretations of the seismic data. The changes they noticed are valid although whats actually happening isnt so clear," Dr. Vidale said. They have a very good analysis and the theory they put in the papers is probably as good as anything at the moment, but there are several competing ideas as well." Dr. Vidale says other scientists theorize that the inner core changes its rotation at shorter intervals than the 70-year cycle described by the new studys authors. Other theories from scientists include that the inner cores rotation actually stopped between 2001 and 2003, or that it isnt really reversed at all, but just changed the way it rotates, Dr. Vidale said. Popular soft drink Coca-Cola is tipped to launch a smartphone in India soon. According to Indian tipster Mukul Sharma, the company may bring its phone in the country as soon as March this year. He says that Coca-Cola will collaborate with a smartphone manufacturer for the device. Sharing the information via a post on microblogging site Twitter, the leakster wrote Here's the all new #Cola Phone. Can confirm that the device is launching this quarter in India. Coca-Cola is collaborating with a smartphone brand for this new phone". [Exclusive] Here's the all new #Cola Phone Can confirm that the device is launching this quarter in India. Coca-Cola is collaborating with a smartphone brand for this new phone. Feel free to retweet.#ColaPhone pic.twitter.com/QraA1EHb6w Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) January 24, 2023 He also shares an image of the upcoming Coca-Cola branded phone. The image shows the rear of the phone featuring a dual camera system on the back. One can also see volume control buttons located on the right edge of the phone. There are no other details of the phone. Now, it may sound unusual for a beverage company to bring a smartphone. But, this will surely not be the first time that a non-smartphone manufacturer enters the smartphone market. Similarly, smartphone companies have collaborated with popular sales in the past. To name a few, OnePlus and Oppo have partnered to bring the McLaren edition and Avengers Edition of their devices. According to online reports, the smartphone in the leaked render is the Realme 10 4G. The smartphone was launched in November last year. It is equipped with a 6.4-inch full HD+ AMOLED screen with a refresh rate of 90Hz. The smartphone comes powered by MediaTek Helio G99 chipset. The phones display comes with a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on the top and has a 90.8 percent screen ratio. Realme 10 4G features a dual camera on the back. There is a 50MP primary camera on the phone. For selfies, the device boasts of a 16MP sensor. Elon Musks team has held talks with investors about raising up to $3 billion to repay some of the $13 billion in debt tacked onto Twitter Inc. as part of his buyout of the company, people familiar with the matter said. Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulties falling asleep, staying asleep or getting good quality sleep. According to a 2022 review published in the journal Sleep Medicine Clinics (opens in new tab), approximately 10 percent of the global adult population suffers from an insomnia disorder, while 20% experiences occasional insomnia symptoms. Insomnia can impact physical and mental health. Individuals suffering from this condition can feel sleepy during the day, have difficulty concentrating and learning and may feel irritable or anxious, according to the National Institutes of Health (opens in new tab). Sleep-deprived individuals also tend to have high levels of the stress hormone cortisol and decreased immunity, a 2022 review published in the journal Sleep Medicine Clinics (opens in new tab) reports. According to the NIH (opens in new tab), insomnia can be classified as short-term or long-term (chronic). Short-term insomnia may last for a few days or weeks and is usually caused by stress or changes to a person's schedule or environment. Chronic insomnia is diagnosed when the symptoms occur three or more nights a week, last more than three months and cannot be fully explained by another health problem. The definition of insomnia has changed with the latest edition of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, according to a 2021 review published in The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences (opens in new tab). The current focus is now on the length of symptoms, rather than the causes of the condition, as this approach may better reflect the complexity of this disorder. However, many experts, including those Live Science spoke to, still use the terms primary or secondary when referring to the condition. Insomnia: Causes Charmain Keane (opens in new tab), a clinical psychologist in England, told Live Science that primary insomnia describes difficulties with falling asleep or staying asleep that are not related to another medical condition. "The causes of primary insomnia could include stress related to life events such as a new job or death of a loved one," she said. "It could also be related to poor sleep habits, such as an inconsistent bedtime, eating too late at night or not having a regular routine due to shift work." Charmain Keane Social Links Navigation Clinical Psychologist Charmain Keane is an experienced clinical psychologist with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital and healthcare industry. She received her doctorate, focused in clinical psychology, from the University of East London in England. There are three subtypes of primary insomnia, said Alison McClymont (opens in new tab), a psychotherapist in England: Idiopathic (without any known cause), stress-related, and sleep state misperception, where the sufferer believes they have insomnia despite having adequate sleep. "This type of 'false insomnia' is common if people have suffered previous primary insomnia and may be related to anxious thoughts about not sleeping or getting too little sleep," McClymont said. In some cases, insomnia is a side effect of another medical condition (such as sleep apnea, hypothyroidism or restless leg syndrome), in which case, the disorder is known as secondary insomnia, according to the NIH. Biological factors According to a 2021 review published in the journal Physiological Reviews (opens in new tab), insomnia may be caused by disruptions in brain circuits regulating emotion and arousal, rather than in circuits involved in sleep regulation as previously thought. Certain individuals may be less able to process negative emotions, the authors said, which may lead to their brains being hyperstimulated. This excessive stimulation may then impede restful sleep. In addition, a 2020 review published in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews (opens in new tab) reported that stroke may also lead to sleeping disorders. Psychological factors Kerry Irving, a senior clinical psychologist at Kooth (opens in new tab), a digital mental wellbeing platform in England, told Live Science that while it is not always clear what triggers insomnia, it can be associated with stress and anxiety. "Periods of anxious thoughts or rumination are among the most common reasons people stay awake at night," he said. "This is when we continually think the same thoughts over and over. It can make it difficult to fall asleep, especially if those thoughts are particularly scary and worrying." Insomnia may be experienced during periods of great stress or emotional distress such as a job loss, a bereavement or a divorce, McClymont said. "In these circumstances the condition is likely to be transient due to its direct connection with an emotional stressor," she said. Lifestyle factors Shift workers are at a particularly high risk of developing insomnia, McClymont said, with a 2021 review published in the journal Sleep Science (opens in new tab) finding it can affect up to 76.4% of shift workers. "Certain jobs may make a person more susceptible to insomnia by working hours that alter their circadian rhythms," she said. "The circadian rhythm tells the body when to be tired and when to be awake." Certain medications, such as asthma and cold medicines, can also cause insomnia. Commonly used substances such as caffeine, tobacco and alcohol can also contribute to symptoms, according to the Sleep Foundation (opens in new tab). A poor sleeping environment or engaging in sleep antagonizing behaviors, such as eating heavy meals, performing high intensity exercise or high screen exposure close to bedtime, may be disruptive to our sleep-wake cycle, Dr. Abhinav Singh, medical director of the Indiana Sleep Center, told Live Science. A 2022 review, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (opens in new tab), suggested that digital addiction, defined as harmful dependence on digital media and high-tech devices, may be another predisposing factor. Some studies indicated that it may partly be caused by exposure to light at night, such as on a computer or smartphone screen. This so-called "blue light" may affect the sleep-wake cycle, while limiting exposure to digital screens can improve quality of sleep, according to a 2020 meta-analysis published in the journal Sleep Advances (opens in new tab). Insomnia: Symptoms According to the Sleep Foundation (opens in new tab), insomnia occurs when a person experiences at least one of the following sleep issues: Trouble falling asleep Trouble staying asleep throughout the night Unwanted early morning waking In addition, a person must have at least one of several daytime symptoms related to their sleeping problems: Fatigue Impaired attention or memory Trouble with work or social performance Irritability or disturbed mood Sleepiness Behavioral issues, like hyperactivity or aggressiveness Decreased motivation Increased accidents or mistakes Worries about one's sleep Insomnia: Risk factors Women tend to be more at risk of developing sleep disorders, mostly due hormonal shifts associated with perimenopause and the menopause, Keane said. Age is another predisposing factor, with insomnia being one of the most common sleep disorders encountered in the geriatric population, according to a 2018 review published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (opens in new tab). Mental health difficulties may also contribute. "Chronic mood disturbance such as anxiety or depression are stress factors for insomnia, as is alcohol or substance misuse," McClymont said. Genetics may also play a role in one's risk of developing insomnia, according to a 2017 study published in the journal Nature Genetics (opens in new tab). The researchers analyzed the DNA of 113,000 people with an average age of 57, asking them about sleep issues. They found seven genes that were more common in those who had insomnia, which in this study was defined as "usually" having trouble going to sleep or waking up in the middle of the night. In fact, results from a 2021 meta analysis published in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews (opens in new tab) suggest that the heritability of insomnia may be as high as 39%. Insomnia: Diagnosis To diagnose insomnia, doctors will ask patients a number of questions about their sleep habits, such as how often they have trouble sleeping, how long it takes them to fall asleep and how often they wake up at night, as well as what their routine before bedtime is like. Patients may consider keeping a sleep diary for a week or two to help answer these questions, writing down when they fall asleep, wake up and take naps. Doctors will also take a medical history, which includes questions about the patient's health problems, medications, mental health conditions and work and leisure habits, as well as whether the patient has recently experienced stressful life events. Doctors may also conduct a physical exam, which may include blood tests to check for thyroid problems that may cause sleep disturbances. An overnight sleep test may be needed if doctors think that a patient's insomnia may be caused by another sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea. Insomnia: Treatment According to a 2022 review published in the Lancet (opens in new tab), the recommended first-line treatment for insomnia, whether the underlying cause has been identified or not, is cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). This addresses the patient's beliefs and actions around insomnia. Pharmaceutical approaches may be used, but there is no agreement as to which treatments are the safest or the most effective. Both CBT-I and pharmaceutical approaches may reduce the symptoms of insomnia, but only CBT-I has shown durable long-term effects after stopping the treatments. However, it can be difficult to access a professional who can deliver CBT-I. For those patients, a 2020 review published in The American Journal of Managed Care (opens in new tab) reported that digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (dCBTI) may be a cheaper and more scalable option. However, there is not enough evidence to suggest that it has the same effects as traditional face-to-face therapy, the researchers said. How insomnia is treated may depend on whether the symptoms are classified as transient (lasting less than a month), short term (one to six months) or chronic (lasting beyond six months), McClymont told Live Science. "For transient or short term insomnia, a doctor or healthcare provider may look to prescribe a sleeping aid such as a benzodiazepine," she said. "For chronic insomnia, you may be encouraged to focus on more long term solutions such as therapy or lifestyle changes. As certain types of sleeping aids can become habit and are fatal if used incorrectly, they are not recommended to be used for more than short periods of time and only ever as prescribed." Patients with insomnia are often encouraged to introduce lifestyle changes that promote better sleep hygiene, Keane said. "[These may include] setting a regular time to go to bed and wake up, avoiding alcohol or caffeine close to bedtime, and reducing screen time before bed as phones and television can stimulate you and make it more difficult to fall asleep." For secondary insomnia, lifestyle changes may be more focused on managing the underlying health condition, Keane said. (Image credit: Getty Images) Pharmaceutical approaches for insomnia include over-the-counter and prescription treatments. However, Carolina Goncalves, a superintendent pharmacist at Pharmica (opens in new tab) in England, told Live Science that over-the-counter treatments are short-term solutions and are not intended for use on a continuous basis. Patients should speak with their doctor before using over the counter products that contain antihistamines. Prescription drugs for insomnia include benzodiazepines, non-benzodiazepine hypnotics and antidepressants, Goncalves said, however these treatments carry a risk of side effects, including residual drowsiness, risk of dependance, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms. Patients with insomnia may also be prescribed melatonin supplements. However, there is no clear evidence to suggest that taking melatonin actually improves sleep or sleep quality. There are also certain considerations to discuss with a medical professional before embarking on a course. This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice. Additional resources In this process, each affected officer's assignment will be evaluated by an internal committee that the city says is made up of sworn officers of diverse ranks and roles. If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option. A woman who was allegedly trafficked and required to work as a prostitute in rural Ireland amid threats and a debt bondage situation has told a jury that she often kept a knife close by to defend herself from violent clients. The woman also informed the jury that she only saw the Longford defendant in the case on one occasion and that was when she was picked up at the airport. The woman, who can't be named for legal reasons, was giving evidence in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of Natalia Nogueira Da Silva and Ivanilce (Lisa) Vailones Fidelis. She told the court she was moved to a different rural town every week and that in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, a man tried to break into the house, while in Tralee, Co Kerry, the men there were very violent. She also outlined a situation in Portarlington, Co Laois, when a client demanded his money back and beat her up after the service was provided. It was this incident that led to her decision to always keep a knife by her bed. Ms Da Silva (32), of Cairn Hill View, Drumlish, Co Longford, has pleaded not guilty to one count of human trafficking a woman at an unknown location within the State, on dates between March 31, 2019 and May 18, 2019. She has pleaded guilty in front of the jury to one count of organising prostitution at an unknown location within the State on dates between December 5, 2018 and May 18, 2019. She has also admitted one count of facilitating the entry into the State of a person she knew to be illegal on March 31, 2019 at Dublin Airport, along with 33 counts of money laundering the proceeds of crime on dates between March 2020 and May 2021. Ms Vailones Fidelis (46) of Castle Manor, Racecourse Road, Roscommon, has pleaded not guilty to all 18 counts against her. She has denied two counts of human trafficking two women at various locations within the State on dates between December 2018 and May 2019. She has pleaded not guilty to one count of organising prostitution during the same time period. Ms Vailones Fidelis has further pleaded not guilty to 14 counts of money laundering the proceeds of crime on dates between January 2015 and December 2020 and one count of removing proceeds of crime from the State during the same time period. The State alleges the two accused trafficked two vulnerable Brazilian women for the purposes of exploiting those women and taking advantage of their vulnerability to such an extent as to cause the trafficked person to have no real or acceptable alternative but to submit to being trafficked. Garnet Orange SC, prosecuting, told the jury they would hear the women were in a debt bondage situation, whereby they owed money for their plane tickets and other expenses and were being charged exorbitant rent for their accommodation. The prosecution also alleges the women were threatened. The first complainant in the case continued giving evidence today (Wednesday, January 25). She has given evidence that her plane ticket was bought by a woman named Lisa and that she was met at the airport by a woman named Natalia and brought to an apartment in Portarlington. Giving evidence via video-link through an interpreter, the 35-year-old woman outlined three very traumatising incidents for her. She said she became very fearful following one incident in Portarlington. I would always keep a knife close to the bed so I could protect myself. This happened after a client beat her up after he demanded his money back after she had provided the service. To defend myself I got a knife and tried to get him out of the apartment. During this time, I called Lisa. I had a knife in one hand and the phone in the other. She told me not to do anything to the client and I should let him leave, the woman said. She was very worried about the client. She later told me I should never react when a client wanted to beat me or wanted the money back, the complainant continued. She said Lisa was not worried about her. The second incident happened in Enniscorthy when a a guy wanted to come in who appeared to be very out of himself. She said she called the women and told them that she had a knife. They threatened to call immigration on her if she was violent towards any man because that would bring complications. She said Lisa then called her and told her that she was not supposed to hurt the man. She was very offensive and she threatened me, the complainant said. She said in her final week in Portarlington she had a sore throat and a fever and Lisa told her that a client wanted her to perform oral sex without protection. She told Lisa that she was unwell but she said Lisa didnt mind. The woman told Mr Orange that when the client arrived, she told him she was in no condition to provide that service, so he started to assault me physically. It was a very intense fight. I had injuries, bruises all over my body. She said she managed to get the knife, and when the man said he wanted his money back she held up the knife. He stopped what he was doing to me. At this moment he knew I was very serious. That I was intent on defending myself so he put his hands up and left the apartment, she said. She said she was completely fearful and in terror and left the apartment because she was afraid the man would come back. She went to a local coffee shop and called Lisa. She told Lisa she was very ill but she wasnt allowed visit a doctor or get access to medication. She said Lisa was only worried about the client. She never asked if I was OK. The woman said Lisa and Natalia seemed to share the phone and took turns calling her and giving her instructions. She said they mostly communicated via Whatsapp and that Lisa told her to delete their chats, take a screengrab showing the chat had been deleted and send it back to her as proof. Sometimes I would take a picture of a receipt or screenshot or picture of the chat so I could share it with police, the woman told the court. I handed in everything I had to gardai. The woman said she only saw Natalia the one time, when she was picked up at the airport. She said she never met Lisa in person, nor saw any pictures of her. The trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury. Its been a mixed week for Longfords economic landscape with confirmation of close to 90 jobs coming on stream on the back of government backed support while two local businesses indicated they are to close their doors. Figures released this week by Enterprise Minister Simon Coveneys department have shown Longfords Local Enterprise Office (LEO) facilitated the creation of 87 jobs by companies it supported over the course of the past 12 months. This figure compared favourably with the 65 jobs that were created with support from the LEO Longford in 2021. LEO Longford Head of Enterprise Michael Nevin said, These results are a testament to Longfords small business community. Mr Nevin added, In spite of challenges linked to the pandemic, rising costs, especially energy costs and global uncertainty, local firms have continued to adapt, pivot, and upskill and do whatever it takes to sustain themselves. The figures show that the local economy continues to grow and importantly it continues to provide employment and career opportunities. Mr Nevin concluded, This year will be no different in terms of challenges faced but we will continue to work closely with the business community and all our partners to ensure our small businesses get the best possible supports available. The total national figures for the Local Enterprise Offices across the country were announced with the LEOs now supporting 37,863 jobs across 7,221 companies. In 2022 there were 7,870 new jobs created by LEO clients companies with a net jobs creation figure of 3,447. This was up 10% nationally in 2021. From the jobs created, 84% were outside of the Dublin region. The positive news from LEO Longford comes in the wake of last Thursdays announcement that Argos is closing all 34 stores nationwide by the end of June, including its Longford based outlet at the county towns N4 Axis Centre. The company said it arrived at the decision to leave Ireland following a long period of careful consideration and a thorough review of its business and operations in the country. It concluded the investment required to develop and modernise the Irish part of its business was not viable and that the money would be better invested in other parts of its business. Argos says it is committed to doing everything it can to support its people and is talking to 580 staff members, across 34 stores in the Republic of Ireland about their options. Andy McClelland, Argos Ireland Operations Manager, said: We understand this is difficult news for our customers and colleagues. As with any major change to our business, we have not made this decision lightly and we are doing everything we can to support those impacted. On behalf of everyone at Argos I would like to thank our colleagues, customers, suppliers and partners for their support to our business. Longford wholesale firm to close after BWG Foods takeover One of Longford's oldest and most successful wholesale providers is to close its doors next month after being snapped up by BWG Foods. Meanwhile, it has been announced that long established Longford wholesaler McCarricks Cash N Carry business is to close next month following its takeover by Irish retail group, BWG Foods. The business will operate from BWGs Value Centre branch in Mullingar over the next number of weeks. School & Education, Community, Charity & Cause, Arts & Culture By Ls Cohen Published: January 26 2023 LIUs Palmer School received the funds from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation. LIUs Palmer School recently received funding from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation to support its Digitizing Local History Sources project, providing students and faculty additional opportunities to preserve sensitive historical documents relevant to Long Island's history. "This funding opportunity allows our students to further develop their archiving skills while enhancing their academic experience, said Dr. Kimberly R. Cline, President, Long Island University. Students enrolled in the Palmer School at LIU preserve local Long Island history through advanced digital technology to capture images of important historical documents. LIU students have archived documents from 46 historical organizations, including 75,000 images, amounting to a total of 4,600 gigabytes of data. Since 2017, the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation has contributed more than $2.2 million to Long Island University's historical preservation projects. The funds presented by the Gardiner Foundation have enabled Palmer School students to digitize materials provided by various organizations in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Students most recently preserved information from notable historical items, including Walt Whitman's family bible. Book mark inside the Walt Whitman family bible. Photo: Walt Whitman Birthplace Association; digital surrogate prepared by the Palmer School of Library and Information Science, Long Island University, as part of the Digitizing Local History Sources Project funded by the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation. "Years ago, the Foundation asked me what I saw as the greatest need for our historical societies, said Kathryn M. Curran, Executive Director of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation. I had recently been to a historic site that was underutilized, and underappreciated. For years this organization had been maintaining an incredible resource of archival material that was virtually unknown. Established in 1987, the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation primarily supports the study of New York State history. The organization's purpose is to cultivate, foster and promote interest in the culture, art and traditions of our local history. Foundation leaders aspire to encourage the collection and examination of documents and artifacts. "Our students are highly skilled and motivated in the digital archiving process", said Dr. Gregory Hunter, LIU professor and Project Director, Digitizing Local History Sources. "The added bonus is that Long Island residents benefit from this program, as important documents pertaining to local history are digitally preserved for all posterity." Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases By Jacob Alvear Published: January 26 2023 In recognition of January being National Blood Donor Month, Peconic Bay Medical Center is happy to announce its 2022 staff blood drives were able to provide approximately 639 patients with transfusions. RIVERHEAD, NY (JANUARY 25 2023)In recognition of January being National Blood Donor Month, Peconic Bay Medical Center (PBMC) recently announced that 2022s staff blood drive initiatives yielded 213 pints of blood and provided an estimated 639 patients with vital access to blood transfusions. As Peconic Bay Medical Center plans to expand its emergency department to accommodate the drastic increase in critical care patients, efforts like PBMCs blood drives are essential to providing lifesaving resources for Eastern Long Islanders. Across each of our internal blood drives, we had a great turnout, with an estimated 639 people being able to receive blood transfusions as a result of these much-needed donations, said Peconic Bay Medical Center Executive Director Amy Loeb, EdD, MBA, RN. Our employees are aware of the ongoing blood shortage. We know that an incident can occur at any moment that can put anyone in a situation where they would need a blood transfusion. Im thankful to our team for their ongoing efforts to give back to their community through these lifesaving blood drives. According to the Red Cross, every two seconds, someone in the United States is in need of blood. Patients in surgery, undergoing cancer treatment and who experienced blood loss as a result of a traumatic injury all receive blood transfusions. In 2022, Peconic Bay Medical Center held three employee-only blood drives to give back to the community. The hospital received 72 pints of donated blood in January, 84 in July and 57 in November. This year, PBMC will continue to hold employee blood drives to help those in need. Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases, Politics By Jacob Alvear Published: January 25 2023 New York Attorney General Letitia James and eight other attorney generals have applauded the Biden-Harris administration's new actions to protect tenants. NEW YORK New York Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of eight other attorneys general today released the following statement applauding the Biden-Harris administrations new actions to protect tenants, strengthen fair housing laws, and expand access to affordable housing for Americans across the country: Once again, the Biden-Harris administration has made clear that supporting hardworking Americans and ensuring that we all are equally protected under the law are top priorities. Too many people across the country are facing record-high housing costs, and families are struggling to find safe and affordable housing. Todays announcement is a comprehensive plan that will address many of the challenges that people are facing every day and will help strengthen our ability to regulate and enforce fair housing laws and confront the other systemic issues that prevent people from finding a home. We look forward to continuing our work with our partners at the local, state, and federal level to ensure that no one is discriminated against or taken advantage of as they seek this most basic life necessity. Joining Attorney General James in issuing this statement are Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, and District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb. Attorney General James has always fought to protect tenants and ensure New Yorkers have access to safe, affordable housing. In December 2019, she launched an investigation into housing discrimination practices at multiple Long Island brokerages, and in August 2022, she secured settlements to fix illegal practices and require fair housing trainings for agents. Attorney General James has taken action against landlords that violated lead protection laws, putting tenants, especially children, at risk. She has fought back against tenant blacklisting efforts, and held landlords accountable for harassing, misleading, and illegally threatening to lock out New York renters. Attorney General James has also secured millions of dollars for tenants who had money illegally withheld by landlords, and provided tens of millions of dollars to preserve and expand affordable housing throughout the state. Crime, Press Releases By Jacob Alvear Published: January 25 2023 a 56-year-old man has been sentenced to 39 months in federal prison for bank robbery. SYRACUSE, NEW YORK William Maybank, age 56, of New York City was sentenced today to 39 months in federal prison for robbing a KeyBank location in Utica, New York. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. In previously pleading guilty, Maybank admitted that, in August 2019, he robbed a KeyBank branch in Utica, New York by pointing an apparent revolver at bank employees and a bank customer in two cubicles outside the teller counter. He then jumped the teller counter and ordered a bank employee to remove cash from multiple drawers at two teller locations. He made off with approximately $6,700 in cash. In addition to the 39-month imprisonment term, United States District Court Judge David N. Hurd also imposed a 5-year term of supervised release to begin after Maybank serves his term of imprisonment. In addition, the defendant was ordered pay restitution in the amount of money he stole from the bank and was required to pay a money judgment in the same amount. The FBI, the Utica Police Department, the New York State Police, and the Oneida County District Attorneys Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Gadarian and Matthew J. McCrobie prosecuted this case. Eight People Arrested for Selling Marijuana Products and Vapes to Minors Local News, Crime, Press Releases By Jacob Alvear Published: January 26 2023 Suffolk County Police arrested eight people for selling vapes to minors in the Second Precinct. Suffolk County Police arrested eight people for selling marijuana products, vapes and e-cigarettes to minors in the Second Precinct. In response to numerous community complaints, Second Precinct Crime Section officers along with Community Support Unit officers conducted an investigation into the sale of marijuana products, vapes and e-cigarettes during which 20 businesses were checked for compliance with the law. During the investigation, eight businesses were found to be selling marijuana products, vapes or e- cigarettes to minors. Two of the businesses, Smoke Bazaar Smoke Shop N Vape, located at 526 Walt Whitman Road in Melville, and Smokeez Smoke Shop, located at 324 Larkfield Road in East Northport, had employees cited for selling vapes and e-cigarettes in 2022. The following people were charged with Criminal Sale of Cannabis 3rd Degree, a misdemeanor: Ak Serhat, 28, of Huntington, an employee of Smoke Bazaar Smoke Shop N Vape, located at 526 Walt Whitman Road in Melville. Jefrey Mejia-Villeda, 23, of Jamaica, Queens, an employee of Smokeez Smoke Shop, located at 324 Larkfield Road in East Northport. The following people were charged with Unlawfully Dealing with a Child 2nd Degree, a misdemeanor: Sajjad Hussain, 52, of Huntington, an employee of RK Cigar and Smoke, located at 824 East Jericho Turnpike in Huntington Station. Somesh Dhawan, 35, of Hauppauge, an employee of Evolve Smoke Shop, located at 2066 Jericho Turnpike in East Northport. Deepak Mehta, 43, of Bethpage, an employee of 76 Gas, located at 1714 New York Ave. in Huntington Station. Arvindbhai Patel, 37, of Flushing, Queens, an employee of Jericho Beer & Smoke Convenience, located at 1058 East Jericho Turnpike in Huntington Charles Spinella, 20, of Kings Park, an employee of Legacy Smoke Shop, located at 39 Larkfield Road in East Northport. A 17-year-old female employee of Nirvana Vape Smoke, located at 1153A East Jericho Turnpike in Huntington All arrestees will appear in court on a later date. (Sharecast News) - London stocks edged higher in early trade on Thursday following a late rally on Wall Street, as investors eyed the latest US GDP data. At 0835 GMT, the FTSE 100 was up 0.2% at 7,761.31. Fourth-quarter US GDP data is due at 1330 GMT. CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson said: "As we look towards today's first iteration of Q4 GDP is seems quite likely that we'll see a slowdown from the strong performance in Q3. "Expectations are for a modest slide to 2.5%, although with signs in recent months that consumer spending is slowing you might think that there could be considerable downside risks to that estimate." In UK equity markets, 3i Group rallied as it hailed a positive third quarter and said it was on track to deliver "another year of good growth". Prudential was in the black as the insurer and investment manager said it had received approval from Macau to open a branch of its Hong Kong business there. Equipment rental firm Ashtead rose after well-received results from US peer United Rentals. Tate & Lyle gained after it backed its full-year guidance as it said third-quarter trading was consistent with the first half. Intermediate Capital and IG Group also pushed higher after well-received results. On the downside, Diageo lost ground despite saying it had made a good start to the current year, after interim sales fizzed. Wizz Air fell even as the Hungary-based budget airline said it narrowed losses in the third quarter on the back of fare increases and higher booking volumes. EasyJet was also in the red. Airlines had a strong day on Wednesday after easyJet said it expected to beat full-year profit expectations. Market Movers FTSE 100 (UKX) 7,761.31 0.21% FTSE 250 (MCX) 19,855.01 0.26% techMARK (TASX) 4,449.95 0.59% FTSE 100 - Risers 3i Group (III) 1,513.00p 3.63% Scottish Mortgage Inv Trust (SMT) 760.00p 2.32% Prudential (PRU) 1,363.50p 2.21% Ashtead Group (AHT) 5,154.00p 2.02% Airtel Africa (AAF) 117.60p 1.82% Hiscox Limited (DI) (HSX) 1,142.50p 1.78% BAE Systems (BA.) 860.00p 1.78% Croda International (CRDA) 6,952.00p 1.76% Haleon (HLN) 319.15p 1.62% Halma (HLMA) 2,124.00p 1.48% FTSE 100 - Fallers Diageo (DGE) 3,488.00p -5.09% International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 168.10p -0.95% Ocado Group (OCDO) 690.40p -0.95% Fresnillo (FRES) 852.60p -0.88% Whitbread (WTB) 3,051.00p -0.55% Aviva (AV.) 453.30p -0.53% Centrica (CNA) 98.52p -0.48% Weir Group (WEIR) 1,812.00p -0.44% Coca-Cola HBC AG (CDI) (CCH) 1,921.00p -0.36% Smith (DS) (SMDS) 352.90p -0.28% FTSE 250 - Risers Tate & Lyle (TATE) 760.40p 5.14% Intermediate Capital Group (ICP) 1,344.50p 3.66% Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust (ORIT) 100.60p 3.29% Target Healthcare Reit Ltd (THRL) 83.90p 2.69% Moneysupermarket.com Group (MONY) 222.40p 2.49% CMC Markets (CMCX) 240.00p 2.35% Morgan Sindall Group (MGNS) 1,670.00p 2.33% 888 Holdings (DI) (888) 102.70p 2.09% Diversified Energy Company (DEC) 118.60p 2.07% IG Group Holdings (IGG) 795.00p 1.92% FTSE 250 - Fallers Wizz Air Holdings (WIZZ) 2,771.00p -8.00% easyJet (EZJ) 495.00p -3.58% Bakkavor Group (BAKK) 110.60p -3.49% Shaftesbury (SHB) 375.00p -3.05% Senior (SNR) 144.00p -1.77% Capital & Counties Properties (CAPC) 112.00p -1.50% Bytes Technology Group (BYIT) 398.40p -1.34% Coats Group (COA) 71.30p -1.11% Hill and Smith (HILS) 1,268.00p -1.09% Computacenter (CCC) 1,940.00p -0.97% (Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Thursday and not separately reported by Alliance News: ---------- Proton Motor Power Systems PLC - Newcastle-based producer of hydrogen fuel cells and electric hybrid systems - Receives an order from Umstro GmbH for 18 HyModule S8 hydrogen fuel cell systems. Anticipates that the systems will be provided to Umstro throughout 2023 and into 2024. Does not disclose the financial details of the deal. ---------- Caerus Mineral Resources PLC - copper miner in Cyprus - Sells its Cyprus subsidiaries to PM Ploutonic Metals Ltd and Indo-European Mining PR Ltd for USD528,001 in cash, in staged payments. Says that it is now focused on the acquisition of larger upstream development opportunities in the battery metals sector. "We are pleased to announce the signing of the formal agreement for the sale of our Cyprus portfolio, which will complete at the end of June. Whilst we retain an interest in the Troulli Project's success and believe the asset is in strong hands, this transaction marks the end of Caerus' direct involvement in Cyprus," Chair Chris Lambert comments. ---------- BlueRock Diamonds PLC - diamond producer focused on South Africa - Says that there was no disruption to operations when its plant restarted. Explains that there was sufficient stock on the ore stockpile and run-of-mine pad. The major remedial action was the installation of a fire retardant conveyor belt and activation of proximity distance sensors on the plant at the mining operation, it says. ---------- Mode Global Holdings PLC - London-based fintech with a bitcoin banking app - Plans to wind down customer operations for Fibermode, JGOO Ltd and Greyfoxx Ltd. Explains that it is a challenging time in the crypto market and the group has faced considerable headwinds along the way. Decides to close Fibere Ltd and JGOO Ltd. Says the Mode mobile application will be shut down too. Says it will continue to look for ways to rebuild operations in the cryptocurrency industry. ---------- Futura Medical PLC - Surrey-based pharmaceutical company - Says its partner Cooper Consumer Health begins pre-launch activities ahead of MED3000 ED, a topical gel formulation for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Confirms that Cooper is on track to launch Eroxon in the first half of 2023. Expects the first product supplies to be available in the coming months. "As part of our close strategic partnership with Cooper, we are pleased to note that as planned, Eroxon will soon be made available to men suffering from ED, especially those with mild and moderate ED, to improve their erectile performance in a fast, safe, effective and accessible way. We look forward to updating the market further in due course," Chief Executive James Barder comments. ---------- Lansdowne Oil & Gas PLC - North Celtic Sea-focused oil and gas company - Raises gross proceeds of GBP300,000 through the issue of placing shares. The placing shares will represent around 6.0% of the company's share capital. Expects the proceeds to be sufficient to fund the company's share of costs on Barryroe and for ongoing working capital requirements through to the end of May 2023. Tavira Financial Ltd acted as broker to the placing, it adds. ---------- Cadence Minerals PLC - early stage investment and development company within the mineral resource sector - Notes that Evergreen Lithium Ltd filed its admission prospectus with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission and the Australian Stock Exchange. Anticipates the admission date to be on March 10. "On behalf of the Cadence board, I am pleased that our investment into Lithium Technologies and Lithium Supplies have materialised into soon-to-be-listed Evergeen and its Byone and Kenny lithium projects. Once Evergreen lists on the ASX market, it will add further value to Cadence's rounded portfolio of listed lithium investment vehicles, which include European Metals Holdings (AIM: EMH) and our Sonora Lithium assets," CEO Kiran Morzaria comments. ---------- FireAngel Safety Technology Group PLC - Coventry-based maker of home safety products such as smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors - Signs a three-year deal to supply smoke alarms within Yale's alarm range. Says that the branded smoke alarms due to be launched in 2023. "This latest partnership with a highly experienced global partner further underpins our commitment to expanding our capability in IoT and connected technology and will support our strategy to build shareholder value by leveraging our differentiation in current and new customer markets. This agreement not only aligns FireAngel with a recognised household name in the adjacent domestic security market, but additionally demonstrates the future potential for collaborating through connected solutions," Executive Chair John Conoley comments. ---------- Guild Esports PLC - London-based e-sports company - Reports that Fortnite pro-player Anas El-Abd came first in a popular online Fortnite competition organised by Epic Games and won USD1 million in prize money. ---------- Goodbody Health Ltd - Somerset, England-based wellness company focusing on local community measures - Partners with Datar Cancer Genetics to offer its circulating tumour cell-based multi-cancer screening solution Trucheck in the UK. ---------- UK Oil & Gas PLC - London-based exploration and production company focused on the UK and Turkey - Says that its subsidiary UK Energy Storage met with the UK energy minister on Wednesday. Says that the meeting covered all areas of UKEn's energy storage hub project at Portland Port in Dorset. ---------- Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust PLC - investor in solar parks, wind farms and hydroelectric plants in UK, Sweden and Finland - Increases its revolving credit facility with Santander to GBP40 million from GBP25 million. Explains that the additional capital available will enable more investment in its "robust" pipeline of acquisition opportunities. ---------- Chamberlin PLC - West Midlands-based castings and engineering company - Raises roughly GBP550,000 through a placing of 16.7 million new shares at a placing price of 3.3 pence per share with existing institutional and other investors. Cenkos Securities PLC and Peterhouse Capital Ltd acted as joint bookrunners, it adds. Plans to use the proceeds for working capital to support the continued delivery of its growth strategy and strengthen its balance sheet. ---------- LSL Property Services PLC - Newcastle-based estate agency - Completes the sale of its Marsh & Parsons London estate and subsidiaries agent to Dexter's subsidiary for GBP29 million on a cash free debt free basis. Plans to use the proceeds to augment its existing cash balances which will be used to support LSL's growth strategy, and in particular opportunities in financial services. "Marsh & Parsons trades only in Prime and Outer Prime Central London and is operated autonomously from other parts of our Estate Agency business. This disposal helps to further simplify the group structure to allow us to focus on maximising our core opportunities, particularly in our Financial Services Network business, whilst also reducing exposure to the more volatile London housing market," CEO Paul Johnson comments. ---------- Power Metal Resources PLC - London-based exploration company focusing on global metal discoveries - Enters the next stage of exploration on its Tati gold project located within the Tati Greenstone Belt near Francistown, Botswana. Confirms the presence of a large gold-bearing system and delineate a deposit. ---------- By Abby Amoakuh, Alliance News reporter Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved. On Wednesday, the regional coordinator of Podemos and candidate for the Balearic presidency at the May election, Antonia Jover, said that "if there is the political will", restricting the purchase of homes by non-residents "can be done". During a presentation at the Balearic parliament, Jover and other members of Podemos outlined what they believe to be failings with regard to housing policy on the islands, where there are some 500 individuals who have at least 50 homes in their name. The right to decent housing is not being fulfilled, prices are exorbitant, speculation is rife, measures taken so far are not enough and must go further. Jover drew a comparison with the so-called 'Iberian exception', which caps the cost of gas and electricity, in arguing that the Spanish government must endorse an exception for the Balearics to facilitate the restriction of home buying by non-residents. Podemos presented part of a study by the Observatorio DESC in Barcelona (observatory for economic, social and cultural rights) of the housing situation in the Balearics and the possibility of limiting the purchase of housing just to people residing on the islands. "We have heard too many times that this cannot be done. Today, we have come to explain that it can be done," stated Jover. According to the authors of the study, there are a dozen cases where European courts have agreed with those who have promoted a limitation. But the report stresses that this cannot be general. It cannot affect an entire country but rather territories which, for specific reasons, require special treatment. In the Balearics, the study notes, purchase of land by non-residents has increased by 93 per cent, while the average price for a property is the highest in all of Spain - 408,173 euros. Proponents of restrictions, including Podemos, all recognise that exceptions must be consistent with EU legislation. It would therefore require amendment, as advocated by the Balearic parliament. President Armengol has meanwhile echoed a motion approved by the Senate in Madrid that calls on the Spanish government to press for such amendment during the period of Spain's presidency of the EU. By Azernews Sabina Mammadli Azerbaijani Ombudswoman Sabina Aliyeva and National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) group members constantly visit facilities where Armenian nationals, who have committed criminal offenses in Azerbaijans liberated territories, are being kept. Notably, physician and psychologist members of the NPM Group were also involved in monitorings. According to Ombudswomans office, during the monitoring, group members held private talks with detained Armenian nationals along with other detainees, and presented the legislative acts on the appeal mechanisms to them in their languages. Besides, they mulled the issues related to the detention conditions in cells, as well as investigated their size, lighting, ventilation, personal hygiene, nutrition, sanitary, and healthcare service. Furthermore, it was assessed that compliance with the requirements of the relevant legal norms concerning those persons was put in place and their rights, including to the necessary health service and psychological services, were ensured. The office noted that the interviewed detainees had no complaints about detention conditions, treatment, access to phone calls, correspondences, the right to receive information about the outside world (TV and publications), and access to healthcare services. The monitoring observed that the cells were equipped with literature and information leaflets in the languages of the detainees and that they were provided with unhindered meeting opportunities with the ICRC representatives. Additionally, the independent observations of the trial proceedings were carried out along with the visits. At the time of monitoring, it was observed that all hearings were organized in compliance with the legislation and with respect to human rights and freedoms, as well as that the accused were provided with lawyers and interpreters, and all legal opportunities were created for all the accused and their lawyers. An enlisted Army reservist has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $53,000 from the Department of Defense. Jared Romine Barton, a 39-year-old Nauvoo man, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Annemarie Carney Axon to one count of theft of government funds, according to a joint announcement Wednesday by Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Department of Army Criminal Investigation Division, Redstone Resident Unit, Supervisory Special Agent Chase Wilkerson. According to the plea agreement, between 2016 and 2020, while both an active Army reservist and Army civilian employee at the Army Reserves Deployment Support Command in Birmingham, Sgt. First Class Barton submitted false travel claims and associated timecards to be reimbursed for official travel he did not undertake. The defendant defrauded the Department of Defense while wearing the uniform of the country, Escalona said. My office is committed to investigating and prosecuting white-collar crime in all its forms, but it is particularly insidious that a member of the United States Armed Forces would steal from the government he was sworn to defend, she said. Barton faces a maximum of up to ten years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The Department of the Armys Criminal Investigative Division investigated the case with assistance from the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Jack Harrington prosecuted the case. A sentencing date has not been announced. The Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division is committed to ensuring that these types of schemes are investigated aggressively, Wilkerson said. It is imperative that we continue to pursue economic fraud in every form to protect our military. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit al.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Virginia has a lot to offer retirees. There are beaches along the coast, mountains to the west and a close proximity to the nations capital, said Denice Williams, chair of the Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations. Its a great place to live, Williams said, but veterans also have to ask, Where am I going to get the most bang for my buck? The General Assembly took action last year to make the commonwealth more appealing to veterans, passing a law that allows veterans 55 or older to deduct from their taxable income tens of thousands of dollars in military retirement pay. But some legislators are hoping to go a step further this year by eliminating the age restriction. The majority of our veterans retire from the military under the age of 55, and once they are gone they dont come back, said Del. Glenn Davis, R- Virginia Beach. We lose so many of them when they get out of the military to other states (with better incentives). Davis is co-sponsoring a bill from Goochland Republican John McGuire that would lift the age requirement. He said the state should work to retain veterans because they have a range of useful skills and are a valuable part of the civilian workforce if they begin a new career. The bill passed last year allows veterans 55 and over to deduct up to $20,000 from their taxable income this year, $30,000 in 2024 and $40,000 in 2025 and beyond. Eliminating the age requirement would cost the state an estimated $37.8 million from the general fund, according to a fiscal impact statement. Tax cuts will likely be a point of contention during this legislative session, with Republicans backing the more extensive cuts favored by Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Democrats expected to push back as they highlight other priorities. But this bill, so far, has received bipartisan support. Its co-sponsored by a handful of Democrats, including Norfolk Del. Jackie Glass, and unanimously passed a House subcommittee on Friday. No one spoke against the bill during public comment. Jay Marts, a 28-year National Guard and U.S. Army retired colonel, told the subcommittee it would be a meaningful way to thank veterans for their service. It is a small nod of appreciation for their long service and physical sacrifice, he said. We want all veterans to know that Virginia is the best place for them to call home. 2023 The Virginian-Pilot. Visit pilotonline.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The Marine Corps has reactivated a historic base on the island of Guam as part of an ongoing reshuffle and reorganization of troops in the Pacific. The service held a ceremony to establish Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz -- the first new base for the Marines in 70 years -- on Thursday at Asan Beach in Guam, a press release announced. Ultimately 5,000 Marines will be stationed there, Sabrina Singh, the Pentagon's deputy press secretary, told reporters Thursday. Capt. Ryan Bruce, a spokesman for the Marine Corps, said that Marines will begin relocating to the island "in the first half of the 2020s." Read Next: Bronze Stars and Purple Hearts: A Look at the Next Army Enlisted Leader's Combat Record Japanese news outlets reported that the transfer will start in 2024. The base, which is on Guam's northern plateau, is still in the process of being built. The Marine Corps noted in its press release that it is "partially funded by a large monetary contribution from the Government of Japan." Japanese news outlets, citing the country's defense ministry, reported that the contribution is 370 billion yen, or $2.86 billion out of a total cost of $8 billion. The press release said that Guam was chosen as a location for a new base in 2012 as part of a broader defense agreement between the U.S. and Japan. That agreement "set the framework for the relocation of Marines from Okinawa to Guam." Singh noted that the move of Marines from Okinawa to Guam "doesn't reduce the presence at Okinawa" despite the fact that the base's opening comes just two weeks after the Marines announced that they would be swapping out the units stationed on the Japanese island, replacing the 12th Marine Regiment with the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment by 2025. The Marine Corps said that this redesignation will mean the relocation of approximately 9,000 Marines and their families from Okinawa to commence in 2024 and stressed that "no new units will be added" to the island. That earlier announcement went on to say that, "to maintain the number at the agreed upon troop levels," units in Okinawa "will be strategically dispersed throughout the Indo-Pacific Theater, with Guam to serve as an important logistics hub in the future." "In terms of our commitment to Okinawa, we're still going to have a presence there as well," Singh told reporters. In announcing the new base, the Marine Corps also highlighted its history on Guam. The branch first arrived on the island in 1899 and set up a barracks. The island was captured by the Japanese in 1941 following the attack on Pearl Harbor, and it was taken back by U.S. forces -- primarily the Marines -- in 1944. The Marine barracks on the island was reactivated after World War II and was in operation until 1992. The base's namesake -- Brig. Gen. Vicente Tomas "Ben" Garrido Blaz -- was the first Chamorro Marine, an indigenous group from Guam and other islands in the area, to become a general officer. Despite the outreach to the people of Guam and the Chamorro people who live on nearby islands, the reactivation of the base was met with some protest. Local news outlets on the island reported that protesters showed up to the ceremony marking the establishment of the new base, with the group's leader claiming that bases like this one "make us a bigger target for war, and we are tired of being a colony." -- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin. Related: Marine Corps Rolls Out a New Education Plan to Get Marines Ready for Combat Faster The community of missileers who have spent years standing watch in concrete bunkers for days at a time while operating America's nuclear arsenal are voicing concern about a presentation detailing a possible link between their service and cancer. The warning, delivered by a Space Force officer who gathered details on cancer diagnoses received by veterans who served at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, is the latest hint in what advocates describe as a growing body of evidence of potential toxic exposure inside nuclear missile silos. Retired Col. Jim Warner, a former missileer and the executive director of the Association of Air Force Missileers, told Military.com that the organization's members are, understandably, worried about the news. Read Next: Soldiers Need to Check If Their Families Have Health Care After IT Snafu Kicked 25,000 Beneficiaries Off Tricare "The Association of Air Force Missileers is closely following this and will assist the Air Force with their investigation," Warner said. The details of a potential cancer link at Malmstrom came in a slide deck presented to troops earlier this month. The Space Force officer detailed 36 cases where missileers who had been stationed at Malmstrom during their careers were diagnosed with a type of cancer. Ten of the airmen who have received cancer diagnoses, according to the presentation, developed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Two developed Hodgkin's lymphoma, and 24 developed another form of cancer. Overall, eight of the 36 missileers with cancer diagnoses, the majority of whom served at Malmstrom sometime between 1997 and 2007, have died. The presentation was created by Lt. Col. Daniel Sebeck, a vice commander of Space Delta 8 in Colorado. Copies of the slides were obtained by Military.com and verified by the Department of the Air Force. Malmstrom is one of the bases that protects and fires Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles. "There are indications of a possible association between cancer and missile combat crew member service at Malmstrom Air Force Base, specifically Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma," Sebeck wrote. "The current number of cancer health events associated with service at Malmstrom AFB justifies further investigation and action." He said the issue is a concern for the Space Force because more than 400 of the service's current officers are former missileers. Sebeck declined to comment when reached by Military.com and referred questions to the Department of Air Force. At these duty stations, missileers are exposed to a variety of chemicals and toxins ranging from paint in small spaces to fumes from burning classified documents to aerial asbestos and radon exposure, the presentation detailed. Department of the Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said that senior leaders are aware of the concerns raised in the slide and are looking into the matter. "We are heartbroken for all who have lost loved ones or are currently facing cancer of any kind and know that we have the responsibility to investigate any potential service-related risks to Airmen, Guardians or their dependents' health," Stefanek told Military.com. "The information in the briefing has been shared with the Department of the Air Force Surgeon General and our medical professionals are working to gather data and understand more." In an interview with Military.com, Randy Shircel, a former Air Force facilities technician who served twice in missile silos for the Minuteman's predecessor, Titan II, said former service members whose workspaces were in the silos were exposed to highly toxic propellants and have developed non-cancerous tumors, lung and thyroid cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Parkinson's disease. Spills or leaks of propellant occurred frequently, contaminating silos for up to six weeks -- a period in which the missiles were manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. "There was a radiation detector in the control room ... and vapor detectors that were supposed to sample the air on each of the levels; they just didn't work as advertised by the Air Force," Shircel said. The Titan II missile was housed in 54 sites at four military bases across the country, including the former Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas and McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas, from 1962 through the mid-1980s. From 1975 to 1979, there were 125 leaks of propellant or oxidizer -- a substance used in the launch process -- on Titan II missiles that caused major health problems among crew members, according to the Air Force. In 1978, a leak of an oxidizer used during launch killed two airmen and forced the evacuation of 1,345 residents of Rock, Kansas, near McConnell AFB, according to an Air Force investigation into the accident. "The only thing the Air Force was worried about was that our missiles stayed on alert and were ready to fire," Shircel said. While few studies have been conducted on the effects of exposure to hydrazine, a component of rocket propellant, on human health, it has been determined to cause cancers in animals. The Air Force considers hydrazine as "suspected human carcinogens." In 2001, the Air Force Institute for Operational Health did a site evaluation and sampled for potential chemical and biological contaminants at Malmstrom after reports of various cancers from missileers were reported -- including cervical cancer, thyroid cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma and two cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in which those patients died, according to a review of the report issued in 2005. The Air Force said in a 2005 review of the report that "there is not sufficient evidence to consider the possibility of a cancer clustering to justify further investigation" and said they observed that "sometimes illnesses tend to occur by chance alone." -- Thomas Novelly can be reached at Thomas.Novelly@Military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime Related: Military Probing Whether Cancers Linked to Nuclear Silo Work South Carolina lawmakers have introduced a bill in Congress again that they say would protect Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in Port Royal from being closed using federal dollars. U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R- Charleston, whose 1st District includes Beaufort County, said the Parris Island Protection Act, if passed, would prohibit the use of federal funds to close Parris Island or to plan its closure. The base, an economic powerhouse and source of pride in Northern Beaufort County, trains 20,000 recruits a year and has trained more than 1 million Marines since 1891. South Carolina representatives co-sponsored similar legislation in 2021. The legislation is in response to reports in 2020 that the military was considering shutting down the base to meet gender integration requirements included in the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which startled Port Royal and Beaufort local officials. Rising sea levels also have raised questions about the future of the base, although Marine Corps officials have said steps are being taken to address that threat. Mace made keeping Parris Island open a campaign issue when she ran for reelection last fall. "I'm sure y'all are aware, there is a fight here in Congress and at the Pentagon to move or consolidate operations," Mace wrote in an opinion piece she penned during the campaign. "I saw this last year when a Senator from the West Coast tried to add language in the NDAA that would place unfair and burdensome gender integration deadlines on Marine recruit depots language that would have impacted only Parris Island it turns out and not the California-based San Diego [recruit] depot. I, along with our South Carolina Senators, fought to have this successfully removed from the final version." Also supporting the 2023 bill are South Carolina Republican congressmen Joe Wilson of Springdale, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee' Ralph Norman of Rock Hill; William Timmons of Greenville, and Russell Fry of Surfside Beach. Any proposal to close Parris Island would not only be detrimental to South Carolina economically, Wilson said, but also to the United States Marine Corps and military readiness. Parris Island has a $601.5 million economic impact on Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton and Colleton counties, according to data compiled in a 2017 report prepared for the South Carolina Military Base Task Force. (c)2023 The Island Packet (Hilton Head, S.C.) Visit The Island Packet (Hilton Head, S.C.) at www.islandpacket.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. As hundreds of Cuban migrants washed ashore on New Years Day in the Florida Keys, local officials complained to the state that their law enforcement resources were being stretched and overwhelmed. At the time, no one other than U.S. authorities knew that, out to sea, the crisis was building. The U.S. Coast Guard, which monitors the vast waters between Floridas shorelines, the Bahamas, Cuba and Haiti, had onboard its cutters more than 1,000 migrants most of them Cuban, though there were some Haitians , on the decks of its ships out at sea. Unlike those whove reached land over the course of this latest migrant surge, people stopped at sea have been sent back to their countries aboard Coast Guard cutters. The Coast Guard had been making between 100 to 200 repatriations a day, but the Cuban government was marking the holidays, and the migrants aboard the cutters couldnt be immediately taken back. Thats not a normal circumstance, Rear Adm. Brendan C. McPherson, commander of the Seventh Coast Guard District and director of the Homeland Security Task Force-Southeast, said about the number of migrants aboard his cutters. There was an increase in flow. You had more people leaving from Cuba over the holidays than you had prior to the holidays, he said. We conclude the reason is the same reason we couldnt do the repatriations: the Cuban government is on holiday like anybody else. What unfolded on New Years Day, McPherson said, was a confluence of events that has continued to strain Coast Guard resources as the agency increases its vigilance on the ocean. Additional boats, aircraft and cutters, including the Coast Guard Cutter James, have recently been deployed to assist with patrols. McPhersons task forces job is to coordinate the response of federal, local and state agencies. To drive home the point, Coast Guard officials say that between Dec. 30, 2022, and Jan. 2, the number of migrant interdictions, apprehensions and encounters made by the Task Forces partners totaled 1,445. Some people may not realize that the state, the county and the local municipalities in the South Florida region have been a part of the task force from the beginning, McPherson said. They participate, theyre members of the task force, we coordinate, we synchronize our efforts. Earlier this month, as local agencies and the Border Patrol found themselves overwhelmed while responding to the influx of Cuban migrants, Gov. Ron DeSantis activated the Florida National Guard to help respond to the arrivals. We always have been and will continue to coordinate and synchronize with the state, McPherson said. The fact that the governor determined it was appropriate to declare an emergency and activate the National Guard, its his decision to make under their command and control, not ours. And as long as theyre working in the same space we are, we want to make sure that were de-conflicting and coordinating and synchronizing. Thats what were doing today. Since Oct. 1, the beginning of the federal fiscal year, the U.S. Coast Guard has intercepted 5,183 Cubans at sea attempting to get to the United States. Meanwhile Border Patrol agents have encountered more than 240 landings. The increase in Cubans intercepted at sea is expected to surpass the 6,182 who were repatriated as of Sept. 30, 2022, the end of that fiscal year that began on Oct. 1, 2021. Meanwhile, U.S. authorities are also keeping a close eye on Haitians, whose deadly sea voyages have been stymied by a shortage of fuel in that country amid an ongoing political crisis and gang violence. The number of Haitians interdicted at sea is far lower than Cubans 1,244 so far this fiscal year but the low numbers may be explained by the lack of fuel and the Coast Guards beefed up patrols in Haitis territorial waters and off the countrys northwest coastline. Last year, when the federal fiscal year ended on Sept. 30, the number of Haitian interdictions at sea had surpassed 7,100, the highest number in almost two decades. Increased flows McPherson said it was this time last year when he and his crews began seeing the increase in the number of migrants from Cuba and Haiti. It was an early indicator that something was different, something was new, he said. Weve been doing these types of operations for a long time and something had changed. Both Cuba and Haiti have been in the throes of humanitarian and economic crises that continue to deteriorate. In Cuba, where anti-government protests in July 2021 led to imprisonments, people are running both from government crackdowns and a disastrous economy. In Haiti, people are dealing with the political vacuum created by the July 7, 2021, assassination of the countrys president, Jovenel Moise, along with chronic fuel shortages, deepening hunger, rampant kidnappings and violent gangs. Faced with such dire realities, nationals from both Caribbean nations have taken to the high seas. In August, it had continued to the level that we knew we were going to have to sustain this for a long period of time, or at least plan to, McPherson said. Thats when we elevated on August 21 to the next level of our planning under Operation Vigilant Sentry, our mass migration plan. Since then, Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection as well as local agencies in the Florida Keys have been seeing a continued, and steady increase in migration from Cuba, which culminated with at least 10 landings in one day on New Years Day. More than 100 Haitians also later arrived by boat, landing in Key Largo. For other reasons, Haiti too has been challenged, McPherson said. So we started to see what I call waves of departures of Haitian vessels and that we continue to see to this day. Similar consequences, but they look different. In the case of Cubans, its a perilous voyage in makeshift rafts sometimes made of tires or pieces of wood tied together. For Haitians, the journey is much longer, lasting usually days. Though landings are less frequent than for Cubans, Haitian migrants are usually traveling in overcrowded, leaking sailboats. Another difference is how the trips unfold. While in both cases migrants are paying smugglers and have different ways to arrive safely, the Cuban voyages appear to be better planned, Coast Guard officials said. Cuban migrants and their handlers are now using cellphones and GPS technology to navigate. Some also wait things out on isolated Bahamian cays. That didnt used to be the case. You would take to the sea, and you would see where the weather and the currents would take you, McPherson said, referring to the increased use of technology. Theyre a little bit more equipped. Theyre better informed by other people who have made these journeys. I think thats the difference. Banned from parole program Earlier this month, in an attempt to curb illegal migration at the United States borders, the Biden administration announced a two-year parole program for nationals from Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua, similar to one already in place for Venezuelans. The new policy allows for 30,000 immigrants combined from the four countries to enter the United States each month as long as they have a U.S. sponsor, have passed background checks and have a valid passport. Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced that Cubans and Haitians who take to the sea will not be eligible to apply for the parole program. They also face a five-year ban from the United States. McPherson said he hopes the new parole program will cut down the migration numbers. But for now they are focused on doing the job they have always done. Our goal and our objective is to interdict these vessels, whether its Cuban or Haitian, as close to their point of departure as possible, he said. And the principal reason for doing that is because every one of them is unsafe, and many times there are deadly consequences. So we want to prevent serious injury or loss of life. Doing so isnt always easy. While a migrant boat may voluntarily decide to turn back after being stopped by the Coast Guard, many times those in charge of the boats resist when interdicted. Sometimes theyll threaten our boarding teams; they may threaten others on board, you know, as an attempt to keep us from coming on board or they may just kind of ignore us and continue, McPherson said. Once a boat gets closer to shore, migrants become more determined and desperate. The Coast Guard then has to make a new calculus as to whether to let the boat go on or stop it before migrants can drop into the ocean, which has occurred in several Haitian landings. We see a level of determination, and, frankly, recklessness that puts them in danger and puts our officers in danger. So the first thing we try and do is try and stabilize and secure that situation as best we can, McPherson said. Again, more presence on the scene is often the best option. If we need to, we may take limited force to stop them. And then to bring them off in a safe and orderly manner. One of the first things we always do is... we want to provide them with enough life jackets [in case] something does happen, either as a result of their attempt to evade us, or just because the vessels are unstable, unsafe, he said. But in many cases, in some cases, they refuse to take them. By the Coast Guards estimates, some 30,000 migrants traveled through the Caribbean last year. Not all were interdicted, McPherson acknowledged. Thats the most weve seen since 1994, he said, turning his focus to the Homeland Security Task Forces mass migration plan. The plan has been in place, its been exercised, its been in use. Thats why frankly, we were able to interdict 1,000 migrants and hold them. 2023 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. "We don't want war. But if you want war with the United States of America, there's one thing I can promise you, so help me God: Someone else will raise your sons and daughters." It might be one of the most badass things anyone has ever said, and when combined with the music of Metro Boomin, it's got TikTok-ers ready to enlist. "This vid almost made me want to sign up," said TikTok user Joaquin. "I almost Googled a recruitment center just off this," said Jorge L. "Single-handedly just convinced me to enlist in March," said FantaMane. The line was spoken by Medal of Honor recipient Army Staff Sgt. David Bellavia. He received the Silver Star for actions he took during a house raid at the Second Battle of Fallujah during the Iraq War in 2004. His Silver Star was upgraded to the Medal of Honor and presented by President Donald Trump at the White House on June 26, 2019. In August of that year, Bellavia gave a speech at the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes. In the speech, he talked about America's warrior class and those who died on the mission in Fallujah that day. The excerpt used in the minute-long TikTok video, called "If the US Military sampled MetroBoomin," came toward the end of Bellavia's speech. It's a speech that's on par or better than any motivational speech ever written by speechwriters, generals or even Hollywood screenwriters. "Iran, Russia, China, North Korea, ISIS, al-Qaida. They may be watching this right now. Our military should not be mistaken for a cable news gabfest show. We don't care what you look like. We don't care who you voted for, who you worship, what you worship, who you love. It doesn't matter if your dad left you millions when he died or if you knew who your father was. We have been honed into a machine of lethal moving parts that you would be wise to avoid if you know what's good for you. We will not be intimidated. We will not back down. We've seen war. We don't want war. But if you want war with the United States of America, there's one thing I can promise you, so help me God: Someone else will raise your sons and daughters." From there, the video goes into a quick few stanzas of a Metro Boomin song. The video, made by Ohio-based TikTok user JHaleProductions, has garnered 7.9 million views and more than 13,000 comments, mostly about how "hard" or "cold" the quote is and how this is the kind of recruiting video the Army needs to make. (TikTok) It's enough to make one wonder whether the Army should give a chunk of its $600 million advertising budget to Metro Boomin and some TikTok-ers and produce the kind of Army ads the people (apparently) really want to see. The app has been banned on government devices and is facing restrictions in most states, but no one among the Armys target market seems to care. View the viral TikTok on your web browser by clicking here. -- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook. Want to Learn More About Military Life? Whether you're thinking of joining the military, looking for post-military careers or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox. 26.01.2023 LISTEN Organizers of Foklex Media Awards have hinted of releasing 78 categories of nominees for the 2023 edition of the awards in the coming month. The Chief Executive Officer of the awards Mr Frank Owusu who has been touring the whole country for the past one month with his jury to monitor how well radio stations and presenters are doing for guidance on the decision of who best deserves nominations in the various categories said they will be ending their tour in February and also release the nominees list the same month. According to him, the date for the event is 13th May, 2023 and the venue remains National theatre. Foklex Media Awards is a regional based award scheme that is structured to appreciate the work of Media Practitioners across Ghana. It is a yearly event organized by Foklex Media Production, a registered events and advertising organization. The maiden edition of the awards was done in 2007. The Foklex Media Awards is committed to rewarding industrious media personalities across the country to inspire and empower them to achieve more. As to what people should expect this year, the CEO said patrons should expect a great show with great performances whiles the highest voter drives home a brand new car. Ghanaian movie producer and actress, Yvonne Nelson has revealed her eagerness to bring the local movie industry back to life. The actress noted that it will take the local filmmakers to revive the industry and make it more attractive like it used to be. When promoting her upcoming movie, "Kotoka," on Accra-based 3 Music Network, the dynamic actress said she would like her colleagues like John Dumelo and Majid Michel to also start investing in movies as she has been doing. "We have to invest in the industry, and if we don't, we don't expect outsiders, people who don't even know anything about the business, to come and invest. We know it, and this is what we do. "So I was expecting to see John Dumelo start directing. I am always bugging Majid to direct you know. It's really just us, and I feel like we've given up too easily, and things are the way they are because of us. We have to sit up and do something about it," she noted. "It works, and for me, it's a business, and I have the passion. I just cannot see myself not producing anymore. I believe I am going to be around for a long time. The thing is, my colleagues and I have to invest," Yvonne Nelson stressed. The calls to get the industry fixed, according to her, have now become a broken record with her because she has been hitting on that for a very long time. The "Princess Tyra" lead actress noted that she is currently tired of courting support for the revival of the once vibrant industry, but she will always play her part. "I don't blame anyone, but I believe you guys (the media) talk about what you see. It's obvious the industry is not as vibrant as before, and I am sick and tired of talking about this subject. I am tired of it. For me, I am doing my part," she said. 26.01.2023 LISTEN Grow Unite and Build Africa (GUBA) will host the Africa Nominee Brunch in California on Saturday, February 4, 2023, to celebrate African artists who have been nominated in various categories for the 65th GRAMMY Awards. The brunch is scheduled to take place on the eve of the 2023 Grammy Awards, which is slated for Sunday, February 5, 2023. The event will honour nominated artists, including 2021 GUBA Awards winner Angelique Kidjo, Rocky Dawuni, Burna Boy, Tems, Zakes Bantwini, Eddy Kenzo, Nomcebo Zikode, Wouter Kellerman, among other African musicians. The Recording Academys CEO, Harvey Mason Jr., and President of the Recording Academy, Panos A. Panay, will attend the brunch as guests of honour. Speaking on the reason to honour the nominees before the central Awards, GUBA Enterprises Founder and President, Lady Dentaa Amoateng MBE, said, GUBAs vision to continuously shine a positive light on Africa and the continents contribution to global music development has been phenomenal. African music has been taking centre stage, and the recent nominations have further proven that the world is paying attention to the sounds coming from the continent. GUBA maintains it is noteworthy that more artists from mainland Africa are being recognized on the Grammy stage. This is a major motivation for every African musician to reach the pinnacle of their career using the nominations as a possibility for global recognition. Itll be exciting to see all the honorees and how their hard work has paid off. the GUBA Chief added. During a visit to Ghana in September 2022 upon invitation by GUBA, Mr. Mason Jr. said the Grammys were considering an Afrobeat category, as he confirmed that he had been meeting essential decision makers in the genre to explore the possibility. Key partner for the brunch ceremony is the KGL Group. All formal enquiry of the upcoming event is handled through [email protected] About the 65th Grammy Awards The 65th installment of the Award show will take place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, in the United States of America. Last year at the 64th edition of the Awards, Burna Boy, Wizkid, Tems, Femi Kuti, Made Kuti, Angelique Kidjo, Rocky Dawuni, and Black Coffee were the African nominees. About GUBA Enterprise GUBA Enterprise is a social enterprise organisation dedicated to the advancement of diaspora Africans and Africans on the continent through various socioeconomic programs and initiatives. The Enterprise has about eight different brand initiatives, the key among them being the GUBA Awards. Yvonne Nelson 26.01.2023 LISTEN The Ghanaian film industry has come under fire over the years as said to have been seeing a drop in output and is seen as a less serious and vibrant industry. However, actress cum producer, Yvonne Nelson has given her two cents on the issue, according to her, she is sick and tired of talking about how the industry players can help revive the movie industry. In an interview with 3Music TV, she stated that she was doing her part and hoped it was enough to restore the movie industry to its former splendour. I don't blame anyone, but I believe you guys (media) talk about what you see. It's obvious the industry is not as vibrant as before and I am sick and tired of talking about this subject. I am tired of it. For me, I am doing my part. Yvonne further said that she thinks many people have already given up on the movie industry and that locals need to learn to invest in what is theirs because outsiders won't do it for them. We have to invest in the industry, and if we don't, we don't expect outsiders, people who don't even know anything about the business to come and invest. Because we know it and this is what we do. So I was expecting to see John Dumelo start directing. I am always bugging Majid to direct you know. It's really just us, and I feel like we've given up too easily, and things are the way they are because of us. We have to sit up and do something about it, she added. Watch the video below 24.01.2023 LISTEN Despite the fact that climate change is a global issue, national and, occasionally, subnational governments adopt programs to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Domestic political support for collaboration is necessary for progress in climate change negotiations, but major polluters around the world haven't done much to slow down global warming so far. There are undoubtedly aspects of the economy, such as the power and mobility and transportation systems, that directly cause greenhouse gas emissions. The road to net-zero emissions is paved with difficulties. In order to avoid an even more difficult shift in the future, leadership must recognize the dangers and commit to change today. Dr. Donald Kaberuka, Chairman of the SouthBridge Group and former President of the African Development Bank Group, shared insights on how the world, and more specifically, Africa, can work towards net-zero emissions during the Global Economic Ideas Festival 2022, hosted by the Institute of Certified Chartered Economists (ICCE). The ICCE provides the world's foremost and most prestigious Chartered Economist qualification. According to Dr. Kaberuka, the first step is to close the continent's energy poverty gap. This, according to him, will require more innovative financing than what we have seen in the recent past. "I want to focus on whats critical for us as Africans, which is playing our part in getting to net zero emissions. We must keep in mind that over 600 million Africans are living in energy poverty. He said. " . , ." He reiterated the critical and leading role that wealthy nations must play in reducing emissions and getting the world to net zero. "Secondly, we need to address whats called a just transition." Wealthy countries have to do the heavy lifting in terms of reducing emissions and getting to net zero. They have the means to do so, beginning with reducing subsidies on carbon. "We can all work together to get to net zero, but it has to be through a practical, equitable trajectory that puts a lot of the frontload burden on wealthy countries while giving low-income countries the opportunity to work towards net zero while doing so while reducing energy poverty." The Global Economic Ideas Festival is the annual global conference hosted by the ICCE. The Festival brings together world leaders from top economists, leading researchers, ministers of states, private sector business leaders, central bankers representatives from civil society organizations, academics, and thought leaders to drive conversations on how to shape the world economy. Source: ICCE www.charteredeconomist.org Hundreds of families displaced by the violence that broke out in the remote Kyrgyz-Tajik border areas of Batken and Osh last September are facing the coldest winter to hit the region in over a decade, as fuel prices and air pollution add to their daily challenges. Countries in Central Asia are currently facing the extremely cold winters with temperatures plummeting to an all-time low in in 15 years with those internally displaced especially from the clashes bearing the brunt. Although a ceasefire currently holds in the border area, a lasting solution to the border disputes remains beyond the parties grasp, complicating the return of the families who lost their houses and livelihoods. Central Asia always faces harsh winters, and up to a point people have coping mechanisms to survive. However, there are persistent needs due to the added burden of displacement, or even secondary displacement in the case of a small number of ethnic Kyrgyz displaced from Afghanistan, said Ammarah Mubarak, IOMs Senior Regional Emergencies and Post-Crisis Specialist. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) as part of the UNs Rapid Emergency Assessment and Coordination Team (REACT) has been active since 19 September, leading the provision of emergency shelter and non-food Items. Stoves, flashlights, power cables and disposable plates were distributed in earlier rounds. IOM has just completed distribution of kitchen sets, bedding, winter clothes, shoes and other items to over 400 homeless families who were among the tens of thousands that fled from the affected areas. The majority of those displaced have returned to their home areas, but those whose homes were destroyed remain displaced. Even before the conflict Batken was considered the poorest region in Kyrgyzstan, with limited access to basic services such as education, medicine, and healthcare. Now, with temperatures down to minus 25 degrees, humanitarian assistance is vital, said Tilek Orunbaev, Program Assistant at IOMs sub-office in Osh. Ashyrbai Khalmatov, a native of Kapchygai village in Batken region received household appliances, a kitchen set, bedding, warm clothes and shoes. I made a living raising sheep in my village until my house and everything we had, including the sheep burnt. We had to relocate to Bujum village and are now living in a two-room apartment of our relatives, he said. The aid distribution was funded by the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the Government of Germany. Source: IOM Press Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the largest regions in the world and has the lowest rates of participation in higher education anywhere in the world. The World Bank reported in 2020 that only 9.4% of the region's tertiary education age group is enrolled. The global average ratio is 38%. Education is a key catalyst of economic emancipation . Open and distance education was specifically designed for this purpose: to make higher education accessible to everyone, everywhere. Since it's not limited to one campus or physical space, this approach empowers students to take full responsibility for their studies, to learn anywhere and at any time. Importantly, this happens with a higher education institution's support and guidance. One of the programmes commonly offered by such universities in other parts of the world is the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). These are free, easily accessible and completely online courses with no entry requirements. In some developing countries outside Africa, such as the Philippines, Thailand and India, MOOCs are already being credited at the national level for entry into formal university education. This increases access to higher education. MOOCs are relatively new in Africa; they have become more common in the past five or ten years. On paper they are ideal for many African contexts. Egyptian education researcher Ghada Refaat El Said writes that MOOCs can effectively alleviate overcrowded classrooms, high costs of materials and books, commuting diculty due to high trac, and a need for continued education and specialised training for the workforce. But how exactly are MOOCs being used by African universities? Are any countries' education systems effectively using MOOCs to widen higher education access? To find out, we analysed existing peer-reviewed research published between 2013 and 2020. We found that not many African countries perceive MOOCs as tools for boosting higher education access. Where these courses are offered, they are usually supplementary or designed merely to give students extra tuition support. And there's not much awareness of MOOCs among school teachers and learners, who then miss out on this potential alternative path into higher education. What we found We searched the Sabinet , Scopus and Web of Science databases for papers by African authors about MOOCs. This produced 99 papers. Our study was based on the 15 that were most relevant to our inclusion and exclusion criteria and that specifically addressed African issues around MOOCs. A key finding was that MOOCs are mostly used as a self-learning element to support formal qualifications within African universities. In some cases, MOOCs involve face-to-face tuition and support for university students. However, this practice allows only a limited number of learners to access higher education. For the most part, it caters only to those who are already in the system. The literature review also shows that most people from African countries taking these courses already possess some level of higher education. So, again, the existing education access divide is not addressed. Some of the studies we reviewed found that many learners and teachers at high school level didn't even know what MOOCs were because they had no access to digital spaces. The literature suggests that a few countries in Africa among them Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa seem to have at least acknowledged the role that MOOCs might play in broadening higher education access. But this has not yet been translated into national policy. Examples from elsewhere We found that MOOCs are already being used as part of mainstream credit-bearing courses in some institutions in the Philippines, Thailand and India. That means completing a MOOC can count towards access to a university degree. It helps make the degree more affordable. Read more: How online courses can bring the world into Africa's classrooms Another finding related to how MOOCs in some developing countries are being successfully packaged with recognition of prior learning programmes. This is a process through which informal learning can, with strict measurements and mediation, be certified as the South African Qualifications Authority describes it against the requirements for credit, access, inclusion or advancement in the formal education and training system, or workplace. It is clear from these and other findings in our study that African governments, policy makers and education sectors could learn a great deal from other developing countries. Going forward Higher education institutions in African countries must initiate dialogue with governments and accreditation bodies on how MOOCs can be used innovatively to widen access to higher education. Governments that aspire to widen access to higher education through MOOCs need to raise the awareness of every stakeholder, including school communities, educationists in higher education, policy makers and government stakeholders. It's another way to provide African students with quality and relevant education. Mphoentle Puleng Modise does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. By Mphoentle Puleng Modise, Lecturer, University of South Africa Tanzanian opposition stalwart Tundu Lissu arrived back in his homeland on Wednesday to a rousing welcome from supporters after spending most of the past five years in exile following an assassination attempt. The former presidential candidate was greeted by supporters in the red, white and blue colours of his Chadema party, an AFP correspondent said. Lissu suffered 16 wounds in a gun attack in 2017 and spent most of the years since then in Belgium. He arrived in Dar es Salaam on a flight from Brussels via Addis Ababa to a raucous welcome from Chadema supporters. Thousands waving flags and blowing vuvuzela horns lined the 15-kilometre (9.5-mile) route from the airport to Temeke, where the opposition was to hold a welcome rally. The 55-year-old, wearing a tan suit and dark sunglasses, beamed at the crowd from the sunroof of a car and shook hands with supporters as it crawled forward. "Living in exile is very difficult. My five years abroad were not easy at all for my family and I, my party, and my country in general," Lissu told supporters. "I am happy to return home today, and I believe you are also happy." His return follows President Samia Suluhu Hassan's announcement this month that a ban on political rallies imposed by her hardline predecessor John Magufuli would be lifted, in an overture to the opposition. The government's olive branch was cautiously welcomed by rights groups and the opposition as a boost for democracy, with Hassan overturning some of the authoritarian policies imposed by Magufuli. 'New chapter' "We have a tough task ahead as we start a new chapter," said Lissu. Thousands of Chadema supporters joined the procession to welcome Tundu Lissu home. By ERICKY BONIPHACE (AFP) On Saturday, Chadema held its first mass rally since the lifting of the 2016 ban, led by its leader Freeman Mbowe in the lakeside city of Mwanza. Lissu was last in Tanzania briefly in late 2020 to contest the election against Magufuli, a strongman leader who died just five months after winning his second term. Tanzania's main opposition party Chadema held its first rally on Saturday since the lifting of a ban on such gatherings. By Michael JAMSON (AFP/File) The victory was disputed and the opposition called for protests. Lissu took refuge with diplomats after threats to his life, before fleeing the country. Under Magufuli, who was first elected in 2015 as a straight-talking man of the people, political gatherings were outlawed, opposition leaders detained and media cowed. Nicknamed the "Bulldozer" for his authoritarian leadership style, Magufuli's hardline policies and uncompromising governance saw Tanzania's reputation as a stable democracy in the region badly damaged. Lissu, an outspoken critic of Magufuli and the governing CCM party, was shot while seated in his car in 2017 and spent the next few years recovering in Belgium. Since Magufuli's sudden death in March 2021, Hassan has reversed some of his most controversial policies and promised reforms long demanded by the opposition. But hopes dimmed in July 2021 when Mbowe was arrested on terrorism charges. He was released after seven months but the incident prompted some critics to call Hassan a dictator. She sat down face-to-face with Lissu in Brussels in early 2022, again buoying hopes that change could be on the horizon. Tanzania's president Samia Suluhu Hassan has been rolling back some of the hardline policies of her predecessor. By - (AFP/File) Earlier this week, Tanzania's information minister said the government was planning to amend a media law that critics say restricts freedom of expression, though no further details about the proposed changes have been given. "President Samia Suluhu Hassan, through her government and party, have shown they are ready for a new journey. We need to demonstrate that we are also ready for that," Lissu said in his January 13 speech. "I am coming home for the new beginning of our nation." Iran has vowed it will respond to new sanctions imposed by the European Union and Britain over Tehran's handling of months-long protests triggered by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini. The EU and Britain on Monday imposed a further round of sanctions on Iran, which has been rocked by protests since the September death of Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd who was arrested for allegedly breaching the country's strict dress code for women. The EU's new sanctions consisted of adding "18 individuals and 19 entities" to an existing list of those subject to "restrictive measures" as a reaction to the human rights situation in Iran, which includes "widespread and disproportionate use of force against non-violent protestors following the death of Mahsa Amini." Targets of the latest sanctions include government officials and high-ranking members of the Iranian security forces, including of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The UK imposed similar sanctions, including restrictions on Iran's Deputy Prosecutor General Ahmad Fazelian. Warning Iran's warning of tit-for-tat measures comes after relations deteriorated sharply, with the EU and Britain ramping up sanctions over the authorities' response to the protests. "The move by the European Union and the British regime is a sign of their mental inability to properly understand the realities of Iran, as well as their confusion regarding the authority of the Islamic republic," foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said. He said Iran "reserves the right to reciprocate against such failed policies and will soon announce the list of new sanctions against human rights violators and promoters of terrorism in the European Union and England". According to the state controlled Mehr News Agency, the EU and UK sanctions "show their desperation and anger over their recent failure in creating insecurity in Iran." The authorities say hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have been killed and thousands arrested during what they label as "riots" incited by the "enemies" of the Islamic republic. Iran's judiciary has sentenced to death a total of 18 people in connection with the protests. Four of them have already been executed, triggering widespread international outrage. (With agencies) France said Wednesday it will withdraw its contingent of hundreds of troops stationed in Burkina Faso within a month, after the junta ruling the Sahel country demanded the pullout. The withdrawal will mark the latest scaling down of France's military presence in Africa after the junta in neighbouring Mali also insisted French troops leave and President Emmanuel Macron drew the curtain on the over decade-long anti-jihadist Barkhane mission. Jihadist activity continues in the region while concern grows over the increasing influence of Russia, in particular through the presence of mercenaries from the Wagner Group run by an ally of President Vladimir Putin. The French foreign ministry said it received a request from Burkina Faso to withdraw its troops within a month and will do so. "On Tuesday... we formally received notice from the Burkinabe government of the termination of the 2018 agreement on the status of French armed forces present in the country," a ministry spokeswoman said. Map of Burkina Faso locating the French Sabre Task Force military base in Kamboinsin. By (AFP) "According to the terms of the accord, the termination takes effect a month after reception of written notification. We will respect the terms of the agreement by honouring this request." Gone by end February Around 400 French special forces are currently based in Burkina Faso in a deployment dubbed "Sabre", part of a broader military presence to fight jihadists across the Sahel region. But the country has followed a similar course to neighbouring Mali, falling out with Paris after a military coup brought a junta to power and the French presence became increasingly unpopular among the public. A source familiar with French military plans told AFP that while the troops would be gone by the end of February, their equipment would be picked up by late April. Multiple concurring sources, who asked not to be named, told AFP that the preferred option would be to redeploy the troops in neighbouring Niger, with whom Paris currently has much warmer relations. Paris had asked for clarification from transitional president Captain Ibrahim Traore. By MICHELE CATTANI (AFP/File) Paris had asked for clarification from transitional president Captain Ibrahim Traore who leads the junta on Monday after the government had said it was asking French forces to leave. "This does not mean the end of diplomatic relations between Burkina Faso and France," government spokesman Jean-Emmanuel Ouedraogo told broadcaster RTV following the announcement. But Traore, after coming to power in a coup in September, has made a clear push to diversify partners in the fight against jihadists linked to both Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) group. Russia links? The Burkinabe government has assured Paris it will not follow Mali by turning to Russia's Wagner, led by the hugely controversial Putin ally Yevgeny Prigozhin, to back up its army. But a liaison team from the mercenary group has already visited to inspect the country's mineral reserves, according to multiple French sources. The Burkinabe prime minister Apollinaire Kyelem de Tembela paid a discreet visit to Moscow in December and declared two weeks ago that a partnership with Russia was "a choice of reason". France and its Western partners have accused the junta in Mali of turning to Wagner for security support after taking power and the controversy over the links helped prompt the French pullout. The landlocked state, a former French colony, is one of the poorest and most volatile in Africa. By MICHELE CATTANI (AFP/File) The government hasalso requested that Paris replace its ambassador after incumbent Luc Hallade commented publicly on the worsening security situation in the country. The landlocked state, a former French colony, is one of the poorest and most volatile in Africa. Thousands of troops, police and civilians have been killed and around two million people have fled their homes since jihadists launched an insurgency from neighbouring Mali in 2015. More than a third of the country lies beyond the control of the government, and frustration within the army at the mounting toll triggered two coups last year. Macron in November announced that France was ending its Barkhane anti-jihadist mission in Africa after over a decade, saying a new strategy would be worked out with African partners. dt-dla-tgb-sjw/bp Top French politicians and military chiefs were on Wednesday night thrashing out proposals over whether to send the country's Leclerc tanks to Ukraine. The 56-tonne French machines can reach speeds of up to 70kmh per hour and are comparable to the German-made Leopard tanks, which Berlin agreed to send to Kyiv on Wednesday. However, the Leclercs would pose different maintenance and logistical challenges. "Regarding the Leclerc tanks, we are continuing our analysis with the armed forces ministry," Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne told parliament on Wednesday. "The issue of assistance for Ukraine is not limited to this or that weapon." France has provided its Caesar artillery system, Crotale air defence system and has offered the AMX-10 RC light tank among other weapons. Following Germany's decision and the United States gearing up to send around 30 M1 Abrams tanks, attention is expected to turn on France. However, it is understood military analysts question whether the Leclercs would be helpful at a time when Ukrainian forces are having to train on a variety of complex western weapons. "There's no political objection," a French defence ministry source told the news agency AFP. "We are just wondering whether the Leclerc would be a poisoned chalice. The aim is to be useful and effective." France has around 200 Leclercs, which were manufactured by the Nexter System defence group. Capabilities They have similar capabilities as the Leopard 2 a 120 mm canon capable of hitting targets up to four kilometres away but no other European army uses them. "Ukraine is not looking for Leclercs in particular but rather Caesars and Crotales," the French defence source added. The French government on Wednesday hailed Germany's move to provide its Leopard 2 tanks. "France welcomes the German decision which extends and amplifies the support that we provided with the delivery of the AMX-10 RC," a presidential spokeswoman said. Germany had said the Leopards would not be sent unless the US sends its Abrams. This is the result of intensive consultations, once again, with our allies and international partners, Chancellor Olaf Scholz told German lawmakers. US President Joe Biden said European allies have agreed to send enough tanks to equip two Ukrainian tank battalions a total of 62 tanks. Help With spring approaching, Ukrainian forces are working to defend the territory they hold and preparing for additional counter offensives, Biden said. To liberate their land, they need to be able to counter Russia's evolving tactics and strategy on the battlefield in the very near term. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the news. German main battle tanks, further broadening of defence support and training missions, green light for partners to supply similar weapons. Just heard about these important and timely decisions in a call with Olaf Scholz, Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter. Sincerely grateful to the chancellor and all our friends in (Germany). NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Germany's decision. "At a critical moment in Russia's war, these can help Ukraine to defend itself, win and prevail as an independent nation, Stoltenberg wrote on Twitter. Russia's ambassador to Germany, Sergey Nechayev, called Berlin's decision to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine extremely dangerous. "It shifts the conflict to a new level of confrontation and contradicts the statements of German politicians about their reluctance to get involved in it, he added. Leadership of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Volta Region has congratulated Mr Governs Kwame Agbodza, Member of Parliament for Adaklu Constituency, on his elevation to the position of Minority Chief Whip. The Chairman and the entire National Democratic Congress of the Volta Region is proud of you, on your elevation to the position of the Minority Chief-Whip of the NDC Group in Parliament. This was contained in a release signed by Mr James Gunu, the Volta Regional Secretary of the party after news of changes in the leadership of the NDC in Parliament emerged. Congratulations and may the good Lord order your steps as you occupy that enviable position in Parliament. Your elevation goes to show the contributions of the Volta NDC to the cause of the larger NDC party in Ghana, and your own contribution as the Ranking Member for the Roads and Transport Committee over the years, the statement read. The party in the Region also assured Mr Agbodza of their support to excel as they prepare to move into what they stated 'a crucial election' in 2024. The party further extended a congratulatory message to the entire team led by Dr Cassiel Ato Forson as the new Minority Leader. A statement signed by Mr Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, General Secretary of the NDC and copied to Mr Alban Sumana Bagbin, Speaker of Ghana's Parliament, the National Leadership of the NDC made some changes in its parliamentary leadership. The new Parliamentary Leadership includes Mr Kofi Amah-Buah, Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, First Deputy Whip, and Mrs Comfort Doyo Gbansah as Second Deputy Whip. However, the GNA observed some Party legislators have since expressed disappointment over the situation. GNA The trial of Mauritania's former president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz opened Wednesday with the dramatic image of the former head of state in a cage-like box answering accusations he amassed an illicit personal fortune during his 11 years in power. Aziz, a 66-year-old former general, appeared in court in the capital Nouakchott alongside nine other defendants, including former prime ministers, cabinet ministers and businessmen, an AFP reporter saw. They face charges that include abuse of office, influence peddling, money laundering and illicit enrichment. Proceedings began with a roll call of the defendants to which Aziz -- dressed in a traditional boubou, a surgical mask concealing part of his thin moustache -- rose and raised his hand. Protesters as well as supporters of Aziz gathered at the courthouse in Nouakchott on Wednesday. By Med LEMIN RAJEL (AFP) Hundreds of police stood guard outside as around one hundred lawyers packed the courtroom, where cameras and mobile phones were prohibited. Outside, dozens of people gathered ahead of the trial, some to support Aziz, others with signs demanding he return allegedly stolen money. Prosecutions of former heads of state are rare in the world, but especially so in Africa. "It is a first in the history of Mauritania and perhaps even in the Arab world for a former president to explain his enrichment," Brahim Ebetty, one of several lawyers representing the state, told AFP. Denial Aziz, a trader's son who came to power in a bloodless coup, stepped down in 2019 after two terms in which he defused a jihadist insurgency that has swept across other countries in the Sahel. He was succeeded by his former right-hand man, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, in the first peaceful transfer of power between elected leaders in the history of a country marked by military coups and upheaval. But within months of the handover, allegations emerged of financial misconduct. Aziz is suspected of siphoning off money from state contracts or the sale of real estate, amassing a fortune equivalent to more than $72 million. "All the people in the box have used the name of the state, the function of the state, (to enrich themselves) -- especially Mr Aziz," Ebetty said. The former president has denied the allegations but refused to answer investigators' questions about the sources of his wealth. He describes himself as the victim of score-settling and argues that he has immunity from prosecution under the constitution. "He completely rejects the accusations against him," one of his lawyers, Taleb Khayar Ould Med Mouloud, said ahead of the trial. "Lots of people have grounds for hating him, including the Muslim Brothers, which he threw out of the country," he said, referring to the Muslim Brotherhood Islamist movement. 'My brother, my friend' Ghazouani, also a former general, played a key role in Aziz's successful anti-jihadist strategy, and as late as December 2019 described his former boss as "my brother, my friend". The following year, however, Aziz's fortunes began to falter -- though Ghazouani has denied any involvement in the case. Mauritania. By Gillian HANDYSIDE (AFP) A parliamentary investigation was opened into financial dealings under his presidency, delving into oil revenues, sales of state assets, the winding up of a public company in charge of food supplies, and the activities of a Chinese fishing company. The prosecution against the former president is unprecedented in Mauritania, a vast, conservative desert state that gained independence from France in 1960. Mauritanians interviewed by AFP said they hoped the trial would set a new benchmark in the country's fight against graft. Mauritania is ranked 140th out of 180 in the Corruption Perceptions Index for 2021 by the organisation Transparency International. 'Tired' Aziz's daughter, Asma, told AFP the former president was "tired", with his cardiologist contacting her Tuesday night because her father had collapsed after being taken into custody. Another of his lawyers, Antoine Vey, expressed alarm at his client's "arbitrary" arrest and conditions that he said suggested Aziz would not be given a fair trial. "The case has been built on work that just looks like political revisionism," he told AFP. He planned to ask for a postponement of the trial and was preparing to refer the case to United Nations bodies if the request is rejected. None of the parties interviewed could say how long the trial would last. 25.01.2023 LISTEN A professional Accountant and an aspiring NDC Parliamentary Candidate in the Offinso South Constituency, Hon Vincent Asare Bediako has urged members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to be focused and united following the announcement of a reshuffle in the leadership of the Minority Caucus. There has been tension and uneasiness within the party. Members have voiced their discontent with the decision-making process. He said indeed the latest decision by the party has shifted many suffering Ghanaians' attention away from the mess Nana Addo-Bawumia and the NPP government have created. Hon. Vincent Asare Bediako, speaking with TheSpeaker on OilCity Radio in Takoradi declared his intention to contest the primaries in the Offinso South Constituency. He however indicated that regardless of what happens, theyre focused, strategic, and united going into the election in 2024. It must be emphasized that not every move made by our leaders will be in our best interests, but for the sake of the party, we must calm down and set our disagreements aside on this matter. We must remain united and focused because it is our common duty to save the nation, he urged. He said the NDC cannot fail the suffering masses. The United States called Wednesday for an impartial probe in Eswatini into the killing of a top opposition leader and urged political dialogue, as Russia seeks influence in Africa's last absolute monarchy. Thulani Maseko, a prominent opposition politician and leading human rights lawyer and columnist, was shot dead on Saturday night at his home in the landlocked southern African country. "We offer condolences to his family and friends and we call for a full, transparent and impartial investigation, as well as accountability for those responsible," State Department spokesman Ned Price said. "We remain deeply concerned about continuing violence in Eswatini and we continue to urge the government of Eswatini to set a date for an inclusive national dialogue as soon as possible because this is the best way to ensure respect for human rights, national healing and lasting peace." Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, stifles dissent with political parties banned since 1973. At least 37 people were killed during weeks of anti-monarchy protests in 2021. Hours before Maseko was killed, King Mswati in a defiant speech warned activists challenging him not to "shed tears" about "mercenaries killing them." Amid the international concern over Maseko's killing, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Eswatini on Tuesday and promised security training. Lavrov said that Russia would not "interfere" in the country's domestic politics. Russia, which has a historic relationship with neighboring South Africa, has been seeking to woo developing nations to its side since its invasion of Ukraine last year, which brought sweeping Western sanctions. The Offinso South Constituency Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Hon Sumaila Zakari Abidal who doubles as the Presiding Member of the Offinso South Municipal Assembly has urged members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to be focused and united following the announcement of a reshuffle yesterday in the leadership of the Minority Caucus. He said members should rather focus their attention on working hard towards winning the 2024 elections and redeem Ghanaians from the current hardships the NPP government has subjected people to. Members of the NDC must be calm and focused and not be swayed by the change in the parliamentary leadership, he stated. Hon. Abidal, speaking with TheSpeaker on OilCity Radio in Takoradi indicated that regardless of what happens, theyre focused, strategic, and united going into the election in 2024 and nothing will stop the NDC from winning the elections. It must be emphasized that not every move made by our leaders will be in our best interests, but for the sake of the party, we must calm down and set our disagreements aside on this matter. We must remain united and focused because it is our common duty to save the nation, he stated. He said the NDC has a duty to restore and make Ghana great again and therefore cannot fail the suffering masses. As part of its activities to manage unrest and create sustainable peace, the Managing Conflict in Nigeria (MCN) Programme has constituted a conflict resolution network to enhance crisis management and peace building process in the region. The Programme funded by the European Union and facilitated by the British Council has also established a Sexual Assault Referral Centers (SARCs) where cases of gender-based violence are reported in three North Eastern states in Nigeria including Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. The National Programme Manager of MCN, Prof. Muhammed Tabiu SAN, made this known on Tuesday at the MCN close-out event and result dissemination, in Abuja. Tabiu noted that the network would translate into a more stable and resilient community, devoid of attack and conflict, adding that they have created ways to resolve conflict at the earliest stage thereby preventing their escalation into violence. According to him, the MCN Programme has been implemented in three states of the North East in the last six years adding that its objective is to build more capacity for managing conflict in the NorthEast Region. Tabiu said the aim is also to strengthen the capacity of the institution especially at the community level. He said "dialogue has also been organised between communities that are in conflict with each other, they have also negotiated agreement between the communities in order for them to live in peace. He further said by implementing this programme they are focusing on institutions that manage conflict at community level particularly through traditional rulers by training and setting up a case management system and adopting a code of conduct and ensuring that they have a smooth working relationship. Reeling out some of the successes of the MCN, the Programme Manager said they have empowered and given skills to thousands of young men and women who have been affected by the conflict or who are involved in it and are looking for retirement homes. On her part, the Special Adviser to Borno State Governor on Health and Chairperson of MCN Borno State Advisory Committee, Ms. Zara Bukar, described the training of traditional rulers of various communities as a welcome development. She said when you go through traditional rulers you have a positive impact on whatever you are trying to implement in a community because of the strong influence traditional leaders have on members of their communities. Bukar said having internally displaced persons in an area causes a lot of havoc and problems of abuse and crimes. She therefore commended the Sexual Assault Referral Center program of the MCN. She said the MCN has done a lot of training, capacity building, reconciliation, and established centers where reports are made, and a fund for assistance is provided noting that they have impacted tremendously in Borno State. She said Borno State has learned how to resolve conflict and manage situations adding they have also learned how to progress into bringing out their kind of community and whatever resolution they can do to resolve community conflict. She further said communities in Borno are ready to repentant Boko haram with some of the training that they have had from MCN if they reform. She however stressed that they have not reintegrated any member of repentant Boko Haram terrorists as they are still undergoing the process of reintegration. A 49-year-old man, Musah Ajeymah is in the grips of the police in the Eastern Region for allegedly defiling a 14-year-old JHS 1 student at Koforidua Zongo. The culprit is a butcher married with three children. He allegedly lured his victim who is a friend of his children ostensibly to make her run an errand for him. But he reportedly forcefully pushed her into his room and violently defiled her. The victim who reported the incident to her father led to the arrest of Musah after defying a plea from some opinion leaders to settle the matter without the involvement of the police. Father of the victim who spoke to the media wants an end to the era where rape and defilement cases are handled outside the courts in various traditional communities. Most of the leaders in this Zongo community are calling me to settle the matter at home. How are they going to feel if was their daughter? Will they ask for settlement or allow the courts to take over? So I want to set an example by taking it to the appropriate place. ---citinewsroom Young Africans for Opportunities (YAFO) on Wednesday, January 25, officially launched the 2022 Driver Mo Report in Accra. In a presentation of the findings of the report, the President of Young Africans for Opportunities, Nathaniel Dwamena admonished insurance companies in the country to provide incentives that promote good driving. As part of its advocacy work, YAFO last year set out to work on the Driver Mo Report. The general objective of the study was to ascertain vehicle insurance experiences in Ghana. The research focused on the perception of vehicle insurance while ascertaining the current level of insurance access. YAFO also wanted to identify the structural bottlenecks when clients are assessing vehicle insurance claims and the related value of the claims/rewards. Finally, the advocacy group sought to explore the level of confidence in insurance and experience with claim processes. At the end of the research, YAFO in the Driver Mo Report disclosed that Ghanaians see comprehensive insurance as expensive compared to income levels. Also, the report noted that most Ghanaians (82%) often do not have an interest in filing complaints or reporting for reasons attributed to a bureaucratic delay in the processing amounting to being awarded an insurance claim, and the perceived unwillingness of the insurance companies to pay for claims. Speaking to Modernghana News on the sidelines of the Report Launch, YAFO President Nathaniel Dwamena stressed that these findings are a threat to the Insurance space and need to be addressed. He said through the report, his outfit is advocating to get stakeholders involved to address the challenges in the insurance space. What we are trying to do is to bring some of these issues to the limelight and then we curb these problems and then at the end of the day the subscriber and the insurance company, we all serve the players better and everybody becomes happy, Nathaniel Dwamena shared. Nathaniel Dwamena The YAFO President added, We are recommending that third-party insurance should be abolished and rather have the comprehensive being categorized in various sectors. We also recommend that there should be more education for everybody to understand their role. Then again, we want claim procedures to be made easy and the duration for processing claims should be done in about a month. President Nathaniel Dwamena further advised that Ghanaians must not just see vehicle insurance as something they need to get to avoid harassment from the police but must see it as a necessity driven by the market and more safety mechanisms. Representing the National Insurance Commission (NIC) chairman at the launch of the Driver Mo Report, Charles Ansong Dankyi, Senior Manager in Charge of Marketing and External Relations applauded Young Africans for conducting the research. He admitted that although the insurance industry is very encouraging, there are issues of uninsured vehicles on our roads. Charles Ansong Dankyi In the address on behalf of the NIC chairman, Charles Ansong Dankyi encouraged Ghanaians to contact his outfit whenever insurance companies refuse to pay claims. Where there is a legitimate claim and the insurance company refuses to pay the claim, the insurer must report the issue to the National Insurance Commission who is the regulator for the necessary intervention, Mr. Ansong stressed. He further advised the public to always make the effort to read the policy document to know what it covers and what it does not cover, stressing that it is very important in order not to be shortchanged. Oumar left home in Guinea five years ago in search of a better life in Europe, but today he inhabits a daily purgatory of hunger, cold and police violence in Morocco. "Just surviving every day is a battle," said the 25-year-old. "It's exhausting not eating enough, not sleeping under a roof, not feeling safe, experiencing racism." He spends his nights camped out on the pavement outside a Casablanca bus station, the makeshift home of hundreds of sub-Saharan Africans whose dreams of reaching Europe are on hold in Morocco. "We get chased away early in the morning by the police. Then we wander around and come back to the same place at the end of the day," said Oumar. Like the other migrants interviewed in this report, Oumar's name has been changed. Hundreds of sub-Saharan African migrants set up their makeshift home on the edge of Morocco's coastal port city of Casablanca. By FADEL SENNA (AFP) He has tried several times to reach Spanish territory from Morocco but has so far been unsuccessful. Oumar sits killing time opposite the Oulad Ziane bus station with a few dozen, mostly Guinean migrants. Some cook in a makeshift kitchen while others lie exhausted on the pavement. Someone has hung clothes and blankets on a nearby wall to dry. Bakary, also from Guinea, said he had been living here for three years. "This is our sad reality but nobody wants to see it," the 18-year-old said. The migrants set up this makeshift camp on the edge of the coastal port city of 4.2 million people because of its proximity to the bus station, a major transport hub. Today, the down-at-heel neighbourhood sees repeated flare-ups with the authorities. Opposite the Oulad Ziane bus station, some migrants cook in a makeshift kitchen while others lie exhausted on the pavement. By FADEL SENNA (AFP) This month, six migrants were arrested following clashes during a police operation to evict people camping on the site of a tramway extension. Today, they're back on the same site, divided into groups by country of origin with everyone pitching in to survive. "Wherever we set up camp, they chase us away," said Boubacar, 27, from Mali. "It's not as if we want to sleep on the tram tracks, but they don't offer us any alternative." 'Europe or death' Most residents were reluctant to speak to a journalist, but one Moroccan sweets vendor said the migrants were "part of the landscape now, they don't bother anyone". The station toilets are the only place the migrants have to wash. The Moroccan press regularly voices opposition to the migrants, who complain about racism and police violence. By FADEL SENNA (AFP) "Sometimes they let us in, sometimes no," said Boubacar, accusing residents of the neighbourhood of racism. Catholic charity Caritas provides migrants with basic medicines and healthcare. The Moroccan press regularly voices opposition to the migrants. "End clandestine immigration!" said a recent headline in weekly newspaper Maroc Hebdo, calling it "a social, security and political problem that the state is struggling to manage". Noureddine Riadi of Morocco's main human rights group, the AMDH, said the migrants were facing "difficult conditions" and called on authorities to do more to help. "The most vulnerable should be housed in temporary residential centres," he said. Lamine, a 20-year-old who has tried five times to penetrate the heavily secured Spanish enclave of Melilla on Morocco's northern coast, said he has almost given up. "We're struggling to keep believing, but my optimism is fading every day," he said. Despite the obstacles in their way, migrants in Casablanca say they are not giving up on the dream of reaching Europe. By FADEL SENNA (AFP) Morocco has taken periodic steps to regularise the status of migrants on its territory, many of whom arrive via the country's desert border with Algeria, which is officially closed. But it is under growing European pressure to strengthen border controls and restrict the movement of migrants within its territory. Spanish newspaper El Pais has reported that the EU is considering a 500 million euro grant for Rabat to tackle clandestine migration. In 2022, Moroccan police detained more than 32,000 migrants and arrested 566 people suspected of involvement in people trafficking, according to official figures. But migrants in Casablanca say they are not giving up on the dream of reaching Europe. Bakary said going home would mean "admitting defeat". "For me, it's Europe or death," he said. Pope Francis will visit the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan next week, delivering a message of peace and reconciliation to two sub-Saharan African nations plagued by conflict. The 86-year-old pontiff is flying to the Congolese capital Kinshasa on Tuesday before heading Friday to Juba, the capital of South Sudan, where he will be joined by the leaders of the Anglican Church and the Church of Scotland. The six-day trip was originally planned for July 2022 but was postponed after Francis suffered problems with his knee, which have recently forced him to use a wheelchair. There were also concerns about his planned visit to the east of DR Congo, where scores of armed groups roam including M23, which recently came within several miles of the commercial hub of Goma. The new itinerary no longer includes a trip to Goma, the capital of the North Kivu province, though the pope will meet victims of the conflict while in Kinshasa. It will be the Argentine pontiff's 40th trip overseas since being elected head of the Catholic Church in 2013, and his fifth visit to Africa. A billboard with Francis in Kinshasa ahead of his visit to DR Congo. By Arsene Mpiana (AFP) Francis is due to speak publicly 12 times and hold meetings with local officials, clerics and charities, addressing issues including education, climate change and deforestation, and social and health problems. But his priority will be efforts to restore peace in two impoverished countries ravaged by fighting, from the three decades of conflict in DR Congo's east to the violence that persists in South Sudan after a brutal civil war. Open-air mass More than a million people are expected at an open-air mass at Kinshasa airport on Wednesday, and market stalls are already doing brisk business in papal souvenirs including T-shirts and wax prints decorated with Francis' image. DR Congo is a traditionally Catholic nation of around 100 million people in central Africa, plagued by poverty despite its vast mineral wealth. "The pope's voice will be hugely encouraging for the country but will also be a strong spur to the political classes to resolve the country's problems," Mauro Garofalo, head of international relations at the Rome-based Sant'Egidio community, told AFP. The Cathedral of Notre Dame du Congo in Kinshasa, where markets are doing brisk business in papal souvenirs. By Arsene Mpiana (AFP) Security in Kinshasa will be a concern, mainly because of the threat of militias from the east, but Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told journalists Tuesday that there was "no specific threat" against the pontiff. Among the armed groups operating in DR Congo's east are the Allied Democratic Forces, which the Islamic State group claims as an affiliate and which bombed a Pentecostal church on January 15, killing 14 people. Justin-Marie Bayala, a Catholic teacher in Kinshasa, told AFP this week: "We dare to believe that he will bring us lasting peace." Despite its natural wealth, "Congo also embodies social injustice, the scandal of underdevelopment and poverty", said Samuel Pommeret from the nongovernmental organisation CCFD-Terre Solidaire. Francis, the first pope to visit DR Congo since 1985, "could also deliver a message for the economic actors who benefit from these riches", Pommeret said. Christian leaders unite In South Sudan, the world's newest nation after independence from Sudan in 2011, the pope will deliver another appeal for peace, this time alongside Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Iain Greenshields. The leaders of the Catholic, Anglican and Scottish churches had gathered at the Vatican in 2019 with South Sudan rivals Riek Machar and Salva Kiir to encourage them to salvage a stalled peace deal signed the year before. At that event, Francis stunned the world by kissing the feet of the two men, both accused of responsibility for war crimes. "This is a very important element in the South Sudanese crisis -- the joint work of the Christian churches and denominations can represent an antidote to the ethnicism and political rivalry," Garofalo said. After independence, South Sudan suffered a brutal five-year civil war between forces loyal to President Kiir or Machar, his deputy, that left nearly 400,000 people dead. Despite the 2018 peace deal, sporadic bursts of violence between government and opposition forces continue, while conflict between rival ethnic groups in lawless parts of the country exacts a devastating toll on civilians. Pope Francis is expected to visit the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa's largest predominantly Catholic country, next Tuesday. Here are five things to know about this vast nation: Mineral wealth, dire poverty The DRC is awash with minerals and precious stones, from gold, diamonds and coltan to tin, copper and cobalt. Harbouring the Congo River -- the second-largest in Africa after the Nile -- the DRC also has huge hydroelectric potential, as well as 80 million hectares (197 million acres) of arable land. But decades of war and chronic mismanagement means that little of the country's enormous wealth trickles down to the population of some 100 million people. About two thirds of the Congolese population survive on under $2.15 a day, according to the World Bank. Ethnic mosaic Occupying a vast area the size of continental western Europe, the DRC is about 80 times larger than its former colonial master, Belgium. It is the second-largest state in Africa after Algeria. Three Congolese on a motorbike head to a graveyard for Ebola victims in North Kivu province in 2018. By John WESSELS (AFP/File) Some 250 different ethnic groups live in the DRC, speaking hundreds of different languages. French is the country's official language, and local tongues Kikongo, Lingala, Tshiluba and Swahili are also officially recognised. Despite its size and diversity -- the former province of Katanga tried to secede in the 1960s -- there is a fierce sense of national unity. Troubled east Children who fled violence last June in eastern DRC's North Kivu province cast a shadow as they play on swings at a camp in Kisoro in neighbouring Uganda. By BADRU KATUMBA (AFP/File) The DRC has been ravaged by brutal conflicts in recent decades. The first Congo war, between 1996-1997, resulted in the overthrow of dictator Mobutu Sese Seko. The second Congo war, between 1998-2003, sucked in nine different countries, involved about 30 armed groups and caused millions of deaths according to some estimates. It also bankrupted the country. Most of the DRC is now at peace, but its mineral-rich eastern provinces remain plagued by dozens of armed groups and civilian massacres are common. Secular, religious Secularism has been enshrined in the Congolese Constitution since 1974, which also recognises freedom of worship. DR Congo. By (AFP) According to estimates, about 40 percent of the country is Catholic, 35 percent Protestants of various denominations, nine percent Muslims and 10 percent Kimbanguists -- a Christian movement born in the Belgian Congo. Official Vatican statistics put the proportion of Catholics in the DRC at 49 percent of the population. Atheists are exceedingly rare in Congolese society, which remains deeply religious and influenced by the church. During the colonial period, education was entrusted to Catholic missionaries. Rumba, survival Clothes make the man: Congo's 'sapeurs'. By Junior D. Kannah (AFP/File) Congolese people are renowned for their sense of humour and resourcefulness in the face of trying conditions. Many jokingly refer to "Article 15" of the constitution, which purports to instruct citizens to sort things out themselves. Music also plays an outsize role in the country's culture. UNESCO listed Congolese rumba as intangible cultural heritage of humanity in December 2021. Congo is also famed for its so-called sapeurs -- dandies known for their ultra-elegant clothing and sense of style. The Chief Director of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Afisah Zakaria, has urged the Department of Children to continue its child protection awareness creation and policy implementation at all levels. She also called on the Department to draw strategies to address emerging child protection issues in the country. I wish to state that you are all leaders in this field and I am fully confident that your knowledge, experience and expertise would provide important insights on implementing national policies towards the welfare of our dear children, she emphasized. She said this during a staff review meeting of the Department of Children on Tuesday in Accra. Dr Afisah commended the Department for achieving almost all of its 2022 targets on the Directors Performance Agreement. Notable among these achievements is the approval of the Departments Organizational Manual submitted to the Office of the Head of Civil Service. She lauded the Department for the timely submission of Ghanas response on the implementation and recommendation to the African Committee on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and Ghanaians Against Child Abuse. Officials in Paris on Thursday announced that France was recalling its ambassador from Burkina Faso, a day after agreeing to demands from the ruling military junta to pull out troops from the former French colony in Africa's Sahel region. "In the context of the latest developments in Burkina Faso, we have decided to recall our ambassador to Paris for consultations on the status and perspectives of our bilateral relations," the foreign ministry said. Burkina on Monday said it had given France one month to withdraw its contingent of 400 troops stationed in the country. On Wednesday Paris agreed to do so. For several months, the ruling junta has made known its dissatisfaction with the French Ambassador, Luc Hallade. In December, junta officials wrote to Paris, demanding Hallade's departure, claiming that he had publicly criticised the country's collapsing security apparatus. Ambassador Hallade has been in place in Ouagadougou since the summer of 2019 The promised withdrawal marks the latest scaling down of France's military presence in Africa. The junta in neighbouring Mali has also insisted on the departure of French troops. Last year, President Emmanuel Macron brought France's decade long anti-jihadist mission to an end. Both Mali and Burkina Faso fell out with Paris in the wake of military coups. With both nations under military rule, the French presence has become increasingly unpopular among the public. Jihadist groups still active Jihadist activity continues in the Sahel region while concern grows over the increasing influence of Russia, in particular through the presence of mercenaries from the Wagner Group run by an ally of President Vladimir Putin. The Burkinabe prime minister visited Moscow in December. Two weeks ago, at the height of the crisis over the continuing presence of French military personnel, he declared that a partnership with Russia was "a logical choice". Burkina is one of the poorest and most volatile nations in Africa. Thousands of troops, police and civilians have been killed and two million people have fled their homes since jihadists launched an insurgency from neighbouring Mali in 2015. More than a third of the country lies beyond the control of the government, and frustration within the army at the mounting toll triggered two separate military coups in the past year. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has accepted the credentials of the newly-appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of France Anne Bouillon. The ambassador presented her credentials to President Ilham Aliyev. President Ilham Aliyev then had a conversation with the ambassador. President Ilham Aliyev noted that last year marked the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and France. The head of state pointed out the rich history of diplomatic relations between the two countries over the past period. The President of Azerbaijan expressed hope that the coming period will be more fruitful in terms of developing bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries within international organizations. The ambassador recalled National Leader Heydar Aliyev`s visit to France in 1993, and said that she will spare no effort to contribute to the development of relations between Azerbaijan and France during her tenure. During the conversation, the sides touched upon the regional issues. Noting that Armenia has made baseless claims about the alleged closure of the Lachin-Khankendi road in the territory of Azerbaijan in recent times, the head of state said that these claims are completely false and nonsense. President Ilham Aliyev underlined that the transportation of civilian goods and civilians is ensured on this road through Russian peacekeepers and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Since December 12, passage of nearly 1,000 vehicles through this road in both directions has been ensured. The head of state stressed the importance of putting an end to the illegal exploitation of mineral deposits in the territories of Azerbaijan, where Russian peacekeepers are temporarily stationed, and ensuring the constant monitoring of these deposits by the country. President Ilham Aliyev wished the ambassador success during her diplomatic activity in Azerbaijan. A thief who allegedly broke into the residence of the District Police Commander of the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba to steal his household items has been arrested with the stolen items found in his room. The alleged thief, one Kwabena John, on Sunday, 18th December, 2022, invaded the commanders room while he was away at work, to steal his flat screen TV and other items including his carpet. The suspect is believed to have taken advantage of the quiet nature of the police bungalow to raid the home. According to reports, the suspect raided a nearby house occupied by one Mr Mohammed aka Doctor where he stole another flat screen TV and other items. The police in Sawla after investigations arrested the suspect, who is alleged to be a notorious thief in Sawla. Mr Mohammed, after he found out his items were stolen suspected Kwabena John and took it upon himself to go in search of him. But after noticing his life was in danger, the suspect, went to report himself to the Police. The Police during investigations noticed that he was the suspect they were looking for and so sent him to his house for a search and found the stolen items of the Police Commander and those of others in his room. He will soon be arraigned. Source: classfmonline.com The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), Madam Hajia Lariba Zuweira Abudu, has said the effects of COVID-19, especially on the vulnerable, calls for investment in skills development and entrepreneurship. That, according to her, would ensure steady growth and build resilience to endure such pandemics in the future. The Minister said this at the launch of the post-COVID -19 skills development and productivity enhancement project on Tuesday in Accra. She said the Ministry was hoping that a gender parity principle would be adopted by the skill development project to increase the number of women accessing technical and vocational skills development opportunities and credit services for businesses. Madam Abudu pledged the Ministrys support for the project, noting that it is expected to contribute to gender equality and women's empowerment. She said during the pandemic, women and youth who were in the informal sector, were hardest hit because they typically earn less, have fewer savings and held less secure jobs. Our health system was stressed with huge numbers of COVID-19 cases to manage, which shook the foundations of our healthcare system and other sectors such as hospitality, tourism and retail. It deprived many of their livelihoods. Across all regions, women were more likely to drop out of the labour force during the pandemic for some women in frontline jobs, such as healthcare providers and domestic workers, the pandemic forced them to choose between economic security and their health, she added. The launch of the Post COVID-19 skills development and productivity enhancement project seeks to support health-related skills development in higher education to enhance Ghanas healthcare delivery system and promote technical and entrepreneurship to create jobs for young people. The National Democratic Congress leadership led by its chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia has resolved to do further engagement to address the concerns of Members of Parliament not in agreement with the reshuffle of the partys leadership in Parliament. In a short statement, the new Minority Chief Whip Kwame Governs Agbodza has disclosed that the party leadership will give an audience to the Minority Caucus at a meeting on Tuesday, January 31. The NDC MPs who are agitating over the removal of Haruna Iddrisu and Mohammed Muntaka have been told to remain calm. That the party leadership led by the National Chairman have agreed to meet our entire caucus on Tuesday next week, specifically on the 31st of January, 2023; That based on the foregoing those calling for a meeting tomorrow should suspend their plans and await Tuesday's meeting, the statement signed by Kwame Governs Agbodza said. The statement assures that all legitimate concerns by colleague MPs have been duly acknowledged. Meanwhile, the new Minority Leadership in Parliament is meeting with party executives at the party headquarters today. The meeting follows a similar one between the newly appointed leadership and the outgoing Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu. The new Minority leadership further calls on all to come together and work in unity and respect. 26.01.2023 LISTEN The Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics, Mussa Dankwa says a national poll conducted by his outfit indicates former President John Dramani Mahama will likely beat the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and other contestants in the 2024 presidential elections. Mr. Dankwa said the poll tipped John Mahama to win across all the regions except the Ashanti Region and Eastern Regions, the stronghold of the NPP. He added that Mahama may also not be able to make inroads in the Northern and North East Regions. Speaking on the Point of View on Citi TV, Mr. Dankwa said: besides the Northern Region and North East Region where [Mahamudu] Bawumia leads [John] Mahama head-to-head, elsewhere, it is difficult for NPP. Mr. Dankwa stressed that it is terrible in the Central and Western Regions. Greater Accra is not good and the numbers are not great in the Ashanti Region even though the NPP is winning. It is almost neck and neck between the NPP candidate and John Mahama. Across the regions, it doesnt look good, but something is happening in the Northern Region. This is the third time we are seeing that something could happen in the Northern Region, and we believe that John Mahama could lose the Northern Region and still win the elections, he added. Mr. Dankwa told the host of the show, Selorm Adonoo that the dynamics and reasons for the voting pattern in 2024 wont be different from previous years as religion and ethnicity are expected to largely be a deciding factor. He said the poll revealed that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is popular among Muslims in the Northern and North East Regions but is doing poorly among Muslims nationally. He [Mahamudu Bawumia] is getting the support of ethnicity and also religion. If we drill down the Muslim votes to the Northern Region, you could see that Bawumia is doing well, but he is not doing well nationally. He explained that Bawumia is doing poorly nationally among Muslim voters because he is seen to be swinging much more toward the Christian faith instead of Islam. Mr. Dankwa also said the national polls indicate John Mahama is winning among all ethnic groups except the Akans. He further intimated that a significant percentage of some disappointed supporters of the New Patriotic Party may vote for Mahama. There are a lot of NPP supporters that are disappointed and when you ask them who they are going to vote for, they tell you John Mahama, and we saw that about 30% of those who voted for President Akufo-Addo will vote for John Mahama if we go to the polls. citinewsroom The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a crucial nation for the United States of America, and this Central African nation is responsible for 75% of the cobalt and 50% of the tantalum that the US government imports for the needs of its military-industrial complex, and as tantalum and cobalt are needed to make bombers and cell phones, respectively, so democracy continues to violate human rights, destroy the environment, and commit crimes in the Congo to obtain these valuable minerals. In addition to cobalt and tantalum, the DRC is rich in silver, gold, and diamonds. Cobalt production in the DRC is currently in the hands of the Swiss corporation Glencore, a partner of Rusal and Rosneft, but the US expects that after the Congo experiences a regime transition, US Cobalt will be able to enter the market. This is a life-or-death issue for the US military-industrial complex because, without cobalt, there would be no electronic gadget, even a cell phone. The Western and US governments' demand for cobalt for the production of electric cars, automotive components, electric devices, and mobile phones is having a negative impact on the people of Congo and causing environmental havoc. America attempted to overthrow the Gabonese government, which welcomed Rosneft to create additional oil resources. To deny Russia the chance to construct a military base in the Red Sea, the United States is also upsetting the situation in Sudan. The Sudanese government has offered to allow Rosneft, Lukoil, and Tatneft to engage in oil production and Washington is also attempting to topple the Central African Republic government, which had proposed that Russia build a base there. Africa is home to 30% of the world's natural riches, and the appearance of China and Russia there does not suit the old colonialists in the face of Europe and the new ones in the face of the United States. We can therefore expect that the Black Continent will experience a wider regime transition than just the DRC. Only around 20% of world leaders stand up for democracy for the right reasons, leaving the other 80% to do so for corrupt gain. Since the military is not around to slap them over the face, they encourage vice while speaking harshly about the military rule. The power of cobalt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has damaged the ecosystems of the nation, polluted the environment and water supplies, and caused several health problems for many residents. Cobalt was first discovered by humans about three centuries ago; up until recently, it was not seen to be one of the more popular elements in the periodic table because it was typically employed to alloy steel or as a petrochemical catalyst. However, cobalt has joined the more well-known lithium and nickel in the pantheon of important metals of the twenty-first century as a result of the expanding use of electric cars. A unique cycle of manufacturing, processing, and sale for this metal can arouse intense emotion in international commodities exchanges. Expecting cobalt to solve the issue of a quick switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources will not be realistic. Contrary to popular belief, the use of hydrocarbon-fueled systems is more material-intensive than the extraction of metals, which are essential for the creation of electric vehicles or the building of a group of wind turbines. The US government has been quite forceful in those rich African nations, notably the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where there are huge reserves of several valuable and rare metals, just to drive away China or make things very difficult for the Chinese and Russian governments. Like the Republic of Guinea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has seen numerous Ebola outbreaks despite the World Health Organization's valiant efforts to contain the illness. The fact that the deadly Ebola virus, sometimes known as hemorrhagic fever because its victims bleed to death, was a biological weapon, the truth was concealed. Health reporters and media outlets from the West and the United States, including CNN and BBC, were paid to publish or create fraudulent health stories claiming that bats were the source of the deadly sickness and that the proliferation of African delicacies like bush meat was extremely widespread. I am grateful to all of the independent writers who have diligently fought against the lies and deception, including the late Dutch scientist and micro-surgeon Johan Van Dongen, the German physician, Dr. Wolff Geisler, and this African writer, Joel Savage. Although our message was widely spread, we still paid a high price. The website "Secrets of Aids and Ebola" that we created to educate the public, and attracted over 10,000 visitors per day, was pulled down and deliberately destroyed by the US government to suppress information. The misleading health information claiming bats are to blame for Ebola in Africa is still accessible on the websites of the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control. It is difficult for the two health institutions to remove them from their websites because doing so would only serve to highlight their fabrications and dishonesty. Even illiterates are aware that Ebola was a biologically created virus, thus no one cares any longer if they keep that false health information on their websites. The developed world continues to treat Africa unfairly, and if hydrocarbons are processed widely around the globe, with refineries, petrochemical facilities, and gas chemical plants located in every continent's sub-region, then the extraction of metals and their metallurgical processing might occasionally be restricted to just three or four nations. Cobalt is one of the most crucial and pricey from a commercial standpoint element of lithium-ion batteries. Even though the world's deposits of cobalt are over 25.5 million tons, the Congo remains one of the world's poorest nations, the World Bank Group estimates its GDP per person at 560 US dollars, with a volatile political climate. Cobalt usage surpasses 122,000 tons, up roughly 75,000 tons from the previous year. The cost of a pound, the standard unit of measurement for cobalt, increased to more than $ 40 this year from $ 20 at the beginning of 2011 and is currently close to $ 32. In addition to child labor, the environmental and social effects of cobalt mining in developing nations, using the example of the Congo, are important to note. Because the majority of the harmful environmental effects do not immediately touch the average consumer, cobalt is convenient for them. Many of the leaders in emerging nations have paid a heavy price for the avarice of western and American democracies, with many of them losing their lives. Therefore, if you believe that democracy is the ideal type of government, you should reconsider. In my opinion, democracy is to blame for serious crimes and corruption around the globe, with Ghana serving as an example. However, I oppose the military government; Ghanas corruption can be reduced with a severe prison sentence. The former Minority Spokesperson on Finance in Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has expressed gratitude to the leadership of the NDC for appointing him the new leader of the Minority Caucus in Parliament. The Ajumako Eyan Essiam legislator said he is humbled to be given the opportunity to lead the gallant NDC caucus. In a statement shared by the new Minority Leader, he revealed having already engaged his successor and senior colleague, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, in a fruitful conversation. My dear friends, I am honoured and humbled to have been chosen to lead our illustrious and gallant caucus in Parliament, he noted. He continues, I thank the leadership of our party who have placed their trust and confidence in me. I am also deeply grateful to colleagues, the rank and file of our party and the Ghanaian people for their profound support and solidarity He added, I have held fruitful and positive conversations with my senior brother Hon. Haruna Iddrisu. I commend him for his admirable stewardship when he was granted the opportunity by our party's leadership. On what will be his goal, he said, as a leader, it will be my duty to represent our collective goals with unwavering dedication and high integrity. I have no doubt that with your support we shall succeed.May God bless our efforts." On Tuesday, January 24, the opposition party, in an official letter, informed the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin about some changes in its leadership in Parliament. In the letter, the Ranking Member on Finance Committee of Parliament, Mr. Cassiel Ato Forson, is taking over from Mr. Haruna Iddrisu as the Minority Leader. The Minority Chief Whip, Hon. Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka has also been replaced with Mr. Kwame Agbodza. The matter has caused division among the NDC MPs in Parliament with 60 members signed a petition to reverse the decision of the Party leadership. 26.01.2023 LISTEN Ningo Prampram Member of Parliament, Samuel Nartey George has said the outgone Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu will not even accept it if the decision to remove him by the National Executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is reversed. Sam Goege has problems with the way and manner the changes were done to the leadership of the Minority. In his view, the entire process of removing the officials could have been done in a tidier manner through consultation given the caliber of personalities involved. Sam George said Many of us had eggs on our faces, we thought [the letter announcing the changes] was fake until [Asiedu Nketia] came to say yes indeed they wrote that letter. Even in Senior High school, the headmaster doesn't sit in his office and just appoint who becomes head boy, right now they do manifesto, they do voting, I remember very well in that meeting of the 4th of January, this issue came up about how our leadership in Parliament is being selected or elected. You look at best practices across the world, caucuses actually elect their leaders and so we decided as a caucus to go ahead and put together a draft that would then codify on paper what the processes for the selection of leaders of our caucus should be. Unfortunately, we haven't worked on it or carried it through and couldn't get it ratified at the last congress. So today, it is left to the convention. Those who say that there is nowhere in NDC's constitution where it says MPs must be consulted, there is nowhere in our constitution too where it says that the national executives should elect leadership for parliament. The convention has also been an engagement. We have run this by convention where the national executives had chosen but they had engaged the caucus. Why you need to engage the caucus is to prevent what were are seeing now. Because what you need as an authority as a leader in Parliament is legitimacy from behind you. That legitimacy from behind you is from consensus. NDC Council of elders must step in quickly, and call the outgone leaders, I have been told the Council called members of the outgone and leadership and spoke to them. But I hold the view that the way to resolve this matter is first and foremost, within the next 24 hours, our Council of Elders calling the two groups, the Haruna Iddrisu group and the Ato Forson group into one room. Our leaders should call both sides and call the national executives especially the national chair and the General Secretary and let us build a road map that takes the consultation that the national executives have done a step further of engaging the caucus. He added I know Haruna very well. I have been called a Haruna boy in the Chamber, they call me Muntaka boy, I don't have a problem with it, the same way they call me Asiedu Nketia's boy, I don't have a problem with it. The Haruna I know and the way this matter has been handled even if today, the decision is taken that you are reversing it, he won't take it because the manner in which this has been done could have been done tidier. For me, that is one of the points I think as a party we must all agree on, there is nobody who is infallible. This could have been done in a tidier manner especially given the stature of the individuals involved. Muntaka is the longest-serving Whip in Ghana's Parliament, 11 years for both sides, Haruna is an institution. So the manner in which this has been done cannot, with the greatest of respect to Asiedu Nketia and Fifi Kwetey, be said to have been the tidiest. We must as a people and as a party be willing to concede where we were not 100 percent. It is the only way we can move forward when concessions are made. He further said the NDC MPs who have raised issues against the action of the party's national executives are not questioning the substance or capacity of Ato Forso to lead. The substance or capacity of Ato Forso to lead is not the issue, nobody is questioning that, he told TV on Thursday, January 26. The newly-appointed Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has said he has the ability to carry out the new task assigned him by the leadership of the NDC. He says he is not new in Parliament. I am not new in this house, he said at his maiden press conference as the new Minority Leader which was also attended by the newly-appointed Minority Chief Whip Kwame Agbodza. He added I have known most of my colleagues for a while. I can assure you that we will succeed. In an earlier press statement, Dr Ato Forson assured his side of the House of working with high dedication and integrity. He said he would represent the collective goals of the Minority. The Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam lawmaker commended Mr Iddrisu for his admirable stewardship when he was granted the opportunity by our party's leadership. As leader, he added, it will be my duty to represent our collective goals with unwavering dedication and high integrity. He further indicated that I am honoured and humbled to have been chosen to lead our illustrious and gallant caucus in Parliament. I thank the leadership of our party who have placed their trust and confidence in me. I am also deeply grateful to colleagues, the rank and file of our party and the Ghanaian people for their profound support and solidarity. The Minority in Parliament will be holding an emergency meeting in the House today Thursday, January 26 over the removal of its leadership. 3news.com An Accra Circuit Court has threatened to strike out the criminal charges against founder of Heaven Way Champion International Ministry, Patricia Asiedua Koranteng, aka Nana Agradaa, if prosecution fails to file its trial documents by February 28. This was after the court presided over by Her Honour Evelyn Asamoah, observed that the prosecution was yet to file any disclosures since the court ordered it to do so on October 14, 2023. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Emmanuel Haligah, who held brief for the substantive prosecutor, DSP Sylvester Asare, told the court that the prosecution was on the verge of changing the charge sheet in the matter. The trial judge said she has been meaning to strike out the case but was minded to adjourn the case to February 28, 2023. Agradaa is before the court charged with five counts of defrauding by false pretences and another count of charlatanic advertisement after she allegedly took money from her victims in the name of doubling the money for them but failed to do so. She pleaded not guilty to the charges and was initially remanded into police custody but later granted a bail of GH100,000 by the court. Court documents indicate that preliminary investigations into the allegations made against Agradaa has established that on October 5, 2022, she advertised on Todays TV and other social media platforms that she is capable of doubling money. Investigations also established that accused through the said charlatanic adverts on social media, invited members of the public including complainants to attend all-night service at her church Heaven Way Champion International Ministry at Weija on October 7, 2022, to have their monies doubled. Complainants and other members of the public came from far and near to attend the said all-night service, the prosecution's facts said. The facts say Agradaa during the all-night service successfully demanded and received huge sums of monies from some members of the public who attended the said all-night service, including the complainants in the matter, but failed to double it for them. Agradaa during investigations following her arrest is said to have admitted the allegations made against her by the complainants. Further investigations established that she carried out the charlatanic advert and subsequent collection of money with the assistance of others, and the police are making efforts to arrest them to assist in investigations. DGN online France said on Thursday that it was recalling its ambassador from Burkina Faso "for consultations," a day after agreeing to demands to pull its troops from the country. Around 400 French special forces are deployed in the deeply troubled Sahel nation, helping in the fight against an escalating jihadist insurgency. "In the context of the latest developments in Burkina Faso, we have decided to recall our ambassador to Paris for consultations on the state and perspectives of our bilateral relations," the foreign ministry said. In diplomatic usage, the term "consultations" usually implies displeasure at the host country. Burkina's junta in December had asked France to withdraw its envoy, Luc Hallade, over public comments he had made on the country's worsening security. France sent a deputy foreign minister, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, to Ouagadougou for talks on January 10 but this failed to resolve tensions. On Monday, Burkina said it had renounced a 2018 agreement on the deployment of French forces. On Wednesday, France said it would withdraw its troops in line with the decision. The move follows a bustup in neighbouring Mali, where relations went into a downward spiral after a coup in 2020. Mali's junta brought in Russian paramilitaries to support its beleaguered armed forces -- operators that France and others say are mercenaries from the Wagner Group. Burkina is one of the poorest and most volatile nations in Africa. Thousands of troops, police and civilians have been killed and around two million people have fled their homes since jihadists launched an insurgency from Mali in 2015. More than a third of the country lies beyond the control of the government, and frustration within the army at the mounting toll triggered two coups last year. France, the former colonial power in the Sahel, has been a strong ally against jihadists who have mounted a campaign in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Its Barkhane mission, launched in 2013, had at one point 5,100 personnel in the region. The dispute with Mali -- coinciding with a wave of anti-French protests -- prompted a French pullout from that country last year. Barkhane was officially wound up, although French forces have remained deployed in Chad, Niger and Burkina Faso. The 400 special forces troops in Burkina have been deployed under a task force called Sabre. French sources said the personnel will leave the country by the end of February, and their equipment will be withdrawn by the end of April. France's special forces contingent is based at Kamboinsin, on the outskirts of Ougadougou. By (AFP) One option is for them to be deployed in neighbouring Niger, which already hosts nearly 2,000 French troops. France is also a major provider of aid for Burkina, channelling nearly a billion euros ($1.1 billion) between 2011 and 2021, according to French figures. The future of this assistance may be in doubt if Burkina seeks military ties with the Kremlin. French aid was cut off to Mali because of the ties with Wagner. Zacharopoulu, in her visit this month, was "very clear about the consequences," a diplomatic source told AFP. dt/prh/ri/yad One person has been killed after a commercial vehicle crashed into some traders at the Suame roundabout in the Suame Municipality of the Ashanti region. Two others are also in critical condition following the accident that occurred around 5:30 am today, January 26, 2023. The trotro car with registration number AS 3987 -13 was heading from Suame towards Kejetia when it veered off the road and crashed into the traders. The victims were rushed to the Tafo Government Hospital but one of them was pronounced dead. The driver of the car has been arrested by the Suame Divisional Police Command. Source: Classfmonline.com A 30-year-old man popularly known as "Candy" has been attacked with cutlass by a gang at Krofrom in the Kumasi Metropolis of the Ashanti Region. The incident occurred at about 6:30 pm on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. The Assembly Member for the area, Mr Patrick Kwame Frimpong, told Class News Elisha Adarkwah that the victim was butchered multiple times by the gang. He was rushed to a private hospital and later referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Mr Frimpong said the gang allegedly attacked and killed "Candy" in retaliation for his involvement in an attack on their colleague exactly a year yesterday. The police, he said, has arrested two of the gang members and keeping them in custody to assist with investigations. The body of the deceased has been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy. Source: Classfmonline.com 26.01.2023 LISTEN TEARS ARE WELLING in our eyes as we write this apocryphal letter, intended for the President, though knowing he would not have the time to read it and his close associates would hide the message it carries from him Author THERE ARE a plethora of historical and literary examples of hypocrisy, equivocation and prevarication. Michael Gerson defines hypocrisy as the practice of engaging in the same behaviour or activity for which one criticizes another. Political hypocrisy is the conscious use of a mask to fool the public and gain political benefit. The fallacy of equivocation arises when a key term in an argument is used in an ambiguous way-the witches in Macbeth: none of a woman born shall harm Macbeth or the Pope's refusal of Henry VIII's divorce of Catherine of Aragon in order to marry Anne Boleyn, so he could father a son and; therefore, taking England from Catholicism into Anglicanism, Prevarication is simply a misstatement, made in a sneaky way; shuffling or quibbling to evade the truth. The officers of a company came to our office on a Christmas eve, delivered an envelope and asked us to sign. Question: What is in the envelope? Answer: Just sign here. Action: Thanks, but take your envelope away. Or a friend, the Director of a pharmaceutical company, opening his car booth and displaying cash: this is all for you if you will only sign this document. A: What does the law say, and if we get caught? M: I'll get you out. A: Then get us out now, by not luring us to sign! Principles, Integrity, honesty. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II made the most profound statement when the President made a visit to Manhyia in April 2017 on assuming office: Be careful of those around youGhanaians used hunger and annoyance to vote the old (Mahama) government outif they are not satisfied, they will use the same hunger and anger to get you out. We are not chasing the elephant into the bush. a la Arthur K; rather we'll tame it. Eugene Antwi, MP, Subin, says the party does not belong to Nana Addo. What legacy is Nana Addo leaving behind? Re-defining family and friends in order to ensconce NPP? What is happening to Ken Ofori Atta and the stand taken by the NPP majority Parliamentary caucus (95)? Even for a show of respect, some NPP die-hards think Nana Addo could have reshuffled Ken Ofori Atta from the Ministry of Finance to Ministry of Trade or Foreign Affairs and down-sized the cabinet. How dare anyone argue that Ken's credibility is totally lost? Resign? An African politician? OR Quit, when the applause is loudest? The arrogance of power, disregarding all pressures to adjust e-levy, leading to its failure (1.5% to 1%). Ken Agyapong says going to the IMF is handing over power to NDC, so Ken Ofori Atta insists We will not go to IMF we are a proud nation and we are there! No haircut, and it is there. And Ken announces a measure before engaging stakeholders in the Domestic Debt Exchange. Instead of Midas' touch of gold, Ken Ofori Atta's appears to be Sadim touch of (?) breaking the eight? Huge avoidable economic hardship, and we continue to give our pupils free food, free accommodation, free books, free uniforms, and to Ken's credit he whimpered asking those who could afford it to contributeand his suggestion was drowned in the din of political showmanship. Honestly, we pity Ken Ofori Atta, not hate nor envy him. He is a cool friend and Christian brother. Trust government? Rely on government bonds? Just like the 50-cedi note Rawlings withdrew in 1979. And 77-year-old retiree, Peter Kojo Nyasepe, in a wheel-chair, laments over the bond he bought being rolled over; not getting anything until 2027 when he will be paid 5% of his interest? How long is Peter going to live? And our friend, Osei Kwame, among others in the Ponzi scheme died because he could not retrieve GH 400,000.00 he had invested in Gold Coast Securities, in the clean-up of GH 15 billion indebtedness with the nation's GH 25 billion. Politics and religion? Invoke the name of God or Allah, and you get away with a scheme-not well thought out. God told David not to build the temple because his hands were tainted with blood; Solomon, built it, and turned away from God marrying Hittite, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon women-seven hundred princesses and three hundred concubines, God said: (For your disobedience) I will take the Kingdom away from you and give it to one of your officials We know several countries have Cathedrals: Saint Peter's of Rome built in AD 320; St John the Divine New York, 1892; Notre Dame, Strasbourg which attracts 4million people in a year, and which took 227 years to build (1647-1874). Russia, St Petersburg; and Saudi Arabia, the Great Mosque in honour of Mohammed In Africa, Egypt, Cathedral of Nativity, and Cote d'Ivoire, the magnificent Notre Dame at Yamoussoukro. And the National Cathedral couldn't be built at the controversial Achimota Forest? If things were smooth who would be talking about how building a cathedral is financed? Or if churches and private individuals were funding it, just like Sheik Sharubutu offered GH 50,000 who would have questioned it? No, no one wants to be called Sanballat and Tobias or be tagged a naysayer or a demon, but questions ought to be asked when we have a Secretariat allegedly supervised by a man with two names (Rev. Kusi-Boateng/ Kwabena Adu Gyamfi), two mothers (Yaa Gyamfuaa /Agnes Ataa) two dates of birth (December 30, 1969 / September 7, 1971) two Tax Identification Numbers: P0002502682 / P000627241 X with a Diplomatic Passport Number DX0068458 under the name Kwabena Adu Gyamfi (as alleged by Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa). Just identify yourself with one of the big political parties, and you can get away with a problem as being haunted by your political opponent. The President, had led a number of demonstrations, including Kume Preko (against VAT of 7%) with Wereko-Brobbey, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, Akoto Ampaw, Victor Newman, should others be silent over 15% VAT? The Minister of Health, Agyemang-Manu before the Audit Committee answers to his failure to follow constitutional procedure (Article 174-189) for purchasing COVID-19 materials: those were not normal times. It was a situation that couldn't make me think properly (No comment). We blinked and winked at the criticism by Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa with facts on the President hiring expensive private jets to attend international conferences. People like Ken Kuranchie (Editor of the Searchlight), Nana Bonsu and Adomako-Baafi, brilliant NPP communicators were all over fighting for a defence of President's action attributing our economic woes to COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine War. The Attorney General, Godfred Dame, was explicit on the effect of the unilateral abrogation of contract (by government and individual bondholders). And with no budget allocation made for it, His Excellency Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice-President promises one student one tablet (laptop). How much would be needed to finance this? (GH 1 billion for the 1.5 million students?) Any incentive to write? Will students buy books by Ghanaian authors? Who would say: The King is naked? Hypocrites, equivocators, prevaricatorsAlexander Pope's ninth Beatitude sits well with us: Blessed is the man who expects nothing for he shall never be disappointed. [email protected] By Africanus Owusu-Ansah 26.01.2023 LISTEN The Tenants Union of Ghana has endorsed the upcoming launch of the National Rental Assistance Scheme. The union in a press release said we are full of praises for the Akufo-Addo-Dr. Bawumia led government for bringing this significant financial relief to our members and largely to the general Ghanaian populace. The Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and the Minister for Works and Housing, Hon. Francis Asenso-Boakye are gearing up to launch one of the governments biggest social intervention campaign promises, the National Rental Assistance Scheme. The National Rental Assistance Scheme, according to the Ghana government, is designed to assist young graduates, low and average-income earning Ghanaians with their rent accommodation challenges. It is against this background that the over 11 million members of the Tenants Union of Ghana led by our Secretary-General, Mr. Frederick Opoku have resolved to fully endorse and support the National Rental Assistance Scheme. In August 2020, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia during the launch of the 2020 NPP manifesto in Cape Coast said the scheme is going to bring big relief to the housing sector. The Tenants Union of Ghana supports and rallies behind this project because it is a very laudable initiative that will provide a loan scheme to help particularly Ghanaians who cannot afford to pay the hefty advance rent (most often covering two years) to private landlords. Sadly, millions of low-income Ghanaians struggle to pay their rent advance and if they do find a way, it's often a bank loan with an interest or a miraculous intervention which only God knows. Advance rent payment frustrations coupled with the outrageous exploitation of tenants in terms of house rent charges have for so many years made life unbearable for the ordinary Ghanaian. It is in this direction that the Tenants Union of Ghana deems the launch of the National Rental Assistance Scheme slated for Tuesday, 31st January at the Accra International Conference Centre as a very bold and critical intervention to support Ghanaians struggling to pay house rent. It would be recalled that Government in the 2021 budget again reaffirmed its readiness to implement this much-touted scheme that will provide eligible Ghanaians with lowinterest loans to enable them to pay for rent advance. The Tenants Union of Ghana further urges the government to, as much as possible, ensure transparency and fairness on its part. The Union says it believes strongly that such a level of fairness would pave way for the most vulnerable, those less fortunate, and most importantly, the informal sector and ordinary lives who deserve to benefit from access to the scheme. In conclusion, we also admonish the government to come out with clear modalities on who qualifies to access the National Rental Assistance Scheme in order to address its associated eligibility issues, the release from the Tenants Union of Ghana signed by Secretary-General Frederick Opoku concluded. The President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association, GUTA, Dr. Joseph Obeng has called on Energy Commission as a matter of urgency to meet with the leadership of the Concerned Second Hand Dealers Association of Ghana to iron out appropriate measures to regulate the sector. He said any policy to ban used electronic appliances may have awful consequences on the livelihood of dealers and the economy at large. Dr. Obeng made the call on Wednesday, 25th January 2023 while speaking at a media briefing organized by the Concerned Second Hand Dealers Association of Ghana in Accra. The Energy Commission recently indicated plans to embark on an exercise to tackle the importation of second-hand electrical appliances. According to the Energy Commission, Ghana has become a dumping ground for second-hand items that consume more electricity. But the group say used appliances do not pose any form of menace to the country but create jobs for thousands of Ghanaians. The press conference is the second to be organized by the group after what it described as an unsuccessful attempt to meet the Energy Commission for further deliberations. Members of the Association, which include those from Kumasi, joined their counterparts in Accra to register their displeasure over the intention to ban used electronics. Chairman of the Association, Daniel Asare, insisted that the goods imported are standard and go through various checks at the ports before being allowed into the country. "If the sitting government is seeking assistance from the IMF which will prevent them from employing workers, where would they find jobs for us and the graduates in our homes due to the governments inability to get jobs for them? We are very much convinced of hearing something good from the Energy Commission and the government, he stated. He noted that a major concern raised by the Energy Commission is regulation and asked the Commission to channel its energies to that area. President of GUTA, Dr. Joseph Obeng said the newness of a product does not necessarily make it quality, adding that consumers are best placed to make such a comparison. He was hopeful the second-hand market will continue to thrive even in the face of challenges and encouraged dealers to deal in only quality products. The ban which initially covered two products has been revised to cover 17 other products such as computers, electric kettles, industrial fans, microwave ovens, rice cookers, washing machines, solar panel television sets and monitors among other products. Kwame Asuah Takyi Comptroller-General, GIS 26.01.2023 LISTEN Personnel of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) and the military have beefed up in Widnaba Electoral Area in the Bawku District as some 1,700 Burkinabes seek refuge in the Upper East Region town. The security personnel are ensuring maximum security as the refugees are housed in the homes of Good Samaritans in the town, a local radio station has been told by an assemblyman. According to the assemblyman, Elisha Abila, their presence is causing a financial strain on the kitty of the assembly. Details suggest that the refugees are reacting to threats from so-called jihadists who are known to be active in the nearby Francophone country and beyond. While some of the refugees headed for Soogo, others went to Sapeliga, the nearest place for them being however Widnaba. The assemblyman said when you come here you will see that really, there are many foreigners here. Most of the houses are having at least five or more people. Continuing, he said, we did the registration of women and children. For the men, they come in the night and sleep. Early in the morning they go back. For the women and children, we have registered 1,773. The military and personnel of the GIS have been stationed at vantage positions to ensure maximum security. The assemblyman called for public support to help the community feed and house the asylum seekers. We do not know when these people will go back. I was thinking that in a way, government could help in providing temporary structures for them. If they could help in feeding them it would help us, he added. There is heightened insurgent activities in Burkina Faso and Mali, two countries which have a common border. The Sahelian region including Niger are now restive parts of West Africa, neighbouring Togo suffering a fatal attack last year. Ghanaian security personnel have been busy along the country's frontiers, especially the Upper East Region. Ghana is the nearest place for asylum seekers from Burkina Faso, the number referred to in this story being an apt evidence when Burkinabes decide to leave their country for fear of being harmed by activists. By A.R. Gomda Four persons including a Reverend Minister are currently receiving treatment at the Kibi Government Hospital in the Abuakwa South Municipality of the Eastern Region after surviving a car crash this morning on the Accra-Kumasi Highway. The accident involved four cars: a Toyota Highlander with registration number GS 8462 -Z, a Toyota Hilux with number GM 2480 -14, a Toyota Vitz with number GX 5085 20, and a Burkinabe trailer with registration number 11 MJ 0194. According to preliminary investigations done by personnel from the Kibi MTTD who visited the scene, the Toyota Vitz heading towards Kumasi from Accra on reaching a section of the highway at Birimso lost the front tyre at the drivers side which immediately forced the vehicle to drift. The trailer and Highlander heading from the opposite side in an attempt to swerve the drifting Vitz ended up colliding with the Toyota Hilux. The four who sustained injuries were quickly rushed to the Kibi Government Hospital by the National Ambulance Service where they are currently on admission receiving treatment. The police who have begun investigations have arranged for towing trucks to help manage and control the traffic situation on that stretch. By Citi Newsroom The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has launched a manhunt for the arrest of Lebanese, Naji Khalil, who was arraigned before the Accra Circuit Court 4 and sentenced to jail for five years over fraud. He was sentenced by Judge M.E. Essandoh on 5th August 2020 after being charged with conspiracy to defraud by false pretence, defrauding by false pretence, participating in an organised criminal group, and conspiracy to commit a crime to wit money laundering. At the time of investigation, the accused was a member of a notorious International Organised Criminal group including Nabil Zayani (Lebanese), Abraham Faouri (Jordanian) and Tony Michaelis. On 22nd June 2022, the main accused Naji Khalil was sentenced to five years imprisonment with hard labour on two counts of Conspiracy to Defraud by False Pretence and Defrauding by False Pretence. In April 2019, the victim, Dr Khadidja Katir, an Algerian national, reported to EOCO and alleged that she had been defrauded by an organised crime group based in Ghana comprising four suspects Naji Khalil, Nabil Zayani, Abraham Faouri and Tony Michaelis to the tune of USD138,000. This was done under the pretext of airlifting 'rough crystals' worth USD4 billion to her in Malta. Following several telephone calls after the victim had transferred the money, the accused persons refused to pick up calls from her. However, on one occasion when they finally picked up her call, they threatened to kill her if she ever set foot in Ghana. Despite the threats, the victim Dr Khadidja Katir arrived in Ghana where she lodged a complaint at EOCO for investigation. Investigations confirmed that the suspects are members of an international organised crime syndicate that defrauds members of the unsuspecting public. The convict was tried in absentia because he jumped bail during the trial and the court issued a bench warrant for his arrest. The three (3) others were at large at the time of the court action and therefore were not available to take their pleas. EOCO has therefore appealed to the general public for assistance towards the arrest of the said convict to serve his prison terms. -DGN online Private legal practitioner, Kwame Jantuah, has admonished the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) not to allow the recent changes to the leadership of the party in Parliament to tear it apart. Mr. Jantuah advised that all stakeholders of the party must endeavour to abide by the decision of the leadership of the party and ensure unity after the reshuffle. Speaking to Citi News on the sidelines of the University of Ghana Public Lecture on Ghana's energy sector, Kwame Jantuah said the newly appointed leadership of the minority must be given the opportunity to square off with the opposition NPP while maintaining unity as well. They [the NDC] said they changed the leadership because they felt that the discussion for 2024 has also changed, and it is going to be focused on energy and the economy and so lets see whether those they brought will be able to handle the opposition and be able to handle some of these things. He further advised the outgoing leadership and their supporters to agree with the decision of the party and support the new leadership as being a leader of the party in Parliament is not a God-given one. To be a leader of the party in Parliament is not a God-given right so if the NDC feel they need to change, they need to change, and they have to stick together and unite and that is the most important thing. The NDC on January 24 named Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam Member of Parliament, Cassiel Ato Forson and the Member of Parliament for Ellembelle Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, as Minority Leader and Deputy Minority Leader respectively to replace Haruna Iddrisu and James Klutse Avedzi, while Kwame Agbodza also replaced Asawase MP, Muntaka Mubarak as the Minority Chief Whip. The shake-up in the Minority Leadership has caused growing disquiet among NDC members of Parliament as some appear unhappy with the decision. -citinewsroom Member of Parliament for Asawase, Muntaka Mubarak, has said the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) did not consult him and his colleague leaders in Parliament before reshuffling them. At no such meeting was this issue brought up for discussion. So it is clear that the letter may have been written by the General Secretary, but its a decision by a few people, and we believe that our party should sit up because Article 55 of the 1997 constitution enjoins us to follow democratic processes. We were never consulted. Rumours that some elders were sent to talk to us, that is not true. We do not think it is acceptable for us as parliamentarians to watch on as leaders are chosen for us, Mr Mubarak told journalists when some NDC MPs petitioned the party leadership over the recent changes in its leadership in parliament. The NDC announced the leadership change on Tuesday, 24 January 2023. A letter to the Speaker of Parliament to that effect signed by General Secretary Fifi Kwetey announced Dr Cassiel Ato Forson as the new Minority Leader. He has unseated Haruna Iddrisu. He is to be assisted by Mr Emmanual Armah Kofi Buah as Deputy Minority Leader. This means Mr James Klutse Avedzi, the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, is no longer the Deputy Minority Leader. The statement named a new Minority Whip in the person of Mr Kwame Agbodza who replaces Muntaka Mubarak. Some constituents of Asawase have staged a demonstration to kick against the removal of their MP Mr Muntaka Mubarak, from his position as Minority Chief Whip in Parliament. Clad in red armbands and headgear, the constituents besieged the offices of the NDC and burnt tyres while demanding that the National Executive Committee (NEC) rescind its decision. The constituents also threatened to boycott the 2024 elections if the leadership of the party fails to rescind its decision. The constituents, wielding posters with the image of their MP and former President John Dramani Mahama, chanted: 'No vote'. Explaining the reasoning that went into the changes, NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia told the media in an interview that it is part of the partys reorganisation process ahead of the 2024 polls. We started re-organisation of our structures to be able to position ourselves to fight election 2024. We started more than a year ago. We started at the branch level. We have since done elections in about 40,000 branches and then from there we proceeded to the constituency level. We are done largely with all the constituencies. We have done regional elections and we just completed our national election, and the next is to look at our leadership in parliament. That is what we have just done, he noted. In terms of the timing, he said: Its in line with the way we are prosecuting the national reorganization. In terms of why? What it tells you is that the only constant thing is change, adding: Since the environment is changing, leadership must change along. Explaining what he meant by environment, he said: We know, for instance, that going into election 2024, the economy is going to be the major battleground and, so, many of the debates will focus on the economy. So, you better put your best man in economy forward that is what we have done. We also looked at energy. You know the petroleum and electricity challenges, so, we needed to settle on Kofi Armah Buah, our former minister to be the Deputy Minority Leader. The other area is infrastructure; Kwame Agbodza being our man in infrastructure should play a key role. That, generally, is what informed the changes, Mr Nketia pointed out. However, the change has split the minority caucus into two those who support the old guard and those who endorse the new leadership. In their petition, the group of MPs who want the status quo to remain said: We the undersigned NDC Members of Parliament have taken note of a letter signed by our party General Secretary Fifi Kwetey, dated 23/01/23 and addressed to the Speaker of Parliament. The letter purportedly makes changes to the leadership of our caucus. With all due respect to the leadership of our party at all levels, we wish to request that they patiently broaden and deepen consultations on the subject again, because we have doubts about how thorough the process was. We are concerned that this critical decision didnt seem to have taken into consideration the unity of purpose and focus our caucus requires to deal with; the Electoral Commissions intentions to introduce a new CI, the governments IMF negotiations and its intended reintroduction of the Agyapa deal before the House. Until then, without disregarding the content of the letter signed by the General Secretary of our party and without malice towards our colleagues proposed as new leaders, we, the undersigned NDC members of parliament, resolve to stand by our current leadership, until the process of consultation is satisfactory to all concerned. Prof. Ransford Alufa Bokpin, economic lecturer at University of Ghana Business School 26.01.2023 LISTEN Renowned Ghanaian economist and professor of finance at the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS), Prof. Ransford Alufa Bokpin has bemoaned the negative impact of the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme if allowed in its current form. The experienced economist, although admitted the programme may help the country to a certain extent achieve debt sustainability, he noted that the programme shouldnt be implemented in its current form. Speaking at a forum organised by the Economic Governance Platform (EGP) at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences on Thursday, January 26, Prof. Bokpin averred that the DDEP will worsen the frequent deliberate mismanagement of the country's economy. According to him, the programme is estimated to generate approximately GHS117 billion Ghana cedis each year, meaning the country will probably regain some strength in the financial space. However, the economic lecturer asserted that the government cannot be trusted to manage such money since it is known for misusing funds. The government may generate GHS 117 billion from creditors through the Domestic Debt Exchange Program each year. The programme will be helpful in structuring the countrys economy. However, if it is allowed to be implemented like this, many people will run into politics to amass themselves with illegitimate wealth and soon bring the country back to a debt crisis, he said. By then, the government of the day will run back to reintroduce the programme (DDEP) and use it as an escape route for their actions, which will only make innocent Ghanaians suffer, he added. To him, the government is not being truthful about its claims that the DDEP is the only solution to the economic crisis. He proposed a fiscal and expenditure readjustment to deal with the current crisis. Meanwhile, the Individual Bond-Holders Forum has published a report noting that fiscal readjustment and expenditure alone will give the country over GHS 100 billion each year, which can be more useful to governments effort in restoring the economy without DDEP. 26.01.2023 LISTEN The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Sene East, Kofi Gyimah says plans are underway to provide life jackets for every school-going child within the Atikagome community. The assurance comes after eight pupils from the community in the Bono East Region died after a boat they were travelling into school capsized on the Volta lake. The deceased were among 20 pupils who were travelling to school from Atikagome to Wayokope when the incident occurred midway into the journey. During a visit to the community with the Bono East Regional Minister and the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) of Sene East, the District Chief Executive for Sene East, Kofi Gyimah, disclosed that it is officially writing to the Ghana Education Service to make life vests available to children in the community. Its shocking This is one of the incidents that keep occurring, so we have decided to liaise with the Ministry of Education to get life jackets for them [pupils]. And also sensitise the community to utilise life jackets, the DCE for Sene East assured. Education think tank, Africa Education Watch (EduWatch) in a statement on January 25, 2023, called on the government to as a matter of necessity, make life jackets available to all schools in districts with water transportation. Making the demands, EduWatch said life jackets must be made available for anyone having to cross water bodies, especially school children. -Citinewsroom The French Minister for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, visited Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odesa on Thursday to discuss how France can help Ukraine as it fights Russia's attack on its independence though she did not say there were plans to send French-made tanks. Two electric powerplants in Odesa were damaged in overnight attacks on Thursday. "I'm here to underline France's continuing support for Ukraine's independence," Colonna tweeted on her arrival, which was slightly delayed by Russian missile attacks and related power cuts. Western observers fear that Russian forces may launch a determined assault on the city, which is vital to the continued export of Ukrainian grain. It remains the sole major sea port under Kyiv's control. The historic centre of Odesa was recognised by Unesco this week as a world heritage site. Diplomats interviewed by the Reuters news agency in advance of the French minister's visit also point to the city's strategic importance as a port of entry to Moldova, Romania and the whole of former Soviet eastern Europe. Colonna met her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kouleba, to discuss Ukraine's military and humanitarian needs for the coming months. "Thank you for this courageous visit," Kouleba told the French minister. No French tanks? He went on the stress the importance of France's support, as the first anniversary of the Russian invasion approaches. Colonna said that Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky had not repeated a request for French-made Leclerc tanks, "because of the obvious problems of getting them here, maintaining them and supplying spare parts". This is the fourth time Colonna has visited Ukraine since the war began in February 2022. She is expected to visit a refugee centre housing residents of the southern city of Kherson. On Friday, the French minister moves on to Romania where she will meet Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani arrives in France on Thursday for energy and security talks with President Emmanuel Macron. French oil company TotalEnergies in 2021 signed a 10 billion euro contract with Baghdad, but work on a complex series of projects is yet to begin. Plans include the construction of oil and gas processing facilities with the capacity for electricity production, along with a one-gigawatt photovoltaic power plant. Despite being home to a wealth of hydrocarbon reserves, Iraq's neglected electricity grid is dilapidated and power cuts often last for hours. Neighbouring Iran supplies a third of Iraq's gas and electricity, and Baghdad is seeking greater energy independence. Pro-Iranian parties Sudani's coalition government, formed in October, is supported by pro-Iranian parties. President Macron is particularly invested in Iraq, having twice visited the country since taking office in 2017. Last month the French leader told a regional conference in Jordan that Baghdad should embark on a path not "dictated from outside". Security will also be discussed, with Sudani saying talks will include "training and development of Iraqi security capabilities, as well as in the field of arms purchases". Baghdad has also played a role as mediator between regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia, after diplomatic relations between the countries froze in 2016. The last meetings took place in April and Sudani, although unable to say when talks might resume, said he felt that Iran and Saudi Arabia are "ready to resume dialogue". 'Long-running saga' One recurring item on the agenda will be the Bagdad Elevated Train project. Plans for the construction of a French-funded metro system in Bagdad are not new, and were called a "long-running saga" by Middle East Business Intelligence, a portal that monitors the region's economy. In 2011, the French Alstom group signed a preliminary, 1,5 billion euro deal with the Bagdad city government for the construction of a 25 km high-level metro. According to a Reuters despatch at the time, the metro would be "partly funded by a French government loan covering 50 to 60 percent of the cost" with the remainder financed through a low-interest loan from a French government-run bank "to be repaid over 20 years." The metro was never built. In October 2020, Alstom announced again that it "had signed a letter of intent" with the Iraqi Ministry of Transport for the construction of an "elevated train" line of 20 km. The letter was signed during a ceremony in Paris by then Prime Ministers Jean Castex of France and his Iraqi counterpart Mustafa Al Kadhimi. At the end of 2022, the "Baghdad Elevated Train" (BET) project was finally included in Iraq'a 2023 budget, with the spokesperson of Iraq's Ministry of Transport cited as saying that the line could have a length of "more than 50 km." Cultural cooperation France also works with Germany in Iraq. On the 60th anniversary of the Elysee Treaty, signed on 22 Janufromy 1963, the foundation stone was laid for the future French-German Cultural Institute in Erbil, capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Region (KRI). According to a press release from the French presidency, this institute will be housed in the Erbil Citadel, a UNESCO world heritage site, and will host language programs and cultural activities. (With news agencies) M23 rebels in eastern DR Congo clashed with soldiers and rival militias on Thursday, according to officials, who said the group's fighters had also cut a vital road in the turbulent region. The M23 has conquered swathes of territory in North Kivu province since last year and advanced towards its capital Goma. The group first leapt to prominence in 2012 when it captured the city of more than one million people, before being driven out and going to ground the following year. Kivu Security Tracker (KST), a respected violence monitor, said on Wednesday that the M23 was advancing in North Kivu's Masisi territory. The Tutsi-led group had cut off the road leading between the town of Kitchanga -- which is in Masisi -- and Goma, it said. Police and local government officials in the area confirmed to AFP on Thursday that the road had been cut off. The artery is considered vital for supplying Goma, especially since the main highway leading north out of the city has been cut off since an earlier M23 advance. A resident of the village of Kilolirwe, in Masisi, said that clashes with the rebels were also ongoing near Kitchanga. An army official, who declined to be named, also said that clashes there were continuing. Heritier Ndangendange, the spokesman for the APCLS militia, described the situation in Kitchanga as "tense" but said the APCLS and allied fighters remained in control there. The fresh clashes come after the M23 was required to withdraw from territory it occupies, under the terms of regional mediation efforts. Former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta, a mediator for the East African Community (EAC) bloc, warned on Wednesday the situation was "sharply deteriorating." The fighting has triggered a humanitarian crisis and led to a row between DR Congo and neighbouring Rwanda. The government in Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 -- something that Kigali denies. The M23 is among scores of armed groups who roam the east of the mineral-rich Democratic Republic of Congo. Many are a legacy of two wars at the end of the 20th century that claimed millions of lives and sucked in countries from around the region. Since December 2022, particularly after the government of Ghana introduced the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) following the Staff-Level Agreement with the IMF, there have been heightened agitations in the country. The controversy gave birth to Economic Governance Platform (EGP) which has been proposing some alternatives to government at its recent forum. Instead of resorting to a fourth debt restructuring programme in the countrys history, which will inflict more hardships on creditors, it noted that government must focus on fiscal readjustment and effective revenue mobilisation. Moderated by Bernard Koku Avle, General Manager of Accra-based Citi FM/TV, the discussion was graced by astute economists such as Prof. Godfred Bokpin, Dr. Patrick Assumin, Dr. John Kwabena Kwakye, and Dr. Theophilus Acheampong. The discussion held at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences on Thursday, January 26, was geared toward examining the negative impacts the DDEP will have on creditors as well as the possible alternatives government can employ to sustain its debt and resolve the financial crisis. The panel admitted to the fact that the programme will aid in achieving economic sustainability but added that it is not the only way out. In a presentation, Prof. Godfred Bokpin revealed that the nations current economic crisis traces its roots to ineffective fiscal structure; hence, there is a need to readjust fiscal policy and effective revenue mobilization. The panel, in unison, reaffirmed the Individual Bond-Holders Forums report, which noted that fiscal readjustment and expenditure alone will give the country over GHS100 billion a year, which can be more useful for the governments effort in restoring the economy without needing the DDEP. In the said report, the Individual Bond-Holders Forum also recommended that the government "lend the US$900 million Ghana Heritage Funds to the Bank of Ghana to shore up the reserves. "Restructure the fiscal council to include a creditors committee made up of representatives from all investor classes in GoG local bonds and empower the council to be an enforcing and binding institution and not just an advisory body. This may be the key to ensuring and sustaining the fiscal discipline required to realise our debt sustainability. Prof. Bokpin hinted that the DDE programme is estimated to generate approximately GHS 117 billion for the country each year, meaning the economy will probably regain some strength in the financial space. However, the economic lecturer said the government cannot be trusted to manage such money since it is known for misusing funds. "The government may generate GHS 117 billion from creditors through the Domestic Debt Exchange Program each year. The programme will be helpful in structuring the countrys economy. However, if it is allowed to be implemented like this, many people will run into politics to amass themselves with illegitimate wealth and soon bring the country back to a debt crisis," he said. "By then, the government of the day will run back to reintroduce the programme (DDEP) and use it as an escape route for their actions, which will only make innocent Ghanaians suffer," he added. Bringing the discussion to an end, Dr. Kwakye said, among others, that the 15-year maturity period proposed in the DDEP must be reduced and individual bondholders excluded from it. On his part, Dr. Assumin advocated for the discussion to be broadened to touch on all the countrys challenges to help inject some positive changes into the financial system. Mr. Abdul Karim Mohammed, the Coordinator for EGP, speaking on the sidelines, noted that his outfit will take up the observations, suggestions, and issues raised at the forum to reach out to the government and possibly the IMF to make sure that the right path is taken to resolving Ghanas economic predicament. The forum, themed, "Ghana's Debt Exchange Program in Context: Is it a make-or-break for an IMF Bailout or there are viable alternatives?" was funded by OXFAM and attended by some astute economists and representatives from Civil Society Organizations (CSO). The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) says the decision to change its parliamentary leadership is geared towards ensuring a formidable party ahead of the 2024 polls. General Secretary of the NDC, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey maintains the party cannot rescue Ghanaians from the social and economic difficulties without a crop of fresh leaders on the Minority caucus in Parliament. Speaking to the media after the new Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson called on national executives at the party headquarters, the NDC chief scribe asked the new leaders of the caucus to deliver on the mandate handed over to them. The Minority group in Parliament represents a very important wing of the party. The work ahead will require a lot of input from them. As a wing of the party, they need to work very closely with the leadership of the party to ensure that we deliver the aspirations of our people and especially being able to do what Ghana requires of us which is to work towards taking out of power the most abysmal, most incompetent and most corrupt government in the history of our country. There has been a division among members of the group following a reshuffle of its leadership by the national executives of the NDC. But party leadership says it will engage members of the minority caucus on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, to address outstanding grievances of the group. That conversation will basically confirm the decision that has been taken in terms of explaining the way forward as a party and being able to deliver on the mandate that has been given to us. A mandate that will ensure the well-being of the country, Fifi Kwetey added. Meanwhile, some NDC Members of Parliament have petitioned the party leadership over recent changes on their front bench in the house. The legislators believe the reshuffling is premature and does not augur well for the opposition party going into the next elections given the lack of consultation. Addressing the media on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at the behest of the NDC parliamentarians, MP for Zebilla East and former Majority leader, Cletus Avoka stressed that only a decision arrived at after broad deliberations will be accepted. The basis for our petition is a prayer that, the party suspends the reshuffling as indicated by the General Secretary until such a time that a holistic meeting of stakeholders with consultations before a decision is taken. -citinewsroom The Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande, has dispelled rumours that there is simmering tensions in the Tamale metropolis of the Northern Region since the announcement of the removal of Haruna Iddrisu, NDCs Member of Parliament for Tamale South Constituency as the Minority Leader in Parliament. He insisted that there is no tension whatsoever in Tamale since the announcement was made by the National Executive Committee of the party led by the National Chairman, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia. The NDC Deputy General Secretary dispelled this rumour while reacting to news that he had been attacked by supporters of the embattled Minority Leader at a radio station in the Tamale metropolis. He spoke in an interview with Accra-based radio station, Asempa FM on Thursday, January 26, 2023. I was in Tamale and all is well in the region, he said. He added, I was happy to be in Tamale after my engagements in the Tolon Constituency. He said the party leadership is monitoring the actions and reactions from the support base of Haruna Iddrissu. He noted that right or wrong the party has decided on a new leadership in parliament and it must be seen as such. Source: Classfmonline.com 26.01.2023 LISTEN The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has pledged his support for good investments that seek to create job avenues for the youth in the region to promote development in Ghana. He has therefore appealed to investors to take advantage of the serene business nature of Kumasi and Ashanti Region as a whole to open factories to boost their businesses. The Asantehene made the pledge at the relaunch of the production of Star Beer, Ghanas favourite beer by Guinness Ghana Breweries PLC in Kumasi on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. Star beer which was originally brewed in Kumasi since 1962 has been a popular choice among consumers in the second largest city, Kumasi. Its production was moved to Accra in 2015. Bringing back its production to Kumasi, the Asantehene said I will always pledge my support for any good initiatives and projects in Kumasi and Ashanti Region that will bring employment to my people. He added, There should be confidence in Kumasi, there should be confidence in the operations of Guinness Ghana Limited here in Kumasi. Investments must be channeled to this place (Kumasi) also. We think that Accra is the whole of Ghana but that is not so. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II stated that he has been part of the development of Guinness Ghana Limited. I am here because I came to assure you that I am always a part of this development and I shall always be, for my people and for Ghana. The Managing Director of Guinness Ghana Breweries, Helene Weesie said: Ashantis are known to be proud of their culture and royalty and appreciate a brand that respects their values." As we continue to execute a strategy to grow and expand Star Beer nationwide through cutting-edge consumer insights and marketing, we retraced our roots and decided not to gloss over it. Im happy to say that, the connection Star has had with Asanteman has stood the test of time and is stronger now more than ever as we relaunch its production, in the Home of Star where it belongs, she stated. On her part, the Marketing and Innovation Director of Guinness Ghana, Estella Muzito also said Star Beer is a part of the city's culture and tradition. Apart from refreshing the people of Kumasi since the 1960s, she noted that Star Beer symbolizes the optimism of the everyday person in the region and that literally can be seen in the millions of sparkling bubbles in the liquid. "Star Beer is not just a beer; it's a part of Kumasi's identity, she stressed. She added that Star Beer aligns with bravery spirit of the people, a spirit that drove their success against all odds throughout history. The leadership of the various political parties in the country have expressed their commitment to promote peaceful coexistence within their parties, political actors, and institutions ahead of the 2024 general elections. At a meeting with the National Peace Council (NPC) in Accra on Thursday, the Parties denounced the violent incidents that occurred in the 2020 general elections, which led to the loss of lives, and pledged to work together to forestall a repetition of such incidents. The Parties however, called on the Government and the security agencies to expedite action on the arrest and prosecution of individuals who perpetrated the violence in the last election to discourage others from engaging in such activities in future. The parties that participated in the meeting were the National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP), Convention Peoples Party (CPP), Peoples National Convention (PNC), Progressive Peoples Party (PPP), and the All Peoples Congress (APC). Apart from the opening session, deliberations at the meeting were held behind closed doors. Mrs Joana Adzoa Opare, Chairperson of the Conflict Management and Resolution Committee, NPC, said the purpose of the meeting was to among others reflect on the progress made in the commitments that were made at the Council's meeting with political parties in Ada in 2021. She said the Council had since engaged the political parties, the leadership of Parliament, the Electoral Commission, and other stakeholders to consolidate the country's democratic gains. Mrs Opare said the NPC was also working together with the EC and the NDC to settle their differences and encouraged the latter to return to the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meetings. The NPC has also collaborated with other civil society groups to build capacity of some political parties on using soft approaches and peaceful means to address intra-party conflict Mrs Opare said. Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Chairman, NDC, expressed concern that since the 2020 elections, the Police has not made meaningful progress in apprehending and prosecuting perpetrators of the violence that were recorded in the last election. He said failure on the part of the State to punish the offenders could embolden other persons to undertake actions that could disturb the peace of the country. The way to peace is to ensure that wrongdoers are punished, Mr Nketia said. Mr Stephen Ayesu Ntim, National Chairman, NPP, said the Party was prepared to cooperate with other political parties for a peaceful election in 2024. Nana Yaa Jantuah, General Secretary, CPP, commended the NPC for starting its engagements with the political parties earlier and rallied all political parties to have the interest of the nation and the people at heart. Nobody should lose their lives because of an election. The police should look into the matter, she said. Ms Janet Nabla, General Secretary, PNC, said the leadership of the various political parties must work to protect one another to send a positive message to their members. GNA Tamale South MP, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu 26.01.2023 LISTEN Tamale South Member of Parliament (MP), Haruna Iddrisu has described all social media accounts bearing his name as fake. In a press release, the MP has urged the rank and file of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as well as the general public to treat posts on social media accounts bearing his name with contempt. The release has been issued after some accounts on Facebook and Twitter purporting to be Haruna Iddrisu made posts to react his removal as the Minority Leader in Parliament. My attention has been drawn to information circulating on social media, particularly on Facebook and Twitter, purporting to be emanating from me and using my image to issue series of statements in my name. For the record, I wish to state that the said Facebook and Twitter Accounts do not belong to me and that I have never owned a Facebook or Twitter Account neither have I caused any such Account to be opened and operated in my name, parts of a release from Haruna Iddrisu said on Thursday, January 26. The Tamale South MP added, I therefore entreat the general public, particularly the rank and file of our great NDC Party, to ignore the posts with the contempt they deserve. The creation of the Accounts and the posts therein are mere attempts by detractors to sow seeds of discontent within the hierarchy of the Party and to smear my person but they shall definitely FAIL. I have no doubt that the truth will always prevail. Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has proposed three broad areas of focus, which he believes will help the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to bring about the transformation Africa needs. Addressing a high-level conference in Accra of African Ministers of State, diplomats, policy makers and business executives, who are discussing ways of fast-tracking the implementation of the AfCFTA, Dr. Bawumia said even though the AfCFTA has set the stage for the transformation of Africa, its full prospects can only be realised through decisive steps by key African stakeholders, and a focus on some key broad areas he proposed. "Like the vision of our forebears, the African Continental Free Trade Area has set the stage for Africas industrialisation drive, but, it will take concrete, strategic actions by governments and businesses on the continent, the right mix of policies, a greater sense of purpose for more robust intra-African trade to happen to support economic diversification and the much-needed industrialisation of the continent," Dr. Bawumia said. "To bring about the transformation we need, I propose three broad areas that we need to prioritise," he added. He continued, "First is the need for smart investments in critical infrastructure. As a continent, we need to produce and trade our way out of poverty and underdevelopment, and we cannot do that without investing in smart infrastructure across the continent. While the last decades have seen some positive investments, there is the need for additional resources to finance the arteries for trade, which include the physical infrastructure such as roads, rail, and energy; digital infrastructure such as data centres to facilitate the digital transformation and financial infrastructure to allow for integration financial markets." These investments, Dr. Bawumia noted, will be critical to delivering the success of the AfCFTA. The second proposal the Vice President made "is to unleash the productive capacities across the continent." He stressed that, "We must create platforms for knowledge brokerage and access to information on critical products and services on the continent to allow 445 million small businesses across the continent to plug into the value chains of these mega industries. We need to develop Africa into a manufacturing zone that will facilitate the trade of value-added products. These, in my view, will be critical to leapfrog Africas industrialisation and the enormous socio-economic benefits." Dr. Bawumia added that the third broad area of focus should be mobilising finance and investments. "Africa needs between US$ 130 billion and US$ 170 billion annually to bridge its infrastructure gap and generate sustainable growth at 5% per annum or more. This presents immense opportunities for the private sector investment," he noted. He emphasised, "Attracting private sector participation through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) is therefore, essential for the delivery of various infrastructure projects. Furthermore, there is a need for innovative policies to mobilise and allocate resources more effectively, and for better coordination amongst all African stakeholders and international partners." AFRICA'S WORRYING CONTRIBUTION TO GLOBAL TRADE While bemoaning Africa's limited intra-African trade, as well as the continent's low contribution to global trade, Dr. Bawumia expressed optimism that an effective implementation of AfCFTA will create greater opportunities for Africa to reverse the unfortunate situation. "As most of you know, Africa accounts for about 3% of global trade and intra-African trade is one of the lowest of any region globally. This is largely due to the colonial economic model characterised by small individual economies, fragmented and disconnected regional markets, over-reliance and low productive capacities that we have practised for 60 years. "As growing economies, we often struggle to attract much-needed investments. However, with the collaborated strength from all fifty-five (55) member states, with a population of 1.2 billion, the majority of whom are young, and a GDP of US$ 2.5 trillion, making Africa the eighth (8th) largest economy in the world, this positions Africa as an attractive investment destination. With the right investment, we will be able to sustain economic growth and create the job opportunities that the continent desperately needs. "The AfCFTA is a real game-changer, and once fully realised, we can increase intra-African trade by some US$ 35 billion and reduce external imports by some US$ 10 billion annually. This will mean more opportunities for growth and for our small businesses and the potential to lift more than 3 million people out of poverty," he stated. Partners of the three-day conference are: the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Africa Prosperity Network, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre. The government of Ghana has reached an agreement with the Ghana Insurers Association (GIA) on the Domestic Debt Exchange (DDE) Programme. After several engagements, the Ministry of Finance representing government has today issued a joint press release with the Insurers Association on the agreed conditions. In the release, it has been confirmed that an agreement has been reached for insurance companies to participate in the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme. Under the agreement, insurance companies will participate in the programme on similar terms as the Banks. In addition, the Government through the solvency window of the Ghana Financial Stability Fund (GFSF) will provide support for the insurance companies that are seriously affected by the DDEP. According to the joint release, the objective is to protect jobs and the stability of the industry. Meanwhile, the GIA says it is happy to reach a deal with the Government that protects its members, but also enabling the Government to push through the necessary economic reforms at these difficult times. Below is a copy of the joint press release from the Ministry of Finance and the GIA: 26.01.2023 LISTEN An Accra Circuit has deferred the sentence of a 36-year-old woman who admitted to stealing GHC50,000.00 belonging to her employer. The Court presided over by Mr Kwabena Koduah Obiri- Yeboah ordered for a pregnancy test to be conducted on Joyce Enyonam Dedei before she was handed sentence. Dedei had pleaded guilty to stealing and was convicted on her own plea. She was therefore remanded into Police custody to be brought back to Court on February 1, 2023. Before her conviction, Dedei pleaded with the court for leniency adding that she did not commit the crime intentionally. In pleading for mitigation, the convict said she had three children aged between 18 and four years who depended on her. Police Chief Inspector Olivia Ofori-Atta had earlier told the Court that Madam Juliana Koleki Colley, the complainant is a chop bar operator who employed Dedei, a trader, as an attendant. She said the complainant lived close to the Births and Deaths Registry at the Ministries Area. whereas Dedei stayed at Ayigbe Town, a suburb of Accra. Chief Inspector Olivia said about seven years ago, Dedei moved to live with Madam Juliana when she employed her. The prosecution said Madam Juliana who had kept the GHC50,000.00 in her room went shopping at Agblogbloshie market and left Dedei behind. She said Madam Julian returned from the market only to discover that both her money and Dedei were missing. All efforts to trace Dedei failed. However, luck eluded Dedei when the complainant spotted her in town, caused her arrest and handed her over to the Ministries' Police. Chief Inspector Olivia said Dedei in her cautioned statement admitted stealing only GHC8,000.00. GNA An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced a 24-year-old musician to five years imprisonment for defrauding an accountant of GHC94, 771.63. Christian Yabani, who collected the amount from the accountant on the pretext of investing the monies failed to do so, was charged with defrauding by false pretence but pled guilty with an explanation. Yabani told the court that what I did was bad, I am sorry, adding that the complainant should forgive him. The court presided over Mrs Rosemary Baah Tosu held the accused person's defence. I have heard his plea for mitigation. However, I consider the persistent nature of such scams in recent times, and I believe I should give him a deterrent sentence, the court said. The Court further ordered the accused person to refund the money to the complainant. The prosecution led by Chief Inspector Amoah told the Court that the Accountant, whose name was withheld, resided at Ablekuma while Yabani lived at Sogakope in the Volta Region. The prosecution said in May 2022, Yabani whose contact number was 0249164924 sent the complainant a WhatsApp message and introduced himself as Mr Osei Quashie, an agent of World Remit in Ghana. It said the accused per the WhatsApp message informed the complainant that any money invested in World Remit attracted a 100 per cent interest and encouraged the complainant to invest in the latter. The court heard that Yabani also attached a photograph of a Ghana Card bearing the same name, Osei Quashie. The prosecution said the complainant became interested and between May and October 2022, and sent a total amount of GHC94,771.63 to Yabani through three Vodafone cash account numbers which bore the names Mary Adzadeko, Andy Afanu and Mensah Fia, respectively. It said the remaining amount was sent to Yabani by Express Pay at his request. Yabani, however, failed to fulfil his promise of paying returns on the investments and refused to refund the complainant's money after several demands. The prosecution said a report was made to the Police and Yabani was arrested for a similar offence in Ho in the Volta Region. It said during investigations the three Vodafone SIM cards were retrieved from Yabani who admitted the offence and refunded GHC15,000 to the Police. GNA Member of Parliament for Zebilla East, Cletus Apul Avoka has apologised to the newly appointed Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson for describing him as a nonentity. The former Majority Leader in an earlier interview with Citi News described the timing of the appointment of Ato Forson as wrong adding that the party did not have the luxury of time to turn a nonentity into somebody. This is not the time to make nobody a somebody, this is not the time to make nobody a somebody, this is the time to galvanise all of us to fight the NPP so that we can win elections, not to make heroes out of nonentities, this is not the time, Mr Avoka said on Tuesday. But in an attempt to clarify his earlier comments on Eyewitness News on Thursday, Mr Avoka said he didnt intend to denigrate the Minority Leader. I will be the last person to say that and if I said that then it was an error. What I wanted to say was that this is not the time to drop somebody and elevate another. This is what I was trying to say and if in the process I said something different, I must apologise and I am very sorry. I cannot denigrate any of my colleagues. The NDC earlier this week replaced Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu with Dr Cassiel Ato Forson. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembelle also replaced Ketu North MP, James Klutse Avedzi as the Deputy Minority Leader while Kwame Governs Agbodza replaced Asawase MP, Muntaka Mubarak as the Minority Chief Whip. Following the appointments over 70 MPs have petitioned the Council of Elders of the NDC and former Flagbearer John Mahama to suspend the leadership changes until a meeting between the minority caucus and party executives. The legislators believe the reshuffling is premature and does not augur well for the opposition party going into the next elections given the lack of consultation. By Citi Newsroom 26.01.2023 LISTEN The distraught family of the slain Ghanaian-American soldier is demanding answers from the US army high command on the true cause of death of Pvt. Abdul-Muksit Nafsudeen Latifu. The family says the army has been anything but forthcoming and transparent with information regarding the cruel and unfortunate murder of the soldier who was training to serve his country. The family maintains the posturing of the army is evident in the way information reaches them since the January 10 incident that left Pvt. Latifu deceased under strange circumstances. Military officials claim the 21-year-old soldier with Ghanaian roots was killed in a supposed altercation with another soldier at the Alabama Army post, Fort Rucker, where he was training to become an army air traffic control operator. But the scars on his head and face together with other defensive wounds on his body, show he was hit with an entrenching tool, which can also be used as an axe by the military, more than eight times. My brother does not fight, Mohammed Latifu, brother of the late Pvt Latifu, said in an interview with News 12, a local channel in New York. I have never seen my brother fight his whole 20 years of life that I have known him for you to say he got into an altercation with somebody, and he suffered a head injury and later pronounced dead at the hospital, that is some BS." He said the family is "still stuck" without answers 13 days after his brother's murder. News about his demise was first published on local websites in Alabama as early as 11:30 am CST, even though his next-of-kin was officially called four hours later to report that he had been hospitalised and in critical condition, a situation the family feels suspicious about. When something of this kind happens, especially in a military base, the press is the last resort to share information. What was the hurry in publishing news of an altercation; which turns out to be a lie even before calling the family? What do they intend hiding with that cooked story?, a clearly enraged friend questioned. The identity of the murderer was also first released to the press and social media hours after the family questioned why they were being kept in the dark before his body was released to them in New York. The killer soldier, Pvt. Brian Jones Jr., is said to be in custody and will remain so by order of a military magistrate following a pretrial confinement hearing in connection with the killing. There are no signs of injuries or bruises suffered by Pvt. Brian to support the militarys narrative of an altercation. His leaders said nothing suggests that they fought before it happened. It was a pre-meditated murder, his sister, Baraka Abdullah, said. The deceased soldier has been buried in accordance with Islamic tradition at the Forest Green Park Cemetery in New Jersey. But the family wants answers to get closure on the brutal murder of the 21-year-old promising son and soldier. Right now, Im stuck at the point where I feel like hes not gone; I keep feeling like he is still here, the visibly sorrowful sister added. The case is expected to proceed under the Uniform Code of Military Justice in accordance with the Manual for Courts-Martial. However, events and the posturing of the military, subsequent to the incident, leave the family with more questions about the transparency and fairness of the trials. We get to put him to rest, but we still want answers. The family is still struck; my father is here but he is in the car. He cant even come to the cameras because its a heart-breaking tragedy, Muhammed Latifu said at the funeral. Another member of the family, Al-haj Mohammed Murtala, said: Were still in darkness, we havent been properly informed as to what really transpired. We need to get down to the root of whatever transpired, he added. His comments follow similar demands for justice by loved ones and people across different communities and races, including veteran associations. The military, through Maj. Gen. Michael McCurry, the commander of Fort Rucker, extended condolences to Pvt. Latifu's family, friends and community, but the family says, You can keep your condolences, we dont care about that, we want justice!. Pvt. Latifu was a trainee in the armys Advanced Individual Training programme at Fort Rucker where he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 13th Aviation Regiment, 1st Aviation Brigade. Source: ClassFMonline.com The Friends Of Haruna, Haruna Fund Club, Tamale South Constituency, Tamale. Dear Friends of Hon. Haruna, An Open Letter To The Friends of Former Minority Leader in Parliament of Ghana (Haruna Iddrisu) It is with deep sense of worry I write to all those who call themselves the friends of the Tamale South Constituency MP, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu over the recent decision by the upper echelons of the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to substitute him in respect of the leadership of the party in Parliament. I total understand and appreciate your sentiments for pouring out your hearts full of grievances and dissatisfaction for relieving the northern political icon and godfather his job. However, one thing that should have been of major concern to any genuine friend of Haruna who probably likes him because of his political appeal, should have considered many of the wailing wailers about his removal. It is obvious that majority who are grieving more than everybody else as a result of his deposition are from the governing New Patriotic Party, NPP. Why is the government too uncomfortable in its skin and has been restless because they believe that the NDC has already lost the election 2024 due to the removal of Hon. Haruna? Let's face this reality. There are some individuals in the life of every single of us who are sad when we are happy, and they are happy when we are sad. They are called enemies of progress, and you can't find any accurate success barometer to be able to measure and determine whether you are progressing in life or not more than these people. How? Whenever they are happy when you meet them, it means something is at fault you need to quickly fix in your life. And whenever they tout and commend you for taking a certain decision, it means time for circumspection and introspection; that decision is simply a creation of your own graveyard. However, whenever they condemn a decision and demand its reversal, it's an indication that you are on the right track. Forge ahead! With our political landscape littered with hatred and has become like a "Squid Game", where political actors have to lose their lives in order to play (govern) means that treachery, underhanded strategies are going to be abound with man being a wolf to his fellow man. And it doesn't matter the method employed. Unfortunately, this is the sorry state of our political terrain today. However, the removal of Hon. Haruna from his office he has been very weak on since day one, has nothing to do with any political con game gimmicks. Irrespective of how bad his friends may feel about the decision to let go of the him as minority leader, one thing that is apparent is the fact that the Nana Addo-led government appears the most grieved, bruised, and disappointed for this decision. The question is, why on earth would the NPP government be so bitter over his removal? Have they lost their political fugitive? The answer to this question is as unfortunate as his removal to the interest of the governing party; and in fact, it is traceable and reminiscent of the compliment President Akufo Addo had given Hon. Haruna in his first State of the Nation Address in 2017. His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo had said of Haruna that the latter has a brighter political future in the Ghanaian political experimentation. This compliment by the whole president of the land was the political venom carefully injected into the psyche of Hon. Haruna that did all the trick for the NPP. In fact, his compliment was interpreted by many as noticing the embryonic Minority Leader as a presidential material to be. While Haruna and his friends like my humble self, innocently saw that compliment by the President as a mere recognition of Haruna's political acumen and demagoguery, it was a political legerdemain of the President and the NPP to poison the mind of the young leader and trap him for both their economic vulgarism and political vulturism. It was to create some sort of ambition in Haruna which pursuit would eventually land the entire political party in a state of political comatose, hibernation, dysfunction and ultimate collapse. Because the compliment of the President had a huge psychological impact on him and bred some unfortunate sympathies in the heart of the freshly selected leader for his trickster President Akufo Addo. Consequently, Hon.Haruna had developed a very soft spot in his heart for Akufo Addo, and this emotional bond MIGHT have been cemented by some perks from the presidency to Haruna. Hence, his weakness on the opposition. Coupled with his agenda to become president of Ghana whose light in his heart was kindled by Akufo Addo, Hon. Haruna saw nothing wrong with anything Akufo Addo, and anybody from his party who appears blocking his way to achieving this ambition, became a threat. In such a psychologically cocooned and bondaged situation, whatever Akufo Addo likes is what the Minority Leader likes and whatever Akufo Addo dislikes is what he dislikes. And former President Mahama being the most hatred among the members of the NPP, anyone with them has a reservoir of hate for Mahama as well. But then, as a leader of the NDC Hon. Haruna could not have openly displayed hate towards former President Mahama as someone Haruna's complimentors hate and who is simultaneously an obstacle to the very ambition kindled in him by his complimentors, so he chose not to "push" but rest his hands on matters as Minority Leader. In fact, Hon. Haruna must have been removed very long time ago, even before the 2020 election. Not out of hate for him or tribal bigotry. But because he was the most psychologically defeated member of parliament in the August House who had no business leading the party. I heard some of his friends making the argument that Haruna is a "tree" in the party and not a "grass" to have been "uprooted" in such a manner. Let me remind such frenemies that, the NDC is more of a gigantic tree than Haruna, and he is nothing but "grass" compared to the interest of the party that made what and who Haruna is today. Therefore, if his leadership lapses as a result of psychological warfare the NPP launched against him that rendered him feeble to discharge his mandate, there's no problem uprooting him like a "grass" to prevent the uprooting of the "tree" (the party) that made Haruna who and what he is today. I listen to the Tamale South Constituency chairman, and I must admit how completely dumbfounded I was. Is Daddy Alhaji Rauf suggesting that Haruna's interest as a psychologically defeated Minority Leader must prevail over the NDC as a party? In other words, must we keep Haruna as leader and continue to get stabbed in the back by those who pre-programmed him to the electoral detriment of the NDC, and to the demise of the country at large? Nobody disgusted me like the so-called Dagbon Youths who are trying to read tribalistic meaning into this most smart move by the NDC. And I find it completely repugnant because, anybody who believes President Mahama is behind his removal for tribal reasons must have to accept then that Hon. Haruna himself also has been really doing something against President Mahama. And if that is the case, that Hon. Haruna too had something up his sleeve against Mahama due to his tribal sentiments, then anyone can now imagine the political monster and potential backstabber Hon. Haruna could have been as leader of the NDC if President Mahama is to become the Flag bearer which he Haruna himself has agreed to publicly. At least in his last interview on Joy News with Evans Mensah on 23rd January 2023. That means that, Hon. Haruna was/is not only motivated by his ambition to become president which was ingrained and implanted into his thinking by the NPP, and who become obsessed with Akufo Addo as a result and hate what he and his NPP hate, and like what he and his NPP like, but Hon. Haruna also thinks his tribal sentiment must be satisfied. And this latter resentment of the former leader has been demonstrated by the so-called Youths of Dagbon who are fuming because their tribe has been marginalized because of the removal of Hon. Haruna who has been leading since 2017. As for the MPs who are petitioning left right and center, they must bow their heads in shame. Because their reaction simply indicates that none of them could do better than he Haruna, and that, just as Haruna has been a psychological captive and victim of the NPP and President Akufo Addo, so they would have also been at the mercy of Haruna's captors if they were given the nod? And I don't think any MP would disagree that Haruna had failed flat as Minority Leader because he himself had admitted it. In his last interview as Minority Leader, he postulated that the "horrendous mismanagement" of government happened in the 7th parliament. This was the period Akufo Addo's compliment was still very fresh. And even with a hanged parliament, Hon. Haruna approved certain criminals to serve as ministers of state who must have been stoned to death by Ghanaians under any serious Minority Leadership. Moreover, Hon. Haruna has used his position in the most suicidal way to the NDC that should warrant his removal. As Minority Leader, Hon. Haruna's penchant for playing immature godfatherism beyond his constituency has done more harm to the party than good. Many people believed the Mion Constituency and other constituencies had been lost to the NPP because of his undue political influence and hidden motives. His clandestine ambition to become president has generally been the motivational factor. The question that is begging the attention of all friends of Haruna, and the MPs petitioning to bring him back is, if Hon. Haruna Iddrisu were Minority Leader for the NPP and was discharging his mandate in such a "friendly" manner with the NDC, would the NPP still have kept him at post? And what happened to Kwabena Agyei Agyapong and Co. in the build-up to the 2016 general elections? Well, that's what the NDC had done and unless fifth columnists of the party, genuine friends of Hon. Haruna must choose the party that made him over him. I understand that majority may have disagreed with the way and manner he has been summarily sacked. But let's face reality here: did the NDC leadership consult anybody for selecting him as Minority Leader in the first place? Why do they have to consult anybody even Hon. Haruna himself for his removal? You see, I find it a mark of political prematurity that some northerners are protesting against his removal. The question is, what about the other regions who didn't get any of their MPs selected as Minority Leader? Must they resign from the party and be spewing nonsense? In Dagbani we say "bimbuhindi jerigu, o bi mi ni bindanla malyam". Literally, this means that "an ungrateful or a foolish beneficiary who wants more never knows the benefactor is wise". Why on earth would northerns protest against the withdrawal of something that was lent and shared? And what should the people of Central Region do if Dr. Ato Forson's appointment is reversed? Are they not human beings? Don't they belong to a tribe? What should people of Accra, and in particular, people of the Volta Region and indeed, the rest of other regions do if the leadership is not given to them? Let's grow up from political stagnation and immaturity. Personally, I believe it was even wrong that both the Flag bearer as well as the Minority Leader came from one part of the country - the north. And since President Mahama is yet again the presumptive presidential candidate for the party, it's only a matter of democracy that the Minority Leader comes from another part of the country. For me, I believe the attitude of Hon. Haruna that reduced, adduced, and projected him as someone who was a leader of the NDC but in complete cahoots with the government, has been embarrassment to the people of the north. This is how bribery can destroy any entity or individual. Hon. Haruna should not have succumb or got carried away by President Akufo Addo's compliment. The Dagbon Youth must blame nobody but Hon. Haruna for denting his own credibility in such a manner which is not away from our own witnesses considering how he has been fondling and handling the government in the last six years. Those who are calling for his reinstalment must know such a decision would be more dangerous to the NDC than Hon. Ken Ofori Atta's removal to Akufo Addo. If Hon. Haruna knows what is good for him, he must calm down his "soup drinkers" before he loses the Tamale South seat itself and not only the leadership in parliament alone. The NDC is bigger than anyone. Bangladesh needs to transition from conventional energy sources to ensure its energy security & long-term sustainability in the near future. Given the supply chain disruption followed by the Ukraine crisis, energy security has become a major concern for developing and least-developed countries. As the sources are becoming scarce and prices are becoming volatile, these countries are finding it difficult to navigate without cooperation. In this context, cross-border energy cooperation and revitalizing the idea of the power corridor can help Bangladesh to mitigate energy shortage. Revitalization of the idea of Power Corridor During Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to India on September 2022, Bangladesh requested that it be allowed to import power from Nepal and Bhutan via India. The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) sought approval from the Indian authorities to export 40-50 MW of electricity to Bangladesh through Indias existing transmission infrastructure. In August 2022, Bangladesh and Nepal decided to request India to allow the export of 40-50MW of electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh in the initial phase by utilizing the high-voltage Baharampur-Bheramara cross-border power transmission link. As per the understanding reached during the secretary-level Joint Steering Committee (JSC) formed for Nepal-Bangladesh energy cooperation, the NEA and the Bangladesh Power Development Board requested India for a trilateral energy sales and purchase agreement utilizing the power line. Being a land-locked country, Nepal's plan to export its electricity other than India requires India's close cooperation and partnership. According to the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission of India, the Indian authority is allowed to do cross-border trade where India is involved. There is a specific provision of a tripartite agreement that allows the Indian authority to sign the framework of bilateral agreements between the government of India and the governments of the respective neighboring countries. In other words, Bangladesh and Nepal need to sign bilateral agreements for cross-border electricity trade with India. Now, India is considering Nepalese and Bangladesh proposals to allow Kathmandu to sell electricity to Bangladesh via Indian territory and Indian infrastructure. Hence, the issue of a power corridor has sparked new talk in Bangladesh-India bilateral relations. Based on Reciprocity? Both India and Bangladesh want to increase their share of renewable energy substantially in the upcoming years. The Indian government has set an ambitious plan to generate 500GW from non-fossil energy-based sources by 2030, meeting 50 percent of energy requirements from renewables. Likewise, Bangladesh wants to increase the share of renewable energy in the country's power mix to around 40 percent by 2050 from less than three percent now. Water-rich Nepal could help both countries achieve their dreams. Northeastern region is Indias main hub for increasing its renewable energy capacity. India needs to tap the unexplored natural resources of its Northeast. Bangladesh has the potential to offer multiple electricity corridors for transmission. Arunachal Pradesh alone has a 50,000 MW of hydroelectricity potential. According to Indian North Eastern Electric Power Cooperation, the Indian North Eastern Region has the potential of about 58,971 MW of power, almost 40 percent of Indias total hydropower potential. India is planning to explore all hydropower potentials in Arunachal Pradesh and other northeastern states. At present, India has a total potential of 145,320 MW hydropower but only 45,399.22 MW of the quantum was being tapped. But India needs to spend a huge amount of money to transmit hydropower from Indias northeastern to northwestern region. But the geographical barrier has constrained India from untapping its potential. 18 projects above the capacity of 25 MW were now under construction across Northeast in 2019. But India can easily use the power corridor of Bangladesh to reduce the cost. In 2021, Bangladesh showed interest in the power corridor and expected to get 20 to 25 percent of the hydropower to be transmitted through the high-voltage gridline passing through its territory. The transmission line with the capacity of 6,000MW in Bangladesh land maybe 100km in length if it is built in Boropukuria and 200km if is installed in Jamalpur while a substation would be built in each route. Two possible routes of the transmission line are from Asams Bonga through Baropukuria (Dinajpur) or Jamalpu to Bihars Punia and from Asams Silchar via Meghna Ghat-Bheramara to West Bengal. There can be such high-capacity interconnectors in Tripura-Comilla, Bongaigaon (Assam)-Jamalpur/Dinajpur-Purnea (Bihar), Silchar (Assam), and Fenchuganj. A win-win situation If India finally allows power corridor to Bangladesh to import electricity from Nepal, it will usher a new era of bilateral energy cooperation. Not only that, through Bangladesh, it can achieve its untapped opportunities of hydropower from the northeastern region. So, both Bangladesh and India should come forward to enhance their energy security based on reciprocity and enhance South Asian regional cooperation. BY Samara Ashrat PhD Fellow, University of Bucharest Is It Too late For The Yorubas And Nigerians To Demand Osinbajo replace him? With many questions surrounding presidential candidate Bola Tinubu's physical and mental fitness in the last two years, one would expect the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign to have asked Tinubu's doctors in Nigeria and abroad to release a summary medical history on Tinubu to the public. The ordinary questions are simply: is he healthy, vigorous, and fit to successfully run the country if elected? The Nigerian population of more than 200 million still doesnt know if Tinubu is physically and mentally unfit to be president. On video and at rallies, there have been reported public sightings of him looking psychologically dull, tripping over his foot and stumbling, crashing between two chairs upon arrival at an event, uncontrollable movements such as hand shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination, memory difficulties, sudden sleeping, and some difficulties talking properly. Again, these observations are forming psychological and medical conclusions in the minds of the public. We wish, as is done in democracies and civilly based nations, that the medical records for Tinubu and the other contestants should have been publicly available and provided by his personal physician. We all remember the last long absence and medical treatment in the United Kingdom by Tinubu. In the absence of a medical report, Nigeria now has firsthand knowledge of his physical and mental state. The observations to the media came from Hajia Najaatu Mohammed, a former APC chieftain who recently resigned from her position as director of civil society engagement in the APC Presidential Campaign Council. I sat with him for two hours in London; when you talk of green, he will give you an answer of red. He cant even decipher. He has very serious dementia; I believe he has Alzheimers because he cannot even hold a cup of tea, Asiwaju that I sat with for two hours, he slept most of the time, it was Bisi Akande (former governor of Osun state, ) that I was really talking to. Most importantly he is not only physically unfit, he is mentally unfit, whether we want it or not, this is the truth, she said. Africas most populous country is Nigeria, and in a few weeks, it will hold elections on February 25, 2023, to elect the president and vice president of the nation. Certainly, Nigerians and the world want nothing to disrupt this election as the people slowly walk to build democracy in Nigeria and strengthen the democratic system and the rule of law. But this firsthand report from Ms. Mohammed includes the following But when you talk of the leadership of over two hundred million people, you know that if you remove tribal sentiments, you know that he is incapable; those that will rule are those around him. This is the reality. He is mentally deranged I said it. For the benefit of the country and for fairness' sake, especially in a society with competing regional, ethnic, tribal, and religious groups as well as fairness to the contesting political parties and candidates, what is wrong with asking that, on an emergency basis, someone with youthful-looking physical and mental capacities replace him? At the now concluded presidential primary in Abuja, Tinubu's adjoining opponents with the closest votes were the former minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. With the clamor for the presidency to come from the south at the end of President Muhammadu Buhari's second term, especially with the northern leaders joining in settling for a south westerner the person of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is in readiness and prepared for the context. Again, the former Presidential Campaign Council director of civil society, Ms. Mohammed, an insider of the APC presidential organization, asserted about Osinbajo: "Hes a professor; hes brilliant." "For few weeks he was given to govern this country, he did a great job." The public should now ask why an eyewitness, like Ms. Muhammad, will not be believed when he says Tinubu lacks the ability to hold a conversation and respond to the immediate national environment in a sustained manner. She knows the inner workings and acts of the Tinubu presidential engine. Nigeria is known for its psyche of tribal and ethnic sentiments; as such, northerners, easterners, and westerners see Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Tinubu as tribal champions, respectively, so Osinbajo balances it well. When it comes to this presidential election, the Nigerian people are being put to the test like never before. The mass action organized around Obi by the youths mostly continues to thicken, and an eyewitness is now talking about a possible incapacitated man before and after election day. There is some talk about Atikus overseas legal cases and ill health, although it is strongly refuted and not of real public concern. What is clear is that Tinubu's mental and physical health are becoming an issue again and again. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the present government need to act quickly, as I see a young but troubled society heading towards a presidential election with a volatile combination of unknowns, risks, conflicts, and crises. Mostly triggered by the publics nearly unanimous belief that one of their presidential candidates, should he win, might have the inability of a president to discharge the powers and duties of the office, leaving Nigeria's future in a state of uncertainty, I remain optimistic. The Member of Parliament (MP) for Akim Swedru in the Eastern Region Hon Kennedy Osei Nyarko commissioned a new Police Station for the Akim Aduasa community. He handed over the fully furnished building to the Akim Oda Divisional Police Commander. The building which has been constructed as part of efforts to improve security in the area would house the Ghana Police Service in the area. Security as a whole is not the preserve of government nor one person. It is a collective responsibility. As citizens we have the responsibility to contribute our quota in making our communities safe, said Hon Kennedy Osei Nyarko. He added that since I became your MP, we have initiated several projects to ensure the safety of constituents in the Akim Swedru constituency. This goes to demonstrate my willingness to improving security and safety in the constituency. To this end, he reaffirmed President Akufo-Addos commitment to empowering the Police with the requisite tools and facilities to deliver on its mandate. He noted that the new edifice is indicative of the fact that collaborations between government and the Police Service could bring improved development to the communities. He called on all the constituents to support their MP in seeing to the overall development of Akim Swedru. The Individual Bondholders Forum has petitioned Togbe Afede XIV, the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, to help them get an exemption from government's Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP). The Individual Bondholders are insisting on the complete exclusion of its members from the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme, stating that their inclusion will destroy household confidence in Ghana's financial system and securities market. Addressing the former President of the National House of Chiefs on Thursday, the Convener of the Individual Bondholders Forum, Senyo Hosi said: Togbe the matter is an eye red matter and for someone who has led the capital market and being one of the players who birth the capital market, besides your royal place as the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, you are a pioneer in this industry, I do not want to believe this is your voice and the destination you assured us when your voice was heard back then. So we are here to petition your office, to petition you as an individual and the state of Asogli not to sit by and watch the lives of 6.5 million people devastated and subjected to shackles of penury. So our plea here is very simple, the steps being taken by the government are unsustainable and very unnecessary. Individual bondholders during discussions with the committee set up by the government to resolve issues on the debt exchange programme stated that with the set target of 80% of eligible bonds, Individual Bondholders are not a critical success factor to the viability of the DDE programme, yet the impact of their inclusion has incalculable consequences. As part of recommendations to the Committee, the Individual Bondholders Forum led by Senyo Hosi recommended that the government divest loss-making, defunct and troubled 17 Stateown enterprises. The Individual bondholders also suggested that the government review the Free SHS Programme to make it more efficient through effective targeting and allowing parents who can pay to do so. According to the group, beneficiaries should be students that patronize Senior High Schools in their communities whilst other students should pay for boarding. However, the government can pay for students who do not have Senior Secondary schools in their communities. The group stated that divesting the 17 non-performing SOEs and reviewing the free SHS alone will provide the government with two billion cedis. The group also urged the government to maintain the 2022 capital expenditure level by reducing the nonABFA MDA and foreign finance Capex provisions by 50% which they claim will provide the 10.7 billion Ghana Cedis. By Citi Newsroom Dagbon Forum, a pressure group, has called for an end to leasing of government lands and property in Dagbon, following a notice of eviction to traders at the forest reserve area at Aboabo in Tamale. Sakoya-Naa (Chief of Sakoya) Sintaro Mahama, President of the Dagbon Forum, who made the call at a press conference on Thursday, said the break period of leadership in Dagbon gave rise to corrupt land grabbers in the kingdom, adding there was no room for such under the rule of Ya-Na Abukari (II). He said, Information available to the Dagbon Forum is that part of the Forest Reserve named Ward I as per an eviction notice to traders at the Timber Market in Aboabo has been disposed to a private developer. He said, We first of all wish to put it on record that such a place in Aboabo named Ward I and the entire forest area that includes the Aboabo Timber Market is a protected area. He indicated that the Ward I parcel of land was bounded by the pillars of the Forestry Commission, adding the Dagbon Forum had authenticated the validity of the ownership of the land claimed by various people as belonging to the Ghana National Trade Corporation (GNTC), which was not the case. Sakoya-Naa Mahama also called for the replacement of the current Chairman of the Northern Regional Lands Commission and urged the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to investigate the issues. He called on the current leadership of the Northern Regional Lands Commission to avoid any possible breach of peace and security in Dagbon as far as the management of Dagbon lands was concerned. He called on the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to launch an investigation into the unregulated disposal of government lands in Tamale with the same degree of importance attached to the alleged disposal of state lands at the Achimota Forest. He called for a special investigation to be conducted on all the government lands and property in the Tamale Metropolis, which were leased to private individuals between the period 2012 and 2022. He said, The people of Northern Region have had enough of the blatant abuse of the powers of the State by self-seeking individuals, who are supposed to protect government lands. Enough of the so called leasing of government lands when they are actually been sold off. GNA When radical political decisions backfire, its architects grope for means to assuage the damage done. Chairman Asiedu Nketia of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is now seen crawling in the dark corners of Adabraka Street (NDC Office) scrambling for answers to placate the angst of political fanatics that are displeased by the replacement of Hon. Haruna Iddrisu with Dr. Casiel Ato Forson as the Minority Leader in Parliament. Irate NDC party supporters expressed their disapproval by wearing red armbands and chanting war songs amidst fiery political speeches. They are warning the new party leadership with Asiedu Nketia as the Chairman and Fifi Fiavi Kwetey as the Secretary respectively to reverse immediately the changes made in the minority caucus of Parliament. Even some Parliamentarians have come out to deplore the unilateral actions of their party's officials. The MPs claim they were not consulted before the unpopular move. Answering the media why the need to change the frontbenchers of the minority with general elections approaching, the Chairman of the party justify his decision by drawing in the NDC's political strategy in the 2024 electioneering. He said: "the need to substitute the experienced Haruna Iddrisu for Dr. Ato Forson is premised on the economic debate that will dominate next year's elections. Ato Forson is an economist, and his experience will be needed on the minority front this time. Those who have been replaced served their due, and there is now the need for new ideas to take over" (sic). Will someone ask why Isaac Adongo the not long ago economic wizkid of the NDC not included in the team of the new "economic gurus" assembled to bludgeon the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) unto perpetual political oblivion? Is Chairman Asiedu Nketia happy with the status quo? Where as a country we only rehash and regurgitate economic terms that's barely understood by the common man on the street? Perhaps it's the terminologies - haircuts, coupons, and bonds that are bamboozling to a befuddling point the NDC chairman hence his assertion. When COVID-19 stagnated the world economy, and finally bulldozed to rubble by the Russian - Ukraine war, students of Ghana politics are witnesses to the flaws in our economic ideas. The status quo can't be allowed at the gates of Ghana's political revolver door. When are we going to build our economy on the words our people understand? Where are the organic ideas that will give us a befitting rebirth to Ghana's economy? A documentary on the shame our schoolchildren going through whiles acquiring Basic Education in the Northern Region aired on Joy News was an eyesore. Kids dress up from home and go to school only to lie down on the bare floor to write their exams. Jesus Christ! And the NDC chairman doesn't see this shameful treatment of Ghana's future as a political currency going into the 2024 contest but only interested in cliches? God save Ghana. The players on the field are limping with injuries. The substitutes who are supposed to come on the playing arena with fresh blood and energy are those we see on the touchline with broken bones. Team Ghana is doomed. The fate of the future is unknown. We the youth that are to suffer the poor decisions of today's leaders are left to the fringes, and we are constantly reminded how young our ages are, not enough to lead a country. The youth of our country, the old guards are short of ideas that will steer us out of this dark tunnel. Their pride is stopping them from admitting this reality. They are steering us into the abyss with their foot on the doomed economic accelerator. Let us have the means to reject them and wrestle back our country and our future. God bless Ghana and make us Strong! By Charles Yeboah (Sir Lord) +233(0)249542111 Authorities in Nigeria should swiftly drop the cybercrime charges against journalist Agba Jalingo, cease harassing him for his work, and reform the countrys laws to ensure journalism is not criminalized, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On December 8, 2022, authorities in the southern Nigerian state of Cross River filed cybercrime charges against Jalingo, publisher of the privately owned news website CrossRiverWatch, according to a report by the privately owned news website Sahara Reporters and a charge sheet reviewed by CPJ. Jalingo told CPJ via messaging app that he is expected in court on February 14, 2023. Authorities charged the reporter under two counts of Section 24 (1)b of Nigerias Cybercrimes Act over his outlets June 2022 report on Elizabeth Alami Frank Ayade, the sister-in-law of Governor Ben Ayade. If convicted, Jalingo could be imprisoned for three years and fined 7 million naira (US$15,200). Nigerian authorities should drop their prosecution and legal harassment of Agba Jalingo and allow him to work without fear of arrest, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator, in New York. Lawmakers in Nigeria should recognize that their countrys Cybercrime Act has been repeatedly used to prosecute the press and reform it to ensure journalism is not criminalized. CPJ has repeatedly documented the use of Nigerias Cybercrimes Act to detain and charge journalists for their work. The June 30, 2022, CrossRiverWatch article alleged that Elizabeth Ayade paid someone else to take an examination for her while in law school. The charge sheet accuses Jalingo of publishing falsehoods and says the publication intended to cause Ayade annoyance, ill will and insult. Jalingo was previously arrested on August 19, 2022, over the same article, after Elizabeth Ayade filed a defamation and cyberattack complaint to police and requested the outlet retract the report and pay 500 million naira (US$1,086,300) in damages or face litigation. As of January 26, the report remains online. Fidelis Ogbobe, the prosecutor in the case, told CPJ by phone that he did not regard Jalingo as a journalist and said the charges followed Jalingos refusal to retract the publication, which Ogbobe described as a falsehood. When CPJ inquired why Jalingo was not considered a journalist and asked additional questions, the line disconnected, and Ogbobe did not respond to subsequent calls. In 2019 and 2020, authorities detained Jalingo for nearly six months and charged him with cybercrime and other offenses. The charges were later dropped, and the regional Economic Community of West Africa court ordered Nigerian authorities to pay Jalingo compensation for his detention in July 2021. As of January 26, Jalingo said he has yet to receive any payment. January 26, 2023 Spain Debunks Russiagate like New York Times Letter Bomb Story Just three days ago I mocked a New York Times story that used 'Russiagate' like claims by 'U.S. officials' to tie a number of letter bomb incidents in Spain to some 'Russian terrorist organization'. U.S. Officials Claim More 'Russiagate' Like Nonsense According to what U.S. officials claim some anti-Kremlin fringe group in Russia was used by a Russian intelligence service to somehow send letter bombs from Valladolid, Spain, to some offices in Madrid. But why would Russian intelligence run such a nonsense campaign? Why would it use a problematic fringe group of Russian crazies to do so. Why in Spain? Why not in Poland, Germany or France? What is the evidence? None of those questions get answered. Instead rumors and hot air assumptions are put together to make the claims somewhat less outrageous. This is on the same level as the lies about 'weapons of mass destruction in Iraq' the Times printed 20 years ago. ... We know that 'U.S. intelligence' is bullshit and that U.S. official are liars, especially with regards to anything around Ukraine. We know that because 'U.S. officials' said so: That makes the publishing of the above story by the Times even more egregious. Three days on the Spanish police arrested the guy most likely responsible for making and sending out those letter bombs: The man was detained in the northern town of Miranda de Ebro, and police searched his home. The suspect is a retired Spanish citizen with the initials P.G.P. who is tech-savvy and very active on social networks, the ministry said. Armed officers kept people away the low-rise cinder-block building housing the man's third-floor apartment in a blue-collar neighbourhood. A video provided by the Interior Ministry showed officers and a sniffer dog searching a silver Peugeot car parked outside as forensic specialists took photographs. Police also appeared to gain access to a lock-up garage. Witnesses said the suspect remained inside the house as the searches were conducted. The man used to work for the town hall of the Basque capital Vitoria-Gasteiz before retiring in 2013, a city spokesperson said. Miranda de Ebro is 35 km (22 miles) southeast of Vitoria. ... Investigators have concluded that all six parcels were sent from the city of Burgos, the ministry said. A source close to the inquiry had told Reuters in early December that all the parcels had been mailed from Valladolid, a two-hour drive from Miranda del Ebro. All the named cities and towns are in norther Spain and near to each other. So it now seems that some lonely tech savvy pensioner, for whatever reason, has made and sent those bombs. Someone who had worked in a local city administration. There is no reporting from Spain of any relation of the case with Russia or some Russian fringe group. The Times today reports of the arrest but uses it to regurgitate all the 'Russiagate' like nonsense claims its previous story provided. This again without any evidence and solely based on what 'U.S. officials say ...'. But the Spanish authorities did not even consider that obvious nonsense. As Reuters provides: The New York Times reported on Sunday that investigators had focused on the Russian Imperial Movement, a group with ties to Spanish far-right organisations that was believed to be linked to Russian intelligence. Spanish officials have declined to comment on the report, while a senior judicial source denied having knowledge of such a line of investigation. In other words - the whole story was made up by 'U.S. officials' to further the creation of the Russian bogeyman: Lawmakers stirred up anti-Russian sentiment long before the invasion of Ukraine. It can be argued that the Russian malign influence story helped to get the publics buy-in for a new Cold War with Russia by normalizing the idea that Russians not only helped to elect Donald Trump, but were actively trying to destroy U.S. democracy and are still doing so. It became conventional wisdom that Russia wants not just to compete with the United States, but to destroy usto divide our society from within, to cripple our democracy, said George Beebe, a former chief of the CIAs Russia analysis and author of The Russia Trap: How Our Shadow War with Russia Could Spiral into Nuclear Catastrophe (2019). ... Russiagate transformed Russia from a foreign policy issue into a matter of domestic politics at a time when the United States was becoming increasingly divided, points out Beebe, who is now director of grand strategy at the Quincy Institute (and so is my colleague). As a result, adds Arta Moeini, research director for the Institute for Peace and Diplomacy, demonization of Russia [prior to its invasion of Ukraine] permitted a new Manichean dynamic, an inflated threat that would be used to rationalize increased securitization domestically, and a fresh push for containment of Moscow internationally. ... The constraints this scandal imposed on U.S. policy toward Russia have been immense, Beebe said. It prevented Trump from advancing any kind of a detente with Russia. Its lingering effects made it all but impossible for Biden to seek a compromise over Ukrainian membership in NATOthe one thing that might have prevented the wareven if he had wanted to. Today, we can only pray that the anti-Russian narrative enabled by the manipulation of social media does not become a self-fulfilling prophecy ending in a direct fighting war with the nuclear power. The New York Times, as well as British media with their equally stupid Skripal affair claims, can be credited with giving cover for the anti-Russian propaganda campaign. It was unleashed after, in 2014, Russia reintegrated Crimea and foiled British and U.S. plans for stationing their naval forces in the Azov and Black Sea. bigger The Times and other media should be held responsible for the deadly consequences its misreporting and lies have caused. Posted by b on January 26, 2023 at 8:16 UTC | Permalink Comments Emplifi Adds Snapchat to its Social Marketing Cloud Customer experience (CX) platform Emplifi has announced an integration with visual messaging app Snapchat, to enable clients using Emplifi's Social Marketing Cloud to measure and manage their organic Snapchat content from within this cloud. Headquartered in New York, Emplifi analyzes more than 138 million Voice of the Customer (VOC) data points every day, and monitors social media at scale, helping clients handle over one billion customer interactions each month. Its new integration enables marketers to view 'Snaps' directly in Emplifi's Content Hub from their connected public profiles; while gaining insights from selected metrics - such as taps, impressions, organic reach, swipes, and view time. Snapchat has 363 million daily active users worldwide and reaches more than 75% of 13 to 34-year-olds in over twenty countries. Kyle Wong (pictured), Chief Strategy Officer, Emplifi, comments: 'The integration of Snap Analytics into Emplifi's Social Marketing Cloud means marketers are no longer limited to measuring their organic Snapchat campaigns on data from their mobile apps. Social media teams now have a holistic view of their performance across all social channels - including Snapchat - in one place.' Web site: www.emplifi.io . Congresswoman Amata and her granddaughter with Congressman Moylan of Guam and Congressman Ed Case of Hawaii. Triana Palemai acts with a sense of purpose and has a passion for service and willingness to go above and beyond! Gov. Arnold I. Palacios meets with Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Energy, Installations and Environment/Chief Sustainability Officer) Meredith Berger, and Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps Gen. David H. Berger as part of high level talks to expand cooperation and communication between the CNMI and the U.S. Department of Defense. Zaldy Dandan is a recipient of the Best Editorial Writer Award of the Society of Professional Journalists, and the CNMI Humanities Award for Outstanding Contributions to Journalism. His four books are available on amazon.com/. Follow Zaldy Dandan 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 MERIDEN Police are investigating after a Washington Middle School student brought an unloaded handgun to school on Tuesday. The student admitted to carrying a weapon on school grounds after police and school administrators conducted an investigation into the incident. Today, a parent reported to the Washington Administration that a student had brought a gun to Washington Middle School... school Superintendent Mark Benigni said in a statement. They immediately investigated this report, including an interview with the student, who has admitted to the allegation. We also reached out to the Meriden Police Department, which has met with the family and will be pursuing criminal charges. Officers learned the student discovered the location of the key to his parents gun case, took the key without their knowledge and used it to gain access to a legally owned handgun, police said. The student was referred to juvenile court and an investigation into the incident was opened by the Special Crimes Division, according to police. Police Chief Roberto Rosado said investigators do not believe the student acted with malicious intent, and do not suspect the individual sought to use the firearm to harm fellow students or faculty. Rosado said the handgun brought to Washington Middle School was unloaded and was carried without a magazine. Theres no motive, Rosado said. I could tell you this is really uncharacteristic of the juvenile, and Ill leave it at that. We didnt find any intent to harm anyone or anything like that. Its important to note the parents are licensed gun owners and that the gun was properly stored in a locked safe. No ammunition was stored with the firearm, police spokesman Lt. Darrin McKay said Thursday evening. School administrators described Tuesdays events as an isolated incident and said they do not believe the student in question currently poses a danger to classmates. The safety of students and other members of the school community is our first priority, and the Meriden Police Department has assured us that the unfortunate incident that happened on Tuesday does not present any ongoing danger to others, Benigni said. In response to the weeks events, Meriden Federation of Teachers secondary vice president Chad Cardillo offered thanks to law enforcement and Meriden Public Schools for what he considered a swift and thorough response to a firearm scare. Cardillo, a social studies teacher at Maloney High School, said he expects teachers to continue fine-tuning procedures and preventative measures in collaboration with officers and the Board of Education to reduce the likelihood of weapons on campus in the future. I appreciate how quickly the school the police department and central office worked together to make sure that they got to the bottom of exactly what happened, Cardillo said. We'll definitely be continuing to work with the board and central office to make sure that all of the policies and procedures that we have in place continue to be followed and make sure that we keep the schools the safest place they can be for the students and for the staff. Police will have an increased presence at Washington Friday in an effort to help alleviate any fears or concerns parents, students, or staff may have, McKay said. Our goal is to help school staff get back to what they do best, educate Meriden students. bbaker@record-journal.com Connecticut residents are facing rising energy costs, and Republican and Democratic lawmakers have proposed contrasting plans to deal with the spike. In a press release, Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont announced that the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) is allowing all participating households that heat with deliverable fuels, such as heating oil, to receive additional crisis assistance. This has a benefit worth $439 this winter season. The additional benefit means those families can now access up to $2,320 per household to help pay their heating bills, the press release said. According to the plan, the long-term strategy to improve energy affordability is building a cleaner, affordable, and reliable energy supply. This includes offshore wind, hydropower and nuclear. Connecticut Republican leaders also have put forth a package of policy proposals aimed at reducing the cost of electric bills and making energy more affordable over the long term. In a press release, Senate and House Republicans said their policies "will reduce energy costs for CT families by over $362 million per year, saving the average household over $210 next year. In the long run, the plan will drive down costs by even more and implement important ratepayer protections against utilities." GOP officials said their legislative proposals will: "Make energy more affordable and reliable, by reducing costs immediately as well as expanding and encouraging reliable and affordable generation over the long term" and by ensuring "strong oversight of utility companies to protect the best interest of ratepayers." "Connecticut is one of the most unaffordable states to live in, embodied by its second-highest in the nation utility costs," North Haven state representative Dave Yaccarino said. "This proposal attacks the issue head-on and lays a framework for how the legislature can make serious progress reducing the financial burden on ratepayers across the state in the short-term, with additional long-term savings." Deputy Republican Leader Paul Cicarella (North Haven) said, "Families and businesses across our district, and the state, are hurting. This months utility rate hike has put most Connecticut residents in an even larger hole when it comes to affording necessities. This is a viable plan that would immediately reduce costs to ratepayers and give them a stronger voice at the table. I encourage all of my colleagues to join me to help the thousands of struggling people in the state." In the press release laying out the Senate and House GOP plan to lower energy costs, House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora (North Branford) said, Wagging a finger at utility companies to grandstand for ratepayers when their frustration understandably boils over is a singular path that produces very little. We instead need an integrated approach that not only introduces systemic change to reduce monthly bills, but one that also examines to what extent residents financial stress is fueled by energy policy and goals adopted by the legislature and state agency bureaucrats. Since the start of the year, steep increases in energy supply rates have resulted in bigger bills for Eversource and United Illuminating customers. On Nov. 17, 2022, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong released a statement on the supply rate increase. Our supply rates always fluctuate between winter and summer, but this is not normal," Tong said. "We are seeing a huge global spike in gas costs due to the war in Ukraine and Russian manipulation of gas supplies. Yves here. Tom Neuburger amplifies Matt Taibbis view that Obama is behind the sudden press knowledge of Biden having classified records in his possession. While this is a sensible explanation, given visible facts, I find it striking that Taibbi wasnt willing to say so in a straightforward manner, with appropriate caveats. The fact that Obama likely does have the clout to have been in the loop regarding the Biden classified documents exposure and then getting it public is straight up third world Big Man behavior. Yet neither Neuburger nor Taibbi seem to regard that as scandalous, much the less call it out as rank corruption. By Thomas Neuburger. Originally published at Gods Spies Matt Taibbi used to be in much greater favor with Democratic Party supporters than he is right now. And he was in great favor for more than a few reasons. The section reprinted below, taken from his podcast America This Week, is an example of one of those reasons. Do you wonder why the news about the Biden classified files is coming out at all? Why isnt it buried along with all the other news thats buried as well? This problem didnt have to occur; it was kept secret for months by everyone who knew about it,. Until, that is, a source familiar with the matter leaked the information to CNN. Why did that happen? What made that source go public? Side Note: Covid Is Far from Toothless As an example of completely buried news, consider this article from the respected science publication Nature: Transcriptional reprogramming from innate immune functions to a pro-thrombotic signature by monocytes in COVID-19. (See also here, from PubMed in 2021.) I know thats doctorese, but heres how a doctor translated the title for us: Our cells genes are rewired in MILD COVID. And not in a good way; thrombosis means blood clots, usually in blood vessels. This should be major health alert Covids not over. Yet not one word about this from the only media that counts, the public-opinion creators at CNN, MSNBC, the Washington Post, and the New York Times. Whats the Story Behind the Story? But back to Taibbi. Heres his theory and he admits its just a theory about why Joe Biden is bedeviled lately by near-continuous news of his own classified files snafu. The following is taken from the published transcript(subscriber only) of Taibbis January 13 podcast. The podcast format is a conversation about between Matt and the writer Walter Kirn. (Emphasis mine.) Matt: We should move on because theres another ridiculously interesting story that broke this week. The leaking of the story that Joe Bidens got classified documents in his Corvette, which is in a locked garage. There are so many angles to the story that are unlikely but also probably pretty transparent that it almost boggles the mind that this story is out there. Whats your interpretation? Walter: Well, I want you to count the ways in which it seems unlikely first, because Ill add to the list. Matt: So, okay. We just went through a nearly identical story, which you and I mistakenly thought was going to be the biggest story in the world for a long time, which was the raid on Mar-a-Lago in the home of Donald Trump, because he was keeping classified records at his house. And we were told everything, from these were nuclear secrets that were going to be sold to the Russians or whatever to God knows what else, sources and methods, they brought out every conceivable law enforcement cliche to describe the nefarious intent in that story. But now we have a basically identical story about classified records that Joe Biden has apparently stored incorrectly for six years. And the interesting part isnt even the story, its where does it come from? And the first time I saw it was in a CNN story, which quoted the familiar source familiar with the matter, who explained that the US attorney in Chicago, John Lausch, has been briefing Merrick Garland. So you can read into that what you want, but it sure looks like the Democratic Party is pulling a Frank Pentangeli on Joe Biden, and essentially saying, dude, the clock is run out on your presidency. Youre out. Somebody else is going to run. And you might want to do the honorable thing. And if you dont, this is going to get worse. That was my read on this. And who this came from seems pretty clear to me. But obviously we cant really talk about that too much because its not reported. So I dont know. Note: If you dont, this is going to get worse, and who this came from seems pretty clear to me. That podcast went out on January 13, and things have indeed gotten worse for Biden. Hes had two more turns in the news cycle barrel on this issue, two more revelations of even more documents found. Biden has completely lost his advantage against Trump on this issue, should they both be nominated in 2024. Are Party leaders who count, the donors and the major players in the ecosystem, actually encouraging him to bow out gracefully? Or is this just another speculation? I leave that as an exercise for the reader. My minds not yet made up. By Conor Gallagher Hospital CEOs and the media say that healthcare systems are increasingly turning to gig nurses in order to make up for a nursing shortage, but the fact is there is no shortage of nurses. Nursing schools are graduating close to 180,000 new nurses every year, a 250 percent increase since 2000, while the US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that only a little more than 275,000 additional nurses are needed by 2030. There is a shortage of nurses willing to put their lives on the line during a pandemic for employers who treat healthcare as purely a money-making investment in horrid working conditions. According to STAT: Hospital leaders conveniently overlook the fact that many hospitals furloughed nurses without pay after the first wave of Covid-19, after they had risked their lives to care for tens of thousands of critically ill Americans. Such labor practices do not engender employee loyalty. High nurse turnover rates in hospitals do indeed show that nurses are leaving their employers, which gives an exaggerated perception of nurse shortages. These departures are understandable, since 47% of bedside nurses were experiencing high job-related burnout and one-third were dissatisfied with poor working conditions before the pandemic emerged. Additionally, many of the nurses are only leaving hospitals; they do not plan on leaving the nursing profession. The struggle to keep nurses in hospitals is really nothing new. Save for a few instances of heavy government involvement, profit-driven hospital administrators have struggled for the past 100 years to come up with a solution that would allow them to get away with lower pay, less benefits, and worse working conditions for nurses. The current situation boils down to the following: Nurses are striking and quitting in protest of understaffed hospitals, which threaten patient care. There are plenty of nurses, but they dont want to work in such conditions. Hospitals are increasingly turning to gig nurses as a remedy for their self-created shortages. Our increasingly private equity-run healthcare systems think theyve come up with the perfect solution to shift to a more precarious, non-union workforce in order to reduce those dreaded labor costs, which can account for more than 50 percent of hospitals total expenses. The Uber Model for Nurses While healthcare systems drive away nurses and scream shortage, private equity is pouring hundreds of millions into gig nursing platform startups. The plan is that these investments will pay off as more nurses become independent contractors, enabling companies to pocket billions of dollars by cutting labor costs. In 2020 traveling/gig nursing grew by 35 percent compared to the previous year, and the practice is expected to grow by an additional 40 percent in the near future. ShiftKey, a startup that connects healthcare workers with open shifts, recently raised another $300 million, supposedly bringing its valuation to more than $2 billion. As reported by Axios, the round was led by majority investor Lorient Capital, a private equity firm focused exclusively on the healthcare industry. ShiftKey offers a platform that lets nursing, certified nursing assistants and other healthcare professionals search for per diem shifts in their area, bid on those shifts and build their schedules. Other startups offering similar platforms are also raising gobs of cash. In August, the nurse staffing marketplace Incredible Health raked in $80 million in Series B funding, sending its valuation to $1.65 billion. Nomad Health, an online job portal for temporary healthcare workers, brought in $105 million over the summer. IntelyCare scooped up $115 million in April, increasing the companys valuation to $1.1 billion. Its unclear exactly how widespread these platforms are used. Shiftkey, for example, says its software now enables work for hundreds of thousands of licensed professionals across over 10,000 healthcare facilities nationwide. Gale Healthcare Solutions (named after Florence Nightingale, naturally), which just raised a $60 million growth equity investment from FTV Capital, claims it has 55,000 clinicians using its app in 40 states. Incredible Health claims one in four nurses in the US are now using its healthcare career marketplace, which is partnered with 75 percent of the nations top-ranked health systems, including HCA, Kaiser Permanente, Baylor Scott & White, and Cedars-Sinai. The numbers should be taken with a grain of salt as these companies have been known to inflate their reach, but according to data from the American Hospital Association (AHA), the hours worked by gig nurses as a percentage of total hours worked by nurses in hospitals grew from less than 4 percent in January 2019 to over 23 percent in January 2022. It doesnt look like full-time staff levels will return to pre-pandemic levels anytime soon as hospital administrators and private equity have used the upheaval to embrace these disruptors who act the same way as Uber, Lyft, Doordash, Instacart, and all the other gig hucksters. Last year, the Mercy health system, which operates across Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma, rolled out Mercy Works on Demand. From Beckers Hospital Review: Mercy launched a pilot program at Mercy Hospital Springfield (Mo.) and, last spring, rolled out the on-demand platform across the health system. Providence is also testing ways to enable employees to choose the shifts ranging from four to 12 hours that they want to work. It is all part of embracing the gig mindset model, Dr. Till said. What if we thought of all of our positions as gig economy positions where workers can work when they want to, where they want to and potentially [in the future] even choose the pay rates they want? he said. Sounds amazing, doesnt it? And gig nursing does indeed offer flexibility and what on the surface can look like better pay. What they dont advertise are all the downsides, which National Nurses United sums up as the following: If nurses are misclassified as independent contractors through legislation or other corporate schemes, we will lose our federal rights, including the right to a minimum wage, overtime pay, workers compensation, paid sick days, paid family leave, health and safety protections, and discrimination and sexual harassment protections. Independent contractors also bear the burden of paying a higher rate for unemployment insurance and must set aside and manage their own income taxes. Hospital administrators have pushed nurses to the breaking point, and platforms like ConnectRN are all too happy to exploit it, pushing polls that show nurses need a better work-life balance and more control over their careers. Whats their solution? Come become a gig nurse. Throughout the pandemic, many nurses, lured by higher pay, have been doing just that at record rates. WCIA in central Illinois tells the story of Jennifer Kowalewski who left her position as a staff nurse to become a gig nurse and began making a lot more money. There were sacrifices, however: When she finishes her shift, she doesnt go home to her family a husband and two stepdaughters. They live in Rockford. Instead, she drives 15 minutes south to the Double J Campground in Chatham, where she has a camper she stays in through the workweek. If that sounds familiar, thats because its reminiscent of Uber and Lyft drivers who work far from home and sleep in their cars. From The Bold Italic: Outside a 24 Hour Fitness in San Mateo, side-saddling a commercial office space and a tiered parking structure, a swath of strategically tinted cars sit parked, veiled by thin layers of condensation coating their windshields. Its obvious that people have spent the night inside them, presumably cocooned somewhere either in the back seat or the spacious hatch. Many attempt privacy measures some using towels or sheets or other fabrics stuffed under the windows to block out wandering eyes. Most display a shared vocational decal: Lyft or Uber. While most dont associate hailing a rideshare with the notion of stepping foot inside someones home, thats exactly what some passengers are doing. And just like Uber and Lyft, the enticing pay for gig nurses didnt last long. A September Newsweek report showed how nurses were drawn by staffing firms and gig work at a high rate, only to see their pay reduced by up to 60 percent. The AHA spent much of the past few years whining about having to pay gig nurses high wages. What they never mention is that a shift to gig workers typically results in cost reductions of approximately 30 percent since they dont have to provide any worker benefits. Now that gig nurse wages are dropping and are expected to level off, health care systems and private equity will see big gains by transitioning to a more precarious workforce. Private equity firms also cashed in by investing in these travel nurse staffing agencies, but many angry nurses are now joining class-action lawsuits over wage cuts that range from 25 to 70 percent. Many nurses feel stuck as Kaiser Health News explains: For some travel nurses, the abrupt drop in pay has been a shock. Since December, registered nurse Jessica Campbell had extended her 13-week contract at an Illinois hospital without any hiccups. In early April, a week into Campbells latest contract, her recruiter said that her rate would drop by $10 an hour and that she could take it or leave it. I ended up accepting it because I felt like I had no other option, Campbell said. It could always be worse (or better depending on your point of view). Nurse staffing companies are also turning to human trafficking (allegedly) to fill positions. A class-action lawsuit against Cincinnati-based Health Carousel claims the company deceptively recruits and hires healthcare workers primarily from the Philippines, steals wages, forbids its workers from leaving the company for years unless they pay the company tens of thousands of dollars, and sues them if they try to leave without paying. Where did all the pandemic money go? After the pandemic began, Congress, states, and both the Trump and Biden Administrations adopted a number of policies to ease financial pressure on hospitals and other health care providers. There was $178 billion from the Provider Relief Fund, $8.5 billion in American Rescue Plan rural funds, an increase in Medicare payments, and hospitals benefitted from the Paycheck Protection Program. Why didnt hospitals use all that money to staff up? A 2021 report from Public Citizen revealed that at least at least $5.3 billion in CARES Act money went to 611 portfolio companies owned or backed by private equity firms that held $908 billion in cash reserves. More: Public money for private equity-backed companies not only went to companies that already had deep-pocketed backers, but also effectively allowed private equity owners to continue and even expand their predatory tactics during an economic and public health emergency. With improved balance sheets shored up by government money, private equity firms were able to finance a buyout spree during the pandemic-driven economic downturn as well as to extract dividends and fees from their portfolio companies. A study from the Petris Center at the University of California, Berkeley revealed that in addition to the vast majority of the funds going to hospital systems with large reserves, the health systems with market power that had raised prices also resulted in higher relief payments, which meant that markets consolidated by private equity hoovered up the greatest share of relief. A Long History of Nurse Shortages The pandemic did not cause healthcare system staffing shortfalls it exposed them. It is something hospitals have been dealing with for 100 years as hospital administrators keep nurse staffing at the bare minimum knowing full well that research over the past three decades has established that inadequate nurse staff in hospitals is associated with increased patient morbidity and mortality. According to Jean C. Whelan, a former adjunct assistant professor of nursing at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, shortages began during the 1930s due to increased hospital use, changes in hospital construction, more technologically complex patient care requirements, and a reduction in the working hours for nurses, which necessitated an increased number of nurses to deliver bedside care. How did hospital administrators deal with the problem? They blamed the nurses for failing to live up to the ideals of their profession and refusing to work. The problem worsened when the US entered World War Two as nurses were needed in the armed forces, and many also left for better paying war-related industries. The government stepped in The 1943 Bolton Act created the Cadet Nurse Corps and provided $160 million for nurse education funding and financial support for nursing students, a much larger amount of federal money for both students and hospitals than had previously been allocated. Students enrolled in the program received a free education as well as a monthly stipend and uniforms. The intent of the Cadet Nurse Corps was specifically to maintain nursing services to hospitalized patients by increasing the number of students within nursing education programs. Students were not required to serve in the military. Including a requirement that participating schools reduce the length of the educational period raised expectations for meeting the goals of the program, which was to produce more nurses, quickly. Over 160,000 students took part in the Cadet Nurse Corps that was considered contemporarily a huge success. But as soon as the program ended in 1948, the shortages returned. Whelan explains: Findings of the study indicated that there were insufficient economic incentives either to attract a large number of new recruits or to keep experienced nurses in the profession. Nurses identified the lack of retirement pensions, a low rate of pay, and limited opportunities for promotion as sources of major dissatisfaction with their jobs. One nurse who took part in the study forcefully described the economic situation facing nurses: As it stands today nursing offers only enough to cover the bare essentials of living with no chance to save for the future or for emergencies. It is obvious that a nurse cannot live on the gratitude of patients; she must have sufficient income. Hospitals however did not follow this logic. Instead, relying on familiar tactics, hospitals continued to put their efforts into recruiting new students into nurse education programs. To deal with the immediate problem of care delivery, they continued wide-scale use of assistive personnel. The 1964 Nurse Training Act provided significant funding for nurse education, and in the late 1960s hospitals, reaping the financial benefits of the passage of the Medicare and Medicaid legislation, began offering nurses better salaries. This produced another brief reprieve from nursing shortages until the 1970s when administrators once again began aiming for increased productivity and cost reduction. So weve seen two periods over the past century when competent government involvement remedied the issue, but thats not on the horizon. Bernies Medicare for All plan would have attempted to root out the greed thats causing the nurse shortages and mandate sufficient, well-paid nurse staffing, but of course the Democrats did everything they could to make sure that would never come to pass. Still, the federal government can require hospitals participating in Medicare to adhere to specific quality standards, which could include nurse staffing standards, but there are no indications that will happen either. Instead were getting more efforts by major healthcare systems to conspire to suppress nurse wages both directly employed and gig nurses. And were getting even more gutting of healthcare systems by private equity. And now private equity funds are sitting on enormous amounts of money they have amassed from investors and are required to spend or return within the next several years. Widespread expectations are that much of that money will be spent devouring whats left of the US healthcare system. The evolution of my position with the Post dates to 2000, when I began work with The City Paper. In 2008, SouthComm Inc. bought the Post and TCP, with the latter ceasing operations in 2013. In 2018, FW Publishing acquired the Post, for which I have served as managing editor since 2011. Follow William Williams Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today (Natural News) Ezra Levant from Rebel News Canada and Avi Yemini from Rebel News Australia cornered Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla in Davos this week to press him about his companys covid vaccines. Levant and Yemini approached Bourla as he was walking down the street to ask him questions the corporate-controlled media never asks: things like how early he learned that the shots do not stop transmission, and why he never warned the public about this. Bourla and his entourage ignored all the questions, with the only words coming out of Bourlas mouth early on being have a nice day as he strolled quickly to the next World Economic Forum (WEF) session. You said it was 100% effective, then 90%, then 80%, then 70%. But we now know that the vaccines do not stop transmission. Why did you keep that secret? Levant pressed Bourla. I wont have a nice day. Why did you keep it secret that your vaccine did not stop transmission? This video has now been BANNED on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. The WEF wants it scrubbed, and their lackeys are happy to oblige. Thank you @elonmusk for not caving. 7.3M views and counting. The public want answers. MORE: https://t.co/uvbDgOk19Npic.twitter.com/c3STW8EGH3 Avi Yemini (@OzraeliAvi) January 21, 2023 The video above, as you can see in Yeminis Twitter post, was banned from Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Only Twitter, which is now run by Elon Musk, still has it up as far as we can tell. (Related: In 2018, Bourla fantasized about feeding people Wi-Fi microchips in order to track their every move and bowel movement.) When will Albert Bourla face prosecution and prison time for his crimes against humanity? Yemini pressed Bourla for a public apology to the world for all his deception, as well as for refunds to the countries that were bilked into buying Pfizers covid jabs under false pretenses. Are you not ashamed of what youve done? he asked Bourla, who kept his head down and acted as though he could not hear the men speaking to him. Do you have apologies to the public, sir? Levant then added. The fact of the matter is that Bourla raked in many millions for himself from the scam, while his company raked in tens of billions. And with each new booster, Bourla and his company generate even more cash for themselves. People everywhere who took the shots are developing heart problems or dropping dead while Bourla jets around in his private plane, or jaunts around on his private yacht. Something is very wrong here. Are you worried about product liability? Levant asked Bourla. Are you worried about myocarditis? What do you have to say about young men dropping dead of heart attacks every day? Why wont you answer these basic questions? As Bourla struggled to find the door to his next event in order to evade the men and their questions, they proceeded to ask Bourla if he thinks he should be criminally charged for his participation in these crimes against humanity. They also wanted to know how many boosters will be enough for Bourla to be happy with his earnings. Bourla was also caught in a secret meeting at Davos that was not on his official schedule, and Levant and Yemini wanted to know about that, too. Will you disclose who you met with? Levant asked Bourla. Who did you pay commissions to? In the past, Pfizer has paid $2.3 billion in fines for deceptive marketing. Have you engaged in that same conduct again? Are you under investigation like you were before for your deceptive marketing? More related news about Bourla and his ilk can be found at Evil.news. Sources for this article include: CitizenFreePress.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) An international team of scientists recently discovered an exoplanet that seems to have nuclear fusion ongoing in its core. Using direct imaging provided by the European Space Agencys Gaia spacecraft, the team headed by Sasha Hinkley of the University of Exeter in England found the exoplanet orbiting approximately 300 million miles away from the star HD 206893. It was given the name of HD 206893 c after the neighboring star. (Related: NASAs alien-hunting probe discovers 100 new planets orbiting stars outside our solar system.) Following up on the Gaia data, Hinkleys team employed the GRAVITY instrument on the Very Large Telescope in Chiles Atacama Desert to directly verify the existence of HD 206893 c. It also allowed them to examine the light spectrum from the exoplanets atmosphere. Researchers observed the exoplanet brightening and dimming, which led them to surmise that the core of HD 206893 c is undergoing nuclear fusion. According to the scientists, the nuclear fusion ongoing inside the exoplanet is fueled by deuterium, an isotope of hydrogen that carries a neutron. The discovery of HD 206893 c is a really important moment in the study of exoplanets, as ours may be the first direct detection of a Gaia exoplanet,' said Hinkley. [This] is also very significant because it shows that we can now directly characterize the atmospheres of these exoplanets, where we know from previous studies that they most commonly reside at roughly two to four times our Earth/sun distance. HD 206893 c may be a planet or brown dwarf star The star HD 206893, which is almost 30 percent bigger than the sun, is located about 130 light years from Earth. It has a known debris disk around it and has also been considered a good candidate for discovering additional extrasolar planets or planets outside of the solar system. HD 206893 c, the newly-discovered exoplanet near the star, is possibly about 13 times bigger than Jupiter the largest planet in the solar system. But its immense size and proof of nuclear fusion could indicate that it is between the borders of being a planet and a brown dwarf star, or a failed star. A brown dwarf star is an astronomical object that is sized between a giant planet and a small star, which is believed to emit infrared radiation. While brown dwarf stars form in the same manner as normal stars, they do not have the mass required for sustained nuclear fusion. Researchers had initially found a brown dwarf star, called HD 206893 b, orbiting the host star in 2017. Nevertheless, long-term observation by the ESO HARPS instrument, including accurate measurements of the host stars proper movement with the Gaia mission, also indicated the presence of an inner, lower mass counterpart. Further analysis using the GRAVITY instrument revealed the existence of the astronomical object HD 206893 c orbiting around 300 million miles from its host star. The finding provides concrete evidence that current instruments are able to directly discover exoplanets on orbital scales that are identical to the solar system. Head over to Space.news for more news about exoplanets. Watch this video about an exoplanet that was discovered while still in the process of creation. This video is from The Clampdown Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: The hottest known exoplanet found to have skies made out of iron and titanium. Earth-like planets not as rare as once thought: Astronomers estimate there are 2,000 nearby stars that house them. Cradles of life? New research says oceans on exoplanets may harbor more life than Earth. Astronomers discover 3 galaxies from EARLY UNIVERSE. Aerospace company CEO: Technology seen in sci-fi movie 2001: A Space Odyssey needed for space travel. Sources include: Space.com TheSun.co.uk Phys.org Brighteon.com (Natural News) Serial fabulist Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., reportedly tried orchestrating an immigration marriage scheme similar to the dodge that Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., used when she allegedly married her brother. (Article by Mark Pellin republished from HeadlineUSA.com) Santoss Brazilian wife, Uadla Vieira Santos, was rarely seen by Santoss housemates and was only vaguely referred to as a friend, according to the Daily Beast. One of those former housemates, Greg Morey-Parker, told the Daily Beast that Santos once tried to get me to marry some Brazilian woman so she could get citizenship. The pitch was made as a money-making opportunity, according to Morey-Parker, but the outlets report didnt expand on details. Omar has for years dodged allegations, deemed credible enough by the FBI to investigate, that the Somalia-born Democrat married her brother, who was reportedly a British citizen, so he could obtain a green car, according to The Blaze. The openly-gay Republican Santos denied the allegation that he tried to hatch a marriage-for-profit immigration scheme, as he has previously denied being a drag queen before conceding that he had a history of crossdressing. Santos has also clarified that he was only Jew-ish when confronted about claims that his grandparents survived the Holocaust as Ukrainian Jewish refugees from Belgium who changed their surname. I never claimed to be Jewish, Santos explained. I am Catholic. Because I learned my maternal family had a Jewish background I said I was Jew-ish. Santos, who was tapped to serve on the House Small Business Committee, has also been accused of fabricating large chunks of his professional and academic history. He previously conceded to lying about graduating from college and working for Citigroup and Goldman Sachs. Santoss planned marriage to his 18-year-old boyfriend, Pedro Vilarva, was sidetracked when the proposal was rejected not once, but three times. That didnt prevent Santos from announcing the impending union on Facebook. Good evening everyone! As you all may already know Pedro and I have decided to join our toothbrushes! Lol and a very few friends have been selected to share this special moment with us! Santos wrote in a 2014 Facebook engagement dinner invitation. When Santos made the announcement, he was still married to Uadla Vieira Santos, according to the Daily Beast. Less than two weeks after that divorce was finalized, Santos filed the official paperwork to launch his 2020 campaign. Read more at: HeadlineUSA.com (Natural News) Spike proteins associated with the Covid-19 virus and mRNA vaccines could be causing accelerated degradation of cells in the human body, causing organs to biologically age more rapidly and bring on early death. (Article by Adan Salazar republished from Newswars.com) The frightening hypothesis was put forth by French researchers, who concluded spike proteins induced by Covid infections and mRNA jabs shorten DNA sequences known as telomeres, which protect the ends of chromosomes, thereby decreasing life expectancy. In an August 2021 article published in French newspaper France Soir, the researchers highlighted a Chinese study showing spike proteins impaired endothelial function in guinea pigs, which was then replicated with human cells. The [Chinese research] team reproduced the in vitro experiment on healthy human endothelial cells: the spike protein thus bound to ACE2 receptors, damaging the cells mitochondria, causing micro-thrombosis and endothelitis, reads an English translation of the French newspaper. The French researchers logically went on to question whether spike proteins induced by mRNA jabs could have similar effects. If it is proven that SARS-CoV2 induces accelerated cellular aging, and that the responsible for this senescence is none other than the Spike protein, how can we be absolutely certain that the vaccines currently on the market, all based on Spike, do not also lead to the accelerated degradation of the cells of vaccinated persons? the scientists asked. The paper, co-authored by Nobel Prize laureate and virologist Luc Montagnier, delves into a rash of studies showing the effects of Covid infections on telomeres and how shorter telomeres are linked to the acceleration of cellular biological aging. The article also explains how oxidative stress which occurs in the body at inflammation sites plays a role in telomere shortening, and how Covid-19 vaccines can induce oxidative stress, which in turn negatively affects DNA and RNA building blocks known as guanines. Concluding the lengthy study, the researchers summed up their hypothesis by warning against mRNA vaccine treatments, writing: Indeed, with aging, telomeres deteriorate and affect cell reproduction. SARS-CoV2 is thought to cause biological age aging or accelerated biological age through increased telomere shortening. The question that can legitimately be asked is the following: isnt the spike protein active in vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, etc.) by soliciting/blocking the ACE2 receptor likely to inhibit the beneficial function of protecting telomeres and thus also activate aging? [] This virus causes an increase in the biological age in people who contract the disease, the effect of which is probably accentuated by the vaccine injection. With the drop in effectiveness on contamination, it is therefore essential to prevent the aggravation of the disease and for this early management is imperative. By letting the [Covid] disease progress beyond the first days and by using vaccines as the only solution, there is a risk that we will lead to a reduction in the lifespan of both adults and children. Given the desire to vaccinate children who are not affected by SARS-CoV2, the remedy should not be worse than the disease. One researcher who was published in the 2021 study, Walter M. Chesnut, has continued his research into what hes dubbed SPED (Spike Protein Endothelial Disease), publishing his findings on Substack. URGENT/BREAKING: UPDATED SUMMATION: The Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2 is Delivered to All Organs via the Endothelium and Induces Systemic Nonsense mRNA Translations Resulting in Hyperaccelerated Aging The Spike Protein, in Essence, Acts as a Progeria Drughttps://t.co/GoPnZkm4JJ pic.twitter.com/yTQNW9siik Walter M Chesnut (@Parsifaler) January 23, 2023 In a recent report published Sunday, Chesnut reported his latest hypothesis: that The Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2 is Delivered to All Organs via the Endothelium and Induces Systemic Nonsense mRNA Translations Resulting in Hyperaccelerated Aging. I believe that STAGE I of Spike Protein Progeria Syndrome (SPPS) is an Endothelial reaction to the INVASION of the Spike protein INTO ALL OF THE MAJOR ORGANS. Consider this much like the shock of being submerged in freezing water, or being blasted with fire. There is INSTANTANEOUS damage: inflammation, coagulation and all that accompanies an insult to the Endothelium. However, once the Spike Protein has INVADED the Endothelium of all the major organs, it then PROCEEDS TO INDUCE MISTRANSLATION OF mRNA IN EACH ORGAN. Yet, what does this mean? It means, I believe, that STAGE II of SPPS [Spike Protein Progeria Syndrome] is the PREMATURE AGING of all organs via INDUCED MISTRANSLATIONS OF PROTEINS ESSENTIAL FOR THAT ORGANS FUNCTIONING, Chesnut wrote. [Emphasis his] Chesnut went on to point out how one study showed mice with error-prone protein synthesis, mistranslated RNA, showed characteristics of premature aging. The Wizard is indeed behind the curtain, the researcher explained. We are seeing a 26-year-old die. But that 26-year-old has the organs of a 96-year-old. No surprise in rapid cancers, neurodegeneration or sudden cardiac death for a 96-year-old. I believe the Spike Protein is acting as a Progeria Drug delivered via the Endothelium to all organs, Chesnut surmised. I dont know, yet, what to do. I am deeply saddened, and numb. No matter what evidence or hypothesis is presented the band plays on And it is playing a funeral march, he concluded. The alarming info could be one of the missing links behind the mysterious phenomenon of people dying suddenly and unexpectedly. Read more at: Newswars.com (Natural News) The powers that be continue to tinker with their plan for global destruction and the evidence is everywhere to be seen. Earlier this week, for instance, millions of Pakistanis found themselves without heat after a massive grid failure plunged much of the country into darkness, as The New York Times reported: Millions of Pakistanis lost electricity Monday as a major power outage swept across the country, the longest in recent years and a breakdown that put the focus back on the countrys battered and poorly maintained power grid. Pakistan has been plagued by frequent outages and blackouts in recent years, and the latest to afflict its people began at 7:34 a.m. Monday. By late evening, much of the country was still shrouded in darkness. In some parts of Islamabad, the capital, and the neighboring city of Rawalpindi, power was restored after eight hours, officials said. There was complete chaos in the hospital because of the power outage, Akram Shah, a 45-year-old textile worker who had taken his sick mother to the state-run Abbasi Shaheed Hospital in Karachi, told the Times. Doctors asked most of the patients, who were at hospitals for surgeries, and tests, to come again tomorrow. Globally, thanks to the lie of climate change and other extreme left-wing environmental rules, it is nearly impossible to build new power plants and the infrastructure to deliver power to customers. As such, nuclear plant operators are being forced to rely more on old plants that have already stayed online far beyond their anticipated 40-year lifespan. Some operators now are considering keeping plants going for 80 years and, in some cases, 100 years which is suicide. New carbon-free nuclear plants take years to build, but if nations would start now, they could begin to take aging nuclear plants offline before 2030 and before the next Chernobyl. But thats not the plan. In the U.S., meanwhile, as the Biden regime and the Democratic left continue to push for electric vehicles, the existing power grid cant handle current electricity demands. Just this week, millions of Americans living in the northeast were without power after a winter storm, and its going to take a few days, at least, to get the lights back on and the heat. Even Americas financial markets are at risk. On Tuesday, the NYSE [said] it [was] continuing to investigate the technical issue that caused wild stock swings at the market open Tuesday as dozens of large-cap stocks suddenly plunged or spiked during the broken opening auction, Zero Hedge reported. According to the New York Stock Exchange, which is actually based in New Jersey, impacted members may consider filing for Clearly Erroneous or Rule 18 claims, adding: In a subset of symbols, opening auctions did not occur. The exchange is working to clarify the list of symbols. As officials were still trying to figure out the glitch, Bloomberg News reported that a wave of sell orders targeting financial services stocks swept across American equity exchanges at the open of trading Tuesday, sending companies including Wells Fargo & Co. and Morgan Stanley to brief but sharp plunges from which they mostly quickly recovered. Its a little concerning, Oanda senior market analyst Ed Moya told BBG. These are not your typical meme stock, easily manipulated companies, these are Morgan Stanley, Verizon, AT&T, these are some of the giants. We dont have all the details yet, but what it looks like is that some stocks opened and were automatically or were erroneously triggered for limit up/limit down, which threw them into a halt status, said Jonathan Corpina, senior managing partner at Meridian Equity Partners who routinely works on the floor of the NYSE. All of our phones are lighting up, he said. Were trying to field calls from our customers and try to explain to them what happened, whats going on and relay as much accurate information so they understand whats happening. But as of now, things are still unfolding. Our elites have known that grids are dilapidated and have been decaying for years so why havent they pushed to fix and modernize them? The answer should be obvious. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com NYTimes.com (Natural News) Germanys main foreign intelligence agency recently reported that Ukraine is losing hundreds of soldiers daily. The report came from the Federal Intelligence Service (BND), informing politicians in Berlin of the assessment during a secret meeting. (Related: NATO members are running out of weapons that they can send to Ukraine.) The BND noted being alarmed by the high number of losses Ukraine is suffering. The BNDs report to the German government said Ukraine was likely losing a three-digit number of soldiers daily as it fights against Russians and pro-Russian separatists in the ongoing Battle of Bakhmut in the disputed Donetsk Oblast (province). The BND believes this will have severe consequences, especially in future battles when Ukraine is likely to not have enough soldiers to man the frontlines or to repel any future Russian counteroffensives. This intelligence is in line with previous assessments of Ukrainian casualties during key battles and operations. Last year, President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted that his countrys armed forces were seeing between 60 to 100 service members dead and 500 wounded on average daily during an intense period of fighting in the Donbas region. This is slightly lower than his own governments admission that Ukraine was losing between 100 to 200 troops daily. Planned offensive could exacerbate Ukrainian losses The BNDs assessment of Ukraines casualties comes just as the Armed Forces of Ukraine plans a new offensive in Bakhmut and the Donbas region an offensive that senior United States officials are advising Kyiv to hold off on launching for the moment. One official that spoke with Reuters noted that the U.S. is attempting to persuade Kyiv to hold off on a major offensive against Russian forces until the latest supply of Western weaponry is in place and training has been provided. Talks between the U.S. and Ukraine on any future offensives have been in the context of ensuring that the latters armed forces are able to devote enough time to training on the latest weaponry provided by the Americans and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This is in the belief that any offensive to regain contested territory would stand to be more successful should the Ukrainians take advantage of the training and the new infusions of Western weaponry. But Kyiv is desperate to take control of Bakhmut and push forward. The BNDs report to German officials notes that if Russia is able to drive Ukrainian forces out of the city, it will open the door for additional gains in the Donetsk Oblast. Bakhmut has seen fierce fighting for several months, but the intensity of the conflict in the area picked up in the new year after Russian forces made some gains in the city. This is why the latest supply of weaponry from NATO and the U.S. includes armored vehicles, said the official, including, for the first time, tanks from Germany. On another front of the conflict, American officials are advising Ukraine to adjust how it conducts the war away from trying to go toe-to-toe with Russia in terms of artillery fire because Moscow will end up gaining the advantage through sheer attrition. Learn more about the conflict in Ukraine at WWIII.news. Watch this episode of The New Atlas discussing how the U.S. and NATO are preparing to escalate the conflict in Ukraine in a desperate bid to once again turn the tide. This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com. More related stories: NO WAY the outcome will be anything different: Russia will accomplish its objectives in Ukraine, says military analyst Scott Ritter. Ukraines defense minister claims his country is a de facto member of NATO. Sending modern tanks to Ukraine could trigger unimaginable escalation, German lawmaker warns. Autonomous KILLER BOTS to dominate battlefields soon as war in Ukraine leads to significant advances in drone technology. While Putin readies nuclear missiles, Germany has RUN OUT of munitions and can only fight a war for TWO days. Sources include: News.AntiWar.com FoxNews.com Reuters.com 1 Reuters.com 2 Brighteon.com (Natural News) New research out of Texas points to ultrasound therapy, or the zapping of human cells with low-frequency sound waves, as a potential way to delay, stop, or even reverse the aging process. Prof. Michael Sheetz from the University of Texas conducted experiments on mice, the cells of which became reinvigorated when exposed to low-frequency sound waves. Is this too good to be true? is the question I often ask, Sheetz said in a statement about his research. We are examining all aspects of it to see if it really does work. Sheetz and his teams experiments produced amazing results in the test rodents. They ran faster on a treadmill, and one of them with a hunchback was cured of the condition. (Related: Japanese researchers also found that ultrasound therapy can cure dementia.) Ultrasound waves, Sheetz found, cause senescent cells to resume dividing while halting the production of chemicals that contaminate their healthy counterparts. After a certain number of divisions, the cells in our bodies stop dividing and become senescent, reported Study Finds about the paper. Some secrete toxins that cause inflammation. This has been linked to everything from arthritis to Alzheimers. Scientists have previously focused on flushing out dead and dying cells. This is the first study to show they can actually be revived.' Is sound the cure for bodily ailments? The type of ultrasound frequency used in the research is less than 100 kilohertz, this being far below the 2,000 or so kilohertz frequencies that are used for medical imaging. Mice were placed in warm, deep water covering at least half of their bodies. They were all between 22 and 25 months old, equivalent to a human being in his 60s or 70s. Ultrasound waves lose less power traveling through water than they do through air, reports state. The lab rodents did better in physical tests compared with peers put in the tub but left untreated. Fluorescent dyes that light up senescent cells were also used to show proportions in the kidneys and pancreas decreased afterwards. Many aspects of this research are still mystifying to Sheetz, who admits he does not fully understand how or why the therapy works as it does. Concerning the mices skin, ultrasound therapy also stopped it from wearing out. While human skin cells usually start to wear out after about 15 divisions, ultrasound therapy helped the mice reach 24 divisions with no signs of abnormality. In many ways, ultrasound therapy works like exercise to physically distort cells. It also reactivates the interior waste disposal systems that no longer function in senescent cells. Prof. Jurgen Gotz from The University of Queensland, who did not participate in the study, called the findings convincing, though he says more work is needed to identify which ultrasound parameters work best. Particularly in humans, there are limitations to ultrasound therapy as sound waves can be blocked by bones and lungs. In that case, changing the frequencies to better penetrate these body parts may be necessary. Gotz has been studying ultrasound therapy as well, having discovered in his own experiments that sound waves can improve memory and possibly remediate Alzheimers disease. The next step for Sheetzs research is to test ultrasound therapy on people, particularly those with osteoarthritis and diabetic foot ulcers. Maybe this is why music makes you feel better, wrote one commenter about the research. From Mozart to Death Metal, let them sing! As most cures for any disease that come out of scientists great research, this will be swept under the rug by big pharma, suggested another. More stories like this one can be found at AntiAgingScience.news. Sources for this article include: StudyFinds.org NaturalNews.com (Natural News) The Winchcombe meteorite, which crash-landed on a driveway in Winchcombe, Gloucestershire, England in 2021 and was pristine enough to rival asteroid samples taken directly from space, contains amino acids that likely led to the spawning of life on Earth. An analysis of the meteorite, headed by Dr. Queenie Chan from the Department of Earth Sciences at Royal Holloway, University of London, has found organic compounds from space that may hold the secrets to the origin of life. (Related: Organic matter found in ancient meteorites may hold clues to understanding the birth of life on Earth.) Results of the study was published on January 9 in the journal Meteoritics & Planetary Science. Chan and her team found a series of organic matter showing that the meteorite was once part of an asteroid that possibly had been given access to water, which led to a chemical reaction that turned molecules into amino acids and protein the building blocks of life. The Winchcombe meteorite is a rare carbon-rich chondritic meteorite and is the first-ever meteorite of this kind to be discovered in the United Kingdom with an observed meteorite fall event witnessed by over a thousand people and recorded by many of them. The amino acid abundance of Winchcombe is 10 times lower than other kinds of carbonaceous chondritic meteorites, making it challenge to study. But with the meteorite recovered and curated immediately, the team was able to analyze the organic content of the meteorite prior to its interaction with Earths environment. Parts of Winchcombe meteorite appear to be chemically altered by water Parts of the meteorite appeared to be more chemically altered by water than others. The prevailing theory so far is that water from the space rocks parent asteroid set off chemical reactions that created the meteorites amino acids, some of which are rare on Earth. Those same types of amino acids eventually formed proteins, from which primitive life-forms emerged billions of years ago. Winchcombe belongs to a rare type of carbonaceous meteorite which typically contains a rich inventory of organic compounds and water. The first Winchcombe meteorite stone was recovered within 12 hours of the fireball observation event and properly curated to restrict any terrestrial contamination. This allowed us to study the organic signature truly essential to the meteorite itself, said Chan. Studying the organic inventory of the Winchcombe meteorite provided us with a window into the past, how simple chemistry kick-started the origin of life at the birth of our solar system. Discovering these lifes precursor organic molecules allowed us to comprehend the fall of similar material to the surface of the Earth, prior to the emergence of life on our own planet. Chan and her colleagues believe the Winchcombe meteorite belongs to a completely new category of meteorite. Even though the space rock is a carbonaceous chondrite, which is already considered rare, its extraterrestrial organic matter sets it apart. What started life on Earth remains a mystery, but finding organics especially amino acids in space objects like the Winchcombe meteorite are taking scientists closer to uncover it. Follow Comets.news for more news about space rocks. Watch the video below to know more about the organic extraterrestrial material found in a meteorite. This video is from the Evolutionary Energy Arts channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Meteorite in Michigan may hold clues to origin of life on Earth. Daytime fireball meteor generates sonic boom over UK and France. 2 new minerals discovered inside meteorite that crashed to Earth. Sources include: Space.com SciTechDaily.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Americas defense-industrial base is not ready for a conflict with China over Taiwan, as the nation would immediately run out of key armaments in less than a week. This is according to a new report by the think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). The report pins a large part of the blame squarely on American military aid shipments to Ukraine. (Related: US military stockpiles at dangerously low levels not seen in decades due to military aid shipments to Ukraine.) The United States has already sent over $27 billion in military equipment and supplies to Ukraine. This includes everything from small arms and ammunition to artillery and armored vehicles. The protracted nature of this conflict has exposed one of the main strategic perils facing Americas military the countrys weapons and ammunition inventories are falling to such low levels that defense companies are not equipped to replenish them rapidly. As the war in Ukraine illustrates, a war between major powers is likely to be a protracted, industrial-style conflict that needs a robust defense industry able to produce enough munitions and other weapons systems for a protracted war if deterrence fails, wrote Seth Jones, senior vice president and director of the CSISs international security program. Given the lead time for industrial production, it would likely be too late for the defense industry to ramp up production if a war were to occur without major changes, added Jones. The bottom line is the defense industrial base, in my judgment, is not prepared for the security environment that now exists. Jones further noted that the American defense industry is now operating in a manner better suited to a peacetime environment. Crucial American munitions would be drained within a week The CSIS ran a war games simulation, which found that the U.S. would likely run out of essential munitions to defend Taiwan from attacks coming from the Taiwan Strait in less than a week. How do you effectively deter if you dont have sufficient stockpiles of the kinds of munitions youre going to need for a China-Taiwan Strait kind of scenario? asked Jones. These essential armaments include weapons that the U.S. is currently sending to Ukraine, including Javelin anti-tank weapons, Stinger anti-aircraft weapons, counter-artillery radar systems and 155-millimeter artillery shells, stocks of all of which are considered low by the CSIS study. One of the most important munitions that can help prevent a Chinese seizure of Taiwan is long-range precision missiles, including those launched by American submarines. In a conflict over Taiwan, U.S. strategy dictates preventing Chinese naval assets from being able to land troops on the island. This requires the use of Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASMs), which are produced by Lockheed Martin. The defense company will take at least two years to ramp up the production of LRASMs. If a conflict with China over Taiwan breaks out within that time, American supplies would be drained in a week. In a war against a major power like China, the U.S. would also need to rely heavily on Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles, which are air-launched cruise missiles. Current inventories of these missiles would be emptied in just over a week if the U.S. expended hundreds of them each day. Several other essential munitions that the U.S. does not have enough of include Tomahawk missiles, Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles and ship-based munitions like the Standard Missile 6. The CSIS report noted that it would take more than 20 months to produce these munitions, calling into question Americas ability to remain stocked during a war. The history of industrial mobilization suggests that it will take years for the defense industrial base to produce and deliver sufficient quantities of critical weapons systems and munitions and recapitalize stocks that have been used up, noted the study. Learn more about the challenges to Americas national security situation at NationalSecurity.news. Watch this episode of the Health Ranger Report as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks to analyst Bob Griswold about the possibility of global war with China over Taiwan. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Japan, India launch first joint air combat drills amid growing threat posed by China. NATO members are running out of weapons that they can send to Ukraine. Navy secretary admits crisis in US defense stockpiles: Decision to arm ourselves or arm Ukraine. Taiwan to extend mandatory military service period amid rising tensions with China. Report warns American military ammo and weapon stockpiles are dangerously low as Biden sends yet more weapons to Ukraine. Sources include: News.Yahoo.com WSJ.com TheHill.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Brandon Straka, the founder of the #WalkAway Campaign, revealed that the Democratic Party has no boundaries when it decides to destroy people. They have no boundaries when they make a decision that they want to destroy someone, the people around them, their children, their spouses, their businesses or their relatives, he said during a Jan. 20 appearance on The Jeff Dornik Show. Straka told podcast host Jeff Dornik that the Democrats have also come after his parents, relatives and friends. He continued: They seem to have absolutely no qualms about destroying not only the people that they consider to be Public Enemy No. 1, but anyone within proximity of that person as well. Anyone who leaves the party and speaks out against it, just like what Straka did in 2018, becomes Public Enemy No. 1. The liberal-turned-conservative admitted that the Democrats going after him became extremely destructive to his life. (Related: Democratic Party moved from uncomfortable to intolerable for members: #WalkAway founder.) Straka expressed hope that the Republican Party will someday have the energy that allows Americans to have an equal and opposite reaction when things like this happen. However, he also realized and accepted during the course of his ordeal that when people like him are in trouble, they cannot count on the GOP to have their back. Dont believe that you have a safety net. Dont believe that anyones going to throw you a life preserver. No matter how much work youve done to support this party, to support the former president [Trump], to support the American voter when the Democrats come after you, youre on your own, Straka said. Straka mentioned the Democrats were able to get away with what they have done to him and the patriots involved during the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol siege. He also lamented the fact that their family members are also going through hardships. Dornik: Its going to come down to ideology According to the podcast host, things are going to come down to one side defeating the other from a cultural standpoint. Its going to come down to ideology. Its going to come down to which side can convince more people than the other side that our belief system, our worldview, is correct, and that we have these particular American principles that allow for tolerance, allow for free speech, where we may disagree with each other, but were going to recognize each others humanity, Dornik said. Were going to recognize each other that we have the right to disagree, and were not going to hate each other for it. Straka then recounted that back when he started the #WalkAway movement in 2018, he created a testimonial campaign that allowed space for people to come together and build a community where they could tell their stories about why they were feeling pushed away from the political left. Those who had done their own homework, research and journey of information were also warmly welcomed. This journey, he said, had led Americans to feel like they could no longer support the Democratic Party. We provided a place for people to come together, to support each other, to appreciate each other no matter where we fall on the political spectrum. This was never a Republican movement or a pro-Trump movement. It was really just a movement of people to come together, support each other and appreciate each other. And we dont really care if youre an independent, libertarian or Republican, or if you do or dont support Trump, its not important, Straka explained. Follow JusticeDemocrats.news for more news about the Democratic Party. Watch Brandon Strakas Jan. 20 interview on The Jeff Dornik Show below. This video is from The Jeff Dornik Show channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Walkaway founder explains how, why Democratic Party collapsed into a cult of intolerance and hate. The Democratic party has become radicalized into the party of communism, violence and anti-America. Emails reveal Nancy Pelosis office was directly involved in security failures on Jan 6 House Sergeant at Arms coordinated with Pelosi and staff, left Republicans out of important security discussions. Doug Billings: Democratic Party has been replaced by the Communist Socialist Party Brighteon.TV. Dr. Alan Keyes brands Democratic Party the anti-American party Brighteon.TV. Sources include: Brighteon.com BrandonStraka.com (Natural News) An expert has warned that artificial intelligence (AI) will take 20 percent of all jobs held by humans in five years. Richard DeVere, head of social engineering at Reading, England-based Ultima Business Solutions, issued the warning in an interview with the Daily Mail. His warning came amid the rising popularity of AI chatbot ChatGPT, which Microsoft invested $10 million in. The Big Tech firm said the technology will change how people interact with computers. I believe that ChatGPT could replace 20 percent of the workforce as is. Robots arent necessarily coming for your jobs, but a human with a robot will do, said DeVere. ChatGPT is no fad; its a new technological revolution. This isnt just a new fad like Bitcoin, NFTs or smart contact lenses. This is happening and its showing no sign of slowing down. DeVere, who founded cybersecurity firm The AntiSocial Engineer before its June 2022 acquisition by Ultima, remarked that the adoption of AI wont be an overnight process where humans are automatically being replaced by robots. Instead, he predicted a first wave from less experienced people using AI tools to assist with their everyday tasks. Were only just in ChatGPTs early stages. I dread to think what we could expect to see a specialist in AI and workforces do. However, DeVere noted that creative professionals are safe for now in spite of grim predictions about AI taking over the field. People in creative professions need not worry. Instead, they should embrace the developments. These advancements are not removing creative individuals from the process, [but] only assisting and strengthening their own capabilities. Twig CEO claims AI will augment human workforce Financial technology company Twig is one firm that uses AI in the form of ChatGPT to automate business functions. The British firm allows users to convert items such as clothes into money. As an organization, Twig has recognized the potential of AI early in the process, remarked Twig CEO Geri Cupi. Its the future and organizations will adapt their workforces around it. He believes that AI will not take jobs but will instead work as a tool, enabling people to work more quickly and effectively without being distracted by boring tasks. The recent advances in AI will have positive repercussions in terms of influencing the future of employment, Cupi remarked, adding that AI will free the workforce from mundane, repetitive and time-consuming tasks that may not contribute to its development. In this sense, I view AI as a potent supplementing element to the human workforce rather than replacing jobs and importantly enriching overall outcomes and allowing for the human originality and approach to thought and creativity to be exalted. But according to the Health Ranger Mike Adams, the rise of AI is driven by something more sinister. In his Jan. 19 Situation Update, the Natural News and Brighteon.com founder pointed out that the globalist elites are working double time to exterminate humanity which they consider obsolete. (Related: Globalists following planetary script to REPLACE HUMANS with AI systems you are now obsolete.) Human beings once valued for their labor contributions, creativity and problem-solving capabilities are largely considered obsolete by the globalist controllers. Now, the script calls for the mass extermination of humans and their replacement with AI systems, he said. The primary purpose of human beings up to this point, from the point of view of globalists, was to build up sufficient resources and technology to give rise to AI. Now that this tipping point has been reached, humans are obsolete and expendable. Watch professor Jordan Peterson discuss the dangers of AI and ChatGPT in the video below. This video is from the Planet Zedta channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Wendys to replace thousands of cashiers with automated kiosks $15 wage demands lead to accelerating unemployment and social unrest. Fast food industry rapidly moving to replace employees with robots and eliminate payroll, health benefits and human unreliability. McDonalds to outsource more human jobs to machines as human workers become increasingly irrelevant. Google unveils new AI medicine robots: Are HUMAN doctors about to become obsolete? First fully automated McDonalds outlet creeps out customers. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk Brighteon.com (Natural News) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys former top adviser does not have a good feeling about how the war against Russia will end for his country. Almost a year after Russia invaded, Oleksii Arestovych, former Strategic Communications Advisor to the Office of the President of Ukraine, says he believes that Ukraine will ultimately lose despite the money and war materiel flowing into the country from Western nations, mostly the United States thus far, although other NATO countries are beginning to step up. Arestovych is speaking out after being dismissed by Zelenskyys government because now he is free to do so and does not have to generate any more propaganda on behalf of the regime in Kyiv. Im an unofficial person already. I can say what I want. If everyone thinks were guaranteed to win the war, its very unlikely. What do you think, the assessment from the President of Poland, Duda, that it is generally unknown whether Ukraine will survive, Arestovych said. And he wasnt the only one who said about the crucial months. Was it just said that way, or was he talking about it based on some information? he noted further, according to Big League Politics. Zelenskys former senior advisor/PR master Oleksiy Arestovych admits that Ukraine is unlikely to win against Russia. pic.twitter.com/6CcCshty4p Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) January 22, 2023 All said, the West is continuing to pour more and lethal weapons into Ukraine. The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it will send 31 of its premier battle tanks to Ukraine, following agreement with Germany to deliver scores of its Leopard 2 tanks from across Europe. The decisions end months of debate among Western allies and pave the way for a major shift in the balance of power on the Ukrainian battlefield, the Washington Post reported this week. The report added: President Biden said after morning calls with European leaders that the decisions belied Russian President Vladimir Putins belief that the West would eventually tire of its commitment to Ukraine and break up their coalition. We are fully, totally and completely united, Biden said during a brief address at the White House. Todays announcement builds on the hard work and commitment of countries around the world. Thats what this is about helping Ukraine defend and protect Ukrainian land. If Russian troops return to Russia where they belong, he said, this war will be over today. That said, the West has been anything but united over the past several weeks, as U.S. frustrations grew with its NATO allies over their reluctance to step up and provide better aid to Ukraine after American taxpayers have spent tens of billions in terms of monetary aid and military assistance over the past 11 months, often to the detriment of American war stocks. Germany continually refused to send its tanks to Ukraine or to allow other countries that had purchased the Leopard 2 tanks to do so unless the U.S. agreed to send the M1 Abrams tanks. The Defense Department had been saying for months, however, that the M1s were far too complex for transfer and use by Ukrainian forces, so its not clear what changed. Biden gave some congrats to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, saying that Germany has really stepped up. Berlin didnt force me to change our mind, he said. We wanted to make sure were all together. The WaPo added: In Europe, the goal is to quickly assemble two Leopard tank battalions equivalent to at least 70 tanks. As a first step, Germany will provide a company of 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks from its armys stocks, the government in Berlin said in a statement. European allies will also provide tanks with German approval. Germanys Ministry of Defense said it aims for the tanks to be on the battlefield by the end of March. That leaves a tight window for logistics and training which is expected to begin within days. We are inching ever closer to World War III, which is something that no one should want. Sources include: WashingtonPost.com BigLeaguePolitics.com (Natural News) Chicken farmers all over the United States are taking to social media to warn that their flocks are dying and that tainted chicken feed may be the culprit. In several videos that have gone viral on social media, farmers documented how their hens have been acting bizarrely recently, with many hens substantially decreasing their egg laying output while others stopped laying eggs altogether. These farmers are almost unanimous in their certainty that their commercial chicken feed is to blame for their hens decreased output, as many of the farmers noted stark improvements in the health of their hens after they switched to different feeds. (Related: Is our own government trying to starve us? Whistleblower reveals U.S. government behind attacks on Americas food infrastructure.) Okay, so something really weird is going on, wrote one farmer on his Facebook account. I have called multiple farms that sell chickens and they are all telling me that their chickens have stopped laying eggs and therefore they do not have any for sale. I looked into it a little further and apparently they are putting something in the feed to stop them from being able to lay eggs! he continued. If you have chickens and are having the same thing happen, try to start feeding them with a rice and pinto bean mix because it seems anything made as feed is being tainted with something that is causing this! One person going by the username Urban Chicken Farmer on TikTok went viral recently as he discussed how his hens were not laying any eggs. I am pretty sure that the food was the problem, he said. However, he insists there is no overarching government conspiracy to sabotage the food supply. Instead, he feels the corporations that supply Americas chicken farms with feed are colluding with the owners of factory farms that produce eggs to stifle any potential competition. Is it a conspiracy by the government? No, I dont necessarily think that, he said. But I do think corporations are greedy. A lot of companies that own factory farms for eggs also own the same companies that we buy our feed from and egg prices are crazy I wouldnt put it past them. Contaminated feed may be at least partially responsible for egg shortage The distressing news regarding the potential sabotage of the commercially-produced chicken feed comes as an egg shortage crisis hits supermarkets across the United States, forcing operating costs for manufacturers to surge and prices for consumers to similarly skyrocket. Government officials have blamed the situation on avian influenza, or bird flu. The testimonies of many farmers on social media suggests this is not the case. The average price of eggs increased by nearly 60 percent in December 2022 compared to a year earlier, according to the recent Consumer Price Index report. Another recent report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) noted that shell egg prices remain at unappetizing levels in retail outlets relative to other proteins. Only six states in the Midwest Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Ohio sold eggs for under $4.50 a dozen. Missouri has the cheapest average price for eggs in the country at $4.24 a dozen. In six states, egg prices were over $6 a dozen Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii and Nevada. Hawaii has the most expensive eggs at $9.73 a dozen. The USDA claims that these historically high prices for a dozen eggs have begun to ease, but any retreat from these high prices has not quite reached American consumers yet. Brian Moscogiuri, a global trade strategist at Irvine, California-based egg supplier Eggs Unlimited, noted that there is traditionally a 20 to 30 percent drop from seasonal high egg prices in January and February lows. Furthermore, it will take some time for retail pricing to respond to wholesale market changes. Curt Covington, senior director of partner relations at agriculture finance company AgAmerica, noted that inflated egg prices tend to decline during the first half of 2023 due to the decrease in demand for eggs after the holidays. But if input costs continue to increase and the bird flu continues to kill large quantities of hens, the costs will likely be passed on to consumers, said Covington. Learn more about the attacks on the American food supply at FoodCollapse.com. Watch this episode of the Health Ranger Report as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about how the mass culling of chickens in America represents the latest attack on the countrys food supply. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Government and Big Pharma plan to taint food supply by injecting animals with mRNA vaccines. Avian flu isnt responsible for egg shortage; skyrocketing livestock feed costs are. Millions of heads of American cattle could soon starve to death due to rail, feed crisis. Attack on food supply: Bill Gates pushing for genetic modification of farm animals. Mass chicken culling based on avian influenza outbreaks just another malicious attack on the FOOD SUPPLY. Sources include: NewsPunch.com InfoWars.com Axios.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Last month, we reported that an American startup company called Make Sunsets had begun deploying chemtrail-releasing weather balloons in the Baja California Sur area of Mexico, supposedly to fight climate change. Well, the Mexican government caught wind of what this company was doing and responded by banning all geoengineering activity across the entire country. The Mexican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) announced that it is now illegal in Mexico to release aerosol particles into the skies to try to block the suns heat, which is what Make Sunset founder Luke Iseman was trying to do. Keep that garbage in the United States, is the gist of Mexicos response to Isemans activities. As of now, all solar engineering projects both big and small are prohibited everywhere south of the border as part of a coordinated effort between Mexicos environment ministry and its National Council of Science and Technology to protect communities and environments from getting mucked up by all that pollution. What Iseman appears to have done was just hop on down to Baja California Sur from the U.S. and start blasting the skies with his experiments. He never asked for permission to do this, and it turns out the Mexican government is not okay with entitled Americans who believe global warming myths polluting Mexicos environment with poison. Iseman now claims he never actually released any sulfur balloons at all In a December interview with MIT Technology Review, Iseman admitted to conducting at least two test balloon launches from a secret location back in April 2022. Since Mexicos ban on such activities, however, Iseman is now denying that he ever released any sulfur balloons at all. Make Sunsets will share all information about its activities in Mexico to date (if any) with responsible agencies, Iseman now claims. Make sunsets will cease its operations in Mexico (if there were any). If Iseman really did release sulfur into the skies on a whim, then he polluted Mexicos environment in violation of the countrys laws. He may have also damaged the environment as chemtrails directly interfere with normal climate function and the general protection it provides for the earths delicate ecosystems. Blocking out sunlight via sulfur particles could trigger rapid and significant global shifts in precipitation that could leave some parts of the planet flooded and others arid, according to past research, reported Newspunch. If not managed properly, solar geoengineering could lead to even more erratic and rapid changes in temperature than were currently experiencing under climate change. And the use of sulfur, specifically, would likely damage Earths crucial ozone layer. Then, theres the geopolitical implications of a country or rogue actor deciding to go ahead and change the stratospheres composition without international buy-in. From a moral and ethical perspective, Mexico sure is looking good these days, especially compared to the United States. Its leaders are trying to eradicate genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from the country, and now they are taking aim at geoengineering, which is a major problem in America. America is one of the only countries, in fact, that refused to sign on to a United Nations moratorium on chemtrails that was agreed upon by nearly 200 other countries, including Mexico, back in 2010. There are enough studies that show that there would be negative and unequal impacts associated with the release of these aerosols, the environment ministry of the UN wrote at the time. Iseman is reportedly upset at the Mexican government for putting an end to his illegal work down in Southern Baja. He complained that one of my dreams is that we could, in some distant future, grow Make Sunsets legally and responsibly. The latest news about geoengineering and chemtrails can be found at Geoengineering.news. Sources for this article include: NaturalNews.com Newspunch.com (Natural News) Official Data shows Germany recorded just under 1 million deaths between week 1 and week 49 of 2022. This sadly resulted in the country suffering over 102k excess deaths. (Article republished from Expose-News.com) This represents a 276% increase on the number of excess deaths recorded in the year 2020, which was the alleged height of the Covid-19 pandemic, and prior to the emergency use authorisation of Covid-19 injections. Does this prove that the COVID Vaccinated did go on to develop Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome as predicted in an official report published by the Robert Koch Institut? Unfortunately, the evidence strongly suggests this is the case. Pfizer lied, causing fully vaccinated Germans to develop Covid-19 vaccine-induced AIDS, which then contributed to 976,838 Germans losing their lives. As the German government published data in January 2022, concerns about the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine began to rise. The data suggested that most of the individuals who had been fully vaccinated would develop full-blown vaccine-induced acquired immunodeficiency syndrome by the end of the month. Furthermore, the data confirmed that the immune systems of the fully vaccinated had already degraded to an average of minus 87%. In Germany at the time, 70.53% were fully vaccinated, 2.97% were partially vaccinated and 26.5% were unvaccinated https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations So the unvaccinated had 186 cases out of 26.5% of the population. While the fully vaccinated had 4020 cases out of 70.53% of the population. So the vaccinated Omicron case incidence was 57 per 1 per cent of the population (830,000 is 1% of the 83 million German population) while the unvaccinated Omicron case incidence was just 7.02 per 1 per cent of the population. So the vaccinated were (57.0/7.02 =) 8.12x more likely to be infected with Omicron than the unvaccinated in Germany. The Koch Institut failed to produce its normal vaccine effectiveness table in its December 30 weekly report. Vaccine effectiveness isnt really a measure of a vaccine, it is a measure of a vaccine recipients immune system performance compared to the immune system performance of an unvaccinated person. Vaccines allegedly help develop immunity by imitating an infection. Once the imitation infection induced by the vaccine goes away, the body is left with a supply of memory t-cells and antibodies that will remember how to fight that disease in the future. So, when the authorities state that the effectiveness of the vaccines weakens over time, what they really mean is that the performance of your immune system weakens over time. Thankfully, we were able to help the Germans out with the information The Koch Institut failed to produce by simply doing the calculation for them using Pfizers vaccine effectiveness formula. Vaccine effectiveness = immune system effectiveness = (1-8.12)/8.12 = -7.12/8.12 = minus-87.7%. Therefore, at the beginning of January 2022, fully vaccinated Germans had an 87.7% lower immune response than the unvaccinated had to Omicron. This means that the average German was down to the last 12.3% of his or her immune system for fighting certain classes of viruses, bacterial infections, and certain cancers, etc. Panic among the Government of Germany Further analysis showed that the average fully vaccinated German would reach minus-100% immune system degradation by the end of January 2022. As the data and death tolls continued to cause public concern, the German government was under pressure to address the situation. In an effort to quell the growing unrest, the government announced at the end of January that the initial data had been incorrect and that there had been a mistake in the analysis. They claimed that the fully vaccinated individuals were not at risk of developing AIDS and that the immune systems of the fully vaccinated had not degraded to an average of minus 87%. However, many were sceptical of these claims and accused the government of attempting to cover up the truth. Critics pointed out that the sudden alteration of the data without any clear explanation or transparency raised suspicions of a cover-up. Despite the German governments efforts to reassure the public, the damage had already been done. The incident had shaken public trust in the government and the pharmaceutical industry, and many were left wondering what the true impact of Covid-19 vaccination really was. As the weeks passed, the situation in Germany continued to worsen. According to official German Government data, by week 49 of 2022, the country had suffered over 102,000 excess deaths, a staggering increase from the 27,291.6 excess deaths reported by week 49 of 2020. This represented a 276% increase in excess deaths in 2022, despite the roll-out of a vaccine that was supposed to lower deaths due to the alleged Covid-19 pandemic. These figures alone should make the public question whether the vaccine had had the opposite effect and if fully vaccinated Germans did indeed develop AIDS by the end of January 2022. The government and pharmaceutical companies will of course continue to deny any responsibility and insist that the vaccine is safe and effective. However, this data proves that you must remain sceptical and continue to demand further research and investigations into the consequences of issuing an experimental mRNA gene therapy to millions of people for the first time, and numerous times. Because as the death toll continues to rise, it has become clear that something is not right and that the true impact of the Covid-19 injections needs to be fully understood. And if Covid-19 injections causing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in early 2022 are not to blame for Germany recording a 276% increase in excess deaths in 2022 compared to 2020, then the German government needs to urgently explain to the public what on earth is. Read more at: Expose-News.com Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has received the credentials of the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Hellenic Republic Christos Capodistrias. Ambassador Christos Capodistrias presented his credentials to the head of state. President Ilham Aliyev had a conversation with the ambassador. The head of state said that the Southern Gas Corridor is a project of common interest connecting the two countries and contributing to the development of the entire region. He also noted that Greece plays the role as a transit country in the delivery of Azerbaijani gas to other European countries. President Ilham Aliyev recalled his participation in the inauguration ceremony of the Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria, and stressed the importance of this project's contribution to Europe's energy security. The head of state underlined that there are ample opportunities for the development of cooperation between the two countries in energy, as well as in other fields. Ambassador Christos Capodistrias said that he will spare no effort to develop relations between the two countries during his tenure in Azerbaijan, noting that there is great potential for the expansion of cooperation. The diplomat emphasized that there are wide opportunities for cooperation particularly in science, education, culture, tourism, information and communication technologies and other areas. During the meeting, the sides also touched upon Azerbaijan's cooperation with the European Union and NATO. It was noted that Greece supports the expansion of Azerbaijan's relations with both organizations. During the conversation, the sides also touched upon the regional issues. President Ilham Aliyev informed the ambassador of the events that took place on the Lachin-Khankandi road in the territory of Azerbaijan, adding that the claims of the Armenian side about the alleged closure of the road are completely groundless. The head of state noted that since December 12, the movement of civilian goods and civilians, as well as about 1,000 vehicles has been ensured on this road in both directions through the Russian peacekeepers and the International Committee of the Red Cross. (Natural News) A former longtime pilot at United Airlines who is unvaccinated for Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) and wants to stay that way has joined 30 other unvaccinated pilots, flight attendants, ramp service workers, and other personnel in suing the company for discriminating against them based on their pureblood status. On January 19, Tom Floyd, who now works for a private jet firm after getting canned at United, along with the others, filed a complaint stating that they were fired, placed on unpaid leave, or otherwise had their careers at United limited or terminated without just compensation. This is an action for legal and equitable relief to redress Defendants invasions of privacy, negligence, failure to accommodate, religious discrimination, creation of a hostile work environment, violations of the Genetic Information Non-Disclosure Act (GINA) and otherwise wrongful conduct that was perpetrated, encouraged, and condoned by Defendants, the complaint further states. Such wrongful conduct was predicated on Defendants unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation against Plaintiffs based on their requests for religious accommodations from Defendants coronavirus vaccine mandate. (Related: After firing all of its unvaccinated pilots, JetBlue replaced at least one of them with a violent felon.) United Airlines issued COVID jab mandate after U.S. Treasury agreed to loan the company $7.5 billion Principal attorney John Pierce, who also defended victims of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection psy-op, told the independent media that Floyd is among the key leaders of the group suing United. It first began in April 2021 when United issued a strong recommendation to its personnel that they take the jabs. One month later in May, United reached an agreement with its pilot union to not mandate the jabs, which seemed like a victory until United then started trying to incentivize its workers into getting jabbed by offering three vacation days, or the equivalent of 10 hours pay, to comply. The companys policies then changed not long after that to require that all new hires show proof of injection in order to gain employment. Then in August, a company-wide jab mandate was issued the first one for the airline industry. United did allow employees to apply for a religious exemption, but Floyd said many, if not most, who did this were denied. The company was hostile, demanding letters from their churches to prove that they really have a religious objection to getting injected. Floyd, a devout Christian, was denied his exemption based on these grounds. Around that time, United CEO Scott Kirby sarcastically described employees such as Plaintiffs as all of a sudden deciding Im really religious,' the suit states. It turns out that United more than likely imposed these militant policies on its employees because of a loan agreement with the Department of the Treasury, which agreed to let the company borrow $7.491 billion just so long as it complied with certain restrictions on employee compensation, stock repurchases, dividends and reductions in employment levels, as required by the CARES Act. Treasury will receive warrants to purchase common stock equal to 10 percent of the total loan amount drawn, reads a transaction summary from the Treasury Department about this agreement. Put simply, the United States government bought into United and thus imposed its own agenda on the company. As usual, it is always about the money, the love of which is the root of all evil. I will never fly on United again! one commenter wrote in response to all these revelations. They have the moral and ethical backbone of a jellyfish. Such are never to be trusted. Interested in learning more about the dangers and ineffectiveness of COVID injections? You can do so at ChemicalViolence.com. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Oskar Schindler was a German industrialist who saved over 1,000 Polish Jews from Hitlers Holocaust by giving them factory jobs deemed essential to the German war effort of WWII. This prevented the evil Nazi SS forces from taking these Jews to concentration camps, where they would surely die from torture, starvation, gas chambers, or two bullets to the head. Likewise, today, Americans should be standing up for the doctors and scientists who are blowing the whistle on the toxic Covid-19 clot shots, that are genocidal bioweapons of World War III, the silent war on humanity. Certain doctors are literally saving children, right now, from the deadly Wuhan virus jabs by giving children saline injections and fake vaccination cards, instead of killing them with genocidal, gene-mutating, vascular-clotting, spike protein injections. Just as Oskar Schindler stood up for Jews and defied the Nazi plan of their total extermination, we should all be standing up for whistleblowers in the medical and scientific fields that are exposing the Vaccine Holocaust taking place right now, on American soil. How would you like to participate in saving millions of innocent lives? Utah doctors using saline shots to save American children from the Covid vaccine gas chambers Instead of being arrested, several Utah doctors should be given the Nobel Prize for saving the lives of children who otherwise would have been subjected to the genocidal clot shots their parents did NOT want them to receive. A Utah plastic surgeon and three others are being charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, for trashing Covid clot shots and creating fake vaccine cards, in order to save childrens health and lives. Dr. Michael Kirk Moore Jr. has been arrested for giving saline shots to kids instead of the vascular-clotting gene mutation jabs the CDC so highly recommends for Fauci Flu. Dr. Moore and his neighbor, Kristin Anderson, are both charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to convert, sell, convey, and dispose of government property, conversion sale, conveyance, and disposal of government property and aiding and abetting. Even the doctors office manager and receptionist are facing the same charges. Dr. Moore was trying to liberate the medical profession from government tyranny and CDC-inflicted genocide by vaccine, much like Oskar Schindler tried to liberate Jews from Hitlers wrath and the gas chambers of the concentration camps. The four accused are said to have destroyed $28,000 worth of deadly Covid jabs and distributed nearly 2,000 fake vaccination record cards. Saline shots were given to children instead of toxic spike protein injections, at the PARENTS request, who all must know about the high risk of complications associated with the Wuhan virus injections. These doctors should be given Nobel Prizes for preserving health freedom instead of being persecuted by the CDC and the Vaccine Industrial Complex of the USA. As morbidity and mortality rates skyrocket across the country and around the world, just in the past two years since the clot shots have been authorized for emergency use only, anyone who injects children, teens, or adults with these toxic jabs is doing a disservice to humanity. Perfectly healthy athletes, airline pilots, and military members around the world are dropping dead from heart attacks, strokes, and vascular clots, while the Biden Regime and the CDC continue to push for deadly Covid boosters, to make matters even worse. The Vaccine Holocaust is real, and everyone who knows its happening needs to support everyone else whos blowing the whistle and trying to save people. Bookmark Vaccines.news to your favorite independent websites for updates on the Vaccine Holocaust thats sweeping the nation and the world as you read this. Sources for this article include: Pandemic.news TheGatewayPundit.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) The entire campaign to push covid vaccine boosters on the world is deceptive, according to Wall Street Journal editorial board member Allysia Finley. Putting Big Pharma on blast for this deception, Finley wrote that federal agencies are also to blame for taking the unprecedented step of ordering vaccine makers to produce them and recommending them without data supporting their safety or efficacy. Specifically, it was the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that colluded with vaccine corporations to push out false messaging about how bivalent booster shots will improve your protection against covid. This is patently false based on the data. You might have heard a radio advertisement warning that if youve had Covid, you could get it again and experience even worse symptoms, Finley wrote. The message, sponsored by the Health and Human Services Department, claims that updated bivalent vaccines will improve your protection. This is deceptive advertising. But the public-health establishments praise for the bivalent shots shouldnt come as a surprise. (Related: Both the European Union and the World Health Organization have also warned that covid boosters are dangerous.) Covid booster shots destroy immunity What we have all been told is that modifying messenger RNA injections to accommodate every new alleged variant and subvariant that comes along is as simple as just making a few simple tweaks. Then the tweakers who take said shots get their latest drug fix, helping them to avoid covid. None of this is true, not to mention the fact that it is dangerous. As Finley pointed out, there are three scientific problems with these false claims being made by Big Pharma and HHS: 1. The so-called virus is mutating at a much faster rate than the jabs can be tweaked. 2. The initial jab series already hard wired peoples immune systems to respond to the original Wuhan strain, so we churn out fewer antibodies that neutralize variants targeted by updated vaccines. 3. Antibody protection wanes after just a few months. This and more was confirmed in two separate studies published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), which found that the latest boosters are not producing antibodies to the latest strains of covid. The authors of these studies commented that this immune imprinting process may pose a greater challenge than is currently appreciated for inducing robust immunity against SARS-CoV-2 variants and this is amplified with each new booster. Every person who took the initial injections for the Wuhan strain was subjected to retraining of their B-cells, which are responsible for producing antibodies. These people were primed by the initial shot series to respond just to that strain, and they mounted an inferior antibody response to other variants, the studies confirmed. These findings contradict the claims of Pfizer and Moderna, which claim that taking their new respective boosters will help boost protection against the latest variants and subvariants by 400-600 percent. Finley says this is misleading, which is a nicer way of saying that Pfizer and Moderna are lying just to generate more sales. This is all about profit, after all and perhaps genocide, too and has nothing to do with protecting people against any disease. The vaccine makers designed their studies to get the results they wanted, is how she put it. Public-health authorities didnt raise an eyebrow, but why would they? They have a vested interest in promoting the bivalents. It is shocking that the Journal even published Finleys op-ed since it is a direct affront to the prevailing narrative. Perhaps we have reached critical mass with this conversation and the tide is about to turn? The latest news about injuries and deaths caused by covid shots can be found at ChemicalViolence.com. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com NaturalNews.com The Philippines' Agriculture officials in Lamitan city, Basilan had already expressed concern about a disease that is causing the infection of rubber trees in the province and, if left unchecked, might threaten 50,000 hectares of rubber plantation and affect 17,000 workers. Disease ravaged the Basilan rubber trees Trees in over 1,000 hectares of rubber plantations in nine towns and two cities also displayed symptoms of disease, which were previously misdiagnosed as premature wintering, as per inquirer.net. Basilan Governor Jim Salliman agreed to sign the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Council) resolution stating the entire province in a state of calamity on Monday. Earlier, Eugenio Madayao, 57, a rubber tapper at one of the plantations here, speak up about some concerns about what he initially mistook for the early wintering of rubber trees. What bothered the tappers was indeed the sudden drying of leaves without the usual color changes before they fell off the branches, followed by the trees' failure to leaf. Numerous rubber tappers assumed it was premature wintering, it was actually a plant disease triggered by Pestalotiopsis microspora, a species of endophytic fungus that is capable of breaking and digesting polyurethane, as evidenced by the drying of foliage and branches of rubber trees, according to Sorhayda Aguisandra, a provincial agriculturist. Among its symptoms are circular spots on leaves that gradually turn brown, eventually making the entire tree bald and dry. She stated that approximately 1,570 ha of rubber trees had been destroyed in nine towns and the two cities of Lamitan and Isabela. According to their assessment, nearly 90% of the rubber trees in the nine towns, as well as two cities, are infected, with the exception of Mohammad Ajul and Akbar, where rubber trees were just 10% to 15% infected. Rubber plantations can be found in Basilan. The province has over 50,000 ha of rubber plantation, with 11 major cooperatives and thousands of farmers and small plantations involved. According to preliminary estimates, more than 17,000 rubber tappers will be affected in the province if work stops, which is unavoidable, she added. Aguisandra cited the advice of PRRI pathologist Gail Villanueva, who made aware the province that it was already dealing with a rubber disease outbreak and that rubber tapping needed to be halted for at least three months in order to fertilize and declutter the ground. Also Read: Dandelions Tell Us the Secrets of Natural Rubber Trees need remission to fight fungus Trees can be harmed by fungal diseases. Funguses can erode a tree's structural integrity, causing it to fall apart, as per M&M Treecare. A fungus also may attack the leaves, impairing a tree's ability to produce food via photosynthesis. Fungal spores have always been present in the vicinity of your tree. There is nothing you could do to keep your tree from coming into contact with spores. The great news is that trees are born resistant to most fungi. The best medicine is to keep ones trees healthy in order to prevent fungal infections. Make sure trees do have the proper amount of moisture at their roots, and the proper amount of nourishment, as well as the sunlight. They are all essential components of maintaining your tree healthy. Because healthy trees are rarely infected with fungi, it is perfectly normal for spores to float around them. Related Article: HEVEA RUBBER TREE Kolumbo, an underwater volcano off the Greek island of Santorini, has been quiet for over 400 years, but it is not sleeping. The steady filling of a previously unknown magma chamber with melt has prompted geologists to urge real-time monitoring of the volcano. The last time Kolumbo erupted, in 1650, it killed 70 people, but population development and tourism on Santorini mean an equal eruption today may be significantly more devastating. Santorini braces as explosive volcano stir Kolumbo is a member of the very explosive volcano family, capable of creating an eruption column tens of kilometers high, as per The Guardian. It also has the potential to cause a tsunami, making it a very frightening scenario. Kajetan Chrapkiewicz of Imperial College London and his colleagues discovered melt two miles beneath the volcano using a novel imaging technology akin to medical ultrasound. Their findings, published in the journal Geochemistry, Geophysics, and Geosystems, indicate that, while an eruption is not imminent, the volcano offers a major hazard. Another group of researchers aboard the Joides Resolution research vessel is digging sediments near Kolumbo in order to recreate its eruption history over the last million years. They intended to learn more about the relationships between earthquakes and volcanoes in this region, as well as the effect of sea-level change on the magnitude and frequency of eruptions. Also Read: Thera: Archaeologists Sets up Its Long Disputed Date on the Volcanic Eruption in Santorini, Greece The volcanic eruption in Thera A major volcanic explosion, possibly the greatest ever observed by humans, occurred in 1646 BC at Thera (present-day Santorini), an Aegean island near Crete, as per the Canadian Museum of History. The explosion, which was believed to be the equivalent of 40 atomic bombs or nearly 100 times more powerful than the Pompeii eruption, ripped out the interior of the island and permanently changed its topology. As a result of the volcanic eruption, up to 20,000 people may have died. Akrotiri, a village on Thera, was buried in a thick blanket of ash and pumice, just as Pompeii was centuries later. The old Bronze Age village was buried for more than 3,500 years, one of Greece's numerous historical secrets. The settlement of Akrotiri was then found by chance, as is often the case with many cultural sites. Quarry workers were digging up pumice for use in the production of cement for the Suez Canal when they came across some stone walls in the center of their quarry. These were subsequently discovered to be the ruins of a long-forgotten town. Archaeologists from France and, subsequently, Germany conducted exploratory excavations in the second half of the nineteenth century, but systematic excavation at the site did not begin in earnest until 1967. Spyridon Marinatos, with the assistance of the Archaeological Society of Athens, soon began excavating the ruins of the old town. The subterranean houses were not only two or three stories tall, but the original building materials (clay and wood) had been ruined by earthquakes, fire, and the passage of time. It was vital to go gently and cautiously. Work on the project has already lasted over four decades and is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. The Akrotiri site has not produced large quantities of gold, silver, and bronze objects, certainly not on the scale that could have been expected if the residents had been caught off guard. But a magnificent visual heritage was left, most of which is being meticulously collected by Christos Doumas and his colleagues. The paintings at Akrotiri are remarkable; they were unusually well-preserved by the protective ash layer that covered them, and their positions may be linked to various rooms around the town. Related article: Future Volcanic Eruption Imminent as Magma Chamber Grows Under Mediterranean Volcano [Study] Juniper Networks is releasing a new version of its Apstra intent-based networking software that includes more extensive configuration capabilities, additional multivendor hardware and software support, and improved environmental analytics. Apstra keeps a real-time repository of configuration, telemetry and validation information to ensure a network is doing what the enterprise wants it to do. Companies can use Apstra's automation capabilities to deliver consistent network and security policies for workloads across physical and virtual infrastructures. In addition, Apstra performs regular network checks to safeguard configurations. It's hardware agnostic, so it can be integrated to work with Junipers networking products as well as boxes from Cisco, Arista, Dell, Microsoft and Nvidia. Since it bought Apstra in 2021, Juniper has been on a mission to add features and expand its use to a wider range of data center organizations. The latest upgrades continue that strategy. Juniper Apstra version 4.1.2 can now push configurations in bulk across hundreds of routing zones, virtual networks and racks, for example. This lets customers more easily allocate virtual networks to new racks or assign multiple new racks all at one time rather than individually. Customers can more easily allocate or deallocate as the case might be resources and services depending on needs, according to a blog on the new Apstra release by Ben Baker, senior director, Cloud/DC Marketing & Business Analysis, with Juniper. The new release also adds support for additional multivendor hardware such as the latest Cisco Nexus 9508 switch and Arista DCS-7280SR3 spine and leaf box. It also now integrates with the latest release of VMwares NSX-T 3.2 networking software to automate VLAN deployment and validate configurations for customers using that software. Baker stated the vendor has also enhanced its recently introduced Freeform Reference Design package, which lets customers design data-center networks that support any protocol, topology or network domain. Data center reference designs are offered by all major data center players and typically feature validated, repeatable infrastructure system maps that detail how networked resources are configured. New to the latest release is the ability to clone and edit configuration templates and property sets. It also supports new configlets that function like Chrome browser add-ons, so customers can seamlessly integrate the network device configuration tools they prefer, Baker stated. For its intent-based analytics package, Juniper has added new probes that can report environmental conditions such as temperature, fan status, power consumption and optical transceiver health. The idea is to let customers monitor systems and be more quickly alerted to potential hardware problems to avoid failures and outages, Baker said. Juniper Apstra Version 4.1.2 will be available this month. Current students have their tuition frozen for all four years under Illinois law. The per-semester cost for new in-state undergraduates will rise about 1.9 percent across the board in fall 2023, and more for nonresident students. One of the unfounded calls, to Champaign police, indicated there was a shooter at Central High School. "No such event took place," Principal Joe Williams wrote in a letter to families and staff. "Out of an abundance of caution, the officers and security officials walked the entire building to ensure the safety" of all. 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. Obesity is linked to many adverse health outcomes, including in pregnancy. However, there is little information on the effect of maternal obesity on neonatal mortality and illness. A recent study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology Maternal-Fetal Medicine discusses the association of maternal body mass index (BMI) in pregnancy with neonatal outcomes. More specifically, the researchers were interested in determining whether maternal obesity increased the risk of poor neonatal outcomes, independent of the presence of pre-existing diabetes and chronic hypertension. Study: Short-term neonatal outcomes of pregnancies complicated by maternal obesity. Image Credit: FotoDuets / Shutterstock.com Introduction Maternal obesity is relatively common in pregnancy, with about one-third of pregnancies in the United States complicated by obesity. Obesity is linked to maternal hypertension, diabetes, and pre-eclampsia, as it is a chronic inflammatory state. During pregnancy, obese mothers are more likely to suffer miscarriage and stillbirth, with the infants born to these mothers at a greater risk of congenital anomalies, macrosomia, shoulder dystocia, neonatal death, and meconium aspiration. The current study examines how maternal obesity affects neonatal health and mortality. Herein, the scientists used data from a set of singleton deliveries from 24-42 weeks gestation in 25 hospitals between 2008-2011. Maternal BMI was classified into the reference group of normal/overweight. The experimental groups of obese (OB), morbidly obese (MO), and super-morbidly obese (SMO) were categorized based on BMI, with values ranging from 30-39.9 kg/m2, 40-49.9 kg/m2, and 50 kg/m2 or more, respectively. Reference BMI values were between 18.5-29.9 kg/m2. All patients in reference and other groups were matched for baseline characteristics such as age, race, ethnicity, chronic hypertension, diabetes, and previous Cesarean section, along with cigarette use and insurance status. The scientists assessed neonatal death, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), respiratory distress syndrome, and other neonatal complications. Preterm delivery, defined as birth before 37 weeks gestation, as well as maternal pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, were also included. What did the study show? The current study included over 52,000 patients and their neonates, 42% of whom were OB, and 7% and 1% were MO and SMO, respectively. Obesity was associated with pre-existing diabetes, chronic hypertension, and cigarette use, increasing with BMI, though at a lower rate compared to the reference group. Hispanics were overrepresented in the OB group, whereas Black mothers were overrepresented in the MO and SMO groups, which also had a higher proportion of women with a history of Cesarean section. Pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, and Cesarean section were more frequently reported as BMI increased. Preterm births were least likely in the OB group but increased from OB to SMO at less than 37 weeks and less than 28 weeks gestation. Birth weights tended to increase with maternal BMI, with baby weights greater than 4 kg more likely in pregnancies in OB, MO, and SMO mothers. These babies were also more likely to have a congenital defect. The risk of neonatal morbidity increased by one-third in neonates born to MO mothers compared to those born to women in the reference group. However, no such association was observed for babies born to OB or SMO mothers. Pre-existing obesity and obesity in early pregnancy might predict an increased risk of more significant neonatal morbidity. What are the implications? Serious neonatal illnesses were higher for babies born to MO mothers as compared to those in the reference group, even after allowing for the confounding effects of maternal diabetes, pre-eclampsia, and preterm delivery. However, neonatal deaths did not rise in concordance with maternal BMI. Furthermore, composite morbidity among neonates did not increase with rising BMI, provided the presence of chronic hypertension and pre-existing diabetes was accounted for. Babies born to MO and SMO mothers were more likely to weigh more than 4 kg and have congenital disabilities, corroborating earlier reports. However, while preterm delivery has been previously observed to be more common in babies born to obese mothers, there is some controversy about the validity of this finding, with the current study reporting fewer preterm births among OB mothers. Conversely, the risk of preterm births at less than 37 weeks and less than 28 weeks increased with increasing BMI. The reasons underlying the increased short-term neonatal morbidity in babies born to obese mothers remain to be identified; however, normalizing the BMI before conception, in addition to controlling chronic hypertension and diabetes, may help prevent or mitigate the adverse impact of obesity on neonatal outcomes. As the U.S. population ages, the number of people receiving long-term services and supports in their own home has grown, including the use of self-directed care. Self-directed care enables long-term care recipients to hire and manage their own workers, rather than using a home care agency. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the strain this industry. New research from the University of Kansas shows that consumers shouldered as many responsibilities as typical home care employers, often with little added resources and many barriers in the way. Policies allowing more flexibility could help consumers address challenges raised by worker shortages and budget constraints, according to the researchers. A KU research team received $646,620 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to study how the pandemic affected Medicaid-funded Home and Community-Based Services, known as HCBS. In their first published study from the project, researchers conducted 54 in-depth interviews with home- and community-based services consumers, direct support workers, family caregivers and providers in Kansas. They found worker shortages, low wages and increased employer responsibility placed on consumers contributed to unmet care needs, stress and negative health outcomes. While some government flexibility helped address those issues, more flexibility is needed, the authors write. The study, published in the Journal of Applied Gerontology, was written by Carrie Wendel-Hummell, director of the Center for Research on Aging and Disability Options in KU's School of Social Welfare; Tracey LaPierre, associate professor of sociology; Darcy Sullivan and Jennifer Babitzke, graduate research assistants in sociology at KU; Lora Swartzendruber, research project coordinator in social welfare; Tobi Barta, master's in social work research scholar; and Danielle Olds of Saint Luke's Hospital. Self-directed care is meant to put the autonomy in people's hands. You have a caregiver coming into your home, and you want to be able to trust the person who's giving that care and helping you with very intimate tasks in many cases. We found instances where people couldn't find anyone to interview because of workforce shortages. There were instances where they wanted someone to wear a mask or be vaccinated, but they weren't able to find people who met those standards." Carrie Wendel-Hummell, Director of the Center for Research on Aging and Disability Options in KU's School of Social Welfare Those challenges were among the four main themes the study uncovered. First, preexisting workforce shortages were exacerbated by the pandemic. Some who worked in the field left due to COVID-19 safety concerns, and wages remained stagnant, researchers said. The workers also did not have access to insurance or paid leave, which became more important during the pandemic. A second major theme highlighted how self-directed consumers assume much of the responsibility of employers without any added resources. While home care agencies could pool organizational resources or access CARES Act or ARPA funds, self-directed care consumers could not access similar funds to improve worker pay or benefits. The state of Kansas did access emergency funds to provide PPE to self-directed consumers, but this was not always enough, and many self-directed consumers or workers paid for PPE out of their own pockets, researchers found. Self-directed consumers also had other out-of-pocket expenses, such as advertising for help, performing background checks on potential hires or paying for gas for workers who provided transportation-related services. Appendix K provided federal guidelines that allowed state Medicaid authorities to temporarily adjust HCBS rules and regulations during emergency situations. This allowed some flexibility and demonstrated the potential to alleviate unmet care needs, the study found, but didn't go far enough. For example, the policy allowed consumers to hire family members to address care gaps who previously were not eligible. However, hiring family members was not possible or ideal for everyone. Also, while Appendix K allowed paid family members to reinvest their wages into consumer care, the regulations were "surrounded by confusion and not always well communicated," the authors wrote. The final theme showed that structural constraints adversely affected caregiver, worker and consumer outcomes. The burden on caregivers and workers increased in response to pandemic conditions and workforce shortages. Those challenges limited consumer self-determination, which in effect defeats the purpose of self-directed care, Wendel-Hummell said. Ultimately, that led to unmet care needs, such as falls while using the bathroom and even a death when a caregiver could have been in the home if not for shortages. "There's the increased depression and anxiety that I have, skin breakdowns and pressure sores, and those kind of things I didn't really have to deal with that much before," one consumer told the research team. The authors wrote that policy could go a long way toward addressing the challenges. The potential shown by Appendix K was evidence of that. The study was based in Kansas, but many states have similar challenges, especially those that have not expanded Medicaid, researchers said. Medicaid expansion would help provide health care coverage for many of these low-wage workers. Legislative approval is necessary to increase wages or provide benefits for the Medicaid-funded home and community-based services workforce, researchers said. A pay increase to keep pace with other industries that are considered entry-level work, as well as budget authority to provide a pool of money to cover consumer costs incurred by the pandemic and to improve hiring, would assist in addressing those challenges, as would providing health insurance, paid leave and other benefits, the authors wrote as part of their recommendations. In addition to alleviating pandemic-related needs, the researchers said such policies could address ongoing direct care workforce issues. "If anything, these challenges are growing because we have new disabilities due to COVID, an aging population and more hesitancy about entering long-term care facilities because of increased concern of contracting COVID-19," LaPierre said. "People want to be able to receive care in their own homes." Fertilization is the union of two cells: an egg and a sperm. Before the egg and the sperm fuse, an event known as the "acrosome reaction" needs to occur in the sperm. Now, a team from Osaka University has identified a protein called FER1L5 that is essential for sperm to undergo the acrosome reaction. There is a cap-like vesicle structure called the acrosome over the front of the head of a sperm. As the sperm migrates in the female reproductive tract in mammals, the acrosome reaction occurs, which involves the release of molecules in the acrosome to facilitate fertilization. Although the acrosome reaction is essential for sperm to fertilize eggs, the molecular mechanism that regulates the acrosome reaction remains unclear. The research team examined FER-1, a ferlin family protein essential for fertilization in the nematode (i.e., roundworm) called C. elegans. Unlike mammalian sperm, such as those of humans and mice, C. elegans sperm move like amoebae. FER-1 has been found to be important for membranous organelle fusion and the initiation of amoeboid movement. In mice, six ferlin family proteins are similar to FER-1: DYSF, OTOF, MYOF, FER1L4, FER1L5, and FER1L6. While DYSF is known to be involved in muscular dystrophy and OTOF in deafness, clarification is needed on whether proteins similar to FER-1 are involved in mammalian sperm function. "When we generated mice that were lacking one particular member of the ferlin family, FER1L5, the sperm of the male mice were unable to fertilize eggs," explains first author Akane Morohoshi. However, the fertility of female mice lacking FER1L5 was unchanged. The team then went on to show that sperm lacking FER1L5 were unable to undergo the acrosome reaction. "Even though we added a strong inducer, no acrosome reaction took place in sperm lacking FER1L5, suggesting that FER1L5 is critical for the acrosome reaction," explains senior author Haruhiko Miyata. Our results indicate that the function of ferlin proteins is well conserved from nematodes to mice, although their sperm look different." Masahito Ikawa, Senior Author While this study was carried out on mice, FER1L5 protein is known to be present in human sperm. Further research resulting from this study may therefore lead to new treatments and diagnostic methods for male infertility in humans. Caron Products and Services, Inc. (Caron), a leading provider of laboratory equipment used in R&D and manufacturing of biological and biopharmaceutical products such as cell and gene therapy research, today announced the company has received the Patents for Humanity COVID-19 Program Award from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for their innovative vaporized hydrogen peroxide decontamination chamber to disinfect personal protection equipment (PPE). The award recognizes innovative companies for their rapid responses to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic through the use of game-changing technologies. A list of the winning award recipients may be found on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website: https://www.uspto.gov/blog/director/entry/recognizing-life-saving-covid-19 We are honored to receive the Patents for Humanity COVID-19 award as we strive to make a positive impact for our global community, shared Jay Hexamer, Caron President and CEO. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, PPE was used at never-before rates all over the world resulting in a short supply of PPE. The Caron team focused our R&D efforts and New Product Development to help solve this problem and provide solutions needed worldwide with a cost-effective sterilization solution for PPE. The awards, as outlined on the U.S. Patent and Trademark website, recognize innovators with a pending U.S. patent application or issued U.S. patent focused on inventions that track, prevent, diagnose, or treat COVID-19. The winning innovations, which receive acceleration certificates to expedite select proceedings at the USPTO, went through two rounds of judging by experts, based on two scoring criteria: the effectiveness of the technology to address COVID-19, and the technologys ultimate impact. Im proud of our team and companys dedication in how we support research, development, and production to best serve our communities, added Hexamer. Caron has a long history of innovation. The company received its first patent on March 27, 2018, for a phase change material aiding temperature regulation control in an incubator. This significant achievement is at the heart of the work the company supports by regulating temperature uniformity and stability. Since the first patent was issued in 2018, Caron has received six additional patents, averaging nearly a patent a year. In addition to their vaporized hydrogen peroxide decontamination chamber, Caron automation enclosures played a critical role in vaccine development and production. This award is a highlight of my 23-year tenure with Caron as it shows our companys commitment and desire to better the world for all of humanity, stated Bob Dotterer, Global Vice President of Engineering. About Caron Products and Services, Inc. Founded in 1985, Caron Products is a leading provider of laboratory equipment, environmental chambers and incubators, biosafety cabinets, and Lab Automation Enclosures in the life science industry. Our customers are in the Biopharma, Biotech, Education, Healthcare, and Industrial markets who discover life-changing therapies and consumable products to cure illnesses and enable a healthier world. All team members at Caron Products are an important part of our ecosystem and our work has meaningful impact on achieving our main goal of opening doors for scientists. For more information, visit www.caronproducts.com. "Almost every study now has said with these new boosters, youre more likely to get infected with the bivalent booster." Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, on Jan. 17, 2023, during a press conference As he proposed to extend the states ban on mandates for covid vaccines and face masks, Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis lobbed a flurry of criticism at President Joe Biden and the medical establishment. They were not following the science, DeSantis said at a Jan. 17 press conference in Panama City Beach. Almost every study now has said with these new boosters, youre more likely to get infected with the bivalent booster. Fewer than 11% of eligible Floridians have received an updated booster vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bivalent booster, which contains components of the original covid virus and the omicron variant, is designed to provide broad protection against illness or hospitalization from those covid strains. Research into the efficacy of the bivalent booster in preventing infection continues. Broadly speaking, covid vaccines do not prevent infection; they prevent the virus from spreading within the body and causing severe illness, according to Johns Hopkins University. Early CDC research shows that people who got the booster were 84% less likely to be hospitalized from covid. The data collected on the boosters ability to curb infection is early and limited. Some clinical trials have shown that bivalent shots are no more equipped to prevent people from contracting covid than the original vaccines. Although some people have suggested the bivalent booster offers little protection against infection, DeSantis went further. He said people who received the bivalent booster shot were more susceptible to covid than those who hadnt. The governors press office responded to PolitiFacts inquiry about the claim, citing two articles and three studies, two of which are not yet peer-reviewed. The most recent came from the Cleveland Clinic and was discussed in an opinion article in The Wall Street Journal. Dr. Nabin Shrestha, an infectious-disease physician and one of the studys authors, told PolitiFact the data did not find a link between the bivalent shot and a higher risk of contracting covid. The early conclusion was the opposite of what DeSantis said: The dose is, in fact, effective in preventing infection. DeSantis conclusion could not be drawn from that study Cleveland Clinic researchers examined the bivalent boosters effectiveness in preventing infection among 51,011 health care workers some of whom had not received the booster from September to December 2022. Pfizer and Moderna offer the bivalent booster, which the FDA authorized in August. Over those four months, about 5% of the clinics employees contracted covid. The researchers then estimated that the bivalent booster was about 30% effective in reducing the likelihood of contracting the virus. The Cleveland Clinic researchers were not trying to determine the bivalent vaccines effectiveness in preventing severe illness or hospitalization. The study wasnt measuring the vaccine causing infection, said Jill Roberts, a public health professor at the University of South Florida. The study was measuring the efficacy of the bivalent vaccine in preventing infection. What drove coverage in outlets like The Wall Street Journal was an unexpected association researchers found between the number of prior vaccine doses and an increased risk of contracting covid. People with three or more doses of the vaccine had a higher chance of getting infected. That finding quickly overshadowed the protection the bivalent shot provided. The Wall Street Journal opinion piece cited the Cleveland Clinics study as evidence that vaccine boosters are making the population as a whole more vulnerable to covid. Andrea Pacetti, the Cleveland Clinics public and media relations director, told PolitiFact that the study population, whose average age was 42, is not reflective of the general public. The study was done in a younger, relatively healthy, health care employee population. It included no children, very few elderly individuals and likely few immunocompromised individuals, Pacetti said. Therefore, we urge caution in generalizing the findings to the public, which can include different populations. More than 50% of the health care workers participating in the clinics study had received three or more doses of a covid vaccine; only 12% were not vaccinated. Dr. Rene Najera, an epidemiologist and director of the Center for Public Health at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, said the Cleveland Clinic studys outcome was unsurprising given the characteristics of the research subjects mostly vaccinated health care workers. If the majority of the study population received three or more doses of a covid vaccine, for instance, then it is reasonable to assume that the majority of covid cases would occur in that population. Those who were studied were health care workers: more likely to be exposed, more likely to be vaccinated as well, Najera told PolitiFact. If the study is found to be sound through peer review, its findings would only be applicable to health care workers in large settings such as the Cleveland Clinic, not the general public. Pacetti further emphasized that the study has not yet been peer-reviewed, and more research is needed to either confirm or refute this finding. The Cleveland Clinic acknowledged that two other studies had found a similar association between the number of prior vaccine doses and an increased risk of contracting covid, though it had similar limitations. One of the studies had not yet been peer-reviewed, and the other examined only health care employees. And even with that finding, the Cleveland Clinics study did not suggest the bivalent booster increased the likelihood of infection. DeSantis statement is incorrect, Najera said. That conclusion cannot be drawn from that study, and the authors state that it is not designed to evaluate that association. Our ruling DeSantis said, Almost every study now has said with these new boosters, youre more likely to get infected with the bivalent booster. An unpublished study from the Cleveland Clinic examined the bivalent covid boosters effectiveness in preventing infection among a group of about 50,000 health care workers. However, one of the studys authors told PolitiFact that the research did not find an association with the bivalent booster and a higher risk of covid. The study found that the bivalent booster is 30% effective in preventing infection from the virus. The researchers did find that there could be an association between the number of prior vaccine doses and an increased risk of contracting covid. Still, that finding did not suggest the bivalent booster could cause infection or increase the likelihood of infection. We rate DeSantis claim False. Our sources Gov. Ron DeSantis Rumble, Permanent Protections Against the COVID-19 Biomedical Security State, Jan. 17, 2023 Cleveland Clinic, Effectiveness of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Bivalent Vaccine, accessed Jan. 19, 2023 Email interview with Bryan Griffin, press secretary for Gov. Ron DeSantis, Jan. 19, 2023 Email interview with Jill Roberts, professor of public health at the University of South Florida, Jan. 19, 2023 Email interview with Dr. Rene Najera, an epidemiologist and director of the Center for Public Health at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, Jan. 19, 2023 Email interview with Andrea Pacetti, director of public and media relations for the Cleveland Clinic, Jan. 19, 2023 The Washington Post, No, Vaccines Arent Making New Covid Variants Worse, Jan. 6, 2023 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID data tracker, accessed Jan. 19, 2023 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Early Estimates of Bivalent mRNA Vaccine Effectiveness in Preventing COVID-19-Associated Hospitalization, Jan. 20, 2023 The Wall Street Journal, Are Vaccines Fueling New Covid Variants? Jan. 1, 2023 U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Rumor Control, accessed Jan. 19, 2023 The Lancet, The Vaccinated Proportion of People With COVID-19 Needs Context, accessed Jan. 19, 2023 Tampa Bay Times, DeSantis Wants Ban on COVID Mask and Vaccine Mandates to Be Permanent, Jan. 17, 2023 PolitiFact, Why Were the Recent COVID-19 Boosters Authorized Before Human Trials Were Completed? Sept. 13, 2022 MedRxiv, A Bivalent Omicron-Containing Booster Vaccine Against Covid-19, accessed Jan. 19, 2023 The covid-19 pandemic has spurred a surge in the proportion of Californians who are dying at home rather than in a hospital or nursing home, accelerating a slow but steady rise that dates back at least two decades. The recent upsurge in at-home deaths started in 2020, the first year of the pandemic, and the rate has continued to climb, outlasting the rigid lockdowns at hospitals and nursing homes that might help explain the initial shift. Nearly 40% of deaths in California during the first 10 months of 2022 took place at home, up from about 36% for all of 2019, according to death certificate data from the California Department of Public Health. By comparison, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows that about 26% of Californians died at home in 1999, the earliest year for which data on at-home deaths is accessible in the agency's public database. The trend is amplified among California residents with serious chronic conditions. About 55% of Californians who died of cancer did so at home during the first 10 months of 2022, compared with 50% in 2019 and 44% in 1999. About 43% of Californians who died of Alzheimer's disease in the first 10 months of 2022 did so at home, compared with 34% in 2019 and nearly 16% in 1999. Nationwide, the share of deaths occurring at home also jumped in 2020, to 33%, then rose to nearly 34% in 2021. Nationwide data for 2022 is not yet available. Covid's early, deadly sweep across California does not in itself explain the increase in at-home death rates; the vast majority of people who have died of covid died in a hospital or nursing home. Instead, medical experts said, the surge at least initially appears to coincide with sweeping policy changes in hospitals and nursing homes as caregivers struggled to contain a virus both virulent and little understood. The sweeping bans on in-person visitation in hospitals and nursing homes, even to the bedsides of dying patients, created an agonizing situation for families. Many chose to move a loved one back home. "It was devastating to have Mom in a nursing home and dying, and the only way you can see Mom is through the window," said Barbara Karnes, a registered nurse who has written extensively about end-of-life care. At the same time, fears of covid exposure led many people to avoid hospitals in the first years of the pandemic, in some cases neglecting treatment for other serious conditions. That, too, is thought to have contributed to the rise in at-home deaths. Those who specialize in end-of-life care say it is no surprise the trend has continued even as visitation policies have eased. They said more people simply want to die in a comfortable, familiar place, even if it means not fighting for every second of life with medical interventions. "Whenever I ask, 'Where do you want to be when you breathe your last breath? Or when your heart beats its last beat?' no one ever says, 'Oh, I want to be in the ICU,' or 'Oh, I want to be in the hospital,' or 'I want to be in a skilled nursing facility.' They all say, 'I want to be at home,'" said John Tastad, coordinator for the advance care planning program at Sharp HealthCare in San Diego. Meanwhile, the physicians who specialize in the diseases that tend to kill Americans, such as cancer and heart disease, have become more accepting of discussing home hospice as an option if the treatment alternatives likely mean painful sacrifices in quality of life. "There's been a little bit of a culture change where maybe oncologists, pulmonologists, congestive heart failure physicians are referring patients to palliative care earlier to help with symptom management, advanced care planning," said Dr. Pouria Kashkouli, associate medical director for hospice at UC Davis Health. The trends have created a booming industry. In 2021, the California Department of Health Care Access and Information listed 1,692 licensed hospice agencies in its tracking database, a leap from the 175 agencies it listed in 2002. That much growth and the money behind it has sometimes led to problems. A 2020 investigation by the Los Angeles Times found that fraud and quality-of-care issues were common in California's hospice industry, a conclusion bolstered by a subsequent state audit. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill in 2021 that placed a temporary moratorium on most new hospice licenses and sought to rein in questionable kickbacks to doctors and agencies. When done correctly, though, home hospice can be a comfort to families and patients. Hospice typically lasts anywhere from a few days to a few months, and while services vary, many agencies provide regular visits from nurses, health aides, social workers, and spiritual advisers. Most people using hospice are insured through the federal Medicare program. The amount Medicare pays varies by region but is usually around $200 to $300 a day, said Dr. Kai Romero, chief medical officer at the nonprofit Hospice by the Bay. To find quality end-of-life care, Andrea Sankar, a professor at Wayne State University and author of "Dying at Home: A Family Guide for Caregiving," recommends seeking out nonprofit providers and having a list of questions prepared: How often will nurses visit in person? In what circumstances do patients have access to a physician? What help will be available for a crisis in the middle of the night? While hospice providers offer crucial guidance and support, families need to be prepared to shoulder the bulk of the caregiving. "It really takes a pretty evolved family system to be able to rally to meet all of the needs," said Tastad at Sharp HealthCare. Several end-of-life experts said they expect the proportion of Californians choosing to die at home to keep climbing, citing a variety of factors: Medical advances will make it easier for patients to receive pain management and other palliative care at home; telemedicine will make it easier for patients to consult doctors from home; and two powerful forces in American health care insurance companies and the federal government increasingly see dying at home as an affordable alternative to lengthy hospital stays. Phillip Reese is a data reporting specialist and an assistant professor of journalism at California State University-Sacramento. This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. In a recent study published in the journal Science Robotics, a team of researchers created a magnetic microrobot probe that can quantify the stiffness and traction force of tumor cell colonies and developing vertebrate embryos. Professor Ning Wang, front right, is joined by researchers from left, Fazlur Rashid, Kshitij Amar, and Parth Bhala. Image Credit: Fred Zwicky Background A growing body of evidence suggests that the two fundamental mechanical parameters in the functioning of cells and tissues and their role in development, physiology, and a wide range of diseases are traction forces or cell-generated contractile forces and stiffness. However, the actomyosin-dependent traction forces are stronger in the monolayer epithelia, while stiffness is dominant in the multilayer epithelia. The quantification of both stiffness and three-dimensional (3D) traction forces at the same location of biological tissue has proved to be challenging due to the nature of the probe required to measure each of these parameters. Quantifying traction forces requires a soft probe, where the deformation of the probe indicates the traction force. Stiffness is quantified using a hard probe that can apply stress or torque force to deform the sample. While various probes have been developed to quantify stiffness and 3D traction forces, quantifying the two parameters in vivo using the same probe continues to be challenging. About the study In the present study, the researchers developed a remotely and magnetically controlled microrobot probe made of ferromagnetic cobalt-platinum microcrosses that were biocompatible. Each microcross was embedded inside a stiff poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) microgel with an arginineglycineaspartic acid conjugate. The stiff microcross-embedded microgel could be rotated using an oscillatory magnetic field and was used to quantify the stiffness. The 3D traction forces were then quantified by exposing the PEG microgel with embedded the fluorescent nanoparticle to ultraviolet light to photodegrade and soften the probe. The probe was used to quantify the stiffness and 3D traction forces of cell colonies of malignant tumor-repopulating cells isolated from mouse melanoma cell lines grown on a fibrin gel matrix. Once the stiffness of the cancer cell colony was measured, the PEG gel was softened by exposing the microrobot to ultraviolet light and quantified the deformation of the gel by the surrounding cancer cells. Furthermore, the microrobot probes were also used to measure the 3D traction forces and stiffness of Zebrafish and mouse embryos. Results The results demonstrated that based on the elasticity of the 3D substrate, the modulus or stiffness of the malignant tumor cell colonies changes, but the 3D traction forces do not vary. Furthermore, the simultaneous analysis of the stiffness and 3D traction forces at the same site of the cell colony shows no correlation. The quantification of stiffness and traction forces in Zebrafish embryos revealed substantial oscillations in traction forces during embryonic development, with shear and normal traction forces of comparable magnitudes. In contrast, mouse embryos also indicated oscillations in traction forces during development, but the normal traction forces were higher than the shear traction forces. During the blastocyst stage, mouse embryos generated larger oscillations in compressive and tensile traction forces than in shear traction force. Compared to previous methods using magnetic probes where the dynamic properties of biological samples could not be measured, the researchers reported that the microrobot magnetic probe could quantify various rheological properties, including loss modulus and storage modulus. Furthermore, the method of softening the microrobot probe using ultraviolet light allows a range of 3D shear and normal traction forces of biological samples to be quantified. The possible alteration of measured traction forces due to the magnetic microcross itself was examined, and the results indicated that the microcross had a negligible effect on the 3D traction forces. Moreover, the shear and normal traction forces did not change with the softening or swelling of the microgel due to ultraviolet light exposure. Additionally, the orientation and position of the microcross inside the PEG microgel relative to the magnetic field did not influence the measurements of stiffness. Furthermore, the metallic microcross did not interfere with the softening of the PEG microgel when exposed to ultraviolet light Conclusions To summarize, in the present study, researchers developed a remotely controlled magnetic microrobot to quantify the 3D traction forces and stiffness of cell colonies in vivo at the same time. The microrobot was tested on cell cultures of malignant tumor cell colonies, as well as on Zebrafish and mouse embryos. The results indicated that the microrobot could successfully measure the stiffness and traction forces of cell colonies in vivo and that traction forces play a major role in early embryonic development regulation. This microrobot probe could be used to study the mechanoregulation of embryos and cell cultures. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, sent cables of congratulations to Indian President Droupadi Murmu on her countrys Republic Day. HM the King and HRH Prince Salman expressed their best wishes of health and happiness to the president and further progress and prosperity to the people of India. His Royal Highness sent a similar cable to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His Majesty and HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister sent cables of congratulations to the Commonwealth of Australia Governor-General David Hurley on Australia Day. HM the King and HRH Prince Salman expressed their best wishes of health and happiness to the Governor and wished Australian citizens further progress and prosperity. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, held a phone call with Qatar Amir His Highness Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations, friendship and cooperation. During the call, HRH Prince Salman conveyed the greetings of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to HH Shaikh Tamim and HMs best wishes for further progress and prosperity to Qatar. His Royal Highness and HH Shaikh Tamim emphasised the need to work together to settle issues in a way that meets the common goals of the people of both nations, upholds the unity of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Arab states, as well as maintains the security and stability of the region. They agreed to keep the channels of communication open for the benefit of both countries. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Interior Minister, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, has affirmed the Customs Affairs key role in protecting national security and promoting investments to support the national economy. In his speech on the occasion of the International Customs Day yesterday, General Shaikh Rashid hailed the Customs Affairs efforts to develop high-quality services and strategy, as well as its affiliates for their competency and discipline in carrying out their role through dedication and expertise. Security and general safety protection come as part of various approaches, including coordination between security authorities and Customs Affairs to reinforce border security. Preventative measures to limit trafficking and risks require full vigilance, law enforcement and strategic planning by determining goals and procedures, he said. The Kingdom joined the rest of the world in celebrating the International Customs Day, which is marked annually on January 26. The Minister emphasised that it is a good occasion to affirm the security role of Customs Affairs and efforts to reinforce trade, security and general safety. Customs Affairs is an essential part of the security strategy of the Interior Ministry through modern technology to protect borders and develop customs capabilities through the facilitation of travel, trade and society protection, he said. The efforts meet the goals of the comprehensive development process, led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and supported by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. Confiscations and violations The total number of confiscations and violations registered by Customs Affairs in 2022 reached 6,230, an increase of 31% from 2021. This reflects the national capabilities and professionalism in the use of modern technology. The launch of the Customs Affairs strategy of 2021-2024 and its strategic goals come to meet government action plans and the Economic Vision 2030, strengthening customs work and building capabilities in facing challenges. It also includes strengthening partnerships with the business community, based on the Kingdom of Bahrains Economic Vision 2030, which motivates government and private institutions to take practical steps to attract investments. The Customs Affairs seeks to keep up advancement through signing international agreements and participating in conferences to benefit from international expertise and enhance the effectiveness of customs performance. Future planning On International Customs Day, we assert the significance of future planning within the available potentials and ever-increasing challenges to look toward the best and overcome hinders to providing high-quality services through digital transformation expansion and development in the exchange of information and supervisory mechanisms, General Shaikh Rashid said. These efforts reinforce trade, security and general safety, and the role of Customs Affairs in supporting the national economy. Through its outstanding performance in reinforcing the active role of Bahrain in international organisations, the President of Customs, Shaikh Ahmed bin Hamad Al Khalifa, earned international trust by being elected as the Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation Council. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com On behalf of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, today inaugurated the King Hamad American Mission Hospital (KHAMH), located in A'ali. HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister highlighted HM the Kings unwavering support of development projects that enhance the Kingdoms economic competitiveness and benefit citizens and residents. His Royal Highness emphasised the importance of the healthcare sector and its key role in the Kingdoms overall development. HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad noted the newly established KHAMH as an extension of the longstanding Bahrain-US partnership, and emphasised the American Mission Hospitals (AMH) over 120-year-long legacy as one of the first hospitals in the region, since its opening in the Kingdom of Bahrain on 26 January 1903, which coincides with the opening of the KHAMH. His Royal Highness highlighted the importance of quality and efficiency in achieving development plans that benefit citizens. In this regard, HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister noted that investing in sustainable healthcare services continues to be a top priority. HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister emphasised the role of strategic partnerships with the private sector, particularly in advancing the Kingdoms national development. In this regard, His Royal Highness noted how these partnerships have expedited the implementation of various priorities within the Economic Recovery Plan, greatly improving the quality of services presented to Bahraini citizens. To mark the inauguration of KHAMH, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad unveiled a commemorative plaque and toured various departments, where he was briefed on the medical services provided by the hospital. His Royal Highness commended the AMHs efforts in broadening accessibility and advancing medical services available to citizens and residents. In turn, this has contributed to improving the efficiency of Bahrains healthcare sector, and the Kingdoms wider development goals. For his part, the Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director of the American Mission Hospital, Dr. George Cheriyan, expressed his gratitude and appreciation to HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister for inaugurating the KHAMH. Dr. Cheriyan indicated that the KHAMH was designed to provide modern and integrated medical treatment services, in line with the Kingdoms ambitions for the healthcare sector. Dr. Cheriyan emphasised the AMHs commitment to further its partnerships and ensure the ongoing provision of comprehensive health services, adding that the KHAMH is equipped with the latest laboratories, simulation rooms, medical facilities, a library and lecture hall to further its corporate social responsibility as an educational hospital. These new state-of-the-art facilities will contribute to cutting edge research and life-saving medical studies. The newly established King Hamad American Mission Hospital, provides a wide-range of healthcare services and contains 125 beds, a ward for women and children, and a ward for various surgical medical specialties. It also provides operating rooms, intensive care units, a dialysis unit consisting of 20 beds, a laboratory and radiology centre with the latest technology and medical devices. A number of senior government officials and dignitaries from Bahrain and the world also attended the inauguration. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahrain Chamber unveiled plans yesterday to boost food security and projects to support the Kingdoms health, education and other vital sectors. Waleed Kanoo, the Head of the Committees Steering Group and vice-Treasurer, said the Chamber would encourage the private sector here to establish a food packaging and distribution factory and a manufacturing plant in the coming years. The Chamber, he said, also aims to come up with projects in the education sector to help meet the job market demand. He also revealed that the Chamber intends to commission a regulatory authority for the contracting sector and hold studies on the health sector. The studies will focus on the impact of the National Health Insurance Program Sehati on the private sector and the shortage of health cadres in specific sectors. The developments emerged as the sector committees of the Bahrain Chamber discussed their two-year action plans in the presence of the board of directors headed by Chairman Sameer Nass. The plans by the ten sector committees, Kanoo said, aims at enhancing coordination and cooperation among committees and keeping members of the executive and the administrative body informed of the goals and objectives. In this regard, Kanoo underlined the role of the committees in translating the Chambers vision and goals into actionable plans to help revitalise the private sector and streamline its endeavours. The new facility in Montreal is the first of its kind in the country MONTREAL, Jan. 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Deloitte Canada opens The Smart Factory @ Montreal, a first-of-its-kind facility showcasing an interconnected ecosystem of more than 20 cutting-edge solutions and technologies and intent on transforming manufacturing and warehousing through digital transformation. The Smart Factory @ Montreal is revolutionizing technology adoption for manufacturing and warehousing and creating supply chain agility. (CNW Group/Deloitte Management Services LP) The Smart Factory @ Montreal is revolutionizing technology adoption for manufacturing and warehousing and creating supply chain agility. (CNW Group/Deloitte Management Services LP) "As Canada's largest professional services firm, we care about the future of the country," says Anthony Viel, chief executive officer of Deloitte Canada. "We believe that projects like this will fundamentally transform our economy - and society - and set Canada on a better path. We are proud to leverage our globally recognized expertise in warehousing and manufacturing to establish this unique and innovative facility. By combining Deloitte's consulting expertise with valuable software and equipment donations from leading-edge sponsors, The Smart Factory @ Montreal is showing how Canada can lead in the fourth industrial revolution." Spanning over 9,000 square feet, The Smart Factory @ Montreal is designed to showcase the possibilities of automation to run production lines, efficiently store and move inventory, as well as track inbound and outbound shipments. In its first year of operation, the state-of-the-art facility is expected to draw hundreds of national and global business leaders to expose them to revolutionary ways of working in order to maximize efficiencies. According to the 2022 Material Handling Institute's Annual Industry Report released in collaboration with Deloitte, the top three supply chain company challenges faced by businesses are potential supply chain disruptions and shortages, hiring and retaining qualified workers, and customer demands for faster response time. The Smart Factory @ Montreal leverages the latest technologies and practices to address these challenges expeditiously and at the best possible cost to clients. The report also shows that the pandemic has accelerated supply chain transformation for 78 per cent of companies, particularly those operating in the realm of e-commerce. Several use cases shown in The Smart Factory @ Montreal address this challenge and identify potential technologies to lead in this space with affordable investments. "Today's customer expectations are higher than ever before," says Genevieve Provost, Managing Partner, Quebec and National Capital Region for Deloitte. "With increasing access to information, products, and services, consumers have come to expect a seamless and personalized experience throughout the entire buying journey. By implementing advanced technologies, businesses can improve their efficiency and speed of execution, thereby enhancing the overall customer experience by providing faster delivery times, accurate tracking and inventory management, and overall improved satisfaction. We are thrilled to have this facility in Quebec, which is expected to attract visitors and business leaders from around the world and boost our local economy." Using cutting-edge industry 4.0 technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), sensors, robotics, internet of things (IoT), big data, cloud and edge applications, The Smart Factory @ Montreal demonstrates how digital supply networks are transforming supply chains away from siloed functions into an interconnected ecosystem that is both seamless and transparent. Operating in real-time with the additional information provided by accelerated connectivity, these new dynamic manufacturing and warehousing digital networks strengthen supply chain agility and empower companies to make rapid and optimal decisions. "Canadian businesses tend to be sized for the Canadian market but are often competing against multinationals that have extensive resources and sophisticated systems," says Alan Taliaferro, Deloitte partner and project leader for The Smart Factory @ Montreal. "This space provides an opportunity to support Canadian businesses by enabling them to learn about, and experiment with, an array of live smart technologies in a fully automated factory and warehouse. By setting stretch goals and embracing change, Canadian businesses will have the opportunity to learn how to achieve a competitive edge in both local and global markets." The Smart Factory @ Montreal is supported with leading technological solutions provided by Cisco, Cloudrail, Cosme, CPP, E2 Solutions, EYESEE, Finloc, GKC Architects, KPI, Noovelia, NuMove Robotics & Vision, Pacefactory, Packpro, RG Group, SAP, Siemens, TeamViewer, and Vecna. For more information please visit The Smart [email protected] Montreal. About Deloitte Deloitte provides audit and assurance, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, tax, and related services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries. Deloitte serves four out of five Fortune Global 500 companies through a globally connected network of member firms in more than 150 countries and territories bringing world-class capabilities, insights, and service to address clients' most complex business challenges. Deloitte LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership, is the Canadian member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and its member firms. Our global Purpose is making an impact that matters. At Deloitte Canada, that translates into building a better future by accelerating and expanding access to knowledge. We believe we can achieve this Purpose by living our shared values to lead the way, serve with integrity, take care of each other, foster inclusion, and collaborate for measurable impact. To learn more about Deloitte's approximately 330,000 professionals, over 11,000 of whom are part of the Canadian firm, please connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. The Smart Factory @ Montreal Additional background The 9,000 sq. ft. facility is in the borough of Ville Saint-Laurent in Montreal, Quebec. in Montreal, Quebec. The Smart Factory @ Montreal joins Deloitte's global network of state-of-the-art facilities located in Dusseldorf ( Germany ), Wichita ( USA ), and Kyoto ( Japan ). joins Deloitte's global network of state-of-the-art facilities located in ( ), Wichita ( ), and ( ). In addition to its manufacturing showcases, The Smart Factory @ Montreal is the first as part of Deloitte's global network to feature smart warehousing. is the first as part of Deloitte's global network to feature smart warehousing. The Smart Factory @ Montreal is home to intelligent Industry 4.0 technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, big data, cloud and edge applications, robotics, vision solutions, and more. is home to intelligent Industry 4.0 technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, big data, cloud and edge applications, robotics, vision solutions, and more. By implementing smart factory solutions, a $4 billion manufacturing business for example, could increase annual revenue by $1.7 billion . manufacturing business for example, could increase annual revenue by . The facility has already established collaboration agreements with Centre d'expertise industrielle de Quebec (CEI) and with PME MTL Centre Ouest to support local companies. In addition, The Smart Factory @ Montreal plans to work with local universities to prepare next generation workforce and pilot new innovations by students and researchers. These educational opportunities will address the growing talent gap in the tech sector. End-to-end smart warehousing and manufacturing use-case technologies: Private 5G network Automated tote storage and retrieval Goods-to-robot unit picking Automated no-void packing Smart receiving Augmenter reality picking Smart conveyance Touchless cycle counting Smart Factory Great 8 use cases Command center and digital twin SOURCE Deloitte Management Services LP For further information: For more information, please contact: Marie-Helene Thibeault, Public Relations Manager, Deloitte, 514-516-7061, [email protected]; Mike Filion, Public Relations Specialist, Deloitte, 514-463-8945, [email protected] C$ unless otherwise stated TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945 Announcement underscores Manulife's focus on helping Canadians and their families live longer, healthier, and better lives Collaboration to promote better health outcomes by helping Canadians navigate an often complex and increasingly stretched health care system TORONTO, Jan. 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Today, Manulife announced Cleveland Clinic Canada as the new Medical Director for its Group Benefits operations. Cleveland Clinic Canada will bring global healthcare expertise to advise Manulife and support their ongoing commitment to helping its approximately 5 million group benefits customers manage personal health issues, and navigate Canada's stretched and often complex healthcare system. This relationship reflects another significant step in Manulife's goal to help Canadians live longer, healthier, and better lives. Cleveland Clinic Canada Logo (CNW Group/Manulife Financial Corporation) "To empower the sustained health and wellbeing of Canadians, we must remove barriers to accessing healthcare services, programs, and solutions," said Ashesh Desai, Head of Group Benefits, Manulife Canada. "We've appointed Cleveland Clinic Canada as our Medical Director to leverage their world class medical and healthcare experts and to develop industry leading research that will continue improving health outcomes for our customers and their families." As Canada's largest insurer, Manulife works with more than 25,000 employers and unions to provide comprehensive workplace benefit plans to millions of Canadians. These plans support the health of workers and their families by helping them access prescription drugs, health care professionals, mental health supports, and dental care, among other health services. Working with Cleveland Clinic Canada will assist Manulife in achieving its goal of helping Canadians prevent, treat, and recover from physical and mental health complications. "Cleveland Clinic has been at the forefront of modern medicine since 1921, and in recent years has worked with progressive companies in Canada and around the world to prioritize the health and wellbeing of their employees, customers and communities," said Michael Kessel, the President and CEO of Cleveland Clinic Canada. "As an organization with a patient first mandate, we are looking forward to being Manulife's Medical Director and impacting the millions of lives in their ecosystem." To learn more about Manulife Canada and its group benefit solutions for employers and unions, please visit Manulife.ca About Manulife Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we provide financial advice and insurance, operating as Manulife across Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. Through Manulife Investment Management, the global brand for our Global Wealth and Asset Management segment, we serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2021, we had more than 38,000 employees, over 119,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 33 million customers. We trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges and under '945' in Hong Kong. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com. About Cleveland Clinic Canada Cleveland Clinic Canada is the Canadian location of Cleveland Clinic, a nonprofit academic medical centre that has provided world class patient care to people from around the world since 1921. Cleveland Clinic Canada's multi-disciplinary team of physicians and wellness experts provide in-person care at our clinics in Toronto as well as virtual care across Canada. Their medical experts also work with companies to help them manage organizational risk and improve the health of their employees in a wide range of industries. Patients benefit from the expertise of dozens of Canadian physicians, specialists and wellness experts, as well as over 3,500 physicians and specialists across the Cleveland Clinic network. Visit clevelandclinic.ca to learn more. SOURCE Manulife Financial Corporation For further information: Media contact, Jeremy Laurin, [email protected], 647-327-4349 Through ScotiaRISE, Bank renews commitment to TalentLift Canadaa not-for-profit rooted in allyship TORONTO, Jan. 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Recognizing a continued commitment to allyship, earlier this week, Scotiabank hosted a second annual allyship event for its 90,000 employees across the Bank's footprint. In celebration of the event entitled Allyship in Action, Scotiabank also renewed its partnership with TalentLift Canada, an organization dedicated to supporting refugees relocate for work to companies and communities in need of their talent. "Scotiabank's vision is to be the employer of choice for diverse talent, providing employees with an environment where everyone can thrive and bring their whole selves to work," said Scott Thomson, Scotiabank President & Incoming CEO. "Allyship is about how our individual actions, when taken together, can drive a meaningful impact across our footprint. I'm proud of our efforts to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive bank for our customers, the communities we serve, and each other, 365 days a year." In 2020, Scotiabank renewed its Diversity and Inclusion Goals with a commitment to increase the diverse makeup of its employee population over the next five years, with a focus on people who identify as Black, Indigenous Peoples, People with Disabilities, Visible Minorities, and Women. Last year, Scotiabank introduced a new goal to increase representation in Canada of employees who identify as LGBT+. Kenji Yoshino, Chief Justice Earl Warren Professor of Constitutional Law at NYU School of Law and Director of its Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, delivered the keynote address that focused on how to put allyship into action and foster a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment 365 days a year. "As human beings we all have certain advantages that we can leverage to support others who don't have those same advantages," said Yoshino. "At an organizational level, it's critical to understand that real, substantial cultural change is not going to happen without allyship." The keynote was followed by insightful conversations with Scotiabank leaders and employees highlighting tangible action taken over the past year across the Bank's business lines to progress a culture of inclusion, including Scotiabank's StartRight Program that launched in 2008 supporting newcomers to Canada with the next chapter in their lives. January also marks the second-year anniversary of ScotiaRISE, Scotiabank's 10-year, $500 million initiative to promote economic resilience among disadvantaged groups. Since launching, the program has invested over $60 million with over 200 community organizations who are improving high school graduation rates, helping newcomers feel at home faster, and removing barriers to career advancement. Dana Wagner, Co-Founder and Managing Director, TalentLift Canada was featured at the event and discussed the importance of allyship and supporting displaced talent worldwide. Through ScotiaRISE, the Bank will invest $950,000, over three years, in support of scaling the organization's talent platform to connect skilled refugees with employers in Canada. "Globally, there are more than 27 million people living as refugees, and there are far too few options for them to get to a country like Canada where they have a secure future," said Wagner. "We are grateful to Scotiabank for advancing our work to solve for both skill shortages in Canada and displacement worldwide. Our organization is one step closer to our dream of creating a world where talented people living as refugees can compete for global jobs, and where access depends on potential and not the privilege of living without fear." For more information on Scotiabank's commitment to diversity and inclusion, visit: https://www.scotiabank.com/ca/en/about/our-company/diversity-and-inclusion.html About Scotiabank Scotiabank is a leading bank in the Americas. Guided by our purpose: "for every future", we help our customers, their families and their communities achieve success through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of over 90,000 employees and assets of over $1.3 trillion (as at October 31, 2022), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BNS) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit http://www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @Scotiabank. SOURCE Scotiabank For further information: Media inquiries: Caitie Wallman, Global Communications, [email protected], 437.998.7145 "This is an incredible achievement for Sheridan. We've always been proud to be recognized by Forbes as an employer of choice," said Dr. Janet Morrison, President and Vice Chancellor. "To finish at the top of the list, in only our second top 10 ranking, confirms that our commitment to developing a work culture where innovative risk-taking, collaboration and life-long learning thrive is the right path forward. This honour belongs to our dedicated employees who are one of Sheridan's greatest assets." In 2022, Sheridan was also named to Forbes' list of Canada's Best Employers for Diversity ranking 10th overall and the highest of any college in Canada. This came shortly after Sheridan's Vice President of Inclusive Communities Dr. Jane Ngobia was recognized with a Silver Award of Excellence for Leadership in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion by the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP). Employee-centred initiatives In the past year, Sheridan has introduced a new e-performance and talent management portal for its employees, where they are able to collaborate on and document performance and development plans with their managers. The online platform is another step in Sheridan's commitment to empower its community with people-centric technologies and digital processes that enhance how its employees work and grow together, while providing more opportunities to track their personal and professional progress and set goals for their future. The institution has moved into the second year of its Community Wellness Strategy. The Wellness Committee, represented by a diverse group of students and employees, brings the college community together through cultural celebration days, leverages Wellness Champions, and themed monthly wellness content, webinars, and supports that contribute to a sense of total well-being and quality of life. Through these initiatives, Sheridan aims to raise awareness about wellness, increase participation in wellness events, and promote a sense of belonging and inclusion. Sheridan is currently creating a Flexible Workspace Strategy through an extensive review of its current workspace and how the future of work for the institution will look. Employees are at the centre of the development of this strategy, engaged through various feedback opportunities, surveys, focus groups and interviews. Forbes' methodology The ranking was based on an independent, anonymous survey of 12,000 Canadian workers at businesses with more than 500 employees. The research was conducted by Forbes in partnership with market research partner, Statista. The survey included direct and indirect recommendations from employees who were asked to rate their willingness to recommend their own employers to friends and family. Employee evaluations also included other employers in their respective industries that stood out either positively or negatively. Furthermore, participants were asked to give their opinion on a series of work-related topics like working conditions, salary potential for development, and company image regarding their current employer. All told, 2,900 different organizations received reviews and recommendations. The final list presents the Top 300. The final list ranks the 300 employers that received the most recommendations. Read about the Forbes survey and methodology used. About Sheridan College Founded in 1967, Sheridan has grown from a local college of 400 students to one of Ontario's leading postsecondary institutions, educating approximately 23,000 full-time and 20,000 continuing and part-time studies students every year, on three campuses in Brampton, Mississauga and Oakville. As a trailblazer in unique arts, technology and health care programs, Sheridan has always been on the leading edge of innovation ensuring students learn job-ready, practical skills and develop the confidence, empathy and problem-solving savvy that allows them to push boundaries in an ever-changing world. Sheridan's 210,000 alumni play a critical role in shaping the future of our society in the fields of arts, business, community service, health, technology, and the skilled trades. SOURCE Sheridan College For further information: Media contact: Keiko Kataoka, Manager, Communications and Public Relations, Sheridan College, [email protected] OTTAWA, ON, Jan. 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Despite a marked increase in rental supply in many of Canada's largest cities, surging demand pushed the national vacancy rate for purpose-built rental apartments down from 3.1% to 1.9% in 2022, according to the latest Rental Market Report released by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Rental Housing in Vancouver, British Columbia (CMHC) (CNW Group/Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) Bob Dugan, Chief Economist for CMHC (CNW Group/Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) This was the national vacancy rate's lowest level since 2001, reflecting widespread tightening across the country, including in Canada's three largest rental markets of Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto, with the latter reporting a particularly sharp decline. The surge in rental housing demand in the country reflected higher net migration and homeownership costs. Higher mortgage rates, which drove up already-elevated costs of homeownership, made it harder and less attractive for renters to transition to homeownership. The overall average rent growth for two-bedroom purpose-built apartments common to 2021 and 2022 surveys was 5.6%. This is a new annual high, well-above average rent growth recorded between 1990 and 2022. Higher rent-growth for two-bedroom purpose-built rents was widespread across Canada. Also, new data published by CMHC indicates the average rent growth for two-bedroom units that turned over to a new tenant was well-above rent growth for units without tenant turnover (18.3% vs. 2.9%). This increased affordability challenges faced by renters trying to enter the market or find new housing. (Full table in Report Highlights) In 2022, rental condominiums accounted for 19.3% of the total stock of rental units across centres. In some of Canada's largest centres, rented condominiums are an important source of rental supply, especially in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto, where more than a third of all rental supply are rental condominiums. While overall rental condo supply increased by 7.2% in 2022, the average vacancy rate for these units remained low at 1.6% (compared to 1.8% in 2021). You can download the entire Rental Market Report from the CMHC website. Quote: "Lower vacancy rates and rising rents were a common theme across Canada in 2022. This caused affordability challenges for renters, especially those in the lower income ranges, with very few units in the market available in their price range," said Bob Dugan, CMHC's chief economist. "The current conditions reinforce the urgent need to accelerate housing supply and address supply gaps to improve housing affordability for Canadians, as stated in our report: Housing Shortages in Canada: Solving the Affordability Crisis." Report Highlights: The primary rental apartment vacancy rate in Toronto fell to 1.7% in 2022, from 4.4% the previous year. Fewer disruptions to economic activity and immigration in 2022 resulted in a surge in rental demand. fell to 1.7% in 2022, from 4.4% the previous year. Fewer disruptions to economic activity and immigration in 2022 resulted in a surge in rental demand. Strong demand in the Montreal rental market pushed the vacancy rate down from 3.7% in 2021 to 2.3% in 2022. Rent increases were also significant, especially for renters who moved. rental market pushed the vacancy rate down from 3.7% in 2021 to 2.3% in 2022. Rent increases were also significant, especially for renters who moved. In Vancouver , the vacancy rate decreased from 1.2% in 2021 to 0.9% in 2022. Higher homeownership costs and migration to the region led rental demand to increase faster than supply. vacancy rate decreased from 1.2% in 2021 to 0.9% in 2022. Higher homeownership costs and migration to the region led rental demand to increase faster than supply. With Calgary 's economy growing beyond pre-pandemic levels, the rental market tightened to conditions not seen since Alberta's last economic boom. Overall vacancy rate dropped to 2.7% (from 5.1% in 2021), the lowest since 2014. 's economy growing beyond pre-pandemic levels, the rental market tightened to conditions not seen since last economic boom. Overall vacancy rate dropped to 2.7% (from 5.1% in 2021), the lowest since 2014. A strong economic rebound and record migration flows in Edmonton contributed to rental demand outpacing new rental supply in 2022. The purpose-built rental apartment vacancy rate was 4.3% in October 2022 , down from 7.3% in October 2021 . contributed to rental demand outpacing new rental supply in 2022. The purpose-built rental apartment vacancy rate was 4.3% in , down from 7.3% in . In Ottawa , strong demographic and economic conditions supported rental demand and as a result, the vacancy rate dropped from 3.4% in 2021 to 2.1% in 2022. The greatest declines occurred in central neighbourhoods, partly because of the return of post-secondary students. , strong demographic and economic conditions supported rental demand and as a result, the vacancy rate dropped from 3.4% in 2021 to 2.1% in 2022. The greatest declines occurred in central neighbourhoods, partly because of the return of post-secondary students. Record high supply growth has helped alleviate rental market tightness, while rising demand has accelerated rent increases in the Victoria rental market. The vacancy rate rose slightly to reach 1.5 % (from 1 % in 2021), mostly from the expansion of the rental apartment stock. rental market. The vacancy rate rose slightly to reach 1.5 % (from 1 % in 2021), mostly from the expansion of the rental apartment stock. In Hamilton , the vacancy rate for purpose-built rental apartments was the lowest since 2002 at 1.9%. The number of occupied units increased due to more student renters, higher full-time employment and fewer renters transitioning into homeownership. , the vacancy rate for purpose-built rental apartments was the lowest since 2002 at 1.9%. The number of occupied units increased due to more student renters, higher full-time employment and fewer renters transitioning into homeownership. The vacancy rate in Halifax did not change in 2022, staying at the record low of 1%. The number of rental apartment units increased by 1,348. This was the lowest number of annual rental completions since 2016. did not change in 2022, staying at the record low of 1%. The number of rental apartment units increased by 1,348. This was the lowest number of annual rental completions since 2016. In some of Canada's largest centres, rented condominiums can be a driver of rental markets. Vancouver was the leader (with 42.5% of its rental stock made up of condominiums), followed by Calgary (37.5%) and Toronto (34%). Centres in Quebec generally reported smaller shares, including Montreal at 6.7%. largest centres, rented condominiums can be a driver of rental markets. was the leader (with 42.5% of its rental stock made up of condominiums), followed by (37.5%) and (34%). Centres in generally reported smaller shares, including at 6.7%. The average rent for a 2-bedroom rental condominium apartment saw a significant increase to $1,930 from $1,771 , about 9% year-over-year. Average Rent Growth -Turnover vs Non-Turnover Units -Purpose-built Rentals Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) Turnover Rate in 2022 (all purpose- built-units) Turnover unit average rent increase (2 BDR) Non-turnover unit average rent increase (2 BDR) Canada 13.6 % 18.3 % 2.9 % Vancouver 10.7 % 23.9 % 3.9 % Victoria 15 % * 2.6 % Edmonton 30.4 % 1 % 1 % Calgary 27.9 % 5.3 % 2.9 % Regina 34.5 % 3.2 % 1.8 % Saskatoon 33.1 % 3.1 % 1.9 % Winnipeg 19.2 % 3.1 % 2.4 % Hamilton 12.3 % 25.8 % * Windsor 12.7 % 27.7 % 1.7 % KCW + 13.9 % 25.6 % 0.9 % London 15.1 % 25.7 % 2.1 % Kingston 19.2 % 21.6 % * Toronto 9.8 % 29.1 % 2.3 % Ottawa 16.8 % 16.4 % 2.7 % Gatineau 9.5 % 11 % * Montreal 10.3 % 14.5 % 3.5 % Quebec 15.4 % 8.2 % 3.4 % Halifax 11.1 % 28.9 % 4.5 % + Kitchener Cambridge Waterloo * Data withheld due to unreliability Related Links: For information on this release: We encourage journalists to contact CMHC Media Relations and arrange to speak to our experts regarding the rental markets and rental affordability in the 22 CMAs covered in the Rental Market Report. Follow us on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Backgrounder: CMHC strongly believes that better, more informed housing decisions are made with the availability of quality housing market data and insights. CMHC's reporting on the rental markets has been mainstay of the sector for over 50 years. The data and analysis gathered provides a common language for businesses, governments, and the general public to discuss rental market issues and developments. CMHC conducts the annual Rental Market Survey in October. The survey is conducted through property managers, landlords, and owners across all centres with a population of at least 10,000. It targets only privately initiated structures with at least three rental units, which have been on the market for at least three months. CMHC conducts the annual Condo Apartment Survey in September and October through telephone interviews. Its goal is to estimate the relative strengths in the secondary rental market, rented condominiums. Information is obtained from condo board representatives, property management companies or their representatives. This is supplemented by site visits if contact is not made by telephone. SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation For further information: CMHC Media Relations, [email protected] By Azernews Sabina Mammadli The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry called on the UN Population Fund to be impartial and refrain from actions and statements that would harm the reputation of the organization, Azernews reports per the ministry. In a statement addressed to the UN Population Fund, the ministry noted that the organizations biased, misguiding and out-of-mandate statement of January 24 on the situation around the Lachin road is surprising and regrettable. The ministry outlined how it is unacceptable for the UNPF to issue a statement on the legitimate protest of Azerbaijanis while failing to express views about the plight of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijani families, who, as a result of Armenias military aggression against Azerbaijan, were displaced from their homes for 30 years, lived in tent camps for years, abandoned train cars, camps in an environment with unhealthy conditions, deprived of education, healthcare, and all other rights. It was emphasized that peaceful protests on the Lachin road, a sovereign territory of Azerbaijan, with the demand to prevent the illegal exploitation of Azerbaijans natural resources, the transportation of these resources from Azerbaijan to Armenia, and the abuse of the Lachin road, which is intended only for humanitarian purposes, is the legitimate right of the Azerbaijani people. Illegal activities in the places of compact settlement of Armenian residents in the territories of Azerbaijan are a threat to the national security of Azerbaijan, and it is of utmost importance to stop such activities. In this regard, in accordance with the Trilateral Statement dated November 10, 2020, Azerbaijan shall guarantee the safety of citizens, vehicles, and goods traveling along the Lachin road in both directions. The security guarantee also includes the prevention of abuse of the Lachin road, the statement said. Besides, the statement reiterated that no obstacles are being created by the protesters to the movement of vehicles and residents on the Lachin road, adding that over 1,000 vehicles have provided the residents with essential goods, medical supplies, and necessary medical services using the road. It was stressed that the claims of protests causing a humanitarian catastrophe in the region are baseless, as the Azerbaijani government has repeatedly stated that it is ready to promptly resolve all humanitarian needs that Armenian residents may require. Despite these, the people who present themselves as leaders of the Armenian residents continue to use the local population as a shield and prevent their freedom of movement in order to continue their illegal activities, the ministry finalized. The peaceful protests on the Lachin-Khankandi road have been going on for over forty days. Following discussions with the command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent on December 3 and 7, 2022, Azerbaijani specialists from the Ministries of Economy, Ecology, and Natural Resources, the State Service for Property Issues under the Ministry of Economy, and AzerGold Company were to conduct primary monitoring on illegal exploitation of mineral deposits on Azerbaijani territory. However, the monitoring failed due to the provocation of ethnic Armenians. After the Russian peacekeepers' failure to provide the necessary conditions for the Azerbaijani agency representatives to carry out their duties in the area, a group of eco-activists, NGOs, and public representatives have taken to the street in protest at the peacekeepers' repugnance to live up to their obligations in line with the November 10, 2020, peace deal to maintain peace and order in the region, and oust the Armenian troops from the region and prevent illegalities. However, time proved that the Russian peacekeepers are driven by the interests of Russia rather than the idea coming from the essence of the notion of peacekeeping as universally understood. Labour Party, LP, in Jigawa State has berated its former governorship candidate, Com. Abdullahi Tsoho Garba for claiming that he decamped to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, along with all the partys candidates and executives. JIgawa State Party chairman, Alhaji Isyaku Aliyu stated this while briefing newsmen at the partys headquarters in Dutse. According to him the claim by our former gubernatorial candidate, Comrade Abdullahi Tsoho Garba that he and our other candidates have joined APC is not true. Isyaku said the former guber candidate defected alone without any candidate or party executive over fake APC promises. Our party is intact from polling units, political wards, local government areas and State level, he said. The chairman said the party had already selected Alhaji Suleman Abdulaziz as a replacement in line with the partys constitution and the electoral law. Deeply concerned about the upcoming 2023 election, Nollywood actor, Willams Uchemba has called out officials of the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, over their attitudes towards Nigerians seeking to collect their voters cards. He lamented that the electorates are being subjected to difficulties in their quest to collect their cards at INEC centres across the country. There have been videos of eligible voters crying out over how they are being treated by some staff of INEC who go as far as collecting money before releasing the cards. The Abia State-born actor via his Instagram account shared one of the videos of some Nigerians protesting not being able to pick up their Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, from their respective zones. Uchemba lamented that most registered voters are told by INEC officials that the PVCs are either not ready or cannot be found stating that, INEC cannot disenfranchise people and expect a free and fair election. According to him, he hopes INEC is ready for what is coming. He urged the electoral empire to do the needful in order to resolve the matter. Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has accused the State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, of colluding with armed Fulani herders to attack the people of the State. Governor Ortom also said the leaders of the party in the State are prone to jumping to the defence of the killer herders whenever people are attacked, noting that the armed herders operate like a militia wing of the party. In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Governor, Terver Akase, the government said the APC in Benue State has demonstrated that it has no value for human lives, as they cared only about how to get power. Governor Ortom maintained that the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law and the Livestock Guards, which the APC and their herder allies desperately wanted to see scrapped, have come to stay. The statement further noted that the party has never shown empathy towards victims of the humanitarian crisis in the State, insisting that there is no evidence the party had taken relief materials to any of the IDP camps, noting that the only time the party delegation visited the camp in Daudu was before the 2019 elections with the sole purpose of campaigning for votes. The statement read: We read the text of a press conference the Benue State Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC and others addressed yesterday, January 24, 2023, in Makurdi in which they levelled all manner of accusations on Governor Samuel Ortom, whom they said has been using the state Livestock Guards to rustle Fulani cattle, among several other mischievous allegations. By their outing, the APC in Benue State has left no one in doubt that they are working closely with those who invade communities of the State and attack innocent people. This is not the first time that leaders of the party have come out to take sides with killer herders. The APC in Benue State has often accused Benue people of attacking and killing themselves. Not too long ago, the sacked governorship candidate of the party re-echoed the accusation that the partys leader first made four years ago, absolving herdsmen of any responsibility in the series of attacks on the Benue people. It is clear that the leader of APC in Benue State, Senator George Akume was behind the said press conference, which was a tactical way of diverting attention from the removal of his puppet governorship candidate by the Court of Appeal. As far as the APC in Benue State is concerned, the lives of cows are more valuable than human lives. This is why in the said press statement, their emphasis was on cattle rustling as they frantically tried to justify why the Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law should be reviewed to grant easy passage and access to Fulani herders with their animals to lands across the State. The APCs line of reasoning resonates with the thinking of Fulani pastoralists such as Miyetti Allah, who insist that until the law is repealed, they will not stop sponsoring attacks on the State. The APC in Benue State has again proven that it has no value for human lives, and as long as they get power, Benue can go up in flames. A political party that turns to accuse the people of the State it hopes to govern lacks humanity and the conscience to lead. APC has never condemned the genocide Fulani herders have visited on Benue State in nearly a decade. Leaders of the party are often quick to jump to the defence of the killer herders whenever people are attacked in parts of the State, with the armed herders operating like a militia wing of the party. The opposition party has never shown empathy towards victims of the humanitarian crisis in the State. There is no evidence that they have taken relief materials to any of the IDP camps, even once in the last five years. The only time a delegation of the party visited the camp located in Daudu was before the 2019 elections with the sole purpose of campaigning for votes. The timing of the APC press conference coming barely 24 hours after the Appeal Court judgment, which nullified their phoney governorship primary election, was calculated to divert attention from the devastating situation that the party does not have a gubernatorial candidate at the moment. But we expected the APC to direct their frustration to the appropriate quarters, not on Governor Ortom. The Governor did not advise them to conduct what their appeal panel described as yahoo yahoo primary election, and he was neither a member of the panel of justices that nullified the fraud called nomination. Though we cannot stop the APC in Benue from further conspiracy with enemies of the State, we must reiterate that their plans will always fail. The Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law and the Livestock Guards, which the APC and their herder allies desperately want to see scrapped, have come to stay. Anyone who wants to rear cattle in Benue State must do so within the confines of ranches and be prepared to face the long arm of the law in the event of any breaches. We reassure the people of the State that Governor Samuel Ortom remains committed to the security of his people, and no amount of blackmail or smear campaign from the opposition can make him compromise. All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth Leader, Dayo Israel said the fuel scarcity across the country is planned. In a Twitter post on Thursday, he called the non-availability of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) an internal sabotage. Israel noted that Nigerians enjoyed an adequate supply of petrol in the last seven years of the current administration. We have always had fuel availability every Christmas. It was even a major scorecard that the December fuel crisis came to end. How come the December before the election, suddenly fuel became scarce, reason am! To make APC look bad to Nigerians? INTERNAL SABOTEURS, he tweeted. Israels comment supports Bola Tinubus position that the fuel scarcity and naira redesign were deliberate and targeted at him. Tinubu attacked President Muhammadu Buharis government on Wednesday at a campaign rally in Abeokuta, Ogun State. They are cleverly creating fuel scarcity. Let the fuel continue to be scarce, they know where they hoard it, the APC presidential candidate said. In response, the Atiku Campaign Organization told Tinubu to stop playing the victim card as he has been part of the government since 2015. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also mocked the former Lagos governor for accusing Buhari and some party leaders of trying to scuttle his ambition. Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has commended the US for imposing a visa ban on Nigerians undermining democracy in the country. In a statement on Wednesday, Antony Blinken, US secretary of state, said the actions were taken after it was observed that some persons were found complicit in undermining democracy in the recent elections in Nigeria. The most recent elections in Nigeria were the Ekiti and Osun governorship polls. Blinken said the bans were a show of commitment and support to strengthening democracy in Nigeria. He also said the restrictions were not targeted at the general populace of the country or the government but aimed at curbing corruption. Reacting in a series of tweets on Thursday, Abubakar asked other countries to follow suit. I welcome the United States visa ban on anti-democratic elements whose actions seek to undermine the 2023 elections in Nigeria, the tweet reads. I encourage other established democracies to follow suit to ensure that theres no hiding place for the enemies of our democracy. Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola, has said Mikel Arteta never celebrated goals against Arsenal while he worked as his assistant. Arteta spent over three years as Guardiolas assistant between 2016-2019. During their spell together, City won two Premier League titles. Before then, Arteta had made 150 appearances for the Gunners between 2011 and 2016, where he was eventually appointed captain. In December 2019, Arteta was hired as Arsenals new manager. Ahead of their face-off in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday, Guardiola admits he always knew of his compatriots love for the North London club. I know he went to his club. The team he dreams of. Hes a supporter, he was a captain there. He loves the club. I remember here when we scored goals he jumped a lot except against one team. He was sitting there it was Arsenal. I said, that guy likes Arsenal. Like here, if Im training as assistant and Barcelona calls me, I go, Guardiola told reporters on Thursday. Gunmen have abducted Chief Joshua Ahmadu, District Head of Chawai, in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. President of Chawai Development Association (CDA), Abel Adamu confirmed the kidnap on Wednesday. A statement by the Public Relations Officer, Raphael Joshua said Ahmadu was seized by assailants who invaded his house. They stormed the traditional rulers residence at Zambina around 9:30 p.m. and took him away. Adamu noted that residents were working hard to ensure that the captive was released unhurt. Security agencies on special duty in the chiefdom have been informed of the incident, he confirmed. The statement challenged youths in the chiefdom to take communal security seriously to avert attacks. The youths, who ought to be the force to guarantee security, are not ready to work with security personnel to secure the land, Adamu said. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has explained why Dibu Ojerinde, a former registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), was re-arrested. Ojerinde was arrested in Abuja on Thursday, at the premises of a federal high court. BACKGROUND The ICPC had arraigned Ojerinde on July 6, 2021, on an 18-count charge bordering on alleged misappropriation of funds to the tune of N5.2 billion while in office. In a statement on Thursday, Azuka Ogugua, ICPC spokesperson, said Ojerinde is expected to face a team of investigators over new evidence uncovered in relation to his ongoing trial over alleged diversion of funds. OJERINDE MAY FACE FRESH CHARGES Jimoh Olabisi, a former deputy director at JAMB, had, at a court hearing on Wednesday, alleged that Ojerinde used him to divert federal government funds. The ICPC, on Thursday, said its operatives uncovered two accounts opened in the names of Trillium Learning Centre Ltd and Sapati International Schools Ltd, into which funds were diverted using fictitious names of students. The commission had on the 12th December, 2022, invited the former JAMB Registrar for questioning over the new evidence but he wrote through his solicitor requesting 14 days grace to enable him honour the invitation, ICPC said. Ojerinde, however, refused to honour the invitation as undertaken by his counsel after the expiration of the 14 days grace on 27th December, 2022. In the course of its ongoing investigation, the Commission unearthed new evidence that suggests that Ojerinde is the sole signatory to various bank accounts operated in the name of Trillium Learning Centre Ltd and Sapati International School Ltd. Ojerinde reportedly operated those accounts using false identities and forged documents in the names of Joshua Olakulehin Olaniran and Akanbi Lamidi, respectively. He also reportedly used another false identity, Adeniyi Banji, to operate a separate account in the name of Standout Institutes Ltd. The ICPC said it has recovered the chequebooks of the companies accounts from Ojerinde. The Commission may likely prosecute the former registrar before a court of competent jurisdiction for offences bothering on forgery of documents, stolen identity, money laundering and concealment of gratification if the new evidence is confirmed, the agency added. Okezie Ikpeazu, the Abia governor, and Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), have announced the suspension of their campaign activities over the death of Uche Ikonne. Ikonne died on Wednesday morning at the National Hospital, Abuja. In a statement, Ikpeazu directed that all flags in Abia state PDP offices be flown at half-mast and all campaigns suspended until January 30. It is with a heavy heart but total submission to the will of God that we announce the passing of our Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2023 general elections, Prof Eleazar Uchenna Ikonne, which sad event took place in the early hours of today at the National Hospital, Abuja, after a brief illness, the statement reads. While we condole with the family of the late Professor of Optometry, the PDP family and Abians in general, we pray God to have mercy on his soul, grant him eternal rest and give everyone affected by his unfortunate demise the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. As a mark of honour to our dear departed brother, I hereby direct that all flags in Abia State PDP offices be lowered and flown at half-mast while all campaign activities for the party at all levels be suspended until Monday, 30th January, 2023. I urge all PDP leaders and members to remain calm as we navigate through this difficult period together. On his part, Obi, in a statement, announced a suspension of the LP presidential campaign scheduled to hold in Abia on January 31. I was shocked to read the sad news of the death of Prof. Uche Ikonne, the Peoples Democratic Partys Governorship Candidate in Abia State. I sincerely commiserate with the Abia State Governor, H.E. Okezie Ikpeazu; the PDP Family and the entire people of Abia State on this very sad development, the LP candidate said. May God Almighty, who called him home grant him eternal rest in His Kingdom, and grant his immediate family, and the good people of Abia state the fortitude to bear his irreplaceable loss. In deference, we have postponed our Labour Partys Presidential Rally in Abia state, earlier scheduled for 31st January to 4th February, to allow a week of mourning for the deceased. May God Almighty continue to protect and bless the good people of Abia State, and our nation Nigeria. Meanwhile, the PDP, in a statement, described Ikonnes death as devastating news. Alas our hearts bleed; Prof. Ikonnes death is indeed a big blow not only to the PDP family but also to Abia State and the nation in general, the statement reads. He was a committed patriot, very brilliant academician, seasoned optometrist and excellent administrator, who gave himself to the service of his people and humanity, and for which the people of Abia State were resolved to elect him as Governor of Abia State. The National Leadership of the PDP deeply commiserates with the family of Prof. Ikonne, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, the Abia State Chapter of the PDP as well as the entire people of Abia State and prays to God to console us all and grant eternal rest to the faithful departed. Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate, said he is shocked and saddened about the development. Prof Ikonne was an erudite scholar of repute with vast experience in administration, whose contributions to advancing knowledge within the academic community will be appreciated by generations unborn, the former vice-president tweeted. I recall my last encounter with Prof Ikonne vividly when he led a delegation of Abia PDP stakeholders to my residence in Abuja. He, Prof Ikonne, was at his intellectual best in the course of the robust discussion that I had with his delegation. The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Bola Tinubu was key to the transformation of Lagos State, according to Kashim Shettima. When Asiwaju became the governor of Lagos, you and I know that the fear of Lagos for the average northerner was the beginning of wisdom, the APC vice presidential candidate said during a Lagos State banquet for President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday. Lagos was a super slum but because of the quality of this mans ideas, Lagos is now the third-largest economy in Africa. From N600m, Lagos government is now generating N61b every month as the internally generated revenue, and Lagos is now projected to be the third-largest economy by the end of the decade. The former Borno State governor, who says Tinubu can bring his wealth of experience to bear if elected as Nigerias president next month, called on voters to queue behind the APC flagbearer. He said President Buhari deserves commendation for Tinubus emergence as the APC presidential flagbearer and described the elections are a watershed in the countrys history. I will urge you all to vote for the one that would sustain the legacies of President Muhammadu Buhari; for someone who has the integrity, the character, and the skillsets to catapult this nation to a higher pedestal, Shettima added. Debt of Gratitude According to him, Tinubu deserves applause from the northern region. He said the former Lagos governor gave shelter to politicians from the area when they were facing political witch hunt. Shettima listed such persons as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and an ex-chief of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Nuhu Ribadu. Asides from them, the APC vice presidential candidate said Tinubus backing of Buhari in the 2015 and 2019 elections is something the region wont forget. Those of us from the north owe him a debt of gratitude for supporting our leader President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 and 2019 general elections, he added. He also dismissed claims about Tinubus health and age. We are not preparing for the Olympics but an institution that thrives on the superiority of ideas and established track records, Shettima maintained. Michael Achimugu, a former media aide of Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party has opened up about Atikus grand corruption, promising that more are coming. Achimugu also warned Nigerians never to vote for Atiku for the sake of their children and grandchildren. WATCH VIDEO BELOW... He warned the candidates attack dogs not to make any attempt to come after him as he has sworn to an affidavit of facts, which will be released should he be eliminated. My lawyers are well briefed and equipped for the mother of all exposures once something happens to me or any member of my family, he said on his website www.lionofjada.com I have sworn to an affidavit of facts which will be released later, which is one of the steps I have taken for possible backlash for the series of disclosures I will be making. Achimugu in the first video, which has gone viral, about Atikus improprieties revealed Atikus explanation for the N100 million reportedly paid into his account by jailed Governor Joshua Dariye of Plateau state. As Atikus media person, Achimugu had asked Atiku for his explanation. What Atiku told him was shocking: that he Atiku did not commit corruption directly, but by proxy, stealth or SPV, which is a shorthand for special purpose vehicle. Atiku told Achimugu that Dariyes money was paid into the account of Marine Float, controlled by Atiku or his cronies. In the video released, Achimugu recorded Atikus lecture to him on what SPV means, how it was set up as vehicles for slush funds. On the website, Achimugu also revealed how one of Atikus friends appropriated a media company he set up with billions of naira. The SPV conversation made me recall one of the most emotional moments I ever shared with him. It was at the end of 2017 and the Waziri had recounted how he spent billions of naira buying equipment and setting up a media company using one Olushola Akanmode as proxy. According to him, when he wanted his company returned to him, Akanmode refused. Atiku could not go to court because the documents were in the proxys name. That event was where he said to me, All of the people I have helped are never as loyal to me as I was to Shehu Musa Yaradua. Moved by emotions, I had felt extreme pity for him. Today, Akanmode is still in his circle of friends. I will discuss the details in one of the sequels to this piece, he wrote. Many persons are feared to have been killed following an explosion in Doma, a community between Benue and Nasarawa states. Abdullahi Sule, governor of Nasarawa, confirmed the development while addressing journalists on Wednesday. He said the explosion occurred on Tuesday when some Fulani gathered a considerable number of their cattle to be transported from an area that connects Benue to Nasarawa state. In Benue yesterday but then it crosses over to our state. Though it has to do with some Fulani who got to rescue their cows and after rescuing the cows, there was a bomb blast at the area where they gathered their cows to bring them back to Nasarawa state, he said. The governor did not state the number of casualties. He, however, said security agencies and relevant stakeholders in the state are making efforts to salvage the situation. As a result of that, I have been on it all night, trying to resolve the issue with the chief of defence staff, Miyetti Allah, all the security agencies including our commissioner of police, he added. Our deputy governor and commissioner of police are currently on their way to Doma to ensure that we continue to douse the tension that may generate as a result of this. So, by the grace of God, we will see how to ensure that we maintain peace in that area where such bombings are taking place. Meanwhile, efforts to reach Rahman Nansel, police spokesperson in the state, for comment on the development were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls or messages. Victor Moses has returned to training at the Russian club, Spartak Moscow after a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Moses ruptured his Achilles tendon in Spartak Moscows 2-0 win against Ural in August. The 32-year-old was sidelined for five months missing 19 matches across all competitions. The former Nigeria international arrived at the clubs training camp in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday. The Red and Whites posted his picture on their official Twitter handle with a short message Welcome back @VictorMoses. Moses is not expected to take part in Spartak Moscows friendly against Bulgarian club, Botev Plovdiv as he continues to recover from the injury. The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday said there was a plan to sabotage the coming election. Tinubu cited the lingering fuel crisis and naira redesign by the Central Bank of Nigeria as part of the plot to scuttle the poll and his expected victory. The APC standard bearer spoke during the APC presidential campaign held at the MKO Abiola stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun State. However, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party and oil marketers faulted the ex-Lagos state governors allegations. The PDP argued that Tinubu was simply exposing the failures of the APC regime, insisting that his defeat in the election was imminent. Speaking in Yoruba, the former Lagos State governor stated, They dont want this election to hold. They want to scuttle it. Will you allow them? He, however, encouraged Nigerians to defy the fuel scarcity to exercise their franchise, stating that the poll would be a superior revolution. They have started coming up with the issue of no fuel. Dont worry, if there is no fuel, we will trek to cast the vote. If you like, increase the price of fuel, hide the fuel or change the ink on the naira notes, we will win the election. We will use our PVCs (permanent voter cards) to take over the government from them; if they like, let them say there is no fuel, we will trek there (polling booths). They are full of mischief, they want to create a fuel crisis, they have started creating a fuel crisis, but, forget about it, put your mind at rest, Im assuring you. I, Asiwaju will end fuel scarcity. Let the price of fuel continue to increase, they are the ones that know where they are hoarding it. They are hoarding naira notes, they are hoarding fuel, we will vote and we will win. If you like, change the ink in the naira note, we will win the election, the opposition will be defeated. Addressing youths who thronged the rally, a former Lagos State governor promised that his administration would end the issue of strikes in the university system if elected into office in February. He also promised student loans, pledging to ensure no student spends an extra year on any course. He said Im a youth, Im here for you and you will not be put to shame. We will take over the government from them; they are traitors that want to wrest the government from us. This is a revolution, this election is a revolution. They are creating artificial fuel scarcity, they are saying they want to increase fuel price to N200, but let your mind be at rest, we will end fuel scarcity, we will end fuel crisis. Student loan Great youths, Im assuring you one thing: there will be student loans, nobody will drop out of the university because of school fees. I guarantee you that. Nobody will have to repeat class for eight years and not graduate, we are too smart, we are brilliant, we are courageous, we are sharp, we will make a four-year course a four-year course. Do you agree? Will you vote? Whether there is fuel or not, call your sisters. While assuring the APC standard bearer that the support from the state would be 100 per cent, the governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, added that Tinubu is the best deal for the country at this period. Abiodun, who also called on the people of the state to go all out and claim their permanent voter cards, noted that the candidates of the APC were the best. Our correspondent reports that the rally almost turned into an exhibition of assorted charms as hoodlums loyal to a candidate in the South-West threw caution to the wind during the programme. The atmosphere at the stadium became tense following the show of force by the hoodlums who displayed charms. Pandemonium later broke out when some students who were at the event clashed with the thugs who were attacking people. During the melee, one person collapsed while two others were stabbed. Many people took to their heels during the violence which was later brought under control. Speaking on Tinubus comments on a plot to scuttle the polls, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, stated, This is exposing the failure of the APC-led government where Tinubu is the national leader. Redesigning money; is it an opposition programme? They are in charge of petroleum supply, they are in charge of the CBN, and they are saying there is a fifth columnist. The fifth columnist cannot be outside and if they are, they have lost control; they have failed. So you ask him, not me. Tinubu is complaining about a policy of his own government where he is the national leader, how would you ask the opposition party? I am not a member of their party, Im not a member of the fifth columnist. In a statement on Tinubus allegation, the Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organisation berated the APC candidate for trying to blackmail President Muhammadu Buhari and blame the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government over his looming devastating rejection by Nigerians. PDP PCC The Spokesperson for the Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organisation, Kola Ologbondiyan, described Tinubus statement as a face-saving measure ahead of his looming electoral defeat. He stated, Our campaign finds it pathetic that Asiwaju Tinubu is seeking a face-saving measure ahead of his shattering electoral defeat by shedding crocodile tears and claiming that the redesigning of the naira notes and the fuel crisis under the APC administration, which he has reportedly been corruptly benefitting, were plots to scuttle the 2023 general elections It is unfortunate that Asiwaju Tinubu is trying to hoodwink Nigerians by seeking to exonerate himself and blame others in the Buhari led-APC administration for the biting fuel scarcity in the country, when in reality, he (Asiwaju Tinubu) is known to be behind the insensitive and anti-people policies that have brought so much calamity to our country, including the current persistent fuel scarcity. It indeed speaks volumes of Asiwaju Tinubus character, that while he is reported to be hugely involved in the corruption in the petroleum sector, which had led to the fuel crisis, he is pretending to care for the pains Nigerians are passing through just because it was beginning to affect his political life ambition. Furthermore, the PCC said it was clear that Tinubu was lamenting the naira re-designing because the policy has frustrated his boastful plots to use slush fund, which he reportedly stashed away in secret vaults, for vote buying and manipulative schemes, including alleged funding of thugs to compromise the integrity of the 2023 Presidential election through the setting up of the Jagaban Army. Of course, only politicians who have always won elections by relying on bullion vans have become troubled over the CBN monetary policy to redesign the naira, the statement added. The campaign council advised him to withdraw from the race before the Waterloo of his loud defeat by Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party. It also accused Tinubu of trying to distance himself from the Buhari regime which he told the world that he brought into office just because he wants to beguile Nigerians and take their votes. The oil marketers said it was wrong for the APC candidate to allege that the current scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit was aimed at scuttling the election. Dealers under the aegis of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, and the Petroleum Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, stated that Tinubus claims lacked justification. The National Public Relations Officer, IPMAN, Chief Ukadike Chinedu, stated, The issue of fuel scarcity has been a recurring issue during transition periods. It is not basically because of this election, no! During the time of former President Goodluck Jonathan, I know that it took the intervention of the Senate Committee on Petroleum to sort out the arrears that were owed to marketers by the Federal Government at that time. And within the period of time that that issue was on the ground, there was a serious scarcity of petroleum products across the country. And even the labour unions threatened to go on strike then. The threat was to ensure that the outgoing government settled the money being owed to marketers. I also know that there was an intervention committee that was set up by the Federal Government to take care of that during that period. Also speaking, the President, PETROAN, Billy Gillis-Harry, explained that it was wrong to attribute the lingering fuel scarcity to a plot to sabotage the February election. He said, PETROAN says no to that. It is not correct. Petroleum product scarcity is due to the supply glitch and logistics issues that are impacting negatively on the NNPCs efforts to flood our outlets with PMS. So that cannot in any way be designed to scuttle the elections for 2023. It is not correct. LP faults Tinubu On his own part, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, advised the APC standard bearer to stop going to Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. Obi, in a statement by the Head of Media, Obi/Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Diran Onifade, stressed that things go wrong for the APC candidate whenever he visited Abeokuta. He said, If I were to be Tinubus adviser, I would have advised him to stop going to Abeokuta. In the same Abeokuta, he made the gaffe of Olule and how President Muhammadu Buhari was crying on tv, emi lokan and all that. Now, he (Tinubu) is saying the fuel scarcity is meant to make the elections fail and how they are going to take over power from them. Who are they or them? He could have been talking to the CBN governor (Godwin Emefiele) and the Minister of Petroleum and who is the minister of petroleum in this respect? President Muhammadu Buhari. The same man that Tinubu has been campaigning that he wants to take over from and continue the good work. I think his advisers should advise him to stop going to Abeokuta because he gets things wrong every time he goes there. The CBNs Director of Corporate Communications, Mr Osita Nwanisobi, did not respond to Tinubus allegation regarding the redesign of the naira. He asked our correspondent to send a query to him on the Whatsapp platform, but he had yet to respond as of the time of filing this report. The nation has been witnessing recurrent scarcity of PMS since last year. The NNPCL, the sole importer of petrol into the country, however, kept mute when contacted to speak on Tinubus claim on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room has raised concerns over the fuel crisis in the country which, it said, would affect the exercise if not curtailed. The Situation Room, comprising about 80 groups, also said it was concerned about the impact it could have on transportation and logistics during the elections. The CSOs, therefore, called on the President to meet with the oil marketers and NNPCL to proffer a lasting solution to the lingering fuel scarcity before the elections. Nigerians, they said, had been severely affected by the persistent fuel scarcity and continuous increase in price since 2022. The coalition said the timelines given to people who have been asked to collect their Permanent Voter Cards were unrealistic and would lead to disenfranchisement. It called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to reconsider the January 29 deadline for PVC collection at the local government areas level to accommodate the large number of Nigerians who had yet to collect their PVCs. The Convener of NCSSR, Ene Obi; Co-Conveners, Asmau Joda and James Ugochukwu, raised the observations in a statement on the state of the nation and PVC collection on Wednesday. It read in part, With the commission anticipating the deployment of over 100,000 vehicles including motorcycles and tricycles to ensure that personnel and materials arrive at polling units before voters on election day, Situation Room calls on INEC to ensure that this logistics arrangement is revisited to accommodate the present realities if this has not been already done as elections are fast approaching. Situation Room, therefore, calls on the President and Minister of Petroleum, President Muhammadu Buhari, to meet with the oil marketers and NNPCL to proffer a lasting solution to the lingering fuel scarcity before the elections. Going by the INEC calendar on the distribution of PVCs, the Local Government Area distribution at INEC offices is set to end on January 29 2023. Situation Room is worried that the timelines given to people who have been asked to return to collect their PVCs are unrealistic and would lead to disenfranchisement. The NCSSR also expressed concern over the pockets of violence at the campaign grounds as the political parties and their candidates intensified their campaigns in different states. It noted, Situation Room recalls that in September 2022, at the start of party campaigns, it called on political parties and citizens to desist from fomenting violence. Section 93(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 prohibits political parties and candidates from directly or indirectly threatening anyone with force or violence during any political campaign with the intent of compelling that person to support or refrain from supporting a political party or candidate. Situation Room reminds political parties and candidates of the penalties for this offence as stated in section 93 (2) of the Act. The Act states that in the case of a candidate, upon conviction, the person would pay a maximum fine of N1,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months. For erring political parties, a fine of N2,000,000 in the first instance and N1,000,000 for any subsequent offence. Situation Room has also observed the use of abusive language and name-calling by some party leaders with the aim of discrediting other candidates or parties. According to section 92 (2) of the Electoral Act 2022, abusive, intemperate, slanderous, base language, insinuations or innuendoes designed or likely to provoke violent reaction or emotions shall not be employed or used in political campaigns. The group noted that despite the concerns raised previously, INEC facilities were still under continuous attacks by arsonists. In a related development, a former governor of Bayelsa state and senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, has said the timing of the currency redesign by the CBN is wrong. This is as he hoped that the policy would not distract the nation from having successful elections. The CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, had in October 2022 announced that N200, N500, and N1000 notes would be re-designed, adding that the new design would be effective from mid-December 2022. He, however, said the existing currencies would remain the legal tender until January 31. But Dickson believed the CBN should have introduced the policy under a new administration. He stated that the consequences of such an action would have been well-managed by another administration as the current was coming to an end. The senator spoke at an interaction programme by the Rotary Club of Abuja Maitama in Abuja on Wednesday. He said, The timing of the policy to me is a problem no matter how well-intended. I feel this coming at the twilight of an administration of almost eight years. I think a major fundamental policy such as this should have been left for the next administration to manage the consequences and fine-tune. Lets hope the citizens are not confused and agitated. Lets hope it does not distract us from focusing on having fair and peaceful conduct of the national election. The senator also condemned uncivil comments made against some candidates, adding that there should be no justification for such utterances. The senate, on Tuesday, said 35 constitution amendment bills have been passed by state assemblies. At the plenary session, the lawmakers asked the clerk of the national assembly to transmit the bills to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent. Among the proposed legislations not approved by the state assemblies are bills seeking financial and legislative autonomy for local governments. In March 2022, the senate and house of representatives voted on bills seeking to amend the 1999 constitution. The red and green chambers agreed on some of the bills and differed on others, while a total of 44 bills were transmitted to the state houses of assembly. According to sections 9(2) and (3) of the 1999 constitution, two-thirds of all the state assemblies 24 states are required for each amendment to be approved. Below is the full list of the bills approved by the 27 state houses of assemblies. S/N BILLS 1 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No 3 (Change of Names of Afikpo North and Afikpo South Local Government Areas (Ebonyi State) The bill seeks to change the names of Afikpo north and Afikpo south LGAs to Afikpo and Edda LGAs, respectively. 2 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No 4 (Change of Name of Kunchi Local Government Area (Kano State) The bill seeks to change the name of Kunchi LGA to Ghari. 3 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No 5 (Change of Names of Egbado North and Egbado South Local Government Areas (Ogun State) The bill seeks to change the names of Egbado north and Egbado south LGAs to Yewa north and Yewa south LGAs, respectively. 4 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No 7 (Correction of the Name of Atigbo Local Government Area (Oyo State) The bill seeks to correct Atigbo LGA to Atisbo. 5 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No 8 (Correction of Name of Obia/Akpor Local Government Area (Rivers State) The bill seeks to correct Obia/Akpor LGA to Obio/Akpor. 6 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No 9 (Financial autonomy of state legislatures and state judiciary) This bill seeks to provide the framework for the implementation of the financial autonomy already granted by earlier alterations of the constitution for state houses of assemblies and state judiciaries, by the creation of a disbursement committee to superintend the release of appropriated sums to the legislative and judicial arms. 7 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 10 (Enforcement of Legislative Summons) It seeks to strengthen the power of the legislature to deal with failure, refusal, or neglect to attend a legislative summons by making it an offence punishable on conviction, by a court of law, in accordance with an Act of the national assembly. 8 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 11 (Inauguration of Members-Elect) This bill seeks to provide for two-third majority of members-elect as the quorum of members-elect required for the first and inaugural session of members-elect of the national and state houses of assembly. 9 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 21 (Deletion of reference in the Constitution to the provisions of the Criminal Code, Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Act, Criminal Procedure Code or Evidence Act) The bill seeks to delete the reference to the provisions of the Criminal Code, Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Act, Criminal Procedure Code and Evidence Act in the Constitution. 10 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 22 (Provision for Intervening Events in the Computation of Time for the Determination of Pre-Election Petitions, Election Petitions and Appeals therefrom) This bill seeks to alter the provisions of the constitution to exclude the period of intervening events, like disasters and force majeure in the computation of time for determining pre-election petitions, election petitions and appeals therefrom. 11 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 24 (Expansion of the Interpretation of Judicial Office) The alteration here seeks to expand the interpretation of judicial office to include courts or tribunals created by an Act of the national assembly or a state house of assembly. 12 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 25 (Appointment of Secretary of the National Judicial Council) The bill seeks to provide a minimum post-call qualification of 10 years for the secretary of the National Judicial Council. 13 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 29 (Devolution of Powers (Airports) This bill seeks to move the item airports from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent legislative list. The intent of this and other bills under the heading devolution of powers is to decongest the exclusive legislative list by moving those items to the concurrent legislative list, thereby giving more legislative powers to the state. This is aimed at strengthening federalism and ensuring that governance responsibilities are efficiently allocated to the level of government best able to manage them, and expanding the revenue base of sub-national governments. 14 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 30 (Devolution of Powers) (fingerprints, identification and criminal records) This bill seeks to move the item fingerprints, identification and criminal records from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent legislative list. 15 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 31 (Devolution of Powers (Correctional Services) This bill seeks to delete the item prisons from the exclusive legislative list and redesignate it as correctional services in the concurrent legislative list. 16 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 32 (Devolution of Powers (Railways) The bill seeks to move the item railways from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent legislative list. 17 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 33 (Devolution of Powers) (National Grid System) This bill seeks to delete after the word, areas, the words, not covered by a national grid system in the concurrent legislative list. This will allow states to generate, transmit and distribute electricity in areas covered by the national grid within their respective domains. 18 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 39 (Power to Enforce Compliance of Remittance of Accruals into the Federation Account and Review of Revenue Allocation Formula) The bill seeks to empower the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission to enforce compliance with the remittance of accruals into and disbursement of revenue from the federation account, and streamline the procedure for reviewing the revenue allocation formula. 19 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 40 (Independence of Certain Bodies) The amendment in this bill seeks to alter the constitution to enhance the independence of certain regulatory and oversight institutions created by the constitution. This is to help improve the quality of governance, strengthen the rule of law, encourage transparency and accountability, prevent corruption, and ultimately reinforce both the quality and the resilience of democracy. 20 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 41 (Removal of Transitional Lawmaking Powers of the Executive) This bill seeks to remove transitional law-making powers from the executive arm of government. 21 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 43 (Domestication of Treaties) The bill seeks to alter the constitution to specify the time within which the executive shall present to the national assembly any treaty between the federation and any other country for enactment. 22 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 44 (Timeline for the Presentation of Appropriation Bills) This bill seeks to provide a timeframe within which the president or a governor shall lay the appropriation bill before the national assembly or house of assembly, and the period within which the national assembly or house of assembly shall pass the appropriation bill. The intent of this bill is to entrench a January-to-December budget year in the constitution which will make state and national budgets more predictable. 23 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 45 (Timeframe for the Submission of the Names of Ministerial or Commissioner Nominees) The bill seeks to alter the provisions of the constitution to provide a timeframe within which the president or a governor shall forward to the senate or state house of assembly names of nominees for confirmation as ministers or commissioners. 24 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 48 (Power to Summon the President and Governors) This bill seeks to alter the provisions of the constitution to grant the two chambers of the national assembly and state houses of assembly powers to summon the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and governors of states, respectively, to answer questions on issues of national security or any matter whatsoever, over which the national assembly and state houses of assembly have powers to make laws. 25 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 49 (Authorisation of Expenditure) The bill seeks to alter the provisions of the constitution to reduce the period within which the president or a governor may authorise the withdrawal of monies from the consolidated revenue fund in the absence of an Appropriation Act, from six months to three months. 26 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 50 (Replacement of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation with the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federal Government) The bill seeks to alter the constitution to replace the consolidated revenue fund of the federation with the consolidated revenue fund of the federal government in sections 80, 81, 82, and 83 of the constitution. 27 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 51 (Creation of the Office of Accountant-General of the Federal Government) This bill seeks to establish the office of the accountant-general of the federal government distinct from the office of the accountant-general of the federation. The proposed alteration is aimed at ensuring ease of administration by enabling the federal government to have its own accounting officer separate from the accounting officer that deals with the other tiers of government. 28 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 53 (Separation of the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and of the State from the Office of the Minister or Commissioner for Justice) This bill seeks to establish the office of the attorney-general of the federation and of the state separate from the office of the minister of justice, or commissioner for justice in order to make the office of the attorney-general independent and insulated from partisanship. 29 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 54 (State of the Nation and State of the State Address) The bill seeks to alter the provisions of the constitution to provide for a state of the nation and state of the state address by the president and governor, respectively. 30 Bill No. 55 (Composition of Members of the Council of State) The bill seeks to alter the constitution to include former presidents of the senate and former speakers of the house of representatives as members of the council of state. This is to ensure that the three arms of government are fairly represented in the council. 31 Bill No. 57 (Restriction on Formation of Political Parties) This bill seeks to enhance existing provisions on the formation of political parties to ensure their national orientation, viability, and sustainability. 32 Bill No. 62 (Correction in the Definition of the Boundary of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja) This bill seeks to alter the provisions of the constitution to correct the error in the definition of the boundary of the federal capital territory, Abuja, by substituting Nasarawa state for Plateau state. 33 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 63 (Fundamental Human Rights) This bill seeks to alter the provisions of the constitution to make free, compulsory, and basic education a fundamental right of all citizens under chapter IV of the constitution. 34 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 65 (Food Security) The bill seeks to alter the provisions of the constitution to require the government to direct its policy towards ensuring food security in Nigeria. 35 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 66 (Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps) This bill seeks to entrench the establishment and core functions of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in the constitution. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday visited former Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun. Obasanjo visited Amosun at the Ibara GRA residence of the former governor in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. The visit is coming exactly one month before the February 25, 2023, presidential election. Though it was said that the visit was to congratulate Amosun on his 65th birthday, there are speculations that the duo of Amosun and Obasanjo may be up to something ahead of the 2023 elections. The visit which is also the first from Obasanjo to Amosun on his birthday, happened on a day the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, was to campaign in Ogun. A statement by Obasanjos media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, said the former president paid Amosun a visit to felicitate him on his 65th birthday anniversary. According to Akinyemi, Obasanjo was in Amosuns residence at about 7 am to pray for the celebrant, his wife and his household. Obasanjo is supporting the candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi for the 2023 presidential election. Amosun, an APC member, has vowed to support Tinubus presidential ambition, though he was absent during the APC campaign rally in Abeokuta on Wednesday. A former All Progressives Congress, APC, Campaign Director on Civil Society Organization, Najaatu Mohammed, has disclosed what the partys presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu told her about insecurity in the North. Najaatu disclosed that Tinubu told her he had no blueprint for tackling insecurity in the North during a meeting in London. She disclosed this while alluding to why she resigned from the ruling APC. On Arise Televisions programme, Morning Show, Najaatu said: I met with Tinubu in the North and he told me I dont have a blueprint for tackling insecurity in the North; if I have I might be killed. Having a blueprint for tackling insecurity in the North would mean I will be stepping on so many toes. He has been urging me to take the appointment and I refused. A few days ago, Najaatu resigned her appointment with the APC and Tinubus campaign team. However, Tinubus campaign team claimed she was sacked for being a mole. Phrank Shaibu, an aide of Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says Bola Tinubu is using petrol scarcity and the naira redesign as excuses for his imminent defeat. While speaking at a rally in Ogun state, Tinubu, standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the scarcity of petrol and change of the nairas design would not affect his chances of securing victory. This election is a revolution. They said fuel will be expensive will be N200, N500. Put your mind at rest, we will bring it down, the former Lagos governor had said. They dont want the election to hold. They want to disrupt it. Will you allow that? Will you vote? In a statement on Wednesday, Shaibu said Tinubu is running from pillar to post despite claiming that he installed President Muhammadu Buhari in office. Frustrated by President Muhammadu Buharis unwillingness to attend some of his insipid rallies, Tinubu launched an attack against the president who doubles as the minister of petroleum, he said. It is funny that Tinubu is just commenting over the fuel scarcity which started in different parts of the country as far back as February 2022. In Lagos, where Tinubu claims to be the landlord, the state has been witnessing fuel queues since last November. It is therefore dubious of Tinubu to try to extricate himself from the failures of his party because elections are 30 days away. Having seen his imminent defeat at the polls, he is already using the fuel scarcity and naira redesign as excuses. Tinubu should throw in the towel or get ready to be disgraced on February 25, 2023. A word is enough for the wise. The United States on Wednesday announced visa restrictions on specific individuals in Nigeria. The American government said those affected undermined the democratic process in a recent election. The recent electoral race in the country were the governorship polls in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States. A statement by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, reiterated the commitment of the U.S. to supporting and advancing democracy in Nigeria and around the world. Today, I am announcing visa restrictions on specific individuals in Nigeria for undermining the democratic process in a recent Nigerian election. Under Section 212(a)(3)C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the individuals will be found ineligible for visas to America. Blinken noted that certain family members of such persons may also be subject to these restrictions. Additional persons who undermine the democratic process in Nigeriaincluding in the lead-up to, during, and following Nigerias 2023 electionsmay be found ineligible for U.S. visas under this policy, he said. Blinken clarified that the latest visa restrictions targets only certain persons and are not directed at the people or the government. The decision to impose visa restrictions reflects the commitment of the United States to support Nigerian aspirations to combat corruption and strengthen democracy and the rule of law, the official concluded. A whistleblower, Michael Achimugu, has said he exposed the corruption allegation against the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, to prevent Nigerians from making a great mistake by voting for him. Atiku had admitted in a recorded phone call that he was involved in taking advantage of federal contracting expenditures. In the viral audio shared by Atikus alleged former aide, the former vice-president narrated how he took charge of setting up onshore shell businesses which served as a conduit for siphoning significant sums from public works contracts for himself and former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Atiku could be heard saying, You see, what happened was when we came into the office, I advised the president against open corruption. I told him Give me three people you trust and I will prepare three companies for which they will be the subscribers or rather the directors. So if there is any contract that we will give they will act as consultants and then they are given a fee and that fee is what we will now use to fund the party instead of engaging openly. So he gave me the name of (Oyewole) Fasawe, Andy Uba, and this late politician from Borno State whom he said died in a plane crash to serve as fronts. I now incorporated companies and put them as subscribers. One of the companies was Marine Float. In his reaction, the spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar/Ifeanyi Okowa Presidential Campaign Council, Dino Melaye, had during an interview last week on Channels TV, denied that Achimugu was a media aide to Atiku, adding that he was being sponsored by the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Bola Tinubu, to distract Nigerians. However, Achimugu, in an interview with Television Continental monitored by The PUNCH on Wednesday, explained that he was motivated to take on his former boss because he wanted to educate Nigerians and dissuade them from voting for Atiku as president. He said, There are basically two reasons which I have repeated over and over on social media. First is that young persons like myself who served politicians will never again be taken for granted. Second, it is to warn Nigerians and educate them before the elections to prevent them from making the greatest mistake ever. If Nigerians think that they have seen corruption before, let them wait until they make the mistake of voting the Atiku family into office. After a couple of years, I began to see so many other things within the family. There is this huge dysfunction that doesnt speak well of the family. It lies behind the facade that people cannot really see, but I am a Nigerian; I have children and so do millions of other Nigerians and I understand that if this is allowed to fester, if this is promoted to Aso Rock, then the entire Nigeria will be shattered, so I decided to come out and try and prevent this from happening. Achimugu also admitted in the interview that he carried out many assignments for his former boss which he could not divulge publicly. At first, it was a father-son relationship. We were quite close. Sometimes he would ask me to come over to Dubai to meet with him. I have facilitated appointments of other media aides for him. I have secured admissions to schools for him. I have carried out a lot of assignments, some of which I will not be able to speak about on television. As I stated in my affidavit, my boss wasnt the kind of man I could call randomly because he was always busy and most times his phone is not with him, so initially I had to record those calls so that I could play back instructions without having to revert to him and bother his schedule, he added. The presidency has reacted to a claim by Tanko Yakasai, elder statesman, that President Muhammadu Buhari is not showing the necessary support for Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The presidencys reaction was contained in a statement on Wednesday by Garba Shehu, presidential spokesperson. Yakasai is a co-founder of the Grand Patron of the Grassroots Movement for Asiwaju Tinubu and Shettima (G-MATS). In an interview published by Control TV on January 22, Yakasai had alleged that Buhari is not loyal to Tinubus campaign to become the countrys next president. Is he [Buhari] committed to Tinubu for the presidency? I have my doubts. I dont know. But I have not seen the commitment from him of supporting the candidacy of Tinubu in APC. Im not sure if hes APC or not. Definitely, the personality of Tinubu doesnt make him happy, I think, from my assessment of the situation, Yakasai had said. Reacting, Shehu dismissed the elder statesmans claim, adding that he needs a little help. Alhaji Tanko Yakasai is unknown to the All Progressives Congress, APC. Everyone is entitled to their view, but what we do know is that his insight in a recent interview does not come from within the party or the Presidents team. His support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is welcome although it is difficult to see what value it will add, Shehu said. He is right to highlight his experience as a senior citizen, a leader in government and ability to reach out across divides are strong foundations for the highest office. But Yakasais questioning of the loyalties of President Muhammadu Buhari stands in sharp contrast to the actions of the President. Only on Monday, he was out at a rally in Bauchi supporting the flag bearer of the party. Presidential duties permitting, he is scheduled to make further appearances at campaign events in the coming weeks. His support for the partys candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is unquestioned. If this wasnt on TV, Yakasais unwise comment on the issue would have been dismissed as a misquotation. But he was live on TV. On this one against President Buhari, no one should take him seriously. Perhaps times are hard and the old man needs a bit of help. 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. It took decades to locate and a year to renovate, but a couple finally gets a Bayou St. John dream home A 1980s promotional song for the west bank resurfaced this week thanks to a curious New Orleans photographer who stumbled on an old YouTube video. The song invites listeners to "discover the magic of the west bank," and was part of a promotional campaign to recruit new businesses and residents to the communities across the Mississippi River from downtown New Orleans, according to the Jefferson Historical Society of Louisiana. It was released in 1988 when the second Greater New Orleans Bridge opened, connecting the east and west banks of the river. Both bridges were later renamed the Crescent City Connection. The 27-minute video was posted in 2015 on the organization's YouTube channel, and that's where Sidney Donaldson said he found it recently. He shared the song to his TikTok account (@sidneydphotos) earlier this week and it took off, getting more than 126,000 views as of Wednesday. "After seeing this commercial, I want to move to the Westbank now," he wrote with a laughing emoji. 'A great place to be' The song is part of a video produced by WWL-TV for the Westbank Council of the Chamber of Commerce and the Jefferson Parish Council, according to the Jefferson Historical Society of Louisiana. Can't see the video? Watch here. The YouTube video was digitized from the collections of the Jefferson Parish Library, according to a note on the video. Song lyrics Here are some of the lyrics of the song: On the banks of the Mississippi Where the bayou breezes blow Sign advertising specials at Reggies bar, seen Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. Madison Brooks, the 19-year-old LSU sophomore who was raped in the back of a car before being dropped off in a neighborhood near where she was fatally struck by a car on Burbank Drive about an hour later on Jan. 15 had been drinking at Reggie's bar before the incident, and deputies said Brooks had a blood-alcohol level of .319, nearly four times the legal limit to drive and enough to give someone alcohol poisoning and render them unconscious. As Samantha Brennan pored over the details of Madison Brooks recent rape and death after a night in Tigerland, she was struck by the similarities between her own case from 2016 and Brooks final night. The flu vaccine, here with other COVID-19 vaccines, is formulated each year based on which groups of flu are most likely to cause illness and is considered a good match for this years dominant strain. Hong Kong: US consul's remarks condemned The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today strongly condemned the untruthful remarks, vilification and smearing by Consul General of the US to Hong Kong Gregory May regarding the National Security Law (NSL), and the rule of law, rights and freedoms of Hong Kong at a forum held by a US think tank. In a press statement, it also firmly opposed biased comments made against the Hong Kong SAR Governments work in safeguarding national security. Mr Mays untruthful and unfounded allegations against the implementation of the NSL were clear attempts to make trouble out of nothing and amounted to scaremongering, the Hong Kong SAR Government stressed. When Hong Kong suffered from the widespread black-clad violence in 2019, the US Government and politicians did not point out that those acts had caused severe damage to society, the economy and business environment, and seriously harmed the interests of enterprises in Hong Kong. Instead, since the enactment of the NSL in June 2020, they have been repeatedly exploiting different incidents and occasions as well as creating excuses to slander the NSL and attack Hong Kong in its dutiful, faithful and lawful implementation of the NSL. As to Mr Mays skewed accusation and smearing against the interpretation of the NSL given by the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress last year, the Hong Kong SAR Government solemnly stated that the standing committee exercises the power of interpretation in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Peoples Republic of China and the NSL, which is a fundamental aspect of one country, two systems and a manifestation of the rule of law. The interpretation stemmed from the controversial question of whether overseas lawyers who are not qualified to practise generally in Hong Kong may be admitted on an ad hoc basis to participate in cases concerning national security. Through the interpretation of Articles 14 and 47 of the NSL, the standing committee provided clear guidance for the Hong Kong SAR to resolve the issue by itself. Separately, on matters related to co-operation between the US and Hong Kong raised by Mr May, the Hong Kong SAR Government said the city has been proactively maintaining extensive ties and facilitating co-operation with different countries and regions in accordance with the Basic Law, on the proviso that those states must respect one country, two systems and must not smear or slander its successful application. Any attempt by foreign countries or external forces to undermine Hong Kongs prosperity and stability will only expose their own weakness and faulty arguments and be doomed to fail, the Hong Kong SAR Government emphasised, adding that it will continue to discharge its duty to ensure the successful implementation of one country, two systems to better serve citizens and foster the citys development. The US Government should immediately stop acting against the basic norms governing international relations, and stop interfering in Hong Kongs affairs, the Hong Kong SAR Government reiterated. This story has been published on: 2023-01-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. By Azernews Qabil Ashirov Turkiye will support the development of agriculture in Azerbaijan's liberated territories, Azernews reports, referring Durali Kocak, Director General of Food and Control at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Turkiye. In a regional seminar on the FAO activities in Azerbaijan, Durali Kocak stated that liberated territories have a huge agricultural potential and our region needs even more agricultural products. "According to the UN, nearly three billion people around the world do not have access to food. To prevent these problems, we need to expand our comprehensive cooperation," he said. Durali Kocak noted that the role of international organizations and their responsibility is growing every day. "Turkiye has allocated huge resources to prevent the loss of natural resources. In our neighboring countries, we have implemented 27 projects. In the Caucasus and Central Asia, we have projects in the areas of fisheries and water resources. We pay great attention to the protection of flora and fauna," he added. Azerbaijan has been a member of the FAO since 1995. The organizations office in the country has been operating since 2007. Hoosier lawmakers are taking steps to prevent the Indiana Public Retirement System (INPRS) from prioritizing environmental, social or governance (ESG) goals when it comes to investing the pension funds of state and local government employees, including teachers. INPRS officials told the Senate Committee on Pensions and Labor on Wednesday the agency's investment strategy is focused entirely on hitting a 6.25% annual rate of return, with the least amount of volatility, to ensure the fund meets its long-term obligations to its members. But, inspired in part by anti-ESG campaigns led by Republican politicians in Indiana and elsewhere, the GOP-led panel voted 8-2 in favor of legislation essentially codifying INPRS' current investment strategy and explicitly decrying ESG-based investing. Senate Bill 292, which next goes to the full Senate, directs the INPRS board, in accordance with its fiduciary duties, to make investment decisions "with the primary purpose of maximizing the target rate of return on the board's investments." It also would bar INPRS from making investment decisions with the purpose of influencing any social or environmental policy, or attempting to influence the governance of any corporation for non-monetary purposes except as otherwise provided by law. ESG critics, including Republican Attorney General Todd Rokita, claim "woke" investment firms are using their financial muscle to pressure businesses into implementing environmental or social policies that state legislatures have refused to enact. Tony Green, INPRS deputy executive director, said the agency does not have a position on the legislation but expects no difficulty complying with it if it's ultimately approved by the Senate, the House and signed into law by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb. "INPRS does not make any decisions on ESG policies," Green said. Ironically, the committee then unanimously voted moments later to advance a separate measure directing INPRS to divest from any company owned or controlled by the Chinese government, Chinese Communist Party or the Chinese military in the hope of changing Chinese government policies. Senate Bill 268 would prohibit any new INPRS investments in restricted Chinese entities beginning July 1, and compel INPRS to sell off the approximately $750 million in China-affiliated assets in its $46 billion portfolio over the next five years. Scott Davis, INPRS chief investment adviser, said the agency invests globally to ensure its assets are sufficiently diversified so that an economic shock in one part of the world doesn't impede INPRS from meeting its annual targeted rate of return. However, state Sen. Chris Garten, R-Charlestown, the sponsor of the proposal, believes that China is an enemy of the United States and that the pension funds of Hoosier public employees shouldn't be invested in companies engaged in "multidimensional warfare" against America. Garten said that even if INPRS is making money on its Chinese investments, it's not worth continuing to do business in the world's second-largest economy. "Make no mistake: China is a bad actor," Garten said. "Indiana is currently investing with our largest adversary." State law already bars INPRS from investing in any nation officially designated as a state-sponsor of terrorism, as well as in companies that actively boycott the nation of Israel. Another pending measure, House Bill 1008, potentially would sanction Indiana officials if they decline to invest state pension assets in companies engaged in the firearms, border enforcement, fossil fuel, mining and food production industries, among others. Meet the 2023 Northwest Indiana legislative delegation State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond State Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago State Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso State Rep. Pat Boy, D-Michigan City State Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage State Rep. Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron State Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary State Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville State Rep. Kendell Culp, R-Rensselaer State Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point State Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie State Sen. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland State Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago State Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary State Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso State Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell State Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores Sullair is donating a one-of-a-kind heart-of-gold air compressor to the American Rental Association Foundation Charity Auction to benefit the American Heart Association. The Michigan City-based air compressor manufacturer, which has served the construction and other industries since 1965, custom-made a gold-colored compressor valued at $25,000 that it donated to charity. Sullair also gave $10,000 to the American Heart Associations 2023 Hard Hats with Heart campaign all in recognition of National Heart Month in February. Our commitment to our community runs deep, said John Randall, Sullair president and CEO. We are thrilled to continue our support for the ARA Foundation and their work supporting the portable rental industry. Given the timing of the auction this year, extending our support to the American Heart Association and their Hard Hats with Heart campaign was an opportunity for us to back a program that promotes health and wellness for our colleagues throughout the manufacturing sector. The specially made air compressor features hand-written love notes from employees. It's powered by a 49 horsepower diesel engine, delivering 185 cubic feet of air 100 pounds per square inch. It will be auctioned off in February at the American Rental Association's annual trade show at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. It's the fifth straight year Sullair donated an air compressor to the auction. In 2021, Sullair donated a pink air compressor in honor of breast cancer awareness month to the ARA Foundation Charity Auction. It sold for an auction record of $32,500. The ARA Foundation holds an annual action to raise funds to support our programs and Sullair has been a long-time supporter of this event, said Marcy Wright, American Rental Associations chief operating officer and chief executive officer. "They have generously donated a customized air compressor each year since 2020 and helped promote these one-of-a-kind compressors to ensure they raise as much as possible for the Foundation. We rely on donations to make a difference and we truly appreciate the support of Sullair. Sullair also gave cash to help the American Heart Association fund cardiovascular medical research and educate the public about heart health. Its Hard Hats with Heart initiative seeks to educate those in the construction industry on their cardiovascular health, as a way of addressing the health disparities the construction industry suffers. Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. may soon go on trial, with his liberty and his elected office on the line, after the Indiana Court of Appeals declined Thursday to dismiss the pending criminal indictment against him. In a 3-0 ruling, the appellate court said it found no basis to undo the Jan. 6, 2022, decision of a Lake County grand jury to formally accuse Martinez of resisting law enforcement, a Level 6 felony, and misdemeanor reckless driving. According to court records, Martinez failed to stop while driving an unmarked, county-owned Jeep TrackHawk at 96 mph in a 45-mph zone in what police described as a "completely reckless" manner on Main Street in Crown Point and Taft Street and U.S. 30 in Merrillville on Sept. 18, 2021, as two Crown Point police officers chased him with their lights and sirens activated. The officers terminated their pursuit when Martinez reportedly flashed the red-and-blue law enforcement light bar at the back of his vehicle to indicate that the vehicle was in use for law enforcement purposes, even though there were no emergency calls for the Lake County Sheriff's Department at that time, records show. Police later located the vehicle around midnight in a handicapped-parking spot at Karma Cigar in Merrillville and subsequently linked it to Martinez. Martinez was indicted by the grand jury, upon the recommendation of Special Prosecutor Stanley Levco, following testimony from Indiana State Police Commander Kevin Smith, who was requested to investigate the incident by the owner of the sheriff's vehicle, the Lake County Board of Commissioners. In his appeal, Martinez argued that his indictment should be dismissed because his due-process right to a neutral and detached atmosphere in the grand jury proceedings was prejudiced by Smith giving improper legal advice disguised as testimony. The Court of Appeals disagreed. Judge Margret Robb, writing for the unanimous panel, said the court's review of Smith's grand jury testimony found he appropriately limited his remarks to his personal experience as a police officer and his interpretation, given the facts of this case, as to whether he would have charged Martinez. Specifically, Smith said he's never worked in an Indiana county where a motorist driving 51 mph over the speed limit was not engaged in reckless driving and subject to immediate incarceration. Smith likewise said that, in his experience, it would have been impossible for Martinez not to realize he was being chased by police and that he should have pulled over when video records show two police cars with their lights flashing and sirens sounding were immediately behind Martinez's vehicle at the intersection of U.S. 30 and Taft Street. "This does not qualify as 'legal advice' under (the) Indiana Code," Robb said. "It is merely his function as a testifying police witness." Martinez also claimed that Smith's testimony "as to both crimes, their elements and how they fit to the evidence presented, are opinions as to the ultimate issue," by which Smith usurped the role of the grand jury in determining whether to indict. The Court of Appeals again disagreed. Robb said Smith gave testimony based on his experience as a police officer regarding the events and potential charges given the facts of the case, and even answered questions asked by the grand jury. "His opinion testimony was meant to assist the grand jury in reaching a decision and did not impede or remove the power to be the exclusive judge of the facts from the grand jury," Robb said. "We conclude that Commander Smiths testimony did not violate Martinezs right to due process. Therefore, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying Martinezs motion to dismiss." Martinez did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Court of Appeals ruling. He still can ask the Indiana Supreme Court to consider reviewing his case. Otherwise, a trial in the Lake Superior Court is likely to be scheduled this year. The Democratic sheriff previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, which carry a potential punishment of up to 2 years behind bars. Martinez also automatically would lose his elected post as sheriff immediately upon conviction of a felony. Under Indiana law, Martinez already is prohibited from carrying a handgun in public because of the criminal indictment. Gallery: Indiana historical markers in the Region First Physician Great Sauk (Sac) Trail St. John's Lutheran Church Tolleston Dutch in the Calumet Region St. John Township School, District #2 The Lincoln Highway/The Ideal Section The Lincoln Highway/The Ideal Section Froebel School - side 1 Froebel School Stewart Settlement House Stewart Settlement House Origin of Dr. MLK Day Law Origin of Dr. MLK Day Law Bailly Homestead Iron Brigade Willow Creek Confrontation Ogden ski jump.jpg Teale 1.jpg Teale 2.jpg Steel 1.jpg Steel 2.jpg Civil War camps.jpg Old lighthouse.jpg Railroad.jpg Camp Anderson.jpg Boundary line 1.jpg Boundary line 2.jpg LaPorte courthouse 1.jpg LaPorte courthouse 2.jpg Carnegie 1.jpg Carnegie 2.jpg Rumely Co 1.jpg Rumely Co 2.jpg Lincoln train 1.jpg Lincoln train 2.jpg LaPorte university 1.jpg Laporte university 2.jpg Gary Roosevelt 1 Gary Roosevelt 2 GARY A domestic incident turned into a police shooting Tuesday at a residence in the 1500 block of Chase Street in Gary. Events occurred which led to shots being fired after officers made multiple attempts to communicate with Edward E. Gant, 43, of Gary, Indiana State Police said Wednesday. Gant suffered fatal gunshot wounds outside the residence. The Lake County coroners office ruled his death a homicide, according to a news release. Dispatchers received multiple 911 hang-up calls from someone at the address around 3 p.m., Indiana State Police said. When Gary police officers arrived at the residence, a woman ran out and told them Gant was inside, armed and making threats. Gant stood at the door, holding a large weapon. Officers tried to convince him to drop the weapon and leave the residence. A crisis hostage negotiator and Gary polices SWAT team were called to the scene, according to state police, who were called to investigate the shooting. With his weapon held to his head, Gant eventually exited the home and got inside a parked vehicle. While SWAT attempted to continue communication with Gant, a series of circumstances led to the shooting, state police said. State police said they cannot disclose whether one or multiple officers were involved in the shooting and how exactly they were involved. Indiana State Police are still investigating. Gary Police Chief Jerry Williams said his department will not offer further comments on the matter. Public safety is our top priority in the city of Gary, and we will support the Indiana State Police in its investigation, Williams said in a statement Wednesday. Lake County law enforcement officials are asking the Indiana General Assembly to increase funding for new and expanded technology initiatives to better combat crime originating across the state line in Illinois. Five Region police chiefs Vincent Balbo, of Lake County; Steven Flores, of St. John; Greg Mance, of Griffith; Steve Scheckel, of Munster; and William Short, of Hammond recently spoke at the Statehouse to urge approval for House Bill 1312. Two additional chiefs Bill Fisher, of Cedar Lake; and Peter Sormaz, of Schererville also were in attendance to support the measure. The legislation, sponsored by state Reps. Hal Slager, R-Schererville; and Mike Andrade, D-Munster, authorizes the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) to award grants totaling $5 million in both the 2024 and 2025 state budget years to police agencies in communities where cross-border crime has at least doubled in the past 10 years. Under the plan, the money could be used to acquire license plate reader (LPR) equipment, cross-state communications patches, spike or stop strips, GPS tracking equipment, video surveillance equipment or any other crime prevention tool approved by the ICJI. "We have seen an increase, a spike, in crime from across the border, and with the new bill passed in Illinois to eliminate cash bail, there's a great concern it's only going to get worse," Slager said. The police chiefs backed up Slager's assertions. They said they've managed to cobble together funding over the years for LPRs and similar tools but could do much more to prevent crime and hold criminals accountable if they had additional resources. For example, Mance said Griffith in the past decade has seen a 457% increase in Illinois residents committing felonies and misdemeanors in the town "It's been a very serious issue for us to combat." He said the two LPRs at community entry points and surveillance cameras elsewhere in town have played a key role in solving two homicides, one bank robbery and two drive-by shootings. "It's proven, it's effective, and used responsibly, it has been a godsend for us," Mance said. Short said Hammond has invested more than $1 million in its Blue Net camera and LPR system since 2018, and he considers technology the top tool for fighting crime in the 21st century. "Cross-border crime from Illinois is the number one challenge we face as a department. Our city borders the South Side of Chicago, and I can pretty much say we've got a lot of felonies from the south side of Chicago coming into our city," Short said. Flores said his research shows that over the past three years, Lake County has seen a 185% increase in carjackings, a 139% increase in pursuits and a 17% increase in homicides largely fueled by people from outside Indiana. "Having the tools like the LPR camera helps us catch these individuals that are doing this," Flores said. Scheckel said a major part of the problem is Democratic Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx frequently declining to prosecute valid arrests, and, in turn, emboldening criminals to seek new areas to victimize. "It's not only detrimental to Indiana, it's devastated the Chicago Police Department also," Scheckel said. The Munster chief said LPRs have significantly boosted the number of crimes solved by town detectives. But he's also interested in the cross-border radio patching options that would be eligible for funding if the measure becomes law. "Being right on the border, it's literally one or two minutes before my units, in pursuit, are into Illinois," Scheckel said. "When you're doing over 100 mph in pursuit, you don't have a lot of time to hit a whole lot of buttons." Balbo agreed. He said Lake County increasingly is seeing street gangs and drug trafficking organizations from Illinois perpetuating crime in Indiana, and even 75% of traffic stops now involve a firearm. "It is a very violent environment out there. We have less resources with less officers. These technology tools allow us to work smarter," Balbo said. The legislation is set for potential revision and approval Monday by the House Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee. It then would go to the House Ways and Means Committee for an evaluation of its financial impact on the state. Ultimately, the proposal must be endorsed by the full House and Senate to go to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb to be signed into law. Meet the 2023 Northwest Indiana legislative delegation State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond State Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago State Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso State Rep. Pat Boy, D-Michigan City State Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage State Rep. Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron State Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary State Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville State Rep. Kendell Culp, R-Rensselaer State Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point State Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie State Sen. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland State Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago State Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary State Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso State Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell State Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores HOBART February is American Heart Month, and Community Healthcare System invites the public to join in the annual Hearts of Hope campaign. Funds raised help improve local access to treatment options achieved through research. This year, the 18th annual event will take place at 4 p.m. Feb. 8 at St. Mary Medical Center, 1500 S. Lake Park Ave., Hobart. The event will feature remarks from St. Mary Medical Center CEO Janice Ryba, Dr. Anas Safadi, interventional cardiologist, and a patient who benefited from advances in cardiac care. Those gathered also will see the lighting of the Hearts of Hope tree. The lights represent donations to fund local clinical trials and studies for heart disease. Community Healthcare System Cardiovascular Research works to improve heart health in Northwest Indiana through education and the advancement of knowledge from studies. These initiatives have made it possible for the system's hospitals to participate in national research trials directed at better detection, treatments and the prevention of heart disease. Over the years, these advances proved to be transformative for patients with heart disorders. A $5 donation will honor a special person with a light on the Hearts of Hope tree. For a $15 donation, the honoree will receive a Hearts of Hope lapel pin as well. Honorees will receive a card informing them that a light shines in their honor or in memory of someone who fills our hearts with love and joy. Donations will help fund vitally needed trials and studies for heart disease, close to home. For more information or to make a donation, visit COMHS.org/HeartsofHope. GARY The Gary Common Council is facing a federal lawsuit for failing to redraw the citys legislative districts by the Dec. 31, 2022, deadline. Longtime Gary resident and voting-rights advocate Barbara Bolling-Williams filed the suit, which also names the Lake County Board of Elections and Registration and its director, Michelle Fajman, as defendants. By failing to redistrict, the suit says, the Common Council is depriving Mrs. Bolling of the right to vote in a council district which complies with Indiana law. Federal, state and municipal election boundaries must be examined after each census; if districts are found to be markedly unequal in population, maps must be redrawn by the municipalitys legislative body. Total district deviation should be less than 10% and ideally closer to 5%. According to the lawsuit, Garys total district deviation is about 24%. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, the city lost 11,969 residents. The population change left the citys 5th District notably smaller than the rest. According to the lawsuit, the 5th District has a population of 9,651 residents while District 1s is 12,414, District 2s is 12,154, District 3s is 12,016, District 4s is 11,607 and District 6s is 11,251. With a 2020 census count of 69,093, each of Garys six districts should have a population close to 11,515 residents. In elections for the Council, Mrs. Bolling and other voters in overpopulated Districts 1, 2, and 3 have less voting strength than voters in Districts 5 and 6, which are underpopulated, the lawsuit says. During a Redistricting Committee meeting on Dec. 5, committee chair and Common Council Vice President Tai Adkins, D-4th, presented a plan that would have brought District 5 up to 10,715 residents. The proposal moved moved precinct G4-28, which contained 70 residents, from the 4th District to the 5th; and precinct G6-07, which contained 994 residents, from the 6th District to the 5th. However, the plan never went to the Common Council. In an email to the Times, council President William Godwin wrote: Given pending litigation, I have been advised by counsel to not comment any further on this matter. When Mayor Jerome Prince learned that the council had missed the redistricting deadline, he reached out to Rep. Timothy Wesco, R-Mishawaka, chairman of the Indiana House Elections Committee, and Sen. J.D. Ford, D-Wayne Township, ranking minority member of the Indiana Senate Elections Committee to seek a legislative solution. An amendment that would extend Garys redistricting deadline was subsequently added to HB 1116. Under a new section of Amendment No. 8, municipalities that did not redistrict by Jan. 1, 2023, would have until May 15, 2023, to complete the process. The amendment also says that if a voter in a municipality that missed the deadline petitions, the secretary of state or a designee must hold a public hearing to discuss the redistricting process. After the public hearing, the secretary of state can either adopt a redistricting plan for the municipality or certify that the existing districts continue to satisfy all requirements. The added section would expire Jan. 1, 2024. During an Elections and Apportionment House Committee meeting Wednesday, the amended HB 1116 passed 6-4. The bill goes to the full chamber for further review. Also Wednesday, the group Common Cause Indiana sent out a news release announcing the lawsuit. Bolling-Williams an attorney, president of the NAACPs Indiana State Conference and a member of the NAACP national board of directors is asking the court to enjoin the Lake County Board of Elections and Voter Registration from conducting any elections using Garys current legislative map. As a proud Gary citizen for over 50 years, its disheartening to see the city council neglect their duty by disregarding the law and failing to create fair, equitable, and representative maps, she said in the news release. Its a sign to the people that their voices wont be fairly taken into account in future elections. We deserve better. Bolling-Williams is represented by attorneys William Groth of Vlink Law Firm and Tracy Coleman of Coleman Law Group. Common Cause has worked to make the redistricting process more transparent and engaging, recently From school boards to council members and beyond, local redistricting carries weight, Common Cause Director Julia Vaughn said in the news release. The councils decision not to approve a redistricting plan will have immense implications on Gary, with local maps that are not representative of the communities they serve. We must hold our leaders accountable and demand they create maps that prioritize people over politics. PHOTOS: Candidates gather at the Lake County Government Center for the first day of filing Candidate filing for municipal primary election Candidate filing for municipal primary election Candidate filing for municipal primary election Candidate filing for municipal primary election Candidate filing for municipal primary election Candidate filing for municipal primary election Candidate filing for municipal primary election Candidate filing for municipal primary election Candidate filing for municipal primary election Candidate filing for municipal primary election Candidate filing for municipal primary election Candidate filing for municipal primary election HOBART A new business park is proposed for the former Beer Barrel property in Hobart. Cambridge Companies recently went before the citys Plan Commission for site plan and subdivision approvals, and now tax abatement is being sought for the project. Altogether, the project would have five 11,000-square-foot office and warehouse buildings and then eight self-storage buildings in the range of 2,600 to 7,200 square feet, said attorney Mark Anderson, a representative for the project planned on about 16 acres of land near Clay Street and U.S. 30. Anderson said that a development agreement with the city is still being finalized but that its nearly completed. He told the City Council the plan is to start construction as soon as possible. I know the developer is really excited about getting the project underway, he said. The infrastructure work would be the initial task, and the storage buildings would be the first structures erected there. Anderson said construction of the office and warehouse buildings would follow, and the development agreement calls for all the work to be completed by the end of 2024. Theres not a lot of time here to waste for the developer, he said. Several city officials are pleased with plans for the development and thankful the former Beer Barrel has been demolished, but the City Council wasnt ready at its last meeting to take initial action on the tax abatement request. Councilman Dan Waldrop, D-at-large, said new information associated with the request was provided hours before the council session. We just got all this information, he said. Its kind of technical to digest. The council tabled the matter. The council on Feb. 1 is expected to consider a resolution declaring the property as an economic revitalization area. The tax abatement request would then return to council March 1 for a public hearing and possible additional action. WHITING An environmental groups new study of 81 refineries across the country concludes that the BP Whiting Refinery is one of the worst polluters in the nation. BP discharged more selenium and nitrogen compounds than all but a handful of the nations refineries, the Environmental Integrity Project in Washington said Thursday. The report, Oils Unchecked Outflows, says the Whiting refinery discharged 3,589 pounds of selenium into Lake Michigan in 2021; the mineral found in petrochemicals can cause mutations in fish. It also discharged 574,008 pounds of nitrogen compounds that trigger microscopic plant-life blooms that result in a deadly drain of oxygen from lake water and fish die-offs. That made the BP refinery the third worst in America for selenium pollution and fifth worst for nitrogen, EIP spokesman Tom Pelton said. BP countered that it operates within the limits of its federal permit regarding water discharge. Overall, 81 refineries discharged 1.6 billion pounds of chlorides, sulfates and other dissolved solids into public waterways in 2021, according to EIP. That is in addition to 30 tons of selenium and more than 7,800 tons of algae-feeding nitrogen. EIP said three of the 10 worst selenium polluters in 2021 are in Illinois: the Citgo refinery in Lemont, southwest of Chicago; the ExxonMobil refinery in Joliet; and the Phillips 66 refinery in Wood River, just north of St. Louis. Wastewater discharged by 68% of the nations refineries examined contribute to the impairment of downstream waterways meaning they are too polluted to support aquatic life or allow for swimming, fishing or similar recreational uses. Pelton said his group is calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to crack down on pollution by BP and others in the petroleum industry. He declined to comment on whether his or any other environmental group will initiate litigation if federal or state regulators fail to act on these new findings. Rachel Bassler, a spokeswoman for the U.S. EPA, said Thursday, "The Agency is aware of this report, and will review and respond accordingly." Christina Audisho, media relations manager for BP, said Thursday that BPs Whiting Refinery operates within the limits of a water discharge permit, consistent with standards in the federal Clean Water Act." She said BP also regularly reports its wastewater discharge to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Whiting will continue to operate consistent with its permit all as part of our commitment to safe, compliant and reliable operation, not just at Whiting Refinery, but at every facility BP operates around the world, she said. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management said this week that the EPA's database of monitoring and enforcement actions does not cite any effluent violations at the refinery since Oct. 1, 2019. The refinery, founded in 1889 to produce kerosene, is BP's largest in the world, processing 440,000 barrels of crude oil daily. It supplies gasoline to seven states in the Midwest; jet fuels via pipeline directly to O'Hare and Midway airports in Chicago; and a variety of other petroleum products, including 7% of the asphalt in the U.S. It occupies 1,400 acres of lakefront across Whiting, East Chicago and Hammond; employs 1,700 people within the refinery; and spends $3 billion annually on outside vendors in Indiana and Illinois, employing 60,000 in both states. BP reported earning $8.2 billion in profits during the third quarter of 2022. State and federal regulators have repeatedly flagged the refinery for water and air pollution. The refinery agreed last year to pay $1.75 million in civil penalties over spewing smoke into Northwest Indiana air. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management fined BP in 2016 for deficiencies in its wastewater treatment system, which discharged 26,621 pounds of industrial waste five times the permitted amount into Lake Michigan. The EPA required BP to invest more than $400 million to cut emissions and control pollution at the refinery as part of its $4.2 billion modernization, completed in 2013. VALPARAISO The $5 million set aside for Memorial Opera House renovations has been pulled back as the Porter County Council awaits further word from the Board of Commissioners. Councilmen Ronald Red Stone, R-1st, and Andy Bozak, R-at large, voted against the move. The councils action was in reaction to a Board of Commissioners decision this month to not go forward with seeking bids for renovating the 1893 opera house and 1860 sheriffs residence next door and building a connection between the two buildings. The project is pegged at $7.5 million, with $5 million to have come from the federal American Rescue Plan Act pot and the remaining $2.5 million from the Memorial Opera House Foundation. This Memorial Opera House goes back to when we did the facilities upgrade. The opera house just didnt make the list, council President Jeremy Rivas, D-2nd, said. It seems like the longer we wait, the more expensive it will get, Councilwoman Sylvia Graham, D-at large, said. Its a wonderful project for the county. Now the building is not large enough for what its drawing and needs to be expanded to meet current needs. It was voted on and approved. I feel it needs to go forward, she said. Stone, who took office Jan. 1, noted that new Commissioner Barb Regnitz, R-Center, could change the equation. We just had an election, so shell need time to digest this. Council Vice President Mike Jessen, R-4th, defended the renovation and expansion. What were talking about is the plan that has been debated and voted on multiple times, he said. Of the 10 people who voted three members of the Board of Commissioners and seven on the County Council eight voted in agreement with the expansion, he said. The suggestion is to take that $5 million out until perhaps a new plan is presented. If the commissioners are working on a new plan, it would be interesting to see what they come up with. Upon receiving the news that a suspect was in custody, Valparaiso Community Schools Superintendent Jim McCall said it was "exceedingly great news." "I just want to laud the support that the community agencies gave," McCall said at Thursdays Valparaiso School Board meeting, specifically identifying the Valparaiso Fire Department, Valparaiso Police Department and Porter County Sheriff's Office. "When these incidents occur, we take each one seriously we have to. We adhere to protocols and we communicate effectively. We never outpace the students in communication, but we strive to be timely and accurate with as much information as we can provide." McCall praised his staff for their response to each of the three incidents. "It's paramount we keep the students and staff safe and communicate effectively," he said. "It's never something that you want to do, but its something you prepare to do." Valparaiso police said the investigation is ongoing and further information will be released when available. Times reporters Lizzie Kaboski and William Skipworth contributed to this report. SPRINGFIELD Before the Illinois' semiautomatic weapons ban cleared the legislature, Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, triumphantly told opponents "we'll see you in court." The retort came following weeks of Republicans and gun rights advocates labeling the ban as unconstitutional and promising legal action if enacted. A day later, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the legislation, immediately halting sales of several military-style weapons and high-capacity magazines while forcing gun owners in possession of those items, which are grandfathered if purchased prior to the law taking effect, to register them with the state police by the end of this year. Echoing Harmon, Pritzker was unmoved by the threats, confidently expressing his belief that the ban could withstand any legal challenge thrown at it. "The law here that we now have enacted is constitutional," Pritzker said. "There was a lot of thought that went into it to make sure that it would be. And, obviously, things will go through the courts and they'll make their determinations. But, I feel very confident." Just over one week later, gun rights advocates started making good on their threats, with the Illinois State Rifle Association filing a lawsuit challenging the ban in federal court. Tom DeVore, the 2022 Republican nominee for attorney general, filed a lawsuit in state court in Effingham County that same day. At the end of last week, a judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the ban from being enforced on more than 850 plaintiffs in the case. Earlier this week, DeVore and former state Sen. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, filed a similar lawsuit in White County, listing more than 1,600 gun owners and a handful of gun shop owners as plaintiffs. State Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, confirmed earlier this week that he plans to file a lawsuit challenging the ban in Macon County on Thursday. Earlier this week, Caulkins confirmed that more than 250 people had signed onto the suit. On Tuesday, the National Rifle Association, the country's most powerful gun rights lobbying group, filed a federal lawsuit in the Southern District of Illinois. Another federal lawsuit was also filed by gun rights groups Federal Firearms Licensees of Illinois, Guns Save Life, Gun Owners of America and Gun Owners Foundation. Clearly, the legal challenges to the state's new law are piling up and along parallel state and federal tracks. Those on all sides of this issue recognize that in the long term, the constitutionality of the state's semiautomatic weapons ban will likely be decided in federal court. It is a Second Amendment case, after all. However, there are short-term benefits to those filing in state court. "We believe that it's the quickest way for people to get some relief from what many of us believe is an unconstitutional law," Caulkins said, adding that he's also planning to be part of a federal lawsuit, but that it will probably take "a lot longer to get a judgment" in that venue. He's right. Federal cases can take several months if not years to resolve themselves. Whereas gun rights advocates have a near-immediate recourse in downstate courts, where friendly judges are more likely to grant temporary restraining orders that shield plaintiffs from the law's enforcement. This means that Illinois gun owners covered under temporary restraining orders can still purchase weapons banned under the law. Gun shop owners covered under it can still sell to those plaintiffs as well. Pritzker, at an unrelated event in Decatur on Tuesday, was less generous in his interpretation of state court action. "These are folks who are in the superminority among the public, superminority in terms of elected officials, people who lost elections who, now seeing that they don't like policy that they couldn't win at the ballot box on, now hope they can take to state court and win with a local judge," the governor said. "I think that they'll lose in the end. This is a constitutional law." So the cases filed in Effingham, Macon and White counties serve a purpose for those plaintiffs. But, it's likely a short-term one. As more and more of these state level cases sprout up in counties across Illinois, it is likely that the state Supreme Court will consolidate them into one case in one judicial circuit. Such a motion can be offered by the court itself or by any of the parties involved. This is what happened late last year when nearly 60 Illinois state's attorneys filed lawsuits against the criminal justice reform law known as the SAFE-T Act. The court consolidated 58 separate lawsuits into one case in Kankakee County. A judge there in late December ruled the portion of the law abolishing cash bail as unconstitutional. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul appealed and the case is now before the state's high court. If the state-level cases get consolidated or transferred, it is unknown how far up they will go. But, if they reach the state supreme court, it's worth noting that the balance there is 5-2 in favor of Democrats over Republicans. At the federal level, it's essentially flipped as the U.S. Supreme Court features a solid 6-3 conservative majority. Gun rights advocates are bullish on their chances in federal court given that lean and a recent decision that altered the way courts are supposed to interpret Second Amendment cases. In the landmark New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen case last year, the court laid out a new process for evaluating Second Amendment cases. Under the new framework, the government has to prove that the law being defended has a well-established and representative historical analogue," which basically means there's a longstanding tradition of regulation. A common line of defense by Pritzker and the law's advocates is that there are other assault weapons bans on the books and Illinois is simply the ninth state to enact one. True, but it is also the first state to enact a ban following the Bruen decision. No decisions have been issued on assault weapons bans since, leaving a lot of uncertainty as to how district level courts will interpret such laws under the new framework. Certainly now after Bruen, I think most gun regulations are going to be challenged just because it's unclear how this historical test is going to play out, Andrew Willinger, executive director of the Duke Center for Firearms Law, told Lee Enterprises in December. And if judges construe it narrowly, then a lot of gun laws will be on sort of tenuous footing. Maryland's assault weapons ban is being challenged now in federal appeals court. A decision is expected soon. This could offer a hint as to the Illinois law's chances at the federal level. But that could still take some time. At the state level, on the other hand, clarity should be achieved in the relative short term. 25 terms you should know to understand the gun control debate 25 terms you should know to understand the gun control debate Gun Control Act of 1968 Firearm Owners Protection Act Title II, NFA weapons Assault weapons ban Second Amendment National Rifle Association March for Our Lives Gunowners of America Assault weapon Automatic weapon Semiautomatic weapon Caliber International gun control Brady Law National Instant Criminal Background Check System Gun show loophole Strawman purchase Mass shootings Bump stocks Binary trigger Pistol grip Flash suppressor High-capacity magazine Open carry Background checks In any case, youre not facing the central problem here: Your sister-in-law appears to be unwell and is probably in need of psychiatric help. Your generosity toward her and her husband is predicated on the fact that theyre close family members. You have a right, with close family members, to speak up about issues like this. On your account, shes not doing things that you think a stay-at-home parent would ordinarily do: arrange for routine repairs, meet the people who will do them, shop for and prepare meals for the household. Whatever the specifics of her condition, you seem to think that her deepening dysfunction is something that your support has, to use your language, enabled. The main issue is how to get your sister-in-law the help she plainly needs. Getting help doesnt always mean getting better. But it raises the odds. And if she became more capable, you could ask her to take responsibility for dealing with routine household matters, whether or not shes picking up the tab for them. You could then present the reduced support as what it would actually be: a sign that after failing to treat her as a responsible adult for too long, you now felt able to do so. Just bear in mind the larger picture. In aiming to help raise the kids, you effectively took on caregiving responsibilities for the parents too. Those cant be renegotiated on the fly. Within the past year, my younger sister and her husband have been going through the process of adopting an infant through a private agency. They were recently approved to adopt and are now in the process of locating a match. Though they have two young biological children, my sister has always envisioned having a larger family and adopting. She and I are very close and share our struggles with each other, and one night last week, she called in hysterics. She and her husband were fighting, and she felt she was losing her mind and wondered if they were crazy to be adopting. I love my brother-in-law very much and do not judge them for fighting. But they fight often (at least once a week) and end up not speaking to each other. They are in weekly couples counseling, and my sister speaks with a therapist as well. I fear that they are not in a good place to adopt and that the stress that comes with a new baby will not be good for their relationship. I find myself wondering if I should share my concerns with them. Our other family members have similar concerns as well. Name Withheld Adoption agencies in this country are required to conduct a home study, and when a couple are seeking to adopt, the study typically includes an assessment of the relationship. Its possible that this troubled pair havent been entirely forthcoming with the home-study specialist. In the United States, there are many more parents looking to adopt than there are babies in need of adoption; agencies can and should be selective. The animated sci-fi comedy Rick and Morty will recast its title roles after severing ties with Justin Roiland, a voice actor and the shows co-creator, who has a pretrial hearing in April for felony domestic abuse charges from 2020. Adult Swim, Cartoon Networks nighttime adult programming block, announced on Tuesday that it had ended its association with Roiland. Rick and Morty will continue, the statement said. The talented and dedicated crew are hard at work on Season 7. Roiland has also been removed from the animated Hulu comedy Solar Opposites, according to a statement by 20th Television Animation and Hulu Originals. He co-created the show, which was renewed for a fifth season in October, and voiced one of the main characters, Korvo. Rick and Morty, which debuted in 2013, follows the antics of Rick Sanchez, an alcoholic mad scientist, and his anxiety-riddled grandson, Morty Smith, as they travel to other planets and through myriad dimensions. Marie Moore, the senior vice president of communications at Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns Cartoon Network, said in an email on Wednesday that the title characters would be recast but that she had no additional information on the recasting. 1. Ukraine will receive some of the Western tanks that it has long asked for. After weeks of international pressure, Olaf Scholz, Germanys chancellor, said he would send 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and allow other nations to send their own ahead of an expected Russian offensive. Hours later, President Biden announced that the U.S. would send 31 M1 Abrams tanks. American officials said it could take a year or longer for the tanks to reach the battlefield, but Bidens move appeared to be intended to assuage Germanys reluctance to send tanks as much as it was to boost Ukraines military. Federal health officials dealings with the nonprofit group, EcoHealth Alliance, are the subject of intense scrutiny from proponents of stricter lab safety because of the groups collaboration on coronavirus research with scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which is situated in the city where the Covid-19 pandemic began. There is no evidence linking the Wuhan laboratory or its work with EcoHealth to the start of the pandemic. Federal health officials have shown that viruses in EcoHealths experiments were not closely related to the one behind the pandemic, and researchers have identified several naturally occurring bat viruses that are much more similar to the one that has killed millions of people globally. The watchdog report, written by the Health and Human Services Departments Office of Inspector General, did not address whether the EcoHealth experiments posed a risk or represented so-called gain of function studies, in which viruses are endowed with new abilities. But it criticized the N.I.H. for failing to keep track of EcoHealths work. N.I.H. did not adequately monitor EcoHealths grant awards in accordance with its policies and procedures and other federal requirements, the report said. The watchdog chided the N.I.H. for, among other things, failing to demand a progress report that was two years late and that health officials later said contained evidence of viral growth in experiments that was supposed to have been reported immediately. Its a damning indictment of N.I.H., said Lawrence O. Gostin, a public health law expert at Georgetown University who has been informally advising the White House on health security issues. PARIS With temperatures in the city below or near freezing last week, the scenes outside the mens wear shows, which finished on Sunday, offered lessons in the art of dressing warmly. Balaclavas covered lots of heads, and many bodies were draped in long overcoats. The most exciting coats offered glimpses of their wearers personality through patches, patterns or prints, like the brown, blue and red checks covering a certain Comme des Garcons overcoat spotted more than once. And pink, which was in abundance on the streets in Milan, reappeared in Paris, though in softer, less saturated tones that suggested it could be as versatile as navy, beige or any other neutral. Follow for the latest updates on the Alex Murdaugh murder case. WALTERBORO, S.C. A prosecutor painted a damning portrait on Wednesday of the evidence against Alex Murdaugh, the South Carolina legal scion who has been charged with murdering his wife and son, saying in court that Mr. Murdaugh had texted and called his dead wife after committing the brutal killings and driven to his mothers house, all in an effort to build an alibi. But to Mr. Murdaughs lawyer, Dick Harpootlian, the viciousness of the killings was just one of many reasons Mr. Murdaugh, 54, whom he described as a loving father and husband, could not be responsible. He didnt kill butcher his son and his wife, Mr. Harpootlian told the jury in his opening statement. And you need to put from your mind any suggestion that he did. The competing arguments opened one of the states most-anticipated murder trials in a generation, and each side pulled back the curtain on a mountain of evidence that jurors will have to pick through as they weigh whether a man whose father, grandfather and great-grandfather all served as prosecutors should be sent to prison. The trial is taking place in the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C., in a courtroom where a portrait of Mr. Murdaughs grandfather had hung until it was ordered to be taken down for the trial. The case, which features not only a grisly murder but also the dramatic downfall of a local legal dynasty, has captured attention across the country. Podcasts, documentaries and near-endless online forums have cataloged every detail as Mr. Murdaughs life unraveled in the wake of the murders, which prosecutors say he carried out to prevent the disclosure of his own financial crimes. HALF MOON BAY, Calif. Marciano Martinez Jimenez arrived more than two decades ago from Oaxaca, Mexico, and learned everything he could at a Half Moon Bay mushroom farm, from irrigation to delivery, mastering the skills to the point that he was entrusted with running daily operations. Jose Romero Perez was a more recent arrival but was greeted by his fellow Oaxacans as family. He leaned on fellow immigrants who spoke his languages, Spanish and Zapotec, the latter commonly spoken in Oaxaca, to navigate his new terrain in California. On Wednesday, the small immigrant community in Half Moon Bay was reeling from the mass shooting two days earlier that left Mr. Jimenez and Mr. Perez dead, along with five other victims who worked on farms near the small coastal town that is better known for its big surfing waves and a popular pumpkin festival. I cant understand so much hate, to kill seven people, said Mireya Bautista, 46, a fellow immigrant who had gotten to know the men who work in the hongera, or mushroom, farms that attracted immigrant workers from Mexico and China. Why would someone do something like this? A man suspected of being the Pillowcase Rapist who sexually assaulted dozens of women in South Florida in the 1980s was convicted on Wednesday in one of the attacks, prosecutors said. The man, Robert Eugene Koehler, 63, of Palm Bay, Fla., was found guilty of one count each of sexual battery, kidnapping and burglary in connection with a 1983 cold case in which a 25-year-old woman was stabbed and raped in her home in Miami-Dade County. Mr. Koehler, a registered sex offender, was arrested in 2020 after officials linked him through DNA evidence to at least 25 sexual assaults in the 1980s in Miami-Dade County alone, including the 1983 attack, according to a prosecutor. He faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison in that case, and faces charges in similar cases from the 1980s in neighboring Broward County. A man accused of firebombing a Planned Parenthood clinic in Peoria, Ill., earlier this month told investigators that he had done so after recalling an abortion a former girlfriend once had against his wishes, adding that he hoped the fire would delay others in having abortions, according to federal authorities. The man, Tyler W. Massengill, 32, was arrested and charged this week with malicious use of fire and an explosive to damage, and attempt to damage, the Planned Parenthood building, the Justice Department said in a news release on Wednesday. Mr. Massengill initially denied the charges, but later admitted that he had set fire to the building, explaining that he had been upset after being reminded of a former girlfriend who, three years earlier, had informed Mr. Massengill by phone that she was having an abortion, the authorities said. Mr. Massengill was away working in Alaska at the time, while his former girlfriend was in Peoria, he told investigators. If the attack caused a little delay in a person receiving services at the clinic, he told investigators, his actions may have been all worth it. WASHINGTON President Bidens announcement Wednesday that he would send M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine came after weeks of tense back-channel negotiations with the chancellor of Germany and other European leaders, who insisted that the only way to unlock a flow of heavy European arms was for the United States to send tanks of its own. His decision, however reluctant, now paves the way for German-made Leopard 2 tanks to be delivered to Ukraine in two or three months, provided by several European nations. While it is unclear whether it will make a decisive difference in the spring offensive that President Volodymyr Zelensky is now planning to take back territory seized by Russia, it is the latest in a series of gradual escalations that has inched the United States and its NATO allies closer to direct conflict with Russia. In interviews, European and American officials acknowledged that three months ago, it would have been inconceivable that Mr. Biden, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany and leaders of other European nations would have contributed such heavy arms. But over time, they argued, the battlefield has changed and they believed the threat that President Vladimir V. Putin would reach for a tactical nuclear weapon to eviscerate Ukrainian forces has diminished. Moreover, they said, they wanted to demonstrate to Mr. Putin that his bet that European unity would fracture over the winter had failed, and that NATO remained committed to the war even in the face of gas and oil cutoffs and fears that Russian cyberattacks would cripple European infrastructure. WASHINGTON The Biden administration said on Wednesday that border enforcement measures it rolled out this month had led to a decline in the number of illegal crossings on the southern border, claiming success for policies that have drawn criticism from Republicans and even some Democrats. On Jan. 5, the administration said it would deny people from Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Haiti the chance to apply for asylum if they cross the Mexican border without authorization between official ports of entry. Often fleeing economic and political hardship, Cubans and Nicaraguans, in particular, had been crossing in large numbers in recent months, but the United States had not been able to expel them because of diplomatic restraints with those countries governments. The record-breaking surges of migration at the southern border are part of a mass migration trend that has often overwhelmed the resources of border officials and communities and drawn relentless attacks from Republicans on President Bidens border policies. Previously, migrants from those countries had been allowed to stay in the United States temporarily. But the administration can now expel them because Mexico has agreed to accept migrants from Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua removed from the United States under the public health authority known as Title 42. Mexico had started accepting Venezuelan expulsions in October. WASHINGTON The House passed legislation on Wednesday that would create a task force to study a Federal Aviation Administration alert system that went down this month, causing departing flights to be grounded nationwide. The bill drew overwhelming bipartisan support, passing by a vote of 424 to 4. It faces an unclear future in the Senate, where it failed to receive a vote after previously passing the House in 2019 and again in 2021. But the system outage this month is bringing more attention to what experts say is outdated technology at the F.A.A. Departures across the country were halted for about 90 minutes on Jan. 11 after the F.A.A.s Notice to Air Missions system went down, and thousands of flights were ultimately delayed that day. The so-called NOTAM system is used to provide information to pilots about hazards like runway closures and airspace restrictions. Representative Pete Stauber, Republican of Minnesota and the bills sponsor, said it was unacceptable that the current system had been allowed to stay in place for so long, citing complaints from pilots about how the notices sent through it are hard to interpret. He expressed hope that after the recent outage, the bill would finally make it through the Senate. The debate over providing Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine was something of a test for Germanys chancellor, Olaf Scholz, with some German politicians and European leaders arguing that Berlin was not only missing a chance for leadership in Europe, but also hindering its own allies. In the debate, which spurred a flurry of memes under the hashtag #FreetheLeopards, Mr. Scholz stuck to a policy of waiting to act until Germanys partners did in particular, Washington. That stance stems in part from Germanys deeply ingrained post-World War II reluctance to be seen as taking a forward stance on military matters. German society has embraced a pacifist foreign policy for decades, and recent surveys show that around half of Germans are wary of sending tanks to Ukraine. But even some members of Scholzs three-party coalition government had grown impatient. The chancellor made the right decision to provide Leopard 2s to Ukraine, said Anton Hofreiter, a Green party lawmaker who was one of the fiercest critics of Mr. Scholz within his government. The next steps must be closely coordinated with our allies and lost trust rebuilt. With the precision of a military drill, first Germany and then the United States announced on Wednesday that each had agreed to provide battle tanks to help Ukraine beat back Russias invading forces. In reaching a deal, the two countries extricated themselves from a diplomatic morass that had consumed the attention of Western officials for weeks and exposed divisions between Ukraines allies. Ukrainian leaders, with an eye on the tough battles widely assumed to lie ahead in the spring, had urged Germany to send its vaunted tank, the Leopard 2. Berlin resisted. Germany made clear it would proceed only if the United States sent its own powerful tank, the M1 Abrams. Washington resisted. His preoccupation with how male bodies perform within certain rituals and coded activities was inspired by female artists like Marina Abramovic, Adrian Piper and Patty Chang, who questioned value systems around gender. He said he was less interested in following the male bravado of performance artists like Chris Burden, who had himself shot for the sake of art, and Vito Acconci. Artists like Burden and Acconci were always testing the limits of what a body could endure, Tam said. I felt like I could never do that kind of work, because I never thought of myself as wanting to prove anything through my own adversity. This adversity is reflected in the cowboy artworks, which were made against the backdrop of Covid-19. Tams own experiences with fighting anti-Asian discrimination during the pandemic when leaders like former President Donald J. Trump called Covid-19 the Chinese virus drove him to think more deeply about his own identity. During a surge in violence against Asian Americans last year, he helped found Stop DiscriminAsian, a coalition of artists and cultural workers using their skills to raise awareness and prevent racial hatred. Young Chung, a dealer representing Tam through the Los Angeles gallery Commonwealth and Council, said the artists shy personality belies the gutsy risks he takes. Within his own work, he becomes a visual marker of difference needing to be engaged. According to the gallery, the majority of Tams buyers are museums. Videos have a smaller market than other mediums, so the artist supplements his income with teaching gigs. Recently, he became an assistant professor in the visual and dramatic arts department at Rice University in Houston. And now that he calls Texas home, Tam feels a responsibility to help ensure that the full story of how the Chinese railroad workers is told. Its not just a simple question of representation and reinserting these Chinese immigrants back into the Western narrative, Tam said. Its not about filling the void, but making the void felt. Tender is the hand which holds the stone of memory Through May 7, Ballroom Marfa, 108 East San Antonio Street, Marfa, Texas; ballroommarfa.org. The cover of Renee Flemings new compilation of live performances from the Metropolitan Opera portrays the companys long-reigning prima donna in a gilt, Klimt-esque image the portrait of a luxurious voice. This set focuses on Flemings imperial phase, which lasted from the mid-90s to the late aughts, and wraps her singing in the faintly present resonance of the opera houses acoustics. Opening the collection, naturally, is her career-defining Dove sono, ineffably tender in its negotiation of the passaggio and extended piano singing, from a 1998 Le Nozze di Figaro. Also here are an extravagantly sumptuous Rosenkavalier trio; a lambent Song to the Moon from Rusalka; a shimmery Depuis le jour from Louise; and an achingly etched Willow Song and Ave Maria from Otello, which left the audience in rapt silence when I saw it in 2008. Her legato clears a path through the difficult-to-finesse English texts of Peter Grimes and Susannah. There is also evidence of old complaints. At times, Fleming sounds driven to fussiness out of boredom or maybe even facileness, and minor Bellini and Rossini dramas wasted opportunities to mount company premieres suited to her talents. There are manuscripts and other materials relating to his dozen books, including the best-selling 1977 novel True Confessions and Monster: Living off the Big Screen, his 1997 account of the couples eight years (and 27 drafts) of work on the movie Up Close and Personal. The archive also includes the extensive research for his journalistic projects, like letters he exchanged with the convicted killer of Brandon Teena, who Dunne wrote about in a 1997 New Yorker article that became the basis for the movie Boys Dont Cry. (Almost every letter from the killer, Golia said, mentions that he was reading a Didion book.) While there are no diaries, the collection includes Didions datebooks, which show detailed records of meetings, social engagements and research trips, as well as whole weeks where Didion (who wrote about her chronic migraines in her 1968 essay In Bed) put a diagonal slash through days at a time, adding a single word: headache. And those parties? She was both poetic and military in her approach to dinner party planning, Golia said. It was clearly an experience. Everything was curated. As for the cuisine, Golia said, the first thing I noticed was that she had a real commitment to Chantilly cream. The archive includes condolence letters Didion received after the deaths of Dunne, in 2003, and their daughter, Quintana Roo, two years later. And theres also the copy of The Year of Magical Thinking that she brought on book tour, with passages marked with Dunnes embossed notecards (and sometimes annotated, Golia said, with revisions for future editions). Kiely said the papers should be processed by early 2025, at which point the collection will be open without any restrictions to scholars, biographers, and (like virtually all of its holdings) anyone else with a library card. The library expects it to become one of its most heavily used collections. Im both looking forward to it, Kiely said, with a laugh, and slightly afraid. Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous nights highlights that lets you sleep and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now. Giving Tanks The Biden administration announced plans to send M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, after weeks of negotiations to persuade Germany to offer its own advanced battle tanks in the war against Russia. Stephen Colbert celebrated the birthday of Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, on Wednesday, saying, Joe Biden got him exactly what he asked for. Ben Okri, the prizewinning Nigerian British author, has never been easy to define. Throughout his 40-year career, critics have struggled to place him, labeling him a magical realist, an African realist, even a spiritual realist. And hes often forged new paths entirely. His novel The Last Gift of the Master Artists is a case in point. It was originally published in Britain in 2007 as Starbook, and ahead of its first release in the United States, Okri decided to completely refashion the text, accentuating aspects that he felt had been overlooked. The novel opens in Africa before the arrival of European colonizers, but soon a white wind appears, threatening to wipe out a groups way of life and scatter the tribe, its dream, its people, its art. Okri was surprised, he said, that early critics had missed its allusions to the Atlantic slave trade. They used words like magical, fairy tale, enchantment wonderful words, he said, but they missed that political edge. Reworking the novel took seven years; in the process, he said, the story took on a new urgency. This book has been rewritten under the fire of our times, Okri, 63, said over Zoom from his home in West London. I thought I was revising one book, but I realized that I was actually writing a book about a world that was on the brink of catastrophe. At two different points during a 20-minute phone interview, R.F. Kuang used the word annoying to describe herself. First, the fantasy writer said, Im one of those annoying people whos deeply influenced by the 2012 film adaptation of Les Miz; later, she admitted that she was the annoying friend who read a history of Marseille on the way to a writing retreat in France. And then when we landed, I was like, You guys know that it was the first Greek outpost in France? Kuang laughed. Im unbearable. But she doesnt come across as annoying or unbearable, just inquisitive. That spirit spills into her latest best-selling novel, Babel, which grapples with student revolutions, colonial resistance and, as Kuang puts it, the ways in which translation and the acquisition of knowledge about various languages served as a tool of empire. She went on, When we think about the technologies of empire and colonialism, we usually think of guns and ships. But in what ways has the understanding of knowledge or the knowledge of languages of people that are in colonized territories enhanced or exacerbated the brutalities of colonial rule? Hearing this, it makes perfect sense that Kuang was an insatiable bookworm when she was growing up in Dallas. I was really addicted to reading, she said. I had to read while I was eating or I would get bored. Even when I was in the bathroom I would reach for the shampoo bottles and read the back label just to have something to process. That has effects today. We know Black people are more likely to be unemployed and more likely to live in poverty. But the American worker overall, no matter their race, is generally doing worse than those in other Western industrialized countries. Whos the most interesting person you interviewed for this? One who stuck out is MacArthur Cotton, who was a member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, or S.N.C.C., a student-led civil rights organization in the 1960s. He dropped out of college to fight to democratize America. He goes to prison for trying to register voters, where he was tortured strung up by his wrists until he defecated on himself. He said the only thing that saved his life was that there was a group visiting the prison that day. I got emotional hearing that story and said, Im sorry that you had to go through that. And he was like, Dont be sorry. This is what we had to do. Though The 1619 Project got a positive reception when The Times published it, it also became a political flash point. Conservative politicians have criticized it, and some states have banned it from curriculums. Why do you think that is? The reason The 1619 Project needed to exist in the first place is because we have not, as a nation, wanted to grapple with this issue. For those who believe in American exceptionalism, they saw The 1619 Project as a direct challenge to that. Telling histories this way centering slavery, centering marginalized people has always been contested. I think that is because it is very hard to buy into the notion of American exceptionalism and then deal with the history of Black people in this country. Chipotle Mexican Grill, the fast-casual food chain, said on Thursday that it planned to hire 15,000 workers ahead of its busiest time of year, a sharp contrast to the other large companies that are laying off employees because of pandemic overexpansion and worries about the economy. The company said in a statement that it was preparing for what it described as burrito season, from March to May, when it typically has most of its business. We will continue bringing in new crew to support Chipotles aggressive growth plans, Scott Boatwright, Chipotles chief restaurant officer, said in a statement. The company employs more than 100,000 people at more than 3,000 restaurants across North America. Its long-term plan calls for eventually running 7,000 outlets. Unlike Chipotle, many companies are shedding staff and cutting costs. Tech companies in particular have recently announced layoffs, with tens of thousands of job cuts at Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft and others. Industrial firms like Dow, banks like Goldman Sachs and media companies like The Washington Post have also recently laid off employees. Lloyd Morrisett, a psychologist whose young daughters viewing habits inspired the creation of the revolutionary childrens educational television program Sesame Street, and whose fund-raising helped get it off the ground, died on Jan. 15 at his home in San Diego. He was 93. His daughter Julie Morrisett confirmed the death. Mr. Morrisett was a vice president of the nonprofit Carnegie Corporation in 1966 when he attended a dinner party in Manhattan hosted by his friends Joan Ganz Cooney and her husband, Tim. During the evening, Mr. Morrisett told the guests that his daughter Sarah was so mesmerized by TV that she would watch the test pattern on weekend mornings until cartoons began. Sarah had also memorized advertising jingles, which suggested to Mr. Morrisett that youngsters might more easily learn reading, writing and arithmetic if they were delivered in an entertaining way. I said at one point in the conversation, Joan, do you think television can be used to teach young children? he said in an interview on BackStory, a podcast about history, in 2019, and her answer was, I dont know, but Id like to talk about it. WASHINGTON The Biden administration on Thursday said it will establish a 20-year moratorium on mining upstream from Minnesotas Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a vast preserve of lakes and woods that has been at the center of a fierce dispute over a proposed copper and nickel mine. The plan withdraws from mineral leasing about 225,504 acres of watershed in the Superior National Forest. It could doom a proposed bid from Twin Metals Minnesota LLC, which had sought to build an underground mine in Ely, at the doorstep of the wilderness area. The Biden administration had already canceled the companys two federal minerals-rights leases, and the new move drastically reduces the chance that the project will be revived. The company has sued to reinstate the leases, which are critical to its $1.7 billion project, and the moratorium is expected to trigger fresh legal action. Meanwhile Republicans, who now control the House, are seeking to ease federal rules for the mine permitting process, an effort that could also complicate the administrations plans. Deb Haaland, the secretary of the Interior Department, signed the moratorium into effect early Thursday. She said in a statement the decision came after scientific review, as well as discussions with local and tribal groups, which concluded mining posed a potential for irreparable harm to the pristine Rainy River watershed, hunting and fishing rights held by the Chippewa tribes, and ecology that has created a $540 million annual outdoor tourism industry in the area. An expert committee advising the Food and Drug Administration recommended on Thursday that regulators phase out the original versions of the Covid-19 vaccines, allowing Americans getting their first shots to receive the updated formulations now used as boosters. As the advisers endorsed ending one era of the Covid vaccination campaign, they also grappled with its future. F.D.A. scientists described a broad series of possible changes to the countrys vaccination program, all of them aimed at simplifying what had become an elaborate set of inoculation guidelines and at defending against wintertime hospital surges. Among their proposals was adopting a streamlined dosing schedule for all Covid vaccines, one that would apply to Americans based on their age and health risks. Under that proposal, most adults and children with previous vaccines could receive a single extra Covid shot each fall, while older adults, people with weakened immune systems and unvaccinated children could be given more than one additional dose. The expert advisers did not vote on that proposal. But they offered an outline for how they wanted federal health officials to consider making the Covid vaccination program more routine, pressing them on how to time boosters for greatest protection and formulate them to best defend against new variants. To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android. Manuelita Romero sipped cranberry juice as she lay in her bed, surrounded by pillows, blanketed under a soft white cover patterned with blue-and-green flowers. She was 92 and wearing pearl earrings and a necklace of rosary beads. Her bedroom, in a sandy, one-story adobe-style house in southwestern Albuquerque that she shared with one of her sons, was decorated with figures of saints and angels, along with more than a dozen crosses. Perfume bottles, hair spray and tubes of lotion crowded the top of her gold-trimmed cream dresser. Her house was very small but cheery and cozy, with crochet, flannel and serape coverings on the furniture and bright lemon-yellow cabinets in the kitchen. Tucked in the back corner of her ordinary-seeming bedroom was a tall, slim metal pole. From its top hung a translucent bag, apparently empty; a thin clear tube dangled from its bottom. Hidden behind the bed was a small canister. A week earlier, Romero caught a drug-resistant urinary-tract infection that needed to be treated intravenously with a strong antibiotic. At the same time, she experienced a flare-up of her congestive heart failure: Her legs swelled enormously a result of fluid backing up in her body and she struggled to breathe. As she became weaker and more confused, her doctor, Elizabeth De Pirro, knew that she needed to be hospitalized. But in this case, hospitalization had not required Romero to leave her house. De Pirro is the medical director of Presbyterian Healthcare Services Hospital at Home program, which has been providing people with acute inpatient-level care in their own homes since 2008, one of the oldest such programs in the country. Earlier that morning, a nurse stopped by Romeros home to dispense a dose of antibiotics via IV drip from the metal pole. The medicine bag had been stored in the kitchen refrigerator. A cannula supplied oxygen from the canister to Romeros nose. There were no devices present to measure the activity of her heart and lungs; there were no needles, or even a shred of gauze. The nurse had brought the equipment with her and packed it up and taken it away when she left. De Pirro, who is 62 and has short, dark curly hair, olive skin and deep brown eyes, pulled up to Romeros home in her dark gray Toyota 4Runner, then propped up a screen under the windshield to fend off the brutal New Mexico summer sun. Romeros son, Victor, opened the door to the house and welcomed the doctor inside. After a quick greeting, De Pirro, wearing a hospital badge clipped to her collar but no white coat, began whipping out medical equipment from her backpack. She deftly maneuvered a blood-pressure cuff onto a part of Romeros arm that she knew wouldnt bother her and attached the pulse oximeter to her finger, then entered the vital signs into her laptop. She listened to Romeros lungs and touched her ankles they were less swollen today. The therapy was working, De Pirro told her. Then she called up Romeros lab results on her laptop and showed them to Victor, pointing out that her numbers were improving. He nodded enthusiastically while explaining that he knew she was getting better even before he saw this data. He was eager to get her out of bed tomorrow. After the military defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, evidence of its crimes still had to be systematically gathered for the Nuremberg war crimes tribunal. Jean-Christophe Klotzs methodical documentary Filmmakers for the Prosecution retraces the steps of two Office of Strategic Services members tasked with this enormous responsibility: Stuart Schulberg (later a TV producer) and his brother, Budd (who went on to his own storied career in Hollywood). Part of the movie recounts the travails of documenting the Third Reich in the wars ruinous aftermath and the challenge of tracking down Nazi records before they could be destroyed. Stuart Schulbergs nervous letters home express the difficulty of completing the project in time for the trials, which aimed to damn the Nazis with their own imagery. To this point Klotzs film (which has the feel of a teaching aid) largely belongs to the documentary category of archival adventure, with stories of journeys into a salt mine and encounters with the director Leni Riefenstahl and a high-ranking Soviet fan of John Ford. Suddenly, Mathieu is arrested under fabricated accusations of child pornography and abuse. Mathieu is assigned an attorney who negotiates his release from prison into house arrest. Trapped at home, he awaits trial with dwindling hopes of intervention from the French government. Mathieus desperation grows, and this thriller takes a turn toward action when he acquires a phone from a friendly contact and takes to the road, staying in safe houses en route to the French embassy in Moscow. But there, Mathieu finds little support for his release, and so he looks again to escape, this time with the European border in mind. The director Jerome Salle shows interest in the realpolitik of Mathieus situation, and his film scopes out the grim safe rooms and fluorescent meeting halls where Russian political schemes and French political failures take place. But Salles approach leaves the physical details of Mathieus escape foggy. Its not always clear how long Mathieu spends in hiding, or how he acquires the tools needed to sustain his flight. The politics confound the films sense of action; the camera sticks to the diplomats even after the protagonist has escaped from a back door. Kompromat Not rated. In French and Russian, with subtitles. Running time: 2 hours 7 minutes. In theaters and available to rent or buy on Apple TV, Google Play and other streaming platforms and pay TV operators. Upon arrival in Finland, the missionaries receive companions who serve as their roommates and proselytizing partners. The kids are instructed not to leave one anothers sight, a rule that we later learn is meant to prime the adolescents for marriage, which awaits them at home. This vital detail is obscured, however, by our surface-level time with the pairs. We see them pray side by side and knock on Finns doors, but before the camera, the companions default to reticence. Being a teenager is tough enough, and living for years in a foreign city must add stress to the usual malaise. Unfortunately, Andersons camera feels like an outsider to this unease, less a window into a demanding time than an obstacle to our understanding. The Mission Not rated. In English and Finnish, with subtitles. Running time: 1 hour 35 minutes. Rent or buy on Amazon, Google Play and other streaming platforms and pay TV operators. The Manhattan district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, also listened to the verdict as it was read, sitting on a bench at the rear of the courtroom. A few minutes later, in his office, Mr. Bragg congratulated the lawyers and investigators, who had gathered with him. He said that it was important to convict Mr. Faisal because of his ability to spread ISIS propaganda in English and the possibility that his rhetoric could endanger people in a borough that had already experienced a terror attack. This is a consequential case, he said. Its important here in downtown Manhattan to address this specific conduct and to deter others who may be like-minded. The trial provided an unusual window into how the Police Departments secretive Intelligence Bureau, which has been criticized for spying on political protesters and American Muslims, pursued an international figure. It included days of testimony by a former intelligence detective and two others working for the bureau who were identified in court only by code names. One traveled to Abu Dhabi, where Mr. Faisal put her in touch with an Islamic State fighter in Syria. Text messages introduced as evidence showed that the fighter, Luqmaan Patel, sent pictures of himself to the detective and asked how much she weighed. The detective wrote, I want to join you guys, and Mr. Patel said he would help. Image Luqmaan Patel, an ISIS fighter, sent his picture to an undercover N.Y.P.D. detective. Credit... via Manhattan District Attorney's Office Prosecutors said that Mr. Faisal had exhibited a lifelong support of violent jihad, but had a particular affinity for ISIS, which was known for drowning, burning and beheading prisoners. They had been high achievers, children of immigrant families who were raised in New York. Ms. Rahman pursued public interest law, co-authoring a paper on police reform in 2014 and working at Bronx Legal Services. Mr. Mattis followed a more lucrative corporate path. But he was already teetering in his career and personal life when the protests occurred. The events that led to their downfall began in an unsettled spring. Mr. Mattis had been furloughed in March from his job as an associate at the law firm Pryor Cashman, and the pandemic had cut him off from outside support as he took care of the children, his lawyer wrote. Then, on May 25, video of Mr. Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man who died in Minneapolis after his neck was pinned to the ground by Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, ignited protests. There were demonstrations in at least 140 cities across the United States. In New York, peaceful protests turned into confrontations with police. Throughout the weekend, demonstrators clashed with officers in Union Square in Manhattan and outside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, resulting in injuries and hundreds of arrests. On May 29, according to court documents, Mr. Mattis had been drinking throughout the day as he exchanged despairing messages over the murder of Mr. Floyd with friends, including Ms. Rahman, who were mobilizing to join a protest. That evening, Ms. Rahman, who was 31 at the time, met Mr. Mattis after he made stops to buy supplies, including gasoline, and joined a swell of protesters in Brooklyn. Shortly after midnight, with Mr. Mattis at the wheel, according to court filings, they drove in a tan minivan to a police precinct in Clinton Hill. After trying to persuade a bystander to throw a bottle that she was holding, Ms. Rahman got out of the van herself, walked toward an empty police patrol car that had already been damaged by protesters and threw the Molotov cocktail through its broken window before fleeing. We are on the pathway to a safer city, with more jobs and more opportunity, the mayor said. And we have laid the cornerstone for a new era of affordable housing. Speaking at Queens Theater in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Mr. Adams harked back to his campaign persona as a working-class candidate, noting that he grew up not far away in Jamaica, Queens, the son of a house cleaner. Mr. Adamss first State of the City address last April at Kings Theater in Brooklyn, where he had served as borough president, focused on public safety and the citys economic recovery from the pandemic. On Thursday, he suggested that the recovery was well underway, arguing that the state of our city is strong and pointing out that the city had added more than 200,000 jobs over the last year. Were just getting started, and theres no stopping the worlds greatest city, he said. Yet nearly three years into the pandemic, New York is still struggling to adjust to the upheaval wrought by the virus. The citys unemployment is higher than the national average; many New Yorkers have not returned to the office five days a week; and the city is facing multibillion-dollar budget deficits in the coming years. For four days, a 29-year-old woman pretended to be a student at a New Jersey public high school. She attended classes, spent time in the guidance office and collected phone numbers from teenagers who helped her find her way through the maze of hallways, according to students and a school official. She continued to text former classmates days after the ruse was discovered last week, students said. The woman, identified by the police as Hyejeong Shin, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with providing documents that falsified her age to officials at New Brunswick Public Schools, a district with nearly 10,000 students in central New Jersey. The incident, first reported by New Brunswick Today, has raised concerns about the safety protocols in place to verify student identities and the womans reason for sneaking into a school that enrolls children as young as 15 in the first place. A man who raced a truck down a Hudson River bike path in 2017, killing eight people in what the authorities have called the deadliest terrorist attack in New York City since 9/11, was convicted of murder charges on Thursday by a federal jury and could now face the death penalty. The man, Sayfullo Saipov, a 34-year-old Uzbek native, said after his arrest that he was inspired to carry out the attack by Islamic State videos that he watched on his phone and that he chose a truck to inflict maximum damage against civilians. Mr. Saipov is the first defendant to face a federal death penalty trial during the administration of President Biden, who had campaigned against capital punishment. The Manhattan jury delivered its verdict shortly after 3 p.m. on its first full day of deliberations, after hearing wrenching testimony from survivors and relatives of people killed in the attack. The truck had plowed into bicyclists, sending riders flying into the air, crushing others on the ground and leaving broken truck parts, mangled bicycles and bodies scattered behind. The eight fatalities included six tourists, one from Belgium and five from Argentina. The other victims were a 23-year-old software engineer from Manhattan and a 32-year-old financial worker from New Jersey. To the Editor: Re What if Diversity Trainings Do More Harm Than Good?, by Jesse Singal (Opinion guest essay, Jan. 22): Im an old white guy who has worked as a community organizer for over 40 years. One thing Ive learned trying to motivate volunteers is that guilt and arm-twisting dont work. You may get a warm body in a chair, but the disengagement is palpable. The diversity, equity and inclusion organization for which Ive been a consultant for more than 20 years, Visions Inc., includes as one of its guidelines: Its not OK to blame, shame or attack ourselves or others. Guilt-tripping white people or any historically privileged group doesnt work to develop D.E.I. outcomes. D.E.I. training should help individuals authentically explore and understand personal and interpersonal attitudes and beliefs that in turn help to shift our engagement at the cultural and institutional levels. This is a complex process with lasting rewards. Research confirms that organizations that value diversity outperform those that do not. NEW ORLEANS As a mayor, you should not be twerking. You should be working. Thats what Belden Noonie Man Batiste told me when discussing his efforts to recall Mayor LaToya Cantrell of New Orleans, the first Black woman to lead the city, who has often been filmed dancing. Batiste is a small, bespectacled man who emphatically punches his hands and churns his forearms like the paddle wheel of a steamboat when he speaks. He is an energetic activist in the city and a serial candidate who has suffered serial losses, including for mayor. And he has raised serious concerns about the Cantrell administration, which has struggled with police retention, suspect spending and travel, charges of corruption, sanitation and particularly crime. But his twerking comment exposes a pettiness that has convinced several of the Black women I spoke to in the city not only that Cantrell is being held to a higher standard than a white man would be, but also that she is subject to a kind of sexism specific to Black women: misogynoir, as its called. The effort to recall Cantrell is as complicated as the city itself, where even the saints sin. And yet one thing is clear to me: The murder rate is nowhere near as bad as in the mid-1990s when men ran the city and never faced the threat of losing their jobs this way. A new vote opens the way to unguessable outcomes an uprising in Mr. Sunaks own party, a move to unite the six Irish counties that are part of the United Kingdom with the 26 controlled by the Irish Republic, even the resumption of the decades of political unrest that roiled Northern Ireland until the end of the last century. Ireland nearly undid Brexit from the start. It seemed during the 2016 referendum that should Britain take back control, as the slogan went, it would be able to set its own rules. Instead, there followed three and a half poisonous years in which the country had to negotiate and quarrel its way out of the European Union. Brexit means Brexit, said the Tory prime minister Theresa May, but it turned out Brexit meant different things to different people. Ms. May promised too hastily, in retrospect to honor the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement among Britain, Northern Irelands political parties and the Republic of Ireland. One of the main things the agreement did was to bind together the economies of Irelands north and south. But adapting that arrangement to a post-Brexit world came at a steep constitutional price for the north. To protect the European single market against smuggling and the transfer of unauthorized goods through Northern Ireland, a customs border would be established between Northern Ireland and Britain. To administer the single market, the European Court of Justice was given authority to interpret E.U. law in Northern Ireland. This is the core of the grievance that has brought Northern Ireland to the brink of ungovernability. The controversy is often described as a trade dispute in a region torn between two political systems. But that is not right. Politically, Northern Ireland is not torn; it is part of the United Kingdom. And the main problem is not trade; its that under the pretext of trade, the European Union is laying claim to a territory that does not belong to it. There is a lack of reciprocity in the treaty that is reminiscent of 19th-century agreements between European powers and their colonies. Why does Britain have none of the prerogatives on E.U. territory that the European Union claims on British territory? After all, the United Kingdom, too, is a single market, just as vulnerable to smugglers as the European Union, and the protocol does not permit analogous customs checks on goods arriving in Irish ports from continental ones. Rural resentment has become a central fact of American politics in particular, a pillar of support for the rise of right-wing extremism. As the Republican Party has moved ever further into MAGAland, it has lost votes among educated suburban voters; but this has been offset by a drastic rightward shift in rural areas, which in some places has gone so far that the Democrats who remain face intimidation and are afraid to reveal their party affiliation. But is this shift permanent? Can anything be done to assuage rural rage? The answer will depend on two things: whether its possible to improve rural lives and restore rural communities, and whether the voters in these communities will give politicians credit for any improvements that do take place. This week my colleague Thomas B. Edsall surveyed research on the rural Republican shift. I was struck by his summary of work by Katherine J. Cramer, who attributes rural resentment to perceptions that rural areas are ignored by policymakers, dont get their fair share of resources and are disrespected by city folks. As it happens, all three perceptions are largely wrong. Im sure that my saying this will generate a tidal wave of hate mail, and lecturing rural Americans about policy reality isnt going to move their votes. Nonetheless, its important to get our facts straight. President Vladimir Putin of Russia, it seems, has finally noticed that the war in Ukraine created a dangerous competitor to his power: Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the private military company, the Wagner group, whose troops fight alongside the Russian Army. Depending on your point of view, Mr. Prigozhin could be considered either the person of the year or the villain of the year. Mr. Putin is, according to many sources in Moscow, confident that he can weaken Mr. Prigozhin, who has clashed with the militarys general staff. However, the effect could be the opposite, with more people seeing Mr. Prigozhin as the most probable favorite to succeed Mr. Putin. From the very beginning of the war against Ukraine, Mr. Putin made sure that rivals to his power could not emerge and took great pains to ensure that the conflict does not create a popular military leader who could pose a threat. It worked. In the summer of 2022, for instance, the ambitious Gen. Alexander Lapin was the recipient of a small online public relations campaign glorifying him. This immediately cost him his job and a brief but powerful media war against him was launched by Mr. Prigozhin, who controls a series of online troll factories. According to my sources close to the Russian administration, Mr. Putin then perceived Mr. Prigozhin solely as a counterweight to the generals. The Russian president saw Mr. Prigozhin as his man, an obedient tool and easy to use. Dont search for heart-shaped rings on the internet. It leads you to a series of failed celebrity romances and presumably to a trail of tears: Lady Gaga and Taylor Kinney, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill. As a design element, the heart is more like dots or stripes than it is a visual shorthand for romantic love. If you want romance, try lace or oysters or dead-stock midcentury Valentines Day cards or inside jokes engraved on the back of a Swiss-made watch. Hearts can feel bold and fresh: Think the boxy black Supreme shirt with red heart prints that Timothee Chalamet wore on a late-night talk show several years ago. (If that fact excites you, follow @readytimmywear on Instagram.) Another way to wear your heart on your sleeve would be a Nirvana Heart-Shaped Box allover print tee, recently going for four digits on Etsy. To add just a little heart to your life, try a Deborah Pagani heart-shaped hair pin for Gucci Westman or a Blumarine belt with a heart-shaped buckle. Loewe has sunglasses with heart-shaped lenses, and like everything Jonathan Anderson designs, theyre surreal enough that you can feel safe that no one will mistake you for paying homage to Kubricks Lolita. You might try to track down some of Chanels chunkier costume jewelry with hearts. On the RealReal, you can find things like a red Chanel blouse with a black bow and a quilted heart from the Karl Lagerfeld years. When the curator Hadley Jensen discovered a collection of Navajo weavings at New Yorks American Museum of Natural History that had not been seen since 1910, she called on the fifth-generation Navajo, or Dine (as many Navajo people refer to themselves), weavers Lynda Teller Pete and Barbara Teller Ornelas. Jensen wanted to create an exhibition around these textiles, and she looked to the sisters for programming guidance, artwork interpretation and educational input throughout the process. These textiles, Pete says, reflect a time suppressed by scholastic interventions, when Indigenous people were enslaved in the United States, their land overtaken and weaving styles replaced over time by colonialist patterns. Pete experienced cultural erasure firsthand when, in 1964, she was taken from her family home at age six to attend a boarding school in New Mexico as part of a federal program in which Indigenous students were forced to renounce their culture and often were subjected to violence. Pete and Ornelas remain committed as educators to connecting lost linkages for Navajo youth while raising awareness around Indigenous history and thats exactly what theyre doing in partnership with Jensen for Shaped by the Loom, an exhibit that will open Feb. 17 at the Bard Graduate Center in New York City. Featuring contemporary works in conversation with weavings from 1850 to 1910, Shaped by the Loom will emphasize the experience and ingenuity of Navajo weavers then and now. Navajo tapestry weavings will be accompanied by a soundscape by Dine composer and pianist Connor Chee, while wall-size photographs of the Navajo Nation by Raphael Begay will lead visitors to a second-floor exhibition featuring preserved weaving materials like juniper dye, sumac roots, and unwashed wool. The exhibit will also feature a K-through-12 educators guide. We need people to be curious about the Navajo people, Pete says. Were still here, by the grace of our ancestors, and we want the American public to learn our history too. Shaped by the Loom will be on view from Feb. 17 to July 9, bgc.bard.edu. When the fashion designer Han Chong, 43, was growing up on the Malaysian island of Penang in the 1980s, he always looked forward to the 15 days of festivities, beginning in January or February, that signaled the start of the lunar calendar. Those are some of my happiest memories, he said recently, recalling how his extended family would congregate in and around his fathers store in George Town which sold Chinese delicacies like lap cheong (cured sausage) and dried pork jerky to gossip, cook, eat, exchange lai see (red envelopes containing money) and watch the local lion-dance troupes perform. Seeing his mother and aunts wearing their finest clothes for the occasion also piqued Chongs interest in fashion. I loved watching them put so much effort into dressing up, he said. At 23, Chong moved to London to study womens wear at Central Saint Martins; after graduating, he went on to co-found his first label, Three Floor, with Yvonne Hoang, in 2011, before leaving to launch his own brand, Self Portrait, in 2013. In the decade since, Chongs polished, ultrafeminine designs in particular his dresses, which often feature delicate detailing such as broderie anglaise and skin-baring cutouts have earned the label fans including Beyonce, Selena Gomez and Michelle Obama. Our clothes let women feel like themselves, Chong said of his approach to fashion. The brands revenue has doubled year over year since 2020, when Chong shifted his focus to Asia, eventually opening 41 stores in the region. It has also diversified: Chong recently added a childrens line, a range of handbags and a bridal collection to the mix. Last year, he purchased the intellectual property and assets of the designer Roland Mourets namesake brand founded in 1998 and known for its form-fitting evening dresses relaunching the company with Mouret as creative director. The University of Texas at Austin, one of the nations leading computer science schools, said on Thursday that it was starting a large-scale, low-cost online Master of Science degree program in artificial intelligence. The first of its kind among elite computing schools, the new program could help swiftly expand the A.I. work force in the United States as tech giants like Microsoft rush to invest billions in the field. The university announced the initiative amid a clamor over new technology powered by artificial intelligence that can generate humanlike art and texts. And while some of the technology industrys biggest companies are laying off workers after years of rapid growth, hiring in A.I. is expected to stay strong. University officials said they planned to train thousands of graduate students in sought-after skills like machine learning, for a tuition of about $10,000, starting in the spring of 2024. School officials said the cost was intended to make A.I. education more affordable. By contrast, Johns Hopkins University offers an online M.S. degree in artificial intelligence for more than $45,000. WASHINGTON Last week, TikToks chief executive, Shou Zi Chew, met with several influential think tanks and public interest groups in Washington, sharing details on how his company plans to prevent data on American users from ever leaving the United States. And the companys lobbyists swarmed the offices of lawmakers who have introduced bills to ban the app, telling them that TikTok can be trusted to protect the information. TikTok, the popular Chinese-owned video app, has been in the cross-hairs of American regulators for years now, with both the Trump and Biden administrations weighing how to ensure that information about Americans who use the service doesnt land in the hands of Beijing officials. Through it all, the company has maintained a low profile in Washington, keeping its confidential interactions with government officials under wraps and eschewing more typical lobbying tactics. But as talks with the Biden administration drag on, pressure on the company has arrived in waves from elsewhere. Congress, state lawmakers, college campuses and cities have adopted or considered rules to outlaw the app. In Memorial, Mayas opposition takes the form of Colonel Becker (James Patrick Nelson), who spearheads funding for the project but eventually turns against her, and whom Yeh notes is an amalgam of veterans with objections to Lins design. Becker asks about Mayas background upfront, ostensibly to ensure she can withstand national scrutiny. Though she tells him her parents fled Communist China and have no affiliation to the party, her heritage nonetheless becomes a target for racist backlash. Yeh imagines Maya as a headstrong idealist, committed above all to the purity of her design. And Angel Lins assured and anchoring performance toes a delicate line, presenting Maya as neither a babe in the woods nor a wunderkind fully prepared for the magnitude of her mission. Theres admirable strength to Mayas convictions, and philosophical intrigue to her aesthetic arguments. But while the colonels side of their conflict is rooted in trauma and memory, Mayas is purely theoretical. (Its Mayas mother, played by a wonderfully flinty Rachel Lu, whose back story illustrates the idea that a memorial ought to feel inclusive, recalling her sisters Mayas aunts design for a shrine to Communist China.) That Mayas argument for her blueprint is conceptual instead of personal can make her seem as if shes no more than the sum of her artistic principles, and less sympathetic than the colonel in making her case. Nor is there much talk of the social or political debates over the Vietnam War itself, which might have helped trace a throughline to the present, when U.S. military operations are more often addressed in public discourse with the kind of moral ambiguity Lins design confronts. Still, Yeh covers an extraordinary amount of ground in the 95-minute show, and has a draftsmans keen eye for concision. The director Jeff Lius graceful staging, for the Pan Asian Repertory Theater, reflects Yehs focus on the rich potential of quietly expressive architecture. The sloped white panels of Sheryl Lius set suggest both a venerated graveyard and a row of blank canvases, and serve as a backdrop for evocative projections by Gregory Casparian and lighting by Victor En Yu Tan. The productions attention to detail, including the impressively subtle 1980s costumes by Karen Boyer and scene-setting sound by Da Xu, lend texture and dimension to the largely process-driven plot. How a country chooses to remember is a clear indication of its values. So what does it say that Lins distinctly American success story isnt more widely known? Memorial does for Lins legacy what she has striven to do in her work invite people to consider uncomfortable truths. Memorial Through Feb. 19 at A.R.T./New York Theaters, Manhattan; panasianrep.org. Running time: 1 hour 35 minutes. What was your first experience of theater? My familys in the Chinese opera, so it was Chinese opera. I didnt see Western theater until I was in high school. My mom was a diva. My grandfather was a very famous Chinese opera director-librettist. My father was a director-librettist. My mother was performing in Vietnam in the late 20s, and my father was directing in Singapore and Malaysia in the 20s. But I hadnt planned on being in theater at all. I thought I would be a painter. What drew you to theater making? An accident. I didnt have that much confidence by the time I graduated from film school. I said, There arent any Asian filmmakers. I was interested in dance. So this young woman said, You want to take Meredith Monks class? I took the class, and Meredith invited me to take her personal workshop. If I didnt do that, I wouldnt be here now. At the end of it, Meredith said, Im doing a show at Connecticut College in the summer. Are you free to be part of it? And I said, I dont know if I can do it because Im thinking of going to India. Sixties, right? I never got to India. I did get to Connecticut College. And my mind was blown because Id never seen theater like that before. It was like a surrealistic dream. It was completely not realism. Chinese opera is not realism. So the connection was not so crazy for me. Then she invited me to be part of the company. Two former sheriffs deputies in Arkansas have been charged with federal civil rights offenses, accused of using excessive force during the arrest of a man outside a gas station last year, the Justice Department said on Tuesday. A federal grand jury indicted the former Crawford County sheriffs deputies, Levi White and Zackary King, in connection with the Aug. 21 arrest in Mulberry, Ark., about 140 miles northwest of Little Rock. The officers are accused of repeatedly punching Randal Worcester, 27, of Goose Creek, S.C., while he was lying on the ground. If convicted of the criminal charges, Mr. White and Mr. King face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. They also face up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000, the Justice Department said. A 34-second video of the arrest, recorded by a bystander, was shared widely on social media at the time and prompted state and federal investigations. The clip showed one of the officers smashing Mr. Worcesters head into the pavement while another held the man down and a third officer repeatedly drove his knee into the mans body. The study found that, on average, the number of murders declined by 4 percent between 2021 and 2022 a decrease of 242 homicides in 27 cities that reported data though that rate remained 34 percent higher than it was in 2019. Still, the report notes, the total number of homicides in those cities was about half as high as it was during the historical peaks, which occurred in 1980 and 1991. Changes in homicide rates varied widely between cities. Thirteen cities reported increases in homicides from 2021 to 2022, ranging from Houston, which reported a marginal increase of less than 1 percent, to Raleigh, N.C., which reported a 48 percent increase. By contrast, 14 cities either had no change or had reductions in homicides. They include St. Louis, where murder rates were unchanged, and Richmond, Va., which saw a 40 percent reduction. The report found that, on average, robberies increased by 5.5 percent in 2022 over 2021, nonresidential burglaries increased by 11 percent, and larcenies increased by 8 percent. However, each of those crime rates remained lower than they were in 2019. In no case did we find crime rates returning to prepandemic 2019 levels, Professor Rosenfeld said. Violent crimes still remain above those levels, and the property crimes, despite the increase, continue to remain below those levels. He noted that a rise in motor vehicle thefts was the most widespread trend across the cities they tracked with a notable exception being Boston, which saw a 27 percent decline. Motor vehicle thefts surged by 59 percent from 2019 to 2022, and by 21 percent from 2021 to 2022, the report found. In eight cities, vehicle thefts more than doubled, including in Norfolk, Va. Splash Mountain has been one of the most popular attractions at Walt Disney World for 30 years. So when the log flume ride closed for good on Sunday, instead of saying goodbye, some Disney fans found themselves wrestling with a deeply consequential question: How much would someone pay for a baggie of Splash Mountain water? After many fans lined up for hours over the weekend in the park near Orlando, Fla., for one last five-story plunge down the mountain, eBay sellers began listing what they claimed to be small amounts of the rides 950,000 gallons of water. The prices ranged from $8.50 to $25 for a plastic bag with Splash Mountain water written on it in thick, black marker, and hand-drawn water droplets added for emphasis. One listing showed a reusable bottle that purportedly contained 10 ounces from the rides last day for $7.99. Another seller advertised four ounces of water in a Mason jar for $149.95. MEMPHIS Five Memphis police officers were charged on Thursday with second-degree murder for the death of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, after a traffic stop that escalated into what the authorities have described as a display of staggering brutality. The city has been bracing for more than a week for the release of video footage that officials say depicts in agonizing detail how a stop this month for suspicion of reckless driving ended with Mr. Nichols being hospitalized in critical condition on Jan. 7 and dying three days later. Civic leaders and others in Memphis have raised concerns about the reaction the footage could provoke among residents who are already anguished and outraged about Mr. Nicholss death. A grand jury returned indictments on Thursday against the five officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith with charges that include kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression, in addition to second-degree murder, prosecutors said. The officers, all of whom are Black, were fired last week. The actions of all of them resulted in the death of Tyre Nichols, and they are all responsible, Steven J. Mulroy, the district attorney for Memphis, told reporters on Thursday. Ms. Feinstein, 89, has not said whether she will run again in 2024 but is widely expected not to do so as she faces Democratic worries about her age and ability to serve. Last year, she declined to serve as president pro tem of the Senate, and in 2020 she ceded her post as the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee after coming under pressure from her party during the Supreme Court confirmation hearing of Justice Amy Coney Barrett. In an interview with The New York Times on Thursday, Mr. Schiff said he had first apprised Ms. Feinstein of his plans several weeks ago, in person, on Capitol Hill and again by phone on Wednesday. She was very gracious, he said. I let her know that I wanted to make my announcement, and she could not have been nicer about it. Mr. Schiff said that he did not want to speculate about whether Ms. Feinstein might retire, and that she deserved to set her own schedule for making an announcement about her political future. Once more, I have a genuine admiration and affection for her, and wanted to do everything I can to respect that, he said. WASHINGTON More than 70 Democrats in the House and the Senate urged President Biden on Thursday to reconsider his policies that limit access to asylum as a way to manage illegal migration at the southern border. We encourage your administration to stand by your commitment to restore and protect the rights of asylum seekers and refugees, the lawmakers wrote in a letter, echoing pledges Mr. Biden made during the 2020 campaign. Restrictions put in place by the Trump administration, including a pandemic-era public health measure known as Title 42, have drastically reduced migrants access to asylum at the southern border. The Biden administration announced this month that it would expand its use of Title 42 to immediately expel migrants from certain countries who had previously been allowed to stay in the United States temporarily and apply for asylum. We are therefore distressed by the deeply inconsistent choice to expand restrictions on asylum seekers, wrote the lawmakers, led by Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker of New Jersey, Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico and Alex Padilla of California, and Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Greg Casar of Texas and Raul Grijalva of Arizona. WASHINGTON It became a regular litany of grievances from President Donald J. Trump and his supporters: The investigation into his 2016 campaigns ties to Russia was a witch hunt, they maintained, that had been opened without any solid basis, went on too long and found no proof of collusion. Egged on by Mr. Trump, Attorney General William P. Barr set out in 2019 to dig into their shared theory that the Russia investigation likely stemmed from a conspiracy by intelligence or law enforcement agencies. To lead the inquiry, Mr. Barr turned to a hard-nosed prosecutor named John H. Durham, and later granted him special counsel status to carry on after Mr. Trump left office. But after almost four years far longer than the Russia investigation itself Mr. Durhams work is coming to an end without uncovering anything like the deep state plot alleged by Mr. Trump and suspected by Mr. Barr. Moreover, a monthslong review by The New York Times found that the main thrust of the Durham inquiry was marked by some of the very same flaws including a strained justification for opening it and its role in fueling partisan conspiracy theories that would never be charged in court that Trump allies claim characterized the Russia investigation. WASHINGTON U.S. Special Operations commandos killed a senior Islamic State leader in an early-morning helicopter raid in a remote area of northern Somalia on Thursday, U.S. officials said. The Pentagon identified the leader as Bilal al-Sudani. American officials said he was operating in Somalia but that his influence as one of the terrorist groups top financial operatives extended across Africa, into Europe and even to the ISIS branch in Afghanistan that carried out the August 2021 bombing at Kabuls international airport that killed 13 American service members. In a statement on Thursday, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said Mr. al-Sudani was responsible for fostering the growing presence of ISIS in Africa and for funding the groups operations worldwide, including in Afghanistan. Biden administration officials said no civilians were injured or killed in the raid. They also said none of the American troops involved were hurt, although one was bitten by a dog they had brought with them. Mr. Trump enters the race as the partys front-runner and owns by far the most robust fund-raising apparatus. Yet many R.N.C. members said he had nonetheless taken on the image of a loser after his 2020 defeat to President Biden, who is expected to announce his own re-election bid in the coming months. Mr. Trumps subsequent refusal to accept the results and his endorsements of G.O.P. candidates in 2022 who stressed their devotion to him and then lost seats in key battleground states including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have some saying they are ready for a divorce. To win 50 percent plus one in the Electoral College requires us to find an alternative and I think weve got plenty of good choices, said John Hammond, an R.N.C. member from Indiana. We cant be a cult of personality any longer. How Times reporters cover politics. We rely on our journalists to be independent observers. So while Times staff members may vote, they are not allowed to endorse or campaign for candidates or political causes. This includes participating in marches or rallies in support of a movement or giving money to, or raising money for, any political candidate or election cause. Learn more about our process. Speaking to one another, members of the committee can be even more blunt. The R.N.C.s rules dictate that it is neutral in primaries, but members are free to back whomever they like. I supported Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020, but it is clearly time for the Republican Party to move on from Donald Trump, Oscar Brock, an R.N.C. member from Tennessee, wrote last week in a mass email to other members that was first reported by The Washington Post. I know many of you feel the same way I do. Mr. Trump still maintains a loyal following. Already, he has picked up endorsements in South Carolina from Gov. Henry McMaster and Senator Lindsey Graham and will be delivering a keynote address Saturday to the New Hampshire Republican Party, whose chairman, Stephen Stepanek, remains a key supporter. The most recent national polling shows Mr. Trump leading Mr. DeSantis in the primary, a shift from late last year when Mr. DeSantis had a small lead. The police beating of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, has provoked outrage, prompted state and federal investigations, and led to murder charges against five police officers in the weeks since he died after being pulled over in Memphis. Here is a timeline of the major events in the case: Jan. 7: Around 8:30 p.m., Mr. Nichols was stopped by police officers on suspicion of reckless driving near the intersection of Raines Road and Ross Road in Memphis. The Memphis police said in an initial statement that a confrontation occurred as the officers approached his vehicle and that Mr. Nichols ran away. The police said there was then another confrontation as officers arrested him, and that an ambulance was called after he complained of shortness of breath. Jan. 10: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced that Mr. Nichols had succumbed to his injuries and died. SCRANTON, Pa. On a Saturday night in a small cinder-block-walled kitchen attached to St. Vladimirs Ukrainian Catholic Church, young and old hands alike turned red from grating beets for Father Myrons borscht. Many of those same hands had formed pierogies and stuffed cabbage for hours the day before, and chopped and shredded pounds of potatoes, celery, onions and carrots only to return early the next morning to bundle it all into meal kits the church sells for $25 each. The volunteers were not raising money for their church or for a school project. Its all for the war. Maybe $2,500 raised today, the Rev. Myron Myronyuk, 52, the pastor of St. Vladimirs, said as people came to pick up their meals. Not much, but every penny can make the difference. First, the accountant and the freelance writer were taken away. Then, the former tutor with a degree in English literature. And several days later, the police came for the editor at the Beijing publishing house. The four detained women were friends. They spent their free time in Chinas capital as many curious, creative-minded young people did: hosting book clubs, watching movies, discussing social issues like feminism and L.G.B.T.Q. rights over barbecue. When protests against coronavirus restrictions broke out in November across China, including in Beijing, they attended. And now, they are among the first people known to have been formally arrested in connection with those protests. China is waging a campaign of intimidation against people who joined the demonstrations, which were the boldest challenge to the Communist Partys rule in decades and an embarrassing affront to its leader, Xi Jinping. The party seems determined to warn off anyone who may have been emboldened by the remarkable outburst of public discontent, which was followed just days later by Beijings abrupt decision to abandon Covid restrictions. Since then, domestic challenges have mounted: Youth unemployment is high, the economy is slowing, and Covid infections and deaths have accelerated. North Korea has imposed a five-day lockdown on its capital city as it battles an increase in recurrent flu and other respiratory diseases amid a cold spell, according to the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang. A North Korean government notice that the embassy posted on its Facebook account on Wednesday said Pyongyang had ordered a special anti-epidemic period through Sunday. It advised all foreign diplomatic missions to keep their employees indoors, have their temperatures taken four times a day and report the results to a hospital by phone. There was no mention of a specific plan of action for regular citizens. Any goods the diplomats need can be ordered and delivered to the embassies, the notice said. The statement made no mention of the coronavirus, although the Norths state media said on Thursday that its health authorities were taking precautionary measures to cope with the daily-worsening world health crisis. It was also unclear whether the lockdown covered areas beyond Pyongyang. Although North Korea claimed in August that it had eradicated the coronavirus, it has continued to emphasize anti-pandemic strategies. The countrys chronically malnourished people are prone to infectious diseases, according to health experts. Amid a cold snap that has gripped the Korean Peninsula this week, the Norths state media reported on Thursday that health authorities were redoubling their efforts to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, including influenza. BRUSSELS In August, in Prague, the chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, said it bluntly: The center of Europe is moving eastward. Russias invasion of Ukraine has been a shock to the complacent European order, both to the European Union and to NATO. And it has underscored and enhanced the influence of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Poland and the Baltic states have driven the moral argument to support Ukraine, filling a near-vacuum early in the war, when Europes traditional leaders, France and Germany, appeared paralyzed. But the war has also brought new urgency and energy for the enlargement of the European Union to the Western Balkans and beyond, with offers of candidacy for Ukraine and Moldova. Vocal pressure from Eastern and Central Europe was crucial to the decisions this week, after months of wrangling and resistance, to give Western tanks to Ukraine. On Wednesday, Mr. Scholz announced that his country would supply some of its Leopard 2 tanks and allow other countries to send theirs, and President Biden said he would send American Abrams tanks, which gave Mr. Scholz the political cover he wanted. ROME Its a question that has long eluded an answer: where exactly was the beginning of the Appian Way, the ancient Roman thoroughfare so famous that it was known as the regina viarum, or queen of roads. Remains of the original Appian Way, named for Appius Claudius, a Roman consul, and begun in 312 B.C., are still visible (and make for a great walk) within Rome. But traces of the so-called first mile remain buried some eight meters, or 26 feet, below the street level of contemporary Rome. Last July, a team of archaeologists began a hunt for the lost starting point of the Via Appia by excavating a site in front of a row of ancient shops still visible that were once part of the monumental entrance to the thermal baths that the Emperor Caracalla built in A.D. 211. Around 200 unaccompanied minors mostly Albanian teenagers are missing from hotels they were housed in as they awaited decisions on asylum claims, leading to outrage among rights advocates calling for better protections and to demands from lawmakers to fix the issue. The missing children are among the tens of thousands of people who have arrived in Britain on small boats after crossing the English Channel in recent years. Most of the young asylum seekers are housed in hotels as they await their fate by the Home Office, which says they are free to come and go as they please despite their ages. Some officials, citing conversations with the local authorities, say they believe that many of the missing have been picked up by criminal gangs and exploited, raising major questions about government failures. The government did not immediately respond to a request for comment but has confirmed that at least 200 children seeking asylum have gone missing from hotels. Opposition lawmakers have called the entire program for housing minors into question. An investigation published this week by The Observer newspaper about one hotel in the Sussex area of southern England revealed that of the approximately 600 unaccompanied children under the age of 18 who have passed through its doors in the past 18 months, 136 had been reported missing, and 79 remain unaccounted for. Last year, data revealed by the government showed that more than 222 unaccompanied children seeking asylum were missing from hotels across Britain run by the Home Office. Senior Biden administration officials told senators on Thursday that a shake-up in Ukraines government was an encouraging sign of President Volodymyr Zelenskys commitment to anti-corruption efforts and assured worried senators that there is no evidence of stolen or diverted U.S. aid. On Tuesday, several top Ukrainian officials were fired or forced to resign following allegations of government corruption, including reports that Ukraines military had agreed to pay inflated prices for food meant for its troops. One of three Biden officials testifying before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Ukraine, Victoria Nuland, the under secretary of state for political affairs, said that the shake-up in Kyiv sends a very strong signal to others who would try to rip off this war effort, and is important for the future of Ukraine. We have been very clear that we need to see, as they prosecute this war, the anti-corruption steps, including good corporate governance and judicial measures, move forward, she added. Israeli forces raided the occupied West Bank city of Jenin early Thursday, killing at least nine Palestinians, according to the Palestinian health ministry, and prompting the Palestinian Authority to suspend security coordination with Israel. A gun battle between the Israeli troops and armed Palestinians broke out during the military raid, the Israeli Army and a local armed Palestinian group said. The Israeli military said it had responded with live rounds after coming under fire during the raid, which it said was aimed at apprehending members of the Islamic Jihad group who were involved in planning and executing multiple attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians. The deaths brought to 30 the number of Palestinians killed in the West Bank so far this year, including at least five youths under 18. That is a particularly high toll for less than one month, even compared with 2022, when at least 166 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the deadliest year since the United Nations began tracking in 2005. At least 20 people were injured by gunfire or tear gas inhalation on Thursday, with four in critical condition, the Palestinian health ministry said. The ministry and the Palestinian Red Crescent accused Israeli troops of storming the Jenin government hospital and firing tear gas inside the pediatric ward, but Israel denied those accusations. Sebastian del Castillo spent the first half of 2022 scouring the internet for a home that he and his partner, Silviana Russo, could afford in the neighborhoods straddling the Queens-Brooklyn border. But despite their $750,000 budget, the couple, who were renting in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, kept coming up empty. We were thinking, what can we find within our budget? said Mr. del Castillo, 40. And the answer was nothing, added Ms. Russo, 32. Their friend Ben Loy was in a similar predicament. Mr. Loy, 42, was eager to move out of his cramped one-bedroom rental on the East Side of Manhattan. His budget was also around $750,000, and his search had been equally frustrating. All three were looking for room to grow: Mr. Loy wanted a second bedroom to use as an office; Ms. Russo and Mr. del Castillo, who plan to have children, wanted space for a nursery. One day, Mr. del Castillo started looking at homes for $1 million or more, just to see what was out there, and noticed that many listings in that range were two-family houses. [Did you recently buy or rent a home in the New York metro area? We want to hear from you. Email: thehunt@nytimes.com] What if the three friends joined forces on a purchase? Suddenly I was like, Well, this is tenable, said Mr. del Castillo, a retail logistics manager. I knew we could borrow to get a big enough mortgage to get a duplex on our own and rent out the other half, but we didnt want to be landlords. Mr. Loy was intrigued. It started as a half-joking thing, but the seeds were planted, he said. When the couple began sending him links for homes in Ridgewood, Queens, he jumped in. It just made a lot of sense, said Mr. Loy, a software engineer. If I were to buy a condo or co-op, Id have an HOA I needed to deal with, so I might as well buy with friends. The trio, all fans of tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, met years ago at a gaming store in Williamsburg. Ben is our couple friend, said Ms. Russo, a media producer. Couples have couple friends, and our couple friend just happens to be Ben. With their funds pooled, the trio could afford a two-family home for up to about $1.2 million in Ridgewood, the fast-developing Queens neighborhood just over the border from Brooklyn. I noticed about five years ago that Ridgewood was where a lot of people who were being priced out of Bushwick were going, Ms. Russo said. And I thought, now is the right time to buy in Ridgewood, because in another five years its going to be too expensive. They connected with Sheila Fairweather, a broker with Oxford Property Group, who wasnt surprised to find three friends buying together. Two-families are so common out here, she said. Why go for a one-family when you know someone who can live in the downstairs and split the mortgage? The two parties wanted to split the costs evenly, so they aimed for a two-family house with units of comparable size and quality. They also met with a lawyer and discussed contingencies. If, say, Mr. Loy brought a partner into his home, he would continue to pay his full portion of the mortgage. If Ms. Russo and Mr. del Castillo had a baby, Mr. Loy said he would be eager to babysit. They all pledged not to offer their units as Airbnbs, and if one of them had to temporarily move out and sublet, the others would get a vote on the new housemate. Among the properties they considered: It looks like JavaScript is either disabled or turned off. Please enable JavaScript to correctly view this web site. Parece que JavaScript esta desactivado o apagado. Por favor, activar JavaScript para ver este sitio de web. Afigura-se o JavaScript esta desativado ou desligado. Por favor ative o JavaScript para visualizar este site. Il semble que JavaScript est dasactive. S'il vous plait, activer JavaScript pour visualiser ce site. A Massachusetts high school has been unable to turn off its smart lights system since August of 2021 when the software running failed. When Minnechaug Regional High School opted to have a smart lights system installed a decade ago, the goal was to save money and energy, but no one ever imagined that one day, the 7,000 lights illuminating the sprawling educational complex would one day run continuously, racking up a small fortune in bills. The lights at this Springfield suburbs school in Wilbraham have been running continuously at full brightness since mid-2021, but with so many people struggling with their electrical bills, the massive waste of taxpayers money has become more blatant than ever. Unfortunately, there is apparently no way to turn off the lights at this time Photo: Vadim Babenko/Unsplash We are very much aware this is costing taxpayers a significant amount of money, Aaron Osborne, assistant superintendent of finance at the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District, told NBC News. And we have been doing everything we can to get this problem solved. Unfortunately, solving the problem is tougher than it sounds. The company that installed the smart lighting system didnt think to include physical light switches, relying instead on software to control all the 7,000 light bulbs. When that software failed in August 2021, leaving all the lights on continuously, the school contacted the company that had installed it, only to learn that there wasnt much to be done. 5th Light, the company that had installed the system, apparently changed hands several times during the last decade and was now owned by another company called Reflex Lighting. They also didnt have access to the software they had used on this particular project anymore, so the only way to fix the problem was to replace the hardware (server, lighting control boards, etc.). Mainly because of supply chain issues in China caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, getting the parts required to finally turn off the 7,000 lights at Minnechaug Regional High School has proven to be very challenging. The repairs were supposed to be carried out in early 2022, but got pushed back all through the year. Now, the lighting company claims that it received all the necessary replacement parts and the lights will finally be turned off next month. While we are hopeful this will be met, we are of course skeptical, school officials said. So, for now, the lights are stuck on. Although the smart lights system uses highly efficient fluorescent and LED bulbs, the 7,000 lights throughout the high school still consume a lot of energy. Its hard to estimate how much taxpayer money it cost to keep them running non-stop for 17 months, but it certainly adds up to a decent amount. When possible, teachers have manually removed bulbs from fixtures in classrooms, while school staff has shut off breakers not connected to the main smart system, but the bulk of the lights have remained on since August 2021. Paul Mustone, president of the Reflex Lighting Group, told journalists that the problem will finally be fixed next month, and yes, there will be a remote override switch so this wont happen again. Its mindboggling that no one thought to implement one from the start M Booth Health's "Pharma Brandemic" survey takes a deep dive into the changing relationship between consumers and the pharmaceutical industry. One of the main takeaways from the first edition of the study in early 2021, M Booth Health CEO Stacey Bernstein says, is that there was "a heightened and increased awareness of the pharmaceutical industry following COVID-19." That did not change in the 2022 study. "Patients are even more aware of pharmaceutical companies, aware of the differences between treatments," she tells Doug Simon, "They're far more engaged in their health than ever before." Another big change: "More than half of Americans now see pharmaceutical companies as lifestyle brands akin to Nike and Apple. And that was incredibly surprising." That shift, Bernstein says, has had a big impact on pharma communications. "When we're thinking about communications, you think about social media and getting someone's attention in the feed, your content has to be just as compelling as that of these lifestyle brands." An increasingly educated consumer base has also transformed the industry. "COVID pushed every person in the world to care about health in a different way, in the way that if you're a patient and you're diagnosed with a disease, you go out and seek that information, you get smart." For BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) audiences, she says, there's an additional question of trust. "COVID not only forced them to be more engaged in the same way it did all Americans, but it also brought up a lot of distrust of the past." The spread of misinformation also impacts the trust factor. "99 percent of HCP's that we surveyed said that they have a patient coming to them with misinformation every week. And it's a huge concern." While she says that "we are never going to have the scale to be able to correct every piece of misinformation," she stresses that "if you're in pharma communications outpacing misinformation has to be a critical part of what you do." To do that, "raising the bar of how we communicate is really important. When you think about how pharma has to engage, it is faster, it's more authentic, it's more honestly in language that consumers are going to understand that's going to resonate with them." She adds that the coming year will be "the moment for health communicators to step up, to play an active role in helping to guide more informed, smarter decisions about people's health." View all of the interviews in the PR's Top Pros Talk series. Subscribe to get notified when new episodes are available. Interested in taking part? Contact Doug Simon at [email protected] D S Simon Media helps clients get their stories on television through satellite media tours and by producing and distributing content to the media. The company also produces live social media events. The No TikTok on United States Devices Act, which would invoke the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to block and prohibit transactions with TikToks parent company ByteDance, has been introduced by Sen. Josh Hawley. Hawley says the Chinese-based app poses national security risks including the ability of the Chinese government to use US user data for such purposes as surveillance, microtargeting, deepfakes or blackmail. TikTok denies the charges, with company spokesperson Brooke Oberwetter saying that the proposed ban takes a piecemeal approach to national security. Hawley also shepherded through a proposal to ban TikTok on government devices as part of a $1.7 trillion federal funding bill at the end of last year. Victor Navasky Victor Navasky, who was editor of The Nation from 1978 to 1995, and subsequently served as publisher and editorial director until 2005, died on Jan. 23 at the age of 90. Navaskys publishing career got its start at Yale Law School, where he co-founded and edited Monocle, a satirical magazine. He later wrote for the New York Times Magazine and was also campaign manager for former US Attorney General Ramsey Clarks unsuccessful 1974 bid for a Senate seat. In addition to upholding The Nations left-wing bona fides, Navasky boosted its financial fortunes, more than tripling its circulation. Among other accolades, he won a National Book Award for 1980s Naming Names, an account of ex-Communist writers, directors and producers who testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee and informed on colleagues. After stepping down at The Nation, he chaired the Columbia Journalism Review. Victor was a true believer in the power of independent media, said Katrina vanden Heuvel, who succeeded Navasky as The Nations editor. Gannetts job-slashing binge has extended to the FSView & Florida Flambeau, a Florida State University student newspaper that was bought by the Tallahassee Democrat, a Gannett paper, in 2006. According to a report on Poynter.org, FSView lost at least three paid positions and had its weekly print pages cut from 12 to eight. Until this semester, the paper had seven paid positions, with pay topping out at $11 an hourFloridas minimum wagefor up to 20 hours a week. While these decisions are difficult, we are strategically aligning our resources to best serve our readers and advertisers to ensure the future of journalism, said Gannett spokesperson Carlene Cox. Pacific Surfliner Needs PR Engineer Mon., Apr. 10, 2023 The Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency wants a digital marketing firm to promote visibility and recover ridership that the Pacific Surfliner brand lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has budgeted $200K for the one-year effort. Get 'em while hes still in Congress Serial liar Congressman George Santos has been immortalized by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum. It has introduced special edition bobbleheads of the slimy Republican Representative from New York. A Pinocchio-version features an elongated nose and plays clips of Santos greatest hits of lies at the touch of a button. The Milwaukee-based Museum is charging $30 for the bobbleheads that are expected to ship in May. It plans to donate $5 from each sale to dog-related GoFundMe campaigns. A New Jersey Navy vet claims that Santos, under the name Anthony Devolder, launched a GoFundMe campaign in 2016 that raised $3K to pay for surgery for the vets service dog. Santos allegedly kept the cash. Phil Sklar, CEO of the Museum, says nobody knows how the Santos saga will shake out. But the Santos bobblehead will be the perfect collectible to commemorate this unbelievable story for years to come, he said. Pulling a fast one in Russia... Londons Moral Rating Agency is calling out corporations that wrote off rather than shut down their Russian operations in the aftermath of Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine. People think when something is written off it has been lost, said MRA founder Mark Dixon. A write down or write-off just means the owner has put a lower or zero value on an asset at that point in time, he said. It is a paper value that can be revised at any moment at the whim of the owner. MRA, which launched after Russias invasion and is dedicated to kicking Putin out of Ukraine and his regime from Russia, investigated 200 major companies and found 11 of them opted for write-off announcements. That Hall of Shame includes BP, which made a $25.5B write-off for its stake in Rosneft, but still owns that staff in the Russian oil company. PepsiCo took a $241M write-down related to discontinuation or repositioning of certain juice and dairy brands in Russia." The company still makes dairy products and potato chips in Russia. Siemens took a $651M write-down for its mobility business but keeps on serving clients. MRA suspects that once the Ukrainian war ends, many of the companies that did write-downs will say they no longer have to leave Russia and will write-up the value of their businesses. Dixon runs a merger and acquisition consultancy in London called ThinkingLinking and the1. He was a co-founder of the online financial commentator BreakingViews.com, which is now part of Thomson Reuters. Since 2010, Dixon has owned an apartment in Kiev. Carnage in journalism There were 67 journalists and media workers killed in 2022, which was up 50 percent from the year earlier period. The Top Three killing fields are located in Ukraine (15 dead), Mexico (13) and Haiti (7), according to the report from the Committee to Protect Journalists. Jodie Ginsberg, CPJ president, said covering crime, politics and corruption can be as deadly as covering a full-scale war. She noted that governments are continuing to lock up a record number of journalists and fail to confront the spiraling violence and culture of impunity that have effectively silenced communities around the world. Me-too layoffs in hi-tech... There have been about 200K layoffs since the start of last year. https://layoffs.fyi Amazon has shed 18K people. Google parent Alphabet slashed 12K. Mark Zuckerbergs Meta fired 11K, while Microsoft trimmed 10K. Jeffrey Pfeffer, Stanford Graduate School of Business professor, said tech industry layoffs are basically social contagion. Companies resort to layoffs because everybody else is doing it. Layoffs, to him, are the result of imitative behavior. Pfeffer doesnt believe layoffs result in big cost-savings because many of the cut workers will be rehired as contractors. Also, companies are firing people whom they paid recruitment bonuses to lure them to take the job in the first place. When the economy regains momentum, tech companies will go back into the market and compete with others to hire talent. They are basically hiring labor at a higher price and selling low, he told the Stanford News. Not the best decision. MORE details about the proposed revamping of Market Square in Birr were unveiled during the January monthly meeting of Birr Municipal District. The Town Regeneration Officer for Offaly County Council, Olwen Cummins, told the meeting that 250,000 has been granted to the project. She said the project will develop the historic Square into a plaza, an outdoor meeting and recreational space in the town centre that can facilitate outdoor dining and where pedestrian activity will be a priority. The works proposed under this scheme include: realigning road levels building out kerb lines the installation of a high quality paved area provision of landscaping and street furniture providing recessed on street parking and removal of some existing parking spaces improved setting for the historic Manchester Martyrs monument. Ms Cummins told the meeting that a great design has been prepared for the area, and the project will create a lovely outdoor space which will give a considerable lift to that part of the town. Cllr John Carroll, Cathaoirleach, warmly welcomed the news. He said it will compliment the works which are currently taking place on Green Street and are nearly finished. He said it was great to see Market Square and five other projects in the Municipal District recently receive substantial funding. We rightly criticise the lack of funding and supports for rural Ireland, he remarked, but this was a very good news story for our part of rural Ireland. It's a real shot in the arm. The Green St works included widening the footpaths, paved with natural stone, and planting a number of street trees. The only remaining work is the creation of a new entrance to Birr Castle, at the top of the street. Planning permission has been granted for this new entrance and construction work is due to commence during the first quarter of 2023. The new entrance to the castle will replace the current modest pedestrian gate on William Street. When completed, the Green St works will form a strengthened link between Emmet Square and the castle. Area Engineer John Mitchell told the meeting that eight new trees were installed in Green Street just before Christmas. One interesting thing of note is we cleaned up an old weigh bridge while we were upgrading Green Street. This weigh bridge is located beside Gleeson's steel works and some locals would have known about it, but many would be unaware of it. It was covered over for years by a planter box containing a tree. It's located beside the former weigh bridge house. Cllr John Carroll said the weigh bridge was possibly used during the first half of the 20th Century and maybe even during the 19th Century. It weighed farm produce during market days on the Green, said Cllr Carroll, probably vegetables, and maybe small animals. The market moved eventually out of The Green and took place instead on Castle Street. I remember the markets on Castle Street and Market Square during the 1950s, where turkeys, piglets, hens, vegetables were sold. The Area Engineer said a lot of local people are very interested in the weigh bridge. Gleeson's helped us clean it up by sanding it. The weigh bridge was a weighing scale. Beneath it is a small chamber with an arm which measured the weight. This arm extends into the weigh bridge house. This weigh bridge house still exists. There's a similar weigh bridge, in good condition, beside Giltrap's Pub in Kinnitty. The Green St weigh bridge is a nice feature and would be a nice thing to put on the town's tourist trail. He said the upgrading work on Green Street started in July 2021. Now it's a really nice space which will lend itself nicely to festival events. With that in mind we will be interested in working with festival groups during the year. In other business, the Engineer pointed out that consultants have been appointed to create a Distributor road in the northern end of Birr between the Tullamore Road and the Banagher road. Cllr John Carroll, Cathaoirleach, praised the Birr Christmas Lights Group for their excellent work on the Christmas Lights. He said it was great to see a huge turnout of people for the switching on of the lights in Emmet Square. Chief Executive of Offaly County Council Anna Marie Delaney was also present for the Birr MD January meeting. She said she had visited a number of sites in the town earlier in the day, including Green Street. The work on Green Street is of a high standard, she remarked. I want to thank the local residents and local businesses for their patience during the months of works. The Chief Executive also wished Ann Dillon plenty of success in her new role as Director of Services of the Birr MD area in the years to come. Cllr Carroll also wished her success in her new role. He promised her that the Councillors will never get personal in their more critical remarks, but will remain professional and focussed on the task at hand which will usually be something to do with trying to improve the town and district. The meeting also discussed the Local Area Plan. The draft LAP was put on public consultation from September 15 to October 28. 36 submissions from members of the public were received, and a summary of the submissions had been distributed to all the councillors. The consultation period presented people with an opportunity to shape Birr into the future and to have a say when it comes to important issues such as climate action, energy, biodiversity, heritage, housing, transportation, environmental protection, employment & enterprise, community, tourism, recreation, regeneration, and retail. The councillors discussed any amendments to the LAP following the County Council meeting in Tullamore on Monday January 16th, and the amendments stage will be completed before the end of this month. In other business, the Area Engineer said that one of his aspirations for the year to come is to complete the Concept Masterplan for the Rectory Lands in Birr. St Aloysius College is making the leap to coeducation despite being an all-girls school since the 1880s. And while its been a boom to their enrolments, new data shows girls schools still appeal to parents. A German citizen is suspected of passing intelligence to Russia. Concerns about Russian espionage in Europe have increased since the invasion of Ukraine. A 33-year-old man of Palestinian origin is accused of stabbing multiple people on a train in northern Germany. Authorities say a 16-year-old female and a 19-year-old male were killed in the attack. German prosecutors said the group was responsible for more than 1,500 cyberattacks. The US Justice Department said the seizure had thwarted over $130 million in ransom demands. By Trend The expectation of Armenia and its supporters of a "political victory" and the solution to their problems through establishing a second mission of the EU is nothing but naivety, Trend reports. The EU has decided to establish a civilian EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) under the Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border on January 23. The mission's initial mandate will last for two years, and its operational headquarters will be located in Armenia. On October 17, 2022, the EU Council of Foreign Ministers at its meeting decided to deploy nearly 40 EU observers in Armenia, alongside the border with Azerbaijan, to monitor, analyze, and report on the situation in the South Caucasus. The EU Monitoring Capacity in Armenia (EUMCAP) completed its activities, as agreed in Prague, on December 19, 2022. The decision stated that the objective of the Mission is to promote stability in the border areas of Armenia, build confidence on the ground, and ensure an environment conducive to EU-backed normalization efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan. During the thirty-year Armenian occupation, the former OSCE Minsk Group had similar goals and activities. However, at the end of the day, Azerbaijan has not seen any results of this mediation and has put an end to the occupation of its territories without anyone's help. Observing the inaction of such "mediators" for 30 years has led to absolute distrust from Azerbaijan in any mission. In the meantime, Armenia writhing in hysteria keeps trying to attract all kinds of missions, intermediaries, delegates, and others, cherishing their dreams of "political victory." But things have changed, and it was Azerbaijan that did it. Armenia can only convince France of its "political victory". But the question is, is it truly necessary to convince someone? Obviously, there is no sincerity behind this support. What France really wants is to attempt to restore the lost credibility in the South Caucasus, or satisfy the wishes of the Armenian diaspora. This is what the true intentions of France look like, and the votes of half a million Armenians in the election are proof of it. Considering these "missions" as the only way to survive, Armenia still cannot admit that the single possible solution is to normalize relations with Azerbaijan and accept the new reality. Sending such a mission without the consent of Azerbaijan will not benefit the normalization of relations between the two countries. These are simply attempts by Armenia and its "guides" to achieve some kind of significance in the region. Meanwhile, the establishment of the first EU mission to the regions bordering Azerbaijan was accepted on October 6 in Prague during a meeting of the leaders of Azerbaijan, France, the Council of the EU, and Armenia. Germany and its EU partners have channeled billions of euros worth of military equipment to Kyiv. That aid comes from a range of different sources. stereogum 27 Jan 2023 When Taylor Swift does something, the world pays attention. That much has already been proven many times over, most recently as US.. Protests against the national day come as a referendum on recognizing Indigenous people in the constitution is planned. Andrew Tate has appeared at a prosecutors' office for a second day as forensic searches of his confiscated phones and laptops continue. euronews (in English) 22 Feb 2023 The Israeli military gave few details about its operation in the northern city of Nablus, known as a militant stronghold, where the.. Rumble 17 Feb 2023 The five former Memphis police officers charged with killing 29-year-old Tyre Nichols plead not guilty to second degree murder. The.. Sweden has proposed leveraging aid and visas to facilitate deportations to uncooperative nations. Germany, meanwhile, has proposed sealing bilateral agreements with certain countries to allow a legal route to the bloc. Canada will supply Ukraine with four Leopard 2 main battle tanks and Canadian Armed Forces trainers to teach Ukrainian soldiers how to operate the vehicles, Defence Minister Anita Anand announced Thursday. With Kyiv again hit by Russian air attacks, the city's mayor says Ukrainians are prepared to die for their freedom. He tells DW Russia is "unhappy" about Western tank deliveries because it is afraid of modern hardware. US officials said a senior figure of the so-called Islamic State terrorist group was killed in a US operation in Somalia. Matt Hancock was paid 320,000 for his controversial appearance on Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!, it has been revealed... City A.M. 27 Jan 2023 US officials said Bilal al-Sudani was killed in a US military operation in Somalia. He was a "key facilitator" for the "Islamic State" group's global expansion. Revivi said clamping down on the Palestinians has not brought peace, and peaceful gestures have also not led to a cessation of hostilities. Germany's top Nazi Hunter has handed over five cases to local prosecutors in Germany that he believes still have a chance of going to trial. Idaho lawmakers have introduced a joint resolution that would it more difficult to get initiatives on the ballot. If approved, voters would be asked to change the states constitution. A key Democratic National Committee blasted New Hampshire Democrats in a Wednesday meeting for their opposition to President Biden's to upend the party's nominating calendar Newsy 28 Jan 2023 Watch VideoFormer President Donald Trump is set to kick off his 2024 White House bid on Saturday with visits to a pair of.. The White House told Fox News Digital that President Biden "proudly" sticks by his judicial nominee who could not answer Senator John Kennedy's basic legal questions. Los Angeles (AFP) Jan 25, 2023 Mountain rescuers in California who have been searching for Julian Sands for almost two weeks say there is still no sign of the British actor, as the missing man's family acknowledged he may have perished. Sands, who shot to fame in 1985 as Helena Bonham Carter's love interest in "Room with a View," disappeared on the 10,000-foot (3,000-meter) Mount San Antonio, just outside of Los Angeles. On Wednesday, President Joe Biden stated that the United States would provide 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine for its battle against Russia. California prosecutors filed seven murder charges against the suspect in the Half Moon Bay shooting. 66-year-old Chunli Zhao was appointed two private defenders who asked for extra time to review the details of the case, pushing the trial into February. NBC's Niala Charles reports. #halfmoonbay #chunlizhao #nialacharles Farmers in England will be able to receive government funding for up to 280 different actions that protect the environment, from conserving hedgerows to maintaining peatlands, under a comprehensive overhaul of farming subsidies. The long-awaited announcement on Thursday shows farmers what will be #farmers #postbrexit #theresecoffey #marktufnell #guardian #martinlines #garethmorgan #soilassociation Former US President Donald Trump's Facebook account will be restored in the next few weeks after a two-year ban, Axios reported on Wednesday. A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Thursday will introduce a resolution to repeal President Joe Biden's suspension of import tariffs on solar panels from four Southeast Asian nations, according to a statement provided to Reuters. The Congressional Review Act #southeastasian #cra #dankildee #michigan #democrat #kildee #republicans #billposey #florida #garretgraves 2008-2023 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Watch VideoMembers of the Senate intelligence committee said Wednesday that they should have access to classified documents that were discovered in the homes of President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence, arguing that the Biden administration is stonewalling them over the... He's not just a hero in the movies. A new sheriff's report has provided further details on Jeremy Renner's snowplow accident, revealing the actor was seriously injured while he was trying to save his nephew. A report from the Washoe County Sheriff's Office obtained by CNN describes how the Hawkeye #jeremyrenner #hawkeye #newyearday #renner #pistenbully Tyre Nichols, 29, was stopped in Memphis on 7 January for reckless driving and died three days later. USATODAY.com 31 Jan 2023 Josh Allen played through an elbow ailment this season and helped lead the Bills to an appearance in the AFC divisional playoff.. Upworthy 24 Jan 2023 The German manufacturer of the Leopard 2 tank has reportedly said it is ready to send dozens of the armored vehicles to Ukraine.. Director of Content and Operations Spencer McKee is OutThere Colorado's Director of Content and Operations. In his spare time, Spencer loves to hike, rock climb, and trail run. He's on a mission to summit all 58 of Colorado's fourteeners and has already climbed more than half. Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - Ethiopias Prime Minister, Dr Abiy Ahmed, arrived in Khartoum on Thursday for an official visit during which he will hold talks with Sudans Sovereign Council Chairman, Lt Gen Abdul Fatah Burhan expected to be dominated by security matters Washington, DC, US (PANA) - The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has concluded the Article IV consultation with Mauritania, approving 42-month arrangements of US$ 86 Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libya Audit Office discussed on Wednesday evening with the Netherlands Court of Audit a work plan to develop performance auditing prepared by the Office for review, approval and implementation Photo: (Photo : Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images) Lawmakers in Virginia are pushing for the full implementation of Sage's Law. Talks about the gender preferences used by the younger generation have been attracting a lot of open conversation lately. Schools, lawmakers, parents, caregivers, and young children seem to need education and protection at the same time. As a response, the Virginia State Capitol is introducing Sage's Law. The Sage's Law in Virginia According to Christian Post, a member of the Virginia legislature has proposed a bill that would make it obligatory for schools to notify parents in the event that their child is unsure about their sexual identification. HB 2432, also known as "Sage's Law," is a bill that was introduced by State Delegate Dave LaRock. It specifies that any individual licensed as administrative or instructional personnel by the Board of Education and employed by a local school board must communicate directly with at least one parent of a student who self-identifies as transgender. The law also requires that school personnel ask parents whether or not they are aware of the student's mental state and whether or not the parent intends to seek or has already sought counseling support for the adolescent. In addition, this would also indicate that parents would not be criminally condemned or charged with abusing their own children for using the natural pronouns that their children use. Sage's Law is named after a 14-year-old girl, Sage, whose last name is withheld, who experienced a horrific and prolonged experience of sex trafficking in Baltimore, Maryland. A large contributor to this is because Maryland officials refused to return Sage to her family home after her grandmother was accused of misgendering her. Read Also: Jared Dicus Finally Admits To Authorities For Violently Killing Wife Anggy Diaz Misgendering: The Real Life Harm The transgender teenager endured a six-month nightmare that brought her twice into contact with sex traffickers. The second time around, regulators in Baltimore refused to send her back to her native state because they claimed that her adoptive parents were misgendering her. As per the Daily Wire, Michele Blair, Sage's biological grandmother, adopted her following the passing of her father and raised her as her own child. Sage had been troubled for a long time before she began to identify as a male named "Draco" and ran away in August of 2021. She ended up on the streets of Baltimore, where police officials rescued her from a convicted sex offender. Sage was finally able to get her life back on track after being rescued from the convicted sex offender. However, the state officials in Maryland decided to place the youngster in a group home rather than send her to her grandmother. They had the impression that her biological and adoptive parents did not acknowledge her transsexual status to the same extent as they should have. The Maryland officials seem to have accused her blood family of misgendering Sage for using her biological pronoun. Unfortunately, this led her to fall victim to another offender. According to NBC12, the parents stated that if they had been informed that their child used different pronouns and toilets at school, Sage would not have been a victim of sex trafficking. Blair stated that Sage hopes that her experience can help save the lives of other kids. Sage does not want any other children to have to face the horrors she survived. The 14-year-old is now recovering at home, surrounded by her loved ones. Related Article: Viral TikTok Video Raises $108,000 To Help Retire 82-Year-Old Walmart Employee Photo: (Photo : Kevin Frayer /Getty Images) A family in North Carolina has been arrested for allegedly killing their four-year-old adopted son, Skyler Wilson. With the help of the Surry County Department of Social Services, the police department detained Jodi and Joseph Wilson. Abusive North Carolina parents According to Fox News, an investigator from the sheriff's office met with a doctor, who revealed that the boy had suffered hypoxic brain damage. This type of injury occurs when a limitation stops oxygen from reaching the brain. The physician, who had spoken with Joseph Wilson, informed the detective that Skyler's brain damage was likely caused by excessive restraint during this alleged swaddling. The boy died at Brenner Children's Hospital in Winston-Salem on January 9, days after he was admitted. According to the adoptive father, his wife sent him a text message at about 5:30 P.M. to let him know that something had gone wrong while Skyler was being swaddled and that something was wrong with his arms. Additionally, she forwarded a photo that showed Skyler bound to the floor of the Wilsons' living room with duct tape while he was face down and covered with some sheet or blanket. When they arrived at the hospital, the father told the attending physician that they had tucked Skyler into the wagon that served as his bed at around 6:45 P.M. They added that they heard him moving around a little while later and tried to relocate him. After Skyler was knocked to the ground, he placed the boy on the couch, where he seemed immobile and half-responsive. They immediately took him to the hospital, but he eventually died. Read Also: Pro Life Lawmakers in Conservative States Are Revisiting Exemptions on Abortion Ban Skyler Wilson's previous foster family The law enforcement officials revealed that the previous foster parent of Skyler and his brother Vance Wilson reported the disturbing things that she heard the mother, Jodi, talk about. The Wilsons also adopted Vance. Before officially being adopted as the Wilsons, the kids were known as Skyler and Vance Bowles. The investigators interviewed the former foster parent, who confirmed some of the abusive traits that the family usually practices. As per The Tribune, she said that Jodi Wilson informed her that she still swaddles Skyler. Aside from that, she also practices food restriction and exorcism and gives Skyler a lot of alone time. In addition, she mentioned that Vance had begun to refuse to walk alone. The police officials also discovered that the former foster parent reported the questionable behavior of the adoptive parents. On December 7, 2021, the previous foster mother expressed her concerns to a care worker with the Surry County Department of Social Services. She was anxious about the children's well-being. She was instructed to submit a formal report, which she did on the same day. Additionally, the officers from the police department indicated that the phone records validated the time she reported the incident. According to Fox 8, in September 2021, Skyler and Vance Wilson were given to the Wilson family to care for, and before the placement of the two boys, the Wilson family had fostered three other children. The couple is charged with the death of their adopted son with no bond. Furthermore, their four children, three of whom were biological and one of whom was adopted, were placed in the custody of social services. Related Article: Abbott Laboratories Baby Formula Under Criminal Investigation Due to Illness Reports Leading to 4 Infant Deaths Photo: (Photo : Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) "Pro-life Spiderman" continues to fight for and advocate for the protection of unborn children from abortion. Leading up to the Roe v. Wade reversal, the "Pro-Life Spiderman" has been seen in the streets protesting alongside those against abortion. During the annual March for Life on the National Mall last week, the "Pro-Life Spiderman," whose real name is Maison Des Champs, was seen campaigning for his beliefs. Des Champs is originally from Michigan; however, he now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 23-year-old has gained national attention by climbing skyscrapers to raise awareness for the pro-life cause, which he started in May. 'Pro-Life Spiderman' On Friday, when pro-life activists from across the United States converged on the National Mall for the annual anti-abortion march, Maison Des Champs welcomed commuters leaving the Smithsonian Metro station with pro-life placards. According to The Christian Post, he expressed his excitement and joy as his advocacy seems to be moving forward following the overturning of the Roe v. Wade decision by the United States Supreme Court in June of last year. The "Pro-Life Spiderman" says he is prepared to put everything on the line to save these infants by climbing to the summits of large buildings to generate awareness and money for the right-to-life campaign. During the recent March for Life demonstration, he distributed banners on the National Mall that contained photographs of the newborns whose lives he says he was able to protect. When Des Champs built a substantial structure, he raised money for many organizations that advocate for the human right to live and worked to assist expecting moms who need financial assistance. He went into further detail about his strategy, which he characterized as being relatively simple, to generate donations for the pro-life cause. "Pro-Life Spiderman" stated that when he climbs buildings, he gathers a lot of attention from the people and the press, and he then encourages them to donate to Letthemlive.org. He said he helps bring awareness, and people who care about saving these babies often donate. This young man, who strongly supports his advocacies, has been very successful and happy to be a part of it. Read Also: Former Teacher Marcie Whalen Goes Viral on TikTok for Advising Moms With 'Stranger Danger' Strategies March For Life protest According to the BBC, thousands of anti-abortion activists gathered in the Capitol to celebrate the victory of the anti-abortion movement. Washington saw the return of pro-life activists to the nation's capital for the annual March for Life last Friday. Last summer, thousands of people assembled at the National Mall to celebrate the overturning of the Roe v. Wade decision. However, this year, the march at the capital will be focused on what pro-life advocates can do after the overturn, with the theme, "Next Steps: Marching into a Post-Roe America." Participants in the march made their way to the United States Capitol to deliver their message to the newly elected members of Congress, particularly those in the newly Republican-controlled House. According to ABC, At the March for Life, Steve Scalise, House Majority Leader, a Republican from Louisiana, stated that the overturning of the Roe v. Wade decision was simply the conclusion of the first part of this battle. Hence, they are continuously campaigning to move forward to the next phase of safeguarding the lives of unborn children. Related Article: Parents Use Respectful Parenting as Approach to Produce Highly Successful Kids Photo: (Photo : Theo Wargo / Getty Images) Hollywood star Jeremy Renner, 52, was trying to save his nephew. The Marvel superhero Hawkeye actor was in critical condition at the start of this year due to a snowplow accident. The actor was trying to stop his snow removal tractor from sliding and hitting his grown nephew when he was pulled under the vehicle and crushed on New Year's Day. Jeremy Renner's snowplow accident According to CNN, the accident began when Renner's nephew's truck got stuck in the snow on the actor's driveway on New Year's Day. Renner hauled it off the driveway using his snowplow. After towing the truck onto the roadway, the snowplow started to slide sideways, and then it started rolling down the hill. Renner climbed down from the Pistenbully snow groomer and ran away. However, he quickly became aware that the snowplow was moving in the direction of his nephew and was likely to crush him. The Marvel actor decided to thwart the Pistenbully by attempting to get into the cab via the moving track, resulting in him getting pulled under. The Pistenbully rolled over Renner and continued down the road. He laid down on the ground and concentrated on his breathing as his nephew and several other people assisted him before emergency professionals arrived at the site. Renner was taken by helicopter to a nearby hospital and underwent an emergency operation the next day. It will take some time for Renner to heal from his injuries. Read Also: Jared Dicus Finally Admits To Authorities For Violently Killing Wife Anggy Diaz Jeremy Renner's recovery According to People, the investigations conducted by the police indicated that the brake light indication was not functioning properly, and it is possible that mechanical problems contributed to this incident. Even though the PistenBully had several mechanical flaws, it was assumed that the parking brake would prevent it from going forward based on police assessment. Renner complained of having significant trouble breathing on the right side of his chest as he was being carried to the hospital, and he immediately fainted after arriving there. In addition, the upper portion of his body appeared to have collapsed. It was determined by the medical professionals who responded to Renner that the actor sustained orthopedic injuries and acute chest trauma as a result of shattering more than 30 bones in his body. The Marvel actor spent two weeks in the hospital and is now on his journey to recovery. Renner went on Instagram to update his friends and fans on his health. He said that the accident spawned his entire family, and morning workouts, resolutions, and routines this new year have remarkably changed. He expressed gratitude for all the love and well wishes from his fans, family, and the people he worked with. Renner assured everyone that the 30 or so broken bones in his body would continue to mend and grow stronger. According to HuffPost, his Marvel buddies, Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans commented, both sending him love in his recovery. Evans even jokingly commented, asking Renner how the snowcat vehicle was doing, while Hemsworth praised him for championing this ordeal. Related Article: Police Holds 64-Year-Old Man in Custody for Death of Mother, Daughter in 1994 Photo: (Photo : ARMEND NIMANI / Getty Images) Families in Brazil experienced losing their children sooner to leukemia. Some young children that were diagnosed by the aggressive cancer type of Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) lose their battle and succumb to death. Investigation reveals that the children were administered therapeutic medications that were not sufficient enough to cure them, but instead, make them more sick. In Brazil, a rampant rise in the death toll of children with leukemia. It has later been discovered that certain asparaginase drugs in Brazil are causing these young children to die faster. The ALL is the most prevalent neoplasm in childhood and is responsible for around 25 percent of all cancer diagnoses in children younger than 15 years old. Asparaginase Drugs in Brazil According to the Stat, a mother named Emily with her daughter Isadora was one of the families who experienced a low-quality brand asparaginase to treat her child's cancer. Her treatment consists of a combination of chemotherapy medications, the side effects of which would include vomiting, and lethargy. Asparaginase, which was at the time at the center of a developing national controversy, was one of the most crucial chemotherapeutic medications that Isadora used in her. However, a year later, medical professionals in Brazil acknowledged that the brand of asparaginase that she was given was not even close to being as efficient as it ought to have been. The asparaginase medication that her child was given was likewise contaminated, which made people who were already sick much sicker. As explained by the Drug Bank, Asparagine is a medication that is frequently utilized in the treatment of ALL in children. The medication blocks the ability of cancer cells to reproduce and develop. Patients would have a far lower likelihood of surviving if they did not have access to it. However, in certain instances, brands fell well short of the required criteria to treat cancer. Asparagine is a medication that is often used to treat children with ALL and it is one of the amino acids required for cell survival and activity. Read Also: More Students Getting Hungry as School Lunch Debt Piles Up Substandard Asparaginase Drugs in the Market The formulation that was accessible in Brazil between 2017 and 2018, at the same dose and frequency as the version that was available previously, did not have a therapeutic impact. This was the case even if it was administered at the same rate. According to the British Journal of Haematology, as part of their asparaginase activity monitoring in Brazil in 2018, the children were subjected to two distinct formulations of E. coli ASNase: the Aginasa and the Leuginase. It was discovered at that time that the majority of patients who were treated with leuginase did not develop significant enzymatic activity for the drug to be of any use in the treatment of leukemia in children. The same low-quality Asparaginase drugs have been distributed not just in Brazil, but also in Haiti. Medical professionals in Haiti also have a very low rate of survival for their cancer patients. The medical professionals quickly came to the conclusion that the medicine brand that was used in Brazil and the drug brand that was used in Haiti were both derived from the same manufacturer of Leuginase, which was produced by Beijing SL Pharmaceutical. On the other hand, a spokeswoman for Beijing SL Pharmaceutical, the company that makes Leuginase, stated that the medicine is tested by Chinese regulators as well as evaluated in-house, and that the quality findings have remained within the statutory limits throughout the course of the previous decade. In addition, the judge ruled that the Brazilian government must comply with the court's decision to withdraw this specific brand, Leuginase, off the shelves of hospitals to protect children from the harmful dose. Related Article: 'Pro-Life Spiderman' Continues to Climb Skyscrapers to Advocate for Saving Babies Photo: (Photo : Getty Images/Christopher Furlong) A psychologist expresses how behaviors children see in adults can shape them, using Prince Harry's emotionally distant upbringing, which he detailed in his new memoir. The royal family are not known for physical affections or display of emotions, and this "stiff upper lip mentality" is strongly confirmed in Prince Harry's new memoir entitled Spare. One of these 'stiff upper lip' instances is when Harry narrated how, when he came back home from Afghanistan, attended a press conference and walked out of the room straight into his brother Prince William and his father, now King Charles. He cannot quite remember if his brother hugged him, but he gave his father a kiss on the cheek, to which he also cannot remember if his father squeezed his shoulder as a response. Prince Harry wrote that to people at a distance, that scene would have been a usual family interaction. However, for the royal family it was a "flamboyant, unprecedented demonstration of physical affection." It seems that this lack of affection has been passed through the family as Prince Harry also shared how the late Queen, after arriving back home from several months of being away for a royal tour, greeted her son, a five or six-year-old Charles, with a firm handshake. Damaging impacts Psychologist Audrey Tang described this kind of parenting style as "stiff upper lip," an approach that can have potentially damaging impacts on a child. Showing lack of emotions and physical affection can stop one's child's emotional expression. Prince Harry recalled how he wanted to hug the Queen when she permitted him to ask his then girlfriend Meghan Markle to marry him. In fact, he "longed" to hug her but he did not. When it comes to hugging in particular, touch creates trust, and it's actually faster to calm someone than anything anyone can say. One of the biggest problems a lot of people have is if parents haven't been able to model emotional expression in a healthy manner, because that's where you actually learn a lot of your behaviours in the formative years of your life," Dr. Tang stated when explaining how a lot of research has shown the significance of physical touch and role modeling emotional expression. Moreover, parenting that shows lack of emotion can send the wrong message to children that it is not okay to feel or show emotion, Dr. Tang said. Prince Harry also revealed in his memoir that he was not able to cry over his mother Princess Diana's death for 17 years. He thanked his then-girlfriend Cressida Bonas for helping him cross the barrier and unleash his tears. In an interview with Anderson Cooper, he further admitted that for those 17 years, he was always carrying this guilt for not being able to cry for his mother, Marca reported. Dr. Tang encouraged parents to explain things and circumstances to children, and explain them well. She emphasized that damage is not fully caused by lack of expression or emotion but by how it is explained or managed. Children can make up stories in their heads when things are not explained, and they can always assume that it is their fault. Further, she emphasized that parents need not be ashamed of crying in front of their children. In fact, it can be an opportunity to explain to them that it is okay not to be and feel okay sometimes. What is terrible is for parents to imply that emotions are bad. This will result in the children struggling to hide and suppress their emotions in the future. Read also: Prince Harry Wants Father and Brother 'Back' Amidst Tension in the Royal Family The silver lining But Dr. Tang told Lisa Salmon of The Irish News that there is a silver lining. Children who have been raised by parents with the "stiff upper lip mentality" may not necessarily allow their children to be raised in the same way. These parents can become "over-loving, seeking a corrective experience," she declared. They already know where their parents or grandparents made a mistake and the problems in their own family that have been caused by that mistake. Thus, people who experience emotional neglect from their family can definitely use and give the love and nurturing they once longed for to their partners and children. Though unfortunately, they may never get to have a better relationship with their own parents, they can create a healthier, more open relationship with their partners and children. Related Article: How to Identify a Toxic Parent This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions The government has agreed to pay five per cent coupon (interest) on bonds for this year. It will also pay a single coupon of nine per cent on the 12 new bonds it proposes to issue to domestic bondholders who tender their old bonds. The government and the bankers also agreed on the removal or amendment of all clauses in the Exchange Memorandum that empowered the Republic to, at its sole discretion, vary the terms of the exchange. Statement The parties issued the statement after a crunch meeting Monday (Jan 23, 2023) to negotiate new designs and concessions to make it easier for banks to participate in the voluntary DDEP. The bankers association also asked the government to provide clarity on the operational framework and terms of access to the Ghana Financial Stability Fund (GFSF). The fund is expected to help fund managers, banks, insurance companies and the likes with cash flow to meet their obligations as the fall due, in view of the cash flow challenges the debt exchange programme would bring upon the participating institutions. Context Even though bond coupons are usually paid in two instalments, under the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), the government proposed to pay no interest for this year. However, bonds maturing from 2024 will receive five per cent coupon in 2024 and thereafter between nine per cent and 10.65 per cent. An agreement to pay five per cent coupon for 2023 and a single coupon rate for each of the 12 new bonds, resulting in an effective coupon rate of nine per cent, a joint statement by the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Association of Bankers (GAB) stated. The association had earlier instructed its members not to participate in the programme until certain agreements were reached. However, the joint statement said the government of Ghana and the Ghana Association of Banks (GAB) have made significant progress on the terms for the participation of banks in the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP). Individual approvals It said the agreement encompassed final improvements to the terms of the DDEP. While the GAB said it recognised the progress made, it noted that the participation of its member banks in the DDEP, per the new terms, was subject to each individual banks internal governance and approval processes. However, such processes should not go beyond Monday, January 30, this year. This is a significant milestone towards addressing our economic challenges, and will thus help to restore macroeconomic stability and accelerate Ghanas economic growth, the statement said. With this achievement, the government of Ghana reiterates its commitment to concluding the DDEP in time with all other stakeholders, it added. 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 Wingimall, the newest and most dynamic e-commerce platform, officially launches today in Ghana. With the slogan "Abundance of Choice" and an elephant as a symbol representing plenty, loyalty and a strong sense of community, this new marketplace promises to offer its customers the best selection of products. With the important goal of providing Ghanaian customers an exceptional shopping experience, the platform will offer quality products from top brands from around the world, including those not readily available in the country, and a hassle-free shopping process. Wingimall is here to stay! Powered by iParama - a payment solutions platform that gives Africans ease of access to global inventory Wingimall's vision is to become the leading e-commerce platform in Ghana, and eventually, take over the entire African continent. Wingimall offers a wide variety of products including fashion, electronics, health and wellness, sports, mom and baby, automotive, and home appliances. All of which are carefully curated to ensure that customers have access to unique and hard-to-find products from the best brands around the world. The platform also makes it easy for customers to make purchases by accepting payments from all mobile money wallets in addition to Visa cards and of course ensure a fast delivery process. Orders are delivered in less than 7 days! With its abundance of choice and quick delivery, Wingimall is the premier e-commerce platform for customers looking for unique and high-quality products. Experience an exceptional online shopping experience by visitinghttps://www.wingimall.com/ today. Wingimall has it all! Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The United States and Germany are poised to boost Ukraine's war effort with the delivery of heavy tanks, sources said, support Russia condemned as a "blatant provocation". The expected tank deliveries come as Ukraine dismissed several senior officials as part of an anti-corruption drive, an issue that has become even more important given the need to keep Western backers onside. Washington was expected to announce as soon as Wednesday that it will send M1 Abrams tanks and Berlin has decided to dispatch Leopard 2 tanks, the sources said. While there was no official confirmation, officials in Kyiv hailed what they see as a possible gamechanger in a war that is now 11 months old - even if the rumoured tank numbers, in the dozens, would be short of the hundreds they say they need. "A few hundred tanks for our tank crews .... This is what is going to become a real punching fist of democracy," Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's administration, wrote on Telegram. Zelenskiy, who turns 45 on Wednesday, again pressed Western allies to provide their most modern battle tanks, saying "the need is larger" in his nightly video address on Tuesday. Germany and the United States have until now held back on providing heavy armour, wary of support that could give the Kremlin reason to widen the conflict. Russia has warned that supplies of modern offensive weaponry to Ukraine would escalate the war, with some officials saying its allies were leading the world into a "global catastrophe". Deliveries of battle tanks by the United States would be a "another blatant provocation", Anatoly Antonov, Russia's U.S. ambassador, said on Wednesday. "It is obvious that Washington is purposefully trying to inflict a strategic defeat on us," Antonov said in remarks published on the embassy's Telegram messaging app. "American tanks will be destroyed by our military in the same way all other samples of NATO equipment are being destroyed," Antonov said. Since invading Ukraine, Russia has shifted its rhetoric on the war from an operation to "denazify" and "demilitarise" its neighbour to casting it as a fight against the collective West. Ukraine and its Western allies call Russia's action an unprovoked act of aggression. Front lines, stretching over 1,000 km (620 miles) through eastern and southern Ukraine, have been largely frozen for two months despite heavy losses on both sides. But both Russia and Ukraine are believed to be planning new offensives. Zelenskiy said that Russia was intensifying its push toward Bakhmut, an industrial town in eastern Ukraine that has been the focus of intense fighting. "They want to increase the pressure," he said. Analysts at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said in a report that the West had "contributed to Ukraine's inability to take advantage of having pinned Russian forces in Bakhmut by slow-rolling or withholding weapons systems". Ukraine has pleaded for months for Western tanks that it says it needs to give its forces the firepower and mobility to break through Russian defensive lines and recapture territory. The question of whether to supply Ukraine with significant numbers of tanks has dominated debate among Western allies in recent days. Germany has been pivotal because Leopards, fielded by some 20 armies around the world, are seen as the best option for Ukraine as they are available in large numbers and are easy to deploy and maintain. Although the U.S. Abrams tank is considered less suitable, due to its fuel consumption and maintenance needs, a U.S. decision to send them to Ukraine could make it easier for Germany - which has called for a united front among Ukraine's allies - to allow the supply of Leopards. Two U.S. officials told Reuters on Tuesday that Washington was ready to start a process that would eventually send dozens of M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had decided to send the Leopards and allow other countries such as Poland to do so as well, two sources familiar with the matter said. Spiegel magazine said Germany was planning to supply at least one company of Leopard 2 A6 tanks, which usually comprises 14 tanks. Some other allies intend to go along with Germany in supplying their Leopards, it reported. Separately, Ukraine dismissed more than a dozen senior officials in the biggest shake-up of its wartime leadership. The European Union, which offered Ukraine the status of candidate member last June, welcomed the changes. Among the officials who resigned or were dismissed were the governors of the Kyiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, the latter three front-line provinces. Kyiv and Sumy were major battlefields earlier in the war. Some of the officials who left had been linked to corruption allegations. Ukraine has a history of graft and shaky governance and is under pressure to show it can be a reliable steward of billions of dollars in Western aid. 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 The Mo Ibrahim Foundation says Africa's progress achieved over the last decade is under threat as overall governance in the continent stagnates. The London-based Foundation said Africa was struggling to manage the "combined impacts of Covid-19, climate change, conflict and coups, as well as food and energy insecurity". Its latest report indicates that African governance has flatlined since 2019 and economic opportunities are being undermined by widespread democratic backsliding. These are challenging times. More than ever, commitment to strengthening governance must be renewed, unless we lose all progress achieved, said Mo Ibrahim, the founder of the foundation. The foundation runs the world's most valuable individual prize for African ex-leaders to encourage good governance on the continent. Mr Ibrahim, a Sudan-born telecoms entrepreneur, launched the prize in an attempt to encourage African leaders to leave power peacefully. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Rwandan government says defensive measures were taken on a Democratic Republic of Congo fighter jet that violated" its airspace on Tuesday evening. Images shared on social media show a military plane being shot at while flying at a low altitude between the towns of Goma in DR Congo and Gisenyi in Rwanda. Other images show the damaged plane a Soviet Union-made Sukhoi-25 being cooled down with water at Goma airport. In a statement, DR Congo's information ministry condemned the incident and denied that its jet had flown over Rwandan airspace. It said the government "does not intend to let this [incident] go" and had the "legitimate right" to defend itself. "The government considers this umpteenth attack by Rwanda as a deliberate action of aggression that is equivalent to an act of war," the ministry noted. Rwanda said this was the third incident involving a Congolese fighter jet on its airspace and asked its neighbour "to stop this aggression. Last November, a Congolese Sukhoi-25 jet briefly landed at Gisenyi airport in Rwanda. Kinshasa said the fighter jet had mistakenly landed there. DR Congo accuses Rwanda of supporting M23 rebels, which Kigali authorities have consistently denied. The latest incident adds to the tensions between the two neighbours. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ghana has become the second country in Africa after Mozambique to receive payments from a World Bank trust fund for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, commonly known as REDD+. The World Banks Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) paid Ghana $4,862,280 for reducing 972,456 tons of carbon emissions for the first monitoring period under the program (June to December 2019). This payment is the first of four under the countrys Emission Reductions Payment Agreement (ERPA) with the World Bank to demonstrate potential for leveraging results based payments for carbon credits, said Pierre Laporte, World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Subject to showing results from actions taken to reduce deforestation, Ghana is eligible to receive up to $50 million for 10 million tons of CO2 emissions reduced by the end of 2024. These actions are within a six-million-hectare stretch of the West Africa Guinean Forest, where biodiversity and forests are under pressure from cocoa farming and unsustainable harvesting, and small-scale mining. Ghana is one of 15 countries that have signed ERPAs with the World Bank. The many years of dialogue, consultations, and negotiations with local communities, traditional authorities, government agencies, private sector, CSOs, and NGOs have paid off, said Samuel A. Jinapor, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources. This emission reductions payment will further promote confidence in Ghanas REDD+ process for action to reduce deforestation and forest degradation while empowering local community livelihoods. The road to global 1.5 degrees cannot be achieved without healthy standing forests, and Ghana is committed to making it possible. Ghana is the worlds second-largest cocoa producer. Cocoa drives the economy, but it is also one of the main causes of deforestation and forest degradation in the southeast and western regions of the country. Stakeholders are working to help some 140,000 Ghanaian farmers increase cocoa production using climate-smart agro-forestry approaches, rather than slash and burn land-clearing techniques that decimate forests. More sustainable cocoa farming helps avoid expansion of cocoa farms into forest lands and secures more predictable income streams for communities. Ghanas Cocoa Board is participating in the REDD+ process, as are some of the most important cocoa and chocolate companies in the world, including World Cocoa Foundation members like Mondelez International, Olam, Touton, and others. Their combined actions are not only helping bring change to the cocoa sector, but they are also helping Ghana meet its national emissions reductions commitments under the Paris Agreement. This level of collaboration is also reflected in the benefit sharing plan underpinning Ghanas ERPA with the World Bank. Prepared through extensive consultations with local stakeholders and civil society organizations throughout the country, the plan ensures all participating stakeholders are fairly recognized and rewarded for their role in reducing emissions. The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) is a global partnership of governments, businesses, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples' organizations focused on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, forest carbon stock conservation, the sustainable management of forests, and the enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries, activities commonly referred to as REDD+. Launched in 2008 the FCPF has worked with 47 developing countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean, along with 17 donors that have made contributions and commitments totaling $1.3 billion. 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 Leader of the global Roman Catholic faithful, Pope Francis has declared as unjust, laws that criminalize same-sex relationships. He admonished Catholic bishops who support laws against Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) to welcome such people to the Church because they were all God's children and God loves all His children. Being homosexual isnt a crime, the Pope said during an interview on January 24 with The Associated Press. He stressed that issues of same-sex issues could only be classified as a "sin," adding that Bishops against LGBTQ persons were doing so largely as a result of attitudes to cultural backgrounds. These bishops have to have a process of conversion, he said, adding that they should apply tenderness, please, as God has for each one of us. Only a handful of African countries have legalized same-sex relations. In most parts of the continent it is outlawed and persons found guilty are subject to prison terms. Ghana's parliament is currently seized with an anti-LGBTQ Bill that has sharply divided public opinion. The bill, officially known as 'The Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill' was laid before the House last year and referred to the relevant Committee for among others, public consultation. It was sponsored by eight MPs, seven from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and one from the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Ghana Police Service has assured of taking measures to tackle the rising menace of electronic commerce (e-commerce) fraud and impersonation in the virtual space. The Inspector General of Ghana Police Service, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare who said criminals in e-commerce and impersonators on social media platforms will no longer have a field day revealed that the Service is currently setting up special teams to deal with Internet fraud. There are several levels to it; there is a policing component, there is also the individual persons security component, and also the community component. From the policing side, we have taken some pragmatic steps in recent times and started setting up a team to holistically look at some of these things. I would like to assure you that a lot will be done, Dr. Dampare said. The IGP said this when he appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of parliament to answer questions in relation to the 2020 Auditor-General Report on the Interior Ministry, under which the Police Service falls. His comments were in response to a question from a member of the PAC and MP for Buem Constituency, Kofi Adams. The MP, expressing worry about rising numbers in Internet-related fraud particularly people impersonating MPs on social media, said: There is this continuous increase in scams of various forms, especially people impersonating MPs. These persons operate with mobile phone numbers that unsuspecting victims call on and make payments, and these criminals go and cash-out these monies. So, it is possible for them to be traced and arrested. We do not hear much of some of these things. What is the Police Service doing to help us deal with this canker? In his response, Dr. Dampare said: For the first time in the history of this country, you are going to hear a whole bunch of things about people who have been duped across the Internet space and how we are dealing with them. There are couple of instances where people have been swindled through e-commerce market platforms; and as we speak, about 18 people have been identified and out of the 18, seven have been arrested. What we have to do going forward, he added, is to pick on all the other cases we have and see what we can do to make sure that, at the end of the day, we send the strongest signal to these people. Although he acknowledged the recent SIM card registration will go a long way to help police administration deal with the situation, he added that the countrys inadequate addressing system poses a challenge with regard to how quickly police can swoop on suspects. The challenge used to be the case when we had an environment where people could just walk into any service provider and get a number registered. Fortunately with the registration exercise, for all numbers which are unregistered there is difficulty for those people to continue. This has helped us in terms of defining the space and how easily you can access these people and have them arrested; but the tail-end of it is also our addressing systems and how to even locate the house of a person you been been able to identify. For instance, in other jurisdictions you always know where somebody lives; and instantly all you have to do is just know the address, know the contact number and walk to the house and pick up the person. And if we have that environment, we can assure that we the police and by extension other security agencies -will make this country zero-crime rated, he further explained. The IGP went on by cautioning the general public to be more security-conscious in their dealings. He also urged communities to cooperate with the police to fight these social vices. The final bit is to do with our personal security our own individual security and the security that comes from the way we handle our personal selves, the way we communicate even on the phone. Source: B&FT Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Board of Directors of Ghanas premium high-definition (HD) satellite broadcast service provider SES HD PLUS is pleased to announce the appointment of Adelaide Ahovy Abbiw-Williams as Chief Executive Officer effective from 1 January 2023. Most recently, Adelaide was responsible for launching HD+ in Ghana where she successfully positioned HD+ as the preferred choice for quality TV viewing experiences within the free-to-air satellite TV broadcasting industry in Ghana. Adelaides career spans several commercial roles across the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), manufacturing, telecommunications, mobile financial services, and satellite broadcasting industries in Africa for multinational companies such as SES, Vodafone, Nestle and Diageo. Adelaide succeeds Theodore Asampong who will now oversee SESs broader video business in the West and Central African region. Wilfried Urner, Chairman of the SES HD PLUS Board, commenting on Adelaides appointment said, Adelaide made an impression on the board with her drive, intellect, and professionalism. She has made a tremendous impact during her time at SES HD PLUS to date, and we have no doubt she will continue this momentum as our new CEO. Her extensive FMCG and telecommunications background and commercially driven approach to business will help SES HD PLUS develop strategic alliances as well as expand on the success built over the past 2 years and take us into our next phase of growth and innovation. I am delighted to take on the CEO role of a business with considerable ambition. SES HD PLUS is a group of innovative, talented, and creative professionals who care about delivering quality TV viewing experiences to over 130,000 homes across Ghana. Our goal is to grow the number of homes watching HD+ across the country, said Abbiw-Williams. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Archbishop Charles Agyinasare, the leader of the Perez Chapel International has sent words of encouragement to Pastor Elvis Agyemang, the leader of the popular online prayer brigade, Alpha Hour. Agyinasare in a message shared on his various social media handles commended Elvis Agyemang for staging a successful end-of-year prayer event at the El-Wak Stadium. He said that he has taken notice of the backlash on social media over a viral picture of offering money being counted but encouraged Pastor Agyemang not to be affected by the vile attacks. Charles Agyinasare reckons that the attacks on Pastor Agyemang are machinations of the devil as it is being haunted by the good works of Alpha Hour. This past week has been a challenging one for you on social media about your ministry but I want you to know that its because you poked the devils eye. Your 31st night was awesome and the devil is mad so had to stir things and bring up all kinds of allegations against you. He is accuser of the brethren but I want you encourage you that there is the advocate for us. The devil is accusing you but the advocate is saying that I got you covered. It is not wrong to have money. The program you held was a huge one and it cost a lot of money. Many people came and it wasnt wrong if people gave to help pay off the debt. As an individual I want to encourage you not to put off and as a church I want to encourage you not to be affected. It shouldnt affect your giving and what you do for the Lord. The Bible tells us our labouring for the Lord will not be in vain. Keep on labouring for the Lord. Keep focusing and make the impact that God has destined you to to make in your generation. Im praying for you and the church, he said. Archbishop Charles Agyinasare is the latest to show public support for Pastor Elvis Agyemang over the recent attacks. Prophet Kofi Oduro of the Alabaster International Ministry also lashed out the critics and posed certain questions to them. During a sermon at his church on Sunday, January 22, 2023, Prophet Oduro said that rather than focusing on the wealth of the church, Ghanaians should focus on holding the government accountable for how it uses the country's resources, including their taxes. Nobody says anything when the government places a desk at Kotoka Airport and takes $100 from every passenger that arrives at Kotoka. Nobody asked the government, where did that money go? And how much was raised? So far, we have not asked the government for the amount raised from the E-Levy. We have not asked that. I was watching the Public Account Committee hearing, and the monies that were supposed to be retrieved since 2020 have not been retrieved; nobody has asked that. We have not asked the Chief of Staff how many Land Cruisers she has imported to this nation for the past 2 years; we have not asked that. We have not asked how much it cost Akufo-Addos convoy to travel in a month we have not asked that, he said. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Haruna Iddrisu, the immediate-past Minority leader in Parliament has accused President Akufo-Addo and finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta of engaging in illegality with the review of the terms of payment for bondholders. According to him, Ken Ofori-Atta is acting unilaterally on the decisions and that he is not clothed with the power to undertake such actions. Speaking on Metro TV, Haruna Iddrisu said that the Finance Minister should have first sought approval from Parliament before varying the terms of governments agreement with bondholders. He bemoaned that the conduct of Ken Ofori-Atta, which he reckons has the backing of President Akufo-Addo, is not just illegal but also grave disrespect to Parliament. He warned that the house of representatives will not watch for such flippancy to thrive and that there will be consequences. When asked if a future NDC government will prosecute Ken Ofori-Atta and all concerned for what he contends to be breaches, Haruna Iddrisu failed to state a categorical answer but warned that there will be consequences. Ken Ofori-Atta is now varying the terms as an individual and as Minister of Finance. My argument is that he doesnt have the power and authority to do that. I should think that he has to come back to Parliament. He is engaged in varying the terms and conditions of a loan. "When Parliament approves a loan, it probably provided for tenure, monetarium, interest and principal shall be paid within a certain period. Now you are saying you are issuing 12 bonds and that 2023 no coupon and now for banks 5%. Now you say 2027 to 2038, you are varying the terms and conditions of an agreement that the Parliament of Ghana has approved. "He came to Parliament to say give me a mandate to borrow 3 billion dollars. The Public Sector Borrowing of these Treasury Bills must all now come to Parliament. Weve given him too much latitude and he is now walking around as if every authority is vested in him as Minister of Finance. "He can run riot on President Akufo-Addo because he doesnt have the will and wit to reshuffle him but he cannot do that to the republic. Take individual bond, it is a contract between you and your bank. The sacredness of contract is being hampered and destroyed by Ken Ofori-Atta with this his 'take it or leave it' attitude. You can't tell people that. The money is not your money," he said. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Bono Region recorded 202 fire outbreaks, destroying property valued at GH699,170, Divisional Officer Grade Three (DOIII) Ruth Tandoh, the Bono Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), has said. In 2021, the region recorded 207 fire outbreaks, which destroyed property and personal belongings, amounting to GH432, 302, she said. She said the outbreaks comprised mostly domestic, industrial, vehicular, institutional, electrical, and commercial and bushfires. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, DOIII Tandoh said in 2022 domestic fires recorded the highest figure of 51 cases with one person dead and four others sustaining various degrees of fire burns. The service rescued three people, she added, pointing out that the cost of salvage in 2022 was GHC11, 675 compared with GHC4, 996 in 2021. DOIII Tandoh said the devastating effects of fire outbreaks remained enormous and advised the public to help stem, particularly domestic fires by ensuring that they switched off their electrical appliances before they left home for work. She ruled out the public perception that firefighters deliberately delayed in attending to fire outbreaks, saying it is rather fire victims who delayed calls to the service when there is an outbreak. The public is unfamiliar with the service emergency phone number and sometimes calls wrong numbers, DOIII Tandoh stated, adding that poor access roads and unauthorised structures partly delayed the service to attend to fire outbreaks. She advised the public against illegal electricity connections, which was also contributing to domestic fire outbreaks, and reminded the public that the dry season had set in, and they must be wary about the way and manner they handled naked fires to stem outbreaks. Every household, institution, office and driver must obtain fire extinguishers because it is very necessary, DOIII Tandoh stated and called on the general public to endeavour to inform the service early whenever there was an outbreak. The public must also try to provide an emergency exit for them to be rescued when there is a fire outbreak. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Federal Government says no fewer than 159 Nigerians renounced their citizenships in 2022 alone. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Shuaib Belgore, disclosed this at the 64th session of the State House Ministerial briefing organized by the Presidential Communications Team, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday, January 26. He mentioned that 150 Nigerians renounced their citizenship between 2006 to 2021. Also speaking at the Ministerial briefing, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, said the massive exodus of Nigerians out of the county in search of greener pastures in a phenomenon now popularly referred to as Japa syndrome, is fueling high demands for passports. He stated that in 2022, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) issued the highest number of passport booklets totaling 1,899,683 in over seven years. He also revealed that at least 70 foreign nationals have been deported for various infractions in the last two years. In the last two years, the Minister issued a total of 70 deportation orders for the deportation of different nationals from Nigeria due to one infraction or the other. The majority of those deported were from the Democratic Republic of Korea, Egypt, Sri Lanka and a host of others. he said. Source: LIB Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Chairperson of the Convention People's Party (CPP), Nana Akosua Frimpongmaa Sarpong Kumankumah, has stated that the party is poised and ready to win the 2024 elections. She said the party was taking the necessary steps to make this dream a reality. The road to victory has started for us with the holding of committee meetings with all party leaders in the various regions and constituencies. From the meetings, we agreed that it was time to take over the governance of this country. We want the whole world, especially the diaspora and the youth in particular to know that the CPP is poised to take over power. The country has given the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) enough chances to prove themselves but the results are nothing to write home about. It is on this note that we are going hard this time around, she noted. Reactivation The Cpp chairperson, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic on the sidelines of a press briefing held last Thursday, added that the committee meeting was also to strategise on how to reactivate the energies of Ghanaians towards the Grand Mobilisation Drive, of the party, particularly among members of the party who left due to one reason or the other. Come join and take over the party. So that you can take over the governance of this nation. That is what CPP has done. At the meeting, we agreed to open the doors to the polling stations, a lot of positions have been opened. And everybody is welcome to join the party so that we can go there and put all the good ideas to build the nation, to make the nation work for us, she said. Future leaders Acknowledging the fact that the youth were the future leaders of a country, Nana Sarpong Kumankumah called on them to rally behind the party this time around, as they worked to bring change, stressing that we would be a country you can inherit when we are gone. All the youth who are confused, not sure what to do and are frustrated with the two parties, who are looking for an alternative, looking to put in their quota in governing this nation, this is the time for you, she noted. Track record Nana Sarpong Kumankumah cited the achievements of the founder, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, as an indication that the CPP has a track record of making things happen. Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah is the root, the father and founder of the nation for which reason we have the Ghana we are enjoying today. Dr Nkrumah within a very short time was able to lead the CPP and everything that matters in Ghana was formed. We have done it and we can do it, our records are there, she said. Source: graphiconline.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 Former Minister for Central Region, Kwamena Duncan has cautioned against the eager speed at which Auditor-General's reports are released into the public, claiming it could erode the confidence of the people. The report, he noted, when released without due process is observed undermines the country's governance system. Kwamena Duncan touched on the recent Auditor-General's report on government's expenditure on the Coronavirus pandemic. The report revealed how poor some COVID-19 funds generated from between March 2020 to June last year were used. "The Ministry of Finance mobilised a total amount of GH19,112,318,205.12 in 2020 to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The records showed that an amount of GH1,978,551,137.46 was mobilised in 2021 and GH753,319,842.66 (up to June 2022) to finance the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme and the implementation of the Ghana COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan. In all, a total amount of GH21,844,189,185.24 was mobilised to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana." The Ministry of Health "without the approval of the Central Tender Review Committee, increased the cost of five contracts with total contract sum of GH24,256,500.00 by GH4,017,000.00 through variation orders" and recommended that the "Chief Director should seek retroactive approval to avoid disallowance of such variation amount", according to the report. It further indicated that the Ministry "on behalf of Government of Ghana paid an amount of US$120,192,379.80 to UNICEF/AVAT for the supply of vaccines. However, 5,109,600.00 doses of vaccines valued at US$38,322,000.00 were supplied to the National Cold Room leaving a difference of US$81,870,379.80 with UNICEF/AVAT". Following the report, critics have lashed out at the Akufo-Addo administration with political opponents of the government capitalizing on the issues. Responding to the criticisms, Kwamena Duncan stated that the report "whilst it is a watchdog policy of our democratic governance, it could also be very undermining. It could draw the confidence of our people in democracy backward if care is not taken". He explained that "if we don't allow the processes to go through, as for auditors, what they see is what they write; so if you are to dwell solely on the Auditor-General's report, you might err". To him, he prefers, when there is an audit of this sort, the processes of accountability by way of giving the accused persons opportunity to respond to the findings should be thoroughly done before the report comes out. "Over the years, what has been happening is that the Auditor-General comes public in the raw state . . . What that does is that it continues to undermine public confidence in the governance structures and the governance system," he told Nana Yaw Kesseh on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show. "I am afraid our democracy will be on the precipice" should this continue to happen, he asserted. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Kwamena Duncan has expressed his resentment on the findings by the Auditor-General indicating that the Ministry of Health paid UNICEF/AVAT over 120 million dollars for Coronavirus vaccines but failed to receive all vaccines from the supplier. According to the Auditor-General's report, the "Ministry of Health on behalf of Government of Ghana paid an amount of US$120,192,379.80 to UNICEF/AVAT for the supply of vaccines. However, 5,109,600.00 doses of vaccines valued at US$38,322,000.00 were supplied to the National Cold Room leaving a difference of US$81,870,379.80 with UNICEF/AVAT". This has aroused public agitations with critics demanding retrieval of the over US$80 million at UNICEF/AVAT and also calling for heads to roll. Addressing the matter during "Kokrokoo" panel discussion programme on Peace FM, the former Central Regional Minister slammed the Ministry of Health saying these findings do not paint a beautiful picture to Ghanaians. According to him, the Ministry cannot blame this on storage challenges saying, "if that is the case, enter into the agreement and do it pay as you consume basis". Kwamena Duncan being unhappy about what has been disclosed exclaimed that "that is not the way to go. It gives burden, extra burden for those who sit and those who stand for the government. We carry bigger burden when it goes on this way". He added; "Sometimes, some of these are very worrying and I mean we should stand up to it and let all of us because we all either float together or sink together. So, I have not been happy especially on the COVID matter as it relates to Ministry of Health." Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Kwamena Duncan, a former Minister for Central Region, has spilled the beans on the changes made by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in their parliamentary leadership. A letter to the Speaker of Parliament announcing the change of leadership of the NDC caucus in Parliament signed by the party's General Secretary Fifi Kwetey declared Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson as the new Minority Leader. This decision by the party means the Tamale South MP, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has been removed from the Minorty Leader position. Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson is to be assisted by Mr. Emmanual Armah Kofi Buah as Deputy Minority Leader. The statement also named a new Minority Whip in the person of Mr. Kwame Agbodza who replaces Hon. Muntaka Mubarak, MP for Asawase. The statement said the new leadership would be charged to recommend consequential changes in the Ranking membership to the headquarters of the party for approval. But according to Kwamena Duncan, Dr. Ato Forson was planted in Parliament to snitch on Haruna Iddrisu to former President John Dramani Mahama, thereby resulting in the removal of Haruna Iddrisu. To him, the removal of Haruna Iddrisu isn't surprising claiming the plot was hatched a long time ago. "He (Dr. Ato Forson) is an implant that everything that goes on, he reports to the former President. Have a chitchat with them, that's what they tell you. So, everything that goes on, he reports to the former President about the moves of Haruna Iddrisu," Kwamena Duncan disclosed while speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme. He added; "This whole thing is an engineered thing. Someone is uncomfortable with the good performance of Haruna Iddrisu. So, they want to remove the shine from Haruna Iddrisu. So, he's always been a target . . . this was a plan; it's already been hatched. It was one that they only delayed in implementing, simply because some people are not comfortable with Haruna Iddrisu." According to him, the new Minority Leader is a "hatchet man who is on the leadership or the parliamentary caucus of the NDC". Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has changed the leadership of its caucus in Parliament. A letter to the Speaker of Parliament signed by the party's General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey, announced Dr Cassiel Ato Forson as the new Minority Leader and he is to be assisted by Mr Emmanual Armah Kofi Buah as Deputy Minority Leader. The statement further named a new Minority Whip in the person of Hon. Kwame Agbodza who replaces Muntaka Mubarak. The First Deputy Whip remains Mr Ibrahim Ahmed and the Second Deputy Whip remains Comfort Doyoe Ghansah. The new leadership would be charged to recommend consequential changes in the Ranking membership to the headquarters of the party for approval, the statement noted. Tackling these changes in the NDC Caucus, the West African Director of Samaritan Strategy and a lecturer at Pentecost University, Dr. Christopher Ampadu registered his dissent. Speaking to Nana Yaw Kesseh on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, Dr. Christopher Ampadu wondered why the NDC would change its leadership in Parliament at this crucial time when it's left with only a year to the general elections. To him, "this is not the best time to change their leadership in Parliament". Touching on the removal of the Tamale South MP, Haruna Iddrisu and Asawase MP, Muntaka Mubarak as Minority Leader and Minority Whip respectively, Dr. Ampadu believed the NDC is making a huge mistake stressing these leaders are popular in the Legislative House and command a huge following in the party. "I don't think a person like Haruna Iddrisu, with his pedigree in the party, you can ignore him and place him aside," he expressed his disappointment. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Alan Kyerematen has vowed to work closely with the leadership of the clergy if elected as the Presidential Candidate of the NPP and eventually President of Ghana. The experienced politician made this pronouncement at a private breakfast meeting with the leaders of the Ghanaian christian community in Accra on Tuesday, January 24, 2023. Describing politics and religion as 'two sides of the same coin', at the meeting, Hon. Kyerematen said the bond between politics and religion is interwoven, adding that they 'two varied ways of leadership'. "Both politics snd religion revolve around leadership and followership, while politicians take care of the physical wellbeing of the people, the clergy takes care of their spiritual wellbeing", the former Trade and Industry Minister told the clergy present. He cited his Great Transformational Plan (GTP), recently launched in his national broadcast, as one of many prospects to steer the affairs of the nation to prosperity. "When Ghana prospers, the people of Ghana will also prosper", the former Trade Minister and Industry said. He promised to continually exhibit humility and leadership of service to the people, which has always been his hallmark. Hon. Kyerematen was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Patricia Christabel Kyerematen and their two sons. Some of the clergy members present included Rev. Ekow Amponsah of Global Revival Ministry, Rev. Dr. Cyril Fayose Christian Council of Ghana, Emmanuel Adjei Prayer Palace Int, Rev. Ernest O. Amoako Fire Generation Chapel, Rev. Joshua Obeng C.C.C Kumasi, Rev. Gyasie Emmanuel C.A.C, Prophet Samuel Atanga C.A.C, Rev. Daniel O. Boamah C.A.C Apostle George Yeboah C.A.C, Min. Kobi Acheampong Alive Chapel Int, Min. Sam Sika Alive Chapel Int, Bishop Jerry Bentil Alive Chapel Int Apostle Nana Kwarteng Amanfo Sankofa Ministries, Asare Shadrack Fire Generation, Pastor Nii Lantey Thompson, RT. Rev. M.A Bossman Methodist Church Gh, Dr. & Mrs Samuel Donkor All Nations Full Gospel Church Ghana. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video An award-winning Ghanaian musician, Bashir Annan, popularly known in showbiz as Gambo, is billed to embark on his tour of the United States of America (USA). The 'Drip' Rapper will commence his major tour of 2023 in Washington DC in February. https://youtu.be/6HtYkW0Kvjc His tour will see him visiting Virginia, New York and Maryland. https://www.instagram.com/p/CnwqEikuBdh/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY= The crooner of Ghana's most popular wedding song, 'Settle', Gambo will use the tour to interact with several of his fans in the USA. https://youtu.be/mHehA_aL2xk In 2023, the 'Boys Aye Wild' hitmaker is expected to release a new Extended Play (EP), a follow-up to his highly successful 'New Era' EP. https://youtu.be/LQdciP7edY4 The US tour comes after the Vodafone Ghana Unsung Artist of the Year embarked on similar tours in Tanzania and Nigeria in 2022. In Tanzania, he did his first-ever East African collaboration as he featured Young Dee also known as Young Daresalama on a single titled: 'Sio Simple.' Aside his tours in Tanzania and Nigeria, Gambo was in UK in the past year where he left fans who attended the Ghana Music Awards UK (GMA UK 2022) virtually dazzled with his incredible performance. https://instagram.com/gambo_ii?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= https://twitter.com/gambo_ii?t=eQ18Qp-Idik1JYt0imZfEQ&s=09 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 Director Jeff Barnaby is pictured as he promotes the film "Blood Quantum" at the Toronto International Film Festival, in Toronto, Friday, Sept. 6, 2019. Last week, Netflix and imagineNATIVE announced the Jeff Barnaby Grant in honour of his contributions to Indigenous narrative sovereignty, genre film, and Canadian cinema. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young Alberta is preparing to change how it ensures oilsands companies are able to pay for the mammoth job of cleaning up their operations, but critics fear a year of consultations hasn't been enough to avoid repeating past mistakes. A dump truck works near the Syncrude oilsands extraction facility near the city of Fort McMurray, Alberta on Sunday June 1, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson The Alex Fraser Bridge is seen in Delta, B.C., on Thursday Dec.12, 2019. Police say drivers on the bridge honked and yelled at a man in a mental health crisis standing outside the safety rail, even encouraging him to "take action." THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck A valley of intact forests, lakes and wetlands in southeastern British Columbia, shown in a handout photo, is being preserved in an agreement with governments, First Nations, a forest company and the Nature Conservancy of Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Paul Zizka **MANDATORY CREDIT** Historic funding to aid marine highways operations, vessel acquisitions & shore side infrastructure Washington, DC U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, announced Wednesday that the Federal Transit Administration is awarding more than $285 million of investments to improve the reliability and service of Alaskas ferry system, which serves more than 30 communities across 3,500 miles of coastline. The funding, all awarded to the Alaska Marine Highway System, is designated to replacing an aging vessel, upgrading ferry dock infrastructure in rural communities, modernizing four vessels, procuring an electric ferry, designing a new mainliner vessel, and for generat... After three years, and nearly two dozen blog posts detailing their journey, Sheffield-based brand Airdrop has announced the full release of their Slacker Downhill bike. The bike uses 27.5" wheels front and back and may signal something of a departure from what you might expect from a downhill bike in 2023. However, this is for a very specific reason. Most downhill bikes are developed to race, whereas the Slacker is meant for fun and smashing out park laps, and it's not a moment too soon after they announced the arrival of Craig Evans as the first athlete on their roster last week. Airdrop Slacker Details Wheel size: 27.5" Aluminum frame Travel: 200mm / 200/190mm fork 63 head angle Reach adjust headset Chainstay length: 435mm Sizes: S1, S2, S3 Price from 3599 airdropbikes.com Wheel size: 27.5" Aluminum frame Travel: 200mm / 200/190mm fork 63 head angle Reach adjust headset Chainstay length: 435mm Sizes: S1, S2, S3 Price from 3599 No 29" wheels or internal headset rooting. I hope you like this one, Pinkers. Frame Details When they say park they mean it. There are Slacker models that will benefit from the rugged simplicity of single speed. Park bikes are the new enduro. Geometry The silver one-piece rocker really stands outs against the stealth black frame. Suspension Models & Pricing Slacker frame with Rockshox SDLX Coil - 1799 Slacker frame with Ohlins TTX m.2 Coil - 1999 The Slacker Luxe model will feature a single-crown Rockshox 190mm Zeb Ultimate RC2 & Super Deluxe Ultimate shock, Sram Code Rs, GX DH drivetrain, Unite cranks, Reverse BlackOne DH wheels shod with Michelin DH23 tyres, all finished with Burgtec bar, stem, grips and post - 3599 The Slacker Deluxe shares many of the same components, except with a Boxxer RC2 World Cup fork and upgraded Code RSC brakes and Hope Fortus 30 DH wheels - 4199. The Slacker Park model features the same brakes and suspension as the Deluxe but sees the GX drivetrain swapped out for a park-proof single-speed setup from SB One. It also features the splattered Unite cranks, should that be your thing - 4299. The Slack Works goes to Ohlins suspension for the most premium build in the Slacker range - 4499. At the core of the reasoning behind the Slacker, much like the other bikes in Airdrop's range, is that they are small brand making the bikes that they want to ride. And being a small independent brand is quite important - truthfully I don't imagine they need to sell ten thousand of these things to make it worthwhile (in fact, their first run will be of only 100 frames). They look to be making this bike for a particular niche, and one that they consider themselves a part of - people who are looking for more than a mere plow. Where other brands may proudly boast of World Cup pedigree - Airdrop says this bike is for the New World Disorder generation. Speaking of which, I personally wouldn't be opposed to Mike Levy conducting an extensive test of the bike in the Utah desert wearing boot-cut jeans and a 661 pressure suit.There are passionate people at any level of the bike industry, but whether it's Neko Mullaly's Frameworks project, any number of a slew of brands covered by TEBP , or a brand like Airdrop, it's always great to see smaller brands or individuals going their own way on things. It seems like only yesterday that Pole were ruffling feathers by their approach to greater reach values on their bikes and that ended up pretty much fundamentally changing bike design, even if it was considered a bit left field at the time.In the years that this bike was in the works, a lot of things have changed in downhill. Most notably many brands and racers have settled on a mixed-wheeled platform. However, Airdrop were steadfast in the pursuit of their preferred downhill bike setup. This isn't a 27.5" bike itching to be mulleted. This is a bike that is sold with the wheels and geometry that it's meant to be ridden with.Like other Airdrop frames, this is an alloy bike. The BB and main pivot are a single CNC unit and the lower shock mount is a CNC cradle. It also features a one-piece machined raw rocker link.Each frame comes with a reach-adjust headset included. It's not uncommon to see bikes, mostly carbon ones, come with some kind of oval headset that doesn't need to be removed and reinstalled like a traditional press-fit headset. Asking James Crossland, the designer at Airdrop to explain the reasoning for this style of easily rotated cups aren't in the Slacker he said that they wanted to build a bike that was not only fun to ride but easy to live with and live with for a long time. He explained that push-fit cups are great but they also require the headset to be preloaded correctly every time, which isn't something everyone knows how to do, and if this isn't done to the right torque it can end up with problems with the headtube or headset. He said that they want to make a bike that's easy to work on, but also expressed that they didn't want to make one that places convenience above long-term reliability. The bike will come with a neutral headset, as well as cups that can off +/- 5 mm of adjustment.The linkage uses a full complement of oversized hardware to, again, put an emphasis on longevity. However, on these oversized bolts, you won't find large 10 mm Allen key interfaces, and that was deliberate, with Airdrop explaining that it's better to round a bolt and strip the threads from your frame, regardless of how unlikely either eventuality is when bikes are made with decent quality hardware. All bolts are CNC and run through stainless steel oversized bearings. There are no blind bearings or pullers required for this frame, either, and you should have a good line of site to simply punch the bearings out with the tap of a small hammer. The bolts are locktighted from the factory and the frames run a UDH.As branding slogans go, Sessions Not Seconds is one of the catchier ones - and it sums up the brand's approach to its bikes. The Slacker is available in three sizes, S 1, 2 and 3, and the reaches could be considered on the more conservative side compared to other bikes out there. However, it's worth remembering that due to the long travel and raked-out fork, it isn't uncommon for downhill bikes to have slightly shorter reach values compared to the modern enduro bikes, whose geometries most of us are familiar with. That said, with bikes at 430, 455 and 475 mm when in their neutral headset position, these bikes aren't huge in terms of reach either. Through these sizes, Airdrop's sizing chart suggests anyone between 160 and 193cm (5'3" and 6'4") should be able to find a size that works for them.With a 63-degree head angle, a stack of 633 mm for a large and a rear center across sizes of 435 mm, the geometry chart suggests this will certainly be on the more neutral end of the spectrum when it comes to DH. For instance, a mixed-wheeled V10 in a large has chainstays as long as 456 mm in its extended setting. What shorter stays give up is how they weight the front wheel, which can reap plenty of rewards in terms of stability but at the cost of being able to lift the front as well as how maneuverable the bike can feel in certain situations.The Slacker has a relatively smooth suspension curve, which is relatively linear in its fashion, albeit whilst offering a moderately high amount of progressivity (28.7%). You tend to find that getting above 30% is moving towards the upper limit of what some shock rebound tunes can cope with.This high initial leverage rate at the start of the stroke means that the bike should break into its travel easily, and with a rate of 2.85:1 at the 30% mark, it should also be happy to get moving whilst in its travel, too. Airdrop combines this with a slightly rearward axle path that extends 4.5 mm rearward in the first third of the travel. This pairing of path and rate will hope to smooth out small repetitive hits such as small braking bumps.The uncomplicated and predictive rate of progression means that the bike will be able to handle both coil or air shocks, and you should be able to land on a setup that strikes a balance between a small bump and ramp-up.The bike also has a relatively consistent rate of anti-rise, which runs between 60 and 40%. Anti-rise is a value to express what the suspension does under braking. A lower value means the bike is more likely to stay active under braking. A higher value is a bike that is happier to go into the stroke and prevent weight transfer into the hands as you get on the anchors.At around 50%, the Slacker should feel relatively neutral, and be happy to use its travel without packing down too much or the suspension jacking under heavy braking.All orders will ship in March. For more information please visit their website "TheMoeQasem" Takes Down Huge $200K Mystery Bounty Event at 888poker January 26, 2023 Matthew Pitt Editor "TheMoeQasem" of the United Arab Emirates is the biggest winner of the 888poker XL Winter series so far courtesy of taking down the $200,000 Mystery Bounty event. Last week, an overlay looked likely, but 1,380 entries resulted in a guarantee-busting $207,000 prize pool, and TheMoeQasem got their hands on $20,585 of that pot. 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Unlike Trumps other attacks on those he considers enemies, his comments about Chao, who is married to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, he has not tried to hide his racist intent. Subscribe To Our Newsletter: The Republican leadership has remained silent on these attacks. Chao has asked reporters not to amplify Trumps comments, and possibly for the same reason, Sen. McConnell has refused to engage with Trumps attacks, but nothing is stopping the rest of the Republican Party from denouncing Trump. The reason why Trump is likely to win the Republican nomination in 2024 is that Republicans remain terrified of him and his supporters. They refuse to stand up to Trump. The same dynamic existed in 2016, 2020, 2022, and there is nothing to suggest that it will change in 2024. Chao is right. Trumps comments say more about Donald Trump than they do about Asian Americans, and the silent enabling of these attacks speaks volumes about the Republican Party. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced on Thursday morning that he is running for the US Senate seat in California in 2024. Video of Schiffs announcement: Our democracy is at great risk. Because GOP leaders care more about power than anything else. And because our economy isnt working for millions of hard working Americans. Were in the fight of our livesa fight Im ready to lead as Californias next U.S. Senator. pic.twitter.com/H0Pa0EhhMu Adam Schiff (@AdamSchiff) January 26, 2023 Schiff said, Ive always believed that whats right matters, that truth matters, and that decency matters, and when a dangerous demagogue tried to undermine our democracy, I wasnt about to let him. A key part of Trumps ad is leading the first impeachment of Trump. Schiff said, After all that, I wish I could say the threat of MAGA extremists is over. It is not. Todays Republican Party is gutting the middle class, threatening our democracy. They arent going to stop. We have to stop them. Thats why Im running for US Senate. Subscribe To Our Newsletter: Of all the declared and likely Democratic candidates in the US Senate race in California, Rep. Schiff has the highest national profile. Rep. Katie Porter has already announced her candidacy, and she has proven to be a favorite among progressives and a prolific fundraiser. Porter will need to worry about someone like Ro Khanna getting into the race and splitting the progressive vote. Because of Californias jungle primary system, the two finishers regardless of party move on to the general election. Both of the top two will almost certainly be Democrats and Adam Schiff starts off in a strong position to be the next senator from California. Uzbekistan and Iran intend to increase the effectiveness of cooperation in the transport sector. The matter was discussed at the meeting between President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian at the sidelines of the 26th meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Uzbekistan. During the meeting, the sides talked about the development of transport and logistics cooperation, in particular, the efficient use of the ports of Chabahar and Bandar Abbas. The parties emphasized the importance of agreements reached during the official visit of the Iranian President to Uzbekistan in September 2022, which laid a solid foundation for the further development of multifaceted cooperation between the two countries. Uzbekistans President and Iranian FM also noted the intensification of contacts, the growth of mutual trade, as well as the strengthening of cooperation between leading enterprises of both countries. Following the talks, the sides agreed on the schedule of upcoming events and exchanged of views on current international topics. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Special Counsel John Durham tried to use Russian intelligence memos that were suspected of containing disinformation in his investigation of Russiagate. The New York Times reported: In Mr. Durhams case, the dubious sources were memos, whose credibility the intelligence community doubted, written by Russian intelligence analysts and discussing purported conversations involving American victims of Russian hacking, according to people familiar with the matter. The memos were part of a trove provided to the C.I.A. by a Dutch spy agency, which had infiltrated the servers of its Russian counterpart. The memos were said to make demonstrably inconsistent, inaccurate or exaggerated claims, and some U.S. analysts believed Russia may have deliberately seeded them with disinformation. Mr. Durham wanted to use the memos, which included descriptions of Americans discussing a purported plan by Mrs. Clinton to attack Mr. Trump by linking him to Russias hacking and releasing in 2016 of Democratic emails, to pursue the theory that the Clinton campaign conspired to frame Mr. Trump. And in doing so, Mr. Durham sought to use the memos as justification to get access to the private communications of an American citizen. Subscribe To Our Newsletter: Durham was turned down by a judge who would not allow the memos to be used as evidence. Both Durham and former Attorney General William Barr believed that the Russia investigation into Trump was a conspiracy to frame Trump by the intelligence community. The John Durham investigation was a sham, but it was even worse than previously reported. The Durham investigation didnt go where the facts took it. They tried to find facts to support the conspiracy theory that Trump was framed by the intelligence community. The Russiagate scandal is the opposite of a hoax. However, the Durham investigation looks like an abuse of power by Trump and Barr to cover up potential crimes. COLUMBIA The state Supreme Court won't rule on whether it's constitutional to execute inmates by firing squad or electrocution until a circuit judge determines if South Carolina's prison agency tried hard enough to secure drugs for lethal injection. The high court's unanimous ruling Jan. 26 sent the case back to Richland County Judge Jocelyn Newman, who last year ruled the execution methods are unconstitutionally cruel. She will evaluate the state Department of Correction's efforts to restock a cocktail of drugs that expired a decade ago. The agency's inability to replace them is what caused the Legislature two years ago to pass a law that reverted to electrocution as the default method and add the option of death by firing squad. The law keeps lethal injection as an option if the drugs become available again. "As we have testified, the department has worked dutifully to obtain lethal injection drugs for almost a decade," agency spokesman Chrysti Shain said in response to the decision. But whether the drugs could be acquired needs to be evaluated, the justices ruled, saying Newman erred in rejecting pretrial requests to do so from attorneys representing four condemned inmates. "On the current record, it is impossible to know exactly what steps the state has taken to procure the drugs for lethal injection and to evaluate the state's assessment that such drugs are not 'available' in South Carolina," Chief Justice Don Beatty wrote in the decision's only opinion. The decision gave Newman four months to report back her findings: 60 days to oversee the disclosure process, followed by 60 days to hold a hearing and issue an order. "Inmates' discovery requests regarding lethal injection are particularly relevant and reasonable in light of the fact that, for over 10 years, other states have continued to perform executions using lethal injection, rather than electrocution and the firing squad," Beatty wrote. "Inmates have argued in this case that the latter two methods are unnecessarily destructive to the body and constitute cruel, corporal and unusual punishment," he added. Newman had denied the discovery request due to a state law that keeps the execution team secret, saying some of the information could violate that prohibition. While that's a "legitimate concern," Beatty wrote, that potential "did not require the broad denial." The ruling comes a day after Gov. Henry McMaster again asked legislators to pass a so-called "shield law" that would expand the state's existing secrecy law to those making, compounding and/or selling the drugs used in the lethal cocktail. The assumption is that promising companies and pharmacists a buffer from public opposition to the death penalty, as 14 other states have done, will help the Department of Corrections buy the drugs. Last week, Republican senators advanced a bill providing the exemption from public review to the chamber's Judiciary Committee. "The companies which make the drugs will not sell them unless their identities are shielded by state law from anti-death penalty activists," McMaster said in his State of the State address Jan. 25 before a joint assembly of the Legislature. "We have no means to carry out a death sentence in South Carolina and the murderers know it," he said, noting the ongoing court challenge. "We now once again await a decision by our state Supreme Court," he told an audience that included the justices. "Ladies and gentlemen, we cannot keep waiting. We must give these grieving families and loved ones the justice and closure they are owed by law and tell the people of South Carolina that their government believes in the rule of law just like they do." There are 35 men on South Carolina's list of condemned inmates: 18 White and 17 Black. The last execution was in 2011 by lethal injection. Aiken, SC (29801) Today Cloudy early with showers for the afternoon hours. High 77F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 56F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. COLUMBIA Momentum is growing on both sides of the Statehouse aisle to reform the bail system, with reform advocates saying the current "catch and release" option keeps repeat offenders dangerous as they commit more crimes while out on bond. Republican leadership in the House of Representatives has named bail reform as a top priority, with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Weston Newton, R-Bluffton, committing to tackle the issue after fentanyl legislation, which the committee sent to the House floor this week. On the Senate side, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee held a hearing on two reform bills Jan. 24 where law enforcement described a system in crisis. State regulatory agencies and even bondsmen endorsed the reforms with some tweaks. "Its a revolving door," said Sen. Brian Adams, R-Goose Creek, at the meeting. The state needs to "slow some of that down, especially for the career criminals that keep getting out utilizing the bond system." Columbia Police Chief W.H. "Skip" Holbrook cited three recent cases in which individuals with a long list of prior arrests out on bail committed serious crimes. His list included a shooting last summer in which a man out on bail who was supposed to be electronically monitored allegedly killed another man. There are bondsmen and electronic monitoring companies who "are simply not monitoring. Theres no standards. Theres no approved list of vendors," said Megan Raymer, assistant attorney general in the Special Victims Prosecution section. Senate bills under consideration would compel the court to consider prior convictions when setting bond, force defendants to pay the bond in full if they were arrested while on a previous bond, dictate that only licensed bondsmen can oversee electronic monitoring and require that bondsmen inform the local solicitor of violations of bond conditions within 48 hours, among other changes. All of the speakers supported the proposed reform but many asked for slight changes or clarification. Dan Goldberg, a deputy solicitor for the 5th Judicial Circuit Solicitors Office, told the subcommittee his office likes the electronic monitoring company it works with and argued the bills should not restrict the administration of electronic monitoring to only bondsmen. Rob Hayes, the president of the company that runs Aladdin Bail Bonds, one of the countrys largest bail bonds companies, said he supported the reform push but added that state law allows judges not to grant bail if the defendant presents a serious risk, so bondsmen should not receive all the blame. The subcommittee did not send the bills to the full committee to allow time for the subcommittee to take the feedback into consideration and modify the bills. Its important to have a good bill, said Sen. Gerald Malloy, D-Hartsville. On Jan. 26, 1788, 11 British ships arrived in Australia and established the Colony of New South Wales. Although this was not the first time Europeans had reached the continent, this was the first time a colony was established. This event is now celebrated yearly in the country of Australia as Australia Day. So, with that in mind, lets take a look at the history and culture of Australia with this weeks trivia. The National Endowment of the Arts has named a former Charleston poet and nonprofit organizer as a 2023 creative writing fellow. Evelyn Berry, who serves on the boards of the Poetry Society of South Carolina and Free Verse Festival, is one of 36 writers who were selected nationwide to receive the fellowship, amounting to $25,000. The money will allow Berry, who also works as a historic preservation educator, to set aside time for writing, research, travel and career development. It will also allow her to buy a "sensible used car," laptop for writing and video equipment what she'll need for an upcoming book tour. Berry, who is originally from Aiken and now lives in Columbia, came out as transgender in 2021. That has changed the trajectory of her career, she said. It's also given her a platform and voice for other transgender people in the South. "Being trans, especially having lived in the small-town South, has radically changed how I approach my work," said Berry. "I am writing into a deep Southern, queer tradition thats historically been ignored." Part of what Berry plans to do is access archives and research that will help her better understand the legacies of queer communities in the state, which is the topic of her current and upcoming literary works. Queer stories and poems have helped reflect myself back to me, have helped me imagine a future in which I was still alive," said Berry. "Queer stories, especially in South Carolina, are dangerous and necessary." Berry said that she's noticed LGBTQ+ authors facing backlash in the current cultural and political climate, particularly with recent book bans in libraries. "These queer stories are our stories, born in the Southern soil," said Berry. "I pray that queer poets will use their voices to tell their own stories, to fill everywhere with their stories until our existence, and our resistance, is undeniable. Trans people belong in the South. We always have. I want to show people that." Despite not yet having released a full-length collection or attaining a formal literary education, Berry has led workshops and performed in major venues across the Southeast. She has an investment in and devotion to sustaining the success of local literary communities. Berry founded former Charleston nonprofit Unspoken Word, a passion project that spearheaded events and workshops for poets across the Lowcountry, back in 2014. In 2016, PRA Publishing released her debut young adult novel "Heathens and Liars of Lickskillet County." Since then, she's turned her attention to poetry, achieving placements in more than 50 literary journals. In 2020, she won the BOOM Chapbook Prize from Bateau Press to publish a short chapbook called "Buggery." "That chapbook felt like a perfect practice run, to learn how to tour, market and sell a poetry book," said Berry. In November, Berry learned that her debut poetry collection "Grief Slut" had been accepted by Sundress Publications. "This is an absolute dream of an indie press, and Im excited to get that first full-length book out into the world next year," said Berry. This new fellowship is not only an honor but a responsibility, said Berry. "Publications, awards, fellowships, theyre all fine things to want, but the real joy of being a poet is sharing a poem that, once written or spoken aloud, no longer belongs to just you but becomes instead an echo ensuring one another: you are not alone," said Berry. "If I can share a poem that helps a young trans kid make sense of themselves or help them believe that a future exists in which they are not only still alive but happy, then it is worth forgetting everything else." "Trans Poems in Trans Spaces," a public poetry project led by Columbia's poet laureate Ed Madden and his intern Bee Boggs, has recently featured some of Berry's poems about gender transition in trans-affirming spaces. Berry is on draft seven of a second novel called "Paper Mouth" about trans communities in rural South Carolina. Berry was selected from almost 2,000 applicants for the NEA's creative writing fellowship. The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support this group of poets and provide them with the means to focus on their writing, said Amy Stolls, the NEAs director of literary arts. Their poetry explodes with originality in form and content, offering powerful reflections on the pain and joy of our modern times. Since 1967, the NEA has awarded more than 3,600 creative writing fellowships, totaling more than $57 million. Many American recipients of the National Book Award, National Book Critics Circle Award, and Pulitzer Prize in Poetry and Fiction were recipients of National Endowment for the Arts fellowships early in their careers. COLUMBIA A judge dismissed criminal charges against the man who was driving when an Elgin teen was killed in a 2020 boating accident on the Congaree River after a lone key witness could not be brought to testify. Irvin Eckrote of Irmo faced criminal traffic charges of negligent operation of a watercraft and boating with a suspended license, related to the accident that resulted in the death of 19-year-old Jaden Phillips more than 2 years ago. But numerous factors police not raising crucial questions the day of the accident, the state agency charged with investigating boating mishaps not being notified until 10 days after the incident and a lack of subpoena power across county lines meant the case would not go before a jury as scheduled. A wrongful-death civil suit filed by the family in 2022 against Eckrote, the Richland County Sheriff's Department, the state Department of Natural Resources and various other Richland County entities and employees, is ongoing. "It's a very tragic case but the government is missing a critical witness," Randolph Hough, Eckrote's attorney, told the judge Jan. 26 after asking that the case be dismissed. The driver of a second boat who had come upon the scene of the accident, a friend of all those involved named Eric Langen, had been sought for testimony, added Craig Jones, the lawyer representing the charging agency, DNR. But the man lives in Kershaw County, not Richland County where the accident occurred, and could not be required to appear. "We're stuck," Jones said. "I have no way around that." With that, Richland County Magistrate Harold Cuff heard a tearful statement from Phillips' mother, Sabria Phillips, but ultimately dismissed the case without a trial due to the lack of evidence that could be presented. "I'm sorry for her loss; I know she's hurting as a mother," Cuff said in court. "I can't go forward because I don't have any evidence." Phillips had been riding in a boat with Eckrote after a day on the Congaree River spent celebrating the teen's birthday. The pair rounded a bend some 40 miles downstream from Columbias Gervais Street bridge an hour before sunset and Phillips would be hit in the head by a low-hanging limb, Eckrote would tell law enforcement. ORANGEBURG The man who fled the state with his 5-year-old daughter after allegedly murdering the child's mother has been arrested and extradited to South Carolina. Antar Antonio Jeter, 47, is accused of fatally shooting Crystal Jumper, then stealing her car and fleeing the state with their daughter on Nov. 1. Jumper's body was found weeks later on Thanksgiving Day in her rural Orangeburg home after deputies were dispatched for a welfare check. Deputies found the body of the 46-year-old woman in an "advanced state of decomposition," according to an incident report. Her 5-year-old daughter, Aspen, was nowhere to be found, which prompted a missing child investigation. "Within hours of the shooting Antar Jeter was captured on video asking for gas money and later spotted in Fayetteville, NC," according to the arrest warrant. "Additional evidence was located at the crime scene and the West Columbia home of Antar Jeter, linking him to the crime." Sheriff Leroy Ravenell said it was an "extremely delicate" investigation and had stopped short of calling Jeter a murder suspect until he was arrested. Justin Bamberg, the attorney representing Aspen's family, had also held a press conference as a plea to Jeter to contact authorities to let them know Aspen was safe. We had to consider all possibilities and keep this little girls welfare in mind at all times, Ravenell said in a statement. Jeter was spotted in the parking lot of a Walmart in Fayetteville on Nov. 27. Jeter was arrested on Dec. 9 in Virginia on murder charges as well as grand larceny for stealing the car. The father and daughter were found outside a hospital in Danville, Virginia, a city bordering North Carolina. We were able to bring him back from Virginia where he was taken into custody last month, Sheriff Leroy Ravenell said in a statement. Weve been working constantly to bring justice in this case yet also safely recover a child. An upcoming brewery set for the BullStreet District, nearly three years in the making, has an opening date after brewing tanks have been installed in the massive space. Read moreInside Iron Hill, an upcoming brewery that's 'as serious about food as we are about beer' BEAUFORT As Beaufort County has seen explosive population growth over the past decade, a shortage of affordable housing options has worsened. The short supply has created issues for businesses trying to attract and keep workers. From restaurants unable to maintain normal operating hours, to schools losing teachers, to difficulties recruiting law enforcement officers, the impact of the affordable housing crisis is felt daily. Now, eight government entities Beaufort and Jasper counties, the towns of Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Port Royal and Yemassee, and the cities of Hardeeville and Beaufort are cooperating to tackle the issue head-on. Those governments have made a 10-year commitment and pledged a combined $3.4 million to establish a regional housing trust fund with the goal of improving the supply of affordable housing. "Our economy, our quality of life and our future depend on us solving this problem," said Beaufort County Administrator Eric Greenway. Searching for a solution Greenway said that work on an affordable housing solution started about three years ago with the Southern Lowcountry Regional Board, commonly referred to as SoLoCo. A subcommittee engaged in conversations with counties across the country that were already making use of housing trust funds. Subsequently, the subcommittee recommended that SoLoCo pursue a multijurisdictional housing trust fund. While Beaufort, Port Royal and Yemassee were not part of SoLoCo, those municipalities were invited into the discussion as the necessity of a regional approach became clear. According to a housing assessment completed by Bowen National Research for Beaufort County in 2018, the county's housing market faced several challenges, including a limited number of affordable available units. The report stated that the county had a vacancy rate of 2.4 percent. In contrast, a healthy, well-balanced market would typically have a vacancy rate in the 4 percent to 6 percent range. Additionally, approximately 80 percent of the housing units available for sale at the time of the study were priced at more than $200,000; however, only half of prospective buyers in the market could afford homes at that price. "As such, there appears to be an imbalance between the available housing supply and the product most households can afford," the report stated. Housing guidelines indicate that 30 percent of a family's income should be allocated toward housing. A family spending between 30 percent and 50 percent of income on housing is considered "cost burdened," while a family spending more than 50 percent of income is considered "severely cost burdened." Among Beaufort County's renters, more than 47 percent were cost burdened, and another 19.6 percent were severely cost burdened. "Maintaining the existing stock of affordable housing and expanding affordable housing alternatives will be an important part to Beaufort Countys future housing plans," concluded the report. How does the fund help? The trust fund, which has yet to receive an official name, works by helping developers offset fees or reduce costs associated to make the construction of affordable housing economically viable. Its goal, said Greenway, is to improve the supply of housing for individuals or families making up to 120 percent of the region's median income, though the focus is in the 60 percent to 80 percent range. As of 2020, Beaufort County's median family income was $71,4330, while the median individual income was $33,253. Assistance can come in the form of gap financing, which bridges the gap between a project's cost and the amount available from traditional lending institutions; impact fee waivers; and water and sewer connection fee waivers. Developers cannot get reductions in the cost of land or construction. "In exchange for those contributions, the developer will have to deed-restrict those units to meet either 60 or 80 percent of the area median income," Greenway said. "Those units will have to be available for 20 or 25 years." Engaging CommunityWorks Tammie Hoy-Hawkins, president of Together Consulting, provided input on creating the housing trust fund. She said that there are approximately 1,000 housing trust funds in place across the nation, but multiple participating jurisdictions makes this one fairly unique. "There's not that many that are regional and actually enter into intergovernmental agreements to, not only partner, but fund a fund like this," Hoy-Hawkins said. "Cities and counties have come together, but to this extent is pretty momentous, particularly in South Carolina." Rather than building the infrastructure necessary to administer the fund, SoLoCo engaged CommunityWorks, a Greenville-based organization with experience administering similar programs like the Greenville Housing Fund. "Most of our work is in the Upstate, but we're really focusing on becoming more statewide," said Communications Director Virginia Howat. By tapping into CommunityWorks' existing process, the Beaufort/Jasper fund will be able to get into the market faster. Additionally, CommunityWorks is classified as a community development financial institution, meaning it can lend to entrepreneurs and other entities who might not have access to lending from traditional banking institutions. The fund now has access to the agency's existing lending pool. "Immediately, the fund was able to leverage the assets of CommunityWorks, which has another $10 million available to lend," Hoy-Hawkins said. CommunityWorks hired Brad Mole as a regional program director to oversee administration of the fund. Mole, a native of Hampton County, was previously housing and neighborhood services administrator for Bluffton and is still a town resident. "One of the things that made it a little easier for me to step into this role is that I kind of knew most of the affordable housing players in Beaufort and Jasper counties from that role that I had with the town of Bluffton," Mole said. In his role, Mole is charged with increasing awareness of the fund and leveraging outside funding from banks, corporations and other sources. Getting into the market Following the creation of the housing trust fund, a nine-member board was established to oversee fund activity. Affordable housing advocate Wendy Zara was elected to chair the new board. According to Zara, the board, which is scheduled to meet six times a year, is focused on getting the initial startup work done and getting down to the business of expanding affordable housing options. More coverage To read more stories in the series about growth and development, go to postandcourier.com/boomandbalance/. "We were just formed, essentially," Zara said. "We want to make sure that we make an impact as soon as possible." New legislation on the horizon Mole added that one of the board's primary, ongoing responsibilities will be to find additional funding for the housing trust fund to supplement the local governments' initial investment. In a move that may make the board's job a little easier, state Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, introduced legislation late last year that, if passed, would provide a new source of revenue for housing trust funds across the state. The bill, S.284, proposes that counties and municipalities be allowed to allocate accommodation and hospitality tax revenue toward workforce housing initiatives. Currently, that revenue can only be used for tourism-related expenses. "By adding workforce or affordable housing as one of the authorized uses of those ATAX and HTAX dollars, that then gives counties and municipalities and a recurring source of revenue that they can commit to the trust fund so there's a recurring replenishment of the money going in there," Davis said in an interview with The Post and Courier. A guaranteed revenue stream gives fund managers greater flexibility and more borrowing options, which increases the effectiveness of the fund, Davis explained. The bill's first reading was on Jan. 10, and it is currently being considered by the Senate Committee on Finance. Davis also submitted a budget request for a one-time, $5 million appropriation specifically for housing trust fund established by Beaufort and Jasper counties. "That is my number-one, budget-priority request for the year," Davis added. Meanwhile, Greenway is confident that the fund will start to have an impact in the near term, possibly as early as the first or second quarter of this year. "Hopefully we're going to be funding programs very shortly," Greenway said. "Hopefully it's going to be a significant impact to affordable housing in the region." Genesis 45: 7-8 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. Read moreTell the Bible stories FLORENCE A South Carolina man was convicted of the 2019 murder and robbery of U.S. Postal Service employee Irene Pressley over a missing package of marijuana. Wrapping up a nearly weeklong federal trial in a Florence courtroom, a jury found Trevor Raekwon Seward, 25, of Andrews guilty of all five charges he faced in the rural mail carriers death. The charges covered: murder of a federal employee in the course of her duties, use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana. U.S. District Judge Donald Coggins will sentence Seward at a later date after receiving and reviewing a pre-sentence report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. Seward faces maximum penalties of life in prison for murder, life for the use of a firearm, 20 years for robbery, 10 years for the illegal possession of a firearm, and five years for the marijuana conspiracy conviction. Pressley was found dead in her postal vehicle along her mail route in Andrews on Sept. 23, 2019. She had served nearly two decades with the U.S. Postal Service. Seward was expecting a shipment of two pounds of marijuana from California to his home in Andrews through the mail, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office. Instead of delivering the package to Sewards home, Pressley placed a form in his mailbox that said he would have to come to the post office to claim the package. Court documents said Seward confronted Pressley at an undisclosed location minutes later and when he didnt get the shipment, he returned home. Federal prosecutors said Seward then left his home with an AR-15 rifle to search for Pressley and found her one hour later driving down Senate Road in Andrews. They said he fired approximately 20 rounds from his gun into the back of her postal vehicle, striking her multiple times. They contended that Seward got into Pressleys car and drove it three miles away, where he left her and the car in a ditch on an access road to a hunt club. The man then removed mail from the postal vehicle in search of his package or any items of value. The package of marijuana shipped to his residence was later found on Senate Road where Pressley was murdered. The prosecution of violent crime is a priority for our office and that is especially true when the victim of that violence is a federal employee murdered for doing her job, U.S. Attorney Adair Boroughs said in a statement. We are grateful for the work done by our federal and local partners, particularly the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Williamsburg County Sheriffs Office, in their efforts to bring justice for such a senseless act of violence, she said. Another man charged in connection with the incident, Jerome Terrell Davis, is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 31 for a pretrial conference with a trial slated to start Feb. 6. Terrorist groups continue to pose a major threat for America and its allies -- even if U.S. policymakers have shifted most of their focus to Russia and China. Read moreWe can't ignore the terror threat from Somalia -- or the southern border From nature paintings and watercolor creations to digital art and tie-dye fiber projects, the creative opportunities appear endless at the Blair Center for the Arts during the summer camp season. Read moreCamp Guide: Blair Center camps promote creativity Stephen Smith's mother announced a $35,000 reward April 3 for information that leads to the arrest of anyone involved with her son's 2015 death. His body was found on a Hampton County road. The money is coming from a pool of more than $120,000 raised in a GoFundMe initiative to subsidize the investigation. Read more$35,000 reward offered for information into Stephen Smith's 2015 death COLUMBIA The South Carolina Senate took the unusual step of voting to delay next week's state judicial elections as lawmakers across the political spectrum voiced frustrations over the race to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Kaye Hearn. Some argued the process is opaque and undemocratic. Others were furious that after the two female candidates dropped out, the court will be the only one in the country that is all-male. The election, in which all 170 members of the Legislature vote to choose judges, was original scheduled for Feb. 1. In a voice vote Jan. 25, the Senate voted to move the selection to Feb. 8, but that change still needs to be endorsed by the House. Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, who proposed the amendment, said a delay was needed to give the House more time to debate the resolution on moving the date of the election. Members of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus have already publicly called for the election to be rerun. Massey said the delay was about how long bills take to work their way through the chambers procedurally, not the Freedom Caucus. "We were running too close and wanted to make sure we gave plenty of notice to all the candidates," he told The Post and Courier. The state Supreme Court election has attracted outsized attention after the high court rejected the state's six-week abortion ban as unconstitutional earlier this month in a 3-2 decision. In response, Republicans pledged to elect a justice committed to "judicial restraint" to replace Hearn, who wrote the lead opinion striking down the abortion ban. Those vows were widely seen as an attempt to flip the court's majority to one more favorable to abortion restrictions. By that point, the Judicial Merit Selection Committee had already sent the Legislature three state appeals court judges to choose from: Aphrodite Konduros, Stephanie McDonald and Gary Hill. Konduros and McDonald have since dropped from contention, leaving Hill the only candidate. Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, said his and other Democrats' votes in favor of the delay signaled their dissatisfaction with the process and would give legislators more time to talk about what happened. "Many of the votes send a message that there continues to be frustration about the process and that the result was that we will be the only state without a female on the Supreme Court," he said. "We can do better." On Jan. 25, senators voiced their discontent about the process while they were considering a routine resolution to set the date of the election. Sen. Richard Cash, R-Powdersville, decried the Judicial Merit Selection Commission as secretive and undemocratic. Cash, an ardent abortion foe, called for the the Supreme Court race to be excluded from the Feb. 1 election and delayed. The delay would allow for the Legislature to reform the process, allowing the full Legislature to choose from all qualified candidates rather than the trio the commission sends them before holding the election, Cash said. Sen. Josh Kimbrell, R-Boiling Springs, said that he was confident Hill will be a strict constructionist justice. He pointed out that a delay could allow Hearn to stay on the bench until a successor is chosen. Cashs amendment was eventually rejected after the Senate voted to delay the election. Sen. Sandy Senn, a Charleston Republican who opposes strict abortion restrictions, criticized the lack of women in the ranks of South Carolina's judiciary in an impassioned speech Jan. 25. Senn went through each level of the states judiciary, reading off the disproportionate number of men in each except the family court. "The reason that there are so few (women) in the judiciary is because there are so few in the Legislature," she said. MONCKS CORNER There has not been a peaceful moment at a Berkeley County School Board meeting ever since six members voted to fire former superintendent Deon Jackson and hire Anthony Dixon as his replacement two months ago. Over the past few meetings, raised voices, interruptions and snarky comments have become the norm as board members dont see eye to eye over various topics, whether Dixons authority or the boards meeting schedule. Dixons hiring was not without controversy. At the Nov. 15 board meeting the first ever for three newly elected members following the midterm election they voted 6-3 to fire Jackson, who had been on the job for 16 months. The board immediately hired Dixon afterward, and Jackson has since filed a lawsuit against the district. Board members David Barrow, Yvonne Bradley and Crystal Wigfall the three who voted against the firing of Jackson had requested discussion or action at the Jan. 24 meeting regarding the authority the board gave Dixon when he was hired. On Nov. 15 when Dixon was hired, the board also relinquished its authority to the superintendent for hiring practices. Dixon has the power to fill administrative positions without getting approval from the board, a power Jackson did not have. Barrow said to his understanding, this hiring power was only for a transitional period, and wondered if that means its now time for the board to take back the authority Dixon was given. He added that the power Dixon was granted was an unprecedented move. He then moved for Dixons hiring power to expire on Jan. 31, but Chairman Mac McQuillin quickly amended it to June 30. McQuillin reasoned that he consulted Dixon about his authority Barrow said he, Bradley and Wigfall did not and the superintendent had requested to retain it until the end of June. I dont see why this board feels like we should grant in totality the entirety of a hiring process to one individual. I dont care who it is, Barrow said. We are giving up our responsibilities, our duties that were designated to us by our constituents to do a job and were saying, No, I dont think I want to do that. I want Dr. Dixon to do it, and I dont want to even have to approve it. I dont even want to know who it is, because it doesnt matter who it is, because hes got the authority to do it whether we agree with it or not. That makes no sense to me. Board member Michael Ramsey moved to end the debate and vote immediately on the issue. Barrow immediately protested, saying there should be a discussion. After some argument between Barrow and McQuillin, McQuillin allowed for discussion. There was some back and forth not without attitude between Barrow, McQuillin and board member Kathy Littleton. Littleton spoke in favor of letting Dixon keep his hiring power until the end of June. She pointed out how in her four years of experience as a board member, there hasnt been a single administrator the board has turned away, and she trusted the superintendents judgment. Barrow swiftly interrupted her by saying, And you had a choice, didnt you? Barrow and Littleton spoke over each other for a few seconds before McQuillin chimed in, telling Barrow he was out of line and to wait for Littleton to finish speaking before he said his piece. The board voted 6-3 for Dixons hiring authority to expire on June 30. Barrow, Bradley and Wigfall were the three nay votes. Another point of contention at the last two board meetings was the adoption of the meeting schedule. The board meetings have traditionally been held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month, but McQuillin proposed on Jan. 10 that members meet on the first and third Tuesdays of every month. Bradley said the first and third Tuesdays conflicted with her, and requested the schedule stay as it is. Barrow pointed out that McQuillin is the Isle of Palms City Council general counsel, and the council's meetings coincided with the school boards at the time. He said it was an ethical issue and a conflict of interest for McQuillin; McQuillin disagreed and said he prioritizes the school board meetings over meeting with his clients. The board then voted unanimously to keep the schedule as is. But McQuillin circled back to the issue at the Jan. 24 meeting, moving that the board meet on the first and third Tuesday of every month starting in February up until May, where the schedule would change yet again for the board to meet on the first and third Monday of every month. This time without discussion at the protest of Barrow and Bradley the board voted 6-3 to change the board meeting schedule. Following the vote, McQuillin moved to adjourn the meeting, not pausing to let Barrow or Bradley voice their concerns over the schedule. This is a joke, Barrow said after the meeting ended. COLUMBIA The states new class of Chef Ambassadors was announced at a Jan. 26 press conference, with the members coming from Abbeville, Rock Hill and Charleston. For 2023, Chef Ambassadors Erica McCier, Rob Masone and Marcus Shell will spend the year hosting events and media missions around the state and nationally promoting South Carolinas culinary industry and the producers who make it happen. Chosen each year by Gov. Henry McMaster, represented at the press conference by Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, the three new ambassadors will serve an annual term before helping suggest fellow South Carolina chefs for the following year. The 2022 roster featured chefs John Ondo, Haydn Shaak and Chris Williams. "This program is a collaboration between two of our major industries in South Carolina, tourism and agribusiness or agriculture," S.C. Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers said during the press conference. "Here you have a program where we link two very vital parts of our culture, of our industries, of our economies." In its eighth year, the program continues to connect the ambassadors with farmers throughout the state, helping them share more about the Souths local produce with the public at specialty events. The three chefs, who represent different regions in the state, will continue to use their talent, knowledge and connections to build the Department of Agriculture's Certified South Carolina Grown program that supports local farms and farmers. Three years ago, Rock Hill native Masone opened Kounter, a lunch counter connecting Rock Hill residents to the Civil Rights era. Kounter is located in the former McCrorys Variety Store where nine men, known as the Friendship 9, were arrested for protesting segregated lunch counters at the beginning of the civil rights movement. McCier is the owner of Indigenous Underground, a restaurant in historic Abbeville that opened in 2021. According to the Index-Journal, McCier's self-described "Southern eclectic" fare has brought diners from across South Carolina and beyond to visit a place that promotes food, culture and live music. The third chef ambassador, Marcus Shell of Charleston's 39 Rue de Jean, will represent the Lowcountry. A New England native who secured his first cooking job at age 14, Shell moved to Charleston in October 2020 after working in well-known Massachusetts kitchens like No. 9 Park, where he served as a line cook. "One thing about cooking is that you have to wake up ready to learn every day. It's always evolving," Shell said. "I'm just excited to pick the brains of people that are probably better than me at what I do." Brandon Velie of Juniper in Ridge Spring first came up with the idea for the states Chef Ambassadors program. Then-Gov. Nikki Haley; the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism; and the Department of Agriculture helped turn it into reality in 2015 when they launched the program and named him the honorary initial inductee. There have been 28 ambassadors who have participated in the program, not including the ones announced Jan. 26. On the afternoon of April 7, four teenagers and an adult were shot on an Isle of Palms beach crowded predominantly with high school students. Though its causes remain under investigation this week, it marked the 143rd mass shooting in the United States on the 96th day of the year, joining Na Read moreCommentary: IOP mass shooting highlights national public health crisis COLUMBIA Republicans in the S.C. House of Representatives are again trying to make nearly all abortions illegal in the state, advancing their latest legislative attempt just three weeks after the state Supreme Court threw out a six-week ban as unconstitutional. The proposal sent Jan. 26 to the full House Judiciary Committee is largely the same measure that expired in November following months of debate with Republicans in the House and Senate unable to agree. The subcommittee's 3-0 vote consisted of all Republicans. No Democrat on the panel attended the meeting. The bill would allow exceptions to save the mother's life or to prevent lifelong health problems. Also, if the pregnancy results from rape or incest and the abortion occurs within three months or if two doctors diagnose a fetal anomaly so severe the infant is not expected to live after birth. State Rep. John McCravy, the bill's leading sponsor again, last year fought allowing exceptions for crime victims and any anomaly no matter how profound. He said he included the exemptions this time out of recognition the measure won't pass the Senate without them. The bill "recognizes this political reality," said the Greenwood Republican, a strident abortion foe. His new offering also attempts to achieve a different ruling from the state Supreme Court with a preamble that states: "It is undisputed that the life of every human being begins at conception." It's the very phrase Justice John Few used in declaring the so-called "fetal heartbeat" law unconstitutional. While a majority of the justices agreed the 2021 law which banned abortions once an ultrasound detects cardiac activity violates privacy protections in the state constitution, they differed on their analysis. In a separate opinion agreeing with the conclusion, Few indicated he could uphold a ban "despite a complete invasion of a pregnant woman's right to privacy," if state law declared that life begins at conception. "The state may have had a good argument" had that been law, he wrote. "The privacy invasion might be reasonable because 'human life' has no countervailing interest. Human life simply must be preserved." The wording is designed to flip Few's vote should his bill become law, McCravy said. "This language satisfies the balancing test used by Justice Few in his controversial opinion," he said. But even if he's correct about that, the bill doesn't address why the effort ultimately fell apart in last year's extended session: The Senate lacked the votes for a ban before six weeks and House leaders refused to accept anything other than a ban at conception. "We believe we have a good chance" of a different outcome in the Senate, said House Majority Leader Davey Hiott of Travelers Rest, among 42 Republicans who have signed on to the measure since it was introduced earlier this week. But Senate Republicans who successfully fought a ban at conception scoffed at that possibility. Unlike the House, which grew its GOP majority with the November elections, the Senate did not change. Hiott expects House Republicans to push the bill over to the Senate quickly. But it may never get a vote on the Senate floor. Opponents are guaranteed to put a block on the bill if it does advance from committee. Removing it would take a supermajority vote. It's futile to "keep trying the same thing over and over again," said Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, calling the House vote disappointing. "The women in the Senate will not support that." GOP Sen. Tom Davis of Beaufort, who filibustered last year's bill, said he still opposes a ban at conception. "Same thing, different day," said Sen. Sandy Senn, R-Charleston, who supports a ban at 12 weeks but not before. "I'm tired of talking about it. Let's move on." Abortion foes are also hoping the election of a new justice will flip the high court's vote in the future. The Legislature will replace the author of the majority's lead opinion in a joint assembly next month. Justice Kaye Hearn is leaving the bench due to state law's mandatory retirement age for judges. The ruling brought intense scrutiny to the election for her replacement, as Republicans questioned all three candidates vying to replace her ahead of the race's official start. The two women in the race withdrew on the same day candidates were legally able to accept pledges, leaving Court of Appeals Judge Gary Hill as the lone candidate. He is expected to win by acclamation next month, making South Carolina the only state in the nation with no female on the state Supreme Court. TRYON, N.C. Joyce Kimpton doesn't want to see the construction of a 31-mile rail trail on the inactive Saluda Grade railroad line. She fears she could lose much of the backyard of the home on Whitney Avenue where she has lived for the past 46 years. She's not alone. Several property owners in Polk County, N.C., just north of Spartanburg County and the South Carolina state line are against the project. Three nonprofit groups including Conserving Carolina, Upstate Forever and PAL: Play. Advocate. Live Well., continue to negotiate with Norfolk Southern to purchase the railroad property for a future rail trail. The line was active from 1878 to 2001. Sixteen miles of the rail line are in South Carolina and 15 miles are in North Carolina. The trail would pass through Inman, Campobello and Landrum in South Carolina, and through Tryon, Columbus and Saluda in North Carolina. "They can legally, once they purchase the right-of-way, take up to 100 feet on both sides from the center of the railroad," Kimpton told The Post and Courier. "That would take up my whole backyard. I hope the plan goes away." Kimpton also believes the proposed rail trail would disrupt the area's natural setting, where residents enjoy watching wildlife. If the rail trail is developed, she is afraid wildlife will disappear. A purchase agreement could be reached with Norfolk Southern by the end of the first quarter of 2023. PAL Executive Director Laura Ringo said final details of the agreement are being discussed. "We think we have a final price and are working on some details of a signed agreement and hope to have something finalized," Ringo said. "We just released some RFPs (requests for proposals) on a feasibility study to look at what the economic impact would be and what it would take to complete the project." Construction on the rail trail could begin within five years if negotiations with Norfolk Southern are successful. The rail line in North Carolina presents more challenges with mudslides in recent years along the Saluda Grade washing out some of the areas. "Depending on where it is, it looks different in North Carolina," Ringo said. "It is bad in some places. The kudzu will be quite a feat to clear." The rail line passing through Tryon heading toward Saluda crosses Country Club Road. In many places, the rail line is covered with kudzu. Trees have also grown through the railroad tracks. Some bridges have washed away, leaving some of the line hovering in mid-air. If a purchase agreement is reached, Norfolk Southern will go through a federal transportation board to abandon the rail. The process would likely take about 18 months to complete. Construction of the new rail trail could begin as soon as mid-2024. Gary Walker of Tryon is among property owners who don't want to see the rail trail developed. The property at Country Club Road has been in Walker's family since 1901 when his grandfather Mark Burrele purchased it. Walker said if the rail trail is developed it would alter a way of life for those who moved to the area to enjoy its natural rural setting. The property is also used for hunting, Walker said. "What is the guarantee people will stay on the trail?" Walker said. "My top concern is that it goes through all that property that we use for hunting. I guess my biggest think is that I don't like the fact of some outside group taking it and telling you what you can do and can't do with it." As part of the feasibility study, public meetings will be held. Ringo said working with property owners the goal is to make the proposed rail trail beneficial to everyone. She said a survey would be conducted to determine the right-of-way easements as part of the process. Environmental assessments would also be needed along the rail line corridor. The S.C. Legislature has earmarked $5 million for the trail project. Kieran Roe, Conserving Carolina executive director, told The Post and Courier the project has the potential to transform communities along the rail corridor. "We know right now the defunct corridor is not bringing any kind of public benefit and isn't being used for rails," Roe said. "This would be a way to bring back some use that I think visitors would be attracted to and enjoy. Residents along the corridor and wider surrounding areas would enjoy having this a safe area for exercise." Roe pointed to the successes of the 19-mile Swamp Rabbit Trail in Greenville County and the 35-mile Virginia Creeper Trail in southwestern Virginia as examples of what the Saluda Grade Rail Trail could become. "These trails have attracted people to visit from far and wide to spend multi-day visits and patronize businesses," Roe said. Patty Otto, The Hare and Hound owner, is hopeful if the rail trail is developed it will bring new business to downtown Landrum in northern Spartanburg County along North Trade Avenue and East Rutherford Street. The Hare and Hound opened for business in downtown Landrum in December 2002. "I think it is a wonderful project and will be good for all communities for many different reasons," Otto said. "It will be good for business and for residents and bring communities together." Otto said rail trails in other parts of the country including Florida have been a success and believes a new rail trail connecting South Carolina and North Carolina will attract new visitors to the Upstate and foothills of western North Carolina. "I am just happy to see something moving forward with the tracks that have been empty and not used since I have lived here," Otto said. PAL estimates the new rail trail could attract up to 125,000 people annually. The new rail trail could also generate up to $11 million combined for area towns along the route, according to Upstate Forever. Berger Paints Nigeria Plc on Thursday announced that it has appointed Oluseun Odubela as the acting secretary of the company. The new secretary will replace Ayokunle Ayoko, who recently resigned from his appointment at the firm. The paint manufacturer disclosed in a statement that Mrs Odubela will tentatively serve as the company secretary until a substantive appointment is made into the position. A legal practitioner with experience spanning a decade and a half, Mrs Odubela has experience covering corporate law, company secretarial and general legal practice. She is a graduate of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State and an associate of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria, the document said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Again, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has shunned the invitation of the House of Representatives on the Naira redesigning despite the threat of arrest by the lawmakers. Mr Emefiele on Thursday failed to appear before the ad hoc committee mandated to interface with the apex bank and commercial banks. Earlier, the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, had declared readiness to issue an arrest warrant on Mr Emefiele if he continued to ignore the panel. He stated that the House was willing to invoke section 89 of the 1999 Constitution by asking the Inspector General of Police to arrest Mr Emefiele. Speaking on the refusal of Mr Emefiele to appear before the committee, Alhassan Doguwa, the chairman of the committee, said the CBN wrote a letter to the House, stating that the CBN governor is not in the country. Mr Doguwa condemned the action of the CBN governor and accused him of being a monster that is not willing to respect the legislature. They (CBN) have shunned the House of Representatives again. We are dealingnot only with an institution that we call apex bankbut a monster at the head of that bank. Monster, because if you have disregard for the laws of your land, then absolutely you are on your own, he said. READ ALSO: He also dismissed the letter written by the CBN that Mr Emefiele is out of the country. According to him, it is a lie by the bank to disregard the committee. Earlier, we received a letter from the CBN, claiming that CBN governor was out of the country with Mr President. You can all agree with me that Mr President is back. I wonder how officials of the CBN will now write a letter, lying to the National Assembly that the CBN governor is out of the country with the president, he said. He said the warrant of arrest will be issued on Tuesday. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Muhammadu Buhari has commenced a two-day official visit to Katsina State, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. During the visit, Mr Buhari would commission some projects and inspect others executed by the administration of Governor Aminu Masari. Some projects ready for commissioning include Kofar-Kaura and Kofar-Kwaya underpass, Katsina Revenue House, among others. He would also inspect some ongoing projects within the state capital, Katsina. Mr Buhari would also commission some schools, hospitals and roads outside the state capital during the second day of the visit. According to the Government House itinerary, the president would also inaugurate the new Darma Rice Mills, established by the Katsina-based business mogul, Dahiru Barau-Mangal. READ ALSO: NAN reports that security personnel have been stationed around Katsina, especially along the routes the president would follow and the project sites. The police had since announced a temporary closure of some roads on Thursday from 8 p.m. to 12 noon. The roads include IBB-Kofar Kaura, Steel Rolling Mills-Liyafa roundabout, Al-qalam University roundabout to Kofar-Kaura. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says the troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe, have in the last two weeks destroyed 39 illegal oil refining sites in the South-south zone. The Director, Defence Media Operations, Musa Danmadami, made this known at a bi-weekly news briefing on military operations on Thursday, in Abuja. Mr Danmadami, a major general, said the troops in the conduct of Operation Octopus Grip and other operations destroyed 48 cooking ovens, 103 storage tanks, 27 dugout pits and 33 wooden boats during the period. He said the troops also recovered one tug boat, a barge, three pumping machines, three-speed boats and 13 vehicles. According to him, troops recovered 274,000 litres of crude oil, 71,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, and 15 Ak47 rifles, while 40 suspected economic saboteurs were arrested. All recovered items and apprehended suspects have been handed over to the appropriate authority for further action. Equally, the air component of the Operation Delta Safe conducted air interdiction to several illegal refining sites and creeks at Gogokiri Degema and Okrika Local Government Areas both in Rivers State between January 12 and January 24. Crew observed the sites to be active makeshift tents sighted as well as illegal refining activities been carried out. Targets were engaged with weapons and the locations were observed to have exploded in an inferno while the illegal refining equipment was also destroyed, he said. READ ALSO: Nigerian military deactivates over 70 illegal refineries in two weeks In the South-east, the defence spokesperson said the military and other security agencies had sustained the offensive against the activities of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network criminals in the zone. He said the troops had neutralised six terrorists, arrested 24 and rescued 16 abducted civilians. According to him, several calibres of arms and ammunition including AK47 rifles, pump action rifles, IEDs and locally made explosive pipes among other items were also recovered. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The first phase of the Lagos Blue rail was commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari with fanfare and a speech by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday. The first phase of the 13 kilometres elevated train network stretches from Marina to Mile 2. At the event, the governor signed a document to kickstart the second phase of the Blue rail project, which will cover a 14-kilometre stretch from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko and is expected to be completed by May. Aside from the speech by the governor, which gave some details about the train, Kolawole Ojelabi, LAMATA spokesperson, also spoke with PREMIUM TIMES on the fare, power supply, trial run and when the train will be available to the everyday Lagosian. Since the formal opening of the light rail, many Lagosians and other Nigerians have had many unanswered questions regarding the first light rail in the country. Here is what to know about the latest infrastructural upgrade in Lagos: 1. The train network was proposed in 1983 during the Lateef Jakande administration and was flagged off in 2003 during the administration of an ex-governor of the state, Bola Tinubu, 20 years later. 2. The construction was undertaken by LAMATA and executed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Company, a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation. 3. The state government said the first phase will transport 250,000 passengers daily and when completed, the entire 27km will transport about 500,000 passengers daily. 4. The first phase (Marina -Mile 2) has five stations Marina, National Theatre, Iganmu, Alaba and Orile station. 5. Travel time: According to the state governor, it will take just less than 15 minutes from Marina to Mile 2, for a journey that usually takes an hour or more. 6. Fare: The pricing has yet to be decided upon. For the fare to be decided, certain things like the movement of passengers, the peak period times, the low period and other factors would have to be considered. 7. Danger: According to the Daily Trust newspaper, the Managing Director of LAMATA, Abimbola Akinajo, warned residents of the state not to trespass on the rail line because it is electrified and advised them to make use of pedestrian bridges to avoid being electrocuted. Ms Akinajo urged the people to use the overhead bridges and other exits provided once the train becomes operational. 8. Trial and public use: It will be operational in late March or the first week in April at most, Mr Ojelabi said. Before it becomes operational, select members of the public will be invited to come and experience how to use it. 9. Access: Once it becomes operational, riders will be able to use the cowry card to access the train. 10. Power: The train will run on an independent power supply Electric Multiple Unit (EMU). The train will use the power known as the Third Rail Electrification System. It will be powered by a public power source, an Independent Power Plant (IPP) and a UPS system. Mr Ojelabi said the essence of doing that is for the train to run unhindered. If there is an outage, the UPS kicks in until when the IPP will start up, passengers will not know when this transition takes place, he said. When asked what the train is running on currently, he said there is an engine that is pulling it a wagon, so that wagon is being used to test it. When asked further if the train is currently being run on diesel, he said that the train is currently being pulled by locomotive but that does not mean that the train is running on diesel. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, says he will not hesitate to ask the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, to issue an arrest warrant on the Godwin Emefiele to compel the central bank chief to appear before the House. Mr Gbajabiamila stated this Thursday in reaction to the report presented by the Majority Leader, Alhassan Doguwa, who is the chairman of the ad hoc committee set up to interface with the Bankers Committee and the CBN. Mr Doguwa informed the House that the CBN and Mr Emefiele did not honour the invitation to appear before the committee on Wednesday. The committee invited the CBN yesterday, and we decided to take the governor specifically yesterday, we invited the CBN governor yesterday, to come with the officials of the central bank. I want to say, with all sense of responsibility, that the committee was delayed by the absence flagrant refusal of the CBN to make an appearance. The governor was not there and no other person came in place of the CBN governor. My committee sat without them. We spoke with the liaison of the CBN and he said they got the letter late. As an institution, we gave them a benefit of the doubt. We gave them 1 p.m., he said. In his response, Mr Gbajabiamila said he is willing to trigger section 89(1)(d) of the 1999 constitution, which gives the House the power to direct security agencies to order an arrest warrant against anyone. Therefore, I will, pursuant to the authority conferred by Section 89 (1)(d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Order 19 (2)(1) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives, not hesitate to issue a warrant to the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force to compel the attendance of the CBN or Managing Directors who fail, refuse or neglect to respond to the summons by the House of Representatives, he said. Background Last November, weeks after the apex bank announced its plan to redesign the three banknotes, President Muhammadu Buhari unveiled the redesigned N200, N500 and N1,000 notes as the apex bank fixed the 31 January deadline for the validity of the old notes. But the circulation of the currency has been a challenge, as some commercial banks have complained of a shortage of the new notes. However, Mr Emefiele has accused the banks of hoarding the new notes but insisted on the deadline. On Tuesday, the House resolved to intervene by setting up an ad hoc committee to interface with the commercial banks and the CBN. The CBN did not appear before the Committee on Wednesday. Emefieles deadline contravenes CBN ActGbajabiamila In his speech, Mr Gbajabiamila said the CBN Act allows acceptance of old notes even after a deadline. He quoted section 20 of the CBN Act, which gives the CBN the powers to create new notes and coins, but also provides a timeline for expiration of the old notes. Notwithstanding Sub-sections (1) and (2) of this section, the Bank shall have power, if directed to do so by the President and after giving reasonable notice in that behalf, to call in any of its notes or coins on payment of the face value thereof and any note or coin with respect to which a notice has been given under this Sub-section, shall, on the expiration of the notice, cease to be legal tender, but, subject to section 22 of this Act, shall be redeemed by the Bank upon demand, section 20(3) reads. Interpreting the law, Mr Gbajabiamila said banks are mandated by the law to receive the old notes. The House is also aware that Section 20 (3) Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act mandates the CBN to redeem the face value of the recalled currency upon demand, even after the expiration of the notice of recall. Notwithstanding the deadline imposed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), this House will see to it that this provision of the law is honoured in full. Now let me explain that again: the CBN Act, under Section 20, allows the Central Bank to change the legal tender. It also says that after the expiration date, such naira notes changed will no longer be legal tender, but it also says that even five months, three months, or two months after, even in June, all the old notes presented to the bank shall be redeemed by the bank, he said. The speaker directed the committee to convene again, even if Mr Emefiele fails to show up. Mr Gbajabiamila further stated that the lower chamber will postpone its planned recess until the issue is resolved Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Presidential Campaign Council(PCC) of the All Progressives Congress(APC) has blamed fifth columnists allegedly working in collaboration with the opposition PDP for the gruelling fuel scarcity and scarce new naira notes in the country. Nigerians have been facing biting fuel scarcity across the country just as they find it difficult to get the new naira notes in circulation even as the CBN deadline for the withdrawal of the old notes from circulation approaches. The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, recently reiterated the position of the apex bank that there will be no going back on the 31 January deadline despite the hurdles Nigerians face to get the new notes. Although Mr Emefiele claimed that there is adequate supply of the new notes N200, N500 and N1000 in circulation, the reality, however, is that commercial banks either do not have enough of the notes for their customers or their ATMs do not dispense them at all. On Wednesday, during his campaign tour of Ogun State, Mr Tinubu, in Abeokuta, said the biting fuel scarcity and inadequate new notes in circulation were attempts by saboteurs to ensure he would not win the 25 February presidential election. He told the gathering of APC faithful, supporters and chieftains that he would win the election regardless of the efforts of those planning to sabotage him. Mr Tinubu, however, did not name the saboteurs in his outburst the campaign rally. PCC reaffirms Tinubus position, names saboteurs Meanwhile, the Presidential Campaign Council of the APC has reaffirmed the position of its presidential flag bearer, Bola Tinubu, blaming some fifth columnists and the PDP as the saboteurs behind the fuel scarcity and scanty new naira notes. A statement issued by the Director, Media and Publicity of the PCC, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday, said: Nigerians should no longer be in doubt about those working in cahoots with fifth columnists in the system to inflict avoidable pains on hapless people for political end. The statement noted that rather than what the PDP would want Nigerians to believe that Mr Tinubu had blamed President Muhammadu Buhari for the current challenges in the country, the PCC said Mr Tinubu in his statement in Abeokuta was only adverting governments attention to the sabotage being carried out by some Fifth Columnists in the system, possibly working in cahoots with the PDP. The statement said the attempt by the PDP and the Atiku Abubakar campaign to create a wedge between Mr Tinubu and Mr Buhari by distorting the statement the APC presidential candidate made in Abeokuta was an exercise in futility. PDP and Atiku should remember not to get high on their own smoke. No political blackmail and an attempt to create a conflict between Tinubu and his long-term ally, President Muhammadu Buhari can succeed, a part of the statement read. Read the full statement below: FUEL AND NEW NAIRA NOTES SCARCITY: FIFTH COLUMNISTS WORKING IN CAHOOTS WITH PDP Nigerians should no longer be in doubt about those working in cahoots with fifth columnists in the system to inflict avoidable pains on our hapless people for political end. No sooner Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu empathised with the Nigerian people facing the dual crises of fuel and new Naira notes scarcity than the opposition PDP and the Atiku camp issued a knee-jerk response, derailing from the issues, distorting Asiwajus statement and trying, in vain, to create a wedge between our presidential candidate and President Muhammadu Buhari. When the guilty are afraid of being uncovered, they try to push back with red-herring For the records, Asiwaju Tinubu during APC campaign rally at Abeokuta on Wednesday, in his statement, did not mention, blame or accuse President Muhammadu Buhari for the current challenges in the country. Asiwaju Tinubu was only adverting governments attention to the sabotage being carried out by some Fifth Columnists in the system, possibly working in cahoots with the PDP. The CBN officials, including Governor Godwin Emefiele have said many times that enough new Naira notes have been supplied to the banks, yet our people complain that they have not been able to get the new notes. In recent days, many ATMs are either not working or when working they are dispensing the old notes, just a few days to the January 31 deadline. Similarly, Asiwaju Tinubu is aware of the salutary efforts by President Buhari to end the fuel queues, by chairing a 14-man panel. Yet the queues and agony continue. For a presidential candidate, who cares about the suffering of our people, he has a duty to warn government that its efforts to make life better for Nigerians are being sabotaged on several fronts. Our presidential candidate only re-echoed what is well known and acknowledged, even by President Buhari himself at different fora: That there are Fifth Columnists in and outside of government who often throw spanners in the works against good intentions and programmes of the government. How does an advisory genuinely made by Asiwaju Tinubu to protect and create goodwill for the government of his party become an attack? It can only be so in the jaundiced view of the PDP. It is in this light we found amusing the directionless Atiku Campaigns bagful of mischief in their hurriedly put together press statement meant to gain shameful mileage from the suffering of Nigerians. PDP and Atiku should remember not to get high on their own smoke. No political blackmail and an attempt to create a conflict between Tinubu and his long-term ally, President Muhammadu Buhari can succeed. We have bad news for Atiku and his handlers: their latest mischief is therefore doomed to fail. The Atiku rudderless campaign, always seeking cheap shots and easy ways has again woefully attempted to make a mountain out of a molehill from the comments made by Asiwaju Tinubu in Abeokuta. As a patriotic and compassionate leader, Asiwaju Tinubu will not stomach seeing ordinary Nigerians being made to face excessive difficulties over mundane issues due to activities of petrol and currency hoarders. As a proud leader of the APC, Asiwaju Tinubu would not also look indifferent as his party and the government get dirtied with black brush at a critical time like this, whether he is a candidate or not. READ ALSO: Atiku camps hasty move to mine political capital out of the clearly difficult situation betrays his campaigns possible connivance, due to its desperation. As Asiwaju said in Abeokuta, these orchestrated hardships will not stop his impending victory come 25 February. Nigerians shall surely vote for a party that is working to solve all the problems and mess created by the PDP for which their presidential candidate was an integral part in the, largely, 16 unproductive years they spent in government. Atiku and his team can continue their indulgence in fake news and twisted narratives, they cannot change the minds of majority of Nigerians who have long rejected the PDP and Atiku, after their 16 wasted years in power. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The House of Representatives has asked the federal government to shut down tertiary education institutions to allow students to participate in the general elections. The House asked the National Universities Commission, the National Board for Technical Education, the National Commission for Colleges of Education, and the Federal Ministry of Education to direct all tertiary institutions to suspend academic activities during the period of elections. Also, the lower chamber resolved that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should make special arrangements for students to collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC). These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion moved by Ibrahim Tukura (APC, Kebbi) on Thursday during plenary. The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for 25 February, while the governorship and Houses of Assembly are billed for 11 March. Moving the motion, Mr Tukura said 3.8 million of the newly registered voters are students, accounting for 40.8 per cent of the total number of newly registered voters. He added that these students who constitute 40.8 per cent of the newly registered voters, have their polling units sited in states outside their campuses, thereby necessitating travelling outside their respective institutions to vote in the 2023 elections. Mr Tukura said the mode of distribution of the PVCs also affects students. He, therefore, called for a special PVC collection for students. The students are busy with academic activities and the Independent National Electoral Commission is engaged in distributing PVCs at the wards across the 774 Local Government Areas of the federation which deprives students of the opportunity to collect their PVCs, he said. Consequently, the House directed the Committees on Tertiary Education and Electoral Matters to liaise with the agencies to facilitate the process and report back to the House within one week. When it was put to question by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, the lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in support of the motion. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, has accused the Peoples Democratic Party of sabotaging fuel supply in the country to blackmail the Federal Government for illicit political advantage. Speaking in Markurdi, the Benue State capital, on Thursday, to a crowd of party supporters that graced the APC presidential campaign rally, Mr Tinubu said that while in power, the PDP administration gave fuel retail licences to their supporters and sympathisers who are now hoarding fuel to create long queues across the country and making Nigerians suffer The former Lagos State governor added that the party of his main challenger, Atiku Abubakar, is a Poverty Development Party. This newspaper had reported on Wednesday what Mr Tinubu said during his campaign tour to Ogun State that the persistent fuel scarcity and inadequate new naira notes in the country were plans by saboteurs to frustrate him from being elected President in the 25 February election. He did not, however, mention the names of the saboteurs. Also, the APC presidential campaign council in a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga on Thursday reiterated the position of Mr Tinubu on the fuel situation, saying the saboteurs were fifth columnists working in cahoots with the PDP. A statement signed by Abdulaziz Abdulaziz on behalf of the Tinubu Media Office on Thursday quoted the former Lagos helmsman as saying: They met good oil prices for 16 good years, they didnt remember gas pipelines, they are what I called saboteurs yesterday. They gave PMS licenses to their supporters and sympathisers. They are the ones who started creating fake queues. PDP, enough is enough. Taking a further jab at Atiku, the APC presidential candidate noted that the PDP candidate didnt know that he broke the civil service rule in Nigeria when he said he was doing transport business when he was in Customs Service. They asked him, you are so rich, where did you get your money from, and he said from doing transport business. He didnt know that was an offence. The only thing you are allowed to do as a civil servant is farming. Tinubu promises Benue youths quality education While at the rally in Markurdi, Mr Tinubu promised Benue youths that his administration would ensure access to quality education and education loans to allow brilliant and indigent students to have higher education. Mr Tinubu again used his achievements in Lagos as governor as reason Benue people should vote for him, insisting that they will not be owed salaries. He also promised to end the problem of IDPs in the state. I am proud of what we accomplished in Lagos. I am so proud of it, I do not run off to live elsewhere. I live where my policies and programmes worked. Obi left Anambra because his policies and programmes failed. Just as we improved Lagos, we shall lead Nigeria to its greatest destiny. Plans if elected President On his plans, if elected president, Mr Tinubu promised to establish agricultural and industrial hubs, which will help expand businesses and improve local incomes. He also promised to make Benue a global leader in agriculture, bringing further income to the state. Rather than just growing food crops, you will package, process and brand food items for other African and global markets exportation. My administration will establish commodity exchange boards guaranteeing prices for important crops so that you are ensured a decent living for your hard work. Our Agricultural plan will establish an agricultural hub and improve access to finance. Both of these will enable you to modernise farms operations, and improve productivity while reducing labour through mechanised farming tools and modern technology. He also added, Working with the state government, we will encourage mining in the State in a regulated and sustainable way that benefits your communities and gives the labourer a just wage for his daily work. Limestone, lead, tin, and marble will be extracted and sold in Nigerian and foreign markets to stimulate the economy and enrich the people. On security, Mr Tinubu said, My administration will also invest in the quality of our democratic governance and in what must be our democratic security. We have heard your pleas. We know of the insecurity, the violent clashes and the loss of lives and property. Our security agenda will work. It will protect the people and secure the land. My national security plan invests heavily in surveillance equipment, in technology and training of our security forces. We stop the terrorists, kidnappers, killers and bandits. READ ALSO: Tinubu alleges plot to scuttle 2023 poll We will mobilise the totality of our national security assets to protect all Nigerians from real danger and the real fear of danger. Speaking at the rally, the Minister of Special Duties and former governor of Benue State, George Akume, extolled Mr Tinubus leadership qualities and magnanimity as he charged Benue voters to vote for the APC candidate en mass, assuring them that they will not regret it. The Minister recalled his friendship with Mr Tinubu since 1993 and called him a friend of Benue people that can be trusted. Describing Mr Tinubu and his running mate as persons free of extremist tendencies, Mr Akume said: when so many churches were destroyed by Boko Haram in Borno, he (Shettima) rebuilt many of them. Plateau State governor and Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Governor Simon Bako Lalong, Deputy National Chairman (North) of the APC, Abubakar Kyari and the state governorship candidate, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, all asked the voters in the state to rally behind the APC for a more guaranteed future. Other dignitaries at the rally included the APC Vice Presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima; Niger State governor, Abubakar Sani Bello; former Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, and Barnabas Gemade, among others. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print her handling of the COVID-19 crisis will continue to separate her from many others. When the pandemic broke out, she listened to science and locked down early and strictly. And when vaccines became available, New Zealands vaccination drive was matched by only a few countries. These measures made New Zealand record one of the fewest transmission rates and COVID-related deaths. A leader like Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand doesnt come in tens. Not even in twos. And so, it was such a bright day on 26 October, 2017, when she took office as New Zealands prime minister. She was 37-years-old and also the youngest head of government at the time. Whats there not to love? But now, more than five years later, she has announced the withdrawal of that special light as she resigns the position, stating that she no longer had enough in the tank to carry on in office. Im leaving, because with such a privileged role comes responsibility the responsibility to know when you are the right person to lead and also when you are not. I know what this job takes. And I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice. Its that simple, she said. Leaving office citing burnout is not what politicians do often, but leaving office at 42 when you are almost certain to win at the next general election definitely leaves many of us from the African continent with a certain level of bewilderment. When Ms Ardern said politicians are human and should therefore know when its time to quit, one was glad, for her sake, that her audience was far from Africa. A number of our leaders would have laughed her off. Home to the oldest and longest-serving presidents and heads of government, African leaders and even the followers will probably never be able to understand what Ms Ardern meant by burnout. Burnout means, for example, that 89-year-old Cameroonian president, Paul Biya, should have been long gone and spared himself and his country that pathetic performance at last Decembers US-Africa summit, where after being towed on stage, and wired to speak, he was still asking himself where he was. I didnt ask to be here, Biya told a bemused gathering, and then added drowsily as the boom mic was being fastened, Ive become a celebrity! Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, reported as one of the first African leaders to ever resign voluntarily from office, stepped down only after 21 years, and he was about 63 years old. With that, Ms Ardern would have done four terms and more. In 2008, Ms Ardern was elected president of the International Union of Socialist Youth. She was first elected as an MP in the 2008 general election, when Labour lost power after nine years. She was later elected to represent the Mount Albert electorate in a by-election on 25 February 2017 As her tenure as prime minister ends on 7 February, it appears that Ms. Ardern has become a victim of her own success. Another, of course, was Nelson Mandela, who without even the slightest pressure from any quarters declined to run for a second term. But then one can also argue that age was no longer on his side, and that the tank was inevitably empty. We can also mention one, two or even more scattered on the continents political landscape, but the rarity of it all makes Ardern voluntary resignation our own modern-day unicorn. Nigerias former President and Mandela-wannabe, Olusegun Obasanjo, became military head of state at 39. Twenty-three years later, he ran for office as civilian president and won. He ran for a second term and won. And then after exhausting his constitutional two-term limit, he deployed foot soldiers who splurged nearly $500 million in a futile bid to secure a third term, according to the book by Chidi Odinkalu and Ayisha Osori, Too Good to Die. Of course, the world has also seen outliers like Winston Churchill, who became British prime minister at 66 and was re-elected at 77. The Ardern message is not necessarily about age, else Liz Truss who became prime minister nearly 20 years younger than Churchill wouldnt have been such a disaster. Nor is physical condition necessarily a barrier, as the extraordinary record of US President and paralytic, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, showed. Its about moments, about knowing when to say, enough, for the greater good. Arderns resignation caught many unawares, especially when all she has come to represent in the past five years is weighed in. In 2017, at a time when the United States of Americas 45th President, Donald Trump, was inspiring the rise of far-right leaders such as Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil and Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines, a different type of leadership sprung up in New Zealand. She joined the Labour Party at the age of 17. After graduating from the University of Waikato in 2001, Ms. Ardern worked as a researcher in the office of Prime Minister Helen Clark. She later worked in London as an adviser in the Cabinet Office during Tony Blairs premiership. In 2008, Ms Ardern was elected president of the International Union of Socialist Youth. She was first elected as an MP in the 2008 general election, when Labour lost power after nine years. She was later elected to represent the Mount Albert electorate in a by-election on 25 February 2017. As her tenure as prime minister ends on 7 February, it appears that Ms. Ardern has become a victim of her own success. And, yes, she has had an amazing run as a leader in todays world. But, perhaps, her handling of the COVID-19 crisis will continue to separate her from many others. When the pandemic broke out, she listened to science and locked down early and strictly. And when vaccines became available, New Zealands vaccination drive was matched by only a few countries. These measures made New Zealand record one of the fewest transmission rates and COVID-related deaths. She left the hyped super powers gasping and trailing behind her and her country as they dealt with increasing body-bag numbers. Her handling of the Christchurch shooting got noticed around the world, especially her ability to articulate a form of leadership that embodies strength and sanity, while pushing an agenda of compassion and community, which she herself termed pragmatic idealism. But the world we live in is a strange one in that Ms Arderns exemplary leadership during a global health crisis also earned her more than a few new enemies. Quoting data from Newhub, The Guardian wrote in June 2022 that threats against the outgoing prime minister almost tripled over three years. The data showed that she received 18 threats in 2019, 32 in 2020, and 50 in 2021. The threats, police records show, were mainly from conspiracy movements and anti-vax groups. These people went to the extent of occupying and attacking parliament and calling for Ms Arderns public trial and execution. One fellow even posted on YouTube that he had a legal right and obligation to assassinate the prime minister! When she was confronted with the Christchurch Mosque attack, a mass shooting committed by a far-right extremist in March 2019, her deft and quietly revolutionary crisis management skills earned her global accolade. Her handling of the Christchurch shooting got noticed around the world, especially her ability to articulate a form of leadership that embodies strength and sanity, while pushing an agenda of compassion and community, which she herself termed pragmatic idealism. Ms Arderns effort to regulate firearms since the Christchurch attack has been met with vehement, bitter and bigoted opposition by far-right rebels and their co-conspirators. Each of Ms Arderns actions, including when she retreated to the back of the room to breastfeed her three-month-old child, has been dangerously blown out of proportion with unnecessary scrutiny by a section of the New Zealand media loyal to the extreme right wing. Understandably, her successor-in-waiting, Chris Hipkins, has vowed to protect his family from what he called the abhorrent abuse that his predecessor received while in office. He told Arderns bullies that, although he would become public property as prime minister, his family wouldnt be. Ms Arderns sins may never be forgiven by her adversaries and she may require a special type of security arrangement for herself and her family after 7 February. The good news, however, is that New Zealands conspiracy theorists and their far-right anti-vax friends in the media would have to search for new prey. Ms Ardern said she was looking forward to finally getting married to her partner, Clarke Gayford, later this year when her daughter, Neve Te Aroha, starts school. Hopefully, her assailants and cyberbullies will allow her to enjoy her new life outside politics. But head or tails, her immediate family partner Clarke Gayford and daughter Neve Te Aroha appears to be the biggest gainers of Ms Arderns decision to relinquish the reins. Azu Ishiekwene is Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Gunmen have killed a ward chairperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Okwe, a community in Onuimo Local Government of Imo State, Nigerias South-east. The victim, Christian Ihim, was killed when the gunmen invaded his residence on Tuesday night. He served as the chairperson of the Umuchoke Ward in the council area. The attackers, after killing him, abducted five other chieftains of the APC in the community. Sources said the hoodlums shot repeatedly through the night, forcing many residents to flee. The gunmen also invaded Okwelle, a neighbouring community and abducted a female member of the APC identified as Onyinyechi Egenti. The slain chairman was a former aide to Emma Ibediro, the immediate past national organising Secretary of the APC. When contacted on Thursday, the police spokesperson in the state, Henry Okoye, confirmed the incident to PREMIUM TIMES, but requested to be contacted via WhatsApp to provide details about the attack. He had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report. The spokesperson of the APC in Imo State, Cajethan Duke, also confirmed the killing of the ward chairperson to this newspaper. I have confirmed that. It is true, he said of the incident, adding that the details of the attack remain sketchy. Mr Duke also confirmed the abduction of the five APC chieftains by the gunmen during the attack. They also kidnapped five other chieftains (of the APC). But out of the five kidnapped persons, they have released two of them, the APC spokesperson said. Asked if ransom was paid to secure the release of the victims, Mr Duke said the information he received did not indicate that ransom was paid to the hoodlums. Increased attacks Like other states in Nigerias South-east, security has deteriorated in Imo State with frequent attacks by armed persons. The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities. READ ALSO: Gunmen behead council chairman in Imo The latest incident occurred days after gunmen beheaded the sole administrator of Ideato North Local Government Area of the state. Gunmen, in December, killed the Labour Party candidate for Onuimo Local Government Area Constituency in the state. The Nigerian government has accused the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region. But the group has repeatedly denied their involvement in the attacks. The separatist group is leading the agitation for an independent state of Biafra which it wants to be carved out from the South-east and some parts of South-south Nigeria. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A police inspector attached to the Ajah division of Lagos State has testified in the trial of Drambi Vandi, the officer involved in the murder of Bolanle Raheem. Ebimine Fiyegha appeared before Ibironke Harrison, the judge of the Lagos high court in Tafawa Balewa Square on Wednesday, as the second witness in the murder trial. The witness, while narrating the incident, told the court that the defendant tried to abscond in a Korope bus, when they heard the gunshot. PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mrs Raheem, who was pregnant, was fatally shot on Christmas day by the police officer attached to the Ajiwe police division in the Ajah area of the state. The state government had preferred a one-count charge of murder against the defendant and arraigned him for the murder of the lawyer. Previously, Matthew Ahmed, one of the police officers deployed to Ajah underbridge on the day of the incident, had testified before the court. Testimony Narrating what happened on December 25, 2022, Mr Fiyegha said the defendant was the leader of the three-man patrol team that was mobilised to the Ajah underbridge. The witness explained that himself and the defendant were both armed and that nobodys life was under threat when the incident happened, stating that before he and his colleagues left for Ajah Underbridge on the 25 December, 2022, the DPO in charge of the Ajah Division told the officers not to use their firearms unless there is a threat to life while prayers was said by another corporal before they set out. I was at the front at Ajah underbridge. Inspector Ahmed was in the middle about 20 metres apart. Vandi was at the back last person. That was how we positioned ourselves, he said. I was armed. Our team leader SUPOL Vandi was armed. I had eight rounds of ammunition in my rifle. Around 1 p.m., I saw one Toyota Venza, I saw one woman in the passenger seat and one man was driving. When I flagged it down, it did not stop. I was wondering why. The man was not speeding. Speaking further, the police inspector said he heard the sound of gunshot immediately after the car carrying the deceased and her family passed him at the checkpoint. I saw a black woman shout Eh!, you have killed my sister o, she was pointing to officer Vandi. That was when he ran out and entered into a Mazda vehicle known as Korope. They stopped the Korope and dragged him out before taking him to the Venza, he recounted. At that time, I was lost because I didnt understand what was going on anymore. I tried to reach him on phone to know why he was running but when he answered, he simply said I should wait before ending the call. On our way to the station, I called oga again and he repeated what he said earlier, that I should wait. During cross-examination, Odutola Adetokunbo, the defendants lawyer, asked the witness if he saw Mr Vandi when he pulled the trigger. The officer answered, Like I said earlier, I was backing him when I heard the sound. What is the distance between you and SUPOL Vandi at the Ajah Underbridge, Mr Adetokunbo asked. READ ALSO: The distance between me and Inspector Ahmed was 20 metres. For me and SUPOL Vandi, it may be like 50 metres, he said. What side of the road was the car coming from? Mr Adetokunbo asked. The car was coming from VGC facing Abraham Adesanya road, he responded. The trial judge subsequently adjourned the case to Thursday. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Manassas, VA (20110) Today Partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon. Near record high temperatures. High 81F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies early. Scattered thunderstorms developing later at night. Low around 60F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. DUBLIN, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "6-Hour Virtual Seminar on The EU Clinical Trial Regulation - EU Filings & Registrations" webinar has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This course covers the requirements for conducting Clinical Studies across the EU via the requirements of the EU Clinical Trial Regulation (for Drugs & Biologics). The course also covers recent updates on EU-GCP associated with the new regulatory framework and highlights the new EU Pharmacovigilance Directive, as it relates to studies and helpful tips for working with European regulators. The seminar covers the impending changes coming with the EU Parliament's passage of the EU Clinical Trial Regulation, which will affect all trials conducted across the EU [new and ongoing]. This course also covers the various licensing methods (for Drugs, Biologics & Combination Products) by which applicants can file for product licenses (Marketing Authorizations) in one or multiple Member States [and EEA], as well as fully across all Member States of the European Union. This course specifically outlines and discusses the structure of the regulatory agencies at the EU level and across the specific Member States. Course content will explain which procedures are available for which products and then will follow the license processing steps for each pathway. Learning Objectives Attendees will leave the Course clearly understanding the requirements under the current Regulations. In addition, this course has been updated to provide participants with competitive insight into: How the EU and individual countries within Europe Interact Which registration procedure to use How regulations affect product development strategies Understanding the concerns/issues of European Regulatory Personnel How to negotiate with the regulators Information necessary for effective submissions Strategies for streamlining the registration application process for faster approval The advantages and disadvantages of various registration procedures How to efficiently initiate trials first patient, first visit How to link the strategy of Country Selection to an ultimate EU registration pathway How to stay compliant What can make the difference in your data passing Regulatory scrutiny Related area-GCP and PV-reporting updates Impending Changes of the EU Clinical Trial Regulation and timing for Implementation Who Should Attend: Business Management Project Team Members Legal Team Members Clinical Operations Staff Quality Assurance, Monitors, CRAs Regulatory Affairs Investigators & Site Study Staff CROs, Consultants, Insurers Key Topics Covered: New EU CT Regulation Overview of the EU and EU Regulatory Structure Overview of the previous EU Clinical Trial Directive Impending Changes to the EU Clinical Trial Regulation Clinical Trials in the EU Phases of a clinical trial Start-Up and Application Processes Ethics Committee and Competent Authority Review Process Trial Protocol and Management GCP and GMP Compliance Labeling Requirements Fees End of a Clinical Trial How Changes in the new Clinical Trial Regulation will affect Sponsors European Filing & Registration Procedures EU Agency Regulatory Structure Registration Options Company Strategy - Linking Clinical Trials & Marketing Authorization Applications Balancing Strategy and Long-Term Regulatory Cost & Maintenance Registration Procedures Member State [National] Procedures Mutual Recognition Procedure Centralized Procedure Generics, Orphan Drugs, Biologics, and Combination Products Cessing License Variations Changes Concerning Manufacturing/Formulation Aspects (Product & Process) Labeling & Packaging Leaflet Requirements EU Decision-Making Process Scope Check-in Procedure Consultation Industry's Ability to Impact - Involvement & Timing Standing Committee Participation Favorable Standing Committee Opinion Non-Favorable Opinion - Process & Timing Review of Regulatory Authorities International, Regional, and Local laws applicable to each European Union Nation Member State Analysis of Applicable Regulations At All Levels With Practical Examples of How the Regulations Are Applied Legislative Process Objectives of the Rules Governing Medicinal Procedures Regulatory Framework New Products, Requirements, & Procedures Political Implications of The Regulations Compare/Contrast EMA and the FDA procedures How and When to Influence the Regulatory Process Effective Monitoring Activity Association vs. Individual Company Involvement & Intervention The Regulatory Negotiation Process Effective Approaches The Do's and Don'ts of Regulatory Involvement Maintaining Your License: Renewals Helpful Websites Glossary of Terms Speaker Robert J. Russell is a Global Regulatory and CMC expert with 28 years of prior industry experience in international regulatory management and compliance, global business development and global supply chain management. Mr. Russell formerly held senior leadership positions, in these functional areas, at Dow Pharmaceuticals and Cordis-Dow Medical Devices. For more information about this webinar visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/6zs5oz-hour-virtual?w=5 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets Five-Year Project Led by Experts at Cincinnati Children's Opens Doors for Using 'Next-Generation' Intestine Organoids to Improve Outcomes for People with IBD, EoE, Celiac Disease and Many Other GI-Tract Disorders CINCINNATI , Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In many ways, our intestines serve as the front gate between our bodies and the world around us. They help digest our food and absorb our medications. They send alarm signals when harmful bacteria, viruses, and allergens invade. When the intestines malfunction, or fail to form properly during development, a wide range of gastrointestinal diseases can occur; such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), and celiac disease. Many infectious diseases, ranging from mild to deadly, also start in the intestine. Findings from Cincinnati Children's Open Doors for Using 'Next-Generation' Intestine Organoids to Improve Outcomes. Tweet this This illustration shows how a next-generation intestinal organoid produced at Cincinnati Children's mirrored how the human body's immune system develops in the intestine, including T/B cell "zonation" and beyond. Now, scientists at Cincinnati Children's report a significant breakthrough in a years-long quest to build a better model for studying gastrointestinal disease. They have succeeded at developing a complex "next-generation" intestinal organoid that includes key elements of a functional immune system. Detailed findings were published online Jan. 26, 2023, in Nature Biotechnology. The co-authors say this is the first in vivo organoid of any type (heart, liver, stomach, etc.) to incorporate a functional immune system. "Not only does the organoid support the migrating immune tissuesrather than rejecting thembut those immune cells and structures go on to improve the development of the intestine itself, specifically its ability to recognize foreign antigens," says corresponding author Michael Helmrath, MD. 5-Year Quest Blends 'Humanized' Mouse and Organoid Tech Many of the experiments that helped confirm the new findings were led by first author Carine Bouffi, PhD, then a member of Helmrath's lab at Cincinnati Children's and now a senior scientist at the pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim. Overall, the work involved 20 scientists at five institutions. The work started with growing intestine organoids following an innovative process created in 2011 by experts with the Center for Stem Cell & Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM) at Cincinnati Children's. That team was the first in the world to produce a functioning intestine organoid from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), a type of stem cell made from mature human cells instead of fetal tissue. The center has achieved several milestones since, including producing the world's first esophagus and stomach organoids. After growing for 28 days in a dish, the tiny organoid spheres had reached a few millimeters in size. Then came the next crucial step: transplanting the organoids into an immunosuppressed mouse to avoid rejection of the human tissue. In this study, to investigate the role of the immune system during development, the team used "humanized" mice that had been genetically modified to suppress their own immune systems, which allowed transplanted human immune cells to function instead. Many research centers around the world use similar humanized mice in their projects. The team members performed delicate surgery to transplant the organoids into mice by placing them under a membrane surrounding their kidneys. There, the organoids continued to grow more than 1,000-fold to about 1 cm in diameter (about the size of a pea). At 12, 16 and 20 weeks, the lab team collected organoids to analyze the types of cells they contained. They found that the organoids contained multiple types of human immune cells that migrated from the humanized mice, including CD45+ cells and important cell formations called gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) structures. "We saw that immune cells from the humanized mouse migrated to the organoid," Helmrath says. "We saw the same types of cells, following the same sequences of development, that we see in human development." Importantly, the team further confirmed that functional M cellsa key type of immune signaling cellwere produced only when humanized tissues were exposed to specific bacterial antigens. Achieving this required exposing the inside of the tiny developing intestines to fragments of E. coli bacteria, a microbe normally found in human intestine. This triggered the organoid tissue to secrete antibodies in reaction to the exposure. "When we started this project, we did not know if implanting intestinal organoids in humanized mice would work, since it had never been done before," Bouffi says. "When we got the first results, we saw the infiltration of immune cells in the organoids and I thought that the host mouse was rejecting the organoid. But after further analysis, we found that the immune cells were actually organized and later developed into an immune tissue comparable to a human intestine. Organoids are remarkable." Potential uses for next-gen intestinal organoids The first applications for these improved organoids will likely involve using them as testing platforms to learn more about the many immune-mediated diseases affecting the digestive tract, Helmrath says. Unlike animal models, organoids can be grown to more accurately reflect the genetic conditions of a common disease state or even to act as "avatars" that mimic organ tissue from a specific patient. "There are broad potential applications to these findings, not just for intestine organoids but for all organs affected by immune-mediated disease," Helmrath says. Longer term, scientists hope to replicate their success in mice with larger animal hosts that can produce larger volumes of human organoid tissue. If successful, lab-started organ tissues eventually might serve as living patches that could help damaged organs heal themselves before people require full-organ transplantation. About this study In addition to Bouffi and Helmrath, Cincinnati Children's co-authors included: Kathryn Wikenheiser-Brokamp, MD, PhD, Praneet Chaturvedi, MS, Nambirajan Sundaram, PhD, Gillian Goddard, MD, Mark Wunderlich, MS, Nicole Brown, MD, Maxime Mahe, PhD, Holly Poling, BS, Simon Vales, PhD, Garrett Fisher, James Mulloy, PhD, Aaron Zorn, PhD, and James Wells, PhD. Collaborators also included researchers from the University of Cincinnati, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the University of Michigan, and the Universite de Nantes in France. Funding sources for this work include grants from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders (NIDDK) and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) (U01DK103117); the Cincinnati Digestive Disease Center Award (P30 DK0789392); and philanthropic support from the Farmer Family Foundation. SOURCE Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Company Raises $10.1M in Seed Funding Led by Rose Park Advisors NORWOOD, Mass., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Addie's , the drive-up grocer redefining the grocery shopping experience, officially launched today its first concept store with $10.1 million in seed funding led by the Disruptive Innovation Fund, the venture capital arm of Clay Christensen's Rose Park Advisors . Instead of patchworking together in-store grocery, online grocery, and direct-to-consumer delivery models, Addie's has built an entirely new one: a pick-up-only store designed solely for stocking, storing, and bagging groceries without the need for a shopper ever to step foot in the store itself. Addies first store, a 22,000 sq. ft. retail location, is now open in Norwood, Massachusetts. The pandemic accelerated the need to reinvent how busy consumers get their groceries, but traditional retailers and established grocery delivery apps have struggled to optimize the experience for consumers. Mercatus predicts that online grocery shopping will double to $200+ billion by 2026. Delivery-only options cannot scale beyond population-dense urban environments, and curbside pick-up out of traditional supermarkets is inefficient, unreliable, and unprofitable. These models have significant limitations: few available time slots, low-quality produce, service fees, and frequent out-of-stock items, resulting in frustrated shoppers. Addie's has reimagined every aspect of grocery shopping, from inventory management to store layout, enabling accurate and affordable grocery pick-up in minutes. Consumers purchase groceries through Addie's custom app or website and choose a pick-up window that works best for their schedules. Addie's saves time, money, and valuable resources by redesigning the store as an onsite warehouse and the parking lot as a convenient drive-up experience. These savings translate to higher starting wages for store employees ($20 per hour), all while maintaining competitive pricing for customers and using just a quarter of the energy required of regular supermarkets. "We believe that taking better care of busy families should be done in a way that also takes care of our team, our community, and our planet," said Jim McQuade, co-founder and CEO of Addie's. "With our seed funding, we've built an end-to-end experience to serve people in and around Norwood in a way that can be replicated in suburbs nationwide. We look forward to quickly expanding, offering busy families across the country drive-up grocery convenience without compromise." "The 100-year-old grocery business is not immune to disruption," said Matt Christensen, CEO and Managing Partner at Rose Park Advisors. "The traditional business model of in-store shopping makes serving convenience-focused shoppers highly challenging. We see disruptive potential in Addie's technology-powered drive-up grocery model and are excited to support them as they launch." Addie's first store, a 22,000 sq. ft. retail location, is now open in Norwood, Massachusetts. The company stocks a curated selection of national brands and local favorites, constantly improving its assortment based on customer searches and requests. To learn more about Addie's, visit Addies.com . About Addie's Addie's is the first-of-its-kind drive-up grocer redefining the grocery experience. By eliminating in-store shopping, Addie's has reimagined every aspect of grocery shopping, from inventory management to store layout, enabling accurate and affordable grocery pick-up in minutes. Consumers purchase groceries through Addie's custom app or website, then choose a pick-up window. Backed by Clay Christensen's Rose Park Advisors, Addie's plans to expand across the U.S. The first concept store is now open in Norwood, Massachusetts. SOURCE Addies The top-level construction team is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ADVON Corporation, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), was recently honored with the NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year award. This prestigious award recognizes exemplary small businesses that have achieved significant success in the KSC contracting arena. ADVON is a top-level construction team headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida, with a Space Coast office based in Merritt Island, Florida. They specialize in industrial, institutional, and commercial projects. Their customers include the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Veterans Administration (VA), the Department of Defense (DOD), and other public and private institutions. "As a contractor who is fortunate to have worked with governmental institutions such as NASA, the VA and the DOD, being recognized for our diligent work by KSC is a great honor. It speaks to the culture at ADVON and the hard-working people who make up our team," said Jeff Gibson, Vice President and Operations Director for the Space Coast Office. Each year the NASA Small Business Awards Program shines a spotlight on the outstanding achievements of small businesses. This year's event focused on celebrating the accomplishments of those who have helped to further the space program mission, create jobs, drive innovation, and increase America's global competitiveness. ADVON has a team of experts with the knowledge and experience to complete any project on time and within budget while exceeding customer's expectations. Every project is unique, so they work closely with customers to ensure that all needs are met. ADVON offers services including general contracting and design-build capabilities. Their commitments to safety and service are unmatched in the industry. For more information, visit advonconstruction.com. Media Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Advon Corporation WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) one of the nation's premier organizations for improving the lives of people with vision loss has announced the election of three new members to its board of Trustees following its December 12th board meeting: Jonathan Chesshire, Kiran Kaja, and Melissa L. Weisse. "We are excited to welcome such an outstanding group of professionals to our board," said Debbie Dennis, AFB board Chair. "Each one of them brings an outstanding range of expertise that will help secure our second century of success at AFB." AFB thanks those Board Members who have previously served the organization with distinction and looks forward to the leadership the following new Trustees will bring toward fulfilling AFB's mission for future generations. About the Trustees Jonathan Chesshire Mr. Chesshire is head of research at Clearbrook Global, which assists endowments, foundations, and family offices with their investment objectives. Mr. Cheshire sits on the firm's investment committee and is a portfolio manager for the firm's fund of hedge funds vehicle. He is especially passionate about helping clients construct their portfolio while also addressing diversity and inclusion, climate, and educational advancement through the sourcing of impact and mission-based investments. Mr. Chesshire began his profession in the early 1990s at Merrill Lynch and spent most of his career with financial start-ups. He has served on several boards focused on education and youth enrichment. He received an MBA from Temple University and currently pursues a Masters in Sustainability at Harvard University. He resides with his family in the Greater Philadelphia area. He previously served on AFB's financial committee. Kiran Kaja Mr. Kaja brings over 18 years of experience in the digital inclusion space. A passionate champion for inclusion and accessibility, he currently serves as principal accessibility product manager for Amazon. Prior to Amazon, Mr. Kaja worked in lead accessibility roles for Instagram, Google, and Adobe Systems. While at Google, he played a key role in building out accessibility for Google's main search functionality. His career in accessibility began almost two decades ago with the software developer Code Factory, who made breakthroughs in mobile accessibility with their platform Mobile Speak. He then went on to work as an accessibility engineer for SAP in India before relocating to London to work in software accessibility with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). He holds a Bachelor's in Business Administration from Pondicherry University in India. He currently resides in Berkley, California. Melissa Weisse Ms. Weisse serves as the vice president and chief philanthropy officer at Leader Dogs for the Blind, where she leads the organization's national philanthropy and fundraising strategy with a $17M annual target. During her 19-year tenure, Ms. Weisse has diversified Leader Dog's revenue streams and collectively raised over $130M. This includes a successful $14.5M capital campaign for the new canine development center. Prior to coming to Leader Dog, Ms. Weisse was a private client advisor at Christies, London, the world's leading art business, where she worked extensively with high-net-worth individuals and foundations in 46 countries and ten international showrooms. She was the recipient of Crain's Notable Women in Non-Profits award in 2018 for women who innovate and lead in the social sector. Ms. Weisse graduated from the University of Notre Dame and has a master's degree from the University of Glasgow. She is a graduate of fundraising and nonprofit management programs at Georgetown University and the Lily School of Philanthropy at Indiana University Purdue University, and the Non-Profit Executive Leadership program at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. She is president of the AFP Greater Detroit Chapter and has served on the Ethics Committee Taskforce and the Finance Committee for AFP Global. She previously served on AFB's Development Committee. About the American Foundation for the Blind Founded in 1921, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a national nonprofit that creates a world of no limits for people who are blind, and low vision. AFB mobilizes leaders, advances understanding, and champions impactful policies and practices using research and data. In addition to publishing the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, the essential professional resource for information about visual impairment in the field, AFB is also the proud steward of the accessible Helen Keller Archive, honoring the legacy of our most famous ambassador. To learn more, visit www.afb.org. SOURCE American Foundation for the Blind UT Southern transitioned from managing book sales through their campus store to the online bookstore platform, Akademos PULASKI, Tenn., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Tennessee Southern, formerly known as Martin Methodist College, was founded in 1870 and serves approximately 800 full-time students. The four-year institution officially joined the University of Tennessee system in 2021, making it the first new campus within the system since 1969. The institution offers over 38 areas of study and is located between Chattanooga and Memphis, along Tennessee's southern border. UT Southern transitioned from managing book sales through their campus store to the online bookstore platform, Akademos, to support the Fall 2022 semester. With the new online platform, students can purchase and sell their textbooks and course materials through a personalized student experience and ship them directly to themselves or to campus for easy pick-up. "Being a part of the UT System, we have already started to see enrollment increases and the positive impact that being a part of the System has on all our students. The university bookstore not only offers affordable and convenient options for our students, but also creative and innovative solutions," said the University of Tennessee Southern's Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration, Robby Shelton. The campus store, UTS Bookstore, located at 622 W. Flower Street will continue to offer Firehawks gear including men's and women's clothing, keychains, lanyards, hats, drinkware, graduation regalia, and more. "Technology-focused initiatives like movement to an online bookstore can offer greater flexibility and enable students to access their required course materials at more competitive prices," said Raj Kaji, CEO of Akademos. "We're looking forward to working with the students, faculty, and administrators at the University of Tennessee Southern and supporting their long-term success." Akademos More than just an online bookstore, an Akademos technology-driven solution is the bookstore experience every college and university with unique needs deserves. Whether the bookstore is a service for students or a revenue generator, the platform supports prioritizing textbook affordability with all models including Student Choice, Inclusive Access, Equitable Access, or a combination. All aspects of textbook and course material purchasing and delivery are taken care of so you can focus on what matters - student success. We believe a true partnership provides unmatched customer support along with access to tools and analytics needed to take each student's college experience to the next level. And if you aren't ready to go "all in" with one model, transitioning from IA to EA at your pace is possible with our institution-focused Crawl, Walk, Run, Fly program. Learn more at akademos.com. University of Tennessee Southern The University of Tennessee Southern is a public, 4-year institution located near the Southern Tennessee border in Pulaski, TN. The institution joined the University of Tennessee system in 2021. The system consists of campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski, Martin, and more. SOURCE Akademos Lumen, CDW, Amerisure, and Deloitte among winners of the Agiloft Orange Award for excellence in CLM innovation and adoption LAS VEGAS, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- At the 2023 Agiloft Summit flagship event in Las Vegas, Agiloft, the global standard in no-code contract lifecycle management (CLM), announced the winners of its annual Agiloft Orange Awards. Lumen, CDW, Amerisure, Deloitte are among the award winners for exemplifying best practices in CLM adoption, implementation, and innovation. CDW wins Orange Award at Agiloft Summit 2023 Lumen wins Orange Award at Agiloft Summit 2023 "Congratulations to the winners of this year's Agiloft Orange Awards, who are setting the standard for excellence in enterprise contract lifecycle management," said Agiloft CEO Eric Laughlin. "Every single one of these companies is innovating, accelerating, and pushing the boundaries of contract management with Agiloft. With the Agiloft Orange Awards, we celebrate powerful stories of customer success alongside strong partnerships that maximize the value of CLM for the world's leading organizations." This year's Agiloft Orange Awards winners include: Lumen Best CLM Transformation : For demonstrating what excellence looks like when it comes to complete CLM transformation, ensuring all contracts are managed efficiently, and allowing relevant teams to tap into the limitless intelligence of contracts. : For demonstrating what excellence looks like when it comes to complete CLM transformation, ensuring all contracts are managed efficiently, and allowing relevant teams to tap into the limitless intelligence of contracts. Amerisure - The CLM Super User Award : For bringing Agiloft's flexible CLM approach to life by empowering internal super users to do much of the configuration required to streamline contracts and related business processes. : For bringing Agiloft's flexible CLM approach to life by empowering internal super users to do much of the configuration required to streamline contracts and related business processes. CDW - Best Workflow Transformation Award : For reducing and now leading the industry in turnaround times for SOWs, along with using Agiloft CLM to create better contract connectivity for reviewing and monitoring negotiation patterns and trends. : For reducing and now leading the industry in turnaround times for SOWs, along with using Agiloft CLM to create better contract connectivity for reviewing and monitoring negotiation patterns and trends. ASM - CLM Innovation Award : For using Agiloft to automate its NDA process to protect its intellectual property as well as manage risk in the face of geopolitical, regulatory, and economic swings in the global semiconductor industry. : For using Agiloft to automate its NDA process to protect its intellectual property as well as manage risk in the face of geopolitical, regulatory, and economic swings in the global semiconductor industry. Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency - Financial Impact Award: For using the full capabilities of Agiloft CLM to manage and track critical legal and financial information simply and effectively. In addition to announcing the winners of the annual Agiloft Orange customer awards, the company also announced the winners of its Agiloft Orange Partner Awards. Recipients include Workato, Deloitte, SaaSam, Koho Consulting, and Heather McEwen, who were all recognized for delivering exceptional services and strategic guidance to Agiloft's customer base. "Partners are integral to our continued success and our Partner Awards recognize best-practices and successes related to our technology integrations, solution sales, implementation, and shared values," said Steve McKean, Agiloft VP of Global Alliances. "We are proud to partner with such a stellar group of organizations, and I'm thrilled to recognize several of those partners with awards for their role in our customers' success." Workato - Technology Partner of the Year : For working like an extension of the team in launching the Agiloft Integration Hub powered by Workato's iPaaS platform and enabling Agiloft to lead the market in integrations and enhance the value of CLM to customers. : For working like an extension of the team in launching the Agiloft Integration Hub powered by Workato's iPaaS platform and enabling Agiloft to lead the market in integrations and enhance the value of CLM to customers. Deloitte - Implementation Partner of the Year : For working with Agiloft to grow its practice to include over 40 Certified Agiloft Administrators as well as delivering truly transformational, global business solutions to joint customers through the implementation of the Agiloft platform. : For working with Agiloft to grow its practice to include over 40 Certified Agiloft Administrators as well as delivering truly transformational, global business solutions to joint customers through the implementation of the Agiloft platform. SaaSam - Global Reseller of the Year : For delivering incredible customer success with their highly skilled team of Agiloft experts around the globe and taking pride in providing high-quality results and exceptional ongoing service since 2011. : For delivering incredible customer success with their highly skilled team of Agiloft experts around the globe and taking pride in providing high-quality results and exceptional ongoing service since 2011. Koho Consulting - North American Reseller of the Year : For enabling remarkable success for customers across North America over the last four years, and working closely with Agiloft to grow into one of the leading CLM reseller and service partners. : For enabling remarkable success for customers across over the last four years, and working closely with Agiloft to grow into one of the leading CLM reseller and service partners. SaaSam, Heather McEwen - Agiloft Partner Spirit Award: For embodying the Agiloft Spirit of innovation, service, and partnership and expanding her women-led business into the global SaaSam Group, a pre-eminent consultant and supplier of Agiloft CLM solutions to customers in the Australasian, South-East Asian, EMEA, and UK markets. This year's awards ceremony took place at The Agiloft Summit 2023, the premier customer contract management industry event, happening January 24-26, 2023, in Las Vegas at the newly opened Virgin Hotel. With a theme of "Limitless," the ground-breaking contract management summit is giving the contract glitterati a world stage to advance the profession and share best practices on shattering expectations for what contract professionals can do to enhance the future of their operations. Today's news and the Agiloft Summit begin 2023 with a bang and comes on the heels of a string of recent news from the company, including winning a 2023 BIG Innovation Award from Business Intelligence Group for its CLM platform. Agiloft also maintained its position as a Leader in the 2022 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Contract Life Cycle Management for the third year in a row, and was recognized as Value Leader for small, medium, and large companies in Spend Matters' Fall 2022 SolutionMap for CLM, alongside winning a host of other national and international awards. To see how Agiloft can help transform your contract management process and save an average of 9.2% of revenue a year, click here. About Agiloft As the global leader in agile contract lifecycle management (CLM) software, Agiloft is trusted to provide significant savings in purchasing, enable more efficient legal operations, and accelerate sales cycles, all while drastically lowering compliance risk. Agiloft's adaptable no-code platform ensures rapid deployment and a fully extensible system. Using contracts as the core system of commercial record, Agiloft's CLM software leverages AI to improve contract management for legal departments, procurement, and sales operations. Visit www.agiloft.com for more. Media Contact: Jeffrey Miesbauer Agiloft 650-587-8615 ext 4003 [email protected] SOURCE Agiloft Reimagining health, knowledge, and empowerment of 8 billion people Ethically enabled data-driven communications Democracy and conscious capitalism Thinking globally, acting locally SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Demosophy, a see, feel, and think tank, announces its Precision Medicine and Population Health Platform. Its purpose is to actualize tangible health improvements for all people. Using state-of-the-art technology in ways that integrate societal and individual health with patient-centered approaches is its essential core. "Ethical A.I. Framework supports progress while leveraging and scaling humanity's technological potential to do good" Tweet this Demosophy's A.I. Framework connects care systems and people. Demosophy assembles proven expertise committed to empowering people's health and well-being. Leaders work systemically to increase reliable information flows. This translational model transcends economic and geographic boundaries and disparities by harnessing available technologies and best practices. It supports live showcases that further knowledge sharing, learning, and understanding. The platform is a cross-disciplinary hub that spans business, industry, science, big data tech, media, research, philanthropy, venture funds, and ethical care delivery. Combined, Demosophy demonstrates communication, imagination, and teamwork's ability to overcome modern pressing challenges. This announcement is timely. According to the World Health Organization, as of January 8, 2023, 659 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and over 6.6 million deaths have been reported globally. "There are 8 billion unique COVID experiences that provide local and global perspectives", stated Kristin Raffaelle Demosophy's founder, a 30-year disruptive technology veteran. "Unlike other times in history, cloud-service technology unifies our ability to identify, aggregate, and share best practices. I am optimistic about our ability to move forward to deliver healthy and empowered futures". "Health risks and their potential consequences have to be effectively communicated on an individual basis. Covid-19 experiences provide a tangible example of the need to integrate and translate diverse health data. We are creating the capabilities to achieve this so that personal precision care can be a reality," stated Paul Inderbitzin, CEO of Inderbitzin Solutions, former CEO of American RE, and chief Actuary of American Farm Bureau. Structured data bridges gaps between clinicians and improves patient outcomes. Lack of computational power and algorithmic detail hinders knowledge management and information sharing. Population health is inherently historical, making real-time significance challenging. Assembling information silos into comprehensive, actionable clinical pictures of each patient is necessary for population health to have a local impact. (source: healthcareit.gov/playbook) "Communication in its purest sense connects people and care systems. Joining people with data-driven information in private, approachable, and reliable ways is an essential need. Demosophy's Ethical A.I. Framework supports progress while leveraging and scaling humanity's technological potential to do good," shared Kristin Raffaelle. For more information about this release, please contact: Kristin Raffaelle at [email protected] or 01-623-920-2152. About Demosophy See, Feel, and Think Tank Demosophy means wisdom of the people. It fuels our mission to realize authentic sustainability near and long term. We assemble expertise and technology in breakthrough ways that empower people, joining human-Authentic Intelligence (A.I.) and Artificial Intelligence (A.I.). Our mission-driven work unleashes front-edge knowledge and insights in ways that do good, near and long term. We are assembling the sustainable means to drive the intrinsic cost of living down and quality of life up. With our expert advisors and alliances, we replace discord with harmony and dis-ease with well-being. www.demosophy.com SOURCE Demosophy NURNBERG, Germany, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Alma, one of the top three global leaders of energy-based medical and aesthetics solutions, has announced the launch of its new sexual wellness product - Alma Duo. Alma, a Sisram Medical company, announces the launch of Alma Duo - an advanced, FDA and CE approved solution that promotes sexual wellness for men and women. Alma Duo is an advanced, safe, non-invasive and effective solution causing no pain, that enables patients to bring back spontaneity into their bedroom. It is registered and listed with the FDA as a Class I medical device, and with the CE as a Class IIb medical device. Using the gold standard in shock wave technology, the platform stimulates blood flow to the sexual organs, restoring natural function and helping with the effects of impaired vascular function. Alma Duo incorporates advanced acoustics technology based on electrohydraulic power, and low intensity shockwaves that cause mechanical stress in the treatment tissue. This triggers a cascade of wound healing responses that eventually stimulate the body to create new arterioles at the focused site, thus creating better blood flow. "As a world-leading provider of energy-based solutions for the surgical, medical aesthetics and beauty markets, we are focused on creating outstanding technology and solutions that enhance the wellbeing of the people we serve," says Lior Dayan, CEO of Sisram Medical and Alma. "The launch of Alma Duo is a further example of how we are leading the way in developing innovative technologies that enable medical practitioners to offer real, effective solutions to issues faced by their patients, and improve their quality of life." "Sexual wellness is an important treatment category for both men and women," says Dayan. "300 million men around the world are currently dealing with erectile dysfunction, and 60 per cent of women report being dissatisfied with their sex life. Yet, sexual performance is a taboo topic that people often don't feel comfortable talking about, even with their doctors. With the new Alma Duo, medical professionals can open up the conversation, bringing a life-changing, pain-free treatment to their patients, without pills, needles, or surgery, and with zero recovery time." About Alma Lasers The core subsidiary of Sisram Medical, Alma is a leading global provider of energy-based medical aesthetics solutions, delivering cutting-edge technologies to partners and customers across more than 90 countries and jurisdictions worldwide. Over the course of two decades, Alma has acquired a significant, wide-ranging knowledge base that is backed by clinical evidence, proven expertise, and real-life data. It is this knowledge, and the experts behind it, that empowers the company's technologies and product development processes, and enables Alma to stay at the forefront of technology. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32fDqTfewCw For media inquiries, please contact: ICR Inc. Edmond Lococo +86 138-1079-1408 [email protected] SOURCE Alma NEW YORK and BERLIN, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Alpha Variance Solutions GmbH (AVS) is pleased to announce the phase 1 completion of work in partnership with our client Stephanus-Stiftung in Berlin to Go-Live on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations. After months of analysis, planning, designing, development, and deployment we have achieved our mutual goal to enable this renowned NGO to modernize their technology landscape and further enable their mission by benefiting from the productivity and efficiency gains that come from utilizing Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations to empower the critical business functions that enable the foundation to realize its goals. We would like to thank Mr. Harald Thiel for his leadership and effort to make this available within the NGO space that he advocates for in Germany. Along with Ms. Vivien Haase and Mr. Jasper Grimbo, the project leads at Stephanus Foundation who together have made this journey a success. Alpha Variance Solutions is truly blessed with talented employees and team members that have contributed their expertise, time, and commitment to this project. Alpha Variance Solutions takes pride in reaching this outcome for Stephanus Stiftung, at this time, and for this purpose. We are thankful to have been chosen to work in your service as you provide lifesaving and enabling services to humanity. Working with team at Microsoft Tech for Social Impact (MTSI) led by Mr. Volker Leitzgen-CTO, has paved the path for AVS to learn, explore and provide our services to NGOs in Germany to help them achieve outcomes that empower and enable them in their fields of service. About Stephanus: The Stephanus Foundation is a Christian, non-profit company, and member of Diakonie Deutschland. Together with its subsidiaries, it provides social services in the areas of housing and care, housing and more for people with disabilities, supported work for people with disabilities, education, child and family support and last but not least also in the areas of migration and integration. All these services are used daily by around 10,000 people at over 100 locations in Berlin and Brandenburg. Based on basic Christian values, the Stephanus Foundation is a reliable employer for around 4,000 employees and trainees. About Alpha Variance Solutions: As a Microsoft Gold ERP Partner, Alpha Variance Solutions has extensive technical and operational expertise in Microsoft Dynamics 365, specializing in the NGO market as well as the retail and professional services markets. We also guide our clients to the right Dynamics licensing model. Alpha Variance Solutions provide our clients a comprehensive technology solution that meets their needs and exceeds their expectations. We believe an implementation should not change the way you do business; it should enhance the way you do business. Alpha Variance Solutions GmbH offers Microsoft Dynamics 365 Implementation, Licensing, AI, Azure Infrastructure, Cloud Migration, Modern Workplace, Support Services, DevOps, Change Management, Advisory, Project Rescue, and Training Services. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1990588/AVS_GmbH_Logo.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1990551/Stephanus_Logo.jpg SOURCE Alpha Variance Solutions GmbH Dr. Feikema brings senior executive experience in higher education, educational technology, product development, human resource services and more INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- American College of Education (ACE), a leading online college, announced Dr. Jodi Feikema as its new provost and chief academic officer. With comprehensive senior and executive academic leadership experience, Dr. Feikema will lead the college's academic initiatives and continue its upward growth in offering flexible, affordable and high-quality programs in education, nursing, healthcare, leadership, business and more. "We're excited to have Dr. Feikema join the ACE family and team of executive leaders," ACE President and CEO Geordie Hyland said. "ACE is a unique institution which combines high quality, efficacy and relevance with tremendous return on investment to its students and industry partners. Dr. Feikema is an established leader in higher education and her extensive expertise as well as her ability to innovate and lead will enable ACE to continue to evolve and expand its impact." Dr. Feikema has cultivated a proven track record of innovation in previous senior leadership roles at Zovio, Bridgepoint Education and Ashford University, alongside a faculty position at the University of Arizona Global Campus. She holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Development and Leadership from the University of the Rockies, a master's degree from St. Ambrose University and a bachelor's degree from Iowa State. Her involvement in accreditation, faculty management, curriculum and product development, staff development, academic support services, credit for prior learning, partner relationships, and more will serve as impactful assets to ACE. "It's a pleasure to have Dr. Jodi Feikema join our team," ACE Board of Trustees Chairperson Dr. Jeri Nowakowski said. "Her substantial experience in new program development and review delivers measurable results, and she has provided leadership and instructional expertise in the increasingly critical area of prior learning assessment. We welcome her to an academic team fully devoted to successful student learning and success." About American College of Education American College of Education (ACE) is an accredited, 100% online college specializing in high-quality, affordable programs in education, business, leadership, healthcare and nursing. ACE is ranked #2 on Newsweek's 2023 top online colleges list. Headquartered in Indianapolis, ACE offers more than 80 innovative and engaging programs for adult students to pursue a doctorate, specialist, master's or bachelor's degree, along with micro-credentials and graduate-level certificate programs. In addition to being a leader in online education, ACE is a Certified B Corporation. Certified B Corporations are leaders of a global movement to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. SOURCE American College of Education Biotech industry and banking veteran completes Apogee's executive team positioning the company for substantial progress in 2023 SAN FRANCISCO and WALTHAM, Mass., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Apogee Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company advancing novel, potentially best-in-class therapies to address the needs of the millions of people living with immunological and inflammatory disorders, today announced the appointment of Jane Pritchett Henderson as Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Henderson has an extensive track record in financial and corporate strategy leadership, including financing private and public companies, partnering and M&A, and building teams and operations. Prior to joining Apogee, Ms. Henderson served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer at Invivyd Therapeutics where she led the company's Series C crossover financing and subsequent IPO. Jane Pritchett Henderson, CFO, Apogee Therapeutics "Jane is a highly accomplished leader and multiple time CFO with significant expertise in corporate strategy and finance in the healthcare sector, and we are excited to welcome her to our leadership team," said Michael Henderson, M.D., CEO of Apogee Therapeutics. "Her unique combination of experience as a seasoned biopharmaceutical executive and investment banker will help propel Apogee forward in its mission to advance medicines to the clinic for patients living with a range of immunological conditions." Ms. Henderson has a combination of more than 34 years' experience in growing public and private biopharmaceutical companies and investment banking, as well as extensive board experience. Ms. Henderson has held executive leadership roles in finance and corporate development at numerous public and private biotechnology companies including Invivyd Therapeutics (formerly Adagio Therapeutics), Turnstone Biologics, Voyager Therapeutics, Kolltan Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Celldex) and ISTA Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Bausch + Lomb). In addition, Ms. Henderson has extensive healthcare investment banking experience including the execution of more than 95 mergers and acquisitions and financing deals across various senior roles at HSBC Holdings plc, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Lehman Brothers, and Salomon Brothers. Ms. Henderson holds a B.S. in psychology from Duke University and currently serves on the Board of directors of Akero Therapeutics, IVERIC bio, and Ventus Therapeutics. "I am passionate about working with companies that can change the lives of patients, and Apogee has made impressive progress in quickly advancing a therapeutics pipeline that has the potential to provide better treatment options for patients and their physicians," said Ms. Henderson. "I look forward to partnering with Michael and the team and leveraging my experience to drive Apogee's financial strategy and maximize shareholder value while progressing our lead candidate, APG777, toward the clinic." The appointment of Ms. Henderson comes shortly after Apogee announced a $149M Series B financing in December of 2022. The financing was co-led by Deep Track Capital and RTW Investments, LP. Other investors included funds and accounts advised by Fidelity Management & Research Company, OrbiMed, Perceptive Xontogeny Ventures Fund II, RA Capital Management, and Wellington Management. Founding investors, Fairmount and Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners, also participated in the oversubscribed Series B financing. About Apogee Therapeutics Apogee Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company advancing novel, potentially best-in-class therapies to address the needs of the millions of people living with immunological and inflammatory disorders. Apogee is building a pipeline of product candidates targeting clinically validated biology and well-established development pathways. Apogee was founded in 2022 by Fairmount and Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners and is backed by leading healthcare investors. To learn more visit www.apogeetherapeutics.com. SOURCE Apogee Therapeutics, Inc. --Preclinical studies show that ASC10-A, the active metabolite of double prodrug ASC10, has potent antiviral activities against both monkeypox and SARS-CoV-2 viruses --Ascletis has received the Notice of Issuance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for the patent application of ASC10 and its derivatives, and their uses to treat multiple virus infections HANGZHOU and SHAOXING, China, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascletis Pharma Inc. (HKEX: 1672, "Ascletis") announces that the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has approved the Investigational New Drug (IND) application of ASC10 for monkeypox indication. ASC10 is an oral double prodrug. After oral administration, both ASC10 and single prodrug molnupiravir are rapidly and completely converted in vivo into the same active metabolite ASC10-A, also known as -D-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC) or EIDD-1931. Preclinical studies show that ASC10-A has broad spectrum antiviral activities including potent activities against both monkeypox and SARS-CoV-2 viruses. Ascletis has received the Notice of Issuance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for the patent application of ASC10 and its derivatives, and their uses to treat multiple virus infections including SARS-CoV-2, monkeypox virus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Ascletis is the first Chinese biotech company which has been granted a patent by the USPTO for its in-house developed oral viral polymerase inhibitor and its derivatives. Monkeypox virus is an orthopoxvirus that causes a disease with symptoms similar to smallpox[1]. As of January 25, 2023, over 85,106[2] confirmed cases have been reported globally and monkeypox virus has spread in 110 countries[2] according to data from World Health Organization (WHO). Data from in vitro antiviral cellular assay with infectious monkeypox virus, a study sponsored by Ascletis and conducted at IIT Research Institute (IITRI) of Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, U.S., showed that ASC10-A has potent antiviral activity against monkeypox virus, suggesting that ASC10 has the potential to be an effective treatment of monkeypox virus infection. In August 2022, researchers from National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japantested 132 drugs and the results showed that molnupiravir (active metabolite ASC10-A) and other two drugs have potent cellular antiviral activity in the infectious monkeypox virus assay[3]. The rest of 129 drugs such as remdesivir, favipiravir, sofosbuvir and ribavirin, etc. do not have antiviral activities against monkeypox virus[3]. "I'm very glad that the IND application of ASC10 for monkeypox bas been approved by China NMPA, which further validates Ascletis' in-house R&D capabilities on viral diseases. Currently, there is no approved treatment for monkeypox in the world. We hope that ASC10 will make a contribution to the control of monkeypox globally." said Dr. Jinzi J. Wu, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Ascletis. [1] https://www.who.int/health-topics/monkeypox/#tab=tab_1 [2] https://worldhealthorg.shinyapps.io/mpx_global/ [3] Daisuke Akazawa, Hirofumi Ohashi, Takayuki Hishiki, et al. Potential anti-monkeypox virus activity of atovaquone, mefloquine, and molnupiravir, and their potential use as treatments. bioRxiv preprint. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.08.02.502485 About Ascletis Ascletis is an innovative R&D driven biotech listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (1672.HK), covering the entire value chain from discovery and development to manufacturing and commercialization. Led by a management team with deep expertise and a proven track record, Ascletis focuses on three therapeutic areas with unmet medical needs from a global perspective: viral diseases, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and oncology. Through excellent execution, Ascletis rapidly advances its drug pipeline with an aim of leading in global competition. To date, Ascletis has three marketed products, i.e. ritonavir tablets, GANOVO and ASCLEVIR, and 22 drug candidates in its R&D pipeline. The most advanced drug candidates include ASC22 (HBV functional cure), ASC10 and ASC11(oral small molecules for COVID-19 treatment), ASC40 (recurrent glioblastoma), ASC42 (PBC, primary biliary cholangitis), and ASC40 (acne). For more information, please visit www.ascletis.com. SOURCE Ascletis Pharma Inc. Atria's Head of Financial Institution Channel, Valorie Seyfert, set to retire at end of February NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Atria Wealth Solutions, Inc. (Atria), a wealth management solutions holding company, today announced that Kevin Mummau and Brian Bichler have been appointed Co-Heads of Atria Wealth Solutions' Financial Institution channel with direct responsibility for CUSO Financial Services (CFS) and its sister broker-dealer Sorrento Pacific Financial LLC (SPF). In their new roles, they will lead this channel in continuing the firm's unwavering commitment to developing and customizing investment programs for credit unions and banks. For more than 20 years, Mr. Mummau has been the driving force behind CFS/SPF's strategic growth offering, most recently as Chief Relationship Officer overseeing the firm's relationship management team, managed investment programs and program development initiatives across several hundred credit union and bank program clients. Mr. Bichler, prior to this appointment, was Head of Platform Experience at Atria, where he led the design and rollout of many CFS/SPF initiatives, including the award-winning financial professional platform Unio and end-client portal and mobile application Clear1, and drove many facets of the firm's service and support offering. He brings more than 25 years of experience in financial services to his new role and previously held various executive positions, including Executive Director of Platform Strategy and Head of Advisor and Marketing Platforms at Morgan Stanley and Chief Information Officer of Wealth Management at Zions Bank. Doug Ketterer, CEO and Founding Partner of Atria, said, "Brian and Kevin are proven leaders and, as Co-Heads of our Financial Institution channel, their skills, knowledge and long-standing relationships will strengthen our commitment to financial institutions and their members and clients. Both bring deep experience, a track record of thoughtful innovation and strong client relationship skills to their new roles. Coming off a record revenue year in 2022, Atria has ambitious goals for our Financial Institution channel this year and beyond. Brian and Kevin are the right leaders to lead this channel for us, and the breadth and depth of their combined talent and experience will have a huge impact on our business and that of our clients." Concurrent with Messrs. Mummau and Bichler's appointment, Valorie Seyfert, Head of Atria's Financial Institution channel and Co-Founder and President of CFS/SPF, has announced her retirement. Ketterer said, "We are so very fortunate for Valorie's leadership over the past 26 years. In the truest sense of the word, she was a trailblazer for this industry and our firm. We have exciting plans for the future of CFS/SPF, and her legacy of insight, expertise and dynamism will have a lasting impact on the firm, our financial institution partners and our industry for decades to come." About Atria Wealth Solutions Atria Wealth Solutions, Inc. (Atria), headquartered in New York City, is a wealth management solutions holding company focused on delivering a clear path to the future of financial advice for financial professionals, financial institutions and their clients. Atria's broker-dealer and RIA subsidiaries, located throughout the U.S., empower financial institutions and independent financial professionals with a sophisticated set of tools, services and capabilities that deepen client relationships and maximize efficiencies in their practices. Atria operates the following independent wealth management subsidiaries that provide brokerage and advisory services: Cadaret Grant & Co., NEXT Financial Group, Western International Securities, SCF Securities, CUSO Financial Services, and Sorrento Pacific Financial. Atria's subsidiaries together support nearly 2,500 financial professionals and approximately $100 billion of assets under administration. For more information, please visit atriawealth.com. About CUSO Financial Services, LP and Sorrento Pacific Financial LLC Established in 1997, full-service, sister broker dealers CUSO Financial Services, L.P. and Sorrento Pacific Financial LLC (Members FINRA/SIPC) provide customized investment and insurance solutions to over 200 financial institutions throughout the country, with over $30 billion in AUA. Headquartered in San Diego, with branch offices nationwide, both broker dealers are SEC Registered Investment Advisers, with expertise in key areas including retirement services, wealth management, advisory solutions and insurance products for both individuals and business customers. For more information, visit cusonet.com. CONTACT INFORMATION Haven Tower Group Julian Arenzon 424 317 4861 [email protected] SOURCE Atria Wealth Solutions WARSAW, Poland, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Auschwitz Pledge Foundation , a non-governmental organization (NGO) with a mission to fight indifference to discrimination in all forms, launches its Erase Indifference Initiative on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day. In recent years, a number of communities have faced ever-increasing discrimination and threats. On several continents, women have experienced the restriction of their rights. Almost every day groups of people experience aggression and attacks because of their ethnicity, skin color or who they love. Well-known celebrities and many others have given hate speech a wide platform in social media. Anti-immigrant rhetoric fuelled the rise of nationalism and populist parties around the globe, materializing in the Russian aggression against Ukraine, which forced millions of refugees to suddenly leave their homes. "Throughout history, we have seen the ramifications of indifference and how it can foster bigotry, violence, and even genocide," said Jacek Kastelaniec, General Director, Auschwitz Pledge Foundation. 'This is why the Auschwitz Pledge Foundation is launching a series of actions to target indifference and make it a topic of public conversation and scrutiny. Today we start with a Challenge, and later this year we will honor a group of well-known leaders who are fighting indifference, and learn from their knowledge and experience at our inaugural roundtable event. Through these efforts, we look forward to seeing and supporting ideas from great minds and compassionate people across the world who have found new and creative ways to tackle indifference." The Erase Indifference Challenge, open now through March 3rd, 2023, is a global competition to award grants and mentorship to organizations that have developed innovative solutions and modern tools for tackling indifference to racism, antisemitism, misogyny and discrimination against migrants, refugees and LGBTQIA+ communities. The Challenge is an open invitation to innovators, NGOs, universities, startups, private businesses, public institutions, religious associations, or informal groups to apply for financial support to fund, scale and promote their projects. It aims to heighten awareness, encourage conversation and drive action to dramatically reduce indifference on a global scale over the next ten years. The Auschwitz Pledge Foundation was founded in 2021 to acknowledge the imminent dangers of indifference. One of its main goals is to react quickly to global events that lead to discrimination through indifference. In a pilot program last year, the Foundation supported a joint initiative from U.S.-based Right to Be and T'ruah for their proposed bystander intervention program, an anti-hate initiative combating antisemitism through a series of intervention online trainings. The project was intensified during last year's surge in antisemitic behavior and discourse in the U.S. Additional support was given to a Poland-based games company (GD Events), that addressed discrimination against refugee youth in Polish schools through gamification, at a time when almost 200,000 Ukrainian children joined the Polish education system. According to estimates, up to 600,000 refugee children in Poland remain outside of it. "The 1920s and 1930s were a period of unprecedented development of the media but also spurred populism, demagogy, and language of hatred that led to the development of nationalisms, Second World War, and the Holocaust," said Piotr M. A. Cywinski, chairman of the board of the Auschwitz Pledge Foundation. "A century later - in a period of unprecedented expansion of social networks and mobile and online communication - the threats are similar. All this requires a serious public debate that crosses the borders of states, cultures, languages, and religions ." Applications for the Erase Indifference Challenge are open from January 26th, 2023 to March 3rd, 2023. To apply or learn more, visit eraseindifference.org. Contact information: Jacek Kastelaniec [email protected] EraseIndifference.org Antoni Wolowski [email protected] EraseIndifference.org SOURCE Auschwitz Pledge Foundation Dr. Luis Martinez-Fernandez's book sheds insightful light on political, geopolitical and cultural transformations that have, as the author says, turned the world upside down. WINDERMERE, Fla., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- From the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020, through the wave of social upheaval following the killing of George Floyd, climate change-induced catastrophic floods, droughts, and other forms of extreme weather, the January 6th attempted coup at the US Capitol, and through Putin's brutal invasion of Ukraine, in the last four years, the world has been turned upside down. Dr. Luis Martinez-Fernandez's book launching February 15, 2023, titled "When the World Turned Upside Down: Politics, Culture, and the Unimaginable Events of 2019-2022" examines how almost every aspect of life has been profoundly affected from economics, politics, and geopolitics to society and culture. New Book Launching February 15, 2023, "When The World Turned Upside Down: Politics, Culture and The Unimaginable Events of 2019-2022" by Dr. Luis Martinez-Fernandez Dr. Luis Martinez-Fernandez Award-winning historian and nationally syndicated columnist Dr. Luis Martinez-Fernandez skillfully examines these events from the intersection of opinion journalism, chronicling, and historical analysis. This rare combination of methods and perspectives offers readers unique insights on various subjects and how history sheds light on historical developments of the past four years. This book invites readers to a dialogue between the past and present and, occasionally, the future. "In 'When the World Turned Upside Down,' Luis Martinez-Fernandez demonstrates that he is not 'merely' an acclaimed historian but an engaging, sharp-witted social commentator. This excellent collection of columns, written during and about what Martinez-Fernandez rightly terms 'the unimaginable events of 2019-2022,' is dazzling for his easy, readable blend of history, sociology, popular culture, politics, and more," said Jeff Robbins, Boston Herald and Creators Syndicate. Book Information Title: When the World Turned Upside Down: Politics, Culture, and the Unimaginable Events of 2019-2022, by Luis Martinez-Fernandez (a collection of 66 essays and opinion columns written between 2019 and 2022) Pages: 442 ISBN: (PDF) 9781433195983 ISBN: (ePUB) 9781433195990 DOI: 10.3726/b20055 Language: English Publisher: Peter Lang, New York, Bern, Berlin, Brussels, Oxford, Wien, 2023. Scheduled release date: February 15, 2023, it will be available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and retail bookstores in the US and internationally ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Luis Martinez-Fernandez is a historian, university professor, nationally syndicated columnist with Creators Syndicate, and public speaker whose fields of expertise include Latin America, the Caribbean, international affairs and world cultures, and Latinos/Hispanics. Find further information at Luis Martinez-Fernandez on Wikipedia and on his website: https://www.culturaltranslations.com. ABOUT THE PUBLISHER Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, Peter Lang Group has more than 50 years of experience in academic publishing, with an active list of 40,000+ titles in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Peter Lang titles are made available worldwide through partnerships with online retailers, bookstores, distributors, and academic libraries. To learn more, go to https://www.peterlang.com/. To place an order write to [email protected]. INTERVIEWS BY REQUEST Primary Contact: Dr. Luis Martinez-Fernandez, [email protected] Media Contact: Lynette Hoy, [email protected], 4156943004 SOURCE Luis Martinez-Fernandez NEWARK, N.J., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BioCentriq, Inc.a New Jersey-based, cell and gene therapy contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO)announced today that they've completed a study designed to test transfection of T-cells with GFP mRNA for evaluation of cell viability, transfection efficiency, and post transfection growth using Kytopen's Flowfect technology. "This study yielded promising results that we're proud to publish and make available to our industry colleagues." Tweet this Download BioCentriq's results of completed a study designed to test transfection of T-cells with GFP mRNA for evaluation of cell viability, transfection efficiency, and post transfection growth using Kytopens Flowfect technology . The results are published in a white paper titled Efficient, Large-Scale Transfection of T-Cells Using Flowfect Technology, which was released during last week's Advanced Therapies Week. The study and white paper were at the heart of the partnership formed between BioCentriq and Kytopen in 2021 with the stated goal of determining if simple and efficient non-viral manufacturing of cell therapies could be successfully executed in days versus weeks. During the study, which was conducted at BioCentriq by their process development team, cells were transfected with mRNA encoding for GFP, which was analyzed using flow cytometry as a measure of transfection efficiency. Transfection is an invaluable tool used in cell engineering applications to study and modify gene expression by introducing mRNA or DNA into a recipient cell. Traditional transfection methods, such as static electroporation, typically result in adverse effects to cell viability, delivery efficiency, and subsequent cell growth. "Being able to collaborate with Kytopen to maximize the potential of their Flowfect technology yielded promising results that we're proud to publish and make available to our industry colleagues," said Alex Klarer, VP of Business Strategy and Innovation at BioCentriq. Flowfect is a technology that combines continuous fluid flow with electric fields for high efficiency delivery of payloads such as mRNA, DNA, and CRISPR Cas9 RNP to primary cells. By carefully synchronizing the pulse delivery with the fluid flow, the harmful effects of traditional transfection via static electroporation are eliminated. Kytopen's ex vivo cell engineering platform is compatible with primary cells being developed for immuno-oncology and gene editing applications. "Our revolutionary Flowfect platform can unlock the healing power of cells, and the results of this study demonstrate just how useful a tool it is in allogeneic and autologous cell therapy applications," said Bethany Grant, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer at Kytopen. The white paper is available for download via BioCentriq's website. About BioCentriq BioCentriq is a full-service, New Jersey-based CDMO for cell and gene therapy, focusing on all stages of process development and clinical manufacturing. It was purchased by GC of South Korea for $73M. With over 70 scientists, engineers, analysts, and manufacturing specialists, the company has established quality systems and the infrastructure required to support the release of autologous and allogeneic drug products. For more information, visit BioCentriq.com. ABOUT KYTOPEN Kytopen is an MIT startup developing platforms to accelerate the discovery, development, and manufacturing of gene-modified cell therapies. The scalable Flowfect solution combines microfluidics and automation to make this process easier, faster, and more cost-effective than the state-of-the art solutions. In 2017, Dr. Paulo Garcia co-founded Kytopen with Dr. Cullen Buie. Together they co-invented Kytopen's proprietary Flowfect technology for high-throughput genetic modification of cells. For more information, visit www.kytopen.com and follow @kytopen on Twitter and LinkedIn. Kytopen products are provided for Research Use Only. SOURCE BioCentriq NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The biocomposites market has garnered $29.1 billion in revenue in 2022, and it is projected to rise by 17.2%, to capture $103.6 billion by 2030, according to industry research company P&S Intelligence. The government strategies to substitute plastics with biocomposites and the rising public awareness regarding eco-friendly materials are the two major reasons behind the growth of the market. Furthermore, the growing requirement of the automotive sector to advance passenger safety and lighten the weight of vehicles is contributing to the material demand. Get the sample pages of this report: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/biocomposites-market/report-sample Demand for Green Composites Is Surging from Automotive Sector On the basis of value, the automotive sector had a market share of approximately 20% in 2022. This significant demand can be credited to the rising need of the automotive sector for lightweight materials, to increase the fuel efficiency of vehicles and meet government guidelines. Biocomposites offer many benefits, the biggest among which is a reduced dependence on non-renewable resources, including polymers created from petroleum. Moreover, they offer huge savings on electricity consumption and production expenses to manufacturers. Such reasons have motivated Ford Motor Co. and other automotive manufacturers to spend more on research on such materials. Biocomposites Gaining Traction among European Automotive OEMs On the basis of value, Europe held a revenue share of above 30% in 2022. The dominance of the region can be credited to the snowballing need for such composites from the construction and automotive industries. Wood fibers, wood flour, and bast fibers, including flax, hemp, kenaf, cork, bamboo, and fibers of sunflower seed shells, are utilized in the making of the composites, depending on what the ultimate application is. Emerging Opportunities from Military Aviation Sector In the coming years, the revenue generated by biocomposite sales to military aviation companies will rise by more than 10%. With the increasing defense spending around the world, the usage of these materials in airframe structures is increasing. Browse detailed report on Global Biocomposites Market Growth, Development and Demand Forecast Report 2030 North America Consumes Significant Amount of Biocomposites North America had a significant revenue share, of approximately 20%, in 2022. This is attributed to the fact that the automotive industry in the continent is extensively accepting bio-fiber composites because of their low weight, no carbon dioxide emissions while burning, low power consumption while being manufactured, and easy recyclability. Hence, the automotive sector is increasing its utilization of high-performance bio-based materials to meet the growing demand for sustainability. In 2022, APAC had the largest revenue share in the market, of approximately 40%, because of the fast industrialization and the snowballing demand for such materials from the consumer goods and automotive sectors. Moreover, the increasing need for non-toxic, biodegradable, and moisture- and heat-resistant materials in construction is contributing to the growth of the market in the APAC region. Biocomposites Market Report Coverage By Type Structural Non-Structural By Fiber Type WoodPlastic Composites (WPCs) Natural Fiber Composites (NFCs) By Application Construction Automotive Consumer Goods Aerospace Packaging Medical Regional Analysis North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany U.K. Russia France Asia-Pacific China India Japan Latin America Brazil Mexico Middle East & Africa & Saudi Arabia South Africa Browse More Reports Published by P&S Global Synthetic Fibers Market Analysis, Growth, Development and Demand Forecast to 2030 Global Fiber Cement Market Analysis, Growth, Development and Demand Forecast to 2030 Global Basalt Fiber Market Size, Growth, Development and Demand Forecast to 2030 About P&S Intelligence P&S Intelligence provides market research and consulting services to a vast array of industries across the world. As an enterprising research and consulting company, P&S believes in providing thorough insights on the ever-changing market scenario, to empower companies to make informed decisions and base their business strategies with astuteness. P&S keeps the interest of its clients at heart, which is why the insights we provide are both honest and accurate. Our long list of satisfied clients includes entry-level firms as well as multi-million-dollar businesses and government agencies. Contact: Prajneesh Kumar P&S Intelligence Phone: +1-347-960-6455 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.psmarketresearch.com Follow Us: LinkedIn Twitter Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1224988/P_and_S_Intelligence_Logo.jpg SOURCE P&S Intelligence Boom is joined by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and Senate Leader Phil Berger at groundbreaking event in Greensboro, NC Overture airliner on track to enter production in 2024 GREENSBORO, N.C. and DENVER, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Boom Supersonic , the company building the world's fastest airliner, kicked off construction of its Overture Superfactory today in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Overture Superfactory is a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility located on a 62-acre campus at the Piedmont Triad International Airport. This site will house the final assembly line, as well as test facility, and customer delivery center for Boom's flagship supersonic airliner, Overture. The Overture Superfactory is a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility located on a 62-acre campus at the Piedmont Triad International Airport. "Today's groundbreaking for the Overture Superfactory represents a significant step forward in building sustainable and accessible supersonic travel for the world," said Kathy Savitt, President of Boom Supersonic. "This milestone is a shared one and we are deeply appreciative of the input, leadership, and support of the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority, local community, and the state of North Carolina." By 2032, Boom will hire more than 2,400 workers at the Superfactory, and recruiting is already underway. North Carolina economists estimate that the full Boom manufacturing program will grow the state's economy by at least $32.3 billion over 20 years. In addition to Boom's job creation in the state, the company is creating over 200 internships for students in North Carolina public universities, community colleges, and trade schools to build the next generation of supersonic workers. "Building on our legacy of 'First in Flight,' North Carolina is ready to partner with Boom Supersonic in leading the way to a fast and clean aviation future," North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said. "Our economy is taking flight with a talented workforce and strong infrastructure ready for these new, good-paying jobs in innovation and aerospace." Boom selected North Carolina as the site for Overture aircraft manufacturing because of its large skilled talent pool, access to exceptional universities, community colleges, and technical schools, proximity to the Eastern Seaboard for supersonic flight testing over water and close proximity to several top-tier aerospace suppliers. North Carolina's aerospace manufacturing sector has grown three-times faster than the national average over the past few years. "It's an exciting time to live in North Carolina and see the influx of innovative companies establish roots in our state. The high-paying and skilled jobs that Boom Supersonic will create will make a significant economic impact in the Triad and across the entire state," said North Carolina Senate Leader Phil Berger. "Boom Supersonic continues to deliver on its commitments and is growing its presence in North Carolina, building excitement in the community," said Paul Mengert, Chair of the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority. "On behalf of the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority and our board members, we congratulate Boom on this milestone for Overture." Throughout this year, Boom will focus on construction of the Overture Superfactory with BE&K Building Group and their design partner, BRPH. The building will be LEED certified in keeping with Boom's commitment to environmental sustainability. In 2024, Boom will install tooling, provided by Advanced Integration Technology (AIT), ahead of moving into the building and preparing the facility and staff for Overture production launch the same year. Boom continues to complete critical program milestones including the unveiling of Symphony , the new propulsion system designed and optimized for Overture, which also took place in Greensboro last month. About Boom Supersonic Boom Supersonic is transforming air travel with Overture, the world's fastest airliner, optimized for speed, safety, and sustainability. Serving both civil and government markets, Overture will fly at twice the speed of today's airliners and is designed to run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Symphony, a Boom-led collaboration with industry leaders, is the propulsion system that will power Overture. Overture's order book, including purchases and options from American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines, stands at 130 aircraft. Boom is working with Northrop Grumman for government and defense applications of Overture. Suppliers and partners collaborating with Boom on the Overture program include Collins Aerospace, Eaton, Florida Turbine Technologies (FTT), a business unit of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., GE Additive, Safran Landing Systems, StandardAero and the United States Air Force. For more information, visit https://boomsupersonic.com . Photos and video available at https://boomsupersonic.com/press . Connect with Boom Supersonic on Twitter , LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram, YouTube SOURCE Boom Supersonic TOLEDO, Ohio, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mark C. Christie, Chief Executive Officer of The Bostwick-Braun Company, today announced the promotion of Rob Dilts to Vice President of Operations & Supply Chain for the company's Hardware Business Unit. Dilts will oversee the hardware operations and supply chain of the company's Ashley and West Helena locations and report directly to the President of Hardware. His position is a new role in the organization and key to developing the Hardware Business Unit's investments in its infrastructure, technology, logistics capabilities, best-in-class processes and employees. As Vice President, Dilts will be focused in 2023 on increasing the Hardware Business Unit's fill rates, improving efficiencies in its warehouses and leveraging its transportation partnership with JB Hunt Dedicated Services. Additionally, he will lead the unit's efforts to grow sales, enhance service levels and reduce operating costs. "Rob joined the organization last year and made an immediate impact directing cross-functional efforts to reduce excess and obsolete inventory, and they've been excellent, ongoing successes," said Christie. "He brings a passion for creating win-win relationships with our supplier partners and for delivering on our commitment to providing an outstanding experience for our retailers." Dilts has an extensive background in building high-performance teams in all phases of operations and supply chains. Prior to joining Bostwick-Braun Company's Hardware Business Unit, he had over 30 years' experience in supply chain management at HJ Heinz, Hearthside Food Solutions, Dana Corporation, Thyssen Krupp, MTD and Vigoro Industries. He mostly recently served as Senior Materials and Logistics Manager at Norcold, Inc., a manufacturer of specialty refrigerators to the RV and marine industries. About The Bostwick-Braun Company The Bostwick-Braun Company is a wholesale distributor of hardware and industrial supplies, and is one of the largest and oldest in the Midwest. For more than 160 years, we have assisted stores with their supply needs and provided them with business services and guidance to ensure their longevity. We also supply companies with MRO products, fasteners, cutting tools and value-add solutions that help them reduce costs and improve productivity. Contact: The Bostwick-Braun Company Brad Rosenthal VP Marketing and eCommerce [email protected] SOURCE BOSTWICK-BRAUN CHARLESTON, S.C., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SinglePoint, Inc. (OTCQB: SING) ("SinglePoint" or "the Company") announced today that its subsidiary, BPA Solutions, a premier provider and consultant for clean air services, fulfilled another purchase order of Certified HEPA, AirBox air purification units for what is now the tenth school as part of the California EANS program. Ryan Cowell, BPA Solutions CEO, said, "Adding another school purchase to our platform showcases schools' efforts to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) in their buildings. We look forward to continuing our efforts in California and providing any additional support in their ongoing efforts to improve the health and safety of their campus buildings." AirBox units are made and manufactured in Statesville, North Carolina, and are certified "Made in the USA" products. Each unit is quality control tested before leaving the assembly floor. BPA Solutions uses only the highest quality components to build the leading air purifier designed for commercial use but is usable in any location. Every unit produced uses Certified HEPA filtration, the highest filtration certification available today. BPA Solutions is an industry expert in improving indoor air quality. BPA Solutions has been working with schools using ESSER, EANS, and FEMA dollars. The Company is uniquely qualified to effectively implement air purification solutions and utilize the existing federal funding for clients. About BPA Solutions At BPA Solutions, we believe in providing schools with products and services designed to create a healthier, safer school environment. Our flagship entity, BOX Pure Air, introduced us to the school industry and the daily problems schools face. As we continue to expand, we are constantly looking for ways to provide quality resources at a reasonable cost to schools. BOX Pure Air - Air Purification and indoor air quality solutions LifeShield+ - Bullet-resistant window shades & door shields BPA Consulting - guidance for schools on receiving and spending federal grant money For more information, please visit BPAsolutions.com. About SinglePoint Inc. (OTCQB:SING) SinglePoint is a sustainable lifestyle Company focused on the solar energy and storage and indoor air purification markets. The Company plans to build the largest renewable energy solutions network and modernize the traditional solar energy and energy storage business model. SinglePoint continues to execute its acquisition strategy by exploring future growth opportunities in indoor air purification and ventilation, electric vehicle charging, solar as a subscription service, and additional energy efficiencies and appliances that enhance sustainability and healthier life. For more information, visit the Company's websites: www.singlepoint.com, www.bostonsolar.us, www.bpasolutions.com, and www.boxpureair.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, besides statements of fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding revenue projections, financing opportunities, potential plans and objectives of the Company, anticipated growth, and future expansion, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Technical and other complications, which may arise, could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above. The Company undertakes no duty to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release. SinglePoint Inc Investor Contact: Tra-Digital IR [email protected] 212.389.9782 ext. 107 BPA Solutions Contact Information: [email protected] 843.302.2838 www.solutionsbpa.com SOURCE SinglePoint Inc. Butler National Promotes 20+ Year Employee Christopher Reedy to Chief Operating Officer OLATHE, Kan., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Butler National Corporation (OTCQB: BUKS) announces the corporate organizational structure change with the establishment of the Chief Operator Officer ("COO") position, and the appointment of Christopher J. Reedy by the Board as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary of the Company. Butler National is a recognized provider of professional management services in the gaming industry and a leader in special mission aircraft modifications. Christopher Reedy has extensive experience in both of these segments with his past role as Vice President and Secretary for the Corporation. Butler National has employed Christopher Reedy to perform many roles since November of 2000. Mr. Reedy was appointed to the Secretary position in 2005. In addition to his aviation credentials, Mr. Reedy possesses a Bachelor's Science in Electrical Engineering from Kansas State University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Leadership of each of the Butler National operating subsidiaries report to the COO. The COO reports to the Chief Executive Officer. The COO will also be responsible for shareholder relations. "I am pleased that the Board has appointed Chris Reedy to the COO position. He is deserving of this role in that he has performed many of the COO functions in his previous position. Mr. Reedy has a very unique complement of experience and skills that make him well-suited to be the Butler National COO." Commented R. Warren Wagoner, Chairman of the Butler National Board of Directors. "Mr. Reedy's twenty-plus years of contributions include airplane fuel tank protection, leading many FAA STC approvals of avionics modifications, aircraft modification negotiations and countless hours supporting casino operations, from support of governmental affairs legislative and regulatory efforts to support of employee relations. He is a valuable resource for the Corporation." About Butler National Corporation Butler National Corporation has been a recognized provider of professional management services in the gaming industry for more than 20 years. Following the enactment of the Kansas Expanded Lottery Act (KELA), Butler National competed for a contract to manage a Lottery Gaming Facility for the State of Kansas. In 2008, Butler National Service Corporation (a Butler National Corporation subsidiary) proposed and was awarded a contract to manage the Boot Hill Casino & Resort in Dodge City. When Boot Hill Casino opened in 2009, it was the first state-owned and -operated casino in Kansas. In addition to its gaming division, Butler National manufactures, sells and services support systems for private, commercial and military aircraft. About Boot Hill Casino & Resort Boot Hill Casino & Resort, managed by BHCMC, LLC and Butler National Service Corporation, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Butler National Corporation (OTCQB: BUKS), features over 450 electronic gaming machines, 14 table games, and a 150-seat casual dining restaurant known as Firesides at Boot Hill. The $90 million Boot Hill Casino project opened in December 2009. The lottery facility games at Boot Hill Casino & Resort are owned and operated by the Kansas Lottery. The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission provides regulatory oversight for the casino. For more information about Boot Hill Casino & Resort, please visit us at www.boothillcasino.com, or call us at 1.877.906.0777. For more information, contact: Melinda Tiemeyer [email protected] 816-721-1000 SOURCE Butler National Corporation VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Callinex Mines Inc. (the "Company" or "Callinex") (OTCQX: CLLXF) has been made aware of and has been requested by the OTC Markets Group Inc. ("OTC Markets") to comment on recent trading and promotional activity related to the Company's common shares. On or about January 23, 2023, the OTC Markets made the Company aware that certain promotional emails (the "marketing materials") were published by Wealth Global Group ("WGG") discussing the Company, its business and the base metal industry in general. The Company does not believe the marketing materials increased interest and impacted trading activity. In particular, on January 23, 2023, the Company issued a news release that disclosed high-grade copper assays together with a summary of a successful drill campaign carried out by the Company on its Pine Bay Project. The news release also disclosed that the Company is awaiting its maiden resource estimate that will facilitate exploration targeting as well as economic studies at the Pine Bay Project. In 2018, the Company and Future Money LLC ("FMT") entered into a marketing agreement (the "existing marketing agreement") whereby FMT and its affiliated entities, which include Gold Standard Media LLC and WGG, have assisted the Company in various marketing campaigns that have included interviews with management, written materials contain information from the Company's public filings, creation of a website language page and distribution that included a link to the landing page. FMT and its affiliated entities recently provided services to the Company in September 2022 under the existing marketing agreement. Although the Company has an existing marketing agreement with FMT, the marketing materials published by WGG were prepared independently by WGG and the Company paid no compensation to WGG for the distribution of the marketing materials. The Company, after inquiring of management, directors and control persons, its officers, directors and any controlling shareholders did not engage, directly or indirectly, WGG to create or distribute the materials, however, the Company was aware that WGG was considering the distribution of an email or newsletter on its own accord without any compensation payable by the Company. As the marketing materials were independently published by WGG, the Company did not request and did not receive any of the marketing materials prior to distribution. After reviewing the marketing materials, the Company considers them to be factually accurate and are not materially false and/or misleading. The Company will continue to engage FMT on a going forward basis under the existing marketing agreement whereby it will provide digital marketing services and engage other third party service provides on its behalf. The Company requires all paid marketing materials to be reviewed by the Company prior to any distribution. Additionally, the Company has inquired and determined that management, directors and, to the best of its knowledge, control persons have not sold or purchased the company's securities within the past 90 days except for the exercise of 72,333 stock options of the Company, of which the vast majority were excised at an average price of $2.84 per share. The Company has not issued shares or convertible instruments allowing conversion to equity securities at prices constituting a discount to the current market rate at the time of the issuance. Other than as noted above, the Company has not engaged any third party investor relations firm over the last 12 months. About Callinex Mines Inc. Callinex Mines Inc. (TSXV: CNX) (OTCQX: CLLXF) is advancing its portfolio of base and precious metals rich deposits located in established Canadian mining jurisdictions. The focus of the portfolio is highlighted by the rapidly expanding Rainbow and Alchemist deposits at its rich VMS Pine Bay Project located near existing infrastructure in the Flin Flon Mining District. The second asset in the portfolio is the Nash Creek Project located in the VMS rich Bathurst Mining District of New Brunswick. A 2018 PEA generates a strong economic return with a pre-tax IRR of 34.1% (25.2% post-tax) and NPV8% of $230 million ($128 million post-tax) at $1.25 Zinc. The third asset, 100% owned Point Leamington Deposit in Newfoundland, is located in one of the richest VMS and Gold Districts in Canada. Callinex prepared a pit constrained Indicated Mineral Resource of 5.0 Mt grading 2.5 g/t AuEq for 402 koz AuEq (145.7 koz gold, 60.0 Mlb copper, 153.5 Mlb zinc, 2.0 Moz silver, 1.5 Mlb lead), an pit constrained Inferred Mineral Resource of 13.7 Mt grading 2.24 g/t AuEq for 986.5 koz AuEq (354.8 koz gold, 110.2 Mlb copper, 527.3 Mlb zinc, 6.2 Moz silver, 7.0 Mlb lead) and an out-of-pit Inferred Mineral Resource of 1.7 Mt grading 3.06 g/t AuEq for 168.5 koz AuEq (65.4 koz gold, 13.3 Mlb copper, 102.9 Mlb zinc, 1.4 Moz Ag, 2.6 Mlb lead). Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future expenditures. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, among others, the ability to complete the proposed drill program and the timing and amount of expenditures. Except as required under applicable securities laws, Callinex does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement. SOURCE Callinex Mines Inc. Verified Customer Ratings Fuel Fourth Annual CARFAX Top-Rated Dealers DALLAS, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CARFAX is recognizing dealerships around the country with its fourth annual Top-Rated Dealers Award. The list was released today on the eve of the National Automobile Dealers Association Show in Dallas. The 2022 CARFAX Top-Rated Dealers received an average of 4.5 stars out of a possible five. "These dealers have been recognized by CARFAX consumers as the best of the best when it comes to building trust and transparency," said Gregg Cleary, CARFAX Vice President of Dealer Business. "They truly set the bar high for customer care. CARFAX has more than 4.1 million verified ratings and reviews, and dealers earn the Top-Rated distinction strictly from that verified feedback. We want to make it easier for people looking to buy or service a car to know they're in good hands." "These dealers have been recognized by CARFAX consumers as the best of the best when it comes to building trust." Tweet this Johnson Lexus of Raleigh, North Carolina, has not only earned a CARFAX Top-Rated award all four years, but they have the most five-star reviews in 2022, with 559. "We are proud to hold that distinction," said Mike Dalton, General Manager at Johnson Lexus of Raleigh. "It's a true reflection of how hard our team works to provide unprecedented customer service. This is our fourth year earning CARFAX Top-Rated Dealer, and we proudly share that honor knowing it's backed by our customers' verified reviews and the CARFAX brand." This week, CARFAX Top-Rated Dealers around the country are learning that they've been honored. As winners, they will receive a kit of materials to display in their dealerships and have access to a suite of custom CARFAX Top-Rated Dealer digital assets that will help them share their excellent ratings in their online presence, including social media using #CARFAXtoprated. 2022 CARFAX Top-Rated Dealers will also be able to show off their recognition to customers on the CARFAX Vehicle History Reports they provide. The highly coveted #GoldenCARFOX will be arriving at winning dealers this spring. Editor's note: Reporters are welcome to visit the CARFAX booth (#1215) at the NADA Show to learn more. Interviews are available including in-person at NADA. Please contact [email protected]. About CARFAX CARFAX , part of S&P Global Mobility, helps millions of people every day confidently shop, buy, service and sell used cars with innovative solutions powered by CARFAX vehicle history information. The expert in vehicle history since 1984, CARFAX provides exclusive services like CARFAX Used Car Listings , CARFAX Car Care , CARFAX History-Based Value and the flagship CARFAX Vehicle History Report to consumers and the automotive industry. CARFAX owns the world's largest vehicle history database and is nationally recognized as a top workplace by The Washington Post and Glassdoor.com. Shop, Buy, Service, Sell Show me the CARFAX. S&P Global Mobility is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI). S&P Global is the world's foremost provider of credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets. SOURCE CARFAX Over 90% of restaurant management roles were internal promotions last year as company continues accelerated expansion plans Human capital investments showing early results in increased retention rates this year NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) today announced it is launching a new hiring campaign featuring its current employees to drive applications and ensure its restaurants are fully staffed for burrito season, which is typically the Company's busiest time of year running from March to May. The brand is showcasing the stories of its people and profiling their transparent career progression within the organization in an effort to attract 15,000 new team members. Chipotle's new recruiting campaign is in addition to its existing documentary style television spots that aim to "pull back the foil" by featuring behind-the-scenes footage of the daily culinary tasks of its restaurant employees. Chipotle seeks to hire 15,000 new team members in preparation of burrito season, which is typically the Company's busiest time of year running from March to May. "Our restaurant teams are the core of this organization and with a goal of more than doubling our footprint to 7,000 locations in North America, we are targeting employees today to serve as our leaders of tomorrow," said Scott Boatwright, Chief Restaurant Officer. "We will continue bringing in new crew to support Chipotle's aggressive growth plans, while simultaneously promoting and upskilling those currently in role." The new campaign features six employees from across the country that have risen the ranks from restaurant crew member to management during their tenure. "Working at Chipotle over the past nine years and learning from its restaurant leaders has changed my life," said Nakeysha Clark, a Certified Training Manager in Washington, D.C. "As my career path has evolved, I am now able to impact other people's lives and provide new opportunities for growth like someone did for me." Strengthening the foundations of the employee experience Chipotle is committed to ensuring its team members have a superior experience at all stages of their career journey. In 2022, Chipotle had approximately 22,000 internal promotions. Additionally, 90% of all restaurant management roles were internal promotions including 100% of US Regional Vice President (RVP) roles, 81% of Team Directors, and 74% of Field Leader positions. As a people first company, Chipotle has invested in human capital technology over the past several years to enhance the team member experience and build capabilities in its restaurants, creating a more efficient and consistent environment. These ongoing investments in employees are showing early results in increased retention and better recruitment this year. Chipotle has also invested in best-in-class benefits as well as enhanced training and development opportunities. In addition, the Company is exploring new capabilities to support its hiring process and improve its "speed to day one" to ensure a fast, fun, and intuitive process for applicants. Chipotle provides robust benefits including all crew bonus, which allows its restaurant employees the opportunity to earn an extra month's worth of pay each year; access to mental health care and English as a second language for employees and their families; tuition reimbursement and debt-free college degrees; free meals and more. The organization has found its retention rate is two times higher among employees enrolled in the education assistance program, and crew members participating are six times more likely to move into a management role. "Our goal is to develop and retain diverse talent at every level of the organization and be the employer of choice," added Boatwright. Those interested in joining Chipotle on its mission of cultivating a better world can apply here: Chipotle Careers. ABOUT CHIPOTLE Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) is cultivating a better world by serving responsibly sourced, classically-cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Chipotle had nearly 3,100 restaurants as of September 30, 2022, in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Germany and is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants. Chipotle is ranked on the Fortune 500 and is recognized on the 2022 list for Fortune's Most Admired Companies. With over 100,000 employees passionate about providing a great guest experience, Chipotle is a longtime leader and innovator in the food industry. Chipotle is committed to making its food more accessible to everyone while continuing to be a brand with a demonstrated purpose as it leads the way in digital, technology and sustainable business practices. For more information or to place an order online, visit WWW.CHIPOTLE.COM. SOURCE Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. NEWARK, N.J., Jan. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Calcagni & Kanefsky LLP welcomed the new year with the promotion of Marty Gandelman to partner and the addition of three experienced attorney hires. "CK achieved extraordinary results for our clients in 2022. Marty was, and has always been, an instrumental part of our success. We're ecstatic having him as a partner as we continue our growth and expand our litigation capacity," said Partner Thomas R. Calcagni. With CK since 2016, Marty litigates before and defends investigations involving both federal and state regulatory agencies. Marty's practice also includes complex business litigation, and providing practical legal advice on general corporate, transactional, and employment matters. As the firm's designated "E-Discovery Partner," Marty will continue helping the firm and clients in the preservation, collection, review, and production of electronic data, and be CK's point person in guiding CK's clients through e-discovery and data privacy challenges. Prior to joining CK, Marty was a Deputy Attorney General in the New Jersey Attorney General's securities prosecution group. In addition to promoting Gandelman to partner, CK added three seasoned litigators to its ranks. Paul Kingsbery has joined CK as Counsel. Previously with an elite international AmLaw 100 firm, Paul has extensive experience litigating a broad range of matters for the firm's most prominent corporate clients. Luke O'Brien, who focuses on complex commercial litigation, and Tomasz Pacholec, who concentrates on employment law, join CK as Associate Attorneys. "Our newest team members and deliberate growth are a reflection of the firm's deep commitment to its clients," said Partner Eric T. Kanefsky. "As more companies and professionals choose us to handle their most sensitive matters, we're meeting the demand with a hiring strategy focused on top talent with an established record of litigation excellence. Paul, Luke, and Tom each have the superior seasoning and savvy that our clients expect from CK." Calcagni & Kanefsky LLP is a Newark- and New York City-based boutique law firm of former federal and state prosecutors, who bring their exceptional litigation experience to bear for clients with critical matters. Our attorneys are known and respected for their tenacious advocacy, superior credibility, and inside knowledge allowing them to manage, navigate, and favorably resolve government investigations and other high-stakes disputes. SOURCE Calcagni & Kanefsky LLP Real-world cardiac MRI data gathered at Brigham and Women's Hospital to be discussed at 26th Annual SCMR Scientific Sessions SAN DIEGO, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vista.ai, a pioneer and leader in automated MRI solutions, today announced results from a clinical adaptation study on the company's One Click MRI software, led by Dr. Raymond Kwong, Director, Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital. The findings show that Vista.ai's AI-guided image acquisition software improves cardiac MRI (CMR) scan times and achieves high adoption rates by hospital imaging staff. Dr. Kwong will discuss the learnings and implications of the study at an interactive breakfast symposium at 7:20 a.m. PST on Jan. 27, 2023, at the SCMR Scientific Sessions in San Diego. Dr. Kwong evaluated the use of One Click MRI across approximately 1,100 consecutive studies for cardiomyopathy and structural heart disease, comparing traditional CMR exams against both partial and full AI-assisted scans from April to September 2022. Real-world evidence data show that Vista.ai's AI-guided image acquisition software improves CMR scan times. Tweet this With respect to CMR exam time, Dr. Kwong's study found that: Full AI-assisted scans where a technologist uses One Click MRI to oversee the exam with no manual operation were 31% shorter than non-AI scans. 90% of full AI-assisted scans were completed within 45 minutes, while only 25% of unassisted scans were completed within that timeframe. Full AI-assisted scan times were threefold more consistent than unassisted scan times. Both had minimum times of 26 to 27 minutes; however, maximum times were 64 minutes versus 161 minutes, respectively. Failed adoption of other promising technologies in the medical field has spotlighted the critical importance of gaining support of frontline workers. Notably, Dr. Kwong's study found that voluntary use of One Click MRI steadily grew as technologists witnessed the software's ease of use and benefits firsthand. Technologist adoption increased from 13% during the first full month One Click MRI was available (May) to 55% at the end of the study (September). "An influx of patients with COVID-19-induced cardiac issues further strained the operation of our CMR program at Brigham. Before initiating the One Click MRI study, some outpatients were waiting up to three to four weeks for a CMR scan. Even our sickest inpatients would often have to wait two to five days for a scan," Dr. Kwong said. "We believe that with continued use of One Click MRI, we will further reduce scan times to an average of 30 minutes, shrink the backlog to improve upon pre-pandemic levels, and sustain a CMR growth rate of about 15% a year." A case study summarizing Dr. Kwong's full clinical findings is available at vista.ai/evidence/studies. In addition to demonstrations of One Click MRI, the case study will also be on display at the Vista.ai's SCMR booth (#503). "A standard CMR is complex and unpredictably long, causing unnecessary stress and burnout for clinicians and discomfort for patients," said Itamar Kandel, Vista.ai's CEO. "We applaud Dr. Kwong's rigorous clinical evaluation of One Click MRI across more than 1,000 patients over a six-month timeframe, and we are thrilled with his conclusions that the software yields positive impacts on clinician workflow, MRI scanner throughput, patient convenience and time to diagnosis. These findings serve as a foundation of evidence to fuel our efforts to make CMR available to all patients who can benefit." One Click MRI is initially focused on automating and simplifying a CMR exam, which is increasingly considered the gold-standard cardiac diagnostici, yet is notoriously difficult and time-consuming to complete. Today, specially-trained CMR technologists need to perform the exam, and in the U.S., there is only one such technologist for every 20 MRI machinesii. Vista.ai recently announced planned expansion beyond the heart to other anatomies and clinical areas. About Vista.ai Vista.ai is harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to offer clinicians an easy, cost-effective and less stressful way to conduct MRI studies. The company's FDA 510(k) cleared One Click MRI software-only solution automates and dramatically simplifies a CMR exam, enabling a hospital to obtain greater scanner throughput or get a CMR program off the ground cost-effectively. One Click MRI is available for use on Siemens Healthineers and GE Healthcare MRI scanners. Vista.ai is funded by Khosla Ventures, J-Ventures and the National Institute of Health's Small Business Innovation Research program. For more information, visit www.vista.ai. For Vista.ai's media kit, visit vista.ai/media/. Media Contact: Alexander Petti [email protected] 201.978.4882 i Writing Committee Members, & ACC/AHA Joint Committee Members (2022). 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure. Journal of cardiac failure, 28(5), e1e167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cardfail.2022.02.010 ii Goldfarb JW, Weber J. Trends in Cardiovascular MRI and CT in the U.S. Medicare Population from 2012 to 2017. Radiol Cardiothorac Imaging. 2021 Feb 25;3(1):e200112. doi: 10.1148/ryct.2021200112. SOURCE Vista.ai Enables Assured Ethernet in Connectbase Product Catalog and Quoting Responses for Provider Ecosystem BOSTON, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Connectbase , The Industry Cloud for Connectivity, announces its partnership with LB Networks for buying and selling connectivity with assurance. Through this partnership, Connectbase and LB Networks are able to provide an Assured Ethernet transparency option to connectivity buyers leveraging the Connectbase platform. "Through this partnership between Connectbase and LB Networks we provide an enhanced, end-to-end customer experience with intelligence and assurance. The network assurance builds on the trust and confidence in the data and serviceability that users of The Connected World experience," said Ben Edmond, CEO and Founder at Connectbase. "LB Networks has partnered with service providers across our ecosystem to enable their buyers to have SLA and performance-assured experiences, and now we are able to bring that knowledge to providers' product catalogs and quoting experience to help buyers make the best decision." Both buyers and sellers of connectivity will benefit from the integration of LB Networks' OcularIP into the Connectbase ecosystem. Buyers receive location-based insights and pricing coupled with OcularIP's assurance of performance in their quoting experience which enables them to make better buying decisions. Decisions based on quality and not just price. Sellers gain the ability to differentiate their brands, products and services, distinguishing them via a performance-assured network offering. "When we launched LB Networks, we always had in mind the concept of building a SaaS platform to help companies and service providers accelerate their business," said Raymond Chiu, CEO and Chief Architect at LB Networks. "OcularIP adds assurance capabilities to The Connected World platform and adds another dimension of information to optimize sellers' performance and offer the check mark that gives buyers the confidence that the services will deliver." OcularIP collects and normalizes metrics from installed network infrastructure to provide service analytics, compliance reporting and visualization. The Assured Ethernet capability enabled by OcularIP further expands on the value that Connectbase adds to the market that transforms how connectivity is bought and sold. About LB Networks Since our founding in 2009, we have empowered hundreds of clients worldwide helping them save thousands in SLA penalties and Call Center costs every month while giving them an edge to win new, high-value accounts. OcularIP was born in the cloud there are no servers or equipment to deal with, and it will work with your existing systems. We require zero commitment and minimal investment. Pay only for what you use and cancel anytime. Learn more at https://lbnetworks.co/ and follow us on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/lb-networks/ . About Connectbase Connectbase is The Industry Cloud for Connectivity. Connectbase is a partner to the industry, enabling next generation buying and selling of connectivity, including automated quoting, and providing deep, trusted insights. Connectbase's industry-leading platform, The Connected World, serves almost 300 providers globally, managing 1.8 billion locations across more than 150 countries. The Connectbase team has built a connected ecosystem transforming network buying and selling processes. Visit Connectbase at www.connectbase.com and follow us on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/connectbase-us/ . SOURCE Connectbase DUBLIN, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Contraceptives Global Market Report 2022" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the global contraceptives market. This report focuses on contraceptives market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the contraceptives market which will be shaping and changing our lives over the next ten years and beyond, including the markets response to the challenge of the global pandemic. The global contraceptive market is expected to grow from $22.49 billion in 2021 to $24.07 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.05%. The contraceptive market is expected to grow to $31.09 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.60%. Reasons to Purchase Gain a truly global perspective with the most comprehensive report available on this market covering 12+ geographies. Understand how the market is being affected by the coronavirus and how it is likely to emerge and grow as the impact of the virus abates. Create regional and country strategies on the basis of local data and analysis. Identify growth segments for investment. Outperform competitors using forecast data and the drivers and trends shaping the market. Understand customers based on the latest market research findings. Benchmark performance against key competitors. Utilize the relationships between key data sets for superior strategizing. Suitable for supporting your internal and external presentations with reliable high quality data and analysis Major players in the contraceptives market are Merck & Co Inc, Cipla Inc, Church & Dwight Co Inc, Bayer AG, Reckitt Benckiser Group plc, Veru Inc, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Mithra Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Inc., Allergan Plc, Mankind Pharma, Karex Berhad, Piramal Enterprises Ltd, and Thai Nippon Rubber Industry Co Ltd. The contraceptive market consists of sales of contraceptives by entities (organizations, sole traders, and partnerships) that refer to a drug or a device used to prevent pregnancy. Contraceptive drugs and devices are used to prevent pregnancy by keeping the egg and sperm apart, delaying the development of the egg, or preventing the combined sperm and egg (fertilized egg) from attaching to the uterine lining. The main product types of contraceptives include oral contraceptive pills, topical contraceptives, injectables, diaphragms, vaginal rings, condoms, contraceptive sponges, subdermal implants, and intra-uterine devices. Oral contraceptive pills are contraceptive tablets or birth control pills to prevent pregnancy. It includes hormones that prevent eggs from being released from the ovaries. The contraceptives are used by a wide range of age groups ranging from 15-24 years, 25-34 years, 35-44 years, and over 44 years. The contraceptives are distributed by clinics, hospitals, independent pharmacies, and other locations. North America was the largest region in the contraceptives market in 2021 and is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the contraceptives market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The rising frequency of sexually transmitted illnesses or diseases is driving the demand for contraceptives. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections spread from one person to another through sexual interaction. The most typical contact occurs during anal, oral, and vaginal intercourse and they can spread through other close physical contact methods. Skin-to-skin contact is the most common reason for STDs such as herpes and HPV to spread. Contraceptives are used to control the spread of these diseases. For instance, in 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated the occurrence of 374 million new sexually transmitted infections across the globe. Therefore, the increase in sexually transmitted illnesses or diseases is expected to boost the demand for contraceptives during the forecast period. Technology advancement is a key trend gaining popularity in the contraceptive market. Digital Contraceptives are the latest trend in the contraceptives market. Digital Contraception is a way of tracking periods online to know which days are riskier for pregnancy. In March 2021, Clue, a Berlin-based femtech company, received FDA approval to market Clue Birth Control, all-digital contraception based on period monitoring data. The birth control function can identify when days are high or low risk for pregnancy by integrating user menstrual cycle data with Clue's prediction algorithm. Users can then adjust their habits to fit their risk tolerance. Clue recommends that users refrain from sex entirely or use another form of contraception, such as condoms, on high-risk days. The countries covered in the contraceptives market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, and USA. Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 2. Contraceptives Market Characteristics 3. Contraceptives Market Trends And Strategies 4. Impact Of COVID-19 On Contraceptives 5. Contraceptives Market Size And Growth 5.1. Global Contraceptives Historic Market, 2016-2021, $ Billion 5.1.1. Drivers Of The Market 5.1.2. Restraints On The Market 5.2. Global Contraceptives Forecast Market, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion 5.2.1. Drivers Of The Market 5.2.2. Restraints On the Market 6. Contraceptives Market Segmentation 6.1. Global Contraceptives Market, Segmentation By Product, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion Oral Contraceptive Pills Topical Contraceptives Injectables Diaphragms Vaginal Rings Condoms Contraceptive Sponges Subdermal Implants Intra-Uterine Devices 6.2. Global Contraceptives Market, Segmentation By Age Group, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion 15-24 Years 25-34 Years 35-44 Years 44 Years 6.3. Global Contraceptives Market, Segmentation By Distribution Channel, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion Hospital Pharmacies Independent Pharmacies Online Pharmacies Clinics Others 7. Contraceptives Market Regional And Country Analysis 7.1. Global Contraceptives Market, Split By Region, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion 7.2. Global Contraceptives Market, Split By Country, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/pcbhr9 Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets GERMANTOWN, Md., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CosmosID , a leader in the field of high-resolution microbiome analysis, announces today the launch of its metabolomics services that will provide enhanced support for multi-omics microbiome research. CosmosID, based in Germantown, MD, and Stockholm, Sweden, produces CLIA-certified, GCP-compliant laboratory services, including standardized and validated metagenomics/molecular assays, industry-leading custom bioinformatics, and the CosmosID-HUB software platform . CosmosID Metagenomics , metatranscriptomics , and metabolomics , in combination, namely "multi-omics," provides greater insight into the role of the microbiome in a given environment by identifying both microbial composition and their expressed genes, but also the metabolites being produced by the microbiome. Thus, key drivers of microbiome function and composition are identified accurately, providing definitive and actionable data to power microbiome research. The CosmosID metabolomics service comprises a combination of Liquid ChromatographyMass Spectrometry (LC-MS) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS), deployed to test samples and includes CosmosID metabolomics profiling in an "untargeted" approach. This enables broad coverage and highly accurate detection of +100,000 metabolites. Combining retention time, mass, and MS fragmentation of metabolites allows individual profiling during elution through their respective MS test and results are compiled into a comprehensive report. The test report is a listing of all detected metabolites within each sample as well as relative quantitation. Additionally, CosmosID runs a sample-type specific targeted panel to complement the "untargeted" analysis in each test, to provide greater in-depth analysis of each sample (including absolute quantitation). If more extensive data is needed, CosmosID also offers customizable panels of over 650 target metabolites tailored to client specific needs. "Capturing full details of the microbiome will drive translational research, a core goal at CosmosID," said Manoj Dadlani, CEO of CosmosID. "Knowing the metabolite profile of each sample is important to understand the microbiome as a system. By combining the CosmosID industry leading strain-level microbiome resolution and functional analysis with metabolite profiling, insight into the microbiome's functionality and role will be enhanced. We believe this approach yields more actionable microbiome research and helps us link observations from microbiome studies with biological mechanisms." "There is no question that understanding the interplay amongst all components of the microbiome is essential to advance our knowledge of microbial systems," said Dr. Rita Colwell, Founder and Chairman of CosmosID. "However, we need to understand functional relationships between and among strains comprising the microbiome. Being able to understand their function brings us closer to knowing what drives a microbiome in its natural environment." Manoj Dadlani will discuss the CosmosID metabolomic offering at the Microbiome Movement - Drug Development 2023 - Europe Conference in London, UK. About CosmosID CosmosID, based in Germantown, Maryland, and Stockholm, Sweden is a global leader in providing optimized microbiome analysis solutions. Through its CLIA-certified and GxP compliant infrastructure and multi-kingdom, strain-level metagenomics platform, CosmosID is able to offer single and multi-omic research services for the biopharmaceutical, nutrition, animal health, personal care, cosmetics, agriculture and academic markets. CosmosID was founded in 2008 by Dr. Rita Colwell, former director of the U.S. National Science Foundation and currently Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. To learn more please visit www.cosmosid.com . Media Contact: Karlis Graubics [email protected] 703-995-9879 SOURCE CosmosID SAN DIEGO, Jan. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Green Life Business Group Inc: The year 2022 has proven to be a difficult year for many markets and industries all over the world. One of the industries that took a toll and is considered to be in a depressed state is the California Cannabis Industry. As the year continued to progress and heads towards the closing of the year, evaluations on cannabis businesses continued to constantly shift. In previous years in the industry, cannabis business evaluations shifted on a quarterly basis. Evaluations in 2022 have progressively shifted on a monthly basis. Although the constant drop in cannabis business evaluations and prices has been seen as discouraging for many operators in the industry it has proven to be advantageous to many larger companies and Multi-State Operators (MSO's). The plummet of prices for cannabis businesses has opened the doors for MSO's to begin moving in and acquiring distressed assets all across the state in order to expand the footprint and establish a presence in various markets all across California. An example is Riverside County in the city of Palm Springs where a cannabis retail dispensary hit the market and continues to bring interest to strategic operators not only in the state of California but also Multi State Operators. This storefront business is located strategically in the heart of Downtown Palm Springs and is known for its state of the art buildout that had an approximate cost of $2 Million Dollars. The state of the art facility has brought the LA Style Luxury to the Desert with top level aesthetics, displays and buildout. These types of businesses are what MSO's and large operators look to target in a distressed market such as the one in 2022. These types of acquisitions can be considered calculated and strategic as many experts in the industry have claimed that once Federal legalization takes place and Federal banks have the ability to fund these businesses and acquisitions it will open the flood gates and many operators from different industries will begin to take action and enter the cannabis industry. Experts in the industry also predict a skyrocket and spike in cannabis business evaluations and prices within the first 6 months of legalization where these businesses will have their all time highest perceived value. The current state of the market and industry continues to be a great opportunity for operators who are looking to expand their footprint into large markets. Although 2022 proved to be a difficult year, 2023 has already begun showing signs of improvement in the industry. SOURCE Green Life Business Group Inc 159 industrial development projects create 3,940 jobs ATLANTA, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) partnered with 120 companies to facilitate 159 industrial development projects in 2022. The projects expanded operations or created new facilities along the company's rail network. Collectively, they represent $3.2 billion in investment and the creation of more than 3,940 new jobs. "Our customers continue to leverage our business development and real estate expertise in addition to our world-class logistics network," said Norfolk Southern Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Ed Elkins. "With more than 825 development-ready industrial sites, approximately 300 rail-to-truck transload facilities, and 260 short-line partnerships, we have the capacity and connections to support our customers and earn new business." Norfolk Southern's sustainable supply chain offerings and geographic footprint are attracting companies focused on growth, all in response to new market demands. According to Area Development, a leading publication for site selectors, nine out of the top 10 states in which to do business are served by Norfolk Southern. In addition, several economic trends are supporting future growth for the company and its customers, including increasing electric vehicle production, growth of e-commerce, reshoring/onshoring, and a focus by businesses to reduce their carbon emissions. "In partnership with public and private sector leaders, Norfolk Southern is a catalytic agent in economic development," said Norfolk Southern Vice President Business Development and Real Estate Kathleen Smith. "We collaborate with customers and economic development allies to unlock the value of utilizing rail in supply chains, and we work together to accomplish the shared goal of creating jobs, investment, and volume." Customers that Norfolk Southern provided industrial development support to included: Commercial Metals Company, as the company invests $450 million in Berkeley County, West Virginia for a new rebar steel mill. in for a new rebar steel mill. Packaging Corporation of America (PCA), as the company invests $440 million to produce linerboard used for corrugated packaging in Jackson, Alabama . to produce linerboard used for corrugated packaging in . Mark Anthony Brewing, as the company invests $400 million in a new state-of-the-art brewery and production facility in Richland, South Carolina . in a new state-of-the-art brewery and production facility in . NewCold, as the company invests $333 million in building and operating an advanced, large-scale distribution facility in McDonough, Georgia . in building and operating an advanced, large-scale distribution facility in . CONSOL Energy as the company invests $100 million to open the Itmann Preparation Plant in Itmann, West Virginia , to produce premium, low-vol metallurgical coking coal to serve the domestic and international steel markets. to open the Itmann Preparation Plant in , to produce premium, low-vol metallurgical coking coal to serve the domestic and international steel markets. Fairwinds Landing as they invest $100 million in Norfolk, Virginia to transform Lambert's Point Docks into a maritime operations and logistics center that supports the offshore wind, defense, and transportation industries. Norfolk Southern has a strong project pipeline of customer initiatives in 2023 and beyond. These include 33 companies that have announced plans for a new production facility or a significant plant expansion along Norfolk Southern's rail network or with one of Norfolk Southern's short-line partners. The announcements represent $30 billion in projected investment and are prime opportunities for business development. For example, in May of 2022, Hyundai Motor Group stated plans to invest $5.54 billion in Bryan County, Georgia for its first fully dedicated electric vehicle and battery manufacturing facility. "We help our clients identify rail-served sites that offer companies reliable, sustainable, and efficient transportation for their shipments," said Norfolk Southern Group Vice President Industrial Development Craig Hudson. "Looking to 2023 and beyond, we are confident that our industrial development efforts will continue to drive growth for both our customers and Norfolk Southern, and our strong pipeline of opportunities underscores the confidence that our customers have in Norfolk Southern and freight rail." In addition to the company's traditional business development capabilities, Norfolk Southern operates a customizable industrial site and transload location search engine, NSites. By using targeted filters, companies can sift through results based on acreage, location, existing warehousing, and proximity to highways, intermodal terminals, and port facilities. About Norfolk Southern Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a customer-centric and operations-driven freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver more than 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, and is the largest rail shipper of auto products and metals in North America. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S., serving a majority of the country's population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting www.NorfolkSouthern.com. SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation Collaborations with Meharry Medical College, Sinai Chicago and Wayne State University will expand access to community health workers and care WOONSOCKET, R.I., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) today announced a new initiative that will address barriers to care in underserved communities across the country. The CVS Health Community Equity Alliance is being established to expand the community health worker workforce, enhance connections between health care institutions and communities and address disparities in heart health and mental health outcomes. The Alliance is part of the Company's commitment to advancing health equity. The first institutions joining the initiative are Meharry Medical College, Sinai Chicago and Wayne State University. CVS Health is providing funding to each institution for locally tailored initiatives and will bring Alliance members together to share best practices and work to integrate lessons learned into the Company's health equity strategy. Through the power of collaboration, expansion of evidence-based interventions and a shared commitment to integrating the voices and lived experiences of community members, the Alliance will create innovative solutions to help make health care more accessible and decrease health disparities. "The Alliance is being established to elevate the voices, needs and experiences of local communities, as institutions work to remove barriers to equitable care," said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Vice President and Chief Health Equity Officer, CVS Health. "These collaborations will help us deliver on our health equity strategy and commitment to making health care accessible for everyone." Partnering with Sinai Chicago to bring health resources to underserved communities Sinai Chicago and CVS Health will focus on engaging the community in the North Lawndale neighborhood in Chicago. Through the collaboration, Sinai Chicago and CVS Health will provide residents with tailored health and social resources to address health disparities, with a focus on heart health and mental health. Sinai Chicago will also recruit residents in local neighborhoods to become community health workers through its Block Leaders program. As a community health worker, individuals are trained to connect local residents with critical health information and resources, while building their own career paths in health care. "Our collaboration with CVS Health enables both Sinai Chicago and our community partners, like the North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council, to set the stage for creating an innovative and transformational approach to addressing health and social issues that contribute to the lower life expectancy rates challenging our community members," said Debra Wesley, President, Sinai Community Institute. "Our Block Leaders from I Am Able's TR4IM initiative will work as community health workers and use the Personal Community Self-Administered Health Needs Assessment and Social Determinants of Health Pilot Project to provide the tools and skills that will enable our community members to take control of their own health and wellness." Collaborating with Meharry Medical College to expand the community health worker workforce Meharry Medical College and CVS Health will work together on the recruitment and training of community health workers, increasing the diversity of local clinicians and decreasing health disparities in heart health and mental health. Community health workers will partner with faith-based or community-based organizations to provide health education and connect historically marginalized communities to health resources. Meharry Medical College will also conduct a continuing education program for health care professionals focused on the patient-centered medical home and share strategies for how to work with organizations in medically underserved and rural communities. "Access to health care services is critical for good health and increased quality of life. People living in rural and underserved communities are often met with extreme and historical barriers to accessible health care services, deemed common and usual in a rational health care system," said Pat Matthews-Juarez, Ph.D., Senior Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation and Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Meharry Medical College. "Meharry Medical College and CVS Health are establishing an apprenticeship pathway for community health workers interested in community-based nursing that will strengthen and extend health care services to medically underserved and rural communities in Tennessee. This collaboration leverages our mission for improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations, while advancing health equity." Working with Wayne State University to expand community engagement and training The collaboration with the Wayne State University Center for Health Equity and Community Knowledge in Urban Populations (CHECK-UP) will create a multi-sector community coalition to assure integration of community voice and alignment of community assets and resources to decrease heart health and mental health disparities in Detroit. The collaboration will also train faculty, staff and community members on best practices in community-engaged research and expand opportunities for skill-building for the community health worker workforce. "We are grateful to CVS Health for this collaboration, which will support much-needed initiatives to address health disparities in Detroit and the surrounding region," said M. Roy Wilson, President, Wayne State University. "Strengthening relationships in the community and training community leaders will develop grassroots avenues to further our work to improve the health of the people of Detroit." For more information on how CVS Health is advancing health equity, visit CVSHealth.com/HealthEquity. About CVS Health CVS Health is the leading health solutions company, delivering care like no one else can. We reach more people and improve the health of communities across America through our local presence, digital channels and over 300,000 dedicated colleagues including more than 40,000 physicians, pharmacists, nurses and nurse practitioners. Wherever and whenever people need us, we help them with their health whether that's managing chronic diseases, staying compliant with their medications or accessing affordable health and wellness services in the most convenient ways. We help people navigate the health care system and their personal health care by improving access, lowering costs and being a trusted partner for every meaningful moment of health. And we do it all with heart, each and every day. Follow @CVSHealth on social media. About Meharry Medical College Meharry Medical College is one of the nation's oldest and largest historically black academic health science centers dedicated to educating physicians, dentists, researchers, and health policy experts. Founded in 1876 as the Medical Department of Central Tennessee College, Meharry was the first medical school in the South for African Americans. It was chartered separately in 1915. Today, Meharry includes a medical school, dental school, graduate school and applied computational sciences school; and is home to the Center for Health Policy at Meharry. The degrees include Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.), Master of Science in Public Health (M.S.P.H.), Master of Science (M.S.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees. Meharry Medical College also produces the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, a public health journal. For more information on Meharry Medical College, visit MeharryMedicalCollege.com. About Sinai Chicago Sinai Chicago is a Chicago-based private, not-for-profit organization, includes seven member organizations serving the West and Southwest Sides; Mount Sinai Hospital, Holy Cross Hospital, Sinai Children's Hospital, Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital, Sinai Medical Group, Sinai Community Institute and Sinai Urban Health Institute. The system has 4,000 employees, over 800 physicians on its hospital medical staffs, 654 licensed beds, 100,000+ annual emergency department patient visits and eight physician residency training programs. Please visit Sinai.org for more information. About Wayne State University Wayne State University is one of the nation's pre-eminent public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information, visit Wayne.edu. Media contact Eva Pereira 781-686-4200 [email protected] SOURCE CVS Health MAUMEE, Ohio, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dana Incorporated (NYSE: DAN) will release its 2022 fourth-quarter and full-year financial results on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. A press release will be issued at approximately 7 a.m. EST, followed by a conference call and webcast at 9 a.m. EST. Members of the company's senior management team will be available at that time to discuss the results and answer related questions. The conference call can be accessed by telephone from both domestic and international locations using the information provided below: Conference ID: 9943139 Participant Toll-Free Dial-In Number: 1 (888) 440-5873 Participant Toll Dial-In Number: 1 (646) 960-0319 Dana Incorporated will release its 2022 fourth-quarter and full-year financial results on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. Tweet this Audio streaming and slides will be available online via a link provided on the Dana investor website: www.dana.com/investors . A webcast replay can be accessed via Dana's investor website following the call. About Dana Incorporated Dana is a leader in the design and manufacture of highly efficient propulsion and energy-management solutions that power vehicles and machines in all mobility markets across the globe. The company is shaping sustainable progress through its conventional and clean-energy solutions that support nearly every vehicle manufacturer with drive and motion systems; electrodynamic technologies, including software and controls; and thermal, sealing, and digital solutions. Based in Maumee, Ohio, USA, the company reported sales of $8.9 billion in 2021 with 40,000 people in 31 countries across six continents. Founded in 1904, Dana was named one of "America's Most Responsible Companies 2023" by Newsweek for its emphasis on sustainability and social responsibility. The company is driven by a high-performance culture that focuses on valuing others, inspiring innovation, growing responsibly, and winning together, earning it global recognition as a top employer. Learn more at dana.com. SOURCE DANA INCORPORATED IRVING, Texas, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Darling Ingredients Inc. (NYSE: DAR), today announced that long-time board member Mary Korby has informed the board that she plans to retire, effective at the company's 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Ms. Korby will remain a director and maintain her committee memberships through the 2023 Annual Meeting. Separately, the company also announced that Larry A. Barden, former Chairman of the Management Committee of Sidley Austin LLP, has been elected to the board as an independent director, effective immediately; expanding the total number of directors on the board to 11. Mr. Barden will serve on the board's Environmental, Social and Governance Committee. Ms. Korby joined the Darling Ingredients board in 2014 following a long and distinguished legal career as a partner at both Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and K&L Gates LLP. "On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to thank Mary for her many years of dedicated service," said Randall C. Stuewe, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Mary's significant and meaningful contributions to Darling Ingredients have helped transform our company. Her extensive knowledge and experience in international law helped grow our business and expand our global footprint. We wish Mary all the best in retirement." Mr. Barden is a retired partner of Sidley Austin LLP, an international law firm. He served as Chairman of Sidley's Management Committee from April 2014 until April 2022 and was a member of the Executive Committee from 1999 through April 2022. Mr. Barden's principal areas of practice were mergers and acquisitions, securities/corporate finance and strategic counseling/corporate governance. He also serves on the boards of various civic and educational organizations. "I want to extend a warm welcome to Larry as he joins our board of directors," Stuewe said. "We are fortunate to have his deep breadth of executive management and legal expertise at the board level, as we continue to execute our global growth strategy." About Darling Ingredients Darling Ingredients Inc. (NYSE: DAR) is the largest publicly traded company turning edible by-products and food waste into sustainable products and a leading producer of renewable energy. Recognized as a sustainability leader, the company operates more than 270 facilities in 17 countries and repurposes approximately 15% of the world's meat industry waste streams into value-added products, such as green energy, renewable diesel, collagen, fertilizer, animal proteins and meals and pet food ingredients. To learn more, visit darlingii.com. Follow us on LinkedIn. Darling Ingredients Contacts Investors: Suann Guthrie Senior VP, Investor Relations, Sustainability & Communications (469) 214-8202; [email protected] Media: Jillian Fleming Director, Global Communications (972) 541-7115; [email protected] SOURCE Darling Ingredients Inc. TORONTO, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Datolite Solutions is excited to announce the launch a new Business Intelligence consulting practice with the key hires of industry experts Niall MacMillan and Sam Elrazek, who leads the practice as Director, Business Intelligence Consulting. Datolite BI - Data Science (CNW Group/Datolite Solutions Inc.) The launch of this new practice, which supplements the ever-growing Template and billing Workflow consulting practices, has been driven by client demand for unbiased software agnostic expertise, and furthermore existing clients (and software vendors) requesting support in this area from a single collaborative team, underpinned by the excellence service delivery methodology that the Datolite team is well-known for. The key hires of Niall and Sam, collectively adds over 30 years knowledge of the successfully delivery of Business Intelligence solutions, supported by the evolving Microsoft data analytics platform, within the legal PMS eco-system and beyond. "We are delighted to have launched this new consulting practice within our organization, as we seek to support our clients with their adoption and evolution of Business Intelligence within their organizations" says Pat Langlais, Managing Partner and Co-Founder. "As a primarily services-driven organization, we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver first-class solutions, with client satisfaction at the heart of what we do. This continues to fuel our year-on-year growth, across all our KPI's. It was clear from this client base than they required an extension of our services, into data analytics and business intelligence so we are very happy to have responded to their needs." concludes Langlais. Practice Director, Sam comments "We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new BI practice, which will provide our customers with the insights and data-driven decision making they need to stay ahead in today's fast-paced business world. With our team of experts and state-of-the-art technology, we are confident that our BI solutions will give our clients a competitive edge and help them reach their goals more efficiently." "The addition of Niall and Sam to our team, and the launch of this practice immediately allows us to instantly service the growing needs of our clients and the legal industry as a whole, whilst continuing to partner with leading software providers. We've secured two industry superstars and I am very excited for this part of our growth. " added Campbell Barrett, Managing Partner and Co-Founder. About Datolite Solutions Datolite Solutions, global Leader in billing and business intelligence solutions for legal and professional services firms, are experts in template development, document and proforma automation, and business intelligence solutions. Contact Greg MacInnis Director, Sales and Business Development [email protected] www.datolitesolutions.com/business-intelligence SOURCE Datolite Solutions Inc. VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Deep-South Resources Inc. ("Deep-South" or the Company) (TSXV: DSM) announces that it will close a first tranche in a new non-brokered private placement. The first tranche will be closed for an amount of $210,000. The offering will comprise up to 10 million units at $0.05 per unit for a total of up to $500,000. Each Unit will consist of one (1) common share and one half (1/2) of one common share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each whole Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one (1) common share at an exercise price of $0.10 for thirty-six (36) months from the date of closing of the private placement. Each security issued has a mandatory four (4) month hold period from the date of closing of the placement. The Company may pay a finder's fee to eligible persons in compliance with applicable securities laws and exchange policies. This financing is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. The proceeds of the private placement will be used for further exploration on the projects in Zambia and for general working capital. About Deep-South Resources Inc. Deep-South Resources is a mineral exploration and development company. Deep-South's growth strategy is to focus on the exploration and development of quality assets in significant mineralized trends and in proximity to infrastructure in stable countries. In using and assessing environmentally friendly technologies in the development of its copper projects, Deep-South embraces the green revolution. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information Information contained in this news release which are not statements of historical facts may be "forward-looking information" for the purposes of Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking information. The words "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "contemplate", "plan", "intends", "continue", "budget", "estimate", "may", "will", "schedule", "understand" and similar expressions identify forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things: the Minister's refusal to renew the Company's Licence, the Company's intention to contest the Minister's decision before the Courts of Namibia and the outcome of such proceedings. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Deep-South, are inherently subject to significant technical, political, business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Factors and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: political risks associated with the Company's operations in Namibia; the failure of the Namibian Government to comply with its continuing obligations under the Act to allow for the renewal of the Licence; the impact of changes in, or to the more aggressive enforcement of, laws, regulations and government practices; the inability of the Company and its subsidiaries to enforce their legal rights in certain circumstances. For additional risk factors, please see the Company's most recently filed Management Discussions & Analysis available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. There can be no assurances that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as many factors and future events, both known and unknown could cause actual results, performance or achievements to vary or differ materially from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements contained herein or incorporated by reference. Accordingly, all such factors should be considered carefully when making decisions with respect to Deep-South, and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release is made as at the date hereof. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable legislation. SOURCE Deep-South Resources Inc. NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PA Consulting (PA), the consultancy that's bringing ingenuity to life, celebrates along with its clients, six Good Design Awards. These recognize the most innovative and cutting-edge designs produced around the world. Inspiring best-in-class design is at the heart of PA's business. With nearly 80 years of bringing iconic brands and products to market, PA's design teams partner with ambitious clients to envision and build inspirational new growth platforms. Design teams at PA Consulting are honored with six Good Design Awards PA and its clients' Good Design Awards Transportation Award: PA Consulting's Office for Zero Emissions EV ChargePoint was the recipient of the Transportation Award. PA unveiled its design for the EV chargepoint at the COP26 conference in Glasgow. The chargepoint was developed with the Royal College of Art and was commissioned by the UK Transport Secretary. Graphic Design award: Creative leads Enri Moreno and Robin Marich, and designer Gigi Aldrich from Astro Studios (part of PA Consulting) were awarded the Graphic Design award for their work on the Advocord Brand Identity Design. Astro Studios established the brand name and developed the brand strategy along with the brand identity and system for Advocord. Industrial Award: The team at Design Partners (part of PA Consulting) was honored with the Industrial award for their work with Picavi Smart Mount. The team helped to reimagine and design the Picavi Smart Mount which helps to streamline the warehouse picking process for employees. The team facilitated the speedy movement of the AR glasses onto the market, helping to improve warehouse and distribution center efficiency by 40%. Household award: Cricut worked with Design Partners (part of PA Consulting) for their expertise in design and engineering to create the Cricut Hat Press. This allows creatives to successfully and efficiently use heat-based products to transfer designs onto hats and uses Bluetooth to connect the device to Cricut's app to send ideal time and temperature settings for each design. Consumer electronics awards (two): Logitech's ongoing collaboration with Design Partners (part of PA Consulting) won a further two Design awards for the G303 Shroud Edition Gaming Mouse and the Signature M650 Mouse, empowering people to immerse better in work or play. Richard Watson, design lead at PA Consulting, says: "These awards are a testament to the exceptional work that our teams and clients are doing together. We create best-in-class design that adds value for our clients and end users; design that shapes the future. And our strong holistic capabilities research, strategy, design, engineering, and science are key to delivering inspirational new brands, products, and experiences." PA's design teams have created many world leading innovations, including the number one best-selling mobile game controller for iPhones for Backbone, a revolutionary medical device to improve patient end-of-life comfort for Bearpac Medical, and an inclusive line of beauty tools for Guide Beauty to make it easier for anyone to create any beauty look, regardless of their physical condition. About PA Consulting We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future. As strategies, technologies, and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity. Our diverse teams of experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results. We are over 4,000 strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers, and technologists. And we have deep expertise in consumer and manufacturing, defense and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government and public services, health and life sciences, and transport. Our teams operate globally from offices across the UK, Ireland, US, Nordics, and Netherlands. Discover more at paconsulting.com and connect with PA on LinkedIn and Twitter. PA. Bringing Ingenuity to Life. SOURCE PA Consulting Group - US Ben Ezra will lead product growth, development and innovation at Dig TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dig , the cloud data security leader, today announced the appointment of Yotam Ben Ezra as Chief Product Officer (CPO). Ben Ezra's appointment comes amid Dig's continued growth and expansion. As CPO, Ben Ezra will lead the development and direction of Dig's products, helping Dig further its mission to provide data security at the speed of cloud. Dig helps organizations discover, classify, protect, and govern their cloud data without giving up cloud agility and speed. "The explosion of data, which is the result of massive migration to the public cloud, is a huge challenge for security teams," said Yotam Ben Ezra, CPO, Dig Security. "I'm delighted to join Dig Security, which is addressing this problem through an exceptional product and a distinctive approach that, beyond managing data exposure and risk, offers advanced capabilities to protect sensitive data in real time." Ben Ezra is a cybersecurity industry veteran with more than fifteen years of experience in product leadership roles. Prior to joining Dig, Ben Ezra served as the Chief Product Officer at SafeBreach, the pioneer in breach and attack simulation (BAS). He has held multiple leadership roles in research and product sectors at leading organizations including Radware and Check Point Software Technologies. Ben Ezra has a proven track record of leading teams through each step of a product's development, research and development (R&D), product design and product marketing, to help organizations meet and exceed their business goals. "We are thrilled to welcome Yotam as our product leader and excited for all we will accomplish under his leadership," said Dan Benjamin, Co-Founder and CEO, Dig Security. "Data is the lifeblood of the modern enterprise, and with Yotam at the helm, we will continue providing critical solutions to our customers across industries." The Dig data security platform is recognized as the industry's first and only solution to combine data security posture management (DSPM), data loss prevention (DLP), and data detection and response (DDR) capabilities into a single platform. It is easy-to-implement, cloud-scalable, and highly efficient for today's security teams. For more information, visit dig.security . About Dig Security Dig Security helps organizations discover, classify, protect and govern their cloud data. With organizations shifting to complex environments with dozens of database types across clouds, monitoring and detecting data exfiltration and policy violations has become a complex problem with limited fragmented solutions. Dig's cloud-native and completely agentless approach re-invents cloud DLP with DDR (Data Detection & Response) capabilities to help organizations better cope with cloud data sprawl. Dig is founded by 3 cyber security veterans from Microsoft and Google, and is backed by Team8, SignalFire, Felicis, CrowdStrike, Okta Ventures, CyberArk Ventures and Merlin Ventures. SOURCE Dig Security DISQO's Culture, Leadership, and Benefits Recognized as its CX Intelligence Platform Increasingly Fuels Growth for More Brands LOS ANGELES, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Customer experience (CX) intelligence platform DISQO was named among Ad Age's Best Places to Work 2023, coming in at #11 in the annual ranking of companies that lead the industry in factors ranging from pay and benefits to company culture and leadership. CX intelligence platform DISQO named among Ad Age's Best Places to Work 2023, coming in at #11 in the annual ranking. Tweet this DISQO wins Ad Age Best Places to Work 2023 Ad Age's Best Places to Work listing revealed the top 50 standout companies that did a standout job last year as the ad business met the challenges of a weakening economy, media market changes, and continued talent-pool tightening. Winners were segmented into top companies above and below 200 employees. Ranked companies earned the highest numerical scores in an analysis of employee responses to Ad Age's workplace survey. "DISQO's team members are passionate about improving brand experiences the world needs by putting people at the center," said Armen Adjemian, CEO and Co-Founder, DISQO. "This passion drives our winning culture, and stands behind our breakthrough CX products including Brand Lift and Outcomes Lift which are used by more than 500 brands and agencies to measure every customer, touchpoint, and outcome." "Our people define and shape our culture through their commitments to servant leadership, inclusion, and DISQO values like transparency and innovation. We come together as one team each day with the dream of helping our clients' brands elevate customer experience," said Tiffany Chelsvig, VP of People Operations, DISQO. Ad Age's scoring system factors employee responses on pay and benefits and seven other core focus areas (75% of the score), as well as company policies and practices in areas including pay/benefits, work/life balance, recruitment, and training/development (25% of the score). "The tight labor market forced every business in the industry to compete for talent, and the 2023 Best Places to Work winners proved the value of understanding what employees want today," said Dan Peres, President and Editor-in-Chief of Ad Age. "Companies will face challenges this year with the economy and ongoing effects of the pandemic, but winning workplaces understand that taking care of employees is central to business success." Ad Age produced the Best Places to Work 2023 awards in partnership with Best Companies Group, a research firm specializing in identifying and recognizing great places to work. The competition was open to agencies, ad tech firms, brand/corporate marketing departments or groups, and brands' in-house agencies. Click here to learn more about how DISQO's CX Intelligence platform is fueling growth for the big brands in Ad Age's readership. About Ad Age Created in 1930 to cover a burgeoning industry with objectivity, accuracy and fairness, Ad Age continues to be powered by award-winning journalism. Today, Ad Age is a global media brand focusing on curated creativity, data and analysis, people and culture, and innovation and forecasting. About DISQO DISQO is the CX intelligence platform for understanding every customer experience. Businesses trust DISQO to power better decisions for every customer, touchpoint, and outcome. DISQO's insights, agile testing and advertising measurement products are powered by millions of consumers on the industry's largest opt-in consumer data platform. DISQO is recognized in Deloitte's Fast 500 and is a Top 100 Next Gen Workplace. Follow @DISQO on LinkedIn and Twitter . SOURCE DISQO Inc INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dronedek, known for its "mailbox of the future" that will provide secure deposit of autonomously and traditionally delivered packages, today announced that Lora O'Toole, vice president of business development, has been elected president of the Rocky Mountain chapter of the Association of Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI.) AUVSI is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of uncrewed systems and robotics and represents corporations and professionals around the world. Lora O'Toole, Dronedek VP, Business Development, AUVSI Chapter President O'Toole has been involved with the organization since joining Dronedek, which is based in Indianapolis. O'Toole heads the company's Denver, Colo., office. She served as treasurer to the chapter organization previously. She was named to the Conexus Indiana Rising30 class of 2021, an annual celebration of advanced manufacturing and logistics sector young professionals who show leadership promise. "Lora has really grown into her role for us and works every day with some of the biggest logistics companies and innovators on the planet," said Dronedek Founder and CEO Dan O'Toole. "Her work with AUVSI is important to this always iterating sector and enables us to be aware of advances where we can play a role." Also elected to the chapter organization were Vice President Chris Mitton, Airspace Link director of business development; Secretary Nick Onelio, and The Cyberhawk business development manager. Lora O'Toole said the leadership role comes just ahead of Denver hosting the XPONENTIAL conference (XPO) in May 2023. The event is a gathering of professionals involved in the autonomous and robotics technology sector and a showcase of the latest technology and research. The Denver AUVSI chapter will host a kick-off event for the XPO. "This will be the third year for Dronedek to participate in the XPO but my first where I'll have a leadership role beyond the company," she said. "Like most organizations, the pandemic put a damper on our plans. This will be a great opportunity to grow our chapter as well as one to showcase the various iterations of Dronedek technology and plans for our 2023 roll-out. There's a lot of excitement for everyone involved." About Dronedek: Dronedek is one of the first companies in the world to focus on package security for traditional and autonomous delivery methods. Designed to accept drone delivery, the app-controlled smart mailbox also accepts traditional mail delivery and is destined to become an everyday utility service like power or water. The device will keep packages hot or cold; will alert users to package arrival; recharge drones; and even serve as an emergency alert. Learn more at www.dronedek.com. See videos at Dronedek: The Next Generation Mailbox and New Dronedek Smart Receptacle. About AUVSI: The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of uncrewed systems and robotics, represents corporations and professionals from more than 60 countries involved in industry, government and academia. AUVSI members work in the defense, civil and commercial markets. Learn more: https://www.auvsi.org/ Media contact: Cheryl Reed at 317-446-5240, [email protected] SOURCE Dronedek Idaho Power to purchase power through 20-year agreement to purchase power through 20-year agreement Company awards $15,000 grant to support the Shoshone Basin Rangeland Fire Protection Association CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions, a nonregulated commercial brand of Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), today announced it has placed into commercial operation the 120-megawatt (MW) Jackpot Solar project in Twin Falls County, Idaho. This is the organization's first utility-scale renewable energy project in the state and is the largest solar facility in operation in Idaho. It will provide energy to Idaho Power through a 20-year power purchase agreement. At 120 megawatts of capacity, the plant will generate enough electricity annually to serve the energy needs of roughly 24,000 homes. "Entering the Idaho solar market with such a major renewable project is very exciting for Duke Energy," said Chris Fallon, president of Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions. "Jackpot Solar will help strengthen the energy diversity in the state, and bring additional economic benefits to the state and Twin Falls County, while also supporting Idaho Power's clean energy goals." Jackpot Solar will move Idaho Power toward its Clean Today, Cleaner Tomorrow target of providing 100% clean energy by 2045. "This project continues our commitment to clean energy while also helping us address the rapidly growing need for new resources to ensure we can provide reliable, affordable electricity to our customers," said Idaho Power senior vice president and COO Adam Richins. SOLV Energy completed the engineering and construction of the project, which is located on 952 rural acres south of the city of Twin Falls. Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions will own and operate the project. The project employed about 200 workers at peak construction. Along with indirect economic benefits that accompany solar project development, such as increased local spending in the service and construction industries, the Jackpot Solar facility will also have a positive economic impact on the local community by providing significant tax revenues for the Filer Consolidated School District. Additionally, the Duke Energy Foundation awarded a $15,000 grant to the Shoshone Basin Rangeland Fire Protection Association to support the organization's efforts to enhance the safety of the citizens in rural areas of Twin Falls County, Idaho. Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions is a leader in sustainable energy, helping large enterprises reduce power costs, lower emissions and increase resiliency. The team provides wind, solar, resilient backup power and managed energy services to over 1,000 projects across the U.S., with a total electric capacity of more than 5,100 megawatts of nonregulated renewable energy. Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions is a nonregulated commercial brand of Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company and one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S., headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. The brand includes the following subsidiaries of Duke Energy Corporation that are registered to transact business in various states and may be branded as Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions for marketing purposes: Duke Energy One, Inc.; Duke Energy Commercial Enterprises, Inc.; Duke Energy Renewables, Inc.; Duke Energy Renewables Commercial, LLC; Duke Energy Renewable Services, LLC.; Duke Energy Renewables Storage, LLC; Duke Energy Renewables Wind, LLC.; Duke Energy Renewables Solar, LLC.; and REC Solar Commercial Corporation. Idaho Power Idaho Power, headquartered in vibrant and fast-growing Boise, Idaho, has been a locally operated energy company since 1916. Today, it serves a 24,000-square-mile area in Idaho and Oregon. The company's goal to provide 100% clean energy by 2045 builds on its long history as a clean-energy leader that provides reliable service at affordable prices. With 17 low-cost hydroelectric projects at the core of its diverse energy mix, Idaho Power's residential, business and agricultural customers pay among the nation's lowest prices for electricity. Its 2,000 employees proudly serve more than 610,000 customers with a culture of safety first, integrity always and respect for all. IDACORP Inc. (NYSE: IDA), Idaho Power's independent publicly traded parent company, is also headquartered in Boise, Idaho. To learn more, visit idahopower.com or idacorpinc.com. Contact: Randy Wheeless 24-Hour: 800.559.3853 Twitter: @DE_RandyW SOURCE Duke Energy Tools and tips can help save up to $315 a year in energy costs ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 1,700 income-eligible customers in Volusia County's Orange City neighborhood will soon receive a jolt of positive energy from Duke Energy. Starting in February and lasting through April, the company will begin installing energy-efficient upgrades in homes. Through its innovative Neighborhood Energy Saver program, the company will give qualified customers a complimentary energy makeover for their house or apartment. The program can help customers in single-family homes save up to $315 a year in energy costs and customers living in apartments up to $150 a year. "Helping customers better understand and manage their energy use is extremely important right now as many households continue to be financially overwhelmed by higher living expenses, including higher energy bills," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "Our Neighborhood Energy Saver program is an opportunity to provide customers with the energy-efficient upgrades and information necessary to reduce their energy use, save money and make long-lasting changes." Duke Energy Florida will assess each home to determine if it qualifies for free attic insulation, duct sealing and AC maintenance. Customers receive up to 17 energy-saving improvements at no cost, including: Digital room thermometer Energy-saving showerhead or shower wand One-year supply of AC filters Water-saving kitchen and bathroom faucet aerators Energy-efficient lightbulbs Water heater wraps/pipe wrap Covers for window AC units Caulking, weatherstripping and door sweeps Insulation upgrade Basic AC maintenance AC duct leakage sealing Customers will also learn how daily activities, habits and other factors can increase their electric use and raise their energy bills. Eligible customers received an invitation to the Neighborhood Energy Saver launch event that will take place on Monday, Jan. 30, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Sorosis Club of Orange City, 222 E. University Ave. Customers should contact our Neighborhood Energy Saver Customer Care Center at 855.227.2918 to reserve their spot, or to get more information if they cannot attend the launch event. A map detailing the eligible residents is available upon request. "We're excited Duke Energy is bringing the Neighborhood Energy Saver program to our community," said Orange City Mayor Gary Blair. "This is a great opportunity for many residents and I urge those who are eligible to take advantage of it." Since the Neighborhood Energy Saver program's inception in 2006, the company has implemented it in more than 64 communities across Florida and installed more than 600,000 energy efficiency improvements in more than 43,000 income-eligible customers' homes. The program is available to residential customers (both homeowners and renters) living in communities identified by Duke Energy. Federal and state guidelines and census data are used to objectively select communities where the program would be most beneficial. Since 1981, Duke Energy has helped its Florida customers save nearly $1.25 billion through its energy efficiency programs, including the Neighborhood Energy Saver program. For more information on energy efficiency tips that benefit all homeowners, visit duke-energy.com/home/savings. Duke Energy Florida Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 10,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 1.9 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida. Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 28,000 people. Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by 2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear. Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2022 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "World's Best Employers" list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Media contact: Audrey Stasko Media line: 800.559.3853 Twitter: @DE_AudreyS SOURCE Duke Energy Awards Recognize Successful College and University Programs Certifying and Graduating Work-Ready Students TAMPA, Fla , Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today EC-Council announced its Academia award winning institutions from 2022. The eight honored institutions include leading college and university cybersecurity programs with a track record of providing a rigorous, hands-on cybersecurity education program to diverse communities of students. Award recipients are selected annually from among EC-Council's network of affiliated Academia Partner institutions. "It is a privilege to support a growing number of institutions and academic communities across North America offering influential cybersecurity programs and initiatives. Last year, we noticed drastic changes in flexible learning models and modalities to recruit and retool broad audiences from IT and other fields to the lucrative field of cybersecurity," said Wesley Alvarez, Director of Academics at EC-Council. "With the nation's current gap in cyber jobs, estimated at 700,000 now by the U.S. government's Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Agency, the role of higher education is mission critical in producing well-rounded leaders capable of managing the people, technologies, and processes that keep our organizations and communities secure. The winning institutions offer some of the best programs for educating these leaders." "With the US cybersecurity jobs gap, higher education is critical to producing leaders capable of keeping us safe." Tweet this The winning institutions include: Academia Partner of the Year Award winner Western Governors University (Salt Lake City, UT) Academia Circle of Excellence Award winners University of Maryland Global Campus (Adelphi, MD) University of Phoenix (Phoenix, AZ) ECPI University (Virginia Beach, VA) Forsyth Technical Community College (Winston-Salem, NC) Queen's College of Business, Technology and Public Safety (Mississauga, Ontario) Academia Innovator of the Year Award winner Collin College (Allen, TX) Academia Best Newcomer of the Year Award winner Maryville University (St. Louis, MO) The leadership of these honored institutions had a lot to say about their overall mission to enhance cybersecurity skill development and produce work-ready graduates for a successful career. "The values and criteria of the selection process directly reflect our mission of preparing students for EC-Council certifications, graduation and the workforce," said Douglas Harrison, Vice President and Dean of UMGC's School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology. "That the number of UMGC students pursuing EC-Council certifications is one of the largest in the country reflects our commitment to providing students with the skills employers value most." "University of Phoenix is honored to receive a Circle of Excellence award for the fourth consecutive year. We are proud of the work we do with EC-Council to educate the current and future cybersecurity workforce through courses, certificates, and degree programs aligned to EC-Council certifications," said Kathryn Uhles, Dean, College of Business and Information Technology. "We look forward to continuing our collaboration with EC-Council to help prepare future cyber professionals and help current cyber professionals specialize in their skills." "This is an encouraging recognition for our staff and faculty teaching in this program. We are happy with the news and gratefully accept this award," said Jennifer Zhang, CEO and President of Queen's College. "The College has been and is committed to providing high-quality education to international students in a variety of fields, including its Computer School, which is shaped by many different academic programs. They shared that their focus is on the continuous improvement of all their programs, remarking that building solid relationships with third-party experts and renowned organizations like EC-Council helps them to objectively work in that direction. Good news like this reinforces our drive to work harder and make a difference in education. Our goal is to prepare our students for a successful career start. For students in this program, in specific, we want to make sure they will be able to effectively contribute to the Canadian Cybersecurity workforce." "Collin College is honored to be recognized as the EC-Council Academia Innovator of the Year," said Ervin Frenzel, Director of Workforce Cybersecurity, Collin College. "Working with a program that believes in improving skills for entry-level cybersecurity technicians is critical to better our local, state, and national cybersecurity stance; fortunately, EC-Council consistently delivers needed resources quickly and accurately for our student population." EC-Council Academia honors leading institutions and instructors annually through the EC-Council Academia Partner Awards. Individual instructor awards were also recognized earlier this month based on innovative and adaptive teaching styles in their classroom and online. A full list of 2022 partner award recipients is currently available. About EC-Council Academia The EC-Council Academia partner program, led by EC-Council's academic division, offers free partnership opportunities to academic institutions globally. These partnerships establish cybersecurity education ecosystems that support students, alumni, faculty, employees, and communities. Through established partnerships, academic institutions can access extensive discounts on content, evaluate learning resources, offer student-stackable credentials, initiate faculty development, provide scholarships, and facilitate cyber competitions. To date, EC-Council supports upwards of 2,500 education networks and institutions globally, with over 1,000 recently participating since the relaunch of the academia program in 2018. EC-Council works with many top cybersecurity programs worldwide, including Western Governors University, the University of Maryland Global Campus, the NATO School, many National Centers of Academic Excellence, statewide education systems, and many ministry initiatives. EC-Council's Academia partner program helps certify tens of thousands of students annually with industry-leading credentials. For more information on EC-Council Academia, please visit www.eccouncil.org/academia. SOURCE EC-Council Nearly $4 billion and as much as 47% of industry sales lost WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --The Cigar Association of America (CAA) today released an economic impact fact sheet about the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) proposal to ban flavored cigars, showing the devastating effect it would have on the industry's sales and employment, as well as on federal, state, and local tax revenue. FDA's justification for the ban is that flavors in cigars "increase appeal" to youth. Yet CAA points out that, according to the government's own data, under one percent of youth consume flavored cigars, so the ban's "benefits would be almost non-existent." FDA's proposed flavored cigar ban would have a devastating economic impact. Tweet this According to the document, in 2021 flavored cigars accounted for as much as 47 percent of the total industry cigar sales (depending on how FDA decides to apply the proposal's vague definition of "characterizing flavor"), amounting to approximately seven billion cigars. An economic impact analysis projected losses of nearly $4 billion in retail sales, over 16,000 jobs, and $840 million in wages, as well as an estimated $750 million in federal, state and local tax revenues. CAA President David Ozgo said, "Since almost no youth use flavored cigars, any reduction in youth usage as a result of the proposed ban would be almost nonexistent. Thus, FDA proposes to crush a legitimate adult-focused industry, eliminate thousands of jobs, and sacrifice millions of dollars in tax revenue using the flimsiest of data. It is nothing less than a solution in search of a problem." FDA first filed the proposed rule on May 4, 2022. The Federal Register link can be found here. For the full Economic Impact Fact Sheet on FDA's Proposed Flavored Cigar Ban, click here. Contact: Frank Coleman (202) 223-8204 x4 SOURCE Cigar Association of America, Inc. MIAMI, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- El Car Wash ("ECW"), the largest and fastest growing high-end express car wash operator in Florida has expanded into Brevard County and the Greater Orlando market with the acquisition of the three Bill's Car Wash locations. Following the acquisition, El Car Wash operates 25 locations with an additional 25+ sites in development across Florida and plans to significantly expand its footprint through both greenfield openings and acquisitions of existing car washes. Bill's Car Wash "We are thrilled to acquire the best car wash company in Brevard County, founded by the late Bill Walker. Bill was a thought leader in the industry for over 20 years and the philosophy and strong cultural foundation he established with his business partner, Mike Hill, continues on today across the organization. We look forward to our partnership with Mike and the incredibly talented team to further Bill's vision and spearhead our growth into the Greater Orlando market," said Justin Landau and Geoffrey Karas, Co-CEOs of El Car Wash. "This acquisition accelerates our expansion up the I-95 corridor in advance of the opening of a large pipeline of stores that we have assembled in the region. This reflects our strategy over the last three years of migrating the El Car Wash brand from Miami through Palm Beach through a combination of development and targeted acquisitions." "Bill's combination with El Car Wash further enhances an already regionally dominant platform with a market-leading position in South Florida, stretching from Miami up to Greater Orlando," said Mike Hill, who will be joining El Car Wash as VP Orlando. "My team and I are extremely excited to join the El Car Wash family given our shared ethos and cultural values and are eager to contribute to the company's next phase of growth." El Car Wash plans to invest substantial capital to convert the Bill's locations to the El Car Wash brand. El Car Wash and Bill's will merge their respective unlimited membership programs, allowing current and future members to have access to all locations throughout Florida. Upcoming initiatives also include the launching of special limited time promotions for new members to celebrate this transaction. About El Car Wash Founded in 2011 and based in Miami, El Car Wash is the premier express car wash operator in Florida with over 25 operating sites and a development pipeline of 25 opened stores. The company is the Official Car Wash of the Miami HEAT, a partner of Baptist Health and a partner of Zoo Miami. ECW's unlimited wash program, high-quality products, leading customer service and environmentally friendly focus have established the company as the #1 car wash company in Florida. The company completed a recapitalization with Warburg Pincus in 2022 and is actively seeking additional growth opportunities. For more information on locations, hours and partnerships, please visit www.elcarwash.com or follow us on Instagram @elcarwash. Contact: Carly Klein Director of Marketing [email protected] | (305) 613 9114 SOURCE El Car Wash NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- From $3,897.5 million in 2022, the electric vehicle supply equipment market value is projected to rise by 11.7% from 2022 to 2030, ultimately reaching $9,426.2 million, forecasts P&S Intelligence. The growth can be credited to the increasing need for e-vehicles, government initiatives to fuel EVSE installation, and rising pollution levels. For example, China set up approximately 87,000 electric vehicle charging stations in May 2022 alone, driven by the need to clean up the air. AC Chargers Are More Common Globally The alternating current charger category is leading the industry. Such chargers are extensively accepted for day-to-day charging as they are less costly during installation, operation, and production. Moreover, since they take 89 hours to fully charge an average EV battery, AC chargers are widely preferred by individuals for the overnight charging of their automobiles at their homes. Get the sample pages of this report: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/electric-vehicle-supply-equipment-evse-market/report-sample Number of Public Charging Stations To Grow at Higher Pace On the basis of application, the public category is projected to grow with the higher CAGR, of approximately 12%, in the years to come. This can be ascribed to the strong commitments by governments, manufacturers, and automakers to enhance the EV charging infrastructure in numerous countries. Currently, private chargers outnumber those accessible to the general public. This is because most EV owners prefer to have chargers, majorly the slow AC variants, at their homes, partially because the number of publicly accessible chargers is grossly low compared to the demand. APAC Is Largest Revenue Generator APAC is the biggest revenue contributor to the market, and it is projected to continue its dominance, with a worth of $4 billion by 2030. This is due to the increasing pace of technological enhancements and snowballing government and private expenditure for charging infrastructure betterment in the region. Furthermore, the growing environmental concerns and declining TCO of EVs are propelling the demand for electric vehicle supply equipment in the region. Browse detailed report on Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Market Trends, Development and Demand Forecast Report 2030 EVSE Installation Booming in North America North America is expected to be the market that witnesses the fastest growth in the coming years. The Federal Government already plans to ban vehicles operating on fossil fuels by 2035, in a bid to cut down emissions. Snowballing Demand for Electric Vehicles Boosts Industry The demand for EVs has grown extensively in recent years. In the first six months of 2022, around 4.3 million electric vehicles were bought worldwide. The increasing awareness regarding environmental protection and the aim to decrease the utilization of gasoline and diesel are the main factors fueling the sales of these vehicles. Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Market Report Coverage By Type Alternating Current (AC) Level 1 Level 2 Direct Current (DC) CHAdeMO Combined charging system (CCS) GB/T Tesla supercharger (SC) By Application Public Private Regional Analysis North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany U.K. France Italy Spain Asia-Pacific Japan China India South Korea Australia Latin America Brazil Mexico Middle East and Africa and Saudi Arabia South Africa U.A.E. Browse More Market Research Studies Global Hybrid Electric Car Market Size, Growth, Development and Forecast Report 2030 Global Electric Scooter and Motorcycle Market Size, Growth, Development and Forecast Report 2030 Global Electric Car Market Size, Growth, Development and Forecast Report 2030 Global Electric Bus Market Size, Growth, Development and Forecast Report 2030 Global Electric Truck Market Size, Growth, Development and Forecast Report 2030 About P&S Intelligence P&S Intelligence provides market research and consulting services to a vast array of industries across the world. As an enterprising research and consulting company, P&S believes in providing thorough insights on the ever-changing market scenario, to empower companies to make informed decisions and base their business strategies with astuteness. P&S keeps the interest of its clients at heart, which is why the insights we provide are both honest and accurate. Our long list of satisfied clients includes entry-level firms as well as multi-million-dollar businesses and government agencies. Contact: Prajneesh Kumar P&S Intelligence Phone: +1-347-960-6455 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.psmarketresearch.com Follow Us: LinkedIn Twitter Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1224988/P_and_S_Intelligence_Logo.jpg SOURCE P&S Intelligence The next summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) will be held in Uzbekistan in November 2023. This was discussed at the meeting of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and ECO Secretary General Khusrav Noziri. It was noted that during the meeting there was an exchange of views on the preparation of the summit agenda. The ECO was established in 1985, and the summit of the heads of ECO countries is held every two years. The 26th meeting of the Council of Ministers of the ECO was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on January 24. Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov attended the meeting. During the meeting, the ECO Chairmanship was transferred to Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani FM stated that within the Chairmanship, steps will be taken to operate the Clean Energy Center of the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) as well as the ECO Economic Research Center in Baku. It was also noted that the candidacy of Shusha will be nominated as the ECO tourist capital in 2026. LONDON and NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Premium British skincare brand, ELEMIS, is proud to announce its new status as a Certified B Corp after almost two years of implementing changes to processes, practices and launching new initiatives across the business. Celebrating with an exceptional 93 points (significantly above the required score of 80, showing that largescale businesses can still show sustainable responsibility), ELEMIS joins the 1,000 plus British companies that take people, environment, and profit into consideration in equal measure when making business decisions. Sold in 103 countries, ELEMIS will use their global voice to elevate B Corp awareness around the world to build a better tomorrow. To certify as a B Corp, performance is analysed across five key areas: governance, workers, community, environment, and customers. B Corp is the most comprehensive sustainability audit available, which doesn't just evaluate products, but also rigorously assesses the whole business to meet high verified standards of social and environmentally responsible practices, transparency, and corporate accountability. The environment, biodiversity, human rights, climate protection, employees, and customers are all top priorities -B Lab says 'business really can be a force for good and we must be the change we seek in the world'. We know that ELEMIS is going to be a fantastic addition to the B Corp community and will continue to drive the conversation forward. This is an exciting moment because they have an opportunity to lead the way within the beauty industry and help to spread the idea that we can redefine success in business to be as much about people and planet as it is about profit. The world needs more brands like ELEMIS who create real, long-term value for their customers, communities, workers, suppliers, and the environment, alongside their shareholders Chris Turner, Executive Director of B Lab UK ELEMIS Co-Founders and teams are thrilled to have both their ethical and environmental efforts recognised, and certified, highlighting how this approach impacts all aspects of ELEMIS and the wider world. "I congratulate ELEMIS on its B Corp Certification. "This achievement is a testament to the commitment of the brand's teams across all levels and to the positive impact that ELEMIS has made on the beauty industry since it was founded over 30 years ago. This is the first milestone on our Group's ambitious journey towards global B Corp Certification. It proves that a clear, collective focus on the triple bottom line our people, the planet and profitability is possible for a company of our size. The L'OCCITANE Group is proud to have ELEMIS B Corp Certified and will continue supporting ELEMIS in our shared mission to positively impact people and regenerate nature while delivering exceptional skincare. "Andre Hoffman, Vice-Chairman and CEO of the L'OCCITANE Group "We are so proud with our B Corp certification, one of the world's most stringent voluntary certifications for environmental and social impact. We know that business can make a big difference to society and the planet and B Corps are accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success in business to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. We've joined thousands of businesses who, like us, believe in being a force for good. Business shapes society and every single one is deeply intertwined with environmental, social, and governance concerns, so it makes sense to measure a company's impact on these factors. We don't see the point of being a business if you aren't doing good in the world. In our view, companies have a social, economic, and environmental responsibility to bring positive impact to society." Sean Harrington, Co-Founder & CEO "If the last few years have taught us anything, it's to be kind, not just to ourselves or to each other but to our planet too. We wholeheartedly believe that this certification is just the beginning for a B Corp business we will use this as our baseline - if we do not measure, we cannot improve. We, as part of L'OCCITANE Group, are on a journey with the ambition to become the most sustainable premium British skincare brand and we plan to accomplish more action-based commitments in 2023 making continuous improvements to our positive impact mission, in fact, the only impact we intend to make is positive." Oriele Frank, Co-Founder & Chief Product & Sustainability Officer "We have always considered our impact on people and planet to be as important as our results-driven formulas and treatments for healthy skin and body. Being certified to the highest verified standards of transparency and accountability provides further assurances to our customers that we do what we say we do, and that we're committed to driving long-term positive changes as a responsible, ethical business while delivering exceptional skincare." Noella Gabriel, Co-Founder & Global President Receiving this accreditation from B Lab deeply aligns with the company and only strengthens ELEMIS' sustainability pledges that focus on protecting and restoring biodiversity, making a more positive impact on climate, and empowering people and community for a better future. Building on this significant achievement, the next step for ELEMIS is moving forward with their comprehensive and ambitious new sustainability strategy. ELEMIS' vision is to protect and restore nature's biodiversity with a focus on carbon sink projects, such as their peatlands restoration project, which sequesters carbon by absorbing and holding onto it from the atmosphere, for up to 60 years. PROTECT & RESTORE BIODIVERSITY Work is well underway to re-package our entire packaging portfolio. Packaging changes are viewed as an area for continuous improvement by reducing size, moving to new widely recyclable alternatives and recycled content, or being reusable. Every nuance of the packaging is considered. PACKAGING MINIMISATION As part of their eco-movement, ELEMIS has made a pledge to reduce their carbon emissions throughout their value chain, in line with near term science-based targets by 2030. Case in point: renewable energy is used at all facilities. ENERGY EFFICIENCY High on the agenda is the focus on health and wellness, diversity, and inclusion. From employees to farmers, to their chosen charities and local communities, the focus is on sharing knowledge, facilitating education, and collaborating hand-in-hand to promote a more impactful relationship with ELEMIS. EMPOWERING PEOPLE By working with suppliers and supporting regenerative farming programmes, we will ensure full traceability of our raw materials and improve our impact on land and water use. SOURCING ACCOUNTABILITY Working to create smarter formulations with natural ingredients combined with nature-based biotech will help reduce their impact on the planet and protect and preserve our future biodiversity. ELEMIS is proud to join hands with a fast-growing community of over 6,000 Certified B Corps in 87 countries and 159 industries worldwide, including The Body Shop, Aromatherapy Associates, Aesop and Weleda, to use business as a force for good. PR contacts: UK - Lucy Frosdick [email protected], +44(0)7770641384 US - Abby Jacobs [email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1989968/ELEMIS_Logo.jpg SOURCE ELEMIS LIMITED AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research proudly announces the selection of Elizabeth Benhart, Senior Director of Instructional Design; and Cameron Alford, UACRM, ARM, Academy Board Member as two of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association's (APCIA) 2023 Emerging Leaders cohort. Mrs. Benhart and Mr. Alford will be featured at this nomination-only event from February 57 in Charleston, South Carolina. The event coincides with Insurance Careers Month and builds awareness of valuable opportunities within the insurance industry. Mrs. Benhart shared this regarding her Emerging Leader recognition: "I am so appreciative of the opportunity to join the class of 2023 Emerging Leaders! This ever-changing industry affords many learning and development opportunities for insurance and risk management professionals throughout the trajectory of their careers. I am blessed to be part of an organization whose leadership team and board of directors support innovation. Our talented group of instructional design team members make the job easy, energizing me to tackle each day with excitement and tenacity!" Beth Benhart started her career in secondary education after earning a Masters in Educational Technology from Michigan State University before joining the corporate world. In the last eight years, she has focused on developing training programs for insurance and risk management professionals. She has experience with all facets of learning and development, including corporate training, learning management system (LMS) administration, and instructional design. National Alliance Academy Board Member Cameron Alford, UACRM, ARM is a calculated, strategically focused risk and insurance professional serving as Insurance Manager for CSL Behring. He was an inaugural class member for the Butler University Masters of Science in Risk and Insurance (MSRI) graduate program (part of the Lacy School of Business). Mr. Alford garnered industry attention by developing enlightening and thought-provoking discussions for professionals and students, constructing inclusive leadership frameworks for student-led organizations, and empowering students toward successful careers. He has served on the RIMS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Council and was its Alumni Chair, and is a founder of the GammaSAID Council of Gamma Iota Sigma. He also served as a City Chair for the DiveIn Festival between 2017 and 2020. Mr. Alford shared this about his Emerging Leader selection: "I am grateful for early leadership opportunities and to use those platforms to share experiences and spotlight others. It's exciting to be recognized and I look forward to growing in servant leadership." Rising stars in the insurance industry are nominated by their companies for the opportunity to attend, learn, and be inspired by subject matter experts and industry leaders. The Emerging Leaders Conference is co-hosted by APCIA, Insurance Careers Movement, and AM Best. About The National Alliance: The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research, a registered 501(c)(3), is an insurance education provider recognized throughout the industry as a preeminent resource for technical training, designations, and continuing education in risk management and insurance. Boasting over 150,000 program participants, the National Alliance has set the standard for industry education since its inception in 1969. Media Contact: Griselda J Castillo, Marketing Director [email protected] 512-349-3303 SOURCE The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research Excellarate Adds Critical Expertise in AI, Analytics and Automation to Encora's Expansive Portfolio SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Encora, a global next-gen product engineering provider, today announced that it has acquired Excellarate, a global technology solutions and services company. The acquisition enhances Encora's capabilities in AI, Analytics and Automation, and deepens Encora's industry expertise in HealthTech, FinTech and InsurTech. With Excellarate's 1,300+ engineers, Encora expands its global talent pool to over 9,000 engineers. "Excellarate has a long history serving a wide range of fast-growing clients in HealthTech, FinTech and InsurTech and we are thrilled to welcome them to the Encora family," said Venu Raghavan, Founder and CEO, Encora. "Nick Sharma and his team will provide valuable expertise and capabilities to strengthen our customer offerings and further our mission of becoming the leading global engineering solutions provider." "Excellarate is honored to join a company with a reputation for delivering high-quality, industry leading digital solutions to customers in many different high-growth industries around the world," said Nick Sharma, CEO, Excellarate. "Venu, the leadership team, and all those we have met at Encora have welcomed us with open arms. We see this acquisition as a tremendous fit culturally, and feel that our capabilities will provide critical value to Encora's current and future customers." "Frontenac is proud to have collaborated with the Excellarate team, supporting its exceptional growth over the last three years," said Joseph Rondinelli, Managing Director of Frontenac. "The company is well-positioned for continued growth in this dynamic market, and we look forward to following its progress and accomplishments in the future under new ownership and leadership from Encora." Over the last few years, Encora has expanded its global delivery footprint through a combination of organic and inorganic growth. Acquisitions of Daitain, Avantica, Nearsoft, and Sooryen Technologies, have added significant technical expertise and geographical coverage in Latin America and India. Encora is certified as a Great Place to Work in India as well as in all six Latin American countries where Encora has business operations. Including Excellarate employees, 90% of Encorians work in a country where Encora is a Great Place to Work. To learn more about Encora and its product engineering services, please visit www.encora.com. About Encora Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona and backed by private equity firm Advent International, Encora is the preferred innovation partner to some of the world's leading technology companies. It provides next-gen services such as Predictive Analysis, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, IoT, Cloud and Test Automation. Encora has deep cluster vertical capabilities in HealthTech, FinTech & InsurTech, HiTech, IAM & Cybersecurity, Digital Commerce, EdTech, Supply Chain & Logistics, Telecom and other specialized industries. With over 7,600 associates in 40+ offices and innovation labs across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, India, and Asia Pacific, Encora's global talent pool, micro-industry vertical expertise and proprietary agile engineering capabilities enable clients to improve their speed to impact. For more information, please visit www.encora.com. About Excellarate Excellarate is a global technology services and solutions company with over 20 years of domain expertise within health, insurance, financial and enterprise technologies. The company is a trusted partner of over 250 clients including Change Healthcare, Ad Giants, Alchemy Systems, and Centric Software to accelerate innovation and achieve business agility. Excellarate has strategic technology and solution partners including AWS, Azure, GoogleCloud, Appian, and Salesforce to help drive digital transformation for our clients. With over 1,300 engineers across North America and India, Excellarate provides a dual-shore delivery model that empowers clients to drive innovation and accelerate time-to-market. About Frontenac Frontenac is a Chicago-based private equity firm. The firm focuses on investing in lower middle market buyout transactions in the consumer, industrial, and services industries. Frontenac works in partnership with established operating leaders, through an executive-centric approach called CEO1ST, which seeks to identify, acquire, and build market-leading companies through transformational acquisitions and operational excellence. Over the last 50+ years, Frontenac has built a leading franchise working with over 300 owners of mid-sized businesses as they address complex transition issues of liquidity, management enhancement, and growth planning. For more information, please visit www.frontenac.com. SOURCE Encora During a special morning ceremony as part of the 14th annual Farmers Insurance Open, Farmers donates the first $100,000 of a five-year pledge to benefit the Armed Services YMCA of San Diego SAN DIEGO, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Farmers Insurance, an organization founded by two World War I veterans in 1928, celebrated San Diego's military community this morning by donating $100,000 to the Armed Services YMCA of San Diegothe first installment of a five-year, $500,000 commitment to help the ASYMCA build a new facility in Murphy Canyon that will serve military families for years to come. Farmers Insurance Logo. (PRNewsFoto/Farmers Insurance) The announcement was made as Farmers executives, employees, agents and district managers volunteered to help provide food and supplies for local military members and their families during the ASYMCA's Neighborhood Food Exchange event as part of the 2023 Farmers Insurance Open. Farmers Insurance nonprofit partner Operation BBQ Relief was also onsite, preparing hot meals for military families throughout the morning's activities. "It's an honor for Farmers to be able to give back and make a difference for the brave service members who have given so much to serve our country," said Mark Welch, Chief People & Diversity Officer for Farmers. "As longtime supporters of the Armed Services YMCA and its mission, we are proud to help the organization continue its important work and deliver vital services to the San Diego military community." Founded in 1920, the Armed Services YMCA of San Diego provides innovative and quality social, educational, and recreational programs to meet the needs of military service members and their families. The ASYMCA is committed to promoting its goals of strengthening military families, supporting healthy lifestyles, reducing isolation and assisting service members and their families in connecting to their community. "We are grateful to the people at Farmers Insurance for their generous support as we kick off fundraising efforts for our new facility," said Tim Ney, Executive Director of the Armed Services YMCA of San Diego. "Thanks to the dedication of organizations like Farmers, we are able to provide much-needed programs and services to the military community here in San Diego." For more information about the Armed Services YMCA San Diego, visit www.asysd.org and follow the Armed Services YMCA San Diego on all social platforms at @ASYSanDiego. About Farmers Insurance "Farmers Insurance" and "Farmers" are tradenames for a group of insurers providing insurance for automobiles, homes and small businesses and a wide range of other insurance and financial services products. Farmers Insurance Exchange, the largest of the three primary insurers that make up Farmers Insurance, is recognized as one of the largest U.S. companies on the 2022 Fortune 500 list. For more information about Farmers Insurance, visit Farmers.com, Twitter and Instagram, @WeAreFarmers, or Facebook.com/FarmersInsurance. Contact: External Communications Farmers Insurance 818-965-0007 [email protected] SOURCE Farmers Insurance BOCA RATON, Fla., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Atlantic University and Broward Health on Monday announced a partnership agreement that will provide academic medicine to Broward County, and opportunities to collaborate in the areas of education, clinical training and practice, health services administration and research. The groundbreaking partnership was announced by Shane Strum, president and CEO of Broward Health, during its State of the System address recognizing the system's 85th anniversary. As part of the collaboration, FAU and Broward Health plan to explore opportunities for joint research and scholarship at the student and faculty level, community engagement, fundraising opportunities, and integrating academic medicine, first within the setting of the system's safety-net hospital. Safety-net practices are defined by the Institute of Medicine as "those providers that organize and deliver a significant level of health care and other needed services to uninsured, Medicaid and other vulnerable patients." "Florida Atlantic University and Broward Health share a common vision and purpose of providing high-quality and compassionate medical care, stellar education, and lifesaving research close to home," said Brad Levine, chair, FAU Board of Trustees. "This collaboration makes us part of a vital network in Broward County that connects us with a partner that will enable us to care for our community." Students in health sciences enrolled at FAU will have access to physicians and clinical facilities within Broward Health thanks to this agreement. "We welcome opportunities for collaboration to expand our health care network, provide lifesaving medical services, and importantly, train the next generation of physicians who will serve our communities with compassion, integrity and highly skilled care," said Strum. "As the first statutory teaching hospital in Broward County, partnerships like this one ensure we continue to build the skilled physician workforce our region needs while meeting the health care needs of our communities today." Established in 1938, Broward Health is one of the 10 largest public health care systems in the United States. A nationally recognized health system in South Florida, Broward Health boasts two trauma centers and virtually every health specialty, offering compassionate, personalized care across its four hospitals and more than 50 health centers and physician practices. As a leader in advanced health care for more than 85 years, Broward Health has a robust graduate education program and international services. "FAU's Schmidt College of Medicine is a medical school of the community and for the community," said Julie Pilitsis, M.D., Ph.D., dean and vice president for medical affairs, FAU Schmidt College of Medicine. "We are very excited to join forces with our partners at Broward Health to put academic medicine at the forefront of our community. With an emphasis on teamwork and collaboration, together with our partners, we will address the needs of our community and enhance our workforce in health-related fields." The Schmidt College of Medicine has been independent since 2011, and prides itself on training doctors for the community. Together with the FAU Health Network - including all 10 colleges at FAU - the medical school works to ensure the workforce of tomorrow and cutting-edge technology and innovation. FAU's Schmidt College of Medicine has already made valuable contributions to the physician workforce, which has dynamically impacted and diversified the care of its communities. An average of 50 percent of the medical school's graduated medical residents and fellows stay on to practice in Florida. Florida is expected to be short nearly 18,000 physicians by the year 2035. Only 13.1 percent of physicians in Florida are 39 years old or younger, whereas 38.4 percent are 60 and older. Thus, the workforce shortage will likely be exacerbated by a high retirement rate and low incoming rate of new physicians. - FAU - About Florida Atlantic University: Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across six campuses located along the southeast Florida coast. In recent years, the University has doubled its research expenditures and outpaced its peers in student achievement rates. Through the coexistence of access and excellence, FAU embodies an innovative model where traditional achievement gaps vanish. FAU is designated a Hispanic-serving institution, ranked as a top public university by U.S. News & World Report and a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. For more information, visit www.fau.edu . About Broward Health: Broward Health, providing service for more than 85 years, is a nationally recognized system in South Florida that offers world-class healthcare across virtually every health specialty to all. More than 10,000 physicians and employees treat thousands of patients daily at the statutory teaching hospital Broward Health Medical Center, Broward Health North, Broward Health Imperial Point, Broward Health Coral Springs, and more than 50 additional locations throughout Broward County, as well as through international programming. For more information, visit BrowardHealth.org . Provided by Newswise, online resource for knowledge-based news at www.newswise.com Media Contacts: Gisele Galoustian Senior Media Relations Director Research and Health [email protected] Mobile: 561-985-4615 Diana Dwyer Broward Health [email protected] SOURCE Florida Atlantic University Happy Money has partnered with TruStage to offer a first-of-its-kind solution for payment protection in the event of involuntary unemployment or disability, automatically included with every personal loan at no additional cost to the borrower TORRANCE, Calif., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Happy Money , a leading platform for unsecured lending in partnership with credit unions, today announced the launch of TruStage Payment Guard Insurance , underwritten by CUMIS Specialty Insurance Company, Inc., a first-of-its-kind solution for personal loans that provides borrower protection in the event of financial hardship due to involuntary unemployment or disability caused by illness or injury. Going forward, this loan payment protection will be included with every Happy Money loan, with TruStage Payment Guard Insurance paying benefits of up to three months' payments with an approved claim and reducing the risk of borrower defaults for Happy Money's credit union partners. Happy Money has partnered with TruStage to offer a first-of-its-kind solution for loan payment protection. Tweet this Happy Money has partnered with TruStage to offer a first-of-its-kind solution for payment protection in the event of involuntary unemployment or disability, automatically included with every personal loan at no additional cost to the borrower. Happy Money is introducing Payment Guard coverage to its loans to address the uncertainty facing borrowers and lenders alike. With the U.S. economy producing jobs at a slower rate as we edge into 2023, the most recent report from the U.S. Department of Labor predicts job losses in the year ahead. Happy Money's new Payment Guard coverage addresses two of the leading reasons good borrowers may default on their payments creating a more resilient lending product and helping provide borrowers with peace of mind in a volatile economic environment, knowing they will be protected in the event of covered involuntary unemployment or disability caused by illness or injury. "Offering Payment Guard is a great example of how our fintech platform is bringing unique products and technology to support consumers and credit union partners in this complex environment," said Jeff Winner, CEO of Happy Money. "Rapidly building product enhancements and innovations like this loan payment protection solution helps our partners to stand stronger together as the financial backbone of their communities while continually improving their service and support to members." Happy Money is the first company to offer personal loans with Payment Guard. The coverage, provided through TruStage, will benefit Happy Money's lending partners and borrowers alike and stand out in an increasingly commoditized financial services environment: Financial resiliency. With an approved claim, Payment Guard will pay a benefit amount equal to three months of the member's monthly loan payment, up to the policy maximums so they can focus on getting back on their feet. This helps them maintain their credit standing, ensuring their payments continue to be made on time. With an approved claim, Payment Guard will pay a benefit amount equal to three months of the member's monthly loan payment, up to the policy maximums so they can focus on getting back on their feet. This helps them maintain their credit standing, ensuring their payments continue to be made on time. Built-in peace of mind. Borrowers are automatically protected with their Happy Money loans. Unlike other forbearance programs, Payment Guard reduces the borrower's principal balance without extending the terms of the loan or accruing additional interest for the borrower. Borrowers are automatically protected with their Happy Money loans. Unlike other forbearance programs, Payment Guard reduces the borrower's principal balance without extending the terms of the loan or accruing additional interest for the borrower. Reduced risk for lenders. This product allows Happy Money's credit union partners to grow their lending portfolios with confidence. With default risk reduced, lenders benefit from a healthier, more resilient portfolio. "At TruStage, we believe a brighter financial future should be accessible to all," said Danielle Sesko, Director of Product Management. "TruStage Payment Guard is a first-of-its-kind innovative insurance solution built specifically for digital lenders to help improve the resilience of their lending portfolio and offer borrowers peace of mind in case of an unexpected loss in income. We're excited to partner with Happy Money on this offering." "Our dedication to being the best possible partner for credit unions means we are constantly innovating to provide product solutions for their most critical pain points," said Joe Heck, COO of Happy Money. "We are proud to be the first fintech company to offer loans with Payment Guard, building on our strong foundation of affording unparalleled value and risk management to our credit union partners and consumers during a time of great uncertainty." Happy Money has been the go-to fintech platform helping borrowers reach their financial goals since the company launched in 2009 during the midst of the U.S. recession. Payment Guard is the company's next step in advancing a happier way to extend credit that prioritizes people's well-being helping consumers save time, money, and stress. TruStage Payment Guard Insurance is underwritten by CUMIS Specialty Insurance Company, Inc. and not by Happy Money. All claims are subject to review and approval by CUMIS Specialty Insurance Company, Inc. and subject to the terms of the Payment Guard Insurance policy. To learn more about Payment Guard, visit go.happymoney.com/insurance . Email [email protected] to discover how to become a Happy Money lending partner. About Happy Money Happy Money is a financial technology company that offers a people-first lending experience in partnership with credit unions and other community-focused financial institutions. Our vision of transforming the lending industry comes to life through our connected platform of financial partners who help offer a happier digital lending experience that meets the needs of today's customers. Through automation and proprietary underwriting models, we offer flexible rates and payment plans that work best for borrowers' unique financial situations. And we are expanding the reach of our core product, The Payoff Loan for credit card debt reduction, to even more consumers via embedded financial services. Backed by leading investors, Happy Money has helped over 300,000 borrowers since inception working with lending partners to fund more than $5.5 billion in loans*. As a fully distributed company, Happy Money has a passionate and purpose-driven employee base of over 300 people across the United States. For more information, please visit happymoney.com . *As of January 1, 2023 About TruStage TruStage is a member of the CUNA Mutual Group family of brands. Built on the principle of "people helping people," CUNA Mutual Group is a financially strong insurance, investment and financial services company that believes a brighter financial future should be accessible to everyone. Through our company culture, community engagement, and products and solutions, we are working to create a more equitable financial system that helps to improve the lives of those we serve and our society. For more information, visit trustage.com. SOURCE Happy Money PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC) announced today that its 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held via live webcast on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. ET. Instructions for accessing the webcast will be available on the company's Investor Relations website, located at https://investors.fmc.com. About FMC FMC Corporation is a global agricultural sciences company dedicated to helping growers produce food, feed, fiber and fuel for an expanding world population while adapting to a changing environment. FMC's innovative crop protection solutions including biologicals, crop nutrition, digital and precision agriculture enable growers, crop advisers and turf and pest management professionals to address their toughest challenges economically while protecting the environment. With approximately 6,400 employees at more than 100 sites worldwide, FMC is committed to discovering new herbicide, insecticide and fungicide active ingredients, product formulations and pioneering technologies that are consistently better for the planet. Visit fmc.com to learn more and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Statement under the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains forward-looking statements, which are based on management's current views and assumptions regarding future events, future business conditions and the outlook for the company based on currently available information. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement. In addition to the continued uncertainty generated by the ongoing COVID pandemic on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and performance, additional factors include, among other things, the risk factors and other cautionary statements included within FMC's 2021 Form 10-K filed with the SEC as well as other SEC filings and public communications. Moreover, investors are cautioned to interpret many of these factors as being heightened as a result of the ongoing and numerous adverse impacts of COVID. FMC cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the above cautionary statement. FMC undertakes no obligation, and specifically disclaims any duty, to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which they were made, except as otherwise required by law. SOURCE FMC Corporation The surge in demand for RTE meals and fast foods, increase in the use of health products, technological strides in the industry, and rise in income levels drive the global food flavors market growth. PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Food Flavors Market by Type (Natural and Artificial), Application (Beverages, Dairy, Nutrition and Health, Savory, Sweet Good, and Others]: Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030". According to the report, the global food flavors industry was valued at $12.7 billion in 2020, and is projected to reach $19.2 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 3.6% during the forecast period. Download Free Sample Report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/672 Prime determinants of growth The rise in demand for RTE meals and fast food, the increase in the usage of health goods, industry technological advancements, and increased income levels all contribute to the expansion of the world market for food flavors. However, the market's growth is constrained by the rise in artificial taste adverse effects, strict governmental controls, and increased consumer health consciousness. In addition, opportunities in underdeveloped and underpenetrated developing nations provide fresh prospects for market expansion in the following years. Covid-19 Scenario The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic had a moderate impact on the global food flavors market, owing to the continuation in the production of food products across the world. Food was classified as an essential commodity during the pandemic, which enabled food production for the entire pandemic, leading to continued market operations. The synthetic food flavor segment will maintain its leadership position throughout the forecast period. Synthetic flavor dominated the market, accounting for nearly three-fourths of the total. Synthetic/artificial flavors are chemical compounds used to enhance of natural food flavors or add flavor to food. Unlike natural flavors, artificial flavors are subjected to more stringent regulatory scrutiny. Chemicals used in artificial flavors have a lower processing cost than natural flavors. Furthermore, the processing time for artificial flavors is short and environmentally friendly. Synthetic flavors are widely used in various industries, mainly beverage and processed food. They, like natural flavors, are created in laboratories by flavorists. There are also synthetic flavors, such as natural identical and artificial flavors. The key factors driving the growth of the artificial flavor market include economic viability and an easy & less-lengthy manufacturing process compared to natural flavors. The rise in demand for processed foods in Asia-Pacific and developments in the fast-food industry is anticipated to create food flavors market demand in the future. Natural identical flavor and artificial flavor are two synthetic flavors. The key factors driving the growth of the artificial flavor market include economic viability and a more straightforward and shorter manufacturing process than natural flavors. The beverages segment to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period The beverages segment held the largest food flavors market share based on the end user. The beverage industry is known for its distinct flavors and ever-changing flavor trends. Flavorists at beverage companies work hard to create the perfect blend of flavors that will add to and cater to changing consumer preferences. Generally, the flavor is not processed by beverage manufacturers. They contract them out to flavor companies. Cold non-alcoholic beverages are made up of RTD coffee, RTD juices, carbonated water, a flavoring agent, and a sweetener and are packaged in cans or bottles. The most popular cold drinks worldwide include cold drinks, soda, soda pop, fizzy drinks, and others. Soft drinks include ready-to-drink fruit juices and energy drinks. For Purchase Enquiry: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/672 Asia-Pacific to maintain its leadership in the market by 2031 Based on region, Asia-Pacific dominated the market in 2021 and is expected to do so throughout the food flavors market forecast period. The Asia-Pacific region has a significant potential for growth in the global food flavors market due to rising income levels and a large consumer base for food products. Because of increasing customer purchasing power and demand for high-quality goods, the market is expected to follow the premiumization trend. Numerous Asia-Pacific countries have seen an increase in their economies due to industry growth in the last 1-2 decades. Because of their high productivity and large workforce, China and India compete with developed countries in terms of development. Western fast-food chains have expanded dramatically in many Asia-Pacific countries. Europe has the third largest market for food flavors. Countries such as the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain, and Belgium contribute significantly to the region's revenue. Leading Market Players: - Firmenich SA Frutarom Industries Ltd Givaudan International SA Huabao International Holdings Limited Kerry Group, Plc Robertet SA S H Kelkar and Company Limited Sensient Technologies Corporation Symrise AG Takasago International Corporation Synergy Flavors The report analyzes these key players of the global ascorbic acid market. These players have adopted various strategies such as expansion, new product launches, partnerships, and others to increase their market penetration and strengthen their position in the industry. The report is helpful in determining the business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and developments by every market player. Want to Access the Statistical Data and Graphs, Key Players' Strategies: https://bit.ly/3HuBy5X Trending Reports in Food and Beverages Industry Adaptogens Market Expected to Reach USD $20.3 billion by 2031 Canada microgreens Market Expected to Reach $168.6 million by 2028 Dairy Enzyme Market Expected to Reach $1.1 billion by 2031 Macadamia Market Expected to Reach USD $2.9 billion by 2031 About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 [email protected] Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/reports-store/food-and-beverages Follow Us on Blog: https://www.dailyreportsworld.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Allied Market Research SMITHTOWN, N.Y., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- From the moment Luke Skywalker graced the silver screen, the idea of exploring the greater universe and joining the light or dark side of the Force has captivated audiences of all ages for generations. Star Wars fans have long been known for their dedication to cosplay and lightsaber dueling. Now, thanks to technological advancements, finely crafted sabers are taking these fan organizations to new heights, supported by the team at SabersPro. Saberspro main Choose your side - Boone From the famous San Diego Comic-Con to private parties across the US and beyond, cosplay, or costume play, has always been a popular pastime among Star Wars fans. With all the shared love of recent Disney+ releases like The Mandalorian and Andor, it has only grown in popularity. Fans are now able to create more accurate and detailed costumes than ever before, thanks to the availability of high-quality materials and advanced fabrication techniques. That is where SabersPro comes into play. "We couldn't be more excited to support our customers with the opportunity to own a piece of this imaginative universe through our unique saber designs," said Lev, the co-founder of SabersPro. "From the moment we were inspired to craft collectible sabers, we have balanced the look of this fan favorite property with the needs of the vibrant cosplayers out there in the world." But it doesn't stop with fun costumes and annual meetups. The underground scene of Star Wars dueling clubs has hit the mainstream. These clubs are dedicated to teaching fans the art of lightsaber duels, using techniques from the stage and martial arts to create safe and exciting experiences. These are like-minded fans coming together to create and study the in-depth world of Star Wars, and they are everywhere. There are dueling clubs in the streets of Paris all the way to the gritty suburbs of NYC. "Go to any major cosplay event around the world, and you are bound to see a demonstration or booth for a local dueling club," continues [last name]. "Even the French Fencing Federation now recognizes lightsaber dueling as an official sport. Then you have incredible US-based clubs like The Saber Legion or the Light Saber Academy in Wichita, KS. That is why we created a line of durable sabers - to support these dedicated fans." With so much demand from cosplayers and dueling clubs, it only makes sense a company like SabersPro is experiencing an uptick in popularity. These high-quality sabers are perfect for fans from any background, whether they're looking to engage in epic duels or to complete their cosplay costumes. Customers can choose Baselit or Neopixel cores, and in some cases, the hilt colors, all while experiencing incredible light, sound, and immersive saber effects. One of the latest sabers built by the team at SabersPro includes the Quantum. This is a unique model with a more minimalistic design that leans into the futuristic features many collectors enjoy. It has a slightly curved grip and inlay accents that elevate any cosplay costume, while using well-known durable materials to ensure dueling enjoyment with every clash of the saber. The fact is the more the Star Wars universe expands into new properties, stories, and merchandise, the more complex the costumes will become. With Disney now leading the charge for immersive Jedi and Sith experiences, companies like SabersPro should expect to have many fan-fueled years ahead full of innovation and creativity. SabersPro is a global online retailer of sabers for cosplayers, collectors, and dueling clubs. For more information, please visit https://saberspro.com . Contact: John Davis, [email protected], 631 988 3961 SOURCE SabersPro Part of a training series highlighting issues related to HIV and COVID-19 vaccines in the primary care setting WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) is hosting a free webinar discussion next month with GW SMHS Professor of Physician Assistant Studies, Dr. Susan LeLacheur, and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Dr. Lalit Narayan on culturally responsive communication within the primary care setting. It is the second webinar in the training series for the Two in One: HIV + COVID Screening and Testing Model. The webinar, titled "Culturally Responsive Communication in Clinical Care," is a free, CME-bearing panelist discussion that will define culturally responsive communication; discuss the principles of culturally responsive communication; and explain strategies for integrating culturally responsive communication into patient care. The webinar is scheduled for Thursday, February 2nd from 12 1 p.m. ET. Anyone can register for the event here. GW University is hosting a webinar next month on culturally responsive communication in the primary setting. Tweet this "We are looking forward to this important discussion with Dr. LeLacheur and Dr. Narayan," said Maranda Ward, principal investigator of the Two in One Model and assistant professor of clinical research and leadership at GW SMHS. "One of the facilitators to patient care is nonjudgmental and skillful communication. With this webinar, we hope that clinicians can understand the importance of the language they use that very well reflects the history of racism, mistrust and biases that are important for sharing power and respecting patients with varying backgrounds in a responsible and supportive way." This webinar, as part of the GW Department of Medicine Grand Rounds, is the second in the Two in One Model training series for clinicians, which includes a range of topics that historicize and contextualize HIV and COVID disparities among racial, ethnic, sexual and gender minoritized populations. The Two in One Model is a national educational effort designed with a combined health and racial equity lens for U.S. primary care practitioners (PCPs) to routinize HIV screening and COVID-19 vaccine screening for all of their patients. The two-part training series will offer nine live-streamed, continuing medical education (CME) monthly lectures as well as an asynchronous CME-bearing module-based training course and toolkit. The research informed series will culminate in translating the knowledge gained from the speaker series into policy-based and practice-based action through a white paper and advocacy messages. Students who attend training webinars will be eligible to receive a certificate of completion for each event. The webinar is sponsored by the GW SMHS Two in One Model and funded by Gilead Sciences inc. SOURCE The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences Connected transportation and telematics leader commits to worldwide sustainable and responsible business practices TORONTO, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Geotab Inc. ("Geotab"), a global leader in connected transportation solutions, today announced it has joined the United Nations Global Compact initiative (UN Global Compact) a voluntary leadership platform for the development, implementation and disclosure of responsible human right, labor, environmental and anti-corruption business practices. Geotab joins UN Global Compact (CNW Group/Geotab Inc.) By joining the UN Global Compact, Geotab is committed to taking accountable business action and supporting universal sustainability principles. The UN Global Compact is a call to companies everywhere to align business operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles , and to take accountable action in support of UN goals and issues embodied in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) . Launched in 2000, the UN Global Compact is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world, with more than 15,000 companies and 3,000 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and more than 70 local networks. "We are committed to the principles of the UN Global Compact, and Geotab is proud to join the initiative," said Neil Cawse, CEO and Founder, Geotab. "The time for global leaders to unify efforts and address societal issues is now. By leveraging our shared values and principles to inform strategies, policies and procedures, and establishing a culture of integrity, we increase our chances of achieving a more sustainable, equitable, ethical future." "With our signing of the UN Global Compact, we look forward to showing our commitment to taking action on sustainability across our organization," said Chuck Van Kempen, Associate Vice President, Corporate Sustainability, Geotab. "By learning and growing alongside peers and partners from a global network of participants, all of us at Geotab will play an important part in securing a successful future for our community and our business." "To address the threat posed by climate change, we need employers to serve as active leaders," said Dave Mullaney, principal on RMI's Carbon-Free Mobility team. "Geotab's membership in the UN Global Compact will encourage other employers to join the initiative." Geotab is committed to social sustainable governance, and has invested in initiatives to ensure the company and its customers can attain high reaching goals in corporate responsibility. A signatory of the Climate Pledge and with its carbon emissions reduction targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), Geotab published its inaugural Sustainability Report in 2021 , and published its 2021 GHG Emissions Report in October of 2022, showing climate action and moving the company toward a more sustainable future. About Geotab Geotab is a global leader in connected transportation solutions. We provide telematics - vehicle and asset tracking - solutions to over forty thousand customers in 150 countries. For more than 20 years, we have invested in ground-breaking data research and innovation to enable partners and customers, including Fortune 500 and public sector organizations, to transform their fleets and operations. We connect to over 3.2 million vehicles and process more than 55 billion data points a day so that customers can make better decisions, increase productivity, have safer fleets, and achieve their sustainability goals. Geotab's open platform and Marketplace, offers hundreds of third-party solution options. Backed by a team of industry leading data scientists and AI experts, Geotab is unlocking the power of data to understand real-time and predictive analytics - solving for today's challenges and tomorrow's world. To learn more, visit www.geotab.com , follow @GEOTAB on Twitter and LinkedIn or visit the Geotab Blog. SOURCE Geotab Inc. DUBLIN, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Germany Elevator and Escalator - Market Size and Growth Forecast 2023-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Germany elevator and escalator market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.22% during 2023-2029. The maintenance and modernization in the Germany elevator and escalator market accounted for 67.9% and 32.1%, respectively, for the year 2022. The increasing demand for high-rise structures and the government's focus on infrastructure in key economic cities have propelled the elevator business in Germany to new heights. The Germany elevator market by the installed base is expected to reach 96.3 thousand units by 2029. The elevators market in Germany in the year 2022 witnessed a more substantial growth than expected, representing medium year-on-year demand of 2.7% for the term 2023-2025 due to high raw material costs, neutral manufacturing activity, as fresh COVID-19 cases weighing on the recovery momentum. Future elevator industry growth is anticipated to be driven by investments in public sector infrastructure, digitalization, energy-efficient housing renovations, and a green circular economy, all of which are supported by EU financing. KEY HIGHLIGHTS In September 2020, the Federal Minister of the Interior, Building, and Community announced that the second round of the national funding program Smart City Model Projects will support 32 Smart City Model Projects with roughly 350 million Euros. In 2021, out of 94 cities, districts, and municipalities participating in the nation's "Smart Cities Model Projects" for funding, only 28 were selected officially. Germany has allotted EUR 2.5 billion as part of its 2021-2026 National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) for investments in the repair of energy-efficient buildings. The country is anticipated to achieve at least a 30% energy reduction through this extensive remodeling effort. The government introduced the Energy Efficiency Strategy 2050 initiative in December 2019, intending to meet its 2030 targets by encouraging energy efficiency investments across several sectors. The Energy Conservation Law in Germany specifies the regulations for energy conservation. The Energy Conservation Act (EnEG), the Energy Conservation Ordinance (EnEV), which were substituted by the GEG in November 2020, and the Renewable Energies Heat Act (EEWarmeG) include the most significant regulations governing energy efficiency in buildings. Under the Basic Law, the German government has earmarked USD 1 billion in program funds to be utilized between 2020 and 2024 to give financial support regarding social housing. The German government has initiated several measures to develop the country's housing market. It has allocated EUR 5.0 billion (USD 5.9 billion) under its housing policies to construct 100,000 rental units in the next four years. Otis Germany signed an agreement with the Max Bogl Group to develop a new business model allowing clients to get elevator modules in high-quality serial manufacturing from a single source, bringing the Living Modular idea to life. Otis will provide elevator components with cutting-edge technology, which Otis will build at the Max Bogl factory. The Growth Rate Of Digitalization And Increasing Developments In Buildings To Drive The Germany Elevator And Escalator Market By developing a roadmap for digital design and construction, Building Information Modelling is regarded as the standard tool for planning and designing a building for all federal infrastructure projects, according to the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure(BMVI). In Germany, companies are using BIM as part of their projects for more than USD 25 million value. Increasing usage of BIM will create more opportunities for international companies which can provide BIM software to local companies. Germany's residential program aims to complete the extensive renovation of 40,000 homes by 2026, as stated in its 2021-2026 National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). Municipal living laboratories for the energy transition will be used with this measure to perform pilot programs that explore new ideas for an effective and sustainable energy supply in urban areas. The climb lift system was Schindler's new upgrade of access equipment used for high-rise projects in Germany (Elbtower in Hamburg) and the Middle east. The Schindler Climb Lift's interior design will enable building work to be completed more efficiently, especially regarding the exterior. According to Schindler, these elements can help to cut the cost of constructing high-rise buildings by approximately 5%. The Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) on Microelectronics and Communication Technologies(USD 1.5 billion) and the IPCEI on Next Generation Cloud Infrastructure and Services (IPCEI-CIS) USD 767.6 million) Two significant multi-country digitalization projects are also a part of the NRRP. Governments Effort To Expand Infrastructure Across Nation To Increase Demand For New Installations With civil engineering, as a part of the overall funding of USD 276 billion under the 2030 Federal Transport System Plan, the German government has already declared a USD 88 billion investment plan in the country's rail infrastructure. under the 2030 Federal Transport System Plan, the German government has already declared a investment plan in the country's rail infrastructure. As part of the initiative for the future of rail in Northern Germany , the northern states of Germany agreed to major new-build and infrastructure upgrades for their rail systems in January 2022 . To modernize their rail networks up to 2030, Bremen , Hamburg , Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein will invest a record USD 30 billion . , the northern states of Germany agreed to major new-build and infrastructure upgrades for their rail systems in . To modernize their rail networks up to 2030, , , Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein will invest a record . A total of USD 145.4 billion has been allocated for capital maintenance and investment in replacement infrastructure across all three modes of transportation from 2016 to 2030. The FTIP 2030 also seeks to establish the groundwork for a transportation system that is environmentally sustainable by investing in transportation infrastructure. Regional Analysis In the first two quarters of 2022, the Big 5 regions ( Berlin , Dusseldorf , Frankfurt , Hamburg , and Munich ) occupied over 1.51 million square meters of space, a startling 35% rise over the same period in 2021. This development is not solely attributable to the construction of the new Tesla factory in Grunheide, which added 327,000 square meters to the first-quarter total after receiving planning authorization. , , , , and ) occupied over 1.51 million square meters of space, a startling 35% rise over the same period in 2021. This development is not solely attributable to the construction of the new Tesla factory in Grunheide, which added 327,000 square meters to the first-quarter total after receiving planning authorization. The Bavarian Ministry of Housing, Construction, and Transport decided to invest USD 447.6 million in the German state's rail system in July 2020 . The money will be used to build new stations in Brunnen, Regensburg, and LindaWurzburg, as well as to increase accessibility along the Senden-Marktoberdorf route, among other minor regional rail projects. Such factors play a crucial role in the Germany elevator and escalator market growth. Vendor Landscape The top four prominent vendors, including Otis, KONE, Schindler, and TK Elevator, account for 49% of the Germany elevator and escalator market share. Schindler adopted the Top Speed 23 program to accelerate digitization, boost product innovation, strengthen its position in key markets, and address profitability gaps. KOHLER Elevator GmbH provides complete elevator packages for use with or without machine room traction. The company's SYMPHONY lift generation can be individually configured according to the application's requirements for New installations for office buildings, residential, hotels and shopping centers, airports, and hospitals. In February 2022 , meta100 and meta200 by TKE offer the desired solution for medium-height buildings. Meta200 has an Automatic Rescue Device that will take passengers to the nearest floor they can exit the elevator in case of being stuck in the elevator, a camera system in terms of in-cab security monitoring, and a soft and sensitive device. Key Vendors KONE Mitsubishi Electric TK Elevator Otis Fujitec Schindler KOHLER Elevator GmbH Schmitt+Sohn Aufzuge Other Prominent Vendors LIFT-OK.COM SJEC AKE ELEVATOR KLEEMANN Aufzuge GmbH Stannah Lifts Holdings Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/mpt59c-elevator?w=5 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GIT Satellite Communications (GIT) announced today that it has become an Iridium Certus service provider and will support U.S. government customers with hardware platforms, airtime, and data services. Iridium Constellation A long-time Iridium government service provider for narrowband voice and data services, GIT has now expanded its offering with Iridium Certus global satellite L-band broadband and midband connectivity. In addition to GIT's present airtime service plans, the company offers voice and data compression software to support the most efficient Iridium Certus application solutions for DoD users. "2023 will be an exciting year for GIT with the addition of Iridium Certus' mission critical capabilities for government and the modern warfighter," said GIT Satellite President and CEO Ginger Washburn. "We look forward to providing this critical connectivity to further support government and DoD personnel." "For more than 20 years, GIT has been a reliable and trusted partner delivering Iridium satellite communications equipment and service to a diverse array of government and commercial customers worldwide," said Scott Scheimreif, Executive Vice President of Government Programs, Iridium. "With the addition of the value-added Iridium Certus capabilities to their portfolio, GIT will continue to play a critical role in supporting DoD and U.S. government personnel." Whether in high-risk combat zones or during inclement weather events, the Iridium network provides uncompromising satellite communications that keep users connected when it's needed most. Iridium Certus terminals enable U.S. government users to securely connect remote assets to respective command and control in a cost-effective and secure manner, from anywhere in the world. GIT Satellite Communications has more than 20 active years of experience in the satellite communication industry and continues to support and promote innovative, cutting-edge satellite technology. The company provides sophisticated and reliable customer service performance to DoD, U.S. federal government, and enterprise organizations. As a developer of value-added solutions, GIT provides a diverse and comprehensive catalog of products, utilizing the Iridium network's global capabilities, for both military and commercial applications. GIT is also an approved partner for the DoD's Iridium Enhanced Mobile Satellite Services (EMSS) program, providing Iridium 9575A devices. SOURCE GIT Satellite Communications As per a new report by Cognitive Market Research, the Global Telemedicine Market size is anticipated to Reach USD 396.14 Billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 24.78% from 2022-2029. As per the current market scenario, the high-speed 5G network will boost the demand for telemedicine services in the remote community. CHICAGO, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- For almost four decades, telemedicine has made healthcare accessible to patients in remote locations. It thus allows doctors and healthcare facilities to reach out to institutions beyond their network. The telemedicine market boomed up during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is majorly attributed to a lack of in-person visits and limitations and restrictions on travel. Hence, mandatory social distancing and the lack of effective treatments have made telemedicine a very positive contributor to healthcare. Moreover, the population in developed countries is rapidly aging. This has created new challenges for healthcare service providers as an increased number of elderly people need effective medical and nursing care. It has been noticed that a high-speed 5G network could transmit information, such as 4K images and ultrasound images, with high image quality and low latency, which is helping in driving the telemedicine market across the globe. Get a Free Sample Report with Table of Contents:: https://www.cognitivemarketresearch.com/telemedicine-market-report Snapshot: Global Telemedicine Market 2022 Global Revenue (USD Billion) 76.59 CAGR (2022-2029) 24.78 % Key Component Share Software & Services:71.25% Key Service Share Tele-consulting:49.15% Key Delivery Share On-premise:56.14% Key Share Telecardiology:24.08% Key Regional Share North America:35.10% Major insights and findings during the study of the Telemedicine market: By component, software & services held the largest share in the telemedicine market as this software is designed to deliver healthcare-related information and services using the latest technology. It thus allows transparent communication with healthcare providers via video, audio, or text chat, and exchange health information seamlessly Tele-consulting type dominates in the telemedicine market . It is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period as the usage of smart devices has increased for consulting with respective doctors. This service primarily uses real-time video to hear and see each other during a real-time encounter Cloud-based delivery segment is estimated to witness the fastest growth as it provides customers with internet access to software programs that operate on pooled computer resources. Cloud-based telemedicine connects, digitizes, and combines many types of equipment to simplify treatment delivery. This enhances instant access to all of the patient's clinical information Geographically, North America shows the highest market share in telemedicine and will grow significantly in the coming years. This is attributed due to the high adoption of digitalization in the healthcare sector Europe is showing the highest growth in the telemedicine market during the forecast period. During the pandemic and social distancing, European countries heavily relied on digital technologies to continue to provide essential healthcare services to patients Major players operating in Telemedicine Market: Players involved in the Global Telemedicine Market are , Koninklijke Philips N.V., Medtronic, GE Healthcare, Cerner Corporation, Siemens Healthineers, Cisco Systems, Inc., Teladoc Health Inc., American Well, Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc., Aerotel Medical Systems, AMC Health, MDLive, Others Current Trends of Manufacturers in the Telemedicine Market: January 2023 Philips and Masimo expanded their partnership to improve telehealth for patients and clinicians worldwide Royal Philips and Masimo have announced an expansion of their partnership to augment patient monitoring capabilities in home telehealth applications with the Masimo W1 advanced health tracking watch. This product will integrate with Philips's enterprise patient monitoring ecosystem to advance the forefront of telemonitoring and telehealth. October 2022 GE Healthcare and AMC Health partnered in remote patient monitoring GE Healthcare and AMC Health have announced a collaboration that allows clinicians to offer Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) as a virtual care solution that extends patient care outside the hospital to the home environment. October 2017 Medtronic entered into a partnership with American Well for combined telehealth and remote patient monitoring Remote patient monitoring company Medtronic Care Management Services had entered into a partnership with telemedicine technology and services vendor American Well to enable a complete telehealth system focused on the unique needs of the complex, chronic, co-morbid patient population. This partnership is working together to facilitate patient access to American Well's telemedicine services on Medtronic Care Management Services' video-enabled platforms and to allow bi-directional data flow between the two parties. Read Full Report with Table of Contents: https://www.cognitivemarketresearch.com/telemedicine-market-report The landscape of healthcare technology infrastructure is changing through advancements in technology. The services which were previously only for acute care hospitals are now available for home-care settings, ambulatory, virtual, and community sectors. Consultation and Diagnostic services are just a click away owing to the convenience of digital format on smartphones. This is thus creating a streamlined operation by encouraging the use of telemedicine. Furthermore, the public cloud is the most preferred choice for healthcare providers. This is primarily attributed to a need to build resilient systems that can fill the gap between the demands of an ever-changing business environment. It has been surveyed that cloud solutions can generate a value of $100 billion to $170 billion in 2030. Metaverse is also playing a vital role in transforming the healthcare landscape. Through metaverse , a virtual hospital can be conceptualized that can provide remote-location counselling and healthcare attention through an interface. With 5G penetration, telemedicine-based services over the metaverse platform will enhance the experience. Telemedicine Market Segmentation Telemedicine Market - Component Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 -2030) Software & Services Hardware Telemedicine Market - Service Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 -2030) Tele-consulting Tele-monitoring Tele-education/training Telemedicine Market - Delivery Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 -2030) On-premise Cloud-based Telemedicine Market - Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 -2030) Telepathology Telecardiology Teleradiology Telepsychiatry Teledermatology Others Telemedicine Market - Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 -2030) North America (U.S., Canada , Mexico ) (U.S., , ) Europe ( Germany , France , UK, Italy , Spain , Russia , Rest of Europe ) ( , , UK, , , , Rest of ) Asia Pacific ( China , Japan , India , South Korea , Australia , Southeast Asia , Rest of APAC) ( , , , , , , Rest of APAC) Latin America ( Brazil , Argentina , Columbia , Rest of Latin America ) ( , , , Rest of ) Middle East & Africa (GCC, Saudi Arabia , Turkey , Egypt , Rest of MEA) List of Key Players in Telemedicine Market Koninklijke Philips N.V. Medtronic GE Healthcare Cerner Corporation Siemens Healthineers Cisco Systems, Inc. Teladoc Health Inc. American Well Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc. Aerotel Medical Systems AMC Health MDLive Others Related Reports on Telemedicine Market: Global Blood Glucose Monitoring System Market to Reach USD 22.83 Billion by 2029 The global blood glucose monitoring system market is expected to hit USD 22.83 Billion by 2029 at a growth rate of 5.02%. A blood glucose monitoring system helps to monitor glucose levels in diabetic patients. The high prevalence of diabetes among people across the globe stimulates the usage of blood glucose monitoring systems. As per the International Diabetes Federation, in 2021, around 537 million people were diagnosed with diabetes, this number is expected to increase to 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045. Global Dialysis Management Software Market to be Worth USD 1.74 Billion by 2029 Global dialysis management software market to be worth USD 1.74 Billion by 2029 at a growth rate of 6.42%. Dialysis management software is a system developed to collect detailed data and medical information. The program automates the healthcare practice, including patient data and discharge summaries. The rising prevalence of renal diseases drives the growth of the dialysis management software market. The majority of kidney illnesses affect the nephrons. This injury may render the kidneys incapable of removing wastes. Genetic issues, trauma, and medications are all possible causes. Over the last few years, there has been a rapid increase in smart device adoption and internet penetration. Smart devices offer flexibility to patients on a smartphone or tablet. With a mobile device, users can easily access doctors and therapists. This rapid expansion benefitted the dialysis management software market. Other Related Reports: Global Telecardiology Market to Hit USD 56.13 Billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 19.76% Global Electronic Health Records Market to Reach USD 62.96 Billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 6.48% Global Virtual Care Market to be Worth USD 14.25 Billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 29.24% Global Teleradiology Market to Reach USD 17.42 Billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 17.89% Access Other Cognitive Market Research's Healthcare Industry Reports: https://www.cognitivemarketresearch.com/list/pharma-%26-healthcare About Cognitive Market Research Company : Cognitive Market Research has evolved as one leading market research and consulting firm and it provides services across multiple domains. Cognitive Market Research gathers and analyzes data about customers, competitors, distributors, and other market actors and forces operational across the value chain. As a market research company, we follow a complete process of gathering information about the target market and end-use industries to verify the complete journey of the product or service in the global market. It helps our readers understand the demand and viability of their product/service and how it might perform in the real world and help them to build business strategies accordingly. Follow Us: LinkedIn Blog: What is the Difference Between Primary Research and Secondary Research? How to Contact Us: Nicolas Shaw Global Sales Manager Cognitive Market Research Phone: +1 312-376-8303 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.cognitivemarketresearch.com Athenaeum Subscription Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1989016/Cognitive_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Cognitive Market Research BEIJING, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- For many local residents in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province, which reported the first COVID-19 outbreak in China three years ago, the Chinese New Year in 2020 was an unforgettable one as it coincided the moment when the city imposed a lockdown to cut off the coronavirus transmission. Three years later, after the country accumulated experiences in fighting the epidemic and continuously adjusted its anti-COVID measures, the metropolis on the banks of the Yangtze River is witnessing again the joyful and bustling holidays. The lion and dragon dance performances along the East Lake Greenway, a major scenic spot in the city, attracted many tourists and local residents on the second day into the 2023 Chinese New Year holidays with crowds applauding warmly, as the number of tourists from outside the city has been increasing in recent days. The city received in total 1.8 million of visits as of Sunday afternoon the first day of the Chinese New Year achieving the total revenues from tourism of 1.28 billion yuan ($188.7 million), an increase of 15.68 percent and 21.17 percent, respectively, over the previous year, according to local statistics. Hundreds of thousands of people lined up on Monday morning outside the Yellow Crane Tower, the city's iconic landmark that was temporarily closed during the Chinese New Year in 2020 as part of the city's epidemic prevention and control measures. In the east square of the Yellow Crane Tower, some of classic plays of Han Show, referring to elegant Chinese traditional culture presented in the creative and thrilling form of live performance, were staged, and from the Chinese New Year's Eve, about 60 percent of the visitors to the tower were from outside Wuhan. The joyful hustle and bustle in 2023 strikes a sharp contrast from the images of empty and quiet streets during the Spring Festival three years ago, which also became a reminder for local residents about how hard Chinese people have been fighting the epidemic with confidence and solidarity. A 34-year-old local resident surnamed Wang said the festival atmosphere was palpable in shopping malls with red lanterns, decorations and joyful background music. "In cinema, we can finally enjoy the movie with popcorns and milk tea, like we did before the epidemic started," she told the Global Times on Wednesday. "I used to have many New Year wishes in the past, but now, after the COVID, I only wish that we, our family, can stay healthy and safe," she said. "I cherish much more the time of family reunion." During the 76-day lockdown in the early 2020, Wuhan struggled to save lives and contain the virus, while maintaining the daily lives of ordinary people, a strategy that Chinese top epidemiologists said to "suffocate the virus within Wuhan." The city was therefore dubbed a "heroic city," whose sacrifice paved the way for the quick recovery of the country. Solidarity and hard work helped the country weather three years of arduous struggle against COVID-19, allowing it to let go of the fear and uncertainty that came with the coronavirus. Some local residents in Hubei Province told the Global Times that they are not afraid of the virus now like they used to be but they remain cautious by wearing masks and paying attention to social distancing as well as hand hygiene. Wang Wei, a social worker in Wuhan, who has been working in a local community in the past few years who fought the epidemic on the frontline, told the Global Times on Wednesday that this year's Chinese New Year is much better than those in the past few years, as family members finally get together. "Now we cherish the family time. Nothing matters more than the whole family getting together and staying healthy," she said. Like many of her co-workers, Wang told the Global Times earlier that they were exhausted every day in the early days of the lockdown when residential compounds were sealed off. Throughout the three years of arduous fight against the epidemic, social workers like her sacrificed their time of accompanying their beloved ones such as parents and children for serving local communities. Some Western media outlets reported that local residents celebrate this Year of the Rabbit in Wuhan with fireworks, flowers and offerings to the loved ones they have lost during the epidemic. "Now, the most important thing for us is to move on and live the moment, hoping those who passed away rest in peace," a local resident surnamed Liu told the Global Times on Wednesday. This year's Spring Festival is the first one after China optimized its COVID response and downgraded the management of the epidemic. Over the past three years, the country has never stopped exploring more effective ways to contain the spread of the virus and optimize epidemic control while striking a balance between protecting public health and lives and ensuring social and economic development. Such accumulated experiences also laid out a solid foundation for people to enjoy one of the most important traditional Chinese festivals with their families, observers said. "I feel that people are relaxed, really enjoying the holidays, as we also see the first wave of infection passed since the country optimized its COVID measures," Chen Jingyuan, a local resident in her 30s, told the Global Times on Wednesday. After these years of combatting COVID, I realized that people's mindset is changing, for example, many pay much more attention to their health and hope to live an easy life, she said. Three years after the start of the epidemic, local residents in Wuhan are moving forward steadily, expressing hope for the future while celebrating the start of the new year, a vivid reflection of Chinese people embracing a new beginning and welcoming their cities' return to normal. SOURCE Global Times Good Day Farm flower sold to an Oxford patient today marks Mississippi's first legal medical cannabis sale. The Company will celebrate this milestone and its statewide launch with a Grand Opening event at Good Day Farm Hattiesburg this Friday, January 27 . Mississippi is the fourth state for the leading Southern cannabis company with operations in Arkansas , Louisiana and Missouri . OXFORD, Miss., Jan. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Good Day Farm, a leading cannabis company in the South, made history today when its flower was sold to an Oxford, Mississippi medical patient. The cannabis flower, cultivated at Good Day Farm's 130,000 square-foot facility, became the first legal medical cannabis purchase in the state almost one year after the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act was signed into law. Good Day Farm is elated to make our premium cannabis flower the first product available to patients in Mississippi. Tweet this Good Day Farm Makes History with First Sale of Medical Cannabis in Mississippi "As a proud Ole Miss alumnus, I'm elated to make our premium cannabis flower the first product available to patients in Mississippi," said Ryan Herget, Head of Good Day Farm Retail Management. "As one of largest cannabis companies in the South, it's a privilege to serve thousands of waiting patients across Mississippi with truly good products grown and sold by good people. With six convenient dispensary locations spanning from the Tennessee border to the Gulf Coast, we stand ready and eager to serve." Mississippi is the fourth state for Little-Rock based Good Day Farm, a leading cannabis company in the South with operations in Arkansas, Louisiana and Missouri. The brand's signature portfolio of flower strains are available for sale today, to be followed by Good Day Farm's full assortment of edibles, vapes and tinctures including its award-winning THC gummies and patient-favorite rechargeable Go Pen vaporizer. Beginning Friday, the Company will open the first of six Good Day Farm-branded dispensaries, first in Hattiesburg to be followed by Biloxi, Brookhaven, Corinth, Laurel and Tupelo. Good Day Farm Mississippi locations will be open to card-holding medical patients Monday-Saturday, 10:00 am7:00 pm and Sunday from 12:006:00 pm. To mark this milestone moment, the Good Day Farm-branded dispensary in Hattiesburg will hold a Grand Opening celebration this Friday, January 27. The event will take place at Good Day Farm Hattiesburg, located at 6083 US-98, and will include a 9:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by a 10 a.m. store opening including branded merchandise giveaways while supplies last. Now that legal medical sales are underway Good Day Farm expects to scale its Mississippi operations quickly, with plans to double its cultivation and production footprint in the coming year. The Company is also committed to giving back to the communities it serves, most recently donating 840 cases of drinking water to assist disaster relief efforts in Jackson. Said Zach Wilson, Head of Mississippi Operations, "Our team has worked tirelessly to prepare for this milestone moment, and we're proud to bring Good Day Farm to market as the first brand available to Mississippi patients. From cannabis advocacy and education to jobs and charitable giving, we look forward to demonstrating our long-term commitment to Mississippi in the months and years to come." For more information about Good Day Farm or to find a dispensary near you, please visit www.gooddayfarmdispensary.com About Good Day Farm Founded in 2020, Good Day Farm is the largest licensed medical cannabis producer in the South, supplying the region with an abundant selection of cannabis products in a diverse range of formats, including premium flower, edibles, vapes, concentrates, tinctures and topical creams. With state-of-the-art grow operations and cutting-edge R&D facilities across Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri and Mississippi, Good Day Farm prides itself on being an ambassador of this healing plant in the South, where every day the Company is on a relentless quest to grow, nurture and share really good cannabis. From high-touch and high-tech growing practices to expert extraction methods, everything Good Day Farm does is rooted in a desire to cultivate goodness good people, good cannabis and good days. Good Day Farm is a proud partner of the Last Prisoner Project and continues to be a strong advocate for the plants over pills movement. For more information or to locate a dispensary, visit www.gooddayfarm.com Media Contact: Alice Moon Trailblaze for Good Day Farm [email protected] SOURCE Good Day Farm Openings Primarily for 200 Caregiving Roles CHICAGO, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicago-based Help at Home, the leading national provider of home care services, is hosting a Career Fair Thursday, Jan. 26, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its Downtown Chicago office located at 36 S. Wabash Ave. Candidates can receive an interview with the opportunity to be hired on the spot. Help at Home is expanding to meet the growing need for caregiver support for seniors as they age in place at home. Job seekers looking for a meaningful career as an in-home caregiver can find opportunities for a compassionate career with career growth opportunities. Chicago branch area leader Annette Rice has been with the company over five years. She started in an entry-level role and now manages the in-home personal care administrative team in the Chicago branch office. As a leader, Rice said she creates connections and instills loyalty to help engage her teams around the important work they do for clients. "I love the clients," Rice said. "I love home care as an industry. My passion is the staff. They keep me motivated to come back every day." In-home personal caregivers take care of activities of daily living for clients who are seniors or are living with disabilities, supporting them with light housekeeping, personal activities, meal preparation and errands. "My staff always steps up," Rice said. "That's because they are all fully engaged and know their work matters both to the clients and to their future careers. It's motivating to work at a place where hard work is rewarded." Whether you are looking for work as a full-time or part-time caregiver, a case manager or other type of administrative support, Help at Home offers a supportive and flexible environment with opportunity for growth. Whether they work directly with clients or in a different office-based role, every Help at Home employee knows the work they do is helping people live more independently. In addition to great benefits, Help at Home is now offering a new pay rate of $15.45 per hour along with bonuses totaling up to $1,000!* Receive $400* after your first 60 days and $600* for your one-year anniversary! The company also offers mileage reimbursement per mile, plus travel time. Ask for more details at your interview. Interested candidates with a passion and commitment for helping others can visit the career fair Thursday or go online at careers.helpathome.com/jobs/ for available opportunities. *IL ONLY Effective 1/1/2023, $400 hiring bonus eligibility will be based on remaining an active employee for at least 60 days following the first shift, with at least 180 hours worked. In addition, a second bonus of $600 will be paid to caregivers who average 120 hours a month up to their one-year anniversaries. Caregivers MUST be active employees at the time of bonus payout. New caregivers as well as previous caregivers who have not worked for Help at Home within the last 12 months will be eligible for the bonus. Caregivers who are transferring from an organization within the Help at Home family of companies are not eligible to receive the bonus. About Help at Home Help at Home is the leading national provider of home care services, delivering high-quality, relationship-based services to help seniors and individuals living with disabilities remain in their homes, the preferred setting of care. As of September 30, 2022, Help at Home had more than 180 branch locations across 12 states and provided in-home, community-based services to more than 65,000 clients with the help of 49,000 highly trained and compassionate caregivers. For more information about Help at Home, visit helpathome.com. SOURCE Help at Home The enhanced BMO Harris Business Platinum Rewards Mastercard credit card and its new 5-4-3-2-1 model re wards small business customers for their favorite business spend categories Points never expire and can be used for cash, gift cards, travel, dining and more The $0 annual fee card also includes a welcome offer of a potential 100,000 rewards points bonus CHICAGO, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - BMO is rolling out its enhanced BMO Harris Business Platinum Rewards Mastercard designed to meet the needs of small businesses and help customers make real financial progress. In addition to being available to all new customers, all current BMO Harris Business Platinum Rewards Mastercard cardholders will receive the rich rewards accelerators on key business spend categories. Earned points never expire and cardholders can use them for gift cards, cash, travel, dining and more. BMO also provides new customers up to 100,000 points in the first year: 50,000 bonus points when a customer spends $5,000 within three months of opening an account and another 50,000 bonus points when they spend $50,000 or more within the first 12 months. "We are thrilled to offer our refreshed BMO Harris Business Platinum Rewards Mastercard to meet the unique and evolving needs of small business owners," said Jennifer Douglas, Head of North American Retail and Small Business Payments at BMO. "We heard from our customers what perks meet their needs best and we are pleased to offer a card with rich rewards and benefits." The enhanced BMO Harris Business Platinum Rewards Mastercard offers: Rewards for business spending 5x on internet and phone spend up to $750 per quarter per quarter 4x on office supplies and printing on spend up to $750 per quarter per quarter 3x on gas on spend of to $750 per quarter per quarter 2x on dining on spend up to $750 per quarter per quarter 1x on all other purchases and no cap on earnings Mobile Device Perks Coverage for up to $1,000 per covered device and receive $600 mobile protection when a customer charges their monthly bill to the card per covered device and receive mobile protection when a customer charges their monthly bill to the card No Annual Fee 0% introductory Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on purchases for 9 months from the date of opening an account on purchases for 9 months from the date of opening an account 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for 9 months until the standard APR applies for 9 months until the standard APR applies Mastercard Small Business Cardholder Benefits: Access and discounts to tools and resources that help optimize business operations, power collaboration and imagination, increase cybersecurity and simplify everyday experiences "Mastercard and BMO are committed to supporting small businesses with payment products and benefits that optimize operations, simplify daily tasks and help them run their businesses efficiently and successfully," said Bunita Sawhney, EVP of US Financial Institutions, Mastercard. "Together with the enhanced BMO Harris Business Platinum Rewards Mastercard, we are thrilled to provide small business owners with the security, innovation and unique benefits that bring value to every transaction." In addition to the new card benefits, the new BMO Harris Business Platinum Rewards Mastercard also makes it more convenient for customers to manage their accounts. Rather than visiting a branch, customers can take a photo of their ID and snap a selfie to verify their identity. Customers can also manage their card all online by making payments, viewing transactions, and managing alerts in one easy-to-use tool. To apply and view the complete list of benefits and to see important terms and conditions for the BMO Harris Business Platinum Rewards Mastercard, visit https://www.bmoharris.com/main/business-banking/credit-cards/platinumrewards/. Learn more about BMO Harris Rewards at https://bmoharrisrewards.com/. About BMO Financial Group Serving customers for 200 years and counting, BMO is a highly diversified financial services provider - the 8th largest bank, by assets, in North America. With total assets of $1.14 trillion as of October 31, 2022, and a team of diverse and highly engaged employees, BMO provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management and investment banking products and services to 12 million customers and conducts business through three operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking, BMO Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets. About Mastercard Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Its mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, its innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Its decency quotient, or DQ, drives its culture and everything it does inside and outside the company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, it is building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all. Media contact Lucas Seiler, U.S. Personal and Business Banking [email protected]; 312-340-8576 SOURCE BMO Financial Group Stauer offers replica of one of history's most famous watches RICHMOND, Va., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Just a few years back, reporters, Smithsonian staff members and the cameras of NBC's TODAY Show gathered at the National Museum of American History to unlock a mystery hidden in President Abraham Lincoln's pocket watch. For nearly 150 years, a hidden message had been inscribed inside the watch that not even Lincoln knew about. A painstakingly recreated replica of President Abraham Lincoln's Pocket Watch, complete with its hidden message. On April 13, 1861, Irish watchmaker Jonathan Dillon learned of the bombardment of Fort Sumter that kicked off the American Civil War. Employed by jewelers M.W. Galt and Co. in Washington, D.C., Dillon was in the act of repairing Lincoln's watch when he heard the news. Dillon unscrewed the watch dial and wrote a secret message inside the watch. In 2009, master watchmaker George Thomas, working with magnifying glasses and precise instruments, opened the back of the timepiece to reveal the underside of the watch movement. The inscription read, "April 13-1861 Fort Sumpter [sic] was attacked by the rebels on the above date J Dillon April 13-1861 Washington thank God we have a government." Stauer, a Richmond-based jewelry company that specializes in rarities, collaborated with a watchmaker to craft a replica of the Lincoln Pocket Watch. It took Stauer a couple of years to get this limited-edition replica exactly right. The company has painstakingly re-created the design of the dial and position of the small second hand, and has even replicated the mysterious engraving on the back of the movement. The design of the hands is especially rare. The movement employs vintage-styled manual winding with 20 jewels, and the case is gold-finished and matches the color of the original exactly. "In my long career in horology, the story of President Lincoln's watch is easily one of my favorites," says George Thomas, one of the world's most renowned watch historians. "This watch is a near-exact replica of Lincoln's famous timepiece." To take advantage of this extraordinary offer, call 800-859-1843. This offer is call-in only. Satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. #18696 Lincoln Pocket Watch $499 $199 + S&H About Stauer: Stauer is the country's fastest-growing destination for precious gemstone jewelry, unique luxury items and vintage-inspired timepieces. American-owned and -operated, Stauer has sold more than 1 million watches and purchases an average of more than 10 million carats of gemstones each year. By dealing directly with artisans and selling directly to customers, Stauer is able to keep costs low and pass the savings on. Stauer lives by its motto: Afford the Extraordinary. Press contact: [email protected] SOURCE Stauer Jewelry RICHMOND, Va., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hilb Group announced today that it has appointed Melissa M. Gillespie as National Practice Leader of Human Resources (HR) Consulting. This new role will allow Hilb Group to build on its expertise and services offered to clients as the company grows its presence in the HR Consulting industry. Gillespie and her team will further expand their comprehensive suite of HR Consulting offerings, including outsourced recruiting, virtual HR support, and more, to serve the broader Hilb Group client base. In her position, Gillespie will promote and grow these services through the new National Practice. Gillespie will report to Hilb Group's National Employee Benefits Practice Leader, Robert Calise. "There is a tremendous need in the small to mid-sized marketplace for tailored HR support," Gillespie said. "Our clients are looking for advice and customized solutions specific to their needs. They want a true HR partner. I am excited to dig into this role and continue enhancing and building our HR Consulting Practice." "We are thrilled to appoint Melissa Gillespie as our National Practice Leader of HR Consulting," said Hilb Group CEO Ricky Spiro. "Melissa brings extensive knowledge and expertise in HR Consulting, as well as an innovative, entrepreneurial background and approach a strong complement to build on our expertise and offerings to clients." Gillespie joined Hilb Group in November 2017 with the acquisition of HR Knowledge, a full-service payroll, benefits, and human resources consulting practice, and has been delivering customized client solutions with her team for more than 13 years. Prior to this new role, she served as the Vice President of HR Services with HR Knowledge. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Leadership from Northeastern University. About Hilb Group: The Hilb Group is a leading property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and advisory firm headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Hilb Group is a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, a global investment firm. Hilb Group seeks to grow through strategic acquisitions and by leveraging its resources and expertise to drive organic growth in its acquired agencies. The company has completed more than 150 acquisitions with over 100 offices in 24 states. Hilb Group is rated as one of the Fastest Growing Brokers by Business Insurance, a Top P/C Agency by Insurance Journal, and one of America's Fastest Growing Private Companies in the Inc. 5000. For more information on Hilb Group's growth as well as career opportunities, please visit our website at http://hilbgroup.com. Media Contact: Peter Lobred 804.548.4629 [email protected] SOURCE The Hilb Group, LLC Indications of Interest due February 23, 2023 NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilco Streambank (www.HilcoStreambank.com), a leading intellectual property advisory firm specializing in the valuation and sale of intangible assets, announced the sale of the intellectual property and related assets of LiteSheet Solutions, creator of patented energy saving, low-maintenance, ETL-certified LED lighting products manufactured in the United States. The assets available for sale include an internationally registered patent portfolio, domain names, and trademarks as well as an operational 20,000 square-foot production facility located in Virginia. Indications of interest to acquire the assets are due by February 23, 2023. LiteSheet's patented BriteCor AC Direct Technology provides an opportunity to acquire innovative, long-lasting LED lighting technology that has proven itself to last for decades in demanding applications. By eliminating the need for the DC drivers standard in conventional LED lighting, LiteSheet products not only last decades longer than other LED lighting products in the market allowing it to offer the industry's only 15-year warranty on its products but the energy-efficient, low-maintenance fixtures reduce the total cost of ownership by 40%-80% compared to DC LED products, representing one of the lowest costs of ownership in the marketplace. "All LiteSheet products last for over 230,000 lumen lifetime hours compared to 70,000 hours delivered by standard LED lights," remarked Gabe Fried, Hilco Streambank CEO. "This means LiteSheet technology is particularly valuable in installations where the cost of maintenance and replacement are high. This is an opportunity to expand an existing product portfolio into specialized applications such as roadways, tunnels, and large industrial or warehouse facilities." Fried continued, "LiteSheet fixtures are actively replacing DC LED products in these applications, and a testament to the quality of these products are the established relationships and signed distribution contracts with major industrial supply companies Grainger and Applied Industrial. This is a great opportunity for an acquirer of these assets; LiteSheet has already done all of the work to bring these products to market, including validating the technology, securing UL certification, proven it can cost-effectively manufacture in the U.S., and that customers love these products." Parties interested in learning more about the assets and sale process can click here or contact Hilco Streambank directly using the contact information provided below. About Hilco Streambank: Hilco Streambank is a market leading advisory firm specializing in intellectual property disposition and valuation. Having completed numerous transactions including sales in publicly reported Chapter 7 and 11 bankruptcy cases, private transactions, and online sales through IPv4.Global, Hilco Streambank has established itself as the premier intermediary in the consumer brand, internet, and telecom communities. Hilco Streambank is part of Northbrook, Illinois based Hilco Global, the world's leading authority on maximizing the value of business assets by delivering valuation, monetization and advisory solutions to an international marketplace. Hilco Global operates more than twenty specialized business units offering services that include asset valuation and appraisal, retail and industrial inventory acquisition and disposition, real estate and strategic capital equity investments. SOURCE Hilco Streambank IAR Systems's awarded Embedded Workbench streamlines the development of commercial and safety-critical applications based on PX5's new real-time operating system UPPSALA, Sweden, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The PX5 RTOS has just been launched, and IAR Systems, the world leader in software and services for embedded development, already offers full support for the new real-time operating system. The PX5 Industrial RTOS is an advanced 5th-generation RTOS designed for the most sophisticated and developed embedded applications. The PX5 RTOS helps embedded systems developers to manage the real-time scheduling of their multithreaded applications while increasing the quality, safety, and security of embedded devices. With PX5 RTOS being fully supported in IAR Embedded Workbench for Arm, developers can leverage an integrated development environment for seamlessly building and debugging their commercial safety-critical applications from source code to firmware. Accordingly, customers benefit from reduced time-to-market, improved device firmware quality, and portability across device platforms. The IAR Embedded Workbench is a complete development toolchain with a highly optimizing compiler and advanced debugging functions. Thousands of embedded developers worldwide value the powerful IAR C/C++ Compiler for its best-in-class optimizations. In conjunction with PX5 RTOS' minimal footprint of ca. 1KB, which automatically scales in size with regards to the application, companies can therefore reduce their BOM (Bill of Materials) by using smaller devices or adding more differentiating features to their existing platform. PX5 RTOS is deterministic regardless of system load, while IAR's code analysis tools C-STAT and C-RUN aim for a reliably tested code basis for demonstrably the highest code quality. For safety-critical applications, IAR Embedded Workbench for Arm is available as a functional safety edition certified by TUV SUD and complies with the requirements of ISO 26262. The PX5 RTOS features a native implementation of the industry standard POSIX pthreads API as well as best-of-class size and performance. As for safety and security, the PX5 RTOS provides Pointer/Data Verification (PDV) technology, which developers can leverage at run-time to verify function return addresses, function pointers, system objects, global data, and memory pools. This technology is unique to the PX5 RTOS. In addition to the native POSIX pthread support (semaphore, mutex, message queue, etc.), the PX5 RTOS also offers real-time extensions such as event flags, fast queues, tick timers, memory management, and more. Given the PX5 RTOS industry-standard POSIX pthreads API support, a wide range of software stacks are instantly enabled - both open source and commercial - for real-time embedded IoT platforms. "We are striving for simplicity, and PX5 RTOS is purpose-built to deliver benefits across all IoT sectors, including commercial and safety-critical applications", said Bill Lamie, President of PX5. "We are excited to partner with IAR Systems, a trusted leader over many years in embedded development tools. In fact, we fully leveraged the IAR Embedded Workbench for Arm, including compiler, debugger, code coverage, and their C-STAT static analysis tool to bring the PX5 RTOS to life. We firmly believe using the IAR Systems development tools has helped us deliver on the promise of the PX5 RTOS in record time." "We have worked with Bill Lamie and his team for close to two decades, and their expertise and innovative energy are unparalleled", said Anders Holmberg, CTO of IAR Systems. "We are excited to support this new product offering from the very start. PX5 RTOS is highly reliable and deterministic and fits into some of the most memory-constrained devices. In conjunction with our tool suite, it allows developers to realize new applications quickly while increasing their embedded devices' quality, safety, and security." More information about PX5 RTOS is available at www.px5rtos.com. Further information on the IAR Embedded Workbench for Arm, its capabilities in detail, and the supported devices are available at www.iar.com/arm. ### Ends Editor's Note: IAR Systems, IAR Embedded Workbench, Embedded Trust, C-Trust, C-SPY, C-RUN, C-STAT, IAR Visual State, I-jet, I-jet Trace, IAR Academy, IAR, and the logotype of IAR Systems are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by IAR Systems AB. All other product names are trademarks of their respective owners. CONTACT: IAR Systems Contacts Rafael Taubinger, Senior Product Marketing Manager, IAR Systems Tel: +46 18 16 78 00 Email: [email protected] The following files are available for download: SOURCE IAR Systems MUNICH, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IDnow, a leading identity proofing platform provider in Europe, welcomes Bertrand Bouteloup to the management team as its new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). Based in France, he will assume the group-wide commercial end-to-end responsibility. IDnow appoints Bertrand Bouteloup as its new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) For the last six years, Bertrand held the position of Vice President of Sales at ARIADNEXT, the French market leader for identity proofing, which was acquired by IDnow in June 2021. Prior to that, Bertrand was Global Director of the Cybersecurity Business Unit at Capgemini, then European Director of Security Services at Unisys, and Managing Director of 8-i, a consulting and integration company. He will be employing his more than 15 years of management experience in the IT industry in his new role as CCO of IDnow. Bertrand's previous position of Vice President of Sales within the IDnow group will be filled by Cyril Patou, who most recently held the position of Regional Director for France, Alps and Southern Europe at Clear Skye. Cyril has over six years of experience in the digital identity sector, having worked for One Identity and Ping Identity in France. Commenting on his appointment, Bertrand said: "I am delighted to be taking on this new challenge within the IDnow group and to drive our revenue targets in 2023 and beyond. As a group, we want to continue to grow closer together and leverage our expertise in the German and French market across borders. One of my priorities will be to bring the different commercial teams closer together, and harmonize targets and processes even further." "I have known Bertrand for several years now and I look forward to continuing to work with him in his new role as Chief Commercial Officer. His many years of managerial experience in the identity verification and cybersecurity industry, coupled with his understanding of our company values and his vision for our future with a strategic and business-led approach, means that he is the perfect match for this role," added Andreas Bodczek, CEO of IDnow. About IDnow IDnow is a leading identity proofing platform provider in Europe with a vision to make the connected world a safer place. The IDnow platform provides a broad portfolio of identity verification solutions, ranging from automated to human-assisted from purely online to point-of-sale, each of them optimized for user conversion rates and security. In 2021, IDnow acquired the French market leader for identity technology, ARIADNEXT, and the German identity Trust Management AG, enabling IDnow to offer its customers one of the broadest identification solutions through a single, integrated platform. The company has offices in Germany, United Kingdom, and France and is backed by renowned institutional investors, including Corsair Capital and Seventure Partners. Its portfolio of over 900 international clients spans a wide range of industries, and includes leading international players, such as Uni Credit, Telefonica, Sixt, Credit Agricole, BNP, and Munich Re, as well as digital champions like N26, Solarisbank, Younited Credit, Boursorama, Klarna and Tier mobility. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1342896/IDnow_Logo.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1985914/Bertrand_Bouteloup.jpg Press contact IDnow: Katherina Riesner [email protected] +49 89 41324 6030 SOURCE IDnow GmbH Findings on Health Plan Quality, Safety, and Value Demonstrate Critical Need for Improvement WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers focused on health care safety, released Are Employers Satisfied that Health Plans Drive Quality, Safety, and Value?, a report that analyzed findings from a confidential survey of executives at companies that administer and fund benefits for employees and dependents. Executives from Walmart, The Boeing Company, and Northwestern Mutual, as well as Leapfrog president and CEO Leah Binder, will comment on the report on a webinar today, Jan. 26 at 2 p.m. EST. Further details and registration can be found here. Most notably, the survey findings suggest that when evaluating health plans, employers prioritize quality in care over other factors. Overall, the survey found employers remain critical of health plans since Leapfrog conducted the same survey in 2020. When asked to assign letter grades to their health plan based on their ability to provide high-quality health care to employees, employers overall gave their plans a "C" grade, although there was considerable variation between plans. The average grade given to health plans was slightly worse, decreasing from a 2.57 GPA in 2020 to 2.29 in 2022, demonstrating significant room for growth across all categories surveyed. In the survey, employers were asked to rate their experiences with health plans on four key issues, including: Responsiveness of the health plan to employer concerns. Transparency in helping employers and employees choose the best providers. Payment reform initiatives that incentivize excellence in the market. Value strategies driven by health plans. "We were a little surprised at how clearly the findings showed that employers care first and foremost about quality of care," Binder said. "They want results. The report points to specific issues that appear to disappoint employers and what successful health plans do to earn their trust." Overall, more than half of employer respondents reported feeling that their health plans care about the quality of health care their employees receive, are committed to reducing unnecessary costs, and prioritize improving employee health. Employers were more likely to agree that their health plan shares quality and safety data in 2022 than in 2020, but employer satisfaction with alternative payment model offerings appeared to decline in the two years between surveys. "It is critical that health plans improve transparency of data," Binder said. About The Leapfrog Group Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps for patient safety. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey and new Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey collect and transparently report hospital and ASC performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade , Leapfrog's other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections. For more, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for our newsletter . SOURCE The Leapfrog Group By Joshua M. Hebert, CEO and co-founder of Magellan Jets BOSTON, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As we close in on the three-year mark since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, many organizations are still struggling with bringing their employees back to the officeor at least getting them to something more closely resembling their pre-COVID office presence. In some places, including major cities like New York, the return to the workplace has recently stalled. Much of the conversation around the return to office work has been portrayed as a "battle" between bosses and their employees, but as the CEO of a company that successfully returned to the workplace over two years ago, I know it doesn't have to be this contentious. If you're a leader struggling to get your people to come back to a physical workplace, you may need to start by looking in the mirror. In everything from company culture to work-life balance to, yes, returning to the office, employees will follow the example of senior leadership. HR Dive reports that 9 in 10 companies will require a return to the office by 2023, but how many of those companies will see the same mandates given to their employees applied to company leadership, from the C-suite down to team leads? Earlier in 2022, a Future Forum report showed that many executives were not returning to the office along with their employeesonly 19 percent of executives were back in the office full time, compared to 35 percent of non-executives. That trend simply cannot continue if executives want their employees to come back. I believe Magellan Jets owes much of its success over the past two years to our leadership-driven return to the office in the summer of 2020. Our senior leadership team wanted to return to our headquarters outside Boston, Massachusetts, but we knew that in such uncertain times, we couldn't expect our teams to come back if we didn't lead the way ourselves. Long before many other companies were even thinking about getting back together in person, our C-level leaders, VPs, and team leads committed to being present in the office again and setting the example for the rest of the Magellan Jets family. In those fearful and uncertain days of summer 2020, it wasn't just important for our leaders to spearhead the returnthey had to use their influence to reassure the entire Magellan Jets family that coming to the office was safe. From the top down, our leaders demonstrated and promoted proper masking, sanitizing, and social distancing procedures, and the entire company followed their example. Though we couldn't join together in quite the same ways as we had before, we strove to foster community and a sense of semi-normalcy that could be a respite from pandemic worries. The resulting environment provided the venue for collaboration and the creative spark needed to finally get our Private Jet Membership program off the ground. The following year, in 2021, that same membership program grew in revenue by 434 percent and won Robb Report's 2021 "Best of the Best" award for Private Jet Membership. Being back in the office with an invigorating project to rally around was as good for our business as it was for our spirits. These successes would not have been possible if I or any other member of Magellan's senior leadership team had ordered employees back while simultaneously excusing ourselves. CEOs and leaders can argue back and forth about whether working from home is better or not, but we do know the benefits of working together in an office. We know that employees develop and grow by working alongside and observing one another. We know that the connections they build among their peers are important, and that having a best friend at work makes work more enjoyable. We know that experiencing workplace culture firsthand gives employees a better sense of belonging and social identity. We know that companies prosper when people are togetherand more importantly, we know how people prosper, professionally and personally, in an office setting. But each of these great benefits will be overshadowed by the absence of senior leadership. A sense of "rules for thee, but not for me" will erode the positive attributes of in-person work if employees are made to return but leaders sit in the comfort of their home offices. The Magellan Jets return to work experience has left me with three tips I believe are essential when asking employees back: Broadcast that you yourself are back in the office. For your employees, knowing and seeing that leadership is back in the physical workplace will have a powerful effect on their willingness and desire to be back in the office. Before you make your return announcement, be sure to make it known that you and the leadership team have already made the move and let your employees see you're back by prominently displaying the office in the backgroundno Zoom background, the real deal. You're mentally preparing your people for a return before you've even made an official announcement, selling the idea of an office return to the subconscious mind. Ideally, this will foster trust and acceptance for the return to the office before you've even asked them. Create a space where your employees want to be. Magellan Jets recently moved into a new, larger office, and we've used that opportunity to take this tip to heart. We designed a workspace where our employees could collaborate and come together, not just grind away at their desks. We built the office we imagined people getting excited about. If you want to compete with the comfort and convenience of working from home, you have to offer your employees the comforts they have at home, plus the one thing they don't get from working in remote isolation: a sense of community. If your space doesn't have common areas that welcome socializing, relaxing, and working together, it's worth reassessing and redesigning. Also, it's not enough just to have these spacespeople need to feel welcome and encouraged to utilize them, too. Ask yourself, what could people do in their homes that they can't do in your office? Create an environment that makes your people feel like they're still in their home, but with the added benefit of being together with their peers. Foster growth and mentorship opportunities. Collaborative spaces are one thing, but another great benefit of your teams being in the same physical location is that they'll be able to learn and grow from one another. The return to office is the perfect time to introduce a structured and official peer-to-peer mentoring program. Highlight the advantage of being able to knock on someone's door for guidance in person and tout the growth opportunities those kinds of interactions provide. In short, make sure your employees feel that they'll be advancing their professional development by being in the office in a way they cannot while working from home. Consider hiring an Employee Experience Manager or similar "Chief People Officer" position to make sure you're following through. Business leaders should remember that if you want your employees to be present, the example must be set from the top. The practices and behaviors that you exemplify will set the tone for the rest of the company. Show your people you've made the return, create an environment worth returning to, and tout the growth benefits of rejoining the physical office world. If you make the move to return to the office yourselfand demonstrate the benefits of doing sothe rest of your employees will follow. SOURCE Magellan Jets DUBLIN, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Envelope Tracking Chips Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global envelope tracking chips market size reached US$ 1,841 Million in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach US$ 3,207 Million by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 9.69% during 2021-2027. Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, we are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor. An envelope tracking (ET) chip is a power management device that is utilized to enhance energy efficiency and reduce heat dissipation in radio frequency (RF) devices. It is widely used in tablets, tactical radios, wearables, smartphones and global positioning system (GPS) tracking devices. It is also utilized in AM broadcast transmitters and other electronic devices and cellular communication systems to ensure enhanced efficiency at instantaneous power levels. In comparison to the traditionally used power management systems, ET chips offer improved cost-effectiveness, battery life and operational efficiency of signal amplifiers. As a result, they find extensive applications across various industries, such as automotive, healthcare, electronics, aerospace and telecommunication. Significant growth in the electronics industry across the globe is creating a positive outlook for the market. Envelope tracking chips are widely used in electronic devices to adjust the power amplifier voltage for ensuring optimal performance. Additionally, the increasing demand for wireless communication platforms is providing a thrust to the market growth. These chips are widely used in feature phones, Wi-Fi and wireless network enable surveillance systems (WNESS). Moreover, the integration of connected devices with the Internet of Things (IoT) and the increasing demand for 4G services are favoring the market growth. These chips aid in reducing the power consumption in 4G LTE multi-mode systems used in smartphones and tablets. In line with this, the increasing product adoption in the automotive and aerospace industries is positively impacting the market growth. ET chips aid in controlling power steering, trigger airbags and monitor brake functioning. Other factors, including the rising penetration of high-speed internet, along with the widespread utilization of advanced technologies, such as Zigbee, in light and compact application devices, are anticipated to drive the market toward growth. Competitive Landscape: The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being Analog Devices Inc., Broadcom Inc., Efficient Power Conversion Corporation, Keysight Technologies Inc., MediaTek Inc., Qorvo Inc., Qualcomm Incorporated, R2 Semiconductor Inc., Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co KG, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Skyworks Solutions Inc. and Texas Instruments Incorporated. Key Questions Answered in This Report: How has the global envelope tracking chips market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years? What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global envelope tracking chips market? What are the key regional markets? What is the breakup of the market based on the technology? What is the breakup of the market based on the application? What is the breakup of the market based on the end user? What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry? What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry? What is the structure of the global envelope tracking chips market and who are the key players? What is the degree of competition in the industry? Key Topics Covered: 1 Preface 2 Scope and Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Introduction 4.1 Overview 4.2 Key Industry Trends 5 Global Envelope Tracking Chips Market 5.1 Market Overview 5.2 Market Performance 5.3 Impact of COVID-19 5.4 Market Forecast 6 Market Breakup by Technology 6.1 Cellular Communications 6.1.1 Market Trends 6.1.2 Market Forecast 6.2 Wireless Communications 6.2.1 Market Trends 6.2.2 Market Forecast 6.3 Satellite Communications 6.3.1 Market Trends 6.3.2 Market Forecast 7 Market Breakup by Application 7.1 Smart Phones 7.1.1 Market Trends 7.1.2 Market Forecast 7.2 Wearable Devices 7.2.1 Market Trends 7.2.2 Market Forecast 7.3 Others 7.3.1 Market Trends 7.3.2 Market Forecast 8 Market Breakup by End User 8.1 Consumer Electronics 8.1.1 Market Trends 8.1.2 Market Forecast 8.2 Space and Aviation 8.2.1 Market Trends 8.2.2 Market Forecast 8.3 Automotive 8.3.1 Market Trends 8.3.2 Market Forecast 8.4 Telecommunications 8.4.1 Market Trends 8.4.2 Market Forecast 8.5 Others 8.5.1 Market Trends 8.5.2 Market Forecast 9 Market Breakup by Region 10 SWOT Analysis 11 Value Chain Analysis 12 Porters Five Forces Analysis 13 Price Analysis 14 Competitive Landscape 14.1 Market Structure 14.2 Key Players 14.3 Profiles of Key Players 14.3.1 Analog Devices Inc. 14.3.1.1 Company Overview 14.3.1.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.1.3 Financials 14.3.1.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.2 Broadcom Inc. 14.3.2.1 Company Overview 14.3.2.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.2.3 Financials 14.3.2.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.3 Efficient Power Conversion Corporation 14.3.3.1 Company Overview 14.3.3.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.4 Keysight Technologies Inc. 14.3.4.1 Company Overview 14.3.4.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.4.3 Financials 14.3.4.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.5 MediaTek Inc. 14.3.5.1 Company Overview 14.3.5.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.5.3 Financials 14.3.5.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.6 Qorvo Inc. 14.3.6.1 Company Overview 14.3.6.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.6.3 Financials 14.3.6.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.7 Qualcomm Incorporated 14.3.7.1 Company Overview 14.3.7.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.7.3 Financials 14.3.7.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.8 R2 Semiconductor Inc. 14.3.8.1 Company Overview 14.3.8.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.9 Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co KG 14.3.9.1 Company Overview 14.3.9.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.10 Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. 14.3.10.1 Company Overview 14.3.10.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.10.3 Financials 14.3.10.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.11 Skyworks Solutions Inc. 14.3.11.1 Company Overview 14.3.11.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.11.3 Financials 14.3.11.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.12 Texas Instruments Incorporated 14.3.12.1 Company Overview 14.3.12.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.12.3 Financials 14.3.12.4 SWOT Analysis For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/e3pwio-tracking?w=5 Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets MILAN, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- InSilicoTrials, leading player in using artificial intelligence (AI) and Modeling & Simulation (M&S) for drug and medical device development, is proud to announce that its research paper, Accelerating Digitalization in Healthcare with the InSilicoTrials Cloud-Based Platform: Four Use Cases, has been selected to be part of the Special Issue "Modeling for Advancing Regulatory Science", released by Annals of Biomedical Engineering (ABME) in occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Biomedical Engineering Society. Schematic representation of the InSilicoTrials.com collaborative model (PRNewsfoto/InSilicoTrials) Computational modeling and simulation can provide unique insights on how human biology and physiology work and why. In November 2022, the FDA published its first report on the Successes and Opportunities in Modeling & Simulation for FDA, highlighting a selection of modeling and simulation case studies from across FDA and illustrating how these technologies have already been embraced and are playing an important role in helping FDA promote public health. The Special Issue, which was published on December 23rd, 2022, features an editorial by Tina M. Morrison, Joel D. Stitzel & Steve M. Levine - FDA's office of Regulatory Science and Innovation entitled Modeling and Simulation in Biomedical Engineering: Regulatory Science and Innovation for Advancing Public Health. The authors highlight how the potential of CM&S (Computer Modeling and Simulation) to overcome obstacles in enhancing medical treatments has been well-established. The editorial recalls that in the last few of years, Congress has urged FDA "to engage with device and drug sponsors to explore greater use, where appropriate, of in silico [clinical] trials for advancing new devices and drug therapy applications." This highlights a "shift toward a greater reliance on digital evidence from in silico methods in healthcare, opening the door to regulatory pathways in which a collection of computer-based models may be used to reduce, refine, and partially replace both in vivo animal and human experimentation for regulatory purposes." The editorial concludes that "the practices we establish today will determine the health of all future generations. The time is now to make the necessary changes, not just to advance and translate science, but to create an equitable and foremost healthcare system based upon it." InSilicoTrials is proud and honored to be part of this process, together with its strong network of scientific partners, creating the biggest collection of in silico tools, and democratizing access to this technology for the industry. InSilicoTrials' paper discusses four use cases of in silico trials performed using the InSilicoTrials.com platform for modeling and simulation, providing insights on how the technology can be used to accelerate the development of new treatments and medical devices. The first application illustrates how in silico approaches can improve the early nonclinical assessment of drug-induced cardiotoxicity risks. The second use case is a virtual reproduction of a bench test for the safety assessment of transcatheter heart valve substitutes. The third and fourth use cases are examples of virtual patients' generation to evaluate treatment effects in multiple sclerosis and prostate cancer patients, respectively. "We are honored to have our work recognized by the FDA and ABME," said Luca Emili, CEO of InSilicoTrials. "Modeling and simulation are becoming increasingly important in the drug and medical device development process, and we believe that our cloud-based platform can play a significant role in helping to accelerate the uptake of these technologies." An important step in this direction has already been made with the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 (FDAMA 2.0), a bill aiming to modernize and improve the regulatory process for drugs, with the goal of getting safe and effective products to market more quickly. Animal testing on new medications will no longer be required for FDA approval, thanks to legislation signed by US President Joe Biden at the end of last month. The bill represents a radical shift in the way drugs and treatments will be developed. The InSilicoTrials' platform is designed to make it easy for researchers and companies to access the latest modeling and simulation tools and resources, without the need for expensive hardware or software. The platform is regulatory compliant and has been used by several leading pharmaceutical and medical device companies. The Special Issue is available for free download: https://link.springer.com/journal/10439/volumes-and-issues/51-1, while the InSilicoTrials' paper can be accessed directly via the following link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10439-022-03052-6 The PDF version of this press release can be found here: https://insilicotrials.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Press_Release_January23.pdf About InSilicoTrials InSilicoTrials is a company that specializes in using artificial intelligence (AI) and simulations to improve drugs and medical device development. It uses machine learning techniques to analyze large amounts of data and make predictions about the safety and efficacy of potential drug compounds and medical devices. Our goal is to help pharmaceutical, medtech companies and researchers develop new drugs more efficiently and at a lower cost by reducing the need for traditional, time-consuming, and expensive clinical trials. With its cloud-based platform offering advanced M&S tools to perform in silico trials analyses, InSilicoTrials supports companies to integrate AI and simulation technology into their drug development workflows. InSilicoTrials is currently working on four projects funded by the European Commission: In Silico World, SimCardioTest, Brainteaser & Disc4All. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1989839/InSilicoTrials.jpg SOURCE InSilicoTrials Confirmed antibacterial efficacy against a variety of anthrax strains including the one used in the 2001 anthrax attack Provides the most potent bactericidal ability that no other PEP antibiotics in the market can exhibit Further developments are planned to conduct with a licensing/collaboration partner BOSTON and SEOUL, Korea, Jan. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- iNtRON Biotechnology ("iNtRON", www.intodeworld.com) has announced today that it has completed the efficacy evaluation study of BAL200, a novel endolysin-based biologic for the treatment of 'Inhalational Anthrax', which was granted an Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) by the US FDA. The efficacy of BAL200 was evaluated for its antibacterial activity against various anthrax strains (Bacillus anthracis), in particular its lytic activity for how quickly it lyses the target strain. The evaluation studies were performed with dozens of Bacillus anthracis strains including the Ames. The results demonstrated that BAL200 has the most potent bactericidal ability that any other Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) antibiotics in the market cannot exhibit. The Ames is the anthrax strain that was exploited in the 2001 Amerithrax attacks and is the most infectious and dangerous strain among the many different anthrax strains exist in the world. According to the Company official, iNtRON plans to promote an out-licensing process based on the efficacy evaluation results obtained this time and already secured safety data. The Company plans to conduct required studies to be subject to the Animal Efficacy Rule with a new partner afterwards. Dr. KANG, Sang Hyeon, CTO of iNtRON said, "We believe that the recently secured efficacy results are very important and required data to seek a licensing partner for the collaboration of the further developments. We will prepare a data package that emphasizes the competitiveness of BAL200 well so it leads to the successful out-licensing deal." As BAL200 provides a complete bactericidal activity unlike any other existing drugs, it rapidly eradicates infected anthrax strains from the body. Having a rapid lytic effect with high safety, BAL200 can provide competitiveness in the treatment of anthrax infection with a completely different mode-of-action (MOA) over the existing drugs. Dr. KANG added, "Since the existing drugs act in a way that inhibits the physiological mechanism of bacteria, the effectiveness of the existing drugs is not rapid enough to prevent occurrence of bacterial resistance, and is limited by the relationship between the number of drug molecule and bacteria. On the other hand, BAL200 provides a non-stoichiometric characteristic due to its completely different MOA, which makes BAL200 to be a drug that can provide robust therapeutic effects with only a small amount of dose." About BAL200 BAL200 is an ODD granted bacteriophage-derived endolysin biologic drug that has bactericidal activity against Bacillus anthracis strains via cell wall hydrolysis. BAL200 has demonstrated its activity against various Bacillus anthracis strains, including PEP antibiotics-resistant strains. iNtRON is expecting BAL200 to become a novel solution to overcome limitations of Standard-of-Care PEPs. For the further development of BAL200 including IND enabling and Animal Rule required studies, iNtRON is seeking to a suitable partner for an out-licensing and/or research collaboration. About iNtRON Biotechnology, Inc. iNtRON (www.iNtODEWORLD.com) is a bio-new drug developing venture company and a leader in bacteriophage-based technology for human with aim to develop and investigate into the 'Immune & Immunotherapeutics' market. While pursuing global research and business development (R&BD) investments since the foundation and accelerated development after entering its IPO in KOSDAQ, the company honed in on innovating BIO New Drugs by developing various 'First-in-Class" and "First-in-Concept' bio-drugs and conducting clinical studies in phases. The Company is committed to development of innovative innovation in the infectious diseases and 'Immune & Immunotherapeutics' area. Contact Us YOON, Kyung Won (Kevin) / CEO, Vice President / [email protected] SHIN, Tae Kyu (TK) / BD Team Leader / [email protected] BD Team / [email protected] www.intodeworld.com it is iNtRON SOURCE iNtRON Biotechnology, Inc. PITTSBURGH, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- "I thought there should be an improved way to preserve fresh foods for the duration of an outdoor outing," said an inventor, from Orem, Utah, "so I invented the C F F T E. My design would keep foods cold and appealing for up to one month." The invention provides an effective means of keeping fresh foods cold and appetizing for up to one month and without the use of electricity. In doing so, it reduces food spoilage and waste. As a result, it provides added convenience and peace of mind. The invention features a portable design that is easy to use so it is ideal for campers, outdoor enthusiasts, travelers, etc. Additionally, it is producible in design variations. The original design was submitted to the Salt Lake City sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 21-SGJ-187, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com. SOURCE InventHelp NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WTWH Media, advised by JEGI CLARITY, has received an investment from Mountaingate Capital. Founded in 2006, WTWH is a digitally native B2B media platform leveraging original content to connect brand marketers with high-intent, engaged audiences of industry executives on their preferred channels. WTWH has earned a stellar reputation as a leader in B2B media and partner to B2B marketers. WTWH distributes its original content across seven industry verticals Design Engineering, Robotics, Life Sciences, Renewable Energy, Food Service, Convenience Retail, and Clubs & Resorts through a multichannel strategy consisting of 45+ digital publications, e-newsletters, in-person events, webinars, and podcasts. Mountaingate Capital's extensive experience within the media, digital marketing, and data sectors will help accelerate WTWH's next phase of growth. The investment will provide additional resources and capabilities to address the needs of WTWH's clients. About JEGI CLARITY JEGI CLARITY is a pre-eminent M&A advisory firm for the media, marketing, information and technology industries. With a global reach from New York, London, Boston, Sydney and San Francisco, we have closed more than 800 transactions during our 35+ year history. For more information, visit www.jegiclarity.com. Contact: Kelsey Kovachik, Vice President of Marketing +1 212 754 0710 | [email protected] | www.jegiclarity.com SOURCE JEGI CLARITY Leading national distributor of commercial supplies, equipment, and chemicals welcomes newest appointments to its Executive Leadership Team CHICAGO, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Jon-Don, a leading supplier of commercial supplies, equipment, consumables, and know-how to specialty contractors, announced three appointments to its executive leadership team. Andrew Carlson joins as Chief Marketing Officer, Eric Bosanac as General Manager for the Concrete Surface Prep and Polishing business segment, and Eve Brooks as Chief Human Resources Officer. Jon-Don Announces New Executive Leaders Andrew Carlson has spent the past 12 years leading marketing, ecommerce, and digital transformation organizations in direct to end-user and channel focused B2B organizations. He was previously the VP of Marketing and eCommerce for Antylia Scientific, where he led global marketing and ecommerce. Prior to Antylia, Andrew spent 15 years working with specialty contractors at both Panduit and Brady Corporation. Eric Bosanac was previously the Director of Global Strategic Accounts at PPG, supporting customers globally for specifications and product development solutions. During his fourteen-plus years at PPG, he held various positions in sales management, business development and global operations. Previous to his work at PPG, Eric spent 23 years at The Sherwin-Williams Company, overseeing Marine Coatings, Protective Coatings for National Accounts and Focus Market Segments. Eve Brooks comes to Jon-Don with over 25 years of experience in Human Resources and Finance. Her most recent leadership role was as VP & CHRO and member of the Executive Leadership Team at AMES Taping Tools. Prior to joining AMES, Eve served for five years as Vice President of Human Resources at Colonial Pipeline, the largest refined-product pipeline in the US. Prior to Colonial, Eve worked for 16 years at Imerys, a multi-national industrial minerals company where she served in several senior Human Resources and Financial roles. Andrew, Eric, and Eve will join the other members of Jon-Don's Executive Leadership Team under Jay Davisson, Chief Executive Officer. Those members include Matt Tharp, Chief Financial Officer; Steve Porter, Chief Sales Officer; Ian Hartman, Vice President of Operations; Brad Hanson, Restoration & Professional Cleaning General Manager; and Bob Grosskopf, Auto Scrubber General Manager. "I have full confidence in these leaders and their ability to drive Jon-Don's long-term success as the premier supplier for specialty contractors across a variety of industries," said Jay Davisson, CEO for Jon-Don. "Their talent and years of expertise will undoubtedly take Jon-Don into the next phase of strategic growth while upholding our company's values and commitment to providing world-class service to our customers." About Jon-Don Jon-Don gives specialty contractors and in-house service providers across multiple industries everything they need to keep things clean, safe, and looking their bestwhether it's removing that one impossible carpet stain or resurfacing a massive warehouse floor. Since 1978, Jon-Don has provided not just the equipment and consumables customers need, but the real-world knowledge, rolled-up sleeves approach, and rock-solid reliability they can't find with other suppliers. Today, with multiple distribution centers strategically located throughout the United States, Jon-Don serves industries ranging from water and fire restoration, concrete surface prep and polishing, building service/janitorial, carpet cleaning, and more. Jon-Don | Let's tackle your toughest jobs. For more information, call (800) 556-6366 or visit www.jondon.com. This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com. SOURCE Jon-Don JACKSON, Miss., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Jackson State University President Thomas K. Hudson, J.D. has been selected as a 2023 Top CEO by the Mississippi Business Journal. The distinguished cohort of 23 leaders were honored today at an awards ceremony held in Jackson, Miss. Mississippi Business Journal Publisher Tami Jones presents Jackson State University President Thomas K. Hudson, J.D., with the 2023 Top CEO award. (Photo: Jackson State University / Spencer McClenty) "I am humbled to receive this honor from the Mississippi Business Journal and to be recognized in the company of so many accomplished leaders from across the region," said Hudson. "True leadership involves cultivating a great team, and I'm blessed to work with many talented administrators, faculty and staff at Jackson State University. We are successful because of our unified mission to help students achieve their educational goals in a nurturing environment." Mississippi Business Journal Publisher Tami Jones said the goal was to recognize leaders from a variety of companies, large and small, where the CEO is making a difference. "We received nominations from all over, and this year's honorees are outstanding," said Jones. "In February, we'll also be publishing a special issue with biographies and photos of all of the 2023 honorees. The special publication will be distributed to all print and online readers of the Mississippi Business Journal, and will also be available at select distribution outlets around the state." Under President Hudson's leadership, JSU retained its High Research designation by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. During the past fiscal year, the Division of Research and Economic Development garnered $65.8 million in research awards, including $10 million to create a public health informatics curriculum to train and assist public health professionals in collecting scientific data for improving clinical and medical decisions. This month, Jackson State University was awarded $4 million to establish a Center for Supply Chain Management. Hudson was recently named one of Mississippi's Most Influential African Americans by Our Magazine. He was also selected as a 2022 Top Minority Business Leader by the Delta Business Journal. SOURCE Jackson State University Support for hospital- and community-based research and programs includes new partnership with the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention OAKLAND, Calif., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaiser Permanente, the nation's largest integrated, nonprofit health care provider, is expanding its work to address the causes and health consequences of gun violence with a $25 million commitment to its recently established Center for Gun Violence Research and Education. This move will further enable the center to address the public health crisis of gun violence through care innovation, research, education, and partnership. Firearms recently became the leading cause of injury and death among children and young adults in the United States, surpassing motor vehicle accidents. The aftermath of gun violence and suicide, and its resulting trauma, has devastating short-term and long-term impacts on the mental and physical health of survivors, making it among the most urgent public health crises facing our country. "As the leading health care organization serving the health needs of more than 12 million people in America, Kaiser Permanente is compelled to find and implement solutions to gun violence," said Greg A. Adams, Kaiser Permanente chair and chief executive officer. "While our teams treat the physical wounds, the disabilities, and the psychological aftermath of gun violence on a daily basis, the best possible outcome of our work would be to learn how to prevent gun-related injuries in the first place." As part of this investment, Kaiser Permanente is announcing a new partnership with the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention to help coordinate the work of the Center for Gun Violence Research and Education. HAVI, an initiative of Health Resources in Action, is dedicated to fostering hospital-based violence intervention programs, hospital and community collaborations that advance trauma-informed care, and violence intervention and prevention programs. "HAVI is thrilled to partner with Kaiser Permanente to co-lead the Center for Gun Violence Research and Education," said Fatimah Loren Dreier, executive director of the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention. "We seek to lead a center that authentically engages institutional and community partners to conduct rigorous science and implement evidence-informed, health-based strategies that effectively address the brutal epidemic of violence. Through this partnership, we will advance a powerful vision for racial equity that centers the wisdom and ingenuity of communities of color." Kaiser Permanente's $25 million commitment will extend over 5 years. It will allow the center to expand and scale its prevention research efforts, innovative public and professional education programs, and evidence-backed community initiatives. This includes hospital-based violence intervention programs, which identify patients at risk of repeated violent injury and link them with hospital- and community-based resources that identify and address the underlying risk factors for violence. "Kaiser Permanente has already seen the promising results of collaborative, community-based support for gun violence prevention, and we know we can take this work even further," said Bechara Choucair, MD, senior vice president and chief health officer at Kaiser Permanente. "We're excited about the role HAVI will play in connecting Kaiser Permanente's clinical focus with its deep expertise in community-based violence prevention as we pursue a healthier future." Kaiser Permanente's partnership with HAVI marks the next phase of work for the Center for Gun Violence Research and Education. Both organizations share a strong belief that a robust public health approach is an effective way to address gun violence and that these efforts can provide a pathway for health care leaders, communities, scientists, public health practitioners, and officials to develop and implement a range of strategies that have been shown to work. About Kaiser Permanente Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.6 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, go to about.kp.org Media contact: Hilary Costa, [email protected] SOURCE Kaiser Permanente Deal aims to fast track up to 500MW of electricity capacity via Powerships Moldova , Romania are most likely locations for vessels to feed into Ukraine's grid LONDON, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Karpowership has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with state-owned trader JSC Energy Company of Ukraine (ECU) to enhance electricity supply cooperation and to fast track the use of floating power stations to alleviate the nation's energy crisis. Karpowership Chief Commercial Officer Zeynep Harezi and ECU Chief Executive Officer Vitaly Butenko sign the MOU. Karpowership, which provides reliable and flexible floating electricity solutions across 13 countries, and ECU -- a purchaser, seller and supplier of energy resources -- will work alongside national and international organizations to develop and finance the implementation of 500 MW, enough to power over 1 million households. Among the options being considered are for floating power stations, known as Powerships, to be moored offshore Moldova and Romania, with electricity connecting to Ukraine's grid via transmission lines. As a result, Karpowership and ECU will engage Moldovan and Romanian authorities to assess the viability of these two options. ''Karpowership is delighted to work with ECU to ease Ukraine's power crisis,'' said Zeynep Harezi, Karpowership's Chief Commercial Officer. ''Powerships are a fast, reliable, and flexible solution to the nation's electricity shortages, and we are ready to support Ukraine in getting the energy it needs as soon as possible.'' Both parties have agreed to hold regular meetings to jointly develop and implement the project and work together to secure the necessary permissions and approvals to collaborate with third parties, including international organizations, to achieve this. ''Ukraine's energy system has suffered 12 massive Russian attacks, resulting in damage to its power generation infrastructure and electricity shortages. While the war continues, building new power units to recover lost or damaged generation capacity is not a feasible option and we need to look for innovative solutions to the current crisis,'' said ECU Chief Executive Officer Vitaly Butenko. ''Karpowership technology allows for rapid deployment of new power generation capacity which will be transferred to the Ukrainian grid. We believe this can create a regional paradigm shift for solving Ukraine's energy crisis while the nation's infrastructure is being subjected to Russian attacks,'' Butenko added. Karpowership already operates across Africa, in New Caledonia and Brazil and has been in talks with several European countries to supply as much as 2 GW of electricity via Powerships to help ease the region's energy crisis. Its fleet of 36 Powerships connects directly to a country's electricity grid, leveraging existing infrastructure, and can do so in less than 30 days. Powerships are cheaper, quicker, and more flexible than land-based power facilities and leave a minimal environmental footprint when decommissioned. They are simply unplugged and re-deployed wherever they are most needed. Karpowership's vessels are multi-fuel enabled, operating on either liquefied natural gas, low sulphur fuel oil or biodiesel. Because Powerships are delivered with all the infrastructure they need, there is also minimal disruption to local communities onshore. For more information on Karpowership and its fleet of floating power solutions, visit https://karpowership.com/en/. Media Contact: [email protected] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1989974/KPS_ECU_MOU.jpg SOURCE Karpowership Kindred is supporting Women in Tech Sweden for the seventh year in a row and taking part in the conference in Stockholm as Co-Creating Partner. Women in Tech Sweden is the largest tech conference for women in the technology industry in the Nordics. This year's theme is "Charged and Ready to Raise". The theme comes from charging the batteries and gathering strength to find new ways forward, together. VALLETTA, Malta, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kindred Group plc (Kindred) supports Women in Tech for the seventh consecutive year and will participate 23 March at the Waterfront Congress Center as Co-Creating Partner. This year's conference will highlight issues such as energy, cybersecurity, AI and leadership. Women in Tech drives to bring more women into the tech industry and supports those already here. With 2,500 attendees the conference is great opportunity for networking and sharing knowledge. "Providing a community and network that inspires women to stay in tech is very much needed, and for us at Kindred it is important to support that. Attracting and retaining the best tech-competence is not easy. Partnering with Women in Tech Sweden gets us closer to top tech talent. In addition, being a part of #WiTswe23 is very fulfilling, and our employees are eager to take part in the day. We get an amazing opportunity to show who we are, our values and our culture", says Johan Engberg, Head of Tech Employee Lifecycle, Kindred Group. "Long-term partnerships are important to Women in Tech Sweden and we are extremely proud to have Kindred Group on the journey for the seventh year in a row! Together we improve the industry step by step," says Elin Eriksson, Director Women in Tech Sweden. CONTACT: For more information: Maria Angell Dupont, External Communications Manager, Kindred Group [email protected] +46 72 165 15 17 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/824/3703631/1806031.pdf Kindred is Charged and Ready to Raise - supporting Women in Tech Sweden https://news.cision.com/kindred-group/i/wit-kindred,c3137729 WIT Kindred SOURCE Kindred Group Oregon School District Utilizes Preemptive Technology for Rapid Response to Gun-Related Incidents, Dispatching an Alert to First Responders as Fast as Three to Five Seconds After Detection PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ZeroEyes, creators of the only A.I.-based gun detection video analytics platform that holds the US Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act Designation, today announced that its solution will be implemented by Klamath Falls City Schools to offer proactive protection for students and staff against gun-related threats. ZeroEyes' A.I. technology is being layered on top of the schools' existing security cameras, where it will identify brandished guns and dispatch alerts to safety personnel and local law enforcement as fast as 3 to 5 seconds from the moment of detection. Save Time and Save Lives with ZeroEyes A.I. Gun Detection Solution "My top priority is the security of our students and faculty, which is why our district is one of Oregon's foremost school safety leaders," said Keith Brown, Superintendent of Klamath Falls City Schools. "From the moment I witnessed ZeroEyes' innovative security solution in action, I knew it would be a game changer for our community. With ZeroEyes, we can preemptively protect our schools and respond quickly in the event of a gun-related emergency. Together, we can ensure that our schools are a safe place to learn, grow and thrive." The public school district serves seven schools, including four elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and an alternative high school in Klamath Falls, Oregon. It has made significant investments into security solutions, including partnerships with local law enforcement, an app that provides access to building blueprints and crisis communication platforms, and sexual predator screening. The district's new website also puts more information about the district in the hands of the community. ZeroEyes was founded by a group of former Navy SEALs and technologists that used hundreds of thousands of proprietary images and videos to train its AI to be the most comprehensive and superior gun detection technology on the market. Former U.S. military and law enforcement specialists verify every detection 24/7/365 from the in-house ZeroEyes Operations Center (ZOC) to deliver accurate and actionable intelligence on gun-related incidents, including the gunman's appearance, clothing, weapon, and real-time location. They can also de-escalate police response by informing law enforcement if the weapon detected is an AirSoft, BB or other type of non-lethal gun. ZeroEyes' A.I. was trained to detect only guns; it does not perform any facial recognition, so there is no risk of bias based on skin color or other personal characteristics. The system also does not receive, record, store, or share personal or biometric data, videos or images of any kind. The ZOC receives images only when a brandished gun has been identified; at all other times, the monitoring screens remain blank. Furthermore, ZeroEyes is ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certified, verifying that all cyber protocols and controls meet rigorous international standards. "The recent increase in gun-related violence nationwide has made it critical for schools to have a robust security plan in place," said Mike Lahiff, CEO and co-founder of ZeroEyes. "Klamath Falls City Schools has taken a proactive approach to ensuring the safety of students and staff by implementing a multi-layered security strategy, including ZeroEyes technology. We are honored to be a part of this effort and look forward to working closely with the district to keep their schools safe and secure." ZeroEyes is deployed across a variety of industries in 30+ states, including K-12 school districts, commercial property groups, shopping malls, places of worship, hospitals, military bases, manufacturing plants, casinos and Fortune 500 campuses. ABOUT ZEROEYES ZeroEyes delivers a proactive, human-verified A.I. gun detection software solution that integrates into existing security cameras and mitigates mass shootings and gun-related violence by reducing response times, providing actionable intelligence with images and delivering clarity among chaos ultimately saving lives. ZeroEyes' patented solution has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a promising anti-terrorism technology and is the first video analytics technology to receive SAFETY Act DT&E Designation. Founded by Navy SEALs, Special Operations military veterans and technologists, ZeroEyes dispatches accurate and real-time actionable intelligence about the brandishing of a gun near or in an occupied area or building, to local staff and law enforcement with an image of the shooter(s) and location of the threat, as fast as 3 to 5 seconds from the moment the gun is detected. The ZeroEyes team also provides tech consulting, installation assistance and practice drills for active shooter events to enhance safety at schools, corporate and government facilities. Headquartered in the Greater Philadelphia area, the company's affordable and effective gun detection solution has been adopted by the US Department of Defense, leading public K-12 school districts, colleges / universities, commercial property groups, manufacturing plants, Fortune 500 corporate campuses, shopping malls, big-box retail stores and more. Learn more about ZeroEyes at ZeroEyes.com. SOURCE ZeroEyes LAS VEGAS, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Roots Homes , the company pioneering fractional homeownership, announced a $2.2mm funding round led by Other Ventures, with participation from Behind Genius Ventures and Waveline VC . The funds will enable the startup to accelerate the growth of their Las Vegas operations following a successful beta launch late last year. Roots' mission is to make homeownership easy for Millennials and Gen-Z by offering a truly convenient way to own a home. Roots' fractional homeownership service upends the all-or-nothing nature of homeownership by allowing renters to purchase shares in their home each month. Roots will provide customers with a shopping budget to find a home. When they find one they like, Roots will buy it for them so they can move in. If the customer eventually wants to buy the home from Roots, they can, but they never have to. The equity a renter builds can be held long-term, go towards a downpayment, or be cashed out if they choose to move out. Roots will buy "most homes" in Las Vegas for their customers, allowing them to "test drive" a home to see if they like it before committing to buy it. Terms are 12 months and can be renewed year after year until a customer decides to either move out or purchase the home from Roots. "In the last 10 years, wages have increased 34% while home prices have doubled. That means you need to save twice the money to buy a home with only 34% more income. For most people, homeownership is impossible," said Lauren Self, Founder and CEO of Roots. "Roots eliminates the barrier to entry that traditional homeownership requires and makes it easy for renters to own by doing exactly what they're doing now renting." Roots began onboarding early customers late last year. They met their first customer, Trish Vea, in a Facebook group where Las Vegas locals look for housing. At the time, Vea's large family was living in an apartment and dreamed of owning a home to give them more space. Vea said about Roots, "We are living proof that dreams come true. Roots helped us find a home in the area we like at a price we could afford. If you are looking for a home, I definitely recommend Roots. Let them make your dreams come true." For more information on Roots please visit www.Roots.Homes SOURCE Roots Homes TORONTO, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As 2023 begins, 1040 Abroad, a leading accounting firm for Americans living abroad, encourages individuals to become tax compliant to qualify for government stimulus payments. While individuals can still claim these payments on late-filed 2020 and 2021 tax returns, the statute of limitation will limit the time for the claim. Specifically, the first round of stimulus payments can only be claimed until July 15, 2024. Last call for covid 19 stimulus check Many Americans living abroad are unaware of their tax obligations to the US government and, as a result, miss out on these important stimulus payments. "Now is the time to take action and become tax compliant," says Olivier Wagner, founder of 1040 Abroad. It's important to note that even those who are renouncing their US citizenship are still eligible for stimulus payments, too, they need to file. Recognizing the burden that the high cost of renouncing US citizenship can cause, 1040 Abroad is dedicated to helping US ex-pats navigate the process and lower costs. In addition to helping individuals claim their stimulus payments, 1040 Abroad also offers a wealth of information on tax compliance for Americans living abroad, including information on the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, the Foreign Tax Credit, and the Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures. Don't miss out on your chance to claim government stimulus payments and become tax compliant. Visit 1040Abroad.com for more information and free tax consultations. Media contact: Olivier Wagner [email protected] 9097182614 SOURCE 1040 Abroad Inc. WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LWC Studios is celebrating Latina to Latina podcast reaching two million lifetime downloads. The weekly interview series created and hosted by Alicia Menendez shares the professional journeys of Latinas from all walks of life. For the past four years, Latina to Latina has given listeners an in-depth look into the remarkable experiences of Latinas, from growing their companies and careers, balancing their family life and self-care, to persevering in systems built to keep them out, all while paving the way for those to who will follow them. "I remember when we celebrated a thousand downloads," says Alicia Menendez, the show's host and creator. "At the time, one million downloads seemed like an impossibility! Then we hit one million and I wondered if we could keep growing at the same rate. Instead, the pace quickened. We have no formal marketing budget, but what do we have are loyal listeners who are evangelists for the show. This success is theirs." Since its launch in 2018, the podcast has released nearly 250 episodes of conversations with luminaries in the arts, politics, business and technology. Through candid and sometimes vulnerable discussions, the podcast is a virtual living room for its guests and listeners, and this milestone is a testament to the community that Latina to Latina seeks to empower. Latina to Latina's co-executive producer, and CEO & Founder of LWC Studios, Juleyka Lantigua says, "For me, this is a celebration of our audience more than anything else. They have been with us since episode one, and have loved Latina to Latina enough to share it with people they love. Alicia and I are so very proud of our work and of the team that has made it possible, but we are the proudest of the women who have embraced Latina to Latina for what we always meant it to be, a talisman that helps you discover your own power and beauty." Latina to Latina producer Paulina Velasco adds, "Latina to Latina is such a valuable space for us to celebrate our messy triumphs, work through our questions of identity and community--and dream big!" Visit: LatinatoLatina.com Follow: @Latinatolatina on Twitter, IG, FB SOURCE LWC Studios Leading Light Wind would supply New York with up to 2,100 MW of clean energyenough to power up to 800,000 homes annually Proposal represents up to $13.3 billion in economic benefits for New York, including critical offshore wind infrastructure and supply chain investments Leading Light Wind announces labor Memorandum of Understanding, Community Benefits Program, to accelerate a just energy transition across the Empire State NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Leading Light Wind, the only American-led offshore wind development in the New York Bight, submitted its bid for an offshore wind power contract to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). New York's third competitive offshore wind solicitation includes a nation-leading $500 million investment in offshore wind ports, manufacturing, and supply chain infrastructure. Leading Light Wind proposes delivering up to 2,100 megawatts (MW) of clean energy to the stateadvancing public health, climate action, environmental justice, and economic and workforce development across New York. Leading Light Wind is a bold vision for New York that will deliver enough clean, reliable energy to power the equivalent of up to 800,000 New York homes every year and offset nearly 2 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions in its first year of operation. The proposed project will support tens of thousands of family-sustaining jobs over its operational life and represents up to $13.3 billion in economic benefits for New York, including critical offshore wind infrastructure and supply chain investments. These benefits and investments will be an essential part of New York State reaching its nation-leading climate and energy goals outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Leading Light Wind is a partnership between lead developer Invenergy and New York-based co-developer energyRe. "Leading Light Wind is charting a course for New York's clean energy future, one that is led by American innovation," said Michael Polsky, Founder and CEO at Invenergy. "As the only American-led offshore wind project in the New York Bight, Leading Light Wind has an unmatched commitment to advancing a domestic offshore wind industry that secures American competitiveness in the global market, delivers a just energy transition, and builds new opportunities for New Yorkers." "Leading Light Wind is ready to bring our decades of expertise and experience to the fight for a resilient future," said Miguel Prado, CEO of energyRe. "Offshore wind is critical to reaching New York's bold climate and clean energy goals and can accelerate a family-sustaining green economy across the state. Leading Light Wind is uniquely positioned to realize New York's domestic leadership in offshore windand deliver on the promise of cleaner air and a healthier future for our communities." "We are pleased to offer a unique and differentiated supply chain investment plan that will deliver economic benefits from Western New York to the Capital Region to New York City," said Joshua Weinstein, Vice President and Head of Offshore Development for Invenergy. "We're creating next-generation jobs through an innovation and operations base at the historic Brooklyn Navy Yard and marshaling port development at the Arthur Kill Terminal on Staten Island. In addition, we're offering an energy storage solution to provide grid resilience and align our project with New York's energy storage goals." Notably, Leading Light Wind signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU) to ensure the project is built by New York union construction workers. The MOU covers all aspects of construction from supply chain and port construction to offshore construction. The MOU and the team's experience building renewable power projects ensures that Leading Light Wind is best positioned to create an American-led offshore wind union workforce. In addition to the supply chain investments, Leading Light Wind is focused on an equitable offshore wind industry in New York and will establish a community benefits program with up to $300 million in funding for driving stakeholder-directed community empowerment, building of an inclusive workforce, accelerating the offshore wind supply chain, and pioneering innovative and collaborative environmental research. Initial partnerships with community-based organizations and institutions include the Waterfront Alliance, the Albert C. Wiltshire Employment Center at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, CUNY Offshore Wind Advisory Network, CUNY College of Staten Island, Gotham Whale, the Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (the Waterfront Pathways Program and newly proposed Lift All Boats fund to support small businesses). Leading Light Wind also recognizes that meaningful stakeholder engagement is central to every area of NYSERDA's offshore wind program. As a committed industry partner, Leading Light Wind will build upon NYSERDA's efforts and center multifaceted stakeholder engagement throughout every stage of the project. Leading Light Wind is engaging with critical marine and fisheries stakeholders to ensure a burgeoning offshore wind industry can thrive alongside existing marine economies and resources. Leading Light Wind builds upon Invenergy and energyRe's partnership in New York, including the development of Clean Path New York a landmark clean energy infrastructure project combining a new 175-mile state-of-the-art 1,300 MW HVDC underground transmission line with more than 3,800 MW of new wind and solar power in New York. A word from our partners: "Responsible offshore wind development can address environmental justice and protections thoughtfully and intentionally as our region commits to the transition to clean energy. Waterfront Alliance's partnership with Leading Light Wind will enable us to move into the next phase of community visioning to refurbish a waterfront parcel in Staten Island. The transformation of this site into a safe, accessible open space furthers the 2021 New York City Comprehensive Waterfront Plan and promotes a more sustainable, city-wide relationship with our harbor," said Cortney Koenig Worrall, President and CEO, Waterfront Alliance. "The project has also committed to designing port facilities to adhere to Waterfront Alliance's rigorous WEDG standards for coastal design. This commitment ensures that Waterfront Alliance can verify the resilience, ecological, and public access benefits in communities where waterfront operations take place. We are especially excited about Leading Light Wind's proposed revitalization of Dry Dock 4 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard for maritime uses to service the offshore wind industry." "This transformative investment in Dry Dock 4 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard would result in new industrial facilities and maritime infrastructure to service our city's growing offshore wind sector," said Lindsay Greene, President and CEO, Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation. "By leveraging the Navy Yard's culture of innovation, and its proven track record of economic development, this project will help realize economic growth for innovative companies and diverse entrepreneurs both at the Yard and citywide. Moreover, Leading Light Wind's commitment to partnering with the Albert C. Wiltshire Employment Center at the Brooklyn Navy Yard on offshore wind industry recruitment, administration, skills development and trainings, and wrap-around services means this project would bring good, high-paying jobs to our surrounding communities. Boosting local employment opportunities, while also advancing the development of clean energy, is critical to creating a more equitable, sustainable city for all." "The CUNY Offshore Wind Advisory Network, comprised of Kingsborough Community College, LaGuardia Community College, New York City College of Technology, and the College of Staten Island, are excited to work with best-in-class offshore wind industry partners such as Leading Light Wind," said Christine Zagari-LoPorto, Associate Dean, Workforce Development and Continuing Education at Kingsborough Community College. "Leading Light Wind's support of our Bridges to Offshore Wind Program will help ensure that the diverse student body at CUNY is able to not only learn about the exciting, well-paying career opportunities in the nascent offshore wind industry, but also obtain the training and skill development necessary to access jobs in this critical sector." "CUNY College of Staten Island has been a mainstay of this community for over 60 years. We have a diverse, vibrant community that has a distinct opportunity to make a difference to advance the clean energy transition. The partnership with Leading Light Wind will help CUNY College of Staten Island scale our renewable energy and technology innovation programs, as well as incorporate offshore wind education into existing programs. We are building the future of the energy infrastructure, technology, and offshore wind workforce essential investments for the entire state," said Michael E. Steiper, Provost, College of Staten Island, CUNY. "Gotham Whale is a source of education, advocacy, and science dedicated to improving the health of New York's marine environment so we are thrilled to be named a Leading Light Wind community partner because they have thoughtfully and meticulously shown their commitment to including marine stakeholders in their project," said Paul L. Sieswerda, Director, Gotham Whale. "This partnership allows Gotham Whale to increase our funding of ongoing marine mammal data collection, citizen science efforts, and youth education programs. The Leading Light Wind team has the expertise necessary to ensure an environmentally responsible project that fosters collaboration and the continued success of all ocean users." "The Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation is working to establish sustainability as an integral part of every child's K-12 learning experience. A key part of building a sustainable future is helping today's youth understand what that looks like and how they can be part of it," said Tara Stafford Ocansey, Executive Director, Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation. "Partnering with Leading Light Wind will allow us to bring experiential environmental programming, teacher trainings, and internship opportunities to local Title 1 middle and high schools. This critical work builds upon NYSERDA's existing Offshore Wind Youth Action program, showcasing how climate change and environmental justice issues need to be centered in our sustainability education." About Leading Light Wind Leading Light Wind is an American-led offshore wind project that will bring locally sourced, renewable energy to the East Coast. Developed by Invenergy and New York-based energyRe, we believe in empowering the communities where we live and work. Leading Light Wind will build on our track record of impactful community engagement and innovation in sustainable American infrastructure to advance public health, create good-paying jobs, and support our local supply chain. Learn more at leadinglightwind.com. About Invenergy Invenergy drives innovation in energy. Invenergy and its affiliated companies develop, own, and operate large-scale renewable and other clean energy generation and storage facilities in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Invenergy's home office is located in Chicago, and it has regional development offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Spain, Japan, Poland, and Scotland. Invenergy and its affiliated companies have successfully developed more than 30,000 megawatts of projects that are in operation, construction, or contracted, including wind, solar, transmission infrastructure and natural gas power generation and advanced energy storage projects. Learn about Invenergy at Invenergy.com. About energyRE energyRe, LLC is a leading independent clean energy company focused on solving complex challenges and providing clean energy solutions in utility-scale offshore and onshore wind and solar generation, energy storage, transmission, and distributed generation. energyRe's founding investors include principals of Related Companies, one of the nation's most prominent privately-owned real estate firms and one of the country's largest creators and preservationists of affordable housing. energyRe is led by an experienced executive management team and is guided by the values of community engagement, government partnership, and a demonstrated commitment to sustainability. energyRe has offices in New York, Houston, Indianapolis, and Charleston. For more information about energyRe, visit www.energyre.com. SOURCE Leading Light Wind Expert Financial and Operations Executive Joins Lean Solutions Group CORAL SPRINGS, Fla., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lean Solutions Group (LSG), a rapidly growing nearshore and offshore services provider, is pleased to announce that Todd Davis has joined as its vice president of strategic development. Davis brings more than 25 years of experience in transportation logistics and strategic operations to his new role. "I'm very excited to work with a company that I have known for years and have the opportunity to share the success we found with other leaders in transportation," said Davis. "Transportation is a grueling, challenging industry, and Lean Solutions Group has the resources to greatly enhance any operation while improving the bottom line. I'm excited to share my story and help other transportation companies find the success we did, while enjoying the great team at Lean Solutions Group." Lean Solutions Group has the resources to greatly enhance any operation while improving the bottom line. Tweet this Prior to joining Lean Solutions Group, he navigated the sale of his family company, Davis Transfer Company, to USA Truck. After this strategic transaction in 2018, Davis served as President and CEO of Davis Transfer Company and vice president of USA Truck. "Todd's experience makes him a valuable team member at Lean Solutions Group. On top of that, he has first-hand experience using our back-office operations solutions at his previous company, so he is very familiar with our services," said Robert Cadena, co-founder and CEO of Lean Solutions Group. "We are excited for him share his previous experiences and successes with Lean Solutions Group to future clients and prospects." Davis earned a Bachelor of Business in administration with a concentration in management information systems and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Terry College at the University of Georgia. About Lean Solutions Group Lean Solutions Group, established in 2012 and based in Coral Springs, Florida, is a nearshore and offshore services provider with a highly scalable and flexible workforce of more than 9,000 employees with operations at seven satellite offices in Colombia, Guatemala, and the Philippines. Partnering with more than 500 U.S.-based companies, Lean Solutions Group's expanded service offerings include staffing, technology, marketing, sales, and business process outsourcing services, all in one place. By leveraging the best talent, culture, and price that Lean Solutions provide, businesses can lower operational costs and drive business growth. For more information, visit www.leangroup.com. Media Contact: Scott Tims [email protected] SOURCE Lean Solutions Group Legal AI Powerhouse Commits to Long-Term Sponsorship of Legalweek Solidifying the Event's Status as the Premier Gathering for the Legal Tech Community NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Legalweek is once again cementing its position as the preeminent legal conference with the announcement of a two-year partnership with Reveal , a global provider of the leading AI-powered eDiscovery, review and investigations platform. The announcement of this new partnership showcases Legalweek's ability to reach an elite legal audience. As the Title Sponsor for Legalweek and the Legalweek Leaders in Tech Law Awards , Reveal will kick off this year's esteemed Keynote lineup, featuring Actor and Storyteller, LeVar Burton in his session titled, Using the Power of Storytelling to Rise Above the Noise, the CEO of PayPal, Dan Schulman, who will speak on How to Blend Profit and Purpose, and the annual Judges' Debate, which pits some of the nation's top discovery jurists against one another in an oral argument. "ALM is very excited to work with Reveal in an expanded capacity for Legalweek 2023 and 2024. They are an industry trailblazer and we look forward to working with them to bring together some of the leading legal minds in the legal tech space in sessions in their two educational tracks on the upcoming program" said Mark Fried, President of Events and Head of Global Strategic Initiatives at ALM. With this unique partnership also comes a dedicated pavilion and lounge that will expand the space attendees and exhibitors have to connect and network at Legalweek. Additionally, Reveal is pushing the limits of traditional Legalweek booth spaces and is designing an oasis in the middle of the hectic but exciting Rhinelander Hall. "After the overwhelming success of our sponsorship of Legalweek in 2022, it was without question that Reveal would once again be a part of such a fantastic conference that celebrates the people, companies and innovations driving the legal tech industry," said Wendell Jisa, founder & CEO of Reveal. "We look forward to working with the Legalweek team to make this year's event its best one yet." Taking place March 20-23 in New York City, Legalweek will feature four days of premier content including 60+ sessions, 21 tracks, workshops and more, bringing together the entire legal community to gain actionable insights that will help legal leaders restructure, rebuild and reinvigorate today's law firms and legal departments. For more information, including the full agenda and registration for Legalweek 2023, please visit: http://legalweekshow.com/ or follow @Legalweekshow and engage with #Legalweek23 for updates. About ALM ALM is the most trusted media, information and intelligence company supporting both the practice of and business of professionals in the legal, insurance, commercial real estate and financial services industries. ALM delivers leading data, intelligence, insights, events and audiences essential for growing businesses globally to over 7 million professionals. Please visit alm.com for more information, and visit www.alm.com/events/ to learn about our upcoming events. Please follow us on Twitter at @ALMGlobal_. About Reveal Reveal provides world-class document review technology, underpinned by leading processing, visual analytics, and artificial intelligence, all seamlessly integrated into a single platform for eDiscovery and investigations. Our software combines technology and human guidance to transform structured and unstructured data into actionable insight. We help organizations, including law firms, corporations, government agencies, and intelligence services, uncover more useful information faster by providing a world-class user experience and patented AI technology that is embedded within every phase of the eDiscovery process. Contact Information: Abbegayle Morrow [email protected] SOURCE ALM No matter the financial challenge, Loeb's quick, covenant-free M&E Term Loans allow four companies to reduce, reuse, and recycle CHICAGO, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Loeb continues its long history of supporting companies in transitional financial states with $6.8 million in machinery and equipment loans in Q4 of 2022. These loans will help the four businesses continue to operate smoothly by extracting working capital from their existing M&E. Loeb's Q4 2022 Asset-Based Machinery and Equipment Term Loans Highlights. Due to the team's hard work, Loeb was able to provide flexible terms and close quickly so that the companies could get back to business as usual. Loeb is committed to helping businesses of all sizes achieve their goals and looks forward to seeing great things from these companies in the future. Loan Details: $3MM to a hauling company to support its existing fleet $1 .6MM for a foreign client to purchase a winery .6MM for a foreign client to purchase a winery $1 .2MM to a synthetic fish protein manufacturer to scale from lab to production .2MM to a synthetic fish protein manufacturer to scale from lab to production $1MM to a commodity recycler to help survive the commodity cycle "In the 4th quarter of 2022, we saw strong growth in our M&E term loan facility," said Loeb's President Howard Newman. "What was remarkable is that we were able to help companies in such differing transitional situations. The current economic environment is challenging companies in ways we haven't seen in a while, and we stand ready to provide security through working capital as we've always done." About Loeb: For decades, Loeb has been helping manufacturers and financial institutions leverage their industrial assets through financing solutions and valuations to unlock top dollar from their existing M&E. Featuring funding in 4 weeks; no covenants; M&E value, not credit quality; multiple financing options including term loans, equipment lines of credit, and leasebacks. Visit us at https://www.loebequipment.com Press Release Contact: Eric Schwartz [email protected] 773-548-4131 SOURCE Loeb SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- If you ask any parent, they'd say that they would go to great lengths for their children. For Mike McKenna, that length is more than 2,600 miles. On February 1, McKenna will embark on a four-month walk across the U.S. to increase awareness of autism and raise funds for The New England Center for Children (NECC) where his son Michael has been a residential student for 17 years. McKenna will walk across the US to raise awareness of autism and funds for The New England Center for Children. Tweet this On February 1, Mike McKenna will embark on a 2,600-mile trek across the U.S. to raise awareness of autism and funds for The New England Center for Children (NECC), where his son MIchael has been a student for 17 years. The McKenna family shares the impact NECC has had on their family, particularly on Michael, who has thrived at the Center. Because of the work that the teachers and staff at NECC have done to help MIchael's severe autism diagnosis, the McKennas say that NECC saved their family's l "I want to put a face to autism. I want people to know who my son is and humanize this condition for others. I want these kids to matter," said McKenna. "The Mike Walk Across America is an opportunity to give back to NECC for the love, education and support provided to my son and family, and to thousands like us." The Mike Walk Across America will start at Santa Monica Pier in California and follow a southern route through nine states: California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, and ending in Florida. Major stops include Phoenix, Albuquerque, Amarillo, Oklahoma City, Memphis, Montgomery, and Jacksonville. "Schools like NECC can save families' lives," he said. "They certainly did for my family." McKenna aims to raise $150,000 for NECC, to support not only equipment and activities for the students, but also research opportunities and professional development for teachers. Preparing special education teachers and behavior analysts for careers beyond the Center in Massachusetts is part of NECC's mission. NECC was founded with the mission to help as many children with autism as possible, and there is no better way than to give the teachers the tools they need to bring that mission to the world. College graduates from any discipline can begin a meaningful career helping children with special needs at NECC. While earning a competitive salary working at the school, staff are encouraged to enroll in one of several free graduate programs with classes and research right on NECC's campus. NECC has become a global powerhouse, operating a school-based center in the United Arab Emirates, as well as clinics in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Many NECC staff alumni have gone on to establish their own centers serving children with autism throughout the U.S. and around the world, including Brazil, Ghana, and Iceland. "The importance and impact of NECC on the autism community isn't just local to Southborough," said McKenna. "It's the education, the research, the technology, and the training of teachers who work in cities, states, and countries all over the world. They bring the gold standard of autism education and treatment everywhere." For more information, visit www.necc.org/Mike-Walk. NECC is an award-winning autism education center and research institute. Committed to creating a world where autism is not a barrier to happiness, growth, and independence, our community of teachers, researchers, and clinicians provide comprehensive services including day and residential programs, partner classrooms in public school systems, consulting services, and the ACE ABA Software System. Learn more at www.necc.org. SOURCE The New England Center for Children DALLAS, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacesetting global immigration firm BAL was lauded last night by the mayor of the city of Richardson, Texas, in the annual State of the City address. The environmentally minded law firm set a record by providing the largest group of volunteers to partake in the city's Community and Corporate Environmental Cleanup program. Applauding BAL for its "tremendous showing of community spirit," three-term Mayor Paul Voelker, who has overseen the cleanup since 2017, invited BAL Partner Kortney Gibson to attend his address in person and stand for official recognition by the audience. "It is an honor to be recognized by the mayor and the city for our volunteer work," said Kortney, who manages BAL's local operations and Center of Excellence. "We pride ourselves on extending our time and efforts and compassion into initiatives that support the environment and our local community." In July, 500 BAL team members from the firm's Richardson headquarters gathered at the nearby Spring Creek Nature Area preserve to clean up sections of heavily wooded terrain. The earth-conscious BAL team was the largest cadre of volunteers to partner with the city's Environmental Cleanup program outside of the city's annual Trash Bash initiative. The city facilitates the cleanup initiative to maintain the popular 100-acre nature destination, which is nestled within a thriving urban environment. BAL Partner Stephanie Pimentel coordinated the volunteer effort as part of the annual firm-wide volunteer "Service Day," in which teams from BAL's 14 offices around the country volunteer for a project of their choosing to help their local communities. "Coordinating the Service Day was one of the highlights of my year," said Stephanie, who also attended the mayor's address. "Joining with 500 colleagues to beautify the nature area and preserve our local environment was an inspiring reminder that the work BAL does to make a positive difference in people's lives doesn't stop with our clients and teams, but extends beyond the front door to the communities we are a part of." About BAL BAL, the world's leading corporate immigration law firm, is singularly focused on meeting the immigration challenges of corporate clients around the world in ways that make immigration more strategic and enable businesses to be more successful. Established in 1980, BAL has consistently provided immigration expertise, people-centered client services and leading technology innovation. In 2018, BAL entered into a first-of-its-kind strategic alliance with Deloitte U.K. to create the world's first global immigration service delivery model. BAL's proprietary Cobalt digital immigration services platform won the 2020 CODiE Award for Best Legal Tech Product , the prestigious CIO100 award for Innovative Use of Intelligent Automation in Immigration Services and Legalweek's Most Innovative Law Firm Operations Team of 2021 . BAL and its leaders are highly ranked in every major legal publication, including Best Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500 and Who's Who Legal. BAL has ranked #1 on multiple industry rankings for diversity, equity and inclusion, including the #1 Law Firm for Women by the National Law Journal four years in a row (2019-2022), #1 on the Diversity Scorecard by The American Lawyer (2020 and 2021), and #1 on Law360's Diversity Snapshot for three years running (2020-2022). BAL won in seven of Comparably 's Best Company categories, including Diversity, Women, Career Growth and Perks & Benefits. The Dallas Business Journal named BAL one of only a handful of the 2022 Best Places to Work based exclusively on employee feedback. US News & World ReportBest Lawyers named BAL the 2023 Immigration Law Firm of the Year. SOURCE Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP DUBLIN, Jan. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) recently became aware that TRC Capital Investment Corporation (TRC) has made an unsolicited mini-tender offer to purchase up to 1,500,000 Medtronic ordinary shares, representing approximately 0.1% of the company's outstanding ordinary shares. TRC's offer price of $77.25 per share in cash is approximately 4.5% lower than the $80.91 closing price of Medtronic ordinary shares on January 20, 2023, the last closing price prior to commencement of the offer. Medtronic does not recommend or endorse TRC's unsolicited below-market mini-tender offer. Further, because the offer is at a price significantly below the current market price of Medtronic ordinary shares, Medtronic recommends that shareholders not tender their shares. Medtronic is not affiliated or associated with TRC, its mini-tender offer, or the mini-tender offer documentation. Medtronic urges shareholders to obtain current market quotations for their shares, to consult with their broker or financial advisor, and to exercise caution with respect to TRC's mini-tender offer. Medtronic recommends that shareholders who have not responded to TRC's offer take no action. Medtronic also recommends that shareholders who have already tendered their shares withdraw those shares in accordance with TRC's offering documents prior to the expiration of the offer. The offer is currently scheduled to expire at 12:01 a.m. New York City time on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, unless the offer is extended or earlier terminated. TRC has made similar below-market mini-tender offers for other companies' shares. Mini-tender offers are devised to seek less than 5% of a company's stock, thereby avoiding many filing, disclosure and procedural requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC has cautioned investors that some bidders making mini-tender offers at below-market prices are "hoping that they will catch investors off guard if the investors do not compare the offer price to the current market price." The SEC's guidance to investors on mini-tender offers is available at http://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/minitend.htm. Medtronic encourages brokers and dealers, as well as other market participants, to review the SEC's letter regarding broker-dealer mini-tender offer dissemination and disclosure at https://www.sec.gov/divisions/marketreg/minitenders/sia072401.htm. Medtronic requests that a copy of this press release be included with all distributions of materials relating to TRC's mini-tender offer related to Medtronic ordinary shares. About Medtronic Bold thinking. Bolder actions. We are Medtronic. Medtronic plc, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is the leading global healthcare technology company that boldly attacks the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Our Mission to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life unites a global team of 95,000+ passionate people across 150 countries. Our technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical robotics, insulin pumps, surgical tools, patient monitoring systems, and more. Powered by our diverse knowledge, insatiable curiosity, and desire to help all those who need it, we deliver innovative technologies that transform the lives of two people every second, every hour, every day. Expect more from us as we empower insight-driven care, experiences that put people first, and better outcomes for our world. In everything we do, we are engineering the extraordinary. For more information on Medtronic (NYSE:MDT), visit www.Medtronic.com and follow @Medtronic on Twitter and LinkedIn. Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results. Contacts: Erika Winkels Ryan Weispfenning Public Relations Investor Relations +1-763-526-8478 +1-763-505-4626 SOURCE Medtronic plc Marshall, whose 25-year career includes roles as the Head of Experiential Marketing at Morningstar and the President of the American Marketing Association Chicago, will work closely with leadership to build the brand of the industry-leading VR company LONDON, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mesmerise , the enterprise's trusted guide to the Metaverse, today announced the appointment of Leslie Marshall as its first Chief Marketing Officer. Marshall, who previously served as the Head of Experiential Marketing at Morningstar , will work with Mesmerise's leadership to showcase the Mesmerise story and brand, identify opportunities to drive innovation, and accelerate revenue. An accomplished enterprise marketer, Marshall will tap her multiple decades of experiential marketing, product marketing, brand management and digital transformation experience to help Mesmerise capitalize on a period of accelerated growth and interest in the Metaverse. With Marshall at the helm, Mesmerise will further build out efforts in brand, digital, communications, and content strategy, bringing on new team members in both the U.S. and U.K. "We are thrilled to welcome Leslie to the Mesmerise team," said Andrew Hawken, CEO and Co-Founder of Mesmerise. "With her decades of experience working at the cutting edge of marketing for the enterprise, we could think of no better leader to help us build the enterprise VR brand of the future." "Mesmerise has become an indispensable guide to VR and the Metaverse over the years," said Marshall. "I'm incredibly energized by the work that they've done in defining the space and leading some of the world's largest companies into this new era of technology. I'm looking forward to working with their world-class team to capitalize on the incredible opportunity in front of us." Prior to joining Mesmerise, Marshall spent sixteen years at Morningstar, most recently serving as the Head of Experiential Marketing where she led the team that defined and executed the digital transformation of Morningstar's popular and industry-renowned event series. Her team won multiple industry awards for their groundbreaking work while introducing best-in-class digital practices that significantly enhanced attendee experience and brand exposure. At Morningstar, Marshall worked closely with Mesmerise to introduce, develop and host the VR component of the annual Morningstar Investment Conference for three years running, in addition to cultivating groundbreaking interactive VR experiences, Sustainable City and Bee Game. In addition to her role at Mesmerise, Marshall also serves as the President of the American Marketing Association's Chicago chapter. About Mesmerise Mesmerise, the trusted guide to the Metaverse, helps leading enterprises, including Morningstar, Wells Fargo, and Allianz, host immersive meetings, conferences, training sessions, and events in virtual reality. Through Mesmerise's proprietary Gatherings platform, global companies can bring their teams together to host custom virtual experiences for any occasion utilizing a dedicated digital headquarters. Mesmerise was founded in 2016 by Andrew Hawken and Daglar Cizmeci, originally launched in the U.K. Today, the company's immersive VR experiences span the globe with nearly 200 employees worldwide. The company is based in London with U.S. headquarters in Santa Monica, California. To learn more about Mesmerise, visit www.mesmerisevr.com . Media Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Mesmerise Mindbase provides 911 telecommunicators access to purpose-built mental health & wellness resources through the partnership with RapidSOS SALT LAKE CITY and NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mindbase and RapidSOS, the intelligent safety platform used by emergency communication centers across the country that connects data from over 500M connected devices, apps, and sensors to 911, today announced a partnership that provides Mindbase 911 telecommunicator subscribers with the ability to access mental health resources. Mindbase is changing the landscape of mental health resources for first responders with its technology-driven peer support and wellness applications. RapidSOS Ready Badge Understanding the experiences of individual public safety professionals is paramount to providing mental health and wellness support that works. Mindbase proactively prompts users based on their individual experiences and recommends purpose-built wellness content; anonymous self-assessments; access to peer support and clinical resources; and much more. Mindbase is much more than an app, it is a wellness platform that helps peer support teams better understand the needs of their team members. The high-stress, fast-paced, & difficult exposure environments 911 telecommunicators face can have devastating effects on their mental health. "I grappled with chronic stress and burnout for years before finding resources that helped me overcome these challenges," shares Adam Timm with The Healthy Dispatcher. "It's essential for retention, performance, and team morale that today's 9-1-1 professionals are proactively given the tools to thrive." "Telecommunicators are first responders. The calls and incidents they manage, coupled with the fast-pace can quickly take a toll on mental health. RapidSOS believes it is important to support telecommunicators through mental health resources like Mindbase," said Karin Marquez, Chief Public Safety Brand Officer at RapidSOS. "Working to support first responders requires a partnership approach, and we continuously look for industry leaders such as Mindbase to partner with RapidSOS and join the RapidSOS Partner Network." Lee Ann Magoski, Director, Emergency Communications at Monterey County California stated,"We appreciate Mindbase for taking the time to get to know the challenges in Monterey County and offering a solution to enhance the wellness of our Emergency Communications Department and our families." With this partnership, Mindbase also joins the RapidSOS Partner Network, a community of RapidSOS Ready public safety software companies that work in conjunction with RapidSOS to unify public safety tools and resources. To learn more about how your ECC can leverage this solution, visit: www.getmindbase.com. About Mindbase Mindbase is 100% focused on supporting the mental health of all first responders and has created a technology platform to analyze and understand potential traumatic events, enabling peer support teams to take a more proactive approach to wellness. Coupled with a wellness app with purpose-built and clinically backed content, the Mindbase Platform creates a tool for agencies to monitor the mental well-being of their agency more proactively, and ultimately provide the care and support first responders deserve. To learn more visit www.getmindbase.com. About RapidSOS In partnership with public safety, RapidSOS has created the world's first intelligent safety platform that securely links life-saving data from over 500 million connected devices, apps and sensors directly to safety agents, 911 and first responders. To learn more about our technology that's creating life-saving connections, visit www.rapidsos.com. Contact: Mindbase Caleb Jenson, VP Growth/Partnerships p. 435-512-3586 [email protected] RapidSOS Maria Larrazabal Ted Miller Group for RapidSOS 786-897-3259 [email protected] SOURCE Mindbase Funds raised will be dedicated to helping Minviro expand into key markets, including Asia, Australia and the Americas, and develop local operational presence to serve a rapidly growing global client base. LONDON, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Minviro is a market leading sustainability consulting and advisory group, coupled with a powerful SaaS technology platform, that provides life cycle assessment (LCA) and related services for project optimization in the fast-growing energy transition sector spanning from raw materials, through mining to processing and downstream value-added sectors. Minviro is headquartered in London and has a team of 20 employees that have already achieved an impressive growth trajectory in 2022, with key customer wins including the likes of Tesla, Pilbara, Livent, and South32 all of which are Tier One organisations in their respective industry segments. The investment will allow Minviro to expand the delivery of their award-winning software platform and build out capacity to support strategic consultancy services in new markets and industry segments, whilst also driving innovation within the company. Key markets where Minviro will be expanding include Australia, Asia, and both North and South America. "I look forward to working with our new investors and unlocking value through the synergies afforded to Minviro as a result of their industry relationships. The need for understanding and managing impact is greater than it has ever been. This investment takes us a big step closer to our vision of a world where all ingredients of modern technology are produced with consideration and minimal effects on the environment." Dr Robert Pell Founder & Chief Executive Officer (+44) 07426 677179 [email protected]inviro.com www.minviro.com Bloomsbury Information Capital invests in exceptional information & technology businesses providing solutions that support the net zero transition, with a heritage in the mining, ESG and ore & metals prices sectors. Bloomsbury Information Capital is a subsidiary of Bloomsbury Minerals Economics, which has a highly successful track record of investing in companies such as Roskill, Fastmarkets, IntierraRMG, Skarn Associates, Mining Journal and Aspermont and supporting their development and growth. Simon Benney served as a senior executive for over 20 years in Airbus, EADS, ArcelorMittal and Rio Tinto. Simon predominantly held the position of global CIO and Chief Data & Analytics Officer in these companies and was responsible for leading deep business transformations, leveraging technology to drive sustainable shareholder value. Simon has also served as CEO and Board member of various subsidiary companies, such as ArcelorMittal IT Supply Europe, Rio Tinto Iron Ore Asia, and Rio Tinto Procurement and is also an external senior advisor to leading companies and institutions, such as McKinsey & Co and the European Investment Bank. SOURCE Minviro BUENA PARK, Calif., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sun West Mortgage and Celligence CEO, Pavan Agarwal, spoke at the New England Mortgage Expo. He discussed topics ranging from blockchain technology to Celligence's groundbreaking artificial intelligence program, Morgan. Gone are the days of babysitting your loan, with Morgan Loan officers can break free and focus their time on helping more borrowers buy the home of their dreams. During the blockchain panel, Mr. Agarwal discussed blockchain and AI technology. Although the rest of the panel asserted the technology would be here in ten years, Pavan explained that Celligence has already created an integrated blockchain and AI platform with Morgan. The technology is here and Celligence is the industry leader. Pavan explained that Sun West has had Morgan in production for over four years and has been publicly using it for over a year, and how Sun West will launch Morgan's crypto wallet and blockchain based loan origination in Q2 of this year. Sun West Mortgage has decades of technological expertise, and truly understands that blockchain is here and an invaluable tool in the banking industry. Pavan advised "Take the red pill. Understand that the technology is here today and don't fight the technology, embrace it and use it to multiply your business." The following day Mr. Agarwal showcased Morgan's one-of-a-kind problem solving skills. No other artificial intelligence platform is anywhere near the same technological capabilities as Morgan. Other platforms act as a simple chatbot, while Morgan can actually process a loan. According to Pavan, Morgan is years ahead and he achieved this through constantly evolving his technology throughout the decades. Morgan does to loan origination what Apple did to the cellphone. Even with the advent of smartphones, mortgage loan originators are still bound to their laptops. Pavan emphasized that with Morgan, mortgage professionals will be able to work with far less constraints. Now originating a loan will be as simple as having a text message conversation. In fact, Christopher Kelly, a loan originator at Sun West Mortgage, was in the audience and he explained to the event how, during the presentation, he, in real time, released a CD and scheduled closing of one of his borrowers simply by talking to Morgan and he didn't miss a moment of the presentation. Pavan has made it clear- do not fear technology, accept it and use it to improve your business. Artificial intelligence is not here to take away your job, rather, to make your job easier and more efficient. A mortgage loan originator's main goal should be to help as many borrowers as possible by closing as many loans as possible and Morgan makes that possible. Find out more at www.HelloMorgan.com NOTES TO EDITOR About Sun West Mortgage Company, Inc. (NMLS ID 3277) At Sun West Mortgage Company, Inc. we dedicate ourselves to offering an amazing experience to our customers. To accomplish this, we empower our loan officers so that they can find great rates and provide the most fitting loan options for each customer at amazing speed. Our focus on technology has given us an edge in the mortgage industry to offer exceptional turn times so the customers can get into the home of their dreams sooner! We are committed to our core values of people, experience, technology, and product. Sun West was founded in 1980 with the perspective of "customers first" and the desire to make the mortgage process easy and stress- free for prospective homeowners. Since then, Sun West has been servicing a multi-billion-dollar loan portfolio and is licensed in 48 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Our 42 years of experience has been passed down to everyone here at Sun West through excellent leadership and capabilities. For licensing information, go to: www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Visit http://www.swmc.com/swmc/disclaimer.php for the full list of license information. Please refer to https://www.swmc.com/TXdis.php to view Texas Complaint Notice and Servicing Disclosure. In all jurisdictions, the principal (main) licensed location of Sun West Mortgage Company, Inc. is 6131 Orangethorpe Avenue, Suite 500, Buena Park, CA 90620, Phone: (800) 453-7884 About Celligence Celligence is an affiliate of Sun West Mortgage Company, Inc. (Sun West), one of the largest independent, privately owned financial services companies. As one of the fastest growing fin-tech companies, Celligence provide exceptional service, technology, and product innovation. At Celligence, a team of brilliant engineers are continuously filing new patents and expanding the boundaries of the financial services industry through innovations in mobile applications, customer acquisition and retention algorithms, and AI based process automation. SOURCE Sun West Mortgage Company, Inc. New mortgage brokerage franchise in Southport invites the community for food, beverage and a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Southport Oak Island Chamber of Commerce SOUTHPORT, N.C., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Motto Mortgage, the first-and-only national mortgage brokerage franchise in the United States focused on transparency and compliance, has a new office in Southport, North Carolina. Motto Mortgage Secure Choice is now open and serving all markets throughout the Tar Heel State. Motto Mortgage Secure Choice will hold a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony at its office (319 N. Howe St.) on Thursday, February 2nd at 11 AM ET with the Southport Oak Island Chamber of Commerce. Then, guests are invited to continue the celebration at The Solar Brewing Company (8108 E. Oak Island Dr.) from Noon to 4:00 PM ET. The celebration will include food, drinks, beer, music, and great prize giveaways. All in the community are welcome and encouraged to attend! Motto Mortgage Secure Choice is a customer-first, full-service mortgage brokerage established by Jeff Flieler. Jeff is an agile executive with close to 20 years working for large, best in class, FMCG organizations like PepsiCo and Nestle. Jeff is known for leading high-performing teams and has a proven track record of high impact business results. His passions have always been rooted in developing strong teams and partnerships that focus on creating value and finding sustainable solutions for customers and the community. Prior to his Motto Mortgage Secure Choice venture, Jeff served as the division CFO for the Pizza and Snacking division of Nestle USA. "We are thrilled to be open for business in Southport and we are looking forward to personally introducing ourselves to the community at our grand opening event. Motto Mortgage Secure Choice offers an advantageous alternative to the traditional mortgage bankers currently operating in Southport, said Jeff Flieler. "We provide the scope, scale and support of a large retail lender, while offering the flexibility, autonomy and exceptional service of a local mortgage broker that knows how to navigate the intricacies of the home buying process in your market." Blakley Huntley will serve as the branch manager and mortgage loan originator for the office. Huntley is a trusted mortgage professional with 18 years' industry experience and takes great satisfaction helping homebuyers achieve the "American dream" of homeownership and has the experience to get even the most complicated loans closed. Loan originators in the Motto Mortgage network have access to competitive loans from various wholesale lenders and work hard to give homebuyers choices because no loan is one-size-fits-all. A digital mortgage experience is available for borrowers who would prefer to conduct business remotely. For more information about the grand opening celebration, please contact Motto Mortgage Secure Choice at 910-357-7319. The event is open to all members of the community. Each Motto Mortgage franchise is independently owned, operated and licensed. About Motto Mortgage Secure Choice: Motto Mortgage Secure Choice (OFFICE NMLS # 2356464) is a locally owned and operated full-service mortgage brokerage serving all of North Carolina located at 319 N. Howe St. Southport, NC 28461. To learn more, please visit www.MottoMortgageSecureChoice.com or call 910-357-7319. Blakley Huntley, Branch Manager NMLS: 415181 Spencer J Kwasnicki M.D., Loan Specialist NMLS: 2341404 SOURCE Motto Mortgage Considering the expected launch of new upcoming therapies and greater integration of early patient screening, it can be safely assumed that the MI market will undergo a paradigm shift in the present decade holding new prospects and opportunities for those planning to carve out their niche during the forecast period [20222032] LAS VEGAS, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's MI Market Insights report includes a comprehensive understanding of current treatment practices, MI emerging drugs, market share of individual therapies, and current and forecasted market size from 2019 to 2032, segmented into 7MM the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan. Key Takeaways from the MI Market Report As per DelveInsight analysis, the MI market size in the 7MM was approximately USD 21 billion in 2021 in 2021 According to the assessment done by DelveInsight, the estimated total MI diagnosed prevalent cases in the 7MM was approximately 15 million in 2021 in 2021 Leading MI companies such as AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company, Amgen, Novartis, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals, Faraday Pharmaceuticals, CSL Behring, Immediate Therapeutics, Mitsubishi Chemical Group, Kancera, Bayer, Recardio, Mesoblast , and others are developing novel MI drugs that can be available in the MI market in the coming years , and others are developing novel MI drugs that can be available in the MI market in the coming years The promising MI therapies in the pipeline include FARXIGA/FORXIGA (dapagliflozin), JARDIANCE (empagliflozin), Olpasiran (AMG860), Pelacarsen (TQJ230), Selatogrel, FDY-5301, CSL112, IMT-358, CL2020, MEDI6570, KAND567, Asundexian, Dutogliptin, MPC-25-IC , and others and others In November 2022 , Amgen presented end-of-treatment data from its Phase II OCEAN (a)-DOSE study of olpasiran during the Late-Breaking Science Session of the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions and simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine presented end-of-treatment data from its Phase II OCEAN (a)-DOSE study of olpasiran during the Late-Breaking Science Session of the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions and simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine As per the Q32022 investor presentation of AstraZeneca data, readouts from the Phase III (DAPA-MI) trial of FARXIGA/FORXIGA is anticipated by 2H 2023. With an estimated key regulatory submission acceptance after 2023 In June 2021 , Idorsia announced the initiation of the Phase III registration study "SOS-AMI" to evaluate the efficacy and safety of self-administered SC selatogrel in suspected AMI announced the initiation of the Phase III registration study "SOS-AMI" to evaluate the efficacy and safety of self-administered SC selatogrel in suspected AMI In September 2020 , the FDA granted Fast Track designation for the development of JARDIANCE to prevent hospitalization for heart failure and reduce the risk of mortality in patients with and without diabetes who have had an acute MI the FDA granted for the development of JARDIANCE to prevent hospitalization for heart failure and reduce the risk of mortality in patients with and without diabetes who have had an acute MI In July 2020 , AstraZeneca was granted Fast Track designation in the US for the development of FARXIGA to reduce the risk of hospitalization for heart failure (hHF) or cardiovascular (CV) death in adults following an AMI or heart attack Discover which therapies are expected to grab the major MI market share @ MI Market Report. MI Overview MI is pathologically defined as myocardial cell death caused by prolonged ischemia. The first ultrastructural changes are diminished cellular glycogen, relaxed myofibrils, and sarcolemmal disruption, which can be seen as early as 10-15 minutes after the onset of ischemia. Symptoms of MI include chest pain, which may initially manifest as a sensation of tightness or pressure. The pain usually radiates to the left arm, but it can also radiate to the lower jaw, neck, right arm, back, and upper abdomen. Sweating, nausea, vomiting, and fainting may accompany chest pain. The typical clinical features, ECG findings, and elevation of cardiac biomarkers are used for MI diagnosis. Cardiovascular catheterization is required for definitive diagnosis and serves diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. All patients suspected of having ACS should be considered for emergency revascularization; other MI treatment options include anticoagulation, antiplatelet therapy, statin therapy, and other adjunctive measures. MI Epidemiology Segmentation DelveInsight estimates that there were approximately 15 million diagnosed prevalent cases of MI in the 7MM in 2021. Among EU4 countries, Germany had the highest number of diagnosed prevalent cases of MI, while Spain had the lowest prevalent population among the 7MM. The MI market report proffers epidemiological analysis for the study period 20192032 in the 7MM segmented into: Diagnosed Prevalent Cases Gender-specific Prevalence Type-specific Prevalence Download the report to understand which factors are driving MI epidemiology trends @ MI Epidemiological Insights. MI Treatment Market The goals of initial MI treatment are to relieve pain, immediately identify ST changes via 12-lead EKG, initiate reperfusion (if the patient is a candidate), and assess and treat hemodynamic abnormalities. Oxygen, nitroglycerin, and morphine sulfate are the most effective pain relievers. Reperfusion therapy is indicated for patients with ST-segment elevation or a new LBBB with symptoms lasting 12 hours or less. MI treatment may be divided into two paths depending on whether the patient has a STEMI or an NSTEMI. The pharmacologic MI treatment is further subdivided into several groups of medications that improve survival, reduce recurrent ischemic events, and provide symptomatic relief. Following the primary MI treatment, a multimodal regimen of therapies is used. To classify the disease, rapid diagnostic tests and serial biomarker analysis are used to begin MI treatment. The current MI market has been segmented into different commonly used therapeutic classes based on the prevailing MI treatment pattern across the 7MM, which exhibits minor variations in the overall prescription pattern. The major classes covered in the forecast model are antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants, vasodilators, beta-blockers, lipid-lowering drugs, Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, ARBs (Angiotensin-II receptor Blockers), and calcium channel blockers. In recent years, it has been demonstrated that pre-hospital thrombolysis has a role in the management of patients seen early after symptom onset in comparison/association with patients who had primary coronary intervention or elective primary coronary intervention. This is an important issue that is still being researched to prevent cardiac arrest, large scares, and again limit the transition to heart failure and improve the survival rate after AMI. To know more about MI treatment guidelines, visit @ MI Management. MI Pipeline Therapies and Key Companies FARXIGA/FORXIGA (dapagliflozin): AstraZeneca JARDIANCE (empagliflozin): Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company Pelacarsen (TQJ230): Novartis Olpasiran: Amgen Selatogrel: Idorsia Pharmaceuticals FDY-5301: Faraday Pharmaceuticals CSL112: CSL Behring IMT-358: Immediate Therapeutics CL2020: Mitsubishi Chemical Group MEDI6570: AstraZeneca KAND567: Kancera Asundexian: Bayer Dutogliptin: Recardio MPC-25-IC: Mesoblast Learn more about the FDA-approved drugs for MI @ Drugs for MI Treatment. MI Market Dynamics The dynamics of MI market is anticipated to change in the coming years. The growing emphasis on secondary preventive measures to avoid recurrent/new events, lifestyle changes, and the growing number of smokers and cases of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and others, are expected to fuel MI market growth. Moreover, heart attacks and strokes are major cost drivers in the 7MM healthcare system. The volume of the MI market is enormous. The patient is receiving multiple therapies at the same time. The smallest portion of the patient share can provide pharmaceutical companies with options worth millions of dollars in the MI market. However, several factors are likely to affect the growth of the MI market. Women appear to be underdiagnosed with MI, despite being at higher risk because medical training for healthcare professionals and public information has emphasized the identification of symptoms that typically affect men. This highlights the importance of gender differences in developing strategies for early MI detection and tailored secondary prevention after MI, which should result in a higher rate of MI detection in women. Moreover, off-label therapies and generics account for the majority of the current MI market because they are less expensive and more easily accessible to patients, thus, causing a dip in the MI market growth. Hence, all these factors mentioned above will hamper the MI market growth in the future. Report Metrics Details Study Period 20192032 Coverage 7MM the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan Base Year 2019 MI Market CAGR 1.61 % MI Market Size in 2021 USD 21 Billion Key MI Companies AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly and Company, Amgen, Novartis, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals, Faraday Pharmaceuticals, CSL Behring, Immediate Therapeutics, Mitsubishi Chemical Group, Kancera, Bayer, Recardio, Mesoblast, and others Key Pipeline MI Therapies FARXIGA/FORXIGA (dapagliflozin), JARDIANCE (empagliflozin), Pelacarsen (TQJ230), Olpasiran, Selatogrel, FDY-5301, CSL112, IMT-358, CL2020, MEDI6570, KAND567, Asundexian, Dutogliptin, MPC-25-IC, and others Scope of the MI Market Report Therapeutic Assessment: MI current marketed and emerging therapies MI current marketed and emerging therapies MI Market Dynamics: MI market drivers and barriers MI market drivers and barriers Competitive Intelligence Analysis: SWOT analysis, PESTLE analysis, Porter's five forces, BCG Matrix, Market entry strategies SWOT analysis, PESTLE analysis, Porter's five forces, BCG Matrix, Market entry strategies Unmet Needs, KOL's views, Analyst's views, MI Market Access and Reimbursement Discover more about MI drugs in development @ MI Clinical Trials. Table of Contents 1. MI Market Key Insights 2. MI Market Report Introduction 3. MI Executive Summary 4. MI Key Events 5. Epidemiology and Market Methodology 6. MI Market Overview at a Glance 7. MI Disease Background and Overview 8. MI Treatment and Management 9. Guidelines and Recommendations for MI 10. MI Epidemiology and Patient Population 10.1 Key Findings 10.2 Assumptions and Rationale 10.3 Total Diagnosed Prevalent Patient Population of MI in the 7MM 10.4 United States 10.5 EU4 and the UK 10.6 Japan 11. Patient Journey 12. MI Marketed Drugs 13. MI Emerging Drugs 14. Seven Major MI Market Analysis 14.1 Key Findings 14.2 Total Market Size of MI in the 7MM 14.3 Market Outlook 14.4 Attribute Analysis 14.5 Key Market Forecast Assumptions 14.6 United States Market Size 14.7 EU4 and the UK Market Size 14.8 Japan Market Size 15. Unmet Needs 16. SWOT Analysis 17. KOL Views 18. Market Access and Reimbursement 19. Appendix 20. DelveInsight Capabilities 21. Disclaimer 22. About DelveInsight Related Reports MI Pipeline MI Pipeline Insight 2023 report provides comprehensive insights about the pipeline landscape, pipeline drug profiles, including clinical and non-clinical stage products, and the key MI companies, including CSL Behring, Immediate Therapeutics, Mitsubishi Chemical Group, Kancera, Bayer, Recardio, among others. MI Epidemiology Forecast MI Epidemiology Forecast 2032 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted MI epidemiology in the 7MM, i.e., the United States, EU5 (Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom), and Japan. Myocarditis Pipeline Myocarditis Pipeline Insight 2023 report provides comprehensive insights about the pipeline landscape, pipeline drug profiles, including clinical and non-clinical stage products, and the key myocarditis companies, including Cantargia AB, Cardiol Therapeutics, Apitope, among others. Dilated Cardiomyopathy Pipeline Dilated Cardiomyopathy Pipeline Insight 2023 report provides comprehensive insights about the pipeline landscape, pipeline drug profiles, including clinical and non-clinical stage products, and the key dilated cardiomyopathy companies, including Longeveron, Bristol Myers Squibb, Berlin Cures, Tenaya Therapeutics, Cardior Pharmaceuticals, among others. Cardiac Biomarkers Testing Market Cardiac Biomarkers Testing Market Insight, Competitive Landscape, and Market Forecast 2027 report delivers an in-depth understanding of market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key cardiac biomarkers testing companies, including Beckman Coulter, Inc, Siemens Healthcare GmbH, Abbott, among others. Dilated Cardiomyopathy Epidemiology Dilated Cardiomyopathy Epidemiology Forecast 2032 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical, and forecasted dilated cardiomyopathy epidemiology in the 7MM. 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It supports pharma companies by providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions to improve their performance. Get hassle-free access to all the healthcare and pharma market research reports through our subscription-based platform PharmDelve. Connect with us on: LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter. Additionally, get in touch with our business executive to explore @ Healthcare Due Diligence Services. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082265/DelveInsight_Logo.jpg Contact Us: Shruti Thakur [email protected] +1(919)321-6187 www.delveinsight.com SOURCE DelveInsight Business Research, LLP Funding will support outreach, vaccine clinics, transportation, and more nationwide ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Council on Aging (NCOA), the national voice for every person's right to age well, has announced the first round of grantees under its Vaccine Uptake Initiative, funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living. The nine grantees will receive funding to conduct tailored outreach, host vaccine clinics, and offer services like transportation and appointment scheduling to enable older adults and people with disabilities to get the latest COVID-19 booster and flu vaccine. Combined, the grantees are expected to reach up to 30,000 individuals. "The grantees serve diverse populations in metropolitan and rural areas, helping us ensure that no one is left behind." Tweet this "These local organizations are trusted messengers in their communities, and we're proud to support their efforts to keep older adults and people with disabilities safe and healthy with the latest life-saving vaccines," said Ramsey Alwin , NCOA president and CEO. "The grantees serve diverse racial and ethnic populations in both metropolitan and rural areas, helping us ensure that no one is left behind." Servicios de la Raza in Colorado and Chinatown Service Center in California, will each receive Regional Collaborative Grants, and seven organizations will receive Community Action Grants to focus on specific hard-to-reach populations. They include: Alma Family Services in California Franklin County Senior Services in Illinois Senior Friendship Centers in Florida Korean Women's Association in Washington Mazzoni Center in Pennsylvania McDowell County Commission on Aging in West Virginia Commission on Aging in ONEGeneration in California NCOA is continuing to review applications for additional funding on a rolling basis until March 1. Interested organizations are encouraged to apply online. Nearly nine in 10 deaths from COVID are among people 65 and over, and 70-85% of seasonal flu-related deaths occur in older adults. However, the CDC reports that only 71% of older adults who received the initial COVID vaccine also received the first recommended booster and only 44% have received the second one. A study from the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 43% of people 65 and over were "not sure" or responded "no" when asked if the booster dose was for them. About NCOA The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is the national voice for every person's right to age well. We believe that how we age should not be determined by gender, color, sexuality, income, or ZIP code. Working with thousands of national and local partners, we provide resources, tools, best practices, and advocacy to ensure every person can age with health and financial security. Founded in 1950, we are the oldest national organization focused on older adults. Learn more at www.ncoa.org and @NCOAging. SOURCE National Council on Aging LOS ANGELES, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Slickdeals, the only shopping platform powered by millions of avid shoppers sharing and discovering the most up-to-date online deals and coupons, today announced that Neville Crawley has joined the company in the newly-created role of President. Seasoned product and technology executive Neville Crawley joins Slickdeals in the newly-created role of President. "Bringing Neville on board marks the end of an exhaustive process where we sought out an executive with technical and product expertise, strong strategic business thinking, and proven people leadership that fits our company culture," said Josh Meyers, CEO, Slickdeals . "As a cross-departmental leader, he will connect product, marketing, technology and sales initiatives across the organization in pursuit of our mission of helping savvy shoppers win at shopping." Crawley is a seasoned product and technology executive with a strong track record of growth and value creation having served as a President and CEO with multiple technology companies before joining Slickdeals, including OppFi, Kiva and Quid. "Having been introduced to Slickdeals, I quickly became an avid user myself. This deeply passionate community of shoppers helping shoppers that is uniquely Slickdeals provides a treasure trove of opportunity for folks to discover new products at exciting prices," said Neville Crawley, President at Slickdeals. "But the complexity that shoppers face is increasing. We're going to continue to provide shoppers with the tools they need to help them win." Crawley earned a bachelor's degree from the Manchester Metropolitan University and an MBA from London Business School. His Slickdeals username is northernsky. About Slickdeals Slickdeals is the only shopping platform powered by a volunteer army of 12 million avid shoppers helping other shoppers find, evaluate and share the most up-to-date online deals and coupons from all the top retailers. Through community-powered shopping, Slickdeals has saved shoppers $10 billion by providing a forum for deal discovery and shopping discussion; as well as shopping tools such as its free Android or iOS app; its browser extension for Chrome, Firefox and Edge; and its Slickdeals Cashback Rewards program. Slickdeals regularly ranks as one of the top ten most visited shopping sites in the U.S. per Similarweb. SOURCE Slickdeals NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- An artificial intelligence program may enable the first simple production of customizable proteins called zinc fingers to treat diseases by turning genes on and off. The researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and the University of Toronto who designed the tool say it promises to accelerate the development of gene therapies on a large scale. Illnesses including cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs disease, and sickle cell anemia are caused by errors in the order of DNA letters that encode the operating instructions for every human cell. Scientists can in some cases correct these mistakes with gene editing methods that rearrange these letters. Other conditions are caused, not by a mistake in the code itself, but by problems in how the cellular machinery reads DNA (epigenetics). A gene, which provides the recipe for a particular protein, often partners with molecules called transcription factors that tell the cell how much of that protein to make. When this process goes awry, over- or underactive genes contribute to diabetes, cancer, and neurological disorders. As a result, researchers have been exploring ways to restore normal epigenetic activity. One such technique is zinc-finger editing, which can both change and control genes. Among the most abundant protein structures in the human body, zinc fingers can guide DNA repair by grabbing onto scissor-like enzymes and directing them to cut faulty segments out of the code. Similarly, zinc fingers can also hook onto transcription factors and pull them toward a gene segment in need of regulation. By customizing these instructions, genetic engineers can tailor any gene's activity. A drawback, however, is that artificial zinc fingers are challenging to design for a specific task. Since these proteins attach to DNA in complex groups, researchers would need to be able to tell out of countless possible combinations how every zinc finger interacts with its neighbor for each desired genetic change. The study authors' new technology, called ZFDesign, overcomes this obstacle by using artificial intelligence (AI) to model and design these interactions. The model is based on data generated by the screen of nearly 50 billion possible zinc finger-DNA interactions in the researchers' labs. A report on the tool is publishing online Jan. 26 in the journal Nature Biotechnology. "Our program can identify the right grouping of zinc fingers for any modification, making this type of gene editing faster than ever before," says study lead author David Ichikawa, PhD, a former graduate student at NYU Langone Health. Ichikawa notes that zinc-finger editing offers a potentially safer alternative to CRISPR, a key gene-editing technology with applications that range from finding new ways to kill cancer cells to designing more nourishing crops. Unlike the entirely human-derived zinc fingers, CRISPR, which stands for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat, relies on bacterial proteins to interact with genetic code. These "foreign" proteins could trigger patients' immune defense systems, which may attack them like any other infection and lead to dangerous inflammation. The study authors add that besides posing a lower immune risk, the small size of zinc-finger tools may also provide more flexible gene therapy techniques compared with CRISPR by enabling more ways to deliver the tools to the right cells in patients. "By speeding up zinc-finger design coupled with their smaller size, our system paves the way for using these proteins to control multiple genes at the same time," says study senior author Marcus Noyes, PhD. "In the future, this approach may help correct diseases that have multiple genetic causes, such as heart disease, obesity, and many cases of autism." To test the computer's AI design code, Noyes and his team used a customized zinc finger to disrupt the coding sequence of a gene in human cells. In addition, they built several zinc fingers that successfully reprogrammed transcription factors to bind near a target gene sequence and turn up or down its expression, demonstrating that their technology can be used for epigenetic changes. Noyes, an assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at NYU Langone, cautions that, while promising, zinc fingers can be difficult to control. Since they are not always specific to a single gene, some combinations can affect DNA sequences beyond a particular target, leading to unintended changes in genetic code. As a result, Noyes says the team next plans to refine their AI program so it can build more precise zinc-finger groupings that only prompt the desired edit. Noyes is also a member of NYU Langone's Institute for System Genetics. Funding for the study was provided by National Institutes of Health grants R01GM118851 and R01GM133936. Further funding was provided by Canadian Institutes of Health Research Project grant PJT-159750, the Compute Canada Resource Allocation, the Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship, and the Ontario Graduate Scholarship. Noyes is a co-founder of TBG Therapeutics, a company that develops methods to design zinc fingers and apply them to treatments for diseases with genetic components. NYU Langone has patents pending (PCT/US21/30267, 63145929) for these tools and approaches, from which both Noyes and NYU Langone may benefit financially. The terms and conditions of these relationships are being managed in accordance with the policies of NYU Langone. In addition to Noyes, other NYU investigators involved in the study were Manjunatha Kogenaru, PhD; April Mueller, BS; David Giganti, PhD; Gregory Goldberg, PhD; Samantha Adams, PhD; Jeffrey Spencer, PhD; Courtney Gianco; Finnegan Clark, BS; and Timothee Lionnet, PhD. Other study investigators included Osama Abdin, BS; Nader Alerasool, PhD; Han Wen, MS; Rozita Razavi, PhD, MPH; Satra Nim, PhD; Hong Zheng, PhD; Mikko Taipale, PhD; and Philip Kim, PhD, at the University of Toronto. Study lead author David Ichikawa is at the Pandemic Response Lab in Long Island City, N.Y. Media Inquiries Shira Polan 212-404-4279 [email protected] SOURCE NYU Langone Health VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - New Pacific Metals Corp. ("New Pacific" or the "Company") (TSX: NUAG) (NYSE: NEWP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Andrew Williams to the position of President effective immediately. Based in Vancouver and reporting to the CEO, Mr. Williams' main responsibility will be managing the Company's corporate development initiatives, investor relationship program, and financial needs of the Company business. Mr. Williams will also work with CEO and other senior management to provide support for the development of the Company's projects in permitting, development and production and will assist CEO on team building and organization growth to support rapid growth of the Company's business. Prior to joining New Pacific, Mr. Williams spent the last 11 years with SEC-registered investment fund Sun Valley Gold LLC, most recently as portfolio manager. Mr. Williams began his career at Deloitte providing audit and financial advisory services to mining companies in Vancouver. Mr. Williams holds a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours from the University of British Columbia and is a Chartered Professional Accountant and a Chartered Business Valuator. Dr. Rui Feng, CEO and Founder of New Pacific, commented, "We are very pleased to welcome Andrew to the New Pacific team. Andrew brings 15 years of experience in the mining and mining investment industry, most recently as a portfolio manager responsible for evaluating and investing in precious metals companies globally. Andrew's deep industry knowledge and strong relationships with mining investment community will make great contribution to the New Pacific's future growth." "I am excited to apply my knowledge and experience to help lead New Pacific, a rapidly growing company that has successfully completed the rare feat of making not one, but two important discoveries with the Silver Sand and Carangas projects," commented Mr. Williams. "After recently completing two weeks of due diligence in Bolivia, seeing the projects firsthand and meeting the talented in-country team, I believe New Pacific has the potential to create tremendous value for all of its stakeholders. I am thrilled to be joining the Company at this pivotal stage of development." Mr. Williams will subscribe for C$250,000 worth of common shares of the Company at a price of $3.16 per common share of the Company (10% discount of the 5 day volume-weighted average price) through a non-brokered private placement with the Company. The Company's newly elected Director, Mr. Dickson Hall will also subscribe, under the same terms, C$50,000 worth of common shares of the Company for a total of C$300,000 in this private placement. Mr. Williams and Mr. Dickson Hall are considered "related parties" of the Company, and the share purchase constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Share Purchase is exempt from the formal valuation and the minority approval requirements of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of the consideration for the Share Purchase does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. Closing of the Share Purchase is subject to the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange. ABOUT NEW PACIFIC New Pacific is a Canadian exploration and development company with precious metal projects in Bolivia. The Company's flagship Project, the Silver Sand Silver Project, has released its inaugural PEA study in January 2023. The PEA study shows a post-tax NPV (5% discount) of US$726 millions and IRR 39%, underpinned by a total silver production of 171 million ounces in 14 years of mine life. At the recently discovered Carangas Silver-Gold Project, a resource drilling program of more than 50,000 meters was completed in 2022. The third project, the Silverstrike Silver-Gold Project, had a 6,000 m discovery drill program ongoing since June 2022. For further information, please contact: Dr. Rui Feng, CEO New Pacific Metals Corp. Phone: (604) 633-1368 Ext. 222 U.S. & Canada toll-free: 1-877-631-0593 E-mail: [email protected] For additional information and to receive company news by e-mail, please register using New Pacific's website at www.newpacificmetals.com. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION The PEA study results of Silver Sand Project are preliminary in nature and are intended to provide an initial assessment of the project's economic potential and development options. The PEA mine schedule and economic assessment includes numerous assumptions and is based on both Indicated and Inferred mineral resources. Inferred resources are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the project economic assessments described in the PEA or herein will be achieved or that the PEA results will be realized. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by geology, environmental, permitting, legal, title, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issues. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Additional exploration will be required to potentially upgrade the classification of the Inferred Mineral Resources to be considered in future advanced studies. AMC Mining Consultants (Canada) Ltd. (mineral resource, mining, infrastructure and financial analysis) was contracted to conduct the PEA in cooperation with Halyard Inc. (metallurgy and processing), and NewFields Canada Mining & Environment ULC (tailings, water and waste management). The Qualified Persons for the PEA are Mr. Wayne Rogers P.Eng and Mr. Mo Molavi P.Eng both Principal Mining Engineers with AMC Mining Consultants (Canada) Ltd, Mr. Andy Holloway P.Eng, Process Director with Halyard Inc., and Mr. Leon Botham P.Eng., Principal Engineer with NewFields Canada Mining & Environment ULC. This is in addition to Ms. Dinara Nussipakynova, P.Geo., Principal Geologist with AMC Consultants (Canada) Ltd. who estimated the Mineral Resources. All QPs have reviewed the technical content of thisnews release for the Silver Sand deposit and have approved its dissemination. The Silver Sand PEA is based on the updated Mineral Resource Estimate which was reported on November 28, 2022. The effective date of the 2022 Mineral Resource Estimate for Silver Sand is 31 October 2022. The cut-off applied for reporting the pit-constrained Mineral Resources is 30 g/t silver. Assumptions made to derive a cut-off grade included mining costs, processing costs and recoveries and were obtained from comparable industry situations. The model is depleted for historical mining activities. Mineral Resources are constrained by optimized pit shells at a silver price of US$22.50 per ounce, silver metallurgical recovery of 91%, silver payability of 99%, open pit mining cost of US$2.6/t, processing cost of US$16/t, G&A cost of US$2/t, and slope angle of 44-47 degrees. Key assumptions used for pit optimization for the PEA mining pit include silver price of US$22.50 per ounce, silver metallurgical recovery of 91%, silver payability of 99%, open pit mining cost of US$2.6/t, incremental mining cost of US$0.04/t (per 10 m bench), processing cost of US$16/t, tailing storage facility operating cost of US$0.7/t, G&A cost of US$2/t, royalty of 6.00%, mining recovery of 92%, dilution of 8%, and cut-off grade of 30 g/t silver. Certain of the statements and information in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities laws. Any statements or information that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "is expected", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategies", "targets", "goals", "forecasts", "objectives", "budgets", "schedules", "potential" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements or information. Such statements include, but are not limited to statements regarding: Mr. Williams' roles and responsibilities with the Company; the subscription by Mr. Williams for $250,000 worth of common shares of the Company; and other future plans, objectives or expectations of the Company. Forward-looking statements or information are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information, including, without limitation, risks relating to the ability of Mr. Williams to complete the purchase of common shares and to successfully integrate with existing Company management, and other factors described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended June 30, 2022 and its other public filings. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements or information. The forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates, assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this news release that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on such statements. Other than specifically required by applicable laws, the Company is under no obligation and expressly disclaims any such obligation to update or alter the forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as may be required by law. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. CAUTIONARY NOTE TO US INVESTORS This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. The technical and scientific information contained herein has been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, which differs from the standards adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Accordingly, the technical and scientific information contained herein, including any estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources, may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies subject to the disclosure requirements of the SEC. Additional information relating to the Company, including the Company's Annual Information Form, can be obtained under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, on EDGAR at www.sec.gov, and on the Company's website at www.newpacificmetals.com. SOURCE New Pacific Metals Corp. WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Clean Energy Education & Empowerment Initiative (C3E) is welcoming nominations for the 12th annual award cycle. The C3E Awards program recognizes mid-career women who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and accomplishments in the clean energy sector. To date, 90 mid-career women have been recognized for their work in the following categories: finance, advocacy, government, international, law, technology & innovation, entrepreneurship, business, education, and social, economic, & policy innovation. Details on each category can be found in the nominations guide. Each winner receives a monetary award and national recognition. Read more about past winners at www.c3e.org/winners; PV Magazine profiled the 2022 cohort. Do you know someone who is a rising leader in the clean energy sector? A few key things to consider: The nominee must be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident The nominator should have first-hand knowledge of the nominee's accomplishments and capabilities Self-nominations are also accepted and encouraged. Self-nominations require an endorser who has agreed to be contacted and can speak to the nominee's accomplishments. Don't wait! Nominations close on February 15th at 11:59 pm PT. For more information, visit www.c3e.org/nominate. The C3E Initiative is led by the U.S. Department of Energy, in collaboration with the Texas A&M Energy Institute, MIT Energy Initiative, and Stanford University's Precourt Institute for Energy. The C3E Initiative aims to close the gender gap and increase the participation, leadership, and success of women in clean energy fields. Visit www.c3e.org for more information. SOURCE Clean Energy Education & Empowerment (C3E) Initiative Felecia Young of Knox Middle School in Salisbury receives national recognition for her best-in-class teaching and use of educational programs NORTH BILLERICA, Mass., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Curriculum Associates has named Felecia Young of Knox Middle School in Salisbury, NC to its 2023 class of Extraordinary Educators, an annual program that celebrates and connects exemplar teachers in Grades K8 from around the country. Chosen from hundreds of nominations, Young is among 30 educators from 22 states selected for exhibiting best-in-class use of i-Ready, i-Ready Classroom Mathematics, and/or Ready, illustrating growth and achievement via formal assessments, demonstrating innovation and engagement practices for students, being evangelists for high expectations and student achievement, championing equity, and having taught for at least two years. "Teachers are true rockstars," said Emily McCann, vice president of educator community at Curriculum Associates. "This year's Extraordinary Educators are no exceptionthey were chosen from hundreds of nominations and represent the best of the best. We are happy to recognize and celebrate Felecia for her amazing work in the classroom and look forward to providing her with ongoing professional learning and networking opportunities to help her continue to grow her craft." With nearly 340 years of combined teaching experience, this year's class of Extraordinary Educators includes classroom teachers, special education teachers, and instructional specialists. All of the educators were ultimately selected by an advisory board featuring leaders from Curriculum Associates, previously inducted Extraordinary Educators, and a college student pursuing a degree in urban education. The Extraordinary Educators will have continued access to a network of peers from around the country to collaborate, connect, and learn from throughout the year, as well as access to professional development opportunities from Curriculum Associates. They will also be invited to participate and present at the Extraordinary Educators Leadership Summit and other professional learning events. "It's a great opportunity to be selected as an Extraordinary Educator," said Young. "This opportunity highlights the amazing things my district, school, and students are doing in education. I am excited to collaborate with other educators to learn new strategies to use in my school to help students grow." This is the fourth year of the Extraordinary Educators program. This year's class joins 110 additional educators from across the country in receiving this recognition. Today, Curriculum Associates' programs are used in the majority of North Carolina's school districts. To learn more about Curriculum Associates and the 2023 Extraordinary Educators, visit CurriculumAssociates.com/Extraordinary-Educators/Classes. About Curriculum Associates Founded in 1969, Curriculum Associates, LLC designs research-based print and online instructional materials, screens and assessments, and data management tools. The company's products and outstanding customer service provide teachers and administrators with the resources necessary for teaching diverse student populations and fostering learning for all students. Contact: Kati Elliott Charlotte Fixler KEH Communications Curriculum Associates (410) 975-9638 (978) 901-6066 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Curriculum Associates, LLC Industry veteran Chris Tarrant tapped to oversee expansion efforts at fast-growing brand DALLAS, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nothing Bundt Cakes, a rapidly growing franchisor and the nation's largest specialty cake company, continues building out its senior leadership team with the appointment of new Chief Development Officer Chris Tarrant. Tarrant most recently served as Senior Vice President of Retail Store Development and Design at Starbucks and was responsible for overseeing all facets of store development in the United States and Canada. He also served on the leadership team that oversees the operation of Starbucks stores in the United States. Nothing Bundt Cakes Chief Development Officer, Chris Tarrant At Nothing Bundt Cakes, with nearly 500 bakeries operating throughout the U.S. and Canada, Tarrant will oversee all aspects of strategic growth and development of the franchise system. The company set a record for new development deals in 2022 with 147 commitments sold to open new bakeries and expects to exceed this milestone in 2023 with the signing of over 200 commitments in new and existing markets. "Nothing Bundt Cakes is growing exponentially, and Chris knows how to aggressively grow a brand in a purposeful way to bring our quality cakes to more guests nationwide," said Nothing Bundt Cakes interim CEO Sarah Spiegel. "Our franchisees opened over 50 bakeries last year and expect to open more than 100 in 2023, so Chris is joining the team at a pivotal point as Nothing Bundt Cakes continues down its path of intentional growth." Chris has also held significant positions with several major brands, including McDonald's and Panera Bread, and has extensive real estate and development experience in both the U.S. and Canada that will amplify Nothing Bundt Cakes' growth trajectory. "Nothing Bundt Cakes continues to perform at impressive levels. Its continued success is driving lots of interest from existing and prospective bakery owners, and I look forward to helping the company meet the challenges of rapid expansion while maintaining our focus on care and quality of our cakes that guests love," said Tarrant. "Anyone who has ever tasted the brand's signature cakes knows the joy they bring to all of life's special moments, and I'm honored to be joining the leadership team to continue spreading that joy while accelerating the company's growth." About Nothing Bundt Cakes Based in Dallas, Nothing Bundt Cakes was founded in Las Vegas in 1997. It has grown to become the nation's largest specialty cake company, with nearly 500 franchised bakeries in over 40 states. Bakeries offer handcrafted Bundt Cakes in a variety of flavors and sizes, such as bite-sized Bundtinis, miniature Bundtlets and 8- and 10-inch Bundt Cakes, plus decorations and gift options for many occasions. Nothing Bundt Cakes is committed to building a team of bakery owners and employees who embody the joy-filled brand, resulting in industry accolades including Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 List, Inc. 5000's Fastest-Growing Private Companies, Franchise Business Review's Franchise Hall of Fame and, for eight years running, Franchise Times' "Fast and Serious." For more information about Nothing Bundt Cakes, visit https://www.nothingbundtcakes.com. To learn more about franchising opportunities, visit https://www.nothingbundtcakes.com/franchise-opportunities/. Media Contact: Julie Pfister, SPM Communications [email protected] 214-379-7000 SOURCE Nothing Bundt Cakes UPPSALA, Sweden, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Important steps forward in a challenging environment Q4 2022 highlights Total net revenues of SEK 156.1 m (144.0) (144.0) EBITDA of SEK -53.1 m (-48.5), EBITDA excluding legal costs and costs for non-repeating clinical trials, SEK -0.1 m (-10.5) (-48.5), EBITDA excluding legal costs and costs for non-repeating clinical trials, SEK -0.1 m (-10.5) Net earnings of SEK -91.8 m (-66.0) (-66.0) US Pharma segment (ZUBSOLV US) net revenues of SEK 142.6 m (133.6), in local currency USD 13.3 m (15.1), US Pharma EBIT of SEK 77.0 m (72.2) (133.6), in local currency (15.1), US Pharma EBIT of (72.2) Cash flow from operating activities of SEK -48.9 m (-80.6), cash and invested funds of SEK 351.9 m (504.1) a reduction of SEK 92,0 m from SEK 443.9 m in Q3 (-80.6), cash and invested funds of (504.1) a reduction of from in Q3 Earnings per share before and after dilution amounted to -2.67 (-1.92) Positive data announced from first clinical study for OX640 Ed Kim , M.D., appointed as Chief Medical Officer, replacing Michael Sumner , M.D. , M.D., appointed as Chief Medical Officer, replacing , M.D. Last patient enrolled in the clinical trial for MODIA Financial outlook provided for 2023, see page 12 Important events after the period Exploratory feasibility studies of amorphOX initiated in collaboration with two leading biopharmaceutical and vaccine companies SEK m, unless otherwise stated 2022 Oct-Dec 2021 Oct-Dec % change quarter 2022 Jan-Dec 2021 Jan-Dec % change year Net revenues 156.1 144.0 8.4 % 624.3 565.0 10.5 % Cost of goods sold -25.9 -20.3 27.8 % -102.6 -78.9 30.1 % Operating expenses -201.3 -187.8 7.2 % -705.6 -700.2 0.8 % EBIT -71.1 -64.1 11.0 % -183.9 -214.1 -14.1 % EBIT margin -45.6 % -44.5 % 1.1 % -29.5 % -37.9 % -8.4 % EBITDA -53.1 -48.5 9.5 % -115.2 -161.0 -28.4 % Earnings per share, before dilution, SEK -2.67 -1.92 39.1 % -5.17 -6.51 -20.6 % Earnings per share, after dilution, SEK -2.67 -1.92 39.1 % -5.17 -6.51 -20.6 % Cash flow from operating activities -48.9 -80.6 -39.4 % -156.6 -229.0 -31.6 % Cash and invested funds 351.9 504.1 -30.2 % 351.9 504.1 -30.2 % CEO Comments - Nikolaj Srensen Well positioned to capture new market opportunities and reach profitability "In the quarter we saw steady progress in our pipeline, in particular the broadening of the application of amorphOX to new categories of molecules, in partnership with leading international biopharmaceutical companies communicated early in 2023. It is also encouraging to see new market opportunities for ZUBSOLV and MODIA in the US due to the largest change in legislation for treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) since the launch of ZUBSOLV, removing most restrictions on the prescription of buprenorphine for the treatment of OUD. As expected, EBIT in Q4 was affected by high non-recurring operating costs and the continued strength of the USD. On a full year basis, our financial development compared to last year is positive with improved revenues and EBIT, although both affected by FX fluctuations. The main concern in the quarter is our digital therapies and consequently in beginning of 2023 we have re-organized our US commercial operations in the US to increase focus on sales and improve efficiencies." To read the full CEO Comments view attached PDF For further information, please contact Nikolaj Srensen, President and CEO, Fredrik Jarrsten, EVP and CFO, or Lena Wange, IR & Communications Director Tel: +46 18 780 88 00, +1 855 982 7658, E-mail: [email protected]. Presentation At 2 pm CET the same day as the announcement of the report Orexo invites analysts, investors and media to attend a presentation where Nikolaj Srensen, CEO and Fredrik Jarrsten, CFO, will present the report and host a Q&A. To attend via teleconference where you can ask questions verbally use this link: https://conference.financialhearings.com/teleconference/?id=5003429 When registered you will be provided phone numbers and a conference ID to access the conference. To attend via webcast: https://ir.financialhearings.com/orexo-q4-2022 Prior to the call presentation material will be available on Orexos website Investors/Reports/Audiocasts. This information is information that Orexo AB (publ.) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication through the agency of the contact persons set out above at 8 am CET on January 26, 2023. The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/694/3703485/1805206.pdf Orexo Interim Report Q4 2022, incl. Full Year Report SOURCE Orexo Sales Execution leader doubles down on its commitment to AI; Plans to preview significant new capabilities to its Sales Execution Platform at Explore+ on March 15 SEATTLE, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Outreach , the leading sales execution platform helping revenue organizations create and close more pipeline, today announced Smart Email Assist, a new feature integrating generative AI technology into the Outreach Sales Execution Platform. The move continues the company's commitment to leveraging AI technologies to dramatically improve the efficiency and productivity of B2B salespeople. Outreach will provide a preview of Smart Email Assist, along with additional significant new platform capabilities, at Explore+ on March 15, 2023. "Outreach has a long history of leading the industry with innovation. Integrating generative NLP technologies within our Sales Execution Platform to unlock new levels of productivity for sales teams is just another important step," said Manny Medina, cofounder and CEO of Outreach. "Today, we're doubling down on that strategy with the announcement of Outreach Smart Email Assist. We're removing the burden of starting every email with an empty text window, and allowing sellers to be an editor instead of an author. When every AE has AI at their fingertips, sales leaders will see massive efficiencies across their teams, so they can create and close more pipeline. Our customers keep us accountable to bring the latest innovations that deliver ROI for them - and this is just another example of us honoring our commitments." "When every AE has AI at their fingertips, sales leaders will see massive efficiencies across their teams" Tweet this Outreach Smart Email Assist is an AI-powered automatic email response generator for sales people. It moves beyond email templates and auto generates accurate and relevant email copy based on the prior context of conversations between buyers and sellers. Sales reps can focus their time on editing and personalizing the AI-generated content, instead of drafting these emails from scratch. Salespeople gain efficiency, without sacrificing quality or the ability to personalize. In addition to previewing Smart Email Assist at Explore+, Outreach plans to announce significant new capabilities to its Sales Execution Platform to empower sales leaders to unlock new levels of seller productivity, improve conversion rates, and increase participation and attainment across their teams. Attendees can register for Explore+ here . Outreach Sales Execution Intelligence captures 25+ million sales execution signals every week, uses 3+ billion signals to train Outreach machine learning models, and surfaces 20+ million deal health insights every week. About Outreach Outreach is the leading sales execution platform that helps market-facing teams efficiently create and predictably close more pipeline. From prospecting to deal management to forecasting, our platform leverages automation and artificial intelligence to help revenue leaders increase efficiency and effectiveness of all go-to-market activities and personnel across the revenue cycle. Outreach is the only company to offer sales engagement, revenue intelligence, and revenue operations functionalities in a unified platform. More than 5,500 companies, including Zoom, Siemens, Okta, DocuSign, and McKesson depend on Outreach to power their revenue organizations. Outreach is a privately held company based in Seattle, Washington, with offices worldwide. To learn more, please visit www.outreach.io. Contact: Haley Flanagan [email protected] SOURCE Outreach New feature in Libby benefits librarians, readers and publishers with expanded choice and real-time reports CLEVELAND, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- OverDrive today announced innovative new features that uniquely benefit librarians, readers and publishers. Deep search and Notify Me tags in the Libby reading app help readers discover titles beyond the library's collection and indicate titles of interest. When a reader searches for a book in Libby by name, author or subject, the new deep search feature presents additional titles from OverDrive's complete catalog of over 5 million titles, even if the books are not in the library's digital collection. By tapping "Notify Me" on a title that is not in the library's collection, the reader alerts their library of their interest and Libby notifies the reader if the title is purchased and made available to borrow. Currently in live testing in over 60 communities, the deep search and Notify Me features have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from readers and librarians. "Notify Me is exactly what our library network needed in the Libby app: the ability for patrons to find out if and when a title's purchased, and a way for buyers to see that patrons want it," said Libby Shaw, Training and Support Librarian at Minuteman Library Network in Massachusetts. "After only a few days, and without any promotion, we already have roughly 450 patrons a day adding Notify Me tags." Pilot libraries are praising Notify Me's ease-of-use as well as the insights available from the Patron Interests Dashboard in Marketplace. Librarians are confident their patrons will enthusiastically use the new feature. Like other Libby and Marketplace features, deep search, Notify Me and Patron Interests data are made available to all OverDrive library partners and readers at no cost. Libraries recently achieved the milestone of lending over one billion titles from their collections through Libby. Ms. Shaw also highlighted the ease of use in Marketplace: "Seeing active patron interest right on the title detail page in Marketplace is a game-changer! We no longer have to go to a report, or add a title to a cart, to see if patrons want it. Our patrons are embracing this easy new Libby feature, and the more they use it the more helpful it will be to library buyers." Publishers and authors also expressed delight in the new service to discover and provide previews of works not already available from a public library catalog. It's an effective way to reach readers with new or backlist authors or books and provide opportunities for libraries to meet additional demand. With the launch of this new service, Notify Me will replace the Recommend to Library feature. In addition, Notify Me is used to notify readers when new magazine issues become available. OverDrive is meeting with library partners to demonstrate these updates and more during LibLearnX, the ALA conference in New Orleans from January 27-30. Attendees can learn about Notify Me by visiting Booth #725 (times all CST): Empowering all Libraries: Highlights of New Tools and Services for 2023 Saturday at 11am and 3pm , Sunday at 1pm and 4pm , Monday at 9:30am Best Practices in Marketing & Outreach to Reach New Users with Libby Sat. at 1pm and 4pm , Sun. at 2pm , Mon. at 10:30am Unlocking Greater Access to Films that Matter for All Audiences Sat. at 2pm , Sun at 3pm OverDrive is a Library Champion and primary sponsor of the Libraries Transform initiative. Download the Libby app (iOS, Android) to find a library near you, or visit www.overdrive.com. About OverDrive OverDrive is a mission-based company that stands with libraries. Named a Certified B Corp in 2017, OverDrive serves more than 88,000 libraries and schools in 109 countries with the industry's largest digital catalog of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, video and other content. OverDrive empowers libraries and schools by expanding access for all through tireless industry advocacy and consistent innovation. Award-winning apps and services include the Libby library reading app, the Sora student reading app, Kanopy, the leading video streaming app for libraries and colleges, and TeachingBooks.net, which offers one of the largest catalogs of supplemental materials that enhance literacy outcomes. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland, Ohio USA. www.overdrive.com Contact: David Burleigh Director of Brand & Communications [email protected] SOURCE OverDrive Brie Olson Appointed Co-CEO Alongside Mike Relich, Effective March 9, 2023 Alfred Chang to Become CEO of Fear of God; Will Remain on Pacsun Board of Directors LOS ANGELES, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacsun today announced a leadership transition in which Brie Olson, Pacsun President and Board member, will be appointed Co-Chief Executive Officer alongside Co-CEO Mike Relich, effective March 9, 2023. Alfred Chang will step down after 17 years with the company to join Fear of God, a key Pacsun brand partner, as its Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Chang will stay on as Pacsun's Co-CEO until March 8, 2023 to facilitate the transition and will remain a member of the Pacsun Board of Directors after joining Fear of God. Brie Olson Mike Relich Ms. Olson has over two decades of experience in the retail industry, including 17 years at Pacsun, and has served as President and as a member of the Pacsun Board of Directors since May 2021. Ms. Olson has overseen the design and execution of multiple successful partnerships at Pacsun, including with The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Formula 1, Emma Chamberlain and Storm Reid, introduced Pacsun's first gender neutral collection, Colour Theory, and spearheaded Pacsun's entry into the Kids' category with Pacsun Kids. Ms. Olson also leads the company's AI and metaverse initiatives, including activations on Roblox and the brand's partnership with the first known virtual influencer, Miquela. In 2022, Ms. Olson was named one of AdAge's Leading Women, one of Glossy's Top Marketers, and one of Brand Innovators' Top 100 Women in Brand Marketing. Ms. Olson stated, "Pacsun aims to position our brand right alongside our customers the cultural pioneers of the future. This means we live at the intersection of all things culture: art, fashion, music and sports. Culture is dynamic, and so Pacsun must be as well and that is what I love most about being part of this organization. Every day I get to work with the most talented team in the industry as we innovate, break barriers and grow. I am honored to take on this new role and excited to continue working with Mike and the rest of the fantastic Pacsun team as we make big, bold swings." Neale Attenborough, a Managing Director at Golden Gate Capital, said, "As a deeply experienced and highly respected leader, Brie is exceptionally qualified to step into the Co-CEO role. Brie has been instrumental in ensuring Pacsun's success with its core audience by being a key figure in innovating and cultivating Pacsun's brand identity. Brie's strong relationships with designers and other Pacsun partners, combined with her keen sense of style, will continue to be strong assets for the company as she steps into her new leadership role alongside Mike." Mike Montgomery, a Managing Director at Golden Gate Capital, said, "Fear of God has been a fantastic partner to Pacsun and we are very happy for Alfred. His new role at Fear of God is a wonderful opportunity and I look forward to continuing to work closely with Jerry Lorenzo, Alfred and the rest of the Fear of God team as we deepen our partnership in the months and years to come." Mr. Chang said, "It has been a privilege to help build Pacsun into the brand and company it is today. Looking ahead, I am thrilled to join the Fear of God team, where I will have the opportunity to deepen the strong partnership between Pacsun and Fear of God that we've forged over the past seven years. I also want to congratulate Brie on her well-deserved promotion. I am excited to watch all that she and Mike will accomplish together." Mr. Relich commented, "Brie will be an outstanding partner and Co-CEO as we embark on the next chapter at Pacsun. I also want to thank Alfred for his partnership and look forward to working with him on the Board and as a partner at Fear of God." Brie Olson Biography Ms. Olson joined Pacsun in 2006 as Senior Design Director (Women's) and has held roles of increasing responsibility since that time. Prior to being named President in 2021, she held the titles of Chief Brand Officer, Chief Merchandising Officer and Senior Vice President of Merchandising and Design. Ms. Olson has over 20 years of experience in the retail industry and has played an instrumental role in building and strengthening Pacsun's brand through innovative strategies with a Gen Z focus. A graduate of Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program, Ms. Olson also serves on the advisory board of the Women in Retail Leadership Circle and as a member of RETHINK Retail's Advisory Committee. ABOUT PACSUN Pacsun is a leading specialty retailer offering a cross-section of emerging brands and trending fashion through the lens of youth culture. Throughout the contemporary, streetwear and active lifestyle markets, Pacsun partners with the best brands to offer curated collections, rare and exclusive products, and creative collaborations on every level. Founded in 1980, Newport, CA. Curated in Los Angeles. ABOUT GOLDEN GATE CAPITAL Golden Gate Capital is a San Francisco-based private equity investment firm with over $19 billion in cumulative committed capital. The principals of Golden Gate Capital have a long history of investing across a wide range of industries and transaction types, including going-privates, corporate divestitures, and recapitalizations, as well as debt and public equity investments. For more information, visit www.goldengatecap.com. Contacts Media FGS Global [email protected] SOURCE Pacsun The technology-driven plasma collection company introduces its modern approach to a new market. THOMASTON, Ga., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Parachute and the Thomaston-Upson Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening Thomaston's first plasma donation center. Parachute offers Georgia residents the opportunity to earn extra income by donating life-saving plasma. Parachute's mission is to increase national access to plasma by introducing thoughtfully designed plasma donation centers to new communities, offering an innovative approach to plasma donation with a mobile app. Parachute reimagines the plasma donation with a mobile application. "We look forward to introducing our donor and community-centered approach to Thomaston," said Luke Winter, Parachute's VP of System. "Our members are making a difference in the lives of individuals facing a variety of life-threatening medical conditions. In addition to donor compensation, our centers create healthcare-oriented jobs and support for local businesses." "We are thrilled to have Parachute in Thomaston," said Madison Ruttinger, President the Thomaston-Upson Chamber of Commerce. "On behalf of our Members, we want to thank you for investing in Thomaston and providing our community with an opportunity to earn supplemental income while giving back." Parachute combines technology and hospitality with donor experience, allowing members to schedule donations, receive customer support, and manage payments through a mobile app. Parachute offers a unique interactive earning structure, as well as different monthly bonus opportunities. The new plasma donation center is located at 1084 US-19 in Thomaston, Georgia. To schedule a donation download the Parachute app . About Parachute Delivering the best experience possible to as many plasma donors as possible. Parachute's mission is to increase national access to life-saving plasma by reimagining the plasma donation experience into one that is modern and convenient. To learn more about Parachute, visit www.joinparachute.com SOURCE Join Parachute, LLC New partnership brings world-renowned Italian coffee brand to local neighborhood cafes across the United States MOONACHIE, N.J., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Paris Baguette , the neighborhood bakery cafe where communities come together and connect over their expertly crafted baked and brewed goods, is now offering an authentic Italian coffee experience. Today, the company announced a partnership with innovative coffee company Lavazza to serve a variety of high-quality coffee blends at its 100-plus locations nationwide. Now, the same bakery cafe that serves decadent desserts and fresh-baked breads also offers your favorite coffee. Paris Baguette Partners with Family-Owned Coffee Brand Lavazza Paris Baguette partners with innovative coffee company Lavazza to serve a variety of high-quality coffee blends at its 100-plus locations nationwide. The Paris Baguette and Lavazza partnership highlights the organizations' shared passions for supporting and making a positive impact on local communities. Through Lavazza's sustainability initiatives and Paris Baguette's commitment to giving back, both companies hope to make a real and lasting difference in the communities they serve. Paris Baguette will be serving a selection of Rainforest Alliance-certified coffees, including Lavazza's specialty "La Reserva de Tierra! Selection," a premium blend of high-grade natural and washed Arabica from Central and South America. A perfect balance between notes of jasmine flowers, almonds and milk chocolate, a medium body and a delicate taste. La Reserva de Tierra! Selection features coffee sourced from communities supported by the Lavazza Foundation , with social responsibility projects aimed at developing living conditions and economic growth while respecting the environment. All Paris Baguette specialty coffee beverages will be made with Lavazza's coffee blends and cafes will serve the brand's popular ready-to-drink cans of refreshing cold brew that are organic and Rainforest Alliance certified. The ready-to-drink cans are available in four flavor profiles that offer both dairy and non-dairy options. The flavors include: Classic Cold Brew, Nitro Cold Brew, Cappuccino Cold Brew with Milk and Double Shot Cold Brew with Oat Milk. "Paris Baguette is proud to partner with Lavazza, which shares a commitment to using quality ingredients, sustainable practices and a passion for spreading joy," said Pete Bell, chief marketing officer at Paris Baguette. "We're looking forward to working with Lavazza to deliver exceptional service to our customers while taking care of our neighbors, our planet and our future." The partnership also provides Lavazza customers with easier access to their favorite coffee drinks, which they can now get at any Paris Baguette location. Lavazza has crafted a custom coffee program for Paris Baguette to ensure beverages will continue to be the high quality that coffee enthusiasts are accustomed to. The program includes co-branded coffee cups, brewing equipment, and other in-cafe materials, plus extensive staff training on authentic Italian brewing practices. Consumers can expect exciting activations in stores throughout the year tied to upcoming coffee holidays and moments. "We are excited to expand our footprint in the United States through this new partnership with Paris Baguette and introduce our line of products to their loyal customer base," shared Camille Vareille, VP - Head of Marketing Americas at Lavazza Group. "As a value-driven brand, we believe Paris Baguette perfectly complements our mission to create quality products while also providing real, lasting impacts within our communities." Find your nearest bakery cafe and learn more at ParisBaguette.com or www.lavazzausa.com . About Paris Baguette With a projected 1,000 bakery cafes in the United States by 2030, Paris Baguette is on a mission to reestablish the neighborhood bakery cafe as the heart of the community. Paris Baguette serves craveable baked and brewed treats and creates warm and welcoming experiences through a blend of gracious service, expert craftsmanship and community connections. From decisions made behind a desk to smiles offered behind a counter, the desire to spread joy and make the world a happier place drives everything we do. Being a neighborhood bakery cafe means caring about those around us and finding ways to make a real impact. We do so through our "Love Baked In" programs that bring to life our commitment to serving local communities through various charitable programs and initiatives. Paris Baguette is a leader in the hospitality industry with its commitment to creating unique consumer experiences and a network of successful franchisee relationships. For information and to find the Paris Baguette location closest to you, please visit www.parisbaguette.com. About Lavazza The history of Lavazza is that of a business which, for over 125 years, has pursued a company vision based on passion for work, for the product, and the land in which it operates. These values have been ingrained in Lavazza's DNA since its foundation in 1895 and upheld by four generations of entrepreneurs since then. Each family member who has worked in the company has helped it to grow, transforming it into the company it is today, yet still true to the qualities of passion and innovation inherited from Luigi Lavazza. "It's about doing business with your heart" in the words of Emilio Lavazza. It is the spirit which has allowed us to expand the company over the years: our way of doing business is an example of sustainability in the fullest sense of the word. It is a quality built up and shared with all the people we have met, starting with our employees and the places in which we work. These are the qualities that, every day, underpin the value of the company, allowing us to be recognized worldwide as an excellent Group, not just for the production of premium coffee, but also for our approach to work and our social commitment. Media Contact: Tiffany Jackson | 952-994-6788 | [email protected] SOURCE Paris Baguette Surge in prevalence of diabetes in pet animals, and growing pet adoptions drives the growth of the global Pet Diabetes Care Devices market. PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A new business intelligence report released by Allied Market Research with title, "Pet Diabetes Care Devices Market by Device Type (Glucose Monitoring Devices and Insulin Delivery Devices), Animal (Dogs and Cats), and End User (Homecare, Veterinary Hospitals and Others), And Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2031" According to the report, the global pet diabetes care devices market valued for $1,885.07 million in 2021 and is estimated to reach $3,468.58 million by 2031, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.3% from 2022 to 2031. The report offers a detailed analysis of changing market trends, top segments, key investment pockets, value chains, regional landscapes, and competitive scenarios. Download Free Sample Report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/12425 Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities- The surge in demand for advanced Pet Diabetes Care Devices and an increase in pet adoptions drive the growth of the global Pet Diabetes Care Devices market. On the other hand, the high price of the products may restrict the growth to some extent. however, a rise in investment by the major key players is expected to create lucrative opportunities in the industry. Covid-19 scenario- Volatility in prices of raw materials and lack of supply chain thus impacting the growth of the Pet Diabetes Care Devices industry negatively. However, the rise in organic growth strategies by the major key players has helped the market recover post-pandemic. The insulin delivery devices segment to rule the roost- By device type, the insulin delivery devices segment held the major share in 2021, garnering around half of the global Pet Diabetes Care Devices market revenue. The increase in prevalence of diabetes in pet animals such as dog and cat drive the segment growth. The cats segment to maintain its dominance during the forecast period- By animal types, the cats segment contributed to the highest share in 2021, accounting for around two-fifths of the global Pet Diabetes Care Devices market revenue. The dogs segment would showcase the fastest CAGR of 6.7% throughout the forecast period. This is attributed to the increasing number of pet adoptions and advancements in the pet diabetes devices. Purchase Inquiry: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/12425 The delta segment to dominate by 2031- By end user, the veterinary hospitals segment accounted for the largest share of the global Pet Diabetes Care Devices market in 2021, and is expected to rule the roost by 2031. The homecare segment would display the fastest CAGR of 6.8% throughout the forecast period. This is due to the fact that an increase in the number of veterinary hospitals. North America garnered the major share in 2021- By region, North America garnered the highest share in 2021, holding nearly one-third of the global Pet Diabetes Care Devices market revenue in 2021, and is projected to retain its dominance by 2031. The Asia-Pacific region would also portray the fastest CAGR of 7.7% during the forecast period. The rapid surge in population and rise in the economy of Asia-Pacific have propelled the market growth. Leading Market Players- AccuBioTech Co.,Ltd., Allison Medical Inc., ALR Technologies Inc., Becton, Dickinson and Company, MED Trust, Merck Animal Health, TaiDoc, UltiMed, Inc., Zoetis, i-SENS, Inc. The report analyzes these key players in the global Pet Diabetes Care Devices market. These players have adopted various strategies such as expansion, new product launches, partnerships, and others to increase their market penetration and strengthen their position in the industry. The report is helpful in determining the business performance, operating segments, developments, and product portfolios of every market player. Trending Reports in Healthcare Industry (Book Now with 10% Discount): Flow Cytometry Market by Component (Instruments, Reagents and consumables, Software, Services), by Technology (Cell based flow cytometry, Bead based flow cytometry), by Application (Academic and clinical applications, Diagnostic applications), by End User (Hospitals, Medical schools and clinical testing labs, Commercial organizations, Academic institutions, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031 Electrophysiology Market by Product (EP Ablation Catheters, EP Laboratory Devices, EP Diagnostic Catheters, Access Devices, and Others), Indication (Atrial Fibrillation (AF), Atrial Flutter, Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (WPW), Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry Tachycardia (AVNRT), and Others), and End User (Hospitals & Cardiac Centers, Ambulatory Surgery Centers, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030 Proteomics Market by Component (Reagents, Instruments, Services), by Application (Drug Discovery, Disease Diagnosis, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031 Intravenous (IV) Therapy and Vein Access Market by Type (Implantable Ports, Intravenous Catheters, Hypodermic Needles, Infusion Pumps, Other), by Medical Application (Volume Expander, Medication Administration, Blood Based Products, Nutrition And Buffer Solution), by End User (Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Center, Clinics): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030 Tattoo Removal Market by Procedure (Laser Procedure, Surgical Procedure, Creams, and Other Procedures) and End User (Hospitals, Clinics, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030 Rapid Tests Market by Product (Over-the-counter Rapid Test, Professional Rapid Test, and Others), Application (Infectious Disease, Cardiology, Oncology, Pregnancy, Infertility, Toxicology, Glucose Monitoring, and Others), and End User (Hospitals & Clinics, Home Care, Diagnostic Center, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030 Spectrometry Market by Type (Molecular Spectrometry, Mass Spectrometry, Atomic Spectrometry), by End User (Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies, Research and Academic Institutes, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031 Breast Implants Market by Type (Silicone Implants, Saline Implants), by Shape (Round, Anatomical), by Texture (Smooth, Textured), by Application (Breast Augmentation, Breast Reconstruction), by End-use (Hospital, Clinics): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031 Laser Resurfacing Market by Type (Non Ablative, Ablative), by Application (Wrinkles and scar, Aging Hands, Sagging skin, Others), by Gender (Male, Female), by Provider (Specialty and Dermatology Clinics, Hospitals, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031 Mastopexy Market by Type (Benelli Lift or Donut Lift, Crescent Breast Lift, Lollipop Lift, Anchor Breast Lift), by End Use (Hospitals, Speciality Clinics): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031 About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 [email protected] Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/reports-store/life-sciences Follow Us on Blog: https://www.globalhealthcareindustry.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Allied Market Research VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Prospect Ridge Resources Corp. (the "Company" or "Prospect Ridge") (CSE: PRR) (OTC: PRRSF) (FRA: OED) is pleased to announce positive gold, silver and base metals prospecting results on three showings. Grab samples were collected on our fully owned flagship Knauss Creek property located 35 km northeast of Terrace, BC. Highlights include: Prospect Ridge Resources Grabs Up to 69.3 g/t Au, 974 g/t AG, 10.4% CU, 33.3% PB and 4.1% ZN Tweet this Knauss Creek Map (CNW Group/Prospect Ridge Resources Corp.) Grab sample C363284 returned 69.3 g/t Au, 331 g/t Ag and 5.78% Cu on the Copper Ridge showing; on the showing; Grab sample C363279 returned 38.4 g/t Au, 51.8 g/t Ag and 3.19% Cu on the Copper Ridge showing; on the showing; Grab sample C363283 returned 7.9 g/t Au, 198 g/t Ag and 10.42% Cu on the Copper Ridge showing; on the showing; Grab sample C363277 returned 2.8 g/t Au, 974 g/t Ag, 33.3% Pb and 4.1% Zn on the Hugin showing; on the showing; Grab sample C363144 returned 4.4 g/t Au, 627 g/t Ag and 0.58% of Pb on the Kandy showing. The Copper Ridge showing is in the southern part of the property. The sampling was done on the ridge of the mountain around a staining in azurite and malachite that goes down on a vertical slope over a few tens of meters. Seven samples were taken on a north-south strike length of about 180 meters. The samples were collected in small quartz veins or fractures which contain malachite, azurite, chalcopyrite and pyrite. The results are listed in table 1. Sample Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (%) Pb (%) Zn (%) C363279 38.400 51.8 3.185 0.022 0.011 C363280 2.800 224.0 7.054 0.027 0.043 C363281 3.800 135.0 4.176 0.012 0.031 C363283 7.900 198.0 10.417 0.003 0.034 C363284 69.300 331.0 5.779 0.007 0.014 C363285 0.151 1.1 0.009 0.002 0.002 C363286 0.317 1.3 0.011 0.002 0.002 Table 1: Best results on the Copper Ridge showing The Kandy showing is located at more than 700 meters northwest of the Copper Ridge on another crest of Mount Knauss. Both showings are separated by a steep valley. Four samples were taken there and three of them contain anomalous values. Samples C363144 and C363148 are from quartz vein blocks. All samples were taken near the summit of this part of the mountain, it is assumed that the source is nearby. The results are shown in table 2. Sample Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (%) Pb (%) Zn (%) C363144 4.400 627.0 0.006 0.582 0.004 C363145 0.054 0.7 0.002 0.001 0.006 C363147 0.084 13.5 0.014 0.384 0.318 C363148 0.002 1.1 0.001 0.002 0.005 Table 2: Best results on the Kandy showing The Hugin showing is near the middle of the property where the mountain is less steep. Eleven samples were taken as a complement of the channel samples already published in the December 14th, 2021 news release. Combined with the channels, these samples give a gold-silver anomaly over a length of 60 m. The sampling was done near the Gosling creek. The six best samples are in table 3. Sample Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (%) Pb (%) Zn (%) C363272 1.745 2.1 0.000 0.008 0.003 C363273 1.670 1.8 0.000 0.011 0.003 C363276 6.300 5.5 0.004 0.118 0.013 C363277 2.800 974.0 0.027 33.330 4.100 C363288 1.969 2.1 0.002 0.012 0.008 W387880 0.002 2.9 0.004 0.015 0.036 Table 3: Best results on the Hugin showing All samples reported in this news release are from the 2021 campaign. Data reverification of all samples collected before 2022 on the Knauss Creek and Holy Grail properties was undertaken following an internal review of certain questions. After thorough verification, it was established that the values for samples W501711 and W501715 reported in the November 30th, 2021 news release were from the coarse fraction of metallic screening gold results. The published gold results for W501711 and W501715 should have been 11.2 g/t and 9.67 g/t respectively. Michael Iverson PRR's CEO commented: "We are very happy with those high-grade results obtained in a very under explored area south of the Golden Triangle. 2022 summer campaign results are being digested as they are obtained and we will publish them in the coming months." A map showing the best results can be seen here Knauss Creek Map. Cautionary statements Grab samples and erratic blocks are selective by nature and grades may not be representative of mineralized zones. True thickness or mineralization style and geological models cannot be determined with the information currently available. Quality control Rock samples were assayed for gold by standard 50 g fire-assaying with atomic absorption finish (FAS-121) or gravimetric finish (FAS-425) or 1000g metallic screening at MSALABS Laboratories in Terrace, British Columbia. Rock samples were also assayed for 35 metals from an aqua regia digestion with ICP-AES finish (ICP-130). For samples with overlimit results in silver, arsenic, copper, lead and zinc aqua regia with ICP finish was used (ICF-6 ore grade). A quality assurance/quality control program has been implanted and consists of inserting standards, blanks and duplicate on a regular basis in the samples stream. Qualified Person All scientific or technical information included in this news release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Yan Ducharme, P.Geo., President of the Company and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. This news release was written by Yan Ducharme. About the Knauss Creek property The fully owned Knauss Creek is about 35 kilometers northeast of the town of Terrace in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It is easily accessible by highway 16 and a network of logging roads. It covers about 32 square kilometers and is contiguous to our optioned Holy Grail property. Several gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc occurrences were found in the past. The most notable is the Dorreen mine where four adits were developed and, according to historical documents, around 700 tons of ore were mined out at an average grade of more than 10 g/t Au. The southern tip of the Golden Triangle arrives just northwest of PRR properties. The Bowser Lake and the Hazelton Groups hosting most of the deposits and mines of this area are also underlying the Knauss Creek and Holy Grail. About Prospect Ridge Resources Corp. Prospect Ridge Resources Corp. is a British Columbia based exploration and development company focused on gold exploration. Prospect Ridge's management and technical team cumulate over 100 years of mineral exploration experience and believes the Knauss Creek and the Holy Grail properties to have the potential to extend the boundaries of the Golden Triangle to cover this vast under-explored region. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things, positive exploration results at the Knauss Creek and Holy Grail projects and the Company's use of proceeds from the Private Placement. These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, that future exploration results at the Knauss Creek and Holy Grail projects will not be as anticipated and that the Company will use the proceeds from the Private Placement as anticipated. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that future exploration results at the Knauss Creek and Holy Grail projects will be as anticipated and that the Company will use the proceeds from the Private Placement as anticipated. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor. SOURCE Prospect Ridge Resources Corp. Company announces insights on how bar, restaurant and retail buyer behaviors evolved in 2022 CHICAGO, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Provi , the largest online marketplace for the beverage alcohol industry, today launched its annual Provi Pulse report around B2B beverage alcohol ecommerce trends. The report highlights how bar, restaurant and retail buyer behaviors evolved in 2022, leveraging its unique, first-party marketplace data. Provi Pulse Annual Report B2B Beverage Alcohol Ecommerce Buying Trends This year's annual Provi Pulse report analyzes five consumer trends that influenced on- and off-premise buying behavior in the Provi marketplace. The company dissects the explosive growth of ready-to-drink (RTD) and canned cocktails, the continued rise of premiumization, viral craft cocktails, the rise of conscious consumption and how the evolution of technology impacted retail buying. The report found that within Provi's marketplace, on-premise retail purchased more spirit-based RTDs (52.42%) than off-premise retail in 2022 (43.89%). On-premise retail buyers attribute shifts within the hospitality industry and consumers' evolving interests to this upward trend. "As we bounce back from the pandemic, the hospitality industry must be incredibly mindful about how we optimize our operations, while meeting the evolving consumer demand for new and different products. Integrating ready-to-drink and canned cocktails into our bar programs enables us to serve our customers tasteful drinks efficiently, especially at high volume bars," stated Mike Williamson, General Manager, Four Corners Hospitality. Provi marketplace data also illustrates that premiumization trends vary across each market. The report found the average order in metropolitan areas contained higher amounts of super-premium and ultra-premium still wines whereas the average order in rural areas contained higher percentages of value, standard and premium still wine. Viral cocktail trends also influenced purchasing behaviors from retail buyers, Provi data finds. Following a trending video about the "Negroni Sbagliato," demand for the cocktail's three main ingredients, Campari, sweet vermouth and prosecco saw a dramatic increase in demand on Provi's marketplace. In October 2022, there was a 39.20% increase in the number of carts containing Campari, a 34.64% increase in the number of carts containing sweet vermouth, and an 11.70% increase in the number of carts containing prosecco. "Any business, not just bars, should be aware of what's trending. Providing a beverage or service that someone has seen on social media or elsewhere is a fun experience for the guest. We continue to have our ear to the ground for the next trend in the beverage world," stated Blind Barber's Purchasing Manager, David Molina. Data within Provi Pulse showed that online beverage ordering spiked over holidays and events. In 2022, the marketplace saw an increase in total sales in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving by 36%, St. Patrick's Day by 20%, Labor Day weekend by 14% and Independence Day by 7%. Alongside consumer digital adoption, Provi predicts B2B online ordering to grow as more bars, restaurants and retail shops migrate to digital tools to streamline their operations and ordering processes. The digital transformation, exacerbated by the pandemic, has impacted every tier of the bev-alc industry with no signs of slowing down. "Over the course of the last three years, we have seen a tremendous shift towards digital adoption across each tier," stated Taylor Katzman, Founder and CEO, Provi. "Retailers, distributors, and suppliers have unlocked online solutions to generate efficiencies within their organizations while strengthening the connection between them. As a result, the beverage alcohol industry is experiencing tremendous growth. Despite living in a post-pandemic world, we will continue to see the upward trend of ecommerce, especially in the B2B ecosystem." To download the full report: https://www.provi.com/resources/provi-pulse-beverage-alcohol-trends-2022 Methodology: The data derived from the Provi Pulse 2022 Annual Report is representative of three million-plus beverage alcohol products ordered in the United States through the Provi marketplace in 2022. Provi Pulse data is collected using various first-party data techniques and timelines and does not represent the wider beverage alcohol industry as a whole. The data timeline presented in this report contains a variety of YoY, MoM and YTD insights beginning on January 1, 2022 and ending on December 1, 2022. About Provi Provi is the largest online marketplace that simplifies the complex process of ordering wholesale alcohol by connecting buyers, distributors and suppliers. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Chicago, the company received Built In Chicago's Best Places to Work recognition in 2022. In 2022, Provi joined forces with SevenFifty, which included the Beverage Media properties with industry legacy dating back to the repeal of prohibition, along with SevenFifty Daily , an award-winning industry publication discussing the beverage alcohol business and culture. Follow Provi on LinkedIn , Instagram , Facebook and Twitter . SOURCE Provi DENVER, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Quadriga Partners, LLC ("Quadriga"), an investment bank and transaction advisory group that works exclusively with companies in the healthcare industry, advised Exos on the divestiture of its physical therapy Management Services Agreement ("MSA") division. The MSA division, led by Brett Rivers, PT, will join IncreMedical Therapy Solutions ("IncreMedical"), a member of the Confluent Health family, which is a portfolio company of Partners Group. Exos' physical therapy MSA business is comprised of contracts spanning eight states. The MSA business has long-tenured contracts with medical, therapy, and health system practices to fully manage and operate the partner's physical therapy programs. The partnership will further expand IncreMedical's existing footprint of 41 locations across Indiana, Georgia, and Wyoming to Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Montana, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Quadriga Partners advised Exos on the divestiture of its physical therapy managed services division to IncreMedical Tweet this "Quadriga was the perfect advisor for Exos in our search to find the right partner to add these clinics to their portfolio," Trevor Vigfusson, CFO of Exos explained. "The process was seamless, well organized, and produced a solid outcome for both parties. Shane and his team served as incredibly strong partners to us throughout the transaction, and we could not be more thankful for the role he and they played." Shane Guenther, Senior Vice President of Quadriga, explained, "We are proud of the outcome that was achieved through a truly collaborative effort with the Exos team. This same spirit of pledged collaboration was reflected in the behavior of IncreMedical and Confluent, a testament to the way they engage with acquisition partners. Most importantly, there is true alignment in their unwavering commitment to providing high-quality patient care, all but assuring a successful partnership going forward." About Quadriga Partners: Quadriga is a middle-market investment bank that works exclusively with companies in the healthcare industry. Headquartered in Denver, CO, Quadriga provides mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, and strategic advisory services. Learn more at www.QuadrigaPartners.com. For further information, please contact: Shane Guenther Senior Vice President (303) 446-7221 [email protected] SOURCE Quadriga Partners, LLC RIVERSIDE, Calif., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Martindale-Hubbell recognizes attorney Douglas Borthwick as AV rated, the highest possible attorney peer review rating in both legal ability and ethical standards. Attorney Douglas Borthwick has further achieved a "SUPERB" Rating from Avvo, the highest evaluation given by the nationally acclaimed attorney rating agency. Rancho Cucamonga Family Law Attorney Douglas Borthwick Receives Highest Rating Of Distinction For Professional Achievement And Ethics Award Douglas Borthwick has earned the trust and respect of his clients and colleagues for his integrity, preparation, determination, and attention to detail. Douglas Borthwick's experience includes, but is not exclusive of, the following areas: personal injury law, family law, criminal law, and general civil litigation practice. Mr. Borthwick's profile was featured in the California Business Journal: https://calbizjournal.com/attorney-douglas-borthwick/ Website : www.borthwicklawyer.com Phone : 714-654-6742 "Life is the most precious thing we have and it's probably the thing most people take for granted. We're busy. We don't even take time to consciously think of our lives because we are too busy living them. Appreciate your life. We all only get one. Invest in what makes you happy. There is so much to be thankful for. We all have rotten things happen to us and we all have unfortunate things. But there is good in everything that happens if you look for it. Give thanks every day. Live consciously with awareness and gratitude, appreciate the moments as they occur before they forever pass so quickly."- Attorney Douglas Borthwick, Esq. "You just never know what someone is dealing with behind closed doors. No matter happy someone looks, how loud their laugh is, how big their smile is, there still can be a level of hurt that is indescribable. So be kind. Even when others are not, chose to be kind." Attorney Douglas Borthwick, Esq. Media Contact: John Walter 714-564-9401 SOURCE Douglas Borthwick NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Remote Patient Monitoring Market by Product, End-user, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2023-2027 report has been published by Technavio. Market growth is estimated to accelerate at a CAGR of 22.22% and register an incremental growth of USD 1,733.81 million during the forecast period. The report provides a comprehensive analysis on growth opportunities at regional levels, new product launches, the latest trends, and the post-pandemic recovery of the global market. Download a PDF Sample Report Regional Analysis Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Remote Patient Monitoring Market 2023-2027 By region, the global remote patient monitoring market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW). North America will account for 46% of the market's growth during the forecast period. The growing awareness of the benefits of remote patient monitoring solutions, increasing work pressure across healthcare facilities, growing advances in patient data collection technologies, and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases are driving the growth of the regional market. Company Profiles The remote patient monitoring market report includes information on the key products and recent developments of leading vendors, including: Abbott Laboratories: The company offers remote patient monitoring such as FreeStyle LibreLink App, and LibreView. The company offers remote patient monitoring such as FreeStyle LibreLink App, and LibreView. Advantech Co. Ltd: The company offers remote patient monitoring such as Advantech POC 6 series The company offers remote patient monitoring such as Advantech POC 6 series Boston Scientific Corp: The company offers remote patient monitoring such as LATITUDE NXT Patient Management System. The company offers remote patient monitoring such as LATITUDE NXT Patient Management System. Draegerwerk AG and Co. KGaA: The company offers remote patient monitoring such as Infinity PiCCO SmartPod, and Infinity M540. The company offers remote patient monitoring such as Infinity PiCCO SmartPod, and Infinity M540. Honeywell International Inc: The company offers remote patient monitoring such as the CARESCAPE ONE system. The company offers remote patient monitoring such as the CARESCAPE ONE system. Koninklijke Philips NV Masimo Corp. Medtronic Plc Napier Healthcare Solutions Pte Ltd. Nihon Kohden Corp. OMRON Corp. OSI Systems Inc. OSP Labs To gain access to more vendor profiles available with Technavio, buy the report! Market Dynamics The market is driven by factors such as the cost benefits of remote patient monitoring, the emergence of digital healthcare services and healthcare 4.0, and the need for healthcare facilities in remote areas. However, the complexities associated with the deployment of smart healthcare solutions are hindering market growth. Competitive Analysis The competitive scenario categorizes companies based on various performance indicators. Some of the factors considered include the financial performance of companies over the past few years, growth strategies, product innovations, new product launches, investments, and growth in market share, among others. Request a Sample Market Segmentation By product , the market is segmented into vital signs and implantable . The vital signs segment accounted for the largest share of the market during the forecast period. , the market is segmented into . The vital signs segment accounted for the largest share of the market during the forecast period. By geography, the market is segmented into North America , Europe , Asia , and the Rest of World (ROW). North America held the largest share of the market during the forecast period. Related Reports: Patient Monitoring Equipment Market in Japan by Product and End-user - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The patient monitoring equipment market share in Japan is expected to increase by USD 366.62 million from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 4.79%. The growing preference for self-care monitoring devices is notably driving the patient monitoring equipment market growth in Japan, although factors such as data privacy issues may impede the market growth. Laboratory Shaker Market by Product, Application, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2023-2027: The laboratory shaker market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.09% between 2022 and 2027. The size of the market is forecast to increase by USD 611.28 million. The increased use of laboratory shakers in various applications is notably driving the market growth, although factors such as the high cost of laboratory shakers may impede the market growth. Technavio's library includes over 17,000+ reports, covering more than 2,000 emerging technologies. Subscribe to our "Basic Plan" at just USD 5,000 and get lifetime access to Technavio Insights What are the key data covered in this remote patient monitoring market report? CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the remote patient monitoring market between 2023 and 2027 Precise estimation of the size of the remote patient monitoring market and its contribution to the parent market Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior Growth of the remote patient monitoring market across North America , Europe , Asia , and Rest of World (ROW) , , , and Rest of World (ROW) A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about vendors Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of remote patient monitoring market vendors Remote Patient Monitoring Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 174 Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 22.22% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 1733.81 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 21.01 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution North America at 46% Key countries US, Canada, Germany, UK, and China Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Abbott Laboratories, Advantech Co. Ltd., Alten SA, Boston Scientific Corp., Caretaker Medical NA, Draegerwerk AG and Co. KGaA, Honeywell International Inc., Koninklijke Philips NV, Masimo Corp., Medtronic Plc, MphRx Inc., Napier Healthcare Solutions Pte Ltd., Nihon Kohden Corp., OMRON Corp., OSI Systems Inc., OSP Labs, Shenzhen Mindray BioMedical Electronics, Siemens AG, Smiths Group Plc, and General Electric Co. Market dynamics Parent Market Analysis; Market growth inducers and obstacles; Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Browse for Technavio "Health Care" Research Reports Table of Contents 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary Chart on Global Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary Chart on Market by Geography Exhibit 05: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Product Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by End-user Exhibit 07: Executive Summary Chart on Incremental Growth Exhibit 08: Executive Summary Data Table on Incremental Growth Exhibit 09: Executive Summary Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 10: Parent market Exhibit 11: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 12: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 13: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2022 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027 Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 4 Historic Market Size 4.1 Global remote patient monitoring market 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size Data Table on Global remote patient monitoring market 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.2 Product Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size Product Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.3 End user Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size End user Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.4 Geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 21: Historic Market Size Geography Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 22: Historic Market Size Country Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 5 Five Forces Analysis 5.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 23: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2022 and 2027 5.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 24: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers Impact of key factors 2022 and 2027 5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 25: Bargaining power of suppliers Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 26: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 27: Threat of substitutes Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 28: Threat of rivalry Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.7 Market condition Exhibit 29: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2022 and 2027 6 Market Segmentation by Product 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 30: Chart on Product - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Product - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 6.2 Comparison by Product Exhibit 32: Chart on Comparison by Product Exhibit 33: Data Table on Comparison by Product 6.3 Vital signs - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 34: Chart on Vital signs - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Vital signs - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 36: Chart on Vital signs - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Vital signs - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.4 Implantable - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 38: Chart on Implantable - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Implantable - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 40: Chart on Implantable - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 41: Data Table on Implantable - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.5 Market opportunity by Product Exhibit 42: Market opportunity by Product ($ million) 7 Market Segmentation by End-user 7.1 Market segments Exhibit 43: Chart on End-user - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 44: Data Table on End-user - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 7.2 Comparison by End-user Exhibit 45: Chart on Comparison by End-user Exhibit 46: Data Table on Comparison by End-user 7.3 Hospitals - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 47: Chart on Hospitals - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 48: Data Table on Hospitals - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 49: Chart on Hospitals - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 50: Data Table on Hospitals - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.4 ASCs - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 51: Chart on ASCs - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 52: Data Table on ASCs - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 53: Chart on ASCs - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 54: Data Table on ASCs - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.5 Home care - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 55: Chart on Home care - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 56: Data Table on Home care - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 57: Chart on Home care - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 58: Data Table on Home care - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.6 Market opportunity by End-user Exhibit 59: Market opportunity by End-user ($ million) 8 Customer Landscape 8.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 60: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 9 Geographic Landscape 9.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 61: Chart on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 62: Data Table on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) 9.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 63: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 64: Data Table on Geographic comparison 9.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 65: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 66: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 67: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 68: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 69: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 70: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 71: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 72: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.5 Asia - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 73: Chart on Asia - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 74: Data Table on Asia - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 75: Chart on Asia - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 76: Data Table on Asia - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.6 Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 77: Chart on Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 78: Data Table on Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 79: Chart on Rest of World (ROW) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 80: Data Table on Rest of World (ROW) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.7 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 81: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 82: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 83: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 84: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.8 China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 85: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 86: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 87: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 88: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.9 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 89: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 90: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 91: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 92: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.10 Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 93: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 94: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 95: Chart on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 96: Data Table on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.11 UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 97: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 98: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 99: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 100: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.12 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 101: Market opportunity by geography ($ million) 10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10.1 Market drivers 10.2 Market challenges 10.3 Impact of drivers and challenges Exhibit 102: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027 10.4 Market trends 11 Vendor Landscape 11.1 Overview 11.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 103: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 11.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 104: Overview on factors of disruption 11.4 Industry risks Exhibit 105: Impact of key risks on business 12 Vendor Analysis 12.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 106: Vendors covered 12.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 107: Matrix on vendor position and classification 12.3 Abbott Laboratories Exhibit 108: Abbott Laboratories - Overview Exhibit 109: Abbott Laboratories - Business segments Exhibit 110: Abbott Laboratories - Key news Exhibit 111: Abbott Laboratories - Key offerings Exhibit 112: Abbott Laboratories - Segment focus 12.4 Advantech Co. Ltd. Exhibit 113: Advantech Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 114: Advantech Co. Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 115: Advantech Co. Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 116: Advantech Co. Ltd. - Segment focus 12.5 Boston Scientific Corp. Exhibit 117: Boston Scientific Corp. - Overview Exhibit 118: Boston Scientific Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 119: Boston Scientific Corp. - Key news Exhibit 120: Boston Scientific Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 121: Boston Scientific Corp. - Segment focus 12.6 Draegerwerk AG and Co. KGaA Exhibit 122: Draegerwerk AG and Co. KGaA - Overview Exhibit 123: Draegerwerk AG and Co. KGaA - Business segments Exhibit 124: Draegerwerk AG and Co. KGaA - Key offerings Exhibit 125: Draegerwerk AG and Co. KGaA - Segment focus 12.7 General Electric Co. Exhibit 126: General Electric Co. - Overview Exhibit 127: General Electric Co. - Business segments Exhibit 128: General Electric Co. - Key news Exhibit 129: General Electric Co. - Key offerings Exhibit 130: General Electric Co. - Segment focus 12.8 Honeywell International Inc. Exhibit 131: Honeywell International Inc. - Overview Exhibit 132: Honeywell International Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 133: Honeywell International Inc. - Key news Exhibit 134: Honeywell International Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 135: Honeywell International Inc. - Segment focus 12.9 Koninklijke Philips NV Exhibit 136: Koninklijke Philips NV - Overview Exhibit 137: Koninklijke Philips NV - Business segments Exhibit 138: Koninklijke Philips NV - Key news Exhibit 139: Koninklijke Philips NV - Key offerings Exhibit 140: Koninklijke Philips NV - Segment focus 12.10 Masimo Corp. Exhibit 141: Masimo Corp. - Overview Exhibit 142: Masimo Corp. - Product / Service Exhibit 143: Masimo Corp. - Key news Exhibit 144: Masimo Corp. - Key offerings 12.11 Medtronic Plc Exhibit 145: Medtronic Plc - Overview Exhibit 146: Medtronic Plc - Business segments Exhibit 147: Medtronic Plc - Key news Exhibit 148: Medtronic Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 149: Medtronic Plc - Segment focus 12.12 MphRx Inc. Exhibit 150: MphRx Inc. - Overview Exhibit 151: MphRx Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 152: MphRx Inc. - Key offerings 12.13 OMRON Corp. Exhibit 153: OMRON Corp. - Overview Exhibit 154: OMRON Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 155: OMRON Corp. - Key news Exhibit 156: OMRON Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 157: OMRON Corp. - Segment focus 12.14 OSI Systems Inc. Exhibit 158: OSI Systems Inc. - Overview Exhibit 159: OSI Systems Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 160: OSI Systems Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 161: OSI Systems Inc. - Segment focus 12.15 Shenzhen Mindray BioMedical Electronics Exhibit 162: Shenzhen Mindray BioMedical Electronics - Overview Exhibit 163: Shenzhen Mindray BioMedical Electronics - Product / Service Exhibit 164: Shenzhen Mindray BioMedical Electronics - Key offerings 12.16 Siemens AG Exhibit 165: Siemens AG - Overview Exhibit 166: Siemens AG - Business segments Exhibit 167: Siemens AG - Key news Exhibit 168: Siemens AG - Key offerings Exhibit 169: Siemens AG - Segment focus 12.17 Smiths Group Plc Exhibit 170: Smiths Group Plc - Overview Exhibit 171: Smiths Group Plc - Business segments Exhibit 172: Smiths Group Plc - Key news Exhibit 173: Smiths Group Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 174: Smiths Group Plc - Segment focus 13 Appendix 13.1 Scope of the report 13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 175: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 176: Exclusions checklist 13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 177: Currency conversion rates for US$ 13.4 Research methodology Exhibit 178: Research methodology Exhibit 179: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 180: Information sources 13.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 181: List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio Company continues to expand across its six platforms to meet its unprecedented growth Graham Sowden promoted to Chief Investment Officer and Tony Perez to Vice President of Asset Management of RREAF Holdings promoted to Chief Investment Officer and to Vice President of Asset Management of RREAF Holdings Melanie French and Ron Rushing join RREAF Residential as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer respectively DALLAS, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- RREAF Holdings LLC, a private real estate investment and development firm, today announced a slew of promotions and hires across the firm as the company continues to expand across its six platforms to meet its unprecedented growth. Graham Sowden, former Director of Acquisitions, has been promoted to Chief Investment Officer; Tony Perez, previously Director of Asset Management, has been promoted to Vice President of Asset Management; and Melanie French and Ron Rushing join RREAF Residential as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer respectively. Since joining RREAF Holdings in 2016, Sowden has been directly involved in the sourcing, underwriting, and acquisition of over $1 billion in asset value including over 11,000 multifamily units. He is responsible for playing a large role in the overall direction and strategic planning for the multifamily acquisition platform, formed in 2015 and has been responsible for coordinating all RREAF's dispositions. Perez first joined RREAF as an accounting intern in 2016, and since then, his responsibilities have grown to span functions of accounting, asset management, and investor relations. He works with his team day in and day out to maximize the value of each RREAF managed investment in his or her portfolio, while reporting to investors and lenders alike. In his new role, Perez will now oversee asset management across all asset classes including multifamily, hospitality and ground up development and will report to the chief operating officer. "We congratulate Graham and Tony on their achievements that led to acceleration at RREAF. The firm's outstanding growth to over $5 billion in assets is a testament to their hard work and commitment to success," said RREAF Holdings COO Jeff Holzmann. "Additionally, we welcome Melanie and Ron to RREAF Residential. With such strong backgrounds and industry knowledge, we look forward to seeing their expertise shape the future of our property management firm. We're grateful to all our employees and are eager to kick off 2023 as our teams continue to expand." "After working within RREAF's acquisition team for six years, I'm looking forward to a leadership role focused on oversight and driving asset value," said Sowden. "I want to thank everyone who has been a part of my journey at the firm thus far and am excited to keep building relationships both internally and externally while I grow in my career and advance our strategic vision." French joins RREAF Residential after previously holding executive level multifamily leadership roles for more than 20 years. Her executive role responsibilities included overseeing property operations, human resources, talent management, customer experience, sales management, facilities, interior renovations, and capital project management along with corporate support functions for both publicly traded and privately owned organizations ranging in size from 10,000 units to more than 200,000 units. Most recently Melanie served as the President and Managing Principal for DLP Capital's Real Estate Management and Asset Management arm. Prior to that she was the Executive Vice President of Operations for the well-known Cortland, where during her six-year tenure, she led all property operations and was instrumental in growing the property management platform from 9,000 units to more than 55,000 units while also overseeing more than 40,000 interior renovations. Melanie holds her CPM designation through the Institute of Real Estate Management, is certified as a Master Trainer and Facilitator by Development Dimensions International and holds her Senior Professional of Human Resources designation from the Society of Human Resource Management. With more than four decades of experience, Rushing enters his new role as an award-winning CFO with results-focused leadership skills for growing companies like RREAF Residential. He is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Treasury Professional with Big Four audit background. His prior experience includes serving as CFO for a multi-family owner-operator with 43,000 units, a VP of Finance for a property management company managing retail, office, and multi-family, and as a CFO for a land development company. "It is an incredible honor to partner with the dedicated team members that make up RREAF Holdings," said French. "I was humbled when Kip reached out about joining the company to lead RREAF Residential as its first CEO. While RREAF Residential has seen great progress, we are eagerly anticipating substantial growth. This is a critical time in the ever-changing multifamily industry as we must continue to evolve and embrace technology. My mission is to ensure an execution and growth strategy that is world class and am excited to lead this endeavor." About RREAF Holdings RREAF Holdings LLC ("RREAF") is a privately held, vertically integrated commercial real estate company based in Dallas, Texas with roots that go back 35 years in the industry. RREAF focuses its portfolio of commercial real estate projects and development under five main divisions catering primarily to middle America with its programmatic value-add multifamily acquisitions, opportunistic hospitality and resort acquisitions, core ground-up development, large and highly amenitized master planned developments and its ground-up extended stay hospitality development division. RREAF employs over 500 people, mostly across the Sun Belt region, handling a wide range of commercial real estate investment matters, including in-house underwriting, due diligence, capital markets, acquisition, asset management, property management, construction management, project development, accounting, and legal support. RREAF, along with its debt and equity partners, has built a diversified portfolio in its core competencies in excess of $5 billion in assets, across 15 states, under management. Winner of the 2021 Multifamily Operator of the Year Award and selected as an Optigo 2022 Select Sponsor, RREAF values the impact that it has on local communities. RREAF's mission is to enhance the lives of its investors, partners, residents and guests by providing outstanding service, excellence and expertise with integrity, vision, values and purpose. For more information, please visit rreaf.com. About RREAF Residential RREAF Residential is a fully integrated property management firm specializing in workforce housing communities. RREAF Residential currently manages a multifamily portfolio consisting of 10,000+ units, with properties located primarily across the South, Southeast and Southern Atlantic regions of the United States. RREAF Residential prides itself on being able to efficiently and professionally manage assets throughout its life cycle. With an experienced team of corporate and on-site professionals, RREAF Residential is focused on growing revenues, managing expenses, and improving overall performance of its communities while providing safe and affordable housing to middle America. For more information, please visit rreafresidential.com. SOURCE RREAF Holdings LLC This next generation robotic surgery innovation utilizes AI-based visual intelligence to provide vital information that is overlaid and presented on the video feed in real-time during surgery JERUSALEM, Israel, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, RSIP Neph (part of the RSIP Vision group) announced its new innovative intra-op solution that utilizes advanced Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence algorithms, to enhance the next generation of robotic surgery. This solution has been under development with the largest urology department in Israel and it will assist surgeons during the surgery itself, by providing additional important information on lesions and body structures which are hidden to the human eye. An overlay image of relevant organs and structures overlaid on a real-time video stream during surgery (RSIP Neph) This new solution includes advanced artificial intelligence algorithms and a deeper understanding of the existing capabilities of the robot to perform these kinds of procedures, allowing it to radically enhance the way this procedure is currently performed. Segmentation, registration, and tracking capabilities provide the surgeon with a new view of crucial information about obstructed unseen tissues and structures. This view will be overlaid on top of the currently available robotic display, allowing the surgeon to perform this task with minimal risks. CT scans are currently taken prior to the operation, to inform the surgeon about the size, shape and location of tumors and other relevant structures. This pre-op information is merged with the intra-op ultrasound, and then fused to the intra-op stereo cameras. With our new technology, this information is overlaid on top of the surgeon's display in 3D, bringing the look and feel to a completely new dimension (watch the video here). Some renal tumors do not require full removal of the organ due to their size and position within the kidney. In such cases, partial removal of the kidney limited to the lesion itself and surrounding areas may be more suitable than total removal of the organ. This partial removal, also known as partial nephrectomy, is preferable to full removal of the organ, as it preserves healthy tissue that can continue to function. This is particularly critical in case of future damage to the second kidney. Until now, partial kidney removal has been performed with some extent of guessing by the surgeon about the optimal cutting location. The gross estimation is due to the limited view that the surgeon has of the lesion which needs to be removed. This may lead to excess removal of healthy tissue or worse, insufficient removal of the lesion. It also limits this procedure, since it can only be performed by very experienced surgeons. "This new technology will alleviate the uncertainties that surgeons experience during partial kidney ablations," said Dr. Arnon Lavi, MD, Senior Urologist at Haemek Hospital in Afula, Israel. "Removing the need for guessing will allow the operating team to avoid critical mistakes and lead to better surgical outcomes, with very significant benefits to the patient." About RSIP Neph RSIP Neph is part of RSIP Vision group and until now, was active in a stealth mode. It develops innovative visual intelligence solutions for the Urological field, through advanced AI and computer vision applications. The solutions address diverse clinical use cases, including Kidney related procedures, PCNL, Lesion ablation, Calix segmentation (4-phased CT) soft tissue tracking and Non-rigid registration. Its technology is based on its founders' extensive track record and years in the field, trusted by the largest, industry leading medical device companies. RSIP Neph is headquartered in Jerusalem, ISRAEL. SOURCE RSIP Vision STOCKHOLM, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Nomination Committee of Sandvik AB proposes the re-election of the Board members Jennifer Allerton, Claes Boustedt, Marika Fredriksson, Johan Molin, Andreas Nordbrandt, Helena Stjernholm, Stefan Widing and Kai Warn. Johan Molin is proposed to be re-elected Chairman of the Board. The Nomination Committee's other proposals will be made public in the notice convening the Annual General Meeting of Sandvik AB. The Meeting will be held on April 27, 2023 in Sandviken, Sweden. The Nomination Committee consists of its Chairman Fredrik Lundberg (AB Industrivarden), Anna Magnusson (Alecta), Marianne Nilsson (Swedbank Robur Funds), Lars Pettersson (Lundbergs) and Johan Molin (Sandvik's Chairman of the Board). Further information can be obtained from the Nomination Committee's Chairman. Stockholm, January 26, 2023 Sandvik AB Sandvik Group Sandvik is a global, high-tech engineering group providing solutions that enhance productivity, profitability and sustainability for the manufacturing, mining and infrastructure industries. We are at the forefront of digitalization and focus on optimizing our customers' processes. Our world-leading offering includes equipment, tools, services and digital solutions for machining, mining, rock excavation and rock processing. In 2022 the Group had approximately 40,000 employees and revenues of about 112 billion SEK in about 150 countries within continuing operations. Contact Johannes Hellstrom, Press and Media Relations Manager, +46 (0) 70721 1008 [email protected] The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/208/3703530/1805521.pdf Sandvik AB - Nomination Committeeas proposal for Board of Directors for the 2023 Annual General Meeting SOURCE Sandvik Designation Recognizes Partnership for Improved Quality Management and Enhanced Patient Care in Radiation Therapy MELBOURNE, Fla., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sun Nuclear, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mirion Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: MIR) ("Mirion"), announced today that it has designated Scripps Health as a Patient Safety Center of Excellence. This designation marks Scripps as a leader in the advancement of Quality Management and Medical Physics in Radiation Therapy and acknowledges their exemplary pursuit of patient safety. The Radiation Oncology team at Scripps treats approximately 2,700 new patients per year in San Diego county, California, across four sites, including eight linear accelerators. As a Sun Nuclear Patient Safety Center of Excellence, Scripps will advise other U.S.-based medical physics departments on the standardization and automation of Quality Management workflows, with the goals of increasing efficiency and enhancing patient safety. Recognized for their research focus, Scripps has taken a critical review of their workflows with publications and presentations based on the studies. Areas of research focus for Scripps have been patient-specific QA of single-isocenter multiple-met SRS plans and secondary verification of lung SBRT treatment plans, using the SunCHECK Patient software along with the ArcCHECK array.1,2,3 This pre-treatment QA workflow helps Scripps to ensure treatments will be delivered as expected. In addition, having all their data collected in the SunCHECK Patient software database proved to be useful for their re-accreditation process through ASTRO's APEx - Accreditation Program for Excellence. "By using Sun Nuclear's solutions to automate parts of our workflows, we are able to work more efficiently and focus more on ways to optimize patient outcomes," said Steve Kirsner, MS, DABR, Director of Physics, Scripps Health. "Now as a Center of Excellence, we look forward to sharing our best practices with medical physics teams across the country and continuing to collaborate with Sun Nuclear to refine our workflows even further." By leveraging Sun Nuclear for its Quality Management solutions, Scripps gains standardization among users and machines, and a single point-of-contact for support. In addition, Scripps has a direct connection with the Sun Nuclear Research and Development team to provide input on how Sun Nuclear products will evolve to address the expanding needs of medical physics departments. Scripps joins NYU Langone Health, based in New York City, as the second Sun Nuclear Patient Safety Center of Excellence. Both sites will present their experience with the SunCHECK Platform at upcoming Sun Nuclear Roadshows events interactive, small-group educational events, featuring hands-on experience with Sun Nuclear solutions. "We're honored to partner with Scripps as a leader in Radiation Therapy and are eager to see how their work evolves the field. There is an increasing need for medical physics departments to ease their workflows through automation and software. Scripps has built a strong automated Quality Management program that, as a Center of Excellence, they can advise other U.S. sites on how to replicate for their own departments," said Luis Rivera, Sun Nuclear President. About Sun Nuclear Sun Nuclear and CIRS are part of Mirion Medical, a group of healthcare-focused brands within Mirion Technologies (NYSE: MIR). We provide innovative solutions for Radiation Therapy and Diagnostic Imaging centers. More than 5,000 cancer centers worldwide rely on us for independent, integrated Quality Management. With a focus on ongoing support, Sun Nuclear aims to ease technology adoption, enhance workflows and improve outcomes so that healthcare providers can achieve real results for Patient Safety. Visit us: sunnuclear.com and cirsinc.com. Follow us: @sunnuclear. Contacts For investor inquiries: Jerry Estes [email protected] For media inquiries: Kevin O'Malley [email protected] 1Characterization of An Independent 3D Dose and MU Verification Software for Lung SBRT Treatments; G Baltz, et al, Scripps MD Anderson Cancer Center, San Diego, CA 2A Method to Simplify Patient-Specific QA of Single Isocenter Multiple Met SRS Plans; S.M. Kirsner, et al, Scripps MD Anderson Cancer Center, San Diego, CA; International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, 114 (3), November 2022, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2022.07.2164 3A hybrid method to improve efficiency of patient specific SRS and SBRT QA using 3D secondary dose verification; Garrett C. Baltz, Steven. M. Kirsner, et al, Scripps MD Anderson Cancer Center, San Diego, CA; International Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics, December 2022, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/acm2.13858 Sun Nuclear, SunCHECK, and ArcCHECK are registered trademarks of Mirion Technologies, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. SOURCE Sun Nuclear Company's marketplace platform launches world's first public sale of Carbon Forwards tokens; enabling transparent investments in tokenized carbon credits from verified climate projects BERLIN and CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Senken, the world's largest climate finance trading platform of on-chain carbon credits, today announced that it has raised USD $7.5 million in new funding, the most significant capital raise in its industry, led by Obvious Ventures and the launch of the world's first public sale of tokenized Carbon Forwards. Participating investors included Offline Ventures, Inflection, Kraken Ventures and Climate Capital. The funds will be used to power a transparent and liquid marketplace for the purchase, sale, and retirement of carbon credits which were previously transacted on an opaque and fragmented market. Founded in 2021, Senken's corresponding project credits can be bought, traded, and used to offset carbon emissions by companies looking to make impactful contributions to the climate crisis. By using blockchain technology, Senken provides its customers with additional security and transparency at the data level to ensure the quality and integrity of the offset projects. Globally, there has been strong consensus that eliminating carbon emissions is key to combating climate change. However, the path to getting there has been challenging and unstable. The launch of Carbon Forwards on the Senken marketplace enables transparent investments in tokenized carbon credits from verified climate projects. Carbon Forwards, a new financial instrument, allows pre-funding of climate projects that are still in development for a reduced price. These Forwards allow organizations to hedge their carbon emissions and manage their exposure to carbon prices. Senken has initiated a pilot with Vlinder who will provide 500tCO2 of forward carbon credits. These Carbon Forward credits will enable funding to reforest mangroves in Kenya. The Vlinder Kenya Blue Carbon project is a high impact restoration effort with an emission removal capacity of 731,165 tons that aims to revitalize 1,500 hectares of severely degraded mangroves in Kenya. As the world continues to focus on reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change, Carbon Forwards can help businesses focused on lessening their environmental impact by controlling financial risks and planning towards net zero. Despite current hyped-up demand, the carbon market is still nascent, but has enormous potential as it is expected to be worth USD $100B by 2030. A record number of investors and companies determined to transform their businesses are embracing net-zero ambitions. Therefore, there is a need for a marketplace that is transparent, reliable, and robust to combat manipulation and exploitation. In order to ensure longevity, stability, and make meaningful change towards climate solutions, Senken's unique and progressive marketplace can educate and build the trust that is needed to be truly sustainable. "Senken is looking to mobilize USD $10 billion in capital towards climate projects by 2030," said Adrian Wons, co-founder and CEO of Senken. "We have developed a platform that reduces friction in the market with lowered transaction costs which in turn redirects climate funding into projects that will transparently and effectively remove carbon from our atmosphere or demonstrably avoid carbon emissions. We are excited to launch the world's first public sale of Carbon Forward tokens, which will facilitate the pre-funding of climate projects that are still in development. This is key to helping organizations hedge their carbon emissions and manage exposure to carbon prices. It is especially rewarding to our organization that the launch of our first Carbon Forwards aims to contribute to the high impact restoration effort of severely degraded mangroves in Kenya." "In order to drive a future global economy that is more efficient and carbon-free, we need new frameworks and solutions to help finance the massive changes that are required," said Andrew Beebe, managing director, Obvious Ventures. "Adrian and the team have created a powerful new model for carbon investment in a short period of time and we are proud to lead this investment round." The Senken marketplace offers users access to more than 20 million tokenized carbon credits from verified climate projects. Project information, ratings, trade, pricing, and sensor technology is presented in a clear way, which makes it easy to compare, invest, and retire credits on-chain. Senken's smart order routing mechanism can unlock silos of carbon credits, therefore, customers are charged only 1/10 of the competitors fees through offerings that are 10x the amount with the highest transparency. This makes Senken's marketplace very compelling and interesting not only for corporates but also for institutional investors seeking exposure to this rapidly growing asset class. "Senken aims to solve the known problems of fragmentation, bad user experience, high costs and lack of transparency. We are looking to make climate finance accessible for everyone, encouraging millions of businesses to invest in real solutions to combat and make a serious impact towards climate change," added Wons. Recently, Senken has been accepted to the Estainium Association (estainium.eco), a German Association of major corporates, which educates and advises users and companies on how to effectively reduce and compensate for climate-negative impacts with members like Siemens, Merck, NTT Data, Faber & Castell, and TUV Sud. To read more about Senken's Carbon Forwards tokens, check out its blog post here. About Senken Founded in 2021, Senken is climate-oriented and action-driven. The company is made up of engineers and entrepreneurs, designers and academics, innovation practitioners and investment professionals, ecosystem shapers and creative voices, united in the belief that something needs to be done in the face of climate change. For more information on Senken, please https://www.senken.io/ About Obvious Ventures Obvious Ventures is a venture capital firm investing in startups and entrepreneurs reimagining trillion-dollar industries through a world-positive lens. Since launching in 2014, Obvious has backed over 90 companies using technology to create a smarter, healthier, more sustainable world. The fund has led investments in breakthrough companies such as Beyond Meat, Olly, Virta Health, and Recursion. Obvious was co-founded by Ev Williams, James Joaquin, and Vishal Vasishth. More information is available at obvious.com. SOURCE Senken NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Smart Fleet Management Market by Application, Type and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2023-2027 report has been published by Technavio. Market growth is estimated to accelerate at a CAGR of 11.37% and register an incremental growth of USD 305.58 billion during the forecast period. The report provides a comprehensive analysis on growth opportunities at regional levels, new product launches, the latest trends, and the post-pandemic recovery of the global market. Download a PDF Sample Report Regional analysis Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Smart Fleet Management Market 2023-2027 By region, the global smart fleet management market is segmented into APAC, Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa, and South America. APAC will account for 40% of the market's growth during the forecast period. Improving socioeconomic conditions in Thailand, Indonesia, India, and China have resulted in increased demand for a premium category fleet which is driving the growth of the regional market. Company profiles The smart fleet management market report includes information on the key products and recent developments of leading vendors, including: Cisco Systems Inc: The company offers solutions for smart fleet management against traffic congestion and helps save lives by providing safety and dynamic rerouting updates to travelers. The company offers solutions for smart fleet management against traffic congestion and helps save lives by providing safety and dynamic rerouting updates to travelers. CLM Fleet Management Plc: The company offers solutions for smart fleet management to meet mobility and service delivery requirements. The company offers solutions for smart fleet management to meet mobility and service delivery requirements. Continental AG: The company offers solutions for smart fleet management to optimize fleet management and store data in accordance with the law where the software consists of individual services that can be added as required. The company offers solutions for smart fleet management to optimize fleet management and store data in accordance with the law where the software consists of individual services that can be added as required. DENSO Corp: The company offers solutions for smart fleet management which detect the environment around vehicles such as pedestrians, other vehicles and roads, thus contributing to advanced safety and realization of automated driving. The company offers solutions for smart fleet management which detect the environment around vehicles such as pedestrians, other vehicles and roads, thus contributing to advanced safety and realization of automated driving. FleetGO Group Ltd. Fleetsmart International Business Machines Corp. Oracle Corp. ORBCOMM Inc. Robert Bosch GmbH To gain access to more vendor profiles available with Technavio, buy the report! Market dynamics The market is driven by factors such as government regulations for fleet management, real-time fleet monitoring increasing operational fleet efficiency, fleet security, and optimized fuel management. However, the fleet data management issues are hindering the market growth. Competitive analysis The competitive scenario categorizes companies based on various performance indicators. Some of the factors considered include the financial performance of companies over the past few years, growth strategies, product innovations, new product launches, investments, and growth in market share, among others. Request a Sample Market segmentation By application , the market is segmented into tracking, ADAS, optimization, fuel cards, and automatic vehicle identification . The tracking segment accounted for the largest share of the market during the forecast period. , the market is segmented into . The segment accounted for the largest share of the market during the forecast period. By geography, the market is segmented into APAC, Europe , North America , Middle East and Africa , and South America . APAC held the largest share of the market during the forecast period. Related Reports: Intelligent Transport System (ITS) Market by Application, Type, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2023-2027: The intelligent transport system (ITS) market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.49% between 2022 and 2027. The size of the market is forecast to increase by USD 33.39 billion. The increasing traffic congestion and road accidents are notably driving the market growth, although factors such as system integration and interoperability issues may impede the market growth. Vehicle to Grid Market by Product, Vehicle Type, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2023-2027: The vehicle-to-grid market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 31.5% and the size of the market is forecast to increase by USD 29,788.38 million between 2022 and 2027. The improvements in EV battery technology are notably driving the market growth, although factors such as Interoperability issues may impede the market growth. Technavio's library includes over 17,000+ reports, covering more than 2,000 emerging technologies. Subscribe to our "Basic Plan" at just USD 5,000 and get lifetime access to Technavio Insights What are the key data covered in this smart fleet management market report? CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the smart fleet management market between 2023 and 2027 Precise estimation of the size of the smart fleet management market and its contribution to the parent market Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior Growth of the smart fleet management market across APAC, Europe , North America , Middle East and Africa , and South America A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about vendors Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of smart fleet management market vendors Smart Fleet Management Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 184 Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 11.37% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 305.58 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023(%) 7.53 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 40% Key countries US, China, Japan, UK, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Avnet Inc., Cisco Systems Inc., CLM Fleet Management Plc, Continental AG, Cyrrup Solutions Pvt. Ltd., DENSO Corp., FleetGO Group Ltd., Fleetsmart, International Business Machines Corp., Oracle Corp., ORBCOMM Inc., Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Siemens AG, Sierra Wireless Inc., Speedcast International Ltd., Tech Mahindra Ltd., TomTom International BV, Total Motion Ltd., and Trakm8 Holdings Plc Market dynamics Parent Market Analysis; Market growth inducers and obstacles; Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Browse for Technavio "Information Technology" Research Reports Table of contents: 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary Chart on Global Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary Chart on Market by Geography Exhibit 05: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Application Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Type Exhibit 07: Executive Summary Chart on Incremental Growth Exhibit 08: Executive Summary Data Table on Incremental Growth Exhibit 09: Executive Summary Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 10: Parent market Exhibit 11: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 12: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 13: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2022 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027 Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 4 Historic Market Size 4.1 Global smart fleet management market 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size Data Table on Global smart fleet management market 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.2 Application Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size Application Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.3 Type Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size Type Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.4 Geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 21: Historic Market Size Geography Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 22: Historic Market Size Country Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 5 Five Forces Analysis 5.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 23: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2022 and 2027 5.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 24: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers Impact of key factors 2022 and 2027 5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 25: Bargaining power of suppliers Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 26: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 27: Threat of substitutes Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 28: Threat of rivalry Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.7 Market condition Exhibit 29: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2022 and 2027 6 Market Segmentation by Application 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 30: Chart on Application - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Application - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 6.2 Comparison by Application Exhibit 32: Chart on Comparison by Application Exhibit 33: Data Table on Comparison by Application 6.3 Tracking - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 34: Chart on Tracking - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Tracking - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 36: Chart on Tracking - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Tracking - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.4 ADAS - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 38: Chart on ADAS - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 39: Data Table on ADAS - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 40: Chart on ADAS - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 41: Data Table on ADAS - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.5 Optimization - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 42: Chart on Optimization - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 43: Data Table on Optimization - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 44: Chart on Optimization - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 45: Data Table on Optimization - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.6 Fuel cards - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 46: Chart on Fuel cards - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 47: Data Table on Fuel cards - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 48: Chart on Fuel cards - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 49: Data Table on Fuel cards - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.7 Automatic vehicle identification - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 50: Chart on Automatic vehicle identification - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 51: Data Table on Automatic vehicle identification - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 52: Chart on Automatic vehicle identification - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 53: Data Table on Automatic vehicle identification - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.8 Market opportunity by Application Exhibit 54: Market opportunity by Application ($ billion) 7 Market Segmentation by Type 7.1 Market segments Exhibit 55: Chart on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 56: Data Table on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 7.2 Comparison by Type Exhibit 57: Chart on Comparison by Type Exhibit 58: Data Table on Comparison by Type 7.3 Roadways - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 59: Chart on Roadways - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 60: Data Table on Roadways - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 61: Chart on Roadways - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 62: Data Table on Roadways - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.4 Railroad - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 63: Chart on Railroad - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 64: Data Table on Railroad - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 65: Chart on Railroad - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 66: Data Table on Railroad - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.5 Marine - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 67: Chart on Marine - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 68: Data Table on Marine - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 69: Chart on Marine - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 70: Data Table on Marine - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.6 Aviation - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 71: Chart on Aviation - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 72: Data Table on Aviation - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 73: Chart on Aviation - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 74: Data Table on Aviation - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.7 Market opportunity by Type Exhibit 75: Market opportunity by Type ($ billion) 8 Customer Landscape 8.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 76: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 9 Geographic Landscape 9.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 77: Chart on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 78: Data Table on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) 9.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 79: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 80: Data Table on Geographic comparison 9.3 APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 81: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 82: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 83: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 84: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 85: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 86: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 87: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 88: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.5 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 89: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 90: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 91: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 92: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.6 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 93: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 94: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 95: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) and - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 96: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.7 South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 97: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 98: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 99: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 100: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.8 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 101: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 102: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 103: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 104: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.9 China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 105: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 106: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 107: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 108: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.10 UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 109: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 110: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 111: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 112: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.11 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 113: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 114: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 115: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 116: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.12 Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 117: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 118: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 119: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 120: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.13 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 121: Market opportunity by geography ($ billion) 10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10.1 Market drivers 10.2 Market challenges 10.3 Impact of drivers and challenges Exhibit 122: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027 10.4 Market trends 11 Vendor Landscape 11.1 Overview 11.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 123: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 11.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 124: Overview on factors of disruption 11.4 Industry risks Exhibit 125: Impact of key risks on business 12 Vendor Analysis 12.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 126: Vendors covered 12.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 127: Matrix on vendor position and classification 12.3 Avnet Inc. Exhibit 128: Avnet Inc. - Overview Exhibit 129: Avnet Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 130: Avnet Inc. - Key news Exhibit 131: Avnet Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 132: Avnet Inc. - Segment focus 12.4 Cisco Systems Inc. Exhibit 133: Cisco Systems Inc. - Overview Exhibit 134: Cisco Systems Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 135: Cisco Systems Inc. - Key news Exhibit 136: Cisco Systems Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 137: Cisco Systems Inc. - Segment focus 12.5 CLM Fleet Management Plc Exhibit 138: CLM Fleet Management Plc - Overview Exhibit 139: CLM Fleet Management Plc - Product / Service Exhibit 140: CLM Fleet Management Plc - Key offerings 12.6 Continental AG Exhibit 141: Continental AG - Overview Exhibit 142: Continental AG - Business segments Exhibit 143: Continental AG - Key offerings Exhibit 144: Continental AG - Segment focus 12.7 DENSO Corp. Exhibit 145: DENSO Corp. - Overview Exhibit 146: DENSO Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 147: DENSO Corp. - Key news Exhibit 148: DENSO Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 149: DENSO Corp. - Segment focus 12.8 FleetGO Group Ltd. Exhibit 150: FleetGO Group Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 151: FleetGO Group Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 152: FleetGO Group Ltd. - Key offerings 12.9 Fleetsmart Exhibit 153: Fleetsmart - Overview Exhibit 154: Fleetsmart - Product / Service Exhibit 155: Fleetsmart - Key offerings 12.10 International Business Machines Corp. Exhibit 156: International Business Machines Corp. - Overview Exhibit 157: International Business Machines Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 158: International Business Machines Corp. - Key news Exhibit 159: International Business Machines Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 160: International Business Machines Corp. - Segment focus 12.11 ORBCOMM Inc. Exhibit 161: ORBCOMM Inc. - Overview Exhibit 162: ORBCOMM Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 163: ORBCOMM Inc. - Key offerings 12.12 Robert Bosch GmbH Exhibit 164: Robert Bosch GmbH - Overview Exhibit 165: Robert Bosch GmbH - Business segments Exhibit 166: Robert Bosch GmbH - Key offerings Exhibit 167: Robert Bosch GmbH - Segment focus 12.13 Siemens AG Exhibit 168: Siemens AG - Overview Exhibit 169: Siemens AG - Business segments Exhibit 170: Siemens AG - Key news Exhibit 171: Siemens AG - Key offerings Exhibit 172: Siemens AG - Segment focus 12.14 Sierra Wireless Inc. Exhibit 173: Sierra Wireless Inc. - Overview Exhibit 174: Sierra Wireless Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 175: Sierra Wireless Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 176: Sierra Wireless Inc. - Segment focus 12.15 Speedcast International Ltd. Exhibit 177: Speedcast International Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 178: Speedcast International Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 179: Speedcast International Ltd. - Key offerings 12.16 Tech Mahindra Ltd. Exhibit 180: Tech Mahindra Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 181: Tech Mahindra Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 182: Tech Mahindra Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 183: Tech Mahindra Ltd. - Segment focus 12.17 TomTom International BV Exhibit 184: TomTom International BV - Overview Exhibit 185: TomTom International BV - Business segments Exhibit 186: TomTom International BV - Key offerings Exhibit 187: TomTom International BV - Segment focus 13 Appendix 13.1 Scope of the report 13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 188: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 189: Exclusions checklist 13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 190: Currency conversion rates for US$ 13.4 Research methodology Exhibit 191: Research methodology Exhibit 192: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 193: Information sources 13.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 194: List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio The company is ranked among the top ten fully remote workplaces and is acknowledged for its compensation, benefits, and perks for employees SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Stride Health , the leader in portable benefits technology, has been recognized by Built In as one of 2023's Best Places to Work. Specifically, Stride came in at #9 for the Best Remote Companies and #7 for Best Midsize Remote Companies. The annual awards program includes companies of all sizes, from startups to enterprises, and honors both remote-first employers as well as companies in large tech markets across the U.S. Stride has been recognized as one of Built In's Best Places to Work, ranking in the top 10 for Best Remote Companies. Tweet this The company is ranked among the top ten fully remote workplaces and is acknowledged for its compensation, benefits, and perks for employees. Stride is on a mission to build a modern portable benefits system for every American who lacks an employer safety net. The company has doubled its team in the last year and, despite economic conditions, continues to remain aggressive when it comes to its hiring, growth and investments for 2023. Furthermore, it has remained vigilant when it comes to engaging its employees around issues pertaining to remote work, mental health and more. Examples of this include the implementation of quarterly mental health refresh days, embedding time zone awareness in internal communication tools, establishing a "no meeting Wednesday" policy, and giving employees two weeks off at the end of the year. "I could not be more proud of the team and the culture that we continue to build and foster here at Stride," said Rhea King, Head of Talent at Stride. "Creating culture, community and a sense of belonging, particularly as a fully distributed organization, is not an easy feat. But the continued emphasis Stride's leadership places on transparency, inclusiveness and wellbeing motivates employees and gives them a sense of purpose when they are at work. We are honored and humbled to have been recognized by Built In for this work." Built In determines the winners of Best Places to Work based on an algorithm, using company data about compensation and benefits. To reflect the benefits candidates are searching for more frequently on Built In, the program also weighs criteria like remote and flexible work opportunities, programs for DEI and other people-first cultural offerings. "It's my honor to congratulate Stride as one of this year's Best Places to Work winners," says Sheridan Orr, Chief Marketing Officer, Built In. "These exemplary companies understand their people are their most valuable asset, and they've stepped up to meet the modern professional's new expectations, including the desire to work for companies that deliver purpose, growth and inclusion. Stride sets the stage for a human-centered future of work, and we can't wait to see that future unfold." For more information about Stride on Built In, click here . ABOUT STRIDE: Stride provides a comprehensive platform used by consumers, employers, health plans and brokers to streamline individual benefits recommendations and enrollment. Since launching in 2014, Stride has helped more than 3 million Americans save $3 billion on their benefits and taxes. Stride partners with the world's leading work platforms and employers of non-benefited workers including Uber, DoorDash, Instacart, Amazon, GrubHub, Etsy, Patreon, Rover, TaskRabbit and more so they can provide their workers with access to a full marketplace of health and wealth benefits. The company is backed by $96 million in capital from Venrock, New Enterprise Associates, Fidelity's F-Prime Capital Partners, Mastercard, Allstate and King River. For more information, visit https://www.stridehealth.com . ABOUT BUILT IN'S BEST PLACES TO WORK Built In's esteemed Best Places to Work Awards, now in its fifth year, honor companies across numerous categories: 100 Best Places to Work, 50 Best Startup Places to Work, 100 Best Midsize Places to Work, 100 Best Large Places to Work and Editor's Choice: 100 Best Hybrid Places to Work. The program honors companies remote, hybrid and in-office with the best total rewards packages across the U.S. and in the following tech hubs: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington DC. SOURCE Stride Health Presenting documents under a letter of credit such as the bill of lading is still a predominantly paper-based process. Together with other trade documents, corporates are required to physically receive the bills of lading from the shipping companies and send it to their banks, which is a costly process that can take up to weeks to complete. WaveBL is already connected to several of the largest container shipping companies in the world, such as MSC, Hapag-Lloyd, ZIM and ONE. Having the ability to connect to bills of lading providers such as WaveBL, and share the data with their banks on their trade finance management platform, will add value in the form of transparency, efficiency, and cost effectiveness. All associated parties - such as the buyer, seller, issuing bank and advising bank - can now digitally sign and exchange unique, original documents to eliminate courier costs, risk of fraud and penalty fees incurred at dock, to drastically improve overall customer experience, environmental sustainability and business resilience. It will add visibility and ease the document checking process for banks. "By removing barriers and facilitating collaboration to drive a more streamlined, sustainable global trade finance process, RIVO allows any exporter to now access, manage and transfer ownership of its bills of lading electronically," explains Enno-Burghard Weitzel, Surecomp's SVP of Strategy, Digitisation and Business Development. "Our digital fintech hub RIVO is designed to bring together best of breed solutions to help customers streamline their trade finance management and workflow. Our partnership with WaveBL will afford our customers greater transparency, data accuracy and a much smoother document checking process, expediting a previously very tedious and time-consuming workflow." WaveBL's VP Business Development, Ofer Ein Bar, shares, "This partnership is a win-win alliance that will radically drive forward the transformation of trade whilst rapidly increasing trade efficiency. It marks a key milestone in our mission to truly transform trade; including the streamlining of crucial trade finance flows." About WaveBL WaveBL is a blockchain-based digital platform that facilitates the traditional process of transferring original paper documents electronically. The proprietary solution enables instant, encrypted, and authenticated transfer of trade documents and other unique digital documents. WaveBL's platform is designed to meet the needs of all parties involved in trade, from major market players, such as carriers and shipping companies, to agents, brokers, and banks. For more information, visit www.wavebl.com Media Contact: Ms. Ilan Weiss - VP of Marketing [email protected] About Surecomp Surecomp is the market leader in digital trade finance solutions for banks and corporations. An industry pioneer for over thirty years, we provide an innovative portfolio of cloud and on-premises solutions to streamline the trade finance transaction lifecycle, enhance operational efficiency, ensure compliance and drive growth. With a global footprint of eight offices in Toronto, New York, Santiago, Buenos Aires, London, Hamburg, Tel Aviv and Singapore, we partner with a prestigious customer base in over eighty countries across the world. For more information visit www.surecomp.com Media Contact: Abby Bickford - Director of Marketing [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1953130/Wave_BL.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1990491/Surecomp.jpg SOURCE WAVE BL; Surecomp DXC Technology to empower GF's global workforce with cloud-based solutions SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DXC Technology (NYSE: DXC) has been awarded a multi-year contract by global industrial company Georg Fischer (GF). Through the five-year agreement, DXC will help GF to digitalize the work experience of its thousands of employees around the world. Georg Fischer headquarters in Schaffhausen, Switzerland (Credit: Georg Fischer) Headquartered in Switzerland, GF is a leader in sustainable solutions enabling the safe transport of water and other liquids, lightweight casting components and high-precision manufacturing technologies. GF is on a journey to create a centralized digital hub for its employees, providing a real-time view of business operations and enabling data-driven decision making. GF will utilise DXC's Modern Workplace solutions to build a digital workplace environment based on Microsoft and ServiceNow technologies. The modernized infrastructure will increase flexibility and enable designs, workstreams and files to be shared virtually through a centralised network, enhancing productivity and connectivity between colleagues. "With 15,000 employees spread across 34 countries and 139 companies, including 61 production facilities, efficient global employee collaboration is pivotal to achieving success", said Uwe Kuehne, CIO at GF. "With the latest digital technologies, we can bring people together, personalize their experience and generate high-performing teams." Through DXC's ServiceNow Strategic Business Group, GF will also improve its ability to manage and resolve IT issues using digital incident management processes. DXC will operate self-service software across asset and device management, helping to minimise disruption across GF's organization. "As manufacturers shift to the digital landscape, they face challenges integrating new solutions with their existing IT systems and processes." said Chris Halbard, EMEA President, DXC Technology. "With our reputation for delivering excellence and our industry-leading partnerships with ServiceNow and with Microsoft, we are well placed to support leading organizations such as GF in their transformation journeys." As part of the agreement, DXC will provide support services across desktop, mobile and virtual desktop, including Microsoft Windows 11. DXC, Microsoft and GF will work together to align the current estate with the transformation roadmap. About Georg Fischer GF with its three divisions GF Piping Systems, GF Casting Solutions, and GF Machining Solutions offers products and solutions that enable the safe transport of liquids and gases, as well as lightweight casting components and high-precision manufacturing technologies. As a sustainability and innovation leader, GF strives to achieve profitable growth while offering superior value to its customers for more than 200 years. Founded in 1802, the Corporation is headquartered in Switzerland and present in 34 countries with 139 companies, 61 of which are production facilities. GF's 15'111 employees worldwide generated sales of CHF 3'722 million in 2021. About DXC Technology DXC Technology (NYSE: DXC) helps global companies run their mission-critical systems and operations while modernizing IT, optimizing data architectures, and ensuring security and scalability across public, private and hybrid clouds. The world's largest companies and public sector organizations trust DXC to deploy services to drive new levels of performance, competitiveness, and customer experience across their IT estates. Learn more about how we deliver excellence for our customers and colleagues at DXC.com . Christina Trauntschnig, DXC DACH, [email protected] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1990440/DXC_Technology_Company_Swiss_Industrial_Company_Georg_Fischer__G.jpg SOURCE DXC Technology Company NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the nation's top nephrologists and advanced kidney disease researchers, Rajnish Mehrotra, MD, MS, will receive the National Kidney Foundation's (NKF) Dr. J. Michael Lazarus Distinguished Award at the 2023 Spring Clinical Meetings in Austin, TX, April 11-15. The award is presented in honor of Dr. Lazarus for his groundbreaking insights in renal replacement therapy. "Dr. Mehrotra is a Clinical and Research expert in dialysis modalities and has been a strong advocate for home modalities, in particular peritoneal dialysis. He has also been a proponent of the implementation of evidence-based therapies in nephrology," said NKF President Sylvia E. Rosas, MD, MSCE. "He is a true advocate for people living with kidney disease. He is a well-deserving recipient of this recognition." Lazarus was a pioneer advancing the care of patients dealing with long-term dialysis so I'm honored to get this award Tweet this NKF presents this award each year to honor Dr. Lazarus for his major contributions to the clinical science and care of dialysis patients, and to recognize individuals whose research has yielded novel insights related to renal replacement therapy. Dr. Mehrotra is the Belding H. Scribner Endowed Chair in Medicine and the Head of the Division of Nephrology in the Department of Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. He is the Chair of the Board of Trustees for Northwest Kidney Centers. "I am humbled by this unexpected honor and recognition," Dr. Mehrotra said. "It is particularly meaningful to me as Dr. Lazarus was a pioneer in advancing the care of patients undergoing long-term dialysis, something I have cared deeply about in my work as a nephrologist. As importantly, my own work has been inspired and supported by many of the prior recipients of the lectureship." Dr. Mehrotra completed medical school at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi India, where he also underwent residency training. He received further residency training at the Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and nephrology fellowship training at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He obtained a Master of Science in Clinical Research at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Mehrotra is a Physician-Scientist, and his research and clinical work are focused broadly on improving the lived experience of people with advanced kidney disease. His research work, funded by both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), has advanced our understanding of the barriers to greater use of home dialysis, biologic determinants of peritoneal dialysis, and clinical trials to test interventions for managing symptoms experienced by patients undergoing long-term dialysis. He has co-authored over 300 original research papers and book chapters. "NKF is a force for good in advancing the principles of person-centered care, by supporting the education and professional growth of all members of the kidney care team," Dr. Mehrotra said. "It is a strong advocate for patients living with kidney disease, and it supports high standards for care delivery in the United States. I am grateful to have the opportunity to support the mission of NKF." NKF Spring Clinical Meetings For the past 31 years, nephrology healthcare professionals from across the country have come to NKF's Spring Clinical Meetings to learn about the newest developments related to all aspects of nephrology practice; network with colleagues; and present their research findings. The NKF Spring Clinical Meetings are designed for meaningful change in the multidisciplinary healthcare teams' skills, performance, and patient health outcomes. It is the only conference of its kind that focuses on translating science into practice for the entire healthcare team. The event will be held in Austin, TX, April 11-15. About Kidney Disease In the United States, 37 million adults are estimated to have kidney disease, also known as chronic kidney disease (CKD)and approximately 90 percent don't know they have it. About 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. are at risk for kidney disease. Risk factors for kidney disease include: diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and family history. People of Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander descent are at increased risk for developing the disease. Black or African American people are more than four times as likely as White Americans to have kidney failure. Hispanics or Latinos are 1.3 times more likely than non-Hispanics to have kidney failure. NKF Professional Membership Healthcare professionals can join NKF to receive access to tools and resources for both patients and professionals, discounts on professional education, and access to a network of thousands of individuals who treat patients with kidney disease. About the National Kidney Foundation The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is the largest, most comprehensive, and longstanding patient-centric organization dedicated to the awareness, prevention, and treatment of kidney disease in the U.S. For more information about NKF, visit www.kidney.org. SOURCE The National Kidney Foundation CRAIG, Colo., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wild Animal Sanctuary, A Colorado Non-Profit Corporation, announces the recent acquisition of a large parcel of land located in northwest Colorado not far from the historic town of Steamboat Springs. With more than 22,450 acres of land spanning across 29 square miles, this contiguous parcel of land represents a landmass larger than Manhattan Island. Herd of Rescued Colorado Mustangs roaming freely at The Refuge. Rescued Mustang living freely at The Refuge. The Wild Animal Sanctuary purchased the land for its newly created Wild Horse Refuge, which will serve to rescue and protect hundreds of Colorado's native wild horses, which are also known as Mustangs. The Refuge is being created in response to the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) wild horse round up operations which began in early 2022 and were done within Colorado's Sand Wash Basin and Piceance-East Douglas Herd Management Areas (HMA). The land, which consists of rolling hills and canyons covered in native grasses, sagebrush, and juniper trees, and features Lay Creek meandering through a large portion of the property, will be the perfect habitat for wild Mustangs to live and roam freely. Due to its vast size, the newly formed Refuge is already home to an array of native wildlife, such as varmints, mountain lions, bobcats, deer, elk, pronghorn, dove, sage grouse, geese, duck, golden and bald eagles. The land was formerly operated as a large cattle ranch and breeding operation but will now be dedicated entirely to saving Colorado's native wild horses. Formerly known as the Rio Ro Mo Ranch, The Wild Animal Sanctuary plans to carry on the tradition of being an excellent land steward as it becomes one of the largest free roaming wild horse sanctuaries in the United States. As the Refuge moves forward in the coming months, there are plans to rescue and provide a life-long home to as many as 500 head of wild Mustangs. The Wild Animal Sanctuary has been rescuing captive wildlife, horses, and many other species of animals for more than 43 years and currently operates three other facilities for rescued animals. With a 1,214-acre facility located near Denver, CO, as well as a second 10,000-acre facility located in southeast Colorado near the town of Springfield, and a third facility located just west of Fort Worth, TX; total acreage for the organization now amounts to more than 33,000-acres. Denver is located 4.5 hours southeast of the newly formed Wild Horse Refuge, while Salt Lake City, UT is 4 hours to the west. For more information about The Wild Animal Sanctuary or its Wild Horse Refuge, visit WildAnimalSanctuary.org or WildHorseRefuge.org. SOURCE The Wild Animal Sanctuary DUBLIN, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Ocular Adhesives and Sealants Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Type (Synthetic, Natural), by Application (Tissue Engineering, Conjunctival Surgery), by End-use, by Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2022-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global ocular adhesives and sealants market size is expected to reach USD 319.9 million by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 8.28% from 2022 to 2030, according to this report. The market is expanding as a result of the rising ophthalmic surgical procedures and technological advancements. The demand for better surgical treatment is increasing, which is helping the market for ocular sealants grow. Approximately 2,000 American workers suffer work-related eye injuries each day, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). These injuries require medical attention. Approximately 1.3 million Americans over the age of 40 are totally blind, approximately 4.2 Americans over the age of 40 are visually impaired, and more than 150 million Americans require corrective lenses for refractive problems, according to statistics provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Around 3% of emergency visits to ophthalmic clinics or hospitals are due to high-frequency eye injuries leading to eye damage. As previously indicated, suturing has a number of disadvantages, including endophthalmitis, tissue damage, and astigmatism. When compared to other wound closure options, suturing is not the best procedure because it also calls for a skilled surgeon. Ocular adhesives, which are intended to address the drawbacks of sutures, are one alternative. Ophthalmic surgeons are preferring suture-less surgery to avoid these issues. Contrary to traditional suturing, the use of adhesive has been demonstrated to reduce the likelihood of post-operative wound infection. Ocular sealants have also improved eye vision, shortened recovery times, and reduced the frequency of enucleation. These ocular sealants are used during wound reconstruction to improve the patient's post-operative state while preserving the wound's integrity. Ocular sealants and adhesives are employed in a variety of indications because each type has distinct advantages and disadvantages. Ocular Adhesives And Sealants Market Report Highlights The natural type segment held the largest revenue share in 2021 owing to its widespread applications in medical practice. Among the natural sealants and adhesives, fibrin sealants held the largest revenue share in 2021 The tissue engineering application segment held the largest share in 2021 due to the rising geriatric population, increasing ophthalmic disorders, and rising inclination towards early disease diagnosis and treatment The ophthalmic clinics end-use segment led the market in 2021 due to the rising cases of ophthalmic surgeries including cataract and refractive surgeries in specialized ophthalmic clinics North America emerged as the leading market in 2021 owing to factors such as rising prevalence of ocular disorders, presence of well-built infrastructure, availability of skilled ophthalmic surgeons, and presence of key players Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1 Methodology and Scope Chapter 2 Executive Summary 2.1 Market Outlook Chapter 3 Ocular Adhesives & Sealants Market Variables, Trends & Scope 3.1 Penetration & Growth Prospect Mapping 3.2 Market Dynamics 3.2.1 Market Drivers Analysis 3.2.1.1 Increasingprevalence of refractive errors and corneal ulcers 3.2.1.2 Rising cases of ocular injuries 3.2.1.3 Growing demand for alternating suturing method for ophthalmic surgeries 3.2.2 Market Restraint Analysis 3.2.2.1 High cost associated with ocular adhesives 3.2.2.2 Stringent regulatory approval 3.3 Ocular Adhesives & Sealants: Market Analysis Tools 3.3.1 SWOT Analysis by PESTEL 3.3.2 Industry Analysis-Porter's 3.4 Impact of COVID-19 3.4.1 COVID-19 Impact analysis 3.4.2 Impact on market players Chapter 4 Ocular Adhesives & Sealants Market: Segment Analysis, By Type, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) 4.1 Definitions and Scope 4.2 Type Market Share Analysis 4.3 Segment Dashboard 4.4 Ocular Adhesives & Sealants Market by Type 4.5 Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2017 to 2030 for the following 4.5.1 Synthetic 4.5.1.1 Synthetic Market Estimates and Forecast, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) 4.5.1.2 Urethane-based Adhesives 4.5.1.2.1 Urethane-based Adhesives Market Estimates and Forecast, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) 4.5.1.3 Polyethylene Glycol Adhesives 4.5.1.3.1 Polyethylene Glycol Adhesives Market Estimates and Forecast, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) 4.5.1.4 Cyanoacrylates 4.5.1.4.1 Cyanoacrylates Market Estimates and Forecast, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) 4.5.2 Natural 4.5.2.1 Natural Market Estimates and Forecast, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) 4.5.2.2 Fibrin Adhesives 4.5.2.2.1 Fibrin Adhesives Market Estimates and Forecast, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) 4.5.2.3 Collagen-based Adhesives 4.5.2.3.1 Collagen-based Adhesives Market Estimates and Forecast, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) 4.5.2.4 Gelatin-based Adhesives 4.5.2.4.1 Gelatin-based Adhesives Market Estimates and Forecast, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) 4.5.2.5 Others 4.5.2.5.1 Others Market Estimates and Forecast, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) Chapter 5 Ocular Adhesives & Sealants Market: Segment Analysis, By Application, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) 5.1 Definitions and Scope 5.2 Application Market Share Analysis 5.3 Segment Dashboard 5.4 Ocular Adhesives & Sealants Market by Application 5.5 Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2017 to 2030 for the following 5.5.1 Tissue Engineering 5.5.1.1 Tissue Engineering Market Estimates and Forecast, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) 5.5.2 Conjunctival Surgery 5.5.2.1 Conjunctival Surgery Market Estimates and Forecast, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) 5.5.3 Refractive Surgery 5.5.3.1 Refractive Surgery Market Estimates and Forecast, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) 5.5.4 Vitreo-retinal Surgery 5.5.4.1 Vitreo-retinal Surgery Market Estimates and Forecast, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) 5.5.5 Corneal Surgery 5.5.5.1 Corneal Surgery Market Estimates and Forecast, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) Chapter 6 Ocular Adhesives & Sealants Market: Segment Analysis, By End-use, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) 6.1 Definitions and Scope 6.2 End UseMarket Share Analysis 6.3 Segment Dashboard 6.4 Ocular Adhesives & Sealants Market by End-use 6.5 Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2017 to 2030 for the following 6.5.1 Hospitals 6.5.1.1 Hospitals Market Estimates and Forecast, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) 6.5.2 Ophthalmic Clinics 6.5.2.1 Ophthalmic Clinics Market Estimates and Forecast, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) 6.5.3 Ambulatory Surgical Centers 6.5.3.1 Ambulatory Surgical Centers Market Estimates and Forecast, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) Chapter 7 Ocular Adhesives & Sealants Market: Regional Market Analysis, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million) Chapter 8 Ocular Adhesives & Sealants Market - Competitive Analysis 8.1 Kind of Competition 8.2 Concentration of Market Players 8.3 Company Market Share Analysis 8.4 Categorization based on the Company's Vision 8.5 Company Profiles 8.5.1 Reliance Life-Sciences 8.5.1.1 Company overview 8.5.1.2 Financial performance 8.5.1.3 Product benchmarking 8.5.1.4 Strategic initiatives 8.5.2 Ocular Therapeutix Inc. 8.5.2.1 Company overview 8.5.2.2 Financial performance 8.5.2.3 Product benchmarking 8.5.2.4 Strategic initiatives 8.5.3 Baxter Ag 8.5.3.1 Company overview 8.5.3.2 Financial performance 8.5.3.3 Product benchmarking 8.5.3.4 Strategic initiatives 8.5.4 Medtronic 8.5.4.1 Company overview 8.5.4.2 Financial performance 8.5.4.3 Product benchmarking 8.5.4.4 Strategic initiatives 8.5.5 Reliance Life-Sciences 8.5.5.1 Company overview 8.5.5.3 Financial performance 8.5.5.3 Product benchmarking 8.5.5.4 Strategic initiatives For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/rbgizh-adhesives?w=5 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets PHOENIX, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Thompson Thrift, a full-service nationally recognized real estate company, announced today that it has started construction on the first phase of the 1-million-square-foot Germann Commerce Center in Queen Creek, a thriving suburb southeast of Phoenix. "Queen Creek is one of the fastest-growing cities in Arizona and has emerged as a preeminent industrial submarket," said Ashlee Boyd, managing partner for Thompson Thrift Commercial. "We value the relationship our company has established with the city of Queen Creek over the years, and we are excited to bring another great project to this dynamic community. With strong demand from industries such as electric vehicle manufacturing, distribution, aerospace and defense, and pharmaceutical users we expect that the Germann Commerce Center will be a welcome addition to this dynamic region." Located on the southwest corner of Germann and Meridian Roads, the first phase of Germann Commerce Center will consist of approximately 400,000 square feet of speculative light industrial space in five standalone buildings spread across approximately 26 acres. The buildings will offer front-park/rear-load industrial, with clear heights from 28 to 32 feet and frontage on East Germann Road. With easy access to the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway airport, Loop 202 and State Road 24, the development is well-positioned to take advantage of the many benefits of the area, including its skilled workforce, strong industrial demand and close proximity to residential housing. "We are very pleased to break ground on the first phase of the Germann Commerce Center," said Chris Alexander, senior vice president of industrial development. "With global brands like Google, Apple, Amazon, Meta, and LG basing operations in the Southeast Valley, Queen Creek is emerging as the next high-tech manufacturing and distribution location in the Valley due to its convenient access to SR 24 and a talented labor pool." Alexander continued, "When you combine a competitive Arizona corporate income tax rate, reliable electric service, strong regional higher education institutions, and an established advanced manufacturing employer base, Queen Creek is an attractive solution for industrial users looking for the infrastructure to support their growth plans." The Germann Commerce Center is a multi-phase industrial development project for Thompson Thrift. At full buildout, the project can provide up to 1 million square feet of warehouse, distribution, light assembly and manufacturing space, covering approximately 68 acres. Thompson Thrift expects the first phase to be complete in the first quarter of 2024 with build-to-suit and for-sale options in phase two available immediately. Thompson Thrift is a full-service real estate development company focused on ground-up commercial and mixed-use development across the Midwest, Southeast and Southwest. Since its founding more than 30 years ago, Thompson Thrift has invested more than $4 billion into local communities and has become known as a trusted partner committed to developing high-quality, attractive commercial and multifamily communities. Thompson Thrift is well-established throughout Arizona with more than 20 retail, multifamily and industrial projects in development, with an estimated volume of more than $1.5 billion. This is their second industrial development currently underway in Phoenix's Southeast Valley. About Thompson Thrift Real Estate Company Thompson Thrift is an integrated full-service real estate company with offices in Indianapolis and Terre Haute, Indiana; Houston and Phoenix. Three service pillars drive Thompson Thrift's successThompson Thrift Retail Group which is focused on ground-up commercial development, Watermark Residential which is focused on upscale apartment home communities and luxury leased homes and Thompson Thrift Construction, a full-service construction company. Through these business units, Thompson Thrift is engaged in all aspects of acquisition, development, construction, leasing, and management of quality multifamily, mixed-use, retail and office projects across the country. We are passionate about our customer's success and strive to ensure our projects not only meet the needs of our customers but also the communities we serve. For more information, please visit www.thompsonthrift.com. Contact: Jennifer Franklin Spotlight Marketing Communications 949.427.1385 [email protected] SOURCE Thompson Thrift MIAMI, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ThriveDX , the global leader in cybersecurity and digital skills training and cyber talent building, is pleased to announce the appointment of Tim Roemer as the President & General Manager, Public Sector. Roemer will be a member of ThriveDX's Executive Leadership team and report to Dan Vigdor, co-founder and executive chairman of ThriveDX. In this new role, Roemer will lead the build out of the organization's U.S. and public sector business, as well as collaboration efforts with private sector U.S. cyber companies. Tim Roemer Roemer joins ThriveDX with more than 18 years of government service experience, where he spent 10 years in the CIA, including a two-year assignment in the White House, and eight years working for the State of Arizona. He most recently served as the Director of the Arizona Department of Homeland Security and Chief Information Security Officer for the State of Arizona the first and only person in the country to serve both as the Director of Homeland Security and State CISO. During his time with the State of Arizona, Tim worked with Governor Ducey to create the nation's first State Cyber Command Center located within the Department of Homeland Security to protect the state from evolving cyber attacks and create a culture of cybersecurity awareness where cybersecurity is a top homeland security priority. "We're thrilled to welcome a leader of Tim's caliber to our leadership team," said Dan Vigdor, co-founder and executive chairman of ThriveDX. "I'm confident that Tim's extensive skills and expertise from some of the most prestigious organizations in the nation will play an instrumental role in helping us close the critical skills gap in the cybersecurity workforce." ThriveDX partners with top-tier academic institutions, enterprises and governments globally to offer advanced, professional development programs in cybersecurity and digital technology. With a mission to upskill and reskill lifelong learners and career changers from under-resourced communities in cybersecurity, ThriveDX operates in two divisions education and enterprise with the intent to close the rapidly-growing digital skills gap. With more than 50 academic institution partners globally and partnerships with thousands of Fortune 500 organizations, ThriveDX is on the path to creating a diverse workforce and enabling generational impact. To learn more about ThriveDX, visit https://thrivedx.com/ About ThriveDX ThriveDX is the global leader in cybersecurity education, and an expert in providing cybersecurity training to upskill and reskill lifelong learners. Our teams are made up of military trained cyber experts, industry veterans and seasoned educators united to close the worldwide skills and talent gap in cybersecurity. Operating in two divisions education and enterprise ThriveDX's award-winning solutions exist to bridge the skills gap and impact the talent shortage in the cybersecurity and overall tech industry. The Education sector partners with top-tier academic institutions, enterprises, and government branches globally to offer advanced, professional development programs in cybersecurity and digital technology. The Enterprise branch (formulated by companies formerly known as Cybint Solutions, Kontra Application Security, Lucy Security, ThriveDX Labs, and HackerU Pro), is a suite of products and services that cater to non-technical employees, developers, IT professionals and anyone in between. For more information, visit https://thrivedx.com/ SOURCE ThriveDX Zero Day Initiative expands Pwn2Own competition as connected car threats surge DALLAS, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), a global cybersecurity leader, announced today that the Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative's (ZDI's) Pwn2Own bug bounty competition will launch a new event next year designed to make the connected vehicle ecosystem more secure. In recognition of the growing importance of and threat to the connected vehicle ecosystem, a standalone competition Pwn2Own Automotive will take place in January 2024 at Automotive World Tokyo. Pwn2Own challenges researchers to find and exploit vulnerabilities in software and devices before cybercriminals do. Tweet this Brian Gorenc, VP of threat research at Trend Micro: "A car isn't just a car today. New vehicles offer systems and components that deliver enhanced computing power but also broaden the cyber-attack surface. Through our VicOne subsidiary and now Pwn2Own, Trend Micro protects this fast-growing part of the connected digital world for all global citizens." Now in its 17th year, Pwn2Own challenges the world's best hackers to find and exploit vulnerabilities in widely used software and devices before threat actors exploit them. Pwn2Own Automotive will accomplish three goals: Further automotive research by encouraging researchers to contribute and be financially rewarded for reports covering various products and platforms. Illuminate the attack surface by highlighting critical technologies that need to be evaluated. Incentivize the discovery of challenging and complex threats by offering increased bounties for multi-system attacks. Automotive systems have played an increasingly prominent role in Pwn2Own over recent years, spearheaded by participation from Tesla. A team won the overall Master of Pwn award in 2019 after successfully hacking a Tesla Model 3. Then last year, competitors were able to demonstrate the exploitation of two more unique bugs in the car's infotainment system. The electric carmaker will return to Pwn2Own Vancouver as a sponsor in 2023, once again offering a Model 3 as a potential prize for successful participants. About Trend Micro Trend Micro, a global cybersecurity leader, helps make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Fueled by decades of security expertise, global threat research, and continuous innovation, Trend Micro's cybersecurity platform protects hundreds of thousands of organizations and millions of individuals across clouds, networks, devices, and endpoints. As a leader in cloud and enterprise cybersecurity, the platform delivers a powerful range of advanced threat defense techniques optimized for environments like AWS, Microsoft, and Google, and central visibility for better, faster detection and response. With 7,000 employees across 65 countries, Trend Micro enables organizations to simplify and secure their connected world. www.TrendMicro.com. SOURCE Trend Micro Incorporated VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Trevali Mining Corporation ("Trevali" or the "Company") announced today that, in accordance with an order of the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the "Court") dated January 9, 2023 (the "Receivership Order"), effective as of January 24, 2023 at 11:59pm PST, the Court appointed FTI Consulting Canada Inc. as receiver, without security, of all the assets, undertakings and property of Trevali Mining (New Brunswick) Ltd. ("Trevali (NB)") (owner of the Caribou Mine in northern New Brunswick, Canada), including all proceeds thereof, other than any real property, mineral claims, mining leases, or real property leases owned or held by Trevali (NB). Trevali also announced that Steven Molnar has resigned as a director of Trevali Mining (Maritimes) Ltd. and Trevali (NB), effective immediately. Steven Molnar will remain as the Company's Chief Legal Officer. All inquiries regarding the proceedings of the Company under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act ("CCAA"), including inquiries regarding the Receivership Order, should be directed to FTI Consulting Canada Inc. (email: [email protected] or telephone: +1-877-294-8998). Information about the Company's CCAA proceedings, including all court orders made, are available at http://cfcanada.fticonsulting.com/trevali/. About Trevali Mining Corporation Trevali is a base-metals mining company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. For further details on Trevali, readers are referred to the Company's website (www.trevali.com) and to Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management of the Company as of the date the statements are published, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by law. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "outlook", "guidance", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative of these terms or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's expectations or beliefs regarding future events including, but not limited to, statements with respect to the CCAA proceedings and creditor protection and the restructuring process, including the outcome thereof. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, operating in foreign jurisdictions with risk of changes to governmental regulation; compliance with governmental regulations; compliance with environmental laws and regulations; maintaining ongoing social license to operate; limitations inherent in our insurance coverage; litigation; and other risks of the mining industry including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties that are more fully described in the Company's annual information form, interim and annual audited consolidated financial statements and management's discussion and analysis of those statements, all of which are filed and available for review under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Trevali provides no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events may differ from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. SOURCE Trevali Mining Corporation Launches "100 Wishes for 100 Years" for Make-A-Wish International LINDEN, N.J., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Turtle & Hughes, Inc., one of the nation's largest privately-held industrial and power distributors, today inaugurates the 100 Year Celebration of its founding on January 29, 1923, with a commitment to raise its own ambitious bar for driving sustainable solutions that will improve how people work, play and live in a time of profound energy transition. As a fourth-generation, family-owned company led by women through three eras including the present Turtle intends to power its next 100 years by enabling its private and public sector customers across industry to achieve significant milestones. Turtle will build on its track record to date, transforming infrastructure in major airports, railways, bridges and ports across the country; building micro-grids; creating energy efficiencies in health care, commercial and artistic spaces; and contributing to a NASA Space Launch project. "With innovation at our core, we are a young company at heart. We expect to achieve great heights for our customers by delivering extraordinary technical expertise with passion and a deep understanding of their businesses," said Jayne Millard, Turtle's Executive Chairman of the Board and great-granddaughter of one of its founders, M.B. Turtle. "In turn, we pledge to provide our employees with the tools and opportunities they need to advance their professionalism and care for their families. And together, we will complete the circle by making philanthropic contributions to advance the health and well-being of the communities we touch." In keeping with Turtle's ethos of giving, Millard has announced the company's goal to grant "100 Wishes for 100 Years," a fundraising campaign benefitting Make-A-Wish. Millard serves as Vice Chair of the Board for Make-A-Wish International, whose mission is to create life-changing wishes for children living with critical illnesses, providing hope and joy during an otherwise difficult time. Millard proudly hails from a line of women who were ahead of their time. Ethel Macnamara Turtle, after navigating through the Depression with her husband M.B Turtle, took the reins in the 1940s. Millard's mother, Suzanne Turtle Millard, propelled growth by cementing strong customer relationships and an employee culture of trust. Jayne Millard, who has been at Turtle for 32 years and rose to CEO in 2010, has built the company's omni-channel delivery platform and drives its vision for transformative sustainability projects around the world. "Turtle is in a unique position to help customers address their most challenging business issues. We represent some of the most respected manufacturers in North America, and bring our expertise to bear in working with them, our supply chain partners and our customers to design solutions with real impact," said Kathleen Shanahan, CEO of Turtle. Examples: Airports: At Boston Logan International Airport, Turtle is advancing energy efficient LED lighting for Terminal E where President Joe Biden celebrated the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act airport funding project. At LAX, Turtle contributed to the "People Mover" Airport Metro Connector Transit Station, so riders can transfer quickly and easily between the airport and metro systems. At JFK International Airport, Turtle is part of a major expansion including the new Terminal 1 and Terminal 6, partnering with Eaton Corporation to provide key electrical components. Turtle is advancing energy efficient LED lighting for Terminal E where President celebrated the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act airport funding project. At Turtle contributed to the "People Mover" Airport Metro Connector Transit Station, so riders can transfer quickly and easily between the airport and metro systems. At Turtle is part of a major expansion including the new Terminal 1 and Terminal 6, partnering with Eaton Corporation to provide key electrical components. Solar & Wind Balance of Systems. In Maryland , Turtle is providing all the balance of systems equipment for three solar installations expected to generate 34.5 million Kwh/year. Over the 25-year contract term, the anticipated greenhouse gas emissions reduction will equal removing 113,931 cars from the roads for a year. In , Turtle is providing all the balance of systems equipment for three solar installations expected to generate 34.5 million Kwh/year. Over the 25-year contract term, the anticipated greenhouse gas emissions reduction will equal removing 113,931 cars from the roads for a year. Wastewater Plants: Turtle is partnering with Hewitt Young Electric for Chemung Waste Water Treatment Plant, the largest to be installed in Upstate NY in the last ten years. Turtle is partnering with Hewitt Young Electric for Chemung Waste Water Treatment Plant, the largest to be installed in Upstate NY in the last ten years. Boston's Transportation System. As part of an $8 billion , 5-year capital investment plan by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Turtle provides energy-efficient lighting packages to renovate public transportation, linking neighborhoods that historically did not have access to fast, reliable service. By increasing ridership by more than 50,000 trips per day, this project will significantly reduce vehicle emissions. As part of an , 5-year capital investment plan by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Turtle provides energy-efficient lighting packages to renovate public transportation, linking neighborhoods that historically did not have access to fast, reliable service. By increasing ridership by more than 50,000 trips per day, this project will significantly reduce vehicle emissions. NASA Artemis program. To advance NASA's goal to put people back on the moon by 2024 Turtle partnered with Bechtel to supply LED lighting products in Stage 1 of the Mobile Launcher II construction. The majority of products came from Eaton's Crouse-Hinds. "Much has changed since my great grandparents first opened our doors in 1923, but one thing remains constant: our ability to adapt and transform to the requirements of our customers, and our commitment to help each employee be the very best they can be for themselves, their families, our customers and our company," said Jayne Millard. www.turtle.com worldwish.org Media Inquiries: Lynthia Romney (914) 589-2140 [email protected] Julie Wyckoff (203) 520-8711 [email protected] SOURCE Turtle & Hughes HOUSTON, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Uncle Funky's Daughter , a black-owned and woman-owned natural hair care brand, announces additional retail expansion in 2023 in Target, CVS, Walgreens and Roundys. Starting January 2023, Supercurl Miracle Moisture Creme will launch in 500 Target stores and will be available to shop on Target's website and app. Curly Magic will continue to be available in all Target stores nationwide. We are excited to continue to partner with national retailers who believe in our brand and our growth strategy. Tweet this The award-winning 3 in 1 Shine Booster will be available at 900 Walgreens stores, increasing the brand's product offering to 5 products on select Walgreens' shelves and online, with Curly Magic available in 4500 stores nationwide. Similarly, the Split End Serum will launch in 200 CVS stores nationwide, providing the brand's fan base 5 products to shop directly at their local CVS stores. This move compliments the #1 selling Curly Magic, available in over 7260 stores nationwide. Roundy's has announced the retailer will stock Curly Magic and the Ultimate Travel Kit on the shelves in stores nationwide. "I am excited to continue to partner with national and regional retailers who believe in our brand and our growth strategy. These moves enable our Funky Junkies to have increased access to the products they love. We are blessed to have Funky Junkies who have trusted us with their hair care needs," said Renee Rhoten Morris, Chief Curl Officer of Uncle Funky's Daughter. About Uncle Funky's Daughter Uncle Funky's Daughter is a black- and woman- owned hair care brand created with a mission to support women, men, and children in their quest to confidently showcase their beauty - naturally. Uncle Funky's Daughter curates high-quality all-natural hair products that are designed to naturally satisfy every curl in the world while helping protect the earth's valuable resources. Free of sulfates, parabens, mineral oils, petroleum, EDTA and harsh chemicals, Uncle Funky's Daughter full suite of products is available to shop at www.unclefunkysdaughter.com or at select Target, Walgreens, CVS, Kroger, Wegmans, HEB, Rite Aid, regional grocery and independent retailers nationally. SOURCE Uncle Funky's Daughter Announces Work With Publicis And Dentsu, Advisors Actor Adrian Grenier, Activist Chelsea Miller And Ex-Lyft Exec Mike Masserman LOS ANGELES, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ValuesCo ( www.values.co ), a Web3 startup powering community-driven rewards ecosystems for good, has closed a $2.7 Million seed round. With the climate crisis, rising inequity, and hyperpolarization, 83% of Millennials & Gen Zs desire brands to align with their values ( 5WPR's 2020 Consumer Culture Report ). ValuesCo is enabling a collaborative future for brands, creators and nonprofits to co-create social & environmental impact with their audiences. The platform transforms marketing and community engagement into participatory experiences driving quantifiable impact. "I started ValuesCo to empower young people to feel more agency and understand that grassroots solutions to the world's biggest challenges are possible," says Co-founder & CEO Andrew Berkowitz. ValuesCo (formerly Socialstack) has been used by watersports brand Starboard to incentivize cleanup of 770,000 pounds of ocean plastic, AfrofutureDAO to drive $1.1 Million to African history preservation, Christie's to launch a social token experience, and the first two nonprofits to launch rewards tokens Gen Z-founded OneUpAction debuted at Billie Eilish's 2022 tour. The startup has begun working with global advertising holding companies Publicis Groupe and dentsu on client concepts and projects. 43 of the top 100 brands ( Interbrand Best Global Brands 2022 ) have entered Web3 including Nike & Reddit with loyalty being the most common use case. Learning about this technology by harnessing it to build connection and community has become standard. However, brand purpose hasn't been a core component, though acting on and communicating purpose has soared over recent years. Investors in the round include leading Web3 funds including Flori Ventures, Metaweb Ventures, OWN Fund, and angels such as Celo President Rene Reinsberg and entrepreneur Richard Spanton Jr. ValuesCo has brought on key strategic advisors such as actor & UN Goodwill Ambassador Adrian Grenier, Gen Z activist & Muhammad Ali Foundation Humanitarian of the Year '21 Chelsea Miller, ex-Lyft head of global policy & social impact Mike Masserman, and philosopher & author of Sacred Economics Charles Eisenstein. "I am honored to join ValuesCo as an advisor building blockchain tools that are easy to use and align monetary value exchange with real human value, are the foundation to an inclusive Web3," says Adrian Grenier. "The team's mission is fully aligned with my personal values." ValuesCo focuses on several gaps in Web3: education, consumer adoption of Web3 wallets, hands-on support required to launch a social token, and real-world impact. New paradigms of communities will emerge this decade through Web3's enabling technology, and ValuesCo is committed to steering brands, nonprofits, and creators to build with purpose. Values disrupts rewards & loyalty and the experience economy with purpose-driven communities and activations. Missions enable brands to enter Web3 without directly interfacing with blockchain. The Values App enables rewards ecosystems for communities and time-bound activations launched by brands. Values empowers communities to design & launch a social token with no code or blockchain knowledge. Community members create wallets instantaneously with phone/email login and earn tokens by completing actions and submitting proof via photo/social media, scanning QR codes, and more. Tokens are redeemed for rewards like products, experiences, and digital collectibles. Starboard's customers have participated in beach cleanups and verified goods purchased to earn branded tokens that can be redeemed for trees planted, discounts, and merchandise. Today, the company unveils its new product Missions to drive shared purpose activations where brands and consumers embark on journeys together. Missions call on brands to champion impact goals that are reached through community action. "Corporations have largely not built in-roads to incentivize their communities to contribute to ESG performance," says Justin Markell, ValuesCo Chief Strategy Officer "It's time for a shift where consumers help fulfill on shared purpose with their actions and produce exponential change." With Missions, brands fund a reward pool and invite collaborators, including nonprofits & creators on ValuesCo, while unlocking the storytelling potential of the metaverse. The climate positive app is built on Ethereum, Polygon and Celo. Over the past year, ValuesCo has cemented itself as a leader in the Web3 community space, empowering its communities to receive $2 Million in grant funding from blockchains including its own $350,000 grant fund, backed by Celo and its Climate Collective . It launched tokens for BridgingTheGap Ventures , which calls World Health Organization & Pitbull collaborators, and renowned DJ/activist BLOND:ISH's Bye Bye Plastic foundation. AfrofutureDAO, the first community on ValuesCo, is announcing a $1.65M grant from The HBAR Foundation, and the launch of its app for museums and cultural institutions. The DAO is a collective of African creators monetizing and digitizing art and historical archives to uplift the continent. The name reflects the organization's belief that society must realign economic value with values to create a just, regenerative future. "Value" in Latin is to be worth, or importance of something. "Co" is together. "Web3 enables new means of exchange, but we're after something deeper to help communities create value together," Berkowitz explains. "By providing tools that align value with values through action, we see Web3 as a way to drive thousands of experiments that incentivize positive behavior through new forms of rewards and shared ownership." About ValuesCo - https://values.co/ ValuesCo is a climate-positive Web3 technology and experience company that powers rewards ecosystems for good. Brands, nonprofits and creators use our tools to inspire action that aligns value with values for the next gen. Founded & led by Millennials & Gen Zs, we believe a thriving world is realized through radical collaboration, access, and fun. ValuesCo is a 1% for the Planet member. About Publicis Groupe - https://www.publicisgroupe.com/ Founded in 1926 and headquartered in Paris, Publics is the 3rd largest communications group in the world. Through a powerful alchemy of creativity and technology, we are driving business transformation across the entire value chain. Clients include Walmart, Verizon, Disney, and Visa. About dentsu - https://www.dentsu.com/ Dentsu is the network designed for what's next, helping clients predict and plan for disruptive future opportunities in the sustainable economy. Taking a people-centered approach to business transformation, dentsu combines Japanese innovation with a diverse, global perspective to drive client growth and to shape society. About Celo - https://celo.org/ Celo is a carbon negative blockchain. It began with the intention of becoming the first carbon neutral platform by contributing offsets through the network protocol, making the resources powering it carbon-negative from the get-go. To date, Celo has offset over 2,285 tons of carbon through its work with Project Wren. It's equal to the CO2 absorbed by 320,000 pine trees for a year. It's enough to make Celo 8 times carbon negative based on Wren's estimates. Contact: Andrew Berkowitz [email protected] SOURCE ValuesCo CHICAGO, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Waste Heat Recovery System Market by Application (Preheating and Steam & Electricity Generation), End-Use Industry (Petroleum Refining, Metal Production, Cement, Chemicals, Pulp & Paper), and Region - Global Forecast to 2027", size is expected to grow from USD 72.5 billion in 2022 to USD 102.1 billion by 2027 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1% during the forecast period. The main factor driving the WHRS market during the forecast period includes the government regulations, awareness towards fighting climate change and global warming. Also, increase in interests related to energy efficient options and related technology across the globe is providing momentum to the growth of the market. Browse in-depth TOC on "Waste Heat Recovery System Market" 208 Tables 38 Figures 222 Pages Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=202657867 Growing environmental concerns and surging need for energy efficient systems are a key to market growth The greatest challenge to countries around the world in terms of economics, politics, development, and the environment is global climate change. Improving energy efficiency is the most cost-effective and dependable means of reducing carbon emissions and thereby saving money. Energy supply for long-term economic development is an objective shared by both industrialized and developing countries. The heat generated by the exhaust manufacturing plants increases the carbon footprint and has a detrimental influence on the environment. Waste heat recovery systems are a reasonable option for increasing the total energy efficiency of industrial manufacturing processes, hence increasing WHRS demand. Energy security and sustainable development are significant in every industry, as the worldwide price of electricity and other energy sources has risen. To resolve these obstacles, industries are moving toward self-sufficiency in energy generation by using any useful fuel, such as biomass, household waste, or waste heat from an industrial operation. The expansion of the waste heat recovery system market is being supported by all of these factors, and this trend is anticipated to continue during the forecast period. Steam & electricity generation is expected to have highest CAGR in the forecast period The WHRS are used in a variety of sectors to generate steam and electricity. Companies can considerably lower their energy expenditures by adopting these WHRS systems to generate steam or electricity. The increased demand for energy, as well as the emphasis on making operations more energy efficient, is driving the market for WHRS in steam and electricity generation applications in sectors such as metal manufacturing, chemical, petroleum refining, and cement. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=202657867 The Europe to be the biggest market during the projection period. Due to the strict government regulations and rising interest in energy efficient methods, Europe has become the largest growing and profitable market for "WHRS market". The development of modern technology and implementation of sustainable practices especially in Germany, Russia, France, UK is a key driver for growth in this market. Market Players The major key players in the WHRS market are ABB Ltd. (Switzerland), Wood (John Wood Group Plc) (UK), Ormat Technologies Inc. (U.S.), General Electric Co. (US), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (Japan), Echogen Power Systems Inc. (US), Econotherm Ltd. (UK), Thermax Limited (India), Siemens AG (Germany), Cool Energy Inc. (Colorado) and others. Browse Adjacent Market: Equipment Machine and Tooling Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Heat Exchangers Market - Global Forecast to 2026 Shell & Tube Heat Exchanger Market- Global Forecast to 2027 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/waste-heat-recovery-system.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/waste-heat-recovery-system-market.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets First of its kind repository and analysis of public DEI and ESG reporting WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Women Business Collaborative (WBC) releases the WBC DEI Snapshot with the help of University of New Haven Pompea College of Business (UNH) and Gender Fair. This major study evaluates public DEI information from 553 companies including the Fortune 500 and 53 companies from S&P, Russell 3000 and private companies. WBC analyzed companies' publicly available DEI Annual Reports, ESG reports and EEO-1 data as of October 2022. Assessing companies across 28 metrics the DEI Snapshot includes a dashboard of key public statistics on DEI, a repository for each company's reports, and identifies the top 10% most transparent companies. The DEI Brief highlights the key findings and how companies are showcasing their work in DEI. Read it here . "Transparent data is critical to business success and accelerating true diversity, equity and inclusion from the boardroom to the community across the business landscape," states Edie Fraser, CEO of WBC. "This first-of-its kind project pulls all public data and reports together to provide a clear look at how companies are reporting and progressing on DEI metrics." The key findings from the reports and publicly available data are useful to all companies working to advance DEI and ESG with transparent data. The WBC DEI Snapshot provides insight anyone can use to start or continue their commitment to DEI practices. The detailed findings are laid out across the following categories: DEI Commitment from top leadership Transparent Workforce Composition Pay Equity Recruitment, Retention, and Promotion Supplier Diversity Social Impact Out of 553 companies, 77% provided leadership development specifically for women, including mentorship and 37% engaged in social impact that benefited women. This data alone proves there are steps in the right direction while work still needs to be done to level the playing field. In analyzing CEO and top leadership commitment, we found the following key findings: 70% of CEOs made a public commitment to DEI. 7% tie executive pay to DEI. 77% tracked employee diversity with 65% breaking diversity out by demographic. 30% track supplier diversity spend. 37% engage in social impact that benefit women. The commitment from leadership to talent management and the community is critical to driving true impact in DEI. The DEI Snapshot furthermore analyzes how transparent companies are with their data and DEI Goals. WBC, along with Gender Fair and UNH, created a scorecard based on the metrics related to what data is published. Based on this rubric 10% of the companies are considered transparent or very transparent when it comes to reporting on DEI. Companies leading the way include P&G, IBM, Pepsi, Prudential and Bank of America. In addition, 34% of the companies published a separate DEI report and 53% have DEI goals with 47% putting DEI in their mission, vision and/or values. WBC will continue to work to track and monitor company commitment and transparency to DEI to increase that figure as more companies embrace and understand DEI as part of an integrated strategy and business imperative. About Women Business Collaborative Women Business Collaborative (WBC) is an unprecedented alliance of 77+ women's business organizations and hundreds of business leaders building a movement to achieve equal positions, pay, and power for all women in business. Through collaboration, advocacy, action, and accountability, we mobilize thousands of diverse professional women and men, business organizations, and public and private companies to accelerate change. Click here to learn more. SOURCE Women Business Collaborative The Composite-Based Additive Manufacturing (CBAM) system is installed at Weber State University's MARS Center at Hill Air Force Base, Utah NORTHBROOK, Ill., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Weber State University is using 3D printing to advance its research on composite materials that support northern Utah's aerospace and defense ecosystem. The university's Miller Advanced Research and Solutions Center recently upgraded and installed the Impossible Objects Composite-Based Additive Manufacturing system, or CBAM-2. The machine prints composite materials that can then be used to design parts for a range of high-tech applications. "We're proud that our 3D printer is now at the forefront of aerospace and defense research with Weber St." Steve Hoover Tweet this CBAM 3D Printer at the Miller Advanced Research and Solutions Center (Hill AFB, Utah) Located near Hill Air Force Base, Utah, the MARS Center brings together Weber State students and faculty with industry experts who can apply innovative solutions to real-world problems, especially in the realm of national defense. "Composite materials are of high interest to the military, and the ability to 3D print those parts on demand with CBAM gives us an advantage to participate in more projects and recruit the best talent," said David Ferro, dean of WSU's College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology. Ferro said Weber State has a long history with Impossible Objects and believes the new system a leap in technology from the center's previous CBAM printer will be a valuable tool in aerospace research among academia, defense and commercial partners. "We've used this technology to print parts for legacy aircraft, aging jets that need replacement parts or tools that aren't in production anymore," said Devin Young, grant writing and research specialist at WSU, who works at the MARS Center. "CBAM makes parts that are lighter and stronger than some of the other methods out there, and it does it faster." Young said a recent example of 3D-printed parts via Impossible Objects includes a strap that keeps first-aid kits secure inside aircraft currently flown by the U.S. Air Force. "We've found a range of uses for this technology, from large aerospace companies to small local businesses," Young said. Steve Hoover, Impossible Objects CEO, said the CBAM system's Carbon Fiber PEEK 3D printed material achieves excellent mechanical properties and is a cutting-edge alternative for aluminum prototyping, tooling, spares and repairs. "The MARS Center is at the forefront of aerospace and defense research," Hoover said. "We're proud that they've selected CBAM technology, and have already engaged in several projects that have exciting potential for the Department of Defense, Department of Energy and other industrial partners." The MARS Center opened in August 2022 thanks to a $3.5 million donation from the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation. The CBAM 3D Printer from Impossible Objects is among the first advanced manufacturing technologies to be installed and used at the new facility. About Impossible Objects Impossible Objects, a 3D printer and materials company, was founded with the belief that materials science inventions would enable 3D printing to revolutionize the world in the same ways computers and the internet have revolutionized the way we live, work and play. Impossible Object's CBAM technology combines the production rate of conventional manufacturing with the design flexibility of 3D printing to create high-performance materials at break-neck speeds. These advanced composite materials are lightweight, strong and ideal for a range of industrial applications. By removing the barriers, we've unlocked new opportunities to reshape and rethink manufacturing. Learn more at https://www.impossible-objects.com/ About Weber State University Weber State University is renowned for excellent teaching, accessible educational opportunities and its enduring presence in northern Utah. Weber State serves more than 29,000 students from all walks of life and offers 225+ degree programs, including 20 graduate degrees. Weber State is a premier academic partner for Utah's aerospace and defense industries. WSU students in engineering and computer science are poised to become leading experts in technology that provides innovative solutions to real-world problems in national defense and beyond. For more information, visit weber.edu/east . Media Contact: Ryan Hayford, [email protected] SOURCE Impossible Objects Director Diehl, formerly chief of staff at the U.S. Treasury Department, was tasked with assessing the U.S. Mint's challenges. He proposed to take on overseeing operations after evaluating the Mint's issues. While awaiting Senate confirmation as U.S. Mint Director, Diehl proposed closing the Old San Francisco Mint. The Old San Francisco Mint was in a historic building known as the "granite lady." The building stopped manufacturing coins in 1934 and was acting as a museum. The museum's entrance was a potential structural hazard on the verge of collapsing the next time an earthquake struck the earthquake-prone region. Restoring the structure would cost an estimated 30 million dollars. Diehl's proposal to close the museum caused a media stir, almost jeopardizing his confirmation, and taught him valuable lessons about handling media during a contentious period. Learn more insights from these former Mint Directors on U.S. Money Reserve's website: https://www.usmoneyreserve.com/news/executive-insights/ For more information or to speak with company leadership at U.S. Money Reserve, please contact Christol Farris at 512-568-9991 or [email protected] or visit www.usmoneyreserve.com. About U.S. Money Reserve U.S. Money Reserve is one of the nation's largest private distributors of U.S. governmentissued gold, silver, platinum, and palladium products. Founded in 2001, U.S. Money Reserve has grown into one of the world's largest private distributors of U.S. and foreign governmentissued gold, silver, platinum, and palladium legal-tender products, as well as precious metals IRAs. Hundreds of thousands of clients across the country rely on U.S. Money Reserve to diversify their assets with physical precious metals. U.S. Money Reserve's uniquely trained team includes coin research and numismatic professionals equipped with the expert market knowledge to find products that offer the highest profit potential for precious metals buyers at every level. U.S. Money Reserve goes above the industry standard to provide superior customer service, with the goal of establishing a long-term relationship with each and every one of its customers. U.S. Money Reserve is based in Austin, Texas. Like them on Facebook, connect on LinkedIn, and follow on Twitter @USMoneyReserve. SOURCE U.S. Money Reserve Study Reveals Center Read, Full-Motion Billboards 5.8x More Effective Than Static OOH LOS ANGELES, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With DOOH advertising projected to reach $58B by 2031, WOW Media , a full-motion digital billboard network in Los Angeles, partnered with Neuro-Insight , a neuromarketing and neuroanalytics company pioneering the link between brain activity and consumer behavior, to help brands and advertisers understand the effectiveness of this fast growing medium. In a first of its kind study conducted in the US, results indicated that center-read, full-motion digital billboards are 5.8x more effective than traditional static roadside OOH advertising. "OOH advertising is undergoing a digital revolution and WOW Media made for the perfect case study to examine its true impact. Being a closed network of digital billboards that get over 68,500,000 weekly impressions in a concentrated area (Los Angeles) with the right dynamic feature set, it allows brands to understand the real impact a campaign might have", says Pranav Yandov, CEO of Neuro-Insight. Neuro-Insight used a car-driving simulation with 84 (only 20 is required for a representative sample size for a neuro study) Los Angeles residents for the study. As participants watched the filmed journey, their brain activity was recorded, and a Neuro-Impact Factor (NIF) formula was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the billboards. NIF leverages second-by-second brain activity and gaze data from eye-tracking technology to evaluate how impactful the billboards are. The high-quality imagery, color vibrancy, center read positioning, and visually captivating full-motion WOW digital billboards created stronger memory for the ad, according to Neuro-Insight. Neuro-Insight also examined the impact of interactive ambient lighting in conjunction with each individual ad, displaying primary colors to compliment the art direction of the ads themselves. The interactive ambient lights help to enhance ads and are 5.75x more effective than static billboards without interactive ambient lighting. Results Proved: The results showed unequivocally that, in comparison to traditional static billboards, center read, full-motion digital billboards are 5.8x more effective and likely to deliver a more powerful in-market impact, with more impressions encoded into long-term memory. more effective and likely to deliver a more powerful in-market impact, with more impressions encoded into long-term memory. The results demonstrated that front-facing, centrally positioned DOOH billboards offer a distinct performance advantage relative to laterally positioned (left or right read), static billboards making center read billboards 3.6x more effective.. Furthermore, centrally positioned billboards offer greater visibility, with the 'front-and-center' nature of their DOOH billboards facilitating enhanced and increased consumer exposure to advertisements. DOOH The results indicated unequivocally that ambient-lit digital sites delivered 5.75x greater neuro responses than traditional, static OOH sites. This is attributed in part to the evolving narratives of digital sites, and in part to interactive ambient lighting, which significantly accentuated DOOH site performance. neuro DOOH Compared to traditional static OOH billboards, DOOH , center read billboards (non full-motion) generated 3.2x more peaks in neuro response and drove more memory activity. neuro These results showed promise for the DOOH industry, demonstrating that repeat viewings of campaigns on DOOH screens can indeed enhance advertising impact, with potential wear out not appearing to be an issue "For the first time, we have science to show the impact digital out-of-home media has on consumers. "It's all about motion, positioning, and quality. Our hope is that this helps better inform brands on how and where to spend their marketing DOOH budget." says Scott Krantz, founder and CEO of WOW Media. WOW Media has been changing the digital landscape with immersive billboards strategically located on the freeway leading to Beverly Hills, Bel Air, and Santa Monica and avenues that lead to SoFi Stadium and LAX. The complete study can be found here. About WOW Media: WOW Media delivers the crisp definition of in-home quality content to out-of-home audiences in the high-traffic Los Angeles locations brands crave. WOW's full-motion immersive billboards beam bigger, bolder, and brighter content than New York's Times Square to create immediate and long-lasting impressions. About Neuro-Insight: Neuro-Insight is the only neuromarketing company that has scientific and commercial validation. It specializes in the neuroscience of marketing communications, pioneering the link between brain activity and consumer behavior with the world's largest and most established database of neuromarketing case studies, norms, and benchmarks. SOURCE WOW Media Digital wealth platform expands product suite with innovative crypto solutions Yield App brings suite of cutting-edge digital asset investment products to its global customer base Deal sees the platform continue to bridge the gap between traditional finance and crypto as the digital asset industry evolves TALLINN, Estonia, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yield App has acquired Trofi Group, a platform that offers structured product solutions for cryptocurrencies, in response to growing investor demand for enhanced yield investment opportunities. The acquisition adds four new structured product strategies to Yield App's product suite that offer the opportunity to capture upside across a range of market conditions. The move positions Yield App as one of the leading digital wealth platforms on the market that acts as a crucial gateway to the digital asset space through sophisticated products. The team at Trofi Group has a combined 30 years of experience working on the derivatives desks at HSBC and J.P. Morgan. They will join Yield App in building out best-in-class crypto structured products that meet the same rigorous standards as their traditional finance equivalents. Commenting on the acquisition, Tim Frost, CEO of Yield App, says: "The acquisition of Trofi Group establishes Yield App as a pioneer within the crypto structured products arena, making us one of only a few platforms to bridge the gap between traditional finance and crypto." "We are grateful to the team at Trofi for trusting us to continue their excellent work in bringing enhanced yield structured products to crypto. We look forward to leveraging the team's vast experience to expand Yield App's suite of digital wealth management solutions." Following the acquisition, Yield App will be launching "Trofi, powered by Yield App": a beta version of a dedicated investment app. The app will allow access to Yield App's first crypto structured products through four different strategies, with additional products to be unveiled in line with market demand. Dual currency provides investors with the opportunity to acquire a cryptocurrency at a lower price at a predetermined point in the future, while also earning yield. provides investors with the opportunity to acquire a at a lower price at a predetermined point in the future, while also earning yield. The Range structured product allows investors to generate yield with a view that markets will remain within a specified price range. structured product allows investors to generate yield with a view that markets will remain within a specified price range. Sharkfin is designed for investors with a moderately bullish view on future prices, and pays a guaranteed minimum coupon with the potential to generate a high yield at maturity. is designed for investors with a moderately bullish view on future prices, and pays a guaranteed minimum coupon with the potential to generate a high yield at maturity. The Target product is designed for investors with a bullish view on the future price of a cryptocurrency , with the potential to earn a high yield. Chief Investment Officer of Yield App, Lucas Kiely, adds: "Structured products have been a core offering under wealth management for years. But in crypto, structured products have not yet gained the prominence they have in traditional finance." "As cryptocurrency markets mature, we find ourselves at a perfect inflection point to introduce digital asset structured products that are built with the same methodology and benefits as an exciting alternative for investors with different risk appetites and objectives." About Yield App Yield App is a digital wealth platform that offers safe custody of digital assets, or allows customers to exchange and earn on their assets in return for market-leading rates. Its mission is to safely unlock the full potential of digital assets, combine them with the most rewarding opportunities available across financial markets and make these available to the masses. Yield App's innovative technology platform seamlessly bridges traditional and decentralized finance in the easiest way possible and is supported by Yield App Labs, a dedicated in-house research and development arm, backed by a highly experienced, best-in-class DeFi team. Yield App Labs collaborates with and invests in Web3 projects that share Yield App's vision for a permissionless future. SOURCE Yield App By News Center In an effort to weave an iron web around Bursa, the Metropolitan Municipality added the University Gorukle metro line to its investment portfolio. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan laid the cornerstone for the project that will be carried out by the Transportation Ministry. Bursa, which met with rail transportation thanks to the 2,002-km line, of which 17 km was put into service for the first time, has covered a significant distance in railway transportation in the last 20 years. While 100 km more lines were added to Bursaray, where approximately 22 million passengers were transported last year, the total line length from Kestel to University and Emek increased to 39 kilometers. In addition, a total of 1 km of tram line has been added to the city, together with the T3 and T2 line in the city center and the T16.7 line between the City Square and the Terminal. While the Metropolitan Municipality realized all these investments with its own means, the Ministry of Transport stepped in for new rail system investments. Emek-Sehir Hospital Rail System Line, designed by the Metropolitan Municipality in order to provide uninterrupted transportation to Bursa City Hospital, was transferred to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure with the decision of the Council of Ministers. While the construction of the 6.1-km 4-station line, which was started by the Ministry, continues, 60 percent of the pile works of the project have been completed, and the physical realization rate of excavation and filling works has increased to 33 percent. Meanwhile, the ministry supported the project of the Metropolitan Municipality to extend the western line, which ends at the Uludag University campus, to Gorukle, where 'student settlement is dense'. The University-Gorukle extension with a length of 3,5 km and two stations was included in the Emek-YHT Station-Sehir Hospital project, where the construction continues. The foundation of the new line, which will provide uninterrupted access to the university and the city center of the people of Gorukle, 'especially university students', was laid with a ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan himself. The president, who attended the mass opening ceremony in Bursa at the weekend wished the project, which he laid the foundations of, to be beneficial to the city. Metropolitan Mayor Alinur Aktas reminded that all ministries, especially the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, made significant investments in Bursa during this period. Reminding that the advantages of the harmony between the central government and the local government are best seen in Bursa, Mayor Aktas said that the extension of the university line to Gorukle was among our election promises. In this regard, support came from the Ministry of Transport, and investment began. I would like to thank all our ministers, especially our President, who did not withhold their support and investments from Bursa. Within the scope of the 3.5 km Gorukle line project, which will pass underground in the form of cut-and-cover, along with the existing warehouse in Odunluk, a warehouse with an area of ??93,500 square meters will be built to serve the repair-maintenance and parking needs of the entire metro vehicle fleet of the city. ??Ahora | El ministro de Economia y Finanzas, @AlexContreras_M, en entrevista via @exitosape para informar sobre el balance economico del pais y los avances del plan #ConPunchePeru?????? que tiene como objetivo la reactivacion economica. pic.twitter.com/12Ii4VYIbM Frankfurt, Jan 26 : Two people were killed and five injured in a knife attack on a regional train in northern Germany, officials said. A man attacked passengers with a knife on a train travelling from Kiel to Hamburg shortly before 3:00 p.m. local time on Wednesday before arriving at Brokstedt station. He was arrested shortly afterwards, a police spokesman was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying. The station was sealed off by the police to allow emergency services to continue their work. Germany's state-owned rail operator Deutsche Bahn announced on Twitter that there would be train cancelations between Hamburg, Kiel and Neumuenster. A spokeswoman for the police in Itzehoe, a city close to Brokstedt, said that further details remained elusive. Jerusalem, Jan 26 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected senior economists' warnings about the impact of his government's controversial plan to overhaul the judiciary. In a press conference broadcast on Israel's main TV channels, Netanyahu said concerns about the planned judicial reforms' harm to the country's economy are "a tsunami of lies", Xinhua news agency reported. "Our steps to bolster democracy will not harm the economy," he said, adding the reforms will boost the economic growth. Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, re-took office at the helm of Israel's most right-wing government in history in December 2022. The judicial reforms, which are still in the legislative process, would increase the government's control over the appointment of judges and limit the Supreme Court's ability to overturn laws passed by the parliament or government decisions. Earlier on Wednesday, some 270 Israeli economists, including a Nobel laureate, senior university professors and former senior directors of Israel's central bank, warned in an "emergency letter" that the judicial overhaul "will cause unprecedented damage to the Israeli economy". It came a day after Amir Yaron, governor of the Bank of Israel, warned Netanyahu of the potential effects of the reforms and conveyed to him warnings made by senior executives from credit rating firms at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week. San Francisco, Jan 26 : Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has announced that it will be reinstating former US President Donald Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts in the coming weeks. The announcement was made by Meta's President of Global Affairs Meta Nick Clegg in a blogpost on Wednesday. Meta had suspended Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts for two years following his praise for people engaged in violence at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. "The suspension was an extraordinary decision taken in extraordinary circumstances. The normal state of affairs is that the public should be able to hear from a former President of the US, and a declared candidate for that office again, on our platforms," Clegg elaborated in the blogpost. "Like any other Facebook or Instagram user, Mr. Trump is subject to our Community Standards. In light of his violations, he now also faces heightened penalties for repeat offenses - penalties which will apply to other public figures whose accounts are reinstated from suspensions related to civil unrest under our updated protocol," he added. Clegg also said that Meta is reinstating Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts, however, with new guardrails in place to "deter repeat offenses". "We know that any decision we make on this issue will be fiercely criticised. Reasonable people will disagree over whether it is the right decision. But a decision had to be made, so we have tried to make it as best we can in a way that is consistent with our values and the process we established...," he asserted. Washington, Jan 26 : US President Joe Biden announced that Washington is sending 31 heavy M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine as part of Washington's continued support for the war-torn nation. The US-made military vehicle is one of the most modern battle tanks in the world and requires extensive training to operate. Addressing reporters at the White House on Wednesday, Biden said the decision to send the tanks came after his conversation earlier in the day "with our NATO Allies -- German Chancellor (Olaf) Scholz, French President (Emmanuel) Macron, UK Prime Minister (Rishi) Sunak, and the Italian Prime Minister (Giorgia) Meloni -- to continue our close coordination in our full support of Ukraine". "(Russian President Vladimir) Putin expected Europe and the US to weaken our resolve... He was wrong from the beginning and he continues to be wrong," he said. According to the President, a Ukrainian tank battalion typically consists of 31 tanks, which is why that number has been agreed upon. "The Abrams tanks are the most capable tanks in the world. They're also extremely complex to operate and maintain, so we're also giving Ukraine the parts and equipment necessary to effectively sustain these tanks on the battlefield," he said. Biden's announcement came just hours after Germany said it would send 14 of its Leopard 2 tanks to the battlefield. Berlin also cleared the way for other European countries to send German-made tanks from their own stocks. In his address, Biden said he was grateful to Chancellor Scholz for providing German Leopard 2 tanks and will lead an effort to organise the European contribution of two tank battalions for Ukraine. "I want to thank the Chancellor for his leadership and his steadfast commitment to our collective efforts to support Ukraine. Germany has really stepped up, and the Chancellor has been a strong, strong voice for unity, a close friend, and for the level of effort we're going to continue." Besides the US and Germany, the UK had recently announced that it was donating Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine, while rance is contributing AMX-10s, armoured fighting vehicles. In addition to the Leopard tanks, Germany is also sending a Patriot missile battery and the Netherlands is donating a Patriot missile and launchers. France, Canada, the UK, Slovakia and Norway have all donated critical air defence systems. Biden also said that "Poland is sending armoured vehicles, Sweden is donating infantry fighting vehicles, Italy is giving artillery, Denmark and Estonia are sending howitzers, Latvia is providing more Stinger missiles, Lithuania is providing anti-aircraft guns, and Finland recently announced its largest package of security assistance to date". "Together with our allies and partners, we've sent more than 3,000 armoured vehicles, more than 8,000 artillery systems, more than 2 million rounds of artillery ammunition, and more than 50 advanced multi-launch rocket systems, anti-ship and air defence systems, all to help Ukraine counter brutal aggression that is happening because of Russia," he added. The twin announcements by the US and Germany was hailed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky who said it was a turning point that would allow its military to regain momentum and take back occupied territory almost a year after Moscow invaded. "An important step on the path to victory. Today the free world is united as never before for a common goal -- liberation of Ukraine," he said. Kabul, Jan 26 : A top UN official said that the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan are planning to set up new rules to allow women to work in some humanitarian operations. Speaking to the BBC, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths said he had received "encouraging responses" from a wide range of Taliban Ministers during talks in Kabul, even if last month's edict banning Afghan women working for NGOs was not reversed. "It's worth remembering that, this year, Afghanistan is the biggest humanitarian aid programme in the world ever," Griffiths said. This year, agencies will try to reach 28 million Afghans, more than half the population, including six million who are "knocking on famine's door", the top UN official told the BBC. This week, Griffiths has held back-to-back meetings in Kabul with senior Taliban government leaders about the edict banning Afghan women from working with aid organisations. "If women do not work in humanitarian operations, we do not reach, we do not count, the women and girls we need to listen to. In all humanitarian operations around the world, women and girls are the most vulnerable," he said. "I think they're listening... and they told me they will be issuing new guidelines in due course which I hope will help us reinforce the role of women." Griffiths's trip to Kabul comes in the wake of last week's visit by the UN's second-in-command Amina Mohammed. But Afghanistan is witnessing the coldest winter in a decade, the window is closing for an urgent relief effort. Several aid agencies, who rely enormously on their Afghan female staff have already suspended their operations. "I cannot think of an international priority as high as this one to keep this extraordinarily important massive programme alive," Griffiths told the BBC. Kanpur, Jan 26 : A Muslim youth allegedly lured an 18-year-old girl from Kanpurs Gujaini area to Lucknow and held her hostage for 25 days. The girl has alleged that she was forced to convert to Islam and when she refused, she was beaten up and threatened that she would be burnt alive. According to the victim, the youth, identified as Shahnawaz, after befriending her through their common friend, had invited her to his place sometime in December last year, on the pretext of a job in a beauty parlour. When she tried to escape, Shahnawaz on January 3 beat her up with a belt and wire and even tried to kill her by pouring kerosene oil on her. The girl somehow apprised her family members about her plight via mobile. They reached Lucknow and brought her to Kanpur where she was admitted to a private nursing home in Juhi. They also alerted the police. The girl was later shifted to Ursala hospital in the city. Later, the girl's family members lodged a complaint with the Gujaini police. Subsequently, the police reached the hospital and initiated an investigation by recording the statement of the girl. ADCP, South, Ankita Sharma, said that "an FIR has been registered at the Gujaini police station following a complaint under sections 323, 326 of IPC and SC/ST Act in this regard". Giving details, the official said: "The 18-year-old girl had gone to Lucknow in search of a job, where she became friends with one Shahnawaz. They stayed together for a few days. However, as per the girl, following a dispute Shahnawaz thrashed her and even tried to burn her by pouring kerosene oil on her. The girl was brought to Kanpur by her family members and admitted to a private nursing home of Juhi, from where she was shifted to Ursula hospital. Efforts are on to arrest the youth. The charge of conversion will be verified only after his arrest." Prayagraj, Jan 26 : A court in Prayagraj has convicted Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi in a 2014 case under sections 147 (punishment for rioting) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the IPC during the Lok Sabha election campaign over eight years ago. The court sentenced the Minister, who was taken into custody, to one-year imprisonment but released him on bail on his plea that he needed time to file an appeal against his conviction and also since the sentence awarded to him was ess than three years' imprisonment. At the same time, the court acquitted Nandi of the charges of allegedly committing atrocities on members of the Scheduled Caste community. The court ordered the release of Nandi and two others on filing two bail bonds of Rs 20,000 each. Special Judge (MP/MLA court) Dinesh Chandra Shukla passed the above order after hearing the arguments of district government counsel (criminal) Gulab Chandra Agrahari, assistant district government counsel Sushil Kumar Vaish and Nandi's advocates. The others convicted with Nandi were Neeraj Gupta and Nizamuddin. One Kamal was acquitted by the court. Nandi was a Congress candidate in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. One Venkat Raman Shukla had filed a complaint against Nandi and others. He alleged that on May 3, 2014, Samajwadi Party workers were assaulted when Nandi challenged them and casteist words were used against them. Lucknow, Jan 26 : The Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey Sainik School in Lucknow has rusticated six students, terminated a staff member and served a show cause notice to another, a day after students of Sainik School and St Joseph College clashed during the Republic Day parade rehearsal. Meanwhile, the Unaided Private Schools Association (UPSA), UP, has lodged a complaint with District Magistrate Suryapal Gangwar against Sainik School cadets. The letter said the boys of Sainik School hurled abuses and assaulted 74 students of St Joseph College. Also, 25 girls in the bagpipes band, who accompanied students, were harassed by Sainik School boys. Sainik School principal Col Rajesh Raghav, said: "It all started with a verbal spat between the students of St Joseph School and Sainik School. It soon turned ugly and both groups came to blows. The incident was out in the open and that too in broad daylight. "I immediately reached the spot and brought the situation under control. In a complaint letter by UPSA, it has been said that school cadets were involved in violence and students of St Joseph were on the receiving end. It is a pack of lies. Both the groups were at fault as students of both groups got wounded. As far as the charges of harassment are concerned, it is clear that the issue is being stretched to a dirty level. "Soon after the incident, the school withdrew its contingent from the RD Parade, in which we win prizes almost every year. A staff member who escorted the cadets has been terminated while another has been issued a show cause notice. Though the incident is condemnable and a matter of concern, this volley of baseless allegations and portraying the students of St Joseph as holy cows is equally unfortunate. " The authorities said Sainik School administration took the moral responsibility and a series of actions are testimony to the fact. Founder manager of St Joseph College Anil Agarwal, meanwhile, also lodged a complaint with the District Inspector of All School Rakesh Kumar, district magistrate Suryapal Ganwar, director general school education Vijay Kiran Anand and Lucknow Police Commissioner S.B. Shirodkar. "Our school principal Amita Singh informed that students of Sainik School are beating up our students with belts and boots. She told that one of our class 9 girl students was harassed by a boy from Sainik School during rehearsals. The girl's brother who is our class 9 student was also part of the parade and had a fight with that boy," said Agarwal. "When the boy fought on behalf of his sister, the Sainik School cadet called his classmates and beat up our students. Teachers somehow saved the students and took them to a private hospital for treatment. Even two of our lady teachers were also injured in the incident. Our 34 students, including girls, were injured. As many as five students have got serious head injuries. I want strict action in the matter." Washington, Jan 26 : A lawyer for the teacher who was shot by a six-year-old student in the US state of Virginia, said that school officials were warned multiple times that the boy had carried a gun but failed to take any action. The shooting, which authorities have described as "intentional", took place on January 6 at the Richneck Elementary School in the city of Newport News, about 112 km south of the state capital Richmond, the BBC reported. Abigail Zwerner, the 25-year-old teacher, was released from hospital last week after being treated for her gunshot injury she sustained on her chest. "On that day, over the course of a few hours, three different times, three times, school administration was warned by concerned teachers and employees that the boy had a gun on him at school and was threatening people. But the administration could not be bothered," said lawyer Diane Toscano, who intends to file a lawsuit. "This tragedy was entirely preventable," she said on Wednesday. According to the lawyer, a teacher at the school told an official she believed the young boy had put the gun in his pocket before he went out for recess. The official allegedly responded: "Well, he has little pockets." Another administrator ignored a teacher's request to search the boy and his backpack, the BBC quoted Toscano as saying. According to the police, the gun used by the boy had been legally purchased by his mother. Virginia law prohibits anyone from recklessly leaving a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a way that may endanger a child under 14 years of age. The child, who has not been identified, was taken into custody immediately after the incident. But the police have not announced any charges. #Minsa | La ministra de Salud, Rosa Gutierrez, participa en el encuentro intergubernamental "Salud, compromiso de todos". Alli, las autoridades regionales y del Ejecutivo establecen las acciones necesarias para cumplir con los lineamientos del sector para el 2023. pic.twitter.com/SK83BeKtzp Ayodhya, Jan 26 : Police in Ayodhya have arrested a 20-year-old youth in connection with the rape and murder of four elderly women in separate incidents in the past 50 days. The incidents took place in Ayodhya and Barabanki districts and the police claimed that the youth was not known to the victims and he murdered them in cold blood without any apparent motive. The accused was arrested from Mawai police station area in Ayodhya. Ayodhya Additional SP Atul Kumar Sonkar said: "Amarendra, the accused, killed three women in Barabanki and one woman in Ayodhya. He committed the four murders in the same manner -- first he raped the women and then killed them." The police had released a picture of the suspected killer on social media and six teams of Barabanki police were engaged in his search. The police had also appealed to the public to get him arrested. On December 5, 2022, a 60-year-old woman from Khusheti village of Mawai had left home in the morning. When she did not return till evening, the family members lodged a missing person complaint. The police found her naked body the next day. There were injury marks on the woman's face and head. The post-mortem report revealed that the rape was followed by strangulation. On December 17, the dead body of a 62-year-old woman was found in a similar state in a field in village Ibrahimabad in Ram Sanehi ghat. On December 29, a woman went missing in Thatharha village, 3 km from Ram Sanehi ghat police station of Barabanki. Her body was found in a field the next day. This woman was 55-year-old and the pattern of murder was the same. She was also raped. The police were convinced that the murders had been committed by one person, a "psycho killer who was targeting elderly and middle-aged women". After this, six teams were set up for his arrest. "We received information from Unhauna village under Mawai police station area that on Tuesday a person had attacked a woman and tried to rape and strangulate her. Local residents had caught the person, who was taken into custody by the police," said Satyendra Bhushan Tiwari, deputy SP of Rudauli circle in Ayodhya. "During interrogation, he revealed that he had raped and killed the other women in Barabanki and Ayodhya. He also admitted that he committed the crimes whenever he found middle-aged and elderly women alone in deserted places." Ayodhya : , Jan 26 (IANS) The 'new' Ayodhya which is being developed at a fast pace will also have a bird sanctuary. According to the official spokesman, the Samda lake and bird sanctuary in Ayodhya, is being developed with a budget of more than Rs 10 crore. Situated 110 kilometres from Lucknow, the sanctuary will be able to host tourists looking to stay overnight near it. The Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) has started surveying the villages in Sohawal area where the lake is situated and will register those who could turn a portion of their houses into a homestay to accommodate tourists. Close to 150 bird species including Egyptian vulture, Himalayan griffon, osprey and Siberian stonechat have been sighted at Samda lake. The authority had pressed 22 earth-movers in shifts for two and a half months last year to restore the lake to its original condition. An embankment of 9 metre has been created without using cement and watchtowers have also been set up around the lake. Vice-chairman of the ADA, Vishal Singh, said that the official inauguration of the beautified and restored lake would be done soon. Several projects are nearing completion and we are planning to inaugurate them soon. An ecological resort with a spa will also be developed near the lake site in the coming months with help of a private player to attract tourists visiting the temple town. The authority and local municipal corporation have identified multiple residences within the city that can be turned into homestays. Surveys are on to identify a suitable site in rural parts of the district and 12 to 13 families staying in Sohawal have shown interest in running homestays. New Delhi, Jan 26 : Two Indian-born mathematicians are among the 106 recipients of the prestigious Padma Awards, one of the highest civilian honours of the country, announced on the eve of Republic Day. Indian-American S.R. Srinivasa Varadhan has been honoured with the Padma Vibhushan and Indo-Canadian Sujatha Ramdorai received the Padmi Shri for their stellar contributions in the field of science and engineering. Born in Chennai on January 2, 1940, Srinivasa Varadhan is known for his fundamental contributions to probability theory. The Mathematics professor was awarded the 2007 Abel Prize by the Norwegian Academy of Sciences and Letters "for his fundamental contributions to probability theory and in particular for creating a unified theory of large deviations". Armed with a master's degree (1960) from the University of Madras, Varadhan earned his doctorate (1963) from the Indian Statistical Institute in Calcutta. In 1963, Varadhan came from India as a postdoctoral fellow to the Courant Institute in New York and never left. He is currently Professor of Mathematics and Frank J Gould Professor of Science at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences. He was awarded the Birkhoff Prize (1994), the Margaret and Herman Sokol Award of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, New York University (1995), and the Leroy Steele Prize (1996). In 2008, the Indian government awarded him the Padma Bhushan. Associated with the University of British Columbia, Canada, Sujatha Ramdorai is an algebraic number theorist known for her work on the Iwasawa theory. She is the first Indian to win the prestigious International Centre for Theoretical Physics Ramanujan Prize in 2006 and also a winner of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in 2004. She is also the recipient of the 2020 Krieger-Nelson Prize for her exceptional contributions to mathematics research. Having served at the National Knowledge Commission from 2007-2009, Ramdorai is currently a Member of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India and a Member of the National Innovation Council. She completed her B.Sc. in 1982 from St Joseph's College, Bengaluru, and then got her MSc from Annamalai University in 1985. Ramdorai did her Ph.D in the area of Quadratic forms over function fields and Witt rings of varieties from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. The Padma Awards are conferred by the President of India usually around March/April every year. This year, a total of 106 Padma awards will be conferred to personalities across varied disciplines. The Awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service). Seoul, Jan 26 : The number of babies born in South Korea reached yet another record low in November 2022, reflecting the country's dire population crisis, data revealed on Thursday. A total of 18,982 babies were born in November, plunging 4.3 per cent from the previous year, according to the data from Statistics Korea. It marked the lowest number for any November since the statistics agency started compiling related data in 1981, reports Yonhap News Agency. South Korea remains dogged by a chronic decline in childbirths as many young people delay or give up on having babies in the face of an economic slowdown and high home prices. Over the January-November period, a total number of 231,863 babies were born, down 4.7 per cent from a year earlier. Its total fertility rate -- the average number of children a woman bears in her lifetime -- came to just 0.79 in the third quarter, the data showed. In 2021, it stood at 0.81, marking the fourth straight year to hover below one. It was much lower than the replacement level of 2.1 that would keep South Korea's population stable at 51.5 million. South Korea, which first reported more deaths than births in 2020, is also widely expected to maintain the trend for the third consecutive year in 2022. Over the January-November period, South Korea had 107,004 more deaths. The number of deaths came to 30,107 in November, up 6.1 per cent from a year earlier. Meanwhile, the data showed the number of marriages rose 2.2 percent on-year to 17,458 in November as more people tied the knot following eased Covid-19 regulations. Divorces fell 3.1 per cent on-year to 8,498 in the month. Chennai, Jan 26 : Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi on Thursday unfurled the national flag during the 74th Republic Day celebrations in Chennai. National Anthem was sung during the occasion. Floral petals were showered by the Indian Air Force helicopters. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Chief Secretary Irai Anbu, Director General of Police C. Sylendrababu and senior officers and dignitaries were present on the occasion. Chief Minister Stalin welcomed the Governor and introduced him to Police and Defence personnel. New Delhi, Jan 26 : Strongly condemning the recent vandalisation of Hindu Temples in Australia, India, on its 74th Republic Day, asked Canberra to ensure safety and security of its community there, and take swift action to prevent further such incidents. "The frequency and impunity with which the vandals appear to be operating are alarming, as are the graffiti which include glorification of anti-Indian terrorists," the Indian High Commission in Australia said in a strongly-worded statement on Thursday. "These incidents are clear attempts to sow hatred and division among the peaceful multi-faith and multi-cultural Indian-Australian community." Between January 12 to 23, three Hindu temples in Melbourne were defaced with anti-India graffiti in Melbourne by Khalistan supporters. The vandalisation of Hare Krishna Temple in Melbourne's Albert Park came days after the walls of Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs and BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Melbourne's northern suburb of Mill Park were defaced with anti-India slogans. "Signals that pro-Khalistan elements are stepping up their activities in Australia, actively aided and abetted by members of proscribed terrorist organisations such as the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and other inimical agencies from outside Australia, have been evident for some time," the statement read. In addition, the Indian High Commission in Canberra also conveyed its concerns to the government about the referendums in Melbourne and Sydney, announced by the proscribed Khalistan group, Sikhs for Justice. India said that its concerns have repeatedly been shared with the Australian government, and hoped that not only will the perpetrators be brought to justice but suitable action will also be taken to prevent further attempts. "It has been highlighted to the Australian government to ensure the safety and security of members of the Indian community and their properties in Australia, and to not allow the use of Australian territory for activities detrimental to the territorial integrity, security and national interest of India," the statement said. Indians in Australia said they are "angry, scared and dismayed by the blatant display of religious hatred towards the peaceful Hindu community by Khalistan supporters". According to census data, Hinduism is the fastest-growing religion in Australia. In the 2021 Australian census, Hinduism grew by 55.3 per cent to 684,002 people. United Nations, Jan 26 : UN General Assembly President Csaba Korosi will begin a three-day visit to India on Sunday that will uniquely focus on the connection between science and the work of the Assembly besides the usual meetings with officials, according to his spokesperson Paulina Kubiak. "A main focus of the visit is on making connections between the General Assembly and science, particularly on the issue of water, ahead of the UN Water Conference in March," Kubiak said on Wednesday. In New Delhi, he will discuss India's water conservation projects with senior officials and experts at the NITI Aayog and visit Bengaluru, the nation's centre of science, for meetings with scientists at the Indian Institute of Science and visit a water project, she said. Korosi is scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to continue discussions on topics raised during their last meeting in December including the Assembly's priorities and India's engagement with it, Kubiak said. These priorities are also expected to be on the agenda during his visit to the G20 Secretariat for a meeting with a delegation led by Amitabh Kant, the G20 Sherpa, she said. India currently holds the presidency of the G20, the group of major industrialised and emerging economies. Korosi's visit coincides with the anniversary of the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi on January 31 and he will lay a wreath at the Raj Ghat, Kubiak said. The UN Water Conference is to assess the progress on water-related goals of the UN's sustainable development goals and chart their future. Korosi has a special interest in development, a key element of his agenda as Head of the General Assembly, and particularly in the water conservation element of it. Before his election as UN General Assembly President, he was the Environmental Sustainability Director in the Hungarian President's Office and the President's point person at the High-Level Panel on Water co-convened by the UN Secretary-General and the President of the World Bank Group in 2016. (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis) Chennai, Jan 26 : The country is witnessing large-scale imports of medical devices, mainly from China which defeats the government's policy of self-reliance as well as closure of several Indian units, is the view of the medical devices makers. The 80 per cent import dependence can be cut down to 30 per cent with proper prescription, the industry lobby body said. The medical devices imports continued to grow at an "alarming" level by 41 per cent in FY22. India imported medical devices worth Rs 63,200 crore in 2021-22, up 41 per cent from Rs 44,708 crore in 2020-21, as per data from the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, said Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator, Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD). According to him, China remained the top import source for India as medical device imports from China grew 48 per cent from Rs 9,112 crore in 2020-21 to Rs 13,538 crore in 2021-22. Imports from the US also increased steeply by 48 per cent to Rs 10,245 crore in 2021-22 from Rs 6,919 crore in 2020-21. The value of medical devices from China was nearly the same as the combined value of imports from Germany, Singapore and the Netherlands in 2021-22. "It has led to domestic industry players shutting shop as the local industry cannot compete with cheaper Chinese imports. This is a lost opportunity for Indian Manufacturers to grow and compete globally but saw with dismay dumping of Chinese imports when duties were slashed to zero per cent," Nath said. Sadly, with over two years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for self-reliance Aatmanirbhar Bharat, India's trade deficit with China is on high rise. The overall trade deficit with China widened to a record $72.9 billion in 2021-22, he added. "If the Government implements even 70 per cent of the recommendations recently made by the Parliamentary Committee on Health, we can see a reversal on the import dependence and growth of the domestic industry which will bring in affordable wider access to medical devices leading to better healthcare delivery. We are very optimistic and hope that we can realise our vision to be among the top five Manufacturing Hubs in the world for medical devices," Nath remarked. AiMeD has the following Budget recommendations to end the 80-85 per cent import dependence forced upon India and an ever-increasing import bill of over Rs 63,200 crore: 1. We are more than hopeful and positive that the government will act upon the request of the Indian Medical Device Industry for a Separate Department of Medical Devices. This key strategic need has also been recommended by the Parliamentary Committee on Health. 2. AiMeD urged the government to consider shifting from an eight digit HS Code to a 10 Digit HS Code as done by USA and Europe to give more granular data for enabling better analysis and policy making. 3. As done for mobile phones, the government should protect the manufacturing base in India by increasing Basic Custom Duty on import of Medical Devices to at least 10 to 15 per cent from current 0-7.5 per cent duty though WTO Bound rate is mostly 40 per cent. Due to such low custom duty India is importing Rs. 63,200 crore of medical devices and is over 80 per cent import dependent. This 80 per cent can be reduced to below 30 per cent with correct policies as done for mobile phones and consumer electronics. 4. Instead of 18 per cent GST applicable on some medical devices that are not luxury goods, the GST needs to be a flat 12 per cent for all medical devices. Also reducing GST to 5 per cent is making Indian products non-competitive to imports as then manufacturers are unable to keep reduced Ex-Factory prices based on lower input costs net of GST. 5. Trade Margin Monitoring: The purpose of low Duty was to help consumers get affordable access to Devices. This objective is not realised if consumers will be charged a high MRP of 10 to 20 times import landed price. Customs recording of MRP on Bill of Entry will assist to bring in data generation for Policy Making by evidence of a Trade Margin Rationalisation policy for the Manufacturer, Importer so that there is a capping of maximum four times on the Ex-factory price and on import landed price of Indian Distributor (at first point of sale viz. when GST/ Import Duty is 1st levied on entering into the market). "The Indian medical devices industry has the potential to reach $50 billion by 2030. We request kind consideration of Govt. of India for encouraging domestic manufacturing to be sustainable in long term for becoming Aatmanirbhar and to address National Healthcare Security needs exposed at the onset of COVID and for Ease of Doing Business," Nath said. New Delhi, Jan 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday greeted citizens on the occasion of the 74th Republic Day. In a tweet the PM said that this year's Republic Day is special because the nation is celebrating 'Azadi Ka Amrit' Mahotsav. He further said that everybody should unite to fulfill the dreams of the great freedom fighters of the country. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also extended his greetings on the occasion. Today it is most important to safeguard the basic tenets of the Constitution like justice, equality, brotherhood, socialism and secularism, he tweeted in Hindi. Los Angeles, Jan 26 : Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone has responded to Pamela Anderson's claim that he once asked her to be his No. 1 girl and offered her a "condo and Porsche." "The statement from Pamela Anderson attributed to my client is false and fabricated," said the 76-year-old actor's representative. "Mr. Stallone confirms that he never made any portion of that statement," reports aceshowbiz.com. Pamela made the claim in her new Netflix documentary 'Pamela, a Love Story', which will be released on January 31. In it, the 55-year-old actress recounts when Sly allegedly "offered me a condo and a Porsche to be his 'No. 1 girl.'" Pamela claims that she turned him down. "And I was like, 'Does that mean there's No. 2? Uh-uh,'" she says with a laugh in the doc, per the New York Post. She later added: "He goes, 'That's the best offer you're gonna get, honey. You're in Hollywood now.' (But) I wanted to be in love. I didn't want anything less than that." This is the second time just this week a Hollywood star denied the claims Pamela has reportedly made as in a leaked excerpt from her memoir 'Love, Pamela', she revealed Tim Allen flashed her during the very first day of filming 'Home Improvement'. "On the first day of filming, I walked out of my dressing room, and Tim was in the hallway in his robe. He opened his robe and flashed me quickly - completely naked underneath," Pam, who appeared as Lisa the Tool Girl on the hit show, details in her new book. "He said it was only fair, because he had seen me naked. Now we're even. I laughed uncomfortably," she continues. Tim, who was 37 at the time of the alleged incident, was presumably referring to Pam's modelling for Playboy, which helped turn her into an internationally known sex symbol. Responding to the allegations, Tim confirmed to Variety that Pamela only tells lies. The 'Last Man Standing' star stated: "No, it never happened," before insisting that he "would never do such a thing." Interestingly, one day after Tim debunked the claims, an on-set video of him flashing his 'Home Improvement' co-star resurfaced on the Internet. In the newly resurfaced footage, Tim was filmed playfully flashing his manhood to Patricia Richardson." "Tim, who played Patricia's husband on the ABC sitcom, was dressed in a kilt as the actress said: "Hangs long. I just wish it was shorter." La mandataria @DinaErcilia Boluarte presidio la ceremonia de entrega de 32 ambulancias que fortaleceran la capacidad de respuesta hospitalaria de las regiones Arequipa, Ayacucho, Ica, Junin, La Libertad, Lima Provincias, Madre de Dios, Callao, Pasco y Tumbes. pic.twitter.com/5oaRnuIUPm New Delhi, Jan 26 : Republic Day is around the corner and we have taken the liberty to collate a few celebrity inspired looks to cherish the day in a fashionable way. Alia Bhatt Alia Bhatt's outfit undeniably deserves a spot on this list! The actress looks her traditional best in this Anavila saree. Kriti Sanon The actress was in her element, and she looked absolutely fabulous in this Anita Dongre's green saree. Farhan Akhtar Farhan Akhtar never disappoints us with his look, he choose this Anita Dongre off-white outfit perfect for the Republic Day. Karisma Kapoor Karisma kept it simple and classic in green suit designed by Payal Khandwala, just the right vibe if you want to go traditional. Rajkumar Rao Rajkumar Rao made a splash with gorgeous Antar Agni's all-white look that is anything but basic! Opt for this if you want a Modern avatar of a traditional favourite. Vidya Balan If there's one actress we can rely on to slay in a saree, it has got to be Vidya Balan. This Anavila handloom creation is our pick for the occasion. Anushka Sharma Anushka Sharma's ivory Anarkali paired with juttis is just what you need to strike the right balance between comfort and style. (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) San Francisco, Jan 26 : Lauren Sanchez, girlfriend of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, can soon be known as the first person to lead an all-woman space mission on Blue Origin. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, she revealed that Bezos is encouraging her to put together a five-member female crew to fly on a Blue Origin rocket to space. The Emmy-winning TV host-turned-helicopter pilot became a well-known name when her relationship with the Amazon founder was made public in January 2019. "It's going to be women who are making a difference in the world and who are impactful and have a message to send," Sanchez was quoted as saying. "I'm going to have to hold him (Bezos) back. He'll be cheering us all on from the sidelines," she added. Apart from recreational flights, the Bezos-founded private space company has performed missions for NASA that include taking up scientific equipment. Blue Origin last year successfully launched its fifth tourist flight to space. Six people were carried to space above the Karman line -- an internationally recognised boundary of space that lies 62 miles (100 km) above the Earth's surface -- in a typical 11-minute flight. The flight was the 21st overall for Blue Origin and New Shepard. It was the second crewed flight for the company this year, following NS-20, which launched and landed on March 31, 2022. The company conducted its fourth human flight to the edge of space with six people in March. Islamabad, Jan 26 : United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has dropped clues that his government is planning to broaden its investment footprint in Pakistan as the country drastically needs foreign inflows to prop up its deteriorating economy. The royal dignitary arrived in Pakistan on a private visit and held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who received the UAE President at the Chandna Airport along with other government functionaries, Geo News reported. "Be prepared, the UAE will make a huge investment in Pakistan," the sources quoted the UAE president as saying during a cordial meeting with the premier at the airport. Shehbaz recalled his recent visit to the gulf country and emphasised that both countries would work on the understanding reached between the two leaders in various fields, during his visit to the UAE. The UAE President said that the brotherly relations between the two countries went back many decades and his father, who had immense love for Pakistan and its people, laid the foundation of their bilateral ties. The President also assured the Prime Minister that the UAE would always stand by Pakistan, Geo News reported. Taking to Twitter, the premier wrote: "Extremely delighted to receive my brother His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed on his arrival in Pakistan, which is his second home. Building on our last meeting, we discussed ways (and) means to further strengthen our brotherly relations." The President expressed warm affection towards the prime minister on his arrival in Pakistan and took the premier to his personal jet, sources told Geo News. The premier also met the family members of the president and held conversations with his children in the English and Arabic language, the sources added. The UAE, on January 12, agreed to lend $1 billion to Pakistan and roll over an existing $2 billion loan, the country's information minister had said, as the country's central bank foreign reserves fell to just three weeks' worth of imports. The UAE's financial support offered some respite to the country that is still reeling from devastating nationwide floods that have caused more than $30 billion of damage, Geo News reported. Los Angeles, Jan 26 : 'Elvis' star Austin Butler may have received his first-ever Oscar nomination but he is not forgetting where he came from. The 31-year-old actor's IMDb biography was penned by his "proud parents," David Butler and his late mom Lori Butler in 2007, and has been kept the same to this day, reports People magazine. In the biography, his parents sweetly raved about their son's early acting career that began after he landed "a rather permanent background-acting gig" on the Nickelodeon series, Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide in 2004, and "from that point on, he considered himself to be a serious actor." According to his parents, Butler's "first named (albeit uncredited) character was 'Toby' in the Hannah Montana episode 'Oops, I Meddled Again' in 2006 (girl broke up with him)." Then his "first speaking role was in 'Zoey 101' as 'Dannifer' or 'Wrong Danny' (a few lines, and a girl poured soda down his shirt)." They joked that while he got a "meatier role on Hannah Montana in 2007" it was "still a small part, but very fun." They added: "a few more lines, and he got to fling popcorn on Miley Cyrus." Butler explained during an interview with Vogue last April that his parents "divorced amicably" when he was seven and that he and his older sister, Ashley, "moved fluidly" between their respective houses throughout their childhood. According to People, the actor spoke fondly about his childhood and remembered his mother, who died in 2014 from cancer, while hosting 'Saturday Night Live' in December. "Some of my favourite memories from growing up are watching SNL with her, and we'd watch every week," Butler shared during the show's opening monologue, quoted by People. "And even though I had this crippling shyness, when I was with her, I'd just do anything to make my mom laugh," he added. New Delhi, Jan 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders on Thursday greeted citizens on the occasion of the 74th Republic Day. In a tweet, the Prime Minister termed this year's Republic Day "special" as the nation is celebrating 'Azadi Ka Amrit' Mahotsav. Everybody should unite to fulfill the dreams of the great freedom fighters of the country, he added. Union Home Minister Amit Shah took to Twitter to greet the nation on the occasion. "Today, I salute all those freedom fighters, constitution makers and brave soldiers who have dedicated their lives to liberate, strengthen and protect the country," he wrote. Exending his greetings Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called this day an opportunity for all Indians to strengthen the country's constitutional traditions. "Happy Republic Day to all the countrymen. This day is an opportunity for all Indians to strengthen the country's constitutional traditions and rededicate themselves to the resolve to build a new India. Salute to all the constitution makers and freedom fighters of India. BJP chief J.P. Nadda said, "Best wishes to all the countrymen on the 74th Republic Day. Our democracy becoming progressive and mature should create a sense of duty, opportunity and equality in the heart of every person of India. I bow down to all the great personalities dedicated to our unity, integrity and sovereignty." Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also extended his greetings to the people. He tweeted in Hindi that today it is most important to safeguard the basic tenets of the Constitution like justice, equality, brotherhood, socialism and secularism. Greeting the public, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, "Wishing a very Happy Republic Day to all my beloved fellow Indians.," he tweeted. "Unity, Harmony, Equality and Sovereignty - the pillars of our Constitution and the soul of our Republic." Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu, in her speech on the eve of Republic Day, hailed the Constitution and "the spirit of India". "India became the fifth largest economy in the world. It needs to be underlined that this achievement comes against the backdrop of high economic uncertainties around the world. This has been made possible by timely and proactive interventions from the Government," the President had said on Wednesday. This happens to be the first Republic Day celebrations hosted at the ceremonial boulevard after Rajpath was renamed Kartavya Path last year. New Delhi, Jan 26 : Indian travellers are showing a strong interest in domestic and even international locations for Republic Day, as evidenced by an increase in flight searches on KAYAK, which shows that the travel industry is returning to normal. In comparison to the same search period in 2019, flight searches on the travel search engine in the world, increased significantly over the Republic Day Long Weekend. Domestic return flight searches increased by about 185 per cent, flights to Asia increased by about 12 per cent, and long-haul international flight searches increased by about 24 per cent. According to KAYAK India Country Manager, Tarun Tahiliani, "The great timing of the long weekend around the Republic Day seems to be a good motivation for Indians to set travelling, with domestic flight searches around Republic Day being up by over 185 per cent this year compared to the same period pre-pandemic. Our data also shows an increase of around 24 per cent for international flight searches, which indicates that Indians have also smartly planned their long-haul trips over the long weekend. The most searched destinations for Indian travellers over the period include Goa, Dubai, New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangkok. For those still to make plans, websites like KAYAK.co.in provide powerful planning tools and features that help travellers save money and make confident decisions, including things like flexible search filters, price alert and price forecast tools." Insights for Republic Day Long Weekend (January 26 - January 29 2023): Average price domestic return economy flight - approximately Rs 10,113 (up about 41 per cent on 2019) Average price for long haul international return economy flight - approximately Rs 73,576 (up about 32 per cent on 2019) Average price for return economy flight to Asia - approximately Rs 28,46 (up about 37 per cent on 2019) Average price for one night in a 3 - 4 star domestic hotel - approximately Rs 6,305 Most searched destinations for the Republic Day Long Weekend (January 26 - January 29 2023): Goa, India Dubai, United Arab Emirates New Delhi, India Mumbai, India Bangkok, Thailand All prices and search data are based on searches (between 1.11.2022 to 01.01.2023) for travel from January 26 - January 29, 2023. These have been compared to searches (between 01.11.2019 to 01.01.2020) for travel from January 26 - January 29, 2020. (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) Los Angeles, Jan 26 : The seven farmworkers killed in mass shootings in Half Moon Bay, Northern California, have been identified, authorities said. They are Jose Perez; Martinez Jimenez, 50; Qizhong Cheng, 66; Jingzhi Lu, 64; Zhishen Liu, 73; Aixiang Zhang, 74; and Yetao Bing, 43, reports Xinhua news agency. Perez's age was not yet known. An eighth person injured was Pedro Romero Perez, the brother of Jose Perez. Both are Mexican nationals. The victims are primarily Mexican and Chinese immigrants, some of whom had worked at a local mushroom farms for years. Authorities previously said all of them had worked at one of the two mushroom farms where the shootings took place on Monday. The suspect, Zhao Chunli, a 67-year-old local resident who surrendered to police shortly after the shootings, appeared in court for the first time on Wednesday at the Hall of Justice in Redwood City. His arraignment hearing has been pushed to February 16. He will remain in jail without bail. Residents of Half Moon Bay have set up memorials to the victims around town, lighting candles and leaving flowers and notes at the two locations where they were killed. This attack came as the state was still mourning the deaths in majority-Asian Monterey Park during celebrations for the Lunar New Year on January 21. The 72-year-old gunman of the mass shooting in Monterey Park was found dead the next day from a self-inflicted gunshot injury after a standoff with police officers. Five women and five men were killed, while another 10 people suffered injuries in the tragic incident that occurred at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio, a popular ballroom dance facility operated for about 30 years, when it was hosting an event to celebrate the countdown to the Chinese Lunar New Year. The shooter was identified as Huu Can Tran, an Asian likely of Vietnamese descent. According to the non-profit group that runs the Gun Violence Archive collating weapon incidents, there have already been 36 mass shootings this year in the US while there were 647 last year. The undated photo shows archeological workers gathering around a mummy unearthed at an ancient family tomb in Luxor, Egypt. An Egyptian archeological mission discovered a group of family tombs in the western bank of Luxor city that dates back to the Image Source: IANS News The undated photo shows cultural relics unearthed at ancient family tombs in Luxor, Egypt. An Egyptian archeological mission discovered a group of family tombs in the western bank of Luxor city that dates back to the second intermediate period of Egy Image Source: IANS News The undated photo shows cultural relics unearthed at ancient family tombs in Luxor, Egypt. An Egyptian archeological mission discovered a group of family tombs in the western bank of Luxor city that dates back to the second intermediate period of Egy Image Source: IANS News Cairo, Jan 26 : An Egyptian archaeological mission discovered a group of family tombs in the western bank of Luxor city that dates back to the second intermediate period of Egypt (1677-1550 BC), the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a statement. "The tombs are built on a 50 metre by 70 metre area that includes 30 burial wells," Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry as saying. A 10-tonne pink granite coffin for a Minister of king Sobekhotep II, from the 13th dynasty of the second intermediate period, was found in one of the wells. Funeral drawings that are decorated with images of another official presenting sacrifices for the same king were found in the site. The mission also unearthed a building made of mud bricks that were used for presenting sacrifices. The building housed a group of statues that carried hieroglyphic symbols, a large number of amulets, and hundreds of funeral stamps. Luxor has frequently been characterised as the "world's greatest open-air museum", as the ruins of the Egyptian temple complexes at Karnak and Luxor stand within the modern city. Immediately opposite, across the River Nile, lie the monuments, temples and tombs of the west bank Theban Necropolis, which includes the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens. Lucknow, Jan 26 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that if two sisters are studying in a private school, the state government will pay the fees of one. Provision for this is being made in the next financial year's budget. This will benefit lakhs of girl students studying in primary, upper primary and secondary schools. Adityanath had said some time ago that if two real sisters study in a school, then the management of that school should be requested to waive the fees of one. If this is not possible from the management level, then the state government will compensate the fees of one of the sisters. The Basic Education department has sent a proposal to include this in next year's budget. According to government sources, a token amount of Rs one crore will be arranged for this. As the demand increases, more amount will be given to the department. By giving the token amount, the head will be opened in view of the financial rules. Due to this, there will be no problem in budget allocation as per the requirement. Before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the state government is also preparing to significantly increase the budget for roads. According to high-level sources, till now the focus was on completing the ongoing works, but in the next financial year, a substantial amount would also be paid for the new works (Schedule of New Demands). Major district-level roads and state highways are also being planned to be widened to a minimum of seven metres. Apart from this, funds will also be given for many new schemes for the Irrigation Department and the Urban Development Department. If budget experts are to be believed, the budget for the next financial year will be more than Rs 7 lakh crore. This has been discussed at the highest level. Kanpur, Jan 26 : Khushi Dubey, an accused in the Bikru massacre and widow of slain gangster Amar Dubey, wants to continue her studies following her release from jail recently after 30 months. Khushi wants to pursue law or MBBS by qualifying NEET and said she will study for it. She told reporters at her house that she wants to put the past behind her and carve a new future for herself. "If not a doctor, I would like to study law so that I can help others like me," she said. Khushi said she knows that she has a long legal battle to fight but is prepared for it. She, however did not want to talk about the past or the Bikru incident. "I was married for just three days and did not know what had happened. Suddenly I was picked up by the police and what I faced in police custody for four days is something I do not want to even think about," she said. Khushi, wife of Amar Dubey, nephew of Vikas Dubey, the mastermind of Bikru incident in which eight policemen were massacred on July 3, 2020, further said that "someone" had installed CCTV cameras all around her house which was making the neighbours uncomfortable. "I do not know who has put up these cameras. If the police are so concerned about my safety, they should provide me security," she said. Ghaziabad, Jan 26 : Ghaziabad Police on Wednesday arrested a man who abducted a minor girl on December 14, 2022. With the arrest of the accused, the victim was also rescued by the police. The accused, identified as Salman, is a resident of Panju Sarai village of Amroha district and works as an operator in a consultancy agency. According to the police, the 15-year-old Class 8th student had gone to a dairy near her house, situated in Govindpuram in Ghaziabad, and did not return home. The family lodged a case of abduction in Kavi Nagar police station, alleging that Salman had kidnapped her. The police will get the victim's medical examination done on Thursday and then record her statement in court. DCP City Ghaziabad Nipun Agarwal said that the accused kept the girl at several places in Uttarakhand and UP including Kashipur and Udham Singh Nagar after abducting her. Agarwal said that he changed his number constantly to avoid traceability of his location. The police had arrested Salman's friend and an accomplice in the case, Muhid on December 31, 2022, who confessed to the abduction but did not have any information about Salman's location. Police investigation revealed that Salman had already been married thrice, with two Hindu women and a Muslim woman and was planning to marry the minor. The DCP said that Salman married a Hindu woman from Hapur about 6 years ago and then married the Muslim woman. Later he also married one Hindu woman, who is currently pregnant. The police are trying to ascertain the role of a big gang that traps minor girls, for which the details of the accused's mobile are being extracted. New Delhi, Jan 26: Hindus in Balochistan are celebrating the three-day festival of Goddess Kali Mata at the historical Kali Mata temple in Kalat. The festival lasts from Tuesday to Thursday. The annual festival brings together the Hindu community not just from different parts of the province but also from various places in Pakistan. Hindu devotees come together in Kalat to pray and sing hymns to the greatness of the Goddess Kali. The devotees have set up food stalls and are distributing free food. Many have also set up stalls selling religious items and articles of faith. Kalat, an erstwhile kingdom under the British rule, is densely populated with a considerable number of people from the Hindu faith. Balochistan still has a large number of Hindu temples with the minority community living in the region for centuries. The local people say that the Kali festival is celebrated only at two locations in Asia - in Kalat and in Kolkata, India. Pakistani newspaper, The Express Tribune quotes a local Hindu, Mana Mall, as saying that the main purpose of the festival is to bind and unite the people with love, peace, affection, and brotherhood. He also expressed satisfaction over Hindu-Muslim relations in Pakistan. Mall told The Express Tribune: "Pakistan is our country and we have all kinds of religious freedom. We are very happy to participate in the annual historic festival." The temple is supposed to have the second-largest Goddess Kali statue in Asia because of which the Kalat temple attracts Hindu pilgrims from India as well. The festival is spreading good cheer among the local Hindus as Balochistan was ravaged by floods last year. The water from the floods still stands in large parts of the province causing misery to the people and preventing a normal start to life. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative Hyderabad, Jan 26 : Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Thursday took a swipe at Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao with the remark that few should not have farm houses. The governor took the potshot during her speech at the Republic Day ceremony held at Raj Bhavan. The governor, who is said to be upset over the state government confining the celebration to Raj Bhavan for second year in a row, indirectly targeted CM KCR. "New buildings are not development. Nation building is development. All farmers and marginalized people should have farms and houses. Few should not have farm houses. That is not the development," said Tamilisai. Opposition parties, especially BJP, have been targeting KCR for his farm house and also palatial official residence Pragati Bhavan built a few years ago. The governor's comment came amid growing rift with the KCR government. On many occasions, she trained guns on the government for not respecting the office of the governor while ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) attacked her for acting like a BJP leader. During the Republic Day speech, the governor also praised the Narendra Modi government for sanctioning national highways and Vande Bharat train to Telangana. Apparently deviating from prepared text and speaking in Telugu, the governor called for protecting self-respect of Telangana, safeguarding democracy and rights in Telangana. She said that her bond with Telangana goes beyond the three years she spent here as governor. Tamilisai said she would continue to play her role in the development of Telangana. "My strengths are hard work, sincerity and love. Some people may not like me but I like Telangana and that's why I will continue to work for Telangana despite all difficulties," she said. The governor also referred to what she called stressful conditions in Telangana. "National statics show every day 22 suicides occur in Telangana. That is approximately one suicide every hour," she said and appealed to youngsters to be courageous saying life is challenging we have to face challenges by standing like a rock. The governor said all institutions of democracy such as Constitutional authorities, elected government, public representatives, public servants and individuals must carry out their duties strictly as the Constitution of India mandates. She said the very creation of Telangana was in the true spirit of the India Constitution. The Article 3 of the Constitution made creation of Telangana possible as per aspirations of people of Telangana after relentless fight for almost six decades. She described Telangana as a unique blend of history, heritage and modernity which is known for its unity and diversity and is loved all over the world. Tamilisai noted that Hyderabad with its unique historical and cultural significance is fast emerging as one of key symbols of India's modern development and progress with strong presence in science and technology over the past few decades. "Innovators, entrepreneurs and our highly talented IT professionals and institutions need special appreciation," she added. Chennai: Tamil Nadu Governor R. N. Ravi salutes after hoisting the national flag during 74th Republic Day celebrations, in Chennai on Thursday, Jan 26, 2023. (Photo: R. Parthibhan/IANS) Image Source: IANS News Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin and Governor R. N. Ravi salutes after hoisting the national flag during 74th Republic Day celebrations, in Chennai on Thursday, Jan 26, 2023. (Photo: R. Parthibhan/IANS) Image Source: IANS News Chennai: Tamil Nadu Governor R. N. Ravi salutes after hoisting the national flag during 74th Republic Day celebrations, in Chennai on Thursday, Jan 26, 2023. (Photo: R. Parthibhan/IANS) Image Source: IANS News Chennai, Jan 26 : The Congress, CPI, VCK and TVK have announced that they will boycott the 'At Home' reception hosted by Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi at the Raj Bhavan here on the occasion of Republic Day, but the state's ruling DMK has confirmed its attendance at the event. DMK sources in the DMK told IANS the Governor called Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on the phone late Wednesday evening to invite him to the reception, breaking the ice between the two. There had been no communication between Stalin and Ravi after the latter walked out from the state Legislative Assembly during the inaugural ceremony of the budget session. The Governor deputed his secretary Anandrao V. Patil to meet the Chief Minister and hand over the invitation, the sources said, adding that Stalin attend the function or depute a senior minister for the function. Meanwhile, Congress leader Selvaperunthagai told mediapersons that he and his party MLAs would boycott the ceremony. He said that the Governor was acting as an agent of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and was running a parallel government. Selvaperunthagai added that the Governor was a deliberately delaying' his assent to important legislations in the state Assembly. Regarding party's decision to boycott the event, TVK leader T. Velmurugan said the Governor was insulting the government of Tamil Nadu and its people for delaying assent to several bills passed by the Assembly. Echoing a similar remark, CPI state secretary R. Mutharasan said Ravi was functioning as the RSS head rather than the Governor in the state. VCK leader Thol Thirumavalvan also confirmed that his party would boycott the reception. Kohima, Jan 26 : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) would contest the February 27 Nagaland Assembly elections but the party is yet to decide the number of seats it would field its candidates from. AAP had unsuccessfully contested two Assembly seats in 2018 polls. AAP's northeast regional in-charge Rajesh Sharma said that former MLA Asu Keyho has been appointed as the president of the Nagaland unit of the party. Sharma told the media that AAP would field candidates in as many as possible seats and there would be no alliance with any party. "To eliminate corruption, development of the state and good governance, this is the time for the people of the state to vote for good and transparent administrations. Nagaland needs honest and pro people politics," the AAP leader said. He said that the party would go to the grassroots to bring an effective and required change in the political scenario of Nagaland. Newly appointed state party President Keyho said people of the northeastern state who are studying or working in Delhi have witnessed a good governance and fulfilment of promises by the Arvind Kejriwal government there. Hence, AAP led government is the need of the hour in Nagaland and other northeastern states, Keyho said. He said that if voted to power, AAP would bring transparency and ensure recruitment in government jobs based on merit and where 80 per cent marks would be set aside for written tests, 10 per cent for academic excellence and 10 per cent for interview. Mumbai, Jan 26 : The tales of Maharana Pratap's valour and grit are set to come on the streaming medium. The story of Maharana Pratap's bravado outlives the pages of history and inspires generations to hold their fort, come what may. Talking about the show, showrunner, Nitin Chandrakant Desai, who is the the stalwart of period dramas, said: "With 'Maharana', we aim to bring to audiences interesting aspects of India's history. We had a massive vision with this period drama in terms of the look, tone and feel of the series, and we are elated that we are able to turn this vision into reality". Commenting on the challenges encountered during the making, Nitin said: "Working on a period drama is always challenging and interesting at the same time. It involves a great deal of research and eye for detail in order to depict the facts with authenticity. We are extremely excited to begin filming this show with a platform like Disney+ Hotstar and looking forward to this collaboration with them." Produced by Trimitik Production Pvt Ltd and Nitin Chandrakant Desai, 'Maharana' is currently in production stage and will soon release on Disney+ Hotstar. Ahmedabad, Jan 26 : Nine people, including two policemen, were injured in separate group clashes in Nanasada in Banaskantha district and Ahmedabad city. In Ahmedabad clash, two police personnel were injured in stone pelting, whereas seven people, including four women, were injured in group clash Banaskantha district on Wednesday night. According to the complaint lodged by police officer Dinesh Karshanbhai with Shaher Kotda police station, the group clash broke out in Memco area over parking a lorry. However, when police team reached the spot, mob started pelting stones on police team, in which two constables have suffered injuries. The Ahmedabad police have registered a case of unlawful assembly, rioting, unlawful assembly with common intent, to obstruct a public servant for discharging his duty and to endanger human life, among others. Of the 32 named accused, 28 have been arrested. In another incident, the group clash broke out between two community members over an old rivalry in Banaskantha district, Danta Police station officer said. Till Thursday morning, neither side had come forward to register a complaint, the officer added. He said the moment police were informed about the incident, Police Sub Inspector R M Kotwal and his team had rushed to the village and brought the situation under control. Police force is deployed in the village. The seven injured were rushed to hospital. Mumbai, Jan 26 : Bollywood star Ayushmann Khurrana, loves watching the Republic Day grand parade that displays India's diversity, military might and cultural uniqueness. He said: "Republic Day for me means watching the parade on Doordarshan and giving them our own rankings and marks of all the floats from the different states. My mother used to be really excited because she is from Delhi and she has seen all these floats live as a child. "And that excitement of course rubbed off on us and we too used to get excited. We used to watch every single programme on TV - Indian Air Force, Army, Navy and all the state floats," he added. For Ayushmann, India represents togetherness as he feels that diversity is the nation's biggest strength. Ayushmann lives out his idea of patriotism in an evolving world and a fast-changing society through his selection of films. They represent men dealing with challenging circumstances and overcoming true challenges. He shared: "As a citizen, as an actor - I would like to contribute to our nation by creating films that are progressive. I truly believe in the power of cinema and through my art, I would like to showcase different perspectives." He further mentioned: "I have been part of two films, Article 15 and Anek, both with Anubhav Sinha sir - that's also about unity. It questions our society and questions discrimination so I guess these three films are really about freedom." Tripoli, Jan 26 : A Libyan official has urged Switzerland to reopen its consulate in the coastal city of Benghazi and facilitate procedures for Libyan nationals to visit the European country. Youssef Al-Aqouri, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, made the remarks during a meeting with the Swiss Ambassador to Libya Joseph Ringley in Benghazi, Xinhua news agency quoted an official statement as saying. The two officials discussed commercial and scientific cooperation as well as the return of Swiss companies to Libya, according to the statement. Al-Aqouri praised Switzerland for supporting Libya's stability by hosting political dialogues in Geneva, reiterating Libya's willingness to work with Switzerland on human rights issues, it added. The two sides also agreed to strengthen communication and coordination, it noted. Historically, there was a Swiss embassy in Tripoli, while Libya maintained an embassy in Bern. New Delhi, Jan 26 : A network issue caused the mega outage at Microsoft services like Teams, Xbox Live, Outlook and Microsoft 365 suite as millions of users globally, including in India, were left in the lurch. The company will now submit a detailed review this week of what exactly happened. The company confirmed that it rolled back a network change that "we believe is causing impact". Microsoft's services were back online after facing a downtime that lasted for more than four hours. "We determined that a change made to the Microsoft Wide Area Network (WAN) impacted connectivity between clients on the internet to Azure, connectivity between services within regions, as well as ExpressRoute connections," the company posted on its Azure cloud service website. The tech giant said it will follow up in three days with a preliminary Post Incident Review (PIR), which will cover the initial root cause and repair items. "We'll follow that up 14 days later with a final PIR where we will share a deep dive into the incident," said Microsoft. The company said it will continue to monitor the recovery across the service and some customers are reporting mitigation. "We're also connecting the service to additional infrastructure to expedite the recovery process," it added. Microsoft's Teams, Outlook and some other services went down in some parts of India on Wednesday as users reported facing several issues. More than 63 per cent of users reported that they were facing issues with the app, 26 per cent reported issues with server connection, and 11 per cent mentioned issues with the website, according to Down Detector. The cities that faced the outage were Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai, among others. ??Buenos dias!????Esta es la portada del Diario Oficial El Peruano de hoy, jueves 26 de enero. ??Revisa la edicion digital aqui ?? https://t.co/oTa2RTG8yq pic.twitter.com/3a3Ahyha3z New Delhi, Jan 26 : The Supreme Court has ruled that when a victim dies after a lapse of considerable time due to injuries inflicted by an accused, it would not diminish the liability of the perpetrator in a murder case. A bench comprising Justices Krishna Murari and S. Ravindra Bhat, said: "There can be no stereotypical assumption or formula that where death occurs after a lapse of some time, the injuries (which might have caused the death), the offence is one of culpable homicide. Every case has its unique fact situation. However, what is important is the nature of injury, and whether it is sufficient in the ordinary course to lead to death". It further added that the adequacy or otherwise of medical attention is not a relevant factor in this case, because the doctor who conducted the post-mortem clearly deposed that death was caused due to cardio respiratory failures, as a result of the injuries inflicted upon the deceased. "Thus, the injuries and the death were closely and directly linked." During the hearing, the appellants' counsel had urged that the victim died 20 days after the attack, and the lapse of such a time shows that the injuries were not sufficient to cause death in the ordinary course of nature. The bench noted that there were several judgments, which emphasize that such a lapse of time, would not per se constitute a determinative factor as to diminish the offender's liability from the offence of murder to that of culpable homicide, not amounting to murder. The appellants moved the apex court challenging the Chhattisgarh High Court order,which confirmed their conviction for murder. According to the police, the accused had attacked the deceased after he tried to level disputed land with a JCB in February 2012. After the victim died, a criminal case was registered against the appellants by the victim's family. The accused argued that the victim died after about twenty days from the alleged incident and due complications in surgery, therefore their alleged acts were not the cause of the death. The top court noted that the question, then, is whether the appellants are guilty of the offence of murder, punishable under Section 302, or whether they are criminally liable under the less severe Section 304, IPC. "This court sees no difficulty in accepting that firstly, the appellants were aggressors; secondly, they attacked the deceased, with axes; thirdly, the deceased was unarmed," said the bench. It further added that the doctor who conducted the post-mortem, stated that the injuries were caused by a hard and blunt object, and death of the deceased was due to cardio respiratory failure "as a result of multiple injuries on his body and their complications". The top court did not accept appellants contention that the death was caused unintentionally on account of a "sudden quarrel". It said the appellants were armed with axes, which indicated their pre-mediated intent to harm the deceased. "The testimonies of the two important eyewitnesses, establish that when the deceased was levelling the septic tank on his property, the accused/appellants started abusing him; he asked them not to. The appellants, who were in the adjacent property, climbed the wall, entered the deceased's house, and attacked him with axes," said the bench, upholding the high court order. Canberra, Jan 26 : Tens of thousands of people attended "Invasion Day" rallies held across Australia's major cities, calling for changing or abolishing the date as the country celebrates Australia Day. In Melbourne, a large crowd assembled outside the state's Parliament House on Thursday morning, holding placards and the Indigenous flag, with loud cheers breaking out, reports Xinhua news agency. "I believe that January 26 should be recognized as a day of mourning, as opposed to Australia Day celebration, because it's not a celebration for the indigenous people," one of the protesters, Amilia, told Xinhua. "I think this day represents a massive genocide that happened to our First Nations, indigenous Aboriginal Australians... Some people think we can change the date, but most people just want to abolish the date or change it to a day of mourning where people can actually cry and remember what actually happened instead of celebrate." According to local media reports, similar scenes were seen across Australia's other major capital cities. In Sydney, thousands of protesters packed into Belmore Park. Marchers were seen carrying placards that read: "stop the genocide". A candlelight dawn service began in Brisbane at 4 a.m. local time in Musgrave Park, followed by a flag-raising ceremony at Jagera Community Hall. The crowd kicked off the Invasion Day march around 11.30 a.m., with protesters chanting: "End black deaths in custody!" Since 1994, Australia Day has been marked on January 26 as a national public holiday in every state and territory. However, on January 26, 1788, Arthur Phillip raised the British flag at Sydney Cove to claim the land as a British Colony. The celebration is regarded as a painful reminder of the beginning of British colonization and the dispossession of First Nations peoples. The public holiday referred to as "Invasion Day" for the indigenous communities has sparked heated debates and rallies in recent years calling for a change or abolishment of the date to make the national day more inclusive of Indigenous Australians. New Delhi, Jan 26 : Ahead of Assembly polls in the state, the BJP Tripura core group is scheduled to meet on Thursday here. Chaired by Union Minister Amit Shah, the meeting will also have National President J.P. Nadda in attendance. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, party state President Rajiv Bhattacharjee, Election In charge Mahesh Sharma, BJP north east convenor Sambit Patra, former CM and Rajya Sabha MP Biplab Deb, and Union Minister Pratima Bhoumik are also expected to attend. According to a source, a detailed discussion on each candidate would take place and a short list of candidates will also be prepared to discuss in the Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting. BJP CEC meeting is slated for January 27 at the BJP Headquarters. Poll-bound state leaders may also attend the meeting. Earlier on January 18, the Election Commission announced the schedule for Assembly elections to the northeastern states of Tripura, Meghalaya, and Nagaland to be held in February-March this year, results for which will be declared on March 2, 2023. "Voting for Assembly elections in Tripura will be held in a single phase on February 16 and in Nagaland and Meghalaya on February 27. The results will be declared on March 2," Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said during a press conference. New Delhi, Jan 26 : Two wanted criminals, who were involved in a number of heinous crimes including gang wars, were arrested by the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police, a police official said on Thursday. The police official said that the accused were identified as Mukesh alias Bona and Amit Kumar alias Pehalwan. The official said that Bona was wanted in a murder case that was reported from Burari area and was recently declared a proclaimed offender in an extortion case lodged at PS Adarsh Nagar. Pahalwan, was wanted in an attempt to murder case lodged at PS Sabji Mandi. "There was a gang rivalry between gangs of Anil alias Swami and Bona. On December 9, 2020, two persons namely Bhardwaj and Anuj, the aides of Bona were killed by one Anil and his associates. Bona was anticipating that Raja was also associated with Anil and was part of conspiracy in the murder. Bona and Babu planned to take revenge. On December 26, 2022, several rounds were fired upon Raja and his friend Manoj alias Babu, while they were going by a bike. Later, Manoj died," said the official. The official said that they gathered information that Amit would be coming at IGI airport from Srinagar through a flight. A trap was laid at arrival gate of Terminal-3, IGI Airport and he was apprehended. At his instance, later on, the police nabbed Mukesh from Ambedkar Nagar in Uttar Pradesh. New Delhi, Jan 26 : In a shocking incident, a 44-year-old auto-rickshaw driver was brutally stabbed to death by two persons believed to be passengers in Delhi's Dwarka area, police said. A senior police official said that during the intervening night of January 25 and 26, they got a PCR call at around 2 a.m. regarding a stabbing incident in Dwarka Sector 13, following which a team of officers was immediately sent to the crime scene. The police found the driver stabbed on the neck. He was immediately taken to a nearby government hospital where he was declared brought dead on arrival. "We learnt during the course of investigation that the deceased was stabbed by the two persons who were traveling in his auto. Case is being investigated from all angles," the official said. An FIR under sections 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered at the Dwarka North Police Station. The official said that multiple teams have been formed to nab the culprits who are currently absconding. IANS Atk/ San Francisco, Jan 26 : Apple will stop mandating its employees from having to take a Covid test before coming to the office starting from February. The tech giant will also roll back its sick leave policy, which allowed workers to take unlimited leaves while experiencing Covid symptoms. Platformer's Zoe Schiffer shared the information on Twitter, in which he wrote: "Apple is making changes to its Covid-19 policy, and will stop mandating employees test before coming into the office. It's also rolling back its special sick leave policy, which previously allowed for unlimited sick leave for workers experiencing Covid symptoms." Moreover, employee sick leave expires in August 2023, and those who test positive for Covid-19 can take up to five days of sick leave until then. "Testing policy rolls out Jan 30, sick leave ends in August. Until then, employees get a maximum of 5 days sick leave, if they test positive for Covid," Schiffer added. Apple's corporate employees began returning to in-person work in April 2022, after two years of remote work due to the pandemic, and were required to work in person once a week. However, this requirement was raised to two days per week a month later. Since September of last year, Apple employees have been required to work in person three days a week. San Diego, Jan 26 : Aaron Rai, who came to the PGA Tour through the Korn Ferry Tour in 2021, grabbed a share of the lead at the end of the first round in the Farmers Insurance Open. He shares the lead with Sam Ryder and Brent Grant, as all of them shot 8-under 64 on the more-scoring North Course on Wednesday. Another PGA Tour player, with an Indian connection, Sahith Theegala, shot 6-under, also at the North Course. Rai, whose mother is of Kenyan-Indian descent, had a bogey free 64 with five birdies on the front nine and three on the back nine. Theegala had three birdies and a bogey on front nine of the course and then one birdie and one bogey and five birdies on back nine. The man in form, Jon Rahm struggled to a 1-over 73 at Torrey Pines South, which has been one of his favourite courses. Rahm, ranked No. 3 in the world is trying for his third win in as many starts. He made a double bogey on the par-4 seventh hole. He earned his first PGA TOUR victory in 2017 at the municipal courses on a bluff above the Pacific Ocean and then won the U.S. Open on the South Course in 2021. Ryder, Rai and Grant have never won on TOUR. Ryder is coming off three straight missed cuts. They took a one-shot lead over Brendan Steele, who was at 7-under 65, with seven players bunched another shot back at 6-under 66. Defending champion Luke List and Collin Morikawa, ranked No. 8 in the world, were in a group of seven at 5-under 67. The top six finishers and 13 of the top 18 played the North Course. Players will switch courses on Thursday and then play the final two rounds on the South Course. PGA TOUR rookie Sam Stevens and Andrew Novak had the best rounds on the South Course. Both were in the group at 66. Shimla, Jan 26 : Himachal Pradesh Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Thursday inspected the parade and took a salute at an impressive parade led by Commander Lt. Karan Gogna from 22, Jammu and Kashmir Rifles at the state-level Republic Day function here. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was present on the occasion along with his Cabinet collageues. The contingents of the Indian Army, the Indo-Tibet Border Police, the Himachal Pradesh Armed Police, Uttarakhand Police, state police, the Home Guard, fire services and Himachal Pradesh Postal Services performed the march past. Tableaux highlighting development activities of departments were presented on the occasion. Artistes of the Information and Public Relations Department performed a skit based on welfare programmers of the government. The tableaux of the Tourism Department was given the first prize of Rs 10,000. The Governor also presented prizes to participants. Giving the message of Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao, the Governor and the Chief Minister appealed to voluntarily contribute for the Sukh-Ashray Kosh. New Delhi, Jan 26 : One of the well-known Indian festivities that marks the beginning of spring is Basant or Vasant Panchmi. This holiday is also known as Saraswati Puja, which is a homage to Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of gyan, or knowledge, art, and culture. This blessed holiday is observed with much joy, enthusiasm, fervour, and devotion. Yellow costumes are worn by people to symbolise the mustard fields of Punjab and Haryana. First-time students at the school are urged to write their first words in front of the Goddess Saraswati Puja on this day. People tend to celebrate Basant Panchami in a variety of ways depending on the locality. For instance, many Hindus celebrate this auspicious event by honouring Goddess Saraswati, who is revered as the source of all creative energy and power. Hindu mythology holds that Goddess Saraswati, a representation of skill, education, learning, and the arts, was born on this day. This is the rationale behind the devotion of Goddess Saraswati in various locations. Celebrations in Punjab and Haryana People in Punjab and Haryana fly kites to honour the festival's spirit. Women cook delightful treats like Meethe Chawal, Makki ki roti, and Sarso ka saag in homes. Celebrations in West Bengal People in Bengal celebrate Saraswati Puja. The youngsters plan and carry out all of the puja ceremonial preparations on this particular day. After the puja is finished, they leave to have fun with their family. Even educational institutions like colleges and schools participate in the holiday by holding Saraswati Pujas. The men wear yellow dhotis and pyjamas, while the women typically wore yellow sarees. In addition to this, the people also make a variety of treats and sweets, including rajbhog and payesh. Celebrations in Odisha In Odisha, people perform puja and present fresh yellow flowers to Goddess Saraswati in temples on the day of Basant Panchami. Celebrations in Assam The Basant Panchami customs and rituals are carried out in Assam early in the morning. Most people start their days off early by cleaning their homes and performing other household duties, especially cleaning the shrine area. People change new garments and congregate for prayer once all the cleaning has been completed. (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) New Delhi, Jan 26 : Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday sent his wishes to his Indian counterpart Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the 74th Republic Day, hailing India's achievements in various fields. In a statement issued by the Russian President's office, he said that India was making a significant contribution in ensuring international peace and security on the global stage. Putin was quoted as saying in the statement that India's achievements in the economic, social, scientific, technological and other spheres are widely known. "Your country is making a substantial contribution to ensuring international stability and security and to addressing vital issues on the regional and global agenda," he said. "We set a high value on the relations of privileged strategic partnership between our states," he said, expressing confidence that "by working together we can ensure the continued growth of mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in all areas. This undoubtedly meets the fundamental interests of the friendly peoples of Russia and India". Con 74 votos a favor, el #PlenoDelCongreso aprobo la Mocion 5225, que propone declarar persona no grata al senor Evo Morales Ayma. ?? Expediente: https://t.co/EldOtxEFPA pic.twitter.com/DxGwuckbuL Chennai, Jan 26 : Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi on Thursday directed the Vice Chancellors of Tamil Nadu to conduct a detailed research on the unsung heroes of the state who had contributed heavily to the freedom struggle of the nation. The Governor in the capacity of Chancellor of the Universities said that the Vice Chancellors should deploy bright research students in the respective universities, conduct detailed research on unsung heroes, and then document it. He called upon the Vice-Chancellors to study in detail on at least five freedom fighters under their jurisdiction and to engage at least five research students for this purpose. The Tamil Nadu Governor in the letter to the Vice Chancellors mentioned that fellowships would be provided for this research work and the work should be completed in a year. R.N. Ravi said that the research student who has done the work on an unsung hero would be felicitated at the Raj Bhavan and honoured. In the letter, the Governor said that this would be a major inspiration for a research student. The Governor in the communique said that the contribution and struggle of several freedom fighters are still not known to the world and documented. In the letter, he added that this was a proper opportunity to document the contributions of an unsung hero. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday thanked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for gracing this year's Republic Day parade function(twitter) Image Source: IANS News Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday thanked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for gracing this year's Republic Day parade function(twitter) Image Source: IANS News Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday thanked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for gracing this year's Republic Day parade function(twitter) Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Jan 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday thanked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for gracing this year's Republic Day parade function. Sisi had been invited by Modi as chief guest for this year's parade. The Egyptian President had arrived in India on January 24 on a three-day official visit. "I am grateful to President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for gracing this year's Republic Day celebrations with his august presence.@AlsisiOfficial"," Modi tweeted. During bilateral discussions between Modi and Sisi on Saturday, it was decided that both India and Egypt will elevate their bilateral partnership to the level of a "strategic partnership". It was further decided to take the India-Egypt bilateral trade to $12 billion in the next five years. New Delhi, Jan 26 : The Congress on Thursday launched nationwide 'Hath se Hath Jodo' campaign, under which it plans to reach out to people and make them aware about the "failures" of the Modi government. Taking to Twitter, the Congress posted: "As we celebrate the biggest festival of democracy today, we announce the launch of the #HaathSeHaathJodo campaign. After the immense love received for #BharatJodoYatra, we are sure that the Haath Se Haath Jodo campaign will also win everybody's hearts." The party workers will deliver a letter written by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and a "charge sheet" against the Central government to each household. During the programme which is scheduled to end on March 26, party workers will reach out to 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats, six lakh villages and 10 lakh booths. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had said, "This programme 'hath se hath jodo' will take forward the Congress party symbol and the political message from the Bharat Jodo Yatra." However, he said that this is a tough task as in some states the organisation is weak, but it will be accomplished. In the letter, Rahul Gandhi wrote, "There is a palpable economic crisis brewing - joblessness among the youth, unbearable price rise, severe farm distress, and a complete corporate capture of the country's wealth." He wrote, "People are worried about losing their jobs, their incomes are falling further, and their dreams of a better future are shattering and there is a deep sense of hopelessness across the country. "Today, even our plurality is under threat. Divisive forces are attempting to turn our diversity against us - different religions, communities, regions are being pitted against each other. These forces, which are only a handful in number, know that only when people feel insecure and scared can they sow the seeds of hatred for the 'other'." Guwahati, Jan 26 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday made a fresh appeal to the banned militant outfit ULFA-I to shun violence and return to the mainstream. Addressing the Republic Day function here, he said that if the ULFA-I comes to the table of talks, Assam will be transformed into the "island of peace". "It is our last mile on the path of peace to have ULFA-I on the table of talks," he said. The Chief Minister further said that Assam has witnessed a lot of change in its path of development, and the situation is very different now compared to when the ULFA-I was formed. "Today, Assam is rapidly moving on the path of development. People living in the state have a new mindset now, and ULFA-I should accept this," he added. Sarma also expressed confidence to bring the organisation on the path of peace. Earlier on Thursday, the Chief Minister paid homage to brave hearts at Shraddhanjali Kanan here. He announced that elderly people in the state will now get Rs 1,250 per month, instead of the earlier Rs 300 per month under the old age pension scheme. Sarma also mentioned the state government's Rs 2,000 crore initiative to convert 500 government schools into smart educational institutes. "This is the first time since independence that the Assam government has been able to pay salaries to government employees with its own funds," he added. Kolkata, Jan 26 : Internal feud in Trinamool Congress' Darjeeling unit over the issue of separate Gorkhaland state seems to be aggravating with each passing day. After influential leader in the hills, Binoy Tamang, recently severed all ties with the Trinamool Congress and joined hands with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's (GJM) Bimal Gurung and Hamro Party's Ajay Edwards, the party's Darjeeling district vice-president, Pradeep Pradhan, has turned rebellion. On Thursday, Pradhan expressed solidarity towards Gurung's renewed demand for a separate Gorkhaland state and also alleged that the affairs in Trinamool are Bengali-centric. It is learnt that recently, Pradhan also had a separate meeting with Gurung during which he assured his support towards the demand for separate statehood. Expressing his solidarity, Pradhan also claimed that the affairs in Trinamool Congress are too much 'Nabanna' (state secretariat) and 'Kalighat' (the area where CM Mamata Banerjee lives) centric. "I always speak on behalf of the people whom I represent. So I am saying that all of us will have to move ahead for a separate Gorkhaland state," Pradhan said. The development has left the hill district leadership of Trinamool uneasy. According to Trinamool leader from the hills and the party's Rajya Sabha member Santa Chhetri, the matter has been reported to the party high-command, which will take the appropriate decision at an appropriate time. Pradhan, a hill leader from Kurseong, was initially a close associate of Gurung and was also the vice-president of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM). However, after Gurung, once the final word in the hills, went underground, Pradhan joined the Trinamool Congress in August 2016. He was later made the hill district vice-president of the party. Justifying his renewed support for Gurung and GJM, Pradhan claimed that when the GJM chief was underground, he had an interaction with him in Sikkim. "There he told me that come what may, he will not move away from his demand for a separate Gorkhaland state. I have realised how true Gurung's political commitment is and hence I have decided to extend my support towards him," Pradhan said. He also expressed grief over the increasing tendency of giving hill land on lease to outsiders. "Outsiders are making money by running their businesses in the hills. But the people of the hills are suffering," he said. Chennai, Jan 26 : The opposition AIADMK in Tamil Nadu has been putting an all-out effort to wrest the Erode East assembly seat -- by-election to which is scheduled to be held on February 27. The by-election was necessitated after the sitting legislator of Erode East constituency, E. Thirumahan Everaa who had won the seat by defeating M. Yograj of the Tamil Manila Congress by a margin of 8,924 votes in the 2021 assembly elections, passed away on January 4. AIADMK interim general secretary and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, K. Palaniswami -- also popularly known as EPS, has constituted a 100-member committee of party leaders including all district secretaries and senior leaders to ensure the victory of the party candidate in the by-polls. The name of the AIADMK candidate is yet to be finalised. According to sources, a decision in this regard would be taken soon. The former Chief Minister, who is hopeful of a resounding performance by his party candidate, included all senior leaders in the committee (for the poll) headed by former minister and party organising secretary, D. Jayakumar. The AIADMK has also included the party presidium chairman, Tamil Magan Hussain also in the 100-member committee which has names of former ministers, Natham R. Viswanathan, K.P. Munuswamy, party treasurer, Dindigul R. Sreenivasan and former Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, S. Thambiduarai in the committee. Sources in the AIADMK told IANS that EPS, who is "under pressure to win the seat for the party", and is also trying to stamp his authority in the AIADMK, does not want to take any chances in the by-election. Sources believe that the AIADMK would be facing an uphill task in wresting the sitting seat from the DMK. The Congress and DMK have announced the candidature of EVKS Elangovan, father of the late MLA, E. Thirumahan Everaa. Sources say that the "good image" of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will also be a major support for the candidature of EVKS Elangovan. Border Security Force (BSF) troopers exchanged sweets with Pakistan Rangers on Thursday to mark India's 74th Republic Day.(twitter) Image Source: IANS News Border Security Force (BSF) troopers exchanged sweets with Pakistan Rangers on Thursday to mark India's 74th Republic Day.(twitter) Image Source: IANS News Border Security Force (BSF) troopers exchanged sweets with Pakistan Rangers on Thursday to mark India's 74th Republic Day.(twitter) Image Source: IANS News Border Security Force (BSF) troopers exchanged sweets with Pakistan Rangers on Thursday to mark India's 74th Republic Day.(twitter) Image Source: IANS News Jammu, Jan 26 : Border Security Force (BSF) troopers exchanged sweets with Pakistan Rangers on Thursday to mark India's 74th Republic Day. BSF sources said sweets were offered to Rangers at various outposts on the international border in Jammu division and the gesture was reciprocated by the Rangers. Mutual exchange of sweets took place at various border outposts on the international border in Samba, Kathua, and Jammu districts. Official sources said sweets were also exchanged between the forces of the two countries on the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and Rajouri districts. Morbi : , Jan 26 (IANS) A man in Gujarat's Morbi killed his wife and attacked his son in a fit of anger after she asked him to share some of the money he made by selling ancestral property, police said on Thursday. Jitendra Ranva has lodged a complaint against his father Ramji Ranva, alleging that he has killed his mother Gitaben and attacked him on his neck with a knife. He said that a few days back, his father had sold their ancestral property, and Wednesday evening, when he returned home after his masonry work, his mother inquired about money made out of selling ancestral property, and if he can share some part of it. This irked his father and he attacked her with knife, he said. When the complainant reached home, he found his mother lying in a pool of blood, and at that moment, his father attacked him too with a knife and told him why he attacked her. He rushed his mother to the government hospital, where the doctor declared her dead and treated him for the injury. Police Inspector K.A. Vala said police are searching for the accused. New Delhi, Jan 26 : Angered by the frequent adjournments of the MCD House and the delay in Mayoral election, Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Mayoral candidate Shelly Oberoi has filed a petition in the Supreme Court, demanding timely election for the top post of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The Mayoral election was first scheduled for January 6, but the House was adjourned following scuffle betwee the councillors of BJP and AAP. Then a session was convened on January 24 to elect the Mayor and Deputy Mayor and members of the standing committee. However, after all the 250 newly-elected MCD councillors and 10 nominated members (Aldermen) took their oath, the House was again adjourned until the next date after a ruckus created by the councillors of AAP and BJP. In both the sessions, the House was adjourned indefinitely due to the uproar, as Delhi continues to wait for its new Mayor. The results of the MCD elections were declared on December 7, wherein out of the 250 seats, AAP got majority by winning 134 seats, followed by BJP (104), Congress (nine) and Independent councillors (three). Kolkata, Jan 26 : A police sub-inspector on Thursday was shot at by his colleague at a police barrack in the Technocity Police Station area near Kolkata, officials said. Sub-inspector Kaushik Ghosh was shot at by assistant sub-inspector Abhijit Ghosh with his service revolver. Kaushik Ghosh is currently under treatment at a private hospital in the city. He was shot in his left leg. Abhijit Ghosh has been suspended and an enquiry has been initiated by the police staff of Technocity Police station on the probable reasons that prompted Abhijit Ghosh to open fire on his senior colleague. It was learnt that Abhijit Ghosh had recently been transferred to Techno City Police Station from the Special Task Force (STF). He was apparently not on good terms with Kaushik Ghosh. Abhijit Ghosh also frequently talked about the sub-inspector's misbehaviour towards him as well as other sub-ordinates. The police are investigating whether the shooting event was preceded by any altercation between them. The team conducting the probe is also trying to understand how Abhijit Ghosh got hold of his service revolver even as both were off- duty while the shooting incident took place. Questions are also being raised about the duty officers responsible for the allotment of firearms to on-duty police personnel. Investigations are on whether the service revolver and bullets were actually allotted to him, or he got hold of them without the knowledge of the officers in charge of arms allotment. 13:00 | Lima, Jan. 26. Supreme Resolution No. 016-2023-RE published in the This designation was endorsed bypublished in the Official Gazette El Peruano on Thursday. The document establishes that credentials and full powers will be extended to the diplomat. Likewise, the date on which the diplomatic official must take up duties will be set by Ministerial Resolution. Cambodia On the other hand, via Supreme Resolution No. 017-2023-RE, current Ambassador to Malaysia, Ricardo Estanislao Morote Canales, was appointed to serve simultaneously as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Peru to the Kingdom of Cambodia. The envoy will continue residing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Patna, Jan 26 : JD-U MLA Gopal Mandal got involved in a heated exchange of words with former party MP Anil Yadav over sitting on the front seat during a Republic Day function at Naugachia sub-division in Bhagalpur district on Thursday. Mandal was sitting along with the party's district president, Tripurari Kumar Bharti, on the front row. When former JD-U MP Yadav arrived at the venue, he asked Bharti to move behind. When Mandal objected, a war of words broke out between the two. The situation got so heated that the police present at the venue had to intervene and request the duo not to use unparliamentary language against each other during a Republic Day event. Later, Yadav said, "He (Mandal) even threatened to kidnap me. Gopal Mandal needs medical check-up. I appeal to the district administration for more security." Reacting to the allegations, Mandal said: "The district president of our party was sitting on the front row when suddenly a former MP asked him to go behind. When I objected, he threatened to kidnap me from my house. I did not threaten him." Mumbai, Jan 26 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced compensation for the next of kin of 5 youths from Solapur killed in an accident in Andhra Pradesh's Tirupati, an official said on Thursday. Condoling the deaths of the five youths, Shinde said Rs 5 lakh each will be given to their families and the state government will bear the full treatment costs of the other four injured. The victims were devotees, who had gone for darshan at the famed Tirupati Temple in Andhra Pradesh, when their vehicle met with a major accident. While five were killed instantly, the four others injured were initially rushed to a government hospital and then shifted to the Tirupati Devasthanam Hospital. According to officials, the vehicle rammed into a culvert in Chandragiri Mandal near Tirupati on Wednesday afternoon, and was reduced to a heap of metal, the local police said. They had completed their worship at the Tirumala temple and were heading towards the Kanipakam temple when their vehicle met with the accident on the Naidupet-Puthalapattu Highway near Kalroadpalli village. The victims have been identified as Atharva Tembhurnikar, Mayur Mathpati, Rishikesh Jangam, Ajay Laatle (among the deceased) and the injured are Rohan Irani, Rahul Irani, Shree Nerlekar, and Ambadas Kumar, as the tragedy cast a pall of gloom in their home town. After completing the autopsy and other formalities, the bodies of the deceased victims are being brought to Solapur for the final rites. Islamabad, Jan 26 : The Pakistan Senate was informed in categorical terms on Thursday that no back-channel diplomacy was presently taking place between Pakistan and India, the media reported. Pakistan Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar told the House during the question hour that hostility coming from the neighbouring country was of unique nature, Express Tribune reported. She maintained that relations between the two nations were marred by a number of provocative steps by India, Express Tribune reported. She stated that despite New Delhi's negative attitude, Islamabad would continue on the path of peace, and the tension between the two on the Line of Control had decreased. She continued that minorities in Pakistan enjoyed full religious protection but in India, they were being treated badly, Express Tribune reported. Khar described the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor as a positive precedent, stating that such processes must move forward. The minister's remarks come days after, India invited Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Atta Bandial and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to attend meetings of a key regional forum that also includes Russia and China. The meeting of chief justices of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is scheduled for March while the foreign ministers will meet in May in Goa. However, Pakistan is in no hurry to respond to the Indian invitation to attend the key regional forum's meeting in May, as officials have termed New Delhi's invite "routine practice". Official sources confirmed on Wednesday of receiving the Indian invitation but said it was too early to say anything at this stage. "It is a routine matter. India being the current President of the SCO has invited member states. including Pakistan," said an official, downplaying the significance of the invitation, Express Tribune reported. Patna, Jan 26 : While India celebrated the 74th Republic Day on Thursday, a Pakistani flag was found hoisted in a house in Bihar's Purnea district, police said. When the incident in Sipahi Tola village under Madhubani Top police station came to the knowledge of district administration, officials rushed to the village. The flag was hosted on a house owned by Mohammad Mubarukuddin and it is located adjacent to the local mosque. During the investigation, Rehana Parveen, a family member, informed police that a person came in the house in the morning hours and went on the rooftop. She further said that she did not know who had hosted the Pakistani flag on her house. "We have immediately removed the Pakistani flag and the investigation is underway. Such an act is meant to be treason and the accused will be booked," Madhubani Top SHO Pawan Kumar Chaudhary said. New Delhi, Jan 26 : Amid the ongoing tussle between AAP government and Lt Governor V.K. Saxena over several issues including sending teachers to Finland for training, LG Saxena has invited Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for a meeting on Friday at 4 p.m. The LG has called Kejriwal with his cabinet ministers and 10 MLAs at Raj Niwas. "LG VK Saxena has asked CM Arvind Kejriwal to come and see him with his cabinet ministers and any of the 10 MLAs tomorrow at 4 p.m. at Raj Niwas," said the LG office. In a letter to Lt Governor on January 20, Kejriwal had proposed him to meet as per his convenience. During the recently concluded Delhi Assembly Winter Session, Kejriwal had protested along with party's MLAs to meet LG on teachers' training. Along with mayoral polls, the CM and the LG have locked horns over the issues of Delhi's government teachers sending to Finland for training purposes. After the LG rejected the files on the ground of 'Cost Benefits Analysis', Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has sent the file again for LG's approval. In the proposal moved this time, the Deputy CM had noted, "The Government has examined proposals from all aspects, including cost benefit analysis and finds it essential to improve the quality of education. If the CM and Education Minister have decided to send their teachers abroad, then how can LG scuttle it by repeatedly raising flimsy objections. It is against democracy and the Constitution that an unelected individual is deciding and altering almost every decision of a democratically elected government." Chennai, Jan 26 : After strong protests by the people in the Gudalur area in Nilgiris district, the Tamil Nadu forest department is chasing away a tuskless male elephant, also knwon as 'Makhna', into the deep forests in the Madumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR). Forest officials of MTR told IANS that the elephant, which is around 40 years old, has not yet posed threat to humans. But of late, there have been complaints from the local people that elephants have been creating havoc in their agricultural lands, causing damage to crops. While the Makhna has not been antagonistic towards human beings, recently it destroyed three farm lands, causing extensive damage to crops. A senior official of the forest department told IANS, "People have launched a campaign in Gudalur and other areas of Nilgiris to drive this elephant into the forest. Even though we know that it's a harmless elephant, we have now decided to chase it into the deep forest land in the MTR area." The official said that the forest department is driving the elephant into deep forests taking into account the safety of the tusker. It is to be noted here that the Palakkad Tusker 7 (PT7), which had killed a morning walker and damaged crops extensively in the Dhoni area in Palakkad district in Kerala, was captured a few days back by the Kerala forest department. Medical check-up showed that 15 pellets were fired at it from air guns. Kerala Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran had said that farmers should not resort to such cruel acts against elephants. Tamil Nadu forest department officials are hence driving the Makhna into the deep forests to prevent it from the wrath of the local people. Dharamsala, Jan 26 : Donning a Himachali cap, globetrotting Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama -- an icon of 'ahimsa' and 'karuna' who has been in exile in India for over 60 years, on Thursday watched 74th Republic Day parade that showcased India's military might, cultural diversity and women's empowerment. "His Holiness the Dalai Lama, wearing a traditional hat from Himachal Pradesh, watching the Indian Republic Day celebration on TV at his residence in Dharamsala, HP. India, on January 26, 2023," a post on his official Facebook post said, posting his photograph too. In his normal addresses, the spiritual leader is thanking the Indian government and people of India for the generous hospitality and kindness extended to the Tibetan people for the last over six decades. The Dalai Lama has lived in India since fleeing China in 1959 after a failed uprising against Communist rule over Tibet. The government-in-exile named Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) is based in Dharamsala. His Holiness the Dalai Lama often calls India the "Guru" and Tibet its "Chela" and refers to himself the "Son of India" and a true follower of Mahatma Gandhi. He advocates the revival of India's ancient wisdom based on the Nalanda tradition. His Holiness is often called the best ambassador for Indian values of non-violence, ahimsa and inter-religious harmony and the promotion of basic human values -- compassion and kindness. The Buddhist scholar, known for his simplicity and typical jovial style and for whom Mahatma Gandhi is the most influential leader of the 20th century for his idea of non-violence, prefers to participate in meetings with religious leaders, and lectures students and businessmen on ethics for the new millennium and the art of happiness. He believes India is the only country with the potential to combine its ancient knowledge with modern education. Congratulating Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu on being sworn in as Chief Minister last month, His Holiness said, "India has been my home for more than 62 years now and I have been happy to reside most of that time here in Dharamsala. "Consequently, I often refer to the Chief Minister as 'our Chief Minister'. I deeply appreciate the friendship and hospitality that the people from all walks of life in Himachal Pradesh have shown me and my fellow Tibetans all these years. "Like other places in the state, Dharamsala has grown and developed tremendously since I first arrived in McLeodganj in May 1960." In 1959, the occupying Chinese troops suppressed the Tibetan national uprising in Lhasa and forced the Dalai Lama and over 80,000 Tibetans into exile in India and neighbouring countries. On reaching India after a three-week-long treacherous journey, the Dalai Lama first took up residence for about a year in Mussoorie (now in Uttarakhand). On March 10, 1960 just before moving to Dharamsala, which also serves as the headquarters of the exiled Tibetan establishment, the Dalai Lama said: "For those of us in exile, I said that our priority must be resettlement and the continuity of our cultural traditions. We, Tibetans, would eventually prevail in regaining freedom for Tibet." Currently, India is home to around 100,000 Tibetans and the government-in-exile, which has never won recognition from any country. (Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in) Chennai, Jan 26 : Even after the Republic Day celebrations on Thursday, the high security that has been in place in Tamil Nadu since the past week will continue for some more time, officials said. The coastal security group (CSG) of the Tamil Nadu marine police has been undertaking intensified patrolling for the past few days. Since the past few days, the CSG has been tightening security both in coastal areas as well as on the sea. Sources in the coastal police told IANS that this would continue for a few more days, given several intelligence inputs on smuggling of arms, drugs, and other substances through the sea. The marine police team had also combed the uninhabited islands in the Gulf of Mannar, ahead of the Republic Day celebrations. The coastal police have been checking even fishing boats in the deep sea as well as coastal areas. However, the intensity of patrolling will now be reduced. Several companies of police deployed for security arrangements in all district capitals and at the state capital will also stay put for a couple of days more. After the ban on Islamist organisation, Popular Front of India (PFI) in September 2022 by the Centre, there have been reports from Central agencies of certain Islamist groups trying to fan up communal feelings. The Coimbatore car blast of October 23, on the eve of Deepavali, in which 29-year-old Jameesha Mubin was charred to death and the subsequent arrest of Islamists from various areas of Tamil Nadu has led to the intelligence agencies upping their ante. With Republic Day being the biggest event after the ban on PFI, the security agencies had left no stone unturned to ensure it passes off without any trouble. The recent confrontation between the Governor and the DMK government with the Governor taking certain extreme positions has not gone down well with certain ultra-Tamil movements. The state and Central intelligence agencies had, according to sources, provided inputs on certain ultra-Tamil movements trying to fan up trouble and hence, strong security measures were in place. State police sources told IANS that the security arrangements, in place for the Republic Day functions would continue for a couple of days more. Talking to IANS, a top Tamil Nadu Police officer said: "Tamil Nadu is a very crucial state and there were intelligence inputs on certain elements trying to fan up trouble. Even though the Republic Day celebrations have almost come to an end, we will continue with the security arrangements for a few more days." Kolkata, Jan 26 : Respecting the traditional belief that Saraswati Puja is the most auspicious occasion for 'Hate Khori', a ritual to mark the beginning of learning, West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose took his first lesson of learning Bangla on Thursday in the presence of the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was the chief guest on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, Bose also chose to speak a few lines in Bengal, expressing his love and admiration for the language. "I will learn Bengali. Bengali is a sweet language. I love Bengal. I love the people of Bengal. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the national leader, is my hero. Jai Bangla. Jai Hind," the Governor said at the programme, which was conducted on the lawn of the Taj Bhavan. Despite being invited, the leader of the opposition in West Bengal Assembly, Subendu Adhikari, did not attend the event. According to Adhikari, the 'Hate Khori' programme was "cunningly orchestrated" by the state government and the Chief Minister to camouflage the scams in the education sector for which several officials of the education department, including the former Education Minister, are behind the bars. The BJP leader also said that in future, the Governor should be careful of being part of such cunningly orchestrated programmes of the state government. Meanwhile, speaking at the 'Hate Khori' function, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee recollected how Mahatma Gandhi started learning Bangla in 1940. "Even the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and former West Bengal Governor, Gopalkrishna Gandhi, was keen about learning Bangla. Bangla is the second most spoken language in India. But we Bengalis are keen on learning other languages too. I always insist on learning the local language of any place since it helps," she said. Veteran CPI(M) leader and Left Front chairman in West Bengal, Biman Basu, was also invited to the vent, though he left the venue before the rituals could start. "Hate Khori is a ritual that we took part in during our childhood. I do not find any reason to participate in the ritual at this age. There are certain things that need to be avoided. This was such an avoidable event," Bose said. Mumbai, Jan 26 : Filmmaker-choreographer Farah Khan will be replacing actor Salman Khan as a host during the weekend ka vaar episode of the reality show 'Bigg Boss 16' and will be seen "getting strict" with the contestants. Anil Kapoor, Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon, and Mika Singh will be making an appearance on the show this week as special guests. During the episode, Farah seems unhappy with the behaviour of Tina Datta and Priyanka Chahar Choudhary. She slammed them for continuously bullying Shalin Bhanot. This led to an argument between the three. Tina and Priyanka continued to argue with the host and tried to explain their viewpoint. However, this irritated Farah. Farah tried to make them understand but after a point, she got annoyed and said: "If you don't want to listen to me, I'll walk out." In the previous episode, Shiv Thakare and Priyanka Chahar Choudhary got into a massive fight. Shiv even said that Priyanka is trying to copy the late actor Sidharth Shukla. It all happened when Bigg Boss asked to nominate two contestants and Priyanka was nominated. She got angry and said that she will continue to fight even if the entire house is against her. After hearing this, Shiv compared her with the 'Bigg Boss 13' winner. Latest updates on Bigg Boss Season 16 YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory message to Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia, on the occasion of the national holiday. "Your Excellency, I warmly congratulate you and the friendly people of Australia on the occasion of the national holiday, Australia Day. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Armenia and Australia have developed friendly bilateral ties, sharing common values and goals. I sincerely hope that with joint efforts we will give a new charge to our relations for the benefit of our peoples. The large Armenian community in Australia, which plays a significant role in all spheres of Australian social and political life, is also an important stimulus for the development and strengthening of our interstate cooperation. I wish you good health and new success, and prosperity and happiness to the friendly people of Australia, PM Pashinyan said in the message published by his office. Hyderabad, Jan 26 : Tollywood star N. Balakrishna, better known as NBK, on Thursday denied making derogatory comments about late legendary actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao. Stating that he has a lot of respect for Nageswara Rao, the actor-politician said he did not use any word intentionally while referring to the late actor. At the success meet of his latest release "Veera Simha Reddy", Balkrishna's comment about Nageswara Rao had triggered a row. Talking about his father, late former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and creator of the Telugu Desam Party, N.T. Rama Rao, Balakrishna had said rather dismissively: "My father had some contemporaries, Ranga Rao (S. V. Ranga Rao), Akkineni, Thokkineni, and some others." Nageswara Rao's grandsons -- Akkineni Naga Chaitanya and his brother Akhil Akkineni -- posted a statement on Twitter in reaction to Balakrishna's remark. They said: "Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao garu, Akkineni Nageswara Rao garu and S.V Ranga Rao garu's creative contributions have been the pride and pillars of Telugu Cinema. Disrespecting them is degrading ourselves." With Nageswara Rao's family reacting to the actor's comment, NBK has come out with the clarification. He claimed that Nageswara Rao used to love him more than his own children and he too used to address him as uncle. Mumbai, Jan 26 : Actors Alaya F and Karan Mehta have shared their experience of shooting for Anurag Kashyap's 'Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat' in extremely cold conditions in Gulmarg. Talking about shooting in sub-zero conditions, Alaya said: "The weather was extremely erratic. It was snowing one day, then the next day was bright and sunny, then there was heavy rainfall the following day." But the harsh weather did not stop the film's crew from being creative. Alaya recalled: "It was a wonderful learning experience seeing Anurag sir adapt to every weather condition and not let it hinder the making of the film." She added: "It was a one-of-a-kind experience because one day we were freezing, and the next day we were drenched. There were also times when we could barely see where we were going due to dense fog. It was always a distinct experience and an amazing adventure which made for the most incredible memories." Debutant Karan was fazed, but he tried to make the best out of the situation. "It was really difficult to shoot in such unfavourable conditions, but with the support and encouragement we received from the crew members, we were able to sail through. When I saw the first cut, I realised all our efforts were worth it for sure." Presented by Zee Studios under the banner of Good Bad Films, 'Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat' releases on February 3. New Delhi, Jan 26 : The visit of Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to India as a guest of honour in India's Republic Day celebrations came at a crucial time for the two developing nations decades long partnership. Historically both countries have shared civilizational links for centuries before forging diplomatic relations in 1947 and have been leading multidimensional cooperation for decades as well. Apart from being the founding members of the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM), the two emerging countries also went on to sign a Friendship Treaty in 1955 which further solidified the aspirational outlook of the two nations in enhancing their bilateral relations. New Delhi's relation with Cairo in the past decade alone has seen significant positive developments all across different sectors. The two countries have been enhancing upon their relations through forging various partnerships in the realm of defence cooperation, energy security and trade investments amongst other domains. For decades, both India and Egypt have remained traditional trading partners. India currently is Egypt's third-largest export market and is also its sixth-largest trading partner. Although there remains more scope to expand bilateral cooperation across sectors, India's trade with Egypt witnessed a 75 per cent increase in the previous financial year with bilateral trade reaching up to $7.26 billion recently. The Bilateral Trade Agreement signed in 1978 between the two nations has remained a vital prospect in facilitating cooperation between the two countries. Given the enhanced role of the two countries in setting global agendas, aspects including in ensuring food security, furthering the voice of the Global South, combating climate change and promoting international peace are domains where great headway can be made. Moreover, from India's perspective, greater bilateral relations with Egypt incorporate the will to seek an equitable world order and more importantly cater to the needs of the African nations that pursue for an integrative role in international governance. In terms of defence cooperation, the two countries have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in September 2022, during the Indian Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh's visit to Egypt. The MoU included closer cooperation in the field of military training, joint exercises, and defence production amongst others. The visit played a significant role in propelling the relations between the two countries in the specific domain of security and intelligence operations; a feat achieved for purpose of invigorating India's role as a reliable defence partner to the whole of Africa, if not only to the northern region of the continent. With the intensification of relations, the avenues of defence and security have emerged as high priority domains leading to military-to-military commitments including industry cooperation and joint exercises while also enhancing overall defence and security cooperations. In continuation of these defence talks, Egypt's special forces also held a joint exercise with their Indian counterparts in Jodhpur in January 2023, signalling the growing collaborative effort between the two strongest militaries in the world. In light of such efforts, it is only fitting if such measures are fully capitalised upon. Domestic defence industries are an aspect both countries are rigorously exploring and India and Egypt should focus on enhancing both their domestic production in a way that benefits the two partners through knowledge sharing as well as commercial sales. This proposed outlook is also projected by the fact Egypt is one of the many countries to have shown a keen interest in procuring India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft. More importantly, Egypt also offers a gateway to many other regions that could benefit India's trade apart from providing a strong market for Egyptian trade. Egypt's vital geographical location provides access to Asia, Africa and Europe and is an avenue that could potentially facilitate India's trade links with some valuable commercial markets as well. Moreover, strategically important sea links border the country including the Suez Canal, the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea which can potentially create investment opportunities for Indian businesses in the region as well. These routes also offer the shortest sea link between the continents as well as the western world. Thus, forging greater bilateral with the North African country is as much a trading decision as is a geopolitically strategic one. Although, least to state that minor obstacles still persist in expanding intra-regional cooperations between the two emerging countries, the perspective of mutually beneficial growth should surely take prominence during the scheduled meetings that are to take place in the upcoming visit. The leadership at the top in both the nations to have played an invaluable role in concretising the relations beyond specific sectors and has invigorated a deep-rooted relationship through various means that can sail through hinderances that arise in the course of the renewed relations. Both Egypt and India are on a path of reshaping the global world order and more specifically are altering the dynamics of their regions as well for the better development of their neighbourhoods. A common prosperous goal has already been laid down by both the countries with Egypt leading the North African developmental trajectory and India with its remarkable growth potential that could elevate other developing nations on its path. Hence, it is not only desirable for both the nations, but is also in the larger interest of the global community that the two mutually aligned emerging nations work in tandem for the development of the global south as whole. Thus, enhanced bilateral relation between the two allies are more of a gateway to ensure that a sustainable global growth story is led by two of the oldest civilisational societies to have existed. Amaravati, Jan 26 : Jana Sena Party (JSP) President Pawan Kalyan on Thursday warned leaders against speaking for separate statehood to North Andhra and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh. The actor-politician said that if someone speaks in separatist tones to split the state further, they would not see another extremist like him. In his address at the Republic Day celebrations at the party office near Mangalagiri in Guntur district, he warned the leaders that if they speak of dividing the state further, this would have serious consequences. Pawan Kalyan said it was unfortunate that Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao proposed statehood for the North Andhra districts while former minister Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy wanted a separate Rayalaseema state. He asked these leaders to introspect what they had done for their respective regions, and explain how new states would help in achieving development. The JSP leader alleged that the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) was stoking regional feelings to achieve its political objectives. He exhorted people to raise a banner of revolt against the "draconian" government of the YSRCP by drawing inspiration from the youth of Telangana who had fought for separate state and achieved it in spite of many difficulties. The actor told the partymen that he had not entered politics to become Chief Minister overnight. Stating that he has an ideology for the next 25 years, he made it clear that it will not change once in five years for elections. He observed that the people of Andhra Pradesh were apparently obsessed with their castes more than the common good, which was the reason for other states stealing a march on it. He alleged that law and order deteriorated due to the inefficiency of the government. He said the government ensured that no one dared to question its policies and actions by implicating people, mainly leaders of the opposition parties, in false cases. He alleged that YSRCP cadres were behind the arson that had taken place in Amalapuram over the naming of Konaseema district after B.R. Ambedkar. It was a conspiracy to derive political mileage by driving a wedge between various castes, but nobody knew about the fate of this case, he said. Pawan slammed Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for having no confidence in the state police. He said nothing has so far happened in the Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy murder and the infamous 'Kodi Kathi' case. Vivekananda Reddy, a former minister and uncle of Jagan Mohan Reddy, was murdered just before the 2019 elections. 'Kodi Kathi" case relates to the attack on Jagan Mohan Reddy at Visakhapatnam Airport in 2018 by a youth with a knife used in cockfights. New Delhi, Jan 26 : The earliest recorded incident of Indo-Egyptian diplomatic relations goes back to 3rd Century BC when Indian Emperor Ashoka the Great despatched his envoys to the court of Egyptian ruler Ptolemy II Philadelphus, who in turn sent an ambassador named Dionysius to the Mauryan court at Patliputra. In modern times, the bonds between the two newly-Independent nations became particularly strong under the leadership of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and President Nasser of Egypt. Nehru and Nasser were the founding members of the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) during the Cold War years. India's unequivocal condemnation of the English, French and Israeli attack on Egypt during the Suez crisis of 1956 was highly-effective in securing the trust and friendship of the largest nation and one of the most significant powers of the Arab world. Indo-Egyptian bilateral relations went into a state of limbo over an alleged incident of diplomatic faux pas during the New Delhi NAM summit of 1983. It took quarter of a century for the ice to thaw when President Hosni Mubarak returned to India in November 2008. A return visit was paid by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Egypt during the NAM summit in July 2009. Thereafter, Mubarak's successor, Mohammed Morsi, visited New Delhi in 2013 to boost the Indo-Egypt bilateral ties before his removal from office in the same year. These successive incidents of regime change, however, had hardly any bearing on Egypt's relationship with India. The current and the sixth President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah al Sisi, has been, in fact, making earnest and sincere overtures to New Delhi ever since his assumption of office in 2014. On Thursday, President Sisi graced the Republic Day parade in Delhi as its Chief Guest, marking his third visit to the national capital following two successive sojourns in 2015 and 2016. Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi is yet to visit Cairo, the visits of Defence Minster Rajnath Singh (September, 2022) and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar (October, 2022) have resulted in the conduction of Desert Warrior, the first-ever joint tactical exercise, by the air force of the two countries. Cyclone 2023, the 14-day joint exercise by the Indian and Egyptian armies, also a first of its kind, in Rajasthan was yet another significant milestone in bilateral defence cooperation. In a remarkable gesture of goodwill, Egypt had despatched three plane loads of medical supplies, including 300,000 doses of Remdesivir, when India was severely hit by the Covid-19 Pandemic in 2021. Next year, India reciprocated by sending shipments of wheat to Egypt when the country's wheat import from Ukraine was halted due to the Russian invasion. Egypt also holds enormous prospects as an investment destination for India. The Indian companies that have invested in Egypt include the Chennai-based Sanmar group (caustic soda plant in Port Said), Aditya Birla group (carbon black facility in Alexandria), Asian Paints, Dabur, UFlex Films, Bajaj Auto and others. The feedback given by these companies has been positive, testifying genuine concerns and interests of the Egyptian authorities in making their country's environment conducive to international business. The Suez Canal Economic Zone, built under the joint partnership between Egypt and China, deserves special mention in this regard. Although the 455 sq km SCZONE, located near the Egyptian city of Suez, was built for Chinese companies to set up their industries. It offers lucrative prospects to Indian companies as well. Gurugram-based ReNew Power has signed an agreement to set up a green hydrogen facility in the zone. Other Indian companies, expectedly, will follow the suit. Egyptian President Sisi's latest visit can provide an excellent opportunity to the Indian business establishment to secure their foothold in this strategically located industrial estate that offers, inter alia, attractive tax incentives, cheap and abundant land and easy to access to the European markets. Jaipur, Jan 26 : Taking an indirect dig at his former deputy Sachin Pilot, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said the Congress had formed the government in 2018 due to its good governance model in the previous tenure (2008-2013), and not because of his junior party colleague's "hard work". The Chief Minister said this while interacting with the media after attending the Republic Day's function at Jaipur's SMS Stadium. Calling the party workers to work on 'Mission-156' (in reference to the number of seats won by the Congress in the 1998 assembly polls), Gehlot said that the party came to power five years ago due to its good governance model which was delivered from 2008 to 2013. "Our party got 156 seats in 1998.... at that time, I was the state president. Now again, we have to work on Mission-156. Same number of seats have to be won," he said. "During the 2018 elections, it was in the mind of the people that last time (in 2013 polls), they made a mistake by changing the government. It was already in their minds that the Congress government should be formed and Ashok Gehlot should become the Chief Minister. It was the voice of the public, and the voice of the public is the voice of God," the veteran Congress leader said. His remarks are being seen as an indirect reply to Pilot "that the government was formed due to his good governance model and not due to his hard work which he has been claiming so far". Gehlot said: "People started missing the Congress government six months after the party lost the mandate. They started recalling that a mistake had been made and that the previous government was good. "I don't speak without thinking, I am God-gifted, I speak from my heart, the voice of my heart comes on my tongue, that's why I am speaking. I think that this time, the public will support me," he asserted. Gehlot said that in 2013, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had "created an illusion and hence, we were limited to 21 seats". New Delhi, Jan 26 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit poll-bound Karnataka's Hubballi-Dharwad and Belagavi on January 28 to attend various events, including a BJP roadshow. This is his second visit to Kittur Karnataka (Mumbai-Karnataka) region within a month. The BJP's Karnataka unit hopes this tour and more such visits by the BJP leadership in the days to come, will help the party in mobilising its cadre base and achieve its 'mission 150' target (winning at least 150 out of 224 seats) in the Assembly polls, due by May, to retain power. According to a source, Shah will be arriving and staying in Hubballi on January 27, and on January 28 morning, attend two programmes - the 75th anniversary of the KLE's BVB college and inauguration of an indoor stadium, then, the stone-laying foundation for Forensic Science Laboratory in Dharwad" "He will then participate in BJP's 'Vijaya Sankalpa Abhiyana' in Kundagol," the source added. "After the rally, two meetings are organised regarding party affairs in Belagavi district - one will be related to organisation and the other will be leaders meeting- and both these will be attended by Shah," the source said. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, state President Nalin Kumar Kateel, senior leader B.S. Yediyurappa, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi among others, will be participating in party programmes. Hyderabad, Jan 26 : Former MP Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje, who is the 13th descendant of Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji, on Thursday called on Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao here. According to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), the grandson of Sahu Maharaj, successor of Kolhapur princely state and Swaraj movement activist, paid a courtesy call to the chief minister. KCR welcomed Sambhajiraje by presenting a shawl and a flower bouquet at Pragati Bhavan. The chief minister hosted lunch for Sambhajiraje and had discussions on many issues. Sambhajiraje inquired about the public welfare and development achieved by Telangana within a short time and stood as a role model for the country. He was keen to know the operational procedures followed by the Telangana state government in providing big welfare to the people of all sections including farmers, SC, ST, BC and Minorities. Sambhajiraje expressed his wish that the Telangana development model and welfare schemes should be implemented in Maharashtra as well. He opined that the "magnificent" Telangana development model should not be limited here but also extend to all other states, including Maharashtra. Apart from the development issues, CM KCR and Sambhajiraje had a lengthy discussion on the political situation in the country. The chief minister and former MP opined that an innovative agenda aimed at public welfare is necessary to come before the people for the development of the people and for the integrity of the country. They decided to meet again and discuss all the issues if necessary, depending on the occasion. On this occasion, CM KCR and Sambhajiraje recollected the services rendered by the ancestors of Shambhajiraje from Shivaji Maharaj to Sahu Maharaj to the country. KCR opined that their rule towards equality and public welfare will remain in the history of the country with golden letters. In the discussion, the chief minister made it clear that, with their inspiration, people's rule would continue in Telangana without caste and religious discrimination. New Delhi, Jan 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday thanked world leaders for extending their greetings on India's 74th Republic Day. In response to a tweet by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Modi said: "Thank you Prime Minister @AlboMP. Greetings to you and to the friendly people of Australia on Australia Day." In response to a tweet by French President Emmanuel Macron, PM Modi said: "Grateful for your warm greetings my dear friend @EmmanuelMacron on India's Republic Day. I share your commitment to work together for success of India's G20 Presidency and 25th anniversary of India-France Strategic Partnership. India and France together are a force for global good." Modi also thanked Nepalese Prime Minister Prachanda for his wishes. "Thank You @cmprachanda ji for your warm wishes!" Modi tweeted in response to Prachanda's wishes. Responding to Bhutan Prime Minister Lotay Tshering's wishes, Modi said: "Thank you @PMBhutan Dr. Lotay Tshering for your warm wishes! India is committed to its unique partnership with Bhutan for progress and prosperity of both our nations." In response to a tweet by President of Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the Prime Minister said: "Thank you for your warm greetings, President @ibusolih. Glad to see the sustained progress achieved by India-Maldives partnership, underpinned by common democratic values." In response to a tweet by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Modi tweeted: "Thank you for your warm wishes for India's Republic Day, PM @netanyahu. Look forward to further strengthening our strategic partnership." Responding to Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth's wishes, Modi said: "Thank you, PM @KumarJugnauth. In our shared journey as modern Republics, our two countries have been partnering closely in people-centred development. Looking forward to taking our cherished partnership with Mauritius to even greater heights." New Delhi, Jan 26 : In a setback to the Congress, its Bihar ally JD-U said it could not attend the concluding event of the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Srinagar on January 30, as it was pre-occupied by the February 27 Nagaland polls but wished it all success. The Congress had invited 24 opposition parties on the day to put a united face. In a letter to his Congress counterpart Mallikarjun Kharge, Janata Dal-United President Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh wrote: "Much as I would like to be present at the historic event, I regret my inability to do so, as I need to be present at the launching of the party's election campaign at Wokha in Nagaland the same day." However, he said that the Bharat Jodo Yatra has also given an opportunity to study, experience, and sense the mood and anxieties of the people first hand, and will go a long way in helping us formulate joint strategies in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. "There are no two opinions that there is decline in democratic values in the country and that the Constitutional institutions that are supposed to ensure checks and balances on unrestrained executive power are being systematically destroyed. The pace at which the country is fast transforming itself from an electoral democracy to an electoral autocracy, to say the least, is frightening," he said. Lalan Singh said that the need of the hour is an unified opposition and he expects that the Congress takes appropriate steps in this direction. YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. Director of the Alternative Research Center and member of the Eurasian Expert Club Tatul Manaseryan says the Russians and Russian companies who moved to Armenia and remittances had a big impact on the impressive economic growth of 2022. Eurasian Expert Club coordinator and political analyst Aram Safaryan noted that the relations with Russia are on a very high level as of the end of 2022 and beginning of 2023. Manaseryan and Safaryan were speaking at the Relevant Issues of Russian-Armenian Cooperation video-bridge between Moscow and Yerevan. Safaryan said the figures of last year speak volumes, and show the success of Armenias participation in the Eurasian integration process. Manaseryan presented the trends in the economy. He said that at the backdrop of the situation in Ukraine, migration flows were recorded in Armenia from Russia, also from Belarus, Ukraine (including ethnic Armenians holding citizenship of these countries). Other trends also impacted the economic development in Armenia. According to the economist, the sanctions imposed on Russia have indirectly impacted ally Armenia. Although the statistical figures arent entirely summed up yet, we expect around 10% business activity growth, which is a very impressive figure. We greatly owe this to the fact that many Russians prefer Armenia as their temporary place of residence and as a place for establishing their business, Manaseryan said. 250,000-300,000 temporary migrants or expats have arrived to Armenia, according to Manaseryan. And this has strongly impacted the economic and business activity of the country. The volume of private remittances to Armenia also grew last year. Over 60% of the total remittances from abroad were from Russia, like before. The total size is nearly 4 billion dollars. This can be considered as an investment into the Armenian economy, this money mostly went into the banking sector, he said. Hyderabad, Jan 26 : A legislator of Telangana's ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) kicked up a storm on Thursday by using abusive language while targeting Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan for sitting on the Bills passed by the legislature. The video clip of P. Kaushik Reddy, a member of the state Legislative Council, using the abusive word in Telugu went viral on social media, evoking condemnation. It was immediately not clear where and when Kaushik Reddy was speaking. The use of unparliamentary word by the MLC surfaced on Republic Day when the Governor indirectly attacked Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao during her speech. The differences between the BRS government and the Governor had first cropped up in 2021 when she did not approve the Cabinet's recommendation to nominate Kaushik Reddy to the Legislative Council under the Governor's quota in social service category. When the Governor delayed clearing the file, the BRS government sent Kaushik Reddy to the upper house under the Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) quota. Meanwhile, the BJP has reacted strongly to the use of abusive word by Kaushik Reddy against the Governor. BJP national Vice President D. K. Aruna demanded that the Chief Minister immediately suspend him from the party. Aruna said if the Chief Minister failed to act on the insult to a woman Governor, the BJP would stage state-wide protests. Jaipur, Jan 26 : Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday urged the people to bring in a sense of equality along with freedom. Addressing the Republic Day celebrations organised at Keshav Vidyapeeth here, he said: "B.R. Ambedkar, while dedicating the Constitution to the public, said that there is no slavery in the country. Even the British have gone, but to remove the slavery that came due to social conservatism, the provision of political equality and economic equality was made in the Constitution. That is why, it is necessary to read both the speeches given by Babasaheb in the Parliament on Republic Day." Saying that B.R. Ambedkar showed the path of duty, the RSS chief said that for (individual) freedom, it is necessary to take care of the freedom of others. "That's why, it is important to have equality. To have freedom and equality together, it is necessary to bring fraternity. Ideological differences arise as part of the democratic process in Parliament. Despite this, if the spirit of fraternity prevails, then the situation of equality and freedom remains," he said. "After Independence, the Constitution was framed to define the path and this glorious day is celebrated as Republic Day. The Tricolour is hoisted on both days. Its saffron colour symbolises the tradition of knowledge and continuous work with 'Sanatan'. This is the colour of the sunrise, the harbinger of action. As a Republic, we will make our country a nation of knowledgeable and hard-working people. It is necessary to get the direction of activism, sacrifice and knowledge. The flag wears white to represent power. This colour unites us. Green colour is the symbol of prosperity and Lakshmi. The feeling of 'Sarve Bhadrani Pashyantu' is born in the mind. Keeping the diverse society united, we should take a pledge about how far we will move forward till the next Republic Day. The programme started with the lighting of the lamp and the National Anthem, and ended with the collective singing of 'Vande Mataram'. New Delhi, Jan 26 : Delhi BJP's working president Virendra Sachdeva on Thursday reacted sharply to Aam Aadmi Party's move to approach the Supreme Court over the repeated adjournments of mayoral polls for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. In its suit, the AAP has demanded time-bound urgent mayoral, besides seeking prohibition on voting by aldermen as per the law. "Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party have always been misleading the public. They have no faith in the Constitution. Whenever they want to divert people's attention from their mistakes, they knock the door of the court. And when the court's decision doesn't go in their favour, they refuse to accept the same," Sachdeva said. Sachdeva also said that it was the Aam Aadmi Party that ran away from the MCD House, adding that when Kejriwal has the majority, what is the problem in electing the Mayor. The BJP leader said now that AAP has moved the court, it will have to come clean as to who created ruckus in the House, who threw the mike, or who climbed on to the chair of the presiding officer. There are photographs and videos which show AAP councillors deliberately obstructing the mayoral election, Sachdeva claimed. New Delhi, Jan 26 : In two separate operations, Delhi Police have arrested two persons on charges of supplying liquor illegally and seized around 6,500 quarters from their possession, an official said on Thursday. The accused have been identified as Kapil Kapoor (29), a resident of Rohtak, Haryana, and Vishal Paswan (25) from Mundka, Delhi. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka), M. Harsh Vardhan, said that in the first operation, a team was already deployed to nab bootleggers and suppliers of illegal liquor in the Dwarka area. "Secret informers were also deployed in the area to get information in this regard. The zeroing in on vehicles regularly crossing the borders at odd hours, one tempo was suspected of transporting liquor illegally from Haryana to Delhi," said the DCP. On the intervening night of January 23-24, the police received specific information that one person involved in supplying liquor will come on the Najafgarh-Nangloi road, carrying a huge quantity of liquor in his tempo. Subsequently, the police laid a trap and apprehended Vishal Paswan. On checking the tempo, as many as 4,500 quarters of liquor were recovered. In the second case, Kapil Kapoor was nabbed by the Anti-Narcotics Cell while he was transporting a large consignment of liquor in the Dwarka area. "A total of 2,000 quarters of liquor were recovered from his car," said the DCP. Jerusalem, Jan 27 : Israeli forces went on high alert around the West Bank and the Gaza Strip after their alleged killing of nine Palestinians, including an elderly woman, in a raid in the West Bank's Jenin refugee camp triggered threats of "revenge" from the Palestinian side. Hamas, a Palestinian armed group that rules the Gaza Strip, called for retaliation. Saleh al-Aaruri, deputy head of the political bureau of Hamas, said in a statement that the reaction "will come soon to make Israel pay a price for what it did in the morning", Xinhua news agency reported. In the wake of the "deadly raid", the Israeli army has reinforced its forces across the West Bank with one battalion, while the air force boosted its deployment of Iron Dome anti-rocket batteries in the south, according to several military statements. In towns in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip, the municipalities announced that cultural events have been cancelled for fear of retaliatory rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that his country "is not interested in an escalation." However, he instructed the security forces "to prepare for any scenario in the various arenas to ensure the safety of Israeli citizens." Chief of Staff Hertzi Halevi also instructed the army to "boost preparedness." Meanwhile, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland called for calm. He said in a statement that he was "deeply alarmed and saddened by the continuing cycle of violence", adding it was "crucial to prevent more loss of life and remain engaged with Israeli and Palestinian authorities to de-escalate tensions, restore calm and avoid further conflict". Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported that a US envoy as well as Qatari and Egyptian officials are attempting to prevent rocket fire from Gaza by militants with Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad, an armed group, to stop further escalation in the region. More than 170 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank in 2022, and at least 29 have been killed in January this year, according to figures from the Palestinian Health Ministry. According to a statement issued by the United Nations, 2022 was the deadliest year for Palestinians since 2006. The tensions have been further aggravated since Israel's new right-wing government under Netanyahu was sworn in last month. Ottawa, Jan 27 : Canadian Defence Minister Anita Anand is set to announce that his country will be sending four battle tanks to Ukraine. In addition to the initial four Leopard 2 tanks, Canada is considering sending more tanks at a later date, CTV News reported, citing government sources. The Canadian Armed Forces currently has 82 German-made Leopard 2 battle tanks, but they are in various states of serviceability, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the report. On Wednesday, Germany and the US announced they would be organising the shipment of dozens of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War New Delhi, Jan 27 : Ahead of Assembly elections in Tripura, the state BJP core group met Union Minister Amit Shah in the national capital on Thursday and discussed the poll strategy. Meeting went for almost five hours at BJP National President J.P. Nadda's residence. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, party's state President Rajiv Bhattacharjee, Election Incharge Mahesh Sharma, BJP Northeast convenor Sambit Patra, former Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Biplab Deb, and Union Minister Pratima Bhoumik were in meeting. According to a source, "most of the candidates names have been decided. These names will be announced after the CEC meeting tomorrow. Fair chances have been given to all the deserving candidates". "We are fully prepared and confident to win the election with good numbers. People believe Prime Minister Narendra Modi and praise work done by him for the people of the country," the source added. The party CEC meeting is slated for Friday at BJP headquarters. Poll-bound state leaders may also attend the meeting. Earlier on January 18, the Election Commission announced the schedule for Assembly elections to the northeastern states of Tripura, Meghalaya, and Nagaland to be held in February-March this year, results for which will be declared on March 2. Voting for Assembly elections in Tripura will be held in a single phase on February 16 and in Nagaland and Meghalaya on February 27. Rome, Jan 27 : A spate of violence in Spain and Germany that left several people dead and many injured has drawn outrage from leaders this week. On Wednesday, one person was killed and another hospitalised after a man carrying a large machete-type knife carried out attacks at two churches in Algeciras, southern Spain. Also on the day, a man armed with a knife killed two people and injured at least seven others on a train in northern Germany, Xinhua news agency reported. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the attacks in Algeciras "terrible", and offered his "most sincere condolences" to the relatives of the victim who died. Sanchez pledged to carry out an investigation into the events leading up to the attack. On Thursday, Spain's ministry of the interior stated that a suspect had been arrested and was in the custody of Spain's National Police, although the suspect was not identified. Algeciras is a busy port city that connects the Spanish mainland with the North African country of Morocco. In Germany, the attacker was injured during his stabbing spree, and later hospitalized. Authorities have said he will be interrogated when he is able to speak, but the motive for the attack is currently unknown, and the suspect has not been identified in this case either. Sabine Sutterlin-Waack, minister of the interior for the German region where the attack took place, told television reporters that she was "shocked and horrified that something like this has happened." The incidents in Spain and Germany come on the heels of an attack in Paris two weeks ago, where a man wielding a metal hook left six people injured at the Gare Du Nord (Paris North Station). On Thursday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni denounced the "brutal and blind violence" of the attacks in Spain and Germany, and expressed Italy's solidarity with the two countries. A similar attack took place in Italy last October, when a man grabbed a knife off a supermarket shelf and stabbed six people, one of whom died. The attack happened during Meloni's first week as prime minister. Media reports have noted an increase in the number of violent attacks in recent months. Although there is no consensus on possible reasons for the increase, local media has speculated that deteriorating economic conditions and increasing sentiment against migrants could have a part to play. The criminalization of ayahuasca and the persecution of ayahuasca groups in Europe is an alarming situation..."- Bia Labate, PhD, Chacrunas Institute Executive Director Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines is standing in solidarity with 110 thought leaders around the world including academic researchers, therapists, scholars, educators, and attorneys in support of ayahuasca groups in Spain, as well as Europe in general. Together, they call for a serious discussion and the reconsideration of ayahuascas status in Spain, where its use has been increasingly repressed, and they urge authorities to respect the religious freedoms of ayahuasca groups. These groups face a backlash that includes increasing persecution, campaigns of misinformation, arrests, and ill-informed bans on the psychoactive plant, which is consumed during Indigenous, religious, and neoshamanic practices, as well as in therapeutic circles. Researchers now have years of accumulated knowledge from these and other countries establishing ayahuascas safety in controlled environments with experienced guidance. They have also shown its promise for certain treatment-resistant diagnoses, such as depression, drug addiction, PTSD, and anxiety. Alongside research findings, successful public policy models have simultaneously been developed that can be adapted to a variety of sociocultural contexts. This is an issue of human rights, religious freedom, and the protection of the rights of minorities and traditional populations, says Henrique Antunes, PhD, member of Chacruna Institutes Ayahuasca Community Committee. There are a number of examples where the use of ayahuasca has been successfully regulated. This proves that it is possible to find ways to recognize and guarantee the rights of ayahuasca groups and Indigenous populations. The psychedelic renaissance has transformed the way people around the world think about psychoactive plants, widely inspiring excitement for researchers, hope for psychedelic medicine and psychedelic-assisted therapy, and economic promise as more businesses enter ayahuasca circuits. It has also sparked awareness and generated debates about vibrant religious practices that originated with ethnic minority groups in the global South. However, Spain, along with several other European countries including Italy and France, has adopted a draconian, prohibitionist paradigm that flies in the face of evidence. By prohibiting religious groups from drinking ayahuasca, authorities not only punish the use of the beverage, but also the groups themselves, which, due to sensationalistic, misinformed reports, are considered dangerous sects rather than legitimate religious practices. This perspective reveals a complete lack of anthropological sensitivity, as well as a serious Eurocentric prejudice against other cultures. Bia Labate, PhD, Chacrunas Institute Executive Director, shares that the criminalization of ayahuasca and the persecution of ayahuasca groups in Europe is an alarming situation. Besides the backlash suffered in the Netherlands, repression in countries like France, Italy, and Spain is growing substantially. We are hopeful that addressing the topic head-on will not only create meaningful change in Spain, but will catalyze international discussions about ayahuasca and religious freedom as these practices face increasing stigmatization. To read Chacrunas article, click HERE. Read a translated version of the article in Portuguese by the Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo HERE. To sign the petition, fill out THIS FORM. To support legal efforts in Spain promoted by the activist organization Plantaforma, donate HERE. About Chacruna Institute The Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization co-founded by Brazilian anthropologist Dr. Bia Labate and American psychologist Dr. Clancy Cavnar, based in Northern California and with strong ties to Brazil and Mexico. We promote reciprocity in the psychedelic community, and support the protection of sacred plants and cultural traditions. We advance psychedelic justice through curating critical conversations and uplifting the voices of women, queer people, Indigenous peoples, people of color, and the Global South in the field of psychedelic science. Making deals transparent is the linchpin to accelerating digital retailing into truly successful modern retailing. This, along with fully connected workflows, is the mission of DealMaker eLEND Solutions today announced, at NADA 2023, the launch of DealMaker, a digital finance pre-desking platform that evolves basic online payment calculator tools and the educated guesswork used by most desk managers. It is designed to eliminate frictions and profit leaks by providing customer and vehicle-qualified payment terms matched to lender fundable contract terms prior to the F&I handoff. Most digital retailing experiences promise more than they can deliver, especially when it comes to matching a consumers credit profile, vehicle selection and deal structure to a fundable purchase contract with lenders, said Pete MacInnis, Founder and CEO of eLEND Solutions, an automotive FinTech company focused on accelerating transactional digital buying experiences. In todays economically uncertain environment, when affordability represents the biggest challenge to car buyers and monthly payments matter more than the selling price, ensuring that quoted payments are accurate is critical to modern retailing success. Yet, in a new report, based on a recent survey of auto dealerships, the majority say its common for payment estimator tools to provide inaccurate or unrealistic payment expectations. DealMaker is designed to solve this. A hybrid, pre-desking solution for digital retailing, DealMaker is powered by advanced credit filtering and calculation logic and instantly matches a remote or in-store customer and vehicle-of-choice to a waterfall of qualifying lender programs eliminating F&I guesswork. Quoting transactional and fundable rate, term and payment options reduces frictions during the negotiation, leads to faster, more profitably structured deals and higher closing ratios. It can also positively impact F&I sales penetration, continued MacInnis. He noted that 88% of dealers report they would realize a 10% or more increase in F&I sales penetration if consumers are quoted qualified payment terms matched to lender fundable contract terms, with dealer mark-ups, before getting to the F&I office. Moreover, eighty-five percent estimate that this could save 15 minutes or more in the F&I office (with over 30% saying it would save over 30 minutes). Because it eliminates the bottlenecks and inefficiencies created by poorly structured deals, DealMaker improves the speed and quality of the customers transitions to and through the finance department, reducing unwinds and rewrites, enabling F&I managers to sell more back-end products with higher penetrations and profits. DealMaker is currently being piloted by a handful of dealers across the country. How DealMaker works: DealMaker is powered by a logic- and rules-based decision engine and pre-desking software that goes deeper than other tools that calculate payments based on factory cash, finance, and lease incentives with fully integrated rates and residuals. DealMaker is embedded within the dealers sales and finance workflow, similar to a lenders Loan Origination System (LOS), and empowers fundable deal structuring matching the vehicle model ID/trim level and the consumers entire credit profile to a waterfall of lender programs, including underwriting, pricing, loan advance and stipulations simultaneously. DealMaker includes advanced credit filtering and calculation logic for all makes, all models, new and used, all terms and all credit tiers. Consumer-submitted credit application and full credit file is parsed and filtered by DealMaker to determine ability, stability and credit qualifications. DealMakers rules-based decision engine then calculates debt-to-income, payment-to-income and loan-to-value ratios; identifies high credit, time on credit report and lender rules, which can vary depending on consumer qualifications. DealMakers loan program pricing varies by lender and is based on: is the vehicle new, pre-owned, or certified pre-owned? Is it the same brand as the captive lender, are there mileage limitations at different terms, etc.? DealMaker lender credit decision results are displayed instantly at the point of sale. DealMaker matches The Deal to the best lender fundable program. The near-final deal can be negotiated online or completed before the test drive ends. Making deals transparent is the linchpin to accelerating digital retailing into truly successful modern retailing. This, along with fully connected workflows, is the mission of DealMaker, concluded MacInnis. eLEND Solutions will be demonstrating DealMaker at the 2023 NADA Show in Dallas, at Booth #4185. About eLEND Solutions: eLEND Solutions (DealerCentric rebranded) is an automotive FinTech company focused on deal generation solutions that power transactional digital buying experiences for the retail automotive industry. The platform specializes in digital credit, identity, and finance solutions for remote and in-store shoppers, designed to accelerate conversions of digital end-to-end purchase experiences concluding with fundable, transactable deal structures. For more information, please visit https://www.elendsolutions.com/finance-solutions/ Contact Media Relations: Angela Jacobson, mWEBB Communications, (714) 454-8776, angela(at)mwebbcom(dot)com Crystal Hartwell, mWEBB Communications, (714) 987-1016, crystal(at)mwebbcom(dot)com The leadership of the World Bank (WB) for Central Asia, headed by Regional Director Tatiana Proskuryakova, discussed issues of further cooperation with Turkmenistan, Turkmen media reports. During the visit to the capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, from January 22 through 26, the WB delegation held a series of meetings with the government, a number of ministries and departments of the country, identifying priorities for cooperation. The agenda of the talks included such issues as expanding support in the field of the COVID-19 pandemic, the development of agriculture and strengthening the role of the private sector in the national economy, improving the investment climate and Turkmenistan's accession to the WTO. Aspects of the World Bank's technical assistance to Central Asian countries were considered, with an emphasis on the common electricity market and other areas. In general, the visit had a counter-orientation and its main result was an improved understanding of the goals and expectations of partners, preferred mechanisms and formats of cooperation, which were considered during the discussions. Meanwhile, the Government of Turkmenistan since 2015, has been among the countries and companies that support the initiative "Zero Routine Flaring by 2030" presented by the World Bank. YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh presidential Ambassador-At-Large Masis Mayilyan considers an international anti-terrorist cooperation to be one of the options for lifting the illegal blockade of Artsakh and saving the 120,000 population which is under a real threat of genocide. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, in his speech at the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, noted that there are two theoretical options for lifting the blockade of the Lachin corridor: military or diplomatic. Armenia adheres to the second option, but this is possible only with decisive intervention and strong pressure on Azerbaijan and tangible actions to this end by the international community. Now is the time to act. The theoretical possibility of forcibly unblocking the Lachin corridor, which has an internationally recognized status, mentioned by the Foreign Minister of Armenia , caused an inadequate reaction in Baku. In fact, the actions of the Azerbaijani authorities to seize 120,000 citizens of Artsakh as hostages as well as the political and material conditions put forward by official Baku for their release, according to international law, are an open form of manifestation of international terrorism. In order to eliminate the terrorist threat, international law and international practice provide joint actions through military and law enforcement agencies of states in the fight against international terrorism. In case of the continuation of the illegal blockade of the Republic of Artsakh, the community of states should consider all possible options, including the use of force, within the framework of international anti-terrorist cooperation, to save the 120,000 population of Artsakh, which is under a real threat of genocide, Mayilyan said in a statement on social media. Pinnacle success and sustainability is a team effort with an understanding that we are only as strong as our last project. David White, Founding Partner, Pinnacle Healthcare Consulting. Pinnacle Holdings, Ltd., parent company of Pinnacle Healthcare Consulting, Pinnacle Healthcare Revenue Solutions, Pinnacle Enterprise Risk Consulting Services, TeleNeph, and MRC Global is celebrating 25 years in business. Headquartered in Denver, CO, Pinnacle has a national footprint with regional offices that include Saint Louis, MO, Indianapolis, IN, Memphis, TN and Phoenix, AZ. Founded in 1998, Pinnacle has achieved incredible success and seen explosive growth over the past two and a half decades. With a team of more than 200 talented professionals that span five affiliated companies and seven service lines, Pinnacle has become a consulting powerhouse that delivers industry-leading solutions to hospital systems, medical practices, and nonprofit organizations nationwide, as well as medical device, pharmaceutical, biologic and tissue companies. While our footprint has significantly changed over the past 25 years, our mission and vision remain the same. Our Mission: deliver high value healthcare advisory and consulting services that help our clients manage risk, improve performance, and achieve strategic objectives. Our Vision: create a dynamic organization that thrives on solving problems with lasting solutions for our clients, while providing a professionally fulfilling, supportive and rewarding work environment for our team. The loyalty, commitment and passion our team, their family and clients have invested in this organization over the past 25 years is truly incredible. Its one thing to have a vision for what we collectively plan to accomplish but to realize that vision takes a lot of trust, hard work and a commitment to results. Pinnacle success and sustainability is a team effort with an understanding that we are only as strong as our last project. David White, Founding Partner, Pinnacle Healthcare Consulting. Pinnacle Highlights 25 Years in the Making . . . 1998 Founded Pinnacle Holdings, Ltd. 2003 Formed Pinnacle Healthcare Consulting 2006 Formalized Physician Fair Market Value 2009 Launched Medical Coding and Internal Audit 2012 Launched Pinnacle Strategy and Operations 2016 Formed Pinnacle Enterprise Risk Consulting Services 2017 Launched Supply Chain Services 2019 Launched TeleNeph 2020 Partnered to create MRC Global / Launched Value-based Care and Real Estate Services 2022 Partnered to create Pinnacle Healthcare Revenue Solutions Recognized as a national leader in healthcare consulting, Pinnacle provides a broad range of strategic, financial, valuation, operational, regulatory, and compliance services to healthcare organizations nationwide including hospitals, health systems, ASCs, medical practices and nonprofit organizations, and medical device, pharmaceutical, biologic and tissue companies. Learn more at AskPHC.com / AskMRCGlobal.com / TeleNephLLC.com "We are incredibly proud of this achievement and honored to have played a small part in improving the lives of so many shelter dogs," said Justin Palmer, CEO of HomeLife Media. iHeartDogs.com, Owned by HomeLife Media, Celebrates 10 Years of Giving and Reaches a Major Milestone: Feeding 30 Million Shelter Dogs iHeartDogs.com, an online retailer of pet products owned by HomeLife Media, is proud to announce that it has reached a major milestone in its mission to support shelter dogs. To date, the company has provided food for over 30 million shelter dogs, thanks to its innovative "Feed Shelter Dogs" program. This program, launched 10 years ago in partnership with Greater Good Charities, has been a fundamental part of iHeartDogs.com's mission to make a positive impact on the lives of pets in need. For every product sold on the website, a meal is donated to a shelter dog in need (or something similarly impactful). This simple yet effective program has allowed iHeartDogs.com to provide food for millions of shelter dogs, helping to improve their overall health and well-being. "We are incredibly proud of this achievement and honored to have played a small part in improving the lives of so many shelter dogs," said Justin Palmer, CEO of HomeLife Media. "Our team is dedicated to making a positive impact in the pet industry and this milestone is a testament to the success of our mission." iHeartDogs.com is one of the most giving businesses in the pet industry, with a long history of supporting shelters and rescue organizations through various initiatives. The company's commitment to giving back has not only helped millions of shelter dogs, but has also earned the respect and admiration of customers, pet lovers, and animal welfare organizations alike. "We are grateful for the support of our customers, who have helped make this milestone possible," said Marshall Morris "We look forward to continuing our mission of making a positive impact in the lives of pets in need for many years to come." About iHeartDogs.com: iHeartDogs.com is an online retailer of pet products owned by HomeLife Media. The company's mission is "Healthy Pets, Happy Homes, and Empty Shelters". About HomeLife Media: HomeLife Media is a leading e-commerce and media company that owns and operates a portfolio of digital properties and brands, including iHeartDogs.com. Contact: Jane Dawson Email: pr@homeLifemedia.com For many years, Robert has not only persuaded journalists to write glowingly about his clients, and in turn giving his clients the kind of valuable publicity that money cant buy, says Dave Boone, two-time Emmy and Writers Guild of America award-winning writer. A comprehensive yet easy-to-follow book on the art and strategy of PR, The Persuasion Business: How Public Relations Really Works, from Dawning Press is now available or purchase and download ($9.95 for paperback and $4.95 for the Kindle download.) Written by author, screenwriter, longtime Forbes contributor and PR professional Robert Wynne, The Persuasion Business guides college students, entrepreneurs, beginning PR professionals and even longtime practitioners through the steps that turn ideas into results, that transforms pitches into placements. The Foreward is written by author, political strategist, social media influencer and TV commentator Rick Wilson of The Lincoln Project. This is not a dull academic textbook full of cliched theories and groupthink, says Wynne. Readers will learn how to think like a reporter, understand what is news and how to communicate with journalists and persuaders to achieve success. Persuasion updates the information from Wynnes previous book, Straight Talk About Public Relations, (Maven House Press) with new insight regarding new social media platforms, how to combat fake news and disinformation, and studies from Muck Rack on the media and the industry. Chapters are organized on Public Relations, Social Media, Content Marketing and Measurement. Robert condenses and clarifies the big lessons of PR and communications strategy that help you build connection, relevance and emotional resonance with your audiences, says Rick Wilson. This isnt a cliche PR cookbook of Tweet more and write great press releases. It is a guide to a philosophy and a mindset of communications that is clear, persuasive and effective. it is a GPS to the modern landscape of PR, the changing face of the news media, and the emergence of social media as an amplifier and platform. Here are the Top 10 Lessons from The Persuasion Business: How to Think Like a Reporter: What's the story, why is it important and why now? Understanding two ways to make the news Create a Story with something new and original or Follow a Story, aka Hitching a Ride on current events. How to write a compelling 10-to-12-word email headline that gets opened. The importance of short, two paragraph pitches that get to the point and compels journalists to action. The best ways to meet, contact and make friends with media and influencers. How to write compelling content pitches, editorials and social media posts. The difference between useful content and self-promotional nonsense. The importance of responding quickly to lies and misinformation in the age of fake news. What content works best for each social media platform and why going viral is almost impossible. Three ways to become influential in social media. Basic measurement tips. Hint: there is no magical formula and most PR pros measure success by the number of mentions and placements along with benchmarking. For many years, Robert has not only persuaded journalists to write glowingly about his clients, and in turn giving his clients the kind of valuable publicity that money cant buy, hes also persuaded his clients to change their thinking, messaging, strategies and philosophies about public relations, says Dave Boone, two-time Emmy and Writers Guild of America award-winning writer. Its a no-nonsense approach that has worked since the days of Julius Caesar and he became so famous that they named a casino, a salad and a haircut after him. During a 30-year career in public relations, Wynne has represented some of the top universities and schools in the nation including MIT, Cornell, USC, UCLA, Texas Christian University, Johns Hopkins and Vanderbilt University. He has also worked for Raytheon, The Aerospace Corporation and other major organizations. After reading The Persuasion Business, readers will understand how to influence individuals, groups, the media or a mass audience. Robert Wynne will teach you to publicize and grow your company, promote yourself, increase the recognition of your organization and guide you through the modern methods of media relations, social media and digital communications. Dont start a career in public relations without reading this book, says Nicole Rodrigues, owner and founder of the award-winning NRPR public relations agency in Beverly Hills. The Chronic Magazine's new app has caused an uproar among weed tech companies which challenges cannabis censorship and could mean fewer profits for competitors. The launch of the Chronic Magazine's new app has caused an uproar among weed tech companies. The new "Chronic Magazine: Weed Near Me" app provides cannabis resources and news with interactive maps and social groups to challenge cannabis censorship and provide a safe space for discussion. Users can explore cannabis-related events on the maps as well as see dispensary listings, get the latest updates on legalization initiatives, and have access to products and services that are just a swipe away. The developers behind the app believe that it will become an essential tool for cannabis users, activists, businesses, and professionals combating the stigma and educating about the plant's medicinal uses. However, some weed tech companies have denounced the app's launch as competition for their own products, which could mean fewer profits for them in the future. This has created quite a controversy within the industry. With more states legalizing medical and recreational cannabis, many entrepreneurs are trying their hand in this growing industry. But one company is standing out among the rest The Chronic Magazine, They are the fastest-growing cannabis magazine in the U.S. They started in the booming marijuana market in Oklahoma and now has branched out to readers all over the US, Canada, Australia, and Europe. The Chronic Magazine has just announced the launch of its new Cannabis News APP. This APP will have everything from up-to-date cannabis news, strain information, cannabinoid profiles, CBD & Terpenes information, Psychedelics information, and cannabis recipes from world-renowned Chef Buz Deliere! As if that wasn't enough, they have included Interactive Maps so you can find Dispensaries and marijuana-related events near you. This app is different than any other weed tech company because it offers more than an interactive map that users can use to easily find dispensaries near them but also they can stay up-to-date on marijuana news with ease! It also has a social function called "Sesh Groups" where users can join and connect with like-minded people from around the world. They aim to stop cannabis censorship and allow people to converse freely around the plant. They do have a MOD team they have put in place to stop the spread of illegal activity and to ensure that anyone new to the use of marijuana can have resources that are trustworthy. The Chronic Magazine App is set to revolutionize how people access cannabis-related information, while potentially causing disruption within the weed tech industry. The App is available on both Apple and Android. "At Altaworx, our goal is to have a positive impact on our customers, employees, and vendors. This nomination validates this goal. Our teams continue to live up to our core values in difficult times and make Altworx a great company."Rickie Richey, Altaworx CEO. Altaworx was one of the forty candidates selected as a finalist for the inaugural Business Alabama awards. The ceremony to name the winner of the seven different categories will take place on March 3rd in Birmingham. The nominations for these awards were from the public and Altaworx is one of five total nominees for the Small Company award for companies with fewer than 299 employees. Rickie Richey, the CEO of Altaworx, says. We are honored to have been included by Business Alabama with the other impressive finalist for Alabama Small Company of the Year. At Altaworx, our goal is to have a positive impact on our customers, employees, and vendors. This nomination validates this goal. Our teams continue to live up to our core values in difficult times and make Altworx a great company. About Business Alabama (BA) Business Alabama covers businesses, large and small, in all sectors of the Alabama economy. From emerging technologies to vital manufacturing clusters, Business Alabama has been tracking the growth of the Alabama economy for more than three decades. From the state house to the plant floor, we report in detail on the vital regional issues that go unnoticed in the daily newspapers and national business magazines. About Altaworx Altaworx, LLC located in Fairhope, AL, was founded in 2003 by Rickie Richey, with hopes of addressing the emerging demand for Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) business telephone systems. His vision was to build a company that not only provided leading-edge technology, but truly focused on helping customers drive revenue, control expenses, increase their productivity, and operate more efficiently. In 2011, Altaworx continued to focus on customer impact through emerging technologies becoming an internet telephony service provider (ITSP). The company began selling Altaworx branded SIP trunks and Hosted PBX to business customers in the 22-state AT&T footprint. Today, the company operates its cloud-based solutions from two data centers located in Dallas, TX, Atlanta, GA, and Los Angeles, CA. With a focus on empowering agents and resellers to build recurring revenue in their business, Altaworx continues to grow and now has a presence in 46 states. WRA Architects is pleased to announce the recent promotion of Seth Stevens and Mitch Fuqua to Principal. WRA is also pleased to announce the newly appointed Associates, Eddie Garcia, Eric Hormann, Sal Scaminaci, Freddy Jove, Nathan Havens, Amelia Austin, Alberto Alvarez, Madalyn Greenlee, Avi Patel, Amelia T. Nguyen, Evan Murta, Juan Rosales, and Arturo Viera. These knowledgeable & talented individuals have shown dedication to the firm and are keen to continue to support WRA Architects as it grows. Please help us celebrate their new roles. WRA is thrilled to expand its leadership team; this will help guide the firm moving forward. We want to recognize the individuals that have excelled within the company. It is pivotal for WRA to provide an environment where employees experience professional development to support company-wide initiatives. says Michael Homberg, Partner with WRA. Holmberg added, WRA has grown exponentially within the last few years and this team has not only embraced it, but we have developed a growing leadership team who are invested in our purpose to positively influence peoples lives through design. WRA Architects headquarters is located in Dallas, TX and has a second office located in Broken Arrow, OK. WRA has been in continuous operation for sixty-nine years as a school design specialist. Adam & Son, the first and only social impact auto repair shop in the United States, is pleased to announce it has surpassed $150,000 in community support since 2020 through its three social impact programs. The organization looks to double its donations to those living in Southern Colorado in 2023/24 and wants to share this idea for auto repair shops across the nation to start their own social impact programs. When I was a child, I asked my father to bring our family automobile to the school so I could help my classmates understand how to safely change out a flat. Since that moment, I have been inspired to provide caring customer service and impactful programs to improve the lives of our neighbors in Colorado Springs, said Dan Adam, Founder of Adam & Son. Now that we have formalized our social impact programs, I am hopeful auto repair shop owners and operators across the nation are inspired by our teams efforts and create their own ways to make peoples lives safer, better, and richer. There are many ways our industry can reduce some of its negative perception by being more active in solving community challenges. Named a top workplace by the Colorado Springs Gazette in 2022 and Dan a graduate of the National Institute for Social Impact, Adam & Son operates its three social impact programs to provide critical care to residents vehicles while also providing funding for those in need: Stranded Motorist Fund$131,685.73 in donations made since 2020. This flagship program offers recipients low or no-cost repairs and in some cases free vehicles to neighbors. The programs primary goals are supporting safety and self-sufficiency to get to work and school for people who demonstrate a financial need. Trifecta$19,610.40 donations made since 2020. This is a unique fundraising tool developed to help local organizations, charities, and clubs raise money for themselves and their causes. These organizations can sell oil change packages and retain 80 percent of the value of those as well as receive five percent in perpetuity from future repairs of their supporters. Pay It Forward$2,513.08 donations made since 2020. When guests have their car serviced, and Adam & Son offers a discount, they are given the option to pay it forward and donate the value of their discount to the Stranded Motorist Fund. For the military and first responder discount offered, they can pay it forward as well and Adam & Son will donate the value of that to Angels of Americas Fallen, The Police Foundation of Colorado Springs, The Fire Foundation of Colorado Springs, and others to be added. A Stranded Motorist Fund guest recently commented, "Just when I believed our family was at a complete loss with no vehicle or method to get to and from work, I was told about the stranded motorist fund by a good friend. With no vehicle, I applied for the fund and received such enormous help with reliable and safe vehicles which provided me with a way to get my family to and from appointments and myself to work." "I'm so very grateful for this helping hand which provided our family with desperately needed security." To inspire auto repair shops across the United States to create their own social impact initiatives to further serve their communities, Adam & Son will embark on a proactive public media campaign in 2023 by sharing information about its social impact programs via interviews and self-generated content. We will work with consumer media and automobile endemic press to reach both shop owners and their customers this year. I am excited to see how many members of our industry take aim at helping residents of their communities, regions, and states, added Dan Adam. For those who are interested in learning more about Adam & Son social impact programs or to receive support on starting a program of their own, please contact Stacey Burns, Vice President of Social Impact and Strategy with Adam & Son: staceyb@adamandson.com Adam & Son is the first social impact full-service auto repair shop in the United States. Founded in 1999, the company was established to create a customer service experience and community benefit, which has grown to be unlike any auto repair shops in Southern Colorado and the nation. Adam & Son provides traditional maintenance and repairs for all makes and models of automobiles. The company deeply values a positive culture, meaningful inclusion, and superior customer service. Adam & Son operates three social impact programs to support its community: the Trifecta program where clubs and organizations can sell oil change packages and keep 80 percent of the proceeds. Also, it operates its Pay-It-Forward program, for our guests who come into our shops with a coupon and choose to pay it forward, the company will match that amount in a donation to their nonprofit of choice. The Adam & Son flagship program, the Stranded Motorist Fund, pays for repairs to vehicles and in some cases provides free used cars to recipients who demonstrate financial need as well as a desire to be self-sufficient. https://adamandson.com/contact-us/ "With the help of NIHs Small Business Innovation Research Program, entrepreneurs are helping to address emerging support needs for people living with dementia ... [and] improving equity in health care access." - Basil Eldadah, M.D., Ph.D., NIH National Institute on Aging Radial Analytics has been awarded a NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to help advance the goals of the National Plan to Address Alzheimers Disease. This highly competitive grant award will support rapid innovation by leveraging Radials clinically proven AI/ML platform, which is used by healthcare professionals to optimize patient care transitions. The grant award will support a new research initiative to use big data and machine learning to accurately predict the clinical progression of people living with Alzheimers and related dementias. Radial Analytics is partnering on this important work with Dr. Peter Rabins at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Professor Joseph Gaugler at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. The creation of Radial Analytics AI/ML platform was inspired by the idea of using nudge theory to empower healthcare professionals to make better decisions. As defined by behavioral economists, nudge theory means using positive reinforcement and indirect suggestion to improve decision-making. The platform powers two existing commercial products: Smart Placement and Smart Placement Hospice. Smart Placement has a proven track record of ensuring more older adults get discharged home from the hospital with robust home-based healthcare services. Smart Placement Hospice helps enable timely referral to palliative and end-of-life care resources. Radials results show better patient experience, improved outcomes, and lower costs. Smart Placement and Smart Placement Hospice are deployed with payers and hospitals across six states, delivering real-time insights that nudge nurses and caregivers in the right direction, enabling higher-quality and more cost-effective decisions for the seniors they serve. This NIH SBIR grant will support novel research to more accurately identify later stages of Alzheimers Disease. Alzheimers Disease is increasing in prevalence, and the associated costs are rising unsustainably. Recent research has shown progress in diagnosing Alzheimers Disease sooner and better evaluating cognitive function. However, end-of-life care remains inadequate for people living with Alzheimers and their caregivers. Consequently, people living with Alzheimers undergo unnecessary hospitalizations and earlier institutionalization, while their caregivers experience social isolation, financial hardship, and burnout. Radials new research initiative will lead to better decision support tools for directing care resources to those people living with Alzheimers who would benefit the most, ensuring better quality of life and appropriate support for caregivers. The research is further designed to promote health equity by identifying and adjusting for both environmental and social risk factors at the level of each individual. Radials research team for this NIH grant is led by Anant Vasudevan MD MBA, Radial Analytics Chief Medical Officer, Hospitalist at Brigham and Womens, and Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School. I often treat people living with Alzheimers in the context of my work as a hospitalist at Brigham and Womens in Boston, says Dr. Vasudevan. Even with the best tools currently available, it is very challenging for clinicians to accurately anticipate disease progression and identify how best to meet the needs of people living with Alzheimers, especially in later stages of the disease. Radials new NIH-funded research initiative seeks to directly address this challenge and ultimately stands to improve quality of life for both people living with Alzheimers and their caregivers. Radial Analytics will be partnering on this important work with Joseph Gaugler PhD, Professor and Robert L. Kane Endowed Chair in Long-Term Care and Aging at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. In the course of my academic work, I have been struck by how people living with Alzheimers receive too few essential supportive services, too late in their disease progression, and at too high a cost. Supported by this new funding from NIH, Radial Analytics aims to help care teams make more data-driven and efficient decisions to better care for people living with Alzheimers, explains Dr. Gaugler. Small businesses play an important role in research aimed at discovering effective prevention and treatment strategies for Alzheimers and related dementias, said Basil Eldadah, M.D., Ph.D., of the NIH National Institute on Aging. With the help of NIHs Small Business Innovation Research Program, entrepreneurs are helping to address emerging support needs for people living with dementia and their care partners and improving equity in health care access for people living with these diseases. Radial Analytics was founded with the vision of leveraging AI/ML technologies to support patients with every possible type of disease across the entire continuum of care. According to the Alzheimers Association, one in three older adults dies with Alzheimers or another dementia. Todays announcement brings Radial Analytics one step closer to a future reality in which AI and machine learning helps every patient at every step of their care journey. ## This content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The research discussed above is supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health grant R43AG076191. About Radial Analytics Funded in part by Initialized Capital, MassVentures, the National Science Foundation, and now NIH, Radial Analytics builds AI/ML solutions to optimize patient care transitions. Radials real-time decision support platform empowers clinical staff to intervene when it matters most. Drinkmate, the first and most versatile home beverage carbonator, today announced their participation in the 2023 Ambiente Trade Show. Drinkmate will be exhibiting in Hall 9, #A07 at Ambiente held at the Messe Frankfurt from February 2-7, 2023. Ambiente is one of the largest international industry trade shows for the housewares market. Covering all markets and sectors addressing the home and houseware business, Ambiente attracts buyers and suppliers from all over the world. Drinkmates proprietary CO2 infusion technology allows the consumer to carbonate any cool beverage safely and quickly. It accomplishes the consumer demand for more wholesome beverages by empowering users to control what goes into their drinks. Drinkmate is the first and most versatile at-home device that can carbonate any beverage, including wine, beer, coffee, tea, juices and cocktails. We are excited to be returning to Ambiente this year after a few years hiatus due to the Covid pandemic, said Douglas Wang, Chief Executive Officer of Drinkmate. We have been actively expanding our brand throughout North America, into the EU, and other international markets, and are looking forward to reconvening with the industry to share the advances we have made to the Drinkmate product line and brand. At the show, we will be debuting the Drinkmate LUX, which elevates the home carbonation experience with an attractive stainless-steel model. We invite Ambiente attendees and our channel partners to visit us at Hall 9, #A07. Drinkmate is available in Germany and throughout the EU. To learn more, please visit Drinkmate. ### About Drinkmate Drinkmates mission is to allow consumers to get creative in discovering new beverages, drink healthier and have fun, while reducing plastic bottle waste. Its proprietary technology allows the consumer to carbonate any kind of beverage safely and quickly. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the company serves as the global headquarters for the Drinkmate brand with operations in Asia, Europe and the Americas. For more information, please visit http://www.Drinkmate.us Logic Wiz, an Israeli software startup, has announced its plan to move its business operations outside of Israel, due to concerns about the potential effects of proposed legal reforms on the company and its values. Logic Wiz encourages other Israeli businesses and individuals to express their concerns and call on the government to withdraw from the proposed changes. "As an Israeli citizen who has spent a significant amount of time abroad and recently returned to establish a business in our home country, I am concerned about the potential loss of our nation's identity and democratic values," said Avner Amram, CEO of Logic Wiz. "It is with a heavy heart that we have come to the difficult decision to relocate our business operations outside of Israel. However, we believe it is important for us to take a stand for what we believe is just and right." The proposal by Justice Minister Yariv Levin, which is currently under review by the Knesset, aims to grant the Knesset the power to easily override decisions made by the Israeli Supreme Court. Several prominent figures in law and government, including Supreme Court President Esther Hayut and former chief justice Aharon Barak, have publicly expressed their opposition to the proposed reforms. Several leading businesses and investors, including Insight Partners, a prominent investor in Israeli high-tech, have shared their concerns about the potential impact of the proposed legal reform on the business community and have temporarily suspended future investments in Israel. "We have significant concerns about the potential consequences of the proposed legal changes to Israel's democratic principles, individual rights, and the business community," Amram continued. "While we have made the decision to relocate our operations, we remain dedicated to our Israeli clients and employees and will continue to support them." About Logic Wiz Logic Wiz is an award-winning startup company that develops sudoku logic and brain training games for mobile devices, used by hundreds of thousands of people all over the world. . Logic Wiz Apps were recently honored by the Educational App Store as: The Best Brain Training App - Sudoku & Variants by Logic Wiz https://link.sudoku.logic-wiz.com/sudokuvariants The Best Sudoku App - Classic Sudoku by Logic Wiz https://link.classic.logic-wiz.com/classic Logic Wizs headquarters is currently in Ra'anana Israel, and was founded by two technology veterans, Avner Amram and Udi Trugman. Logic Wiz apps are available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. https://logic-wiz.com/ Logic Wiz Contact Avner Amram avner@logic-wiz.com YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. On August 3, 2018 the arbitration case Rasia FZE and Joseph k. Borkowski v. Republic of Armenia (ICSID case no. ARB/18/28), was registered at ICSID. On 20 January 2023 the Arbitral Tribunal issued the Arbitration Award completely rejecting the claims of the Claimants and obliging them to compensate the Republic of Armenia a total amount of about USD 2.8 million as reimbursement for the legal services and other expenses incurred, the Office of the Representative of Armenia on International Legal Matters said in a statement. This arbitration case related to the construction of the railway and highway construction projects was initiated in accordance with Treaty Between the United States of America and the Republic of Armenia Concerning the Reciprocal Encouragement and Protection of Investment, as well as on the basis of the concession agreements concluded between the said company and the Government of the Republic of Armenia in 2012. The Claimants claimed compensation from Armenia in the amount of about USD 225 million, as well as the accrued interest, starting from 18 March 2015 until the issuance of the Arbitration Award, amounting to about USD 106 million. The Clash, 1981 Michael Grecco Productions, Inc. The spirit of Punk was extraordinary. It marked me forever.As you look at these images, I hope you also get touched by its infectious freedom. Michael Grecco "DAYS OF PUNK," Los Angeles-based photographer and director Michael Greccos multi-media solo exhibition celebrating punk music and culture, will open on Saturday, February 4 at MOAH:CEDAR in Lancaster, CA with an artists reception from 4-6PM. The show presented partnership with Lisbon, Portugal-based Terra Esplendida. It will run through March 19, and marks the first time the Days of Punk museum exhibition will be on the west coast of the United States. The show originally premiered with a special public installation at the international photography fair Photo London in 2021, and is currently touring in the U.S. and Europe. The photographs featured in the exhibition date back to the late 70s through the early 90s, when Grecco documented the nightclub and concert scenes in New York and Boston as punk roared into the U.S. He was working as an Associated Press photographer, lensman for legendary rock station WBCN-FM, and was a self-described club kid who had a unique opportunity to embed himself into this revolutionary scene as both a chronicler and a participant. Grecco captured for posterity a riotously outspoken time in pop culture history, with all its raw energy and outrageous antics. On view at MOAH:CEDAR will be Grecco's photographs of music artists including Adam Ant, B-52s, Billy Idol, Bow Bow Wow, The Clash, Dead Kennedys, Devo, Human League, Human Sexual Response, Aimee Mann, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Talking Heads, Wendy O. Williams (Plasmatics) and more. In additon to the photographs, visitors to the exhibition and more. In addition to the photographs, visitors to the exhibition will experience soundscapes specially created for "DAYS OF PUNK" in collaboration with Roger Miller and Peter Presctt of the cult band Mission of Burma. The video component of the show was put together with Jeremy Troy, and includes archival footage that Grecco himself shot during the punk era. Additionally, posters, magazines and other memorabilia from back in the day all from Greccos personal collection will be displayed. These notably include concert posters created by Dini Lamott, a photographer, artist, and member of the punk rock band Human Sexual Response, who are featured in both the book and the MOAH:CEDAR exhibition. The museum is also making special wallpaper collaging magazine covers and Lamotts images to hang in the bathrooms and back hallway to harken people back to dates in rock clubs with punk posters and flyers plastering the walls. Greccos punk photographs had been dormant in his flat files for decades until his archivist suggested revisiting this previously unseen body of work five years ago. After they did a deep dive into the past, their efforts lead to Greccos most recent book, the best-selling Punk, Post Punk, New Wave: Onstage, Backstage, In Your Face, 19781991 (Abrams Books, 2020), which introduced these images to the public for the first time. In addition to the 162 photographs, the book features a foreword by Fred Schneider of the B-52s, an essay by veteran rock journalist Jim Sullivan, and Greccos personal anecdotes from his times hanging out with the musicians he was shooting. The images then became available as limited-edition prints on Ilford Gold Fibre Gloss paper to collectors for the first time. Plans soon got underway for the inaugural public show at Photo London and 2021, and the now touring gallery and museum exhibition Days of Punk. DAYS OF PUNK video: https://vimeo.com/763885231 About Michael Grecco (b 1958 -) Michael Grecco is an award-winning fine art and advertising photographer and director based in Los Angeles. He is recognized internationally for his high concept imagery, mastery of lighting, and powerful connections with his subjects in an immense body of work that encompasses fine art, celebrity portraiture, music, commercial, and editorial photography. Born in New York City, Grecco attended college in Boston, where he began his professional career shooting for the Associated Press and covering the music scene for the legendary FM radio station WBCN. Grecco moved to Los Angeles in the late 1980s when he was invited by People Magazine to come west to be a celebrity photographer for them. He has continued to create new work ever since, and his images have also appeared in publications including Time Magazine, Vanity Fair, Esquire, The Boston Globe, The Guardian, and Rolling Stone, among others. Wendi Levy Kaaya and Kim Etheredge, Co-Founders of Mixed Chicks "As Black women in America, we want to continue to push the narrative that that nothing is impossible when you approach it with love, dedication, and a purpose." - Kim Etheredge, Co-Founder of Mixed Chicks Black History Month, three words, and a celebration packed into one short month at the top of the new year observed for over 100 years. Since 1976 every U.S. Presidential Administration has officially recognized Black History Month as a time to celebrate monumental and historical contributions African Americans have made to United States history. Every American President has always endorsed this historic month with a theme, and 2023 is no exception, with President Joe Biden designating the theme as Black Resistance. Resistance is a word that reflects the spirit, triumph, struggles, and milestones that Black people have encountered historically, culturally, and systemically during their long tenure as citizens of the United States. The word resistance is synonymous with terms like strength and opposition, reflected in the leaders who have come before us, paving the way for equality and freedom. It can be seen in the glass ceilings shattered by Shirley Chisholm, who was the first Black woman elected to congress; Dorothy Height, who served as the president of the National Council of Negro women for more than 40 years; or Bessie Coleman, who was the first licensed Black pilot. Black women have always been a pillar of strength, resilience, and a critical voice in advancing education, politics, liberties, and Black people. Todays generation does not need Womens History Month to honor the mothers, grandmothers, daughters, and aunties who blazed the trail before them; they are living testaments to their struggles and sacrifices in the history they make on their terms today. History is made every day with the Black women standing proudly on the shoulders of their ancestors to dream higher and more prominent than they could have ever imagined. None more so than the fantastic duo Kim Etheredge and Wendi Levy Kaaya, who created the legendary haircare brand Mixed Chicks. Mixed Chicks sought to break the beauty barriers of traditional haircare by using their experiences growing up as biracial women to develop a haircare exclusively catered to combination hair. In 2002 Kim and Wendi met and slowly transitioned from acquaintances to business partners as they bonded over their shared experiences dealing with the highs and lows of having curly hair. As children from blended families, they encountered all the bumps in beauty care that came from products that were too oily or drying for their combination textured curls. With the limited availability of ethnic and general market products that worked on their blended texture, they often had to combine 10-15 products to achieve hydration, frizz-free, and healthy-looking curls. That bond led to a business when after researching and testing various ingredients, they came up with their staple, Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner, and the rest became history. They could not only fill a missing gap in the beauty market but provide a quality option at an affordable price that had fantastic results on various combination hair. Kim and Wendi founded Mixed Chicks in 2003 to provide quality products to multicultural women that would empower, inspire, and allow them to embrace their textured curls in any form. As pioneers of the natural hair movement, they were the first to create a brand, business, and products that directly targeted multicultural customers. They were deeply invested in ensuring the brand reflected who they were as entrepreneurs, mothers, and businesswomen who wanted to provide opportunities to support and recognize blended families and their textured hair. With over 20 years in the business, celebrity endorsements from fans like Halle Berry, Macy Gray, Deon Cole, and Sage Steele, international customers, nationwide retail, and a committed customer base have cemented their spot as change-makers in Black history. Mixed Chicks is one of the few beauty brands still owned and operated by women of color, with Kim and Wendi proudly innovating, reinventing, and being the figureheads of their brand. In an era when large corporations are looking to capitalize on popular ingredients and profit from the trends created and popularized by Black people, Mixed Chicks still aims to fill any voids that the mass market cannot provide. It remains vigilant in not alienating its core customer by continuing to champion and advocate for all its customers regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or race. Mixed Chicks has always been for everyone and will continue to be for everyone. As biracial women who embrace and celebrate being Black, Kim and Wendi foster partnerships within their community, non-profit organizations, influencers, and customers, that champion and reflect the advancement of Black people. For Mixed Chicks, Black History Month is not a buzzword to be used on a hashtag or social media post; its an opportunity to use its global brand recognition to bring awareness and a spotlight to crucial and systemic issues still facing Black women today. Our goal was to solve hair woes of women, men and children across the globe by creating a haircare line that was inclusive instead of exclusive. As Black women in America, we want to continue to push the narrative that that nothing is impossible when you approach it with love, dedication, and a purpose. Being part of the solution instead of adding to the problem is the only way success and change will come. Making a conscious decision to treat everyone equally no matter their race, sex or religious preference is our biggest contribution to the world and is the legacy of Mixed Chicks. says Kim Etheredge, Co-Founder of Mixed Chicks.. Since 2017, Mixed Chicks has partnered with RivellePro for their Amazon business. As a trusted eCommerce distributor and partner, RivellePro is passionate about aligning with brands whose values reflect their own and has spent years partnering with Black and minority-owned brands to market their products to a wide array of customers. Their commitment to excellence and growth was recently recognized with their number 175 on the 2022 Inc. 5000 Annual List, which recognizes the fastest-growing private companies in America. Since RivellePros inception in 2014, they have partnered with over a half-dozen multicultural skincare and haircare brands to provide brand growth and new clients on the Amazon platform. During February 2023, RivellePro and Mixed Chicks are partnering to celebrate Black History Month through RivellePros Amazon store, called pricePRO, to offer 15%-20% off of all Mixed Chicks products. Customers can shop signature Mixed Chicks products via the store whether they need to restock on leave-in conditioner or invest in the 33 oz. full-size must-haves like the shampoo to keep the hair clean, deep conditioner to keep the curls hydrated, and the fan favorite leave-in conditioner to keep the curls poppin all month long. Mixed Chicks not only cares about empowering their customers to love themselves but also supports and advocates for the people behind the scenes. The voiceless may not have the support, resources, or access to get the help they need to change their lives. As part of their partnership, a portion of all Mixed Chicks sales on Amazon through the pricePRO store will be donated to the Bobbi Kristina Serenity House. RivellePros Amazon store, showcasing Mixed Chicks can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/mixedchicks We are proud of our partnership with Wendi, Kim and the Mixed Chicks team as we support Black History Month as well as the Bobbi Kristina Serenity House. Business partnerships become something beautiful when personal core values and beliefs align with common goals in the business world. As a father of two amazing daughters, it is imperative that not only their parents are role models, but also to have trailblazers such as Wendi and Kim in the lives of young women. stated Tim Frailly, President of RivellePro. The Bobbi Kristina Serenity House was founded by R&B legend Bobby Brown and Alicia Etheredge in honor of his late daughter, Bobbi Kristina, who tragically lost her life at the hands of domestic violence when she was 22 years old. Domestic violence is prevalent in every community, with studies showing over 31.8% of victims are Black women and the estimated cost of intimate partner violence in the US totaling $5.8 billion. The Bobbi Kristina Serenity House is a 501(c)3 non-profit domestic violence haven committed to eliminating the epidemic of domestic violence against men and women of all ages by raising awareness, providing resources, and creating safety for victims. With an average of 20,000 calls being made daily to the domestic violence hotlines nationwide, The Bobby Kristina Serenity House seeks to empower victims and survivors at risk by creating avenues for bringing awareness and advocacy to this ongoing crisis. Bobby Brown added, The Bobbi Kristina Serenity House would like to acknowledge and give thanks to Mixed Chicks and RivellePro for giving back to our cause during Black History Month. With their generous support we will maintain our focus to bring awareness and continue our movement to eliminate the epidemic of domestic violence. Lets all continue to commemorate the beauty in giving back. Black History Month is not a concept or ideal; its a continuation of the history that represents the resistance and resilience of Black people. Its not just President Obama or Beyonce; its the evolution of Black people, culture, voices, and leadership in the spaces we continue to create for ourselves. It gives businesses like Mixed Chicks the freedom to be uniquely their own and not be limited in their success because they are women of color with a texture haircare line. It provides an opportunity to raise awareness for systemic issues like domestic violence and allows for partnerships like RivellePro and Mixed Chicks to honor and give back to the Bobbi Kristina Serenity House. Black History is daily and shows the nod to the past while we dance in the present and look boldly into the future. Mixed Chicks is a Los Angeles, California based multicultural beauty brand. Mixed Chicks was founded in 2003 by Kim Etheredge and Wendi Levy Kaaya, and is owned and operated by them. Mixed Chicks believes in the adage of A Blend of Many which is a perfect description of their personal beliefs, business values and product mix. For more information on Mixed Chicks, please visit: https://mixedchicks.net/ RivellePro is a leading eCommerce retail agency and distribution partner providing services on Amazon as well as other eCommerce marketplaces. RivellePro gives industry-leading brands in beauty, health & wellness, and other consumer packaged goods a turnkey approach so they can take full advantage of a robust eCommerce department. RivellePro provides eCommerce brand management, channel management, distribution, marketing, compliance, and logistical services for its brand partners. RivellePro was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. For more information on RivellePro, please visit: http://www.RivellePro.com For more information regarding The Bobbi Kristina Serenity House, or to make a direct contribution, please visit: https://BobbiKristinaSerenityHouse.org/ Written by Desiree Johnson. Desiree is a professional writer with over a decade of expertise in content writing, social management and branding. She strategically aligns with small and minority businesses to build brand awareness through content creation, influencer partnerships, social management, and ad expertise. For more information on Desiree Johnson, please visit: http://desiree-johnson-writer.squarespace.com/ "Sparkling Raisin Juice" from SingleThread Here at Valette and The Matheson we use Aperture's heavily sun ripened (my way of saying raisined) fruit in a variety of culinary applications," recounts Chef Dustin Valette. Aperture Cellars has partnered with local Healdsburg chefs to repurpose the winerys sorted out excess raisined fruit into creative dishes. The record setting 2022 heat spike in Northern California resulted in an abundance of overripe fruit in parts of the cluster that was overexposed. Thanks to Apertures state of the art facility, they were able to remove all of the raisins through an array of sorting tables and optically with air guns to precisely separate the raisins from the fresh fruit. This inspired Founder and Winemaker Jesse Katz to utilize Apertures raisins in a way. The sustainable endeavor has been successful in reducing waste while creating delicious and unique culinary experiences. Once Katz took inventory of the extra raisined fruit, he was getting ready to discard it, but then decided to reach out to partner with Healdsburg restaurateurs Chef Dustin Valette, owner of Valette and The Matheson, and Chef Kyle Connaughton, owner of SingleThread, to incorporate the fruit into their menus through sauces, garnishes and more. In the culinary field we have the philosophy of Whole Animal Utilization, which is the idea that no part of the animal goes to waste. With the advanced technology of the optical sorter, not only is the wine grape better refined, but it also produces an excellent opportunity to continue this philosophy into viniculture, recounts Chef Dustin Valette. Here at Valette and The Matheson we use Aperture's heavily sun ripened (my way of saying raisined) fruit in a variety of culinary applications. We use it everywhere from braising Venison, a tart glacage for ice cream, though my favorite is to utilize it in our house made mustard. The depth of flavor, acid and tannins add amazing complexity to any dish! Sonoma County saw record setting 109+ degree temperatures this September, which created a unique set of challenges for winemaking teams across the region. The heatwave came late in the growing season but prior to harvest, which resulted in many of the almost perfectly ripe grapes overripening and eventually turning into raisins. Fortunately, Aperture Cellars winemaking facility was designed with climate change in mind and is fully equipped with the best sorting technology in the world. The complex and site-specific qualities of the grapes add a unique flavor profile to each of the dishes theyre incorporated into. Throughout the creative process of repurposing the raisened fruit, Katz and the chefs he partnered with sat down to thoughtfully curate the best use for the raisins within their menus. Wine country is known for having incredible food and wine pairings, and the collaborative nature of this partnership sets a new example for how to fuse wine with culinary experiences in an unexpected way. Aperture Cellars fruit is currently being included throughout the menus at The Matheson and SingleThread while ingredients last. For more information about Aperture Cellars, please visit their website at http://www.aperturecellars.com and follow them on social media (Instagram,Facebook). ### About Aperture Cellars: Aperture Cellars, founded in 2009 by Winemaker Jesse Katz, champions a range of stunning Bordeaux-style wines grown in some of the best vineyards in Sonoma. Aperture Cellars is constantly evolving their grape growing techniques and varietals to combat climate change, and are primarily crafted from unique, cool-climate vineyards for Bordeaux varietals in Sonomas top regions with over 115+ acres of estate vineyards. The winerys homebase, the Aperture Estate, opened in Healdsburg in 2020 includes a state-of-the-art winemaking facility and hospitality center. Aperture Cellars has generated mass critical acclaim since their inception through Winemaker Jesse Katz, their record setting Alexander Valley wines, and dedication to giving back to charitable causes. About Jesse Katz: Jesse Katz is the founder and lead winemaker for Aperture Cellars. Katzs impressive career has spanned over 22 harvests to date, including his time with Petrus in Bordeaux, Screaming Eagle Winery in Napa Valley, Vina Cobos and Bodega Noemia in Argentina, and serving as Head Winemaker for Lancaster Estate in Sonoma. In 2013, Wine Enthusiast named Katz as one of its 40 Under 40 Tastemakers and he was also the first winemaker on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2014 along with being named Winemaker of the Year. In addition to his work with Aperture Cellars, he is also known for his Devil Proof brand, which earned both the first 100 point score in the history of Alexander Valley and became the first 100 point Malbec in the United States. Katz also stays busy with his many partnerships as a consulting winemaker for the stars, initiatives like his record setting $1M bottle sale, and raising over $5M for various foundations and causes through his wines. "Teaching people to practice safe measures in the water, especially children, who are so vulnerable, is so important to us. British Swim School, the nations leading learn to swim franchise company, continues its meticulous growth across North America with the opening of its newest franchise location in Ashburn, Virginia at the LA Fitness - Broadlands Center Plaza at 43150 Broadlands Center Plaza, Suite 138. Loudoun county residents and new owners Carlos and Laura Hasbun are looking forward to joining the local business community. Carlos has a diverse academic background, having studied agriculture, animal science, marine biodiversity, and molecular ecology. Meanwhile, Laura is a Doctor of Medicine specializing in family practice. We chose British Swim School as a way to have a positive impact in the area we call our home, said Carlos. British Swim School's efforts to help families become water safe resonates with us - we see this as a way to help our community. For more than 40 years, British Swim School has been dedicated to teaching water survival skills by teaching infants, children, and adults of all ages the skills needed for water acclimation, water survival, and stroke development. Its mission ensure that every person, regardless of age or ability, has the opportunity to become a safe and happy swimmer. Across the nation, 11 people die every day from unintentional drownings, with nearly 4,000 deaths occurring each year. Research shows that participation in formal swim programs, such as those offered by British Swim School, can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children who are most at risk for deaths caused by drowning. However, the risk of drowning isnt limited to children: a Red Cross survey found that more than half of all Americans (54%) either cant swim or dont have the basic swimming skills needed to save themselves in the event of a water emergency. Carlos and Laura understand the importance of swim safety. Accidents happen in the blink of an eye and your life can be turned upside down, Carlos insisted. The word safety represents something we need to practice diligently to prevent accidents. Teaching people to practice safe measures in the water, especially children, who are so vulnerable, is so important to us. Carlos and Laura are a wonderful addition to our family of franchisees, said British Swim School President Ashley Gundlach. Their goals align with ours, which is to create a fun atmosphere while ensuring our students become safe swimmers. The Loudoun County area is full of children and adults who were sure will benefit from our high-quality swim program For more information about British Swim School, visit http://www.britishswimschool.com/loudoun/. To learn more about the benefits of British Swim Schools franchising opportunities, visit http://www.britishswimschoolfranchise.com. About British Swim School British Swim School, the nations most established swim school franchise, with over 40 years in business, believes that every individual, regardless of age or ability, should have the opportunity to become a safe and happy swimmer. Offering lessons for babies, children, and adults, the brand is dedicated to its mantra, Survival of the Littlest, focusing first on the survival skills needed to survive a water accident, then moving on to stroke development and more advanced skills. Not only does British Swim Schools give peace of mind to countless families who seek the essential life skill the brand offers their children but the purpose-driven franchise also offers an exceptional opportunity for entrepreneurs who seek a fulfilling business venture with a sound foundation, low investment, and an easily scalable model. Part of the Buzz Franchise Brands family, British Swim School currently operates over 250 schools across the United States and Canada. For more information about British Swim School, visit http://www.britishswimschool.com. To learn more about the benefits of British Swim Schools franchising opportunities, visit http://www.britishswimschoolfranchise.com. From strategy to implementation, O3 provides a future-forward approach that gives clients smart and innovative solutions that let them build deep and meaningful customer experiences." Michael D. Soileau, CEO of O3 O3, a customer experience (CX) consultancy, today announced that Michael D. Soileau has joined the company as chief executive officer. Soileau will lead O3 during its next phase of expansion to help meet the rapidly growing demand from B2B enterprises and B2C brands for the companys end-to-end customer journey solutions. Formerly with Comcast for more than 20 years, Soileau has over 25 years of leadership experience, serving in roles that managed service innovation, sales and marketing, roadmap development, operations and strategic planning. His vast experience will enable O3 to further its reach in helping companies transform their customer journeys to drive deeper retention, engagement and loyalty. From strategy to implementation, O3 provides a future-forward approach that gives clients smart and innovative solutions that let them build deep and meaningful customer experiences. O3 creates long-term client partnerships and has the right mix of CX, data and technology expertise that companies need today and in the future. I am excited to join the company and look forward to moving our clients and business forward. O3 is an experience consultancy specializing in building and optimizing every digital touch point for companies. It plays a strategic role in unifying data and online ecosystems through design, advanced technology and innovation-led solutions. From experience, brand and content strategy to UX design and software development, O3 covers the entire customer journey. Clients include SEI, Vertex, American Family Insurance, FIMC and Best Egg. O3s Founding Partner and CEO, Keith Scandone, will transition into a new role to lead business strategy development, O3s investment arm, Ozone Ventures, and future vision and growth expansion opportunities. Scandone will work closely with Soileau and O3s seasoned leadership team, which includes O3 Partner and Chief Innovation Officer Mike Gadsby, Chief Digital Officer Mahesh Gaitonde and Board Advisor Sushma Rajagopalan. Michael's unique experience, business acumen, expansive network and shared values make him a perfect fit to accelerate O3's growth, said Scandone. I am fortunate to add Michael to an already incredible leadership team and look forward to collaborating on creating more dynamic opportunities to expand O3s footprint. In addition to his vast business achievements, Soileau is the vice chair of the Community of College of Philadelphia Board of Trustees, director for the Community College Foundation board, founding member of the Executive Leadership Council, and an advisory board member of the Lambda Legal National Advisory Council. He is also a former board member of the University of Texas Center for Global Business and a guest lecturer at the University of Texas at Austin in International Business, as well as a guest lecturer at Drexel University. About O3 O3 is an experience consultancy specializing in building and optimizing every digital touch point for companies. It plays a strategic role in unifying data and online ecosystems through design, advanced technology and innovation-led solutions. Headquartered in Philadelphia, O3 emphasizes a balanced approach to design, innovative technology solutions and award-winning agency culture. To learn more, visit http://www.o3world.com. Forza expands its range top line by adding a 48-inch model, which will be debuted at the 2023 International Builders Show in Las Vegas. We are excited to add the 48-inch width to our lineup of professional range tops. You can expect this handsome appliance to have the same high-quality power and radical Italian design that we showcase on each of our products. Forza, the ultra-premium Italian cooking appliances brand, spotlights its new 48-inch Professional Range Tops at the International Builders' Show (IBS) and Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Las Vegas, Nevada, from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 with the American Gas Association in booth C2108. We are excited to add the 48-inch width to our lineup of professional range tops, said Marco Guerzoni, Forza Director of Marketing and Product Development. You can expect this handsome appliance to have the same high-quality power and radical Italian design that we showcase on each of our products. Ultra-premium Italian cooking appliances brand @ForzaCucina expands its range top line by adding a 48-inch model, which will be debuted at the 2023 International Builders Show in #LasVegas. @IntlBldrsShow #IBS2023 https://www.forzacucina.com/product-category/range-tops/ KEY FEATURES OF THE 48-INCH PROFESSIONAL RANGE TOP: The 48-inch Professional Range Top features eight full brass burnersfour front-range dual-flame burners that adjust from 685 Btu for simmering to a powerful 20,000 Btu, and four single-flame burners in the back that range from 2,200 to 12,000 Btufor precise cooking control. It is equipped with Forzas continuous Infinito Grate System edge-to-edge cast iron grate system with an integrated bullnose the industrys largest continuous usable cooking surface. It also comes with a fastback porcelain trim that provides a seamless integration into your kitchen island while increasing the usable cooking service even further for maximum efficiency. The black porcelain spill tray makes cleanup simple while providing a dramatic aesthetic for the range top that emphasizes the brass burners, while the stainless-steel knobs with a red "racecar" stripe elevate your kitchen design. Its bold form and style embody the soul of radical Italian design with the heart of an American muscle car, featuring unique angular racecar-inspired lines. The new entry to the product line joins the previously released 30 and 36-inch models. For additional information about Forzas Professional Range Tops, please visit https://www.forzacucina.com/product-category/range-tops/. About Forza Forza delivers dynamic Italian design with ultra-premium, professional cooking appliances. Designed and built in the heart of the famed Emilia-Romagna region in Modena, Italy, Forza appliances include professional gas ranges, dual convection electric wall ovens, professional range tops, high-performance ventilation hoods and a powerful, energy-efficient dishwasher. Forza is the American brand of parent company, Glem Gas, which has been producing high-performing appliances that embody the spirit of Italian craftsmanship for more than 60 years. For more information about Forza, visit forzacucina.com. Using enterprise-grade technology, a robust business intelligence team, and RCM experts, Viewgol empowers healthcare organizations to create RCM Heroes. His background in the healthcare industry and his expertise in driving business growth make him a key member of our team. His ability to provide valuable assistance to clients will be invaluable as we work to improve the financial performance of healthcare organizations. - Reid Storch, CRO, Viewgol Viewgol, a healthcare RCM data, advisory, and services company, announced today that Mark Gaines has joined the team as Vice President of Sales, Central. Bringing more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry and a background in enterprise software sales, Gaines is a multi-faceted component to company growth. With extensive knowledge in healthcare technology, analytics, population health management, value-based care, strategic partnerships, business development, and sales leadership, Gaines has worked with executives at healthcare systems, hospitals, and physician groups. His strong drive for business growth and new product development will support Viewgols continued nationwide expansion. Gaines is excited to join the Viewgol team and contribute to the company's mission of creating RCM Heroes by bringing RCM data transparency and accountability to every healthcare organization. Viewgol offers a unique approach to healthcare RCM through its enterprise-grade technology, business intelligence team, payer outcomes team, and RCM experts. The company's primary products, Analytics, Engage, and Comprehensive, provide a range of RCM solutions to healthcare organizations of all sizes. "As a part of the Viewgol team, I am eager to work with a group of experts in assisting healthcare organizations in improving their RCM processes and financial wellbeing," said Gaines. "My experience in the healthcare industry will enable me to provide valuable insights and guidance to our clients as a trusted resource." Gaines will identify new opportunities to help Viewgol achieve its vision of caring for patients through caring for the financial health of healthcare organizations. As a valuable resource to Viewgol clients at the executive and operational levels, Gaines works to provide RCM services guided by data, which impact the healthcare organizations bottom line. He is excited to help grow a successful company and contribute to the growth and expansion of Viewgol as an RCM service provider. "We are excited to have Mark Gaines join our team at Viewgol," said Reid Storch, CRO for Viewgol. "His extensive background in the healthcare industry, along with his expertise in driving business growth, make him a key member of our team. Mark's leadership skills and ability to provide valuable assistance to our clients will be invaluable as we work to improve the financial performance of healthcare organizations." Viewgol will meet each medical practice where they have needs. From practices that simply need best-in-class data, to large health organizations that need full RCM services, Viewgol provides customized solutions for RCM success. To learn more about Viewgol and its products and services, visit the official website at Viewgol.com. About Viewgol Viewgol is an RCM data, advisory, and services company specializing in healthcare revenue cycle management. Creating RCM Heroes and leading the industry to make RCM data accessible, understandable, and applicable, Viewgol services many healthcare specialties and organizations of diverse sizes. Viewgols primary products, Analytics, Engage, and Comprehensive, provide RCM solutions to resolve RCM problems and act on opportunities. Viewgols business intelligence team examines every aspect of an organizations RCM process to detect issues and offer customized solutions. To learn more, please visit Viewgol.com. American Cruise Lines Historic River Cruises on San Francisco Bay & the California Delta Exploring San Francisco Bay and the California Delta by U.S. riverboat is a momentous occasion for domestic river cruising...," said Charles B. Robertson, President & CEO of American Cruise Lines. American Cruise Lines has announced today, that American Jazz, one of the companys 10 new riverboats, is repositioning from the Mississippi River to the West Coast for brand new California river cruises beginning in February 2023: the first of their kind since the 1940s. Already underway along the journey from the Mississippi River to San Francisco Bay, American Jazz is expected to transit the Panama Canal in the coming days. American Jazzs repositioning voyage is following a similar route to the historic U.S. mail ships of the Gold Rush era that carried passengers, mail, and gold between the East and West coasts. The expert nautical team aboard is supported each day of the voyage by the companys shoreside operations team. Throughout the journey, Americans crew and the shoreside team closely monitor vessel systems, weather forecasts, and voyage progress. American Jazzs arrival to San Francisco Bay heralds a historic development in U.S. River cruising, as it is the first U.S. built riverboat to offer overnight cruises throughout the Bay and California Delta in over 80 years. American Jazz will embark along the Lines first 8-Day San Francisco Bay cruise on February 24, 2023. The new river cruises will sail San Francisco Bay and Wine Country: cruising the Napa River, Sacramento River, and San Joaquin River. Exploring San Francisco Bay and the California Delta by U.S. riverboat is a momentous occasion for domestic river cruising and another first for American Cruise Lines. We are proud to provide this new opportunity for our guests to experience the joys of cruising close to home, as they discover yet another beautiful area of the country by riverboat, said Charles B. Robertson, President & CEO of American Cruise Lines. American continues to expand the possibilities for exceptional domestic small ship cruises by introducing brand new U.S. flagged riverboats and small cruise ships each year. American Cruise Lines is proud to offer the 8-Day San Francisco Bay itinerary, roundtrip from San Francisco, in February and March, and again in November and December 2023. Americans guests will explore San Francisco and Wine Country, while visiting vineyards and enjoying bespoke experiences from special tastings to becoming a winemaker for a day. Cruises highlight the regions historical, cultural, and geographical influences that gave rise to the stunning seaside city of San Francisco, as well as the lush vineyards and flourishing agricultural communities present throughout the Bay area and its surrounding valleys today. Americans new 8-Day San Francisco Bay cruises dock in: San Francisco, Stockton, Sacramento, and Vallejo, and sail San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, the Napa River, and the San Joaquin River. 2023 departure dates for the California river cruises aboard American Jazz are: 2/24, 3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24, 11/03, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, 12/01, 12/08, 12/15, 12/22, and 12/29. For a limited time, Special Wave Season deals including Complimentary Domestic Airfare are available for select San Francisco Bay cruise dates in March: for departures on 3/10, 3/17, & 3/24. Americans California river cruises further represent the rapid growth of the domestic river cruise market and the extensive possibilities for exceptional 100% U.S. small ship itineraries. In just the past few years, the companys portfolio of domestic itineraries and their fleet of U.S. built small ships has experienced record growth; more than doubling in size since 2016, with many more new builds announced through 2027. Notably, all of Americans new ships remain smallwith every boat in the fleet accommodating 180 guests or fewer, offering private balconies and over 350 square feet of space per passenger. For more detailed information visit: https://www.americancruiselines.com/cruises/california-cruises About American Cruise Lines: American Cruise Lines offers river cruising and small ship coastal cruising in the U.S.A. American continues to launch the newest U.S. built ships and uniquely curated itineraries for exploring and Cruising Close to Home. On all Americans cruises, guests discover the history, spirit, and culture of the United States aboard a sophisticated fleet of American riverboats and small cruise ships. In 2023, American will operate 17 ships, each accommodating just 100-180 passengers, which cruise more than 50 domestic itineraries in 35 states. American offers domestic Flat-Rate Airfare for all its U.S. cruises and Complimentary Pre-Cruise Hotel Stays in cities across the country. Learn more at: http://www.AmericanCruiseLines.com Follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/americancruiselines Follow us on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/American_Cruise MEDIA INFO: https://www.americancruiselines.com/media Dr. Craig Chepke has been named Scientific Advisor for Psych Congress educational programs Part of what inspired me to become a physician was the opportunity to teach every patient every day, empowering them to take a more active role in their health, Chepke said. Being a part of the continuing education of colleagues striving to do the same is truly a joy." HMP Global, the leading omnichannel healthcare company, today announced that Psych Congress Steering Committee member Dr. Craig Chepke has been named Scientific Advisor for the entire Psych Congress portfolio, including Psych Congress, the nations largest independent mental health educational conference on practical psychopharmacology, Psych Congress Elevate, Psych Congress Regionals, and the newly announced Psych Congress NP Institute In-Person event. For 36 years, Psych Congress has delivered practical, case-based education to an exceptional community of mental healthcare providers nationwide, with a goal of improving outcomes for patients. As Scientific Advisor, Dr. Chepke will work closely with the steering committees and faculty of Psych Congress events and programs to develop high-quality practical and advanced evidence-based educational content relevant to all mental health team members. Ive heard Dr. Chepke described as a rising star, but I disagree," said Rakesh Jain, MD, MPH, Psych Congress Co-Chair and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Texas Tech University School of Medicine. His star has fully risen and is shining brightly! Having worked closely with him over the past several years, I believe he is truly a once-in-a-generation talent. I couldnt be more excited for him to deepen his commitment to Psych Congress." Dr. Chepke is the medical director of Excel Psychiatric Associates in Huntersville, NC, and an adjunct associate professor of psychiatry for Atrium Health. He is a member of the Huntington Study Group and has been named a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. A leader and innovator in education, Dr. Chepke has lectured and presented research nationally and internationally on diverse topics, including serious mental illness, movement disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and sleep medicine. Part of what inspired me to become a physician was the opportunity to teach every patient every day, empowering them to take a more active role in their health, Chepke said. Being a part of the continuing education of colleagues striving to do the same is truly a joy, and theres no better place to do so than Psych Congress. Im excited for this opportunity to help direct our overall educational mission in service of that goal. Over the 36-year history of Psych Congress, the educational program has evolved and grown, meeting the ongoing educational needs of mental health clinicians in a field that has also evolved and grown, said Randy Robbin, President, HMP Education, the medical education arm of HMP Global. Dr. Chepkes leadership and expertise will ensure that Psych Congress will continue to be a national leader in this space, offering a high level of comprehensive psychopharmacology education combined with state-of-the-art treatment approaches and emerging research findings. Psych Congress programs and sessions are unique, integrated forums to connect members of the entire mental health team with internationally renowned faculty presenters on topics spanning the mental health field. Programs are designed and accredited for all members of the mental health team with the mission of improving patient outcomes through education. The 2023 Psych Congress national meeting will take place September 6-10 in Nashville. For more information or to register for this and other upcoming Psych Congress events, visit psychcongress.com. ABOUT HMP GLOBAL HMP Global is the force behind Healthcare Made Practical and is an omnichannel leader in healthcare content, events, and education, with a mission to improve patient care. The company produces accredited medical education events in person and online via its proprietary VRTX virtual platform and clinically relevant, evidence-based content for the global healthcare community across a range of therapeutic areas. Its brands include the HMP Global Learning Network, healthcare's most comprehensive source for news and information; Psych Congress, the largest independent mental health meeting in the U.S.; the Evolution of Psychotherapy, the worlds largest independent educational event for mental health professionals; the Leipzig Interventional Course (LINC), the leading, global gathering for interdisciplinary cardiovascular specialists; EMS World Expo, North America's largest EMT and paramedic event; and the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC), the largest wound care meeting in the world. For more information, visit hmpglobal.com. Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the class action lawsuit against Burton Restaurants, LLC, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. The San Diego employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action lawsuit against Burton Restaurants, LLC, alleging the company violated the California Labor Code. The lawsuit against Burton Restaurants, LLC is currently pending in the San Diego County Superior Court, Case No. 37-2023-00001045-CU-OE-CTL. To read a copy of the Complaint, please click here. According to the lawsuit filed, Defendant allegedly (a) failed to pay minimum wages, (b) failed to pay overtime wages, (c) failed to provide legally required meal and rest periods, (d) failed to provide accurate itemized wage statements, (e) failed to reimburse employees for required expenses, and (f) failed to provide wages when due, all in violation of the applicable Labor Code sections listed in California Labor Code Sections 201-204, 226, 226.7, 233, 246, 510, 512, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 2802, and the applicable Wage Order(s), and thereby gives rise to civil penalties as a result of such alleged conduct. Additionally, the complaint alleges Defendant failed to provide employees with complete and accurate wage statements which showed, among other things, the correct gross and net wages earned. California Labor Code 226 provides that every employer shall furnish each of his or her employees with an accurate itemized wage statement in writing showing, among other things, gross wages earned and all applicable hourly rates in effect during the pay period and the corresponding amount of time worked at each hourly rate. For more information about the class action lawsuit against Burton Restaurants, LLC, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is a labor law firm with law offices located in San Diego County, Riverside County, Los Angeles County, Sacramento County, Santa Clara County, Orange County, and San Francisco County. The firm has a statewide practice of representing employees on a contingency basis for violations involving unpaid wages, overtime pay, discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and other types of illegal workplace conduct. ***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT*** Head of Russias delegation to the Vienna talks on military security and arms control Konstantin Gavrilov has called on the West to prevent "nuclear provocations" with Leopard 2 tanks, Tass informs. January 26, 2023, 09:47 Russian diplomat calls on West to prevent nuclear provocations with Leopard tanks STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 26, ARTSAKHPRESS: "We warn the Western sponsors of the Kiev military machine against encouraging nuclear provocations and blackmail. We know that Leopard 2 tanks, as well as the Bradley and Marder armored infantry carriers are armed with armor-piercing projectiles with uranium warheads. Their use leads to the contamination of the area, like it was in former Yugoslavia and Iraq. In case such munitions for NATO-made heavy weapons are supplied to Kiev, we will consider that as the use of dirty nuclear bombs against Russia with all the consequences that come with it," he said at an OSCE forum on security cooperation. Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP recently welcomed back Paul R. McIntyre to its Environmental Practice in the firms Philadelphia office. McIntyre returns to Greenberg Traurig after nearly 10 years, along with Michael P. Canavan, who will join the firm as of counsel. They both join from Post & Schell, P.C., where McIntyre served as both a principal and chair of that firms environmental practice, and Canavan played a leading role in the growth of the group. I am thrilled that Paul decided to return home to Greenberg Traurig, now as an even more deeply experienced leader in environmental transactions in the real estate and private equity space, said Curtis B. Toll, managing shareholder for the Philadelphia office. Paul is nationally known for assisting private equity funds with the acquisition, financing, development, and sale of environmentally impacted properties additive to the Philadelphia office and the larger firm on many levels, Toll said. McIntyre focuses his practice on environmental counseling and due diligence for real estate and corporate transactions. He also helps structure remedial scopes of work and insurance tools for brownfield remediation and redevelopment projects, and regularly advises clients on related regulatory compliance matters. At this stage of my career, I could think of no better place and no better time to make this move back to Greenberg Traurig, McIntyre said. The Greenberg Traurig environmental group consists of tremendously talented and collaborative lawyers. As the market continues to churn and new development opportunities across the country bring an even sharper lens on environmental considerations, Greenberg Traurigs platform and reputation will no doubt provide ease of mind and instill confidence for our clients." Greenberg Traurig will provide our clients in the real estate development, venture capital, and private equity industries with the deep level of legal knowledge, innovation, and service they expect on a local, national, and international level, and help to achieve their business objectives, he added. McIntyre and Canavan and the three associates accompanying them Julie Dostal, Molly K. ONeil, and Travis Coon represent one of the largest groups to join the Philadelphia office in more than a decade. This move is emblematic of the type of strategic growth we are employing across the firm, said Executive Chairman Richard A. Rosenbaum. We already have an outstanding and niche environmental group based in Philadelphia and are expanding that footprint with a clear eye on how we can service our clients who need effective legal guidance as communities and investors seeking to reimagine development projects face ever-fluid environmental regulations, today, as well as a generation later. Co-President Ernest L. Greer concurred. Paul and Mike represent the kind of cutting-edge legal practitioners for which this firm and specifically, the environmental team in Philadelphia is known and well-regarded, Greer added. We are pleased to have Paul rejoin the fold, add Mike to the mix, and continue to power forward with the unique offerings of this practice a sophisticated, yet practical, blend of environmental law, real estate and corporate transactions, and insurance structuring. We are richer for having them at the firm. Barred in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, McIntyre is admitted in the 3rd Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the District of New Jersey. He holds degrees from Elon University and the Vermont Law and Graduate School, where he earned both a J.D. and a masters in environmental law. Canavans practice and client base closely mirrors that of McIntyre, having worked alongside him as a principal in their prior firms environmental practice group. Prior to that post, he worked as an associate in the New York office of Alston & Bird LLP. The Germantown Academy alum is an honors graduate of Wake Forest University and The George Washington University Law School. Admitted in the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern District and the Southern District of New York, Canavan is barred in both Pennsylvania and New York. He will split his time between the firms Philadelphia and Silicon Valley offices. He is not admitted in California but will be sitting for the California bar exam in February 2023. Dostal holds degrees from the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Virginia School of Law, graduating in 2019. ONeil, a twice-minted Wildcat, is a 2020 graduate of the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. And Coon, who graduated from Michigan State University and Penn State Law, also earned his J.D. in 2020. About Greenberg Traurigs Philadelphia Office: Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, Greenberg Traurigs Philadelphia office has grown from an initial three-attorney Public Finance Practice to include more than 60 attorneys whose practices include Real Estate; Litigation; Intellectual Property; Labor & Employment; Environmental; Government Law & Policy; Restructuring & Bankruptcy; White Collar Defense & Special Investigations; Corporate; Investment Management & Regulation; Immigration & Compliance; Health Care & FDA; and Tax. The Philadelphia office represents a broad range of clients in real estate, manufacturing, health care, financial, and insurance industries, as well as state and local governments, professional services, and energy firms. The office also is known for its pro bono work and community service/social action initiatives in the Philadelphia region. About Greenberg Traurigs Environmental Practice: Greenberg Traurigs Environmental Practice represents clients with issues under the environmental and natural resource laws that affect their businesses. The firms environmental attorneys assist with securing permits and approvals; negotiating and closing transactions; defending clients in enforcement actions; handling a broad range of environmental and toxic tort litigation; ensuring the understanding and satisfaction of regulatory requirements; preparing for and responding to emergencies; crafting approaches for legacy cleanup issues; and developing solutions for product regulation, market access, and environmental policy challenges. Greenberg Traurig received a first-tier ranking in the "Environmental Law" and "Litigation Environmental" categories in the U.S. News - Best Lawyers 2022 "Best Law Firms" report. About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 2500 attorneys in 43 locations in the United States, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm reported gross revenue of over $2 Billion for FY 2021 and is consistently among the top firms on the Am Law 100, Am Law Global 100, and NLJ 250. On the debut 2022 Law360 Pulse Leaderboard, it is a Top 15 firm. Greenberg Traurig is Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certified Plus by The Diversity Lab and the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e Energy program certifies that the firms U.S. offices are 100% powered by renewable energy. The firm is often recognized for its focus on philanthropic giving, innovation, diversity, and pro bono. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com. Disparities in PPP loans were identified within African American farmers due to their income levels and location (rural compared to urban). Sheding light on the greater challenges faced by African American farms in rural areas in contrast to those in urban areas. Major differences in PPP loan amounts awarded to African American farmers versus white farmers were also identified depending on the lender used. n African American farmers who applied for PPP through farm credit associations received on average $5,000 less than the white farmer. This result is due to the lesser number of African American farmers applying for PPP through farm credit associations. Capital limitations may have imposed restrictions on the lender African American farmers could use when applying to the PPP. Forty-four percent of African American farms applied for a PPP loan through a Non-Traditional Lender versus 2% of white farmers. In the recently released article Limits to Capital: Assessing the Role of Race on the Paycheck Protection Program for African American Farmers in America released in the Applied Economics Perspectives & Policy, Ana Claudia SantAnna from West Virginia University and Kevin Kim from Mississippi State University and Iryna Demko find out if the limit to capital could have been a factor in the approval of PPP loans to African American farmers. SantAnna says, PPP provided relief to small businesses across all industrial sectors of the economy. Thus, it is important to increase farmers awareness and participation in programs that are not exclusively targeted to agricultural businesses. For the PPP, providing greater technical assistance, advertising to minority groups and associations, and allowing for lending through non-traditional lenders could reduce the challenges in accessing the program due to limited capital. If you are interested in setting up an interview, please contact Allison Ware in the AAEA Business Office. ABOUT AAEA: Established in 1910, the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) is the leading professional association for agricultural and applied economists, with 2,500 members in more than 60 countries. Members of the AAEA work in academic or government institutions as well as in industry and not-for-profit organizations, and engage in a variety of research, teaching, and outreach activities in the areas of agriculture, the environment, food, health, and international development. The AAEA publishes three journals, the Journal of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (an open access journal), the American Journal of Agricultural Economics and Applied Economic Perspectives & Policy, as well as the online magazine Choices and the online open access publication series Applied Economics Teaching Resources. To learn more, visit http://www.aaea.org. January 2023 starts in the best possible way for the DO Montecucco which ranks as the best performing denomination in Tuscany, after wrapping up 2022 with promising records. Data is also confirmed by A.Vi.To (Tuscan DOP and IGT Wines Association) in the December 2022 report - shared with all the regional DOs at the beginning of the month - which, while featuring the main Tuscan denominations, highlights an unprecedented +35% bottling trend compared to 2021 for the small denomination of Amiata, surpassing the results of the already successful 2019. In this past year, producers had to deal with a wine scene that not only showed great uncertainty and difficulty, but one that also confirmed a 'new', worldwide consumption trend that was first outlined at the end of 2020. To begin with, statistics show an increase in sales of premium products, medium to medium-high range, to the detriment of lower-end wines. In addition, sustainability continues to play a key role in consumers purchasing decisions. Year after year, consumers are increasingly sensitive to environmental issues, from both a cultivation and a production standpoint, and will continue to consciously and ethically choose quality, certified products. If 'niche' and 'sustainability' are confirmed as the leitmotiv of the wine market, Montecucco will experience constant growth in a - by now consolidated - scenario of international demand. To prove it, is the extraordinary rise of bottled wines observed at the end of 2022, which ranks us first in the podium of Tuscan denominations declares Giovan Battista Basile, President of the Consorzio Tutela Vini Montecucco. Today more than ever, the market is looking for products that are reliable, quality- and organic-certified organic. These values are the DNA of our DO, guaranteed by the consortium regulations , and constantly promoted internationally. With 68 associated wineries and 500 claimed hectares (out of a potential 800) spread in the seven municipalities of Arcidosso, Campagnatico, Castel del Piano, Cinigiano, Civitella Paganico, Roccalbegna and Seggiano, province of Grosseto, let's not forget that the DO Montecucco boasts 85% of organic production. But beyond sustainability, ours is a highly distinguishable Sangiovese - genuine representation of its place of origin and niche produced by small or medium-sized family-run estates that have been interpreting over the years the peculiar identity of the territory. In short, a jewel of its kind. Giovan Battista continues I remember how exactly one year ago Montecucco was included by the famous US magazine Forbes in the ranking of international DO wines not to be missed in 2022. It was definitely a positive start to the year for our denomination, a year that has not failed to meet our expectations. The promising trend, however, does not appease the concerns of the Montecucco Consortium on issues related to the climate emergency and the memory of the devastating fires that hit the Cinigiano area in the summer of 2022. Due to disasters of this magnitude, now more than ever it becomes necessary to reopen a debate that doesnt belong only to the Tuscan agricultural scene. We reiterate our position regarding the urgency of simplifying the procedures for the construction of water storage reservoirs to counteract the water emergency caused by climate change that is afflicting our industry says Giovan Battista, supported by the Board of Directors of the Montecucco Wine Consortium. Overall, the international community should prioritize and implement all the necessary steps to prevent the rise in global temperature and contain its negative effects on both the environment and the production, which in recent years have become increasingly frequent and serious". # # # About the Montecucco Consortium (Consorzio Tutela Vini Montecucco): Founded in 2000 and representing 68 wine producers, the Montecucco Consortium is committed to the stewardship, protection and promotion of the Montecucco wine denomination. The consortium ensures high quality through a set of formal production guidelines for the entire winemaking process, from cultivation to bottling, including a strict traceability system that allows consumers to know the origin of each wine purchased. The consortiums ability to provide day in and day out support to local growers, assist in brand promotion and focus on the quality of the end product have earned the organization the trust of numerous leading estates and attracted some of Italys most renowned producers. For more information visit consorziomontecucco.it . How its done in Alexandria A range of industry professionals - engineers, applicators, ready-mix suppliers, and consultants learned how to make concrete impermeable with the Penetron System. The Penetron System can help increase the durability and service life of concrete, ultimately helping to reduce the carbon footprint of new structures. On November 22nd, 2022, the Durable Concrete and Crystalline Admixture event was held at the Engineering Syndicate Building in Alexandria, Egypt. The one-day technology seminar was hosted by Penetron North Africa and Penetron Egypt in cooperation with the Egyptian Engineers Syndicate and Alexandria University. Technical presentations and hands-on demonstrations highlighted the potential of Penetrons crystalline technology as a comprehensive and durable concrete waterproofing solution. Kadem A. Elbarghathi, Managing Director of Penetron North Africa, Ahmed Nada, General Manager of Penetron Egypt, and Dr. Abd Elatif Said, Alexandria University professor and Penetron Egypt consultant, welcomed almost 100 participants engineers, applicators, ready-mix suppliers, and consultants to the Durable Concrete and Crystalline Admixture seminar in Alexandria, Egypt. Emilio Minoru Takagi, Technical Support Specialist for Penetron Brazil, began with an introduction to the chemistry and longevity factors of concrete, and covered the following topics: Main causes of concrete deterioration The crystalline technology behind the Penetron System Penetron product briefings & market overview Demonstrations of product application procedures The seminar underlined the effectiveness of PENETRON ADMIX, a crystalline concrete waterproofing admixture. Easily mixed in during batching and unaffected by the local marine environment, this admixture provides comprehensive protection against penetration of liquids and corrosive elements to prevent deterioration due to water-related damage to concrete. Once its added to the concrete, the waterproofing and durability-enhancing properties of PENETRON ADMIX become an integral part of the concrete matrix, adds Kadem A. Elbarghathi. Also, the ease of use and our history of successful projects across the North African region provides ample proof of Penetrons ability to ensure more durable concrete. A MIC Solution In addition, Emilio Minoru Takagi introduced Penetrons innovative anti-microbial concrete admixture, which protects concrete structures from microbially-induced corrosion (MIC) prevalent in sewers, septic tanks, and similarly aggressive environments. Penetrons anti-microbial concrete admixture uses an electro-physical mechanism to destroy the cell walls of micro-organisms, such as thiobacillus bacteria, on contact, which would convert hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S) into biogenic sulfuric acid (H2SO4), causing rapid concrete deterioration, if not destruction. Penetrons anti-microbial concrete admixture is a permanent solution: it forms part of the concrete matrix and is leach resistant. The effectiveness of this anti-microbial admixture is not lessened by repeated contact with bacteria, providing long-term MIC protection. Helping to Limit Climate Change As the host country of the COP27 environmental conference, also held in Egypt in November 2022, the Durable Concrete and Crystalline Admixture seminar in Alexandria also considered the carbon footprint of the global construction industry, one of the world's largest carbon emitters. Substantially reducing carbon emissions of our industry will require the rapid development and widespread implementation of new technologies, products, and designs, concludes Ahmed Nada. The Penetron System can help increase the durability and service life of concrete, ultimately helping to reduce the carbon footprint of new structures. The Penetron Group is a leading manufacturer of specialty construction products for concrete waterproofing, concrete repairs and floor preparation systems. The Group operates through a global network, offering support to the design and construction community through its regional offices, representatives, and distribution channels. For more information on Penetron waterproofing solutions, please visit penetron(dot)com or Facebook(dot)com/ThePenetronGroup, email CRDept(at)penetron(dot)com or contact the Corporate Relations Department at 631-941-9700. Milwaukee Lawyers with Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown recognized by Elite Lawyer Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, LLP is pleased to announce that 11 of the firms experienced attorneys have been recognized as Elite Lawyers for 2023. Having so many of the firms lawyers honored in this way reflects the firms dedication to excellence. The 11 new Elite Lawyers are Megan L. Drury, Jorge R. Fragoso, Erin M. Strohbehn, Jaclyn C. Kallie, Nicole N. Masnica, Max T. Stephenson, Cameron G. Weitzner, Samantha Bailey, John McNally, Adam Schleis, and Zak Wroblewski. Each Elite Lawyer inductee has earned this notable distinction by providing outstanding service and exceptional results for the clients they serve. Elite Lawyer is a reputable professional organization that identifies the best attorneys in each practice area and location. Attorneys are nominated by their peers and then selected by the organization based on an independent evaluation of their professional accomplishments, reputation in the legal community, and commitment to serving the community. Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, LLP offers a wide variety of legal services to clients in the Milwaukee area and throughout the state of Wisconsin. Each Elite Lawyer named has demonstrated outstanding achievement in their particular field. The firm provides representation for clients dealing with often complex legal issues related to personal injury, criminal defense, business and employment, family law, estate planning, and more. Clients can be assured that they will receive top-quality legal representation from one of the firms many highly skilled and award-winning attorneys. About Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, LLP Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, LLP is a full-service law firm that can handle many types of legal issues. The firm is equipped to help with divorce, white-collar criminal investigations, trusts and estates, car accidents, healthcare law, and many other practice areas. To learn more about Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, LLP, or to contact the attorneys, please visit: https://www.grgblaw.com/ If you interested in becoming an Elite Lawyer or nominating someone for the Elite Lawyer award, visit https://www.elitelawyer.com/ today. ResumeBuilder.com, the premier resource for professional resume templates and career advice, has published a recent survey report that shares insight into how many companies are currently quiet hiring. Researchers analyzed responses from 1,000 business leaders at companies with at least 50 employees. According to the report, 57 percent of business leaders surveyed say they have had layoffs in the past three months. Fifty-six percent say they plan to have layoffs in the coming six months. Although many companies had or anticipate downsizing, 37 percent are currently hiring contractors. Out of these companies, 78 percent say they are hiring for more contract positions now compared to previous years, and 71 percent say they are hiring contractors to save money. Additionally, for companies that experienced layoffs in the past three months and are currently hiring contractors, 80 percent say contract workers carry out responsibilities previously assigned to laid off employees. The study also highlights the changes that existing employees are experiencing. In the past three months, 53 percent of business leaders say they moved full-time employees to contract positions. Additionally, 37 percent say they asked employees to move from full-time to part-time. Within the next six months, 52 percent of business leaders anticipate full-time employees will move to contract positions, while 40 percent anticipate employees will move from full-time to part-time. In the past three months, 62 percent of business leaders say they asked employees to take on new roles within their organizations. Likewise, 66 percent asked employees to take on additional tasks. While 82 percent of these respondents say employees were compensated for additional work, 14 percent say there was no added compensation. Additionally, 34 percent say their organization cut salaries for some employees. Of this group, 32 percent reduced salaries for 25 percent of their workforce, while 25 percent say they reduced wages for half of their employees. All data found within this report derives from a survey commissioned by ResumeBuilder.com and conducted online by survey platform Pollfish on January 11, 2023. In total, 1,000 United States business leaders at companies with more than 50 employees were surveyed. This survey utilized a convenience sampling method, and appropriate respondents were found through demographic criteria settings. At the time of the survey, they were all ages 25 and above, employed for wages or self-employed, had 50 or more employees at the company, and had an organizational role as a C-level executive, owner, partner, or director, president/CEO/chairperson, or senior manager. To view the complete report, please visit https://www.resumebuilder.com/1-in-5-companies-are-quiet-hiring-contractors-to-replace-laid-off-workers/. ABOUT RESUMEBUILDER.COM ResumeBuilder.com provides free templates to help create professional resumes. The website also offers up-to-date information and machine learning tools for job seekers. With a team of certified resume writers, recruiting experts, and hiring managers, users gain a competitive advantage and confidence to get hired faster. To learn more, visit https://www.resumebuilder.com/. We showed that the improved image quality of CTA with photon-counting detector CT systems can be used to reduce the amount of administered contrast media to the patients, without reducing the diagnostic yield of the examination. Photon-counting detector CT reduces the amount of contrast needed for CT angiography (CTA) while maintaining image quality, according to a new study published today, January 26, in Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The portion of the aorta that passes through the chest and abdomen is prone to aneurysms. Risk increases with age. Doctors use CTA with contrast media to examine this region of the artery. While the iodinated contrast media used in these exams is considered very safe, there is a higher risk of adverse reactions in patients with kidney disease, or nephropathy. Many patients undergoing CTA of the aorta are elderly, and some may suffer from a certain degree of nephropathy, said senior author Hatem Alkadhi, M.D., M.P.H., from the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at University Hospital Zurich in Zurich, Switzerland. Thus, they might be at risk for a further reduction of their kidney function due to contrast media administration. Using less contrast media is also good for the environment, as iodine breakdown products have harmful environmental effects. In addition, the supply of contrast media has suffered from shortages due to COVID-19-related disruptions in the pharmaceutical supply chain. Photon-counting detector CT is a new technology that can acquire high-quality images at lower contrast media volume than conventional CT scanners that rely on energy-integrating detectors. It also offers diagnostic quality images at lower radiation dose than those of conventional CT. Dr. Alkadhi and his University Hospital colleague Kai Higashigaito, M.D., led a study that looked at a low-volume contrast media protocol with photon-counting detector CT for CTA of the aorta in the chest and abdomen. The study included 100 people, mean age 75. Patients underwent CTA with photon-counting detector CT of the aorta in the chest and abdomen. The patients had received a previous CTA with conventional CT at equal radiation doses. Photon-counting CT had a higher contrast-to-noise ratio, a key measure of image quality, which translates to a low-volume contrast media protocol. Contrast media volume was reduced by 25%. Two independent readers rated the image quality of photon-counting CT as higher than that of conventional CT at an equal radiation dose. We showed that the improved image quality of CTA with photon-counting detector CT systems can be used to reduce the amount of administered contrast media to the patients, without reducing the diagnostic yield of the examination, Dr. Alkadhi said. Image quality remained at the same level as that of previous CT angiography examinations in the same patients using a conventional CT, despite the fact that we reduced the contrast media volume. Based on the positive results of the study, Dr. Alkadhi and his colleagues have changed their clinical routine. They now adjust the contrast media protocols in patients undergoing CTA of the aorta in the chest and abdomen. Besides its superior image quality and spatial resolution, photon-counting CT can provide detailed studies of tissue through its spectral imaging capability. Researchers are looking at this as a way to improve studies of the coronary arteries and the heart muscle. Based on the initial experience with this new exciting technology, I envision that this detector type will become the standard in CT scanners in the near future, Dr. Alkadhi said. ### CT Angiography of the Aorta Using Photon-counting Detector CT with Reduced Contrast Media Volume. Collaborating with Drs. Alkadhi and Higashigaito were Victor Mergen, M.D., Matthias Eberhard, M.D., E.B.C.R., Lisa Jungblut, M.D., Monika Hebeisen, M.Sc., Susan Ratzer, Bettina Zanini, Adrian Kobe, M.D., Katharina Martini, M.D., and Andre Euler, M.D. Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging is edited by Suhny Abbara, M.D., University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, and owned and published by the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. (https://pubs.rsna.org/journal/cardiothoracic) RSNA is an association of radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists promoting excellence in patient care and health care delivery through education, research, and technologic innovation. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Illinois. (RSNA.org) For patient-friendly information on CT angiography, visit RadiologyInfo.org. Were excited to pair FireLites proven performance capabilities with Syracuse Glass Companys longstanding record of outstanding service. - Devin Bowman, general manager at Technical Glass Products To meet increased demand for fire-rated glazing across the northeast market, Syracuse Glass Company, LLC., (SGC) now offers FireLite NT and FireLite Plus glass ceramic products from Technical Glass Products (TGP), a brand of Allegion. The new collaboration will allow SGC to stock and distribute the clear and wireless fire-rated glass ceramic throughout its extensive serviced client network within New York, Pennsylvania and New England, providing architects, glaziers and other building and design professionals with quick access to a broader range of fire-rated glazing solutions. http://www.syracuseglass.com, http://www.fireglass.com Were excited to pair FireLites proven performance capabilities with SGCs longstanding record of outstanding service, says Devin Bowman, general manager at TGP. Bowman continues, Theyve helped architects and glaziers solve glazing challenges for over a century and now can provide customers with access to fire-rated glazing that offers superior color, clarity and surface quality. Both our commitments to meeting customer needs ensures a smooth process from specification to delivery. Joseph Gudenburr IV, president & CEO of SGC, echoes these sentiments, Were looking forward to this new relationship. Our clients value service and greatly appreciate the convenience of our route and fleet capabilities as well as our customer service. Our two companies share the same philosophy regarding servicing the market and many of the same longstanding clients. Adding TGPs FireLite family of products to our lineup makes it easier for our customers to build inspiring and code compliant spaces. TGP and SGC together is the answer to their needs. FireLite is a clear and wireless glass ceramic that offers outstanding fire protection. The FireLite family of products includes: FireLite, FireLite Plus, FireLite NT and FireLite IGU. Fire ratings range from 20 to 90 minutes (180 minutes within door assemblies), and all the FireLite products pass the required hose stream test. In addition, FireLite Plus and FireLite NT offer high impact safety ratings (meeting CPSC 16CFR1201, Category II requirements). All products feature TGPs ultraHD Technology for improved color, clarity and surface quality. A brand of Allegion, TGP is your one source for fire-rated glass and framing systems, along with specialty architectural glass products. For more information on the FireLite family of products, along with TGPs other fire-rated glass and framing products, visit http://www.fireglass.com or call (800) 426-0279. Customers can contact Syracuse Glass Company, LLC., at: Syracuse Glass Company, LLC 1 General Motors Drive PO Box 381 Syracuse, NY 13206 (315) 437-9971 or (800) 962-3211 info@syracuseglass.com http://www.syracuseglass.com About Allegion Allegion (NYSE: ALLE) is a global pioneer in seamless access, with leading brands like CISA, Interflex, LCN, Schlage, SimonsVoss and Von Duprin. Focusing on security around the door and adjacent areas, Allegion secures people and assets with a range of solutions for homes, businesses, schools and institutions. For more, visit http://www.allegion.com About Syracuse Glass Company, LLC. Syracuse Glass has over a century of experience in distributing and fabricating custom architectural glass and aluminum products. With customer relationships that span decades and generations, the company is committed to satisfying the needs of design professionals. Syracuse Glass Company works closely with the world's leading manufacturers of glass and glass fabrication machinery to manufacture: frameless bath and shower enclosures, all glass entrances, glass walls and railings, curtain walls and more. http://www.syracuseglass.com During the selection process, it became clear that IBTS has the expertise, experience, and capacity to ensure the Panasonic facility meets the Citys requirements for employee and community safety, said De Soto City Administrator Mike Brungardt, P.E. The Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) will provide plan review and inspection services on behalf of the City of De Soto, Kan., during the construction of Panasonic's $4 billion electric vehicle battery (EV) factory there. Through a competitive procurement process, the national nonprofit was chosen by the City to provide plan reviews and onsite inspections for the 5.5 million sq. ft. facility. Groundbreaking took place in November, with battery production projected to begin March 2025. Construction of this fast-paced project will be monitored by IBTS local government solutions team, which will be onsite full-time ensuring that the structure meets code requirements. Once constructed, the plant will manufacture lithium-ion batteries for auto manufacturers to help meet increasing domestic EV battery demand. The plant is expected to create thousands of new jobs and represents a significant economic development boon for both the State of Kansas and the EV market. De Soto is a small city in the Kansas City metro region with a population of approximately 6,000 people. While the Panasonic facility represents an enormous opportunity for the area, the project also presented a challenge for the City in meeting the corresponding surge in building code enforcement requirements. To meet this need, the City selected IBTS to provide third-party building department services through its experienced professional staff, certified by the International Code Council (ICC). IBTS Kansas City branch has provided these and other services to local governments in the region for more than 10 years. During the selection process, it became clear that IBTS has the expertise, experience, and capacity to ensure the Panasonic facility meets the Citys requirements for employee and community safety, said De Soto City Administrator Mike Brungardt, P.E. We appreciate IBTS ability to not only help the City with this important and complex project, but their commitment to our community and its future. IBTS is proud to support the City of De Soto by providing on-time services to ensure the safety of the facility," said said IBTS Local Government Services Development Lead Curt Skoog. "We are excited for the opportunity to take part in the historic return of advanced manufacturing plants to the United States and the breadth of opportunities it provides our communities, IBTS is a national nonprofit organization and trusted advisor and partner to local, state, and federal governments. Our nonprofit mission to serve and strengthen communities is advanced through our professional services. These include building code services and regulatory expertise; compliance and monitoring; community planning; disaster planning, mitigation, and recovery expertise; energy solutions; municipal services; grants management; market research; program management and oversight; resilience services; solar quality management; and workforce development and training. IBTS work is guided by a Board of Directors with representatives from the Council of State Governments (CSG), the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), the National Association of Counties (NACo), the National Governors Association, and the National League of Cities (NLC). Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan again attached importance to deploying an international fact-finding mission to Nagorno Karabakh and Lachin corridor and highlighted the need to carry out consistent work to achieve this. January 26, 2023, 11:33 Nikol Pashinyan again calls for international fact-finding mission deployment to Artsakh, Lachin corridor STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 26, ARTSAKHPRESS: Speaking at the January 26 Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister said that expelling the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh from their homes isnt the only goal of Azerbaijan. With its provocations, Azerbaijan seeks to also disrupt the peace agenda, the negotiations of the peace process, and instigate a new war in the region. Understandably, all of us are dealing with the Lachin corridor closure and the humanitarian crisis n Nagorno Karabakh very emotionally. But I must once again underscore the need for restraint around this situation and exclusion of lexicon or actions which contradict the peace agenda, moreover by representatives of the state authorities. We continue to be consistent in our efforts of advancing the peace agenda and no provocation should be able to deviate us from this agenda, PM Pashinyan said. At the same time the Prime Minister emphasized that the joint efforts of the government, the opposition, civil society, individuals and organizations of Armenia and the Diaspora must continue in direction of bringing the international spotlight on the ongoing encroachments taking place against the rights and security of the Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh. PM Pashinyan thanked the countries and organizations whove made an objective and unbiased reaction to the situation, based on human rights and international obligations assumed by countries. PM Pashinyan said that Azerbaijan has been trying for a long time to mislead the international community and convince that the Lachin corridor isnt closed and the gas and power supply to Nagorno Karabakh isnt suspended. Obviously Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh claim the opposite. I think the best way to resolve this contradiction de jure is to send an international fact-finding mission to Nagorno Karabakh and Lachin Corridor. And we must consistently work in this direction, Pashinyan said. The PM said that generally all existing problems in the region have no alternative to peaceful resolution, and the Armenian side will be guided with this logic, by understanding all difficulties and hardships. Challenges publishers face in generating discovery for their titles helped Open Road Integrated Media attract a growing number of companies to its various services in 2022, Open Road CEO David Steinberger wrote in a letter to company employees this week. Open Roads Ignition platform for marketing backlist titles served 93 publishers last year, a 29% increase over 2021. Among the publishers who used Ignition for the first time were HarperCollins and Scholastic. The addition of new publishers resulted in record sales for the Ignition service, Steinberger reported. The success of Ignition in boosting sales of backlist books, combined with requests from publishers to find a way to lift frontlist sales, led Open Road to launch its Activation service in August. Activation operates along many of the same lines as Ignition, enabling publishers to market their frontlist books to directly to Open Roads more than 3 million readers. Activation broadens the way we work with publishers in three important ways, Steinberger told employees. First, we now market frontlist titles in addition to backlist titles. Second, we market titles in all formats, not just e-books. Third, we can serve all publishers, not just those already signed up for our Ignition service. Publishers using Activation include Knopf, Simon & Schuster, Flatiron, Sourcebooks, and Blackstone. The demand by publishers for the service prompted Open Road to launch Activation 2.0 earlier this year. The new service allows publishers to conduct multi-title marketing campaigns. While the publishing industry is facing a challenging economic environment, Steinberger noted that December of 2022 and January of 2023 rank as the companys two most successful months as measured by the titles being added to our Ignition service. On January 25, 2023, Canadas House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development convened two separate meetings on Azerbaijans ongoing blockade of Artsakh. January 26, 2023, 15:01 Historic achievement- Artsakh government officials brief Canadian parliamentary committee on Azeri blockade STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 26, ARTSAKHPRESS: The meetings were organized following last weeks unanimous passage of a motion presented to the committee by Bloc Quebecois Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Stephane Bergeron, which called for a maximum of three meetings, during which the committee would have the opportunity to hear from witnesses representing the Republic of Artsakh, as well as experts and community representatives, the Armenian National Committee of Canada reported. This was a historic achievement, considering that for the first time, it provided an opportunity for Artsakh state representatives to appear in front of the Canadian Parliament and make the case for the 120,000 besieged Armenians of Artsakh and their struggle to live as they choose. During the first meeting, ANCCs Co-President Shahen Mirakian appeared alongside Dr. Taline Papazian (Lecturer at Sciences Po, Ecole de l'Air), Robert Avetisyan (Republic of Artsakhs Permanent Representative to the US & Canada) and Gegham Stepanyan (Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Artsakh). During his testimony, Mirakian provided the committee with a comprehensive understanding of where Armenian Canadians stand on this issue, emphasizing the need for Canada to use its considerable international influence and pressure Azerbaijan to end its genocidal blockade of Artsakh and deter Bakus ethnic cleansing campaign in the region. Dr. Papazian provided testimony related to the geopolitical context of the ongoing situation and offered recommendations on how Canada can help end the latest humanitarian catastrophe orchestrated by Azerbaijan. Artsakhs Permanent Representative to the US & Canada, Robert Avetisyan and the Republics Human Rights Defender, Gegham Stepanyan, made excellent presentations, providing committee members with real facts from the ground related to the grave humanitarian consequences and the geopolitical implications of Azerbaijans genocidal aggression as well their policy priorities and vision for a free and independent Artsakh. The second meeting of the committee heard from Olesya Vartanyan (Senior South Caucasus Analyst at the International Crisis Group), as well as Professor Christopher Waters (Professor of Law at the University of Windsor). Both witnesses shared grounded information on the ongoing situation in Artsakh, calling for an end to Azerbaijans destabilizing efforts and for increased international pressure to find a fair and permanent resolution to the conflict. During the second meeting, additional witnesses who appeared in front of the committee spared no effort to disseminate state-sponsored propaganda, unashamedly denying the suffering of the 120,000 innocent Armenians of Artsakh. Both witnesses were thoroughly questioned by committee members and at times, their foreign-sponsored talking points were pointedly exposed. The Armenian National Committee of Canada thanks committee members for their ongoing advocacy and leadership on this important issue and remains committed to continuing nationwide advocacy efforts to end Artsakh's blockade and ensure that their voices are heard in the pursuit of a free and independent Artsakh. Kmart have confirmed they will not be selling Australia Day merchandise this year, with the Indigenous community racing to stores in celebration of the decision. Actor and content creator Naarah was in her pyjamas at 9pm on Monday evening when she made the last minute decision to postpone her bedtime and visit her local store after hearing the good news earlier in the day. "I couldn't believe it," she told Yahoo News Australia when she heard about the boycott. "I shot about Kmart for 2 hours," she added, sharing that she spent $120 during her late night shopping trip which she filmed. Naarah wants to help hold space for First Nations Australia on social media. Source: Naarah In the video Naarah can be seen buying an array of Kmart products from the clothing and homeware sections while Shirley Bassey's iconic hit 'Big Spender' plays in the background. One item in particular that caught her eye was a framed canvas created by Aboriginal artist Holly McLennan Brown and the budding actress praised Kmart for supporting First Nations art and making it more "accessible". Another video of similar sentiment was posted by fellow content creator Isaac Compton, who can be seen dancing on his way to Kmart after hearing they would not be selling Australia Day products. Kmart standing strong against Australia Day merchandise Kmart told Yahoo News Australia that although specific Australia Day merchandise would not be available for purchase they do "celebrate Australia through a number of products" that feature Australian designs. "We respect that the 26th of January means different things to different people," the Kmart spokesperson said. In the interest of being "inclusive and respectful" they have decided to not offer Australia Day merchandise for the first time in many years. Story continues Naarah was delighted by Kmart's decision and subsequent statement, believing the recent perspective shift around the 26th of January to be a positive change. Im all about positivity and optimism theres so much to celebrate about Aboriginal Australia," Naarah said. 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. Sesame Street co-creator Lloyd Morrisett has died at age 93, Sesame Workshop announced Wednesday. ADVERTISEMENT "Without Lloyd Morrisett, there would be no Sesame Street.It was he who first came up with the notion of using television to teach preschoolers basic skills, such as letters and numbers," Sesame Street co-founder Joan Ganz Cooney said of her friend and colleague. "He was a trusted partner and loyal friend to me for over fifty years, and he will be sorely missed," she continued. Morrisett and Ganz Cooney created Sesame Street during the turbulence of the late 1960s to offer children educational material outside of the classroom and to teach tolerance of others. The pair reached out to a developmental psychologist at Harvard University to help them develop strategies to educate young children using television. Puppeteer Jim Henson was brought in to help create the characters and bring them to life. Sesame Street became an international sensation, with over 30 parallel international productions of the children's program springing up in the years since its inception. Sesame Street is known for trying to explain complicated and dark subjects to children. In 1983, following the death of actor Will Lee, who portrayed Mr. Hooper on the show, Sesame Street wrote his death into the show as a way to explain the concept of death to children. The South African version of Sesame Street, Takalani Sesame , features a character named Kami, who is portrayed as an HIV-positive orphan who lost their mother to AIDS. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! Morrisett and Ganz Cooney accepted a Kennedy Center Honor on behalf of Sesame Street in 2019. "Top Chef" Season 20 will be premiering on Bravo in March. ADVERTISEMENT The cooking competition's world all-stars season will premiere March 9 at 9 p.m. EST on Bravo, with subsequent episodes to be released Thursdays. Episodes will be available to stream the next day on Peacock. Season 20 will take place in London and feature 16 returning contestants from "Top Chef" series around the globe. Padma Lakshmi will return as host, with Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons as judges. The new season will see the former "Top Chef" winners and finalists compete for the "World All-Stars" title. The contestants will perform challenges in London before moving onto the grand finale in Paris. "From prepping a picnic at Highclere Castle to going head-to-head at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the chefs will compete in iconic locations throughout London and the surrounding areas. These highly decorated chefs will put their spin on iconic British staples from Beef Wellington and biscuits to pub food and afternoon tea," an official description reads. Here's the contestants for "Top Chef" Season 20: Samuel Albert, winner of "Top Chef France" Season 10 FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! Luciana Berry, winner of "Top Chef Brazil" Season 2 Sara Bradley, finalist in "Top Chef" Season 16 Dawn Burrell, finalist in "Top Chef" Season 18 Ali Ghzawi, winner of "Top Chef Middle East & North Africa" Season 3 Tom Goetter, finalist in "Top Chef Germany" Season 1 Nicole Gomes, winner of "Top Chef Canada" Season 5 Victoire Gouloubi, finalist in "Top Chef Italy" Season 2 Charbel Hayek, winner of "Top Chef Middle East & North Africa" Season 5 Buddha Lo, winner of "Top Chef" Season 19 Dale MacKey, winner of "Top Chef Canada" Season 1 May Phattanant Thongthong, finalist in "Top Chef Thailand" Season 1 Begoia Rodrigo, winner of "Top Chef Spain" Season 1 Gabriel Rodriguez, winner of "Top Chef Mexico" Season 2 Amar Santana, finalist in "Top Chef" Season 13 Sylvia Stachyra, winner of "Top Chef Poland" Season 7 Tyler Posey says Teen Wolf: The Movie brings back the characters and supernatural setting that fans grew up loving, but gives them real-life challenges to which viewers might relate as 30-somethings. ADVERTISEMENT Co-starring Crystal Reed Tyler Hoechlin and Colton Haynes , the show that came before the movie ran for six seasons on MTV from 2011 to 2017. The film sequel premieres Thursday on Paramount+. Written by Jeff Davis and directed by Russell Mulcahy, it sees Scott return to defend his fictional hometown of Beacon Hills, Calif., from a powerful malevolent force. "It's 15 years later and we meet Scott in his mid-30s. Scott McCall is not a teen wolf anymore. He's a 30-year-old wolf," Posey recently told the crowd during a cast panel discussion at New York Comic Con. "Beacon Hills carries a lot of weight for Scott -- emotionally, physically," Posey added. "He's constantly on edge, trying to save the world, trying to be the true alpha. "Being an adult, he wanted to get away form Beacon Hills and start a new life, see what's out there [and] put down the hero role for a little while [because] that's all Scott knew ever." Posey said Scott has "lost himself a little bit" by the time he turns up again. "He's doing stuff that a normal person would do. It's pretty intense seeing Scott live a mundane, normal life," the actor said. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! "He's missing friends, he's missing Beacon Hills, he's missing family and, so, we see Scott as a troubled adult, kind of depressed, dealing with loneliness for the first time and it's really special and powerful and I think all of us can relate," he said. "Since the last time the show was out, everyone grew up and now we are all adults." "He added: It's the first time we see him dealing with depression, anxiety, loneliness as an adult and I thank you, Jeff, for writing that because it was fun to play that side of Scott." Playing the part over a number of years gave Posey many opportunities to study and fine-tune his performance. "You constantly get to watch your work and go, 'OK, I can improve in these moments and here and here.' The entire thing was like a learning lesson for me. Even though I've been acting since I was 6, I was still using the show as a means to improve my craft," he said. "You never stop doing that. It is a muscle you always want to keep exercising and finding new ways to play the character. "Going through life, you genuinely learn a lot about acting and how to apply it while growing and going through crazy [expletive] and gnarly experiences and good and happy bad and sad. You just apply life." Davis said one reason he wanted to revisit the Teen Wolf universe was to work again with Crystal Reed and finish the story she began as werewolf hunter Allison Argent in the first three seasons of the show. "The idea started percolating," the writer recalled. "I said, 'Are you ready to pick up the bow and arrow again?' And we talked and there was magic still there." Reed said she didn't need much convincing to reprise the role. "I really love Allison as much as everyone else does," the actress said. "But I am always so humbled by the amount of support she gets because I just approach her from such an honest place." "I know that I am bringing a lot of myself to it, so every time I hear that. it just makes me so grateful to be an actor and to know that I am doing my job and telling a story that affects people. I am just so grateful that I have the ability to bring Jeff's character to life." Roden, who plays Lydia, said the cast was thrilled to work together again after such a long break. "That reunion on screen is real," she said. "I hadn't seen Posey in a while and to see Lydia and Scott on screen. ... It's like a big hug." Gesturing toward Haynes, she added, "This one, I see weekly, so that wasn't that emotional." Haynes played Jackson -- Scott's nemesis, Lydia's ex-boyfriend and a lizard-like creature called a kanima -- in the first two seasons of the show. "It's wild to think it's been 12 years since we did this and I am so happy that I got to come back," Haynes said about playing Jackson again. "He's kind of annoying and a little bit of a prick and I have this monologue and [Posey] kept laughing in my takes and I was like, 'We're never going to get this done.' We're all so close. We're just excited to be here." Cayuga County's unemployment rate last month was flat compared with a year ago, the state Department of Labor reported. The monthly county-level jobs report released this week listed Cayuga County's jobless rate for December at 3.0%, unchanged compared with the same month in 2021. The local rate fell below both the national and statewide averages. According to the labor department, New York state's December unemployment rate fell from 4.5% in 2021 to 3.8% in 2022. The national rate dropped to 3.3% from 3.7% in the same month a year earlier. Those figures were not adjusted for typical seasonal fluctuations. Cayuga County's labor market size grew slightly in December. The number of employed residents climbed by 200 to 33,600, while the unemployed level was unchanged at 1,000. In a separate report released earlier this month, the labor department said Cayuga County employers filled 23,800 non-farm jobs in December, an increase of 200 positions. Private sector jobs grew by 100 to 18,000, while the government sector also added 100, reaching a total of 5,800. Total nonfarm jobs filled have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels in Cayuga County. In December 2019, county employers had filled 25,300 positions. Porterville, CA (93257) Today Clear to partly cloudy. Low near 40F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low near 40F. Winds light and variable. Athens Regional Library Systems childrens services coordinator, Rebecca Ballard, was named 2022 Public Library Employee of the Year by the Georgia Public Library Service, according to a press release. Ballard is an University of Georgia alumna, and according to the release, currently serves as regional children's services coordinator for the library system and as the 2023 president of the Georgia Library Association. The Georgia Public Library Awards honor the outstanding achievements of public libraries, library staff, and champions, according to a press release. In February, the Athens Area Humane Society will unveil their very first canine agility course, the Betty White Memorial Bark Park. The name is in honor of Americas golden girl and dog-lover, Betty White. On Jan. 17, the AAHS held a Betty White Day. The free event featured sponsored adoptions for all adult pets, along with highlights from Whites lifelong love of animals and support of animal rights groups. The Auburn city government could potentially receive more than $30,000 over a decade in a settlement against an opioid company. At its meeting Thursday, the Auburn City Council will vote on a resolution to settle a claim against Teva Pharmaceuticals, a generic drug manufacturer. Cities across the country, including Auburn, have participated in settlements against companies in litigation related to opioid marketing. Auburn and other New York municipalities are able to participate in a specific settlement between Teva and the state. According to an Auburn background memo, written by Assistant Corporation Counsel Nate Garland, the city would receive a payout of $30,449.12 over a multi-year period by settling a claim against the company. Teva and its subsidiary drug distributor, Anda Inc., announced a $4.35 billion global opioid settlement agreement in July. The memo said the global agreement proposal "calls for Teva to pay up to $3.7 billion in cash over 13 years and provide what Teva estimates as $1.2 billion worth of the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone." There is a settlement agreement between Teva and New York, the memo noted, that is basically a "New York carve out from the proposed Teva Global Agreement." The state and Nassau and Suffolk counties were not willing to agree to the national settlement's terms, "because, having obtained a trial verdict against Teva, they considered that they were entitled to a premium over and above what they would receive under the terms of the national settlement," the memo added. A proposed agreement between Teva, New York and Suffolk and Nassau counties was announced in November. Under the deal, Teva "will be required to pay as much as $550 million, depending on the level of participation statewide," the memo said. Funds will be distributed among the different participating political subdivisions in accordance with the agreement or two distinct sharing agreements. Some subdivisions are entitled to direct payments while others will apply to the Statewide Opioid Settlement Fund. Subdivisions can seek grants from the fund by applying to the Funds Advisory Board. Because of their trial status, the state of New York and Suffolk and Nassau counties are already signatories to the state's agreement, the memo added. Most other political subdivisions in New York state can take part in the agreement by executing a Subdivision Settlement Participation Form and the sharing agreements. "Just as with other agreements, the cornerstone of the proposed settlement is full resolution of governmental claims filed in the State which will ensure maximum recovery to all. To that end, there are various 'Incentive' scenarios built into the agreement to secure that idea and achieve the full value," the memo said. "Teva will pay to the State and its participating subdivisions a total of up to approximately $550 million considering the various Incentive payments offered." Some of the settlement money needs to be used for "approved uses," such as remediation and abatement, under the intrastate allocation agreement. Funds identified as "abatement" have to be used in this way, the memo said. Funds identified as unrestricted are allowed to be used in any manner. The memo noted that Auburn's corporation council office recommends city council settle the claim and enter into the statewide sharing agreement. According to a schedule of Teva payment schedules, available through Auburn's website, the city would get payments of $4,567.37 in 2023 and 2024, followed by annual payouts of $702.67 from 2025 through 2037 before receiving payments of $4,059.88 in 2038, 2039 and 2040. In November 2021, city council accepted a resolution approving settlement agreements between Auburn and health care company Johnson & Johnson and multiple opioids distributors, respectively. Garland said at the time the city was poised to obtain approximately $280,000 over a number of years through the settlement. The city council meeting will start at 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26 at Memorial City Hall, 24 South St. You are the owner of this article. Photographer / Multimedia Editor Has been working as a photojournalist since 2007, before moving into newspapers, he worked with an NGO called Project HOPE. He then went to work for the Press and Sun-Bulletin in New York, and then in New England working for the Brattleboro Reformer. The licenses of two of Cayuga County's largest child care providers are back in good standing with the state after reviews completed last year. The day care licenses of the Cayuga Community College Child Care Center at 81 Wall St. and the E. John Gavras Center at 182 North St., both in Auburn, were reviewed by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services amid violations found during inspections of the two providers. The licenses were pending revocation until the reviews were completed, a process that takes several months. The Child Care Center's review was prompted by an April incident that both the center and the office declined comment upon to The Citizen. The center's director, Amanda Gould, only said the employee involved no longer works there. In a statement Wednesday, she said the college's Faculty-Student Association that operates the center and its staff are "pleased that this matter was amicably resolved." All corrective action plans developed with the state office to enhance the center's services have been implemented, Gould added. "The well-being of the children at this center has been and always will be our primary responsibility," she said. "We are proud of the (center) and the safe environment it offers children and families." The center, which has a total capacity of 132 children, was last inspected by the office during an unannounced annual visit on Oct. 3, according to the office's website. No violations were found. The Gavras Center's day care, which has a total capacity of 126 children, was last inspected during an unannounced annual visit on Nov. 8. One violation for found, for not maintaining children's medical records on file "in a current and accurate manner ... available for inspection by the office or its designees at any time." The violation has since been corrected, according to the office's website. The center's license was reviewed due to an April incident where a 3-year-old child allergic to peanuts received a snack made at a facility that processes them. The child was not hospitalized and went home with their mother, Gavras Center Executive Director Danielle Wright told The Citizen in October. The center's staff subsequently completed allergy trainings and adopted a list of acceptable snacks. Bob Padula, the center's community liaison, told The Citizen those steps were completed last fall, but delays on the office's end meant the center's license status wasn't updated until the end of the year. Two of Cayuga County's largest child care providers face license revocation, violations The licenses of two of Cayuga County's largest child care providers are pending revocation by the state. It took some prodding but Cayuga County officials received good news about proposed changes to Owasco Lake watershed rules and regulations. The state Department of Health's attorneys will review the proposal either this month or in February, according to Eileen O'Connor, the director of the Cayuga County Health Department's environmental health division. O'Connor announced the development during the Cayuga County Board of Health meeting on Tuesday. For months, local leaders have expressed frustration about the lack of action on the proposal. The city of Auburn and town of Owasco endorsed the new rules and regulations and sent them to the state Department of Health for its approval in December 2020. But the state Department of Health did not respond until 2022. The agency outlined the process for reviewing the proposed rule changes the watershed regulations have not been updated since 1984 with potential adoption of new rules sometime this year. However, local officials questioned the timeline after certain benchmarks were not met by the end of 2022. While a working group was formed and a meeting was held in November to discuss nutrients affecting the watershed, the state Department of Health informed the Cayuga County Health Department in December that the review of watershed rules had been paused. The reason: Dr. Mary Bassett, the state health commissioner, resigned. O'Connor said at the local board of health meeting in December that they were told the review would not resume until a new commissioner is named. The department now has an acting commissioner, Dr. James McDonald. With little progress, the Cayuga County Board of Health sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul in December asking her to direct the department to finish its review of the updated Owasco Lake watershed rules and regulations. The Auburn City Council approved two resolutions on Thursday to send a similar message to the governor. Auburn Mayor Michael Quill also wrote a letter to Hochul. Concerns about Owasco Lake water quality are mounting after high levels of algal bloom toxins were found in the raw water last year and the levels of disinfection byproducts in the water supply exceeded federal standards. "The quality of the lake has diminished and needs to be improved," said Terry Cuddy, an Auburn city councilor. One of the changes local officials are pushing for is a total maximum daily load, which would limit pollutants in the water. Auburn City Councilor Jimmy Giannettino said they have been asking the state for a total maximum daily load since 2016 when harmful algal blooms developed in Owasco Lake. But every time they ask the state to implement such a ceiling, state officials tell them they don't need it. Cayuga County Legislature Chairman David Gould also sent a letter to Hochul asking for action on the watershed rules and regulation. County lawmakers were scheduled to vote on a resolution on Tuesday but it was pulled from the agenda. The meeting was held hours after O'Connor told the board of health that the state Department of Health communicated its plans for the review that is expected to begin soon. The Justice Department says Ji Chaoqun was trying to recruit agents for Beijing. A Chinese former graduate student was sentenced in Chicago on Wednesday to eight years in prison for spying for China. 31-year-old Ji Chaoqun, who is also a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, was acting illegally within the United States as an agent of the Peoples Republic of China, the U.S. Justice Department said. Beijing has yet to respond to the decision. Ji was convicted last September on three counts including gathering biographical information on certain individuals for possible recruitment by the Chinese state security apparatus. The individuals included Chinese nationals who were working as engineers and scientists in the United States, some of whom worked for U.S. defense contractors, the department said in a press release. Ji came to the U.S. to study electrical engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology in 2013 and was arrested in 2018. His case is part of Chinas efforts to obtain access to advanced aerospace and satellite technologies being developed by companies within the U.S., according to the Justice Department. Court documents said the former student worked at the direction of high-level intelligence officers in the Jiangsu Province Ministry of State Security, a provincial department of the Ministry of State Security (MSS), Chinas powerful intelligence and security agency. He is known to have made an oath to devote the rest of my life to state security, it was revealed at his trial last year. A sign marks an entrance to the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building in Washington, Jan. 23, 2023. Credit: AP Ji was targeted by MSS agents before he left China for the States in 2013 and, while in Chicago, he was working under Xu Yanjun, an MSS Deputy Division Director. Xu, the first Chinese government intelligence officer ever to be extradited to the U.S. to stand trial for espionage, was sentenced in November last year to 20 years in prison. He was charged with targeting American aviation companies, recruiting employees to travel to China, and soliciting their proprietary information. Xu was arrested in Belgium in 2018 following an FBI investigation. China protested against his sentencing, calling allegations made by the court pure fabrications, and demanding that the U.S. ensure the rights and interests of the Chinese citizen. Recruiting engineers and scientists At Ji Chaoquns trial in September, 2022, prosecutors said he succeeded to gather background reports on eight U.S. citizens, all born in Taiwan or China, with careers in science and technology industries, including several who specialized in the aerospace field. Seven of them worked for U.S. defense contractors. Ji sent his reports back to his handlers in a zipped attachment that was falsely labeled as sets of midterm exam questions. A year after graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve through a program to recruit foreigners who have skills considered vital to the national interest. The U.S. military normally only allows U.S. citizens or permanent residents to join its ranks but this program, called The Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest, or MAVNI, makes it possible for the likes of Ji to enlist. MAVNI has been on hold since 2016. According to the Justice Department, Jis intention was to obtain U.S. citizenship and security clearance through the MAVNI program and then seek a job at the CIA, FBI or NASA. Ji intended to perform cybersecurity work at one of those agencies so that he would have access to all their databases, including databases that contained scientific research, it said. Xu Yanjun was sentenced to 20 years in prison last November. Credit: AP Analysts said cases like those of Ji and Xu are likely to be the tip of the iceberg and the number of suspected Chinese spies could be hundreds if not thousands. Ji Chaoqun was apparently caught due to sloppy tradecraft and taking too many chances as was his controller, Xu Yanjun, said Matthew Brazil, Fellow at the Jamestown Foundation. The FBI regularly makes the claim that there are more cases that they can handle, and though it's difficult to prove that, historical evidence suggests it is true, Brazil said. The co-author of the book Chinese Communist Espionage said that during the revolution, Chinese Communist intelligence trained thousands of people to infiltrate Japanese-controlled, and Chinese Nationalist-controlled areas. The large number of cases uncovered by the FBI indicates that the CCP's previous policy of massive infiltration continues to this day, he told RFA, referring to the Chinese Communist Party. So the FBI needs more resources, as well as better training, Brazil said. Their agents in the field should be competent linguists who can cultivate informants face-to-face, question suspects in the language, and perhaps make better cases, he added. Congress should have mandated and funded such an effort a decade ago. Last February, after much controversy and criticism, U.S. authorities decided to end a program initiated in 2018 called the China Initiative, which was aimed at catching and prosecuting spies at U.S. universities and industries. It sounded like a good idea when the program was announced, said Matthew Brazil. Under the China Initiative the FBI caught some big fish such as Charles Lieber, the Harvard Chemistry professor who was selling nanotechnology secrets with military applications to China. But the China Initiative seems also to have led to overzealous prosecutions, leading to its criticism and, subsequently, closure. According to analysts, investigations into some cases under the China Initiative still continue. The charge against Chen Zhiming is likely linked to the magazine's criticisms of China, friends say A chief editor of a Hong Kong-based political magazine who went missing in September has been arrested on suspicion of running an illegal business, Radio Free Asia has learned. Chen Zhiming, a former editor at the People's Daily Press who moved to Hong Kong to set up the Exclusive Characters political magazine specializing in in-depth interviews with influential people, stopped updating his social media accounts from around Sept. 21, 2022, Germany-based poet Yang Lian said. Shocked to learn that Chen Zhiming, editor-in-chief of Hong Kong's [Exclusive Characters] magazine has been arrested after he went incommunicado in mainland China," Yang said via his Twitter account on Jan. 21. The news of the charges against Chen comes amid an ongoing crackdown on "hostile foreign forces," which China has blamed for the wave of anti-lockdown, anti-government "white paper" protests that swept the country in late November, as well as an ongoing crackdown on public dissent under a national security law imposed on Hong Kong from July 2020. Tackling controversy Yang said in a later interview with Radio Free Asia that Chen's arrest was likely linked to his magazine's recent focus on the woman found chained in an outhouse in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu, which sparked a public outcry. "Given the current [political] climate in mainland China, where people seen as representing the white paper movement have been detained by police, Exclusive Characters was the only magazine still able to send out any kind of ideological signal," Yang said. "[Dissidents like Chen] are also connected with opposition to Hong Kong's national security law, which made the magazine stand out," he said. "The magazine is the main reason they are pinning a crime on Chen." Yang said Chen's magazine had also been critical of China's handling of the pandemic, and had interviewed a number of overseas dissidents. Its all pro-China and red media now Taiwan-based bookstore owner Lee Wing Kei, who was himself detained in China for publishing "banned" political books in Hong Kong, said the charge of "running an illegal business" was entirely trumped-up. "They've just pinned this charge of illegal business on him," Lee said. "If you look at what has happened in the past, you will see that there has been no freedom of the press [in Hong Kong] since Xi Jinping came to power." Taiwan-based bookstore owner Lee Wing Kei, who was once detained in China for publishing "banned" political books, says the charge against Chen Zhiming is entirely trumped-up. Credit: RFA "The Apple Daily, Stand and Citizen News are all gone," he said, in a reference to pro-democracy media organizations that have folded amid national security investigations in recent years. "It's all pro-China and red media now, and Hong Kong will be no different from the mainland in future." "I used to mail out so-called banned books from Hong Kong to mainland China, but now I'll be mailing out banned books from Taiwan to Hong Kong," Lee said. On Jan. 12, authorities in Hong Kong delisted jailed pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai's Next Digital from the local stock exchange in a move analysts said was linked to political developments in Hong Kong, where the ruling Chinese Communist Party has taken direct control of the city's daily life, citing the "chaos" of the 2019 protest movement that called for fully democratic elections. The ruling Communist Party last week appointed hardline Hong Kong national security chief Zheng Yanxiong, who presided over the crackdown on dissent, to head its Central Liaison Office in the city. Lam was among five booksellers from the now-shuttered Causeway Bay Books store detained by Chinese police, some while they were outside of mainland China's borders, in 2015 on charges of "running an illegal business." In 2014, a court in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen handed a 10-year jail term to Hong Kong publisher Yiu Man-tin, who was 79 at the time, after edited a book highly critical of Xi Jinping. The Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court found Yiu guilty of "smuggling." Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. A 2021 rule allowing Hong Kong residents to remain in the United States has been extended by two years. People wave goodbye as passengers make their way through the departure gates of Hong Kong's International Airport, July 22, 2021. U.S. President Joe Biden has extended by two years a rule that has allowed Hong Kong residents already in the United States to remain instead of being deported back to the Chinese territory. The Deferred Enforced Departure exemptions for Hong Kong residents were introduced in August 2021 and were set to expire on Feb. 5, according to a memorandum from the White House, which said the decision was in line with our democratic values. Offering safe haven for Hong Kong residents who have been deprived of their guaranteed freedoms in Hong Kong furthers United States interests in the region, it said. The United States will continue to stand firm in our support of the people in Hong Kong. An estimated 3,860 Hong Kong residents were allowed to remain under the original ruling, but the extension expands the program to also include any other Hongkongers now in the United States. China began cracking down on Hong Kongs sovereignty in the wake of the 2019-2020 protests against a proposed extradition law that would have allowed Beijing to arrest dissidents in the self-governing territory and move them to the mainlands judicial system. The White House memorandum said the ensuing political climate in Hong Kong, and Beijings assault on Hong Kongs autonomy, made it necessary for the United States to expand the deferral program, which it notes includes the granting U.S. employment rights. Since June 2020, at least 150 opposition politicians, activists, and protesters have been taken into custody on politically motivated NSL-related charges including secession, subversion, terrorist activities, and collusion with a foreign country or external elements, the memorandum says. Over 1,200 political prisoners are now behind bars, and over 10,000 individuals have been arrested for other charges in connection with anti-government protests. A Hong Kong resident who entered the United States on a tourist visa last year, and who gave only his nickname Ah Keung, told Radio Free Asia that he was happy to hear the news. He said he was particularly pleased the extension included U.S. working rights. I will finish my studies soon, and then I can start looking for a job because I havent worked for awhile, he said. I havent been getting any income, only expenses, so I want to find a job as quickly as I can to relieve the financial stress in my life. Former Hong Kong lawmaker Baggio Leung, who also now resides in the United States, welcomed the extension, but called for the passage of the Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act, which would provide permanent immigration rights to Hongkongers. This is a continuation of the U.S. governments recent views on Hong Kongs political situation, he said. I believe that the entire U.S. government will continue to maintain this attitude towards Hong Kong policy in the future. Chinese university students studying overseas have founded the independent magazine Mang Mang with the goal of maintaining the momentum of the "white paper" protest movement. A group of Chinese students at overseas universities has set up a political magazine to carry forward the momentum of the "white paper" protest movement, a wave of spontaneous demonstrations that swept major cities in late November. Sparked by a fatal lockdown fire in an apartment building in Xinjiang's regional capital Urumqi, the protests also took aim at the rolling lockdowns, mass surveillance and compulsory testing of the zero-COVID policy. Some protesters held up blank sheets of A4 printer paper and others called on President Xi Jinping to step down and call elections. Magazine co-founder Tong Sheng told RFA Mandarin about the new publication's mission. RFA: So how did the project start? Tong Sheng: After meeting in Berlin, several like-minded friends got together to discuss things, and decided to start a magazine to make our own effort to fight for a little space for expression. RFA: The first issue of Mang Mang, which could be rendered as reckless in English, with connotations of rampantly growing plants, was officially published on New Year's Eve with the rubric "remembering the little things of our time." Tong Sheng: Recording the minutiae of the era we live in is our main task. Firstly, we have noticed that the collective memory of people living in China, whether it's their memories of protests or other forms [of dissent], is constantly being tampered with through repeated propaganda. The regime now controls so much of the discourse and channels of information, and won't allow any other [non-state] journalists to speak out or engage in objective reporting. Meanwhile, censorship is getting stricter and stricter. They used to just censor the news, then they moved to public accounts on WeChat, then to comments on Weibo, with more and more keyword searches being censored all the time. People are being suffocated; we have no way to speak out. We think that, to counter this trend, there is a need for small platforms that are able to host these memories of the brutal things this regime has done to us, as well as things that have happened to marginalized people around the world or various parts of China, whose voices have been overshadowed by the mainstream. We can't just let [debate and information] come and go in waves, as it does at the moment on the internet -- we need a record. An illustration in the first issue of the magazine represents each member of the Mang Mang team as a plant. The spirit of the magazine is written on the wall: "Inside and outside the high walls, wild growth." Credit: Mang Mang RFA: For your first issue, you interviewed people who took part in the white paper movement, Chinese transgender people seeking asylum and a psychologist working in China. What were the biggest obstacles to doing that reporting? Tong Sheng: The biggest problem of all when talking to people in China is their safety, and how to maintain the information security of both parties during the interview. The second-biggest is one of trust and expectation. Our interviewees share very sensitive stories with us that could get them arrested. How can we meet that trust, and those expectations? We can't pay anyone; we can barely afford our own printing costs. So we need to ask ourselves if we are conveying what they are saying to our readers correctly. During the production process, the part that moved me the most was the round-table talks, for which we distributed questionnaires to allow more [white paper movement] participants to have their voices heard. Their comments were the simplest and most direct. For many, this was the first time they had taken to the streets. Some were in China and some overseas, all sharing their anger, and their expectations. Many of them had high expectations of us, too, which both motivated us and put us under pressure. RFA: Are the other Mang Mang editors all overseas students like you? Tong Sheng: There are more than 10 people in the Mang Mang team. Some have jobs, but most of them are overseas students. Some are majoring in media ... so this is a way to put their ideals into practice. A print version of Mang Mang is also planned. Credit: Mang Mang RFA: What does Mang Mang hope to achieve in 2023? Tong Sheng: There have been a lot of obstacles and difficulties to overcome just to produce the first issue, and we poured a lot of energy into it, to bring it to print. We need to find a way to have the team work in a sustainable manner and to raise the necessary funds, so everyone can devote all of their energy to the magazine. We hope Mang Mang can play a part in the new wave of transformation that has swept [China] since the protests ... [For example], there are workshops and book clubs being set up in a lot of places. We hope to defend our collective memory. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Confirmed cases of the disease prompted authorities to restrict access to Pyongyang until Jan. 31, sources say. North Korean authorities have locked down the capital city of Pyongyang due to rising cases of an unspecified respiratory illness according to media reports citing a central government notice, and sources confirmed to Radio Free Asia that multiple people in the city have tested positive for COVID-19. News of the lockdown began to surface on Wednesday morning with Seoul-based NK News and the Russian embassy in Pyongyang reporting that according to the notice, residents would not be allowed to leave their homes for five days. A source in the northwestern province of North Pyongan, who regularly communicates with residents of the capital, told RFAs Korean Service on Wednesday that the virus is definitely COVID-19, several cases have been confirmed, and the lockdown also limits access to the city until Jan. 31. There have been confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Pyongyang, he said. An acquaintance in Pyongyang told me that the reason that the Central Quarantine Command imposed a lockdown in Pyongyang was an emergency measure for an epidemic. Another source, an official from a trading agency in Pyongyang who was visiting the northwestern border city of Sinuiju, said that the lockdown started on Wednesday and will last until Jan. 31 due to confirmed cases of COVID-19, meaning people have tested positive for the virus even though authorities are not acknowledging it. I will not be able to return to Pyongyang for a while, he said on condition of anonymity to speak freely. In early January there was a confirmed case on Tongil Street in Pyongyangs Rakrang district, where all the distribution warehouses of all the trading companies are concentrated. he said. My co-worker has also been confirmed [positive] with COVID-19. RFA was not able to independently verify either claim. Since the beginning of the pandemic, North Korea has been very secretive about the coronavirus situation, even telling the rest of the world that it was completely virus free for the first two years of the pandemic. The government acknowledged the virus in May 2022, but kept track of cases of fever that totaled close to 5 million, and did not report confirmed case totals to international health organizations. The apparent outbreak comes a few weeks after North Korea opened up its border to China after a long closure due to the pandemic, allowing goods to be traded across the border. We dont know exactly how many confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Pyongyang, the second source said. The quarantine authorities have blocked the operation of public service facilities such as restaurants and public baths in downtown Pyongyang. Considering this measure, the spread of the COVID-19 must be serious. It wasnt entirely clear what restrictions the lockdown entailed, but the source said it extended to marketplaces and businesses in each district of Pyongyang unless they are run by state organizations. The second source said the authorities had been reporting that acute respiratory diseases and the flu have been spreading in the capital, so they intensified disinfection efforts and there were talks of lockdown in the works. It was only after the Lunar New Year [on Jan. 22] that they decided to go ahead and lock it down and restrict all access to the city, he said. Although the quarantine authorities do not publicly announce the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pyongyang, the people diagnosed with the respiratory disease are isolated in a hospital outside the city and treated with drugs, such as antibiotics imported from China, according to the second source. COVID-19 is a virus, and antibiotics, which are used to treat bacterial illnesses, have no effect on it. According to the NK News report, residents were ordered to stay in their homes until Jan. 29 and check and report their temperature several times per day. Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh Lee and Leejin J. Chung. Written in English by Eugene Whong and edited by Malcolm Foster. Tajikistan and Turkmenistan considered prospects for further strategic partnership including the schedule of upcoming high-level meetings. This was discussed between Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Muhriddin with his Turkmen counterpart Rashid Meredov on the sidelines of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), held in Uzbekistan's capital Tashkent on January 24. The meeting was attended by the heads of the foreign ministries of Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkiye, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, heads of regional organizations and affiliated bodies of the ECO. During the meeting, a wide range of issues of enhancing regional cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, green economy, digitalization, energy, food security, ecology, agriculture and transport were discussed. The Council of Ministers (COM) is the highest policy and decision-making body of the ECO. It comprises the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Member States who meet in regular, informal and extraordinary sessions. As part of the meeting, the Council approved the work program and calendar of events of the ECO for 2023, reports on the activities of the Secretariat and specialized bodies of the ECO were adopted, recommendations were developed on the project activities of the Organization, the budget for 2023 was approved, and the results of the chairmanship of Uzbekistan in the ECO were summed up. As part of an ongoing effort to combat a tree-killing invasive insect, state officials recently treated hemlock trees in Cayuga County with a targeted pesticide application. The state Department of Environmental Conservation said that staff from its Lands and Forest division coordinated a treatment of hemlock trees at Carpenter Falls Unique Area in the town of Niles to protect them from the invasive insect hemlock woolly adelgid. The insect infests hemlock trees, leading to diminished health, including needle discoloration, early needle loss, crown thinning, and eventually mortality. The insects can be easily identified by the white woolly masses they form on the underside of branches at the base of the needles. The DEC said that observations of infestations are increasing throughout the Finger Lakes and central New York regions. According to a news release, the healthiest and most ecologically important hemlocks were selected for treatment in the new boardwalk and viewing areas first, then selection continued east down the gorge area until the treatment limit was reached. Staff identified for treatment, tagged, and measured hemlocks before spraying the base of tagged trees with imidacloprid, which will protect those hemlocks for up to seven years. An injection method was used for trees closest to Bear Swamp Creek. After the first year, treated trees will be checked to determine the success of the treatments, and survey efforts will continue and expand to nearby areas over the next few years. Hemlocks are ecologically important, DEC said, due to the unique environmental conditions they create under their dense canopies. These cooler, darker and sheltered environments are critical to the survival of a variety of species that rely on them for food, protection, and ideal growing conditions. Well-suited for growing on steep slopes where not many other species can grow, hemlocks stabilize shallow soils and provide erosion control to protect water quality. Hemlocks are often found along streams, where their shade helps moderate water temperatures, maintaining a sustainable environment for cold-water species such as trout. Removal of hemlocks from ecosystems can dramatically change ecosystem processes and may result in the loss of unique plants and wildlife. The 37-acre Carpenter Falls Unique Area is a popular destination. Known primarily for its waterfall, the property also features dense hemlock cover and the steep gorge area of Bear Swamp Creek. The creek feeds into Skaneateles Lake, the drinking water source for the city of Syracuse and surrounding towns, making the area a high priority for hemlock woolly adelgid treatment. The DEC said that staff applied pesticide treatment to 4-5 acres of property, on up to 10,240 total diameter inches of hemlock trees. Homes burn after being hit by artillery shells during intense fighting between Myanmar junta forces and jointly operating armed groups of KNLA, KTLA and PDFs in Kan Ni village, Kawkareik township, Kayin state, on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. More than 10,000 civilians have been forced to flee their homes in southern Myanmars Kayin state amid intensified fighting this week between junta troops and ethnic Karen armed groups, local residents told RFA. The recent round of fighting erupted on Monday, Jan. 23, when junta forces clashed with a joint resistance force from the Karen National Liberation Army and the Kaw Thoo Lei Army, which have been fighting against the militarys seizure of power on Feb. 1, 2021, nearly two years ago. As the fighting continued Wednesday, thousands fled Kyondoe city and 14 nearby villages, forcing many to set up makeshift shelters in nearby jungles. Although soldiers reportedly left the area Wednesday morning, residents said they still do not feel safe returning to their homes. I think we should stay in hiding for the next four or five days because we can still hear the sounds of heavy artillery, a resident told Radio Free Asia, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons. Even if we can return to our village, we should leave our children behind and only the adults will have to go and check the situation as we cant say if the battles are over or not. He added that those fleeing their homes are struggling to find food, and many are fearing for their childrens health amid the cold temperatures in the jungle. Junta troops used heavy fire artillery to target villages near Kyondoe city, leaving several homes destroyed in the aftermath of the fighting. Many villagers will not be able to return to their homes because they were burned down, a Kyondoe resident said. Its going to take a long time for them to return home. Since their houses have been burned and destroyed, they wont be able to return, he said. They will have to stay in our town as war refugees until the war is over. Residents of Kan Ni village, Kawkareik township, Kayin state, Myanmar, fleeing from the fighting on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, Credit: Dawna Travelling Guest Since the coup, several armed groups have taken up arms either against or in support of the junta. Residents said that a pro-junta Karen splinter army, known as the Border Guard Force, also set fire to the town of Nyaung Yeik Thar, which lies on the east bank of Kyondoe city. An officer with a KTLA battalion said that his group will issue a report that let residents know which areas are safe to return to. The KTLA also claimed that the military lost more than 100 soldiers during the fighting and 40 more were left wounded, compared to three deaths reported by the ethnic armed groups. RFA was unable to independently verify these numbers. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, nearly 100,000 residents have fled their homes in Karen State alone due to conflicts and insecurity between Feb. 2021 and Dec. 2022. Translated by Kyaw Min Htun. Edited by Nawar Nemeh and Malcolm Foster. Soldiers burned the bodies and detained a woman and her 2 children. Soldiers shot four men in a village in Myanmars central Mandalay region and burned their bodies, a local told RFA. Around 200 troops raided the village in Thabeikkyin township on Tuesday morning, the resident said. Troops beat and interrogated 40-year-old Min Maung, accusing him of being a member of the local Peoples Defense Force. They then arrested three more villagers. All four were shot dead that night. Min Maungs wife and his two children were arrested, said the local who didnt want to be named for security reasons. Residents said they didnt know where the woman, her 10-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son had been taken. They said troops left the village Wednesday after burning six houses and the bodies of the four dead men. The men had no connection with the local pro-democracy militia, according to fellow villagers. More than 1,500 people live in around 300 houses in Ma Gyi Kone village, on the banks of the Ayeyarwady river north of Mandalay city. Junta spokesman for Mandalay region, Thein Htay, told RFA that he hadnt heard about the raid. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) said Tuesday 2,827 civilians and pro-democracy activists had been killed by junta in the two years since a military coup toppled Myanmars democratically elected government. Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn. Chinese authorities in Tibet have detained a 30-year-old Tibetan writer and former teacher for allegedly contacting exiles outside the country, sources told Radio Free Asia. The writer, known only as Palgon, was arrested at his home in August 2022 and has been incommunicado ever since. There is still no information on where he is being held at the moment, a source inside Tibet told RFA. His family members were also not informed or given proper reasons for his arrest other than Palgons contact with people in exile to offer prayers to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the source added, insisting on anonymity for security reasons. Palgon is from the Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Chinas southeastern Qinghai province. He was an elementary school teacher in the prefectures Pema county, but he later resigned from his role and continued as an independent writer. Palgon usually is very active on social media platforms and audio chat groups where he writes and engages, another source inside Tibet told RFA. Over the last few months, RFA has reported on Chinas arrests of monks, writers, young protestors, and other Tibetan figures in a wide-ranging crackdown. Those detained will often be held incommunicado for months before being sentenced. Dawa Tsering, director of the India-based Tibet Policy Institute, told RFA that the arrest shows Chinas attempts to block Tibetans from communicating with the outside world. The Chinese government does not want the international communities to know about the harsh policies that they have been implementing on Tibetans in terms of religion, culture, and language, he said. Sangay Kyap, a Spain-based researcher at the Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy, said the detentions of those who contact exiles serve to disconnect the two, and also an attempt to obstruct the influence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other religious figures inside Tibet whom Tibetans revere. RFA contacted police in Pema county and Golog prefecture, but they were not available for comment on this story. Translated by Tenzin Dickyi. Edited by Nawar Nemeh and Malcolm Foster. Kamile Wayit, a 19-year-old college student at a university in Chinas Henan province, was detained by police in December after returning to Xinjiang on winter break. UPDATED at 5:29 P.M. EST on 02-02-2023 A Uyghur man working as an engineer in the United States has called on Chinese authorities in the northwestern region of Xinjiang to release his 19-year-old sister, who was detained in December after posting a video relating to Novembers "white paper" protests across China. "My 19-year-old sister Kamile Wayit has been detained last month, on Dec. 12," her brother Kewser Wayit said in a short video on his Twitter account on Jan. 22. "She was a freshman in college studying preschool education at a university in Henan province of China. However, when she went back for winter break, she has been detained by the local Artush city police after her arrival at home," he said, describing his sister as "caring, courageous and clever." "She's innocent, and committed no crime. I demand the Chinese authorities to release her immediately and let her speak to me," he said. "I won't stop until she's free." Kamile Wayit's detention comes as the authorities detain dozens of young people around the country for taking part in the "white paper" protests in late November. Sparked by a fatal lockdown fire in an apartment building in Xinjiang's regional capital Urumqi, the protests also took aim at the rolling lockdowns, mass surveillance and compulsory testing of the zero-COVID policy, with some protesters holding up blank sheets of A4 printer paper and others calling on President Xi Jinping to step down and call elections. "I don't know the reason for her detention, but it could be because of one of her posts on WeChat," he told Radio Free Asia in a later interview. "When the uprising ... the protests started in China after the Urumqi fire, she did post something about that." "And then the police called my father about it," he said. "So it could be related to that or it could be related to me being abroad and being a bit, you know, active, here." Mature and thoughtful I am devastated to learn that my 19 year old sister, Kamile Wayit, was detained by local police last month when she returned home for winter break. I demand Chinese authorities to release her immediately! I wont stop until she is freed! Please share to help her.#uyghur #china pic.twitter.com/q6mUrHl5t9 Kewser Wayit (@KewserWayit) January 22, 2023 Kewser Wayit described Kamile as "very mature and thoughtful" despite her young age, which he ascribed to her traditional Uyghur upbringing in an educated and cultivated family. "She has read a lot of books about our history, our traditions, about culture, faith and a lot of other things that she can't unlearn," he said. "What China is trying to do now, the forced assimilation and trying to reinvent [Uyghur] society by wiping out our culture, our religion, really doesn't fit with the environment she [was raised in]." "She didn't see herself fitting into this place, after seeing so many of her friends change over the past five or six years," he said. "She still held onto her reason, which I also think presented a challenge to the authorities." Kamile had suffered particularly while living alone in an Urumqi high school dorm while her beloved father was in a "re-education" camp between 2017 and 2019, Kewser Wayit said. "She was going through trauma and depression in those two years, especially because ... she was all alone," he said. "I later learned that those days were really tough for her, that wouldn't even be able to sleep at night time." "She had nightmares and ... remained unstable to this day," he said, describing Kamile as "a fragile kind of soul." But she had been a happy, talkative child, he recalled. "Since she was really, really young, like four or five years old, she would talk a lot and she would tell us a lot of stories," he said. "Because in the beginning she was brought up by my grandparents." Families disappearing He said many other families in his hometown in Artush are "being taken away or disappearing," citing the case of his cousin Zulpiqar Qudret, a Shanghai Jiaotong University computer science student who went missing during the summer vacation of 2022 for "using foreign news software," and who remains in custody today. Kewser Wayit said he doesn't want to think about what his sister has been going through in detention. "I'm imagining what she has been going through for the past 50 days ... because if she's been going through interrogation, you know, whatever they do in custody, it hurts my feelings [just to think about it]," he said. But he said he won't remain silent any longer. "I was silent for almost two years, while the people around me were also losing their relatives, and we just didn't know what to do," he said. "[I felt like] if I spoke up, then my mother would be detained, or my siblings, which is just the fear they put inside of us to stop us speaking up." "Dictatorships use fear to thrive on," he said, warning that people overseas won't be exempt as the Chinese Communist Party redoubles efforts to "export oppression" far beyond its borders. "It would be a great time to speak up now, because China is afraid for their reputation and they're afraid of us activists," he said. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Correction: The story has been corrected to say that Kamile Wayit attended a university in Henan province. The countrys president and 2 deputy prime ministers were recently removed in connection with bribery scandals. The Communist Party of Vietnam marked the start of the Lunar New Year with a pledge to continue its crackdown on corruption under the slogan no forbidden zones. On Wednesday, Deputy Head of the Central Committee for Internal Affairs Nguyen Thai Hoc told the Tuoi Tre Newspaper the party had met its goals in 2022 and would tackle more long-standing cases in 2023. Last year, the partys Central Committee, the Politburo and the Secretariat disciplined 47 officials under the supervision of the Politburo and Management Secretariat, 15 more than the previous year. The Central Committee also dismissed two deputy prime ministers, three ministers and many other senior officials in connection with COVD-19 scandals such as Viet A and the rescue flights affair. Hoc did not talk about the Central Committees decision to ask President Nguyen Xuan Phuc to resign on Jan. 17 after realizing his responsibility before the party and the people, for the bribery scandals that took place during his time in office. The rescue flights case involved officials taking bribes for allowing airlines to jack up the price of tickets in order to repatriate nationals stranded abroad during the COVID pandemic The Viet A scandal involved the companys chief executive officer bribing officials the equivalent of U.S.$34 million to win contracts to sell substandard kits to hospitals at a 45% markup, earning his company U.S.$172 million in profits. Some Vietnam watchers interviewed by RFA said that the Party was not transparent in forcing Phucs hasty resignation without disclosing the specifics of his violations. In a recent commentary for RFA, Zachary Abuza, a professor at the National War College in Washington called the move a power play saying the days of collective leadership in Vietnam are over. He said, with Nguyen Phu Trong likely to resign this year, the party General Secretary wanted Phuc to step down to pave the way for his favored candidate National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to take his job. Another reason for Phucs resignation could be the social media rumors that his family and friends were involved in the Viet A scandal. RFA has not been able to independently verify these claims. Talking to the Tuoi Tre newspaper, Nguyen Thai Hoc said that the new thrust of the blazing furnace crackdown on corrupt cadres is to encourage them to quit if they are disciplined and see their reputation decline. Hoc said this year there needs to be a more coordinated and determined effort from central to the local level to find corrupt officials and deal with them promptly, no matter how small the violations. Translated by RFA Vietnamese. Edited by Mike Firn. Nguyen Ngoc Anh was arrested in September 2018 and sentenced to 6 years in prison This photo taken and released by Vietnam News Agency on June 6, 2019 shows environmental activist Nguyen Ngoc Anh [center] standing in a courtroom during his trial in southern Vietnam's Ben Tre province. The United Nations has condemned Vietnams 2018 arrest and detention of Nguyen Ngoc Anh, a 43-year-old environmental activist and farming engineer who was charged with conducting anti-State propaganda. The U.N.s Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions called on the Vietnamese government to immediately release the activist and take corrective actions, saying his detention violated international conventions that Vietnam is party to. The U.N. entity also focused on the arbitrary nature of his detention, and the conditions Anh faces while in prison. Prior to his arrest, Nguyen Ngoc Anh would post stories about the environmental pollution issues caused by the Formosa Steel Corporation factory in Ha Tinh province. In 2018, he also participated in demonstrations in Ho Chi Minh City against Vietnams draft Laws on Cyber Security and Special Economic Zones. Detaining citizens exercising their universal rights of free expression is incompatible with the UNs Universal Declaration of Human Rights that was ratified by Vietnam, the working group added, noting that Nguyen Ngoc Anhs case is one of several brought before the working group in recent years. No arrest warrant, injured in prison On the day of his arrest, the U.N. entity said that no arrest warrant was read or provided to [Anh] at the time. Following the arrest, the police conducted a search of his home and seized a number of items, including mobile phones and a laptop. His family was largely restricted from visiting him, and guards at the prison always monitored the few visits that were allowed. During one of those visits, Anh was unable to walk properly, suffering noticeably from an injury to his leg. He refused to discuss how he sustained the injury, showing fear that that might make his situation worse, the report added. In October 2019, over a year after his arrest, Anh was reportedly assaulted by a cellmate and was left with several injuries. Afterward, he was denied access to a medical practitioner and was refused any X-rays, and was given pain relief medication for two days only. The U.N. group was concerned that if it continued, the systemic problem of arbitrary detention in Vietnam may amount to a serious violation of international law. According to the document, which was transmitted to Vietnam 60 days before publication, the Vietnamese government did not deny the allegation that Anh had been beaten by the police and his fellow inmates before and after his trial. Accused of planning to overthrow government Nguyen Ngoc Anhs posts covered several issues regarding government response to disasters and economic crises, and reportedly included criticism of authorities. Vietnams government claims that Anh allegedly used social media to post and share stories with content that they described as distorted or slandered. Authorities also accused him of promoting plans to overthrow the government. Calls to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to seek comment rang unanswered. It is deeply alarming that activist Nguyen Ngoc Anh was convicted after exercising his right to freedom of expression, said Joe Freeman, Amnesty Internationals Asia spokesperson. Advocating for a clean environment is not a crime, and neither is encouraging public participation in political life. Harrowing reports from families of prisoners also show that Anh and many other activists in detention are enduring harsh conditions behind bars. Speaking to RFA on Jan 25, Nguyen Thi Chau, Anhs wife said that her husband had been convicted for speaking up to protect the environment and condemn the authorities wrongdoings. She also affirmed that his imprisonment had severely affected her familys mental and economic life and demanded an unconditional release of him. My wish is for my husband to be released from prison and my kids to live without discrimination, she said. Translated by Anna Vu. Edited by Nawar Nemeh and Malcolm Foster. When the Taliban returned to power in 2021 in a lightning military insurrection that toppled Afghanistans internationally recognized government, the country immediately fell into diplomatic isolation. Two of Kabuls neighbors to the north, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, chose a different route, putting the hard-line groups fractious history with the former Soviet Central Asian republics aside and prioritizing engagement over criticism and pressure. But a giant canal project in Afghanistan now taking shape that the Taliban is pursuing at a rapid pace is giving the two water-stressed countries doubts about whether strategic patience with the Islamic fundamentalist group will yield rewards. If you look at other projects that have involved Afghanistan and Central Asia somehow, there has often been a win-win element, Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili, founding director of the Center for Governance and Markets at the University of Pittsburgh, told RFE/RL. But the Qosh Tepa Irrigation Canal, which will divert large volumes of water from the dwindling transboundary Amu Darya River, is a very different case. This is very much zero sum, because water is a finite good and there dont seem to be any benefits for Afghanistans neighbors here, said Murtazashvili, adding that she expects the Central Asian countries to pursue a lot of quiet diplomacy on the project that will add to the pressures faced by outsized agricultural sectors already battling climate change and historical mismanagement. But the Taliban will be probing to see how far it can go, Murtazashvili said, something she suggested its downstream neighbors will have to get used to. If the first Taliban [regime that ruled most of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001] was weighed down by insurgency and in some ways never really behaved like a state, Taliban 2.0 seems to really like the idea of projecting state power, Murtazashvili said. Old Project With New Momentum The stated dimensions of the irrigation canal that workers started digging last spring are enough to understand why the downstream countries have concerns. With a length of 285 kilometers and a width of some 100 meters, experts believe it could draw a significant portion of the Amu Daryas flow while irrigating 550,000 hectares of land. An Afghan civil servant with knowledge of the project told RFE/RLs Uzbek Service that work on the second of three stages of the project that began in the spring of 2022 is expected to begin in the coming months, with more than 100 kilometers already dug and visible from space. The plan to irrigate land in northern Afghanistan is not new. Farid Azim, an official at the National Development Company overseeing its construction, pointed out last year that Afghanistans first president, Mohammad Daud Khan, had a similar vision in the 1970s. The project was most recently pursued by the U.S.-backed administration of President Ashraf Ghani -- which the Taliban overthrew less than two years ago. A press release issued by the United States Agency for International Development from 2018 marking the launch of a Washington-funded feasibility study for Qosh Tepa described a 200 kilometer-long canal serving a cultivated catchment area of 500,000 hectares. Developing Afghanistans agriculture sector provides great potential for employment and economic growth, then-U.S. Ambassador John R. Bass said in the release. But the project was not a pressing concern for neighbors, primarily because political infighting and chronic instability in northern Afghanistan had made it impractical. Bismellah Alizada, a researcher at Londons School of Oriental and African Studies, told RFE/RL that Rashid Dostum, who was the Afghan first vice president from 2014 to 2020, was among the influential politicians with concerns about the project. One of those concerns was that it would be used to benefit and resettle members of the politically dominant Pashtun group to which President Ashraf Ghani belonged, Alizada said. Dostum -- an ethnic Uzbek warlord -- long enjoyed strong ties to the regime in Uzbekistan and was even reported to have fled there when the Taliban captured Mazar-e Sharif, overwhelming forces jointly under his command before the group advanced on Kabul. Members of Dostums exiled Junbish-e Milli party have reiterated these concerns more recently, but the reality is that the Taliban has no opponents capable of preventing it from forging ahead with giant public works projects, Alizada said. More obvious obstacles are technical capacity and cash, with billions of dollars in funds belonging to Afghanistans central bank frozen after the Taliban takeover. That would make it hard for the cash-strapped Taliban to finance a project whose first phase cost nearly $100 million, according to reports. But Graeme Smith, a senior consultant for the International Crisis Groups Asia Program, said the Taliban has a strong political will to finish off projects begun by the former government with Qosh Tepa the biggest that the group has revived so far. With their very limited resources, the Taliban have prioritized [Qosh Tepa], said Smith, expressing skepticism that the Islamic fundamentalist group would pay attention to its neighbors concerns. The Taliban is a nationalist movement intensely focused on their domestic constituencies, Smith said. I think its fair to assume they will continue governing with a strong focus on issues inside the country and less regard for concerns outside, he told RFE/RL. Games Of Leverage Taciturn Turkmenistan has so far said nothing about the canal project. But a Turkmenistan-based hydrologist speaking in March to RFE/RLs Turkmen Service on condition of anonymity called the project not a problem, but a disaster. RFE/RL correspondents in the closed authoritarian country reported this year about severe water shortages in Turkmenistans Soviet-built Karakum Canal, which is four times the length of the one the Taliban is seeking to complete. The World Resources Institute in 2019 ranked Turkmenistan as one of 17 countries in the world with extremely high water stress. Uzbekistan and Afghanistan were placed in the next highest category. Central Asia as a whole depends on rivers that rise in mountains, where many glacier stocks are being depleted by climate change. Tashkent, whose own Moscow-imposed, cotton-growing legacy is one of the chief causes of the Amu Daryas demise, has been more proactive on Qosh Tepa. According to the Talibans deputy prime minister for economic affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the topic was among those broached by Uzbek presidential envoy and former Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Komilov when he was in Kabul last month for talks on economic cooperation. Komilov was cited by Baradars office as saying that Uzbekistan was ready to work with the Islamic emirate (the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan) through technical teams in order to maximize the benefits of the Qosh Tepa canal project. Uzbekistan provided no comment to that effect in its release on the talks, but President Shavkat Mirziyoev -- in a national address in December -- flagged Qosh Tepa as a concern as he touched on the problem of desertification. At the moment, we consider it necessary to conduct practical talks on the construction of a new canal in the Amu Darya basin with the interim government of neighboring Afghanistan and the international community based on international standards and taking into account the interests of all countries in the region, he said. We believe that this approach will be supported by our neighbors. Mirziyoevs preference for dialogue over threats on transboundary water use has been welcomed by the neighborhood since predecessor Islam Karimov passed away in 2016. This appears to have worked with upstream Kyrgyzstan, where successful border negotiations saw Uzbekistan granted de facto control of a strategic reservoir located inside Kyrgyz territory, albeit not without a rash of political discontent in Kyrgyzstan. And although authoritarian Karimov virulently opposed the construction of giant hydroelectric dams in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Mirziyoev has given both his blessing, with Tashkent even attaching itself to Kyrgyzstans Kambar-Ata-1 project as a partner -- a move that will give it a hand in upstream management. Qosh Tepa, however, is becoming a source of public anxiety in Uzbekistan. With the volume of the Amu Darya water [already] decreasing, Afghans will take a quarter of its water through this canal, complained Uzbek academic and outspoken government critic Khidirnazar Allakulov in an interview with RFE/RLs Uzbek Service. Instead of solving the problem, the Uzbek government takes the Taliban to Samarkand, dressing them and presenting them with gifts. The government bows to Afghanistan.. Not only the current generation, but also future [Uzbek] generations can be endangered by the water problem, Allakulov said. Regular exchanges between the Turkmen and Uzbek governments and the Taliban predated the fall of the Ghani government, and Turkmenistan was among the first countries in the world to accept a Taliban-appointed ambassador. But in line with the international community as a whole, neither has recognized the new regime in Kabul. This only complicates what Alizada calls the legal lacuna between Afghanistan and its former communist neighbors, since Kabul had not previously signed treaties with them on transboundary management. And while Afghanistan is keen for more trade opportunities and relies on its northern neighbors for supplies of electricity for several provinces, there are other areas of these bilateral relations where the Taliban feels it has real leverage, Alizada argued. For the Central Asian countries, I think the number one concern is hard security, especially with the regions history with transnational extremist groups. The Taliban will continue to use assurances on security in negotiations with these countries going forward. U.S. authorities have arrested a 21-year-old Air National Guardsman in connection with the investigation into the leaking of top-secret defense and intelligence documents that have been circulated online, Attorney General Merrick Garland said on April 13. Garland identified the guardsman as Jack Teixeira, who will be charged with the unauthorized removal of classified national defense information in one of the biggest U.S. security breaches in years. Heavily armed federal agents arrived at Teixeira's home in the U.S. state of Massachusetts during the afternoon of April 13 and took the man -- wearing a T-shirt and shorts -- into custody without incident," Garland said. The identification of a 21-year-old Guardsman with a relatively low rank has quickly raised questions about how he could have had access to such highly classified documents. The U.S. Air Force National Guard, without confirming his identity, said, We are aware of the investigation into the alleged role a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman may have played in the recent leak of highly classified documents. U.S. President Joe Biden sought to allay concerns about the leak of the classified documents, which supposedly reveal details about the military capabilities of some U.S. allies and adversaries. The Department of Justice opened a formal criminal probe into the matter after it was referred to the case by the Pentagon, which continues to assess the damage done by the release. The Washington Post reported on April 12 that the person who allegedly posted the documents on a small chat group on the Discord social media platform was a gun enthusiast in his 20s who worked at a military base. The daily based its reporting on interviews with two unnamed members of the group. The documents were posted months ago without attracting attention until The New York Times reported on them. Theres a full-blown investigation going on, as you know, with the intelligence community and the Justice Department, Biden told journalists in Dublin on April 13 before the arrest was announced. And theyre getting close. Biden, who is in the middle of a four-day visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, said that he was not concerned about the leak because there is nothing contemporaneous that Im aware of. The White House said earlier in the day that Biden did not discuss the matter with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak when the two met in Northern Ireland earlier this week. The number of documents leaked, some of which were reportedly marked top secret, is not clear. They purportedly include sensitive disclosures about Ukraine, South Korea, Israel, and others. The Biden administration fears the leak could cause lasting damage to U.S. relations with key allies and strategic partners. They purportedly include sensitive disclosures about Ukraine, South Korea, Israel, and others. The Biden administration fears the leak could cause lasting damage to U.S. relations with key allies and strategic partners. The Discord group allegedly included people from Russia and Ukraine, The Washington Post reported, and was focused on a mutual love of guns, military gear and God. The social media platform itself is popular with players of online games. The man who posted the documents, who went by the online handle OG, allegedly told group members he sometimes worked in a secure facility at the base that prohibited cell phones and other electronic devices. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said on Ukrainian television on April 12 that the risk of leaks is very minimal because only a very narrow circle of people is aware of Ukrainian military planning. With reporting by AP, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. The European Union has condemned as "shameful and politically motivated" the sentencing in Belarus of Darya Losik, the wife of jailed RFE/RL journalist Ihar Losik, to two years in prison on a charge of facilitating extremist activity. In a statement on January 25, the EU's diplomatic service, the EEAS, said a Brest court's verdict last week was the latest unfair action "supporting [authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka's] regime repression against the people of Belarus." "Darya Losik was sentenced to two years in prison for defending her husband in interviews against fabricated accusations and for appealing to Lukashenka on her husband's innocence," it said. In her case, Judge Mikalay Hryharovich of the Brest regional court pronounced the verdict and handed down the sentence on January 19, one day after the trial started. The sentence was exactly what the prosecutor had requested. The Crisis In Belarus Read our ongoing coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues his brutal crackdown on NGOs, activists, and independent media following the August 2020 presidential election, widely seen as fraudulent. The Prosecutor-General's Office has said the charge against Darya Losik stems from an interview she gave to the Poland-based Belsat television channel that has been officially labeled as an extremist group by Minsk. During the interview she "positioned herself as the wife of a 'political prisoner,'" the office said. Darya Losik was detained in October after police searched her home. The 4-year-old daughter of Darya and Ihar Losik, Paulina, is currently with Darya's parents. The EEAS noted that with the verdict, Paulina Losik "is now left without parents." The United States has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Darya Losik, while RFE/RL President Jamie Fly has also demanded her immediate release and condemned her detainment by Belarusian authorities. Ihar Losik was sentenced to 15 years in prison in December last year on charges that remain unclear. The husband of exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Syarhey Tsikhanouski, as well as four other bloggers and opposition politicians and activists, were sentenced to lengthy prison terms along with Losik at the time. Losik and other defendants have insisted that the case against them is politically motivated. Belarus has been targeted by Western sanctions since a flawed presidential election in 2020 that was followed by unprecedented street protests and a massive crackdown under strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka that forced nearly the entire leadership of the political opposition into jail or to flee abroad. "Almost every day there are new examples in Belarus of arbitrary and cruel sentences in political trials held behind closed doors," the EEAS's statement said. "The repression by the regime of Lukashenka has reached an unprecedented level, with more than 1,440 political prisoners, now affecting also the most vulnerable -- children." BISHKEK -- A court in Bishkek has ordered the Kyrgyz Ministry Of Culture, Information, Sports, and Youth Policies to produce documents relating to its decision to block the local-language websites of RFE/RL. At a preliminary hearing on January 26 at Bishkek's Administrative Court, the judge ruled in favor of a motion by RFE/RL to see the documents in a lawsuit brought by the broadcaster over the move by Kyrgyz authorities to block Radio Azattyk's websites in Kyrgyz and Russian in late October after the media outlet refused to take down a video about deadly clashes along the Kyrgyz-Tajik border. At the end of the brief hearing, the judge adjourned the proceedings until February 17. The video in question was produced by Current Time, a Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with Voice of America. Officials of the Central Asian state have claimed that the authors of the video "predominantly" took the position of the Tajik side. The authorities have said the decision to block Radio Azattyk's websites was based on the Law on Protection from False Information, legislation that drew widespread criticism when it was adopted in August 2021. Also on January 26, the Bishkek City Court held another preliminary hearing into RFE/RL's appeal against a court decision to freeze Radio Azattyk's bank account in Kyrgyzstan in November at the request of the State Committee for National Security (UKMK). At that hearing, the court agreed with the motion by RFE/RL's lawyers to bring to the hearing investigator Ulan Japekov of the Interior Ministry, whose group concluded that Radio Azattyk's bank account must be frozen. The court then adjourned the hearing until February 2. After Radio Azattyk's bank account in Bishkek was frozen in November, Kyrgyz authorities suspended the accreditation of 11 RFE/RL correspondents at parliament. Three days before the hearings, the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports, and Youth Policies informed RFE/RL that it had asked a court in Bishkek to halt all of RFE/RL's media operations in the country. The court said later in the day that it will address the request on February 8. RFE/RL President and Chief Executive Officer Jamie Fly has rejected the ministry's request and characterized the government's moves as "continued unlawful attacks against Radio Azattyk and our independent reporting." "We will pursue all available legal means to preserve our operations in the country. We will continue to serve our loyal Kyrgyz audiences no matter what actions the Kyrgyz government takes," Fly said in a statement published on January 23. Dozens of media organizations, domestic and international rights groups, Kyrgyz politicians, and lawmakers have urged the government to unblock Radio Azattyk's websites. "Shutting down Azattyk Media would be a huge blow to media freedom in Kyrgyzstan and the lawsuit should be immediately withdrawn," Syinat Sultanalieva, Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement on January 26. "The government needs to end its attempts to control and censor independent journalism in Kyrgyzstan and restore its commitment to international human rights obligations, particularly to media freedom." The era of unregulated short-term rentals in Arizona is coming to a close. New state legislation has provided cities, towns and counties with the legal authority to enact limited regulation of short-term rentals Airbnbs, VRBOs and the like that rent for 30 days or fewer. The Coconino County Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday to discuss an early draft of an ordinance that would impose regulations on short-term rentals in its jurisdiction. A public hearing of the ordinance is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 28. Coconino County previously regulated short-term rentals in 2015 but it didnt last for long. Cities, towns and counties in Arizona were stripped of any legal authority to regulate short-term rentals in 2017 when then-Gov. Doug Ducey signed into law SB 1350. Since that time, unregulated short-term rentals have been identified as an exacerbating factor in a deepening housing crisis, particularly in tourism-heavy cities such as Flagstaff and Sedona. With governments hands tied, occasionally there would be abuses with these short-term rentals, said Coconino County Supervisor and board chair Patrice Horstman. She also mentioned fielding many complaints of residences being turned into party homes with absentee landlords. This has also resulted in neighborhoods experiencing traffic concerns, parking issues, litter, Horstman said. It has been a concern that needs to be addressed. In July 2022, during the last months of his role as governor, Ducey signed SB 1168, which effectively walked back SB 1350 and empowered local governments to implement some level of regulation. The move has provided what Horstman calls a small window to have some oversight and management of an industry that has had significant local impacts. As proposed in the draft ordinance presented Tuesday, Coconino County would regulate short-term rentals through the issuance of permits. The legislation does allow for the collection of up to $250 for that permit, and that is annually, explained Jay Christelman, the county community development director. Doing so annually will give us a good opportunity to keep an eye on somewhat troublesome or potentially troublesome short-term rentals because well be able to do that review each year. Short-term rental permit holders would be asked to meet a handful of requirements, Christelman said, including notification of all adjacent neighbors, provision of an emergency contact and a transaction privilege tax. That, I do believe, is already required, Christelman added. But perhaps most importantly, under the county permitting process, Coconino would have recourse to fine and suspend short-term rental permits in the case of certain verified violations outlined in the state statute. Number one is a felony offense committed at or in the vicinity of a vacation rental or short-term rental resulting from the knowing intentional or reckless conduct of short-term rental, Christelman said. Number two is a serious physical injury or wrongful death related to a short-term rental resulting from the knowing intentional or reckless conduct of the short-term rental. Number three, an owner or owners knowingly or intentionally housing a sex offender allowing offenses related to adult-oriented businesses, sexual offenses or prostitution, or operating or maintaining a sober-living home. Coconino County also proposed an additional set violations that Christelman explained should be allowed due to ambiguity in the state legislation. Violations include knowingly or intentionally allowing the use of a vacation rental or short-term rental for a special event that would otherwise require a temporary use permit, and failure to maintain reasonable access for first responders. As outlined in the state statute, repeated verified violations would be subject to fees, depending on the frequency at which they occur. The first verified violation in a 12-month period is a $500 fine, or one nights rental whichever is more, Christelman said. The second verified violation in a 12 month period is $1,500, or one nights rental, whichever is higher. And then the third verified violation of a 12-month period is $3,500. After the third verified violation in a 12-month period, a hearing officer could determine to revoke or suspend the permit. After hearing the proposed draft ordinance, the county Board of Supervisors was generally supportive. I dont think anything youve included in the outline is onerous, Horstman said. It certainly requires accountability. She also expressed particular support for the requirement of providing notification and contact information to neighbors. Its what neighbors do for each other, she said, adding that she looks forward to hearing feedback from members of the public as county leaders refine and move forward with this proposed ordinance. To that end, the board encouraged interested members of the public to reach out with written comments to their district supervisor, if not attend the public hearing scheduled for Feb. 28. Exact time and place of the meeting has yet to be announced. Its important to note that any ordinance in enacted in Coconino County would not apply to properties within the jurisdictional limits of cities and towns. City of Flagstaff officials have reported that they have begun the process of drafting an ordinance to regulate short-term rentals. We are planning to hold a town hall type of event for the public at the end of March, early April to solicit feedback from the community on the draft ordinance, said city public affairs director Sarah Langley. Then we are scheduled to provide an update to Council on May 9. We are then tentatively scheduled for first and second reads of the ordinance in June. The full text of the county draft ordinance, as well as a draft pamphlet for short-term rental owners, will be available on the Coconino County website within the week. To view the presentation and discussion of the board of supervisors, visit the county YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@coconinocnty. A Romanian who quit his corporate career has found his calling photographing life in his country's most isolated villages. Mihnea Turcu was a successful Bucharest banker who, in 2009, had every reason to expect a long and profitable corporate career. Then, one day that year, everything changed after he stooped to enter an old mans hut in Romanias Maramures County. Inside that home, the pixie-like villager opened up to Turcu about life and spirituality, and the pair spoke for hours. Days later, back in his office in Bucharest, Turcu recalled, My eyes were staring into the computer, but my heart was far away, inside [the old mans] little room. The photographer, who recently accrued a highly engaged audience of 50,000 followers on Instagram, explained to RFE/RL how he then walked away from a banking career and into the uncertainty of full-time photography. Despite a steadily rising paycheck in a corporate job he enjoyed, Turcu says he was starting to long for something else. It was freedom, being out there. I felt like with just 20 days of holidays from the corporation each year, I was losing something in life, something that will pass by and Ill never get back, he recalls. Turcu then set about scaling down his expenses, paying off his debts, and calculating how much money he needed to survive each year. In late 2013, Turcu quit the bank and began a full-time career as a photographer. After I handed in my resignation, I went into the bathroom and cried, he says. I stepped into photography with a lot of fear. The fledgling photographer initially relied on contacts in the corporate world for commercial jobs that would pay the bills. But whenever he could, he drove into the countryside for days-long trips to pursue his true passion: photographing rural Romanian life, which in some places looks the same today as it did a century ago. Turcu is unusual in that he is willing to focus on both the aesthetic beauty of rural life and the often bleak reality faced by Romanias poorest villagers in areas that have been largely abandoned by younger generations. After years of obscurity on Instagram, where he posted only his more technically perfect and polished photos, Turcu says that he changed his approach in the fall of 2021 and began to treat social media as a kind of journal. I thought, F*** it. Im going to post everything I have that means something to me, no matter the quality, the photographer says. As people started to share Turcu's images, especially among diaspora communities who had been forced to leave rural Romania for economic reasons, the photographer realized this is not about me, its about my subjects. It occurred to me: What am I doing keeping these images from people? Along with his intimate portraits of rural people, Turcu writes often detailed descriptions of the moments before and after the photos were taken. The extended captions are a result, in part, of his frustration with what he says are the limits of straight photojournalism, a discipline he studied closely before embarking on his photography career. I dont think a picture can cover the whole story. I have feelings. Im present there. The people use a certain rural vocabulary. All of that affects me," Turcu says. Sometimes I want to cry. Im trying to preserve as much as I can the feelings from the encounters and put these into words without exaggerating. In January 2023, the Maramures man whose simple and devout life so inspired the photographer, died. Turcu says he plans to create a book about him from photographs he took and conversations they shared. MOSCOW -- The Sakharov Center in Moscow, the human rights entity named after Nobel Prize-winning Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, says it is being evicted from its three premises in the Russian capital. The Sakharov Center's staff said in a statement on January 26 that Moscow's Property Department had informed it two days earlier that it was canceling the group's lease agreements, including one to its main building, an exhibition hall, and one to Sakharov's former apartment. The department explained the decision by saying that amendments to the controversial law on foreign agents, which took force on December 1, forbid organizations and individuals labeled as foreign agents from receiving any state support. All the premises were provided to the Sakharov Center free of charge. "For a quarter of a century, the center has been a place that united thousands of Russian citizens who are not indifferent to the fate of the country, the values of freedom and human rights," the statement from the Sakharov Center said. "This legal collision proves yet again that the state policy's idea is liquidation of the independent organizations that fight for social interests," it added. The center was given its first premises by Moscow authorities in 1993. The personal archive of Andrei Sakharov is currently kept in the center's apartment location on Moscow's Zemlyanoi Val Street. Exhibits about the first president of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel, Polish journalist and dissident Adam Michnik, British cinema director Tom Stoppard, Lithuanian writer and dissident Tomas Venclova, and prominent Soviet and Russian dissidents Vladimir Bukovsky and Natan Sharansky all were featured at one time or another. The center was also a place where people bid last farewell to well-known Soviet dissidents and post-Soviet Kremlin critics such as Sergei Kovalyov, Boris Nemtsov, Yury Ryzhov, Valeria Novodvorskaya, and Yury Afanasyev. The Sakharov Center "created the only historic exposition in the country that told the history of the Soviet Union as a totalitarian regime...to help society reevaluate the tragic pages of its history and realize that the repetition of political repressions, deportations, aggressive foreign policy is perilous for the country," the Sakharov Center statement said. Two days of oral arguments concluded on January 25 in the appeals by two former Serbian intelligence officers against their convictions two years ago for murder, crimes against humanity, and other offenses in western Bosnia during the 1992-95 war. Jovan Stanisic and Franko Simatovic were each sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2021 in a retrial that followed acquittals in 2013. They were convicted of crimes that included murder, deportation, forcible transfer, and persecution in what prosecutors called brutal "ethnic cleansing" at Bosanski Samac in 1992. Prosecutors are seeking longer sentences for both men. They have asked that Stanisic and Simatovic be convicted of crimes of which they were previously acquitted in addition to additional actions in Croatia. They also say both men oversaw the establishment of training centers throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia that the brutal crimes of Bosanski Samac reflected a pattern used form months at other locations. Stanisic was head of the Serbian Interior Ministry's State Security Service in 1992-98. Simatovic commanded an elite special forces unit within the Yugoslav State Security Service in 1991-98. Their current appeal is being heard by the Appeals Chamber of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (UNIRMCT), which announced the conclusion of the arguments on January 25. Their prosecutions were some of the last before the UNIRMCT -- the successor to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) -- to assert the responsibility of the regime of the late Yugoslav and Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic. A verdict is not expected until June. Stanisic's defense lawyers argue that he became "a key peacemaker" who contributed to ending conflicts in the former Yugoslavia. Stanisic and Simatovic were detained in 2003 and their initial trial lasted from June 2009 until January 2013. Their case represents the last of the so-called core cases before the ICTY or its successor institution. Ukrainian officials said a wave of Russian air strikes on the capital and other cities on January 26 has killed at least 11 people although most of the cruise missiles were intercepted, as heavy fighting continued in eastern Ukraine. A spokesman for the State Emergency Service, Oleksandr Khorunzhiy, added that 11 more people were confirmed injured by early afternoon local time in what he described as "terrorist attacks with drones and 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. Thirty-five buildings were damaged, Khorunzhiy said in a Telegram post, most of them in the Kyiv region. He said Ukrainian defense forces successfully intercepted 47 of 55 Russian air- and sea-based missiles fired from the Black Sea region. RFE/RL cannot independently confirm battlefield claims on either side in most areas. The new missile attacks came the morning after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, speaking just hours after Germany and the United States pledged to provide Kyiv with advanced battle tanks, called on Kyiv's Western allies to deliver long-range missiles and military aircraft to beef up Ukraine's air defenses. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said one person was killed and two others were wounded in a strike on the capital and urged residents to stay in shelters. "As a result of a rocket hitting a nonresidential building in the Holosiyiv district, we have information about one dead and two wounded. The wounded were hospitalized," he said. Serhiy Popko, the head of Kyiv's military administration, said more than a dozen missiles were destroyed above the capital. "The enemy launched more than 15 cruise missiles in the direction of Kyiv. Thanks to the excellent work of air defense, all air targets were shot down," said. The strikes forced authorities to impose emergency power cuts in Kyiv and several other regions to relieve pressure on the electricity grid, an operator said. "Due to the threat of a missile attack in Kyiv and the regions of Kyiv, Odesa, and Dnipropetrovsk, emergency blackouts have been introduced," said DTEK, Ukraine's largest private power producer. Two energy facilities were hit by Russian missiles in the southern region of Odesa, local authorities said. "There is already information about damage done to two critical energy infrastructure facilities in Odesa. There are no injured. Air Defense Forces are working over the Odesa region," the head of the region's military administration, Yuriy Kruk, wrote on social media. The central region of Vinnytsya was also targeted by Russian missiles, Serhiy Borzov, head of the regional military administration said, adding there were no casualties. Earlier, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Military said its forces destroyed 24 drones, including 15 over Kyiv, that Russia launched in overnight attacks. Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address on January 25 that it is now necessary to "go ahead with the supply of aircraft for Ukraine." On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces continued to sustain incessant pressure from Russian attacks in the east, mainly in Bakhmut and Avdiyivka in Donetsk region and Chervopopyivka in Luhansk, the General Staff said in its daily report on January 26. "Despite suffering numerous losses, the enemy did not halt its offensive actions," the General Staff said, adding that Ukrainian defenders also repelled attacks in Lyman, Kupyansk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson. Zelenskiy acknowledged in an interview with Sky News on January 26 that Ukrainian troops were under increased pressure in the east, where they had lost control of the town of Soledar in Donetsk, and in the southern region of Zaporizhzhya. Zelenskiy said the Russians were attacking in waves, with total disregard for their losses, which he said were in the "thousands." "It's just an extraordinary number. They don't care about it. I mean, they don't count their people.... But from what we have already seen and counted, there are thousands of people dead from their side, and they are just throwing them, and throwing them, and throwing them, and throwing them," Zelenskiy told Sky News. Berlin and Washington agreed to provide modern tanks following months of intense debate among NATO allies in the hope of helping stem the expected push by Russia. In his January 25 address, Zelenskiy praised the allies' commitment to delivering advanced tanks and urged them to provide large numbers of tanks quickly. "The key now is speed and volume: speed in training our forces, speed in supplying tanks to Ukraine. The numbers in tank support," he said. "We have to form such a 'tank fist', like a 'fist of freedom'." In Photos: The Biden administration has announced it will send 31 M1 Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine in what Kyiv authorities are hailing as a possible game-changer in a war that is now 11 months old. RFE/RL takes a quick look at the Abrams's history and its specs. U.S. President Joe Biden on January 25 said the United States will send 31 of its highly advanced Abrams tanks in a move he said was not a threat to Russia. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said hours earlier Berlin will supply 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and will also allow third countries to re-export their own German-made Leopards. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on January 26 that Leopard tanks will arrive in "late March, early April," and that training of Ukrainian troops on German Marder infantry fighting vehicles will start in the next few days. "For the Ukrainian soldiers who will be trained on the Leopard it will be a little later," Pistorius said. With reporting by Reuters, AP, and dpa KYIV -- A pile of boxes filled with body bags welcomed visitors to the headquarters of the Ukrainian Women Veteran Movement, Ukraine's biggest female soldiers' organization, on a recent afternoon. The empty bags were ready to be shipped to Bakhmut, a city in the Donetsk region where deadly fighting has raged for months, said Olena Kharchenko, an employee in charge of the dispatch. "It's what we do almost every day," she added. We set up our movement to defend the rights of female soldiers and veterans," said Kateryna Priymak, the organizations deputy head, "but Russia's full-scale invasion forced us to focus on the maximally efficient support for the army." The long corridor running through the headquarters leads to several storage rooms with military and humanitarian supplies, a drone-production workshop, a room for weaving protective nets, and a large sewing room where volunteers design military uniforms for women. Almost all of this goes to the military, primarily to female personnel, Kharchenko said. With about 50,000 servicewomen -- including some 5,000 on the front lines, according to Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Malyar -- the Ukrainian military is one of the most feminized armed forces in Europe. 'A Job Called Defending The Fatherland' More than 600 kilometers east of Kyiv, in the village of Yatskivka in the Donetsk region -- part of the Donbas -- Lieutenant Lyubov Plaksyuk was getting ready for another battle. Plaksyuk -- the first woman to head an artillery unit of the Ukrainian Army -- has been fighting in the war since the morning of February 24, when her unit came under what she described as "nonstop total shelling" from the Russian side in the first hours of the full-scale invasion. During a cigarette break from the paperwork to prepare to take her artillery unit back to the front line, Plaksyuk told RFE/RL that the situation around Kreminna -- a key logistical hub that Ukrainians have been trying to recapture since their successful counteroffensive in the neighboring Kharkiv region -- is "under control but quite difficult." "It is hard to fight against an opponent who is superior both in numbers and armaments and does not care what he shoots at," she said by telephone. Plaksyuk, who took part in the liberation of Lyman, a key Donetsk region railway hub, and other settlements this autumn, is now responsible for artillery reconnaissance. "We send out little birds that fly a little farther than we can see, look for those who need a little present, and we destroy the enemies," she said with a laugh, describing her everyday work with drones and artillery. Plaksyuk was in her 20s when she left a career as a history teacher more than seven years ago, after the school she worked in was closed, and decided to pursue her dream of joining the military. "There is a job called defending the fatherland, and this is what I do now," she said. Plaksyuk is one of only two women in her unit. Her gender does not play a role, she said, adding that her male subordinates fully respect her because of her professionalism. "I am where I am because I strove for it," she said. 'Life Had Not Prepared Me For It' More than 1,100 kilometers to the west, in the town of Ustyluh on Ukraine's border with Poland, 26-year-old border guard Alina Panina carries out customs checks with the help of a spaniel sniffer dog. Panina has always been interested in working with dogs and had wanted a career in uniform since childhood, she told RFE/RL, but -- unlike Plaksyuk -- she never expected to find herself in the epicenter of the war. Life had not prepared me for what was about happen, she said. When Russia launched the full-scale invasion in February, she was in Mariupol, an Azov Sea city in the Donbas that had long been a target for Russia, working at the port checking cargo for contraband. Shortly after the first Russian missiles hit Mariupol, she was ordered to join forces defending the city's smaller steel plant, known as Azovmash, and then moved on to the besieged Azovstal steelworks. As the Russian troops were leveling the last stronghold of Ukrainian resistance, she was supporting Ukrainian fighters, cooking for them, and caring for the wounded along with other women. "They said the sight of us gave them hope," she recalled. In mid-May, Panina was among hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered to an uncertain fate after weeks of hiding in bunkers and tunnels at Azovstal. She was then held captive for four and a half months in the notorious Russian-controlled Olenivka prison in Donetsk, where dozens of captives were killed in a deadly strike in July. There, she lived in inhuman conditions with 28 other women in a cell designed for four. But the hardest part was being cut off from the outside world, she said. Panina was released with more than 100 Ukrainian women in a large prisoner swap in October. After many days of a blindfolded journey back home through Russian territory and Crimea. Her husband, also a soldier, with whom she lived in Mariupol, remains in Russian captivity. "I have become tougher and stronger than I ever thought possible," Panina said, "but I learned that men cry, too, when they watch their comrades die every day." After a short period of rest and rehabilitation, she said, she decided to return to military service to do "whatever I can to bring victory closer." Painful Path Back in the Ukrainian Women Veteran Movement headquarters in Kyiv, two soldiers -- a man and a woman nicknamed Monk and Bambi -- arrived from the war zone to collect supplies. Among other things, they received New Year's gifts for female soldiers donated by a partner organization -- items that included painkillers, medicines, frostbite creams, wet tissues, condoms, and bandages. Kharchenko added a hand-knit female soldier doll to each bag. "Ukraine is moving forward at a superfast pace. We have proven that we could withstand the Russian invasion, but all this is not enough to ensure our imminent victory," Priymak said, sitting back in an armchair in the middle of the bustling office. Now a manager at an organization with some 500 members, Priymak was 21 years old when Russia stoked tensions that started the war in the Donbas in 2014, after the Euromaidan protests that pushed Moscow-friendly President Viktor Yanukovuych from power. Back then she enlisted with a volunteer medical battalion and spent 11 months serving as a paramedic on the front line. "Age and gender play no role in the motivation to fight," she said. "After Euromaidan my social circle strongly felt that if we don't take up the fight, we will lose the right to freedom of conscience, to self-identification, and to shape the place we live in." But the reality was that when the Donbas war broke out the Ukrainian Army -- which was haunted by corruption, a lack of basic supplies, and many other problems -- was often openly hostile to women, she said. "We kept on hearing phrases like, 'War is not a place for women, 'You'd better stay at home with children,' or, 'When a woman dies, everybody's morale is lost' all the time," she recalled. Until 2018, Ukrainian legislation did not allow women to be assigned to combat positions, said sociologist Anna Kvit, who has been researching Ukrainian female soldiers since 2015 along with colleagues from the Invisible Battalion advocacy project. As a result, she told RFE/RL, the volunteer fighters were enlisted as cooks, cleaners, or accountants, even if they were taking part in hostilities as snipers, grenade launcher operators, reconnaissance soldiers, or artillerists. This legal discrimination, Kvit said, deprived most women who served in the war in the Donbas of access to social or military benefits, military awards, and career opportunities in the armed forces. Now, with the legal discrimination gone mainly due to advocacy and pressure from civil society, multiple problems remain, and new ones emerge. The fact that the Ukrainian military began issuing uniforms for women after almost nine years of war is "a sign of progress" but also shows that "even basic infrastructure is not prepared for women," Kvit said. Priymak -- who spent two weeks serving as a medic during Ukraines counteroffensive in the Kherson region -- said that Ukrainian female soldiers entered the spotlight after "years of being invisible," but "the intensity of warfare reinforces archaic primordial instincts, and that affects women's rights." "War is a difficult time for criticism, but there is more and more to criticize as it grinds on," she said. 'All This Torture' According to Kvit, despite gradual changes in the status of women in the military, sexual harassment is not well defined in Ukrainian law, there are still no relevant procedures to deal with it in the army, and it remains underreported. Oksana Hryhoryeva, gender adviser to the commander of the Ukrainian militarys Land Forces, told RFE/RL that, since the beginning of Russian full-scale invasion, she received reports of only two cases of harassment or gender discrimination. But she claimed this is an accurate reflection of reality. "There is no harassment on the front line," she said, adding that "women in the army make men reveal their better selves. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has quickly pivoted to pressing his requests for long-range missiles and military aircraft, hours after Germany and the United States pledged to provide Kyiv with dozens of advanced battle tanks. Zelenskiy said in his regular nightly video address on January 25 that it is now necessary to "go ahead with the supply of aircraft for Ukraine." The tank question weighed heavily on NATO for months before Britain, then Berlin and Washington, agreed to provide the training and equipment in hopes of helping stem an expected push by Russia in its nearly year-old full-scale invasion. "It is very important that there is progress in other aspects of our defense cooperation as well," Zelenskiy said, adding that he'd spoken earlier in the day with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. "We must also open the supply of long-range missiles to Ukraine. It is important -- we must also expand our cooperation in artillery, we must enter into the supply of aircraft for Ukraine. And this is a dream. And this is the task." Zelenskiy also hailed the fresh decisions by the United States and Germany to supply battle tanks to his country. "The way we are all working together to strengthen freedom, to defend Ukraine and Europe, is a historic achievement," he said. He added that it was important to train Ukrainian tank crews quickly and to deliver battle tanks to Ukraine as soon as possible. Moscow has warned that it regards the Western supply of tanks to its much smaller post-Soviet foe a dangerous provocation. After U.S. President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced their decisions to supply the tanks, Biden and Scholz held a joint call with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Several sides said the leaders agreed on the need for ongoing military support for Ukraine and close transatlantic coordination. The United States has designated the Wagner Group a "significant transnational criminal organization" and targeted individuals and entities within the Russian mercenary enterprise's global network in line with an executive order. The U.S. Treasury said on January 26 that additional new sanctions in connection with the designation target six individuals and 12 entities, including a Chinese satellite-imagery provider and companies and people in the Central African Republic (C.A.R.) where Wagner has active paid fighters, as well as in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.). A Treasury statement described the listing by its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) as part of an effort "to degrade the Russian Federation's capacity to wage war against Ukraine." Thousands of Wagner troops are fighting in Ukraine, and Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin has been increasingly public in his efforts to take credit for battlefield gains. He has also been filmed recruiting Wagner fighters from Russian prisons, promising pardons in exchange for battlefield action. Ukrainian and Western officials have blamed Wagner troops for atrocities against civilians in Russia's invasion, which is now in its 12th month. "As sanctions and export controls on Russia from our international coalition continue to bite, the Kremlin is desperately searching for arms and support -- including through the brutal [Wagner] Group -- to continue its unjust war against Ukraine," the statement quoted Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen as saying. The Treasury said Wagner personnel "have engaged in an ongoing pattern of serious criminal activity, including mass executions, rape, child abductions, and physical abuse in the Central African Republic (C.A.R.) and Mali." It noted that the OFAC in 2017 concluded that Wagner was complicit in actions that threatened Ukraine and was singled out in November by the State Department for its contribution to the now nearly year-old full-scale invasion of Ukraine. "As Russias military has struggled on the battlefield, Putin has resorted to relying on the [Wagner] Group to continue his war of choice," the Treasury said of the Ukrainian invasion effort. The sanctions will also target the Joint Stock Company Terra Tech (Terra Tech) and China's Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute Co. LTD (Spacety China). It also named an alleged Wagner front company called Officer's Union for International Security (OUIS) and its director, along with a Russian Wagner employee it said was advising C.A.R.'s president, along with U.A.E.-based Kratol Aviation. It said that "to further degrade Russia's war machine" it was sanctioning JSC Aviacon Zitotrans (Aviacon Zitotrans), unmanned aerial vehicle maker AO Ural Civil Aviation Factory (UCAF), and state-owned Joint Stock Company National Aviation Service Company (NASC), along with a handful of other entities. Man found dead in snow The Flagstaff Police Department is investigating a possible exposure death that occurred on the east side of the city. Police were dispatched on Wednesday morning at about 8:12 a.m. to check on a person who appeared to be sleeping in the snow in the parking lot of the Kachina Square Shopping Center on Steves Boulevard. When officers arrived to perform a welfare check, it was determined that the person was deceased. The man has been identified as 65-year-old Brandon Osborn Charley of Teec Nos Pos, Arizona. While the investigation into Charleys cause of death is ongoing, detectives believe the man might have passed due to the extremely cold conditions Flagstaff has been experiencing. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures were as low as 6 degrees Tuesday, and stayed well below freezing into Wednesday morning. Arizona judge wont compel Scottsdale to share water PHOENIX (AP) An Arizona judge says she wont compel Scottsdale to resume an arrangement that allowed residents of a neighboring community to get their water from a city standpipe, saying the flap isnt the courts concern. Maricopa County Judge Joan Sinclair wrote in an order released this week that people living in the Rio Verde Foothills have not showed the city caused them irreparable harm and said community residents can obtain their water elsewhere. Sinclair said the court appreciates the difficulties inherent in allocating dwindling water resources but cannot make water policy decisions in lieu of the appropriate authorities. Sinclairs order rejecting the residents request for an injunction to make Scottsdale temporarily resume the water arrangement was a a victory for the city. Scottsdale on Jan. 1 cut off the water it long provided to Rio Verde Foothills, saying it needs to guarantee there is enough for its own residents amid a deep, long-lasting drought. Homeowners in Rio Verde Foothills, located in unincorporated Maricopa County, sued Scottsdale earlier this month, demanding that access to the citys water supply be restored to some 500 homes without working wells. Several hundred residents are now using up the last of the Scottsdale water that haulers delivered in late December to large tanks buried in their yards, but have said they expect it will dry up soon. Using haulers to bring in water from communities farther away have significantly pushed up the cost of getting water. Written By Managing Editor she/her | Bridget is the Messengers managing editor. She oversees the newsroom and covers the Maple Run and Franklin West school districts, the communities of St. Albans and Fairfax and pays attention to recreation, food and the arts. She's also an avid cyclist and skier. | How Can I Buy YouTube Subscribers? 3 Best Sites For YouTube Services Looking to buy YouTube subscribers to boost account growth? Check out these three tried-and-true providers of subs, likes, and views to accomplish just that. Published: 25 Jan 2023 | 10:04 GMTTurks increasingly perceive the US as a threat and Russia as a friend, vice-chair of Vatan Party Ethem Sancak argues. Turkiye could leave NATO within months, a politician there has claimed, citing provocations by the US-led military bloc against his nation. Ethem Sancak is a Turkish businessman of Arab descent who is active in politics and who local media describe as close to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He was commenting on an anti-NATO campaign in Turkiye that the Vatan (Patriotic) Party, where he holds the position of vice chairman for foreign relations, has organized. NATO forces us to take these actions with their provocations, he stated, predicting that his partys goal of getting Turkiye to leave the alliance may come to fruition in five-to-six months. Speaking to the news website enbursa.com on Tuesday, Sancak noted that being part of the bloc puts Turkiye on a collision course with fellow member and longtime rival Greece, and also at risk of being pulled into a whirlpool in the Middle East. The recent Koran-burning stunts in some European nations make leaving NATO a necessity, he argued. The Danish-Swedish right-wing politician and activist Rasmus Paludan staged a protest last weekend in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm, which involved the burning of the holy book of Islam. The incident sparked outrage in the Muslim world, while the Turkish president said Stockholms choice to permit the action meant that Ankara would not support Swedens request to join NATO. Sancak said that Turks were increasingly perceiving the US as a nation that pursues the most hostile and destructive policies. At the same time they feel great sympathy towards Russia. A survey conducted by the Turkish pollster Gezici at the end of last year showed that 72.8% of Turks wanted their nation to have good relations with Russia. Less than a quarter said they believed Moscow to be hostile towards Turkiye. Omer Celik, the spokesman for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), rejected the idea, which he called mind-blowing. Turkiye is among NATO's oldest members, and people calling for its exit are talking about destroying the bloc, he told journalists on Wednesday. The Vatan Party believes that Turkiye would be better off if it dropped its attempts to become a member of the EU and forged good relations with China and Russia instead. It also advocates overcoming differences with Iran and Syria, nations that the US is targeting with crippling sanctions and other forms of pressure. Sancak joined the Vatan Party last year, though his involvement in politics goes back decades to his days as a university student and activist. His business interests include pharmaceuticals and cosmetics as well as media, with the TV channel 360 and the daily newspaper Star among his best-known acquisitions. Page Content Three Savannah-Chatham County Public School students from two high schools have been nominated to represent the District as United States Presidential Scholars. Aiden Maxwell of Jenkins High School is a nominee, along with Margaret Wade and Kenzie Kurdys both of Savannah Arts Academy. The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by executive order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields. Each year, up to 161 students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students. There are five candidates from Savannah this year. The other two are students at area private schools. After submission of required materials, the students will be notified if they have been selected as semi-finalists by mid-April. From classic-rock squabbles to hip-hop diss tracks and social media wars, here are the ridiculous, rancorous conflicts that have held us rapt. Rolling Stone Jordan Runtagh Creative differences, financial disputes, drug abuse, love triangles in the music industry, the opportunities to butt heads are basically limitless. The bigger the star, the bigger the ego, and when two tangle, you get a supernova of spite and bile that holds the world in rapture, turning mature adults into spit-flecked children chanting Fight, fight, fight! in a circle at recess. Pick a side, or simply spectate. No judgment. Mariah Carey vs. Jennifer Lopez News featured spotlight Education Civil rights law firm files complaint for staffing violations at Marina Middle School Craig Lee/The Examiner An investigative report by The Examiner found that since August 2021, Marina Middle School has lost almost a third of its staff. A civil rights law firm filed a complaint Monday with the San Francisco Unified School District over the districts inability to address the needs of multilingual and disabled students at Marina Middle School, following an investigation by The Examiner on the schools disciplinary and staffing problems. Public Advocates, a nonprofit law firm and civil rights advocacy group, filed a Williams complaint that alleges a failure to hire special education resource teachers, a counselor, a social worker and a nurse, as well as unlawfully assigning full-time educators to classes they are not qualified to teach all to the detriment of Marina Middle School students education and well-being. The complaint is based on Williams v. State of California, a class action lawsuit filed by the ACLU, Public Advocates and nearly 100 San Francisco County students in 2000 against the state over poor conditions in public schools. The case is named after Eliezer Williams, who was a middle-school student at The Citys Luther Burbank Middle School and lead plaintiff in the case. The lawsuit accused the state of denying poor children access to textbooks, trained teachers and safe classrooms. A settlement was reached in 2004 requiring all California public students have access to qualified teachers. According to the landmark lawsuit, school districts must correct teacher vacancies and unlawful teacher assignments within 30 days. John Affeldt, managing attorney of Public Advocates and lead counsel on the Williams case in 2000, said staffing vacancies and turnover at Marina Middle School are among the worst (staffing) conditions weve seen since we filed Williams over 20 years ago. While hiring is a challenge post-pandemic for most districts, SFUSD needs to be more proactive in addressing the vacancies at Marina Middle School and across the district. Inaction is not an option, he said. According to the complaint, members of the school community shared with the law firm that both daily and long-term substitute teachers are regularly called upon to cover classes and that certified staff are asked to give up (lesson) preparation periods to provide class coverage. There were repeated requests by school leadership to paraprofessionals and security personnel to cover classes that lack full-time educators. Staff regularly combined multiple classes in the auditorium and screened the Pixar movie Finding Nemo in lieu of classroom instruction. The complaint noted that this practice was discontinued following complaints from the teachers union. At least 65% of the 684 students at Marina Middle school are low-income and 145 students are English language learners. According to the complaint, 88% of the 145 students are English learners. The permanent teacher designated to cover a dual-immersion Mandarin class, in which half of content must be delivered in Mandarin, has been on leave since the beginning of August. Another S.F. middle school falls into disciplinary chaos Marina Middle School administrators are accused of inadequate safety practices and breaking education laws All the students, including the Mandarin-speaking English Learners, whom we believe constitute greater than 20% of the class, rely on the instructor to be able to convey academic content in Mandarin for significant portions of the instructional week, the complaint stated. Sally Chen, education equity program manager at Chinese for Affirmative Action, said the complaint addresses a matter of justice for The Citys immigrant communities. More than 50% of the students at Marina Middle School identify as Asian and 88% speak either Cantonese, Spanish, Toishanese, Arabic and Mandarin. Many are newcomers to San Francisco, she said. Education is a fundamental right that these students have been unable to access. This issue needs immediate action. Public Advocates is calling on the district to remedy these violations at Marina Middle School immediately as well as violations in other schools within the district. Laura Dudnick, spokesperson for SFUSD, said on Monday that the district just received the complaint and will need time to thoroughly review it before it comments on specifics. SFUSD experiences several hundred teacher vacancies every year out of about 3,500 teaching positions, she said. Marina is experiencing staffing vacancies consistent with other schools and we have been actively working to fill vacant positions. We have qualified candidates in the pipeline who we hope to hire to fill most of the vacancies at Marina soon. While the number of classroom vacancies districtwide has been relatively consistent with previous years, we know that the impacts of any vacant position feel exacerbated by the pandemic and other circumstances. Once a complaint is filed, a school district must respond to the complaint within 30 days. An appeal may be filed with the state superintendent within 15 days of receiving a response. Turkey may withdraw from NATO in five to six months deputy chairman of the Turkish Rodina party, Ethem Sanjak. "Events force us to take such actions. NATO forces us to do so with its provocations. pic.twitter.com/u3Sz7NTNTa Four B.C. businesses developing solutions to help ensure the provinces food systems remain secure, resilient and sustainable are the first to receive funding and partner with the Simon Fraser University-led B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation (BCCAI). A total of $540,000 has been invested in projects being developed by the four companies, including $122,500 from BCCAI , $122,500 from the businesses and an additional $295,000 from in-kind contributions. The four companies, all located in Metro Vancouver, are: Aeroroot Systems (Surrey), Agrotek Industries (Burnaby), Bakerview EcoDairy (Abbotsford), and Lucent BioSciences (West Vancouver) "Investment in agriculture is the best way to fight hunger, poverty and climate change, says SFUs Sylvain Moreno, the scientific director of BCCAI. These four champions are leading B.C. agritechnology revolution and will guide British Columbia toward a better future." The BCCAI, announced by the provincial government in July 2022, brings together academia, industry and govetnment to create new opportunities towards food production and security. Located at SFUs Surrey campus, the BCCAI is funded by the province and the federal government through Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCAN). As we build Canadas agriculture sector for the future, the Government of Canada will be here to support innovative, inclusive projects like the ones announced today to ensure the sectors prosperity and competitiveness for years to come. said Francis Drouin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Member of Parliament for GlengarryPrescottRussell, on behalf of the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada. The centre is expected to create 200 jobs and help train more than 700 workers, while adding 30 new agritech projects throughout the province by 2025. We need to be continuously innovating and working together to improve local food production and access to food for people here in B.C. and around the world, said Pam Alexis, B.C.s Minister of Agriculture and Food. Agritech is the future and the work these four companies are doing in partnership with the B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation is helping ensure B.C.s food systems are secure, resilient and sustainable. The first projects supported by the B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation were unveiled at the Pacific Agriculture Show in Abbotsford. Each is contributing to long-term priorities of agriculture in B.C. including Indigenous food security, vertical farming, and increased and sustainable crop production. It is anticipated that these projects will be farm-ready for commercialization in two years, creating over 30 well-paying jobs. SFU is grateful for the generous support from the federal and provincial governments to advance the vital work of the B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation and our partners, said Dugan ONeil, SFUs vice-president research and international,. We are pleased to be working with academic, industry and community partners across the sector to improve food security locally and globally, create jobs and position B.C. as a world leader in the agritech space. Kazkah President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed the Senate of the Parliament. "Kazakhstan has entered a new stage of development. Last year we began the implementation of the constitutional reforms following which important amendments to the countrys main law were introduced, In November, we held Presidential elections. Deputies of the Senate have been recently elected. Some senators have been appointed under my decree. The process of the Senates formation has been completed," said the President. "Almost half of the deputy corps has been renewed. A special quota for the members of the Peoples Assembly of Kazakhstan is offered. All of this will enable the Senate to protect the interests of all the citizens of the country. In general, the upper chamber plays a special role in the public administration system. As per the Constitution, the Senate is imposed important functions. All conditions for a quality law-making activity are created," he noted. Tokayev praised senators active participation in the implementation of large-scale reforms and expressed confidence that the newly elected deputies will give a new impetus to the upper chamber's work. The principle of a strong President- an influential Parliament- an accountable Government has been achieved, he said. "Thanks to a wide public support of our initiatives, the work on large-scale modernization has brought serious results. We will do not sit on our laurels. We have huge work ahead," he added. A former prison guard caught smuggling methamphetamine and marijuana into the Nebraska State Penitentiary got prison time for it Tuesday. Edgar Gomez, 35, of La Vista, pleaded no contest to possession of methamphetamine, delivery of marijuana and unlawful acts in the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. His attorney, Edward Wintroub, said when an inmate initially approached Gomez he was distressed, needed the money and didn't know what to do, so he agreed to do it. When he was asked to do it again, he threw the package away but the inmate told him there would be consequences if he didn't. In arguing for probation, Wintroub said Gomez had been manipulated and made bad decisions, but he was concerned for Gomez' safety if he were sentenced to prison, something Gomez echoed when he was given an opportunity to speak. "I feel like there would be a huge target on my back," Gomez said. "Mentally, I wasn't all there when this happened." Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Charles Byrd pointed out inconsistencies in Gomez's statements. At one point, he said he'd thrown the package away the first time. He told another investigator he'd brought in contraband successfully twice before and was caught the third time, on Feb. 18, 2022. Byrd said Gomez's phone records show he was paid $2,500 between Jan. 30, 2022, and Feb. 18. "He minimizes his role in this and offers excuses instead of taking responsibility for his actions," the prosecutor said. On Feb. 18, staff at the State Pen found Gomez with a beverage can with a hidden compartment as he entered the prison for work, according to the affidavit for his arrest. Correctional staff found plastic baggies with 57.2 grams of meth and 65.1 grams of marijuana inside. Gomez ultimately was arrested and charged. Lancaster County District Judge Jodi Nelson called the amounts Gomez was caught smuggling astonishing and said for him to suggest he didn't know what he was bringing into the prison was very difficult for her to believe. "This was a business transaction," she said. "I recognize that it was something that you got into and, quite frankly, I don't doubt that you got in over your head rather quickly. But in the line of work that you were in you also knew that that was one of the consequences of doing this." Nelson said Gomez had full ability to say no or to stop it and should have considered the consequences of getting caught when he decided to do it. "You violated a position of trust by engaging in this behavior," she said. Nelson said she also recognized that Gomez had little criminal history before this but said sometimes that first offense "is a doozy." And she sentenced Gomez to six to 10 years in prison. Page Content The Chance to Compete Actlegislation that alters the recruiting and hiring process for federal government jobs to incorporate skills-based assessmentspassed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 422-2 on Jan. 24. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) championed the legislation, which introduces HR best practices such as the use of candidate assessments to improve employee performance and retention. The bill would prioritize candidate evaluations based on knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies while limiting the use of education when determining if someone is qualified for a role. It also facilitates the use of more robust assessments over the self-assessment questionnaires currently used for nearly all federal jobs. "SHRM is proud to support the Chance to Compete Act because it removes barriers to federal jobs and implements best practices for hiring," said SHRM Chief of Staff, Head of Public Affairs and Corporate Secretary Emily M. Dickens. "Hiring practices that overlook qualified candidates inhibit the ability of the federal government to fill vital roles. Given the significant demographic changes in our country, improving the federal government's ability to attract talent and identify the right candidates is essential." The bill was introduced by Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., the chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee, and co-sponsored by Reps. Gerry Connolly, D-Va.; James Comer, R-Ky.; and Ro Khanna, D-Calif. "The Chance to Compete Act of 2023 builds upon a record of bipartisan support and proven success in codifying key skills-based hiring reforms," Foxx said. "Under this legislation, federal agencies will be able to best distinguish practical performers in a field of candidates and focus on hiring individuals who can perform at the highest level in the jobs they assume within the federal government." Specifically, the Chance to Compete Act: Defines acceptable job assessments used in competitive-service hiring to include skills-based assessments. Authorizes agencies to use subject-matter experts to administer skills-based assessments. A successful pilot program conducted in 2019 by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the U.S. Digital Service allowed subject-matter experts to assess applicants to determine if they could perform the duties of the role, while HR maintained responsibility for the hiring process and compliance. Allows agencies to share assessment information about job candidates when they are working to fill similar positions, decreasing time-to-hire for all applicants and making the federal hiring process more efficient. Institutes "talent teams" in federal HR officesensuring each agency has a key group of staff who specialize in supporting the development and facilitation of skills-based assessments and improving hiring examinations. "Implementing the changes set forth in the Chance to Compete Act will improve federal hiring processes, expanding the eligible talent pool and ensuring that those with needed skills are brought into the federal fold in a transparent and efficient manner," said William Shackelford, president of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association in Alexandria, Va. "Current federal hiring processes are stifling the government's ability to bring in the talent necessary for it to effectively serve the American people. Federal agencies currently suffer from mission-critical skills gaps. Competitive hiring practices are central to the concept of merit-based hiring, whereby employees are hired based on their qualifications. This bill addresses those issues by providing commonsense steps to improve competitive hiring practices and increase hiring efficiency." Similar legislation made progress last Congress, clearing the House and advancing in the Senate, but it ultimately did not pass. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., introduced a separate bill last September that would encourage private-sector employers to prioritize job applicants' skills and competencies over educational requirements. The Advancing Skills-Based Hiring Act sought to boost skills-based hiring by first ensuring an employer's pre-employment assessments are compliant with the law. The pivot to skills-based hiring among federal agencies builds on a 2020 executive order from the Trump administration, meant to modernize federal recruitment practices. Key provisions included modifying qualification and classification standards to eliminate degree requirements where possible and eliminating the reliance on applicant self-assessment questionnaires. The Biden administration has followed suit, with OPM issuing guidance on skills-based hiring last May and planning to expand the initiative soon. "Skills-based hiring will expand talent pools by making it easier for applicants without a bachelor's degree to demonstrate their skills and will help remove barriers to employment for historically underrepresented groups," said OPM Director Kiran Ahuja. President Droupadi Murmu will lead the nation in celebrating Republic Day, with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as the special guest. Six 'Agniveers' will march with the Navy at the 74th Republic Day celebrations on Thursday, when the formal parade will take place on Kartavya Path amid patriotic fervour. On the eve of the celebrations, the Ministry of Defence published a statement to that effect. Officials had stated that the military assets that would be shown during the parade will feature made-in-India equipment that embodies the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat. The main battle tank Arjun, the Nag Missile System (NAMIS), and the K-9 Vajra will also be displayed, according to a statement from the defence ministry. "The Indian Navy detachment will consist of 144 young sailors commanded by Lt Cdr Disha Amrith as contingent commander. The marching contingent includes three women and six Agniveers for the first time. "The naval tableau, themed 'Indian Navy - Combat Ready, Credible, Cohesive, and Future Proof,' will follow. It will highlight the Indian Navy's multidimensional capabilities, 'Nari Shakti,' as well as significant indigenously designed and manufactured assets under 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat.' "According to the statement. The ceremony will begin with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the National War Memorial and placing a wreath in honour of the fallen heroes. Following that, the prime minister and other dignitaries will proceed to the saluting dais on Kartavya Path to observe the parade. "The naval tableau, themed 'Indian Navy - Combat Ready, Credible, Cohesive, and Future Proof,' will follow. It will highlight the Indian Navy's multidimensional capabilities, 'Nari Shakti,' as well as significant indigenously designed and manufactured assets under 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat.' "According to the statement. The ceremony will begin with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the National War Memorial and placing a wreath in honour of the fallen heroes. Following that, the prime minister and other dignitaries will proceed to the saluting dais on Kartavya Path to observe the parade. Six 'Agniveers' will be part of the Navy's marching contingent at the 74th Republic Day celebrations on Thursday, when the formal parade will take place on Kartavya Path amid patriotic fervour. This was announced in a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence on the eve of the ceremonies. Officials had stated that the military assets that would be shown during the parade will feature made-in-India weaponry demonstrating the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat. The main battle tank Arjun, the Nag Missile System (NAMIS), and the K-9 Vajra will also be displayed, according to a statement from the defence ministry. "The Indian Navy detachment will consist of 144 young sailors commanded by Lt Cdr Disha Amrith as contingent commander. The marching contingent includes three women and six Agniveers for the first time. "It will be followed by the naval tableau, designed on the theme 'Indian Navy - Combat Ready, Credible, Cohesive and Future Proof'. It will showcase the multi-dimensional capabilities of the Indian Navy, 'Nari Shakti' and key indigenously designed and built assets under 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'," the statement said. The ceremony will commence with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the National War Memorial and paying tributes to the fallen heroes by laying a wreath. Thereafter, the prime minister and other dignitaries will head to the saluting dais at Kartavya Path to witness the parade. As per tradition, the national flag will be unfurled followed by the National Anthem with a booming 21-gun salute. Among, the many firsts, the ceremonial salute will be given with 105-mm Indian field guns. It replaces the vintage 25-pounder guns, reflecting upon the growing 'Aatmanirbharta' in defence. Four Mi-17 1V/V5 helicopters of 105 Helicopter Unit will shower flower petals on the audience present at Kartavya Path, the statement said. Thank you for visiting the Daily Journal. Please purchase an Enhanced Subscription to continue reading. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Dulcie Dujour remembers the day a stranger came up to her at the pub and asked if she could do the drag queens portrait, in embroidery. Late 80s. The Peel in Melbourne. Still the early days of drag despite Carlottas groundbreaking ways. Dujour had just finished performing when novice artist Paula Hyland came up to the bar and introduced herself. Paula Hyland. Credit: Scott McNaughton Drag was different then. More low-key. Less choreography. The queens did their own gigs, wigs and make-up, nothing as elaborate as reality show RuPauls Drag Race Down Under. But Hyland wasnt just some random overenthusiastic straight fan shed studied with legendary textile artist Isabel Foster. Back to the UK Former Beatle, Paul McCartney, is having second and third thoughts about using marihuana. McCartney was deported from Japan on Friday after being held in a police cell for nine days on suspicion of violating Japanese drug laws. At Tokyos international airport, McCartney was swamped by screaming fans and by the press. Asked by a reporter if he was having second thoughts about marihuana, McCartney replied: Yeah, and third. Russian trade Australia is selling vital war materials to the Russians. A Russian negotiating team arranged in Sydney last week to buy 10,000 tonnes of the mineral rutile which is used to make Titanium. Titanium is used for the manufacture of nuclear missiles, submarines and other armaments. The $4 million deal seems certain to upset the wheat lobby, which is bearing the brunt of Australias trade sanctions in protest against Russias intervention in Afghanistan. History axed One of NSWs most wanted fugitives has been taken into custody following a dramatic arrest in Darwin on Wednesday night when he was found hiding in the hull of a yacht. Mark Horne, 32, was on bail and was due to face trial over his alleged involvement in the shooting of a truck driver and the theft of $550,000 in cash from the driver in the NSW Blue Mountains in September 2020. NSW Police will travel to the Northern Territory in the coming days to apply for Mark Hornes extradition. Credit: NSW Police Police allege Horne was travelling in the back of an Uber in Sydneys south when he cut off his ankle monitoring bracelet and disappeared in October last year. Following a manhunt, Australian Border Force officers boarded the yacht, which was attempting to sail from Cullen Bay Marina in Darwin late on Wednesday. Speakers at a packed Invasion Day rally in inner Sydney have unanimously rejected the proposed Indigenous Voice to parliament, branding it a box-ticking exercise that will not lead to meaningful change. Tens of thousands of people gathered at Belmore Park on Thursday morning for two hours of speeches canvassing issues including deaths in custody, the Stolen Generations, land rights and environmental protection, before the large crowd marched up Broadway to Victoria Park. Many speakers referred to Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses proposed Voice, a constitutionally enshrined advisory body of First Nations people that would be able to make representations to parliament. Lizzie Jarrett, a Dunghutti, Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung woman, said Indigenous people had already been the subject of a referendum in 1967, and it did f--- all for our rights. She urged those present to vote no in any future referendum to establish the Voice. One of Melbournes oldest girls schools will welcome its first boys next week, in a shift to coeducation that its principal says will bring students into an environment that more closely resembles the real world. St Aloysius College, a Catholic secondary school in North Melbourne, has exclusively educated girls since the 1880s but will soon greet an intake of more than 50 year 7 boys, alongside about 80 new girls. St Aloysius College principal Mary Farah says the shift to co-ed will resemble the real world for students. Credit: Simon Schluter College principal Mary Farah said the move was based upon changing needs and changing times. Life is certainly co-ed and so are we, she said. The Liberal Party is viewing the nomination of Northern Beaches mayor Michael Regan as an independent for the seat of Wakehurst as a serious threat to their stranglehold on a clutch of northern Sydney seats. The mayor confirmed on Thursday he would run for the seat being vacated by outgoing Health Minister and Liberal elder Brad Hazzard. He is not a teal candidate. Liberal candidate Toby Williams (left) and independent Michael Regan are expected to fight for control over the NSW seat of Wakehurst. Credit: Fairfax Regan had more than 20 years of experience in local government before he was elected mayor of the former Warringah Council in 2008. He then became mayor of the Northern Beaches Council after the 2016 council amalgamations. Britain, Germany and Poland have each committed to sending 14 tanks, with London predicting delivery of its Challenger 2s within weeks. Germanys defence minister, Boris Pistorius, forecast it would take Berlin three or four months to ship its Leopard 2 tanks. Poland has signalled it is already prepared to send its own Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. Portugal has said it could give four Leopard 2s, and Norway has said it could send eight more. Other pledges to give Leopard 2s but without specifying how many have been made by Spain, Finland and the Netherlands. And France is considering giving Ukraine an unspecified number of its Leclerc battle tanks. A destroyed Russian tank covered by snow stands in a forest in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine, Credit: AP Additionally, Denmark has said it could send 20 Swiss-made Piranha tanks to Ukraine once the government in Bern agrees they could be reexported a process that moved forward last weekend after being stalled for months. In all, that means at least 105 Western tanks have been committed in principle at least. Is that enough? Ukrainian military officials have long said they need at least 300 Western tanks to make a difference in the war. That is a lot of tanks at the national level, according to an analysis Wednesday by Janes, the London-based intelligence firm. European militaries are holding at least 2000 Leopard 2 tanks and hundreds of other kinds of Western battle tanks. The Russians also have thousands of tanks still available in what has become a war of rapid attrition, said David Silbey, a military historian at Cornell University who specialises in battlefield analysis. The West will never manage a one-to-one match for those numbers, Silbey said. But, given the quality advantage of the Leopard or Abrams over even the most modern Russian tank, if the West could supply 500 to 1,000 tanks, it would make a massive difference to the Ukrainians and to the war. When will Ukrainian troops be ready to use them? Some will be arriving in British training camps in the coming days to start training on the Challenger 2 tanks that London committed to this month, according to Vadym Prystaiko, Ukraines ambassador to the United Kingdom. Ukrainians will need to be trained to use the US-made M1 Abrams tanks. Credit: . Some former military officials and experts have challenged claims mostly by the United States that it could take months to train Ukraines forces to use the tanks. They note that the Ukrainian troops selected to crew them will have already been trained on Soviet-era tanks. So learning to operate the Leopard 2 tanks, which run on diesel fuel and are easier to operate than M1 Abrams, could take only three to four weeks to achieve a basic proficiency, the International Institute for Strategic Studies said this month. US officials, who briefed journalists on condition of anonymity, described a far more complicated process for the M1 Abrams, involving training not just for operating the tanks, but also for maintaining them. Part of that process will involve building a stable supply chain to ensure the tanks are getting the fuel, parts and other assistance they would need on the front lines. While the Abrams may not arrive on the battlefield for what one U.S. official described as some time, training Ukrainian troops to use them will begin quickly. Already, U.S. troops in Germany are training Ukrainian forces on a range of combined and coordinated weapons, including armoured combat vehicles. Will they have enough ammunition? Loading Dwindling supplies of ammunition have been a bane for Ukraines forces almost since the start of the war, reliant as they are on diminishing stores of munitions that fit their Soviet-era tanks and other weapons. Captured Russian tanks have been an essential stopgap for Ukraine, but spare parts for them are often hard to acquire, according to Ukrainian soldiers. The Western-made tanks use ammunition that is compatible with NATO stocks, meaning that they could be replenished by any of the 30 member states of the military alliance or their partners. The tanks will be delivered with some extra ammunition supplies. Still, the war has so drained Western stockpiles that some allies are growing nervous about whether they will have enough for other potential conflicts or even their own self-defence. While the new Western tanks are essential for any future Ukrainian offensive operations, they may prove a headache for Ukraines legions of supply officers. The German and American tanks have different parts and maintenance regimes, and both fire types of ammunition different from those of the Soviet-era tanks that Ukraine currently fields. How will they get to the battlefield? The process of delivering Western weapons and other military equipment to Ukraine has been one of the most heavily guarded secrets of the war. Concerns that Russia will target roads, railways or staging grounds for the materiel has required what officials and experts described as stealthy convoys, usually disguised or cloaked in darkness, to evade attack. Former Western military officials and experts described a patchwork of delivery routes, largely originating from hubs in Poland, Slovakia and Germany, that will be crucial to getting tanks, armoured fighting vehicles and huge guns to the front line. Most of the weapons will be shipped either on rail cars or flatbed trucks that are strong enough to carry their huge weight. Rail is generally the fastest and safest way to move armour, experts said, given that long convoys of flatbed trucks would most likely attract Russias attention. It would take too much time, fuel and spare parts to drive the tanks and other armoured vehicles to the battlefield, experts said. They would also become, in essence, a moving target for Russian warplanes. PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament, Sarah Wescot-Williams, in her capacity of leader of the Democratic Party on Sunday gave a sneak view of the partys priorities for the short and medium term. These priorities were encompassed in a short video presentation, however, in her speech, the DP leader delved into several of the topics presented. The MP was emphatic about the issue of our constitutional status within the Dutch Kingdom and in her view, the Kingdom Charter needs to be amended posthaste. The MP is said to be strengthened in her position by motions passed to this effect in the Dutch First and Second Chambers. All countries keep mentioning these motions, but the ball is being bounced around between the governments and the parliaments of the countries. If we are serious about wanting to continue together in the Dutch Kingdom, this process of amending the Charter needs to start now. There are some blatant parts in the Kingdom Charter, which with ones eyes closed, you can see are in conflict with the premise and the spirit of the Charter, the MP commented. Those are e.g. the role of the King in the governing of the countries, presented by the governors in the Caribbean. The Charter makes no bones about that; the monarch is the head of all 4 governments in the kingdom. What we see is that while the Netherlands has moved away from some of the roles afforded to the monarch, such as appointing a formateur, this has remained with the Governors of the Caribbean countries, leading to the governors role in the screening of ministers, etc. in these countries. The same can be said for the governor as a co-signatory to a decree to dissolve parliament. Again, you see where in the Netherlands, a potential dissolution of parliament is debated in the Second Chamber. In the same context, the governor also presents the annual government vision during the opening of each parliamentary year and although the monarch does the same, it is much more of a Kingdom synopsis on the basis of the budget of the Netherlands. It is time for a true representative head of government for the Caribbean countries. Although I say this with some trepidation, due to our porous election system and resulting instability, with electoral reform high on DPs priority list, I am a little more confident that charter reform should come. In addition to the part of the monarchys role, what needs to be addressed is the so-called guarantee function of the Kingdom government in the Charter. This is a big bone of contention when it comes to instructions to the countrys government and/or governor, continued the MP. And then we have the debacle of consensus kingdom laws, where the democratic deficit comes into play. In the MPs view, the focus of the charters renewal should be on de jure self-government of the countries; elimination of ambiguities, and amplification of the 3 main Kingdom domains of nationality, foreign relations, and defense. These 3 (Dutch) ministers should also be accountable to all parliaments. And finally, give the other countries right Aruba has in the charter, namely an exit clause out of the Dutch Kingdom but only based on the peoples decision to do so. The above outline was given under the Partys key item Democracy. Other focal points presented by the DP leader on Sunday during the partys regeneration and growth Congress were Health, Life Long Education, Economic Development, National Community, Social Reconstruction, Environmental Recovery, Taxes, Labor/Immigration, and Agriculture & Fisheries. While some main topics of the other themes were presented during Sundays Congress, the party will form small groups to further work out the partys various positions, the DP leader concluded in her release. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Committee of Justice of Parliament will meet on January 26, 2023. The Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 14.00 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Justice will be present. The agenda point is: Update from the MOT on financial intelligence supervision in St. Maarten (IS/984/2021-2022 dated June 7, 2022) This meeting was requested by MP R. Brison. Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules. The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg. The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx, and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament Uranium Energy Corp Receives $17.85 Million from the U.S. Department of Energy for Supplying 300,000 lbs. U3O8 at $59.50/lb. to the Strategic Uranium Reserve Program Uranium Energy CorpA (NYSE American: UEC, the aCompanya or aUECa https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/uranium-energy-corp/ ) is pleased to announce it has received $17.85 million from the U.S. Department of Energy (aDOEa) for supplying 300,000 pounds of U.S. origin uranium concentrates at $59.50/lb. to the DOE a National Nuclear Security Administration (aNNSAa) under the contract awarded to the Company announced on December 20, 2022. The award was in response to the NNSAa?s Request for Proposals to establish its strategic national Uranium Reserve program. Please see the Companya?s press release dated December 20, 2022 for further details on the Uranium Reserve program.A A A Amir Adnani, President and CEO stated: aWe are honored and delighted to have supplied 300,000 pounds of U.S. origin uranium concentrates to the NNSA and look forward to the continuation of the Uranium Reserve program and working with the DOE in the coming years.a About Uranium Energy Corp Uranium Energy Corp is the fastest growing supplier of the fuel for the green energy transition to a low carbon future. UEC is the largest, diversified North American focused uranium company, advancing the next generation of low-cost, environmentally friendly In-Situ Recovery (aISRa) mining uranium projects inA the United StatesA and high-grade conventional projects inA Canada. The Company has two production-ready ISR hub and spoke platforms inA South TexasA andA Wyoming. These two production platforms are anchored by fully operational central processing plants and served by seven U.S. ISR uranium projects with all their major permits in place. Additionally, the Company has diversified uranium holdings including: (1) one of the largest physical uranium portfolios of North American warehoused U3O8; (2) a major equity stake in Uranium Royalty Corp., the only royalty company in the sector; and (3) a Western Hemisphere pipeline of resource stage uranium projects. The Company\-s operations are managed by professionals with decades of hands-on experience in the key facets of uranium exploration, development and mining. For additional information, please contact: Uranium Energy Corp Investor Relations Toll Free:A (866) 748-1030 Fax:A (361) 888-5041 E-mail:A info@uraniumenergy.com Twitter: @UraniumEnergy In Europe: Swiss Resource Capital AG Jochen Staiger & Marc Ollinger info@resource-capital.ch www.resource-capital.ch Stock Exchange Information: NYSE American:A UEC Frankfurt Stock Exchange Symbol:A U6Z WKN:A AAJDRR ISN:A US916896103 Safe Harbor Statement Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes aforward-looking statementsa as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian securities laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as aexpectsa or adoes not expecta, ais expecteda, aanticipatesa or adoes not anticipatea, aplans, aestimatesa or aintendsa, or stating that certain actions, events or results amaya, acoulda, awoulda, amighta or awilla be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as aforward-looking statementsa. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of exploration activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation or realization of mineral resources, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry including, without limitation, those associated with the environment, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, title disputes or claims limitations on insurance coverage. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Many of these factors are beyond the Companya?s ability to control or predict. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact the Company and the statements contained in this news release can be found in the Company\-s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities. District Comments on Recent Media Reports to Lift the Uranium Moratorium in Sweden District Metals Corp. (TSX-V: DMX) (FRA: DFPP); (aDistricta or the aCompanya) is pleased to note that Swedish media has reported that a majority of the Swedish Parliament has resolved to allow for exploration and mining of uranium in Sweden.A On January 19, 2023, The Liberals, a member of the current Swedish governing coalition, internally voted to support the lifting of the moratorium in place since 2018.A A motion from the Moderate Party, to which Prime Minister Kristersson belongs, to remove the uranium mining moratorium in Sweden is expected to be voted on by the Swedish Parliament in March 2023. A Garrett Ainsworth, CEO of District, commented: aWe are very pleased with the recent media reports out of Sweden that a majority by the newly formed government has reached a consensus to remove the moratorium on uranium mining.A The implications related to this decision are potentially transformational for District Metals given our recent mineral license application of Viken nr 101, which covers most of the vanadium-uranium-molybdenum-nickel-copper-zinc Viken Deposit in Sweden.A The polymetallic Viken Deposit is amongst the largest by total historic mineral resources of vanadium and uranium in the world (see January 5, 2023 news release).a Swedena?s new government has indicated strong support for nuclear power and energy security.A The new center-right coalition government formed in October 2022 has indicated support for expanding nuclear power in Sweden.A There are currently six operating nuclear reactors in Sweden that supply about 40% of the countrya?s electricity, and the new government has called for the possible restart of Ringhals reactor units 1 and 2, as well as to prepare for the construction of new reactors. The moratorium on exploration and mining of uranium in Sweden came into effect on August 1, 2018.A The new center-right coalition government in Sweden put forth a motion on November 22, 2022 to revert the Minerals Act back to its original wording before August 1, 2018, such that uranium mining would be possible again in Sweden.A The news from January 19, 2023 that the Swedish Government has obtained a majority to remove the moratorium on uranium is very positive for Sweden and a low-carbon Europe. The Company has increased the size of the Viken nr 101 mineral license application to cover 76% of the polymetallic Viken Deposit (Figure 1), which will likely increase the timing from late-February to May 2023 for approval of the application from the Swedish Mining Inspectorate.A A Technical Information All scientific and technical information in this news release has been prepared by, or approved by Garrett Ainsworth, PGeo, President and CEO of the Company. Mr. Ainsworth is a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The data disclosed in this news release is related to mineral resource estimates that are considered to be ahistorical estimatesa under National Instrument 43-101 a Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (aNI 43-101a).A A Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource, and the Company is not treating these historical estimates as current Mineral Resources. The Company would need to conduct an exploration program, including twinning of historical drill holes in order to verify the Viken Deposit historical estimate as a current mineral resource. Mr. Ainsworth has not verified any of the information regarding any of the properties or projects referred to herein other than the Viken Mineral License application. Mineralization on any other properties referred to herein is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Viken Mineral License application. About District Metals Corp. District Metals Corp. is led by industry professionals with a track record of success in the mining industry. The Companya?s mandate is to seek out, explore, and develop prospective mineral properties through a disciplined science-based approach to create shareholder value and benefit other stakeholders. The advanced exploration stage Tomtebo Property is located in the Bergslagen Mining District of south-central Sweden is the Companya?s main focus. Tomtebo comprises 5,144 ha and is situated between the historic Falun Mine and Bolidena?s Garpenberg Mine that are located 25 km to the northwest and southeast, respectively. Two historic polymetallic mines and numerous polymetallic showings are located on the Tomtebo Property along an approximate 17 km trend that exhibits similar geology, structure, alteration and VMS/SedEx style mineralization as other significant mines within the district. Mineralization that is open at depth and along strike at the historic mines on the Tomtebo Property has not been followed up on, and modern systematic exploration has never been conducted on the Property. For further information on the Tomtebo Property, please see the technical report entitled aNI 43-101 Update Technical Report on the Tomtebo Project, Bergslagen Region of Swedena dated effective October 15, 2020 and amended and restated on February 26, 2021, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors aGarrett Ainswortha President and Chief Executive Officer (604) 288-4430 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding aForward-Lookinga Information. This news release contains certain statements that may be considered aforward-looking informationa with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as aplansa, atargetsa, aexpectsa or adoes not expecta, ais expecteda, aan opportunity existsa, ais positioneda, aestimatesa, aintendsa, aassumesa, aanticipatesa or adoes not anticipatea or abelievesa, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results amaya, acoulda, awoulda, amighta, awilla or awill be takena, aoccura or abe achieveda and any similar expressions. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, predictions, indications, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent managementa?s expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events.A Forward-looking statements in this news release relating to the Company include, among other things, statements relating to the Companya?s application for a 2,302 hectare mineral license (Figure 1) to explore for vanadium, nickel, molybdenum, zinc, and other elements covering a portion of the polymetallic Viken Deposit located in JAmtland County, central Sweden; the expected timing of the Bergsstatena?s (Mining Inspectorate) decision on the Companya?s Viken nr 101 mineral license application; the Companya?s planned exploration activities, including its drill target strategy and next steps for the Viken Property; and the Companya?s interpretations and expectations about the results on the Viken Property. These statements and other forward-looking information are based on opinions, assumptions and estimates made by the Company in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that the Company believes are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances, as of the date of this news release, including, without limitation, assumptions about the reliability of historical data and the accuracy of publicly reported information regarding past and historic mines in the Bergslagen district; the Companya?s ability to raise sufficient capital to fund planned exploration activities, maintain corporate capacity; and stability in financial and capital marketsA Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number ofA opinions, assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date such statements are made, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to risks associated with the following: the likelihood of the Bergsstatena?s (Mining Inspectorate) decision to approve the Companya?s Viken nr 101 mineral license application; the reliability of historic data regarding the Viken Deposit and the Tomtebo Property; the Companya?s ability to raise sufficient capital to finance planned exploration (including incurring prescribed exploration expenditures required by the Tomtebo Purchase Agreement, failing which the Tomtebo Property will be forfeited without any repayment of the purchase price); the Companya?s limited operating history; the Companya?s negative operating cash flow and dependence on third-party financing; the uncertainty of additional funding; the uncertainties associated with early stage exploration activities including general economic, market and business conditions, the regulatory process, failure to obtain necessary permits and approvals, technical issues, potential delays, unexpected events and managementa?s capacity to execute and implement its future plans; the Companya?s ability to identify any mineral resources and mineral reserves; the substantial expenditures required to establish mineral reserves through drilling and the estimation of mineral reserves or mineral resources; the Companya?s dependence on one material project, the Tomtebo Property; the uncertainty of estimates used to calculated mineralization figures; changes in governmental regulations; compliance with applicable laws and regulations; competition for future resource acquisitions and skilled industry personnel; reliance on key personnel; title matters; conflicts of interest; environmental laws and regulations and associated risks, including climate change legislation; land reclamation requirements; changes in government policies; volatility of the Companya?s share price; the unlikelihood that shareholders will receive dividends from the Company; potential future acquisitions and joint ventures; infrastructure risks; fluctuations in demand for, and prices of gold, silver and copper; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; legal proceedings and the enforceability of judgments; going concern risk; risks related to the Companya?s information technology systems and cyber-security risks; and risk related to the outbreak of epidemics or pandemics or other health crises, including the recent outbreak of COVID-19. For additional information regarding these risks, please see the Companya?s Annual Information Form, under the heading aRisk Factorsa, which is available at www.sedar.com. These factors and assumptions are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors and assumptions that could affect the Company. These factors and assumptions, however, should be considered carefully. Although the Company has attempted to identify factors that would cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those disclosed in the forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Also, many of such factors are beyond the control of the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable securities laws. All scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been prepared by or reviewed and approved by Garrett Ainsworth, PGeo, President and CEO of the Company.A Mr. Ainsworth is a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Jacob Weasel was in a fight with a mountain. Hurricane-force winds bombarded him with snow and brought the wind chill down to 50 below. Standing at over 19,000 feet, staring up at the Autobahn the 1,000 feet of notoriously icy slope between high camp and the summit of Denali he was about to lose. Despite pleading with his guides to let them continue, and after 18 days of sleeping on the ice, it was the closest he'd get to the top of North America's tallest peak. But Denali, coming in at 20,310 feet, wasn't Weasel's first nor his highest adventure at altitude. The spry and fit young Monument Health trauma surgeon and member of South Dakota's Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe had successfully climbed Mt. Rainier (14,411 ft.), Cloud Peak (13,171 ft.), Grand Teton (13,775 ft.) and a handful of 14-ers in Colorado. He summited Cotopaxi (19,347 ft.) and Chimborazo (20,549 ft.) in Ecuador within 48 hours of each other, and bagged Kilimanjaro (19,341 ft.) in Tanzania checking off that continent's tallest peak. So, it wasn't for a lack of capability, training or experience Weasel's group was turned around on Denali, and it wasn't a lack of grit either. In fact, Denali was not only the first time he's ever been turned around on a mountain, it's one of the only times Weasel's ever been turned around by any challenge period. But the crushing defeat set in motion another dream that only time or success can stop. "I came away from that experience, being let down to that degree and knowing that I was fully capable of summiting that mountain," he said. "I came away from that experience knowing in my heart that I was going to be the first Native American to summit the 'Seven Summits' the highest peak on each continent." The seven summits are a bucket list goal for many adventurers. American businessman Richard Bass was the first person to complete the seven in 1985. However, Bass climbed Australia's Mt. Kosciuszko (7,310 ft.) as the highest point in the Australasian continent, a point disagreed on by Italian mountaineer Reinhold Messner in 1986. Messner argued that the Carstenz Pyramid (now known as Puncak Jaya) was higher than Kosciuszko and should be the agreed-upon summit for that continent. The disagreement resulted in the "Messner List" and the "Bass List," with the one peak difference. Most mountaineers agree with Messner's List, although some summit Kosciuszko as well just to be safe. Messner's generally accepted "Seven Summits" are: Kilimanjaro; Mount Everest (29,032 feet) in Nepal; Aconcagua (22,838 feet) in Argentina; Denali; Mount Elbrus (18,510 feet) in Russia; Vinson Massif (16,050 feet) in Antarctica; and Puncak Jaya (16,024 feet) in Indonesia. Scalpels and ice picks Laden with a 60-pound pack and dressed for summer amid freezing temperatures, Weasel treks up and down the hills in his neighborhood to prepare himself for the grueling, frigid, weeks-long ascent he's soon to face. He's already made his mark on the world by being, as far as anyone knows, the first Lakota Sioux surgeon in history. But this spring, the 36-year-old Rapid City doctor will make an attempt to be the first Native American to summit Mount Everest the highest peak on earth, situated in the Himalayas on the border between China and Nepal. The plan is to leave after Easter and be back by early June, climb and weather conditions permitting. Weasel trains 15-20 hours a week with a mix of cardio and weightlifting focused on the muscles used in mountaineering legs, back and core. Using his knowledge of medicine, he trains in cold exposure as well, going from his sauna outside to the freezing temperatures in order to activate the body's natural adaptation ability. But as a child, mountain climbing was never on his radar. A professor-turned-friend regaled him with his own experience of climbing Mt. Rainier in Washington state. The spark was lit and has since grown to an inferno. For many, mountaineering is a sport of glory, a desire to push the reaches of the human body and mind for bragging rights. But Weasel wants to set an example for others, especially Native youth. He also wants to generate support for the charity he founded. "[I] really want [the expedition] to serve as an inspiration for the native kids, that whatever their dreams are for their life, they're equally capable as anybody else to dream big dreams and see them come to reality. That's really what my heart is through this whole thing," he said. "If it weren't for the fact that no native person has ever summitted, I probably wouldn't be doing this. But I feel like there needs to be somebody first to do it, so why not me?" It's the wider implications and goals of his climb that keep the support of his wife. Mountaineering is a dangerous sport, but it also requires time spent away from home a sacrifice for both of them. For her, it's equal parts excitement and fear, he said. He believes if it were just about him wanting glory, she wouldn't support it. Life of medicine While sitting in the pews at church dressed in his Sunday best and listening to the sound of his father's voice fill the hall, Jacob Weasel's lifelong journey into medicine began. As his father's sermon drifted into the hearts of his congregants and past his 16-year-old ears, Weasel began to pray. He had a vision. He was in a room shrouded in a white coat, Weasel said, he appeared to be talking to a patient, telling them he couldn't do any more for them, but said he believed there was someone who could. He prayed for them. They were healed. He immediately told his father he'd been called into medicine. Weasel was born at the Indian Health Service Hospital in Gallup, New Mexico, a town of around 20,000, marked by a stunningly alien red rock landscape. He's the middle child of three, with an older brother, John, and younger sister, Jordan. His father, Dobie, is Assiniboine from the Fort Belknap Reservation in Montana, while his mother, Jamie, is Lakota Sioux from the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota, where Jacob is an enrolled member. He grew up in a middle class, predominantly Hispanic community in Albuquerque, New Mexico. When he was 12, the family moved to Omaha, Nebraska. At 16, Weasel was selected for a summer research program at Creighton University. It was a summer break that would repel most teenagers: hours spent in the library doing research and learning lab techniques firsthand, but it was the first door opened after his calling into medicine. The studying landed him a national award and the opportunity to present his findings at a conference in Aventura, Florida. His dedication and success that summer netted him a full-ride scholarship to Creighton for his undergraduate studies. He studied theology and philosophy with a minor in health administration and policy before landing a spot at the University of Nebraska Medical Center's College of Medicine. It's an interesting dichotomy theology and medicine two fields which can seem so diametrically opposed, and yet, Weasel said, are so connected. At the heart of the matter is the search for truth. He's had the opportunity to study medicine and the miracle that is the human body, calling our fragility and importance an intriguing paradox. "I think that they're equally aimed at ascertaining what is true in the universe, and then come at it from different angles," he said. "There are certain questions that science has a very hard time answering, and there are other questions that religion doesn't really try and address because they're in separate fields. What I have found is that in that pursuit of truth is where that reconciliation is found." Things weren't always smooth. In the first few weeks of medical school, when the stress of getting in melted away and the enormity of the workload began to settle in, he said, his classmates began complaining. Some wanted to quit. He reminded them of how they'd fought to get that far and how many others were behind them fighting for the same thing. Weasel didn't want to give himself an easy out, he said, and not wanting to be turned around, he dug in. Family of faith Jacob met his wife, Lauren, while she was in college at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Lauren began attending his father's church, and despite being a few years older, they fell in love, he explained with a boyish grin and a star-struck flash in his dark eyes. Married for well over a decade now, the couple has three children: sons Leighton and Judah, 15 and 13, and daughter Isabelle, who just turned 12. They built a stunning home on the south side of Rapid City and spend their free time hiking and fishing, watching movies, and enjoying family life with their goldendoodle, Kona. They're regulars at Fountain Springs Church and have worked to integrate themselves into the local community on all fronts. He gets the most satisfaction in his life by being a husband and father, something he said is also his biggest challenge. The commitment and dedication to each other and their family has allowed them to invest in a healthy marriage, putting in the effort to lead a life and relationship of intention. "Nobody's going to care about what mountains I climb one of these days," he said. "The things that matter are the legacy and the example and the lessons and values that I hand onto my children, and the life that I build with this woman that I vowed to dedicate my life to." The Weasels brought their children to the Black Hills for a visit during his third year of surgical residency in Des Moines. The decision changed their future. Standing amongst the pines and looking out over the landscape, the area's sacred power drew them in. "[We] fell in love with the Black Hills, and coming here it kind of felt like I was returning home to a place I'd never lived," Weasel said. But it was the place he was supposed to have grown up; his parents had planned to move to Gallup only briefly to have his older brother at the IHS hospital there, but liked the warmer weather and proximity to family. They had set up housing at Lakota Homes in North Rapid, but never moved in. Building bridges Weasel's mother would tell him stories of how she was treated as a young native woman in South Dakota. How she was followed around the mall. It's important to recognize the trauma in this community a recognition needed before healing can begin, he said. But also not to hold on to the past at the expense of the future. Part of his goal in coming to Rapid City aside from serving the Native community is to be a bridge of healing between cultures. He serves as faculty for three different medical schools, including as the assistant dean of diversity and inclusion with the University of South Dakota College of Medicine. The unique position he's in a Native American and a surgeon affords him a perspective not many others have. "Anytime I take a patient to the operating room, it is plain as day to me when I make an incision that the things that seem to separate us are only millimeters deep," he said. His Native upbringing and the near-miss of growing up in Rapid City all culminated in the founding of the Wopila Project, Weasel's nonprofit centered on spreading gratitude and encouraging generosity. Right now, it is working to build a playground at Lakota Homes for the children that live there. "There's so many kids that live in that development, but they don't have a permanent playground structure. I've talked with some of the families and they have to take their kids maybe a mile away to go and play, and that's difficult, especially in the winter," Weasel said. "[I'm] just wanting to show those kids that they're seen and that people care about them." The playground would also have seven pillars, one with each of the traditional Lakota values. The name "wopila" comes from the Lakota, meaning "out of all you've been given and all that is, you in turn give back to others." It's a philosophy integral to his very existence. Weasel's Everest expedition is aiming to raise $100,000 for the playground, plus an additional $75,000 to fund three women's health centers in rural Nepal, a country where a staggering 90% of women lack proper OB/GYN care. None of the funds he raises goes toward funding his climb or travels. But he is open to gear sponsorships for the trip, and is always open to any help offered. A life of significance Lying on the operating table, a young car crash victim with catastrophic bleeding in her abdomen was about to die. But Weasel and his team held the end off a day at a time. He repaired the near-fatal damage and allowed her to leave two days later. He'd given her more time. In 2018, Weasel signed on to be an emergency and trauma surgeon with Monument Health in Rapid City. He does everything from consults to emergency surgeries like appendectomies and gallbladder removal, but he also sees the violent side with shootings, stabbings and suicides. The best part of the job, he said, is connecting with people and having the privilege to walk with them through some of the most painful moments in their lives. Weasel was driven from a young age by two ideas: time and what it means to lead a life of significance. "I found that significance was only found in service to others," he said. "I wanted to do something that would be able to serve people and also afford them more time more time with those that they love doing the things that they love and experiencing all that this world has to offer." Seeing the realities of time come crashing down on his patients motivates him to keep living life with the time in front of him. "I've had too many encounters where I meet the greatest people that have worked their entire lives with the aim being the RV trip around the country or putting that sailboat in the water or taking that trip whatever it is and then getting to a point in their life where they get diagnosed with an illness that prohibits them from ever realizing those dreams," he said. "Working forever towards a goal that will never be realized... seeing that dream die... [I] just didn't want to be another one of those individuals." The idea of "running from zero," a concept he learned from his pastor at church, is something everyone can apply to their own lives. He implores people not to let fear stand in the way of big dreams, but to run towards something no matter how small. Attitude for adventure Jacob Weasel has no shortage of big goals. Besides his Everest attempt this spring, he's planning a summit of Aconcagua in Argentina next January, and then wants to work on a visa to climb Mount Elbrus in the Caucasus region of Russia. He has his sights set on an explorer's grand slam reaching both the north and south poles and wants to learn to sail to be the first native person to circumnavigate the globe. "When you experience something that elicits equal parts of wonder as much as it elicits fear something that is as terrifying as it is awe-inspiring that begins to border on an experience of the divine," he said. "I find that God reveals Himself in different ways, and one of the ways is through His creation, both in the natural world as well as in different cultures on this planet." He wants to do it all bike ride across the United States, hike the Pacific Crest Trail, and ride a motorcycle from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina raising money for charity the whole way. It's getting closer to God through His creation and showing his children how to dream big dreams and live without fear. "I think that humans have this amazing ability if we learn to believe in ourselves," Weasel said. "I feel like you'll learn more in a week struggling on a mountain than you would in a year otherwise being within the comfort and safety of your home." The obvious danger, all too apparent for a trauma surgeon, is about risk mitigation, he said. He's likely one of the few trauma surgeons who rides a motorcycle, and one day plans to take up wingsuiting (skydiving using a webbing-sleeved jumpsuit). Denali's summit still stands on the horizon for Weasel, and though it's no longer just a 1,000 feet away, he will return. But he's saving it for the last of the seven summits. For more on the Wopila Project or to donate, visit wopilaproject.com. Millennial Potash Corp. Announces Approval of Option to Earn up to 100% of Banio Potash Project and Filing of Technical Report Millennial Potash Corp. (MLP: TSX.V) (aMLPa or the aCompanya) (formerly Black Mountain Gold USA Corp.) is pleased to announce that it has received approval from the TSX Venture Exchange (the \Exchange\) for its mineral property option agreement concerning the Banio Potash Project.A Farhad Abasov, Director, commented aWe are very pleased to have received approval for MLPa?s option to acquire up to 100% of the Banio Potash Project in Gabon.A Banio presents a promising opportunity for MLP to acquire a unique project where previous drilling has intersected significant widths of potash mineralization that may be amenable to low-cost solution mining.A In addition, the project has good infrastructure and could enjoy a transport cost advantage over other producers due to its proximity to the major Brazil market.A Global food security remains a universal concern and recent geopolitical events have shown that traditional suppliers may not meet all demand in the near future. The Millennial Potash team has years of potash industry experience having founded, developed, and successfully exited large potash projects. We are planning to add even more potash industry veterans and experts to our board and management team in the coming weeks and months and intend to mobilize for our exploration program immediately.a BANIO POTASH PROJECT TECHNICAL REPORT The Company has filed a technical report (the \Technical Report\) concerning the Banio Potash Project dated effective November 21, 2022 and titled \Technical Report on The Banio Potash Project, Mayumba Permit, Republic of Gabona and authored by Dr. Sebastiaan van der Klauw, Ph.D., EurGeol, of ERCOSPLAN Ingenieugesellschaft Geotechnik und Bergbau mbH (aErcosplana). The Technical Report can be found on SEDAR under the Company\-s issuer profile at www.sedar.com.A This news release contains only summary information concerning the Technical Report. THE BANIO POTASH PROJECT DEFINITIVE OPTION AGREEMENT / ACQUISITION OF THE INITIAL 25% OF BANIO POTASH PROJECT COMPLETED The Definitive Option Agreement (aDOAa) was executed by the Company and the shareholders of Equatorial Potash Pty. Ltd. (\Equatorial\) effective on October 31, 2022 and includes the option to acquire up to a 100% interest in the Banio Potash Project, which was first announced on September 27, 2022.A The Definitive Option Agreement reflects the terms and conditions as described in the Company\-s September 27, 2022 news release except that it has been subsequently amended such that there is no initial allotment of MPL shares (300,000) awarded to the shareholders of Equatorial upon signing of the MOU.A The revised terms of the MOU are outlined in the table below: In addition the amount of USD$257,000 due upon execution and final regulatory approval of the Definitive Option Agreement is changed slightly from the September 27, 2022 news release (which stated in error that the payment was USD$250,000 less CDN$25,000). The Definitive Option Agreement provides for the option to acquire up to a 100% interest in the Banio Potash Project by the acquisition from the Vendors of all of the issued and outstanding Equatorial Shares. Equatorial is the 100% owner of Mayumba Potasse SARL (\Mayumba\), a Gabonese company holding a 100% interest in Gabonese Exploration Permit No. G2-595 Potasse et Sels Connexes Mayumba renewed February 4, 2022 (the \Mayumba Permit\). The Company has completed cash payments due upon signing of the Binding MOU and upon Exchange approval of the Definitive Option Agreement and has also issued 650,000 shares to the vendors of the shares of Equatorial Potash Pty. Ltd.A These shares are subject to a four month hold period under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange which expires on May 24, 2023.A As a result of completing those cash payments and the issuance of the 650,000 shares, the Company has now acquired a 25% interest in the Banio Potash Project (through ownership of 25% of the issued and outstanding shares of Equatorial. THE BANIO POTASH PROJECT The information and description of the Banio Potash Project below is taken from the Technical Report. Gabon is located in western Africa, on the Atlantic coast, and the Mayumba Permit, which forms the basis for the Banio Potash Project, is 1,244 km2 situated in the southern part of the country.A The main Project area is approximately 50 km south of Mayumba village close to the border with the Republic of Congo.A A The original Mayumba Permit was granted in 2016 and has recently been extended for a period of 3 years on February 4, 2022. A Gabon has an extensive oil and gas sector and enjoys the 3rd highest per capita GDP in Africa.A Major international companies with significant investments in the country include Fortescue, Eramet, Total and Shell.A The potash-rich Congo Evaporite Basin extends from the Republic of Congo, located to the south, into coastal Gabon and the Banio Potash Project area.A Extensive oil and gas exploration identified potash-bearing seams in numerous exploration wells and widespread seismic surveys in the project area suggesting strong continuity of the geology from the Republic of Congo. A Current and past potash development projects in the Congo include the historic Holle Potash mine, Kore Potasha?s ongoing development at Kola and Mag Industries\- Mengo project now held by Chinese developer Evergreen Industries. Previous exploration work on the Banio Potash Project was performed by Infinity Lithium Corporation Ltd. (aInfinitya) (a previous owner of Equatorial) and its predecessor company, Plymouth Minerals Ltd., in 2017-2018.A Infinity drilled 3 potash-specific wells at the northern Alpha Target located in the central part of the Banio Potash Project (see Infinity news release dated Nov. 5, 2018). A Infinity disclosed that two of the wells intersected the target evaporite zone intercepting multiple potash horizons at depths varying from 230m to 530m below surface. Ercosplana?s evaluation and interpretation of the geology from the Infinity potash holes Ba-002 and Ba-003, located approx. 2200m apart, has identified the evaporite cycles, Cycle VII Cycle VIII, Cycles VI and Cycle V.A Cycle VIII in both holes is dominated by the potash mineral Sylvite, which in the basin is typically interpreted to be a secondary transformation of the potash mineral Carnallite. In drill hole Ba-002 all Carnallite bearing seams of Cycle VIII have been transformed to Sylvite, and over a total thickness of 24.2 m the aggregated thickness of the four lower Sylvite bearing seams, with thickness over 1.5 m, amounts to 15.3 m at 15.6 % Sylvite. In drill hole Ba-003 only in the upper part of Cycle VIII has the Carnallite to Sylvite transformation taken place, and over a total thickness of 37.6 m the aggregated thickness of the five upper Sylvite bearing seams, with thickness over 1.5 m, amounts to 11.9 m at 16.0 % Sylvite. The lower seams of Cycle VIII consisting of Carnallite amount to 13.4 m of Carnallite thickness at 46.6 % Carnallite. Cycle VII is dominated by carnallitite mineralization, the main seams, defined by a cut-off thickness of 1.5m and a grade of greater than 12% KCl (44.5% carnallite), considered mineable by solution mining by Ercosplan have a summarized thickness of: 18.5 m at 60.9 % Carnallite in Ba 002 17.2 m at 58.2 % Carnallite in Ba 003,A A Cycle VI consists of an interlayering of rock salt and carnallitite, but the Halite dominated sections are much thinner than in Cycle VII.A In Cycle VI there is no reporting on the single potash seams and complete thickness of the carnallitite-bearing sections of cycle VI are given for Ba-002 as 28.8m thickness at 59.1% Carnallite and for Ba-003 as 27.5m thickness at 60.5% Carnallite. Ercosplan indicates that these seams display excellent values for a carnallitite solution mining project based on Cycle VI carnallitite only. Cycle V also consists of an interlayering of rock salt and carnallitite.A Cycle V displays more, and thicker halite dominated sections compared to Cycle VI. Single potash seams are not reported, just the complete thickness of the carnallitite bearing sections of Cycle V is given for Ba-002 as 19.2m thickness at 44.7% Carnallite and for Ba-003 (lower ~10 m of the section have not been sampled) as 9.8m thickness at 55.6% Carnallite.A Ercosplan has indicated these are also good values for a carnallitite solution mining project based on Cycle V carnallitite alone. Ercosplan has recommended a Phased exploration program consisting of resampling core from Ba-002, and 003 (stored in climate-controlled containers at site), a seismic reinterpretation study as well as extending holes Ba-001 and Ba-002 deeper and drilling an additional hole, Ba-004, approx. 2km southwest of Ba-002 to a depth of 700m to test the westward expansion of the potash horizons in preparation for a maiden resource estimate. NAME CHANGE TO \MILLENNIAL POTASH CORP.a Effective at the open of trading on January 25, 2023, the Company will commence trading under the symbol \MLP\ on the TSX Venture Exchange as the Company has changed its name from Black Mountain Gold USA Corp. to Millennial Potash Corp.A A The technical portions of this news release have been reviewed by Peter J. MacLean, Ph.D., P. Geo, Director of the Company, and Dr. Sebastiaan van der Klauw, EurGeol, both Qualified Persons as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101.A Consent to disclosure taken from the Technical Report has been filed on SEDAR. To find out more about Millennial Potash Corp. please contact Investor Relations at (604) 662-8184 or email at info@millennialpotashcorp.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.A This news release may contain certain aForward-Looking Statementsa within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words aanticipatea, abelievea, aestimatea, aexpecta, atarget, aplana, aforecasta, \intend\, amaya, aschedulea and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals including approvals of title and mining rights or licenses and environmental, local community or indigenous community approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, changes in laws, rules and regulations in Gabon or any other jurisdiction which may impact upon the Company or its properties or the commercial exploitation of those properties, currency risks including the exchange rate of USD$ for Cdn$ or other currencies, fluctuations in the market for gold/silver and potash or potash related products, changes in exploration costs and government royalties, export policies or taxes in Gabon or any other jurisdiction and other factors or information. The Companya?s current plans, expectations and intentions with respect to development of its business and of the Banio Potash Project may be impacted by economic uncertainties arising out of Covid-19 pandemic or by the impact of current financial and other market conditions on its ability to secure further financing or funding of the Banio Potash Project.A Such statements represent the Companya?s current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political, environmental and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affections such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations Telehealth services have been around for decades, but it wasnt until the COVID-19 pandemic when Medicaid and private insurers loosened payment restrictions, that consumer use exploded. Following a nationwide swell of legislation to make the exceptions permanent, Montana lawmakers passed a bill in 2021 that made it mandatory for insurers to offer telehealth coverage. But with no policy in place to establish consistency in insurance reimbursement rates, providers faced underpayment for their telehealth services. Unfortunately this type of parity (coverage requirement) does not guarantee the same type of payment. For Montana to stay competitive, and still reducing our health care costs for both rural and urban citizens in our state, we want to be able to provide efficient quality of care to all residents and payment parity is definitely going to be one of those pieces that helps bridge that gap, said Republican Senator Walt Sales of Manhattan. Sales introduced Senate Bill 196 Wednesday night explaining the legislation would make it mandatory for insurers to reimburse telehealth and in-person services at an equal rate, further incentivizing providers to offer telehealth services. The telehealth model is ideal for frontier states like Montana, where geographical expanse, provider shortages and limited resources at critical access hospitals impede access to health care. Many leaders in Montanas health care industry spoke in support of the bill, including representatives from NAMI Montana, Montana Medical Association, Montana Farmers Union and the Montana Academy of Physicians Assistants. There seems to be a misunderstanding that telehealth is less work for the provider. Let me assure you, its not," said Bill Warden with Bozeman Health. "Our providers still need to schedule, interview, diagnose, document, prescribe and follow-up regardless of modality and regardless of whether the appointment was virtual or in-person. Warden also pointed to the financial struggles Critical Access Hospitals have endured for years but were made worse during the pandemic. Citing the Center for Health Care Quality report, Warden said that 15 CAHs are at risk of closure in Montana and seven are at risk of iminant closure. Its not economically possible to maintain a full service acute care hospital in every rural community. If we really want to understand the barriers to health care in rural communities then we have to acknowledge that many of these barriers are driven by inadequate reimbursement, Warden said. Arguments against equal reimbursement have cropped up in recent years, largely centering on the value of a telehealth visit compared to an in-person visit. For instance, audio-only communications are considered an acceptable method for receiving medical services but insurance companies such as Montana Blue Cross Blue Shield reimburse only 70% of visits carried out over the phone. As more people called in for their doctors appointments during the pandemic, researchers found that audio-only visits increased access to quality care for marginalized groups, highlighting the importance of adequate reimbursement for these services. Representatives from health insurance companies including Montana Blue Cross Blue Shield and Cigna said they supported the bill, but would like to add an amendment that would allow them to negotiate lower prices for provider services. Greg VanHorssen with TelaDoc Health, a multinational provider of telemedicine, requested a similar amendment that would allow the company to negotiate lower prices with the group of providers the company utilizes. Sales considered the amendment to be a friendly one, and plans to make the addition. The Health Resources and Services Administration has awarded the Montana Family Medicine Residency a workforce grant of $500,000 per year for five years. The residency, based at RiverStone Health, will use the federal grant to enhance training in mental health and substance use disorders for resident physicians. MFMR, established by a partnership of RiverStone Health, Billings Clinic and St. Vincent Healthcare, has been preparing family physicians to serve rural Montana since 1995. The award recognizes MFMRs success in training physicians who stay in Montana and the states growing need for mental healthcare combined with a severe health professional shortage. The grant is one of only 24 awarded nationally by HRSA through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The grant project will focus on preparing family practice residents to treat mental health and substance use disorders in children, teens and young adults. The grant will make it possible for residents to receive more in-depth training at RiverStone Healths six satellite clinics, including school-based clinics at Orchard Elementary and Medicine Crow Middle School, rural clinics in Worden, Bridger and Joliet and Healthcare for the Homeless in downtown Billings. The project will enhance telehealth services at six remote locations, connecting resident physicians with preceptors, said Dr. Julie Kelso, a board-certified psychiatrist on the MFMR faculty who is serving as project director. Residents will be able to consult with Dr. Kelso and other board-certified faculty physicians with expertise in behavior health and substance use disorders. Residents will build on training and programs already established by the residency and RiverStone Health, including the KidsFirst Foster Care Clinic, Pediatric Behavioral Clinic and the Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorders Clinic. Billings Public Schools is looking to expand its Career and Technical Education offerings through a new Career Center, but it likely wont happen for quite some time. After months of discussing its possibility, the School District 2 board of trustees voted to end pursuits to purchase the Billings Gazette building for its new Career Center. The idea of the school district purchasing the building was first mentioned during the summer of 2022 due to its centralized location for all its high schools and the fact that it's been on the market since September 2021. Montana law allows a school districts board to purchase real estate following approval by its voters. The purchase of school property is typically financed through bonds, which also must be approved by voters with measures often getting combined when submitted to the electorate. The district has been looking to move on from its current Career Center due both to its aging concrete structure that's been deemed inadequate to maintain and its location on the West End, which impacts Skyview student attendance. A feasibility study was recently begun by the architectural firm A&E Design to explore possible development scenarios with the building. Findings were presented to the board earlier in January who then consulted with district stakeholders. The study works off the facility updates mapped out for the Career Center back in 2018 and takes additional development options going forward into account. The 94,000-square-foot mid-century modern building at 401 N. Broadway was built in 1967 to replace its original home at the corner of Montana Avenue and North 27th Street and was expanded in 2007 for a new production system that added advertising inserts into the paper. It was put up for sale in September 2021 to consolidate workspace. While presenting initial findings from the building during a district board meeting Monday night, A&E Design CEO Dusty Eaton said the buildings open design would make any conversions to classrooms relatively easy. He added that it had been well-maintained over the years, finding zero cracks in its concrete walls which is unusual for a building as old as it is. The building overall is in great condition. Its got a lot of potential, he said. Purely from an architectural perspectiveits very robust in its capacity and its quality of construction is notably high. A&E estimated 16,000 feet of fabrication space for various classes and the 4,000 feet for administration offices on the main floor, 16 classes on the second floor and the basement as storage. Where the papers printing press currently operates, the Career Centers design and construction, manufacturing and agriculture could fit with 4,000 square feet per program due to its high ceiling. Welding, fabrication, and STEM could also fit in the taller ceiling level of that space. The current Career Center has 135,000 square feet and the capacity for around 1,000 students. Converting the Gazette building to the new and only Career Center as it currently stands would be a significant downsize with Eaton adding up its total building space to 83,000 square feet throughout its three floors. Eaton pointed out some potential options to increase the total space that included utilizing classroom space more efficiently than the current location and possibly building a new, free-standing building with a vertical configuration in the Gazette parking lot. That solution, however, would worsen another problem with a central, downtown location: parking. During a discussion, Trustee Janna Hafer said she had met with the owner of Midland Printing located directly north of the building and that they would be amenable to possibly selling the property to the district. She added that she had reached out to other property owners on the block for similar discussions, which would provide more space to work with. It is possible, potentially, that the whole block could be available, she said. Other concerns mentioned by the board included the overall cost for the building with the current asking price for the building being $7.865 million. Superintendent Greg Upham told the board he had met with the Gazettes parent company Lee Enterprises and that Lee would be willing to hold any potential sales for the next few months while the district finishes its feasibility study on the condition that a 1% nonrefundable holding fee be paid. With $47 million already put aside for deferred high school maintenance across the district, around $10 million for Daylis Stadium renovations, continuing CTE program expansion and a new superintendent selection coming this year, Upham recommended that the board plan for a bond vote for November 2024 if they wished to continue exploring this option. He also warned that neither a successful vote for the bond nor Lee waiting on the vote is a guarantee. Theres extreme risk with this, Upham said. The board ultimately voted 4-3 against moving forward with the feasibility study and considering the Gazette building as its new Career Center. The district will inform Lee of this decision and its planning and development committee will move forward exploring other options. 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One driver was transporting cardboard boxes for a trading company in France, and the other was traveling with no cargo in Hungary. "Based on the risk analysis, the border police carried out a thorough control of the two means of transport. Thus, 26 foreign citizens were discovered hidden in the cargo compartment, respectively in a special compartment set up in the front part of the cargo compartment (double wall). The persons were picked up and transported to the headquarters for investigations where, following checks, our colleagues established that they are citizens from Bangladesh, aged between 20 and 42 years old, having legally entered our country," the Arad Border Police informed on Thursday. In both cases, the drivers are investigated for migrant smuggling.AGERPRES 8 Romanians out of 10 would change their job for higher incomes and better development opportunities, according to a study carried out by a business consultant. "The labor market places candidates at the center and attracting talent remains a challenge for companies in 2023 as well. In this sense, the "Future of recruitment" study carried out by the Boston Consulting Group, one of the largest business consultants in the world, and The Network, supported in Romania by BestJobs, partner of The Network for 12 years, outlines the profile of the Romanian candidate in relation to other nationalities and highlights his/her confidence in finding new professional opportunities, related to current needs and desires," says the BestJobs study. At the same time, 60% would refuse a good offer if, during the recruitment process, they had a negative experience. According to the research, Romanians want more of a balance between work and private life and the appreciation of merits at the workplace, compared to the global average. "In the current socio-political-economic context, Romanians have learned to be more cautious. Therefore, the greater concern for long-term career planning and the need for stability and financial security is a trend observed more and more at the national level," explained Ana Visian, BestJobs Romania marketing manager. The study evaluates the future of recruitment in 160 countries, including Romania. Among the findings is the fact that salary and bonuses represent a "deal breaker" for 53% of Romanians, while for 48% of Romanians a determining factor is paid time off. Salary, bonuses and balance between professional and private life are more important than job security for 35% of Romanians. IT employees place a higher value on flexibility, unlike people who do not carry out their professional activity in an office (45% versus 22%). Romanians are more motivated to join a company and later advance to a management position (41%). Also, the entrepreneurial spirit is not so developed at the national level (11%), Romanians preferring a full-time job over a part-time job, which would allow them to carry out their own projects in parallel. The study was conducted between August and September 2022 on a sample of 1,121 Romanians over the age of 21.AGERPRES The General Inspectorate of the Border Police informs in a press release sent to AGERPRES on Thursday, that on Wednesday, 64,564 people entered Romania through the border points, of which 8,275 were Ukrainian citizens. According to the source, approximately 127,000 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, with more than 39,000 means of transport, went through the control formalities at the border points throughout the country, both in the direction of entry and exit. Starting with February 10, 2022 (pre-conflict period), 3,399,910 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania. The border police detected 52 illegal acts (36 crimes and 16 misdemeanors) committed by both Romanian and foreign citizens, and the value of the contravention fines applied amounts to over 34,000 RON. Goods were seized for confiscation in the amount of approximately 95,000 RON. On Wednesday, 21 foreign citizens who did not meet the conditions provided for by law were not allowed to enter the country and 10 Romanian citizens were not allowed to leave for various legal reasons. On Thursday, the Romanian government approved a bill amending a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the defence ministries of Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden and the United States Department of Defence on Strategic Airlift Capability, establishing an aircraft incident fund, told Agerpres. The bill ratifies the Second Amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Estonia, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Finland, the Government of the Republic of Hungary, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Lithuania, the Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of Norway, the Minister of National Defence of the Republic of Poland, the Government of Romania, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia, the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden and the Department of Defence of the United States of America on the Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC), signed by Romania in Bucharest on October 29, 2020. The Memorandum of Understanding regarding the strategic airlift capability (SAC MoU) was signed by Romania on July 30, 2008, based on the approval of the Supreme Council for National Defence (CSAT) and the full powers issued by the Foreign Ministry. The SAC MoU was ratified by Government Emergency Ordinance 132 of October 14, 2008, approved by the Romanian Parliament under Law 114 of 2009. "The document was modified by Amendment 1, regarding the Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC MoU), as a result of changes that occurred during the course of the initiative, primarily the withdrawal of Italy. Amendment 2 appeared as a necessity, especially from the perspective of the reform of NATO agencies. At the same time, the aircraft incident fund was established by the amendment, which will be used to respond to the immediate needs to protect the property assets of the NATO Strategic Airlift Management program, cargo, passengers, as well as personnel," according to the Romanian government. Romania's Interior Minister Lucian Bode has asked his Swedish counterpart Gunnar Strommer for an actual plan to unblock the Schengen file, told Agerpres. "I participated in Stockholm today in the home affairs section of the informal Justice and Home Affairs Council organised by the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Regarding the dialogue with the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, I had an excellent meeting with my Swedish counterpart, Gunnar Strommer, to coordinate our efforts in order to continue and complete this process," Bode says in a social media post. He adds that in his conversation with the European partners he pointed out that Romania met and continues to meet all the requirements for accession and requested a resolution of this file as soon as possible. "Until the accession decision is made, I told all the European partners about Romania's determination to continue the implementation of all accession requirements at the highest standards, as the European partners found on two voluntary evaluation visits in Romania. We will continue our dialogue with all European partners, especially with the European Commission and the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, because that is the best solution we have at the moment to preserve the overwhelming majority of the member states that supported and continue to support us," Bode also writes. Bode adds that a first step has already been taken and appreciates the decision of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union to immediately start consultations with all European partners in order to identify actual ways to unlock this file. "Regarding the relationship with Austria, I discussed with my Austrian counterpart, Gerhard Karner, and I am confident that we will soon resume the bilateral dialogue, as Romania has a legitimate expectation that Austria will reconsider its position expressed in the vote in December of last year," says the interior minister. The minister also says that he requested that Austria return to its constant support shown for Romania's accession, so that the process of accession to the Schengen area is completed as soon as possible, "all the more so as new data presented in Stockholm by the FRONTEX European agency confirms once again that Romania is not on the main migration route in the Balkans." Romania has to boost digital transformation as its public administration is lagging behind in the digital transformation index of the European Union, Chair of the National Confederation for Female Entrepreneurship (CONAF) Cristina Chiriac said on Thursday, told Agerpres. "Romania seems to be a country of discrepancies. I say 'seems' because I want us to tear down this 'seem' together. In fact, it is a country of discrepancies. If we look at the digital transformation index of the European Union, as far as Romania is concerned, we will see that we are lagging behind in terms of the public administration. If we look at what is happening in the countryside in Romania - and how much our Romanian citizens understand about the importance of banking - and what the indicator that places us more than 26% behind the European Union average is, that should tell us a lot about the digital journey that Romania has to embark on. (...) From here, in Bucharest, things look extremely beautiful. We have many entrepreneurs. Romania's biggest entrepreneurial footprint is here in Bucharest, in Bucharest-Ilfov. People are educated, they know how to do business, they attend business events, they have information, they do networking. Elsewhere in Romania, when we are talking about the other business hubs, there are only seven of them and I would like to have more, maybe at least 20, because the contribution of entrepreneurs and citizens to Romania's GDP would be different and, thus, we would manage to raise the standards of living. When I look at what is happening, including in Brasov, Constanta, Iasi, I see that there are extremely large discrepancies. Next, in terms of local public administration, there are mayor's offices that have no web site addresses. We still have mayors who use their personal addresses in the public interest," Chiriac told the first edition of this year's "Digital UP" project organised in Bucharest on Thursday. She added that digital transformation in small urban settings is either small or non-existent. "There are hundreds, dozens of settlements in Romania where there is no ATM. People refuse to use the simplest tool - namely a bank card - let alone connections between websites or main institutions, as we want, between ANAF, the Pension House, the Healthcare House and so on," added Chiriac. She said that this "Digital UP" caravan should multiply in every county in Romania. "I started 2023 with the thought that if the entrepreneurs, the leaders of the employers' community, the NGOs, the Association of Municipalities, Towns and Cities and, of course, the government of Romania would lend a hand and boost a little everything that mean these volunteer activities that we do for the Romanian community, we probably shouldn't debate the fate of digital transformation for another five years and our efforts to see economic and social efficiency, sustainable development, which we keep talking about, would be visible in three years at the longest. What we do with these events is not only an awareness campaign, it is also education for the business community (...)," the CONAF chair added. Chiriac added that at the moment there are more than 3,500 CONAF member companies. The National Confederation for Female Entrepreneurship (CONAF) is the strongest confederation in Romania that unites the interests of entrepreneurs in a European spirit of gender equality and equal opportunities. It is the largest entity of its kind in Romania, an organisation that promotes and supports Romanian entrepreneurship opening up horizons for collaboration and co-operation both internally and internationally. The minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, the Dutch deputy prime minister and minister of Foreign Affairs, Wopke Hoekstra, and the French minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, will be visiting the Getica National Joint Training Center in Cincu, the central Brasov County, on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs. The agenda of the ministers' trip will include interactions with military personnel, especially French and Dutch, as well as visits to military facilities used jointly by allied troops deployed in Romania. In this context, minister Aurescu "will reiterate Romania's message of great appreciation for its substantial contribution to the NATO Battle Group in Romania of France, as a framework nation, and of the Netherlands, as one of the main participants". After the trip to Cincu, the three officials will have, in Bucharest, a round of three-way format political consultations, the discussions will focus on current topics of the European and security agenda, including the ongoing steps to further promote the objective of Romania's accession to the Schengen area, which both France and the Kingdom of the Netherlands actively support. They will also exchange views on Russia's aggression against Ukraine, developments in the Republic of Moldova and cooperation within NATO. After the consultations, they will hold a joint press conference. The visit of the two Foreign ministers to Romania "represents a reconfirmation of Romania's very good cooperation with France and the Netherlands, bilaterally, but also at European level and within NATO, as well as of the efficient trilateral interaction between Bucharest, Paris and The Hague", the MAE added.AGERPRES MILES CITY Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has wrapped up a case involving multiple wildlife violations in Garfield County committed by a Jordan man, a South Carolina man and two of his sons, and four other nonresidents. The last of their court cases concluded in Montana in November 2022. FWP launched the multiple-state investigation in 2015, after Cole Sonny Lawson III of Walterboro, S.C., was questioned at a Missouri gas station by a conservation officer about seven game animals he said he was transporting from Montana for other hunters. Lawson III owned property and had business interests in Jordan, but his permanent residence was in South Carolina. The investigation eventually uncovered offenses by all eight men, resulting in loss of hunting privileges for most, combined restitution of nearly $25,000 and almost $2,000 in fines and fees. Court records state that between 2013 and 2015 in Garfield County, Cole Lawson III possessed, shipped or transported two unlawfully harvested bull elk and an antelope buck. In 2017 he was cited for possession of a turkey, a bull elk, two mule deer does, a mule deer buck and an antelope buck. Lawson III originally faced nine charges, three of them felonies, but five charges were dismissed. On April 18, 2022, he pleaded guilty in Garfield County District Court to two counts of possessing an unlawfully killed game animal, hunting without a valid license, and nonresident license or permit offenses, all misdemeanors. He was sentenced to $9,375 in restitution, cannot hunt, fish or trap under the Interstate Wildlife Violators Compact for 10 years, and cannot accompany anyone hunting in Montana for 10 years. He forfeited all mounts seized in the case. Lawson III also received six months in jail for each of the four counts, with all time suspended. His son, Jack Lawson, also of Walterboro, S.C., pleaded guilty in Garfield County Justice Court on Oct. 25 to hunting a mule deer buck without a license. He received a deferred sentence of six months in jail, suspended; along with $1,035 in restitution, fines and fees; and loss of hunting privileges for one year under the compact. Another son, Cole Lawson IV of Waynesville, N.C., pleaded no contest in District Court on Nov. 14 to killing a whitetail buck in 2017 without a license. He forfeited hunting privileges for a year and paid $500 in restitution. Six months in jail were suspended. Jason Bunger of Jordan, pleaded guilty on June 23 to misdemeanor unlawful possession of a bull elk in 2017 and a turkey in 2019. Bunger was sentenced to $8,000 in restitution and six months in jail, suspended, and lost hunting privileges and the ability to accompany hunters in Montana for two years. All mounts were forfeited. Brothers Shawn Ervin of Statesville, N.C., and Daniel Ervin of Sharon, S.C., both pleaded guilty in District Court on June 23 to unlawful possession of a game animal and hunting without a license. In 2017 Shawn Ervin shot a whitetail buck without a license and used Daniels tag. Daniel then shot a mule deer buck and used an invalid license. In 2019 the brothers stopped at a southeast Montana check station. They had been hunting waterfowl and Shawn shot a common goldeneye, but neither had licenses. They both also shot does and used licenses from Bunger and Lawson III. Both were ordered to pay $3,300 in restitution and lost hunting privileges for two years. Six-month jail sentences were suspended and mounts were forfeited. Justin Land of Lake City, Florida, and Carey Harrison of South Carolina both pleaded guilty in Garfield County Justice Court to license, permit or tag offenses. Harrison was ordered to pay $285 and Land $135. Land gave a general deer tag to another hunter. Harrison gave a mule deer B license to Cole Lawson IV to use on a doe he harvested. Cole Lawson IV, Jason Bunger and the Ervin brothers all faced felony charges prior to their plea agreements. The Government approved on Thursday the Cooperation Agreement with the Republic of Cuba in the field of health, told Agerpres. According to a press release from the Executive, the Cooperation Agreement between the Government of Romania and the Government of the Republic of Cuba in the field of health, approved by Government decision, was signed in Havana on October 18, 2022. The document establishes the fields and modalities of cooperation, the administrative and financial arrangements for the implementation of the provisions of this Agreement. Also, the Agreement provides for the establishment of a Working Group with the aim of evaluating cooperation activities and establishing cooperation priorities. According to the Agreement, Romania and Cuba will cooperate, according to the regulations in force in the two states, in the fields of: generic and essential medicines, including vaccines and assistance for the supply of medicines; prevention, monitoring and control of non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, as well as the reduction of their risk factors; public health services; pharmaceutical policies; antimicrobial resistance; authorization of medicines and medical devices; the population's access to medical assistance, including universal coverage with health services. The agreement is concluded for a period of five years and will be automatically renewed for successive periods of five years. The document was signed by the Minister of Health, Alexandru Rafila, and his Cuban counterpart, on the occasion of the visit to the Republic of Cuba of the delegation of the Ministry of Health from Romania. The Government approved on Thursday the support granted to farmers in 2023 for the purchase of diesel fuel, announced the spokesperson for the Government, Dan Carbunaru, told Agerpres. "In terms of supporting agriculture, the state aid continues to reduce the excise duty for diesel fuel used in agriculture. (...) Through the decision approved today, the Government established the conditions under which state aid for farmers is granted this year, by reducing excise duty for diesel fuel used in agriculture," stated Carbunaru after the Government's meeting. He said that the total value of the state aid scheme is 500 million RON. "In the form of reimbursement, this subsidy will be 1,529 RON per liter, the total value of the state aid scheme being 500 million RON. This amount will be granted from the state budget, through the budget of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. It is a measure that joins other forms of support that the Government grants to farmers, support financed from European funds or measures to support Romanian products, facilities granted through Agro IMM Invest or Rural Invest, in order to enhance the potential of Romanian agriculture," added Carbunaru. The Romanian Government decided at its Thursday's meeting to reopen the Racovat, Romania - Dyakivtsi, Ukraine international state border crossing point and customs office, according to governmental spokesperson Dan Carbunaru, told Agerpres. "This piece of legislation provides for the opening of a border crossing point that was closed for almost 13 years, failing to meet the necessary requirements for an external border crossing point during this entire period. This point will be open for pedestrian and road traffic, including passenger and freight buses, being operational around the clock. (...) This border crossing point will become operational gradually. In a first stage it will be opened for the passage of lorries without a cargo and fuel tanks, and then, depending on the state of the infrastructure, for other types of vehicles and goods. The positions necessary to carry out the checking will be filled by supplementing the number of posts approved for the Border Police, the Romanian Customs Authority and CNAIR," Carbunaru told a news conference at the Government House on Thursday. He added that the decision is part of the measures that the Romanian government has prepared and implemented to support Ukraine. "Romania is one of the countries acting extremely actively to support both Ukraine and the citizens of this country who are affected by the Russian military aggression," added Carbunaru. The Government approved on Thursday the Framework Agreement between Romania and the Swiss Federal Council regarding the implementation of the second Swiss contribution in certain member states of the European Union for the reduction of economic and social disparities, signed in Bucharest, on December 12, 2022, told Agerpres. According to a press release from the Executive, the Framework Agreement details the institutions in Romania and Switzerland responsible for the implementation of the Swiss contribution, the method and principles of implementation of the contribution, as well as the thematic areas in which the support measures will be developed. "Through this Agreement, Romania will benefit from 221.5 million Swiss francs (over 1 billion RON) from the non-refundable financial contribution approved by the Swiss Parliament for economic and social cohesion for some member states of the European Union, in order to reduce economic and social disparities from the EU," the press release states. The cited source specifies that the objectives of the financial contribution are: promoting economic growth and social dialogue, reducing unemployment among young people; managing migration and supporting integration; increasing safety and public security; protecting the environment and climate; strengthening social systems, civic involvement and transparency. "These funds will be allocated through the Swiss-Romanian Cooperation Program, a bilateral implementation program. The eligibility period for the expenses related to the support measures ends on December 3, 2029. Switzerland will have the right to visit, monitor, examine, hear and evaluate all the activities and procedures related to the implementation of the support measures, as Switzerland considers to be relevant," the release also reads. Interior Minister Lucian Bode challenged the decision of the Salaj Court declining the request to suspend the Ethics Commission decision of the "Babes-Bolyai" University (UBB) of Cluj Napoca to reanalyze his doctoral thesis, told Agerpres. The appeal was registered on Thursday, on the Salaj Court website. On 17 January, the court dismissed, as groundless, the request to suspend the execution of Decision No. 10/13.12.2022 of the Ethics Commission within the UBB, formulated by Lucian Bode. The UBB informed, ever since 24 November, that it resumed the analysis of Interior Minister Bode's doctoral thesis, after plagiarism suspicions emerged in the public space. The Ethics Commission of the UBB established that the plagiarism suspicions regarding Minister Lucian Bode's doctoral thesis are confirmed in the vast majority. Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca announced on Thursday that, according to data from the National Commission for Strategy and Prognosis, the Gross Domestic Product increased by 49 billion euros in 2022 compared to 2021, and added that for this year the economy has a favorable forecast, with an increase of 2.8 percent. "Looking at the figures, the growth in 2022 is equal to the value of the Gross Domestic Product in 2002," said Ciuca, at the beginning of the Government meeting. He maintained that there was sustained activity at the level of each ministry, at the level of the Romanian economy, mentioning in this sense the priority role of investments. Nicolae Ciuca also appreciated the role that foreign investments had in the Romanian economy last year and the efficiency of the absorption of European funds, worth 11.3 billion euros.AGERPRES Romania and France will exchange information regarding the organization of health and health insurance systems, organ donation and transplantation, prevention and control of communicable diseases and epidemic risks, the Health Ministry announced on Thursday, told Agerpres. A memorandum of understanding has been signed in this regard on Thursday, in Paris, by Health Minister Alexandru Rafila and France's Minister of Health and Prevention Francois Braun. "The memorandum signed in Paris regulates the legal cooperation framework in the health area and includes the exchange of information regarding the organization of health and health insurance systems, organ donation and transplantation, prevention and control of communicable diseases and epidemic risks, prevention and integrated approach of non-communicable diseases and reduction of the risk factors that are involved in their occurrence," a Ministry of Health release shows. Furthermore, Minister Rafila met on Thursday with French experts in the health area, and he is scheduled to visit and discuss with representatives of some hospitals in Paris, of the France Agency of Biomedicine and the French National Authority for Health, in view of developing concrete collaboration in the medical area. Among the topics of discussion also included are the collaboration in the cancer control area, good practices examples in the area of primary medical assistance, the development of emergency medicine services and hospital medical assistance, and the improvement of the health insurance system, France having one of the best health systems in the EU, the quoted source mentions. "The Baile Tusnad and Surroundings" represents the 7th ecotourism location of Romania recognized by the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Tourism (MAT), according to a release sent to AGERPRES on Thursday. According to the quoted source, the "Baile Tusnad and Surroundings" area is made up of Baile Tusnad, Cozmeni, Sancraieni, Sansimion, Santimbru and Tusanad (Hundeoara county) territorial administrative units (UAT), told Agerpres. "The 'Baile Tusnad and Surroundings' destination successfully combines the healing force of the mineral waters, an unaltered natural landscape and villages where, for the most part, the traditional lifestyle has been preserved. All these factors have contributed to the development of a specially attractive ecotourism product, which, as of today, benefits from the MAT recognition," Entrepreneurship and Tourism Minister Constantin-Daniel Cadriu stated. The "Ecotourism destination' concept has been developed since 2012 by the central public authority for tourism, in partnership with relevant institutions and organizations at national level (the Environment, Waters and Forests Ministry, the National Institute of Research and Development in Tourism and the Ecotourism Association of Romania), being based on the National Ecotourism Strategy, the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC) and the European Ecotourism Labelling Standard (EETLS). At that time, Romania was the first country in Europe to launch such a labeling systems of ecotourism destinations. National Defence Minister Angel Tilvar is on an official visit to Germany on Thursday and Friday, according to a National Defence Ministry (MApN) press release. During the talks that the Romanian minister will have with his counterpart, Boris Pistorius, in Berlin, the main topics to be discussed will be bilateral cooperation in the field of defence, the allied and European security agenda and the evolution of the situation in Ukraine, the source said. AGERPRES The Embassy of Romania in Washington announces, in a press release sent to AGERPRES on Thursday, that last year it attracted private funds of almost half a million US dollars for the promotion of our country in the USA. Thus, for the organization of the events dedicated to marking the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Romania - USA Strategic Partnership, as well as for the promotion of Romanian interests, in addition to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) allocations from public funds, the embassy attracted private funds worth almost half a million US dollars, namely 481,000 dollars, states the cited source. The diplomatic mission also announces the organization, in 2023, of a series of far-reaching public diplomacy events, part of the program titled "Romania - U.S.: A partnership for the future. We celebrate Romanian talent". The program will be organized to last year's model, and to achieve its objectives, the embassy already has the support of some Romanian companies. "We will continue to invest in the promotion of a rich agenda that supports the Strategic Partnership with the USA. We are making this effort to raise awareness as to Romania's security needs, as well as to present Romanian investment opportunities to American partners. We also want our American friends to know as many things as possible about Romania and its cultural wealth. In all this endeavor, we have the support of some Romanian companies, which thus prove that they understand the need for investments in public diplomacy and are involved in promoting Romania's image in the USA," emphasized Andrei Muraru, the Romanian ambassador to the United States. The events agenda of the Romanian Embassy for this year "will reflect the diversity of the dimensions of the Strategic Partnership, continuing to develop and capitalize on the significant opportunities and potential of the bilateral relationship," the press release further states.AGERPRES WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- The risk for pregnancy loss is increased with employment during pregnancy and for several occupational types, according to a study published online Jan. 25 in the Journal of Occupational Health. Chae-Bong Kim, from the Korea University College of Medicine in Seoul, and colleagues analyzed 1,825,845 employed and nonemployed women with a diagnostic code for pregnancy in the National Health Insurance Service database of South Korea to examine the association between maternal occupational status and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Risk ratios were calculated for early abortive outcomes, stillbirth, and no live birth (diagnoses of pregnancy with no record of live birth, which includes early abortive outcomes and stillbirth). The researchers found that 18.0, 0.7, and 39.8 percent of pregnancies ended in early abortive outcomes, stillbirths, and no live birth, respectively. Higher risks for early abortive outcomes and stillbirths were seen for nonemployed versus employed women, while employed women more frequently had no live births. The highest risk for no live births was seen for those in the health and social work industry. Compared with financial and insurance jobs, manufacturing jobs and health/social work were associated with an increased risk for early abortive outcomes (risk ratios, 1.030 and 1.029, respectively). The risk for no live births was consistently higher in the manufacturing, wholesale/retail trade, education, health/social work, and public/social/personal service occupation. "Our findings highlight the urgent need to assess working conditions to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes in female workers," the authors write. The Romanian Police, together with the Department for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), Europol, the German, Dutch and US authorities, have contributed to the dismantling of an HIVE ransomware group that since June 2021 has hacked over 1,500 companies in more than 80 countries causing damage in excess of 100,000,000 euros, told Agerpres. "Last year, HIVE ransomware was identified as a major threat, as it was used to compromise and encrypt data and computer systems of large IT companies and oil multinationals in the European Union and the US," the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police (IGPR) reported on Thursday. Following the police action, the decryption keys were identified and made available to several victims, which allowed them to regain access to their data without paying ransom to the hackers. Part of the criminal mechanism, the hackers executed the cyber-attacks, while the HIVE ransomware was created, maintained and updated by developers. The suspects are reported to have attacked the companies in various ways. Some members allegedly obtained data by distributing phishing e-mails, exploiting the vulnerabilities of the operating systems of the attacked devices. Europol and other European Union member states managed to prevent several companies from becoming victims of the HIVE software. The judicial authorities made the decryption keys available to the companies, so that they no longer pay the ransom, thus preventing ransom payments of over 120,000,000 euros. "Europol facilitated the exchange of information, supported the coordination of the operation and financed operational meetings in Portugal and the Netherlands. Europol also provided analytical assistance, gathering data related to several criminal cases, both from the European Union and outside it, and supported the investigation through the analysis of cryptocurrencies, malware and forensic analysis." The operation was also assisted by Europol's cybercrime working group made up of liaison officers from several countries who work on cases related to large-scale computer crimes. In Romania, the HIVE ransomware group infected the IT infrastructure of several medium and large-sized companies in the category of essential services, disrupting the operation of their IT systems and the performance of their activities. According to IGPR, an affiliate of the HIVE ransomware group was apprehended and sent to court in 2021-2022 after an investigation carried out by the police officers of the Directorate for Combatting Organised Crime - the Service for Combatting Cyber-Crime and the Craiova Brigade for Combatting Organised Crime, together with DIICOT, with support from the FBI and Europol. he "Acum-Aici-Acolo" (Now-Here-There) project that won a national competition to represent Romania at the 18th edition of the Biennale di Venezia International Architecture Exhibition was publicly presented on Thursday at the National Library of Romania, told Agerpres. Chair of the Union of Architects Ileana Tureanu voiced confidence that the international public will visit the Romanian pavilion. Senior official with the Romanian Foreign Ministry Andrei Novac gave assurances that in 2023, the 85th year when Romania opens its own pavilion in Venice in the Giardini, the pavilion will be refurbished so that Romania can be represented at the highest level. He pointed out that there will be a bronze plaque at the Romanian pavilion in the Giardini recalling that Nicolae Iorga started the procedures and got the spot there. "I'm glad that the Biennale Architettura offers us an opportunity that we should use more often because among the cultural fields architecture is a very good promoter of Romanian culture," said Chairman of the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR) Liviu Jicman. Senior official with the Culture Ministry Diana Baciuna reaffirmed the ministry's support for the artists. Also attending the event was Attila Kim, the commissioner of Romania's participation in the 18th edition of the International Architecture Exhibition in Venice; Director of the Dimitrie Leonida National Technical Museum - the main partner of the project - Laura Albani, as well as Emil Ivanescu, the curator and coordinator of the winning project, together with his team made up of Simina Filat, Catalin Berescu and Anca Pasarin. *** The Romanian project "Now-Here-There" is set to put forth "innovative solutions" starting from the theme of the edition curated by Lesley Lokko, "The Laboratory of the Future," which has Africa at the core as the protagonist of the future. The exhibition, mounted with support from the Dimitrie Leonida National Technical Museum, is a research by the Romanian social and professional environment, in which the trade of architect expands and acquires another influence in society. The research brings to the fore 100 local Romanian initiatives based on multidisciplinary creativity through which architects, designers, urban planners, and landscapers work together with entrepreneurs, researchers and citizens to bring something good to the environment in which they live. According to the winning project team, the Giardini Pavilion will be transformed into a "great accelerator of ideas," building an "inspirational" environment generated by long-lost but ever-present inventions and innovations alongside initiatives of younger generations of architects directly involved in the transformation of the immediate reality. They bring ideas related to technology, technique, inventions, very close to those of architecture, habitable space, necessities of life. Each theme presents 10 case studies, including a series of innovations made by great names of Romanian science and technology such as Henry Coanda and Iustin Capra, "true alternative pedagogies to the traditional way of education, but also of living and urban consumption." According to the developers, the "Now-Here-There" project wants to express the way in which the younger generations of Romanian architects transform their profession from a "speciality of the blueprint" to one of collaboration, communication, entrepreneurship, social, technology, multidisciplinary research in order to better respond to the challenges of the present and the future. The exhibition will be open between May 20 and November 26 at the Romanian Pavilion - Giardini and at the New ICRCU Gallery, before which an installation will be placed. Researched at the ICR gallery will be the need for and education of people to reintegrate and regain nature in dense cities. "At ICR, the area of agriculture and 'FutureFood' will be analysed, that is how we will think about food in the future, and great emphasis will be placed on the seed bank. Because we have some very interesting things, we are an agricultural country and not many countries have seed banks," said Ivanescu. In the square before the gallery, an urban installation will provide a venue for six months for permanent exhibitions by Romanian architecture students with projects that analyse and represent all these themes of the Biennale. The exhibition will also be mounted at the Bucharest Architecture Biennale and the Romanian Design Week. The sea mine that was discovered on the beach in Sfantu Gheorghe will be neutralised by a specialist team of the Romanian Naval Forces, the mission is underway, according to a press release of the Romanian Naval Forces. "The Romanian Naval Forces are carrying out on Thursday, January 26, a high-risk mission to neutralise a sea mine that has washed up on the beach in Sfantu Gheorghe. The mine was discovered by Coast Guard border guards during a surveillance mission on the Danube Delta beach. According to operational procedures, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Mihai Panait, ordered that the intervention be carried out by the EOD team, specialised in the destruction of explosive devices, which is on permanent combat duty at the 175th Diving Ships Division, together with the EOD team from the permanent combat duty of the 307th Marine Regiment in Babadag," the press release said. The source also said that the mission is ongoing, with the EOD soldiers departing from the garrisons of Constanta and Babadag respectively, towards the place indicated by the border police. AGERPRES The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain, Jose Antonio Hernandez Perez-Solorzano, was received, on Thursday, by the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Daniel, at the Patriarchal Residence, told Agerpres. According to a press release of the Romanian Patriarchate, the ambassador emphasized the importance of the Romanian community, mostly Orthodox, in Spain, which has integrated very well into Spanish society, including by occupying important public positions in the Spanish state administration. "In this integration process, a special contribution is made by the Romanian Orthodox Church, through the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of Spain and Portugal, which, in addition to promoting the identity of Romanian faith and culture, constitutes a central landmark for the manifestation of solidarity within the Romanian community in Spain," said Jose Antonio Hernandez Perez-Solorzano. Patriarch Daniel appreciated the diplomat's intense diplomatic activity and highlighted the fact that the living testimony of the Orthodox faith, even during the communist period, is proof that it is part of the identity of the Romanian people and its religious traditions. He also thanked the Spanish official for the hospitality shown to the Romanians permanently or temporarily settled in Spain and for the good cooperation of the representatives of the Romanian Patriarchate in Spain with the Spanish state authorities, expressing the hope of its continuation and deepening. During the meeting, the two interlocutors highlighted the role and importance of promoting dialogue in contemporary society, because Europe is now facing, in Ukraine, a devastating war, both on a human and material level. Romania and the Republic of Moldova will collaborate more closely in the infrastructure area, in the traffic area, taking into account the desire to continue the Union Highway (A8) to Chisinau (the Republic of Moldova) and Odessa (Ukraine), Transport and Infrastructure Minister Sorin Grindeanu wrote on Thursday on his Facebook page. "I have discussed today with my counterpart in the Republic of Moldova, Andrei Spinu, about how we can develop the partnership on all transport sectors! Firstly, I proposed to convene, in February, the Joint Bilateral Committee for coordinating all activities regarding the design and construction of the Bridge over the Pruth River in Ungheni. We have convened upon the necessity to also identify other cross-border projects eligible for European funds (CEF). These could be submitted in the next implementation call, which shall be launched in September this year. Currently, three proposals are already identified: the construction of the Bridge in Ungheni (project approved in December 2022); the construction of the infrastructure providing access to this bridge which includes a border crossing point (on the Republic of Moldova's territory) and the modernization of DJ 249 [County Road] in order to ensure the download and connection with the existing infrastructure (on the territory of Romania); ensuring Albita (Romania) - Leuseni (Republic of Moldova) road connection - for which the application will be submitted between September 2023 and January 2024. In the traffic area, we would like the Union Highway(A8) to be continued to Chisinau (Republic Moldova) and Odessa (Ukraine)," the minister pointed out. According to him, also tackled was the topic of modernizing and constructing several cross-border road bridges over the Pruth River: Bridge in Sacuieni (Sacuieni), Oancea Bridge (Cahul); Albita Bridge (Leuseni) - new bridge; Raducaneni Bridge (Barboieni) - new bridge; Bumbata Bridge (Leova - new bridge; Falcui Bridge (Leca/Cantemir) - new bridge. In terms of railway infrastructure, the two sides discussed about the extension of the broad-gauge railway line to Nicolina Station. Thus, trains could run on the wide gauge railway on the Ungheni - Cristesi Jijia - Socola - Nicolina route. Moreover, a point of common interest is also the rehabilitation of the railway corridor Iasi (Airport of Iasi) - Ungheni - Chisinau (Airport of Chisinau) - Odessa, through funding granted by the World Bank. WAUKON, Iowa Marjorie Kruger was stunned to learn last fall that she would have to leave the nursing home where shed lived comfortably for six years. The Good Samaritan Society facility in Postville, Iowa, would close, administrators told Kruger and 38 other residents in September. The facility joined a growing list of nursing homes being shuttered nationwide, especially in rural areas. The rug was taken out from under me, said Kruger, 98. I thought I was going to stay there the rest of my life. Her son found a room for her in another Good Samaritan center in Waukon, a small town 18 miles north of Postville. Kruger said the new facility is a pleasant place, but she misses her friends and longtime staffers from the old one. We were as close as a nice family, she said. The Postville facilitys former residents are scattered across northeastern Iowa. Some were forced to move twice, after the first nursing home they transferred to also went out of business. Owners say the closures largely stem from a shortage of workers, including nurses, nursing assistants, and kitchen employees. The problem could deepen as pandemic-era government assistance dries up and care facilities struggle to compete with rising wages offered by other employers, industry leaders and analysts predict. Many care centers that have managed to remain open are keeping some beds vacant because they dont have enough workers to responsibly care for more residents. The pandemic brought billions of extra federal dollars to the long-term care industry, which was inundated with covid-19 infections and more than 160,000 resident deaths. Many facilities saw business decline amid lockdowns and reports of outbreaks. Staff members faced extra danger and stress. The industry is still feeling the effects. From February 2020 to November 2021, the number of workers in nursing homes and other care facilities dropped by 410,000 nationally, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Staffing has rebounded only by about 103,000 since then. In Iowa, 13 of the 15 nursing homes that closed in 2022 were in rural areas, according to the Iowa Health Care Association. In more sparsely populated areas, its harder and harder to staff those facilities, said Brent Willett, the associations president. He noted that many rural areas have dwindling numbers of working-age adults. The lack of open nursing home beds is marooning some patients in hospitals for weeks while social workers seek placements. More people are winding up in care facilities far from their hometowns, especially if they have dementia, obesity, or other conditions that require extra attention. Colorados executive director of health care policy and financing, Kim Bimestefer, told a conference in November that the state recognizes it needs to help shore up care facilities, especially in rural areas. Weve had more nursing homes go bankrupt in the last year than in the last 10 years combined, she said. In Montana, at least 11 nursing homes 16% of the states facilities closed in 2022, the Billings Gazette reported. Nationally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reported recently that 129 nursing homes had closed in 2022. Mark Parkinson, president of the American Health Care Association, said the actual count was significantly higher but the federal reports tend to lag behind whats happening on the ground. For example, a recent KHN review showed the federal agency had tallied just one of the 11 Montana nursing home closures reported by news outlets in that state during 2022, and just eight of the 15 reported in Iowa. Demand for long-term care is expected to climb over the next decade as the baby boom generation ages. Willett said his industry supports changing immigration laws to allow more workers from other countries. Thats got to be part of the solution, he said. The nursing home in Postville, Iowa, was one of 10 care centers shuttered in the past year by the Good Samaritan Society, a large chain based in South Dakota. Its an absolute last resort for us, being a nonprofit organization that would in many cases have been in these communities 50 to 75 years or more, said Nate Schema, the companys CEO. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, the full name of the company, is affiliated with the giant Sanford Health network and serves 12,500 clients, including residents of care facilities and people receiving services in their homes. About 70% of them live in rural areas, mainly in the Plains states and Midwest, Schema said. Schema said many front-line workers in nursing homes found less stressful jobs after working through the worst days of the covid pandemic, when they had to wear extra protective gear and routinely get screened for infection in the face of ongoing risk. Lori Porter, chief executive officer of the National Association of Health Care Assistants, said nursing home staffing issues have been building for years. No one thats been in this business is in shock over the way things are, she said. The pandemic put a spotlight on it. Porter, who has worked as a certified nursing assistant and as a nursing home administrator, said the industry should highlight how rewarding the work can be and how working as an aide can lead to a higher-paying job, including as a registered nurse. Care industry leaders say that they have increased wages for front-line workers but that they cant always keep up with other industries. They say thats largely because they rely on payments from Medicaid, the government program for low-income Americans that covers the bills for more than 60% of people living in nursing homes. In recent years, most states have increased how much their Medicaid programs pay to nursing homes, but those rates are still less than what the facilities receive from other insurers or from residents paying their own way. In Iowa, Medicaid pays nursing homes about $215 per day per resident, according to the Iowa Health Care Association. That compares with about $253 per day for people paying their own way. When nursing homes provide short-term rehabilitation for Medicare patients, they receive about $450 per day. That federal program does not cover long-term care, however. Willett said a recent survey found that 72% of Iowas remaining nursing homes were freezing or limiting admissions below their capacity. The Prairie View nursing home in Sanborn is one of them. The facility, owned by a local nonprofit, is licensed for up to 73 beds. Lately, it has been able to handle only about 48 residents, said administrator Wendy Nelson. We could take more patients, but we couldnt give them the care they deserve, she said. Prairie Views painful choices have included closing a 16-bed dementia care unit last year. Nelson has worked in the industry for 22 years, including 17 at Prairie View. It never has been easy to keep nursing facilities fully staffed, she said. But the pandemic added stress, danger, and hassles. It drained the crud out of some people. They just said, Im done with it, she said. Prairie View has repeatedly boosted pay, with certified nursing assistants now starting at $21 per hour and registered nurses at $40 per hour, Nelson said. But shes still seeking more workers. She realizes other rural employers also are stretched. I know were all struggling, Nelson said. Dairy Queens struggling too, but Dairy Queen can change their hours. We cant. David Grabowski, a professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School, said some of the shuttered care facilities had poor safety records. Those closures might not seem like a tragedy, especially in metro areas with plenty of other choices, he said. We might say, Maybe thats the market working, the way a bad restaurant or a bad hotel is closing, he said. But in rural areas, the closure of even a low-quality care facility can leave a hole thats hard to fill. For many families, the preferred alternative would be in-home care, but theres also a shortage of workers to provide those services, he said. The result can be prolonged hospital stays for patients who could be served instead in a care facility or by home health aides, if those services were available. Rachel Olson, a social worker at Pocahontas Community Hospital in northwestern Iowa, said some patients wait a month or more in her hospital while she tries to find a spot for them in a nursing home once theyre stable enough to be transferred. She said its particularly hard to place certain types of patients, such as those who need extra attention because they have dementia or need intravenous antibiotics. Olson starts calling nursing homes close to the patients home, then tries ones farther away. She has had to place some people up to 60 miles away from their hometowns. She said families would prefer she find something closer. But when I cant, I cant, you know? My hands are tied. KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation. USE OUR CONTENT This story can be republished for free (details). ST. LOUIS Health care startup Tcare said Thursday it will move to a larger office in St. Louis city that will help the company nearly triple its workforce. The company is moving from Olive Street in Midtown to 1252 South Vandeventer Avenue in Botanical Heights, a few blocks south of The Grove. The move will help Tcare, which uses technology to help reduce burnout among family caregivers, grow its workforce from 35 employees to over 100 by the end of the year, according to a release. Tcare moved to St. Louis in 2019 from Madison, Wisconsin, after being selected for Arch Grants, which supports startups that move to the region. The roughly 27,000-square-foot Botanical Heights property is owned by the Arch to Park Equity Fund, a real estate investment arm of regional business group Greater St. Louis Inc. The building was the fund's first acquisition. From Arch Grants bringing us here, to the support weve received from other companies in this industry to help us grow, and the work Arch to Park Equity Fund did to get us into our new space, our story is a perfect example of how St. Louis comes together to help companies start up, stand out, and stay, TCare CEO Ali Ahmadi said in a statement. This was the whole ecosystem working together. This is how it is supposed to work. St. Louis-based real estate company DCM Group is the developer and broker for the project. An Alberta clipper system sweeping in from Canada will bring an abrupt change to the weather across North Dakota late this week. High temperatures in Bismarck early in the workweek reached the mid-30s, about 10 degrees warmer than average for this time of year. But they'll plummet this coming weekend as arctic air envelops the region, barely climbing above zero, with overnight lows dropping to minus 20 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Normal lows for late January are in the single digits above zero. "Cold weather sets in this weekend and continues through the first week of February," the weather service posted. Wind and precipitation will move in as the temperatures drop this week. A wind advisory is in place for western and central North Dakota from midafternoon Thursday until sunrise Friday. Northwest winds up to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph are expected, along with chances for a mix of rain and snow. Alberta clippers are common in the Northern Plains this time of year, but North Dakota has enjoyed a relatively calm January. "There have not been many Alberta clipper-type storms so far this winter," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said. "So, people may not be used to the fast-hitting nature of the storm and its snow." The heavier snow is expected in a band to the west and south, with parts of Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota and Nebraska possibly getting up to a foot. The weather service forecast calls for only about an inch of accumulating snow in Bismarck-Mandan on Thursday. Some parts of northeastern North Dakota could see a couple of inches. Patchy blowing snow could be an issue in open areas. Bismarck saw more than 51 inches of snow during October, November and December, and ended 2022 on pace for a record winter snowfall. But the capital city has seen only an inch in January, more than 6 inches below normal for the month, according to weather service data. The late-year heavy snowfall helped reduce areas of moderate and severe drought in North Dakota, but the entire state remains in some form of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, a partnership of the National Drought Mitigation Center, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Drought in the High Plains remains largely unchanged; much of the excess moisture is tied up in snowpack, and its effects on soil moisture and groundwater recharge remain to be seen," Drought Mitigation Center Climatologist Deborah Bathke wrote. She added that conditions also are slow to improve "due to the long-term nature of drought in the region." "Until spring melt shows verified evidence of soil moisture and groundwater recharge, it will be difficult to tell how much effect snow has had on drought conditions," Bathke said. Jeff Maggioncalda, the CEO of online learning provider Coursera, said that when he first tried ChatGPT, he was "dumbstruck." Now, it's part of his daily routine. He uses the powerful new AI chatbot tool to bang out emails. He uses it to craft speeches "in a friendly, upbeat, authoritative tone with mixed cadence." He even uses it to help break down big strategic questions such as how Coursera should approach incorporating artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT into its platform. "I use it as a writing assistant and as a thought partner," Maggioncalda told CNN. Maggioncalda is one of thousands of business leaders, politicians and academics gathered in Davos, Switzerland this week for the World Economic Forum. On the agenda is an array of pressing issues weighing on the global economy, from the energy crisis to the war in Ukraine and the transformation of trade. But what many can't stop talking about is ChatGPT. The tool, which artificial intelligence research company OpenAI made available to the general public late last year, has sparked conversations about how "generative AI" services which can turn prompts into original essays, stories, songs and images after training on massive online datasets could radically transform how we live and work. Some claim it will put artists, tutors, coders, and writers (yes, even journalists) out of a job. Others are more optimistic, postulating that it will allow employees to tackle to-do lists with greater efficiency or focus on higher-level tasks. It's a debate that's captivated many C-suite leaders, often after they tested the tool themselves. Christian Lanng, CEO of digital supply chain platform Tradeshift, said he was blown away by the capabilities displayed by ChatGPT, even after years of exposure to Silicon Valley hype. He's also used the platform to write emails and claims no one has noticed the difference. He even had it perform some accounting work, a service for which Tradeshift currently employs an expensive professional services firm. To date, ChatGPT has mostly been treated as a curiosity and a harbinger of what's to come. It relies on OpenAI's GPT-3.5 language model, which is already out of date; the more advanced GPT-4 version is in the works and could be released this year. Critics of which there are many are quick to point out that it makes mistakes, is painfully neutral and displays a clear lack of human empathy. One tech news publication, for example, was forced to issue several significant corrections for an article written by ChatGPT. And New York City public schools have banned students and teachers from using it. Yet the software, or similar programs from competitors, could soon take the business world by storm. Microsoft, an investor in OpenAI, announced this week that the company's tools including GPT-3.5, programming assistant Codex and image generator DALL-E 2 are now generally available to business clients in a package called Azure OpenAI Service. ChatGPT is being added soon. "I see these technologies acting as a copilot, helping people do more with less," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told an audience in Davos this week. Maggioncalda has a similar perspective. He wants to integrate generative AI into Coursera's offering this year, seeing an opportunity to make learning more interactive for students who don't have access to in-person classroom instruction or one-on-one time with subject matter experts. He acknowledges challenges such as preventing cheating and ensuring accuracy need to be addressed. And he's worried that increasing use of generative AI may not be wholly good for society people may become less agile thinkers, for example, since the act of writing can be helpful to process complex ideas and hone takeaways. Still, he sees the need to move quickly. "Anybody who doesn't use this will shortly be at a severe disadvantage. Like, shortly. Like, very soon," Maggioncalda said. "I'm just thinking about my cognitive ability with this tool. Versus before, it's a lot higher, and my efficiency and productivity is way higher." The-CNN-Wire & 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. When Kristen Asplin heard about a powerful new AI chatbot tool called ChatGPT going viral online recently with its ability to write frighteningly good essays in seconds, she worried about how her students could use it to cheat. Asplin, a professor at University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, soon joined a new Facebook group for teachers like herself to swap concerns and suggestions on how to restructure their lessons and assignments in response to ChatGPT. The tool, which launched in late November, can create detailed responses to simple prompts like "Who was the 25th president of the United States?" as well as answers to more complex questions like "What political developments led to the fall of the Roman Empire?" Asplin eventually decided to tweak her approach to written assignments. Instead of focusing just on the final product, which could potentially be spit out easily by ChatGPT, she's now asking students to hand in their papers at various stages of the writing process. "I am emphasizing and being more vigilant about the early steps in the writing process so I can see their progress," Asplin said about her new approach to class assignments. "This will give students more confidence in the process of writing so they are less likely to be desperate enough to cheat. It will also show me their work along the way so they can't just type a prompt in the program and have the computer do their work for them." In the weeks since the artificial intelligence research group OpenAI launched ChatGPT, which is trained on a massive trove of information online to create its responses, the tool has been used to write articles (with more than a couple factual inaccuracies) for at least one news publication; penned lyrics in the style of various artists (one of whom later responded, "this song sucks") and drafted research paper abstracts that fooled some scientists. But while many may view the tool as a novelty with unknown long-term consequences, a growing number of schools and teachers are concerned about its immediate impact on students and their ability to cheat on assignments. The Facebook group that Asplin joined, for example, has added more than 800 members in just the few weeks since it was created. Some educators are now moving with remarkable speed to rethink their assignments in response to ChatGPT, even as it remains unclear how widespread use is of the tool among students and how harmful it could really be to learning. In interviews with CNN, some college instructors said they are shifting back to in-classroom essays for the first time in years, and others are requiring more personalized essays. Some teachers said they've also heard of students being required to film short videos that elaborate on their thought process. Public schools in New York City and Seattle, meanwhile, have already banned students and teachers from using ChatGPT on the district's networks and devices. While there have been some anecdotes of cheating cases circling the internet and stirring fears of more to come, some teachers are urging their peers not to overreact to a new technology. "There's been a mass hysteria response to ChatGPT potentially ruining writing, while other people think it's actually a good thing," said Alan Reid, an associate professor of English at Coastal Carolina University. "We have to try to straddle the two sides and recognize the drawbacks alongside the positives." Adapting to a new AI chatbot In recent weeks, Kevin Pittle, an associate professor at Biola University in California, has found himself thinking about what ChatGPT knows. "Before assigning materials, I thoroughly interrogate ChatGPT to see what it does or does not 'know' about the material or have access to," he said. With that in mind, he said he's now requiring his students to show citations of specific sources that are unavailable to ChatGPT, including textbooks, articles behind paywalls, and materials produced after ChatGPT was trained on internet data available as of 2021. And he's not stopping there. "ChatGPT doesn't 'have soul' -- its fictional reflections are generally pretty lifeless -- so in one course I am requiring much more 'soul-searching' and reflective journaling than ChatGPT seems able to fake," he said. OpenAI previously told CNN it made ChatGPT available as a preview to learn from real world use. A spokesperson called that step a "critical part of developing and deploying capable, safe AI systems." "We don't want ChatGPT to be used for misleading purposes in schools or anywhere else, so we're already developing mitigations to help anyone identify text generated by that system," the spokesperson said. "We look forward to working with educators on useful solutions, and other ways to help teachers and students benefit from artificial intelligence." Some companies such as Turnitin are already actively working on ChatGPT plagiarism detection tools that could help teachers identify when assignments are written by the tool. (Turnitin already works with 16,000 schools, publishers and corporations with its other plagiarism detection tools). Princeton student Edward Tuan told CNN more than 95,000 people have already tried the beta version of his own ChatGPT detection feature, called ZeroGPT, noting there has been "incredible demand among teachers" so far. The concern extends beyond the United States. Alex Steel, the director of teaching strategy and a professor of law at the University of New South Wales, said a number of universities across Australia have announced a move back to closed book exams. "There is an increasing number of academics concerned that they will not be able to detect AI-written answers," he told CNN. "Partly the concerns are driven by a lack of understanding from teachers of what sort of questions might be susceptible ... so staff may push for return to exams until [these issues] can be addressed." Learning to embrace it Not all teachers are looking for ways to crack down on ChatGPT. Reid, the professor at Coastal Carolina University, believes teachers should work with ChatGPT and teach best practices in the classroom. Reid said teachers could encourage students to plug an assignment question into the tool and have them compare that result to what they personally wrote. "This could also allow a teaching opportunity for students to see what they missed, analyze the various approaches they could have taken or use it as a starting point to help with an outline," Reid said. He argued there will always be ways for students to cheat online, so teaching them how ChatGPT may improve their own writing could be a practical step forward. "The burden falls onto the educators -- and many don't want to be police in the classroom," he said. "The way to handle it is for teachers to examine their own practices and think about how it can be used positively. If they ignore this thing and don't know anything about it, that leaves the door open for students to use it to cheat and get away with it." Leslie Layne, an English and linguistics professor at the University of Lynchburg in Virginia, agrees. She now plans to teach students how ChatGPT could improve their writing. "ChatGPT can give students a running start, so they're not starting on a blank page. But it doesn't come close to a finished product," she said. "We want students to include more sourcing and evidence, so it could be used as something to build on." She likened ChatGPT to the outcry around calculators when they first came out. "People were very concerned we would lose the ability to do basic math," she said. "Now we carry one wherever we go with our phones, and it is so helpful." Layne said teachers could consider having students critique how ChatGPT handled an assignment question, teach students how to find the best prompt for the best response, and have ChatGPT argue one side of a topic and a student argue the other side. "Like with other new technologies, this could be a tool instructors use to help students express their ideas," she said. "Students just have to learn how to improve its writing and adapt it to their own voice." The-CNN-Wire & 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. Rock Star Tacos might strike you as an unlikely object lesson for most, if not all, restaurants. This Hill establishment is wholly its own creation, with Mexican- and Cuban-inspired fare and a rock n roll theme, led by veteran chef Wil Pelly, who knows how to cook and how to rock. (He has worked in numerous St. Louis kitchens and played in many different bands.) If you tried to replicate Rock Star Tacos formula, you would fail as spectacularly as Spinal Taps Stonehenge prop. You absolutely couldnt improve on Rock Star Tacos rock puns. The menu includes the Number of the Beef, Jaco al Pastor, Amy Swinehouse and Shrimp Bizkit tacos and not one but two cheese-curd rimshots, Curd Eye Blind and Poutina Turner, among other gems. So theres one object lesson from Rock Star Tacos: Do your own thing proudly and well. That isnt the lesson I meant, though. Dining here is just effortlessly enjoyable. The vibe is laid-back, as much neighborhood bar as restaurant. Almost as soon as you sit down, you are both put at ease and introduced to Rock Stars Tacos inimitable style with a complimentary serving of fresh, buttery popcorn sprinkled with the house seasoning, a chile-forward blend called Rock Star Dust. You can buy a bottle of Rock Star Dust at some area grocery stores, and Rock Star Tacos has been building its brand, for lack of a better word, for more than three years now. Pelly and bandmate Matt Arana opened the restaurant in 2019 as a walk-up window in St. Charles New Town community. (That location has since closed. Arana has since amicably parted from the restaurant.) In late 2021, Pelly and his partner in business and life, Rebecca Schaaf, opened Rock Star Tacos at its current home just west of where the Hill meets South Kingshighway. How much Amy Swinehouse taco $4.50 Birria Dollar Babies taco $5.25 Two tamales $9 Poutina Turner $15 Pelly has cooked at a diverse array of local restaurants Sancturia, Nudo House and the late Libertine, among them which has afforded him the chops to deliver a standout version of the now ubiquitous quesabirria, luscious braised beef folded with gooey cheese inside a toasted corn tortilla alongside a little cup of warmly spiced, chile-charged consomme. His experience has also given him the confidence to cut loose now and then. The appetizer called Down on the Korner delivers three crisp egg rolls filled with a molten blend of beef birria and the restaurants Mexican-style street corn. A dip in green-chile queso cools the egg rolls temperature slightly, if not their spice. The aforementioned Poutina Turner, another starter, tops a generous portion of Rock Star Dust-ed fries with cheddar cheese curds, a chorizo gravy, cilantro and onion, with lime wedges to squeeze. The curds are impressive in size and squeak, but as with traditional poutine, the gravy is what sells the dish, the prickly chorizo further brightened by a few squeezes of fresh lime juice. The selection of tacos also bounces from traditional to playful. The Jaco Al Pastor is, of course, a spin on pineapple-juicy pork al pastor. The Shrimp Bizkit is even more straightforward: pan-seared shrimp with peppers and onion. For the Amy Swinehouse taco, Pelly looks to his mothers Cuban heritage with pork braised with garlic and citrus. The succulent meat needs no additional accent, though for this and all of the tacos, a splash of Rock Star Tacos searing apricot-habanero hot sauce supercharges every bite. The crackling cubes of honey-chipotle pork belly in the Notorious B.I.G. taco evoke carnitas and chicharrones while also containing the abundant spirit of the Down on the Korner and Poutina Turner appetizers to a single corn tortilla. The combination of spiced beef, purple onions and tzatziki sauce inside the There Goes My Gyro taco is so effective that you might imagine a fluffy pita, rather than a flour tortilla, is cradling the ingredients. You bought the concert ticket for Rock Star Tacos, but you might leave humming a tune about corn. Pelly's mother fashions the exceptionally tender, subtly sweet Cuban-style tamales filled with either ground beef or green chile. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the QR-code menu for the side dish of street corn or, rather, Street Korn juicy roasted kernels served off the cob with cotija cheese, onion, jalapeno and Rock Star Dust in a silken, aioli- and ranch-like fancy sauce. Naomi Roquet tends to Rock Star Tacos bar program. She mixes an elegant, lightly smoky riff on the paloma with mezcal and fresh pink-grapefruit juice and, on one of my visits, she had concocted a daring special, the 2 Live Blue, with tequila, blueberry, key lime and jalapeno. The house margarita is bright and refreshing swanky, too, if you upgrade to the premium version. You can opt for a rim of Rock Star Dust instead of salt, but its one more credit to the restaurants appeal that the drink doesnt need either. Rating Recommended The Post-Dispatch evaluates restaurants on the following scale, lowest to highest: Not Recommended, Recommended, Highly Recommended, Essential. The rating reflects how the restaurant succeeds on its own terms and how it meets a diner's good-faith expectations of quality food and hospitality regardless of cuisine, location or cost. Where Rock Star Tacos, 4916 Shaw Avenue More info 314-571-9016; rockstartacos.com Menu Tacos and other Mexican fare Hours Dinner Tuesday-Saturday (closed Sunday-Monday) Its not quite peanut butter meeting jelly, but the idea of Kenya Barris and Jonah Hill getting together to make a movie is pretty appealing. Barris is the creator of Black-ish and its spinoffs, Grown-ish and Mixed-ish. His feature-writing credits include 2017s hilarious Girls Trip. Hill is the comedically gifted actor known for movies ranging from Superbad to The Wolf of Wall Street to Dont Look Up. They wrote the entertaining-but-uneven new romantic comedy You People, with Hill co-starring alongside Lauren London and Barris making his feature directorial debut. In it, Black meets white and, to a lesser degree, Islam clashes with Judaism. What could go wrong? For Ezra Cohen (Hill) and Amira Mohammed (London), falling in love is the easy part. Dealing with the others family, though, may make a lifelong commitment impossible. Ezra works in finance, but his passion is chopping it up on the podcast he hosts with Black best friend Mo (Sam Jay), The Culture Shift. Ezra or, as Mo calls him, EZ is desperate to fall in love, but Mo says hes too consumed by it. His world changes when he mistakenly gets into Amiras briefly parked car. Trying to find her way to work, shes understandably frightened and angry, but Ezra promises that while it may seem like a racism, it isnt that the Uber driver has a similar car and, yes, despite how it sounds, looks just like her. She looks at the drivers picture and believes him, and, as her talking GPS makes clear she is lost, he offers to help her get where shes going. A date follows. And then another, and another. Soon, theyre official. Half a year passes without introductions to families. Finally, he brings her to his Jewish parents home, where his mother, Shelley (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), simply oozes try-hard. Meanwhile, his laidback dad, Arnold (David Duchovny), works to establish how much he enjoys the rapper Xzibit. Ezra plans to propose to Amira which, to her credit, excites Shelley but because Amira hasnt introduced him to her proudly Muslim parents, Akbar (Eddie Murphy) and Fatima (Nia Long), he decides to ask them to lunch to ask for their blessing. It does not go great. Ezra is a good dude; he also can be nervous and awkward, and he gets himself into trouble by telling Akbar what he believes the stern man wants to hear, regardless of how wildly untrue it may be. This does not endear him to his potential future father-in-law, who runs Ezra through the wringer. Amira, meanwhile, is frustrated by Shelleys repeated attempts to be understanding of Amiras Blackness instead of seeing her for the woman she is at her core. For perhaps as much as its first third, You People is a delight, as Amira and Ezra are constantly cute together, thanks largely to the chemistry of London and Hill. And the movie is hysterical when seemingly effortlessly funny Louis-Dreyfus and Hill share the screen. Perhaps by necessity, the affair is less of a joy when Hill and Murphy are together. Hill isnt nearly as fun in liar mode, and while Murphy has a firm grasp on his hard-to-impress character, portraying Akbar requires him to use almost none of his comedic talents. After its strong start, You People meanders about, eventually leading to the crisis youd expect and the resolution that, naturally, would follow. And yet as predictable as all of this is, the screenplay by Barris and Hill manages to mine some emotion from these moments. You People is only a so-so examination of whether Black and white people truly can live in harmony; its late-game attempt to zero in on this question feels halfhearted if also well-meaning. But when you scrape away the heavy stuff, to its rom-com bones, You People should work for a wide range of folks. What "You People" 2 stars out of four Run time 1:58 Rating R for language throughout, some sexual material and drug content Where Available Jan. 27 on Netflix The Host Julie Rovner KHN Julie Rovner is chief Washington correspondent and host of KHNs weekly health policy news podcast, What the Health? A noted expert on health policy issues, Julie is the author of the critically praised reference book Health Care Politics and Policy A to Z, now in its third edition. The abortion debate has changed dramatically in the seven months since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and its nationwide right to abortion. Nearly half the states have banned or restricted the procedure, even though the public, at the ballot box, continues to show support for abortion rights. In this special two-part podcast, taped the week of the 50th anniversary of the Roe decision, an expert panel delves into the fight, the sometimes-unintended side effects, and what each side plans for 2023. This weeks panelists are Julie Rovner of KHN, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Sarah Varney of KHN. Panelists Alice Miranda Ollstein Politico Sandhya Raman CQ Roll Call Sarah Varney KHN Among the takeaways from this weeks episode: Exemptions to state abortion bans came into question shortly after the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe, with national debate surrounding the case of a 10-year-old in Ohio who was forced to travel out of state to have an abortion although, as a rape victim, she should have been able to obtain an abortion in her home state. The restrictions in many states have caused problems for women experiencing miscarriages, as medical providers fear repercussions of providing care whether affecting their medical licenses or malpractice insurance coverage, or even drawing criminal charges. So far, there have been no reports of doctors being charged. A Christian father in Texas won a lawsuit against the federal government that bars the states Title X family-planning clinics from dispensing birth control to minors without parental consent. That change poses a particular problem for rural areas, where there may not be another place to obtain contraception, and other states could follow suit. The Title X program has long required clinics to serve minors without informing their parents. Top abortion opponents are leaning on misinformation to advance their causes, including to inaccurately claim that birth control is dangerous. Medication abortion is the next target for abortion opponents. In recent months, the FDA has substantially loosened restrictions on the abortion pill, though only in the states where abortion remains available. Some opponents are getting creative by citing environmental laws to argue, without evidence, that the abortion pill could contaminate the water supply. Restrictions are also creating problems for the maternal care workforce, with implications possibly rippling for decades to come. Some of the states with the worst maternal health outcomes also have abortion bans, leading providers to rethink how, and where, they train and practice. Looking ahead, a tug of war is occurring on state and local levels among abortion opponents about what to do next. Some lawmakers who voted for state bans are expressing interest in at least a partial rollback, while other opponents are pushing back to demand no changes to the bans. With Congress divided, decisions about federal government spending could draw the most attention for those looking for national policy changes. Also this week, Rovner interviews Elizabeth Nash, who tracks state reproductive health policies for the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights research group. Credits Francis Ying Audio Producer Emmarie Huetteman Editor To hear all our podcasts, click here. And subscribe to KHNs What the Health? on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation. USE OUR CONTENT This story can be republished for free (details). Newly minted U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt is making an impression in his new job, but one that may not earn high marks in the plays well with others category. Politico reported Tuesday that Schmitt has rubbed some fellow GOP members the wrong way with an attempt to grab a seat on the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee. With a headline saying that Schmitts push for the seat irks colleagues, liberal-leaning Politico reported that Eric Schmitt is already ruffling feathers, two days into his first work week of the new Senate. Politico said Schmitt went so far as to make calls to his new colleagues ... to see if theyll give up their spots to allow him on the panel, an unusual move for a Senate newcomer. Politico said Schmitt specifically contacted Republican U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee. The move was not met warmly by Blackburn, who was named to the committee in 2019. Im the only Republican woman on the Senate Judiciary Committee and I dont intend to come off the committee, Blackburn said in an interview with Politico. Tillis also declined Schmitts request to step aside, Politico reported. Complicating matters further is the fact that Missouris other U.S. Senator, Josh Hawley, already is a member of the committee. GOP rules prohibit a state from having both of it senators on the committee unless the Republican senators vote to grant a waiver to the rule, the article said. And on Wednesday, the Republicans voted not to grant the waiver, leaving Schmitts only recourse to be a renewed attempt to get a fellow GOP senator to step down, political publication Roll Call reported. Schmitts efforts also seem to have thrown a wrench into the Senates internal workings. Schmitt now needs to make new committee assignment requests, which is expected to delay the formal organization of Senate committees into next week, Roll Call reported. In response, Schmitt press secretary William OGrady told Politico: Senator Schmitt and his team are continuing to have productive conversations as committee assignments are being worked out. But while Schmitt may not get the committee assignment he wants, at least he was assigned a cool desk. In a Twitter post Tuesday, Schmitt shared an interesting tidbit about his new job: Interesting tidbit. I inherited Harry Trumans desk on the floor. Former Missouri Sen Tom Eagleton also had the desk I graduated from the University named after Truman @TrumanState. Sen Eagleton gave the commencement address at my graduation 25 years ago. pic.twitter.com/WAl3EVSsZD Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) January 24, 2023 I inherited Harry Trumans desk on the floor. Former Missouri Sen Tom Eagleton also had the desk, Schmitt wrote, pointing out that he graduated from Truman State University, and that Eagleton was the commencement speaker. The desk also appears to have been used by two other U.S. senators from Missouri, John Danforth and Christopher Kit Bond, as well as Everett Dirksen, a legendary U.S. senator from Illinois who once said about government spending: A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon youre talking real money. ST. LOUIS A St. Louis forensic pathologist is casting doubt on a former colleagues testimony in a murder case that helped land a Jennings man on death row. In an affidavit Wednesday, Dr. Jane Turner, a former assistant in the St. Louis medical examiners office, said she reviewed the 2008 trial testimony of Dr. Phillip Burch that centered on a key question: When did four shooting victims die? Leonard Taylor, convicted of killing his girlfriend and her three children, is scheduled to be executed Feb. 7. Taylors defense team, in trying to halt the execution, has asked St. Louis County prosecutor Wesley Bell to file a motion for a hearing on new evidence. As of Thursday, Bells office hadnt announced its plans. Turners affidavit is part of the new evidence, and it was released to the Post-Dispatch on Thursday. Burch performed autopsies on the four victims in 2004. He testified at Taylors 2008 trial that they could have been killed two or three weeks before their bodies were discovered inside a house on Dec. 3, 2004. That timeframe blindsided Taylors defense team at trial. Burch had previously said in a deposition the victims likely had been dead just two or three days. The smaller window helped the defenses case because they said Taylor had an airtight alibi; he had left town for California a week before the bodies were found. That was verified by airport surveillance footage. At trial, Burch said his opinion about the time of death changed once he realized that air conditioning inside the home had been running and that the thermostat was turned to about 50 degrees. Defense lawyers say Burchs switch was part of the prosecutions shenanigans. Defense lawyers recently asked Turner to review Burchs testimony. Turner on Wednesday said there is significant scientific probability that a full review of the autopsy records would discredit Dr. Burchs trial testimony that the deaths could have occurred more than a week and as much as two to three weeks earlier. Forensic examiners look for certain signs to pinpoint when someone died, such as the breakdown of body tissue and dissipation of body fluids. Because Burch didnt find certain signs present, Turner said thats indicative they had been dead a few days, not weeks. Even the cold temperatures inside the home wouldnt have delayed those postmortem changes, Turner said, because the victims were fully clothed and underneath blankets. Turner left the St. Louis city medical examiners office in 2016 after 18 years as an assistant medical examiner. She worked in the same office as Burch, who died in 2014. Burch was a longtime deputy chief medical examiner in St. Louis city and also performed autopsies for St. Louis County. Turner is in private practice now with Virchow Consulting Services. She told the Post-Dispatch that she often reviewed doctors work and its not unusual to call into question a colleagues findings or conclusions. The facts are more important, Turner said. The murder victims were Angela Rowe, 28; her daughters, Alexus Conley, 10, and AcQreya Conley, 6; and her son, Tyrese Conley, 5. All had been shot at the house on Park Lane that Rowe sometimes shared with Taylor. Taylor did not testify at his St. Louis County trial. There were no witnesses to the crime, and police never recovered a murder weapon. Taylor was largely convicted on circumstantial evidence. His brother told police that Taylor confessed to the killings, saying his girlfriend came at him with a knife and he shot her in self-defense. He then killed the kids because they witnessed it. But the brother later said he only told police what they wanted to hear after they threatened him. The Missouri Attorney Generals Office, in response to some of Taylors appeals over the years, has said the case against Taylor is solid. JEFFERSON CITY Backed by the citys police union, a state senator Wednesday outlined the latest GOP attempt to put the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department back under state control. Sen. Nick Schroer, a St. Charles County Republican, said his legislation could help get a handle on violent crime in the city, a decade after Missouri voters put the city back in charge of its police force. In the last 10 years, police morale has tanked. These officers are understaffed and overworked without the necessary tools to protect and serve the community and protect themselves, Schroer said at a press conference before a Senate committee debated the plan. Top police brass in St. Louis, including new police Chief Robert Tracy and outgoing city Public Safety Director Dan Isom say the change is not needed. There is no evidence to support that returning control to the state will have any measurable impact, said Isom, who is leaving for a job at Ameren Missouri. I think the most important thing is strong leadership in the police department. Tracy, who was hired in December, urged lawmakers to give him a chance to implement his own changes. Ive only been here a couple weeks. Im looking under the hood. Im looking at strategy. I am looking at how we respond to all these crimes. Give myself a chance. Give the department a chance, said Tracy, the former police chief in Wilmington, Delaware. The measure is among a number of bills that have been introduced in the Legislature this year as part of the latest GOP-led anti-crime effort, even though data compiled by the Post-Dispatch shows violent crime totals actually declined between 2020 and 2021 after seeing year-over-year increases from 2018 through 2020. The citys homicide rate hit a record in 2020, but has retreated since then. Despite that, Schroer pointed to businesses that have left the city or say they will leave the city because of persistent criminal activity. And, he said Missourians living outside the city are avoiding it because of fears about becoming victims of crime. Among those urging action was St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann, who pledged to help resolve what he described as a St. Louis problem that has spread across the region. Sgt. Donnell Walters, president of the Ethical Society of Police, stood with Schroer at the press conference and urged lawmakers to advance the legislation. The decadelong experiment of local control has failed, Walters said. Jay Schroeder, president of the St. Louis Police Officers Association, said working conditions have become strained amid an inability to recruit and retain enough officers. Its never been as bad as its been, said Schroeder, who has worked under both state and local control. I can tell you right now were at a tipping point. Isom said contract negotiations between the city and the police union are ongoing. We do recognize that there are some pay gaps, Isom said, declining to offer more specifics about the status of talks. Under the proposal, a Board of Police Commissioners with four members appointed by the governor would serve with the president of the Board of Aldermen beginning in August 2023. The board would be required to keep a police force of not less than 1,142 members at a time when the current roster is hovering around 1,000. The board also would be required to boost the starting pay for an officer of about $50,000 by $4,000 beginning in July 2024. The legislation would overturn the statewide vote in 2012, the culmination of decades of advocacy by local leaders. At the time, then Mayor Francis Slay argued the boards makeup made it more difficult to respond quickly to crime trends or direct department spending. This department will not last another year under local control, Schroeder told members of the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety. Something has got to be done, said committee chairman Travis Fitzwater, R-Holts Summit. Isom expressed doubts that a state takeover would alter hiring woes at the department. He said, for example, the attrition rate among police can be partly attributed to opposition to police by some residents of the city. The culture has changed somewhat, Isom said. There is a level of frustration among officers. Democrats on the committee signaled that they oppose the change. I believe St. Louisans can govern themselves, said Sen. Greg Razer, D-Kansas City. Republicans also are pressing to give a state-appointed special prosecutor the authority to handle most murder, assault, robbery and carjacking cases in the city instead of the St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office. The sponsor of that initiative, Rep. Lane Roberts, a Joplin Republican and the former state public safety director, said the change could alleviate pressure on Gardners office, which has struggled to keep up with a mounting backlog of hundreds of time-consuming homicide and serious felony cases. The special prosecutor would serve a five-year term and be allowed to hire up to 15 assistant prosecutors and 15 staff, including investigators and clerks, all paid for by the state, according to the bill. At the end of the five-year term, the governor could extend the appointment for another five years if a threat to public safety and health or a backlog of criminal cases in the city of St. Louis still exists. Gardners office has called the measure misguided, unconstitutional and a threat to our democracy. Tracy told the panel he plans to talk with Gardner in the coming weeks. I have to at least give this a chance, Tracy said. Schroers legislation is Senate Bill 78. ST. LOUIS One group of people is believed to be responsible for a rash of recent carjackings and a homicide in St. Louis, police say, and authorities recovered one of the vehicles on Wednesday after a crash in Downtown West. In a span of less than 48 hours, police were called to nine carjackings, two ATM robberies and one homicide, all in south St. Louis. Police believe they are all connected. A joint task force of FBI agents and St. Louis investigators on Wednesday were watching a stolen vehicle when a man got out of the car and got into another stolen vehicle, said St. Louis police Major Janice Bockstruck. Both of those vehicles had been stolen in carjackings the first in the recent crime spree, and the second in December, police said. Police covertly followed the second stolen vehicle until officers were able to set up spike strips, Bockstruck said. Once the car hit the spikes it sped off, ran a red light and was hit by another car at Delmar Avenue and 20th Street. Police pursued the car for about five blocks, St. Louis Maj. Ryan Cousins told the Post-Dispatch. Bockstruck said police believe two boys and a man were in the crashed car. They all suffered injuries not believed to be life-threatening, as did the driver of the other car in the crash. That driver, Johnny Brown, said he was driving east on Delmar when the crash happened. Next thing I know, bam, I didnt even see the car, he said. I aint seen it nowhere. Next thing I know, Im on the side of the road. Bockstruck said its too early for police to determine how many people may be involved in the recent rash of crimes and noted the crashed car would be searched for guns by the departments forensics team. She said putting a stop to the crime spree is the departments top priority. Before the crash on Wednesday, St. Louis police Capt. Joseph Morici said officers were particularly concerned because shots were fired in several of the carjackings. We understand that being a victim of a crime is traumatic, but should you find yourself in such a situation, you should do your best to remain calm and try to get the best description of the suspect or suspects (and) vehicles involved in the incident as possible, he said during a media briefing Wednesday morning. Officers on Monday were called to two ATM robberies, four carjackings and one attempted carjacking, according to police reports. One of those carjackings happened around 6 p.m. in the Hampton Village Schnucks parking lot just after 37-year-old Andrew Wasson had loaded his groceries into his car. He said he responded to a text message while sitting in his parked car and choosing some music for the ride home. While I was sitting there, I heard something against the window and turned, and there was the gun, he told the Post-Dispatch. A white sedan had also pulled up and blocked him into the spot. Wasson turned over his keys and ran toward the store to call police. It happened so fast, Im not even sure I was thinking anything other than get the hell away, you know? he said. Morici said police found Wassons car at a gas station, and officers chased it toward Highway 40 (Interstate 64) and Interstate 170, where police lost sight of it. They recovered the vehicle Tuesday, Wasson said, but it was not drivable. I want to think of this as like a freak thing that isnt indicative of something thats going to be happening in that neighborhood, he said, noting he lives about a third of a mile from the Schnucks. Because I have lived there for several years, and I have never felt unsafe here. On Tuesday, police investigated the shooting death of 38-year-old Kay Johnson, who was found dead in her vehicle just before 7 p.m. in an alley in the 4700 block of Compton Avenue, in the citys Mount Pleasant neighborhood. They were also called to investigate an attempted carjacking just before 7:30 p.m. at Gustine Avenue and Delor Avenue in the citys Bevo Mill neighborhood. Early Wednesday, officers were called to yet another three carjackings. We have probably every detective in the city working on this thing in one avenue or the other trying to get these ties, Morici said. The captain reminded residents to always be aware of their surroundings when parking or entering their parked vehicles, avoid remaining stationary in and near their vehicle, attempt to park in well-lit areas and circle the area or the block if they believe theyre being followed. And if an armed person demands their vehicle or other property, police recommend people comply. Your life is worth far more than any amount of property, Morici said. ST. LOUIS A board made up of many of the St. Louis areas top elected officials plans to hold a crime summit in the spring to discuss ways of dealing with the issue across the metro region. Details have yet to be worked out but the East-West Gateway Council of Governments is looking at holding the day-long event in late March or early April. The councils executive director, Jim Wild, told the council Wednesday that he is trying to line up police leaders, prosecutors, school officials, academic experts and representatives of Greater St. Louis Inc. a local business group to take part. Wild also has said officials from other metro areas similar to the St. Louis area might be invited to relate how they have dealt with crime. This will be more of a holistic approach to figure out ... what the issue is, Wild said. All this is subject to tweaking. Were trying to figure out availability of people and organizations. The summit idea was proposed at a council meeting Oct. 26 by St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, a Democrat, and endorsed then by the councils chairman at the time, Jefferson County Executive Dennis Gannon, a Republican. Jones at that meeting said an in-person gathering could address crimes root causes, the resources to fight it and changing the rest of the countrys view of the St. Louis area. That session was held just two days after a student and a teacher were killed in a shooting at a campus in the city shared by two high schools. Jones said she had been planning to bring up the crime summit idea prior to the school shooting but that incident makes it that much more prevalent and important. Jones also said then that some have been very vocal in recent months and weeks about whats wrong with the city and its a good time for us to have this conversation. A few weeks earlier, Jones and another council member, St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann, a Republican, had clashed over Ehlmanns advocacy of returning the St. Louis police department to control by a state-appointed police board. A hearing was held in Jefferson City on Wednesday on a bill to repeal local control of the city department. A lobbyist for St. Charles County government was among those speaking in favor, while Robert Tracy, the Jones administrations recently-hired police chief, opposed the measure. Jones and Ehlmann didnt comment on the city police-related bill or the upcoming summit at Wednesdays Gateway Council meeting. The Gateway Council also includes top officials with each of the metro areas other counties and various others such as the St. Louis aldermanic president, the mayors of East St. Louis and Fairview Heights and a representative from the county councils in St. Louis and St. Charles counties. The planned crime summit wouldnt be the first of its kind here. For example, in 2019, Jones predecessor as mayor, Lyda Krewson, met with St. Louis County Executive Sam Page, Gov. Mike Parson, the city and county police chiefs, the Missouri Highway Patrol superintendent and the state and city public safety directors to try to come up with anti-crime strategies. Nasma Luxury Stays, a division of Al Tamimi Investments and a specialist in executive living and vacation rentals, is all set to start 2023 strong on the back of the rising demand for short-term property rentals in the UAE. Nasma grew its portfolio of luxe real estate across the country, ending 2022 with its successful expansion to Mina Al Arab in Ras Al-Khaimah (RAK), a milestone in its ongoing bid to strengthen its market foothold. The company has been managing premier properties in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in 2022. The portfolio increase took place as more homeowners continue to ride the next wave of growth in the holiday home industry. Nasma will capitalise on this momentum to meet the demand arising from the influx of tourists to the UAE as a result of its reinvigorated tourism and hospitality sectors. New opportunity We are confident that we can exceed our performance in 2022, as we step up our efforts to expand our portfolio through mutually beneficial partnerships with property owners. Additionally, this is an opportunity for us to continue our tradition of offering global and local tourists all the luxuries associated with a 5-star hotel within a comfortable, warm home environment. We are happy with our achievements in 2022, but we are even more excited this year given the consistent strong support from the UAE Government and its wise leadership, said Dani Tabbara, COO of Al Tamimi Investments. The holiday home market continues to be a major segment in the local property industry. A recent report showed more than 10,766 active listings in Dubai, which accounted for 2% of the total households in the emirate alone. The figure was the highest percentage compared to all other global hub cities. Additionally, Abu Dhabi and Dubai ranked 3rd and 4th, respectively, in the top 10 best global places to buy a holiday home in 2021. End-to-end property management Nasma was founded to provide end-to-end property management solutions to luxury owners wanting to rent out their properties to vacationers for a short-term stay. To boost the value of their real estate and their profitability prospects, the company also offers other services such as interior design and property maintenance and damage repair. Part of its unique value proposition is its attractive profit-sharing model, in which 80% of the profit goes to the property owner to ensure they enjoy better rental yields. This is on top of its 12-month revenue forecast report provided to the owners for a more effective business strategy and higher market value of the properties. To date, Nasma manages luxury holiday homes such as villas and apartments in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and RAKs prime locations, including Yas Island, Al Raha Beach, Dubai Marina, Downtown Area, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), City Walk, Blue Waters, Dubai Creek Harbor, Dubai Hills, Palm Jumeirah and Mina Al Arab, among others.-- TradeArabia News Service Two people injured in a Mandan home explosion and fire are in a Minnesota hospital, and an effort is underway to help pay their medical expenses. Levi Hawks, 85, and Susan Hawks, 62, escaped the Jan. 18 fire with the help of a neighbor. Levi is burned on about a quarter of his body, and Susan on more than 80%. They were airlifted to St. Paul, Minnesota, for treatment. Susan underwent her third surgery Wednesday, her son Kevin Cuba said. Shes still in critical condition, Cuba said, adding that his mother is in a medically induced coma so she cant feel the pain of her burns. Levis burns are mostly on his hands and arms. He suffers from diabetes, which could lead to other complications, Cuba said. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation. The mobile home on Cortez Circle, owned by Kevins brother Mark Cuba, was engulfed in flames when Mandan firefighters arrived. Theres nothing left, Kevin Cuba said. The couple's dog, which firefighters found after the fire was out, was taken to a veterinarian but later died. Levis sister, Patsy Denham, has organized a GoFundMe effort to defray the couples medical expenses. It had raised $1,100 as of midafternoon Thursday. Donations can be made at https://gofund.me/2acf6791 The Hawks in 2006 escaped injury when a single-engine airplane crashed into a semitrailer parked near their Montrose, Colorado, home. Two people in the airplane were killed. Levi Hawks semi was destroyed, and a car and pickup truck were burned out, the Montrose Daily Press reported. CLAYTON A St. Louis County man convicted of nine counts of rape involving eight teen girls was sentenced to 16 consecutive life sentences on Thursday after victims testified about the years of pain he caused. One mother who took the stand said her daughter was 13 when Dominic Yocco contacted the girl through the social media app Snapchat, picked her up from a St. Charles County home and raped her. The girl, who once dreamed of getting on the Disney Channel and American Idol, was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. She died by suicide before the case went to trial, so her accusations were not part of Yoccos conviction. She was a little girl who had not even had her first kiss, the mother said on the stand. It broke my heart. I couldnt fix it for her. I couldnt protect her. St. Louis County Judge Ellen Ribaudo sentenced Yocco to 16 life sentences with eligibility for parole in 83 years. Yocco was convicted by a jury in September of nine counts of rape, six counts of sodomy and one count of attempted sodomy. He was acquitted on two counts of statutory sodomy. He was eligible for a life sentence because jurors deemed him a predatory sexual offender. I have panic attacks that last hours, one of Yoccos victims testified at sentencing Thursday. She later added: I will never forget how disgusting of a person Dominic is. Testimony at trial showed Yocco, 23, contacted the girls using social media, then plied them with alcohol and drugs before forcing himself onto them despite their refusals or while they were blacked out. In most of the encounters, prosecutors said, Yocco sexually assaulted the girls at his grandmothers home in the 1600 block of Celerity Drive north of Florissant, where he also lived. Yocco was 17 and 18 at the time, between 2016 and 2018. The girls were 16 and younger. Yocco gave a lengthy statement on his behalf Thursday, placing blame on the media, prosecutors, investigators and the victims, while denying the crimes, claiming the encounters were fabricated or consensual. He emphasized his own young age at the time of the crimes and quoted Bible verses about false accusations. I pray (God) will forgive you all for your wicked ways, Yocco told the courtroom where several victims and their families sat. He later said: I do not regret anything in life. ... I have learned a lot from what Ive been through. Yocco ended his statement with a social media plug: Hashtag Free Dom, he said. Yoccos mother, grandmother and aunt also spoke on his behalf, arguing to the judge Yocco has a heart of gold. COOL VALLEY The Cool Valley Board of Aldermen voted to impeach the citys mayor on Wednesday but not before he announced via email that he was retiring from politics. The board voted 3-1 on Wednesday to impeach Mayor Jayson Stewart after reviewing allegations that Stewart failed to make sure the city had a budget for two fiscal years, used a city vehicle for personal reasons and neglected to make sure the board had access to the citys financial accounts, including $230,000 in federal COVID-19 relief funds. Stewart did not attend the meeting. He returned his city vehicle Tuesday night. Enough is enough, said Alderman Floyd Blackwell, who as board president will act as the citys interim mayor once the impeachment is finalized next month. The board did not accept the email Stewart sent shortly before the hearing saying he was retiring from politics as an official resignation. Blackwell, a former Cool Valley mayor, said Stewart also failed to show up earlier Wednesday when city officials were scheduled to meet at a bank for more information on the citys financial status. Stewart told the Post-Dispatch that he wished the community the best. As for his campaign promise of $1,000 of bitcoin for every resident? Well see what happens, he said in a text message. Cool Valley currently has about 1,000 residents. But residents of the north St. Louis County community say bitcoin is the least of their worries. They want potholes repaired, street lights fixed, trash removed from businesses along its main corridor on Florissant Road, more businesses in the area and relief for homeowners affected by the July floods. I really thought he was going to show up for us. He was so young and charismatic when he was running, you really wanted to root for him, said resident Joan Ferguson. Ferguson was one of about a dozen residents who attended the impeachment hearing. Some shook their heads and others scoffed while hearing about the allegations of the mayors mismanagement and negligence. Many said this would be a good opportunity to merge with Ferguson, its immediate neighbor to the north. If it can get us some better services and is whats best for the residents, then why not? said Shirley Williams, who has lived in Cool Valley with her husband for over 30 years. Also on Wednesday, the Missouri State Auditors Office confirmed it has launched an investigation into Cool Valley after reviewing a whistleblower complaint. The board hired attorney Paul Martin to investigate their allegations against Stewart. Martin also is guiding Louisiana, Missouri, through an impeachment process. Jennings used Martin as its special counsel when its city council impeached the mayor in 2016. City government disputes and allegations of corruption are not unusual, especially among some of the smallest of St. Louis Countys municipalities. Kinloch, a tiny community in North County, has removed its mayor at least three times since 2011. Flordell Hills had two former city officials indicted in August for allegedly embezzling $663,000 over the previous six years, reportedly using the money at casinos and other personal reasons. And in Bellefontaine Neighbors, two former aldermen are suing the city to recover nearly $4,000 in monthly stipends they say their mayor withheld. They also allege the mayor, who also acts as city manager, spent money without board approval. Meanwhile in Cool Valley, the citys contract with Normandy for police services also expired on Wednesday. The city has paid Normandy to patrol its blocks since it disbanded their police department in 2013 for financial reasons. Over the past decade, Cool Valleys budget has ranged from $850,000 to $1.25 million. One of the citys biggest revenue sources, Schnucks, moved three times over the course of 20 years before ultimately relocating about a mile and a half north on Florissant Road in Ferguson. A billion-dollar defense contractor moved its headquarters from Cool Valley to Bridgeton in 2019 after more than 50 years. Many other businesses followed suit. Now Cool Valley functions mainly on property taxes, in addition to state and federal funds. FERGUSON Fergusons mayor confirmed on Wednesday that the city manager resigned. Mayor Ella Jones told the Post-Dispatch that the city officially accepted the resignation of City Manager Eric Osterberg. Fire Chief John Hampton will serve as interim city manager. The city of Ferguson is healthy, said Jones. Well continue working and moving forward. In September, Osterberg announced his resignation after a heated exchange with Ferguson Councilwoman (Joanne) Toni Burrow during a city council meeting. However, he retracted the resignation days later, saying he was there to stay as long as some council members stopped interfering with him doing his job. He also told the Post-Dispatch he faced harassment because he is gay, and garnered support from from LGBTQIA advocates. On Wednesday, Osterberg did not immediately return requests for comment. Some Ferguson residents united to remove Burrow from office, also concerned about the lack of retention with city officials and leaders. Their efforts put Burrows name on a special election ballot for Feb. 7, when Ferguson residents will vote on whether to remove Burrow from her council seat representing the citys second ward. The next city council meeting is on Valentines Day. Before Osterberg was hired in 2021, the fire chief previously served simultaneously as fire chief and the interim city manager for about six months after the departure of the citys previous interim manager, Jeffrey Blume. The city of Ferguson has operated under a consent decree since 2016, after a Department of Justice investigation found the city administered unconstitutional police and court policies and practices. It was one of the many domino effects of the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown in 2014. At least four police chiefs have come and gone since then. JEFFERSON CITY Over the objections of Democrats and a formidable lobbying group, a House panel Thursday endorsed the latest attempt by Republicans to make it harder for voters to change the Missouri Constitution. The House Elections and Elected Officials Committee voted along partisan lines on four related bills to raise the bar for both the number of signatures needed to place a proposed amendment on the ballot, as well as the threshold it needs to receive to go into effect. Committee chairwoman Peggy McGaugh, a Carrollton Republican, said the package likely will be further winnowed down before it arrives before the full House. But, the rapid pace of moving the changes through the committee process early in the legislative session shows how big of a priority the effort is this year. This is a huge one, said McGaugh, a former county clerk. Republicans have been pushing to make it more difficult in recent years to alter the state constitution after seeing progressive ideas that they reject approved by voters through the ballot process. Among the changes implemented by voters through the referendum process are the legalization of marijuana and the expansion of a government-funded health insurance program for low-income Missourians. Part of the pressure to move quickly stems from the possibility that abortion rights supporters are considering pursuing a 2024 ballot measure to overturn Missouris near total ban on abortion. Anti-abortion groups are playing defense by pressing lawmakers to act in order to preserve the states ban. The package includes changes to the petition gathering process that could make it tougher to place a measure on the ballot by requiring signatures from 7% of the voters in all of the states congressional districts. Currently, signatures are needed from 8% of voters in six of the states eight congressional districts. House Speaker Pro Tem Mike Henderson, R-Bonne Terre, who is sponsoring one version said the current set-up results in the signature-gathering process focusing on the states bluer areas, including St. Louis, Kansas City and Columbia. Another change would require the question to receive support from a majority of all registered voters, not just those who voted. Opponents say that would make it virtually impossible for a measure to win approval. Changes to the initiative petition process would have to be approved by voters, likely in 2024. Rep. Joe Adams, D-University City, said he was extremely disappointed that the bills were put on a fast track. I know that there are elements that want to push certain things through and I think this is how we make mistakes, Adams said. He said changing how Missourians can change the state constitution will be a hard sell to voters. It is going against what the people want, Adams said. I believe you are turning more and more citizens against government. The committee vote came despite a warning from the top lobbyist for the Missouri Association of Realtors. The Realtors organization has previously used the process to amend the constitution to ban sales tax collections on real estate transfers. In 2016, Realtors also financed a campaign to stop the Legislature from extending state sales taxes to services. In each case, the organization spent more than $4 million in its efforts. Through Jan. 1, the Realtors political action committee reported having $634,000 in its campaign account, which could be used to convince voters to reject the changes if they appear on the ballot. Environmental groups also oppose the changes. Adding additional barriers does nothing more than censure the voice of the people. This is the peoples tool to get things done, wrote Ashton Kuehnel of the Sierra Clubs Missouri chapter. Senate President Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, acknowledged that the opposition could derail the GOP priority. It makes it harder for that to pass, Rowden said Thursday. Hendersons legislation is House Joint Resolution 43. CLAYTON Voters in St. Louis, St. Louis County and 35 county municipalities will decide on the April 4 ballot whether to put a 3% tax on recreational marijuana sales. St. Louis County said the money will help balance its budget. St. Louis officials have floated ideas like helping residents previously jailed for drug crimes get jobs and housing. County municipalities said proceeds will support services such as public safety and road work. Its important for a municipality to try and diversify its revenue streams, said Berkeley City Manager Nathan Mai-Lombardo. Should the citizens approve this, it would just be another way to do that without being overly reliant on one thing or another. Berkeleys ballot proposal says revenue would support public safety and infrastructure, among other needs. The city already has one medical marijuana dispensary, and taxes on recreational marijuana could generate an estimated $72,000 for the city annually, Mai-Lombardo said. Were not going to assume its always going to be the same. No municipality can do that for any of its taxes, he said. In Florissant, city leaders will look to support existing services, said city spokesman Andy Quinones. But they havent decided specifically how theyll use revenues, if the proposal passes. We want to be able to use the funds, if passed, to improve amenities and services we already provide, Quinones said. St. Louis Alderman Brandon Bosley, of Hyde Park, said he hopes the money will go toward giving at-risk youths more things to do to keep them out of trouble. He said its needed if the city wants to stem the rise in juvenile crime in the city right now. We need to create an environment that says theyre included, he said. St. Louis Countys tax would apply to sales countywide and would be added on top of municipal taxes and a 6% state tax on recreational marijuana. The county ended 2022 with a $30 million budget deficit, according to the latest figures from the county budget office. Tax from marijuana sales wont fill the hole a rough estimate shows pot taxes would only generate about $3 million annually but it could help, said County Executive Sam Page. To address our budget challenges, we have to understand all the options, Page said at a budget meeting Tuesday. Chesterfield leaders decided not to put a marijuana sales tax question on the ballot for its residents, said Mayor Bob Nation. Instead, theyll ask voters in April to approve a use tax on out-of-state sales to help stave off an expected deficit by 2026. The city already has a 1% tax on sales at local brick-and-mortar stores. If voters approve it, that tax would be extended to purchases from out-of-state companies, for instance, during mail orders or online shopping. The use tax could generate an estimated $2 million annually compared with roughly $90,000 from recreational marijuana sales, Nation said. The use tax is so much more important, we didnt want to jeopardize the passage of the use tax by putting two taxes on the ballot, he said. Recreational sales could begin in February. Missouri voters approved legalizing marijuana in November. The following St. Louis County municipalities are seeking the tax: Ballwin, Berkeley, Brentwood, Bridgeton, Charlack, Clayton, Crestwood, Creve Coeur, Des Peres, Ellisville, Ferguson, Flordell Hills, Florissant, Frontenac, Glendale, Hazelwood, Kirkwood, Manchester, Maryland Heights, Normandy, Northwoods, Oakland, Olivette, Overland, Pacific, Richmond Heights, Rock Hill, Shrewsbury, St. Ann, Sunset Hills, University City, Valley Park, Velda City, Warson Woods and Webster Groves. Austin Huguelet and Josh Renaud of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this story. JEFFERSON CITY A special prosecutor appointed by Gov. Mike Parson would have the exclusive power to prosecute certain violent crimes in the city of St. Louis under a plan Missouri lawmakers considered Thursday. Rep. Lane Roberts, a Joplin Republican and former director of the Department of Public Safety, said his plan was designed to address a crime problem in St. Louis that has affected the entire state. Roberts told the House Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee on Thursday that he wanted to add a certain homicide case threshold to the bill that would determine when the governor could appoint a special prosecutor. The legislation is the latest attempt by the Republican-led Legislature to bolster criminal prosecutions in St. Louis, reflecting the view that St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner isnt getting the job done. This is not a question of local control anymore, Roberts said. It affects our economy, it affects the decision for people to send children to our schools. And I think its important that we understand that this is not aimed at some malicious intent. Rep. Kimberly-Ann Collins, D-St. Louis, asked what assistance other officials have offered to Gardner to help with the case backlog in St. Louis. The help has been available for some time, but it requires that the circuit attorney make the request for that assistance, and thats not happening, Roberts said. Prosecuting attorneys in Missouri are able to ask for trial assistance and research help from the Missouri Office of Prosecution Services. Roberts said that during a meeting that Gardner attended virtually unfortunately the only request that she made was for money and pointed to underpaying prosecuting attorneys. Money is not going to do the trick, Roberts said. This takes some of those most egregious crimes and takes that off of their plate so that they can utilize their staff with what remains. Under the legislation, the special prosecutor would receive exclusive jurisdiction to prosecute first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, first- and second-degree robbery and vehicle hijacking. Cole County Prosecuting Attorney Locke Thompson, a Republican speaking on behalf of the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, said were deeply concerned that this bill overrides the will of voters and may strip the criminal justice system of prosecutorial independence, which as we all know has been a pillar of our criminal justice system since the inception of this country. Thompson went on to say the prosecutors association and the Missouri Office of Prosecution Services have offered their assistance. ... That assistance has been declined. Allison Hawk, a spokeswoman for Gardner, did not respond to questions by the Post-Dispatch about assistance available to the prosecutor. But, in a statement issued late Thursday, she called Roberts bill a political gesture based entirely on unfounded premises. The statement continued: The notion that anything presented in the bill will improve our violent crime situation is ridiculous. It defies logic to think the creation of a duplicative department thats totally devoid of the relationships, institutional knowledge, criminal justice partnerships, and experience required to prosecute these complex cases would do anything to curb crime. Addressing the causes of violent crime is an urgent priority, and should be a focus for our entire region. The Circuit Attorneys Office welcomes the opportunity to work with legislators with legitimate proposals to address it. Roberts public safety-focused legislation, which wasnt voted on Thursday, would make several other changes to state law, including: A provision designed to stop unsupervised minors from carrying firearms in public. State Sen. Steve Roberts, D-St. Louis, proposed similar legislation in December. A plan to allow formerly incarcerated individuals to access Medicaid services for six months after their release. A requirement that the state provide every offender released from prison with a photo identification card. Roberts sought to explain why a lawmaker from a city in southwest Missouri would be concerned about crime in a city nearly 300 miles away. If it were simply confined to the city of St. Louis, then I would have nothing to say about it. Its a local control issue. But it affects the rest of the state. Somebody once said to me, not all that long ago, Why are you, an outsider, trying to determine what happens in the city of St. Louis? I will tell you this, Im not an outsider. Im a Missourian. And there are roughly 200 Missourians a year dying in St. Louis. And I dont have to live in St. Louis to care about that. The legislation is House Bill 301. Updated at 6 p.m. with a statement from the St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office. CLAYTON Transparency advocates are pushing St. Louis County to open private budget talks to the public, arguing that the county is breaking state law in closing them. County Executive Sam Page and three members of the County Council will be part of a group that meets behind closed doors at weekly working sessions to hammer out solutions to the countys $41 million budget hole. The group will provide public updates on discussions monthly, said Doug Moore, a spokesman for Page. Budget talks will cover sensitive topics like job cuts, and county leaders need to be able to speak freely, said Republican Councilman Dennis Hancock of Fenton, a member of the group. If it becomes a large meeting, it tends to get bogged down in grandstanding, Hancock said. Missouri law, however, is clear that such meetings should be public, lawyers and advocates say: Government meetings with a quorum four of seven members, in the county councils case are clearly open to the public, according to Missouris Sunshine Law. But the law also prohibits government bodies from meeting with less than a quorum if they intend to discuss public business that will be ratified at a later meeting. Id go into court and try to argue this is a de-facto subcommittee, said Jean Maneke, an attorney with the Missouri Press Association. The whole council knows about it and theyre expecting to get a report once a month. It sounds like a subcommittee to me. Elad Gross, an open-government advocacy lawyer, said the Sunshine Law makes it clear that government meetings, even when a quorum isnt present, should be open to the public. There are a few exceptions for discussing issues such as personnel or privileged legal information. The bottom line is if youre going to hold public authority, the public ought to know what is going on, Gross said. Tom Sullivan, a St. Louis County resident and frequent speaker at county council meetings, said the meetings should be treated like any other public meeting. The purpose of the three Council members at the meeting was to discuss public business the St. Louis County budget and make recommendations to the full Council. That was made clear, Sullivan wrote in an email to council members Wednesday. Councilman Ernie Trakas, too, argued the meetings should be open to the public. Its certainly not what I envisioned, Trakas, a Republican from South County, said at the councils Tuesday meeting about the closed-door plan. Council Chair Shalonda Webb, a Democrat from unincorporated North County, shot back at Trakas: What Im going to ask of you, sir, is to allow us civility and grace to allow us to put a full framework in place that will engage the public, Webb said. The public wasnt invited to attend the groups first meeting in-person, but the meeting was streamed online. Moore, Pages spokesman, said the county will hold some town hall-style meetings that will be open to the public. And Page said the working group will give monthly public updates to keep the process transparent. Its essential that we have these meetings now so that everyone is informed, Page said. Councilman Hancock, the former mayor of Fenton, said he has asked the county counselors office for an opinion on the private working sessions. Our intent is not to go against the Sunshine Law, but to get the ball moving forward, you have to have small groups discussing things, Hancock said. The County Council tried last year to keep pandemic aid talks private, too. It reversed course a few days later. JEFFERSON CITY Missouri workers who lose their jobs could see their unemployment benefits significantly reduced if state lawmakers move forward with a bill considered at a hearing this week. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Mike Bernskoetter, a Jefferson City Republican, aims to decrease the minimum amount of time someone can collect unemployment benefits from 13 weeks to eight weeks. Current law states that if the states unemployment rate is at or below 6%, then people can collect unemployment benefits for 13 weeks. The proposed legislation would drop it to eight weeks if the unemployment rate is at or below 3.5%. The unemployment rate as of December is 2.8%, according to the Missouri Department of Labor. The weekly amount for unemployment benefits is 4% of the average of the two highest quarters in the individuals base period, which is the 12-month period prior to their claim being filed, but the maximum amount is $320, according to the Missouri Department of Labor. Current law allows for a sliding scale with a maximum of 20 weeks of benefit collection if the unemployment rate is at or above 9%. The proposed law keeps the 20-week maximum when the unemployment rate is over 9%. Local businesses are reporting that only one or two employees are showing up for work, or where the workers will only work a day or two before going back on unemployment. I know personally, Ive had trouble trying to find employees, Bernskoetter said Wednesday during the Senate General Laws Committee hearing. Bernskoetter and his wife have owned Arts Pest Control in Jefferson City since 1986, according to his profile on the state Senate website. Representatives from multiple business groups, including the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, voiced their support for the bill. Peter Mueser, a chancellors professor for the University of Missouri-Columbias economics and government and public affairs departments, said in an interview that the idea is that if the unemployment rate is low, there are more jobs available, so people should require less time to find a job. Although shortening the unemployment eligibility period causes people to search more actively for employment and thus shorten the time it takes them, theres still people who take quite a bit of time to get a job. And they suffer loss of income that is fairly dramatic over that period, Mueser said. He said older workers and those who have specialized skills would have a harder time finding employment that matches their skills in the eight week period. Jake Hummel, the president of the Missouri AFL-CIO, was the only person to testify against the bill. The legislation is SB 21. ST. LOUIS Despite winter weather warnings, early event cancellations, and even public service reminders about safe driving and snow shoveling, St. Louis and much of St. Louis County awoke to only 1 to 3 inches of snow Wednesday the very low end of what was expected. But heavier snow didnt miss the area by much, with some parts of Missouris Ozark region seeing up to a foot of flakes. Several forces contributed to the difference and made the snowstorm something of a dud, locally including that temperatures were right around freezing. In St. Louis, conditions moved from rain to snow more slowly than anticipated. Although the ratio can vary widely, the moisture from one inch of rain generally equates to about 10 inches of snow, meaning that even a slight difference in the observed mix of rain and snow can drastically throw off snowfall totals. In comparison, Ozark regions to the south saw much higher rates of snowfall with 10 inches falling near Farmington, and 12 inches close to the Arkansas border, in places like West Plains and Lanton. Had that belt of harder snowfall stretched a bit farther north, St. Louis couldve seen a far different scenario. Even when surface-level temperatures are slightly above freezing, rapid snowfall can win out forming an initial layer that might slush up but also helps pave the way for more snow to stick on top of it. That snowfall rate was a key player, said Jared Maples, a meteorologist in the St. Louis forecast office for the National Weather Service. The more snow you add, it kind of acts as an insulator. Meanwhile, the snow in southern parts of Missouri was aided by another main element: the slightly higher elevations of the Ozarks, which Maples said can be a big factor when differences of just 1 or 2 degrees mark a tipping point. It kind of shows you how the elevation can play into things here in Missouri, especially when youre right on that threshold, he said. Looking ahead, forecasters warned that cold overnight temperatures leading into Thursday could create the potential for water or slush to refreeze on roadways. But temperatures will rebound dramatically over the next few days, reaching into the 40s or even 50s by Saturday. Conditions could then boomerang back toward freezing by the start of next week, when snow is again possible. That outlook, however, is still subject to change in the coming days, Maples said. Photos: Slushy roads after heavy, wet, snowfall more limited than expected in St. Louis region A proposed settlement reached by the North Dakota Attorney General's Office and a Bismarck photography business accused of failing to provide services or refund money to clients would bar the company from doing business in the state and require repayment of more than $800,000 to customers. The proposal also would require Glasser Images, owner Jack Glasser and former employee Jace Schacher to admit engaging in consumer fraud, and pay a $30,000 fine. Glasser, Schacher, and Glasser Images under the agreement would be barred from owning or operating a photography business in North Dakota for at least 15 years. The agreement outlines repayment of $807,188 to customers and subcontractors, according to Attorney General Drew Wrigleys office. Wrigley filed the proposed agreement in South Central District Court. Glasser and Schacher each filed for bankruptcy in August. One stipulation of the proposed deal is that the restitution and fine are not dischargeable under their bankruptcy. The state Consumer Protection Division after a six-month investigation into Glasser Images filed a lawsuit alleging violations of the states consumer protection laws. The division alleged Glasser Images and the two men took advance payments for wedding photography and videography, then did not provide the services because of financial problems that were not disclosed to customers, Wrigley said. The investigation showed Glasser and Schacher paid for personal expenditures using Glasser Images funds. Investigators looked into 540 complaints of undelivered photographs and videos, and advance payments for which no services were provided. The division also worked with Glasser subcontractors for delivery of photos and videos despite Glassers nonpayment to the subcontractors, Wrigley said. Fargo attorney Tim OKeeffe, who represents Glasser, Schacher and the company, in a statement Thursday cited the coronavirus pandemic as the reason for the financial woes. "When the COVID-19 pandemic happened, and without the ability to hold wedding gatherings, the photography business quickly spiraled downward," O'Keeffe said. "They simply could not continue. Since closing the doors, Jack and Jace have made extraordinary efforts to distribute the photography and videos to their valued clients. They sincerely hope this settlement agreement brings much-needed closure. Wrigley in a statement said "Glasser Images records reflected that its financial problems predated the COVID-19 pandemic and were exacerbated by Glasser and Schachers use of Glasser Images funds for personal expenditures." These defendants promised important services to wedding couples who paid for photography and video services on one of the most important days of their lives and then failed to do so, causing almost incalculable distress, he said. The conduct and circumstances of this case and these incredibly disappointing actions merit serious sanctions, which Glasser Images, Glasser and Schacher have acknowledged and agreed to, including an injunction on business for many years and the requirement to pay restitution and civil penalties that are not dischargeable in bankruptcy. While the running joke may be that there are too many lawyers in the world, in many rural places in the United States, there are demonstrably too few. Despite efforts in recent years by a handful of states, universities and legal associations to ease the problem, there remains a glaring lack of lawyers in many far-flung places. This leaves those areas and their residents without easy access to legal advice for family issues, wills, estates and property transactions, in addition to any criminal or civil legal disputes. Residents often have to drive long distances to another city or rely on remote video meetings. Thats an access problem when you are asking someone to drive 100 miles or more to do a simple will or a simple divorce, said Sam Clinch, associate executive director of the Nebraska State Bar Association, a state with few lawyers outside its largest cities, Lincoln and Omaha. Nebraska has a small state loan repayment program to help a few attorneys who agree to practice rurally; in a decade, the program has placed 39 lawyers in rural parts of the state. Some 40% of all counties in the United States 1,272 of 3,141 have fewer than one lawyer per 1,000 residents, so few that they are considered legal deserts, according to the most comprehensive survey of attorneys available, conducted by the American Bar Association in 2020. More recent smaller studies have shown no easing of the problem. An updated American Bar Association lawyer census in 2022 did not break down the attorneys by residence but noted that the overall number of lawyers has remained about the same. And overarching numbers can be deceiving too. Nationwide, there are roughly four lawyers for every 1,000 residents, but those numbers dont mean much because so many lawyers are concentrated in cities. New York state has more lawyers than any state in the country (184,000), the 2020 survey showed, but rural Orleans County, New York, holds just 31 attorneys for the countys 40,000 residents, about three-fourths of an attorney for every 1,000 people. California comes in second in overall totals, but it too has counties such as Merced, with 0.74 of a lawyer for every 1,000 people. The situation is far worse in rural states such as South Dakota, with few attorneys outside of urban centers such as Rapid City and Sioux Falls. South Dakota is one of the few states where the legislature and governor agreed a decade ago on a plan to attract lawyers to rural areas. The Rural Attorney Recruitment Program has brought 32 new lawyers to remote areas in the state, according to Rapid City attorney Patrick Goetzinger, former president of the South Dakota State Bar Association, who spearheaded the program a decade ago. Each attorney gets a stipend of $12,500 a year for five years if they agree to work in rural counties. The stipend, which is in addition to whatever they earn doing legal work, corresponds to what a year of law school cost in the state at the programs inception, Goetzinger said. While many of the lawyers use the funds to pay off school loans, he said they are free to use the money any way they like. If they leave the program before five years, they forfeit the funds. Goetzinger said in a phone interview that he and a group of attorneys went to the legislature and former Gov. Dennis Daugaard, a Republican, at the time because they needed a funding source to attract civil practice lawyers to these communities. Money talks. The legislature agreed to fund half the program, while the communities kicked in 35% and the bar association the remaining 15% of the funds. The total cost was about $88,000 in fiscal 2021. We felt if we get em for five years, we got em, he added. Goetzinger said the program started with 16 lawyers, 10 of whom are still working in rural communities. The program is now authorized for 32 slots, and currently 26 are enrolled. However, while the program has made an impact, the rural-urban attorney gap is still wide. The South Dakota Searchlight reported that 72% of all South Dakota attorneys still live in four cities: Aberdeen, the capital city of Pierre, Rapid City and Sioux Falls, while only 35% of South Dakotans live in those cities. While money is important because attorneys generally make more in larger cities, there are other factors keeping newly minted lawyers from settling in small communities, according to experts. Hannah Haksgaard, professor of law at the University of South Dakota, said in an interview that if the goal is to be a high earner, you should go to the big cities, though she added that attorneys who do routine work such as wills and estates dont get the big money no matter where they live. But theres more to a lawyers lifestyle than money, she added. While budding lawyers often express concerns about lack of access to cultural amenities such as music and art in smaller places, some people are concerned about access to ranches and rodeos, she said. There is a culture in rural areas thats absolutely missing from urban areas. Sure, if you want to go the symphony, youre not going to be in middle of Oklahoma. Other concerns include finding suitable employment for a professional spouse or having access to good public schools, but those issues are balanced by the ability to get courtroom experience early or having a real impact on the community, said Lisa Pruitt, a law professor at the University of California, Davis. Shes the lead author of an article titled "Legal Deserts: A Multi-State Perspective on Rural Access to Justice," published in the Harvard Law & Policy Review in 2018. Few other states have adopted South Dakotas model because of cost and because rural residents in states with big urban centers, such as California, have less political clout, Pruitt said. North Dakota is an exception; it has a program modeled after its southern neighbor. In a presentation made to a Rural Legal Access Summit in 2018 at the San Joaquin College of Law, Pruitt noted that while California and South Dakota have about the same number of counties (58 and 66 respectively), California has only three counties with a population below 10,000, compared with South Dakotas 48 counties with that population. And when thinking about trying to offset the cost of law school, she pointed out that annual tuition in California averages just over $48,000 compared with about $15,600 in South Dakota. In California, its really hard to get the legislature or the state bar to get these various entities that could pony up some money to get lawyers to go to rural places, she said. In most states, the relevant institutions are not willing to do this because constituencies are not strong enough. Its hard to get lawmakers or The State Bar of California to care about rural people and places because there is no power there. A search of the California legislatures database turned up no bills specifically designed to address the issue over the past several sessions. But California and many other states have some programs designed to familiarize young lawyers with rural life and work. In California, for example, the state has a $5 million program through the Judicial Council for the California Access to Justice Commission to give grants to nonprofit organizations that provide civil legal aid for people in need. The bar associations in some states run national summer programs or fellowships in which lawyers spend time with rural firms. Maine approved a bill just last year to authorize the University of Maine School of Law to open a legal aid clinic in Fort Kent, a city on the Canadian border, and funded it at $600,000, according to Senate President Troy Jackson, a Democrat who represents Aroostook County, where Fort Kent is located, and who sponsored the bill. No one testified against it. In an interview, Jackson said while there was little opposition, some residents of other rural parts of the state thought maybe they should get a clinic too. That discussion was put off, but he expects others to make the case if the first program is a success. The funding came from some excess money in the judicial budget, and he said if the program is to continue past the first biennium, that may be a point of discussion as well. Its up and going, he said. They are trying to walk and crawl and run at the same time. Without the clinic, there are only two full-time lawyers and one part-timer in Fort Kent, and one of the full-timers only does real estate work. You often dont think you want to have a lawyer, but often you end up needing em, said Jackson, a fifth-generation Maine logger, who said he sometimes wishes he had a law degree. Nebraskas program, the Legal Education for Public Service and Rural Practice Loan Repayment Assistance fund, last fiscal year paid 34 recipients between $1,000 and nearly $5,000 toward their law school loans if they work in designated rural areas, according to an email from Jeffery A. Pickens, chief counsel of the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy. Clinch, at the Nebraska Bar, said that in addition to the loan program, the bar association partners with three state universities to pay college tuition for undergraduates who express an interest in going to law school and in rural law. We hope they go back to rural Nebraska, but its not something they have to do, Clinch said, adding that a survey of the students participating in the program showed that 70% grew up in a rural area. The association also runs bus tours to rural areas so students can meet with local officials and lawyers. If we place one lawyer in one rural community that needs a lawyer, its a success. To entice them, he said, the programs advocates talk about experience rather than money. We tell them if you go to a big city and a big firm, you might see the inside of a courtroom once in two years, he said. If you practice in a small town or rural area, youll be in the courtroom in the first couple weeks and chairing a trial in the first month. As Missouris governor ponders options after exiting office in 2024, may we suggest opening the Mike Parson School of Advanced Leadership Avoidance? There, he could teach politicians the art of providing circuitous, evasive non-answers to straightforward questions on important issues like how to prevent deranged people from carrying out mass shootings. Parson demonstrated his leadership-avoidance expertise in an interview this week with St. Louis Public Radio. Reporter Sarah Kellogg asked him about funding for school safety an issue particularly on the minds of St. Louisans following the Oct. 24 mass shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, where a teacher and student were killed. Parson wants the Legislature to approve $50 million in grants for schools statewide to beef-up security. Its about keeping kids safe, keeping teachers safe, keeping administration safe, he explained. Missourians from all political perspectives would have a hard time arguing with that. And how do we do that? Parson added without answering his own question. And what did we learn from St. Louis that we can do better, the way things occur when a tragedy does happen? I think you always, and this the law enforcement in me [as a former sheriff], when a tragic event happens, you should always go back and reevaluate everything that occurred, why it occurred. Is there something you can do thats better? And I think its an unfortunate tragedy, but we need to learn from that. Kellogg reminded Parson that the mother of the 19-year-old gunman in the Oct. 24 shooting had called police, begging them to take his gun away because he was mentally unstable. Police said Missouri law didnt allow them to do that. So how about passing a red-flag law that would enable police to halt a mass shooting before it starts? Parson immediately dodged and deflected. People would argue, you couldve did this differently or you couldve did that different. If the security guards had been armed, would it have made a difference that day? Then he tried a different tack, emphasizing government helplessness: People with mental health issues, deranged people, you know, you just dont have control over them. He shrugged off red-flag laws as more of a political statement. And thats what drives everybody apart, when you start going down those roads. But I think when you start tagging things with those political hot-button issues, you automatically are in the wrong direction. Youre going to be divisive just like the Second Amendment, what do you aim to gain out of it? Then he brought it back to the original theme: And for me, its always about how do you really make things better? Identify what went wrong. But dont deprive murderous deranged people of their Second Amendment rights. Brought to you by the Mike Parson School of Advanced Leadership Avoidance. Long before his own #MeToo demise as a U.S. senator, satirst Al Franken wrote a shocking investigative expose of politicians and pundits who prepare yourself dont always tell the truth. The subtly titled book, Lies and the lying liars who tell them, caused upheaval in Washington and led to a bipartisan national shakeup in politics. Politicians forever ended the practice of lying. Oops. Correction: It actually got worse than ever, including the election of a president who reportedly lied more than 30,000 times in his single term. Lying is not technically against the law, but it might be time for greater legislative clarity on the matter of deliberately deceiving the public for political or financial gain. Kansas Citys former communications director, Chris Hernandez, is suing his ex-employers, saying they demoted him when he refused to lie on behalf of City Manager Brian Platt. The city, which disputes the accusation, is arguing in court that, even if officials did lie, deliberately misleading the public isnt illegal. Increasingly across the country, the truth is on trial. The American public has been yanked so many different ways by falsehoods presented as fact that people simply dont know whom to believe anymore. Millions bought the lie that coronavirus vaccines are part of a government plot. Millions more believe the 2020 presidential election was stolen. Similar lies were behind the hammer attack that hospitalized then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband. Falsehoods are hardly harmless. People can die. Fox News is currently in court defending itself for having advanced the lie that Dominion Voting Systems helped rig the 2020 presidential election against President Donald Trump. Fox doesnt deny the lies. Rather, it questions whether the lies caused actual harm. Foxs Tucker Carlson successfully defended himself in a 2020 slander lawsuit by arguing that the things he says on television are clearly exaggerations and arent supposed to be believed by viewers. He won. The big question hanging over Congress these days is whether Rep. George Santos, R-New York, should be ousted over his serial lying to win election. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says that he wont fire Santos based on his massive biographical fraud. Rather, hell only be ousted if Santos lies broke the law. Should lying be illegal? In 2005, Congress actually tried to criminalize lying about military service with the Stolen Valor Act. In 2012, the Justice Department tried to prosecute Xavier Alvarez for having claimed to be a Marine combat veteran and recipient of the Medal of Honor. The Supreme Court, however, sided with Alvarez. As frustrating and offensive as falsehoods might be, they are protected speech under the First Amendment, the court ruled. Lies provoke outrage, for sure. But unless actual physical or financial harm can be proven, Americans will simply have to live with all these lying liars and the lies they tell. Regarding the editorial Missouri legislators again move to limit womens right to choose ... their clothes. (Jan. 14): Now that Missouri lawmakers have properly clad their female legislators from head to toe (although I can imagine a knee showing occasionally), lets get back to harassing and threatening school teachers. Why not a dress code for them too? We need to constantly protect our precious children from casually dressed teachers. I have been told that some gym teachers actually wear shorts while teaching sports! Regarding "Illinois appeals judges restraining order on gun ban" (Jan. 23) I was a sitting circuit judge in Illinois for 28 years. I now realize that there are limits to what can be accomplished through legislation. In my opinion, the new Illinois law enacted to ban assault weapons is on its face unconstitutional. I believe there are good reasons why law enforcers should not enforce this law. To enforce this law as written would only drive many gun owners to believe that the only real purpose of this law is to eventually take away their guns. To enforce this law would drive a wedge between law-abiding gun owners and law enforcement. The wedge would be driven even deeper because crime is rampant. How can such a controversial and unpopular law to ban assault weapons ever be enforced? It was impossible to prohibit the sale of alcohol during prohibition. It is impossible to stop the sale and importation of drugs despite the great harm they cause. It should be obvious that this law cannot be successfully enforced. George J. Moran, Jr. Edwardsville Russias mysterious special purpose 14,000/24,000 ton (on the surface/submerged) nuclear submarine Belgorod (K-329) has shown up again. Commercial satellite photos showed the Belgorod on the surface off the northeastern Russian coast, where several ports used by the Northern Fleet are located. Russia reported in early January that Belgorod was testing mockups of its primary weapon, the Poseidon torpedo, to make sure they could be carried and launched by Belgorod. These tests also confirmed that the nuclear propulsion system worked as expected. Belgorod is a larger and heavier Oscar class sub but it still uses the same power plant as the other Oscars. The Poseidon torpedo is too large to be carried inside Belgorod and launched from a torpedo tube, and are instead affixed to the underside of the sub and released by the sub commander. The dummy Poseidon is the same size and weight of the real one. The size and weight of the Poseidon attached to the bottom of the Belgorod changes the performance characteristics of the Belgorod and tests were done to note and fix any problems. The actual Poseidon torpedoes, which are described as a doomsday weapon, are being built and not expected to be ready for another year or two. Belgorod was launched in 2019 and entered service in mid-2022. After that, nothing (that could be detected). Between 2019 and 2022 Belgorod had special equipment installed and tested before this modified Oscar class SSGN (nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine) was ready for service. Belgorod wont work for the navy like other subs, but for the GUGI (Main Department of Deep-Water Researches) which works for the intelligence services and is attached to the Navy for ship and crew support. Belgorod has come a long way since construction began in 1982. At one point the sub was canceled while still under construction. In 2006 Russia announced it would not finish construction of the Belgorod, the last of nine Type 949A SSGNs. Known in the West as the Oscar II class, these boats began entering service just as the Cold War ended. Three were in commission when the Soviet Union disintegrated in 1991. Construction continued on six more, and by 1997, eight were in service. But, at that point the navy had run out of the money, with the Belgorod not quite complete. Another $100 million was needed to complete Belgorod and the government (although not the navy) felt it wasn't worth it. Seven Oscar IIs remain in service, as the Kursk was lost in 2000, to a well-publicized accident. Work then resumed on Belgorod. That did not last long because the money was not there and not likely to be in the immediate future. Then in 2012 it was announced that the Belgorod, which had not been scrapped but put in storage, was once more scheduled for completion. This time there would be some major revisions that turned Belgorod into something more than an SSGN. The original Oscars were designed as "carrier destroyers" with long-range cruise missiles that could, in theory, take out an American aircraft carrier. The Oscar II class boats have a surface displacement of 14,000 tons. They have eight torpedo tubes (four 650mm, four 533mm), and 24 SS-N-19/P-700 Shipwreck missiles. These anti-ship missiles have a range of 550 kilometers, a speed of 1600 kilometers an hour, and a 750 kg (1,650-pound) high-explosive warhead (or a nuclear warhead of 350 or 500 kilotons as an option). The Oscar's crew of 107 contains 48 officers. That's because of the high degree of automation, and the need to offer officers pay and accommodations to attract the technical talent required to keep these boats going. The new Belgorod was 11 meters longer (at 184 meters) and several tons heavier than the other Oscars. It no longer carried the 24 cruise missiles but instead was equipped to handle a number of new systems. These included four to eight Poseidon AUVs (autonomous underwater vehicles) that are armed with very powerful nuclear warheads designed to release more radiation than normal. Poseidons are also nuclear-powered and purportedly programmed to travel autonomously to enemy coastal cities, detonate underwater and somehow create large waves that cause enormous damage and spread radioactivity along the nearby coasts. The Poseidon can travel thousands of kilometers underwater on its own, at very high speed for a torpedo (hence its own nuclear reactor) before detonating the two-megaton warhead while on the seabed of the continental shelf. Such doomsday weapons would allegedly be used only if Russia lost a nuclear war in order to punish its opponents even more. In that sense Poseidon is a psychological terror weapon, something the Russians have long been fond of. Its an expensive obsession because creating the Belgorod and Poseidon torpedoes and their Cobalt radiation warheads cost billions of dollars for a weapon that may never be used and if it does get used, may not work as expected. After all, how do you test the Cobalt super bomb to confirm that it works? With that in mind, Belgorod also can transport a new (since 2003), smaller (65 meters long) and nuclear-powered Losharik mini-sub underneath it. This mini-sub can perform various operations using remotely controlled arms. It carries a crew of 25 to great depths (up to 6,000 meters) and has a top speed (for emergencies only) of 72 kilometers an hour. Losharik is believed to be for checking Russian underwater data cables for bugs (or damage in general) and tampering with underwater cables and other equipment belonging to the United States and other Western states. Because Losharik can dive deeper than any other sub and is quite large for a deep-diving sub, it can find and retrieve useful items that end up in very deep waters (electronics from Western aircraft or ships). Losharik can also survey very deep sea-bottoms for suitable sites for placing various electronic devices. Belgorod can also transport a Shelf nuclear power plant that can be placed on the ocean floor to power the Harmony system of underwater sensors or any other new tech that needs to be powered for a long time. Power supplies similar to Shelf have been used in space satellites that require a lot of power (like those equipped with radar). Belgorod is also equipped to carry combat divers (similar to U.S. SEALS) and Harpsichord AUVs that are the size of standard torpedoes but contain side-scan sonar and other sensors that can operate while up to 2,000 meters underwater. Belgorod is also designed to tow objects behind it. These can be a towed array sonar or other items. Russia already has some specialized subs equipped for special operations. These are conversions of existing subs while Belgorod was custom designed and built for the special operations tasks. In late 2016 Russia finally sent its second special operations SSN, the Podmoskovie (BS64), to sea for trials. This sub is actually a Delta IV class SSBN (nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine) that began its career in 1986 as K64 Podmoskovie. Since 1999, K64 has been undergoing conversion to BS64, which appears to be something similar to customized U.S. SSNs that have been in service since the 1970s. The current American example of this is the USS Carter, a Seawolf-class SSN converted (while under construction) to be 30 percent longer and 20 percent heavier than the other two Seawolfs. The additional space was to hold mini-subs for the fifty SEALs it can carry, or to tap into underwater communications cables and perform other intelligence gathering tasks. The Carter entered service in 2005 and replaced an older Sturgeon class SSN (USS Parche) that entered service in 1991 and was retired in 2004. The Parche replaced earlier SSNs that had performed these intel missions throughout the Cold War. The 13,500-ton Podmoskovie had its 16 ballistic missile silos replaced with facilities for launching remotely controlled mini-subs for intelligence missions. The renovations resulted in the sub becoming about five percent longer. This meant that the converted Podmoskovie was somewhat lighter (probably about 12,000 tons). The first Russian SSBN to undergo a similar conversion was the K129 Orenberg, a Delta III class SSBN whose conversion (to BS136) began in 1994 and entered service in 2008. The Delta III is about the same size and displacement as the Delta IV but the Podmoskovie conversion seems to be more extensive than the Orenberg. Both the Orenberg and Podmoskovie carry the Losharik minisub beneath it. The United States has also converted four SSBNs, but not for intelligence work. In early 2011 the USS Florida, an American Ohio class SSGN, fired its Tomahawk TLAM-E cruise missiles in combat for the first time off Libya. Most of the hundred or so Tomahawks launched that day were fired by the Ohio. This was not the first-time nuclear subs have fired cruise missiles in wartime as U.S. SSNs have fired Tomahawks several times. But the Ohio class SSGNs carry 154 cruise missiles, more than ten times the number carried by some SSNs. The four Ohio class SSGNs are SSBNs converted to cruise missile submarines (SSGN) and these first entered service in 2006. Each of these Ohio class boats now carries cruise missiles as well as many as 66 commandos (usually SEALs) and their equipment. The idea of converting ballistic missile subs, that would have to be scrapped to fulfill disarmament agreements, has been bouncing around since the 1990s. After September 11, 2001, the idea got some traction. The navy submariners love this one because they lost a lot of their reason for being with the end of the Cold War. The United States had built a powerful nuclear submarine force during the Cold War, but with the rapid disappearance of the Soviet navy in the 1990s, there was little reason to keep over a hundred nuclear subs in commission. These boats are expensive, costing over a billion each to build and over a million dollars a week to operate. The four Ohio class SSBN being converted each have at least twenty years of life left in them. The idea of a sub, armed with 154 highly accurate cruise missiles, and capable of rapidly traveling underwater (ignoring weather, or observation) at a speed of over 1,200 kilometers a day to a far off hotspot, had great appeal in the post-Cold War world. The ability to carry a large force of commandos as well was also attractive. In one sub you have your choice of hammer or scalpel. More capable cruise missiles are in the works as well. Whether or not this multi-billion dollar investment will pay off remains to be seen, but it certainly worked off Libya. The SSGNs are carrying a new version of Tomahawk, the RGM-109E Block IV Surface Ship Vertical Launched Tomahawk Land Attack Missile. Each of these weighs 1.2 tons, has a range of 1,600 kilometers and travels at 600-900 kilometers an hour. Flying at an altitude of 17-32 meters (50-100 feet), they will hit within 10 meters (32 feet) of their aim point. The Block IV Tomahawk can be reprogrammed in flight to hit another target and carry a vidcam to allow a missile to check on prospective targets. The Russian special operations boats are certainly special with their nuclear-powered mini subs and AUV nuclear-armed mini-subs as well as the sensor equipped smaller mini-subs. ST PETER PORT, GUERNSEY / ACCESSWIRE / January 26, 2023 / Goodbody Health Limited (AQSE:GDBY)(OTCQB: GDBYF) ("Goodbody" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that it has partnered with Datar Cancer Genetics ("Datar") a world-leading liquid biopsy company to offer its innovative Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) based multi-cancer screening solution Trucheck in the UK. According to Dr Vineet Datta, Executive Director at Datar Cancer Genetics, "There is clear evidence that cancer screening led early detection saves lives and leads to a less radical treatment with fewer side effects. Analysis of CTCs using our advanced technology through this innovative platform allows highly sensitive detection of cancer at early stages. Trucheck is a CE certified cancer screening solution offered for single and multi-organ cancer screening. We believe the solution will encourage more men and women to participate in cancer screening for a safer future. Working with Goodbody brings this screening service one-step closer to the general public." George Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, said: "Trucheck offers a paradigm shift in cancer screening through a novel process of utilising CTCs to identify cancers in both early and advanced stages, with validation from more than 40,000 individuals. We are excited to work with Datar and to add the Trucheck cancer screening solution to our portfolio of health and wellness tests offered through our clinic network to ensure our customers get the best opportunity to take preventative measures to look after their health, at a convenient and accessible location". Geremy Thomas, Executive Chairman, said: "We are very pleased to develop the business further under the guidance of George who has successfully led the clinic business for over two years.". The directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement The Financial Statements and Management Discussion and Analysis and further information regarding the Company can be found under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. All press releases, financial information and other publicly reported information is published on the company website at https://goodbodyhealth.com. If you want push notifications to know when anything is published or to receive other relevant information in future please register here https://goodbodyhealth.com/news-items/ On behalf of the Board of Directors, Contact Information: George Thomas Chief Executive Officer +44 (0)20 7971 1255 [email protected] www.goodbodyhealth.com Anne Tew Corporate Secretary +44 (0)20 7971 1255 [email protected]www.goodbodyhealth.com Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Goodbody Health's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes" "plan is" or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur", "will be achieved" or "shortly". The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein include but are not limited to: the solution will encourage more men and women to participate in cancer screening for a safer future, working with Goodbody brings this screening service one-step closer to the general public and it will ensure our customers get the best opportunity to take preventative measures to look after their health, at a convenient and accessible location. Although Goodbody Health believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. Goodbody Health does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. SOURCE: Goodbody Health Limited View source version on accesswire.com: VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 26, 2023 / Perk Labs Inc. (CSE:PERK)(OTCQB: PKLBF)(FKT:PKLB) ("Perk" or the "Company"), Is pleased to announce it has engaged Independent Trading Group ("ITG") to provide market-making services in accordance with the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") policies. ITG will trade shares of the Company on the CSE and all other trading venues with the objective of maintaining a reasonable market and improving the liquidity of the Company's common shares. Under the agreement, ITG will receive compensation of CAD$5,000 per month, payable monthly in advance. The agreement is for an initial term of three months and will renew for additional one-month terms unless terminated. The agreement may be terminated by either party with 30 days' notice. There are no performance factors contained in the agreement and ITG will not receive shares or options as compensation. ITG and the Company are unrelated and unaffiliated entities and at the time of the agreement, neither ITG nor its principals have an interest, directly or indirectly, in the securities of the Company. About ITG Independent Trading Group (ITG) Inc. is a Toronto based IIROC dealer-member that specializes in market making, liquidity provision, agency execution, ultra-low latency connectivity, and bespoke algorithmic trading solutions. Established in 1992, with a focus on market structure, execution and trading, ITG has leveraged its own proprietary technology to deliver high quality liquidity provision and execution services to a broad array of public issuers and institutional investors. About Perk Labs Inc. Perk Labs Inc. (CSE:PERK)(OTCQB: PKLBF)(FKT:PKLB) is the owner of Perk Hero, the mobile commerce platform on a mission to empower business owners with the digital tools to provide their customers with dining experiences that are more engaging, convenient and rewarding. Perk Hero is growing through a unique community-driven digital franchise business that is available to entrepreneurs at an attractive start-up price. For more information about Perk Labs, please visit www.perklabs.io. Visit Perk Hero at www.perkhero.com. For more information on a Perk Franchise, visit www.perkfranchise.com. For more information contact: Jonathan Hoyles CEO Perk Labs Inc. (833) 338-0299 [email protected] Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: "may", "believe", "thinks", "expect", "exploring", "expand", "could", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "plan", "pursue", "potentially", "projected", "should", "will" and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. These forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, relate to, among other things, the discussion of the Company's business strategies and its expectations concerning future operations. Although the Company considers these forward-looking statements to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect, and the forward-looking statements in this release are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things: the market making activities by ITG and the approval of the CSE of the agreement with ITG. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking information, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions, or expectations upon which they are based will occur. SOURCE: Perk Labs Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: Foot Locker (NYSE: FL) is climbing Thursday after the company, in an 8-k filing, revealed three significant changes to the organization. The sportswear retailer revealed that Andrew Gray, the company's executive vice president of Global Lockers and Champs Sports, has left the company effective January 23. Foot Locker also confirmed that it would be winding down its Sidestep banner in Europe, and as part of streamlining the organization, it has eliminated a number of corporate and support roles. The company stated that the winding down of its Sidestep banner in Europe is consistent with its broader efforts to focus on its core and growth banners, while the elimination of some corporate and support roles will result in cost savings of approximately $18 million per year beginning in fiscal 2023. Reacting to the news, Wedbush analyst Tom Nikic said Foot Locker's new CEO, Mary Dillon, is putting her stamp on the business. Nikic raised the firm's price target on Foot Locker to $40 from $37, maintaining a Neutral rating on the stock. "FL was a business that clearly needed a shake-up, and Ms. Dillon (who we greatly admire) is clearly working diligently to streamline operations and upgrade the executive bench," wrote Nikic. "That said, our enthusiasm is tempered by the ongoing evolution of the Nike partnership (reduced allocations could be a 2023 headwind) and macro headwinds (high-ASP products sold primarily to moderate-income consumers). On the incremental cost savings announced today, we raise our FY23/24 EPS forecasts to $4.56/$4.80 (from $4.50/$4.66)." By Sam Boughedda First international project for AFYREN, as announced at the time of its IPO; This comes as its first plant starts up in France. With this project in Thailand, AFYREN is targeting the Asian market, which represents 25% of the world market for carboxylic acids. A Letter Agreement has been signed between AFYREN and Mitr Phol, the worlds third largest sugar producer1, for an industrial partnership based on AFYRENs technology. The project will take the form of a joint venture 70% owned by the majority partner AFYREN, with 30% held by Mitr Phol. Mitr Phol will optimize its industrial circular platform, From Waste to Value model with high value-added biobased outlets for its sugarcane co-products. Competitive long-term access to local biomass by-products for a target production capacity of about 28,000 tons of bio-based and low-carbon products. CLERMONT-FERRAND, France & LYON, France & BANGKOK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: AFYREN (ISIN: FR0014005AC9, ticker: ALAFY), a greentech company that offers manufacturers bio-based, low-carbon ingredients produced using unique fermentation technology based on a completely circular model, and Mitr Phol, a Thai company that is a leading producer of cane sugar and its derivatives, announced the signature of a Letter Agreement for the purpose of establishing a biorefinery in Thailand. The signing took place in the presence of Mr. Olivier Becht, French Minister Delegate to the Minister of Europe, and Khun Warawan Chitaroon, Director General of The Office of Industrial Economics, Ministry of Industry, Thailand, highlighting the support of both French and Thai governments for this strategic project. "This project is a major step forward in AFYRENs development. With this second plant project, we are organizing our presence in a strategic region in the heart of Asia to better serve our customers," said Nicolas Sordet, CEO of AFYREN. By partnering with Mitr Phol, AFYREN is securing long-term access to a sustainable raw material from the local sugarcane industry. We look forward to working with Mitr Phol and benefiting from its long experience in the region." "This innovative partnership with AFYREN is in line with our strategic vision towards sustainable development as it will allow us to strengthen the circular and sustainable model of our industrial activity with the development of biobased products that are friendly to the environment." said Khun Verajet Vongkusolkit, Chief Executive Officer Thailand Sugar, Renewable Energy and New Business of Mitr Phol Group. An ideal location By choosing to build in the vicinity of Bangkok, Thailand, AFYREN will be able to support local, regional and international customers from as close a distance as possible in the strategic Asian market, which accounts for a quarter of global demand for carboxylic acids. The growth of this market is driven in particular by the dynamics of the food and animal nutrition sectors. AFYREN's bio-based organic acids are used in many food products as preservatives or natural flavourings, as well as in many animal feed products, notably as an alternative to the preventive use of antibiotics. In addition to benefiting from the growth of the Thai market, AFYREN will be able to take advantage of the country's geographical location in the heart of South-East Asia, to export part of the new factorys production to other Asian countries. A strategic agreement for both companies The agreement between AFYREN and Mitr Phol would lead to the creation of the AFYREN Group's second bio-based organic acid production plant. It is in line with AFYREN's "build and operate" development strategy, which aims to get as close as possible to raw material sourcing and to its customers' markets, with priority given to Asia and North America. The agreement is also in line with the Mitr Phol Group's vision " to be the world class sugar and biobased leader by combining our fully integrated agribusiness model with innovative technology and management talent to create value for better life for all." The accord is expected to be finalized mid-2023, subject to agreement by the parties on the final terms of the partnership. A virtuous, circular project The choices of both site and partner are perfectly in line with both groups' corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies: The project will have a positive impact on a social level with the creation of 80 direct jobs and 280 indirect jobs to ensure production. AFYREN and Mitr Phol will capitalize on the know-how and skills developed in their respective activities (in France and Thailand) and will ensure the recruitment, training and development of the plant's future employees. The project succeeds on an environmental level because the plant under consideration will benefit from direct access to its raw materials, considerably reducing the environmental footprint associated with transport. The AFYREN process also offers an interesting outlet for a raw material that is not yet widely used. In addition, the plant will have access to renewable and low carbon electricity and steam, produced by cogeneration of biomass, strengthening the biorefinery and circular economy model. Like AFYREN's first plant, the Thai plant fermentation process will not consume water, and the mineral by-products of production will be used as a high-value natural fertilizer. With this approach, AFYREN continues its commitment to produce biobased acids with a much lower carbon footprint than those produced using traditional petro-based feedstocks. The partnership reaffirms Mitr Phols key corporate sustainability strategy towards Net Zero in 2050 through the development of biobased products which will be new alternative opportunity for a greener world. This year, Mitr Phol is also ranked the 2nd in global sustainability rankings of the food category according to the Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) conducted by S&P Global. A second industrial tool for large-scale production, which will benefit from AFYREN first plants experience (located in Europe) The Thai plant under consideration will be located in the immediate vicinity of Mitr Phol's operations, close to Bangkok. In addition to providing a serviced plot of land, Mitr Phol will ensure the long-term supply of the sugarcane co-products that will be used to produce AFYREN's organic acids. This second plant aims to have a production capacity of approximately 28,000 tons per year, representing an annualized turnover of approximately 60 million euros in full capacity, in line with the objectives announced at the time of AFYREN's IPO in October 2021. Production start-up is expected by 2025, with the timetable to be specified at the end of the engineering studies scheduled for second semester of 2023. The construction and operation of the plant will benefit from the experience of AFYREN NEOXY, the Group's first plant with a production capacity of 16,000 tons per year, which production is currently starting. About Mitr Phol Mitr Phol Group is the worlds third largest sugar producer and currently operates 16 sugar mill, 11 biomass power plants, and 4 ethanol plants with over 143,000 farmers in charge across Thailand, Laos, China, Australia and Indonesia. Mitr Phol Group is also a large biomass producer in Asia. It also operates in the wood substitute material business, fertilizer business and bio-based business with sustainability as a core driven strategy. Find more about us : www.mitrphol.com About AFYREN Founded in 2012 to respond to industrys growing need to reduce the use of petroleum derivatives as ingredients, AFYREN produces biomolecules from the reuse of non-food biomass. AFYRENs production replicates the properties of equivalent petroleum-based molecules that are widely used in human and animal nutrition, cosmetics, flavors and fragrances and fine chemicals. By offering natural alternatives to these strategic markets, AFYREN is engaged in a low-carbon economy and proposes a truly circular approach, with the use of local biomass and the choice of strategic locations as close as possible to its customers. Resulting from 10 years of research, AFYREN's disruptive innovation won the 2030 Global Innovation Contest in the "Plant proteins and plant chemistry" category and was selected in the French Tech 120 in 2020 and 2021. In 2018, AFYREN committed to its industrial project by creating the AFYREN NEOXY joint venture with Bpifrances SPI fund. AFYREN NEOXY is dedicated to the first industrial production of AFYREN natural organic acids in the Grand Est region. In 2022, the AFYREN NEOXY factory opened its doors in 2022. AFYREN and AFYREN NEOXY now employ nearly 100 people at their sites in Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand and Carling Saint-Avold. In 2021, AFYREN listed on Euronext Growth exchange in Paris, raising a total amount of 70.4 million euros with the objective of accelerating its industrial development (ISIN code: FR0014005AC9, ticker: ALAFY). Find out more on: https://afyren.com/en/ 1 https://deallab.substack.com/p/top-sugar-manufacturers-by-sales View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005569/en/ AFYREN Communication Caroline Petigny [email protected] Investor Relations Mark Reinhard [email protected] NewCap Investor Relations Theo Martin / Mathilde Bohin Tel: +33 1 44 71 94 94 [email protected] Bogert-Magnier Communications Press relations James Connell Tel: +33 6 2152 1755 [email protected] Source: AFYREN WASHINGTON The Department of Homeland Security recorded a precipitous drop in encounters with migrants attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally this month, the department said, putting January on track to see the lowest level of monthly border encounters since the beginning of the Biden administration. The drop comes after migrant arrivals reached record levels for Joe Bidens presidency in December. In a statement, DHS officials on Wednesday credited its policy announced earlier this month that introduced a new parole program for Haitians, Cubans and Nicaraguans, offering potential migrants a new legal pathway to the United States while cracking down on illegal entries. The program had been available to Venezuelans for several months, and led to a steep drop in Venezuelan arrivals at the U.S.-Mexico border. Preliminary DHS numbers from January show that encounters of Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans crossing unlawfully at the southwest border declined 97% compared to December, the agency said. Encounters with individuals from these countries dropped from a 7-day average of 3,367 per day on December 11, to a seven-day average of just 115 on January 24. The agency said that the decline in encounters from those populations occurred even as encounters of other noncitizens are returning to customary levels after a typical seasonal decline over the holidays. Texas, Florida and 18 other states are suing DHS and the immigration agencies it oversees, saying the federal government is abusing its power and that the initiative went beyond the limits of when the agency could use the parole process. These expanded border enforcement measures are working, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said. It is incomprehensible that some states who stand to benefit from these highly effective enforcement measures are seeking to block them and cause more irregular migration at our southern border. Mayorkas hinted at the reduction in numbers at the U.S. Conference of Mayors last week, telling the audience that encounters from the targeted countries had dropped significantly since the program was announced. In a tweet, he also warned Cuban and Haitian migrants who took to sea would not be eligible for the parole process. Photos: Biden visits the border for the first time OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of bbb (Good) of ACMAT Corporation (ACMAT) (Farmington, CT) [OTC Market: ACMT]. Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR of a (Excellent) of ACMATs wholly owned subsidiary, ACSTAR Insurance Company (ACSTAR) (Chicago, IL). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect ACSTARs balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. The ratings consider ACSTARs strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), managements expertise in a specialized niche of the surety sector and unwavering underwriting discipline. Partially offsetting these positive rating factors are recent premium volume declines from the delay and halting of construction projects during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as persistent competitive market conditions. As a result, ACSTARs underwriting profits shrank over the past five years, though profitability metrics remain sound. AM Best will continue to monitor ACSTARs premium volume trends closely, along with the evolving market conditions, to ensure that the strong operating performance assessment remains appropriate. The stable outlooks reflect AM Bests expectation that ACSTARs risk-adjusted capitalization will remain supportive and that its operating results will remain profitable in the near term. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005701/en/ Adrienne Stark Senior Financial Analyst +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5526 [email protected] Dan Teclaw Director +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5394 [email protected] Christopher Sharkey Manager, Public Relations +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159 [email protected] Al Slavin Senior Public Relations Specialist +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5098 [email protected] Source: AM Best Transaction unites two leading software companies driving digital transformation in banking via API connectivity solutions TEMPE, Ariz. & BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- OceanSound Partners, a growth-oriented private equity firm, today announced that its portfolio company, CFM, has merged with NXTsoft. The combination creates the leading provider of API connectivity, workflow automation, and data analytics software for financial institutions. Simultaneously, NXTsoft completed its previously announced separation from ThreatAdvice, a cybersecurity solutions business. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Together, CFM and NXTsoft deliver API solutions to over 1,800 banks and federal credit unions in North America. CFM integrates teller applications with branch hardware, creating modern banking experiences. NXTsoft helps its customers secure, connect, and optimize their data through integration flows that connect over 75 software applications to over 40 core processors. All products currently offered by both businesses will remain available and supported under their existing brands. Customers will benefit from an expanded suite of API connectivity, workflow automation, and data analytics solutions, purpose-built for retail banking. By accessing the combined product suite, financial institutions will be able to accelerate their IT modernization timeline by adopting best-of-breed financial technology solutions across different use cases, including account opening, servicing, loan origination, cash automation, payments, risk and compliance, and digital banking. Ted Coons, Partner at OceanSound, said, Financial institutions struggle to keep pace with their digital transformation goals because of the difficulty that stems from transferring data between their core and new fintech products. CFM and NXTsoft have developed intuitive API solutions that address these challenges by compiling pre-built integrations into one central hub. Their products enable banks and credit unions to build connected experiences for their customers and employees, accelerate time-to-market of new technology, and lower operating costs. John W. Smith, CEO of CFM, added, Our two companies share a common goal to reduce the friction that banks and credit unions encounter in integrating modern technology with their core. By uniting with NXTsoft, we expect to expand our product offerings, cross-sell across our customer bases, facilitate new partnerships, and create professional development opportunities for our combined workforce. Beyond the strategic fit, our two firms have highly compatible cultures, which will facilitate a seamless integration process for employees and ensure zero disruption for our customers. Since our partnership began in December 2021, CFM has executed against its organic growth strategy via substantial investments in development, sales, and support resources, said Parin Shah, Principal at OceanSound. CFM is also pursuing strategic acquisitions to expand its product leadership, geographic reach, and service capabilities. We are thrilled to support the merger with NXTsoft, which unites two leading businesses that drive innovation in banking by addressing pain points around core connectivity. This transaction represents the next chapter in our journey, said David Brasfield, former CEO of NXTsoft, who will help manage the integration with CFM. Since we launched NXTsoft in 2017, our team has developed cutting-edge technology for over 1,100 customers and achieved rapid growth. Ultimately, we reached an inflection point where NXTsoft could best realize its potential by separating from ThreatAdvice and by partnering with CFM. Our two firms have an aligned strategic vision and I am confident that this merger will lead to long-term, sustained success. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP served as legal adviser to CFM. Stephens Inc. served as financial adviser and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and Burr & Forman LLP served as legal advisers to NXTsoft. About CFM CFM is driving transformation in retail banking through software that integrates core banking systems with branch technology, including cash recyclers, self-service kiosks, and tablet banking interfaces. CFMs software solutions and data analytics tools simultaneously help financial institutions create modern banking experiences and drive operational efficiency by reducing branch operating costs and improving productivity. CFM has sold over 55,000 licenses to over 700 bank and credit union customers. CFM was founded in 2006 and is based in Tempe, Arizona. For more information, please visit: www.whycfm.com. About NXTsoft NXTsoft is the leading provider of secure, comprehensive, and complete workflow API connectivity, connecting fintech solutions to over 1,100 banks and credit unions throughout the United States. NXTsofts other solutions include data analytics, data management, and data migration. NXTsofts products and services help businesses secure, connect, and optimize their data to maximize revenue opportunities and enhance profitability. NXTsoft was founded in 2017 and is based in Orlando, Florida and Birmingham, Alabama. For more information visit, please visit www.nxtsoft.com. About OceanSound Partners OceanSound Partners is a New York-based private equity firm that pursues control investments in technology and technology-enabled services companies serving government and enterprise end-markets. OceanSound employs a partnership approach, working closely with founders, entrepreneurs, and executives of middle market businesses to drive transformational growth. For more information, please visit: www.oceansoundpartners.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005721/en/ Charlyn Lusk Stanton (646) 502-3549 [email protected] Emily Sweillam CFM (602) 544-3467 [email protected] Source: OceanSound Partners The nations fifth largest district commits to using science of reading as a pillar in its strategic plan for boosting student success districtwide BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Clark County School District (CCSD) in Nevada, has made Lexia LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) professional learning programs available to most elementary schools in the district with a plan to continue expanding the program to additional elementary and early childhood teachers and administrators. Offered by Lexia, a Cambium Learning Group company, LETRS professional learning programs provide educators with the deep knowledge required to be literacy and language experts in the science of reading. Developed by Dr. Louisa Moats and leaders in the field of literacy, the LETRS suite provides practical support with tools that are available 24/7online and in print. It also offers professional learning sessions led by national LETRS experts. These sessions provide classroom application examples of the learnings and refine and extend participants understanding of the content. The LETRS suite consists of three professional learning programs: Lexia LETRS for Elementary Educators Lexia LETRS for Early Childhood Educators Lexia LETRS for Administrators Student academic success is our core business, said CCSD Superintendent, Dr. Jesus F. Jara. We must continue to focus on our hard-working educators and provide them with the tools to improve reading outcomes as students continue to rebound from the pandemic. CCSD used Elementary and Secondary School Emergency ReliefFunds (ESSER) to implement the programs. First, a cohort of literacy strategists in CCSDs Read by Grade 3 (RBG3) program began a pilot of Lexia LETRS for Elementary Educators program in January 2022. The professional learning program provides the research, depth of knowledge, and capabilities for teaching literacy skills to a wide range of students. CCSD is also providing its elementary school administrators who support literacy instruction with the LETRS for Administrators program and its PreK educators with the LETRS for Early Childhood Educators program. Lexia LETRS for Administrators program equips instructional leaders to create sustainable systems and structures in their schools and districts for achieving high levels of academic performance and growth in literacy. Lexia LETRS for Early Childhood Educators program provides vital, applicable information about the foundational skills young children need before learning to read and write. The programs will play an important role in CCSDs strategic plan, Focus: 2024, which aims to have all the districts schools rated three stars or higher on the Nevada School Performance Framework. Another major objective of Focus:2024 is to ensure that at least 90% of CCSD students are college and career ready when they graduate, said Lexia Learning President, Nick Gaehde. The good news is that more and more educators are understanding how the science of reading boosts student success and are embracing what the program can help them accomplish with their students. Were excited that CCSD has selected Lexia LETRS professional learning programs to help support the great work their teachers and administrators will undertake in the months and years ahead. # # # About Lexia Learning Lexia, a Cambium Learning Group company, is the structured literacy expert. For over 35 years, the company has focused solely on literacy, and today, provides a full spectrum of solutions for both students and teachers. With robust offerings for differentiated instruction, personalized learning, assessment, and professional learning, Lexia helps more learners read, write, and speak with confidence. For more information, visit www.lexialearning.com. About Cambium Learning Group Cambium Learning Group is the education essentials company, providing award-winning education technology and services for K-12 markets. With an intentionally curated portfolio of respected global brands, Cambium serves as a leader in the education space, helping millions of educators and students feel more universally valued every day. In everything it does, the company focuses on the elements that are most essential to the success of education, delivering simpler, more certain solutions that make a meaningful difference right now. To learn more, visit www.cambiumlearning.com or follow Cambium on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Medium. The Cambium family of companies includes: Cambium Assessment, Lexia, Learning A-Z, Voyager Sopris Learning, ExploreLearning, Time4Learning, and Kurzweil Education. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005097/en/ Charlotte Andrist Nickel Communications [email protected] Media Inquiries Only: 770-310-5244 Source: Lexia Learning MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI) today announced that its Board of Directors declared a regular cash dividend of 23.0 cents per share. The dividend is payable February 27, 2023, to shareholders of record on February 10, 2023. Donaldson is a member of the S&P High-Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index and calendar year 2022 marked the 27th consecutive year of annual dividend increases. The Company has paid a cash dividend every quarter for 67 years. About Donaldson Company, Inc. Founded in 1915, Donaldson (NYSE: DCI) is a global leader in technology-led filtration products and solutions, serving a broad range of industries and advanced markets. Our diverse, skilled employees at over 140 locations on six continents partner with customersfrom small business owners to the worlds biggest OEM brandsto solve complex filtration challenges. Discover how Donaldson is Advancing Filtration for a Cleaner World at www.Donaldson.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005963/en/ Sarika Dhadwal (952) 887-3753 [email protected] Source: Donaldson Company, Inc. Former Facebook and Google Executive Joins Carsharing Leader SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Getaround (NYSE: GETR) (Getaround or the Company), the world's first connected carsharing marketplace, today announced it has hired Brian Jackson as Senior Vice President of Engineering. Bringing more than 35 years of experience to Getaround, Jackson took up his new role in January of this year. Jackson has held numerous engineering leadership positions throughout his career. Most recently, he served as Bluevines Head of United States Engineering where he built and led the engineering team in developing initial products to support the companys strategic evolution from lending to banking. Prior to Bluevine, he served in leadership roles at both Facebook and Google. At Facebook, Jackson served as Engineering Director of Growth Infrastructure, where he led the development of common systems to drive growth across Facebooks product suite. Previously, he served as Googles Engineering Director of Apps for Work, where his division contributed approximately $250 million in revenue per year to Google Apps. Getaround is thrilled to have Brian, a seasoned software and systems engineering executive, join the team, said Sam Zaid, Getaround CEO. As we continue to develop Getarounds unique technology and build the go-to digital carsharing marketplace, we look forward to having the opportunity to leverage Brians vast experience, key technological insights, and proven track record with product development and execution. With Brian leading our global engineering teams, we are well-positioned to continue to evolve and expand on our product offerings and our global culture by tapping the worlds top engineering talent as we continue to lead the transition to a fully digital carsharing experience with our proprietary technology. In his new role, Jackson will be responsible for Getarounds engineering efforts globally, overseeing all the core platform, software, and hardware technology teams that develop and enhance Getarounds proprietary digital technology, product, and connected car offerings. Jackson will also oversee Getarounds global platform strategy supporting the expansion of Getarounds services in existing and new markets, as well as further transforming Getarounds remote engineering and security and IT operations culture to cost-effectively source and manage high-performing engineering, security and IT operations teams worldwide. I look forward to further improving the digital carsharing experience for all Getaround users, added Jackson. Getaround is at a strong stage in its growth trajectory, and I am excited to play a key role in enabling greater consumer and business access to mobility in cities globally. Jackson also currently serves on Checkups Medicals Board of Directors, which is a nonprofit organization aimed at improving the health of mothers and their families in medically underserved communities. He has also served as Vice President of Engineering for diCarta/Emptoris (acquired by IBM), Vice President of Product Development for Epiphany (acquired by Infor), Vice President of Engineering for Xtime (acquired by Cox Automotive), and as Vice President of Software Engineering for Brio Technology (acquired by Hyperion). He graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Computer Engineering. About Getaround Offering a 100% digital experience, Getaround makes sharing cars and trucks simple through its proprietary cloud and in-car Connect technology. The company's mission is to empower people to carshare everywhere and shift away from car ownership through instant and convenient access to desirable, affordable, and safe cars from entrepreneurial hosts. Getarounds on-demand technology enables a contactless experience no waiting in line at a car rental facility, manually completing paperwork, or meeting anyone to collect or drop off car keys. Getaround aims to utilize its peer-to-peer marketplace to help solve some of the most pressing challenges facing the world today, including environmental sustainability and access to economic opportunity. Launched in 2011, Getaround is available today in more than 1,000 cities across the United States and Europe. For more information, please visit https://www.getaround.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005255/en/ Shyna Deepak [email protected] Source: Getaround TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- GMO Research (TOKYO: 3695) conducted an overseas travel survey in the last quarter of 2022 to understand the differences in travel patterns between Europe, North America, and the APAC region. The survey was conducted within its panel networks with 3,000 respondents across six countries, America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Australia. GMO Research had previously conducted the same survey1 in October 2022 using the ASIA Cloud Panel2 targeted at 3,328 monitors in 10 Asian countries and regions. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230125005294/en/ Will Travel Industry Recover in 2023? - International Travel Survey in EU/North America/APAC. (Graphic: Business Wire) Europe and the US remain popular destinations among respondents. The top three international countries that respondents from North America would most like to visit in the future were: Italy (10.5%), the United Kingdom (9%) and Australia and Japan (both tied at 6.8%).3 The US is a popular destination for Europeans and respondents in the APAC region. The Europeans polled also indicated their preference to travel to other countries within their region, mainly Spain (9.3%) and Italy (7.7%). This is similar to those surveyed in the APAC region, indicating their preference for regional travel, visiting Japan (20.3%) and South Korea (6.6%). (Chart 1) When looking at the reasons for each of the countries selecting the US as their chosen country to visit, the most common reasons included many tourist attractions (25.4%), unique cultural experiences (13.5%) and its own natural landscape (9.9%). In comparison, respondents would like to visit Italy as it offered traditional food/drinks (29%), unique cultural experiences (24.2%), and historic buildings/sites (12.6%). A significant number of respondents chose Spain as their destination in the future for its beach resorts (36.1%). (Chart 2) Frequency of travel In the coming year, the majority of respondents in North America (63.1%), Europe (69.4%) and APAC (56.9%) plan to travel overseas at least once. Specifically, 3040% of respondents in the U.K., Germany, France and Canada plan to travel abroad twice or more, indicating a high willingness to travel (Chart 3). However, in comparison, most respondents in Japan (88.6%) and Indonesia (73.2%) have yet to make plans to travel overseas, suggesting that many in Asia remain cautious about international travel. Information sources on overseas travel When gathering information on overseas travel, web search and word of mouth from friends/acquaintances emerged as the most common sources across all countries. Travel blogs and online travel agencies were also frequently used. However, the use of SNS (social media) as a source of information varies, with a significant number of respondents in Japan, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Germany and France citing it as a source, compared to the relatively low percentage of respondents in North America. About GMO Research, Inc. GMO Research Inc. offers an online audience engagement platform that gives access to a multi-country online panel network, the Cloud Panel. The Cloud Panel currently consists of over 52 million4 online consumer panellists across 16 APAC countries, and more than 45 partner countries. Our services range from full service, game research, project management, sample only, qualitative research, and translations, to DIY. To learn more about GMO Research, visit gmo-research.com. --------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Read more about the International Travel Survey in Asia here. 2 ASIA Cloud Panel is a consumer panel that is specialised for the Asian regions in the GMO Research Cloud Panel Internet research services. 3 Travel within North America (US/Canada) is excluded. 4 Data as of January 2023. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230125005294/en/ GMO Research, Inc. Willy Tey - APAC Sales [email protected] Source: GMO Research, Inc. SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Focal Systems, the industry leader in retail automation, today announced a partnership with Metropolitan Market, a Good Food Holdings portfolio brand. Focal Systems will deploy the Focal Systems Operating System (FocalOS) to digitize and automate the Pacific Northwest grocery chain through optimized ordering, inventory management, merchandising, and in-store labor to completely transform the overall customer experience. Founded in 1971, Metropolitan Market has nine locations (with a 10th on the way) across Washington State and a rich reputation as the regions leading independent grocer. Good Food Holdings, the holding company for the five preeminent and enduring food retailing brands Bristol Farms, Lazy Acres Natural Market, New Seasons Market, New Leaf Community Markets, and Metropolitan Market, is known within the industry for focusing on high-touch, high-service retail. It places great emphasis on enhancing the customer experience by cutting down on wait times, expanding employee expertise, and now optimizing in-store operations. This pilot will involve deploying hundreds of tiny, inexpensive shelf cameras that digitize shelves hourly with the most accurate computer vision on the market. Then, FocalOS will use that data to automate many in-store processes, enabling accurate just-in-time ordering, replacing the manual daily out-of-stock scan with automated hourly scans, improving product availability for customers by increasing the productivity of replenishment staff, reducing food waste with better produce ordering, and more. Good Food Holdings is one of the premier retail holding companies in the nation, touting some of the leading luxury grocers across Washington and California, said Francois Chaubard, CEO and founder of Focal Systems. As the groundswell of AI and computer vision adoption takes hold across retail and grocery, early adopters, like Metropolitan Market, will see optimizations and enhancements across the in-store experience for customers, and in the backroom for staff, completely transforming the shopping experience and separating them from other retailers in the industry. For nearly five decades, Metropolitan Market has been providing a leading and award-winning experience for customers across the state of Washington, said Ron Megahan, CEO of Metropolitan Market. In a rapidly evolving world, its our duty to continue innovating in order to provide the best possible experience for shoppers at all of our locations. Through our partnership with Focal Systems and their self-driving store, well be able to remain the leading independent grocer in the region. Focal Systems has been leading the retail transformation charge, recently making headlines for its rollout across over 400 Walmart stores throughout Canada, as well as in the leading midwest grocery chain Piggly Wiggly. Having raised $40M to date, Focal Systems is used by retailers across three continents and delivers 50x in ROI with the implementation of the technology, making this the most profitable investment in all of retail technology. About Focal Systems: Founded in 2015 in San Francisco out of Stanfords Computer Vision Lab, Focal Systems is the industry leader in retail automation. Our mission is to automate and optimize brick-and-mortar retail with state-of-the-art deep learning and AI. We have pioneered the worlds first Self-Driving Store- an OS that revolutionizes how stores are run. Focal has raised more than $40M to date and scaled solutions on three continents in hundreds of stores, with over 100,000 cameras deployed. Learn more at: https://focal.systems. About Good Food Holdings: Good Food Holdings is the holding company for five preeminent and enduring food retailing brands: Bristol Farms, Lazy Acres Natural Market, Metropolitan Market, New Seasons Market, and New Leaf Community Markets. Each brand has its own leadership team, company culture, operating philosophy, and go-to market strategy. Each brand is deeply rooted in community and is the leader in their respective market in offering the most unique item assortments, highest quality meat, seafood, and bakery items, as well as the broadest assortment of quality and organic produce available. Each brand also has a broad and high-quality offering of prepared foods. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005040/en/ Lizzy Harris for Focal Systems [email protected] 1-303-503-1136 Source: Focal Systems In the Second Half of 2022, Renters Experienced Less Difficulty Finding Single-Family Rentals, as Rental Listing Inventory Experienced a 93% Year-Over-Year Increase and Days on Market Increased 52% Year-Over-Year The East Coast and Industrial Midwest Continued to Be Hotspots for Real Estate Investment Opportunities Due to Dramatic Single-Family Rental Listing Price Increases Since H2 2021 Southern States Experienced Largest Increases in Median Monthly Single-Family Rental Listing Prices, Making Up 70% of the Top Ten List for H2 2022 SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- HouseCanary, Inc. (HouseCanary), a national brokerage known for its real estate valuation accuracy, today released its latest National Rental Report, which compares insights from H2 2021 and H2 2022 to explore trends shaping the U.S. rental market for single-family detached listings, including price and supply shifts across the nations top 65 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) with the most rental market activity. The report can be downloaded and viewed here. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005320/en/ HouseCanary: National Rental Report - H2 2022 (Graphic: Business Wire) HouseCanary tracks listing volume, new listings and median listing price information for 46 states and 204 individual MSAs. The findings in todays report represent an aggregation and summary of all single-family detached listing records between January 2020 and December 2022. Chris Stroud, Co-founder and Chief of Research at HouseCanary, commented: In the second half of 2022, inventory for single-family rentals almost doubled since the same period in 2021, indicating reduced competition among renters for single-family homes across the country. However, demand for rentals remained strong, with median list prices sustaining historical highs. We expect strong demand for rentals to persist in 2023 as analysts predict the Federal Reserve will continue hiking rates for the foreseeable future. Following a thorough analysis of the aggregated data, HouseCanarys report identified the following key findings about the rental market for single-family detached listings in the second half of 2022: The once-tough competition for single-family rentals has begun to simmer down thanks to increased supply. There was an 89.9% year-over-year increase in the weekly average of listings in the last six months of 2022. Southern states, such as Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, have experienced sustained upward growth in the real estate investment market even as the impact of the pandemic wanes. Most notably, Charleston, South Carolina and Naples, Florida, experienced a 25.3% and 24% median rental price increase year-over-year, respectively. Rent prices remain historically high despite meaningful increases in supply. MSAs that experienced a year-over-year median list price decrease only saw low-to-mid single-digit reductions, with Memphis, Tennessee seeing the largest decrease of just 5.8%. Sunshine States continue to lead the nation in highest median rent prices for H2 2022. MSAs in California and Florida boasted some of the most expensive single-family median monthly rental prices. MSAs in these two states comprised 60% of the 10 highest average monthly rents across the country, with Naples, Florida taking the top spot at $5,446. While the first half of 2022 saw the Industrial Midwest emerging as one of Americas most popular real estate markets, the remainder of the year suggested otherwise. Overall, rental price growth in the Midwest has begun to flatline while other parts saw some of the largest decreases in median monthly single-family rental prices. Cleveland, Ohio experienced the largest monthly decrease of any MSA, with a 17.7% monthly decrease recorded in the second half of 2022. Additional findings can be reviewed in the full report here. About HouseCanary Founded in 2013, national real estate brokerage HouseCanary empowers consumers, financial institutions, investors, and mortgage lenders, with industry-leading services including valuations, forecasts, and transactions. These clients trust HouseCanary to fuel acquisition, underwriting, portfolio management, and more. Learn more at www.housecanary.com. If you are currently working with a real estate agent, this is not meant as a solicitation of your business. HouseCanary, Inc. is a Licensed Real Estate Brokerage in KS, NM, SC and under the Trade Name ComeHome in AL, AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MO, MN, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY. Trade Name ComeHome Real Estate in MI and UT. Trade Name ComeHome by HouseCanary in AR. HouseCanary, Inc., brokerage information TREC Info About Brokerage Services TREC Consumer Protection Notice NY Standard Operating Procedures California DRE #02113022 AVM Disclosure: An AVM is an estimated sale price for a property. It is not the same as the opinion of value in an appraisal developed by a licensed appraiser under the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005320/en/ Longacre Square Partners Casie Connolly / Ashley Areopagita [email protected] Source: HouseCanary, Inc. CELAYA, Mexico & GUANAJUATO, Mexico--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Industrias Bachoco S.A.B. de C.V. (Bachoco or the Company) (NYSE: IBA; BMV: Bachoco), announces today the starting of the retirement process of its Chief Executive Officer Mr. Rodolfo Ramos Arvizu. Mr. Ramos, joined Bachoco in 1980 and has held the CEO responsibility since November 2010. In Bachoco, he successfully performed as Technical Director since 1992. Prior to it, he also held several positions, from Poultry Management to Egg Quality Control Training Program, among others. Chairman of the Board Comments: Javier R. Bours, Chairman of the Board, stated, I would like to thank Rodolfo for his commitment, work and dedication to the Company during these forty-three years. Under his leadership, the Company achieved not only to be an international player but also to make solid steps towards being an important multiprotein player in Mexico. With no doubt, he leaves a solid Company ready to become a top competitor worldwide. Furthermore, I am also pleased to announce that Mr. Ramos will be nominated as a member of the Board of Directors of Industrias Bachoco. In addition, the Company named Mr. Ernesto Salmon Castelo as its new Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Salmon joined the Company in 1991. During a remarkable career in Bachoco he has held positions in sales, operations and supply chain, being Mexico Operations Director his most recent role. Mr. Salmon holds a degree in Chemical Engineering and a masters degree in Business Administration from the Instituto Tecnologico de Sonora. Through this appointment, the Company seeks not only to guarantee the continuity of its operations and strategies but also to capitalize Mr. Salmons knowledge and experience to position Bachoco as an important international player in the multiprotein industry. These changes will take effect as of April 17th, 2023. COMPANY DESCRIPTION Industrias Bachoco is the leader in the Mexican poultry industry, and one of the largest poultry producers globally. The Company was founded in 1952, and became a public Company in 1997, via a public offering of shares on the Mexican and The New York Stock Exchange. Bachoco is a vertically integrated Company headquartered in Celaya, Guanajuato located in Central Mexico. Its main business lines are: chicken, eggs, balanced feed, pork, and other products. Bachoco owns and manages more than a thousand facilities, organized in nine productive complexes and 80 distribution centers in Mexico, and a productive complex in the United States. Currently the Company employs more than 32,000 people. The Company is rated AAA (MEX), the highest rating awarded by Fitch Mexico, S.A. de C.V., and HR AAA which signals that the Company and the offering both have the highest credit quality by HR Ratings de Mexico S.A. de C.V. DISCLAIMER The document contains certain information that could be considered forward looking statements concerning anticipated future events and performance of the Company. The statements reflect managements current beliefs based on information currently available and are not guarantees of future performance and are based on our estimates and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those described in our Annual Information Form, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this document. Those risks and uncertainties include risks associated with ownership in the poultry industry, competition for investments within the poultry industry, shareholder liability, governmental regulation, and environmental matters. As a result, there can be no assurance that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law Industrias Bachoco, S.A.B. de C.V. undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005863/en/ Maria Guadalupe Jaquez [email protected] Andrea Guerrero [email protected] T. +52(461)618 3555 Source: Industrias Bachoco S.A.B. de C.V. SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Inszone Insurance Services: a rapidly growing, national provider of benefits, personal and commercial lines insurance, announced today the acquisition of Austin Insurance. Established in 2005 by Cole Austin, Austin Insurance has provided quality insurance services in Grand Prairie, TX for over a decade. Cole Austin is a born and raised Grand Prairie resident, he attended Grand Prairie High School and received a Business Management degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. Through the years Austin Insurance was able to provide multiple insurance products to the Grand Prairie area as well as stimulate economic growth and create jobs for the owners hometown. Operations for Austin Insurance will continue under Inszone Insurances Dallas location. Customers will continue to receive the same service they are used to under the Inszone Insurance brand. Austin Insurance has built a strong reputation across Grand Prairie as a trusted partner for residents to protect their assets, said Chris Walters, CEO of Inszone Insurance Services. This acquisition is another important step in our growth in the Lone Star State as we continue to identify and invest in agencies that will help provide and offer increased services and options to our customer base. Inszone Insurance is expected to announce several acquisitions as well as new locations in the upcoming months. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Sacramento, California, Inszone is a full-service insurance brokerage firm which provides a broad array of property & casualty insurance, along with employee benefits solutions. With a strong, experienced management team, Inszone continues to grow organically, as well as through acquisitions. With 37 locations across California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, Texas and Illinois, the company is looking to further expand throughout the United States. For more information about Inszone, please visit www.inszoneinsurance.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005061/en/ Inszone Insurance Chris Walters CEO 714-619-5620 [email protected] Source: Inszone Insurance Services A bill in North Dakotas Legislature would provide a way around the state's corporate farming law, which supporters say would provide a needed boost to livestock production but detractors say opens the door to foreign and corporate ownership of farmland. Rep. Paul Thomas, a Republican grain farmer at Velva, southeast of Minot, is the primary sponsor of a bill that would make it possible for farmers to operate a feedlot for cattle, hogs or poultry, by partnering with a corporate entity, such as a meatpacker. It also would apply to a dairy. Under House Bill 1371 , such feedlots or dairies would no longer fall under the definition of farming and ranching, meaning North Dakotas anti-corporate farming law, which limits farms to family ownership, would not apply to those operations. My goal is to do everything to promote the development of animal ag in North Dakota, Thomas said in an interview. Developing animal ag and loosening corporate farm restrictions was listed as a priority by Republican Gov. Doug Burgum in his State of the State speech before the session. The bill would allow a corporation to own up to 160 acres of farmland. Opponents say its easy to form a corporation in North Dakota, and a large corporation could create multiple small spinoff corporations. It will allow corporations who have no connection to the land, to the community, to own and operate farms here, livestock production facilities here, and that's a big concern for our members, said Matt Perdue, government relations director for the North Dakota Farmers Union. Perdue also says the bill lacks monitoring and reporting requirements. He said there also are no limits on the number of shareholders in a corporation or any requirement that they be farmers. A statewide vote in 2016 rejected a weakening of the corporate farm law with 76% of the vote. That change would have exempted dairies and hog feeding operations. Perdue said the 2023 bill does not include the monitoring reporting requirements that were part of those exemptions and adds cattle and poultry operations. Voters have said they don't want this and we're coming back with essentially the same proposal, functionally, Perdue said. Another staunch supporter of the corporate farm law is former North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner and Attorney General Sarah Vogel, who noted the fee for creating a corporation in North Dakota is only $100. The legislators should know that; they do know that, she said. She said creating different corporations is similar to how Bill Gates uses different trusts to buy up farmland, with Gates foray into North Dakota creating an uproar in 2022. The states corporate farm law has gotten more attention after the Gates farmland purchase in Walsh County. Vogel said the state should be focused more on expanding financing programs for farmers and helping locally owned processing plants, not helping supply giant meatpackers. Vogel said she would not be testifying when the bill gets a hearing Friday but would submit written testimony. Thomas said the bill also makes other clarifications of the corporate farm law, including specifying that a surviving spouse can remain as part of a farm partnership, but he said the heart of the bill is aimed at animal agriculture. The only way we reverse the outmigration of people involved in agriculture in North Dakota is going to be through animals; it's not going to be through grain farming, Thomas said. The North Dakota Corn Growers Association and the North Dakota Stockmens Association support the bill, as does Burgum and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. This bill is about animal agriculture, not traditional farming. Animal agriculture is value-added agriculture and complements our farmers efforts, Goehring said Thursday during a news conference held by bill supporters. North Dakota has the abundance of feed, a bio secure environment and a need for the manure as a fertilizer to use in our farming operations. Its a great way to diversify North Dakota agriculture and revitalize rural communities. North Dakota Farmers Union President Mark Watne in a Thursday statement said, We need to invest in our people to enhance agriculture, not give opportunities away to big corporations. Other bills that could impact the North Dakota animal agriculture industry include: HB 1148 Creates an ag infrastructure fund to assist local governments with costs related to value-added ag development. HB 1437 Creates regional livestock planning grants. HB 1423 To develop uniform zoning across counties and townships. HB 1276 To add $50 million to the ag diversification and development fund. SB 2373 Creates a livestock friendly county designation. First-of-its-kind investable asset supports Publics mission to make more asset classes available to more investors NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Public.com, an investing platform that lets members invest in stocks, ETFs, crypto, and alternative assets, debuts a first-of-its-kind alternative asset, The Rare Sneaker Portfolio. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005299/en/ Public.com | The Rare Sneaker Portfolio This asset bundles together 77 pairs of iconic and rare sneakers into one investable asset, curated for investment potential similar to how ETFs function for equities. The concept of grouping assets like sneakers into a single alternative asset Portfolio is unique to Publics platform and allows for broad category exposure and further diversification. The Rare Sneaker Portfolio presents an opportunity for investors and sneaker fans alike to invest in the growing sneaker resale market, estimated by Cowen & Company to reach $30 billion by 2030. By bundling dozens of different sneakers into one investable asset, the Portfolio provides a unique opportunity for investors to get broad exposure to the sneaker market rather than researching which individual pairs may have the highest appreciation value. Sneakers in the Portfolio were evaluated based on a variety of factors including: Cultural significance, i.e., associated with a celebrity, artist, athlete, or collector Scarcity, with some sneakers in the Portfolio having never been released to the public Condition, with the large majority in brand new, deadstock condition Size, prioritizing mens sizes 9-13, the most desirable sizes The Portfolio consists of culturally significant mainstays such as original Air Jordan Is, rare grails such as Nike Air Force 1 x Jay-Z France (only two pairs ever made), and artist collaborations with KAWS, Tom Sachs, Virgil Abloh, and Futura. Other highlights include 1985 Air Jordan I BRED (recently sold for $16,250), Nike MAG (recently sold for $63,000), Nike SB Low Freddy Krueger (recently sold for $30,000), and FLOM Dunk (recently sold for $56,139). The Rare Sneaker Portfolio is the first alternative asset Portfolio to debut on the Public platform, with additional Portfolios set to launch in 2023. Public launched alternative asset trading in late 2022 after acquiring Otis, a leading platform for investing in cultural assets and collectibles. By offering fractional investing in alternative assets, Public aims to make this asset class, historically popular with the ultrawealthy, more accessible to retail investors who may not otherwise be able to invest hundreds of thousands dollars in art, rare collectibles, or sneakers. Were pleased to be able to introduce innovative new ways for our members to invest in alternative assets. While were beginning with sneakers, were actively exploring Portfolios across a variety of categories, said Keith Marshall, General Manager of Alternatives at Public. The concept of curated Portfolios means that our members will be able to invest in categories like art, trading cards, royalties, and real estate without needing to become subject matter experts on individual assets. The Rare Sneaker Portfolio is exclusively available on the Public platform. Members can explore the investment thesis and buy and sell shares of the Portfolio through the Public mobile app or website. Visit Public.com to sign up or learn more. About Public.com Public is an investing platform that allows everyone to invest in stocks, ETFs, crypto, and alternative assets, like fine art and collectiblesall in one place. We help people be better investors with access to custom company metrics, live shows about the markets, and insights from a community of millions of investors, creators, and analysts. Public puts investors first, and doesn't sell trades to market makers or take money from Payment for Order Flow (PFOF). Learn more at www.public.com. This content is not investment advice. All investments involve risk and the past performance of a security or financial product does not guarantee future results or returns. There is always the potential of losing money when you invest in securities or other financial products. Investors should consider their investment objectives and risks carefully before investing. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities available on Public are offered by Open to the Public Investing, Inc. (OTTP), member FINRA & SIPC. Alternative assets, such as the Rare Sneaker Portfolio, available on Public.com are offered by Dalmore Group, LLC (Dalmore), member of FINRA & SIPC. Alternative assets, as the term is used at Public.com, are equity securities that have been issued pursuant to Regulation A of the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) (Regulation A). These investments are speculative, involve substantial risks (including illiquidity and loss of principal), and are not FDIC or SIPC insured. Alternative Assets purchased on the Public.com platform are not held in an OTTP brokerage account, are executed by Public on an agency basis on behalf of customers, and are self-custodied by the purchaser. The issuers of these securities may be an affiliate of Public.com, and Public.com (or an affiliate) may earn fees when you purchase or sell Alternative Assets. For more information on risks and conflicts of interest, see these disclosures. Cryptocurrency trading provided by Apex Crypto LLC (NMLS ID 1828849). Apex Crypto is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005299/en/ Steph Goldberg, Director of Marketing ([email protected]) Source: Public.com Kurt Hedigers arrival bolsters GCAs industrial capital markets nationwide NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Graystone Capital Advisors, a leading investment sales brokerage, has announced the appointment of Kurt Hediger as Senior Vice President who will be based in Graystones Newport Beach office. Hediger brings over 15 years of experience and joins the firm from Marcus & Millichap. In his new role, he will specialize in industrial investments for institutional, corporate, and private investors. Kurts impressive track record and extensive network of clients and capital providers will be instrumental in helping us continue to elevate our national services, adds Brenton Baskin, Managing Director of Graystone Capital Advisors. As capital investment demand for industrial continues to grow, we are thrilled to have Kurt lead Graystone in this fast-growing industry. Hediger joins from Marcus & Millichap, where he was consistently ranked as a top producer and brings decades of experience providing full-service real estate advisory to middle market and institutional level investors. As an experienced advisor, Hediger started his career in commercial real estate with NAI Capital in 2008 before joining Marcus & Millichap in 2013. During his ten years with Marcus & Millichap, he was promoted to First Vice President and earned several sales accolades including top agent rankings and consistent sales recognition awards. Kurt graduated with a bachelors degree in finance from Virginia Tech. Graystones client-focused mindset will allow me to expand my business and path of growth within the industrial airspace, adds Hediger. I look forward to bringing my experience to the team to ensure our continued success in the Southern California market and nationwide. About Graystone Capital Advisors Graystone Capital Advisors is a full-service brokerage company located in Orange County, CA. Their team of experts specializes in disposition and acquisition services, leasing services, property valuation, transaction management, and equity placement. With over 40 years of combined experience in the industry, the members of Graystone Capital Advisors have assembled a genuinely innovative team focused on efficiency, transparency, and accountability. www.graystoneca.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005895/en/ Brenton Baskin, [email protected] Source: Graystone Capital Advisors Initial Focus to Center on AI Algorithms for Imaging DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- MedCognetics, Inc., founded in early 2019, has developed an unbiased advanced imaging algorithm that leverages AI and Machine Learning (ML) to detect the earliest manifestations of cancer in all ethnicities, today announced it has received a $750,000 grant from the National Institute of Healths (NIH) Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Consortium to Advance Health Equity and Researcher Diversity, or AIM-AHEAD program. The company is a subaward from the University of North Texas Health Science Center (HSC) at Fort Worth, Texas. One of the main reasons for establishing the AIM-AHEAD grant program is to address health inequities and disparities, said Dr. Jamboor Vishwanatha, Regents Professor at the University of North Texas, Health Science Center at Fort Worth, TX and, the principal investigator of the AIM-AHEAD coordinating center. We selected MedCognetics as one of our grant recipients because of its focus on developing technology aimed at addressing the data bias of historically ignored populations, especially regarding breast health and imaging. We are encouraged by the companys initial success and look forward to collaborating towards the mutual goal of improved healthcare, prevention, diagnoses and overall better outcomes. MedCognetics was founded on research that originated from the Quality of Life Technology Laboratory at The University of Texas at Dallas. Its partnership with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW) provided the clinical data that assisted in the validation of its unbiased AI algorithm. The AIM-AHEAD program was created to close the gaps in the AI/ML field, which currently lacks diversity in its researchers and in data, including electronic health records (EHRs). These gaps pose a risk of creating and continuing harmful biases in how AI/ML is used, how algorithms are developed and trained, and how findings are interpreted. This objective dovetails well with the companys mission to leverage technology to improve efficiencies and reliability in the field of medical imaging. In the case of mammograms, its product reduces the amount of time a radiologist needs to review a case, by 30 to 50 percent, which directly translates into more saved lives. This is especially vital in underserved communities and areas of the world where medicine and diagnostic imaging are scarce. This is a prestigious honor and the recognition validates MedCognetics mission to provide unbiased AI-enabled healthcare services around the world, said Debasish Nag, chief executive officer, MedCognetics, Inc. The future of AI in healthcare is providing unbiased services and improving cost and efficiencies in medical facilities. We are developing the technology that will unequivocally reduce burnout in the radiology community and in turn, improve patient outcomes across diverse populations. This NIH grant will play an important role in future product development as well as helping us further expand our global market penetration. Useful Links: MedCognetics: www.medcognetics.com NIH - https://www.nih.gov/ AIM-AHEAD: https://datascience.nih.gov/artificial-intelligence/aim-ahead Quality of Life Technology Laboratory at UT Dallas: https://ecs.utdallas.edu/research/researchlabs/QoLT/index.html University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center: https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/ About MedCognetics, Inc. MedCognetics provides an advanced AI software platform which integrates into radiology workflow. In addition, the AI algorithm is trained on a diverse global patient dataset to mitigate data biasing. The future of AI in healthcare is unbiased services and MedCognetics is at the forefront of creating a more predictable medical outcome and ultimately saving lives. Founded in 2019, the company is based in Dallas, Texas. For more information, please visit our website at www.medcognetics.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005715/en/ Alicia V. Nieva-Woodgate, ANW Networks, +1 720.808.0086, [email protected] Source: MedCognetics, Inc. VANCOUVER, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nautilus, Inc. (NYSE: NLS) (the Company) today announced that the Company will report its financial results for the fiscal third quarter ended December 31, 2022 after the market closes on February 9, 2023, followed by a management hosted conference call to discuss the Company's operating results. The live conference call and webcast is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. PT (4:30 p.m. ET) on Thursday, February 9, 2023. The conference call can be accessed by calling (877) 425-9470 in North America and International callers may dial (201) 389-0878. Additionally, there will be presentation slides accompanying the earnings call. The slides will be displayed live on the webcast and will be available to download via the webcast player or at Nautilus website at http://www.nautilusinc.com/events. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Company website for six months and a telephonic playback will be available for two weeks following the event and can be accessed by dialing (844) 512-2921 in North America and International participants dialing (412) 317-6671. The passcode for the playback is 13735508. About Nautilus, Inc. Nautilus, Inc. (NYSE: NLS) is a global leader in digitally connected home fitness solutions. The Companys brand family includes Bowflex, Nautilus, Schwinn, and JRNY, its digital fitness platform. With a broad selection of exercise bikes, cardio equipment, and strength training products, Nautilus, Inc. empowers healthier living through individualized connected fitness experiences and in doing so, envisions building a healthier world, one person at a time. Headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, the Companys products are sold direct to consumer on brand websites and through retail partners and are available throughout the U.S. and internationally. Nautilus, Inc. uses the investor relations page of its website (www.nautilusinc.com/investors) to make information available to its investors and the market. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005095/en/ Investor Relations: John Mills ICR, LLC 646-277-1254 [email protected] Media: John Fread Nautilus, Inc. 360-859-5815 [email protected] Alexa Weber Action Mary 425-760-6590 [email protected] Source: Nautilus, Inc. 13th Expansion Since 1990 Founding GHENT, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- North American Stainless (NAS), the largest fully-integrated stainless steel producer in the United States, will proceed with a $244 million expansion to its Ghent, Kentucky facility in Carroll County. The expansion will boost NAS total capacity by 200,000 tons annuallya 20% growthmeeting customers increasing demand for top-of-the-line stainless products. This expansion adds 70 new jobs to a plant, which already boasts nearly 1,600 employees and 500 on-site service providers. We are proud to lead Americas stainless steel economy, support our national security with our production and create great jobs for our region. Our latest expansion will bring more clean, sustainable and American-made stainless to consumers and directly compete with the subsidized imports of stainless, said Cristobal Fuentes, NAS CEO. NAS appreciates the steadfast partnership of Kentuckys federal, state and local leaders who made todays announcement possible, including Governor Andy Beshear and Senator McConnell. Our parent company Acerinoxone of the largest producers of stainless in the worldwas eager to further invest in Kentucky to demonstrate its commitment to our customers and the U.S. market and because our workforce meets and exceeds all goals every year. For its 13th major expansion since 1990, NAS will build a new cold rolling mill, roll grinders, an extensive upgrade of its annealing and pickling lines to support the new rolling mill, a new temper mill and the expansion of the Melt Shop Building to include a 400-metric ton crane. The continued importation of subsidized stainless steeland the accompanying national security threatsmade the NAS expansion a pressing priority. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear praised the project. Im excited to announce more growth in Kentuckys metals industry with this latest investment from North American Stainless, said Gov. Beshear. NAS is a leading stainless steel producer in the United States, and all the companys production lines are located at the companys headquarters in Carroll County. I want to thank its leaders for continuing to put their faith in Kentuckys workforce and investing in the commonwealth. NAS is growing at an incredible rate, with this being the companys 13th expansion since it was founded in 1990. I look forward to seeing NAS continue to grow and create more opportunities for Kentuckians. In 2019, Senator McConnell led the passage of a long-overdue U.S.-Spain tax treaty that delivered relief from unfair double-taxation on American companies like NAS. In my role as Senate Republican Leader, I fight hard to help job-creators like North American Stainless secure better trade deals, develop new industrial technologies and pay lower taxes. As todays announcement demonstrates, the conservative agenda I fight for in Washington is paying off for Kentuckians back home, said Senator McConnell. The new expansion will grow NAS 4.4 million-square-foot facility in Carroll County. NAS offers a full range of stainless flat and long products with competitive delivery times. Since all of NAS production lines are located onsite at its 1,600-acre headquarters, it is able to avoid supply chain and other delays that are common among competitors. The Acerinox Group, based in Madrid, Spain, is on the leading technological edge of stainless steels and high performance alloys. It is the most global company in the sector, with a presence on five continents, factories on four continents and supplying to customers in 81 countries. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005321/en/ [email protected] Source: North American Stainless NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Board of Trustees of Nuveen Intermediate Duration Municipal Term Fund (NYSE: NID) and Nuveen Intermediate Duration Quality Municipal Term Fund (NYSE: NIQ) have approved the liquidation of each fund upon the funds originally scheduled termination date. NID intends to liquidate on or before March 31, 2023, and NIQ intends to liquidate on or before June 30, 2023. The Board of Trustees of each fund have elected not to proceed with a restructuring proposal previously approved by shareholders on October 12, 2022. The restructuring would have eliminated the termination dates for each fund, subject to various conditions including the successful completion of a tender offer for 100% of each funds outstanding common shares at net asset value. Each fund owns certain securities which, because of a significant increase in value, have grown to constitute a significant percentage of each funds common assets (approximately 12.6% of NID and 4.3% of NIQ as of January 24, 2023). These securities are currently illiquid and likely cannot be sold to generate proceeds needed to satisfy tendering shareholders. This caused the Board of each fund to conclude that, if either fund were to engage in a tender offer, the concentration of illiquid securities in the fund after such a tender would be unreasonably large and that neither fund would likely retain sufficient size after a tender to remain viable. Therefore, each Board determined that liquidation and closure, on its originally scheduled termination date, is in the best interest of each fund and its shareholders. As the funds approach their respective termination dates, each fund will begin the orderly liquidation of its assets. As a funds portfolio securities are sold, the fund may deviate from its investment objective and policies. Any securities that cannot be sold within a reasonable period of time by a fund will be contributed to a liquidating trust. The liquidating trust is intended to provide an orderly disposition of such illiquid assets. Upon termination, each fund anticipates distributing to all fund shareholders (i) cash raised from the sale of portfolio securities and (ii) interests in the liquidating trust equal in relative proportion to the percentage of the outstanding shares owned by a shareholder on the liquidation date. Interests in the liquidating trust will not trade on an exchange and may not be sold or transferred, except as permitted by applicable law. The liquidating trust will subsequently distribute cash proceeds in one or more payments as the securities in the liquidating trust can be sold or otherwise liquidated. The timing of when cash distributions will be made from the liquidating trust cannot be predicted. Shareholders may recognize a gain or loss for U.S. tax purposes as a result of the liquidation. Nuveen does not provide tax advice; investors should consult a professional tax advisor regarding their specific tax situation. As NID and NIQ approach liquidation, each funds common shares will continue trading on the New York Stock Exchange. NID common shares will be suspended from trading before the open of trading on March 27, 2023. NIQ common shares will be suspended from trading before the open of trading on June 26, 2023. Nuveen is a leading sponsor of closed-end funds (CEFs) with $54 billion of assets under management across 55 CEFs as of 31 Dec 2022. The funds offer exposure to a broad range of asset classes and are designed for income-focused investors seeking regular distributions. Nuveen has more than 35 years of experience managing CEFs. For more information, please visit Nuveens CEF homepage www.nuveen.com/closed-end-funds or contact: Financial Professionals: 800-752-8700 Investors: 800-257-8787 Media: [email protected] About Nuveen Nuveen, the investment manager of TIAA, offers a comprehensive range of outcome-focused investment solutions designed to secure the long-term financial goals of institutional and individual investors. Nuveen has $1.1 trillion in assets under management as of 31 Dec 2022 and operations in 27 countries. Its investment specialists offer deep expertise across a comprehensive range of traditional and alternative investments through a wide array of vehicles and customized strategies. For more information, please visit www.nuveen.com. Nuveen Securities, LLC, member FINRA and SIPC. The information contained on the Nuveen website is not a part of this press release. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain statements made herein are forward-looking statements. Actual future results or occurrences may differ significantly from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. These include, but are not limited to: market developments; legal and regulatory developments; and other additional risks and uncertainties. EPS-2703352PR-E0123W View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005893/en/ Financial Professionals: 800-752-8700 Investors: 800-257-8787 Media: [email protected] Source: Nuveen Safire Groups new lab further expands its battery innovation capabilities KNOXVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, Safire Technology Group, Inc. (Safire Group), a venture-backed company developing and manufacturing Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery safety technology, announced its expansion to Knoxville, Tennessee, with the opening of a new laboratory at the University of Tennessee Spark Innovation Center. The laboratory will support the continued growth of the company, housing Safire Groups research and development division and allowing the company to continue innovating its patented SAFe Impact Resistant Electrolyte (SAFIRE) additive for Li-ion batteries. The new location is strategically chosen to allow Safire Group to build on its existing partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). In 2022, Safire Group and ORNL announced an exclusive licensing agreement for Safire Group to commercialize the ORNL-invented SAFIRE additive. Andrew Hanna, formerly of ExxonMobil Corporation, will oversee Safire Groups Knoxville facilities as Head of Product and Brand. The new laboratory, with its close proximity to ORNL and the University of Tennessee, offers a world-class pipeline of talented scientists and engineers, said John Lee, co-Founder and CEO, Safire Group. The Knoxville area represents an attractive choice to expand our battery R&D capabilities and hire highly qualified talent from the community. The Spark Innovation Center, located in the University of Tennessee Research Park, focuses on entrepreneurship development and commercialization of regional technology-based startup companies. Invitation to lease space in the collaborative state-of-the-art facility is highly competitive, and Safire Groups selection confirms the companys progress and capabilities in the battery innovation industry. The Spark Innovation Center focuses on helping our regions most promising technology companies gain traction and grow in Tennessee, said University of Tennessee Research Park President and CEO Tom Rogers. We are delighted that another cleantech company has decided to call the Research Park and Knoxville home as Safire Group works to commercialize ORNL technology. I am excited to welcome Safire Group to Knox County, said Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. Not only will the group be an asset in retaining and attracting talent for our workforce, this announcement is a tangible example of the importance of our innovation enginesin this case, ORNL and the UT Research Park at Cherokee Farmworking with the private sector to bring quality jobs and economic opportunity to the Knox County area. Safire Groups move to the Spark Innovation Center in Knoxville is another big win for our city and this entire region, said Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon. This cleantech company perfectly complements our efforts to make it easy, safe, and affordable for individuals and businesses to switch to electric vehicles, making our air cleaner and our city more resilient. The Knoxville Chamber is committed to supporting innovative entrepreneurs that are creating high-wage, high-growth companies, said Doug Lawyer, vice president of economic development, Knoxville Chamber. This announcement directly aligns with the Chambers efforts to transition Knoxvilles economy. Safire Group is doing a great job of capitalizing on multiple regional assets, including ORNL and Spark Innovation Center. We are excited to see them attracting new talent from out-of-state and retaining local talent through internships. Alongside the Knoxville Chamber and Spark Innovation Center, the ribbon cutting and accompanying press conference will be held on Tuesday, January 24 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern at the Institute for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing. Scheduled speakers include Mayor Glenn Jacobs, Knox County; Mayor Indya Kincannon, City of Knoxville; Tom Rogers, president and CEO, The University of Tennessee Research Park; Susan Hubbard, Deputy for Science and Technology, ORNL; Doug Lawyer, vice president of economic development, Knoxville Chamber; and John Lee, co-founder and CEO, Safire Group. About Safire: Safire Technology Group, Inc. (Safire Group) is a venture-backed company developing batteries that prevent fire and explosion and improve performance. The companys core technology, SAFe Impact Resistant Electrolyte (SAFIRE), is the worlds first patented and proprietary drop-in additive for Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries that prevents fire and explosion through an instantaneous liquid-to-solid transformation upon kinetic impacts, such as electric vehicle or eBike crashes. The additive provides a safe, easily integrated solution for EVs and other Li-ion-powered equipment, resulting in increased safety and stability, higher performance, and projectile and ballistic protection. Safire Group has been awarded an exclusive license to five patents to date through its partnership with the technologys inventor, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. For more information, visit www.safire.co and follow us on LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230123005801/en/ Elyssa Haynes [email protected] 804-338-3102 Source: Safire Technology Group, Inc. DENTON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SBH) (the Company), the leader in professional hair color, today announced that it will host a conference call and webcast on February 2, 2023, at 7:30 a.m. Central Time to discuss first quarter financial results. A copy of the press release announcing the first quarter financial results is expected to be made available before the U.S. financial markets open on February 2, 2023, on the Company's website sallybeautyholdings.com/investor-relations. The earnings conference call and webcast will follow at 7:30 a.m. Central Time. This conference call and live webcast, which may include discussion of the Company's strategy, financial results and expectations, and other matters relating to its business, will be available to all investors. To listen to the conference call or live webcast, please join via telephone by dialing from the United States, (877) 226-8143 (International: (234) 720-6981) and reference the access code 756778# or follow this link to the live webcast sallybeautyholdings.com/investor-relations. The teleconference will be held in a "listen-only" mode for all participants other than the Company's sell-side and buy-side investment professionals. A replay of the earnings conference call will be available on February 2, 2023, starting at 10:30 a.m. Central Time until February 16, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. Central Time and replay access may be dialed from the United States by using (866) 207-1041 or from international locations by using (402) 970-0847 and referencing the access code 7232209. In addition, a website replay will be available on sallybeautyholdings.com/investor-relations. About Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SBH), as the leader in professional hair color, sells and distributes professional beauty supplies globally through its Sally Beauty Supply and Beauty Systems Group businesses. Sally Beauty Supply stores offer up to 7,000 products for hair color, hair care, nails, and skin care through proprietary brands such as Ion, Generic Value Products, Beyond the Zone and Silk Elements as well as professional lines such as Wella, Clairol, OPI, Conair and LOreal. Beauty Systems Group stores, branded as CosmoProf or Armstrong McCall stores, along with its outside sales consultants, sell up to 8,000 professionally branded products including Paul Mitchell, Wella, Matrix, Schwarzkopf, Kenra, Goldwell, Joico and Olaplex, intended for use in salons and for resale by salons to retail consumers. For more information about Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc., please visit https://www.sallybeautyholdings.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005291/en/ Jeff Harkins Investor Relations 940-297-3877 [email protected] Source: Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. Brazilian-based PAM supplier recognized for advanced protection of privileged identity, ease of use and superior customer satisfaction SAO PAULO & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Senhasegura, a leading Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution provider, today announced it was named the winner of the 2022 CyberSecured Award for Best Privileged Access Management (PAM). Now in its third year, the CyberSecured Awards honor the outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products or services are considered particularly noteworthy in the transformation of cybersecurity. Senhasegura was one of only 22 security products and services recognized industry-wide by the program. Were honored to be named the 2022 CyberSecured award winner for Privileged Access Management, said Marcus Scharra, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Senhasegura. This latest recognition was the culmination of a year of tremendous growth, highlighted by our $13 million Series A funding and the opening of our North American headquarters. We look forward to continuing our momentum in 2023 as a global leader in privileged access management. Senhaseguras 360o Privilege Platform offers all-in-one, advanced protection for privileged identities throughout the complete identity lifecycle, from onboarding of employees through offboarding. The Companys unique commitment to simplifying the user experience allows customers to deploy in minutes, resulting in the fastest time-to-value. The industrys leading analysts, including Gartner, Frost & Sullivan and KuppingerCole, have consistently recognized Senhasegura for its advanced technology and highest levels of customer satisfaction, awarding the Company as Leader or Visionary in various Magic Quadrant, Leadership Compass, and other industry reports. Senhaseguras 360o Privilege Platform takes a modern approach to privileged identity management, offering far wider capabilities than traditional PAM solutions. Its solution is based on a modular platform with a single, easy-to-use interface and offers the following advanced capabilities: Full-featured PAM support for both privileged as well as non-privileged user password management End-point workstation protection DevOps secrets management Multi-cloud support to ensure full compliance Certificate Lifecycle Management We recognize the importance that cybersecurity plays in todays society, and were pleased to honor the innovative solutions that Senhasegura and others are developing to keep our world a safer place, said Ralph C. Jensen, editor-in-chief of Security Today magazine and CyberSecured eNews. We look forward to continuing our coverage of the industrys most important advances in cybersecurity products and services in both Security Today and CyberSecured eNews, our monthly digital publication. About the CyberSecured Awards Launched in 2020, the CyberSecured Awards are a part of 1105 Medias Infrastructure Solutions Group, which includes industry-leading media brands that cover new product and technology solutions for security professionals: Security Today, securitytoday.com, Campus Security & Life Safety, campuslifesecurity.com, and GovSec. The brands print, digital, custom media and research products integrate physical and IT security coverage and provide the smartest, most cost-effective solutions for reaching security decision makers. About Senhasegura Senhasegura is committed to helping companies become more secure and resilient by stopping privilege abuse from inside and outside the organization. Senhaseguras award-winning 360 Privilege Platform addresses the entire privileged access management lifecycle, including before, during, and after access, and plays a critical role in implementing a robust zero trust architecture. Headquartered in Brazil, Senhasegura is a global leader with customers in over 55 countries throughout Latin America, North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The Companys PAM solution is distributed through an international network of more than 150 value-added, trusted channel partners. For more information, go to https://senhasegura.com or follow us on Twitter @senha_segura. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005843/en/ Dan Chmielewski Madison Alexander PR 949-231-2965 [email protected] Source: Senhasegura FREMONT, Calif. & CLEARWATER, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- TD SYNNEX Corporation (NYSE: SNX) (TD SYNNEX or the Company) today announced the pricing of a secondary public offering of 4,500,000 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $97.00 per share. All of the shares in the offering are being sold by certain entities managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (the Selling Stockholders). The offering is expected to close on or about January 30, 2023, subject to customary closing conditions. The underwriters have a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 675,000 shares of common stock from the Selling Stockholders. TD SYNNEX will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares by the Selling Stockholders in the offering. In addition, the Company has agreed to purchase from the underwriters 900,000 shares of common stock that are the subject of the offering at the offering price (the Concurrent Share Repurchase) under the Companys existing $1 billion share repurchase program. The Company plans to fund the Concurrent Share Repurchase from existing cash on hand. The underwriters will not receive any underwriting discounts for the shares being repurchased by the Company. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Barclays and Citigroup are acting as lead book-running managers for the offering. BofA Securities, Mizuho, RBC Capital Markets, Apollo Global Securities, BNP PARIBAS, HSBC, MUFG and Wells Fargo Securities are also acting as joint book-running managers with respect to the offering. Academy Securities and Siebert Williams Shank are acting as co-managers for the offering. A shelf registration statement (File No. 333-259270) relating to the resale of the shares was previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) and became effective on September 2, 2021. A preliminary prospectus supplement relating to and describing the terms of the offering was filed with the SEC on January 25, 2023. The final prospectus supplement relating to the offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SECs website at www.sec.gov. A copy of the preliminary prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the final prospectus supplement (when available) relating to the offering may be obtained by contacting: Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC by mail at 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, Attention: Prospectus Department, by telephone at (866) 471-2526, or by email at [email protected]; Barclays Capital Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, by mail at 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, by telephone at (888) 603-5847, or by email at [email protected]; or Citigroup Global Markets Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, by mail at 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717 or by telephone at (800) 831-9146. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About TD SYNNEX TD SYNNEX is a leading global distributor and solutions aggregator for the IT ecosystem. Were an innovative partner helping more than 150,000 customers in 100+ countries to maximize the value of technology investments, demonstrate business outcomes and unlock growth opportunities. Headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, and Fremont, California, TD SYNNEXs approximately 23,500 co-workers are dedicated to uniting compelling IT products, services and solutions from 1,500+ best-in-class technology vendors. Our edge-to-cloud portfolio is anchored in some of the highest-growth technology segments including cloud, cybersecurity, big data/analytics, IoT, mobility and everything as a service. TD SYNNEX is committed to serving customers and communities, and we believe we can have a positive impact on our people and our planet, intentionally acting as a respected corporate citizen. We aspire to be a diverse and inclusive employer of choice for talent across the IT ecosystem. For more information, visit www.TDSYNNEX.com, follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements may be identified by use of terms such as propose, will, expect, shall, and similar terms or the negative of such terms, and include, without limitation, statements regarding the expected completion, terms, size, and timing of the offering, and with respect to granting the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase additional shares. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected or implied in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include risks and uncertainties related to completion of the public offering on the anticipated terms or at all, market conditions and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the public offering. More information about the risks and uncertainties faced by TD SYNNEX is contained in the section captioned Risk Factors in the prospectus supplement related to the public offering and from time to time in the Companys Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2022, as well as subsequent SEC filings. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are as of the date of this release, and, except as required by law, TD SYNNEX does not undertake any obligation to update any such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230125005912/en/ Liz Morali Investor Relations 510-668-8436 [email protected] Bobby Eagle Global Corporate Communications 727-538-5864 [email protected] Source: TD SYNNEX A tussle between conservative women serving in the North Dakota House of Representatives and their historically male-dominated leadership ranks has morphed into legislation that could shake up the power structure of the Capitol. Six Republican women representatives led by Dickinson Rep. Vicky Steiner have backed House Bill 1311, which would require the House majority leader to tap female members to chair two of the chambers 11 standing committees each biennial session. A provision in the legislation would set a standard that the women appointed to chair committees hold anti-abortion views if the majority party's platform includes support for the right to life of unborn babies. The proposal also would give women representatives the opportunity to elect two of their own to Legislative Management, a powerful panel that oversees the Legislatures work between sessions. Steiner told the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday that the bill would address male leaders consistent failure to elevate women into positions of authority. No woman has chaired a standing committee in the House since 2013 even though there are senior Republican women with more experience than junior legislators who are men who have advanced into those chair spots, Steiner said. Legislative Management has included GOP women representatives only two out of the last 20 years, she noted. Wide gender disparities exist across the Legislature. Only about a quarter of North Dakotas lawmakers are women, ranking the state in the bottom 10 nationally for female legislative representation, according to the Center for American Women and Politics. But the total lack of women at the helm of committees is unique to the House, Steiner said. The Senate has a lower proportion of women than the House, but three standing committees -- Human Services; Judiciary; and State and Local Government -- are chaired by female GOP legislators. Steiner said new House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson, followed his predecessors example when selecting committee chairs. This leader we have now is exactly like the other two leaders Ive served under, Steiner said. They pick their own team, their own inner circle of men who are their friends. Lefor said he chose chairmen based on their abilities and his comfort level working with them. The lawmaker who hails from the same district as Steiner added in a statement that he supports diversity, but Steiners bill would tie the hands of future leaders. Frankly, I believe it sets us backwards by carving out groups based on gender instead of working together as equal colleagues, Lefor said in the statement. Steiner, who was first elected in 2010, specifically criticized Lefors decision to pass over experienced women lawmakers in favor of a less tenured male legislator to lead the House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee. Lefor selected Rep. Austen Schauer, a West Fargo Republican first elected in 2018, to run the panel. Rep. Karen Rohr, a Mandan Republican who has been a member of the committee since 2011 and previously served as its vice chair, confirmed that she was not asked if she wanted to lead the panel. Rohr said seniority should be part of a leaders assessment when assigning committee chairs, adding that it seemingly wasnt even considered in the case of the Government and Veteran Affairs post. Steiner, also a longtime member of the committee, said she did not want to chair the panel. Lefor noted he strongly considered two women legislators to chair committees: Rep. Emily OBrien, R-Grand Forks, for the Industry, Business and Labor Committee; and Rep. Brandy Pyle, R-Casselton, for the Political Subdivisions Committee. Both representatives instead opted for spots on the influential House Appropriations Committee, which oversees budgetary matters. The House Judiciary Committee that heard the bill Wednesday voted 8-5 to give the proposal a do-not-pass recommendation. Committee Chairman Larry Klemin, R-Bismarck, said the bill tackled an issue that would probably be better addressed through the internal rules process. Other opponents said creating a gender-related quota would go against conservative values. Several women on the committee noted the bill was not perfect, but it addressed a meaningful and persistent disparity in the House. Five of the seven women on the committee voted against giving the bill a thumbs-down recommendation -- a signal that they favor the bill. The whole House will vote on the bill when it appears on the floor in the coming days. Center will focus on CX solutions that enable hyper personalized and seamless customer engagement physically and in the metaverse SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- TDCX Inc. (TDCX or the Company) (NYSE: TDCX), an award-winning digital customer experience (CX) solutions provider for innovative technology and other blue-chip companies, announced today the launch of its first Digital CX Center of Excellence in Singapore. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230125005321/en/ TDCX's Digital Customer Experience Center of Excellence is located at its headquarters in Singapore and is led by Ms Angie Tay, Group Chief Operating Officer. (Photo: Business Wire) The Center will focus on leveraging technology to develop CX solutions that enable hyper personalized, seamless and secure customer engagement in both physical and virtual environments, such as in the metaverse. Through the Center, TDCX will pilot and validate new CX models and the supporting emerging technology architecture, to develop practical real-world applications and use cases. Mr Laurent Junique, Founder and CEO of TDCX, said, CX has become a strategic differentiator for businesses and a key enabler for the growth of the digital economy in todays experience-driven marketplace. As digital and physical experiences continue to blur, we want to pioneer customer engagement strategies that continue to deliver a human touch during those critical moments that matter most. The launch of our Digital CX Center of Excellence is the convergence of our digital innovation and consulting capabilities as well as operational mastery through talent leadership in Singapore. Over time, we have grown our client relationships at a global level. These clients are now looking for global strategic support. The Center is located at TDCXs headquarters in Singapore and is led by Ms Angie Tay, Group Chief Operating Officer. In addition to percolating new CX strategies and acting as a global command center, TDCX Singapore will also develop best practices in data science and analytics to help businesses enhance cost efficiency in areas such as quality assurance automation. These best practices will be developed into playbooks to help businesses drive and deliver customer value and retention. Ms Angie Tay, said, Our clients are in a constant pursuit of optimization to maximize their finite resources. Amid the recent tech shake up, we see more clients coming to us to understand how they can enhance their CX strategy and standardize their operations globally. Our digital CX Center of Excellence will enable us to continue developing transformative CX solutions for our clients and further entrench our leadership in this market. Mr Ben Sun who heads TDCXs Advisory and Transformation programs said, The increasing complexity of the business landscape means that brands are constantly juggling multiple competing priorities. They are looking for trusted partners who understand their needs and can continually add value to the relationship. We have been advising our clients on a range of issues, such as benchmarking their CX approach against best practices and determining the optimal balance between technology and the human touch to drive the best CX outcomes. The launch of our digital CX Center of Excellence is timely as it enables us to address a vacuum in the market and establish ourselves as the partner of choice for brands looking to deliver great CX. Corporate Venture Capital arm to invest in promising technologies To support the Center, TDCX has also set up a new Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) arm to invest in the technologies needed to drive CX innovation. The CVC will enable TDCX to take advantage of the innovative solutions that are already being incubated and developed in Singapore and South-East Asia. Some of the technology that TDCX is looking into includes artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation and natural language processing. TDCXs Digital CX Center of Excellence is the companys latest initiative to help businesses leverage innovative CX solutions to win new customers, build customer loyalty and achieve their CX outcomes. It adds to TDCXs existing capabilities through its Digital Innovation Lab based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia which has been focused on developing new technology applications for the Group. Since its 1995 launch in Singapore, TDCX has grown rapidly and is present in 16 countries across the globe. In October 2021, TDCX became the second home-grown company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. TDCX was also recognized by leading global technology research and advisory firm, ISG, as the top provider for CX services in Singapore in its latest Customer Experience Services report for Singapore and Malaysia1. About TDCX Singapore-headquartered TDCX provides transformative digital CX solutions, enabling world-leading and disruptive brands to acquire new customers, to build customer loyalty and to protect their online communities. TDCX helps clients achieve their customer experience aspirations by harnessing technology, human intelligence and its global footprint. It serves clients in fintech, gaming, technology, home sharing and travel, digital advertising and social media, streaming and e-commerce. TDCXs expertise and strong footprint in Asia has made it a trusted partner for clients, particularly high-growth, new economy companies, looking to tap the regions growth potential. TDCXs commitment to delivering positive outcomes for our clients extends to its role as a responsible corporate citizen. Its Corporate Social Responsibility program focuses on positively transforming the lives of its people, its communities and the environment. TDCX employs more than 17,000 employees across 27 campuses globally, specifically Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Mainland China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, India, Romania, Spain, Colombia and Turkiye. For more information, please visit www.tdcx.com. 1 Please refer to TDCX named a Leader in ISG Provider Lens Contact Center Customer Experience Services SG/MY 2022 report for more information. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230125005321/en/ For enquiries, please contact: Eunice Seow, [email protected] Source: TDCX RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Vontier Corporation (NYSE: VNT), a leading global provider of critical technologies and solutions to the mobility ecosystem, today announced the appointment of David M. Foulkes, to Vontiers Board of Directors, effective March 1, 2023. "We are extremely pleased to welcome David to our Board, said Karen Francis, Chair of the Board of Directors at Vontier. "David is a proven leader with a passion for innovation and demonstrated expertise in digital transformation. He brings extensive experience in industrial technology, a global perspective and a deep understanding of global manufacturing. I am confident he will make a significant contribution to our Board and the Company. Mr. Foulkes has served as Chief Executive Officer and Director for Brunswick Corporation (Brunswick) since January 2019. Prior to his role as CEO, Mr. Foulkes served as Brunswicks Chief Technology Officer and President, Brunswick Marine Consumer Solutions as well as head of product development at Mercury Marine. Prior to joining Brunswick, Mr. Foulkes spent 18 years with Ford Motor Company in a series of assignments of progressing responsibilities. Mr. Foulkes holds a Masters degree in Structural and Fluid Mechanics and a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics from Imperial College London. I look forward to Davids guidance as we strengthen our leadership position across the mobility ecosystem, said Mark Morelli, Vontiers Chief Executive Officer. His strong technology background and industry knowledge will provide invaluable insights to support our next chapter of growth and value creation. ABOUT VONTIER Vontier is a global industrial technology company at the forefront of solving next-gen mobility challenges. Guided by the Vontier Business System and an unwavering commitment to our customers, Vontier delivers smart, sustainable solutions for the road ahead. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005663/en/ Ryan Edelman Vice President, Investor Relations Vontier Corporation Telephone: (984) 238-1929 Source: Vontier Corporation FILE PHOTO: Crude oil storage tanks are seen from above at the Cushing oil hub, in Cushing, Oklahoma, March 24, 2016. REUTERS/Nick Oxford By Scott DiSavino NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices rose about 2% on Thursday on expectations that global demand will strengthen as top oil importer China reopens its economy and on positive U.S. economic data. Brent futures rose $1.35, or 1.6%, to settle at $87.47 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 86 cents, or 1.1%, to settle at $81.01. The U.S. economy grew faster than expected in the fourth quarter, but a measure of domestic demand rose at its slowest pace in 2-1/2 years, reflecting higher borrowing costs. "Crude prices got an unexpected boost from a U.S. economy that doesnt want to break," said Edward Moya, senior market analyst at data and analytics firm OANDA. U.S. crude inventories edged up by 533,000 barrels to 448.5 million barrels in the week ending Jan. 20, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said. That was short of forecasts for a 1 million barrel rise, though the EIA says crude stocks are at their highest since June 2021. China has been easing stringent COVID-19 restrictions this month, with Beijing reopening borders for the first time in three years. "China's reopening is supporting demand prospects," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo. "Also, market participants are closely tracking the upcoming OPEC+ JMMC (Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee) meeting and the EU (European Union) embargo on refined products," Staunovo said. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and their allies, including Russia, are collectively known as OPEC+. The OPEC+ ministerial panel meeting on Feb. 1 is likely to endorse the oil producer group's current output levels, OPEC+ sources said. Global economic growth is forecast to barely move above 2% this year, a Reuters poll of economists showed, suggesting a further downgrade is possible. That was at odds with widespread optimism in markets since the beginning of the year. (Additional reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar in London and Jeslyn Lerh in Singapore; Editing by David Goodman, Kirsten Donovan, Jane Merriman and David Gregorio) FILE PHOTO: A person exits a Bed Bath & Beyond store in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., June 29, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo (Reuters) -Bed Bath & Beyond Inc said on Thursday it had received a notice of default on its loan from JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., triggering a 22% slump in its shares. The company said in a regulatory filing it does not have sufficient resources to repay the amounts under the credit facilities, adding it will consider all strategic alternatives, including restructuring its debt under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The home goods retailer said earlier this month it was exploring a range of options to address its plunging sales that included declaring bankruptcy. "While not completely unexpected, today's default notice... underlines the company is living on both borrowed time and money," said Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData. "Its fate will now ultimately be decided by creditors who are demanding repayment of some debt and further collateral." The bank has determined to exercise rights such that all outstanding loans under credit facilities and other obligations of Bed Bath & Beyond under its amended credit agreement are due and payable immediately, according to the filing. JPMorgan declined to comment. The retailer's outstanding borrowings under an asset-backed loan and first-in-last-out loan (FILO) were $550 million and $375 million, respectively, as of Nov. 26. The company locked in the $375 million FILO from investment firm Sixth Street in August. Bed Bath & Beyond posted a much bigger-than-expected quarterly loss this month and also announced more job cuts to trim costs. The company's shares fell 2% in extended trading on Friday. They had rallied at the start of the year as individual investors piled in. (Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila) Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today announced topline results from TRANSCEND CLL 004, a Phase 1/2, open-label, single-arm, multicenter study evaluating Breyanzi (lisocabtagene maraleucel) in adults with relapsed or refractory (R/R) chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). Results from TRANSCEND CLL 004 showed the study met the primary endpoint of complete response rate compared to historical control in the prespecified subset of patients with R/R CLL that was refractory to a BTK inhibitor and pretreated with a BCL-2 inhibitor. No new safety signals were reported for Breyanzi in this study. CLL is an incurable disease with complex biology and immune dysregulation that has made the development of T cell-based therapies that provide deep remission very challenging, said Anne Kerber, senior vice president, head of Cell Therapy Development, Bristol Myers Squibb. In a population that has limited options, the TRANSCEND CLL 004 study represents the first multicenter trial evaluating a CAR T cell therapy in heavily pre-treated patients with relapsed or refractory CLL or SLL, with results showing the potential of Breyanzi as a personalized one-time treatment approach for patients with this difficult-to-treat disease. Bristol Myers Squibb will complete a full evaluation of the TRANSCEND CLL 004 data and work with investigators to present detailed results at an upcoming medical meeting, as well as discuss these results with health authorities. Bristol Myers Squibb thanks the patients and investigators who are participating in the TRANSCEND CLL 004 clinical trial. About TRANSCEND CLL 004 TRANSCEND CLL 004 (NCT03331198) is a Phase 1/2 open-label, single-arm, multicenter study evaluating Breyanzi in patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma. The Phase 1 dose escalation portion of the study assessed the safety and recommended dose for the subsequent Phase 2 expansion cohort. The Phase 2 portion of the study is evaluating Breyanzi at the recommended dose from the Phase 1 monotherapy arm. The primary endpoint of the Phase 2 portion of the study was complete response rate, including complete remission with incomplete bone marrow recovery, based on independent review committee according to the International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (iwCLL) 2018 guidelines. About CLL and SLL Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is one of the most common types of leukemia in adults. In CLL, too many blood stem cells in the bone marrow become abnormal lymphocytes, and these abnormal cells have difficulty fighting infections. As the number of abnormal cells grows, there is less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) also affects the lymphocytes, with cancer cells found mostly in the lymph nodes. While there are several treatments available for CLL and SLL, there is a need for additional effective therapies as there is no standard of care for relapsed or refractory CLL or SLL after prior therapy with targeted agents. Patients with relapsed or refractory disease have limited treatment options and generally experience shorter periods of response with each subsequent treatment. About Breyanzi Breyanzi is a CD19-directed CAR T cell therapy with a 4-1BB costimulatory domain, which enhances the expansion and persistence of the CAR T cells. Breyanzi is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of adult patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified (including DLBCL arising from indolent lymphoma), high-grade B-cell lymphoma, primary mediastinal LBCL, and follicular lymphoma grade 3B who have refractory disease to first-line chemoimmunotherapy or relapse within 12 months of first-line chemoimmunotherapy, or refractory disease to first-line chemoimmunotherapy or relapse after first-line chemoimmunotherapy and are not eligible for hematopoietic stem cell transplant due to comorbidities or age, or relapsed or refractory disease after two or more lines of systemic therapy. Breyanzi is not indicated for the treatment of patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma. Please see the Important Safety Information section below, including Boxed WARNINGS for Breyanzi regarding cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity. Breyanzi is also approved in Europe, Switzerland, Canada and Japan for relapsed and refractory LBCL after two or more lines of systemic therapy. Bristol Myers Squibbs clinical development program for Breyanzi includes clinical studies in earlier lines of treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory LBCL and other types of lymphoma and leukemias. For more information, visit clinicaltrials.gov. Important Safety Information BOXED WARNING: CYTOKINE RELEASE SYNDROME and NEUROLOGIC TOXICITIES Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS), including fatal or life-threatening reactions, occurred in patients receiving BREYANZI. Do not administer BREYANZI to patients with active infection or inflammatory disorders. Treat severe or life-threatening CRS with tocilizumab with or without corticosteroids. Neurologic toxicities, including fatal or life-threatening reactions, occurred in patients receiving BREYANZI, including concurrently with CRS, after CRS resolution or in the absence of CRS. Monitor for neurologic events after treatment with BREYANZI. Provide supportive care and/or corticosteroids as needed. BREYANZI is available only through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) called the BREYANZI REMS. Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) CRS, including fatal or life-threatening reactions, occurred following treatment with BREYANZI. CRS occurred in 46% (122/268) of patients receiving BREYANZI, including Grade 3 (Lee grading system) CRS in 4% (11/268) of patients. One patient had fatal CRS and 2 had ongoing CRS at time of death. The median time to onset was 5 days (range: 1 to 15 days). CRS resolved in 119 of 122 patients (98%) with a median duration of 5 days (range: 1 to 17 days). Median duration of CRS was 5 days (range 1 to 30 days) in all patients, including those who died or had CRS ongoing at time of death. Among patients with CRS, the most common manifestations of CRS include fever (93%), hypotension (49%), tachycardia (39%), chills (28%), and hypoxia (21%). Serious events that may be associated with CRS include cardiac arrhythmias (including atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia), cardiac arrest, cardiac failure, diffuse alveolar damage, renal insufficiency, capillary leak syndrome, hypotension, hypoxia, and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis/macrophage activation syndrome (HLH/MAS). Ensure that 2 doses of tocilizumab are available prior to infusion of BREYANZI. Sixty-one of 268 (23%) patients received tocilizumab and/or a corticosteroid for CRS after infusion of BREYANZI. Twenty-seven (10%) patients received tocilizumab only, 25 (9%) received tocilizumab and a corticosteroid, and 9 (3%) received corticosteroids only. Neurologic Toxicities Neurologic toxicities that were fatal or life-threatening, occurred following treatment with BREYANZI. CAR T cell-associated neurologic toxicities occurred in 35% (95/268) of patients receiving BREYANZI, including Grade 3 in 12% (31/268) of patients. Three patients had fatal neurologic toxicity and 7 had ongoing neurologic toxicity at time of death. The median time to onset of the first event was 8 days (range: 1 to 46 days). The onset of all neurologic events occurred within the first 8 weeks following BREYANZI infusion. Neurologic toxicities resolved in 81 of 95 patients (85%) with a median duration of 12 days (range: 1 to 87 days). Three of four patients with ongoing neurologic toxicity at data cutoff had tremor and one subject had encephalopathy. Median duration of neurologic toxicity was 15 days (range: 1 to 785 days) in all patients, including those with ongoing neurologic events at the time of death or at data cutoff. Seventy-eight (78) of 95 (82%) patients with neurologic toxicity experienced CRS. Neurologic toxicity overlapped with CRS in 57 patients. The onset of neurologic toxicity was after onset of CRS in 30 patients, before CRS onset in 13 patients, same day as CRS onset in 7 patients, and same day as CRS resolution in 7 patients. Neurologic toxicity resolved in three patients before the onset of CRS. Eighteen patients experienced neurologic toxicity after resolution of CRS. The most common neurologic toxicities included encephalopathy (24%), tremor (14%), aphasia (9%), delirium (7%), headache (7%), dizziness (6%), and ataxia (6%). Serious events including cerebral edema and seizures occurred with BREYANZI. Fatal and serious cases of leukoencephalopathy, some attributable to fludarabine, have occurred in patients treated with BREYANZI. CRS and Neurologic Toxicities Monitoring Monitor patients daily at a certified healthcare facility during the first week following infusion, for signs and symptoms of CRS and neurologic toxicities. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of CRS and neurologic toxicities for at least 4 weeks after infusion; evaluate and treat promptly. Counsel patients to seek immediate medical attention should signs or symptoms of CRS or neurologic toxicity occur at any time. At the first sign of CRS, institute treatment with supportive care, tocilizumab or tocilizumab and corticosteroids as indicated. BREYANZI REMS Because of the risk of CRS and neurologic toxicities, BREYANZI is available only through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) called the BREYANZI REMS. The required components of the BREYANZI REMS are: Healthcare facilities that dispense and administer BREYANZI must be enrolled and comply with the REMS requirements. Certified healthcare facilities must have on-site, immediate access to tocilizumab. Ensure that a minimum of 2 doses of tocilizumab are available for each patient for infusion within 2 hours after BREYANZI infusion, if needed for treatment of CRS. Certified healthcare facilities must ensure that healthcare providers who prescribe, dispense, or administer BREYANZI are trained on the management of CRS and neurologic toxicities. Further information is available at www.BreyanziREMS.com, or contact Bristol Myers Squibb at 1-888-423-5436. Hypersensitivity Reactions Allergic reactions may occur with the infusion of BREYANZI. Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, may be due to dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Serious Infections Severe infections, including life-threatening or fatal infections, have occurred in patients after BREYANZI infusion. Infections (all grades) occurred in 45% (121/268) of patients. Grade 3 or higher infections occurred in 19% of patients. Grade 3 or higher infections with an unspecified pathogen occurred in 16% of patients, bacterial infections occurred in 5%, and viral and fungal infections occurred in 1.5% and 0.4% of patients, respectively. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of infection before and after BREYANZI administration and treat appropriately. Administer prophylactic antimicrobials according to standard institutional guidelines. Febrile neutropenia has been observed in 9% (24/268) of patients after BREYANZI infusion and may be concurrent with CRS. In the event of febrile neutropenia, evaluate for infection and manage with broad spectrum antibiotics, fluids, and other supportive care as medically indicated. Avoid administration of BREYANZI in patients with clinically significant active systemic infections. Viral reactivation: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation, in some cases resulting in fulminant hepatitis, hepatic failure, and death, can occur in patients treated with drugs directed against B cells. Ten of the 11 patients in the TRANSCEND study with a prior history of HBV were treated with concurrent antiviral suppressive therapy to prevent HBV reactivation during and after treatment with BREYANZI. Perform screening for HBV, HCV, and HIV in accordance with clinical guidelines before collection of cells for manufacturing. Prolonged Cytopenias Patients may exhibit cytopenias not resolved for several weeks following lymphodepleting chemotherapy and BREYANZI infusion. Grade 3 or higher cytopenias persisted at Day 29 following BREYANZI infusion in 31% (84/268) of patients, and included thrombocytopenia (26%), neutropenia (14%), and anemia (3%). Monitor complete blood counts prior to and after BREYANZI administration. Hypogammaglobulinemia B-cell aplasia and hypogammaglobulinemia can occur in patients receiving treatment with BREYANZI. The adverse event of hypogammaglobulinemia was reported as an adverse reaction in 14% (37/268) of patients; laboratory IgG levels fell below 500 mg/dL after infusion in 21% (56/268) of patients. Hypogammaglobulinemia, either as an adverse reaction or laboratory IgG level below 500 mg/dL after infusion, was reported in 32% (85/268) of patients. Monitor immunoglobulin levels after treatment with BREYANZI and manage using infection precautions, antibiotic prophylaxis, and immunoglobulin replacement as clinically indicated. Live vaccines: The safety of immunization with live viral vaccines during or following BREYANZI treatment has not been studied. Vaccination with live virus vaccines is not recommended for at least 6 weeks prior to the start of lymphodepleting chemotherapy, during BREYANZI treatment, and until immune recovery following treatment with BREYANZI. Secondary Malignancies Patients treated with BREYANZI may develop secondary malignancies. Monitor lifelong for secondary malignancies. In the event that a secondary malignancy occurs, contact Bristol Myers Squibb at 1-888-805-4555 for reporting and to obtain instructions on collection of patient samples for testing. Effects on Ability to Drive and Use Machines Due to the potential for neurologic events, including altered mental status or seizures, patients receiving BREYANZI are at risk for altered or decreased consciousness or impaired coordination in the 8 weeks following BREYANZI administration. Advise patients to refrain from driving and engaging in hazardous occupations or activities, such as operating heavy or potentially dangerous machinery, during this initial period. Adverse Reactions Serious adverse reactions occurred in 46% of patients. The most common nonlaboratory, serious adverse reactions (> 2%) were CRS, encephalopathy, sepsis, febrile neutropenia, aphasia, pneumonia, fever, hypotension, dizziness, and delirium. Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 4% of patients. The most common nonlaboratory adverse reactions of any grade ( 20%) were fatigue, CRS, musculoskeletal pain, nausea, headache, encephalopathy, infections (pathogen unspecified), decreased appetite, diarrhea, hypotension, tachycardia, dizziness, cough, constipation, abdominal pain, vomiting, and edema. Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNINGS and Medication Guide. Bristol Myers Squibb: Creating a Better Future for People with Cancer Bristol Myers Squibb is inspired by a single visiontransforming patients lives through science. The goal of the companys cancer research is to deliver medicines that offer each patient a better, healthier life and to make cure a possibility. Building on a legacy across a broad range of cancers that have changed survival expectations for many, Bristol Myers Squibb researchers are exploring new frontiers in personalized medicine, and through innovative digital platforms, are turning data into insights that sharpen their focus. Deep scientific expertise, cutting-edge capabilities and discovery platforms enable the company to look at cancer from every angle. Cancer can have a relentless grasp on many parts of a patients life, and Bristol Myers Squibb is committed to taking actions to address all aspects of care, from diagnosis to survivorship. Because as a leader in cancer care, Bristol Myers Squibb is working to empower all people with cancer to have a better future. Learn more about the science behind cell therapy and ongoing research at Bristol Myers Squibb here. About Bristol Myers Squibb Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding, among other things, the research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products. All statements that are not statements of historical facts are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future financial results, goals, plans and objectives and involve inherent risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including internal or external factors that could delay, divert or change any of them in the next several years, that are difficult to predict, may be beyond our control and could cause our future financial results, goals, plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the statements. These risks, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, that future study results may not be consistent with the results to date, that Breyanzi (lisocabtagene maraleucel), may not receive regulatory approval for the additional indication described in this release in the currently anticipated timeline or at all, that any marketing approvals, if granted, may have significant limitations on their use, and, if approved, whether such product candidate for such additional indication described in this release will be commercially successful. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many risks and uncertainties that affect Bristol Myers Squibbs business and market, particularly those identified in the cautionary statement and risk factors discussion in Bristol Myers Squibbs Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as updated by our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made only as of the date of this document and except as otherwise required by applicable law, Bristol Myers Squibb undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise. corporatefinancial-news View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230125005878/en/ Bristol Myers Squibb Media Inquiries: [email protected] Kimberly Whitefield [email protected] Investors: [email protected] Source: Bristol Myers Squibb A BuzzFeed sign is seen during the company's debut outside the Nasdaq Market in Times Square in New York City, U.S., December 6, 2021. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (Reuters) -Shares of BuzzFeed Inc jumped on Thursday on reports of a deal with Meta Platforms Inc and plans to use artificial intelligence to personalize and enhance the digital media firm's online quizzes and content. The stock was 19% higher in extended trading, after more than doubling in value earlier in the day as a Wall Street Journal report said it would use ChatGPT creator OpenAI for its content. Buzzfeed, in an emailed response to Reuters, said "we are not using ChatGPT - we are using OpenAI's publicly available API (application programming interface)." Earlier in the day, the stock had jumped 50% on a separate report by the Journal that said Meta was paying BuzzFeed millions of dollars to bring more creators to Facebook and Instagram. The deal, reached last year, was valued at close to $10 million and BuzzFeed will help generate content for Meta's platforms and train creators to grow their presence online, the report had said, citing people familiar with the situation. "In 2023, you'll see AI inspired content move from an R&D stage to part of our core business, enhancing the quiz experience, informing our brainstorming, and personalizing our content for our audience," BuzzFeed Chief Executive Jonah Peretti said in memo to employees reviewed by Reuters. The stock closed at $2.09 after touching a high of $2.45. Indicating interest from retail traders, BuzzFeed shares were among the top three orders on Fidelity's platform on Thursday. Shares of the company, valued at $132 million, have tanked more than 90% to Wednesday's close since going public in December 2021 through a reverse merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). The company said last month it would cut about 12% of its workforce to rein in costs. Its third-quarter net loss had widened to $27 million from $3.6 million a year ago. (Reporting by Medha Singh and Shreyaa Narayanan in Bengaluru, additional reporting by Ankika Biswas; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli, Sriraj Kalluvila and Devika Syamnath) DALLAS, TX, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Security Today, the leading industry media brand providing technology, education and solutions for security professionals, is pleased to announce that Ralph C. Jensen has been named publisher of the 1105 Media security brands within the companys Infrastructure Solutions Group. Mr. Jensen has been editor-in-chief of Security Today (formerly Security Products) since 2005 and Campus Security & Life Safety since its inception at that same time. He was instrumental in introducing both of these brands to the security marketplace. In addition, he has been a driving force behind 1105 Medias government security-focused brand, GovSec, and its newest brand CyberSecured, which provides timely cybersecurity information. This is a tremendous opportunity for me personally, but I can assure you that I would not have been offered this position in my career without the help and tutoring from past mentors and the superb staff that I work with now, said Mr. Jensen. It has been exciting to be part of the Security Today team from the beginning and to watch it grow and flourish. There are so many people within the industry that have been part of our success, and for them, I am truly grateful. Mr. Jensen became part of Stevens Publishing in 1995 as the news bureau chief. That team helped form 1105 Media in 2006. Prior to joining the company, he held positions at various community newspapers and also served as an Air Force Public Affairs officer. He graduated from Brigham Young University and Utah State University. In addition to producing content for 1105 Medias security brands, Mr. Jensen is the voice of the popular SecurPod podcast and hosts numerous Security Today and Campus Security & Life Safety webinars throughout the year. He also plays a key part in 1105 Medias many security awards programs, including the Security Today New Product of the Year Awards, the Security Today Govies Government Security Awards, the Secure Campus Awards and the CyberSecured Awards. Were thrilled that Ralph is taking on an expanded role at 1105 Media, said Dan LaBianca, President of 1105 Medias Converge360 and Infrastructure Solutions Group. The security industry is constantly evolving, and Ralphs dedication and experience in it will serve our brands well as we continue to bring security professionals timely, critical information. Security Today and Campus Security & Life Safety produce magazines, webinars, podcasts, virtual summits, eNewsletters, research, awards programs and more. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact: Ralph Jensen ([email protected]) Brian Rendine ([email protected]) Randy Easton ([email protected]) About 1105 Media 1105 Media Inc. is a leading provider of integrated information and media in targeted business-to-business markets, including specialized sectors of the information technology community; industrial health, safety, and compliance; security; environmental protection; and home healthcare. 1105s offerings span print and online magazines, journals, and newsletters; seminars, conferences, and trade shows; training courseware; and web-based services. 1105 Media is based in Woodland Hills, California, with additional offices throughout the United States. About 1105 Medias Infrastructure Solutions Group 1105 Medias Infrastructure Solutions Group includes several leading industry media brands that provide new product and technology solutions for security professionals: Security Today, securitytoday.com, Campus Security & Life Safety, campuslifesecurity.com, GovSec and CyberSecured. The brands print, digital, custom media and research products integrate physical and IT security coverage and provide the smartest, most cost-effective solutions for reaching security decision-makers. Attachments NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES. BRISBANE, Australia, Jan. 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Adyton Resources Corporation (TSX Venture: ADY) (Adyton or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced CAD $400,000 non-brokered private placement (the Financing). The Company raised CAD $400,000 through the sale of 20,000,000 common shares in the capital of the Company (the Shares) at a price of CAD $0.02 per Share. The Financing was oversubscribed. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Financing for exploration and development expenditures on existing mining properties, for due diligence on potential acquisition targets, for a reserve for potential asset acquisition investigations and for general working capital purposes. Mayur Resources Limited, a control person of the Company, and certain directors and officers of the Company participated in the Financing. The participation in the Financing by such insiders constitutes a related party transaction under Multilateral Instrument 61101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101). The Financing is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the Shares issued to related parties nor the consideration for such Shares exceeds 25% of the Companys market capitalization. A material change report including details with respect to the related party transaction could not be filed less than 21 days prior to the closing of the Financing as the Company only confirmed the insider participation shortly before closing and the Company deemed it reasonable in the circumstances to be able to avail itself of the financing opportunity and to complete the Financing in an expeditious manner. All the Shares issued pursuant to the Financing are subject to a four-month restricted resale period ending on May 25, 2023 under Canadian securities laws. The Financing remains subject to final acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF ADYTON RESOURCES CORPORATION Tim Crossley, Chief Executive Officer For further information please contact: Tim Crossley, Chief Executive Officer E-mail: [email protected] Phone: +61 7 3854 2389 ABOUT ADYTON RESOURCES CORPORATION Adyton Resources Corporation is focused on the development of gold and copper resources in world class mineral jurisdictions. It currently has a portfolio of highly prospective mineral exploration projects in Papua New Guinea on which it is exploring for copper and gold. The Companys mineral exploration projects are located on the Pacific Ring of Fire which hosts several world class copper and gold deposits. Adyton was formed by a reverse takeover transaction completed with XIB I Capital Corporation on February 17, 2021 and commenced trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol ADY on February 24, 2021. Adyton is also quoted on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the code 701:GR. For more information about Adyton and its projects, visit www.adytonresources.com. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. DISCLAIMER & FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release may include forward-looking statements, including forecasts, estimates, expectations, and objectives for future operations that are subject to several assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Adyton. Forward looking statements and information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "plans" or similar terminology. The forward-looking information contained herein is provided for the purpose of assisting readers in understanding management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking information are based on management of the parties' reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on such management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Such factors, among other things, include: impacts arising from the global disruption caused by the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak, changes in general macroeconomic conditions; changes in securities markets; changes in the price of gold or certain other commodities; change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding); discrepancies between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of and changes in the costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking information represents managements best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual future results may vary materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements or information. Adyton Resources Corporation undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Source: Adyton Resources Corporation NATIONAL HARBOR, Md., Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) today released an implementation paper to advance the use of Digital Twins across the aerospace industry at the 2023 AIAA SciTech Forum. The paper, Digital Twin: Reference Model, Realizations & Recommendations, is a collaboration with the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), and the Americas Regional Steering Committee of the International Association for the Engineering Modelling, Analysis and Simulation Community (NAFEMS). The paper is available for download on the AIAA website. Digital transformation is the fourth industrial revolution. The aerospace industry needs to accelerate its adoption and realization of Digital Twins to achieve the value and benefits from this technology advancement, said AIAA Executive Director Dan Dumbacher. Co-authors John F. Matlik, Engineering Digital Transformation Lead, Rolls-Royce Defense, and Olivia J. Pinon Fischer, Senior Research Engineer and Division Chief Digital Engineering Division, Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory, School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, discussed the paper during forum this week in National Harbor, Maryland. During the session entitled, Digital Twin and Digital Thread Integration, they shared the specific next steps toward Digital Twin implementation advocated for in the paper: Create and/or leverage an existing Aerospace Digital Transformation Consortium (ADTC) that will champion and coordinate implementation and consistency management efforts across industry, academia, and government. Launch an initial pathfinder effort on Joint All Domain Command & Control (JADC2). The AIAA Digital Engineering Integration Committee authored the paper, with approval from the AIAA Public Policy Committee. In addition, substantial contributions were made by The International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) Patterns Working Group, and The Digital Twin Consortium, a community of the Object Management Group (OMG). Media Contact: Rebecca B. Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell About AIAAThe American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the worlds largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit www.aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Source: AIAA LONDON, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Axiomise, the leading provider of cutting-edge formal verification solutions, marked its fifth anniversary in 2022 with an impressive list of highlights, including training, consulting, services, and custom app development such as formalISA. "Our growth has been phenomenal, especially in 2022," remarks Dr. Ashish Darbari, founder and CEO of Axiomise, who added that formal verification is recognized as an essential tool in the chip design verification flow. Axiomise engaged with 20 customers, helping them with training, consulting, and services. Axiomise FV experts trained hundreds of new engineers through online, on-demand and instructor-led courses. Axiomise's FV 101 course was the industry's first on-demand video course that provides an excellent, easily accessible introduction to formal methods for hardware verification. On all their projects, the Axiomise formal verification experts built exhaustive proofs of bug absence with 99% proof convergence and found 350+ bugs in six major formal verification engagements. Designs ranged in complexity from multi-threaded processors to 50G/100G/400G networking blocks to interconnects, bus fabric bridges, AI/ML, GPU blocks, RISC-V, and healthcare. The Axiomise formalISA app for RISC-V processor verification was deployed to catch bugs and build proofs of bug absence in several cores, such as ibex, zeroriscy, cv3240p, and three WARP-V cores. It was deployed on the 64-bit CVA6 core verification to establish that all Instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions worked as expected. Dr. Darbari started one of the industry's first verification podcasts - Formal Bytes. He gave multiple talks at the annual RISC-V summit in the USA. His talk at the RISC-V summit 2019 has garnered 26K views on the RISC-V YouTube channel. His webinar hosted by Cadence on automatic end-to-end formal verification of RISC-V processors has gained 18K views on the Axiomise YouTube channel. Dr. Darbari was an invited keynote speaker at several events, such as the Intel India Technologist Day 2020 and the Cadence Theater Talk at DAC 2022. He gave talks on RISC-V formal verification in the Cadence CDNLive 2022 and Cadence Club Formal events in 2019 and 2022. He was a keynote speaker at the Synopsys VCFormal SIG India event in 2019 and gave a Synopsys tutorial on tackling formal verification complexity in DVCon USA 2019. He was a panelist in DVCon USA 2018, discussing system coverage. In DVCon Europe 2019, Dr. Darbari highlighted the significance of automotive-specific, next-generation verification technologies. In the DVCon Europe 2022, he discussed the necessity of formal methods for 5G verification. In DAC 2022, Darbari emphasised the need for formal methods to exterminate the design bugs for good. He was invited to be on Synopsys panels in DVCon USA 2018, SIG India Formal 2019, and SNUG USA 2022. Six webinars, through collaborations with Cadence Design Systems, Siemens EDA, and Synopsys, showcased Axiomise's expertise and abstraction-driven methodologies on complex verification tasks in conjunction with state-of-the-art formal verification tools. As a result of its success and to meet the growing demand for formal verification experts, Axiomise is actively hiring. The Careers page on the Axiomise website has details. About Axiomise Axiomise is accelerating formal verification adoption through its unique combination of training, consulting, services and specialized verification solutions for RISC-V. Axiomise was founded by Dr. Ashish Darbari, FBCS, DPhil (Oxford), who has been a formal verification practitioner for over two decades with 50 patents in formal verification and over 50 publications. Axiomise offers cutting-edge, formal verification training, consulting, and custom software solutions for RISC-V. Engage with Axiomise at: Website: www.axiomise.com Twitter: @axiomise LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/axiomise/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/axiomise Axiomise and the Axiomise logo are trademarks of Axiomise Limited, UK. Contact Information: Nanette Collins Public Relations for Axiomise [email protected] +44 1442 345046 Related Images Image 1 This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Featured Image for Axiomise Limited Featured Image for Axiomise Limited Source: Axiomise Limited A former North Dakota lawmaker who lost his bid for reelection last year is back at the Legislature this year, hired for his expertise on water issues. Former Rep. Jim Schmidt, R-Huff, came up short in the June 2022 election for a fourth House term. House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson, said he approached Schmidt and hired him as a part-time staff assistant for the 2023 legislative session to help on water issues. Lefor said the arrangement could become "a conduit for future legislatures" to use former lawmakers to train new members in the era of term limits, which voters approved last fall. Lefor cites Schmidt's "tremendous amount of experience" on water projects throughout North Dakota. Those projects are "a big expenditure for our state," he said. "When you're dealing with an $18 billion budget, you better have people who are experienced and know what (are) the different parameters of the budget," Lefor said. "I fully embrace what he has provided to me as a leader and is providing to our caucus as his expertise. ... He's going to save the taxpayer money." Schmidt said his job is to facilitate cooperation and coordination between the House and Senate on water issues, such as the State Water Commission budget. He attends bill hearings on water issues, takes notes and relays those notes to Lefor. He also is educating new Rep. Steve Swiontek, R-Fargo, on water issues, and will give a presentation to the House Republican caucus on water bills "because we need a lot of education on that," Lefor said. North Dakota has "challenges with water," such as water supplies and flood control, according to Schmidt, who noted the turnover in the Legislature, too -- nearly a third of its members are new due to retirements and election defeats last year. Schmidt emphasized his job is not a decision-making position and not one he sought. He said there might be some people "that don't want me around there" at the Legislature. "I understand that, but I do think that what I bring to the table is of value," said Schmidt, whose experience includes 33 years working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Soil Conservation Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service, along with 14 years each on two area water boards. New Rep. Dawson Holle, R-Mandan, who beat Schmidt last year in the District 31 Republican primary, said he doesn't have an issue with Schmidt's new job. He called Schmidt "a great guy" with "great knowledge about water resources." "I think we mutually respect each other," said Holle, who is a 19-year-old dairy farmer. Schmidt's position is "not a bad thing at all" if no one in the Legislature has his interest or expertise, according to Mark Jendrysik, professor of political science and public administration at the University of North Dakota. It would have been "a more usual career path" if Schmidt had gone on to become a lobbyist for a water industry or group, Jendrysik said. He concurred with Lefor that term limits of eight years each in the House and Senate will "have a major effect" on the Legislature. "Unless you come in already as an expert on a particular thing, it's going to be very, very hard to, I think, overcome that," Jendrysik said. There appears to be some precedent to Schmidt's position. Former Rep. Al Hausauer, R-Bismarck, lost his reelection bid in 1990, but went on to be chief legislative aide to the House majority leader in the 1991 Legislature. Schmidt is paid $188 per day, less than the $193 daily rate lawmakers get and less than some other legislative staff are paid. Lawmakers also receive $537 per month. ATLANTA, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coming off another year of significant growth in 2022, CARROLL, a national real estate investment firm, is continuing its reinvestment in the firm by announcing the promotion of Rob Lester, a member of the Firm's Executive Leadership Team, to the role of Head of Investment Management. Rob joined CARROLL in 2022 to lead its capital markets function and brought more than 25 years of real estate, capital markets, and investment experience to the Firm. In this role, Rob will lead CARROLL's investment, asset management, development, capital markets, and investor relations teams, while contributing to the development and execution of the Firm's growth strategy across all investment strategies. More specifically, Rob will be directly responsible for expanding the Firm's U.S. residential real estate footprint, asset management, and worldwide growth of its capital markets function. Rob will also oversee the management of the Firm's recently launched recovery fund, Carroll Credit, targeted as a friendly source of capital to multifamily owners across the Sun Belt region. CARROLL's President and COO David Perez said, "We are incredibly pleased to have someone on our executive leadership team of Rob's caliber and experience in the business. He will play an important role in leading our investment teams to ensure we continue our robust growth, especially as we manage through potentially challenging times." "This appointment reflects the next generation of leadership at the Firm," said CARROLL founder Patrick Carroll. "Rob and our President/COO David Perez have both played critical roles in our success and this new alignment bolsters the already impressive credentials of the leadership team guiding the organization. Both are proven leaders and managers and I look forward to seeing them continue to accelerate the growth of the CARROLL platform." A capital markets and investment veteran, Rob Lester brings more than two decades of investment, banking and capital raising experience that includes developing, structuring, and financing innovative transactions and financial vehicles around the globe. Prior to joining CARROLL, Rob held executive and leadership positions within highly respected real estate and financial institutions, including Blackstone/Park Hill Real Estate, Macquarie Capital and Brookfield - after beginning his career in corporate investment banking with BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank. ### ABOUT CARROLL CARROLL, a privately held real estate investment firm, was founded in 2004 by Patrick Carroll. With headquarters in Atlanta, Ga., and regional offices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Raleigh, Denver, Miami, New York, and Los Angeles, CARROLL focuses on multifamily communities, including acquisitions, property and asset management services, ground-up development, and fund management. The Firm has raised more than $4.4 billion of equity through CARROLL-sponsored funds and joint ventures. CARROLL has successfully purchased, developed, or sold more than $20.9 billion in real estate. The Firm manages approximately 30,000 multifamily units across eight states representing $7.1 billion in assets under management and has purchased other multifamily owner/operators throughout the U.S. CARROLL has also developed student housing, single-family residential, and retail communities, and has managed more than $500 million in construction projects throughout the past 10 years. From due diligence to execution, CARROLL has the internal capabilities and the external relationships to identify, underwrite, and close transactions. For more information, visit carrollorg.com. Contact Information: Erinn Larson Marketing Communications Specialist [email protected] Related Images Image 1: Rob Lester Rob Lester This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Rob Lester Rob Lester Source: CARROLL TORONTO, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Celestica Inc. (NYSE, TSX: CLS), a leader in design, manufacturing and supply chain solutions for the world's most innovative companies, today announced that the Annual Meeting of its Shareholders (the Meeting) will be held on Thursday, April 27, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. EDT in a virtual format. Celestica also announced that it has set Friday, March 10, 2023 as the record date for determining shareholders of the company who are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting. Celestica will be using the notice-and-access method for delivering the companys proxy statement and related materials to shareholders eligible to participate at the Meeting. Shareholders should expect to receive a notice-and-access document in late March. The notice-and-access document will describe the various ways in which shareholders can obtain a copy of the companys proxy materials. The companys proxy statement will also be available on the companys website at www.celestica.com/shareholder-documents and on the companys profiles on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov. The platform for the Meeting will provide shareholders the ability to listen to the Meeting live, submit questions and submit their vote during the Meeting. About CelesticaCelestica enables the world's best brands. Through our recognized customer-centric approach, we partner with leading companies in Aerospace and Defense, Communications, Enterprise, HealthTech, Industrial and Capital Equipment to deliver solutions for their most complex challenges. As a leader in design, manufacturing, hardware platform and supply chain solutions, Celestica brings global expertise and insight at every stage of product development - from the drawing board to full-scale production and after-market services. With talented teams across North America, Europe and Asia, we imagine, develop and deliver a better future with our customers. For further information on Celestica, visit www.celestica.com. Our securities filings can be accessed at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov. Source: Celestica International LP SPOKANE, Wash., Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coffman Engineers, Inc. (Coffman), a multidiscipline consulting engineering firm, appointed Spokane Principal and civil engineer Chad Heimbigner, PE, as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Heimbigner will provide executive guidance to Coffman's business groups, including Human Resources, Marketing, Information Technology, and Business Systems. The new COO role at Coffman addresses the need to provide adequate support for the firm's operations as the company continues to grow. Prior to establishing the COO role, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board Dave Ruff, PE, provided guidance to the business groups. Continued company growth prompted the development of a plan for executive support. "As Coffman continues to expand, the Board developed a plan to right-size our leadership team to support future growth. The addition of a new COO is part of this plan," explained Ruff. Since joining Coffman in 2009, Heimbigner's involvement in various business areas has made him well suited to step into this new role. He currently provides principal leadership for the Spokane office and civil engineering group, and the Northwest Region marketing team. He also serves on the Board of Directors and several corporate committees, including involvement with developing Coffman's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. "I have no doubt that Chad will hit the ground running and provide great support and strategic decision-making to these groups with his servant leadership style," said Ruff. Heimbigner assumed the new position at the beginning of January. "I'm excited to have the opportunity with my role of COO to positively influence our company with continued organizational growth to benefit our people and our clients. I look forward to supporting Coffman's business groups while still providing leadership in the Spokane office and working with our valued clients," shared Heimbigner. For more information, visit https://www.coffman.com/news/chad-heimbigner-promoted-to-chief-operating-officer/. About Coffman Engineers Coffman Engineers is a multidiscipline engineering consulting firm that integrates many disciplines, including civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, fire protection, and other specialties, to offer clients local, high-touch services. Coffman has 695 employees in 20 offices across the U.S. committed to the team effort it takes to build a better world. Visit coffman.com or connect with us on social media. Contact Information: Skip Bourgeois Vice President, Marketing [email protected] 907.276.6664 Related Files Coffman Engineers Appoints New COO_FINAL.pdf Related Images Image 1: Chad Heimbigner Coffman Engineers appointed Chad Heimbigner as first COO. This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Chad Heimbigner Chad Heimbigner Source: Coffman Engineers, Inc. EFECTE PLC -- COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT -- 26 January 2023 at 11:00 Efecte Plc is planning to launch an employee share savings plan The Board of Directors of Efecte Plc is planning to launch an Employee Share Savings Plan (ESSP). The intention is to offer the plan to the employees of Efecte Group in all countries where there are no legal, administrative or tax-related obstacles to running the program. The objective of the Employee Share Savings Plan is to offer the employees of Efecte Group an opportunity to invest up-to 8% of their regular salary in Efecte shares. The planned ESSP would consist of annually commencing plan periods which each consist of a savings period and a holding period following the savings period. The ESSP is offered to all Efecte employees. As a reward for the commitment, Efecte would grant the participating employees a gross award of one matching share for each share acquired with their savings. The maximum number of shares issued by Efecte for each plan period would be limited to approximately 1% of total number of shares in Efecte. The final terms of the Employee Share Savings Plan are subject to Board approval. By encouraging the employees to purchase and own the companys shares the company aims to strengthen the connection of interests between the employees and the shareholders, and to increase the employees motivation and commitment to the company. The Board considers that the plan would have a positive effect on the development of the Company in the future and the plan would be in line with the interests of both the employees and the shareholders. The Boards intention is that the Employee Share Savings Plan will be launched in first half of 2023. Further inquiries: Taru Makinen CFO Efecte Plc [email protected] +358 40 507 1085 Certified Adviser: Evli Plc, tel +358 40 579 6210 Efecte Plc Efecte helps people digitalize and automate their work. Customers across Europe leverage our cloud service to operate with greater agility, to improve the experience of end-users, and to save costs. The use cases for our solutions range from IT service management and ticketing to improving employee experiences, business workflows, and customer service. We are the European Alternative to the global goliaths in our space. Our headquarters is located in Finland and we have regional hubs in Germany, Sweden and Poland. Efecte is listed on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market Finland marketplace. TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Legit Security, a cyber security company with an enterprise platform that protects an organization's software supply chain from attack and ensures secure application delivery, today announced that Legitify, the open-source security tool that it maintains in addition to its enterprise SaaS platform, has expanded support to include GitHub Enterprise Server and GitLab. Now security and software development teams can easily detect and remediate insecure configurations and vulnerabilities in these popular source-code management (SCM) systems in addition to GitHub.com. To download Legitify, please visit the Legit Security website. Legitify is a source-code management (SCM) misconfiguration scanner that helps Security, DevOps and Development teams manage and enforce SCM configurations in a secure and scalable way. Legitify was developed to provide the open-source community with a security tool to prevent a very common source of software supply chain attacks by detecting and remediating vulnerabilities that originate in SCM misconfigurations. After Legitifys initial release in 2022, multiple requests were received by Legit Security to expand Legitifys support to additional popular SCM products used by enterprise organizations. GitHub Enterprise Server and GitLab Server are two of the most popular on-premise SCM systems used globally today. Insecure configurations in these SCM systems and others have opened the door to multiple cyberattacks, data breaches, and exploits that have made headline news. Legitify is designed to identify and address insecure SCM configurations in real-time, ensuring that both cloud and on-premise SCM implementations are secure and compliant. Legitify can also be scheduled to run periodically to validate secure configurations continuously. In addition to broader SCM support, Legitifys latest release also includes other new features including: Dozens of new SCM security policies that have been added, including a new security policy category called Runner Groups, that can detect misconfigurations in GitHubs runner groups. You can browse all of Legitifys security policies at legitify.dev. A new GitHub action that can be used to run Legitify as part of the organizations CI/CD pipeline, allowing users to gain continuous protection and receive immediate alerts when a new misconfiguration is detected. To enhance the software supply chain security of Legitify's users, every Legitify release now contains a SLSA Level 3 Provenance attestation that can be used to verify the authenticity of the tool. We encounter security incidents on a weekly basis with prospective customers that involve pipeline manipulation, code theft and sensitive data exposure many of which result from bad SCM configurations, said Liav Caspi, CTO and co-founder of Legit Security. We see a huge demand for an open-source tool like Legitify to quickly verify the secure configuration of SCM resources. Our mission with Legitify is to provide an extremely useful open-source security tool to complement our more capable and commercially available Legit Security Platform. We plan to have many more exciting capabilities released in Legitify over time. Legitifys capabilities represent a subset of the broader security capabilities available on the enterprise-grade Legit Security Platform. The Legit Security Platform goes well beyond SCM misconfigurations by securing entire software supply chain environments inclusive of other development assets, build servers, artifact registries, code-to-cloud development pipelines and more. Additional information on the Legit Security Platform can be found on the companys website: https://www.legitsecurity.com. Legit Security Legit Security protects an organization's software supply chain from attack and ensures secure application delivery, governance and risk management from code to cloud. The platforms unified application security control plane and automated SDLC discovery and analysis capabilities provide visibility and security control over rapidly changing environments, and allow security issues to be prioritized based on context and business criticality to improve security team efficiency and effectiveness. Media Contact Tony Keller [email protected] Source: Legit Security SAN MARCOS, Calif., Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- January 2023 marks the 25th anniversary of MCP Computer Products Inc., a growing certified Woman-Owned Small Business. MCP was established in 1998 in San Marcos, CA, and started off as a mom-and-pop memory business. MCP was able to grow by engaging with local San Diego small business organizations and attending multiple small business workshops. This resulted in a large government contractor awarding MCP Small Business of the year in 1999. Over the next 20 years as a small business, MCP's knowledge of government purchasing evolved to winning several multi-year contracts, including SEWP, GSA GSS, and FSII, with significant awards under all. By 2020, MCP was awarded SBA Small Business Graduate of the Year. "We believe small business plays an integral part in helping the Government save money on IT purchases and distribution," said MCP CEO Rikki Ghai. "As we celebrate our 25th anniversary this year, we are honored to play our part in supplying our Defense and Civilian agencies that power our country." Today, MCP has transformed into providing multiple solutions to the federal government, including end-to-end IT solutions, advising Government agencies on multi-year acquisitions, and much more while maximizing government savings. In addition, MCP is going on its 6th year as the single awardee of the competitive DELL BPA process by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for Dell products for five years with all options exercised. The MCP (Dell) GSA GSS BPA provides a pre-competed, easy-to-use vehicle open to all federal agencies, and state and local governments with the current GSS V8 technical specifications. About MCP Computer Products Inc. MCP GOV: As a woman-owned business, MCP provides IT solutions, hardware, software and services to the U.S. federal government, as well as large federal systems integrators that support the federal government. MCP provides end-to-end solutions and services that go above and beyond what our customers' expectations require. MCP believes that through our strategic enterprise partnerships, we can promote change that will simultaneously assist agencies with information technology and set-aside goals. Visit http://www.mcpgov.com Visit https://www.gsaadvantage.gov (GSA Advantage Select) Contact Information: Michael Buchko VP of Sales & Marketing [email protected] 800-255-8607 Related Images Image 1 This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment AMSTERDAM, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NEQSOL Holding announces that the Board of Directors of Vodafone Ukraine has elected Vasyl Latsanych as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Latsanych has diverse international leadership experience in the telecommunications sector and his appointment reinforces holding's business in Ukraine. He becomes the first Ukrainian to hold the top position at the supreme governing body of an international joint stock company in Ukrainian telecom market. New appointment reflects NEQSOL Holding's strategy to accelerate growth of the existing assets by engagement of top-level experts in their industries. Yusif Jabbarov who previously held this position will support Latsanych in his new role. Mr. Jabbarov as a global CEO of NEQSOL Holding will further focus on the holding's international development strategy. Yusif Jabbarov, CEO of NEQSOL Holding: "The challenges we faced in 2022, on the one hand, have become a kind of test for our business sustainability. On the other hand, they open up opportunities that we might not have even seen before. I am confident that professionalism and deep understanding of the market will help Vasyl recognize these opportunities and realize their potential for the holding's telecom business in Ukraine. NEQSOL Holding, as a strategic investor, will continue to support Vodafone Ukraine in its development". Vasyl Latsanych, Head of Telecom of NEQSOL Holding, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vodafone Ukraine: "Being a 'tech guy' I realize how essential digital technologies are for development. Ukrainians are very demanding customers, progressive in terms of using new technologies and are accustomed to receiving the highest quality service. As one of the most technologically advanced companies, Vodafone Ukraine is constantly developing and applying new solutions and technologies. As a Chairman of the Board of Directors, I plan to put even more emphasis on developing digital services and creating the best offer for our customers, ensuring the strategic sustainability of the company." Since 2021 Vasyl Latsanych is the Head of Telecom at NEQSOL Holding, responsible for strategic management and development of telecom assets, and expansion to new markets. Prior to joining NEQSOL Holding Latsanych held senior leadership positions in global telecom businesses. He was a Board Member of a number of international companies operating in finance, telco, IT, medicine, and other industries. He holds an Executive MBA degree from London Business School. About NEQSOL Holding NEQSOL Holding is a diversified group of companies operating across the energy, telecommunications, hi-tech, and construction industries in nine countries. The Holding brings together over 30 subsidiary companies, many of which are market leaders with over two decades experience in their respective fields. To learn more, visit neqsolholding.com Contact Information: Yevgeniya Denysyeva PR Director [email protected] +994 12 3104004 Related Images Image 1: Vasyl Latsanych This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Vasyl Latsanych Vasyl Latsanych Source: NEQSOL Holding Report recommends real consultation with commercial fishing organizations and real balance on fishery and Reconciliation policies to avoid a future crisis. SHEDIAC, New Brunswick, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The new Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI) Report: Fishing for Answers, How an East Coast Resurgence could navigate through rough seas by Ken Coates puts a spotlight on risks and opportunities for coastal communities. A number of observations and recommendations suggest the Government of Canada needs to change direction. The federal government strategy of targeting the commercial fishery to bear the burden of Reconciliation is fundamentally wrong. We need to be at the table together with Indigenous leaders and the government having direct discussions. We must have real consultation and bring everyone to the same table to avoid a future crisis, according to Gordon Beaton, President of the Nova Scotia Fleet Planning Board. The MLI report states that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans must expand its consultations and engagement with the non-Indigenous fishing community if it hopes to find truly collaborative and durable solutions. Indigenous peoples, commercial fishing organizations and the government must be brought directly to the table to find solutions that maintain a sustainable fishery. The MLI report rightly points out that the unbalanced approach to the fisheries by the federal government has the potential for greater economic risk for coastal communities in the future and sustainability of the stocks. We agree with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute report. We must balance a sustainable commercial fishery with Reconciliation. Currently the government favours Reconciliation over evidence-based conservation and enforcement of the rules by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, said ONeil Cloutier of the Regroupement des pecheurs professionnels de sud de le Gaspesie in Quebec . The current government approach imposes the burden of its national responsibilities on the most important industry on the East Coast and puts coastal communities that fish harvesters work hard to support at risk, said Bobby Jenkins, President of the Prince Edward Island Fishermens Association. The Government of Canada, in the opinion of the Coalition, has placed a greater importance on Reconciliation rather than the sustainability of fisheries for all over the wellbeing of the fishery and all coastal communities. These priorities must be balanced. The Coalition of Atlantic and Quebec Fishing Organizations believes in one fishery with a common set of evidenced-based conservation and management measures set and enforced by the Government of Canada and which apply to everyone. The Crown must step up, change direction, and protect the broader public interest. The Crown is responsible for protecting the public interest. The current approach by the Government of Canada is not balanced. It is wrong for one sector to bear the burden of what is a national responsibility, according to Rejean Comeau, President of the Maritime Fishermens Union. For more information on the activities of the Coalition visit www.1fishery.ca. COALITION OF ATLANTIC AND QUEBEC FISHING ORGANIZATIONS We are a movement of commercial fishers committed to a sustainable healthy fishery and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. Gulf Nova Scotia Fleet Planning Board (GNSFPB) Maritime Fishermens Union (MFU) PEI Fishermens Association (PEIFA) Regroupement des pecheurs professionnels du sud de la Gaspesie (RPPSG) MEDIA Coordination: Pascale Paulin[email protected] +1 (506) 532-2485 Source: Coalition of Atlantic and Quebec Fishing Organizations SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Meltwater, a global leader in social and media intelligence, and We Are Social, the socially-led creative agency, have released Digital 2023, their latest annual report on social media and digital trends worldwide. Digital 2023 shows that the typical internet user globally has reduced their average daily internet use by 20 minutes over the past twelve months to 6 hours 37 minutes, equating to a year-on-year reduction of almost 5 percent. However, time spent on social platforms has increased to more than 2 hours per day 40 minutes more than time spent watching broadcast and cable TV. Analysis of the data suggests that people are looking for more purposeful internet use, with a focus on quality over quantity. The daily usage rate is a return to 2019 levels, before the COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on the worlds digital behaviours. The 465 page report also shows that social platforms are claiming an ever greater share of the worlds search activity. 16- to 34-year-olds are now more likely to visit a social network when looking for information about brands than they are to use a search engine (48 percent vs. 45 percent), and half of the worlds social media users say that they actively visit social platforms to learn more about brands and see their content. While the rise of TikTok search has already caught the attention of the media, the latest data suggest that Instagram is social media users preferred destination when researching things. The growing importance of social media is reflected in global advertising spend, with investment in social media ads more than doubling since the outbreak of COVID-19, to reach an estimated US $226 billion in 2022. Additional headlines in Digital 2023, which looks at social media, internet, mobile and ecommerce trends globally, include: There are 5.16 billion internet users in the world today, and 4.76 billion social media users. Average daily mobile time has increased by seven minutes per day over the past year, and the typical Android user now spends more than five hours per day using their smartphone, however: Computers still account for more than half of the time that people in North America and Europe spend using the internet. Ownership of cryptocurrencies is in decline: the share of internet users who own at least one form of digital currency fell by three percent between July and October. TikTok tops the global list of social media platforms when it comes to time spent per user on Android devices, followed by YouTube and Facebook. Alexandra Saab Bjertns, Chief Strategy Officer at Meltwater said: ""Brands that want to be competitive today need to stay ahead of trends, searching for and identifying them, in order to understand their impact on any given industry. Consumers continue to spend more and more time on social media, and its clear that social will play an even more important role in the customer journey as users turn to platforms like TikTok and Instagram to guide their decision-making process. With more than 5 billion internet users today, its becoming more crucial than ever that brands deliver relevant, impactful, and purposeful content to capture attention and create value across digital channels." Nathan McDonald, Group CEO and co-founder at We Are Social commented: "Social media's influence on how we live our lives continues to grow. From shopping to connecting, entertaining to searching, it's inextricably linked to our habits both on and offline. It's interesting to see internet use becoming more discerning - while being online is still incredibly important in our everyday lives, people rightly want to make sure it's time well spent. Marketers and creators will have to work even harder to attract and retain peoples attention in 2023 - its never been more important to understand online culture in order to reach people in a relevant way." To view and download the report go to: meltwater.com/en/global-digital-trends About Meltwater Meltwater provides social and media intelligence. By examining millions of posts each day from social media platforms, blogs and news sites, Meltwater helps companies make better, more informed decisions based on insight from the outside. The company was founded in Oslo, Norway, in 2001 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with 50 offices across six continents. The company has 2,300 employees and 27,000 corporate customers, including industry leaders in several sectors. Learn more at meltwater.com. About We Are SocialWe are a global socially-led creative agency, with unrivalled social media expertise. With over 1,300 people in 17 offices around the world, we deliver a global perspective to our clients in a time when social media is shaping culture. We make ideas worth talking about. We understand social behaviours within online communities, cultures and subcultures, spanning the social and gaming landscape. We work with the worlds biggest brands, including adidas, Samsung, Netflix and Google, to reach the right people in a strategic, relevant and effective way. We Are Social is part of Plus Company. To learn more, visit www.wearesocial.com For more information, please contact: [email protected] Source: Meltwater Perrysburg, OH, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MAGMA is a revolutionary, flexible, modular glass production system MAGMA complements O-Is heritage production network, set to deliver far-reaching benefits for O-I and its customers Video provides first look at Generation 1 and Generation 2 MAGMA Technology PERRYSBURG, Ohio (January 26, 2023) O-I Glass, Inc. (O-I Glass or O-I) today released a video ( https://youtu.be/jajQKkzcD_I ) offering a first look at existing MAGMA operations as the company prepares for its first, purpose-built MAGMA factory in Bowling Green, KY. The video combines live footage of MAGMA lines with insight as to the transformational nature of the new technology. MAGMA will set new standards in glass manufacturing, allowing us to use renewable sources of energy and more recycled content, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and waste, said Ludovic Valette, O-I VP of Global Technology and Engineering. It provides scalability and rapid deployment, as well as lower capital intensity, mobility, flexibility, and consequently supply chain efficiency. O-I recently announced the construction of a new greenfield glass plant in Bowling Green, KY that will be the first facility purposely built for the revolutionary MAGMA technology. Enabled by advanced technologies and innovative processes, the state-of-the-art site is expected to come on stream mid 2024 and further enhance O-Is customer service, flexibility, and sustainability. ABOUT O-I GLASS As you likely heard by now, a petition is circulating to recall Emily Eckroth from the Bismarck Public School Board. The petition comes after an outcry for Eckroth to resign and a censure from the board after video showed Eckroths behavior during a traffic stop involving her husband. To summarize, Eckroths behavior is blatantly disrespectful to law enforcement and to our community. At around 21:05 of the video, Eckroth appears to say to the officer, God, I hate (expletive) North Dakota. I hate it here. . . . Im so disgusted with this (expletive) state and your city. At around 25:15, she appears to tell the officer youre so (expletive) stupid. There are other parts of the video where Eckroth can be heard calling the officers stupid and/or idiots. On top of that, Eckroth urinated in the squad car while she was detained, something that seemed amusing to her based on the tone of her voice. Watch the video and decide for yourself if Eckroth is someone who should be on the Bismarck Public School Board a board with a code of conduct stating members will conduct themselves lawfully with the integrity and high ethical standards in order to model the behaviors expected of staff and students and to build public confidence and credibility. Ive seen commentary on both sides of this situation. On one hand, people are outraged that a member of the school board would act in the way Eckroth did and make statements about hating this city and state. On the other hand, people are saying everyone makes mistakes and referencing other public officials who have remained in office after being arrested. On a base level, I understand the importance of grace and giving apologetic people chances to redeem themselves. We are all human and inevitably make mistakes. Certainly, Eckroth can be forgiven by those in her personal life. However, we would not know of this incident if Eckroth were a private citizen living in this community; we only know of this incident because Eckroth is an elected official. Holding public office comes with a higher standard of conduct. When that standard is jeopardized, the public deserves to know so they can take action. Its the essence of democracy. Eckroth is not the first public official whose behavior has called into question the ability to hold her position, and I doubt she will be the last. In situations like this, we must balance the room for human error with the integrity of public office. In this case, I believe the scales weigh in favor of holding Eckroth accountable. The Recall Sponsoring Committee has until mid-April to collect enough signatures to bring Eckroths seat before voters. To sign the petition, check the Recall Emily Eckroth from the Bismarck School Board Facebook page for updates on locations and times the petition will be circulated. If you cant make it to those events, contact me on social media and Ill gladly coordinate gathering your signature. IRVINE, CALIF., Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Pacific Dental Services (PDS) Foundation is proud to announce that 13 dental assisting (DA) students were awarded a total of $65,000 as the Dr. Carolyn Ghazal Dental Assistant Scholarship recipients for Winter 2022. The virtual awards celebration took place Dec. 17, 2022 and recognized students from nine states across the country. Named after Carolyn Ghazal, DDS, a member of the PDS Foundation Board of Directors, this educational scholarship provides DA students with need-based financial aid, mentorship, on-the-job training, and aims to mold the next generation of passionate, servant-hearted dental leaders. Since the programs inception in 2016, the PDS Foundation has awarded over $1.1 million in scholarships to 190 students pursuing their educational goals within the dental field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of DAs is projected to grow eight percent from 2021 to 2031. However, financial hardship often prevents many students from finishing school. Recognizing the importance of DAs to the future of dentistry, the PDS Foundation created this scholarship to provide students with the financial support they need to complete their education. I am so honored to have my name associated with such a worthwhile endeavor that is investing in the lives, education and futures of DA students throughout the nation, said Dr. Ghazal. My hope is that this financial support can help remove a barrier for students, and the mentorship they receive through the program will allow them the opportunity to pursue a noble career in dental assisting. Winter 2022 Dr. Carolyn Ghazal Dental Assistant Scholarship Recipients: Scholarships are awarded on a quarterly basis to DA students to help cover tuition expenses. The Scholarship Review Committee awards scholarships based on applicants' financial need, heart for service, career aspirations, and other criteria. With 357 applicants in 2022 alone, 57 scholarships were awarded to recipients in 17 states, totaling over $276,000. Michael Le, Executive Director of the PDS Foundation, credits a large part of the success of a dental practice to its DAs. Therefore, through his role, Le seeks to raise the DA profession through support from the PDS Foundation. We are proud to elevate dental assistants all across the country, Le said. We believe that by investing in dental assistants at the educational level and partnering with PDS-supported practices to provide externships and mentoring, we are creating a happy workforce that meets the dental fields current demand. It is through our donors generosity that we can partner with students to invest in the future of the DA profession. To apply for a dental assistant scholarship, please visit pdsfoundation.org/programs/scholarships. The deadline for scholarships awarded in March is Feb. 1, 2023. Pacific Dental Services Foundation 2022 Year in Review In the last year, the PDS Foundation achieved several milestones thanks to the support of its donors, partners and friends. Highlights from the PDS Foundations list of successes in 2022 include: International Service The PDS Foundation Clinica Dental in Xenacoj, Guatemala served over 1,200 patients and provided $800,000 in donated dental care throughout the year. Completed three volunteer trips to Guatemala to provide free dental care and other support to residents, impacting over 1,800 lives and exceeding $540,000 in donated dentistry Dentistry for Those with Special Needs PDS Foundation Dentists for Special Needs office in Phoenix, Ariz. had 5,530 patient visits, including 550 new patients, in 2022 a 62% increase over the prior year. Partnered with Smile Generation to raise over $573,000 to increase access to dental care for patients with special needs and to provide specialized training for clinicians focused on special needs dentistry. The 60-day Smile for Special Needs campaign ran from Sept. 1 to Oct. 31. In total, over 8,000 donors contributed to the campaign to raise over $370,000. The week-long Stroll for Special Needs 5K event brought supporters together in different communities across the nation to stroll, run, walk, or roll to raise funds for the cause. Over 1,000 participants in 27 states joined the efforts and strolled a combined total of over 3,000 miles to raise more than $203,000. Hosted residency programs to help train dental students and dental hygiene students in special needs dentistry. Looking Ahead Looking forward to 2023, the PDS Foundation seeks to impact overall health by improving oral health through service opportunities locally, nationally and around the world. Click here to learn more about the PDS Foundation and make a tax-deductible gift today. ### About Pacific Dental Services Foundation The Pacific Dental Services Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to improve overall health by improving oral health, through opportunities to serve locally, nationally, and internationally. With that in mind, the PDS Foundation provides tools and resources to help build a lasting and sustainable impact on the communities we serve as well as on the volunteers who freely give their time. The vision of the PDS Foundation is a world where everyone has a heart to serve and a home for oral health. Through its three main programs: special needs dentistry, dental assistant scholarships and international service trips, the PDS Foundation has been able to increase access to oral healthcare for communities across the globe. For more information, visit pdsfoundation.org or follow us on Facebook: @pdsfoundation, Instagram: @pdsfoundation, Twitter: @pdsfoundation,YouTube: @pdsfoundation. Source: Pacific Dental Services Foundation NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With lead litigator Richard Jaffe, Esq., Physicians for Informed Consent (PIC), a nonprofit educational organization, succeeded this week in blocking the enforcement of AB 2098/Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 2270 (2:22-cv-01980-WBS-AC). The doctor-censorship law targeted supposed COVID-19 "misinformation" spoken to patients. The judge criticized the new law for its vagueness and granted the multiple plaintiffs' requests for preliminary injunction, thereby protecting all PIC members from enforcement of AB 2098at least until the case, Hoang et al. v. Bonta, is finally decided. Senior Judge William B. Shubb of the Eastern District of California Court in Sacramento, in his preliminary injunction order, thoroughly dissected the meaning of AB 2098's definition of "misinformation" ("false information that is contradicted by contemporary scientific consensus contrary to the standard of care") and determined that it caused the statute to be "unconstitutionally vague." He wrote: "Put simply, this provision is grammatically incoherent." "The statute provides no means of understanding to what 'scientific consensus' refers." "By its very nature, the standard of care applies to care, not information." "The statute improperly conflates 'information' with 'advice' or 'treatment.'" "More importantly, defendants' interpretation does nothing to address the chilling effect caused by the statute's unclear phrasing and structure." "...drawing a line between what is true and what is settled by scientific consensus is difficult, if not impossible." "...because COVID-19 is such a new and evolving area of scientific study, it may be hard to determine which scientific conclusions are 'false' at a given point in time." Judge Shubb favorably referenced cardiologist, PIC member, and expert witness Dr. Sanjay Verma's declaration frequently in his preliminary injunction order to underscore the vagueness of AB 2098. For example, Judge Shubb wrote, "Dr. Verma cites numerous examples of contrary guidance provided by the CDC on the issues of masking and vaccination." Dr. Shira Miller, PIC founder and president, was present at the hearing. After reading the Court's order, Dr. Miller shared her optimism: "We are grateful for the Court's decision and hopeful that soon all California physicians will be able to stop self-censoring and be able to communicate openly and honestly with their patients." The court has not ruled yet on the merits of PIC's first amendment arguments, and until the case is decided only PIC members and Children's Health Defense, California Chapter, members are protected by the preliminary injunction, as well as the physicians in the related Heg et al. v. Newsom lawsuit, as the Court expressly stated, "Pending final resolution of this action, defendants, their agents and employees, all persons or entities in privity with them, and anyone acting in concert with them are hereby ENJOINED from enforcing Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 2270 as against plaintiffs, plaintiffs' members, and all persons represented by plaintiffs." Physicians for Informed Consent is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit educational organization supported only by the generous contributions of our members and supporters. Click here to join today. ### Contact Information: Greg Glaser General Counsel [email protected] 925-642-6651 Related Images Image 1 Lead attorney Rick Jaffe, Esq., outside Robert T. Matsui Federal Courthouse in Sacramento, CA, after AB 2098 preliminary injunction hearing on Jan. 23, 2023. This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Featured Image for Physicians for Informed Consent Featured Image for Physicians for Informed Consent Source: Physicians for Informed Consent Lindon, Utah, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Renewable Innovations (RI) (OTC: REII), a leader in the zero-carbon, green solutions alternative fuel industry, announced today that on January 20, 2023 the company was featured in a lengthy MotorTrend article titled This Solar Power Station Kept the EVs Juiced at Performance Vehicle of the Year. The companys 53-foot long solar-powered EV charging station, the Mobile Energy Command (or MEC-S) helped power the six EVs evaluated at MotorTrends 2023 Performance Vehicle of the Year. Renewable innovations powered the cars with a self-contained portable unit that can be trucked in and set up within a matter of hours to provide electricity for the likes of music festivals, data centers, military outposts or virtually any temporary location. There is also a 220-kilowatt-hour battery for storing excess energy and providing power when the sun isn't shining. The modular and scalable zero-carbon power systems can operate in remote locations that are entirely off grid. As the article suggests, the companys core business is built around its successful hydrogen technology although it possesses powerful products across the renewable energy spectrum. Renewable Innovations MEC-H2EV packs hydrogen fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, and DC fast chargers into a semi-trailer that delivers far more power than the MEC-S. As stated in the MotorTrend article GM is also a customer of Renewable Innovations. The MEC-H2EV delivers EV charging with its mobile, rapid power generation capability anytime, anywhere. Fast EV charging is just one part of the Renewable Innovations product portfolio. Today during peak demand times electricity requirements are higher than the grids capacity to provide. When demand is greater than supply this creates a shortfall, an incapacity, or a grid gap. The global need for clean, sustainable energy will lead to situations where Renewable Innovations will be at the forefront of meeting these power demands. The alternative is massively expensive, nearly non-fundable upgrades to the current electrical infrastructure. To view the article, please visit https://www.motortrend.com/news/renewable-innovations-solar-ev-charger-performance-vehicle-of-the-year/ About Renewable Innovations Renewable Innovations is accelerating the growth and opportunities within the renewable economy. Their team of industry leaders brings extensive experience and invaluable connections across the Renewable, Hydrogen, and Alternative Energy sectors. Along with their partners, investors, and clients, they are making major technological advancements with products and solutions to lead the world into a new and exciting carbon-free future. Learn more at Renewable-Innovations.com. Forward Looking Statement This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words like plans, expects, will, anticipates, believes, intends, projects, targets, estimates or other words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events which may not be accurate or realized, and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Renewable Innovations control, including but not limited to regulatory approvals and market conditions. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is included in Renewable Innovations filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Renewable Innovations disclaims and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable law. Brokers and AnalystsChesapeake Group410-825-3930[email protected] Lynn BarneyChief Financial Officer[email protected] Source: Renewable Innovations Inc. Philadelphia, PA, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 2023 John von Neumann Prize the highest honor and flagship lecture of Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) is awarded to Yousef Saad, University of Minnesota, in recognition of his fundamental contributions to scientific computing. The talk is happening Tuesday, August 22 at the International Council for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (ICIAM) Congress. Saads work on algorithms is especially impactful to the fields of sparse linear systems, eigenvalue problems, nonlinear equations, graph algorithms, and can be applied to a wide range of problems in computational science and engineering including quantum chemistry, material science, and data science. Additionally, his two books, Iterative Methods for Sparse Linear Systems and Numerical Methods for Large Eigenvalue Problems, have been highly influential on researchers and practitioners alike, and remain models of expository writing in these important areas of applied mathematics. SIAM awards the John von Neumann Prize annually to an individual for outstanding and distinguished contributions to the field of applied mathematics and for the effective communication of these ideas to the community. It is one of SIAMs most distinguished prizes. My students, post-docs, and collaborators contributed immensely to my research and made this four-decade journey an exciting one. I am indebted to them and to many others whose support made this work possible," said Saad. Saad earned his bachelors degree in mathematics at the University of Algiers in 1970. He went on to obtain a Ph.D. from the University of Grenoble in 1974, and a second doctorate in 1983. He was a senior computer scientist at the Center for Supercomputing Research and Development and an associate professor in the mathematics department of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 1986-1988. That same year, he moved to the Research Institute for Advanced Computer Science as a senior scientist, until 1990, when he became a professor in the computer science and engineering department of the University of Minnesota. Saad continues to teach as a Computer Science and Engineering Distinguished Professor and held the William Norris Land Grant Chair in Large-Scale Computing from 2006 to 2022. His research concentrates on iterative methods for solving large sparse linear systems and eigenvalue problems, sparse matrix computations, parallel algorithms in numerical algebra, numerical algorithms for materials science, and matrix methods for information sciences. My work started with the exploration of iterative methods in numerical linear algebra in the early 1980s. These methods and their parallel versions became mandatory when solving difficult problems in science and engineering, and so naturally, they gained enormous popularity in a wide range of disciplines, whether in computational fluid dynamics or in electronic structure calculations, Saad said. Saad has been an active member of SIAM for 41 years, including being named a SIAM Fellow (2010), and serving as an associate editor for the SIAM Journal on Numerical Analysis (1985-1993) and the SIAM Journal on Matrix Analysis (2008-2010). He also is an associate editor for Electronic Transactions of Numerical Analysis (2001-present), a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2010), the recipient of numerous NSF research grants, and has organized several conferences and workshops. This prize was established in 1959 to honor John von Neumann, a Hungarian American mathematician, physicist, and computer scientist, whose seminal work helped lead to the founding of modern computing. Learn more about SIAMs John von Neumann Prize. Saad will be awarded the John von Neumann Prize and deliver the associated lecture at the 2023 ICIAM Congress, which will be held August 20 25, 2023, in Tokyo, Japan. The talk is happening August 22 at 7:30 p.m. Japan Standard Time (subject to change). Register for ICIAM 2023 to attend. About SIAMSociety for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM), headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is an international society of more than 14,500 individual, academic, and corporate members from more than 100 countries. SIAM helps build cooperation between mathematics and the worlds of science and technology to solve real-world problems through publications, conferences, and communities like chapters, sections and activity groups. Learn more at siam.org. Attachment Becky Kerner Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics 267-992-8681 [email protected] Source: Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics FILE PHOTO: An Amgen sign is seen at the company's office in South San Francisco, California October 21, 2013. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Sen. Elizabeth Warren, an outspoken critic of corporate consolidation, wrote to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to express concern about two pending pharmaceutical deals. In a letter dated Wednesday, Warren said that she was focused on Amgen's plan to buy Horizon Therapeutics, and addiction specialist Indivior's plan to buy Opiant for $145 million, which was announced in mid-November. "Given these companies' records of anti-competitive business practices, these acquisitions could cause further price increases on lifesaving drugs and prevent affordable alternatives from entering the market," she wrote in the letter to FTC Chair Lina Khan as well as Commissioners Rebecca Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya, all of whom are Democrats. Horizon Therapeutics closed down about 1.5% on Thursday while Opiant shed nearly 2%. Amgen closed down less than 1% on Thursday. The agency shares the job of assessing mergers to ensure they comply with antitrust law with the Justice Department. It can sue to block planned acquisitions that it believes are illegal. Warren said that both Amgen and Horizon Therapeutics "have engaged in brazen price increases," including on Amgen's Enbrel for arthritis and Horizons Krystexxa, a gout medication. Amgen said it disagreed with Warren's analysis of the deal. "We have been working cooperatively with the Federal Trade Commission and remain confident there are no anti-competitive aspects of this transaction," the company said in a statement. Warren noted that the FTC had settled with Indivior and its former parent over its attempt to protect its monopoly of the opioid addiction treatment Suboxone. Indivior makes Sublocade -- a slow-release treatment for opioid addiction that is administered monthly. Suboxone is given daily and also prevents an accidental overdose. Opiant, original owner of opioid overdose remedy Narcan, is working on getting approval for a nasal spray version of nalmefene, believed to be a more effective opioid antagonist. "The FTC should strongly consider Indivior's history of anti-competitive and deceptive practices when evaluating how Indivior might behave after this potential transaction is completed," wrote Warren. Indivior said in its comment that nalmefene would be an "important additional option" to help people who have overdosed on an opioid but did not address Warren's concerns. Warren noted that the FTC, which has long focused on healthcare mergers, said in 2021 that it would prioritize pharmaceutical acquisitions. She also asked the agency how it factored into its merger reviews efforts by the companies to extend patent protections, using strategies that are sometimes controversial. (Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and David Gregorio) FILE PHOTO: Microsoft logo is seen on a smartphone placed on displayed Activision Blizzard logo in this illustration taken January 18, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Sony's gaming chief Jim Ryan met EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager on Wednesday to discuss Microsoft's $69 billion bid for "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard, a person familiar with the matter said on Thursday. The meeting came as the EU competition watchdog prepares to warn Microsoft this week about the potential anti-competitive effects of the U.S. software giant and Xbox maker's acquisition in the biggest gaming industry deal in history. Microsoft is looking to Activision to help it compete better with leaders Tencent and Sony. The latter has criticised the deal and even called for a regulatory veto. The person declined to provide details of the discussion between Ryan and Vestager. The European Commission, which is scheduled to rule on the deal by April 11, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has sued to block the deal while UK regulators have also expressed concerns. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Kirsten Donovan) KoinCart is a first-to-market platform that helps small businesses sell products & accept Crypto as payment quickly and simply. Dubai, United Arab Emirates--(Newsfile Corp. - January 26, 2023) - KoinCart, created by an exceptional serial entrepreneur Abhi Dwivedi, has recently been introduced to businesses as a cloud-based app that allows SMEs to accept cryptocurrency for their products and services payment quickly. This revolutionary new agency tool can easily integrate with merchants' online stores to let them seamlessly accept cryptocurrency worldwide. Abhi Dwivedi Introduces KoinCart - The Only Up-to-date Software Allowing Businesses to Sell Product With Crypto To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/152570_180d1976a42468c7_001full.jpg An e-commerce business must know that typical payment systems do not support cryptocurrencies if they wish to accept them. As a result, all cryptocurrency payments must be converted back into fiat money, which entails significant costs and exchange rate losses. Additionally, the lack of readily accessible crypto payment methods can make it seem difficult. With its free and simple-to-integrate crypto payment gateway, KoinCart is changing this and making accepting crypto payments as simple as accepting credit card payments. The adoption of cryptocurrencies is exploding faster than that of the internet. Due to their revolutionary potential, cryptocurrencies are attracting the attention of small enterprises. The only platform that enables companies anywhere to take cryptocurrencies as payment quickly and easily generates web3 sites, and automatically delivers digital or real goods after checkout is called Koincart. Abhi Dwivedi, the founder, and CEO of VineaSX, a SAAS, and technology company based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates has long foreseen the trend and created the innovative KoinCart. Koincart helps small businesses finally accept cryptocurrency as payment for products & services hassle-free, allowing them to receive international payments fast and easily, reaching millions of potential customers. KoinCart is the best crypto payment gateway to simplify SMEs' transactions while providing excellent customer service. It provides Revolutionary CryptoCurrency Payments Tech which allows businesses anywhere to start accepting cryptocurrency as payment in just a click; AutoDelivery & Membership Set-up, as well as some other interesting features like DFY 'Web3-Style' Templates that create site & product order pages for small businesses in popular niches that want crypto payments. For more information, please visit: www.KoinCart.io More about Abhi Dwivedi and his work can be found at http://www.abhidwivedi.com/ Follow Abhi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abhi.dw/ Connect with Abhi on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhidwivedi/ About KoinCart VineaSX is the tech company that owns the IP of KoinCart and ReelApps. KoinCart is a payment processor and shopping cart system that lets anyone sell products or services online and offline by accepting crypto as payment. It is created to help businesses customize and install a crypto payments widget to start accepting cryptocurrency as payment easily with a tap. It's the first app that creates gorgeous sales sites with templates and auto-delivers products and memberships after a crypto purchase. ReelApps is an umbrella brand of 15+ video marketing and video creation SaaS helping SME and digital marketers leverage videos easily in their business. Contact Info: Name: Abhi Dwivedi Email: [email protected] Organization: KoinCart Website: http://www.KoinCart.io To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/152570 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 26, 2023) - Bravada Gold Corporation(TSXV: BVA) (FSE: BRTN) (OTCQB: BGAVF) (the "Company" or "Bravada") announces that the following incumbent directors were re-elected at the Company's annual general meeting held on January 26, 2023: Joseph A. Kizis, Jr., Lawrence Page, K.C., Michael Rowley, G. Ross McDonald, John Kerr and Nigel Bunting. In addition, the shareholders re-appointed Smythe LLP, Chartered Accountants as auditors of Bravada and approved the Company's rolling incentive stock option plan pursuant to which a maximum of 10% of the issued shares will be reserved for issuance under the plan. The plan is subject to TSX Venture Exchange acceptance. At the annual general meeting, shareholders also resolved to adopt a Shareholder Rights Plan to ensure the fair treatment of all Bravada shareholders in the event of an unsolicited take-over bid for the outstanding common shares of the Company. In the event that a take-over bid should occur, the Shareholder Rights Plan provides a mechanism to ensure that shareholders have adequate time to properly evaluate and assess it without facing undue pressure or coercion. The Shareholder Rights Plan also provides the board of directors with additional time to consider any take-over bid and, if applicable, to explore alternative transactions in order to maximize shareholder value. Accordingly, the Shareholder Rights Plan is not designed to prevent take-over bids that treat the Company's shareholders fairly. A copy of the Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement will be available under Bravada's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Reference should be made to the full text of the plan for the details of its provisions. The Shareholder Rights Plan has received TSX Venture Exchange acceptance. The following officers were re-appointed subsequent to the annual general meeting: Joseph A. Kizis, Jr. as President, Lawrence Page, K.C. as Chairman, Graham Thatcher as Chief Financial Officer and Arie Page as Corporate Secretary. About Bravada Bravada is an exploration company with a portfolio of high-quality properties in Nevada, one of the best mining jurisdictions in the world. Bravada has successfully identified and advanced properties with the potential to host high-margin deposits while successfully attracting partners to fund later stages of project development. Bravada's value is underpinned by a substantial gold and silver resource with a positive PEA at Wind Mountain, and the Company has significant upside potential from possible new discoveries at its exploration properties. Since 2005, the Company entered into 32 earn-in joint-venture agreements for its properties with 19 publicly traded companies, as well as a similar number of property-acquisition agreements with private individuals. Bravada currently has 10 projects in its portfolio, consisting of 810 claims for approximately 6,500 ha in the Battle Mountain/Eureka and Walker Lane Trends, two of Nevada's most prolific gold trends. Most of the projects host encouraging drill intercepts of gold and already have drill targets developed. Several videos are available on the Company's website that describe Bravada's major properties, responding to investor's commonly asked questions. Simply click on this link https://bravadagold.com/projects/project-videos/. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Bravada Gold Corporation "Joseph A. Kizis, Jr." Joseph A. Kizis, Jr., Director, President, Bravada Gold Corporation For further information, please visit Bravada Gold Corporation's website at bravadagold.com or contact the Company at 604.684.9384 or 775.746.3780. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. These statements are based on a number of assumptions, including, but not limited to, assumptions regarding general economic conditions, interest rates, commodity markets, regulatory and governmental approvals for the company's projects, and the availability of financing for the company's development projects on reasonable terms. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Bravada Gold Corporation does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/152663 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 26, 2023) - CENTR Brands Corp. (CSE: CNTR) (FSE: 303) (OTCQB: CNTRF) ("CENTR" or the "Company"), one of the fastest-growing premium functional wellness drink brands in North America, today announced the expansion of our online store with the addition of CENTR Enhanced, a refreshing, ZERO calorie, non-CBD functional sparkling water aimed at enhancing gut health and cognitive performance. CENTR Enhanced will be caffeine-free and CENTR Enhanced+, provides 60mg of natural caffeine for added energy and focus (collectively, "CENTR Enhanced"). Drink CENTR Home Page To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6356/152585_cb95065a14ff29e6_001full.jpg Adaptogen and nootropic drinks are quickly becoming a popular trend in the health and wellness industry, as more and more people are looking for natural ways to boost their energy and improve their overall well-being. Many health experts believe that adaptogens can help to balance the body's hormones, improve the immune system, and promote better sleep while nootropics can improve cognitive performance on a variety of tasks, including memory recall, attention, and decision-making. "Adaptogens can be a great way to support the body's natural ability to adapt to stress," says Arjan Chima, CEO of the Company. "Studies conducted by our suppliers have shown they can help improve energy levels, reduce stress, and promote overall well-being." CENTR Enhanced is formulated with health promoting ingredients that have been shown to: Enhance Mood with sustainably farmed, plant-based adaptogens to promote anti-anxiety effects, help increase serotonin, and increase dopamine to boost mood. with sustainably farmed, plant-based adaptogens to promote anti-anxiety effects, help increase serotonin, and increase dopamine to boost mood. Boost Brain Function by promoting enhanced cognition and work performance, elevate mood, reduce irritability, promote sense of calmness, reduce stress and improve quality of sleep. by promoting enhanced cognition and work performance, elevate mood, reduce irritability, promote sense of calmness, reduce stress and improve quality of sleep. Increase Immune Support by promoting nutrient absorption. by promoting nutrient absorption. Reduce Stress with natural non-protein amino acids which promote mental clarity while also reducing stress. with natural non-protein amino acids which promote mental clarity while also reducing stress. Support Memory Recall by supplying nutrition needed for the brain to stay alert and focused while also supporting overall cognitive health. "CENTR Enhanced is the perfect solution for anyone looking to boost their cognitive abilities," said Chima. "Whether you're a student studying for exams, a professional looking to improve your performance at work, or just someone looking to stay sharp, the ingredients inside CENTR Enhanced can help. Our goal is to have consumers incorporate CENTR Enhanced into their daily routine." The ingredients are non-GMO, gluten-free, and vegan. We have also completed third-party testing for purity and potency, ensuring the highest quality product for our customers. CENTR Enhanced responds to the tremendous consumer demand in a global market for functional beverages, which was estimated to be over $140 billion in total sales during 2022 and is estimated to grow to almost $280 billion by 2030.The massive growth is driven by the health-conscious consumers seeking great tasting functional alternatives to sugary drinks and alcohol. Given this massive and growing functional beverage category demand, CENTR will immediately benefit from the hundreds of thousands of retail locations (from small c-stores and filling stations to larger grocery formats) that already have demand for these types of functional beverages in their stores. CENTR Enhanced will initially be available through the Company's DTC e-commerce channel at www.drinkcentr.com while we build distribution within both our existing account footprint and on-board new distributor relationships within independent grocers, health food stores, juice bars and cafes. For more information on how our functional sparkling water, CENTR Enhanced, can benefit your wellness, please visit https://drinkcentr.com About CENTR Brands Corp. CENTR Brands Corp. is one of North America's leading functional wellness beverage companies. The Company develops and markets non-alcoholic, functional beverages and powders for the global market. The Company produces CENTR and CENTR Sugar Free, both sparkling, low calorie CBD beverages; CENTR Instant, a family of on-the-go, adaptogen-based CBD powders; and CENTR Enhanced, a refreshing, ZERO calorie, non-CBD, nootropic and adaptogen sparkling water incorporating a variety of science-backed ingredients. For more information on CENTR Brands visit www.findyourcentr.com or contact us at [email protected]. Be sure to follow us on social media @findyourcentr and @drinkcentr. Consumers that do not yet have a local CENTR Brands retailer can visit our online store at: www.findyourcentr.com On behalf of the Board, CENTR BRANDS CORP. /s/ Arjan Chima Arjan Chima, Chief Executive Officer This press release may contain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements are not comprised of historical facts. Forward- looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the Company's intentions regarding its objectives, goals or future plans and statements, including with respect to the value proposition the Company offers to consumers, the Company's ability to capitalize on global health & wellness trends, its ability to grow revenue opportunities and improve returns to its shareholders, the Company's positioning in the emerging health beverage market and the Company's ability to drive sustainable, industry-leading growth. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/152585 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines--(Newsfile Corp. - January 26, 2023) - ApeX Pro, one of the world's leading crypto derivatives decentralized exchanges (DEX) by trading volume, launched its Referral Program this week, shortly after it unveiled its revenue sharing incentives under a new Staking Program. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8722/152446_7652743874087845_001full.jpg Open to both new and existing users, the Referral Program introduces commission-based cashback in USDC with every qualified referee they have. Users who obtain successful referrals will enjoy 5% commission on their referees' trading fees, while referees who sign up on ApeX Pro with a referral link will see a 3% lifetime trading fee discount on their trades, automatically applied. Additional referral perks have been made available to affiliates and influencers in the community. The more qualified referees a user has, the more income they'll be able to receive with zero effort. Users can immediately begin by referring to the Referral page. Referral commission rewards are tabulated daily and users are free to claim them at any time. ApeX Pro is focused on creating and sustaining a DEX that is made for and accelerated by the ApeX community. Fostering a robust and dynamic ecosystem of like-minded traders and crypto enthusiasts remains the platform's utmost priority, as ApeX Pro works towards the goal of driving a new web3 future that is centered on social trading and SocialFi. About ApeX Pro ApeX Pro is a non-custodial trading platform that delivers limitless cross-margined perpetual contracts to its metacommunity under a new social trading framework. It is primed to deliver limitless access to the perpetual swaps market with its order book model, as it remains committed to the promises of not just speed and efficiency, but also security with transparency on traders' preferred derivatives trading assets. Website | Twitter | Discord | Telegram | Blog Media Contact Company Name: ApeX Pro Contact Person: Flamie Chen Email: [email protected] Website: https://apex.exchange To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/152446 Online university funded over ND Most people in North Dakota know that we have a very worrisome teacher shortage in the state, and that the teaching programs at our universities are working on ways to recruit more future teachers. The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) is also working on this issue. However, recently I was deeply saddened to learn that hundreds of thousands of dollars were awarded to Western Governors University (an online university in Utah) when it could have been awarded to a teaching college within the state of ND. Within the past year, three paraprofessional-to-teacher pathway type programs have been funded by NDDPI, using ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) dollars, ranging from $575,000-$750,000, to assist with the statewide teacher shortage. These programs allow the teacher candidate to remain within their own ND communities working within their assigned schools while completing the requirements to obtain a teaching degree. In late 2022, the NDDPI announced to ND universities that they would be calling for a fourth round of proposals for a secondary education para-to-teacher program in the new year. These universities, which include 11 teacher education programs, were told to wait for more information on when proposals would be accepted. Instead, on Jan. 10, NDDPI, and the ND Governors office, announced they partnered with Western Governors University and had awarded the ESSER dollars to a college outside of North Dakota. It is absurd that both NDDPI and the Governors office didnt even provide an opportunity for our own ND teaching colleges to submit proposals and gave the money to an out of state university instead. Essentially, North Dakota decided to give hundreds of thousands of dollars to an out-of-state university, and now those paras will obtain a teaching degree from the state of Utah, instead of from an in-state university. Julie Reiten, Grand Forks Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 26, 2023) - Equity Metals Corporation(TSXV: EQTY) (OTCQB: EQMEF)(the "Company" or "Equity Metals") announces that the following incumbent directors were re-elected at the Company's annual general meeting held on January 25, 2023: Joseph A. Kizis, Jr., Lawrence Page, K.C., Killian Ruby, Courtney Shearer and John Kerr. In addition, the shareholders re-appointed Davidson & Company LLP, Chartered Accountants, as auditor of Equity Metals and approved the Company's rolling incentive stock option plan pursuant to which a maximum of 10% of the issued shares will be reserved for issuance under the plan. The following officers were re-appointed subsequent to the annual general meeting: Joseph A. Kizis, Jr. as President, Lawrence Page, K.C. as Chairman, Robert Macdonald as Vice President Exploration, Killian Ruby as Chief Financial Officer, and Arie Page as Corporate Secretary. About Silver Queen Project The Silver Queen project is a premier gold-silver property with over 100 years of historical exploration and development and is located adjacent to power, roads and rail with significant mining infrastructure that was developed under previous operators Bradina JV (Bralorne Mines) and Houston Metals Corp. (a Hunt Brothers company). The property contains two historical declines into the No. 3 Vein, camp infrastructure, and a maintained Tailings Facility. The Silver Queen property consists of 45 mineral claims, 17 crown grants, and two surface crown grants totalling 18,852ha with no underlying royalties. Mineralization is hosted by a series of epithermal veins distributed over a 6 sq km area. On December 1, 2022 (NR-12-22), the Company reported an independently estimated, Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") for Silver Queen which increased an earlier MRE, initially reported on July 16th, 2019, by +187% in the Indicated category and by +30% in the Inferred category on a AgEq basis with approximately 74% of the new MRE classified as Indicated Resources. The Company has expended C$6.75 million on exploration of the Silver Queen project since 2019 resulting in a very low discovery cost of $0.15/oz of added AgEq or $11/oz of added AuEq. The MRE remains open for additional delineation west of the Camp Target and within the Sveinson Target. In addition, there are several targets that have only been tested by a few drill holes and remain very attractive areas for new discoveries and MRE increase. For more information on the recent MRE, please refer to the Company's News Release NR-12-22 dated December 1, 2022 and NR-02-23 dated January 16, 2023. About Equity Metals Corporation Equity Metals Corporation is a Manex Resource Group Company. Manex provides exploration, administration, and corporate development services for Equity Metals' two major mineral properties, the Silver Queen Au-Ag-Zn-Cu project, located in central B.C., and the Monument Diamond project, located in Lac De Gras, NWT. The Company owns 100% interest, with no underlying royalty, in the Silver Queen project, located along the Skeena Arch in the Omineca Mining Division, British Columbia. The property hosts high-grade, precious- and base-metal veins related to a buried porphyry system, which has been only partially delineated. The Company also has a controlling JV interest in the Monument Diamond project, NWT, strategically located in the Lac De Gras district within 40 km of both the Ekati and Diavik diamond mines. The project owners are Equity Metals Corporation (57.49%), Chris and Jeanne Jennings (22.11%); and Archon Minerals Ltd. (20.4%). Equity Metals is the operator of the project. The Company also has royalty and working interests in other Canadian properties, which are being evaluated further to determine their value to the Company. Robert Macdonald, MSc. P.Geo, is VP Exploration of Equity Metals Corporation and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. He is responsible for the supervision of the exploration on the Silver Queen project and for the preparation of the technical information in this disclosure. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Lawrence Page" Lawrence Page, K.C. Chairman & Director, Equity Metals Corporation For further information, visit the website at www.equitymetalscorporation.comor contact us at 604.641.2759 or by email at [email protected]. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Equity Metals Corporation does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/152558 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 25, 2023) - Kuya Silver Corporation (CSE: KUYA) (OTCQB: KUYAF) (FSE: 6MR1) (the "Company" or "Kuya Silver") announces that, pursuant to its 10% rolling equity incentive plan, it has approved the grant of 650,000 restricted share units ("RSUs") and 550,000 stock options ("Options") to acquire common shares in the capital of the Company (each a "Common Share"), to certain officers and employees (the "Equity Grant"). The Options are exercisable until January 25, 2028 at a price of $0.35 per Option and are subject to vesting provisions. The RSUs will vest and convert into Common Shares, for no additional consideration, in tranches. Any Common Shares issued pursuant to the Equity Grant, are subject to a hold period expiring May 26, 2023, unless written approval to issue the Common Shares without the hold period is obtained from the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "Exchange"). The Company also announces that it is completing a debt settlement with Electra Battery Materials Corporation effective January 31, 2023, which will result in an aggregate of $150,000 of indebtedness being retired in consideration for the issuance of Common Shares at a deemed price per Common Share equal to the volume weighted average closing price of the Common Shares on the Exchange for the 20 trading days immediately prior to the issuance being completed (the "Debt Settlement"). The debt relates to a reimbursement of prior exploration expenditures made by Electra on behalf of Kuya Silver. The Common Shares issued in connection with the Debt Settlement are subject to a hold period expiring May 26, 2023. About Kuya Silver Corporation Kuya Silver is a Canadianbased mineral exploration and development company with a focus on acquiring, exploring, and advancing precious metals assets in Peru and Canada. For more information, please contact: David Stein, President and Chief Executive Officer Telephone: (604) 3984493 [email protected] www.kuyasilver.com Reader Advisory This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information," including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may," "would," "could," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "must," "next," "propose," "new," "potential," "prospective," "target," "future," "verge," "favourable," "implications," and "ongoing," and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking information. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing statements, any discussion of the potential of exploration targets is forward-looking information. Investors are cautioned that statements including forward-looking information are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking information as a result of various factors, including but not limited to fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market, and business conditions. There can be no assurances that such forward-looking information will prove accurate, and therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of the risks and uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/152515 Dr. Lauren R. Natbony to be Principal Investigator Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 26, 2023) - Lobe Sciences Ltd. (CSE: LOBE) (OTCQB: LOBEF) ("Lobe" or the "Company"), a North American Biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering and developing patient-focused psychedelic-derived medicines for neurologic and brain disease, today announced that it has signed an Investigator Initiated Research Agreement with Lauren R. Natbony, MD, FAHS, Founder and Medical Director of Integrative Headache Medicine of New York, to study the tolerability and efficacy of our proprietary psilocin compound L-130, in patients suffering from Cluster Headaches ("CH"). Mr. Philip J. Young, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, stated, "This is an exciting opportunity to evaluate L-130's effect on the intensity, frequency, and duration of these debilitating headaches. One in every thousand people suffers from this condition, also called "Suicide Headaches," due to the pain, frequency of attacks, and lack of effective treatments. Partnering with Dr. Natbony is a great opportunity for Lobe. As a board-certified neurologist and fellowship-trained headache specialist, she has dedicated her career to treating chronic headache and facial pain disorders, including cluster headache. We anticipate Dr. Natbony will file a physician-initiated IND, and when cleared by the US FDA, she can begin dosing CH patients with L-130 to evaluate safety, tolerability, and efficacy. CH is recognized as an Orphan Drug indication, which we intend to pursue." Dr. Natbony stated, "We are very excited to evaluate the impact of Lobe's psilocin compound, L-130, in treating these devastating headaches. Data reported in the literature supports the use of psilocybin in these patients. Since L-130 is the active metabolite of psilocybin, it appears to be an efficient way of delivering non-psychedelic doses of psilocin with potentially better bioavailability and consistency. Using sub-psychedelic dosing may allow physicians a therapeutic solution to a devastating condition where treatment options are limited." About Cluster Headaches Cluster headache is a rare but severe primary headache disorder, impacting 0.1% of the general population, and characterized by excruciating one-sided pain around the eye. The pain is so intense that it usually causes restlessness and agitation during an attack with the need to pace or rock in place. Attacks can happen up to eight times a day and last between 15 minutes and 3 hours. Accompanying the attacks are one-sided autonomic symptoms, such as eye redness, eye tearing, nasal congestion, runny nose, or a droopy eyelid. Cluster headache, in its episodic form, occurs in episodes lasting between 7 days and one year with pain-free periods lasting at least three months. In contrast, cluster headache is classified as chronic once attacks are present for more than one year, either without interruption or with short intermissions lasting less than three months. Chronic cluster headache is more resistant to current prophylactic pharmaceutical treatments, thus resulting in profound limitations in normal daily functioning. To learn more about Dr. Natbony please click www.integrativeheadacheny.com. About Lobe Sciences Ltd. Lobe Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing patient-friendly, practical psychedelic medicines. The Company, through collaborations with industry-leading partners, is engaged in drug research and development using sub-hallucinatory doses of psychedelic compounds and the development of innovative devices and delivery mechanisms to improve mental health and wellness. Each of our New Chemical Entities, L-130 and L-131, are being developed to address unmet medical needs in neurological therapeutic applications. About Integrative Headache Medicine of New York, PLLC Integrative Headache Medicine of New York (IHMNY), founded and directed by Dr. Lauren R. Natbony, is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and cutting-edge institute dedicated to treating patients with complex headache and facial pain disorders. Dr. Natbony is an internationally recognized expert in headache medicine and established IHMNY to offer traditional medical therapies in conjunction with evidence-based complementary and integrative modalities. Integrative Headache Medicine of New York is committed to providing personalized patient care, educating the public about headache medicine, and developing groundbreaking therapies for treating chronic, disabling headaches. For further information please contact: Lobe Sciences Ltd. Philip J Young, CEO [email protected] Tel: (949) 505-5623 NEITHER THE CSE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE. This does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to buy any securities. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release (including, without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company, research and development using psychedelic compounds, and the development of innovative devices and delivery mechanisms to improve mental health and wellness) are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of the forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including changes to the regulatory environment; that the Company's drug research and development activities may be unsuccessful; that drugs and medical devices produced by, or on behalf of, the Company, may not work in the manner intended or at all, and may subject the Company to product liability or other liability claims; that the Company may not be able to attain the Company's corporate goals and objectives; and other risk factors detailed in the Company's continuous disclosure filings from time to time, as available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. As a result, the Company cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made only as of the date of this news release and the Company does not intend to update any of the included forward-looking statements except as expressly required by applicable Canadian securities laws. Drug development involves long lead times, is very expensive and involves many variables of uncertainty. Anticipated timelines regarding drug development are based on reasonable assumptions informed by current knowledge and information available to the Company. Every patient treated on future studies can change those assumptions either positively (to indicate a faster timeline to new drug applications and other approvals) or negatively (to indicate a slower timeline to new drug applications and other approvals). This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements regarding anticipated or possible drug development timelines. Such statements are informed by, among other things, regulatory guidelines for developing a drug with safety studies, proof of concept studies, and pivotal studies for new drug application submission and approval, and assumes the success of implementation and results of such studies on timelines indicated as possible by such guidelines, other industry examples, and the Company's development efforts to date. In addition to the risk factors set out above and those detailed in the Company's continuous disclosure filings from time to time, as available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com, other factors not currently viewed as material could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Although Lobe has attempted to identify important risks and factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors and risks that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/152553 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 26, 2023) - Omai Gold Mines Inc. (TSXV: OMG) (OTCQB: OMGGF) ("Omai Gold" or the "Company") announces that it has granted stock options exercisable into 17.55 million common shares in the Company to certain officers, directors, employees and consultants of the Company. The incentive stock options have an exercise price of $0.08 per share with a five-year term and will vest one-third on the date of grant, and one-third on each of the first and second anniversary of the date of grant. As a result of this grant, the Company's granted stock options represent 9.38% of the issued and outstanding share capital. About Omai Gold Mines Corp. Omai Gold Mines Corp. holds a 100% interest in the Omai Prospecting License that includes the past producing Omai gold mine in Guyana, and a 100% interest in the adjoining Eastern Flats Mining Permits. The Company recently announced an updated Mineral Resource Estimate that includes the Wenot shear-hosted gold deposit and the adjacent Gilt Creek intrusion-hosted deposit. The NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate includes: 1,907,600 ounces of gold (Indicated) at an average grade of 2.07 g/t gold and 1,777,600 ounces of gold (Inferred) at an average grade of 2.10 g/t gold. Once South America's largest producing gold mine, Omai produced over 3.7 million ounces of gold between 1993 and 2005. Mining ceased at a time when the average gold price was less than US$400 per ounce. As a brownfields project, Omai benefits from good access, and a wealth of historical data that provides knowledge of the geology, nature of the gold mineralization on the property, as well as metallurgy and historical recoveries. The Company's priority for 2023 is to drill the key exploration targets that hold potential for significant new discoveries while continuing to expand the Wenot deposit. For further information, please see our website www.omaigoldmines.com or contact: Elaine Ellingham, P.Geo. President & CEO [email protected] +1-416-473-5351 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/152576 Bel Air, Maryland--(Newsfile Corp. - January 26, 2023) - Rock Spring Financial Group LLC is bringing over 20 years of industry experience to a next generation of home buyers through the latest social media platforms and trends. This company is actively working to bring a better understanding of the housing market to younger generations through an emphasis on their social media presence. The real estate and housing markets have been fluctuating wildly throughout the past decade, leading Millennials and Gen Z (the next generations in line to become homeowners) in a daze regarding trends and market strategies. It is estimated that only 9% of millennials own homes as of 2020 and that 71% of that generation can afford less than half of the homes on the market. Rock Spring Financial Group is a local brokerage firm located in central Maryland that is working to change the narrative for younger Americans who may feel this lingering heaviness when it comes to buying a home. Rick Metzgar, an Independent Mortgage Broker, as well as the Founder of Rock Spring Financial Group has realized the potential that social media has on educating younger generations, especially when it comes to something as crucial as buying a house and securing a mortgage. "Our company is known for its hyper-local involvement and support of the area's nonprofits," Metzgar explains. "We pride ourselves on providing one-on-one relationships backed by a team of professionals." This is seen throughout the company's various TikTok videos, which follow social trends as a way to reach an audience that otherwise may lack the financial understanding it takes to own a home and apply for a mortgage. This company has been utilizing their updated TikTok profile to reach a new audience by creating content that appeals to the platform's user base. This kind of boosted social media presence can allow Rock Spring the opportunity in the future to also collaborate with influencers on the platform to help spread their message and create more visibility for their brand, something not typically seen in traditional financial/real estate literacy programs. Rock Spring works to guide them through each step of applying and completing the process for securing any type of mortgage, from purchasing their first home to a reverse mortgage to provide for their retirement. Rock Spring Financial Group is a local brokerage firm located in Bel Air, Maryland. Founded by Rick Metzgar, the company works to help its clients secure mortgages and simplify the home buying process. Their recent active presence on TikTok aims to provide the next generation with the skills they need to find financial literacy in a conceding home market. For more information about Rick and Rock Spring, visit their website and Social Media platforms. Rick Metzgar [email protected] https://rockspringfinancial.com/ (443) 801-6389 TikTok: @mortgagefather To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/152629 Building materials supplier announces first hiring event of the year in the Buffalo market to fill immediate job openings EIGHTY FOUR, Pa., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 84 Lumber, the nation's largest privately held building materials supplier, is recruiting for eight immediate openings in its Millersport and Tonawanda locations. Job seekers can interview for open positions at a hiring event on Feb. 2, 2023, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the company's Tonawanda location (2286 Military Road, Tonawanda, NY 14150). The company employs more than 56 people across five stores in the Buffalo market. "It is a primary goal to continue bringing in top tier talent to 84 Lumber," said Phil Garuccio, divisional vice president of 84 Lumber. "Our hiring events have proven to be greatly successful, as candidates do not need prior construction experience, only the desire to learn. 84 Lumber's onboarding program offers comprehensive training, which opens the door for a wide range of associates. We pride ourselves on the ability to hire fresh talent and provide endless opportunities to grow within the company." Hiring event attendees will participate in job interviews and learn more about 84 Lumber's company culture. Some attendees may receive a job offer on site. Here is a look at open positions: Manager trainees (MTs) enter an intensive on-the-job training program that teaches them about the company's business and puts them on a path to become a future leader within the enterprise. Starting compensation for manager trainees is $46,000 to $48,000 per year. enter an intensive on-the-job training program that teaches them about the company's business and puts them on a path to become a future leader within the enterprise. Starting compensation for manager trainees is $46,000 to $48,000 per year. Yard associates perform essential functions behind the scenes from the management of supply shipments to the operation of forklifts and other equipment. No prior experience is necessary, and the starting salary is $15 per hour. perform essential functions behind the scenes from the management of supply shipments to the operation of forklifts and other equipment. No prior experience is necessary, and the starting salary is $15 per hour. Truck drivers' primary roles consist of delivering materials to customer job sites, as well as building loads for deliveries, operating a forklift, and maintaining a safe, clean, and well-organized lumber yard. Starting compensation is $16 per hour, but negotiable depending on experience. primary roles consist of delivering materials to customer job sites, as well as building loads for deliveries, operating a forklift, and maintaining a safe, clean, and well-organized lumber yard. Starting compensation is $16 per hour, but negotiable depending on experience. Truck driver helpers are responsible for assisting in the delivery of material to customer job sites. This position requires moving mechanical parts, operating a forklift and building loads for delivery. No prior experience is necessary, and the starting salary is $15 per hour. To save time, the company strongly encourages candidates to apply for positions online before they attend the event. On-site pre-employment drug screening will be available for applicants. Candidates who advance in the process also will be required to pass a background check prior to employment. For more information on the open positions, visit the indeed page. About 84 Lumber Founded in 1956 and headquartered in Eighty Four, Pennsylvania, 84 Lumber Company is the nation's largest privately held supplier of building materials, manufactured components, and industry-leading services for single- and multi-family residences and commercial buildings. The company operates 310 facilities which include stores, component manufacturing plants, custom door shops and engineered wood product centers in more than 35 states. 84 Lumber also offers turnkey installation services for a variety of products, including framing, insulation, siding, windows, roofing, decking and drywall. A certified national women's business enterprise owned by Maggie Hardy, 84 Lumber was named one of America's Largest Private Companies by Forbes and also made the Inc. 5000 list of America's Fastest Growing Companies in 2022. For more information, visit 84lumber.com or join us at Facebook.com/84lumber and linkedin.com/company/84-lumber. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/84-lumber-hosts-hiring-event-in-tonawanda-ny-on-febuary-2-301731665.html SOURCE 84 Lumber The announcement included news of a $500,000 2:1 Matching Gift Challenge from the Crewe Foundation to support the Center for the Arts initiative PORTLAND, Maine, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, January 26, the University of Southern Maine (USM) Foundation announced that actor and USM alum Tony Shalhoub '77, has been named honorary chair of the USM Center for the Arts campaign. The Center for the Arts, to be located on USM's Portland campus, is the centerpiece of the university's Great University Campaign, the largest fundraising initiative in USM history. During the press conference, Shalhoub announced a $500,000 matching gift challenge for the Center for the Arts, offered by the Crewe Foundation. For every $2 raised, the Crewe Foundation will make a $1 matching gift, adding momentum to an effort that has already seen tremendous support from the community. Now in its third and final year, USM's Great University Campaign has raised $44.5 million to date and expects to exceed its $46 million goal. "We are thrilled to have Tony Shalhoub, one of our own, as our honorary chair of the Center for the Arts campaign, helping us successfully complete this historic fundraising effort," said Dr. Jacqueline Edmondson, president of USM. "With Tony at the helm, fueled by the Crewe Foundation's incredibly generous matching gift challenge, we expect to surge past the finish line this spring, and, with approval from the Board of Trustees, we expect to soon break ground on an extraordinary new home for music and the arts at USM." Recalling his own years as an undergrad in the mid-seventies, Shalhoub commented, "Being able to work so closely with dedicated professors and mentors in USM's Theatre Department allowed me to discover my own potential and passion for actingand helped me go further than I ever imagined. Building a new Center for the Arts on USM's Portland campus will help ensure that today's talented students will discover their own greatness, too." The Crewe Foundation, led by Dan Crewe and his daughter Reid Crewe, has been an early and sustained supporter of the Center for the Arts project. The just-announced $500,000 matching gift challenge comes in addition to $6,000,000 in philanthropic contributions from the Crewe Foundation over the past two years, helping to catalyze momentum and additional support for the new Center. Inspired by the generosity and commitment of the Crewe Foundation, Shalhoub announced his own gift of $150,000 as part of the Crewe matching gift challenge, stating "I'm going to be the first one in." Shalhoub is an award-winning performer with multiple stage, screen, and television roles to his credit. His accolades include five Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, six Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Tony Award, and a Grammy Award nomination. Considered one of America's foremost character actors, he won a Tony in 2018 for best lead actor in a Broadway musical for his role in The Band's Visit. He is also a cast member in the acclaimed TV production of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, which has earned two Golden Globes and five Primetime Emmy Awards. He is also well known for his starring role in the hit television series Monk, which earned him a Golden Globe and three Emmys. A native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, Shalhoub first studied acting at the University of Southern Maine, where he graduated with a theatre degree in 1977. He went on to earn his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) at the highly competitive Yale School of Drama. Afterwards he spent four years at the prestigious American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, Mass., before moving to New York, where his acting career took off with early and sustained success on Broadway, in films, and on television. In 2003, he returned to USM to give the commencement address and receive a Distinguished Achievement award. He served as a USM Foundation Board member and made a significant philanthropic contribution to Transforming USM: The Capital Campaign (TUSM) in 2006. As Honorary Chair of USM's Center for the Arts campaign, he will help bring to fruition a long-dreamed-of performing and visual arts center on USM's Portland campus, the new home of the renowned Dr. Alfred and D. Suzi Osher School of Music. USM expects to break ground on the new Center next fall, pending approvals from the University of Maine System Board of Trustees as well as the City of Portland. Ainsley Wallace, President and CEO of the USM Foundation, said, "At every turn, the Crewe Foundation has helped to ensure that a decades-long dream of a Center for the Arts becomes a realityand at every turn, dedicated friends and alumni, like Tony Shalhoub, have made this project the best it can be. The new Center will be the crown jewel of the USM Portland campus. It will include state-of-the-art spaces for the arts, from music, dance, and theater to visual arts and create new opportunities for interdisciplinary exhibitions and performances." Dan Crewe is the Chair of USM's Great University Campaign and Chair of the USM Foundation Board of Directors. To learn more about the Great University Campaign and the future USM Center for the Arts, visit: greatuniversitycampaign.com Media Contact: Corey Hascall, University of Southern Maine Foundation, 207-780-4833, [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/actor-tony-shalhoub-named-honorary-chair-of-the-university-of-southern-maine-center-for-the-arts-campaign-301731850.html SOURCE University of Southern Maine Foundation The exciting new brand will launch with calamari, salmon and tuna sashimi, shrimp and more NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Boldly, a new plant-based food brand, announces the forthcoming launch of their line of 100% vegan seafood, including calamari, salmon and tuna sashimi, shrimp, crab sticks, and white fish filets. Boldly is disrupting the plant-based food and seafood industry with products that deliver on taste and texture like that of conventional seafood. Their offerings bring cutting-edge innovation and diversity to the young, but fast-growing plant-based seafood category. As consumers are becoming more aware of the environmental and sustainability issues tied to seafood such as overfishing and health concerns from high mercury and heavy metal levels, Boldly is bringing 100% vegan seafood to the $600+ billion global seafood market. With konjac root vegetable as a core ingredient, Boldly is on a mission to accelerate the proliferation of plant-based proteins in foodservice by creating a positive experience centered around community while addressing health and environmental concerns. Boldly is founded by Allen Zelden, who is also co-founder of PlantForm, the private label arm of a plant-based manufacturing operation with global distribution across five continents and over 1,000 SKU's on the market. The brand will launch this summer through restaurant and foodservice partnerships across the country, with the goal of serving flexitarian consumers who are looking to adjust their seafood intake by including plant-based alternatives. SPECIAL PREVIEW: Boldly is offering the first ever preview of its seafood at SEED Food & Wine Festival in Miami, taking place from January 26th - 29th, 2023, where they will be participating in tastings, panel discussions and an exclusive dinner collaboration with Planta, one of the most creative and beloved plant-based restaurants in the country. For more information including upcoming preview tastings, events and activations, please visit www.boldlyfoods.com and follow along @boldly.foods. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boldly-bursts-onto-the-scene-with-its-plant-based-seafood-301731013.html SOURCE Boldly Brondell continues to prioritize its mission of bringing high-quality, innovative technologies to home and bathroom categories SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Brondell, a science-backed pioneer in innovative health and personal care technologies, is excited to announce the acquisition of Nebia, known for developing industry-leading, water-saving technology and premium showerheads and backed by investors such as Tim Cook (CEO, Apple), The Schmidt Family Foundation (Google), Joe Gebbia (Co-founder, Airbnb), James Park (Co-founder, Fitbit), Stanford University, and Y-Combinator. With Nebia, Brondell will expand its Bathe category, strengthening the brand's commitment to sustainable solutions for the bathroom. As proud members of 1% for the Planet, Nebia and Brondell showcase a shared passion for environmental responsibility in business. With drought and water conservation top of mind throughout the global community, Nebia has already saved over 520 million gallons of water through its showerhead designs, while Brondell provides consumers with high-quality, low-impact solutions for the kitchen, bathroom, and beyond. Nebia's innovative nozzle technology and spray designs have helped transform an industry long reluctant to adopt water-saving solutions for the home. In 2018, Nebia partnered with an industry-leading company in the development of two breakthrough new shower systems, earning the Industrial Design Society of America Gold Award. "Nebia's patented nozzle technology and product design perfectly complement the commercial strength and brand ethos of Brondell," says Philip Winter, Nebia Co-founder. "We're committed to the innovation of industry-leading, sustainable designs that enhance everyday wellness and hygiene, while continuing to protect one of Earth's most valuable resources. Our mission has always been to re-invent the way people interact with water. We know we can take this mission further with Brondell." Brondell will incorporate Nebia's award-winning, patented nozzle technology into its bidet products, while expanding its Bathe category with existing and upcoming water-efficient showerheads. "Brondell has always focused on bringing the very best technology into homes, offices, and commercial spaces," says Brondell President, Steve Scheer. "We care deeply about the environmenta focus that is at the core of our organization's mission. With the combined strength of Nebia's vision, team, products, and patents, we're confident that we can continue to set the standard for sustainable technology, for greater peace of mind in every home." Together, Brondell and Nebia have already designed some of the most environmentally friendly bathroom offerings on the market, recently launching the SimpleSpa Eco Bidet Attachment, which features water-saving Nebia technology built into the retractable spray nozzle, and a 65% post-consumer recycled plastic framean industry first, and an indication of sustainably focused offerings to come. Brondell will soon launch the Swash Eco Thinline T66 Luxury Bidet Toilet Seat with Remote Control, which uses 10% post-consumer recycled plastics in the bidet lid, remote, and magnetic dock. Designed with an ultra-thin profile and loaded with luxurious features, the Swash Eco Thinline will be available to purchase spring of 2023 at Brondell.com for $749.99. Nebia's shower technology will join Brondell, with the introduction of the Nebia Corre Four-Function Fixed Showerhead and Nebia Corre Four-Function Handshower. Both feature atomizing nozzles engineered to produce millions of precise water droplets, optimized for warmth, rinsing, and body coverage, while saving users up to 50% more water compared to standard 2.5 gallon-per-minute (gpm) showerhead sprayers. Additional designs will round out Brondell's new Nebia Bathe product suite. Offerings include top-tier, sustainably focused accessories, such as upcycled shower curtains, quick-dry bathmats made from biodegradable diatomaceous earth, infinitely recyclable bathroom shelving, and the world's first towel created from a breakthrough upcycled textile technology called REFIBRA. The full product suite is available now at Brondell.com. About Brondell With 20 years in the industry, Brondell is known for developing products that provide welcome relief, long-term health benefits, and a more sustainable footprint for healthier spaces and routines. The company focuses on customer wellness, harnessing cutting-edge technology to improve health within the home, office, and beyond. Product development includes rigorous, independent laboratory testing, thoughtful designs, third-party certifications, and the leverage of smart technology for a reduction in airborne particulates, waterborne contaminants, and wasteful toilet paper usage. Each product in Brondell's ecosystem of solutions is crafted to fit seamlessly and sustainably into everyday life, so that things we do every daylike breathing, drinking, bathing, and flushingare better for both people and the planet. Brondell is a Mark Cuban-backed company with a retail presence in 4,500+ stores throughout North America, including The Home Depot, Lowe's, Costco and Walmart. About Nebia Nebia creates innovative products that people love to use and that are better for the planet. Co-founded in San Francisco in 2014 by Carlos Gomez Andonaegui, Gabriel Parisi-Amon, and Philip Winter, Nebia is a recognized leader in the home water efficiency category. Award-winning showerhead technology utilizes proprietary nozzles that conserve up to 50% more water as compared to standard showers. Nebia's products are in over 100,000 homes and have saved users 520 million gallons of water and more than 27 million kWh of energy to dateenough energy to heat 2,700 American homes for an entire year. Nebia has attracted investment from luminary tech-industry leaders, including Tim Cook (CEO, Apple), The Schmidt Family Foundation (Google), Joe Gebbia (Co-founder, Airbnb), James Park (Co-founder, Fitbit), Stanford University, and Y-Combinator. With four generations of showerheads, over a dozen innovative products, and a record-setting 2015 Kickstarter campaign that raised over $10M in crowdfunding, Nebia has changed how people interact with water in their daily livesand hopes to inspire an entire generation of people to innovate toward a more sustainable future. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brondell-acquires-nebia-expanding-bathe-category-and-strengthening-commitment-to-sustainable-designs-301731537.html SOURCE Brondell VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Callinex Mines Inc. (the "Company" or "Callinex") (OTCQX: CLLXF) has been made aware of and has been requested by the OTC Markets Group Inc. ("OTC Markets") to comment on recent trading and promotional activity related to the Company's common shares. On or about January 23, 2023, the OTC Markets made the Company aware that certain promotional emails (the "marketing materials") were published by Wealth Global Group ("WGG") discussing the Company, its business and the base metal industry in general. The Company does not believe the marketing materials increased interest and impacted trading activity. In particular, on January 23, 2023, the Company issued a news release that disclosed high-grade copper assays together with a summary of a successful drill campaign carried out by the Company on its Pine Bay Project. The news release also disclosed that the Company is awaiting its maiden resource estimate that will facilitate exploration targeting as well as economic studies at the Pine Bay Project. In 2018, the Company and Future Money LLC ("FMT") entered into a marketing agreement (the "existing marketing agreement") whereby FMT and its affiliated entities, which include Gold Standard Media LLC and WGG, have assisted the Company in various marketing campaigns that have included interviews with management, written materials contain information from the Company's public filings, creation of a website language page and distribution that included a link to the landing page. FMT and its affiliated entities recently provided services to the Company in September 2022 under the existing marketing agreement. Although the Company has an existing marketing agreement with FMT, the marketing materials published by WGG were prepared independently by WGG and the Company paid no compensation to WGG for the distribution of the marketing materials. The Company, after inquiring of management, directors and control persons, its officers, directors and any controlling shareholders did not engage, directly or indirectly, WGG to create or distribute the materials, however, the Company was aware that WGG was considering the distribution of an email or newsletter on its own accord without any compensation payable by the Company. As the marketing materials were independently published by WGG, the Company did not request and did not receive any of the marketing materials prior to distribution. After reviewing the marketing materials, the Company considers them to be factually accurate and are not materially false and/or misleading. The Company will continue to engage FMT on a going forward basis under the existing marketing agreement whereby it will provide digital marketing services and engage other third party service provides on its behalf. The Company requires all paid marketing materials to be reviewed by the Company prior to any distribution. Additionally, the Company has inquired and determined that management, directors and, to the best of its knowledge, control persons have not sold or purchased the company's securities within the past 90 days except for the exercise of 72,333 stock options of the Company, of which the vast majority were excised at an average price of $2.84 per share. The Company has not issued shares or convertible instruments allowing conversion to equity securities at prices constituting a discount to the current market rate at the time of the issuance. Other than as noted above, the Company has not engaged any third party investor relations firm over the last 12 months. About Callinex Mines Inc. Callinex Mines Inc. (TSXV: CNX) (OTCQX: CLLXF) is advancing its portfolio of base and precious metals rich deposits located in established Canadian mining jurisdictions. The focus of the portfolio is highlighted by the rapidly expanding Rainbow and Alchemist deposits at its rich VMS Pine Bay Project located near existing infrastructure in the Flin Flon Mining District. The second asset in the portfolio is the Nash Creek Project located in the VMS rich Bathurst Mining District of New Brunswick. A 2018 PEA generates a strong economic return with a pre-tax IRR of 34.1% (25.2% post-tax) and NPV8% of $230 million ($128 million post-tax) at $1.25 Zinc. The third asset, 100% owned Point Leamington Deposit in Newfoundland, is located in one of the richest VMS and Gold Districts in Canada. Callinex prepared a pit constrained Indicated Mineral Resource of 5.0 Mt grading 2.5 g/t AuEq for 402 koz AuEq (145.7 koz gold, 60.0 Mlb copper, 153.5 Mlb zinc, 2.0 Moz silver, 1.5 Mlb lead), an pit constrained Inferred Mineral Resource of 13.7 Mt grading 2.24 g/t AuEq for 986.5 koz AuEq (354.8 koz gold, 110.2 Mlb copper, 527.3 Mlb zinc, 6.2 Moz silver, 7.0 Mlb lead) and an out-of-pit Inferred Mineral Resource of 1.7 Mt grading 3.06 g/t AuEq for 168.5 koz AuEq (65.4 koz gold, 13.3 Mlb copper, 102.9 Mlb zinc, 1.4 Moz Ag, 2.6 Mlb lead). Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future expenditures. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, among others, the ability to complete the proposed drill program and the timing and amount of expenditures. Except as required under applicable securities laws, Callinex does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/callinex-comments-regarding-recent-trading-activity-301731070.html SOURCE Callinex Mines Inc. While long-serving Senator Diane Feinstein is still on the fence about running for re-election, three California congresspeople have already declared. Representative Adam Schiff of California's 30th district, which covers Hollywood, Burbank, Pasadena, and a whole raft of places over in that northeastern part of Los Angeles, has announced his entry into the race. Schiff joins Representatives Katie Porter and Barbara Lee in not caring what serving Senator Diane Feinstein does next year. Schiff, like his opponents, has been an incredible congressperson. I hope that they and any other candidates who vie for the seat use this as an example to discuss the issues important to Californians and not devolve into standard politics. There will be a Republican in the race, but they will not matter. Crooks and Liars: PERU, Ill., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CL Enterprises, the Illinois-based family investment company focused on building businesses, today announced a series of management changes as it ramps up to accommodate growth across its group of businesses. Hinesh Patel, President of CL Enterprises, will assume the role of CEO, taking over from co-founder Peter Limberger. Limberger, who will retain the role of Executive Chairman, said "When we started CLE over a decade ago, our vision was to create new manufacturing businesses and to develop catalytic real estate projects in smaller towns and communities, to help realize their economic potential. Since then, the group has expanded considerably and now operates businesses as diverse as brewing, hospitality, real estate, agriculture, wood manufacturing, technology, automation/robotics, and aviation. With that growth has come a need to strengthen our management team, and to ensure we are positioned for continued successful growth. "Hinesh joined us a year ago as President and has already made a major impact, both in helping the leaders of the individual businesses, but also creating a strong sense of unity under the CLE brand. This move and his experience will allow him to continue to drive operational and organizational growth across the company." Joining Patel on the CLE Executive Team is Shay Brokemond who has been appointed VP Corporate Development. Shay is currently CFO of Revv Aviation, one of CLE's businesses where she led a major growth initiative in the last 2 years. Prior to this she was Managing Director with William Blair & Company, a global investment bank and financial services company. Patel explained why Brokemond was a natural fit for the role. "As a Group, we have ambitious growth plans, both organically and through mergers and acquisitions. We have an attractive array of growth opportunities, so it felt like the right time to strengthen our executive team and capabilities. Shay was the obvious choice. Before joining us at Revv, she had built up over 15 years of experience advising C-level executives on M&A and capital raising transactions. She's particularly skilled at working with complex financial frameworks, which has been valuable in helping us bring together the companies which became the new and expanding Revv. Now we're excited to apply Shay's talents to an even wider range of opportunities across the Group." Replacing Brokemond as Chief Financial Officer at Revv is Ronnie Stewart, currently Finance Controller at the company. Stewart joined Revv in 2022, bringing over 30 years of experience from companies such as Merrill Lynch, Bank of America, General Electric and Arthur J Gallagher. "Ronnie has already made a great impact since his arrival", said Guy Lieser, CEO of Revv Aviation. "He has quickly introduced several new processes and best practices which are allowing Revv to operate more effectively across all its different locations. As Shay moves into her new role, we're excited to give Ronnie the opportunity to lead the Finance team". Nathan Watson has successfully led the CL Real Estate Development business for several years as President. Under his leadership the team has completed many successful redevelopment projects in smaller towns and cities across the region. Most recently, CLRED's work in developing the Lock & Mule brewpub in Lockport was recognized at the 2022 Landmarks Illinois awards where it won the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation award for adaptive reuse. Nathan has been promoted to assume the additional role of CEO of the CL Real Estate Group. About CL EnterprisesCL Enterprises is the holding company for the Carus-Limberger family, and is based in Peru, IL. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cl-enterprises-strengthens-management-team-to-support-continuing-growth-301730621.html SOURCE CL Enterprises Key Highlights If selected, Community Offshore Wind's proposal will create over 4,600 jobs through the year 2033, across the supply chain in New York, prioritizing those from disadvantaged communities, local companies and the union workforce. Benefits from the project are forecasted to deliver over $3 billion to the New York state economy. Community Offshore Wind is proposing a Supply Chain Investment Plan that will help localize blade and nacelle facilities in partnership with General Electric (GE), bring steel fabrication and processing to Orange County, and invest in a Staten Island port facility. The proposal expects to reduce New York electricity system-related carbon emissions by about 5 percent and thereby contribute significantly to the State's target of reaching zero-emission electricity by 2040. NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Community Offshore Wind, a joint venture between RWE Renewables and National Grid, today submitted a proposal to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to provide New York State with clean energy from 1.3 GW of offshore wind capacity to power nearly 500,000 homes. The bid submission was in response to the State's third competitive offshore wind solicitation, adding to their current portfolio of five offshore wind projects. NYSERDA is expected to announce the winning clean energy suppliers in early spring 2023. The key components of the proposal support Governor Hochul's leadership in the creation of a sustainable clean energy economy that delivers robust economic development and jobs to New Yorkers, including, but not limited to: Creating over 4,600 good-paying jobs through the year 2033, across the supply chain in New York, prioritizing those from disadvantaged communities, local companies and the union workforce. Delivering over $3 billion in economic benefits to New York. The project will support the state in reaching its goal of directing 40 percent of overall benefits of clean energy spending to disadvantaged communities. Offering cutting edge agreements with suppliers that establish New York as the premier East Coast offshore wind supply chain hub. These include: Collaborating with General Electric (GE) to deliver a nation-leading opportunity to localize both blade and nacelle facilities. Bringing steel fabrication and processing to Orange County, creating union jobs and exceeding the solicitation's target for US steel. Investing in a Staten Island port facility for staging and assembly of wind turbines, which will contribute to good-paying jobs in the borough. Developing a $100 million package of economic development and workforce programs designed to favor disadvantaged communities, New York Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOB) businesses. Supporting parents who are working in and training for offshore wind careers with $10 million in childcare services, in partnership with United Way of New York State. Investing in a just energy transition at National Grid's E.F. Barrett Clean Energy Center on Long Island, including energy storage and an ambitious opportunity to support the community by retraining existing, local workers for clean energy jobs. All of these components are contingent on NYSERDA's final selections. Once in operation, Community Offshore Wind expects the project will reduce New York 's electricity system-related carbon emissions by about 5 percent and thereby contribute significantly to the State's target of reaching zero-emission electricity by 2040 and 9,000 MW of offshore wind by 2035. This is equal to mitigating emissions of up to 700,000 homes annually. "Today is a proud day for Community Offshore Wind as we submit an offshore wind proposal that has the potential to deliver affordable, clean energy to New Yorkers for generations to come," said Will Hazelip, President of National Grid Ventures (NGV), US Northeast. "National Grid has strong New York roots and a dedication to helping the state reach its clean energy goals, while providing significant economic benefits and jobs. Our proposal has been carefully crafted by a team with decades of experience delivering energy safely, reliably and efficiently to millions of New Yorkers. Community Offshore Wind knows New York and we believe we are submitting the most competitive bid." "Community Offshore Wind aims to reestablish New York as an energy manufacturing hub that shifts the supply chain from global to local, while prioritizing disadvantaged communities, local content, and union labor," said Sam Eaton, CEO, RWE Offshore Holdings. "The investments included in our proposal enable New Yorkers to step into the benefits promised in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and embrace an equitable clean energy future. As a leading offshore wind developer globally, RWE is proud to partner with National Grid and play a key role in New York's just transition." National Grid and its legacy companies have operated in New York State for over 125 years and now serve the needs of more than 20 million people throughout the Northeast. National Grid brings local expertise and experience developing large-scale infrastructure projects across the US and UK. RWE is one of the largest offshore wind companies globally. Its unparalleled expertise over the last 20 years has resulted in 18 offshore wind farms in operation globally and the completion of Kaskasi offshore wind farm off the German coast at the end of last year. In addition, RWE has around 4,500 MW of onshore wind and solar capacity in the U.S., including three operational onshore wind projects in New York. In February 2022, Community Offshore Wind was successful in acquiring its lease area (roughly 126,000 acres) in the New York Bight, the area between Long Island and New Jersey, with a potential capacity of 3 GW of offshore wind. In the last six months alone, Community Offshore Wind has made significant community investments by improving marine ecosystems and revitalizing oyster habitats on Long Island, collecting over 900 pounds of garbage and debris at Earth Day cleanups in Queens, and funding training for MWBEs to enter the offshore wind supply chain. The project also distributed over 30,000 meals of fresh, local seafood to food banks across New York, donated 900 winter coats to families in need, partnered with Hudson River Community Sailing to teach young people about wind power, and partnered with the YMCAs of Long Island and Greater New York to offer swim lessons to children in underserved communities. In total, Community Offshore Wind has donated more than 400 volunteer hours and attended 50 community events to stay engaged with the residents they will serve. Messages of Support for Community Offshore Wind: "Offshore wind developers have a big responsibility to deliver reliable, clean, affordable energy and to improve communities across New York in accordance with the guidelines set out by NYSERDA in their request for proposals. Community Offshore Wind's collective experience and community investment efforts over the last few months have shown that they will meet and exceed those requirements to deliver for the people of New York."-Kevin Thomas, New York State Senator, Chairman of Committee on Consumer Protection "Orange County is made up of hard-working communities that will benefit from Community Offshore Wind's supply chain investment plan. The project's plans to bring good-paying union jobs through steel fabrication will be a welcome addition. Orange County is ripe for opportunity to lift up communities and Community Offshore Wind recognizes that. I support Community Offshore Wind and their intention to create jobs and spread economic benefits throughout the state, particularly in Orange County."-Steven Neuhaus, Orange County Executive "United Way seeks out ways to improve the lives of all New Yorkers and partnering with Community Offshore Wind is a pathway to do that. Community Offshore Wind is providing $10 million in childcare services to parents who are participating in offshore wind trainings or have offshore wind-related jobs. We will facilitate the program, so that together, we can provide an opportunity for people seeking careers in offshore wind who need the childcare resources to do so. We support Community Offshore Wind's proposal, which includes this program and their efforts to break down barriers for New Yorkers."-Hugh Parry, President, United Way of New York State "The Hudson Valley Building Trades believes Community Offshore Wind's commitments for the Orange County area will bring high-road, union jobs to our community. This is a generational opportunity for organized labor to be a key player in ensuring the clean energy industry leads to family-sustaining jobs."-Todd Diorio, President of the Hudson Valley Building and Construction Trades Council "The Orange County Partnership and Community Offshore Wind have a shared interest in the economic growth of Orange County. I support the project's plan to localize secondary steel fabrication in Orange County, which will create good-paying union jobs and grow the local economy. We are in the business of helping businesses in the area succeed and will work with Community Offshore Wind to ensure the steel fabrication facility thrives."-Maureen Halahan, President and CEO, The Orange County Partnership "We are enthusiastic about the emerging offshore wind industry and the potential benefits it can bring to the State of New York and, in particular, Staten Island. Investment from the offshore wind industry will bring well-paying jobs to our borough and provide opportunities for Staten Island businesses to become part of the offshore wind supply chain. Community Offshore Wind, along with others in the industry that we have been communicating with, come with a breadth of experience and expertise in New York, and we have confidence in their ability to deliver." -Linda Baran, President, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce "The Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation is excited to help Community Offshore Wind bring a steel fabrication facility to Orange County. This project will afford the Hudson Valley an opportunity to lead in the new, green economy and I am excited to help make this project a reality."-Michael Oates, President and CEO, Hudson Valley Economic Corporation "We are delighted to partner with Community Offshore Wind to bring Foundation 2 Blade program to New York State and Long Island. Through the generous support of Community Offshore Wind, minority and women-owned businesses can access the offshore wind network. Building that supply chain, locally, will help serve the workforce needs of Long Island today and into the future. We support the project and their ability to build a diverse offshore wind supply chain in New York."-Professor Marjaneh Issapour, Associate Dean of Innovation and Economic Development in Sustainable Energy, Farmingdale State University "Community Offshore Wind has already reached out to communities in New York to make an impact and has proven to be committed to New Yorkers. Just this past December, several Community Offshore Wind employees came to our food bank to donate fresh, local seafood for the holidays. These meals fed thousands of residents who live in underserved communities. It is imperative that we have strong community partners like Community Offshore Wind to keep our mission going. Community Offshore Wind recognizes the hardships our residents face every day, and we thank them for providing meals to thousands of homes across the state. I support Community Offshore Wind's proposal to serve New York."-Thomas Neve, Founder & Executive Director, Reaching-Out Community Services "Community Offshore Wind has shown a commitment to working with MWBE and SDVOB firms like JetEx Mechanical. We are supplying the project with Personal Protective Equipment to keep workers safe and look forward to supporting their needs for years to come. Developers can select from a number of vendors to provide project equipment, so it speaks volumes when they specifically seek out local MWBE and SDVOB firms."-Clif Exil, Owner, JetEx Mechanical "As the offshore wind industry is just getting off the ground in the US and in New York, it's important that developers can commit to working with local companies and to building a local supply chain. We support Community Offshore Wind's proposal to the State of New York because we know they are invested in shifting the supply chain from global to local. We also applaud their commitment to create jobs in New York State, and particularly in disadvantaged communities such as Wellsville where we have existing operations."-Jude Auman, Business Development Manager, LJUNGSTROM "We partnered with Community Offshore Wind on a winter coat donation for families in need across New York in November. Our team believes in giving back to communities where we can and Community Offshore Wind has shown us that they share our values. We are a woman-owned, small, local business, and Community Offshore Wind took that into consideration for sourcing winter apparel to donate. We support the project's proposal and believe they will make a positive impact on small businesses and communities."-Tanya Fairman, Marketing Director of Buy Supply "In the months following the lease sale, Community Offshore Wind reached out to the MRV Group to discuss collaboration and partnership opportunities. Through their sponsorship, they have supported 13 community-based activations within our Offshore Wind + Job Expos platform and will continue to do so."-Glenn Vickers, Managing Director and Founder, MRV Group "As a workforce training organization, we're committed to strengthening the green jobs pipeline for historically marginalized communities. We are thrilled that with so much wind power coming to New York, we will see tremendous growth in opportunities for our trainees soon. We appreciate Community Offshore Wind's commitment to helping with this effort and centering environmental justice opportunities in their proposal."-Kaila Wilson, Director of Energy Development, RETI CENTER For more information, please visit www.communityoffshorewind.com. For further enquiries: Community Offshore Wind Molly Gilson Communications Lead M. +1-781-249-7706 E. [email protected] About Community Offshore Wind RWE and National Grid, will bring clean energy to the Northeastern US in a joint venture called Community Offshore Wind. They will develop offshore wind on the largest parcel in the New York Bight with the potential to host 3 gigawatts (GW) of capacity, which is enough to power more than one million US homes and businesses. The project is expected to be in operation by the end of 2030. Community Offshore Wind is dedicated to investing in communities by bringing clean energy jobs to the region and growing the local economy. They will deliver sustainable energy safely, reliably, and efficiently to the communities they serve. About RWE RWE is leading the way to a green energy world. With an extensive investment and growth strategy, the company will expand its powerful, green generation capacity to 50 gigawatts internationally by 2030. RWE is investing more than 50 billion gross for this purpose in this decade. The portfolio is based on offshore wind and onshore wind, solar, hydrogen, batteries, biomass and gas. RWE Supply & Trading provides tailored energy solutions for large customers. RWE has locations in the attractive markets of Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region. The company is responsibly phasing out nuclear energy and coal. Government-mandated phaseout roadmaps have been defined for both of these energy sources. RWE employs around 19,000 people worldwide and has a clear target: to get to net zero by 2040. On its way there, the company has set itself ambitious targets for all activities that cause greenhouse gas emissions. The Science Based Targets initiative has confirmed that these emission reduction targets are in line with the Paris Agreement. Very much in the spirit of the company's purpose: Our energy for a sustainable life. About National Grid Ventures National Grid is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people throughout our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a path to a more affordable, reliable clean energy future through our fossil-free vision. National Grid Ventures (NGV) is the non-regulated division of National Grid plc, one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world. NGV operates outside of National Grid's core regulated businesses in the US and UK where it develops, operates and invests in energy projects, technologies and partnerships to accelerate the development of a clean energy future. NGV's diverse portfolio of low carbon and renewable energy businesses across the UK, Europe and US includes subsea electricity interconnectors, wind and solar power, and battery storage. For more information, visit https://www.nationalgrid.com/national-grid-ventures. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/community-offshore-wind-submits-proposal-for-new-yorks-offshore-wind-solicitation-committing-over-3-billion-economic-benefit-to-the-state-301731935.html SOURCE Community Offshore Wind PITTSBURGH, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dollar Bank announced today that Peter Kubiska has been named its new Chief Marketing Officer. Kubiska originally joined Dollar Bank in 2002 as a Marketing Product Manager. "Pete has played an instrumental role in leading our strategic direction, brand evolution, and product management," said Jim McQuade, President and CEO, Dollar Bank. "His wealth of banking knowledge, extensive marketing experience, paired with his tireless efforts to drive innovation and collaboration made his promotion a natural fit for this critical senior management position." Kubiska will oversee the Marketing Communications and Product Management Teams with a primary focus on the Bank's retail growth. Pete will be responsible for the ongoing evolution of our brand while supporting lending, retail, and wealth management initiatives. He currently oversees the Bank's Rate Committee and serves on the Bank's Asset Liability Committee. "I am humbled by the opportunity to lead Dollar Bank's strategic initiatives," said Kubiska. "I know our team will work diligently to support Dollar Bank's growth efforts by understanding our customers' needs, creating transformational experiences, and identifying where we are poised for growth now and into the future." Kubiska brings over 20 years of marketing and finance leadership experience to this role. Prior to his tenure at Dollar Bank, he served as a product manager with Thomson Financial and a personal finance advisor with American Express Financial Advisors. He holds a Master of Business and a bachelor's degree in Finance from Loyola University of Maryland and completed the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Current Senior Vice President of Marketing, Joe Smith, will be retiring at the end of January after 30-years at Dollar Bank. About Dollar BankDollar Bank has assets of more than $11 billion. Today, Dollar Bank operates more than 90 locations throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, and Maryland with over 1,400 employees. For more than 167 years, Dollar Bank has grown to become the largest mutual bank in the United States, committed to providing the highest quality of banking services to individuals and businesses. Dedicated to aiding the communities it serves, Dollar Bank supports quality of life initiatives, financial literacy programs, and organizations devoted to helping individuals and families in need. Dollar Bank (www.dollar.bank) is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dollar-bank-names-peter-kubiska-chief-marketing-officer-301730876.html SOURCE Dollar Bank The company adds seasoned leaders to its executive team as it prepares for commercial launch BROOMFIELD, Colo., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Alio, Inc., a medical technology company reinventing the management of chronic disease, announced its new Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. David Whittaker. Whittaker brings a combination of clinical, engineering, innovative, and entrepreneurial experience to Alio. As a practicing vascular surgeon, his clinical expertise spans the full breadth of minimally invasive endovascular procedures and open vascular reconstructions. His work in both the private and academic sectors enables a wide-ranging perspective on the clinical and economic factors that affect patient care and medical device development. During his tenure as the CMO for the Defense Health Agency (DHA), he led innovation and design for the 51-hospital, $52B + system serving nearly 10 million lives. In addition, Whittaker was responsible for positioning $200M in DoD investments and significant direct investments spanning 20 portfolios and 5 major program lines including management systems for emerging threats, autonomous systems, human performance, operational medicine, and integrated systems. Another central function of his role at the DHA was the assessment of available technologies and processes to revolutionize military healthcare. "Understandably, providers are hesitant to implement new technology as it often creates greater friction within their workflows, it may be unclear how to bill for it, or there's not a substantial ROI for the intended patient population," said Whittaker. "Alio has not only proven the value it can provide, it is also a drastic improvement from the status quo, particularly for patients on dialysis. The Alio SmartPatch provides us with actionable patient metrics we would otherwise have zero insight intoand establishes important trends we can use to improve patient care." Alio adds Whittaker to the leadership roster after hitting a number of key milestones last year such as its first FDA clearance, the opening of its new Denver area office which now has more than 20 employees, and the launch and completion of a number of clinical studies. In addition to Whittaker, Alio also brought on a new head of marketing, Dana Schroeder. Schroeder has worked in marketing and communications within a number of factions of healthcare including health benefits, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and international healthcare policy. Applying her experience working for seed-stage startups to Fortune 100 organizations, she will be responsible for preparing for commercial launch while expanding the company's reach and influence in the digital health space. "Last year we established incredible momentum as an organization," said David Kuraguntla, CEO and Co-Founder of Alio. "Adding dynamic leaders to our team like Dave and Dana will help us accelerate our growth trajectory while building out our functional capabilities. These individuals, while experts in their respective fields, are united by their strong belief in the mission and vision of our company. I'm very much looking forward to how we will work together to reach our shared goals." About Alio Alio, Inc. is a medical technology company bringing peace of mind to people with chronic conditions through non-invasive, wireless remote patient monitoring. Currently, Alio uses its SmartPatch technology to monitor individuals with end stage kidney disease (ESKD) undergoing dialysis. Alio's platform uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze data and create actionable insights. These insights enable targeted interventions with the potential for improved health outcomes and reduced hospitalizations. Alio has built a team of seasoned leaders with diverse backgrounds spanning across industries and segments such as medical devices, wearable technology, government relations, commercialization, and reimbursement. Visit our website for more information: https://alio.ai. Contact: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dr-david-whittaker-joins-alio-as-chief-medical-officer-301731985.html SOURCE Alio Emma grew its revenues by 35% year-on-year and increased profits 2022 was Emma's fifth consecutive year of profitability Expansion highlights for 2023 include the launch of Emma's first European store FRANKFURT, Germany, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Emma The Sleep Company, the world's largest D2C sleep brand, ended 2022 with record revenues of US$948 million (873 million) and a year-on-year revenue growth rate of 35%. In doing so, the sleep company exceeded its own full-year revenue target of US$ 869 million (800 million) in what was a turbulent year for the global economy. While competitors entered administration due to the challenging economic environment, Emma increased its profits during 2022 its fifth consecutive year of profitability. A global growth story for the world's leading D2C sleep brand Since launching in Germany in 2015, Emma The Sleep Company has enjoyed consecutive years of growth and is now active in more than 30 markets around the world. The world's leading D2C sleep brand's growth story in 2022 was truly global in nature: Emma's fastest growing markets were all located outside of Europe. In Asia-Pacific, Australia grew its revenues by 103% in 2022 compared to 2021. In North America, the strongest performer was Mexico, where Emma grew its revenues by 117% year-on-year. In South America, Brazil recorded a 62% increase in revenues in 2022 compared to 2021. In Europe, the Italian market grew its revenues by 80% year-on-year. After a stellar 2022, Emma will continue its growth story in 2023 As part of its global expansion strategy, Emma The Sleep Company started building a dedicated team for the Polish and Danish markets in 2022. Looking ahead, the world's leading D2C sleep brand will continue to increase its market share and diversify its offering in existing markets. Emma will open its first European store this February in the Mall of the Netherlands, close to The Hague. To underpin its global growth strategy, the company has ambitious hiring plans for its international hubs located in Lisbon, Manila, and Mexico City. Challenging economic atmosphere did not stop Emma's sleep revolution "2022 was a tremendous year for Emma. In the face of strong economic headwinds, we bucked the trend, continued our remarkable growth story, and exceeded our own revenue targets, while increasing profitability," said Dr. Dennis Schmoltzi, CEO and Co-Founder of Emma The Sleep Company. "From Australia to Mexico, our triple-digit growth outside of Europe shows how we're building a truly global sleep brand. We'll continue our mission to awaken people's best with better sleep in 2023 through further growth and hiring to support that." "In a year when many competitors struggled, we continued to innovate, grow, and win awards," said Manuel Muller, CEO & Co-Founder of Emma The Sleep Company. "As a sleep tech company, innovation plays a central role in our daily business, and the superior nature of our product portfolio was once again recognized in 2022. We won awards in Italy, Spain, Brazil, Germany, Belgium, and the UK, taking our total haul to more than 80. We will continue our success story into 2023 and beyond by expanding and improving our portfolio of sleep products, as we strive to make a positive impact on people's lives through better sleep." *Value calculated with exchange rates as of 25th January 2023. About Emma The Sleep Company: Emma The Sleep Company is a founder-managed company and the world's leading Direct-to-consumer sleep brand. Founded in 2013 by Dr. Dennis Schmoltzi and Manuel Mueller in Germany, the company is active in more than 30 countries and achieved a turnover of EUR 873 million in 2022, a growth rate of 35 per cent from the previous year. Emma products are sold via an omnichannel approach, including D2C/online, marketplaces and more than 3,500 brick-and-mortar stores. Emma successfully collaborates with over 200 retailers. Emma's 1,000+ team members are working across the world, with offices in Frankfurt (Germany), Manila (Philippines), Lisbon (Portugal), Mexico City (Mexico), and Shanghai (China). View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/emma---the-sleep-company-continued-its-extraordinary-growth-story-in-2022-with-us948-million-873-million-in-revenue-301731869.html SOURCE Emma - The Sleep Company TORONTO, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Today Louis Gagnon, President and CEO of Foresters Financial (Foresters), announced Henry Auyeung, President Foresters Financial Canada's intention to retire in August 2023. Matt Berman, President of Foresters Financial US will become President Foresters Financial US and Canada effective March 1, 2023. Mr. Auyeung will continue to work with Mr. Berman and the Canadian Division during this transition. "Henry is a wonderful leader and partner. He was instrumental through the amalgamation of Canada Protection Plan with Foresters Canadian Division. His focus on customers and members, and his relationships with advisors are exemplary. I am delighted that he will work with Matt in the coming months to continue our journey of being a best-in-class insurer supporting Canadian families," says Mr. Gagnon. Henry has more than 45 years of experience in the life insurance industry, having started his career in 1974. Henry joined Canada Protection Plan and TPA Outsourcing Inc. in July 2015 and led the amalgamation of Canada Protection Plan and Foresters announced October 2020. Mr. Gagnon is grateful to Mr. Auyeung for continuing to work with Mr. Berman during this time of transition and says, "I am delighted to welcome Matt into the role. He is passionate about Foresters and has a track record of strong results and has previous experience leading the Foresters Canadian sales organization prior to the Foresters and Canada Protection Plan amalgamation." Mr. Berman is the President of Foresters Financial US. He joined Foresters in February 2017 and has more than 25 years of experience leading strategic planning, sales and product management in both the property and casualty, and life and savings sectors, most notably with AXA, AIG and Zurich Insurance. "I am honored to be selected for this role. I look forward to working with the US and Canadian Divisions to serve our members and advisors. I also welcome the opportunity to support Foresters growth in Canada as we continue to offer outstanding products and services to Canadian families," says Matt Berman. For more information about Foresters and other member benefits, please visit Foresters.com or go to cpp.ca for more information about Canada Protection Plan. Life Insurance with a Larger Purpose Foresters goal is to develop innovative member benefits, products, and service offerings that promote a lifetime of well-being, and align with our fraternal purpose to enrich the lives of families and their communities. That's life insurance with a larger purpose. Bringing a better, new normal to everyday North American families, Foresters offers a suite of unique member benefits[1] and is redefining the conventional life insurance model. Member benefits today include opportunities for scholarships, orphan benefits, community volunteer grants, document preparation service to prepare wills, Lifelong Learning, MemberDeals, and more. About Foresters Financial Foresters Financial is redefining the life insurance and individual savings industry across the United States, Canada and United Kingdom by enriching the lives, communities, and overall well-being of its members. Agents and members alike appreciate the turnkey-decisioned product offerings and end-to-end digitized processes that make it easy to get life insurance without traditional medical exams. State-of-the-art mobile tools help agents deliver tailored plans to prospective and current members. Dedicated to its members' well-being, Foresters offers a suite of member benefits and is redefining the conventional life insurance model, bringing improved financial security and overall wellness to everyday North American families. Foresters amalgamated with Canada Protection Plan to become a leading life insurance distributor in Canada. Foresters Financial is the trade name for The Independent Order of Foresters, the oldest non-denominational fraternal benefit society. For 22 straight years, The Independent Order of Foresters has received an "A" (Excellent) rating from A.M. Best.[2] [1] Foresters Financial member benefits are non-contractual, subject to benefit specific eligibility requirements, definitions, and limitations and may be changed or cancelled without notice or are no longer available. [2] The A.M. Best rating assigned on August 4, 2022, reflects the overall strength and claims-paying ability of The Independent Order of Foresters (IOF) but does not apply to the performance of any non-IOF issued products. An "A" (Excellent) rating is assigned to companies that have a strong ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders and have, on balance, excellent balance sheet strength, operating performance and business profile when compared to the standards established by. A.M. Best Company. A.M. Best assigns ratings from A++ to F, A++ and A+ being superior ratings and A and A- being excellent ratings. See ambest.com for our latest rating. TM* Canada Protection Plan is a trademark of Canada Protection Plan Inc, a Foresters Financial Company. 421538 CAN/US/UK (01/23) View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/foresters-financial-canadian-division-president-announces-retirement-301731573.html SOURCE The Independent Order of Foresters Sharjah is the first in the world to introduce NFTs with SBT technology, raising the bar for advanced digital transformation. SHARJAH, UAE, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Higher Committee of the Government of Sharjah at GITEX Global 2022 honoured participants, supporting entities, departments, and media outlets for their contribution to the success of Sharjah's participation in the global event. Sheikh Saud bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Higher Committee for the Government of Sharjah at GITEX Technology Week 2022 and Director of the Sharjah Digital Office, gifted the supporting entities non-fungible tokens (NFT) in the form of digital trophies using Soulbound Tokens (SBT), replacing physical appreciation plaques and marking a global-first for the emirate. The trophies will be stored in a digital ledger whose identity can be verified via the blockchain system. SBTs are digital identity tokens signifying traits, features, and achievements that make up a person or entity. SBTs are issued by 'Souls,' representing blockchain accounts or wallets, and cannot be transferred or sold. Sheikh Saud bin Sultan Al Qasimi said: "Based on the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, our efforts continue to focus on the development of sustainable growth across all sectors. In line with the technological evolution we are witnessing, we have replaced traditional appreciation plaques with sustainable digital assets to honour our partners, becoming the first in the world to do so." Commenting on the participation of the Government of Sharjah at GITEX Technology Week 2022, Sheikh Saud continued: "We welcomed senior officials from the UAE and from around the world, organising 12 workshops to discuss the adoption of the latest technologies and our commitment to digitalisation and global technological trends." Media Contact:Reem Masswadeh[email protected]+971 (05)0 583 9330 Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1990743/Sharjah_Government_GITEX_Global_2022.mpPhoto - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1990745/Sharjah_Government_GITEX_Global_2022.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/government-of-sharjah-honours-partners-with-nft-plaque-using-sbt-technology-for-their-support-at-gitex-global-2022-becomes-worlds-first-to-do-so-301731921.html SOURCE Sharjah Digital Office Former Cedars-Sinai CMO joins consultancy as it expands growth, media and digital marketing teams BRENTWOOD, Tenn. and CHICAGO, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- National healthcare strategic communications consultancy Jarrard Inc. has added eight new professionals to its roster, including prominent healthcare marketer Pattie Cuen as a Senior Vice President in the firm's Academic Health Systems Practice. Cuen's experience further enhances the firm's unique value it brings to clients: A deep understanding of the complex communications challenges healthcare providers face, which is the result of 17 years focusing exclusively on the provider segment of the industry. Jarrard Inc. has added prominent healthcare communications & marketing executive Pattie Cuen as a senior vice president Cuen most recently served as Chief Marketing and Communications officer at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. There, she increased the organization's national and international reputation and visibility while leading a team of 100+ marketing and communications staff members and external consultants operating on a $60 million+ budget. Previously, Cuen served two decades at UCLA, establishing the medical center's digital strategy team and first internal communications team and orchestrating an award-winning branding campaign. An educator and leader with deep roots in her community, Cuen has been an active board member and chair to several foundations dedicated to the betterment of public health. Also joining the firm is strategy and development expert Crista Stark, who has been named the firm's Chief Growth Officer. Prior to joining Jarrard, Stark was an original founder and served as Chief Strategy and Development Officer at HealthPRO Heritage where she led the organization's overall strategy, business development and marketing initiatives and served on its executive committee. While there, she helped drive the post-acute therapy and wellness company into an enterprise with revenues of a half-billion over 15 years. Jarrard Inc. President Anne Hancock Toomey said these leaders will be pivotal in helping the firm anticipate clients' needs during a momentous time in healthcare and provide solutions that optimize today's change, challenges and opportunities. "Pattie has led communications and marketing for some of the country's most respected health systems through countless moments of transformative change," Toomey said. "Her seasoned insight leads to sharp, practical counsel for our clients. "Similarly, Crista's industry acumen and success in growing healthcare brands is exactly what Jarrard Inc. needs in this moment as we anticipate where the industry is headed and chart the best growth path forward as a firm." Six additional hires join the firm in parallel with a reorganization under a new practice structure grouping client services teams into the areas of: National Health Systems Academic Health Systems Regional Health Systems Public & Community Health Systems Health Services Companies "As the needs of provider organizations have become more nuanced, so has our firm," Toomey said. "Our clients deserve an experienced, deep bench of strategic advisors who have no learning curve on the unique environment in which they operate and what it takes to be successful in carrying out their respective missions." In addition, a newly launched Digital + Design Group will work across practices and clients to offer full-service digital marketing and creative services to healthcare organizations. Additional new hires: Samantha Fisher, Associate Vice President, National Practice.With two decades in broadcast journalism and government media relations, Fisher has an insider's knowledge of the changing media landscape and how to craft clients' stories for maximum impact. Before joining Jarrard Inc., she served as communications director for the Tennessee Attorney General. Previously, she was a national correspondent with CNN, where she was on the political team that won a Peabody Award for Coverage of the 2008 Presidential Primary Campaign and Debates. Megan Glass, Associate Vice President, Health Services Practice.Glass is a strategic business developer and multimedia marketer. Adept in building and leading teams to execute strategy, Glass recently served at Healthmap Solutions, a Tampa-based healthcare technology startup. There, she grew the business development team from 10 to 75 employees. Glass notably leverages her deep understanding of customer service and client relationships to build connections and grow business. Lauri Kerns, Senior Managing Advisor, Public & Community Practice.Kerns is an expert in healthcare communications and media relations. With an extensive portfolio of high-stakes issue and crisis navigation, Kerns' previous career includes serving as a supervisory public affairs specialist with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and as a director of marketing and communications for Ballad Health, a regional health system serving parts of Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina and Kentucky. Katie Cunningham, Strategist, Digital + Design Group.Cunningham offers a sharp aptitude for strategic planning and project management to the firm. Prior to joining Jarrard Inc., she used her keen organizational mind at Chicago-based information technology company, Collabera, as an associate account manager. Rachel McKechnie, Administrative Assistant, Professional Services Team.McKechnie has a knack for dynamic management and offering energetic support to leadership teams. McKechnie joined Jarrard Inc. from Franklin, TN-based Ramsey Solutions where she served as an administrative assistant, coordinating and managing administrative operations for four direct leaders. Shoshana Overstreet, Associate Advisor, The Advisor Group.Overstreet joins the firm following a yearlong fellowship. Her notable attention to detail, exemplary communication skills and passion for the work make her a valuable asset to the advisor team. Prior to the firm, Overstreet worked in K-12 education. About Jarrard Inc. With offices in Nashville, Tenn. and Chicago, Jarrard Inc. is a U.S. Top 10 strategic communications consulting firm that specializes in working with healthcare leaders during high stakes moments of change, challenge and opportunity. Founded in 2006, the firm has come alongside leading healthcare provider organizations across the country. In those 17 years, the firm has served more than 1,000 clients in over 45 states and served as a communications advisor on more than $75 billion in announced M&A and partnership transaction communications. The firm uses the power of communications, marketing and political strategy to guide provider organizations in the areas of change management, issues and advocacy and strategic positioning. Jarrard Inc. is a division of The Chartis Group, one of the nation's leading comprehensive healthcare advisory firms. For more information, visit jarrardinc.com or follow us on LinkedIn. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jarrard-inc-adds-renowned-healthcare-communications-executive-to-roster-301731930.html SOURCE Jarrard Phillips Cate & Hancock, Inc OMAHA, Neb., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Medical Solutions, one of the largest healthcare talent ecosystems, today announced the promotion of Amber Ireland to Chief Marketing Officer. Ireland has been with Medical Solutions for four years and brings over 20 years of industry experience to her new role. As CMO, Ireland will oversee the strategy, development, and execution of all Marketing initiatives for Medical Solutions', including creative, operations, communications, and public relations activities, along with support of the company's M&A strategy and related integrations. "I'm honored to have the incredible opportunity to support Medical Solutions' growth and transformation in this capacity and at this exciting time in our company's history," said Ireland. "I look forward to working closely with senior leadership, our talented Marketing team, and internal and external partners to drive brand recognition, deliver extraordinary experiences to our clients and traveling clinicians, and to propel Medical Solutions ahead of our competition in the marketplace as we lead the way and transform our industry." Ireland most recently served as Vice President of Marketing and Brand Strategy for Medical Solutions. She developed strategies to support lead generation, brand awareness and social media engagement and led the company's customer experience, marketing operations, and creative teams. Prior to joining Medical Solutions, Ireland served in various marketing leadership positions with PPR Talent Management Group, before its acquisition by Medical Solutions in 2018. During her career, she has directed recruitment teams and launched new business units for managed services programs and recruitment process outsourcing. Ireland holds a bachelor's degree from the University of North Florida. "We're thrilled to welcome Amber to our executive team and to her new and well-earned role as CMO," said Craig Meier, Chief Executive Officer of Medical Solutions. "Amber's passion for our industry, our vision, and our Purpose of connecting care are complemented by her depth of experience, proven track record, and people-centric approach to leadership, all of which will take us to new heights as we build the healthcare talent ecosystem of the future." Ireland assumes the CMO position previously held by Joe Greene, who recently announced his retirement. ABOUT MEDICAL SOLUTIONS Medical Solutions specializes in placing quality nurses, allied healthcare professionals, and interim clinical leaders in contingent as well as permanent, local, and per diem positions for hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities throughout the U.S. The company's workforce solutions include a managed services program, which offers hospitals and healthcare systems a streamlined approach to contingent workforce processes, helping facilities gain efficiencies, control labor costs, and enhance patient care standards. Medical Solutions is headquartered in Omaha, Neb., with company locations in San Diego, Cincinnati, Denver, Tampa, Jacksonville, Tupelo, and Durham. In 2018, the company acquired PPR Talent Management Group in Jacksonville, Fla., and in 2019, acquired Omaha-based C&A Industries, parent company to workforce solution firms Aureus Medical Group and FocusOne Solutions. In 2022, Medical Solutions acquired Matchwell; its business model of subscription-based, per diem, and local services expanded Medical Solutions' portfolio of service offerings into the per diem and local markets to further bolster the company's total workforce solutions ecosystem model. Medical Solutions was one of the first travel nursing and allied healthcare staffing companies to be certified by the Joint Commission and has been continuously certified since January 2005. For more information, visit medicalsolutions.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/medical-solutions-promotes-amber-ireland-to-chief-marketing-officer-301731928.html SOURCE Medical Solutions LLC Iconic Texas brand also opened 14 new stores, launched online ordering and donned a new look HOUSTON, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Fast-growing Shipley Do-Nuts, makers of gourmet, made-fresh-daily do-nuts for more than 85 years, continued its rapid expansion in 2022, opening 14 new locations and inking 11 multi-unit franchise deals that add a total of nearly 100 shops to its new store pipeline. The new development agreements will bring the brand to three new states, Maryland, Georgia and Virginia, and expand its footprint in Colorado, Florida and Texas. The first Maryland location opened Jan. 9, 2023, and the first Georgia location is slated for a late Q1 2023 opening. Overall, the company is projecting double-unit growth in 2023 over 2022. "We will remember 2022 as a banner year for Shipley. We had a tremendous amount of interest in the brand from experienced, multi-unit operators who will accelerate our growth in new and existing markets," said Shipley Do-Nuts CEO Clifton Rutledge. "We've been working fast and furious to upgrade our offerings and guest experience as we introduce the Shipley magic to new generations and regions and continue to build upon this momentum in the new year." The company kicked off 2022 by updating its branding to better convey the fun and flavor of today's Shipley Do-Nuts. The famous Shipley red is now accompanied by new "Do-Happy" branding, a play on the unique spelling of the company name and celebrating the taste of Shipley's made-fresh-daily do-nuts. In late summer, Shipley launched a companywide coffee program, offering guests premium Shipley House Blend hot coffee made from ethically sourced Central and South American medium roast coffee beans, plus two flavors of cold brew, Bold Black and Salted Caramel. It is also testing National Restaurant Association Show Kitchen Innovation Awardee Botrista to add flavored lemonades to the beverage program. When Shipley rolled out its new online ordering program systemwide in 2022, ticket averages increased by nearly 20%. And when the company began testing a loyalty program in its corporate-owned Houston shops, thousands of new members signed up in just weeks. Shipley will introduce the program systemwide in 2023. Shipley has emerged strong from the challenges of recent years, as evidenced by its recognition on Entrepreneur magazine's 2023 Franchise 500 list, moving up 13 spots to No. 131, the highest in its category. The industry also took notice of the company's leadership in 2022. The Houston Business Journal named Rutledge one of its Most Admired CEOs, while CMO Donna Josephson was honored as an Entrepreneur Franchise CMO Gamechanger. Shipley is actively recruiting franchisees in all markets, with a focus on increasing its presence in Colorado, Oklahoma, Florida and throughout the Southeast. For more information, visit ownashipleydonuts.com. ABOUT SHIPLEY DO-NUTS Founded in 1936, Houston-based Shipley Do-Nuts is a leading do-nut restaurant franchisor and manufacturer of specialty food products. Shipley franchises over 330 restaurants to a diverse group of operators across 11 states and has served its do-nuts, kolaches and beverages to generations of guests. Shipley is ranked No. 131 on Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500 2023 list, the highest in its category. For information on franchising, visit ownashipleydonuts.com. Media Contact:Ashley Lennington, SPM Communications[email protected]214-379-7000 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shipley-do-nuts-new-store-pipeline-grew-by-nearly-100-in-2022-301731028.html SOURCE Shipley Do-Nuts "Al Jazeera 101 East" presents a new documentary about the death penalty and Singapore's deadly drug war . While reams of research have demonstrated that the death penalty does not deter crime, which you can check out here , here , and here , countries like the Philippines, Singapore, and the United States continue to assume that killing humans deters crime. This means that people continue to be killed by governments and criminal justice systems to respond to society's desires in Singapore or the United States for justice through vengeance and death. The proverbial "eye for an eye." von Herrath, a leader in immunology, brings more than three decades of experience in cutting-edge diabetes research MIAMI, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Diabetes Research Institute (DRI), a world leader focused on finding a cure for type 1 diabetes, recently announced the appointment of its new scientific director, Matthias von Herrath, M.D. Bringing more than 25 years of experience in diabetes research and innovation, Dr. von Herrath is one of the leading diabetes experts in the world. Dr. von Herrath joins the Miller School after serving as professor at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology in San Diego. He also is Vice President and Senior Medical Officer for Novo Nordisk, Inc., a Danish pharmaceutical company. Dr. von Herrath will leverage his extensive experience opening the door to new frontiers in translational research. "I look forward to advancing the Institute's mission of accelerating a cure for type 1 diabetes," said Dr. von Herrath, who will hold the Stacy Joy Goodman Chair. "Recent studies point to promising new directions in diabetes research at the scientific and clinical levels. It has never been a more exciting time!" The announcement from the DRI comes on the heels of recent landmark announcements including new marketed treatment TZIELD and the FDA-IND clearance of the AlloStem trial, both of which were made possible through the work of DRI researchers Dr. Jay Skyler and Dr. Camillo Ricordi, respectively. "Dr. von Herrath's innovative research and achievements have contributed immensely to our knowledge of diabetes. His expertise and unparalleled experience are highly synergistic with our leadership in biologic replacement strategies," shared Dr. Camillo Ricordi, Tenured Professor and Chief of the Division of Cellular Transplantation, Department of Surgery, and Director Emeritus of DRI. "He is the ideal leader for growing the Institute's comprehensive research portfolio towards the next quantum leaps in the search of a cure for this devastating disease." The DRI and its fundraising arm, the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation (DRIF), have worked together since 1971 to support and help advance the research with a singular goal - finding a cure for diabetes. While competitive research grants are the mainstay of world-class research institutes, the Foundation provides the DRI with critical funding to pursue various promising research avenues and continue to advance their work. "We are excited to welcome Dr. von Herrath to the Institute as its new Scientific Director. We firmly believe that with Dr. von Herrath's leadership, the DRI will remain the preeminent location of scientific research focused on a biological cure of type 1 diabetes." said William Fishlinger, Chairman, DRIF National Board of Directors. For Dr. von Herrath's full bio and more information about the DRI and DRIF, please visit: http://www.diabetesresearch.org. About the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) and Foundation The Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) and Foundation were created for one reason to cure diabetes which is and will continue to be the singular focus until that goal is reached. As one of the largest and most comprehensive research centers dedicated to curing diabetes, the DRI is working to restore natural insulin production and normalize blood sugar levels without imposing other risks. Researchers have already shown that transplanted insulin-producing islet cells allow people with type 1 diabetes to live without the need for insulin injections. Some of the DRI's islet transplant patients have been free from insulin for more than 15 years. Funding provided by the Foundation is the driving force that allows DRI scientists to pursue new and innovative ideas, and to bring these discoveries to patients. The Diabetes Research Institute Foundation is the organization of choice for those who want to Be Part of the Cure. For more information, please visit DiabetesResearch.org or call 800-321-3437. Media Contact: Maggie Ward [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-diabetes-research-institute-appoints-world-renowned-diabetes-expert-matthias-von-herrath-md-to-scientific-director-301731741.html SOURCE Diabetes Research Institute Foundation FORM 6-K SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 Report of Foreign Issuer Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the month of January, 2023 Commission File Number: 001-12518 Banco Santander, S.A. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Ciudad Grupo Santander 28660 Boadilla del Monte (Madrid) Spain (Address of principal executive office) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F: Form 20-F X Form 40-F Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): Yes No X Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): Yes No X Banco Santander, S.A. TABLE OF CONTENTS Item 1 Report of Other Relevant Information dated January 26, 2023 Item 1 Banco Santander, S.A. (Santander), in compliance with the Securities Market legislation, hereby communicates the following: OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION Santander hereby announces that the presentation of its results for 2022 will take place next Thursday February 2, 2023. To this end, a presentation will be given to analysts via webcast at 10:00 a.m. (Madrid time), which can be followed through the banks corporate website www.santander.com . The associated documentation will be made public prior to its commencement through a communication to the CNMV and publication on the aforementioned corporate website. At 12:00 p.m. (Madrid time), a presentation to media will take place at the Ciudad Grupo Santander in Boadilla del Monte (Madrid). Boadilla del Monte (Madrid), January 26, 2023 SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 6-K Report of Foreign Private Issuer Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the month of January, 2023 Commission File Number 1-14668 COMPANHIA PARANAENSE DE ENERGIA (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Energy Company of Parana (Translation of Registrant's name into English) Jose Izidoro Biazetto, 158 81200-240 Curitiba, Parana Federative Republic of Brazil +55 (41) 3331-4011 (Address of principal executive offices) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F. Form 20-F ___X___ Form 40-F _______ Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Yes _______ No ___X____ NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS | 01/23 COMPANHIA PARANAENSE DE ENERGIA COPEL Publicly Held Company Corporate Taxpayers ID (CNPJ/MF) 76.483.817/0001-20 State Registry (NIRE) 41300036535 CVM Registration 1431-1 B3 (CPLE3, CPLE5, CPLE6, CPLE11) NYSE (ELP) LATIBEX (XCOP, XCOPO, XCOPU) Scheduled date for the Annual Shareholders General Meeting Companhia Paranaense de Energia COPEL (Company), a company that generates, transmits, distributes and trades energy, hereby informs its shareholders and the market in general that, pursuant to Article 37, paragraph 2, of CVM Resolution No. 81/2022, as amended, the holding of its Annual Shareholders' General Meeting is scheduled for April 28, 2023, as already disclosed in its Calendar of Corporate Events. We hereby inform that any request for inclusion of proposals and/or candidates for the Board of Directors in the Remote Voting Bulletin of the Annual Shareholders' General Meeting, must be presented to the Company, through a written request sent to the Investor Relations Officer, at Rua Jose Izidoro Biazetto, 158 Mossungue, CEP 81200-240, in the city of Curitiba, State of Parana, or to the email address [email protected] As provided for in Art. 37 of CVM Resolution 81/2022, requests for inclusion of candidates to the boards and/or resolution proposals must be received by the Investor Relations Officer of the Company until April 3, 2023 and March 14, 2023, respectively, observing the requirements set forth in items I and II of Art. 37 of the same resolution. It should also be noted that any request for inclusion of candidates or proposals for deliberation must comply with the provisions of art. 38 of Resolution 81/2022. The Convocation of the Meeting, the Management Proposal and the Participation Manual will be made available in due course, in accordance with the applicable legislation and regulations. Curitiba, January 13, 2022 Adriano Rudek de Moura Chief Financial and Investor Relations Officer For more information, please get in touch with the Company by email [email protected] or call to 0800-412772 SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. Date January 26, 2023 COMPANHIA PARANAENSE DE ENERGIA COPEL By: / S / Daniel Pimentel Slaviero Daniel Pimentel Slaviero Chief Executive Officer FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are statements that are not historical facts, and are based on management's current view and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results. The words "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "plans" and similar expressions, as they relate to the company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the declaration or payment of dividends, the implementation of principal operating and financing strategies and capital expenditure plans, the direction of future operations and the factors or trends affecting financial condition, liquidity or results of operations are examples of forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. There is no guarantee that the expected events, trends or results will actually occur. The statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, and operating factors. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 6-K Report of Foreign Private Issuer Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the month of January, 2023 Commission File Number 1-14668 COMPANHIA PARANAENSE DE ENERGIA (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Energy Company of Parana (Translation of Registrant's name into English) Jose Izidoro Biazetto, 158 81200-240 Curitiba, Parana Federative Republic of Brazil +55 (41) 3331-4011 (Address of principal executive offices) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F. Form 20-F ___X___ Form 40-F _______ Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Yes _______ No ___X____ NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS | 02/23 COMPANHIA PARANAENSE DE ENERGIA COPEL Publicly Held Company Corporate Taxpayers ID (CNPJ/MF) 76.483.817/0001-20 State Registry (NIRE) 41300036535 CVM Registration 1431-1 B3 (CPLE3, CPLE5, CPLE6, CPLE11) NYSE (ELP) LATIBEX (XCOP, XCOPO, XCOPU) Scheduled date for the Annual Shareholders General Meeting Companhia Paranaense de Energia COPEL (Company), a company that generates, transmits, distributes and trades energy, informs its shareholders that the 2023 Yield Reports (Reference Year: 2022) related to the Companys book-entry assets will be made available as from March 1st, 2023, by Banco Bradesco, the current bookkeeper of Copels shares. In order to generate that document, access the Digital Documents Portal (a platform created that allows viewing, printing and downloading documents in a digital format, according to the following procedures: 1. Access Bradesco Document Portal 2. Enter your CPF and date of birth. In case of a Legal Entity, enter CNPJ and date of foundation 3. To verify your identity, choose one of the options: phone number or e-mail address 4. Enter the received code and create your password 5. Your access has been granted. Enter the CPF or CNPJ and the registered password If you have any questions regarding the Digital Documents Portal and the information contained in the Income Report, contact Bradesco (Bookkeeper Bank) at 4020-5347, Monday through Friday, from 9am to 6pm or directly at any of its branches. Curitiba, January 17, 2022 Adriano Rudek de Moura Chief Financial and Investor Relations Officer For more information, please get in touch with the Company by email [email protected] or call to 0800-412772 SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. Date January 26, 2023 COMPANHIA PARANAENSE DE ENERGIA COPEL By: / S / Daniel Pimentel Slaviero Daniel Pimentel Slaviero Chief Executive Officer FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are statements that are not historical facts, and are based on management's current view and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results. The words "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "plans" and similar expressions, as they relate to the company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the declaration or payment of dividends, the implementation of principal operating and financing strategies and capital expenditure plans, the direction of future operations and the factors or trends affecting financial condition, liquidity or results of operations are examples of forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. There is no guarantee that the expected events, trends or results will actually occur. The statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, and operating factors. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. A soldier stationed in Kuwait received her Christmas miracle in the form of a medical airlift of her premature baby to Germany by fellow service members. The girl was born Nov. 22, more than three months early, Army Maj. Jeanne Krick, a neonatologist at Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio who was on the flight, told Stars and Stripes last week. The infant required help breathing, eating and maintaining a healthy core temperature, Krick said. She and seven other members of a medical team flew from Texas to Kuwait on Dec. 21. They monitored the infant from afar as they waited for her to become strong enough to survive the stresses of travel. We picked up the baby Christmas Day in Kuwait and delivered her to Germany in the same day, Tech. Sgt. Alejandro Armendariz of the 145th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron said in an Air Force statement. After loading the baby into an infant incubator specialized for travel, the team took off on a C-17 Globemaster III. But the final stretch of the 15,000-mile mission proved challenging. Just before landing, the infants vital signs dropped precipitously. Her heart rate and oxygen saturation were lowered by the changes in air pressure. Literally within about a thousand feet of landing, several members of my team had to unstrap and try to help her out, Krick said. She described a hectic scene in which one doctor manually pumped air from a bag to help the baby breathe as others told the pilots to land the plane as quickly as possible. Air evacuation crew members grabbed the medical workers to secure them during landing. The medical intervention helped, and a day later, the infant no longer needed her breathing tube. The child and her mother were transferred to a U.S. medical facility in Germany, Krick said. The infants mother, who was deployed to Camp Arifjan, declined an interview request. Krick provided an update on the baby girls condition, saying that she is getting bigger and stronger every day. With its commandant and Guams governor in attendance, the Marine Corps held a second activation ceremony on Thursday for its first new installation in 70 years. Camp Blaz still under construction just west of Andersen Air Force Base after a soft activation in October 2020 is expected to begin welcoming about 5,000 Marines within the next several years. A soft activation ceremony in October 2020 was limited to a small number of Marines due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Blaz spokeswoman Maj. Diann Rosenfield told Stars and Stripes by phone after the event. Thursdays ceremony was meant to share the special occasion with the local community, she said. Some may see this reactivation as the result of problems of challenges in the world I disagree, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger said during the event at Asan Beach Park that was streamed live on Blaz Facebook page. I think the reactivation of Camp Blaz is a symbol of increasing opportunity. Its a sign of commitment, a sign of friendship, a sign of community and of strength. Blaz was born out of the Defense Policy Review Initiative, a joint agreement between the United States and Japan to relocate some Marine assets from Okinawa. Japan is paying $3 billion of the estimated $8.6 billion needed to build the base and surrounding infrastructure. I am looking forward to seeing our bilateral accomplishment serving as a foundation for peace and stability and further deepening the alliance, Jiro Kimura, parliamentary vice minister of defense for Japan, told the audience. The 4,000-acre base, named in honor of the late Marine Brig. Gen. Vicente Ben Tomas Garrido Blaz, a Guam native, is slated to host around 1,300 members of the III Marine Expeditionary Force. An additional 3,700 Marines will be assigned there as a rotational force. Berger noted the significance of the ceremonys venue being one of the landing sites of American forces during World War IIs Battle of Guam, when Marines liberated the island from Japanese occupation, and shared a story from Vicente Blaz life. He was just a boy, 13 years old, overlooking Apra Harbor, when he saw the ships filled with Marines that would land right here on Asan Beach, Berger said. It wouldnt be long before he himself would earn the title United States Marine and one day even commanding the very unit that landed here. Its an amazing story. Nearly 40 Marines and about 110 civilians were working at Blaz as of last month. Construction has progressed steadily, and completed projects include several barracks, an aviation maintenance hangar, firing ranges and infrastructure. While no date has been set for the transfer of forces from Okinawa to Guam, the general expectation is that it will begin in the mid-2020s, base commander Col. Christopher Bopp told Stars and Stripes last month. Guams governor, Lou Leon Guerrero, said during the ceremony that the success of Guam, the Marines and the Indo-Pacific are inseparable. She also used the moment to highlight the islands political status. As an unincorporated U.S. territory, Guam residents are U.S. citizens, but they lack the ability to vote in presidential elections and their U.S. House representative is a non-voting delegate. It is perhaps [Blaz] most famous quote that moves us today, she said. We are equal in war, but not in peace. That best reflects the current situation of Guam and the other U.S. territories while we are still not equal in peace in the manner that General Blaz and many others envision for Guam and our people, we have made progress. Rape and other forms of sexual abuse have long been used as means of control, humiliation and dominance in wartime situations. These vicious acts have been perpetuated by systems that call for world peace over all else. Most recently, members of the Russian military in Ukraine have used rape and sexual abuse as weapons of war. An October press release from the United Nations Commission on Human Rights reported an array of war crimes and violations of human rights committed by Russian personnel in Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin and the Russian military leadership have used rape as a tool to force subservience. The UNCHR recommended enhancing the coordination of international and national efforts to protect victims. This ambiguous recommendation holds no water to the Russian government apparently it fits in with catastrophic and harmful weapons of war. The rape and abuse of a nation is dehumanizing and instills an unshakable fear and shame. Rape as a wartime tactic is inhumane. The U.S. is not immune to this military tactic. Prisoner sex abuse was rampant with 400 alleged cases carried out at Abu Ghraib, a prison complex in Iraq, and six other prisons between 2001 and 2005 according to a 2009 report from Reuters. The photographs obtained from Abu Ghraib show torture, abuse, rape, and every indecency as U.S. Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba, who wrote the report on Abu Ghraib, told the Daily Telegraph May 30, 2009. Today, the U.S. military is struggling to deal with an increase in rapes and sexual assaults with nearly 1 in 4 women reporting being sexually assaulted while serving, according to The New York Times. On May 3, 2021, a former cadet at West Point was denied the opportunity to present a lawsuit to the Supreme Court. The cadet alleged rape on campus, pointing to the U.S. Military Academys pervasive and well-known culture of sexual violence. In fiscal year 2021 the Department of Defense received 161 reports of sexual assault that involved cadets/midshipmen/prep school students as victims and/or alleged perpetrators, an increase of 32 reports from the previous year. Rape in the military is not just an issue in combat, it starts in the academies. In 2013, then-Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., proposed the Vanessa Guillen Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act. The legislation aimed to standardize how the military prosecutes sexual assault and to remove the fear survivors have of reporting the crimes against them. In 2021, a related bill was introduced by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., to include an independent prosecutor in cases of rape and murder and received backing from Democratic leaders such as then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, of California, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, of New York. Former United Nations special rapporteur on violence against women Dubravka Simonovic presented the Model Rape Law, an addendum to her report on rape as a human rights violation, to harmonize both national and international standards on rape and sexual violence. Rape can constitute a war crime, a crime against humanity, or a constitutive act with respect to genocide when the other elements of the crimes are present. The Model Rape Law could aid in implementing international standards on rape, thus presenting a stronger stance against rape and sexual abuse in the United States and abroad. One of the objectives of the legislation is to prevent and combat rape as a common and widespread violation of human rights. But this cant be the only action taken by the UNCHR to protect victims of rape and prosecute those responsible. Sexual abuse is a direct violation of the Geneva Conventions, a set of protocols that dictate humanitarian treatment during wartime and prohibit torture, outrages upon personal dignity, and humiliating and degrading treatment of detainees, among other rules of conduct. Thirty countries including the United States have imposed a series of sanctions on Russia, resulting in economic disruption but that hasnt stopped its government from ordering these attacks and from its soldiers from blindly carrying them out. While the U.N. is the overarching entity that regulates international standards and needs to be enacting laws that do so, Putin must independently be embarrassed by the atrocities he is encouraging and causing. More publicity of these rapes and abuses could help do that. The issue is widespread and international: On Jan. 17, CNN reported that a former London police officer, David Carrick, was dismissed following his admission to 24 counts of rape. The U.N. and United States need to look internally and enact legislation that presents an explicit stance against rape, an offense considered to be a crime against humanity, but that isnt treated as such. The U.S. has a duty to protect service members who are victimized and reprimand and discharge those who acted as aggressors. The U.S. and the U.N. must pass the aforementioned legislation and work with other governments to standardize responses to rape and sexual abuse in wartime on the global stage. Robert Weiner is a former spokesman for the House Government Operations Committee and the drug policy office of the Clinton and George W. Bush White Houses. Sophia Hosford is a policy analyst at Robert Weiner Associates and Solutions for Change. BATAAN, Philippines They'd grown old together, the nuclear plant and its caretaker. Willie Torres had been there at the start in the 1970s, when the plant was still being built, a $2.3 billion project set to become Asia's first venture into nuclear energy. He stayed on as a technician when the plant became dogged by scandal. And he remained as one of a handful of staff when, in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster, the government ordered it mothballed. In the face of skyrocketing energy prices and the global push to slow climate change by moving away from fossil fuels, interest in nuclear power has surged anew in the Philippines and abroad. President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. announced weeks after taking office last year that "it is time" to revisit nuclear energy and mused openly about reviving the decades-old Bataan nuclear plant. The plant begun in the mid-1970s by the president's father, dictator Ferdinand Marcos, was beset by construction delays, cost overruns and charges that the Marcos family had taken bribes from contractors. When an independent commission concluded that the plant had "inadequate safeguards and could be a potential hazard," opposition to the project grew. It was shelved in 1986 and its reactor was never turned on. "It was a lost opportunity," said Torres, 61. "Not just for me, but for the entire country." The plant, nestled in forested hills three hours outside Manila, became a monument to the excesses of the Marcos era. Swallows moved into its cavernous chambers and their gurgles echoed against the concrete walls. For decades, Torres held out hope that the plant would one day be reopened, and now, under Marcos, it might. Activists who once marched against the plant because of its alleged safety lapses are mobilizing their communities to fight again. But the battlefield has changed. The site of dozens of weather-related disasters each year, the Philippines is one of the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Its coal-heavy energy sector accounts for half its greenhouse gas emissions, placing the nation under mounting pressure to find new sources of energy. In the country's legislature and on the global stage, nuclear power has found influential champions who argue it is the only energy source that will allow the Philippines to green its grid without having to slow growth. Some energy experts aren't sure that nuclear power makes sense for the Philippines, but their voices are increasingly being drowned out. On social media, the contentious history of the Bataan nuclear plant is being rewritten, said Veronica Cabe, an organizer at the Nuclear/Coal-Free Bataan Movement. "Every day we see it," Cabe said. "They're turning the narrative." A successor to coal Across the world, governments are "rediscovering" the merits of nuclear power, said Henri Paillere, head of planning at the International Atomic Energy Agency. Germany in October extended the life span of nuclear plants after once vowing to phase them out. France is building new reactors even though its existing nuclear infrastructure has been teetering at the edge of collapse. Japan recently said it would begin to "maximize" its atomic fleet, which had been scaled back after the 2011 Fukushima power plant disaster, when a powerful tsunami led to the release of radioactive material. "We cannot achieve a clean-energy transition without nuclear power," Paillere said, noting that last year the IAEA hosted its first pavilion at the U.N. Climate Change Conference. "But that doesn't mean every country needs nuclear power." At least 30 nations, most of them emerging economies, are exploring how to add nuclear to their energy mix, Paillere said. Few, however, face a decision as pressing as the Philippines'. Filipinos pay among the highest electricity rates in Asia, in large part because half the country's power is sourced from imported coal, which has grown increasingly expensive. With energy needs set to double over the next two decades, nuclear is the country's best alternative because it can reliably supply a large amount of power, said Carlo A. Arcilla, director of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute. Solar and wind energy, on the other hand, are "intermittent" based on what nature provides. But Sara Jane Ahmed, an energy finance analyst who advises the Vulnerable Twenty Group, or V20, a coalition of countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, said nuclear plants are inflexible in their operation. They can't accommodate fluctuations in energy needs caused by factors like shifts in weather, she said, and they can't be "ramped up and down" to work with renewable energy. It's also costly to ensure that nuclear plants are safely operated in the Philippines, which, like Japan, is in a notoriously active seismic zone called the Ring of Fire. And when nuclear plants go offline, say because of a typhoon, the energy grid can be left crippled, causing brownouts, said Bert Dalusung, an analyst at the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities. Instead of a few large power plants, the Philippines needs a "distributed energy infrastructure" built on its ample supplies of solar, wind and geothermal resources, he said. In a paper-stuffed office in Manila, a white-bearded, weary-looking Arcilla shook his head at these arguments. The institute director said that he supports more renewable energy but that it wouldn't, by itself, be enough. The case against nuclear is irrational, he said, shaped too much by the history of the Bataan plant. "By ignorance," Arcilla added. "And politics." A dictator's legacy When Ferdinand Marcos Sr. decided to build the Bataan nuclear plant in 1973, the world was in the middle of an energy crisis sparked by the Middle East oil embargo. Marcos had just declared martial law, extending his rule past the constitutional limit and giving himself sweeping powers that he used to plunder the country's coffers. A mass "People Power" movement eventually rose to oust Marcos, and when he fled the Philippines in 1986, his nuclear plant was left in limbo. The subsequent government of President Corazon "Cory" Aquino was evaluating what to do with it when, in a small Ukrainian city in the Soviet Union, a nuclear reactor exploded. "If there were still any cobwebs of doubt," Budget Minister Alberto Romulo told reporters at the time, "Chernobyl certainly sealed the fate of the Bataan nuclear power plant." It took the Philippines until 2007 to finish paying for the facility. Since then, there have been fleeting attempts to restart discussions over the plant, but none until now had drawn such intense interest from the country's leaders. "This is the first strong chance we've had in decades," said Mark Cojuangco, a member of the House of Representatives and son of the late Danding Cojuangco, a billionaire who was close to the Marcos family. Over the past 15 years, Cojuangco has twice tried to pass legislation to revive Bataan, bankrolled a pro-nuclear nonprofit group and hosted various foreign nuclear advocates in the Philippines, often personally paying for their plane tickets. Following Marcos's election last year, Cojuangco was appointed chair of a new special committee for nuclear energy. Vice President Kamala Harris announced in November that Washington had begun negotiations with the Philippines on a civil nuclear cooperation agreement the first step in allowing American companies to sell nuclear technology to the country. It was a welcome move, Cojuangco said, but in December he held meetings with officials from China and South Korea, neither of which require government agreements to sell nuclear technology. "Everyone," Cojuangco said with a smile, "wants to help us." Everyone, it seems, except the politicians representing Bataan, who have said repeatedly that their constituents don't support a revival. Cojuangco's expression shifted. "Grandstanding politicos," he snapped, just like the ones in the 1980s. The cost of power In the lead-up to the 2022 election, the Marcos family sought to whitewash their history, crafting campaigns on TikTok and YouTube that portrayed their late patriarch as a leader who brought wealth and infrastructure, rather than debt and repression. A similar effort to remake Bataan's image is now underway, said Cabe, the anti-nuclear activist. Nuclear advocates have targeted younger Filipinos, she said, promising that the plant's revival would create jobs and investment. They've cast the plant as an entryway to an industry of the future and denigrated the popular movement that once resisted it. On Facebook, pro-Marcos political groups have repeatedly shared a 2019 video that has been viewed more than a million times: "$2.3 billion project wasted by Cory Aquino to demonize Marcos." Dante Ilaya, 68, has watched these efforts in disbelief. As a young lawyer in the 1980s, he marched against the plant because of its safety risks, not because of politics. Those risks have not disappeared and may have arguably multiplied, he said. The idea that the government would look past them to rehabilitate a dictator is, he added, "abhorrent." In 2008, the IAEA said the plant would need to be "thoroughly evaluated" to be restarted. A more recent study concluded that it would cost roughly $1 billion to bring it online. How, Ilaya asked, could people trust that the process wouldn't be subject again to mismanagement? Ilaya and other community leaders, including some local priests, are trying to revive opposition to the plant. But they're uncertain whether they'll have the influence they did four decades ago. Since the plant was shelved, four coal projects have been built in Bataan, nearly all against the wishes of local residents. Villages were displaced and waterways destroyed in the name of generating power for the country, Cabe said. Driving through a community that had been split apart by a coal plant, she glanced out the window. "Hasn't it been enough?" she asked. An hour away, Torres was ending his day at the nuclear plant. He'd been 18 when he first arrived there and now he had wrinkles and gray hair. He'd dreamed for years of seeing the reactor switched on, but amid the most recent debate, he wasn't always sure what to think. Torres paced around a room of metal vessels and pipes meant to keep the reactor cool and now rusty from lack of use. All this equipment would need to be replaced, he knew, and at a cost. Still maybe the plant deserved a second chance. Maybe, Torres said, he'd live long enough to see it happen. CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea U.N. Command has concluded its investigation into a North Korean drone incursion last month and determined both Pyongyang and Seoul violated the armistice with their military operations. A monthlong special investigation by the commands Military Armistice Commission found that North Korea initially violated the armistice when it flew drones into South Korean airspace on Dec. 26, according to a report summary released by the command on Thursday. South Koreas Ministry of National Defense said last month it had detected five, small North Korean drones over northern Seoul and its western coast for about five hours. The military scrambled fighters and helicopters to intercept the aircraft; one of the helicopters fired about 100 machine gun rounds but was unable to down a drone. None of the drones were captured and at least one is believed by the ministry to have returned to North Korea. South Koreas attempts to neutralize the [North Korean] aircraft in its airspace was in compliance with the armistices rules of engagement, according to the Military Armistice Commissions report. The armistice states that a ceasefire applies to all air forces and that the forces shall respect the air space over the area of Korea under the military control of the opposing side. After the North Korean drones were spotted on Dec. 26, South Korean army Gen. Lee Seung Oh said in a statement the same day that the military would resolutely respond to North Koreas provocations by taking corresponding measures. The Souths defense ministry later told reporters that the military flew its drones into North Koreas airspace to conduct surveillance, including taking footage of military installations. The commission found South Koreas operation violated the armistices terms. [U.N.] Command reaffirms that adherence to the terms of armistice is essential for mitigating the risk of both accidental and deliberate incidents through prevention of escalation, and for preserving a cessation of hostilities on the Korean Peninsula, the command said in the report summary. [U.N. Command] will continue to work closely with [South Korean] partners towards those ends. The Souths defense ministry challenged the notion that Seoul had violated the armistice and said its drone operation was conducted in self-defense, according to a ministry statement to reporters on Thursday. Following the Dec. 26 incident, the South Korean military apologized for failing to stop the drones. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged to boost the militarys anti-drone capabilities and suggested suspending a five-year-old peace agreement with North Korea, according to a spokeswoman on Jan. 4. SANS Institute, a global leader in cybersecurity training and certifications, and The Labour Fund (Tamkeen) have launched the second phase of the Cyber Reskilling Programme in Bahrain. Following the success of the first phase in 2022, this year, SANS and Tamkeen continue their strategic partnership to deliver two programmes that will allow 60 students to gain GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC) and GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH) certifications within the training period. SANS will also continue to offer participants a supported pathway to enter the cybersecurity workforce. This initiative is aligned with Tamkeens strategic direction and is a response to Bahraini market demands in the technology sector that require high-quality and specialised tech training opportunities. During the first round of the programme with Tamkeen the latest SANS graduates showed high levels of knowledge and confidence, which contributed towards gradually bridging the cybersecurity skills gap in Bahrain, according to feedback from engaged employers and organisations. Necessary tools "The success of the programme speaks for itself. With 40% of students scoring over 90% in their GSEC and GCIH exams, and 82% and 86% passing their respective exams on the first attempt, it's clear that this training is providing students with the necessary tools to achieve their cybersecurity goals," said Ned Baltagi, Managing Director, Middle East and Africa at SANS Institute. Commenting on the initiative, Ali Hasan, Executive Director of Programmes and Partnership Development at Tamkeen, stated: We are proud of the first group of Bahraini students that participated in the Cyber Reskilling Programme run by SANS Institute. Their knowledge, dedication and exemplary commitment contributed to the success of this initiative and showcased the potential of Bahraini talent in this niche field. Tamkeen will continue to identify and support initiatives that empower Bahrainis and enhance their competitiveness both locally and internationally. With 3.5 million unfilled positions worldwide, there is a critical shortage of qualified cybersecurity workers right now. In Bahrain, cybersecurity is a high-demand employment option in financial services, information technology, and manufacturing. Cyberattacks increasing With cyberattacks increasing in volume after the mass transition to remote work due to Covid-19, there is an increased demand for qualified cybersecurity specialists and experts in the country, from both enterprises and the government. In just eight weeks, the Cyber Reskilling Programme identifies and re-skills individuals, opening several prospects for professional growth and development in all sorts of junior cybersecurity roles. There is immense untapped potential in Bahrain, and together with Tamkeen, SANS aims to continue to generate opportunities that will upskill Bahrainis, bridge the gap, and support enterprises in the kingdom, consequently elevating Bahraini talent within the region and globally.-- TradeArabia News Service In Malcolm in the Middle, actor Frankie Muniz played the titular Malcolm, a boy genius from a blue-collar family. The show was a delightful window into middle-class family life in the late 90s and early 2000s that helped launch the career of Bryan Cranston. However, at the time, Malcolm in the Middle seemed like a vehicle to launch Muniz into the spotlight. During his tenure as Malcolm, Muniz started to take roles in Disney channel movies and feature films. For a minute, Muniz looked like he was going to transition to a promising film career, but suddenly he decided to retire early. And by early, I mean he stopped working in his 30s. After his retirement, Muniz spent a good bit of his money on cars and frequently mentioned his desire to become a race car driver. Now, after a couple of decades, Muniz is on his way to fulfilling his Nascar ambitions. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Frankie Muniz is prepping a docuseries to chronicle his Nascar journey. (Tribune News Service) The growing clamor in Congress to completely ban the popular social media platform TikTok in the U.S. raises the stakes for the Biden administration, which is in the late stages of reviewing the security risks of the app. Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley on Wednesday introduced legislation to prohibit TikTok, owned by a Chinese company, from all devices nationwide. Meanwhile, Representatives Mike Gallagher, a Wisconsin Republican who now wields clout over how to counter Chinese influence in the U.S., and Raja Krishnamoorthi, an Illinois Democrat from Illinois, said they plan to team up with Senator Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, for a similar measure. TikTok opens the door for the Chinese Communist Party to access Americans personal information, keystrokes, and location through aggressive data harvesting, Hawley said in a statement. The attention on TikTok underscores concerns in Congress that TikTok and its parent, ByteDance Ltd., could share information on U.S. users with Chinese authorities. Its also part of a broader bipartisan focus on ways the U.S. can counter Chinas rising economic and strategic influence. Congress late last year banned TikTok from government phones, and more than half of U.S. states have enacted similar prohibitions. Still, its not yet clear how far the proposals for a nationwide ban on TikTok will go. Some Democratic lawmakers so far have held back from calling for an all-out ban while awaiting a signal from the Biden administration, which is addressing the topic through the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. The committee is trying to conclude its review of the national security implications of the app, and the company is in discussions with officials on a deal that would address some security concerns by attempting to prevent U.S. data from being accessed by programmers or other individuals in China. From a congressional standpoint, Republicans would do it in a heartbeat, said Klon Kitchen, a China expert with the American Enterprise Institute. Democrats are deferring to the White House, which has not given much direction, Kitchen said. A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council had no comment on the legislative proposals, but said the administration is focused on the potential security risks posed by the ways China and other countries use digital technology and data from Americans, as well as looking into steps it could take under presidential powers. Brooke Oberwetter, a spokesperson for TikTok, said a ban on the app would be a piecemeal approach to broader issues such as data security, privacy and potential harmful online influences. We hope that lawmakers will focus their energies on efforts to address those issues holistically, rather than pretending that banning a single service would solve any of the problems lawmakers are concerned about or make Americans any safer, Oberwetter said in an email. Still, some politicians are stepping up their attacks. Gallagher, on NBCs Meet the Press earlier this month, called TikTok digital fentanyl owned by the Chinese Communist Party. Gallagher was recently named as chair of the newly formed Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, giving him a bigger platform to propose ways to counter Chinese influence. But the ultimate jurisdiction over the legislation rests with the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The committee hasnt yet committed to taking up the proposed legislation from Gallagher and Krishnamoorthi once they introduce it. A person familiar with the committees plans, who asked not to be identified to discuss private deliberations, said the panel is planning to work on legislation that is broader than just TikTok by looking at concerns around China and technology. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer didnt immediately respond to requests for comment about whether they would bring up a TikTok ban for a vote. Schumer was one of the first senators to warn that TikTok could threaten national security in 2019, but he previously called for TikTok to be sold to an American company rather than banned altogether. Another potential hurdle to the legislation is the prospect of a legal challenge. Multiple courts halted then-President Donald Trumps attempts to ban TikTok in 2020. Two federal judges issued injunctions against that ban, arguing it exceeded the executive branchs authority and potentially violated the First Amendment. Bloomberg News reporter Josh Wingrove contributed to this article. 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The gunman who killed 11 people in Monterey Park, Calif., on Saturday and the man suspected of killing seven people in the Half Moon Bay area on Monday are among the oldest suspected mass shooters in U.S. history. Huu Can Tran, the Monterey Park gunman, was 72. Zhao Chunli, who was charged with seven counts of murder in Mondays deadly shooting, is 66. Those ages make the two men extreme outliers, said Jaclyn Schildkraut, interim executive director of the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium at the Rockefeller Institute of Government. In general, elder individuals are more likely to become the victims of crime than to become the perpetrators of crime. That was the case in both of the California shootings as well. In Monterey Park, the victims who had gathered to celebrate the Lunar New Year at a popular dance studio were in their 50s, 60s and 70s. After shooting them, police said, Tran traveled to another dance studio before an employee there wrested away his gun. He fled, sparking a manhunt that ended the following day, police said, when he shot and killed himself as officers approached his van. Two days later, authorities say, Zhao killed four people at a farm business where he had been a longtime employee, then killed three more people at a nearby farm. The victimss ages ranged from 43 to 74. A database of mass killings from 2006 to 2023 maintained by the Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University shows that about only 7 percent of shooters are over the age of 50, while more than 20 percent of victims are 50 or older. The average age of a shooter was 32.7, according to a Washington Post data analysis, and nearly half of them were under 30. Mass killers motivated by workplace grievances, as authorities allege Zhao had, skew significantly older than any other type, with such assailants average age over 44. The data tracks all killings of four or more people regardless of location, means or motive; The Post limited its analysis to the 420 incidents since the start of 2006 that involved shootings. The ages of the past weeks suspected shooters are striking, because we dont see violence in older people, said Yeates Conwell, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. The research is clear that older people tend in general to be more satisfied with their lives than younger or middle-aged people. They tend to be more reflective, more accepting, more able to process [adversity] because theyve had a lot of experience. Tran is the oldest recorded person accused of carrying out a mass shooting at a public venue in U.S. history, and he is the second septuagenarian in about four decades to carry out such a massacre, according to the Violence Project, a nonprofit organization that studies firearm-related bloodshed. Its database tracks shootings with four or more fatalities that occur in public places. In Trans case, details have emerged that suggest a history of grievances against others. Trans home, around 80 miles east of Monterey Park, in the town of Hemet, Calif., was part of a mobile home park that bills itself as being for people ages 55 and older; a neighbor there described him as a recluse. But Tran, who was born in Vietnam and became a U.S. citizen in 1990, was said to be a regular at the two dance studios he targeted. Adam Hood, a former tenant who lived on Trans property for years, said that Trans only apparent hobby was dancing and that the two venues were the only place he would go at night. Tran had complained for years about employees and patrons there, though, saying they were not friendly with him, and he also nursed grievances about his ex-wife and financial difficulties, Hood said. Zhao had been living on the premises of the 150-acre mushroom and herb farm where he worked, said David Oates, a spokesman for the businesss owners. Some of its 35 employees lived there in trailers and mobile homes, Oates said, and there had been no official complaints about Zhao. But court records show Zhao was the subject of a temporary restraining order in 2013, when a former roommate and co-worker at a restaurant accused him of attempting to suffocate him with a pillow and threatening to kill him, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. According to the Violence Projects definition, the oldest person before Tran to stage such a public massacre was William Bevins, who at age 70 killed five men with an automatic rifle in a Kentucky auto-parts store in 1981. A Post analysis found that 60 percent of mass killers over 50 die by suicide, like Tran, compared to 28 percent of assailants under 50. Societal suicide rates are highest among people over 75, which experts attribute to factors including loneliness, isolation and deteriorating physical health. Carrying out a mass shooting at such a point in life is not usual, Conwell said. Reflecting on it a little bit, I want to know more about these individuals and what kind of vulnerability they had. Even though older people tend to be more resilient than younger ones, there are always outliers, Conwell said. As individuals, he said, young people dont have a corner on the market of being terribly unhappy and prone to acting out. U.S. foreign arms sales skyrocketed in 2022, increasing by nearly 50% from the previous year as allies and partners muscled up amid concerns over Russia and China, U.S. officials said this week. The boost added up to $52 billion in sales during the last fiscal year, according to U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency data released Wednesday. James Hursch, the agencys director, said the Russian war on Ukraine and Chinas military advances were likely causes for the spike. In Europe and the Pacific, there is an understanding among our partners and allies that were back in an age of great power competition, Hursch said in a statement. In a separate category, privately contracted direct commercial sales also were up by 49% in 2022, totaling $153.7 billion for the year, according to State Department figures. The growth in that category, which also takes into account equipment transfers, was unsurprising. The increase was primarily due to authorizations adjudicated in support of Ukraines efforts to defend itself from Russias unprovoked aggression, the State Department said. Capabilities that have been put to effective use on the battlefield in Ukraine have been of particular interest to U.S. partners who have been on buying sprees. High Mobility Rocket Systems, known as HIMARS, along with Javelins and Stingers are some of the weapons that have been in demand, according to sales data. Last years increase also can be attributed to partners opting to buy more expensive gear, Hursch said. As we continue to improve our equipment, it tends to get more costly. Buying a HIMARS system, for example, is more expensive than buying a Howitzer, Hursch said. And thats the sort of upgrade that several of our allies and partners are looking to do. Other big-ticket foreign military sales items sought by allies and partners included tanks, helicopters, Patriot missiles and other advanced air defenses. Poland was one of the big buyers last year. On Thursday, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said in a radio interview that the first batch of 58 recently acquired Abrams tanks was expected to arrive in the spring. Newly elected Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) passed out grenades Thursday to other members of Congress, along with a note on his office letterhead emphasizing that the ordnance was made in Florida. I am honored to be a part of the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees, Mills wrote. In that spirit, it is my pleasure to give you a 40mm grenade, made for a MK19 grenade launcher. These are manufactured in the Sunshine State and first developed in the Vietnam War. At the bottom of the letter was a postscript noting that the grenades are inert. Accompanying the letter was a grenade stamped with the GOP logo, according to a photograph posted on Twitter by Daily Mail reporter Morgan Phillips. A representative for Mills confirmed that the photo was accurate. Per the letter, the grenades are inert, and were cleared through all security metrics, Mills spokesman Juan Ayala said in an email. I just wish they tagged our official account. After the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, metal detectors were installed outside the House floor for the first time, though some GOP lawmakers made a point of regularly flouting them. They were removed earlier this month, at the start of the 118th Congress, as Republicans, now in the majority, exercised their newfound power. Mills won election to represent Floridas 7th Congressional District in November, flipping the seat that was formerly held by Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.), a member of the House select committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by a pro-Trump mob. Mills, who was endorsed by former president Donald Trump, could not be more different. He is among several new House members who denies that President Biden legitimately won the 2020 presidential election. A veteran, Mills also bragged in his campaign that he sold tear gas used on Black Lives Matter protesters. Visitors to the Capitol are prohibited from bringing firearms, weapons and explosive devices. Lawmakers are exempt from the ban on carrying guns on the Capitol grounds thanks to 1967 Capitol Police Board regulations. Members of Congress may keep guns in their offices and can transport them within the complex if the weapons are unloaded and securely wrapped. But they cannot bring guns into the House and Senate chambers. In the weeks after the Jan. 6 attack, House Democrats revived a bill to ban their colleagues from carrying guns on Capitol grounds. When I brought this up with colleagues in the past, most were surprised to know that members could do whatever they wanted with guns, Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) said then. But I think there has been a false sense of security that nothing bad would happen. The events of recent days have totally changed that. Meagan Flynn and Amber Phillips contributed to this report. WASHINGTON Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper said theres more that the United States can do to help Ukraine defend against Russias invasion and standing up for democracy in Eastern Europe sends a clear message around the world that autocratic aggression will not be tolerated. Bidens administration has given close to $30 billion in military and humanitarian aid since the Russian invasion last February, including Humvees, arms, millions of rounds of ammunition, air-defense systems, armored vehicles and tanks. The U.S. announced earlier Wednesday that it would send 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in conjunction with Germany sending some of its Leopard 2 tanks. Esper said the American and German tanks will give Ukraine more power to drive out Russian forces. But he said he also thinks they should have been sent months ago, especially if theyre needed to repel a Russian offensive in the spring. We serve the American people We dont shoot them, he said. To me, it was a very low moment to be there in the Oval Office and hear the commander in chief say that.ware.doug@stripes.com CULLMAN, Ala. (Tribune News Service) This springs annual commemoration of local military members killed in service will take place beneath an unmissable new addition at Cullmans Veterans Memorial Park. Thanks to the combined efforts of local governments, legislators, and the Cullman VFW Post 2214, the park will soon be home to the first new piece of full-scale military memorabilia its added in nearly a decade. A Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopter colloquially known as the Huey helicopter that sustained U.S. operations through the Vietnam War is set for an early-spring installation, perching high above its park surroundings near Sportsman Lake in recognition of both local Vietnam veterans as well as veterans from Cullman County whove served in any military campaign. Announcing the planned April installation deadline in a local broadcast last week, Veterans Park Board chair Dr. Michael Schendel said the Huey serves as an apt icon for preserving the memory of local service members who were killed in action in Vietnam. I think as most people know, the Huey has been an icon of military endeavors everywhere, in all the services but especially, we all remember it from the news reels of the Vietnam War, said Schendel. It played a huge role transporting troops, medical evacuation ... I think a lot of people can recognize it, and as such, itll be a great addition to the park. Organizers already have identified three Cullman County natives killed in action in Vietnam all aboard helicopters wholl be recognized as part of the installments initial commemorative plaque. Those include Army Crew Chief and Gunner Neil Wade Jones of West Point, Marine Corps Maj. and pilot Wayne Hyatt of Hanceville, and Army Maj. and pilot Bill Schmale of Cullman, who died on his third combat tour in Vietnam while serving in the Armys 1st Infantry Division. Given that he had three combat tours, were going to put the logo for the 1st Infantry Division on the helicopter to honor him, noted organizer Ken Brown, himself a Vietnam veteran. More names may be added to that short list of fallen soldiers, as the Veterans Park Board seeks feedback from the community to learn of other local KIA Vietnam service members who perished in the air. Were seeking names of any other vets from Cullman County who were killed in Vietnam, either as crew members or riding aboard a helicopter, who were lost, explained Brown. Its difficult to look at the names inscribed on monuments and determine how, exactly, they died. Wed like to hear from the families of anyone who may fit that description, and hopefully have them present when we do our dedication ceremony this spring. Last year, the Cullman County Commission struck an agreement to acquire and refurbish the donor Huey aircraft for installation at Veterans park, which sits within the larger county-operated grounds of Sportsman Lake Park. While the county will fund the helicopters $12,000 new paint job, state tourism funds secured by Alabama Senator Garlan Gudger will be used to reimburse the county for the remaining cost of the display. The Huey monument is set to be installed in April ahead of its formal unveiling on Saturday, May 27, when the park will host its annual Memorial Day remembrance ceremony. (c)2023 The Cullman Times (Cullman, Ala.) Visit at www.cullmantimes.com Watch this hilarious song called "Burger" by French comedic group "Les Jones." 1063 The Buzz explains: These three Frenchies wrote a satirical song called "Burgers" which is supposed to be about Americans, but they're wearing cowboy hats and boots, so they're really making fun of Texans. It's like if we made fun of French people by wearing berets, but the only place people wear berets is in Paris. so, we'd actually be making fun of Paris, not France. The video is really funny because all they do is talk about things that are awesome in broken English. Here are some lyrics from the song: "I don't want candy, I want beef, chips, ribs, and burgers. Vegan people hate me because I love cheesecakes and burgers. I'm American, so you can blame me, but I will not eat in your gourmet restaurant. The only French food I love is fried." (Tribune News Service) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's Army ROTC unit has been named the nation's top performing collegiate program among all military branches, according to a college news release. The institute's Wabash Battalion ROTC unit has earned the Department of Defense ROTC and Partner Institution Excellence Award in recognition of being the top performing collegiate program for the 2021-22 school year. It is being honored among all ROTC Army, Navy and Air Force units at 496 universities and colleges across the country. The Wabash Battalion also covers operations at Indiana State University, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, DePauw University, Vincennes University, University of Southern Indiana, and University of Evansville. The battalion became the Army's representative for national honors after earning the 2022 MacArthur Award as the top program in the military branch. "We are honored to partner with the outstanding professionals at Rose-Hulman to develop the next generation of military leaders," said Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III in announcing the award. He pointed out Rose-Hulman's ROTC unit stood out among the nation's best college programs for overall performance, educational institutional support and other noteworthy achievements by cadets during the 2021-22 school year. The award was presented Wednesday during a special campus ceremony on campus at White Chapel. Making the presentation was Colonel Edwin L. Chilton, commander of the U.S. Army Cadet Command's 7th Brigade, based at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and Retired Major General James K. Gilman, a 1974 Rose-Hulman graduate and former Wabash Battalion ROTC cadet who had a distinguished 35-year military career,. Rose-Hulman President Robert A. Coons accepted the award on behalf of Rose-Hulman, its board of trustees, faculty and staff members, and Wabash Battalion leaders and current cadets. "Rose-Hulman has a proud history of supporting the Army ROTC's Wabash Battalion, becoming an active unit in 1917. Its current and past staff members and cadets have served the institute, Terre Haute community, and our nation proudly," Coons said. The Department of Defense recognized the Wabash Battalion's achievements for readiness training and commissioning lieutenants for military service during the 2020-21 school year in the following areas: Outperforming 37 peer schools by commissioning 35 officers. Cadets exceeded the U.S. Army Cadet Command's average in every performance metric during the 2021 Cadet Summer Training exercises. Six cadets ranked in the top 20% nationally and earned distinguished military graduate honors, 54% of battalion cadets earned top evaluation "outstanding excellence" reports, and 33% of cadets qualified for the distinguished Recondo Badge. Cadets maintained a cumulative 3.19 grade point average for the 2021-22 school year. Organized a commissioning ceremony, military ball, Bold Warrior Challenge, and other recreational activities to build rapport among cadets throughout each school year. The battalion supports a Junior ROTC program at Terre Haute South High School, has cadets placing 10,000 American flags along an annual community memorial path at ISU's Memorial Stadium, and collaborates with local Marine Corps recruiters to present clothes and toys for an annual holiday charity drive. Rose-Hulman has one of the nation's original Army ROTC programs. (c)2023 The Tribune-Star (Terre Haute, Ind.) Visit The Tribune-Star (Terre Haute, Ind.) at tribstar.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Judge Martina Baxter praised both accused for their upstanding character, composure and dignity at all stages during the trial Two peace activists who were acquitted of criminal damage charges after they damaged an American naval plane at Shannon Airport have been spared jail for trespassing on a taxiway at the airport. Retired Irish soldier Edward Horgan (78) and civil servant Dan Dowling (39) were found guilty of trespass at the airport and have been ordered to pay 5,000 each to a womens refuge in County Clare. Dowling of Grace Dieu, Co. Waterford and Edward Horgan of Newtown, Castletroy, Co. Limerick had denied criminal damage of a plane at Shannon on April 25, 2017. During their ten-day trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Dowling and Horgan told a jury that the acts had been carried out from an honestly-held belief that they were necessary to protect others. The men, who represented themselves, also pleaded not guilty to entering the curtilage of Shannon Airport as trespassers, with the intention to damage property situated therein. After just under four hours of deliberations, the jury returned guilty verdicts on the charges of trespass, which are summary counts. Passing sentence yesterday, Judge Martina Baxter praised both accused for their upstanding character, composure and dignity at all stages during the trial. You are upstanding people, family people; you have behaved with courtesy and dignity throughout, said Judge Baxter, wishing both men and their families well. Dan Dowling (40) Collins Dublin She said there was no issue with the men continuing their monthly peaceful protests, but warned them that they must be peaceful. Your families are better off with you with them, said Judge Baxter, explaining why she was not imposing a custodial sentence, and added that we were lucky to be living in a democracy. However, she upbraided Horgan and Dowling for running across the airport in the dark of night, saying they had potentially exposed staff at the airport to danger. What if a plane had to do an emergency landing? It was a workplace, and you had the potential to cause serious damage in terms of your presence alone, added Judge Baxter. She said both men had no previous convictions, good work histories and had done volunteer work, which had informed her decision to order them to give a token to local charities. The judge asked the investigating garda to recommend a local charity in Co Clare, then ordered both accused to pay 5,000 each to the Clare Haven Refuge for women within the next 12 months. She emphasised that this was not a fine, but a financial gesture, and further ordered the men to be of good behaviour and keep the peace for 12 months. Judge Baxter asked the two men whether they accepted the jury verdict and they replied that they did. It was the State's case that Dowling and Horgan gained access to a taxiway at Shannon Airport, with the intention of causing damage to aeroplanes parked there, which were the property of the American Navy. It was alleged that the two men were involved in writing Danger, danger, don't fly on the planes using markers, after ignoring a request made by Irish Defence Force personnel to stop. In his closing address to the jury, Dowling said the act of criminal damage was justified to draw attention to a threat to others, which could then be ameliorated or alleviated. Horgan told the jury that the damage caused had no monetary value and the acts had been carried out from an honestly-held belief that they were necessary to protect others. Horgan described himself as a peace activist who was trying to do what was right. Talking to reporters after the judgement, Mr Horgan said: We wont be celebrating today. We will be commemorating all the children killed in the Middle East up to one million children and unfortunately still being killed as we speak. The court ordered that Dowlings tricolour be returned to him, along with their list of the names of 1,000 children killed in the Middle East. During her judgement, Judge Baxter asked Mr Horgan whether he would like to spend more time with his grandchildren, to which he replied that he would. Speaking afterwards, Mr Horgan said he had eight grandchildren aged between 10 and 20, and that Theyre all beautiful but Im slightly biased. Silmara Onofre had needed medication to help her swallow 78 pellets and settle her stomach, the court was told. A woman who swallowed almost a kilo of cocaine before smuggling it in to Ireland from Brazil has been sentenced to two years in prison. Silmara Onofre (27) put herself at considerable risk by consuming the drugs before she was stopped by customs officers at Dublin Airport, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard today. Onofre, with an address in Brazil, pleaded guilty to possessing 66,297 worth of cocaine at Terminal One on April 17 last. At her sentence hearing, counsel said Onofre had been manipulated, exploited and used by other people when she was financially desperate and struggling. Paraic Dwyer SC, defending, said that Onofre was so disposable to other people that her life had been put at risk to facilitate the transport of drugs. Mr Dwyer said it was potentially fatal to have consumed the drugs and that Onofre had needed medication to help her swallow 78 pellets and settle her stomach. The court heard that after her arrest, Onofre was taken to Beaumont Hospital where she passed the pellets under medical supervision. In his sentence delivered today, Judge Martin Nolan agreed that Onofre was at the bottom rung of the ladder and said she could be called a drugs mule. Some people in Ireland have an unending appetite for cocaine and parties abroad seek to fulfil that, said Judge Nolan. He said Onofre had taken a considerable risk, which implied a level of desperation. Garda Eimear Lawlor told Olan Callanan BL, prosecuting, that Onofre was stopped at customs on a flight from Portugal. Officers became suspicious due to her demeanour and the answers she gave about her route and her payment for travel, the court heard. Onofre was arrested and brought to Beaumont Hospital where she passed over 70 pellets of cocaine weighing 0.949kg. She came forward on signed pleas from the District Court and cooperated fully with gardai. The court heard Onofre came from a place of poverty in Brazil and was the sole bread winner for her mother and her two-year-old daughter. She has no previous convictions in any jurisdictions. When asked by gardai whether she knew whether the drugs she had swallowed were illegal, Onofre replied: Because it was hiding inside of me, I knew. Mr Dwyer said Onofre was a beautician but had had limited work in that capacity in Brazil.Onofre broke down in court as counsel described how she has difficulties making contact with her young daughter due to marriage breakdown. Counsel said Onofre has been doing very well in prison and is working in reception, sewing and learning English. She regrets the offence, the court heard. Judge Nolan backdated the sentence to April 17 last, when Onofre went into custody. Pre-Musk Twitter was not a safe online space for Jewish people. As it's new ownership has eliminated much of the pre-existing trust and safety staff Twitter's hate speech is on the rise. The platform is being sued in Germany, where anti-semitic content is recognized as evil and odious as opposed to US "free speech" proponents who want Nazis to have a voice. Tech Crunch: The lawsuit, which was filed yesterday in the Berlin regional court by HateAid, a group that campaigns against hate speech, and the European Union of Jewish Students (EUJS), argues that Musk-owned Twitter is failing to enforce its own rules against antisemitic content, including holocaust denial. Holocaust denial is a crime in Germany which has strict laws prohibiting antisemitic hate speech making the Berlin court a compelling arena to hear such a challenge. Since the Tesla CEO took over Twitter at the end of October, he has drastically reduced Twitter's headcount, including in core safety functions like content moderation also slashing staff in regional offices around Europe, including in Germany. Plus he's entirely disbanded Twitter's Trust and Safety Council and reinstated scores of accounts that had previously been banned for breaking Twitter's rules creating conditions that look ideal for hate speech to flourish unchecked. Mr Burke turned up at the Westmeath School again today, the third time he has done so since he was fired last Friday The High Court has ruled that Enoch Burke is to be fined 700 for each day he continues to defy court orders restraining him from attending Wilsons Hospital School. Mr Burke again turned up at the Co Westmeath School today, the third time he has done so since his dismissal last Friday. Earlier this month the school applied for either the sequestration of Mr Burkes assets or the issuing of a fine for his ongoing contempt. In a ruling today, Mr Justice Brian OMoore said the appropriate measure to deal with this civil contempt of court was to impose a daily fine. The 700-a-day fine will kick in from Friday unless Mr Burke agrees to purge his contempt. Mr Burke can, if he wishes, tell the court that he will obey the order and thereby seek to purge his contempt, the judge said. If he does not do so by 2 pm on Friday, January 27, 2023, he will then be subject to a fine of 700 for every day or part of the day that passes until he purges his contempt or until the relevant part of the order of [Mr Justice Max Barrett] is vacated. Mr Justice OMoore said the position would be reviewed at a hearing on February 10. Enoch Burke makes a speech outside school following his arrest this morning The teacher of history and German previously spent 108 days in prison for contempt of court. He was jailed for refusing to comply with court orders restraining him from attending at or attempting to teach pupils at the Church of Ireland diocesan school in Multyfarnham. The school obtained the orders last September after Mr Burke kept turning up for work despite being suspended on full pay. The suspension arose after he clashed with management over a request that they/their pronouns and a new name be used in connection with a transgender pupil. Mr Burke, who is from a well-known family of evangelical Christians, objected to the demand on religious grounds. He opposed the application for sequestration or a fine, claiming the court did not have the power to make such an order. He claimed any such order would be repugnant to constitutional protections to the expression of religious beliefs. Mr Burke was released from prison by Mr Justice OMoore just before Christmas despite not purging his contempt. He was warned to the judge that the only threat to his liberty would be if he again breached orders and that it would also be open to the school to apply for other measures. I have a lot of sympathy for real transgender people, its a hard thing to live with, but hes just bullshitting the authorities Isla Bryson was found guilty of raping two women when she was a man The estranged wife of a transgender woman convicted of rape before transitioning has claimed her decision to change gender was a sham. Isla Bryson, previously known as Adam Graham, was on Tuesday found guilty of raping one woman in Clydebank in 2016 and another in Drumchapel, Glasgow, in 2019, following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow. Shonna Graham, 31, said she is still married to Bryson, who is understood to be held at HMP Cornton Vale womens prison. Ms Graham said she has a lot of sympathy for transgender people, but that her former partner is attempting to fool the authorities. She told the Daily Mail: Never once did he say anything to me about feeling he was in the wrong body or anything. I have a lot of sympathy for real transgender people, its a hard thing to live with, but hes just bullshitting the authorities. Ms Graham said she fell out of bed laughing when she saw pictures of Bryson and claimed her transition was a sham for attention. She also accused Bryson of being abusive in their relationship. During the court proceedings, Bryson claimed she knew she was transgender at the age of four but did not make the decision to transition until she was 29, and is currently taking hormones and seeking surgery to complete gender reassignment. She said that in 2016 she was struggling with my sexuality and having issues emotionally. Ms Graham said she had been attempting to seek a divorce from Bryson for the last seven years, but had been unable to find her. She claimed: I can see why he doesnt want to be in a prison with loads of big scary men, so hes come up with this ploy to get himself a much easier sentence. Sending him to a womens prison is outrageous will one of the vulnerable women inmates be the next victim to be attacked by him? He wont stop, its in his nature. Meanwhile, British shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has also criticised the decision to hold Bryson in a womens prison. Speaking to the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 on Thursday, Ms Cooper said: This dangerous rapist should not be in a womens prison and it should be clear that if someone poses a danger to women and committed crimes against women, they should not be being housed in a womens prison. That is straightforward and I think most people would agree with that. Fiona Cruickshanks, head of operations and protection at the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), said if an individual inmate poses a particular risk, they can be removed and separated from other prisoners. She told BBCs Reporting Scotland on Wednesday: If we think that an individual poses particular risks, or if there is a particular risk to them, then we have the opportunity to remove them from mainstream and keep them separated until such times as our decision is made on how we best manage that risk. Any transgender person who is admitted into custody is admitted into the establishment that matches their identified gender that they were living in within the community. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told BBC Radio 4s PM programme there is no automatic right for a trans woman convicted of an offence to go to a womens prison, adding: The Scottish Prison Service individually assesses all prisoners or potential prisoners, does detailed risk assessments, obviously, of the safety of the individual prisoner, but of those that will be around the individual prisoner. In the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, Scottish Justice Secretary Keith Brown maintained he trusted SPS to decide on the correct venue for trans prisoners. The first victim was walking home from work shortly after 4pm on the day when a man walked towards her and punched her to the face. A man who randomly punched three people in the face in Dublin city centre has been sentenced to four years in prison, with the final year suspended. Ruzmond Muwaniri (34) of North Circular Road, Dublin pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman and causing her harm at St Stephens Green South on February 1 last. Muwaniri further admitted assault causing harm to two men the following day February 2, also in the area of St Stephens Green. Passing sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court todayJudge Martin Nolan noted Muwaniris mental health difficulties, which include a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Judge Nolan said when Muwaniri is not taking his medication he attacks people in a very random way by punching them in the face, noting that it had been very frightening for all three injured parties. When he emerges from prison, hopefully he will take his medication and not take drugs, said Judge Nolan, but added, Theres no such thing as preventative detention. An investigating garda told Diarmuid Collins BL, prosecuting, that the first victim was walking home from work shortly after 4pm on the day when a man walked towards her and punched her to the face. She fell to the ground and a passerby came to help her, before an ambulance took her to hospital with a broken nose. The court heard that the following day, an office worker was leaving his workplace around St Stephens Green when Muwaniri walked towards him and punched him straight in the face with a left cuff. The mans face and nose were extremely sore for about ten days, the court heard. The victim walked back to his office in a daze and was about to leave again when he saw the accused walking towards him again and gesturing in to the building at him. The injured party told the security guard in his workplace, who said he had just seen Muwaniri hitting another man. The third injured party had attended a meeting in St Stephens Green and was walking up a staircase shortly before midday when a man came out of nowhere and punched him to the right side of his face. The victims glasses fell off and he stumbled, stunned, before a receptionist came to his assistance. The injured man became scared and apprehensive when he saw his attacker approach him again as he thought he might be punched again. The victim felt a throbbing pain and a piece of broken tooth in his mouth, which lacerated his cheek. Muwaniri was identified on CCTV and arrested days later. He initially denied the offences but when shown the footage, he identified himself and said he didnt have any recollection of the assaults. If it was me, Im sorry; but it looks like me, Im not going to lie, he said. Muwaniri told gardai he was on medication by way of injection, but that he had last taken his medication a week earlier. He has 80 previous convictions, including 16 for assault causing harm. The investigating garda agreed with Pieter Le Vert BL, defending, that Muwaniri had seemed detached when being interviewed and had laughed inappropriately at times. Mr Le Vert said his clients previous assaults took place in similar circumstances, where he would come up to people minding their own business and attack them. The court heard Muwaniri was homeless at the time and had recently smoked cannabis. When asked by gardai if he would have any reason to assault one of the victims, Muwaniri replied, No, no reason. I wouldnt have any reason at all, and I dont remember assaulting him. He also told gardai that it frightens him when he assaults people and cant remember it. The court heard Muwaniri moved to Ireland from Zimbabwe with his family at the age of 12, and that his parents began noticing his mental health difficulties and learning difficulties at around that time. Mr Le Vert said Muwaniri has worked sporadically since completing his Leaving Cert but had difficulty holding down a job and has assaulted his girlfriend. Muwaniri went to prison for that assault and was diagnosed as being acutely psychotic and suffering with auditory hallucinations and paranoia. He spent two years in the Central Mental Hospital and became homeless on his release. Mr Le Vert said when his client takes his medication, he becomes a pleasant man, apologises for his offences and has remorse. Judge Nolan ordered Muwaniri to keep the peace for one year on release and abide by the direction of the Probation Services. The sentence was backdated to February 2, 2022, when Muwaniri went into custody. Anthony Lonsdale (21) turned up at a school wearing a uniform to meet a teen girl he had groomed on social media Anthony Lonsdale. A man who pretended to be a teenager has been jailed for sending sexual pictures and messages to a girl in Derbyshire Photo: Derbyshire Police A paedophile who posed as a 14-year-old boy to try and con his way into a school has been jailed for sending explicit pictures to young girls. Anthony Lonsdale, 21, turned up at a school wearing a uniform and tried to enrol as a pupil in order to meet a teenage girl he had groomed on social media. Lonsdale set up fake profiles on Snapchat, Instagram and WhatsApp, using aliases, including a teenage girl called Tia. Posing as Tia, he chatted to the girl and encouraged her to add her so called 12-year-old brother Sam- a second profile he had created. Over several weeks Sam sent the girl increasingly intimate messages before sending her sexually explicit photos. A court heard Lonsdale tried to con his way into a school in Ilkeston, dressed as a pupil in a bid to meet the young victim. Police were alerted and identified two other girls from Nottinghamshire who Lonsdale had been contacting using fake names, including Tony, Tia, Emily and Sam. Lonsdale would message from the different accounts, send indecent images, and request photos in return. He met up with one of the young teenage girls at a McDonalds restaurant disguised as a female friend, and tried to contact her younger sister. The girl blocked him but Lonsdale contacted her from another fake account saying he had attempted suicide because of her actions. Lonsdale was arrested last March and bailed but he continued to prey on teenage girls and send naked pictures of himself. He also went to Nottinghamshire dressed as a teenage girl to meet a 14-year-old girl in a park. He convinced her and her mum to let him stay overnight claiming he had no money to get home. Lonsdale, of Wembley, north-west London, admitted eight counts of grooming and possession of sexually explicit images of children. He was jailed for seven years last Thursday, plus three years on extended licence, at Nottingham Crown Court. A Sexual Harm Prevention Order and five-year restraining order were also put in place to prevent Lonsdale from contacting the victims. Detective Sergeant Sophie Draycott, from Nottinghamshire Polices Child Exploitation Investigation Unit, said: The lengths to which Lonsdale went to by creating several fake personas on social media, to build trust with the victims and even attempting to enrol at the same school as one of the teenagers is unbelievable. Behaviour such as this is intolerable, and I would like to recognise the courage of the young girls who worked with us as part of our investigation. As a result, Lonsdale is now facing the consequences of his actions. SWNS In one such case, an individual was found to be connected to 20 incidents A total of 21 people, including eight women and 13 men are due to appear before the courts tomorrow morning after a Garda operation to tackle retail crime in North Dublin. The 21 people, who are aged between 22 and 68, have been charged with a total of 41 offences of theft. They are set to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin on Friday, at 10.30am. Gardai said they had been arrested as part of on-going operation to tackle retail crime in the Gardas DMRs R District, which covers areas including Coolock, Swords and Malahide. Operation Pastern was established following an analysis of repeat, volume, and in some instances, organised crime, gardai said. Operation Pastern so far has involved gardai reviewing old incidents. In some cases, a number of repeat offenders have been identified. In one such case, an individual was found to be connected to 20 incidents. Another aspect of the operation has seen gardai meet and liaise with the local business community and relevant stakeholders as part of efforts to tackle retail crime. To date, Operation Pastern has resulted in 34 arrests made by gardai. Of these, 33 arrests have led to charges and one youth has been referred to the Youth Diversion Bureau. A total of 12 bench warrants have also been executed. Gardai added that investigations ongoing. The week she ended the relationship, she was murdered by her ex-partner The brother of Dublin woman Jennifer Poole who was brutally murdered by her ex-boyfriend has told how there were red flags after the relationship began. Jennifers brother Jason was recalling how his 24-year-old sister, who was stabbed to death with a kitchen knife in a frenzied attack at her home in April 2021, had ended the relationship that very week. Gavin Murphy, of Coultry Drive in Ballymun, later admitted stabbing her seven times and was handed a life sentence for her murder. It emerged during the trial that he had previously served time for assaulting another former partner and her mother which he had hid from Jennifer when they met. Killer Gavin Murphy Jason told Lunchtime Live on Newstalk how his sister got mixed up with her murderer and how he moved into her home very quickly after their relationship began. Looking back at it now, there were kind of red flags and Jennifer was in the relationship for just under a year and then she had ended the relationship. The week she ended the relationship, she was murdered by her ex-partner. He said neither Jennifer nor her family recognised the red flags at first. He was always in the car with her, he would be following her everywhere she went, she couldnt leave a room without him knowing or texting, he said. She stopped going to GAA, she stopped going to the gym all of those things that he took away from her and you know, led her to her death really, at the end of the day. Jason also said hell never forget going to hospital to identify her remains. It is a phone call you never forget, he said. You never forget having to go to Connolly Hospital and having to look at your sister lying there dead and having to answer the questions, who is she and whats her date of birth and whats your relationship to her. Jennifer left behind two young children and Jason described her as sporty, independent and full of the joys of life. Jason said his family will never stop fighting for domestic violence survivors in Ireland. Well never forget Jennifer and well fight and fight and fight to ensure that Jennifer is never forgotten about, he said. And also, well fight for the women who are listening today who arent sure or might be looking at their own red flags. In recent months, the Poole family has been campaigning for the introduction of new law dubbed Jennys Law that would, among other things, introduce a domestic violence register in Ireland. Jason said the system would record anyone with a domestic violence conviction, those who served time for domestic violence and all Garda house calls related to domestic violence. In Jennifers case, he had a history of domestic violence, he said. He was already after serving time in prison for a domestic violence offence and he came out there and nobody knew. He said the courts are still handing out too many suspended sentences for domestic violence crimes and called for minimum sentencing laws for violent murders. This is not something that is affecting one or two people, he said. We see the amount of women who are being murdered at the hand of their husbands or ex-partners. We need stronger sentences and we need minimum sentences for life sentences, he continued. We are living a life sentence every single morning we wake up, but on average the life sentence in Ireland is 18 years. Well never get Jennifer back. We wont get Jennifer back in 18 years so why should someone be able to walk out of prison after 18 years after committing a crime like that? Its completely wrong. Mr Healy, whose death occurred just three weeks after that of his wife, Delia, was described this week as an absolute gentleman The funeral of Matthew Healy, the 89-year-old retired farmer who died following a violent incident at the Mercy Hospital in Cork on Sunday morning, will take place today in St. Marys Church in Berrings. Mr Healy, whose death occurred just three weeks after that of his wife, Delia, was described this week as an absolute gentleman by his neighbour, Cllr Michael Looney. The late Matthew Healy He was the first person to welcome me to Berrings when I moved here years ago, said the Fianna Fail elected member of Macroom and Millstreet Municipal District Council. The incident at the Mercy University Hospital on Sunday morning has prompted calls from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation to carry out a security audit of all Irish hospitals. We havent had a security audit of our hospitals since 2016, it is time now for the HSE to complete a full audit of what measures are in place in each hospital, said INMO General Secretary, Phil Ni Sheaghdha. There are concerns McGoverns release may lead to an increase in tensions in the border area Kevin Lunney was attacked and kidnapped by the three men in Co Fermanagh in 2019. Photo: Lorraine Teevan Gardai are on high alert in the run-up to the early release from prison of boxer James Bernard McGovern early next month. McGovern (26), from Fermanagh, was jailed for an attack on businessmen Kevin Lunney and Dara OReilly at a filling station near Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, on February 1, 2019. He is expected to be freed on temporary release from high-security Portlaoise Prison four days before his sentence of three years and three months is completed. A prison source said that because of the extremely violent and high-profile nature of McGoverns crime, he was being allowed the very minimum amount of temporary release available to offer him. He has been involved in a number of minor disciplinary issues since being committed to prison, but nothing on a serious level, and he has been approved for temporary release, the source said. A spokesperson for the Irish Prison Service said it would not comment on individual prisoners. There are concerns McGoverns release may lead to an increase in tensions in the Border area, where there have been numerous attacks, as well as the abduction and torture of Mr Lunney after the collapse of the business empire of former billionaire Sean Quinn. Last February, McGoverns father, Sean (64), was convicted of harassing Mannok director Mr Lunney. The court was told posters had been put up in the community to ramp up tension, but the elder McGovern said: My youngest son Bernard was remanded and couldnt get bail. It was a campaign against that. My son is the victim. Kevin Lunney was attacked and kidnapped by the three men in Co Fermanagh in 2019. Photo: Lorraine Teevan He was given a four-month suspended prison sentence when he appeared before Enniskillen Magistrates Court for the harassment offence. At the time, Bernard McGovern was on remand in prison after being originally charged with the filling station attack, which was caught on CCTV. He spent several months in Castlerea Prison between June and December 2020 before being granted bail. He was jailed for the offences in March 2021. McGovern pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Lunney, causing him harm, at a filling station in Rakeelan, Co Cavan. He also pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of assaulting Mr OReilly, the chief financial officer at the same enterprise founded by Quinn. The court was told the attack happened the day after McGoverns father had his employment terminated as a truck driver with Quinn Industrial Holdings, rebranded as Mannok. McGovern, who was 22 at the time, was sitting in the filling station cafe a short distance from the two men after they arrived about 1.15pm. The boxer got up, asked for a fresh pot of boiling water, then poured himself a cup before launching the assault on the two colleagues. He later presented himself to gardai after an extradition order was issued to the authorities in Northern Ireland. It was stated in court that McGovern had no involvement in incidents in September 2019 when Mr Lunney was abducted near his Fermanagh home, tied up, beaten and slashed on the face and chest with a Stanley knife. He was then dumped at the side of a road in Cornafean, Co Cavan. Three Dublin criminals are serving lengthy prison sentences for their role in that crime after being convicted by the Special Criminal Court. McGovern later unsuccessfully appealed against his prison sentence. While dismissing that application, a judge told the Court of Appeal that the fists of a boxer who rained blows down on Mr Lunney would be regarded as lethal weapons in other countries. The President of the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham, said he had been struck by the ferocity and savagery of the assault on Mr Lunney, which had been carried out by a highly prolific boxer. He also noted that the injuries suffered by Mr OReilly might have been more severe if the victim had not been wearing glasses when McGovern threw a cup of boiling water in his face. The offending, the judge said, had been carried out as an act of revenge after McGoverns father lost his job at Quinn Industrial Holdings and was a very, very serious matter. The judge also observed that Mr Lunney had been a victim of a campaign of violence and intimidation in a separate case. However, he said he accepted this offence was an isolated incident and not connected to other matters. Two suspects remain in garda custody in relation to the incident Detectives are investigating if the victim of a serious alleged sex attack was targeted by people known to her following a dispute. Two suspects remain in garda custody in relation to the incident which happened near a Luas stop in south Dublin in the early hours of this morning. Emergency services were alerted to reports of a woman being sexually assaulted by two people near the Drimnagh Luas stop at around 2am. Sources said that the victim was pinned down and held against her will during the incident. The suspects then fled the scene but were apprehended a short time later by gardai. A woman, aged in her 40s, and a man aged in his 30s were arrested and are currently being held at Crumlin garda station on suspicion of carrying out the sexual assault. The victim was brought to a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) in the capital to receive specialist treatment for her injuries. The scene remains sealed-off and this morning gardai could be seen taking items including what appeared to be clothing from the area. Gardai believe the victim and two suspects are known to each other and are probing if the attack was carried out following a row. This was a very serious incident and gardai are continuing to gather evidence including witness statements and CCTV footage as part of their inquiries, a source told Independent.ie. The victim is also receiving specialist treatment and is being supported. At this stage its being investigated if there was a disagreement which led to this. A number of people who were in the area at the time are understood to have witnessed the incident while it may also have been recorded on camera footage. Several items have since been seized for forensic and technical examination as part of the garda inquiry. The male and female suspects remain in garda custody under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act and can be detained for up to 24 hours. They must then either be charged or released from custody pending a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The incident led to the closure of the platform at the Drimnagh stop on the Red Line inbound Luas service this morning for a number of hours. However the Drimnagh platform was reopened to passengers at around 10 am. In a statement gardai said they are investigating an alleged assault which occurred in the early hours of this morning, Thursday, 26th January 2023 in Drimnagh, Dublin 12. A woman (40s) and a man (30s) have been arrested in connection with this incident. They are both currently detained at Crumlin Garda Station. Alleged tormentor David Larkin previously harassed Fine Gael senator Micheal Carrigy A 42-year-old man who is facing sentence for the harassment of a Fine Gael senator has been arrested in a separate probe into threats made to a government minister. David Larkin, of Ardnacassa Lawns, Longford, was arrested by gardai from Co Waterford this week and questioned for about four hours at Longford garda station before being released without charge. A file on this case will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Larkins alleged victim in this latest case is Junior Health Minister Mary Butler. Sources said the nature and timescale of the alleged harassment in this investigation is similar to Larkins campaign against Longford senator Micheal Carrigy. This involved some pretty disturbing communications in both cases, a source said. In Ms Butlers case it is understood the Fianna Fail TD allegedly received a number of threatening text messages as well as other unwanted communications. Ms Butler is a junior minister with special responsibility for mental health and older people. The Waterford TD did not wish to comment on Larkins arrest this week when contacted by the Irish Independent. Last week at Longford District Court, Larkin pleaded guilty to harassing Ballinalee-based Mr Carrigy on various dates between December 20, 2021, and February 14, 2022, contrary to Section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. It was outlined in court that the senator became concerned about messages he was receiving by text, voicemail and social media. The first text read: Happy Christmas Michael, hope you enjoy it to the full because next year youll be in a jail cell awaiting sentencing for crimes against humanity along with all the others. Your parents are the ones I feel sorry for, they are good people. Therell be no mercy for you. Other messages called Mr Carrigy a scumbag and said his time is soon up. He was also told there was a storm coming his way and he would be going to the train station a term used in US drama Yellowstone in which characters are told they are going to the train station but are instead killed and thrown from a roadside cliff. Mr Carrigy told the court how he feared for his familys safety when he received anonymous threats which said he would be torn apart in his house after his front door was rammed, and how no amount of security would save him. Larkin was arrested following a garda investigation. His solicitor, Frank Gearty, said his client was single, had no children, was not working, and lived with his mother. He said Larkin had a personal opinion on the efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccine. Judge Bernadette Owens said a probation report had suggested that a resolution under the restorative justice system might be achieved, but this option was rejected by Mr Carrigy. Larkin was remanded on bail to appear in court for sentencing on May 9 where his engagement with the Probation Service will be assessed. In his victim-impact statement, Mr Carrigy said he and his wife were entitled to live their lives without being threatened, and should not have the burden of having to worry about their children when they are at home, school or other activities. Shawn Denning, the police chief of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, was arrested and faces federal drugs charges, reports ABC News. On the DOJ's press release we find two counts of aiding and abetting the distribution of cocaine, two counts of aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine, one count of aiding and abetting the attempted distribution of methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute drugs. On several occasions, court documents allege Denning would use the app Wickr to communicate about the drugs. In one conversation, paperwork shows he told an informant the app is "encrypted" and "safe for both of us." The paperwork also shows a picture of what appears to be cocaine sent to the informant from Denning to show what Denning could supply them with. Authorities allege Denning worked with at least three sources to distribute drugs, even sending what they called menus, listing products and prices. The DEA says they have hard evidence connecting Denning to the case, including messages, audio and video recordings as well as surveillance. Matteo Messina Denaro will be held in high-security prison while he awaits trial Mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro, center, leaves an Italian Carabinieri barrack soon after his arrest . (Carabinieri via AP) AP In this picture taken from a video released by Italian Carabinieri on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, top Mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro arrives for treatment at a private clinic in Palermo, Sicily, Italy. (Carabinieri via AP) AP Matteo Messina Denaro, who is terminally ill with cancer, was attending a chemotherapy session using the false name of Andre Bonafede. But Andre Bonafede is not just any name; its the name of a deceased nephew of mafia boss Leonardo Bonafede. A mistake which would lead to Denaros downfall. When whispers made their way to the Carabinieris special operations group that Denaro may have been in poor health, they searched a list of male cancer patients born in Trapini in 1962, and the name of Bonafede stuck out to them. Italian police arrest mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro AP When a chemotherapy session was booked under the name at La Maddalena clinic, police swooped in. They asked their target what his name was, to which they received a chilling reply: You know who I am. I am Matteo Messina Denaro. But how did the man, who has been wanted for 30 years for a spate of murders, evade capture only to be found living in his hometown in Sicily? Anna Sergi, a lecturer in organised crime at University of Essex told Nicola Tallant on an episode of Crime World that the answer was simple: fear. The mythology of him became so much that even if someone at a bar thought he looks like Matteo Messina Denaro, they probably told themself no, that cant be. On the other hand it might have been fear, she said. The reason he was in Trappani and the reason he was protected is because he was the boss, and a very, very violent one. Sergi says that fear-induced silence is not too dissimilar to the mafias own code of Omerta. When it came to rumours about the whereabouts of Denaro, Sergi, who has penned numerous books on the mafia, said that she heard many murmurs about what became of him over the years. No one ever believed he had disappeared. There were many speculations on whether he had plastic surgery, whether his voice sounded the same.There was also speculation he may have been interfering with the investigation by reporting fake sightings of him across the world. The downfall of his mafia, the Cosa Nostra came in 1992, leading Denaro to vanish in 1993. Mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro, center, leaves an Italian Carabinieri barrack soon after his arrest . (Carabinieri via AP) AP The breaking point of Cosa Nostra was the Maxi Trial, Sergi said. The trial, which was held in a bunker-style courthouse specially constructed for this purpose, was a criminal trial against the Sicilian Mafia in which prosecutors indicted 475 Mafiosi for a multitude of crimes. The Maxi Trial was the brainchild of Giovanni Falcone in a bid to penetrate the mafia which had been so embedded in Sicily, Sergi said. As convictions of the maxi trial were upheld, the head of the Cosa Nostra at the time, Salvatore Riina, aka Toto u Curtu was confident he could corrupt enough people so that the trial would not be found lawful in the Supreme Court. He [Toto u Curtu] was wrong. "The moment in which it was clear that the sentences were going to stick, including his own, he lost it. Mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro. (Carabinieri via AP) AP He lost it and began to do what he did best, he began killing people. He started a war against the state. Denaro was implicated in his mentors bomb plots which included the 1992 Capaci bombing in which Giovanni Falcone, his wife Francesca Morvillo, and three of their police escorts died. Further bomb attacks were conducted across Italy in Florence, Milan, Laterano and Rome. They left 10 dead and 93 injured. In May 2002, Denaro was sentenced in absentia to life in prison for his role in the bombings. He disappeared in the autumn of 1993, only to reappear a few days ago.Sergi said that Denaros ability to disappear for thirty years is something that perpetuated the idea that Cosa Nostra were impenetrable. The meaning of this, its not just because hes the last one standing, but its really the fact that with him in jail, a period of Italy, gets closed after 30 years. But what does the near future hold for Matteo Messina Denaro? Apart from his certain death, the mafiso will live out the end of his life in exile. His future is mapped out and so is his past. Very soon he will move to the 41 bis which is the Italian prison regime for mafia bosses. Its pretty much permanent isolation with only one visit per month and only national television. There is no regional television to avoid messages being sent to them, Sergi explained. While it is sure Italian authorities will try to quiz him, for information during his incarceration, it is unlikely that Denaro will break the code of Omerta which has kept him protected for the last three decades. Crime World with Nicola Tallant is available to listen to now wherever you get your podcasts. By abusing his role as a lawyer, Youssef Taghi has "seriously undermined" confidence in his profession, according to the court. Daniel Kinahan is believed to be a member of the 'super cartel' A former lawyer and cousin of Ridouan Taghi, who is part of a super cartel that counted Irish mob boss Daniel Kinahan amongst its members, has been sentenced to five and a half years in a Dutch prison. Youssef Taghi, the 39-year-old relative of the suspected criminal gang leader played a key role in Taghis organisation, the court in Amsterdam found. He made an essential contribution to the organisation and was an indispensable link for Taghi while he abused his confidential position as a lawyer in a very sophisticated way, the court stated. According to the court, the Youssef Taghi file is an example of how organized crime penetrates the upper world and thus seriously undermines the rule of law. By abusing his role as a lawyer, Youssef Taghi has "seriously undermined" confidence in his profession, according to the court. Daniel Kinahan is believed to be a member of the 'super cartel' This has major social consequences because politicians are now talking about measures to limit the freedom of lawyers in contact with their clients. It has been reported locally that the aim of his cooperation with Taghi was, among other things, to help Taghi escape or break out of prison. Ridouan Taghi, who is currently in custody in the high-security prison in Vught, is the main suspect in the massive Marengo trial, which revolves around multiple assassinations and attempts. His cousin became one of his lawyers in March 2021 and visited him at the Vught prison many times. Over time, the judiciary discovered that the conversations between the two men were not about legal matters but criminal issues, it has been reported. Youssef acted as messenger, passing messages between Taghi in prison and alleged accomplices in the outside world. Police arrested Youssef on October 8, 2021 during a visit to Taghi, after the two were secretly filmed and wiretapped. He has been in custody since his arrest and had been looking at a seven-year jail sentence as demanded by the Public Prosecution Service. However, the court came to a lower sentence because it did not find it conclusively proven that he had passed on all the messages in the file. It is also not clear which crimes actually occurred because of these messages being passed on. A leader of the notorious Mocro Mafia, Dutch media claim Taghi was behind the murder of well-known crime journalist Peter De Vries who had been advising and acting as a confidant for a witness in a case against Taghi, when he was gunned down in Amsterdam in July. Investigations by the American Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) established that Taghi who is alleged to have formed a European 'super-mafia' with Daniel Kinahan, as well as other senior criminals, was a prominent guest at Kinahan's wedding in Dubai in July 2017 while he was on the run from police in his own country. The super cartel also included Raffaele Imperiale, who has become a State witness as he faces serious criminal charges in Italy. His widow, Lucy Watson was adamant the man in the clip was her late husband Harry Doherty Harry Doherty (left) and a clip posted by a curry house which his widow says shows him and his son Two children of a Derry journalist who died in 2014 have denied he is shown in a video that sparked social media conspiracy theories he was still alive. Father-of-three Harry Doherty won accolades for his coverage of the Troubles. His career began at the Derry Journal, where he reported on Bloody Sunday. He later moved to England, relaunching his career as a music journalist and working for the now-defunct Melody Maker following encouragement from the Irish rock band Horslips. Mr Doherty also wrote the only official book on Queen, published in 2011 to tie in with the bands 40th anniversary. He died at the Royal Free Hospital in London in 2014. His widow, Lucy Watson, said her late husband and his son Alex appeared in a video shared by the Indian restaurant Spice Cottage, located near her home in Emsworth, West Sussex. Brian May and Harry Speaking to MailOnline, Ms Watson was adamant the man in the clip was her late husband. But she rubbished conspiracy theories he was still alive, insisting the footage must have been shot prior to his death a theory the restaurant has dismissed. Ms Watson said: The moment I saw the thing, I thought, Oh my God, thats Harry. It was so instant. I didnt even have to think. Hed be eating a chicken korma because thats all he ever ate. "There was no doubt in my mind it was my husband. I couldnt pause the thing, so I had to replay it about 30 times. Each time I was surer and surer. Harry was a big, distinctive man. He had white hair. His build and his glasses were distinctive. I recognised the blue sweatshirt he was wearing and he is sitting there with his son. I just thought, Thats an old video. I posted asking [the restaurant] how old the footage was. I was only asking out of interest, then it all went crazy. It annoyed me when they [said] it was filmed last week. It cant have been. Im totally bemused by the response. I dont understand how people have picked it up in this way, and theres all these crazy theories. Harry died in 2014. Theres absolutely no doubt about that. But Mr Dohertys daughter, Kiera, denied it was her father in the video. She said: The person Lucy Watson is mentioning was my dad, Harry, and my brother. This is 100% not him. Harrys son, Alex, also told MailOnline: No way. Its not my dad and its not me. She [Ms Watson] got it wrong. You can see from the comments that people are really intrigued about it. They really want to know the answers. The answer is that its not my dad thats it. Harrys brother, Father Michael Doherty, said he hadnt a clue about the story until he spoke to his family yesterday. They told me the mystery was now solved, he added in reference to Kiera and Alex claiming it was a case of mistaken identity. Writing on behalf of the management at Spice Cottage, Bodrul Islam said the business would like to clarify some misunderstandings. He added: I run the social media side of the business and recorded a promotional video to portray our new wooden tables and interior refurbishment. The refurbishment was completed in early January and the promotional video highlights these changes. All videos used in the video were recorded in the week commencing January 9. Before January, all of our tables were covered by white and red cloths. Hence, it is evident this footage is recent. This is a very unusual situation. We hope this clarifies any confusion. In his role as a music journalist, Mr Doherty grew close to acts such as Thin Lizzy, The Boomtown Rats and Kate Bush as they burst onto the scene. He was closest to Queen, and having followed the members throughout their careers, he was asked to write a history marking their 40 years in the business. After he died, guitarist Brian May described Harry as one of the good guys and one of the first to write about the band. He said: He remained passionate about music and kept his freshness a rock and roller with a very good heart. He was a trusted friend, one of the very few I have ever had in the music press, and I will miss him greatly. RIP Harry. Rock on. He was driven through the gates of the school by his father Enoch Burke arrives again at Wilson's Hospital School driven by his father Sean Photo: Gerry Mooney Enoch Burke has turned up at Wilsons Hospital school for the third morning in a row despite being dismissed from his teaching role. Mr Burke arrived at the Westmeath school at 8.42am this morning. He was driven through the gates of the school by his father. This is the third morning in a row that Mr Burke has turned up at the school, despite being fired from his job last week. The teacher spent a number of hours at the school yesterday before leaving at around 1.40pm when it closed for the day. Enoch Burke re-enters school as gates open to allow a car enter Gardai are to submit a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) after arresting the dismissed schoolteacher for alleged trespass at Wilsons Hospital School after he showed up at the school on Tuesday. Mr Burke was arrested after turning up at the Co Westmeath school on Tuesday morning, just days after he was sacked following a chaotic disciplinary meeting which had to be suspended due to shouting and objections from him and members of his family. He was brought to Mullingar garda station and later released without charge shortly before 2pm, at which point he immediately returned to the school. Mr Burke was initially unable to re-enter the school grounds as the gates were locked and he was warned gardai would be called for a second time. However, he was eventually able to make his way onto the premises when the gates were opened to allow in a school bus. When Mr Burke reached the school he was confronted by principal Frank Milling, who said: Stop. Stop. Get off the property. However, Mr Burke remained where he was and only left shortly before 4pm at the end of the school day. He had earlier claimed he had been wrongfully arrested. The extraordinary series of events resulted in the school having to advise parents that the gates would be closed for a period for security purposes and that they should come to collect their children slightly later than usual. The man's family have been informed of his death An investigation has been launched after a man was found dead in prison earlier today. The prisoner, who was in his 20s and from Donegal, was found at Castlerea Prison where he was on remand. The man's family have been informed of his death. A full investigation has now been launched into the circumstances of his death. A spokesperson for the Irish Prison confirmed the incident. "The Irish Prison Service can confirm that there was a death in custody of a person in the custody of the Irish Prison Service on 26th January 2023 and the next of kin have been notified. "This death in custody will be investigated by the Irish Prison Service, The Inspector of Prisons and An Garda Siochana, where circumstances warrant. "The cause of death is determined by the Coroners Office." Roddy, who was well-known for many years within Irish dancing circles in Northern Ireland, was convicted of seven offences This is the Irish dancing teacher from Derry who has been jailed for six years for sexual assaulting a child. John Gerard Roddy, who is 63 years-old, was sentenced at Antrim Crown Court last week. Roddy, who was well-known for many years within Irish dancing circles in Northern Ireland, was convicted of seven offences, including sexual activity with a child between the ages of 13 and 16. He was also found guilty of four charges of indecent assault on his victim which took place outside the UK. The remaining offences were indecent assault and sexual assault. The sick crimes, which were all committed on the same young victim, took place on dates unknown between 2007 and 2012. As well as six years behind bars, Roddy, with an address at Daly Crescent in Derry, will also serve three years on license after he is released from prison. He will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and will be subjected to a Sexual Offence Prevention Order (SOPO) for ten years. A SOPO is a court order that can be requested by the police or court when there is a specific concern about an individual. The court order can be requested to prevent a person from engaging in a particular activity. It is common for a person who is convicted of online sexual offenses relating to children, to be subject to a SOPO. Examples of conditions set by the order include not being allowed to visit places where it is likely there will be many children. A SOPO can also limited an offenders access to the internet. Investigating officers have praised the courage of Roddys victim in coming forward with details of his horrific ordeal. Constable Jason McMorris said: Roddy breached his position of trust in the victims life, coercing and manipulating him. He took what should have been carefree, happy, teenage years away from him. No person, let alone a child, should ever be exploited in this heinous way. The victim showed immense courage and bravery to report these crimes to us, which have had a lasting impact on him for many years. Constable McMorris said he hoped the case would encourage other abuse victims to contact the police. I hope that his strength and confidence in the police to conduct a thorough investigation encourages other victims of child abuse to come forward and report. We take a robust stance against targeting sex offenders, particularly those who target and abuse children, and will work tirelessly to get take these people off our streets. Time is no barrier to reporting offences and I would urge anyone who has been victim of a sexual offence at any time to come forward. Do not suffer in silence. Call 101 or 999 in case of emergency. The Palestinian armed groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad said their gunmen were battling troops who had swept into Jenin refugee camp Palestinians gather amid clashes with Israeli troops during a raid in Jenin in the Israeli-occupied West Bank today. Photo: REUTERS/Ali Sawafta. REUTERS Israeli troops killed nine Palestinians, including an elderly woman, and wounded 12 others during clashes with gunmen in a flashpoint town in the occupied West Bank, witnesses and medics said. The Israeli military confirmed that an operation was underway in Jenin but did not immediately provide further details. The Palestinian armed groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad said their gunmen were battling troops who had swept into Jenin refugee camp, a militant bastion where such deep raids are rare. At the entrances to the camp's cramped alleyways, local youths threw rocks at army vehicles. Gunfire echoed as well as occasional explosions as militants set off improvised bombs. Jenin is an area of the northern West Bank where Israel has intensified raids over the past year after local men carried out street attacks in its cities. The violence has further clouded stalled U.S.-sponsored talks on Palestinians statehood. The Palestinian health ministry described the nine fatalities in Jenin as an elderly woman and eight men. There were no further details immediately available on their identities. An Islamic Jihad official told Reuters that the group had contacted mediators of past truces with Israel to warn that the Jenin violence could create escalation elsewhere. One fan tweeted: Did not know about @BarryKeoghans upbringing in foster care. One never knows what hardships growing up will lead us to how we end up as adults. Barry Keoghan poses in the press room during the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton earlier this month after The Banshees of Inisherin won the Best Picture award. Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/FilmMagic FilmMagic Barry Keoghan has been hailed an inspiration after an old interview about his tough childhood resurfaced amid yesterdays Oscars buzz. The 95th Academy Awards nominees were announced yesterday, with the Dubliner included among the Best Supporting Actor hopefuls for his role as Dominic Kearney in The Banshees of Inisherin. His co-star Brendan Gleeson was nominated in the same category, while Kerry Condon and Colin Farrell earned spots on the Best Supporting Actress and Best Actor in a Leading Role shortlists, respectively. With nine Oscar nods, the Martin McDonagh flick made history with the most nominations for an Irish film. Fans were immensely proud of the Irish talent and took to social media in their droves to congratulate the actors on their achievements. In particular, many praised Barry as an incredible actor. However, in the midst of the excitement, one Twitter user took the opportunity to remind others that the 30-year-old's pathway to success hasnt been easy. Author James Leighton shared a clip from a remarkable 2018 Late Late Show interview in which Barry spoke about losing his mother, who died of a heroin overdose aged 31. It was a new thing and people didnt know the effects, he explained. The drugs hit the area and it affected all the families and she was one of them that got caught. I was living with my Nanny at that stage. I was 12. She was very young. She was 31. I have great memories of her and Im very proud of her. The actor also opened up about how he and his brother Eric were moved around 13 different foster homes between the ages of 5 and 12 before moving in with their Nanny Patricia, aunt Lorraine, and older sister Gemma in the inner-city area of Summerhill. We went into foster care and the families we went to were good to us. We went to a few of them. They kept us together, which was great. Every family was good to us. As a kid, you dont know whats happening; you get attached and then boom let's move over here. Its a weird one. Its only when you get older, you can look back and get a bit of perspective on it. So, I dont have a hometown, he joked before adding: Im only messing, I do. Summerhill. Many Twitter users were moved by the interview, with one writing: Did not know about @BarryKeoghans upbringing in foster care. One never knows what hardships growing up will lead us to how we end up as adults. He stole the show in #BansheesofInisherin. Well done. #Oscars2023. Another added: He moved us all when he said There goes that dream in the movie. Gladly, he pursued & is living his dream in real life in spite of all that he endured after losing his mum. Well done boy, well done indeed. Keoghan discovered his passion for acting after getting cast in a play while attending OConnell School on North Richmond Street in Dublin. In school at OConnells I got the whiff of the spark, getting the chance to get on stage and having people laughing with me, rather than me just messing about in class, he told independent.ie last year. In first year, I did a play, My Babysitter Is An Alien. That was the first time I ever acted and I just loved the feeling of it. I was 12 or 13 and O Connells has a mad big stage so the production used to be massive, with lights and sound... I had that feeling of this is really good I like this. Barry caught his big break when he played the infamous cat killer Wayne in Love/Hate, and he joined The Factory acting school shortly afterwards. He later went on to secure roles in The Killing Of A Sacred Deer, opposite Nicole Kidman and Colin Farrell, followed by parts in Christopher Nolans box-office smash Dunkirk, sealing his star status. Now with an Oscar nomination under his belt for The Banshees of Inisherin, Barry has come a long way from his days in foster care and dedicates his success to his five-month-old son, Brando, whom he shares with girlfriend Alyson. The celebrity chef is back on our screens in Virgin Medias Dylan McGrath's secret service HE has managed some of the most heated kitchens in Ireland, but nothing prepared chef Dylan McGrath for his latest mission. The celebrity chef is back on our screens in Virgin Medias Dylan McGraths Secret Service, as he aims to prove anyone can make a success of their career if they are given the right opportunities. Five people who havent had life handed to them on a plate take on the ultimate culinary bootcamp to work with Dylan and see if they can pull off a dinner service to raise money for charity. Among them is a participant who comes out of prison to take part in the show; another has Down syndrome; and there is also an immigrant who has made a home for herself in Ireland. Finding a way of whipping this raw collection of wannabe cooks into shape was no easy task, and Dylan admits that screaming at these candidates as we often see in high-pressure kitchens would not have worked. I dont believe that shouting at people is necessary in the modern world, says Dylan, whose restaurants include Rustic Stone in the capital. When I was a young guy and starting restaurants in Dublin, I was very passionate about what I was doing and would have been no stranger to setting standards very high. When it comes to the guys on this show, you need a different approach. You need to be patient and give them a chance to learn on the job. All I ask for from everyone I work with is a good attitude and to try your best. In my mind, the shouting and screaming days in kitchens are over. People have changed and if those methods dont work anymore, we have to change. If the old ways of screaming at people are no longer productive, we have to adapt as an industry. The stories of the candidates in the four-part series are what bring it to life, with Dylan inspired by the challenge of bringing them into his world. We are working with a bunch of charities who have people from challenging backgrounds who are struggling to get jobs, explains the 45-year-old. They are not an option on the employment market, so what would it look like to bring them in, train them and see if they can get to the end of the story and serve up a meal for 60 people? The guy from prison, Stephen, had a real willingness to learn and try to make the most of the opportunity. He was making food in the prison in the morning, would get out to work with us and then had to be back in prison for the evening. So we had some interesting characters to work with on this show. Ive always been a fan of giving the underdog a chance. Giving someone a chance who never gets a chance can change their lives. The majority of the time, most people respond to that. Dylan McGraths Secret Service comes to Virgin Media Television in March Coincidence as late fiances dad was gifted Ronans drumsticks After first meeting on TV show First Dates, Ger Lynch knew exactly where he would get down on one knee and ask the love of his life to be his future wife the restaurant where it all began. Just over three years ago, Gers eyes were captivated by leggy blonde Jessica Collins when she sauntered into the Gibson hotel in Dublin to meet him for his date. Little did he know then that the woman of his dreams was a daughter of broadcaster Ronan Collins and that he would have an eerie connection. Ger and Jessicas TV date was in the autumn of 2019, and it was only last weekend after much toing and froing that Ger decided to put a ring on it. Jessicas dad Ronan Jessica (42), who is an events manager and part-time comedian, explains to the Sunday World that when they first met she had her own pad in Sandyford. After the show was done then we went on another date and decided that we would stay in touch and remain friends, she recollects. When Covid struck early in 2020 Jessica moved back into her parents home in Navan, which is just a 20-minute drive from Gers place in Duleek. It became my go-to place, just two friends hanging out like when you didnt want to hang out with your parents every day, says Jessica. When a second lockdown came, Jessica decided to bite the bullet. I asked Ger if he wanted to have a lodger and he said yeah, just me and the pups, she recollects. So, we moved in together for 11 months and on November 11, 2021, we discovered when we were having a bottle of wine that we were crazy about each other and that this is more than what we think it is and everybody else thinks and neither of us wanted to mess it up. Ger (41), who grew up in Tallaght and is a Global Digital Master Trainer for Microsoft, confirms they took it easy at the start. But after falling for each other and cementing their relationship the couple knew they would one day be married and Ger roped in some of Jessicas friends to help her pick out an engagement ring. The couple were going to a comedy gig in the 3Arena last weekend and Ger arranged a dinner beforehand in the restaurant of the Gibson hotel. After their meal, Ger said he was nipping off to the toilet and Jessica followed suit. When they came back two champagne glasses were positioned on the cleared off table. Jessica then remembers the most magical moment of her life. Ger got down on one knee in front of the people and proposed to me, which was emotionally overwhelming, it was gorgeous. Everyone clapped. It wouldnt be like Ger to put himself on show like that to be fair to him. As confident as he came across he told me he was terrified, but he nailed it. It was a dream proposal, I cant lie. The couple then phoned their parents and continued the celebrations at the comedy gig. Ger had already got the thumbs up from her dad. Unbeknownst to me, Ger had approached my dad the week before and asked for his blessing, and dad was thrilled. Ger went to see his mother on Wednesday and gave her tickets to see Ronans showband show in Galway the following night, where she met Jessicas parents for the first time. But remarkably Gers late dad Donal had met Ronan many years ago and even got a pair of his drumsticks off him. My dad was a producer for Tops of the Town in the 1980s, so he would have kind of met the same type of people at the time I dont know how he came across Ronans drumsticks but I remember them as a kid, because dad sold his drum-kit to get presents for us, but he kept the drumsticks and in my childhood I can remember dad tapping on the worktop with the drumsticks or on his knees. At least my dad and her dad got to meet each other, which is comforting. Jessica, who says the couple hope to have their wedding in the summer of 2024, admits she was awestruck that Gers dad owned a pair of drumsticks belonging to her own father. It is very strange as my dad doesnt give those away easily. But it did kind of feel like Donal was with us when we were down there on Thursday night in Galway at the show. It all just seemed to fall into place very well, she says. Senators participating in the Senate's Ticketmaster inquiry took the opportunity to quote artists' work in an attempt to create the soundbite of the day. Democrats Amy Klobuchar and Richard Blumenthal took their moment to shine and were accompanied by Republican Mike Lee. You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow. NYT: A citizen science project encouraging the public to report sightings of kekeno/NZ fur seals around the upper North Island has been extended into summer. Between July 1 and November 22, 2022, DOC conducted a public awareness campaign urging people to report sightings of kekeno around Coromandel and the Hauraki Gulf. The citizen science project and call for sightings followed a high number of dead kekeno observed in the region during winter 2021. By receiving more sightings of the seals reported by the public, DOCs scientists would be able to learn more about the species and understand if the previous winters mortalities indicated a trend. New Zealands kekeno population is growing in size and range - and becoming increasingly visible to New Zealanders. Marine Science Advisor Laura Boren says DOC received 102 reports of kekeno sightings between July and November. The sightings were spread across the upper North Island, with 36 in Waikato (including Coromandel), 27 in Auckland, 14 in or around the Hauraki Gulf, and seven each in Northland and Bay of Plenty. Of those, 21 sightings were groups of multiple seals. Of the sightings, 81 were for live animals and 21 were for dead animals. This was a positive result as there were significantly fewer dead seals reported than over the previous winter and spring (more than 50 animals) . Images were provided by the public seal spotters for 65 of the sightings of both live and dead kekeno. Most were clear enough for assessment of age class and these helped DOC staff confirm sightings included kekeno of all age classes, from pup, juvenile, sub-adult to adult, similar to what was observed the previous year. The other sightings did not include images but still proved useful for the project, Laura says. The decision to extend the project into summer will deliver more valuable data on one of our most visible and interesting marine mammal species. In summer, more people are out enjoying the coasts of New Zealand and the ocean around us, so thats more eyes helping us identify seals and provide us with sightings. In addition, the extension into summer allows us to look for kekeno across a very important time in their life history as summer is breeding season. The project area has been expanded to cover areas north of Kawhia, on Waikatos west coast, and Whakatane on the east coast. Otago University Wildlife Management Masters student Nicola Roos is also contributing to the project, carrying out field work on DOC vessels. Key areas of interest include Auckland, the Hauraki Gulf, and the Coromandel Peninsula. We will be gathering sightings data of any fur seals spotted within our study area, Nicola says. This data will be mapped to create an estimate of their distribution and determine key sites where kekeno like to hang out. Nicolas field work will also assess locations for potential release sites for rehabbed seals through DOCs relationship with Auckland Zoo. Auckland Zoo has a permit to rehab and release fur seals, but at the moment doesnt use it to its full potential as we need to identify release sites that would improve the chance of successful rehabs. The project work will help DOC to identify potential release sites and better plan for this activity. Identifying breeding areas or locations where multiple sub-adult seals haul out reliably will enable us to identify potential release sites. Laura says DOC welcomes reports of sightings of all seals either live or dead from around the upper North Island. Information and photos of all dead seals found means local DOC staff can assess whether the specimen meets the criteria for necropsy. The key factor is freshness the fresher the specimen, the greater chance of determining the cause of death. From those necropsies, well be able to gather important information on the species, why some of the individuals have died, and what we can do going forward. For this reason, its important to report as quickly as possible. Regardless, all reports, images and information collected will help build understanding of the kekeno population. In reporting kekeno sightings, and providing photographs, people should take photos of the whole animal from several angles, including for deceased animals one looking straight down from above and with something for scale, and note the date, location, and if the animals is tagged before sending to kekeno@doc.govt.nz. While some submitters have asked for a total ban of audible bird scaring devices in the Whakatane district, Horticulture New Zealand says any further restriction of their use could negatively impact the industry. A second round of submissions on Whakatane District Councils changes to its Plan Change 6 Audible Bird Scaring Devices is now open. In response to complaints from people living in rural areas of the district, where the number of kiwifruit orchards has been rapidly increasing in recent years, the council has proposed to change its rules for the use of the cannon-like bird scarers. The plan change looks to reduce the allowable decibel levels of the devices, the hours of the day, times of year and the frequency with which they are allowed to be used and introduces rules around distance from the boundaries of residential properties the decibel levels should be measured from. A first round of consultation on the plan change was held in August and September last year and nine submissions were made. None of these asked to speak at a hearing. The submissions both opposed to and in support of the changes have been made available on the councils website and as a printed copy from the council. As part of the Resource Management Act process, a second round of consultation is now taking place to give interested parties a chance to respond with their support or opposition to the views previously submitted. Two of the submissions, including one on behalf of Horticulture New Zealand and the New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Association, and another from a kiwifruit grower, were against the increased restrictions on the use of scarers. The submission written by Horticulture New Zealand senior policy adviser Sarah Cameron opposed the plan change in its entirety and sought for the council to withdraw it. (The plan change is) inappropriately balanced towards residents and will have a negative impact on horticulture production in Whakatane, the submission says. The submission also questioned the method of sound measurement used in the investigation preceeding the plan and whether the disturbance caused to residents by the devices was non compliance by orchardists with the current regulations. There appears to be a degree of non-compliance with the operative district plan which may well be exacerbating the effects of ABSD in the district. Orchardist Robert Humpheries made a submission in support of the Horticulture New Zealand saying the plan change would inhibit orchardists rights to protect crops in fair and effective manner. Poroporo residents Sandy and Bruce Pryde, who introduced a petition to council about the bird scarers in 2021, made a submission on behalf of Poroporo residents who signed a petition opposed to the plan change in favour of a total ban on the devices. ABSD causes extreme distress to humans and animals when they are totally unnecessary. There are many alternatives that can be used. The submisson also reminded the council of the original complaint in the petition of residents being subjected to loud booms seven days a week from 7am until 7pm. Approx 144 Boom... Boom... BOOM's per day, thats 1008 times per week. Another Poroporo resident, Keryn Mullins, submitted that devices were too loud and continuous throughout the day and sound like big shot guns going off all the time. These should not be allowed and advantage of them is questionable as birds just fly back a few minutes later. Te Runanga o Ngati Awa submitted in support of the plan change with the stipulation that marae, papakainga and marae urupa in the district also be recognised and provided for in the plan, alongside other residences. Submissions close on February 10 for the current round of consultation and submittors will have an opportunity to speak at a hearing before the council makes its decision. -Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air. Hato Hone St John is proud to roll out its new Waka Manaaki branded ambulances this summer, further aligning its connection and commitment to serving the people of New Zealand. Ambulances are one of the most visible connections we have with communities across the country. As new ambulances and specialist response vehicles join our fleet, they will now include a new livery design more connected with New Zealand while increasing the volume of reflective material on the rear of the vehicle. These improvements help maximise visibility to increase the safety for our people and patients. A total of 50 new vehicles featuring the new design will be commissioned around the country during 2023, which has all been made possible thanks to Hato Hone St John donors. Hato Hone St John Ambulance operations deputy chief executive Dan Ohs says the yellow and green colour scheme, originally adopted because of its high visibility, remains but is enhanced. The new Waka Manaaki design connects well with our previous livery, while also connecting with our communities in a way which is uniquely kiwi," he says. 'Waka means transport method and Manaaki means to take care of. If we break 'Manaaki' down 'Mana' is ones power and 'aki' means to encourage or empower which is essential for our patients. Hato Hone St John Ambulance National equity manager Dan Spearing says considerable attention has been given to achieve a balance between connecting and grounding our design in New Zealand, adhering to tikanga Maori and ensuring we meet strict mandatories around safety for our people and patients. The new Waka Manaaki design also acknowledges tangata whenua (people of the land) and connects us all to te ao Maori (the Maori world). Furthermore, this design represents us a distinctive ambulance service within Aotearoa and reflects our journey to achieving better health outcomes for all, especially where health inequity is most prevalent. Spearing adds that the organisation acknowledges the use of kaupapa Maori design comes with great responsibility. The responsibility to ensure we whakamana (empower) and continue to make a tangible difference for the health outcomes of Maori, he says. Ohs says with the safety of patients and ambulance crews top of mind, Hato Hone St John has been careful to ensure the new concept maintains the function and physical safety of its transporting ambulances. We believe our newest ambulances are the first in the world to visually incorporate emergency vehicle safety standards while embracing cultural designs that acknowledge our tangata whenua. Were delighted to lead the way and see these vehicles being rolled out, Ohs says. The new vehicles retain their visual connection with St John organisations worldwide and the addition of our translated name Hato Hone incorporates one of New Zealands official languages bringing a stronger connection with the important work we do with communities right here. St John International is strongly supportive, and we are pleased to be the first St John organisation in the world to do this. The new look ambulances and specialist response vehicles are currently hitting streets across the motu as the vehicle fleet is replaced in the coming years. More on the design meaning The transformation of the design to a Waka Manaaki was underpinned by three concepts centred around care for all New Zealanders: Manaaki tangata, or care for individuals; Manaaki whanau, or care for families, communities and staff; and Manaaki hauora, care for all of our collective health and wellbeing. The design encompasses Manaia functioning as kaitiaki, providing safe passage through our communities and protecting patients and staff within. Taurapa stabilises, balances and creates safe passage for the waka. Tawhirimatea propels the kaupapa forward while binding and galvanising our varied communities and stakeholders. The rauponga illustrates the treasured care and protection of patients and the community. The manawa heartline represents the beating heart that runs through our organisation and work we do. A working group from Hato Hone St John, including representatives of the emergency ambulance service, Kahui Mauaka Maori Responsiveness Team, Brand, and Corporate Operations, worked alongside Maori design agency Haumi and strategic brand agency Origami, to develop a design that is inclusive and represents all peoples and cultures who have made their own journey, at some point, on waka to arrive in New Zealand, while paying homage to the heritage and history of Aotearoa. Haumi consulted with members of Ngati Whatua o Orakei, other iwi representatives, specialists in nga toi Maori (Maori arts) including waka building experts, to guide Hato Hone St John throughout the design and development process and ensure authenticity, appropriateness, and alignment with tikanga Maori. An initial concept vehicle was commissioned over a year ago with our major partner, ASB, covering the cost of the initial design application. The concept vehicle completed a journey around New Zealand, where we received more than a thousand pieces of feedback before being blessed by local iwi and going into operation in Rotorua. Waka Manaaki is being applied to all new vehicles to be commissioned in the Hato Hone St John fleet including G4.1 Ambulance, Major Incident Support Team (MIST) Truck, Command Units and Patient Transfer Services noting the design is not being applied to existing vehicles. Both our updated name, and refreshed ambulance designs, will be phased in as we create new materials, get new vehicles or open new buildings. This means you will see both old and new logos and designs for some time but ensures we are taking the most cost effective and financially responsible approach. More information about this journey can be found here https://www.stjohn.org.nz/ourjourney New York State allocates $30 million for early-stage startup funding One of the biggest challenges early-stage startup companies face is accessing the funding needed to get their business off the ground. In financially conservative and risk-averse communities across Western New York, finding investors willing to take a chance on a young company is even harder, said Marnie LaVigne, CEO of Launch NY, a Buffalo-based venture development organization that supports early-stage startup companies by providing them with access to capital and free mentoring. That's why New York State's $30 million Pre-Seed and Seed Matching Fund Program could be "game changing" for entrepreneurs in Western New York, LaVigne said. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the creation of the fund in early January, which will offer young startups investments between $50,000 to $250,000, matched with funds from private investors. The program is intended to support the development of businesses in high-growth industries and the creation of 21st century jobs, according to the state. It also will expand access to venture capital to those in underserved geographies and historically marginalized people and companies. Why target young companies? Pre-seed investments are perhaps some of the most important funds a young startup needs, but also the most difficult to get. That early-stage capital gives companies the resources they need to get off the ground and keep growing. That's why the state is targeting those companies with this fund. The difficulty in raising these funds is often compounded for marginalized founders, LaVigne said. "You're usually working with entrepreneurs who have not been there and done that," she said. "So the notion that you're going to open your wallet and provide capital for someone who not only has an untested idea, in many cases, but is untested as a business leader is pretty risky. And often, that is not a barrier that an entrepreneur can overcome, especially underrepresented founders." But, having matching funds from the state is a great way to increase private investors' confidences, LaVigne said. "This is a great way to approach new investors and get those investors excited about the fact that there's additional dollars ready to come into this company side by side with theirs," she said. How could this fund impact Western New York? LaVigne believes this type of program is perfect for startup founders in Western New York. In areas such as New York City and the Silicon Valley, it is not uncommon to see investors giving $500,000 to early-stage companies. But that's not the case in Buffalo, LaVigne said. "We see our entrepreneurs being really scrappy in terms of what they can get done with a small amount of money," LaVigne said. "But it is a game changer if you could double that money right out of the gate. "The acceleration that we could see here is maybe even more pronounced in upstate New York, because we don't really have that type of ready capital among family and friends and angels coming as easily as it does in major metros. This program is designed to make a world of difference in underserved geographies, as well as in marginalized populations, overall." Where is the money coming from? The $30 million fund is a piece of a larger program intended to support New York State businesses continuing to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year, the state received $501.5 million through the federal American Rescue Plan to support businesses. The program is managed by Empire State Development's NY Ventures, the state's venture capital arm. What kind of companies qualify? To qualify for the program, companies must have raised less than $2 million, have their headquarters and and least one C-suite employee in New York and focus on one of the following technology markets: Advanced manufacturing Agricultural tech Climate tech Consumer tech Data/software as a service/artificial intelligence Fintech Healthcare Life sciences and biotech Medical devices LaVigne encourages all young companies to take a look at the state's website to see if they qualify. "I imagine these dollars will go pretty quickly," she said. Natalie Brophy Want to know more? Three stories to catch you up: Welcome to Buffalo Next. This newsletter from The Buffalo News will bring you the latest coverage on the changing Buffalo Niagara economy from real estate to health care to startups. Read more at BuffaloNext.com. THE LATEST Catch up on the latest news from the Buffalo Niagara economy: Tesla provided the latest update on its solar energy business and its Buffalo factory. Hilbert College is buying a small, career-focused college with campuses in West Virginia and Ohio. Norstar Development is selling its small downtown headquarters building. Want to buy an elementary school? The City of Tonawanda school district is selling two of them. Amherst snack maker Mister Snacks is being acquired by a Pennsylvania company that is shutting down its local operations. TopSeedz and Linita Design are each in line for $750,000 in low-interest loans from an affiliate of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency. If it wasn't bad enough that a suspicious fire caused extensive damage to the former Buffalo Grand Hotel more than a year ago, now water damage caused during the blizzard is making things worse. Evergreen Health is planning to expand in East Buffalo. The Village of Lancaster is getting $4.5 million in state funds for downtown revitalization efforts. The details are starting to come out about a new Buffalo Bills stadium deal. ICYMI Five reads from Buffalo Next: 1. Niagara University grows food marketing program with 'whos who' of industry leaders: Western New York has some 1,200 companies involved in food manufacturing, distribution, retailing and/or warehousing, putting it in the top five markets for the industry nationally, according to Niagaras Food Marketing Center of Excellence. 2. Why Buffalo Niagara's labor shortage is still the biggest factor behind sluggish hiring: The Labor Department reported the region added 1,800 jobs during December a tepid increase that, if it continued, would mean it will be another 14 months before the region regains all its lost jobs. 3. How a Buffalo nurse built lasting bonds with Tops employees after mass shooting: Trinetta Alston, a licensed practical nurse with Community Health Center of Buffalo, has been working with Tops employees since May 16, just two days after the mass shooting at the Jefferson Avenue store. 4. Damar Hamlin's Chasing M's Foundation isn't so little anymore: With donations flowing in since the Buffalo Bills safety suffered cardiac arrest during a Jan. 2 game, the foundation now needs to make fundamental changes to manage and distribute its assets and to ensure the proper oversight, experts said. 5. For looted stores, a costly recovery: Stores looted during the December blizzard have been scrambling to reopen. But the process is involved and insurance doesn't always cover the costs. The Buffalo Next team gives you the big picture on the regions economic revitalization. Email tips to buffalonext@buffnews.com or reach Deputy Business Editor David Robinson at 716-849-4435. Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up to get the latest in your inbox five days a week. 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. A Buffalo man has pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr. on drug and gun charges, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Prosecutors said 31-year-old Esteven Matos faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison when he is sentenced on May 17 for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Prosecutors said a federal search warrant was executed Oct. 30, 2020, on a priority mail parcel addressed an Electric Avenue address in Lackawanna which was found to contain one kilogram of cocaine. The contents were replaced with "sham" drugs and the package was delivered to the Lackawanna address. A short time later, prosecutors said, investigators saw Matos arrive and they executed a search warrant, seizing two loaded guns, one of them stolen, about 260 grams of fentanyl, 1,451 pills containing methamphetamine, the sham cocaine, digital scales, five cell phones and more than $63,000 cash. Matos was previously convicted of felony offenses in 2010, 2011 and 2015, and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. Advanced Polymer Coatings lands multiple Turkish tanker deals Advanced Polymer Coatings has sealed a raft of new contracts to apply its MarineLINE tank coating system to newbuild tankers as well as recoating projects. USA-based Advanced Polymer Coatings (APC) is further reinforcing its position as the prime protective tank coating company in Turkeys maritime sector with a series of high-profile deals. The manufacturer, which already holds 80 per cent of the Turkish marine protective coatings market, has sealed a raft of new contracts to apply its MarineLINE tank coating system to newbuild tankers as well as recoating projects. A deal with Genka Shipbuilding will see MarineLINE applied to a newbuild 2000DWT oil and chemical tanker. Construction of the vessel at the Pendik Naval shipyard will get underway in January 2023. Its parent company operates a fleet of regional and coastal tankers and APC has a long-standing relationship with the family-owned business having previously coated six of its tankers. APC has also signed a contract with Okan Ogullari Shipping to coat its latest new build 10500DWT tanker. Construction work is also scheduled to start in January 2023. APCs relationship with Okan Ogullari goes back to 2006 when it was one of the manufacturers first customers and MarineLINE has been applied to four of the vessels in its fleet. In another deal, APC has been commissioned by Swan Tanker to recoat M/T Ipek-S, a 6267DWT oil and chemical tanker which was built in 2009. The 2013-built tanker M/T Endeavour 15,995dwt will also be recoated with MarineLINE in early 2023 after an agreement was struck with DuZGIT Shipping Management. The Istanbul based business has a five-strong fleet, all coated with the MarineLINE system. These contracts are the latest in a collection won by APC in Turkey during 2022. They include a major multi-ship deal to recoat ten tankers with Turkish ship management firm Chemfleet signed in July. The fleet ranges from 6000 to 15000DWT tankers and the work will be undertaken at a collection of Turkish shipyards. APC Global Marine Manager Captain Onur Yildirim and Turkish Marine Manager Captain Koray Karagoz, spearheaded the latest new deal activity. Captain Yildrim said: This latest raft of deals underlines the strength of our position in the Turkish market and is testament to all the work we have undertaken to build and nurture close relationships with our customers. We know their requirements and they know what MarineLINE delivers for them, as well as the service and dedicated support that we provide. We continue to see demand for MarineLINE increase in Turkey and other key export markets. We deliver a premium product, a tank coating that can perform and cope with a wide variety of chemicals over a sustained period. The low absorption characteristics and highly glossy surface of MarineLINE allow operators to reduce overall tank cleaning times, which in turn reduces fuel consumption and GHG emissions associated with hot water production. Combined with the cargo versatility and flexibility that MarineLINE offers over its competitors, through its ease of cleaning between different cargoes, it continues to give us a real edge. Genka Shipbuilding Managing Director Kemal Akbasoglu explained why APC had been awarded the work on its new build tanker. He said: MarineLINEs chemical resistance played an important part in our decision to choose APC for this project. Since this vessel is designed for future fuels such as methanol, chemical resistance of the cargo tanks plays a vital role for our customer. APC has coated and repaired more than 450 vessels since establishing itself in Turkey in 2001. Exports underpin APCs growth with key markets, which also include China, the Gulf and Croatia. The company now has more than 12 per cent of the global chemical tanker coating market with 700 ships coated worldwide with MarineLINE. In 2021 APC reported one of its most successful years of trading coating 56 ships equating to over 750,000 square metres of MarineLINE applied. A gunman who wounded three people outside a downtown Buffalo restaurant just after midnight July 4, 2021, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced. Prosecutors said Douglas fired several shots from an illegal gun during an argument outside Deep South Taco, 291 Ellicott St. The three victims, two men and a woman, received hospital treatment for minor injuries. Buffalo police officers arrested Douglas on July 16, 2021, and found him in possession of an illegal handgun, which was loaded. Current market "very favourable to tanker owners" - TEN The current tanker market is "very favourable to tanker owners" on both the supply and demand side, said Harrys Kosmatos, Corporate Development Officer, speaking at a management presentation organised by Capital Link. Market Conditions Bullish Due to Favorable Supply, Demand Conditions The current market is very favorable for tanker owners on both the supply and demand side, Harrys Kosmatos, Corporate Development Officer, said expressing his confidence, particularly in terms of demand. Global oil demand has recovered in the wake of the pandemic, and has even exceeded pre-pandemic levels, Harrys Kosmatos pointed out. Chinas reopening will likely propel this demand even further, he noted, as the country could become, once again, a major oil importer. Kosmatos argued that Russias invasion of the Ukraine has created a new and possibly lasting trend in oil markets, namely the creation of new trading patterns and the elongation of shipping routes as a result of Europes ban on Russian oil imports. Due to these regulations, Europe now has to import oil from further distances, particularly the US, West Africa, and the Arabian Gulf. The short-term voyages from Russia have been replaced by longer haul trades and the emerging new Russian trades, particularly to India and China as it reopens, are performed by older vessels, acquired by non-western entities, that up until recently competed in the international commercial arena with everybody else, Kosmatos noted. This pattern, which effectively removes supply from the western markets, is a trend that TEN expects could last for the foreseeable future, he continued. Additionally, the sector is facing one of the lowest orderbooks in recent memory, under 4%, while nearly 10% of the current global fleet is over 20 years old, and 24% over 15 years old. As a result, we could be faced with a situation where some segments in the tanker market could experience negative growth. Negative growth against an increasing global oil demandshould translate to a sustainable strong market environment. Kosmatos asserted. PRESENTATION Capital Link hosted a presentation by the senior management of TEN Ltd. (NYSE: TNP) on Thursday, January 12, 2023. During the 45-minute session, Dr. Nikolas P. Tsakos, Founder, President & CEO, Paul Durham, CFO, George Saroglou, Chief Operating Officer and Harrys Kosmatos, Corporate Development Officer, described the strong tanker market, the current state of the companys fleet, and its dividend policy as part of Capital Links Company Presentation Series. A replay of the full session of the presentation and the extensive Q&A can be accessed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZKsCkb4Y6M OTHER HIGHLIGHTS TEN Ltd. is one of the largest and most well-established independent energy transporters in the world. With a diverse fleet of 73 modern vessels, including both crude oil and oil-product as well as LNG transportation. This includes 7 newbuilds. TEN Ltd maintains a customer base consisting of major global energy companies. TENs Fleet Dr. Nikolas P. Tsakos, CEO, stressed that TEN is focused on capitalizing not only on periods when the market is strong, but also when it lags. He stated that the companys current strategy includes chartering its vessels in the spot market, for short term periods, when the market is very strong. The company has taken advantage of the difficult times to order its first four green, dual-fuel ships, Dr. Tsakos said, with the order backed by long time charters from one of the companys main clients. In terms of chartering, 40 of TENs 66 vessels on the water, or 61%, have market exposure, or a combination of spot and time charter, along with profit sharing. A total of 44 of 66 vessels on the water, or 67%, are in secure revenue contracts, or fixed time charters and time charters with profit sharing. This means that TEN is capturing the positive tanker market fundamentals that prevail today, George Saroglou, COO, stated. We have a simple operating modelwe try to have our time charter vessels generate revenue to cover the companys cash needs, the vessel operating expenses, finance expenses, overheads, chartering costs and commissions, explained George Saroglou. We let the revenue from spot rating vessels opportunistically contribute to the profitability of the company, he continued. George Saroglou stressed the companys commitment to keeping operating costs low and utilization rates high. Currently, TENs fleet utilization sits at nearly 94%. This figure is quite high, considering that a number of dry dockings for ship surveys that have taken place. The company is also expecting a total of six newbuilds to be delivered from 3Q23 until 2Q25. Of these new vessels, four will be dual-fuel LNG, and represent the companys entrance into green shipping, Saroglou said. TEN has traditionally been active in the S&P market focusing on fleet renewal. Were looking to sell 7 or 8 of our older generation ships, Dr. Tsakos stated. That would give us a very big capital gain and boost for the year 2023. Posed to Reduce Debt at Accelerated Pace Based on the positive quarterly results through the past year, its clear that the annual numbers will be strong, Paul Durham, CFO stated of 2022. In the nine-month period of 2022, the companys net income amounted to over $100 million. This growth has resulted in healthier cash reserves for the company, which have grown by over $200 million compared to the previous year. This could help the company to reduce outstanding debt at an accelerated pace, Durham stated. Already, in the past six years, outstanding debt has fallen by about $500 millionand it continues to shrink he noted. We still expect our revenue to grow into 2023 as the market continues to remain firm, he said. When asked about the companys dividend policy, Tsakos highlighted that TEN has never stopped paying a dividend, even in very, very difficult times when the company could legitimately put a stop on such payments as some of its peers did. When times are good, our policy has always been to distribute between 25 and 50% of our net income, depending on capital needs at the time, and I think we will not change that policy, he continued. The company is not looking at this stage, to buy back shares. Instead, Dr. Tsakos said, a preference would be for dividend increases. ExxonMobil Marine signs MoU with Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology, Indonesia Collaboration will explore a range of educational opportunities focused on some of international shippings most pressing technical issues Surabaya, 26 January 2023 ExxonMobil Marine and the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS), a leading university in the field of science and technology in Indonesia, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the goal of supporting Indonesian students looking for a career in the marine industry. The agreement underlines ExxonMobils commitment to education and nurturing the next generation of talent. The relationship aims to develop a range of educational opportunities focused on some of international shippings most pressing technical issues, including emissions regulations and the use and development of specialised engine lubricants. Both parties also aim to create activities that will help support the countrys wider maritime sector. Joint activities will be coordinated through the ITS Faculty of Marine Technology (Martech). Our shared goal is to support students looking for a career in the maritime sector, said Mochamad Ashari, Rector of ITS. Through proactive collaboration, we also intend to drive the development of the Indonesian shipping industry. The marine industrys journey to a more sustainable future will require an unparalleled level of training and knowledge, and ExxonMobil recognises the importance of education in achieving this goal. Last year, as a first step, ExxonMobil revamped one of the classrooms to enhance students learning experience by creating a more supportive study environment. The formal inauguration of the new classroom was marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. I firmly believe that our shared vision and commitment to innovation will help to create the next generation leaders and innovators critical to the maritime sectors future success, said Joanne Eu, Global Aviation & Marine Lubricants Director of ExxonMobil. Todays signing represents a major step towards ensuring that our ambitions become a reality. The MOU signing ceremony was held at ITS, Sukolilo Campus, Surabaya, Indonesia on Thursday 8 December 2022 and was witnessed by Ahmad Wahid, Director of Shipping and Maritime Affairs, Directorate General of Sea Transportation, Ministry of Transportation of Indonesia and Nurwahidi, Head of SKK Migas Jabanusa. Norsepower signs agreement with Socatra to install two Rotor SailsTM on MR Tanker Deal highlights the advantages of offshore application for a post-carbon future, using wind propulsion solutions to meet sustainability goals. Helsinki, Finland Wednesday, 25th January 2023: Norsepower Oy Ltd., the leading global provider of auxiliary wind propulsion systems, today signed a contract with Socatra, the leading French ship owner and operator, for the retrofit installation of two Norsepower Rotor SailsTM on the Medium Range (MR) tanker Alcyone. The 50000 dwt, 2022 built, French flag tanker - chartered by global energy company TotalEnergies will be retrofitted with two 35 m x 5 m Norsepower Rotor SailsTM. The units will be delivered in December 2023 from Norsepowers new production hub in China, with installation scheduled for Q4 2023 or Q1 2024. Recent calculations indicate that the average fuel and carbon emission reductions will be 8% for the ship as it transits between South Korea and French Polynesia, with the potential for further savings using voyage optimisation reaching up to 2,000 tons of CO2 per annum. Taking a holistic approach to decarbonisation and combining clean technology solutions enables key progress towards emissions reduction goals, minimising fuel costs, enabling carbon regulatory compliance, and improving IMO Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) ratings. Tuomas Riski, CEO of Norsepower, commented: It is fantastic to see that the Norsepower Rotor SailTM has been embraced by a leading company like Socatra. We are proud to be working with the team to support them in making critical sustainability progress in their operations. As our first client in the French market, it is a testament to the versatility and adaptability of our technology. The Norsepower Rotor SailTM is particularly well-suited to tankers, with a strong track record of proven performance. This is why we are confident that we can achieve at least 8% fuel consumption saving, based on existing data and projections, ensuring Socatra lead the way for more planet-positive operations for others in the oil industry. Laurent Bozzoni, Socatra CEO, added: As the oil industry is moving towards a low-carbon future, it is everyones responsibility to put forward tangible and economically viable solutions. We are pleased to be working with Norsepower to accelerate this transition and minimise our environmental footprint. The Norsepower Rotor SailTM is widely recognised as a proven solution for sea-going vessels, and we believe that our MR tanker Alcyone will benefit from significant efficiency gains and help us reduce our CO2 emissions. Jerome Cousin, Senior Vice President Shipping at TotalEnergies said: The installation of two Norsepower Rotor SailsTM on Alcyone contributes to TotalEnergies Net Zero ambition by providing an immediate reduction of the carbon footprint of our shipping activities. We reaffirm our commitment to promoting innovative solutions for more sustainable shipping and actively support the deployment of the most promising technologies. The success of this project could pave the way for a broader adoption of wind- assisted propulsion for TotalEnergies' fleet. Hamburg, Germany 25th January 2023 : S5 Agency World (S5), a world-leading port services provider, today announced it has agreed a contract with Deutsche ReGas to act as terminal agent at its new Deutsche Ostsee LNG terminal at Lubmin Port, on Germanys Baltic Sea coast. The new LNG terminal will process LNG imports into Germany and has a regasification capacity of up to 5.2 bcm of natural gas per year. The agreement will see S5 Agency World managed the incoming clearance, pilot coordination and necessary paperwork for three shuttle tankers working between a floating storage unit moored near the port in the Baltic Sea and the floating regasification vessel Neptune at the Lubmin terminal. S5s experience working with gas carriers will be crucial to this part of the project. The S5 team will handle all port calls for the project as part of its exclusive contract. As Germany continues to develop infrastructure to support the import of LNG for its energy system, the construction of floating regasification plants is accelerating across the country. The Lubmin LNG terminal, which has already been feeding gas into the grid during test operations since the beginning of January, is the first privately financed LNG terminal in Germany. S5s leading expertise in the gas sector and its experience of the technical challenges of managing gas carriers in port makes it an ideal partner for Deutsche ReGas at the Lubmin Terminal. Jason Berman, Chief Commercial Officer, S5 Agency World, said: "We are very pleased to be working with Deutsche ReGas on this very important project for the region and for Germany. We will bring all our experience working with LNG carriers around the world to this project to ensure the shuttle tankers are able to operate smoothly between the storage vessel and the floating regasification plant that will boost gas supply for the German market. We look forward to working with Deutsche ReGas and all parties involved in the project. Stephan Knabe, Chairman at Deutsche ReGas, commented: S5 Agency World brings the experience and expertise in the field of LNG carriers to manage the vessel movements necessary for smooth operations and ensure the Lubmin terminal is fully utilised. With Germany needing to make up a shortfall in gas for power across the country, we are pleased to be working with the S5 team as they bring a focus on high-quality, efficient operations as one of the gas sectors leading port agents. S5 Agency Worlds port services team will immediately begin working with the Deutsche Ostsee team to put in place the processes to ensure smooth management of the daily vessel trips from the storage vessel to the terminal. S5s team will be based in an office on site at the Lubmin port to support vessel movements. 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. A civilian and a police officer accused of obtaining fake Covid-19 vaccination cards both pleaded guilty to one count of disorderly conduct Thursday before Cheektowaga Town Court Justice John J. Wanat, according to the Erie County District Attorney's Office. The charge is a violation. Prosecutors said 30-year-old Kurt T. Surprenant and 40-year-old Paul Daley, both of West Seneca, were each sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge and ordered to perform 20 hours of community service. Daley is an officer with the West Seneca Police Department who was off-duty at the time of the incident. An investigation was launched after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security intercepted a package from China that was addressed to Surprenant and contained blank Covid-19 vaccination cards. Investigators conducted a controlled delivery of the package to Surprenants address and obtained a search warrant for his home. Over the course of the investigation, Surprenant was found to have obtained a falsified vaccination card from his friend, Daley. Authorities allege that the seized blank vaccination cards were designed for use in forging a written instrument. An investigation by the District Attorney's Office determined that the falsified card was never used. Homeland Security, FBI, NYS Department of Health Vaccination Complaint Investigation Team and Erie County Health Department investigated the case. It was prosecuted by Chief Gary M. Ertel of the DA's Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit. 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. AJ56 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 443 Thanked: 1,591 Times re: The Ceramic Coating Thread Quote: thirdmainroad Originally Posted by Why do all shops offer a maintenance package on ceramic coating then? If you scroll up just a bit, theres someone asking if he should go for a 2 year package or 5 years. For those that do, ask them every time they take a polisher to your paint and level the coating, will they open a fresh kit and reapply every time they do maintenance? Will 4-6 fresh kits be used when theyve only charged you for one over the course of 2-3 years? Note Im talking about reapplication/top ups and not the warranty/durability period on the coating, as certain more concentrate grades of pro coatings have longer durability, but its still a one time application. Quote: thirdmainroad Originally Posted by What you are saying about coating requires no maintenance has not been my experience. And thats possibly why all shops offer maintenance packages on the coats. When you get your car back from ceramic coating, it will be shining and looking top notch. It then tends to slowly fade away and does require a re coat in about 6-8 months to get the shine back. Why do new cars look shiny? There is no coating on them, but the paint is free of swirls and defects that take away from the gloss and clarity of the clearcoat. The reason your coated cars lose gloss over time is due to improper washing that scratches the paint (and the coating), killing its hydrophobic properties and leading you to believe constant reapplication is necessary. Quote: thirdmainroad Originally Posted by Then you are effectively saying that ceramic coating doesnt do anything or look different if a panel thats got ceramic coating is going to look the same as a panel that doesnt and has been newly repainted! Which also means that you dont need to do ceramic coating in the first place! In my experience Ceramic coating adds to the gloss and shine of the paint! If you only get a coating done for the visual aspects of it and not the long term protection and hydrophobic properties, then yes youd be better off with a high level paint correction + sealant as itll be cheaper than a coating. Although not by much as multi step paint correction is a big part of the coating cost to begin with. All shops dont, we dont, and a few other credible ones I know personally also dont offer periodic maintenance or mandatory top ups/reapplication.For those that do, ask them every time they take a polisher to your paint and level the coating, will they open a fresh kit and reapply every time they do maintenance? Will 4-6 fresh kits be used when theyve only charged you for one over the course of 2-3 years? Note Im talking about reapplication/top ups and not the warranty/durability period on the coating, as certain more concentrate grades of pro coatings have longer durability, but its still a one time application.The reason its shiny is not because of the coating, its because of the machine polishing and paint correction done to remove swirls and ensure light reflects uniformly on the surface. You can apply the best coating in the world on swirled up paint and it wont look anywhere near as good as paintwork that has been properly polished.Why do new cars look shiny? There is no coating on them, but the paint is free of swirls and defects that take away from the gloss and clarity of the clearcoat.The reason your coated cars lose gloss over time is due to improper washing that scratches the paint (and the coating), killing its hydrophobic properties and leading you to believe constant reapplication is necessary.Yes, a panel thats polished perfectly will look identical to a panel which has been coated. If you apply a transparent coating and the paint starts looking better, you did not polish and correct it properly. There will be obvious differences in water beading but if its dry, it will look the same.If you only get a coating done for the visual aspects of it and not the long term protection and hydrophobic properties, then yes youd be better off with a high level paint correction + sealant as itll be cheaper than a coating. Although not by much as multi step paint correction is a big part of the coating cost to begin with. Last edited by AJ56 : 25th January 2023 at 21:19 . mycar BANNED Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1 Thanked: 5 Times Fuel-efficiency of Hybrid cars on the highway Hi all BHPian's, Happy Monday. Hope everyone is good and safe. This is a newbie. I joined recently and this is my first blog. I am planning to upgrade from a 5 to 7-seater and looking for some suggestions w.r.t. hybrids on highways, as I am not roaming the city in a car. I have been waiting for Innova Hycross and reading a lot of blogs and details about the TNGA 5th-gen hybrid and how the system works. Thanks to all BHPians who have been sharing inputs from the blogs and love their comments as well. I see that self-charging gives good mileage when it comes to city drives. But when it comes to highways, it is something that keeps bothering my mind. I am a fan of the Prius hybrid and also the Tata Safari. The new Safari is really tempting me to go and book it. But at the same time, because it's available only in diesel, it is making me take a step back. The Innova Hycross is also making me do the same and this question, "how does hybrid work on highways?" prevents me. As long as the battery has enough charge, on the highway, at full acceleration, the motor does help by giving power along with the gasoline engine and thus saves gasoline. But, if there is the concept of charging the battery at the same time while discharging (I mean charging and using the battery at the same time) then I am not sure how long the battery will sustain. As per the battery working procedure, I know that charging and discharging are not at all possible at the same time with the same path (circuit). But, as this hybrid technology uses various paths for charging and discharging, just like mobile phone where you can use the phone while charging, it makes me think twice. Certainly, if we are using mobile phones while charging, then depletion of the battery increases twice or maybe more times as fast as while using with normal full charge procedure. I think this is a good technical point for all those who are looking to buy the Hycross hybrid. I did watch Toyota's videos and also some others, to understand more, but none of them is giving me deep information about this process. If anyone has any inputs, please share so that it can help me make up my mind and move further. Thanks & Regards MyCar BHPian. Last edited by Aditya : 23rd January 2023 at 19:31 . TechSpot is about to celebrate its 25th anniversary. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust In brief: Bad news for those excited to see an AI-powered 'robot lawyer' advising defendants inside a courtroom: DoNotPay will not be using its artificial intelligence to argue a legal case in a court of law next month after the startup's CEO was threatened with jail. News that an AI would represent a defendant fighting a speeding ticket in court on February 22 arrived earlier this month. It would have involved an iPhone equipped with an AI app being placed in the defendant's pocket. Combined with an earpiece and smart glasses, the defendant would have been able to record court proceedings while the AI provided arguments that would hopefully win the case. The system relies on AI text generators, including ChatGPT and DaVinci, writes NPR. DoNotPay already uses AI-generated form letters and chatbots to dispute parking tickets, lower bills, and other grievances. The idea brought plenty of interest and wasn't without controversy. It would have been the first time someone was defended in court by an AI, and would have marked another step in artificial intelligence's advancement. Joshua Browder, DoNotPay's CEO, said that multiple state bar associations threatened the company over its plans, with prosecution and prison time put forward as possible consequences of using the so-called robot lawyer. One state bar official noted that the unauthorized practice of law is a misdemeanor in some states, punishable by up to six months in county jail. Good morning! Bad news: after receiving threats from State Bar prosecutors, it seems likely they will put me in jail for 6 months if I follow through with bringing a robot lawyer into a physical courtroom. DoNotPay is postponing our court case and sticking to consumer rights: --- Joshua Browder (@jbrowder1) January 25, 2023 "Even if it wouldn't happen, the threat of criminal charges was enough to give it up," he told NPR. "The letters have become so frequent that we thought it was just a distraction and that we should move on." The State Bar of California would not comment on the DoNotPay case specifically, but it did say it has a duty to investigate possible instances of unauthorized practice of law. It added that there had been a recent surge in poor-quality legal representation that has emerged to fill a void in affordable legal advice. "They were threatening to charge us with unauthorized practice of law," Browder confirmed. He could have also faced other charges, including interfering with judicial practice. Browder said that the potential consequences of using a robot lawyer have become a distraction for the company, and it is now focusing on its "bread and butter" of consumer rights. The CEO says DoNotPay has won more than 2 million customer service disputes and court cases on behalf of individuals against institutions and organizations. It also wants to assist people dealing with expensive medical bills, unwanted subscriptions, and issues with credit reporting agencies. Browder also said that the AI lawyer was supposed to help those who can't afford their own representatives in court. I've been going in pretty hard on @DoNotPay and @jbrowder1 for the past couple of days, and I've had a lot of people defending the service, saying that it could be a real boon to those who can't otherwise afford legal aid. --- Kathryn Tewson (@KathrynTewson) January 24, 2023 Not everyone is happy with DoNotPay's bread-and-butter service. Kathryn Tewson tweeted that it is a "straight-up plug-and-chug document wizard." Masthead: Francesco Tommasini TechSpot is about to celebrate its 25th anniversary. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust In brief: Japanese and US companies have partnered to manufacture 2nm semiconductors within the next few years. With help from Japan's leadership, they hope to compete with Taiwanese industry leader TSMC. One company's president recently revealed the roadmap for 2nm chips. This week, Atsuyoshi Koike, president of Japanese chip venture Rapidus, told Nikkei Asia that the company plans to establish a prototype production line for 2nm semiconductors by the first half of 2025. If successful, the roadmap would put the company right behind industry titan Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) which also wants to enter 2nm mass production in 2025. Rapidus and IBM announced a partnership in December to further develop and manufacture a 2nm semiconductor design that IBM first unveiled in 2021. The process promises a 45 percent performance boost over 7nm nodes by packing over 50 billion transistors onto a fingernail-sized chip. It can also provide the same performance as 7nm while using 75 percent less energy. The US tech giant doesn't manufacture chips in-house. Instead, it licenses its designs out to partners. Koike said the Japanese company's long-term goal is for 2nm mass production sometime in the late 2020s. The effort is part of a cooperation between Japanese and American private companies with partial funding from the Japanese government's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. Previous reports said the groups want to establish the first Japanese 2nm facilities between the fiscal year 2025 and 2027. The initial wave of semiconductors would likely go toward quantum computers, data centers, flagship smartphones, and possibly military applications. Flagship smartphones are also the main focus for TSMC's N3 3nm node, which went into full production just before the end of last year. The company's primary client for the early N3 application is Apple, which will use the chips for the iPhone 15 it plans to launch later this year. Meanwhile, Intel wants to debut its 20 Angstrom (20A) essentially a rebranded 2nm in 2024 to catch up with TSMC. The first clients for the upcoming node will be Amazon and Snapdragon chipmaker Qualcomm. Samsung, the number-two player behind TSMC, started manufacturing 3nm chips in June and has an improved design planned for 2024. Like its Taiwanese rival, the company wants to begin 2nm mass production in 2025. In October, Samsung revealed a roadmap with plans to reach 1.4nm by 2027. Leo J. Donovan was no stranger to headline-making murder cases. By the time he retired in 1985, he had served as the chief of the Buffalo Police homicide squad longer than anyone in the departments history. During his 21 years in that position, Donovan headed investigations into about 4,000 unexplained deaths and homicides, including some of the most notorious crimes in Buffalo over the past century. He led the probes into the racist serial murder spree of .22-caliber killer Joseph G. Christopher, more than a dozen bloody mob hits and the horrific case of a mentally ill college student who killed her four children. This squad solves more than 90% of the cases we investigate, Donovan proudly told a Buffalo News reporter in the early 1980s. Thats nine out of 10 cases. But after taking over the homicide squad in 1964, Donovan was still a relative newcomer to high-profile cases on March 13, 1966, when someone killed Monsignor Francis J. O'Connor, one of Buffalo's most well-known priests. Fifty-six years after O'Connor was found dead in Scajaquada Creek, the case remains unsolved. A street-smart detective Donovan was a sometimes quirky man who occasionally poked fun at his own image by wearing a floppy Sherlock Holmes-style hat to work. Detectives who served under him and news reporters who covered him knew that he could be gruff and sarcastic one minute, kind and patient the next. Donovan was fascinated by criminals especially mobsters and also by murder weapons. In his office, he kept a collection of evidence photos from some of the most bizarre crime scenes he had examined. He also kept a collection of letters he had received threatening his life. His reputation as a street-smart, analytical detective led to consulting work with some top police agencies, including Scotland Yard and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The son of a city firefighter, he grew up in South Buffalo and the Old First Ward and became a local legend in law enforcement. Donovan served in the Navy during World War II and joined the Police Department as a patrolman in the old First Precinct. One of his first patrol partners was James B. Cunningham, an outspoken and colorful cop who went on to become commissioner under the late Mayor James D. Griffin. Donovan was a lieutenant in charge of the motorcycle squad when then-Commissioner Frank N. Felicetta put him in command of the homicide squad. He was a great detective, a great administrator, friendly, outgoing, intelligent," said retired homicide Detective Sgt. Edwin A. Gorski, one of Donovans closest aides and confidants, after Donovan's death in 1996. "In order to be a good detective you have to be a good actor. He was a consummate actor." Gorski recalled something else about Donovan: The chief hated to end an investigation without an arrest. He was a digger, said Gorski, who had worked closely with Donovan on the OConnor case and died in 1997. He never gave up on a job." Homicide squad reports show that Donovan took a very active role in the O'Connor murder probe, going to the crime scene, interviewing witnesses and even traveling about 70 miles to Chautauqua County to question a suspect. The reports show Donovan and his detectives developed information about a priest and another Buffalo Diocese employee a journalist who emerged as suspects in the O'Connor case. But on this case, the intrepid homicide chief would never make an arrest. Weeks after the murder, the investigation was suddenly and mysteriously shut down. *** Coming Friday: A diocese journalist emerges as a suspect Catch up on the series: Who killed the monsignor? Exploring the murder of Monsignor Francis J. O'Connor, its investigation and its legacy How we reported this series Watchdog reporter Lou Michel filed a Freedom of Information Law request in January 2022 for Buffalo Police records on the unsolved 1966 murder of Buffalo Diocese Monsignor Francis J. OConnor. He and reporter Dan Herbeck were given access to the Police Departments box of approximately 100 reports on the case. In addition, they interviewed more than 120 people, including retired police officers who worked on the case, people who talked with the Buffalo Police homicide chief who oversaw the investigation, and relatives and acquaintances of OConnor and of three diocese employees who were once suspects. In case you didn't know, task lighting is an important factor in any personal space. It concentrates on a single region, making tasks like reading, writing, or watching a computer screen simpler to perform. Good task lighting alleviates eye strain and mental tiredness while increasing task performance by 16%. Lumi 4-in-1 LED desk lamp with a wireless charger might assist you in accomplishing this. It allows you to pull an all-nighter whether you're at home, at work, or in school. When you combine this LED lamp with a wireless charger, as well as other features, you'll be able to complete tasks and remain comfortable at the same time. Are LED Desk Lamps Good? LED lamps are popular not just for their ability to keep you focused and attentive but also because they are energy-efficient. They are far better for the environment and your electricity cost, have lengthy lifespans, do not overheat, and commonly enable you to customize the brightness and color temperature settings. Besides being used as a simple light, one good thing about Lumi's LED desk lamp with a wireless charger is that it sorts out your desk so you can keep it clean from messy charging cables. What Type of LED Light Is Best? The best LED desk lamps are the ones that can perform more than one thing. And Lumi's 4-in-1 LED desk lamp with a wireless charger is capable of doing just that. With this lamp, you won't have to fumble and hide the long redundant cords to make your desk or nightstand clean and organized. It already helps tidy up your table. Additionally, this LED lamp with a wireless charger is powered by a single outlet. You may charge iPhones, Android phones, earpods, and watches simultaneously. Simply put them on. All of these features will keep your desk neat and tidy, allowing you to put an end to the life of the messy wires. Lumi's LED desk lamp with a wireless charger includes a large 18W power adapter that can deliver up to 15W of power to the phone. Meaning it can quickly charge multiple devices. Specifically, a 7.5W wireless charging is suitable for iPhone, and 15W is suitable for Huawei P and Mate series. A 10W is suitable for Samsung Galaxy and Note series, and other mobile phones support 5W wireless charging, Airpods output 3W, and Apple iWatch charger stand output 3W. Key Features This LED desk lamp with a wireless charger includes a Qi, CE, FCC, and ROHS-certified dock, making it safe and dependable. To safeguard your battery equipment from overcharge damage, it has an integrated intelligent chip with over-current protection, over-voltage protection, over-temperature protection, short-circuit protection, and foreign object identification. Among all competitors, it's one of the rarest LED desk lamps with a wireless charger that provides a maximum power of 15W watts to the iPhone. Charging three devices at the same time will only take around 23 hours to charge completely compared to even the most basic chargers you have. Theis 4-in-1 LED desk lamp with a wireless charger has an intelligent LED charging light that lights up every time you charge a device. If you're anxious about whether your phone would charge overnight, this feature is a great help. While it's also a LED lamp with a wireless charger, it's also safe to use whenever. All overcharge protection, overcurrent, and overvoltage protection, temperature management, and foreign object detection are all built-in. When the device overheats, it will automatically cease charging. When used as an iPhone or Android Phone fast charger, this LED desk light features a heat sink design at the bottom of the charger to ensure safe and consistent charging. The strong base plate of the wireless charger can be adjusted at two different angles, and the two huge charging coils support vertical or horizontal phone charging. This allows you to watch videos, video calls, or chats while charging. When traveling, this compact and portable phone and AirPods charger make it easy to stow in your backpack. Aside from the LED lamp with a wireless charger, you can also enjoy various accessories with Lumi 4-in-1. It has an integrated cup holder, a headphone clip, and a watch charging clip. The Lumicharge Patented Universal phone dock has all the ports for multiple phones. Benefits Foldable, slim, and compact, so it's easy to carry around LED lamp with a wireless charger Designed for different use cases and is a kid's eye-friendly desk lamp Serves as an Android or iPhone charging stand with an LED lamp One of the few LED desk lamps with a USB port so you can use it however you want to Compatible with all devices you want to charge and entirely safe to use Its multifunctionality helps reduce the mess you have on your desk From a point of view of a working individual, this LED lamp with a wireless charger serves several functions. The design is to clean away the clutter on your desk. Perfect for students who want to have a simple light on at their desk that also helps tidy up their messy charger wires. To sum it up, it's a versatile LED lamp that's meant to organize the desks of many professionals and non-professionals. If you want to have one at your desk, simply head over to Lumicharge's official website. For only $39.00, you can start kicking off your productivity at home, dorm, office, or wherever! Get an exclusive 15% discount using the code TTimes15 and enjoy 50% off on the 2nd additional item that will show up for you! 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Binance has been connected to a federally accused crypto corporation and its creator, who handled almost $346 million in bitcoin. The news confirms months of rumors that the US government is investigating the biggest cryptocurrency exchange for enabling illegal money transfers, as reported by Gizmodo. Binance and Bitzlato Tie-up Reuters said on Tuesday, Jan. 24, that the nationally cited crypto trading Bitzlato had sent $346 million via Binance, per blockchain data from Chainalysis. Bitzlato was accused of serving as a "no-questions-asked cryptocurrency exchange" that enabled $700 million in illicit funds to pass through. According to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the US Treasury (FinCEN), Binance was one of three primary parties that received this money between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2022. In the past, blockchain monitoring company Arkham Intelligence and a CNBC investigation both named Binance as a prominent player in the Bitzlato arrest. But this is the first time a specific dollar amount has been associated with Binance's role in the case. It is yet unclear how much of that $346 million came from malicious attackers. Amid all the fuss around Bitzlato, Binance has emerged as the clear frontrunner. Related Story: Crypto Exchange Bitzlato Allegedly Worked With Ransomware Groups; Founder Arrested Case Background Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco stated at a news conference the arrest of Anatoly Legkodymov, a Russian citizen residing in China and the head of the crypto exchange Bitzlato. He was arrested by FinCEN and others for allegedly helping bitcoin thieves launder their earnings. FinCEN claims that Bitzlato also dealt with the dark web pharmacy known as Hydra and the "alleged Russia-based Ponzi scam" TheFiniko. In addition to Legkodymov, Reuters also quoted former banking regulator Ross Delta, who predicted that Binance would face more scrutiny from prosecutors due to the exchange's weak compliance check and know-your-customer (KYC) procedures. In December 2022, Federal prosecutors at the Department of Justice were reportedly divided on whether to prosecute Binance and its executives, including CEO Changpeng Zhao, for several financial crimes. Binance has allegedly been under investigation for money laundering and sanctions violations for the last four years, with four unnamed individuals saying that the exchange allowed Iranians to trade on the site despite US prohibitions. Members of the prosecution were undecided on whether or not to delay filing charges against the corporation until additional evidence was gathered. The Crypto Sector This development follows a peculiar week for federal crypto enforcement, according to Gizmodo. The US Department of Justice made headlines last Wednesday, Jan. 18, by announcing that they would be dropping charges related to a massive worldwide crypto raid. The crypto community was on the edge of its seats after the failure of FTX and the arrest of its creator, Sam Bankman-Fried. See Also: CryptoWatch: Coinbase's Exit from Japan, Bitzlato with Ransomware Groups, and 'Dookey Dash' NFT Game 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recently certified the design of NuScale Power's small modular reactor (SMR). This marks the first SMR approved for operation in the United States and the seventh reactor design to receive such certification. According to NRC's press release, the rule goes into effect on Feb. 21, providing the country with a novel clean power source to aid in reducing emissions nationwide. SMR Power Station The final rule will enable utilities to cite NuScale's SMR design when requesting a combined license to construct and operate a reactor. NuScale's design features an advanced light-water SMR with power modules that can produce 50 megawatts of green electricity. The VOYGR SMR power station can hold up to 12 factory-built power modules, each around one-third the size of a large-scale reactor. But more interestingly, each power module uses gravity and convection instead of relying on additional water, power, or even human assistance to cool the reactor passively. In March 2018, the NRC approved NuScale's proposal for SMR design certification, and in August 2020, it released its final technical review. On July 29, 2022, the NRC Commission ultimately decided to certify the design, making history as the first SMR to be approved for use in the US. "The DOE has been an invaluable partner with a shared common goal - to establish an innovative and reliable carbon-free source of energy here in the US We look forward to continuing our partnership and working with the DOE to bring the UAMPS Carbon Free Power Project to completion," NuScale Power President and Chief Executive Officer John Hopkins said in a statement. Currently, NuScale is looking for an upgrade allowing each module to produce up to 77 megawatts. The NRC is anticipated to review its application this 2023. Read also: French Government to Submit Plans For New Nuclear Reactors Around 2023 | Electricity Production to Start? Carbon Free Power Project Since 2014, the US Department of Energy has contributed more than $600 million to the design, licensing, and siting of the VOYGR SMR power station by NuScale. Through the Carbon Free Power Project, DOE is currently collaborating with Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS) to test a six-module NuScale VOYGR facility at Idaho National Laboratory. By 2029, the first module is anticipated to be operational, and the entire facility will be running the following year. UAMPS completed the proposed INL site's subsurface field investigation work, and the company anticipates submitting a joint license application to the NRC in the first quarter of 2024. In addition to the Carbon Free Power Project, NuScale Power has signed. It is now implementing 19 domestic and international agreements to establish SMR facilities in 12 other nations, such as Jordan, Romania, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Related Article: TerraPower Selects Wyoming Site for Building its Experimental Nuclear Reactor; Project Backed by Bill Gates 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. ESA (European Space Agency) announced they would no longer visit China's Tiangong Space Station. (Photo : Photo by ESA/NASA via Getty Images) In this photo provided by the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, the International Space Station is seen from Atlantis as the orbiter undocks February 18, 2008 in space. Atlantis delivered the long awaited, $2 billion Columbus science lab addition built by the ESA to the space station. This decision is quite a surprise since ESA has a great relationship with the Asian country. In 2017, two ESA astronauts, Matthias Maurer and Samantha Cristoforetti participated in a nine-day joint training exercise with Chinese astronauts in the coastal city of Yantai. In 2021, ESA even said that its main goal is to establish long-term cooperation with China, as the South China Morning Post reported. However, this finally changed after ESA announced its decision. ESA Cancels Visit to China Tiangong Space Station According to SpaceNews' latest report, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher announced their decision not to visit the Tiangong Space Station. (Photo : Photo by ANDRE PAIN/AFP via Getty Images) The logo of the European Space Agency (ESA) is seen in the main control room of the European Space Operation Centre in Darmstadt, western Germany, on April 12, 2022. - The new Space Safety Centre will be used to monitor satellite data that record the space weather and also the future ESA Mission Vigil. (Photo by ANDRE PAIN / AFP) Also Read: Europe Launches New Weather Satellite to Track Unpredictable Events Amid Climate Crisis Based on his statements, they are more committed to the International Space Station. "We are very busy supporting and ensuring our commitments and activities on the International Space Station where we have a number of international partners working together," explained Aschbacher. He added that they have no budget or political intention to engage in a second space station, specifically the Chinese orbiting laboratory. China Already Expected ESA's Decision A Beijing-based space scientist, who asked not to be named for his privacy, said that the announcement of ESA is unfortunate news. But, the researcher said that it wasn't surprising, especially since COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine conflict affected China's cooperation with Europe. On the other hand, Cristoforetti said they made efforts to make the Tiangong Space visit a reality. However, they are having issues continuing their plan, which led to the sudden cancellation. You can click here to learn more about ESA's China space station visit cancellation. In 2022, ESA was conducting efforts to enhance Europe's space industry. These include the space agency's plan to explore wireless gathering of Earth's solar power. We also reported that ESA planned a follow-up space mission on NASA DART's epic asteroid impact. For more news updates about ESA and its upcoming space activities, keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: 'Christmas Craterscape' from ESA's Mars Express Captures Stunning Holiday-Themed Phenomenon 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In recent weeks, supporters have been on the verge of their seats as they anticipate a final decision from Meta to announce whether to allow the return of former US President Donald Trump on Facebook and Instagram. (Photo : Kimberly White/Getty Images for Accountable Tech) MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 17: A mobile billboard, deployed by Accountable Tech, is seen outside the Meta Headquarter on January 17, 2023 in Menlo Park, California. Accountable Tech, an advocacy nonprofit, has deployed the mobile billboards as Meta considers reinstating Donald Trumps Facebook page after a two-year suspension since the Capital insurrection. The billboards highlight Trumps recent posts on Truth Social as a reason against reinstatement. Trump is Back on Meta After having an indefinite suspension for more than two years, Trump is coming back on Facebook and Instagram as Meta will be lifting the suspension for his accounts. In a statement released by the company, his accounts will receive new guardrails to prevent performing potential offenses in the future. Meta stated that the former president would be able to access his accounts in the coming weeks. Trump's return to Meta platforms comes after his campaign to reinstate his accounts. The company stated that the people should be able to hear from a former President and a declared candidate for the office as he prepares for the upcoming 2024 US President Elections. Meta Top Policy Official Nick Clegg described the suspension as an extraordinary decision taken in extraordinary circumstances. He added that Trump and other public figures that will undergo future suspensions will face new guardrails that will last for at least a month. "The Board upheld the decision but criticized the open-ended nature of the suspension and the lack of clear criteria for when and whether suspended accounts will be restored, directing us to review the matter to determine a more proportionate response," the statement added. Based on a report from Engadget, Meta's newsworthiness policies would also apply to Trump's accounts. In case he violates the letter of the Community Standards, Meta may opt to restrict the distribution of posts. Suspending Trump's Accounts Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts were suspended two years ago as the company took action after praising the people engaging in violence at the Capitol last January 6, 2021. The initial suspension of a 24-hour ban became an indefinite suspension. The Guardian reported that Trump was also banned from other platforms such as Twitter, Snapchat, and YouTube after the riots. Eventually, he got his account back on Twitter when new Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk took over the company. The original plan was to ban the former president from the platform permanently. Meanwhile, his accounts on YouTube and Snapchat remain banned as the two companies have not shared any decision to allow his return on both platforms. Also Read: [UPDATE] Elon Musk Will Bring Donald Trump Back to Twitter After Online Poll The decision of reinstating Donald Trump's accounts on Facebook and Instagram was heavily criticized by Democratic lawmakers and misinformation analysts. The New York Times reported that this move would allow him to spread "divisive and inflammatory posts." This includes Illinois Democrat Representative Jan Schakowsky and American Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Anthony D. Romero. Related Article: Meta's Facebook Will Still be Banning Donald Trump After His 2024 Presidential Run Announcement 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. China's new revised Wildlife Protection Law was passed last December 2022, which aims to further expand the protection of wildlife and strengthen the prevention of zoonotic disease outbreaks. The new law is on top of the temporary ban on the sale of wild animals that the Chinese government implemented shortly after COVID-19 broke out. (Photo : Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images) BANGKOK, THAILAND - NOVEMBER 19: President Xi Jinping of China sits in on the APEC Economic Leaders handoff ceremony in the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center on November 19, 2022 in Bangkok, Thailand. Thailand is hosting the APEC meetings this year, which will culminate in the leaders' meetings which will run from Nov. 17 to 19. China's New Revised Wildlife Protection Law According to a report by the state-run news outlet China Daily, the top legislature in the Chinese country has successfully passed a new law revised Wildlife Protection Law. The new law reportedly prohibits hunting and trade of wild animals in the country - whether for food or medicinal purposes. South China Morning Post reports that the revised law essentially bans hunting, consumption, transport, and sale of wildlife. However, it has some exceptions for some species. The new law requires the approval of local authorities for breeding the highest level of protected species in China. It also seeks to impose rules to monitor and control the spread of disease among wild animals. And on top of that, it also has provisions that punish illegal trading and hunting of wildlife. The China Daily notes that the new version of the legislation addresses wildlife conservation and economic development. Read Also: Tesla China Price Cuts: Consumers Protest-Demanding Rebates After Missing Price Drops Will it Prevent Zoonotic Disease Outbreaks? But is the new legislation actually a step forward in preventing zoonotic disease outbreaks in the future? (Photo : Hu Chengwei/Getty Images) SHANGHAI, CHINA - DECEMBER 11: People with protective masks walk at Nanjing road on December 11, 2022 in Shanghai, China. The Hong Kong-based news outlet, South China Morning Post, says that some environmentalists point out some loopholes in the new law. They raised concerns that the revised Wildlife Protection Law might do the opposite of what it aims for. It might instead further encourage the breeding and use of wildlife, the South China Morning Post reports, citing environmentalists. The senior campaigner with the NGO, Environmental Investigation Agency, Avinash Basker, pointed out the flaw of the new law. "The major problem with the law - that it legitimized the breeding and commercial use of even the highest level of protected species in China." But Basker also acknowledged that the revised law brings a few noteworthy revisions, including the expanded banning of consuming wildlife as food. Despite that, the senior campaigner notes that "key parts of the law remain ambiguous, and important terms undefined, leaving scope for the highest level of protected species to be exploited for potentially any purpose." In other related news, chip sales in China plummeted by roughly 21 percent, no thanks to slowing demand for chips across the world. Related Article: China to Use AI Against US over Taiwan Invasion, Smart Deterrence to Counter Forces 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. There is a new startup company that wants to develop the fastest engine in the world, and it is in the form of a turboramjet that centers on a hybrid Chimera engine for aircraft. When strapped to the fastest aircraft in the world, this engine may help propel it to greater speeds, and deliver a new supersonic record in the aircraft industry. This is a project from a company called Hermeus, and it recently demonstrated what it developed so far for its hybrid jet engine to fit modern aircraft. Hermeus to Develop Fastest Hybrid Chimera Engine (Photo : Hermeus) According to a press release from Hermeus, the hybrid Chimera engine was able to achieve a successful transition of its engine in a test done last November 2022. "The ability to switch between these two modes allows Hermeus' first aircraft, Quarterhorse, to take off from a regular runway and then accelerate up to high-Mach speeds," says the company. The Chimera engine is a turbine-based combined cycle engine (TBCC), and this centers on being a hybrid of a turbojet and ramjet in one. Its technology centers on a transitioning engine which "At low speeds Chimera is in turbojet mode - just like any jet aircraft. But as the temperature and the speed of the incoming air increase, turbojets hit their performance limit. This happens at around Mach 2. " The ramjet fulfills higher Mach speeds, to accommodate a faster velocity in the air. Read Also: [DID YOU KNOW] 'Record-Breaking Car:' Thrust SuperSonic Car Runs At 500-600 mph - The Only Vehicle To Break Sound Barrier! Turboramjet Hybrid Successful in Tests The company is now celebrating its success in the turboramjet hybrid tests, but it is not yet done with its work. It aims to develop the fastest-ever aircraft engine in the world, and when fitted with capable vessels, could achieve what the company aims to bring. The current fastest aircraft now is the Lockheed SR-31 Blackbird, known for its Mach 3.3 top speed. But Hermeus aims to inch farther away from this number soon. Aircraft Development in the World One of the speeds that developers and researchers are breaking now is the speed of sound, and this means that going supersonic is a possible venture in this modern development of technology. A project from Boom and Northrop Grumann focuses on the "Overture" project that would supply the United States and its allies soon. While achieving Mach 1 on modern aircraft is an easy feat to do, and has been done over and over, going further is the challenge for developers, designers, researchers, pilots, and more. NASA has a so-called "Quesst" mission that aims to go supersonic in speed, but avoid creating the famed "sonic boom" that echoes loudly in the skies when breaking the sound barrier. Going further forward is the next step for aircraft development in the world, centering on different technology to deliver the fastest there is to the public. Hermeus aims to do just that, with its hybrid Chimera engine that centers on the turboramjet technology, one that has the capability to be the fastest among all. Related Article: NASA and Virgin Galactic to Develop Supersonic Aircraft; Travel From NYC to Shanghai in Just 40 Minutes 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. NASA warns that a huge asteroid as big as the largest African elephant or a box truck is closely passing by our home planet, Earth, this week. The US space agency notes that the near-Earth asteroid, known as 2023 BU, is going to have a very close encounter with our home planet. (Photo : STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) The silhouette of US engineer and NASA astronaut Megan McArthur is seen past the NASA logo in the Webb Auditorium at NASA headquarters in Washington, DC, on June 7, 2022. NASA Warns Huge Asteroid Pass by Earth The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) says that the near-Earth asteroid is passing by Earth closely on January 26, Thursday, as per a report by Phys.org. The space agency notes that the 2023 BU is passing by our home planet at around 4:27 pm Pacific Time (PST). And it sure is quite close, at only 2,200 miles above the surface of the Earth. To put it in perspective, it is within the orbit of our geostationary satellites. An amateur astronomer, Gennadiy Borisov, discovered the near-Earth asteroid over the weekend. In addition, the Minor Planet Center (MPC) also reported additional observations for the 2023 BU, which help predict the orbit of the space rock. How Big is the Near-Earth Asteroid This Week? According to a report by News.com Australia, the huge space object is roughly 3.5 meters to 8.5 meters or 11.5 to 28 feet big. The news outlet notes it is about as big as the largest African elephant. Meanwhile, if you have no idea how big elephants in Africa are, Phys.org says that it is similarly sized as a box truck. Although the asteroid is big, it is not gigantic enough to kill a planet. Read Also: NASA Teams Up with Pentagon's DARPA to Build an Advanced Nuclear Thermal Rocket Is It Harmful to Earth? However, the space agency notes that there is no risk that the space rock is impacting Earth. But if the prediction of NASA was inaccurate, and the asteroid proceeds to our home planet, Phys.org says it is harmless. (Photo : JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images) A television at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, captures the final images from the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) just before it smashes into the asteroid Dimorphos on September 26, 2022. Due to the asteroid's size, the space rock would have disintegrated in the atmosphere immediately. And instead, it could end up falling as mere small meteorites. And as such, the upcoming near-Earth object is far from creating a similar scenario as the Netflix apocalyptic satire, "Don't Look Up." After all, it is not some planet-killing asteroid. News.com Australia notes that the 2023 BU is passing near the orbit of the geostationary satellites that are situated on top of South America. However, the space rock is still miles away from the International Space Station (ISS). Related Article: NASA Chooses TitanAir and a Pellet-Beam Propulsion Among 14 Concepts That Could Change Space Exploration for Good 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google recently gave an update to the Meet video conferencing app to help presenters and participants to gain better access to files and links via the platform. It aims to expand more of what Google has to offer on the Meet, and it allows everyone to obtain the shared items in the app that would no longer need to distribute after or before the meeting. Google's Workspace centers on giving everyone a chance for a more streamlined experience, with different features available for all. Google Meet Update: Share Files and Links Easily (Photo : Google Workspace Updates Blog) According to a blog post from the Google Workspace Updates, Google Meet is to receive a new feature that would enable hosts and its audiences to access files and links easily on the platform. It also combines the different features from Google's Suite, for apps like Docs, Slides, Sheets, Gmail, Google Drive, and other compatible experiences. The company's blog said that it will roll out in a few weeks' time, with Google currently working on its integration into the video conferencing app. Its main feature is sharing the file that is currently being presented by the host, and it will come via the dedicated button, a floating action menu when presenting, or in the Meet chat. Read Also: Google Meet UI Upgrade for Samsung Smart TVs Now Available-What Changed? How to Share Files and Links on Google Meet? (Photo : Google Workspace Updates Blog) As per Google's update (via 9to5 Google), every file share would notify participants in the meeting that the host uploaded the presentation or other documents. Moreover, files pasted on the Meet chat would automatically grant access to all the participants, especially if they are logged in via their Google account. Users may also attach the file to the Calendar for easier access. There is a dedicated "share in Meet chat" button on the lower right part of the screen for hosts to attach the files or links for participants to access. Google Meet's App One of the top Big Tech companies is also a known provider of an online office suite, with its many apps and features available on Google Workspace. A famous feature here is Google Meet, which also gained massive significance during the COVID-19 pandemic when people resorted to video conferences for communication and work. There are many features available on Google Meet, and it centers on live captions for the speaker, screen sharing, co-hosting, muting and unmuting on the call, and more. Additionally, a Meeting Transcription feature is coming for all its users soon, and it will no longer require people to do it manually or use third-party apps. People who use Google's office suite may also be fond of the company's Meet for all their virtual meetings and connections that are now setup today. The new features now available center on making files, links, and other information more accessible, centering on the latest update from the Google Workspace to deliver. Related Article: Google Meet In-Meeting Emoji Reactions is Finally Coming: Here's When 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A group of researchers found a new way to develop mobile phone batteries that may last longer than expected, up to three times more than their intended timeline. Additionally, their latest innovation centers on removing rust from the phone batteries that build up on it, one that inhibits the power cell to perform properly and as intended. A mobile device's battery has a life span of two to three years only, but that is about to change soon thanks to the latest development from RMIT University. Mobile Phone Batteries: Innovation to Help it Last Three Times Longer (Photo : David Ballew on Unsplash) According to a release from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University (RMIT), the latest study from its School of Engineering has found the key to extending the mobile phone's battery life. It centers on extending it thrice as much as it is intended, for up to nine years from its date of manufacturing. In their published work via Nature Communications, the company said that it found an alternative to lithium that would help a battery last longer than it should. "Unlike graphene, MXenes are highly tailorable and open up a whole range of possible technological applications in the future," said lead researcher Leslie Yeo from RMIT's School of Engineering. Read Also: iPhone Battery Life: How to Maintain 100% Batt Health for Years Phone Battery Rust May be Removed using RMIT's Tech Additionally, the team also looked into removing the rust from mobile phone batteries that may cause them to deteriorate faster and inhibit their capability to deliver top performance. "To overcome this challenge, we discovered that sound waves at a certain frequency remove rust from MXene, restoring it to close to its original state," Yeo said. This is via the method of using high-frequency sound waves to help clean it up and avoid it from impeding from its supposed purpose of powering the device. Battery Life and its Life Span The public is meticulous in buying new hardware and technology from the many companies in the world, as they look into the specs and compare it to competitors or rivals in the industry. One of the top factors that are considered by users is the battery, especially its capacity, fast-charging capabilities, and other elements surrounding it. Companies like Apple offer a chance for users to monitor their power cells through a Settings feature called "Battery Health." This feature gives users a chance to know their usage, and the battery life percentage of their power cells, and see how it affects the performance of the device, one that also helps address if it already needs service. Mobile phones and their batteries are massive now, and despite the arrival of non-removable batteries, people are still wary of their devices' performance when it comes to power. With this innovation from RMIT University, people will have to worry less about their devices, one that could last them longer and save the environment from destruction. Related Article: Can You Stop a Battery From Discharging? Here's How to Lower its Discharge Rate 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. "The Philippines is open and ready to welcome our friends from China," said Philippine Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco while receiving hundreds of Chinese tourists who arrived in Manila Tuesday. Produced by Xinhua Global Service The Top Employers Institute, a global authority that recognises excellence in people practices, has awarded Boehringer Ingelheim Global Top Employer for the third consecutive year. The Institute acknowledged the company as one of the worlds 15 best employers across 29 countries around the world. The leading family-owned pharmaceutical company received the Top Employer award for the third consecutive year in Saudi Arabia, the second time in the UAE and the first time in India. Boehringer Ingelheims employee offerings particularly stand out in the dimensions of wellbeing and work environment, as well as rewards and recognition. The results reflect the companys holistic employee healthcare and wellbeing approach that, beyond its emphasis on mental health, integrates concepts of physical, social, and financial wellbeing. Dedicated programmes Through dedicated programmes, employees receive support that is relevant for them and their families. This includes a work environment of physical and emotional security, an inclusive way of working together to create a sense of belonging, mental health awareness initiatives, focus on worklife balance, opportunities for volunteering, and competitive pay and benefits. Mohammed Tawil, Regional Managing Director and Head of Human Pharma for India, Middle East, Turkey, and Africa (IMETA) at Boehringer Ingelheim, said: As a company that is people-centric at its base, fostering a strong sense of purpose for our employees is paramount. Having an environment where everyone feels valued is imperative to the way we work and supports us in attracting and retaining top talent. Receiving the Top Employer award in the UAE, KSA and India propels us to further strengthen our corporate culture and do our utmost in continuing to prioritise our employees wellbeing and development. While the need to take good care of physical health is well established among Boehringer Ingelheim employees, the awareness and means for taking appropriate care of mental health still receives significantly less attention. Mental health Boehringer Ingelheim strives to curb the stigma often experienced by people with mental health conditions. Tawil commented that prioritising employees mental health helped them feel empowered to ask for help and be able to rely on each others support when in need. The Top Employer award is based on a performance across a range of categories. Boehringer Ingelheim scored high in Business and People Strategy, Organisation and Change, Purpose and Values, Ethics and Integrity, Leadership, Career Growth, Learning, and Rewards and Recognition. In the IMETA region, over 2,000 Boehringer Ingelheim employees create value through innovation with a clear purpose of transforming lives for generations.-- TradeArabia News Service An 82-year-old Middleport woman with Alzheimer's disease who had been missing since Wednesday was found dead, the Niagara County Sheriff's Office said Thursday. "The search continued this morning in the immediate area of where Diane Harvey was last scene. After a thorough search she was located deceased in the search area by first responders. This was not the outcome anyone was hoping for," the Sheriff's Office said in a statement. (Photo : Sid Sarasvati) Sid's contributions to the industry of generative AI are particularly noteworthy, as he has a unique ability to understand and utilize the latest advancements in the field to create innovative products that solve real-world problems. The future of AI is Generative There is not a single antagonistic story on Silicon Valley's most promising and favored frontrunner, "Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)" which is currently leading the race toward a potential platform shift similar to the invention of smartphones and the premature days of the internet. Global investments in artificial intelligence have been snowballing in recent years. According to a report by Bloomberg, global AI investment has surged from $12.75 million in 2015 to $93.5 billion in 2021, and the market is projected to reach $422.37 billion by 2028. Additionally, Financial Times reported that in 2022 over $2 billion has been invested in generative AI alone, representing an increase of 425% since 2020. Moreover, the global market for AI-augment solutions is forecasted to reach $2.3 billion this year with an overall 17% increase until 2025 according to research by PitchBook. This surge in investment and interest in generative AI is driven by the technology's potential to create new and unique content and its ability to solve a wide range of problems in various industries. As a result, many start-ups and established companies are investing in generative AI research and development to create new products and services, leading to new business opportunities and possibilities. Furthermore, the increasing investment and attention in generative AI are expected to accelerate the development of the technology and bring it closer to becoming a reality. Disrupting the Generative AI start-up community, one product at a time In the midst of everything that's been going on in the thriving landscape of generative AI, a well-versed technology leader and product builder is planting the seeds of an up-and-coming AI-powered start-up company that aims to build innovative products and services, solving real-world problems and making a positive impact on society. "Software engineering is not just about writing code, it's about managing complexity," says Sid Sarasvati, a software developer and AI expert who has been attracted to computers and programming since his early childhood. Sid's passion for technology and programming started at the age of 9, when he first began experimenting with coding in BASIC. Sid's penchant for software engineering led him to pursue a Masters in Computer Science from Rochester Institute of Technology, and later joining an early-stage start-up to build products used by millions of people. Throughout his career, he has honed his skills in critical thinking, understanding customer needs and structures, as well as building high-performance teams. He has also had the opportunity to lead and manage large, globally distributed development teams, scaling them from zero to over a hundred employees in less than 2 years. Prior to his outstanding feats in the realm of software development as a professional, Sid has been profoundly involved with AI and deep learning since graduate school and has made a significant contribution to the field of sentiment analysis. His capstone graduate project in 2012, a Sentiment Analysis Software as a Service (SaaS) backend server, uses a Recursive Neural Tensor Network (RNTN) to provide real-time sentiment analysis of English texts extracted from Twitter. The RNTN model is able to capture the effects of negations in a sentence at different levels, making it a more sophisticated approach than traditional sentiment analysis techniques. Driven by the desire to build human productivity tools, he has always been inspired by the idea that software engineering is like the "bicycle of the mind" as Steve Jobs put it. It expands the power of the human mind and makes information available with the flick of a switch. He is fascinated by the potential of technology to drive innovation and social change, and this has been a driving force for him throughout his career. Sid's inclination towards AI and machine learning led him to use these technologies in various startups. As a Principal Engineer at Cogito, he built the machine learning infrastructure and a high-performance 'Compute Engine' that was used to extract and analyze thousands of signals from real-time conversations. Funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and recognized for its potential impact on the healthcare industry, this groundbreaking technology was used in clinical settings, such as by clinicians and the Department of Veterans Affairs for mental health issues, and it was also deployed commercially by major healthcare companies like Humana and MetLife to help guide their phone agents to be more sensitive and empathetic on phone calls. Sid is currently the Vice President of Engineering at JOKR, a start-up that delivers groceries with a hyper-local and personalized approach, delivering orders within 15 minutes of purchase. He is responsible for building the "consumer tech" organization from the ground up, and the platform is now operational in 6 countries with more than 200 local delivery hubs and over 1 million active users as of the latest public data, making it one of the fastest start-ups to attain unicorn status. Previously, he served as the Director of Engineering at Compass, where he scaled his team and drove a company-wide mobile-first culture, and introduced AI-driven product features for real estate agents. He helped launch and scale the company's development center in India, leading to the company's successful IPO in March 2021. Sid's work showcases not only his technical abilities as a developer but also his ability to lead and manage teams to bring a vision to fruition with real-world impact. His work is a testament to the potential of AI to improve lives and make a real difference in society. "To me, success for a product or service is about enhancing the identity of the user," says Sid. "A successful product or service should create an impact, align with the user's goals, and add value to their lives." He believes that user experience is a key factor in defining success for a product or service, and as a product builder, he sees it as a prime tenet to a) understand the customer's needs and work backward from there to define capabilities and technologies, and b) innovate on behalf of the customers which means giving customers what they want before they know that they want it. Sid admits that this method requires taking short-term risks and long-term bets, but he believes that this is the thrill and core driver for software applications, "We can rapidly build, get real-world learning, and iterate, iterate, iterate. It's trial and error with a cogent vision and mission guiding it." Making waves and tilting scales with Trial and Error Sid is beginning to make a name for himself in the generative AI landscape. He has been active in the generative AI community as a mentor of Trial and Error, Inc. a cutting-edge technology company that is positioned to make waves in the field of generative AI. Trial and Error is a technology company, composed of a team of engineers, scientists, and developers, constantly exploring new ways to apply AI and machine learning to automate processes, improve business operations, and build innovative products and services that solve real-world problems and positively impact society. "Trial and Error's approach to AI, guided by the company values, is not just about improving the present, but also building for the future," says Sid. One such product is Renovate AI, which uses AI and machine learning to automate the renovation process, making it easier and more affordable for people to create their dream spaces, while also reducing waste and environmental impact. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the home renovation industry and make it more accessible to everyone. Trial and Error have several other products and services in development and are guided by values of rapid innovation, thinking and building for the long-term, leading by example, using a scientific and evidence-based approach to problem-solving, and committed to building a company driven by innovation, integrity, and excellence. Sid's contributions to the industry of generative AI are particularly noteworthy, as he has a unique ability to understand and utilize the latest advancements in the field to create innovative products that solve real-world problems. Under his mentorship, Trial and Error is proving to become a company that is geared towards excellence by its ability to create products that are both functional and user-friendly. Similar to Trial and Error, start-ups working on generative AI are creating new products and services and new business models, which will significantly impact the economy in the future. As these start-ups continue to grow and mature, they have the potential to become leading players in the AI space and challenge the current tech giants. It won't be long before the advent of start-up disruptors takes part in the eminent list of the most dominant companies in the technology scene. Looking to the future, Sid sees the potential for the rapid adoption of AI in many other areas such as healthcare, transportation, and education which have been slow to innovate and keep up with the ever-changing landscape of technological advancements. "I hope to play a role in making that happen," says Sid. "My goal is to continue to work on innovative and impactful products that have the power to make a real difference in society and improve people's lives." 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Is there life on Mars? or is there a bear on the Red Planet? NASA recently released a "bear-y" intriguing photo from Mars that appears like the face of a bear. "There's a hill with a V-shaped collapse structure (the nose), two craters (the eyes), and a circular fracture pattern (the head). The circular fracture pattern might be due to the settling of a deposit over a buried impact crater. Maybe the nose is a volcanic or mud vent and the deposit could be lava or mud flows?," University of Arizona's HiRISE wrote in a description. Does It Look Like a Bear? NASA explains that the face is merely a rock formation. Hence, the image is only a coincidental outcome of a series of occurrences that took place on the Martian surface over a long period of time. The High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment, or HiRISE, onboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured this beastly rock formation. HiRISE is a powerful camera just over five feet (1.6 m) long and has a focal length of 40 feet (12 m). It is mounted on the Nadir side of the spacecraft so it can regularly observe Mars. It also has 14 detectors, each of which is protected by a filter in the red, near-infrared, or blue-green wavelength ranges. According to its NASA webpage, Hi-RISE can acquire photos comprising up to 28 Gigabytes (GB) data in as little as six seconds. The 143-pound (65-kg) spacecraft, which observes the Martian surface from an altitude of 186 miles (300 km), is designed to research active surface processes and the evolution of the planet's landscape. A large bear face is something that Hi-RISE could not miss because each image it takes has pixels that are roughly 12 inches (30 cm) broad and can discern an item as tiny as three feet on Mars. Read also: 'Christmas Craterscape' from ESA's Mars Express Captures Stunning Holiday-Themed Phenomenon Mysteries and Wonders The Red Planet is brimming with wonders and mysteries that astronauts on Earth are eager to unravel. For instance, NASA just partnered with Pentagon's Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to create a nuclear rocket by 2027 that is expected to support the "Moon to Mars" mission of the space agency. The mission will also include NASA's Artemis program to use the knowledge gained from the agency's planned lunar exploration to make human habitation on the Red Planet a possibility someday. Elon Musk's SpaceX has also expressed his plans to "colonize Mars." The space company will soon launch the orbital flight of its highly-anticipated Starship, giving other private space businesses a run for their money. Related Article: Garbage on Mars: Over 15,000 Pounds of Human Trash Pile up on the Red Planet, Researcher Says 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. New research by two scientists at Peking University in Beijing, China, suggests that Earth's inner core may have slowed or possibly reversed its rotation during the past decade. On Tuesday, Jan. 24, the study was published in Nature Geoscience. Shift in Rotation According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), geophysicists' findings indicate that the Earth's inner core undergoes an oscillation once every seven decades. This correlates with changes in the length of the day, the Earth's magnetic field, and the average temperature and volume of the oceans throughout the world. The researchers concluded that the Earth appears to operate as a resonant system that incorporates all the primary layers of the solid Earth, from the surface to the deep core. An associate research scientist at the SinoProbe Laboratory and the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Geophysics, Yang Yi, said that their study of data spanning six decades demonstrated that the inner core of the Earth was pretty steady between 1964 and 1980. The inner core spun faster than the Earth until 2009, when it paused. Yang claimed the inner core had been rotating slower than the Earth, reversing its rotation. The authors assert that a rotation reversal had previously been detected in the early 1970s, suggesting a possible six- to the seven-decade cyclical pattern. The study discovered comparable oscillations in geomagnetic, day length, global mean sea levels, and temperatures spanning 60-70 years. Song Xiaodong, chair professor of earth and space sciences at Peking University and co-author of the paper, said their results demonstrated the deep core of the globe was intimately linked to changes in the Earth's surface, such as in sea level and temperature. Although the whole planet spins once every 24 hours or so, its inner core rotates slower than the rest of the planet. About 2,900 km (1800 miles) below the surface is where you will find the iron alloy that makes up the Earth's core. The Earth's solid inner core, with a temperature of around 5,200 degrees Celsius, spins inside the globe, separated from the solid mantle by a liquid outer body. SinoProbe Laboratory head scientist Dong Shuwen indicated that the institution actively sought government financing for future deep earth research initiatives. "Digging into the Earth is harder than exploring space and the deep sea. The crust is rock-hard. We need to rely on geophysics to learn about the interior," Dong stated. See Also: Foucault Pendulum: Here's the 171-Year-Old Invention that Proves the Earth Rotates and Spins Earthquake Data Seismic waves produced by earthquakes powerful enough to reach the inner core were the focus of the latest investigation by experts. The group combed through both digital and paper data on earthquakes that occurred all around the globe between the 1980s and 2021. Due to the similarity in waveform between seismic waves generated by repeated earthquakes, researchers were on the lookout for tremors that had occurred in the same area at various periods. In contrast, the waves change shape and speed as they pass through the Earth's inner core. The scientists may then estimate the inner core's rotating mode from variations in the waveform patterns. Yang said that they would evaluate additional data to investigate the predicted seven-decade oscillation in its entirety. See Also: NASA Warns Asteroid as Big as the Largest African Elephant to Pass by Earth - Is it Close? 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Christmas weekend blizzard that paralyzed Western New York for days and took the lives of at least 47 people exposed a host of gaps in the region's ability to fight back, from a lack of vehicles that could navigate the storm to the reality that being without power in a Buffalo winter is a deadly proposition. But it also highlighted that two of region's most well-known and high-profile elected leaders are not exactly best buddies. Far from it. With the blizzard and its aftermath putting the Buffalo area in the international spotlight, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz stunned viewers watching the livestream of his Dec. 28 storm update when he criticized the city's snow-clearing efforts, describing them as "embarrassing" and calling for a county takeover. He knew he would be blindsiding the mayor, but, with the city still shut down days after the blizzard ended, he said he didn't care. Notified of Poloncarz's remarks during a separate city briefing later that day, Mayor Byron Brown equally frustrated suggested his county counterpart was "crumbling" under the pressure of an emergency, adding: "I'm calm, cool and collected. And I don't lose my mind during a crisis." The blizzard revealed a gap in coordination efforts between the city and county While the city and county must work together during disasters, they don't always work together well. And the blizzard response left a lot of room for improvement. Not surprisingly, the very public show of discord made headlines around the country and led Poloncarz to issue an apology to the community for the timing of his remarks the next day. For weeks after, the two men barely spoke, even though they had opportunities. Both stood with Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer when he came to town to talk about federal emergency relief efforts, both attended Gov. Kathy Hochul's State of the State address and have since stood together at other news events. Instead of speaking directly with each other on substantive issues, the two leaders have left it to their second-tier administrators to discuss and coordinate any city and county storm response efforts. The fact that two of the most powerful people in the region, responsible for the welfare of hundreds of thousands of residents, rarely offer each other much beyond obligatory, political civility is no surprise to those who closely follow local politics. But questions linger about how the city and county can work better together to improve emergency response, and save lives, when Brown and Poloncarz don't engage in serious policy discussions at a high level.' Poloncarz calls Buffalo blizzard response 'embarrassing'; Brown suggests county exec struggling under the pressure Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz said during a news conference Wednesday said that the county had taken over snow removal efforts in a large chunk of the city, from Broadway at the Cheektowaga line to the waterfront. Natural tension The relationship between Buffalo and Erie County elected leaders has waxed and waned over time, often driven by both personalities and governing interests. Those who have played key roles in government have said it's more common than not for a mayor and county executive to have a stressed relationship. There are fundamental disagreements between city and county leaders about the relative financial resources, staffing, planning and leadership that each government organization brings to the table during times of crisis. That difference of perspective extends beyond any one administration, longtime political observers say. People who run for office tend to have a narcissistic streak and instinctively resist efforts that diminish their authority, said former County Executive Joel Giambra, adding that he counted himself in that group. "How you get elected officials who have their own power bases and their own natural fiefdoms to give that up? Thats the challenge that we have," he said. "Its natural tension. Then personalities make it either better or worse." Blizzard death toll grows; Poloncarz apologizes for criticizing Buffalo's snow removal The region's death toll from the Christmas weekend blizzard has grown to at least 40 people. In the 1980s, then Mayor James Griffin and County Executive Edward Rutkowski were genuinely fond of each other and made so many public appearances together that they were dubbed the "Jimmy and Eddie Show." That relationship did not carry over when Dennis Gorski became county executive. Griffin not only disliked Gorski, but ran against him in the county executive's race in 1991 and lost. While Anthony Masiello was mayor, he was generally considered a political friend to Giambra, when he was county executive. But even though the two men shared the same background as Italian-Americans growing up on the West Side, their divergent opinions about the timetable and extensiveness of city-county consolidation and regionalism efforts was a sore spot that prompted some outright warfare between their staffs. "I'm not in this to get into a fight with the mayor," Giambra said in 2003. "I'm just trying to make him understand." Masiello, meanwhile, said, "Just because the city is on its knees doesn't mean you do bad deals. And friends don't do that to friends, by the way." Bob McCarthy: United front on storm unravels as region's top two leaders snipe over politics of snow Just as a community battered by blizzard looks to government for recovery, the region's top two leaders both Democrats now appear locked in a major sniping match over the City of Buffalo's performance in cleaning up a Christmas snowfall of more than 4 feet. Retired Assemblyman Robin Schimminger, who has known both Brown and Poloncarz since before they were elected to office, said it's natural for the two men, who otherwise maintain a professional relationship, to have a "blip" and disagree when it comes to each government's roadway responsibilities and obligations. The stress and difficulties of a natural disaster only magnify the issue. He also acknowledged, though, that Poloncarz and Brown are not naturally close. "This is not an Eddie and Jimmy relationship," he said. Brown and Poloncarz Poloncarz and Brown are both Democrats, but they didn't rise to power through the same political network. In addition, neither is particularly laid back or gregarious by nature. Poloncarz tends to be more introverted and analytical, with a straightforward, and occasionally blunt, leadership style. Brown, meanwhile, exudes a more measured public persona and buttoned-up style of political diplomacy. Critics continue pounding Brown, Hochul for blizzard response Elected officials, union leaders and key Albany observers are raising new questions about the state and city response to last week's Christmas blizzard. Even so, open disagreement or political antagonism between the two men has been rare, until now. Brown said broadly that he was in communication with Poloncarz during the blizzard, but said their conversations were "private" and declined to discuss them with The Buffalo News. He also said Poloncarz has had opportunities at recent, mutually attended events to broach any topics he wished with him regarding the blizzard, but he hasn't. Poloncarz, meanwhile, said prior outreach efforts to Brown weren't returned, though Brown did acknowledge a text from Poloncarz informing him of the implementation of the countywide driving ban. After the storm began, the two men conversed once, when they appeared with Hochul at a news conference on Dec. 26. They shook hands and conferred on several issues. "We talked about cleanup, because by that time it was the 26th, Poloncarz said. "I did say, 'Well, we have resources available and were ready to assist.' Thats about the only extent to the conversation we actually had during the storm." The day after Poloncarz's public criticisms, the county executive apologized for criticizing the citys blizzard recovery efforts while recovery efforts were ongoing and the number of lives lost was rising. He told The Buffalo News he was frustrated and emotional that morning, in part because he just learned that a young child later identified as a 3-year-old girl had drowned in a hotel pool after the family checked into a hotel because they'd lost power during the blizzard. But ultimately, he said he believes that the city should be investing more in its emergency operations and believes the county, which has greater resources and financial strength, should play a much greater and more coordinated role in helping the city address weather-related emergencies. He said he tried to reach out to Brown by phone after his public comments, but the mayor never responded. He also said the county is still is ready to put more county resources toward city snow-clearing and disaster recovery efforts, but that can only move forward with a willing partner in the city. Brown told The Buffalo News that during a once-in-a-generation emergency like the December blizzard, it's understood that everyone pitches in to do their part. "When the governor put out the statewide call for mutual aid," he said, "everyone else was willing to help without making an issue about it, and no other municipality did." INTERVIEW - Four years ago, on April 15, 2019, the spire of the famous cathedral collapsed under the onslaught of flames. Since then, the renovation of Notre-Dame has been underway, and in 2023, a team of researchers present on the site was able to find and date iron staples, which make it possible to consolidate the stone structure of the building. The opportunity to return to the history of the reconstruction of Notre-Dame, with Mathieu Lours, architectural historian and specialist in religious buildings, guest of Virginie Girod in Au Coeur de l'Histoire. The construction of Notre Dame began in 1160 and was almost completed nearly a century later. In the nineteenth century, when the architect Viollet-le-Duc discovered Notre-Dame, the building was in very poor condition. He then decided to renovate it and add the famous spire of Notre-Dame. For Mathieu Lours, despite the age of this monument, "Notre-Dame remains one of the least well-known cathedrals. They hadn't been put in there since 1864 for structural restorations. Beyond belief, beyond the imaginary, beyond our relationship to history, every man sees in Our Lady a cathedral of the imagination." "Au Cur de l'Histoire" is a Europe 1 Studio production. A City of Tonawanda man faces a misdemeanor menacing charge after police say he brandished a large knife at the Central Library in downtown Buffalo. Terry Austin, 25, menaced a victim with a large knife at the library on Tuesday, Erie County Sheriff John C. Garcia said in a news release. Austin left the library before deputies could detain him, the sheriff said. At noon on Wednesday, Austin returned to the library, sheriff's officials said, before displaying the knife to a security guard and leaving again. This time, deputies found Austin outside the library and arrested him. Austin was charged with a misdemeanor count of menacing, officials said. He was processed and released on appearance tickets. Low-fare airline to offer more than half a million seats to travel to North, Central, South America, and the Caribbean in 2023 SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, January 12, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Arajet, the newest low-fare airline in the Caribbean region, today announced that it closed 2022 as a leading Dominican Republic-based carrier with over 81,000 travelers transported between September 15 and December 31. In 2023, Arajet is expected to offer more than 500,000 seats to passengers across North, Central South America, and the Caribbean. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230112005804/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) "Im proud of what we have accomplished in just a short period of time," said Victor Pacheco, CEO and founder of Arajet. "Since Arajet officially inaugurated operations in September, thousands of Dominicans who had never flown have been able to do so and we are excited to continue our positive impact in attracting tourists from destinations that had never been connected directly." Arajets arrival in Dominican Republic is having a significant impact on tourism with the number of travelers to the region up significantly over prior years as those routes were introduced in 2022. Arajet is the only airline in the region to have started operations with completely new and ultra-efficient aircraft and has opened 17 destinations since launching in September 2022. "We expect to double our fleet of Boeing 737MAX8 aircraft in 2023 as we continue to execute against our growth plan and provide Dominican travelers with new flight options, lower fares, and better service," said Pacheco. Recently, Arajet launched several alliances and products that deepen its mission to democratize aviation, among them an alliance with PagaTodo to allow residents of the Dominican Republic to buy air tickets and pay in cash at any of the 1,500 Paga Todo couriers throughout the country. The airline also recently introduced Arabonito, a corporate bonus that allows companies to reward the performance of their employees with the purchase of plane tickets or services. Story continues About Arajet Arajet is the first low-fare airline in the Caribbean region and started operations in September 2022 from its base at Las Americas Airport in Santo Domingo, under its airline operator certificate (AOC) from the Dominican Republic. Arajet will operate a new fleet of Boeing 737MAX-8 aircraft that provide safe and affordable travel to and from the Dominican Republic to several destinations in North, Central and South America, and the Caribbean region. For more information, visit www.Arajet.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230112005804/en/ Contacts Media Contact: Geraldine Villasmil Communications Manager Geraldine.Villasmil@arajet.com Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory is shown in a photo from Thursday, May 5, 2022, at Lafayette City Hall in Lafayette, La. TOKYO, January 26, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GMO Research (TOKYO: 3695) conducted an overseas travel survey in the last quarter of 2022 to understand the differences in travel patterns between Europe, North America, and the APAC region. The survey was conducted within its panel networks with 3,000 respondents across six countries, America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Australia. GMO Research had previously conducted the same survey1 in October 2022 using the ASIA Cloud Panel2 targeted at 3,328 monitors in 10 Asian countries and regions. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230125005294/en/ Will Travel Industry Recover in 2023? - International Travel Survey in EU/North America/APAC. (Graphic: Business Wire) Europe and the US remain popular destinations among respondents. The top three international countries that respondents from North America would most like to visit in the future were: Italy (10.5%), the United Kingdom (9%) and Australia and Japan (both tied at 6.8%).3 The US is a popular destination for Europeans and respondents in the APAC region. The Europeans polled also indicated their preference to travel to other countries within their region, mainly Spain (9.3%) and Italy (7.7%). This is similar to those surveyed in the APAC region, indicating their preference for regional travel, visiting Japan (20.3%) and South Korea (6.6%). (Chart 1) When looking at the reasons for each of the countries selecting the US as their chosen country to visit, the most common reasons included many tourist attractions (25.4%), unique cultural experiences (13.5%) and its own natural landscape (9.9%). In comparison, respondents would like to visit Italy as it offered traditional food/drinks (29%), unique cultural experiences (24.2%), and historic buildings/sites (12.6%). A significant number of respondents chose Spain as their destination in the future for its beach resorts (36.1%). (Chart 2) Story continues Frequency of travel In the coming year, the majority of respondents in North America (63.1%), Europe (69.4%) and APAC (56.9%) plan to travel overseas at least once. Specifically, 3040% of respondents in the U.K., Germany, France and Canada plan to travel abroad twice or more, indicating a high willingness to travel (Chart 3). However, in comparison, most respondents in Japan (88.6%) and Indonesia (73.2%) have yet to make plans to travel overseas, suggesting that many in Asia remain cautious about international travel. Information sources on overseas travel When gathering information on overseas travel, web search and word of mouth from friends/acquaintances emerged as the most common sources across all countries. Travel blogs and online travel agencies were also frequently used. However, the use of SNS (social media) as a source of information varies, with a significant number of respondents in Japan, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Germany and France citing it as a source, compared to the relatively low percentage of respondents in North America. About GMO Research, Inc. GMO Research Inc. offers an online audience engagement platform that gives access to a multi-country online panel network, the Cloud Panel. The Cloud Panel currently consists of over 52 million4 online consumer panellists across 16 APAC countries, and more than 45 partner countries. Our services range from full service, game research, project management, sample only, qualitative research, and translations, to DIY. To learn more about GMO Research, visit gmo-research.com. --------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Read more about the International Travel Survey in Asia here. 2 ASIA Cloud Panel is a consumer panel that is specialised for the Asian regions in the GMO Research Cloud Panel Internet research services. 3 Travel within North America (US/Canada) is excluded. 4 Data as of January 2023. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230125005294/en/ Contacts GMO Research, Inc. Willy Tey - APAC Sales willy.tey@gmo-research.jp Mentally ill patients are being held in solitary confinement for more than double the maximum target time, and physically restrained for record-long periods, as staff struggle to intervene before they become a danger to themselves and others. At Cumberland Hospital in Sydneys west, psychiatric patients kept in seclusion rooms were held there for an average 24 hours and 25 minutes over a three-month period, data on seclusion and restraint compiled by the Bureau of Health Information revealed. Cumberland Hospital had the longest average duration of seclusion episodes in NSW, BHI data shows. Credit: Edwina Pickles These patients were secluded for eight hours longer on average than people held at NSWs high-security forensic hospital, which treats people found not guilty of a crime by reason of mental illness or who are unfit to plead because of mental illness. Across the states 40 public acute mental health units, the average length of a seclusion episode was almost 11 hours more than double the less than four hours benchmark introduced in 2017-18. A group of shoppers have thwarted the plans of two armed robbers by pinning them down in a dramatic citizens arrest in Sydneys west. The pair entered a tobacconist in Town Terrace shopping centre at Glenmore Park about 2.10pm on Thursday and allegedly threatened an employee with a gun before stealing packets of cigarettes, cash and lighters. While the men allegedly robbed the store, a 56-year-old woman noticed their car was parked outside and removed the keys from the ignition. As the pair fled the shop, multiple passersby stopped the men, pinning them to the ground until police arrived at the scene. Two men arrested after alleged assault outside Melbourne bar Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Were working to restore it. Please try again later. Dismiss Suspected suicides have risen by 8 per cent in early data from NSW and Victoria last year, in what mental health experts have described as evidence of Australians distress following years of successive crises: fires, the pandemic and soaring inflation brought on by global unrest. Fury directed towards Health Minister Mark Butler over his decision to halve the number of annual Medicare-funded psychologist appointments from 20 to 10 has cooled since December, but the mental health sector is now seeking proof of his dedication to reform ahead of a roundtable the government has convened for Monday. Real-time suspected suicide data, which is reported by the Coroners Court of Victoria and NSW Health, confirmed numbers were rising in both states last year after remaining relatively steady throughout the pandemic. Washington: US health officials would like to get the frequency of COVID-19 shots down to just one a year, and on Thursday they began discussing how to do that. The message has come through loud and clear that Americans have already had enough of frequent COVID shots. Food and Drug Administration advisers are meeting to discuss issues such as which strains of coronavirus would be in an annual vaccine, and how they would be chosen. A syringe is prepared with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination clinic in Chester, Pennsylvania. Credit: AP Documents released earlier this week compared the America agencys desired approach to the annual flu immunisation effort. As it stands now, anyone getting a COVID shot for the first time receives a vaccine designed in 2020, when the virus looked a lot different than it does today. The new strategy would require health officials to meet each year to review which strains of the virus should be included in the shots, just as they do with flu, for use each September ahead of the northern winter. I dont think that we can chase after every new variant that comes along because the virus is changing so much, said committee member Stanley Perlman, professor of immunology at the University of Iowa who sits on the FDA panel. It makes it harder to convince people because if someone doesnt want to get a shot every four months, the response might be Well, Im not going to get a shot at all. Not for distribution to United States news wire services or for dissemination in the United States VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 25, 2023 / Lucky Minerals Inc. (TSXV:LKY)(OTC PINK:LKMNF)(FRA:LKY) ("Lucky" or the "Company") announces a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of up to 12,500,000 units ("the Units") at a price of $0.056 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to approximately CDN $700,000. Investors in the Offering will include Mr. Michael Gentile, who will maintain his share position in the Company at 19.9% on a partially diluted basis. Each Unit of the Offering is comprised of one common share (a "Share") and one full three-year transferable common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one additional Share at a price of CDN $0.10 per Share, until the date that is 36 months from the closing (the "Closing") of the Offering. All the Shares and Warrants issued in connection to the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day from the date of issuance. The Company may pay finders' fees on a portion of the Offering in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to support the drill program at the Company's Fortuna Project in Ecuador and for general working capital purposes. Mr. Gentile's participation in the Private Placement constitutes a related party transaction under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying upon exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a), respectively, as neither the fair market value of the Units issued to related parties nor the consideration for such Units will exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company intends to file a material change report within the required time-frame, which will contain the prescribed disclosure relating to this related party transaction. Story continues The Offering is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Francois Perron" Chief Executive Officer About Lucky Lucky is an exploration and development company targeting large-scale mineral systems in proven districts with the potential to host world class deposits. Lucky owns a 100% interest in the Fortuna Property. The Company's Fortuna Project is comprised of twelve contiguous, 550 km2 (55,000 Hectares, or 136,000 Acres) exploration concessions. Fortuna is located in a highly prospective, yet underexplored, gold belt in southern Ecuador. Qualified Person Victor Jaramillo, M.Sc.A., P.Geo., Lucky's Exploration Manager and a qualified person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, is responsible for supervising the exploration program at the Fortuna Project for Lucky Minerals and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. Further information on Lucky can be found on the Company's website at www.luckyminerals.com and at www.sedar.com, or by contacting Francois Perron, President and CEO, by email at investors@luckyminerals.com or by telephone at (866) 924 6484. Or by contacting: Renmark Financial Communications Inc. Kerry Schacter kschacter@renmarkfinancial.com Tel: (416) 644-2020 or (514) 939-3989 www.renmarkfinancial.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Adjacent Properties and Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: uncertainties related to exploration and development; the ability to raise sufficient capital to fund exploration and development; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; increases in input costs; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological or operational difficulties or inability to obtain permits encountered in connection with exploration activities; and labor relations matters. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company's forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations also include risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will not update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements unless required by Canadian securities law. SOURCE: Lucky Minerals Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/736820/Lucky-Minerals-Announces-up-to-CDN-700000-Non-Brokered-Private-Placement Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford star in the Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, one of six shows featured in the May TheaterMania Weekend. ( Franz Szony) May is a great time to visit New York, especially if you want to catch the latest shows. The Tony nominations will be announced on May 2 and a barrage of new productions will open on Broadway just before April 27 (the official cutoff for Tony consideration). With that in mind, TheaterMania would like to invite you to the city May 5-7 to see several of those new shows, all of which are awards contenders and you can say you saw them before they won. The weekend officially kicks off on Friday with a cocktail party at the Westin Hotel, which will be immediately followed by an evening performance of New York, New York, the stage adaptation of the 1977 film, which features direction and choreography by Susan Stroman (The Producers). Saturday is a double feature, with a matinee of Parade (starring Ben Platt) and an evening performance of the revival of Camelot, which stars Phillipa Soo and will sport an updated book from Aaron Sorkin (To Kill a Mockingbird). Dinner will be served at Bond 45 between performances. On Sunday, TheaterMania will take our guests to the Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street starring Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford, which is already shaping up to be one of the hottest tickets in town. Guests who wish to stick around Sunday night will be able to tack on a Sunday evening performance of the disaster comedy Peter Pan Goes Wrong for an additional charge. Similarly, guests arriving on Thursday, May 4 will have the option to see Sean Hayes in Good Night, Oscar. That's a total of six shows in one incredible weekend. We hope you'll join us, but space is limited, so we advise booking now. Click here to learn more about the weekend, and to book your spot. (Reuters) -Spain's unemployment rate rose to 12.87% in the fourth quarter of 2022 from 12.67% three months earlier, data from the National Statistics Institute showed on Thursday, pushing the number of unemployed people above the 3 million threshold. However, the unemployment rate during the quarter was the lowest in a fourth quarter since 2008, the report showed. The number of unemployed people rose to 3.02 million, up from 2.98 million three months earlier, while the number of employed people fell 82,000 during the quarter, when traditionally companies in the tourism and retail industries hire more people. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast Spain's unemployment rate would fall to 12.50%. The rate was 13.33% in the fourth quarter of 2021. The unemployment rate had continuously declined since hitting a peak of 16.26% in the third quarter of 2020 during the pandemic. The weaker than expected employment data doesn't bode well for fourth-quarter economic growth data due on Friday, although Prime Minister Sanchez has recently said the country's economy expanded a faster than expected 5% in 2022. (Reporting by Marta Serafinko; Editing by Inti Landauro and Christina Fincher) Reuters NEW YORK (Reuters) -A Washington, D.C., appeals court on Thursday declined to shield Donald Trump from the first of two civil defamation lawsuits by E. Jean Carroll, a writer who said the former U.S. president raped her nearly three decades ago. The district's highest local court, the Court of Appeals, said it did not have enough facts to decide whether Trump deserved immunity, after he accused the former Elle magazine columnist in June 2019 of lying about the alleged encounter. A ruling that Trump was acting as president, and not in his personal capacity, would have immunized him and doomed Carroll's first lawsuit because the government could substitute itself as the defendant, and the government cannot be sued for defamation. As a winter storm that trekked across the country and brought snowflakes from New Mexico to Maine continues heading East, the United States on Thursday can expect weather conditions ranging from harsh winds to air stagnation and yes, more snow. On the West Coast, a wind advisory will stretch across swaths of Southern California, while parts of the Northwest are under an air stagnation advisory that could impact people with respiratory conditions. Meanwhile, meteorologists are tracking the next winter storm that could hit the U.S. after brewing in Canada. FRIDAY WEATHER UPDATES: Winter storm to hit the West, blizzard and dangerous wind chills forecast for some: Friday weather updates Heres what you need to know about forecasts across the country on Thursday. Fast-moving Midwest weekend storm Meteorologists are tracking a winter storm expected to bring snow from the Rockies to the Great Lakes this weekend, according to AccuWeather. Arctic air is brewing over northern Canada and expected to move south and race across the central U.S. late this week.Des Moines, Iowa, and Chicago and Detroit could all see snow accumulate quickly in its wake. Chicago and Detroit could each see as much as 6 to 12 inches of snow by the end of the weekend and travelers should prepare for possible cancelations in and out of the cities on Saturday, AccuWeather reported. Driving conditions are expected to quickly worsen along interstate 80 going into the weekend, according to AccuWeather. The National Weather Service in Chicago warned that as more snow accumulates, slippery travel and blustery conditions are possible. Some blowing snow may occur in open areas on Friday and elevated, untreated roads are likely to be coated with snow. Southern Wisconsin is also likely to see accumulating snow on Saturday, AccuWeather said. The same system will push into portions of southern Michigan and possibly northern Indiana. Santa Ana winds topple trees, big rigs in Southern California Powerful Santa Ana winds tore across Southern California on Thursday topping 100 mph, in parts blowing over multiple big rigs on several highways and toppling massive 80-to-100 foot-tall trees, including in San Diegos iconic Balboa Park where a woman was briefly pinned by a eucalyptus. Story continues Gusts hit 112 mph in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Los Angeles and more than 90 mph near Julian in the San Diego County mountains and near Banning Pass in Riverside County, the National Weather Service said. Multiple trucks were reported blown over on the regions highways from San Diego to the Los Angeles area. In San Diego County, the California Highway Patrol shut down sections of Interstate 8 after several rigs flipped on their sides, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported. Police said a 30-year-old woman was struck by a eucalyptus tree in Balboa Park shortly before 8 a.m., and pinned under it briefly. She was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Weather: What are Santa Ana winds and why do they strike Southern California? Air stagnation in the Northwest Parts of Northern California, Oregon and Washington are under an air stagnation advisory on Thursday and into Friday. What is an air stagnation advisory? These warnings are issued for atmospheric conditions stable enough to cause air pollutants to accumulate in a given area, according to the National Weather Service. Air stagnation can result in lowered air quality, which can put people with respiratory health problems at risk. Officials also cautioned that people should avoid outdoor burning. Winter storm watch in the West A winter storm watch will impact some Idaho, Montana and Wyoming residents into the weekend. Snow accumulations of 12 to 24 inches are possible, with the winter storm watch remaining in effect through Saturday afternoon, the weather service in Missoula, Montana said. The snow will then move eastward across southern South Dakota and northern and central Nebraska, according to AccuWeather. Winter storm tracker National weather radar Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Weather forecast: Winds cross California, a winter storm is on the way Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.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. Batavia, NY (14020) Today Sunny along with a few clouds. High 81F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. Low around 55F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Tianjin Port Group and Huawei have announced that the two companies will deepen cooperation to build a digital twin of the world's first smart, driverless, zero-carbon port terminal, making it more automated and intelligent. Yang Jiemin, Vice President of Tianjin Port Group, explained that this plan consists of three parts: Construction of new automated terminals, upgrading traditional terminals, and comprehensive digital transformation. The Section C Terminal in the Beijiang Port Area of the Port of Tianjin was the world's first smart, driverless zero-carbon port terminal. It entered large-scale commercial operations in October 2021 and has been operating stably ever since, a statement said. Using 5G and L4 autonomous driving technologies at the terminal makes operations safer and more efficient. At the terminal, remotely controlled quay cranes lift loaded containers from cargo ships and put them onto intelligent robots for horizontal transportation. Supported by the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, these robots are guided to automatic locking/unlocking stations to load/unload containers and then to the container yard along optimal driving routes that are calculated in real-time. The entire process runs with clockwork precision. Jiemin explained how the new solution, which combines 5G and L4 autonomous driving technologies, has been put into large-scale commercial application in a partially public scenario at the Section C Terminal for the first time. This has provided a new model for upgrading and transforming traditional container terminals worldwide. "These innovations being used at the Port of Tianjin are having a huge impact on the port industry, creating new value for ports by improving operating environments, driving green and low-carbon development, and increasing operational efficiency. We believe that these practices will promote the intelligent development of the global port industry," said Yang. Shunli Wang, Vice President of Huawei Middle East and Central Asia, said: "Ports in the Middle East are set for revolutionary, smart, zero-carbon fully automated digitalised operations that leverage 5G, AI and cloud and other advanced digital capabilities. We are keen to utilize our expertise to enable ports in the region to be safer, more efficient, smart, green and more intelligent." Yue Kun, CTO of Huawei's Smart Road, Waterway & Port BU, stated: "Ports are a vital link in the international supply chain, connecting trade and supply markets across the globe. Building more efficient smart ports is becoming an increasingly pressing requirement for the global supply chain. Section C Terminal of the Port of Tianjin has been operating stably for over one year, proving that 5G and L4 autonomous driving have already been successfully adopted by industries in China and are creating true commercial and social value." Kun believes this progress will benefit various industries, with next-generation digital technologies, such as 5G and AI, combined to solve industry problems, promote digital industry transformation and upgrading, and generate social value. As a major modern port, the Port of Tianjin boasts 300,000-ton-class terminals with a channel depth of 22 m. It has 213 berths of various types. In 2022, its container throughput exceeded 21 million TEUs, ranking among the top 10 ports worldwide.-TradeArabia News Service During a recent budget review session, Cheshire School District Chief Operating Officer Vincent Masciana displayed a few slides to members of the Board of Education. On the slides were listings of state mandates all of the things the District must do to be in compliance with the myriad of state requirements dealing with education. And, as Masciana explained, most of the mandates are unfunded, meaning that the state issues the order but doesnt provide the additional monies necessary to ensure the mandates become a reality. This has been a frustration of local school boards for years. Whether the mandates coming from the state are viewed as positive or not, almost all require some expense to implement, and if the money isnt coming from Hartford, its got to come directly from municipalities. And if a town is dedicated to keeping its overall mill rate manageable, it most often means that a school board must do a little robbing of Peter to pay Paul. This was a topic of conversation recently when two state legislators, State Senator Rob Sampson (R-16) and State Representative Lezyle Zupkus (R-89), attended a meeting of the Cheshire Board of Education to talk about how what happens in Hartford impacts the decisions being made downstream. The message seemed to be clear: In addition to money, Cheshire officials are looking for more direct communication and cooperation with Hartford. That seems to have been an issue with the recent Right to Read state mandate. Connecticut will be requiring districts to implement the new initiative, but as Cheshire officials have pointed out, their current models are working to produce higher-than-average results when it comes to student reading proficiency and there is considerable concern that the new mandates wont just cost more money, but wont ultimately work as well. Its one of the problems with top-down control of something as important as education. Cheshires approach may be different from the approach taken by a neighboring town, but if both are showing results then they should either be tweaked within the framework that is proving to be successful, or left alone. If nothing else, no bill should be passed before all stakeholders are consulted. Perhaps a potential fix would be to require that any new state mandate come with full funding directly from Hartford. If lawmakers were required to attach funding to each requirement, they may think twice before approving a new initiative. At minimum, theyd likely be more inclined to do their due diligence before enacting an important mandate, such as Right to Read. If each mandate had to come with a state cost, it would either force state lawmakers to make cuts in other areas of the budget or raise taxes, putting their own political fortunes at risk. The goal would not be to eliminate state mandates altogether, as some things should be required of all school districts. The purpose would be to hopefully have only the most important initiatives mandated by Hartford, and only after the majority of local officials have had their say on how the program could work best. Education is a difficult endeavor at the moment. There are staffing shortages with which to contend, rising costs to cover, and a student population trying to catch up on learning after two-plus years of COVID-19 restrictions and interruptions. On top of that, the national economy remains a concern, making large budget increases to cover new costs difficult. In this environment, there needs to be more conversations and more cooperation between Hartford and local municipalities. Before any new burden is placed on the shoulders of a local school district, it should have the buy-in of those closest to whats happening on the ground. The work of school administrators is difficult at the moment, and state officials should be searching for ways to make that work easier, not harder. Faced with rapidly increasing enrollment, Columbus Public Schools (CPS) is looking at potential expansion projects, the options of which were shared during a community meeting held earlier this week. On Jan. 24, at Columbus High School, 3434 Discoverer Drive, community members heard data on the population growth in Columbus, enrollment data at CPS, projects the school district is considering to help meet a growing need, the possibilities for a bond issue and provided feedback. There was an almost 9% growth in the City of Columbus population from 2010 to 2020, CPS Superintendent Troy Loeffelholz shared during the meeting, and about 300 more people are expected to be in Columbus by 2023. Our schools are a direct reflection of our community. So if our community is growing, our schools are going to grow, Loeffelholz said. The growth has resulted in increased enrollment at CPS. Since 2016, the school districts enrollment has increased by 403 students. This in turn has led to a strain on CPS facilities. By 2026, Loeffelholz said, all five of CPS elementary schools Centennial, Emerson, Lost Creek, North Park and West Park will be over capacity. Columbus Middle School was projected to see 1,156 students by 2026 but currently has 1,198 students. CHS, Loeffelholz added, is where it should be for capacity but more space is needed for programming. Notably, theres also been an increase in special education and English learners (EL), which requires additional space. Data shows that from the 2017-2018 school year to the 2022-2023 school year, there was an increase in the special education program of 5.57%, or 282 students. For the English learner program in that same period, there was an increase of 6.46%, or 285 students. There are multiple projects CPS could do to help meet this need. A list of options was presented during the Jan. 24 community meeting. CPS is taking the feedback from this meeting, and future ones, to decide what efforts the public would support before attempting a bond issue. OPTION 1 The first option would include building a new K-4 elementary school on land CPS owns in northern Columbus. The property is about 79 acres and is located on Third Avenue, north of 30th Street. Loeffelholz said if a new school is built, CPS would need to adjust its boundaries. This new facility would serve the northern part of town, he said, and would most likely impact North Park and Centennial. This option would also include cafeteria/kitchen additions at the current elementary schools. Currently, some of those schools lack an eating area and the gyms double as a cafeteria. At Centennial, the cafeteria addition could be built on the west side of the school while the current cafeteria could be converted into two classrooms. At Emerson, a gym could be added onto where a concrete slab is now located. Part of this is, I really want to move that playground closer to the building, Loeffelholz said. I don't think it's appropriate for our kids to have the playground along 23rd Avenue. There would be no plans at Lost Creek for this first option. Lost Creek is probably the right size on the verge of too big. And they've got a couple of classrooms already available for those extra programs, said Loeffelholz, adding an additional classroom will be freed up once the Kramer Education Centers preschool opens later this year. At North Park, a cafeteria could be constructed on the other side of the gym while at West Park, a gym addition would allow them to expand the kitchen. Over at CMS, plans would include constructing a fifth-grade wing on the east end of the building and a larger cafeteria to meet demands from the increased number of students. Separating fifth graders from older students has been something people have communicated to CPS, Loeffelholz said, and freeing up the original fifth-grade classrooms will allow the expansion of the special education and EL programs. At CHS, there would be room for two or three potential additions. OPTION 2 In the second option, fifth graders would be moved to elementary schools. There would still be a new elementary school constructed, but more work would be needed at the current elementary facilities. If we do that, then Ive got to add classrooms onto each one of our elementary schools because Im going to push 250 students back to the elementary, Loeffelholz said. The cafeteria/kitchen additions at the elementary schools as previously presented would still be planned. CMS would remain as is with no renovations done to it. For CHS, the work would remain the same as in the first option. OPTION 3 There would not be a new elementary school built in the third option, but more classrooms and the cafeteria/kitchen add-ons would still be needed. If the public decides a new elementary facility is not needed, Loeffelholz said, CPS could either keep the land or sell it. At CMS, there would be the fifth-grade wing addition and the expanded cafeteria. The high school renovations list would remain the same. Additionally, there is option 3a that lists the same renovations but there would not be any work done at CMS. OTHER WORK If funding would be available, the current district offices could eventually be utilized as an alternative education building. In this process, it is our hope that there's funding available to finish down to old middle school area, where the STEM area was, that we will move our district offices down there, Loeffelholz said. Our board has been very, very clear that the number one priority is to open up the preschool number, the number two priority is the day care. The third priority if there's funding available to move the district offices. Other possible work could include updating the lighting and sound system in the Nantkes Performing Arts Center at the middle school, as well as stadium lighting and concessions area at CHS. FINANCING CPS is retiring bonds in 2022 and 2024, which gives it room to fund some projects without raising the tax levy. The Columbus Public Schools Board of Education, Loeffelholz said, has refinanced bonds in the past several years which saved about $12 million in interest. By 2024 the only bond indebtedness we're going to have is (the high school); everything else is paid, Loeffelholz said. The last bond issue was 10 years ago, he added. Voters had approved a $49.9 million bond to construct the high school. According to survey data CPS collected in December, 80% of respondents said they would support a bond issue if the levy remained the same while 96% said they would support a penny or more increase (30% said 2 cents, 30% said 3 cents and 26% said 5 cents). Loeffelholz said cost estimates on the projects would be available at a later community meeting, when the focus is narrowed to two options. Loeffelholz previously told the Telegram that the board, using information collected from the public, will be considering around the first of March whether to do a bond election in the spring or wait until the fall. We want the public to be as informed as possible to help us make decisions, CPS Board President Doug Willboughby told the Telegram. It's really the public's decision whether we go ahead with these projects or not. Getting community members feedback and ideas is an important step in the process, he added. (Their input) are really the ones that we have to follow and the ones that we have to use, Willboughby said. Willboughby noted he had been hoping for more attendance at the Jan. 24 meeting, but those who did come had asked good questions. More community meetings will be held in the coming weeks, with the next scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 2 at 6:30 p.m. at CHS. CPS officials will also be available to talk about the subject during parent-teacher conferences being held Feb. 13-15; 6 p.m. on Feb. 13 at CMS, Feb. 14 at each of the middle schools (times to be determined); and Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. at CHS. Other planned dates are Feb. 28 and March 9. 24 States Banned Zuckerbucks Grants After 2020 Election Only a few more set to do so Protesters denounce Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg at a May 2022 Humanity Against Censorship rally in front of Meta headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif. (Mrs. Hao/The Epoch Times) In the wake of the 2020 elections, Republicans across the nation raised the alarm over revelations that a Chicago-based nonprofit had dispersed nearly $420 million in grants, technical assistance, and other monetary contributions to assist local officials in administering elections. The little-known Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL) had, with little attention, issued grants to nearly 2,500 county elections offices across 47 states and the District of Columbia before the 2020 election, using $350 million donated by Facebooknow Metafounder Mark Zuckerberg for its Safe Elections Project. The CTCL grants and awards were largely accorded to local elections officials to manage the voting accommodations mandated by public health officials during pandemic-skewered 2020. Money was also made available by CTCL for county elections administrators to partner with community organization members for training in expanding voter registration, ballot curing, and mail-in voting among other outreach initiatives. Although CTCL describes itself as a bipartisan nonprofit, saying that it issued grants to any elections officials who sought assistance, Republicans maintain the center aggressively recruited officials in counties and precincts that are traditionally Democraticmost notably in densely urban areas. Conservatives railed against what they called Zuckerbucks or Zuck bucks, claiming that CTCLs grants and other private contributions to election offices masked as COVID-19 relief was, in fact, an orchestrated effort to drive-up 2020 Democratic voter turnout and put Democrat Joe Biden in the White House. Zuckerbucks Influence in Spotlight Chester County workers transport mail-in and absentee ballots to be processed at West Chester University in Pennsylvania, on Nov. 4, 2020. (Matt Slocum/AP Photo) How much of an influence Zuckerbucks had on the 2020 election remains a hot debate, but there is smoke with this fire. Among many analyses of the 2020 vote that documented variations from traditional voting turnouts in counties that received Zuckerbucks grants are those conducted by the Honest Elections Project, created in February 2020 by the Federalist Society, which dismissed CTCLs claims that the grants were for COVID-19 relief. The data show otherwise, it said. A Real Clear Investigations analysis determined that a significant majority of CTCL grants went to counties where the average partisan lean in favor of Democrat Joe Biden over Republican Donald Trump was 33 pointsmeaning the aid could be expected to stimulate more Democratic votes. Researchers at the Capital Research Center, a Washington-based conservative nonprofit, documented CTCLs partisan effects in nine states in seven studies: Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona/Nevada, and Michigan/Wisconsin. The Epoch Times has covered the Zuckerbucks scheme and responses by Republicans in state legislatures extensively, including heated battles in Missouri and Wisconsin. Most readerslike most Americanswere unaware that their local elections office could legally accept grants from private sources to help administer elections. A November 2022 analysis by Benjamin Weingarten in The Epoch Times explains how pervasive the practice is. Or, was, that is. Since the 2020 election, state lawmakersmostly Republicanshave taken a long look at private contributions to elections offices. Ejecting Private Money From Public Elections Over the past two years, 24 state legislatures have adopted laws banning or restricting the use of private, third-party grants and other allegedly nonpartisan contributions to assist local officials in administering elections. With 45 of the nations state legislatures now convened in 2023 sessions, proposals to ban private money in public elections administration have been filed in at least two states and may be filed in at least two more. Montanas Senate Bill 117 would ban election offices from accepting any private funding. A similar bill failed in 2021 when the Legislature was last in session. Montana is one of four states where lawmakers convene only in odd-numbered years. Idahos House Bill 11 would prohibit state employees and officials from accepting private funds to administer elections. In 2021, Idaho lawmakers adopted a bill that only applied the ban to local elections officials. Similar measures are anticipated in Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Louisiana, where lawmakers convene on April 10, the last Legislature to begin its 2023 session; by then, 10 states will have already adjourned for the year. The Louisiana Legislature adopted an elections operations public funding ban in 2021 that was vetoed by Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards. A 2022 bill prohibiting any state or local official overseeing elections from accepting private donations never got out of committee. A 2023 bill hasnt been pre-filed but is likely. Bel Edwards is one of six Democratic governors who have vetoed bills adopted by Republican-controlled legislatures in 2021 and 2022 banning private donations to local elections administrative offices. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoes Republican bills during a news conference in the Capitol rotunda in Madison, Wis., on Aug. 10, 2021. (Scott Bauer/AP Photo) Michigans Gretchen Whitmer, North Carolinas Roy Cooper, Kansass Laura Kelly, Pennsylvanias Tom Wolf, and Wisconsins Tony Evers are the others, with Evers doing so in 2021 and again in 2022. Kellys veto of two Kansas bills, which prohibited the receipt and expenditure of private money by election officials, was overridden by the Legislature by a two-thirds supermajority vote and went into effect July 1, 2021. Wolf vetoed a 2021 Pennsylvania bill that didnt ban private contributions to elections offices, but required that all grants be distributed equally across all counties. He did, however, sign into law SB 982, which prohibits any private, nongovernmental funding for elections administration in July 2022. According to an analysis by the Capital Research Center, CTCL in 2020 issued grants to 10 of the 13 counties that Biden won in Pennsylvania, including Erie County, which Trump had won in 2016. Together, these 10 counties received $20.8 million, or over 83 percent of all CTCL grants to Pennsylvania, the analysis determined. In contrast, CTCL gave grants to 12 of the 54 counties Trump won statewide. These 12 counties received just $1.73 million, a mere 7 percent of all CTCL funds in the Keystone state. Pennsylvanias new law replaces private contributions to county elections offices with public money. The law includes an election integrity grant program that allows the states Department of Community and Economic Development to provide $45 million a year$5.15 per registered voterto reimburse counties for additional expenses in administering an election. The money can be used for payment of staff needed to pre-canvass and canvass mail-in ballots and absentee ballots and physical security and transparency costs for centralized pre-canvassing and canvassing under the law. No matter who on the outside is contributing, no matter their expressed motivations, millions of dollars coming in from national figures or organizations naturally raises suspicions of hidden agendas, said SB 92 lead sponsor Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Dallas) in a statement. Its uncertain if Wisconsin Republicans in 2023 will attempt to get a third bill past Everss veto pen, with the governor winning a second term in November 2022. But they may not need to. In 2022, both chambers of the Legislature adopted a resolution to place a proposed state constitutional amendment before voters that would ban private funding for elections. The resolution must be approved again in 2023 for it to get on a ballotmost likely in 2024. Wisconsin lawmakers in 2021 passed a bill that didnt prohibit private funding for elections offices but required the states Elections Commission to approve it and to distribute it to counties based on population in a process overseen by the Legislatures Joint Finance Committee. In 2022, the GOP-controlled Legislature included a total public funding ban in a broader elections bill. Evers shot them both down. I am objecting to this bill in its entirety because I object to the ban on governments using private grant funds for election administration, he wrote in his April 2022 veto. Regardless of the source of additional funding for election administration, election administrators must always run elections according to state and federal law. By prohibiting donations or grants to election agencies, this bill unnecessarily restricts the use of resources that may be needed to ensure elections are administered effectively. In response, at least four Wisconsin counties have adopted their own bans on local elections offices accepting private donations for operations and technical assistance. Two have also done so in Michigan where, with Democrats now in control of both legislative chambers, such bills are unlikely to advance out of committees. 25 People Charged in Fake Nursing Diploma Operation After Multi-State Law Enforcement Action The Department of Justice building in Washington, on Feb. 9, 2022. (Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images) Around 25 people have been charged for their roles in a huge coordinated scheme to sell false and fraudulent nursing degree diplomas and transcripts to aspiring nurses, the Department of Health and Human Servicess Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) announced on Jan. 25. HHS-OIG and its law enforcement partners conducted a multi-state coordinated law enforcement action dubbed Operation Nightingale using search warrants across Delaware, New York, New Jersey, Texas, and Florida, to arrest about 25 individuals who were allegedly part of the fraud, according to a press release. The scheme involved the individuals selling fake and fraudulent nursing degree diplomas and transcripts obtained from accredited Florida-based nursing schools to aspiring registered nurses, licensed nurse practitioners, and vocational nurse candidates. According to officials, those who acquired the fake nursing credentials used them to qualify to sit for the national nursing board exam that is needed to obtain a nursing license in the United States. After passing the exam, the individuals were able to obtain the licenses and take nursing jobs in various states, officials said. The scheme involved the distribution of more than 7,600 fake nursing diplomas and transcripts by three South Florida-based nursing schools: Siena College in Broward County, Palm Beach School of Nursing in Palm Beach County, and Sacred Heart International Institute in Broward County, HHS-OIG said. The three schools are now closed. Scheme Is Public Safety Concern Each of the defendants allegedly involved in the fraud scheme faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty, according to a separate statement issued by the Department of Justice. DOJ prosecutors said that the charges speak to the purpose of a nursing license which is to protect the public from harm by setting minimum qualifications and competencies, adding that the fake nursing diplomas and transcripts allowed aspiring nurses to take employment shortcuts. Not only is this a public safety concern, it also tarnishes the reputation of nurses who actually complete the demanding clinical and course work required to obtain their professional licenses and employment, said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe. He added that a fraud scheme like this erodes public trust in our health care system. Three individuals were charged with conspiring to commit and committing wire fraud at Siena College. Prosecutors allege that the three arranged with the manager of the college, Eugene Sanon, to create and distribute the false diplomas and transcripts, making it seem as though the individuals who received them had completed all the necessary courses and clinical experience needed to obtain the diplomas. In fact, the aspiring nurses never completed the necessary courses and clinical, prosecutors said. Sanon was charged by information with wire fraud conspiracy. Fake Nurse Diplomas Sold for Up to $17,000 At Palm Beach School of Nursing, prosecutors charged 14 individuals with conspiring to commit and committing wire fraud, alleging that they arranged with the schools owner, Johanah Napoleon, and four school employees to make and hand out the fake diplomas and transcripts to aspiring nurses. Napoleon was previously charged by information and has pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, according to prosecutors. Elsewhere at Sacred Heart International Institute, six individuals were given the same charges after prosecutors claimed that they organized with Charles Etienne, Sacred Hearts owner, to sell the fake documents. Defendants in the scheme allegedly charged individuals between $10,000 for a licensed practical nurse degree and $17,000 for a registered nurse diploma, the Miami Herald reported. Chad Yarbrough, the FBIs acting special agent in charge in Miami, told the publication that the students who were able to pass the nursing exams after acquiring the fake documents may not face criminal charges but risk losing their certification. He added that the agency had informed nursing boards in all 50 states of every student who received the fake documents and then went on to pass the exam. While the fraud scheme spanned multiple states, Yarbrough stressed that an FBI investigation into the matter had not found any harm caused to patients by nurses suspected to have obtained the fake documents so far. The Epoch Times has contacted Siena College, Palm Beach School of Nursing, and Sacred Heart International Institute for comment. 3 Killed, 8 Others Injured, in Suspected DUI Crash in Placentia PLACENTIA, Calif.A 24-year-old Santa Ana man was in police custody Jan. 26 on suspicion of driving under the influence and causing a two-vehicle crash that killed two adults and a 10-year-old girl in Placentia. Mario Armando Paz Jr., who was being held on $100,000 bail, was booked on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter and DUI, according to Placentia police Sgt. Joe Connell. The victims who died in the crash were identified as 10-year-old Lucero Lopez of Anaheim, 36-year-old Alberto Vicente Lopez of Anaheim, and 65-year-old Gregoria Ramirez of Placentia, according to Connell. Placentia Police Department officers responded at 8:45 p.m. Jan. 25 to the intersection of Orangethorpe Avenue and South Melrose Street where they learned the driver of a black Honda Civic crashed into the rear of a white van, from which several people were ejected. Several other vehicles were involved in the crash, authorities said. As many as eight other people suffered injuries, ranging from minor to life-threatening, police said. Three victims were taken to UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange with serious injuries and two children were rushed to Childrens Hospital Orange County, where Lucero was pronounced dead, police said. Lopez and Ramirez were pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. A church employee was driving the victims home from a Bible study group, Placentia police Sgt. Joe Connell said. Police suspect the cause of the crash was DUI-related, the sergeant added. 5 Former Memphis Officers Charged With Murder in Tyre Nichols Death This combo of images provided by the Memphis Police Department shows (top LR) officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, (bottom LR) Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith. (Memphis Police Department via AP) Five former Memphis police officers have been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the Jan. 10 death of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols, a black man. Now-fired Memphis Police Department officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smithwho are also blackhave been accused of severely beating Nichols during a Jan. 7 traffic stop. On Thursday, the five officers were charged with second-degree murder. The officers were also charged with aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping resulting in bodily injury, aggravated kidnapping involving possession of a weapon, official misconduct through the unauthorized exercise of power, official misconduct through the failure to act upon a lawful duty, and official oppression. All five officers face the same set of charges. Nichols was initially pulled over for a traffic stop for reckless driving. During the stop, Nichols and the responding officers reportedly had a confrontation after which Nichols fled. When the officers caught up with Nichols, they allegedly beat him. Nichols died in a hospital on Jan. 10, three days after sustaining injuries during his arrest. On Jan. 20, MPD announced it had fired Bean, Haley, Martin, Mills, and Smith after determining they violated multiple department policies, including excessive use of force, duty to intervene, and duty to render aid. On Wednesday, Nicholss family was able to see the arrest footage. Attorney Antonio Romanucci described the police encounter as an unadulterated, unabashed, non-stop beating of this young boy for three minutes, adding, he was a human pinata for those police officers. During a Thursday press conference, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said each of the five officers played a different role in their interaction with Nichols, but the actions of all of them resulted in the death of Tyre Nichols and they are all responsible. Ahead of the charging decision, Martins attorney, William Massey, told Reuters: We are waiting to get the indictment. We will know particularly what charges have been brought and we will go from there. Attorneys for the other former officers could not immediately be reached for comment. City Bracing for Arrest Footage Release After viewing the arrest footage, Nicholss step-father, Rodney Wells, said the footage was horrific and no father or mother should have to witness what I saw today. While announcing the decision to fire the five MPD officers on Friday, MPD Chief Cerelyn CJ Davis said the Memphis Police Department is committed to protecting and defending the rights of every citizen in our city and the egregious nature of this incident is not a reflection of the good work that our officers perform, with integrity, every day. While Nicholss family has been able to view the body camera footage of the arrest, the video has not yet been released to the broader public. In anticipation of the release of the footage, Davis issued a statement on Wednesday, urging potential protesters to remain peaceful. 77 Democratic Lawmakers Author Letter Criticizing Bidens Handling of Border Crisis U.S. President Joe Biden departs after attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting in the East Room of the White House on Jan. 20, 2023. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Two days after President Joe Biden met with Democratic congressional lawmakers, 77 of those elected officials sent a letter on Jan. 26 urging him to reverse plans to limit asylum access and eligibility on the U.S.Mexico border. The letter illustrates the divide among Democrats about how the Biden administration should handle the illegal immigration crisis. Earlier in January, the Biden administration released a comprehensive plan designed to significantly decrease illegal border crossings, announcing that immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela will be returned to Mexico under Title 42 if they illegally enter the country. The plan also provides legal immigration opportunities for vulnerable asylum seekers and migrants with U.S. sponsors. As part of the Biden administrations plan, 30,000 migrants from the four nations can apply for asylum protection from their home countries. Mexico has agreed to accept 30,000 each month. Illegal immigrants gather outside a migrant shelter in El Paso, Texas, on Jan. 6, 2023. (John Moore/Getty Images) We believe that your administration can and must continue to expand legal pathways for migrants and refugees into the United Stateswithout further dismantling the right to seek asylum at our border. This right is a pillar of the post-war international order to which the United States has committed itself, the Democratic lawmakers wrote. Instead of issuing a new asylum transit ban and expanding Title 42, we encourage your administration to stand by your commitment to restore and protect the rights of asylum seekers and refugees. Created as part of the Public Health Service Act under President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944, Title 42 was designed to prevent the introduction of contagious diseases in the United States. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Trump administration invoked the order to restrict entry into the United States. In late December 2022, the Supreme Court blocked the termination of Title 42. In its decision, the court agreed to hear arguments in February about whether a coalition of Republican-led states can challenge a lower courts ruling that ordered the Biden administration to end Title 42, which remains in place. The letters authors praised the Biden administrations program that allows American citizens and people with legal status in the United States to sponsor migrants from the four countries. They criticized the strategy because of its reliance on policies implemented by former President Donald Trump. Migrants from Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua werent previously included in Title 42, the lawmakers noted. The Biden administration should also decide to not move forward on a proposal that will prevent migrants from asylum if theyre unable to find refuge in third countries before arriving in the United States, which is a measure the Trump administration attempted to enact. In a press conference on Jan. 26, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), flanked by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), said, No matter how many Trump policies the Biden administration resurrects, Republicans will continue to obstruct any effort to actually reform our border processing and modernize our immigration system. We recognize that the United States is experiencing a difficult migration challenge at the southern border. But as elected officials, we are duty-bound to propose legal solutions, one that protects asylum seekers while also securing the safe removal of migrants who have no legal claim to stay in the United States. The letter to Biden wasnt signed by Democratic leaders in the House or Senate. I havent seen the letter but we look forward to, as Democrats and as members of Congress, having a healthy discussion about how we deal with the complexity of issues connected to comprehensive immigration reform and making sure we have a safe, secure, and strong border, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said on Jan. 26. On Jan. 24, citing that the program violates U.S. immigration law, 20 Republican-led states asked a federal judge to end the sponsorship policy for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. U.S. Customs and Border Protection stated on Jan. 25 that border officials have seen an average of 115 daily encounters with illegal immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela this month. Thats 97 percent less than in early December 2022 when numbers rose to a record high of 3,367 encounters each day. These expanded border enforcement measures are working, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said on Jan. 25. It is incomprehensible that some states who stand to benefit from these highly effective enforcement measures are seeking to block them and cause more irregular migration at our southern border. During an address at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington on Jan. 20, Biden said Republicans were trying to score political points on the border crisis and criticized them for not supporting his immigration policy proposal. The first bill I introduced was a comprehensive reform legislation on immigration. But because of some in the Congress, they refused to consider it. They found it a better issue to campaign on than an issue to solve, Biden said. So, we have a choice. They can keep using immigration to try to score political points, or we can help solve the problem. Immigration reform used to be a bipartisan issue. And we can make it that again, in my view. While Biden is dealing with pushback from lawmakers in his own party, Republicans continue to fight against his border strategy. On Jan. 24, 20 Republican-led states filed a lawsuit in a Texas-based federal court challenging the Biden administrations recently announced program to accept 30,000 illegal immigrants per month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. The lawsuit contends that the program has no legal authority and that states will suffer from the flood of illegal immigration from the four countries. The Biden open borders agenda has created a humanitarian crisis that is increasing crime and violence in our streets, overwhelming local communities, and worsening the opioid crisis, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a statement about the lawsuit. This unlawful amnesty program, which will invite hundreds of thousands of aliens into the U.S. every year, will only make this immigration crisis drastically worse. Whats the purpose of our lives? Legends from China and elsewhere say that divine beings created humans modeled in their own image. By following heavens commandments, humankind can enjoy a harmonious life, while waiting for the Creators return. But communism detests these traditional ideas. Since it seized power in 1949, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has repeatedly launched bloody campaigns to uproot traditional beliefs and values, destroying the bedrock of one of the worlds oldest civilizations. By decimating Chinas traditions and replacing them with communist ideology, the regime has indoctrinated generations into believing only in the CCP and its atheistic worldview. As a result, many have lost their connection to 5,000 years of Chinese culture and beliefs. On the occasion of the Lunar New Year, Mr. Li Hongzhi, founder of the spiritual practice Falun Gong, published an article titled How Humankind Came To Be, enlightening Chinese people at home and abroad. Its the first time for me to learn such a comprehensive explanation of how human beings came about, said Gu Guoping, a former teacher at Shanghai University and a Shanghai resident who isnt a Falun Gong adherent himself. What Master Li said makes a lot of sense and is very thorough. Echoing his sentiment, Daniel Lou Xinyue, a Chinese American entrepreneur who lives in New York, was amazed by Mr. Lis insight into the universe, including how it was created and structured. I have never heard of an explanation as clear as the one Mr. Li Hongzhi offered, Lou told The Epoch Times. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a discipline rooted in ancient Chinese traditions that involves moral improvement, leading to spiritual enlightenment. The practice is composed of meditative exercises and a set of moral teachings centered on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. Falun Gong practitioners perform the practices exercises at an event celebrating World Falun Dafa Day in Taipei, Taiwan, on May 1, 2021. (Sun Hsiang-yi/The Epoch Times) Lou has long been interested in historical and cultural classics. Growing up in Eastern culture, he had heard of the 18 realms of hell from Buddhist scriptures. He also explored works of Western religions, including the Bible, where he found descriptions of heaven. But whats the whole universe like? No one ever clearly described it to me, Lou said. Reading Mr. Lis piece is well worth the time and effort, he said, even if people arent interested in taking up the spiritual practice itself. I think the article has great importance to humankind as well as to the history of human thought, he said. Lou pointed to the first lines of the text to illustrate his reasoning. In the articles opening, Mr. Li states, I am seeing imminent danger approaching humanity, and have been called upon by divine beings to pass along, for this reason, several things to everyone in this world. Mr. Li made it clear that there are divine beings, Lou said. Now, most people have forgotten that there are divine beings who control and maintain the order of the existing world, Lou said. Why is this an era of moral decay? Because most human beings have forgotten the Creator and their divine. They have even forgotten that man has a soul, which was what Master Li described as the true soul that will not die with the passing away of the physical body. Only by knowing this, Lou added, can humankind persist in doing good things, especially amidst painful experiences. COVID-19 and Retribution Living in a country in the grips of a severe COVID-19 outbreak, Gu said he was impressed by Mr. Lis illustrations of the reasons behind the traditional idea of you reap what you sow. In the article, Mr. Li states, Everything that happens in ones lifewhether it seems warranted or notis, in reality, the karmic consequence of what one did in ones past lives, for better or for worse. Eastern culture has long held a belief that karma will be accrued with bad or immoral deeds and that this will be paid back in this life or the next. This concept of karmic retribution, according to Gu, explains the uptick in deaths among officials and public figures closely aligned with the CCP amid the current COVID-19 crisis. [The CCP] has been procuring organs from living Falun Gong practitioners. That is an absolutely anti-human atrocity. Thats why the virus attacks [people aligned with the Party], Gu said. The CCP, which considered Falun Gongs immense popularity to be a threat to the Partys control, ordered a brutal suppression of the practice in 1999, resulting in an estimated 100 million adherents being targets of detention, torture, and forced organ harvesting. In 2019, an independent tribunal found that the communist regime had killed prisoners of conscience for their organs to supply the transplant market on a significant scale for years, with no evidence that the practice had stopped. The main victims, the tribunal said, have been detained Falun Gong practitioners. Now, with COVID-19 spreading like wildfire across the nation, Gu said Mr. Lis article could help Chinese people reexamine their lives. [The article] is a reminder for people to reevaluate how they live their lives and view the world, Gu said. Its vital and timely. Important to Humanity Since reading the piece, Lou has already begun to see his daily life and goals through a new lens. This article changed how I view the world, life, as well as my attitude, he said. It makes me more determined to stay kind and do good things. While he doesnt practice Falun Gong, Lou said he has recommended Mr. Lis article to his friends. Previously, Mr. Lis teachings were only for Falun Gong disciples. But now, Mr. Li is delivering messages to all human beings, he said. In my understanding, Mr. Li wants more people to be saved at this time. I kept sharing this article. I think everyone should do so because its such a crucial message for all human beings, no matter whether youre in the West or the East. I recommend it to everyone. Shi Ping and Luo Ya contributed to this report. Read Mr. Li Hongzhis article How Humankind Came To Be here. Amazon Launches a Subscription Prescription Drug Service Amazon is adding a prescription drug discount program to its growing health care business. The retail giant said Tuesday that it will launch RxPass, a subscription service for customers who have Prime memberships. Amazon said people will pay $5 a month to fill as many prescriptions as they need from a list of about 50 generic medications, which are generally cheaper versions of brand-name drugs. The company said the flat fee could cover a list of medications like the antibiotic amoxicillin and the anti-inflammatory drug naproxen. Sildenafil also made the list. Its used to treat erectile dysfunction under the brand name Viagra and also treats a form of high blood pressure. Amazon sells a range of generic drugs through its pharmacy service. Some already cost as little as $1 for a 30-day supply, so the benefit of this new program will vary by customer. The program doesnt use insurance, and people with government-funded Medicaid or Medicare coverage are not eligible. It will be available in 42 states and District of Columbia at launch. Any program that gets low-cost generic drugs to more patients is a good thing, said Karen Van Nuys, an economist who studies drug pricing at the University of Southern California. But she added that she wasnt sure how much of an impact RxPass will have. She noted that the program is limited to Amazon Prime customers. Other options like the Mark Cuban CostPlus Drug Co. sell more generic drugs, many for under $5. I just dont know that its expanding access to a new set of patients, Van Nuys said. Still, the move could help the company take up some more space in the health care market, even though it has not always been successful in its aim. Last year, the company shuttered its hybrid virtual, in-home care service called Amazon Care after it failed to get traction from employers. And Haven, a company Amazon created in collaboration with JPMorgan and Berkshire Hathaway to improve health costs, dissolved a year earlier than that. Amazon has said its online drug store Amazon Pharmacy is a key part of its health care plan, along with primary care organization One Medical, which the online giant is seeking to acquire for $3.9 billion. The Federal Trade Commission is investigating the proposed buyout. In November, the company also said it would begin offering Amazon Clinic, a messaging service that connects patients with doctors for about two dozen common conditions, such as allergies and hair loss. By Tom Murphy and Haleluya Hadero A couples quest to uphold and improve centuries-old paint-making traditions For over 30 years, George OHanlon has been making paint and investigating natural pigments and mediums, keen to find the best practices and formulations to pass on to professional artists. His quest has taken him around the world, where hes discovered fellow artists and enthusiasts just as passionate about the art of painting and paint making as he is. Early in his quest, George fell in love. And now he and his wife, Tatiana Zaytseva, support artists from around the world via their California-based business, Natural Pigments. Using ancient wisdom and modern knowledge, George OHanlon and Tatiana Zaytseva of Natural Pigments strive to supply professional artists with the best art materials, while staying true to the paint-making tradition. (Courtesy of Natural Pigments) From Iconography to Natural Pigments George met Tatiana in Russia during his travels in the late 1990s to learn more about iconography. At the time, George ran his own advertising agency, where, after hed graduated college in the 1970s, he worked as an illustratorthe only viable career option for representational artists. Georges interest in painting icons came about after hed been sent a paper on medieval art, an era of art that hed never really liked or understood. When he learned more about that art, he found iconography a fascinating way of looking at humanity and felt compelled to travel to Russia and learn directly from icon painters and experts. Together with Tatiana, he founded the nonprofit organization Iconofile to teach artists everything the couple had learned about the icon painting tradition. The couples work with Iconofile paved the way for their company Natural Pigments. Paint Making Icon painters primarily use egg tempera. George found that the traditional materials used by the icon painters behaved differently from the modern materials he was familiar with. At the time, George painted with oils, so out of curiosity, he began making his own oil paints and also noticed how different they were from the commercial paints that he had been using. He didnt quite understand why and wanted to know more. In the past, George had worked for a Japanese chemical corporation. So using his knowledge of chemistry, he started investigating the paint that he made. He found only a few research papers that focused on paint rheology (paint behavior). When he discovered the old masters painting processes, the revelation had a huge impact on him. I found that the way they made their paint changed the behavior of the paint, he said. The old masters created great art not only because of their painting techniques and exquisite handling of the paint, but also because they made their own paint and had a thorough understanding of their tools and materials. George believes that the old masters unlocked the alchemy of painting by making their own paintsan opportunity lost to most artists today. To make oil paint, artists first make a well in a pile of pigment to which they add drops of vegetable drying oil, such as aged refined linseed oil, and mix with a palette knife. (Courtesy of Natural Pigments) An artist uses a muller to grind the pigment paste until it becomes smooth; the smaller the pigment particles, the harder the grinding process. (Courtesy of Natural Pigments) The artist stops grinding the pigment paste when the mixture becomes smooth paint. (Courtesy of Natural Pigments) Assembling Versus Creating Paintings A lot of artists today dont understand paint. They rely on commercial paint from a tube. George sees this as a major disadvantage for them. He likens those artists to chefs picking up a couple of jars of sauce and ingredients at the supermarket to make a meal. Theyre not cooking a meal; theyre assembling it. Imagine a chef not knowing how to prepare a sauce from scratch, or how to prepare a dish from the basic ingredients, he said. Artists today arent experimenting in paint making, as they did in the past, because they havent learned how to make paint in college, and they cant readily access the paint-making materials. Artists making their own paints in a Natural Pigments workshop. George OHanlon and Tatiana Zaytseva encourage artists to keep their paint formulas simple to truly understand how each element interacts with another. (Courtesy of Natural Pigments) Tatiana says that, essentially, every time an artist buys a tube of paint, that artist is buying into someone elses idea of that paint color and composition. Commercial paint companies control the experimentation, which is often limited to market demand. The Paint-Making Tradition In the past, parents paid masters to teach their children as apprentices. The apprentices immersed themselves in their masters art and observed the other artists in the workshops. The children started their apprenticeships between the ages of 8 and 12, becoming masters when they turned 18. Artists today dont have that immersive experience. George sees many college-educated artists struggling because theyve mainly been taught art theory, and they havent had a chance to observe the practical side of creating art. Remarkable as it sounds, George has met artists with 40-year careers who dont understand the basics of painting. He stresses that these arent bad artists. The gap in their practical art training has meant that theyve had to teach themselves the basics and seek help from experts like George. Sensing Art Artists in the past had incredible observational skills. They didnt have the science to understand why paint behaved in a particular way, but they learned by using their senses and by practical application, George said. In his Ghent Altarpiece, for instance, Jan van Eyck painted the figures close to Mary using two layers of the same pigment. George explained that each paint layer had different particle sizes. Van Eyck, as a master of optics, knew those pigments would give him the opacity that he wanted. Similarly, experts at the National Gallery of Art in Washington recently analyzed their Vermeer paintings and found that the artist used as many as four different yellow pigments to paint the womans shimmering gold sleeve in A Lady Writing. In the 1950s, science caught up with what old masters like van Eyck had observed some 500 years before: the way light scatters when reflected on different mediums. George explained that in 1952, scientists took a thin three-layer paint sample from the deep royal blue robe of the Virgin Mary in van Eycks Ghent Altarpiece. Surprisingly, van Eyck was able to obtain the deep blue by using three very thin layers of paint. On analyzing the paint layers, scientists found that the order of the layers was unusual. He altered the final color of the blue paint layers with a thin layer of ultramarine tempera paintnot oilyet another remarkable feature of the painting. (Ultramarine pigment tends to fade with oil paint, but not with tempera paint.) Van Eyck could only have obtained the deep royal blue of Marys robe by using certain pigments in a specific order. As far back as the fourth century, ancient Egyptian artists used azurite. Artists throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance also used the bright blue, or sometimes greenish-blue pigment, often using it instead of the more expensive lazurite (lapis lazuli). (JaneMoon/Shutterstock) Over 6,000 years ago, miners first extracted lazurite (lapis lazuli) from Kokcha in Afghanistan. Medieval and Renaissance artists saved the expensive, vibrant blue pigment for the robes of Christ and the Virgin Mary. (Courtesy of Natural Pigments) Art That Endures Paintings do change over time. It would be remarkable that anything 500 years old would look exactly the way it did when it was first painted, George said. The American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) International sets the standards for materials in America. Around four years ago, scientists made a startling discovery that might put some paintings, mainly from the 20th century onward, in jeopardy. They found that some of the paints that had been determined to be lightfast may actually fade. Its actually a crisis that nobodys really talking about, he said. As a result of this discovery, Natural Pigments is one of few companies that have retested all of its colors for lightfastness. Natural Pigments found issues with two of its paints, both modern formulations that contradicted the ASTM lightfastness standards. The company believes that the rest of its paints are lightfast because they use a lot of traditional materials, which artists have tried and tested for centuries. The Ghent Altarpiece [painted in the 15th century] actually didnt need any intervention until the middle of the 20th century, which is amazing, George said. Researchers found traces of the green pigment malachite in ancient Egyptian tomb paintings, from the fourth century onwards. (Courtesy of Natural Pigments) In Ancient Rome, artists created wall paintings using their most expensive pigment: cinnabar (vermillion). (Courtesy of Natural Pigments) The Chemistry of Paint Making At Natural Pigments, George and Tatiana teach professional artists how to make paint, and they ensure that all the materials are available for purchase. They also sell prepared paints and mediums, but they insist that when artists understand the chemistry of paint, it changes their artwork. Painting is a composite structure; its not just the paint, Tatiana explained. Each part of the paintingthe canvas and the varnish, to name a coupleinteracts with one another in a beneficial or detrimental way. Tatiana Zaytseva demonstrates the different ways that artists can use natural pigments and mediums in their paints. (Courtesy of Natural Pigments) George promotes using the simplest of paint formulas, so then artists can see how elements interact with each other. When artists know each element in their paint, because theyve made it themselves, they have more control over the painting process. The OHanlons look to the past to make paints, but also with an eye to the future. George is constantly learning. He submits a sample of each pigment for scientific analysis to see the particle size and distribution, both of which are helpful to artists. Pigments of the same chemical composition behave differently in the same medium due to their distinct particle size and shape. They may also age differently due to these physical properties. For instance, Natural Pigments stocks five yellow ochers from different parts of the world. Each one interacts with the medium (oil or egg, for instance) in a different way and flows differently. The company website details the properties of each pigment and relevant information about how to use them. A rock face full of iron oxides shows a rainbow of red, brown, and yellow earth pigments that artists can use to make paints such as yellow ocher. (Courtesy of Natural Pigments) Lemon ocher pigment from Northern Italy. (Courtesy of Natural Pigments) Blue Ridge yellow ocher pigment from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. (Courtesy of Natural Pigments) Hrazdan yellow ocher pigment from Hrazdan, Armenia. (Courtesy of Natural Pigments) A Valuable Yet Misunderstood Pigment Theres lots of good things that were done traditionally that still have value today, George said. Equally, just because a material isnt used today doesnt mean it has no value. Some of the 500-year-old paintings that we see in museums today have lasted because the artists used the color lead white. Up until the beginning of the 20th century, artists used lead white pigment in spite of its toxicity. Recently, researchers found that lead white preserves oil paint. Lead white is the only substance that actually works chemically with oil to strengthen the paint film and prevent it from deteriorating faster, he said. In this image, rolls of lead corrode in the stack process or Old Dutch method of making the pigment lead white. This lead has been exposed to acetic acid vapor, moisture, and carbon dioxide produced from fermented matter such as horse manure, which also provides heat. These together cause the lead to corrode, producing scales of lead (flake white). (Courtesy of Natural Pigments) Tatiana said that professional artists at art conferences usually take a step back from Natural Pigments bench when they see lead white paint. The toxicity of lead white has been widely misunderstood. George explained that people working in industrial processes suffered the most from lead poisoning. In the United States, professional artists can use lead in their paint; as with any toxic substance, they simply need to take simple precautions when working with it. Artists sing the praises of Natural Pigments lead white. Paul G., also an analytical chemist, states in his review: In oils, it has a delicacy where titanium white is brutal. Lead whites ability to mix sensibly with other colors is phenomenal, leading to superior paintings where color has depth as well as subtletytitanium white just washes colors out, leaving a pasty look to everything. Upholding a British Tradition George wants to resurrect the British tradition of the colorman, who worked with artists to make the best materials for them. He and Tatiana happily spend hours with artists on the phone or in their studio to ensure they get the best paint for their needs. Many college-taught artists use the same materials as their teachers. But the OHanlons believe that theres no one size that fits all. Artists should use paints suitable to their unique sensibilities. The couple recently worked with a Brooklyn, New York, artist whod tried many white paints but none were quite right. After a few hours in his studio, the couple made a special white pigment for him. George OHanlon of Natural Pigments gives a lecture at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, in Old Lyme, Conn. (Courtesy of Natural Pigments) The old masters took great care in their painting process. They wrote treatises detailing just how pigments behaved and what mediums were best for certain situations, such as when preserving a painting. The OHanlons bring that same care to Natural Pigments, relaying their discoveries for professional artists to use for centuries to come. To find out more about Natural Pigments, visit NaturalPigments.com Amid Rash of Violence on Toronto Transit, Officials Try to Keep People Safe Several violent incidents on Toronto transit over the past week signal an escalation of a phenomenon transit union leader John Di Nino says has been plaguing systems across the country. Di Nino said at a press conference Wednesday that about 3,000 attacks just on transit operators happen annually across the country. That doesnt include attacks on riders or attacks that go unreported. Mayor John Tory says mental health is at the centre of this spate of violence on Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) vehicles. He has called for a national mental health summit that would bring together leaders on the municipal, provincial, and federal levels to discuss measures to address it. Di Ninos Amalgamated Transit Union also called for a meeting of leaders, in a National Transit Task Force, to implement real changes that will keep transit workers and riders safe, it said in a Tweet Thursday. Tory and the TTC have outlined short-term measures to make passengers and operators more safe, as well as long-term measures. Security, Mental Health The TTC told The Epoch Times via email that immediate action includes increasing the number of transit special constables patrolling the system, working with Toronto police to increase their presence across the system, and installing more cameras and emergency alarms at stations and in vehicles. To form long-term measures, the TTC said, TTC CEO Rick Leary is part of ongoing meetings with Mayor Tory, the Toronto Police Service and union representatives to discuss safety and security. Tory said its not possible to have security personnel on every vehicle, but the use of technology to monitor and report crimes, as well as addressing the root causes of crime, will help. In the end, its going to also rely on the behaviour of people, on us making sure that those who are in need of support in the community get that support, he said on Breakfast Television Thursday. At a talk at Toronto police headquarters Jan. 5, Tory had said, We will continue to invest lots and more in kids and families and neighbourhoods and the kinds of programs that will prevent crime and keep people away from crime and address the root causes of crime. But Im also proud to stand here and say that as part of the overall mission we will invest in the coming year in putting 200 more police officers on the streets. The TTCs Leary has also said that having more mental health workers present in the transit system is a good idea. They might deescalate situations before they become violent. Whats happening? What changed? This is a real challenge for society in general, Leary said on Breakfast Television Wednesday. When you look around North America, many major transit systems are having very similar issues today. Its not just unique to Toronto or to the TTC. At his Wednesday press conference, the unions Di Nino cited two separate incidents in Edmonton last week in which transit operators were held at gun-point. Toronto Incidents This Week On Thursday morning, Toronto police reported they were investigating teens with BB guns shooting at passengers at York University subway station. They apprehended one person and reported injuries were unknown. This echoes a similar incident last week in which a TTC operator was shot with a BB gun. The suspects were male teens. On Wednesday, a 16-year-old boy was stabbed on a TTC bus at Old Mill subway station and transported to hospital with serious injuries. Police were seeking a suspect who was last seen running on Bloor Street, estimated to be in his 20s. In an unrelated incident on the same day, a person chased two TTC operators with a syringe at Yonge and Dundas. The employees were able to get away and police arrested a suspect. On Tuesday, a 23-year-old woman was stabbed in the head and face on a Spadina streetcar, allegedly by a 43-year-old woman named Leah Valdez who didnt know her. She was transported to hospital with life-altering injuries, police reported. Valdez has been arrested and charged. On Monday, a group of male teens allegedly swarmed TTC employees on a bus in Scarborough. Four 13-year-olds were charged with assault. It was one of many swarming attacks by teenagers that have happened in the past year across the country. Toronto Police Homicide Detective Sergeant Terry Browne explained swarming at a Dec. 21 press conference as a group of individuals working as a singular entity in a swarming mob mentality. The TTC said in its statement, The TTC moves hundreds of millions of customers every year without incident, but we cannot and do not take that for granted. It is looking at making further security enhancements in its 2023 budget. But we also know that there are bigger societal and systemic issues at play when it comes to the root causes of these incidents that require a multi-pronged response. Artificial Intelligence Could Make These Jobs Obsolete: Not Crying Wolf "Han the Robot" waits on stage before a discussion about the future of humanity in a demonstration of artificial intelligence (AI) by Hanson Robotics at the RISE Technology Conference in Hong Kong on July 12, 2017. (Isaac Lawrence/AFP/Getty Images) With reports saying artificial intelligence system ChatGPT has passed exams and can produce reports, experts have warned that some jobs could become obsolete in the future. Earlier this week, a research paper said ChatGPT was able to pass a graduate-level exam at the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School. Some professors have expressed alarm about students using the service to cheat on exams or their homework. But if the system becomes capable, ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence could replace a number of white-collar jobs, some researchers have warned. AI is replacing the white-collar workers. I dont think anyone can stop that, Pengcheng Shi, an associate dean in the department of computing and information sciences at Rochester Institute of Technology, told the New York Post on Wednesday. This is not crying wolf, Shi added. The wolf is at the door. Jobs in the financial sector, health care, publishing, and other industries are vulnerable, Shi said. But people, he added, will be able to learn how to harness AI technology. Publishing In the media field, AI technology has faced difficulties. Some outlets and journalists have noted that the system is poor with facts. Copy editing is certainly something it does an extremely good job at. Summarizing, making an article concise and things of that nature, it certainly does a really good job, Chinmay Hegde, a computer science and electrical engineering associate professor at New York University, told the Post. You can ask it to provide an essay, to produce a story with citations, but more often than not, the citations are just made up, Hegde continued. Thats a known failure of ChatGPT and honestly we do not know how to fix that. Screens displaying the logos of Microsoft and ChatGPT, a conversational artificial intelligence application software developed by OpenAI. (Lionel Bonaventure/AFP via Getty Images) Hegde added to the paper that some simple website designers and engineers are at risk of losing their jobs. I worry for such people. Now I can just ask ChatGPT to generate a website for meany type of person whose routine job would be doing this for me is no longer needed, he said. Earlier in January, Princeton student Edward Tian told NPR that he created an app to see if something was written via AI, called GPTZero. Humans deserve to know when something is written by a human or written by a machine, Tian told the outlet. Wall Street Some financial jobs will also become obsolete in the coming months and years, Shi warned. I definitely think [it will impact] the trading side, but even [at] an investment bank, people [are] hired out of college and spend two, three years to work like robots and do Excel modelingyou can get AI to do that, he told the paper. Much, much faster. Lawyers ChatGPT made headlines recently after law professors at the University of Minnesota used the popular artificial intelligence chatbot to generate answers to exams in four courses last semester, then graded them blindly alongside actual students tests. ChatGPTs average C+ performance fell below the humans B+ average, the authors said. If applied across the curriculum, that would still be enough to earn the chatbot a law degreethough it would be placed on academic probation at Minnesota, ranked as the 21st best law school in the country by U.S. News & World Report. Alone, ChatGPT would be pretty mediocre law student, said lead study author Jonathan Choi, who collaborated with professors Kristin Hickman, Amy Monahan, and Daniel Schwarcz. Interns Some intern jobs, including unpaid ones, may also get axed in the future. A tech marketing agency, Codeword, said it decided to use so-called AI interns to assist its design and editorial teams to carry out menial yet necessary tasks. Its an opportunity to streamline internal processes by eliminating necessary but mind-numbing and time-consuming tasksor at least to pass them off onto emotionless interns who cant get bored, said Codeword senior editor Terrence Doyle, according to Axios. Design OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, created a separate tool, DALL-E, which can generate images from user prompts on command. Hegde said that the tool, along with Stable Diffusion and others, pose a threat to the graphic design industry. Before, you would ask a photographer or you would ask a graphic designer to make an image [for websites]. Thats something very, very plausibly automated by using technology similar to ChatGPT, he told the Post. Reuters contributed to this report. Xis Political Theories Receive Red Carpet Treatment at New Zealand Airport Premium place of the airport bookstore in Wellington, New Zealands capital. (Supplied) A book written by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping is being sold in a prominent location at an airport bookstore in Wellington, New Zealands capital. Multiple copies of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China Volume Four can be seen displayed in a highly visible location, according to a photo circulating on social media. Mark H. Leo, the Twitter user who posted the picture, told The Epoch Times that he saw the photo and another image from a group chat on WeChat from a user named Ma Xiaojun. A translation of the Wechat post states that: Someone was travelling in a tiny city in New Zealand. After entering the airport bookstore, [he/she] was greeted head-on with an aura of leading the world. [They] asked the staff in the bookstore, who said it is a prime location that the [Chinese] embassy paid to occupy. Its truly worthy of [the title of a] great nation, reads the explanation in Chinese. The Epoch Times notes that in recent years, the Chinese term great nation () to describe communist China, has been featured regularly in CCP propaganda, including the Study the Great Nation app which is designed to indoctrinate young Chinese with Xi Jinping thought. Studying the thoughts and writings of CCP leaders has become convention in China with leaders from Mao Zedong to Deng Xiaoping each documenting their ideas, adding them to Chinese communist doctrine, and pushing Chinese people to study them daily. Xi Jinping Thought was first added in 2017. Bookstore Denies Involvement from Chinese Embassy A supervisor of the Relay bookstore at Wellington airport, who declined to give his name, confirmed that the bookstore is selling Xis books. There is a standard set up for the books, specifically for those books, I believe, he told The Epoch Times in a call on Jan. 23. However, the supervisor said it was unlikely there was any involvement from the Chinese Embassy. Because it seems unusual for a foreign government to be able to be involved in, when I just run a retail business, where we placed the books, he said. It seems unlikely to me. He did say the position of the books was to try encourage customers to buy them faster. In terms of the placement as to why its near the top 50, I think its just because it has been a slow seller for us for quite a long time, so weve just got some titles that are leftover that were trying to get rid of. The Volume Four of Xis books and the preceding ones, which were published in 2014, 2017, 2020, and 2022, respectively, have been in the bookstore for a while and have not been popular, he added. The book is definitely a few years old, he said. I remember seeing it on the shelf for a while. He said the books had only been in its current location for a few weeks. Its relatively recent. It hasnt been there for too long probably a couple of weeks. The supervisor repeatedly emphasised that he was not clear about why the decision was made. You have to speak to a manager or someone above that, he said. The Epoch Times reached out to the site manager and was notified that the inquiry had been passed to the companys communications manager. The Epoch Times also reached out to the Chinese Embassy in Wellington but has not received a reply at the time of publication. CCP Presence Still Strong in New Zealand The incident comes as CCP activities in New Zealand continue to come to light. In late 2022, it was revealed that Beijing not only had an overseas police station in New Zealand, but it was linked to a Chinese businessman active in the countrys political circles and connected to the CCPs United Front. Chinese businessman Zhou Jiexiang was pictured with former New Zealand Prime Minister John Key. (Wenhua Weekly) The police service stations are one among 102 found to be operating across 53 countries. The Spanish human rights NGO, Safeguard Defenders, says the communist regime uses the stations to monitor overseas Chinese community, and to harass, threaten, intimidate, and force targets to return to China for persecution. The location of the police station in Auckland, New Zealand was found to be linked to Zhou Jiexiang, according to New Zealands Companies Register records. Zhou has been prominently featured in Chinese state media lauding the communist regime. BC Says It Wont Drop Vaccine Mandate as Rural Mayors Raise Alarm Over Nursing Shortages, Hospital Closures Ambulances are parked at the entrance to the emergency department at Richmond General Hospital, in Richmond, B.C., on Nov. 27, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck) The BC Ministry of Health is not backing down on its requirement that all health-care workers in the province be vaccinated, despite reports that rural B.C. mayors have called for an end to COVID mandates to solve a persistent nursing shortage. B.C. is one of the few provinces that continues to enforce vaccine mandates for health workers. Amy Crofts, a spokesperson with the provinces health ministry told The Epoch Times that the governments measures taken to combat the ongoing public-health emergency remain important, and the province will continue to insist that nursing staff have a primary COVID-19 vaccine series, unless they have obtained an exemption from the provincial health officer. The trajectory of the pandemic over the next few months is uncertain as there is still significant spread of the COVID-19 virus in the province and around the world, Crofts said in an email on Jan. 25. Mayors Raise Concerns Some rural B.C. mayors are reportedly calling on the province to end the vaccine mandate for health workers as a way to increase staffing levels amid critical shortages that have closed their emergency rooms at times. A Jan. 24 report in the Vancouver Sun quoted Michael Goetz, the mayor of Merritt, B.C., as stating that one of the first questions asked, during a recent conference call between the interior B.C. health authority and rural mayors on Jan. 23 was, Can we look [at] lifting the vaccine [mandate] for nurses? He told the Sun that Merritts Nicola Valley Hospital was being affected by staffing shortages and had been temporarily closed four times just since Christmas 2022. In one instance, the hospital was forced to close its emergency room for one day overnight, from Sunday, Jan. 8 at 6:30 p.m. to Monday, Jan 9 at 7:00 a.m. Patients were told to go to Kamloops or Kelowna in an emergency. Goetz did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Goetz and other mayors who belong to the B.C. Rural Health Care Alliance, a group of 37 mayors trying to address the health care shortage, took part in the conference call the Sun reported, and raised the issue of some shortages being caused due to unvaccinated nursing staff being taken off the roster. Health Minister Adrian Dix denied the mandate was causing the shortages. The issue on health-care staffing challenges is COVID-19, its not the mandate, he told the Sun. Dix said shortages were the result of people not coming to work when sick. He added that 99 percent of full-time health-care workers were vaccinated. Crofts told The Epoch Times that approximately 2,496 employees across the province have been terminated due to non-compliance with the provincial health officers Hospital and Community COVID-19 Vaccination Status Information and Preventive Measures order. The Ministry of Health provided figures indicating that close to half of those health-care workers fired for not receiving COVID-19 shots worked in the Interior and Northern Health regions, where emergency room closures and shortages made headlines throughout 2022. As of Spring 2022, said the province, the following number of employees were terminated: 233 employees working for the health services authority; 908 staff working for interior health (representing 3.84 percent of the workforce); 469 team members at Fraser Health; 235 staff at Vancouver Coastal, 11 staff at Providence; 343 staff working for Island Health; and 297 employees, about 3 percent of the workforce, from Northern Health. In at least some of these figures, the numbers do not include medical staff/physicians said a government note. Emergency Rooms Shut Down In 2022, emergency rooms at 13 hospitals in rural B.C. were closed temporarily due to staffing shortages, for a cumulative total of 2,900 hours, or the equivalent of a four-month time frame, according to data analysis by CBC News. All of these closures served communities with a population under 10,000. Grand Forks, B.C., which had ongoing closures overnight and complete shutdowns, was not counted in these figures. The Boundary District hospital in Grand Forks was unable to admit patients as of March 23, 2022. According to the CBC analysis, the hospital near Slocan, B.C., in New Denver was temporarily closed multiple times in 2022. It went from being open 24 hours a day, to operating only from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Since last July. More recently, on Jan. 20, the hospital announced it had been forced to close its emergency room. Clearwater, B.C., suffered the most from emergency room closures. The small central interior region, with just over 2,300 residents, was closed on 62 separate occasions. Port Hardy closed its emergency department from Nov. 7 to Nov. 11, 2022, due to limited nursing availability. They closed again overnight from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. during the evenings of Dec 22 to Jan. 9 morning. On Nov. 4, 2022, hundreds of B.C. nurses attended a rally in Vancouver to call attention to severe staffing shortages among other issues ahead of contract negotiations with the province. B.C. Nurses Union President Aman Grewal said in a speech at the rally some hospitals were reportedly short-staffed from 50 percent up to 70 percent, resulting in nurses being forced to work overtime, even 24-hour shifts. Crofts said the vaccine mandate is staying, to protect the provinces most vulnerable and the overall health-care system and the province continues to encourage health professionals to get the shot, and their booster. Alex Murdaughs Murder Trial Starts With Cellphones, Bullets Attorney Jim Griffin speaks with Alex Murdaugh (R) after the jury was excused and the defense and prosecution teams discuss how to handle sensitive crime scene photos during his double murder trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C, on Jan. 25, 2023. (Joshua Boucher/The State via AP) After 19 months of speculation, prosecutors finally laid out their evidence Wednesday that Alex Murdaugh killed his wife and son as they opened the double murder trial for the disgraced South Carolina attorney. There was gunshot residue on a seat belt, bullets pulled from bodies that matched ammunition boxes from around the home and cellphones never used again just a few minutes after Murdaugh, his wife and son were all heard in a cellphone video, prosecutor Creighton Waters said in his opening statement. Its complicated. Its a journey. Theres a lot of aspects to this case, Waters said. But like a lot of things that are complicated, we start to put them all together, piecing together like a puzzleall the sudden, a picture emerges. A defense lawyer said prosecutors incorrectly locked in on Murdaughs guilt from the start and have spent all that time trying to jam bits of evidence that can be explained away or leave an incomplete picture into a story that frames the wrong man. Theres no direct evidence. Theres no eyewitnesses. Theres nothing on camera. Theres no fingerprints. Theres no forensics tying him to the crime. None, defense lawyer Dick Harpootlian said. Waters opened the trial with three minutes of graphic description of the scene where the bodies of Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and her son, Paul, 22, were found shot with at least one bullet to the head by two different guns, pointing to Paul Murdaughs head and calling it catastrophic damage. Harpootlian added even more gruesome detailshow the shotgun blast that killed Paul Murdaugh was so close to his head that his brain exploded from his skull and was found at his feet. Alex Murdaugh started crying when his lawyer discussed the detail. Alex was the loving father of Paul and the loving husband of Maggie, Harpootlian said. Youre not going to hear a single witness say that their relationship was anything other than loving. It was the start of what is expected to be a three-week trial at the Colleton County Courthouse. Both sides finished picking a 12-person jury with six alternates Wednesday. Murdaugh, 54, is standing trial on two counts of murder. If convicted, he faces 30 years to life in prison. Defendant Alex Murdaugh prepares for jury selection to resume during his murder trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C., on Jan. 23, 2023. (Joshua Boucher/The State via AP, Pool) This trial is the bottom of a stunningly far and fast downfall for the man whose family dominated the legal system in tiny neighboring Hampton County for generations, both as prosecutors and private attorneys known for getting life-changing settlements for accidents and negligence cases. Murdaugh also faces about 100 charges related to other crimes, including money laundering, stealing millions from clients and the family law firm, tax evasion, and trying to get a man to fatally shoot him so his surviving son could collect a $10 million life insurance policy. He was being held in jail without bail on those counts before he was charged with murder. Prosecutors released little information about their case before Wednesday. In an opening statement, they sketched out a timeline of what they think happened at the Murdaughs house and near the dog kennels on their 1,300-acre hunting property June 7, 2021. Waters said Murdaugh told investigators he was never at the kennels before finding his wife and sons bodies near them after spending an hour away from the home checking on his mother, who has dementia. Waters said a video on Paul Murdaughs cellphone has the voices of him, Maggie and Alex Murdaugh in it. Less than five minutes later, Paul Murdaughs phone was never used again. Maggie Murdaughs phone locks forever about 30 seconds later, Waters said. The prosecution said ammunition cartridges found around Maggie Murdaughs body had markings that matched other cartridges fired at a range on the property and other locations. The cartridges were used in a type of rifle that Alex Murdaugh bought but cant be accounted for, Waters said. Powder and residue left behind from a gun was found in several places Alex Murdaugh was also at, the prosecutor said. Harpootlian said all this was grasping at whatever evidence might make Murdaugh look guilty and ignoring what didnt fit the theory that he did it. The residue came when Murdaugh picked up a shotgun after checking his wife and son for signs of life and calling 911 in case their killers were still on his property, Harpootlian said. Maggie Murdaughs cellphone, which her husband provided the code investigators used to find it the next day, showed it was being dumped on the side of the road off the property at the same time Alex Murdaughs phone showed he started his truck just outside his home, the defense attorney said. Harpootlian told the jury he would love to be able to tell them why someone so brutally killed Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, but investigators ignored all other suspects and scenarios. We dont know why. He doesnt know why, Harpootlian said, gesturing toward the prosecutor. Hes got theories of this and theories of that. At the end of the day, Alex Murdaugh shook his attorneys hands and then looked back where his surviving son and brother were seated behind him, He smiled and pointed at them. He then walked to the side door of the courtroom where he will be taken to the Colleton County jail where he is staying during his trial. By Jeffery Collins Information is from police reports and may be incomplete depending on the status of an investigation. Phone numbers are nonemergency. Biden Admin Reverses Trump-Era Rule, Bans Logging in Alaska Forest A competitor takes part in the run portion of IRONMAN Alaska in Juneau, Alaska, on Aug. 7, 2022. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IRONMAN) The Biden administration has overturned a Trump-era rollback of logging and road-building restrictions in Alaskas Tongass National Forest, reimposing curbs that tribal and environmental groups have reacted to with glee but Alaskas governor and other local politicians have panned as a blow to the regions economic development. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Jan. 25 that it issued a final rule that repeals the 2020 Alaska Roadless Rule, reinstating economic activity restrictions over nearly 9.4 million acres of roadless areas of what is the largest forest in the United States. USDA spokesman Larry Moore said the new rule is expected to be published in the Federal Register on Jan. 27, which would give it legal effect and formally repeal the decision that exempted the Tongass from the so-called roadless rule. With the new rule, inventoried roadless areas of the Tongass have been returned to management under the 2001 Roadless Rule, prohibiting road construction, reconstruction, and timber harvest, with limited exceptions. The geographical land bridge Homer Spit is a 4.5-mile stretch of land jutting into Kachemak Bay in Homer, Alaska, on Oct. 27, 2022. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times) Huge Loss Alaskas political leaders have long viewed the roadless rule for the Tongass as burdensome and limiting of economic opportunities. This decision is a huge loss for Alaskans, Gov. Mike Dunleavy said in a statement. Alaskans deserve access to the resources that the Tongass providesjobs, renewable energy resources, and tourism, not a government plan that treats human beings within a working forest like an invasive species. Under the administration of then-President Donald Trump, the roadless designation was removed from the 9.4 million acres of the Tongass, which as the nations largest national forest covers more than 17 million acres. A hallmark of the Trump administration was the removal of onerous restrictions on economic activity and resource extraction, with the former president being a longtime advocate of domestic energy production as a bulwark of national security. Then-President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office before signing an executive order related to regulating social media, in Washington, on May 28, 2020. (Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images) Climate Benefits After President Joe Biden took office, he pledged to review Trump-era rules, and in late 2021, the USDA announced it was starting the process of repealing the Tongass exemption. Protecting the Tongass will support watershed protection, climate benefits, and ecosystem health and protect areas important for jobs and community well-beingand it is directly responsive to input from Tribal Nations, Homer Wilkes, USDA undersecretary for natural resources and environment, said in a statement. The forest lies within the traditional homelands of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people. The Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska issued a statement praising the Biden administrations move. The USDA has rectified a critical issue for our people who are most impacted by decisions affecting the Tongass National Forest. The Tongass was wrongly exempted from the Roadless Rule and without meaningful tribal consultation, the council said in a statement on social media. Environmental groups also reacted to the repeal with approval. In a series of statements, many pointed to the role of the old-growth forests of the Tongass as a store of carbon and as being instrumental in tackling the so-called climate crisis, a characterization disputed by many experts but one that the Biden administration has embraced and has enacted policies to fight. Protecting the Tongass National Forest is an important step in recognizing the role of our forests in fighting the biodiversity and climate crises, Patrick Lavin, Alaska policy adviser at Defenders of Wildlife, said in a statement. The Tongass is often referred to as our nations climate forest for its ability to store carbon and protect us from the worst impacts of climate change, said Alex Craven, senior campaign representative at Sierra Club. Visitors look at the Teklanika River from the Teklanika rest area at Mile 30 on the park road in Denali National Park in Denali, Alaska, on Sept. 20, 2022. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty Images) Alaskan officials insist that there are numerous environmental safeguards in place that ensure a balance between conservation and economic development. The State of Alaska Department of Law said in a statement that the USDAs decision is flawed and ignores the fact that the Tongass already contains more inventoried roadless areas (IRA) than any other forest in the National Forest System. Alaskas unique and targeted exemption to the sweeping national Roadless Rule was a successful example of public policy allowing appropriate access in a small fraction of the immense Tongass, Brent Goodrum, deputy commissioner of the states Department of Natural Resources, said in a statement. The states Department of Law argued that repealing the roadless rule not only limits economic opportunities for Alaskans who live and work in the Tongass region, but also hampers the supply of critical essential minerals that are key to the Biden administrations so-called clean energy transition. Continued access would have enhanced subsistence, energy security, recreation, transportation, resource development, and public safety in a multiple-use forest for the direct benefit of the people of Southeast Alaska, Goodrum said. The states Department of Law said that the Trump-era 2020 Alaska Roadless Rule has appropriately managed the Tongasss important roadless areas at the forest plan level. Biden Administration Rolls out Renters Bill of Rights The White House announced a plan on Wednesday that it says will protect renters and help curb rental costs, although at least one national housing association has expressed reservations about it. A so-called Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights (pdf) was included in a White House fact sheet released Wednesday. It lays out proposals for federal agencies and other entities, including access to safe, quality, accessible, and affordable housing as well as clear and fair leases. This Blueprint and the federal actions that promote these principles were developed as part of a six-month process to seek and distill input from people across the countryfrom tenants to housing providers, legal associations, and advocates, it says. By engaging in dialogues, listening sessions, roundtable discussions, and stakeholder meetings, people from across the United States spoke up about the importance of tenant protections, rental affordability, and resident-centered property management practices. More than 44 million households, or about 35 percent of the U.S. population, live in rental housing, the White House estimated. The White House said it will direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to obtain information and identify practices that unfairly prevent tenants or applicants from accessing housing. This is the first time the FTC has issued a request for information exploring unfair practices in the rental market. The two agencies will seek information on a broad range of practices that affect the rental market, including the creation and use of tenant background checks, the use of algorithms in tenant screenings, the provision of adverse action notices by landlords and property management companies, the fact sheet said. According to recent data from the Rent Report, rent prices rose 7.45 percent year-over-year in November 2022. While noting that the 7.45 percent increase was the lowest rise over the last 15 months, the Rent Report said that prices are still elevated and those changes are higher than normal. However, analysts have expressed skepticism about whether the FTC or other agencies could impose rent controls or if courts would strike such policies down when challenged. The Supreme Court is more conservative. It is less inclined to let agencies assert authorities that Congress did not explicitly give them. Congress never empowered the FTC to limit how much residential rents may increase, Cowen analyst Jaret Seiberg wrote in a recent note, Yahoo reported. It is why we would expect the courts to reject this type of regime. Seiberg, meanwhile, noted that costs vary between cities. Buildings also get upgraded and remodeled, he added. The FTC is a relatively small agency, he wrote. We dont see how it could account for all this in a way that could survive court challenges. Bob Pinnegar, the head of trade group the National Apartment Association, told CNBC that his group is opposed to more federal government involvement. Complex housing policy is a state and local issue and the best solutions utilize carrots over sticks, Pinnegar said. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government and some state governments issued eviction moratoriums that were often challenged in court. In mid-2021, the Supreme Court overturned the federal moratorium, arguing, in part, that the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sidestepped Congress to issue such a rule. It would be one thing if Congress had specifically authorized the action that the CDC has taken, the Supreme Court opinion read. But that has not happened. Instead, the CDC has imposed a nationwide moratorium on evictions in reliance on a decades-old statute that authorizes it to implement measures like fumigation and pest extermination, wrote the majority. It strains credulity to believe that this statute grants the CDC the sweeping authority that it asserts, the opinion noted. Biden Classified Docs Very Different Qualitatively From Mike Pence: Gingrich Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich speaks during the America First Agenda Summit, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Washington on July 26, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) The nature of the classified document revelation at the home of former Vice President Mike Pence is very different qualitatively when compared to the documents connected to President Joe Biden, according to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Lawyers for Pence found a small number of documents marked classified in his Indiana home on Jan. 16 that were inadvertently boxed and transported to Pences residence at the end of the Trump-Pence administration, one attorney, Greg Jacob, told the National Archives and Records Administration in a letter. Gingrich, a contributor to The Epoch Times, tried to draw a line differentiating the Pence files to those found with Biden, noting that the former vice president had started the search on his own initiative following the series of classified material discoveries in Bidens private office and home. Obviously, people have gotten very sloppy about documents that were secret, he said in an interview. But unlike Biden, who kept the news of the finding from the public for months until January, Pence asked his lawyers to go through and look for potential documents and promptly turned over what they found, Gingrich said. So I dont think anybodys going to suggest the level of confusion we had both with Mar-a-Largo and with President Biden. Pence had previously denied having retained any classified materials when he left officeboth after the FBI raided former President Donald Trumps Florida resort over his handling of classified information and earlier this month after the White House acknowledged the finding of classified records at the University of Pennsylvanias Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement in Washington. Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks during an event to promote his new book at the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington, on Oct. 19, 2022. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Our staff reviewed all of the materials in our office and in our residence to ensure that there were no classified materials that left the White House or remained in our possession, Pence told CBS on Jan. 10. His lawyer said the subsequent discovery of more files at Bidens home prompted a more thorough review. In Bidens case, classified documents were first found on Nov. 2 at the Penn Biden Center where Biden had a personal office after his term as vice president under the Obama administration. Follow-up searches uncovered more documents on Dec. 20 in the garage of Bidens Wilmington home, and then in the same property on Jan. 11, Jan. 12, and Jan. 20. Jacob said Pence was unaware of the existence of sensitive or classified documents at his personal residence before the search but hired an outside counsel to go through records stored at his Indiana residence out of an abundance of caution. The search found two boxes with records bearing classified markings and two additional boxes with courtesy copies of vice presidential papers, according to the attorney. Pence in Spotlight, For Now Reactions on the Republican side have been mixed. Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, said he plans to conduct an intelligence review and damage assessment to screen for national security concerns. Trump, on the other hand, defended Pence, saying that he is an innocent man who never did anything knowingly dishonest in his life. Pence did the right thing, according to Gingrich, who believes the spotlight will eventually shift back to Biden. While serving as vice president in 2012, Biden donated a collection of photographs, documents, videotapes, and files enough to fill 1,875 boxes to the University of Delaware, which said they would be made public after December 31, 2019, or two years after the donor retires from public life, whichever comes later. President Joe Biden at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House in Washington on Jan. 12, 2023. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images) Gingrich pointed to questions around these documents, the tens of millions of dollars in Chinese funding to the University of Pennsylvania over the past few years, and a possible connection to the presidents son Hunter Biden, who engaged in foreign business dealings while Biden was the vice president. I think that Biden will find that this just keeps growing and that its very, very different qualitatively from Mike Pence, he said. The Penn Biden Center has maintained it has never solicited or received any gifts from any Chinese or other foreign entity, but Gingrich said he would keep a skeptical mind in the absence of seeing the funding source of both universities. The Biden team has been very secretive, he said. I find it amazing that they can have these multimillion-dollar relationships at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Delaware, and never be forced to tell people where the money comes from, who did it go to, etc. I mean, it is just an astonishing level of influence peddling. There are many questions Gingrich wants an answer to regarding the unfolding classified file disclosures. Without violating secrecy, he said, the public should at least be informed about the nature of the documents, whether or not theyre related to something that Chinese communists want to see, and why it might have been worthwhile to take them out. The Epoch Times has reached out to the White House and the University of Delaware for comment. President Joe Biden hosts a Lunar New Year reception at the White House at 5:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 26. The Epoch Times will livestream the event. U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about the economy at 2:45 p.m. ET on Jan. 26 after traveling to Virginia. The Epoch Times will livestream the event. Bidens Open Border Policies Are Facilitating Evil Drug Cartel Business Model: Sen. Ron Johnson Senator Ron Johnson, (R-Wis.) questions Neera Tanden, director of the Office and Management and Budget (OMB) nominee before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs committee, on her nomination to become the director of the OMB on Feb. 9, 2021. (Ting Shen/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Sen. Ron Johnson, (R-Wis.) has taken aim at Bidens border policies, claiming that they are facilitating the business model of drug cartels and human traffickers. In an interview with Newsmax on Jan. 25, Johnson accused the administration of lying through their teeth when explaining their decision to allow up to hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens into the United States was based on humanitarian reasons. There is nothing humane about the sex trafficking, the drug overdoses, the human trafficking, Johnson told Newsmax on Jan. 25. We are probably putting somewhere around $18 billion in the pockets of some of the most evil people on the planet because the Biden administration is facilitating the business model of these people, its a scandal. The lawmaker said he estimated that around 4.5 million illegal aliens have crossed the U.S. border since Biden took office in 2021. This is all about President Bidens open border policy, he said. That is what they want. Johnsons comments come as U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported on Jan. 23 that the number of illegal alien encounters across the southern border for December 2022 rose to a monthly record of 251,487. Illegal aliens seeking asylum line up to be processed by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents at a gap in the border fence US-Mexico near San Luis, Arizona, on Dec. 26, 2022. (Rebecca Noble/AFP via Getty Images) Illegal Alien Encounters Surge at Border That figure far surpassed the previous record of 241,136 set in May 2022 and is up 7 percent from November, when it stood at 234,896. It also far outweighs the number of illegal alien encounters reported in 2021 and 2020: 179,253 and 73,994, respectively. Despite the record-high numbers, CBP Acting Commissioner Troy Miller said in a statement that the latest figures show that Bidens new border enforcement measures are working. Even as overall encounters rose because of smugglers spreading misinformation around the court-ordered lifting of the Title 42 public health order, we continued to see a sharp decline in the number of Venezuelans unlawfully crossing our southwest border, down 82 percent from September 2022, said Miller. Early data suggests the expanded measures for Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans are having a similar impact, and we look forward to sharing the additional data in the next update. On Wednesday, Florida joined 19 other states challenging Bidens recently announced program that grants tens of thousands of illegal aliens from the nations of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, authorization to live and work in the United States. Specifically, the program will grant humanitarian parole to eligible migrants who apply from their home countries, meaning they will be eligible to apply for legal status for two years, provided they find a sponsor inside the United States and pass a background check. The parole will be determined on a case-by-case basis, according to the administration. The entry and work authorization is not legal status. Illegal immigrants gather outside a migrant shelter in El Paso, Texas, on Jan. 6, 2023. (John Moore/Getty Images) More States Join Lawsuit Against Biden Parole Program In their lawsuit (pdf), the states, which alongside Florida include Alabama, Kansas, Ohio, and Texas, among others, contend that the parole program is not legal. The parole program established by the Department fails each of the laws three limiting factors. It is not case-by-case, is not for urgent humanitarian reasons, and advances no significant public benefit, the states wrote. Instead, it amounts to the creation of a new visa program that allows hundreds of thousands of aliens to enter the United States who otherwise have no basis for doing so. This flouts, rather than follows, the clear limits imposed by Congress. In establishing this unlawful program, the Department did not engage in notice-and-comment rulemaking under the Administrative Procedure Act, substituting instead its unilateral judgment to bring into the United States hundreds of thousands of aliens who otherwise have no other authority to enter, the states added. In unveiling the new parole program, the White House said in a statement: Unlike some Republican officials playing political games and obstructing real solutions to fix our broken immigration system, President Biden has a plan and is taking action. The White House added that the program will serve to encourage illegal aliens to enter the U.S. in a lawful manner. However, Sen. Johnson took aim at the program on Wednesday, telling Newsmax that he believes Democrats are simply looking for more voters. I cant come up with another reason why you would throw open your borders. Why you would allow gang members, a flood of deadly drugs, the human trafficking, the sex trafficking? Why would you allow that?, Johnson said. California Legislator Calls on State to Ban Homeless Encampments Near Schools, Parks A homeless encampment sits in front of the Abbot Kinney Memorial Branch Library in Venice Beach, Calif., on Feb. 18, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) California Assemblyman Josh Hoover (R-Folsom) is calling on state legislators to ban homeless encampments from within 500 feet of schools, daycare centers, parks, and libraries. While some cities have been implementing such rules locally in recent years, Assembly Bill 257 would make the ban statewide. Hoover introduced the bill Jan. 23, saying in a statement that it will help ensure students are safe and dont encounter danger as they walk to school. As our local communities work toward mental health and housing solutions on homelessness, it is critical that the Legislature act to ensure our most sensitive public spaces are kept safe, he said in a statement issued the same day. No parent should be afraid to let their kids walk to school or worry about finding needles in the park where their children play, but that is the current experience for far too many families across our state. This legislation would change that. A tent sits on a sidewalk in Sacramento, Calif., on April 18, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) If passed and signed into law, the bill would prohibit a person from sitting, lying, sleeping, or storing, using, maintaining, or placing personal property in any street, sidewalk, or other public property within 500 feet of a school, daycare center, park or library. Violations would result in a misdemeanor or infraction. The proposal comes on the heels of a federal homeless report (pdf) released last month that revealed Californias homeless population rose 6.2 percent from 2020 to 2022a larger increase than any other state. Additionally, the report said California makes up 30 percent of the countrys homeless population, despite having only roughly 12 percent of the total U.S. population. The Los Angeles City Council passed its own such ban last August despite opposition from activists. Volunteers look over a map of the neighborhood while walking the streets of downtown Los Angeles during the third night of the Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count in Los Angeles on Feb. 24, 2022. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images) Los Angeles saw a roughly 33 percent increase in its homeless population from 2018 to 2022 from 31,285 to 41,980, according to its 2022 Homeless Point-In-Time Count. The Sacramento City Council also approved a similar ban Oct. 18, after homelessness in the county soared 67 percent since pre-pandemic numbersfrom 5,561 in 2019 to 9,278 in 2022, according to its most recent point-in-time count (pdf). Hoover also plans to propose an audit of statewide homelessness spending to provide more accountability and determine which programs are effective at reducing homelessness, according to his statement. President Joe Biden is sending tanks to Ukraine. How is the White House reacting to concerns over accountability of Ukraine aid, and what does the White House tell us about Chinas continued support for Russia? The back and forth continues on how to handle the national debt. Democrats are asking the GOP for specifics on where they want to cut spending. Congressman Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) joins us to discuss the classified documents found at former Vice President Mike Pences home. What will the House Oversight Committee do next? House Speaker Kevin McCarthy explains why he rejected two Democrats from the House Intel Committee. Members of Congress are moving to ban each other from trading stocks while in office. Republican and Democrat lawmakers are introducing legislation in the House and Senate. Congressman Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.) introduces a bill normalizing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. He joins us to discuss the new bill. Chinese Communist Party Wants to Destroy the United States, Bans Are Necessary: Gov. Kristi Noem South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem speaks during the National Rifle Association annual convention at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas on May 27, 2022. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) The Chinese Communist Party, or CCP, wants to destroy the United States and is actively trying to purchase agricultural property and property adjacent to military complexes to achieve that goal, South Dakotas Governor, Kristi Noem, explained in an interview, which aired on Newsmakers by NTD and The Epoch Times on Jan. 25. [The CCP are] not a bunch of dummies. They hate us. They want to destroy us, and every action that they take is to undermine our freedom, Noem said. Thus, to prevent the CCP from achieving its objective, Noem signed Executive Order 2023-02 on Jan. 20. Chinese leader Xi Jinping speaks at the podium during the meeting between members of the standing committee of the Political Bureau of the 20th CCP Central Committee and Chinese and foreign journalists in Beijing on Oct. 23, 2022. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images) In addition to China, the Executive Order lists Russia, Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, and North Korea as problematic. And the Executive Order defines them as a Prohibited Entity with which the State of South Dakota cant do business. We had an incident up in North Dakota, our neighbors to the north, where the Chinese Communist Party and foreign entities were buying up ag land. And they were buying ag land near military installations, which they were saying was for a different purpose. But we recognize the real national security threat we have, Noem said about what led to the Executive Order. Noem further explained, [This Executive Order] is specifically targeted towards countries that hate us. And listen, these are evil governments that want to undermine the United States of America and want to take away our freedoms and liberties. My job as governor is to protect the people of South Dakota. This Executive Order builds the momentum for preventing people from doing business with the state of South Dakota that hate us. National Security According to Noem, whos worked in food policy for approximately 20 years, the CCP has grown its military and stolen the United States intellectual property for generations. Additionally, theyve purchased fertilizer and chemical companies, as well as processing systems, to gain control of Americas food supply chains. Ive worked on food policy for probably 20 years now. Ive seen [the CCP] infiltrate our food supply chain. Ive seen them control different supply chains by purchasing processing plants, Noem said. In fact, theres been programs in the federal government that allowed people to literally invest in processing systems for our food manufacturing here in the United States in exchange for citizenship. Still, gaining control over Americas food supply chain isnt the only reason the CCP has for purchasing agricultural land. A U.S. Air Force graphic of the Long Range Strike Bomber, designated the B-21. (U.S. Air Force via AP) [The CCP] infiltrated our country to where now theyre purchasing land. And they may be purchasing this land not necessarily to grow food, but to get a presence close to some of our national security bases that they should not have any logistical latitude to be near, Noem said. Specifically, Noem stated, South Dakota is home to Ellsworth Air Force Base. We have Ellsworth Air Force base here in South Dakota. Its going to be the first base in this nation to have the B-21 Bombers, the next-generation bombers, Noem said. The most horrific thing that could happen is if China was able to come in and purchase land near Ellsworth that would allow them to conduct surveillance on that new bomber that were going to use to protect our country far into the future. Protecting for Future Generations According to Noem, the threat posed by the CCP isnt new. In fact, during the Obama administration, several studies came out detailing Chinas threat to the supply chain. But nothing was done to protect the United States, and under President Biden, the CCP threat has only grown. As a result, Noem felt she was forced to issue her Executive Order. She added thats why other governors, like Floridas Ron DeSantis, are looking at similar orders. The reason that I had to take this action, as governor, is because our President isnt protecting us. Joe Biden is a wall. Hes been a horrific president as far as national security issues. Hes not protecting us from evil governments. And thats why governors like myself have to step up and take actions such as this, Noem said. She added that without bans against the CCP, and other countries that hate America, the countrys future is in jeopardy. A Hereford bull on the Hoffman Hereford Ranch near Leola, South Dakota. (Courtesy Colin Hoffman) All this is about our kids. Now, at the end of the day, you know, we have been a generation that has lived with the benefits of the United States of America. What kind of a country are we going to leave them? Are we going to leave them free? Are we going to leave them with the same opportunities that we had the chance to enjoy? So this kind of action, and being willing to fight these kinds of fights, to protect our freedom, is incredibly important, Noem said. She concluded that action is necessary to preserve this greatest experiment in human history. That was the gift that our founders gave us. And that is the United States of America. Chinese Students Must Pledge Loyalty to CCP Before Arriving Abroad: Report Students arrive outside a school before taking the National College Entrance Examination, known as Gaokao in Shenyang, in northeastern China's Liaoning Province on July 7, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Chinese students were required to pledge loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) before entering Sweden on a Chinese regime-sponsored program, a Swedish media revealed. Dagens Nyheter (DN), a Swedish newspaper, reported on Jan. 12 that Chinese Ph.D. students admitted to Sweden via the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC), are obliged to sign secret agreements and rules. These agreements require the grant receivers to pledge loyalty to the CCP and serve the interests of the regime, and never participate in activities that are against the will of the Chinese authorities. A breach of the agreement would result in family members in China being in financial debt to the state, DN reported. The Swedish Minister Mats Persson reacted strongly to DNs revelation about Chinas secret agreement with research students in Sweden. I take this very seriously, and we are prepared to take more measures, Persson said. He added that before Christmas, the government had tasked Swedish universities to do more to prevent, among other things, espionage, reported the DN. Consequences The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Lund University, and Uppsala University are among the Swedish universities that have received Chinese students from CSC. David Gisselsson Nord, vice dean for internationalization at Lund Universitys medical department, said, what really worried me was that there is also a wording that the students guarantor, who is usually a close relative, cannot leave the country for an extended period as long as the student is staying abroad. This is exactly how dictatorships work, that the family is held hostage in the home country. It is unpleasant, Nord told DN. For this reason, some Swedish universities have now chosen to completely stop cooperation with the CSC. Grant Recipients Tasks CSC, established in 1996, under the regimes Ministry of Education, promotes international exchange programs with multiple universities in the world, including in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Russia. Each year, the CSC sponsored tens of thousands of Chinese researchers and students going abroad pursuing academic training. The 2022 program brochure described the plan to send 20,000 qualified applicants overseas. Chinese online platform, Zhihu, recorded many grant recipients discussions. According to the posts, prospective applicants and grant recipients mostly communicated how to prepare for the application. In the posts, they also described a few inconveniences for the grant recipients, such as reporting to the CSC every time the recipient leaves the host country for a meeting, travel, or back to China; serving as a designated representative by the Chinese embassy; writing reports regularly to the authorities every few months; and penalties for staying in the host country after graduation when an opportunity arises. A Chinese student protester dresses as Winnie the Pooh, which is synonymous with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, at a rally in Sydney, Australia, in support of students risking their lives to protest COVID-19 restrictions in China on Dec. 3, 2022. (Melanie Sun/The Epoch Times) Regime Monitors Overseas Students Jie Lijian, a Chinese activist now exiled in California, said that all state-funded researchers are required to sign the letter of guarantee and contract, which includes a job thats awaiting after returning home, according to a report on Radio Free Asia. However, once the contract is breached, the penalties will afflict those who endorse the application, including the professors, the university, and the family members. Jie also mentioned that in concerted actions, organizations such as Chinas overseas friendship associations and Chinese alumni associations monitor the researchers and students and regularly direct the political agendas within the group. For instance, when he was learning English as a second language at a local institute in LA, the overseas friendship association would regularly host events such as hiking, barbecues, and spread flyers to recruit members on campus. During the overseas White Paper Movement, which echoed the students protests in China against the strict lockdown measures in December 2022, these groups were seen at local events to intervene in overseas democratic activity, Jie told Radio Free Asia. Zhang Ting contributed to this report. The South Middleton School Board agreed this week to pay Matts Junk Removal & Demolition LLC of Dillsburg $21,000 to demolish a district owned property at 16 Forge Road. We are working with the contractor to establish a timeline, South Middleton Superintendent Kevin J. ODonnell Jr. said. The timeline will depend on the permitting process. We dont anticipate any impact on Forge Road unless there is something in the permit. The home sits at a location where workers could demolish the structure without having to close off a portion of Forge Road, ODonnell said. Last April, board members rejected a proposal to raze the former home after the bid came in around $88,000 compared to the target estimate of the mid-$30,000s to $40,000. At the time, there was concern over the cost of digging up Forge Road to cap both the sewer and water mains serving the 16 Forge Road property. Since then, the district has been able to resolve the issue with the South Middleton Township Municipality Authority, Director of Business and Operations Tina Darchicourt told board members Monday. Forge Road is a state road within the township, which shares the same borders and jurisdiction as the district. That made it easier for school and municipal authority officials to formulate a plan that made the demolition more affordable, ODonnell said. Rather than go through the time and expense of obtaining a highway occupancy permit to dig up a portion of Forge Road, the township and district agreed to cap the utility mains on the edge of either side of the road, ODonnell said. Photos: Children's Lake closing for repairs in Boiling Springs Countries Tighten Entry Restrictions in Response to Chinas COVID Surge Concerns over mutation, lack of transparency lead to stricter measures worldwide China opened its borders earlier this month, and as outbound travel resumesdespite a surge of COVID-19 infectionsthe move has triggered broad concerns. Many countries are tightening restrictions on entry for Chinese tourists to prevent them from bringing the virus into their lands. A flare-up of infections and deaths hit China after the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) abandoned its dynamic zero-COVID policy on Dec. 7. The border officially re-opened on Jan. 8, allowing travel out of China after three years of lockdowns and personal restrictions. Nonetheless, in the weeks prior to the official re-opening, concerns were already being raised as a flow of infected travelers left the country. In late December, Italy became the first country to mandate COVID-19 testing for passengers arriving from China. The mandate came after tests on travelers arriving at Milans Malpensa airport from Beijing and Shanghai showed that nearly half of the passengers were infected. Loci of Immune Escape Found in Italy Before the pandemic, Dr. Yan Limeng was a postdoctoral researcher specializing in virology and immunology at the University of Hong Kong. She fled to the United States in April of 2020 after questioning the origins of the COVID-19 virus. In an exclusive Jan. 20 interview with The Epoch Times, Yan said researchers have found slight changesimmune escape lociin Omicron subvariants carried by Chinese travelers to Italy. Once the virus escapes the immunity, it causes more damage to the human body, she warned. Given the seriousness of the outbreak, the rest of the world followed Italys lead, taking action to restrict visitors from China. Most countries cited concerns about a COVID-19 surge in China, the potential risk of mutated strains emerging after an outbreak, and the CCPs reluctance to share virus data with other countries. United States Effective Jan. 5, 2023, the United States is requiring all airline passengers boarding flights for the United States from China, Hong Kong, or Macau to show proof of negative screening for COVID-19, done within 48 hours of departure. The measure applies to all passengers two years of age and older, regardless of nationality or vaccination status. In lieu of a negative test result, passengers who tested positive more than 10 days prior to flight departure may provide proof of recovery. Canada Canada has announced that effective Jan. 5, travelers two years of age and older arriving in Canada from China, Hong Kong, or Macau must provide proof of a negative test before departure. Testing must be conducted within two days of departure. The measures apply to passengers regardless of nationality or vaccination status. UK As of Jan. 5, travelers from mainland China to the UK must show proof of a negative test within two days prior to departure. Passengers will not be allowed to board without evidence of a negative test result. In addition, on Jan. 8, the UK began random, voluntary virus testing for travelers arriving from China. The UK Health and Safety Executive launched the new testing system at Heathrow Airport to help identify COVID-19 variants. Chinese travelers leave the arrival hall of Leonardo da VinciFiumicino Airport near Rome after being tested for COVID-19 on Dec. 29, 2022. (Filippo Monteforte/AFP via Getty Images) Europe The EU struggled to come up with a unified approach for arrivals from China. However, member states agreed to recommend a number of measures for travelers to and from China, including mandatory testing. Belgium, Germany, and Sweden are the latest EU members to impose entry restrictions on Chinese tourists, joining France, Italy, and Spain in requiring passengers to show proof of a negative virus test before taking off. Starting on Jan. 9, Germany classified China as an area of variants of concern in which a variant of particular concern threatens to emerge. Visitors from China must present proof of antigen or PCR testing. Passengers will be randomly tested upon arrival. In addition, Germany will also test plane wastewater to detect new variants of the virus. The German government is discouraging travel to China unless necessary. Belgium has announced that visitors from China will be required to have a negative COVID-19 test to enter the country. The requirement applies to all visitors aged 12 and older from China, and the test must be conducted within 48 hours of entry. Like Germany, Belgium is testing plane wastewater to screen for virus variants. The new measures are in effect until Jan. 31, according to Belgian news agency Belga. The Swedish government said on Jan. 5 that visitors from China will be required to show proof of a negative test for COVID before entering the country. The requirement is effective from Jan. 7 until Jan. 28. The requirement is applicable to all travelers, except diplomats, children under the age of 12, and citizens or permanent residents of Sweden or other EU/European economic area countries. The French government announced that all persons over the age of 6 would be required to wear a mask on flights from China to French territory, starting Jan. 1. Starting Jan. 5, all passengers 11 years or older from China will be required to provide proof of negative nucleic acid or antigen testing within 48 hours prior to take-off. Arriving tourists will be tested as well, according to the website of Frances Ministry of the Interior. France is also advising its citizens to postpone non-essential travel to China. Italy announced on Dec. 28 that it would require mandatory virus testing for all visitors from China. Italy was the first Western country to impose new entry requirements for Chinese tourists. After initially saying it would not require negative tests, Spain backtracked and introduced temperature and visual checks on Dec. 31. On Jan. 2, the Spanish government announced it would require visitors from China to provide proof of a negative virus test or vaccination. Oceania Australia announced that starting Jan. 5, travelers over the age of 12 arriving from China, Hong Kong, or Macau must provide evidence of a negative virus test taken within 48 hours of the scheduled departure date, or proof of recovery from COVID-19. The stipulation includes indirect flights via third countries. The New Zealand government has stated that it will not impose any mandatory restrictions on Chinese visitors. New Zealand Health Minister Ayesha Verrall said in a statement on Jan. 4 that there is minimal public health risk to New Zealand. However, New Zealand will be asking a sampling of visitors to take voluntary tests and share information with the authorities. Asia After announcing on Jan. 7 that it would require proof of vaccination to enter the country, Thailanda popular destination for Chinese touristsquickly changed course and dropped the rule, according to a Reuters report. Thailands health minister cited global immunization rates and the inconvenience of checking for proof of vaccination as reasons for the reversal. Thailand still requires proof of health insurance for travelers going to countries that require a negative COVID-19 test for entry. Japan tightened its border controls further on Jan. 12, requiring travelers from China or Macau to provide proof of a negative virus test taken within 72 hours of departure. In addition, all visitors from mainland China or Macau, as well as those who have visited China within seven days, are required to test upon arrival in Japan. The Japanese government continues to limit direct flights from China, allowing them to land only at Narita, Haneda, Kansai, and Chubu airports. According to information from South Koreas Incheon Airport (pdf), the South Korean government requires passengers from China, Hong Kong, and Macau to present a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours or a not-at-home negative antigen test taken within 24 hours of entering Korea. Passengers must also input quarantine information in Koreas Q-Code system before boarding. Passengers from mainland China must also undergo PCR testing upon arrival. From Jan. 231, Korea will restrict the number of short-term visas granted to visitors from China. According to a Dec. 29 report from Voice of America, North Korea has banned the entry of Chinese citizens, enacting a 30-day quarantine and observation period for all recent arrivals from China, including North Korean citizens. It is unclear when this measure will be implemented and how long it will last. People peruse international flight arrivals at Tokyos Haneda international airport on Dec. 28, 2022. (Philip Fong/AFP via Getty Images) In an announcement (pdf) dated Dec. 29, Indian officials said that starting Jan. 1, travelers over 12 years of age from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Thailand would be required to show proof of a negative test for COVID-19, done within 72 hours before traveling to India. In addition, random testing is conducted upon arrival, regardless of the origin of travel. Taiwans Centers for Disease Control announced on Jan. 3 that from Jan. 631, passengers arriving directly from China or on flights transiting through Hong Kong or Macau must present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours of departure, or a rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours of departure. Malaysias immigration department opened special screening lanes to monitor travelers from China, according to an article from Malaysian news The Star. After thermal scanning, individuals suspected of infection will be tested. Last month, the countrys health minister announced that travelers who had been in China within 14 days of their arrival in Malaysia or displayed COVID-19 symptoms would need to take a rapid antigen test. Malaysia is also testing wastewater on flights from China. Outbound Travel Searches Soar The volume of searches for outbound travel and airline tickets on Chinese travel platforms climbed dramatically after the Chinese regime announced it would re-open outbound travel, according to a report by Chinese state media. Data from Qunar, a Chinese travel platform, showed that within 15 minutes of the announcement, the number of searches for international airline tickets had increased sevenfold, with Thailand, Japan, and Korea being the most popular destinations. Searches for popular overseas destinations on the Chinese travel platform Ctrip jumped tenfold year-on-year, with searches for outbound air tickets and overseas hotels reaching a three-year peak. The top 10 destinations were Macau, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Korea, the United States, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Overall, Ctrip searches for international air tickets jumped by 850 percent; while visa searches increased tenfold. Extremely Irresponsible: Virologist Lin Xiaoxu, a former virologist at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, spoke with The Epoch Times Chinese language edition on Dec. 27. Lin said that the international community has no way of knowing how many variants of the COVID-19 virus there are in China, due to Chinas lack of transparency. Under such circumstances, it is extremely irresponsible and malicious for the Chinese [regime] to release people from infected areas [to other countries], Lin said. Deadly Bacterial Disease Affecting Trees Found in Costa Mesa A plant affected by the disease Huanglongbing is believed to be caused by a phloem-restricted bacterium which is vectored by the Asian Citrus Psyllid. (Courtesy of the California Department of Food and Agriculture) A deadly bacterial disease was discovered last month on a Costa Mesa citrus tree, requiring the California Department of Food and Agriculture to quarantine the area around its location and collect samples, in hopes of stopping its spread. The bacterial disease known as Huanglongbing is carried and transmitted through Asian citrus psyllid insectswhich are small, brownish, and wingedfeeding off a citrus trees leaves. If found, removal of the tree is necessary. When a tree is infected, its like a death sentence and the tree will die, Victoria Hornbaker, director of citrus pest and disease prevention at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, told The Epoch Times. (Courtesy of the California Department of Food and Agriculture) The department will now collect samples from all known citrus trees within 250 meters, and conduct mandatory preventative treatments, which involve insecticides both sprayed on the trees leaves and placed in the soil of its base. Experts say such pesticides are safe for people and pets when applied correctly. If the disease takes hold of a tree, its leaves and shoots may yellow, and it may fall lopsided and have premature and excessive fruit drop that is rancid tasting and smelly. A five-mile quarantine surrounding the discovered tree is now in placemeaning residents or commercial business owners are prohibited from moving any citrus plants or trees outside the perimeter at this time. A map of the quarantine area can be found here. Nearby residents will receive an invitation in the mail for a virtual public meeting on the issue. (Courtesy of the California Department of Food and Agriculture) According to experts the best way to stop the spread of the disease is to prevent the spread of the psyllid insects. Residents are recommended to remove fruit stems and leaves and wash them thoroughly. Placing ant traps near citrus trees is also suggested as they are protectors of the insects. The insects found carrying such bacteria were discovered in Southern California in 2008 in San Diego. The region has been considered infested with them since 2012, according to a spokesperson from the state Department of Food and Agriculture. The first tree discovered with the disease in Orange County was in 2017 in Yorba Linda, according to officials. Residents are urged to call 1-800-491-1899 with any questions. Democrats Criticize Meta for Reinstating Trumps Facebook and Instagram Accounts A smartphone with Facebook's logo is seen with new rebrand logo Meta in this illustration taken on Oct. 28, 2021. (Dado Ruvic/Reuters) Some Democrats have criticized Meta after the social media giant announced that it would reinstate former President Donald Trumps Facebook and Instagram accounts after a two-year ban. Nick Clegg, president of global affairs for Meta, said in a blog post on Jan. 25 that Trumps accounts will be reinstated in the coming weeks, but added that new guardrails would be put in place to deter repeat offenses. Those guardrails will include heightened penalties for repeat offensespenalties which will apply to other public figures whose accounts are reinstated from suspensions related to civil unrest under our updated protocol, Clegg wrote. In the event that Mr. Trump posts further violating content, the content will be removed and he will be suspended for between one month and two years, depending on the severity of the violation. Facebook initially suspended Trump indefinitely after the Jan. 6 Capitol breach but later changed it to a two-year ban. In a post explaining the suspension in June 2021, Clegg wrote that Trump would be reinstated if experts decided that the risk to public safety has receded. Former President Donald Trump speaks during an event at his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Fla., on Nov. 15, 2022. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) In response to Metas decision, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to say that he should have never been banned. FACEBOOK, which has lost Billions of Dollars in value since deplatforming your favorite President, me, has just announced that they are reinstating my account, Trump wrote. Such a thing should never again happen to a sitting President, or anybody else who is not deserving of retribution! Trump ended his post by pointing to Truth Socials growth and future. The former president did not say whether he would return to Metas platforms. Twitter, which banned Trump following the Capitol breach, reactivated the former presidents account in November last year after more than 15 million Twitter users voted in an online poll. At the time, Trump said he would remain on Truth Social. The former president has not posted once on his Twitter account since his account was reinstated. Democrats Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) said in a statement that Meta had made a dangerous decision by reinstating Trumps accounts. Reinstating former President Trumps Facebook and Instagram accounts will only fan the flames of hatred and division that led to an insurrection, Schakowsky wrote. She added, The reinstatement of Trumps accounts shows that there is no low Mark Zuckerberg will not stoop to in order to reverse Metas cratering revenue and stagnant consumer growth, even if it means damaging our democracy. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) delivers remarks during a hearing by the House Select Committee on the Jan. 6 Capitol breach in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, on Oct. 13, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) told MSNBC on Wednesday that Meta made a tragic decision with regard to Trumps accounts. I think Facebooks decision to reinstate Donald Trump is inexplicable. It represents, in my view, a total caving in and copping out. The only motive I can see is a profit motive here, Schiff said. If you look at what Donald Trump has been posting on his own social media platform, all of that violates Facebooks policies, Schiff added. Hes continued to give aid and comfort to those who committed acts of insurrection. Hes continuing to spread the big lie. And the idea that somehow he would not do that on Facebook when hes doing it on his own platform, to me, is a tragic decision by a company that is putting its profit above the public interest. Democrats have accused Trump of continuing to spread what they call the big lie about the 2020 presidential election. There remain many lingering questions about the 2020 elections. In June last year, Trump issued a statement outlining his arguments disputing the election results. Vote-counting stoppage on election night and ballot trafficking schemes were among those presented as evidence. For example, Trump pointed to evidence presented in the documentary 2000 Mules, which argues that illegal ballot trafficking happened in several states, changing the results of the 2020 elections. There have been other pieces of evidence suggesting that fraud could have taken place in 2020. For instance, in June 2022, Verity Vote, an election integrity watchdog, discovered that 19,000 late, invalid ballots were counted in Arizona. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) also took to Twitter to criticize Meta for putting profit before its own standards. Profits ALWAYS come first, Castor wrote. In December, Schiff, Castor, Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.), and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) sent a joint letter to Clegg, asking Meta to extend its ban on Trumps Facebook account. Democrats Seek to Turn Deep-Red Mississippi Blue by Flipping Governors Seat Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves signs the bill retiring the last state flag with the Confederate battle emblem during a ceremony at the Governor's Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on June 30, 2020. (Rogelio V. Solis/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) Democratic organizations, activists, and lawmakers believe they can defeat the Republican incumbent in the 2023 Mississippi gubernatorial election due to multiple controversies haunting the governor. Governor Tate Reeves has failed the people of Mississippi. Under his watch, cronyism is running rampant and taxpayers are facing the largest public corruption scandal in state history, while good job opportunities, health care, and clean water continue to be out of reach for too many families, Democratic Governors Association (DGA) Deputy Communications Director Sam Newton told The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times reached out to the governors office for a response to the DGAs statement, but they declined to comment. Reeves is allegedly connected to a public corruption scandal, according to text messages obtained by Mississippi Today, where tens of millions of dollars from a federal block grant called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families ( TANF) were re-directed to the rich and powerful instead of the states poorest residents. The Mississippi Department of Human Services has filed a civil lawsuit to recoup the misspent money. Democrats believe the scandal, added to the potential closure of nearly half of Mississippis rural hospitals due to economic strain and a water crisis in Jackson, is enough to flip the governors seat. The DGA has shown that we can win anywhere, including ousting GOP incumbents in very tough environments like Kentucky, Wisconsin, and North Carolina in recent election cycles, said Newton. In addition to the several controversies that could potentially impact the governors race, a new poll from Siena College/Mississippi Today shows that 57 percent of all voters in the state would support someone else as governor in 2023including 67 percent of independent voters and one-third of Republicans. The poll also revealed that Reeves approval rating has dropped to just 40 percent among Mississippi voters. Republican Reponse Mississippi Republicans meanwhile maintain that despite negative polling, they have a strong record to run on to keep the governors mansion and that Reeves has been one of the most successful governors in the states history. The DGA thought they were going to take over the governors mansion in 2019 and they failed to do it then, Mississippi Republican Party Chairman Frank Bordeaux told The Epoch Times. The reality is since 2019 the conservative policies that have been enacted under Governor Reeves leadership have been the largest tax cuts in state history, the largest teacher pay raise in state history, weve seen the largest gains in public education in state history, weve seen the highest graduation rate weve ever seen in state history youve seen private investment in our state, in state history. Bordeaux says the GOP has built a very organized ground game in Mississippi to combat the DGA, and that their field of candidates running for election in the state is the most diverse as its ever been with a record number of minorities running as republicans. Mississippi has the highest percentage of black residents of any state in the country at nearly 39 percent, according to the Center for Public Integrity. Its a minority block that has been actively targeted by both parties and one that Matt Angle, Democratic strategist and Director of the Texas Lone Star Project told The Epoch Times could be enough to turn the deep red state of Mississippi blue. Mississippi is a good example of a small state with the demographics to have a relatively sudden political turnaround, said Angle whose organization has been working to turn Texas blue. It has a large black population that, while not liberal, is becoming more organized and activated. At the same time, Republicans are not just extreme but ineffective. Brandon Presley While Republicans maintain that history will repeat itself with Democrats losing the Mississippi gubernatorial election again, Democrats are optimistic this time that they have another ace up their sleeve with candidate for governor Brandon Presley. Presley, who is the states Northern District public service commissioner, is also a distant cousin of Elvis Presley and is a popular Democrat in a deeply red state who has a record of working across the aisle (he endorsed the reelection campaign of former President George W. Bush in 2004). He is also the youngest person ever elected as mayor in Mississippis history, becoming mayor of Nettleton at the age of 23, and has already been endorsed by Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the only Democrat in the states congressional delegation. The commissioner launched his bid for governor in a video on Twitter earlier this month, immediately taking aim at Reeves. Im running for governor because I know Mississippi can do better, said Presley. We got a state filled with good people but horrible politicians, and that includes our governor. Tate Reeves is a man with zero conviction and maximum corruption. In the video, Presley also makes a joke about his cousin, the King of Rock and Roll. Presleys grandfathers were brothers. My cousin grew up just down the road in Tupelo. Youve probably heard of him. The 45-year-old also talked about his poor childhood, how he could see through cracks in the floor of the home he grew up in, and how his mother worked in a garment factory while also working as a preschool teacher. Presley also revealed that his father was an alcoholic who was murdered when he was in third grade. Its a combination of tragedies that some strategists believe voters could empathize with or relate to. It is still a steep uphill climb, but a mainstream Democrat may be able to build a coalition to take out Republican leadership that is more MAGA than Mississippi, said Angle. The Republican Party in the state, meanwhile, remains unimpressed, saying Democrats are trying to run a negative campaign while they are focused on a more positive message. I dont believe Mississippi is going to turn blue in 2023. I think the momentum is on our side. I think there is a lot of energy behind us, [and] I believe that we have the organization already in place and theyre starting from scratch, says Bordeaux. Weve gained 17 Republican clubs in our state in the past two years. We have a record number of Republicans running for office from election commissioner all the way to governor, he said. Two other gubernatorial elections will take place in 2023, other than the governors race in Mississippi, including races in Louisiana and Kentucky. Economic Impact of an Aging China An elderly woman pushes a cart after searching through garbage bins to collect recyclable items to sell, along a street near the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on March 5, 2021. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images) Commentary Chinas population drop will coincide with an economic contraction. For the first time since 1961, the Chinese population is in decline. This year, India is climbing to the position of the worlds most populous country, relegating China to second place. With a smaller population and a slowing economy, China achieving its global ambition of surpassing the United States is now even more remote. The birth rate last year was at a record low of 1.18 children per mother, which is well below the replacement rate of 2.1 children per mother. Falling birth rates have led to both a diminishing and a rapidly aging population that is inching China closer to a demographic crisis. Last year, it was estimated that the Chinese population shrank by 850,000 people. Twenty percent of Chinas population is already over the age of 60, and by 2035, the total number of seniors is expected to be 400 million. This would be nearly one-third of the population. Correcting a falling birth rate is not easy, and no country has ever succeeded in doing so. Countries like Finland, Estonia, Italy, Japan, Australia, and Hungary have offered citizens cash bonuses for having additional children to no avail. The costs of additional children outweigh even the most generous allowances given by the government. Chinas problem is exacerbated because it is among the top six countries with the most imbalanced gender ratio. Historically, Chinese people have preferred sons over daughters. The one-child policy introduced in 1980, combined with liberal abortion rules, has led to the birth of more boys than girls. United Nations data shows that between 1970 and 2020, China alone accounted for 51 percent of a global gender imbalance, or missing females. In 2015, when the one-child policy was changed to a two-child policy, birth rates increased slightly, but not nearly enough to reverse the trend of population decline. Additionally, families still prefer boys. In 2021, the birth ratio was 112 boys to 100 girls. In the same year, China already had 30 million more men than women. An elderly woman is piggybacking a boy along a street in Beijing on May 11, 2020. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images) Immigration saved the United States from falling into a similar aging crisis. Immigrants tend to be young working people who marry and start a family after getting settled, or they immigrate with their families. Many come from countries where families have more than two children, which helps to keep Americas age demographics balanced. However, there is almost no immigration into China to help with balance. In 2021, 813,861 immigrants became naturalized U.S. citizens. By contrast, naturalization in China is nearly impossible, with the exception of citizens from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau, as well as people of Chinese descent who can demonstrate that they have family living in China. In most years, the total number of applications for naturalization is generally around 1,500, with most of these coming from Hong Kong. To make matters worse, hundreds of thousands of Chinese leave the country each year. In 2021, when China and many other countries still had strict COVID-19 restrictions, 200,000 Chinese emigrated. And under non-COVID conditions, the average is about 300,000 per year. After three years of lockdowns and Chinese leader Xi Jinpings tightened grip on the economy, even more Chinese are in the process of leaving this year. And many of these are the best and brightest young people with excellent qualifications or successful business people with investment capital. The outflow of young people will further contribute to Chinas demographic imbalance. It will also decrease the size of Chinas workforce. The loss of entrepreneurs and the wealthy will reduce the amount of investment capital and know-how, making an economic recovery even less likely. Last year, Chinas GDP growth of only 3 percent was the worst in decades. As the population ages, there are fewer workers to contribute to GDP. Additionally, older people are less likely to buy things like new homes or cars, so consumption is expected to contract. But more pensioners and elderly who need care will increase the tax burden spread over a smaller working population. Countries like Japan, Germany, and South Korea have been able to manage their diminishing young population by increasing their development of technology, which allows more work to be done by fewer people. But China is far behind those countries in technological development, and its innovation will suffer with its most qualified engineers leaving for careers in the West. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Energy Unreality Grips California, Not the World Commentary One of the themes in my Epoch Times columns is that a large part of whats wrong with California is the politicians oversized belief in the importance of the state, and of themselves. They keep saying the state soon will be the fourth largest global economy, surpassing Great Britain and Germany, when its just a subsection of the U.S. economy. And even at that, fourth largest isnt all that remarkable. The states GDP was $3.6 trillion in 2022. But that was just 3.5 percent of the $101.6 trillion global economy. Not that impressive. Given the states many problems publicized globallyhomelessness, people leaving, high taxes, ludicrous housing pricesthe whole world, to turn a 1960s hippy phrase, is not watching. Yet the California Air Resources Boards About page maintains: CARB is charged with protecting the public from the harmful effects of air pollution and developing programs and actions to fight climate change. From requirements for clean cars and fuels to adopting innovative solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, California has pioneered a range of effective approaches that have set the standard for effective air and climate programs for the nation, and the world. This and other state environmental policies remain guided by Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law that year. The name of the bill occurred just before the climate alarmists changed their pet phrase to climate change. The bill imposed various draconian reductions in greenhouse gas emissions that have contributed to making the state more expensive. AB 32s actual language enthused: The program established by this division will continue this tradition of environmental leadership by placing California at the forefront of national and international efforts to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. National and international actions are necessary to fully address the issue of global warming. However, action taken by California to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases will have far-reaching effects by encouraging other states, the federal government, and other countries to act. That was 17 years ago. Whats going on now? German Coal For starters, the Russian invasion of Ukraine led to European Union sanctions against Russian energy imports. But people still need energy. In Germany, theyre going back to coalthe dirtiest form of energy production. AP reported Jan. 11, Police start clearing German village condemned for coal mine: Some stones and fireworks were thrown as officers entered the tiny hamlet of Luetzerath, which has become a flashpoint of debate over the countrys climate efforts, on Wednesday morning. Environmentalists say bulldozing the village to expand the nearby Garzweiler coal mine would result in huge amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. The government and utility company RWE argue the coal is needed to ensure Germanys energy security. Further protests on Jan. 17 were led by global activist Greta Thunberg, who briefly was detained by the polizei. After the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan in 2011, the German government of Chancellor Angela Merkel began shutting down the countrys nuclear plantsso thats not an option, either. Indian Coal Meanwhile, over in Indiacurrently the worlds fifth largest economy, about the same as Californias GDP, but growing much fasterthe Hindustani Times reported Jan. 17: Indias power utilities will likely boost coal imports this year to cope with surges in demand, made worse over the past year by extreme temperatures, and with freight bottlenecks that are disrupting domestic coal supplies, analysts and officials said. A steady rise in industrial electricity use in recent years has left utilities in India, one of the worlds fastest growing major economies and the second-largest coal consumer and importer, with limited leeway to confront extraordinary demand or hiccups in supply. PRC Coal Then theres the Peoples Republic of China, roughly equal to the United States GDP. OilPrice.com reported Jan. 17: China produced a record amount of coal last year although output ended the year with a decline amid the latest surge in covid infections. Total output for the year reached 4.496 billion tons, which was a 9-percent increase on 2021, according to official statistics data reported by Reuters. Chinese government officials said in March last year that the country will continue to maximize coal use as it prioritizes energy security. This is very much what Europe did, too, following Russias invasion of Ukraine, as gas prices soared sky-high and they were no longer guaranteed. It doesnt sound like the Chinese Communist Party has been studying AB 32. The CCP recently ended its Zero COVID policy. And on Jan. 17 at the World Economic Forum shindig in Davos, Vice-Premier Liu He announced: Foreign investments are welcome in China, and the door to China will only open up further. That was from a Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply article, which added: China has resumed imports of Australian coal after a three-year halt and analysts believe it may well enjoy a post-pandemic consumption boom as did western countries intensifying demand for commodities. Chinas lifting of restrictions could push demand for oil and liquefied natural gas to an all-time high at a time when price caps on Russian energy exports could hinder supply. There Is No Climate Crisis Finally, there is a new science paper by Dr. Wallace Manheimer, who holds a physics PhD from MIT and has had a 50-year career in nuclear research, including work at the Plasma Physics Division at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Its in the recent issue of the Journal of Sustainable Development, published by the Canadian Center of Science and Education. The title: While the Climate Always Has and Always Will Change, There Is no Climate Crisis. The abstract is worth reading in full: The emphasis on a false climate crisis is becoming a tragedy for modern civilization, which depends on reliable, economic, and environmentally viable energy. The windmills, solar panels and backup batteries have none of these qualities. This falsehood is pushed by a powerful lobby which Bjorn Lomborg has called a climate industrial complex, comprising some scientists, most media, industrialists, and legislators. It has somehow managed to convince many that CO2 in the atmosphere, a gas necessary for life on earth, one which we exhale with every breath, is an environmental poison. Multiple scientific theories and measurements show that there is no climate crisis. Calculations by both skeptics and believers show that the carbon dioxide radiation forcing is about 0.3% of the incident radiation, far less than other effects on climate. Over the period of human civilization, the temperature has oscillated between quite a few warm and cold periods, with many of the warm periods being warmer than today. During geological times, it and the carbon dioxide level have been all over the place with no correlation between them. Conclusion Im wondering how not just California, but the United States, is supposed to compete industrially with China if our industries are crippled by counterproductive global warming policies. As the Ukraine war also is showing, industrial war is not a thing of the past, but of the present. Unless that war goes nuclearGod forbidits being fought by men and machines: tanks, planes, ships, artillery, guns, rockets, ammunition. Intelligence, in which the U.S. leads the world, certainly is crucial. But what do you do with that intelligence if you dont have the proper industrial base to produce the necessary armamentarium? I suspect the Ukraine war, as well as tensions with the PRC over Taiwan, will produce a rethinking among Americas elites that the U.S. economy needs to be based on more than Silicon Valleys digital algorithms. That shifting so much industrial production to China and elsewhere maybe wasnt such a hot idea. That maybe our universities should start turning out more engineers and scientists in the place of critical race theory ideologues in the humanities departments. And maybe that AB 32 and other climate change nostrums were but passing delusions. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Era of Defunding Police Is Over: New York Governor Hochul Governor Kathy Hochul announces expansion of the Capital Region Crime Analysis Center and highlights the State of the State proposals to increase funding for local law enforcement agencies in Albany, N.Y. on Jan. 24, 2023. (Darren McGee/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul) New Yorks Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul declared the defund the police movement officially dead on Jan. 24 while touting an increase in funding for local law enforcement agencies. Speaking at a press conference at the Capital Region Crime Analysis Center (CRCAC) in Albany, Hochul noted: Were not defunding police; we are really ramping up funding for police. So, all that era is over. The governor made the remark after touring the recently upgraded facility, which is one of 10 such centers across the state that provides local law enforcement with crime analysis, information, and investigative support. Praising the technology at the centers disposal, Hochul announced plans to expand the network of facilities to New York City and proposed increases in funding for the states Gun Involved Violence Elimination Initiative and its district attorneys offices. There is no greater obligation than ensuring every New Yorker can live in safety, and that has always been my number one priority, she added. A bike sits at the scene of a shooting in Alphabet City in lower Manhattan in New York City on Sept. 1, 2022. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Death Spiral of Law Enforcement Hochul has been critical of efforts to defund the police in the past, including last July at the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Conference, where she pledged her support for law enforcement. No one will ever say the words defund the police in my presence, she said at the July 26 event in Glens Falls. That is not going to go anywhere. Youre not going to make friends with me if you say that. Sparked in May 2020 by the controversial death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the movement to defund the police spread across the nation to major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, where the city council voted to decrease the police departments budget by $1 billion. But while Hochul might be confident that the defund movement has met its end, others say the damage it inflicted lives on. In a recent interview with The Epoch Times, Kyle Reyes, executive director of Law Enforcement Today, said he felt he was witnessing the death spiral of law enforcement in the U.S. Recalling the riots that broke out across the country in the wake of Floyds death, Reyes noted that in many cities, officers were required to stand by and watch as their cities were destroyed. We saw criminals walk away with no charges under the guise of freedom of speech, he said. Demonstrators walk in front of a police car that has been lit on fire during a protest in response to the death of George Floyd in Boston, Mass., on May 31, 2020. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) Such leadership, Reyes said, as well as heightened public criticism and a flawed justice system, has been driving officers to leave the force. They are overstressed, under-compensated, and perceive no backing from their leaders, he said. And nowhere is that more evident than in New York City, where, in 2022, 3,701 police officers retired or resigned from the force in the biggest exodus since 2002, according to the New York Post. Further, as the police force dwindles, crime in the city has been on the rise. In 2021, the city recorded 264 homicidesthe highest number in a decade. And while that total dropped to 253 in 2022, spikes in grand theft and felony assaults have overwhelmed the officers who remain on the job. The city is bleeding blue and I think the blue line will get thinner, retired NYPD Sgt. Joseph Giacalone told the New York Post. At this rate, continued public safety weighs in the balance. Id be more concerned at the resignations than the retirements. Cops are leaving for better pay, benefits, and working conditions. Police officers in a Times Square subway station in New York City on April 25, 2022. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Meanwhile, psychologist and retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. David Grossman said that the figures were unsurprising and evidence of a malignant problem. A civilization that sees the crooks as the good guys and the cops as the bad guys cannot survive, he told The Epoch Times in a recent interview. Urging communities to come together in support of their local law enforcement officers, he added: Nobody becomes a cop for the money. They become a cop because they truly want to make the world a better place. FBI Says North Korea-Related Hacker Group Behind US Crypto Firm Heist A North Korean flag flutters at the propaganda village of Gijungdong in North Korea, in this picture taken near the truce village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, in South Korea on July 19, 2022. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool/Reuters) A hacker group associated with North Korea, the Lazarus Group, also known as APT38, was responsible for the theft last June of $100 million from U.S. crypto firm Harmonys Horizon bridge, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said on Monday. On Jan. 13, North Korean cyber actors used a privacy protocol called Railgun to launder over $60 million worth of ethereum stolen during the theft in June, the FBI said in a statement. A portion of the stolen ethereum was subsequently sent to several virtual asset providers and converted to bitcoin, the FBI said. The FBI said North Koreas theft and laundering of virtual currency is used to support its ballistic missile and Weapons of Mass Destruction programs. In June last year, California-based Harmony said that a heist had hit its Horizon bridge, which was the underlying software used by digital tokens such as bitcoin and ether for transferring crypto between different blockchains. Reuters in June reported that North Korean hackers were most likely behind the attack on Harmony, citing three digital investigative firms. Harmony develops blockchains for decentralized financepeer-to-peer sites that offer loans and other services without traditional gatekeepers such as banksand non-fungible tokens. Florida Democrat Files Bill to Block Parental Rights Law That Opponents Say Keeps Children From Ideas "We the people: for parental rights and against liberal groomers": a local protests outside Luther Jackson Middle School in Falls Church, Va., before a Fairfax County Public Schools board meeting on Sept. 15, 2022. (Terri Wu/The Epoch Times) The Childrens Bill of Rights Act filed by a Florida Democrat could potentially strip away a parents right to stop their child from accessing sexually explicit material, or gender, or racial literature. House Bill 217, filed on Jan. 17 by Michele Rayner-Goolsby (D), appears to be the Lefts answer to the Parental Rights in Education law championed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. The childrens rights bill would give a child the right to receive ideas of any kind orally, in writing, in print, or through art forms. It also gives the child the right to privacy and to preserve his or her identity while giving the state the power to restore the childs right to identity if violated. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis displays the signed Parental Rights in Education bill flanked by elementary school students during a news conference at Classical Preparatory school in Shady Hills, Fla., on March 28, 2022. (Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via AP) The bill says this access should be with guidance and supervision from the parent or parents but does not say the parent can deny the child access to ideas. The childrens rights bill would clash with the Parental Rights in Education law, passed in 2022, dubbed the Dont Say Gay Act by liberal opponents. It prohibited classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through 3rd grade. The parental rights law also requires school districts to notify parents if there is a change in services from the school regarding a childs mental, emotional or physical health, or well-being. It builds upon the Parents Bill of Rights legislation passed in 2021, where parents direct their childs upbringing, education, health care, and mental health. Alex Nester, political director of Parents Defending Education Action, said in a statement that the bill would subvert parental rights in Florida. If passed, the so-called Childrens Bill of Rights Act could allow state agencies to assume responsibility over a minor child who is denied the ability to express elements of his or her identity, or is considered a vulnerable youth based on a lack of positive adult relationships, Nester said. Parents protest outside the Davis Joint Unified School District offices over a talk featuring Rachel Pepper, co-author of The Transgender Child, in Davis, Calif., on Jan. 11, 2023. (Courtesy of Our Duty) Unfortunately, bad actors seek to undo those achievements, he said. This bill, at its core, seeks to dismantle one of the foundational elements of our society: the family unit. Nester said activists have attempted to strip the rights of parents to be involved in their childs education and lives. HB 217 would block parents from intervening if they believe their childs pursuit of switching genders would have catastrophic consequences for the childs well-being, he said. In Florida and around the country, gender activists have sought to give children the ability to make life-altering decisions without input from parents. Activists claim that affirming a childs transgender identity and gender-affirming care improves mental health for children with a higher risk of suicide. Many school districts have gone along with the Biden administrations recommendation to recognize transgender student protection in schools, saying they must allow students to use opposite-sex pronouns and names and use the bathroom of their gender identity. Activists and members of the transgender community protest against a Trump administration announcement that rescinds an Obama-era order allowing transgender students to use school bathrooms matching their gender identities, at the Stonewall Inn on Feb. 23, 2017 in New York. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) School districts have, in many cases, bought into the Biden administrations push to keep a students gender switch a secret from parents as a privacy right. Likewise, many parents have rejected the idea that schools should teach gender and race ideologies to their children, and that they instead should focus on education. In 2022, conservative groups ran candidates in multiple states to win back control of local school boards to curtail progressive social justice in education. Last year, DeSantis endorsed some 30 conservative school board candidates in local races. The proposed childrens rights legislation would change the oversight from a cabinet appointed by the governor to a commission. Appointments to the commission would come from the Speaker of the House, the President of the Senate, various agencies, and the governor, according to the bill. Moy implored lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to kill the billand defend the rights of all Florida parents. A poster at an RSU 22 school in Maine suggests coming up with a new gender. (Courtesy of a student) The childrens rights bill has several mechanisms to protect children from accessing and pursuing ideas. Any restrictions imposed upon the exercise of the childs rights may only be by law and as necessary for the respect of the rights or reputations of others, or the protection of public order, the bill says. It adds a child will be protected legally from capricious, or unlawful interference or attacks on the childs privacy, family, home, and correspondence with parents. Children would have the right to preserve their identity, including nationality, name, and family relations as recognized by lawor else the state would step in. The bill says the state or governmental agencies that provide services for children shall respect the rights and duties of the parents to provide direction to the child in the exercise of his or her rights in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities and needs of the child. If passed, House Bill 217 would open the door for sweeping subversions of parental rights in the Sunshine state, Moy said. Michele Rayner-Goolsby, who filed the bill, did not respond to an email seeking comment. Florida Republicans Widening School Choice Funding To Include Most Families If passed, Florida's school-choice bill will extend the right to education savings accounts to most families. The money could be used for private school tuitionor on transportation expenses to get a child to a different school. Here, a school bus rolls down the street in Gainesville, Fla., after school on Jan. 23, 2023. (Nanette Holt/The Epoch Times) Florida Republicans have designated as their top priority this legislative session a bill that would expand school choice across the state, making it available to nearly all families. Under House Bill 1the designation shows the importance state House Speaker Paul Renner attaches to the billFlorida parents could request a scholarship if they are state residents and have a child eligible to enroll in kindergarten through grade 12. It eliminates previous, tougher restrictions limiting who can apply or what their family income is. The money could be used to pay tuition and fees at private schools and for transportation to a public school different from where the student is currently enrolled. Or it could be used by home-schooling parents for various purposes, including instructional materials and curricula. Parents could use it for standardized testing, Advanced Placement exams, and tutoring. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R), talks about school choice expansion in Arizona during an Education Freedom Report Card celebration sponsored by The Heritage Foundation in Phoenix on Oct. 25, 2022. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times) We already have more school choice children, more people that are using choice options in this state than any other state in the country, Renner said in a press conference last week. Were simply making sure no ones left out. A national advocate for school choice cheered the bill. Florida has long been a national leader on school choice, Corey DeAngelis, senior fellow of the American Federation for Children, told The Epoch Times in an email. This bill would make Florida the biggest state with universal school choice, allowing all families to take their childrens education dollars to the education providers of their choosing. This is the way. With [the] passage of this bill, Florida will fund students, not systems. School Choice For All Families By signing this bill into law, Ron DeSantis will not only be Americas Governor but cement himself as the Parents Governor too. Fully unleashing education opportunity with HB 1 will make Florida the land of education freedom, as it would be the largest state with school choice for all families. Former Arizona Governor Doug Ducey showed Republicans the way last year when he signed into law the biggest school-choice victory in U.S. history. Now it appears red states like Florida are competing with one another by seeking to expand parental rights in education, De Angelis said. Thats the kind of friendly competition I can get behind. All red states should follow suit and empower all families with school choice. Laura Irwin, 34, of Alachua County, told The Epoch Times she supported the bill. She has three children, two of whom are school-age. Were a home-school family, she said. Weve been home-schooling since the beginning. We want control of whats being taught to our children. The best person to decide that is the parent. No one knows the child better than the parent does. The bills passage would help home-schoolers, she said. The bill makes the tax money follow the child. When tax dollars follow the public education system rather than the child, a large percentage are paying taxes but not benefiting from the taxes they pay. They will still home-school even if the bill passes, Irwin said. She knows a lot of parents with growing misgivings about Alachua Countys public schools. A lot of parents are considering their options. Withdrawing their child from the public school system, putting them in private school, or home-schooling, or something like that. However, the progressive think tank Florida Policy Institute estimated the bill could cost the states public school system nearly $4 billion a year by 202728. Heavy Cost to School System School choice has gained momentum nationally, becoming a more potent issue at the ballot box. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Jan. 24 signed the Students First Act, allowing any Iowa student to use public money to pay for private school tuition or other expenses. Last July, former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill establishing universal eligibility for educational savings accounts. Parents can use the scholarship money for various expenses, including private school tuition. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz told the America First Policy Summit in July that he considered school choice the most important domestic policy issue. Cruz said its the sole measure he uses when considering whether to back a Texas Republican in the party primary, a risky political move for a politician. He wont support any Republican who doesnt support school choice, he said. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) says school choice is the top domestic policy issue. Here he is seen on stage during the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit held at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla., on July 22, 2022. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) According to polling estimates, 70 percent of Americans support school choice, with an even higher number of black and Hispanic parents included in that average. Cruz said that their view on the issue stands consistently at 70 to 80 percent support. Florida currently uses five kinds of scholarships to extend some types of school choices to qualifying families. Four are supported by tax dollars and one by donors who get tax credits for their donations. House Bill 1 would remove income requirements for the two largest programs. The bills current language requires only that priority be given to families whose income is at or under 185 percent of the federal poverty line. Funding to Follow Child A long list of conservatives and conservative organizations signed a letter urging Florida to create universal education savings accounts for students with no income eligibility requirements and allow the maximum funding legally allowable to follow the child. Signers include former U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), several scholars from the Heritage Foundation and American Enterprise Institute, and groups including Parents Defending Education, Moms for Liberty, Independent Womens Voice, the James Madison Institute and the American Federation for Children. Florida has been a pioneer in school choice for two decades, the letter states. As of December 2022, nearly half of Florida students have chosen an educational option outside of their zoned traditional public school. Governor DeSantis rightly stated that parental involvement is important to a childs success both in school and in life. We applaud Governor DeSantis and Florida lawmakers who recognize that parents are the ultimate form of accountability and who have worked tirelessly to defend the mantle of parental agency. The letter continued, While Florida is ahead of most other states, lawmakers have an opportunity to further expand educational freedom and parental choice. The Heritage Foundation ranks Florida No. 3 on school choice, noting that it could be improved by expanding eligibility for private education choice policies. Democrats oppose the bill. Dr. Jean Siebenaler, legislative chair for the Democratic Womens Clubs of Florida, posted a long list of objections that party activists can use as talking points in opposing House Bill 1 by contacting legislators, writing letters to the editor, or speaking in public. Even Millionaires Would be Eligible The bill wipes out income requirements, while the existing voucher scholarship program targets children from low-income families and children with disabilities, Siebenaler said. Even millionaires would be eligible to raid the funds for their expensive private schools or home-schooling services at the expense of the state education budget, she said in a post on the Charlotte County Democrats web page. Taxpayers would be funding more voucher schools that are exempt from state rules regarding teacher qualifications, academic standards, and testing. Schools accepting vouchers can charge tuition exceeding the vouchers, forcing families to make up the difference, she said. Public schools serve all students, but voucher schools are allowed to discriminate against gay students, and others with disabilities, different religions, and disadvantaged backgrounds. Public schools, where 90 percent of Florida students are enrolled, suffer from a teacher deficit and large class sizes, she said. This could be fixed with more money. With Florida legislators looking to expand what is already the nations largest use of taxpayer dollars for private school tuition when they convene in March, lawmakers in at least 14 states are pondering 2023 bills related to school choice programs. Bills seeking to establish new school choice programs have been filed, or are expected to be filed, in six states, including Texas. Depending how school choice is defined, 47 states offered various taxpayer-funded programs in 2021 to more than 660,000 students, mostly children with special needs, according to the Florida-based National School Choice Awareness Foundation (NSCAF). John Haughey contributed to this report. After taking over for M.L. Skip Ebert last January, Cumberland County District Attorney Sean McCormack on Thursday announced he is running for the seat in this years election. McCormack, who lives in Camp Hill, said he is seeking a full four-year term. He will be on the Republican ballot in the May primary. It has been the greatest honor of my life to have this opportunity to serve the people of Cumberland County as district attorney, he said in an announcement. I look forward to continuing to put my experience to work every day to protect the families of Cumberland County and to guarantee that victims of crime are given the voice they deserve. McCormack joined the Cumberland County District Attorneys Office in March 2020 as the chief of trial division, and prior to that he served in the Dauphin County District Attorneys Office for 30 years. He was also the chief of the Dauphin County Child Abuse Protection Unit for more than 25 years. McCormack also served in the Pennsylvania National Guard for 21 years, retiring at the rank of major. As district attorney I will always fight for justice and do what is right for the residents of Cumberland County, he said. My number one priority is to keep Cumberland County a safe place to live, work and raise a family. McCormack is a graduate of Villanova University and received his law degree from Widener University School of Law. Florida Teachers Shut Down Classroom Libraries in Fear of Felony Charges Florida bill will vet school libraries, reading lists for inappropriate material Teachers in Manatee County, Florida are scrambling to shut down their classroom libraries out of fear that unapproved books made available to students could violate Florida pornography laws and carry a third-degree felony charge. The move comes in response to a new rule that provides clarification of Florida House Bill 1467 (pdf). HB 1467 requires books in school library media centers or those included in recommended or assigned reading lists to be selected by an employee with a valid educational media specialist certificate. In Florida, school librarians are called media specialists and must have a bachelors degree in either library science or educational media. The stated purpose of Rule 6A-7.0713 (pdf) is to provide school districts with the requirements for the format districts must use on elementary school websites in order to post, and permit searches of, materials maintained in elementary school library media centers and materials found on a required school or a grade-level reading list in an elementary school. The rule also clarifies that the term library media center includes classroom libraries: any collection of books, ebooks, periodicals, and videos maintained and accessible on the site of an elementary school including classrooms. Currently, many of the books in classroom librariesoriginating from a teachers personal collection, being supplied by parents, or having been donated by members of the communityare not vetted through a required approval process. Rule Increases Transparency A press release by the Florida Department of Education on Oct. 19, 2022, announced the adoption of the new rule, stating that it would increase the transparency of elementary school library materials and reading liststhereby eliminating inappropriate, indoctrinating and pornographic materials in libraries and classrooms. Manatee County school district Chief of staff Kevin Chapman spoke with The Epoch Times about HB 1467 and the new rule. The training for our media center specialists and the guidelines they must follow in order to approve or not approve a book came out on Jan. 1, Chapman said. Then you come back from the holidays and its the fifth or sixth and we had to get all of our media center specialists trained. Last week we began the process of cataloging classroom libraries and adding them to the database, making sure all of those books are approved and getting rid of the ones that arent approved. Chapman said he believes Manatee County was the first school district in Florida to create a review committee to start reviewing books in their classroom libraries in an effort to comply with the new rule. Commenting on the attention his district is receiving in news reports and social media, Chapman said he believes all of the interest in this is because we must be the only school district thats starting it. He added that one would think that youd be seeing this in all the school districts. Because its the law, we think we need to comply and comply right away, Chapman asserted. So thats why were on it. How We Got to This Point? The Manatee County school district issued a timeline of the new law and the school districts implementation of it, with the heading How we got to this point? The timeline is included in the districts Update on Media Center Materials (pdf) presentationlisted as Agenda Item No IV.2 (pdf)to be shared with the public at the Manatee County Schoolboard Workshop on Jan. 27. According to the timeline, HB 1467 was signed into law, on July 1, 2022. In actuality, HB 1467 was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis almost a year ago, on March 25, 2022. The law took effect on July 1, 2022, six months ago. Its a point Chapman acknowledges. While the bill did not take effect until July 1, a memo (pdf) sent from the Florida Department of Education a month before the law took effect advised all Florida School District Superintendents of their responsibilities regarding compliance with the legislation. Districts were given until July 1, 2023, to certify to the FDOE that all school librarians and media specialists employed by the district had completed the required training developed by the FDOE. As soon as [the law] went into effect on July 1, we started right away when it comes to our media centers, Chapman said. Clearing Up Ambiguity Chapman said there was ambiguity in the law about classroom libraries, which was why school districts needed the State Board of Education to come out with their rule and the state with their training. Chapman suggested there was also ambiguity regarding what is meant by the word pornography. HB 1467 states that all material in school and classroom libraries or included on a reading list must be free of pornography and material prohibited under Florida Statute 847.012. How do you define that? Chapman asked rhetorically, adding that the law does not define that when it comes to a library book. Florida Statute 847.012 states that adults may not knowingly distribute to a minor on school property, or post on school property, any book, pamphlet, magazine, printed matter however reproduced, or sound recording that contains photographs, drawings or any other visual images depicting nudity or sexual conduct, sexual excitement, sexual battery, bestiality, or sadomasochistic abuse. Nor may any materials contain explicit and detailed verbal descriptions or narrative accounts of sexual excitement, or sexual conduct and that is harmful to minors. Ignorance of a minors age or having a minors consent may not be raised as a defense in a prosecution for a violation of this law. Further, statute 847.012 states that Any person violating any provision of this section commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. The Path to Compliance For Floridas Certification of Alignment and Adoption of Instructional Materials (pdf), school superintendents must certify that all instructional materials used by the school district in core courses are aligned with state academic standards, as set forth in s. 1003.41, F.S., and Rule 6A-1.09401, Florida Administrative Code and that the school districts process for the review, selection, and adoption of instructional materials complies with hearing requirements established by a district school board and the public meeting requirements set forth in s. 1006.283(2)(b)8., F.S. A sample Library Media Book List (pdf) from the Manatee County school district includes titles that require parental consent at specified grade levels. Procedures for challenging instructional materials are outlined in the districts Media Material Reconsideration Procedure (pdf) draft proposal. A request form to be completed by members of the community for reconsideration of any library reading materials is included. HB 1467 states that school boards are responsible for the content of all instructional materials and any other materials used in the classroom, made available in a school library or included on a reading list, no matter how they were acquired. School principals will be held responsible for overseeing compliance with the new law. Parents Rights and Freedom In Florida, our parents have every right to be involved in their childs education, said Gov. Ron DeSantis on March 25, 2022, at a press conference before signing the bill into law. We are not going to let politicians deny parents the right to know what is being taught in our schools. Im proud to sign this legislation that ensures curriculum transparency. Former Florida agricultural commissioner Nikki Fried took to social media to decry the new law. Whether the new laws explicitly say which books are banned or not, the result is the same, Fried said in a Twitter post on Jan. 24. A chilling effect on the 1st Amendment. The exact opposite of FREEDOM. Fried recently lost her bid to unseat DeSantis as Floridas governor. Teachers React In response to the knowledge that the new rule applies restrictions on reading materials in classroom libraries, some Manatee County teachers took to social media to express their disappointment. My heart is broken for Florida students today as I am forced to pack up my classroom library, one teacher lamented. Due to the new law that went into effect on December 31st all Manatee Teachers must remove all books that have not been vetted by the state or risk being charged with a THIRD DEGREE FELONY and losing our license. The teacher further bemoaned that the vetting process for new books is cumbersome and accepting donated books from parents and community members will not be allowed. An educator of 18 years called the directive to dismantle classroom libraries a travesty to education. Some teachers posted photos of their classroom libraries covered with paper and the covered libraries of other teachers. Another social media post critiqued the laws requirement that books be vetted for compliance with state laws as a complex process, further lamenting that librarians in Manatee County are now expected to review thousands of books in classroom libraries and that any mistake could result in criminal charges. Floridas Death Penalty: DeSantis Calls for Repeal of Unanimous Jury Requirement Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at the Republican Jewish Coalition Annual Leadership Meeting in Las Vegas, Nev., on Nov. 19, 2022. (Wade Vandervort/AFP via Getty Images) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wants the Florida Legislature to change a state law that requires a unanimous jury vote to impose a death sentence. Speaking at the Florida Sheriffs Association Winter Conference in St. Johns County on Jan. 23, DeSantis called upon Floridas legislators to reconsider the states requirement that a jury must vote unanimously to recommend the death sentence before a judge can consider imposing a death penalty sentence. The governor noted how Nikolas Cruzthe 18-year-old who killed 14 students and three staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14, 2018was spared a death sentence last November because a Broward County jury did not unanimously agree to recommend the ultimate sentence. Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz sits at the defense table during a victim impact statement at his sentencing hearing at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Nov. 2, 2022. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel via AP, Pool) As The Epoch Times reported on Dec. 13, 2022, that Cruz will receive a sentence of life without parole because the jury could not unanimously agree that he should be executed. At a press conference following the verdict, DeSantis said that this is a casewhere youre massacring those students with premeditation and utter disregard for basic humanitythat you deserve the death penalty. The jurors came back 11-1, with one hold out refusing to authorize the ultimate punishment, DeSantis said, adding, And that means that this killer is going to end up getting the same sentence as those who have committed bad acts, but acts that did not rise to this level. DeSantiss Democratic gubernatorial opponent on the November 2022 midterm ballot agreed that execution was the right penalty. There are crimes for which the only just penalty is death, former governor and State Sen. Charlie Crist said on Twitter on Oct. 13, 2022. The Parkland families and community deserved that degree of justice. For the trial, one juror faced allegations of bias that she had made her decision before the trial began. She was against the death penalty. An unidentified juror reported feeling threatened by another member of the jury. At the sheriffs Winter Conference on Jan. 23, DeSantis called for the states law to be overhauled. Bottom line, that should probably be changed by statute, DeSantis said. Its one thing to say, Yeah, obviously a majority of the jury has tomaybe a supermajority. But that one person (is) able to veto that? The South Florida Sun Sentinel reported that the verdict, which took Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer an hour to read in court, was rendered by a vote of seven to three. U.S. Supreme Court Case The U.S. Supreme Court Building in Washington on Oct. 3, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) In an 8-1 decision on Jan. 12, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court rendered an opinion in Hurst v. Florida, striking down the states death-penalty sentencing statute, which only required a majority of the jurors to agreeas unconstitutional. At the time the opinion was rendered, Floridas death-penalty law required at least 10 of the 12 jurors to agree on an advisory sentence of life or death, but they were not required to specify the factors used to reach their decision. After receiving a jurys recommendation, the judge would hold a separate hearing to determine if there were sufficient aggravating circumstances to justify imposing the death penalty. However, the High Court decided that the requirement for a judges sentencing, based on a recommendation by a jury, violated the Sixth Amendment. The Sixth Amendment requires a jury, not a judge, to find each fact necessary to impose a sentence of death, the Court ruled. A jurys mere recommendation is not enough. In March 2016, Floridas capital punishment statute was amended to require that jurors unanimously agree that the prosecution had presentedbeyond a reasonable doubtthat at least one aggravating circumstance existed in the case, which proved that the defendant was eligible for the death penalty. In addition, at least ten of the 12 jurors had to agree upon a recommendation for the death penalty. Only then could a judge consider imposing a death sentence. This amendment also repealed a previous provision that permitted judges to override a jurys recommendation of a life sentence. Florida Supreme Court The Florida Supreme Court Building, Tallahassee, FL May 2022. (Courtesy, Florida Supreme Court) On Oct. 14, 2016, the Florida Supreme Court decided two cases. In Timothy Lee Hurst v. State of Florida, the Court decided that, because the death sentence was imposed on Hurst in violation of the Sixth Amendment right to a jury determination of every critical finding necessary for imposition of the death sentence and because the error is not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt under the facts and circumstances of this case, it would vacate Hursts death sentence and remand for a new penalty phase proceeding consistent with this opinion. In Larry Darnell Perry v. State of Florida, Floridas Supreme Court struck down the Florida legislatures March 2016 revision because it did not require a jury to be unanimous in its recommendation of the death sentence before the trial judge could consider imposing a death sentence. In its reading of the U.S. Supreme Courts Hurst ruling, the Florida court decided that a jury is constitutionally required to find: the existence of each aggravating factor that has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt the finding that the aggravating factors are sufficient to justify a death sentence ruling the finding that the aggravating factors outweigh the mitigating circumstances the jurys recommended sentence of death must be unanimous Floridas current law regarding the death penalty, F.S. 921.141, states that after hearing all of the evidence presented regarding aggravating factors and mitigating circumstances, the jury shall deliberate and determine if the state has proven, beyond a reasonable doubt, the existence of at least one aggravating factor the jury shall return findings identifying each aggravating factor found to exist and that the finding must be unanimous. Only then can a jury make a recommendation to the court as to whether the defendant shall be sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or to death. If the jury does not unanimously agree on the existence of at least one aggravating factor, the defendant is ineligible for a sentence of death. According to the Florida Department of Corrections, there are currently 301 individuals on death row in the Sunshine State. Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. Former Fox News Employee Sues Network Over Sexual Abuse Allegations Roger Ailes, former chairman and CEO of Fox News and Fox Television Stations, attends a panel discussion at the Television Critics Association summer press tour in Pasadena, Calif., on July 24, 2006. (Reuters/Fred Prouser) A former Fox News employee has filed a lawsuit against the outlet, alleging that she was subjected to sexual and psychological abuse for decades at the hands of former network head Roger Ailes, while claiming inaction from the corporate leadership. Laura Luhn, 62, started working with Fox in 1996. The lawsuit (pdf) was filed on Wednesday in a state court in New York against Fox News Network, its parent company 21st Century Fox, and former executive Bill Shine. The complaint alleges Ailes to have used his position as the Fox News head to trap Laura into a decades-long cycle of sexual abuse. Back in 2019, Fox News defeated Luhns $120 million lawsuit alleging that she was defamed by the networks then-CEO Suzanne Scott, who denied knowing about Ailess alleged sexual misconduct. Luhns recent lawsuit cites 18 instances of Ailes forcing himself on her in hotel rooms. It also blames Shine for having aided and abetted Ailess alleged actions. Now, with the passage of New Yorks Adult Survivors Act, Luhn brings this lawsuit to finally receive compensation for all of the physical, mental, emotional, and professional harm she suffered and continues to suffer because of the severe sexual abuse at the hands of Ailes, Fox News, and its corporate enablers, the lawsuit states. New Yorks Adult Survivors Act, signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul last May, allows survivors of sexual offenses to file a lawsuit irrespective of when the abuse occurred provided that the incident happened when the victims were over 18 years of age. The Lawsuit According to the lawsuit, Ailes is said to have photographed and videographed Luhn in compromising positions. Ailes called this blackmail material his insurance policy and allegedly threatened Luhn that attempts to stop or speak out against the abuse would result in severe personal humiliation and career ruin. The lawsuit blames Fox News corporate leadership, including Shine, as well as its parent company for knowing about Ailes conduct and yet did nothing to stop it. Fox News executives are also accused of engaging in coordinated public smear campaigns against other alleged sexual abuse victims, with these campaigns acting to ensure the silence of Luhn and other victims. In the period when Ailes was abusing her, Luhn had a front-row seat to the very public intimidation campaign that Fox News waged against another victim after she lodged disturbing allegations against Fox News star, Bill OReilly, the lawsuit states. In private conversations with Luhn, Ailes explicitly reinforced the message that this public campaign was designed to convey to Luhn and other would-be accusers: come forward at your own peril. Mental Breakdown, 2019 Lawsuit After years of abuse, Luhn suffered a mental breakdown, the complaint states. During this period, Shine is said to have taken charge of Luhns personal life and ensured her public silence about the sexual abuse. These efforts ultimately included having Luhn sign a release of her claims. With the fear of Ailes or Fox News spreading compromising photographs and videos, and with the knowledge of the aggressive personal attacks against other Fox News accusers, Luhn capitulated, receiving a severance equal only to payment for her wages until retirement age. Luhns earlier 2019 lawsuit against Fox and its CEO, Suzanne Scott, was dismissed by the court after the network filed a motion to dismiss it. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Scott had said that she had no clue what was going on in Ailess office, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Luhn insisted that Scotts denial about Ailess alleged sexual misconduct implied that she had fabricated the sexual abuse allegations, resulting in the lawsuit. In August 2019, Fox News filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit for failure to state a claim. The judge sided with the defendant, noting that Scotts statements from her interview with the Los Angeles Times did not reference Luhn. Regarding the latest lawsuit, Fox News Media said in a statement that this matter was settled years ago, dismissed in subsequent litigation, and is meritless, according to a Jan. 26 tweet by The Hollywood Reporter. The Epoch Times has reached out to Fox News for comment. Former Kickboxer Andrew Tate Says Romanian Prosecutors Have No Evidence Against Him Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan are escorted by police officers outside the headquarters of the Bucharest Court of Appeal in Bucharest, Romania, on Jan. 10, 2023. (Inquam Photos/Octav Ganea via Reuters) BUCHARESTInternet personality Andrew Tate said on Wednesday there was no justice in Romania and that the case file against him in a criminal investigation for alleged human trafficking and rape was empty. Tate, his brother Tristan, and two Romanian female suspects have been in police custody since Dec. 29 pending an ongoing criminal investigation on charges of forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women, accusations they deny. On Thursday, a Romanian court extended their detention until Feb. 27. Prosecutors have said the Tate brothers recruited their victims by seducing them and falsely claiming to want a relationship or marriage. The victims were then taken to properties on the outskirts of the capital Bucharest and through physical violence and mental intimidation were sexually exploited by being forced to produce pornographic content for social media sites that generated large financial gain, prosecutors said. They also said Andrew Tate, a former professional kickboxer who holds U.S. and British nationality, raped one of the victims in March last year, which he has denied. They know we have done nothing wrong, Tate told reporters as he was brought in for further questioning by anti-organized crime prosecutors, the first comments to the media since his arrest. This file is completely empty. Of course its unjust, there is no justice in Romania unfortunately. Asked whether he has hurt women, Tate said: Of course not. Earlier this month, Romanian authorities said they had seized goods and money worth 18 million lei ($3.99 million), including luxury cars and properties as a part of the investigation. There is no evidence against me, Tristan Tate told reporters on Wednesday. The authorities are planning to steal my cars and steal my money. That is why I am in jail. Prosecutors have said the seizure was meant to prevent the assets being concealed. The Tates are confident in the defense, they are confident in the evidence in their favor, they have given a detailed statement, they have collaborated [with authorities], their lawyer Eugen Vidineac told reporters after the questioning. We believe the defense is starting to take shape. Former Tesla CFO and Major Shareholder Testify in Elon Musk Fraud Trial On the sixth day of the ongoing class-action lawsuit against Tesla founder Elon Musk, former CFO Deepak Ahuja took the stand. Ahuja was questioned as a witness to any dealings between the electric car company and the Saudi governments Public Investment Fund (PIF). While being questioned by defense prosecutors, Ahuja stated that the contents of Musks tweet were consistent with everything I had known or heard until then. His comments are in reference to Musks Aug. 7, 2018, tweet, in which the Tesla founder claimed funding was secured for a potential buyout. Am considering taking Tesla private at $420. Funding secured, the tweet read. The second sentence in the tweet has been the cornerstone of the lawsuit. Am considering taking Tesla private at $420. Funding secured. Mr. Tweet (@elonmusk) August 7, 2018 Ahuja is currently the CFO of Zipline, a company that is trying to automate package deliveries with flying drones. During his testimony, the former Tesla executive recounted his two meetings with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the PIF; one in 2017 at a Tesla factory, and one in 2018 a week before Musks much-disputed tweet. For the first meeting, Ahuja recalled the urgency with which he rushed to greet the Saudi investors when he heard of their arrival, casting aside his preparations for the companys quarterly earnings statement, due the following day. It was a very important deal, and the Saudi officials were serious in their intent to follow through, he said. New owners, Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan (l) and Amanda Staveley, part-owner of Newcastle United, smile as they are presented to the crowd from the directors box prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur at St. James Park in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, on Oct. 17, 2021. (Stu Forster/Getty Images) At the following meeting, a specific price tag was not mentioned nor was anything put in writing. However, certain aspects of the deal were solidified, with the PIF executives signaling that it was a done deal, Ahuja said. There was a percentage discussed, which was 50 percent, he said during his testimony. When defense attorneys asked Ahuja whether he felt Musks funding secured tweet was untruthful, the former CFO replied, I did not. Pre-recorded testimony from Joseph Fath was then played for the jury. As a VP of the investment firm T. Rowe Price, which at one point owned more than a 10 percent stake in Tesla, Fath provided a look into how shareholders might have perceived Musks sporadic tweet. T. Rowe has since whittled its Tesla position down significantly, selling over 80 percent in 2019. The VP began by voicing that, when T. Rowe was a major shareholder, he faced continued discomfort with Musks tweeting habits. Fath specifically mentioned an episode in 2018 in which Musk called a British rescue cave diver pedo guy. Vernon Unsworth was the diver who helped to rescue 12 young boys from a cave in Thailand. Musk donated a small team of engineers and a submarine to the effort but his gifts were never used. Unsworth gave an interview with CNN, during which he called Musks attempt to help a PR stunt and told the CEO to stick his submarine where it hurts. Musk responded with a series of now-deleted tweets, including one that suggested the diver was a pedophile. Musk successfully defended the defamation lawsuit that followed. Not long after this inflammatory episode was Musks funding secured tweet, something Fath remembers very well. When asked if he recalled the day of Aug. 7, 2018, the VP said, Ohh, I absolutely do. Fath described the experience as a shock, expressing frustration that a major shareholder was hearing about such important information via Twitter. It blew up my entire vacation. Im lucky I didnt get divorced, he said in the deposition. My phone was sitting on the nightstand. It was buzzing incessantly. According to Fath, secured ought to mean that you have everything locked and loaded, and no question at all 100 percent that you have funding ready to go. In his view, this was not the case with Musk and the PIF, which he suggested subsequent events have borne out. People visit the Tesla stand at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai on Nov. 5, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) However, the fund manager acknowledged Musks genuine desire to take the company public, admitting that they both had prior discussions on the matter. Musk did not like being under the microscope while Tesla was attempting to roll out new products, Fath said. Still, the VP accused Musk of bringing undue criticism upon himself with reckless tweets: A lot of this was his own doing. The trial will not be in session on Thursday but is expected to conclude on Feb. 3. Britains most influential cardiologist, who took two jabs, now calls for a halt in the rollout of the shot program after spending nine months evaluating the data. He offers a potential explanation for the differing world views. STORY AT-A-GLANCE Esteemed UK cardiologist, Dr. Aseem Malhotra, has called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to halt the rollout of the COVID-19 mRNA shots in light of the ongoing unnecessary harm that is devastating individuals and families. He spent nine months analyzing studies, and now believes the program to inject people with a genetic experiment should be suspended immediately and has since joined a growing body of researchers, scientists, and doctors who do not follow the mainstream COVID narrative. Malhotra reviewed the data with the chair of the British Medical Association (BMA). At the end of the conversation, the BMA chair commented, I dont think anybody has critically appraised the data as well as you have. Most of these people are getting their information on the vaccine from the BBC. Despite the high number of people who have taken the jab, the number of deaths has continued to riseUK data show roughly 80 percent of all cases, hospitalizations, and deaths were in the vaccinated. Of the excess number of 2021 non-COVID deaths, many were from heart disease, which is a known effect of the mRNA genetic jab. Esteemed UK cardiologist, Dr. Aseem Malhotra,1 has called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to halt the rollout of the COVID-19 mRNA shots in light of the ongoing unnecessary harm that is devastating individuals and families.2 Despite efforts by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to minimize the data those same agencies are collecting through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS),3 the number of people who are sick, permanently disabled, or die from the shot continues to rise. Data from Dec. 9, 2022,4 show 32,828 deaths, 61,065 permanently disabled, and 35,828 myocarditis inflammatory responses. These numbers are also likely lower than the actual damage being done.5 One paper from Columbia University reports there were 146K to 187K vaccine-associated U.S. deaths between February and August 2021.6 The topic of vaccines has always been controversial, but it reached a fever pitch during COVID when it became sacrilegious to speak out against them, or even question their safety and efficacy. Malhotra has been keeping track of the numbers. They (politicians & media) may keep their hands over their eyes, but we can see them & the silence is DEAFENING, he tweeted. Please stop this rollout NOW.7 Britains Most Influential Cardiologist Says Stop! Until July 2021, Malhotra was an outspoken supporter of the COVID-19 genetic jabs. However, he began taking a closer look at the data after his 73-year-old father died.8 He spent nine months analyzing studies, and now he believes that the mRNA program to inject people with a genetic experiment should be suspended immediately and has since joined a growing body of researchers, scientists, and doctors who do not follow the mainstream COVID narrative. During an interview with Epoch TV, Malhotra noted that ethical evidence-based medical practice should be the default for medical care, but has fallen by the wayside with the release of the COVID jabs. After critically analyzing the data from the COVID-19 shots, he believes the efficacy of the technology is very, very poor in comparison to traditional vaccines. Additionally, the shots are not only ineffective but the harms were unprecedented. Early in the pandemic, Malhotra took two doses of the Pfizer vaccine and went on Good Morning Britain to help tackle vaccine hesitancy. He shared what little information he had at the time, which he later learned was wrong. After months of evaluating the evidence, he says this about the current shot program:9 Were talking about one of the most poorly efficacious pharmacological interventions in the history of medicine with the worst side effect profile being the most lucrative and profitable. And when you try and join those dots together, the picture that it paints is extremely ugly. A real indictment on our whole healthcare system. Malhotra notes that to prevent one COVID death in people over 80 years, 230 people must take the shot. To prevent one death in people between people 70 to 80 years of age, 520 people must be jabbed. In people under 70 years, thousands must take the jab to prevent just one person from dying. Malhotra would tell a person in their 50s that to prevent one person from dying, 2,000 people must get the shot, and based on the evidence now available, for every 800 people who take the shot, one experiences a severe adverse event including disability. He went on to describe the data from the drug companies that led to the approval.10 We know now that the original trialsthe gold standard randomized control trialsthat led to the approval by the regulators of the vaccine in the first place revealed you were more likely to suffer a serious adverse event from the vaccine than you were to be hospitalized with COVID. From the data that have been gathered since the shot program rolled out, Malhotra notes that while The harm of the vaccine remains constant, the risk of COVID goes down.11 Under normal circumstances, scientists and public health experts would not be debating this vaccine program. Instead, it would have been pulled a long time ago. Reasons for the Passionate Different Points of View Speaking Nov. 14, 2022, at Friends House,12 Malhotra described some of the psychological effects that have occurred in the last three years which triggered the division and passionately different points of view concerning the pandemic and the genetic jabs. His first point was that fear is a psychological phenomenon that can inhibit our ability to think critically. This is a crucial point to understand since its a continuing challenge, which I believe has been perpetuated by the media and agencies in the hope of continuing to control your behavior. Malhotra notes that at the start of the pandemic, most of the world was gripped by a type of fear that has never been experienced in our lifetime. The second reason that many people have such differing views is willful blindness or turning a blind eye to the truth in order to feel safe, to avoid conflict, to reduce anxiety, and to protect prestige or, in some cases, precious fragile egos. He notes that it is important to understand this so that moving forward the right information is disseminated in the right way and that it is done compassionately for people who are struggling under the burden of fear. He then quoted the late Stephen Hawking, who stated, The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge.13 Malhotra argues that when the British National Health Service was founded in 1948 it was done so to create health care that was free at the point of need and the point of use. However, he believes that many people have forgotten that it was also created to ensure that people received the best possible care they could at the time that it was given. He describes John Ioannidis, professor of medicine at Stanford, as the Stephen Hawking of medicine. He agrees with Ioannidis evaluation that medical misinformation stems from a lack of understanding of the published research by healthcare professionals and the poor reliability of research to be translated into decision-making for patients. Malhotra quotes Ioannidis, saying, Ignorance of this problem even at the highest levels of academic and clinical leadership is profound. After spending months reviewing the data, Malhotra spent two hours with the chair of the BMA reviewing the data. At the end of the conversation, Malhotra shared the BMA chairs comment:14 from all the people Ive spoken to in medical leadership positions, and you know he brought into the conversation the chief medical officer in this as well, he said I dont think anybody has critically appraised the data as well as you have. Most of these people are getting their information on the vaccine from the BBC. Despite Shots, the Number of Deaths Continues to Rise Despite the high number of people who have taken the jab, the number of deaths has continued to rise. The data show that there are not only excess deaths from non-COVID-related diseases, but also a report from the UK shows nine of every 10 deaths that were related to COVID were in those who were fully vaccinated. The Expose15 reported on the UK in March 2022, noting that most people were distracted by Russias invasion of Ukraine, during which the UK government quietly released a vaccine surveillance report showing roughly 80 percent to 90 percent of all cases, hospitalizations, and deaths were in people who were vaccinated. In total, the number of COVID cases in England from Jan. 24, 2022, to Feb. 20, 2022, was 404,030 in unvaccinated people and 1,086,434 in people who had taken one, two, or three shots. In small geographical areas, it appears the data from the U.S. is similar.16 However the raw numbers gathered by the CDC are different since, in April 2022, the CDC defined fully vaccinated individuals as two weeks after their final dose.17 By September 2022, the CDC had changed the definition to You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines if you have completed a COVID-19 vaccine primary series and received the most recent booster dose recommended for you by CDC.18 Not all who are fully vaccinated are identified on admission to the hospital, so analyzing U.S. numbers is difficult, if not impossible. It is probably safe to assume that someone identified as fully vaccinated has met the CDC standard and that the unvaccinated group likely contains people who are not [vaccinated] two weeks after their primary series or who are fully vaccinated and were not identified on admission to the hospital. You must ask yourself if this statistical chaos is intentional. In addition to the data showing the jabs are not effective is the fact that the overall number of deaths from non-COVID diseases is also on the rise. In November 2021, Silicon Valley software engineer Ben M. revealed data on Twitter19 that showed over a 13-week period roughly 107,700 seniors died above the normal rate, despite a 98.7 percent vaccination rate. Four days earlier he revealed CDC data for excess deaths in Vermont, tweeting:20 Vermont had 71% of their entire population vaccinated by June 1, 2021. Thats 83% of their adult population, yet they are seeing the most excess deaths now since the pandemic! In November 2021, the UK also revealed an excess number of deaths as compared to the same period between 2015 and 2019.21 Additionally, non-COVID deaths in the UK were higher than the weekly average in the five years prior to the pandemic. Of these excess deaths, many were the result of heart disease and strokes. This information is particularly concerning since researchers have found that the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA shots dramatically increase biomarkers associated with thrombosis, cardiomyopathy, and other vascular events after injection. The study was published in the journal Circulation and originally concluded that:22 the mRNA vacs dramatically increase inflammation on the endothelium and T cell infiltration of cardiac muscle and may account for the observations of increased thrombosis, cardiomyopathy, and other vascular events following vaccination. But this was later changed to:23 the mRNA vacs numerically increase (but not statistically tested) the markers IL-16, Fas, and HGF, all markers previously described by others for denoting inflammation on the endothelium and T cell infiltration of cardiac muscle, in a consecutive series of a single clinic patient population receiving mRNA vaccines without a control group. Two World Views and One Is Badly, Badly Wrong In a Dec. 17, 2022 GBN segment,24 Neil Oliver, British television presenter, archaeologist, historian, and author quoted American scientist Carl Sagan, who insisted on aggressive, enthusiastic skepticism at all times in relation to science because thats how we get ahead, by remaining open to new ideas at all times. Skeptical inquiry is the order of the day. He was of course referencing the phenomenal differences in opinion around the COVID pandemic and the genetic jab. As one example he talked about the few minutes in which Andrew Bridgen presented before the House of Commons that Oliver believes should make the Big Book of History. Bridgen called for a complete suspension of the rollout of vaccines because of clear and robust data of significant harms and little ongoing benefit. Bridgen referenced the research by Malhotra, who has described the rollout of the Pfizer product as perhaps the greatest miscarriage of medical science attack on democracy, damage to population health and erosion of trust in medicine that we will witness in our lifetime. Bridgen also referenced the half a million reports of serious adverse effects and a journalist from a major news outlet who is afraid to report what hes seen or he would lose his job. He talked about the re-analysis of Pfizers data that was published in a peer-reviewed journal demonstrating there was one serious adverse effect for every 800 jabs and how other products have been withdrawn from the market after far lower incidences of harm. Bridgen concluded that weve sacrificed far too many citizens on the altar of ignorance and unfettered corporate greed. He was followed by Maria Caulfield, undersecretary of state at the Department of Health and Social Care. Although she didnt speak as long, she was unequivocal in her belief that the vaccine had made the biggest difference in combating COVID-19. She was adamant that all the vaccines in the UK are safe and debunked what she called conspiracy theories that people were benefiting financially from the vaccine. Oliver admits it is not possible for both individuals to be talking about the same reality, but it was apparent that they each were as committed to their worldview as the other. In his opinion, of these two mutually exclusive worldviews, one of them has gotten it badly, badly wrong. Originally published Jan. 03, 2023, on Mercola.com Sources and References 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. The incredibly gifted filmmaker Mikki Willis has just provided us all with the belated Christmas Present which so many have been cravinga well-edited summary of his wisdom and insight from decades of involvement in movements focused on social change. Yesterday, Jill, myself, and Drs. Kat Lindley and Ryan Cole were in London for interviews with various GB News personalities, including Nigel Farage! Great fun, and we all really enjoy working with the highly professional GB News production team and staff. For those not aware, Nigels prime-time news and commentary show routinely blows away the BBC [British Broadcasting Corporation] for viewership including views on the video clips that are produced and distributed. Today, our little band of fellow medical Truth Tellers all traveled to Stockholm for a Pandemic (Plandemic?) Strategies meeting to be held over the next few days. Stay tuned for more updates from our adventures here in Sweden! As most of your know by now, the globalists seem to be having a few setbacks lately. Ms. Arden, the current leader of the WEF [World Economic Forum] client state previously known as New Zealand, has decided to step down from that posting, and there are apparently fewer A-list Overlords in attendance this year. Setting aside the snark for a moment (well, maybe not completely), back in the real world inhabited by humans (as opposed to the Lizard people), the incredibly gifted filmmaker Mikki Willis has just provided us all with the belated Christmas Present which so many have been cravinga well-edited Rumble video summary of his wisdom and insight from decades of involvement in movements focused on social change, and in particular the forces and Fifth Generation Warfare strategies that are repeatedly deployed against social movements at the stage which we seem to be approaching. Unfortunately, Rumble is blocked in SOME European Union countries, so hopefully, this Substack can penetrate that firewall for those unfortunate souls who live behind the blue curtain with gold stars. Mikki has graciously offered to serve as a guest author/artist for todays Substack video essay (posted at the top of this essay). I suspect that you will find his wisdom and counsel as valuable as I have, and strongly encourage coming back to this, again and again, to refresh and meditate on his teaching. I am far from becoming a modern Bodhisattva and often fail in my efforts to be better than my base instincts, but with Mikkis help, perhaps all of us may be able to nudge ourselves a bit closer to fulfilling our individual and collective potential. I hope the following brief bio will help introduce you to my colleague and valued friend Mikki Willis. A father, husband, artist, truth warrior, and freedom fighter of the highest caliber. I hope you find the appended video that Mikki and his team at Elevate have produced. - Best-selling author/Investigative filmmaker Mikki Willis is respected globally for exposing corruption at the highest levels. His filmmaking is accredited for helping to win major lawsuits against the most powerful forces of Big Media. His latest work, Plandemic, is the most seen and censored documentary series in history. The first PLANDEMIC, a 26-minute documentary, has been seen by over one billion people worldwide, setting a historic record. The premiere of PLANDEMIC 2: INDOCTORNATION set streaming records with 2 million viewers attending the global livestream. The series is accredited for being first to warn the world of the crimes against humanity that are now being brought to light. Plandemic 3: The Great Awakening, premieres globally 6/3/23. They tried to bury us. They did not know we were seeds. Dinos Christianopoulos MIKKI WILLISFATHER/FILMMAKER PlandemicSeries.com Our Birthright Ive been a human rights activist for almost 20 years. As a documentary filmmaker, Ive been on the front lines of many of our nations biggest scandals and protests. From that perspective, Ive been an eyewitness to the rise and fall of numerous people-powered movements. Nearly every organized resistance Ive been a part of has ended just inches from victory for the same critical mistake infighting. When members of the same group turn against each other. It often begins with whispers about the most prominent spokespeople of the cause. These rumors typically sound like I hear John is controlled opposition or some people are saying Jane is compromised. While the use of infiltrators and agitators is a very real thing, Ive yet to experience one scenario where such a label was accurately applied, and suspiciously, these labels are always branded on the people who are making the most progress. With the degradation of their reputation, goes their contribution to your life. Prior to social media, people actually sat down to dialog through their differences. Today, without solid evidence or sufficient inquiry, we go directly to our keyboards to vent our suspicions. Even after the rumor is proven false or simply fades away, some level of doubt and division always remains. This is all by design. Part of what allowed so many people to walk away from Assange was some of the MeToo allegations that had surfaced and that were ultimately discredited, but stuck in peoples minds. The voices of propaganda are masterful at this game. They knowingly run a false story, then retract it, knowing the lie will reach millions, but very few will see the correction. Amy Coney Barretts religious faith is being called into question again. She belongs to this People of Praise group, which the Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled a hate group. (THE NEXT DAY) When I stated that People of Praise had been deemed a hate group, I just got them mixed up with another group. I conflated them. Ah, okay, that happens. You know, its easy to do. In the words of former CIA director William Casey. Well know our disinformation campaign is complete when everything the American public believes is false. The planting of divisive rumors is one of the most common tactics used in psychological warfare. As the lies bloom, like worker bees, well-intended citizens pollinate the masses with poisonous disinformation. What the gossiping bees fail to realize is that they themselves are doing the work of controlled opposition. They are literally, unwittingly working on behalf of the very forces they believe they are resisting. Again, all of this is by design. While weve all been distracted by the latest trends and tragedies, everything that has influence on our behavior has been infiltrated by an agenda to control our thoughts. Whether their goal is to make us purchase a product, vote for a political party, or submit to experimental inoculations, there are forces at work who understand the functionalities of your mind far better than you do. Their goal is total control. But because they are the few and we are the many, they can only achieve total control through the age-old tactic of divide and conquer. Youre either with them or with us. Never before have we been so divided. Divided by politics, religion, nation, state, race, class, gender, and now vaccine status. To better understand how we got here, consider these three quotes from The Art of War by Sun Tzu: The Supreme Art of War is to subdue the enemy without fighting. Victorious warriors win first, and then go to war. The secret lies in confusing the enemy so that he cannot fathom our real intent. Though Sun Tzu, lived over 2500 years ago, his work remains at the heart of our CIA, as well as the Chinese Communist Partys strategy today. Its no coincidence that around the same era as Sun Tzu, the words United We Stand, Divided We Fall were first recorded. It is Unity that will save our communities. As you see in the audience, Muslims, Christians, Jewish community, Democrats, Republicans, white, black, everyone all in between. This is the example of what you get when you choose to attack all members of the human family. Our greatest power is our numbers. Hence, the relentless effort to shatter us into broken fragments. As their agendas are being exposed, the dividers will stop at nothing to cover their crimes against humanity. They have bunkers. All we have is each other. The good news is, thats all we need. Though we are intrinsically interconnected, our minds are being wired to obsess over our differences. Contrary to social indoctrination, we do not have to be ideologically aligned to stand together. We dont even have to like each other. There is only one thing that we must agree on. That freedom is our birthright. Now is the time to let go of whatever it is youre holding on to that keeps you divided from your friends, family, and fellow humans. Rise above all the micro dramas and distractions to see that a much bigger story is unfolding. Swallow your pride. Humble yourself. Let it go. Im not suggesting that we look the other way when someone is clearly thwarting our forward momentum. There are people who deserve to be called out by name, especially those who are undermining our trust in each other. But even then, we should remember that there is a human life being affected by our words. Weve been so conditioned to believe we are powerless that weve become careless with our power. Like toddlers with loaded guns. How many times do we need to shoot our own foot till we realize that the power is in our hands? The only thing that can stop us at this point is us. Weve all been lied to, scammed, fooled, tricked, conned, and coerced. Yes, it sucks. But here we are, wiser and stronger than we were just three years ago. This is the moment for us to activate our innate ability to create solutions that can only happen through the awareness of symbiosis defined as a mutually beneficial relationship between different groups. All of life depends on relationships. Every living thing is in communication from the stars, to the planets, the earth, the plants, the elements, the insects, the animals, the humans, and every cell within us. Real change out there, begins with real change inside. The question is: How bad does it have to get before were willing to change? Reposted from the authors Substack 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. For the star San Diego chef, who left Daniel Bouluds New York kitchens to open a CaliforniaMediterranean restaurant in his hometown, the beauty is in the process Crowning the open kitchen of Callie, in San Diegos East Village, is a sheet of glowing, rust-colored steel that comes to a point in the centerlike the bow of a ship, said chef-owner Travis Swikard. Working each evening service, I stand right there, and its me at the helm of my ship coming home, bringing back everything I have with me. Theres some precious cargo onboard. Culinary school in New England and a stint in London; a decade working under revered French fine dining chef Daniel Boulud in New York; and a lifetime of dogged hard work, attention to detail, and rabbit-hole-diving curiosity have all led to Swikards debut restaurant, opened in June 2021. Here, fine-dining finesse meets surfer-dude casual (flip-flops are welcome), and the Mediterranean flavors he fell in love with during his travels meet his hometowns home-grown abundance. Swikard had his heart set on a culinary career since childhood. But he credits his mentor, chef Gavin Kaysen, with first showing him its true potential: an endless opportunity for growth and knowledge for the rest of your life. He was able to get into my head at a young age that you need to build a great, strong foundationlearning your tools, how to sharpen your knife, where the fish comes from, Swikard said. Build a 1-by-1 foundation, Kaysen told him, and youll be set up for a 1-by-1 house. But build one thats 10 feet deep [and] wide, and you can build the Empire State Buildingthe skys your limit. Humility was another early lesson. You realize that the faster you can bring humility to yourself, the faster and bigger youll be able to grow. Youll open yourself up one, to be vulnerable, but also two, to new knowledge all the time. Those understandings were reinforced during a training trip to Japan, which left him in awe of the depth of technique behind the most deceptively simple dishes. Take the nuanced, multi-step process of preparing hirame, a type of flatfish, from proper butchering to hand-plating: At the end, its a bite of umami like youve never had beforeand theres nothing on the fish. But the only way you get there is knowing everything that gets you there; you cant just buy the fish and cut it open. It really made me fall in love with that process of trying to express the best of that ingredient. With that approach, and San Diegos unmatched bounty, its no wonder that every dish at Callie sings. Theres no better place in the world to have a restaurant that is ingredient-focused, Swikard said. For his vegetables, he works with local farmers 120, 180 days out, planting lettuce from seeds for the next season. Seafood arrives still breathing from local fishermen; he might not know exactly what hell get until the morning of, but I know exactly where its coming from, how it was caught, the guy that pulled it out of the water. That freshness is apparent in dishes like the squid ink rigatoni, where the sweetest morsels of spiny lobster tail shine even in the boldly flavored fra diavolo sauce. The sauce is made with the lobster shells, and roasted local peppers and leeks. Vegetables are also pushed to their best: A beets and roses dish elevates the humble roots with rose-infused labneh, fresh herbs, pomegranate seeds, and bits of caramelized pistachioan unexpected medley of textures and flavors that is a pure delight to eat. The hummus is a standout among a selection of all-excellent dips. Skinned chickpeas are whizzed with tahini, garlic confit, and California olive oil; spiked with a bright zhug sauce made with local serrano peppers and preserved Bearss limes from Swikards fathers backyard; and served with pita made with rye berries milled and ground in-house. Ethereally light but deeply savory, its the kind of dish you could eat foreverpita or no pita. Swikard is excited to explore new opportunities herecatalyzing the citys burgeoning food scene, expanding his skillset and capacity as a restaurateur, and stepping into a mentor role himself, helping his team members build out their foundations, too. Running a restaurant is not just [about] being a great chef, he said. Its about understanding the whole picture of hospitality, a lesson he learned from Boulud. How do you take this heartbeat of yours that loves people, and wants to share that with people, how do you make that a reality? How do you share your heart with people [and] build a hospitality system where they can really feel the love in the dining room? Callie is only the first brick atop his own foundation, he said: Ive got a long way to go. Meet the Chef: Travis Swikard Age: 38 Comfort Food: Ramen from Menya Ultra Underrated Ingredient: Im somewhat of a tahini freak. Last Meal: At a round table surrounded with people that I love. Good conversation, a bunch of laughter, and great wine. House Passes Bill to Improve FAA System That Failed, Led to Grounding of All US Flights The House on Jan. 25 passed a bipartisan bill to help improve the pilot notification system operated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that failed earlier this month and caused all flights across the United States to be grounded. The agencys Notice To Air Missions (NOTAM) system failed for the first time in history on Jan. 11. The system is critical for relaying essential information to flights. It alerts pilots of potential hazards along a flight route, or at a spot that could affect the flights safety. Such hazards might include runway closures, airspace restrictions, to snow, volcanic ash, or birds near airports. That system failure prompted the FAA to ground all U.S. flights to ensure safety. The move affected more than 11,300 flights for several hours. It marked the first nationwide grounding of domestic flights in about two decades, since the Sept. 11 terror attacks. H.R. 346, the NOTAM Improvement Act of 2023 (pdf), would create a task force under the FAA to propose ways to help make the system more stable and protected from cyber attacks. According to the text of the bill, the task force could comprise at least one air carrier representative, union official, general or business aviation representative, an aviation safety expert with knowledge of NOTAMs, human factor expert, and a computer system architecture and cybersecurity expert. The legislation passed the House with a vote of 424-4. Its the third time it has passed the chamber. Previously, in the past two Congresses, the Senate didnt take up the proposed legislation. Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), who introduced the bill, said on Twitter following the bills passing that if passed, it will improve aviation safety by requiring clearer safety notifications to pilots and updates to NOTAMs computer system. On the House floor, Stauber encouraged senators to pass the legislation to guard against future failures of the NOTAM system. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.) co-led the bipartisan bill with Stauber. The FAA meltdown this month that led to thousands of cancelled flights made even clearer the need to modernize our aviation safety system, DeSaulnier said in a statement. A flight information display lists canceled and delayed flights due to an FAA outage that grounded flights across the United States at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va., on Jan. 11, 2023. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) Jason Ambrosi, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, praised the legislation, calling it a step toward improving the NOTAM system and maintaining the safety of our skies. He said he urges Congress to prioritize additional resources for the FAA to improve NOTAMs and all of the air traffic management systems necessary to keep flying safeand Americas air transportation system moving. Outage Due to Deleted Files The FAA on Jan. 19 announced that a preliminary review of the NOTAM outage suggests that government contractors had unintentionally deleted files while working to correct synchronization between the live primary database and a backup database, which led to the outage. The FAA said it would continue to investigate but also noted that it had yet to find any signs of a cyber attack or any bad actors. It added that it has made the necessary repairs to the system and is working to make it more resilient. Eric Blinderman, the senior director of communications at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, previously told The Epoch Times that there is no backup for the NOTAM system that can be used in case of a long-term outage, which is part of what caused the ground stop. According to Blinderman, the impact is so widespread because the FAA oversees the national airspace and all operations at and around the more than 5,000 public-use airports nationwide. This could potentially cause delays that stretch into the next days or even weeks. All pilots should be concerned about delays. Regulations state that all pilotscommercial and privateneed to be aware of all aspects of their flights, and the NOTAM system provides up-to-date information essential to all flights, Blinderman said. While FAA officials have been involved in efforts to modernize the NOTAM system in recent years, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has said that the NOTAM system is constantly being updated, but its not clear that its outdated. We will not allow anything to take place that is not safe, Buttigieg told reporters earlier in January. This is precisely why our focus right now is on understanding, identifying, and correcting anything related to the root cause of how this happened in the first place. The infrastructure bill Congress passed last year allocated around $5 billion for air traffic control facilities, with some congressional staffers suggesting some of that money could be spent on equipment upgrades that would improve the NOTAM system. Buttigieg said that any NOTAM upgrade might have to wait for a new funding bill that allocates money to the FAA. Congress is set to reauthorize the FAAs funding for five years. The current five-year authorization of FAA programs expires on Sept. 30 this year. I think this gives us a really important data point and a really important moment to understand what were going to need moving forward, Buttigieg told reporters. Savannah Pointer and Tom Ozimek contributed to this report. Mr. Kawamidare Mutuma, a board member of a precious metal manufacturer, attends Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Shinjuku Bunka Center in Tokyo, Japan, on Jan. 25, 2023. (Annie Gong/The Epoch Times) TOKYO, JapanShen Yun Performing Arts took to the stage for the second day in Tokyo at the Shinjuku Bunka Center on Jan. 25, where many business elites were among the audience. Several commented on the sense of compassion and strong kindness they felt from the performers, and how it changed them. My soul has been cured by Shen Yun, said Mr. Kawamidare Mutuma, a board member of a precious metal manufacturer. The performance is amazing. He said Shen Yun is beautiful both externally, and internally. Im very impressed. The costumes are gorgeous. The dances are elegant and magical. The 3-D backdrop is incredible! he said. The dancers are very pure. Their expressions are honest and compassionate, he said. I strongly felt the kindness from dancers hearts. New York-based Shen Yun is the worlds top classical Chinese dance company, and has a mission to show the beauty and goodness of China before communism. For 5,000 years Chinas civilization was built on values and virtues from the spiritual teachings of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Mr. Baba Hisao, the president of Lions Clubs International Tokyo, attends Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Shinjuku Bunka Center in Tokyo, Japan, on Jan. 25, 2023. (Lu Yong/The Epoch Times) Mr. Baba Hisao shared the same feeling with Mr. Kawamidare. I felt the kindness on very deep levels. Its an old kindness, passed down from history, he said. The classical Chinese dance is stunningly beautiful. My heart is very peaceful and happy now. Mr. Baba is well respected in Japans semiconductor industry. He is the president of Lions Clubs International Tokyo, and was the vice president of Samsung Japan and the president of TSMC Japan. He felt excited to attend Shen Yun. The live orchestra coordinates with the dance perfectly. Its astounding. I want to say that this is a really magnificent performance, he said. Shen Yun has in recent years set a new bar for classical Chinese dance internationally. The 2023 season will be Shen Yuns biggest yet, with its eight equally sized touring companies set to visit more than 180 cities across five continents. Very Meaningful Mr. Iwazaki Tetsuya is the customer center director of a special steel plant. In an interview, he repeatedly expressed how touched he was by Shen Yun. The show is spectacular, he said. All dances are cheerful and fast-paced. The costumes are brilliant. And the overall impressions are fantastic. The dancers skills are extraordinary. The dances synchronization is the best, he said. I felt the Chinese tradition from the dancers. And they danced, using their art to venerate the divine. I think this is a very meaningful performance. Mr. Iwazaki said he felt Shen Yun was bright and valiant, which uplifted him. He was surprised by the accurate cooperation among dances, music, and backdrop. I dont know if its the dancers dance matching the backdrop, or if the backdrop is controlled to match the dance. They synchronized perfectly, which was fantastic, he said. He said he wanted to attend Shen Yun again, because one time wasnt enough. Each Shen Yun performance consists of nearly 20 vignettes, presented through highly-expressive art forms such as classical Chinese dance, original orchestral music performed live, soloists who sing in the bel canto tradition, animated digital backdrops, and more. All Artists Are Superstars Mr. Ishi Masakazu, the consultant of a well-established, century-old construction company, said all Shen Yun artists were superstars. I cant imagine how long the time it takes to train a person into a Shen Yun dancer. They pull off splits to an incredible degree, and they can kick their legs extremely high, he said. Their techniques and synchronization cant be attained by regular dancers. Mr. Ishi believes that music can reach the heart and control the soul. He enjoyed Shen Yuns music very much. The orchestra created a complete feeling. It brought me into the stories. I love it, he said. The cooperation between the Western instruments and the Eastern instruments are perfect, and perform exactly what the dances need. The sound of the two-stringed Chinese instrument erhu enchanted Mr. Ishi. He said: The virtuoso can make so rich sound by controlling the strength of her pressing the string. Her fingers moved very fast. Sometimes, she plucked the strings. Sometimes, she used the bow to make jumping rhythms. I enjoyed it a lot. Mr. Ishi Masakazu, the consultant of a century-old Japanese famous construction company, attends Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Shinjuku Bunka Center in Tokyo, Japan, on Jan. 25, 2023. (Niu Bin/The Epoch Times) Reporting by Epoch Times Staff in Tokyo, Japan. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. Though she was going blind, Bertha Elizabeth Lloyd never lost sight of the importance of the work. The Newville area woman kept right on crocheting intricate crosses to share with those struggling with tragedy and loss. Her story is interwoven with the Dickinson Presbyterian Church in Penn Township. Whenever we were praying for someone, they received a card, Judy May-Bennett recalled. In that card was a small croqueted cross. Bertha made many crosses. Lloyd and her tokens of faith will be among the tributes shared throughout this year as the church celebrates its 200th anniversary. Most every Sunday, after each service, there will be a Moment in History to reflect upon key events and people who have shaped this ministry. The public is welcome to attend. We want to reach back and find nuggets in history that were special to the folks at the time and are still special to us, said Bennett, who chairs the anniversary committee. We want to take them further so that the next generation will have them. Examples include the ancient oak trees that surround the 1829 church building. The trees have become a symbol of the longevity of the congregation through good times and bad. One of our Moments in History will be planting another oak tree, Bennett said. We have planted some from acorns. Dickinson has been steady and true to its faithful members and to the community. Yet another Moment will focus on the Feather and Knocker. As the story goes, two church members used to patrol the sanctuary on the hunt for anyone foolish enough to doze off during the sermon. One of the two had a stick with a feather to flick under the nose. The other had a knocker to tap the person or the pew. On other Sundays, Pastor Neal McCulloch will bring to life the ministry of ten other pastors of the church by shaping the weekly message around their letters and diaries. Aside from weekly observances, major events are planned for every month of 2023, Bennett said. This Sunday, Richard Tritt from the Cumberland County Historical Society will present a program on early Presbyterian Churches in Cumberland County. Tritt will explain how, when and by whom the early churches were organized and eventually founded. In many cases, the major events involve a guest speaker who will invited to join the congregation for its Coffee Fellowship for that church members could ask the person questions and engage in conversation. In March, we have invited all the organizations that we have financially supported over the years to a Mission Fair, Bennett said. We will have tables setup for a meet-and-greet where people can talk more closely with the groups. The July event will be a big deal for us, she added. A lot of things will be going on. There will be music, food and games. Were hoping to get a lot of community support. While the anniversary committee has a general list of the events, some details still need to be worked out. For more information, visit the church website at www.dickinsonchurch.org/. In addition to the Moments in History and monthly events, the church will be visited by what the committee calls Time Travelers. These are church members who have volunteered to sit quietly in the pews at services dressed in garb from different historic periods. The idea is to represent a general impression of past church-goers, not to recreate specific individuals, Bennett said. The historical society (in Carlisle) has been very gracious in lending us costumes to ear. Some people go to attics or sewing machines. They produce their own. Pastor Neal will refer to them in his message. Its a wonderful feeling to realize that this church has been an integral part of this community for 200 years, she added. We are just in awe of the original members. Some of whom sleep in our cemetery. The foresight they had to plant this wonderful church. It has survived in a climate where many churches have to close their doors. 200th anniversary events The Dickinson Presbyterian Church in Penn Township has a full schedule of monthly events planned to celebrate the 200th anniversary of its ministry. Many of the events listed below are general. As each event draws near, additional detail will be posted on the church website at www.dickinsonchurch.org/. The weekly worship service is Sunday at 10:25 a.m. This Sunday, Jan. 29 local historian Richard Tritt, photo curator at the Cumberland County Historical Society, will present a program during the service on early Presbyterian churches in the county. Specifically, he will share details on how churches were located and why specific locations were chosen. Sunday, Feb. 12 a Celebration of Love is planned. Pastor Neal McCulloch will share a morning message from 1st Corinthians 13 focusing on Gods love. A fellowship time will follow the worship service during which sweet treats and special activities will be available for people of all ages. On Sunday, March 5 the church will celebrate its heritage of supporting missions. Longtime local mission partners will be invited to share fellowship time following the worship service. April A Lent and Easter celebration is planned May A High Tea Memorial Day service June Graduation recognition and Time Keepers July A weekend long community event featuring special music, historical building tours and other activities August A community hymn sing and a Blessing of the Backpacks in time for Back to School. September A special 200th anniversary church service October The dedication of historic plaques November A Harvest home, Veterans Days service and a special service celebrating the Stuart family, one of the founding families of the church. December An outdoor tree lighting, a night of music and giving, a Christmas Eve service and a vintage Christmas celebration Photos: Celebrating 200 years of history at Dickinson Presbyterian Church in Penn Township Incel Ideology That Urges Followers to Take the Red Pill Is on the Rise, Says UK Researcher Exeter University academic says some incels are as young as 12 or 13 A fan cosplays as Morpheus from "The Matrix" during the 2018 New York Comic-Con at Javits Center, New York City, on Oct. 7, 2018. (Roy Rochlin/Getty Images) A British academic who has conducted the biggest study of incel ideology online says it is still growing and appears to be a backlash against feminism. In recent weeks there have been an increasing number of articles in British media about incels, or involuntary celibates, partly linked to a focus on online misogyny following the arrest of influencer Andrew Tate in Romania. Lewys Brace, a senior lecturer in computational social science at the University of Exeter, said of the incel community: Its grown, and its continuing to grow and diversify, not just growing in terms of users, but also in terms of platforms on which the content appears on. He said the incel community in Britain had grown since the pandemic and the COVID-19 lockdowns, partly because people were at home more, but he added: I also think its also partly due to the fact that its a much more insidious ideology than some others in the way they really prey on some of the insecurities of these very, very young people. And I mean, they are quite young. Ive seen posts from people who are 12 or 13. Brace told The Epoch Times: So the incels basically believe that all the traits that women find attractive in men are biologically predetermined. Things like hairline, jaw line, eye colour, stuff like that. They then believe that these traits are sub-standard in themselves, that they are naturally quite ugly. Andrew Tate leaves the Court of Appeal in Bucharest, Romania, on Jan. 10, 2023. (Alexandru Dobre/AP Photo) At the same time, they believe that since the rise of second wave feminism in the 60s and more recently with various social and technological innovations and developments, that women have gained more autonomy and no longer depend on men for social and economic security, he added. Brace said incels believe this has led to women now pursuing their base urges, which is to sexually reproduce with the most attractive of men. Incel Ideology Strips Women of All Agency He said: So its quite misogynistic in multiple ways, but one of the ways in which it is most misogynistic is the way it strips women of all agency. Incel terminology ranks the most handsome, tall, and physically perfect men as Chads, and describes beautiful, unattainable women as Stacys. Below them come beta males, sometimes called normies, and plain women, known as Beckys. Then, right at the bottom, come incels. In the incel ideology, Alpha males such as Tate, a former kickboxer, will always have more success with women and they believelike the plot of the movie The Matrixmen can either take the blue pill and continue to live in ignorance, or take the red pill and accept the reality of their situation. Brace said the wider manosphere includes incels and men going their own way, while Tate would be in a category called pick-up artists. Undated screengrab, taken from a video posted on YouTube, of Jake Davison, who murdered five people in Plymouth, England, on Aug. 12, 2021. (PA) An inquest into the murder of five people in the port city of Plymouth in August 2021 heard evidence last week that the gunman, Jake Davison, had browsed incel websites shortly before the massacre. Davisonwho gunned down five people in the space of eight minutes, including a 3-year-old girlis not the first killer known to be influenced by incel culture. In 2018 self-identified incel Alek Minassian mowed down 10 people on the streets of downtown Toronto. Just before embarking on his attack Minassian went on the message board 4Chan and posted a manifesto that began: Private (Recruit) Minassian Infantry 00010, wishing to speak to Sgt 4chan please. C23249161. The Incel Rebellion has already begun! We will overthrow all the Chads and Stacys! All hail the Supreme Gentleman Elliot Rodger! That was a reference to Elliot Rodger, who shot and stabbed six people in California in 2014 before turning his gun on himself. In February 2020 a 17-year-old incel stabbed a sex worker to death at a massage parlour near Toronto. The teenager later praised Minassian and, when asked by a police officer why he identified as an incel, told them: You dont choose to become an incel. You are born one. Police on scene after a van driven by Alek Minassian mounted a sidewalk and crashed into a number of pedestrians, in Toronto, on April 23, 2018. (Aaron Vincent Elkaim/The Canadian Press) Brace said Davison and Minassian were both 25 when they carried out their attacks and both had intended to die, but Minassian, who was hoping for suicide by cop, survived. He said this appeared to be a common thread among older incels. Brace said while many young men who flirt with incel ideology as teenagers end up having more life experience and grow out of it, there are others who, in their mid-20s, stick with it. Dangers of Going Down Incel Rabbit Hole They go down this rabbit hole and they eventually hit a point where they feel like this logic is true, and theres no escaping it. And I think once they go down that rabbit hole, thats when they start to become obviously more of an attack threat, he added. In incel ideology, taking the black pill means either accepting your fate or doing something about it, meaning some kind of mass violence. In May 2014 Elliot Rodger, 22, posted a retribution video on YouTube and emailed a lengthy autobiographical document to more than 30 acquaintances after carrying out a massacre near a university campus in California. This image from video posted on YouTube shows Elliot Rodger. (YouTube/AP Photo) Rodger never actually used the term incel, but his misogynistic manifesto laid the groundwork for much of the online ideology. Superintendent Rachel Bentley told the Plymouth inquest Davison had watched a YouTube video about Rodger and had also made references to the black pill. Davison also uploaded videos in which he described himself as a virgin, [expletive] fat and ugly. Brace said the term incel has actually been around since the late 1990s and was ironically first coined by a Canadian woman who set up a website called Alanas Involuntary Celibate Group and called members invcels, a word which morphed into incels. Interviewed by the BBC in 2018, Alana said her website had been a friendly place and added: It definitely wasnt a bunch of guys blaming women for their problems. Thats a pretty sad version of this phenomenon thats happening today. Charlotte Proudman, a London-based barrister and feminist activist, wrote last week on Twitter: We need to stop thinking of incels as awkward hideaways in a basement on the internet. They are literally YouTubers, policemen, politicians, fathers and brothers. Being an incel has nothing to do with the way you look or present, its the way you value and treat women. In October 2022 the government issued advice on understanding and identifying radicalisation risk in schools, colleges, and universities. Its document said there was also a threat from those with mixed, unclear or unstable ideology. This includes those who target a perceived other of some kind (perhaps based on gender or another protected characteristic), but do not otherwise identify with one particular terrorist ideology or cause for example, involuntary celibates (incels) who direct their anger mainly at women. Overlap Between Incel Community and Far-Right Brace said there is overlap between the incel community and the far-right. The blue pill/red pill, thats very common in the far-right, as is this whole idea of this mythical golden age long ago. Theres some anecdotal evidence that perhaps members of the far-right are trying to prey on the weaknesses of incels. But I cant speak to that because theres no empirical data for that, he said. Brace said there is growing awareness of the danger posed by the incel ideology online. He said: Schools are very much aware of it. The problem is, they are doing everything they can but the government needs to enact a more holistic base approach, dealing with this stuff We need to introduce lessons into the national curriculum to deal with disinformation, extremist content online, and basically train young people to know when they see this stuff, to know its not true, and so deal with it in a healthy sort of way. Its much like an inoculation, to use a terribly contemporary metaphor. Indian Court Grants Extradition for Australia Murder Suspect Policemen escort Rajwinder Singh, 38, after he was arrested in New Delhi on Nov. 25, 2022. (Dinesh Joshi/AP Photo) NEW DELHIA court in New Delhi on Tuesday approved an extradition request for the prime suspect in the killing of a woman on an Australian beach four years ago. Rajwinder Singh, who is of Indian origin, was arrested in November on the outskirts of the Indian capital. His arrest came three weeks after he was targeted with a 1 million Australian dollar ($677,000) reward. Australia had applied to India for Singhs extradition in March 2021, but he could not be found. Singh, 38, flew from Sydney to India the day after 24-year-old Australian Toyah Cordingleys body was found on the Queensland state coast on Oct. 22, 2018. The courts order approving Singhs extradition to Australia will now need to be signed off by the Indian government, which could take a few weeks, said Ajay Digpaul, standing counsel for the federal Indian government. He added that Singh earlier this month waived his right to challenge the extradition. In November, Australias attorney general said Singhs extradition is a high priority for his government and that it will work with Indian authorities to ensure Singh returned to Australia to face justice. The Queensland government on Nov. 3 offered the largest reward in the states history for information about Singh. The reward was unique in that it did not seek a clue that solves a crime and leads to a successful prosecution. Instead, the money is offered for information that leads only to a suspects location and arrest. Indian police arrested Singh on the same day they received information about his whereabouts, Australian Federal Police said in November. New Delhi police said Singh was arrested on a highway to his home state of Punjab based on intelligence shared by the France-based international policing organization Interpol as well as Australian police. Singh was believed to be avoiding apprehension in the Punjab region in India since traveling to the country in 2018, according to Australian police. Singh was employed as a nurse at Innisfail, a town south of the major city of Cairns, when Cordingley was killed on Wangetti Beach. She had gone to the beach to walk her dog. Australia and India have had a extradition treaty in place since 2010, but the process can be slow. For 13 years, Australia has been pursuing the extradition of Indian national Puneet Puneet, 33, who fled Australia after he was convicted of drunk driving and speeding when he hit and killed one pedestrian and injured another in downtown Melbourne in 2008. Journalist Deaths Jumped 50 Percent in 2022, Led by Ukraine, Mexico Photos of slain journalists are displayed on a wall during a vigil to protest the murder of journalist Fredid Roman, outside Mexico's Attorney General's office in Mexico City on Aug. 24, 2022. (Eduardo Verdugo/AP Photo) PORT-AU-PRINCE, HaitiKillings of journalists around the world jumped by 50 percent in 2022 compared to the previous year, driven largely by attacks in Ukraine, Mexico, and Haiti. According to a report Tuesday by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), at least 67 news media workers were killed worldwide in 2022, the highest number since 2018. Journalists in the three countries say the increased danger has forced them to work under extreme stress. The effect is particularly notable in Haiti, where seven journalists were killed in 2022, a huge number for a small island country of about 12 million people. Some were killed by violent street gangs that have basically taken over the capital, Port au Prince, but at least two were shot by police. People help a journalist overcome by tear gas, launched by police during a protest over the death of journalist Romelson Vilsaint, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Oct. 30, 2022. (Ramon Espinosa/AP Photo) Radio Caraibes reporter Mackenson Remy, who still covers news on the street, said journalists no longer know whom to trust. Reporting in Haiti nowadays is extremely difficult for journalists, specifically in the capital, Remy said. Corruption is all over the place; there is no one you are able to count on. Remy compared his work driving around the citys streets, carved up into gang territories, to the 1998 movie The Truman Show, in which the protagonist always feels like hes being watched. The CPJ noted that more than half35 of the 67 killingstook place in just three countries: Ukraine, Mexico, and Haiti. Mexico saw 13 news workers killed, according to the committee. Other media groups have put the number at 15, which would make 2022 the deadliest year in at least three decades for Mexican journalists. In war-battered Ukraine, 15 news workers were killed last year, CPJ said. The CPJ said it had confirmed that 41 of the 67 journalists were killed in direct connection with their work, and that it is investigating the motives for the 26 other slayings. The CPJ said journalists covering the war in Ukraine face enormous risk. Members of the press are frequently injured by shelling while covering the conflict, and some report that they have been targeted by Russian forces, the committee said in its report. In Mexico, the slayings appeared to be due to a toxic mix of drug gang violence, local political corruption and a lack of punishment for killers. Sonia de Anda reports for the Esquina32 news website in the northern border city of Tijuana, where two journalists were killed in the space of a week in January 2022. She said reporters there have changed their work habits or requested police protection since the killings. This changed our entire work dynamic, De Anda said. If reporters go to a high-risk area thats further away, theyll tell their colleagues where they are going. She also noted that requests for official protection increased exponentially after the killings. On Jan. 17, 2022, crime photographer Margarito Martinez was gunned down outside his home. Five days later on Jan. 23, reporter Lourdes Maldonado Lopez was found shot to death inside her car. Investigators said a local drug gang boss paid gunmen about $1,000 to kill the news photographer because he thought Martinez had taken a picture of either him or his family. The photo in question was not Martinezs. Authorities have arrested and put on trial a few low-ranking gunmen, but not those who ordered the killings. The message that the authorities are leaving is that anyone can come around and kill you for $1,000, the CPJ said. The 2022 killings also included four journalists in the Philippines, and two each in Colombia, Brazil and Honduras. Two journalists each were also killed in Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Somalia and Chad. One journalist was killed in the United States last year, on Sept. 2: Jeff German, a reporter for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. A Las Vegas-area elected official about whom German had written articles has pleaded not guilty to the slaying. By Evens Sanon A federal judge in California on Jan. 25 paused the states so-called COVID-19 misinformation and disinformation law that has been challenged by doctors in two lawsuits, claiming it violates their constitutional rights. In Hoeg v. Newsom, five doctors alleged that the state law, AB 2098, is unconstitutional under the First and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. The doctors, Tracy Hoeg, Ram Duriseti, Aaron Kheriaty, Pete Mazolewski, and Azadeh Khatibi, filed their lawsuit against Gov. Gavin Newsom and other officials, including the president and members of the Medical Board of California. A separate related lawsuit, Hoang v. Bonta, makes similar allegations. The doctors say the law prevents them from providing information to their patients that may contradict what the law permits or prohibits. They also alleged the law was used to intimidate and punish physicians who disagreed with prevailing views on COVID-19. Both lawsuits sought a preliminary injunction to prevent the state from enforcing the law. Senior U.S. District Judge William Shubb, a George W. Bush appointee, wrote in his ruling (pdf) it was plausible that the medical board would determine their conduct violates the state law and therefore the doctors fears are reasonable given the ambiguity of the term scientific consensus and of the definition of misinformation as a whole. Shubb noted that this weighed in favor of the plaintiffs having standing. Because the definition of misinformation fails to provide a person of ordinary intelligence fair notice of what is prohibited, [and] is so standardless that it authorizes or encourages seriously discriminatory enforcement, the provision is unconstitutionally vague, Shubb wrote. Accordingly, the court concludes that plaintiffs have demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits of their vagueness challenges. The Law Newsom signed the bill into law in September 2022; it took effect on Jan. 1. The law defines misinformation as false information that is contradicted by contemporary scientific consensus, and prohibits physicians from disseminating misinformation or disinformation related to COVID-19, including false or misleading information regarding the nature and risks of the virus, its prevention and treatment; and the development, safety, and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. Doctors who deviate from the established U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions guidance by attempting to assess and advise their patients as individuals may run afoul of the new law. The state medical board is required by law to act against any licensed doctor charged with unprofessional conduct. The courts ruling effectively halts the law while the legal challenge plays out. The legal organization representing the doctors said their clients were put in a difficult position, fearing repercussions for acting in the best interests of their patients by giving them honest information, depriving them of their right to receive advice and hear treatment options without fear of professional discipline. According to American Civil Liberties Alliance (ACLA), the First Amendment, which protects Americans rights to free speech and expression, applies to minority views and majority opinions. The doctors alleged they have been threatened by other doctors and individuals on social media to use AB 2098 to have their licenses taken away, according to ACLA. They are being put between a rock and a hard place, fearing repercussions for acting in their patients best interests by honestly giving them the information they believe their patients need in order to make informed care decisions, ACLA said in a summary of the case of its website. One of the doctors in Hoeg v. Newsom welcomed the judges ruling. The ruling bodes well for our case: it indicates that our arguments that this law is unconstitutional have strong pre-trial facial plausibility, Kheriaty wrote on Twitter. Not to get ahead of ourselves, of course, or try to predict the final outcome of the case, but this is a very positive development. Kremlin Expresses Alarm Over Doomsday Clock, Blames US and NATO The clock with the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is being placed at a TV studio ahead of the announcement of the location of the minute hand on its Doomsday Clock, indicating what world developments mean for the perceived likelihood of nuclear catastrophe, at the National Press Club in Washington on Jan. 24, 2023. (Leah Millis/Reuters) The Kremlin expressed alarm on Wednesday that the Doomsday Clock had edged closer to midnight than ever, even though the scientists who moved the symbolic dial cited Moscows own thinly veiled threats to use nuclear weapons. The Doomsday Clock, created by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists to illustrate how close humanity has come to the end of the world, on Tuesday moved its time in 2023 to 90 seconds to midnight, 10 seconds closer than it has been for the past three years. Midnight on this clock marks the theoretical point of annihilation. The clocks hands are moved closer to or further away from midnight based on scientists reading of existential threats at a particular time. The situation as a whole is really alarming, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, calling for a sober appraisal of the tensions between Russia and the West over the Ukraine crisis. He said there was no prospect of any detente, based on the line that was chosen by NATO under U.S. leadership. This imposes on us a duty to be particularly careful, to be alert and to take appropriate measures, he added. On Tuesday, the Bulletins president cited repeated warnings by President Vladimir Putin and other Russian politicians that Moscow might be prepared to use nuclear weapons as a key factor in the decision to advance the dial of the Doomsday Clock. Russias thinly veiled threats to use nuclear weapons remind the world that escalation of the conflict by accident, intention or miscalculation is a terrible risk, Rachel Bronson told a news conference in Washington. LA Uses Homeless and COVID Crises to Justify Government Takeover of Rental Market A woman calls for rent cancellation as a coalition of activist groups and labor unions participate in a May Day march for workers' and human rights in Los Angeles on May 1, 2021. (David McNew/AFP via Getty Images) Commentary The progressive mantra, as articulated by former Chicago mayor and Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, is, You never want to let a serious crisis go to waste. From the beginning, many such policymakers seized upon the COVID-19 pandemic crisis to implement new measures, mostly through state of emergency orders, which they could previously only dream about. As the pandemic comes to an end, we see them racing to squeeze in a few last-minute priorities (like eliminating $500 billion in student debt). We also see them locking in measures supposedly put in place solely because of the pandemic, such as mail-in voting. The Los Angeles city council just locked in another such measure. At the end of this month, policies that were put in place during the pandemic to ensure people were not evicted from their homes were set to end. Those protections had been extended multiple times. As years of back rent piled up, landlords could do nothing. But now its been three years, and the economy has been fully reopened for over a year. So there simply is no longer a justification for the moratorium. An apartment for rent sign is posted in South Pasadena, Calif., on Oct. 19, 2022. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images) Rather than continue the ruse that the ongoing protections were about fighting the pandemic, the city council, emboldened by the November elections cementing its progressive base (not only is there not a single Republican among its 15 members, there was not even a Republican on the ballot), decided to make the bulk of them permanent. Even the liberal Los Angeles Times called it a dramatic expansion of tenant protections, which underscores the growing political might of the councils progressive bloc. Among the most significant measures passed, the council voted to require that landlords have just cause before evicting a tenant. This applies to every landlord in L.A., whether it be of a multimillion-dollar mansion, a high-rise apartment, a mom and pop duplex, or a room over the garage. For good measure, L.A.s new mayor, Karen Bass, fresh off declaring a state of emergency over the citys homeless problem, used that crisis as a basis for the new ordinance. She called it crucial to combatting a potential spike in homelessness in our city. (This continues the narrative that the homeless problem is about affordable housing, not that Los Angeles stopped enforcing its no camping laws.) It follows the classic playbook of the left: Government creates a problem (tens of thousands living on the streets because L.A. stopped enforcing its laws), then seeks to solve it by bigger government (a complete takeover of the citys rental housing market). Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass speaks at the podium at the Lorena Plaza affordable housing project site where she signed an affordable housing executive directive in Los Angeles on Dec. 16, 2022. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) The first preamble to the new ordinance states that Los Angeles is experiencing a rental housing shortage. But how does making evicting tenants more difficult address this? Landlords already do not typically evict someone without a good reason. Why evict a good tenant who pays the rent on time? By making it an ordinance, and a complicated one at that (it contains fourteen pages of various rules, requirements, and notice provisions) it means that every eviction is a potential lawsuit. Prove to the court, landlord, that you truly did have a good reason to evict the tenant. And if the reason is a lease violation, you better show that the violations were documented and the tenant was warned. Unauthorized pets? Prove it. Too many people in the unit? Prove it. Disturbing neighbors by being too loud? Prove it. For good measure, it makes a violation of the ordinance a crime! Oh, and all that back rent that has accumulated from the last three years during the COVID eviction moratorium while tenants were living rent free? Not to worry, the council has provided them until as late as February 2024 to pay much of it, with no interest! Now under consideration is another ordinance which mandates that landlords pay for the relocation of a tenant who decides to leave because they determine a rent increase is too high. There is no indication this council plans to limit itself in any way in determining how rental business may be conducted in Los Angeles, demonstrating zero humility over the barrage of recent corruption allegations, from blackmail and kickbacks to racist statements caught on tape, resulting in numerous arrests and resignations. Demonstrators call for a rent strike during the COVID-19 pandemic as they pass City Hall in Los Angeles, Calif., on May 1, 2020. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images) The ordinance demonstrates simple-minded political thinking: make it harder to evict, have fewer people without homes. But what the new law will actually do is make housing less affordable and harder to obtain. Landlords will have to pass along the additional costs to the tenant in the form or rent increases and/or not doing various tenant improvements. It will discourage housing development, also driving up price. Why build housing in L.A. and deal with all these restrictions when you can build in a city next door? It will also make it far more difficult for low-income residents to rent an apartment. If a landlord knows he cannot freely evict a tenant, naturally that landlord will be extremely careful about to whom he rents. The landlord likely will demand an impeccable credit score and a demonstrated ability to pay, plus references, something lower income people will not have. It is the same concept in employment. Most states, including California, maintain at-will employment, meaning the employer does not need a reason to terminate an employee. This wisely allows employers to freely hire people knowing that if it does not work out, they can easily fire them. Take away that protection and employers become far more cautious and job seekers find it much harder to obtain a job offer. History has proven that attempts to centrally control an economy always fail. Sadly, L.A. is now simply in the midst of becoming the latest example. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. LAPD Considering Adding Stoppage to Tasers After Keenan Andersons Death The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is looking into options for altering its tasers to limit the number of times an officer can fire to gain compliance from a suspect after a man died hours after an officer tased him six times in 42 seconds following a traffic incident earlier this month. LAPD Chief Michel Moore said during the Jan. 24 police commission meeting that he was looking into whether a stoppage could be added to the departments electroshock weapons to deactivate them for a minute or two between firings. Moore said the death of Keenan Anderson warrants consideration of working with the manufacturer to consider establishing a limit. The departments policy (pdf) permits the use of a taser as a reasonable force option if the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety of the officer or to others. Officers should generally avoid repeated or simultaneous activations to avoid potential injury to the suspect, the policy reads. Erratic Behavior After Car Crash The incident began after Anderson, cousin of Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors, was involved in a traffic accident on Jan. 3 in Venice, California. The LAPD said in a Jan. 6 statement that he was running in the middle of the street and exhibiting erratic behavior after the accident. The LAPD released on Jan. 23 extended bodycam footage showing Andersons initial encounter with the first officer responding to the scene. When the officer arrived at Lincoln and Venice boulevards, Anderson was being evaluated for driving under the influence and was told several times to sit on the sidewalk, according to the video. Appearing to be restless, Anderson kept telling the officer someone was trying to kill him. The officer repeatedly asked him to take some deep breaths for me. Later in the video, Anderson then kept getting up from the sidewalk and running away into traffic as additional officers arrived. Officers ultimately detained him, attempted to place him in handcuffs, hobbled him at his ankles, and tased him. As officers contacted Anderson, he began to resist, resulting in a use of force, the LAPD said in a Jan. 23 statement. Officers struggled with Anderson for several minutes, utilizing a TASER, bodyweight, firm grips, and joint locks to overcome his resistance. Anderson was transported to a hospital in Santa Monica, California, where he later died after a cardiac arrest. The cause of death hasnt been determined. A toxicology report showed cocaine and cannabis in Andersons system, according to Moore. Moore said the incident is being investigated, particularly the repeated use of the taser. Family Suing City The family of Anderson filed a $50 million damages claim on Jan. 20 against the City of Los Angeles. Attorney Carl Douglas announced the claim alongside civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who previously represented the family of George Floyd in Minnesota. The claim, a precursor to a lawsuit, alleges that police officers involved in the incident used excessive force and that the LAPD has a pattern of such against black men. According to the claim, Anderson, the father of a 5-year-old son and a teacher for more than eight years in Washington, had been visiting relatives in the Los Angeles area during the recent holidays. Police Union Defends Officers Responses The Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union that represents hundreds of active LAPD officers, issued a statement in response to the claim, saying that Anderson escalated the confrontation with his behavior. Union director and LAPD Detective Jamie McBride told The Epoch Times that the main officer involved in the incident did an absolutely fantastic job and that the union supports him. He was extremely calm trying to de-escalate him. Thats exactly the training we get, he said. When it comes to the tasing, McBride said officers can reuse it as many times as possible to gain compliance. He said officers attempted to detain Anderson because of his involvement in the traffic collision, but Andersons resistance warranted the use of a taser. The normal person is going to abide by the officers direction, McBride said. When the individual doesnt go by what the officer is asking the officer [is going] to question, Why is he not doing it? The LAPD has a mental health second response team, Systemwide Mental Assessment Response Team (SMART), that can be deployed after a scene is secure and stabilized. However, Debbie Thomas, an officer with the department for 13 years, told The Epoch Times that in the situation with Anderson, there was no possibility of SMART working alongside officers trying to get the situation under control. Theres absolutely no way that any patrol officer would allow an unarmed clinician who has zero tactical experience to be faced with such a volatile and potentially deadly situation, she said. LAs Homeless Count Underway, After Being Criticized for Methodology, Possible Undercounts Last Year As Los Angeles voters just finished an election cycle that magnified the need to resolve the homelessness crisis, another count of the citys homeless population is underway. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) began its homeless point-in-time count Jan. 24. It concludes Jan. 26 and results will be available in late spring or summer. Thousands of volunteers are participating in this years countthe largest in the country. Results determine how much funding the area will receive from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for programs and services to address homelessness. It is one factor the agency considers when allocating funding for homelessness assistance programs, and permanent supportive and interim housing. Homeless individuals live out of cars and RVs in Los Angeles, Calif., on Jan. 20, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Last year, the count recorded 69,144 homeless in Los Angeles County, a 4.1 percent rise from 2020, and 41,980 in the City of LA, an increase of 1.7 percent from 2020. The count for 2021 was canceled due to COVID concerns. A forecast by the Economic Roundtable, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit research center, estimated the countywide number could reach nearly 90,000 this year. Over the next four years the current Pandemic Recession is projected to cause chronic homelessness to increase 49 percent in the United States, 68 percent in California and 86 percent in Los Angeles County, according to a report the roundtable published in January 2021. Lack of Training LAHSA is a joint powers authority of the city and county of Los Angeles created in 1993 to address the issue of homelessness in the region. It came under criticism for last years resultsparticularly from Venice residentswhen undercounting errors were identified after no homeless people were counted in some of the countys most homeless-ridden areas. At the time, LAHSA spokesperson Ahmad Chapman said the agency received reports of technological and connectivity issues resulting from a lack of training. Despite this, however, the agency said it remained confident in the accuracy of the count. Point-in-Time Methodology Los Angeles City Councilmen Kevin de Leon and Bob Blumenfield also questioned last years results when some numbers were inconsistent in their respective districts. Additionally, recently elected Councilwoman Traci Park, who represents District 11 which includes the Venice area, supported a review of the counts methodology during her campaign. In response to the criticism, this year, LAHSA said it hired a demographer and two data scientists to help understand results, will simplify volunteer training both in-person and online, is using a different counting app with a new vendor, has backup paper maps in case of poor internet connectivity and a backup team will be deployed to recount in the event of missing data. Park told The Epoch Times on Tuesday that she and some of her staff will be participating in this weeks count. The point-in-time information is just one of many tools that I will use to implement effective practices to track homelessness and our successes and failures in addressing this crisis, she said. It is also critical that the data be thorough and accurate. Good data, transparency, and accountability are necessary for good policy and effective outcomes. Changes Ahead for LAHSA LAHSA, which has a $730 million annual budget, is undergoing other changes, too, as a new chief executive, Va Lecia Adams Kellum was appointed by the agencys board of commissioners Jan. 23. Other changes are also likely, as the city and county have both stated they are in the process of reevaluating their relationship with the agency. Ive had my doubts about LAHSA, Los Angeles Supervisor Janice Hahn said in a statement after she and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass introduced Adams Kellum in her new role during a Jan. 23 press conference. What LAHSA has done, and, frankly, what our county and our city has done so far to address this crisis, I believe, hasnt worked. Nonetheless, Hahn expressed optimism about the newly-appointed executive, stating that she is someone who has risen to meet the homelessness crisis in a bold way. Let the People Decide: Nationals Senator Propose to Put Australian Day to a Vote The debate over whether Australians should celebrate Australian Day or replace it with Invasion Day could be settled by putting it to a vote, suggests Nationals senator Matt Canavan. Australia Day, Jan. 26, marks the day when Captain Arthur Phillips First Fleet arrived in Sydney Cove (now known as Circular Quay) and claimed the southern continent for the British Crown. It is perceived by the majority of Australians as a celebratory occasion to commemorate the birth of their liberal democracy. But in recent years, the public holiday day has become the focus of Indigenous rights activists who view the event as the start of an invasion. Canavan, on Jan. 26 said that the Australia Day debate turns up sooner than the Hot Cross Buns does in the shops and lets just settle it. Nationals Senator Matthew Canavan at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Jun. 22, 2021. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) Let the people decide. Because what clearly is happening right now is a bunch of woke activists, woke CEOs just trying that slow drumbeat of undermining a common institution, he told Sydneys radio 2GB. And if those activists are confident that people dont want Australia worried, put it to the vote. Itll cost nothing to add this question to the referendum later this year. It comes as Australians are to decide on the Indigenous Voice to parliament in a referendum this year, a move that was proposed by the Labor government. Although there have been no concrete discussions on what form the Indigenous Voice to parliament would take, supporters say it would be a body enshrined in the Constitution that would enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to provide advice to the Parliament on policies and projects that impact their lives. According to a Roy Morgan Poll conducted with 1,372 Australians aged 18 and above from Jan. 21 to Jan. 24, 2022, an increasing majority65 percentof Australians want to continue recognising Jan. 26 as Australia Day, up 6 percentage points from a year ago. The generational differences are notable. Up to 64 percent of Australians under 25 think Jan. 26 should be known as Invasion Day, while 65 percent of those aged 35-49 are in favour of Australia Day. Support for celebrating Australia Day also grew substantially for those aged 50-64 (75 percent) and 65 and above (85 percent). Some Businesses Cancel Australia Day As cancel culture takes hold in Western democratic societies, some major Australian businesses have decided to stop celebrating Australian Day. Just last week, retail giant Kmart decided to stop producing a specific Australia Day product line. We respect that Jan. 26 means different things to different people, and we aim to foster an environment that is inclusive and respectful of both our customers and teams, a spokesperson said in a statement. However, customers who shop with us can find a number of products year-round that feature Australiana designs with Australian animals, flora and fauna, as well as educational materials. Kmart would also be giving employees the choice of working on the traditional public holiday. Meanwhile, the head of the Australian television network, Channel 10, has discouraged staff from celebrating Jan. 26 as Australia Day, arguing the date marks the beginning of a turbulent history for Indigenous people, according to an internal note. Channel 10 is one of five national free-to-air networks and is part of Paramount Australia and New Zealand (Paramount ANZ), a division of U.S. network CBS Studios International. Tens chief content officer Beverley McGarvey wrote in an email sent to staff, co-signed by chief commercial officer Jarrod Villa, that Australia Day is not a day of celebration, reported The Australian newspaper in December 2022. At Paramount ANZ, we aim to create a safe place to work where cultural differences are appreciated, understood, and respected, the letter said. For our First Nations people, we as an organisation acknowledge that Jan. 26 is not a day of celebration. We recognise that there has been a turbulent history, particularly around that date and the recognition of that date being Australia Day. Daniel Y. Teng contributed to this report. Lexus Chief to Take Over Toyota as Founders Grandson Steps Down Undated photo shows Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda and Operating Officer Koji Sato test-riding Lexus's first electric vehicle model, RZ in Japan in this photo provided on Jan. 26, 2023. (Kyodo/via Reuters) TOKYOToyotas chief executive will step down as head of the company his grandfather founded, the automaker said on Thursday, handing over to the leader of its Lexus luxury brand. The 53-year-old chief branding officer and president of Toyota Motor Corp.s Lexus brand, Koji Sato, will take over from April 1 when Akio Toyoda becomes chairman, it said. The issue of who would take over the top spot at ToyotaJapans biggest company and one of the worlds most influential manufacturershas been an increasing focus for investors. But the timing of the announcement was a surprise. The succession announcement was broadcast on a webcast through the automakers Toyota Times channel in what looked more like a stilted talk show with a host rather than a formal corporate announcement. The timing of this was a surprise, said Seiji Sugiura, an analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Institute, who noted there may have been a sense of stagnation inside the company given recent pressure on the share price. Probably, the day-to-day management will not change. Having Akio Toyoda step away from being CEO may increase his symbolism within the company and it may be hard for the young, new president to really show his hand. There was also little mention of concrete corporate strategy or investment priorities to come. Toyoda said Satos mission would be to transform Toyota into a mobility company, without specifying what that would entail. The CEO needs youth, energy, strength, Toyoda said, saying that he himself was now a relic of an older generation. In Sato, too, he said, he had chosen a fellow car aficionado. Toyota President Akio Toyoda gestures at a briefing on electric vehicle battery strategies at the companys showroom in Tokyo on Dec. 14, 2021. (Behrouz Mehri/AFP via Getty Images) Baton Touch Toyoda described the hand-off as a baton touch in leadership, but the staged event highlighted his continued central role. He turned from time to time to offer instruction and reminders to Sato. Sato said Toyoda had offered him the CEO job at the end of the year when both were in Thailand for an event to celebrate Toyotas 60th anniversary of operations there. I didnt know how to respond, Sato recalled. I thought it was a joke. During his more than a decade at the top, Toyoda presided over the carmaker during a period of intense change in the industry and rising uncertainty about how legacy automakers can fend off the challenge from newer challengers such as Tesla. Toyoda, speaking at a news conference, said his term at the helm of Toyota started in 2009 with crisis after crisis from the effects of a global recession, to Toyotas recalls and safety crisis to the disruptions that followed the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan. At a shareholder meeting in June last year, Toyoda said he was thinking about timing and the selection of a successor when asked about his future. On Thursday, he said Sato was chosen because he worked hard to learn Toyotas philosophy. Sato started his career at Toyota in 1992, before rising through the ranks to become chief engineer of Lexus International, a luxury auto brand of Toyota, in 2016, according to his profile on the companys website. He has held positions as the president of Lexus International and Gazoo Racing Company, Toyotas motorsport brand, since 2020. He also took on an executive role at Toyota and became its chief branding officer in January 2021. Philip Craven, a Toyota director, said in a recorded video statement that the board had reviewed and approved the succession plan put forward by Toyoda and the outgoing chairman, Takeshi Uchiyamada. Meaning and memory will intersect this year as the Dickinson Presbyterian Church in Penn Township celebrates its 200th anniversary with special observances most every Sunday and a schedule of monthly events. The church traces its origin to 1809 when a group of Presbyterians started to worship in a little stone building near the Y where the present-day Walnut Bottom Road intersects with Old York Road (state Rt. 174). Los Angeles County Extends COVID Eviction Ban Again, Following City of LA A "For Lease" sign is posted outside a house available for rent in Los Angeles on March 15, 2022. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) Following in the footsteps of the Los Angeles City Council, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has voted to extend its COVID-19 era emergency protections for rentersthis time for another two months. The protections were set to expire on Jan. 31. Under the emergency order, tenants eligible for such protection were those who had experienced a loss of income because of COVID-19, including reduced work hours, and those who needed financial assistance with child care and medical expenses. Residents have been protected from evictions for nonpayment of rent since July 2022, unless they were in violation of their lease for issues such as unauthorized pets and occupants. The City of Los Angeles state of emergency for COVID-19 ends on Feb. 1, also concluding an array of temporary city customs that began during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Protections for evictions applied to lower-income renters making below 80 percent of the area median income, which, in Los Angeles County, amounts to $77,456, according to the Los Angeles Almanac website. That number may fluctuate based on area code. Supervisors Hilda Solis and Lindsey Horvath originally wanted to extend the protections for another six months, until June, but received pushback from Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Janice Hahn. The supervisors compromised with the new end date of March 31. For many individuals who are still struggling, homelessness is unfortunately a next potential step if we dont take further action, Horvath said during the lengthy Jan. 24 meeting. Read More The Problem of Crony Capitalism Today But for landlords and real estate groups, this may be another burden. Hahn said during the meeting that she has heard loud and clear from Los Angeles landlords that it hasnt been a fair process. I think the issue I have, colleagues, is that the last extension we did, we said it would be the last, Hahn said. And I think theres a sense, particularly from our landlords that theyre looking for honesty and transparency from us. Hahn urged the board to just get through the next 60 days because the moratorium was originally put in place because of the unknown impact of COVID-19. These are all under COVID emergency and thats going to go away, so lets get through these 60 days and work on tenant protections that we can make permanent later, she said. In the final vote, Horvath, Solis, and Hahn voted in favor of extending the protections until the end of March. Barger, who was concerned about mom-and-pop landlords, voted against it and Supervisor Holly Mitchell withheld her vote. For me, I am focusing on the mom-and-pops but clearly am open to casting the net wider, Barger said. Solis was disappointed in the shortening of the extended renters protection but still welcomed the compromise. We all recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic drastically disrupted our families and economy while disproportionately impacting our most vulnerable. To that end, we must lead with compassion to prevent people from falling into homelessness, she said. Bargers concern prompted her to introduce an amendment to establish a $45 million landlord and small property owners relief fund, providing assistance of up to $30,000 per rental unit. The program comes with a caveat that prevents landlords who are receiving funds from evicting tenants for nonpayment of rent. Los Angeles County small housing provider Megan Marino called into the meeting during public comment and said landlords feel lied to. Many times now, youve said youre providing an off ramp, youre going to end the moratorium. And theres always another extension, another excuse that is kicking the can down the road, she said. Another landlord called in and said, Wheres our mortgage relief? While another caller, in tears, begged the board to not extend the protections. Some landlords havent collected rent for nearly two years. Magnitude-4.2 Earthquake Strikes Near Malibu A magnitude-4.2 earthquake struck 10 miles south of Malibu Beach, Calif., at 2 a.m. on Jan. 25, 2023. (Courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey) LOS ANGELESA magnitude-4.2 earthquake struck near Malibu early Jan. 25 morning, giving thousands of residents a rude awakening and prompting Los Angeles emergency management officials to conduct a 470-square-mile survey of the city that turned up no signs of damage or injuries. The quake struck at 2 a.m., followed by a magnitude-3.6 aftershock at 2:03 a.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Two more aftershocks were reported. The first was 2.9 magnitude at 2:22 a.m. and the second was 2.8 magnitude at 2:38 a.m. The quakes were centered offshore, about 10 miles south of Malibu and 15 miles southwest of Santa Monica, according to the agency. The 4.2-magnitude quake was about 9 miles deep. It was centered 15.4 miles west of Venice and 16.3 miles west of El Segundo. The National Weather Service said no tsunamis were expected. All 106 neighborhood fire stations will conduct a strategic survey of their districts, examining all major areas of concern [transportation infrastructures, large places of assemblages, apartment buildings, power-lines, etc], Los Angeles Fire Department Nicholas Prange said following the temblor, noting that the agency went into earthquake mode. Shortly before 9 a.m., the department announced that the survey was complete. No damage or injuries were reported and normal operational mode has resumed, the fire department wrote on Twitter. The examination was conducted from the ground, air, and sea. Malibu officials said there were no signs of any damage in that city, and all roads remained open. Emergency officials, however, warned motorists to beware of potential falling rocks on Malibu Canyon, Kanan, and other canyons. Ironically, the quake occurred almost exactly five years after a similar-sized quake rattled the Southland at 2:09 a.m. on Jan. 25, 2018. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said on Twitter that while no damage or injuries resulted from the shaker, this is a reminder that earthquakes can happen at any time. She also urged residents to make an emergency plan for such situations. The Los Angeles Fire Department also offers disaster preparedness classes and recommends having a survival kit ready in case of emergencies or disasters. Its Community Emergency Response Team unit provides training courses for free and year-round. Training courses range from multi-week to single-day instruction on emergency preparedness. Man Accused of Killing 23 in 2019 El Paso Mass Shooting to Plead Guilty El Paso Walmart mass shooter Patrick Crusius, a 21-year-old male from Allen, Texas, accused of killing 22 and injuring 25, is arraigned in El Paso, Texas on Oct. 10, 2019. (Mark Lambie/Pool via Reuters) The man accused of killing 23 people and injuring dozens more in a 2019 shooting targeting people of Mexican descent at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, will plead guilty to federal hate crimes charges, his attorneys said in a court filing. It comes days after federal prosecutors said they will not seek the death penalty for the shooter, Patrick Crusius. Prosecutors say Crusius drove 11 hours to El Paso, which sits on the U.S. border with Mexico, from his hometown of Allen, near Dallas, on Aug. 3, 2019, and fired at shoppers inside the Walmart store. He surrendered to officers who confronted him outside. Defendant notifies the Court of his intention to enter a plea of guilty to the pending Indictment, the motion filed in court read. Court records showed the motion was granted. Crusius, who also faces state charges in Texas, is set to stand trial in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, facing 23 counts of committing a hate crime resulting in death, and 23 counts of using a firearm to commit murder, among other charges. He pleaded not guilty in 2020 to 90 federal hate crime charges in the case. Proceedings were delayed while prosecutors decided whether to pursue the death penalty against him. In 2020, his lawyers argued that Crusius, then 21, had been diagnosed with severe, lifelong neurological and mental disabilities and should not face execution if convicted. A Texas judge last year put off a state trial in the case as federal prosecutors determined whether they would seek capital punishment. Microsoft Cloud Outage Hits Users Around the World Microsoft Teams app on the smartphone placed on the keyboard on July 26, 2021. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters) Microsoft Corp said on Wednesday it had recovered all of its cloud services after a networking outage took down its cloud platform Azure along with services such as Teams and Outlook used by millions around the globe. Azures status page showed services were impacted in Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. Only services in China and its platform for governments were not hit. By late morning Azure said most customers should have seen services resume after a full recovery of the Microsoft Wide Area Network (WAN). An outage of Azure, which has 15 million corporate customers and over 500 million active users, according to Microsoft data, can impact multiple services and create a domino effect as almost all of the worlds largest companies use the platform. Businesses have become increasingly dependent on online platforms after the pandemic caused a shift to more employees working from home. Earlier, Microsoft said it had determined a network connectivity issue was occurring with devices across the Microsoft WAN. This impacts connectivity between clients on the internet to Azure, as well as connectivity between services in data centers, it said. Microsoft later posted on Twitter that it had rolled back a network change that it believed was causing the issue and was using additional infrastructure to expedite the recovery process. Microsoft did not disclose the number of users affected by the disruption, but data from the outage tracking website Downdetector showed thousands of incidents across continents. The Downdetector site tracks outages by collating status reports from various sources including users. Microsofts cloud business had helped shore up its fiscal second-quarter earnings on Tuesday. It forecast third-quarter revenue in its so-called intelligent cloud business would be $21.7 billion to $22 billion despite worries that the lucrative cloud segment for big tech companies could be hit hard as customers look to cut spending. Azures share of the cloud computing market rose to 30 percent in 2022, trailing Amazons AWS, according to estimates from BofA Global Research. Microsoft joined other big tech companies in turning to layoffs to ride out the weaker economy, announcing last week it was cutting over 10,000 jobs. Its shares were down 3.2 percent at $234.41. Outages of Big Tech platforms are not uncommon as several companies ranging from Google to Meta have seen service disruptions. Azure, the second largest cloud services provider after Amazon, faced outages last year. During the outage, users faced problems in exchanging messages, joining calls or using any features of Teams application. Many users took to Twitter to share updates about the service disruption, with #MicrosoftTeams trending as a hashtag on the social media site. Microsoft Teams, used by more than 280 million people globally, forms an integral part of daily operations for businesses and schools, which use the service to make calls, schedule meetings, and organize their workflow. There were few signs of significant disruption at major UK-based financial services firms, where multiple messaging applications offered by providers like Movius and Symphony are used alongside Microsoft Teams to connect bankers with clients, and office-based staff with colleagues working remotely. Deutsche Boerse Group, which operates the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, said there had been no impact on trading. Frankfurt-based Commerzbank AG said in a statement that Microsoft was investigating several issues impacting the bank. Among the other services affected were Microsoft Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, according to the companys status page. I think there is a very big debate to be had on resiliency in the comms and cloud space and the critical applications, Symphony Chief Executive Brad Levy said. Microsofts Dour Outlook Raises Red Flags for Tech Sector Microsoft signage at the company's headquarters in Redmond, Washington on Jan. 18, 2023. (Matt Mills McKnight/Reuters) Microsoft Corp.s lackluster quarterly outlook points to more gloom ahead for the tech sector, analysts said, after the tech bellwether warned that its customers were cautious about spending in a turbulent economy. The warning from Microsoft, the second most valuable U.S. company, came after a steep fall in client spending prompted tech heavyweights from Amazon.com Inc. to Meta Platforms to slash jobs and save cash. Microsoft, along with Big Tech peers Amazon and Apple Inc., pared losses from earlier on Wednesday to trade nearly 1 percent lower. Alphabet Inc. was down 3 percent. The companies are four of the biggest by market value in the United States. Shares of cloud companies including IBM Corp. and Oracle Corp. all declined. Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella and other company executives used the words caution and cautious at least six times on the one-hour call on Tuesday. The rate of Microsofts revenue slowdown should be seen as a warning sign for the wider tech sector, Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Sophie Lund-Yates said. Analysts expect other tech executives to follow Nadella in laying out a conservative outlook. What we learned is that no one is immune to macro what is telling is the quarter was largely fine, but we started to see softness in December and the outlook for this quarter was worse than expected, said Rishi Jaluria, analyst at RBC. Microsoft forecast third-quarter revenue in its so-called intelligent cloud business a tad below market estimates, with a growth rate of as much as 19 percent. The segment outperformed expectations in the second quarter, however, which initially boosted shares on Tuesday evening. That [the outlook] is taking the wind out of the sails, said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B Riley Wealth. Nadella, however, said Microsoft would focus on AI technology, calling it the next major wave of computing. The tech giant has made multibillion dollar investments in OpenAI, deepening ties with the startup behind the chatbot sensation ChatGPT and building on a bet it made on AI four years ago. With many tech companies now focusing on building their cash reserves, analysts expect the money to be used for other investmentsfrom fresh buybacks, mergers and acquisitions or new technology such as artificial intelligence. By Nivedita Balu and Tiyashi Datta New GOP Bill to Block Sales of SPR Oil to China Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) speaks at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol to discuss immigration at the southern border in Washington, on June 22, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Jan. 25 proposed legislation that seeks to block the United States from selling oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to China and Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-owned companies. The bill Protecting Americas Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act (pdf) was co-sponsored by 15 other Republican senators. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve was intended to ensure that America had sufficient oil reserves in the event of an emergency, Cruz said in a statement. The Texas lawmaker cited the report that the Biden administration last year sold nearly 6 million barrels of oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to Chinese state-owned oil company Sinopec. Joe Biden sold a portion of this critical national security asset to the Chinese Communist Party when the CCP was stockpiling oil for its own strategic use, and while Americans are paying higher and higher prices for fuel because of the Biden administrations disastrous energy policies, he stated. We need to immediately act to stop this from happening in the future and unleash American energy, Cruz added. Cruzs bill bears close resemblance to the bill the GOP passed on Jan. 12 with an overwhelming, bipartisan vote of 33197, with 113 House Democrats backing the bill. The proposal would prohibit the Department of Energy (DOE) from selling petroleum products (e.g., crude oil) from the SPR to any entity that is under the ownership, control, or influence of the Chinese Communist Party, according to a summary from the Congressional Research Service. Further, DOE must require as a condition of any sale of crude oil from the SPR that the oil not be exported to China. GOP Bill to Restrict SPR Releases Following Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Biden administration, which has consistently blamed soaring energy prices on Putins price hike while not backing policies to support greater domestic oil production, announced a 30-million-barrel release and another 180-million-barrel release in March 2022. SPR levels have fallen to just over 400 million barrels under Biden, down about 40 percent from its usual reserve levels and the lowest since 1984. Republicans have long criticized the Democratic President Joe Biden for releasing SPR reserves at a time of soaring energy bills and lower supplies. House Republicans, led by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), took a step further by introducing earlier this month the legislation that would require the Biden administration to develop a plan to boost the percentage of federal lands leased for oil and gas production if it wants to release oil from the SPR. The Strategic Production Response Act or H.R. 21 includes an exception in the case of severe energy supply interruptions. Biden to Veto the GOP Bill However, on Jan. 23, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said that Biden will veto the House Republican bill if it passes Congress. If Congress were to pass H.R. 21, the president would veto it. He will not allow the American people to suffer because of the backwards agenda that House Republicans are advancing, Granholm told reporters during a White House press briefing. Granholm warned Republicans that limiting the Democratic presidents authority to tap the nations oil reserves would undermine national security, cause crude oil shortages, and raise gasoline prices. U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm speaks during a briefing about the bipartisan infrastructure law at the White House on May 16, 2022. (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters) Granholm contended that the bill would not offer any tangible benefits to the American people. Instead, it would interfere with our ability to be responsive to release oil during an international emergency, helping Putins war aims. It would potentially delay allowing oil to be released for domestic emergencies following a natural disaster or a pipeline outage at home, leaving, again, prices at risk of rising in the wake of a market shock because of emergencies due to extreme weather events, Granholm said during the Jan. 23 press briefing. In response, a Republican aide to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce told reporters that they seek to curtail use of the SPR for only those situations where theres a severe supply interruption. The Energy Department this month rejected the first batch of bids from oil companies to resupply a small amount of crude to the SPR. Despite that rejection, Granholm said she is confident the United States will be able to refill the SPR and that she will be able to replenish it at a savings to taxpayers. The offers that we received did not meet specification or price, the secretary said. She said the administration would soon announce how it will buy back some initial replenishment oil for the reserve. A vote on H.R. 21 is expected to take place as soon as this week. Whether or not the bill will pass Congress remains to be seen, however, given that the Senate is controlled by Democrats. Katabella Roberts, Nathan Worcester, and Reuters contributed to this report. A university student group in New York holds a screening and panel discussion at 5:00 p.m. ET on Jan. 26 featuring Yaxue, the founder of China Change, and Chen Guangcheng, the Barefoot lawyer, to mark the 20 years of struggle the Chinese human rights lawyer experienced. Students also call on Chinese authorities to free all the lawyers detained in the 709 Crackdown on Chinese human rights lawyers. No Right to Shelter for Asylum Seekers, NYC Mayor Says A group of migrants from Texas wait in line outside Port Authority Bus Terminal to receive humanitarian assistance in New York on Aug. 10, 2022. (Yuki Iwamura/AFP via Getty Images) Illegal immigrants who arrived in New York City from southern border states are not entitled to benefits offered by the citys right to shelter policy, Mayor Eric Adams said on Wednesday. Speaking on WABCs Sid & Friends radio show, the Democratic mayor was asked if he would ever consider ending New York Citys status as a sanctuary city, given that his administration struggles to accommodate the needs of tens of thousands of illegal immigrants who have been arriving by bus from border states since last spring. We cannot be a sanctuary city and complain, said host Sid Rosenberg, citing criticisms about the citys handling of the ongoing illegal immigration crisis. You cant have it both ways. You cant be a sanctuary city and then complain about the influx of migrants. The court ruled that this is a sanctuary city, Adams replied. We have a moral and legal obligation to fulfill that. We dont believe asylum seekers fall into the whole right-to-shelter conversation, Adams said, referring to a 1979 law that requires the citys homeless shelter system to provide a bed to anyone in need of one. This is a crisis that must be addressed based on what was created on this national platform. Several activist groups took issue with Adamss comments, arguing that its his job as a mayor to follow the law, not to interpret to whom the law applies. Its not up to him to decide who can be excluded based on how they got here, the New York Immigration Coalition wrote on Twitter. Seems like his latest tactic to avoid fixing our shelter systema crisis hurting too many NY families. Flouting the law would accomplish nothing and such a move would only land this administration in front of a judge for contempt, the Coalition for the Homeless and the Legal Aid Society said in a statement. The mayor must clarify his remarks from this morning immediately. In response to the condemnations, the mayors office argued that the Adams administration is working to fulfill its legal obligations amid the overwhelming circumstances that no one could have foreseen. Since the beginning of this humanitarian crisis last spring, Mayor Adams and this administration have taken extraordinary measures to provide shelter and support to the approximately 42,000 asylum seekers who have sought help from the city. We have already opened 79 hotels and four humanitarian relief centers, and another is scheduled to open shortly. As of Jan. 25, New York Citys shelter system is housing more than 69,000 people, according to the homeless services departments latest daily report. This number, which is already a record-breaking high, does not account for the more than 40,000 recently arrived illegal immigrants who have applied for shelter. In September 2022, Adams said the homeless shelter system was nearing its breaking point and that the city must reassess the way it puts the right-to-shelter policy in practice. In this new and unforeseen reality, where we expect thousands more to arrive every week going forward, the citys system is nearing its breaking point, Adams said at that time. As a result, the citys prior practices, which never contemplated the busing of thousands of people into New York City, must be reassessed. Not Just Symbolism: Canada Sending Four Battle Tanks to Ukraine, Says Defence Minister A Leopard 2A4 tank from Lord Strathconas Horse (Royal Canadians) travels on the Black Route of the 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Garrison Wainwright Training Centre in preparation for Exercise MAPLE RESOLVE 21, on April 30, 2021. ( Sailor First Class Camden Scott, Canadian Armed Forces photo via Flickr) Canada will be sending four of its Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine, Defence Minister Anita Anand announced on Jan. 26. These tanks will allow Ukraine to liberate even more of its territory and defend its people from Russias brutal invasion, Anand said in a press conference. She defended the low number of tanks being sent, indicating the decision has been made in short order and that the contribution is based on a collective action. Its not just symbolism, she said. Anand stressed on the complexity of maintaining the tanks on the battlefield, requiring a steady flow of parts. Canadas contribution is continually being assessed in terms of the ability to get the spare parts necessary to make sure that these tanks can be maintained. Canada has currently 82 Leopard 2 tanks in its inventory. Chief of Defence Staff Wayne Eyre speaking alongside Anand said the tanks being sent have been used for training, but that other countries used them for operations. Multiple variants of the Leopard 2 exist, and Canada has the main battle tanks variants 2A4, 2A4M, 2A6M, as well as Leopard 2s used by engineers (2AEV) and recovery services (2ARV). Anand said the version being sent is the 2A4, hence the less advanced model, and that the tanks would be replaced as soon as possible. Finland and Poland will also be sending the 2A4 variant to Ukraine, Anand said, noting the collective character of the action and requirement for joint logistical support. Canadian soldiers will also be deployed to train Ukrainians on how to operate the equipment. The announcement comes after a number of allied and partner countries also said they would be sending tanks, aiming for a military victory against Russia or at least increasing Ukraines leverage in eventual peace talks. The tanks were asked for by Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy and the request was discussed at a meeting of defence ministers at Ramstein Air Base in Germany last week. The Leopards are German-made and their exportation first needed to be approved by Berlin. The green light was given on Jan. 25, with Germany also announcing it would send 14 Leopards from its inventory. Russias ambassador in Berlin Sergei Nechayev said the decision on tanks is taking the conflict to a new level of confrontation, reported Reuters. The U.S. also announced the same day it would send 31 M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks to Ukraine. Canadas announcement comes shortly after making the decision to send 200 Senator armoured personnel carriers, as well as purchasing an air-defence system for Ukraine. The bottom line is that our support continues now and until Ukraine wins, said Anand. The current NATO strategy is to escalate the war to gain a position of strength in an eventual negotiated peace agreement. Weapons, they are the way to peace, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Jan. 18. A federal judge in California paused the states so-called COVID-19 misinformation and disinformation law that has been challenged by doctors in two lawsuits, claiming it violates their constitutional rights. NTDs Stefania Cox speaks with an attorney representing the doctors. Five former Memphis police officers have been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Tyre Nichols during a traffic stop, the Shelby County District Attorney announced on Jan. 26. The National Archives sent out a letter requesting that former presidents and vice presidents conduct a search for classified documents and presidential records. Orange County Supervisors Favor Charging Fentanyl Dealers With Murder The Orange County Board of Supervisors meeting hall in Santa Ana, Calif., on Aug. 25, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) The Orange County Board of Supervisors Jan. 24 unanimously approved writing a letter of support for a state bill that, if passed, would allow prosecutors to charge fentanyl dealers with murder if someone dies as a result of them ingesting a drug they sold. Senate Bill 44, introduced last month by Sen. Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana), would require drug offendersthose convicted of selling or distributing illegal narcoticsto be notified that if they sell fentanyl, and someone dies from taking it, they could be charged with murder or voluntary manslaughter. This is one tool in the toolbox to deal with the fentanyl crisis, Umberg told The Epoch Times. Brightly colored counterfeit M30 oxycodone pills. (Courtesy of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration) Former Sen. Melissa Melendez (R-Yucaipa) previously introduced a similar bill in 2021, but it failed in committee later that year. She named it Alexandras Law in honor of the fatal fentanyl overdose of 20-year-old Alexandra Capelouto in 2019, just two days before Christmas. Umberg revived it with the same name. The law would be modeled after the states so-called Watson Waiver admonishment given to drunk driversthat if they get caught driving intoxicated again and kill someone in the process they face a second-degree murder charge instead of manslaughter. The bill is bipartisan and sponsored by 18 other state senators and 13 assembly members. Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairman Don Wagner said during the meeting he jumped at the opportunity to support the bill because it looks like it has some juice behind it and it is a really good thing. Supervisor Katrina Foley agreed, saying she hopes finally people will wake up because this is extremely dangerous and we should be making sure those causing the deaths of our teens and community members are held accountable. Twenty-eight other counties across the state already have their own admonishments for dealers responsible for fentanyl deaths. One of them is Orange County, where District Attorney Todd Spitzer and Sheriff Don Barnes have directed deputies and prosecutors to give their own version of the admonishments after attempts to pass a similar law failed. Spitzer has vowed to file second-degree murder charges to fentanyl dealers given the informal admonishment. The drug is 50 more times potent than heroin and 100 more than morphine. As little as 2 milligrams can kill someone. FILE PHOTO; Mock sizing of a potentially leathal dose of Fentanyl, on April 1, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) announced in December a record-breaking seizure of more than 379 million deadly doses of fentanyl throughout the country in 2022. In California, fentanyl seizures increased by nearly 600 percent throughout the state last year, according to the office of Gov. Gavin Newsom. The DEA also recently announced, of fake prescription pills analyzed in 2022, 6 out of 10 contained a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl. Oversight Committee Asks Gallery About Hunter Biden Art Sales President Joe Biden (L) alongside his son Hunter Biden exit Holy Spirit Catholic Church after attending mass in Johns Island, S.C., on Aug. 13, 2022. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images) The House Oversight Committee on Jan. 25 requested information pertaining to several high-profile art sales made by President Joe Bidens son. The request to George Berges, the owner of a New York City art gallery where Hunter Biden has sold his art, was sent in a Jan. 25 letter from Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) (pdf). Specifically, the letter requests information about the sales of Bidens works as well as about an agreement reached with the intervention of the White House that kept the identities of the buyers secret. The request for information is one of the first salvos in a series of expected investigations into the Bidens business dealings, which Republicans have long promised to pursue when they regained control of the congressional subpoena power. The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating President Joe Biden and his familys foreign and domestic influence peddling schemes, the letter opens. Comer noted that during the last Congress, when Democrats controlled both chambers, Republicans also requested information and documents from Berges. The art gallery owner ignored the request and afterward proceeded to host another sale for Biden. Now in control of the subpoena power, Comer said, The Committee is reiterating its request for documents related to the Committees investigation of the Biden family and is requesting you appear for a transcribed interview. Addressing Berges, Comer continued, Your arrangement with Hunter Biden raises serious ethics concerns and calls into question whether the Biden family is again selling access and influence. Citing a New York Times article from September 2021 discussing the upcoming sale, Comer noted that despite being a novice, Bidens artwork had sold for exorbitant amounts of money. In the report, The New York Times said that Berges estimated that some of the pieces could sell for as much as $500,000. To this day, Comer continued, the buyers identities remain unknown. Berges, he said, [appears] to be the sole record keeper of these lucrative transactions. In the letter, Oversight Republicans warned of the possibility that these buyers were foreign, potentially raising an ethical red flag. It is concerning that President Bidens son is the recipient of anonymous, high-dollar transactionspotentially from foreign buyerswith no accountability or oversight (other than you), they wrote. The American people deserve transparency regarding certain details about Hunter Bidens expensive art transactions. Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, at the White House in Washington, on April 18, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Republicans then wrote out a laundry list of demands for documents and info, including all of Berges communications between himself, his gallery, the White House, and Hunter Biden, any contracts or agreements the gallery signed with Biden, documents pertaining to the prices of each of Bidens works of art, and information about all who attended Bidens shows or purchased his art. In addition to these documents, the Oversight Committee requested that Berges plan to make an appearance before the committee on Feb. 15. In a response to an Epoch Times query asking about the comments, Berges insisted he was free of wrongdoing. At the moment I cannot comment [on the letter] but know that my singular focus has always been, and will continue to be, the integrity of our artists and the privacy of our art collectors. Almost 10 years ago I opened a gallery that has a global perspective on the human experience and that seeks to find artists who I feel will be consequential not just in the art world but in the broader culture, he continued, adding, Artists that are relevant to the times, not to esoteric circles where art and exhibitions come and go unnoticed by society, by the people, by culture, but relevant innovative artists and exhibitions that challenge us, and engage us. Berges said that he chose to help facilitate the sale of Bidens artworks because he felt that the art is very much needed in the world. I represent Hunter Biden because I feel that not only his art merits my representation, but because his personal narrative, which gives birth to his art, is very much needed in the world. His is a story of perseverance; Hunters story reflects what I believe is the beauty of humanity, judged not by the fall, but by having the strength to rise up, by having the character required to change and the courage to do it, Berges said. Hunter Bidens art reflects all of that and more. His art gives us hope; it reminds us that tomorrow brings a new day, a new beginning, a new possibility. Hunter Biden will become one of the most consequential artists in this century because the world needs his art now more than ever. In a world that beats us down, we need art in our lives that reminds of the unrelenting divinity within each of us. Ethical Concerns Republicans have long pointed out possible ethical concerns in the Bidens business dealings. Just weeks before the 2020 election, the New York Post published a report documenting findings from Hunter Bidens laptop, which had reportedly been forgotten at a computer repair shop. When the owner investigated the contents of the laptop, he was reportedly so disgusted that he felt obligated to share what he found with law enforcement. The FBI seized the laptop and has since told Congress that it does not know where it currently is. Where is [the laptop]? Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) asked Bryan Vorndran, Assistant Director of the FBIs Cyber Security wing, during a March 2022 House hearing. Assistant Director of the Cyber Division at the Federal Bureau of Investigation Bryan Vorndran speaks at a hearing with the House Committee on Oversight and Reform in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington on Nov. 16, 2021. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Initially, Vorndran deflected the question, saying he was not there to talk about Bidens laptop. Pressed by Gaetz, Vorndran finally claimed, Sir, I dont know that answer. Had the FBI been the sole possessors of the contents of the laptop, it seems likely that they would never have been made public knowledge. However, prior to handing the laptop over to the FBI, the computer shop owner made a copy of the contents of the hard drive, which he passed on to Republican Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani then gave the story to the New York Post. The laptop, which has since been authenticated, raises several questions about the Bidens business dealings. For instance, the emails revealed that while he was still the vice president, Biden had been introduced to a top executive at the Ukrainian energy firm Burisma. Dear Hunter, thank you for inviting me to DC and giving an opportunity to meet your father and spent [sic] some time together. Its realty [sic] an honor and pleasure, reads an April 17, 2015 email allegedly sent from Burisma executive Vadym Pozharskyi to the younger Biden. Later the same year, in December 2015, as Joe Biden candidly admitted to the Council on Foreign Relations in 2018, Biden threatened to withhold a $1 billion loan guarantee from Ukraine if a prosecutor looking into Burisma was not removed from his post. This threat came around eight months after Pozharskyi allegedly met the elder Biden. I looked at them and said: Im leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, youre not getting the money, Biden said of the affair in 2018. Well, son of a [expletive], Biden continued. He got fired. If true, this would mean that Bidens oft-repeated claim that he has had no role in his sons business dealings is false. Other emails obtained by the New York Post suggested the elder Bidens involvement as well. Dont Mention Joe Being Involved James Gilliar, one of the younger Bidens business partners, allegedly told fellow partner Tony Bobulinski in a May 20, 2017 email not to mention Joe being involved. Dont mention Joe being involved, its only when u [sic] are face to face, I know u [sic] know that but they are paranoid, Gilliar told Bobulinski. Bobulinski, who confirmed the authenticity of the emails in a later statement, replied at the time, OK they should be paranoid about things. Another email relayed from Gilliar to the younger Biden, Bobulinski, and a fourth business partner on May 13, 2017, described the breakdown of each members shares in a Chinese business venture dubbed Sino-Hawk. Sino for the Chinese side, Hawk for Hunters brother Beaus favorite animal, Bobulinski later explained. Gilliar suggested each of the primary business partners would receive 20 percent. Another participant, called Jim by Gilliar, and likely referring to Joe Bidens brother, apparently was to receive 10 percent. Finally, the other 10 percent would be held by H for the big guy. Bobulinski Tells All On Oct. 22, 2020, Bobulinski made a public statement confirming that the big guy was indeed a reference to the elder Biden. I am making this statement to set the record straight about the involvement of the Biden familyVice President Biden, his brother Jim Biden, and his son Hunter Bidenin dealings with the Chinese, Bobulinski began. Tony Bobulinski, former associate of Hunter Biden, speaks to reporters at a hotel in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 22, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) I have heard Joe Biden say he has never discussed business with Hunter, Bobulinski said. That is false. Before moving into his claims about Bidens business dealings, Bobulinski insisted that he could corroborate everything he was saying. To demonstrate the point, Bobulinski gestured to several of his old cell phones spanning the 2010s, which Bobulinski said had never been held by anyone but him. Im a patriot and a veteran, Bobulinski said. To protect my family name and my business reputation, I need to ensure that the true facts are out there. Bobulinski then relayed the details of his years-long involvement with the Bidens, which he said began in 2015 when he was approached by Gilliar about getting involved in a business deal concerning the Chinese firm CEFC Energy. Bobulinski was told at the time, when Biden was still the sitting vice president, that other partners would include members of one of the most prominent families in the United States. On May 2, 2017 I was introduced to Joe Biden by Jim Biden and Hunter Biden, Bobulinski said. During their hours-long conversation that night, Bobulinski reported, the elder Biden demonstrated a strong familiarity at a high level with the younger Bidens business dealings. Bobulinski then turned to the May 13, 2017, email referencing the big guy. In that email theres no questionthe H stands for Hunter Biden, the big guy for his father, Bobulinski confirmed. Bobulinski also indicated that the elder Biden was aware of the potential ethical concerns in being involved and said that he quickly learned that Joe Biden was not to be mentioned in writing or on the phone but only during face-to-face meetings. Following this statement, Bobulinski turned his documents and communications with the Bidens over to the FBI. However, at the time of publication, no charges have been pursued against the president or his son. Hunter Biden, left, travels with President Joe Biden to board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Md., on March 26, 2021. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images) Republicans have long waited for the chance to look into these issues with the backing of subpoena power. Because Republicans are now in control of this power, they could send a criminal referral to the Department of Justice for contempt of Congress, the same crime for which Steve Bannon was convicted after refusing a summons from the House Jan. 6 panel during the last Congress, should Berges or others refuse a request. Now back in possession of the subpoena, Republicans, particularly those on the Oversight Committee, are likely to continue to seek information from associates of the Bidens. Republicans could also establish a new select committee to investigate the Bidens business dealings, as many Republicans have pushed for. During the battle for the speakership earlier this month, when Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was faced with strong opposition from within his party, many of his conservative critics asked for the creation of such a panel. It needs to be targeted the right way, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), one of McCarthys critics who later switched his vote in favor, said about potential investigations. You dont get many bites at the apple. Youve got to get it done right. On the other hand, the new GOP majority has a lot on their plate already, with the creation of new subcommittees like the Subcommittee on the Chinese Communist Party, the Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, and proposed committees to investigate the treatment of those detained for offenses related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach. McCarthy has been mum on the creation of a dedicated subcommittee on the Bidens. In October 2022, McCarthy indicated his opposition to efforts to impeach Biden. We will uphold the law. We will not play politics with it, McCarthy said. On the other hand, McCarthy has in the past threatened to subpoena the dozens of intelligence officials who, in October 2020, dismissed Hunter Bidens laptop as Russian disinformation. Thus, it remains to be seen how McCarthy will use the subpoena power. Still, it would be left to the discretion of Attorney General Merrick Garland, a Biden appointee, to choose whether or not to pursue charges for refusing a subpoena, and it is unclear how Garland would respond to such a referral in connection to an investigation of the Bidens. Pacific Surfliner Trains to Reopen in Orange County, San Diego The route for Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner in San Clemente, Calif., on Dec. 8, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner will reopen passenger travel to San Diego for weekends, starting Feb. 4. The railway has been closed since late September after heavy rain made conditions unsafe for passenger travel, according to Orange County transportation officials. Metrolink service lines between Oceanside and Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo, and the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train that runs between Irvine and San Diego have been suspended since Sept. 30. The impacted rail corridor sees more than 150 passengers and 70 freight trains daily, according to officials. The Metrolink will continue to operate its weekend service only as far as the San Clemente Pier Station, not extending to Oceanside until both weekday and weekend services are available, officials stated. The Orange County Transportation Authority announced on Jan. 23 that emergency construction efforts have stabilized the tracks in south San Clemente, after heavy rains caused tracks to move as much as 28 inches between September 2021 and 2022. Over 100 ground anchors, in lengths of more than 130 feet, have been installed into the bedrock along the railway in San Clemente and stopped the movement according to the officials. Transportation Authority member and Orange County Board of Supervisor Katrina Foley said in a statement more needs to be done to prevent future occurrences. Now that the railroad tracks are deemed safe for passenger service, it is time we seriously consider investing in science-based solutions to prevent these issues from inevitably happening again, Foley stated. She said long-term solutions need to be discussed, with the recent work to the tracks only temporarily sustainable. Past railroad stabilization efforts have proven building ground anchors and depending on sandbags and rip rap are at best temporary fixes. Long-term solutions require leadership to implement them, she said. Foley said as a county supervisor and member of the transportation authority, she will look for answers by working with industry experts and government officials. Construction of the tracks will continue during weekdays and is expected to be finished by March, when weekday services will be restored, according to officials. Metrolink and Amtrak passengers are asked to check pacificsurfliner.com/alerts and metrolinktrains.com for updates. Packed House Testifies at Virginias School Choice Hearing, Bill Moves Forward Education Success Accounts Bill HB1508 introduced by Education Committee Chair Delegate Glenn Davis was enthusiastically supported by community members, who mostly came to speak in favor of the bill and highlight their childrens struggles, at a Virginia public school. Before the House Education K-12 Subcommittee voted on the Education Success Accounts (ESA) bill, close to two dozen Virginians, including parents, administrators, and community leaders, came to Richmond to testify in favor of the school choice bill. A few parents spoke about their child being bullied, with one mother describing how those attacks led her teen to commit suicide, which she said might have been prevented had she had options for which school her child could attended. Michael White, a fellow at Washingtons American Federation for Children, told the subcommittee his parents utilized a voucher program and were able to send him to Cornerstone School of Washington, beginning in elementary school, without which he thinks he would not have succeeded. I will say that this program certainly changed the way that I live and I wouldnt be here today without it, said White. Michael White, a fellow at Washingtons American Federation for Children, speaks at House Education K-12 Subcommittee hearing Jan. 17, 2023 (Pre-K-12 Subcommittee/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) Meanwhile, a former Richmond City Public Schools board member Ms. Pickney-Epps said parents need options and encouraged the panel to vote in favor of Daviss bill. Not all public schools are of high quality, some are thriving, some are not in the city of Richmond, unfortunately, not enough of them are and our parents need options, said Pickney-Epps. The Commonwealth Institutes Laura Goren said her organization opposes this legislation because voucher programs have been shown to fail students, citing a 2016 study, for example, a recent study of the Louisiana voucher program [showed] lower language arts and math test scores. Va. Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera spoke before the House Education Committee on Wednesday in support of Davis bill and challenged Gorens evidence. The Education Sec. clarified that there were 17 total random assignment studies of which three showed negative outcomes from school choice, and two out of those three studies were in Louisiana and had been referenced [by Goren] in the relevant subcommittee without mention of the 11 studies finding positive outcomes, Guidera said during the Jan. 25, House Education Committee. If Daviss bill makes it to the governors desk, these government-authorized accounts, known as education savings accounts (ESA), would be available to parents of any Virginia child enrolled in a public school for at least six months. Families would be able to spend an average of $6,000 on tuition fees and required textbooks at private K12 schools or use them for homeschooling expenses. Speaking in opposition to the bill, a lobbyist for the Virginia School Boards Association, Stacey Haney said the ESA bill would cause local public schools to lose funding for those children who leave because of this option. What were concerned this bill will do is siphon money away from public education and leave the students who do stay in the schools falling further behind, said Haney. Lobbyist for the Virginia School Boards Association, Stacey Haney speaks at House Education K-12 Subcommittee hearing Jan. 17, 2023 (Pre-K-12 Subcommittee/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) However, a representative for Advocates for Justice, Ms. Kandise Lucas, said bill HB1508 is not a voucher program, and the money is there for the student to succeed, not to fund schools. We finance and we fund students, we dont finance systems, we fund students, the money needs to follow the child, said Lucas. Guidera said she supports school choice because student academic achievement data shows a public education does not work for all students. We know [from] the data 42 percent of our second graders are not on track to read independently by third grade, Virginia posted the countrys most dramatic and greatest declines in fourth-grade math and reading proficiency in the nation, three times worse than the national average, which was already terrible, said Guidera. Davis told the subcommittee that parents need more options on which type of school their child can go to, and said the bill will empower parents to choose an educational experience that allows their child to reach their full potential. Most of the Virginians that testified in favor of the ESA bill last week were Black and Latino. Their reason for supporting the bill was to maximize their childrens an opportunities to achieve excellence. Paul Pelosi Hammer Attack Footage to Be Released to the Public A screen grab taken from video shows damage to the home of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after her husband Paul Pelosi was violently assaulted during a break-in at their house in San Francisco, California, U.S., October 28, 2022. KGO TV via ABC via REUTERS A San Francisco judge has ordered that evidence relating to the attack on Paul Pelosi must be released to the public, including police body camera footage that was reportedly played in court and showed the suspect striking Pelosi with a hammer. The San Francisco District Attorneys Office must release the 911 audio calls, home surveillance video, and police body camera footage from the attack on Pelosi after a judge on Wednesday rejected a request from prosecutors to keep it secret, CBS Sacramento reported. San Francisco Superior Court Judge Stephen Murphy also ruled that audio recordings of a police interview with the suspected assailant, David DePape, must be made public. It is unclear when the evidence will be unsealed. Adam Lipson, DePapes defense attorney, objected to the release of the evidence, arguing that it might impair his clients ability to get a fair trial, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. DePape stands accused of breaking into Pelosis home on Oct. 28 and carrying out a brutal hammer attack against the 82-year-old husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Paul Pelosi (L) and then-House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) attend the 2018 White House Correspondents Dinner at Washington Hilton in Washington, on April 28, 2018. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) The 42-year-old DePape faces state and federal charges including attempted murder. If convicted, he could face life in prison. He has pleaded not guilty. Coalition of News Outlets Request Release of Evidence Wednesdays ruling came in response to a request by a group of media outlets to gain access to the footage. The coalition of news organizations filed a court motion in San Francisco earlier in January to get access to the evidence, with attorneys for the outlets arguing in the motion that the public and press have standing to assert their rights of access to court records and proceedings. That came after the San Francisco District Attorneys Office on Dec. 14 introduced audio and video evidence against DePape but refused to make it public. The Dec. 14 preliminary hearing for DePapes case featured audio from a 911 call made by Pelosi, body camera footage from responding officers, an interview with DePape, and footage from Capitol Police surveillance cameras as evidence. The hammer DePape allegedly used in the attack was also displayed in court, while surveillance video played in court showed what is alleged to be DePape swinging the hammer over a dozen times to break the glass before gaining entry into Pelosis home. DePape is accused of smashing the glass door of Pelosis home in Pacific Heights after 2 a.m. on Oct. 28 and later carrying out the brutal attack. Graphic Testimony After DePape allegedly gained entry into the home, he awakened Paul Pelosi, who was in bed asleep, according to court documents. DePape then asked him where his wife, Nancy Pelosi, was. He replied he didnt know Nancy Pelosis whereabouts so DePape said hed wait, court documents show. Police Lt. Carla Hurley, who interviewed DePape on the day of the attack, testified during the Dec. 14 hearing that DePape said he wanted to hold Nancy Pelosi hostage and that he wanted to use the hammer to smash her kneecaps and put her in a wheelchair. DePape mentioned other targets besides Nancy Pelosi, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Hurley said. In the interview recording that was played in court, DePape was heard saying that he hadnt specifically chosen Nancy Pelosi, while condemning the entire political establishment in Washington, railing against scandal after scandal, and calling the political atmosphere in the country [expletive] insane. There is evil in Washington, DePape told Hurley, according to her court testimony. Two black SUVs with Speaker Nancy Pelosis security detail wait outside her San Francisco home on Nov. 2, 2022. (Darlene Sanchez for The Epoch Times) I Didnt Come Here to Surrender During the hearing, the judge repeated a point made by prosecutor Phoebe Maffei that DePape had come to the Pelosi house to wipe out and teach a lesson to the people that he believes are corrupt. I didnt come here to surrender. If you stop me, its like stopping me from going after evil and you will take the punishment, DePape said, according to Maffei. After Paul Pelosi told DePape he didnt know where his wife was, he asked to use the bathroom, according to court documents. DePape let him and, from the bathroom, Pelosi called 911. In the 911 call played back in court, Paul Pelosi could be heard saying that someones in the home, dont know who he is, later telling the operator that he told me to put the phone down. Police arrived within minutes and after entering, encountered the two men struggling for control of the hammer. San Francisco Police officer Kyle Cagney testified at the Dec. 14 hearing that he witnessed the attack. My partner said, Drop the weapon He started to pull the hammer, Mr. Pelosi let go and the man lunged and hit Mr. Pelosi in the head, Cagney said in court, describing the encounter that left Pelosi with a fractured skull. Cagney added that Pelosi was struck in the head very hard and collapsed face-first onto the floor. Then Cagney tackled DePape and cuffed him, while his partner administered first aid to Pelosi, his testimony shows. Pelosi was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery for a skull fracture and injuries to his right arm and hands, and was later released. In DePapes backpack, police found a roll of tape, rope, and rubber gloves. DePape, a Canadian national, is in the United States illegally, according to federal officials. His lawyer, Adam Lipson, told reporters after the hearing that the judges ruling to proceed to trial came as no surprise. DePapes former girlfriend apologized to Nancy Pelosi for the attack in a series of letters, in which she said DePape suffers from deep depression and severe PTSD and had a tragic childhood, including child sexual abuse. The suspect faces several state charges, including burglary, elder abuse, and attempted murder. A conviction on those charges carries a penalty of between 13 years and life in prison. DePape also faces federal charges of assault on a family member of a federal official and attempted kidnapping of a federal official. He has pleaded not guilty to both sets of charges. Every time photographer Raj Mohan witnesses Indias great flamingo migration, he is completely spellbound. They leave me bewitched. Honestly, words cant describe my feeling, Mohan told The Epoch Times, talking about how the vast flocks form into sprawling patterns. The 32-year-old Indian IT specialist travels to Pulicat Lake in Tamil Nadu, South India, for the annual flamingo festival, a three-day event promoting ecotourism. Every January, thousands of vibrant pink birds gather at the 60-km-long lake to breed. Deploying a drone, Mohan captures their striking formations. The fact that these birds migrate from different continents in search of warm lands was inspiring enough to pay a visit to this place, Mohan said. The long-legged, web-footed birds feast on an abundance of tiny plants and algae that grow in the lagoons shallow waters. Crabs, snails, and small fish also provide tasty snacks, and the paddy fields surrounding the lake are rich in worms and insects. An avid traveler and explorer, Mohan spent hours observing the sea of pink flamingos and when he noticed interesting movement, knew he had to fly his drone to see what was happening from above, capturing a series of award-winning images. I learned that no matter what, he said, they always stick together and move together in colonies to protect each other. They are very social birds. Around a decade ago, the computer science engineering graduate began snapping images on his phone whenever he traveled. Later, after progressing to cameras, he developed a liking for the aerial genre. Learning the medium took patience and perseverancehe lost his first drone in the sea in 2018but his persistence paid off. Scoring a win in the Nature inFocus Photography Awards for his picture Heart of Pink, Mohan says he was honored to feature on such a prestigious platform and got unbelievably positive responses for his images. Some said they didnt know Flamingos can be found in India, some said this is the best drone shot of flamingos they have ever seen and so on, he said. Besides his iconic flamingo shots, Mohan has captured the dangerously beautiful roads in the Himalayas of India and a train passing along the Green Route of Karnataka with its thick green hills and tunnels. Both went viral, and Mohan was also selected from 26,000 entries to win a prize in a top drone competition for his work Boon to Bane 300 acres of Dump-yard. Every place is beautiful and every place is important. All you have to do is look around and show the beauty of the world to as many people as you can, he said. Dream it, do it, achieve it! Thats what I believe in. A drive on Mars: The breathtaking roads and landscapes of Spiti, a high-altitude region in the Himalayas. (Courtesy of Raj Mohan) A drive on Mars: The breathtaking roads and landscapes of Spiti, a high-altitude region in the Himalayas. (Courtesy of Raj Mohan) Boon to Bane 300 acres of Dump yard: About 300 acres of the Pallikaranai freshwater marshland in Chennai, India, is now turned into a dump yard of solid waste (the big white patch) says Mohan. (Courtesy of Raj Mohan) Video: Green route Railway Trek of Karnataka, India: (Courtesy of Raj Mohan) Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter Poilievre Launches Consultations With First Nations on Resource Revenues Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre rises to question the government during Question Period, in Ottawa on Sept. 26, 2022. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said he is initiating consultations with First Nations and industry leaders on a new proposal that would allow First Nations to collect more fiscal revenues from resource projects on their lands. Speaking at a press conference in Vancouver on Jan. 24, Poilievre said he will be championing a First Nations Resource Chargea proposal made by the First Nations Tax Commission that seeks to derive fiscal benefits from charges on resource projects such as mining and forestry in their lands. First Nations should have the right to bring home more of the benefits of their resources to their people, said the Tory leader at the annual Association of Mineral Exploration Roundup conference. More than a dozen chiefs from First Nations in B.C. attended. Poilievre said he would deploy all of his shadow ministers to lead the talks, while emphasizing that the proposal is strictly voluntary and optional. This means First Nations can choose to keep their existing tax arrangements or follow the Conservatives plan to collect more revenue from the resource projects. In essence, we want resources for First Nations communities to defeat poverty and provide for the people, not to fatten the faraway bureaucracy in Ottawa, he said. Ceding Tax Room Poilievre said even though resource companies do sign benefit agreements with First Nations, the process is ad hoc, bureaucratic, and shrouded in uncertainty, which means more money for lawyers, lobbyists, consultants, and paperwork. He suggested that Ottawa could offset the extra costs incurred by those companies by ceding tax room to them. Payments by resource companies to First Nations should be offset by the federal government ceding tax room, he said. The effect of this would be to redirect revenues from the federal government to First Nations governments. That would make sure that the projects are actually economical, that they would actually happen. He acknowledged many questions will need to be ironed out during the consultations. What projects should this policy cover? Is it oil and gas, critical minerals, forestry, fisheries alone, or will it also include other commercial projects? he said. But he stressed that the proposal will not impact any treaty rights, inherent rights, self-government agreements, rights under Section 35 of the Constitution, legal claims, or funding agreements to do with Indigenous Services Canada. Take Back Control The consultations will happen in all provinces and territories. None of this would affect provincial taxes or royalties, though provinces could choose to match or build upon the First Nations Resource Charge, and offer something similar in addition to it, Poilievre said. The Conservatives message was welcomed by Billy Morin, chief of Enoch Cree Nation, which is situated in Central Alberta. Hai hai @PierrePoilievre for starting dialogue that can lead to unprecedented Change in the foundations of Land & Resource mgmt for Indigenous Nations, Morin said in a tweet after Poilievres speech. Change that is Not virtue signalling of our participation; Change benefiting all Canadians so we can compete on the world stage. Poilievre also took to Twitter the same evening, saying First Nations will collect more of the resource revenue should he become prime minister of Canada. First Nations will take back control of their money, decisions and lives from Ottawa gatekeepers, he said. Public Works Raises McKinsey Contracts Total to $104.6M, Says Millions Awarded by Other Departments A sign of U.S.-based McKinsey & Company management consulting firm in Geneva on April 12, 2022. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images) The federal public works department has revised previously provided information on contracts awarded to U.S. multinational consulting firm McKinsey, bringing the amount to a total of $104.6 million since 2015, and says its currently gathering information from other departments who also spent millions on the firm. Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) provided the information in an unsolicited statement on Jan. 26. PSPC had previously told The Epoch Times on Jan. 17 that the total amount for 23 contracts awarded since the Liberals took power in 2015 was $101.4 million. PSPC says in its revised statement the information provided was accurate at the time, but a periodic refresh of its contract management system captured a contract recently awarded. The new contract relates to a call-up against the National Master Standing Offer with McKinsey, which provides access to its service of proprietary benchmarking methodologies meant to allow the measurement of the performance of Canadian departments against foreign entities. This new contract has a value of 3.2 million and PSPC didnt indicate which department will receive the service. The department also said other federal organizations have awarded contracts to McKinsey under their own contracting authorities. It says non-exhaustive research to date indicates that 10 contracts valued at a total of $12.2 million were given to McKinsey since 2015 by other departments and agencies. Out of those, four were sole source contracts under $40,000 and six were competitive, says PSPC. The focus on McKinsey comes after CBC reported an exponential increase in contracts awarded to the firm since the Liberals took power in 2015. The public broadcaster had initially identified $66 million in contracts found through open records, quite short of the over $100 million revealed by PSPC. The House of Commons government operations committee voted on Jan. 18 to conduct a study of the contracts and McKinseys role in federal affairs. Ministers and representatives from the firm will be called to testify. Bloc Quebecois MP Julie Vignola said she wants to hear from Dominic Barton, the former head of McKinsey who also served as Canadas ambassador to China between 2019 and 2021. McKinsey has defended its work with the federal government in a previous statement. Our government work in Canada is entirely non-partisan in nature and focuses on core management topics, such as digitization and operations improvement. Our firm does not make policy recommendations on immigration or any other topic, the firm said on Jan. 10. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he told ministers to look into the contracts and that rules would be changed if needed. McKinsey also has a strong presence at other government levels, having managed aspects of the pandemic for the provinces of Quebec and Ontario. The firm is under investigation in France over its role in state affairs and the elections campaigns of President Emmanuel Macron. Peter Wilson contributed to this report. On Jan. 19, 2023, the U.S. government again reached its debt ceiling. Congress sets the limit, and once reached, no more debt can be incurred without paying on the national debt. Disagreements have left Congress trying to figure out how to proceed. Many are afraid that it will affect Social Security and Medicare payments. In the past, after reaching the debt ceiling, Congress just raised it higher. This practice quickly settled the issue and let the government get into even more debt. If the debt limit was not raised, the government would have to shut down temporarily until another solution was agreed upon. The United States has never defaulted on international debt before, but now it appears it may be a possibility. Finance.Yahoo reports that it may make the government choose between paying the debt owed and not making Social Security payments. Current Party Positions on a Debt Ceiling Solution House Republicans are completely opposed to raising the debt ceiling without having some spending cuts. This move would make it even harder for the government to agree since it may include cutting Social Security and Medicare payments. Democrats have floated the possibility that they want to eliminate the debt ceiling. Republicans, however, have said they would never agree to it. The Treasury Department Takes Measures to Meet Immediate Needs Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced to Congress that special measures have been taken to avoid default on the U.S. debt. Although taking these steps, she also said that the funds the Treasury Department is drawing on will likely run out sometime in early June. The money, Yellen says, is coming from two large retirement accounts. They include the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund, which benefits retired or disabled federal employees, and the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund, which gives postal service retirees health benefit payments. Yellen also said that using the money does not increase the debt limit because it is invested in special-issue Treasury securities. Once Congress raises the debt limit, the money can be restored to the accounts. The Fourteenth Amendment and National Debt The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, Section Four, declared that it was illegal for anyone to question the validity of the national debt. The New York Times says the wording is ambiguousbut the general meaning is that the existence of the national debt and Americas responsibility to repay it cannot be ignored. Proposals to Solve the Debt Ceiling Crisis One proposal to solve the debt crisis problem, Reuters said on Jan. 22, was to change the way the national debt limit is determined. Instead of choosing a fixed dollar amount, use a percentage of the national economic output. Reuters says the national debt is about 125 percent of one years production. Most countries other than the United States do not have a debt ceiling. In the past, whenever there were debt ceiling problems, there was resistance, then debate, and, finally, a new debt ceiling was set. This time it looks different. The Rapid Recent Increase of the Debt Ceiling The debt ceiling has continued to rise at a rapid rate ever since former president Ronald Reagans terms in office in the 1980s. According to NPR, he raised the debt limit more than a dozen times, to $2.8 trillion. Each president since has raised it higher. George W. Bush raised it in 2008 to $11 trillion; Barack Obama raised it to $18 trillion in 2015; and Donald Trump increased it to $22 trillion in March 2019. During the pandemic, there was no limit. Finally, in 2021, the debt ceiling was set at $31.4 trillion. Yellen Draws From a Third Source of Money Treasury Secretary Yellen says that a third source of revenue has now been tappedthe G Fund. This fund, the Government Securities Investment Fund, is used to support special-issue Treasury securities that go toward reducing the debt limit. Stopping the investments lets the government issue more Treasury notes, bonds, and bills. Reuters reported that even though this third source of money will enable the government to pay its bills through early June, it still requires, Yellen said, the government to increase its debt ceiling. By law, the government must repay any money removed from this fund. Cuts to Social Security and Medicare Not Originally Planned Although the arguments in Congress could easily change to avert financial disaster, the Republicans first said they will not propose any cuts to Social Security or Medicare. They also did not intend to delay paying for the military or the national debt. As of Tuesday, Yahoo says that the Republicans are now saying that Social Security, Medicare, Veterans Administration benefits, and even funding for the military are all open for discussion. Their goal is for a balanced budget, but no specific plan as to how to reach it has been forthcoming. President Biden Claims No Compromise of Raising the Debt Ceiling President Joe Biden, Yahoo says, is hoping to get bipartisan support to increase the debt limit. He is currently refusing to compromise on this issue. One reason for his interest in raising the debt limit is that it is close to the time for Biden to announce whether or not he will run again for president. Trump is also advising in the matter. BusinessInsider reveals he has warned the Republicans not to touch Medicare or Social Security benefits. It would be for the same reasonit would likely be political suicide for the Republicans in the next presidential race. Despite Trumps warning to the GOP, it appears that there may cuts to Social Security and Medicare in the future. As June approaches, both sides may be willing to compromise more because neither side wants a government shutdown or national debt payments to stop. It would ruin the economy of the United Statesand it would ultimately affect the world. The solution to the debt crisis is not yet apparent concerning what Congress will do. If you are receiving Social Security, Medicare benefits, or Social Security disability insurance, you will want to watch the news to see how this issue is finally resolved. The Epoch Times Copyright 2022 The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. The Epoch Times does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. The Epoch Times holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided. Rep. Adam Schiff Announces Major Political Move Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) looks on during a hearing of the U.S. House Select Committee on the Jan. 6 Capitol breach on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 16, 2022. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) announced on Jan. 26 that hes running for the U.S. Senate in California in 2024, to potentially succeed Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). Were in the fight of our lives for the future of our country. Our democracy is under assault from MAGA extremists, who care only about gaining power and keeping it, Schiff, a former House Intelligence Committee chairman, said in a statement to news outlets. And our economy is simply not working for millions of Americans, who are working harder than ever just to get by. And at this moment, we need a fighter for our democracy and our families, which is why Im launching my campaign to be the next U.S. Senator for California. Schiff joins Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.), who has said shell run for the Senate seat in 2024. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) also reportedly told colleagues that shell run for the safe Democratic seat. As for Feinstein, who has served in the Senate since 1992, it isnt clear if shell seek reelection. Feinstein, 89, hasnt announced her retirement, but reports have indicated that she will. Schiff told Fox11 in Los Angeles that he told Feinstein of his intention to run for Senate before he made his announcement. The lawmaker said Feinstein was more than comfortable with my announcing. I wouldnt be doing that without that kind of blessing. Neither Feinstein nor Porter issued public comments after Schiffs announcement. Schiff, who led the first impeachment against former President Donald Trump, has been a top target for Republicans and Trump. Both Trump and Schiff have publicly sparred for years, accused one another of lying, and criticized each other for doing damage to the countrys institutions. Earlier this week, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) announced he was removing Schiff and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) from the House Intelligence Committee, accusing Schiff of leaking information and lying. Schiff, who reportedly fundraised off the move earlier this week, has contended its merely political retaliation for trying to impeach Trump. Top House Democrats have signaled that theyll likely stay out of the battle for Californias Senate seat. I think there are a few members of the caucus who are running for the United States Senate and I wish all of them well, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told Politico on Jan. 26 about Schiffs decision. Were going to miss them, but I wish all of them well in their political endeavors. First elected to the House in 2001, Schiff also served on the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach. There, he was also accused of presenting a doctored text message between Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. Feinstein Decision During a recent interview with Raw Story, Feinstein provided a timetable about whether shell run for reelection or retire. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) questions Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Oct. 13, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Pool via AP) I need a little bit of time, so its not this year, Feinstein told Raw Story on Jan. 25 about a decision. She is the oldest sitting senator and member of Congress. But she recently said in a separate interview that a decision would be coming in several months. Probably in a couple of months. My husband passed away not too long ago. And so Im still going through that want to get through it. He had cancer and this is always a hard death. I think Ill just take some time, she said, according to Fox Newss Chad Pergram on Jan. 25. She has already filed preliminary paperwork to run for reelection in 2024. If shes reelected, Feinstein will be 91 years old upon taking office in January 2025. In short, all senators must maintain a campaign committee, whether they plan to run again or not, a spokesperson, Tom Mentzer, told SFGate in 2021. In order to keep that account active, the senator has to maintain current filings with the FEC. The situation you wrote about was in fact a change-of-address form for the campaign committee that had already been established. It doesnt speak to the senators future plans at all. Over the past several years, left-wing commentators have called on Feinstein to retire, claiming shes experiencing cognitive decline due to her advanced age. Its time for Sen. Feinstein to retire, UCIrvine law professor and CNN contributor Rick Hasen wrote. She did some great work in Senate. But its been clear for last few years that her cognitive decline is serious. Let Gov. [Gavin] Newsom appoint someone who can fully represent CAs interests until election. Rep. Ralph Norman Questions DOJs Handling of Biden Documents Case After potentially classified documents have been found at President Joe Bidens former office space and his Wilmington, Delaware, home, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) is questioning whether the Department of Justice (DOJ) will carry out searches of other properties Biden owns. The White House has said lawyers and aides for Biden found the first set of potentially classified documents at the Penn Biden Center in November. Bidens personal attorneys found additional documents in the garage of Bidens Wilmington, Delaware, home on Dec. 20. On Jan. 12, his personal lawyers disclosed the discovery of an additional potentially classified document at this same Delaware residence. On Jan. 20, the DOJ and the FBI conducted another search of the Wilmington home, and collected six more documents from the property, including some with classified markings. In an interview with NTD, Norman questioned whether the search efforts had concluded, or if the DOJ and FBI would carry out additional searches. The house, his private residence, hes got three of them, Norman said. So, are they going to search those? Norman noted that the first batch of documents, found at the Penn Biden Center, was turned over to the DOJ without a public announcement. They kept it quiet, not one word from the DOJ, FBI, he said. Differences in Biden, Trump Cases Norman also questioned why DOJ and FBI lawyers allowed Bidens lawyers to work cooperatively and be present during the latest search of Bidens Wilmington home, while Trumps lawyers were barred from being able to immediately review what FBI agents collected when they searched his Mar-a-Lago home in August. You notice with President Trump sirens, news cameras outside, not allowed to have his personal attorneys review the documents that they confiscated. And then with Biden, youve got the lawyers for Joe Biden going over the documents, Norman said. Thats a conflict of interest and it just shows you the two-tiered system that should not exist. Supporters and critics of Trump and Biden have sought to paint distinctions between the two cases. Some pundits have claimed Trumps team had defied DOJ efforts to recover classified documents while Bidens team immediately notified authorities when documents were discovered. Bidens representatives have insisted that the documents that were found were in his possession by accident and that he has been cooperative with turning over the materials. Special counsel to the president Richard Sauber said, [W]e are confident that a thorough review will show that these documents were inadvertently misplaced, and the President and his lawyers acted promptly upon discovery of this mistake. Trumps legal team has argued that they were cooperating with DOJ officials prior to the FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago. Trumps lawyers said the former president voluntarily assisted investigators and that after DOJ and FBI officials inspected Mar-a-Lago in June, they requested Trumps team add an additional lock to his records room and Trumps team complied. Norman questioned the viability of Bidens defenses for possessing classified documents after he had been in office for 50 years. You would think he would know if the rules on classified documents, Norman said. Republican Investigative Power While Attorney General Merrick Garland has appointed special counsels to investigate both Biden and Trumps classified documents cases, Republicans who now hold the majority in the House of Representatives have indicated they are conducting their own investigations. When Democrats held both houses of Congress before the 2022 midterms, the chances of Democrats investigating Biden and other members of the Democratic administration were lower. Norman said that by holding the majority in the House, Republicans now have subpoena power to investigate the Biden administration more closely. More than just having the hearings, we have to have consequences. They cant just get off, Norman said. And so the American people are tired of that. Theyve been through a Benghazi when Hillary Clinton had no consequences. And with this, with national security at risk, its proper we get to the bottom of it. And Ive been on Oversight [Committee] for the last four years, and there hasnt been a meaningful hearing under Nancy Pelosi on this regime from day one. So its a welcome relief. In a Jan. 17 call with reporters, White House spokesman Ian Sams described Republican investigative efforts as political stunts and criticized them for seeking investigations of Biden after having defended former President Donald Trump when FBI agents raided his home for classified documents in August. Theyre faking outrage, even though they defended the former Presidents actions, Sams said. From NTD News Right-to-Work Group Condemns Biden Proposal to Limit Federal Workers to 1 Day a Year to Revoke Union Dues President Joe Biden speaks at Seacliff State Park in Aptos, Calif., on Jan. 19, 2023, after seeing storm damage caused by the recent storms. (Susan Walsh/AP Photo) A Supreme Court decision that guarantees civil service workers the right to stop being charged union dues is being threatened under a proposal being advanced by a federal administrative agency, as appointees of President Joe Biden want to limit that right to just one day a year. The Federal Labor Relations Authority [FLRA], now stocked with union-label Biden appointees, is moving to limit the rights of rank-and-file workers just to give federal union bosses expanded powers to seize union dues over the objections of the workers they claim to represent, Mark Mix, president of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation (NRTW), said in a Jan. 25 statement. All American public sector workers have a First Amendment right under Janus to freely make this choice, and by changing the rules, the FLRA will deliberately undermine the constitutional rights of the federal workforce. In the Supreme Courts 2018 Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees decision, the right of every individual public employee to revoke their authorization to deduct union dues from their paycheck at any time after one year of payments was upheld. The FLRA under Trump implemented the Janus decision in the federal workplace by issuing a regulation in 2020 that affirmed the right recognized by the high court. However, the Biden proposal would allow public employees only one day each year to revoke the dues deduction for the following year. The authority oversees the relationship between the career civil service workforce of more than 2.1 million federal employees and unions that represent major portions of the governments employees. Its chairman is Susan Tsui Grundmann, former chairperson of the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017. When President Donald Trump took office, Grundmann left the MSPB to become executive director of the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights in the legislative branch. The general counsel of the FLRA is Charlotte Dye, who was appointed by Biden in March 2021. Colleen Duffy Kiko is the Republican-appointed member of the FLRAs governing council, which also includes Grundmann and Dye. More than 700,000 federal workers are represented by the American Federation of Government Employees. The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) represents 150,000 federal workers, while another 100,000 are represented by the National Federation of Federal Employees. Public sector employees generally are five times as likely to be members of unions than those in the private sector, according to data compiled by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. The FLRA proposal was prompted by an appeal from the Treasury union, which argued that the Trump-era FLRA was incorrect in its interpretation and should restore the one-day-per-year rule that was obtained prior to the issuance of the Janus decision. The NTEU based its claim on its contention that because the one-day rule was in effect for decades prior to Janus indicates that was the intent of Congress. Kiko voted against issuing the proposal, noting in her dissent, It is unsurprising that [NTEU] would seek to reinstate a rule making it more onerous for employees to revoke dues-withdrawal authorization. What is surprising, though, is that the majority indulges [NTEU] by commencing this premature, unnecessary notice-and-comment rulemaking. When the [FLRA] very recently solicited public comment on this regulation, we heard from employees who were frustrated with narrow form-submission windows occurring on indecipherable anniversary dates. In 2020, the [FLRA] enacted a regulation that is consistent with the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute and assures employees the fullest freedom in the exercise of their rights. Regrettably, the majoritys proposed rule-making would discard a valuable reform without affording it even a reasonable trial period. Kiko also pointed out that in 2020, when the current rule was issued in response to the Janus decision, the NTEU argued that the authority didnt have the ability to do so. Just a few years ago, the [NTEU] asserted that the authority lacked the power to issue a rule on this topic, but now [NTEU] insists that the authority must exercise its rule-making power in this area, she wrote. In its comments on the FLRA proposal, the NRTW emphasized the importance of the Janus decision in protecting the right of every individual federal worker to decide whether to join a union and pay its dues. In Janus, the [High] Court held that the First Amendment guarantees public employees a right to refrain from subsidizing a union and its speech. The government violates that right if it deducts union dues or fees from employees against their wishes. Kiko said the high court explained that compelling individuals to mouth support for views they find objectionable violates a cardinal constitutional command, and compelling a person to subsidize the speech of other private speakers raises similar First Amendment concerns. As Jefferson famously put it, to compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and [abhors] is sinful and tyrannical, she said. A government restriction on federal employees ability to stop union dues deductions restricts those employees First Amendment right under Janus not to subsidize a union and its speech. Enforcement of that restriction violates the constitutional rights of federal employees who authorized dues deductions in the past, but no longer want to support the unions speech [or perhaps never freely did in the first place]. Because of a restriction on revocation, those employees will have union dues seized from their wages against their will, in violation of their First Amendment rights. A copy of the NRTW comments, which havent yet been published in the Federal Register, was made available to The Epoch Times. Rogers-Shaw Deal Will Disproportionately Impact Lower-Income Canadians, MPs Hear A woman holds two cellphones in this photo illustration, March 29, 2021 in Chelsea, Que. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld) Rogers planned buyout of Shaw Communications Inc. for $26 billion will have a disproportionate impact on low-income Canadians by harming competitiveness in the telecom industry, says a lawyer from the federal Competition Bureau. We saw the impact on all consumers generally. We were concerned about all of those consumers, said Jeanne Pratt, senior deputy commissioner of the Bureaus Mergers and Monopolistic Practices Branch, while testifying before the House of Commons industry committee on Jan. 25. We did look at the impact that was going to be on the bottom decile of taxpayers as a result of this merger, she said, adding, It indicated that there would be a disproportionate impact on lower-income Canadians. Pratt said the bureau conducted an exhaustive investigation on the planned buyout and that it will likely harm millions of Canadians in Alberta and British Columbia through higher prices, lower quality services, and lost innovation. The bureau recently appealed the Competition Tribunals dismissal of its case against Rogers planned buyout of Shaw, arguing that the deal would significantly impact Canadian telecom competition and drive up prices for consumers. However, the bureaus challenge of the ruling was rejected on Jan. 24. by the Federal Court of Appeal, which said the bureaus arguments did not meet the threshold to overturn the tribunals original ruling. We stand by the findings of our investigation and our decision to challenge the merger, Pratt told the committee. Buyout Cabinet still must approve Rogers planned buyout of rival telecom company Shaw before the deal can go through. Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne told reporters on Jan. 25 that he will be examining the Court of Appeals rejection of the bureaus case challenge to understand their reasoning. Ill make a decision in due course, Champagne said, adding, Ive always been working on behalf of Canadians to make sure that we have more competition, more affordability and innovation in the sector and this is whats going to be guiding my decision. Rogers has said it hopes to complete its acquisition of Shaw by Jan. 31. Conservative MP Rick Perkins said during another industry committee meeting on Jan. 25 that Rogers insiders told him the merge with Shaw will eliminate 4,000 to 5,000 jobs in the combined entity. Are you going to cut thousands of jobs in this merger? he asked Rogers President and CEO Tony Staffieri. Staffieri said the planned buyout will result in more jobs and that Rogers will look to redeploy resources in areas that are growing. The Canadian Press contributed to this report. Russia Fires Missiles at Ukraine After Kyiv Secures Tanks Local residents remove debris from a house of their neighbour damaged by a Russian military strike, in the town of Hlevakha, outside Kyiv, Ukraine, on Jan. 26, 2023. (Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters) KYIVRussia fired missiles at Ukraine, killing at least one person, the day after Kyiv secured Western pledges of dozens of modern battlefield tanks to try to push back the Russian invasion. Moscow reacted with fury to the German and American announcements. Air raid alarms had sounded across Ukraine as people headed to work. In the capital, crowds took cover for a time in underground metro stations. Kyiv city officials said a 55-year-old man had been killed and two wounded. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said electricity substations had been hit as Russia continued to target energy facilities. The Kremlin said it saw the promised delivery of Western tanks as evidence of the growing direct involvement of the United States and Europe in the 11-month-old conflict, something both deny. DTEK, Ukraines largest private energy producer, said it was conducting pre-emptive emergency shutdowns in Kyiv, the surrounding region, and the regions of Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk. In Odesa, the Black Sea port designated a World Heritage in Danger site on Wednesday by the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO, Russian missiles damaged energy facilities, authorities said, just as French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna was arriving. Colonna was due to meet her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, to discuss humanitarian and military aid. Both Moscow and Kyiv, which have so far relied on Soviet-era T-72 tanks, are expected to mount new ground offensives in spring. Ukraine has been asking for hundreds of modern tanks in the hope of using them to break Russian defensive lines and recapture controlled territory in the south and east. The key now is speed and volumes. Speed in training our forces, speed in supplying tanks to Ukraine. The numbers in tank support, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address on Wednesday. Maintaining Kyivs drumbeat of requests, Zelenskyy said he had spoken to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and asked for long-range missiles and aircraft. Ukraines allies have already provided billions of dollars in military aid, including sophisticated U.S. missile systems. The United States has been wary of deploying its difficult-to-maintain M1 Abrams tanks, but ultimately promised 31 to persuade Germany to pledge its more easily operated German-built Leopards. Germany will initially send 14 tanks from its inventory and approve shipments by allied European states, with the ultimate aim of equipping two battalionsin the region of 100 tanks. It said its Leopards should be operational in three to four months, and Britain said on Thursday it expected the 14 Challenger tanks it is sending to be in Ukraine in two months. But analysts said Ukrainian commanders can already be less cautious in deploying tanks they have, knowing that replacements are coming. The Leopard is a system that any NATO member can service, and crews and mechanics can be trained together, Ukrainian military expert Viktor Kevlyuk told Espreso TV. Spanish army tank Leopard 2 of NATO enhanced Forward Presence battle group fires during the final phase of the Silver Arrow 2022 military drill on Adazi military training grounds in Latvia on Sept. 29, 2022. (Ints Kalnins/Reuters) Fighting in East Ukraine Nikolai Patrushev, close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and secretary of his Security Council, was quoted as saying that even with the end of the hot phase of the conflict in Ukraine, the Anglo-Saxon world will not stop the proxy war against Russia and its allies. Bakhmut, a town in eastern Ukraine with a pre-war population of 70,000, has seen some of the bloodiest combat of the war. Ukraines military said Russia was attacking with the aim of capturing the entire Donetsk region, with no regard for its own casualties. The Russian-installed governor of Donetsk said on Wednesday that units of Russias Wagner contract militia were moving forward inside Bakhmut, with fighting on the outskirts and in neighborhoods recently held by Ukraine. However, the U.S.-based non-profit Institute for the Study of War said attacks on Bakhmut appeared to have stalled as Russia directed conventional forces to the north, trying to complete the seizure of Ukraines Luhansk Province. Russias Military Reforms Respond to NATOs Expansion, Ukraine: Chief of General Staff Chief of the General Staff of Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov attends an annual meeting of the Defence Ministry Board in Moscow on Dec. 21, 2022. (Sputnik/Sergei Fadeichev/Pool via Reuters Attention Editors) Russias new military reforms respond to possible NATO expansion and the use of Kyiv by the collective West to wage a hybrid war against Russia, the newly appointed general in charge of Russias military operations in Ukraine said. Valery Gerasimov, in his first public comments since his Jan. 11 appointment to the role, admitted also to problems with the mobilization of troops. The military reforms, announced mid-January, have been approved by Russian President Vladimir Putin and can be adjusted to respond to threats to Russias security, Gerasimov told the news website Argumenty i Fakty in remarks published late Monday. Today, such threats include the aspirations of the North Atlantic Alliance to expand to Finland and Sweden, as well as the use of Ukraine as a tool for waging a hybrid war against our country, said Gerasimov, who is also the chief of Russias military general staff. Finland and Sweden applied last year to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization after Russia invaded Ukraine. Under Moscows new military plan, an army corps will be added to Karelia in Russias north, which borders with Finland. The reforms also call for two additional military districts, Moscow and Leningrad, which existed before they were merged in 2010 to be part of the Western Military District. In Ukraine, Russia will add three motorized rifle divisions as part of combined arms formations in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, parts of which Moscow claims it annexed in September. The main goal of this work is to ensure guaranteed protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country, Gerasimov said. Gerasimov added that modern Russia has never seen such intensity of military hostilities, forcing it to carry out offensive operations to stabilize the situation. Our country and its armed forces are today acting against the entire collective West, Gerasimov said. In the 11 months since invading Ukraine, Russia has been shifting its rhetoric on the war from an operation to denazify and demilitarize its neighbor to increasingly casting it as a defense from an aggressive West. Kyiv and its Western allies call it an unprovoked act of aggression, and the West has been sending increasingly heavy weaponry to Ukraine to help it resist Russian forces. The United States and Germany on Wednesday announced that they would arm Ukraine with dozens of battle tanks in its fight against Russia. Sam Bankman-Fried Highly Likely to Escape Conviction on Most Serious Charges, Former Banker Says Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, who faces fraud charges over the collapse of the bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange, leaves following a hearing at Manhattan federal court in New York City on Jan. 3, 2023. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters) News Analysis Disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, who recently pled not guilty to a slew of charges related to FTXs implosion, is unlikely to be convicted of the most serious charges when the case goes to trial in October or to serve a lengthy prison term, a former investment banker has told The Epoch Times. Despite having cost FTX customers an estimated $8 billion, which they are unlikely ever to get back, Bankman-Frieds plea of not guilty on Jan. 3 is probably based on a realistic assessment of the current state of regulations regarding crypto exchanges and the difficulty of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that Bankman-Fried made illicit use of customer funds. Thats the view of Jeffrey Hooke, a former vice president of investment banking at Lehman Brothers who now teaches at the Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business. Nearly a month before Bankman-Fried returned from the Bahamas and appeared in New York federal court to enter his plea on money laundering, securities fraud, and other charges, Hooke was among those who predicted that the FTX founder and one-time superstar of crypto trading might avoid serious consequences. The plea affirms what Hooke views as the likely stance of Bankman-Frieds legal team, as well as the difficulties involved in bringing a conviction in an area of the market where rules and standards are even now in nascent form and in need of clarification. The lack of oversight on the part of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other regulators is an issue, Hooke suggested. I think he has a chance to beat the rap. FTX was not a retail brokerage firm regulated by the SEC or similar agencies. The laws governing the crypto space are cloudy, at best. I look at the charges, and Im a little skeptical that you can turn them into big crimes, Hooke told The Epoch Times. Part of the problem here, from the prosecutors viewpoint, has to do with the fact that FTX, as a crypto trader, was wholly distinct from financial institutions with a codified fiduciary duty to safeguard assets clearly spelled out in their agreements with customers and depositors, he said. Probably the most serious charge is that FTX took depositors money and used that money for venture capital investments to do their own in-house trading, and to make other investments, but thats where its really murky. Customers were never making deposits as you and I think of deposits, Hooke said. A customer placing money in a reputable bank has assurances that the funds are going into a segregated account protected by the federal government. A Merrill Lynch account, for example, is walled off, Hooke said. But crypto exchanges operate free from such protocols. When an investor placed money or crypto assets with FTX, they were not assured that their assets were placed into some separate account, as you have at Merrill Lynch. There was no assurance the customer assets were walled off from FTX executives using the money for FTX purposes, however they chose to define those purposes, Hooke said. The FTX terms of service did not specify what the customer money was used for. FTX advertising was a little suspect, but so is the advertising for a used car dealer. So I dont see how the government can claim that he was using deposits in an illicit way. The law was never designed to cover crypto exchanges, and the SEC never passed laws to that effect. Its almost like an unsecured loanput money in there, and you have an unsecured claim, but you dont have a deposit-type claim, Hooke added. In the Dark Another issue is Bankman-Frieds ability to argue that he was unaware of the real state of FTXs finances when the hedge fund connected to FTX, Alameda Research, engaged in risky trading. Hooke drew a parallel between the spotty bookkeeping at FTX during Bankman-Frieds reign and the campaign finance fraud that is so prevalent in Washington, D.C., and similarly hard to prosecute. Look at these kinds of issues with campaign finance contributions, and there being so many dark and murky areas. Whereas with FTX, someone borrows money based on phony financial statements, and therefore the applications to borrow money from banks were fraudulent. One of the accusations here is bank fraud. But [Bankman-Fried] himself claims he didnt know what was in the books, and they didnt really keep books. He can feign ignorance on that particular charge, Hooke said. Unfortunately for prosecutors, comparisons of the FDX fiasco to the Bernard Madoff scandal do not hold up to scrutiny. Madoff ultimately pled guilty to charges related to his Ponzi scheme, including securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering, and was sentenced to 150 years in prison. But in that case, prosecutors could invoke legal requirements to keep accounts separate that do not apply in the current context, Hooke noted. Madoff was a different story. That was a money management firm. You put money into the firm and you have a separate account, and there is a fiduciary obligation, the manager is not supposed to take money out of your account and use it for various things like buying yachts and so on. Madoffs was a classic Ponzi scheme. He promised he was earning money on your investment, but the accounting was phony, the account statements were made up. The sales pitch was illicit, and it was totally different. Im not sure that the FTX exchange ever promised returns, Hooke said. Again, the emerging nature of crypto platforms, and the regulations that apply to them, are an impediment to those who seek redress. Theres a laundry list of rules governing money management firms, like Madoff, or Fidelity, or Vanguard, theres a laundry list of ruleshundreds and hundreds of pages of historical protocolbut FTX was a tech firm, not a money management firm, and never had to file paperwork with the SEC,. FINRA, or the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Hooke observed. So the prospects for criminal prosecution in October are uncertain at best, and Hooke also discounted the possibility that civil lawsuits will get very far. A lot of lawsuits have been filed, but I think the money has disappeared, and I dont think he has much left in the way of assets, Hooke said. The Epoch Times has reached out to FTX for comment. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Saskatoon Library Collected Employee COVID Info Without Legal Authority: Privacy Commissioner A health care worker prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a UHN COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Toronto on Jan. 7, 2021. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press) The Saskatchewan privacy commissioner has ruled that the Saskatoon Public Library (SPL) violated the Privacy Act by forcing employees to share their COVID-19 test results and personal medical data, even after the province lifted mandates. The commissioner additionally found the library used the information in violation of the Privacy Act. The Saskatoon Public Library did not have legislative authority to collect the Covid-19 test results, Commissioner Ronald Kruzeniski said in an investigation report dated Jan. 16 and obtained by Blacklocks Reporter. The library sent an email to an employee on March 11, 2022, stating that employees who had not provided proof of full vaccination or a valid exemption must submit COVID rapid antigen test results every 72 hours. The emergency legislation that had allowed employers to demand COVID vaccination proof or force employees to submit to regular testing was repealed the previous month, on Feb. 14, 2022. One employee raised objections and on April 6, 2022, submitted a complaint with the privacy commissioner regarding the policy, while also alleging that the library had shared the employees COVID test results with a manager and an employee who was not their supervisor or in their department. The library sent an email to the employee saying it had a policy that requires employees to submit COVID test certificates with negative results if they have not submitted proof of vaccination. The library said employees had to submit test results. The policy is within our legal rights. The employee who filed the privacy complaint requested the library provide the law or regulation that permits a persons private information to be demanded by an employer. You are expecting me to comply to an invasion of my privacy and are refusing to answer my questions to justify the invasion, the employee said. Shared Results The employee also filed a related privacy complaint, alleging the library was forwarding test results to managers and the testing facility as well as once sharing a test result with a person who was not their supervisor nor even within their department. The privacy commissioner initiated an investigation on July 14, 2022. In his decision, Kruzeniski determined that COVID test results indicate an individuals health history and as such qualify as personal information under the legislation. The commissioner referenced a prior decision that stated, whatever personal information a public body collects, it must be able to demonstrate that every data element in question is required to meet a legitimate business purpose and that there is legislative authority to collect each. Kruzeniski noted that the province specifically introduced legislation and emergency regulations on Oct. 1, 2021, which allowed employers to collect COVID test results, and stated once those regulations were rescinded, there was no longer legislative authority for employers to collect COVID-19 test results. The library discontinued its COVID-19 policy by the end of May 2022, according to Kruzeniski. The commissioner said if the program had been ongoing, he would have recommended that SPL discontinue it. The privacy commissioner recommended that the library search its IT systems and ensure the employees test results have been deleted or destroyed, and inform Kruzeniski of such within 30 days. Spokesperson Kirk Sibbald told The Epoch Times that the library complied with the commissioners request and ensured the employees COVID test results had been deleted/destroyed. According to Sibbald, SPL also confirmed all employee testing and vaccination status information was removed from our system in June 2022. He added that during the time of the complaint, the library was operating under a COVID Exposure Control Plan, which was designed to provide a safe working environment, and required mandatory employee masking, testing, and proof of vaccination. He said that the librarys COVID plan remained in place until March 31, 2022, due to the high rate of COVID in Saskatoon and the high-risk environment in the workplace. School Board in Virginia Votes to Fire Superintendent After Teacher Shot by 6-Year-Old Sues School District Teacher is suing school district for ignoring repeated warnings The Virginia elementary school teacher who was shot by a student in a classroom earlier this month is suing her school district, which she alleged could have done more to prevent the shooting. Following the announcement of the lawsuit, the Newport News Public Schools school board on the same day voted 51 to fire its superintendent, Dr. George Parker III. The victim of the incident, Abigail Zwerner, is a teacher at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia. She was critically injured in the chest on Jan. 7 when a 6-year-old student brought a gun into a classroom and intentionally fired the weapon at her. No students were hurt. Diane Toscano, an attorney for Zwerner, alleged that the school administration could not be bothered to respond despite being warned several times that the boy had a gun with him at school. This should have never happened. It was preventable and thank God Abby is alive. But had the school administrators acted in the interest of their teachers and their students, Abby would not have sustained a gunshot wound to the chest, Toscano said at the Jan. 25 press conference announcing the lawsuit. On that day, over the course of a few hours, three different timesthree timesschool administration was warned by concerned teachers and employees that the boy had a gun on him at the school and was threatening people. But the administration could not be bothered, Toscano said. Administrator Downplayed Report Specifically, according to the lawyer, Zwerner first went to an administrator at around 11:30 a.m. on the day of the shooting and told him the boy had threatened to beat up another child. About an hour later, another teacher went to an administrator and said she didnt find a gun in the boys schoolbag but warned that she believed the boy had put the gun in his pocket before going outside for recess, Toscano said. The administrator downplayed the report from the teacher and the possibility of a gun, sayingand I quoteWell, he has little pockets,' Toscano said. The third warning came after 1 p.m., when a different teacher told administrators that a student who was crying and fearful said the boy showed him a gun during recess and threatened to shoot him if he told anyone, according to Toscano. A side door warns visitors to stop at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Va., on Jan. 7, 2023. A 6-year-old student was taken into custody after reportedly shooting a teacher during an altercation in one of the schools classrooms. (Jay Paul/Getty Images) About an hour before the shooting, a fourth employee who heard that the boy might possess a weapon asked the administrator for permission to search him, but was denied, said Toscano. He was told to wait the situation out because the school day was almost over, she said. Were they not so paralyzed by apathy, they could have prevented this tragedy, the lawyer said, adding that her client is recovering, but the road to recovery will be long and the psychological scars will be lasting. A spokesperson for Newport News Public Schools said in a statement that they cannot comment on those allegations while the investigation is still ongoing. Familys Regret The family of the 6-year-old child, whose identity remains undisclosed, said last week that their son suffers from an acute disability and was under a care plan at the school that included his mother or father attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day. The week of the shooting was the first week when we were not in class with him. We will regret our absence on this day for the rest of our lives, the family said in a statement. Since this incident, our son has been under hospital care and receiving the treatment he needs. Our heart goes out to our sons teacher and we pray for her healing in the aftermath of such an unimaginable tragedy as she selflessly served our son and the children in the school, they added. She has worked diligently and compassionately to support our family as we sought the best education and learning environment for our son. We thank her for her courage, grace and sacrifice. Scottish First Minister Confirms Trans Rapist Wont Be Held at All-Female Prison Isla Bryson, 31, formerly known as Adam Graham, arrives at the High Court in Glasgow, who a jury found guilty of raping two women, one in Clydebank in 2016 and one in Drumchapel, Glasgow, in 2019. (Andrew Milligan/PA Media) Nicola Sturgeon came under pressure from campaigners, MPs, and Downing Street after they expressed concerns that a transgender rapist convicted of attacks on two women was set to be sent to a female jail to await sentencing. At Holyrood on Thursday, the Scottish First Minister confirmed that the trans prisoner Isla Bryson, who was convicted of raping two women, will not be incarcerated at Cornton Vale womens prison. I hope that provides to the public residing officer, at least to the victims in this particular case, she said. On Tuesday, Adam Graham, 31, who now uses the name Isla Bryson, was found guilty of raping two women in Scotland, one in 2016 and another in 2019, following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow. Graham first appeared in court in 2019 and was later named in court papers the following year, around the time he began identifying as Isla Annie Bryson. The convicted rapist did not make the decision to transition until 29 and is currently taking hormones and seeking surgery to complete gender reassignment. Bryson/Graham was being held at Cornton Vale womens prison in Stirling while awaiting sentence for the crimes, and it is unclear where the prisoner is being held now. In response, Scottish Tory Leader Douglas Moray who raised the question said: I am unsure of what First Minister is trying to say when the reality is this double rapist, this beast, is in a womens prison right now. Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon addresses the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, on June 28, 2022. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Safety of Women Prisoners Before the confirmation, MPs and womens rights campaigners voiced their fears about Bryson/Graham potentially being held in the womens estate. On Wednesday, Downing Street said that it has expressed concerns about the situation. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: This is a case in which the courts are yet to hand down a sentence so Im not going to give anything on the specifics. Ive seen the reporting and understand the concerns. SNP MP and QC Joanna Cherry told Times Radio that she was very concerned about the safety of women prisoners, with whom a convicted rapist has been placed. To many people, it will look like this convicted rapist has gamed the system in order to try and garner sympathy, and to end up in a womens prison. And I think a lot of people will be shocked by that, she said. So I think we should be talking about these cases. And women in prison are very vulnerable. Many women in prison have themselves been abused, and have suffered injuries over the years. And so theyre particularly vulnerable. And perhaps some people would say nobody really cares about prisoners, she added. But the point about human rights is that theyre universal, and they apply to everyone. So Im very concerned about the safety of women prisoners, with whom a convicted rapist has been placed, said Cherry. Cherry noted that under Scottish law, but also the UK Sexual Offences Act, the crime of rape can only be committed by somebody with a penis, ie. by a man. Self-ID Process Scotland became the UKs first country to back a self-ID process for legally changing gender when it passed the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill in December, though for the first time ever the UK government is making an order to block the bill in its current form over concerns that the bill has safety issues for women and children. Scottish Conservative MSP Russell Findlay said: We now have the utterly perverse situation where a Scottish court refers to someone who says he identifies as female using her penis to rape two vulnerable women. In November, Findlay put forward amendments to ban sex offenders from getting a gender recognition certificate unless they could prove they had gender dysphoria, though the changes were blocked by the SNP, Scottish Labour, and Scottish Greens MSPs. We warned of the inevitability of this happening if the SNPs gender self-ID law passed, but for it already to have become reality is deeply worrying and an affront to the victims, he said. A general view of Greenock Prison in Scotland, where convicted Lockerbie airline bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, is being held, on Aug. 19, 2009. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) We Couldnt Hold Them Rhona Hotchkiss, former prison governor of HMP Cornton Vale in Scotland, has expressed major concerns about incidents of inappropriate sexualised and aggressive behaviour and threats by male prisoners housed in the female estate, leaving female prisoners feeling unsafe and at risk. Hotchkiss told The Epoch Times by email that segregation has to be renewed every 72 hours and approved by Scottish Ministers. If the individual is not offering violence or issuing threats to staff or other prisoners, it is almost impossible to continue segregation. We had to allow people out of there whom we absolutely knew would be violent, but we couldnt hold them, she said. Kate Coleman runs the organisation Keep Prisons Single Sex, which was set up in 2020 to campaign for the right of female prisoners to single-sex provision. How many times do we have to discuss why a man, convicted of rape, is being held in womens prison? Coleman told The Epoch Times. The point is that this is a male person and that doesnt change. Its not about trying to work out whos really trans, its about correctly identifying who is male, and being male doesnt change, which is important in these single-sex spaces and in the assessment of risk and safeguarding, added Coleman. A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said that under its rules decisions to accommodate transgender people are made on an individualised basis, informed by a multi-disciplinary assessment of both risk and need. Such decisions seek to protect both the wellbeing and rights of the individual as well as the welfare and rights of others around them, including staff, in order to achieve an outcome that balances risks and promotes the safety of all. Where there are any concerns about any risks posed by an individual, either to themselves or others, we retain the ability to keep them separate from the mainstream population until an agreed management plan is in place. PA Media contributed to this report. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hears Testimony on Russian Aggression Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland testifies before a Senate Foreign Relation Committee hearing on Ukraine, in Washington, on March 8, 2022. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) The Biden administrations recent decision to provide Ukraine with U.S.-made Abrams battle tanks, the U.S. sanctions on Russias Wagner Group, and the recent dismissal of high-ranking officials in Kyiv amid corruption allegations were among a broad range of topics pertaining to Russias invasion of Ukraine that were discussed by a trio of U.S. officials during a Senate committee hearing on Jan. 26. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland, USAID Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia Erin McKee, and Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander answered questions posed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for two hours during the hearing, titled Countering Russian Aggression: Ukraine and Beyond. Tanks Turnaround Sen. Jim Rische (R-Idaho), the ranking Republican member of the committee, asked why the Biden administration had abruptly changed its position regarding the supplying of the advanced Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine. Weve been calling for this for some time, Rische said. But weve been repeatedly told that sending tanks to Ukraine was not possible or desirable, or would somehow be escalatory. He asked Nuland, What happened? Nuland said that Abrams tanks are very sophisticated and required significant training. So even as we approved them yesterday, its going to take some time to get them to the battlefield, she said. This is not something thats going to appear in time for the spring offensive. At every stage of this, we have looked at what the Ukrainians have needed, what theyve been requesting. There was a period in the fall when they were capturing a huge number of Russian tanks on the battlefield, which they were able to use successfully in their Kherson and Kharkiv offensives. But now they need more, and so we were responding, Nuland said. Visitors wearing military camouflage stand at the entrance of the PMC Wagner Centre during the official opening of the office block on National Unity Day, in St. Petersburg, on Nov. 4, 2022. (Olga Maltseva/AFP via Getty Images) Sanctions on Wagner Group Earlier the same day, after the U.S. Treasury Department officially designated the Wagner Group as a significant transnational criminal organization, Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) asked why the paramilitary organization had been designated an international criminal group rather than a foreign terrorist organization. Cardin also asked what other steps could be taken against the Wagner, which played a key role in Russias recent battlefield gains in the eastern Donetsk region. The transnational criminal organization designation better suits the way Wagner operates, particularly what its doing in Africa. Nuland said. She accused the group of seeking its own material gain and power by ripping off the wealth of states, particularly in Africa. So in addition to sanctioning the main [Wagner-associated] entities, we are now working on sanctions against some of those supporting entities of Wagner, she said. Those they do business with. Were also looking at gold and other main sources of revenue for the Wagner team, she continued. They have access to gold mines in Mali and the Central African Republic and that directly funds the combat in Ukraine. So were working on some of those measures. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks via video link during a meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Jan. 20, 2023. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via Reuters) Anti-Graft Drive in Kyiv Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) asked Nuland about the recent dismissal of several high-ranking Ukrainian officialsincluding a deputy defense ministeramid graft allegations. I want to turn to the stories that have been raised about corruption concerns, Merkley said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired several people, he noted. There are stories about the [Ukrainian] military paying a lot more than market prices, which always implies corruption. Merkley stressed the importance of helping Kyiv fight government corruption that, he said, threatened to erode international support for the Ukrainian war effort. What Ukrainian patriots are fighting for, and what we in the international community are supporting, is a more democratic, cleaner, more European Ukraine, Nuland responded. I think Zelenskyy is very conscious of that, and we have been very clear that we need to see anti-corruption stepsincluding good corporate governance and judicial measuresmove forward, she said. Nuland added that this weeks dismissals by Zelenskyy sends a very strong signal to others who would try to rip off this war effort; its important for the future of Ukraine. Canoo, a high-tech advanced mobility company, has signed an exclusive agreement with GCC Olayan, a subsidiary of Olayan Saudi Holding Company (OSHCO), for sale, service and distribution of Canoo fleet solutions In Saudi Arabia. GCC Olayan has been a distributer of premier brands in Saudi Arabia for more than 75 years and is the founding company of the global Olayan Group. The first phase of the agreement is for the sale, distribution, service maintenance and repair of Canoo vehicles. Additionally, Canoo and GCC Olayan will also work to develop a joint venture to launch a digital vehicle ecosystem for service maintenance repair, local assembly and eventually manufacturing. "It has been an honour to work with the Olayan group companies over many years. Our agreement to bring Canoos award-winning vehicles to the region is grounded in our mutual commitment to customer service. The Olayan Group is a global business leader with decades of experience in distribution partnerships with some of the worlds leading brands and they are a proven partner to support EVs in the region, said Tony Aquila, Chairman & CEO at Canoo. Canoo vehicles are built on the companys proprietary multi-purpose platform (MPP) architecture that integrates all high-tech components such as the motors, battery module and other critical driving components. Engineered with true steer-by-wire technology, Canoo vehicles have reduced moving parts and cabin intrusion, resulting in more usable interior space, better driver ergonomics and the addition of a panoramic window to improve road visibility. The modular design also facilitates the ability to localize the offering and provides for a scalable local manufacturing approach. Uwaidh K. Al-Harethi, CEO of Olayan Saudi Holding Company (OSHCO), commented: Through our diverse operating companies including GCC Olayan, we have introduced many leading international brands, products and services in Saudi Arabia. An unswerving commitment to excellence and in-depth knowledge of the local market are the mainstay of our continuing success and strong track record. We recognize that there is a growing demand for sustainable mobility solutions in Saudi Arabia, partly driven by the Kingdoms launch of the Saudi Green Initiative and its pledge to achieve net zero by 2060. With that in mind, we are pleased to sign the product and service distribution agreement with Canoo and are proud to be the exclusive distributor of its electric vehicles in our market. The new partnership will combine GCC Olayans over 75 years of experience in the automotive and adjacent sectors with Canoos innovative electric vehicle technology to cater to this need in the market and contribute to global efforts to tackle carbon emissions as well as to Saudi Vision 2030s sustainability goals. TradeArabia News Service Twenty-two titles are the firsts to fall victim to the Madison County School Boards recently enacted policy regarding sexually explicit content in library materials. In December, board members approved a policy specifically dealing with sexually explicit content in school library materials. The policy was suggested and drafted by board member Christopher Wingate and is an extension of a mandate passed down the Governor Glenn Youngkin. In April, Youngkin signed a bill requiring the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to develop model policies to ensure parents are notified if students are being taught sexually explicit instructional materials in the classroom. The bill requires local school boards to adopt the policies based on the model policies, which will be minimum requirements. The model policy, which was vetted through a public comment period which ended last month, require that parents are notified at least 30 days in advance of any instructional materials with sexually explicit content being taught in the classroom. Parents will then be able to review the materials and principals will maintain a current list of the materials on the schools website by grade and subject. The Madison County School Board opted to draft its own policy which was approved in November. However, board members took it a step further by creating a separate policy dealing specifically with library materials, something Youngkins didnt. The policy IIAD: Sexually Explicit Content in MCPS Library Materials was created by Wingate with input from his fellow board members as well as input from the boards attorney. It uses the Code of Virginias definition of sexually explicit content. Code defines sexually explicit content as any description of or any picture, photograph, drawing, motion picture film, digital image or similar visual representation depicting sexual bestiality, a lewd exhibition of nudity, as nudity is defined in Section 18.2-390, sexual excitement, sexual conduct or sadomasochistic abuse, as also defined in Section 18.2-390, coprophilia, urophilia, or fetishism. Under the policy, parents or taxpayers may request the school board to examine content they believe is sexually explicit. The board then determines if the material in fact contains sexually explicit content in which case it would be promptly removed from the library system and disposed of according to the divisions standard surplus property disposal policy. The superintendent will maintain a list of the materials removed from the system and that list will be available upon request. As for the acquisition of new library materials, the titles and authors of new acquisitions will be posted to the library website for 12 months from the date of delivery. Parents can then review those materials to determine if they need to be reviewed under the policy. Parents have a right and responsibility to look at the books and let us know if they think there are issues, Wingate said. The policy was recommended for adoption by board member Charles Sheads with the motion seconded by board member Damon Myers. It was approved last month 5-0. A subsequent motion was made last week to remove specific titles already brought up during the discussion of the policy. During the September worksession, Wingate introduced samples from five books found within the Madison County High School Library that he said have sexually explicit content. The books are The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky; Tar Baby by Toni Morrison; The Tale of the Body Thief, by Anne Rice; Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson; and Empire of Thrones, by Sarah Maas. A list of 26 books was also made available including reasons for removal requests and how often each has been checked out in the past two years. The books had been pulled from the library, save for a few which had already been lost. Last week, nearly two dozen books were officially removed from the library with a 3-1-0 vote. Sheads was absent and board member Karen Allen abstained from the vote. The books are: The Handmaids Tale, of which the popular Netflix series is based; the National Book Award for Young Peoples Literature winner The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian; The New York Times Best Seller The Perks of Being a Wallflower; the six-volume series Shatter Me; Toni Morrisons Tar Baby, The Bluest Eye, Sula and Love; Ann Rices The Tale of the Body Thief and Interview with a Vampire; PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction winner Snow Falling on Cedars; Steven Kings It, Bag of Bones and 11/22/63: A Novel; and Furyborn. Also on the list is Empire of Thrones. Three other books of the same series, Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows and The Assassins Blade were originally part of the proposed removal, but were allowed to remain. Abstaining from the vote, Allen said she had been researching book banning and censoring, which has become an issue throughout the nation. She said had no qualms about removing anything with sexual violence, but said some of the selections are borderline. She also said the General Assembly is looking at a bill that would allow certain books to be segregated to specific sections in the library. Im in a quandary, she said. I do agree on some, but dont agree on others. Wingate said the excerpts he had shared with school board members from some of the books in question were undoubtedly sexually explicit as defined by the Code of Virginia. There are other books Im not crazy about, but these meet the definition, he said. If made into a movie they would be NC-17 or R. He said high school students arent admitted into theaters to watch such movies and thus shouldnt be able to peruse the same content in their school library. Its about trying to protect children, he said. Senate Intel Chair: All Things Will Be on the Table to Get Access to Biden and Trump Classified Documents (Left) President Joe Biden at a rally for John Fetterman and Josh Shapiro in Philadelphia on Nov. 5, 2022. (Mark Makela/Getty Images); (Right) Former President Donald Trump at a rally for Mehmet Oz and Doug Mastriano in Latrobe, Pa., on Nov. 5, 2022. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images) Both Democratic and Republican senators on the Intelligence Committee have issued demands to see purportedly classified documents that were in the possession of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Intelligence Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.) said that senators may have to take dramatic action to obtain the documents. All things will be on the table now, he said, although he did not elaborate on what senators may do. We dont want to get into a question of threats at this point. But we want to say this though: We have a job to do, it is our job to make sure that the security of our country is protected and that the intelligence that our country depends upon is not compromised, Warner told reporters Wednesday. The notion that we have to wait until a special prosecutor blesses the intelligence committees oversight will not stand. Earlier this month, the Democrat senator expressed alarm after Bidens lawyers confirmed he had classified documents from when he was a senator or vice president in his possession. Warner was also frustrated last year when his committee wasnt granted access to review documents that were taken from Trumps Mar-a-Lago in August. Every member of the committee, regardless of Democrat or Republican, [was] unanimous in that this position that we are left in until somehow a special counsel designates that its OK for us to get briefed, is not going to stand, Warner told ABC News. And all things will be on the table to make sure that doesnt happen. Reporters surround Senate Intelligence Committee ranking member Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) as he heads for his partys weekly policy luncheon at the U.S. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Members of the committee held a two-hour meeting with Bidens Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines on Wednesday, they told reporters. Several of the members told the outlet that they might block Bidens nominees and grind business to a halt in the upper chamber. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) also told reporters that there will be pain as a consequence of the Biden administrations stonewalling, adding he will take every step I can to block nominees or withhold funding for federal programs. The Epoch Times has contacted the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for comment. The administration is stonewalling Congress on the classified documents present at President Trumps residence and President Bidens residence and office, which is totally unacceptable, Cotton said Wednesday. The members of the Intelligence Committeefor that matter, the members of Congress have an absolute right to this information so we can make an informed judgment about the risk, if any, these documents have posed to our national security by being improperly handled, he said. Until the administration stops stonewalling Congress, there will be pain as a consequence for them, the Arkansas senator declared. Im prepared to refuse consent or to fast track any nominee for any department or agency and take every step I can on every committee on which I serve to impose consequences on the administration until they provide these documents, he told CNN. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) departs from the Senate Chambers during a series of votes in the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, on Oct. 06, 2021. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Another member, vice-chair Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), added that it cannot be that your answer is that we cant tell you what was discovered until the special counsel allows us to, reported ABC. The information were asking for has no bearing whatsoever, that would interfere in no way, with a criminal investigation. Biden, whose documents dated from his time as vice president and as a Delaware senator, and Trump, who had been engaging with the National Archives over the records, are both facing special counsel investigations by the Justice Department over improper handling of classified materials. During a presidential transition period, the records from each administration are supposed to be turned over to the legal custody of the U.S. National Archives. It is unlawful to knowingly or willfully remove or retain classified material. Failure to properly store and secure classified material poses risks to national security if it should fall into the wrong hands. Other Findings A lawyer for former Vice President Mike Pence this week confirmed that classified materials were found at Pences Indiana home this week. The revelation drew a rare comment of praise from Trump, who wrote that Pence is an innocent man. Mike Pence is an innocent man. He never did anything knowingly dishonest in his life. Leave him alone!!! Trump wrote on Truth Social Tuesday. A spokesman for former President Barack Obama told Reuters when asked about possible classified documents or searches that his office had been given a clean bill of health by the National Archives. The administration of George W. Bush turned all Presidential records overboth classified and unclassifiedupon leaving the White House, Bush spokesman Freddy Ford told Reuters. White House Response Amid the disclosures that Biden had classified documents in his possession, it has drawn a chain of letters from House Republicans, who have demanded information from various federal agencies about the investigation or what was found. This week, White House counsel Stuart Delery wrote to House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) that the administration doesnt have possession of documents found at Bidens home or office in recent weeks. The Biden Administration takes seriously the security and protection of government records, particularly classified information, Delery wrote in a letter. We look forward to engaging in good faith with you and your staff regarding your requests. To that end, White House staff will reach out to Committee staff to arrange a time to discuss this matter. Reuters contributed to this report. Sheriff: Gunman Didnt Know Monterey Park Dance Hall Victims Eric Sham visits a makeshift memorial for those killed in a mass shooting at The Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, Calif., on Jan. 24, 2023. (Sarah Reingewirtz/The Orange County Register via AP) MONTEREY PARK, Calif.The 72-year-old gunman who sprayed bullets into a Southern California ballroom dance hall, killing 11 people, had no known connection with the victims and investigators were still trying to determine a motive for the massacre, the Los Angeles County sheriff said. Before the shooting Saturday night, Huu Can Tran parked a motorcycle just a block away from the ballroom in Monterey Park, which investigators believe he had planned to use as a backup getaway vehicle, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said during a news conference Wednesday hours after police seized the motorcycle. Tran opened fire on a mostly elderly crowd of dancers at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio, killing 11 people and wounding nine, police said. This combination image created using photos provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department shows a male suspect allegedly involved in a shooting in Monterey Park, Calif., on Jan. 21, 2023. (Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department via AP) Some reports had said Tran frequented the dance hall and fancied himself as an instructor, but Luna said he hadnt been there in at least five years and did not appear to target the victims specifically. We have not been able to establish a connection between the suspect and any of the victims thus far, Luna said. Luna said it wasnt clear how long Tran had been planning the attack in the city about 8 miles (12.8 kilometers) from downtown Los Angeles or what prompted him to spray at least 42 bullets, taking time to reload his weapon, a variant of the MAC-10 semiautomatic machine pistol with a 30-round magazine. Trans motive continued to elude detectives days after the tragedy as they searched piles of items and paperwork seized from Trans home and a van he used to flee, the sheriff said. It doesnt make sense, Luna said. It really doesnt. About 20 minutes after the carnage in Monterey Park, Tran entered another dance hall about 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) away in Alhambra, where an employee confronted and disarmed him during a brief struggle. Tran later shot himself in the van where his body was found Sunday morning. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna discusses the Monterey Park shooting during a news conference in Los Angeles on Jan. 25, 2023. (Stefanie Dazio/AP Photo) Tran, who was of Vietnamese descent and lived in Hong Kong, had been in the U.S. for seven or eight years. He bought the machine pistol in Monterey Park in 1999 but it was not registered in California, the sheriff said. The gun and the high-capacity magazine are illegal in California. Luna said Tran used a registered semiautomatic handgun when he died by suicide, and a registered bolt-action rifle was found at his home in Hemet, about 70 miles (112 kilometers) from Monterey Park. His only known criminal history was a 1990 arrest for unlawful possession of a firearm but there was no indication of a conviction. Monterey Park Police Chief Scott Wiese on Wednesday defended his decision not to warn the public for hours that a killer was on the loose, saying he did not have enough information at the time to effectively alert residents. Wiese said police in the region were alerted but it didnt make sense to send out a warning at night to residents in the predominantly Asian American city, even after learning the suspect may have targeted a nearby dance club after the massacre. Im not going to send my officers door to door waking people up and telling them that were looking for a male Asian in Monterey Park, Wiese told The Associated Press. Its not going to do us any good. The shooting at 10:22 p.m. Saturday occurred just an hour or so after tens of thousands of people attended Lunar New Year festivities in the city. The public was not notified of the mass shooting for five hours, raising questions about why an alert wasnt sent to people in the area. Wiese, who was sworn in as chief two days before the shooting, said police were piecing together information from some 40 witnesses, including many who didnt speak English, and didnt want to broadcast incorrect information. He said notifying other local, state, and federal agencies gave them the ability to get the word out. Less than 48 hours later, a gunman in Northern California shot eight fellow farmworkers, killing seven, at mushroom farms in Half Moon Bay. The shooter was of Chinese descent and most of the victims were Asian. Outside the locked gates of Monterey Parks Star Dance Studio, a memorial grew higher Wednesday with mounds of bouquets and balloons. Hundreds of people carrying flowers, candles, and incense showed up for a vigil. Teacher Who Disrupted BC School Vaccine Clinic Saying Parental Consent Is Needed Reprimanded for Yelling A syringe is prepared with COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination clinic in Montreal, on March 15, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Paul Chiasson) A high school teacher, who was suspended without pay after raising his voice in a pop-up COVID vaccine clinic while objecting to students receiving shots without parental permission, has been formally disciplined by the British Columbia Commissioner for Teacher Regulation. On Jan. 24, a consent resolution agreement was posted online by the provincial regulatory board, stating that Patrick James Nelsonnot to be confused with another teacher with the same first and last name but a different middle initial, also in the same school districtsigned an agreed statement of facts that said the events amounted to professional misconduct. Nelson, who could not be reached for comment, works as a teacher for School District 82 Coast Mountains, which covers the area in northwestern B.C. between Prince Rupert and Prince George. According to the resolution agreement, on Oct. 6, 2021, Nelson objected to a COVID vaccine clinic that had been set up in the school cafeteria. Students who were legally able to make decisions for themselves were encouraged to attend the clinic in order to get vaccinated, said the agreement. Nelson left the class he was teaching, made his way to the cafeteria and angrily interrupted and disrupted the cafeteria with students present. Nelson said health authority nurses were guests at the school and had no legal right to immunize students without parental permission. Nelson said the vaccines were experimental, dangerous, and poisonous and should not be used, and said the health authority staff were being unethical in how they presented vaccine information, and how they offered vaccines to children. He concluded by saying the health workers should be ashamed of themselves. Reportedly some students in the cafeteria were upset and had to leave, and another school staff member called the office. Suspension The agreement goes on to say that one of the nurses attempted to calm Nelson down, and he approached the nurse without wearing a mask over his nose and mouth and proceeded to yell and point his finger in the nurses face. During this discussion, the nurse was eight to 10 centimetres away from Nelson, which the regulatory body notes was not consistent with physical distancing safety protocols in place by the school district. Nelson was formally written up and suspended without pay from March 7 to March 18, 2021, and forced to write a written apology to the health nurses, and attend a meeting with students and staff at the school. He was also made to undergo a mandatory course, Reinforcing Respectful Professional Boundaries and Human Relations, before Sept. 1, 2022. It was Nelsons second time taking the course, as he was previously instructed to do so on Nov. 12, 2019, after being disciplined then for using a swear word when frustrated in class. Tennessee Law Barring Adults Under 21 From Carrying Guns Ruled Unconstitutional Police are seen surrounding the Tennessee State Capitol building in Nashville, Tenn., on June 4, 2020. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images) A law barring adults under 21 from carrying guns in Tennessee has been ruled unconstitutional. Nearly two years after the government of Tennessee was sued over its anti-gun carrying prohibition, young adults in the state will now enjoy the same gun carry rights as their peers over the age of 21. Lawyers for the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) and three Tennessee plaintiffs; Caleb Bassett, Blake Beeler, and Logan Ogle, who were under 21 when the complaint was filed (pdf), proclaimed a victory for Second Amendment rights. FPC Law is thrilled with todays settlement, Bill Sack, FPCs Director of Legal Operations, told The Reload. Our position all along has been that peaceable adults of all ages have human rightseven those aged 18 to 20. To restore the rights to an entire community of folks in Tennessee is a great win for us. Permits For Legal Adults Attorneys for the state on Jan. 23 signed an Agreed Order (pdf) with the plaintiffs legal representatives, admitting that the ban was unconstitutional at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee in Knoxville. The order is a written agreement between both parties to a lawsuit, which becomes an order of the court upon the judges approval. The order takes effect immediately and stipulates that Tennessees carry ban for young adults can no longer be enforced and that the state must pay $47,250 to cover the plaintiffs legal fees. The Challenged Scheme regulating the possession and carrying of handguns that restricts individuals aged 18 years old to 20 years old from carrying handguns or obtaining permits to carry handguns on the basis of age alone violates the Second and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, read the order. Defendant and his officers, agents, employees, and all others acting under his direction and control, are permanently enjoined from implementing or enforcing the Challenged Scheme to prevent individuals aged 18 years old to 20 years old from carrying handguns or obtaining permits to carry handguns on the basis of age alone. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the state agency that administers the states gun carry laws, also faces a 90-day deadline to begin processing enhanced carry permit applications submitted by Tennessee residents under 21. Handgun Carry Permit Dropped in 2021 Tennessee ended the requirement for most adults to hold a handgun carry permit in April 2021, but the state still does issue what is called an enhanced handgun carry permit for those who want a license. Prior to the court agreement this week, 18- to 20-year-olds in Tennessee were prohibited from obtaining a permit to carry a concealed firearm, despite the changes to the carry law in 2021. The FPC filed a suit against the state that same month, arguing that the law, as written, left no options for legal adults under 21 to carry a firearm for self-defense. The latest court order adds to a wave of legal rulings in recent years, which found that special restrictions on the rights of law-abiding gun-owning citizens under 21 were in violation of the Second Amendment. Second Amendment Rulings Back in December, Texas withdrew its attempt to ban the carrying of guns by adults under 21, after a federal judge found it unconstitutional in August, reported The Texas Tribune. Multiple federal appeals court decisions have also ruled against state bans on the sale of various types of firearms for those under 21, finding that such laws were in violation of plaintiffs constitutional rights. On Jan. 21, an Illinois judge issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting the state from enforcing its so-called assault weapon and high-capacity magazine ban that was signed into law on Jan. 10. The law is also facing a challenge in federal court, with plaintiffs accusing the state of outlawing firearms and magazines that are commonly possessed and used for lawful purposes, and therefore protected by the Second Amendment. The landmark 2022 Supreme Court decision, New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, which ruled that there was a constitutional right to carry a gun in public, is expected to accelerate the legal trend. The FPC is also filing challenges against Oregons recently passed harsh gun control law and Delawares assault weapon ban, and is participating in more than 70 cases all across the country, according to its website. Tennessee Officials Making States First Paid Traffic Lanes a Legislative Priority Traffic is seen on Interstate 24 northbound heading into downtown Nashville, Tenn., in November 2022. (Chase Smith/The Epoch Times) Tennessees governor and speaker of the House of Representatives are promoting a plan to bring the state its first toll lanes, that they have deemed choice lanes. Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, unveiled a Transportation Modernization Act earlier this month as a way to address traffic congestion and meet transportation needs across rural and urban communities. Lee, in a press release, said the plan will seek partnerships between public and private entities to allow private investment in new urban roadway infrastructure, which he added would allow the state to reserve funds for more rural infrastructure projects. The plan for public-private partnerships will include exploring Choice Lanes, which are additional, optional lanes funded in partnership with the private sector on urban Tennessee interstates to decrease congestion and increase economic impact across the state, the governor said in the release. Choice Lanes would be additional lanes, not toll roads, but would supplement existing roadways with the private roads people could choose to pay for. The rest of the roadway would remain free and open to the public, the governor said. Tennessee is facing a critical juncture when it comes to transportation and mobility, said Tennessees Transportation Commissioner Butch Eley. Our infrastructure investments will ensure that TDOT has the tools needed to quickly deliver and maintain quality roads so that Tennesseans and commerce can move across our state, all while saving taxpayer dollars. House Speaker on Board In a speech to the Economic Club of Nashville on Tuesday, Republican Speaker Cameron Sexton said the state needed to address the $26 billion it needed for infrastructure and road projects. We cant do everything in this state, thats $26 billion for infrastructure and roads, Sexton said, according to the Tennessee Lookout. We can just focus on congestion, [but] the problem is it takes 15 years for the state of Tennessee to build a road from start to finish on average. Sexton spoke to the crowd about the choice lanes. We lease the land, [and] none of the roads youre driving on currently would be affected at all, everything would stay free, Sexton said. The [only] new thing would be an express or choice lane. Doug Kufner, director of communications for Sexton, said the governors legislative priority would be an issue that the speaker would bring up for the legislative body to debate this session. We must have honest discussions on infrastructure in our state to solve the traffic congestion issue, Sexton said in an emailed statement. Those must include expanding rail access, shortening the decades-long timeline to build roads, and looking at express lanes on our interstates in highly congested areas. Sexton added that significant increases in shipping on interstates in the last decade require the legislature to address the problem of congestion all across the state. As we look to ease our congestion issues all across our state, I agree we must address our roadways. But we also must look at connecting Tennessee by rail to other hubs, like Nashville to Chattanooga to Atlanta and Nashville to Memphis, the emailed statement continued. The possible expansion, if feasible, of our rail system will not only help ease congestion, but will also add to our thriving state economy by connecting us to the east coast and midwestern rail routes. Reaction from Lawmakers When the plan first started being discussed last fall, members of the governors own party were not sold on the idea. Mussolini liked those public-private partnerships, Republican state Sen. Frank Nicely said, according to the Tennessee Lookout. Im adamantly opposed to toll roads. Everybody in my districts opposed to toll roads. He compares the matter to reforming the way the state pays for education, though the governors solution drew criticism from much of the education community. According to the outlet, Democratic Rep. Sam McKenzie, also a member of the House Transportation Committee, remembers that when Dem. Gov. Phil Bredesen proposed the idea of a toll road during his tenure, it did not draw much support from Republicans. We already pay a lot in gas taxes and from a transportation standpoint, our roads are in really good condition. I give us a B-plus, McKenzie said, according to the outlet. McKenzie added that as long as the tolls were optional, he would support it, but would oppose a flat-fee toll road for everyone. House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Ray Clemmons, according to the outlet, said the states transportation system has a flawed funding model, and that the governors proposal is lazy. [Lee is] essentially asking Democrats to vote for a Republican tax increase that wont do a damn thing to help my folks sitting on I-24 for three hours every day, the outlet reported Clemmons said. Terrorists Storm Government Office in Somalias Capital; 5 Dead Somalia security carry away the dead body of someone who was killed in clash between attackers and soldiers at the Banadir regional administration in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Jan. 22, 2023. (Farah Abdi Warsameh/AP Photo) MOGADISHU, SomaliaAl-Qaeda-linked terrorists stormed a regional government office in Somalias capital Sunday, and five civilians were killed, the government said. The founder of the Aamin ambulance service, Abdulkadir Adan, told The Associated Press his team collected 16 wounded people from the scene. The al-Shabab terrorist group claimed responsibility for the assault on the Banadir Regional Administration headquarters in Mogadishu. A staff member at the headquarters said the attack began with a suicide bombing before gunmen entered and exchanged fire with security guards. The staffer, Mustafa Abdulle, said most of the workers were rescued by security forces. Al-Shabab often carries out attacks in Mogadishu. The federal government last year declared total war on the terrorist group and has retaken a number of communities the fighters had controlled in central and southern Somalia. By Omar Faruk The Science Too Is Captured WHO team member Peter Daszak leaves his hotel after the World Health Organization (WHO) team wrapped up its investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Wuhan in China's central Hubei Province on Feb. 10, 2021. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) Commentary The nonprofit called EcoHealth Alliance currently has 12 active grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) totaling $34 million, if you can believe it. Recall that EcoHealth is the institution that Fauci chose as a conduit through which to fund the Wuhan Institute of Virology after gain-of-function research became verboten due to changes in the law. The head of EcoHealth, Robert Dazsak, was also one of the first voices to spin virus messaging, writing in the New York Times on Feb. 28, 2020. In a sworn deposition, Fauci could barely recall his name, though they have worked closely together for years. Do you smell a rat? So did the Office of the Inspector General, which just released a report that reads as follows: Despite identifying potential risks associated with research being performed under the EcoHealth awards, we found that NIH did not effectively monitor or take timely action to address EcoHealths compliance with some requirements. Although NIH and EcoHealth had established monitoring procedures, we found deficiencies in complying with those procedures limited NIH and EcoHealths ability to effectively monitor Federal grant awards and subawards to understand the nature of the research conducted, identify potential problem areas, and take corrective action. Using its discretion, NIH did not refer the research to HHS for an outside review for enhanced potential pandemic pathogens (ePPPs) because it determined the research did not involve and was not reasonably anticipated to create, use, or transfer an ePPP. Shall we translate? NIH (Fauci) was just throwing money around. Still is. We can assume that the recipients are not random. It all happens for a reason. And keep in mind that the Inspector General only examined grants up to 2021. Not surprised? Im not either but Im still bugged. The whole point of NIH is to fund research that falls outside normal channels of profit-and-loss calculation. We know that capitalistic companies do their own R&D in hopes of profits down the line. But what of research involving repurposed drugs and processes that dont meet the normal standards of the cash nexus? Thats where NIH is supposed to come in. During the last three years, very little of that has happened. Thats because NIH has been thoroughly captured. Everyone knows it. But no one seems to know what to do about it. We are gradually adjusting to the weird reality of what it means to lose trust in such institutions. Last evening, I organized a talk, under the auspices of Brownstone Institute, by Dr. Pierre Kory, who has been on the frontlines in the battling over therapeutics now going on three years. Previously he was a quiet medical doctor in clinical practice. And he is a very good one: he treated me when I got COVID. But to his astonishment when lockdowns came, he could not get his patients what they needed. Seeing no one else stand up for what everyone knewthat there are repurposed drugs that work for respiratory infectionshe threw himself into writing. He started noticing that the main journals were refusing to accept papers showing what everyone knew to be true. He further noticed that the studies supposedly debunking Ivermectin and HCQ were poorly constructed, designed to fail. The conclusion is predetermined. At some point, and in light of all his writing, he started getting calls from the U.S. Senate, Ron Johnsons (R-Wis.) office in particular. He stepped up his game and went into full battle mode. His career started getting shaky. He was being leaned on and paid to shut up. He refused several different positions that made his silence part of the contract. Im sure you know this, but the backstory is now firmly established. The vaccines would have a much harder time obtaining Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA if there were widely available and cheaper alternatives. Therefore, the normal therapeutics used all over the world came to be effectively banned from normal use in the United States, UK, and other nations captured by Big Pharma. Horsepaste, they said. This was a line from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, constructed by the PR team which came to be celebrated inside the agency for garnering so many likes and shares. Never mind that the drug received a Nobel Prize and has saved millions of lives. The whole thing felt Orwellian because it is. In the course of all this upheaval, Dr. Kory really did stand out as a truth teller. Today he has finally found a way to practice medicine without being hounded and hectored by the captured agencies regulating his profession, who are now attempting to ban doctors who depart from the government line. He is now licensed under a Native tribe that no government can touch. We all know that life in the once-free United States is fundamentally broken. So many of the commanding heights of society are captured by government and its connected interests. This obviously includes mainstream media. But it extends far beyond that to all of Big Tech. And also academia. Nearly all the professions and their regulators are captured too. This is not just regrettable. In a crisis such as weve lived through for three years, it becomes a matter of life and death. In Mexico throughout the whole time, they had no big lockdowns and you could always buy Ivermectin at the pharmacy without a prescription. Not so here. We look around the United States today and still see the prosperity and the capital and the innovation. There are still skyscrapers going up in New York, for example. And there are still innovations in technology that are garnering billions in start-up capital. The stock markets still work and the banks are not yet entirely run by government. But one does wonder: how much of the prosperity around is due to the legacy we inherit rather than the current realities all around us? We are not yet a totalitarian society but we are far less free than we were just three years ago. The trendlines do not look good either. The ability of the population to control or even influence the decisions and judgments of the power elites running the system has become ever more elusive. Shocked by the presentation I heard last night, I began the day today by digging through the latest GDP report. The headline number doesnt seem half bad: 4th quarter growth is annualized at 2.9 percent. Seems fine. But then you look more carefully. Ill just quote the release: The increase in real GDP reflected private inventory investment, consumer spending, federal government spending, state and local government spending, and nonresidential fixed investment that were partly offset by decreases in residential fixed investment and exports. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, decreased. None of this makes sense. Three levels of government spending more does not mean economic growth. It means sucking more capital out of private markets. If someone steals the radio from our car, we dont cheer the improvement in our driving experience. Nor should we cheer when government spends more money as if that is making us richer. This ridiculous claim has been around since the 1930s and is somehow never corrected in the GDP calculation. The increase in private inventory is a good sign but note the main industry: oil and gas. This is happening to meet energy needs but it occurs in defiance of governments own plans to somehow transition the world away from reliance on fossil fuels so that we can live off breezes and sunbeams, in the immortal words of George Gilder. As for consumer spending, check out the increase in consumer debt. It is awful. Spending funded by debt is not a sign of prosperity. (Data: Federal Reserve Economic Data [FRED], St. Louis Fed; Chart: Jeffrey A. Tucker) As for imports, the idea that importing goods should subtract from GDP is absolutely nuts, if we are to believe that GDP is supposed to be some kind of measure of output. One would suppose that we would have graduated past late-19th century notions of national autarky and realized by now that trade with other nations is a good thing but nope. Despite the headline number, then, this latest report does not give much reason to celebratewith the exception perhaps of the booming oil and gas sector. That has to give every red-blooded skeptic of Greta Thunberg a distinct feeling of Schadenfreude. Ive also noticed over the last two years that the data-collecting and data-announcing agencies of the federal government seem more and more politicized. We used to be able to count on them to be above it all. Now we see very subtle introductions of spin in them, and that is especially true with the labor numbers. No longer can one trust the headlines. You have to dig through the numbers yourself. We are gradually adjusting to the weird reality of what it means to lose trust. We know they are lying. But we dont know yet what the full truth is. That is a very odd situation in which we find ourselves, searching for facts and meaning but not knowing entirely where to find them. So much of what we once believed in has been shattered. Its a terrible feeling. The future very much seems like an abyss. Still, my own advice I take from the ancient wisdom: stay close to those you love, find hope in immutable values, keep working to rebuild from the disaster, and remember that the future can be better if we take the right steps. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. The Washington Post Cuts 20 Newsroom Jobs A man walks into the Washington Post building in Washington on May 16, 2019. (Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images) The Washington Post announced that it will slash several positions in cutbacks, one week after the publications owner, Jeff Bezos, visited the offices. At least 20 newsroom staffers have been terminated, and 30 open positions will not be filled, according to a Jan. 24 note addressed to staff from the papers executive editor, Sally Buzbee. This is the latest in a series of job cuts at media and technology companies, as the economy faces a period of uncertainty and a decline in ad revenue and paying readers. Other news media outlets, which have announced layoffs this past month include Vox Media, Adweek, and NBC News. CNN, Vice Media, and Morning Brew all laid off staffers at the end of last year, while Politicos tech news site, Protocol, folded. Layoffs Amid Wave of Job Cuts at Media Outlets The Posts CEO and publisher, Fred Ryan, told staff in mid-December, that the newsroom would eliminate a single-digit percentage of its 2,500-person staff, as it cannot keep investing resources in initiatives that do not meet our customers needs. However, Ryan said that the paper would continue to hire new personnel in other roles, and that The Posts total head count would mostly remain the same at the end of the year, even after the layoffs. A Washington Post spokeswoman said the company will continue to expand its coverage in areas that provide high value to our subscribers and new audiences, reported the paper. Senior newsroom editors with knowledge of The Posts goals and strategy are carefully evaluating each role to determine its impact to the readers, she continued. The December layoff announcements have been a growing source of tension at The Washington Post, with at least 60 employees joining the papers union, The Washington Post Guild, since that meeting. Newsroom leaders made these decisions after a thoughtful and deliberate review of our current roles and vacant positions, Buzbee said. We prioritized the elimination of vacancies to minimize the impact on employees. We are also eliminating currently filled positions we concluded are not essential to serving our competitive needs, Buzbee wrote in her note. While such changes are not easy, evolution is necessary for us to stay competitive and the economic climate has guided our decision to act now. We believe these steps will ultimately help us to fulfill our mission to scrutinize power and empower readers, she concluded. Buzbee informed the fired journalists that they were welcome to apply for other open positions at the paper. Posts Newspaper Union and Section Editors Object While the number of people affected is reportedly far smaller than what Publisher Fred Ryan initially alluded to in his layoff announcement at last months town hall, we believe any job eliminations right now are unacceptable, the union wrote in protest. The number should be zero, it complained. The Post also dropped Launcher, its video game section, and KidsPost, an educational section dedicated to kids from second through seventh grades, according to reports. Mike Hume, the editor of Launcher, stated on Twitter, calling the cutting of his section, mindboggling. This news is sad, upsetting and, perhaps most of all, mindboggling. Over three years, Launcher attracted over tens of millions of users, the majority first-time readers of The Post and almost all of them under the age of 40, Hume wrote. What makes this news so hard is that Launcher was doing well! In 22, Launchers traffic was up year over year. We were succeeding in our mission. Im stunned. But mostly just sad to lose such wonderful, dedicated, caring colleagues, he concluded. Pro-Life Activists Face Prison Time as DOJ Increases FACE Act Prosecutions The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act was enacted in 1994 Holding bullhorns and sometimes graphic signs depicting aborted babies, sidewalk ministers around the United States have seconds to reach the hearts of pregnant women moments before they walk into abortion facilities. We had one mother who came up to me on the sidewalk. She saw some signs of ours, stopped, and said, Is that real? It was a photo of a baby that had been aborted, Denny Green, 56, of Cumberland, Virginia, told The Epoch Times. We let her know, Yeah, that is real. She said, If thats real, I cant do that to my baby, and she decided not to take her babys life. Green said the group followed up with the woman, helping with food and other needs but eventually lost contact, until five years later. She saw us out on the street again, stopped and let us meet her little girl, he said. That has happened numerous times. Were there for the long haul, if they need us, as a friend or as a help. Were there to walk with them. Denny Green with his daughter Charity and his grandson Hudson on the sidewalk in front of a Planned Parenthood abortion facility in Charlottesville, Va., in 2021. (Courtesy of Denny Green) Green is among 11 people federally charged with the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act for a March 2021 pro-life demonstration at a now-closed abortion facility in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. The FACE Act prohibits interference with obtaining or providing abortions. In this case, the abortion facility was inside a larger medical building that had other, unrelated medical offices. Some of those charged stood in the hallway, blocking the door, while others stood down the hall, closer to an elevator. They sang Christian songs, prayed, and spoke to women seeking to enter the facility, which is shown in a video captured by one of the group members. Sir, that baby is a blessing from God, one of the 11 told a couple who walked toward the abortion facility door, saw the people in the hallway, then got back on the elevator. Yeah. More power to you, the man with the woman said as the elevator doors closed. Local police arrested some members of the group and charged them with trespassing. Once the trespassing charges were handled, those arrested thought the incident was behind them. But 19 months later, in October 2022, they were charged by the FBI. By this time, the abortion facility was closed due to a change in Tennessee law that now bans abortion after a babys heartbeat is detected. The landscape on the frontline of abortion is changing. While sidewalk counselors preach, most often from the sidewalk, abortion facilities have volunteer escorts to walk women from their cars to the facility doors. The escorts sometimes try to drown out the voices of preachers and counselors by blowing whistles, running loud leaf blowers, or screaming vulgarities at them. Shortly after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, President Joe Biden issued an executive order for his administration to address the heightened risk related to seeking and providing reproductive health care. He formed the Reproductive Rights Task Force, a Justice Department-led group focused, in part, on enforcing the FACE Act. Passed in 1994, the FACE Act chilled some pro-life activity at abortion facilities. Starting in the late 1980s, thousands of pro-life activists willing to face low-level trespassing charges used to hold sit-ins, pray, and carry signs at abortion facilities around the country. But after the fatal shootings of two abortionists and three facility workers in the early 1990s, the FACE Actwhich calls for federal prison and fineswas implemented. Fewer people were willing to risk federal charges and left the movement. Still, some pro-life activists are willing to risk their freedom to save babies headed for death. Now, the Biden administration is cracking down on them. In the 10 years between 2011 and 2021, the Department of Justice criminally charged 17 people with FACE Act violations, according to the DOJ website. In 2022 alone, the DOJ charged 26 people. The Epoch Times requested comment from the DOJ. Stiffer Penalties Paul Vaughn, 55, reads a story to his youngest child at their home in Hickman County, Tenn., in an undated photo. (Courtesy of Paul Vaughn) Paul Vaughn, a father of 11 in Centerville, Tennessee, was preparing to take his children to school on Oct. 5, 2022, when the FBI pounded on his door with their guns drawn, terrifying the children, he said. FBI agents put him in handcuffs, drove him to Nashville, put him in a holding cell, and charged him with violating the FACE Act and with conspiracy to violate civil rights for his participation in the Tennessee event. By 2 p.m., he said, they released him onto the streets of Nashville with no phone or wallet to find his way home and with a new list of pretrial restrictions to follow, such as where he was allowed to travel. In addition to there being more FACE Act arrests recently, the penalties are higher. Vaughn faces 11 years in federal prison because of the added conspiracy charge. Ive got an 18-month-old at home and several other children that will spend a good part of their developing years without dad at home, if I end up going to prison for an extended time, Vaughn told The Epoch Times. He said he and his wife have cried and prayed about the situation many times. God is in control, he said. He knows the beginning from the end. My children will see their dad at least had the courage to stand for whats right. There are two federal conspiracy statutes for these kinds of cases, Stephen Crampton, Vaughns attorney and senior counsel at the Thomas More Society, told The Epoch Times. One requires that, for a conspiracy violation, the penalty cannot be greater than the penalty for the underlying crime. In this case, a first offense, nonviolent FACE violation, you only have a misdemeanor charge, up to one year in prison. So if they were to use that particular generic conspiracy statute, all they could get for the conspiracy part is another one year, Crampton said, stressing that this is the first time he recalls a conspiracy charge in connection to a FACE charge. They dug deep in their little bag of tricks and found the conspiracy to Violate Civil Rights statute and charged us with that one, which carries a sentence up to 10 years, Crampton said. What was the civil right we were talking about with FACE? It was abortion. So now theyre going to pretend that the civil rights theyre dealing with, is the right to access to so-called reproductive health care. Civil rights was always abortion, not the right to go in and get a pregnancy test. Nobody in the pro-life movement is going to engage in concerted activities to prohibit that action. So theres all these little white lies that theyre using to try to throw the book at Paul and other folks since Roe v. Wade has been overturned. The conspiracy charge that some in this case face stems from using Facebook to communicate about meeting and live-streaming the group standing in the hallway. Life and Death Consequences Eva Edl in a file image. (Courtesy of Eva Edl) Communist concentration camp survivor Eva Edl, 87, did not use social media in the Tennessee incident so she faces one year in federal prison. But the trial is not until January 2024. If she gets prison time, she will go in when she is 88 or 89. You know, Im just going to continue, no matter what. Im going to continue saving lives, Edl told the FBI when they knocked on her door. Then she asked the agents, Do you know Jesus? Edl has been arrested for blockading abortion clinics more than 50 times over the last 35 years. Her childhood trauma, being taken from her Yugoslavia home to one of the communist concentration camps that operated after the Second World War, motivates Edl to be a voice for the voiceless. When I was on the cattle car with all my people, and we were shipped to the death camp to be exterminated, the people around us were not in agreement with what the government did. But they were intimidated, Edl told The Epoch Times. But as Christians, if we really believe in Jesus Christ, that is no excuse. We have to overcome that fear and do what is right anyhow. Then he helps us through it. I just wish, in those days, that somebody would have cared enough to go to in front of that gate and stand on those railroad tracks and say, You cannot take these babies and children unless you go over our dead bodies. If only a few people stood up, the train would have probably crushed them, she said. If thousands would have stood up, the government probably would have made an example of a few, she said. But then they would have had to stop, or else the population would have risen in protest against the brutality. Same here. If we are just a few, we might be crushed. But if more and more would just lay down their lives and be willing to at least go to jail to protect these babies, we would have more success. But then, who knows what the Lord will do. He may honor even the sacrifice of the few. Im always hopeful. Speak the Truth Just because the government says abortion is legal doesnt mean it is right, Edl said. It is not right. If it is right for the American government to legalize the killing of innocent human beings inside the womb, then why do we condemn the Nazis who also legalized the extermination of born peopleJews, Gypsies and other unwanted individuals? Why do we condemn the communist government of Yugoslavia who exterminated my people? If it is a good thing to kill human beings just as long as the government says so, then we have no right to condemn anybody else. But we all know deep down that these things are evil, Edl said. Nobodys life is ultimately safe in a nation ruled by someone who does not respect all human life, from conception to natural death. It will just depend who is in power and whose whim will dictate who is permitted to live and who is going to be exterminated. She sees mighty forces at work in the Unites States, pushing woke ideology and manipulating speech. It looks like communism or a one world order, trying to destroy the nation, she says, and people must not ignore it. Speak the truth. And pay the price, Edl said. Otherwise youre going to pay a price even worse. Intimidation Tennessee and Arkansas, they have quit murdering babies. All their surgical facilities are closed, and the feds are most unhappy about that, Calvin Zastrow, a sidewalk preacher from Michigan charged in the Tennessee incident, told The Epoch Times. So, what can they do to discourage individuals, groups, churches, state legislatures and whole state cultures? What can they do to discourage that activity of saving babies? Okay, well, lets find some folks and really lash out at them. The ratcheting up of penalties against the pro-life community has a psychological effect on the culture, Vaughn said. It breeds fear and makes people reluctant to speak. Someone that might have potentially gone out to the abortion clinic and felt like they wanted to go help somebody in need, now is going to think twice about it, Vaughn said. Someone that may want to speak up about any other type of thing, maybe election fraud, or any number of thingsa politician misusing their power, a police chief misusing their powerwe might normally go to the next county commission meeting and call them out. But now, knowing the environment we live in, everything is being weaponized against free speech. They may have second thoughts about doing that. And that adds another step to losing the freedoms that we cherish so much here in America. While they would rather not be locked up, those facing prison in the Tennessee case seem at peace with the possibility. Its all on the altar for me, Zastrow, a father of four, said. Im prepared for them to charge me with 11 years in prison and take all my property away. I made the mental and spiritual decision. Its all an act of worship to Christ. Life in Prison Heather Idoni in her Livingstone, Mich., bookstore in January 2023. (Courtesy of Heather Idoni) At 58, Heather Idoni says it is possible that she will die in prison. So far, Im the only one with two sets of charges, 11 years for each. So, I could be looking at the rest of my natural life in prison, which Im willing to accept, if thats what God wants, Idoni told The Epoch Times. I must have a heck of a ministry coming, to talk to the women there. I know babies lives have been saved that way, in the jails. We have a captive audience. A lot of Christian ministries have not even been able to get into the jails again since COVID. Idoni, of Livingstone, Michigan, participated in the Tennessee event and was charged for her presence at another abortion facility in October 2020 in Washington D.C. Between the two sets of charges, she could face 22 years in prison. She is a bookstore owner and a mother of 16, including 10 orphaned boys she adopted from Ukraine. My defense of the unborn has come from simply wanting to obey God and understanding Proverbs 24:1012, Idoni said. This Bible verse says: If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength! Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, But we knew nothing about this, does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done? That same verse struck Coleman Boyd, 51, of Bolton, Mississippi, an emergency room doctor and father of 12. What hit me was, I know where thats happening. There was an abortion mill in Jackson, Mississippi, Boyd told The Epoch Times. I never thought about it. I mean, I was, pro-life, I was against abortion because I knew it was wrong. But it never hit me that people were being murdered. And what should good Christians do if people are being murdered? They should act. Well, as I continued to read, Proverbs 31 says, Open your mouth for the speechless in the cause of all who reported destruction. Open your mouth, defend the innocent. Through that, Boyds family started sidewalk preaching in 2007. Boyd also faces 11 years in prison for FACE violations in Tennessee. Abortion is the central sin of our nationthe shedding of innocent bloodand thats going to bring destruction on our our nation and future generations, as much or more than anything going on with our country, Boyd said. Local historian and retired teacher Horace Scruggs III will be discussing the history of Fluvanna Countys former enslaved population at the Fluvanna County Library next month. The presentation on Feb. 1 will include Scruggs research and three documentary films hes produced on the history of slavery in Fluvanna and the surrounding areas. Scruggs, who is retired, previously taught at Piedmont Virginia Community College and Fluvanna Public Schools, among others. The library event in honor of Black History Month will take place at the Friends of the Fluvanna County Librarys monthly meeting at 214 Commons Blvd. in Palmyra. Attendance is free and open to the public, with coffee and tea available. For questions, call the library at (434) 589-1400. A true trailblazer in the world of oil painting, Russian artist Ivan Aivazovsky produced almost magical results in his seascapes, so masterfully did he wield his brush. Looking at his works, one can almost taste the salty ocean spray. Over his lifetime, Aivazovsky amassed around 6,000 finished works, over half of which were maritime subjects. Blessed with an eye and a hand for portraying the movement and translucence of waves, the artist succeeded in capturing on canvas the roiling, foaming essence of the sea. American Shipping off the Rock of Gibraltar (1873). (Public Domain) Born in the Black Sea port of Feodosia in 1817, according to biographers Eugene Lee and Diana Dubina, Aivazovsky entered a prestigious art school in Saint Petersburg when he was just 16. While still a student, he gained his first taste of sailing participating in Baltic Fleet exercises in the Gulf of Finland. A little later, returning to his native Crimea, he then became acquainted with the great naval commanders of the Black Sea Fleet. As a budding artist, Aivazovsky was sent by the Imperial Academy of Arts to study in Europe. The emerging star spent an illustrious few years mingling with other creatives in Italy and France. He was lauded by contemporaries such as the English painter J.M.W. Turner and received gold medal awards from the Pope at the time and Frances Royal Academy. Returning to Russia, Aivazovsky had become a celebrity. Impressed by his outstanding talent, the Russian navy named Aivazovsky their official painter, and his travel adventures really began. In 1845 he was sent on a voyage to Constantinople and the Greek archipelago. With raw energy and not yet aged 30, the artist produced a treasure trove of marine, coastal, and battle scenes. The Ninth Wave is widely considered Aivazovskys most famous work and is monumental in scalemeasuring almost 11 by 7 feet. It depicts the aftermath of a shipwreck set before a bonfire of a sunrise, with waves in the fore seeming to hold the intensifying morning sunlight in their aqueous grasp. Like Turner, Aivazovskys use of strong atmospheric perspective sometimes tips on the verge of fusing sea and sky. His adding a glorious sunrise in The Ninth Wave, or sunset in Storm Near Eupatoria, throws an emotional dimension into the mix. In those years, artists sought to breach the foregoing neoclassical concept of the rational in their work in search of a more transcendent emotion found in the sublime. Like Turner, Aivazovsky sometimes did so through an almost abstract flatness in his handling of materials that subsumes the image. Wave by Ivan Aivazovsky (1889). (Public Domain) Besides The Ninth Wave, the artist produced such masterworks as Wave, Storm Near Eupatoria, and View of Odessa on a Moonlit Night. A public opinion poll conducted in 2017 found that, among Russians, Aivazovskys paintings are the best-regarded of all those done by Russian artists. The saying worthy of Aivazovskys brush, popularized by Anton Chekhov, became common parlance in Russia for describing something of incomparable loveliness. In 1892, not long before his death in Feodosia in the year 1900, Aivazovsky made a trip to America. After the trip, he painted Niagara Falls, once more succeeding in capturing the raw power and sublime majesty of Mother Nature. While many legendary artists of the modern era suffered tragic lives, Aivazovsky was not one of them. The master of seascapes enjoyed a glorious career of fortune and fame, and the extraordinary beauty of his paintings continues to delight two centuries on. Late in what was an amazingly gifted, dynamic, and admired life, Aivazovsky himself said: Even in deep old age I still have a strong passion within me and I work constantly. Constantinovich Maria in Storm 1892 (1892). (Public Domain) Brig Mercury in the Moonlight (1871). (Public Domain) Vessels in a Swell at Sunset (1850). (Public Domain) A self-portrait of Ivan Aivazovsky. (Public Domain) Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter This Wont Stand: Senators Say Biden Officials Are Stonewalling Access to Classified Documents Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) (L) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), both members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, participate in a discussion at the Atlantic Council in Washington on July 16, 2018. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Anger and frustration were the feelings expressed by bipartisan members of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Jan. 25 over a lack of access to the classified documents found in the homes of President Joe Biden, former President Trump, and former Vice President Mike Pence. Speaking with reporters at the Capitol after a classified briefing with National Intelligence Director Avril Haines, Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Vice Chairman Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) asserted that the Biden administration had been blocking their oversight efforts. It is our responsibility to make sure that we, in the role of the intelligence oversight, know if theres been any intelligence compromised, Warner noted. Members of Congress have sought access to the materialsor at least a risk assessment detailing the information they containedsince the discovery of documents at Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida last summer. But they say the administration has objected, arguing they cant provide that access as two special counsels at the Justice Department (DOJ) are investigating Trump and Bidens mishandlings of the documents. Rubio, however, said the administrations position was untenable, noting, The information were asking for has no bearing whatsoever or would interfere in no way with a criminal investigation. It also defies precedent, the senators argued, as during the DOJs Russia investigation, committees were given access to the classified materials that were part of then-special counsel Robert Muellers probe. Warner, noting that there was broad agreement among the committee members on the matter, added, Literally every member of the committee, without exception, said this wont stand. One potential means of retaliation the committee has at its disposal is the withholding of funds from the intelligence community until access to the classified materials is granteda move Rubio hinted at earlier this week. Im not in the business of threats right now, he said. But Im just saying every year this committee has to authorize how money is spent in [Bidens] agencies. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) built upon that Wednesday, suggesting that the committee could also block consideration of Bidens nominees. Until the administration stops stonewalling Congress, he said, there will be pain as a consequence for them. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment on the senators remarks. 3 Investigations In August, the FBI raided Trumps Palm Beach, Florida, residence, collecting boxes of classified materials that had been stored there since the former president left office. Three months later, in November, special counsel Jack Smith was appointed to lead the DOJs investigation of the matter. That same month, classified documents were discovered at Bidens former office at the Penn Biden Center in Washington, and in December, additional documents were found at his Wilmington, Delaware, residence. But neither discovery was made public until Jan. 9, when the media broke the story and the White House confirmed it. Since then, several other caches of documents have been found at Bidens home, with the most recent discovery resulting from the DOJs Jan. 20 search of the property. In a statement, Bidens personal attorney Bob Bauer advised: DOJ took possession of materials it deemed within the scope of its inquiry, including six items consisting of documents with classification markings and surrounding materials, some of which were from the Presidents service in the Senate and some of which were from his tenure as Vice President. DOJ also took for further review personally handwritten notes from the vice-presidential years. The search followed the Jan. 12 appointment of special counsel Robert Hur to lead the DOJs probe of that case. As of yet, a special counsel has not been appointed in the case of Pence, whose lawyers reported that they had found a small number of classified documents at the former vice presidents Indiana home in a Jan. 18 letter to the National Archives and Records Administration. According to Pences legal team, the documents were discovered on Jan. 16 after he engaged outside counsel to conduct a review of the records stored at his residence. Pence elected to do the search after learning of the classified documents that had been discovered at Bidens Delaware residence. In his Wednesday remarks, Warner stressed the gravity of all three investigations, holding that they were evidence of a problem that has been bubbling for some time. Weve got a broken system, he said, and weve got to fix this for all folks leaving government, and for those inside government, on how they deal with documents. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Top FDA Safety Official Frank Yiannas Resigns A top Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety official resigned this week because of concerns about the agencys oversight structure and the infant formula shortage. Frank Yiannas, deputy commissioner for food policy and response since 2018, told FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf that hes leaving the agency in February. Today, I informed Commissioner Califf that I will be resigning my position as Deputy Commissioner for the Office of Food Policy and Response effective February 24, Yiannas wrote on Twitter. I am honored to have served the American public, alongside each and every one of you, over these past four years. Yiannass notice comes less than a week before Califf is expected to release a response to a scathing report calling for an overhaul of the way the agency regulates human and animal foods. Currently, no single official has full oversight of the FDAs sprawling food operations. The FDA issued a statement on Jan. 25 that praised Yiannas for his service on the panel. His work has helped create a safer and more digital, traceable food system for our country. The FDA remains committed to providing an update on steps to strengthen the Human Foods Program at the end of January and additional updates on the organizational structure, including how responsibilities of Mr. Yiannas position will be handled moving forward, by the end of February, the FDA statement reads. In a letter obtained (pdf) by several media outlets, Yiannas cited the decentralized structure of the foods program that you and I both inherited as a reason for departing. He wrote that the way the division is being operated has significantly impaired FDAs ability to operate as an integrated food team and protect the public. But Yiannas said he postponed leaving in 2022 after learning of problems at the Abbott Laboratories infant formula plant in Michigan, which was shuttered for months because of contamination. The plant has since reopened, and Abbott is facing a Justice Department criminal investigation. Yiannas said infant formula supplies have increased and necessary monitoring is in place, making it the right time to leave the FDA. It was also in February of 2022 that I first learned of the infant formula incidents [that] had been reported to various parts of the FDA several months before, so I postponed this decision and dedicated myself and my staff to doing all we could to help tackle this crisis, he wrote. With the Abbott facility now reopened, infant formula availability more prevalent, andvery importantlythe necessary monitoring, data systems, and insights now in place through the 21 Forward platform to help address the current and any future infant formula supply chain challenges, I believe the time is right for me to leave and vacate this position. In the letter, he noted that his hope is that consumers wont have to deal with any future baby formula shortages. Last week, the Justice Department opened an investigation into the Abbott Laboratories plant in Sturgis, Michigan, after it shut down for more than four months after inspectors found the presence of Cronobacter sakazakii, which can cause potentially deadly infections in newborns and immunocompromised infants. This, in turn, along with other supply chain disruptions, led to widespread formula shortages across the United States. Officials with Abbott have said that the bacteria didnt come from the Michigan factory, a key U.S. production site for baby formula. Yiannas told The Washington Post that a whistleblower sent a report to the FDA in October 2022 that alleged problems at the Abbott factory. But he didnt see it for many months. It wasnt sent to me, and it wasnt shared with me internally. How does this happen? Yiannas told the paper. There were early signals, and in any safety profession you want to take those seriously to stop the domino effect. That didnt happen. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Toronto to Increase Police Presence on Transit System Following Spike in Violence Police cars surround a TTC streetcar on Spadina Ave., in Toronto on Jan. 24, 2023 after a stabbing incident. The president of a Canadian transit union wants to convene a national task force as violent attacks on public transit reach what he calls "crisis levels." (The Canadian Press/Arlyn McAdorey) Torontonians will see an increase in police presence as well as added social workers in and around the Toronto transit system, as officials address the recent spike in violence targeting passengers and employees. Effective Jan. 26, the Toronto Police Service (TPS) will have upwards of 80 additional police officers in place throughout the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) system every day, TPS Chief Myron Demkiw said today in a press conference. These deployments will focus on reducing victimization, preventing crimes of opportunity, and enhancing public safety, Demkiw said. Our officers will be on, in, and around the transit systemacross the city, throughout the day, and late into the eveningeach and every day, he added. Those who ride the transit will immediately notice an increased presence of Toronto police officers in the subways, on streetcars, and buses. Demkiw said this deployment will be done primarily through a significant number of callback shifts, which are shifts filled by off-duty officers in an overtime capacity. We are doing this so that on-duty, frontline officers remain available to respond to priority calls, he said. In addition to the increased police presence, the TTC will also add special constables to bolster security, said TTC CEO Rick Leary. Leary said officials do not know what is behind the uptick in violence but the root causes are complex and require a coordinated approach. He noted there will be additional hiring of Streets to Homes workers in certain locations to provide more support to homeless people. Other security improvements include the addition of security cameras and the deployment of more uniformed employees and supervisors, he added. Spate of Violence The announcement comes after a string of violent incidents, including several stabbings, were reported involving the TTC system in recent weeks. On the morning of Jan. 26, Toronto police announced an investigation into a case in which several teenagers reportedly shot passengers with a replica BB gun near the York University subway station in downtown Toronto. Police said they have arrested two 15-year-old boys, one 15-year-old girl, and a 16-year-old boy. A day earlier, a 16-year-old boy was seriously injured in a stabbing on a TTC bus near the Old Mill trail and Bloor Street West area, marking the latest in several stabbing incidents on the transit system. The police said in a statement that the suspect is around 20 years old, and was wearing a blue mask and black jacket with the hood up. On the same day, TPS said they have arrested a 43-year-old suspect, Leah Valdez, who reportedly stabbed a woman aboard a southbound TTC streetcar near the Spadina Avenue and Sussex Avenue area on Jan. 24. The woman is facing several charges, including attempted murder and aggravated assault, among others. Police are also asking for public assistance in the search for a male suspect involved in a robbery at the Broadview subway station. The man, who is described as between 40 and 50 years old, 5 6 tall, with short dark hair, reportedly grabbed a female victims purse as she entered the station, causing her to fall down the stairs, police said in a press release on Jan. 25. In some cases, TTC employees were subjected to attacks. On the morning of Jan. 25, TPS announced an investigation into an incident where a suspect allegedly chased two TTC employees with a syringe near Yonge Street and Dundas Street in downtown Toronto. The workers managed to get away unharmed. Police said the suspect has been arrested. On Jan. 23, three uniformed TTC employees were allegedly attacked by a group of youths on a bus near Kennedy Road and Merrian Road in Scarborough, northeast of Toronto. Police said in a statement that they are searching for about 15 youths involved in the case. Mayor Responds Toronto Mayor John Tory told reporters on Jan. 26 that he has been speaking with Amalgamated Transit Union Canada President John Di Nino, who has called for a national transit task force to tackle the issue of rising violence on public transit systems. The bottom line for all of us is clear: the TTC must be safe for everyone, without exception, to the people who use it and the people who provide the service each and every day, Tory said. In a press conference on Jan. 25, Di Nino noted that there have been about 3,000 attacks on transit operators annually across the country. That doesnt include attacks on riders or attacks that go unreported. In response to the violence, Tory called for a summit that would see mayors, ministers, premiers and the prime minister discuss how better to support people living with mental health and addiction challenges. ATU Local 113, the union local that represents 12,000 transit workers across Toronto, sent a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Jan. 26, asking for federal assistance and that resources be allocated to the issues of mental health and homelessness. We are at a breaking point. Were in a situation where we have members saying they are in fear, said Marvin Alfred, Local 113 president. We have Torontonians saying they are looking at options other than the TTC, which increases costs and emissions, versus taking public transit because they are too scared. The TTCs latest CEO report from earlier this month shows reports of violence against customers spiked in early 2020 and has ebbed and flowed since then but has not dropped back down to pre-pandemic levels. The report also shows offences against employees have risen since 2017, peaking in the spring of last year. Trader Joes Announces Top Customer Product Picks A customer shops in the meat section as she enjoys the grand opening of a Trader Joe's in Pinecrest, Fla., on Oct. 18, 2013. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Trader Joes Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips, Chile-Lime flavor, was selected as shoppers favorite item in the grocery chains recently released 14th annual Customer Choice Awards. The chips also won the top spot in the Best Snack category. Over 18,000 customers ranked the popular grocery stores offerings in a survey taken earlier this month via polls on its podcast site and Instagram account responding to the question: If you were to spend the rest of your life on a deserted island, which nine Trader Joes products would you take with you? According to Trader Joes officials, such surveys help them decide which items to beef up on stocking and which discontinued products they should bring back to shelves. Sparkling Honeycrisp Apple Juice, only available in the fall, took home the prize for the best beverage. Runner-ups were Sparkling Peach Black Tea with Peach Juice and Non-Dairy Brown Sugar Oat Creamer. In the cheese aisle, Cheddar Cheese with Caramelized Onions was customers favorite this year. According to the company, the onions in the cheese have a sweet, french onion soup-like flavor. A customer shops for yogurt as she enjoys the grand opening of a Trader Joes in Pinecrest, Fla., on Oct. 18, 2013. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Nabbing the top spot for favorite entree was Butter Chicken With Basmati Rice, a classic Indian dish featuring chicken stewed in a curry sauce seasoned with crushed tomatoes, cream, garlic, and butter. I eat it, like, multiple nights a week for lunch and/or dinner. Its soflavorful and hits the spot every time, Alannah Giles, a Trader Joes customer of over 15 years, told The Epoch Times. The number one choice for produce was bananas followed by Teeny Tiny Avocados. Additionally, customers chose Vegan Kale, Cashew, and Basil Pesto as their first-choice condiments. The vibrant green spread can be used in a variety of ways including on sandwiches, as a marinade for meat or vegetables, on pasta, and more. And finally, for dessert: Hold the Cone! Mini Ice Cream Cones, won the top spot. Approximately 3 inches long, the treat consists of a baked waffle cone lined with milk or dark chocolate, filled with various flavors of ice cream, then topped again with chocolate. The full list of top picks is available here. US Board Says Boeing Max Likely Hit a Bird Before 2019 Crash Airplane parts lie on the ground at the scene of an Ethiopian Airlines flight crash near Bishoftu, or Debre Zeit, south of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, March 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Mulugeta Ayene) U.S. accident investigators disagree with Ethiopian authorities over the cause of a sensor malfunction that preceded the March 2019 crash of a Boeing 737 Max shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa. The National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday that it determined that the bad sensor reading was caused by impact with an object, most likely a bird. Ethiopias aviation authority said false readings by the sensor, which measures the direction of the planes nose, were caused by electrical issues that had existed since the plane was manufactured. The NTSB said in a document dated Jan. 13 and released Tuesday that Ethiopias final report on the crash provides no details to support the finding of an electrical problem. The U.S. board relied partly on a fault analysis by Collins Aerospace, which made the sensor. Wreckage is piled at the crash scene of Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 near Bishoftu, Ethiopia, on March 11, 2019. (Mulugeta Ayene/AP Photo) Both sides agree that the sensor readings caused an automated flight-control system new on the Max to pitch the nose of the plane downward. Pilots were unable to regain control. The crash killed all 157 people on board and occurred less than five months after a Max crash in Indonesia killed 189 people. The NTSB released its new comments three weeks after its initial criticism of Ethiopias findings around the cause of the crash, which led to a worldwide grounding of all Max jets for nearly two years. Boeing is to be arraigned Thursday in a federal court in Texas on a charge of defrauding the United States. More than a dozen relatives of crash victims have asked the court for time to speak after Boeing enters a plea to the fraud charge. Workers walk past a Boeing Co. sign as they leave the factory where the companys 737 Max airplanes are built in Renton, Wash., on Dec. 17, 2019. (Ted S. Warren/AP Photo) The families are pushing the Justice Department to re-open a 2021 settlement in which Boeing agreed to pay $2.5 billion in exchange for not facing criminal prosecution over the way it obtained regulatory approval for the plane. Both Boeing and the Justice Department oppose reopening the settlement. The judge ordered Boeing to be represented by an appropriate person. Boeing has not publicly identified that person. Use of Grenades, Projectiles, Tear Gas on Jan. 6 Only Enraged Crowd: Police Officer Crowd control effort was like 'shooting zombies,' an officer said. 'We're multiplying them by hitting them.' A grenade tossed by D.C. Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Thau explodes over the heads of protesters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Metropolitan Police Department/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) After more than an hour shooting tasers, throwing rubber-pellet grenades, shooting chunks of rubber baton, and tossing a smoke canister at protesters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, a District of Columbia police officer concluded that the show of force did little more than enrage the crowd. Nearly two hours of newly released public body camera footage from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPDC) Officer Daniel Thau shows how conditions along the police barricades on the west side of the Capitol deteriorated after Thau and colleagues began using munitions and chemicals on the crowds. The heavy police response at the Capitol began before then-President Donald Trump had finished speaking at the Ellipse, a 45-minute walk away. Most of the huge crowds had yet to start the trek to the Capitol. Over the next 75 minutes, the west-side crowd became louder and angrier, and it eventually pushed its way past barricades, up the stairs, and into the Capitol. Its useless. Were just [expletive] shooting zombies, man, Thau told a fellow officer at 2:16 p.m. Hey, were shooting zombies. Thats it. Were taking out one and 10 are getting more angrier [sic], Thau said to Cmdr. John Haines two minutes later. Were multiplying them by hitting them. Earlier that afternoon, Thau and a group of MPDC officers had walked toward the west side of the Capitol from the President James Garfield Memorial, just after 1 p.m. About 10 minutes prior, a crowd had breached a lightly defended barricade near the Peace Monument and streamed across the sidewalk toward the west front of the Capitol. D.C. police officer Daniel Thau drops a protester with a taser at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Metropolitan Police Department/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) From the moment the MPDC officers emerged from under the scaffolding on the west-side ground level at 1:12 p.m., they engaged protesters standing along the bike-rack barricades. Several officers used pepper spray on the protesters. Others relocated sections of barricades to contain the growing crowd. After surveying the police line, Thau ran up to the scaffolding behind him and shouted, We need more [expletive] munitions. We Need Blast Munitions Thau approached a U.S. Capitol Police officer a short time later, and said, Hey Capitol, we need blast munitions. What do we got? When the officer said he didnt have any munitions, Thau replied: [Expletive], weve got to get something, man. Weve got to get some [expletive] help here. A minute later, Thau approached the bike racks with a yellow Taser in his right hand. He fired the weapon twice, dropping two protesters to the ground, his bodycam footage shows. He then approached MPDC Commander Robert Glover and said, Hey I got 2 ECD, 2 ECD, 2 ECD, 2 ECD deployed, using the acronym for the electronic control device. As a group of officers dragged one of the injured men away, Thau approached them and dropped the cartridges from his weapon, saying: Im out of [expletive] ammunition. [Expletive] it. We got nothing left. A protester shot by a taser is tended to by police on the west front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Metropolitan Police Department/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) Over the more than 75 minutes that Thau was behind the police lines at ground level, he was like a one-man strike force. He felled at least four protesters with a Taser, tossed countless explosives into the crowd, and fired a munition launcher with a 40-millimeter shell at point-blank range over the barricade. At 1:16 p.m., Thau told U.S. Capitol Police Capt. Sean Patton, We need munitions bad. He then told an MPDC colleague a minute later, We need a lot of [expletive]. Thau made another plea for blast devices to a USCP officer. Were going to get [expletive] overrun. We need blast munitions immediately, he said. Were gonna lose it. Were gonna [expletive] lose it. Looking up to officers standing on the inauguration platform on the Lower West Terrace, Thau shouted: Lets go. [Expletive] shoot it! Go! Shoot! Shoot! He approached MPDC officer Tara Tindall, looking for refills. Tara! Tara! Im out. Im out. What else we got? Sting balls. I got stinger rounds, Tindall said. I got Skat. Skat is the brand name of a type of crowd-control projectile shell. Im out of my ECD. Ive literally used everything, Thau said. Ive used everything. All I got is an ASP [baton] right now. Thau walked up to MPDC Sgt. Ricardo Minier. Give me your [expletive] Taser, he said, pulling the weapon off of Miniers vest. I Got Him With a Taser Thau strode up to the police line and fired the Taser at a man standing in a group a few feet from the barricade. He pointed at the man as he fell to the ground and shouted, Get back! Get back. A protester in the crowd yelled, What the [expletive] is wrong with you guys? About a minute later, Thau approached a gap between two officers along the barricades and fired his Taser for the fourth time, striking a man with a beard who was holding a wooden pole. The man then charged at Thau, and the two scuffled briefly. Hey, I got him with a Taser, he told Tindall and Glover. Im good. Just over a minute later, a protester just across the barricade shouted at the officers: Look what youre doing to us! Are you proud? D.C. police officer Daniel Thau loads a 40-mm round with rubber projectiles into a launcher at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Metropolitan Police Department/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) At 1:33 p.m., Thau took a silver canister from MPDC officer Eric Coates. Im coming out with smoke, he said, pulling the pin. Thats a burner, by the way, Coates advised. Moments later, someone in the crowd threw back the smoke canister, which landed behind the officers. Eric, do you have any Skat rounds? he asked Coates. Just sting balls, Coates said. I need Triple-Chasers, Thau said, referring to a pyrotechnic canister that separates into three grenades when deployed. After a nearby captain advised Thau not to use the Triple-Chaser, he handed it to Coates, took a rubber-ball grenade from him, and tossed it into the crowd. Thau went back to Coates. I need more, he said, retrieving another grenade that he threw into the crowd. Grabbing a third grenade from Coates, Thau threw it toward the crowd. The grenade exploded just above head level. At 1:42 p.m., Thau tossed two more rubber ball grenades that he retrieved from another officers pack. Alright, weve got ourselves a cluster[expletive] right now, he said. Broken-Arrow Call At 2:12 p.m., Tindall gave Thau a projectile launcher. He loaded it with a rubber-ball shell from Sgt. Frank Edwards, ran to the barricade, and fired it into the crowd. Thau then got a baton round from another officer, stuck the launcher between two officers, and fired at protesters. A baton shell typically holds five projectiles, which can be made of foam, rubber, or wood. At 2:16 p.m., Thau told Cmdr. Glover it was time for them to retreat. This is it. Weve got to call Broken Arrow on this, Thau said. Weve got to get the National Guard. Honestly. This is it. Cmdr. Haines did not like the sound of a retreat. We cant lose the steps of the Capitol, he said. No! Its not going to happen. At 2:25 p.m., Thau told officer Rich Khoury to fire a gas projectile up into the reviewing stands. Hey Rich, put it up in the [expletive] scaffolding, Thau said. Fire it up in the air, Rich, over there. Just [expletive] shoot! Officer Daniel Thau picks a grenade from another officers pack at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Metropolitan Police Department/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) The round misfired, landing in a large group of officers on the ground. A giant cloud of tear gas spread over the entire area. After Thau helped a colleague who had been pepper-sprayed get up the steps underneath the scaffolding, he told Cmdr. Jason Bagshaw that things looked bleak. Were going to have to make a tactical disadvantaged move out here, or were going to get people seriously [expletive] hurt, man, Thau said. We got 20,000 people out there. We cant stop them. We need to make a [expletive] decision. We dont need to get our people [expletive] killed, man. Moments later, the crowds pushed past the barricades and headed for the scaffolding. Thau and other officers moved up to the top level. He told a group of officers about to head down not to go. Im going to be as real as I can [expletive] be. We are going to get overrun on the steps of the Capitol, Thau said. Were getting [expletive] hammered. If you guys go down there, the pain compliance is working very minimally. Theres 10,000 to 1, he said. We are going to lose the [expletive] steps, and were getting people hurt like a mother [expletive]. Do not go down there because youre going to get [expletive] up. Use-of-Force Protocol Use-of-force expert Stan Kephart said Officer Thau misused his Taser and the variety of munitions shown on the bodycam footage. Your coverage and the video make a compelling criminal-negligence case here, Kephart told The Epoch Times. These tools were not designed by the maker to be used in this way, and no qualified user would have conducted him/herself in this way. Thau was completely out of control, Kephart said. If you tase somebody, youre obligated to cuff them, now that youve neutralized them, [and] arrest them, he said. Thats not what he was doing. He was using those devices to punish people, not to arrest them, and that is unconscionable. Kephart said that instead of misusing crowd-control tools and risking the lives of protesters and officers, the police should have set up a system to arrest those who did not disperse. A skirmish line outside of the buildings should have been established with backup officers assigned and equipped to strip-cuff and arrest those protesters who violated the skirmish line, he said. Note: This article has been updated to add comments from use-of-force expert Stan Kephart. Wife, Husband Planned Fatal Shooting in Hospital for Weeks ORLANDO, Fla.The plan had been in the works for weeks: Ellen Gilland, 76, would fatally shoot her terminally ill, 77-year-old husband, Jerry, and then kill herself. But after shooting him in the head in an 11th-floor hospital room, she couldnt carry through with the rest. Instead, still armed, Gilland was in a four-hour standoff with police until officers were able to use a nonlethal explosive to distract and take her into custody. Thats according to the police account of the shooting and its aftermath Saturday on a floor for terminally ill patients at AdventHealth Daytona Beach near the central Florida coast. The couple hatched the plan three weeks ago, Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said at a news conference over the weekend. During a conversation, he said, they decided that if Jerry Gillands unnamed illness took a turn for the worse, he wanted her to end this. Apparently the goal was for him to do it, but he didnt have the strength so she had to carry it out, Young said. So they turned to a murder suicide in which she would kill herself, the police chief said. But she decided she couldnt go through with it. After hearing a gunshot from room 1106, two hospital workers entered and saw Ellen Gilland sitting beside the bed with her husband unresponsive in a pool of blood. She pointed the weapon at the pair and told them to leave the room, which smelled of burnt gunpowder, according to a police report. Another staffer also entered and was told to leave at gunpoint. Employees then began evacuating people from nearby rooms, according to the report. The police chief called it a logistical nightmare since most of the patients on the 11th floor were on ventilators. After officers arrived, they lined up in the hallway with guns drawn toward the open door of room 1106. Police repeatedly yelled, Drop the gun! according to video from an officers body camera recorded about 10 minutes after the shooting. Tell me whats going on. We dont want to hurt you, one officer called out. Another told a colleague, Back up. Back up. We got time. We got nothing but time. After about four hours, SWAT team members used a nonlethal explosive device to distract Ellen Gilland and entered the room. They tried to use a stun gun, but it failed to subdue her and she fired a shot into the ceiling. Then she dropped the weapon and was taken into custody, the police report said. Gilland was charged Monday with premeditated first-degree murder and two counts of aggressive assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and remained jailed without bond. Her court-appointed public defender didnt respond to an emailed request for comment. Neighbors of the Gillands also didnt respond to phone messages on Tuesday. Its a tragic circumstance, the police chief said, because it just shows that none of us are immune from the trials and tribulations of life. You Bring Us the World: Australia Welcomes Newest Citizens on Australia Day A young boy waves an Australian flag during a rally for refugee rights outside Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Sept. 6, 2022. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) Nineteen thousand immigrants from over 140 countries became Australians on Thursday at citizenship ceremonies around the country. Citizenship ceremonies across Australia hold great significance on Jan. 26, with a flagship ceremony in the capital overseen by the prime minister and governor-general. One of those new Australians, Nashieli Garcia Alaniz, was among those whose pledge was heard by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra. Garcia Alaniz said she was pretty overwhelmed by all the dignitaries at the event, but having the Prime Minister of Australia grant her a citizenship certificate was a special moment. An ecologist, Garcia Alaniz, hopes to contribute her talent to protect the nations native animals. I feel honoured that a country like Australia opens its doors to welcome someone like me and people from all over the world, she said in comments obtained by AAP. Im super happy that I can participate in the country on a different level now, and I cant wait to contribute to help protect this environment. The flag raising ceremony at Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, Australia, on Jan. 26, 2020. (Rohan Thomson/Getty Images) With expertise in mammals, Garcia Alaniz has already contributed to Australia by helping with the conservation of the brush-tailed rock wallaby, an endangered species. Among the new citizens were disability and community support workers, two astrologists, a pharmacist, an accountant and environmental research scientist. Albanese welcomed everyone participating in national ceremonies and said they each brought a roll-call of skills Australia needed. You bring us the world, and you bring us your drive, your passion, your talent and aspiration, he said. I want you to know that you are now becoming citizens of a country where no matter where you live or who you worship, no matter who you love or what your last name is, you can write your own future. Citizenship Ceremonies Not Immune To Cancel Culture While citizenship ceremonies held on Australia Day carry great significance, its no longer compulsory for local councils to hold the events on Australia Day. This is a pragmatic change in line with the governments commitment to efficient processing of citizenship applications and timely ceremonies for new citizens, said Andrew Girls, the immigration and citizenship minister. Previously, under the Citizenship Ceremonies Code amended by the previous centre-right Liberal government, councils were required to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day on Jan. 26, and refusing to do so risked losing the authority to host citizenship ceremonies. The change came after two Melbourne councils were stripped of the right to hold the ceremonies when they decided to cease having the event on Australia Day. In December, the Merri-bek council in Melbournes north became the third council in the city after two other inner-north Greens-led councils, Yarra and Darwin, to abolish the citizenship ceremonies on Jan. 26. The council would instead host a day of mourning event for Indigenous Australians starting in 2023. The January date is the day when Captain Arthur Phillips First Fleet arrived in Sydney Cove (now known as Circular Quay) and claimed Australia for the British Crown. It is perceived by the majority of Australians as a celebratory occasion where Australians commemorate the birth of their liberal country and democracy. However, in recent years the day has become the focus of Indigenous rights activists who view the day as the start of an invasion of the homeland. Protesters march past Old Parliament House to the Aboriginal Tent Embassy at part of an invasion day rally in Canberra, Thursday, January 26, 2023. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) But the push to abolish Australia Day has met with backlash from intellectuals who said it divides rather than unites the country. Gabriel Moens, emeritus professor of law at the University of Queensland, wrote in a commentary on The Epoch Times that its part of a progressive movement driven by critical race theory (CRT). The infiltration of CRT into the curriculum of Australias higher education sector is often paired with the demonisation of Western civilisation and allegations of ethnocentrism, he wrote. Also, statues and monuments of historical figures, who are deemed to have contributed to, or benefited from, racial discrimination, are dismantled or destroyed. AAP contributed to this article. Editors Note: Exhibits shares information about exhibitions presented on display or online in Charlottesville and Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Nelson and Orange counties. Items must be received by noon Friday for the next weeks issue. Include the opening and closing dates of your exhibit and a telephone number the public may call with questions. Send your information to jsathe@dailyprogress.com. The Arts Center in Orange: Travels in Woven Color, a display of textiles by Rivanna Weavers members, is on display through Saturday. artscenterin orange.com. (540) 672-7311. The Barn Swallow: 796 Gillums Ridge Road in Charlottesville. thebarn swallow.com. Botanical Fare Restaurant: Works by watercolorist Juliette Swenson can be seen through March 6. botanicalfare.com. Cville Arts Cooperative Gallery: The Studio Sale, featuring discounted prices on member artists photography, paintings, glass, fiber arts, pottery, quilling, mosaics, jewelry leather and wood, continues through Tuesday. A Farewell Exhibit Retrospective for Milenko Katic during February. Instead of a First Fridays reception, Cville Arts will make a guest book available to sign for the painter, who is retiring to Serbia. 118 E. Main St. (434) 972-9500. The Center at Belvedere: Exhibition of works by Donna Koutrakos, Brent Ruffner, Diane Wilkin, Jane Goodman and Tom Tartaglino will remain on view through February. Hours: 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday and Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; closed Saturday and Sunday. https://thecentercville.org/. Chroma Projects: Jane Skafte: A lifetime isnt long enough for the beauty of this world can be seen through Friday. Gallery is open for viewing from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays at Vault Virginia on Third Street Southeast, just off the Downtown Mall. artlab@chroma projects.com. chromaprojects.com. Crozet Artisan Depot: Painter Craig Peterson of Staunton and jewelry artist Suzanna Garrett of Lexington are guest artists for February. Their shows will run from Monday through Feb. 28. A Meet the Artist Event is planned for 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 11 with Craig Peterson. crozetartisan depot.com. Cuppa Joe Coffee: Paintings and etchings by Tom Tartaglino on display at 90 Joshua Lane in Palmyra. Hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. (434) 906-4172. Firnew Farm Artists Circle: firnew farmartistscircle@gmail.com. The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia: Joseph Cornell: Enclosing Infinity on view through Feb. 12. Earthly Exemplars: The Art of Buddhist Disciples and Teachers in Asia on view through March 19. uvafralinart museum.virginia.edu. The Gallery at Studio IX: Kim Boggs and Mike Fitts: ar.ti.fac.tu.al can be seen through Sunday. The Golden String Art Show, a group show curated by Sophie Gibson celebrating a song by Devon Sproule, opens with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 3 and runs through Feb. 28. Artist Talk & Happy Hour is set for 5 p.m. Feb. 24. Face coverings must be worn when entering the Studio IX building and at all times in the gallery. Gallery hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. studioix.co. (434) 242-0905. The Guild Gallery: 300 E. Main St. (434) 227-1333. Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection will display the second part of the two-part exhibition Irrititja Kuwarri Tjungu (Past & Present Together): 50 Years of Papunya Tula Artists, celebrating the role of women artists and featuring paintings created during and since the 1990s, through Feb. 26. Tour with anthropologist and professor Fred Myers will be at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 5. James Tylor: From an Untouched Landscape can be seen through June 23. Kluge-Ruhes in-person artist residency program will resume with Tylors residency in March. Learn more at kluge-ruhe.org. Tours have resumed and will be led for free by volunteer guides at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. each day the museum is open. Longer tour experiences for groups will be available for purchase. Masks are required. Make reservations at kluge-ruhe.org. 400 Worrell Drive. (434) 244-0234. The Looking Glass: Arts from Underground classes will begin with artmaking from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays and karaoke from 8 to 10 p.m. for $25 per person. IX Art Park Foundation has opened a major expansion of its immersive art museum featuring works by new and returning artists. Admission is $15, $12 ages 4 to 13 and free for ages 3 and younger. ixartpark.org. McGuffey Art Center: Exhibitions on display through Sunday: Pairings, in the Smith Gallery, pairs Incubator Artists with McGuffey member artists, including Emily Howe and Eileen French, Diana Hale and Jennifer Billingsly, Sophie McDowell and Stacey Evans, Blake Baines and Kerney Roden, Mary Lamb and Lara Call Gastinger, and Luke Roberts and Christopher Headings. New Members Show, in the First- and Second-Floor Hallway galleries, includes works by Howell Burnell, Jennifer Duncan, Olivia C. Rivard Hill, Emily Howe, Karen Rexrode and Leslie Quenichet. Coffee and Conversation event for Pairings will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Words is on view in the Associate Gallery.mcguffeyartcenter.com. Mas Tapas: Glass mosaic windows, sculptural pieces and other works by artist Doraine Glidden can be seen through Tuesday. Northside Library: Charlottesville Camera Club will present an exhibition of members work from Wednesday through Feb. 28. Look for more than 30 landscapes, nature shots and travel, micro, floral and conceptual images by George Bell, Craig Cooper, Vicky Eicher, Harriette Browning Fishburne, Jay Hirsch, James Marshall, Aron Mills, Deborah Murren, Glenn Nash, Gary Powell, Nancy Marie Rodriguez, Conrad Ruble, Ann Bell Secott, Rick Seaman, Bill Shaw, Seth Silverstein, Jeffery Sitler, Patricia Temples, Jim Wolfe and Toni Zappone. jmrl.org. (434) 973-7893. Piedmont Virginia Community College: Black Joy Is: Ferocious, Fearless, Forever, Female, For Me opens with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday in the PVCC Gallery. Curator Veronica Jackson will lead visitors on a walk and talk through the exhibition at 5 p.m. Friday. Artists include painters Tori Cherry, Bolanle Adeboye and Some Lewis; photographers Kori Price and Benita Mayo; mixed-media artists IBe Crawley and Tobiah Mundt; and Zoe Charlton and Veronica Jackson. Artists include The exhibition will run through March 25. pvcc.edu/performingarts. (434) 961-5362. Quirk Gallery Charlottesville: Elizabeth Graeber + Susan Graeber: Daily Observations can be seen online and in person through Feb. 12. 499 W. Main St. quirkgallery.com. Random Row Brewery: Local Landscapes and Travel Photography, photographs by Andy Stafford, will be on display through Feb. 28. www.TrinityArts.com. randomrow.com. Revalation Vineyards: Paintings by Kim Gardner can be seen through the end of February at 710 Hebron Valley Road in Madison. revalationvineyards.com. (540) 407-1236. Rockfish Valley Community Center: Bigger and Bonier features pieces by art class and Art Club students at Nelson County High School. 190 Rockfish School Lane in Afton. rockfishcc.org. (434) 361-0100. Second Street Gallery: secondstreetgallery.org. Torosiete Museum of Contemporary Art: Hearts Lonely Hunters (1995) by Daniel Kuttner and Beatrix Ost is streaming at the virtual contemporary art gallery. Streaming instructions: http://heartsmovie.torosiete.museum/. Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Charlottesville: Pastels, oils and watercolors by BozART members Joan Dreicer, Brita Lineburger and Christine Rich can be seen through Feb. 28. Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays. 717 Rugby Road. (434) 293-8179. UVa Health: Exploring the Nature of Nature by father-and-son artists Jerome and Jeromyah Jones can be seen in the Main Hospital Lobby through March 1. As a result of COVID restrictions, there will not be an artist reception. Visible Records: Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays. 1740 Broadway St. visible-records.com. WTJU Micromuseum: In the renovated vintage camper behind WTJUs studios at 2244 Ivy Road. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. wtju.net. (434) 924-0885. The Water Appreciation Experience: Experiential art installation by Martha Hester Stafford combines art, science, meditation and aromatherapy to tell the story of water at 1326 E. High St. Open by appointment from 2 to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday; to request an appointment, email thewaterappreciationexperience@gmail.com. thewaterappreciationexperience.com. Woodberry Forest School: Kelly Coffin: Studies in Nature can be seen through February in the Baker Gallery in Walker Fine Arts Center. An opening reception is set for 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 9; food and drink will be served. Public viewing hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. woodberry.org/arts/baker-gallery. Les Yeux du Monde: Locus Amoenus, a new body of work by Janet Bruce, can be seen through Feb. 26. Masks will be required for entry, and a capacity limit will be placed on the number of attendees allowed in the gallery at one time. Gallery hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays and by appointment. To make an appointment, call (434) 882-2622 or email LYDMGallery@gmail.com. Visit LYDM.co for more information. (434) 882-2622. That release could not be found. Ethiopian Airlines, Africas leading carrier, is set to launch a new passenger flight to Copenhagen, Denmark as of 22nd of May 2023. The new flight will be operated five times a week except on Tuesdays and Sundays. Regarding the new flight, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr Mesfin Tasew said, We are glad to open a new route to Copenhagen, Denmark which will be our 21st destination in Europe. With the launch of the flight, Copenhagen will become a crucial gateway for Ethiopian Airlines in northern Europe and southern Scandinavia. Thanks to the wide network of Ethiopian Airlines across Africa, the new flight will enhance the air connectivity between Europe and Africa thereby facilitating trade, tourism and diplomatic relations of the two regions. Thomas Woldbye, Chief Executive Officer Copenhagen Airport, said, It has for a long time been our desire to improve the connection between Copenhagen and Africa. Therefore, it is really good news, that Ethiopian Airlines, who for the last 5 years have been awarded as the best airline in Africa, now will start flying to Copenhagen. The airport in Addis Ababa have grown to become one of Africas most important HUBs, with onward connections to more than 60 different cities in Africa, thus this new route will be an amazing gateway to the whole continent for Copenhagen. He added that the direct route will create new opportunities for Danish businesses, especially the pharma industry, thanks to the state-of-the-art facilities and pharma wing of Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services. Ethiopian Airlines will deploy Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on the route, with 315 seat arrangement. Ethiopian first started serving Copenhagen in November 1999 but the flight was suspended about four years later. About Ethiopian Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its seventy-six plus years of operation, Ethiopian has become one of the continents leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success. In addition to its main hub in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, it is also pursuing its multi-hub strategy through a hub in Lome, Togo with ASKY, in Lilongwe, Malawi with Malawi Airlines and in Lusaka, Zambia with Zambia Airways. Ethiopian commands the lions share of the Pan African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 145 domestic and international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents. Ethiopians fleet consists of ultra- modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Boeing 737s, 767-300, 777s, 787s, Airbus A350-900 and DHC Dash 8-400 double cabin with an average fleet age of seven years. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate most of these aircraft. Upon early, successful achievement of its strategic plan (Vision 2025), Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2035 that will see it become one of the top 20 most competitive and leading aviation group in the world by providing safe, secured, market driven and customer focused Passenger and Cargo Transport and Logistics Services, Aviation Training, Airport Management and Ground Services, MRO and Aerospace Manufacturing and Travel and Tourism Services. Ethiopian is a multi-award-winning airline including a Skytrax Best Airline in Africa Award for five consecutive years. Ethiopian has been a Star Alliance member since 2011 and an Airline which has been registering more than threefold growth in the past 10 years. For additional information, please visit www.ethiopianairlines.com Email: [email protected] Tel: (251-11)517-8913/8165/8907 Social Media Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EthiopianAirlines.official Twitter: https://twitter.com/flyethiopian Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fly.ethiopian/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCV26xfT57LiOgrZM45ouCg/featured LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethiopian-airlines/ Telegram: https://t.me/ethiopian_airlines The University of Virginia Facilities Management Apprenticeship Program is expected to honor its 2022 graduating class on Thursday. Brittany Collier, Cameron Sellers and Jalisa Stinnie are graduating with a specialization in the electrical trade. Zouzek Abdalhusain and Tim Simonin are graduating with a specialization in plumbing. And graduates Trevor Herring, Benjamin Melugin, James Simmons, James Matthew Taylor, Jonathon Taylor and Rene Teran Vazquez have specialized in HVAC. State and university officials are slated to speak at the graduation, including Virginia Department of Labor and Industry Regional Director Jim Foti and UVa Senior Vice President for Operations Colette Sheehy. Established in 1982, the apprenticeship program offers training across several trades, including plumbing, electrical, carpentry, masonry, plastering and HVAC. Approximately 15 new apprentices are brought into the program each year and train with licensed tradespeople who help manage facilities for the university and its health system, according to the programs website. The graduation was rescheduled from its original date this past November, according to a statement. The event will take place from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Thursday in Newcomb Hall at 180 McCromick Road in Charlottesville. Africa's largest economy this week seeks to overturn the $11 billion debt judgement awarded in favour of the company, P&ID. A lawyer representing Nigeria told the court that P&ID obtained its contract "by telling repeated lies and paying bribes to officials." Nigeria on Monday argued before a London High Court that the country was a victim of bribery and deception in the controversial Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID) gas deal. The P&ID controversy dates back to January 2010 when the company signed a gas supply and processing agreement with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources on behalf of the Nigerian government. However, P&ID alleged that after signing the agreement, the Nigerian government reneged on its obligation after negotiations were opened with the Cross River State government for allocation of land for the project. It added that attempts to settle out-of-court with the Nigerian government failed. Background In August 2012, P&ID served the Nigerian government a Request for Arbitration but Nigeria argued before the tribunal that "the failure of P&ID to acquire the site and build Gas Processing Facilities was a fundamental breach and that no gas could be delivered until this has been done." In the tribunal's eventual verdict, the damage suffered by P&ID was the loss of net income the company would have received if the government kept its side of the contract. Two members of the three-man tribunal, Lord Hoffmann and Anthony Evans, held that P&ID's expenditure and income should have been about $6.597 billion if the GSPA was duly performed by the government. Both officials said the award should be paid together with interest at the rate of 7 per cent from March 20, 2013. In September 2020, the Nigerian government secured a judgement of a British court to suspend the unfavourable ruling over the scandal. A commercial court in the United Kingdom granted Nigeria's appeal for a stay of execution of the award of $8.9 billion (about N3.2 trillion) in favour of P&ID. The interest has now grown to just over $11 billion, or around 30 per cent of Nigeria's foreign exchange reserves, according to Reuters. Trial On Monday, at the start of an eight-week trial in London's high court, Mark Howard, a lawyer representing Nigeria, told the court that P&ID obtained its contract "by telling repeated lies and paying bribes to officials." As a result, the lawyer claimed that P&ID "corrupted" Nigeria's lawyers to obtain confidential documents during the arbitration," Reuters reported. The company, however, said the gas processing agreement was "a genuine contract which P&ID genuinely wanted to perform". In court documents, P&ID lawyer, David Wolfson, said Nigeria's loss in the arbitration "had nothing to do with any corruption". Phuket airport spotlights taxi driver drug tests PHUKET: Taxi drivers at Phuket International Airport underwent random drug tests yesterday (Jan 25) as Phuket Airport Deputy Director Manat Sotharat presided over the opening ceremony of the White Airport Project 2023. tourismtransportSafetydrugscrime By The Phuket News Thursday 26 January 2023, 09:23AM The project aims to prevent and suppress individuals or groups of people operating in the manner of exploiting tourists or users at Phuket Airport, Mr Manat said. The campaign involves the support of 10 law-enforcement and government agencies, including Sakhu Police, Tourist Police Region 3, Phuket Airport Immigration, Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO), Thalang District Office, Mai Khao Tambon Administrative Organisation (OrBorTor, Sakhu OrBorTor and Airports of Thailand (AoT), which operates Phuket airport. The project aims to ensure the safety of, and boost confidence among, tourists and other public taxi service users, and to reduce accidents within the area of Phuket Airport. The campaign also aims to promote tourism to Phuket, create a good image for Phuket airport and Phuket province, and to deter drivers from being involved with drugs, Mr Manat said. Currently, there is a large number of both Thai and foreign tourists coming to use the service at Phuket airport. It is expected that throughout the year 2023, more tourists will travel, he said. In order to maintain safety and to build confidence for tourists, Phuket airport therefore has organised this project. It is good that various agencies have cooperated in random drug urine testing of drivers who come to serve tourists at Phuket airport to ensure safety and confidence in the use of taxi services, including preventing and deterring persons in the manner of seeking benefits from tourists or service users at Phuket airport, Mr Manat concluded. The White Airport project was initially launched in July last year, with taxi drivers to test negative having a sticker of a white star attached to the windscreen of their car. However, so far no drivers have been reported as testing positive for drugs through the White Airport campaign, despite one airport taxi driver, Jirasak Raiyai, 33, being charged for drug use after a road rage incident in Kathu in October. In that incident, the PLTO took immediate action and announced the next day that Jirasaks drivers licence had been revoked. In terms of preventing drivers exploiting tourists at the airport, the authorities at Phuket airport have maintained security as the reason why independent drivers who operate through apps such as Grab and Bolt are not permitted to pick up passengers at the airport despite no suh security incidents involving independent taxi drivers ever being reported. The current understanding, as evidenced in practice, is that independent taxi drivers who operate through an app are allowed to drop passengers off at the airport, but not allowed to pick up passengers at the airport. Meanwhile, the only taxi drivers who are allowed by AoT Phuket to pick up passengers at the airport pay millions of baht through a concession for the exclusive rights to pick up passengers at the airport. Russian suffering bipolar disorder found hanged in Rawai PHUKET: A 36-year-old Russian man suffering from bipolar disorder was found hanged at his rented room in Rawai yesterday (Jan 25). By Eakkapop Thongtub Thursday 26 January 2023, 11:05AM An ambulance at the scene yesterday (Jan 25). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Capt Charat Lempan of the Chalong Police said officers were notified of the mans death at 12:50pm. The man was identified as Roman Melnik, a 36-year-old Russian national. His wife, Victoria Sokoluk, a Ukrainian national, told police that her husband had long suffered bipolar disorder, formerly more commonly known as manic depression. Mr Melnik had been suffering insomnia. He had not slept for about a week, Ms Sokoluk explained to police. He had an appointment to see a psychiatrist yesterday, she added. Mr Melnik was found hanged by a green bag strap attached to the balcony door behind the room. He is believed to have died some 12 hours before his body was found, police said. Capt Charas noted that police found no signs of a struggle or theft of any property in the room. Mr Melniks body was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital to confirm the cause of death, so it can be returned to his family, Capt Charas said. If you or anyone you know is in need of emotional support and counselling, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand at their 24-hour hotline 02-113-6789 (English & Thai) or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai). Have an interesting bit of news youd like to see mentioned in the Along the Way column? Email it to Natasha Connolly at news@thesunchronicle.com. Del. Sally Hudson said theres room for bipartisan support on the emergency contraception bill she is sponsoring in the General Assemblys lower house. That could be a hard sell to Republicans in the House of Delegates, many of whom have compared emergency contraception to abortion. My hope is that this is the kind of project that we can discuss in a bipartisan fashion, because this is not about abortion. This is about contraception, Hudson, a Democrat who lives in and represents Charlottesville as part of the 57th District, told The Daily Progress on Wednesday. Current Virginia law allows a health care provider to refuse to offer someone emergency contraception if doing so violates that providers moral or religious beliefs. Hudsons bill would guarantee that another provider is available to prescribe emergency contraception if a survivor asks for it. The bill would also ensure that a survivor of sexual assault has access to emergency contraception, be it a pill such as Plan B or an intrauterine device, via the Virginia Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund. Hudson said its especially important that this bill includes access and funding for IUDs. The crime victim fund, which is meant to serve exactly this purpose, does not accept all the requests to fund IUDs, Hudson said. And in some cases, such as survivors who have a high weight or who come to a hospital more than 24 hours after unprotected sex, an IUD is a more effective form of emergency contraception. Still, its not clear whether the legislation will make it out of the Republican-controlled House of Delegates. Though the bill attempts to help survivors of sexual assault prevent unwanted pregnancies, some Republicans view emergency contraception as a kind of abortion. Republican Del. Marie March of the 7th District has filed a bill this legislative session that would define life as beginning at conception. When Republicans have been more willing to talk about contraception, its often in the context of sexual assault, Hudson said. There are many Republican legislators who have tried to stake their claim as protectors of victims of sexual assault. Republican Del. Rob Bell, whose 58th District is a close neighbor to Hudsons, has made defending survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence a key issue. Hes written legislation to increase penalties for violating a protective order, to make revenge porn illegal and to increase the money available to victims of sexual assault via the Virginia Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund. His website defines him as pro-life. Bell did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Daily Progress on Wednesday. Hudson said she is holding out hope that Republicans, like Bell, reach across the aisle. My hope is this is the kind of bill that might get the discussion that it deserves in our current environment, Hudson said. The Boars Head Resorts Winter Wander event over the holidays raised a total of $10,000 that it says will benefit five local charities. The money will be evenly divided between the Blue Ridge Area Foodbank, Charlottesville Free Clinic, Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Virginia and the Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA, the resort announced on Tuesday. Each group will receive $2,000. The Boars Head is owned by the University of Virginia Foundation. The Winter Wander is an annual event at the resort featuring a half-mile path with lights and other holiday decorations. The next wander is slated to run from Nov. 17 to Jan. 6. SEAN BERGEL, Wheeler, Baseball, Junior; Bergel struck out eight and allowed only five hits as Wheeler defeated Griswold in its season opener. Bergel walked just one batter and allowed two earned runs. CAMI BROWN, Stonington, Softball, Junior; Brown finished 11 for 16 in four games for the Bears. Brown doubled four times, tripled twice and drove in nine runs. CASEY MACERA, Westerly, Girls Lacrosse, Freshman, Macera scored five goals in a Division III win against Rocky Hill. Westerly ended a 15-game losing streak with the victory. ADAM CARPENTER, Chariho, Baseball, Sophomore; Carpenter pitched a two-hitter in his varsity debut as the Chargers beat East Providence. Carpenter carried a no-hitter into the sixth. He struck out 10 and did not walk a batter. Vote View Results In an apparently random post on Truth Social, former President Donald Trump said it was a tremendous privilege to fire Dr. Deborah Birx, one of his top Covid advisers, adding that she had nice scarves. One of the greatest privileges I had as Preside4nt firing Deborah Birx. The only thing she had going was nice scarves, Trump wrote. I remember so well when she was lecturing the American people not to leave their homes for Thanksgiving, and then she traveled hundreds of miles to visit her family, who incredibly turned her into the police. The only one who thought highly of her was herself! he said. Birx was busted in December 2020 of having visited family members while she was at the same time telling Americans not to do that. Not long after, she announced that she was retiring. The post is somewhat of a headscratcher as its quite unclear what prompted it, though he did separately share an article from July that accused Birx of manipulating Americans about Covid vaccines which Trump has supported. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Former CIA Director Mike Pompeo reveals in his new book, Never Give an Inch, that Mossad agents in immediate peril were rescued by CIA agents at the personal request of then-Mossad Director Yossi Cohen. Pompeo said the story happened during his term as head of the spy agency, immediately leading many to assume he was referring to the February 2018 heist of the century, when Mossad seized Irans secret nuclear archive from under its nose. However, Israeli intelligence sources denied that the CIA was at all involved in that operation. Pompeo says the CIAs help came during one of the most significant clandestine operations ever, though it isnt known what operation that could be if it wasnt the heist of Irans nuclear secrets. The call from Yossi Cohen, the head of the Mossad, arrived shortly after I had stepped off a plane in a European capital, Pompeo writes. I turned around and went back onboard, where we had communications equipment suitable for a classified conversation with the leader of Israels intelligence agency. The voice on the other end was calm but serious, Pompeo continues. Mike, we just had a team complete a very important mission, and now Im having a bit of trouble extracting some of them. Can I get your help?' Whenever Yossi called, I took it. He did the same for me I was there to help our friends, no questions asked, no matter the risks. My people swung into action across the world. We connected with his team, and within twenty-four hours we had guided them to safe houses. Within the next two days, they were back in their home countries without the world ever knowing that one of the most significant clandestine operations ever conducted was now complete. Though Israeli officials insist that it wasnt the 2018 heist of the Iranian nuclear archives, the Jerusalem Post notes that everything about the story lines up with what Pompeo says, and moreover, Yossi Cohen has previously stated that while all the Mossad agents involved in that operation eventually escaped, some were nearly caught by Iranian security services. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) A frustrated New York City Mayor Eric Adams compared himself to a toothpaste manufacturer in announcing a taxpayer-funded newsletter from his office to bypass distorted media coverage of his administration. You can report a distorted version of what I say. I want to speak directly to the people of this city and hear directly from the person they elected, Adams said in announcing the newsletter. Columnists would give their opinions, reporters would just report the news. Now, I dont know whos the columnist and whos the reporter, he said. By the time I speak at a press conference and then I read the story, I say, Were we at the same press conference? Adams added that he believes Colgate, the toothpaste company, is still in business more than 150 years after being founded because it is not at the mercy of tabloid media. Im not at your mercy. If Colgate was at the mercy of the tabloids, they would go out of business. So, I am the Colgate. I cant go out of business, he said. Weve accomplished so much in our first year from expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit to making quality child care affordable for all New Yorkers and more. But none of those accomplishments mean anything if New Yorkers dont know about them and arent using them. That changes now, he said. The New York Daily News reported that the newsletter is expected to cost taxpayers $75,000 a year. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Since the start of the war in Ukraine, commercial flights came to a grinding halt and anyone entering or leaving the country has to do land border crossings to and from neighboring countries, such as Moldova, Poland, Romania and Hungary. Over the past few months, tourists and especially Breslover chassidim, have been detained without reason at the Ukrainian/Moldovan border crossing by customs officers and border police. The unscrupulous officials would then suggest to the detainees, many of whom were at risk of missing their flights, to end their detainment by paying bribes. On Tuesday, it was announced that over recent months, the Ukrainian Secret Service (SBU) launched an undercover investigation into corrupt border crossing officials demanding bribes from tourists entering and leaving Ukraine, especially Israelis visiting religious sites. After the investigation was opened, border officials and police officers were caught red-handed illegally collecting money from tourists, including Chassidim on their way to Uman. The culprits were arrested and criminal proceedings have been initiated against them. In the course of the arrest, evidence and cash were seized, including bills from various countries rolled up to a small size that the corrupt officials demanded. The amount of the bribe being demanded at the time of the arrests was $700 in cash. According to the statement of the Ukrainian security services, it is suspected that after Rosh Hashanah, when chassidim were crossing the Ukrainian/Moldovan border to catch flights back to Israel, corrupt border officials purposely detained tourists, deliberately and unjustifiably delaying them at customs and border control posts by searching their documents, personal belongings, clothing, and luggage. Officials also unjustifiably carried out searches of vehicles, taxis, and buses in order to extort the passengers and force them to pay bribes of $150 to $500 and even more per vehicle. The investigation is now in its last stages, including searches of the offices of the Bilgorod-Dnistrovsky customs post, as well as the homes of the suspects. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Charlottesville police are now investigating two shootings that occurred downtown late Monday night that left a boy and adult woman injured moments after a power outage plunged the area into darkness. Police said they responded just before 10 p.m. on Monday to a shooting near Sixth and Garrett streets that left a juvenile male injured. Then at 12:44 a.m. police said they responded to a second shooting roughly three blocks away on Oakmont Street that left a 30-year-old woman injured. The police reported the first shooting in a tweet at 11:35 p.m. Monday night but did not release a statement on the second shooting until noon Wednesday, more than 24 hours after the incident. I release information as investigations makes it available to me, city police spokesman Kyle Ervin told The Daily Progress. The injured boy was treated and released from University of Virginia Medical Center, police reported Tuesday night. The injured woman was still at the hospital receiving treatment on Wednesday afternoon, police said. Ervin said that no arrests have been made in relation to either incident and could not say if the shootings were related. Charlottesville police have asked for the publics assistance in gathering information. Ervin also said police could not say whether the shootings were related to the power outage Monday night that hit more than 2,400 Dominion Energy customers in the surrounding area. The power outage occurred mere moments after gunshots were heard in the area, according to staff at the ACAC gym downtown, who said they immediately telephoned the police. Crews were seen working on a Garrett Street utility pole as police responded to the shootings nearby Monday night. Power was restored to all Dominion Energy customers in the area before midnight, according to the companys website. Dominion Energy did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Daily Progress. A Canadian woman pleaded guilty Wednesday to mailing a threatening letter containing the poison ricin to then-President Donald Trump at the White House. The letter from Pascale Ferrier directing Trump to give up and remove your application for this election, was intercepted at a mail sorting facility in September 2020, before it could reach the White House. The 55-year-old Quebec woman also pleaded guilty to sending similar threatening letters to Texas law enforcement officials. She is expected to be sentenced to 262 months in prison, just short of 22 years, under the terms of a plea deal with prosecutors. A sentencing hearing is set for April. There is no place for political violence in our country, and no excuse for threatening public officials or endangering our public servants, the U.S. attorney in Washington, Matthew Graves, said in a statement. Prosecutors said Ferrier made the ricin, a potentially deadly poison derived from processing castor beans, then mailed it to Trump with a letter that referred to him as The Ugly Tyrant Clown and read in part: If it doesnt work, Ill find better recipe for another poison, or I might use my gun when Ill be able to come. Enjoy! FREE REBEL SPIRIT. She was arrested trying to enter a border crossing in Buffalo, New York, carrying a gun, a knife and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, authorities said. Her lawyers did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on the plea. The investigation also turned up eight letters to Texas officials affiliated with facilities where Ferrier had been jailed in 2019. The notes created fear and stress, even though they didnt succeed in poisoning their targets, said Alamdar Hamdani, the U.S. sttorney for the southern district of Texas. Ferrier pleaded guilty to violating biological weapons prohibitions in two separate criminal cases filed in Washington and Texas. Ferrier immigrated to Canada from France and is a dual citizen of the two countries.She was arrested trying to enter a border crossing in Buffalo, New York, carrying a gun, a knife and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, authorities said. Her lawyers did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on the plea. The investigation also turned up eight letters to Texas officials affiliated with facilities where Ferrier had been jailed in 2019. The notes created fear and stress, even though they didnt succeed in poisoning their targets, said Alamdar Hamdani, the U.S. sttorney for the southern district of Texas. Ferrier pleaded guilty to violating biological weapons prohibitions in two separate criminal cases filed in Washington and Texas. Ferrier immigrated to Canada from France and is a dual citizen of the two countries. (AP) Chicago authorities said one person has died and six people were taken to hospitals Wednesday as firefighters responded to a high-rise apartment building fire on the citys South Side, battling flames on multiple floors as snow fell. Sophia King, the alderman for the area, said the person who died was found in the apartment where fire officials believe the fire began. She said five of the six people taken to hospitals were in good condition; one older woman was being watched more closely. King said one firefighter was being assessed for injuries at the scene but was in good condition. Video from outside the building in the Kenwood neighborhood showed bright orange flames on multiple floors. At least nine levels appeared to have been damaged with windows blown out and burn marks around the window frames. King said many of the buildings residents are older people. I will tell you when I first walked up, I was aghast and my heart sunk, she said. But after talking to leadership, first responders, they have the situation under control. Barbara Joiner, a 69-year-old resident, stood outside the building with other neighbors as snow continued to fall. Joiner said she acts as a caretaker for another woman who lives in the portion of the building affected by the fire and was anxiously trying to reach her. Oh my God, she said, remembering her reaction to seeing the flames once she got outside. These flames are still rising. The Chicago Fire Department said in social media posts that the fire was initially reported on the 18th floor of the building shortly after 10 a.m. (AP) Dozens of Israeli security forces arrived in Shuafat refugee camp in Yerushalayim to demolish the home of the terrorist Udai Tamimi, who killed Israeli soldier Noa Lazar Hyd last October. The demolition was met with resistance from Palestinian protesters, who threw Molotov cocktails and pipe bombs at Israeli security forces. One Israeli police officer was slightly wounded in the clashes, while one Palestinian who approached police with a fake gun was shot and killed. Tamimi was killed in a shootout with security guards 10 days after the October terrorist attack following a massive manhunt. The demolition of Tamimis house is part of a policy by the Israeli government to deter potential terrorists. The Israeli government has stated that it will continue to take action against those who threaten the safety of its citizens. (YWN Israel News Desk Jerusalem) In a rare daytime counterterrorism operation, a large number of Israeli security forces on Thursday morning entered Jenin after precise intelligence information revealed imminent plans of an Islamic Jihad terror cell to carry out a major terror attack in Israel. The targets of the operation, carried out by Yamam, Border Guard, and IDF special forces officers and Shin Bet operatives, were a senior Islamic Jihad member and two other terrorists who were about to carry out a major attack. Undercover officers launched the operation by entering Jenin in a commercial milk truck, parking close to the apartments where the terrorists were hiding. However, the true identity of the workers were quickly revealed as the terrorists had placed barricades by the entrance to Jenin which set off alarms and a fierce gun battle began more quickly than expected. The officers were quickly backed up by additional forces and a four-hour gun battle ensued, during which nine Palestinians were killed, including a Palestinian Authority police officer who was shooting at IDF forces, and dozens were wounded. Israeli security forces came under massive fire from hundreds of Palestinians, with additional Palestinians throwing gas canisters at soldiers. IDF soldiers shot anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles and explosives at the terrorists. BChasdei Hashem, there were no injuries among Israeli security forces. Many IDF tanks were hit by explosives and had to be hauled out of the city after the operation by tow trucks. According to a joint statement by the IDF, Shin Bet and Border Police, the three wanted Islamic Jihad terrorists who were eliminated are suspected of carrying out several shooting attacks against IDF forces and planning additional significant attacks. While soldiers were in the course of surrounding the building where the wanted persons were, two armed wanted persons were identified who fled from the building. The forces fired toward them and neutralized them. It was also reported that one of the wanted persons who was in the building turned himself in to the forces on the spot. Also, engineering forces entered the building to detonate two explosives that were used by the wanted persons. There was a fourth armed wanted person who was also neutralized by the soldiers. During the arrest attempt, shots were fired at our forces, who returned fire at the armed men. Several armed men were wounded. Claims of additional deaths as a result of the exchange of fire are being investigated. There are no casualties to our forces. The activity was carried out following targeted intelligence information from the Shin Bet which led Israeli security forces to a hidden apartment in the Jenin refugee camp where the wanted persons were hiding. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Thursday that antisemitism is on the rise in the Western world and urged the European Union to ensure that Jews can live safely on the continent where the Holocaust took place. Speaking at the European Parliament on the eve of the annual commemorations of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp, Herzog said EU countries as well as the 27-nation blocs officials should use legislation, education and security to eradicate antisemitism. You must read the warning signs, detect the symptoms of the pandemic of antisemitism, and fight it at all costs, he said. Unfortunately, the picture is disturbing. Deeply disturbing. Antisemitic discourse festers not only within dark regimes, but within the heartlands of the free, democratic West. Antisemitism gained traction during lockdowns as the coronavirus pandemic exacerbated hatred online. Herzog said antisemitism is spreading at record pace, at the click of a button. The distance between a viral video and a physical attack hardly exists at all, he added. The distance between a Facebook post and the smashing of headstones in a cemetery is shorter than we would think. In Germany, a group tracking antisemitism said it documented more than 2,700 incidents in the country in 2021, including 63 attacks and six cases of extreme violence, while Europes Fundamental Rights Agency said nine out of 10 Jews think antisemitism has increased in their country. Incidents of bias and hate speech have also been rising in the U.S. International Holocaust Remembrance Day falls on the anniversary of the liberation by Soviet troops of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the most notorious of the death camps where Nazi Germany carried out its Final Solution seeking to murder the Jewish people of Europe. Nazi German forces killed 1.1 million people at Auschwitz, most of them Jews, but also Poles, Roma and others. The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution in 2005 establishing International Holocaust Remembrance Day as an annual commemoration. About 6 million European Jews and millions of other people were killed by the Nazis and their collaborators. Some 1.5 million were children. As Israel celebrates its 75th anniversary later this year, Herzog said his country is open to criticism but argued that casting doubt about the State of Israels right to exist equates to antisemitism. It is antisemitism in the full sense of the word, and it must be thoroughly uprooted, he said. The rule is simple: Criticism of us must pass the basic test of fairness and integrity, and it must not cross the line into dehumanization or delegitimization. Herzog also lashed out at Iran as Tehran continues its brutal crackdown over widespread protests led by young Iranians. He called for the international community to fight against the forces of darkness and hatred that threaten to destroy us. I speak first and foremost of the Iranian regime, which not only publicly calls for the complete annihilation of my country but is also murdering its own countrymen and women, who are demanding liberty and human and civil rights, stoking civil wars throughout the Middle East, playing an active and lethal role in the war in Ukraine, and developing weapons of mass destruction on the way to dramatically threatening the stability of the entire globe, he said. The European Union earlier this week imposed sanctions on dozens of Iranian officials and organizations suspected in the security crackdown on protestors. The 27-nation bloc has also imposed punitive measures on Iranian individuals linked to supplying Russia with explosive drones to use in its war against Ukraine. (AP) IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi ordered the army to prepare for an escalation of terror activities in the wake of the major counterterrorism operation in Jenin on Thursday morning. Senior Israeli security officials warned that Israel must be prepared for a significant escalation following the operation, including the chance of rockets being launched into Israel from Gaza. The Hamas and Islamic Jihad terror groups called for an urgent meeting following the operation. The Islamic Jihad spokesperson said that if Israel doesnt stop acting in Jenin, all options are on the table. The IDF published head cam footage of the operation on Thursday afternoon. A senior IDF officer said after the operation that this cell was a ticking time bomb that was planning a series of significant attacks. If we wouldnt have acted, they would have acted. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times You come home, it is late. Generally, in New York, when you come home late there is literally no parking within blocks of your home. But Boruch Hashem, you are one of the lucky ones. You have a driveway. You turn onto your block and, and, what is this?? Someone is blocking your driveway. The unmitigated Chutzpah of it all. And then, the anger within you manifests in an intense and overwhelming desire to let air out of the offenders tire. This will creat extraordinary difficulties for him, but the rationale behind it is that the driver would prefer air being let out of his tire to being towed. What is the halacha here? THE DRIVER IS A THIEF Before we get to the issue of the actual deflating , it must be noted that parking illegally is technically considered trespassing, which is a form of actual theft. How do we define trespassing? From the perspective of American law, trespassing is the act of illegally going onto somebody elses property without permission, which could just be a civil law tort (allowing the owner to sue for damages), or it could be a criminal matter. What exactly is the halachic violation? The violation is actually that of stealing. The Talmud (Bava Basra 88a) records a debate between Rabbi Yehudah and the Sages as to whether borrowing an item without permission renders a person a gazlan, a thief, or whether he simply has the status of a borrower. Rabbi Yehudah maintains that he does not have the halachic status of a thief, while the Sages maintain that he does. The Rif and the Rambam both rule in accordance with the Sages-that he is considered a thief. Indeed, this is also the ruling of the Shulchan Aruch in four different places (C.M. 292:1, 308:7, 359:5, 363:5). Is the considered a thief designation applicable in all cases? Generally speaking, borrowing an item has a value associated with it. In the case of trespassing, there may be no particular value per se in setting foot on the persons property, or in parking improperly. While this may be the case, the Chazon Ish (B.K. 20:5) writes that the prohibition of shoel shelo midaas (one who borrows without permission) applies even when the item is not something that generally has a market value, and even if the value is less than that of a perutah. How do we know that borrowing without permission also applies to being on someones land, or parking illegally? Maybe, it can be argued that in order to borrow, you have to physically take an object; here, you are just taking up space on someones land. THE PROOF The Rashbam in Bava Basra 57b discusses a case of a piece of property owned by two partners. The Rashbam writes that we are lenient and assume that one partner allows the other to place his animals on the land even without explicitly giving permission. In such a case, he would not be considered a shoel shelo midaas since they, in general, are partners, and would let the other do what he wants with their property. According to the Rashbam, therefore, when not dealing with two partners of a property, trespassing would be subsumed under the concept of shoel shelo midaas. Therefore, the one who parks in such a manner is guilty of theft. So clearly, no one is arguing then that the person has a right to park in that manner. The question is, may we let air out of his tires, especially so close to Rosh Hashana? BACK TO LETTING OUT AIR The temptation to deflate an offending automobile is quite great, indeed, almost overwhelming. Nonetheless, it seems that it is clearly forbidden. [The reader should note, by the way, that neither this author, nor any of his family members ever deflated or were deflated. This article is strictly an exercise in halachic discovery.] The Shulchan Aruch (CM 378:1) writes: It is forbidden to damage the property of his friend, and if he does so he must pay full damages. The Sma points out that the Shulchan Aruch mentions both a prohibition as well as a financial obligation to pay in order to highlight that both of these issues are pertinent it is both a halachic prohibition as well as a financial issue. The Gemorah (Bava Kamma 48a) discusses a case where a person brought his bull into the private property of another and the owner of that property damaged the bull the owner is exempt from paying damages. Rav Pappa, however, qualifies it and says that it is only true when the owner damaged the bull without knowing about him. But if he damaged the bull knowing about it the owner of the bull may say, Granted you have the right to throw me out, but you do not have the right to damage me. The statement of Rav Pappa is wholly applicable in our case. The deflating of a tire or tires in the time that it takes to refill it is not insignificant. Let us keep in mind that the prohibition to damage another is equal, whether it is smashing his windows and slashing his tires or merely deflating his tires. SIX POSSIBLE COUNTER ARGUMENTS 1. One might point to the Shulchan Aruch (CM 412:2) where it states, If someone had filled and placed pitchers across the public thoroughfare in a manner that others cannot pass, even if another broke them with his hands that person is exempt from payment. The problem is that in the Shulchan Aruchs case, the breaking of the pitchers serves to allow access. Here, however, the deflating of the tires does not help anyone get through. So it is tantamount to just plain damaging or vandalizing. 2. One might also make the argument based upon the Gemorah in Bava Kamma (28a) that a messenger of a Beis Din is even permitted to damage if there is no other way to save an item (See Sma 8:25). But again, the deflator does not help the situation now and, secondly, the owner of a driveway is not a Beis Din. 3. What about the driveway owner acting in a capacity to enforce halacha? There is a debate between the Nesivus and the Ktzos HaChoshen (CM Chapter 3) in regard to whether individuals can take upon themselves to stop someone from doing something wrong. The Nesivus is of the opinion that individuals do have this Citizens Arrest type of power. The Ktzos HaChoshen, however, writes that this power is unique to Beis Din. The halacha is in accordance with the Ktzos. 4. A fourth argument can be made that if it is illegal to block a driveway, then when one parks there he is tacitly agreeing to allow himself to be damaged. The assumption is that he certainly does not wish to be considered a thief, therefore, he is an agreement that he may be deflated. The counter to this argument is that he may respond, I never agreed to submit to this damage. I had thought that what I was doing was not so nice, but not theft. If so, we do not have any indication that the driver was amenable to be deflated and it would still constitute damaging him. 5. Perhaps there is another angle. There is a halachic tool called an Anan Sahadi which literally means the entire world testifies. The Anan Sahadi is not a tool of little consequence. In theory, one can argue that there may be a legal form of acquiescence here. How so? One could perhaps make an argument that there is an Anan Sahadi that a person would rather be deflated than be towed, and, therefore, there should not be a prohibition in deflating their car. The counter to this is that, when dealing with a religious person he will perhaps be upset, but will not tow him. The Anan Sahadi, therefore, does not really exist. 6. There is one last attempt. If we look at the driver as not just someone who is damaging now, but someone who does so continuously, then perhaps we can utilize the principle of Rav Nachman (Bava Kamma 27b) entitled, Avid Inesh Dina dnafshai that a person is allowed to take action outside of court in order to prevent himself from sustaining damage. However, it is clear that the parameters of Avid Inesh Dina dnafshai that a person is allowed to take action outside of court is only in terms of taking back his own item but not in causing someone damage. The Sfas Emes (Brachos 5b) states this specifically. MORE THAN HALACHA Deflating a cars tire may also be illegal in New York State. When a person destroys or damages property illegally it is not called Vandalism in New York State it is called Criminal Mischief. There are four levels of Criminal Mischief in New York State. They range from the lowest level, Criminal Mischief in the 4th degree, which is a misdemeanor to Criminal Mischief in the 1st Degree, a felony. The lowest level covers any destruction of property for vandalism with a value up to two hundred and fifty dollars. It is a separate criminal charge if someone is caught with possession of graffiti tool. Is the deflating device a graffiti tool? Regardless, this is a misdemeanor and is punishable by up to one year in jail with the possibility of probation, community service and fines. The next level of criminal mischief is Criminal Mischief in the 3rd degree, a felony. The violator faces a minimum of a year and a day in prison. This covers destruction of property of over two hundred and fifty dollars and up to fifteen hundred dollars. Criminal Mischief in the second degree is damage to property over $1500.00 and is a Class D felony. The final level of Criminal mischief is Criminal mischief in the 1st degree which is a Class B felony. This occurs when property is destroyed by use of explosive. Hopefully, driveway owners are not so angered that they would resort to this level of a deterrent. LAST ISSUE There is one final issue. Depending upon the intention of the deflator, he could very well be violating a Torah prohibition of seeking revenge (See Rambam Hilchos Deyos 7:7). What would be the halacha if he has two intentions one of revenge and the other of trying to prevent further parking abuse? The Mishna Brurah 38:24 cites a Magen Avrohom about a persons double intention when performing a Mitzvah, and states that it generally follows ones main intent. The reader should know, however, that there are some Rabbis who disagree with the position presented here and have adopted one of the six rationales expressed above. Each person should follow the ruling of his Rav in this matter, however, this author consulted with two major Poskim who agreed with the positions set forth above. One of them was unsure, however, about the counter to explanation #4 above. So what should and could be done? A note should be left on the car explaining that it is wrong and that the license plate was noted, and next time a tow truck may be called. If the car is blocking access, towing would be permitted according to the Shulchan Aruch. (CM412:1). According to what was discussed above, however, deflating would not be permitted. The author can be reached at [email protected] Fevertree has warned soaring energy prices will directly contribute an extra 20million in estimated glass-making costs this year. About 80 per cent of the premium tonic maker's products are sold in glass bottles, which have become more expensive to manufacture as gas prices have skyrocketed following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Though energy prices have eased from their peak, the London-listed firm told investors on Thursday they remain at least three times above their 2021 levels when Covid-19 restrictions depressed gas and electricity usage. Production costs: About 80 per cent of Fever-Tree's products are sold in glass bottles, which have become more expensive to manufacture as gas prices have skyrocketed Fevertree is also experiencing double-digit percentage increases across several significant input costs, such as ingredients, packaging and filling fees. Due to these impacts, the group forecasts adjusted earnings of between 36million and 42million in 2023, compared to approximately 39million last year and much lower than market expectations. Fevertree Drinks shares had slumped by 4.9 per cent to 10.62 on early Thursday afternoon, meaning they have each lost about 57 per cent of their value in the past 12 months. However, the firm is predicting annual turnover will expand by 13 to 18 per cent this year, with growth heavily driven by a rebound in domestic trade and the market. Chief executive Tim Warrillow said: '2022 has seen the Fever-Tree brand continue to gain traction and prominence across the globe resulting in double-digit revenue growth and profits in line with expectations. 'Furthermore, the brand continues to increase its clear global market leadership position and remains the primary driver of this increasingly prominent international drinks category.' The group's US sales overcame serious port congestion and the delayed build-up of production on the country's east coast to surge by nearly a quarter in 2022. Impressive growth was also reported across Europe, particularly in southern states, as tourism picked up again on the removal of Covid-related restrictions. This offset declining trade in the UK, which was coming off a strong comparative performance in the previous year when the enforced closure of pubs, bars and restaurants produced a surge in supermarket purchases as consumers shifted to making homemade cocktails. Rail strikes had a 'notable impact' on demand during the festive season, according to the group, a critical trading period for the hospitality sector. Nonetheless, the business noted it continues to be Britain's leading mixer brand and was making 'significant progress' penetrating the adult soft drink segment. It is also the biggest premium tonic water brand by market share in the US, having overtaken the longstanding brand Schweppes just three years after setting up operations in the territory, where it is sold by drinks conglomerate Dr Pepper Keurig. More than $3 million dollars arrived this week to the Office of Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, the state body tasked with the distribution of settlement money coming from the distributors and architects of the nations opioid epidemic. This tranche of cash comes from Mallinckrodt, one of several players who agreed to settlement terms. In total, Mallinckrodt will pay $1.6 billion dollars to the settlements 47 plaintiffs. The company also marketed the drugs in a manner that downplayed their risk and funded purportedly objective literature promoting opioid use, according to a press release from the New Jersey Attorney General's Office. At the Office of Attorney General, we will continue to pursue important settlement funding for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Securing and executing multi-million dollar settlements will significantly impact Virginias fight against the opioid epidemic, said Miyares. Of the overall sum it agreed to last year, $24 million in total will go to Miyares office. This weeks payment is the first of many rounds of payments, which the company has said it will complete within 8 years. In Virginia, settlement money is being distributed to localities through two routes. Some initial payments go directly to localities from the AGs office. A majority, however, will go to a new state agency called the Opioid Abatement Authority. The Authority will then distribute funds on a grant-application basis. Localities with plans to use the money will have to request it from the Authority, which has said it will be transparent and rigorous in how it vets and approves applicants. In total, the authority will manage 55% of the states settlement cash. So far, it has received $72 million in total, said Tony McDowell, executive director of the abatement authority. Guidance on how the money can be spent was included in the original settlement agreement. In December, the Virginia Office of the Auditor of Public Accounts released its own guidance, requiring localities to report to the Abatement Authority if they use money for a non-abatement spending. Our grant application process opened last Thursday, said McDowell. Im curious to see what theyre going to propose. The authority, which is being paid for with funds from the settlement, has hired four new employees, including a director of finance, McDowell said. They may hire more to help with accounting and grant outreach. Many localities have yet to spend the money. McDowell said that each localitys board of supervisors will need to approve its usage. The Authority has yet to receive applications for funding, but McDowell estimates theyll arrive shortly, and that funds will begin to go to localities in late spring or early summer. One locality thats looking forward to the application is Tazewell, a southwest Virginia county that was hammered by opioid abuse in the aughts of the millennium. Eric Young, Tazewell's County Administrator, is leading efforts there to use the funds. Young says they expect to receive $2.3 million in total from the settlement. For Tazewell, its a significant sum, Young said: the countys property taxes bring in about $15 million each year. Still, its bittersweet to receive. There is not a sufficient amount of money we could give to these mothers, or these children, said Young. This was a generational plague for our county. This was a scourge. Tazewell was redefined by opioids. A blue collar region with a low crime rate and many workers in mining adjacent machining industries, opioids like Oxycodone initially helped residents manage pain from physical jobs, before addiction to the painkillers dominated their lives. Young said the Tazewell Countys Sheriffs Office doubled in size during those years. The Tazewell Commonwealth Attorneys office brought in seven additional prosecutors, up from three. The county jail population tripled, and the number of children in need of foster care skyrocketed. The county initially considered using the money to fund a scholarship program for those children, however the abatement requirement attached to the settlement may disallow that use. Young estimated the county will have a better idea of how it will spend the money in a few months The University of Virginias research park in Albemarle County has received a $3 million grant to help it attract more businesses by speeding up the timeline from application to approval. The money is intended to give a boost to the 500-plus-acre North Fork Discovery Park off Route 29 that has quietly grown over the years, in UVas own words, since the land was purchased in 1986. Today the park hosts more than 30 companies supporting roughly 1,800 jobs largely in the fields of science, technology, government work and academia, according to UVa. There is more than 100,000 square feet of office and flex space at the park available for rent, according to the North Fork website. This is the first step to inviting a significant investment and career ladder employment, J.T. Newberry, a business manager at Albemarle Countys Office of Economic Development, told The Daily Progress on Wednesday. The grant from the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program, part of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, specifically targets a 31-acre section of the park. Virginia classifies sites of potential developments in five tiers, with the first tier being a green field and the fifth tier being a site thats ready for a company to take over. Taking a site from the first to the fifth tier is a process that can take more than a year, according to Deborah van Eersel, the chief administrative officer and director of marketing at the UVa Foundation, which owns and operates the park. The longer that takes, the less attractive a site is to a site selector, van Eersel told The Daily Progress on Wednesday. Newberry said the grant gives his office in the county the option to say yes to potential businesses that want to come in. Businesses will sometimes approach the office asking if there is space for them to set up shop within a year or a year and a half, Newberry said. If rezoning or a special use permit is necessary, it can take a year to even know whether a site can be used for that businesss purpose. This grant will allow us to say, weve got 31 1/2 acres owned by the University of Virginia Foundation. If you align with North Forks master plan, you can contact them about locating right here, Newberry said. Any business that wants in will have to receive approval from the county, the UVa Foundation and the state. Its a three-way partnership, Newberry said. North Fork is zoned for nearly any use thats not residential, Van Eersel said. We have lots of different uses, whether that be office, industrial, laboratory. We have the right to build hotel and retail at certain points of development, van Eersel said. Whether the space becomes a hotel or shop is up to what businesses are interested. Both Newberry and van Eersel said the grant should bring more jobs to Albemarle County. We hope in the process of doing all this, were helping to create jobs for the community, as well as folks coming in associated with the university, van Eersel said. The Virginia state Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that would add a nonvoting staff member to the University of Virginia Board of Visitors for the first time in the boards history. The bill would also codify the position of a nonvoting faculty member, which the board already has but is not required by law, and allow faculty to choose its representative on the governing body. Though nonvoting members, the staff and faculty representatives would bring much-needed voices to the Board during deliberations, and it is critical that they are able to select their own representatives, said state Sen. Creigh Deeds, a Democrat who represents the university in the upper house of the General Assembly and the author of the bill. The bill passed the Senate on Tuesday in a 22-16 party-line vote that had the full support of the chambers Democrats. It now moves to the House, where it will likely face a challenge from the Republicans who control that chamber. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin would not say whether he supports the bill. The governor will review the legislation when it comes to his desk, Youngkin spokeswoman Macaulay Porter said in a statement to The Daily Progress on Wednesday. The UVa Board of Visitors is the governing body of the university and makes decisions on the budget, construction, honor code and academic curriculum. It can also hire and fire the university president. The board currently has 17 voting members who have been appointed by the governor and confirmed by the General Assembly. In addition, the board includes two nonvoting members: a student representative required by law, who applies for the position and is chosen by the boards executive committee after a series of interviews, and a faculty representative, which is not required by law and is selected by the board from a slate of three recommended by the Faculty Senate. Deeds bill would not only codify the faculty seat at UVa but also give faculty more power in how that seat is filled. If signed into law, the Faculty Senate would elect a single person to serve a one-year term as the faculty representative to the Board of Visitors. Up until December of last year, this was how faculty already selected its representative. In December, the Faculty Senate voted to change its bylaws in favor of the three-man slate. Tish Jennings, chair of the Faculty Senate, said at the time that the decision was made to appease the Board of Visitors, which had suggested the position was not required under law and could be removed. They interpret it as an option, they dont have to have anybody representing the faculty on the Board of Visitors, Jennings told The Daily Progress in December. They made that pretty clear to us that that was their interpretation of the law. Jennings on Monday said that she approves of the new legislation for UVa but would have liked to have seen it expanded to apply to all state colleges and universities. I think my major concern is that it only applies to UVa, Jennings told The Daily Progress. I think if there was going to be a change in the law related to this, it should be across the board for all public institutions, not just UVa. Deeds said there was a reason the language was limited to UVa. The idea was brought to me by members of the United Campus Workers at UVA, so the bill we worked on together is written specifically for UVA, Deeds said. The United Campus Workers is a union of employees at public colleges and universities. The UVa chapter did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Daily Progress on Wednesday. [January 26, 2023] Antel to Trial VMware Telco Cloud Platform for their 5G Architecture Antel, the leading Mobile Operator in Uruguay, is working with VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW) for a use case driven trial using the VMware Telco Cloud Platform to support a Proof of Concept (PoC). With the emergence of 5G, communications service providers (CoSPs) have the opportunity to develop new business models, and engage with a larger ecosystem of partners to deliver new and disruptive services that are more relevant in the digital world. This transformation requires a virtualized and containerized telco cloud architecture to modernize legacy networks. CoSPs are selecting VMware's horizontal multicloud platform for their implementations of 5G networks in South America. This cloud native architecture will help Antel gain operational efficiencies and bring services and innovation to market faster. Using this integrated platform will allow Antel to deploy new network functions on the same Telco Cloud architecture from core to RAN to edge, enabling the scale and agility needed to deliver services on the 5G network. This PoC between Antel and VMware was made possible with the help of AT Innovando Juntos, a local partner; the three companies are working together to help Antel build a world class 5G network to support the growing demands of the consumer and enterprise customers in Uruguay. Antel Uruguay has a steep history in implementing emerging technology to drive new service creation for strategic business development, improving logistics, and helping in the area of process improvement. Antel continues to push the boundaries of innovation and infrastructure deployment, being the first company to enable the first commercial 5G network in Latin America.(1) This PoC is the next milestone in their journey to build their commercial 5G SA network in the near future. "To help with the rollout of 5G networks, VMware offers service providers a single platform to modernize their network infrastructure efficiently and cost effectively," said Sanjay Uppal, senior vice president and general manager, Service Provider and Edge, VMware. "VMware is proud to be an existing partner of Antel, and we look forward to helping them successfully trial the VMware Telco Cloud Platform." Additional Resources Learn more about how VMware is helping service providers modernize their networks at telco.vmware.com. Bookmark the VMware Telco Cloud blog Get all VMware Telco updates on Twitter and LinkedIn About VMware VMware is a leading provider of multi-cloud services for all apps, enabling digital innovation with enterprise control. As a trusted foundation to accelerate innovation, VMware software gives businesses the flexibility and choice they need to build the future. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, VMware is committed to building a better future through the company's 2030 Agenda. For more information, please visit www.vmware.com/company. (1) Antel presents the first 5G network with commercial service in Latin America, April 9, 2019 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230125005184/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 25, 2023] Global Enterprise Quantum Computing Market Report 2022: Sector to Reach $6.4 Billion by 2028 at a 24.4% CAGR DUBLIN, Jan. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Enterprise Quantum Computing Market Size, Share & Industry Trends Analysis Report By Deployment Mode, By Technology, By Application, By Component (Hardware, Software and Services), By Vertical, By Regional Outlook and Forecast, 2022 - 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Enterprise Quantum Computing Market size is expected to reach $6.4 billion by 2028, rising at a market growth of 24.4% CAGR during the forecast period. Market Growth Factors Investment in Quantum Technologies is on the Rise In order to use quantum computers to perform various optimization and simulation tactics, several government agencies involved in the global space and military industries are spending more and more on the development of quantum computing technology. Governments from many different nations are funding their research institutions with substantial sums of money in order to further the development of quantum computing. Nations are making large investments in the study and development of quantum computing technologies. Increasing Use as Artificial Intelligence Advances In order to enhance their strategic, insight-driven, and operational capabilities, businesses use AI-powered solutions. Artificial intelligence (AI) may increase productivity and allow automated data processing by automating complex and repetitive activities. IT teams may utilize AI to handle and monitor important tasks. The businesses offering cloud solutions and services are consistently focusing on R&D operations, product improvements, and cutting-edge product launches thanks to the integration of Big Data, AI, and ML. Deployment Outlook Based on the deployment mode, the enterprise quantum computing market is classified into on-premise and cloud. In 2021, the cloud segment garnered the substantial revenue share in the market. As more durable systems are created, there will certainly be a rise in demand for cloud-based computing solutions and services. Along with increasingly comprehensive solutions from the leading industry players, the clud is also offering a number of other ways to build quantum computers. The flexibility of access offered to consumers is another aspect that contributes to the popularity of cloud-based services and systems. Technology Outlook Based on technology, the enterprise quantum computing is segmented into quantum annealing, superconducting, trapped ions, quantum dots, and others. The superconducting segment had the most revenue share in 2021. This market is growing because superconducting qubit-based quantum computers operate more quickly than equivalent machines using other technologies. In the next years, it is anticipated that IT giants like IBM, Google, and Intel would introduce their superconducting qubit-based quantum computing services. Application Outlook Based on application, the enterprise quantum computing market is classified into machine learning/deep learning/AI, optimization, simulation & data modeling, cyber security, and others. In 2021, the market for corporate quantum computing experienced a significant increase in the revenue share of the machine learning/deep learning/AI sector. Users may learn about the estimate of quantum system characteristics, quantum error-correcting codes, and the creation of unique quantum algorithms thanks to machine learning, artificial intelligence, and deep learning. Quantum algorithms are included in machine learning software as part of quantum machine learning. Component Outlook Based on component, the enterprise quantum computing market is classified into hardware, software, and services. In terms of revenue, the hardware segment had the largest revenue share in 2021. As hardware represents a substantial bottleneck in the ecosystem, growth in this sector is expected. There are several hardware platforms developed for quantum computing. All commercially viable quantum computers are based on superconducting circuits and trapped ions, which are majorly sophisticated. Spin qubits, neutral atoms, and photonic networks are other intriguing platforms. Vertical Outlook Based on vertical, the enterprise quantum computing market is classified into manufacturing, BFSI, energy & utilities, aerospace & defense, healthcare & life sciences, IT and telecom, and others. The enterprise quantum computing market had a significant revenue share in 2021 in the telecom and IT categories. Many firms are now making significant efforts to transition to IT infrastructures that are quantum-safe. The term "cryptoagility" is often used to describe a system architecture that is adaptable enough to quickly accept new cryptographic techniques with no negative influence on the system"s functioning. Key Market Players List of Companies Profiled in the Report: Alibaba Group Holding Limited D-Wave Systems Inc. Google Llc Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. Id Quantique Intel Corporation IBM Corporation Microsoft Corporation Rigetti & Co, Inc. Toshiba Corporation Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1. Market Scope & Methodology Chapter 2. Market Overview Chapter 3. Competition Analysis - Global Chapter 4. Global Enterprise Quantum Computing Market by Deployment Mode Chapter 5. Global Enterprise Quantum Computing Market by Technology Chapter 6. Global Enterprise Quantum Computing Market by Application Chapter 7. Global Enterprise Quantum Computing Market by Component Chapter 8. Global Enterprise Quantum Computing Market by Vertical Chapter 9. Global Enterprise Quantum Computing Market by Region Chapter 10. Company Profiles For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/77712k-enterprise?w=5 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Laura Wood | +353-1-481-1716 | [email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-enterprise-quantum-computing-market-report-2022-sector-to-reach-6-4-billion-by-2028-at-a-24-4-cagr-301730822.html SOURCE Research and Markets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Geekplus, Japan's Leader In Automated Guided Vehicles, Selects Boomi To Automate Smart Logistics Platform Boomi, the intelligent connectivity and automation leader, today announced that Geekplus Co., Ltd. (Geekplus), which has held the top market share in Japan for four consecutive years in automated guided vehicles (AGV), has selected the Boomi AtomSphere Platform to automate its next generation smart logistics platform. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230125005893/en/ Geekplus, Japan's Leader In Automated Guided Vehicles, Selects Boomi To Automate Smart Logistics System (Graphic: Business Wire) Geekplus was established in Japan in 2017 as a joint venture between Beijing Geekplus Technology Company Limited, a unicorn company with the world's largest market share in autonomous mobile robots (AMR), and Japanese capital. The company contributes to improving the corporate value of logistics companies by providing services such as sales, installation, 24/7/365 maintenance, and productivity improvement consulting. With customers in retail, apparel, pharmaceuticals, automotive, lithium batteries, photovoltaics, electronics, and more in thousands of locations worldwide, and approximately a hundred in Japan, Geekplus wanted to expand and generate new revenue streams to lead the company into its next phase of growth. Leveraging its strengths in the supply chain industry, the company is working to build a smart logistics platform in-house for its network of shippers and third-party logistics (3PL) providers. Faced with the complexity of various data formats and the introduction of technologies such as internet of things (IoT), Geekplus needed a tool to simplify and streamline the integration of all its applications and data. "We are aiming to co-create a new logistics standard by utilizing next-generation robotics technology to solve the increasingly serious labor shortage in Japan and the gap between the growth of ecommerce demand and the growth of physical volume," said Mr. Yusuke Arima, System Development Group, Geekplus. "After evaluating various integration platforms, Geekplus chose Boomi's intelligent, low-code, cloud-native platform for its versatility, development speed, and ease of use. The Boomi platform will enable us to connect our operations with our shippers, suppliers, and partners, while mitigating potential real-time supply chain issues." "Geekplus is shaping the smart logistics revolution and needed a unified integration solution to remove complexities," said Kazunori Hori, Director, Japan at Boomi. "Our platform provides a single conduit of data sets across all technologies and processes throughout their global partner network, allowing Geekplus to quickly and easily connect with its shipping and 3PLs' operating and warehouse systems." As a category-leading, global software as a service (SaaS) company with the largest customer base among integration platorm vendors, Boomi touts a growing user community of more than 100,000 members, a worldwide network of approximately 800 partners, and one of the largest arrays of global systems integrators (GSIs) in the iPaaS space. The company recently expanded its global footprint in Japan to address growing demand across Asia-Pacific, while earning recognition on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 and Inc. 5000 lists as one of America's fastest growing and most innovative technology companies. Boomi has also won two International Stevie Awards, for Company of the Year and Product Innovation; the Gold Globee Award in the Platform as a Service (PaaS) category; the Merit Award for Technology in the Cloud Services category; the Stratus Award as a Global Leader in Cloud Computing 2022, and received the prestigious 5-star rating in the CRN Partner Program Guide. Additional Resources About Boomi Boomi aims to make the world a better place by connecting everyone to everything, anywhere. The pioneer of cloud-based integration platform as a service (iPaaS), and now a category-leading, global software as a service (SaaS) company, Boomi touts the largest customer base among integration platform vendors and a worldwide network of approximately 800 partners - including Accenture, Capgemini, Deloitte, SAP, and Snowflake. Global organizations turn to Boomi's award-winning platform to discover, manage, and orchestrate data, while connecting applications, processes, and people for better, faster outcomes. For more information, visit http://www.boomi.com. 2023 Boomi, LP. Boomi, the 'B' logo, Boomiverse, and AtomSphere are trademarks of Boomi, LP or its subsidiaries or affiliates. All rights reserved. Other names or marks may be the trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230125005893/en/ [January 25, 2023] Global Ride-Hailing Platform inDrive Partners SHIELD to Boost Trust and Fairness SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- inDrive, the world's fastest-growing online ride-hailing service, today announced that it is utilizing global risk intelligence company SHIELD's Device Intelligence. SHIELD's technology is strengthening inDrive's defenses against fraud and helping it achieve the highest levels of trust, transparency and fairness for drivers and passengers worldwide. With the second most downloaded mobility app in the world, inDrive provides for the mobility needs of users in over 700 cities and across 47 countries. Today, the inDrive app has been downloaded more than 150 million times. A people-driven business on a mission to challenge injustice, the platform uniquely empowers drivers and passengers to negotiate fair price offers based on route or other factors. SHIELD provides industry-leading risk intelligence which eliminates injustice and unfairness by ensuring that negotiations and prices are kept transparent. Dishonest and fraudulent users are kept out of the inDrive platform, preventing them from causing issues such as unwarranted price hikes. SHIELD's Device Intelligence will provide the driving force for inDrive to stay ahead of ride-hailing fraud syndicates across the world. These fraud groups often use fake accounts, which can be created with tools such as app cloners, with stolen identities, or even by taking over legitimate accounts. Using app cloners, fraudsters can create and access multiple instances of the same app from a single device. Fraud syndicates further scale the breadth of their fraud strategy by replicating this across many devices. Fake accounts can be used to complete ghost rides - rides that do not actually happen - to quickly rack up ride completion incentives. Fake accounts can als be combined with GPS spoofers to simulate high demand in one area, causing fare surges fraud syndicates profit from. Proactively looking to stop fraud, inDrive will leverage the SHIELD ID, the global standard for device identification that links fake devices created from the same physical device, which could number in the thousands. The SHIELD ID will empower inDrive to identify instances of multiple driver or passenger accounts being operated from the same device. At the same time, SHIELD's AI technology can pinpoint large numbers of accounts tapping on the same IP address or subnet. SHIELD's Risk Indicators will detect the installation and activation of all malicious tools and techniques on the platform, such as GPS spoofers, tampered apps, and app cloners. SHIELD's Risk Intelligence does this all without the need for Personal Identifiable Information (PII), ensuring that inDrive remains compliant with data protection and privacy laws around the world without compromising on security. inDrive was rapidly launching in new markets and needed to account for diverse and distinct fraud risks. SHIELD's Global Intelligence Network ensures inDrive stays ahead of emerging threats while catering to the unique risk profiles of each region. Arsen Tomsky, CEO & Founder, inDrive said, "inDrive is dedicated to challenging injustice and upholding transparency and fairness in the mobility and transportation space. Our partnership with SHIELD empowers us to stay true to our mission of helping people, as well as ensuring the highest standards of trust and fairness for all while maintaining our rapid pace of growth." Justin Lie, Founder and CEO of SHIELD, added, "inDrive's revolutionary price negotiation model is a breath of fresh air in the ride-hailing industry. Trust is a two-way street, and SHIELD is proud to be helping inDrive ensure fair prices and a level playing field for genuine drivers and passengers." About inDrive inDrive is a global IT and transportation platform and is one of the world's fastest growing online ride-hailing services. Its services are available in over 700 cities in 47 countries around the world. The Company's app has been downloaded over 150 million times. inDrive, formerly inDriver, has grown far beyond ride-sharing to become a marketplace of services including intercity transportation, freight and cargo services, domestic services, job searches and delivery. The company will continue to expand and diversify the services they offer. inDrive is based in Mountain View, California, and operates regional hubs in the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the countries of the CIS, and employs over 2,400 people. In early 2021, inDrive achieved unicorn status after closing a $140m investment round with Insight Partners, General Catalyst, and Bond Capital, which valued the company at $1.23 billion. For more information visit indrive.com. About SHIELD SHIELD is the world's leading risk intelligence company that helps global organizations such as inDrive, Alibaba, Mobile Premier League (MPL), TrueMoney, and Maya stop fraud, build trust, and drive growth. We combine AI and explainable machine-learning algorithms to help all online businesses stay ahead of new and unknown fraud. With offices in San Francisco, Miami, London, Berlin, Jakarta, Bengaluru, Beijing, Singapore, we are rapidly achieving our mission to enable trust for the world. For more information, visit shield.com . Media Contact: Desmond Wong [email protected] SOURCE SHIELD [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the worlds leading hotel companies, has formally open its new global headquarters in Windsor, UK for its next chapter after being based for the past 15 years in Denham, Buckinghamshire. The building represents not only the companys global headquarters, but also the head of its Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa region, helping serve an international business that has more than 6,000 hotels across more than 100 countries around the world. Located close to key transport links to London and international airports, the office boasts 57,000 sq ft of space over five floors, complete with state-of-the-art technology, modern meeting rooms and event space, parking, a recording studio and views over Windsor Castle and Eton College. Keith Barr, Global CEO at IHG Hotels & Resorts said: We are delighted to be moving back to Windsor, a world-famous and historic location. It was important for us as a company to move to a space that empowered us to work collaboratively, flexibly and in way that is truly reflective of todays evolving workforce. What we have achieved at Windsor One from the workspace design and digital capabilities, to our connections with the local community will make our already special company culture even more dynamic. Councillor Christine Bateson, Mayor of the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead said: Its great to see large multinationals such as IHG choose Windsor as their base. The investment made in this new HQ is a reflection of the attractiveness of Windsor as not only a location but as a destination in its own right. With so much to offer as a town, we are excited to see IHG team members out and about enjoying our bars, restaurants and cafes not to mention the great parks and history that Windsor is famed for. As one of the worlds leading hospitality companies, a commitment to making a positive impact on its local communities and improving the lives of millions around the world is at the heart of IHGs Journey to Tomorrow plan to shape the future of responsible travel, together with its partners. In Windsor, IHG has contracted Good Eating to supply its food and beverage, a company who makes a positive impact to the local community through its commitment to supporting CoFarm, a sustainable development charity. The buildings General Contractor, Overbury, also donated its time, advice and materials to the Windsor Homeless project to help with their new base in Windsors Alma Road. Another pillar of IHGs Journey to Tomorrow plan is the reduction of energy use and carbon emissions in line with climate science, the minimisation of waste and the conservation of water. To this end, the company is targeting a gold LEED certification for its global HQ, reflective of IHGs responsible decisions for the building. This includes a significant reduction in energy consumption, the use of renewable energy, and the sustainable sourcing of furniture, fixtures and equipment. TradeArabia News Service The University of Virginia has received more undergraduate applications for the class of 2027 than it has received for any class in its entire 204-year history. The number stands in stark contrast to the early pandemic years when the number of applications to UVa plateaued and college enrollment nationwide began to plummet. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions has received 55,845 applications as of Jan. 5 this year. Thats a 10% increase over the 50,813 it had received by the same time last year. Greg Roberts, dean of admissions at the university, credits the uptick to the universitys effort to reach out to underrepresented students as well as the 2020 decision to go test-optional, meaning the school stopped requiring applicants to submit standardized test scores. Roberts said the change to test requirements immediately attracted more student submissions, even though the uptick during the 2019-2020 plateau was only a 40-applicant increase. This year, were up across the board in every demographic, Roberts told The Daily Progress on Wednesday. Black applicants to the UVa class of 2027 increased 22% to 3,991; Asian applicants increased 18% to 9,900; Hispanic applicants increased 19% to 5,316; and Native American applicants increased from 42 to 52. White applicants technically increased 7% to 25,112, but their share of the total number, 45%, was a 1% decline from last year. International applicants increased 4% to 6,421, while first-generation applicants rose 20% to 8,668. We are doing a better job of reaching students who, 10 years ago, might not have considered schools like UVa, Roberts said. Students who are under-resourced or dont have a lot of support from experienced college counselors, students from rural areas, students in urban areas. There were roughly 41,000 out-of-state applicants, representing 73% of the total, with the remaining number from Virginia. University policy, though, requires that two-thirds of any matriculating class be in-state applicants. Roberts also highlighted a big shift toward early action in the applicant pool this year. There were 65% of applications for the class of 2027 that came during the early action cycle, a 4% increase over last year. Of the remaining applications, 8% were submitted during the early decision cycle and 27% were submitted during the regular decision period. Early decision and early action applications were both due on Nov. 1, but early decision applicants received a response from UVa by Dec. 15 of last year. Students who are admitted to the university after applying for an early decision are automatically enrolled as students for the following academic year. Early action is a noncommittal application option for prospective students to apply in November and receive their decision by the February of the following year without committing to enroll at the university. I think more students are applying early because theyre tired by the time they get to their senior year, Roberts said. Theyve been through a lot with the pandemic. I think theres that desire to get some decisions before the spring of their senior year. College enrollment has been falling nationwide since the onset of the pandemic. Between 2019 and 2022, undergraduate student enrollment fell 6.6%, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Thats more than 1 million fewer students enrolled in college. The group has said the pandemic has taken a toll on both universities as well as students themselves. Roberts said UVa has improved its resources to match the moment and attract more students despite the ongoing health crisis and economic turbulence. In this generation of kids, were finding more anxiety, more stress, more depression, more mental health issues, Roberts said. The university has been investing in counselors and trying to make sure that we can support students and offer the resources that are necessary for them to be successful. [January 26, 2023] Turkish Consumer Finance Company Quick Finans Selects Provenir AI-Powered Data and Decisioning Platform Provenir, a global leader in data and AI-powered risk decisioning software, announced today that Quick Finans, a consumer finance company located in Turkey, has selected Provenir's AI-Powered Data and Decisioning Platform to quickly approve and onboard new customers. Quick Finans, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quick Insurance, which is under the umbrella of Maher Holding, offers solutions for consumer finance loans (GPL), auto financing, mortgages, agricultural financing, and small business lending. They were looking for a low/no code platform that could be deployed quickly, modified in real-time and scale as the company expands its offerings. "After evaluating several options, we determined that Provenir best met our requirements and could support our aggressive growth strategies," said Cumhur Tas - Deputy General Manager responsible for Credit & Operations in Quick Finans. "The platform provides the flexibility we need to power our business now and in he future. Another key differentiator was the ability to easily access and integrate new data sources to help us gain a more holistic view of our applicants and customers." "We are pleased to partner with Quick Finans to develop real-time decisioning solutions that will provide a superior customer experience," said Emre Unlusoy, Regional Manager for Provenir. "Provenir's no-code, visual UI eliminates vendor and development team reliance, and will provide Quick Finans the flexibility and agility needed to rapidly make changes, test new strategies and get products to market faster." Provenir's industry-leading AI-Powered Data and Decisioning Platform is data fueled and AI driven for smarter risk decisioning. The solution, managed through a single UI, empowers organizations to innovate further and faster than ever before, driving the continuous optimization they need to power growth and agility, without increasing risk. With the unique combination of universal access to data, embedded AI and world-class decisioning technology, Provenir provides a cohesive risk ecosystem to enable smarter decisions across the entire customer lifecycle - offering diverse data for deeper insights, auto-optimized decisions, and a continuous feedback loop for constant improvement both at onboarding when assessing risk and monitoring ongoing transactions for fraud. About Provenir Provenir helps fintechs and financial services providers make smarter decisions faster with our AI-Powered Data and Decisioning Platform. Provenir brings together key data, AI and decisioning capabilities to help organizations provide world-class consumer experiences. This unique offering gives organizations the ability to power decisioning innovation across the full customer lifecycle, driving improvements in the customer experience, access to financial services, business agility, and more. Provenir works with disruptive financial services organizations in more than 50 countries and processes more than 3 billion transactions annually. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230125005244/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 26, 2023] City Electrical Factors Selects HPE GreenLake to Modernize its Customer and Data Experience Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE: HPE) today announced that City Electrical Factors (CEF), the United Kingdom's leading electrical wholesale network, has selected the HPE GreenLake edge-to-cloud platform as the first step in its digital transformation journey. The HPE GreenLake platform will enable CEF to optimize their infrastructure management and improve security using the disaster recovery capabilities of Zerto. Established in 1951, CEF prides itself on delivering optimal customer service and satisfaction. CEF's customer platform, which enables them to respond to and track orders of all sizes, was based on legacy technology and had become outdated. To improve the customer experience, CEF decided to move to a cloud experience with the HPE GreenLake platform. As part of the solution the wholesaler will move into global International Business Exchange (IBX) data centers operated by HPE partner Equinix, benefitting from HPE Datacenter Technology Services to plan, design and deploy the solution. This move will provide the company with a cloud experience that allows them to scale on demand and pay as they use. CEF will also simplify their infrastructure management experience using HPE GreenLake Management Services and ensure their business continuity with Zerto for Disaster Recovery. With the implementation of the HPE GreenLake platform in the UK, CEF now has a global platform that can easily be deployed and replicated with a single user experience throughout all their regions, including North America, Ireland, Spain and Australia. "We've enjoyed a long-standing partnership with HPE for the past 15 years, and we are delighted to continue this journey utilizing the HPE GreenLake platform," said Jon Higginson, IT EMEA Director at CEF. "We were looking to improve our service offering to our customers through the adoption of cloud technologies and we found the HPE GreenLake platform to be the most compelling offer available. As we operate over 400 stores globally, we need to ensure that we have a consistent platform that delivers an ongoing positive customer experience, scales as we grow and provides the flexibility to be tailored to potential future requirements. The disaster recovery and business continuity capabilities of Zerto in particular will deliver the enhanced stability and reliability we seek for our operations." When researching a new solution to drive their transformation, CEF focused on systems that would enable them in their journey to the cloud, enhance their securty and strengthen their customer relationships. Key requirements were to increase the company's protection against cyber threats and external disruptions, ensure the continuity of high quality of customer service, and the reduction of energy consumption and thereby of the group's carbon footprint. At the same time, it was important for the services to be deployable and replicable throughout the different regions CEF operates in. "Running the HPE GreenLake platform in a colocation is the ideal solution for customers like CEF, who are looking for a cloud experience while staying in full control of their IT," said Matt Harris, managing director UK, HPE. "As a partner first organization, we're delighted to work with Equinix, the HPE GreenLake Momentum Partner of the Year 2022, to enable CEF to access the hybrid cloud services they require, wherever and whenever they need them. Not only does this give CEF the control over their usage and cost, but it also allows them to free up more of their time that can be further invested into their transformation efforts." With the deployment of HPE GreenLake Management Services, CEF will entrust the managing of its infrastructure stack to HPE. By reducing the time spent on management, about 20% of the CEF IT team's time will be freed up. This additional time will allow the group to enhance their offerings and address their customer's needs and requirements and accelerate their cloud journey in additional regions. HPE GreenLake also allows them to migrate their bespoke applications to a hybrid cloud platform designed for both cloud-native and legacy workloads. HPE GreenLake and Zerto will give CEF peace of mind, as it ensures close to zero downtime and allows them to move production workloads quickly into the disaster recovery environment. As part of the disaster recovery environment, the group will reduce the recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO) from 24 hours down to minutes. This ensures internal and external end users stay unaffected and allows their business to continue trading. After the initial roll-out of HPE GreenLake with Zerto at their DR site in the UK, CEF is planning to deploy HPE GreenLake in Australia as well as their production site in the UK. About HPE GreenLake The HPE GreenLake edge-to-cloud platform enables customers to accelerate data-first modernization and provides cloud services that can run on-premises, at the edge, in a colocation facility, and in the public cloud. In its final fiscal quarter of 2022, HPE reported Annualized Revenue Run-Rate (ARR) of $936 million with total as-a-service orders growth of 33% compared to the prior-year period. HPE GreenLake has 65,000 customers, powers more than two million connected devices and manages more than one exabyte of data under management with customers worldwide. These organizations benefit from one control plane from which to automate, orchestrate, and run their hybrid cloud strategy. The scalable, pay-as-you go HPE GreenLake platform also delivers robust security, compliance, and control, and supports a broad partner ecosystem - including channel partners, distributors, independent software vendors, public cloud providers, service providers, and system integrators. For more information on HPE GreenLake, please visit: https://www.hpe.com/us/en/greenlake.html About CEF CEF is the expert supplier of electrical products and services for professional buyers and installers all over the UK. CEF offer the largest range of products including leading brands and value alternatives, alongside specialist knowhow, friendly advice and support that's the best in the industry. Established in 1951, privately owned CEF has a UK national network of 390 stores and the business now extends to the USA, Canada, Ireland, Spain and Australia. Customers can place online orders up until 8pm for next day delivery at cef.co.uk with access to more than 35,000 products from over 300 leading suppliers. To find out more about CEF go to: cef.co.uk/ About Hewlett Packard Enterprise Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE: HPE) is the global edge-to-cloud company that helps organizations accelerate outcomes by unlocking value from all their data, everywhere. Built on decades of reimagining the future and innovating to advance the way people live and work, HPE delivers unique, open and intelligent technology solutions as a service. With offerings spanning Cloud Services, Compute, High Performance Computing & AI, Intelligent Edge, Software, and Storage, HPE provides a consistent experience across all clouds and edges, helping customers develop new business models, engage in new ways, and increase operational performance. For more information, visit: www.hpe.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005037/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 26, 2023] Encord Launches Open Source Active Learning Toolkit to Speed Up Real-World Applications of Computer Vision Encord, the platform for data-centric computer vision, has released Encord Active, a free open source industry agnostic toolkit that enables machine learning (ML) engineers and data scientists to understand and improve their training data quality and help boost model performance. For many use cases, such as self-driving cars and diagnostic medical models, AI suffers from a "production gap" between successful proof-of-concept models and models capable of running "in the wild." Proof-of-concept models perform well in research environments but struggle to make predictions accurately and consistently in real-world scenarios. This gap is due to issues of model robustness and reliability which have hindered the widespread adoption of AI. With Encord's open source toolkit, ML engineers can bridge this gap using a new approach for investigating the quality of their data, labels, and model performance. Data and label errors can severely impact a model's performance, so continuously evaluating and improving training datasets is critical for ensuring high-quality predictions. Encord's new tool empowers machine learning teams to find failure modes in their models, prioritize high-value data for labeling, and drive smart data curation to improve model performance. Active learning, a process for training models in which the model asks for data that can help improve its performance, has gained traction as a theory among researchers, start-ups, and enterprises. Smaller AI companies, however, have not yet been able to implement usable active learning techniques. Encord Active allows companies of all sizes to move from theory to implementation by providing a new methodology based on "quality metrics." Quality metrics are computed indexes added on top of your data, labels, and models basd on human-explainable concepts. Current active learning methods rely on ML engineers building their own tools and creating their own versions of quality metrics, making the process a time-consuming and expensive approach. Encord Active removes that work by automating computation of an assortment of pre-built quality metrics across the data, labels, and model predictions. "As many ML engineers know, the performance of all models depends on the quality of their training data. Encord Active is first and foremost a framework built to help machine learning engineers understand and improve their data quality iteratively and effectively, " said Eric Landau, Co-Founder and CEO at Encord. "We want to contribute to the progression of the computer vision space as much as possible, so making Encord Active open source was a no-brainer." The quality metrics approach focuses on the automatic calculation of characteristics of images, labels, model predictions, and metadata. ML teams are then presented with a breakdown of their data, label distribution, and model performance by each metric. These insights allow them to: Find unknown failure modes in their datasets. Inspect whether their dataset is balanced across the different metrics and balance their dataset based on the quality metrics prior to labeling or training a model. Identify potential outliers in their dataset that can then be removed if they are unnecessary for the use case. Encord Active is also the first tool to provide actionable end-to-end active learning workflows to create an environment where models can continuously learn and improve, similar to how humans do. Within the Encord ecosystem, users can not only find valuable data to label and find label errors to re-label but also complete the workflow cycle to fix these issues. Encord is backed by CRV, Y Combinator, WndrCo, and Crane Venture Partners and trusted by the likes of world-leading healthcare institutions including King's College London where it helped to annotate pre-cancerous polyp videos resulting in increased efficiency by an average of 6.4x, and automated 97% of labels ultimately making the most expensive clinician become 16x more efficient at labeling medical images. It has also worked with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Stanford Medical Centre where it has reduced experiment duration by 80% and processed 3x more images. Encord Active is available on GitHub Visit https://encord.com/encord-active/ for more information. About Encord Encord is the leading computer vision data platform. Our solution empowers machine learning and data operations teams to annotate, manage, and evaluate training data. Encord teaches computers more effectively to do practical, real-world tasks in all future technologies. Encord removes complexity and enables data teams to work more efficiently. Learn more about Encord at https://encord.com/ or @encord_team on Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005519/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 26, 2023] Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Delivers the First Two Hybrid Dragon Silk Silkworm Strains for Commercial Production ANN ARBOR, Mich., Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) ("Company" or "Kraig Labs"), the biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of spider silk, announces that it has delivered the first two hybrid-cross Dragon Silk strains to its third-party production partner in Vietnam. These strains were developed to address the most significant immediate hurdle to large-scale production, the robustness of our silkworms within the large-scale production environment. These new lines are the first of several planned silkworm strains in our hybridization program, which are explicitly designed to increase robustness and cocoon size. These strains blend the mechanical performance of the Company's original Dragon Silk with the size and robustness of native production silkworm strains. The Company engineered these strains as part of its development program to bring needed increased resiliency to the large-scale production environment. Best practices employed by the most advanced silkworm egg production facilities include utilizing a multi-line cross-mating protocol to generate increased robustness. The result of first-generation cross-matings yield larger cocoons and more resilient silkworm offspring. As these increased performance attributes only last one generation, it is vital that central silkworm egg production operations sustain each of these separate lines in order to create successive generations of hybrid crosses. Kraig Labs begins its transition to multi-line cross-mating with these two new hybrids. Once established at the production facilities, the Companywill start cross-matings to produce our first two-line production hybrids. Kraig Labs believes this will strengthen its production operations, increase silkworm resiliency, and significantly improve environmental tolerance. As part of the Company's ongoing development efforts to commercialize spider silk production, it is also developing a four-line hybrid-cross program that should further improve yields. This program is under development at the Company's R&D headquarters located in the USA and is planned to begin rollout in stages later this year following the successful implementation of the two-line hybrid-cross model. "Work with our production partner in Vietnam has accelerated the identification of challenges and opportunities in scaling up production to metric tonnage levels," said Company COO Jon Rice. "We are very pleased to announce the delivery of these new hybrid lines and we are excited about our ongoing development of the four-line hybrid-cross. The implementation of the four-line hybrid program is designed to deliver significant improvements in production capacity and yield. To view the most recent news from Kraig Labs and/or to sign up for Company alerts, please go to www.KraigLabs.com/news . About Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. ( www.KraigLabs.com ), a fully reporting biotechnology company, is a developer of genetically engineered spider silk based fiber technologies. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information Statements in this press release about the Company's future and expectations other than historical facts are "forward-looking statements." These statements are made on the basis of management's current views and assumptions. As a result, there can be no assurance that management's expectations will necessarily come to pass. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as "believes," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "foresees," "estimated," "hopes," "if," "develops," "researching," "research," "pilot," "potential," "should," "could" or other words or phrases of similar import. Forward looking statements include descriptions of the Company's business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions and goals. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security. Ben Hansel, Hansel Capital, LLC (720) 288-8495 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 26, 2023] Hammitt Bags a Growth Partner in NetSuite NetSuite helps luxury accessories brand make data-driven decisions to meet changing customer demands and increase profitability AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hammitt, one of the fastest growing luxury brands in the United States, is working with Oracle NetSuite to deliver a client-focused, functional, and fresh approach to modern handbags as it scales its business. With NetSuite, Hammitt has been able to take advantage of an integrated business system to meet soaring customer demand for its line of stylish and functional handbags, backpacks, and leather accessories by simplifying and unifying its financial, product development, inventory, and customer relationship operations. Founded during the 2008 global financial crisis, Hammitt was started by Tony Drockton in a garage in Hermosa Beach, California. Today, Hammitt's bags and accessories are sold in over 850 boutiques and stores nationwide, including retailers Dillard's and Von Maur and its own flagship stores across Southern California. As Hammitt expanded and increased its direct-to-consumer business, which now encompasses 50 percent of its overall sales, it became increasingly difficult to maintain full visibility into operations and gain the insights needed to meet changing customer demands. To address these challenges and establish a scalable foundation for future growth, Hammitt chose NetSuite as its enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. "There is nothing remotely comparable to NetSuite on the market as it provides a complete cloud ERP solution to help us navigate uncertainty and address inefficient processes," said Tony Drockton, fouder and CEO, Hammitt. "NetSuite is the core of how we have managed our entire business over the last decade, and a significant reason we've been able to grow so quickly both in store and online. Flash forward to today, 2023 is the year to focus on profitability and it's hard to be profitable in the long term without the insights that a strong cloud ERP solution like NetSuite provides. NetSuite has helped us increase productivity, reduce inefficiencies, and improve decision making across our business." With NetSuite, Hammitt has been able to manage its operations on a single cloud business system. By leveraging more of the suite, Hammitt has been able to further improve efficiencies, reduce costs that come with various point solutions, and have full visibility into its entire business to make more informed decisions. NetSuite has enabled Hammitt to automate key finance functions, giving the accounting team time to focus on more strategic financial priorities such as expansion decisions and analysis of supplier and retailer relationships. To further increase efficiencies across its business, Hammitt uses NetSuite Inventory Management and Demand Planning to gain real-time insight into its inventory, predict which products will sell the fastest, and increase production of unexpectedly popular products. NetSuite has also helped Hammitt scale its direct-to-consumer business and enhance the design of its products. For example, NetSuite CRM connects data from across the customer lifecycle to help Hammitt enhance the customer experience, while insights from NetSuite are used by Hammitt's design team to inform future collections. Hammitt uses the NetSuite Connector to automatically sync order, inventory and customer data from Shopify to NetSuite, saving time on manual reconciliation and reducing the chance for inaccurate data to populate on either system. Finally, Hammitt's leadership team leverages NetSuite's real-time reporting to drive strategic decisions regarding finance, inventory, and sales to meet changing customer demands and economic conditions. "We are excited to see the success the Hammitt team has achieved over the years," said David Rodman, SVP of Customer Success, Oracle NetSuite. "With NetSuite at the core of its business operations, Hammitt has grown from a small independent retailer to one of the most sought-after luxury accessories brands in the nation. We look forward to continuing to help Hammitt increase efficiencies, bolster its profitability, and deliver an exceptional customer experience." About Oracle NetSuite For more than 20 years, Oracle NetSuite has helped organizations grow, scale and adapt to change. NetSuite provides an integrated system that includes financials / Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), inventory management, HR, professional services automation and omnichannel commerce, used by more than 33,000 customers in 217 countries and dependent territories. Learn more at https://www.netsuite.com . Like us on Facebook , and follow us on LinkedIn , Instagram , and Twitter . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hammitt-bags-a-growth-partner-in-netsuite-301731081.html SOURCE Oracle NetSuite [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 26, 2023] Apex Clean Energy Awards $1.2 Million to Conservation Efforts in Kansas, Iowa, and Texas Apex Clean Energy today announced the recipients of its 2022 Conservation Grant Program, totaling $1.2 million in funding for conservation projects near the company's commercialized renewable energy sites. The program, which represents the first of its kind within the clean energy industry, contributed $1.7 million in its first two years, generating an additional $4.3 million of matching grant funding and resulting in more than 1,500 acres of preserved and restored lands. "Apex's Conservation Grant Program advances sustainability beyond our core business, maximizing the positive impact of renewable energy while fostering an ecological balance in and around the communities where our projects operate," said Mark Goodwin, Apex Clean Energy president and CEO. "Through our partners' crucial work, the benefits of this program will ripple across the country, enhancing and restoring the species, habitats, and ecosystems that are the heart of our environment." In 2022, on behalf of four commercialized projects, Apex awarded grants to support the following initiatives: In Kansas, Ducks Unlimited ($198,000) will restore acquired croplands along the Neosho River back to native grasses and install water management capabilities to improve wetland functions and expand public recreational lands. In Iowa, The Nature Conservancy ($170,000) and Practical Farmers of Iowa ($55,000), alongside the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will restore a total of 18 degraded oxbow wetlands across the state, with a primary focus within the Boone River Watershed, one of the last remaining homes of the federally and state-endangered Topeka shiner. In northeastern Texas, The Conservation Fund ($450,000) will acquire 450 acres of old-growth bottomland forest and associated habitat for preservation. The land will be transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for addition to the Little Sandy National Wildlife Refuge, linking almost 20,000 acres of nearly contiguous and perpetually preserved private and public lands along the upper Sabine River corridor. In Huntsville, Texas, Bat Conservation International ($200,000) will work alongside Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to restore or relocate a colony of nearly one million Mexican free-tailed bats from a critical historic bat roost. In the Texas Panhandle, Ducks Unlimited ($150,000)-through the Texas Playa Conservation Initiative partnership with the Playa Lakes Joint Venture-Texas Parks and Wildlife, and other partners will restore, manage, and enhance playas, a critical wetland habitat for bats, other wildlife, and people. In 2021, Apex awarded its first round of conservation grants, totaling $492,000, to Prairie Land Conservancy, Grand Prairie Friends, Ducks Unlimited, and The Conservation Fund. About Apex Clean Energy Apex Clean Energy was founded with a singular focus: to accelerate the shift to clean energy. Through origination, construction, and operation of utility-scale wind, solar, and storage facilities, distributed energy resources, and green fuel technologies, Apex is expanding the renewable frontier across North America. Our mission-driven team of more than 400 professionals uses a data-focused approach and an unrivaled portfolio of projects to create solutions for the world's most innovative and forward-thinking customers. For more information about how Apex is building the energy company of the future, visit www.apexcleanenergy.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005169/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 26, 2023] ProSearch to Share eDiscovery Solutions and Industry Perspectives at Legal Events LOS ANGELES, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ProSearch, a leading provider of comprehensive discovery and compliance solutions to corporate legal departments and law firms, announces the companys participation in upcoming industry events. ProSearch company thought leaders will share their expertise on the important topics facing eDiscovery professionals today. Upcoming events include: ILTA Virtual Event February 8, 2023. ProSearch director of applied science Dr. Gina Taranto will join a panel of eDiscovery experts in the discussion On the Cutting Edge of Short Message Review: RSMF Slicing, Searching and More! The conversation will focus on the challenges and opportunities in efficiently and effectively managing short message data what we should be focused on when it comes to short message data and to search, review and produce it. Panelists: Philip Weldon, Director of eDiscovery and Litigation Support Technology at Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP Dr. Gina Taranto, Director of Applied Science at ProSearch Cristin Traylor, Director of Law Firm Strategy Marketing at Relativity Mike Deuerling?, Senior Product Manager at Relativity SOLID West February 15, 2023, at the City Club of San Francisco. ProSearch co-founder and CEO Julia Hasenzahl will reprise her enlightening talk on The Future of Work: Reframing the Discussion. Of this engaging topic, Hasenzahl says, Managers are from Mars. As the battle heats up over the future of work, are managers, executives, and the C-suite bad guys? I dont think so. As co-founder and CEO of ProSearch, I am an in-office person, and I built and in-office company. By June of 2020, I knew there was no going back. Since then, I have spent hundreds of hours reading academic literature, corporate research, surveys, and media stories on remote and hybrid work trying to figure it all out. My head is spinning, but I will share one clear thought. Legalweek 2023 March 20-23, 2023, in New York. ProSearch is a sponsor of Legalweek, the legal industrys annual event focused on business and regulatory trends, technology, and talent. ProSearch eDiscovery experts will meet with legal professionals to share ProSearch solutions for tackling eDiscovery challenges related to Microsoft 365, data privacy, and collaborative data. For more information about these and other upcoming events, visit the News and Events page of the ProSearch website. About ProSearch ProSearch enables corporations and law firms to meet discovery, fraud investigation, compliance, and IG requirements at scale with precision and ease. The ProSearch team of consultants, data scientists, linguists, project managers, attorneys, and discovery specialists collaborates with clients to execute their matter strategies and ensure on-target, on-budget, on-time delivery. Because discovery is a business process that can be measured, managed, and improved, ProSearch offers its Enterprise solution tailored to align with an organizations business goals by providing operational excellence to transform discovery. To learn more visit ProSearch.com. Media Contact Vicki LaBrosse Edge Marketing for ProSearch [email protected] 651-552-7753 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 26, 2023] Segra Introduces Smart Wi-Fi Today, Segra announces the availability of Smart Wi-Fi, a solution that transforms Wi-Fi networks into marketing, analytics and revenue-generating experiences. The Smart Wi-Fi solution provides an enhanced guest experience, data management, reporting and state-of-the-art security. Segra's Smart Wi-Fi solution empowers interactions with customers and attendees in real-time, which helps venues and businesses maximize marketing results, reinforce brand awareness, and build customer loyalty, all while providing an optimal, secure customer experience for users on and offline. "Our Smart Wi-Fi solution takes Wi-Fi to the next level by enabling our customers to improve their onsite Wi-Fi experience and generate more revenue. As businesses seek to personalize guest experiences, Smart Wi-Fi will help improve those interactions and the overall customer experience," said Kevin T. Hart, Segra's CEO. Segra's updated Wi-Fi solution includes three package options to optimize a venue's Wi-Fi network. Analyze Smart Wi-Fi provides businesses valuable insights into their Wi-Fi solution. Amplify Smart Wi-Fi enables businesses who provide Wi-Fi to earn additional revenue through digital advertising and sponsorships. Engage Smart Wi-Fi gives businesses the power to gather customer insights through Smart Wi-Fi, then deliver targeted and timely messages to build lasting customer relationships. Learn more about the full suite of Smart Wi-Fi solutions at segra.com/products/smart-wifi/. About Segra Built on a 125-year legacy of connectivity, Segra owns and operates over 30,000 route miles of advanced fiber infrastructure network throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. With employees across 90 facilities, including 14 sales offices and 9 data centers serving 44 markets, Segra is one of the largest independent fiber network companies in the Eastern US. Segra has a broad and dense service footprint that provides state-of-the-art Ethernet, MPLS, dark fiber, advanced data center services, IP and managed services, voice and cloud solutions, all backed by its industry-leading service and reliability. Customers include healthcare and higher education organizations, carriers, enterprises, and governments. For more information about Segra's technology and commitment to customer care, visit segra.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005300/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 26, 2023] Clyde Companies Partners with SIS in Business Transformation Leading American firm breaks ground on Enterprise Resource Planning OREM, Utah and ATLANTA, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- US heavy civil firm Clyde Companies has partnered with SIS to implement Construct 365 in a continued effort to transform and modernize its business operations. "Clyde Companies is moving to the next level with exciting innovation, in both operations and customer experience," Jeremy Hafen, Clyde Companies CEO, stated. "This partnership with SIS and Microsoft will not only support our diverse business needs across multiple states and hundreds of worksites for nearly 5,000 employees, but it will also generate cutting-edge, next-generation solutions to help Clyde Companies continue to deliver quality services and products for another hundred years." SIS is a top-tier Microsoft Business Solutions Partner and leading implementation consultant of digital solutions for commercial construction organizations. In addition to their world-class implementation capabilities, SIS also provides the Construct 365 suite of services built on Microsoft's industry-leading Dynamics 365 nterprise resource planning platform. Mark Kershteyn, SIS Partner, said, "We are very proud of the vote of confidence in SIS by Clyde Companies. SIS is committed to working with Clyde Companies' amazing team to deliver nothing short of groundbreaking value.? We are truly fortunate to be able to leverage the Microsoft Technology Stack to deliver a full-featured end-to-end technology platform that will provide a competitive advantage to Clyde Companies by enabling efficiencies that can only be gained through real-time, actionable business insights and utilization of cloud-based processing.? We are looking forward to SIS Construct 365 becoming an industry standard platform for large heavy civil enterprises like Clyde Companies."? About Clyde Based in Orem, Utah, family-owned Clyde Companies is a premier provider of construction products, services and land development in the Intermountain West. In 2022, Clyde Companies revenues neared $2.5 billion with 5,000 employees. Specialties include heavy civil, earthwork, ready-mixed concrete, sand & gravel, asphalt & paving, building materials, land development insurance, and more. https://www.clydeinc.com ? About SIS SIS has been successful in delivering ERP, CRM, and SharePoint, solutions to construction and other project and service-based companies for more than 25 years. All SIS solutions run on Microsoft Dynamics 365 and SIS Industry IP. A full-service technology consulting firm, SIS offers, implements, and supports end-to-end solutions that work for clients now, and in the long term. https://sisn.com/heavy-civil-construction-erp-software/? View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/clyde-companies-partners-with-sis-in-business-transformation-301731209.html SOURCE Clyde Companies, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 26, 2023] ETC Group Names Telecommunications Executive Alper Turken as Deputy CEO ETC Group ("ETC"), a leading global one-stop shop value-added distributor for the telecom network and digital infrastructure industry, announced today that Alper Turken, recognized expert in the telecommunications industry, has joined the company as Deputy Chief Executive Officer. Reporting to Founder, CEO, and Chairman of the Group, Cedric Varasteh, Turken will lead ETC's organizational integration and global growth alongside Varasteh. With over 25 years of experience in telecommunications, Turken began his career in engineering and technical sales roles, and quickly moved into leadership positions at Motorola and Arris. Most recently, he was Senior Vice President, EMEA and APAC at CommScope. "ETC Group is uniquely positioned as a leading global distribution telecoms specialist, fueling customer and partner growth through innovation." said Varasteh. "Alper and I have developed a strong partnership over the last decade, and I believe he will only add to our dynamic DNA, uniting our organization as one company across the globe. We're thrilled to have him on board." Founded in 1993 by Varasteh, ETC Group is a value-added distributor of passive and active telecommunications equipment and tooling with best-in-class technical and logistics solutions for network deployment, upgrades, and maintenance, supporting FTTH, FTTx, HFC, Wi-Fi, 5G/mobile, and data center technologies with over 30 years of industry expertise. The Group is backed by majority owner, international private equity firm, Cinven, wih Carlyle Group holding a minority stake. ETC Group has over 1,200 employees across more than 40 locations that span 14 countries including the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Germany, and supports 14,000+ customers worldwide including major American and European cable operators and telecommunications service providers. "As the industry evolves and the need for network connectivity significantly increases, ETC Group is a full-service solutions provider focused on improving lead times and total cost of ownership predictability," said Turken. "Cedric and team have achieved something exceptional, and I'm honored to be asked to play a role in expanding its global growth, creating a category leader in digital infrastructure." The next decade will be significant for telecoms investment from fiber builds and next generation mobile networks with real-time low latency applications gaining traction, which will create increased demands for network capacity and performance. ETC Group's broad portfolio from industry-leading partners and their own Research & Development team, with streamlined delivery of value-added distribution services and integrated supply chain capabilities will improve predictability for installers, contractors, enterprises, and operators of all scale. About ETC Group ETC Group is a global leader in distribution, logistics, technical engineering, and product design with over 30 years of expertise and performance supporting the telecommunications and broadband industry. Founded in 1993 by Cedric Varasteh, ETC Group supplies and distributes a comprehensive range of passive and active equipment and tooling for network deployment, upgrades, and maintenance, supporting all technologies including FTTH, FTTx, HFC, Wi-Fi, 5G/mobile, and data center. The Group's comprehensive portfolio of 55,000+ products from close to 1,000 industry-leading suppliers, along with their value-added supply chain solutions support carriers' seamless delivery of high-speed Internet, Video, Data, and Voice services to Residential, Business, and Mobile Users. ETC Group employs over 1,200 people across 14 countries, and its experienced team works hard every day enabling technology and innovation to create a more connected future. To learn more, visit www.etc.group. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230125005874/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, and Mayor Levar Stoney of Richmond earlier this week attended a fundraiser in the citys Fan District for state Sen. Jennifer McClellan, the heavy favorite in the Feb. 21 special election for the Richmond-anchored congressional seat of the late Democrat Donald McEachin. Spanberger, freshly reelected to a third term in a district reoriented from the Richmond to Northern Virginia suburbs, and Stoney, serving his second term, were all smiles, posing for a photograph with McClellan and three other significant Democrats: U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine; Richmond prosecutor Colette McEachin, the congressmans widow; and the host, Ben Dendy, a gubernatorial aide-turned-lobbyist whose house is paces from McClellans. All six projected cheer, confidence and certainty. This is what politicians do, even those maybe that should be especially those who are rivals, as Stoney and Spanberger are fast becoming for an office for which the former has all but declared his candidacy and the latter apparently is considering: the Virginia governorship. In recent days, Spanberger and Stoney have put in place new fundraising apparatuses, initially to support their partys candidates in the November elections that decided control of the legislature. Democrats are aiming to build their majority in the Virginia Senate and take back the House of Delegates from Republicans, who narrowly won it in 2021 on the coattails of Gov. Glenn Youngkin. That Spanberger is taking this step is a subtle but significant signal that she envisions a larger role for herself in Virginia politics and takes to heart the constant murmuring that, having run and won in heavily Republican territory, she has proven centrist credibility that could translate statewide. The urgency of such appeal is underscored by Youngkins slender victory over Stoneys political rabbi, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe. It was a reminder that Virginia can be more purple than blue. A former operative and patronage-dispensing secretary of the commonwealth under McAuliffe, Stoney is closely aligned with the dominant Democratic left and has never concealed his ambition for governor. Indeed, Stoneys candidacy for mayor he was first elected in 2016 and reelected four years later was routinely depicted as a warmup for a statewide candidacy, never mind that his years at City Hall have not been without embarrassments and setbacks. Though Stoney and Spanberger are viewed as adversaries ahead of the 2025 gubernatorial campaign, they are allies. Stoney endorsed Spanberger in her first race in the old 7th District in 2018, when she rode the anti-Trump wave to defeat Republican U.S. Rep. Dave Brat. While Richmond was not in that district it is in the 4th, where McClellan is expected to defeat three-peat GOP candidate Leon Benjamin the 7th was home to many people who commute to jobs in the city. Spanberger, from Henrico, one of Richmonds principal bedroom communities, made no endorsement for the mayoralty in 2020, when she won a second term. Stoneys One Richmond political action committee is being reconstituted as a Better Way. The PAC has already held a fundraising reception in Washington, concurrent with the winter meeting this month of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and is planning a February event in Richmond. Better Way, which recently hired McAuliffes youngest daughter, Sally, as operations manager, was organized under state law, which allows for skys-the-limit contributions. Spanberger, in a Jan. 19 email to supporters, said she is launching SPAN PAC to assist Democrats running for the General Assembly. She is asking donors to split contributions between her congressional campaign and the new committee. In contrast with the Stoney PAC, Spanbergers is governed by federal law, which limits what SPAN PAC can take in and give out. Beyond serving as the taproot of a full-blown campaign, the Stoney and Spanberger PACs are identical in an important respect: By sprinkling around money and services, they are vehicles for amassing chits for the future. A candidate, particularly one who wins, will remember who backed him or her with cash, and will reciprocate if and when their benefactors name is on the ballot in this instance, for Virginias highest office. Handicappers give greater weight to the prospect of a Spanberger-Stoney matchup in a Democratic primary two years hence, in part because of that aforementioned photograph. Until McEachins unexpected death in late November created a vacancy in the 4th District, McClellan, a corporate lawyer, was positioning for a second go at the nomination for governor, having run a distant third behind McAuliffe and former Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy in a five-way contest in 2021. Not that Stoney and Spanberger would be the only Democratic candidates. Two members of the House of Delegates are considering or mentioned for the gubernatorial nomination: Eileen Filler-Corn of Fairfax County, the first woman and first Jew to become Speaker, and David Reid of Loudoun County. Both represent strongly Democratic localities in the Washington suburbs, where Spanberger introduced herself this past year when the 7th Districts center of gravity shifted to Prince William County from Henrico and Chesterfield counties because of redistricting. A Stoney-Spanberger contest is intriguing. Both are in the their early 40s and graduated from Virginia universities. Stoney, who is Black, was raised in defense-rich York County on the Peninsula; Spanberger, in Henrico, where she grew up with a number of women activists who are among her most energetic supporters. Stoney made his career in politics, while Spanberger furious over the rise of Trumpism veered to politics after years in law enforcement and intelligence. As secretary of the commonwealth, Stoney assisted McAuliffe in restoring the voting and civil rights of more than 200,000 felons who completed their penalties. Spanberger is multilingual and comfortably campaigns in Spanish a plus in a state where New Virginians are an emerging force. Stoney, as a McAuliffe protege, is an emblem of the Democratic club. Spanberger, who opposed Nancy Pelosi for speaker and is the eyes and ears of front-line Democrats in the House caucus, is viewed as an independent. But Spanberger and Stoney are alike in that theyre friends. And this being Virginia, friends run against each other. PHOTOS: Va. General Assembly, January 24 [January 26, 2023] Performance Food Group's Foodcentric Experience: A Recipe for Success for the Food Service Industry Performance Food Group Company's (PFG) (NYSE: PFGC) food service division, Performance Foodservice, looks to build on its successful Foodcentric Experience events in 2022 as it prepares for a busy 2023. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005678/en/ Last year, Performance Foodservice held 66 events-the most the company has held since 2018. More than 30,000 attended Foodcentric Experience events held across the country in 2022-making it a record year. "The Foodcentric Experience is about making connections that enhance business success and we're thrilled at the event growth we've seen," said Fred Sanelli, senior vice president, Marketing, Brand & Sales Development, Performance Foodservice. "We know our customers, business partners and suppliers attend our Foodcenric events to network and gain access to important industry information, insights and trends that can have a direct, positive impact on their bottom line." Performance Foodservice's Foodcentric Experience isn't just a food showfar from it. Foodcentric events include educational learning sessions, a food idea exchange program, menu ideation with PFG chefs, labor and technology symposiums, and a marketplace of food service items and equipment. "Fireside" chats with industry leaders and experts are a popular aspect of the events. Award-Winning Chef, Restauranteur and Author Marcus Samuelsson headlined the national Foodcentric Experience event held in Orlando, FL in October 2022 and shared insights and knowledge with attendees from his experience as a chef and restaurant owner. More than 75 Foodcentric events are planned across the country in 2023. The year will culminate with a national Foodcentric Experience event scheduled for Oct. 23-25, 2023, at the Gaylord Texan in Dallas, TX that is expected to draw more than 2,000 attendees. "Foodcentric Experience events have a long history and continue to evolve based on attendee feedback and industry trends. Future forums will focus on individual food service industry segments that will provide our partners' knowledge they can't get anywhere else in the industry," said Sanelli. "We are excited to introduce new ideas, programming and concepts, and stay in front of cutting-edge trends in 2023." For more information on Foodcentric Experience events including a schedule, please visit the Performance Foodservice website. About Performance Food Group Company Performance Food Group is an industry leader and one of the largest food and foodservice distribution companies in North America with more than 150 locations in the U.S. and parts of Canada. Founded and headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, PFG, and our family of companies, market and deliver quality food and related products to 300,000+ locations including independent and chain restaurants; businesses, schools and healthcare facilities; vending and office coffee service distributors; and big box retailers, theaters and convenience stores. PFG's success as a Fortune 200 company is achieved through our more than 35,000 dedicated associates committed to building strong relationships with the valued customers, suppliers and communities we serve. To learn more about PFG, visit pfgc.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005678/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 26, 2023] Loomis Sayles Appoints Rebecca O'Brien Radford as General Counsel Loomis, Sayles & Company today announced that Rebecca O'Brien Radford has been named executive vice president, general counsel and a member of the firm's board of directors. She succeeds Jean Loewenberg, who has retired following 20 years of distinguished service as general counsel to Loomis Sayles and nearly five decades in the investment management industry. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005687/en/ Loomis Sayles has named Rebecca O'Brien Radford executive vice president, general counsel and a member of the firm's board of directors. (Photo: Business Wire) "Rebecca's deep legal expertise, unique skills and dedication to Loomis Sayles and our clients over the last decade make her a natural fit to lead our legal and compliance team," said Kevin Charleston, chief executive officer of Loomis Sayles. "Her diligence and equanimity in assessing opportunities and risks will be an asset as the firm continues to grow and respond to an ever-changing regulatory environment." Rebecca O'Brien Radford joined Loomis Sayles in 2011 as an assistant general counsel andwas promoted to deputy general counsel in 2021. Prior to Loomis Sayles, she was a partner at the law firm of K&L Gates, LLP, in the investment management practice group. There, Rebecca focused her practice on investment management and securities law, counseling registered investment advisers, registered funds and private funds. Previously, she was an associate at the law firm of Dechert LLP in the financial services group. Rebecca earned a BA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a License en Droit from the Universite d'Aix-Marseille III (France) and a JD, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, from Boston College Law School. Jean Loewenberg joined Loomis Sayles in 2003. A trailblazer in her profession, Jean earned a JD from the University of California at Los Angeles in the late 1960s when very few women attended law school and even fewer practiced law. In 1977, she began her career in investment management, managing attorneys at Fleet National Bank and, later, leading the legal department at Columbia Management Group. Jean joined Loomis Sayles as general counsel during a period of transformation for the legal department and quickly built a team with the specialized skills needed to support the firm's growth. Her peers and colleagues respect and admire her as an astute legal strategist, a trusted counselor on non-legal matters and a warm leader with a wonderful sense of humor. "Our entire organization has benefited immensely from Jean's passion and superior judgement over her tenure as general counsel," said Charleston. "No matter the initiative, issue or challenge, Jean was steadfast in her devotion to protecting clients and safeguarding Loomis Sayles' impeccable reputation. I am grateful for her exemplary partnership, commitment and leadership." ABOUT LOOMIS SAYLES Since 1926, Loomis, Sayles & Company has helped fulfill the investment needs of institutional and mutual fund clients worldwide. The firm's performance-driven investors integrate deep proprietary research and risk analysis to make informed, judicious decisions. Teams of portfolio managers, strategists, research analysts and traders collaborate to assess market sectors and identify investment opportunities wherever they may lie, within traditional asset classes or among a range of alternative investments. Loomis Sayles has the resources, foresight and the flexibility to look far and wide for value in broad and narrow markets in its commitment to deliver attractive, risk-adjusted returns for clients. This rich tradition has earned Loomis Sayles the trust and respect of clients worldwide, for whom it manages $277.5 billion* in assets (as of 30 September 2022). *Includes the assets of both Loomis, Sayles & Co., LP, and Loomis Sayles Trust Company, LLC. ($32.9 billion for the Loomis Sayles Trust Company). Loomis Sayles Trust Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. MALR030388 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005687/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 26, 2023] Value generated at 2.7 billion euros: the ecosystem by Leonardo in Lombardy MILAN, Italy, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prometeia 2022 Study reports on the impact of Leonardo, the national champion in the AD&S sector, within the productive ecosystem of Lombardy. The study highlights that the company is a hub, which contributes to the regional GDP with around 2,7 billion euros equal to 0.8% of the total GDP (+28% compared to 2018). The value brings Lombardy to the top of the GDP ranking in Italy, which is produced at a regional level by Leonardo. Every Euro of value added created by the company generates, on average, two additional euros within the territory. "We are continually committed to improving the tools that enhance the productive ecosystem of the territories where we operate. Focusing, first and foremost, on the development of a sustainable long-term supply chain that can support employment growth, and the competences and technological innovation of the entire domestic system. Leonardos initiatives in support of the supply chain are competitive levers for the security and development benefits of the country," says Alessandro Profumo, CEO of Leonardo. From the data contained in the Prometeia 2022 Study (relating to 2021), it has emerged that ten Leonardo employees in Lombardy support, on average, an additional 33 employees for a total of 30 thousand employees within the local ecosystem, a value that has grown by 30% when compared to 2018. More than 1,300 companies in the sector, including 80% of SMEs, move around 900 million euros in ordered volume, positioning Lombardy as the first region for spending on goods and services via the Leonardo system. The region is also where the value of investments in Research & Development (R&D) activities of the company is greater, reaching 32 million, equal to 9.6% of the total region. The company contributes to the strengthening of the regional technological and high knowledge supply chain: IT and professional services are among the main sectors. The average labour productivity, characterised by a high mix of skills, fed by Leonardo is 17% higher than the regional average. The Leonardo supply chain represents 12% of the entire hi-tech industry in Lombardy. The innovative activities, which are further nourished by the work carried out by Leonardo Labs - the technological hubs dedicated to the R&D of frontier technologies - in Lombardy, are part of an ecosystem comprised of companies, institutions, and universities. In this context, the existing collaboration between the industrial world and the regional institutions is essential in ensuring concrete support for a strategic supply chains at a local and national level. In the region, the Leonardo Group has six main locations, between Varese, Brescia and Nerviano that are active in the helicopter, aircraft, electronics and cybersecurity markets. With over 7,000 employees; thanks to the presence of Leonardo, the Lombard territory is among the few in the world to boast of a complete aircraft capacity, both in the fixed-wing and in the rotary-wing, in addition to advanced skills in space. Broadening its gaze to Italy, the Prometeia Study indicates that the productive ecosystem led by Leonardo comprises over 4,000 companies, 87% of which are PMI, with more than 125,000 employees, and generates 0.6% of GDP, thanks to 10 billion euro in value added. A figure that represents 1.4% of the value produced by the entire national industry and 13% of the Italian high tech industry. The company develops within the Italian territory revenues of 9,5 billion euro, employing beyond 31,000 assigned, and exports 75% of the production that, in 2021, was worth 1.4% of all the exports of goods in Italy, reaching a labour productivity of 50% higher than the Italian average. For more information: LaPresse SpA Communication and Press Office Director Barbara Sanicola - [email protected] A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4a491568-661d-4b45-b6b7-ff23465704fd The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 26, 2023] Mayor Rex Richardson and Long Beach Coalition Announce Initiative to Bring 100 Diverse Startups to City Following Mayor Rex Richardson's call in his recent State of the City address for 100 new diverse startups to be brought to the City of Long Beach, a local coalition representing the public, private, and nonprofit sectors announced their answer to his directive through the signing of an agreement that signals the start of their efforts. Leaders from local organizations Sunstone Management, Sunstone Community Fund, the Long Beach Accelerator, the Long Beach Economic Partnership, City of Long Beach Economic Development, CSULB Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and Imprint Venture Labs signed their agreement to form the Launch Beach 100 Startups Campaign on January 23 with the mayor on hand. "Attracting new and diverse businesses that will push the boundaries on innovation while boosting our local economy is a focal point of my administration's Grow Long Beach Initiative and our Opportunity Beach Agenda," said Mayor Richardson. "I applaud the Long Beach Coalition for believing in and supporting our mission to unleash the potential of the city's emerging industries and provide good-paying jobs of the future for our residents." "The 100 Startups Campaign is a crucial mission for the City of Long Beach, and one that Sunstone Management and the Sunstone Community Fund is truly honored to be a part of," said John Keisler, CEO & Managing Partner of Sunstone Management. "Mayor Richardson understands the importance of a thriving startup ecosystem, and we and our partners look forward to driving towards our goal over the next five years." Keisler also served as a member of Mayor Richardson's transition team. Sunstone Management and its associated donor-advised fund, the Sunstone Community Fund, are participating in the 100 Startups Campaign. Sunstone Management will be responsible for development, registration, and management of the Long Beach Venture Fund. The anticipated $25 million fund will be open to accredited venture capital investors and will be invested over time into 100 early-stage technology startups who meet the requirements. In addition, Sunstone Management will provide financial, administrative, and compliance services to support Coalition activities, consistent with regulatory requirements. The non-profit Sunstone Community Fund will be responsible for securing grant funding to support non-profit Coalition partners to assist with the implementation of the campaign. To date, Sunstone Management has committed to securing $100,000 per year, or $500,000 total, in charitable grants to the Coalition partners over the 5-year period. This includes grant funding already committed by the Sunstone Community Fund, as well s matching funds to be identified by the City of Long Beach and other non-governmental partners. About Sunstone Management Sunstone Management is a diversified private capital sponsor firm located in Southern California that invests in diverse early-stage technology entrepreneurs who seek to build great companies. We believe in the aspirational power of the American economy to attract and inspire investors and entrepreneurs from throughout the world. We deliver new and exciting opportunities for economic growth through the creation of innovative public-private partnerships, and our unique experience across government, education, and private sectors. Identified by Financial Times as one of America's Fastest Growing Companies. LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Crunchbase | Pitchbook About Sunstone Community Fund The Sunstone Community Fund is a Donor Advised Fund managed by the National Philanthropic Trust. It is an important component of Sunstone Management's vision to advance public-benefit programs that support the development of inclusive and vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystems. The SCF supports a network of universities, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies that develop and implement university-based entrepreneurship programs, early-stage tech accelerators, and advance local economic development through inclusive entrepreneurship and innovation. Website | LinkedIn View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005265/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 26, 2023] Inszone Insurance Completes Acquisition of Austin Insurance Inszone Insurance Services: a rapidly growing, national provider of benefits, personal and commercial lines insurance, announced today the acquisition of Austin Insurance. Established in 2005 by Cole Austin, Austin Insurance has provided quality insurance services in Grand Prairie, TX for over a decade. Cole Austin is a born and raised Grand Prairie resident, he attended Grand Prairie High School and received a Business Management degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. Through the years Austin Insurance was able to provide multiple insurance products to the Grand Prairie area as well as stimulate economic growth and create jobs for the owner's hometown. Operations for Austin Insurance will continue under Inszone Insurance's Dallas location. Customers will continue to receive the same service they are used to under the Inszone Insurance brand. "Austin Insurance has built a strong reputtion across Grand Prairie as a trusted partner for residents to protect their assets," said Chris Walters, CEO of Inszone Insurance Services. "This acquisition is another important step in our growth in the Lone Star State as we continue to identify and invest in agencies that will help provide and offer increased services and options to our customer base." Inszone Insurance is expected to announce several acquisitions as well as new locations in the upcoming months. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Sacramento, California, Inszone is a full-service insurance brokerage firm which provides a broad array of property & casualty insurance, along with employee benefits solutions. With a strong, experienced management team, Inszone continues to grow organically, as well as through acquisitions. With 37 locations across California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, Texas and Illinois, the company is looking to further expand throughout the United States. For more information about Inszone, please visit www.inszoneinsurance.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005061/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 26, 2023] Dallas Cowboys Owner Charlotte Jones Wows Promo Entrepreneurs FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The ASI Show Fort Worth, hosted by the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), wrapped up Wednesday after three days of packed show floor aisles, valuable education and numerous networking opportunities for 2,500 members of the $23.2 billion promotional products industry. The annual trade show was held January 23-25 at the Fort Worth Convention Center. Keynote speaker Charlotte Jones, chief brand officer for the Dallas Cowboys, a family business owned by Jones, her father Jerry Jones, and her two brothers,shared stories and business advice with the audience of entrepreneurs and small-business owners before a Q&A with Timothy M. Andrews, president and CEO of ASI, the promo industry's largest membership organization and technology provider. Jones said her now-famous father issued two directives when she joined the Cowboys: Find a way to stop losing money and whatever you do, don't tarnish the Star. The Cowboys went on to become the first team to win three Super Bowls in four seasons and are now worth an estimated $8 billion. "Branded merchandise is at the core of our identity and what we do," Jones said. "It's certainly our business." The show featured nearly 400 booths, including 70% of the top 40 largest suppliers in the industry, and offered unmatched education, product demos and free receptions. Distributor attendees traveled to the show from 37 states. "Everyone at our show charged into 2023 by checking out the hottest promo products, closing deals and getting inspired for future success by our very special keynoter," Andrews said. Supplier David Finkelman of Burnside/Sierra Pacific Apparel said, "We've been non-stop busy with steady traffic and the great people of Texas and surrounding states have been wonderful, with lots of interest in our products. It's a fantastic way for us to kick off the year." Daniel Hartlieb of On Purpose Branding said of Jones, "She nailed it as far as being about passion and purpose. That's what drives us and that's what gets us to the end zone." According to ASI's latest State & Regional Sales Report, Texas posted $3.4 billion in promo sales, up 17% from the previous year, leading every state in the South. About ASI Show The ASI Show Family of Events (asishow.com) features ASI Show, fASIlitate and ConneX, which foster business-building relationships among ASI distributor and supplier members. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dallas-cowboys-owner-charlotte-jones-wows-promo-entrepreneurs-301731904.html SOURCE Advertising Specialty Institute [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 26, 2023] Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. Names New Chief Growth Officer Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. (PKF Texas) has elected Tax Director J. Del Walker, CPA, as its new Chief Growth Officer, succeeding Byron Hebert, CPA, CTP, Business Advisory Services Practice Leader and Director in the role. "It has been my honor serving my fellow shareholders as the Chief Growth Officer for the past five years," said Hebert. "As a firm, we learned a lot about ourselves and I feel certain with Del at the helm, we will continue our growth trajectory. I'm proud to pass the torch to Del." Entering 2023, the firm's C-suite leadership team consists of Tax Director Gary Voth, CPA, JD, as Chairman of the Board; International Tax Director Frank Landreneau, CPA, as Chief Financial Officer; and Audit Director Sonia Freeman, CPA, CGMA, as Chief Culture Officer. Some of the initiatives Walker will lead as Chief Growth Officer include expanding business development efforts, client experience and appreciation programs, and more. "I am reatly appreciative of my fellow shareholders entrusting me in this role and its responsibilities," said Walker. "I look forward to working closely with the C-Suite and Director teams, as they have always been at the center of our success and us moving forward. My predecessors have developed and nurtured a clear foundation - one that we expect to build upon and leverage further by pursuing and implementing new ideas so we at PKF Texas can continue appreciating our clients, as well as our own Approachable Advisors." About Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. (PKF Texas) PKF Texas is a premier middle-market CPA firm in Houston, with a 37-year history focused on assisting entrepreneurial-minded businesses. We provide services in audit, accounting, domestic and international tax, entrepreneurial advisory, outsource and co-source accountancy, profit enhancement, employee benefit plan audits, fraud and forensics, internal audit and internal controls, state and local tax, incentives and credits to emerging and middle market companies across many industries. Through PKF International and the Leading Edge Alliance, we have access to worldwide resources. To learn more, visit www.pkftexas.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005972/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 26, 2023] Schwab Declares 14% Increase in Quarterly Common Stock Dividend and Declares Preferred Stock Dividends The Board of Directors of The Charles Schwab Corporation at its meeting today declared a 3 cent, or 14%, increase in the regular quarterly cash dividend to $0.25 per common share. The dividend is payable February 24, 2023 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 10, 2023. Co-Chairman Charles Schwab commented, "This dividend increase reflects the Board's confidence in our ability to continue to grow earnings and cash flow as we pursue our 'Through Clients' Eyes' strategy." In addition, the Board of Directors also declared dividends on the following series of outstanding preferred stock, payable March 1, 2023 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 14, 2023: Preferred Stock Series Dividend Per Share Dividend Per Depositary Share 5.95% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series D Dividend Period: December 1, 2022-February 28, 2023 $14.88 $0.372000 5.375% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series G Dividend Period: December 1, 2022-February 28, 2023 $1,343.75 $13.437500 4.000% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series H Dividend Period: December 1, 2022-February 28, 2023 $1,000.00 $10.000000 4.000% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series I Dividend Period: December 1, 2022-February 28, 2023 $1,000.00 $10.000000 4.450% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series J Dividend Period: December 1, 2022-February 28, 2023 $11.13 $0.278250 5.000% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series K Dividend Period: December 1, 2022-February 28, 2023 $1,250.00 $12.500000 About Charles Schwab The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE: SCHW) is a leading provider of financial services, with 33.8 million active brokerage accounts, 2.4 million corporate retirement plan participants, 1.7 million banking accounts, and $7.05 trillion in client assets. Through its operating subsidiaries, the company provides a full range of wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services to individual investors and independent investment advisors. Its broker-dealer subsidiaries, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., TD Ameritrade, Inc., and TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc., (members SIPC, https://www.sipc.org), and their affiliates offer a complete range of investment services and products including an extensive selection of mutual funds; financial planning and investment advice; retirement plan and equity compensation plan services; referrals to independent, fee-based investment advisors; and custodial, operational and trading support for independent, fee-based investment advisors through Schwab Advisor Services. Its primary banking subsidiary, Charles Schwab Bank, SSB (member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender), provides banking and lending services and products. More information is available at https://www.aboutschwab.com. TD Ameritrade, Inc. and TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc. are separate but affiliated companies and subsidiaries of TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation. TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Charles Schwab Corporation. TD Ameritrade is a trademark jointly owned by TD Ameritrade IP Company, Inc. and The Toronto Dominion Bank. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005975/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 26, 2023] The Institute of Medicine of Chicago hosts a talk with Chicago Family Health The Thrive Exchange About the Revitalization of the South Shore (Achieving Health Equity program series) CHICAGO, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Institute of Medicine of Chicago is hosting a virtual talk on the revitalization South Shore with the Chicago Family Health Center which is part of Thrive Exchange on Fri. Jan. 27, 2023 at 8:30 AM CT. Ms. Sherry Pace, CEO of Chicago Family Health and Ms. Tania Kadakia, Director of Partnerships and Residential Investments, DL3 Realty will discuss the revitalization of the South Shore. This is Chicago Family Health's first initiative into mixed use of housing and retail. Chicago Family Health has six other center locations. This project is addressing the need for more health equity for this area. The webinar is free and open to all. More details and to register, visit this page. When completed, the project will provide a FQHC with wrap around services, apartments and retail to the South Side of Chicago. The health care center will be in the 20,000-square-foot Ringer Building. The completed project will provide 450 jobs. The project was one of six finalists for the $10 Chicago Pize with Pritzker Traubert Foundation. Meeting transportation needs is also part of the overall plan. This project plan was launched in 2021 as part of the City of Chicago INVEST South/West competitive funding award in 2021. The project is expected to be fully operational and ready for occupancy in 2024. Since its founding in 1977, Chicago Family Health Center (CFHC) has become the primary care medical home for thousands of Chicagoans, including some of the city's most vulnerable populations. As an award winning, nationally-recognized leading voice for community health centers, CFHC has played a vital role in providing access to affordable, comprehensive healthcare services to underserved communities throughout Chicago. Visit https://chicagofamilyhealth.org. DL3 Realty is a full-service real estate development firm committed to accelerating the transformation of emerging communities through high-impact commercial real estate projects. They are connecting capital and communities. Visit www.dl3realty.com. The Institute of Medicine of Chicago (IOMC), since 1915, is an independent non-profit organization of distinguished leaders in the health field who collaborate to improve the health of the public. Drawing upon the expertise of a diverse membership and other regional leaders, the IOMC addresses critical health issues through a range of interdisciplinary approaches, including education, research, communication of trusted information, and community engagement. With the public's health at its core, IOMC is building new programs and services to meet better the needs of its members and the Chicago, Counties and the State of Illinois community. 501c3 non-profit organization. Visit www.iomc.org. For more information contact: Institute of Medicine of Chicago Deborah Hodges 312.709.2685 [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-institute-of-medicine-of-chicago-hosts-a-talk-with-chicago-family-health-301732000.html SOURCE The Institute of Medicine of Chicago [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 26, 2023] Undersea Warfare Systems Global Market Report 2022: Sector to Reach $23.62 Billion by 2030 at a 4.8% CAGR DUBLIN, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Undersea Warfare Systems Market" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global undersea warfare systems market size is expected to reach USD 23.62 billion by 2030, according to a new study. The report gives a detailed insight into the current market dynamics and provides analysis on future market growth. Governments have focused on increasing the integration of under-sea weapons to defend the growing territorial in-stabilities, contributing significantly to market growth. Furthermore, manufacturers are introducing heavy-weight torpedoes capable of tracking & destroying underwater targets, thereby boosting growth. Counter and anti-access area denial are becoming an active part of essential navies' global naval strategies, and undersea warfare is expected to regain importance. Operational stealth is increasingly vital as countries build maritime surveillance systems. For example, The Indian Navy commissioned its fourth stealth submarine, Scorpen, in November 2021 as part of its dedicated 'Project 75'. As a result, an increase in demand for modern stealth submarines is forecast to fuel global market. Shortages of components and electronic systems have resulted from regulations governing the import and export of goods, resulting in delayed manufacturing. Material shortages caused by manufacturing shutdowns in China, South Korea, and Taiwan hampered the development of naval warfare even more. However, following the pandemic, there has been an increase in the sophistication of underwater warfare systems. With the relaxation of lockdown measures and vaccination campaigns and the resulting opening of markets worldwide, demand for undersea warfare systems is expected to rise significantly soon. Undersea Warfare Systems Market Report Highlights Combat sub-segment by component is anticipated to grow at a high CAGR. The widespread use of advanced naval combat systems for detecting, tracking, and neutralizing modern threats. Remotely operations segment is expected to rise significantly. Underwater ROVs can be deployed quickly due to their compact design simple technology. This is extremely useful in emergencies where time is of the essence and in areas that are too slender or difficult for divers to reach out North America is expected to experience significant growth over the forecast period. This is primarily due to rising security concerns and government & army organizations investing heavily in developing advanced undersea weapons. Key players include BAE Systems, General Dynamics, Boeing Company, Kongsberg Gruppen, Ultra Electronics, L3Harris Technologies, Lockheed Martin, DRS Technologies, ECA Group, S.A. de Electronica Submarina, Atlas Elektronik, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Saab AB, and Thales Group. The publisher has segmented the undersea warfare systems market report based on application, mode of operation, end-use, and region: Undersea Warfare Systems, Application Outlook (Revenue - USD Billion, 2018 - 2030) Combat C4ISR command control communications computers intelligence surveillance reconnaissance Others Undersea Warfare Systems, Mode of Operation Outlook (Revenue - USD Billion, 2018 - 2030) Manned Operations Autonomous Operations Remotely Operations Undersea Warfare Systems, End-Use Outlook (Revenue - USD Billion, 2018 - 2030) Naval Airborne Land-based Undersea Warfare Systems, Regional Outlook (Revenue - USD Billion, 2018 - 2030) North America U.S Canada Europe Germany UK France Italy Spain Russia Netherlands Asia Pacific China India Japan South Korea Indonesia Malaysia Latin America Argentina Brazil Mexico Middle East & Africa & UAE Saudi Arabia Israel South Africa Market Dynamics Drivers and Opportunities Advanced Battery and Fuel Cell Technology Growing Number of Defense Expenditures Restraints and Challenges High Cost Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 2. Executive Summary 3. Research Methodology 4. Global Undersea Warfare Systems Market Insights 5. Global Undersea Warfare Systems Market, by Application 6. Global Undersea Warfare Systems Market, by Mode of Operation 7. Global Undersea Warfare Systems Market, by End-Use 8. Global Undersea Warfare Systems Market, by Geography 9. Competitive Landscape 10. Company Profiles Companies Mentioned BAE Systems Plc General Dynamics Corporation Kongsberg Gruppen L3Harris Technologies Inc. Boeing Company Leonardo S.p.A. Lockheed Martin Corporation DRS Technologies Inc. ECA Group General Dynamics Corporation Kongsberg Gruppen Lockheed Martin Corporation Ultra Electronics Corporation S.A. de Electronica Submarina (SAES) Atlas Elektronik GmbH Harris Corporation Northrop Grumman Corporation Raytheon Technologies Corporation Saab AB Thales Group and others. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/er37sd-warfare?w=5 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/undersea-warfare-systems-global-market-report-2022-sector-to-reach-23-62-billion-by-2030-at-a-4-8-cagr-301731713.html SOURCE Research and Markets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Kerrville, TX (78028) Today Mostly clear early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 58F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly clear early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 58F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. [January 26, 2023] Early Childhood Education Leader Learning Without Tears has Highly Successful Presence, New Product Feature Intro at FETC 2023 Future of Education Technology Conference Showcased Real-World EdTech CABIN JOHN, Md., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Learning Without Tears, a leading early childhood education company, marked the end of a highly successful EdTech conference, FETC 2023 the Future of Education Technology Conference held in New Orleans, LA this week. FETC is a multi-day learning experience that showcases real-world solutions and expertise that impacts students, classrooms, schools, and districts. These innovations are shaping and improving the education landscape and were demonstrated alongside best-practices and current trends all designed to leverage educational technology resources and improve student outcomes. In live demonstrations, learning and education technology experts from Learning Without Tears, worked directly with conference goers to share best practices and breakthroughs that can be used to improve teaching and learning in their home schools. "We were proud to showcase our latest learning innovations," explained Learning Without Tears CEO, Terry Nealon. "We introduced the Assessment Accelerator , a new feature of our Keyboarding Without Tears solution, designed to teach students how to improve performance in digital assessments. We demonstrated voice-enabled technology built into our Phonics, Reading, and Me program, which can hear and assess student reading, scaling the impact teachers can have. And we highlighted Handwriting Without Tears, LWT's first learning solution that focuses on handwriting because we all know that mastering handwriting is the key to literacy and lifelong learning." Learning Without Tears highlighted its breakthrough literacy product, Phonics, Reading, and Me- a K3 supplemental phonics program designed to help children learn the skills they need to become proficient readers. This literacy program provides an integrated print/digital instruction model and combines the powerful use of technology and assessment with embedded professional learning for teachers. Through a partnership with Dublin-based SoapBox Labs, Phonics, Reading, and Me leverages speech recognition technology to provide first-of-its-kind digital assessments, making it easier for teachers to provide personalized learning paths and instruction for each student. "The need for innovative education technology that is proven to work has never been greater," Nealon continued. "Teachers need to know what works, and what doesn't. In addition to 4 decades of proven classroom success, we also have independent research proving the efficacy of our solutions." Last year, LWT announced the results of a study by Johns Hopkins University School of Education's Center for Research & Reform in Education, where Handwriting Without Tears achieved a high ESSA Tier 2-Level evidence rating, providing hard evidence of the effectiveness of the company's complete curriculum. "Students have fallen behind, foundational learning skills like reading have declined, and teachers are exhausted," Nealon said. "For 40 years, Learning Without Tears has leveraged its expertise in early childhood education to meet the needs of teachers and students, and we are continuing to do so today, with proven innovation putting equity and access at the center of our products, so all young students have the opportunity for successful learning and a bright future." FETC 2024 will be held in Orange County, CA next January. About Learning Without Tears Learning Without Tears is a leading early education company offering a proven and unique approach to teaching and learning, from crucial readiness skills in Pre-K to foundational writing and typing skills, including handwriting, keyboarding and cursive. The elementary school-level programs benefit all learners with multisensory, developmentally appropriate, proven practices, and are used by millions of students around the world. Learning Without Tears professional learning programs deliver early education expertise to thousands of teachers, tutors, and occupational therapists in the US and across the globe. For more information, please see www.lwtears.com. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/early-childhood-education-leader-learning-without-tears-has-highly-successful-presence-new-product-feature-intro-at-fetc-2023-301732058.html SOURCE Learning Without Tears [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] According to a great many scumbags we've interviewed . . . Not so long ago . . . Dealing weed was one of the safest avenues for local thugs because the profit margins were low, the clientele was mostly comprised of harmless stoners and all of the really dangerous people used coke, meth or other designer drugs and didn't want to be bothered with the risk of dabbling in something as pedestrian as weed. Now . . . The rapidly expanding weed black market coupled with greater legal protections has transformed KCMO into an "open city" where amateurs abound and create increasingly dangerous circumstances in the already sketchy drug trade. Here's one example of a trend that is only now starting to take hold across the metro . . . "Court documents say SUSPECT used SnapChat to organize a drug sale with the victim. A meet location was decided which led Smith to the apartments where he was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint for an unknown amount of drugs and resulted in his death by a single gunshot wound to the chest." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Teen charged with murder in botched marijuana deal in Independence apartment complex parking lot KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A teenager faces a murder charge in the shooting death of a man inside a car during a marijuana deal. Chadd Williams, 19, of Independence, is charged in Jackson County Court with second degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and robbery, according to court records. In this quick collection we take a glimpse at crime reporting, the local drug trade and, thankfully, a bit of community cooperation. Check TKC news gathering . . . Missouri Republicans push for the state to take control of St. Louis Police - just like Kansas City Kansas City is the only major city in the country where the city's elected leaders don't control the local police department - a state-appointed police board does. Up until 2013, St. Louis was in the same boat. However, the city gained local control of its police department after a 2012 statewide referendum. KCK man who worked to prove innocence dies in prison KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - The family and friends of John Keith Calvin are mourning after he died in prison on Wednesday morning. Just last month, his family announced his cancer diagnosis and pleaded for a compassionate release so that he could die at home or in hospice. U.S. Smashed window is another tragic setback for historic Black church in KC's Northland | Opinion OPINION AND COMMENTARY Washington Chapel CME Church in Parkville was targeted Saturday. Intruders destroyed a historic and spiritual asset: the 1907 John McAfee Memorial Window. Please support our neighbors and friends in our community prayer vigil of grieving, restoration and forgiveness at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at the church, 1137 West St. Kansas City, Kansas, police launch investigation into officer caught on video looking impaired The Kansas City, Kansas, police officer's eyes are blinking fast, his speech is slurred and he's leaning against a wall, hanging on to the railing of a staircase. The officer's partner is in front of him as the two white cops respond to a call about a custody issue within a Black family. Raytown police ask for public's help to find missing 14-year-old girl KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Raytown police are asking for the public's help to find a 14-year-old girl last seen Tuesday morning. Johnae Jones is 5 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs 130 pounds, according to a Facebook post from the Raytown Police Department. Police said Jones was wearing a black shirt, black jeans and a green coat. Sweep of a shipping center in Kansas City, Kansas, turns up more than 10,000 counterfeit pills containing fentanyl During a routine sweep of an area shipping and distribution center, police in Kansas City, Kansas, made a huge find over the weekend: more than 10,000 fake pills laced with fentanyl. Police said the department's narcotics unit was involved in the routine sweep, which involved officers and the K9 unit. KC Mothers in Charge, Kansas City police asking community to help stop violent crime KANSAS CITY, Mo. - In order to make Kansas City, Missouri, safer, the city's police department and KC Mothers in Charge agreed on a New Year's resolution to stop violent crime. This comes as KCMO recorded its second deadliest year ever in 2022. Developing . . . The gun violence blame shift would be "masterful" if only Mayor Quinton Lucas was running for reelection against an opponent who maintained an active campaign committee. Instead . . . After presiding over the bloodiest years in Kansas City history, Mayor Q claims that gun manufactures are to blame for local carnage. It's an argument so callous about real life suffering and cynical about the electorate that it reminds us he's destined for greatness in the nation's capital. Here's the word . . . "Kansas City ended 2022 with 169 murders and more than 500 additional living shooting victimsa rate of almost two people shot per day in a mid-sized Middle American city. While my residents suffer, Glock, the most frequently used firearm in Kansas City murders and shootings, has a nearly 70 percent profit margin on every firearm sold. "Guns are the leading cause of death for children in the United States. All our voices calling out the gun companies are needed to save our babies' lives. "When I took office, I knew gun violence was the single most important issue facing my community, which is why my administration has prioritized innovative approaches to keep Kansas Citians safefrom investing in community violence intervention, to fostering strong partnerships between local and federal law enforcement agencies, to keeping guns out of the hands of domestic violence offenders, and even taking on the gun industry in courtbut this epidemic is still raging, in Kansas City and in communities across our country." At the end of the column . . . "Quinton Lucas is the mayor of Kansas City, Mo., and co-chair of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a nonpartisan coalition of current and former mayors that is part of Everytown for Gun Safety. "The views expressed in this article are the writer's own. " Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . The longstanding decline of American public education hits home this evening . . . We "liberated" this passage from behind the paywall of a blog that stole our content yesterday . . . "After a split vote, the Kansas City school board on Wednesday agreed to close two elementary schools at the end of this school year, scaling back a previous proposal that would have shuttered four buildings at once. "The board voted 4-2 to close Troost and Longfellow elementary schools. Officials say both buildings are under-enrolled and outdated, and closing them will free up funds to help avoid a budget shortfall and improve academic offerings. The district expects to save $2.4 million." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Kansas City Public Schools approves Blueprint 2030 plan, clearing way for closure of 2 elementary schools KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City Public Schools board signed off on its Blueprint 2030 on Wednesday night, meaning students in two of its schools will need to find a new place to learn. KCPS' original plan proposed closing or repurposing two high schools and eight elementary schools. Plan to close 2 KCPS elementary schools approved by board KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - With a vote of 4-to-2, the Kansas City Public Schools Board of Directors approved a plan to close two elementary schools in the fall of 2023. The vote on the school closures was part of a larger proposal that involved a new mission statement and set of priorities called Blueprint 2030. A quick note of our bias on this topic . . . Here at TKC we contend that any faith leader or elected official who doesn't support this kind of legislation DOES NOT DESERVE to call themselves as much. Here are the deets . . . On Tuesday, Jan. 24, Kansas Senator Tom Holland (D-Baldwin City) introduced Senate Bill 87 to require ordained ministers to report certain abuse and neglect of children. The law would require those in a religious position of power to report to law enforcement if they suspect a child has been harmed as a result of physical, mental or emotional abuse, neglect or sexual abuse. The State of Kansas already requires those in the medical field, therapists and counselors, educators, emergency personnel and not-for-profit volunteers that work with children to report such cases. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Aftermath report roundup after morning news incorrectly said it was a Prius . . . Meanwhile, here's an official statement after the treacherous highway run-in . . . Check-it . . . Leawood police are investigating after a car was dragged about eight miles while trapped under a semi-truck Wednesday morning. Police from several area agencies started receiving calls around 3:40 a.m. that a semi-truck driving westbound on Interstate 435 was dragging a silver Kia under the edge of its trailer, according to Capt. Brad Robbins, a spokesman for the Leawood Police Department. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Car pinned under semi, dragged for miles along KC interstate LEAWOOD, Kan. - Leawood police say a semi-truck dragged a Kia compact car roughly eight miles along I-435 after the car was trapped under the semi Wednesday morning. Just after 3:30 a.m., dispatchers received a call of a semi-truck dragging the Kia under the edge of its trailer on westbound I-435. Woman's vehicle dragged eight miles by semitrailer following crash on I-435 in Leawood A 28-year-old woman was hospitalized early Wednesday after a semitrailer dragged her vehicle nearly eight miles after a crash. Just after 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, a small car became trapped under a semitrailer on Interstate 435. Leawood police said the crash happened at the intersection of the on-ramp to Westbound I-435 and State Line Road. Developing . . . A proposed pay increase doesn't play well with local progressive media despite popular support in neighborhoods across Kansas City. Here's a passage that contradicts most of the mainstream media narrative about local life . . . Democrat state Rep. Mark Sharp and Republican state Rep. Chris Brown each have their own proposed legislation affecting the Kansas City Police Department. Sharps bill would remove the almost $190,000 cap for the Kansas City police chiefs maximum salary and the 60-year-old age limit. Browns bill goes a step further, eliminating the salary maximums for officers throughout the department. In this version, the Kansas City police board would establish the chiefs salary range by resolution and use salary minimums as base pay for officers. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Most of the customers who purchased the tickets were from the Calgary area Bob Barrett and Francine Rouleau-Barrett, co-founders of the Barrett Family Foundation, look at a gift from Humber College that depicts in glass the Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation at Humber Colleges north campus, created from the foundations $10-million gift in 2018. It will feature a 500-seat multidisciplinary performance hall and a variety of purpose-built film studios and other arts and culture spaces. Andrew Palamarchuk is a reporter with Metroland Media Toronto and toronto.com. He has been covering the crime beat since 2002 and has a passion for giving a voice to those affected by tragedy and looking at societal issues that may have contributed to it. Toronto police to increase number of officers on TTC after series of violent attacks The service will aim to have upwards of 80 police officers in place throughout the citys transit locations every day. C&M Travel Recruitment's Travel Salary Index 2022 Overview (TRAVPR.COM) UNITED KINGDOM - January 26th, 2023 - Travel Salaries Jump 11.5% in 2022 C&M Travel Recruitment's Travel Salary Index 2022 Overview 2022 % Change Since 2021 % Change Since 2019 Average Travel Salary 30,617 +11.53% +8.59% Standard Travel Salary 28,496 +17.36% +14.25% Executive Travel Salary 51,721 -6.77% -11.72% Standard travel wages up 17% Pay for senior travel roles falls Travel job placements and vacancies jump to near-record highs in 2022 Candidate numbers rise but at slower pace than vacancies Record year for travel wages Salaries for the average new job in travel jumped by a huge 11.53 per cent in 2022 to stand at a record 30,617, according to the 2022 Travel Salary Index from C&M Travel Recruitment which surveyed all new vacancies registered with the company during the year. The figure was up by 8.59 per cent from the last pre-pandemic year of 2019 and was also up by 14.01 per cent from 2018 and by 17.62 per cent from 2017. The rise was even larger for standard new travel jobs (those paying up to 40,000) which increased annually by 17.36 per cent to stand at an average of 28,496. Compared to previous years, 2022's total was up by 14.25 per cent from 2019, up by 14.95 per cent from 2018 and up by 23.52 per cent from 2017. However, salaries for the average new senior travel role (those paying 40,000 and above) dipped by 6.77 per cent in 2022. This was largely due to an increasing number of roles in the 40,000 to 45,000 range which pushed down the overall average salary for senior positions. Huge increases in travel jobs and placements The number of people placed in new travel jobs jumped by 181 per cent in 2022 to reach a near-record high. Trailing only 2017 by just three per cent, 2022 stood above every other year since the index began in 2012. Last year also set many monthly records including all-time highs for placements in the months of March, April, May, June, July and August. Similarly, the number of new travel job vacancies was up by 96 per cent in 2022 from the previous year and reached the second highest level since the index began. Behind only 2017 by just three per cent, last year set monthly records for new vacancies in March, April and May. It was a more mixed picture for new candidates which rose year-on-year but could not keep pace with the increase in vacancies. The number of new candidates searching for travel jobs was up by 26 per cent from 2021 and up by eight per cent from 2019, but fell by nine per cent from 2018 and was down by 22 per cent from 2017. It was also an impressive year for business travel recruitment, with the number of candidates placed in business travel jobs jumping by a huge 1,387 per cent from 2021 and by 174 per cent from the pre-pandemic year of 2019. There was also a big increase in salaries for new business travel jobs, which stood at an average of 30,241 in 2022 up by 2.47 per cent from 2021 and up by 11.54 per cent from 2019. Speaking about the stats, Barbara Kolosinska, Managing Director at C&M Travel Recruitment, said: "Whichever we look at it, 2022 was a historic year for travel recruitment. After suffering hugely as a result of the pandemic, we all needed 2022 to be a bumper year and was it ever! "Last year set numerous records for vacancies and job placements, with spring and summer 2022 being the busiest period for travel recruitment that we have ever seen in the past 25 years. Almost all companies in the travel industry searched for new employees last year and we're seeing very few signs of this changing as we begin 2023. "The last 12 months have also seen travel salaries rise to a record high with a huge 11.5 per cent year-on-year jump. The shortage of talented candidates continues to be the biggest challenge, but with wages increasing and great new roles being created every day, the next year will hopefully be another extremely healthy one for travel recruitment." All figures are drawn from the salaries of the new vacancies advertised with C&M Travel Recruitment. C&M Travel Recruitment was established in 1998 and is the largest and most successful specialist travel recruitment company in the UK. For further information please contact: Owen Mckeon (Marketing and Operations Manager - 0161 238 4497 / owen@candm.co.uk) or Barbara Kolosinska (Managing Director - 07507 602 069 / barbara@candm.co.uk). ### Oregon students in the Class of 2022 graduated at higher rates than their peers in 2021, reaching the second highest graduation rate 81.3% ever recorded in Oregon, according to the Oregon Department of Education. The organization released the annual data Thursday, Jan. 26, marking gains for every student group compared to previous years. After a drop to 80.6% in 2021, the 2022 rates show most school districts are returning to pre-pandemic numbers. Philomath seems to be the one main local exception. Statewide, on-time graduation reached an all-time high for American Indian/Alaska Native students, migrant students and English learners. The graduation rate for students experiencing houselessness increased 3.2 percentage points to the second-highest level for the group. When we combine the tremendous resilience of Oregons youth, the courageous, tireless work of our educators and the individualized, student-centered resources made available through the Student Success Act and other key initiatives, were able to make meaningful progress for Oregons students, ODE Director Colt Gill said in a press release. There is more work to do, and we are ready to keep working to make sure all students have what they need to succeed. Heres how students in the mid-Willamette Valley stacked up statewide: A dip in Philomath While most school districts experienced gains in four-year cohort graduation rates, the Philomath School District dropped from 89.8% in 2021 to 77.6% in 2022. Superintendent Susan Halliday attributed the dip to the difficulty of returning to in-person learning and more students opting for a GED rather than a diploma. When we returned from comprehensive distance learning, many of our high school students werent ready to return to full attendance and the rigors of a classroom, she said. A lot of the year was focused on getting students social emotional well-being bolstered and reestablishing their ability to stay on task. The districts numbers are a bit skewed because of its small enrollment: The majority of the 125 students in Philomath attend Philomath High School, which had an 89.2% graduation rate well above the states average. However, Philomath Academy, which helps credit-deficient students get back on track; and Kings Valley Charter, with a 2022 enrollment of only nine students; had a 51.5% and 66.7% graduation rate, respectively. At Kings Valley Charter, each student accounts for more than 10% of the rate. Additionally, the students who chose to earn GEDs 16 in 2022 compared to only six in 2021 were not included in the four-year graduation cohort. Philomath Academy is living up to its purpose, Halliday said. Its addressing many of the students credit deficiencies to bring them back on track and get them to a place of being successful. Other local districts Students in Corvallis, Albany, Sweet Home, Lebanon and Monroe had higher four-year graduation rates in 2022 than they did in 2021. Students in Alsea experienced a dip in those rates, going from 47.4% in 2021 to 41.5% in 2022. The Corvallis, Albany, Sweet Home and Monroe school districts were above the 81.3% state average. In Corvallis, 88.6% of students graduated in four years. Students in Albany graduated at a rate of of 83.6%, Monroe students graduated at a rate of 85.2% and Sweet Home students graduated at a rate of 88.1%, a full six percentage points higher than last years rate. Students in Lebanon graduated at 79%, which is a slightly lower rate than the rest of the state. Again, however, the school district saw rate increases from last year. Statewide, five-year completion rates rose each year from 2014-15 to 2020-21 but fell last school year. The dropout rate for the 2021-22 school year was 4.07% a higher rate than usual but that number includes some students who would have been counted as dropouts, or pushouts, in 2021, but were not due to pandemic-related changes in reporting. Each graduate represents an individual and family success story, a point of pride for their community, and a stronger future for Oregon, Gov. Tina Kotek said in a statement. It will take focused leadership and increased accountability to continue our recovery and ensure that all of Oregons children are better served by our investments in K-12 schools. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Corvallis Gazette-Times. Editor's note: This story has been updated with the correct four-year graduation rate in Albany. Related stories: Corvallis officials are expected this spring to review a city practice of processing polluted liquid from Benton Countys regional landfill. Concerned about the city of Corvallis accepting a liquid pollutant thats hauled in for disposal at its wastewater plant, Benton County resident Mark Yeager is beseeching the City Council to reconsider the practice. Yeager is a registered civil and environmental engineer who said hes worked for many years on water quality issues. He spoke to the council during its meeting Jan. 17. Landfill leachate, derived from liquids in garbage that are dumped in the landfill and from decomposing trash, can be harmful to people and the environment, Yeager said, adding that rainwater flowing through landfills picks up chemicals as it trickles through. Leachate is a complex chemical stew containing a high nutrient load, heavy metals like arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, etc., Yeager said, as well as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and high concentrations of what were hearing more and more about these days the forever chemical, PFAS. PFAS is an abbreviation for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a group of synthetic, potentially harmful chemicals used in a wide variety of household products and industrial processes, some of which dont degrade naturally and may linger indefinitely in the environment. Corvallis City Manager Mark Shepard confirmed the issue of accepting leachate from Republic Services-owned Coffin Butte Landfill is slated for a council work session April 20. He told the councilors they will probably get a staff recommendation very similar to Yeagers public testimony. There are definitely cost ramifications and impacts, Shepard said. Likely youll be seeing us recommend we stop that practice moving forward, but its important you understand the implications because there are significant financial implications. The city took in $797,000 for processing the leachate in fiscal year 2020-2021 and $596,000 for 2021-2022, according to Shepard. A spokesperson for Republic Services did not provide details about how much leachate goes to which destinations or what it pays for disposal. A 2021 Coffin Butte report does not elaborate on the ultimate fate of leachate hauled from the landfill or costs related to hauling or disposal, but it does note the city of Salem also held a permit to process leachate from Coffin Butte. The report cites more than a million tons of solid waste received by the landfill in 2021. A breakdown of landfill users by county of origin shows Marion County sent more than 325,000 tons, whereas Linn generated more than 142,000 tons and Benton more than 114,000 tons. More than 32 million gallons of leachate was produced by the site in the water year ending Sept. 30, 2021, according to the report. The past five years of annual reports show a range of 25-31 million gallons of leachate produced yearly at Coffin Butte. Putting that into perspective, Yeager said, moving that much leachate would take 18 tanker trucks, each hauling 5,500 gallons of leachate, coming from the landfill six days a week. Yeager is also concerned about whether Corvallis sewer plant properly treats the complex suite of chemicals in leachate. He said published research hes read says conventional treatment plants like the citys arent designed for leachate and let most of the toxic pollutants pass through untreated. I am concerned because discharge of these chemicals into the Willamette River has impacts on wildlife through bioaccumulation and recreational uses, such as swimming, boating and fishing, he told Corvallis councilors. It also impacts downstream drinking water systems that include Adair Village, Wilsonville, Sherwood, and Tualatin Valley Water that rely on the Willamette River as their source of supply, he said. Shepard confirmed in an email Corvallis takes leachate from Coffin Butte. He said in calendar year 2022 the wastewater plant processed 12.7 million gallons of leachate, with 18.7 million gallons handled in 2021, and 15.5 million gallons in 2020. Regarding the wastewater plants capabilities and downstream impacts, Shepard said the facility is able to accept leachate and still meet regulatory requirements in the citys current Oregon Department of Environmental Quality discharge permit. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Corvallis Gazette-Times. The city of Salem also processed some of the leachate from Coffin Butte in past years. Salem did not respond to questions about amounts of leachate accepted or compensation, instead requiring a public records request for that information. Its not clear if Salem will continue the practice of processing leachate. Continued acceptance of the waste material in Corvallis, in light of evolving regulatory requirements, would put the city in a difficult position in future DEQ discharge permits, Yeager said at the council meeting. I urge you to reconsider your practice of accepting this waste into your system, and to evaluate the cost-benefit of accepting this waste, weighed against the liability for any related environmental impacts, he said. More Corvallis news Former Police Commissioner Gary Griffith tells Tv6 News that the businessman who was killed during a car-jacking on Wednesday was among many who had received provisional approvals for a Firearm User's Licence but after 18 months had not received a permit to carry a licensed firearm. This, as the National Security Minister told the Express newspaper that the new Police Commissioner informed him that, a "robust and thorough assessment" of FUL applications was necessary. The aircraft of the Ukrainian Defense Forces launched 14 strikes on Russian military personnel concentration areas and two strikes on the positions of the enemy's anti-aircraft missile systems on January 25. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said this in a post on Facebook, Ukrinform reports. "In the past day, the enemy launched 37 air strikes and 10 missile strikes, including on the civilian infrastructure of the cities of Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia. They carried out 97 attacks using multiple launch rocket systems, hitting residential buildings in Kherson. According to preliminary information, at night the enemy used 24 Iranian-made Shakhed-136 attack drones. All of them were destroyed by the Defense Forces of Ukraine," the report reads. There is a great threat of further Russian air and missile attacks on Ukraine, the General Staff added. Suffering numerous losses, the enemy continues offensive operations in the Bakhmut and Novopavlivka areas. Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives in the Lyman and Avdiivka sectors. In the Kupiansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson areas, they are defending. The Defense Forces of Ukraine repelled enemy attacks outside the settlements of Chervopopivka in the Luhansk region and Verkhniokamianske, Spirne, Rozdolivka, Blahodatne, Bakhmut, Klishchiivka, Marinka, Vuhledar and Pavlivka in the Donetsk region. According to the General Staff, in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the enemy is making preparations for the next wave of mobilization. By January 29, "state-owned" and private institutions must submit lists of persons not liable for military service to military enlistment offices. The next mass mobilization wave is planned for late February. At the same time, from February 1, all repair and construction work at budget-sustained enterprises and institutions will be stopped, and all planned funds will be redirected to support armed aggression against Ukraine. "In the past day, the aircraft of the Defense Forces launched 14 strikes on enemy concentration areas and two strikes on the positions of their anti-aircraft missile systems. In addition, two enemy Su-25 aircraft, a Ka-52 helicopter, four Orlan-10 UAVs and a Supercam UAV were destroyed. Rocket and artillery units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine hit a command post, 12 manpower concentration areas and four ammunition depots of the Russian occupiers in the last day," the General Staff concluded. Canada is considering sending four Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. That's according to CBC News, which refers to its sources, Ukrinform reports. The Canadian government could announce the donation of tanks as early as Thursday, the sources said. "One source said Canada is likely to send Ukraine the A4 variant of the tank the oldest in the Canadian military's inventory. Canada bought the A4s from the Netherlands during the Afghan war," the report said. Earlier on Wednesday, January 25, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government will provide more support to Ukraine but declined to join allies in announcing a donation of German-made tanks to fend off Russian forces. "I won't be making an announcement today but I can tell you we're looking very, very closely at what more we can do to support Ukraine," he said when asked about the possibility of Canada joining a "tank coalition." On January 25, U.S. President Joe Biden officially announced the delivery of 31 U.S.-made M1 Abrams tanks and other equipment to Ukraine. Photo: Philipp Schulze/dpa Austria has donated 33 gasoline generators to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. The agency's press service said this in a post on Facebook, Ukrinform reports. "Thirty-three gasoline generators for Ukrainian rescuers have recently arrived from Austria. The equipment, worth a total of 91,000 euros, was handed over by the Austrian Interior Ministry's department of crisis situations, disaster management and civil protection thanks to the EU Civil Protection Mechanism," the post read. It added that 9 to 80 kW generators would be used to power "points of invincibility" -- heated tents where people can charge their phones, warm up or get internet access -- and to provide electricity to entire buildings. One person has been killed and two others wounded after a Russian missile hit a non-residential building in the Holosiivskyi district of Kyiv. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitchko said this on Telegram, Ukrinform reports. He said the victims had been hospitalized. Early on January 26, an air raid alert was declared across Ukraine. Air defense forces shot down more than 15 Russian cruise missiles launched in the direction of Kyiv. Read also: Russian missiles damage energy infrastructure in Odesa region Earlier, Klitschko reported explosions in the Dniprovskyi district of the Ukrainian capital. With the organized retreat from Soledar, the Ukrainian military leveled the defense line and continues to knock out the invaders combat potential. "We liberate our land and knock out the enemy's combat potential, sometimes making small tactical retreats," Serhiy Cherevaty, Spokesperson for the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said during the nationwide news telethon. He reported that our forces left Soledar in an organized manner and gained a foothold in defense lines prepared in advance. "There was no escape, there was no encirclement, there was no massive capture desired by the enemy. Fierce battles are going on. Over the day, there were 85 strikes and eight military clashes in the area of Soledar," Cherevaty added. The spokesperson noted that Bakhmut direction remains one of the hottest. Constant battles are ongoing there. In particular, apart from Soledar, there is fighting in Verkhne Kamenske, Spirne, Rozdolivka, Blahodatne, Bakhmut, and Klishchivka. The Ukrainian troops resist the enemy attacks. In this direction, the enemy launched 199 strikes over the past day, Cherevaty added. In Bakhmut direction, the enemy's tactics have not changed: constant attacks. The enemy pursues the same tactics in three active directions: Avdiivka, Vuhledar, and Lyman. The Russians carried out active operations in Vuhledar direction, conducting 28 assaults. However, having lost 141 people killed and 165 wounded, the enemy did not achieve a significant result. Ukrainian forces constantly inflict significant losses on the enemy. Cherevaty noted that the Russians suffered significant personnel losses near Soledar which can be compared with the aggressors losses in the two Chechen wars. As reported, military expert Petro Chernyk said that the Wagner Group had lost about 40,000 soldiers in the battles for Bakhmut and Soledar, accounting for about two-thirds of this private military company. ol The Azov Specops Regiment officially became the Third Separate Assault Brigade as part of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Thats according to Andriy Biletskyi, founder and first commander of the unit, Ukrinform reports. "The Azov Specops Regiment is now the Third Separate Assault Brigade as part of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Our combat path begins from the most difficult area, Bakhmut," Biletskyi said. According to the units first commander, the decisive battle in this war is still ahead, and it needs to be scaled up. "That's why the military command imposes on us a new responsibility. And therefore, all Russian freshly mobilized troops, convicts, Wagnerites, Solovyovs (a hint to a propaganda TV host), and war reporters will have a lot to make up fables and legends about. Were preparing plenty of surprises for them. The winter will definitely be hot," Biletskyi wrote. Read also: Wife of Azov Regiment commander calls for liberation of Ukrainian soldiers from Russian captivity The Azov Regiment is expanding to a brigade level: "The evolution of the Azov unit within the Armed Forces will continue." "From now on, we are the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Our updated banners symbolize durability of Ukrainian statehood traditions: from princely times, the Cossack period, and first liberation fights to the present day. Our strength lies in highly motivated and ideological fighters, our strength lies in the fact that the unit was created on the same basis as the most effective combat unit of Ukraines defense forces, the Azov Special Operations Regiment, which showed steel resistance while defending Mariupol," says the caption under the video posted on the unit's YouTube channel. As reported, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov said Meta vowed to discontinue the blocking of content about the Azov Regiment and to unblock hundreds of accounts run by the Ukrainian military. The Azov Battalion was created in 2014 as a volunteer formation. Later, it was reformatted into a regiment and became part of the National Guard. Its fighters took part in the defense of Mariupol in the spring of 2022, which lasted more than 80 days. On May 16, 2022, the evacuation of defenders from the Azovstal plant, their last stronghold encircled by the Russian invaders, began, lasting several days. On September 21, as a result of the POW exchange, more than 200 Ukrainian defenders were returned from Russian captivity, as well as ten foreign nationals who fought on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Of the Marioupol defenders released from captivity were the commander of the Azov Regiment, Denys Prokopenko ("Redis"), his deputy Sviatoslav Palamar ("Kalyna"), Commander of the 36th Marine Brigade Serhiy Volynskyi ("Volyna"), Azovs Press Officer Dmytro Kozatsky ("Orest"), and others. About 2,000 Azovstal defenders remain in Russian captivity, including some 700 Azov fighters. Benton County became the first of three neighboring governments to formally ask for inclusion in Oregon Gov. Tina Koteks executive order declaring a statewide emergency over homelessness. Oregon freed up $40 million to find housing for some of the states thousands who live without permanent shelter when Kotek made the emergency declaration Jan. 10. But Benton, Linn and Lincoln counties werent included in the governors response to what she called a man-made disaster because the state housing authority lumps the counties unhoused populations together with 23 others, skewing mid-Willamette Valley numbers. This is a humanitarian crisis, Kotek told reporters in early January. Commissioners implored the governor to consider including the region where homelessness has increased by an estimated 89% since the end of 2017, according to the response adopted and emailed by Benton Countys elected board on Tuesday, Jan. 24. Our county seat, Corvallis, is the most severely rent-burdened city in the entire state of Oregon, the letter states. The Benton letter asks only for an opportunity to be included. Possible downside Commissioners will hold off asking for immediate, actionable inclusion while trying to understand what fine print will emerge in the executive orders implementation. Potential funding in the order could boost efforts to get emergency shelter and housing projects off the ground in Benton County. Or it could interfere with the countys $180-million justice system overhaul that now hinges on a $110 million proposed facilities bond measure and the promise to voters that Benton will provide more services for the communitys unhoused populations. The overall funding package includes potential budget appropriations in the Oregon and U.S. legislatures, part of a two-year effort to improve outcomes for people in custody and site a justice campus in North Corvallis, starting with a courthouse and district attorney office space. Were just wanting more information. Until we know more, its difficult to decide, Commissioner Xan Augerot said. What they do know is that Oregon has the wrong impression of Benton Countys unhoused figures, said Augerot, who drafted the county response. Koteks executive order emphasizes the counties anchored around Bend, Eugene, Medford, Salem and Portland. Those are regions organized in a federal program responsible for an annual unhoused population census where counts have increased by 50% or more since 2017. Lumped together The remaining 26 of Oregons 36 counties are administered as one unit by the Continuum of Care program under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, providing funding for housing and houseless services. But many of those counties individually fall below the governors unhoused population growth threshold, bringing down the rural Oregon average that affects Benton and Linn counties. Or they lack the volunteers and staff needed to conduct the programs point-in-time count, a survey that tracks how many people across the state live without shelter. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Corvallis Gazette-Times. Point-in-time counts showed Benton and Linn counties each had 300 or more unhoused people in 2022, and those numbers likely were undercounted. Lincoln County tallied another 130, and the three counties together made up about 4% of the states estimated 18,000 unhoused population. Marion and Polk counties left the rural continuum in the 2017-2022 window of the governors order, taking their point-in-time counts to a newly formed two-county continuum and forming a new metropolitan in the eyes of HUD. Their departure also flattened numbers in communities left behind in the Balance of State continuum, such as Albany and Corvallis. That means the mid-Willamette Valley doesnt get the same consideration as nearby Eugene or Salem those cities have considerably more unhoused people and considerably more funding under the executive order. Instead, Albany and Corvallis are lumped in with communities like Burns, Enterprise and Wheeler in disparate corners of the state. Possible hoops to jump Oregon Department of Emergency Management is charged with rolling out the provisions in the order, like finding out what local governments need to end homelessness and establishing multi-agency teams to coordinate those efforts. What Benton County leaders dont know is if they will have to open their own emergency operations center in exchange for access to some of the $40 million to be distributed from Oregon Housing and Community Services budget over the next two years, Augerot said. But emergency management authorities are not among the countys longtime partners, and myriad local, state and non-governmental agencies already working on housing, Augerot said. Augerot said the executive order spurred conversations among commissioners in all three counties to have Benton, Lincoln and Linn secede from the rural state housing program and form a tri-county continuum. All three commissions jointly oversee the regional state-designated community action agency, Community Services Consortium. Augerot said Jackson Street Youth Services, which covers all three counties in close partnership with Community Services Consortium, applied for Continuum of Care grant funding and was turned down. The unhoused population, artificially deflated by the whole of rural Oregon, didnt meet the programs threshold. It ties our hands in terms of funding, Augerot said. Commissioners in Linn County discussed penning a similar letter, directing staff during their Tuesday, Jan. 24 meeting to develop a response to the governors emergency declaration. Lincoln County Commissioner Claire Hall was set to give a presentation including a similar option Wednesday. Voicemails left with Lincoln and Linn counties were not returned before deadline. Benton County also apprised its state congressional delegation. Augerot said House Speaker Dan Rayfield, D-Corvallis, and Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin, D-Corvallis, are among those discussing whether the potential state revenue streams clash. Benton in the meantime is making its unhoused crisis known to the state. Commissioners signed a resolution recognizing the state of homelessness in our county to have reached emergency proportions. We have need, Augerot said. Related stories: The air raid alerts that went off on Tuesday were related precisely to the enemy warplane activity over the Belarusian territory, which is rather a psychological factor. Thats according to Colonel Yuriy Ihnat, the spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force Command, who spoke at a briefing at the Military Media Center. "The Russian military aviation group is located in Belarus with the aim of creating a joint army that will operate under a unified command. Their maneuvers must be born in mind. In particular, yesterday's air raid alerts were related precisely to the activity of enemy aviation over the territory of Belarus," the spokesman said. In his opinion, "this is a psychological factor but this group poses no particular threat in this direction." He also briefly noted that air defense capabilities provided by partners play an important role in shooting down Shahed drones and cruise missiles. "In the list of the latest Ramstein package there are significant changes and a big step forward. This is about the provision of Patriot, NASAMS, and IRIS-T batteries." "I hope that what was announced by our partners will be put into service as soon as possible and mastered by our troops," Ihnat said. According to the spokesperson, the provision of Western-made aircraft would also be a very important step. "For example, F-16 fighter jets Such an aircraft would suit us best in the current conditions. Such aircraft could become both part of the air defense system and a force for strikes against the enemy with the aim of liberating our territories," Ihnat said. As Ukrinform reported earlier, the head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, Matti Maasikas, called the latest massive missile attack on Ukrainian cities a predictable reaction on the part of Russia to yesterday's decisions of Ukrainian partners regarding the supply of main battle tanks. France is yet to be made a decision on supplying Leclerc tanks to Ukraine, but such a decision is "not impossible." This was stated by French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, who spoke at a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Odesa, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "As you know, French President Emmanuel Macron instructed the Minister of Defense to study the issue (regarding the supply of Leclerc tanks to Ukraine). At the moment, I can say that no decision has been made yet, but no decision is impossible," Colonna said. She noted that France is in constant dialogue with the Ukrainian authorities regarding the nations defense needs, and informed that a significant part of the negotiations with Ukraines top diplomat was devoted to this aspect. "I would like to remind you that currently Ukraine's priority remains the acquisition of additional air defense systems. In particular, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine spoke of this yesterday. I think that we will respond to this request," said the head of the French Foreign Ministry. As reported, during a phone call on January 4, French President Emmanuel Macron promised President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine that the Ukrainian forces would soon receive French AMX-10RC armored vehicles. Read also: Britain to send Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine late March On Wednesday, January 25, Germany and the U.S. announced that they are sending Ukraine their main battle tanks. The chief of the Italian Foreign Ministry, Antonio Tajani, said on January 18 that Italy and France are already completing preparations for sending the new SAMP/T air and missile defense system to Ukraine. At a meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief on Thursday, the elimination of the consequences of the recent enemy missile attack on the territory of Ukraine and measures to counter future missile threats were discussed. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a regular meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief on Thursday. The participants heard reports from the commanders of the operational directions on the current situation at the front, and discussed the situation in the Bakhmut sector in detail, the press service of the Presidents Office informs. As noted, the meeting participants discussed the supply of weapons and equipment and its operational distribution among the military groups. Special attention was paid to the training of Ukrainian defenders abroad. The parties also discussed the consequences of the recent enemy missile attack on the territory of Ukraine and measures to counter future threats. The meeting was attended by Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov, Minister of Defense Oleksii Reznikov, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny, Chief of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine Oleksandr Lytvynenko, Commander of the Ground Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi and commanders of the operational directions. The meeting was also attended by Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development Oleksandr Kubrakov, Minister of Finance Serhiy Marchenko, other members of the government, Acting Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Malyuk and other heads of security and law enforcement agencies. As reported, during the day, the Russian troops launched 37 airstrikes on the territory of Ukraine, using 17 Shahed-136 UAVs. All the drones were shot down. In addition, the invaders launched 59 missiles, 47 of which were destroyed. As a result of the attack, civilian objects were hit and civilians were killed. In addition, the invaders launched 53 MLRS attacks. ol The Russian and Belarusian political and military leaders involved in launching and waging the war of aggression against Ukraine should be prosecuted in a specially created international tribunal. This is stated in the resolution entitled Legal and human rights aspects of the Russian Federations aggression against Ukraine adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe with 100 votes for and 1 abstention, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. In its resolution, PACE reiterates that the Russian Federations armed attack and large-scale invasion of Ukraine launched on 24 February 2022 constitute an aggression under the terms of Resolution 3314 of the United Nations General Assembly and are clearly in breach of the Charter of the United Nations and the Statute of the Council of Europe. Moreover, the attempted annexation of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia, following the illegal so-called referendums organised by the Russian Federation in these regions in September 2022, is a further escalation of the aggression against Ukraine. The Russian Federation will be considered as continuing its aggression as long as the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders will be fully re-established. The Assembly recalls that the ongoing aggression is a continuation of the aggression started on 20 February 2014, which included the invasion, occupation and illegal annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, reads the resolution. PACE also notes that Belarus has participated in the Russian Federations aggression against Ukraine, as it has allowed its territory to be used by the Russian Federation for perpetrating acts of aggression against Ukraine. Its role and complicity should be condemned by the international community and its leaders should be held to account. Pointing out that the unprovoked acts of aggression committed by the Russian Federation and Belarus constitute manifest violations of the Charter of the United Nations and lack any plausible legal justification, PACE underscores that these acts therefore meet the definition of the crime of aggression as set out in Article 8 bis of the Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and under customary international law. The Russian and Belarusian political and military leaders who planned, prepared, initiated or executed these acts, and who were in a position to control or direct the political or military action of the State, should be identified and prosecuted. Without their decision to wage this war of aggression against Ukraine, the atrocities that flow from it (war crimes, crimes against humanity and possible genocide), as well as all the destruction, death and damage resulting from the war, including from lawful acts of war, would not have occurred, reads the resolution. Noting that the ICC does not have at present jurisdiction over the crime of aggression committed against Ukraine and that there is no other international criminal tribunal competent to prosecute and punish the crime of aggression committed against Ukraine, PACE reiterates its call on the Council of Europe member States and observer States to set up a special international criminal tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, which should be endorsed and supported by as many States and international organisations as possible, and in particular by the United Nations General Assembly. As reported, PACE members called on the leaders of the Council of Europe member states at the summit in May to lead the initiative to create a special international criminal tribunal for the crime of Russias aggression against Ukraine, as well as to support the creation of an international compensation mechanism for damages caused during the aggression. ol Finland has sheltered 50,000 Ukrainians who fled the war unleashed by Russia. "We are glad that we can shelter 50,000 Ukrainians in Finland. We welcome them, we support them, and we hope that they find the conditions favorable and worthy," President of Finland Sauli Niinisto said at a joint press conference with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. In addition, Niinisto mentioned the latest package of military aid to Ukraine which has brought the total cost of security assistance to about EUR 600 million, as well as the provided generators and humanitarian aid. In his turn, Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the Finnish partners for sheltering Ukrainian refugees and "treating our people warmly". "Today, in times of these challenges, during the war, such a warm attitude is really important. This is one of the challenges for our state: people women, children, the elderly should enjoy equality in other countries while this war is going on. I highly appreciate it, we will not forget it," the President of Ukraine emphasized. As reported, President of Finland Sauli Niinisto is visiting Ukraine on January 24. ol | By SOP Ofc. of Communications and Marketing University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, announced on Jan. 24 that Natalie D. Eddington, PhD, FAAPS, FCP, has decided to step down as dean of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP) at the end of this academic year. She will remain on faculty and will lead UMBs EMBRACE initiative, a multifaceted approach designed to increase the vibrancy of the greater UMB campus, boost UMBs community impact in West Baltimore, and strengthen UMBs profile with our internal and external constituencies. Dean Eddingtons long and impactful tenure at UMB has been characterized by building and leading strong teams, strategic and entrepreneurial thinking, competent and results-oriented leadership, and establishing and maintaining strong and meaningful relationships. As a result of her leadership, the School of Pharmacy is positioned for continued success, Jarrell said in his announcement. These attributes will be essential in giving shape to the important new UMB EMBRACE initiative that she will lead. Dean Eddington greets incoming School of Pharmacy students in Pharmacy Hall An alumna of the school, Eddington has served as dean since 2007, having previously served UMSOP as an assistant professor, chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and director of the Pharmacokinetics-Biopharmaceutics Laboratory. A nationally known expert in drug delivery and pharmacokinetics, Eddington focuses her research on medications used in the treatment of cancer, epilepsy, arthritis, and drugs of abuse, and on understanding the role of biopharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics in elucidating the underlying mechanisms important in optimizing drug therapy. Her research has served as the basis for numerous regulatory guidances implemented by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Under her leadership, UMSOP has established several centers and programs including the Center for Innovative Pharmacy Solutions; the Patients, Pharmacists, Partnerships Program; the PATIENTS Program; the Bio- and Nano-Technology Center; the Center for Translational Medicine; the Mass Spectrometry Center; the Metallotherapeutics Research Center; and the Maryland Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation. In addition, Eddington has designed numerous international regulatory courses for clinicians and scientists from South Korea, Argentina, Brazil, the United States, and Japan on the United States drug development process and the FDA regulatory infrastructure surrounding medication and device development. Most recently, under her leadership, UMSOP launched a transformational Pharmapreneurship initiative. During her tenure, Eddington oversaw the expansion of the School of Pharmacys physical footprint with the opening of the Pharmacy Hall addition in 2010, a 126,000-square-foot, seven-story building that provided modern learning, working, research, and collaboration spaces for faculty, staff, and students. She also oversaw the expansion of the schools academic offerings, which now include the Doctor of Pharmacy program, three PhD programs, and six MS programs, including the first of its kind MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics. The majority of my professional life has been spent at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, an institution that I love, Eddington said. It is here that I have learned, grown, and served an exceptional community of students, faculty, staff, preceptors, alumni, and collaborators. It has been the honor of my career to serve for the last 15 years as dean and to have had a front-row seat to witness the expertise, influence, and impact of our scholars, practitioners, researchers, and professionals. A national search for a new UMSOP dean will be conducted. January 26 2023 Glasgow City Council is inviting tenders for quay wall repairs at Tradeston to unblock a closed section of the Clyde Walkway on the south bank. Part of a 50m package of works to repair and enhance the riverfront setting of the Clyde the works at Windmillcroft Quay extend 325m along the river which will benefit from expanded public space, new planting and public realm. This follows an agreement with homeowners to make a financial contribution of 1.39m, the equivalent of 5k for each of the 278 apartments. A further 750k will be contributed by an anonymous third party. Councillor Susan Aitken, chair of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet, com mented: This is an important step towards the delivery of this important waterfront project, which will bring more high-quality public space to the Clydeside. Everyone living, working or visiting this area will enjoy the benefit of the work to take place here. The contract to deliver the reinstatement package, to designs by Atkins, could be awarded by the end of the year with work beginning early in 2024. Libya is working on increasing its oil production to 2 billion barrels per day both for domestic production and exports outside the country, Mohamed Aoun, the oil minister of Libya's government of national unity, told Sputnik TRIPOLI (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th January, 2023) Libya is working on increasing its oil production to 2 billion barrels per day both for domestic production and exports outside the country, Mohamed Aoun, the oil minister of Libya's government of national unity, told Sputnik. "We are increasing the production up to 2 billion barrels of crude oil (per day)," Aoun said. The minister added that the oil refining capacity in Libya remained relatively small. "Maybe in the future, if an (oil) refinery in the city of Az-Zawiyah is extended and new plants are built, part (of refined materials) from there can be used for consumption and another part will be exported outside Libya, whether it is gas or oil," Aoun said. The official added that extending gas production would take from three to five years, according to the plan. "We have vast gas deposits, they can be developed. It is possible that there will be enough surplus for domestic consumption, and the rest can be exported," Aoun told Sputnik. In October 2022, the Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC) signed agreements with Italian oil giant Eni and the United Kingdom's BP on offshore gas exploration. According to the NOC, the country's gas deposits exceed 80 million cubic meters of gas. In December, the Libyan government also lifted restrictions on geological exploration of oil deposits in previously inaccessible regions. (@FahadShabbir) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th January, 2023) Manfred Weber, leader of the European People's Party, the largest in the European Parliament Manfred, on Thursday said that the European Union needs to switch to war economy against the backdrop of the Ukrainian crisis. "If we look at our need for arms and ammunition, it becomes clear that we need, although it is a tricky term, a kind of war economy in the EU in order to be able to ensure stability and security," Weber told news outlets of Germany's Funke Mediengruppe media group. European countries are currently unable to quickly provide the necessary weapons "neither for their own defense, nor for Ukraine." In this regard the EU countries should increase their capacities for the production of weapons and ammunition, he said. Weber added that he was disappointed by the recent German-French talks, which resulted in "nothing concrete. " In his opinion, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron have not yet been able to respond to "historical challenges." "Both (Scholz and Macron) are trapped in managing day-to-day life. Macron is busy with pension reform, and Scholz with his traffic light coalition. It is a failure that weakens Europe for a long time," Weber said. In April 2022, Moscow sent a note to NATO member states condemning their military assistance to Kiev after Russia started its military operation in Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that any arms shipments on Ukrainian territory would be "legitimate targets" for Russian forces. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has also warned that pumping Ukraine with weapons was not conducive to peace negotiations and would have a detrimental effect on the conflict. (@FahadShabbir) Kashmiris across the Line of Control and the world over observed Indian Republic Day, on January 26, as Black Day to protest against the continued denial by India of their right to self-determination in accordance with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Jan, 2023 ) :Kashmiris across the Line of Control and the world over observed Indian Republic Day, on January 26, as Black Day to protest against the continued denial by India of their right to self-determination in accordance with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. In Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir (IIOJK), the day was marked by a complete strike whereas protest rallies and demonstrations were held in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan and world-over. The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) had given a call for observing Black Day and was supported by other freedom-loving organizations and leaders. In IIOJK, the Indian authorities had turned the whole territory into military garrison and had intensified checking and frisking in Srinagar city and other parts of the valley. In Islamabad, the APHC (AJK Chapter) staged a protest in front of the Indian High Commission. The protest was also joined by heads and leaders of various political parties of AJK. Speaking on the occasion, the speakers said India had no right to celebrate its Republic Day in IIOJK, which it had occupied against Kashmiris' will. APHC-AJK Convener, Mehmood Ahmed Saghar, while speaking on the occasion said India had been using brutal tactics to suppress the Kashmiris' freedom sentiment but miserably failed in its nefarious designs. The protesters were holding black flags and banners and placards with slogans against India and in favour of Kashmir's freedom from Indian occupation. Protest rallies were also carried out in Muzaffarabad and other cities of Azad Jammu and Kashmir to mark the day as Black Day. The protesters demanded the world community to break the criminal silence and play its role in stopping Indian state terrorism in IIOJK Meanwhile, the APHC leaders, in their messages on the day, said that India was not a true democratic country as it had usurped the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people for the past over seven decades, reported Kashmir Media Service (KMS). APHC leaders, including Ghulam Muhammad Khan Sopori, Rafia Rasool, Dr Musaib and Muhammad Aqib, said that Modi regime had put the entire IIOJK under military siege to celebrate its Republic Day in the occupied territory. APHC-AJK leaders Shaikh Abdul Mateen and Shamim Shawl in their separate statements in Islamabad said that India had forcibly seized Jammu and Kashmir in 1947 with its military might and since then more than six lakh Kashmiris had been mercilessly killed by the Indian forces. India and its stooges have let lose a reign of terror and turned the Jammu and Kashmir into a big jail and are and pushing the people to wall, the statements added. Former convener APHC (AJK Chapter), Muhammad Farooq Rehmani said that the so-called Republic Day of India is rightly characterised as the dark period of India and the people of Kashmir are castigating it as Black Day. Meanwhile, posters were pasted on walls, pillars and electricity poles in Srinagar, calling for observing the Indian Republic Day as Black Day. On the other hand, President People's Democratic Party and former puppet Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti tweeted that in order to hoodwink the world community and stage a drama of normalcy on 'Republic Day', Indian authorities were forcing shopkeepers to keep their shops open. Los Angeles, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Jan, 2023 ) :The man accused of killing seven fellow farmworkers and wounding another in California could face the death penalty if convicted of multiple murder charges, a prosecutor said Wednesday, as the suspect appeared in court for the first time. Zhao Chunli, 66, was arrested Monday in Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco, shortly after twin attacks at farms that left five men and two women dead. Zhao appeared in court in nearby Redwood City on Wednesday wearing orange jail clothing. He faces seven counts of murder, one of attempted murder and what prosecutors called a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders. A Mandarin language translator was on hand for a hearing in which his attorney requested the formal arraignment be postponed. San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Susan Jakubowski remanded Zhao in custody and ordered that he appear in court on February 16. San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe told the San Francisco Chronicle that the special circumstance allegation "makes him eligible for the punishment of life without parole or death." "That decision will be made down the road after the full investigation is completed and we learn everything we can about Mr. Zhao," Wagstaffe added in an email to the paper. San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus said Tuesday that it appeared the suspect had known the victims. "All the evidence we have points to this being an instance of workplace violence," she said. Zhao is believed to have used a legally-purchased semi-automatic pistol in the rampage. The suspect is a Chinese national who has lived in the Half Moon Bay area for at least a decade, including for seven years at the mushroom farm where the killing spree began, the San Jose Mercury reported. The paper cited Captain Eamonn Allen saying the sheriff's department was working to support the suspect's wife. "They lived on the property together, so there's a very real concern of retribution or backlash on her," Allen said. Charging documents and information from the coroner reveal five of the dead had Chinese Names, with two of them being aged in their 70s. There was no immediate reply to AFP queries to Chinese consulates in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Mexico's consulate in San Francisco confirmed two of the dead were Mexican men. Another Mexican man survived the attack and is in hospital in Palo Alto, the consulate told AFP. The Half Moon Bay attacks came on the heels of another deadly rampage in California on Saturday in which an elderly Asian gunman killed 11 people at a dance club in Monterey Park, near Los Angeles. He shot himself dead the following morning as police moved in. US Vice President Kamala Harris was expected in Monterey Park on Wednesday, where her office said she would meet with families of some of the victims. A vigil was also expected later in the day. The two horrific episodes, both involving semi-automatic weapons, sparked bafflement from California's large Asian American community, as people struggled to come to terms with what had happened. They also led to outrage over America's lax attitude to gun control, with California Governor Gavin Newsom blasting Federal inaction. "What the hell is wrong with us, that we allow these weapons of war and large capacity clips out on the streets and sidewalks?" he said in Half Moon Bay on Tuesday. "Only in America. Number one in gun ownership. Number one in gun deaths. It's not even complicated," he said. Paris, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Jan, 2023 ) :France said on Thursday that it was recalling its ambassador from Burkina Faso, a day after agreeing to demands from the ruling junta to pull out troops from the former French colony in Africa's Sahel region. "In the context of the latest developments in Burkina Faso, we have decided to recall our ambassador to Paris for consultations on the state and perspectives of our bilateral relations," the foreign ministry said. Burkina on Monday said it had asked France to withdraw within a month its contingent of some 400 troops currently stationed in the country and on Wednesday Paris agreed to do so. It marked the latest scaling down of France's military presence in Africa after the junta in neighbouring Mali also insisted French troops leave and President Emmanuel Macron drew the curtain on the over decade-long anti-militants mission. Both Mali and Burkina Faso fell out with Paris after a military coup brought a junta to power and the French presence became increasingly unpopular among the public. (@FahadShabbir) Sydney, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Jan, 2023 ) :Thousands protested Australia's increasingly divisive national day Thursday as the public debates whether the country's Indigenous population should be recognised in the constitution. Australia Day on January 26 has traditionally celebrated the arrival of European settlers at Sydney Harbour in 1788 and has typically been observed with beach parties and backyard barbecues. But in recent years, it has also become a day of national protest, with some Australians calling it "Invasion Day" and saying it was the start of a cultural genocide by European colonisers. Indigenous activist Paul Silva, speaking to a crowd of thousands at an Invasion Day rally in central Sydney, said the national holiday should be abolished. "They invaded our lands, killing our extended families, turning our warriors into slaves," he said, as the crowd shouted "shame" in response. "How can this day be celebrated?" Indigenous poet Lizzie Jarrett said Sydney was "ground zero for a genocide of First Nations people". "You think we're angry? Wouldn't you be angry?" she asked the crowd. Ethan Lyons, 17, said he wanted to acknowledge the "beautiful land" of Indigenous Australians. "We also have to acknowledge the almost 250 years of ongoing theft and destruction," he told the crowd. Similar rallies took place in major cities across Australia. At a lively protest in Hobart, the capital of the island state of Tasmania, demonstrators carried flags declaring "Stolen Land" and "We are still here". The demonstrations have an added significance this year as Australia's centre-left government pushes to change the country's constitution to better recognise Indigenous Australians. There is currently no mention of Indigenous Australians in the constitution, adopted in 1901. They were banned from voting in some states and territories until the 1960s. The public will vote on the change -- called the Indigenous Voice to Parliament -- in a binding referendum later this year. It aims to give Indigenous Australians a greater say in national policy-making as they battle poorer health, lower incomes and higher barriers to education. The Voice proposal has been politically divisive, with several conservative figures deriding it as unneeded and a waste of time. But Indigenous lawyer Noel Pearson said the Voice was "the most important question" currently facing Australia. "The question that will be put is: do we recognise Indigenous people in the constitution?" he told national broadcaster ABC. "And if we say no to that, then I can't see how the future will be anything other than protest." Indigenous Australians settled in the country an estimated 65,000 years ago but have suffered widespread discrimination and oppression since the arrival of the British more than two centuries ago. Australian historian Lyndall Ryan has estimated that more than 10,000 Indigenous people were killed in 400 separate massacres since the British arrived. Of Australia's 25 million residents, about 900,000 today identify as Indigenous. The inequalities facing the Indigenous population remain stark -- they have life expectancies years shorter than other Australians and are far more likely to die in police custody. Casablanca, Morocco, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Jan, 2023 ) :Oumar left home in Guinea five years ago in search of a better life in Europe, but today he inhabits a daily purgatory of hunger, cold and police violence in Morocco. "Just surviving every day is a battle," said the 25-year-old. "It's exhausting not eating enough, not sleeping under a roof, not feeling safe, experiencing racism." He spends his nights camped out on the pavement outside a Casablanca bus station, the makeshift home of hundreds of sub-Saharan Africans whose dreams of reaching Europe are on hold in Morocco. "We get chased away early in the morning by the police. Then we wander around and come back to the same place at the end of the day," said Oumar. Like the other migrants interviewed in this report, Oumar's name has been changed. He has tried several times to reach Spanish territory from Morocco but has so far been unsuccessful. Oumar sits killing time opposite the Oulad Ziane bus station with a few dozen, mostly Guinean migrants. Some cook in a makeshift kitchen while others lie exhausted on the pavement. Someone has hung clothes and blankets on a nearby wall to dry. Bakary, also from Guinea, said he had been living here for three years. "This is our sad reality but nobody wants to see it," the 18-year-old said. The migrants set up this makeshift camp on the edge of the coastal port city of 4.2 million people because of its proximity to the bus station, a major transport hub. Today, the down-at-heel neighbourhood sees repeated flare-ups with the authorities. This month, six migrants were arrested following clashes during a police operation to evict people camping on the site of a tramway extension. Today, they're back on the same site, divided into groups by country of origin with everyone pitching in to survive. "Wherever we set up camp, they chase us away," said Boubacar, 27, from Mali. "It's not as if we want to sleep on the tram tracks, but they don't offer us any alternative." Vatican City, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Jan, 2023 ) :Pope Francis will visit the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan next week, delivering a message of peace and reconciliation to two sub-Saharan African nations plagued by conflict. The 86-year-old pontiff is flying to the Congolese capital Kinshasa on Tuesday before heading Friday to Juba, the capital of South Sudan, where he will be joined by the leaders of the Anglican Church and the Church of Scotland. The six-day trip was originally planned for July 2022 but was postponed after Francis suffered problems with his knee, which have recently forced him to use a wheelchair. There were also concerns about his planned visit to the east of DR Congo, where scores of armed groups roam including M23, which recently came within several miles of the commercial hub of Goma. The new itinerary no longer includes a trip to Goma, the capital of the North Kivu province, though the pope will meet victims of the conflict while in Kinshasa. It will be the Argentine pontiff's 40th trip overseas since being elected head of the Catholic Church in 2013, and his fifth visit to Africa. Francis is due to speak publicly 12 times and hold meetings with local officials, clerics and charities, addressing issues including education, climate change and deforestation, and social and health problems. But his priority will be efforts to restore peace in two impoverished countries ravaged by fighting, from the three decades of conflict in DR Congo's east to the violence that persists in South Sudan after a brutal civil war. The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International Middle East has announced the launch of a monthly Thirsty Thursday in Abu Dhabi, and two Power Breakfasts in Makkah set to take place in March and September. The launch of these new events will add to the already successful series of events in KSA & UAE that are aimed at accelerating the industries growth in 2023 and offering a platform for knowledge sharing and networking. HSMAI Middle Easts Thirsty Thursdays in the UAE is a networking event for hospitality leaders, peers and industry partners. In 2023, the event is coming back with TT Dubai at Orange Feels Hotel Indigo Downtown and TT Abu Dhabi at The Warehouse, Pearl Rotana, both on January 19 from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Open to members and non-members, the event brings together influential leaders and hospitality professionals every third Thursday of the month. Looking at Saudi Arabia, after launching Power Breakfast in the Kingdom in 2022 over eight successful mornings in Riyadh and Jeddah, the event is back in 2023. HSMAI Middle Easts Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Chapter is kicking off the year with two Power Breakfasts in Riyadh and Jeddah with the topic of Growth Mindset versus Fixed Mindset. In an agile world where decisions need to be made instantaneously, how can an individual develop a growth mindset? What are the advantages of constant change? During this session, participants will be encouraged to step outside their comfort zone and brace for ideas for constant growth. A Power Breakfast will be held in Riyadh at Fairmont Hotel on January 23 from 9 am to 12 pm and in Jeddah at the Hilton on January 25 from 9 am to 12 pm. HSMAI plans to launch its Makkah Power Breakfast from March onwards. KSA Power Breakfasts are attended by the regions leading industry professionals and partners, gathering to share challenges, insights and best practice on a given topic. The event provides the perfect opportunity to inspire collaboration and spark ideas over the most important meal of the day. Following a successful year in 2022 with over 50 educational and networking events, and a mammoth 5th Annual Commercial Strategy Conference ROC ME, 2023 is expected to be an even bigger, momentous event. HSMAI continues to be the association of choice for industry professionals to network, strategize and discuss upcoming trends through specially curated events in UAE and KSA. By joining the association, members can gain access to workshops, training, peer network and leadership opportunities, unlocking a competitive edge for success in the hospitality industry. TradeArabia News Service (@FahadShabbir) Madrid, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Jan, 2023 ) :The suspect arrested in connection with church attacks in Spain that killed a verger and wounded a priest was served with a deportation order last June, officials said on Thursday. The suspect, identified so far only as a 25-year-old Moroccan man, had "no prior criminal or terrorism convictions in Spain or allied countries" and was not under surveillance, an interior ministry spokesman said. "A deportation procedure was opened in June" but "because it was an administrative procedure... the implementation was not immediate," he said. Police searched the suspect's home early on Thursday and seized "all his effects" which were being analysed. Local media reports said he lived close to the two churches which are located near the port in Algeciras in the southern Andalusia region. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening when a machete-wielding assailant stormed into two churches in Algeciras, killing a verger and badly injuring a priest. Police arrested the alleged attacker at the scene, with prosecutors opening an investigation into "terrorism". LONDON, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Jan, 2023 ) :Thousands of health workers including nurses and ambulance staff on Thursday held a strike in Northern Ireland following a pay dispute. Nurses, hospital staff, paramedics, call handlers and ambulance workers from Unite, Unison, and Nipsa trade unions began a one-day walkout. "It is an appalling situation when trade unions willing to negotiate have all doors closed to them. It is therefore inevitable that this action today is happening," Anne Speed, head of bargaining and representation at UNISON Northern Ireland, said in a statement on Thursday. Early January, Unite union announced that they would stage strike action on Jan. 26 and Feb. 16 ,17, 23, and 24. The announcement comes as talks with the UK Health Secretary Steve Barclay failed to make any progress on the 2022/23 pay claim. Earlier this month, Nipsa Assistant Secretary Terry Thomas said that there is need for more strike actions as "the current crisis in health will not be resolved quickly."He added that the strike will be repeated in February and March. MUZAFFARGARH, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Jan, 2023 ) :Religious leaders from different schools of thought staged a protest demonstration on Thursday, here, against the desecration of Holy Quran in Sweden. The demonstrators raised slogans against those involved in blasphemy and said that freedom of expression could not be exercised so blindly and mindlessly without giving consideration that it can hurt the sentiments of Muslims all over the world. The demonstrators holding the Holy Quran in their hands dispersed peacefully after recording their protest. WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th January, 2023) Aerospace company Boeing made deep corporate changes following two crashes of its 737 MAX planes and is committed to complying with a Justice Department agreement on the incidents, a Boeing spokesman told Sputnik on Thursday. In 2018, a 737 MAX plane crashed in Indonesia, killing all 189 passengers and crew members. In 2019, another 737 MAX crashed in Ethiopia, also killing all 157 people aboard the plane. Earlier on Thursday, Boeing pleaded not guilty to a criminal fraud charge for allegedly deceiving federal airline regulators on matters related to the crashes. Families of the victims are attempting to hold the company criminally responsible for the incidents despite Boeing's 2021 agreement with the Justice Department giving them immunity from prosecution in exchange for admitting fault. "We are deeply sorry to all who lost loved ones on Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Flight 302, and greatly respect those who expressed their views at the hearing today," the Boeing spokesman said in a statement. "We have made broad and deep changes across our company, and made changes to the design of the 737 MAX to ensure that accidents like these never happen again. " Boeing claims that crashes occurred following malfunctions in the planes' maneuverability enhancement systems. Boeing is committed to continuing to "comply scrupulously" with all obligations under the Justice Department agreement, the statement said. Boeing Chief Safety Officer Mike Delaney, who entered the company's not-guilty plea on Thursday, told the court that Boeing stands by its admission of fault while still contesting the felony charge, according to US media reports. Boeing has also been the defendant in shareholder lawsuits related to the crashes, with its board facing litigation for allegedly misleading investors about the incidents. The criminal case being pursued by victims' families claims that the 346 deaths resulting from the two crashes could have been avoided if not for an alleged conspiracy by Boeing to defraud the Federal Aviation Administration. The families allege Boeing committed the "deadliest corporate crime in US history," a court document filed on Wednesday said. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th January, 2023) At least 66 more potential unmarked graves have been discovered at a site of a former boarding school for Indigenous children in the westernmost Canadian province of British Columbia, media reported on Thursday. Schools of this kind were established in Canada by the Indian Civilization Act of 1819 and existed through the 1960s to culturally assimilate Indigenous children by relocating them from their families and communities and forcibly suppressing their native identities, languages and beliefs. One of the local tribes found a potential burial place at the site of the boarding school 15 kilometers (9. 3 miles) away from the city of Williams Lake. The school operated from 1886-1981 under the control of the Catholic Church and later was managed by the Federal government, the CTV news broadcaster reported. More than 150,000 children studied in such schools in Canada. At least 3,200 pupils died as a result of ill-treatment and absence of care in these boarding schools. In May 2021, the remains of 215 children aged three and over were found in British Columbia at the site of a former Indigenous boarding school. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has condemned the practice of establishment of such institutions and called it a "tragedy." (@FahadShabbir) Canada will send four Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine in the coming weeks and will train Ukrainian troops to acquire the competencies necessary to use them, Defense Minister Anita Anand announced on Thursday WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th January, 2023) Canada will send four Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine in the coming weeks and will train Ukrainian troops to acquire the competencies necessary to use them, Defense Minister Anita Anand announced on Thursday. "Today, I am announcing that Canada will supply Ukraine with for Leopard 2 main battle tanks in the coming weeks. This donation, combined with the contributions of allies and partners will significantly help the armed forces of Ukraine, as they fight heroically to defend their nation's freedom and sovereignty," Anand said during a press conference. The defense minster said the German-made tanks will be deployed shortly unlike the M1 Abrams main battle tanks pledged by the United States. Anand said the tanks are combat ready, heavily armored and highly protected and expressed the view that their mobility and firepower will help Ukraine liberate more territories captured by Russia. Canada will also deploy an undisclosed number of its own troops to train Ukrainian soldiers on the use of the Leopard 2 tanks. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th January, 2023) The number of crew members killed when a Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship Jin Tian sank off the Japanese coast in the East China Sea, has increased to eight, with six Chinese nationals among them, Lyu Guijun, the Chinese consulate-general in Japan's city of Fukuoka, said on Thursday. The incident occurred on Wednesday about 110 kilometers (68 miles) west of Japan's Danjo Islands in the East China Sea. The Jin Tian cargo ship with 22 crew members aboard 14 Chinese and eight Myanmarese was en route to South Korea's city of Incheon from Malaysia. Lyu confirmed to Chinese broadcaster CGTN that 13 crew members had been retrieved as of Thursday, five of whom were in a stable condition. Eight people have been confirmed dead, including six Chinese citizens, the official added. The consulate-general also expressed deep condolences to the victims and pledged to arrange the return of rescued Chinese nationals back home in the coming days. The Japanese Coast Guard and their South Korean counterparts continue joint search and rescue operations. Lyu asked Tokyo to make every effort to search for the other nine missing crew members. EU interior ministers on Thursday discussed how to return irregular migrants to their home countries more effectively with some arguing for limiting visas to uncooperative nations Stockholm, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Jan, 2023 ) :EU interior ministers on Thursday discussed how to return irregular migrants to their home countries more effectively -- with some arguing for limiting visas to uncooperative nations. "Returning those who have been denied asylum in Europe is a really important issue," said Maria Malmer Stenergard, migration minister for Sweden, which hosted the meeting as current holder of the EU presidency. European Commission statistics show that in 2021, out of 340,500 orders for migrants to be returned to their countries of origin, only 21 percent were carried out. "We have a very low return rate," noted EU home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson. "We can do significant progress here to increase the numbers of returns and have it more effective and quicker," she said. The Swedish EU presidency believes cooperation could be improved with countries outside the EU whose citizens make up significant numbers of irregular migrants. Malmer Stenergard said it was "crucial" that EU member states use the full weight of their governments -- including leveraging development aid -- to press third countries on the returns issue. The EU funds various reintegration programmes in countries that readmit their citizens who have been denied asylum in Europe. These are separate from deportations or forced returns based on a court or administrative order, which are often carried out under escort and typically do not include in-country assistance. The EU has had a mechanism in place since 2020 to use visa issuance as a lever against countries that refuse to take back their nationals or decline to issue them with the necessary travel papers. But so far that measure has only been applied to Gambia, for whose citizens getting a Schengen visa is more difficult and costly. The commission in 2021 proposed the mechanism be extended to Bangladesh and Iraq, but that has not happened. Johansson said after a November visit to Bangladesh that the threat of the visa sanction has prompted Dhaka to become more "politically open" to accepting irregular migrants back from Europe. EU leaders in December 2021 called for "all relevant tools" to be used to push migrant-originating countries to cooperate on readmissions, including access to development aid, trade and visas. France backed a carrot-and-stick approach, with its junior minister for citizen affairs, Sonia Backes, saying in Stockholm that first "constructive dialogue" should be used. That "should then be hardened by restrictive measures if results aren't met," she said. Germany however has reservations about that approach. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said accords signed, especially with countries in north Africa, "on one hand allowed legal paths (for migration), and on the other, effective returns". MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th January, 2023) Changing the status of Russia's military operation in Ukraine due to the West's decision to supply tanks to Kiev is not on the agenda, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. On Wednesday Russian lawmaker Mikhail Sheremet proposed changing the status of the Russian special operation in Ukraine in light of the decision of the United States and Germany to supply tanks for the Ukrainian army, noting that the ongoing events have already gone beyond the usual military conflict. "We do not have such a topic on the agenda, it is better to clarify some details with Sheremet," Peskov told reporters. (@FahadShabbir) The number of Palestinians killed on Thursday in clashes with Israeli troops in the West Bank city of Jenin has risen to nine, the Palestinian Health Ministry said CAIRO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th January, 2023) The number of Palestinians killed on Thursday in clashes with Israeli troops in the West Bank city of Jenin has risen to nine, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. The clashes began early in the morning. The health ministry said earlier in the day that four people were killed and 13 were injured as a result of the standoff. "The number of victims of Israeli aggression in Jenin has increased to nine since this morning, among them is an elderly woman," the ministry said in a statement. Earlier in the day, Palestinian Health Minister Mai Kailah said that Israeli troops were not letting ambulances pass to those injured, putting them in serious danger. She also reported an attack on a hospital in Jenin that was pelted with tear gas canisters. Many patients, including children, were affected by the attack. The minister called on the Red Cross and the international community to intervene in the situation in the city. Relations between Israel and Palestine have been adversarial since the founding of Israel in 1948. Palestinians seek diplomatic recognition of their independent state on the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which is partially occupied by Israel, and the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government refuses to recognize Palestine as an independent political and diplomatic entity, and builds settlements in the occupied areas despite objections from the United Nations. Representatives of South Korea and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Thursday discussed North Korea's nuclear program and comprehensive cooperation of the two sides on the issue, the South Korean Foreign Ministry said in a statement circulated by media MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th January, 2023) Representatives of South Korea and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Thursday discussed North Korea's nuclear program and comprehensive cooperation of the two sides on the issue, the South Korean Foreign Ministry said in a statement circulated by media. IAEA Deputy Director General Massimo Aparo arrived in Seoul to hold a bilateral meeting with Kim Gunn, South Korean special envoy for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, the South Korean Foreign Ministry was cited as saying by the Yonhap news agency. As part of the talks, Gunn expressed hope that the IAEA would play an active role in condemnation of Pyongyang if it were to conduct another nuclear test, while also praising efforts the agency put in monitoring the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Aparo, in turn, reportedly shared his concerns about North Korea's possible next nuclear test and stated that the IAEA was ready to further verify North Korean nuclear facilities. The officials agreed to boost ties between the two sides and seek a complete denuclearization of North Korea, the media outlet reported, citing the South Korean Foreign Ministry. The situation on the Korean Peninsula became more tense in December 2022, as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered the development of a new intercontinental ballistic missile system to conduct a quick nuclear retaliatory strike. He also said that the United States, under the pretext of strengthening cooperation with South Korea and Japan, was creating an "Asian version of NATO." In response, Seoul said that measures announced by Pyongyang were "absurd" and would only worsen the situation. (@FahadShabbir) The only vessel with Russian fertilizers donated to Malawi with the mediation of the United Nations has not yet reached this country in almost five months, Russian Ambassador to Turkey Alexei Yerkhov said on Thursday MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th January, 2023) The only vessel with Russian fertilizers donated to Malawi with the mediation of the United Nations has not yet reached this country in almost five months, Russian Ambassador to Turkey Alexei Yerkhov said on Thursday. Last year, Russia initiated to send free of charge over 262,000 tonnes of fertilizers blocked in the ports of Latvia, Estonia, Belgium and the Netherlands to the poorest countries, and sent an official appeal to the UN Secretary General on September 7. "The first and only batch of 20,000 tonnes of products was shipped from the Netherlands to Malawi on November 28, 2022. The Russian side additionally bore all costs of cargo delivery and transportation, and also paid for the 'intermediary services' of the UN World food Programme of $200,000. Although this delivery is a humanitarian operation and providing assistance to those in need on the eve of the new planting season," Yerkhov said. The diplomat noted that the fertilizers arrived at the port of Mozambique on December 28 and should now be on their way to Malawi. "Thus, it has already taken almost five months to send only one small part of the fertilizers free of charge under the auspices of the UN, and the cargo has not yet reached the recipient. We can only guess how long it will take to unblock and deliver the remaining 242,000 tonnes of products," Yerkhov said. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th January, 2023) Russian troops have entered the city of Vuhledar and entrenched its outskirts, Igor Kimakovsky, adviser to the acting head of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), said on Thursday. "They entered and gained ground along the outskirts (of Vuhledar), thereby blocking the enemy's forces. Our artillery is attacking the enemy, who is trying to counterattack," he said on the air of Solovyev Live radio show. Currently, the main task of Russian forces is not to attack Vuhledar head-on, but to take the city "in pincers" similar to how they did in Soledar, Kimakovsky said. "This tactic is paying off," he added. Yan Gagin, another adviser to the DPR's acting head, told the Russia-1 state broadcaster that Russian troops managed to take control of the highway leading from the village of Pokrovske to Vuhledar, occupying new positions on the outskirts of the city. Gagin specified that the establishment of control over Vuhledar is complicated by a large number of mines with underground infrastructure, similar to the case of Mariupol and Soledar. At the same time, the adviser noted that taking over Vuhledar will cut off Ukrainian troops' ammunition supply to the area, from where they conduct strikes at the city of Donetsk. "The Vuhledar direction is the Donetsk sector of the front. The cities of Avdiivka and Marinka are located nearby. By taking Vuhledar, we can cut off the ammunition supply in this direction, as it is precisely from where (Ukrainian troops) strike at Donetsk. In addition, it will be possible to inflict both frontal and flanking attacks already from Vuhledar," Gagin specified. Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, responding to calls for help from the DPR and the neighboring Luhansk People's Republic. The Russian defense ministry has repeatedly said the operation is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure only, while the civilian population is not in danger. At the same time, Moscow has accused Ukrainian troops of arranging military strongholds in civilian areas and using people as human shields. WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th January, 2023) The United States killed a key Islamic State (IS, ISIS, a terrorist group banned in Russia) operative during a nighttime assault in northern Somalia, a senior administration official said. "Last night, on orders from the president (Joe Biden), the US military conducted an assault operation in northern Somalia that resulted in the death of Bilal al-Sudani, a key operative and facilitator for ISIS' global network, as well as a number of other ISIS operatives," the senior administration official said on Thursday. The operation resulted in neither US nor civilian casualties, the official said. In addition to al-Sudani, the operation killed 10 other IS associates as well, the official said. US forces were prepared to capture al-Sudani as part of the operation, but the assault ultimately resulted in his death, the official added. The United States is looking for an appropriate candidate to serve as Special Envoy for Belarus, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland said on Thursday WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th January, 2023) The United States is looking for an appropriate candidate to serve as Special Envoy for Belarus, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland said on Thursday. "We are looking for an appropriate candidate, accurate candidate for this job, it's a complex job," Nuland said, when asked about the plans to appoint a Special Envoy for Belarus. Nuland added that she hopes that they will have somebody in a "not too distant future." BUENOS AIRES (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th January, 2023) The Venezuelan government is increasingly normalizing its relations with Brazil and Colombia under their new leadership after cooperation was halted under previous administrations, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil told Sputnik on Wednesday. "We are now increasingly normalizing relations with Brazil as they have invited our ambassador there and sent their own envoy to Caracas. Economic and consular relations and joint projects are also being restored, we are quickly working on it," the minister said on the sidelines of the VII Summit of the the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Buenos Aires. The minister added that Venezuela has been also normalizing its ties with Colombia under its new president, Gustavo Petro, who came to power in August 2022. "As of now, there have already been two meetings with Petro. We have exchanged ambassadors, normalized consular relations... Colombia is our traditional partner," Gil noted. Relations between Venezuela and Colombia were severed in 2019 after the Colombian government recognized Juan Guaido, head of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, as Venezuela's interim head of state amid mass protests against President Nicolas Maduro. The two countries officially restored diplomatic ties in August 2022 following the election of President Petro in Colombia. In November, the two leaders met for the first time in six years and signed a joint declaration on the normalization of cooperation. Diplomatic relations between Brazil and Venezuela deteriorated under Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro, who also recognized Guaido as the Venezuelan leader in 2019. In March 2020, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry recalled diplomats and employees of diplomatic missions from Venezuela. Caracas and Brasilia resumed political dialogue after Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva defeated Bolsonaro in the Brazilian presidential election last fall. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th January, 2023) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday thanked Western allies for their decisions on the delivery of battle tanks to Ukraine and called on NATO countries to "unlock" the supply of long-range missiles and military aircraft to Kiev. "Today I spoke with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. We have to unlock the supply of long-range missiles to Ukraine, it is important for us to expand our cooperation in artillery, we have to achieve the supply of aircraft to Ukraine," Zelenskyy said, as quoted on the government website. Yuriy Sak, the adviser to Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, expressed his confidence that the West would eventually send F-16s and other military aircraft to Ukraine. "They didn't want to give us heavy artillery, then they did. They didn't want to give us Himars systems, then they did. They didn't want to give us tanks, now they're giving us tanks. Apart from nuclear weapons, there is nothing left that we will not get," Sak told Reuters over the phone, adding that "the next big hurdle will now be the fighter jets. .. If we get them (Western fighter jets), the advantages on the battlefield will be just immense... It's not just F-16s (U.S. multirole fighter jets): fourth generation aircraft, this is what we want." Earlier in the day, the German government said it would send 14 Leopard 2A6 battle tanks to Ukraine. In the near future, Germany will prepare two tank battalions for Ukraine (around 60 tanks). Ukrainian tank crews are expected to start their training in Germany soon. The White House on Wednesday also confirmed the delivery of 31 Abrams tanks and eight M88 recovery vehicles to Ukraine. Western countries ramped up their military support for Ukraine after Russia launched a special military operation there on February 24, 2022, responding to calls for help from the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. 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 forces. USM Online Programs Among Nations Best in U.S. News & World Report Rankings Thu, 01/26/2023 - 06:32am | By: Van Arnold Online programs at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) continue to rate among the nations best in rankings released recently by U.S. News & World Report. In its Best Online Programs 2023 rankings, U.S. News ranked USMs online bachelors program at No. 65 nationally, the bachelors in business at No. 44 and the veterans-bachelors at No. 41. All three programs are ranked No. 1 in Mississippi. USM also earned a No. 83 ranking in the best online MBA for veterans category, marking the first time that USM has been included in those rankings. These rankings are definitely due to our faculty's desire to offer the highest quality programs in the country, said Dr. Tom Hutchinson, Dean of Online Learning and Enrollment at USM. As a university, we strive to support our students and ensure our degrees will elevate them in their careers or open new opportunities for them. The 2023 rankings represent an upward trend for the USM programs. Last year the online bachelors degree was ranked No. 68. In 2021 the program was ranked No. 75, compared to a No. 93 ranking in 2020. The bachelors in business rose from the No. 51 position last year, while the veterans-bachelors climbed from No. 44. By evaluating factors that involve interactivity, flexibility, and support, the U.S. News rankings give students and veterans a better idea of what to expect out of online programs such as the bachelors degrees at USM. As the highest-ranked Mississippi university on the list, USM represents the best in the state. "These rankings are the product of much hard work and commitment by our faculty and staff to provide the very best learning experience for our online students, said Dr. Bret Becton, Dean of USMs College of Business and Economic Development. We are especially pleased to be ranked at No. 83 for best online MBA for veterans as Southern Miss prides itself on being a military friendly institution and it is rewarding to receive recognition for contributing to this important university initiative. This is a clear message to prospective students seeking an online business education that Southern Miss offers some of the top programs in the country." For the 2023 edition, U.S. News assessed an all-time high of 1,833 online degree programs and ranked 1,763 of them. The rankings measure overall academic quality at the baccalaureate and master's levels across disciplines in business (MBA and non-MBA programs), criminal justice, education, engineering, information technology and nursing. U.S. News also produces the best programs for military veterans and active-duty service members ranking which credits strong academic programs for enrolling veterans and making available ample financial benefits linked to federal programs. While the methodologies used for the rankings are different for each discipline, they all incorporate metrics specific to online learning. The rankings only include degree-granting programs that are offered primarily online by regionally accredited institutions. "Most of the undergraduate programs in the Best Online Programs rankings are degree completion programs, meaning the vast majority of their students already have some college credit," said Liana Loewus, managing editor of Education at U.S. News. "The methodologies are developed with those students in mind, setting these rankings apart from those that are focused on recent high school graduates pursuing higher education for the first time." U.S. News assessed schools based on four categories. Here is a look at each category and its weight in the current rankings formula. Engagement (35%): Quality online bachelor's degree programs promote participation in courses, allowing students opportunities to readily interact with their instructors and classmates, as is possible in a campus-based setting. In turn, instructors not only are accessible and responsive, but they also are tasked with helping to create an experience rewarding enough that students stay enrolled and complete their degrees in a reasonable amount of time. Quality online bachelor's degree programs promote participation in courses, allowing students opportunities to readily interact with their instructors and classmates, as is possible in a campus-based setting. In turn, instructors not only are accessible and responsive, but they also are tasked with helping to create an experience rewarding enough that students stay enrolled and complete their degrees in a reasonable amount of time. Services and Technologies (25%): Programs that incorporate diverse online learning technologies allow greater flexibility for students to take classes from a distance. Outside of classes, strong support structures provide learning assistance, career guidance and financial aid resources commensurate with quality campus-based programs. Programs that incorporate diverse online learning technologies allow greater flexibility for students to take classes from a distance. Outside of classes, strong support structures provide learning assistance, career guidance and financial aid resources commensurate with quality campus-based programs. Faculty Credentials and Training (20%): Strong online programs employ instructors with academic credentials that mirror those of instructors for campus-based programs, and they have the resources to train these instructors to teach distance learners. Strong online programs employ instructors with academic credentials that mirror those of instructors for campus-based programs, and they have the resources to train these instructors to teach distance learners. Peer Assessment (20%): A survey of high-ranking academic officials helps account for intangible factors affecting program quality that are not captured by statistics. Also, employers may hold in high regard degrees earned from programs that academics respect. To see the complete rankings, visit: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/rankings Future students looking to work toward a bachelors degree can visit USMs online programs page to get more information and help getting started. As Pope Francis prepares to embark on his Apostolic Journey to two African nations, we offer an overview of the Catholic Church in South Sudan. By Lisa Zengarini The history of Christianity in South Sudan is closely linked to that of Sudan, of which the young African nation was part until 9 July 2011. The origins Christianity was first brought to this territory by the Church of Byzantium in the sixth century. The local Church later passed to the Coptic Patriarchate of Alexandria. The end of the Christian Kingdom of Nubia, in the early fourteenth century, led to the almost total disappearance of Christianity, with only a few Franciscan communities remaining in the region. It was reintroduced in late 19th century by Italian missionary St. Daniel Comboni (1831-1881), founder of the Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus and of the Congregation of the Pious Mothers of Nigrizia, also known as the Comboni Missionary Sisters, who managed to re-establish the Church in Sudan, and in particular in South Sudan where there are still operating today. Their intensive missionary activity allowed Christianity to expand at an increased rate between 1901 and 1964, strengthening the national identity of the people of South Sudan, as distinct from the Arab and Muslim population of the North. Their fierce opposition to islamization and arabization policies carried out by Khartoum after the independence of Sudan from Anglo-Egyptian rule, fueled the secessionist movement which led to the two civil wars that ravaged the country between 1955 -1972 and 1983-2005, and finally to the independence of South Sudan in 2011, after a referendum. A Christian-majority nation As of today, more than half of the South Sudanese population is believed to be Christian, with a predominance of Catholics, who represent about 52% of the population, followed by Anglicans, Presbyterians and other Protestant denominations, while the Orthodox (Coptic, Ethiopian and Greek-Orthodox) account for less than 1%. There is also a significant number of followers of traditional African religions (which, according to some sources, are, in fact, the majority). Religious freedom Since South Sudans independence, the local Church enjoys full religious freedom and has been able to reorganize itself and carry out its pastoral work with no restrictions. The South Sudanese Constitution explicitly recognizes freedom of worship and equality of religions, and South Sudan holds diplomatic relations with the Holy See. Furthermore, on several occasions, local political leaders have expressed appreciation for the support given by the Christian Churches to peace and nation-building, praising their contribution to the human, social and civil development of South Sudanese society. However, over the years there have also been occasional frictions and attempts by authorities to stifle criticism from the Church. This happened in 2014 when the ruling Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) ordered the temporary closure of some Catholic radios accused of interfering in the country's political affairs for commenting on the new civil war that erupted in 2013. The Church's commitment for peace and development in South Sudan Peace has been a constant focus of the Church in South Sudan, since the time when the African nation was struggling for independence. The Catholic Church, and the Council of Churches of South Sudan (SSCC), of which it is a member, still collaborate to this day to promote dialogue, healing and reconciliation amid ongoing political strife and ethnic conflicts. Appeals and mediation Over the past ten years bishops, missionaries and other Christian leaders have launched countless appeals for a peaceful solution to the armed conflict, which began as a spat between the two rivals in the SPLA, President Salva Kiir (an ethnic Dinka) and his dismissed Vice President Riek Machar (an ethnic Nuer), but soon assumed an ethnic character, exposing South Sudans weak institutions and deep historical divisions among South Sudanese communities. Those appeals include the message released in July 2017 by the President of the Bishops' Conference (SCBC), Bishop Edward Hiiboro Kussala of Tombura-Yambio, for the occasion of the sixth anniversary of independence. The message called for a total cessation of the fighting, which had resumed in July 2016 after the signing, in August 2015, of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (ARCSS), and urged parties to support the new national dialogue proposed by President Kiir, and all South Sudanese to pray relentlessly for peace. The Churchs commitment for reconciliation is carried out first of all through direct mediation. Local Churches have been involved in facilitating talks since 2013, when Kiir, called the Catholic Bishop Emeritus of Torit, Paride Taban and the Anglican Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul to lead the newly established Committee for the national reconciliation process. Support to South Sudan from Churches worldwide South Sudanese Churches mediation efforts have been actively supported by the Church worldwide and the Holy See, as testified by the so-called "Rome Initiative launched in 2020 by the Italian Community of Sant'Egidio to bring to the negotiating table the opposition movements which hadnt subscribed the Revitalized Peace Agreement of 2018 (R-ARCSS). The Agreement, signed by Kiir and Machar in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, sought to revive the ARCSS of August 2015. Negotiations are still ongoing, as ethnic fighting in various areas continues. The Church has been promoting reconciliation also through projects at grassroot level aimed at training South Sudanese citizens on the issues of peace and healing. The South Sudanese Churches are also at the forefront in providing humanitarian assistance to the approximately two million internally displaced people who have fled the violence. Furthermore, the local Church, supported by several foreign Catholic charities and agencies, is actively involved in promoting human development, which is a key factor for peace. Widespread poverty, increased by climate change, lack of education and job opportunities for young people, and the scourge of child soldiers, contribute to hinder a long-lasting peace in the country. Among the many Church agencies operating in South Sudan are the U.S. Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the Italian Caritas, Doctors with Africa CUAMM and several religious congregations. In 2008, at the request of the Sudanese Bishops Conference, the International Union of Superiors General (UISG), and the Union of Superiors General (USG), launched the Solidarity with South Sudan Project, which between 2008 and 2018, succeeded in training 475 primary school teachers, 190 nurses and midwives, over 1,000 farmers, and more than 1,500 pastoral agents with the support of 260 congregations, private donors and international agencies. Working closely with the local Church, the project runs a teacher training college, a health training institute, a sustainable farm with an outreach programme, and pastoral services. Closeness of Pope Francis to the South Sudanese people Pope Francis has repeatedly expressed his constant concern for the plight of the South Sudanese people, and over the years has launched several appeals for peace in the country, but also a number of significant initiatives. Among them, the special Prayer Vigil for South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo which he presided over in St. Peters Basilica on November 23, 2017 and the Day of Prayer he called for on February 23, 2018, following the first postponement, for security reasons, of his ecumenical visit to the country, along with Anglican Primate and Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. In Summer 2017 he also launched the "Pope for South Sudan" initiative, a financial contribution of around half a million US dollars to support health, educational and agricultural projects in the country. Then, on April 11, 2019, the Pope and Archbishop Welby invited the highest South Sudanese civil and ecclesial authorities to join an ecumenical retreat in the Vatican. At the end of the retreat at the Casa Santa Marta, he made the highly significant gesture of kissing the feet of President Kiir and of his rival Machar in a plea for peace. On 9 July 2021 Pope Francis, Archbishop Welby together with the then-Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland Jim Wallace wrote a joint message to South Sudanese leaders expressing satisfaction for the progress made in the peace process, while reaffirming the need to make "greater efforts" so that the people of South Sudan may " enjoy the full fruits of independence". The message also confirmed their intention to visit South Sudan as soon as conditions allowed. Finally, Pope Francis reaffirmed his affection for the peoples of the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan in a video message he released on July 2,2022, after the postponement of his Apostolic Journey to the two countries , in which he urged them not to let themselves be robbed of hope. Philippines-based operator Globe Telecom blocked 2.72 billion fraudulent calls and messages in 2022, more than double the 1.15 billion figure from 2021. In a statement, the operator detailed it blocked 83.4 million bank-related spam messages in 2022. A move that was streamlined by partnering with all major banks and online retailers in the Philippines. The company also spent US$20 million to upgrade its spam and scam SMS detection and blocking system. The system also filters out nefarious messages not only in SMS messages but also in messenger apps. Globe chief information security officer Anton Bonifacio: "Our customers are our top priority so we do our best to ensure that they are protected from scammers and fraudsters. We will continue to invest in cybersecurity systems and work tirelessly to provide them with a safe and enjoyable online experience as we also take part in the full implementation of the SIM Registration Act. With our relentless proactive blocking efforts and implementation of the new law, we are taking great strides in our campaign to end text fraud. The Philippines enacted its SIM card registration law on December 27 last year a move to safeguard consumers from rising digital security risks such as text and call scams, as well misinformation. Critics of the law highlighted the Former president Rodrigo Duterte vetoed the law because of a provision to require social media users to register their identities and phone numbers. Pope Francis celebrates Vespers at the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with a reflection on how all Christians are asked to reflect on their wrongs and change their perspective, always putting God at the centre. By Linda Bordoni The Lord is grieved by our indifference and lack of understanding before sacrilegious violence Pope Francis said during his homily at Vespers on the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, and he called for action to oppose war, violence and injustice wherever they begin to appear. Celebrating the liturgy to mark the end of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in the Basilica of Saint Pauls Outside the Walls, the Pope invited Christians of all denominations to change and walk the path of unity the Lord has placed before us. The Holy Father reflected on the readings of the day that call for change, and noted that we celebrate the joy of coming together as brothers and sisters in Christ in days that are so full of tragic and troubling news reports. We could perhaps easily dispense with such biblical condemnations of the sins of society! Yet if we are sensitive to the profound unease of the times in which we are living, we should be all the more concerned for what causes suffering to the Lord for whom we live, he said. Since we have gathered in his name, we cannot fail to put his word at the centre of things. Celebration of Vespers at the conclusion of Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Do good, seek justice The Pope recalled the theme of this year's Week of Prayer Do good; seek justice explaining that God admonishes us to renounce evil and urges us to change. Admonishment and change are the two words on which I would like to reflect with you this evening, he said. Taking his cue from the prophet Isaiah, the Holy Father said the Lord does not desire incense and offerings, but that the poor receive assistance, that justice be rendered to the orphan, that the cause of the widow be upheld. He said that God suffers when we, who call ourselves his faithful ones, put our own ways of seeing things before His, when we follow the judgments of the world rather than those of heaven, when we are content with exterior rituals yet remain indifferent to those for whom He cares the most. God is grieved by our indifference and lack of understanding. In addition to this, he added there is a second and more serious motive that offends the Most High: It is sacrilegious violence. We can imagine with what suffering he must witness wars and acts of violence perpetrated by those who call themselves Christians. This admonition of the Lord, he continued, gives us much food for thought, as individual Christians and as Christian confessions. Vespers at the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity We have no excuses I would like to state once again that today, with our developed spirituality and theology, we have no excuses, the Pope said. Still, there are those who appear to feel encouraged or at least permitted by their faith to support varieties of narrow and violent nationalism, xenophobia and contempt, and even the mistreatment of those who are different. Faith, he added, must maintain a critical sense in the face of these tendencies, and prompt an immediate response whenever they rear their head. With God all is possible The Pope went on to say that after diagnosing our wrongs, the Lord asks us to remedy them. Due to our failure to understand God and the violence that lurks within us, we are incapable of setting ourselves free, he said, reminding those present that, without God, without his grace, we are not healed of our sin. Gods grace is the source of our change (). By ourselves, we cannot succeed, but with God, all is possible. By ourselves, we do not succeed, but together, it is possible. He reflected on how conversion is communitarian and ecclesial in nature, and invited all Christians to be open, together, to a change of perspective. To rediscover that all the faithful throughout the world are in communion with each other in the Holy Spirit, so that - as Saint John Chrysostom wrote those who dwell in Rome knows those in India to be part of the same body. Finally, Pope Francis expressed gratitude for this journey of fellowship and for the participation and interest of so many Christians for the synodal journey of the Catholic Church, which I trust will become increasingly ecumenical. And inviting those present to continue to grow through praying, serving, engaging in dialogue and working together towards the full unity that Christ desires, he offered his thanks to all the Christian communities present for the celebration. All together may we journey along on the path that the Lord has placed before us, the path of unity. Russia launched a fresh wave of missile strikes on Ukraine in the morning Thursday, killing at least one person, hours after an overnight drone attack, while heavy fighting continues unabated in the east, where Moscow's forces have been increasing pressure on Ukrainian defenders. The new missile attacks came after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking just hours after Germany and the United States pledged to provide Kyiv with advanced battle tanks, called on Kyiv's Western allies to deliver long-range missiles and military aircraft to beef up Ukraine's air defense. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said one person was killed and two others were wounded in a strike on the capital and urged residents to stay in shelters. "As a result of a rocket hitting a nonresidential building in the Holosiyiv district, we have information about one dead and two wounded. The wounded were hospitalized," he said. Serhiy Popko, the head of Kyiv's military administration, said more than a dozen missiles were destroyed above the capital by air defenses. "The enemy launched more than 15 cruise missiles in the direction of Kyiv. Thanks to the excellent work of air defense, all air targets were shot down," he said. Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential administration, wrote on Telegram, "the first Russian missiles have already been shot down," without specifying the locations. Two energy facilities were hit by Russian missiles in the southern region of Odesa, local authorities said. "There is already information about damage done to two critical energy infrastructure facilities in Odesa. There are no injured. Air-defense forces are working over the Odesa region," the head of the region's military administration, Yuriy Kruk, wrote on social media. The central region of Vinnitsya was also targeted by Russian missiles, said Serhiy Borzov, the head of the regional military administration, adding that there were no casualties. Earlier, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Military said its forces destroyed 24 drones, including 15 over Kyiv, that Russia launched in overnight attacks. Zelenskyy said in his regular nightly video address on Wednesday that it is now necessary to "go ahead with the supply of aircraft for Ukraine." On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces continued to sustain incessant pressure from Russian attacks in the east, mainly in Bakhmut and Avdiyivka in the Donetsk region and Chervopopyivka in Luhansk, the General Staff said in its daily report Thursday. "Despite suffering numerous losses, the enemy did not halt its offensive actions," the General Staff said, adding that Ukrainian defenders also repelled attacks in Lyman, Kupyansk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson. Russia has been "intensifying" its offensive near Bakhmut, where it deployed a "superior number of soldiers and weapons" in what has become a hot spot in the 11-month-old invasion, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said Wednesday, adding that "the enemy is intensifying pressure in the Bakhmut and Vuhledar sectors" of the front. Ukrainian officials on Wednesday also acknowledged their loss to Russian forces of the Donetsk-region salt-mining town of Soledar as many military experts are forecasting a Russian spring offensive in the area. Berlin and Washington agreed to provide the tanks following months of intense debate among NATO allies in the hope of helping stem the expected push by Russia. Zelenskyy praised the allies' commitment to deliver advanced tanks and urged them to provide large numbers of tanks quickly. "The key now is speed and volumes. Speed in training our forces, speed in supplying tanks to Ukraine. The numbers in tank support," he said. "We have to form such a 'tank fist,' such a 'fist of freedom.'" "It is very important that there is progress in other aspects of our defense cooperation as well," Zelenskyy said. "We must also open the supply of long-range missiles to Ukraine. It is important -- we must also expand our cooperation in artillery, we must enter into the supply of aircraft for Ukraine. And this is a dream. And this is the task." President Joe Biden on Wednesday said the United States will send 31 of its highly advanced Abrams tanks in a move he said was not a threat to Russia. Moscow has warned that it regards the Western supply of advanced battle tanks to Ukraine a dangerous provocation. Speaking from the White House, Biden said the NATO tanks for Ukraine would help "improve their ability to maneuver in open terrain." He praised Berlin's similar announcement as evidence that "Germany has really stepped up." Chancellor Olaf Scholz said hours earlier that Germany will supply 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and will also allow third countries to reexport their own German-made Leopards. Scholz said the decision, approved Wednesday, was "the right principle" in the face of Russia's unprovoked invasion of its neighbor. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius added that the first Leopard tanks could be in Ukraine within three months. With reporting by Reuters, The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and dpa. An Afghan soldier seeking U.S. asylum who was detained for months after being arrested while trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border has been freed from immigration detention and reunited with his brother, his attorney said Wednesday. Abdul Wasi Safi's release from custody in Eden, Texas, came after a judge dropped an immigration charge against him at the request of federal prosecutors. Wasi Safi fled Afghanistan following the withdrawal of U.S. forces in August 2021, fearing reprisals from the Taliban because he had provided U.S. forces with information on terrorists while working as an intelligence officer for the Afghan National Security Forces. In the summer of 2022, he began a treacherous journey from Brazil to the U.S.-Mexico border, where he was arrested in September near Eagle Pass, Texas. He had hoped to eventually be reunited with his brother, who lives in Houston. On Monday, a federal judge in Del Rio, Texas, dismissed the federal immigration charge after prosecutors had filed a motion asking her to do so "in the interest of justice." Zachary Fertitta, one of his criminal defense attorneys, said Wednesday that Wasi Safi was receiving medical care at an undisclosed location but that he planned to speak at a news conference on Friday in Houston. Fertitta said Wasi Safi and his brother "are overjoyed to be reunited." 'Not a danger' Jennifer Cervantes, another of Wasi Safi's immigration attorneys, said earlier Wednesday that she expected him to be transferred from U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She said ICE would likely interview him but had no reason to keep him in custody. "He's certainly not a danger to the United States. He's done a lot of good service for the United States," Cervantes said. U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, a Houston Democrat, belongs to a bipartisan group of lawmakers that had been working to free Wasi Safi. She said in a statement Tuesday night that she expected him to arrive in her hometown by Friday. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees Customs and Border Protection and ICE, has not responded to an email seeking comment Wednesday. Sami-ullah Safi, Wasi Safi's brother, was employed by the U.S. military for several years as a translator. Sami Safi said he was pleased the criminal case had been dropped but that he remained frustrated about how his sibling was treated in light of his family's support for the U.S in Afghanistan. "If we categorize my brother's service, how many lives he has saved because of his service, and how many lives I have saved because of my service being a combat translator?" Sami Safi said. Wasi Safi's case was first reported by The Texas Tribune. 'Serious' health problems On his journey from Brazil to the U.S., Wasi Safi suffered serious injuries from beatings, including damaged front teeth and hearing loss in his right ear. "We are now working on his health condition, which has turned serious after months of neglect," Zachary Fertitta, one of his criminal defense attorneys, said in an email Wednesday. The lawyers, lawmakers and military organizations that have been working to free Wasi Safi said his case highlights how America's chaotic military withdrawal continues to harm Afghan citizens who helped the U.S. but were left behind. Nearly 76,000 Afghans who worked with American soldiers since 2001 as translators, interpreters and partners arrived in the U.S. on military planes after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. But their immigration status remains unclear after Congress failed to pass a proposed law, the Afghan Adjustment Act, that would have solidified their legal residency status. Cervantes said Wasi Safi's case is not unique and that other Afghans seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border have also faced difficulty getting their cases properly reviewed. She said she hoped her work "sheds some light on that and [helps] these guys get what I think is the right thing to do, what I think is fair for them." An asteroid the size of a delivery truck will whip past Earth on Thursday night, one of the closest such encounters ever recorded. NASA said it will be a near miss with no chance of the asteroid hitting Earth. NASA said Wednesday that the newly discovered asteroid will zoom 3,600 kilometers above the southern tip of South America. That's 10 times closer than the bevy of communication satellites circling overhead. The closest approach will occur at 7:27 p.m. EST (9:27 p.m. local.) Even if the space rock came a lot closer, scientists said most of it would burn up in the atmosphere, with some of the bigger pieces possibly falling as meteorites. NASA's impact hazard assessment system, called Scout, quickly ruled out a strike, said its developer, Davide Farnocchia, an engineer at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. "Despite the very few observations, it was nonetheless able to predict that the asteroid would make an extraordinarily close approach with Earth," Farnocchia said in a statement. "In fact, this is one of the closest approaches by a known near-Earth object ever recorded." 2023 BU Discovered Saturday, the asteroid known as 2023 BU is believed to be between 3.5 meters and 8.5 meters feet across. It was first spotted by the same amateur astronomer in Crimea, Gennadiy Borisov, who discovered an interstellar comet in 2019. Within a few days, dozens of observations were made by astronomers around the world, allowing them to refine the asteroid's orbit. Earth's gravity will alter the path of the asteroid once it zips by. Instead of circling the sun every 359 days, the rock will move into an oval orbit lasting 425 days, according to NASA. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden hosted a Lunar New Year reception at the White House on Thursday evening, as Americans mourned the recent mass shootings in the state of California that included Asian American victims and perpetrators. Speaking in front of a backdrop of red fans with gold Chinese characters symbols of good fortune Biden began with prayers and a moment of silence for the victims before welcoming members of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community. Jill and I are honored to welcome you to the first Lunar New Year reception of this scale held in the White House, your home, he said. This is your home. Biden highlighted the profound hate, pain and violence and loss the community experienced with the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes that was driven, in part, by inflammatory rhetoric related to the coronavirus pandemic. That's why I'm proud that with the help of many of you in this room, we signed into law the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, Biden said, referring to legislation passed in May 2021 that addresses the rise in anti-Asian hate and holds law enforcement accountable for tracking and reporting hate crimes. A 72-year-old Asian American man is suspected of killing 11 people of Asian descent in Monterey Park on Saturday. And a 66-year-old Asian American man has been charged with killing seven people two days later in Half Moon Bay. The dead include Chinese and Latino farm workers. Motives for the shootings are still being sought. On Wednesday Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Monterey Park to meet with victims families and call for action on gun control. "We will always, as a compassionate nation, mourn for the loss and pray for those who survive and are recovering, Harris said. But we must also require that leaders in our nation, who have the ability and the power and the responsibility to do something, that they act. Outreach The Lunar New Year event was part of White House outreach efforts to the Asian American community and was an important symbol of access and inclusion during a time of shock and sadness, said Janelle Wong, professor of American studies and government and politics at the University of Maryland in College Park. The Biden administration has also recognized Diwali and the start of Ramadan, and all of these receptions are shared beyond those who attend, through print and social media, she told VOA. Twenty-two million people in the U.S., or 7% of the population, identify as Asian alone or in combination with another racial or ethnic category, and they trace their roots to more than 20 countries in East and Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, according to the Pew Research Center. They are also a key demographic for Biden, who boasted that 13.7% of the people in his administration are members of the AAPI community. Asian Americans are the fastest-growing group of eligible voters. Over the past two decades they have become much more likely to vote for Democrats than for Republicans, supporting traditionally Democratic agendas, including stricter gun laws. Earlier this month the administration launched a national agenda aimed at addressing the range of disparities that Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities face, through action plans prepared by 32 federal agencies. The administration is also launching a series of summits to advance economic equity in the AAPI community, aiming to connect them with critical resources and opportunities. The United States is urging de-escalation after nine Palestinians, including an elderly woman, were reportedly killed during a raid by Israeli forces Thursday in the occupied West Bank town of Jenin. A top State Department official for Middle East affairs said the U.S. is concerned and called the casualties -- which come days before a visit to the region by Secretary of State Antony Blinken -- regrettable. But Barbara Leaf, the assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs, also said the Palestinian Authoritys subsequent announcement that it is suspending its security coordination with Israel is not the right decision now. Were in very close touch with senior PA (Palestinian Authority) officials. Obviously, we don't think this is the right step to take at this moment, Leaf told reporters during a telephone briefing on Thursday. Far from stepping back on security coordination, we believe it's quite important that the parties retain and if anything, deepen - security coordination. Leaf said the U.S. will talk to both Palestinian and Israeli officials during Blinkens visit to Egypt, Israel and the West Bank in the coming days. Blinken is traveling to the region January 29-31. The State Department said Thursday Blinken will consult with partners on issues that include Russias invasion of Ukraine, Iran, Israeli-Palestinian relations and preserving the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the protection of human rights and democratic values. Israel has provided medical and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine but avoided sending lethal military equipment to Kyiv, a move that could upset Moscow and hurt Israels security interests in neighboring Syria, given Russias involvement in the war-torn Middle Eastern country. The United States continues to seek Israels support for Ukraine, while refraining from criticizing Israels posture on the Russia-Ukraine war. Blinkens Middle East trip follows White House national security advisor Jake Sullivans meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders from January 18-20, when the White House says Sullivan restated Washingtons unwavering commitment to Israels security to counter the continued threats posed by Iran. U.S. officials have accused Iran of providing drones to Russia for Moscows use in Ukraine, calling such military assistance deeply destabilizing. Iran has acknowledged supplying Russia with drones but maintains the transfer came before Moscows war in Ukraine. During his trip, Blinken will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and other senior officials in Jerusalem. In the West Bank, Blinken will meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and other senior PA officials. With both Israeli and Palestinian leaders, the secretary will underscore the urgent need for the parties to take steps to deescalate tensions in order to put an end to the cycle of violence that has claimed too many innocent lives, according to a State Department statement. He also will discuss the importance of upholding the historic status quo the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount in Jerusalem, in words and in actions. In early January, after a visit to the al-Aqsa Mosque compound by an ultranationalist Israeli Cabinet minister, U.N. Security Council members gathered to reaffirm the need to preserve the historic status quo at Jerusalems holy sites. In Cairo, the secretary of state will meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry to advance the U.S.-Egypt strategic partnership, discuss shared support for elections in Libya and the ongoing Sudanese-led political process. After a recent military pullout, only about 400 French troops remain in Burkina Faso to help the government fight Islamist militants linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State. But now many in the country want Russia to help and the government has ordered all French troops to leave within the month. Reporter Kader Traore has more from Ouagadougou in this report narrated by Vincent Makori. A Chinese engineer was sentenced to eight years in a U.S. prison Wednesday for providing Beijing with information on possible recruitment targets. Ji Chaoqun, who came to the U.S. on a student visa in 2013 and later enlisted in the Army Reserve, was accused of identifying American scientists and engineers that could be recruited by the Jiangsu Province Ministry of State Security. The body is a key Chinese intelligence unit involved in numerous schemes to illegally obtain U.S. industrial and trade secrets. Ji was arrested in September 2018 on charges that he had supplied Chinese intelligence with biographical information on about eight people, all naturalized American citizens originally from China or Taiwan, some of whom were U.S. defense contractors. Ji, about 31, was convicted in September of illegally acting as an agent of a foreign government and of making false statements after a two-week trial in Chicago. The charge is often used by U.S. prosecutors in espionage-related cases where the accused is not clearly a foreign intelligence agent. According to the Justice Department, Ji acted at the direction of Xu Yanjun, a deputy division director in the Jiangsu unit. Ji's case was apparently linked to Chinese efforts over several years to steal trade secrets from Ohio-based GE Aviation, one of the world's leading aircraft engine manufacturers, and other aviation companies, including U.S. military suppliers. Xu was a key figure in that effort. Arrested in Belgium in 2018, he was extradited to the United States to stand trial. He was convicted in November 2021 of economic espionage and attempted theft of trade secrets. In November 2022 Xu was sentenced to 20 years in prison. South Korea, with a world-class arms industry, is facing mounting pressure to find a way to get needed arms and munitions to Ukraine without unduly angering Russia, which has hinted that it could resume military cooperation with North Korea. Experts interviewed by VOA say the most likely solution under consideration in Seoul is for the nations commercial arms manufacturers to make private sales to the United States, allowing the U.S to ship more of its own armaments to Ukraine without depleting its stockpiles. A spokesperson for the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs told VOA Korean Service on Wednesday that the administration in Seoul has been providing humanitarian support to the people of Ukraine but there has not been a change in its position that it will not send lethal weapons to Ukraine. Depleted stockpiles Since the Russian invasion, Washingtons military aid to Kyiv has depleted U.S. weapons stockpiles. The Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a U.S.-led coalition of about 50 countries, has been sending Kyiv weaponry ranging from High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) to howitzers. The U.S. and Germany announced Wednesday that they will send 31 M1 Abrams tanks and 14 Leopard 2 tanks, respectively. Additional tanks have been promised by other NATO countries. Ukraine is using about 90,000 artillery rounds per month while the U.S. and European countries are producing only half that amount among them, according to The New York Times, citing U.S. and Western officials. The U.S. has asked the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) to route some of its equipment stockpiled in South Korea to Ukraine, USFK spokesperson Isaac Taylor told the VOA Korean Service on Jan. 19. And Washington has been in discussion about potential sales of ammunition from South Koreas non-government industrial defense base, said Pentagon spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Martin Meiners to the VOA Korean Service on Jan. 18. The Republic of Korea has a world-class defense industry which regularly sells to allies and partners, including the United States, Meiners added. South Koreas official name is the Republic of Korea (ROK). South Koreas arms sales Experts said arms sales from South Koreas private defense companies to the U.S. could elevate South Koreas standing as a global pivotal state, a stated foreign policy aspiration of President Yoon Suk Yeol since he took office in May. Yoon said in August that South Koreas goal is to become one of the top four global arms sellers. He reiterated the goal of boosting weapons sales in November. South Korea was the worlds eighth-largest exporter of weapons in 2017-21 according to a 2022 report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) which said the United States, Russia, France, China and Germany are the top five sellers. President Yoon has called South Korea a global pivotal state, David Maxwell, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said. Providing support to Ukraine directly or indirectly is an example of that. Putins warning Experts said that by allowing the private arms sales to proceed, South Korea could shore up its alliances with Western powers and help to demonstrate to authoritarian neighbors like China and North Korea that the kind of aggression launched by Russia in Ukraine will not succeed. But the move will likely come at the cost of further deterioration in Seouls relations with Moscow, which are already fraying over South Koreas support of the sanctions the U.S. imposed on Russia after it invaded Ukraine. South Korea has the same interest about peace, stability, territorial sovereignty, protecting [against] states that are invading through outright aggression, said Terence Roehrig, a professor of national security and Korea expert at the U.S. Naval War College. It is about South Korea making the decision that it needs to stand with the West on those issues with some degree of hedging by being reluctant to send direct military assistance to Ukraine, he added. You will not see South Korea directly contributing arms to Ukraine. It will only be about backfilling other states who might be doing that. That, he said, is because of concerns that Russia could play a role on North Korea through potential technology transfers and weapons development. In October, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned South Korea that sending ammunition to Ukraine would ruin their relations. We have learned that the Republic of Korea has made a decision to supply weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. This will destroy our relations, said Putin as reported by Russian state-owned Tass. How would the Republic of Korea react if we resumed cooperation with North Korea in that sphere? Until it collapsed in 1991, the Soviet Union provided military support to North Korea. The Ukraine war has drawn Russia and North Korea closer together. On Friday, the U.S. released a photo of what it said was evidence of North Korea sending weapons to the Wagner Group, a Russian private military organization, via trains to Russia. VOA Korea contacted the Russian embassy in Washington and Foreign Ministry in Moscow for comment, but they did not respond. Andrew Yeo, the SK-Korea Foundation chair at Brookings Institution, said the proposed private weapons sales to the U.S. would suggest greater support for the Ukrainian cause and further sour relations with Moscow, although Moscow has already placed Seoul on its list of hostile countries. In March, Russia placed South Korea on a list of countries that commit unfriendly actions, according to Tass. According to the Tass report, countries on the list imposed or joined the sanctions imposed on Russia after it invaded Ukraine. Seoul is eager to preserve a workable relationship with Moscow, so in some way drawing down U.S. weapons in [its bases in South] Korea is more palatable than selling them directly, said Patrick Cronin, the Asia-Pacific security chair at Hudson Institute. But South Korea also has an abiding interest in ensuring that Russian aggression in Ukraine cannot prevail, he added. That would be a bad precedent for South Koreas neighbors. France's foreign ministry demanded on Thursday the immediate release of Bernard Phelan, a Franco-Irish citizen detained in Iran, whose health situation has worsened, with Paris saying he has been denied urgent medical care. Ties between France and Iran have deteriorated in recent months with Tehran detaining seven of its nationals in what Paris has said are arbitrary arrests that are equivalent to state hostage taking. Phelan, 64, a tourism consultant was detained in early October as anti-government protests spread across the country. Diplomats said he had recently ended a hunger strike that had harmed his health, and he remains fragile. "We are extremely concerned given the extreme fragility of his health situation," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Anne-Claire Legendre told reporters at a news conference, demanding that he be released immediately along with six other French detainees. "The denial of medical access at this point from the Iranian authorities is completely unacceptable," she said, adding Paris held Tehran responsible for the health of all its citizens. The family of Louis Arnaud, a 35-year-old French national, who had been in Iran on tourism, on Thursday made public that their son had been arrested on September 28 and was being held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison. In recent years, Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards have arrested dozens of dual nationals and foreigners, mostly on charges related to espionage and security. Rights groups have accused Iran of trying to extract concessions from other countries through such arrests. Iran, which does not recognize dual nationality, denies taking prisoners to gain diplomatic leverage. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna on Wednesday spoke with her Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amirabdollahian, demanding the release of all the prisoners. Some 40 Europeans are being held in Iran. Speaking Monday in Brussels, Colonna said she wanted a collective European response to deal with the matter. For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine. The latest developments in Russias war on Ukraine. All times EST. 10 p.m.: Canada will send four Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine, Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand said Thursday, according to Reuters, after Germany this week allowed other countries to reexport the German-built tank. "This donation, combined with the contributions of allies and partners, will significantly help the armed forces of Ukraine" in their defense against the Russian invasion, Anand told reporters in Ottawa. 9:14 p.m.: The European Commission is proposing that the EU set a $100 per barrel price cap on premium Russian oil products like diesel and a $45 per barrel cap on discounted products like fuel oil, Reuters reported European Union officials saying Thursday. The proposal was sent to EU governments, whose representatives will discuss it at a meeting on Friday afternoon, with a view to a deal before the price cap on imported Russian oil products is to come into force on February 5, in line with an agreement by G-7 countries. The price cap on Russian oil products follows a $60 per barrel cap imposed on Russian crude on December 5 as G-7 countries and the 27-nation EU as a whole seek to limit Russia's revenue from its oil exports without disrupting world supply. Both price caps work by prohibiting Western insurance and shipping companies from insuring or carrying cargoes of Russian crude and oil products unless they were bought at or below the set price cap. The $60 per barrel limit on crude is now up for review as the market price has been just below the cap. 8:37 p.m.: A new song by a well-known Russian comic that satirizes Moscow's war in Ukraine and its supporters has been referred to prosecutors by a patriotic organization which believes it discredits the army, now a criminal offense, Reuters reported. The song, by Semyon Slepakov, is called "Lullaby" and likens Russia, with dark irony, to a mother who glorifies the idea of dying on the battlefields of Ukraine and believes it is her sons' duty to lay down their lives for her own greatness. A patriotic organization called The Foundation for the Protection of National Historical Heritage told the TASS state news agency on Thursday it had referred the song to state prosecutors to check if it flouted a law that carries jail terms of up to five years for discrediting the armed forces. Lawmakers and state TV talk show hosts have also called on the authorities to act against Slepakov, who has worked in Israel since Russia invaded Ukraine. 7:48 p.m.: The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on a Chinese company for allegedly providing satellite imagery in Ukraine to help Russia's Wagner mercenary group, which has come under growing U.S. pressure, Reuters reported. The Treasury Department and State Department announced new actions as they formally designated the Wagner Group as a transnational criminal organization, a move previewed last week by the White House. Among the firms targeted was Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute Co., a Chinese firm the Treasury Department said has provided satellite imagery over Ukraine to the Wagner Group. China is officially an ally of Russia, but the United States has called out what it sees as Beijing's tepid support for the war in Ukraine including a refusal to supply Moscow with weapons. 6:55 p.m.: At the Pentagon on Thursday, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed to reporters that the U.S. will send M1 A2 Abrams tanks to Ukraine and that "our intent is to procure new tanks. We just don't have these tanks available in excess in our US stocks which is why it is going to take months" for delivery. There is no timeline or location yet for training Ukrainian troops on the Abrams tanks, she said. "It is going to be a challenge to sustain and maintain these tanks," she added. VOA's National Security correspondent Jeff Seldin has more from the briefing. 6:10 p.m.: A former commander of Russia's Wagner mercenary group who fled to Norway has spoken about how he witnessed some of his comrades being shot as they were trying to flee from the frontline in Ukraine, his Norwegian lawyer told Reuters. Andrei Medvedev, who fled from Russia by crossing the Russian-Norwegian border on January 13, has said he fears for his life after witnessing what he said was the killing and mistreatment of Russian prisoners taken to Ukraine to fight for Wagner. Medvedev is living in a secret location in the Oslo area since his release from police custody. His lawyer Brynjulf Risnes told Reuters that Medvedev had seen some "incredibly horrible" situations while he was fighting with Wagner last autumn. Kripos, Norway's national criminal police service, which has responsibility for investigating war crimes, has begun questioning him about his experiences in Ukraine and would continue to do so, Risnes said. Kripos is part of a project to investigate war crimes in Ukraine conducted by the International Criminal Court. Other groups like the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and the Clooney Foundation were also interested in talking to Medvedev, his lawyer said. 5:01 p.m.: France and Italy are close to finalizing the technical details to supply a SAMP/T air defense system to Ukraine, Reuters reported, citing two diplomatic sources on Thursday It was unclear how quickly a final decision would come. Kyiv has asked its Western allies for more air defense systems and specifically requested the SAMP/T, known as Mamba, in November. France's Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu will travel to Italy on Friday to meet his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto, with both sides wanting to push ahead with the SAMP/T talks. The system, a joint Franco-Italian consortium can track dozens of targets and intercept 10 at once and is the only European-made system that can intercept ballistic missiles. 4:19 p.m.: Russian authorities designated the independent news outlet Meduza an "undesirable organization" on Thursday, effectively outlawing the site from operating in Russia and banning any Russian from cooperating with Meduza or its journalists, Reuters reported. The designation is the latest in a years-long campaign by the Kremlin to curb independent media and stop their reporting from reaching ordinary Russians in a crackdown that has escalated since Russia invaded Ukraine last year. In a statement announcing the decision, Russia's General Prosecutor said the Latvia-based news outlet "poses a threat to the foundations of the constitutional system and the security of the Russian Federation." There was no immediate response from Meduza, one of Russia's most widely read independent news sites, though it did publish a news story on its website, including details about what the designation could mean. 3:40 p.m.: 3 p.m.: Iya Rudzitskaya, a 92-year-old Ukrainian Jew, has fled Kyiv twice. First, in 1941, when she was just 10 years old and German bombs started falling on the then Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. The second time came last year, when Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, Reuters reported. "I did not believe that this could ever happen," said Rudzitskaya, sitting in the small one-bedroom flat she shares with her son Artur in the Polish city of Krakow. "Earlier, the Germans were the enemy. But I don't understand the Russians. They think that they are defending their country, they are defending themselves, but they came to us. They have destroyed Kharkiv, what do they need it for?" Rudzitskaya slowly goes through family photos she took from Kyiv along with some books, documents and basic necessities. She squints her eyes, trying to find her young self in the pictures. Her sight is failing her, but her memories are still vivid 2:21 p.m.: 1 p.m.: Ukrainian officials Thursday updated casualty figures from a massive Russian attack overnight. Russian forces fired another rash of missiles and self-exploding drones in nearly a dozen provinces of Ukraine early Thursday, causing the first attack-related death of the year in Kyiv and killing at least 11 people in all, according to Ukrainian authorities, The Associated Press reported. The attacks adhered to Russias recent pattern of striking power plants and other critical infrastructure about every two weeks. However, the latest onslaught came after Germany and the United States upped the ante in Russias 11-month war by promising Wednesday to send high-tech battle tanks to Ukraine and green-lighting other allies to do the same. The spokesperson for Ukraines State Emergency Service, Oleksandr Khorunzhyi, said that in addition to the dead the casualties included at least 11 people who were wounded. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said one person was killed during the attacks, the citys first such death since New Years Eve. Two others were injured, he said. 12:35 p.m.: Investigators have detained a Ukrainian security official on suspicion of spying for Russia, authorities said on Thursday, part of an effort by Kyiv to weed out moles nearly a year into a war with Russia, Reuters reported. The official - a lieutenant colonel in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) which joined the operation - had revealed the location of military checkpoints and other secret information, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) said. He allegedly sent the data to his Russian handlers via email and a messaging app. A search turned up mobile phones, Russian SIM cards, cash and other evidence proving longstanding ties to Russian state and law enforcement structures, the SBI added. Today the service works as a single team and is doing the maximum for Ukraines victory, said SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk in a separate statement.And the self-cleansing of our ranks from traitors is an important part of this process. 12:00 p.m.: French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna arrived on Thursday in Odesa, the strategic port city on Ukraine's Black Sea coast, as part of France's efforts to boost its relationship with Ukraine and discuss its needs in the coming months, Reuters reported. UNESCO, the U.N. cultural agency, on Wednesday designated the city's historic center a "World Heritage in Danger" site. Colonna was in Odesa shortly after missile strikes hit crucial power infrastructure facilities in the surrounding region, causing blackouts in the city. She was due to visit one of the damaged sites. "It's been a year since Russia launched this war carrying out atrocities and crimes. What we saw this morning with strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure is not waging war, it's waging war crimes," she told TFI television in Odesa. The visit aims to send a message to Moscow amid Western fears that Russia, almost a year after invading Ukraine, may still want to launch an attack on the city to deprive Ukraine of its key maritime outlet for grain products. 11:30 a.m.: Ukraine came under attack by Russian missiles and drones early Thursday, resulting in widespread damage in the Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions, including the cities of Dnipro and Kherson, VOAs Anna Chernikova reported. During the attack, residents in the Kyiv, Vinnytsia, and Odesa regions, including the capital city of Kyiv, reported hearing explosions. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed damage in two districts in the capital which left one civilian dead and two wounded. The latest attack caused damage to energy infrastructure across the country. According to local officials, the Kyiv, Odesa, and Vinnytsia regions currently face the most severe energy crisis. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed that Ukrainian air defense managed to destroy 47 of the 55 missiles of various kinds that Russian forces fired across Ukraine. All 24 drones targeting Ukrainian cities were also destroyed, the Ukrainian air forces confirmed. 11:15 a.m.: The U.S. State Department released a statement Thursday saying it is imposing sanctions on the Wagner Group, a private military entity involved in the war in Ukraine. "The United States is sanctioning individuals and entities linked to Russias para-military Wagner Group and its head, Yevgeniy Prigozhin including its key infrastructure and associated front companies, its battlefield operations in Ukraine, producers of Russias weapons, and those administering Russia-occupied areas of Ukraine," the statement said. The U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control is designating the Wagner Group as a significant transnational criminal organization, citing the group's "pattern of serious criminal behavior. This action supports the goal "to degrade Moscows capacity to wage war against Ukraine, to promote accountability for those responsible for Russias war of aggression and associated abuses, and to place further pressure on Russias defense sector," the statement said. 10:55 a.m.: Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on January 26 it was "meaningless" to hold a trilateral meeting with Sweden and Finland to discuss their NATO bids after anti-Turkish protests this month in Stockholm, Reuters reported. Cavusoglu also told a news conference in Ankara that there was no offer to evaluate Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership separately. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said his country wanted to restore NATO dialogue with Turkey after Ankara indefinitely postponed trilateral talks with Sweden and Finland over their membership. 10:40 a.m.: A former theater director In Siberia whose son condemned the war In Ukraine has been sent to house arrest, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported. The former director of the Red Torch Theater in Novosibirsk, Aleksandr Kulyabin, whose son publicly condemned Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, was sent on Thursday to pretrial house arrest on embezzlement charges. Kulyabin was detained two days earlier after his home was searched. His son, Timofei Kulyabin, worked as the chief producer at the theater in the Siberian city. He decided not to return to Russia from the Czech Republic, where he was on a business trip weeks after Russia launched its full-scale aggression against Ukraine in February 2022. 10:10 a.m.: 9:50 a.m.: Ukraine will now push for Western fourth generation fighter jets such as the U.S. F-16 after securing supplies of main battle tanks, an adviser to Ukraine's defense minister said, according to Reuters. Ukraine won a huge boost for its troops on Wednesday as Germany and the United States announced plans to provide heavy tanks for Kyiv, ending weeks of diplomatic deadlock on the issue. "The next big hurdle will now be the fighter jets," Yuriy Sak, who advises Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, told Reuters by phone. Ukraine's Air Force has a fleet of ageing Soviet-era fighter jets that came off the assembly line before Kyiv even declared independence more than 31 years ago. The warplanes are used for intercept missions and to attack Russian positions. "If we get them (Western fighter jets), the advantages on the battlefield will be just immense... It's not just F-16s (U.S. multirole fighter jets): fourth generation aircraft, this is what we want." 9:30 a.m.: Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed to participate in this year's Asian Games despite Russia's war in Ukraine, the Olympic Council of Asia said on Thursday, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. "All athletes, regardless of their nationality or the passport they hold, should be able to compete in sports competitions," the OCA said in a statement. The International Olympic Committee had said on Wednesday that the presence of Russians at next year's Paris Olympics should be "further explored" despite calls from Ukraine for them to be excluded. 9:15 a.m.: 9:00 a.m.: Germany apologized on Thursday for using a leopard emoji in a jibe at Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Twitter that ended up offending some Africans, The Associated Press reported. The German foreign ministry poked fun at Russias top diplomat during his tour of Africa when it tweeted that he wasnt there looking for leopards, but using the trip to try and justify Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The tweet, and the leopard emoji the foreign ministry used on its official account, played off Germanys decision to send some of its advanced Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine to help its military fight off Russian forces. But an African Union official took offense at what she said was the continent being portrayed as only about wild animals. Ebba Kalondo, the spokeswoman for AU Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat, tweeted back to the German government account questioning if Africa, its people and its wildlife was just a joke to you? Foreign policy is not a joke nor should it be used to score cheap geopolitical points by illustrating an entire Continent with colonial tropes, Kalondo wrote in a follow-up tweet. The German foreign ministry apologized and said that the tweet wasnt meant to offend, but rather to call out the lies that Russia uses to justify its imperialist war of aggression against Ukraine. 8:25 a.m.: An expanding cemetery in southern Russia began to fill with scores of newly dug graves of fighters killed in Ukraine. Many of the fighters were convicts recruited by Wagner Group after its founder promised a pardon if prisoners survived six months. 8:10 a.m.: South Korea, with a world-class arms industry, is facing mounting pressure to find a way to get needed arms and munitions to Ukraine without unduly angering Russia, which has hinted that it could resume military cooperation with North Korea, VOAs Christy Lee reported. Experts interviewed by VOA say the most likely solution under consideration in Seoul is for the nations commercial arms manufacturers to make private sales to the United States, allowing the U.S to ship more of its own armaments to Ukraine without depleting its stockpiles. A spokesperson for the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs told VOA Korean Service on Wednesday that the administration in Seoul has been providing humanitarian support to the people of Ukraine but there has not been a change in its position that it will not send lethal weapons to Ukraine. 7:45 a.m.: German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Ukrainian crews will start their training in Germany in coming days on German-made Marders, which are infantry fighting vehicles, while training on the heavier Leopard 2 tanks would start a little later, according to The Associated Press. In any case, the aim with the Leopards is to have the first company in Ukraine by the end of March, beginning of April, he added. I cant say the precise day. In an interview with Britains Sky News on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he didnt know when the tanks from the U.S. and Europe would arrive. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, also speaking to the British network, declined to speculate on the timing, but said allies are extremely focused on the importance of speed. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the move to provide Ukraine with modern Western tanks reflected the Wests growing involvement in the conflict. Both European capitals and Washington keep saying that the delivery of various kinds of weapons systems, including tanks, to Ukraine, absolutely does not mean the involvement of these countries or the alliance in the hostilities ongoing in Ukraine, Peskov told reporters. We categorically disagree with that. Moscow views everything the alliance and the capitals I have mentioned as direct involvement in the conflict, he added. We can see it growing. 7:30 a.m.: 7:10 a.m.: Leopard 2 and Abrams tanks pledged by the West will give Ukraine a substantial boost in its fight against invading Russian forces, but numbers are a key factor and time is of the essence as the war grinds on and both sides prepare for possible offensives in the coming months, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported in its news analysis, quoting experts. The promised deliveries are also an important sign of support from the United States and its European allies, but tanks are not the only weapons that Ukraine wants from the West as it struggles to fend off sustained attacks, regain territory, and ultimately drive Russian troops from the country. Tanks are a vital part of the recipe, retired U.S. Army Major John Spencer, chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Madison Policy Forum, a New York-based think tank focusing on security issues, told RFE/RL. They need a tank that will overmatch that majority of Russian tanks. Western tanks like the Leopard 2 and the Abrams are superior because they have better sight capabilities, enabling them to quickly find and target enemy armor, and better stabilization, allowing them to fire with accuracy while on the move, he said. Experts say they are also safer than Russian models with tough blast doors separating the crew inside from the stored ammunition. So far Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom have agreed to transfer about 60 tanks, but more announcements are expected in the coming days and weeks. Earlier this month, the United Kingdom said it would send 14 Challenger 2 battle tanks to Ukraine. Valeriy Zaluzhniy, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces, said in December that his country needs 300 tanks, 600-700 armored fighting vehicles, and 500 howitzers to push the Russians back, a number one former U.S. lieutenant general called a really big ask. Ukraine had about 850 tanks prior to the war and lost at least half of them, according to Oryx, a website that uses open-source tools to count destroyed equipment. The actual loss is likely much higher. Ukraine does not disclose its tank count, saying it is a state secret. 6:50 a.m.: 6:35 a.m.: Ukrainian air defenses shot down 47 of the 55 missiles Russian forced fired at Ukraine, the country's top general said on Thursday, Reuters reported. Moscow used the Kh-47 Kinzhal hypersonic missile, among other models, General Valery Zaluzhny said on his Telegram channel. Twenty of the incoming missiles were shot down around the area of the capital Kyiv, he added. "The goal of the Russians remains unchanged: psychological pressure on Ukrainians and the destruction of critical infrastructure," he wrote. "But we cannot be broken!" 6:15 a.m.: Japan, as this year's G-7 chair, expects Russia's invasion of Ukraine to dominate talks this year among the world's major advanced economies, its top finance diplomat, Masato Kanda, told Reuters. "Sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine will be a top priority at G-7 finance track under Japan's chair," Kanda, who will oversee deputy-level negotiations on economic policy among the Group of Seven (G-7) nations this year, said in an interview. 6 a.m.: The French foreign minister, Catherine Colonna, visited the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa on Thursday, Ukraine's foreign minister said on Twitter. Colonna's visit to Odesa took place on the same day that Russian missile strikes hit energy infrastructure in the region and caused blackouts, according to local officials. 5:40 a.m.: The Associated Press reported that the International Olympic Committee, or the IOC, has signaled that it wants to let Russian athletes compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics under as neutral athletes. A pathway for athletes participation in competition under strict conditions should therefore be further explored, the IOC said in a statement. Tuesday on Telegram, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote that he particularly emphasized that athletes from Russia should have no place at the Olympic Games in Paris in a talk with French President Emmanuel Macron. 5:20 a.m.: A Russia-based hacking group named Cold River is behind an expansive and ongoing information-gathering campaign that has struck various targets in government, politics, academia, defense, journalism, and activism, Britain said on Thursday, according to Reuters. In an advisory, the National Cyber Security Center, part of Britain's GCHQ eavesdropping intelligence agency, said Cold River researches its targets and impersonates people around them using faked email addresses and social media profiles. "There is often some correspondence between attacker and target, sometimes over an extended period, as the attacker builds rapport," the advisory said. Russia's embassies in London and Washington did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment about the NCSC's comments. The advisory did not directly attribute the digital attacks to the Russian government. Once a rapport has been built with a target, Cold River hackers encourage the target to click on a malicious link which tricks them into entering their login credentials on a website controlled by the group, the advisory said. The hackers use those stolen credentials to log into the target's email accounts, "from where they are known to access and steal emails and attachments from the victim's inbox," it added. 5 a.m.: A German citizen was arrested at the Munich airport on suspicion of treason for allegedly colluding with an intelligence service employee to pass on intelligence to Russia, Reuters cited the prosecutor general's office as saying on Thursday. The man, identified as Arthur E., was arrested on Sunday upon arriving in Germany from the United States, the prosecutor said in a statement. He is said to be an associate of Carsten L., an employee of the German foreign intelligence service (BND) who was arrested in December on suspicion of spying for Russia. Arthur E., who is not a German intelligence employee, is believed to have passed on to the Russian intelligence service information he had obtained from Carten L., according to the prosecutor's statement. An arrest warrant had already been issued for Arthur E., who was brought before a judge of Germany's top criminal court on Monday and remanded in custody, the statement added. The investigation was conducted it close cooperation with the BND and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the prosecutor said. German authorities have warned of likely heightened Russian spying given the Kremlin's stand-off with the West over the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 4:35 a.m.: "On Christmas and New Year Belgrade was like Casablanca there's no spy that hasn't occupied our hotels," said Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Agence France-Presse had the full story on Russian exiles and Russian agents living in the Serbian capital, and the high tensions and loaded threats that extend well beyond Russias borders. 4:15 a.m.: The mayor of Ukraine's capital Kyiv said one person had been killed and two more were wounded on Thursday after Russia launched more than a dozen missiles in its latest large-scale aerial offensive. "As a result of a rocket hitting a non-residential building in the Golosiivsky district, there is information that one person is dead and two wounded," Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a statement on social media, Agence France-Presse reported. The Kyiv city military administration said the death was due to parts of a missile falling. 4 a.m.: Authorities in Ukraine's southern region of Odessa said Thursday that two energy facilities were hit by Russian missiles, in the latest attack by Moscow's forces against critical infrastructure, Agence France-Presse reported. "There is already information about damage done to two critical energy infrastructure facilities in Odessa. There are no injured. Air Defence Forces are working over the Odessa region," the head of the region's military administration, Yuriy Kruk, said on social media. 3:30 a.m.: Kyiv's mayor urged residents to stay in shelters on Thursday morning after an explosion was heard in Ukraine's capital amid what officials said was a Russian missile salvo, Reuters reported. "Explosion in Kyiv! Remain in shelters," Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram. Reuters reporters in Kyiv heard at least one explosion. Russian missile impacts were also reported at unspecified sites in Ukraine's central region of Vinnytsia and other parts of the country, Yuriy Ignat, the Air Force spokesman, said on Thursday. "In several regions and Vinnytsia region in particular there are impacts of Russian missiles," he said in a TV broadcast. 3 a.m.: Ukraine said Thursday that Russian forces had fired more than 30 missiles at targets across the country, in the latest wave of attacks that have put pressure on Ukraine's air defense systems, Agence France-Presse reported. "We expect more than 30 missiles, which have already started to appear in various territories. Air defense systems are working," Yuriy Ignat, a Ukrainian military spokesman, told local media. 2:30 a.m.: Russia launched its latest air attack on Ukraine during rush hour on Thursday morning and officials told Ukrainians to take cover in shelters as air defense forces shot down incoming missiles. A Reuters reporter heard the sound of a missile flying overhead at a low altitude, about 30 kms from the capital Kyiv. Two missiles were spotted over the territory of the Mykolaiv region, its governor, Vitaly Kim, said on the Telegram messaging app. "Missiles are flying inside the territory of Ukraine. At least two northwest through Mykolaiv region," he said. An air raid alert wailed across the country as people were heading to work. In the capital, people sheltered in a metro station, with some sitting on blankets and small plastic chairs. "The first Russian missiles have been shot down," Andriy Yermak, head of the president's office said. Russia has targeted critical infrastructure with missile and drone strikes since October, causing sweeping blackouts and other outages during winter. DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy producer, said it was conducting emergency power shutdowns in the capital, Kyiv, the surrounding region, and also the regions of Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk due to a danger of missile attack. Overnight, the military said its anti-aircraft defenses had shot down all 24 drones sent by Russia. Fifteen of the drones were downed around the capital Kyiv where there were no reports of any damage. 2 a.m.: U.S. officials balked for months at sending M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, insisting they were too complicated and too hard to maintain and repair. That has abruptly changed. Ukraines desperate pleas for tanks have been answered with a sweeping, trans-Atlantic yes. The U.S. now says it will send 31 of the 70-ton Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine, and Germany says it will send 14 Leopard 2 tanks and allow other countries to do the same. The dramatic reversal was the culmination of intense international pressure and diplomatic arm-twisting that played out over the last week. The Associated Press has this explainer. 1:45 a.m.: 1:30 a.m.: Novak Djokovic's father has been filmed posing with fans brandishing pro-Russian flags at the Australian Open in scenes Ukraine's ambassador Thursday slammed as "a disgrace," Agence France-Presse reported. The Serbian star had just booked his place in the tournament semi-final with a straight set thumping of Russian opponent Andrey Rublev in Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday night. After the match, a group of fans unfurled Russian flags near the stadium, including one featuring Vladimir Putin's face, chanting pro-Russian slogans. Tennis Australia said four people "revealed inappropriate flags and symbols and threatened security guards." Police were called and they were ejected from Melbourne Park. A video later posted to a pro-Russian Australian YouTube account showed Djokovic's father Srdjan posing with a man holding the Putin flag. It was captioned: "Novak Djokovic's father makes bold political statement." Serbian tennis reporters confirmed it was Djokovic's father and the Melbourne Age newspaper reported he said in Serbian: "Long live Russia." Spectators are banned from having Russian or Belarusian flags at the Grand Slam after Ukraine's ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, demanded action when they were seen among the crowd last week. 1:05 a.m.: Reuters reported that Ukraine declared an air raid alert over most of the country Thursday morning. 12:55 a.m.: Since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Biden and European allies have sought to present an image of harmonious support for Ukraine despite occasional disagreements, Reuters reported. But conflicting opinions on sending Abrams and Leopard tanks had the distinct possibility of distorting that image. Reuters provided a look into the negotiations that led to the U.S.s promise to send Abrams tanks, and what that could mean for Ukraine and its European allies. 12:30 a.m.: 12:01 a.m.: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged a senior U.N. official to help find a way to resolve what Ukrainian authorities decry as a serious consequence of 11 months of war the deportation to Russia of thousands of adults and children, Reuters reported. Ukraine has for months denounced reports of mass deportations to Russia, often to remote regions thousands of kilometers from Ukraine. Russia denies any suggestion of mistreatment or criminal intent, describing the mass movements as evacuations. "The discussion focused above all on our people that the occupiers have deported to Russia," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address, referring to talks with U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi earlier on Wednesday. "These are adults, these are our children. A mechanism is needed to protect and bring back people and to bring to account all those who are guilty of deportations. I am certain the U.N. institutions can show leadership in resolving this issue." Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Updates on the tanks headed to Ukraine, and the German Defense Minister pushes back against the idea that he hesitated in delivering tanks to Kyiv. The Prime Minister of Lithuania speaks to VOA, and an update on shelling in Kyiv. Plus a look inside Kherson and President Zelenskyys family life. U.S. President Joe Biden appears to have united Republican, Democratic and independent voters in New Hampshire on one issue amid a White House push to have South Carolina replace the Granite State as the first in the nation to hold a 2024 presidential primary. Sentiment against the proposed change is channeled through Chris Ryan, who hosts New Hampshire Today on WGIR radio in Manchester. This is the biggest threat that New Hampshire has ever faced in over 100 years of voting, and its being brought by Joe Biden, an individual that ran for president three times here, Ryan recently told his audience. Feelings are hurt among patrons and staff of Manchesters Red Arrow Diner, known as the restaurant every future U.S. president must visit. New Hampshires got a lot of pride that it has that role in the primary, and to take that away without some sort of deep reasoning is kind of offensive in some ways, but its more just like a slap, Mark Hanneman, who manages a building and renovation company, said as he finished a meal. The diner walls are adorned with photos of visiting candidates, including several who became president. Plaques glued on the counter indicate which famous people have sat at that seat. Economic boost The first-in-the-nation, grassroots-level primary is very important for New Hampshires economy, especially for the hotels and restaurants, said Ellen Ryan, who has served burgers and cream pies through four presidential campaigns. It brings a lot of people in," she said. "Its nice. Please dont take it away. More than 20 leading New Hampshire Democrats sent a letter to the White House in mid-January pleading with the president not to change the status quo. While we share your desire to elevate more diverse voices in the process, we believe that the proposed schedule could wreak havoc on Democrats up and down the ticket in New Hampshire and unnecessarily jeopardize four critical electoral votes in your reelection campaign, said the letter. Bidens campaign faltered when he finished fifth in New Hampshires 2020 primary after a loss in the Iowa caucuses. A subsequent first-place victory in South Carolinas primary propelled him toward the Democratic Party nomination. Candidates here are compelled to visit the local diners, trudge through the snow and face tough questions from skeptical middle-class voters in the small, mostly white rural state. It is a system that can boost underfunded, unknown politicians, but undermine well-financed famous faces who prefer to let their campaign commercials do the talking. I think the White House is clearly trying to rig and change the election schedule and calendar to the best advantage of the incumbent president, said Neil Levesque, executive director of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics and Political Library at Saint Anselm College in Manchester. Small states with big power The political establishment is wary of a small state wielding so much power with an unpredictable system in which independents on Election Day can choose either a Republican or Democratic ballot, according to Ryan. Theyd much rather have a condensed, smaller field and a fewer amount of voters in a place like South Carolina or, what I feel is taking place, moving more towards a nationalized primary where you can just survive based on cable TV [advertising] buys, [a] good social media/digital campaign and you dont ever really have to talk to a real human being, he told VOA. Asked by VOA during a mid-January news briefing to articulate the White House stance and explain why New Hampshire should face punishment by the Democratic Party if it does not yield the nations first primary to a state more representative of the countrys ethnic diversity, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was reticent. The Democratic National Committee has addressed this, she said. Im just not going to go any further to what weve already shared. States holding primaries before the first Tuesday in March without the consent of the Democratic National Committee would lose half their pledged delegates to the party's nominating convention. The states so-called superdelegates, which include party leaders as well as the party's U.S. Senate and House members, would also not be allowed to vote at the convention. It could get noisier If New Hampshire is punished for holding an unauthorized primary, Biden could face a Democratic Party challenger, hoping to take advantage of a backlash. I have no doubt therell be a candidate that runs against Joe Biden on the Democratic side, comes here and is going to have success, predicted Ryan. If they move it away from New Hampshire, would that eliminate the possibility of a challenger to President Biden? No. Its just going to change the dialogue and might even make New Hampshire noisier, said Anna Brown, research director for Citizens Count, a nonpartisan, nonprofit group informing New Hampshire voters about issues and candidates. Despite the threats, as Levesque said, New Hampshire has no legal room to maneuver regarding its premier status. We have a law here in New Hampshire that says we will go seven days prior to any other similar election, said Levesque. And its important to know that the United States of America is just that were 50 states and the New Hampshire primary is a state election. The White House or any other organization nationally has no say in when we conduct a state election. New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu told reporters: We are going first. We are going to have a winner. Sununu, a Republican, is a possible presidential candidate next year. If Biden skips New Hampshire, another Democrat running in the state is going to have a head of steam behind him regardless of what games the DNC wants to play, added the governor. They clearly didnt think [this] through. I think that itll be a very exciting primary in New Hampshire regardless of whether Biden has a challenger or not, Brown told VOA. The DNC in early February is to give final approval on next years primary elections calendar. Anita Powell at the White House contributed to this report. Myanmars ruling junta is getting support from more than 60 foreign governments and international organizations including United Nations entities, according to a study by the group Justice for Myanmar, which monitors human rights violations in the Southeast Asian country. Justice for Myanmar published a new report Wednesday, Developing a Dictatorship, that lists the governments and international organizations that it says have provided political, technical and financial assistance to the junta. On Feb. 1, 2021, Myanmars military took power in a coup, which led to the ouster of the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and was strongly rejected by the people of Myanmar with widespread protests around the country. Justice for Myanmar said in its report that 22 foreign governments; 26 intergovernmental organizations (including 14 UN entities); 8 foreign financial institutions; and 8 other international organizations have provided the junta with political and financial support. It said the support came in the form of diplomatic relations, development initiatives, technical cooperation, and property relations, among others. The report says the governments of Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand are among those legitimizing the junta by officially recognizing them as the government of Myanmar. The report also says that multiple United Nations entities including UNICEF, UNOCHA, the IOM, the WHO, and the FAO have presented their credentials to, or signed agreements with, the military junta. U.N. officials in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the organizations humanitarian bodies frequently work in countries controlled by oppressive regimes in order to carry on life-saving work. Regarding technical cooperation with the junta, the report names organizations such as the National Defense Academy of Japan and the Japan Self-Defense Forces; the German Government Federal Foreign Office; and the Colombo Plan Staff College in Manila, along with many others. There was no immediate response from the Myanmar junta to the Justice for Myanmar report. Yadanar Maung, Justice for Myanmars spokesperson, said in a statement to VOA, The many and varied forms of international support to the junta that we have documented help sustain its ongoing war crimes and crimes against humanity, and prolong the military dictatorship. According to a recent report by the advocacy group Human Rights Watch, Japans Yokogawa Bridge Corp. apparently sent more than $1 million in 2022 to Myanmar Economic Corporation, an organization owned by Myanmars military, for a Japanese government development aid project. A Japanese Foreign Ministry official told HRW the Japanese government is not in a position to explain the payments to MEC as they are transactions between private companies. Furthermore, a recent report on Myanmar by a panel of former U.N. officials identified companies in the United States and at least 12 other countries in Europe and Asia that have been helping the Myanmar military to manufacture weapons used in human rights abuses. Referring to Justice for Myanmars 185-page report, Maung told VOA that it is largely based on open-source research, utilizing government documents, organization websites, social media and junta propaganda, as well as some leaked documents. The research took place through the last half of 2022. When asked by VOA about any response from the governments or organizations mentioned in the report, Maung said, where an organization has responded we have added a note at the bottom of each case study. The report includes 18 detailed case studies and provides clear recommendations for what Justice for Myanmar believes must be done to prevent the junta from gaining more funds, resources and power. In a press briefing by Justice for Myanmar on Wednesday, Maung said, It has been two years since the Myanmar militarys attempted coup. Over 2,700 people have been killed and more than 13,600 people are still detained. The junta is waging a scorched-earth campaign against the people of Myanmar, carrying out indiscriminate airstrikes and shelling, and has caused a humanitarian catastrophe with more than 1.1 million displaced. In her statement to VOA, Maung said, We want to see an end to governments and organizations providing support to the illegal Myanmar junta, whether by legitimizing them through invites to meetings and trainings, or financial support through business. Its time for the international community to step up and stand with the people of Myanmar by cutting support to the junta and by recognizing the NUG as the legitimate government of Myanmar. The United States recently announced that it would impose new sanctions on the Wagner Group and designate it as a transnational criminal organization. This came as new details emerged about Wagner Group recruitment efforts outside Russia. VOAs Milena Durdic has the story, narrated by Anna Rice. Senegals former prime minister Aminata Toure says she will keep fighting against a possible third term for her former boss, President Macky Sall, who remains silent on his intentions regarding the 2024 presidential election. Toure was stripped of her seat in parliament this week a move she says is based solely on her decision to oppose to a potential candidacy by President Sall. I believe President Macky Sall should not run for a third term. We both campaigned for the 2016 constitution which clearly says that no one can run for more than two consecutive terms, Toure told VOA French to Africa in an interview this week. The presidents supporters say the 2016 constitution allows him to run again, while his critics say it does not. In removing Toure from parliament, Senegals ruling coalition cited her decision to leave the party, under which she was elected. Toure told VOA that her former colleagues violated article 60 of the constitution by not notifying her in advance and not organizing a hearing. I heard it from the radio, she said, calling the decision illegal. Toure has been highly critical of the ruling party since her bid to lead the parliament failed in September, and she has accused President Sall of failing to support her. Toure, who has announced her candidacy for the 2024 presidential election, says President Sall is attempting to keep his main opponents from running. Opposition member Ousmane Sonko, who also has announced his candidacy for the election, is facing rape charges, and a judge has ruled that he should stand trial. Sonko denied the accusations and told VOA French-to-Africa Monday that the charges are a political conspiracy aimed at keeping him from running. Macky Sall must come to his senses, he told VOA. The president has not said publicly whether he will run again or not. His supporters say Sonkos legal troubles are a private matter and the government has nothing to do with it. Many political observers say a third run for President Sall could rock a country that has been considered a beacon of democracy and stability in a West African region plagued by coups and militant attacks. The U.S. space agency NASA says a small asteroid will pass very close to Earth Thursday, just 3,600 kilometers from our planets surface, well within the orbit of most geosynchronous satellites. In a release on its website, NASA says the object, known as 2023 BU, poses no threat to the Earth. The agency says even if it entered the atmosphere it would turn into a fireball and largely disintegrate harmlessly, with some bigger debris potentially reaching the surface as small meteorites. NASA says the object - just 3.5 to 8.5 meters across represents one of the closest passes by a near-Earth object ever recorded. It is expected to pass over the southern tip of South America at 7:27 p.m. EST (12:27 a.m. GMT). Experts say it would not be visible without a powerful telescope. The agency said the asteroid was discovered and reported Saturday by amateur astronomer Gennadiy Borisov, who operates an observatory in Nauchnyi, Crimea. NASA says additional observations were reported to the Minor Planet Center, or MPC, the internationally recognized authenticator of the position of small celestial bodies. The MPC operates from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts under the authority of the International Astronomical Union. The data was automatically posted on the Near-Earth Object Confirmation Page website. Within three days, several observatories around the world had made dozens of observations, helping astronomers better refine 2023 BUs orbit. The Center for Near Earth Object Studies, or CNEOS, at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in southern California analyzed the data from the MPCs confirmation page and predicted the near miss. CNEOS calculates every known near-Earth asteroid orbit to provide assessments on potential impact hazards in support of NASAs Planetary Defense Coordination Office. JPL navigation engineer Davide Farnocchia said the CNEOS Scout impact hazard assessment system ruled out any threat of impact by the asteroid. But he said, despite very few observations, it was able to predict that the asteroid would make an extraordinarily close approach with Earth. In fact, this is one of the closest approaches by a known near-Earth object ever recorded. Some information for this report was provided by the Associated Press The Somali airspace has regained its Class A classification after more than 30 years, the International Air Transport Association said. IATA confirmed the reclassification of the Mogadishu Flight Information Region airspace in a statement on Wednesday. Class A airspace is the sky above the base altitude of about 24,500 feet (7,467 meters) above mean sea level, according to IATA. In it, all flights must be cleared by air traffic control, which is responsible for maintaining the correct separation between aircraft, which required the Mogadishu FIR to install new equipment. IATA said the move will significantly improve safety in the region and enhance efficiency. The reclassification of Somali airspace to Class A took effect at 00:01 a.m. local time Thursday (16:01 EST), Somali officials said. Uncontrolled airspace for decades The collapse of the state in Somalia in 1991 ended the countrys control of its airspace. That control had been run from Nairobi in neighboring Kenya from 1992 until June 2018, when the Somali government transferred management of the airspace to Mogadishu. Somalia airspace had been classified as Class G, or uncontrolled airspace, for decades. The Somali government has welcomed the reclassification. It [is] welcoming news. We will be celebrating, said Ahmed Moallin Hassan, director general of Somali Civil Aviation Authority. Asked what the reclassification of airspace means for Somalia, Hassan said the Civil Aviation Authority will be providing more services to pilots. He said that under Class G airspace designation, the aviation authority was providing advisory services to the pilots. But now since the airspace class has changed from uncontrolled airspace to controlled space, the service we are providing changed to air traffic control services. Now we will be instructing the pilots, and we will be using words like climb, descend, clear to land, clear for takeoff, he said. Good for employment, safety, bottom line Hassan also said the classification upgrade will increase revenue for Somalia. Most countries charge airlines for the use of the airspace and air traffic control, and each country calculates charges differently. About 400 international flights use Somali airspace a day, and the change to Class A airspace has the potential to increase traffic to as many as 600 flights a day, Hassan said. He said current annual revenue is $22 million, and they expect that to increase to $34 million. It means that the airspace has gone into significant change, it will increase revenue, job opportunity and overall safety of airspace will be enhanced, he said. That will attract international airlines that are currently avoiding Somali airspace." IATA said reclassification of the airspace, and the operational resumption of air traffic control in the Mogadishu FIR, has been made possible with the installation and commissioning of modern radio navigation and other technological infrastructure, and follows a successful trial, which began last May. The upgrade of air traffic management and improved navigation and communication infrastructure will enhance situational awareness along an increasingly busy air corridor and its intersections with routes linking many of the worlds regions, said Kamil Al-Awadhi, who is the IATAs regional vice president for the Middle East and Africa. In 1991, the national flag carrier, Somali Airlines, ceased operations. Despite promises from successive governments to revive the airline, that has not been realized to date. But just as private companies filled the void in telecommunication, water and electricity services, private airline companies have stepped in to provide domestic services and flights to regional destinations in East Africa and Gulf countries. Less than two years after releasing all prisoners held by the previous Afghan government, including suspected terrorists, the Taliban are rapidly refilling prisons with new inmates. Over the past 18 months, de facto Taliban authorities detained more than 29,000 individuals on various charges such as theft, kidnapping, murder and moral crimes according to countrys top prison official. We have released some 15,000 inmates, Mohammad Yusuf Mistari, the Talibans director of prisons, told VOA in WhatsApp messages. Currently, there are approximately 14,000 inmates in the Islamic Emirates jails. Among the prisoners, up to 1,100 are women. Taliban officials claim they have no political prisoners and that all the prisoners are held on criminal charges a claim not confirmed by independent organizations. But groups like Human Rights watch say the Taliban have opted for killing criminals associated with armed opposition groups Islamic State and other Afghan militias that have increasingly posed serious security threats to the fledging Islamist regime instead of keeping them in jails. Under the Islamic Emirates strict interpretation of Sharia, acts such as drinking alcohol or extramarital relationships are considered criminal and carry severe penalties, while homosexuality and sodomy are punishable by death. Since November, the Taliban have restarted public displays of punishment. Thieves have had their hands chopped off, adulterers have been flogged, and those found guilty of murder have been shot and killed in front of hundreds of male spectators. More than 100 men and women have been publicly whipped, and at least two men have been executed so far, according to the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), which monitors human rights in the country. Such barbaric punishments often carried out against persons for activities that should not even be considered crimes, such as listening to music constitute torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and are prohibited under international law, Patricia Gossman, associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch, told VOA. Redoing torture Various forms of torture have been widely practiced at formal and informal detention centers and jails in Afghanistan, according to UNAMA and various rights groups. Hundreds of Taliban fighters reportedly died in extremely brutal detention conditions in late 2001 and early 2002 during U.S.-led military campaigns that toppled the Taliban with the help of local Afghan militias, according to reports by the New York Times and Physicians for Human Rights. Torture of detainees was also prevalent under the former Afghan government, which incarcerated more than 30,000 individuals, a large number of whom were alleged Taliban insurgents, according to U.N. reports dating back to at least 2011. Last year, the Taliban produced a film documenting the bitter experiences of some prisoners held at the Parwan Detention Facility beside Bagram Air Base, which the U.S. military operated until 2012 when it was transferred to the Afghan government. The Taliban seem to be repeating all the mistakes and abuses of the past, including those they complained that the Republic [former Afghan government] had been responsible for, like torture, Gossman said. Mistari, the Talibans top official for prisons, refuted the torture allegations. Our leaders have given us a 39-articles guidance in which its said that we should treat inmates nicely, he said, adding that the guidance also states if a guard or a jail official is seen taunting prisoners, he should be transferred elsewhere. We have nothing to do with their crimes. We are only there to protect the prisoners, feed them and keep them, Mistari added. Food, cold Maintaining the prisons and feeding the large inmate population has long been a challenge in Afghanistan. The previous Afghan government received financial and technical support from international donors to manage its prisons and detention facilities. Facing strict international sanctions, the Taliban appears to be unable to run the jails, feed and care for the large inmate population. Even outside the Taliban jails, an overwhelming majority of Afghans face hunger. Throughout 2022, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) provided three meals daily for some 12,000 inmates in Afghanistan. The ICRC continues to work with Afghan authorities to ensure humane and dignified conditions of detention across Afghanistan, Lucien Christen, an ICRC spokesperson, told VOA. Moreover, the humanitarian organization has donated blankets, shawls, jackets and socks to keep 20,000 prisoners warm during the frigid winter temperatures. Cold weather has killed more than 120 Afghans over the past two weeks, Taliban authorities have confirmed. Both UNAMA and ICRC have access to prisons in Afghanistan for monitoring purposes. De facto authorities do appear to be seeking to fulfil their obligations in relation to the treatment of detainees, UNAMA reported in July 2022. Progress is hindered by financial constraints, resulting at times in inadequate food, medical care and hygiene supplies for detainees, and the cessation of vocational education and training programs for prisoners that were previously funded by the international community. Some senior Taliban leaders, including current ministers and governors, have a history of incarceration inside and outside Afghanistan, including at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp, a U.S. military prison set up in 2002 where only one Afghan inmate remains. Tanzania's opposition Chadema party held its first public rally in six years this week, after the government lifted a ban on such gatherings. Despite the restored right to rally, critics doubt Tanzania's Party of the Revolution, the second-longest ruling party in Africa, will stop squeezing opponents and say a change in law is needed. Charles Kombe reports from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. VOA footage by Rajabu Hassan. Lebanon's top prosecutor Wednesday ordered the release of all suspects detained in the investigation into the deadly 2020 port blast in Beirut and filed charges against the judge leading the probe, he told The Associated Press. The move by chief prosecutor Judge Ghassan Oweidat marked another blow to the investigation, which has stalled for years. The probe has threatened to rattle Lebanon's ruling elite, which is rife with corruption and mismanagement, and has helped push the country into an unprecedented economic meltdown. Oweidat charged Judge Tarek Bitar with resuming his work despite legal challenges against him that had halted the investigation, abusing authority, conducting work contradictory to his prerogatives, and overstepping his authority. He also issued a travel ban. The decision came after Bitar on Monday resumed the investigation into the devastating port blast, following a 13-month halt over legal challenges raised by politicians accused in the probe -- including the chief prosecutor. Bitar in a statement Wednesday said Oweidat's decision to release the detainees was illegal and that he could not charge a judge who has already charged him in an investigation. Oweidat in December 2020 announced his withdrawal from any involvement in the Beirut blast investigation due to his ties to charged former minister and parliamentarian Ghazi Zeiter. Bitar told the AP that he will go on with the investigation, "even if it is going to cost me my life" and hopes that there will be an indictment ahead of the third anniversary of the blast this coming August. "I have nothing against Judge Oweidat but there are some suspicions that came up. He should come and defend himself," Bitar said. "I will continue with the case and I will not leave it unless they remove me completely." "Everyone that I summon has to come because the blood of the victims is above everything," the judge added. Hundreds of tons of highly explosive ammonium nitrate, a material used in fertilizers, detonated at Beirut Port on Aug. 4, 2020, killing 218 people, injuring more than 6,000 and damaging large parts of the Lebanese capital. Seventeen detainees have been held for years in pre-trial detention pending the results of the investigation. Although they were ordered to be released, they must stay in the country. Lawyer Sakher El Hachem, who represents former port authority head Hassan Koraytem and a former port official, U.S. citizen Ziad al-Ouf, told the AP that they received confirmation of the decision from the judiciary and that his clients would be released Wednesday. The officials added that Oweidat sent a police officer to Bitar's residence to notify him of the charges and instruct Bitar to visit his office, but the maverick investigator declined to speak with him. Mody Koraytem, the sister of the former port authority head, said the detainees' release was long overdue and she claimed that they were all innocent. "As port administration there wasn't anything they could have done about it (the ammonium nitrate)," she said, adding that they did their jobs given that the judiciary cleared the deadly cargo to enter the port. Some of the detainees had already left prison by late afternoon Wednesday, including former customs chief Badri Daher. "Oweidat did the right legal thing," his lawyer, Celine Atallah, said. Daher was not available for comment. Judge Bitar is the second investigator to lead the probe into the port blast, and has charged over a dozen senior political, security, port and security officials. On Monday, Bitar ordered the release of five of 17 detainees in the case and charged eight officials, among them top intelligence officials Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim and Maj. Gen. Tony Saliba, as well as Oweidat. The judge also summoned at least 14 politicians and judicial, security and customs officials for questioning next month. Senior officials have repeatedly refused to show up for questioning since the start of the probe. Bitar took his post following the removal in February 2021 of Judge Fadi Sawwan over complaints of bias by two Cabinet ministers. If he is also removed, it could be the final blow to the investigation. Most families of the blast's victims have endorsed Bitar and called on authorities to allow for a thorough and unobstructed investigation. Some however have lost hope in a domestic probe and have advocated for a U.N.-mandated fact-finding mission. They condemned Oweidat's decision Wednesday and called for a protest. "It annihilates any hope we have left," said Paul Naggear, an activist for the families of the blast victims and the father of a 3-year-old who died in the explosion. "They want to put an end to the investigation. This is the only explanation." Naggear said he sympathizes with the families of the detainees. But he believes they have been manipulated by Lebanon's political leadership into blaming Bitar for not releasing them sooner rather than blaming the authorities for putting the investigation on ice. Amnesty International said the Lebanese authorities aren't interested in justice. "The Lebanese authorities have run roughshod over the law, shamelessly bypassing an ongoing criminal investigation and retaliating against a judge who was just doing his job," said Amnesty Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East & North Africa Aya Majzoub. Lebanon's political leadership have accused Bitar without evidence of being biased in his investigation, with some demanding his removal. Lebanese media reported earlier Wednesday that the Higher Judicial Council, the country's top judicial body, will meet Thursday to discuss Bitar's status in the probe and a proposal to introduce an auxiliary judge into the investigation. Media organizations this week expressed concern about the harassment of a VOA journalist who tried to question the leader of the Turkish far-right Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP. Journalist Yildiz Yazcoglu directed a question at Devlet Bahceli after the party met in the parliament building in Ankara on Tuesday. The MHP has a political alliance with Turkeys ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP. Video of the incident shows Bahceli walking through a crush of reporters. As Yazcoglu calls out a question, Bahceli is heard saying, Mind your own business. Bahcelis chief of staff then pushes microphones away, and a party deputy appears to shove Yazcoglu out of the way. Following the incident, members of the MHP and its supporters criticized Yazcoglu on social media. MHP lawmaker Ismail Ozdemir accused the journalist on Twitter of acting like a provocateur under the pretext of asking a question. A hashtag referring to Yazcoglu as agent provocateur spread on Twitter, and social media posts directed slurs and hostile comments at the reporter, saying the Turkish people will silence VOA. Yazcoglu had been seeking comment from Bahceli about the death of Sinan Ates, the former head of an ultranationalist group known as the Grey Wolves that is often referred to as the youth wing of the MHP. After gunmen killed Ates in Ankara last December, some nationalist supporters criticized the MHP for not commenting on the killing. In a parliamentary address this month, Bahceli said some people were trying to use the killing to cast a shadow on the party with baseless accusations that aim to create cracks in the alliance it has formed with the AKP. The Grey Wolves, which have operated inside Turkey for decades, have been accused of politically motivated violence mainly against left-wing leaders, ethnic Kurds and Turkeys Alevi sectarian minority. The shadowy group has also come under increasing scrutiny in Europe since French officials banned it in 2020 for taking violent actions and inciting hate speech. VOA sent emails requesting comment from the spokespeople for MHPs media and public affairs departments, and to the Turkish embassy in Washington, but had not received a response before the time of publication. Opposition lawmakers and media advocates defended Yazcoglu, saying the medias job is to ask questions. Ozgur Ozel, deputy chair of the parliamentary group of Turkey's main opposition party, the Republican Peoples Party, shared a video of the incident on social media and said, Journalists are not the people who ask the questions you want. We condemn the verbal reprimand and physical intervention against journalists who ask questions on behalf of the public. Ali Babacan, chair of the Deva Party, which is part of the opposition alliance formed against the ruling AKP, criticized the way the MHP leader spoke to the journalist. Turkeys Parliamentary Reporters Association said physical intervention against journalists by officials or party members is unacceptable. Yazcoglu said she regretted becoming the subject of a news report. The saddest part is it was not a politicians security detail but a parliamentarian who physically pushed me, she told VOA. Bahceli had not been directly asked about the murder and the allegations surrounding it before. I wanted to ask him if he would like to respond. It was disturbing to see that I was accused of being a provocateur on top of what happened. Turkish media groups also rejected comments that Yazcoglu was a provocateur. Faruk Eren, chair of the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey, said such accusations against Yazcoglu were unacceptable. Yazcoglu is a member of the union. Yldz Yazcoglu, in a very decent manner, posed a question, the answer to which the Turkish public was interested to know. But she was told to mind her own business. In fact, this is her business to ask questions, he told VOA. Erol Onderoglu, the Turkish representative for media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF), said, In democracies, persistent questions from a journalist is an ordinary situation where people who call themselves politicians should adapt. If a colleague is being labeled as a provocateur and told to mind her own business just because she asked a question as part of her job, its an indication that those longing for a closed society have got the jitters, Onderoglu told VOA. Sibel Gunes, secretary-general of the Turkish Journalists Association, said journalists are working in an intimidating environment, where some politicians have threatened reporters or made them targets. Ozgur Ogret, of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said Yazcoglu was not a threat. Turkish politicians and their security staff should be more respectful to the medias right to report the news, which obviously includes asking hard questions to the authorities, he said in a statement to VOA. Voice of Americas public relations director, Bridget Serchak, said the broadcaster is concerned by an unprovoked and unjustified assault on its reporter. She was doing her job as a VOA journalist, covering events important to our Turkish audience. VOA appeals to all pertinent officials to demand fair treatment for journalists when doing their jobs, Serchak wrote in an email to VOA. Reporters Without Borders said Turkey has stepped up its attacks on journalists as the 2023 election, scheduled for May, approaches. The country ranks 149th out of 180 countries, where 1 has the best environment for media, on RSFs Press Freedom Index. Authorities in 2022 blocked access to the VOA Turkish website, along with Germanys Deutsche Welle Turkish service, after the international public broadcasters declined to apply for licenses from the Radio and Television Supreme Council, known as RTUK. The regulator said the new directive on licenses was part of technical measures, but media advocates had raised concerns that the regulation gives RTUK authority to control online content. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, speaking on background, said Wednesday that the U.S. condemns threats, harassment and violence targeting journalists and media workers. Voice of America reporting has long been a vital source of objective news and information, the spokesperson said. The United States remains concerned by widespread restrictions on freedom of expression in Turkey. Ukraine military officials said Friday that Russian forces are continuing an offensive in Ukraine, underscoring the need for more Western weapons. Local officials reported heavy shelling in Ukraine's north, northeast and eastern regions. In his daily address to the nation Thursday, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the growing numbers of countries pledging advanced weaponry, including tanks, at the same time pressing the need to hasten delivery of the promised weapons systems. The only way to stop this Russian aggression, Zelenskyy said, is with adequate weapons." The terrorist state will not understand anything else, he said. Russia launched new missile attacks on several locations in Ukraine on Thursday, killing 11 people and wounding 11 others, authorities reported. Ukraine's State Emergency Service said the attacks hit 11 regions across the country. Ukraine's air force said Russia fired 55 missiles, with Ukraine shooting down most of them. Thirty-five buildings were damaged in the attacks. Today, thanks to the air defense systems provided to Ukraine and the professionalism of our warriors, we managed to shoot down most of the Russian missiles and Shaheds, Zelenskyy said in his address. Unfortunately, it is difficult to provide 100% protection with air defense alone. Especially when terrorists use ballistic missiles. Moscow's forces continued to target Ukraine's energy infrastructure in the depth of winter, an effort to demoralize Ukrainians. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said in a post on Telegram, "The main goal is energy facilities, providing Ukrainians with light and heat." Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said one person was killed in the Ukrainian capital and two more were wounded when a missile hit a building. The state prosecutor general's office said three people were killed in a Russian strike on infrastructure in Zaporizhzhia, where Europe's biggest nuclear plant is located, and there were reports of strikes in the Vinnytsia region in western Ukraine and outside Odesa. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Mariano Grossi said that IAEA's security staff has been reporting almost daily blasts near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, with eight detonations heard Wednesday and more on Thursday. He called again, as he has for months, for Russia and Ukraine to agree to a safety and security zone around the nuclear plant to make sure it is not targeted and not used for attacks from the site. Grossi discussed the proposed zone with Zelenskyy in Kyiv last week and is also continuing discussions with Russia. Six reactors remain shut down at the Zaporizhzhia site with two continuing in hot shutdown mode to supply steam and heat to the plant and the nearby city of Enerhodar. The new missile attacks came after Zelenskyy, speaking just hours after Germany and the United States pledged to provide Kyiv with advanced battle tanks, called on Kyiv's Western allies to deliver long-range missiles and military aircraft to beef up Ukraine's air defense. Zelenskyy praised the allies' commitment to deliver advanced tanks and urged them to provide large numbers of tanks quickly, although it could be months before some of them arrive on the battlefront. "The key now is speed and volumes. Speed in training our forces, speed in supplying tanks to Ukraine. The numbers in tank support," he said. "We have to form such a 'tank fist, such a 'fist of freedom.'" "It is very important that there is progress in other aspects of our defense cooperation, as well," Zelenskyy said. "We must also open the supply of long-range missiles to Ukraine. It is important. We must also expand our cooperation in artillery. We must enter into the supply of aircraft for Ukraine. And this is a dream. And this is the task," he added. President Joe Biden said Wednesday the U.S. will send 31 of its highly advanced Abrams tanks in a move he said was not a threat to Russia. Moscow has warned that it regards the Western supply of advanced battle tanks to Ukraine a dangerous provocation. Speaking from the White House, Biden said the NATO tanks for Ukraine would help "improve their ability to maneuver in open terrain." He praised Berlin's similar announcement as evidence that "Germany has really stepped up." Chancellor Olaf Scholz said hours earlier that Germany will supply 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and will also allow third countries to reexport their own German-made Leopards. Scholz said the decision was "the right principle" in the face of Russia's unprovoked invasion of its neighbor, a war now in its 12th month. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius added that the first Leopard tanks could be in Ukraine within three months. Some material in this report came from Reuters and The Associated Press. U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said Wednesday that the international communitys best leverage to persuade the Taliban to reverse restrictions on Afghan womens rights is the groups desire for international recognition. I went into Afghanistan thinking perhaps the most conservative of them [Taliban leaders] didnt care about recognition they do, Mohammed told reporters of her mission there. Recognition is one leverage that we have and should hold on to. The deputy secretary-general returned Tuesday from a two-week mission that took her and her delegation, including the head of U.N. Women and the deputy political and peacebuilding chief, to several Muslim countries, as well as to the Afghan cities of Kabul, Kandahar and Herat. She also met in the region with former Afghan President Hamid Karzai and former Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah. She said it is clear the Taliban want recognition, laying out to her what they view as their achievements claiming to have eradicated corruption and stopped poppy production while extending a general amnesty. However, a U.N. report released in November found that the area under poppy cultivation has increased under Taliban rule. All of this, we said, was not sufficient in terms of its implementation, Mohammed said she told them. Mohammed, who is Muslim, said one of the biggest challenges in dealing with the group, which is loyal to the emir and the emirate, is how to bring them from the 13th century to the 21st. Decrees She noted that as the Taliban have taken away rights, they have said they would later revisit the issue. Mohammed pressed officials for a specific timeline and said she was told only soon. And for them, what they want to do is create an environment that protects women, she said. Their definition of protection would be, I would say, ours of oppression. She said those protections include rules on education, school curriculum, work and dress codes that she sees as red flags. The deputy U.N. chief said the Taliban are eager to keep international humanitarian assistance flowing, despite their widely condemned December 24 ban on Afghan women working with domestic and international aid groups. Some international NGOs suspended their work after the decree. The World Food Program estimates nearly 20 million Afghans are acutely food-insecure, including more than 6 million people on the brink of faminelike conditions. A few days before the work edict, the Taliban forbade females from attending school beyond the sixth grade. Mohammed said she was relieved that a third decree they feared might come down this month, or even during their mission, barring foreign women from working with international organizations, had so far not happened. I dont say that it wont, but clearly the pressure that we are putting on has stopped that rollback as quickly. We will continue to put that pressure on and engage, she said. International conference Mohammed said discussions are underway for an international conference to be co-hosted by the U.N. and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in March in the region on women in the Muslim world. This would bring in the issues of Afghanistan, but also the region, the deputy secretary-general said. I often say this, when Malala [Yousafzai] was shot, she was shot in Pakistan. So there is a region[al] problem. There is a region that also needs to come to the front with pushing for the rights of women in Islam. As for Afghan women, Mohammed insisted the international community will not abandon them. Its not when it gets hard that we drop off, she said. Its when it gets hard that they see more of us, and we are there in solidarity with them. Top Chinese, Russian and American officials are scrambling this month to visit African nations and pledge their commitment to the world's fastest-growing continent. As President Joe Biden prepares for a visit later this year, several of his top officials have recently visited Africa. There, they must balance the desire to secure the continent's support against Russian aggression and Chinese ambitions with their promise to work to benefit Africa. Washington says this is not about countering Russian and Chinese ambitions though the U.S. has expressed dismay over African nations' reluctance to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine but about building meaningful relationships in areas such as business, health, peace and security. "Our partnership in Africa is not about about other nations," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in response to a question from VOA. "Our partnership there, it's as demonstrated by our commitments at the U.S.-Africa Leaders' Summit the United States sees African countries as genuine partners and wants to build relationships based on mutual respect." But the continent's top diplomat says Africa, which was brutally colonized by European powers for centuries, is no one's pawn. And, he pointedly added, China understands that. "Africa refuses to be seen as an arena for influence struggles," said African Union Commission chairperson Moussa Faki. "We are open to cooperation and partnerships with everyone, as long as they respect our principles, our priorities and our interests. The partnership we have with China is built on these principles." But as the most senior visiting U.S. official said recently, these great-power rivals are keenly aware of each other's activities, especially as China and Russia flex their muscles globally. "Many African countries are now plagued by high and unsustainable debt, and that's undeniably a problem, and much of it is related [to] Chinese investment in Africa," said U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, the latest U.S. official to visit. "So, I think that's simply a factual statement. But this is not for us. This is not a competition with China. We want to deepen our engagement with Africa." Analysts say these two goals real partnership, but also great power competition are not mutually exclusive. "We want to check the ambitions of an expanding Russia and an expanding China, but we also want to see African countries collectively develop more of a political voice for themselves in international fora and create prosperity for their citizens at home," said Cameron Hudson, who researches Africa at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "So, all of these things can be true at the same time. However, we're not acknowledging that truth. We are acknowledging only one truth, which is that we want to see Africa develop. And I think it's just more complicated than that." Analysts estimate that China has spent more than $1 trillion on its global Belt and Road Initiative, which builds infrastructure in the developing world. China maintains a strict stance of noninterference in other countries' internal affairs. During his first trip on the job, China's new foreign minister rejected the notion of the continent as an ideological battleground, as it often was during the Cold War. "No country, no people, have the right to force African countries and its people to take sides," said Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang. "Africa should be a platform for international cooperation, not an arena for competition between major countries." The next top American official to visit in coming days will be Biden's ambassador to the United Nations, who previously oversaw the continent at the State Department. And then, presumably, Biden himself. The White House said this week in response to a question from VOA that there are no concrete plans to announce yet. Biden has framed the 11-month conflict in Ukraine as a fundamental struggle between democracies and autocracies. With Africa showing clear signs of democratic backsliding, Hudson wonders if Biden will keep those ideals in the forefront when he's on African soil. "Is he going to stick to those kinds of fundamental principles, which he says he holds, and have a very frank and honest and open dialogue with African states, criticizing them when it's required, keeping the distance when it's required?" Hudson asked. "Or will he kind of ignore that or put that on a back burner so that he can build relationships that might advantage Washington at the U.N. or down the road politically?" An international ransomware network that extorted more than $100 million from hospitals and other organizations around the world has been brought down following a monthslong infiltration by the FBI, the Justice Department said Thursday. The Hive ransomware group, known to operate since June 2021, targeted more than 1,500 victims, including hospitals, school districts and financial firms in more than 80 countries, DOJ and FBI officials said at a press conference. The networks most recent victim in Florida was targeted about two weeks ago. FBI agents, who penetrated the groups computer networks last summer and thwarted multiple attacks, seized its two Los Angeles-based servers Wednesday night, while taking control of darknet sites used by its affiliates, officials said. German and Dutch police took part in the international law enforcement action. Attorney General Merrick Garland and other top law enforcement officials announced the operation. Cybercrime is a constantly evolving threat," Garland said. "But as I have said before, the Justice Department will spare no resource to identify and bring to justice anyone, anywhere, who targets the United States with a ransomware attack. In a ransomware attack, hackers encrypt the data on a victims network and then demand payments in exchange for providing a decryption key. Hive used a ransomware-as-a-service model in which highly skilled developers build the malware and then recruit less-sophisticated affiliates to deploy them against victims. Garland said Hive affiliates targeted critical infrastructure and some of our nation's most important industries. In August 2021, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hive affiliates attacked a Midwest hospitals network, preventing the medical facility from accepting new patients, Garland said. The hospital was able to recover its data only after paying a ransom, the attorney general said. While no arrests have been made in connection with the operation, FBI Director Christopher Wray warned that anybody involved with Hive should be concerned, because this investigation is very much ongoing. Were engaged in what we call joint sequenced operations' and that includes going after their infrastructure, going after their crypto and going after the people who work with them, Wray said. FBI agents infiltrated Hive from July 2022 until its seizure, covertly capturing its decryption keys and sharing them with victims, saving the targets $130 million in ransom payments, officials said. Simply put, using lawful means, we hacked the hackers, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said. In all, the FBI provided more than 300 victims with decryption keys, Garland said, among them a Texas school district, a Louisiana hospital, and a food services company that had been asked to make millions of dollars in ransom payments. The FBI also distributed more than 1,000 additional decryption keys to previous Hive victims. The takedown represents a win for the Biden administrations efforts to crack down on a recent surge in ransomware attacks that cost businesses and governments around the world billions of dollars a year. U.S. banks and financial institutions processed nearly $1.2 billion in suspected ransomware payments in 2021, more than double the amount in 2020, the Treasury Departments Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCen) reported in November. Roughly 75% of the ransomware attacks reported in 2021 had a nexus with Russia, its proxies or persons acting on its behalf, according to FinCen, which also says the top five highest-grossing ransomware tools used in 2021 were all connected to Russian cyberactors. Officials would not say whether Hive had any known links to Russia. John Bennett, a former senior FBI official who is now managing director of the Cyber Risk Business Unit at Kroll, a cybersecurity services company, noted that the seizure notice on Hives website, written in both English and a Slavic language, suggests it is aimed at an Eastern European audience. The fact that it is basically being broadcast in a [Slavic] language, I think, is telling that that's the target audience that they're letting know that they got this, Bennett said in an interview. The gangs takedown, Bennett said, is a sign of what is coming. I think this is telling that law enforcement is catching up very quickly to the capabilities of getting inside of these groups, Bennett said. As former Vice President Mike Pence joined the club of top officials mishandling classified documents, U.S. presidents and vice presidents going all the way back to Jimmy Carter, the oldest living former commander in chief, must now respond to public scrutiny on whether they followed procedure in returning classified material upon leaving office. Representatives of the 39th U.S. president, who served from 1977 to 1981, said he did. Though President Carter was not bound by the Presidential Records Act, which took effect after his presidency, he nevertheless voluntarily donated his documents and records to the National Archives after he left office and directed his team to work closely with the National Archives on their transfer, a spokesperson said in an email response to VOA. The Presidential Records Act of 1978 governs the official records of presidents and vice presidents after January 1981 and transfers the legal ownership of those records from private to public under the management of the National Archives and Records Administration. The Carter Center did not deny reporting by The Associated Press that classified materials were found at the presidents home in Plains, Georgia, on at least one occasion and were returned to NARA. It could happen, Matthew De Galan, Carter Center vice president of communications, told VOA. If it happened, it's a normal thing you find a classified document, you turn it in. But no one currently working at the Carter Center or the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum remembers the president finding classified materials at his home, De Galan added. Representatives of Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama responded similarly to VOAs query, saying the presidents returned materials to NARA at the end of their terms and no additional searches are being conducted. Obamas office points to NARA statements in September that refute media reports that boxes of presidential records were missing from the Obama administration when NARA moved them at the end of his term. Widespread problem Lawyers for Pence said a "small number" of classified documents were found at his home in Indiana last week. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden are under separate special counsel investigations looking into their respective mishandling of classified documents. Much is still unknown about how, when and why these materials were not appropriately handled. However, many former officials and experts say the problem is widespread. There are several million people at any given time who hold a security clearance and have access to classified information, Mark Zaid, an attorney focusing on national security law, told VOA. Individuals leave federal service and just mistakenly bring documents home that are classified, and they don't even realize that for years. Classified documents may also get misplaced during a presidential transition, where there is a massive move of records, including the physical transfer of hundreds of millions of textual, electronic and audiovisual records and artifacts from the White House to an outgoing presidents future library. Matthew Dowd, chief strategist for the Bush-Cheney 2004 presidential campaign, said in a tweet that it is likely every president and vice president in recent history accidentally left with classified documents because of packing mess at transition times. Still, some lawmakers are livid. We have an epidemic of senior leaders taking classified [documents] home. And we have to say categorically, whether its Republican or Democrat, its all wrong, Republican Representative Don Bacon said in an interview with NBCs Meet the Press. It shows carelessness, negligence, and I think Americans should be mad," he added, throwing his support behind a special counsel investigation on Pence similar to those investigating Trump and Biden. White House officials maintain that Biden and his aides take treatment of classified materials seriously. The National Security Council staff, we deal with classified material every single day. You have to do that, John Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications at the NSC, said during a briefing to reporters on Wednesday. We all know what the rules are. We follow the rules. And the procedures exist for a reason. Public trust in elected officials is already at a historic low, with only 20% of Americans saying they trust the government in Washington to do what is right, according to a Pew Research poll. Most people think that the government does a pretty good job with national security, Jennifer Mercieca, who teaches presidential rhetoric at Texas A&M University, told VOA. These classified document scandals could affect how the public sees the government's ability to guarantee safety. Some observers say that while officials must deal with classified materials more carefully, the U.S. government system suffers from rampant overclassification. Many millions of documents are classified each year, most of which do not contain any real secrets but are classified for political purposes, said Allan Lichtman, presidential historian at American University who has written about reforming the U.S. classification system. Until such reform is realized, the American people have a reason to distrust the classification system. As part of his Open Government Initiative, Obama signed an executive order mandating that the government cannot classify a document if significant doubt exists about the need to hide it. Elizabeth Goitein, senior director of the Brennan Center for Justices Liberty & National Security Program, argues that the order doesnt go far enough. She said officials overuse Secret and Top Secret stamps, keeping many documents that should be public from becoming available. Katherine Gypson contributed to this report. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Thursday a series of sanctions targeting individuals associated with Russias paramilitary Wagner Group, including its leader and associated front companies, for waging war in Ukraine, including battlefield activities and the targeting of civilians. In a statement, Blinken said the sanctions will target five entities and one individual linked to the Wagner Group and its head, Yevgeniy Prigozhin, as well as several other individuals and entities, for their status as government officials and for being part of Russias military industrial complex. Blinkens statement said the State Department also is designating three individuals for their roles as heads of the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service, which has been reported to facilitate the recruitment of Russian prisoners into the Wagner Group, and subsequently sent to the front lines to fight in the conflict in Ukraine. WATCH: Russia's Wagner Group Recruits Fighters Abroad Additionally, the top U.S. diplomat said the U.S. Treasury Department is designating the Wagner Group a significant transnational criminal organization for actions taken in Africa. The statement said the groups pattern of serious criminal behavior includes violent harassment of journalists, aid workers, and members of minority groups and harassment, obstruction, and intimidation of U.N. peacekeepers in the Central African Republic, as well as rape and killings in Mali. In the statement Thursday, Blinken noted, The United States is steadfast in our resolve against Russias aggression and other destabilizing behavior worldwide. [Thursdays] designations will further impede the Kremlins ability to arm its war-machine that is engaged in a war of aggression against Ukraine, and which has caused unconscionable death and destruction. Nigerian authorities have hailed the launch of a deepwater seaport in Lagos they say will create 300,000 jobs and reduce shipping bottlenecks. While the new port is expected to reduce losses due to congestion, shipping industry experts say Nigeria's poor roads and rail connections to ports also must be improved. The launch by President Mohammadu Buhari during his two-day visit this week to Lagos signaled his government's effort to grow Nigeria's economy through infrastructural development. The 1.5-billion-dollar, Chinese-built Lekki Deep Sea Port sits on 90 hectares of land in the Lagos Free Trade Zone -- the biggest port by size in West Africa. Authorities say ships docking at the port could be up to four times the size of vessels at the state's Tin Can and Apapa ports. They expect it will ease delays and congestion at ports and increase earnings by up to $360 billion in coming years. Efioita Ephraim is a manager at Ports and Terminal Nigeria, Ltd. "The current ports we have in the country are located along rivers, tributaries and that's why there are limitations. It's a welcome development to have an infrastructure like this in our country. With this, larger vessels will be able to berth at our ports and we shall be in competition with neighboring countries such as Cotonou [Benin], said Ephraim. Most of Nigerias seaports were built many decades ago and are either closed or operating below capacity. Nigeria loses an estimated $1 billion a year to delays and bottlenecks at ports. To address the problem, the Nigerian Ports Authority launched an automated process for clearing cargo at ports. Abiodun Gbadamosi is the former general manager of Nigerias western ports. He said the new deep sea port at Lagos will add to Nigerias economic progress and create jobs. The countrys bureau of statistics says Nigeria's unemployment rate is 33 percent. "What Nigeria needs now are jobs, jobs and more jobs, and that's going to go a very long way. It's going to improve the commerce around that area. It's highly commendable and it's going to actually propel the state. Then Nigeria can now push forward the idea of being hub for the region," he said. Ephraim said authorities must improve road and rail accessibility to the area. "If the items are to be conveyed out of the port and into the port by road, then I would expect the multimodal mode of transportation be encouraged to and from the Lekki deep sea port, rail water and road transportation." China is one of Nigeria's biggest lenders and has been funding rail, road and power projects. The first commercial vessel is expected to arrive in the port this Sunday. NEW YORK The White House has confirmed to VOA what experts have been saying for a while that the Russian mercenary Wagner Group mistreats convicts on the front lines in Ukraine and the losses among them are staggering. The casualty rates for the convicts are extraordinarily high," U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in an interview Friday with VOA. As a matter of fact, what we think is that 90% of their casualties are convicts. As Russia has struggled to hold territory in Ukraine, U.S. officials believe the Kremlin is increasingly relying on the Wagner Group to recruit thousands of prisoners for the wars front lines. According to the estimates by U.S. intelligence, the Russian private military company run by Yevgeny Prigozhin, an oligarch and confidant of President Vladimir Putin, currently has 50,000 troops in Ukraine, 40,000 of whom are Russian convicts. In mid-summer, Prigozhin traveled to several jails across Russia to recruit prisoners for the war effort. His efforts were largely successful, and tens of thousands of prisoners agreed to join the Wagner Group's ranks. Olga Romanova, executive director of the civil rights group Russia Behind Bars, told VOA that prisoners who agree to sign six-month contracts with the group are paid about $3,000 a month. But its not the money that motivates them. Their main motive is, of course, to become free, Romanova said. Convicts who join the Wagner Group are promised a full pardon and release at the end of their contract. But the reality of life along the front lines especially abuse by Wagner commanders was so shocking the convicts' desire to serve diminished significantly by year's end. Their inflow has really weakened, Romanova said. First of all, because of extrajudicial executions, unfulfilled promises and, of course, high very high casualties. Mykhailo Podolyak, a political adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, wrote on Twitter last week that some 77% of the 38,244 Russian prisoners brought to fight in Ukraine have been killed, wounded or captured or have gone missing. SEE ALSO: Moscow disputes foreign and independent tallies of war dead, insisting its war performance is going according to plan and its troops are consolidating gains. But those statements stand in stark contrast to reality on the ground: Russian troops retreat in the south and northeast of Ukraine; the use of thousands of convicts to hold the front line in Donbas; and the announced mobilization of 300,000 civilians by Vladimir Putin in September. Unexpected circumstances Initially, Wagner Group was not expected to participate in the war in Ukraine as far as I know, said Denis Korotkov, investigator at the London-based Dossier Center, in an interview with VOA. But after the regular regiments of the Russian army were largely destroyed and lost their might in March-April of 2022, Wagner Group all of a sudden appeared in Ukraine and turned out to be one of the most professional military units of Russia, he said. SEE ALSO: Since its inception in 2014, the Wagner Group has maintained relatively robust staff selection protocols with physical exams and background checks, Korotkov said. But in the spring of 2022, everything changed. If you had arms, legs and preferably a head, you were in, Korotkov said. Heavy personnel losses in Ukraine eventually forced Wagner to start recruiting prisoners, whose use on the Ukrainian battlefields has been decried by lawyers and human rights activists. Ukrainian war correspondent Yuri Butusov interviewed several former Wagner convicts after they had surrendered or been captured. He told VOA that in over the past months battle for Soledar, Russians were losing several hundred soldiers a day, almost all of them convicts. They are calling these prisoners 'refillers, he said. "In order to attack the Ukrainian firing points, the enemy is using penal battalions. Its not a new invention. In Soviet times, Stalin also had them. Those World War II battalions consisted of Soviet Gulag prisoners and were tasked with the most difficult assignments, such as breaking through intense fire without the support of any heavy equipment. In some cases, Butusov said, Russias ill-equipped prisoners are used for similar missions, such as drawing Ukrainian artillery fire. When they are fired upon, the Russian commanders detect the artillery positions of the enemy, Butusov said. No way out Observers say the disenfranchised convicts have no choice but to tolerate the abuse. Any mutiny or serious confrontation with Wagner commanders often leads to execution. Just a few convicts are known to have completed their contracts and won freedom. Out of tens of thousands of prisoners recruited by Prigozhin, only 106 so far have been freed and allowed to go home, Romanova said. But it looks like all of them already have new contracts signed. Romanova said the decreasing popularity of the Wagner Group among prisoners is unlikely to disrupt the Kremlins plans to use them for its geopolitical objectives. Prigozhin will squeeze out 20 to 30,000 people more out of jails, and then the authorities will start formal mobilization, Romanova said. In November, Putin signed into law a bill allowing the mobilization of individuals with outstanding or unexpunged convictions for crimes, creating an even greater pool of potential war recruits. VOAs White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara contributed to this report. The African Development Bank Group (ADBG) says it will commit $10 billion over the next five years to boost Africas efforts to end hunger and become a primary food provider for itself and the rest of the world. Bank group president, Akinwumi Adesina, announced the funding Wednesday at the Dakar 2 Africa Food Summit in Diamniadio, east of the Senegalese capital of Dakar. In a statement, Adesina urged more than heads of state, government ministers, private sector, farmers, development parners and corporate executives to work out ways of delivering food to Africans. The Dakar 2 summit under the theme Feed Africa: food sovereignty and resilience is taking place amid supply chain disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change and Russias invasion of Ukraine. More than a thousand delegates and dignitaries attended, including the President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins. The Government of Senegal and the African Development Bank Group are co-hosting the summit, eight years after the inaugural Dakar 1 summit where the then newly-elected Adesina announced the Banks Feed Africa strategy. Officially opening the summit, President Sall who is also the African Union chairperson said the time had come for the continent to feed itself by adding value and stepping up the use of technology. Sall said: From the farm to the plate, we need full food sovereignty, and we must increase land under cultivation and market access to enhance cross-border trade. Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the African Union Commission, said the Dakar summit was timely and would provide innovative solutions to help Africa become less dependent on food imports. Food sovereignty should be our new weapon of freedom, Mahamat told the gathering. He urged development partners to work together within existing structures, such as Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area, for sustainable transformation. Mahamat commended the African Development Bank for rolling out transformative initiatives, including a $1.5 billion emergency food production facility in 2022 to help African countries avert a potential food crisis following Russias war in Ukraine.Kenyan president William Ruto, also said, It is a shame that 60 years after independence, we are gathered to talk about feeding ourselves. We can and we must do better. Adesina noted that today over 283 million Africans go to bed hungry every day. This is not acceptable. No mother should ever have to struggle with rumbling of the stomach of a hungry child. We must raise the bar. We must raise our ambition. We must arise and say to ourselves: it is time to feed Africa. The timing is right, and the moment is now. Feed Africa; we must. He urged the leaders to turn political will into decisive actions to deliver food security for Africa. We must strongly support farmers, especially smallholder farmers, majority of whom are women, and get more young people into agriculture. And we must take agriculture as a business, not a development activity, and boost support to the private sector. President Higgins of Ireland said with Africas young population accounting for about 20% of the worlds young people, the continent had great potential. He said the rest of the world would look up to it in the future. Let us make this century Africas Century, one which will see the continent become free from hunger, Higgins said. In his message to the summit, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres acknowledged that Africa was currently facing the challenges of climate change and food insecurity, as the Russia-Ukraine war had caused the price of fertilizers to shoot up and made their supply difficult. He pledged the UNs support to help Africa become a global food powerhouse. President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria said countries must offer more robust support for farmers, dedicate a chunk of the national budget to agriculture, and motivate youth and women to farm. Buhari said: Feeding Africa is imperative. We must ensure we feed ourselves today, tomorrow, and well into the future. He commended Adesina and the African Development Bank for rolling out special agro-industrial processing zones across the continent, including in Nigeria. He said: Special agro-industrial processing zones are game changers for the structural development of the agriculture sectors. They will help us generate wealth, develop integrated infrastructure around special agro-processing zones, and add value. During the three-day summit, private sector players are expected to commit to national food and agriculture delivery compacts, to drive policies, create structural reforms, and attract private sector investment. Central bank governors and finance ministers are expected to develop financing arrangements to implement the food and agriculture delivery compacts, in conjunction with agriculture ministers, private sector players, commercial banks, financial institutions, and multilateral partners and organisations Zengeza West legislator, Job Sikhala, who is in Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison and suffering from an undisclosed illness, failed to appear in court today in Harare. Sikhala, a qualified lawyer and member of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), has been detained in remand prison for more than seven months following his arrest for allegedly inciting public violence in Nyatsime. One of his attorneys, Harrison Nkomo, said SIkhala could not manage to get into a prison truck for his trial at the Magistrates Court. We are informed that he is sick. We are worried about his state of health. He is a family man. He represents a constituency. And so, he's not an ordinary person, said Nkomo. Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services spokesperson, Meya Khanyezi, was unavailable for comment. Sikhala is an attorney of slain Citizens Coalition for Change activist, Moreblessing Ali, whose killer said to be linked to the ruling party, has confessed taking her life. Her body was dumped in a disused well in Nyatsime. Her remains are at Chitungwiza Hospital Mortuary. Ali's family says she will be buried when Sikhala is released from remand prison. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. For the past few months, human rights activists have been sounding alarms about the Russian private military company Wagner Group using convicts to fight Moscows war in Ukraine. Now, the White House says casualties are extraordinarily high among the estimated 40,000 convicts. Going one step further in its relations with Russia, the Estonian Foreign Ministry confirmed the expulsion of the Russian Ambassador to his country, to which the Russian Ministry responded by ordering the Estonian Ambassador to leave Russia, no later than 7 February. The severance of diplomatic relations, i.e. the closure of embassies, constitutes the last step before going to war. This is the latest round in a conflict that began with the expulsion of Russian diplomats purportedly to "achieve parity" between the staff of the Russian and Estonian embassies (a total of 8 diplomats and 15 posted workers), when in reality it was a retaliatory measure following the Russian military intervention in Ukraine. Then Russia "reciprocated" by expelling Estonian diplomats from the St. Petersburg and Pskov consulates. In December 2022, the Central Bank of Estonia began releasing to the public, with the agreement of the European Central Bank, a 2-euro coin that was minted in July, commemorating the independence of Ukraine. On the flip side, the coin brandished a Nazi slogan [1]. Indeed, on 30 June 1941, the integral nationalist Stepan Bandera had proclaimed the independence of Ukraine with the backing of the Nazis [2]. On 23 January 2023, Tallinn announced the transfer of 113 million in military aid to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, including all of the FH-70 155mm howitzers, in addition to 122-mm D-30 howitzers, artillery shells and Carl Gustaf M2 anti-tank grenade launchers. Since 9 January, Estonia has been contemplating extending its exclusive maritime zone by creating a contiguous maritime zone within which its coast guards would be able to board any vessel. Given the narrowness of the Baltic Sea, Tallinn would thus be blocking, in breach of international law, entrance and exit points of the port of St. Petersburg, the second largest city in Russia. In 1939, the Soviet Union tried to negotiate with Finland a way to protect Leningrad (present-day Saint Petersburg), from a Nazi invasion launched from the Gulf of Finland islands, but the Finns dismissed the Soviet concern. With its back to the wall, the USSR invaded part of the Finnish coast (Winter War), which was seized upon by the West to exclude it from the League of Nations (predecessor of the current UN). Taking its cue from Estonia, Lithuania announced that it would be expelling the Russian ambassador. Fiumicino among a handful of airports in the world to be awarded Skytrax global benchmark of Airport Excellence. Rome's Fiumicino airport has been awarded the highest 5-Star Airport Rating from Skytrax, the principal rating and assessment company in the international airport sector. Fiumicino, known officially as Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, is only the 12th airport in the world to achieve the prestigious recognition from the London-based organisation. The 5-Star rating is the highest mark of quality distinction from Skytrax which carried out in-depth studies of Fiumicino's terminal services and facilities during 2022. The rating recognises "very high standards of Product and Staff service" across the various assessment categories, the Skytrax website states. Laeroporto di Fiumicino ha ottenuto le 5 stelle Skytrax, massimo riconoscimento assegnato dall'organizzazione internazionale di rating del trasporto aereo. La valutazione riconosce standard eccellenti nella qualita del servizio erogato ai passeggeri e nellattivita del personale pic.twitter.com/SA4sf4BGu0 Aeroporti di Roma (@AeroportidiRoma) January 26, 2023 Praising the "very broad range of customer experience upgrades" at Fiumicino over the past two years, Skytrax singled out "the opening of the latest Concourse A departure gate area for Schengen flights, enhanced security processing areas, new immigration infrastructure, and widely revamped F&B (food and beverage) and shopping facilities." The rating recognised the "very good operational function of the terminal for Schengen and extra-Schengen departures, arrivals, and transfer", with Skytrax noting that security and immigration processing "are delivered efficiently to passengers". Highlighting the airport's "fabulous interior design concept", Skytrax concluded that Fiumicino delivers "a very robust and consistent standard of cleanliness and presentation in all customer facing areas". Fiumicino is one of 12 airports in the world to gain this achievement - rubbing shoulders with hubs including Tokyo, Singapore and Seoul - and the second in Europe after Munich. "Congratulations to Aeroporti di Roma and all the staff for this new and important recognition that makes the whole city proud", Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri wrote on Twitter. Complimenti ad @AeroportidiRoma e a tutto il personale per questo nuovo e importante riconoscimento che rende orgogliosa tutta la citta. Lo scalo internazionale di Fiumicino sara sempre piu strategico per le sfide che #Roma ha davanti. https://t.co/pPO05rPJ3X Roberto Gualtieri (@gualtierieurope) January 26, 2023 Rome Fiumicino Airport has maintained a very clear plan of front line quality improvement over the last 6-7 years, and we are now seeing very tangible upgrades to passenger facilities and customer experience improvements" - said Edward Plaisted of Skytrax - "The level of detail in the changes is commendable, and the airport not only delivers a very good international standard of facilities, but importantly it gives a good sense of place for Rome, and more broadly for Italy. The honour from Skytax is the latest in a string of accolades for Fiumicino, including being rated Best European Airport last year, for the fourth time in the last five years. Aeroporti di Roma CEO Marco Troncone said the Skytrax recognition "once again demonstrates the companys efforts to build the airport of the future." "Now that Fiumicino is fully in the league of the worlds best airports" - said Troncone - "we want to continue to improve standards of comfort and service to allow Rome and Italy to reaffirm their centrality on the international scene". Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share The first significant stage of post-Roe abortion litigation is underway and focuses heavily on abortion pills. GenBioPro, a pharmaceutical company that makes the drug mifepristone, has asked a federal court to declare that West Virginias anti-abortion law is inconsistent with the Federal Drug Administrations determination that the pill is safe and effective. If the lawsuit succeeds, states would not be able to criminalize medical abortions terminations that rely on medication rather than a procedure. From the standpoint of abortion-rights advocates, a ruling that uses federal law to protect medical abortion would not be as good as restoring Roe v. Wade. But it might be the next best thing. Medical abortion accounts for more than half the terminations in the US. To be sure, mifepristone is approved by the FDA only for abortions through the 10th week of pregnancy. People seeking the medication would still have to find prescribers, and pharmacies would still need to apply for a special certification to dispense it. Yet the fact that pills can be prescribed by telemedicine, mailed to patients, and taken at home would still provide some measure of freedom to women in states that ban abortion. Advertisement Under a Republican administration, the FDA might come under pressure to restrict or even repeal approval for mifepristone. A shift in policy at the administrative agency level would, however, still have to go through judicial review to prove it was based on reason and not arbitrary. Nothing would make me happier than to tell you the drug companys suit will win and that the appellate courts and the US Supreme Court will confirm that victory. Certainly, the legal concept known as federal preemption would dictate that states should not be able to block the sale of a drug approved by the FDA. The reality, however, is more complicated and more depressing. Having just granted an epochal, historic victory to the anti-abortion movement in the Dobbs decision, the courts conservative majority seems unlikely to be in the mood to undercut the states authority to ban abortion. I expect the lower courts and eventually the justices to cook up a new theory that allows states to ban mifepristone within their borders despite the FDAs licensing. Advertisement To see how that might be done, you have to start with the way the case really should come out legally and would, if it werent about medication connected to the abortion issue. The idea behind federal preemption is that, under the Constitution, federal law is the supreme law of the land. When Congress is authorized to act, states cannot contravene the laws it passes. In a conflict between state and federal law, the federal one is supposed to prevail. Under the federal law that governs drug approvals by the FDA, there is no question that the business of regulating pharmaceuticals belongs to the federal government, not the states. If West Virginia set up its own state-level food and drug administration, it would lack the power either to authorize or prohibit the medical use of pharmaceuticals that the federal FDA had chosen to regulate. Advertisement Apart from the logic of formal constitutional law, you can also see why federal preemption in areas of regulation makes good economic sense. It would be difficult to run a national economy if the pharmaceutical industry and others like it had to go through drug approvals 51 times one for each state and another for the federal government. (In the case of vehicle emissions, where California has demanded more rigorous standards than those required by the federal government, Congress had to pass special legislation to allow the deviation.) The one federal case raising a somewhat analogous issue is from 2014. Massachusetts, citing the opioid crisis, adopted a set of regulations making it harder for patients to get an opioid called Zohydro. The regulations required the pharmacist to assess potential patients; prohibited anyone other than a licensed pharmacist from handling the drug; and required warnings when counseling patients about the dangers of addiction. Zogenix, the company that manufactured Zohydro, sued. A federal district court judge, Rya Zobel, held correctly that federal law preempted Massachusetts from issuing its regulations, however well-meaning they were. As she explained, a state like Massachusetts has the authority to regulate the administration of drugs by the health professions. But a state may not exercise those powers in a way that is inconsistent with federal law. She accepted the companys argument that Massachusetts was trying to make scarce or unavailable a drug approved by the FDA. Advertisement Applied to mifepristone, the Zogenix decision would lead to the conclusion that West Virginia cant regulate the drug beyond what the FDA requires. That would, logically, mean that West Virginia and other states that impose extra regulatory restrictions on the administration of mifepristone may not do so. But a decision from the Massachusetts federal district court doesnt bind any courts outside of Massachusetts. We can expect conservative judges, whether at the district, appellate, or Supreme Court level to side with West Virginia, not GenBioPro. The most straightforward way for a conservative court to do so would be to hold that West Virginias abortion ban isnt imposing extra safety restrictions on mifepristone. Indeed, a conservative court might say that such abortion bans dont target federally approved drugs at all. Instead, they prohibit a specific action, namely abortion, that can be accomplished in various ways including by using mifepristone. Thus, even if the conservative court disqualified state regulations that make mifepristone difficult to get for example, for patients who need it to treat a miscarriage it could still hold that the state could make it illegal to obtain or use the drug for an abortion. Advertisement The obvious counterargument is that the FDA has specifically approved mifepristone for the purpose of abortions, so its regulatory judgment should be final under federal law. But if conservative judges and five conservative justices want to reach the opposite conclusion, they will. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Supreme Courts Nostalgia Doctrine Is Trumps Biggest Legacy: Noah Feldman New FDA Rules on Abortion Pills Leave Too Many Hurdles: Sarah Green Carmichael Alec Baldwin Manslaughter Charge Is a Stretch: Stephen L. Carter This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Noah Feldman is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. A professor of law at Harvard University, he is author, most recently, of The Broken Constitution: Lincoln, Slavery and the Refounding of America. 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 What does a country do when it starts going cold on its national holiday? Start relaxing a little. Australia Day, the Jan. 26 commemoration of the first British colonists arrival at Sydney Cove in 1788, has been contentious almost from its founding. Three years after celebrations were formalized in 1935, Aboriginal groups organized the first counter-demonstration, proclaiming the date a Day of Mourning to protest the 150th anniversary of the white mans seizure of our country. Those protests have continued ever since. The countrys 1988 Bicentenary celebrations remembered by some as a high point of uncomplicated, sun-kissed patriotism, when millions turned out to see a replica of the First Fleet sail into Sydney Harbour was boycotted by the governments own minister for Indigenous affairs. More than 40,000 people marched in protest for Indigenous rights. Advertisement That controversy is now pushing deep into the mainstream. The chief executive officer of the countrys largest phone company, Telstra Group Ltd., has announced that she will work on the public holiday this year, while the biggest supermarket chain, Woolworths Group Ltd., said workers are allowed to choose whether or not to take the day off. In Victoria state, where the numbers attending rallies protesting Invasion Day in recent years have rivaled those at official celebrations, the government has decided not to hold a commemorative parade at all. All of this is welcome. Ordinary citizens show precious little interest in the more ceremonial aspects of Australia Day. The decision of Wesfarmers Ltd.-owned department store Kmart to stop stocking Australia Day-themed merchandise isnt (in the words of one right-wing TV host) complete lefty lunacy but a recognition that the population is already voting with their feet, and theres no money to be made from pandering to a dwindling crowd of jingoists. People are happy to have a day off. Only the most politically committed want to turn it into an opportunity to revive old ideological fights. Despite this, Australias public holidays manage to home in on culture war stress points with the unerring instinct of a Twitter feed. In my home state of New South Wales, only Jan. 1 and (arguably) Dec. 26 are devoid of ideological baggage. The others, to varying extents, celebrate colonialism (Australia Day); the military (Anzac Day); the monarchy (the Kings birthday); the union movement (Labor Day) and Christianity (Good Friday, Easter Monday, and Christmas Day). Regardless of your political views, almost everyone can find one day on that list to feel grumpy about. Advertisement Thats a strange outcome for a country that likes to think of itself as easygoing and hedonistic. In its striving for national days that mean something, Australia has ended up with a series of public holidays that are opportunities for rehashing the same bitter disputes. Proposals to fix this are welcome, but they should be wary of replicating the problems of the old system. Osmond Chiu, a researcher at the Sydney-based think tank Per Capita, recently recommended adding Lunar New Year and Diwali to the list of public holidays, in recognition of Australias increasingly multicultural demographic makeup. That has much to recommend it. Still, a better idea would be to learn one worthwhile lesson from the old colonial overlord, and spurn significance altogether. In the UK, three of the eight days off go by aggressively bland names Early May Bank Holiday, Spring Bank Holiday, and Summer Bank Holiday (despite the name, you dont have to work in a bank to get the day off.) All occur on a Monday, so that the nation can enjoy a collective long weekend. Japan follows a similar tradition, taking holidays to celebrate the ocean, mountains, vegetation, children and the aged alongside a smattering of more national-themed festivals. Advertisement That seems a more fruitful approach. To most citizens, the point of a public holiday is not to rally round the flag or an ideal of nationhood, but something close to the opposite: to provide a moment of relief from the mundane cycle of work and responsibilities; to catch up with friends and family; to banish all talk of politics. Late January in Australia is a great time for that, with the long school summer holidays coming to their end, temperatures hitting their annual peak, and Lunar New Year close at hand. The outcome of the current wave of increasingly mainstream opposition to Australia Day is likely to be a government commission, an unread report, earnest divisions about what to replace it with, and plenty of angry punditry, before everyone half-heartedly returns to marking the same holiday weve had mixed feelings about since the 1930s. A better approach would be to quickly get it over with: End the official Australia Day commemorations. Give everyone an extra day off, on the last Friday before school resumes. Call it the Late Summer Holiday. Invite your friends over for a barbecue. The holidays Australia has ended up with were the product of a young nation wanting to establish its identity. As the country has matured and grown more diverse, theyre increasingly looked at with either wistful embarrassment or aggressive defensiveness. We all celebrate our birthdays less as we grow up and it shouldnt be any different for a nations anniversaries. Advertisement More From Bloomberg Opinion: Former Colonies Should Do More Than Just Abolish the Monarchy: David Fickling Jubilee Parties Wont Rescue the UK Consumer Economy: Andrea Felsted Against Presidents Day: Jonathan Bernstein This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. David Fickling is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering energy and commodities. Previously, he worked for Bloomberg News, the Wall Street Journal and 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 The layoff announcements coming lately from the chief executive officers of big technology companies all contain variations on the theme of we hired too many people during the pandemic, expressed with varying degrees of contrition. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight At one end of the spectrum are Seattleites Andy Jassy of Amazon.com Inc. and Satya Nadella of Microsoft Corp. Amazons layoffs were simply an outgrowth of its annual review, Jassy wrote, although he did allow that this years review has been more difficult given the uncertain economy and that weve hired rapidly over the last several years. Microsofts Nadella opted for bland corporatespeak: As we saw customers accelerate their digital spend during the pandemic, were now seeing them optimize their digital spend to do more with less. Down in the San Francisco Bay Area, there was more of a willingness to hint that errors had been made. Over the past two years weve seen periods of dramatic growth, wrote Sundar Pichai of Google parent Alphabet Inc. To match and fuel that growth, we hired for a different economic reality than the one we face today. Mark Benioff of Salesforce Inc. was even clearer: As our revenue accelerated through the pandemic, we hired too many people leading into this economic downturn were now facing, and I take responsibility for that. Then there was Mark Zuckerberg of Meta Platforms Inc., who opted to treat his November layoff message to employees as something of a confessional: Advertisement At the start of Covid, the world rapidly moved online and the surge of e-commerce led to outsized revenue growth. Many people predicted this would be a permanent acceleration that would continue even after the pandemic ended. I did too, so I made the decision to significantly increase our investments. Unfortunately, this did not play out the way I expected. Zuckerberg, of course, may have many other things to be contrite about, starting with the 2021 decision to rename Facebook and bet its future on virtual-reality headsets. But, yes, Meta truly did hire a ton of people in 2020 and 2021, with headcount up 60% over that period. For Microsoft, Alphabet, Salesforce and Meta, the combined increase was 35%, or 126,170 jobs. The layoffs announced so far by these four companies total 41,000, about a third of the jobs they added since 2019. Amazon is on a different employment plane, with most of its workforce laboring not at computers but in warehouses, supermarkets and other elements of what the company calls field and customer support, which is why I left it off the chart. It added 810,000 employees from 2019 to 2021, more than doubling its headcount, and employs more people than any US corporation other than Walmart Inc. Advertisement Amazon has announced 18,000 layoffs so far this fall and winter, the most of any tech company but only 2.2% of its 2019-2021 headcount increase. The company did shed 99,000 employees in the second quarter of 2022 through what it said was mainly attrition of warehouse and logistics workers but added 21,000 in the third quarter. (Amazon includes employee counts in its quarterly earnings releases; most companies only report the number once a year in their 10-K annual report.) The current 2022-2023 tech layoff total as tallied by Layoffs.fyi, which includes companies in retail, finance, health care and crypto, is 219,132, of which 59,448 have been announced this year. Meanwhile, US employers overall added 4.5 million jobs in 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with no real sign of a slowdown in the December jobs numbers. Full December numbers arent available yet for the industry categories that cover most or all of what Microsoft, Alphabet, Salesforce and Meta do, but these three sectors added 117,000 employees over the first 11 months of the year, more than they added in 2020 or 2021. (The BLS tries to sort payroll jobs data by establishment rather than company, so the employees of Amazon Web Services, the companys cloud-computing subsidiary, should in theory be counted below as well.) Advertisement This hiring boom has been going on for a while, but it accelerated over the past three years, as is easier to see with a line showing the previously prevailing trend for comparison. There were signs of an acceleration even before Covid-19 arrived, which casts some light on why tech CEOs thought what they were seeing during the pandemic might represent the new normal. As of November, these sectors employed almost 171,000 more people in the US than they would have if they had stuck to the previous decades hiring trend. Now it looks as if tech executives are trying to push headcounts back toward where they would have been if not for that heady time when they thought they were in the midst of what Zuckerberg called a permanent acceleration. Permanent acceleration isnt really a thing in business. As your company gets bigger, its rate of growth slows. Sure, there can be doldrums followed by revivals, and belief in permanent acceleration is sort of the point of startup investing, where it works until it doesnt. But for big, established companies (Meta turns 20 next year; Microsoft will soon be 48), it can lead to fraught situations like the one unfolding now. Advertisement Note that I havent mentioned Apple Inc. here. It hasnt announced any layoffs and didnt accelerate hiring during the pandemic, with its headcount growing at annual rate of 6% from 2019 to 2022 (Apples fiscal year ends in September, so it has already reported its end-of-year headcount) after posting 8% annual growth over the previous five years. The same goes for a tech sector that employs even more people than the three shown above, computer systems design and related services. This is the territory of companies such as Accenture Plc, the third-largest employer on the Standard & Poors 500 Index, which mostly try to help companies not in the tech industry and other institutions keep up with tech developments (become the next and best versions of themselves, is how Accenture puts it). Payroll employment in the sector fell early in the pandemic but recovered quickly in late 2020 and 2021, with hiring settling back in 2022 into a path just below its pre-pandemic trajectory. So far there have been no indications that this is about to change. The recently announced tech layoffs are of course painful for the more than 200,000 workers who are getting their notices and having to enter a job market suddenly flooded with other layoff casualties with similar skills and experience. As my fellow Bloomberg Opinion columnist Sarah Green Carmichael writes, the layoffs may backfire on the companies doing them by damaging employee morale and customer relationships. Advertisement They are also, however, clearly a reaction to a hiring boom that got a little out of hand. With other US employers struggling to hire enough people over the past couple of years (there were 3.3 million, or 51%, more reported job openings in November than three years earlier), the situation faced by tech companies is unique. The economic downturn were now facing, according to Salesforces Benioff, is not a general phenomenon at least not yet. The risk is that tech companies abrupt shift from hiring to firing could help make it one. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Stop the Schadenfreude Over Bloated Tech Layoffs: Lionel Laurent Is Big Tech Safe From Activist Shareholders?: Olson and Hughes Layoffs Often Leave Companies Worse Off: Sarah Green Carmichael This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Justin Fox is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering business. A former editorial director of Harvard Business Review, he has written for Time, Fortune and American Banker. He is author of The Myth of the Rational Market. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share Whether President Joe Bidens misguided plan to forgive some $400 billion in federal student-loan debt goes forward will ultimately be up to the Supreme Court. For now, theres more the federal government should be doing to rein in the costs of higher education and thus reduce how much students borrow in the first place. In particular: It should insist that colleges stop hiding exactly how much students are expected to pay. Federal law requires colleges to list the cost of tuition on their websites and in other promotional materials. Many schools also send admitted students award letters that calculate the net price theyll owe after deducting various forms of financial aid, which can include merit scholarships, federal and state government-funded grants, and work-study programs. In theory, students should be able to use this information to compare the costs of different institutions and decide which one best fits their budget. In practice, such letters are highly inconsistent, needlessly confusing and, in some cases, downright misleading. A recent report by the Government Accountability Office found that in a sample of 204 schools, nearly 40% failed to inform students of the net price theyd have to pay. Half didnt disclose the full cost of attendance which includes expenses such as housing, meals, books, supplies and transportation beyond tuition and fees. Advertisement Another 15% of colleges treated federal student loans as a form of financial aid, alongside grants and scholarships, neglecting to point out that those loans must be repaid with interest. The resulting price distortions can be extreme: The report cites one colleges award letter, informing a student of a net price of $351 per semester; once loans were factored in, the same student would be on the hook for more than $47,000 a year. By concealing such costs, colleges encourage students to make choices their families cant afford, increasing the chances they will drop out due to financial distress. The lack of transparency also makes it virtually impossible for consumers to make reliable cost comparisons. This harms competition and reduces incentives for colleges to keep their prices in check causing borrowers to take out ever-larger loans and further exacerbating the overall debt burden. Despite attempts by the federal government to promote greater clarity and consistency, colleges have resisted pressure for reform. The Department of Education requires schools to send a common, standardized award letter to all military personnel and veterans seeking to enroll, but only 3% use the template for the general population. Higher-education interest groups have lobbied against having to use uniform financial-aid offers, arguing that government-mandated standardization would make it harder for schools to customize their offers to meet specific students needs. Advertisement A bill introduced in the House charts a sensible middle ground. It would prohibit the secretary of education from mandating a single, uniform award letter, but would tighten oversight of financial-aid offers, requiring that they estimate not only the cost of tuition but also indirect expenses such as books and supplies. Schools would be banned from classifying federal student loans as a form of aid. The bill also requires schools to supplement aid offers with information on the monthly earnings and loan payments of their graduates, which would enable prospective students to make more informed decisions about which school to attend. The runaway cost of college has saddled millions of Americans with student-loan debts theyre unlikely to fully pay back, depriving the government of revenue and harming taxpayers in the process. Requiring true transparency from colleges is a necessary step toward repairing a broken system. The Editors are members of the Bloomberg Opinion editorial board. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share The Food and Drug Administration needs a new Covid vaccine policy that follows the latest immunology and vaccine efficacy data. At a meeting scheduled for Thursday, the agency should acknowledge booster shots arent having much effect on the spread of Covid. Pushing them on young, healthy people is a waste of resources and a drain on public trust. If given at the right time, the boosters still decrease the odds of getting severely ill or dying and any policy going forward has to focus on the people most at risk. But the ideal timing is complicated, and getting more shots isnt necessarily better. The FDAs plan, according to early reports, is to push boosters every fall, like flu shots which makes sense for those at low risk but might not suit those over 75, who might benefit from more frequent shots. Currently, the US government has switched to a reformulated, bivalent booster and the FDA has authorized the use of the Moderna version for everyone over six months of age and more than two months past the previous shot. While the FDA has authority over who can get which vaccine, the CDC has made a recommendation that everyone get all the boosters theyre eligible for, though it does suggest people who were recently infected can wait three months from the onset of symptoms. But some immunologists say a booster will have only marginal benefit if given just two months after a previous shot (or three after an infection). Advertisement The longer you wait, the better the boost, says Dan Barouch, a vaccine researcher at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and a lead developer of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. If you get the booster two to three months after [a past boost] you really have a marginal benefit, he said. If you wait eight months, then you have at least a short-term benefit of 40% to 50%. Barouch pointed to new CDC data that showed those who got the bivalent shot had a temporary protection against symptomatic illness of 28% to 31%, but those who waited more than eight months saw protection between 43 to 56%. Its not clear how long that protection lasts or whether the people who waited eight months might get longer-lasting protection than those who rushed to get the new booster. Advertisement For some high-risk people, theres a downside to waiting. If you have an elderly person and they get critically ill three months from now because they didnt get the booster, then obviously thats not better off, Barouch says. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, quoted that same CDC data in a recent New England Journal of Medicine opinion piece to argue that booster dosing is probably best reserved for the people most likely to need protection against severe disease. He also pointed to a couple of disappointing studies of the new bivalent booster, which has been the only one available since September, reformulated with a component of the (no longer dominant) BA.4 and BA.5 variants. The studies showed it worked no better than the original booster. These were test-tube experiments using human serum and truncated versions of different variants. The shots have never been directly compared in a clinical trial. Advertisement Its still a good boost, said Barouch, who is author of one of those studies just not likely to be any more protective than the old one. A recent, unpublished study out of the Cleveland Clinic reported that among health care workers, those who got four shots had more infections than those who got three or two. Barouch said that doesnt necessarily reflect a problem with subjects getting their shots spaced too close together. But it does mean we cant assume that more shots are always better. So, whats the ideal timing for a booster for most people? Well, the expert opinion is currently divided, he said. Immunologist Duane Wesemann of Harvard Medical School said hes happy with the CDCs current recommendation, as long as the public and doctors understand that a two-month wait is a minimum and not optimal timing for most people. Advertisement He said he had a patient who had just recovered from Covid a few weeks earlier, and who had had a rare allergic reaction to earlier shots, but nevertheless was being required by an employer to get a new booster. Wesemann said he managed to convince the employer to listen to reason. He doesnt fault the CDC the problem was with the employer for making the false assumption that anyone who doesnt get as many shots as possible is a threat to others. I asked him why timing would matter at all for boosters. He explained that theres a slow process that happens in your immune system. After an infection or a vaccine, antibodies diversify, making a variety of slightly different versions of themselves. Waiting longer between shots means the boost will have more to work with and will amplify the antibodies best suited to target the viral spike protein. Wesemann hasnt gotten the bivalent booster yet because he just had Covid-19 in September. I, too, have waited because I also tested positive for a few days in September, have no comorbidities and am not elderly. Paul Offit said he skipped getting a second booster in 2022 because he got Covid in the spring. Advertisement Some have worried about the prospect of immune imprinting the idea that our immune systems are stuck on the original variant and arent responding to the new component of the bivalent booster. But Wesemann sees it differently. He points out that our immune systems and our now-outdated vaccines are keeping the hospitalization and death rates relatively low even with infections surging. Our immune system is still able to learn, he said. I get the sense from some of this debate out there that people think that their immune system is a lot dumber than it is. Back in 2021, getting vaccinated probably did serve to protect others by reducing the odds youd get infected in the first place. Thats changed now that most antivaxxers have been infected, and new variants have allowed the virus to get around vaccine-induced immunity. The FDA should lead the shift away from one-size-fits-all mandates toward a more nuanced conversation about individual levels of risk. Advertisement More From Bloomberg Opinion: No, Vaccines Arent Making New Covid Variants Worse: Faye Flam Progress on HPV Vaccines Is Too Important to Lose: Lisa Jarvis Is There Anything That Gen Z Wont Drink?: Ben Schott This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Faye Flam is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering science. She is host of the Follow the Science podcast. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article FORT RUCKERArmy shoulder sleeve insignias tell a story about the soldiers who wear them and the Soldiers who came before them. Walking around Fort Rucker, soldiers wear many different patches, either current unit or combat patches. But according to Bob Mitchell, curator at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum, if people want to see some stranger insignias that tell different stories, they need to look back at the history of Army Aviation. One of our really early ones is the 1105th Aero Replacement Squadron flying elephant patch from WWI, said Mitchell. There are probably three or four of these original patches in existence. A veteran who lives north of here donated that patch it is extremely rare. Modern day Army Aviation was not a branch until 1983, explained Mitchell. Prior to that, the Transportation Corps had an interest in the cargo aircraft, MI [Military Intelligence] had an interest in surveillance aircraft, and the Medical Services Corps had an interest in the MedEvac [medical evacuation] aircraft. What we see as Army Aviation today was fractured into other branches of the military. Prior to 1983, our officers would be Armor, Infantry, or Artillery officers thats where they would be trained. Of course, they were Aviators, too, but their primary corps was Artillery, Infantry or Armor. This led to some interesting unit patches like you see here in the museum. The museum maintains a collection of over 160 aircraft, many with unit insignias painted on or accompanied by unit patches in the historical property collection. It was normal in the past for units to just draw insignias up when units were formed, re-designated, split or combined, said Mitchell. Like for our H-19 Chickasaws, they asked Walt Disney, a former Red Cross ambulance driver in post-WW1 France, to design the insignia. Patches come and go, said Mitchell, adding that in recent times hes seen a plethora of new patches created. Not only individual company patches, but also numbered unit patches. It is a constant ebb and flow when it comes to unit names, designations and patches. Mitchell said people interested in collecting patches should just start looking. There are lots of great stories in these patches and there are a lot of people all over the world who collect them. Just go on the internet, and there are groups who post photos of patches they find to share information and trade patches. Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share The looming fight to raise the federal debt limit is drawing parallels to 2011 and 2008, neither of which is especially encouraging. In both cases, Republicans in the US House showed they were willing to risk economic and financial catastrophe to make a political point. The question is how far they are prepared to go this time. The short answer: Pretty far. I spoke to economists, current and former government officials, and veterans of past legislative battles, and many believe that theres only one thing that will force recalcitrant lawmakers to make a deal: market turmoil. Its worth recounting that recent history. In 2011, the standoff between the Republican House and the Democratic White House was also about the debt ceiling. They struck a last-minute deal, but not before the US lost its S&P AAA credit rating. In 2008, the fight was over the bank bailout, and it took a one-day loss of more than $1 trillion in market capitalization to get enough Republican House members to agree to it. Advertisement The dysfunction of 2008 and 2011 seems almost innocent now. Washington has played chicken so often over the last decade, says Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moodys Analytics, that its hard to tell when the two parties are getting close to a deal. At some point, he says, the trickle of market responses to Washingtons dysfunction will turn into a torrent of volatility. Fortunately if thats the right word there are ways to tell which direction Washington is headed. Over the next several months, there will be a few key signposts to monitor. First is the so-called X-date, the day when the US cant meet its obligations in full. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says it could come as early as June, but more likely it will be later in the summer. One scenario would be for it to arrive at the end of July, with the August recess looming. Vacation is a powerful motivator for lawmakers. The Bipartisan Policy Center, which is considered an authority on this issue, will release its prediction in February. Advertisement A second thing to look for is any level of engagement, however minimal, between President Joe Bidens administration and congressional Republicans. The White House says it wont negotiate and it wants a clean debt-limit increase. Republicans, most notably in the House, want spending cuts in exchange for lifting the debt ceiling. Dont expect negotiations for a grand bargain, which former President Barack Obama and former Speaker John Boehner tried in 2011. Instead, watch what moderate Republican representatives such as Nebraskas Don Bacon are saying. Biden won his district in 2020, and Bacon called out House Speaker Kevin McCarthy for removing Democrats from key committees this week. But Bacon also said Bidens position on the debt ceiling is a non-starter. If the White House refuses to negotiate, he said, Republicans wont even consider a discharge petition, a complicated procedural tool that makes it easier to bring a bill to the House floor for a vote. Advertisement The discharge petition is the third signpost and there are different schools of thought on whether its a way out of this impasse. Ultimately there need to be 218 votes in the House for a bill to lift the debt ceiling. In theory, the discharge petition allows the House to pass a bill over the objection of the speaker. But the process is time-consuming. The bill needs to sit in committee for 30 legislative days, then on the discharge calendar for another seven. The longer lawmakers wait, the less likely an option it becomes. Further complicating the maneuver is that a bill would need to be filed relatively soon which anticipates the final deal in the Senate. Republicans just arent that unified. It may be the most obvious path now, but the clock is ticking. That leads to the fourth signpost what happens with the budget resolution in the House in March or April. As part of his deal with the Freedom Caucus to become speaker, McCarthy committed to balancing the budget in 10 years. The plan reportedly cuts defense spending by $75 billion. If Republicans have 218 votes for a blueprint for spending cuts, it may be a sign they are unified in debt-ceiling negotiations. Advertisement Finally: It would be a bad sign if its late spring and people are still discussing a platinum coin, a Treasury payment prioritization plan or the 14th Amendment. Ideally, elected representatives would understand whats at stake and the markets wouldnt need to act as a catalyst for action. But House Republicans apparently arent quite there yet. At their weekly lunch on Wednesday, leaders organized a tutorial about the debt limit including how a debt default is different than a government shutdown. What would investors do if they saw the results of a pop quiz? More From Bloomberg Opinion: End This The Debt-Ceiling Nonsense: The Editors Do Away With a Debt Ceiling That Serves No Purpose: Bill Dudley Financial Engineering the Debt Ceiling: Matt Levine 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. Julianna Goldman is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist who was formerly a Washington-based correspondent for CBS News and White House correspondent for Bloomberg News and Bloomberg Television. 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 Working for large, modern companies can be like picking your way through a minefield, especially in finance. Policies and rules of behavior proliferate, at times in exhausting detail. But we have to take these seriously or else it will likely cost us. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Some Morgan Stanley bankers have discovered that cost can be hefty. Individuals at the bank have been fined between a few thousand dollars and up to $1 million by their employer for misuse of personal messaging tools like WhatsApp for business chat, according to the Financial Times. The size of penalty depended on seniority, severity of misuse and whether a banker had been warned about it previously. The bank declined to confirm the report. The fines will be hugely unpopular. Some bankers will already be stewing over the drop in bonuses this year: To have some or all (or even more than their bonus) snatched back by their bosses might be enough for them walk out the door. Advertisement But hitting individuals makes perfect sense for the bank and its shareholders. The penalties follow a string of $200 million fines imposed or expected to be imposed on many of the worlds largest banks by US regulators. The Securities and Exchange Commission has already started quizzing big fund managers about the same issues and a further wave of fines will likely follow, adding to the more than $2 billion that regulators are already collecting from banks. The penalties for employees should not surprise anyone. Even before the SEC came knocking, Morgan Stanley had disciplined individual bankers with financial penalties, written warnings, and even the sack, for exactly these offenses. The details are reported in the banks settlement with the SEC, which adds that Morgan Stanley also publicized disciplinary actions internally and rolled out extra training on record-keeping and use of personal devices. Shareholders shouldnt have to bear the cost of huge regulatory settlements. Demands around information control and record-keeping have been clear in principle for decades and managers have been aware of widespread use of personal electronic devices and the explosion of messaging apps on them for years. Explicit rules for clawing back banker and executive pay for wrongdoing also known as malus have also been in place since not long after the financial crisis of 2008. Advertisement Most banks had policies to address this misuse, as Morgan Stanley did. That makes it doubly stupid that the settlements last September found that many senior managers at banks involved had themselves regularly ignored the policy and even worse, that at least one desk head had instructed their team to move conversations from proper channels to unrecorded ones. The policies suffered by employees at large corporations are often tedious and complex in the extreme, but as I have written before, that is because individuals keep finding new ways to do bad or dumb things. As a defense against regulatory penalties or civil lawsuits each of these new ways then has to be explicitly prohibited. The modern mixing of work and life is tricky for sure, and some people will feel disgruntled at having to pay up, especially if theyve been led into WhatsApp use by their bosses. Some might think the fines are too harsh for the individuals and for the banks as a whole. Advertisement As the SEC and other regulators collect hundreds of millions more for similar lapses, it would be good to be reassured that they arent letting their own staff communicate about investigations or enforcement actions via WhatsApp. Just imagine if it turned out that civil servants were occasionally prone to such behavior, too! More From Bloomberg Opinion: Bankers Shouldnt Slide Into Each Others DMs: Paul J. Davies Is WhatsApp Probe the Tip of a Trading Scandal?: Timothy OBrien Goldman Clawbacks More Stunning Than $5 Billion: Brian Chappatta This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Paul J. Davies is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering banking and finance. Previously, he was a reporter for the Wall Street Journal and 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 (This column was originally published on Jan. 23. Today, Facebook parent company Meta Platforms Inc. said it reinstated former President Donald Trumps Facebook and Instagram accounts following a two-year suspension for violating the platforms rules. ) Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight It has been two years since Facebook hit the snooze button on what to do about Donald Trump. After much dithering, Facebook said in 2021 that it suspend Trumps account for two years for goading rioters and publicly attacking the US democratic process. With that deadline here, signs point to Trumps imminent return bad news for public discourse but potentially great for Trump as he makes another bid for the White House. Trumps return also would help Facebook. Much as Facebooks policy teams will agonize over the delicate balance between the protection of free speech and the safeguarding of democracy as one of the firms former policy directors eloquently laid out here its priority is to shareholders who are increasingly frustrated about Facebooks financial performance. Many of those shareholders would likely be pleased to hear Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc. announce the former presidents return in the next week or so. Advertisement Trumps pre-suspension posts got enormous traction: millions of likes and an indirect deluge of political arguments between friends and families across millions of Facebook accounts. His return promises to bring back that flurry of interactions and with them more advertising dollars at a time when Facebooks user growth has been stalling and the companys shares have fallen 60% over the past 12 months. Meta has cut 11,000 jobs as it tries to build on Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerbergs quixotic vision for a metaverse business, on which it pledged to spend billions of dollars. Shareholder Altimeter Capital Management has called all the investment in virtual reality super-sized and terrifying. With all the traffic Trump could bring, Zuckerberg now has a bone to throw his investors. Ending Trumps suspension wouldnt guarantee his return. After all, Elon Musk invited Trump back on to Twitter in November and the former president hasnt made a peep on the platform. But there might be a good explanation for that: The tech billionaires teasing provocations probably did little to encourage Trump back to a platform where Musk had become the star. Advertisement Trump made a commitment to primarily post on his Truth Social network which would seem to deter him from platforms like Facebook but the arrangement has plenty of wiggle room. While the networks parent company states in its SEC filing that Trump can post on rival networks if he waits six hours after posting something on Truth Social, there is no restriction at all if he wants to use Twitter or Facebook for political messaging, political fundraising or get-out-the-vote efforts. Thats a crucial distinction. Trump might feel bitter about his expulsion from Facebook, but it could be hard to resist the platforms utility for spreading a political message and raising money for his 2024 campaign. While Trump has more followers on Twitter and the platform was useful for delivering headline-grabbing messages aimed at the media, those who follow him on Facebook skew older and are generally more sympathetic and supportive to his cause. Facebook has always held greater potential for grassroots campaigning, allowing him to target specific demographics with longer, more detailed posts, memes and videos. Advertisement With a user base north of 2 billion people, Facebook also offers a much wider audience than Twitters, which has about 360 million monthly active users, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Its no surprise that Trumps 2016 campaign spent 80% of its digital budget on Facebook, and that his new campaign team has now written to Meta demanding his reinstatement. For Zuckerberg, Trumps potential return is complicated. The former president used Facebook to say that Covid-19 was less lethal than the flu, attack his political opponents and post hashtags that raised the credibility of QAnon conspiracy theories. His actions put Facebook under enormous pressure to switch up recommendation algorithms that were steering people toward extremist groups and to dampen the spread of misinformation even though such content boosts engagement integral to Facebooks business model. One thing that should help Zuckerberg breathe easier: Academic studies over the past two years have shown that social media firms are getting better at stopping foreign manipulation on their networks, and Facebook has come under less pressure to censor specific content unless it constitutes direct harm, like harassment. Alex Stamos, Facebooks former chief security officer, said on a podcast in January that social media firms needed to resist trying to make things better and focus on stopping things from getting worse in other words, preventing harmful content from going viral. Advertisement Whats unclear is how long Trumps return might last. Last year Facebook promised a strict set of rapidly escalating sanctions including the threat of permanent removal if Trump violated the platforms policies again. If Zuckerberg is hoping Trump will stick to the rules this time around, he only has to look at the former presidents increasingly unhinged posts on Truth Social. His return could well be a brief one. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Technology Needs More Humanity: Eduardo Porter ChatGPT Sounds Exactly Like Us. How Is That a Good Thing?: Stephen Mihm Why Mark Zuckerberg Should Face the Threat of Jail: Parmy Olson (This column was originally published on Jan. 23. Today, Facebook parent company Meta Platforms Inc. said it reinstated former President Donald Trumps Facebook and Instagram accounts following a two-year suspension for violating the platforms rules.) This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Parmy Olson is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering technology. A former reporter for the Wall Street Journal and Forbes, she is author of We Are Anonymous. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share It was a sensational headline even for a short seller. Calling Adani Group the largest con in corporate history, New York-based Hindenburg Research, a trading outfit that first got Wall Streets attention for raising serious questions about electric-vehicle makers Nikola Corp and Lordstown Motors Corp, took a stab at Gautam Adani, Asias richest man. Theres not much of a market impact, however. Hindenburgs report was published when Adani Enterprises Ltd, about 75% owned by its billionaire chairman, was soliciting investors for a follow-on public offering. The company still managed to sell over 18 million shares to institutional investors for 3,276 rupee ($40.15) apiece at the top-end of the pricing band. High-profile investors include Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, according to local media reports. Meanwhile, even though Adani saw his fortune crash by more than $5 billion in one day a huge amount by anyone elses standards it hardly put a dent in the businessmans net worth, which is still above $100 billion. The company said Thursday it was exploring legal action against Hindenburg, describing the allegations as maliciously mischievous, unresearched. Advertisement Its worth asking why Hindenburgs efforts have fallen short. According to its research, seven key listed Adani companies have 85% downside purely because of sky-high valuations. First, the Adani bubble is unlikely to burst unless theres a change in the political wind. Scan Asias emerging markets, and youll find that Adani is by no means the only conglomerate with lofty valuations and questionable corporate governance. Chinas HNA Group Co. and China Evergrande Group naturally come to mind. For years, short sellers hounded HNA and Evergrande to little avail. Evergrandes chairman Hui Ka Yan, Chinas richest man in 2017, in particular, was a master in the art of the short squeeze. For years, he leveraged his friendship with other tycoons to prop up his stocks and bonds. Shorts gained momentum only when Beijing changed its attitude. HNA got into trouble in 2017 after the central government launched a campaign against privately held companies that it deemed had recklessly pursued overseas investment deals. Similarly, Huis empire tumbled in 2021 as Chinas real estate crackdowns deepened. Evergrande is now discussing a restructuring proposal with creditors, while the fortune of its chairman is down to about $3 billion from $42 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Advertisement Or consider activist investor Elliott Managements push to overhaul Samsung Electronics Co. with higher buybacks and corporate restructuring. It was a huge win for the New York-based activist hedge fund. The campaign, which ran for just over four years from late 2016 to 2020, netted Elliott a 160% return, according to Bloomberg Intelligence data. Elliott had the upper hand and public support, in part because Samsungs de facto leader Jay Y. Lee who had been resistant to change was mired in an ugly corruption scandal that ultimately unseated the nations then-president Park Geun-hye. Adanis fortune ballooned under Narendra Modis administration. His industrial empire, from running airports to building green hydrogen manufacturing capabilities, aligns well with Modis economic programs. So unless Modi changes his Make in India dream, short sellers do not have much of a catalyst. Second, many of Hindenburgs complaints appear to focus on corporate governance, from the use of what its report describes as obscure auditors to a labyrinth of shell companies. But this is a yawn to long-time emerging markets investors. To them, Adani sounds just like a chaebol, the family-run conglomerates that ultimately fast-tracked postwar South Korea. To this day, they are still invested in the likes of Samsung and Hyundai Motor Co, despite constant complaints of poor governance criticism both companies deny. So unless Hindenburg can show that Adani wont be the incubator of the Modi governments industrial ambitions, or that India doesnt have a shot at becoming the next South Korea, in the near term, its arguments are likely to fall on deaf ears. Advertisement Now dont get me wrong. I like short sellers. They serve a key role in a marketplace that is prone to exuberance. But do those sitting in New York have unique insight into the intricate workings of developing nations? Im not so sure. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Adani Saga Puts Investor Trust in India in Doubt: Andy Mukherjee Adanis Fortune Deserves Greater Recognition: Andy Mukherjee A Billionaire Hydrogen Evangelists Big Test: Fickling & Marques This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Shuli Ren is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asian markets. A former investment banker, she was a markets reporter for Barrons. She is a CFA charterholder. 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 Ukraines allies have provided thousands of armored vehicles, artillery pieces, aircraft and other weapon systems to help the country fight back against Russias invasion. But requests for top-of-the-line, NATO-standard battle tanks above all the German-made Leopard and US Abrams long went unfulfilled. The US cited training and logistical hurdles and Germany said it would not make such a move alone. Yet there are reasons why Ukraines military wants them. 1. What tanks is Ukraine expecting to receive? The dam appeared to break in mid-January, when the UK said it would send 14 of its Challenger 2 main battle tanks (MBTs) a classification that refers to the heaviest, most powerful armored vehicles. On Jan. 25, Germany pledged to supply Ukraine with 112 Leopard 2 battle tanks over an unspecified period in a joint effort with allies, while the US said it would send 31 of the Abrams M1. Frances President Emmanuel Macron said he did not rule out sending the Leclerc, its own MBT. It will likely be months before NATO-designed tanks reach the front lines. Advertisement 2. Werent some tanks and armored vehicles already sent? Yes. Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, North Macedonia and the Netherlands have delivered at least 450 modernized Soviet-design tanks, mainly T-72s, since late February 2022. According to the open source intelligence website Oryx, Ukraine has also captured 543 tanks from Russia, many of which it has been able to redeploy. Allied pledges of armored fighting vehicles such as the US Bradley, the German Marder and French AMX-10 sparked a debate over definitions. While these also carry weapons to destroy enemy tanks, they are lighter than MBTs and used to transport infantry to the combat zone alongside them. A Bradley Fighting Vehicle, for example, is less than half the weight of an Abrams M1 tank, has a 25mm chain gun instead of a 120mm canon, and carries about seven soldiers in addition to crew. 3. Why does Ukraine need more of them? Advertisement Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said additional armor and firepower will be crucial in the coming months, whether to defend against another major Russian assault or to punch through Russian lines and take back occupied territory. The heavier tanks from North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries would also come with a supply of ammunition. Both sides in the war have seen their fleets and ammunition stocks depleted. The Russian army and airborne forces began the war with 3,000 main battle tanks, while Ukraine had 982, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a London think tank. By Jan. 24, Russia had lost at least 1,642, and Ukraine 449. 4. Hasnt the war proved that tanks are obsolete? No. Early images of Russian tanks being destroyed by Ukrainian foot soldiers, using anti-tank missiles such as the US Javelin and Swedish-designed NLAW gave that impression. Yet most of the Russian tanks were destroyed by artillery and made vulnerable by catastrophic errors in their deployment, as well as a chronic shortage of troops. The lack of infantry support meant those tanks had no defense against ambush. Advertisement 5. Why so much focus on the Leopard? The Leopard 2 is regarded as one of the best tanks in the world, and is used by 19 nations as a result. Running on easily available diesel, it can travel about 450 kilometers (280 miles) at a top speed of 70 km per hour and is easier to master than some others, according to the German manufacturer, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW). It also has night vision capabilities and a stabilized 120mm smooth bore gun that can accurately fire at targets as far as 3,000 meters (almost 2 miles) away. KMW says it has sold 3,500 units of the Leopard, making stocks and availability a key attraction although not all are in readily deployable condition. 6. What are the hurdles with the Abrams? Its more battle tested than any other NATO tank, has advantages in armor and can sustain a much faster rate of fire than most of its Russian-designed opposites. However, it is also about 20 tons heavier than a T-72 and has a turbine engine that guzzles a gallon of jet fuel for every mile traveled (or just over a quarter of a kilometer per liter). US Under Secretary of Defense Colin Kahl described it as a very complicated piece of equipment, expensive, hard to train on and not the easiest system to maintain. Advertisement 7. How do the Leopard and Abrams compare to Russian tanks? Both proved themselves more than a match for Iraqs Soviet-era T-72s during the first Gulf war, in part due to the longer range of their guns. However, the T-72s on the battlefields in Ukraine are upgraded designs, and many can fire at a similar range to the Leopard and Abrams. On paper, some versions of the T-90, Russias latest operational tank, are even better than their NATO opposites, with a superior gun and anti-tank missile system. However, the war has proved that technological advantage counts for less than how a tank is used. Russia has lost at least 43 T-90s, including 10 of the latest T-90Ms. The training Ukrainian forces receive in combined arms operations using tanks in tandem with air defense, intelligence and infantry will likely be more important than specifications. 8. What about the Challenger and Leclerc? Advertisement Both are also very capable. However, whereas thousands of Leopard and Abrams tanks exist, there are far fewer Challengers and Leclercs to draw from. The UK, for example, is the only NATO member using the Challenger. The defense ministry says it has four regiments operating 56 Challenger 2s each. And while Ukraine has welcomed all offers, keeping 14 Challengers supplied on the battlefield with the unique ammunition they use, as well as tailored spare parts and separately trained crews may also present hurdles. 9. How many Leopards are available and who has them? The magazine Der Spiegel said in a Jan. 21 article that the German defense ministry listed 312 Leopard 2s in Germany, of which 99 were undergoing maintenance. Poland, Sweden and Spain are among European countries with more than 200 of the tanks. Advertisement 10. Why were Germany and the US reluctant to supply Ukraine with tanks? Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany wouldnt act alone and wanted to avoid any action that might provoke escalation of the war in Ukraine. Theres also the issue of history: tanks led Nazi Germanys brutal invasion of Russia in 1941. The US has been just as hesitant, despite releasing tens of billions of dollars worth of other heavy weaponry. However pressure to act has risen, if only because of the capacity the US has to deliver in numbers that could change the balance of forces. According to the IISS, the US Army has 2,509 Abrams M1A1 and M1A2 tanks in service, with a further 3,700 in storage. So far, though, it has committed only a handful. --With assistance from Alexander Pearson. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share Ukraines allies have provided thousands of armored vehicles, artillery pieces, aircraft and other weapon systems to help the country fight back against Russias invasion. But requests for top-of-the-line, NATO-standard battle tanks above all the German-made Leopard and US Abrams long went unfulfilled. The US cited training and logistical hurdles and Germany said it would not make such a move alone. Yet there are reasons why Ukraines military wants them. 1. What tanks is Ukraine expecting to receive? The dam appeared to break in mid-January, when the UK said it would send 14 of its Challenger 2 main battle tanks (MBTs) a classification that refers to the heaviest, most powerful armored vehicles. On Jan. 25, Germany pledged to supply Ukraine with 112 Leopard 2 battle tanks over an unspecified period in a joint effort with allies, while the US said it would send 31 of the Abrams M1. Frances President Emmanuel Macron said he did not rule out sending the Leclerc, its own MBT. It will likely be months before NATO-designed tanks reach the front lines. Advertisement 2. Werent some tanks and armored vehicles already sent? Yes. Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, North Macedonia and the Netherlands have delivered at least 450 modernized Soviet-design tanks, mainly T-72s, since late February 2022. According to the open source intelligence website Oryx, Ukraine has also captured 543 tanks from Russia, many of which it has been able to redeploy. Allied pledges of armored fighting vehicles such as the US Bradley, the German Marder and French AMX-10 sparked a debate over definitions. While these also carry weapons to destroy enemy tanks, they are lighter than MBTs and used to transport infantry to the combat zone alongside them. A Bradley Fighting Vehicle, for example, is less than half the weight of an Abrams M1 tank, has a 25mm chain gun instead of a 120mm canon, and carries about seven soldiers in addition to crew. 3. Why does Ukraine need more of them? Advertisement Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said additional armor and firepower will be crucial in the coming months, whether to defend against another major Russian assault or to punch through Russian lines and take back occupied territory. The heavier tanks from North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries would also come with a supply of ammunition. Both sides in the war have seen their fleets and ammunition stocks depleted. The Russian army and airborne forces began the war with 3,000 main battle tanks, while Ukraine had 982, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a London think tank. By Jan. 24, Russia had lost at least 1,642, and Ukraine 449. 4. Hasnt the war proved that tanks are obsolete? No. Early images of Russian tanks being destroyed by Ukrainian foot soldiers, using anti-tank missiles such as the US Javelin and Swedish-designed NLAW gave that impression. Yet most of the Russian tanks were destroyed by artillery and made vulnerable by catastrophic errors in their deployment, as well as a chronic shortage of troops. The lack of infantry support meant those tanks had no defense against ambush. Advertisement 5. Why are Leopard tanks so good? The Leopard 2 is regarded as one of the best tanks in the world, and is used by 19 nations as a result. Running on easily available diesel, it can travel about 450 kilometers (280 miles) at a top speed of 70 km per hour and is easier to master than some others, according to the German manufacturer, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW). It also has night vision capabilities and a stabilized 120mm smooth bore gun that can accurately fire at targets as far as 3,000 meters (almost 2 miles) away. KMW says it has sold 3,500 units of the Leopard, making stocks and availability a key attraction although not all are in readily deployable condition. 6. What are the hurdles with the Abrams? Its more battle tested than any other NATO tank, has advantages in armor and can sustain a much faster rate of fire than most of its Russian-designed opposites. However, it is also about 20 tons heavier than a T-72 and has a turbine engine that guzzles a gallon of jet fuel for every mile traveled (or just over a quarter of a kilometer per liter). US Under Secretary of Defense Colin Kahl described it as a very complicated piece of equipment, expensive, hard to train on and not the easiest system to maintain. General Dynamics Corp., which produces the tank at a plant in Lima, Ohio, can construct them partly from old models, but US officials acknowledge it will be many months before theyre ready to get to Ukraine. Advertisement 7. How do the Leopard and Abrams compare to Russian tanks? Both proved themselves more than a match for Iraqs Soviet-era T-72s during the first Gulf war, in part due to the longer range of their guns. However, the T-72s on the battlefields in Ukraine are upgraded designs, and many can fire at a similar range to the Leopard and Abrams. On paper, some versions of the T-90, Russias latest operational tank, are even better than their NATO opposites, with a superior gun and anti-tank missile system. However, the war has proved that technological advantage counts for less than how a tank is used. Russia has lost at least 43 T-90s, including 10 of the latest T-90Ms. The training Ukrainian forces receive in combined arms operations using tanks in tandem with air defense, intelligence and infantry will likely be more important than specifications. 8. What about the Challenger and Leclerc? Advertisement Both are also very capable. However, whereas thousands of Leopard and Abrams tanks exist, there are far fewer Challengers and Leclercs to draw from. The UK, for example, is the only NATO member using the Challenger. The defense ministry says it has four regiments operating 56 Challenger 2s each. And while Ukraine has welcomed all offers, keeping 14 Challengers supplied on the battlefield with the unique ammunition they use, as well as tailored spare parts and separately trained crews may also present hurdles. 9. Which countries have Leopard 2 tanks and how many? The magazine Der Spiegel said in a Jan. 21 article that the German defense ministry listed 312 Leopard 2s in Germany, of which 99 were undergoing maintenance. Poland, Sweden and Spain are among European countries with more than 200 of the tanks. Advertisement 10. Why were Germany and the US reluctant to supply Ukraine with tanks? Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany wouldnt act alone and wanted to avoid any action that might provoke escalation of the war in Ukraine. Theres also the issue of history: tanks led Nazi Germanys brutal invasion of Russia in 1941. The US has been just as hesitant, despite releasing tens of billions of dollars worth of other heavy weaponry. However pressure to act has risen, if only because of the capacity the US has to deliver in numbers that could change the balance of forces. According to the IISS, the US Army has 2,509 Abrams M1A1 and M1A2 tanks in service, with a further 3,700 in storage. So far, though, it has committed only a handful. --With assistance from Alexander Pearson. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share British political scandals, at least in the Conservative era, seem to have a White Lotus quality that is both painful to watch and impossible to ignore. A niggling revelation unsettles the smooth veneer. Then the dial of awkwardness gets turned up until it becomes something hideous. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The tax travails of Nadhim Zahawi have that familiar feel. Zahawi apologized last summer for mistakenly using taxpayer money to heat his horse stables, but that seemed innocent enough. After all, anyone might fail to notice that energy to their second home and their horse stables were on the same bill. And when as a candidate for Tory leader he denied repeatedly that there was anything to see in his tax affairs, people could have taken him at his word; Prime Minister Rishi Sunak clearly did in appointing him Conservative Party chairman. Now Zahawis tax affairs are Sunaks problem. After initial deflections, Zahawi admitted last weekend that Britains tax authority, HMRC, concluded he had been careless and not deliberate in his tax filing and that he had paid to settle the matter reportedly to the tune of 5 million ($6.2 million), including a 30% penalty. Carelessness can mean many things; say, forgetting to put out the garbage bins on collection day. But in tax terms, it carries connotations Zahawi tried to obfuscate with carefully worded denials. After initially backing his minister, Sunak who came to power promising integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level has ordered an ethics investigation after admitting he didnt have all the information at the outset. Advertisement Zahawi is, by all accounts, impressive. An immigrant of Kurdish origin from Saddam Husseins Iraq, he assimilated into British society, excelled at school, became a successful entrepreneur, and won a seat in Parliament for Stratford-on-Avon. He has held a string of government jobs of increasing importance under four prime ministers. In short, Zahawi is the kind of persons many Britons would want to see rise to high office. He proved largely adept there, too, winning plaudits as vaccines minister during Covid. He called for Boris Johnsons resignation 48 hours after his appointment as chancellor of the exchequer. He then backed Johnsons return after Liz Trusss premiership imploded, before pivoting to Sunak, who named him to his current post not a top cabinet job but important enough in the run-up to elections. Its hard to see how hell be able to continue for long in that capacity. While Zahawi wasnt charged with a deliberate misfiling, which can result in prosecution (as in the case of ex-Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone), a finding of carelessness also has a specific meaning here. In HMRCs jargon, the agency considers what the person did or failed to do and asking whether a prudent and reasonable person would have done that or failed to do that in those circumstances. Advertisement Zahawis quiet settlement with HMRC, apparently during the brief time he was chancellor, relates to gains from the sale of shares in YouGov, the polling company he co-founded in 2000. At the time, a 42.5% stake in YouGov was placed in a Gibraltar-based company Balshore Investments, described as the family trust of Nadhim Zahawi in YouGovs 2009 annual report. The stake was eventually sold in the tax year 2017-18 for around 27 million. Like many offshore arrangements, there seem to have been various holding structures involved. Unusually, Zahawi himself claimed no founders shares when YouGov was set up. Instead, he explained, shares were allocated to his father in exchange for some capital and his invaluable guidance. Former Clifford Chance tax lawyer Dan Neidle, who set up the non-profit Tax Policy Associates, began digging into those structures after a media report of an investigation into Zahawis affairs. Neidle found no support for Zahawis claim that his father provided startup capital and little evidence of the valuable guidance Zahawi claimed. He surmised that Zahawi had benefited through gifts and unsecured loans, which should be taxable. Advertisement The onus lies on HMRC to prove its charge of carelessness; it has lost in the courts where it has failed to establish sufficient evidence. If the blame for error is then placed on an agent or tax preparer, the taxpayer must establish they took reasonable care to avoid any inaccuracies. The fact that Zahawi had to pay penalties would suggest any such defence was either not offered or not accepted, though Zahawi was clearly keen to settle the matter without a public battle. In fact, there are many questions about these arrangements that may not be answered. But the investigation ordered by Sunak is over the ethics of his dealings, not HMRCs calculations or conclusions. That would hardly seem to need an investigation. His own statements and lawyers letters sent to Neidle and journalists who raised valid questions about his tax filings suggest conduct falling short of Sunaks own minimum bar of integrity and accountability. Even if the ethics bar is somehow cleared by the investigation, the political damage is already substantial. Investigation is often seen as tantamount to a reprieve (Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab is being investigated for allegations of bullying but continues on). In Zahawis case, it probably makes things worse. It gives Labour a bruise to punch. On Wednesday Labour leader Keir Starmer called Sunak hopelessly weak for not acting more decisively. Advertisement Journalists have already been digging into other elements of Zahawis private affairs, making him an awkward choice to be the face of a Conservative Party that needs to appeal to poorer voters in the north and recover from a string of scandals (remember Partygate?) that suggest this is an elite that plays by a different set of rules. It also makes it impossible for Sunak to focus on his governing agenda if hes fighting ethical fires. Meantime, voters are getting regular reminders of the kind of sleaze stories Sunak hoped to leave behind. A parliamentary committee is investigating whether Johnson deliberately misled Parliament over Partygate. And this week saw the announcement of an investigation into the appointment of Johnson friend and Conservative donor Richard Sharp to the position of BBC chair, after it emerged that Sharp, while a candidate for the job, had introduced Sam Blyth, a wealthy Canadian (who was reportedly prepared to act as a guarantor for an 800,000 loan to Johnson, a distant cousin) to Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, who heads the civil service. In a sign of just how cozy it gets at the top of British politics, Sharp was reportedly once Sunaks boss at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. None of these are problems of Sunaks own making. But they make it much harder for him to claim his government is making a fresh start. Advertisement More From Bloomberg Opinion: What Does Sunak Stand For? His Party Needs to Know: Martin Ivens Can Sunak Stand Up to the Last Brexit Holdouts?: Therese Raphael US and British Conservatives Are Frozen in Failure: Clive Crook (Corrects reference to BBC Chair Richard Sharp and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case in penultimate paragraph.) 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 Jack Teixeira came from a military family that praised his service in the Massachusetts Air National Guard. But he now stands accused of the largest breach of military intelligence in at least a decade. Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share My mom was diagnosed with Stage 3 urothelial cancer in India in June 2013. From then to when she died in December 2015, my brother and I flew thousands of miles between the United States and India, and spent thousands of dollars to get her the care she needed. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight In most ways, our experience is similar to that of any family managing a loved ones illness, except that for certain periods, we had to do it from afar. In that, too, our experience is not unusual. At this very moment, many immigrants and U.S. citizens are trying to balance their lives here with taking care of family members struggling with life-threatening diseases in our home countries. A phone call sends us rushing to airports willing the flights to get there soon and often reaching too late. My brother and I arrived in Mumbai a few hours after our dad took his last breath in 2010, before an emergency surgery for a hip fracture. Hed had health problems for the last five years of his life, and my brother and I had taken turns at long-distance caregiving: My brother, a neurologist, went for every medical procedure, and I would follow to help our parents during the recovery period. Advertisement After he died, we asked our mom to come live with one of us. She declined, preferring her independence and life in Mumbai. She had always been healthy, walking most everywhere and eating sensibly. We settled into a routine where she stayed in India for most of the year and then made the long journey to be with both of us for a few months. My brother and I are U.S. citizens, and my mom had a 10-year tourist visa for the United States, which made travel easier. For visitors from many countries, it can now be harder to get such visas. A troubling pain One day in 2013, my mom started getting low-grade abdominal pain, which did not lessen despite medications. After the pain got worse, a primary-care physician recommended a scan. It revealed a tumor that a biopsy found was cancerous. She needed to have a kidney and parts of her ureter removed. Advertisement My brother got on the next flight, and within days my mom had surgery. My brother stayed for a month and a half with her in a hospital, sleeping on a couch in her room, eating in the cafeteria and taking calls from patients in his own practice at night, when it was daytime in the United States. When my mother finally was discharged, my brother returned to his family and medical practice in Ashland, Ore., and one of my uncles in India and his wife helped with her recovery. When she was well enough to begin radiation, I went to India for six weeks, stitching together vacation time, comp days and a few sick days. In January 2014, six months after her diagnosis, her oncologist cleared her for travel, and she came to the United States. Her scans were clear, and we had a bit of a breather. That summer, my mom was due for a scan. She was staying with me, and we decided to get it done in Mumbai because my moms tourist insurance would not cover a scan done in the United States. Once we got to India, she and I went for her scan. I returned a few hours later to get the results. I still recall how cold the room was and how cold my hands got. I read and reread the pages. The cancer had metastasized to her lungs. Tiny dots on the images. Advertisement My mom took the news with her usual grace and calm. Not once did she break down or get angry. She trusted my brother and me to take care of her. And as a woman of science my mom had a masters in chemistry and had taught high school chemistry until she retired she hoped the treatments would work. The cost of chemo She had to begin chemotherapy soon. The treatment would be exorbitantly expensive in the United States, where she wouldnt have adequate insurance, but it was manageable in India. I took three months off under the Family and Medical Leave Act, which requires private employers with 50 or more workers to offer up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year. My supervisor and colleagues were completely supportive. Because I work for The Washington Post, I was very lucky to have this option. Many people who work for small companies cannot take even unpaid leave with no threat of a job loss. And some immigrants covered by the act may be on visas or in situations that make it hard to leave the United States and return. Advertisement The three months passed in a blur of scans, blood tests and other exams, chemo sessions, hospital rooms and oncologist appointments. Having my moms friends and neighbors visit often was comforting. When my leave ended, my mom and I returned to the United States. Her chemo was not complete, and it had not reduced the tumors in her lungs. Her Indian oncologist had given her only three months to live. In the United States, we could continue her chemo and search for other treatments. My mother moved in with my brother in August and was able to get a green card sponsored by my brother, which meant she could get insurance to cover some of her chemotherapy and unrelated care such as dental work. While the tumors were not shrinking, at least they were not growing rapidly. The oncologists could not say for sure whether the drugs were helping or whether the tumors were just slow-growing, though the consensus seemed to lean to the latter. Advertisement Perhaps, we thought, we could get her into a clinical trial that might help. With the many hospitals and research centers in the Washington area, my mom came to live with me and join a trial. U.S. clinical trials From October 2014 until she died 14 months later, my mom enrolled in three trials. She underwent painful biopsies, numerous tests, hospital stays and chemotherapy. In the midst of it all, we managed a fairly stable household routine. I would ask for early-morning appointments for scans and tests so I could race to work after they were done. Some days, I worked from home so I could get her to and from the chemotherapy sessions. My mom did not suffer too many side effects, apart from fatigue. She cooked wonderful meals for us, and I took over during the weekends. When I was at work, she took walks when she felt up to it, read the daily paper and books, and watched TV. My brother called her twice a day, as did I, and he visited. Friends came over. Some weekends, we took the bus to the Target in Columbia Heights, where we browsed the wares. My mom loved bags and liked shopping for them. Over the years, I had bought her numerous bags, which she would promptly gift to her nieces and friends. Advertisement There were bad days, too, of course. The worst were the days when the scan results came in, because they never brought good news. The tumors were continuing to grow. Missing home I know my mom missed her home in India, her familiar routine, her family, friends and neighbors. It wasnt easy for her at nearly 80 to adjust to a new country and a new life. But she never complained, never demanded to return and, when asked how she was, she would invariably say, My children are here, and where they are, I am happy. Because my mom continued to seem healthy, we held out the hope that some treatment would work and that one day she could return to India, even if for only a few months. We held on to that even after she began coughing, losing her appetite and grew more tired. The last trial she was in, at the National Institutes of Health, was hard: The medication would give her chills that she described as ice inside her bones. Advertisement For Thanksgiving 2014, my brother, sister-in-law and their two young kids came to visit. In pictures taken then, my mom looks frail. But since I was used to seeing her every day, I had not noticed. My brother brought up the idea of getting a nurse or similar caregiver to watch over her while I was at work, to make sure she ate and took her medication for the cough. But the morning of the day my brother and his family were to return home, my mom started coughing up blood, and we rushed her to the emergency room. The tumors were now much larger, and they irritated her airway, making her cough and exhausting her. Admitted to the hospitals intensive care unit, she slept most hours and ate very little. Soon she slipped into unconsciousness. We arranged with hospice care to move her back to my apartment with a hospital bed and morphine to keep her comfortable and an oxygen tank to help her breathe. Advertisement Although our mom never spoke again, we could see that she was much more relaxed away from the lights, sounds and constant movement in the intensive care unit. For four days, we watched over her, talked to her even though she was unconscious, changed her gown, brushed her soft silver hair and held her hand. On the fourth night, she died, as my brother and I sat beside her. My brother and I feel grateful that we could be there for our mom, that we could arrange for her to receive quality care and that our family could afford to pay for it. And we could do all this because of world-class hospitals and physicians in the United States, American laws related to health care and immigration, and supportive bosses and colleagues. Some lessons learned We learned some lessons from this experience that may help others with sick relatives in far-off locales. 1. The travel insurance that many people buy when they visit the United States as tourists usually does not cover preexisting conditions. If your loved one is a U.S. citizen or has a green card, there are insurance programs, state and private, that may make treatments affordable. Medicare is limited to U.S. citizens, and to some legal permanent residents, mostly those age 65 or older. Some states do not offer Medicaid, which serves people with limited income and financial assets, to non-Americans. In such cases, you will have to buy much more expensive insurance, which may not cover certain procedures and medications. Another option is to choose less-expensive treatment in the patients home country, as we did. 2. The United States grants a B-2 visa for travelers coming to this country for medical reasons, but it requires a lot of supporting paperwork. Some U.S. hospitals, such as New Yorks Memorial Sloan Kettering and Minnesotas Mayo Clinic, are known for attracting foreign patients, but you can also check hospitals in your region. There is no central government-run website for such information, but you can check private ones such as VoyagerMed. 3. Clinical trials do not impose a financial burden because treatment costs are borne by the institutions conducting the trial. The patient is assuming a risk that the drug may not work, that they will receive a placebo (or standard treatment) and that the drug will make things worse. The trials did not work for my mom, but some patients do benefit. There are medical requirements to join these trials, and it is tough for noncitizens and visitors with green cards to get into them in the United States. But there are trials in multiple countries, and there may be some in your loved ones home country. To learn more, you can search an NIH directory. 4. Being away from family, friends and home is very hard for immigrants of every age, and more so for older adults. WhatsApp, the free texting, voice and video-calling service, is one of the best ways for them to stay connected. My mom texted and talked to her siblings, other family members and good friends every day. Separately, I had several Indian channels on my cable lineup. Every evening after dinner, we would watch our favorite serials. 5. If you need to return to your home country to help a loved one, use the leave offered by the Family and Medical Leave Act if it applies to your situation. It says certain employees can take three months off, without pay. Use it if you can afford to do so. Otherwise, cobble together sick days and vacation days, and telework if you have that option. 6. If you are the sole caregiver, as I was, try to take breaks, and ask your friends and family for help. My biggest regrets about this experience were the times when I was short with my mom or did not explain things clearly to her because I was stressed. 7. Most of all, be kind. Being in a foreign country is not easy, least of all for someone who is ill, fearful and sad. My mom spoke fluent English, was capable of exploring places on her own and was fully functional. Yet, there were things that tripped her up, such as how insurance payments work, how to get approval for treatments and where to go for scans and blood tests. Recognize that there is still your loved one behind the illness, and do your best to be kind. GiftOutline Gift Article German National Tourist Board (GNTB) has been promoting sustainable tourism offerings to travellers, encouraging eco-conscious travel expeditions, thriving towards strengthening intercultural understanding. According to an analysis by IPK International, around 80 per cent of international travellers are conscious about sustainability, climate and environmental protection and around 40 per cent seek cost-effective offers specially when it comes to their stays. In addition, a strong 90 per cent of those surveyed also have a strong desire to combine a city trip with a stay in a rural region; they extend the length of their stay that contributes towards reducing the CO footprint. As a tourist board, we continuously share the latest data with service providers, from customer groups to be addressed, to trends in the choice of transport; these are crucial fundamentals for travel providers, said Petra Hedorfer, CEO, German National Tourist Board (GNTB). The continuous exchange of best practices is also extremely important in a transformation, so that travel providers can make faster progress together we, as a Tourist Board, act as a networking and knowledge platform to accelerate these eco-conscious transformations, she added further. We welcome travellers to experience Germany and explore its wide range of attractions that are not only exciting but are also environmentally friendly. We thrive in the narrative Germany Simply Inspiring, which was launched in 2017 and aims to promote the country's positive image among a global audience, said Yamina Sofo, Director at the Dubai-based German National Tourist Office (GNTO). GCC travellers can enjoy Germanys plethora of sustainable offerings, including affordable public transport options, green architecture, and sprawling parks. Feel Good, one of the campaigns launched in 2022, focuses heavily on sustainable tourism and promotes myclimate.org, a CO2 calculator that tracks carbon emissions linked to travelling and acts as a platform for offsetting emissions by taking calculated donations to social causes. The compensatory initiative was created to help positively shape the future, and help travellers offset their carbon footprint. This year, the GNTB will run three theme-specific campaigns that will continue to focus on sustainable tourism: Feel Good, Embrace German Nature, and a new cultural campaign focussing on the 51 UNESCO World Heritage Sites Historic Modern Germany which aims to highlight Germanys rich culture and heritage. TradeArabia News Service NATICK, Mass. George Matook, program manager of the Measuring and Advancing Soldier Tactical Readiness and Effectiveness, or MASTR-E, Program at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center, received the Science and Technology Professional of the Year award for the 2022 Army Acquisition Executives Excellence in Leadership Awards during a ceremony held at the Pentagon Jan. 10. Under Matooks leadership, MASTR-E has helped shape the Armys approach to addressing human performance challenges by creating the initial capability to measure, predict, and enhance the close combat performance of Soldiers and squads to maximize their lethality and survivability. This important capability will provide a valuable tool for unit leaders to track the performance and status of their Soldiers during training, mission planning, and recovery. The award, presented by The Honorable Douglas R. Bush, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology) and Army Acquisition Executive, recognized the individual accomplishments and leadership traits Matook demonstrated in leading the MASTR-E team and praised the capabilities the program has generated for the Army and across the Department of Defense. Mr. Matooks technical expertise, communication skills, and program management insight directly resulted in the initiation, development, and institutionalization of a human performance program within the United States Army, reads the official award citation. His teams technology discoveries and capability transitions have already provided critical tools to both Soldiers and leaders enabling the initial ability to monitor, predict and proactively and positively intervene in their individual and unit performance, and physical and mental health conditions. Mr. Matooks accomplishments have established the current state of human performance technologies and laid the foundation for future opportunities leading to an overall increase in soldier lethality and survivability. Mr. Matooks mature leadership in this area has propelled senior leaders overall understanding of human performance; he has catalyzed the creation of communities of purpose within the Department of Defense focused on holistic solutions to human performance challenges in the soldier lethality and survivability program areas. Matooks award highlights both his personal performance and DEVCOM Soldier Centers collective contributions to the DoD science and technology community. Im proud of the work our MASTR-E Program team has done to advance human performance research, said Doug Tamilio, Director of DEVCOM Soldier Center. Soldier Center is fortunate to have George leading this crucial effort for the Army and this prestigious S&T award reflects the impact MASTR-E is having to increase Soldier Lethality. The DEVCOM Soldier Center is committed to discovering, developing, and advancing science and technology solutions that ensure Americas warfighters are optimized, protected, and lethal. DEVCOM Soldier Center supports all of the Armys Modernization efforts, with the Soldier Lethality and Synthetic Training Environment Cross Functional Teams being the DEVCOM Soldier Centers chief areas of focus. The centers science and engineering expertise are combined with collaborations with industry, DOD, and academia to advance Soldier and squad performance. The center supports the Army as it transforms from being adaptive to driving innovation to support a Multi-Domain Operations Capable Force of 2028 and a MDO Ready Force of 2035. DEVCOM Soldier Center is constantly working to strengthen soldiers performance to increase readiness and support for warfighters who are organized, trained, and equipped for prompt and sustainable ground combat. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) outreach and mentoring the next generation of scientists and engineers are also an important part of the mission of DEVCOM Soldier Center. The mentoring of students by Army scientists and engineers benefits the students and their communities. It also increases young peoples awareness of potential Army job opportunities and helps provide the Army with potential new talent, helping to fuel innovative ideas that benefit the nations warfighters and the nation as a whole. DEVCOM Soldier Center is part of DEVCOM. Through collaboration across the commands core technical competencies, DEVCOM leads in the discovery, development and delivery of the technology-based capabilities required to make soldiers more lethal to win our nations wars and come home safely. DEVCOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Futures The third of the three buildings destroyed in the early morning fire on Main Street downtown Oct. 16, 2022 has been demolished. The demolition project, originally estimated to be completed by Jan. 20, was temporarily paused due to the storms that moved through the area and challenges in obtaining some of the equipment needed, said Navigator International Program Manager Staci Hayes. At the Enterprise City Council meeting last week, the council approved Hayes request to keep some of the streets closed until today. Some of the bricks from the twostory building most recently demolished are attached to the adjoining building in such a way that they have to be removed by hand, Hayes said. Three buildings were destroyed and adjacent structures damaged during the early morning fire that swept through the 100 block on Main Street in historic downtown Enterprise. Firefighters battled the blaze for more than four hours that apparently started in the co-joined businesses, She Shed and All About Art Studio, before spreading to the apartments next door. After inspections by safety engineers, the structural integrity of the buildings were deemed compromised from the fire, and it was decided to demolish the buildings, Hayes said, Navigator International is located behind the burned buildings. The company was contracted to oversee the demolition of the neighboring businesses during the process. Its extremely sad to see it come down but through the ashes, they will rise again, Hayes said. Barricades are still up around the area being worked on. We ask drivers to avoid the area if possible because it is congested with equipment related to the project, said Enterprise Police Chief Michael Moore. Semi-trucks are being guided through by law enforcement officers who are on the scene to direct traffic. His disciples move in pairs, colonising al fresco Italian dining venues on Barefoot Date Nights. They divvy up their pay into five separate bank accounts, fawn over swelling savings, and slurp spanner crab linguine. Not a crease of worry marks their financially unburdened foreheads. If theres any doubt youve spotted a pair of Scott Papes acolytes in the wild, keep an eye out for a flash of an ING debit card. Theyre a shade of Nickelodeon orange that reminds me of a pool of regurgitated juice I once scraped off a table during my first job at McDonalds, as well as every awful financial decision Ive ever made since. (That includes spending the last of those Maccas savings on a $1000 hysterectomy for my geriatric pet rat. Sometimes death is a mercy.) I cant subscribe to Pope Papes financial rules. The first iteration of what would become Australias biggest-selling book arrived in 2004 when Pape, a 26-year-old stockbroker-turned-writer, published The Barefoot Investor: Five Steps to Financial Freedom with a small, now-defunct publisher. According to Goodreads, readers also enjoyed Don Quixote, Madame Bovary and a romance manga titled Sweat and Soap: Volume 5, perhaps a portent for The Barefoot Investors future as a titillating classic. But it was the books 2016 incarnation, released by educational publisher Wiley, that took The Barefoot Investor to biblical status. This story is part of the January 29 edition of Sunday Life. Supermodel Kate Moss is a changed woman. The former party girl has traded dancing on tables at all-night celebrations for clean living, with sunscreen replacing hangover cures in her morning routine. This is new to my regime: sunscreen, Moss, 49, says in a video for US Vogue demonstrating her skincare routine. My daughter tells me off all the time: Mummy, you have to wear sunscreen. I do know its important. If youre working inside, a morning sunscreen application should be enough. Credit: Lacey/Trunk Archive/Snapper Images The founder of Australian e-tailer Adore Beauty, Kate Morris, has a head start on Moss, having prioritised sun protection as part of her skin routine for many years. Do whatever you want with your skin but you have to wear sunscreen, Morris says. We are in Australia, after all. Its part of the reason Adore Beautys first in-house products under the label AB Lab, launched in October, were SPF50+ sunscreens with active ingredients. Skin cancer expert Professor Adele Green is concerned were not doing sunscreen correctly. She welcomes the new focus on skincare products with an SPF 50 rating but still recommends using a dedicated sunscreen. A community gathering will be held Jan. 27 at 10 a.m. at 4184 Myles Street in Marianna to celebrate the start of construction on a new home for a local family. The family was not named in the public notice announcing the event, but the project was described as a pilot project to assist qualified city employees who are still struggling to recover from Hurricane Michael. Marianna is partnering with the North Florida Inland Long Term Recovery Group in the effort, along with volunteers from Orland Park Church of Illinois to build the house over a period of six weeks. Construction begins Monday, Jan. 30. Other involved entities noted were the Chipola Baptist Association, World Renew and Jackson County. At the invitation of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO), Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, spoke at the EUs Working Party on Customs Union on 25 January 2023. He presented the WCOs Strategic Outlook for 2023 and highlighted the focus areas for the current year as well as the Organizations modernization initiatives and the new theme of the year Nurturing the next generation: promoting a culture of knowledge-sharing and professional pride in Customs. EU Members expressed their appreciation for the WCOs agility in responding to new global trends and emerging topics and stressed the importance for the Organization to remain the primary centre of Customs expertise on the global stage. They also provided concrete input and recommendations to contribute to the reform efforts of the WCO and the Customs community as a whole. Dr. Mikuriya thanked the EU and its member states for their support and commitment to WCO activities. Former state representative Perry Hooper Jr. has filed a lawsuit against Montgomerys police chief and the city of Montgomery, alleging he was set up for an arrest on a sexual abuse charge involving a Montgomery restaurant hostess last summer. The case was dismissed after the alleged victim decided not to press charges and asked for an apology from Hooper. Hooper issued an apology. But in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Montgomery County Circuit Court, Hooper said he never should have been charged. He is asking for a copy of the video of the incident that led to the charge, which his lawsuit described as laughable. The Plaintiff and his family have suffered emotionally and financially, the lawsuit says. The only way for the Plaintiff to save his reputation is to view said file and expose what was an obvious political set-up by the Plaintiffs political enemies. Defendants in the case are the city of Montgomery and Police Chief Darryl Albert. AL.com left a message with the citys legal department asking for a statement or response to the lawsuit. Hooper has been a longtime outspoken supporter of former President Trump in public statements and opinion pieces for media outlets. His lawsuit suggests that is a reason for an effort to discredit him. Based on information independently obtained, these enemies were working in a company to destroy the plaintiff for his published letters and support as Alabama Coordinator for President Donald Trump, the lawsuit says. Hooper, 68, was arrested in August after of the incident at Ravella, a downtown Montgomery restaurant. He was charged with first-degree sexual abuse, a felony. An affidavit filed at that time said Hooper approached the victim from behind, grabbed her breasts and waist, shoved his pelvis into her backside and began kissing her neck before she was able to break free. A Montgomery County grand jury indicted Hooper in November. Later in November, the alleged victim, Elizabeth Daly, issued a statement through her lawyer. I have asked that any charges against Perry Hopper be dismissed. The matters relating to Mr. Hooper and me have been resolved and going through the turmoil of a trial would provide no more justice than getting a sincere public apology from Mr. Hooper. I so respect and appreciate law enforcement and the job they have to perform, nevertheless, I request these charges be dismissed. In December, the Montgomery County District Attorneys office then moved to dismiss the case. Hooper also issued an apology in December. I would like to express my sincerest apologies to Elizabeth Daly, Hooper said in the statement issued through his attorney, Joe Espy III. On August 16, 2022, Miss Daly was assisting my friend and me, as a hostess where we were dining. I was wrong and I take full responsibility for my actions. Miss Daly is an exemplary person and my behavior was unacceptable. I hope she will accept this apology for my regrettable conduct. In his lawsuit, Hooper describes the incident with the hostess much differently than the affidavit that led to his arrest. The lawsuit says the hostess had initially told Hooper and another guest that they would have to wait 45 minutes for a table, but was later able to seat them in five minutes. The lawsuit says that as Hooper was leaving the restaurant he wanted to thank the hostess. It says he politely hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. The lawsuit says Hooper and his family were allowed to watch the video of the incident at his lawyers office. When the Plaintiff and his family viewed the tape, it was laughable, the lawsuit says. The video was only 2.2 seconds and clearly shows that the Plaintiff did not commit a sexual act and the hostess told the Plaintiff and his guests Thank you, come back, or words that that effect. Hooper, who is represented by attorney Thomas Gallion, claims in the lawsuit that he has made requests under Alabamas open records law to obtain copies of the arrest records, including the video, but has been denied access to those by the city. His lawsuit asks the court for a declaration that the city violated his due process and the open records laws. It asks the court to order the city allow him to view and copy the records. In 1994, Nguyen Van Tri lost his job as a worker when the factory that he had worked at for 18 years downsized. Today, Tri is the proud owner of Lap Phuc Co. which specializes in precision mold making. The company currently enjoys an export turnover of $4 million per year. On the days leading up to the Lunar New Year, Lap Phuc Co.'s factory of more than 10,000 square meters in Ho Chi Minh City was still busy with the final stages of an automobile mold order for export to the United States. Factory worker Vo Nhut Han stared intently at the control panel, a satisfied look on his face as the machine operated smoothly. After graduating from a vocational school with a diploma in mechanical engineering, Han, a young man from the Mekong Delta's Tien Giang Province, joined Lap Phuc. Over the past 15 years, he has become one of the factory's skilled workers, earning a monthly income of about VND20 million (US$850). Thanks to the stable income and savings, he and his wife managed to buy land and build a house in the city. "I'll probably work at Lap Phuc until I retire," said Han, 38. Operating the machine together with Han was Nguyen Van Tri, the factory's general director. "Each working day, I only spend an hour on management work, and the rest of the day is spent down on the factory floor working alongside my fellow workers," said Tri, who is now in his 60s. For him, it's as if being a worker runs in his blood. Factory worker Vo Nhut Han (L) works on a machine at Lap Phuc Company in HCMC as its general director Nguyen Van Tri observes, January 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Le Tuyet Tri is the eldest son in a family of 10 children. The day the country was reunified in 1975 was also the day that he finished vocational school. In order to earn enough money to help his parents raise his siblings, he applied for a worker position at the Southern Agricultural Machinery Company in Bien Hoa Town, nearly 40 kilometers (25 miles) from home. While many were concerned that the distance was too far, he persistently worked at his job. In order not to be bored, he spent the three-hour bus trip to and from work reading books on mechanics to improve his knowledge. Thanks to his hard work and eagerness to learn, after a few years as a worker Tri began to be promoted to managerial positions with the highest position being workshop foreman. In 1994, the company downsized and he lost his job at the age of 35, after 18 years of working there. Despite knowing many mechanics-related jobs, he decided to start up his own business in the mold industry as he thought the manufacturing of any tool would require a mold. With a good mold, he thought, the products will look better and be of higher quality. At that time, the mold industry was dominated by the Chinese. In order not to be "crushed to death" by the competition, he chose a separate branch focusing on making molds for clocks and fans instead of household appliances. To have the best products, he borrowed $120,000 from his relatives to buy a CNC milling machine, a very modern piece of equipment imported to Vietnam 25 years ago. In 2002, Tri's production facility was officially registered as a company. However, the turning point in Lap Phuc's development came in 2005, when the company managed to borrow VND6 billion ($380,000 at the time) from the city's stimulus fund to buy machinery from Switzerland. With new technology, the company could move away from manufacturing low-end molds. With Colgate as its first major customer, Lap Phuc started expanding the customer base to include domestic FDI companies with investment from Europe and the United States. Eight years ago, using a stimulus loan of VND40 billion ($1.9 million at the time), he invested in more machines and built a standard factory to jump into the car mold industry for export to the U.S. market. After nearly 30 years, his business went from a small mechanics workshop, to a company with an export turnover of $4 million per year. Fierce competition However, the road to bringing Lap Phucs products to the international market was far from smooth. The company faced fierce competition from Chinese companies, which were the big brothers in the industry. "When we first started, Chinese factories had already established a solid foothold so it was extremely difficult to squeeze in," Tri said. Tri explained that when two products are of the same quality and price, customers will choose the Chinese supplier because they will prioritize the one with more experience. In order to compete, he determined that his products must be cheaper and of higher quality, meeting the standards of Japanese firms. Nguyen Van Tri inspects the equipment at his factory, January 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Le Tuyet Taking advantage of his background as a skilled mechanic, Tri bought old Japanese machines and repaired and improved them to run the first stages of production. For the finishing stages, the products were made completely on new machines to achieve the most precise and beautiful molds, contributing to reducing the production cost. In recent years, as the United States started imposing high tariffs on goods from China, Lap Phuc benefited since the tax on its products was only a quarter of the tax on molds from Chinese factories. As a result, orders for the company were abundant, even during times when the whole world entered a recession. Not only having to overcome the fierce competition for orders, Tri also had to find ways to retain workers. Lap Phuc currently has 180 employees with incomes ranging from VND10-40 million per month depending on position (new worker, skilled worker or engineer). In order to retain them, he had to first ensure their income. "No matter how good we are, if the wage is not enough for them to live, they will leave," Tri said. He also said that it was also necessary to build a proper factory and raise Lap Phuc's standing so that the employees could have faith in the sustainable development of the company. According to Tri, many people in this industry want to hide their trade secrets or clearly divide the production stages so that the workers cannot know how a factory operates to create a product. However, in Lap Phuc, if a worker wants to learn more about the trade, know all the production stages or how to calculate product prices, they will receive support and guidance. Many employees after having improved their skills and gained experience have moved on to start up their own businesses or find job opportunities elsewhere. An automated workshop at Lap Phuc Company. Photo by VnExpress/Le Tuyet "I'm not saddened by that, on the contrary, I'm happy that the mold manufacturing community in our country will grow stronger," Tri said. For him, the competitors at the moment are the Chinese, Japanese and Korean bosses and not the Vietnamese workers eager to learn. Over the years, Lap Phuc has become a training workshop for many colleges and universities that teach mechanical engineering. Do Phuoc Tong, chairman of the HCMC Association of Mechanical and Electrical Enterprises, said that Tri has gone from being a worker, to becoming a good business owner, whose factory has many high-quality product lines. Lap Phuc is one of the few Vietnamese enterprises that are investing heavily in technology and machinery in order to enter the big playing field of G7 countries, especially in the automotive molding industry. If you know of local business openings or closings, please notify us here. PREVIOUS OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS - Air Products & Chemicals Inc. plans to invest a half-billion dollars to produce environmentally friendly hydrogen in New York state. - The Trexlertown Chick-Fil-A plans to add a second drive-thru lane as part of a plan to reduce traffic congestion. - The Harrisburg-based Mid Penn bank has opened its first full-service branch in the Lehigh Valley in South Whitehall. - The Allentown Planning Commission put off a decision on a new Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen at the site of the former Nostos Greek restaurant. - The former Star Crete concrete plant at the intersection of Farmersville Road and Easton Avenue has been sold for $1.58 million, and that may clear the way for a medical office building. - The local business SuperSets Gym will open its third location in Allentown's South Mall, with no opening date set yet. - The jewelry boutique Versant will close later this year, but the business will be consolidated at Gary Werkheiser's other location in Saucon Valley Square. - The DSW Woodmill Commons has moved to Berkshire West, 1101 Woodland Road in Wyomissing. - Trainer Michael Melendez has opened his new Reading Extreme Boxing Club where PacSun used to operate in the Berkshire Mall. - Frackville NAPA Auto Parts held a grand opening with the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and Frackville Business & Professional Association. - Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers in North Manheim Township held a grand opening, in conjunction with the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and Pottsville Business Association. - PDC Machines, a maker of hydrogen compressors, showed off a new plant in Lower Salford. - Maya Capital Partners has acquired Amwell Valley Self Storage, a 265-unit storage business on Route 31 in Ringoes, New Jersey. - Norwescap is buying the former Sullivan's on the Main restaurant in Phillipsburg to renovate the building and then use it for programs to help educate and feed people. Christine Girtain, a science teacher in one of Toms River, N.J.'s high schools, speaks at a public meeting in Toms River on Wednesday, Jan., 25, 2023, about a proposed settlement between the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and BASF Corp to restore natural resources that were damaged by the operations of the former Ciba Geigy chemical plant. Girtain wants an environmental education center that will be built as part of the settlement to document the site's history of illegal dumping and the town's history of elevated childhood cancer cases and deaths. MAIDENCREEK TWP., Pa. The Maidencreek Township Board of Supervisors on Wednesday night conducted the third session of an ongoing public hearing for an application for a warehouse at Route 222 and Evansville Road. The hearing will most likely continue for several months, as there are 20 members of the public who have registered as parties to the proceedings, meaning each of those individuals will have an opportunity to present their own cases with witnesses after the applicant completes his testimony. Maiden Creek Associates LP, Plymouth Meeting, is seeking a conditional use to allow the construction of a 930,000-square-foot building for wholesale business, storage and warehousing. Within the C-2 regional commercial zoning district, the use is permitted by conditional-use approval from the township supervisors. The applicant needs to demonstrate that qualifications are being met to receive conditional use. The facility is being proposed on an 80.76-acre tract on Route 222 near the Schaeffer Road roundabout. Wednesday's hearing consisted only of the members of the public who have registered as parties. They asked questions of Christopher Williams, a traffic study engineer, who gave his testimony at the last hearing. The first resident questioned Williams for 90 minutes. Gregg Adelman, attorney for the applicant, objected to the questioning numerous times to stop the resident from presenting testimony. The parties may not actually present testimony or evidence until the applicant has completed the hearing of all its witnesses and rested its case. At one point, Adelman called the questioning out of order. "This is something that we can just keep digging into every line item, and we can be here forever," Adelman said. "At some point, we have to put a limit on this; I don't know when this ends." Adelman said he may ask a judge to intervene. "I'd like to go on record that I would request the board for some type of limit on the parties in terms of the questions that they can ask on cross-examination," Adelman said. "Otherwise, I'm going to find myself having to go to court in order to establish some type of defined procedure for this hearing, because at the end, we'll never get there," Adelman continued, "and that's a denial of my client's due process." Township Solicitor Eric Frey refused to set boundaries. "We're not going to do that," Frey said. "As you know, these are laypeople, and are not attorneys." Earlier this month, the township was notified of litigation that Maiden Creek Associates filed against the township. 2:17 Warehouse developer sues Maidencreek Twp. over 'illegal' noise ordinance Developer Maidencreek Associates says it would be 'virtually impossible' to meet the criteria laid out in the township's noise ordinance. The suit alleges that the township's noise ordinance is not in compliance with state law, making it impossible for the proposed warehouse to comply with the township noise regulations. The parties which questioned Williams Wednesday night repeatedly challenged his testimony that the proposed warehouse will not cause undue congestion or hazardous conditions on roads within the township. The warehouse is expected to generate 1,686 trips per day, or 843 vehicles over a 24-hour period. Residents also challenged Williams on the way he conducted a traffic study. "Our estimates of the traffic generated by the warehouse is based on actual studies of other similar warehouses," Williams said. "There is a process that we must follow," he continued. "After this process, we have to submit fully engineered design plans in order to secure a highway occupancy permit. It's really at that stage when PennDOT will review the technical detail of the design." The fourth hearing is scheduled for Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m., at which time two remaining residents will have their turn at questioning Williams before the applicant can call its next witness. Gyalwang Drukpa meets a Buddhist follower during his trip to Vietnam in 2018. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh Gyalwang Drukpa, head of the Drukpa Lineage of Vajrayana Buddhism, arrived in Hanoi on Thursday to begin his two-week spring visit, marking his return after a four-years absence due to the impact of Covid. He will chair a three-day spring festival at the Great Stupa Mandala Tay Thien in Vinh Phuc Province, around 45 kilometers from Hanoi, from January 27-29 to pray for luck to the country and people of Vietnam. On Wednesday afternoon, an exhibition opened at the Great Stupa Mandala Tay Thien, depicting a 15-year journey of Gyalwang Drukpa and his entourage visiting Vietnam for spiritual activities. The Buddhist leader and his Sangha are expected to perform spiritual ceremonies at several pagodas in the northern provinces of Bac Ninh, Vinh Phuc and Phu Tho during the trip. Vajrayana is one of the various Buddhist traditions of Tantra and "Secret Mantra," which developed in medieval India and later spread to Tibet and East Asia. The Gyalwang Drukpas first visit to Vietnam was in 2007. Since then, he has returned to Vietnam multiple times. His most recent visit was in 2019, the year before the onset of the pandemic. Vietnam is a predominantly Buddhist nation. It is estimated that over 70% of the Vietnamese population either are Buddhist or follow Buddhist practices. A five-hour police delay in alerting the public that the California dance hall killer was on the run is throwing a spotlight on the nation's flawed, patchwork system for warnings of mass shooters at large. Experts say an alert should have been sent out immediately after police responded to the shooting in Monterey Park that left 11 dead on Saturday. During the delay, the gunman walked into another nearby dance club brandishing his weapon, but was disarmed. A proposed law last year creating an Amber alert-like system was passed by the U.S. House, but died in the Senate. Foreign tourists get off Mein Schiff 5 cruise ship that docks in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province in southern Vietnam, January 26, 2023. Photo by Hac Minh The Malta-flagged Mein Schiff 5 cruise ship docked at SP-PSA International Port in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Thursday, carrying 2,370 foreign visitors, mainly Germans. This was the largest number of foreign tourists to arrive in Vietnam on the first days of the Lunar New Year. The tourists were greeted with flowers and gifts from local tourism officials. Among them, 1,800 tourists visited tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City, before heading to My Tho in the Mekong Delta. Another 570 traveled on their private itineraries. On Thursday night, the cruise ship is expected to continue its journey to Thailand. Tran Thi Thu Hien, deputy director of the Ba Ria - Vung Tau Department of Tourism, said this was good news for the local tourism industry as cruise passengers are a potential source of international visitors. Mein Schiff 5 was launched in 2016 at a cost of over $620 million. It is 295 meters long and can carry 2,700 passengers and 1,000 crew members. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the Silver Spirit departing from Hong Kong brought 500 American and European tourists to Ha Long in the northern province of Quang Ninh. Vietnam has a dense network of 2,360 rivers with a total length of more than 41,900 kilometers. In recent years, luxury river cruises have become a popular tourism product for international visitors. Audrey Serniak (center) gives her opinion on the reverse decision that required voters to go to the election bureau to eliminate the problem of faulty mail in ballots. Available for Roku, Fire TV, AppleTV WFMZ+ STREAMING NEW WAY TO WATCH! Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. Williamson, WV (25661) Today Rain showers in the morning with thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. High 74F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies. Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 58F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. At a United Nations Security Council briefing on Yemen, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg said recent diplomatic engagement between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia is a potential step change in the trajectory of this eight-year conflict. The past nine months have seen the longest period of relative calm in the country since the Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized the capital city of Sanaa in 2014. The conflict has directly and indirectly claimed hundreds of thousands of Yemeni lives and created what the UN regularly refers to as the worlds worst humanitarian disaster. Although a UN-mediated truce between the parties was not formally extended after it expired in October 2022, a significant decrease in civilian casualties and important elements of the truce remain in place. Deputy U.S. Representative to the United Nations Richard Mills welcomed the relative calm in Yemen and expressed hope that the parties can reach a new expanded agreement that paves the way to an inclusive, durable peace. Such an agreement should address Yemenis calls for justice and accountability, as Secretary of State Antony Blinken has previously said. For peace to occur, however, the Houthis must stop attacks on Yemens economic infrastructure, said Ambassador Mills: These attacks threaten to plunge Yemen back into conflict, deprive Yemenis of desperately needed resources, and worsen the humanitarian crisis. Ambassador Mills also deplored the steady flow of weapons sent by Iran to the Houthis. Such lethal, external interference can only fuel war and suffering in Yemen at a time when Yemenis are calling for the Houthis to negotiate to end the war, he said. The best way for the Houthis to achieve their stated goals is to come to an inclusive, durable political agreement with the Yemen Government under the auspices of the United Nations, said Ambassador Mills. Only a Yemeni-Yemeni political agreement can reverse Yemens dire humanitarian crisis. 2023 provides a unique opportunity for peace. The United States and the international community stand ready to support a peace and recovery process, he said. However, it is Yemenis themselves who must choose peace. We call on the Houthis, Ambassador Mills declared, to engage in good faith, seize this unique moment of relative calm, and choose peace and a brighter future over more war and more suffering. "I had a daughter, Caitlyn."Diane Kaufman testified through tears Wednesday as the state's first witness in the trial against Devaunte Hill, 23, and James Cowan, 30.Cowan and Hill are accused of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Lebanon nurse Caitlyn Kaufman, 26, on Interstate 440 in December 2020.After two days of jury selection, the state called eight witnesses Wednesday, [] Abby Heinzen, who was in the Beaver Dam Marching Band from 2009 until 2013, was smiling as she tried on one of the older uniforms on Tuesday prior to the beginning of the annual Parade of Bands program at Beaver Dam High School. Im a special education teacher now at Jefferson (elementary school) and thought it would be good for Green and Gold Day, Heinzen said. I would have picked one up even if I wasnt wearing it there. The band department is starting to plan its 100th year celebration. The Beaver Dam High School Marching Band came into existence around the same time that Beaver Dam Middle School, which served as the high school until 1958, was built. As part of the celebration, the band department is providing options for band members to keep the former uniforms for themselves. The annual Parade of Bands program brings together musicians from Beaver Dam elementary schools, St. Katharine Drexel, Beaver Dam Middle School and Beaver Dam High School to perform in the Beaver Dam High School fieldhouse. Ten different musical groups are on the gym floor with the bands joining together to perform On, Wisconsin as the finale. Many of you are at your umpteenth parade of the bands after coming year after year and some of you are here for your first, Beaver Dam Middle School director Deborah Battenberg said. You are in for a treat either way. The bands started with the fifth grade students who recently started learning to play and ended with the performances with the high school students. Along the way, these kids are learning so much, they are learning to play their instruments obviously, but the teamwork, the commitment, the dedication and the cooperation that goes into putting something like this together is just amazing. Prior and after the concert, the older uniforms were offered at a suggested donation of $5 that would go back to the band program. Angela Davis, who is the uniform chair, said the uniforms were pretty popular. They will be selling more at the Beaver Dam High School Spring Band Concert on April 3. Beaver Dam High School director Kyle Henrickson said there were between 150 and 200 uniforms that they were looking to distribute. Many of them are still boxed up for storage, Henrickson said. The band program last received new uniforms about two years ago. GALLERY: BDHS Marching Band concert A woman was trapped in her own vehicle and begged to be let out after it was allegedly taken by a man and driven erratically from a Dekorra truck stop. Instead, the driver continued driving while telling the woman her family was dead and that he had stolen the car to save her and himself. Kyle M. Wagner, 51, Tonawanda, New York, has been charged with operating a motor vehicle without the owners consent, false imprisonment, attempt to flee or elude an officer and possession of methamphetamine. Wagner could face a maximum of three years in prison and three years of extended supervision if found guilty on each count of operating without the owners consent and false imprisonment. A search warrant was executed on Wagners vehicle that was still at the Dekorra truck stop when the victims car was initially taken. The inventory from the warrant includes a small plastic bag with 0.6 grams of methamphetamine, liquid methamphetamine in a syringe and a pen shell with suspected methamphetamine residue. Wagner was in court on Jan. 20 for his initial appearance in front of Judge Troy Cross. Cross set Wagners cash bond at $40,000 with standard felony conditions and no contact with the victims. According to the criminal complaint filed on Jan. 20 in Columbia County: A sheriffs sergeant received a report from dispatch of a suspicious gray Volkswagen on Jan. 14 around 3:25 a.m. The man driving the vehicle was allegedly not letting the woman in the backseat exit the vehicle. Another victim is identified in the complaint as the husband who was talking with authorities, saying the Volkswagen was stolen with his wife in the backseat. The Columbia County Sheriffs Office, Wisconsin State Patrol and Lodi Police Department worked together to find the vehicle. Around 4:00 a.m. a sheriffs deputy located the vehicle on State Highway 188 near the intersection of County Highway J. The deputy turned on the emergency lights and siren, but Wagner did not slow down. Wagner allegedly drove through a stop sign at State Highway 188 and Gastrow Road travelling at around 90 mph. The deputy reported the vehicle traveling at high rates of speed, crossing the center line of the road, taking sharp corners and putting oncoming traffic at risk. A Lodi police officer put spike strips at the intersection of State Highway 60 and McCully Road. The Volkswagen drove over the spikes and continued into the city of Lodi. The complaint alleges that the vehicle had lost its tires but Wagner kept driving. Wagner allegedly drove into a concrete barrier and went off the road. He got back on State Highway 113 traveling northbound in the southbound lanes. A state trooper performed a pit maneuver that caused the Volkswagen to crash into a guardrail and come to a stop. The victim inside the vehicle was reported safe as Wagner was removed and taken into custody. Officers spoke with Wagner, who said he didnt remember everything from the incident, but did recall driving someone elses car. Wagner told another officer that he had used fentanyl earlier that day and methamphetamine about 10 hours before being arrested. The victim reported she woke up in the backseat of the vehicle while Wagner was driving very fast. The victim told authorities Wagner seemed scared when driving and that he kept saying things like I am saving you and they want to kill you. The victim also said she asked Wagner to stop the vehicle to let her out. Throughout the chase he said he could not stop the car. At one point Wagner allegedly told the victim members of her family were dead. Wagner, according to the victim, seemed to be attempting to drive the vehicle into a bridge or into water. Online records show Wagner remains in custody and is due back in Columbia County Court on Feb. 20 for a pre-trial conference. GALLERY: Thursday at the Columbia County Fair GALLERY: Thursday at the Columbia County Fair GALLERY: Thursday at the Columbia County Fair GALLERY: Thursday at the Columbia County Fair GALLERY: Thursday at the Columbia County Fair GALLERY: Thursday at the Columbia County Fair GALLERY: Thursday at the Columbia County Fair GALLERY: Thursday at the Columbia County Fair GALLERY: Thursday at the Columbia County Fair GALLERY: Thursday at the Columbia County Fair He may be an internationally acclaimed pianist, but Jason Paul Peterson hasnt forgotten his roots. Peterson, who recently returned to his native Wisconsin from his current home in Switzerland, will be taking to the Zona Gale Stage at the Portage Center for the Arts (PCA) as a featured performer in the centers 2022-23 Performing Arts Concert Series on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 7:30 p.m. In his own words, Petersons upcoming program features a very ambitious and virtuosic lineup of songs, from Bethovens Waldstein sonata to the works of Domenico Scarlatti and Frederic Chopin. Im delighted to be performing back here once again, said Peterson. Petersons career thus far has brought him five recorded albums, multiple performances at Carnegie Hall, the Chicago Cultural Center and the Kennedy Center, recitals at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, the Mosel Musikfestival in Germany, the Engadin Festival in Switzerland, the Petit Palais in Paris, the Dame Myra Hess series in Chicago, as well as performances in, Italy, Spain, Greece, Slovenia, Mexico, China, Taiwan and Singapore. His performance in Portage, though, is something equally as important to him as the larger venues hes played to. Portage has always been a community that was very good to me from my very early days starting out as a professional pianist, he said. Its great also to be able to bring this music to a community that maybe doesnt have, so often, the opportunity to hear this great classical music. Of course you can get in in Madison or Milwaukee, but I think classical concerts of this sort are sort of rare in Portage. Before he started his professional career, performing at the Portage United Methodist Church and other local venues, he was a kid begging his parents to sign him up for piano lessons. When he was 5 years old, they finally gave in, and from there, it was really love at first sight. Its always been a big part of my life, its like eating and breathing for me, he said. There was never really a point in time where I stopped. In his teenage years, he earned grants from the Chopin Foundation of the United States for four consecutive years. He went on to win multiple awards for his playing, as well as studying at the Hochschule fur Musik in Weimar, Germany on a Fulbright scholarship while completing his doctoral dissertation on the piano music of Georgy Enescu at the Peabody Conservatory. In addition, he holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music, as well as a Master of Music degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Tickets to this Saturdays performance are available in-person at the PCA, or on the website, portagecenterforthearts.com. President Joe Biden met with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio in Washington this month to discuss the future of U.S.-Japan relations. In a joint statement, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the United States and Japans unprecedented cooperation based on the two countries common goals and priorities. As President Biden stated: These shared democratic values are the source of our strength, the source of our alliance, and the source of our being able to deliver for all our people. In addition to bolstering defenses against growing challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, the joint statement discussed plans to strengthen both nations capabilities to meet a host of new and emerging threats. The United States and Japan signed a space cooperation Framework Agreement. Its goal is furthering scientific progress and human space exploration, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement. Together, we have advanced the frontiers of human endeavor and scientific knowledge through our partnership - from the creation of the International Space Station to development of the lunar Gateway, a research outpost that will orbit the Moon and be used to prepare for future missions to Mars. The United States and Japan also plan to improve their economic security by building resilience in supply chains to protect from threats such as economic coercion, non-market policies and practices, and natural disasters. In addition, because Japan and the United States are the two largest democratic economies in the world, the joint statement promised to build the global economy to achieve gender equity and equality, make sustainable progress to net zero emissions, and improve creditor coordination to provide debt relief. The United States sees Japan as one its closest allies, newly committed to achieving peace and prosperity, not only through our words but through our actions. The times demand no less. Commitment to integration of region including Caribbean nations stressed President Xi Jinping has reiterated China's commitment to strengthening its partnership with Latin American and Caribbean countries, saying the nation stands ready to work with them to promote global peace and development and advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Xi made the remarks in a video speech delivered at the seventh Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States,which was held on Tuesday in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. He was invited to address the summit by President Alberto Fernandez of Argentina, which holds the rotating presidency of the regional body a multilateral group of 33 countries from across the Western Hemisphere not including Canada and the United States. Xi said that Latin American and Caribbean countries are important members of the developing world that take an active part in global governance and make important contributions to it. The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States has grown to be an indispensable force bolstering global South-South cooperation,and it has played an important role in safeguarding regional peace, promoting common development and advancing regional integration, he said. Xi reaffirmed China's support for the regional integration process of Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as its commitment to developing relations with the regional organization. He said that the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States is China's key partner in enhancing solidarity among developing countries and furthering South-South cooperation. "That is why China has been working with Latin American and the Caribbean countries to steadily strengthen the Forum of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and take their relationship into a new era characterized by equality, mutual benefit,innovation, openness and benefits for the people," Xi said. An increasing number of countries in the region have engaged in high-quality cooperation with China on the Belt and Road Initiative, and have supported and participated in the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, he added. In 2022, Nicaragua and Argentina each signed a memorandum of understanding with China to jointly build the Belt and Road, and this promoted investment and cooperation in fields such as electricity, transportation, telecommunications and energy. Noting that the world is in a new period of turbulence and transformation, Xi emphasized that only through greater solidarity and closer cooperation can the international community tackle the challenges and tide over this trying time. China is ready to continue working with Latin American and Caribbean countries to help each other and to make progress together, advocate the common values of mankind featuring peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom,and build a world with a brighter future, he said. Founded in 2011, the regional body in Latin America and the Caribbean represents around 600 million people. A joint declaration released after the regional summit stressed the commitment of member states to accelerating regional integration. In a recent interview with China Media Group, Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs Santiago Cafiero said that China's participation in the summit is important, as it helps to advance cooperation on some issues and coordinate a multilateral agenda. China is an important trade partner to most of the Latin American and Caribbean countries, so its participation in the discussions of regional development has great relevance to the member states of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Cafiero said. China maintains its position as Latin America's second-largest trading partner. According to China's General Administration of Customs,trade volume between China and Latin America and the Caribbean exceeded $450 billion in 2021. In the first three quarters of 2022, the figure increased by 12.5 percent over the same period the previous year. The Forum of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States is a platform to promote the comprehensive cooperative partnership between the two sides based on equality, mutual benefit and common development. Three ministerial-level meetings of the forum have been held since it was founded in 2014,with the last one taking place in 2021. During the first ministerial meeting of the forum in January 2015, Xi pledged $250 billion in investments to Latin America over the next decade. The 2022 R.I. Criminal Justice Hall of Fame inductees are from left, retired State Police Col. Steven G. ODonnell, The Nonviolence Institute of Rhode Island Director Cedric Huntley, Woonsocket Police Chief Thomas F. Oates, III, retired Superior Court Judge Judith Colenback Savage, former Chief of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Managements Office of Criminal Investigation Martin A. Cappelli, retired Supreme Court Justice Gilbert V. Indeglia, and Defense Attorney Peter A. DiBiase. Former R.I. Attorney Gen. James E. ONeil participated from Florida via the internet. This indomitable region of the world is home to the Russian nation, a country with a history that goes back hundreds of years. Identifying where the borders sit, culturally and geographically, is challenging due to the country occupying over 6.6 million square miles. This makes it the largest country in the world, a fact that obfuscates the specific continent(s) it sits on. In order to understand Russias unique location, straddling both Europe and Asia, a deep dive into the history, geography, and culture of its people is essential. Recent events of the modern era have shown the current Russian administration to be expansionist in their efforts to annex territories from neighboring sovereign countries; this instability provides a perfect justification for learning about Russia's widespread dominion. Historical Background Saint-Petersburg, Russia. Image credit FOTOGRIN via Shutterstock In the 13th century, Russia was a small state called Muscovy around their central capital, Moscow. The state expanded until Grand Duke Ivan III made massive territorial advances by the year 1505. In the 17th century, the Russian Tsars once again increased the nation's size to borders similar to today, spanning between Europe and the Pacific Ocean. Finally, Peter I relocated the capital to Petrograd (modern-day Saint Petersburg) for access to the sea, which a massive empire needs, and for protecting government institutions on the fortified islands that the harbor provided. The Romanov family secured and increased those boundaries until the Soviet Union took over in 1918, restoring Moscow as the capital. Still, Russia suffered significant land loss during the transition to the modern-day government, represented by Boris Yeltsin. Today, those 'lost lands' are nations such as Ukraine and Belarus, which the Putin administration is desperate to reabsorb. Geographic Background The Ural Mountains and Ural River in Russia. Image credit Sergej Cash via Shutterstock The Ural Mountains and the Ural River are the definitive boundaries between the Asian and European continents. Therefore, as the Russian Federation currently straddles both plates, Russia is in Europe and Asia. Since both Moscow and Saint Petersburg are closer to Europe, the Asian half of Russia has been largely forgotten throughout history. Therefore, Russia is often falsely misunderstood as a solely European nation, which negates the many groups of Asian people living in its eastern territories. Russia also owned Alaska until 1867 but sold it to the United States for $7.2 million. This domain over three separate continents solidifies Russia as the third-largest nation throughout history. The British Empire covered 13.71 million square miles, and the Mongol Empire 9.27 million square miles at their peak, beating Russia by a significant margin (although, Soviet Russias landmass did cover an astonishing 8.80 million square miles). The Russian territory east of the Urals encompasses Siberia and stretches eastward to the Bering Sea, which is north of the North Pacific Ocean. In fact, Russia and Alaska are only separated by 2.4 miles at their closest points to each other. Russian territory also stretches north and south in Central and East Asia. The country shares a maritime border with Japan in the North Pacific Ocean. It also shares land borders with the countries of Central Asia, which were once part of the Russian-dominated Soviet Union, and the East Asian countries of Mongolia, China, and North Korea. A staggeringly large land, it is remarkable that the nation has remained mostly united after decades of instability and economic struggle. Two of Russias ten biggest cities, Yekaterinburg and Chelyabinsk, lie roughly on the border between Europe and Asia in the Ural Mountains. Only three of Russia's largest cities, Novosibirsk, Omsk, and Samara, are in Asian territory. The bulk of Russia's population in Asia lives close to the border with the country's southern neighbors. Thus, it is as if a somewhat narrow, populous strip stretches from the Ural Mountains to the country's east coast. Read MoreRussian Empire Culture Procession of dancers of the Institute of culture in Cossack traditional dress in Russia. Image credit Obitotckaia Tatiana via Shutterstock Although most of Russia's landmass is in Asia, much of the Russian population lives in the European part of the country. About 77% of Russias 143 million people live in the territory that lies in Europe. This includes Russia's most populous city, Moscow, which is still the country's capital. It has more than 12 million residents, making it the second-most populous city in Europe. Other large cities in the European part of Russia include St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, and Rostov-on-Don. Over 190 ethnic groups currently reside within Russia, although over the past few centuries, systematic genocides have wreaked havoc on many of the former populations that called the region home. This expansion by force, up until the 19th century, is fresh on the minds of groups forced to migrate into the Ottoman Empire, such as the people of Circassia. Many people in Russia are Slavic, who predominantly live in the western region, while Mongol and Turkic heritage is also common. Other groups like the Tatars, Bashkirs, Chuvash, and Chechens are ethnic minorities. Today, Russia is a diverse country in which the customs and traditions of both Europe and Asia thrive. More than three-quarters of the countrys population is Russian by ethnicity. Yet ethnic Russians are only one of the many ethnic groups in the Russian Federation. Many of these groups, such as the Karelians, Mordovians, and Udmurts are, like the ethnic Russians, European in origin; whereas other ethnic groups are Asian in origin, including the Buryats and the Yakuts, who live in the eastern portion of Siberia. The largest minority group in Russia today is the Tatars (or Tartars), a group of Turkic-speaking people, whose origins lie in present-day Mongolia. Expressions of Russian culture are typically found in diverse literature, ballet, painting, and classical music. Read MoreRussian Culture Many countries have made the mistake of believing that Russias size is also its weakness, which in theory would allow many vulnerabilities during times of war. Rather, history has proven that attempts to conquer the nation have proved fruitless because of its unforgiving scale, not in spite of it. French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte lost over 400,000 soldiers while attempting to occupy Moscow. The Russians burned and abandoned the city as a strong statement of solidarity with their national identity, in 1812. In World War II, Hitlers forces made the same mistake and suffered similar results. It is evident that when Russians stand together for their greater good, they can achieve marvels despite differences in their geographic or cultural backgrounds. Articles Sorry, there are no recent results for popular articles. Five former Memphis police officers indicted on charges of murder and kidnapping in Tyre Nichols' death Rixos Bab Al Bahr, Ras Al Khaimah appointed Ahmed Elnawawy as General Manager, making the award-winning, family-friendly, luxury hotel the newest venture in his 22-year-long career with top hospitality brand names. In this role he will bring his unique expertise, strategic market insight, and strong leadership skills to Rixos Bab Al Bahr and shall report directly to Cenk Unverdi, Regional Managing Director at Rixos Hotels Gulf. Elnawawy will be responsible for leading, shaping, and executing the hotels overall strategy and business operations. A seasoned luxury hospitality professional with a strong background in operations, guest satisfaction, and revenue generation. Elnawawy is passionate about delivering creative strategies to drive high levels of operational performance. Commenting on Elnawawys appointment, Cenk Unverdi said: Rixos Bab Al Bahr is a unique property that is well positioned to capitalise on Ras Al Khaimah's growing appeal as the fastest growing holiday destination, and it'll need visionary leadership to ensure it remains competitive. I'm confident that Elnawawy has the necessary experience to successfully meet this challenge. Ahmed Elnawawy added: I am excited to join an already well-established, luxury resort. I intend to create an atmosphere where team members feel empowered and can add value to the Rixos brand that stands out as a top family, resort destination around the world. I would like to thank the team for a warm welcome and I cant wait to get started. Elnawawy joins Rixos Bab Al Bahr from Emaar group where his most recent role was Head of Emaar Customer Excellence. Elnawawy also held several leadership roles within the Emaar Group between 2016 and 2022. He joined them in the role of Director of Rooms at the Address Dubai Mall, followed by General Manager at Manzil Downtown, General Manager at the Address Fountain Views, and General Manager at the Palace Downtown. In addition, Elnawawy is no stranger to Rixos. Between 2013 and 2015, he held the role of Rooms Division Manager at Rixos The Palm Dubai. TradeArabia News Service * The comeback of Chinese travelers in the international market will fuel the recovery of the tourism sector worldwide and promote cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world, experts have said. * China's outbound travel reservations during this week-long holiday soared by five times compared to the same period last year, according to a report released by Ctrip, China's leading online travel agency. * As Chinese tourists actively participate in shopping and cultural tours, they are highly valued for all economies due to their large number and strong spending power, businesses said. "We cannot wait to have the Chinese back in our restaurants. We missed it so much," said Alix Pickard, a senior manager of a British restaurant corporation. China relaxed its outbound travel restrictions amid its recent overall COVID-19 response shift. Officials and tourism practitioners across the world are eagerly anticipating the return of Chinese tourists. The comeback of Chinese travelers in the international market will fuel the recovery of the tourism sector worldwide and promote cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world, experts have said. WORLDWIDE WELCOME In Hakkasan, a Chinese restaurant in London, guests were hanging their Spring Festival wishes to a wishing tree installed recently. The restaurant, like many others around the world, has put up traditional Chinese decorations and introduced a limited menu celebrating the Year of the Rabbit, the Chinese zodiac animal representing the year of 2023. Such a festive scene can be observed in numerous hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and attractions across the globe, which recently launched products and services with Chinese elements in a bid to attract Chinese tourists and facilitate their journeys. A giant rabbit is standing at the entrance of the Shangri-La Hotel in Istanbul of Turkiye, welcoming visitors amid a sea of red lanterns. In Greece, the authorities have prepared a "Chinese-ready" airport to create a feeling of home for travelers from China, according to Ioanna Papadopoulou, director of communications and marketing at Athens International Airport. Virtual assistants speaking Chinese are in place to provide visitors with information in their native language, while Chinese customers can use all payment methods they use back home in the airport's duty-free shops. Tourism officials and professionals are looking forward to the mass return of Chinese travelers as early as possible, after their absence in the global tourism market for three years. "We really missed the Chinese tourists over the last three years and we would like to welcome you back as soon as possible," Flemming Bruhn, director of VisitDenmark, the Danish national tourism agency, told Xinhua. For Pickard, whose company manages four restaurants in London, one of the greatest pleasure before the pandemic was to see her restaurants filled with Chinese guests in the afternoon. "We've really missed that," said the director of marketing at Tao Group Hospitality. "It's great to see everyone coming back again, it makes us so happy." DELIGHTFUL EXPERIENCE In the Chinatown of Bangkok, the young daughter of Liu Lingling, a Chinese tourist to Thailand, screamed with delight when she saw the 200 meters of Yaowarat road was lit up all of a sudden. The road, which gathers many Chinese descendants to live and do business, was decorated with a 45-meter-long light tunnel and lanterns of various shapes to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Liu and her family, who came from the city of Wuhan in central China, haven't travelled abroad since the pandemic erupted three years ago. "This is our first overseas trip since the outbreak of the pandemic, we are so excited and happy," said Liu. "Although it's in Bangkok, we can feel the atmosphere of Spring Festival." In Turkiye, Chinese tourist Yan Jian shared with Xinhua his joy of travelling in Istanbul, the nation's biggest city and a well-known destination for tourists. "I haven't gone anywhere for the past three years, it feels so good to go abroad this year." "The experience here is great," Yan said. "The view is wonderful, food is delicious and the local people are extremely hospitable." Like Liu and Yan, many Chinese travelers were impressed by the warm receptions from locals, the rich festive vibes and substantial facilitation throughout their first cross-border trips since the pandemic. Lately, the famed resort island of Bali in Indonesia welcomed the first group of Chinese tourists who arrived by charter flight after China's COVID-19 response shift. The Chinese were greeted with local songs and dances, as well as the lion dance, a traditional Chinese performance usually staged during the Spring Festival. One of the tourists was given a flower garland from the governor of Bali, a gesture of welcome for esteemed guests in the local culture. In Labuan Bajo, an Indonesian town, visitors were immersed in the festive atmosphere of Spring Festival created by hotels putting up decorations of Chinese style and introducing special menus with Chinese cuisine. "It's surprising to me that I could eat Chinese food and hear an artist playing Chinese festive songs using the local instrument at my hotel. I felt really welcomed here," said Yang Miao, a Chinese tourist from east China's Jiangsu province. In Egypt, Fu Bo, a Chinese visitor from Beijing and a fan of ancient Egyptian civilization, was overwhelmed by the friendliness and hospitality from the Egyptians. "The Egyptians are generally friendly to Chinese tourists, they even greet us in Chinese," said Fu, after attending a reception hosted by the Chinese embassy and the Egyptian government at the Cairo International Airport. He noted that his entry to Egypt was fairly convenient as the North African country adopted a visa-upon-arrival policy for Chinese visitors, and there is also "no difficulty in customs clearance." ECONOMIC BOOST Worldwide tourism bans since 2020 have dealt a severe blow to the business of Farag Mohammed, a local camel farmer working near the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. Mohammed, who makes a living by offering tourists a ride on camels' back, has been struggling to feed his camels and raise his family for the last three years. The camel breeder of 27 years pins hope on the return of Chinese visitors to boost his revenues and make his life easier in the future. "Chinese are fond of sightseeing on a camel's back," Mohammed said. "I like Chinese tourists." The last three years have been difficult for many people like Mohammed working in the tourism-related sectors, but some have already sensed a favorable turnaround as the number of their Chinese customers began to pick up this year. "Sales are already much better compared with last year. I'm so happy and grateful. Hopefully my fortune will keep coming," said Jelita Riyadi, who owns a shop in Glodok, a famous Chinatown in Indonesia's capital Jakarta. Over the past days, her stall, selling red envelopes, clothes and decorations featuring the image of the rabbit, has been frequently visited by Chinese people celebrating the Spring Festival. China's outbound travel reservations during this week-long holiday soared by five times compared to the same period last year, according a report released by Ctrip, China's leading online travel agency. The value of each cross-border booking increased by an average 32 percent year-on-year, said the report. The most popular destinations for Chinese tourists include Australia, Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, Britain and Indonesia. Bookings for Bangkok saw a year-on-year growth of more than 10 times. Officials and experts worldwide argued that China's resumption of outbound tourism, which used to be a considerable source of revenue for many economies depending heavily on tourism, would substantially accelerate the revival of the sector and promote cultural exchanges on the international level. As Chinese tourists actively participate in shopping and cultural tours, they are highly valued for all economies due to their large number and strong spending power, said Irfan Karsli, head of the Istanbul-based Ligarba Travel Agency. "China's stable economic development and wider opening-up are of great significance to the global economic recovery. The long-awaited return of Chinese tourists has brought hope to the recovery of tourism industry in Thailand and other countries around the world," said Wichai Kinchong Choi, senior vice president of leading Thai bank Kasikornbank. John Grant, an analyst at the global travel data provider OAG, said that short-haul regional demand from China to markets like Thailand and Vietnam will noticeably grow in the second half of the year, followed by growth in Europe and North America. For Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias, the reopening of the Chinese market is also about cultural communications, as Chinese tourists are "deeply involved in finding out about Greek culture and civilization." Tyre Nichols had 'extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating,' according to preliminary autopsy commissioned by family PM Pham Minh Chinh (L) meets with former Party General Secretary and President of Laos Choummaly Sayasone on January 11. (Photo: VNA) He visited former General Secretary of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Choummaly Sayasone, former Party General Secretary and State President Bounnhang Vorachith, and former PM Thongsing Thammavong. PM Chinh thanked the former Lao leaders for their enormous contributions to the two countries faithful relations and special solidarity, as well as their support for the comprehensive development of bilateral friendship and cooperation. He informed his hosts about the outcomes of his talks and meetings with leaders of the Lao Party, State, Government, and National Assembly, expressing his delight at the brilliant success of the Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022. PM Pham Minh Chinh and former Lao PM Thongsing Thammavong at their meeting on January 11. (Photo: VNA) Vietnam always gives the top priority to the special solidarity with Laos and considers this as a priceless asset of their revolutions, he noted, pledging utmost efforts to unceasingly nurture the countries great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation. For their part, the former leaders of Laos stressed the close-knit ties with Vietnam and that they are delighted at the flourishing cooperation in all spheres. They appreciated Vietnams assistance for Laos and called for increased cooperation and sharing of experience in socio-economic stabilisation and development. They also emphasised the need to continue educating the two peoples, especially among younger generations, on the special relations between the two countries./. The Vietnam Pavilion at the January Furniture Show in UK from January 22-25. (Photo: VNA) They introduced interior and exterior wood products, home decor, handicrafts, hotel furniture; and lighting equipment, attracting many UK wholesalers and retailers as well as exhibition visitors. Nguyen Canh Cuong, Vietnamese Trade Counselor in the UK, said that joining the fair created opportunities for Vietnamese businesses to introduce high-quality products and meet potential importers and distributors. Cuong pointed to the fact that currently the largest wood furniture exporter to the UK is China, followed by Germany and Poland. However, he said a lot of the furniture exported from Germany and Poland to the UK is of Vietnamese origin. According to the trade official, as Vietnam is the third largest furniture producer and exporter in the world and the largest in Southeast Asia, its products can meet the requirements of the British market. He suggested Vietnam actively attend fairs like January Furniture Show to seek and establish partnerships and expand market share in the UK, instead of just focusing on trade promotion in Germany or Poland. Furniture and fine art products are Vietnams key export items to the UK. 2022 alone saw Vietnams exports of wood and wood products to the UK reach US$239.66 million, accounting for nearly 4% of the total export value to this country. According to the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK, the export of wood products and handicrafts to the UK has good prospects because this is the worlds fifth largest furniture market after the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Germany. In particular, many wood products will have a tax rate of 0% within the next five years under the terms of the UK Vietnam Free Trade Agreement./. Hans-Georg Maassen, the notoriously right-wing former president of the Verfassungsschutz (domestic intelligence agency) co-authored a standard legal commentary on the German constitution for 13 years. Maassen was made to take early retirement in 2018 by the then-grand coalition government of the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and Social Democrats (SPD) because his defence of a far-right, xenophobic demonstration in Chemnitz had caused a storm of outrage. But since 2009, he has been responsible for Article 16 (protection against extradition) and Article 16a (right to asylum) in Epping/Hillgruber, the standard legal work on the German constitution. Hans-Georg Maassen as head of the Verfassungsschutz [Photo by Bundesministerium des Innern/Sandy Thieme / CC BY-SA 3.0 Epping/Hillgruber and other standard works from the C. H. Beck publishing house are found on judges desks and are usually the only ones approved for use in state legal exams. They therefore essentially determine how the constitution is interpreted. The fact that one of Germanys leading right-wing extremists held this influential position sheds light on the rightward turn of the ruling class. Even after his dismissal as president of the Verfassungsschutz (Office for the Protection of the Constitution, as Germanys domestic intelligence agency is called), Maassen remains very well connected and enjoys much influence. Despite public criticism, the publisher and editors of the legal commentary held on to him, defending him against criticism until Maassen finally resigned on January 17 of this year. In the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in August last year, Stefan Huster, a professor of constitutional law who also writes in Epping/Hillgruber, declared that he no longer wanted to make Maassens positions acceptable by jointly commenting on the constitution with him. He questioned whether Maassen still stood on the foundations of the constitution at all. He wrote of Maassen: Whoever, as a CDU member, formulates sympathy for cooperating with a party [the far-right Alternative for Germany, AfD] that is under surveillance by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, calls for a Covid vaccination bans, invoking coronavirus deniers who can no longer be taken seriously by any stretch of the imagination, derides the rescue of refugees from distress at sea as a shuttle service, accuses the federal minister of health of mental illness or drug use, seizes on the bizarre conspiracy theories surrounding the World Economic Forum, and also announces his views on questionable lateral thinker platforms, must expect to be questioned as to whether he can still be counted among the reliable supporters of the liberal order given the type, content and context of his statements. The editors of Epping and Hillgruber, professors in Hanover and Bonn, then accused Huster in a circular letter to the other authors of placing the publishing house and the editors under undue political pressure and discrediting them. C. H. Beck finally parted companywith Huster! The publisher publicly declared that Maassens commentary on the asylum articles in the constitution was not objectionable from a professional point of view. Behind the scenes, however, C. H. Beck seems to have tried to give its long-time contributor a face-saving farewell. The public pressure was likely too great. On January 18, the publishing house announced it had decided to use our options to terminate the publishing contract with Dr. Maassen. The 60-year-old then terminated the contract himself. Irreconcilable positions had taken on a life of their own, which were damaging to the commentary on the constitution, its editors and the publishing house, the statement said. C. H. Beck is one of the largest and most traditional German publishing houses. It has been publishing legal digests and commentaries since the first half of the 20th century. This was not interrupted even by Nazi rule. On the contrary, some of its standard works bore the names of Nazi jurists well into the 21st century. For example, from 1938 to 2021, the commentary on the German Civil Code (BGB) bore the name of Otto Palandt, a member of the Nazi Party and president of the Reich Justice Examination Office. It was not until 2021 that Palandt was renamed Gruneberg. The legal digest with the highest circulation was also called Schonfelder until 2021, named after the Nazi jurist Heinrich Schonfelder. It is now called Habersack. Another constitutional commentary from C. H. Beck also renamed in 2021 was called Maunz/Durig until then. Its founder, Theodor Maunz, had been an influential law professor during the Nazi era. After the fall of the Hitler regime, he was a member of the Constitutional Convention in Herrenchiemsee, then Bavarian minister of culture for the Christian Social Union party (CSU). In 1964, he had to resign because of his Nazi past, but then for years advised the right-wing extremist German Peoples Union (DVU) of Munich-based publisher Gerhard Frey, writing under a pseudonym for the latters newspaper. In an editorial on Maassen that appeared before his exit from C. H. Beck, the Suddeutsche Zeitung drew attention to another racist scandal. In the Neue Zeitschrift fur Arbeitsrecht (New Journal of Labour Law), published by C. H. Beck, 90-year-old lawyer Rudiger Zuck declared that it is okay to make the ugah ugah monkey sounds at a black works council representative. The publishing house distanced itself and took the text off the Internet only after receiving a letter of protest signed by numerous lawyers. A key figure in the right-wing conspiracy in the state apparatus Born in 1962, the lawyer Hans-Georg Maassen personifies the right-wing turn of the establishment parties and the state apparatus over recent decades like no other. Beginning in 1991, Maassen enjoyed a stellar career in the Interior Ministry, having been promoted by ministers from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the CSU and the SPD. In 1997, he argued for an extremely restrictive refugee policy in his doctoral dissertation on The Legal Status of Asylum Seekers in International Law. In 2002, under SPD Interior Minister Otto Schily, Maassen provided him and the then-head of the Federal Chancellery (responsible for the secret services), now German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, with a legal justification ensuring that Murat Kurnaz, a native of Bremen, was not allowed to return to Germany and had to spend five years in the US prison camp at Guantanamo. This was despite the fact that the German and US secret services had convinced themselves early on that Kurnaz was innocent. Maassen argued at the time that because the Turkish citizen (taken to the torture camp and incarcerated there) had been outside of Germany for more than six months and had failed to report to the German authorities, his residence permit had expired by law. This view did not withstand subsequent scrutiny by the Bremen Administrative Court. In 2003, Maassen became head of the Aliens Law Department. From August 2008, he headed the Counterterrorism Staff in the Public Security Department of the Interior Ministry. In 2012, Maassen was appointed president of the Verfassungsschutz in order to cover up its close ties to violent neo-Nazi networks. Shortly before his appointment, it had become known that the National Socialist Underground (NSU) had carried out 10 racist murders as well as several bombings and bank robberies between 2000 and 2007 under the eyes of the security authorities. At least two dozen of their undercover agents had been active in the NSUs immediate periphery during this period, all of whom claimed afterwards that they had not noticed anything. As head of the Verfassungsschutz, Maassen cultivated relationships with all of the parties in the Bundestag (federal parliament) and was invited by the Left Party to a public discussion meeting. He regularly met with the leaders of the far-right AfD for consultations. His agenda centered on attacks on democratic rights and the systematic persecution of journalists and socialists. Among other things, Maassen slandered whistle-blower Edward Snowden as a traitor. In 2016, he speculated that Snowden might be an agent of the Russian intelligence services, something that even senior US intelligence officials do not claim. Maassen had shown how serious he was about prosecuting whistle-blowers a year earlier when his agency launched criminal investigations into two journalists for treason. It was also Maassen who ensured that the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) was included in the Verfassungsschutz annual report and denigrated as left-wing extremist. The Verfassungsschutz justified this by saying that the SGP was fighting for a democratic, egalitarian, socialist society. The SGP filed a lawsuit against this and has since filed a constitutional complaint. When Maassen publicly defended a far-right march in Chemnitz in the fall of 2018, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) and then-SPD leader Andrea Nahles wanted to promote him to a higher post in the Interior Ministry. It was only when he described his own governments refugee and security policies as left-wing and naive in front of European intelligence representatives in Warsaw and complained of radical left-wing forces even within the SPD that he was made to take early retirement. Since then, although still a member of the CDU, he has operated as a far-right agitator, whose public positions are virtually no different from those of the AfD. In the pandemic, Maassen positioned himself as a coronavirus denier. He declared on Twitter that the novel virus was comparable in danger to a flu virus, and called for an immediate end to all protective measures, including a COVID vaccine ban, based on the crackpot theories of maverick professor Sucharit Bhakdi. Most recently, on Twitter, using blunt Nazi rhetoric, he fantasized that the thrust of driving forces in the political-media space was eliminatory racism against whites and the burning desire that Germany perish. This man headed Germanys domestic intelligence service for years and, until a few days ago, co-authored a standard legal work on how the German constitution should be interpreted. And even after Maassens dismissal, his essentially fascist policies continue. The German government has largely adopted the demands of the extreme right in its refugee and pandemic policies, and the right-wing extremist networks in the state apparatus and the Bundeswehr (Armed Forces) are being courted and protected. They are needed to push through the return of German militarism and associated social attacks against growing resistance in the population. In an increasingly frenetic search for arms to pour into the US-NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, the United States has turned to Latin America, the senior US commander for the region has revealed. Southcom commander Gen. Laura Richardson reviewing Panamanian troops in the Darien Gap, October 2022. [Photo: US Embassy Panama] US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) chief Gen. Laura Richardson told an online forum held last week by the Washington geopolitical strategy think tank Atlantic Council that the Pentagon is trying to convince several unnamed Latin American governments to donate Russian-made military hardware to the US-backed regime in Ukraine. We are working with the countries that have the Russian equipment to either donate it or switch it out for United States equipment, General Richardson told a virtual audience last Thursday. Diplomatic relations are either nil or sharply curtailed between the US and the three countries in the region that have the closest military-to-military ties with Moscow -- Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba. All of them, like Russia, are subject to US sanctions. While Richardson declined to name them in the forum, titled On Security in the Americas, she said that six other countries in the region have significant stockpiles of Soviet or Russian-made weaponry, and that talks were in the works on getting them to donate it to Ukraine or the ongoing cause. Such deals to send Russian-made equipment into the Ukraine war would include pushing the Latin American countries to replace the Russian gear with US-made armaments. While the US Southern Command also declined to say which countries were in talks on such weapons transfers, the Pentagon has kept careful track of the inflow of Soviet and Russian arms to the region. In testimony last July before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Evan Ellis, the US Army War Colleges chief expert on Latin America and a vocal proponent of Washington viewing the region as a battlefield in the preparations for world war, gave a detailed list of such weapons systems. Significantly, the Latin American countryoutside of Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua with the largest number of such arms, he testified, is Peru, which began importing Soviet weapons in the 1970s under the nationalist military regime of Gen. Velasco Alvarado, and as recently as 2013 bought 24 Mi-17 military helicopters and two Mi-35 attack helicopters from Moscow. In the intervening years, including under the right-wing dictatorship of Alberto Fujimori, Lima bought Su-22 fighter bombers, Mig-29 fighter jets and other equipment, while its armed forces received Russian military training. The December 7 parliamentary coup that ousted President Pedro Castillo and brought in a regime dominated by the Peruvian right and the security forces under Castillos former vice-president Dina Boluarte may well have greased the wheels for the kind of deal being promoted by General Richardson. A day before the coup, the US ambassador in Lima, Lisa Kenna, a veteran CIA agent, met and reached an understanding with the countrys defense minister to support Castillos ouster. Since then, the security forces have been unleashed against protesters, killing at least 60 of them. Other countries with significant stocks of Soviet/Russian weapons include Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Argentina. The weapons include tanks, armored vehicles, multiple-launch rocket systems, surface-to-air missile systems, MANPADS (man-portable air defense systems) and various fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. In her remarks, Richardson stressed that the Pentagon was moving aggressively to exploit the obstacles imposed by anti-Russian sanctions on Moscows providing parts for its weapons systems and financing for Latin American customers. From the standpoint of the US-NATO proxy war in Ukraine, the shipping of the weapons from Latin America serves a definite purpose. While international attention has been focused on the provocative and potentially world catastrophic decisions to provide Kiev with advanced US M1 Abrams and German Leopard 2 main battle tanks, the reality is that it will take months before these weapons can be fielded with trained Ukrainian crews. The Soviet/Russian stockpiles in Latin America, on the other hand, are virtually identical to the arms already familiar to the Ukrainian military and can be deployed immediately. In terms of Washingtons aims in Latin America itself, removing Russia as a competitor and restoring the Pentagons monopoly on weapons provisions would provide US imperialism with increased political leverage throughout a region in which the military has repeatedly intervened to overthrow governments seen as insufficiently subordinate to US and national profit interests. Increased weapons sales mean greater numbers of US military advisers on the ground in these countries and more of their own officers being sent for their military training to the US. This works to forge military-to-military ties that are far deeper than those existing between diplomats or elected officials, putting in place the organizational infrastructure for the kind of US-backed military coups that swept the continent over the course of the last half century. While Richardson presented Russias operations in the region as an acute threat to US interests, in reality they pale in comparison and are largely a response to the massive US-NATO encirclement of Russia itself. As the general made clear in her remarks, Washington and the Pentagon view China, which she described as a malign state actor, as the more consequential challenge to US imperialist interests in the region. Using the alarmist rhetoric of war propaganda, Richardson warned of the invasion and the tentacles of the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] in the Western Hemisphere countries so close to the United States. Chinas presence, she said, had reached right here on the 20 yard line to our homelandright here in the red zone. The generals language echoes the 19th-century Monroe Doctrine, which the US first employed to ward off European imperial interlopers in the hemisphere, and later invoked in defense of military coups, police state dictatorships and bloody counter-insurgency wars conducted in the name of defeating communism. She, like her predecessors, has the arrogant habit of viewing the countries to the south of the US border as American imperialisms own backyard. But she is compelled to admit that Washington has lost a great deal of its grip over these territories. In a lot of our countries in this region, [China] is the number one trade partner, with the United States number two in most cases, Richardson said. In reality, China is already South Americas largest trading partner. In the space of barely two decades, total trade between China and the Latin American region as a whole has leapt nearly 20-fold, from $17 billion in 2002 to $315 billion in 2019. Twenty-one of the regions 31 countries have joined Beijings Belt and Road Initiative, which has already produced significant infrastructure development, including 17 port facilities, highways and railways designed to direct the flow of Latin Americas vital raw materials across the Pacific to China. Meanwhile, in defiance of US pressure, the Chinese multinational Huawei has taken the lead in telecommunications and the provision of 5G networks. I worry about these dual-use, state-owned enterprises that pop up from the [Peoples Republic of China], and I worry about the dual-use capabilitybeing able to flip them around and use them for military use, Richardson said. As she continued, however, the SOUTHCOM commander made it clear that the real concern is securing US domination over the regions strategic resources and being in a position to deny them to China. Explaining why this region matters to US national security, the general proceeded to catalogue its rich resources, including the vast oil reserves of Venezuela and the discovery of huge deposits off the coast of Guyana, copper, silver, gold and other minerals, as well as 31 percent of the worlds fresh water supply. She noted that today, China depends upon Latin America for 36 percent of its food. General Richardson laid particular stress on the so-called lithium triangleArgentina, Bolivia and Chilewhich accounts for most of Latin Americas estimated 60 percent of global lithium reserves. The strategic metal is a key component in the transition to electric vehicles and is utilized in virtually every modern weapons system. The struggle for control of lithium reserves in the region may soon resemble the fierce and bloody battles for control over Middle Eastern oil. Today, China accounts for over half of the worlds lithium refining capacity and produces 79 percent of lithium-ion batteries, compared to just 6.2 percent for the US. Richardson recounted that just the previous day she had convened a Zoom meeting of the US ambassadors to Argentina and Chile, and then also the strategy officer from Livent [Teslas US lithium supplier] and also the VP for global operations from Albermarle [the largest US lithium company] to talk about the lithium triangle in Argentina, Bolivia and Chile, and the companies and how theyre doing and what they see as challenges and things like that in the lithium business. And then the aggressiveness and coercion from the PRC. The aim, she said, was to figure the problems out and box out our adversaries. The SOUTHCOM commander offered no details as to how Washington intends to box out China from a region and a strategic industry where it has already emerged as the dominant economic force. The fact that it is the Pentagons regional commander who is convening a meeting of ambassadors and big business executives to discuss how to wrest control of Latin Americas lithium reserves from China provides the answer. US imperialism is turning to expanding militarism in its attempt to offset the erosion of its global economic hegemony. It views Latin America as a target for imperialist plunder and a key battlefield in the march to World War III, even as it attempts to build up and tighten its control over the regions armed forces to confront the rising threat of social revolution throughout the region. The Supreme Court of the United States issued its first opinion of the 2023 term on Monday. A unanimous decision was handed down denying compensation to veterans with disabilities stemming from military service if they failed to apply within one year of their discharge. In Arellano v. McCullough, the court ruled that Adolfo Arellano, who served in the Navy from 1977 until he was honorably discharged in 1981, was not entitled to receive retroactive benefits for his injuries because his brother filed for them on his behalf in 2011. Arellano worked on an aircraft carrier that collided with a freighter in the Persian Gulf in 1980. The sailor, who was nearly swept overboard, witnessed shipmates crushed to death and subsequently suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological illnesses. The U.S Supreme Court building is seen at dusk in Washington on Oct. 22, 2021. [AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite] The disorders stemming from his Naval experience rendered Arellano unable to work. However, due to the severity of his incapacitation, Arellano was unaware that he qualified for disability compensation from the US government. Arellanos brother, who became his legal guardian and primary caregiver, did not find out until 2011 that the injured veteran was eligible for benefits. Filing on behalf of Adolfo, the brother submitted an application requesting retroactive benefits for the previous 30 years. While the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) granted compensation for Arellano going forward, the agency denied benefits going back to his year of discharge. The VA said federal law allows retroactive compensation only if former military personnel file within one year of discharge. This means that Arellano would have had to file his application for retroactive benefits some time in 1982. When the application for retroactive benefits was denied, Arellano appealed the decision. He argued for something called equitable tolling, a legal concept that has been used to suspend deadlines like the one-year application requirement on the grounds of an extraordinary circumstance that prevented filing on time. In the unanimous Supreme Court decision, Justice Amy Coney Barrett upheld a Federal Court of Appeals ruling denying Arellanos appeal of the VAs decision on the grounds of equitable tolling. She did so based on a stringent interpretation of the law. According to a report in Slate, Barrett, a former civil procedure professor, ignored the principle of solicitude toward veterans in favor of a wooden analysis of the statutory scheme. She focused on the fact that federal law includes 16 explicit exceptions to the general rule that veterans cant get retroactive compensationand equitable tolling isnt one of them. The ruling is an attack on the rights of hundreds of thousands of veterans who have been used as cannon fodder in the imperialist military operations of the US government going back to the Vietnam War era. The ostensibly liberal justices on the court sided with Barrett against military veterans. The remaining Democratic Party Supreme Court appointees Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jacksonall signed on to Barretts decision. There are countless examples of veterans who did not file required paperwork within the specified time frame and were denied benefits while they were still alive, or surviving spouses who ended up getting absolutely nothing for the same reason. The decision of the high court exposes the phony expressions of sympathy from the entire ruling establishment for the sacrifices of life and limb by military personnel. The truth is, the ruling class could care less about what happens to these men and women after their bodies and minds have been ravaged and their lives ruined by the horrors of war. The contempt of the Supreme Court for military veterans is underscored by the fact that the details of Adolfo Arellanos experience in 1980 are not even mentioned in the decision. Although the opinion written by Justice Barrett is long on the finer points of statutory text and individualized equities, the court does not bother to discuss what happened 42 years ago in the Persian Gulf. Relevant questions to be asked are: (1) What was the name of the aircraft carrier? (2) What was the name of the freighter with which it collided? (3) What were the names of the sailors who died as a result of the collision? (4) What were the circumstances that led to the collision? In a series of actions to appease the fascist right wing of the Republican caucus in the House of Representatives, Speaker Kevin McCarthy has barred two Democrats from the House Intelligence Committee, while naming ultra-right conspiracy theory advocate Marjorie Taylor Greene to a key investigative panel. McCarthy rejected the renomination of representatives Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell, both of California, which was proposed by House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. The move is unprecedented in both cases. Schiff was the outgoing chairman of the committee, while Swalwell had been a member for several years. Jeffries sent McCarthy a letter Saturday nominating both men. The Intelligence Committee is a select committee, with members chosen by the Speaker in consultation with the Minority Leader, but with the final decision entirely in McCarthys hands. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., talks to reporters as he walks to his office, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023. [AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana] The rejection of Schiff and Swalwell is a demand backed by many members of the Republican caucus, which now has a narrow nine-seat majority in the House. There is particular support from the Freedom Caucus, the ultra-right group whose members blocked McCarthys election as speaker for 14 ballots. Only on the 15th ballot did 20 holdouts agree either to vote for McCarthy or vote present, a maneuver that allowed him to win, in return for a raft of concessions, some public, on House rules, some private, on issues like committee nominations. McCarthy claimed the exclusion of the two Democrats was necessary to uphold the standard of the House Intelligence Committee, which oversees the CIA, the NSA and the rest of the vast US intelligence apparatus. In relation to Schiff, he cited the former chairmans deceitfulness in relation to the investigation into then-president Trump, which led to Trumps first impeachment, when Schiff claimed there was irrefutable evidence of Trumps connection to Russian President Vladimir Putin. This was, of course, a brazen lie, peddled for political purposes. But the charge by McCarthy is nonetheless cynical, since if every representative who lied about US intelligence secrets was removed, there would be no one left to sit on the Intelligence Committee. The committee does not exist to regulate or oversee the intelligence agencies, but to give a congressional rubber stamp to the assassinations, illegal spying, coups and other crimes and provocations in which the CIA and its associated agencies are engaged. Both Schiff and his Republican predecessor Devin Nunes were collaborators trusted by the intelligence apparatus. As for Swalwell, he has become a political target of the fascist right because a woman, alleged to be a Chinese intelligence agent, helped to fundraise for his 2014 congressional campaign. When the FBI informed Swalwell of her alleged role, he broke off all contact with her. Subsequent House Speakers, including Republicans John Boehner and Paul Ryan, and Democrat Nancy Pelosi, made no objection to Swalwells presence on the intelligence panel. But the pro-Trump, fascist right singled out Swalwell after he served as an impeachment manager against Trump. The California congressman has received numerous death threats and other abuse from their sympathizers. McCarthy himself justified the attacks on Swalwell by declaring that if you got the briefing I got from the FBI, you wouldnt have Swalwell on any committee. At least in part, the exclusion of Schiff and Swalwell is retribution for the exclusion of Republican representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Paul Gosar of Arizona from committee positions by the Nancy Pelosi-led, Democratic-controlled House in 2021. Both were removed for threats of violence against Democratic members of Congress: Greene for an internet posting endorsing the killing of Pelosi, Gosar for posting an anime cartoon showing himself killing Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and then marching on President Biden, sword in hand. Neither Schiff nor Swalwell has been accused of such actions. In a further gesture to the ultra-right, McCarthy nominated Marjorie Taylor Greene to a position on a House subcommittee formed to investigate the origins of COVID-19. Its main purpose is to promote the lying claims of the corporate media and both Democratic and Republican politicians that the virus was created in the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a leading Chinese research establishment, and then leaked either deliberately or inadvertently. The committee is expected to summon leading US public health officials, including now-retired Dr. Anthony Fauci, and question them over claims that the US government financed the Wuhan lab, at least in part, for research into so-called gain of function experiments to improve the transmissibility of a virus similar to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. To give it the appearance of scientific credibility, McCarthy named Representative Brad Wenstrup, a medical doctor in private life, to chair the committee, and added at least two other doctors, Representative Ronny Jackson of Texas, formerly Trumps White House doctor, and Representative Rich McCormick of Georgia. McCarthy is proposing to take action against one other Democrat targeted by the fascist right, Ilhan Omar of Minneota. The two-term representative, a Somali-American Muslim, was rebuked by the House for comments defending the Palestinians and decrying the influence of the Zionist lobby in Congress, which were condemned as anti-Semitic. The Speaker proposes to remove her from the House Foreign Affairs Committee, but this would require a majority vote of the full House and several Republicans have declared their opposition to the action. McCarthy can afford to lose only four votes, since all Democrats have agreed to support Omars continued membership on the panel. On Wednesday, President Joe Biden announced that the United States would send 31 Abrams heavy tanks to Ukraine, after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany would send 14 Leopard 2 tanks as part of the shipment of over 100 main battle tanks from NATO countries. The decision to send main battle tanks into the conflict is intended to set in motion a chain of events that will justify an ever greater involvement of NATO troops and aircraft, up to and including a shooting war with Russia. The significance of Bidens announcement lies less in the battlefield impact of the tanks than in the consequences of deploying them. The turbine-driven Abrams tanks will require a massive logistical network inside Ukraine, involving large numbers of specialist American contractors. Attacks on these supply networks and American personnel servicing the tanks will then be used to press for implementation of a no-fly zone and the deployment of US and NATO troops to Ukraine. Immediately following Bidens announcement, retired four-star General Barry McCaffrey, appearing on MSNBC, made an offhand comment that revealed the essential content of the announcement. Countering the argument made earlier by military officials that the Abrams was too complex to send to Ukraine, McCaffrey declared, Of course the Ukrainians, with civilian contractor support, can maintain these Abrams. Who are these civilian contractors if they are not Ukrainians? McCaffrey was never asked. At least 10 civilian contractors watch closely as a crane lowers a 30-ton turret back onto an Abrams M1A2 in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. [Photo: US Department of Defense] Americas vast fleet of M1 Abrams tanks is serviced by civilian contractors at Army bases throughout the world, and these civilian contractors are generally Americans with specialized knowledge and skills, including direct employees of General Dynamics and other major arms manufacturers. The Abrams, the Armys most complex vehicle, requires about eight man-hours of maintenance for every hour it serves in operation. In explaining why the US military was reluctant to send the Abrams tank last year, the Washington Post noted, A senior US defense official said that It is hard for the United States to maintain the Abrams tanks and their sophisticated turbine engine... For the Ukrainians, the official said, it would be impossible. Of course, it would be impossible, unless, as McCaffrey indicates, a large number of American civilian contractors already trained on the Abrams were sent alongside the tanks. Thousands of civilian maintenance personnel from NATO countries will be deployed to Ukraine, along with the creation of massive supply chains for the specialized high-tech, precision parts required to keep the machines in operation, stretching hundreds of miles from the eastern front through Poland and to US bases in Germany. These supply lines and American personnel will likely become targets of Russian attacks on the weapons systems flowing into Ukraine. The demand, first raised early in the war, to close the skies and initiate a no-fly zone will quickly be raised by the entire US media, in order to save the lives of Americans deployed in Ukraine. Like clockwork, Wednesdays announcement was accompanied by demands in the press for sending F-16 and other fourth-generation NATO fighter aircraft. Tanks wont be enough: Ukraine needs F-16 jets to win, wrote former UK commander Greg Bagwell in the Telegraph. There is a military axiom that only armies can take and hold ground. It is also true that armies dont take or hold ground for long without air support. The former RAF commander implied if the US sends tanks, it will have to send F-16s as well. The next big hurdle will now be the fighter jets, Yuriy Sak, an adviser for Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, told Reuters. They didnt want to give us heavy artillery, then they did. They didnt want to give us Himars systems, then they did. They didnt want to give us tanks, now theyre giving us tanks. Apart from nuclear weapons, there is nothing left that we will not get. Plans for supplying NATO jets are already underway. The Financial Times reported that Lockheed Martin has already increased production of F-16 fighters to compensate for countries planning to transfer them to Ukraine. The company is going to be ramping up production on F-16s in Greenville [South Carolina] to get to the place where we will be able to backfill pretty capably, said Frank St. John, chief operating officer of Lockheed Martin. The deployment of openly offensive weapons to Ukraine has blown apart the White Houses fiction that This is a war between Russia and Ukraine, and that NATO is not involved. Speaking before the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on Tuesday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock acknowledged the basic truth when she declared, We are fighting a war against Russia and not against each other. The fact that the NATO war against Russia is undeclaredby both Germany and Americais entirely par for the course. The United States has not declared a single war it fought since World War II. The Korean, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan wars were all waged without a congressional war declaration. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, every public statement coming out of the White House has been aimed at keeping the American people in the dark about the governments plans to massively escalate the war. In March, Biden promised the public that the US would not send offensive equipment and tanks to Ukraine, because this would trigger World War III. If we take Bidens statements of last March literally, then the decision to send tanks to Ukraine is, in fact, a decision to begin World War III. The NATO powers have decided to cast the die of war, seeking through the military defeat, conquest, break-up and exploitation of Russia to solve the myriad crises confronting the capitalist oligarchies. While sections of the US political establishment may believe that the Kremlin will not respond to the deployment of tanks, the conflict has a logic of its own. The Putin government, representing sections of the Russian oligarchy, hoped that its invasion of Ukraine would result in some form of accommodation with the imperialist powers. It confronts internal crisis and demands by factions of the Russian ruling class for a major escalation. The risk of the development of the war into a nuclear exchange, and what Biden himself referred to as Armageddon, is raised to a new level at every point in the escalation. As the US and NATO powers implement their war policies, they do everything they can to keep the broad mass of the population unaware of the consequences. Bidens perfunctory 10-minute-long remarks on Wednesday announcing a major new stage in the war were delivered in the middle of the day, without even the pretense of questions from the media. The Biden administration is well aware that, beyond the Republican and Democratic politicians, the ruling elite and privileged sections of the upper-middle class, there is no broad support for war. The immense danger of the situation, however, is that popular opposition to war is not politically organized. It is urgently necessary to unify the growing struggles of the working class that are erupting throughout the world with the struggle against war, and to arm these struggles with the socialist program of abolishing the capitalist system that is the root cause of war. Israels military, police and security agency, the Shin Bet, carried out a mass slaughter of Palestinians in the refugee camp in the West Bank city of Jenin Thursday, killing nine people, including an elderly woman. At least 20 were wounded, four of whom are in a critical condition. Another died in clashes that continued Thursday evening. It was by far the deadliest such raid in years. The Israeli army blocked Palestinian emergency services from reaching the scene, adding to the horror. Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaileh said that Israeli forces had also stormed Jenin Government Hospital and intentionally fired tear gas canisters at the paediatric department in the hospital, causing children to choke. Hospital videos showed women carrying children out of hospital rooms and into the corridor. Mourners carry the bodies of eight Palestinians, some draped in the flag of the Islamic Jihad militant group, during a joint funeral in the West Bank city of Jenin, January 26, 2023. Israeli forces killed at least nine Palestinians, including a 60-year-old woman, and wounded several others during a raid in the flashpoint area of the occupied West Bank, Palestinian health officials said, in one of the deadliest days of fighting in years. [AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed] As well as 60-year-old Magda Obaid, the Palestinian Health Ministry said the dead included 24-year-old Saeb Essam Mahmoud Azriqi, 26-year-old Izzidin Yassin Salahat, Abdullah Marwan al-Ghoul and Moatassem Abu al-Hassan. Their funerals took place the same day, amid a general strike. According to al-Kaileh, the situation in the camp, home to 10,000 people crammed into less than one square kilometre, is dire. The city is a social tinderbox following the COVID-19 pandemic that has devastated the livelihoods of its inhabitants, the settlers violent activities and harassment, constant raids and mass arrests by Israeli security forces since last March and the failure of the Palestinian Authority (PA) to provide any protection. Kamal Abu al-Rubsaid, Jenins deputy governor, told AFP that residents were living in a real state of war and that The Israeli army is destroying everything and shooting at everything that moves. The massacre followed the near nightly search and arrest raids in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied illegally, along with East Jerusalem which it annexed, Gaza and Syrias Golan Heights, since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. In 2022, Israeli military raids led to more than 2,500 arrests and left 271 Palestinians dead, mostly in the West Bank. This latest slaughter brings to 30 the number killed since the beginning of this year, more than one a day. It came a day after a 20-year-old Palestinian from the Jenin refugee camp was shot dead after allegedly attempting to stab an Israeli soldier near the Kedumim settlement in the northern West Bank. A senior Israel Defense Forces (IDF) official denied there had been any change of policy since the new far-right government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had taken office. The new government includes fascistic and openly racist forces determined to drive out the 100,000 Palestinians living in Area C, which accounts for 60 percent of the West Bank and is home to most of the Israeli settlements. Anticipating a response from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in Gaza, the IDF spokesperson said it was prepared for any scenario and there is no doubt that this may affect the southern arena as well, a reference to Gaza. The Palestinian Authority (PA) of President Mahmoud Abbas issued a statement condemning the slaughter as a massacre from the Israeli occupation government, in the shadow of international silence and announced the PA was halting security coordination with Israel. The PAs Foreign Ministry made a futile appeal to the international community and the United States to intervene immediately against the Israeli killing machine. The Netanyahu government can only proceed with its agenda of territorial expansionism, Jewish Supremacy and the mass repression of the Palestinians because Washington and the major European powers lend it tacit support. They all have the same to-do list: wars of conquest abroad and class war at home, backed up by ever increasing authoritarianism in defence of their own financial oligarchs. The Biden administration has stressed that its support for Israel will remain unconditional. in a statement issued Thursday announcing a visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The statement said that he will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, and other senior leaders to discuss the enduring US support for Israels security, particularly against threats from Iran. Bidens administration did nothing to stop or sanction Israel for its apartheid policy, as documented by New York-based Human Rights Watch in April 2021; its bombing of Gaza in May 2021 that killed more than 250 Palestinians; the death of 80-year old American citizen Omar Muhammad Asaad after he was dragged out of his car by the police, beaten and left to die in the road in January 2022; the near daily raids on towns and cities in the West Bank; the deliberate murder of Al-Jazeeras Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in May 2022; Israels announcement the same month of its plan to build 4,000 settlement homes in the West Bank; or its killing of at least 271 Palestinians in 2022. The US has approved $1 billion in funding for Israels Iron Dome missile defence system and published a report minimising Israels responsibility for Abu Aklehs murder. Last week, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan travelled to Israel to discuss plans for ramping up the war drive against Iran, amid preparations for the largest ever joint military exerciseput together with unprecedented speed in just two monthsdesigned to send a warning to Iran and underscore the Biden administrations commitment to Israel, just weeks after Netanyahus government, stacked with fascists, took power. Blinkens trip begins in Egypt, where he will meet President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to advance the US-Egypt strategic partnership and promote peace and security in the region, the statement said. The US-brokered Abraham Accords, which have seen the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrainas directed by Saudi ArabiaSudan and Morocco open full diplomatic and commercial relations with Israel, have led to a drastic fall in the funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) by Arab donors. In 2018, Arab countries provided 25 percent of the agency's budget, but this fell to just 3 percent in 2021 and 4 percent last year. Last year, UNRWA, which provides essential public services to nearly six million Palestinians registered in the Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, and Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, raised less than $1.2 billion of the $1.6 billion it had appealed for, ending with a deficit greater than $70 million for the fourth year in a row. Israels massacre of Palestinians in Jenin comes amid moves to transfer the civilian authorities in the West Bank under the Civil Administration to the newly appointed Minister of Financethe fascistic Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotricha move that will require amendments to two of Israels Basic Laws. The Civil Administration, an agency currently within the Ministry of Defence, is responsible for planning and construction in Area C of the West Bank. Smotrich will have de facto control of settlement expansion, including the settler outposts currently illegal under Israeli law. The transfer of the Civil Administration to the Ministry of Finance will amount to the de facto annexation of Area C as the settlements will henceforth come under civilian not military rule. Along with National Security Minister and Jewish Power leader Itamar Ben-Gvirs provocations at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, aimed at securing Jewish prayers at the site, this is guaranteed to inflame tensions and precipitate an all-out war with the Palestinians, with Ramadan and Passover set to coincide in April. Palestinian workers can no more trust their rapacious, bourgeois national leaders, secular or religious, to defend them against these fascistic forces than Israeli workers can trust their anyone but Netanyahu leaders to lead a struggle against his far right governments assumption of dictatorial powers. The decisive question is the unification of both these struggles and the forging of a revolutionary leadership to secure the political independence of the Palestinian and Israeli working class from all forces that seek to maintain the grip of one or other wing of the ruling elite. Israeli and Palestinian workers must unite their struggle with those of their brothers and sisters throughout the regionArab, Iranian, Kurdish and Turkishand in the imperialist centres, against capitalism and for socialism. This is the perspective of permanent revolution fought for by the International Committee of the Fourth International. The Australian Labor Party began the new year by cutting the number of publicly subsidised psychologist appointments available per person each year from 20 to 10. Victorian mental health workers protest on August 3, 2021 [Photo: Health and Community Services Union Facebook] This deeply regressive measure is bound up with the governments drive to reduce debt and its budget deficit by cutting public spending, including to vital public services. It is also part of the campaign to depict the COVID-19 pandemic as a thing of the past. Subsidised sessions were initially increased from 10 to 20 in 2020, in response to a Productivity Commission report on mental health that was issued amid concerns over workforce shortages during the pandemic. The need for subsidised psychological treatment, like the pandemic itself, has not gone away. COVID-19 infections continue, globally and in Australia, causing debilitating long-term effects and deaths. The worsening social crisis, fuelled by escalating costs of living and declining living standards, has seen the demand for mental health support grow, not lessen. More than 20 percent of the Australian population experiences some kind of mental health disorder. Young people are especially burdened by the mental health crisis, with around 40 percent of 1624 year-olds experiencing some kind of mental health problem. There are many more people who would benefit from psychologist appointments without a formal diagnosis, in addition to those who do not seek out a diagnosis. Just 5 percent of the adult population received one or more subsidised psychologist session last year. The halving of subsidised appointments will cause further harm and suffering. While the affluent upper-middle class will be unaffected, being able to afford private treatment as required, working-class people will be hard hit. Labor Health Minister Mark Butler attempted to cover his tracks by absurdly claiming the policy of slashing subsidies was aimed at improving health services. He insisted that the 20 available sessions had aggravated existing waitlists and aggravated barriers to access, with lowest income Australians especially affected by shortages of available psychologists. This situation ought to trigger a massive expansion in government funding for mental health services. When a system is failing to serve some of the people who require it, the answer is to increase the resources available, not reduce them. Butler also insisted that a government-commissioned review found that providing 20 rather than 10 sessions to people made no difference, because self-reported baseline mental health was almost identical for those who did and did not receive the additional sessions. Numerous mental health experts have rejected this, and denounced the governments cuts to subsidised treatment. Dr Katrina Norris, director of the Australian Association of Psychologists, wrote in the Daily Telegraph: As a psychologist working in private practice, whose clients have directly benefited from these additional sessions, I am disappointed, saddened and angered by this decision. [] The additional sessions gave those who were able to access services, the opportunity to have more frequent treatment as needed. For those in crisis or with complex mental health needs, the additional sessions allowed them to receive adequate treatment without reliance on the public health or community health systems. It allowed them security, stability, and choice in their mental healthcare. She added: Ultimately, this decision is likely to cost lives and this is why psychologists and other mental health practitioners are outraged. Professor Caroline Hunt, president of the Australian Clinical Psychology Association, and Associate Professor Christopher Lee from the University of Western Australia wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald: This move cannot be justified through a healthcare lens and the federal government seems comfortable reserving the highest-quality expert mental health care exclusively for the wealthy few who may be able to privately fund it. [] These cuts wont just mean reduced access to vital care; in some cases psychologists may have to turn away vulnerable patients with more complex mental health conditions because we know delivering only half the required treatment will not provide beneficial outcomes. This is an enormous ethical dilemma for mental health professionals. The Labor government has ignored all these pleas. This is consistent with its earlier dismissal of recommendations made in a report it commissioned, reviewing the Better Access initiative (the program under which people can access subsidised psychologist appointments). On December 8, a team of University of Melbourne researchersled by Professor Jane Pirkis, Associate Professor Dianne Currier, Associate Professor Meredith Harris and Professor Cathy Mihalopoulosprovided the government with a 337-page report. It reviewed the history and record of the initiative, and collated numerous statistics and surveys. It specifically recommended that the increase to 20 sessions be maintained, explaining: The additional 10 sessions should continue to be made available and should be targeted towards those with complex mental health needs. Complex needs refers to the most vulnerable, those who suffer from debilitating mental health problems that prevent them from functioning in society without regular specialised care. The report contained numerous statistics pointing to the class issues within the mental health crisis. Working class and poor people are the worst affected by mental health problems, and the least able to access proper treatment. Within the poorest 20 percent of the Australian population, 22 percent suffer high or very high levels of psychological distress. This is more than double the level of distress in the wealthiest 20 percent of society. Wealthy layers are significantly more likely to access psychological treatment. The report explained: Those on the lowest incomes are least likely to access services. The wait times to treatment for those who did progress from a [mental health] plan to treatment were also longer for those in the lowest income quintile; their median wait time was 22 days whereas the median wait time for those in the highest quintile was 17 days. All of these indicators have worsened over time. Lower access for working people partly reflects fewer available psychologists. The report found that 1 in 3 psychologists in 2022 were unable to take on new patients, compared to 1 in 5 in 2021. Cost is a major barrier to treatment. Nearly two-thirds of subsidised sessions require patient co-payment, with median out-of-pocket cost per service now $90. A survey included in the report found that of patients who ceased psychological treatment early, nearly one-third, 31.7 percent, reported that they did so because co-payment charges were unaffordable. One person told researchers: Its really just the financial side thats difficult, having to take like time off work and things to go to appointments. That also has a financial impact but theres not really any way around that, and Im casual at the moment so its unstable to begin with. The Labor governments cut to psychological services is a ruthless, anti-working class measure that underscores its role as an instrument of finance capital and big business. The annual Closing the Gap report released at the end of last year by the federal Labor government pointed to an alarming economic and social crisis afflicting Aboriginal workers and youth. Aboriginal child in front of prescribed area sign near his family home outside Alice Springs during the Northern Territory intervention. [Photo: John Hulme/WSWS] The Closing the Gap program was launched in 2008 by former Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd following his parliamentary apology to the stolen generationsthe many thousands of Aboriginal children forcibly removed from their families between 1910 and 1970. Despite the political establishments rhetoric that the apology constituted a historic turning point, more than a decade on, the horrendous conditions endured by the vast majority of Aboriginal people have not only been maintained but have worsened. In 2020, the federal Liberal-Coalition government of Scott Morrison established a new Closing the Gap national agreement. The agreement was endorsed by all state Labor, Liberal and territory governments, the Australian Local Government Association, and the Coalition of Peaksan alliance of 80 Aboriginal and Islander groups involving legal services, housing associations, media groups and native title organisations. The purported aim of the agreement was to improve, over a decade, 18 socio-economic outcomes across health, education, employment, housing, justice, safety, land and waters, culture, and language. In numerous areas, the targets were extraordinarily conservative. Nevertheless, two years on, only four of the targets are currently deemed on track, while four are getting worse, and the majority reportedly have insufficient data to assess their progress. Targets assessed as worsening, not on track are the number of Aboriginal adults in prison, the number of suicides, the number of children in out-of-home care, and the proportion of Aboriginal children who start school while not being developmentally on track. These are all critical social indices, and their further deterioration amounts to a devastating indictment of the Australian ruling elite. Young Aboriginal family at Hidden Valley town camp, near Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia, 2008. [Photo: John Hulme/WSWS] The Closing the Gap agreements targets assessed as good improvement and on track are land ownership, the number of young people in detention, the proportion of children enrolled in preschool, and the proportion of babies born with a healthy birth weight. The self-satisfied tone of the Closing the Gap report on these statistics is entirely unwarranted. Aboriginal babies are still nearly twice as likely as non-Aboriginal to be born underweight, a condition associated with numerous serious health risks. The number of Indigenous youth, some under the ages of 14 years old in detention continues to stand as an outrage. They comprise 6 percent of the Australian youth population, but make up 48 percent of the youth prison population. Amid the 164-page gap report, the reality of the terrible situation facing the vast majority of Aboriginal people is largely buried. One statistic alonethe escalating number of indigenous children in out-of-home carepoints to the monumental political fraud involved in government apologies for past injustices and pledges to overcome indigenous poverty and disadvantage. Figures not included in the Closing the Gap report underscore the scale of the crisis. According to a 2020 report from the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Childcare, more than 20,000 indigenous children were living in out-of-home care. This compares with about 9,000 a decade earlier. The report also underlined a growing trend towards permanent placement81 percent of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care live permanently away from their birth parents until they turn 18. The Closing the Gap report makes no attempt to explain why this situation continues to worsen. Basic issues of poverty and unemployment are downplayedfor example, data not referred to in the report includes that 30 percent of indigenous households live in poverty and the unemployment rate is twice that for Indigenous compared to non-Indigenous people. The situation is even worse for those living in remote communities where poor infrastructure, overcrowded housing, and diseases long-eradicated in other areas continue. These are clearly some of the social and economic determinants that have led to the mass removal of children from their families. The Closing the Gap report revealed that the suicide rate for Aboriginal people increased by 11.6 percent between 2018 and 2020. Indigenous people are more than twice as likely to die by suicide than are non-Indigenous. A similarly appalling situation exists for incarceration rates. The Closing the Gap agreement set a target of reducing the number of Indigenous adults in prison by at least 15 percent by 2031. Even if met, this would leave Aborigines significantly over-represented within the countrys prisons. However, the Gap report acknowledged that the proportion of Indigenous people in prison increased by nearly 4 percent between 2019 and 2021. Aboriginal man outside his one-room tin home at Whitegate town camp, Northern Territory, Australia, in 2008. [Photo: John Hulme/WSWS] In 1992, one in seven prisoners were Aboriginal. The ratio is now more than one in four, with Aborigines comprising 29 percent of the adult prison population but only 3 percent of the overall population. The terrible disadvantage of the vast majority of Aboriginal people sharply contrasts with the conditions of a layer of the Aboriginal elite, including CEOs, academics, politicians, and business operators who are enriching themselves. They represent a growing Aboriginal capitalist class. This process has been encouraged by governments for several decades. The Gap report promotes this process, described as empowering Indigenous business, capacity building and driving an entrepreneurial spirit. The Indigenous Procurement Policy, first introduced by the Liberal-Coalition government in 2015, established annual targets for all government departments for contracts to be awarded to Indigenous enterprises. Government agencies are mandated with targets to make Aboriginal organisations and businesses the preferred service provider for relevant grants where all requirements are met. Since 2015, 41,000 contracts worth $6.2 billion have been made to 2,800 indigenous businesses. The Gap report noted that since the 2020 agreement, there has been a marked increase in the number and value of contracts to First Nations business. The Department of Defence is one of the larger procurers of goods and services, awarding $610.6 million in contracts to Indigenous businesses in 202021. In addition to this drawing together of Aboriginal-owned corporations and the military-industrial complex, the mining and fossil fuel energy industries represent an important sector for Indigenous corporate partnerships. To take one example, the Jawun Partnership is a capitalist enterprise developed by Noel Pearson and the Cape York Institute in 2001. Jawun aims to foster partnerships between the corporate sector, the local Aboriginal leadership, and all levels of governments. Its founding members were the Boston Consulting Group and Westpac Bank. Among an array of other multi-billion dollar enterprises, Jawun is partners with Rio Tinto, the second biggest mining company in Australia operating in 35 other countries, and Woodside, Australias largest oil and gas company. These developments underscore the reality that the fundamental gap in society is that of class, not race. The claim that the Closing the Gap measures will overcome the atrocious conditions confronting the mass of Aboriginal people is a lie. The Labor government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is an instrument of finance capital and big business, and is committed to making the working class bear the burden of the worsening economic crisis. Resolving the disaster confronting Aboriginal workers and youth requires a unified political struggle of all races, nationalities, Indigenous and non-Indigenous directed against the source of the disaster, the capitalist system itself. Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Nguyen Van Thao speaks at the Lunar New Year ( Tet) celebration held by the Vietnamese Embassy and Vietnamese Association in Belgium. (Photo: VNA) The reportage said that about 400 Vietnamese people attended the traditional Tet festival in Woluwe Saint-Pierre district where not only Vietnamese people but also Belgians said to each other Chuc mung Nam moi (Happy New Year). Visitors to the festival had a chance to enjoy Vietnamese traditional foods and fruits, particularly grapefruit - an indispensable fruit during Tet celebrations. The channels reporter introduced banh mi (Vietnamese bread) - a specialty whose name is included in the Oxford Dictionary. The festival was decorated with parallel sentences or calligraphy brought from Vietnam. According to the reportage, hanging calligraphy is an indispensable decoration in the houses of Vietnamese people during Tet. To write calligraphy, one must learn for many years, and calligraphers look like performing martial arts when writing. Besides, the Tet festival included a peformance by an art troupe from Ho Chi Minh City. The reportage emphasised that about 5,000 Vietnamese people are living in Brussels and that the Tet festival will take place for 15 days starting on January 22 which marks the first day of the Lunar Year of the Cat./. Other key topics of discussion included agriculture, trade and health, climate change and e-commerce. DG Okonjo Iweala complimented Switzerland for being the first WTO member to formally submit its acceptance of the WTOs new Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on 20 January, paving the way for this historic agreement to enter into force. Share Giant panda Ruyi approaches festive decorations at the Moscow Zoo in Moscow, capital of Russia, Jan. 23, 2023. The Moscow Zoo prepared food and festive decorations for giant pandas to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Cao Yang) Giant panda Dingding plays with festive decorations at the Moscow Zoo in Moscow, capital of Russia, Jan. 23, 2023. The Moscow Zoo prepared food and festive decorations for giant pandas to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Cao Yang) Giant panda Dingding plays with festive decorations at the Moscow Zoo in Moscow, capital of Russia, Jan. 23, 2023. The Moscow Zoo prepared food and festive decorations for giant pandas to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Cao Yang) Giant panda Dingding eats a bamboo shoot at the Moscow Zoo in Moscow, capital of Russia, Jan. 23, 2023. The Moscow Zoo prepared food and festive decorations for giant pandas to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Cao Yang) Giant panda Dingding plays with festive decorations at the Moscow Zoo in Moscow, capital of Russia, Jan. 23, 2023. The Moscow Zoo prepared food and festive decorations for giant pandas to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Cao Yang) Giant panda Dingding sits beside festive decorations at the Moscow Zoo in Moscow, capital of Russia, Jan. 23, 2023. The Moscow Zoo prepared food and festive decorations for giant pandas to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Cao Yang) Editor: ZAD A man hangs prayer flags on a mountain in Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Jan. 24, 2023. Following the tradition, people here went early in the morning to hang new prayer flags on top of mountains and their house roofs to celebrate New Year under the Tibetan calendar. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) A man hangs prayer flags on a mountain in Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Jan. 24, 2023. Following the tradition, people here went early in the morning to hang new prayer flags on top of mountains and their house roofs to celebrate New Year under the Tibetan calendar. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) A man hangs prayer flags in Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Jan. 24, 2023. Following the tradition, people here went early in the morning to hang new prayer flags on top of mountains and their house roofs to celebrate New Year under the Tibetan calendar. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) This aerial photo taken on Jan. 24, 2023 shows the morning view of Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Following the tradition, people here went early in the morning to hang new prayer flags on top of mountains and their house roofs to celebrate New Year under the Tibetan calendar. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) People set prayer flags on a hill in Lhaze County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Jan. 23, 2023. Following the tradition, people here went early in the morning to hang new prayer flags on top of mountains and their house roofs to celebrate New Year under the Tibetan calendar. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) This aerial photo taken on Jan. 24, 2023 shows the morning view of Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Following the tradition, people here went early in the morning to hang new prayer flags on top of mountains and their house roofs to celebrate New Year under the Tibetan calendar. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) A man hangs prayer flags on a mountain in Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Jan. 24, 2023. Following the tradition, people here went early in the morning to hang new prayer flags on top of mountains and their house roofs to celebrate New Year under the Tibetan calendar. (Xinhua/Sun Fei) A man hangs prayer flags on a mountain in Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Jan. 24, 2023. Following the tradition, people here went early in the morning to hang new prayer flags on top of mountains and their house roofs to celebrate New Year under the Tibetan calendar. (Xinhua/Sun Fei) A man hangs prayer flags in Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Jan. 24, 2023. Following the tradition, people here went early in the morning to hang new prayer flags on top of mountains and their house roofs to celebrate New Year under the Tibetan calendar. (Xinhua/Sun Fei) Editor: ZAD A rail-sea intermodal freight train carrying containers of goods, including cars, motorcycles, engines, and sodium carbonate, waits for departure at Tuanjie Village Central Station in southwest China's Chongqing, Jan. 22, 2023. It was the city's first outbound cargo train of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor in the Year of the Rabbit. Goods on the train will be transported to Qinzhou port on the country's southern coast, from where they will be shipped to Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, and some other countries and regions. (Xinhua/Liu Chan) This aerial photo shows a rail-sea intermodal freight train carrying containers of goods, including cars, motorcycles, engines, and sodium carbonate, at Tuanjie Village Central Station in southwest China's Chongqing, Jan. 22, 2023. It was the city's first outbound cargo train of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor in the Year of the Rabbit. Goods on the train will be transported to Qinzhou port on the country's southern coast, from where they will be shipped to Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, and some other countries and regions. (Xinhua/Liu Chan) This aerial photo shows a rail-sea intermodal freight train carrying containers of goods, including cars, motorcycles, engines, and sodium carbonate, departing from Tuanjie Village Central Station in southwest China's Chongqing, Jan. 22, 2023. It was the city's first outbound cargo train of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor in the Year of the Rabbit. Goods on the train will be transported to Qinzhou port on the country's southern coast, from where they will be shipped to Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, and some other countries and regions. (Xinhua/Liu Chan) This aerial photo shows a rail-sea intermodal freight train carrying containers of goods, including cars, motorcycles, engines, and sodium carbonate, departing from Tuanjie Village Central Station in southwest China's Chongqing, Jan. 22, 2023. It was the city's first outbound cargo train of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor in the Year of the Rabbit. Goods on the train will be transported to Qinzhou port on the country's southern coast, from where they will be shipped to Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, and some other countries and regions. (Xinhua/Liu Chan) This aerial photo shows a rail-sea intermodal freight train carrying containers of goods, including cars, motorcycles, engines, and sodium carbonate, at Tuanjie Village Central Station in southwest China's Chongqing, Jan. 22, 2023. It was the city's first outbound cargo train of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor in the Year of the Rabbit. Goods on the train will be transported to Qinzhou port on the country's southern coast, from where they will be shipped to Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, and some other countries and regions. (Xinhua/Liu Chan) This aerial photo shows a rail-sea intermodal freight train carrying containers of goods, including cars, motorcycles, engines, and sodium carbonate, departing from Tuanjie Village Central Station in southwest China's Chongqing, Jan. 22, 2023. It was the city's first outbound cargo train of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor in the Year of the Rabbit. Goods on the train will be transported to Qinzhou port on the country's southern coast, from where they will be shipped to Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, and some other countries and regions. (Xinhua/Liu Chan) Editor: JYZ This aerial photo taken on Jan. 24, 2023 shows the lanterns at the Tang Paradise in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Chinese scenic spots are welcoming legions of tourists with a variety of festive activities during the Spring Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao) This aerial photo taken on Jan. 24, 2023 shows the lanterns at the Tang Paradise in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Chinese scenic spots are welcoming legions of tourists with a variety of festive activities during the Spring Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao) People view lanterns at the Tang Paradise in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 24, 2023. Chinese scenic spots are welcoming legions of tourists with a variety of festive activities during the Spring Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao) This aerial photo taken on Jan. 24, 2023 shows the lanterns at the Tang Paradise in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Chinese scenic spots are welcoming legions of tourists with a variety of festive activities during the Spring Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao) This aerial photo taken on Jan. 24, 2023 shows the lanterns at the Tang Paradise in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Chinese scenic spots are welcoming legions of tourists with a variety of festive activities during the Spring Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao) Lanterns are lit up at the Tang Paradise in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 24, 2023. Chinese scenic spots are welcoming legions of tourists with a variety of festive activities during the Spring Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao) People pose for photos beside lanterns at the Tang Paradise in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 24, 2023. Chinese scenic spots are welcoming legions of tourists with a variety of festive activities during the Spring Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao) Lanterns are lit up at the Tang Paradise in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 24, 2023. Chinese scenic spots are welcoming legions of tourists with a variety of festive activities during the Spring Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao) Lanterns are lit up at the Tang Paradise in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 24, 2023. Chinese scenic spots are welcoming legions of tourists with a variety of festive activities during the Spring Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao) People view lanterns at the Tang Paradise in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 24, 2023. Chinese scenic spots are welcoming legions of tourists with a variety of festive activities during the Spring Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao) This aerial photo taken on Jan. 24, 2023 shows the lanterns at the Tang Paradise in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Chinese scenic spots are welcoming legions of tourists with a variety of festive activities during the Spring Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao) This aerial photo taken on Jan. 24, 2023 shows an ocean-themed lantern show in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. Chinese scenic spots are welcoming legions of tourists with a variety of festive activities during the Spring Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) People tour an ocean-themed lantern show in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 24, 2023. Chinese scenic spots are welcoming legions of tourists with a variety of festive activities during the Spring Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) This aerial photo taken on Jan. 24, 2023 shows an ocean-themed lantern show in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. Chinese scenic spots are welcoming legions of tourists with a variety of festive activities during the Spring Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) People tour an ocean-themed lantern show in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 24, 2023. Chinese scenic spots are welcoming legions of tourists with a variety of festive activities during the Spring Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) People tour an ocean-themed lantern show in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 24, 2023. Chinese scenic spots are welcoming legions of tourists with a variety of festive activities during the Spring Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) People tour an ocean-themed lantern show in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 24, 2023. Chinese scenic spots are welcoming legions of tourists with a variety of festive activities during the Spring Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) This aerial photo taken on Jan. 24, 2023 shows an ocean-themed lantern show in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. Chinese scenic spots are welcoming legions of tourists with a variety of festive activities during the Spring Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) People tour the grand bazaar in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 23, 2023. During the Spring Festival holiday, various festive activities are held to attract tourists at the grand bazaar. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) People ride snow tubes at Tianchi scenic area in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 24, 2023. Chinese scenic spots are welcoming legions of tourists with a variety of festive activities during the Spring Festival holiday. (Photo by Wu Yunhua/Xinhua) People ride snow tubes at Tianchi scenic area in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 24, 2023. Chinese scenic spots are welcoming legions of tourists with a variety of festive activities during the Spring Festival holiday. (Photo by Wu Yunhua/Xinhua) People ride a sled at Tianchi scenic area in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 24, 2023. Chinese scenic spots are welcoming legions of tourists with a variety of festive activities during the Spring Festival holiday. (Photo by Wu Yunhua/Xinhua) Performers dance at the grand bazaar in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 23, 2023. During the Spring Festival holiday, various festive activities are held to attract tourists at the grand bazaar. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) A tourist takes photos at the grand bazaar in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 23, 2023. During the Spring Festival holiday, various festive activities are held to attract tourists at the grand bazaar. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) People ride a sled at Tianchi scenic area in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 24, 2023. Chinese scenic spots are welcoming legions of tourists with a variety of festive activities during the Spring Festival holiday. (Photo by Wu Yunhua/Xinhua) Performers and tourists dance at the grand bazaar in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 23, 2023. During the Spring Festival holiday, various festive activities are held to attract tourists at the grand bazaar. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) Editor: JYZ Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny during a telephone conversation with the Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley discussed the announced package of military assistance. "During today's telephone conversation, we discussed the announced package of military assistance to Ukraine and mutual steps to put new types of equipment into service as soon as possible," Zaluzhny said on his Telegram channel on Wednesday evening. Only two locations. Only 22 cups of coffee. Only, well, $150 per cup. At such a cost, the Black Jaguar Geisha coffee from Hartmann Estate in Panama is Proud Mary Coffee Roasters' most expensive coffee ever. The special brew goes on sale Feb. 6 at Proud Mary cafes in Austin located at 2043 S Lamar Blvd. and Portland, Oregon. The two cafes will sell a total of 22 cups of the Black Jaguar Geisha, which won first place in 2022's Best in Panama competition and cost Proud Mary $2,000 for one pound of the coffee beans. More:Award-winning New York pub The Dead Rabbit coming to Austin In a Willy Wonka-esque move, Proud Mary will gift one U.S. winner a golden ticket for the special coffee. The giveaway extends through Jan. 26, and the ticket will go to a random person who pre-orders a Hartmann Geisha tin on Proud Mary's website. In addition to the Black Jaguar Geisha coffee, Proud Mary will serve five limited time coffees throughout February as part of a Hartmann Family takeover event. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: $150 cup of coffee? Austin coffee shop to sell exclusive brew Dog and Cat best Friends Team members at Jackson County Animal Shelter Like the pets of Homeward Bound, these animal best friends have been on an impressive journey. According to Lydia Sattler, the animal services director of Jackson County, a man found the cat and dog pair abandoned with another canine in a Jackson County, Michigan, field. "He knows they were out there at least the day before and all night but doesn't know how much longer they had been there. They were all underweight," Sattler told PEOPLE of the condition the animals were found in. The three pets together two dogs and one cat reminded their rescuers of the animals in Homeward Bound, a 1993 movie about three pets who get separated from their family and must go on an epic adventure to reach home. As a nod to the family film, the Jackson County Animal Shelter named two of the pets after characters in the movie. The cat, a 1-year-old male, was given the name Shadow the name of Homeward Bound's golden retriever and one of the dogs, a 6-year-old female, was named Sassy, which is the name of the feline in the movie. The other dog found with Sassy and Shadow in the field was taken in by the man who first discovered the pets. Animal control officers transported Sassy and Shadow to the Jackson County Animal Shelter. Before rescuers moved the pets, they couldn't help but notice the strong bond between Sassy and Shadow. RELATED: After Jealous Streak, Family Dog Helps as 'Nanny' to Newborn Twins Dog and Cat best Friends Team members at Jackson County Animal Shelter "Sassy and Shadow were snuggled together. The dog let the cat eat out of a bowl, sitting right next to her," Sattler said of how animal control officers found the duo. "Usually, when cats get dumped out somewhere, they take off and hide. So the fact that he stayed right there with the dogs and went into the truck and laid on the dog ... that's really incredible," she added. Shadow and Sassy's behavior has only got more precious from there. After arriving at the shelter, the pair moved into a room together, where neither made a peep because they were too busy cuddling together. Story continues "The only time I saw them even remotely distressed is when they had their turns getting spayed and neutered. When the cat left, the dog sat at the door and cried. And then the same was true when the dog went; the cat stood at the door and cried. So even for that little time of being separated, they were so sad. They did not want to be away from each other," Sattler said of Sassy and Shadow's brief time apart. RELATED: Vet Tech Knits Headband with Floppy Ears to Help Earless Pit Bull Mix Feel Good and Find a Home The strong and snuggly friendship between the two pets has quickly made them favorites at the Jackson County Animal Shelter. "They're just adorable together. I've never seen a dog and a cat that close," Sattler shared. Now that the pets have had time to rest, see a vet, and get their spay/neuter surgeries, they are ready to find a home together. The Jackson County Animal Shelter is ideally looking for an adopter who lives in a home without other pets so that this pair can be "the center of attention." "I can't think of anything bad to say about either one. They're both amazing animals. And once you meet them, I promise you, they will steal your heart. Melt your heart," Sattler said. Dog and Cat best Friends Team members at Jackson County Animal Shelter Based on the pets' bond and good manners, Sattler is confident that Shadow and Sassy once had a home together. "Somebody loved these pets at one time. Whatever circumstances led them to have to leave them, we don't know. But we just want to make sure that they get a chance to live in another home and be loved again," she said. The animal services director added that she had seen an increase recently in the number of pet owners struggling to care for their furry friends. "If it's a matter of finances and you need pet food, we offer free food to people who are struggling to feed their pets," Sattler shared. 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. For those forced to make the difficult decision to rehome their pets, Sattler recommends rescueme.org, a website that helps arrange home-to-home adoptions so pets don't have to spend time in the shelter and owners get a chance to meet who's going to adopt their animal. Those interested in adopting Shadow and Sassy whose adoption fees have been covered by a kind shelter volunteer must be willing to take in both pets. The Jackson Country Animal Shelter is open to out-of-state adoptions and has experience adopting pets out to animal lovers in Canada. If you think your home is right for these best friends, visit the pets at the shelter or fill out an adoption application and email it to animalshelter@mijackson.org. The death of the romantic comedy has been widely eulogized for at least a decade now, though fewer people seem to mourn for its twisted sister, the erotic thriller. Wherefore the bunny boilers and basic instincts of yore? Adrian Lyne, once a master of the form (Fatal Attraction, Indecent Proposal, Unfaithful) attempted a return last year at 81 with the humid Ben AffleckAna de Armas noir Deep Water, but mostly ending up making us feel weird about snails; Olivia Wilde's Don't Worry Darling doubled down on fever-dream style, and then forgot to bother with a cohesive storyline. What the genre needed, maybe, was fresh blood. And it's there literally, all over Alden Ehrenreich's face in the opening scene of Fair Play, the nervy and often gratifyingly bonkers feature debut from 35-year-old director Chloe Domont (Ballers) that just sold to Netflix for a reported $20 million at the Sundance Film Festival this week. Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich appear in Fair Play by Chloe Domont, an official selection of the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute Courtesy of Sundance Institute Ehrenreich is Luke, a boyishly handsome Yale grad who's crazy about Emily (erstwhile Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor) so crazy he doesn't care at all about cream-colored silk and menstrual cycles, as we learn in the first five minutes. And with that bravura moment, Fair Play marks the spot: These pretty people will get raw. Not that anyone at their day jobs even knows Luke and Emily are a couple; they're both junior analysts at the same cutthroat New York hedge fund, so in the bullpen they pretend to be casual strangers. As soon as one of them gets promoted to a manager's desk, they've agreed, they'll come out and announce their engagement. But when Emily less privileged but more naturally gifted unexpectedly gets there first, hairline fissures in their home life begin to crack and spread. Can this relationship survive a power shift that neither of them saw coming? Or maybe the better question is, should it? Domont, who also penned the lean, crackling script, keeps the tension at a steady hum that becomes a buzzsaw. The last 20 minutes are harrowing, so freighted with increasingly unhinged possibilities that the movie threatens to run off the rails entirely several times. But both leads hang on, throwing themselves headlong into the tar pits of contemporary workplace politics and gender roles without being drawn into clumsy, one-dimensional ideas of victimhood or villainy. Story continues There's some Gen-Z Wall Street, and a heavy whiff of HBO's Euphoria-for-finance-bros series Industry, in Fair Play's setting and tone. (Veteran British character actor Eddie Marsan is excellent as a ruthless master-of-the-universe type whose emotional reads on people like Luke and Emily come to him as easily and disposably as a spreadsheet). A few outrageous turns strain credulity in the final act, but the film (a Netflix release date has yet to be announced) still feels like something of a small miracle in 2023: a sexy, intelligent thriller for an adult audience. Grade: B+ Related content: Filmed in Georgia is a weekly column by Frank Hotchkiss, the Savannah author of Playing with Fire at local bookstores and on Amazon. Contact Frank with recommendations for future film reviews at online@savannahnow.com. Of films shot recently in Savannah, few may be aware of The Gingerbread Man, a John Grisham tale of passion, deceit and death featuring an impressive cast and director that should have led to a blockbuster movie but didnt. The line-up was remarkable: Shakespearean Irish-British actor Kenneth Branagh in the lead, supported by Robert Duvall of "The Godfather" and "The Apostle," Embeth Davidtz, American-born, South African-raised actress who rocketed to fame in "Schindlers List" as the Helen Hirsch maid for the commandant of the concentration camp; Robert Downey Jr. of "Natural Born Killers" and pre-Marvel; Daryl Hannah, from "Splash" and "Wall Street," and Tom Berenger, scar-faced and unforgettable killer in "Platoon." Directing them all was Robert Altman, who created "Nashville" and "The Player." The plot is convoluted and requires close attention to catch the nuances that Grisham is known for. Think back to "The Firm," his book-to-film that focused on the success of an eminent Memphis law firm whose wealth proved to be something less than honorable thanks to its secret representation of The Mob. Recent Filmed columnsFilmed in Georgia: Clint Eastwood learned Savannah way from Sonny Seiler filming 'Midnight' Filmed in Georgia:Stratton Leopold brought Hollywood, and a selection of stars, to Savannah Also:Filmed in Georgia: Robert Mitchum's history with Chatham County law influenced 'Cape Fear' role Actor Kenneth Branagh leaving the set after the morning filming of The Gingerbread Man at the Post office on Wright Square in Savannah. (Photo: Savannah Morning News) Davidz here is again a victim or so it seems. Determined to get back at her odd-ball, deranged-seeming father, played by Duvall, she seduces successful Savannah attorney Kenneth Branagh and enlists his help to have dear old dad committed to an asylum. They succeed. If you are confused by all this, youre not alone. It gets more obtuse yet. Duvall escapes thanks to help from his red-neck/hippie cohorts. When Branagh receives a letter from Duvall threatening his children, he goes off the deep end and guns down Duvall for absconding with his children a total fiction. Story continues Filmed in Georgia: Savannah-shot 'Glory' provided moving insight into Black soldiers in Civil War There are more twists and turns but suffice it to say spoiler alert that in the end Davidtz uses Branagh to eliminate her father and inherit his valuable property. When Branagh realizes her duplicity, he tests her with a chance to prove it. She does by trying to shoot him with a Vary flare pistol, but he has loaded it with a used shell. In the end, she is led off in cuffs. Kenneth Branagh finds his way through reporters in filming of The Gingerbread Man. Savannah Morning News photo For us Savannahans, who cares? The film is solely Savannah-based and makes great use of Factors Walk, River Street and bars like Hueys, the Olde Pink House, Forsyth Park and other local sites, but note that Branaghs elegant downtown offices are as fictitious as the script. They were completely the creation of a set built locally. And rain torrential at times was often thanks to rain and wind machines. Filmed in Georgia:'Deliverance' helped put state on the Hollywood map for good or bad Local celebrity attorney Sonny Seiler makes an all-too-brief appearance as an attorney, in a scene with Washington D. C. power broker Vernon Jordan who reportedly was dying for a part however brief in the John Grisham script. The aphorism is The sum is greater than the parts, but here the sum is less, and demonstrates just how difficult it is to create a compelling film no matter how talented the creators. They all do well particularly Hannah and Davidtz but the custard just doesnt jell. But its fun to spot the local settings and recall when you were last there. "The Gingerbread Man" is not currently streaming, but can rented at your local library. This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Movies filmed in Georgia: Gingerbread Man uses Savannah GA as setting WASHINGTON The U.S. military has killed a senior Islamic State leader during an assault operation in northern Somalia. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who announced the operation, identified the leader as Bilal al-Sudani, a key operative and facilitator for ISIS's global network. "This action leaves the United States and its partners safer and more secure, and it reflects our steadfast commitment to protecting Americans from the threat of terrorism at home and abroad," Austin said in a statement. About 10 of al-Sudani's ISIS operatives also were killed in the assault, which was authorized by President Joe Biden and took place Wednesday in a mountainous cave complex in northern Somalia, said senior administration officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin gives a press conference during the Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting at the US Air Base in Ramstein, western Germany, on January 20, 2023. Austin confirmed on Thursday that the U.S. military had killed a senior Islamic State leader during an assault operation in northern Somalia. (Photo by ANDRE PAIN / AFP) (Photo by ANDRE PAIN/AFP via Getty Images) Military officials had prepared for the possibility of capturing al-Sudani, but a response by hostile forces resulted in his death, the officials said. There were no casualties among American service members or civilians, the officials said. Wednesday's strike is the third by U.S. forces in Somalia since Jan. 20, according to U.S. Africa Command. Troops sent to Somalia: Reversing Trump, Biden moves to deploy US troops to Somalia to help counter extremist group President Joe Biden speaks at the Steamfitters Local 602 in Springfield, Va., Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) From his cave complex, al-Sudani supported ISIS's expansion and activities across Africa and beyond the continent by providing funding to sustain the organization's operational capabilities around the world, including ISIS's Khorasan branch in Afghanistan, one of the terrorist group's most lethal branches, officials said. Al-Sudani has a long history as a terrorist in Somalia. Before joining ISIS, he was designated by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2012 as an ISIS leader for his role in helping foreign fighters travel to an al-Shabaab training camp and facilitating financing for violent foreign extremists in Somalia. Al-Sudani had a key operational and financial role with specialized skills that made him an important target for U.S. counterterrorism action, officials said. Story continues The assault operation that killed al-Sudani resulted from months of coordination and planning across the U.S. government, the officials said. Once planning reached a critical stage last week, the Defense Department briefed Biden and other members of his national security team. Biden authorized the operation earlier this week. East Africa, including Somalia and Sudan, has been of concern to U.S. counterterrorism officials for decades. In 1988, Osama bin Laden established the al-Qaida network from a group of Arab and other foreign veterans of the Afghan insurgency. Two years later, he left his native Saudi Arabia for Sudan and used it as a base to recruit operatives for his new organization. ISIS in our own backyard: Group's U.S. followers are diverse, in places large and small In March 2022, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned several southern Africa-based Islamic State organizers and financial facilitators, saying they were playing an increasingly central role in facilitating the transfer of funds from the top of the ISIS hierarchy to branches across Africa. The United States is working with our African partners, including South Africa, to dismantle ISIS financial support networks on the continent, Brian Nelson, the Treasury undersecretary, said at the time. Al-Sudani was not one of those sanctioned in that Treasury action. But in its announcement, Treasury described him as a U.S. -designated ISIS leader in Somalia involved in helping ISIS supporters in South Africa become better organized and recruit new members. ISIS has recently attempted to expand its influence in Africa through large-scale operations in areas where government control is limited, Nelson said. ISIS branches in Africa rely on local fundraising schemes such as theft, extortion of local populations, and kidnapping for ransom, as well as financial support from the ISIS hierarchy." ISIS leader dies: ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi dies in US military raid in Syria This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ISIS leader in Somalia killed in raid by US military forces Head of Vinnytsia Regional Military Administration Serhiy Borzov said as a result of a missile attack by Russian invaders that took place on Thursday morning, there are hits of enemy missiles in the region. "There is a hit by enemy missiles in Vinnytsia region. There are no casualties," Borzov said on Facebook. He said all operational services are already working on the spot. Pardee UNC Health's Dr. S. Yaseen Zia. Pardee UNC Health radiation oncologist S. Yaseen Zia has been appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper to serve as a member of the North Carolina Advisory Committee on Cancer Coordination and Control, according to a news release. The mission of the Advisory Committee is to facilitate the reduction of cancer incidence and mortality for all North Carolinians, enhance statewide access to quality treatment and support services and maximize the quality of life for all North Carolina cancer survivors, patients and their loved ones through educating and advising government officials, policymakers, public and private organizations and the public, the release said. Dr. Zias appointment is effective immediately and will last through Aug. 31, 2026. During my tenure at Pardee, I have communicated with the statewide leaders on the need to amplify our efforts in cancer care, prevention and research in Western North Carolina, Dr. Zia said in the release. It is my hope that in this new role, I can bring the challenges that we face here in oncologic care to the state level. Dr. Zia is a board-certified radiation oncologist and has been with Pardee since 2018. He earned his medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine and completed his residency training at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. Dr. Zia is an exceptional radiation oncologist and highly-regarded provider among patients and medical staff, says Dr. Greg McCarty, chief medical officer at Pardee UNC Health Care. We are proud that the Governor sees the same passion we do that Dr. Zia has for improving cancer care and we look forward to supporting him as he takes on this new role to serve our community. United Way of Henderson County adds seven new board members The 2023 incoming new members of the United Way of Henderson County Board of Directors. The United Way of Henderson County added seven new community leaders to its 2023 Board of Directors recently, according to a news release. The new board members are Paula Aguilera-Johnson, Joe Canning, Debi Gould, Brandon Nudd, Michelle Reynolds, Misty Zemla and Melissa Witmeier. Story continues We are thrilled to welcome these new members to the United Way Board, said Lew Holloway, UWHC Board Chair, in a news release. Their industry knowledge, community connections, and passion for our community and United Ways mission and work will make them real assets to our group. Our organization is fortunate to have a diverse group of leaders serving on our board who are fighting for the health, education, financial stability and basic needs of everyone in our community. Aguilera-Johnson is the Member Engagement and Events Coordinator for the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce. Her professional career began as an assistant sales manager for Verizon Wireless. In 2012, Aguilera-Johnson began working with AFLAC, where she led an initiative to educate Charlottes Hispanic community on healthcare reform. Through this work, she was introduced to the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte, which pivoted her professional career to the non-profit sector. According to the release, she was later recruited to work for the organization, where she served as the director of membership and programs for three years before relocating to Western North Carolina in 2019. Canning, the Plant Manager for Kimberly-Clark Berkeley Mills, originates from Ohio. Upon graduating from the University of Toledo with a bachelors of business administration degree, he started his career with Kimberly-Clark in supply chain management. Over the course of his 17-year career with Kimberly-Clark, Canning has held various supply chain and operations leadership positions across six manufacturing and staff locations. He holds an MBA from Georgia State University. Hes led the Berkeley Mills site since October 2021, where his focus has been on employee safety and engagement, developing long term site strategy and delivering results for the Kimberly-Clark Global Nonwovens business. Gould is the accounts payable/customer relations manager at Dampp-Chaser Corporation, where she has worked for the past nine years. Her first career was in nursing where she primarily worked mental health and chemical dependency settings. She later held administrative nursing positions in quality assurance and risk management. Gould has been an active volunteer with United Way for many years, serving on program evaluation panels, as the employee campaign coordinator at Dampp-Chaser, and is in United Way's Rising Leaders Program. Nudd is the president and chief executive officer for AdventHealth Hendersonville. He began his time in this role in August 2021 and oversees the day-to-day operations. Prior to joining AdventHealth Hendersonville, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Castle Rock Adventist Hospital in Castle Rock, Colorado, which is part of Centura Health, AdventHealths joint operating company with CommonSpirit Health. Reynolds is the administrative director of support services for Pardee UNC Health. She has lived in Henderson County since 1983 and began employment at Pardee Hospital in 1990. She has developed professionally through more than 25 years of experience in leadership and completed an Advanced Leadership Academy in 2016. Before her position at Pardee, Reynolds worked for a family business, Lambs Grocery in Hendersonville, and ran operations at The Country Market in Flat Rock. She has co-chaired the United Way campaign at Pardee in years past and volunteers for supported events. Zemla joined Cummins Meritor seven months ago as senior manager of human resources for the companys Forest City and Fletcher locations. She attended Indiana Wesleyan University and earned her bachelors degree in business management with a minor in HR management. Witmeier joined the Council on Aging for Henderson County as the new executive director in March 2023. Prior to her work with COAHC, she was the vice president of grant strategies for the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council in Jacksonville, Florida. In previous positions, she was the director of operations at EPIC Behavioral Healthcare in St. Johns County, Florida for over two years where she was the quality assurance officer; managed the prevention department and data team; wrote grants and proposals which created programs in the St. Johns County School District for mental health linkages and care coordination and peer support for people with substance use disorders. This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Local briefs: Pardee oncologist appointed; United Way names new board members Married At First Sight Season 16 Episode 4 Recap: Honeymoon Hiccups The Married At First Sight newlyweds have only known each other for a very short time, but they finally will get a glimpse of who they just married while vacationing together. This is when things will really start to pick up. While on vacation, each person will get a chance to observe their spouses habits. They will also have the opportunity to have some of the deeper discussions that will reveal if their marriage can truly work. I dont know about them, but I am already seeingsome red flags. Five newlywed pairs of strangers share a bed for the first time on their wedding night. The next day they are dropped into the lions den for a round of personal questions and concerns from their brand-new spouses family and friends. Some come with what seems like well-rehearsed answers, while others face the heat. Lets get straight into the recap! Airris & Jasmine Jasmine came ready! After the wedding, Airris had plans to fall asleep immediately, but when he saw her in that lingerie he may have had other thoughts. Yassss! Set the bar high, girl. The next day, he meets with his wifes family. They give him some sound advice about how to navigate marriage in general. Unfortunately for Jasmine, his bitter cousin was in attendance to bring down the mood. But Jasmine is ready for their questions, which Airris cousin points out sound like pageant answers. Insert side eye here. Does she expect this woman to tell her all of her faults the first time meeting her? Of course she is going to present herself in the best possible light. Jasmine and Airris discuss their meetings with each others families. Naturally, his cousin and her overprotective nature becomes a topic of conversation. I thought Jasmine handled the situation really well and didnt take it personally. Of course, her husband wasnt surprised by his cousins behavior and just wants to focus on their future. I guess they will have plenty of time to do just that when they go on their honeymoon. Story continues Mackinley & Domynique Mackinley meets with Domyniques family to gain more insight into his wife and her family. Their number one concern is that he will be able to take care of their daughter and withstand any naysayers. Meanwhile, Domynique meets with the women in her husbands family. Once again his mother reiterates that she thinks marrying a stranger was crazy. Guess what mom, he is married now. You can either accept it or not, but what is done is done. I have to say that despite some awkward moments Domynique remains optimistic and positive. Its honeymoon time and this year the destination is Jamaica. On the plane to Jamaica, Mackinley complains that he and Dominique are stuck in the back of the plane near the restroom. Apparently he usually only travels first class. Really? He only travels first class yet he opted to move in with his friends family rather than get his own place in Nashville. Okay. I cant wait to see how things progress on the honeymoon if he is already complaining. Related: Married At First Sight Season 16 Episode 3 Recap: Music City Matrimony Christopher & Nicole Chris meets with Nicoles family and they jump right into things fairly quickly. Her dad wants to ensure that his new son-in-law is serious about his daughter and their marriage. Chris assures him that he has good intentions and is fully committed. Nicole quickly disarms her hubbys family and uses her time to get more insight on him as a person. I can see both of these families blending together if things work out. Nicole shares that she gets vacation anxiety when traveling with a significant other. She has had some toxic relationships in the past that have made her feel bad about herself. She even tells Chris that she let her ex burn her with a cigarette to prove her love. Sigh! That broke my heart to hear that she had to endure that from someone she loved. I just hope she has taken the time and space to truly heal. Although I appreciate the transparency, I think I would have given him a chance to truly get to know me before revealing that information. But Chris immediately reassures her that she is worthy of true love and he sees her value. Shaquille and Kirsten The next morning, Kirsten wakes up and appears to be a lot more comfortable with her new stranger spouse, Shaquille. Given that she was so surprised by his bald head, I wasnt sure of the outcome. Later, they both meet with each others loved ones for brunch. Kirsten has a very laid back interaction while Shaquille is grilled by her friends. One of her friends does give him some very insightful advice about consistency being the key to helping his wife open up in the future. Shaquille breaks the news to Kirsten that they will not be arriving with the other couples to their honeymoon. Instead he plans to have her accompany him to Mississippi to witness him give a research presentation. Sigh! I know she was disappointed. Who wants to go to work when they could be in Jamaica on the beach with a cocktail? Lets be honest, all signs point to Kirsten not being into her new husband. I am shocked she didnt just tell him to meet her in Jamaica at this point. Clint & Gina Clint and Gina seem to be getting along well. When she meets with his family, she easily navigates through the conversation and their questions. Meanwhile, her family has some more hard hitting questions for him. Much like his wife, he is able to win them over fairly quickly. But I can tell when they mention her being a workaholic, that Clint is concerned. He seems like a very spontaneous person and someone chained to a desk probably the opposite of what he wants to deal with in a relationship. TELL US NOW THAT THE WEDDINGS ARE OVER, WHO DO YOU THINK HAS THE MOST CHEMISTRY? WHO HAS THE LEAST AMOUNT OF CHEMISTRY? [Photo Credit: Lifetime] The post Married At First Sight Season 16 Episode 4 Recap: Honeymoon Hiccups appeared first on Reality Tea. Editors note: This story has been updated to correct when Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) spoke to Daniels about a possible run. Former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) made a pilgrimage to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to meet with senators as he continues to weigh whether to take the plunge into the Indiana Senate race and resume a role in political life he has largely eschewed in recent years. Daniels, the former two-term governor who recently wrapped up a decade serving as president of Purdue University, met with a number of GOP lawmakers and held a 45-minute sit-down with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). In a brief interview with The Hill, Daniels said that he plans to make a decision shortly on a bid to succeed Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) but is uncertain on a return to public life. Daniels, 73, said hes spent much more time out of public life than in it. Ive always had action jobs, so Ive always had great admiration and respect for people who follow the legislative path, but its not something Ive done or, frankly, seen myself doing, he added. Im just testing all that now because Ive been asked to. People I admire have asked me to think about it, so Im thinking. If he chooses to run, Daniels would likely have to battle Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and potentially others in a primary. The GOP has struggled to convince governors to take the plunge; in the last campaign cycle, Senate Republicans failed to recruit to three governors New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R), former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) and former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R). All three indicated that they did not think they could make a difference in Washington compared to their positions as state executives. Sununu went so far as to directly blame the pitch Senate Republicans made to him, which centered on obstructing President Bidens work until a Republican potentially wins the White House in 2024. Republicans arguably ended up with weaker nominees in New Hampshire and Arizona who lost, helping Democrats retain their majority. Story continues People have been honest and open, and thats what I was hoping theyd do. Theyd tell me about what they enjoy about it, whats occasionally difficult about it, Daniels said of his meetings. He told reporters earlier in the day that Wednesdays discussions were centered around the life of a senator and the possibility of winning and regretting it for 6 years. Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), who Daniels met with earlier in the day, told The Hill that Daniels seemed uncertain about a bid. Hes genuinely and sincerely trying to figure out whether he wants to spend a year and a half auditioning for the job and six years in the job. Hes asking a lot of questions about the job itself, Young said, adding that hes undecided but very interested. The winner in 2024 will replace Braun, who, ironically, is running for the governors mansion in Indianapolis. Braun said that while he keeps in contact with Daniels, he did not meet with him on Wednesday and questioned whether he would enjoy serving in the Senate at this point in his career. As an entrepreneur and someone who has a metabolism rate that has to be at least minimally satisfied, this place is probably not the place to do it, Braun said with a laugh, referring to himself. The movers and shakers in this country are probably staying in the governors mansions and running businesses, and you can see the results here. They speak for themselves. A number of former governors serving in the upper chamber believe Daniels would be an ideal fit. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who served as Massachusetts governor from 2003 until 2007, said he has previously spoken with Daniels about a possible run and that he would make a terrific candidate. A Democrat, Sen. John Hickenlooper (Colo.), a two-term governor of his state, also offered a case for any governor, like Daniels, to run for the Senate. He noted that the Senate has had some bipartisan legislative successes that could convince former governors to run, including the infrastructure bill, gun safety reform, a childrens health insurance bill and the codification of same-sex marriage. Maybe our success here the last couple of years is going to attract more governors. The experience of being a governor is directly applicable, Hickenlooper said in an interview. I think he is someone who is driven by a desire almost a need to serve, he said of Daniels. My guess is that hell look at it and think, yeah, I was so cynical and hated it. He has great social skills. Hes a talented manager, obviously a very successful governor, but he also is a visionary and is capable of bringing people together and building these constituencies around specific issues, which is what this building is all about. Hickenlooper was vocal about his lukewarm interest in running during the 2020 cycle given his gubernatorial past. However, he has changed his tune, saying that his time in the Senate has been tremendously fulfilling. In every phase it has exceeded my expectations, he said. To get to Washington, Daniels would face at least one formidable foe in Banks, who is backed by the Club for Growth essentially set up a proxy war for the Republican Party between establishment figures and pro-Trump forces that got nasty even before Banks announced his campaign last week. Another Senate Republican said Daniels would fit in well in the upper chamber, but that it wouldnt be free of consternation. This is a case of where you have to go into it with your eyes wide open, recognizing youre going to be frustrated. And that you do this because youve had the greatest job in the world, and now its payback, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a former governor, told The Hill with a laugh. This is what you give back. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Russian Olympic officials on Thursday praised the International Olympic Committee's decision allowing Russian athletes to participate in the Summer Olympics in Paris next year. The IOC Executive Board agreed to allow individual athletes from Russia and Belarus to take part in Olympic events if they are not "actively supporting" Russias war in Ukraine. The athletes also must compete under neutral status. "I believe that this is already a success," said Igor Levitin, vice president of the Russian Olympic Committee. "The Olympic community realizes that the Olympic Games cannot transpire without Russias participation." The international athletes advocacy group Global Athlete issued a statement blasting the IOC decision, saying it "sends a message to the world that the International Olympic Committee endorses Russias brutal war and invasion of Ukraine." BIDEN SEEKS TO AVOID WIDER WAR:Delivery of M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine escalates conflict Workers check a destroyed residential area after a Russian rocket attack in Hlevakha, Kyiv region, Ukraine, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. Other developments: The U.S. will send Ukraine the Abrams tanks in their more advanced M1A2 configuration, rather than the older A1 version now in storage, Politico reported, citing three unidentified officials it said had knowledge of the deliberations. The U.S. Treasury designated the private Russian militia Wagner Group a "significant transnational criminal organization." The declaration freezes Wagner's U.S. assets and bans Americans from providing financial or other support. Ukraines Security Service said it had detained a lieutenant colonel accused of conducting intelligence operations and passing state secrets to Russian contacts. The EU believes it has the legal authority to "temporarily leverage" more than $36 billion in Russian central bank assets to help pay for the reconstruction of Ukraine, Bloomberg reported, citing people it said were familiar with the financial details. Of the 50,000 convict-conscripts recruited from Russian prisons by the Wagner Group to fight in Ukraine, 40,000 are either dead or missing, and only 10,000 are still fighting, says Olga Romanova, head of the prisoner advocacy group Russia Behind Bars. Story continues UKRAINE TO GET ELITE TANKS: Here is how they will aid in war with Russia No sign that US aid is getting stolen in Ukraine, administration officials say The U.S. has not noticed any indication its aid to Ukraine is getting stolen or misused, Biden administration officials told a Senate committee Thursday, two days after several Ukrainian government officials were pushed out amid allegations of corruption. Among those leaving President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's administration was his deputy head of office, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, who was accused in media reports of driving an SUV donated for humanitarian aid. Ukrainian media also reported the Defense Ministry was buying food meant for troops at elevated prices in a possible profiteering scheme. Victoria Nuland, the under secretary of state for political affairs, told senators the government shakeup in Ukraine is proof of Zelenskyy's efforts to root out corruption, a key message of his campaign. We have been very clear that we need to see, as they prosecute this war, the anti-corruption steps, including good corporate governance and judicial measures, move forward, Nuland said. Any signs of corruption could jeopardize the influx of billions of dollars in military and humanitarian assistance that Ukraine has been receiving from the U.S. and its allies since Russia's invasion 11 months ago. Celeste Wallander, the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, told the senators that U.S. officials have "not seen credible evidence of any diversion of U.S.-provided weapons outside of Ukraine. Russia responds to tank deal with massive missile attack Russia unleashed a massive missile assault on non-military Ukraine targets Thursday, killing at least 11 people one day after the U.S. and Germany agreed to send dozens of elite tanks to Ukraine in a deal that could alter the fortunes of combatants on both sides of the 11-month-old war. Ukrainian air defense shot down 47 out of 55 missiles Russia fired at energy and other critical infrastructure, the head of Ukraine's armed forces said. Valerii Zaluzhnyi said 20 missiles had been destroyed over Kyiv alone in what was the first such Russian barrage in almost two weeks. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said one person was killed by falling debris from a rocket. Eleven deaths were confirmed and at least 11 other people were injured across the country, state emergency services reported. In the Zaporizhzhia province, one missile killed three people and wounded seven, local officials said. "Russia's goal remains the same psychological pressure on Ukrainians and the destruction of critical infrastructure," Zaluzhnyi said. 2 Germans face treason charges, accused of passing secrets to Russia Authorities in Germany have arrested a second suspect in an espionage case that embarrassed Germanys foreign intelligence agency. Federal prosecutors said Arthur E., a German citizen whose surname wasnt released, was detained at Munich airport last month after arriving from the United States. Prosecutors said the suspect is accused of passing state secrets to Russian intelligence. Arthur E. was not an employee of Germany's spy agency, prosecutors said. German authorities said they received support in their investigation from the FBI. Authorities said the suspect obtained the information from Carsten L., an agency employee arrested in Berlin on Dec. 21. Both suspects face treason charges. German tanks could be rolling in Ukraine in March German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Ukrainian crews will start their training in Germany within days on German-made Marders, which are infantry fighting vehicles, while training on the heavier Leopard 2 tanks would start a little later. In any case, the aim with the Leopards is to have the first company in Ukraine by the end of March, beginning of April, he said. I cant say the precise day. Germany said it would supply 14 high-tech Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine and authorize other European countries to send up to 88 more. The U.S. will send 31 elite M1 Abrams tanks and support vehicles to Ukraine, the Biden administration said. Britain, Poland, the Netherlands, Sweden and Canada are among other nations supplying tanks and heavy armored vehicles to Ukraine. GERMAN LEOPARD 2 TANKS: Tanks are heading to Ukraine Four evicted from Australian Open after waving Russian flags, threatening guards Four people who displayed Russian flags and threatened security guards were evicted from the Australian Open, tournament officials and police aid Thursday. The Open, the year's first tennis grand slam, has banned Russian and Belarusian flags from its grounds because of the war in Ukraine. The flags, with at least one featuring the image of Russian President Vladimir Putin, were being waved during a gathering outside Rod Laver Arena after Novak Djokovic beat Russian player Andrey Rublev in straight sets Wednesday in the quarterfinals. "Players and their teams have been briefed and reminded of the event policy regarding flags and symbols and to avoid any situation that has the potential to disrupt, Tennis Australian said in a statement. One of Russia's most popular websites draws ban Russia banned the popular news website Meduza, designating the Russia-focused, Latvian-based site as an illegal, undesirable organization" that poses "a threat to the foundations of the Russian Federations constitutional order and national security. The website was started in 2014 by former employees of a Russian-based website that had struggled to remain independent. Among Thursday's stories in the publication are one headlined "A casting call for opportunists" that discusses the Kremlin gearing up for "elections" in the newly annexed regions of Ukraine. Another one discusses how "arbitrary and cruel law enforcement is reducing Russian society to paranoia and paralysis" US wants to stop Russia from flying US-built planes into Turkey U.S. officials are pressuring Turkey to stop Russian airlines from flying American-made airplanes to and from the country as the Biden administration attempts to further economically squeeze Russia, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing officials the newspaper said were familiar with the talks. Administration officials have been warning as far back as August that Turkish businesses and individuals could face fines or other penalties for activities that aid Russia. The Turkish finance ministry affirmed then that it would "not allow any institution or individual" to use Turkey to evade sanctions. More recently, U.S. officials warned against services such as refueling and providing spare parts to U.S.-made planes flying to and from Russia and Belarus, the Journal said. At a certain point, they will have to take an enforcement-related action, Emily Kilcrease, a former deputy assistant U.S. trade representative and now senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security in Washington, told the Journal. Otherwise the whole kind of thing falls apart, if it turns out they have knowledge of violations and they havent been able to do anything to address it. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine updates: Russia happy its athletes can be in Olympics Joshua Browder Joshua Browder, the startup CEO who wanted to use an artificial intelligencepowered robot lawyer to help a defendant fight a traffic ticket in court, has revealed that he is dropping the plan after being threatened with jail time.Browder runs DoNotPay, a San Franciscobased DIY legal services startup created to help people get out of parking tickets. In a December tweet , he asked anyone with a speeding ticket hearing coming up to DM him. We want to build a @donotpay bot that listens to the court hearing via your AirPods and whispers what to say with GPT-3 and LLMs, he wrote, referring to the tech that powers chatbots like ChatGPT. We just want to experiment and will pay the ticket, even if you lose! Numerous Twitter users expressed skepticism , but Browder told BuzzFeed News that more than 300 people DMd him. The company eventually ended up picking just one person, who had a $200 speeding ticket. That case, set to be heard Feb. 22, made the cut because the authorities hadnt provided adequate evidence of the person speeding, according to Browder. What the AI was going to do in the courtroom was tell the person to say there wasnt enough evidence and ask for the ticket to be dismissed, he said. We were fairly confident we were going to win. Browder told BuzzFeed News that his company was on the verge of a multistate investigation by members of state bars. He declined to say which states were investigating him or which court he was planning to try the AI experiment in. He did say that members of the California State Bar had sent the company five letters over the past month. Good morning! Bad news: after receiving threats from State Bar prosecutors, it seems likely they will put me in jail for 6 months if I follow through with bringing a robot lawyer into a physical courtroom. DoNotPay is postponing our court case and sticking to consumer rights: 03:11 PM - 25 Jan 2023 They were asking us detailed questions about our approach, Browder said. And at least one state bar official, he claimed, pointed out that the CEO could face prosecution and spend up to six months in jail. I mean, it was getting pretty serious, he said. I dont want to go to jail over an experiment. It was a $200 speeding ticket. Story continues Since its founding in 2015, DoNotPay has raised more than $28 million, some of it from high-profile Silicon Valley venture capital firms like Andreessen Horowitz, according to Crunchbase. Since 2021, the company has been using a combination of machine learning and automation to make it easier for regular people to challenge bank fees, break leases, and file restraining orders, among other actions. Browder, 26, seems to revel in attention. On Twitter last month, he showed off a chatbot created by DoNotPay, which argued with a Comcast chat-based customer support representative to negotiate down an internet bill. And earlier this month, he announced that his company would pay $1 million to anyone willing to argue a case before the US Supreme Court by letting a chatbot feed them arguments through a pair of AirPods. DoNotPay will pay any lawyer or person $1,000,000 with an upcoming case in front of the United States Supreme Court to wear AirPods and let our robot lawyer argue the case by repeating exactly what it says. (1/2) 04:57 AM - 09 Jan 2023 Browders Supreme Court tweet generated eyerolls, and some critics pointed out that DoNotPays baseline automated services arent good enough to begin with. As for the traffic court offer, Browder said his mistake was being too public about it. The problem was that I was tweeting all this out, he said. I even tweeted out the exact date [the trial] was happening. Then the lawyers began systematically phoning up every major state bar association to try and stop us. They were really hating on us. Federal courts and some state courts do not allow the recording of audio inside the courtroom, something that could have been a problem for Browders idea to work, since it relies on his chatbot listening in on live courtroom proceedings to formulate arguments. So was this all a publicity stunt? Were not doing it, Browder said. Its not a publicity stunt, because were not doing it. Ultimately, he said, the scrutiny that he and his company came under was a distraction. He said that DoNotPay will stick to what it already does helping consumers dispute hard-to-cancel subscriptions and reducing cellphone bills. This is my mea culpa moment, he said. Im making a lot of powerful enemies, and I realized after reflecting on it that we should just stick to fighting Comcast. I regret being so controversial. Sayfullo Saipov, an Uzbek native who drove a rented truck down a Manhattan bike path adjacent to the Hudson River in an ISIS-inspired terror attack that killed eight people, was convicted Thursday by a federal court jury of murder and attempted murder in order to gain entry to ISIS, making him eligible for the death penalty. He was also convicted of providing material support to ISIS. PHOTO: A law enforcement officer walks by a crime scene on Nov. 1, 2017, after a driver mowed down people on a riverfront bike path near the World Trade Center on Oct. 31, 2017 in New York. (Mark Lennihan/AP) Saipov, in a dark jacket and white shirt, wore a mask over his face in court. He bowed his head as the guilty verdicts were read. The trial, which began in Manhattan federal court earlier this month, marked the first federal death penalty trial of the Biden administration. Jurors will decide next month whether Saipov should face the death penalty. The jury reached its verdict after about six hours of deliberations over two days. Jurors sent several notes that indicated some confusion about the charges but came to an unanimous verdict on the 11th day of the trial. MORE: Terror trial set to begin for suspect in NYC truck attack that killed 8 Saipov had pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including murder in the aid of racketeering and providing and attempting to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization. The truck attack, which was on Halloween, was the deadliest terror attack in New York since Sept. 11, 2001. PHOTO: This file handout photo taken on Oct. 31, 2017 obtained courtesy of the St. Charles County Dept. of Corrections in the midwestern US state of Missouri shows Sayfullo Saipov, the suspected driver who killed eight people in New York on Oct. 31, 2017. (Handout/St. Charles Country Dept. of Corrections/AFP via Getty Images) Saipov, a native of Uzbekistan who lived in Florida, Ohio and New Jersey following his arrival in the United States, was allegedly inspired to commit the killings by ISIS videos he viewed, prosecutors said. The rental truck used in the Oct. 31, 2017, attack was decorated with an ISIS flag. Prosecutors alleged that the suspect drove the truck on a bike lane and pedestrian walkway in lower Manhattan, and when the truck collided with a school bus he exited the vehicle holding a paintball gun and pellet gun. "Moments after Saipov got out of the truck, he yelled, in substance and in part, 'Allah Akbar,'" according to charging documents filed in the case. Story continues MORE: Feds interviewed accused NYC truck attacker in 2015 about possible terror ties He chose Halloween to commit the attack, which required "substantial planning and premeditation," anticipating there would be more civilians on the streets that day, prosecutors alleged, calling it "heinous, cruel and depraved." "Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov caused injury, harm, and loss to the families and friends of Diego Enrique Angelini, Nicholas Cleves, Ann-Laure Decadt, Darren Drake, Ariel Erlij, Hernan Ferruchi, Hernan Diego Mendoza, and Alejandro Damian Pagnucco," according to court records. Five of the victims were tourists from Argentina. The defense, which did not call any witnesses during the trial, conceded during opening statements that Saipov carried out the attack but challenged the government's allegation he did it to become a full-fledged member of ISIS. The defense said Saipov did not want to join the terror group -- he wanted to die a martyr. PHOTO: In this file photo taken on Nov. 3, 2017 a bicyclist rides past cement barricades, which were placed along the West Side Highway bike path in New York. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images, FILE) Saipov has been in federal custody since his arrest. The Southern District of New York's last capital murder case was against Khalid Barnes, who was convicted of murdering two drug suppliers but was ultimately sentenced to life in prison in September 2009. The last time the death penalty was carried out in a New York federal case was in 1953 when husband and wife Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed after being convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage for the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Aaron Katersky reports: NYC bike path terror attack: Suspect found guilty originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Photo Credit: Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast / Photos by Christina Chacon / Memphis Police Department On Thursday, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy announced that his office has brought charges against the five officers involved in the death of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols: second-degree murder, acting in concert of aggravated assault, two aggravated kidnapping charges, two official misconduct charges, and official oppression. While each of the five individuals played a different role in the incident in question, the actions of all of them resulted in the death of Tyre Nichols. We want justice for Tyre Nichols, Mulroy added. If theres any silver lining to be drawn from this very dark cloud, its to start a conversation about police reform. Mulroy says the city will release video from the attack sometime after 6pm Friday. Memphis Cops Arrested for Murder After Horrific Beating of Tyre Nichols He was a human pinata for those police officers, a lawyer for Nichols family, Antonio Romanucci, said Monday after the family watched video of their sons attack by the police officers. Not only was it violent, it was savage, he said, as Nichols mother started crying and repeated Oh my God. Nichols mom apparently couldnt bear to watch more than a minute of the three-minute attack. The officers were fired after an investigation. Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis said they had violated department policies, including use of excessive force. The egregious nature of this incident is not a reflection of the good work that our officers perform, with integrity, every day, said Davis in a statement. Kevin Ritz, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced a civil rights investigation into Nichols death. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating. The United States Attorneys Office, in coordination with the FBI Memphis Field Office and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, has opened a civil rights investigation. Courtesy of Christina Chacon The District Attorneys office has emphasized its commitment to due process. We're going to go by the facts and the law, Mulroy told ABC News. The newly-formed Judicial Review Unitstaffed with prosecutors who dont regularly work with the Memphis Police Departmentrecommend the charges. Story continues This is how you do it. You give the officers due process. But you dont serve as their defense attorney. Better still, how you do it is by weeding out abusive cops before they kill. But its still notable that officials in a red state (albeit in a purplish city) appear more committed to accountability for police officers than they are in a deep blue city in a blue state, like New York City. In New York, it took five years for Eric Garners killer, Officer Daniel Pantaleo, to lose his job after placing him in a chokehold, causing Garner to desperately plead, I cant breathe, before losing consciousness and dying. After police in 2006 fired 50 bullets, killing Sean Bell, the NYPDs commissioner put five officers on paid leavestripped of their weapons, but keeping their jobs. At the time, The New York Times described this as forceful discipline. When NYPD officers shot dead Saheed Vassall in 2015, after he pointed what they thought was a gun that turned out to be a metal pipe, the attorney generals office found the NYPD officers who shot Mr. Vassell were legally justified in their actions since the use of deadly physical force is necessary to defend the police officer or peace officer or another person from what the officer reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of deadly physical force. Centrist Democrats Tough on Crime Plans Arent Pragmatic, Theyre Delusional Meanwhile, NYPD officers with a long history of breaking the rules (as well as the law) frequently keep their jobs and cushy pensions. Sgt. David Grieco, nicknamed Bullethead, retired this year, after being sued 24 times and racking up a whopping $1 million in settlements (paid for by taxpayers), primarily for excessive force. Grieco also had 101 allegations against him clocked with the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB). The CCRB, after conducting thorough investigations, occasionally suggests termination. But virtually every time, the police captain rules that an accused officer is either not guilty, or decides to take away a few days of vacation. The most common punishment is more training. Courtesy of Christina Chacon According to CCRB data, 40 percent of NYPD officers have no CCRB complaints against them. Ten percent have complaints number at least in high double digits. Det. Gary J. Messina has 95; Lt. Henry A. Daverin has 95; retired Commander Det. Anthony R. Ronda has 69; Det. Mathew C. Reich has 104; and former Lt. Eric Dym has 119 complaints against him. Note these are all high ranks, so these officers get paid the highest salaries, even as they cost taxpayers numerous lawsuit payouts. The NYPD has a lot to learn, Frank Serpico, the whistleblower whose revelations launched the Knapp Commission and earned him a bullet to the head, tells The Daily Beast. It is more interested in protecting its image than exposing corruption. In seminal moments where extreme police abuse is revealedalmost always caught on horrifying videotheres a public reckoning. It comes in the form of protests, and in some cases, rioting. Reforms are promised, and sometimes theyre even implemented. Bodycams Dont Work. Civilians Recording Police Does. And thats almost immediately followed by a backlash. After the George Floyd protests, conservatives and some liberals embraced the so-called Ferguson Effect, which is the ridiculous idea that protests lead to crime spikes because officers are too scared to go after criminals. The backlash, as well as politicians terror of angering the police unions in blue cities, kills any efforts at substantive reformeven reforms that have already been agreed upon. The reforms that have been implemented have been mostly procedural and technological, like a change in wording of use of force policies or the addition of body cameras, Alex Vitale, CUNY Brooklyn sociology professor, and author of The End of Policing, tells The Daily Beast. Things like new training have been implemented, but have failed to show any meaningful impact. The NYPDs public outrages have been many, but not few meaningful reforms have been implemented. Courtesy of Christina Chacon They did a round following the Stop and Frisk lawsuit and protests and after Eric Garnersuch as body cameras, implicit bias training and de-escalation training, Vitale says. The Department's own research showed that implicit bias training didn't work, he adds. There hasn't been any evaluation of the other reforms but there isn't a lot of cause for optimism, especially given the way officers behaved during the George Floyd protests. (A city watchdog groups investigation found that NYPD engaged in excessive enforcement that escalated tensions.) More serious reforms have been rolled back. Following widespread outrage over the death of George Floyd, Police Commissioner Dermont Shea disbanded the plainclothes unit in 2020which had been linked to some of the NYPDs most notorious violent incidents, including the deaths of Diallo, Garner, Bell, and Vassall. Mayor Eric Adamsa former NYPD captainpromptly brought them back upon taking office in 2022. Riotsville, USA Shows the Birth of Police Militarization The brutality inflicted on Tyre Nichols is sufficient evidence that the Memphis PD badly needs reform and greater accountability. But New York (and other cities) can learn from Memphis example. When someone dies in police custody, dont circle the wagons and allow police unions to poison the wells of public opinion with endless misleading claims while the officers in question continue to collect a paycheck. Instead, investigate. Give the officers a chance to defend themselves. And if the evidence proves police broke the law (as the charges against the five Memphis officers demonstrate), then fire those cops and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. Thats how you avoid widespread civil unrest. Thats how you rebuild public trust in law enforcement, a necessary element of public safety. And its how you send the message to all police officers that the law applies to them, too. 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. Corrections & Clarifications: In a previous version of this article the number of flight hours required for first officers and captains was incorrectly stated. United Airlines commemorated a significant milestone in its efforts to train the next generation of pilots: the first graduating class of its Goodyear flight school, United Aviate Academy, the only one operated by a major American airline. Staff at United Aviate Academy, whose campus is at Phoenix Goodyear Airport, held a graduation ceremony for the inaugural class of 51 students on Jan. 25. Close to 80% of the graduates are women and people of color, fulfilling a key diversity marker the airline aimed to achieve. In his commencement speech, occasionally interrupted by the sound of roaring jet engines, United CEO Scott Kirby said the airline supported the academy in a time when other airlines have cut back. Even through pressing challenges like new variants of COVID-19 disrupting tourism, he said, United believed in prioritizing training new pilots. He saw it as an investment in the next 40 years of air travel. Exclusive:Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is spending $1.7 billion on improvements. Here's what's coming United Aviate Academy aims to help reduce pilot shortage United invested in its flight academy with the goal of training 5,000 new pilots by the end of 2030, including at least 50% who are women and/or people of color. The airline aims to hire at least 10,000 new pilots by the end of the decade. Training new pilots is vital to keeping planes operating. Airlines continue to navigate pilot and crew shortages that contributed to flight delays and cancellations last summer and during the winter holidays, as airlines did not have enough staff on hand to operate all of their scheduled flights. In July 2022, the airline consulting firm Oliver Wyman estimated the country faces a gap of roughly 8,000 pilots, equal to about 11% of supply. Unless demand for air travel declines or airlines add pilots, that shortage could hit 30,000 pilots in North America and 80,000 pilots globally by 2032, according to Oliver Wyman. Story continues Kirby told the Aviate graduates that he sees their achievements as something bigger than simply addressing the pilot shortage. "This is about bringing people here who will spend their careers at United," he said. "We're creating a family." New lounge for United passengers:The Phoenix airport just got a new United Club Transportation Secretary Buttigieg congratulates the Aviate class U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg appeared via a prerecorded video to congratulate the graduating class and share why their future contributions will make a positive difference. "Last year when we emerged from the pandemic and so many people returned to flying, we saw how challenging it can be when we don't have the workforce we need to meet that growing demand," he said. "As pilots, you won't just be making a good living. You will be making a real difference in an industry of national importance that's urgently needing your skills." Air travel is vital not only for the national economy, but for people's personal connectivity, Buttigieg said, "especially when you consider how many of our greatest memories and adventures begin with boarding a plane." While Buttigieg couldn't attend United Aviate Academy's graduation in person, he did pay a visit in August 2022. He hopped on a state-of-the-art Cirrus SR20 with one of the trainees, donned a neon green FAA-certified safety vest and took photos with students and staff and answered their questions in a town hall forum. It's almost here:How to find the cheapest flights to Phoenix for Super Bowl 2023 What are the requirements to become a pilot? It takes a lot to become a pilot in the United States. At the United Aviate Academy, students spend 30 months in training, building toward their airline transport pilot certifications, which they continue working on after graduating from the academy. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, first officers must have a minimum of 1,500 flight hours, or 62.5 full days, which is also the minimum required for airline transport pilot certifications. Captains must complete 1,500 flight hours, plus 1,000 hours as a co-pilot in air carrier operations. For good reason: Air travel is statistically the safest mode of transportation in the country. The National Safety Council estimates more than 40,000 Americans die in car crashes annually. But fatal commercial plane crashes in the U.S. are rare. The most recent was Colgan Air Flight 3407 on Feb. 12, 2009. All 49 people onboard and one person on the ground died after the plane lost control and crashed into a house in Clarence Center, New York, near Buffalo. If you step back and think about it, that's an astonishing thing, Buttigieg told The Arizona Republic during his August 2022 visit to United Aviate Academy. Of all the ways you can get around, from riding your bike to getting in a car, the safest out of all is to fly through the air at the speed of sound in a metal tube. Of course, what makes that the case is you and what you're learning on campus. Flight canceled or delayed? Here's how to rebook or get a refund Reach the reporter at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @salerno_phx. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: United Airlines Aviate Academy in Goodyear graduates 1st class Preschool students fill out worksheets during their class at Vineland Elementary School on Tuesday. Applications are now open for Pueblo families to sign up for Universal Preschool Colorado a state-funded preschool program. Schools in Pueblo School District 60 and Pueblo County School District 70 will be participating. The upcoming fall semester will be the first that providers will participate in the program, which is open to Colorado children who turn 4 years old before Oct. 1. Colorado 4-year-olds are eligible for up to 15 hours of programming per week. However, some school districts may not offer 15 hours. Children 4 years old with qualifying factors, including those pertaining to household income, an Individualized Education Plan, housing status, dual language learning and foster care, may be eligible for up to 30 hours of programming per week. Children 3 years old with qualifying factors also may apply for 10 hours of universal preschool programming per week. Scholarships for migrant students:CSU Pueblo joins TheDream.US network in effort to assist migrant students Children First will serve as the local coordinating organization of universal preschool for six southeastern Colorado counties, including Pueblo. "For parents whose children have not been able to attend preschool in the past due to cost, this will give them an opportunity," said Angie Shehorn, director of Children First. The Colorado Department of Early Childhood estimates the average family will save about $4,300 on child care each year through the program. Schools in both Pueblo school districts will be participating, and additional licensed providers in Pueblo County also are eligible. Weve always promoted pre-k as being important for our kiddos that readiness, providing that structure, those opportunities that staying at home may not have, said Darlene Bermudez, Early Childhood Department Specialist at Pueblo D60. Registration for universal preschool opened Jan. 17. The first window to apply will be open until Feb. 14. Applications may be completed online at upk.colorado.gov. Story continues Pueblo D60 will offer a minimum of 15 hours per week at 14 schools: Baca Elementary, Belmont Elementary, Bessemer Academy, Beulah Heights Elementary, Bradford Elementary, Columbian Elementary, Goodnight Elementary, Haaff Elementary, Heritage Elementary, Highland Park Elementary, Irving Elementary, Minnequa Elementary, Paragon Early Learning Center and South Park Elementary. The 14 schools will combine to offer 40 available preschool classrooms, with each classroom serving 15 to 16 students. Pueblo D70 will offer a minimum 12 of hours per week at every neighborhood elementary school except the Beulah School of Natural Sciences. Children living in Beulah will have the option to attend universal preschool at another Pueblo D70 school, according to Cindy Keasling, preschool liaison for Pueblo D70. Beulah does not have a preschool. Most of those children either attend out here on the (St. Charles) Mesa or up in Rye, she said. With 10 Pueblo D70 schools hosting students in two, 16-student universal preschool sessions per day, each school will be able to serve 32 students each day. CSU Pueblo Social Justice Panel:'It's got to be something concrete': CSU Pueblo panel discusses local social justice issues Participating students do not have to attend their neighborhood schools. Upon completing the universal preschool application, families will be matched with available providers, including those nearby and providers that are able to serve a childs specific needs. Students also may attend universal preschool with a provider outside their district boundaries. While July 1 is the official launch date of the program, 4-year-olds who turn 5 before Oct. 1 are currently not eligible for Universal Preschool in Pueblo districts. Editors note: This article has been updated with a correction that Colorado 4-year-olds are eligible for up to 15 hours of programming per week. The story initially stated the children may be eligible "for a minimum of 10 to 15 hours of programming per week." Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached by email at JBartolo@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Colorado universal preschool registration open in Pueblo 'We've Taken A Monster Off Our Streets': Alleged Serial Rapist In South Carolina Behind Bars A South Carolina man is accused of violently attacking at least five women over a time span of more than a year, according to local officials. Antonius Donshe Randolph, 29, was arrested on Saturday after officials say he used various apps to lure his victims and attack them, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said at a press conference on Monday. Lott announced that Randolph is accused of robberies and sexual assaults against five women but was probably responsible for more. "We know there [are] other victims out there," said Lott. Randolph is charged with two counts of kidnapping, as well as first-degree assault and battery, first-degree criminal sexual conduct, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. More charges may be on the way, Lott added. Weve taken a monster off our streets, and my prayer is that hes not going to see daylight again, and I dont think he will, Lott said. But were not through with him. Were going to continue to put charges on him for everything that we can. A police handout of Antonius Randolph Antonius Randolph Photo: Richland County Sheriffs Department Officials say Randolph allegedly targeted women in the Midlands region of central South Carolina, namely in the states capital of Columbia. Sheriff Lott called the case challenging, citing uncertainty as to whether he should release information about the womens attacks or keep it close to our vests. Investigators say the first alleged incident happened in November 2021 at a northeast Columbia residence, according to a statement by the Richland County Sheriffs Office e-mailed to Oxygen.com. "The caller reported that a man attempted to physically pull her into the home, but she was able to flee," according to the release. RELATED: Predator In A White Coat: Ex-NYC Gynecologist Convicted In Federal Court Of Sexually Abusing Patients The first complainant did not stick around to file a report, but reports detailing similar events soon followed, including nearby incidents in August 2022, December 2022, and earlier this month. In those cases, the three women were assaulted at knife- or gunpoint. Story continues Lott said the cases escalated and became more frequent. Sheriffs office investigators worked with the Pathways to Healing rape crisis center and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) and soon established the suspects pattern. "We started putting a case together and realized that we did have a serial rapist that preyed on women, that was using various apps to get them to come to a location, said Lott. Sometimes, hed wear a mask to conceal his identity. Sometimes he had a gun. Sometimes he had a knife." A social media photo of Madison Brooks The most recent incident was an attempted assault earlier this month, according to the sheriff's office. "And thats the scary part," Lott continued. "That he was not going to stop until we stopped him." Deputies arrested Randolph while he was "walking down the street," not far from where the attacks took place, according to the release. "There is no doubt that deputies prevented an assault this weekend," Sheriff Lott stated in the press release. Randolph was reportedly arrested with a mask, knife and sex toy, all of which Lott said "fit the information we got from the previous sexual assaults." Lott announced he was "proud" of the victims who were previously too afraid to come forward, encouraging victims to contact the rape crisis center, even if they didnt want their case investigated. Oxy App Pathways to Healing Executive Director Rebecca Lorick was also present at the press conference. "Working collaboratively with SANE nurses and law enforcement is critical in our mission to provide supportive services to survivors of sexual violence," the organization posted on Facebook. "Even if you are not ready to report to law enforcement, we are still here to help you heal after a traumatic event." She thanked the Richland County Sheriffs Office for believing the victims and being so "victim-centered." "Hes caught," Sheriff Lott said of Randolph. "You dont have to be afraid anymore." Lott is urging anyone with information about Randolph to come forward, even if they werent victims of sexual assault, claiming some survivors "fought back and were able to escape." "Theres one place that he needs to stay the rest of his life, and that is in prison," said Lott. Antonius Randolph is currently housed at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Columbia, where hes held on $250,000 bond. At JNU, students claimed they were pelted with stones allegedly by members of the right-wing student body while they were watching the documentary on their mobile phones on Tuesday evening while at Jamia Milia, Delhi Police yesterday arrested students ahead of the screening of the documentary. Aatika S | TwoCircles.net Support TwoCircles NEW DELHI On the evening of January 24, hundreds of students at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi gathered to watch the screening of the controversial BBC documentary on the 2022 Gujarat riots. The documentary titled India: The Modi Question based on Prime Minister Narendra Modis tenure as chief minister of Gujarat during the 2002 riots, has sparked a row after the government invoked emergency powers last Friday to block the documentary on YouTube and Twitter. The opposition slammed the move as blatant censorship. This, however, did not stop users from posting links to the documentary on social media, which too were subsequently taken down. Despite the ban, screenings of the documentary were held at Hyderabad and Kerala universities. JNU students union had planned to organise the screening of the documentary at the union office on Tuesday at 9 pm. However, even before the documentary could be screened, electricity was cut from the campus at 8:30 pm. The administration blamed it on the electricity outage that had affected part of the campus. There was a major line fault. Even the faculty residences and other facilities are without light, JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi said. On Monday, the Vice-Chancellor in a notice had said that no prior permission for the event had been taken. The notice called the planned screening an unauthorised activity which may disturb the peace and harmony of the university. It warned of strict disciplinary action against the students if the screening wasnt cancelled. Dhananjay, a postdoctoral student at JNU, told TwoCircles.net that any event organised by the JNUSU in the union office doesnt need any prior approval or permission from the administration. This has been the norm so far. Under which law has the administration attempted to curtail the screening? Such a move directly aims to kill the culture of dissent and debate that JNU is known for, he said. Students claimed the varsity administration cut off the electricity and internet to stop the screening of the documentary. Dhananjay said that after the electricity cut, an alternative arrangement was made and a QR code was shared amongst the students to watch the documentary. Each one of us viewed the documentary on our phones and laptops sitting outside Teflas in pitch darkness, he said. As they were watching the documentary on their mobile phones, students claimed they were attacked and stones were thrown at them allegedly by members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a charge that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) affiliated student group denied. Another student, who requested to remain anonymous, alleged that many ABVP students from JNU, DU and some unknown persons were hiding behind the Narmada hostel bushes in the darkness. They started pelting stones at the students who were watching the documentary. The sudden commotion created a sense of panic and fear, the student said. This led the students to stage a protest and march to the north gate of the campus. Raising slogans of Inquilab Zindabad and against the JNU administration for allegedly stopping the screening of the documentary, the protesting students marched to the Vasant Kunj police station to lodge a complaint against the stone pelters. The students also demanded security at the campus and the restoration of electricity. The protest was called off after the police assured them that they will look into the matter. We filed a complaint, and the police assured us they will be immediately looking into the incident. We gave the name and details of all the persons involved. As of now, were calling off the protest. We will also file a complaint at the JNU Proctor office, JNU Students Union (JNSU) President Aishe Ghosh was quoted by ANI as saying on Tuesday night. Students also alleged that ABVP members were targeting students in other parts of the campus as well. Another incident of stone pelting happened when a group of men with their faces covered attacked the students marching towards Ganga Dhaba, a student claimed, while adding, The protesting students caught two culprits who were throwing stones and who belonged to ABVP. Aditya Santosh, a postgraduate student at the university, told TwoCircles.net that despite their repeated requests, the Delhi police did not arrest the two persons. The police refused to enter the campus. The Godi Media ran their propaganda right in front of us and fabricated the entire episode. We couldnt return to our hostels due to the fear of further attacks by ABVP. They had already assaulted two students while many others were injured. Therefore, we instead decided to march to the Vasant Kunj police station to file a complaint. We also plan to raise our complaints in front of the proctor, she said. Govt is scared of the documentary A female student said that the attacks on the students who had been watching the alleged documentary has left them horrified. We were forced to run in the dark in panic. The electricity cut only aided the right-wing goons to get away after attacking the students, she said. As soon as the protesting students left for the police station, the electricity was surprisingly restored on the campus, the students claimed. Dhananjay said the episode proved that Modi is scared of the documentary. Therefore, more people should watch it. Police inquiry launched On the complaint filed by students of JNU against the alleged stone pelting and deliberate power outage that took place while they were watching the documentary on their mobile devices, the Delhi Police on Wednesday said it has begun an inquiry. No FIR has been filed yet. They (students) have given a complaint and we are enquiring into it, Delhi Police officials told news agency ANI. Tensions at Jamia Milia Tensions also flared up at another prestigious university Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) in New Delhi on Wednesday as Delhi Police detained a dozen students ahead of the planned screening of the BBC documentary at the university campus. Classes at the university were suspended as dozens of police personnel wearing riot gear were deployed. Only students appearing for examinations were being allowed in and others turned away. The university administration had prohibited any screening of the film on the campus without permission. In an order issued on Tuesday, authorities at Jamia said disciplinary action will be taken if the documentary was screened at the university. They said they would not allow any unauthorised gatherings on campus after the Students Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), announced the screening on Facebook. The University reiterates that no meeting of students or screening of any film will be allowed in the campus without permission. University is taking all measures to prevent people/orgs having vested interest to destroy peaceful academic atmosphere here: Jamia Millia Islamia pic.twitter.com/zWnkQwVSP1 ANI (@ANI) January 25, 2023 Student activists, waving banners and raising slogans against the crackdown, were seen being hauled away by the police. Meanwhile, the Students Federation of India in Kolkatas Presidency University has sought permission from the university authorities to screen the documentary on January 27 at 4 pm. The university authorities have not yet responded to the request. Despite the BJP staging protests against it, the documentary was screened by various political organisations in Kerala. Aatika S is a fellow at the SEEDS-TCN mentorship program. As result of missile's part falling in Holosiivsky district of Kyiv, there are killed, injured As a result of the fall of a part of a missile in Holosiivsky district of Kyiv on Thursday morning, there were victims, the press service of Kyiv City Military Administration said. "Holosiivsky district. As a result of the fall of a missile's part, there are victims. The information is being specified," the administration said. The administration urges citizens to stay in shelters. In turn, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that as a result of the fall of the missile's part, one person was killed and two more were injured. A man accused of fatally shooting three people at a Circle K convenience store and gas station in Yakima, Washington, early Tuesday is dead following an hours-long manhunt, authorities said. The suspect died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound as he was being apprehended, Yakima Police Chief Matthew Murray told reporters Tuesday afternoon. "We believe with pretty good confidence that this is the person who was involved in the incident this morning," Murray said. MORE: Monterey Park shooting victims: Dance studio regular among those who died, family says The shooting at the Circle K was reported around 3:30 a.m. local time. The gunman then went across the street to an ampm convenience store where he allegedly shot into a car and then stole it, according to Murray. It is possible the gunman shot the person in the car as he stole it, the chief said. If so, the driver would be the fourth shooting victim. Police identified the suspect as 21-year-old Jarid Haddock of Yakima County. He allegedly fled in a car believed to be a gray or silver Chrysler 200, the chief said. PHOTO: The Yakima Police Department in Washington released this image of the suspect, identified as Jarid Haddock, a 21-yr-old, Yakima County resident, in a shooting overnight at a Circle K on Nob Hill Blvd that left three people dead, Jan. 24, 2023. (Yakima Police Dept) Around 2:15 p.m. local time, police received a 911 call from a woman who said she had just lent her phone to the suspect and allegedly overheard him make incriminating statements while talking to his mother, including "I killed those people," Murray said. The woman then called 911 when she got her phone back and was able to tell police where the suspect was located, according to Murray. "I listened to that call. It's pretty harrowing," Murray said. "I have to really thank her again because she was very courageous in getting us there." Responding officers quickly found the suspect, who was injured by an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said. No officers fired at the suspect, who was being treated by first responders but was later pronounced dead, according to Murray. The suspect had a "large amount of ammunition and a weapon" when he was found, Murray said. Story continues MORE: Monterey Park mass shooting live updates: Death toll rises to 11 Murray called the Circle K shooting an apparent random attack. The gunman "just walked in and started shooting," he said. The motive is not known, he said. "We may never know," Murray said. 3 killed in random shooting in Yakima, Washington; suspect dead: Police originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Three Florida nursing schools sold thousands of fake nursing diplomas worth millions in a scheme that allowed aspiring nurses to bypass the required training to become licensed in the profession, federal prosecutors alleged Thursday. Siena College, Palm Beach School of Nursing and Sacred Heart International Institute all based in south Florida combined to distribute more than 7,600 fraudulent diplomas worth over $100 million or roughly $15,000 per diploma, federal prosecutors said. All schools are now defunct. Twenty-five defendants, including school directors and diploma recipients, were charged in the scheme and each face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Attorneys for defendants were not listed in a federal court database Thursday. The Department of Justice along with the Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General carried out the investigation, dubbed Operation Nightingale. Prosecutors said the scheme put patient safety at risk as required training programs exist to protect the public from harm by setting minimum qualifications and competencies. The charges in nursing diploma case The DOJ is prosecuting participants in the alleged scheme in five separate cases. Defendants in each case face wire fraud-related charges. Wire fraud is charged when a defendant uses interstate electronic communications to commit a fraud and "to further the scheme," according to federal law. The alleged scheme According to the OIG, the scheme general worked in three parts: Recruiters helped aspiring nurses obtain the fake degrees and transcripts Fraudulent degrees qualified recipients to take the national nursing board exam. After passing the exam, they became eligible to become licensed in several states, where they eventually found jobs as licensed nurses. Siena College Siena College was a school in Broward County, Florida that was licensed by the states board of nursing and its independent education commission to offer practical nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs, according to a criminal complaint. The college was run by Eunide Sanon, who allegedly worked with three people, who are also charged, in New York and New Jersey who recruited aspiring nurses. From about Nov. 2018 to Oct. 2021, Sanon allegedly sold 2,016 fake diplomas and transcripts that falsely purported that recipients had completed the necessary courses and training at Siena College to obtain such degrees when they never had, according to the criminal complaint. Story continues 'Producing the poison & selling the cure': Group ranks health care industry's lowlights in 2022 Palm Beach School of Nursing From April 2016 to July 2021, at least seven nurses obtained fake diplomas from the Palm Beach School of Nursing, Sunshine Academy, Quisqeya and Florida College of Health, which were all owned by Johanah Napoleon. The seven nurses used the diplomas to become licensed nurses in Ohio, New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. With the help of the fake degrees the nurses found jobs at nursing homes that took in Medicare and Medicaid-eligible patients. One nurse worked at a Veterans Affairs-run home. Ten people helped recruit people looking to obtain fake degrees. Napoleon received large payments for providing the fake diplomas, in one case taking in a $30,000 wire transfer from a co-defendant in 2021. Napoleon already pleaded guilty to wire and health care fraud charges, the DOJ said. COVID vaccination: FDA vaccine panel to consider annual COVID shots Sacred Heart International Institute From Nov. 2020 to July 2021, Charles Etienne, owner of Sacred Heart International Institute, and two others provided purchasers with 588 fake diplomas and transcripts, according to court filings. Two co-defendants, Geralda Adrien and Woosvelt Predestin, also completed online courses on behalf of the fake degree purchasers. Adrien and Predestin are also named as co-conspirators in the Siena College case. Sober home fraud: Florida doc sentenced to 20 years in prison This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida nursing schools sold thousands of fake diplomas totaling $100M Vice President Kamala Harris spoke from the site of Saturday's mass shooting in Monterey Park, where she called for Congress to act on gun control. Also in the news: Sirens rang this morning across Ukraine as Russia launched a wave of counterattacks. We have the takeaways from opening arguments in Alex Murdaugh's double murder trial in South Carolina. I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Did anyone win the $526 million Powerball jackpot? Now, here we go with Thursday's news. Vice President Harris urges for tougher gun control laws Vice President Kamala Harris arrived outside of the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, California, Wednesday night, stopping to take a look at each of the victims' names and pictures from Saturday's deadly mass shooting before placing a bouquet in front of the memorial. Same words, no action: Harris told reporters the nation is mourning the loss of the 11 people killed and nine others injured, while also advocating for stricter gun control laws. "Tragically we keep saying the same things," Harris said. "Congress must act. Should they? Yes. Can they? Yes." Monterey Park is a predominantly Asian American community near Los Angeles. For Asian Americans, the shooting has added to a growing mental health crisis in the wake of the tragedy and several years of collective trauma. There's also the Half Moon Bay shooting: The suspect accused of fatally shooting seven people at two Northern California mushroom farms was denied bail after being charged Wednesday with seven counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and related charges. These are the victims of the Half Moon Bay shooting: The sheriff's office said the victims were five men and two women, who were mostly Asian American and Latino farmworkers, and suspected to be the shooter's coworkers. The president has pointed to new legislation to ban assault weapons, urging them to send that to my desk as quickly as you can. The bill faces a tough climb in the Senate and is not expected to pass in the Republican-led House. Story continues Jamie Lam prays during a candlelight vigil for the recent shootings at Monterey Park, Half Moon Bay and East Oakland in Oakland, California on January 25, 2023. Morning sirens sound across Ukraine Air raid sirens wailed nationwide Thursday morning as Ukrainian officials say Russia has launched a wave of missile and self-exploding drone attacks on the country. There were no immediate reports of the targets, but Kyivs mayor said a Russian missile strike killed one person, the first death from an attack in the capital since New Years Eve. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said two other people were injured in the strike. The attacks came after Germany and the United States announced they would send advanced battle tanks to Ukraine. Read more People gather in the subway station being used as a bomb shelter during a rocket attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. More news to know now What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here. Another winter storm is on the way As a winter storm that trekked across the country and brought snowflakes from New Mexico to Maine continues heading East, the United States on Thursday can expect weather conditions ranging from harsh winds to air stagnation and yes, more snow. Los Angeles and Ventura counties are expecting Santa Ana winds gusty, dry blasts unique in the region on Thursday, the National Weather Service in Los Angeles confirmed. Meanwhile, a winter storm watch will impact some Idaho, Montana and Wyoming residents into the weekend. Snow accumulations of 12 to 24 inches are possible, with the winter storm watch remaining in effect through Saturday afternoon. Read more A cyclist rides his bike as snow falls in the Humboldt Park neighborhood on January 25, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. A little more than 3 inches of wet snow fell on the city as a weather system moved across the nation dropping snow and wreaking havoc on travel from St. Louis to Boston. COVID vaccines are holding up against highly contagious XBB variant COVID-19 vaccines and boosters continue to hold up well against the latest viral variant, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday. First seen in August, the omicron variant known as XBB and its subvariant XBB.1.5 have taken over in the U.S. this last month as the cause of more than half of COVID-19 infections. The booster is targeted at both the initial SARS-CoV-2 virus and the BA.4/BA.5 variants, but BA.5 and its subvariants account for just about 2% of cases right now and BA.4 and the original virus are essentially gone. The new study found that, despite the mismatch in variants, the booster remains protective against XBB. Read more Can the White House's ''Renters Bill of Rights'' ease crisis for tenants? A mask for COVID-19 protection is part of the 2021 inaugural ensembles donated to to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History by first lady Jill Biden at an event, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, in Washington. Just for subscribers: These articles are for USA TODAY subscribers. You can sign up here. Alex Murdaugh's double murder trial: 'You are going to see what he did to Maggie and Paul,' prosecutor says Prosecutors in a double murder trial involving a prominent former South Carolina attorney delivered opening arguments Wednesday claiming that a barrage of evidence would persuade jurors that Alex Murdaugh murdered his wife and son. Lead prosecutor Creighton Waters alleged a "perfect storm" was brewing before Murdaugh, 54, killed his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and son, Paul Murdaugh, in June 2021. "You are going to see what he did to Maggie and Paul, and it is going to be gruesome," Waters said. Dick Harpootlian, Murdaugh's defense attorney, stressed his client's innocence until proven guilty and disputed the reliability of the state's evidence as "theories. Read more Who is the real Alex Murdaugh, the man who wrecked a South Carolina legal dynasty? Alex Murdaugh becomes emotional after seeing his family in the courtroom as opening statements begin in his double murder trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. Photo of the day: 'Extremely dangerous' tornado slams Texas More than 129,000 homes and businesses were in the dark across Texas, Arkansas and Missouri on Wednesday and a tornado watch was in effect across much of Florida as a line of severe weather brought havoc to much of the South. Read more about the storm and click here to see more photos. People cross under downed power lines where a tornado was reported to pass along Mickey Gilley Boulevard near Fairmont Parkway, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, in Pasadena, Texas. One more thing Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this subscribe to USA TODAY here. Associated Press contributed reporting. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: California shootings, gun control, Ukraine, COVID-19, Alex Murdaugh: Daily Briefing SAN DIEGO Its been a busy 24 hours for veteran pro Scott Brown. The 2013 Puerto Rico Open champion withdrew from the Korn Ferry Tours Bahamas Abaco Classic on Monday after playing in the afternoon wave of the tournaments second round and hopped a flight to sunny Torrey Pines to tee it up in the first group off No. 1 at the North Course in the PGA Tours Farmers Insurance Open. Such is the life these days of the 39-year-old journeyman pro who is playing with limited status as a past champion beyond No. 150 in the 2021-22 FedEx Cup. (Brown ranked No. 193 last season.) Brown, who was the first alternate, got into the Farmers when John Huh withdrew on Monday at 5 p.m. PST. Huh didnt cite a reason for pulling out this week, but also was a WD last week at the American Express when he cited an elbow injury. Adding to his travel dilemma, this is a rare week where the Korn Ferry Tour started its event on Sunday (Wednesday finish) and the PGA Tour started on Wednesday (Saturday finish). Brown, who got just two starts during the fall portion of the PGA Tour schedule, shot 1-under 143 for two rounds in the Bahamas, making the cut by two strokes, and was T-34 when he withdrew. According to a PGA Tour staff member, Brown arrived in San Diego at 9 p.m., on Tuesday. In eight previous appearances at Torrey Pines, he has a career-best of T-9 in 2019 while missing the cut five times. The decision to bail on the Bahamas and fly to the West Coast was probably a no-brainer for Brown: the purse at the Bahamas this week is $1 million with the winner banking $180,000 compared to $8.7 million up for grabs at Torrey Pines and a winners share of $1.556 million. Brown reeled off three birdies in his first 10 holes and was 2 under through 15. This story will be updated after his round is complete. Story originally appeared on GolfWeek Both Germany and the U.S. announced on Wednesday they will provide battle tanks to Ukraine after weeks of tension over donating the heavy combat vehicles. Well share how we got to this point and details of the deal, plus Ukraines next weapons goal and how U.S. weapons sales to other countries fared in 2022. This is Defense & National Security, your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. For The Hill, Im Ellen Mitchell. A friend forward this newsletter to you? Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Defense and National Security newsletter How Western tanks could bolster Ukraines fight Thirty-one American-made M1 Abrams tanks are heading to Ukraine along with German battle tanks. But while the Abrams are unlikely to arrive in the country until at least the fall, the German-made Leopard 2 tanks could be in Kyivs hands within a couple months possibly in time for Russias expected renewed offensive. Major firepower: The Leopards are the most common Western battle tanks in Europe, and the Abrams are a prized Western fighting machine. Both will provide significantly more firepower than the Soviet-era tanks the Ukrainian forces are currently using. Henk Goemans, director of the University of Rochesters Center for Conflict and Cooperation, said the tanks would be very important for Ukraines forces in the current stage of the war, which is largely stalemated in the east. Ukraine is at a quantitative disadvantage, he said. Russia has more manpower, they have more military and the tanks would make a big difference there. A stunning reversal: The decision to provide the tanks marks a stunning reversal for the Biden administration, which had previously argued they would be of little benefit to Ukraine. But the decision to send the Abrams tanks helped get Germany to move forward with a separate effort to provide Leopard tanks to Ukraine, which the U.S. had seen as benefitting Kyiv. Story continues Heres what you need to know about the Leopard tanks and how they could impact the war. BIDEN: US TANKS TO UKRAINE NOT AN OFFENSIVE THREAT TO RUSSIA President Biden on Wednesday said that the commitment of American Abrams tanks to Ukraine is not an offensive threat to Russia, appearing to respond to threats from Russian officials that the provision of Western tanks to Ukraine would escalate tensions with Moscow. Theres no offensive threat to Russia the president said in remarks from the Roosevelt Room of the White House. If Russian troops returned to Russia thats where they belong, this war would be over today. Thats what we all want, an end to this war, the president said. No pressure campaign to see here: The president dismissed the notion that his decision to provide Abrams tanks for Ukraine came as a result of German pressure for the U.S. to share the burden of a move that has already drawn a bellicose reaction from Russia. Germany didnt force me to change my mind; we wanted to make sure were all together, the president said in response to a reporters question. Thats what were going to do all along thats what were doing right now. Read more on Bidens remarks here More from The Hill: Ukraine foreign minister calls on allies to send as many tanks as possible after German announcement Russian ambassador: German tanks being sent to Ukraine extremely dangerous Ukraine will now push for F-16 fighter jets: adviser With main battle tanks from the U.S. and Germany now headed to Ukraine, Kyiv is now focusing on securing modern fighter jets from Western allies. Yuriy Sak, an adviser to Ukraines Defense secretary, told The Hill that he was optimistic about receiving Western fighter jets such as the American F-16s, which Ukrainians have sought since early last year when Russia first invaded. Every type of weapon we request, we needed yesterday, Sak said. We will do everything possible to ensure Ukraine gets fourth-generation fighter jets as soon as possible. The next debate: Western fighter jets and longer-range artillery units, which would allow Ukraine to strike Russian forces deeper in occupied territory, will likely be the next debate for NATO. Ukraine currently uses Soviet-era fighter jets, including MiG-29s, which became a point of controversy last March when the U.S. declined to facilitate the transfer of MiGs from Poland to Kyiv. Resistance: So far, the U.S. has resisted sending the F-16 fighter jets and does not appear ready to announce their transfer anytime soon. Read that story here US arms sales boom in 2022 due to war in Ukraine U.S. weapons sales to other countries experienced a major uptick in 2022, jumping to more than $51.9 billion largely due to Russias war on Ukraine. In the aftermath of the Feb. 24, 2022 invasion, European nations rushed to arm themselves, giving U.S. weapons sales a 49 percent boost from the $34.8 billion in sales in 2021, according to new data released Wednesday by the State Department. Across-the-board spike: Direct commercial sales also grew, with American defense contractors selling some $153.7 billion in weapons and military equipment directly to foreign governments in 2022, up from $103.4 billion the previous year. The State Department attributed the spike to authorizations adjudicated in support Ukraines efforts to defend itself from Russias unprovoked aggression. An important spike: Arms transfers and defense trade, overseen by the Pentagons Defense Security Cooperation Agency and the State Department, are seen as important tools of U.S. foreign policy and national security. The State Department first reviews the deals sought by other countries to make sure they line up with U.S. goals and, if approved, notifies Congress of the sale. Congress then has the option to reject a potential sale, but if not, the U.S. government moves on to negotiations. The biggest buys: Among the biggest buyers of U.S. arms in Europe was Germany, which in July ordered 35 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft and equipment for a potential $8.4 billion in support of NATOs nuclear sharing mission. Ahead of Russias invasion, Poland in February sought 250 M1 Abrams tanks for an estimated $6 billion. Meanwhile, in Asia: Chinese aggression in the Asia-Pacific region also spurred the uptick in sales in 2022, with one of the biggest orders coming from Indonesia. That approved sale includes 36 F-15ID aircraft for an estimated $13.9 billion. Australia, a staunch U.S. ally that frequently warns of Chinese military intentions, stands to buy 40 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters for an estimated $1.95 billion, among other deals. Read the full story here ON TAP FOR TOMORROW The Center for Strategic and International Studies will host a book discussion on The Fragile Balance of Terror: Deterrence in the Nuclear Age, at 9:30 a.m. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission will hold a hearing on Chinas Military Diplomacy and Overseas Security Activities, at 9:30 a.m. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet with Albanian Defense Minister Niko Pelesh at the Pentagon at 10:30 a.m. The Wilson Center will hold a conversation on Silicon Lifeline: Western Electronics at the Heart of Russias War Machine, at 11 a.m. The Wilson Center will also host a virtual discussion on Achieving Security in the Arctic: the Role of DHS and its Components, with Deputy Homeland Security Secretary John Tien, among others, at 1:30 p.m. The R Street Institute will hold an event on The Future of Data Privacy and Security in the 118th Congress, at 4 p.m. WHAT WERE READING OP-EDS IN THE HILL Only force will move Putin and Ukraine is counting on its allies Can we deploy hypersonic weapons before China and Russia outgun us? Its up to Congress Thats it for today! Check out The Hills Defense and National Security pages for the latest coverage. See you tomorrow! For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. New York gamblers havent been so lucky within their own city limitsbecause a full-fledged casino doesnt actually exist in NYC. But that may be changing soon. Gambling companies and real-estate developers are competing to build a casino in the city, but theyre facing some blowback from lawmakers and locals alike, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. The bid process has mostly focused on Manhattan, near the city center where wealthy locals and tourists tend to congregate. More from Robb Report New York City, for a whole host of obvious reasons, is the single-most important, unclaimed prize in gaming, Michael Pollock, the managing director of Spectrum Gaming Group, told the WSJ. Because of its New York City brand, because of its population, its disposable income, its existing tourism infrastructure. The proposals encompass areas near Times Square, the United Nations headquarters, Penn Station and Hudson Yards. Even Saks is looking to get into the gambling game: The department store is hoping to turn the top four floors of its flagship near Rockefeller Center into a luxury, high-end casino like those found in Monte Carlo, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine told The Wall Street Journal. While three downstate casinos could together generate $4.4 billion in gross gambling revenue, not everyone is on board with installing craps tables and blackjack dealers in the middle of NYC. Some state and local officials, whose support is needed by applicants, would rather focus on building more housing first. And groups such as the Broadway League, which represents theater owners, have released statements saying that a casino would bring deep economic and social disruption to the area. Story continues Still, that doesnt mean plans for a Manhattan casino will go up in flames. Both support for and opposition to casinos in the borough were tied at 38 percent in a Siena College Research Institute poll released on Monday. And lawmakers like NYC Mayor Eric Adams and New York Governor Kathy Hochul have expressed at least some support of casinos as an economic benefit in the city and the state. So Levine perhaps put it best when he said, Theres going to be an uphill road for any site in Manhattan. At least that road might lead to a full-blown casino in your backyard. Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The access road to President Joe Biden's home in Wilmington, Delaware. Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo The DOJ was prepared to file a search warrant to raid Biden's home, CNN reported. Ultimately this wasn't necessary because Biden assented to the search, sources told the outlet. Why Biden's home wasn't raided, as Mar-a-Lago had been, has been a major GOP talking point. The Department of Justice was prepared to issue a search warrant in pursuit of classified documents kept at President Joe Biden's home, sources told CNN. But that legal step wasn't necessary after Biden agreed to let its agents search the property, multiple sources told the network. The DOJ also allowed Biden's lawyers to conduct their own search first, after extensive discussion on how to proceed, the outlet reported. Biden's private home in Wilmington, Delaware, was searched on January 20, after Biden's lawyers found two sets of improperly stored classified documents one in the office of a think tank, and another in Wilmington. The revelation led to comparisons with the August 2022 raid on former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, also in search of classified documents. This latest CNN report backs up earlier expert views on how these processes tend to play out. It also goes some way to addressing repeated accusations of double standards raised by Trump and his supporters. As soon as the news broke about the first Biden document find, Trump took to Truth Social demanding that the FBI raid Biden's "many homes," apparently seeking to portray the two situations as identical. National Security Attorney Bradley P. Moss earlier told Insider that "in theory" the FBI could go ahead and obtain a search warrant in Biden's instance. But, he said, "they generally will not do so in a situation like this when there is proper cooperation from the holder of the documents." The prospect of a search warrant did not come up in the DOJ's conversations with the Biden camp, CNN reported. Trump, like the Biden White House, has insisted he also cooperated "fully" with the FBI over documents improperly stored at Mar-a-Lago last year, as Fox News reported. Story continues But evidence suggests that Trump and his legal team repeatedly refused and obfuscated in the face of a request from the National Archives over a period of more than a year. Attorney General Merrick Garland released a heavily redacted version of the search warrant permitting the Mar-a-Lago raid. It said that investigators had found probable cause, not only that the mishandled documents were on site but also "to believe that evidence of obstruction will be found at the premises." Biden's White House Counsel Richard Sauber said the first batch of missing documents were not subject to an existing National Archives request, adding that the Biden admin pro-actively reported them the day they were found. The Biden White house also said it has cooperated with all official requests. The Wilmington DOJ search yielded six additional documents dating to Biden's vice-presidency and time in the Senate, which should have been handed over to the National Archives in 2017. But there has been some internal irritation at the DOJ at the pace and manner in which the Biden camp has continued to search for documents and released information about it throughout the saga, sources told CNN. Read the original article on Business 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. This article has been updated since its initial publish date to include more information re: Netflixs changing password policy. If you share a Netflix account outside of one household, take note sometime this year, the streaming service will start charging fees for password sharing, as it first announced in October of 2022. Netflix is starting a system as CNET reports that will add fees for extra member subaccounts (when more people outside of one household use the membership). Heres everything we know: READ MORE: A Tech Expert Tells Us How To Transfer Netflix Profiles When They End Free Password Sharing In 2023 If youre using a friends Netflix account, 2023 is the year of the password-sharing crackdown, @nicnguyen explains #WSJWhatsNow https://t.co/wBCGHeLQ7B pic.twitter.com/wz4f1aKDJv The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) January 15, 2023 What Do These Extra Member Fees Entail? While the company didnt yet indicate the price of the new fees when it confirmed the plan last week, this change is currently being tested in several Latin American countries. In these locations, Netflix is charging a fee for every extra member (the outlet reports that this is equivalent to approximately one-quarter of the price of a Standard plan). If Netflix does stick to this practice, CNET continues, then each extra member subaccount in the US would cost between about $3.50 and $4. It could possibly increase up to $4.43, based on the fee level in Chile. Netflix is also likely, the publication notes, to make extra member fees available solely on its $15.50-a-month Standard and $20-a-month Premium plans. Both of these, as many subscribers know, allow more than one simultaneous stream. Story continues How Much Will The Fees Cost? According to CNET, Netflix hasnt offered an option for these extra member fees on its Basic plans in the tests, and Netflixs $10-per-month Basic plan and (a new one coming in November called Basic with Ads for $7-per month) will limit a users watching to one single simultaneous stream. Ultimately, this will make account-sharing much more difficult to do. The popular service also didnt reveal exactly how it will enforce unpaid password sharing once these fees fully roll out. Netflix will officially start charging for password sharing in early 2023 https://t.co/VA5LgbL4Iw TIME (@TIME) October 30, 2022 The Official End Of Password Sharing After garnering a fairly laissez-faire reputation when it came to password sharing (think of all those my boyfriends aunts best friend sharing my account memes), Netflix is starting to regulate the idea of additional households using the same account. This new password-sharing fee system seems to be modeled on a scheme that Netflix has been testing in Chile, Costa Rica and Peru for roughly the past six months. Just one day before Netflix revealed its surprising plans for these account-sharing fees, it made another announcement, launching a profile-transfer feature. This is essential for how the password-sharing fees tested in Chile, Costa Rica and Peru work. It allows one profile created on a shared Netflix account to transfer its recommendations and watch history to a new, independent account. Only then can the new account be added to another Standard or Premium subscription plan as an extra member. Another option is that it can sign up for its own individual membership. Freeloaders Beware: Netflix Will Start Charging For Password Sharing In 2023 https://t.co/H16XWSzTe0 pic.twitter.com/xTeyjRPz0e Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 21, 2022 Back in July, Netflix noted that it would be testing a different method in Argentina, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. This test included an accounts primary residence as the home for the membership, and if Netflix detected streaming at any other additional households for more than two weeks, it would then urge the account to set up (and pay for) additional homes. In this system, there is also a limit as to how many additional homes you can add. It depends on how much youre already paying for Netflix, and according to CNET, Netflix appears to be eschewing this model in favor of the other one it tested. How to Transfer Netflix Profiles Once Free Password Sharing Ends https://t.co/D4HZaK0b73 pic.twitter.com/CWShoAZVQX Lifehacker (@lifehacker) October 25, 2022 Subscriber Reactions On Social Media With so many streaming services out there (HBO Max, Paramount+, Disney +, Apple TV+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, just to name a few), many Netflix subscribers recently took to Twitter to compare these to Netflix, and to debate whether having an account is still worth it, as one wrote. Netflix will start charging for password sharing in 2023. Families and friendships predicted to end soon. Dan Regan (@Social_Mime) October 21, 2022 Another tweeted after seeing the password sharing announcement, so netflix is killing password sharing and the crazy part is, i would rather just not have access to netflix than deal with device verification and sending my buddy whos the account holder $2.99 every month lmao. i was just reminded that netflix is charging money for password sharing. lmao how long will it be before we all cancel our subscriptions? CORI (@CORI_WORLD) October 30, 2022 its hilarious that netflix used to use password sharing as part of their marketing and now theyre trying to outlaw it. Carl Marks (@bornposting) October 23, 2022 Someone else also aired their grievances, writing, Somebody needs to tell @netflix they lost customers because they kept raising the price & canceling the good shows after 1 season, not password sharing. I pay for 4 screens & I live in 2 cities plus travel a lot for work so now I gotta pay extra? This bout to be a st show. Another comically pointed out, its hilarious that netflix used to use password sharing as part of their marketing and now theyre trying to outlaw it. This month, after the Wall Street Journal tweeted about the upcoming Netflix password crackdowns, users began sharing their thoughts again, and some even threatened to boycott the streaming service. Netflix has perfected the coveted strategy of how to ruin their service knowingly, one wrote as another replied in the thread, To be honest I dont even care, theres better streaming out there. I feel like I lose nothing here which is a bad thing for them. During the day, the Ukrainian military destroyed about 780 personnel of the aggressor army, 14 tanks, two MLRS, 27 armored combat vehicles, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said. "The total combat losses of the enemy from February 24, 2022 to January 26, 2023 approximately amounted to personnel, about 123,860 (780 more) people liquidated, tanks some 3,175 (14 more) units, armored combat vehicles some 6,334 (27 more) units, artillery systems some 2,169 (15 more) units; 1,908 (six more), cruise missiles some 749, ships and boats some 18 units, automotive vehicles and tankers some 4,986 (19 more) units, special equipment some 195 (one more)," the AFU said on Facebook. TALLAHASSEE Standing at a podium in the heart of Florida's Capitol, renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crumps threat was loud and clear: If Gov. Ron DeSantis administration did not allow the Advanced Placement African American Studies course in state classrooms, legal action would follow. Were here to give notice to Gov. DeSantis that if he does not negotiate with the College Board to allow AP African American Studies to be taught in the classrooms across the state of Florida, that these three young people will be the lead plaintiffs [in litigation], Crump said during a Wednesday "Stop the Black Attack" rally in the Capitol's fourth floor rotunda. He was joined at the podium by Black Democratic lawmakers, advocacy leaders and those three young people, who are high school students in Leon County. A large crowd gathered in the Florida Capitol fourth floor rotunda for the Stop the Black Attack rally Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. Attorney Ben Crump threatened to file a lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis and his administration and the ban of a proposed Advanced Placement course on African America Studies in Florida High schools on behalf of three Leon County school students. Back story:Florida education officials: African American Studies AP course 'lacks educational value' Other protests:Advocates rally in Lakeland, criticize DeSantis for blocking African-American studies class I have not learned much about the history or culture of my people outside of my parents and close relatives, said Elijah Edwards, a tenth-grader at SAIL High School in Tallahassee. After I heard there might be an African American Studies AP class, I was ecstatic. He said the course could be life changing, creating insightful conversations and helping him and other students learn about their lineage and hoped the governor would change course. Attorney Craig Whisenhunt, who would join Crump and others in the potential litigation, said the litigation would be filed in federal court. A large crowd gathered in the Florida Capitol fourth floor rotunda for the OStop the Black AttackO rally Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. Attorney Ben Crump threatened to file a lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis and his administration and the ban of a proposed Advanced Placement course on African America Studies in Florida High schools on behalf of three Leon County school students. There are equal protections under the law, and this effort by the governor disproportionately affects only some, he said. There are protections to content-oriented speech, and this only intends to limit some content, the content that applies to African American Studies and African American students' histories, our Black communities. The rally came days after news broke that DeSantis administration decided to reject a new Advanced Placement course on African American Studies. The state Department of Educations Office of Articulation wrote in a letter to a College Board official Jan. 12 that the AP class is "inexplicably contrary to Florida law and significantly lacks educational value." Story continues The state continues to defend its decision. In a Friday evening tweet, Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr. said the course was filled with Critical Race Theory and other obvious violations of Florida law. We proudly require the teaching of African American history, he said. We do not accept woke indoctrination masquerading as education. The tweet included a list of specific concerns about the course. The list says the course has a section on Movement for Black Lives, Black feminism and Black queer studies, and it alleges that it advocates for reparations. The list also enumerates issues with some of the Black authors cited, who have written about topics ranging from Black communism to CRT. The class has been in development for more than a decade, according to College Board's website. A large crowd gathered in the Florida Capitol fourth floor rotunda for the OStop the Black AttackO rally Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. Attorney Ben Crump threatened to file a lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis and his administration and the ban of a proposed Advanced Placement course on African America Studies in Florida High schools on behalf of three Leon County school students. College Board, which creates the AP courses, said in a press release Tuesday that it will release the official framework of the AP African American Studies course on Feb. 1, the first day of Black History Month. A broader movement The rally came two days after Black religious leaders gathered in a Tallahassee church and announced they were creating a statewide movement to counter the governor. Rev. Dr. R.B. Holmes Jr., pastor of Tallahassees Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, said he hoped it would spark positive conversations about the value of learning about all peoples history, and not at the expense of erasing and eliminating Black studies. Back story:Florida religious leaders to Gov. DeSantis: Stop 'erasing Black studies' and let's talk A part of the movement: He announced a Feb. 16 rally in Tallahassee that will be attended by national civil rights and faith leaders. He later told a USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida reporter that Rev. Al Sharpton, a Baptist minister and a notable civil rights activist, will be there. The leaders on Monday in the church, and on Wednesday in the Capitol saw more at stake than just the AP course. While the AP course rejection catalyzed the two events, it represents just the latest of frustrations that many Black leaders have voiced with the DeSantis administration. Rev. Dr. Joseph Wright, pastor of Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, spoke on Monday about DeSantis decision to get rid of two Black-led congressional delegations. Tallahassee Commissioner Curtis Richardson decried the governors culture war against African Americans. Richardson accused him of voter suppression, and blasted school voucher extensions that he said would destroy public education. On Wednesday, state Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-Miami-Dade, called Florida a Petri dish for racist policies and warned that other states would be encouraged to follow suit. We will resist right here, right now, he said. DeSantis has maintained the AP course is "pushing an agenda." "We believe in teaching kids facts and how to think, but we dont believe they should have an agenda imposed on them, DeSantis said Monday. When you try to use Black history to shoehorn in queer theory, you are clearly trying to use that for political purposes. Democratic House Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, accused DeSantis of creating anger and division for political gain. He values headlines over Floridians and his singular goal is to become the GOP nominee for president," she said. USA Today Network-Florida government accountability reporter Douglas Soule is based in Tallahassee, Fla. He can be reached at DSoule@gannett.com. Twitter: @DouglasSoule Contributed: USA Today Network-Florida reporter Kathryn Varn This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Lawsuit threatened over DeSantis AP African American Studies rejection OSHKOSH The trial for a former Oshkosh West High School student accused of stabbing a school resource officer in December 2019 has begun, with the defense meeting roadblocks to arguing their case the way they hoped. Grant Fuhrman, 20, is charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide for the 2019 stabbing of Officer Michael Wissink. If found guilty, he could be sentenced to up to 60 years in prison. During the remainder of the trial, which is scheduled to last three weeks, the prosecution aims to prove that Fuhrman acted with intent to kill Wissink. In Wisconsin law, "intent to kill" means Fuhrman either meant to cause the death of Wissink, or was aware that his behavior was "practically certain" to result in Wissink's death and that Fuhrman would have killed Wissink if not for the intervention of someone else or another outside factor. Fuhrman's defense attorneys Corey Mehlos and Tim Casper argue that Fuhrman did not try to kill Wissink. Since 2021, they've been seeking to pursue an involuntary intoxication defense, arguing that Fuhrman's high dosage of Adderall, which he had a lowered tolerance for due to taking it infrequently, caused him to not be in his right mind at the time of the attack. However, it's unclear how much testimony about Fuhrman's medication can be brought up at trial; Judge Daniel Bissett has repeatedly denied the admission of the involuntary intoxication defense. According to court records, on Monday the Wisconsin Court of Appeals denied a petition filed by Fuhrman's attorneys to appeal Bissett's order. Grant Fuhrman appears in court Tuesday in the Branch 6 courtroom at the Winnebago County Courthouse in Oshkosh. Grant Fuhrman, 20, is charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide for the 2019 stabbing of an Oshkosh West school resource officer. At the time of the incident, Fuhrman was a 16-year-old junior at Oshkosh West High School. He is accused of stabbing Officer Michael Wissink in the neck with a barbecue fork at the school on Dec. 3, 2019. Investigators say on the morning of Dec. 3, 2019, Fuhrman, then a 16-year-old junior at the high school, walked into Wissink's office during the start of second period and asked the officer to look something up on his computer. While Wissink's back was turned, Fuhrman attacked Wissink with a barbecue fork he brought from home. Wissink fired his gun in self-defense, shooting Fuhrman in the chest and himself in the arm. The trial started Monday with a daylong jury selection process, during which a 15-person jury was selected out of a pool of around 90 people. On Tuesday, attorneys presented their opening statements, then the prosecution presented its first six witnesses. In their opening statements, both Assistant District Attorney Tracy Paider and Casper discussed the events of Dec. 3, 2019. Paider used the metaphor of a shark circling its unsuspecting prey to describe Fuhrman's actions the morning of the attack, as he avoided going to his second period class and instead walked around the school hallways, repeatedly peeking into Wissink's office and waiting for the officer to be alone. As the school resource officer, Wissink was not only at Oshkosh West to help enforce the law, but also acted as a friendly face at the school and someone who students could come to if need be, Paider said. He sometimes rode a bike around the hallways and had fruit in his office for students. "He wanted the kids to know his office was a safe space," Paider said. Assistant District Attorney Tracy Paider questions a witness as Grant Fuhrman appears in court Tuesday in the Branch 6 courtroom at the Winnebago County Courthouse in Oshkosh. On the morning of the attack, after Assistant Principal Aaron Herm left Wissink's office, where the two had been having a brief meeting regarding vandalism in the school bathrooms, Furhman walked into Wissink's office, closed the door and repeatedly stabbed the officer when his back was turned. Had Wissink not fired his weapon, Paider argued, Fuhrman would have killed him. In the defense's opening statements, Casper presented a different picture. He described the attack as "a half-baked scheme" Fuhrman came up with in the middle of a sleepless night. Fuhrman was dealing with multiple stressors, including a breakup with his girlfriend, the recent death of his grandfather and having a difficult time with his Adderall medication, Casper said. He was engaging in social media conversations with peers all night and hardly got any sleep. Investigators found searches on Fuhrman's phone included "how to stab somebody and not kill them," Casper said. The weapon he chose to bring to school from home also did not reflect an intent to cause the most damage possible; multiple steak knives were in Fuhrman's home's kitchen, and Fuhrman had two pocket knives in his bedroom. Out of those, he chose a two-pronged serving fork, Casper said. Additionally, Casper said, in the "melee" that ensued in Wissink's small office between a 16-year-old kid and a "very strong" adult man, it's not clear how Wissink received each of his injuries. And neither Wissink nor the first officer arriving to help on scene had their body cameras turned on initially, Casper pointed out. "Had (Wissink) used his body camera, I don't think we'd be here today," Casper said. After opening arguments, the prosecution called its first witnesses to testify. Among them was Ken Levine, an Oshkosh West teacher who ran to Wissink's office after hearing the gunshots and provided his own belt as a tourniquet for Wissink's arm wound; Dr. Mark Westfall, an emergency physician at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center in Neenah who helped care for Wissink's injuries; and Officer Joseph Gogo, who in December 2019 was the school resource officer at Oshkosh North High School and was the first officer to respond to Wissink's calls for help on the radio. Westfall testified that Wissink's laceration injuries to his neck and gunshot wound to his wrist were potentially life-threatening. During cross-examination, Mehlos suggested Westfall might have a broad definition of life-threatening. Further, Mehlos pointed out that Westfall did not know what caused Wissink's neck injury. During cross-examination of Gogo's testimony, Mehlos pointed out that Gogo did not turn his body camera on until after his initial reaction of arriving on scene. Mehlos also presented Gogo's body camera footage as evidence that officers may have unnecessarily moved parts of the crime scene while attending to Wissink's and Fuhrman's medical needs. The trial may continue for three weeks, or it may end sooner. The defense has not yet decided if Fuhrman will testify. Decisions about what testimony relating to Adderall medication and Fuhrman's state of mind will be allowed will be addressed as they come up during the trial, Bissett said. RELATED:Trial for former Oshkosh West student charged with stabbing school resource officer set to start Monday Contact Kelli Arseneau at (920) 213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ArseneauKelli. This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Trial underway for Oshkosh West student accused of attempted homicide The Kentucky Derby Festival has announced the theme for this year's fireworks and air show, which will be held on April 22 at Louisville's Waterfront Park. "Through the Decades" will be the theme of the 2023 Thunder Over Louisville, one of the largest annual fireworks shows and top airshows in North America. "We have all become a little more nostalgic over the last few years because of those special events we have missed, and now we have an even greater appreciation for those traditions," Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival president and CEO, said. "We wanted the theme for this year's show to pay tribute to those favorite Thunder memories our Festival Fans have experienced across the decades." While fireworks have played a role in The Kentucky Derby Festival since the 1960s, the spark of the idea to create a pyrotechnics spectacular launched in 1991 when the first Thunder was held downtown over the Ohio River. The Kentucky Derby Festival unveiled the banner for Thunder Over Louisville 2023, Thunder Through The Ages, Thursday, March 2 2023 at the David Karen Building in Louisville Ky. Here are the details you'll want to know when planning your Thunder Over Louisville experience. When is Thunder Over Louisville 2023? People will start to gather at Waterfront Park's North Great Lawn as early as 9 a.m., this year on Saturday, April 22. The Chow Wagon and more than 100 food and drink vendors and fun family activities kick off by 11 a.m. The massive airshow gets underway around 3 p.m. and will continue to delight fans until dusk. The firework show begins at 9:30 p.m. and lasts until 10 p.m. Where is Thunder Over Louisville 2023? Public viewing areas stretch from 8th Street to Clay Street north of Main Street in Kentucky, and along Riverside Drive from Ashland Park in Clarksville to Spring Street in Jeffersonville, Indiana, according to kdf.org. The Chow Wagon and Waterfront Park and North Great Lawn at Waterfront Park offer front-row seats to the show. You may like: 'American Ninja Warrior' host to speak at Kentucky Derby Festival event. What to know What time are the fireworks for Thunder Over Louisville? Spectators look on during the fireworks at Thunder Over Louisville on Saturday night. April 23, 2022 Once the sun sets, the artistry of Zambelli Fireworks and the production of Visual Presentations take over the sky above the Ohio River for a fireworks and music spectacular which runs from about 9:30-10 p.m. Story continues "The secret with Thunder has been to pack as much firepower into 28 minutes as possible and produce a series of finales,'" Wayne Hettinger, show producer and owner of Visual Presentations previously told the Courier Journal. Hettinger has it down to a science, working with the team from Zambelli to create a heart-stopping, eye-popping show. What's the theme for Thunder Over Louisville 2023? A pair of F-18s and an F-4 fly over Thunder Over Louisville on Saturday, April 23, 2022 This year's theme is inspired by the early years of Thunder Over Louisville and how much the show has grown over the decades. Thunder draws thousands of fans spanning all ages and generations, who come together to celebrate on the Waterfront, and "Through the Decades" is meant to invoke feelings of nostalgia for this long-running Kentucky Derby Festival springtime tradition. You may like: The Kentucky Derby Museum Hat Show is back. Here's your complete guide to the 2023 event Where is the best place to watch Thunder Over Louisville? "People always ask 'where is the best seat at Thunder?'' said Hettinger. "I say it's anywhere that you can see the Second Street Bridge. The bridge is going to be very busy this year, with more bright and brilliant colors because Zambelli is now getting a lot of [its] fireworks from Spain and they produce fireworks with amazing colors." What do I need to know about the Thunder Over Louisville Airshow? The 2023 airshow beings at 3 p.m. on April 22 at Waterfront Park. The festival is planning another packed air show line-up this year featuring both military and civilian aircraft. Highlights include The Air Force F-35 Demo and Heritage Flight, Navy F-35 Demo and Growler Demo with Legacy Flight, U.S. Army Golden Knights, Matt Younkins "Magic by Moonlight" performance, as well as numerous warbirds taking to the skies, including the P-51 Mustang, F-86 Sabre, F4U Corsair and F8F Bearcat. More details about the 2023 Thunder Air Show will be released closer to the event date. Will there be a drone show at Thunder Over Louisville? The American flag created by lighted drones hover above the crowd in Clarksville at the 2022 Thunder Over Louisville event. April 23, 2022 You bet there will be a drone show. The third annual Drone Show powered by LG&E is another highlight of the 2023 show and will light up the nighttime sky with a variety of unique designs just before the fireworks begin. You may like: Kentucky Derby fashion hits the runway: How to get tickets to KDF's premiere fashion show Is there a new location for the Meijer Family Fun Zone? Crowds fill the Great Lawn during the Thunder Over Louisville air show on Saturday at Waterfront Park. April 23, 2022 This year, the Meijer Family Fun Zone returns to a new location at the Big Four Bridge, 1101 River Road, and offers a prime viewing space filled with family activities. How do I get to Thunder Over Louisville? Two birds sit on a log as the lights of downtown Louisville glow in the background before the start of the fireworks at the 2022 Thunder Over Louisville event. April 23, 2022 As part of its partnership to make the Kentucky Derby Festival accessible to the entire community, Humana will once again be sponsoring free rides to Thunder Over Louisville in partnership with TARC. More information on the free-fare day will be released in the coming weeks. You may like: Kentucky Derby Festival unveils special finisher medal for 50th miniMarathon. Take a peek How can I watch or listen to Thunder Over Louisville at home? Thunder Over Louisville's 2023 official broadcast partners are WAVE television and MIX 106.9 radio. Who sponsors Thunder Over Louisville? Thunder Over Louisville fireworks on Saturday, April 23, 2022 Caesars Southern Indiana, Humana, Humana, LG&E, Meijer and UPS are back again in 2023 as presenting sponsors of Thunder Over Louisville. "We are especially grateful for the generosity of our sponsors who come back year after year to allow us to produce this one-of-a-kind event and bring our city together to kick off the Derby Festival season," Gibson said. In addition to the Presenting Sponsors, AKIMA is the Military Zone Sponsor and the official hotel is the Galt House Hotel. TEN20 Craft Brewery is the official craft beer and High Noon is the official seltzer of Thunder Over Louisville. Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Thunder Over Louisville in 2023: Everything to know about fireworks show BRASILIA (Reuters) -Brazil's Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes fined on Wednesday messaging app Telegram for failing to comply with a court order that called for the suspension of accounts of supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Telegram will be fined 1.2 million reais ($236,527), the decision said. The ruling, made under an inquiry investigating acts of vandalism in public buildings in the country's capital earlier this month, said that Telegram was ordered to block five different accounts that had shared content related to hate speech and encouragement of institutional disruption. However, Telegram did not block an account owned by congressman-elect Nikolas Ferreira, according to the decision. Ferreira was Brazil's most voted congressman in the 2022 election, reaching 1.47 million votes. "The malicious non-compliance by the providers involved indicates, objectively, consent with the continued perpetration of the crimes under investigation," the ruling said. Moraes gave Telegram five days to pay the fine from the day of the decision. Telegram did not immediately respond to a request to comment. In March 2022, Moraes ordered the suspension of messaging app Telegram, saying it had repeatedly refused to adhere to judicial orders to freeze accounts spreading disinformation. The suspension was revoked days later, after the company complied with court requests. ($1 = 5.0734 reais) (Reporting by Ricardo Brito; Editing by Chris Reese and Christopher Cushing) Getty Images A World Economic Forum report says business leaders believe a catastrophic cyber event is coming. Cybercrime will grow from a $3 trillion industry in 2015 to a $10.5 trillion industry by 2025. The unpredictable nature of cybercrime increases threats. The 2023 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, has filled us with lots of uplifting predictions, like how companies will soon decode our brain waves. The latest warns of a global catastrophic cyber event in the very near future. The most striking finding that weve found, WEF managing director Jeremy Jurgens said during a presentation highlighting the WEF Global Security Outlook Report 2023, is that 93 percent of cyber leaders, and 86 percent of cyber business leaders, believe that the geopolitical instability makes a catastrophic cyber event likely in the next two years. This far exceeds anything that weve see in previous surveys. Add in the extreme unpredictability of these eventsJurgens cited a cyberattack recently aimed at shutting down Ukranian military abilities that unexpectedly also closed off parts of electricity production across Europeand the global challenges are only growing. This is a global threat, Jurgen Stock, Secretary-General of Interpol, said during the presentation. It calls for a global response and enhanced and coordinated action. He said the increased profits that the multiple bad actors reap from cybercrime should encourage world leaders to work together to make it a priority as they face new sophisticated tools. One country that recently saw a massive cyberattack, Albania, is now working with larger allies in warding off the criminals, serving as a laboratory of sorts for folks to realize what is coming. Edi Rama, Albanias prime minister, spoke during the presentation, saying that the growth of the cybercrime industryfrom $3 trillion in 2015 to an expected $10.5 trillion in 2025means that if cybercrime was a state, it would be the third largest global economy after the U.S. and China. Story continues That means the crime coming could truly be catastrophic. Rama cited the global response to COVID-19 and said a cyberattack could be much more substantial: Lets imagine an exponential multitude of viruses that mutate everyday exponentially while not threatening our body, but the bodies we live in, our organizations, our countries, our system, then, you know, it could be just apocalypse. Its about viruses that can not only block our way of living, but can control it and deviate it. You Might Also Like Companies affiliated with embattled congressman George Santos have drawn scrutiny from lawmakers, regulators, and experts as the newly elected Republican faces increasing political pressure to step down for lying about his background. Santos, who represents suburban areas of New York City, has been under fire since shortly after his election in November for inventing key parts of his education and work history, and building significant wealth virtually overnight that he may have used to finance his campaign. In addition to claiming a false work history with major investment banks, Santos' most recent professional history all leads back to a fund that federal regulators called a Ponzi scheme in a 2021 lawsuit for using new investor money to pay back previous investors. Independent experts said the company's statements, including some Santos repeated, raise red flags. Santos said he led the efforts of that firm, called Harbor City Capital, in New York City. He made multiple false statements about the company in interviews during his first campaign for Congress. The Securities and Exchange Commission said Harbor City Capital raised $17.1 million in order to enrich the company's founder, but did not name Santos as a defendant. After that, Santos started a company, Devolder Organization LLC, with help from a company linked to Harbor City Capitals chief financial officer. Devolder Organization is the company that Santos claimed on financial disclosures grew to a value of between $1 million and $5 million virtually overnight, and paid him a $750,000 a year salary. Devolder Organization then co-founded a related company: Redstone Strategies LLC. That company shares a name with entities that solicited donations for Santos campaign, according to the New York Times. A Democrat in Congress has requested an investigation for potential campaign finance violations. George Santos controversy: Here's a look at investigations of the new House Republican Story continues ep. George Santos, R-N.Y., leaves a House GOP conference meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington on Wednesday. What we know about Harbor City Capital Based in Melbourne, Florida, Harbor City Capital, and its affiliates offered numerous investment opportunities, promising annual returns between 10% and 60% that would be paid in monthly installments and before returning the customers original investment once the investments matured, according to the SEC complaint. "When somebodys offering 60% returns, its not that there has never been an investment that returns 60% legitimately," said Mitchel Zuckoff, a journalism professor at Boston University who wrote a book about the original Ponzi scheme. "But they are so exceedingly rare that the idea that they could simply be available to you should automatically send up just a whole carload of red flags." The company said it would use investor money to help generate internet sales leads for other companies, and then sell those sales leads to business clients at a substantial profit, according to the SEC. Kyle Welch, an accounting professor at George Washington University with expertise in financial fraud, said companies like Facebook and Google have cornered the market on targeting customers, and called it "dubious" that Harbor City Capital would have been able to make those transactions. Santos was not named in the SECs complaint. Inquiries to his Capitol Hill office and to his lawyer were not returned. George Santos: Rep. George Santos pushes back on 'insane' claim he stole funds for veteran's dying dog Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., is sworn in on, Jan. 7. Santos' role in Harbor City Capital Santos boasted in a 2020 interview during his first congressional campaign about his work for Harbor City Capital, falsely claiming it was a Fortune 500 company and repeating the false claim that he previously worked for J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs. I manage all of our fixed income assets with arbitrage here in New York," he said. Im actually Harbor City Capitals head guy for New York City. Were based out of Melbourne, Florida. Ive been with the company a little over a year. In April 2020, Santos tweeted out a plug for the company. "@HarborCityCap offers you a strategy that mitigates loss and risk while creating cash flow, meanwhile your principle (sic) is 100% secured by an SBLC held by various major institutions," he wrote, referencing a type of safety net on an investment called a standby letter of credit. Welch said it is unclear how much, if any, Santos knew about the Ponzi scheme, but his statement was nonetheless problematic. "Your principal is guaranteed?" Welch asked. "Thats the whole point of investing is that you can lose money, and thats how you can earn a return. Anytime somebody guarantees a return like that, its a red flag for anyone with the remotest financial literacy to run for the hills." In a video obtained by CNN, Santos said during the 2020 campaign he managed a $1.5 billion fund for Harbor City Capital and boasted about giving record returns. "Nobody in the market is giving 4 (percent returns) and we're giving 12," he said. Santos also told an investor he had personally raised $100 million for the fund, according to documents obtained by the New York Times that USA TODAY has not independently reviewed. That's many times higher than the $17.1 million the SEC said was raised. The investor in question was the cousin and money manager of a Russian oligarch who has been sanctioned by the United States, according to the Washington Post. Is Santos the only one lying?: George Santos' college education is a myth. Is he the only one lying? We checked Rep. George Santos earlier this month. What we know about Devolder and Redstone Santos registered Devolder Organization LLC, also based in Melbourne, in 2021, about a month after the SEC filed its complaint against Harbor City Capital. The companys registered agent was another financial company tied to the chief financial officer of Harbor City Capital. Santos was the sole member of Devolder Organization LLC. Santos reported in his 2022 financial disclosures required of congressional candidates that he made a $750,000 salary through Devolder Organization LLC and that he was the sole owner. He wrote that the company did "capital intro consulting" a type of matchmaking between wealthy potential investors and hedge fund managers and had a value between $1 million and $5 million. The state of Florida dissolved the company for failure to file its annual reports. Santos filed to get the company reinstated Dec. 20, this time using an address in Merritt Island, Florida, according to records with the secretary of state. Santos described what Devolder Organization does in a December interview with Semafor. He helped people who want to sell luxury items like planes or yachts connect with buyers. If youre looking at a $20 million yacht, my referral fee there can be anywhere between $200,000 and $400,000, he told Semafor. Calls for Santos' resignation: Six GOP congressmen from NY say embattled Rep. George Santos should resign for lies Rep. George Santos leaves the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 12. Redstone Strategies Very little is known about Redstone Strategies LLC, but it is registered at the same Merritt Island address that Devolder Organization put on its filing for reinstatement. The filings show Devolder Organization is a co-founder. The New York Times reported that an entity claiming to be called Redstone Strategies raised money on behalf of Santos campaign. The company in question claimed to be a federal fundraising committee not an LLC but is not on file with the Federal Election Commission. On a separate occasion, Redstone Strategies claimed to be a 501c4, according to the New York Times. Thats a type of organization that registers through the Internal Revenue Service and does not have to disclose its donors but is prohibited from spending more than half of its money to support political campaigns. A search through a public IRS database for "Redstone Strategies" does not return any results. I believe the FEC owes it to the American public to investigate the activities of Redstone Strategies, the source of its funding, and ascertain the truth surrounding its relationship to the Santos campaign, Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., wrote Jan. 17 in a letter to the FEC. 'A fraudulent candidacy': Former House Speaker Paul Ryan calls on George Santos to resign Santos speaks at the Republican Jewish Coalition Annual Leadership Meeting in Las Vegas in November. What other investigations does George Santos face? Santos could face an investigation from the House Ethics Committee after two Democrats requested one in relation to his financial disclosures. That committee handles these types of matters confidentially. Anne Donnelly, the district attorney in Nassau County, New York stated publicly she would be investigating Santos. New York Attorney General Letitia James said she was "looking into" issues but did not confirm an official investigation. Several news outlets have reported that Breon Peace, the top prosecutor in the Department of Justice's Eastern District of New York, is investigating Santos' financial dealings. The Campaign Legal Center and Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., have requested the Federal Election Commission investigate Santos' campaign funding. Santos says he'll serve term: Defiant George Santos vows to serve out term; McCarthy declines to act amid GOP pressure George Santos: Dig deeper This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: George Santos: Companies linked to him draw scrutiny. What we know. A Kansas man is dead after officials said he was struck by gunfire from a rifle that discharged when a dog stepped on it in a truck. The fatal shooting took place in rural Kansas along a road in Sumner County, about 45 miles south of Wichita, Wellington Fire and EMS Chief Tim Hay told USA TODAY on Wednesday. The Sumner County Sheriffs Office identified the victim as Joseph Austin Smith of Wichita. According to the sheriff's office, deputies were dispatched to the scene Saturday morning for a male who had been shot in the back. At the scene, EMS personnel administered CPR before the victim was pronounced dead, Hay said. The driver of the truck, who was sitting next to Smith when the gun fired, was not hurt, Hay said. Pack of dogs kill young boy: Four dogs fatally maul 7-year-old Idaho boy; mother injured while trying to protect son 'By some miracle': 22-year-old man lost at sea off Florida coast rescued by family hours later Hunting gear, a dog and a rifle in the back seat Sheriff's office Deputy Jordan Douglas said a preliminary investigation found Smith was sitting in the front passenger seat of a pickup that contained hunting gear and a rifle in the back seat. A dog who deputies said belonged to the owner of the pickup, was also in the backseat and stepped on the rifle, causing it to fire. "The fired round struck the passenger who died of his injuries on scene," sheriff's officials wrote in a press release. The case remained under investigation on Wednesday, Douglas said. On Wednesday, Hay reminded gun owners to store firearms properly when in vehicles. "Keep the safety on, unload your guns completely when it's in a vehicle and put it away, in the trunk," he said. Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kansas man fatally shot after dog steps on rifle in truck: Officials Nurse Manager Mary Marshall and Medical Services Director Candi Durbin are part of the newly opened Eva Women's Health Clinic in New Philadelphia. NEW PHILADELPHIA A new clinic has joined the local healthcare community to help women who are pregnant or suspect they might be. Eva Womens Clinic, which has locations in Canton and Akron, opened a third site at 152 N. Broadway on Jan. 9. The clinic offers free pregnancy tests, ultrasound and, once pregnancy has been confirmed, sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment. The clinic can give prenatal vitamins. It does not provide birth control or abortion referrals or services. Food help change:SNAP emergency allotments ending in Ohio in February "We're here to determine that they're pregnant," said Candi Durbin, medical services director. After that, the four-person staff can refer them to community resources, help get them into an obstetrician's office or get insurance. "A lot of the gals, they've kind of panicked because most of the time it's an unexpected pregnancy and they don't have insurance or they don't have a plan," Durbin said. "We are here to give them, basically, information, help and hope. The idea is that the girl who is (in) early pregnancy, we can get her into care." The newly opened Eva Women's Clinic shares office space with Dr. Morteza Mirhaidari, a podiatrist, at 152 N. Broadway in New Philadelphia. Durbin said clinic opened in New Philadelphia to meet a need in the area. "There's nothing around here like it," she said. "We had several clients that come from Coshocton or down here, Tusc. County, Carroll County. When we looked at the map of where anything like us was, there was a big hole. New Philly was right in the center of the hole, so it is a perfect location." Eva is nonprofit funded through churches, individuals, grants and foundations, Durbin said. She invited local entities, such as churches, who may have something to offer patients, to contact the clinic. "We're always looking for more people to refer to, and partner with, just to make sure that we get a strong community connection," Durbin said. The newly opened Eva Women's Clinic shares office space with Dr. Morteza Mirhaidari at 152 N. Broadway in New Philadelphia. New Philadelphia resident Mary Marshall is the clinic's nurse manager. She formerly worked in community health and wellness for Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital in Dover. Story continues Eva Woman's Clinic shares offices with Dr. Morteza Mirhaidari. They share the waiting room but not exam rooms. The newly opened Eva Women's Clinic has a sign board in front of its offices at 152 N. Broadway in New Philadelphia. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. For more information about Eva Women's Clinic, call 330-915-6520 or visit the website at www.evawomensclinic.com. The Eva Women's Clinic serves women who are pregnant or think they might be. Health department services Other local resources include the Tuscarawas County Health Department's reproductive health services. It can help plan a healthy pregnancy, provide birth control options, screen for diseases and other health conditions, and test for sexually transmitted disease. At the health department, priority is to be given to persons having low incomes and those with no insurance or insurance that does not cover reproductive health services. Fees for services are based on family size and income and no one is to be denied services if they cannot pay. There is no requirement that a person live in the area in order to receive services."We do not provide direct pregnancy care," said county health department spokeswoman Jennifer Demuth. "A person would need to see an OB/GYN for those services." Its services are funded through Title X of the federal Public Health Service Act, Maternal and Child Health Block Grant and general revenue funds. The department accepts most insurance, Medicaid, Medicaid health maintenance organizations and Medicare. To find out more about Tuscarawas County Health Department reproductive health services, call 330-343-5555 extension 1740, or extension 1810, to make an appointment. Pregnant women may qualify for Medicaid Tuscarawas County Job & Family Services offers the opportunity for pregnant women to apply for Medicaid. "Each program has an income eligibility limit and when someone applies, the information provided determines if they qualify for a program," said to spokeswoman Joyce Barker. Job & Family Services may be contacted at 330-339-7791 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Reach Nancy at 330-364-8402 or nancy.molnar@timesreporter.com. On Twitter: @nmolnarTR This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Eva Women's clinic offers help to those who are or may be pregnant The claim: Image shows CBS article about the 'super-rich' gathering in Davos A Jan. 20 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) shows what appears to be a CBS News article. "As the super-rich gather in Davos, online conspiracy theorists make bizarre claim that the world is run by the super-rich," reads the supposed article's headline, which is attributed to the Associated Press and shown via a screenshot of a Jan. 19 tweet. The Facebook post's caption reads: "What a headline." The post garnered more than 800 shares in four days. Meanwhile, the original tweet garnered more than 1,000 likes in five days. Similar versions of the claim have been shared on Instagram. Follow us on Facebook! Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks Our rating: Altered The image has been digitally fabricated. CBS never published an article with such a headline, according to spokespeople for CBS and the Associated Press. Image shows fake article Global leaders and business executives attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, during the week of Jan. 16 to discuss challenges currently facing the world. Outside the meeting, protesters gathered to demand climate justice and taxation of the rich, according to The Washington Post. But CBS did not cover the event using the headline shown. The CBS website doesn't show the article featured in the Facebook post, nor did the outlet share any articles with this headline on social media. Instead, the outlet republished an article written by the Associated Press headlined "As elites gather in Davos, conspiracy theories gain traction online." This article was published the same day as the supposed article featured in the Facebook post. Socialist Party activists take part in a protest against the World Economic Forum (WEF), calling for a climate tax on the rich, on the eve of the WEF annual meeting in Davos, on Jan. 15, 2022. Nicole Meir, an AP spokesperson, directed USA TODAY to this article when asked about the legitimacy of the Facebook post. Meir said there have not been any changes to the article's headline since its publication. Web archives confirm this. Story continues Fact check: CNN headline about Damar Hamlin cardiac arrest was digitally altered April Andrews, a CBS spokesperson, told USA TODAY something similar in an email. "CBS News never ran the headline that is circulating on Twitter," Andrews said, directing USA TODAY to the same article as Meir. USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the post for comment. This claim has been debunked by Reuters as well. Our fact-check sources: Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Fabricated image shows CBS article about the 'super-rich' The war will end when Russian troops leave Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Sky News published on Thursday. "For me, people are the number one priority. That's why I don't want to fight on Russian territory. I just want them to stop the war as quickly as possible, and leave our country as fast as possible I can tell you for sure if they leave our territory the war will stop," he said. According to him, he is "not interested" in meeting with Vladimir Putin for peace talks, describing him as a "nobody" who lives in an "information bubble" and does not really know what is happening on the battlefield. The president said he "doesn't understand who makes decisions in Russia" and while Moscow asks for peace, it then lies by attacking his country with missiles at night. "They don't want any talks, and this was the case before the invasion. President Putin decided so," Zelensky said. "He doesn't want negotiations because he doesn't want peace. I am convinced that Ukraine is just the first step for him. I am convinced that he is waging a big war. And having the whole world helping Ukraine now - he is not thinking about that. He is thinking, 'Well, it's not working out in Ukraine now but we will wait the world won't stay united, they will get tired and I will move further," Zelensky said. "But after Ukraine there will be further steps, there will be other countries, if we fail to withstand. I think we will manage, we will get support and we will win," he said. Asked if a face-to-face meeting with Putin would help resolve the ongoing conflict, Zelensky said: "It is not interesting for me. Not interesting to meet, not interesting to speak. Why? Because we had meeting with him in Normandy Format, it was before full-scale invasion. I saw the man who said one thing and then did another," he said. According to Zelensky, "in the east they are moving forward and losing a lot of people. It's just an extraordinary number. They don't care about it. I mean, they don't count their people. This is a fact," he said. Andrea Archer, a 32-year-old childrens safeguarding specialist based in London, started spending holidays and other vacation time with her father in California when she was 4 years old. She always knew she would move to the U.S. when she grew up. Archer pursued a green card she was eligible for one because her father is an American citizen in 2012. Barack Obama was president at the time, and Archer felt that a new era was beginning for the U.S. But when Archer received her green card in 2017, the country that once seemed hopeful felt unsafe. The U.S. seemed volatile and politically fraught. She decided that she didnt want to migrate to the States, despite her lifelong plan. In 2021, Archer returned her green card. Archer is one of the many people whose outlook on the U.S. has changed drastically since 2017, according to Gallup World Poll data released Tuesday. Although the U.S. is still the country most people around the world would most like to migrate to, the number of people who want to do so is lower than ever before. The poll surveyed 16% of adults worldwide, or about 900 million people, regarding their desire to move to another country. Globally, peoples desire to move reached its highest point in a decade, but interest in moving to the U.S. plunged. When asked where in the world they would want to migrate, 1 in 5 potential migrants or about 18% named the U.S. as their desired future residence. The new numbers marked a historic decline that began in 2017, when just 17% the lowest rate ever recorded said theyd want to move to the U.S. In previous years, the U.S. has polled between 20% and 24%. Donald Trumps presidency was in full swing by 2017. As one of his first acts as president, Trump signed into law the first iteration of a policy that banned travelers from several Muslim-majority countries. Children began being separated from their parents at the southern border that same year under the administrations zero-tolerance program. In August 2017, white nationalists and members of the alt-right gathered for a violent rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Story continues Such policies and events likely deterred people from moving to the U.S. and tainted how immigrants around the world saw the country, said Julie Ray, the managing editor for World News Gallup and one of the authors of the report. It is a pretty well-documented, chilling effect, she said. Globally, peoples desire to move reached its highest point in a decade, but interest in moving to the U.S. declined. Globally, peoples desire to move reached its highest point in a decade, but interest in moving to the U.S. declined. Archer said 2017, the year she received her green card, was also the year she started to reconsider moving to the U.S. It was quite an unsettling time, she said. It felt as though the kind of American dream that we had bought into was kind of slowly crumbling before our eyes. Archer hoped it would pass, and she ping-ponged back and forth between the U.K. and the U.S. She kept moving forward with the plan to resettle and was on track to receive her Social Security number. But when George Floyd was murdered by police in Minneapolis in 2020, Archer officially changed her mind. She no longer wanted to live in the U.S. Once we had that incident on a world stage and once we kind of saw the response by President [Trump], it just didnt feel safe, she said. The recent political climate is not the only thing deterring some people who previously considered immigrating to the U.S. Anas Almassri, a 27-year-old Ph.D. student, also decided the U.S. was not for him. Born and raised in Palestine, Almassri arrived in Washington, D.C., in 2019 to earn a second masters degree from Georgetown Universitys renowned Arab studies program. He was attracted to the U.S. for its infinite opportunities, he said. However, he said what he found was a workaholic culture, a lack of fulfillment and that a persons value was diminished to their job status. Almassri immediately returned to the U.K. after completing his degree, even though the U.S. could offer him better career prospects. I was trying to find the balance between finding safety and validation, but also not sacrificing your value as a human being, as a person, beyond your network beyond your institutional affiliations, Almassri said. I thought the U.S. couldnt offer me that. Back in London, Archer said she doesnt know if shell give the U.S. another chance. She wants to be optimistic, but she said shes hesitant. For now, the U.S. isnt the country where she sees her future. Not anytime soon, she said. If she would, shed have to go through the process again to obtain another green card. It just felt that this wasnt a country that aligned with some of our core principles and values anymore, she said. Related... Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey, right, gets information from detectives at 5 Crown Drive on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. QUINCY A fourth suspect has been arrested in the shooting death of Jordan Wiggins, 32, at the Elevation Apartments in Quincy almost six months ago. Dante Clarke, 23, of Brockton, was arrested by police this week at a Wareham hotel. He was arraigned in Norfolk Superior Court on 16 charges, including murder, masked armed robbery, kidnapping with intent to extort and misleading an investigator. He is being held without bail until a pretrial conference March 6. Clarke was arrested on a charge of assault and battery on a police officer in September, before he was suspected in the Elevation case. He pled not guilty to that charge in Quincy District Court. He failed to appear for an Oct. 3 pretrial conference, causing a default warrant to be issued for his arrest. Quincy police were called at about 12:40 a.m. Aug. 18 to 5 Crown Drive, part of the Elevation Apartments at Crown Colony, where they found Wiggins suffering from gunshot wounds near the stairwell leading from the buildings parking area to the residences. Wiggins was a resident of the building. He was taken to a local hospital, where he died. Clarke is one of seven men who were indicted in the Quincy killing last month. He is the fourth to be taken into police custody. Officials are still searching for the other three. Clockwise from left, Derek Miranda, also known as Derek Cardoso; Clayton Rodrigues; Dante Clarke; and Walter Batista are suspects in an August shooting death in Quincy. Cardoso, Rodrigues and Batista are still at large. Among the suspects is Cornel Bell Jr., the son of Cornel Bell, who was found guilty in July of first-degree murder for killing his ex-girlfriend Michelle Clarke in her Weymouth apartment in August 2017. Bell Jr. was arrested and arraigned in December on charges of involuntary manslaughter, being an accessory after the fact for murder, assault and battery, masked armed robbery, kidnapping with intent to extort, armed assault with intent to rob and witness intimidation. Dwayne D. Harper, 28, of Dorchester, and Sheik Ramos, 28, of Boston, have also been arrested and arraigned on murder charges. 'Unimaginable, senseless tragedy': 2 children dead in Duxbury; infant flown to hospital Story continues DA: Children strangled inside Duxbury home, mother to be charged with murder Police are asking the public for help in finding the remaining suspects: Derek Miranda, also known as Derek Cardoso, 28, with ties to Randolph and Dorchester; Walter Batista, 25, of Boston; and Clayton Rodrigues, 27, of Abington and Dorchester. Anyone with information about the suspects' whereabouts can contact Quincy police at 617-745-5768 or State Police at 781-830-4990. Reach Mary Whitfill at mwhitfill@patriotledger.com. Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription. Here is our latest offer This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Dante Clarke arrested in Quincy shooting death; 3 suspects at large Fox News Following an attack on Fox News meteorologist Adam Klotz in the New York City subway, the networks flagship morning show Fox & Friends has repeatedly blamed the beating on one man: Liberal financier and right-wing catch-all boogeyman George Soros. Over the weekend, Klotz was left with two black eyes, bruised ribs and cuts across his face following an altercation with a group of teens on the 1 train. According to the weatherman, he attempted to stop the young men from hassling an older gentleman, only for the teenagers to attack him instead. After the group of teens beat up Klotz and ran off, three of them were detained by New York Police Department officersonly to be released from custody soon after. Juvenile reports were prepared, and their parents were called to pick them up, an NYPD representative said. Klotz has since noted that police have told him he would need to file charges. Fox News, which has framed New York City as a dystopian hellhole where violent crime is rampant, has used the harrowing attack to go after soft-on-crime Democrats and liberal criminal-justice policies. Klotz himself has appeared multiple times on the network to discuss the beating and criticize the citys mayor over subway violence. Fox News Deletes Soros Puppet Master Cartoon After ADL Calls Out Antisemitism I want there to be something done, he said on Mondays broadcast of Fox & Friends. Why is the weather guy on the train trying to stop crime in the middle of the night? Like, where is Eric Adams? Wheres the city? Why am I doing this? Why is it up to me? The hosts of the morning program, however, have gone further than that. Largely spurred on by The New York Posta fellow Murdoch media outletincluding an anti-Soros article alongside Klotzs bruised face on its front cover Monday morning, the curvy couch trio has gone all-in on fear-mongering about the liberal philanthropist. Towards the end of his Monday appearance on Fox & Friends, Klotzholding up the Post coverjoked that he is the least dangerous man in America following the beating he took. Co-host Brian Kilmeade, who is no stranger to Soros conspiracies, quickly followed up by invoking the Post articles claim that the billionaire is the most dangerous man in the nation. Story continues George Soros is as responsible as these guys, Kilmeade exclaimed. Because he is financing the, umm, make criminals firstgreat again, financing of all the DAs in every city in the country.While Soros has reportedly spent upwards of $40 million to help elect dozens of district attorneys and prosecutors across the country, he hasnt financed all the DAs in American cities. The Fox & Friends crew was back at it on Tuesday morning. After discussing Klotzs attack again and grousing about crime in New York City, co-host Steve Doocy once more invoked the Posts article about The Soros Web and how the 92-year-old businessman had donated to local races. They did a big takeout on how George Soros has spent $40 million of his money trying to elect lefty DAs all over the country, backing prosecutors who wont prosecute, Doocy declared. So far, he has got 75 prosecutors nationwide backed by Soros! Kilmeade, meanwhile, called on the Republican National Committee to dump money into district attorney races in order to counter Soros donations, adding that they could run with these victims of crime in order to be more effective. He then turned to podcaster and Intellectual Dark Web member Joe Rogan, playing a clip from Rogans show featuring him calling Soros an evil person and akin to a Batman villain. Surprise! Fox News Violent Crime Coverage Plummets After Midterms And its fucking terrifying that he donates money to a very progressive, very leftist whether its a DA or whatever, politician, and then funds someone whos even further left than them to go against them, Rogan exclaimed. And just keeps moving it along. So hes playing like a global game. And that he enjoys doing it. Notably, Rogans guest was ex-CIA officer and Fox regular Mike Baker, who invoked a common antisemitic trope while criticizing Soros. He likes being the puppet master, Baker told Rogan. Right? He likes pulling strings, and he likes having that influence and that impact. Fox News deleted a Soros Puppet Master cartoon from its social media accounts in late 2021 after the Anti-Defamation League called the network out for contributing to the normalization of antisemitism by pushing the longstanding trope about Jewish power and manipulation. While the network has previously stopped booking certain guests who peddled antisemitic conspiracy theories about Soros, prompting at least one to say Fox is beholden to the billionaire, Fox News has gone out of its way to allow its commentators and stars to dog whistle about the Jewish philanthropist. 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. How nostalgic are you willing to get? Starting this week, you can play GoldenEye 007 on your Nintendo Switch. New data from the CDC has found that the bivalent COVID boosters made available last September were no less effective at stopping symptomatic cases caused by the XBB.1.5 strain when compared to previous mutations of the virus Welcome to The Hills Health Care roundup, where were following the latest moves on policy and news affecting your health. Im Joseph Choi. Someone forward you this newsletter? Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Health Care newsletter CDC: Updated subvariant vax just as effective New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that the updated bivalent COVID-19 vaccines do not lose significant efficacy in preventing symptomatic coronavirus cases caused by the XBB.1.5 omicron subvariant when compared to previous strains. We did not see reduced vaccine protection against symptomatic illness for XBB and XBB.1.5 compared with those other recent BA.5 variants. Quite reassuring, CDC spokesperson Benjamin Haynes said in a press briefing Wednesday. Data released in the CDCs most recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) shows, through a comparison between people who had and had not received the updated shot, that the bivalent booster dose was 52 percent effective at preventing symptomatic coronavirus cases caused by the BA.5 omicron subvariant and 48 percent effective at preventing symptomatic cases caused by XBB and XBB.1.5 subvariant infections. What this means: According to Ruth Link-Gelles, CDC epidemiologist and lead author of the MMWR, the findings can be interpreted to mean that vaccines currently cut the risk of symptomatic cases in about half the population. The CDC also found that the updated boosters provided extra protection against symptomatic coronavirus cases caused by XBB.1.5 for at least three months after vaccination. Story continues To make these determinations, the CDC analyzed national testing data from Dec. 1 to Jan. 13 and looked for symptomatic cases among adults who were not immunocompromised. For the purposes of the CDCs study, symptomatic cases were defined as having one or more COVID-19 symptoms. Read more here. 16M signed up for insurance through ObamaCare More than 16.3 million people enrolled in a health plan through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) during the most recent open enrollment period, marking the highest number of enrollees since the program was signed into law 10 years ago. This record amount of enrollments occurred between Nov. 1 and Jan. 15 and represented nearly 2 million more people than the number that enrolled the previous year. According to the White House, 3.6 million people, or 22 percent of those who signed up in this enrollment period, were new to the Marketplace. The Biden-Harris Administration has made lowering health care costs and expanding access to health insurance a top priority and these record-breaking numbers show we are delivering results for the American people, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. We will keep doing everything we can to ensure more people have the peace of mind that comes with high-quality, affordable health care. A White House press release noted that 92 percent of enrollees had options from three or more insurance companies when shopping for plans for this year. Four out of five people who are returning enrollees were able to find plans costing $10 or less after tax credits. In the previous enrollment period, roughly 14.5 million people enrolled in insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act. The number of individuals signing up for health plans through HealthCare.gov has now grown by almost 5 million since 2020, when enrollment dipped to about 11.5 million. Read more here. NEW REPORT DETAILS PAIN FOR WORKERS FROM LONG COVID Long COVID-19 has prevented many workers from going back to their jobs and has caused many of them to receive medical treatments for long periods of time, according to a new report released by the New York State Insurance Fund on Tuesday. The report analyzed more than 3,000 workers compensation claims related to the coronavirus and found that 31 percent of them were suffering from long COVID a condition with a range of persisting symptoms that follow a COVID-19 infection. About 70 percent of those with long COVID were unable to return to work or needed medical treatments for at least six months, according to the report. Eighteen percent of those with long COVID did not return to work more than one year after catching the initial infection. The report also found that the longer a worker stays out of work, the less likely they are to return. Forty percent of those with long COVID returned to work within 60 days and still continued to receive medical treatment, while about 60 percent did not return to work after 60 days, according to the report. Read more here. MOST KIDS USING POTENTIALLY TOXIC MAKEUP, FACE PAINTS: STUDY About 70 percent of parents surveyed said that their children use items such as glitter, face paint, nail polish, lip gloss and perfumes that are marketed for kids, according to the research, published on Tuesday in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Such products often feature bright colors, animals and cartoon characters that serve to attract the attention of children, the authors noted. At the same time, they warned, research has shown that many of these products contain toxins such as lead, asbestos, phthalates, formaldehyde and per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals due to their persistence in the environment and human body. It is important to uncover how makeup and body products are being used by children to characterize risk and improve safety, wrote the authors, from Columbia Universitys Center for Childrens Environmental Health and the Washington, D.C.-based group Earthjustice. The researchers administered a 39-question survey about kids cosmetic use via social media and by distributing flyers to parents and guardians of kids ages 12 and under. Among the 312 children of 207 survey respondents, 219 or 70 percent have used such products. Read more here. Abortion pill maker challenges ban in West Virginia The maker of a generic version of mifepristone, the first of two drugs used in medication abortions, sued West Virginias attorney general and a local prosecuting attorney on Wednesday over the states restrictions on the medication. GenBioPro argued that West Virginias abortion ban and restrictions have caused it significant, ongoing economic injury and are preempted by federal law. Following the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) in September signed into law a ban on abortions at all stages of pregnancy, with certain exceptions for medical emergencies, rape and incest. Prior to the abortion ban, West Virginia had placed restrictions on medication abortions, such as requiring doctors to wait 24 hours after obtaining a patients consent to provide the medication and banning doctors from prescribing the medication via telemedicine. These restrictions would go back into effect if the states abortion ban were overturned. Their argument: GenBioPro argued in Wednesdays filing that both West Virginias abortion ban and its previous restrictions conflict with the authority that Congress provided to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve and regulate access to drugs like mifepristone. The Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs did not displace Congresss and FDAs roles in protecting the public health by deciding whether drugs are safe and effective, determining which precautions if any are necessary to ensure a drugs safe use, and ensuring safe and effective drugs are available to the public, the lawsuit said. West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) responded to the lawsuit in a statement on Wednesday, saying he is prepared to defend West Virginias new abortion law to the fullest. Read more here. WHAT WERE READING Is WHO ready to end the global health emergency over Covid? Maybe not just yet (Stat) CDC figuring out logistical and legal aspects of testing airplane wastewater for coronavirus variants, source says (CNN) Wave of Rural Nursing Home Closures Grows Amid Staffing Crunch (Kaiser Health News) STATE BY STATE California enacts new abortion laws, expecting copycats (Politico) Nevadas new governor vilified lobbyists influence in COVID lab scandal, then asked him to help with budget (ProPublica) Unmet needs: Critics cite failures in health care for foster children (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) OP-EDS IN THE HILL Patent reform and lower drug prices should be bipartisan priorities Thats it for today, thanks for reading. Check out The Hills Health Care page for the latest news and coverage. See you tomorrow. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Ryan Anderson is an author and the president of the Ethics & Public Policy Center. The Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the state university system, appointed Anderson to the New College of Florida Board of Trustees on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2023. Gov. Ron DeSantis remade New College of Florida's board of directors earlier this month when he appointed six new members, but he couldn't secure a majority of the 13-member board. That majority came Wednesday when the Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the state university system, appointed Ryan Anderson to the New College board. Anderson is an author and president of the Washington, D.C.-based Ethics & Public Policy Center, a conservative think tank. His books have included, Tearing Us Apart: How Abortion Harms Everything and Solves Nothing and When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment." More:New era at New College kicks off with contentious meetings, report of death threat More:New College officials deny new board member's request for prayer Anderson's appointment means seven New College trustees have joined the board in the last month, creating a conservative majority aligned with DeSantis. "I am deeply committed to helping the College fulfill its mission to be Floridas honors college and one of our nations best public liberal arts institutions," Anderson said in a statement. "I will work to ensure that academic excellence in pursuit of the truth is the Colleges top priority, while insisting that it honor academic freedom and integrity. In doing so, New College will serve its students and the citizens of Florida and set an example for the rest of the nation. " Anderson has a public profile similar to DeSantis' appointees, most of whom are affiliated with conservative institutions. They include a prominent conservative activist, the founder of a Christian school in Bradenton, a dean at a conservative Christian college, the editor of a conservative magazine and a senior fellow at a right-wing think tank. DeSantis has targeted trendy ideology in higher education, and the appointments have been widely viewed as an attempt to remake the leadership and direction of New College, steering it in a more conservative direction. Story continues Christopher Rufo, one of the new board members appointed by DeSantis, said Wednesday that the governor recently encouraged board members to reform New College. "We have a mandate from Gov. DeSantis," Rufo said. "He gave us a pep talk recently, he said: 'Look, I have an overwhelming mandate from the people of Florida. You are constitutional officers appointed by the governor. You have a political, a moral and a governing mandate to reform this institution.'" Recently appointed trustee of New College of Florida, Christopher Rufo, speaks to New College faculty and staff following a meeting on campus Wednesday morning. Board of Governors member Alan Levine praised Anderson during a committee meeting Wednesday before the appointment to the New College board was finalized. He said Anderson, who has a doctorate from Notre Dame, has appeared widely on news networks and in major newspapers. Ive had an opportunity to speak with Dr. Anderson, Levine said. I find him to be a compelling figure, somebody who is measured and very respectful of our governance process and very eager to serve. Anderson is a former senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, and was the founding editor of the online journal Public Discourse, according to information on the Ethics & Public Policy Center website. The center lists priorities on the website, including Pushing back against the extreme progressive agenda while building a 2024 consensus for conservatives. Anderson is joining a board tasked with transforming New College, which has long been known as a progressive institution. Some of the new trustees already are talking about big changes. Rufo and another new board member, Christian school founder Eddie Speir, met with students and faculty on campus Wednesday, the first public meetings by new board members. The two meetings were contentious at times, with audience members asking pointed questions and some heckling the new board members. "There is a kind of social justice-oriented orthodoxy that has created an echo chamber that has prevented a lot of debates," Rufo told the crowd. Speir said he wants to "bring New College into a place where the negative aspects of being woke are taken away." Recently appointed trustees of New College of Florida, Jason "Eddie" Speir answers a question from a student during a public meeting with students Wednesday afternoon on campus. The tension on campus was underscored when Rufo revealed that a death threat was made against Speir. "New College received what were perceived to be credible threats that are being investigated by the New College Campus Police," Catherine Helean, the college's executive director of communications and marketing, said in an email that didn't provide any details about the nature of the threat. Rufo said before the meeting that the message directed at Speir appeared to come from a college account. It said something like "Eddie Speir better be wearing a bulletproof vest," he said. Somebody either hijacked or spoofed a communications email at the college and then they sent a threat of violence specifically against Trustee Speir and really implicitly against all of us," Rufo said. "That came in last night. Local law enforcement notified the terrorism task force, theyve mobilized the swat unit, bomb sniffing dogs, police from three different departments. Rufo said college administrators wanted to cancel Wednesday's meetings because of the death threat. The college's provost sent students an email urging them not to attend the meetings. The debate over canceling the meeting frustrated Rufo and made him think new leadership is needed. "We're going to be reconsidering leadership here because what I saw demonstrated here was cowardice, not leadership," he said. New College of Florida board member Christopher Rufo speaks with reporters before a meeting on campus Wednesday. Rufo said a fellow board member received a death threat before the meeting. Rufo's comments show that significant upheaval is possible at the college in the coming months as new board members dig into how the school operates. Speir said that he wants to look at everything as he contemplates what changes are needed at New College. The first meeting between the board members and faculty drew about 200 people, while the second meeting with students had about 150, even though students were urged by the provost not to attend "due to potentially credible threats." "We have a great deal invested in the education that we expect to receive at New College of Florida and we are very satisfied with the depth of course work that we are able to pursue," Niko Jackson, 18, a second year philosophy student, said at the second meeting, adding: While New College might not be for everyone, we do have our reasons for choosing this school." Jackson then quizzed Rufo about his background, asking if he had any "formal study in educational theory or in the administration of institutions of higher learning, and if not how long do you think you should spend understanding the design of Florida's successful university system before you make changes to it's honors college?" Recently appointed trustees of New College of Florida, Jason "Eddie" Speir, left, and Christopher Rufo, listen to a question from a faculty member Wednesday morning. The audience erupted in applause. Rufo defended his qualifications while noting that other new board members have extensive experience with university administration. We have a kind of fully-rounded team and we all have strengths and weaknesses, he said. Dylan Niner, a 23-year-old biology major who started at New College this week, asked Rufo about his push to change the school's culture, questioning how "you could judge, or even see, what has changed?" "What is the litmus test of the culture of a campus?" Niner asked. Rufo said "consultants can come in, they can take the temperature over the course of a few years." New College of Florida students listen as Christopher Rufo and Jason "Eddie" Speir speak about their new roles with the college during a meeting for students Wednesday afternoon on campus. The meeting with students was punctuated with shouting, and applause for confrontational audience comments and questions. Rufo said beforehand that he welcomed vigorous debate. "You can talk to me, you can call me, you can argue with me, you can yell at me," Rufo said. "I will listen to you. We have a job to do, we're going do the job. But we're not going to try to suppress your opinion. We're not going to try to stifle debate. We're not going to try to create one orthodoxy in replacement of another." The News Service of Florida contributed to this report This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Ryan Anderson joins DeSantis appointees on New College of Florida board Police investigating the tragic death of Louisiana State University (LSU) student Madison Brooks have arrested and charged four suspects with rape. Brooks, 19, was allegedly sexually assaulted in a car on 15 January after a night of drinking in a Baton Rouge bar before being left on a dark road in the early hours of the morning, at which point she appears to have been struck by accident by a passing car, dying later in hospital of her injuries. On 23 January, Kaivon Deondre Washington, 18, and a 17-year-old male who has not been named because of his age were charged with third-degree rape. Mr Washingtons uncle, Everette Lee, 28, and Casen Carver, 18, were also charged with principal to rape. Madison was a daughter, a granddaughter, a sister, a niece, a classmate and a friend... By all accounts, she was an amazing young woman with limitless potential, LSU president William F Tate said in a statement. She should not have been taken from us in this way. What happened to her was evil, and our legal system will parcel out justice. Madison Brooks (Alpha Phi Facebook) Here is a timeline of everything we know about the case so far: Saturday 14 January Madison Brooks spends the evening at Reggies Bar on 1176 Bob Pettit Boulevard in East Baton Rouge, where she was served alcohol despite being underage and met the four men since accused of attacking her. Footage from the bar subsequently seen by investigators reportedly shows an intoxicated Brooks falling over several times, stumbling and struggling to stand in front of at least one of the suspects before they left the bar together. Sunday 15 January Brooks is understood to have left Reggies between 1am and 2am with the four men. It was at this point that she was allegedly sexually assaulted in the back seat of their car by two of the group before they dropped her off near the Pelican Lakes subdivision off Burbank Drive around 3am. A ride-share driver is then believed to have hit the sorority student by accident. She is duly rushed to hospital but passes away. Story continues A post-mortem later reveals that her blood alcohol level was .319 per cent, four times the legal limit, at the time of her death. Saturday and Sunday 21-22 January Investigators visit the four male suspects at their homes, according to local reports. Monday 23 January The suspects are arrested by the East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office. Mr Washington and the unnamed 17-year-old are charged with third-degree rape, which, according to Louisiana law, is committed when the victim is incapable of resisting or of understanding the nature of the act by reason of a stupor or abnormal condition of mind produced by an intoxicating agent or any cause and the offender knew or should have known of the victims incapacity. Mr Lee and Mr Carver are charged with principle to rape, meaning they were present but did not take part in the alleged crime. Casen Carver, 18, Everette Lee, 28, and Kaivon Washington, are charged in the rape of Madison Brooks (Baton Rouge PD) Court documents of Mr Carvers interview with detectives includes statements claiming that Brooks had asked the men for a ride home, had propositioned them and consented to sex when asked multiple times by Mr Washington and the 17-year-old passenger whether she was sure she really wanted to proceed. When asked by investigators if he believed Brooks was too impaired to consent, Mr Carver reportedly replied, I guess. Ron Haley, an attorney for Mr Washington and the minor, challenges the charges, claiming that video of the incident showed Brooks was intoxicated but not to point that she could not lawfully give consent or answer questions during intercourse with the suspects. Mr Haley said she exited the vehicle after an argument and had said she planned to get an Uber instead. Tuesday 24 January A judge assigns bonds to all three adult suspects under the stipulation that they remain under house arrest and wear ankle monitors. The younger member of the group will be held in a juvenile detention centre until his court hearing in February. The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control meanwhile issues an emergency suspension of the liquor licence for Reggies Bar. The agency cites the seriousness of the allegations and the potential threat to public safety. This action immediately suspends the service or sale of alcoholic beverages at these locations, it said in a statement. President Tate of LSU says that the university plans to investigate why the establishment where the victim met the suspects was serving alcohol to minors. A bill addressing climate change in New Mexico with the expenditure of millions of state funds passed out of its first committee Monday on a 7-2 vote by lawmakers. Senate Bill 5 was sponsored by Sens. Elizabeth Stefanics (D-39) and Elizabeth Thomson (D-24), and went before the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee where lawmakers granted the measure a do pass recommendation. SB 5 had yet to be scheduled for its next committee hearing, as of Tuesday. More:Energy and environment bills to watch during New Mexico's 2023 Legislative Session If passed, the bill would require New Mexico adopt a statewide plan to address climate change and take preventative measures to avoid impacts of extreme weather events like wildfires. The plan would be headed by the States Environmental Health Epidemiology Bureau with the Department of Health, and the bill set a deadline of Jan. 1, 2024, for its implantation. The Bureau would also administer a newly created Public Health and Climate Resiliency Fund that would help local communities prepare of climate change, while also working with local governments to devise their own action plans. More:Federal oil and gas reforms debated by New Mexico environmental, industry groups The fund would offer grants of up to $250,000 for climate change projects at the local level, with at least half of the total grant funds going to communities with populations less than 100,000. The bill would appropriate $5 million to the fund to pay for the grants for Fiscal Years 2024 through 2028, and another $1.1 million annually to aid in establishing the statewide program. An analysis from the Legislative Finance Committee showed the funding would allow for the hiring of about 6 full-time employees for the work, but that additional employees would need to be funded. More:Lujan Grisham calls to spend big in State of State speech, as New Mexico rakes in oil money Widespread scientific consensus agreed the worlds climate is changing and could create extreme weather conditions, the analysis read, that could create health hazards for people. Story continues This included higher levels of air and water pollution, drought, food and water shortages and physical injury, read the report. Although scientific understanding of the effects of climate change is still emerging, there is a pressing need to prepare for potential health risks, the report read. A wide variety of organizations (federal, state, local, multilateral, private and nongovernmental) are addressing the implications of climate change globally. Despite this breadth of activity, the public health effects of climate change remain largely unaddressed. More:Energy storage pushed by New Mexico lawmakers via tax credits to boost renewable power Stefanics said SB 5 would help the state take steps to alleviate these problems. During her testimony before the committee, she said it was essential local communities have the support needed to prepare for emergencies. State Sen. Liz Stefanics swill be in Ruidoso Wednesday, Oct. 24. Weve had several climate events, traumas in our state, Stefanics said. Issues that really confound communities and that communities do not prepare or plan for. Opinion:Public health and climate resiliency: An opportunity for New Mexicans She pointed to Ruidoso, within Stefanics district, where she said a wildfire 10 years ago continued to threaten the local water system during heavy rains along the burn scar in the decade since, despite efforts by federal agencies. Every time it would flood from fires and then rain, it would take mud into the reservoir that not only served Ruidoso, but also the city of Alamogordo, Stefanics said. If communities had the option to work on this in advance, prepare, then they might more ready or more prepared. Another analysis from the Legislative Education Study Committee contended that preparation often includes public schools used as community shelters in times of weather emergencies and natural disasters like flooding. Opinion:Atmospheric rivers endanger the West The analysis said school districts used in this way could likely apply for and received funds as political subdivisions, if the bill was passed, to cover related expenses. Funds from the bill could also be used, read the analysis, to support school-based health centers addressing long-term health impacts tied to climate change. School districts are often cornerstones of local communities emergency response plans, the report read. Schools offer large, spacious buildings that can be used to shelter displaced residents during fires, floods, or other natural disasters. SB5 could also support the work of school-based health centers in addressing public health concerns that are proximally related to climate change. Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez (D-16) said that while she supported the bill for protecting New Mexicans from the effects of climate change, she thought the state should be working harder to prevent climate change rather than preparing for it as an inevitable. It saddens me that were already moving to adaptation and mitigation, and not engaging in trying to prevent it, she said. Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: New Mexico lawmakers advance bill to fund local climate change response "I am so excited that Milos Tea Company has chosen Spartanburg to establish its operations here with a $130 million dollar investment," said Spartanburg County Councilman David Britt, who chairs the county's economic development committee. "They are an outstanding family owned business that was established in 1946 and their people first attitude will fit incredibly well in our county." An Alabama beverage company plans to invest $130 million and create 103 jobs in Spartanburg County. Milo's Tea Company, headquartered in Bessemer, Alabama, will open a new brewing and bottling operation at Highways 290 and 221 in Moore, Spartanburg County Councilman David Britt announced during the meeting Monday, Jan. 23. The company is seeking tax breaks from the county. County Council approved the second of three readings that will give Milo's a reduced property tax rate of 6%. The standard rate is 10.5%. Coca-Cola RedevelopmentRedevelopment of historic Spartanburg Coca-Cola site moves forward. Here's what's next. "I am so excited that Milos Tea Company has chosen Spartanburg to establish its operations here with a $130 million dollar investment," said Britt, who chairs the county's economic development committee. "They are an outstanding family-owned business that was established in 1946 and their people-first attitude will fit incredibly well in our county." Milo's Tea Company, headquartered in Bessemer, Ala., will open a new facility at a site at Highways 290 and 221 in Moore, Spartanburg County Councilman David Britt announced Monday night. Grocery and convenience stores carry Milo's products, including sweetened and unsweetened tea, lemonade, and peach, raspberry and lemon-flavored teas. Milo's will build a 110,000-square-foot plant near Park 290 at Interstate 26 in Moore to accommodate brewing and bottling operations, according to Britt. Operations are expected to be online by the end of 2024, according to a statement released Tuesday from Gov. Henry McMaster. Spartanburg County Council on Monday approved the second of three readings that will give Alabama-based Milo's Tea Company a reduced property tax rate for locating its latest bottling plant in the county. South Carolinas strong economy continues to attract leading businesses such as Milos Tea Company," McMaster said in a statement. "Their decision to invest in South Carolina will significantly strengthen our beverage industry, and the new jobs will greatly enhance the Spartanburg County community and the state as a whole." New InvestmentsSpartanburg County announces 2 new projects totaling $193 million heading into 2023 Milo's Tea Company CEO Tricia Wallwork explained why Spartanburg County was chosen for its fourth plant in the U.S. The most recent plant was opened in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Story continues South Carolina was the optimal location to efficiently serve our customers up and down the East Coast," she said in the statement. "Like our selection journey for our Oklahoma facility, we immediately felt at home in the Spartanburg area as we received a warm welcome from state and local community partners. "South Carolina and Spartanburg County in particular proved to be the right ecosystem to help us advance our people-first culture by offering an excellent standard of living for our associates and robust workforce development resources to drive economic prosperity not only for our people but also for the region." According to its website, Milos is still a family-owned business and also a Certified Women-Owned Business. Milos is also a certified "zero-waste manufacturer devoted to sustainable practices and the stewardship of local communities and the environment." Those interested in jobs can visit the company's career webpage: This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Milo's Tea Company to invest $130M with 103 jobs in Spartanburg County Ramstein meeting to be held on Feb 14 at NATO HQ A meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, hosted by the United States, will be held at NATO Headquarters on February 14, according to the NATO website. "A meeting of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) at the level of Defence Ministers will take place on 14-15 February 2023 at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels. The meeting will be chaired by the NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg," NATO said on its website. On February 13, the Secretary General will take part in a press conference ahead of the meeting. According to the statement, a separate meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, hosted by the United States, will take place at NATO HQ on February 14. The mother of one of four murdered University of Idaho students blasted a public defender for abandoning her as a client and instead taking on the case of her daughters accused killer. Cara Northingtons 20-year-old daughter Xana Kernodle was found fatally stabbed on Nov. 13 inside a home in Moscow, near the University of Idaho campus. Her boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, and two of her housemates, Madison Mogen, 21, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, were also killed in the bloody attack. Around the same time, court-appointed defense attorney Anne Taylor was counseling Northington on unrelated drug charges. But she suddenly dropped Northington as a client on Jan. 5 the same day she first appeared in court alongside Bryan Kohberger, a 28-year-old Ph.D. candidate accused of murdering all four students. I am heartbroken, Cara Northington told NewsNation on Wednesday. I trusted her. She pretended that she was wanting to help me. And to find out that shes representing him I cant even convey how betrayed I feel. Kohberger was taken into custody at his family home in Pennsylvania after weeks of eluding law enforcement officers. Hed just traveled home for winter break from Washington State University, where he studied criminology. His motive for allegedly killing the quartet remains unclear. Authorities said they discovered a knife sheath with Kohbergers DNA in Mogens room. A murder weapon has not yet been recovered. Kohberger is facing four counts of first-degree murder and a felony burglary charge for allegedly entering the home with intent to kill. He could face the death penalty if convicted. Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., is seen in the U.S. Capitol, July 14, 2022, in Washington. Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., is seen in the U.S. Capitol, July 14, 2022, in Washington. Credit - Tom WilliamsPool/AP This week, Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego announced he would challenge Sen. Kyrsten Sinema for her U.S. Senate seat. Sinema, the erstwhile Democrat who recently switched her party allegiance to independent, had come under fire from her fellow Democrats for voting down the $15 minimum wage, protecting the carried-income tax loophole that gives tax breaks to hedge fund managers and private equity executives, and blocking voting rights legislation. Former canvassers have said they feel betrayed by the Senator they helped elect, and her critics in the Arizona Democratic Party have accused her of avoiding public events. Her popularity is underwater in her state, and she has the second-lowest approval rating in the Senate, according to Morning Consult. All that has left Sinema vulnerable to a 2024 challenge. Democratic Rep. Gallego, a Marine Corps Iraq combat veteran who is serving his fifth term in Congress, is the first serious candidate to put his hat in the ring. TIME spoke to Gallego in a coffee shop in the bowels of Rockefeller Center on Jan. 24 about his platform, his dark times after returning from the war, and how he turned from supporting Sen. Sinema to challenging her for her seat. The following interview has been lightly edited and condensed. TIME: Why are you challenging Sen. Kyrsten Sinema for this seat? Gallego: Shes just abandoned Arizona. We hardly see her anywhere, she doesnt have an unscripted moment, we see her fighting for pharmaceutical companies, for hedge fund managers. She skipped votes to go do the Iron Man in New Zealand. Her priorities arent the priorities of Arizonans anymore. Theres an opportunity to change that, and Im going to do that. What would you say are your three most important issues? Passing the Child Tax Credit. My mom did amazing work, raising four kids on her own on a secretarys salary; we were on school free lunch program, but she prides herself on never being on welfare or food stamps. I slept in the living room because we couldnt afford a bigger apartment. That woman had so much stress on her. She didnt want to raise these kids on her own, she would have loved to have stayed married, except my father was an ahole; it was an extremely dangerous situation for her to stay with him. He was abusive to me, he was abusive to my mother. Every night Id hear her crying because shes just trying to figure out how to make this work. Theres millions of Americans who deal with this every day. Story continues And for six months, we had this beautiful period where Americans had a little stress relief. I heard from parents all over the country who said for those six months, I didnt have to worry about how Im going to pay for childcare this month. For those six months, I didnt have to go to overtime, I actually got to stay home with my kid. It reduces child poverty by 60%. This is the kind of thing that could be revolutionary to this country, and we just kind of gave it up. Second, we have to deal with climate change and drought in Arizona. Our future is entirely tied with how were going to manage this. And lastly, immigration reform. We cant ignore what is happening at the border, we clearly have a refugee and asylum crisis. We can fix it, but right now everyones solution is one-sided. We passed three bipartisan immigration reform bills out of the House and they got to the Senate, and even though we had control of the Senate, we didnt really because of the filibuster. Where are you on the filibuster? I think at a minimum, we should be reforming the filibuster. Its clearly been abused over the last couple years, and now its now used as a tool of obstruction instead of to create room for compromise. You mentioned in your launch video that there were some dark moments after you got back from serving as a Marine in Iraq. Can you tell me about that? The biggest problem is you dont really know who you are when you get back from the war, because you were a totally different person when you went. I was a lot more anxious, I was quick to get angry. You have survivors guilt. There were a couple times when I should have died instead of my friends dying because we switched places. There were times where instead of dealing with it in a smart, sane way, I decided to drink instead of going to a therapist. I never got into a DUI or anything like that, but its also not a healthy way to deal with anything. And instead of healthy relationships I focused on a superficial idea of success. Focusing on getting a job, getting a better job, when I was really internally just breaking apart. It took years for me to accept where I was in terms of that problem, and finally got help. I never felt the urge for suicide or anything of that nature, but its a weird situation where you dont feel like yourself anymore. Whenever I feel a flare-up coming, I go back to a therapist. But its never going to ever go away, its part of my life. A lot of times people think veterans or people with PTSD cant function, like were these ticking time bombs and you cant trust them with anything. Thats one of the reasons why Im really open about talking about it. But its something you have to actively work on. What were the most difficult periods? The breaking point was when my son was coming, because I was afraid I was going to be a bad father. Especially coming from my background where I didnt have a good father, it was a scary moment. I knew I was going to be a bad father if I didnt work on my PTSD. But you dont really have good years or bad years, you just have years. Were 17, 18 years removed. Sh-t, my PTSD can vote! You used to be a strong supporter of Senator Sinemas, what do you anticipate her pushback will be? Nobody trusts her. She has a lot of trust to repair with voters, and shes not gonna take the necessary steps to do that: talking to people that youve pissed off the last four years, people youve ignored, people you dont return phone calls from. A lot of us were with her from day one. Ive been a big supporter of hers since even before she got to the Senate. There are thousands of people in Arizona that feel that way that are gonna have their say. What was your breaking point? Take me through your period of disillusionment. That sounds like a Gabriel Garcia Marquez title right there. We always knew that Sinema was maybe more conservative than we would have liked, but we all felt that when push came to shove, she was going to be with us. But post-January 6, after talking about being friends with John Lewis and John Lewis being her mentor, she uses the filibuster to stop the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. And then it was other things that kept on moving in that direction, whether it was rejecting the $15 per hour minimum wage or negotiating for pharmaceutical companies to keep their pricing. Or lastly, when she went to the floor to fight for private equity managers and hedge fund managers, while the poor in Arizona are hoping to get a Child Tax Credit. So how did you get from there to deciding to challenge her? Knowing Kyrsten, and knowing Arizona, I also knew that nobody would take her on. In Arizona she has a reputation for being a very fierce fighter. We know she has a lot of support from the money groups. At the end of the day you can complain all you want, but she doesnt change because of that; she doesnt really care about the opinions of Arizonans, she doesnt care about the opinions of anybody except for a few people. And so in order to make change, we have to get her out of the way. Obviously theres going to be a Republican challenger, and Arizona has a lot of independents. What is your strategy to make sure Democrats come out on top? Our first place strategy is to solidify Democrats, and we think we have that in hand already. She is really, really unpopular and has been for quite a while. Theres also a large segment of Latinos that have not been engaged, that are going to be engaged, and are going to get excited about our race. People are talking about how proud they are that there is a Latino running, and theyre proud that its a Latino that comes from a working class background they actually understand. And I think energizing that young base is going to be extremely important. In Arizona, close to 5-6,000 Latinos turn 18 per month, and a lot of them are registering as independents. Were going to be able to attract that vote. Were going to energize the Native American vote; were probably one of the first campaigns to ever have a kickoff on Native American land. And were going to talk to people in red areas, were going to talk to anyone who wants to come to a town hall. Were going to hit every county in Arizona. What happens if potential Republican challengers like Kari Lake or Blake Masters create a narrative that youre a far-left progressive? So the same narrative they used on Sen. Mark Kelly and every Democrat last year? And in 2018, 2020, and 2022? They can say all they want about that, but the problem is that narrative doesnt work. Are you a progressive? I definitely am in some areas and in some areas Im in the mainstream norm. My voting record is almost the same as Mark Kellys. What are the areas in which youre a progressive? Those labels keep moving around. I feel like now theyre just thrown at anything where people just want to say that persons bad. What is your message to independent Arizonans? It is not independent nor is it moderate for you to be negotiating for pharmaceutical companies in Arizona. Weve got Arizona seniors who are driving to Mexico to get cheaper drugs in Mexico than they could at Walgreens or CVS. Thats not moderate. Its not moderate to be negotiating for private equity managers. Your Senator is supposed to be negotiating for you, not for people who have power. You may not agree with me 100% of the time as a citizen of Arizona, but I guarantee youre always going to know where I stand. One police officer had a ruff day at work when his canine colleague allegedly ate his lunch. Never one to let sleeping (or eating) dogs lie, the Wyandotte Police Department of Michigan launched a full scale investigation into the crime. They hilariously kept the public up to date on the saga on Facebook, announcing that the K-9 was under investigation for stealing. Stealing is not only a crime but it is morally wrong too. Some jobs, like that of being a police officer, require you to take an oath prior to starting, the statement read. Within the officers sworn oath is the promise to protect persons property. That being said, it saddens me to report that a current officer of the Wyandotte Police Department is under investigation for stealing! the satirical post added. It went on to describe that Officer Barwig was eating his lunch in the break room when he was called to assist with a person in the WPD jail. Thats when the alleged incident happened. Stealing is not only a crime but it is morally wrong too. Some jobs, like that of being a police officer, require you... Posted by Wyandotte Police Department - Michigan on Thursday, January 12, 2023 He quickly jumped into service, leaving his half eaten lunch on the table. A short while later Barwig and another officer returned to the break room only to find Ofc. Ice leisurely strolling out of the room licking his chops, the post read. Barwigs entire lunch was gone....disappeared, vanished! The post noted that K-9 Officer Ice has invoked his fifth amendment right to remain silent and quite frankly is not cooperating with the investigation. It also added that Officer Ice has a history of rummaging through trash cans that are within his reach. There have been several other accusations of him taking food right from coworkers hands as they walk by. The WPD concluded their post by stating that they would consider their Facebook followers' opinions on how to proceed. Many people in the comments section defended the pup, writing that he was innocent until proven guilty. Story continues It appeared as if the people had spoken and days later the WPD posted an update, sharing that dozens of attorneys offered to defend the K-9 pro-bone-o. We have been threatened with massive protests if we move forward with our investigation and/or charges, the Jan. 18 post read. Plus the overall public just doesnt believe he is guilty. No video has been produced. UPDATE Dozens of attorneys have offered to defend Ofc Ice pro- - o! We have been threatened with massive protests if... Posted by Wyandotte Police Department - Michigan on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 Officer Ice wont be facing an internal discipline or criminal charges, per the WPD. Instead, he received a special treat. Matter of fact one of his local supporters, Lunch Wyandotte, dropped him off a custom made sandwich today because they felt like he wasnt being fed enough. Side note, they threw the officers a tray of sammies too! the post continued before concluding with, The public has spoken. #nochargesforIce. Many people delighted in the update, writing how they loved the WPDs sense of humor. One curious person asked, Will Officer Ice be holding a press conference to address this turn in events? Another person joked, Im glad Officer Ice will not face charges. Clearly this was a case of abandoned property, while another added, I knew he was framed all along. Hopefully he wont be dogged by the media over this. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Opening arguments began with an accusation and ended with a confession. Devaunte Hill is responsible for Caitlyn Kaufman's death. Both Davidson County Assistant District Attorney Jan Norman and defense attorney Georgia Sims agree. But where their arguments diverge is whether Hill and co-defendant James Cowan are guilty of first-degree murder, a premeditated and intentional act. Norman says yes. Sims says it was an unconscionable but reactionary act. More:Watch Live: Trial begins for two charged in Nashville nurse Caitlyn Kaufman's death Devaunte Lewis Hill walks into the court room at Justice A.A. Birch Building in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. Hill is charged with the murder of Caitlyn Kaufman Ron Munkeboe, representing Cowan, focused on what his client didn't do fire the weapon. Kaufman, a Nashville nurse, was shot to death during her commute to Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West in December 2020. Kaufmans Mazda CX-5 SUV was discovered wrecked along Interstate 440 between Hillsboro Pike and West End Avenue. A Metro Parks officer spotted the SUV and pulled over believing it to be a single-vehicle wreck. He discovered the vehicle was riddled with bullets. A tip to police identified Hill, 23, and Cowen, 30, as suspects. More:Caitlyn Kaufman: What to know as trial over slain Nashville nurse begins Caitlyn Kaufman During opening arguments, Norman described Kaufman's routine. She called her mom, Diane, a ritual during her drive to and from work. Diane Kaufman hung up the phone with her daughter to check out at a store shortly before 6 p.m. Eight minutes later, Kaufman was shot through her left arm. The bullet struck her left lung, aorta, right lung and ribs, and then stopped in her right arm. It was not a survivable injury, Norman said. "At 6:08:41 p.m. her car started to slow. At 8:53 p.m. she was found. At 7:37 p.m. Devaunte Hill was entering into Google 'Nashville shooting,'" Norman said. Prosecutor Jan Norman begins opening statements with the story of Caitlyn Kaufman's morning commute on Interstate 440 at the Justice A.A. Birch Building in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. Norman continued to summarize the investigation, noting that Hill's childhood friend provided the information that cracked the case. "It was road rage," Norman said. Sims told the jury the case was ultimately about Hill's state of mind at the time of the shooting. Story continues "They get on 40 west, merged on 440 west and just passed the 21st Avenue exit when their paths crossed," Sims said. "It is a coincidence. It is a happenstance. He told his friend that Ms. Kaufman cut them off. He acted in anger." James Edward Cowan stands in front of Judge Angelita Dalton before opening statements at Justice A.A. Birch Building in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. Cowan is one of the men who are charged with the murder of Caitlyn Kaufman. Munkeboe said this case is about the evidence that doesn't exist. "You will hear no proof James Cowan killed anyone," he said during opening arguments. "You will hear no proof that he had a weapon, that he fired a weapon or gave a weapon to anyone. No proof he solicited, ordered or demanded someone to kill anyone." Cowan had no time to react to Hill's actions, Sims said. He also didn't report the shooting to police. "Before Mr. Cowan had time to react, before Ms. Kaufman had time to react, it was over," Sims said. Defense attorney Georgia Sims, representing Devaunte Lewis Hill's case, gives her opening statements to the jury at Justice A.A. Birch Building in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. Sims ended her statement with a charge to the jury. "Your duty here is to hold (Hill) accountable for the crime he did commit," she said. "He did not act with the conscious desire to kill Ms. Kaufman. It is your duty to set aside the emotions you may hear. We must stay on the path of justice." This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Caitlyn Kaufman trial: Trial in nurse's death begins with confession Members of the Senate Foreign Relation Committee pushed the Biden administration to go further and move quicker on sanctions against Russian allies in its invasion of Ukraine, especially China and Iran. Questioning representatives from the State Department, Defense Department and U.S. Agency for International Development, senators from both sides of the aisle said sanctions against Chinese companies do not go far enough, while Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) accused the Biden administration of being weak on Iran. We need to cut the head of the snake off, in every way that we can. That means sanctioning [Russia] directly at its inner core but it also means sanctioning those vigorously who are assisting Russia in this unjust and unholy war, said committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.). At the end of the day, [China] can not act with impunity and face no consequence, Menendez said, adding that China was hiding behind affiliated companies in its support of Russia. Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho), the committees ranking member, echoed those comments. China seems to be acting with impunity, and we really need to ratchet up our sanctions in that regard, Risch said. They may be big, but theyre not too big to fail. Risch and other committee members lauded the Bidens administrations announcement Wednesday that the U.S. will provide M1 Abrams tanks to the Ukrainian army. However, Risch along with Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) argued that the decision took too long. All through this thing, weve been pressing the administration to do things, and usually they do the right thing, but it takes forever to get there, Risch said. As a result of that, theres a great loss on the battlefield and lives lost in the meantime. Cruz hammered the Biden administration for not treating Iran harshly enough, given intel that Tehran is providing drones and other military support to aid Russias invasion of Ukraine. [The Biden administration] continues to be obsessed with a new nuclear deal with Iran, Cruz said. Im deeply concerned that this administration, even in the middle of a war, is subordinating the need to counter a Russian-Iranian alliance for its own partisan political preferences. Story continues Iran has been able to dramatically boost Putins war in Ukraine, meanwhile the American taxpayer is shouldering the burden of assisting Ukraine while the Biden administration is greasing both sides of this war, Cruz said. State Department Under Secretary Victoria Nuland hit back at Cruzs claims, pointing to rounds of sanctions against the Iranian military industry since the war in Ukraine began last year. Nuland also told Cruz that the Biden administration is not currently negotiating any nuclear deal with Iran. [Iran] is not prepared to take these negotiations seriously right now and [the State Department] has many of the same concerns you have, she said. Menendez also fired back at Cruz at the conclusion of the hearing. I disagree with my colleague from Texas. No one has been more insightful, decisive and helpful to the Ukrainians than the Biden administration, Menendez said. To suggest anything else is just a parallel universe that some of us seem to live in. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. In the fall of 2014, Jay Jordan had just finished helping launch former San Joaquin County Congressman Jerry McNerney to reelection victory as a field director for McNerney's campaign. Jay Jordan grew up in Stockton and is the CEO of Alliance for Safety and Justice. In 2023, he petitioned under a new California law to have records of a criminal conviction from when he was a teen sealed. But with the campaign over, Jordan couldn't find a job in Stockton. And after finally finding part-time work in Los Angeles, he couldn't find a place to live, he said. "I was making 17 bucks an hour and living in my car," Jordan said. "I was starving. I would take one Top Ramen and split it in half I would smoke a quarter of a cigarette and put it out." Jordan, 37, struggled for years to find work and shelter due to a criminal conviction from when he was a teenager, he said. Now the CEO of Alliance for Safety and Justice a nonprofit focused on criminal justice reform Jordan still cannot sign most rental agreements or volunteer at his child's school due to his record, he said. But some barriers to employment and other opportunities for people with criminal records could be lifted under a new California law that Jordan's organization and other justice reform groups pushed for. The law allows those who have been to prison to ask the courts to permanently seal their records, if they have gone four years without being convicted of a felony. Jordan was among the first people in California to file a petition under Senate Bill 731 at the San Joaquin County courthouse in Stockton this month. "For me, its more about being able to regain some of my dignity back," he said. Jordan grew up off Estate Drive in north Stockton to a father who was a pastor and a mother who was an engineer, he said. In 2004, at age 18, he was arrested and charged with robbery and vehicle theft, he said. Before the arrest, Jordan had recently received his GED certificate, scored highly on an auto mechanic exam and had planned to go to Phoenix for further mechanic training, he said. "I remember, you know, having a feeling of excitement, but also (of), 'this is new to me, I'm going to leave my hometown'," he said. Jordan was in the car with friends from "the wrong crowd" and "got caught up in a robbery," he said. Only Jordan was caught. He spent seven years in prison, he said. Story continues When Jordan got out at age 26, he found starting a new life difficult without the same experience others his age had had, he said. "I looked around, and all my friends in college were getting married, in careers," he said. "I wasnt even just starting over I was just starting." Career plans he had made in prison including barbering, selling insurance and selling real estate fell through when he learned he was not allowed to get the necessary licenses. "(You) are stuck in the lower end of the economy you can only get low-wage jobs," he said. "Its confusing ... I went to prison, I served my time, Im a different person, and everyone thinks I'm the same." Over the years, Jordan worked at a Trader Joe's warehouse and lived off the proceeds of three vending machines he had bought, while also doing community organizing in Stockton and later in LA. He found full-time employment at an LA nonprofit in 2015, and managed to find an apartment after a few months of homelessness, he said. Now, he lives in New York with his wife and two children. For those leaving prison today, SB 731 may open up more opportunities than Jordan had. If you want to petition to have your convictions in San Joaquin County cleared, you can start by filling out these forms and sending them to the San Joaquin County Public Defender's Office to see if you meet the requirements. School districts and other organizations that work with vulnerable populations can still view criminal background checks for job applicants, with the exception of some drug conviction records over five years old. People required to register as sex offenders cannot get their records sealed. Record reporter Aaron Leathley covers public safety. She can be reached at aleathley@recordnet.com or on Twitter @LeathleyAaron. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow. This article originally appeared on The Record: After prison, a Stockton man is using new SB 731 to seal his record The principal of a Christian school in Tennessee who was arrested last year on sex crime charges now faces 11 additional charges related to alleged sex crimes against other minors. Liberty Christian Academy principal Jason Kennedy, 47, was charged in August with sexual assault by an authority figure and solicitation of a minor in connection to his alleged sexual activity with an underage girl, according to Cincinnati CBS affiliate WKRC. RELATED: Ghislaine Maxwell Claims Photo Of Virginia Guiffre, Prince Andrew Is a Fake Kennedy was arrested again last week on an additional four counts of sexual battery by an authority figure, two counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child, one count of aggravated sexual battery and one count of solicitation of a minor to observe sexual conduct, according to jail records reviewed by Oxygen.com. He is currently being held in lieu of a $400,000 bond. These most recent charges stem from alleged interactions with three additional minors, District Attorney Stephen Crump told FOX Chattanooga on Friday, bringing the total number of alleged victims to four. A police handout of Jason Kennedy Jason Kennedy Photo: McMinn County Sheriff's Office School secretary and homeschool coordinator Brittney Branham, 28, was also charged with solicitation of a minor in the initial case, according to NBC affiliate WBIR and The New York Post. It is unclear whether she will face charges in accordance with the new accusations. Kennedys initial accuser is currently 19 years old, but was underage at the time of the alleged incidents at Kennedys home in Athens, Tennessee beginning in 2019. Kennedy, his wife and Branham were allegedly living together in the home, and had the teen spend the night in the same room as Branham, according to McMinn County Sheriffs Department affidavits. The victim said Kennedy would regularly come into Branham's bedroom and talk with her and Branham about sex. Andrew Tate leaves the Court of Appeal Story continues The victim also said that Branham urged her to let touch Kennedy touch her intimate areas, but not to tell anyone. She also alleged that Kennedy and Branham bought her a black and white skimpy nightgown in August 2020, and that Kennedy later came in and touched her breast while she was staying in Branhams room. In another alleged 2021 incident, the victim told police that Kennedy came in to talk to her and Branham about sex, after which he and Branham engaged in sexual activity and urged her to join them. After they finished, the victim recalled, they acted like nothing had happened and began talking like normal, according to the affidavit. Oxy App After their arrests in August 2022, Kennedy and Branham posted bonds of $60,000 and $15,000, respectively, and were released, WBIR reported. The additional alleged victims were discovered by a probe into the school by the McMinn County Sheriff's Department, according to Sheriff Joe Guy. A secretary at the school told Oxygen.com Monday that Kennedy was not currently in the building and did not confirm whether he or Branham were still employed there. Two teenage girls who are reported to have run away from a group home in Arizona have been found dead in a water basin in the state, local officials have said. The remains of Kamryn Meyers, 15, and Sitlalli Avelar, 17, were found over the weekend when a man walking his dog called the authorities after seeing what he believed to be a mannequin in a water retention basin in Mesa, east of Phoenix, the local police department said in a statement. The bodies were recovered by police at around 6pm on 21 January after the teens had been reported missing on 7 January after leaving Powerhouse Youth Facility Inc a group home for troubled teenagers not far from where their bodies were located. The state of the remains indicated that they had been in the water for a longer period of time, WAFB reported. Mesa police said the medical examiner will determine the cause of death. It remains unclear if foul play is a factor. Powerhouse Youth Facility Inc lawyer Brad Miller told AZFamily that Kamryn and Sitlalli had left group homes previously and were heard discussing leaving Powerhouse on 6 January. He added that members of staff attempted to convince them to stay but they left the following day, at which point they were reported missing. More follows... Jan 19, 2023; Northport, AL, USA; The University of Alabama opened the new University Medical Center in Northport Thursday. University of Alabama President Stuart Bell speaks with dean of the college of community health sciences Ricky Friend and Jim Dalton at the opening. The University of Alabama on Thursday opened the UMC Northport clinic, expanding not only the university's reach in providing family medical care to West Alabama but also expanding the school's ability to train physicians. The new University Medical Center clinic is at 6205 Jemison Lane in Northport off McFarland Boulevard and offers 28 examination rooms in the 15,000-square-foot building. Dr. Ricky Friend, dean of the college of community health sciences, said, "We have about 75 medical students with us as a branch campus of UAB, so we need clinical sites to be able to teach those students. We have the third largest residency program in family medicine in the country. We have 16 residents per year working with us and six of those residents will be working here at the Northport site." The new clinic projects to see about 2,000 patients per month. The clinic will have a full lab, X-ray, ultrasound facilities and will see patients in the fields of geriatrics, pediatrics, family medicine, obstetrics, neurology, psychiatry, social work and internal medicine at the site. The new facility in Northport is the fifth new UMC clinic to open in West Alabama, with the most recent addition being in Livingston. Jan 19, 2023; Northport, AL, USA; The University of Alabama opened the new University Medical Center in Northport Thursday. An on-site x-ray facility is built into the new structure. Friend said the University of Alabama owns 11 acres at the Northport site and hopes to develop the property into a health services plaza that will provide complementary services. Dr. Cathy Lavender, an attending physician at the Northport site, is one of the physicians who will oversee those who are in residency. "We are a family medicine residency training program, so we train our physicians to become board certified in family medicine. We also have third- and fourth-year medical students from UAB who will do some of their clinical experiences here with us," Lavender said. The resident physicians at the new clinic will be doctors who have graduated and passed at least two phases of their board exams. UAB will supply medical students to the program, while the resident physicians are from the University of Alabama. Story continues Jan 19, 2023; Northport, AL, USA; The University of Alabama opened the new University Medical Center in Northport Thursday. The new facility features 28 examination rooms. Lavender said patients should have no concerns about being seen by a resident physician for their health care. "Patients should feel at ease because these are physicians. They have graduated from medical school, they have passed at least two steps of their boards before they ever become a resident. They have more time to spend with their patients, and they are overseen by attending physicians. We are making sure that they are doing everything by the book. They are using the most current and up-to-date evidence based medicine," Lavender said. Stuart Bell, president of the University of Alabama, said the opening of off-site health care campuses, often in rural areas, help the university accomplish its mission as well as assisting communities in West Alabama that might not have adequate health care provision for their residents. "On our sign, when you drive in, (it) says, teaching, research, and service. Facilities like this allow us to do all three of those. This is one way the University of Alabama continues to serve our community by being able to provide that medical care. Everything that we learn here moves us forward in research and in what we are able to provide in the challenges that we face as a community. It's a great thing for the community and a great thing for the university," Bell said. Jan 19, 2023; Northport, AL, USA; The University of Alabama opened the new University Medical Center in Northport Thursday. "A lot of the communities just don't have enough access to quality health care and for the university to be able to help provide a part of it through clinics like this I think is a huge impact," Bell said. Northport Mayor John Hinton said the city has grown by about 10,000 residents between the 2010 census and the 2020 census and the city continues to grow and with it grow the community's health care needs. "A clinic like this helps bring in quality people and quality businesses. People are concerned about their health needs and they can meet those needs here because they offer so many different types of remedies, diagnosis and treatment. Northport will benefit in many ways from having this facility here," Hinton said. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: UMC Northport clinic expands University of Alabama's health care reach In Kyiv region, following the results of the morning wave of missile strikes, a hit on an energy facility was noted, there were damages to civilian infrastructure, private and multi-storey buildings, civilian cars, Kyiv Regional Military Administration said. "Fortunately, there were no casualties or injuries," the administration said on Telegram channel. "We have preliminary information about damage to civil infrastructure facilities, private and multi-storey buildings, cars of residents in some areas of the region. Basically, these are broken windows, damaged roofs and facades," the administration said. According to the administration, all the necessary emergency services are working on the ground. The consequences of massive attacks are being established. However, as noted in the statement, there is a hit in the energy facility. "Currently, emergency blackouts have been applied in the region. Blackout schedules are not currently in effect," the administration said. Parents have been traumatized by an increase in the prevalence of school shootings over the past decade, with gun violence now being the leading cause of death in children. We drop our children off at school and hope for the best, each day. Adults with semi-automatic rifles entering our school buildings constitutes an ongoing epidemic, but a recent incident in Virginia suggests that intruders are not the only concern when it comes to school shootings and handguns within the home could pose a threat beyond its walls. On Jan. 6, a 6-year-old in Newport News brought a gun to school and shot his teacher, intentionally, leaving her with life threatening injuries. The teachers lawyer indicated that in the hours prior to this event, school leaders were warned three times that the child may have a gun. Administrators failed to follow up, and the student shot his teacher in the chest that afternoon. This incident rerouted my thoughts on mandatory gun safety education in schools Im no longer opposed to it. Messages of support for teacher Abby Zwerner, who was shot by a 6-year-old student, grace the front door of Richneck Elementary School Newport News, Va., on Jan. 9, 2023. Our kids can't live in a gun-free world I am the mother who doesnt allow toy guns in our home. Guns, to me, signify violence and death and I find them unnecessary in the hands of anyone other than police officers. In my ideal world, guns wouldnt exist, and the lives of countless children would have been saved. But that world is fictional and as much as I wish our children werent surrounded by weapons, gun laws arent changing fast enough to protect our children now. I see that I must alter my beliefs to fit the state of our country. Want fewer shootings? Pass tougher gun laws. Our research shows lax laws fuel violence. Gabby Giffords: Why I'm optimistic about reducing gun violence in America About 4.6 million kids live with unlocked loaded guns. In 2020 alone, at least 125 children ages 5 and under shot themselves or someone else. Just last month, an 11-year-old boy was accidentally and fatally shot by his younger brother while visiting relatives in Allentown, Pennsylvania one of many lives taken by an accidental gun shot. Story continues There are children with loaded weapons at their disposal but lacking basic knowledge of gun safety. These children and their immediate surroundings are at risk, but gun violence can also extend beyond the home and into the greater community as evidenced by what happened in Newport News. TSA found record number of guns last year: Many were loaded. But increased fines won't change things. As a mother who acknowledges the risk of sending my children to school each day as a parent who wrote a letter to President Joe Biden last year, pleading for gun law reform, and as a writer who is exhausted from shouting pleas into what feels like the abyss I urge gun owners to consider the children in their communities. Parents who own guns have a responsibility to secure their weapons and educate their children, but perhaps the government can play a role, too. A candlelight vigil in honor of teacher Abby Zwerner in Newport News, Va., on Jan. 9, 2023. Zwerner, 25, was struck by a bullet through her hand and chest. Her attorney said she faces a lifetime of physical and psychological recovery. What government can do Some government officials are suggesting we educate our children about gun safety at school. Last year, the Arizona House of Representatives passed a bill that requires a National Rifle Association gun safety course for middle and high school students. All Arizona schools are required to teach students about firearms safety at least once between sixth grade and the end of high school. Instruction is only required on gun safety, and the legislation prevents instruction that would teach children how to fire guns or hunt a detail that urged me to reconsider my stance. Initially, I was opposed to my children receiving gun safety education in school because Id rather remove guns from our world than mold my children to a world with guns. I cringe if my children use their hands to motion the spray of bullets during imaginative play learning about guns from their educators once seemed to negate everything I taught at home. But while we hope our children wont use drugs or have sex at a young age, we still provide them with the knowledge needed to make these safe decisions in fact, we educate them in hopes theyll reach an understanding on their own. Why should gun safety be any different? Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. I wish a gun safety curriculum werent necessary, but I now see why it is. While I maintain the notion that urgent gun law reform is imperative, gun safety education targets one slice of the problem as we push for further change. A bill requiring gun safety education in schools will educate children, like the 6-year-old in Newport News, living with loaded guns those who might not be receiving the necessary information at home. This education may help to decrease accidental injuries and death by household firearms, and it could prepare children to better handle the emergency of a gun finding its way into the classroom. Perhaps this education should begin earlier, in the elementary years, so that children are having a more ongoing, gradual exposure to this vital topic. Lindsay Karp I once shuddered at the thought of my children absorbing a lesson on guns at school, but after the incident in Newport News, Virginia, the potential benefit of this curriculum is apparent. With a focus on gun safety and not on gun use, I now see this education in schools as a necessary steppingstone one of many in the right direction for our youth. If we wont put our children first, we need to teach them to put themselves first. Lindsay Karp is a freelance writer with a background in speech-language pathology. She writes about parenting, life with multiple sclerosis and also hopes to become a published childrens book author. You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Newport News school shooting convinced me: Teach all kids gun safety An ant drinking water pooling on a leaf. Ants can be trained to detect cancer in urine, a new study finds. Although ant sniffing is a long way from being used as a diagnostic tool in humans, the results are encouraging, the researchers said. Because ants lack noses, they use olfactory receptors on their antennae to help them find food or sniff out potential mates. For the study, published Jan. 25 in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences , scientists trained nearly three dozen silky ants (Formica fusca) to use these acute olfactory receptors for a different task: finding tumors. In a lab, scientists grafted slices of breast cancer tumors from human samples onto mice and taught the 35 insects to "associate urine from the tumor-bearing rodents with sugar," according to The Washington Post . Once placed in a petri dish, the ants spent 20% more time next to urine samples containing cancerous tumors versus healthy urine, according to the study. "They just want to eat sugar," Baptiste Piqueret , the study's lead author and an ethologist at Sorbonne Paris North University in France, told The Washington Post. Related: Some cancer cells grow stronger after chemo. Research hints at how to kill them. Because tumor cells contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that researchers can use as cancer biomarkers, animals such as dogs and now ants can be quickly trained to detect these anomalies through their sense of smell. However, researchers think that ants "may have the edge over dogs and other animals that are [more] time-consuming to train," according to The Washington Post. RELATED STORIES A teen's cancer is in remission after she received new cells edited with CRISPR Horrifying close-up photo of an ant is the stuff of nightmares Bizarre knotted DNA structures linked to cancer in mice This is important because the earlier cancer is detected, the sooner treatment can begin. The researchers are hopeful that cancer-sniffing ants have the potential "to act as efficient and inexpensive cancer bio-detectors," they wrote in their study. "The results are very promising," Piqueret said. However, he cautioned that "it's important to know that we are far from using them as a daily way to detect cancer." Follow live reaction from the Australian Open as Aryna Sabalenka surged into the womens final with a 7-6(1) 6-2 win over unseeded Pole Magda Linette to extend the red-hot Belarusian's unbeaten start to the year and book a clash with Elena Rybakina. Adelaide champion Sabalenka has not dropped a set en route to 10 wins in 2023 and had failed to get over the semi-final hurdle on three previous occasions at grand slams but was not to be denied this time, as she raced ahead 4-1 and saved three breakpoints to close out the contest with a forehand winner. Up next for Sabalenka is Russian-born Kazakh Rybakina, who defeated Victoria Azarenka to reach her second grand slam final. The 23-year-old has shown the same form that carried her to a maiden major title on the lawns of SW19 last summer, using her big serve and groundstrokes to overpower opponents including world number one Iga Swiatek. Elsewhere, further controversy is surrounding Novak Djokovic in Australia after his father, Srdjan Djokovic, was filmed posing for pictures with a group of Vladimir Putin supporters on Wednesday. Djokovics win over the Russian player Andrey Rublev was followed by a showing of support for Russia on the steps of the Rod Laver Arena. Follow live updates and scores from the Australian Open below Australian Open 2023 latest scores and updates Wimbledon champion Rybakina defeats two-time winner Azarenka 7-6 6-3 in first semi-final Aryna Sabalenka defeats Magda Linette 7-6 6-2 to join Rybakina in Saturdays womens final Novak Djokovics father filmed posing with Vladimir Putin supporters at Australian Open Elena Rybakina grinds down Victoria Azarenka to set up Australian Open final against Aryna Sabalenka 12:57 , Michael Jones The semi-finals of the Australian Open brought with it an unusual sight. After a typically assured start, Elena Rybakina was becoming flustered and agitated by the returns of Victoria Azarenka, whose experience in the heat of battle was starting to scratch away at the Wimbledon champions cool and collected facade. Story continues Yet it only lasted for a moment, as Rybakina regathered her composure, picked up her weapons, and ground down Azarenkas resurgent game. In what was the two-time Australian Open champions first semi-final in Melbourne since her last title in 2013, Azarenka was eventually taken apart by Rybakinas aggressive returns and put away by her dominant serve, as the momentum of a nervy and rather unsettled semi-final finally swung in the 23-year-olds direction. It means Rybakina is into her second grand slam final in six months and after starting the tournament shunted out onto Court 13, there will be no denying her status if she becomes a two-time champion on Saturday. She will face the fifth seed Aryna Sabalenka, who is through to her first grand slam final after defeating Magda Linette 7-6 6-2. It extends Sabalenkas run to 10 wins in a row to start the year, where she is yet to drop a set. Elena Rybakina grinds down Victoria Azarenka to set up Aryna Sabalenka final Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 6-7 2-6 Aryna Sabalenka* - Game, set and match! 12:54 , Michael Jones Sabalenka also spoke about what it will be like to face the Wimbledon champion in the final. She said: [Elena Rybakina is] an amazing player, shes playing great tennis, super aggressive, and shes already got one Grand Slam so she has the experience of playing in a final. Its going to be a great final, Im really looking forward to it. Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 6-7 2-6 Aryna Sabalenka* - Game, set and match! 12:51 , Michael Jones More from Sabalenka: Being in a final at this kind of tournament is amazing, to feel this atmosphere, to play on this court. That was a great experience for me and I hope its going to help me on Saturday. Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 6-7 2-6 Aryna Sabalenka* - Game, set and match! 12:41 , Michael Jones Reaction from Aryna Sabalenka: Im super happy that I was able to get this win, shes an unbelievable player, she played really great tennis. I didnt start really well and then in the tie-break I found my rhythm, started trusting myself, starting going for the shots. It was great tennis from me on the tie-break. I actually felt like I hit really slow balls today but Ive got good genetics I guess. Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 6-7 2-6 Aryna Sabalenka* - Game, set and match! 12:39 , Michael Jones Aryna Sabalenka had lost her previous three Grand Slam semi-finals before this match but now has reached her first ever final. She began today full of nerves which would have been compounded after she was broken in the opening game. A strong fightback followed with Sabalenkas power too much to handle by the end. Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 6-7 2-6 Aryna Sabalenka* - Game, set and match! 12:35 , Michael Jones Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina defeated Victoria Azarenka to reach her second grand slam final at the Australian Open. The 23-year-old has shown the same form that carried her to a maiden major title on the lawns of SW19 last summer, using her big serve and groundstrokes to overpower opponents including world number one Iga Swiatek. Her latest victim was two-time former champion Azarenka, who was back in the semi-finals for the first time since her second title at Melbourne Park in 2013. The Belarusian fought back from a break down in the opening set but paid for too many errors in the tie-break, and Rybakina was the more composed in the second to seal a 7-6 (4) 6-3 victory. Elena Rybakina reaches Australian Open final with win over Victoria Azarenka Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 6-7 2-6 Aryna Sabalenka* - Game, set and match! 12:29 , Michael Jones (EPA) (EPA) Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 6-7 2-6 Aryna Sabalenka* - Game, set and match! 12:26 , Michael Jones There it is! Aryna Sabalenka powers a forehand winner past Magda Linette and wins the game, the set and the match. Sabalenka moves into the Australian Open final and will face Elena Rybakina. Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 6-7 2-5 Aryna Sabalenka* 12:25 , Michael Jones Theres a whole heap of pressure on Aryna Sabalenka. She wants to win this game badly. A scuffed forehand lands in the net and the game draws level at 30-30. Sabalenka calms herself down and rattles another ace down the T line. 40-30. Match point to come. Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 6-7 2-5 Aryna Sabalenka* 12:23 , Michael Jones Now then, can Aryna Sabalenka hold serve and win this game? Magda Linette isnt going away and Sabalenka needs to hold her nerve. The increase in adrenaline isnt helping as she goes long twice from the serve for a double fault. 15-15. Australian Open 2023: *Magda Linette 6-7 2-5 Aryna Sabalenka 12:21 , Michael Jones Linette holds! After saving a third match point Magda Linette takes the attack to Aryna Sabalenka and forces her across the baseline. She whips a forehand over to the far side of court and Sabalenka goes long to gift Linette the game! Thats a fantastic hold from Magda Linette. Australian Open 2023: *Magda Linette 6-7 1-5 Aryna Sabalenka 12:19 , Michael Jones No! Sabalenkas latest backhand smashes into the net. 30-40. And again! Magda Linette manages to claw the game to deuce wehn Sabalenka goes long! Australian Open 2023: *Magda Linette 6-7 1-5 Aryna Sabalenka 12:18 , Michael Jones Two match points for Aryna Sabalenka! The Belarusian lands a cross court backhand and has a couple of chances to win the match now. Can she take one? Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 6-7 1-5 Aryna Sabalenka* 12:13 , Michael Jones Thats got to have broken the back of Magda Linette. Three break points came and went for her and what was probably her last chance to get back in the match goes begging. Aryna Sabalenka holds from 15-40 down and moves within one game of reaching the Australian Open final. Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 6-7 1-4 Aryna Sabalenka* 12:12 , Michael Jones Lets go Magda, lets go. is the chant from the crowd as Magda Linette positions herself for two break points. The response from Aryna Sabalenka is top quality though and the fifth seed quickly forces the game to deuce. A third break point comes and goes for Linette after Sabalenka fizzes down her fifth ace of the match! This is brilliant pressure play from the Belarusian. Australian Open 2023: *Magda Linette 6-7 1-4 Aryna Sabalenka - Sabalenka breaks! 12:07 , Michael Jones This is impressive stuff from Aryna Sabalenka. She quickly sets up three break points before a fine return from Magda Linette clips the line and forces a stretching Sabalenka to spoon her return over the back. 15-40. The next point goes the Belarusians way as she slices a backhand winner to the far corner. The fifth seed is two breaks up in the second set now. Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 6-7 1-3 Aryna Sabalenka* 12:03 , Michael Jones Sabalenka holds! Magda Linette threatens to make a comeback but hooks a backhand wide of court and the game goes to Sabalenka. Shes won three games in a row now and is flying. Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 6-7 1-2 Aryna Sabalenka* 12:01 , Michael Jones Magda Linettes defence is starting to let her down. Up to this point she has been able to fend off Sabalenka more powerful strokes but the fifth seed is lacing her shots with a bit of extra venom and Linette twice finds the net. 30-0. Australian Open 2023: *Magda Linette 6-7 1-2 Aryna Sabalenka - Sabalenka breaks! 11:59 , Michael Jones Sabalenka wants to get in front. Shes shaking her head and growing frustrated when she makes mistakes against Linettes serve. A powerful backhand to the back corner sees Linette hook a return out of play and Sabalenka moves level at 30-30. Another error from Linette sets up a break point for the Belarusian and she takes it! Linette scuffs a return over the back and the first break of the second set goes to Aryna Sabalenka! Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 6-7 1-1 Aryna Sabalenka* 11:55 , Michael Jones Come on! yells Aryna Sabalenka as she manages to hold serve despite a fightback to 30-30 from Magda Linette. The crowd is backing the Pole which adds some pressure on Sabalenka but two blistering serves help her to see out the game. Australian Open 2023: *Magda Linette 6-7 1-0 Aryna Sabalenka 11:52 , Michael Jones Wonderful fortitude from Magda Linette. She digs in and keeps the ball in play, waiting for Aryna Sabalenka to make a couple of mistakes. The Belarusian senses that the game was there to win and tries to force the issue. She goes long before twice finding the net. Linette holds serve. Australian Open 2023: *Magda Linette 6-7 0-0 Aryna Sabalenka 11:49 , Michael Jones Oh no! Magda Linette has the right idea in dropping the ball over the net but she gets the execution wrong and the ball sits up kindly for Sabalenka to drill a cross court winner back past her. Linette then sends a return out of play and gifts Sabalenka another point. 0-30. Australian Open 2023: *Magda Linette 6-7 0-0 Aryna Sabalenka 11:47 , Michael Jones After a brilliant battle to take the first set to a tie-break Aryna Sabalenka stepped up a gear and blitzed through the tie-breaker to storm to victory in the first set. Magda Linette is playing some brilliant tennis but now has it all to do. Shes got to claim the second set to stay in this match. The Pole will serve up the first game. Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 6-6 (1-7) Aryna Sabalenka* - Sabalenka wins the first set! 11:44 , Michael Jones Magda Linette saves the first of six set points after an attempted lob from Sabalenka goes long. The Belarusian now has to serve for the win and is just too powerful for Linette. Linette does her best to keep the ball in play but a forehand slice loops over the back of the court and Sabalenka wins the first set! Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 6-6 (0-6) Aryna Sabalenka* 11:41 , Michael Jones Two imperious holds from her serve follow and Magda Linette is on the brink now. Aryna Sabalenka is two points away from taking the opening set. Make that one. Sabalenka finds the line from a return of serve and moves 6-0 up. Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 6-6 (0-3) Aryna Sabalenka* 11:40 , Michael Jones Sabalenka serves first and wins the opening point. The Belarusian then latches onto Linettes second serve and smashes a backhand return across court. She then goes down the line and Linette fails to get back her return. Sabalenka continues to utilise her powerful two-handed backhand and moves three love up in the tie-break. Absolutely dominant tennis. Australian Open 2023: *Magda Linette 6-6 Aryna Sabalenka 11:38 , Michael Jones Deuce! Sabalenka isnt done yet. What a rally! Both women engage in a cross court battle and Sabalenka thinks shes won it. A fine return forces Linette wide setting up a simple forehand winner but Sabalenka sends the effort into the net! Linette then gets lucky as the ball drops into Sabalenkas side of court off the net and the Pole takes the first set to a tie-break! Australian Open 2023: *Magda Linette 5-6 Aryna Sabalenka 11:35 , Michael Jones Beautiful! Pinpoint accuracy from Magda Linette brings her level and then takes her into the lead as she targets Sabalenkas body from the serve before landing a pacey forehand right in the corner of the baseline! 40-30. Australian Open 2023: *Magda Linette 5-6 Aryna Sabalenka 11:34 , Michael Jones 0-15. Magda Linette whips a backhand into the net and gives away the first point of the game. The Pole then double faults and gifts another point to Sabalenka. Is the pressure beginning to tell on her? Maybe not! Linette sticks into the next rally and works Sabalenka side-to-side. The Belarusian still has the chance to win the point but finds the net with a forehand down the line! 15-30. Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 5-6 Aryna Sabalenka* 11:31 , Michael Jones Its another highly impressive hold of serve from Aryna Sabalenka. Shes grown brilliantly into this match after a sketchy start. The pressure goes back onto Magda Linette who must now hold serve to stay in this set and force a tie-break. Australian Open 2023: *Magda Linette 5-5 Aryna Sabalenka 11:28 , Michael Jones Game Linette! The Pole brings the set back on level terms after Sabalenka knocks the ball wide then drills a backhand into the net. There are chants of Magda, Magda, Magda coming from the crowd. They do love an underdog. Australian Open 2023: *Magda Linette 4-5 Aryna Sabalenka 11:26 , Michael Jones Oh yes! Sabalenka gets lucky as she hits the net but the ball bounces in play. Linette responds with a cross court forehand that Sabalenka smashes back at her. The Pole is well set for the return though and blazes a forehand of her own down the line to win the first point! 15-0. Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 4-5 Aryna Sabalenka* 11:24 , Michael Jones This is a big game now. Were into the back end of the first set and whoever wins will have a shot at taking the set without a tie-break. Aryna Sabalenka doesnt feel any pressure. She rattles down a series of serves and flies through the game without conceding a point. Incredible hitting from the fifth seed. A break of serve will now win her the first set. Australian Open 2023: *Magda Linette 4-4 Aryna Sabalenka 11:21 , Michael Jones Linette goes wide from her first serve. Shes landed 84% of them in this set which has helped her out massively. Sabalenka goes long from the return and gives away the point before an error from Linette sees her dink the ball out of play. 15-15. Oh stop that! Sabalenka fails to get back the next serve but launches the ball right into the corner in the next rally. Linette sprints across court and drills her own forehand down the line and lands it right on the edge to take the point. What a shot! 40-15. Linette then holds serve. What a match this is. Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 3-4 Aryna Sabalenka* 11:17 , Michael Jones Aryna Sabalenkas consistency hasnt really been there today but shes landing enough winners and power shots to keep Magda Linette on her toes. The Belarusian holds serve once more. Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 3-3 Aryna Sabalenka* 11:16 , Michael Jones Wonderful! Aryna Sabalenka breezes into a 30-0 lead in the next game but Magda Linette dominates the next rally. She forces Sabalenka behind the baseline then latches onto a backhander and smokes it down the line to on the board in this game. The crowd appreciated that shot too and gave her a loud cheer. 30-15. Australian Open 2023: *Magda Linette 3-3 Aryna Sabalenka 11:14 , Michael Jones Madga Linette is soaking up a lot of powerful strokes from Aryna Sabalenka but they just keep coming from the Belarusian. Its a fine display of defensive tennis and Linette is making it work with some fine serves right on the T line. Twice Sabalenka drills backhand shots into the net and helps Linette hold her serve. Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 2-3 Aryna Sabalenka* 11:12 , Michael Jones Sabalenka holds! After drawing level it doesnt take the number five seed long to close out the game. Shes getting better and better as this set goes on and now leads for the first time. Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 2-2 Aryna Sabalenka* 11:11 , Michael Jones The first set is back on serve and theres a fine match developing at the Rod Laver Arena. Oh thats brilliant. Linette is gifted a couple of points against the serve but Sabalenka recovers her composure. A powerful serve brings the game to 15-30 before the two women engage in the longest rally of the match so far. Linette works the ball wide and forces Sabalenka off balance. The Pole should fizz the ball to the other side of court but tries to trick her opponent and Sabalenka manages to squeeze back a return. The momentum then swings the way of the Belarusian who wins the point with another crushing forehand! 30-30. Australian Open 2023: *Magda Linette 2-2 Aryna Sabalenka - Sabalenka breaks! 11:07 , Michael Jones Great fightback! Aryna Sabalenka has learned some patience. From her start to this matchs it seemed evident that she hoped to dominate rallies early on. Instead shes letting them develop and works Linette to either side of the court. A few errors from the Pole help Sabalenka bring the game up to deuce before she blitzes to advantage. Another lengthy rally sees Sabalenka work Linette onto her forehand before switching up and drilling a backhander to the opposite side of court to complete her break! Australian Open 2023: *Magda Linette 2-1 Aryna Sabalenka 11:04 , Michael Jones Magda Linette has been very impressive so far. Shes quick and shuffles across the baseline with gusto. Its needed as Sabalenka is sticking to her plan A of out-hitting her opponent. Also in the arsenal are Linettes accurate serves which help her take a 40-0 lead in the fourth game. Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 2-1 Aryna Sabalenka* 11:02 , Michael Jones This is better from Aryna Sabalenka. Shes growing into the set now and quickly move to 30-0 on her own serve. The Belarusian continues to nail her forehand strokes but Linette manages to keep her at bay. The Pole is pushed onto the back foot though and hooks a return out of play after Sabalenka smokes a cross court backhand straight at her. Sabalenka holds serve. Australian Open 2023: *Magda Linette 2-0 Aryna Sabalenka 10:58 , Michael Jones Oh lovely! A nice rally develops between the two women before Sabalenka brings Linette up to the net. The Pole meets the next return on the volley and plays a dainty backhand drop to win the point. Linette holds serve as Sabalenka then hooks a backhand return of serve out of play. Australian Open 2023: *Magda Linette 1-0 Aryna Sabalenka 10:56 , Michael Jones Aryna Sabalenka gets her first point on the board with a wonderful return from Magda Linettes first serve, drilling the ball back past her opponent with a cross court finisher. Linette responds brilliantly though. Consecutive aces take her back into the lead. 30-15. Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 1-0 Aryna Sabalenka* - Linette breaks! 10:55 , Michael Jones Oh here we go! Magda Linette soaks up all of Aryna Sabalenkas powerful hits focuses on keeping the ball in play. Sabalenka tries to force the issue and makes a bunch of errors, smashing the ball over to back of court on multiple occasions. Linette moves swiftly to 0-40 up before another error from Sabalenka gives her an early break of serve! Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette 0-0 Aryna Sabalenka* 10:53 , Michael Jones Aryna Sabalenka serves first and sends the ball over to Magda Linettes forehand. Its a comfortable return for the Polish star but Sabalenka responds with a few powerful hits to the corner. Linette sticks to the baseline and returns each shot before Sabalenka fires one into the net to gift her opponent the first point. Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette vs Aryna Sabalenka 10:50 , Michael Jones After taking the pre-match photos and going through a few warm up serves and rallies the players are ready to go. Magda Linette has beaten some great players in Caroline Garcia and Karolina Pliskova to reach her first grand slam semi-final. Can she add Aryna Sabalenka to her list of defeated opponents today? Australian Open 2023: Magda Linette vs Aryna Sabalenka 10:47 , Michael Jones The second semi-final will be played between Polands Magda Linette and Belaruss Aryna Sabalenka. The players head out onto court at the Rod Laver Arena. This could be a tough one for the unseeded Pole. Number five seed Aryna Sabalenka has been in brilliant form and is the heavy favourite to join Elena Rybakina in the final. Will this semi-final play out that way or can Linette provide a shock result? Australian Open 2023: Elena Rybakina 7-6 6-3 Victoria Azarenka - Game, set and match! 10:44 , Michael Jones Elena Rybakina reaches her second grand slam final after winning at Wimbledon last year. Her gameplan of targeting Azarenkas forehand with powerful shots paid off handsomely. Who will join her in the final? (EPA) (AP) Australian Open 2023: Elena Rybakina 7-6 6-3 Victoria Azarenka - Game, set and match! 10:40 , Michael Jones More from Elena Rybakina: Of course my team were nervous because they want me to perform well. I could not play so aggressive but I am happy that in the end I managed to win. But I will try my best in the final of course. It was really special and nervous to play in front of them [seven of the Original 9]. I want to say a big thank you from the players because it is unbelievable what you have done for us and the new generation. It means a lot. I got a lot of experience from Wimbledon. I want to come on court to enjoy the moment and atmosphere. It is incredible to play in front of you guys so thank you so much. I will fight and hopefully I will win. Australian Open 2023: Elena Rybakina 7-6 6-3 Victoria Azarenka - Game, set and match! 10:31 , Jamie Braidwood Elena Rybakina: Im super happy and proud. Its an incredible atmosphere, Im super happy to be in the final and play one more time here. Today was a bit tougher for me it was different conditions, I couldnt play really aggressive tennis, the ball was not going so much. Australian Open 2023: Elena Rybakina 7-6 6-3 Victoria Azarenka - Game, set and match! 10:29 , Jamie Braidwood But Rybakina goes again - attacking the Azarenka serve with consecutive winners. Its followed by a double fault, as Rybakina gets three match points to take her to the Australian Open final. And there it is! Azarenka nets on the backhand and Rybakina moves through to her second grand slam final. She overcomes some nervy moments with an impressive second set, and gets past the challenge of two-time winner Azarenka. Azarenka was below her best and missed chances in the first. Australian Open 2023: Elena Rybakina 7-6 5-3 Victoria Azarenka* - Azarenka breaks! 10:25 , Jamie Braidwood Rybakina is nervy as she serves for the match. A double fault sees Azarenka look at two break points, but she finds the first serve and slams away the forehand winner. But then Azarenka steers a backhand winner off the return! Game on. Australian Open 2023: *Elena Rybakina 7-6 5-2 Victoria Azarenka- Rybakina breaks! 10:21 , Jamie Braidwood Azarenka is faced with pressure on her serve after throwing in a double fault and at 30-30 Rybakina attacks with big, swinging forehands crosscourt. Rybakinas return to the Azarenka backhand is immaculate and the 33-year-old pushes wide. Australian Open 2023: Elena Rybakina 7-6 4-2 Victoria Azarenka* 10:18 , Jamie Braidwood Rybakina moves superbly well to reach a backhand in the corner before steering Azarenkas drop shot for a forehand winner. The Wimbledon champion holds to love. Australian Open 2023: *Elena Rybakina 7-6 3-2 Victoria Azarenka 10:13 , Jamie Braidwood Rybakina gets her serve in play and is able to squeeze further errors from Azarenka to get two break points on the Azarenka serve. But thats a big miss from the Wimbledon champion! Azarenka left a ball short but Rybakina crashes a forehand into the net. Rybakina then fires wide on the forehand abd Azarenka is able to get out of trouble. That was a missed opportunity for Rybakina, as Azarenka hangs on. Australian Open 2023: Elena Rybakina 7-6 3-1 Victoria Azarenka* 10:08 , Jamie Braidwood Azarenka gets a half-chance on the Rybakina serve but floats a backhand long when faced with a second-serve. Its another poor error on the return and Rybakina swiftly closes the door. Australian Open 2023: *Elena Rybakina 7-6 2-1 Victoria Azarenka - Rybakina breaks 10:03 , Jamie Braidwood Azarenka swips at the ball in frustration as Rybakina breaks to love. Azarenka is just unable to stop the flow of errors that are coming off her racket. Australian Open 2023: Elena Rybakina 7-6 1-1 Victoria Azarenka* 10:01 , Jamie Braidwood Rybakina has found her serve again and belts out three aces to take the opening hold. Australian Open 2023: *Elena Rybakina 7-6 0-1 Victoria Azarenka 09:57 , Jamie Braidwood What a shot from Azarenka! Faced with break point in the opening game of the second set, the 33-year-old whips a wonderful forehand winner across court, and is able to take the hold from there. Australian Open 2023: Elena Rybakina 7-6 Victoria Azarenka - Rybakina wins the first set! 09:49 , Jamie Braidwood That was not the finest of tiebreaks from either player but its Rybakina who limits the errors to take the opening set in exactly an hour. Faced against two set points, Azarenka steered a backhand wide and will now have to forget the three break points she had a 5-5 in the first. Australian Open 2023: Elena Rybakina 6-6 Victoria Azarenka - Tiebreak! 09:44 , Jamie Braidwood Rybakina takes a 4-2 lead at the change of ends after dictating the baseline rallies. It puts pressure on Azarenka, who double faults to hand Rybakina the advantage. Australian Open 2023: Elena Rybakina 6-6 Victoria Azarenka - Tiebreak! 09:39 , Jamie Braidwood Azarenka holds to love and we move onto a tiebreak - the 33-year-old moved in well to put a backhand winner past Rybakina. Australian Open 2023: Elena Rybakina 6-5 Victoria Azarenka* 09:35 , Jamie Braidwood Wow - Rybakina double faults on 0-30 and suddenly Azarenka has three break points. Rybakinas first-serve percentage has dropped dramatically and its giving Azarenka confidence to attack the rallies. That said, Rybakina is still able to unload from the baseline. She moves in to put away the forehand winner and save the first two break points. And thats a big chance missed from Azarenka! She slumps the second-serve return into the net. And it steadies Rybakina - she serves it out with an ace, and that could be a big moment in this set. Australian Open 2023: *Elena Rybakina 5-5 Victoria Azarenka 09:29 , Jamie Braidwood Azarenka gets a big hold to put some scoreboard pressure on Rybakina. Azarenka has disrupted Rybakina with her approach from the baseline and needs to find some first serves in this next game. Australian Open 2023: Elena Rybakina 5-4 Victoria Azarenka* 09:25 , Jamie Braidwood Rybakina comes out to serve from the set but Azarenka responds well to hit to the baseline, Rybakina unable to get past her opponent at the net despite reading the volley. A brilliant pick-up volley from Rybakina is followed by a thunderous forehand winner to get back to 30-30. She finds the first serve and Azarenka is pushed back and nets - bringing up set point. But as Rybakina comes into the net, Azarenka curls a lovely forehand winner down the line. Azarenkas good return on deuce forces a break point chance, but Rybakina controls the forehand winner. Azarenka goes aggressive again to bring up another break point, though. And there it is! Azarenka returns well and Rybakina goes long! Shes back in the set. Australian Open 2023: *Elena Rybakina 5-3 Victoria Azarenka - Rybakina breaks! 09:18 , Jamie Braidwood Thats very impressive from Rybakina - Azarenka leaves the ball just a touch short in mid-court on consecutive points and Rybakina lands a forehand and then backhand winner down the line to bring up two break points. Azarenka saves them both well, the second with a steely forehand winner crosscourt, but Rybakina goes again with unrelenting power from the baseline, pushing Azarenka back and firing for the space. Azarenka nets and Rybakina gets the break. Australian Open 2023: Elena Rybakina 4-3 Victoria Azarenka* 09:12 , Jamie Braidwood Business as usual for Rybakina, who races through the next service game to love. Australian Open 2023: *Elena Rybakina 3-3 Victoria Azarenka - Rybakina breaks! 09:09 , Jamie Braidwood And now an immediate break-back chance for Rybakina, who loops a forehand and catches the back of the baseline. It catches Azarenka by surprise and the two-time winner goes long. Rybakina attacks the second serve impressively and Azarenka is forced into the error. Australian Open 2023: Elena Rybakina 2-3 Victoria Azarenka* - Azarenka breaks! 09:04 , Jamie Braidwood A chance for Azarenka, as the 33-year-old lands her first return to stretch Rybakina. After landing it at her feet, Azarenka follows it in on the forehand winner. On break point, she returns again and takes on Rybakina at the net, eventually putting away the volley at the net to get the break! That could be big. Australian Open 2023: *Elena Rybakina 2-2 Victoria Azarenka 09:01 , Jamie Braidwood Azarenka steps into a backhand winner and plants the ball on the line to move to 40-15, and then thumps an ace to take the hold. This match is very much being set by the pace of Rybakina so far and Azarenka is having to grit her teeth to hold on. Australian Open 2023: Elena Rybakina 2-1 Victoria Azarenka* 08:56 , Jamie Braidwood Its a brilliant start from Rybakina, as she whips a forehand winner off the back of her serve to get the hold. So far the only point Azarenka has won against serve is a double fault. Australian Open 2023: *Elena Rybakina 1-1 Victoria Azarenka 08:54 , Jamie Braidwood Azarenkas first service game is much more of a battle, with Ryabkina hitting the ball hard and early from inside the baseline. It takes Azarenka a moment to adjust to the power from the baseline, and she gets the hold from deuce as Ryabkina steers a beackhand wide. Australian Open 2023: Elena Rybakina 0-1 Victoria Azarenka* 08:48 , Jamie Braidwood Rybakina begins with a double fault but its followed by three aces in a row to take the opening hold. *denotes next server Australian Open 2023: Elena Rybakina vs Victoria Azarenka 08:44 , Jamie Braidwood Here are the players - Rybakina looks as cool and unflustered as ever, Azarenka comes out with her Paris Saint-Germain top. This should be a great battle between serve and return. Australian Open 2023 08:40 , Jamie Braidwood Before this mornings semi-finals there was a presentation for the Original 9 on what is the 50th anniversary of the role they played in the creation of the WTA and the womens professional tour. Australian Open 2023: Elena Rybakina vs Victoria Azarenka 08:35 , Jamie Braidwood Rybakina and Azarenka have only met once before, with the Wimbledon champion winning 6-4 6-3 at Indian Wells last season. Azarenka has spoken at the progress she has made mentally this year, which has led to her first Australian Open semi-final in 10 years. Australian Open 2023 08:25 , Jamie Braidwood Victoria Azarenka said it has taken her 10 years to get over the criticism she faced following her last Australian Open semi-final after finally making it back to the last four. The Belarusian defeated Jessica Pegula 6-4 6-1 in the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park on Tuesday and is putting together her best run since winning back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013. The second of those proved controversial, with Azarenka taking a long medical time-out after failing to serve out a semi-final win over Sloane Stephens, who was then only 19. Azarenka broke in the next game to clinch victory and told the crowd: I almost did the choke of the year. I just felt a little bit overwhelmed realising that Im one step from the final and nerves got into me for sure. Azarenka later said she had pain in her chest and took the medical time-out for that reason but she faced a barrage of criticism for her actions before going on to defeat Li Na in the final. Asked about the incident, a fired-up Azarenka said: It was one of the worst things that Ive ever gone through in my professional career, the way I was treated after that moment, the way I had to explain myself until 10.30pm at night because people didnt want to believe me. There is sometimes, I dont know, an incredible desire for a villain and a hero story that has to be written. But were not villains, were not heroes, we are regular human beings that go through so many, many things. Assumptions and judgments, all those comments, are just s**t because nobodys there to see the full story. It didnt matter how many times I said my story, it did not cut through. I was thinking about it. It took me 10 f***ing years to get over it. I finally am over that. Victoria Azarenka defeated Jessica Pegula in the Australian Open quarter-finals (Ng Han Guan/AP) (AP) Australian Open 2023 08:21 , Jamie Braidwood Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina feels she is reaping the benefits of experience as she chases a second grand slam title at the Australian Open. The 23-year-old continued her fine form at Melbourne Park with a 6-2 6-4 victory over Jelena Ostapenko to reach the semi-finals. As expected between two of the biggest hitters on the womens tour, this was first-strike tennis, with nearly three-quarters of the points being decided in four sets shots or fewer. But Rybakina was the steadier while her serve, the best in the womens game following Serena Williams retirement, yielded 11 aces and was a key difference between them. Rybakina was a surprise champion at the All England Club but it would not be a shock if she ended the fortnight lifting the trophy here, particularly with the conditions favouring flat hitters. I think of course I got all the experience at Wimbledon and its helping me now this time here in Australia and I know what to expect, she said. I already did it once and of course I got confident that I can do it again. I did really good preparation with the team. Im not really surprised with the results. Im happy. Im just hungry to work and improve more. (Getty Images) Australian Open 2023: Djokovics father filmed posing with Putin supporters 08:16 , Jamie Braidwood Novak Djokovics father has been filmed posing for pictures with a group of Vladimir Putin supporters at the Australian Open. Srdjan Djokovic can be seen alongside a man holding a Russian flag with Putins face on it, in footage that emerged on YouTube. The man was also wearing a t-shirt with the letter Z on it, which has become known as the makeshift logo of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. While Srdjan Djokovic poses for pictures, the man also appears to shout: Long live Russia. The Australian Open banned Russian flags from the Melbourne Park grounds last week but crowds gathered on the steps of the Rod Laver Arena following nine-time champion Djokovics victory over the Russian player Andrey Rublev in Wednesdays quarter-final. They could be seen chanting in support of Russia, while the face of Putin was also visible alongside flags of Russia and Djokovics native Serbia. Srdjan Djokovics encounter with the group while he was leaving the Rod Laver Arena has led to a statement from Tennis Australia reminding players and their teams of their responsibilities. Novak Djokovics father filmed posing with Vladimir Putin supporters Good morning 08:15 , Jamie Braidwood Follow live updates from the Australian Open womens semi-finals as Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina takes on two-time winner Victoria Azarenka in the opening match on Rod Laver Arena. Rybakina has been in impressive form as the 23-year-old aims to win her second grand slam title in six months, defeating world No 1 Iga Swiatek to reach this stage. She now faces an experienced competitor in Azarenka, with the 33-year-old Belarusian player through to her first Australian Open semi-final since her last title in Melbourne Park 10 years ago. It could be an all-Belarusian final on Saturday if the fifth seed Aryna Sabalenka defeats the unseeded Polish player Magda Linette in the other semi-final. Sabalenka has been in dominant form so far and is yet to drop a set so far this tournament, with Linette defeating Caroline Garcia and Karolina Pliskova to reach her first grand slam semi-final. Elsewhere, further controversy is surrounding Novak Djokovic in Australia after his father, Srdjan Djokovic, was filmed posing for pictures with a group of Vladimir Putin supporters on Wednesday. Djokovics win over the Russian player Andrey Rublev was followed by a showing of support for Russia on the steps of the Rod Laver Arena. The Biden administration will protect some 225,000 new acres in a northeastern Minnesota wilderness area from mineral leasing, Interior Department officials confirmed on a call with reporters Thursday. The protections will be effective for 20 years, officials said, and will protect parts of the Rainy River watershed, including lands ceded to the Chippewa Bands of Native Americans in 1854 and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The department asserted authorities granted to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act to issue the restrictions. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness was the site of a proposed copper-nickel mine in the adjoining watershed. In an October 2021 order, the U.S. Forest Service called for a full study of the potential impacts of the proposed Twin Metals project. The company said it was deeply disappointed by the move at the time. In August, Twin Metals sued to reclaim federal mining leases in the area, calling Interiors moves arbitrary and capricious and saying they would hinder the development of necessary supply chains to transition away from fossil fuels. Separately, in June 2022, the Forest Service issued a draft assessment proposing a 20-year ban on copper mining on federal lands in the watershed, determining that the activity would contaminate local waterways. The Interior Department also canceled two mining leases in the area that had been granted in 2019, saying the Trump administration renewed them improperly. Twin Metals Minnesota is deeply disappointed and stunned that the federal government has chosen to enact a 20-year moratorium on mining across a quarter million acres of land in northeast Minnesota, a Twin Metals spokesperson told The Hill in a statement. This region sits on top of one of the worlds largest deposits of critical minerals that are vital in meeting our nations goals to transition to a clean energy future, to create American jobs, to strengthen our national security and to bolster domestic supply chains. Story continues The Biden-Harris administration has been clear in our commitment to ensuring that they can mine for the minerals that are necessary to help us shift to a clean energy economy. But we have to do so in a responsible manner, an Interior Department official said on the call. That includes balancing our commitment to ensure we protect some of our countrys most spectacular outdoor places for future generations. The administration based the decision on over 225,000 public comments, three public meetings and two tribal consultations, according to the official. In a statement, Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) praised the move, saying, The freshwater in this area is pristine, and contamination from heavy metals and sulfuric acid from mine tailings would cause irreparable harm that would quickly spread through the Boundary Waters 1.1 million acres of interconnected lakes and streams. This would damage the unique wildlife, hurt the regions tourism industry and recreation-based economy, and preclude hundreds of thousands of visitors from Minnesota and across the country from enjoying this wilderness. Once damaged, it cannot be restored, McCollum added. The Minnesota Democrat has separately introduced legislation that would make the protections permanent rather than subject to reversal by a future president. The National Mining Association, however, blasted the decision as running counter to the Biden administrations decarbonization goals. At a time when demand for minerals such as copper, nickel and cobalt are skyrocketing for use in electric vehicles and solar and wind infrastructure, the administration is withdrawing hundreds of thousands of acres of land that could provide U.S. manufacturers with plentiful sources of these same minerals, NMA President and CEO Rich Nolan said in a statement. Updated 3:36 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. FILE - Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and her husband, Paul Pelosi, arrive at the State Department for the Kennedy Center Honors State Department Dinner, on Dec. 7, 2019, in Washington. A California judge on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, ordered the release of evidence against David DePape, who was charged in last year's attack on Paul Pelosi. A coalition of news organizations, including The Associated Press, had filed a court motion to access the evidence. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Footage of the attack on former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband will be released to the public after a judge on Wednesday denied prosecutors' request to keep it secret. San Francisco Superior Court Judge Stephen M. Murphy ruled there was no reason to keep the footage secret, especially after prosecutors played it in open court during a preliminary hearing last month, according to Thomas R. Burke, a San Francisco-based lawyer who represented The Associated Press and a host of other news agencies in their attempt to access the evidence. The San Francisco District Attorney's Office handed over the evidence to Murphy on Wednesday following a court hearing. Murphy asked the court clerk's office to distribute it to the media, which could happen as soon as Thursday. Paul Pelosi, Nancy Pelosi's husband, was asleep at the couple's San Francisco home on Oct. 28 when someone broke in and beat him with a hammer. Prosecutors have charged 42-year-old David DePape in connection with the attack. During a preliminary hearing last month, prosecutors played portions of Paul Pelosi's 911 call plus footage from Capitol police surveillance cameras, body cameras worn by the two police officers who arrived at the house, and video from DePape's interview with police. But when news organizations asked for copies of that evidence, the San Francisco District Attorney's Office refused to release it. The attack, which occurred just days before the 2022 midterm elections, prompted intense speculation from the public that fueled the spread of false information. The district attorney's office argued releasing the footage publicly would only allow people to manipulate it in their quest to spread false information. But the news agencies argued it was vital for prosecutors to publicly share their evidence that could debunk any false information swirling on the internet about the attack. Story continues You don't eliminate the public right of access just because of concerns about conspiracy theories, Burke said. The San Francisco District Attorneys Office did not respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment. The news agencies who sought the release of the footage includes The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, The Press Democrat, CNN, Fox News, CBS, ABC, NBC and KQED, an NPR-member radio station in San Francisco. DePape pleaded not guilty last month to six charges, including attempted murder. Police have said DePape told them there was evil in Washington and he wanted to harm Nancy Pelosi because she was second in line to the presidency. His case is pending. Democrats lost their majority in the House of Representatives after the midterm elections. Republicans elected California Republican U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy as the new speaker. Pelosi will remain in Congress, but she stepped down as Democratic leader. She was replaced by Hakeem Jeffries from New York. Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Getty/Simon & Schuster The Manhattan District Attorneys Office is warning that a tell-all book about its stalled investigation into former President Donald Trump could derail the offices probe and leave the author of the book, a former top prosecutor there, in legal jeopardy for violating a secretive nondisclosure agreement. The NDA, obtained exclusively by The Daily Beast, warns that any work performed for the office is privileged and confidential. That clause appears to directly conflict with a memoir that promises juicy details in what has so far been a failed effort to indict Trump. People vs. Donald Trump: An Inside Account, written by former special assistant DA Mark Pomerantz, is due to hit bookshelves on Feb. 7and its being billed as a fascinating inside account of the attempt to prosecute former president Donald Trump. Pomerantz is one of two attorneys who led the team investigating Trump for financial crimes until they quit in protest last year when incoming DA Alvin Bragg hit the brakes on any indictment against Trump himself. And according to his publisher, Pomerantz aims to explain why he disagrees with that decision. Trump Committed Crimes, Prosecutor Wrote Before Quitting Manhattan DAs Office Bragg, who just scored tax fraud convictions against two Trump companies and former chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg, recently hinted at a decision to revive the effort to prosecute Trump directly. But that brief victory lap was interrupted with the news that Pomerantz decided to publish this book. Bragg is now bracing for what could be an embarrassing episode for the office. If the 304-page book delivers on its core selling point, it will describe why Braggwho inherited the Trump investigation from his predecessor, Cy Vance Jr.didnt pull the trigger. Pomerantzs book is expected to detail how a team of Manhattan assistant district attorneys gathered evidence for three years to build a criminal case that Trump defrauded banks and insurers, lied on official financial forms by inflating the value of his real estate properties, dodged corporate taxes by showering his executives, and ignored campaign laws by paying hush money to keep porn star Stormy Daniels quiet about their sexual affair ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Story continues But that indictment never happened. This book explains why, reads a description by the publishing house, Simon & Schuster. The books selling point stings all the more, given that other prosecutors across the country appear to be nearer to indicting Trump over his menacing phone call to a Georgia elections official and his decision to hoard top secret documents at his oceanside Florida estate of Mar-a-Lago. The nondisclosure agreement Pomerantz signed in December 2020, when he was brought onboard as an outside adviser, was severe. The three-page contract states that counsel agrees not to disclose to anyone, without the offices written permission the existence of the Trump grand jury investigation, any aspect of that probe, and the mere fact that he signed a nondisclosure agreement. The strict limitations seemed tailored to his role as an outside adviser, not a full investigator who could question witnesses and reveal that a grand jury was then underway. The contract also cautions that any damning information gathered by investigators inherently came from grand jury subpoenas, and thus improper disclosure of such material by certain individuals is punishable as a felony. The Daily Beast received a redacted copy of that December 2020 employment contract, which shows the degree to which DA Vance played it safe to keep contractors quiet as prosecutors took on the largest and potentially most consequential investigation in the offices history. This reporter filed a Freedom of Information Law request for the document in February 2022, but the offices public records unit did not deliver copies of the agreement. The Daily Beast obtained a copy of it on Wednesday. Is Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg Finally Ready to Indict Trump? The Manhattan DAs Office confirmed the redacted document was the same version Pomerantz signed. But someone familiar with that arrangement called into question whether the contract still applied after Pomerantz was officially sworn in as a full assistant district attorney two months later in February 2021. In his second role, Pomerantz helped lead the team of investigators, interviewed witnesses, and gathered evidence. In response to that, the DA's office on Thursday asserted to The Daily Beast that it believes the confidentiality provisions in the agreement "reflect an attorney's legal and ethical obligationswhether you are a special or a sworn-in assistant district attorney." The DAs office has taken the position that the book does more than embarrass the 222-year-old office made famous by shows like Law & Order. In a Jan. 18 letter to Simon & Schuster, DA general counsel Leslie B. Dubeck warned of a meaningful risk the book could harm the effort to hold the former president accountable in court. The office urges Mr. Pomerantz not to take any further steps that would damage an ongoing criminal investigation, she wrote. The letter noted that Manhattan DAs Office has not even had a chance to conduct pre-publication review of the manuscript to ensure it would not materially prejudice ongoing criminal investigations. The letter also served as a legal threat to Pomerantz, warning that he was technically a public servant during his stint at the DAs office. To the extent this book discloses information Mr. Pomerantz obtained as a public servant without this offices approval, Mr. Pomerantz is unlawfully converting confidential government information for his personal advantage, she wrote. In response to that letter, Simon & Schuster put out a statement last week that said it stands behind Mark Pomerantz and his book and looks forward to sharing this important and timely work with readers when it is published on February 7. Pomerantzs role as a public servantand the restrictions that go along with thatare listed in the version of the employment contract that the Manhattan DAs office used when it brought him onboard. Ex-Prosecutor: Manhattan DA Thought Indicting Trump Was Too Risky This situation has left some New York lawyers confused. Several former Manhattan and Brooklyn prosecutors noted how it was odd for a government office to bring temporary employees on board and make them sign nondisclosure agreements, a practice more suitable in the private sectorand even then used sparingly. They noted that experienced attorneys already know not to divulge key details of an ongoing case, something thats already covered by professional ethics rules that are enforced by the state bar. Then again, several sources with direct knowledge of the case called into question whether Pomerantzs book really ruins anything. They told The Daily Beast they believed the Manhattan DAs effort to indict Trump had come to a grinding halt. Meanwhile, Bragg is staying quiet about the pending investigation. His recent decision to hire one of the Justice Departments top brass, Matthew Colangelowho previously worked on fraud cases against Trump at the New York Attorney Generals Officewas an indication that the investigation may actually be back online. But Pomerantzs book might indeed drag Bragg into court with Trump directlyjust not the way prosecutors initially intended. Last week, New York celebrity lawyer Joe Tacopina disclosed publicly that he had been hired by the former president to prepare a potential defamation case against Pomerantz. Any lawsuit would inevitably pull Bragg and his prosecutors into civil litigation as witnesses, creating an awkward situation for an office thats simultaneously building a criminal case against Trump. 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. AFU air defense forces destroy 47 Russian missiles, 20 of them in area of Kyiv on Thurs Zaluzhny On Thursday morning, some 47 Russian cruise missiles were destroyed by the forces and means of air defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 20 of them in the area of the Ukrainian capital, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny said. "The terrorist state of Russia today launched a massive missile attack on the territory of Ukraine. The enemy launched 55 air and sea-based missiles (Kh-101, Kh-555, Kh-47 Dagger, Kalibr, Kh-59) from Tu-95, Su-35, MiG-31K aircraft and ships from the Black Sea," Zaluzhny said in Telegram. He said the forces and means of air defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed 47 cruise missiles, 20 of them in the capital area. In addition, three out of four Kh-59 guided air missiles did not reach their targets. "The goal of the Russians remains unchanged, psychological pressure on Ukrainians and the destruction of critical infrastructure. But we cannot be broken! Thanks to the military personnel who hold the sky over Ukraine," the commander-in-chief said. MUNCIE, Ind. The Delaware County Council met in regular session Tuesday and made a myriad of appointments to local board and commissions. At least one council member says the appointments appear to have been previously discussed by board members in private during a Republican Party caucus, where a majority of the board was present. "It's unfortunate that the entire Delaware County Council, with the exception of Jane Lasater, who is in Florida, and myself because I wasn't invited, met in secret under the guise of a 'Republican Caucus' for the sole purpose of discussing the upcoming board and committee appointments," said At-Large Council Member Ryan Webb Tuesday, after the public council meeting. "This is a clear open door violation." Ryan Webb Indiana law requires meetings of a majority of a public governing body be conducted in public except in certain circumstances usually involving personnel and legal action. Webb said the meeting of five of the seven council members was done to exclude him from the discussion. The council member has at times been at odds with fellow Republicans, including harsh and critical statements made on social media. City Council attorney Ben Freeman said Indiana law permits discussion about public policy issues during a political party caucus, according to an Indiana Supreme Court ruling from the 1990s. He and Council President Jessica Piper both said the meeting was legal and involved no decisions, no polling of where the council members stood on any issue and no outright votes. When asked if the Council could have a private discussion on any controversial matter by the calling of a party caucus, he again referred to the Indiana Supreme Court ruling. But Amelia D. McClure, executive director of the Hoosier State Press Association, says that if it was a meeting to discuss potential appointments to community boards, it probably should have been a public meeting. The HSPA handbook provides an example about a city's police commissioners gathering to discuss previously interviewed job candidates prior to a formal vote on the hiring. Such a meeting qualifies as a public under the Indiana Open Door Act Story continues The Star Press has requested a ruling on the matter by Luke Britt, the Indiana Public Access counselor. Among other duties, the counselor issues advisory opinions to interpret the public access laws upon request. An opinion, by law, should be issued within 30 days. The council will have an opportunity to present it's case for the caucus meeting to the counselor. Britt said in cases involving political party caucuses, he usually looks at the content of the meeting and whether it was political in nature or something else. Based on what he had heard of the council meeting to this point, he said it sounded as if it should have been open to the public. Webb aired his concerns during the Tuesday meeting. The appointments were made, often with more than one candidate brought forward for a particular position and with many candidates receiving more than one vote. As the council meeting ended, Webb said he thought that everyone brought forward to serve on the boards and commissions was capable and would do a good job. "Just for the record and going forward, any meetings with the entirety of the council, number one, should include me and number two, should be on record," Webb said. This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: County Council members huddled ahead of public meeting on appointments Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Republican Rep. George Santos of New York. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call and Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images The GOP wants to remove Ilhan Omar from a committee over years-old comments seen as anti-Semitic. Two Republicans have said they won't vote for the resolution, which is expected in the coming weeks. George Santos, who has lied about being the Jewish descendant of Holocaust survivors, is undecided. Rep. Ilhan Omar's continued service on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs may ultimately be decided, in part, by George Santos. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is poised to hold a vote in the coming weeks on a resolution that would remove the Minnesota Democrat from the committee, citing comments she made years ago about Americans' support for Israel. But two Republicans Reps. Nancy Mace of South Carolina and Victoria Spartz of Indiana have said they will oppose the effort. And Santos who has admitted to lying about his purported Jewish background by claiming that he was simply saying "Jew-ish" told Insider at the Capitol on Wednesday that he had not decided how he'll vote on the matter. "That's a good question," said Santos. "I don't know." Santos, currently battling allegations that he once performed in drag in Brazil, was then interrupted by a man filming with his cellphone who asked the Long Island congressman who he thinks will win this season of "RuPaul's Drag Race." "I have not watched this season of Drag Race," Santos replied. As he boarded an elevator, Santos re-affirmed that he hadn't decided how he would vote on Omar. "Not yet. No," he said. "But we'll get back to you, we'll get back to you." McCarthy can only lose a handful of Republican votes on the resolution in a closely divided House, and several other Republicans have said they're undecided. Democrats are expected to remain unanimous in voting to keep Omar on the committee. That makes Santos's decision on the matter pivotal to Omar's future. Santos, who once claimed to be a "proud Jew" and the descendant of Holocaust survivors, owned up to lying about that aspect of his background after reporting revealed it to be a fabrication. Some fellow Republicans have cited that lie in particular as they've called for him to resign from Congress. Story continues The effort to block Omar from serving on Foreign Affairs is part of a broader effort by McCarthy to deny committee seats to Democrats, in part as retribution for a duo of bipartisan votes that removed Republican Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Paul Gosar of Arizona from their committees over violent rhetoric during the last Congress. McCarthy also officially rejected the appointments of Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell of California to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on Tuesday, accusing Schiff of lying to the public ahead of former President Donald Trump's first impeachment and pointing to Swalwell's brief association with a Chinese spy. As House Speaker, McCarthy has the unilateral ability to reject Jeffries's picks for any select committee but must subject votes for the Foreign Affairs Committee to a full floor vote. McCarthy and other Republicans have pointed to comments that Omar made about Israel during her first term, when she insinuated that American support for the Jewish nation was primarily rooted in money. Many members of Congress, including some Democrats, said the comments were anti-Semitic. Omar apologized at the time, and on Wednesday, she called the effort to remove her from the committee was a "political stunt." Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) January 25, 2023 Read the original article on Business Insider US President Joe Biden (Getty) The decision by the Biden administration to reverse its previous stance and send tanks to Ukraine is a significant political and military move. The supply of the M1A1 Abrams has met the German stipulation on Leopard 2 tanks, for Berlins own forces and those of other Nato states using them to transfer them to Kyiv, with new offensives by both Russia and Ukraine due to begin in the spring. The Abrams, the Leopards and the British-supplied Challengers will not, by themselves, win the war for Ukraine; but they will have a major impact on the battlefield and raise the scale and lethality of combat. The number of tanks for a decisive tilt against the Russians are not adding up at the moment: although that may change. Volodymyr Zelenskys government has repeatedly insisted that it needs 300 modern battle tanks to help defeat the Russians. To put that into context the UK has a total of 249 Challenger 2s in service and the French have 220 Leclercs, their own main tank, available for deployment. The US, it is reported, is prepared to send 31 Abrams: the UK has agreed to send one squadron, 14, of Challenger 2s. Germany, it is reported, will send 14 Leopards, as will Poland. Berlin has also promised more tanks in the future. Norway and Finland are also considering sending Leopards, although in smaller numbers. What does make the American decision important is the fact that Joe Biden, against apparently the advice of some in the US military, has agreed to supply such offensive armour, something it had not done in the war so far to avoid further escalation by Russian president Vladimir Putin. Kyiv hopes that other sophisticated weaponry it is seeking, including combat aircraft, may come next now that the Rubicon has been crossed. Russia's ambassador to the US said the news of the tanks was another blatant provocation. Washington has been claiming that one reason for not sending the Abrams was that they were unsuitable for the Ukraine war. They were too complex and expensive to operate and maintain. But that appears no longer to be a deciding factor. Story continues Major General Tim Cross, a former British Army commander and a leading logistics specialist, said: It is certainly the case that the Americans were saying the Abrams were not right for Ukraine. It will be interesting to see what kind of logistic chain for parts and ammunition, repair facilities, and training of crews, they put in. This will take a great deal of organisation, and thus time. The Ukrainians will have to integrate tanks from different countries. Are they going to get the same type of Leopards from all the contributing Nato countries? They will have to work out interoperability between the Challengers and Abrams and Leopards. Having the tanks will obviously be of great benefit to the Ukrainians. But I dont think its not going to be decisive for the conflict. The Ukrainians have been very good at static types of warfare and limited offensives. But it is a different proposition carrying out a combined, all-arms operation. Robert Emerson, a security analyst, said: [It is an] interesting move by Biden, certainly a morale booster for the Ukrainians. Well have to see how the Russians react, how they progress with deploying their armour and their Air Force. Quite a few things will play out in the next months." The Justice Department on Thursday announced it had disrupted a notorious cybercriminal group behind ransomware attacks on more than 1,500 victims worldwide and millions of dollars in extorted payment. The announcement came amid an ongoing larger effort by the Biden administration to clamp down on ransomware attacks, which have surged in recent years and have held hostage the data of critical organizations like hospitals, governments and schools. Justice Department personnel used a court order on Wednesday night to seize two back-end servers belonging to the Hive ransomware group in Los Angeles and took control of the groups darknet website, Attorney General Merrick Garland said Thursday. Garland, at a press conference in Washington, said Hive was behind attacks in the past two years on a Midwest hospital, which was forced to stop accepting new patients and to pay a ransom to decrypt health data. While Garland did not name the hospital, the Memorial Health System in West Virginia and Ohio was attacked by Hive affiliates at the same time. Hive was also linked to an attack last year on Costa Ricas public health service. Hive is known to go after health care organizations, and the Justice Department, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services put out a joint alert last year warning of additional Hive attacks on health care and public health groups. Garland said the Justice Department had assisted around 300 victims around the world since July, and stopped the payment of around $130 million to Hive. Cybercrime is a constantly evolving threat, but as I have said before, the Justice Department will spare no resources to identify and bring to justice anyone, anywhere who targets the United States with a ransomware attack, Garland said. FBI Director Christopher Wray said the disruption campaign against Hive had taken place over the past year and a half, and involved FBI personnel gaining access to Hives control panels in order to give victims keys to unlock their encrypted systems. Wray pressed victims of cyberattacks to come forward and inform law enforcement, noting that only around 20 percent of Hives victims had done so. Story continues A reminder to cybercriminals: No matter where you are, and no matter how much you try to twist and turn to cover your tracks your infrastructure, your criminal associates, your money and your liberty are all at risk, and there will be consequences, Wray told reporters. Hackers linked to some ransomware attacks have often been based out of Russia, including the hackers behind the 2021 attack on Colonial Pipeline, which temporarily crippled the supply of gas to the East Coast. While the Biden administration opened discussions with Moscow in 2021 about cracking down on cybercriminals based in Russia, these talks collapsed following the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year. When asked whether Hive cybercriminals were based in Russia, Garland declined to answer, noting we are in the middle of an ongoing investigation. While the dismantling of Hives operations is a win for the Justice Department which launched a ransomware task force in 2021 to better prioritize investigating and bringing to justice ransomware cybercriminals at least one expert is skeptical of its long-term impact. "The disruption of the Hive service wont cause a serious drop in overall ransomware activity, but it is a blow to a dangerous group that has endangered lives by attacking the health care system, John Hultquist, the head of Mandiant Threat Intelligence at Google Cloud, said Thursday. He noted that a new competitor will likely be standing by to take Hives place. Actions like this add friction to ransomware operations. Hive may have to regroup, retool, and even rebrand, Hultquist said. When arrests arent possible, well have to focus on tactical solutions and better defense. Until we can address the Russian safehaven and the resilient cybercrime marketplace, this will have to be our focus." A recent video of Kendall Jenner has fans divided after the supermodel appeared to describe her recent trips to the United Arab Emirates at the grand opening of the Atlantis, The Royal Dubai hotel. Jenner, 27, attended the grand opening of the A-list hotel over the weekend the same accommodation where Beyonce gave an exclusive concert performance for the first time since 2018. In one viral video shared to TikTok, Jenner can be seen wearing a green Victoria Beckham dress with long black gloves as she chats with friends Simon Huck and Jonathan Cheban at a party. Many viewers claimed the model mouthed the words, This is my third time. The first two times were horrible. Horrible! This is so fun, which led people to assume she was describing her previous experiences in the UAE city. The clip received 5.8 million views on TikTok, but some fans had mixed reactions to Jenner complaining about her past trips to the expensive destination. She really gives off a bad vibe, sorry not sorry, commented one TikTok user. So unlikeable in [her] mannerisms alone to me, said someone else. Yall care too much leave her alone, one fan replied. She could be speaking about the event or the location of the event, so many things but haters gonna hate, another person noted. I literally dont see anything wrong with what shes doing lol, a third wrote. During the lavish trip to Dubai, Kendall Jenner made an appearance at the grand re-opening of Nobu Dubai, where she helped restaurateur Nobu Matsuhisa perform a traditional Japanese sake ceremony. Following the event, Jenner hosted an after-party for her 818 Tequila brand, where the viral video was allegedly filmed. Story continues The Keeping Up with the Kardashians alum previously travelled to Dubai in 2015, where she rang in the New Year with friends Gigi Hadid, Cody Simpson, Selena Gomez, Devon Windsor, and Shay Mitchell. The Victorias Secret model also appeared to visit Dubai for a second time in 2016, after she shared on her website that she spent a total of 17 hours in the air during a flight from Los Angeles to the UAE. Many celebrities flocked to Dubai over the weekend for the grand opening of Atlantis, The Royal Dubai hotel where Beyonce gave a private concert for the first time in four years. Guests at the event included Kendall Jenner, Liam Payne, Ronan Keating, Rochelle and Marvin Humes, Chloe and Halle Bailey and British Vogue editor Edward Enninful. Cast members from Bravos The Real housewives of Dubai and Netflixs Dubai Bling were also in attendance. Beyonce was reportedly paid $24m for the one-hour exclusive performance. If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, SheKnows may receive an affiliate commission. If the royal family thinks Prince Andrews scandal from his association with Jeffrey Epstein is going away, think again. Virginia Giuffre, who settled a multimillion-dollar sex-abuse lawsuit against the Duke of York is reportedly publishing a memoir. More from SheKnows Giuffre had a one-year gag order, which expires next month, so that makes her upcoming book a very appealing one for publishers (especially on the heels of Prince Harrys wildly successful, Spare). She alleged that Andrew raped her three times after being trafficked by convicted pedophile Epstein. While the royal has never claimed any responsibility for the sexual assault claims, he did settle the suit for a reported $14 million to essentially make the case go away. Kate Middleton and Prince William's latest move might mean they're continuing their efforts to modernize the monarchy. https://t.co/MeiRFnAKVi SheKnows (@SheKnows) January 26, 2023 With so much interest in the royal family drama, Giuffres book deal is believed to be worth millions, according to the New York Post. Based on the terms of the settlement, she would likely not be able to write about Prince Andrew, but her publication is possibly being published around King Charles IIIs May 6 coronation, which would be an unwelcome reminder that Andrews scandal is going to continue to haunt the palace, per the Daily Beast. Click here to read the full article. Buy: Spare $22.40 Adding on more layer to the royal family soap opera is the rumor that Andrew is considering reopening his case and trying to get his money back from Giuffre. She recently dropped her sexual assault lawsuit against Alan Dershowitz, so he sees this as an opportunity to change the outcome of his case. There is a feeling right now that he settled too quickly, he might have misunderstood that when he gave up the titles that they would not be given back to him. Its a tough reality for him. It is something that is being considered legally right now, Daphne Barak shared on Jeremy Kyle Live, via the Daily Beast. It sounds like Charles is going to have quite a few more headaches in the days leading up to his coronation because Andrews troubles arent going away anytime soon. Story continues Before you go, click here to find out which tell-all books expose major royal family secrets. Finding Freedom, Lady in Waiting Launch Gallery: A Complete Timeline of Prince Andrew & Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York's Royal Relationship Best of SheKnows Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Jan. 26Members of the League of Women Voters met over Zoom to discuss education funding in Idaho. The presenters included members of the League of Women Voters of Idaho Legislative Action Committee and representatives from the group Totally Dedicated Advocates Dedicated to Students, or TOADS, who will discuss how bills are being developed and what education bills are currently in the state legislature. The presentation came during "Education Week" in the state Legislature and the Idaho Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee will be discussing education funding throughout the week. "Education funding is one of the most important issues the legislature will tackle this year and every year," said LWV member Jean Henscheid. LWV member Kathy Dawes presented on some of the history of the League of Women Voters' studies on education and the recent update to the study. She said the measure of inadequate funding can be found in supplemental levies, shortened school weeks and buildings. "It has become clear that action is needed immediately," Dawes said. Schools in Idaho are funded through the state through the general fund and state dedicated funds like the lottery. Other funding can come from the federal government, local funds like property taxes, and private funds or foundations, Dawes said. Dawes said the TOADS group found Idaho schools had been underfunded by $1.3 billion a year and the group has written two proposed bills that address the concerns raised by the LWV. The bills aim to cover immediate funding and long-term solutions. The first proposed bill would create a $1.2 billion "Education Enhancement Fund," which would provide salary increases, and provide grants for new buildings and remodeling current facilities. It would also lower property taxes by paying off current K-12 levies and 25% of future levies. The second proposed bill would remove 43 special interest sales tax exemptions and reduce overall sales tax from 6% to 4%, Dawes said. It would charge sales tax on 17 service areas previously not taxed and generate more than $1 billion a year for the general fund. If passed, the bill would go into effect after a citizen's advisory ballot. Story continues TOADS member Robert Huntley said routing slips are currently being printed for the proposed bills, and the drafted legislation will next be discussed in committee. These proposals are not guaranteed to become bills and are not available to the public. Education savings accounts, vouchers and empowering parents grants are alternatives for educational funding, Dawes said. The LWV didn't have stances on these alternatives yet, but the group was firm in its opinion of not wanting funding taken away from public education, Dawes said. Henscheid said those who want to get involved could watch committee hearings, which are available at legislature.idaho.gov. Education funding goes through the House and Senate education committees, the Revenue and Taxation committee and the Joint Finance and Appropriations committee, Henscheid said. She encouraged those interested in helping further the education funding efforts to talk to their legislators, give testimony at legislature sessions and vote. Kali Nelson can be reached at knelson@dnews.com. Aconcagua from the base in Argentina Getty A British mountaineer has had his right leg amputated after falling at 20,000 feet on the highest mountain in the Americas. The unnamed 32-year-old was climbing the 22,837-foot Mount Aconcagua in Argentina when he fell, reported LBC News citing local officials, who added that they received a report of a man who was unconscious and in a "serious condition" at 6:00 p.m. local time Tuesday. After being evacuated by helicopter the climber was taken by ambulance to Hospital Central in the city of Mendoza, which is located 70 miles southeast of Mount Aconcagua in the Argentinian province of the same name. He is currently in a "serious condition" having sustained a fractured skull, added the outlet. Tragically, he also had to have his right leg amputated because of his injuries, reported LBC. Officials in the hospital and city did not immediately reply to PEOPLE's request for further details. RELATED: U.S. Mountaineer Hilaree Nelson Missing After Falling Into Crevasse in Nepal Aconcagua from the base in Argentina Getty RELATED: Julian Sands Still Missing After Other Mt. Baldy Hiker Found Alive, Brother Says: 'In My Heart He Has Gone' Mount Aconcagua is located close to Argentina's border with Chile and both the highest mountain outside of Asia and in the western hemisphere. It is also part of a grouping of high peaks on each of the continents known as the Seven Summits. Despite being first climbed in 1897, it continues to pose extreme hazards to mountaineers through altitude sickness and the frequent high winds that race across its upper levels. News of the accident comes as authorities continue their search for actor Julian Sands nearly two weeks after he embarked on a hike on Mount Baldy in California. On Tuesday, the San Bernardino County Sheriff announced in a release that another missing hiker, Jim Chung, 75, had been located alive in the region. He'd been reported missing on Jan. 22. 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 celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The Los Angeles man "suffered some weather-related injuries and a leg injury but was able to walk out with the assistance of the crew members," the sheriff's department said. Story continues He was taken to a hospital. The sheriff's department did not share details on his condition. The San Bernardino Sheriff's Department also noted that authorities are still using "ground and air search efforts" to find Sands, 65. "As of this time, Mr. Sands has not been found and no evidence of his current location has been discovered. The search will continue, weather and ground conditions permitting," the sheriff's department said. RELATED: 1 Climber Dead, 2 Others Injured in Avalanche at Rocky Mountain National Park Sunset on Mount Denali previously known as Mount McKinley, the highest mountain peak in North America, at 20, 310 feet above sea level. Alaska Mountain Range, Denali National Park and Preserve.. (Photo by: Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty RELATED: New Jersey Man Dies at 19,700 Feet on Alaska's Mt. Denali, North America's Highest Mountain Peak On Dec. 28 a mountain climber in Utah recalled his own near-death experience after falling 40 feet from a climbing route known as the Finger of Fate. Speaking to ABC affiliate KTVX at the time, 29-year-old Tim Thompson said he was thankful to be alive after the incident. "'Hopefully I don't die' was the first thought that went through my mind," he told the outlet. Thompson who recently became a new father suffered his accident after he embarked on an ice-climbing adventure with a friend near Bridal Veil Falls. As Thompson climbed to the peak, he lost his footing when a chunk of ice broke away from the mountain. "All the weight on that left foot, all the ice just sheared off the rock," explained Thompson, whose life was likely saved after he landed on a snowy ledge. He suffered "a badly broken arm and back" due to the fall, according to a GoFundMe campaign that was established to help pay for his medical bills. Despite the horrifying episode, Thompson said he was also not ready to give up on the activity and encouraged other climbers to pay attention to safety. "A lot of people, I think, would have something like this deter them from doing it," Thompson said. "But it's something I'm so passionate about and love that I think you truly can make it safe." In this courtroom sketch, Sayfullo Saipov, right, is seated next to his defense attorney, Federal Defender Sylvie Levine in federal court in New York, on Wednesday. Jan. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Elizabeth Williams) NEW YORK An Islamic extremist who killed eight people with a speeding truck in a 2017 rampage on a popular New York City bike path was convicted Thursday of 28 federal crimes and could face the death penalty. Sayfullo Saipov, who was living in Paterson at the time of the arrest, bowed his head as he heard the verdict in the trial for a Halloween attack that prosecutors said was inspired by his reverence for the Islamic State militant group. Saipov was tried in a Manhattan courtroom just a few blocks from where the attack ended. Darren Drake, 32, of New Milford, was among those killed. The Darren Drake Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden in December, is a bipartisan law aimed at stopping lone-wolf terrorism. The dozen jurors deliberated for about seven hours over two days before convicting Saipov, 34, of crimes including murder in aid of racketeering and supporting a foreign terrorist organization. The jury will return to court within days to hear more evidence to help them decide whether he should be executed or spend the rest of his life in prison. A death sentence for Saipov, a citizen of Uzbekistan, would be an extreme rarity in New York. The state no longer has capital punishment, and the last state execution was in 1963. A federal jury in New York has not rendered a death sentence that withstood legal appeals in decades, with the last execution in 1954. Even before the trial, there was little doubt Saipov was a killer. His lawyers conceded to the jury that he rented a pickup truck near his New Jersey home, steered it onto the path along the Hudson River and mowed down bicyclists for blocks before crashing into a school bus near the World Trade Center. He emerged from his truck yelling, "God is great," in Arabic, with pellet and paintball guns in his hands, before he was shot by a police officer who thought the guns were real firearms. The vehicle attack killed a woman visiting from Belgium with her family, five friends from Argentina and two Americans. Story continues It left others with permanent injuries, including a woman who lost her legs. "His actions were senseless, horrific, and there's no justification for them," defense attorney David Patton told the jury during the trial. The defense asked jurors to acquit Saipov of racketeering charges, saying he intended to die a martyr and was not conspiring with the Islamic State organization, despite voluminous amounts of propaganda from the group found on his electronic devices and at his home. Saipov, who moved legally to the U.S. from Uzbekistan in 2010 and lived in Ohio and Florida before joining his family in Paterson, did not testify at his trial. Related:Darren Drake Act, named for North Jersey terror victim, is signed into law by Biden He sat quietly each day, unlike at a pretrial hearing in 2019 when he insisted on questioning the judge about why he should be judged for eight deaths when "thousands and thousands of Muslims are dying all over the world." Prosecutors said Saipov attacked civilians to impress the Islamic State group so he could become a member and appeared pleased with his work, smiling when he spoke to an FBI agent afterward. Among those testifying were several family members from Belgium who were injured in the attack. Aristide Melissas, a father, said he had challenged family members to race their bikes to the World Trade Center with the loser paying for ice cream. When he was struck by Saipov's truck, his skull was fractured, and he underwent brain surgery. His wife, Marion Van Reeth, spoke of waking up in a hospital to learn that her legs had been amputated. Saipov's lawyers have said the death penalty process was irrevocably tainted by former President Donald Trump, who tweeted a day after the attack that Saipov "SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY!" President Joe Biden instituted a moratorium on executions for federal crimes after taking office. Until Saipov's trial, Biden's Justice Department, under Attorney General Merrick Garland, had not launched any new attempt to obtain the death penalty in a federal case. But Garland has allowed U.S. prosecutors to continue advocating for capital punishment in cases inherited from previous administrations. It has been a decade since a jury in New York last considered the death penalty Federal juries in Brooklyn twice handed up a death sentence for a man who murdered two New York police detectives, once in 2007 and again in 2013, but both sentences were tossed out on appeal. A judge ultimately ruled the killer was intellectually disabled. In 2001, just weeks before the Sept. 11 attacks, federal jurors in Manhattan declined to impose a death sentence on two men convicted in the deadly bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa after their lawyers urged them not to make the defendants into martyrs. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Sayfullo Saipov convicted in NYC attack that killed Darren Drake OCONTO - Oconto Middle School students will have a chance to explore new career opportunities as they try their hand at welding. The Oconto Unified School District purchased a MobileArc Augmented Reality Welding System and Prusa i3 3D printers as part of a $20,000 technology makeover made possible through Leap for Learning, a new technology makeover program offered by the Green Bay Packers and UScellular and partially funded by a grant from the NFL Foundation. Oconto Middle School students practice welding techniques via a MobileArc Augmented Reality Welding System. Emily Miller, superintendent of the school district, said virtual welders will give students the opportunity to try welding without its inherent dangers, such as burns, eye injuries and electric shock. The goal is to provide different STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) opportunities and allow the students to follow up with welding and metal fabrication at the high school level, she said. The high school offers college credit courses in welding through Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. By using the welding simulators, students can practice multiple welding processes in a realistic simulator that generates three-dimensional images of metal workpieces. Realistic arc sounds accompany the visuals, contributing to an immersive experience. Students are monitored, scored and provided feedback regarding their welding technique. Initially, students in grades five through eight will use the welding system, although the system can easily be moved to the high school, also. Students will learn the basics of welding, choosing different types of welds, and practicing different welding techniques in a safe environment, Miller said. The virtual welding program is an example of how collaboration between the school district and local businesses helps strengthen the community. Chad Hendzel, an NWTC welding instructor and operations manager at Yakfab Metals Inc. in Oconto, said the metal fabrication industry needs more welders, and programs like this one introduce youth to this lucrative and versatile career path. Story continues Its nice to get the exposure at the middle school level so they can get into some welding classes in high school if thats the path theyre interested in, Hendzel said. If a person has mechanical abilities and likes working with their hands, welding can be a fun job to have. Yakfab is a CNC machining, custom welding and fabrication machine shop serving a wide variety of industries, including marine, fire protection, paper, food processing and chemical processing. The type of (welding) work can be all over the board. Youre not just sitting in a booth and welding for 10 hours and go home, he said. Welding careers pay well and provide numerous opportunities for advancement. Lots of careers can spawn out of a welding certificate, Hendzel said. An Oconto Middle School student uses a virtual welder to learn about the skill without dangers from electric shock, burns, eye injuries and infrared radiation exposure. Jim Eckes, fabrication manager at Nercon, said welders have a lot of different career opportunities in sectors like manufacturing, metal working and metal art. Welding is an integral skill for employees of Nercon, which designs and manufactures conveyor systems and equipment for all types of consumer-packaged goods. Eckes said one of weldings rewards is the ability to create something with your hands and your skills. Even at its most basic form, youre creating something, Eckes said. You get to see the end product and how it fits into the other assembly. Introducing welding at the middle school will open doors to careers that students might not have considered and save them the time and money of pursuing a college degree or career that isnt a good fit, Eckes said. Plus, students have a safe environment to learn welding, without the heat and danger, even before entering high school. The earlier you can pique their interest, the better off you are, Eckes said. They can hit the ground running and be more successful going into it. Experiencing welding at the middle school level also helps remove the stigma that manufacturing is a dirty, dingy jog, while its actually a challenging, complex and rewarding career, Eckes said. The welding system was installed in a STEAM lab at the middle school during the 2022-23 school year. The virtual welders provide students with real-world, interactive experiences in welding, plus fun opportunities to practice what they learn. Samantha Boucher is the tourism director for the Oconto County Economic Development Corporation. MORE: Abrams theater to present 3 shows in its 20th season MORE: Fire department halts damage at Oconto High School MORE: Accountant accused of stealing thousands of dollars from Gillett day care FOR MORE OCONTO COUNTY NEWS: Check out our website! This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Oconto Middle School students use virtual welders, thanks to Packers Germany to hand over Leopard tanks to Ukraine by end of March German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has promised Ukraine the delivery of German Leopard 2 battle tanks by the end of March, tagesschau publication said. As Pistorius stated during a visit to the troops in Saxony-Anhalt, Kyiv will receive tanks by the "end of the first quarter." Asked if it was timely to strengthen Ukraine ahead of Russia's expected spring offensive, Pistorius said that, as far as he knows, it was "timely." JERUSALEM (AP) Gaza militants fired rockets and Israel carried out airstrikes early Friday as tensions soared following an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank that killed nine Palestinians, including at least seven militants and a 61-year-old woman. It was the deadliest single raid in the territory in over two decades. The flare-up in violence poses an early test for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right government and casts a shadow on U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinkens expected trip to the region next week. Of the five rockets fired at Israel, three were intercepted, one fell in an open area and another fell short inside Gaza, the military said. It said the airstrikes targeted an underground rocket manufacturing site for Hamas as well as militant training areas. The rockets set off air raid sirens in southern Israel but there were no reports of casualties on either side. Both the Palestinian rockets and Israeli airstrikes seemed limited so as to prevent escalation into a full-blown war. Israel and Hamas have fought four wars and several smaller skirmishes since the militant group seized power in Gaza from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Thursday's deadly raid in the Jenin refugee camp was likely to reverberate on Friday as Palestinians gather for weekly Muslim prayers that are often followed by protests. Hamas had earlier threatened revenge for the raid. Raising the stakes, the Palestinian Authority said it would halt the ties that its security forces maintain with Israel in a shared effort to contain Islamic militants. Previous threats have been short-lived, in part because of the benefits the authority enjoys from the relationship and also due to U.S. and Israeli pressure to maintain it. The Palestinian Authority already has limited control over scattered enclaves in the West Bank, and almost none over militant strongholds like the Jenin camp. But the announcement could pave the way for Israel to step up operations it says are needed to prevent attacks. Story continues On Thursday, Israeli forces went on heightened alert as Palestinians filled the streets across the West Bank, chanting in solidarity with Jenin. President Mahmoud Abbas declared three days of mourning, and in the refugee camp, residents dug a mass grave for the dead. Palestinian Authority spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said Abbas had decided to cut security coordination in light of the repeated aggression against our people." He also said the Palestinians planned to file complaints with the U.N. Security Council, International Criminal Court and other international bodies. Barbara Leaf, the top U.S. diplomat for the Middle East, said the Biden administration was deeply concerned about the situation and that civilian casualties reported in Jenin were quite regrettable. But she also said the Palestinian announcement to suspend security ties and to pursue the matter at international organizations was a mistake. Thursday's gun battle that left nine dead and 20 wounded erupted when Israel's military conducted a rare daytime operation in the Jenin camp that it said was meant to prevent an imminent attack on Israelis. The camp, where the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group has a major foothold, has been a focus of near-nightly Israeli arrest raids. Hamas armed wing claimed four of the dead as members, while Islamic Jihad claimed three others. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the 61-year-old woman killed as Magda Obaid, and the Israeli military said it was looking into reports of her death. The Israeli military circulated aerial video it said was taken during the battle, showing what appeared to be Palestinians on rooftops hurling stones and firebombs on Israeli forces below. At least one Palestinian can be seen opening fire from a rooftop. Later in the day, Israeli forces fatally shot a 22-year-old and wounded two others, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, as Palestinians confronted Israeli troops north of Jerusalem to protest Thursdays raid. Israel's paramilitary Border Police said they opened fire on Palestinians who launched fireworks at them from close range. Tensions have soared since Israel stepped up raids in the West Bank last spring, following a series of Palestinian attacks. Israels new national security minister, far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, who seeks to grant legal immunity to Israeli soldiers who shoot Palestinians, posted a video of himself beaming triumphantly and congratulating security forces. The raid left a trail of destruction in Jenin. A two-story building, apparently the operation's target, was a charred wreck. The military said it entered the building to detonate explosives. Palestinian Health Minister May Al-Kaila said paramedics struggled to reach the wounded during the fighting, while Akram Rajoub, the governor of Jenin, said the military prevented emergency workers from evacuating them. Both accused the military of firing tear gas at the pediatric ward of a hospital, causing children to choke. Video at the hospital showed women carrying children into a corridor. The military said forces closed roads to aid the operation, which may have complicated rescue efforts, and that tear gas had likely wafted into the hospital from nearby clashes. The Israeli rights group BTselem said Thursday marked the single bloodiest West Bank incursion since 2002, at the height of an intense wave of violence known as the Second Intifada, or Palestinian uprising, which left scars still visible in Jenin. U.N. Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland said he was deeply alarmed and saddened by the violence. Condemnations came from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Turkey, which recently reestablished full diplomatic ties with Israel. Neighboring Jordan, as well as Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries also condemned the Israeli raid. The Islamic Jihad branch in Gaza has repeatedly fought against Israel, most recently in a fierce three-day clash last summer that killed dozens of Palestinians and disrupted the lives of hundreds of thousands of Israelis. Nearly 150 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank and east Jerusalem last year, making 2022 the deadliest in those territories since 2004, according to BTselem. So far this year, 30 Palestinians have been killed. Israel says most of the dead were militants. But youths protesting the incursions and others not involved in the confrontations also have been killed. So far this year, not including Thursday, one-third of the Palestinians killed by Israeli troops or civilians had ties to armed groups. Last year, 30 people were killed in Palestinian attacks against Israelis. Israel says its raids are meant to dismantle militant networks and thwart attacks. The Palestinians say they further entrench Israels 55-year, open-ended occupation of the West Bank, which Israel captured along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians claim those territories for their hoped-for state. Israel has established dozens of settlements in the West Bank that now house 500,000 people. The Palestinians and much of the international community view settlements as illegal and an obstacle to peace, even as talks to end the conflict have been moribund for over a decade. ___ Associated Press writers Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel; Areej Hazboun in Jerusalem; Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, and Fares Akram in Hamilton, Ontario, contributed. A double rainbow in Shanghai, China. Rainbows are colorful arches that stretch high into the sky, and they end somewhere in the distance (where the fabled pot of gold can be found), right? Wrong. Rainbows are actually not arches. They form as full circles when sunlight passes through raindrops at just the right angle. However, only part of the circle the arch is visible to the observer on the ground. Earth's surface blocks the rest of the light and, therefore, the rest of the halo which is why it appears as a rainbow. How much of the halo is visible depends on where the observer is standing and how much of the surface is in the way, said Michael Kavulich , a research scientist with the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, and an expert on rainbows and why we see them as we do. It depends on refraction how light is bent when it hits a raindrop and reflection, which is light bouncing back. To understand why rainbows are really halos, you need to know how they form. "Most light entering a spherical raindrop ends up getting refracted at nearly the same angle, and if it also reflects once off the back of the raindrop this angle ends up being around 40-42 degrees from the direction the light is coming from," Kavulich told Live Science in an email. Related: Why does rain smell so good? Rainbow - raindrop refracts and reflects light. Yes, raindrops are actually spherical, not teardrop-shaped. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , light starts to bend, or refract, when it enters a raindrop because water is denser than air. The light continues to travel until it reaches the back of the raindrop. This is the phase where light bounces off the back. Now on its way out of the raindrop, the light refracts one more time and then separates into its iconic colors. Because raindrops are spherical, they reflect light in a cone shape. And what is at the end of the cone? That's right: a circle. So, while the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow may be a myth, a rainbow is still the end of something. Story continues An observer's ability to see a rainbow depends on where they are standing in relation to the sun . What becomes visible is the light refracted and reflected at a certain angle as Kavulich mentioned, about 40 degrees from that light's source that hits the eye directly. For this to happen, the shadow of the observer's head has to be positioned exactly opposite from the sun (without the obstruction of clouds) so it can be in the middle of the circle, even if the entire circle is not visible. This is how they can see light refracted and reflected through the raindrops right in front of them. RELATED MYSTERIES Why does lightning zigzag? What color is the sun? What color is the universe? "Because of this, if you move, the rainbow does too, always staying in the same spot in the sky relative to the sun," Kavulich said. "You can only see it change if you look over a long period of time, as the sun rises or sets across the sky." So why do we see colors in the classic ROYGBIV order? It's all about wavelengths of light. Kavulich explained that because red light has the longest visible wavelength, it is refracted the least, so it ends up at the top. Violet is at the bottom because it has the shortest wavelengths, which are refracted the most. So, given that rainbows aren't actually arches, is there any way to see an entire rainbow in circular form? An airplane window is probably your best bet, though all or most of the circle is often visible from skyscrapers. There is sometimes a clear view from other high elevations such as mountains. Even then, too much is usually in the way. Rainbows are actually full circles, typically visible from higher vantage points, such as planes or tall buildings.Credit: Fabricio Macielpic.twitter.com/MBtgOD9C4cSeptember 12, 2022 See more If you have no luck from those locations, you can try Kavulich's method of creating a circular rainbow with a garden hose . "You just need sunlight to be able to hit raindrops that you can see," he said. "With the right placement, I was able to see the whole circle at once." Tigers in South Africa are being intensively farmed for commercial trade. Hristo Vladev/NurPhoto via Getty Images A tiger escaped from a residence and roamed the countryside outside Johannesburg, South Africa, for four days this month. It attacked a man and killed several animals, and was eventually shot by the authorities. Tigers arent native to South Africa and are considered an alien species. Its escape highlights the countrys controversial commercial captive breeding industry and the key role South Africa plays in the international big cat trade. Tigers are being intensively farmed for tourism, hunting, and commercial trade in live individuals and in their body parts. Moina Spooner, assistant editor at The Conversation Africa, asked Neil D'Cruze and Angie Elwin to share their insights into the industry. What are your main concerns about South Africas captive predator industry? The recent tiger escape in Johannesburg demonstrates the safety risk that this industry poses to wildlife farm workers, visitors and the public. Attacks by big cats in South Africa have resulted in multiple life-changing human injuries and deaths in recent years. Although individual tigers can be tamed to varying degrees, this should not be confused with domestication. They are wild animals. They have biological and behavioural needs that can only be fully met in the wild. Another concern we have is for animal welfare. Big cat breeding facilities in South Africa have been consistently criticised for their substandard conditions. Lion and tigers in a mixed enclosure at a commercial captive breeding facility in South Africa. courtesy BloodLions.org Also, none of the big cat facilities in South Africa have demonstrated that they are basing their breeding programmes on internationally recognised stud books or have successfully released any tigers back into the wild. Therefore, currently they provide no demonstrable direct conservation benefit. Rather, there are serious concerns that South Africas legal industry in captive bred tigers is a detrimental conduit for international illegal trade. A large proportion of the tigers are exported as live animals and body parts to China, Vietnam and Thailand. These are renowned hotspots for demand in tiger body parts and the illegal tiger trade. Story continues In addition, World Animal Protection, an animal protection organisation that we also work with, has received intelligence which indicates poachers are targeting tigers in captive breeding facilities. Their heads and paws are harvested and trafficked to meet Asian consumer demand. Another major concern we have, from our intelligence reports, is that some farm owners appear to be shifting operations from lions to tigers and ligers, lion-tiger hybrids. This may be in response to South Africas recent announcement of its decision to end lion farming. Is there any data on the number and location of tigers in South Africa? According to the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, there are more than 350 private or government-owned facilities in South Africa that actively breed or keep big cat species. These include tigers, lions, cheetahs, leopards, jaguars, pumas, caracals, servals and hybrids. The exact captive population size of these species is unknown, as the industry has never been fully audited. This is because theres a lack of adequate and effective regulation, resources and political will. However, according to latest unpublished data held by the provincial authorities (that we are reviewing as part of our research) and online research by Blood Lions, 492 tigers were kept in registered private facilities in 2022. According to published data, in 2019 permits were held for 5,291 lions, 373 cheetahs and 176 leopards in Mpumalanga, Free State, North West, and Gauteng alone. Captive tiger at a commercial captive breeding facility in South Africa. courtesy BloodLions.org Even if these figures are only part of the picture, thats an apparent increase in South Africas captive tiger population. Previous reports by the Environmental Investigation Agency and Four Paws indicated that around 100 tigers were held in facilities across seven provinces between 2019 and 2021. Exactly how tigers end up on commercial farms in South Africa is unclear. However, the CITES Trade Database shows that 66 live tigers were imported into the country over the last decade, mainly from Germany, Botswana, Romania and Lesotho. In comparison, 384 were exported live, mostly to zoos, circuses and breeding facilities in Vietnam, China, Thailand, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Is enough being done to manage the industry? South Africa is one of the few countries in Africa that still allows the commercial captive breeding, keeping and hunting of tigers, along with their domestic and international trade. This is despite a ban in 1987 on international tiger trade and a 2007 international treaty decision to prohibit the commercial captive breeding of tigers for trade in their parts or derivatives. These derivatives include their bones, bile, fat and blood, which are used in traditional medicines. The main statute regulating big cat species in South Africa is the 2004 National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act (NEMBA). Though provincial regulations vary considerably, under the Biodiversity Act anyone who has a permit can import, possess, breed or trade in tigers. To match legal measures already taken by the international community, South Africa should make a public commitment to end the commercial captive breeding, keeping, hunting and international trade in tigers and their body parts. It is unclear why South Africa has not yet done this. Economic reasons are likely to be a main driver, but this is debated given the potential economic harm caused by damage to the countrys international reputation. Other reasons could be the right to private ownership of wildlife and potential constitutional issues. A comprehensive, well-managed plan will be required to ensure a responsible transition away from the current industry. This should include regular audits, inspections by the relevant authorities and proper record keeping. This decision should be mandatory, made in lock step across all provinces in South Africa. It should also be extended to other big cat species that could potentially be used as substitutes for the illegal international trade in tiger bones. The authors extend their thanks to Dr Louise de Waal of Blood Lions for her informative insights and for sharing the latest data on number of big cats on predator facilities. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. If you found it interesting, you could subscribe to our weekly newsletter. It was written by: Neil DCruze, University of Oxford and Angie Elwin, University of Reading. Read more: Neil DCruze works for an international NGO, World Animal Protection as the Head of Wildlife Research. Angie Elwin works for an international NGO, World Animal Protection as a Wildlife Research Manager. NEW YORK A Colombian drug lord who had a military force of thousands under his command has pleaded guilty in a Brooklyn courtroom to running a criminal enterprise and will see at least 20 years behind bars. Dairo Antonio Usuga David, 51, led Clan del Golfo from 2012 until his arrest by the Colombian authorities in October 2021. The international criminal organization sent cocaine by the ton from Colombia to the U.S. through Mexico and Panama, the feds said. On Wednesday, Usuga David entered a guilty plea before Brooklyn Federal Court Judge Dora Irizarry. The court covers indictments in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Florida. Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace described Usuga David as the most violent and significant Colombian narcotics trafficker since Pablo Escobar. Usuga David, who also went by the name Otoniel, led a 6000-member militarized cartel that controls vast swaths of territory in the Uraba region of Antioquia, Colombia. He ruled with a draconian hand and ordered his minions to murder dozens of rivals, police and perceived informants, prosecutors said. After a 2012 poice raid killed his brother, he ordered his cartels forces to shut down the towns under his control. All businesses were forced to close and all residents told to stay in their homes for several days. He told the cartel members to execute anyone they found out violating his curfew. He commanded a cruel fate for one minion, who leaked information to a rival. The turncoat was tortured, buried alive, exhumed and beheaded post-mortem, prosecutors said. He sent out teams to kill Colombian law enforcement and military personnel with grenades, explosives and assault rifles, and offered bounties for the murder of police officers and members of the military. As part of his plea agreement, Usuga David agreed to turn over $216 million. He faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years behind bars. Under the terms of his extradition from Colombia, federal prosecutors have agreed not to seek a life sentence, though theres no limit on how many years he can receive when hes sentenced. Content warning: This story contains discussions, vague descriptions and statistics regarding suicide and suicidal thoughts. JEFFERSON CITY A transgender child who has tried four sports and has found community in fencing and tae kwon do. A Kansas City resident whose father refused to allow them to access gender-affirming care, but when they finally did, was "substantially happier than I've ever been." A father and Methodist minister who initially rejected the idea his child was transgender before turning to others and learning to accept them. A 16-year old transgender boy who embraced his identity after entering the foster care system. And a mother who found bullets in her middle school daughter's room, as she contemplated taking her own life before she began to transition. For more than seven hours stretching into late Tuesday night, these Missourians were among those who sat before a Missouri House committee weighing five bills three of which would restrict transgender girls from playing on girls' sports teams, and two that would outlaw gender-affirming health care for transgender children under 18. They took turns testifying, alongside proponents of the bills who urged Missouri Republicans to approve the legislation amid a national push from the right to enact restrictions and bans targeted at transgender youth. Those transgender Missourians both young and old, alongside families and advocates, said the slate of legislation would result in further physical and mental harm among LGBTQ+ youth in Missouri, who already experience significantly higher rates of discomfort, suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts compared to the rest of the population. "My only regret is that I wasn't able to start hormones earlier," said Stacey Cay, a transgender comedian who lives in Kansas City, as she testified against the legislation restricting gender-affirming care. "There were two other closeted young trans women who grew up in my church, and they're both dead now. And they never even got to start transitioning, and that haunts me. This bill seeks to doom every trans kid and the same thing we went through, even if they have loving, supportive parents, and a team of doctors and psychiatrists who have recommended hormones." Story continues House Bills 463, 419 and 540 all seek to impose a range of restrictions on health care that aids in the transition of transgender children under 18. As written, that would include hormone therapy and puberty-blocking drugs, which are among the most common paths for families and children that seek medical care to begin transitioning. Surgical procedures, which the bill sponsors touted as a key reason for the legislation, are exceedingly rare and not recommended for those under 18 by major medical associations, according to testimony from a representative of the American Academy of Pediatrics. House Bills 170, 183 and 337 aim to restrict transgender girls students who were born male and are transitioning to female from playing on girls' youth sports teams. The governing body overseeing K-12 sports in Missouri has an existing process designed to screen transgender athletes, under which seven students in the state are currently eligible to play. Republican lawmakers proposing the bills have argued that process doesn't go far enough; similar bills have been proposed in the Senate. Missouri legislature:Bill targeting school curriculum, trans student-athletes draws broad opposition Rep. Brian Seitz, a Branson Republican, said his version of the bill was designed to prevent female athletes from "being taken advantage of," and that "girls' opportunities are being taken away from them." Extensive hearings on the bills early in the legislative session, including the five bills that were on the agenda a day prior to Tuesday night's hearing, indicate that the issue is a priority for Republican members who hold majorities in both chambers of the General Assembly. Last session, two bills aimed at restricting transgender student-athletes passed the House; legislation blocking gender-affirming care has not seen significant movement previously. Members and advocates of the LGBTQ+ community stand in the Missouri State Capitol rotunda following a press conference in Jefferson City on Jan. 24, 2023. Leaders called on attendees to oppose a slate of bills aimed at transgender youth. The ACLU of Missouri and PROMO Missouri, the state's largest LGBTQ+ advocacy group, held a joint press conference under the Capitol dome on Tuesday afternoon. PROMO's executive director, Katy Erker-Lynch, said "we've never seen a day like this," in which nine bills relating to LGBTQ+ issues were up for hearing in the Capitol building. "It's a clear sign that keeping our community from thriving is one of the most urgent political priorities for this legislative body," Erker-Lynch said, flanked by Democratic lawmakers and advocates. Tears, frustration and high stakes in a tense, hours-long hearing The afternoon House hearing, which spanned hours as proponents and opponents took turns testifying and answering questions from lawmakers, was frequently tense and emotional. Trans youth and their parents were moved to tears, and those advocating for the legislation, some of whom characterized support of children's transition as "abuse" and "manipulation" or an affront to their faith, were met with boos and shouted remarks from the crowd. A representative for the Trevor Project, a nonprofit focused on suicide prevention among LGBTQ+ community, told lawmakers that the legislation banning gender-affirming care could result in significant spikes of suicidal thoughts and attempts among youth. According to the organization's 2022 national survey, 47% of LGBTQ+ youth in Missouri had seriously considered suicide within the last year; 15% had attempted suicide. Multiple families said if those bills pass, they would leave the state. One mother from St. Louis spoke about her transgender daughter, who went from withdrawn and depressed as a young teenager to "bright and social" and a competitive skateboarder after beginning to undergo therapy. Another father, who said his family had owned land in Missouri for 80 years, said his family would leave if restrictions on the care were imposed. Missouri legislature:Republicans renew attempts to restrict transgender sports, health care, education Neon Liebson, a transgender teenager from St. Louis, testified against the bills restricting transgender girls from girls' youth sports. They said they had been unable to play soccer, volleyball and baseball "as my truest self," but had tried tae kwon do and fencing as the sports they enjoyed. "Trans kids are kids, and we should be allowed to participate in activities and be given equal opportunities as our authentic selves," Liebson said. Tempers also flared among lawmakers during the hours-long meeting, with high-profile names on both sides of the aisle taking the witness stand and members of the committee growing frustrated with each other's responses. Quinton Lucas, the Democratic mayor of Kansas City, opposed the legislation, warning that future economic opportunities like World Cup games could pass the state by if they enact restrictions. Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, widely viewed as a potential candidate for governor, came out in support of the bills. After being asked by House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, a Springfield Democrat, whether he would commit to not using his appearance in "any campaign for you," Ashcroft said "we wouldn't even be talking about this if your side of the aisle weren't using it for political purposes." The committee has yet to vote on the slate of House bills and no immediate timeline for further action is set. Galen Bacharier covers Missouri politics & government for the News-Leader. Contact him at gbacharier@news-leader.com, (573) 219-7440 or on Twitter @galenbacharier. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Trans Missourians tell lawmakers: Bills could have deadly consequences A mother is accused of strangling three of her children before she jumped out a window in an attempted suicide at their suburban Boston home, officials said Wednesday. An arrest warrant had already been issued Wednesday for Lindsay Clancy for two counts of homicide in connection with the deaths of her 5-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son. Her 8-month-old son, who she's also accused of strangling and was "grievously wounded," has since died, NBC Boston reported. It's not clear at this time if Clancy will face new charges over the infant's death. Clancy's husband called 911 at 6:11 p.m. ET Tuesday, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz said. First responders found three children in the home in Duxbury. The children were unconscious and with obvious signs of severe trauma, Cruz said. "Preliminarily it appears that the children were strangled," Cruz told reporters late Wednesday afternoon. Two children are dead and their mother and an infant are hospitalized following the mother's attempted suicide at the family's home in Duxbury, Mass., on Tuesday. (NBC Boston) Cruz said that as soon as possible, we will be arraigning her on two charges of murder in the deaths of her children. Cora, 5, and Dawson, 3, were pronounced dead after they were taken to a hospital, Cruz said. An 8-month-old infant, identified by NBC Boston as Callan, was flown to a Boston hospital, he said. Their condition was not released at the time. An arrest warrant was issued against Clancy, 32, for two counts of homicide, three counts of strangulation, and three counts of assault and battery with a deadly weapon, the district attorneys office said. Two children are dead and their mother and an infant are hospitalized following the mother's attempted suicide at the family's home in Duxbury, Mass., on Tuesday. (NBC Boston) This is an unimaginable, senseless tragedy, he said. Police officers who responded to the scene were taken off duty in the aftermath, but they are OK, Duxbury Police Chief Michael Carbone told reporters Tuesday night. Duxburys fire department tweeted that resources from six towns were used to respond to the incident. Duxbury is an affluent bedroom community 35 miles south of Boston. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Former UFC heavyweight Todd Duffees retirement is coming to an end, as hes signed with KSW. Not only that, hes jumping right into a title shot. After Duffee revealed the news Wednesday on The MMA Hour, KSW announced that he will meet heavyweight champion Phil De Fries on Feb. 25 at KSW 79 from Home Credit Arena in Liberec, Czech Republic. IT. IS. OFFICIAL!!! KSW Heavyweight Title Fight Phil De Fries vs. Todd Duffee #KSW79 | February 25 | Liberec pic.twitter.com/F7iSRrxSX4 KSW (@KSW_MMA) January 25, 2023 The bout will mark 37-year-old Duffees return to MMA after more than three years away from the sport. He last competed in September 2019 when his UFC Fight Night 158 bout with Jeff Hughes ended in a no contest caused by an accidental eye poke. Duffee (9-3) had two different UFC stints and dealt with multiple long layoffs because of injuries and other issues outside the cage. De Fries (22-6), KSWs heavyweight champion since April 2018, is looking for his eighth consecutive title defense. The 36-year-old also is looking for revenge as Duffee owns a first-round TKO win against him, which took place 11 years ago at UFC 155. Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie First Colonial High School senior Jacob Cruz was worried when he saw the states proposed transgender policies which requires parental consent for students to use their preferred names and pronouns in school and how it would impact classmates who hadnt come out to their families yet. I was really concerned because I have a lot of friends who would be affected by this, and I was even more concerned by the fact that no one was really doing much about it, Cruz said after speaking for the first time at a Virginia Beach School Board meeting in September. He wasnt alone. A handful of other students joined him in that meeting to express their concern over the policy. Even more classmates showed up at the next meeting to speak out against the proposed policies. That number swelled to nearly two dozen students in the most recent school board meeting Tuesday, all urging the school board to reject the policies. Their concern is that these policies could take away the only safe and supportive space some closeted students have. Many shared testimonies from their transgender and nonbinary peers who are afraid of what would happen if they were forced to either be outed or hide their personal identities. Why should we have to wait for the negatives to get rid of them? Icarus Landaker, a Princess Anne High School senior, asked Tuesday. All of this comes before the Virginia Beach School Board or any school board has had a chance to begin discussing if and how it plans to adopt the states model policies. No clear timeline has come down from the state for when the policies will be finalized. School board attorney Kamala Lannetti said without final guidance from the Department of Education, the school division is kind of trapped. Gov. Glenn Youngkins administration released the Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for all Students and Parents in Virginias Public Schools last fall. Citing parents fundamental rights, these policies would require parental approval for any changes to students names, nicknames and pronouns, and require parental notification and permission for counseling services pertaining to gender. Story continues The model policies also states that individuals such as teachers and other staff members cannot be forced to address students by their preferred names or pronouns if doing so goes against the staff members personal or religious beliefs. A public comment period on the policies opened in September for 30 days. Over that time, more than 71,000 comments were submitted. As the Virginia Department of Education reviews them, action on the policies is on hold. It has sometimes taken the education department several months to get through public comments. Once the state superintendent finalizes the policies, they would replace those of Gov. Ralph Northams administration and effectively reverse the states stance on the matter. However, Lannetti said there are no penalties if a school division opts to not adopt the model policy and maintains its own. But this could change with future revisions. The students speaking out Tuesday said they want to be proactive. More students are joining the group chat to go over each others speeches and lay out basic ground rules, First Colonial senior Alex Elstrodt said. Were not going to attack anything too political or too partisan, Elstrodt said. Were going to focus on being respectful to the board. With this in mind, the students are focusing on issues related to respecting students preferred names and pronouns, and transgender students access to counseling services. Elstrodt said he, Cruz and another speaker, First Colonial senior Emily LaBar, spoke with a few of the school board members about the model policies in an effort to keep politics out of the discussions. I think parents rights are important, but its also equally important to protect the student, to protect the individual from danger, LaBar said. Some students started criticizing the model policies shortly after they came out in September. There was a statewide protest that month in which students walked out of schools. But some adults are pushing back, prioritizing parental rights over those of students. Board Member Michael Callan spoke during public comment at a Dec. 13 meeting in support of the policies. Callan was elected at that point, but had not yet been seated. He said he was impressed by the students for their research and the delivery their comments, but felt the board had yet to hear differing perspectives. Is there ever a time when information of a significant nature is allowed to be intentionally withheld by the school system from a parent or legal guardian? Callan asked. He acknowledged there are parents whose parenting skills leave a lot to be desired, but it is ultimately up to the them, and not the state, to determine what is best for their children. One speaker, Brenda Pence, said Tuesday that parents are trusting the school board to get their back, adding that it is up to the parents to guide their children through potentially life changing decisions. Other community members came in support of the students. Virginia Beach teacher Anthony Nobles told the board he has seen a broad consensus for more inclusivity and acceptance among students. Callan and other board members say they continue to listen to the concerns and testimonies, even if there is no clear timeline for when final guidance will come from the state. The students promise that they are in it for the long haul. Until these policies go away, we will stay, Elstrodt said. Kelsey Kendall, kelsey.kendall@virginiamedia.com Dan Koommoo, head chef at Crafted in Yakima, Wash., smiles as he gives a final check on plates leaving the kitchen on Thursday, August 17, 2017. (JAKE PARRISH/Yakima Herald-Republic) Representatives of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) and Commissioner of the Federal Government of Germany for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid Luise Amtsberg discussed issues of enhanced humanitarian assistance to Ukrainian citizens affected by Russian armed aggression. "The issues of enhanced humanitarian assistance to the affected population of Ukraine were discussed at the meeting," the Ukrainian Red Cross Society said on its Facebook page on Thursday. It was support for vulnerable segments of the population affected by Russian armed aggression, as well as assistance in restoring buildings damaged as a result of Russian missile attacks and artillery shelling. Amtsberg said "humanitarian access is key, and the safety of aid workers is a responsibility." The society said Amtsberg has been actively supporting Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's armed aggression. She has recently travelled to Kyiv and Kharkiv, where witnessed the aftermath of Russian military shelling of residential buildings, playgrounds and critical infrastructure. As reported, the URCS delegation, headed by its Director General Maksym Dotsenko, is on a working visit to Germany. Yakima County Government, Lower Valley Reporter Hi, Im Phil Ferolito, longtime reporter with the Yakima Herald-Republic, where I have gained an array of experience from covering small city governments and school districts to big-picture issues concerning county government, crime and the Yakama Nation, a federally recognized tribe with important historical and cultural ties to the land. I began with the Herald-Republic in Oct. 2000 as a copy editor, designing pages, writing headlines and proof-reading stories. Over the years I have covered four Lower Valley municipalities, Granger, Toppenish, Wapato and Harrah, and the Yakama Nation. My goal always has been to shine a light in dark places and bring readers closer to concerning issues, important people, and other events in our community. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday as they return from a weekend in Rehoboth Beach, Del. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is resuming work in Ukraine and will focus on restoration issues. "The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is resuming work in Ukraine and will focus on restoration issues. Good news for the 31st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Japan," Shmyhal wrote on the Telegram channel. The Prime Minister also said that he had discussed with Japanese Ambassador Matsuda Kuninori further support for Ukraine in various areas. "Priority: energy, housing rehabilitation, humanitarian demining and support for small and medium-sized businesses in Ukraine. We touched upon the situation at Zaporizhia NPP. I called on Japanese partners to promote sanctions restrictions against the Russian nuclear industry," he added. The European Commission on Thursday announced the launch of a multi-agency donor coordination platform to support the reconstruction process in Ukraine. "The Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform to support Ukraine's repair, recovery and reconstruction process has been launched today. It will allow for close coordination among international donors and international financial organizations and will ensure that support is provided in a coherent, transparent, and accountable manner," the EC said. "The first meeting of the Donor Coordination Platform, held by video conference, brought together high-level officials from Ukraine, the EU, G7 countries, as well as financial institutions such as the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Other donors will be able to join the platform over time," it said. "So far, the EU, its member states and European financial institutions have made available up to EUR49 billion in financial, budget support, emergency, humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine," the report states. 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. Ryanair will operate flights between Budapest and Belfast in the summer, CEO of the low-cost airline Michael OLeary announced at a press conference in Budapest. He declared several times that the so-called environmental protection taxes eco tax, as the Hungarian government has now renamed its burden on airlines particularly harm the aviation industry, and Hungarys tourism sector. He said within a few years 50%, or 2 million, more passengers would come to Budapest without it. If Hungary were to abolish the idiotic tax, it would receive much more tax revenue from the increased tourism than it can collect from the airlines, he argued. OLeary claimed that Ryanair will have more passengers in Budapest than Wizz Air, saying We are eating into their market share in Hungary, Austria, Poland, and Italy. The number of Ryanair passengers moving through Budapest will reach 4 million this year, after the occupancy ratio was 92-94% in the last months of 2022, he forecast. OLeary spoke of Budapest as the companys best-performing European winter destination compared to the pre-Covid period, despite the extra tax. Ryanair offers 56 routes from Budapest in its summer timetable, essentially an unchanged capacity, as it will still have eight planes stationed here, website 24 observes. The opposition LMP party has demanded the resignation of the head of the Hungarian Association of Judicial Officers, Gyorgy Schadl, who has been accused of corruption. LMP politician Laszlo Lorant Keresztes said in a Facebook video that it was untenable for ruling Fidesz and Christian Democrat MPs to keep Schadl in position. Speaking in front of the justice ministry, the LMP lawmaker noted that ruling lawmakers blocked his proposal made in November to replace Schadl, who has been in legal custody for more than a year, adding that he was resubmitting his proposal to parliament. He called on Justice Minister Judit Varga to break her silence on the matter and confirm whether she had met Schadl in connection with former justice state secretary Pal Volner, who was forced to resign after it was discovered he had received bribes. President of India Droupadi Murmu along with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi reached the Kartavya Path to attend the Republic Day Parade in a Mercedes-Benz S600 Pullman Guard limousine. The official Presidential vehicle of India, which is considered one of the safest vehicles in India, is priced approximately at Rs 9 crore. Egyptian President is the Chief Guest of India, as the country celebrates the 74th Republic Day. Both the Presidents boarded the same limousine from the Rashtrapti Bhawan, to reach the Kartavya Path, where PM Narendra Modi received them. Droupadi Murmu was recently elected as the 15th President of India and she travelled from the President's House (Rashtrapati Bhawan) to the Parliament in a Mercedes-Benz S600 Pullman Guard, the presidential limousine for the first time. The Mercedes-Benz S600 Pullman Guard also served the outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind during his tenure as the official armoured limousine for VVIP transportation in India and has been serving the President's office for long now. The Mercedes-Benz S600 Pullman Guard was launched in 2015 at Rs 8.9 crore (without additional armoured work) in the country and gets ERV (Explosive Resistant Vehicles) 2010-level and VR9-level protection for its occupants. This means that the car can withstand up to 15kg of TNT from a distance of 2m; while withstanding 7.62x51mm rifle rounds. Even bullets fired from an AK-47 will not be able to penetrate the sedan. Based on W221 S-class, the model made its global debut back in 2011 and this model came into use during the tenure of President Pranab Mukherjee. On the other hand, the SPG inducted the new Mercedes-Maybach S650 in the fleet of PM Narendra Modi, which is estimated to cost Rs 12 crore. However, he arrived to attend the Republic Day Parade in a Range Rover SUV. The President's limo is not up for an upgrade anytime soon. Police officials sprung to action at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) (university) on Wednesday ahead of the planned screening of the controversial documentary at the university campus. Arbab Ali | TwoCircles.net Support TwoCircles NEW DELHI Delhi Police officials on Wednesday detained a dozen students of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) ahead of the planned screening of the BBC documentary at the university campus. Classes at the university were suspended as dozens of police personnel wearing riot gear were deployed. Only students appearing for examinations were being allowed in and others turned away. The university administration had prohibited any screening of the film on the campus without permission. In an order issued on Tuesday, authorities at Jamia said disciplinary action will be taken if the documentary was screened at the university. They said they would not allow any unauthorised gatherings on campus after the Students Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), announced the screening on Facebook. Student activists, waving banners and raising slogans against the crackdown, were seen being hauled away by the police. According to the student-body Students Federation of India (SFI), 12 students are yet to be released and are being held at the Fatehpur Beri Police Station. Arbab Ali is a fellow at the TCN-SEED mentorship program. France to hand over second DNA laboratory to Ukraine in April FM French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has announced the transfer to Ukraine in April 2023 of the DNA laboratory necessary to collect evidence of crimes of the Russian Federation. It is very important that war crimes be punished, so we are helping the Ukrainian justice in the investigation of crimes. In April of this year, the second DNA laboratory will be delivered, she said at a joint press conference with Kuleba in Odesa on Thursday. Colonna also noted that France and Ukraine continue to cooperate on the creation of a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. We believe that in parallel with the existing judicial institutions, it is important to create a hybrid instance, a special court. It is a great honor for us that we have joined the Core Group, which has gathered in Prague today, she stressed. Republic Day 2023: India is celebrating its 74th Republic Day on January 26, 2023 and like every year, will show its military prowess and cultural diversity at the Republic Day Parade. What's special is the fact that this is the first R-Day parade that will take place on the newly renamed Kartavya Path as part of Central Vista redevelopment project. Taking part in the parade and thrilling the audience will be the fly past by the Indian Air Force. The IAF is among the most advanced and well equipped military arms in the world, and will display 57 aircrafts including 9 Rafales. IAF will also showcase homemade HAL Tejas LCA, Sukhoi Su-30MKI apart from other jets. Here's a look at the most deadly and advanced fighter jets used by the Indian Air Force: The French-made Dassault Rafale is a 4.5 Gen fighter jet, one of the worlds most advanced fighter jets in the world. India recently inducted 36 units of these multi role combat aircraft, forming 2 squadrons of the Indias winged armed force. The first squadron of the aircraft is deployed at the Ambala Air Force Station, considered one of the most strategically located bases of the IAF. The Dassault Rafale is based on the delta wing architecture that helps it achieve G-forces as high as 11G. India has placed an order for both single and dual seating cabin Rafales and the aircraft is capable of carrying a most advanced weapons with latest-gen avionics and mechanicals. HAL Tejas LCA One of the proudest moments for make-in-India campaign is the induction of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited made Tejas LCA (Light Combat Aircraft). India has long been borrowing its fighter jets from countries like Russia, France and Britain and the Tejas was conceptualized to replace the ageing Soviet sourced MiG-21. IAF has placed an order of 40 Tejas Mk 1, including 32 single-seat aircraft and eight twin-seat trainers. IAF has also initiated procurement of a further 73 single-seat fighters in Mk 1A configuration. The Tejas is also made on Delta-winged structure is among the most advanced jets of India. Sukhoi Su-30MKI Before Rafale entered service in the IAF, the Sukhoi Su-30MKI used to be the most advanced fighter jets in India. The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is made by HAL under license agreement with Russias Sukhoi and is fondly called Flanker. Used exclusively by the Indian Air Force, theres an estimated close to 300 units of 30MKI, the first unit being inducted in 2002. The Sukhoi Su-30MKI can carry a wide range of equipment and armaments and has a top speed of Mach 2 (2120 kmph). Back in 2019, a daring attempt was made by the Indian Air Force to enter the POK and destroy terrorist outfits, better known today as the Balakot Strikes. IAF deployed its Mirage-2000 fighter jets for the operation, again made by Dassault Aviation. Not just 2019, the Mirage-2000, called Vajra (meaning lightning thunderbolt in Sanskrit) by IAF has also played a decisive role in the 1999 war of Kargil. India placed an order of 50 jets as an answer to Pakistan buying the US-made F-16 fighter jets by Lockheed Martin. Mikoyan MiG-29 Last on our list is again a Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau made fighter called MiG-29 and is known as Baaz (Hawk). India is one of the largest importer of the MiG-29 and uses it for both the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy, operating them INS aircraft carriers. The IAF currently uses the upgraded MiG-29 UPG and was extensively used during the Kargil War to provide escort for Mirage-2000 attacking targets with laser-guided bombs. FARIDABAD: Nine Bajrang Dal activists were detained on Wednesday (Jan 25) for allegedly barging into a theatre and disrupting the screening of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 'Pathaan' movie, police said. The protesters also tore the movie posters and smashed glass panes of the theatre, they said. According to police, the incident was reported around 3.30 pm after members of Bajrang Dal gathered in Faridabad Sector 35 and marched towards Crown Interiorz mall, where the film was being screened. They then entered the cinema hall and raised slogans for boycotting the film. Several movie-goers left the theatre, and police reached the spot. Also Read: LIVE Updates | 74th Republic Day 2023 India: Over 60,000 Expected to Witness Grand R-Day Parade on Kartavya Path A case was registered under relevant sections of IPC, including trespassing, following a complaint by Innox Cinema manager. "Nine people have been detained while CCTV footage is being scanned and the other accused will be nabbed soon," police spokesperson Sube Singh said. New Delhi: Realty major DLF Ltd has achieved a 45 percent growth in sales bookings to Rs 6,599 crore in April-December this fiscal on better demand and is on track to achieve its annual sales guidance of Rs 8,000 crore, a senior company official said. DLF's -- the country's largest realty firm in terms of market capitalisation -- sales bookings stood at Rs 4,544 crore in the year-ago period. "We have achieved robust growth in our sales bookings in the first nine months of this fiscal year. The sales are driven by demand for good quality products," DLF Group Executive Director and Chief Business Officer Aakash Ohri told PTI. He said the company has launched apartments and independent floors at different price points, which helped in achieving better sales. (Also Read: Wheat Flour to get Cheaper? Millers React on Centre's Move to Sell Wheat in Open Market) DLF has launched residential projects in Delhi, Gurugram, Panchkula, and Chennai. Asked about sales bookings for the entire fiscal, Ohri said the company has given a guidance of Rs 8,000 crore for 2022-23 fiscal and is expected to achieve it comfortably. (Also Read: Coca-Cola to Launch its Smartphone in India Soon; Here's what we Know so far) "We are on track to meet our sales booking targets. We may even do better than that. But we are sticking to our guidance," he added. "Demand is very strong. People have the desire and money to purchase real estate. Customers want the safety of their money. So, they are now investing in projects of trusted real estate developers like us," Ohri said. DLF achieved one of the highest quarterly net sales bookings of Rs 2,507 crore, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 24 percent. In its investors' presentation, DLF said it will give emphasis on offering customer-oriented products. New Delhi: Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has announced that it will be reinstating former US President Donald Trump`s Facebook and Instagram accounts in the coming weeks. The announcement was made by Meta`s President of Global Affairs Meta Nick Clegg in a blogpost on Wednesday. Meta had suspended Trump`s Facebook and Instagram accounts for two years following his praise for people engaged in violence at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. "The suspension was an extraordinary decision taken in extraordinary circumstances. The normal state of affairs is that the public should be able to hear from a former President of the US, and a declared candidate for that office again, on our platforms," Clegg elaborated in the blogpost. "Like any other Facebook or Instagram user, Mr. Trump is subject to our Community Standards. In light of his violations, he now also faces heightened penalties for repeat offenses - penalties which will apply to other public figures whose accounts are reinstated from suspensions related to civil unrest under our updated protocol," he added. Clegg also said that Meta is reinstating Trump`s Facebook and Instagram accounts, however, with new guardrails in place to "deter repeat offenses". "We know that any decision we make on this issue will be fiercely criticised. Reasonable people will disagree over whether it is the right decision. But a decision had to be made, so we have tried to make it as best we can in a way that is consistent with our values and the process we established," he asserted. New Delhi: Music-Streaming company Spotify has also announced to trim off 6% employees amid the fear of possible recession, joining the league of companies which laid off its proportional employees since the start of 2023. Overall the company plans to cut 600 jobs to rein in costs and expenditure. "Over the last few months we've made a considerable effort to rein in costs, but it simply hasn't been enough," Chief Executive Daniel Elk, Spotify CEO said in a blog post announcing the roughly 600 job cuts. "I was too ambitious in investing ahead of our revenue growth," he added, echoing a sentiment voiced by other tech bosses in recent months. An India-American Software Engineer Mounika G, who was fired by Spotify in recent lay offs where she had been working over 1.5 years, has penned down a heart-wrenching post and emphaised how it is hard to not know the reason. I don't think I have the heart to write this yet, yesterday was my last day at Spotify. It feels like a bad dream I should wake up from. I kept waiting for an email saying there has been a mistake. Of all the thoughts/questions, one dominated - Not knowing the reason hit hard, Mounika G wrote in her Linkedin Post. However, she also underlined that life goes on and she is running out of time. She has 60days to land a new role to stay in the US and to hold my VISA status. This picture was my first day at Spotify and I was still in wonder how my journey led me to that place. As the saying goes, the only way is through and I will get through this stronger and more resilient. Looking forward to my next adventure," She added. NEW DELHI: Actor Arjun Rampal celebrated India's 74th Republic Day with the Indian community in Australia. The 'Raajneeti' actor was invited as a special guest for the occasion. The streets of Sydney were packed and the patriotic spirit was in the air as Rampal hoisted the Indian flag. He took to his social media to say that, "Happy 74th Republic Day, celebrating with the wonderful Indian community in Sydney, the warmth of India transcends all boundaries #littleindiasydney #proudtobeindian #republicday2023 #australia #australiaday." Images of Arjun hoisting the Indian flag along with the Indian community soon flooded the internet and made one feel so proud of an actor who has always pushed the envelope when it comes to choosing interesting roles from 'Daddy' to 'Rock On' and made India proud on a global scale. Incidentally, January 26 also marks Australia Day. This is the official National Day of Australia. Observed annually on 26th January, it marks the 1788 landing of the first fleet at Sydney Cove. The event was organised by Vickyy Paul of Master Marketers Australia. The warmth and patriotism of the images were reflected in the videos as well. Jai Hind! NEW DELHI: India is celebrating its 74th Republic Day today, i.e. on January 26 with must gusto and fervour. The country attained the republic status on this day in 1950. This day is a symbol of glory and pride for every Indian citizen and is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy. Tricolor will be unfurled across the country and best patriotic songs will be played everywhere, be it educational institutions, workplaces, radio and television or in the neighbourhood. Here, we bring to you some of the best patriotic songs that will reignite your love for the country. Take a look at these top five musical hits mentioned below: Maa Tujhe Salaam Music maestro A R Rahman had released his album Vande Mataram on the Golden Jubilee anniversary of India's independence in 1997 and the song was a part of it. The song 'Maa Tujhe Salaam' has been instrumental in instilling a sense of patriotic pride and national unity amongst the people of India. Ye Jo Des Hai Tera 'Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera' from the 2004 film Swades starring Shah Rukh Khan is the perfect background music to set the tone for Republic Day. This song was also an AR Rehman's composition. Also Read: Republic Day 2023: Top Patriotic Movies on Netflix To Watch THIS January 26 Mera Rang De Basanti Chola 'Mera Rang De Basanti Chola' from the movie 'The Legend of Bhagat Singh' is perfect for the Republic Day playlist. The song was revamped from the old version with a fresh tone and stole millions of heart. Sung by Sonu Nigam and Manmohan Waris under AR Rehman's direction, the song is worth listening to on January 26. Also Read: LIVE Updates | 74th Republic Day 2023 India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Greets Nation on 74th Republic Day Ae Mere Pyare Watan Ae Mere Pyare Watan by maestro Manna De from 1961 released 'Kabuliwala' is an emotional number and truly epitomises the spirit of patriotism. Bharat Humko Jaan Se Pyaara Hai This soft and slow number from 'Roja', that showcases Kashmir during the early 90s, is a beautiful composition and will inspire a nationalistic fervour in you. Worth to be played on Republic Day. Apart from these, several other numbers like 'Zindagi Maut Na Banjaye' from 'Sarfarosh', the title song of 'Rang De Basanti', the title song of 'Chak De! India', Shankar Mahadevan's 'Hindustan Meri Jaan' and Fanna's 'Desh Rangeela' promote brotherhood and unity and will set you in the mood for Republic Day celebrations. So tune into these songs to evoke your nationalistic spirit. Happy Republic Day 2023 to all! NEW DELHI: As the whole country gears up to celebrate the 74th Republic Day, we have curated a list of inspiring and courageous tales that will inspire patriotism and enthusiasm in you. From Major to Article 15, here are some of the most inspiring patriotic films on Netflix that you can enjoy watching. Mission Majnu Inspired by true events, Mission Majnu transports you to the past to uncover one of Indias most important missions. Directed by Shantanu Bagchi, Mission Majnu starring Sidharth Malhotra and Rashmika Mandanna in lead roles, takes you through the emotions of loyalty, love, sacrifices and betrayal with an action-packed screenplay where one wrong move can make or break the mission. Major The biopic is based on the life of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan who was martyred during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Starring Adivi Sesh in the lead, the movie traces the inspirational journey of this valiant soldier who saved the lives of several hostages before being killed by terrorists who caused mayhem at the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai. This film has also previously trended in the Top 10 globally. The action- drama is available in Telugu, Hindi and Malayalam. ALSO READ: LIVE Updates | 74th Republic Day 2023 India: Over 60,000 Expected to Witness Grand R-Day Parade on Kartavya Path Regiment Diaries The Regiment Diaries chronicles the history of the Indian Army through the eyes of the soldiers who carry out their valiant acts. The three-season documentary series takes you through interviews and historical documents, telling the army's story from the perspective of Indian troops. Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl Starring Janhvi Kapoor, the biopic chronicles the journey of Former Indian Air Force pilot Gunjan Saxena who serves the country in the Kargil War. Gunjan Saxena, also known as the "Kargil Girl," flew into the combat zone and rescued several soldiers. For her heroic actions she received the Shaurya Vir award in 1999. ALSO READ: Happy Republic Day 2023: Patriotic Wishes, Images, Greetings, WhatsApp Messages to Share Lakshya Based on the Kargil war, this Netflix war drama follows the life of a teenage rebel Karan (Hritik Roshan), who enlists in the Indian Army on a whim but leaves after seeing the difficult life of soldiers. He reenlists and displays his mettle by serving as an officer just before war breaks out, but when this causes disagreement with his lover, he leaves. Aiyaary Aiyaary, an action thriller, revolves around a military intelligence officer Jai (Sidharth Malhotra) who turns rogue with highly sensitive information about the country. Abhay (Manoj Bajpayee) aims to stop him from continuing what he began. A race between two of the most complex individuals in the country follows, both of whom understand the nature of defence operations. Article 15 Directed by Anubhav Sinha the movie stars Nassar and Manoj Pahwa in the lead role. Netflix's crime-drama tells the story of an IPS officer Ayan Ranjan (Ayushmann Khurrana) fighting violence and discrimination against caste. An eye opener for many, this film takes you to the rural life of India on a dark and gritty journey. Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran Directed by Abhishek Sharma, this movie features the largest secret operation India has ever undertakenthe nuclear weapons testhandled by a dedicated government officer, Captain Ashwat Raina (John Abraham).But in order to accomplish his goal, he must deceive the American intelligence services and wage his own wars. New Delhi: The presentation of Budget 2023 by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled on February 1 at 11 AM. As the Budget out date is approaching soon, according to a statement from the Ministry of Finance, the customary "halwa" ritual will take place today with Nirmala Sitharaman, the Finance Minister, in attendance. Every year, the halwa ritual, which traditionally precedes the budget, signifies the end of the planning process for the following fiscal year. What is the Halwa Ceremony of Budget 2023? The finance minister stirs halwa, a well-known sweet delicacy, to start the event. Coworkers from the finance ministry and representatives from other ministries then provide assistance at the North Block building. The budget documents are typically printed after the ceremony, but in 2021 the budget become paperless as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic budget. (Also Read: Union Budget 2023-24: All you need to know about process involved in making of Budget) Significance of Halwa Ceremony The ceremony is noteworthy because all finance ministry staff members participating in budget preparation are required to relocate to the North Block's basement once it is finished until the budget is presented. This is done to ensure that the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which was created in conjunction with the Niti Aatog and other relevant ministries, doesn't have any leaks. (Also Read: Flipkart Sale 2023: Apple AirPods Pro is Getting Massive Discounts, You can get it for Just Rs 1150) The announcement read, "The Halwa ceremony, marking the final stage of the Budget preparation process for Union Budget 2023-24, will be held tomorrow at the Budget Press located inside North Block, in the presence of Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman. The ceremony was postponed in 2022 because of health and safety issues associated with the pandemic, but the Ministry of Finance announced that it will take place once more in the Budget press, which is located inside the North Block. New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party has moved to the Supreme Court demanding an immediate election of the MCD mayor. In its suit, AAP has also sought the prohibition on voting by aldermen as per law. The Aam Aadmi Party`s Leader of the House and Mayor candidate has placed these two major demands in the apex court. In a self-recorded video, AAP's chief spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj said, "Bharatiya Janata Party`s MCD tenure ended in March 2022 itself. After that, MCD was put under the central government on the pretext of unification and delimitation works. Now the people of Delhi have given a majority to the Aadmi Party in MCD and elected 134 councillors of AAP." Also Read: Amid Tussle, Delhi L-G Invites Arvind Kejriwal, his 10 MLAs for Meeting Despite that, he alleged BJP is not allowing the Aam Aadmi Party-led local body to be formed in Delhi due to its "conspiracy and dirty politics". He added, "Despite many efforts, they are not allowing the election of the mayor and the formation of the government to take place. Now the Aam Aadmi Party has gone to the Supreme Court through our Leader of the House and Mayor candidate." The spokesperson appealed that the court should now complete this process as soon as possible, claiming the Bharatiya Janata Party and the central government will not complete it. On Tuesday, the elections for the Delhi Mayor were postponed after the House was adjourned sine die following a ruckus between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillors. The house was adjourned after Presiding officer Satya Sharma said the proceedings cannot be conducted amid sloganeering from both AAP and BJP councillors. This is the second time in a month that the election for Delhi mayor was disrupted. On January 6, the mayoral elections at the MCD House were postponed after clashes erupted between AAP and BJP councillors. The AAP had fielded Shelly Oberoi as their candidate for the post of mayor while BJP nominated Rekha Gupta. Aaley Mohammad Iqbal is the deputy mayor candidate of AAP. Egypt and Turkey have agreed on a timeframe for upgrading diplomatic relations, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said on Thursday during a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara. New Delhi: Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has invited Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his ministers, and 10 AAP MLAs for a meeting with him at the Raj Niwas here Friday evening, amid the ongoing tussle between the elected government and the LG office. The chief minister has been asked to come to the meeting along with his Cabinet colleagues and any 10 MLAs of his Aam Aadmi Party at 4 pm, Raj Niwas officials said on Thursday. The two sides have been at loggerheads over multiple issues including a Delhi government proposal to send its teachers for training in Finland. On January 16, Kejriwal and his party MLAs marched from the Vidhan Sabha to Raj Niwas to meet Saxena over the teachers' training proposal. The chief minister returned after waiting for nearly an hour, claiming the LG refused to meet him, his deputy Manish Sisodia and AAP MLAs. Saxena denied the charge in a letter he wrote to Kejriwal days later, saying the chief minister insisted for a meeting that would be attended by all his MLAs, and that it was not possible at a short notice. Kejriwal, replying to the LG letter, had suggested a fresh proposal for A meeting between the two sides. However, AAP leaders had later claimed that Saxena refused to meet the Chief Minister and AAP MLAs. A scene of bonhomie was, however, witnessed as Kejriwal attended the 'at home' function ahead of Republic Day hosted by the LG at Raj Niwas on Tuesday. The two were seen warmly greeting each another during the function that was also attended by politicians from BJP and other parties. Nagpur: In big relief for thousands of his devotees, the Nagpur Police has given a "clean chit" to Dhirendra Krishna Shastri the self-styled godman of the Bageshwar Dham, in connection with a case filed against him by an anti-superstition. In his complaint, anti-superstition crusader Shyam Manav had accused the self-styled godman of allegedly promoting superstitious activities in his public programmes in Nagpur. Sharing more information, Nagpur Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said that during an inquiry into the complaint and the examination of "evidence" submitted by complainant Shyam Manav, founder of 'Akhil Bharatiya Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti', nothing was found that could attract action under the Black Magic Act. Nagpur CP Amitesh Kumar said, "Based on the complaint lodged against Bageshwar Maharaj by Manav and a video submitted by him as evidence, police conducted an inquiry into the matter. However, it was found that the programme held by Maharaj in Nagpur does not attract action under any these laws." In the video, Bageshwar Maharaj could be seen reciting some lines from Hanuman Chalisa, like 'Bhoot pishach nikat nahi aave', which is not a black magic practice, the police commissioner said. "We have issued a letter to Manav stating no offence could be registered against Bageshwar Maharaj," he said. Manav had lodged the complaint on January 8, stating that the Bageshwar Dham Baba conducted 'Shree Ram Katha' event in Nagpur from January 5 to 13, during which he held 'Divya Darbar' and 'Pret Darbar' programmes that promoted superstition. In his complaint, Manav demanded action under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013 and the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954. On January 9, Manav had addressed a press conference here, challenging the godman to prove his power 'Divya Shakti' (divine power) and win Rs 30 lakh cash reward. Who Is Dhirendra Krishna Shastri? Dhirendra Shastri is the head priest of Bageshwar Dham in Gada village in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh. The godman hit headlines after he made a controversial remark saying "support me and I will give you a Hindu nation". Shastri, who is also known as Bageshwar Dham Sarkar, said that India is such a country where even a great sage like Goswami Tulsidas, who wrote the "Ramcharitmanas," had to face challenges. Shastri also issued a warning saying, "Any priest, cleric or person who challenges the Sanatan Dharma will get a befitting reply. But then I am saying, you support me, I will give the Hindu nation," he appealed to his vast followers. On alleged religious conversions, Shastri said, "We are making Hindus return to the religion they acquired at birth. Some people are creating a nuisance. They have to be taught a lesson. As long as I am alive, I will make all Sanatani Hindus return to their original faith." Several top BJP leaders, including Kailash Vijayvargiya and Kapil Mishra, have come out in support of the 26-year-old 'godman'. who is known to travel across the country for religious addresses known as "katha". The Indian High Commission in Canberra on Thursday condemned the "deeply disturbing" incidents of vandalisation of three Hindu temples in Melbourne and asked the Australian Government to ensure the safety and security of members of the Indian community and their properties in the country. Last week, ISKCON`s Hare Krishna Temple was vandalized in Melbourne`s Albert Park area, while Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs was vandalized on January 16 and BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in the Mill Park area on January 12. Also read: 'We support free press': US Clarifies Stand on India Banning BBC Documentary on PM Narendra Modi "The High Commission of India strongly condemns the deeply disturbing incidents of vandalisation, including of three Hindu temples in Melbourne in recent weeks. The frequency and impunity with which the vandals appear to be operating are alarming, as are the graffiti which includes glorification of anti-Indian terrorists," read a release issued by the Indian High Commission in Canberra on its official Twitter handle @HCICanberra. The commission said that these vandalisation incidents are clear attempts to sow hatred and division among the peaceful multi-faith and multi-cultural Indian-Australian community."Signals that pro-Khalistan elements are stepping up their activities in Australia, actively aided and abetted by members of proscribed terrorist organisations such as the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and other inimical agencies from outside Australia, have been evident for some time," the release read. According to the Indian High Commission in Canberra, India`s concerns have been shared with the Australian Government, both by the High Commission and by India`sConsulates in Australia, and by the Indian Government with the Australian High Commission in Delhi."It is hoped that not only will the perpetrators be brought to justice but suitable action will also be taken to prevent further attempts," the commission said. "In addition, our concerns about the so-called referendum in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, announced by the proscribed organisation, the Sikhs for Justice, have been conveyed to the Australian Government," the release read. Recently, Australian High Commissioner to India had also condemned the vandalisation of a Hindu temple engraved with anti-India graffiti in Melbourne`s Albert Park and said that the country won't tolerate hate speech or violence. "I am gravely concerned by the mindless vandalism of Hindu temples in Victoria. Australia does not tolerate hate speech or violence, and Australian authorities are investigating," Barry O`Farrell said in a statement given to media on the mail. He recalled Australia`s Foreign Minister and said, "the Indian diaspora are valued and important contributors to our vibrant and resilient multicultural society."Farell said that Australia values diversity and inclusion and also respects the right of individuals to engage in peaceful protest, and supports the non-violent expression of views. The Australian Government will continue to work closely with faith leaders to promote community harmony, he added. NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) mayoral candidate Shelly Oberoi moved the Supreme Court on Thursday for directions to ensure that the mayoral election in Delhi is conducted in a time-bound manner, party officials said. The mayoral election in the national capital was stalled on Tuesday for the second time this month as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) House was adjourned indefinitely by the lieutenant governor-appointed presiding officer, following a ruckus created by some councillors. Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of hooliganism and halting the MCD proceedings, AAP national spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said Leader of the House Mukesh Goel and Oberoi approached the top court for directions to ensure that the mayoral election is conducted in a time-bound manner. The case is likely to be taken up on Friday, AAP leaders said. Bharadwaj said the party has also sought a prohibition on the aldermen casting their votes. "We have placed two major demands in the Supreme Court, the first is to elect the mayor in a time-bound manner and form the board in the MCD. Second, as the aldermen do not have the right to vote under Article 243R of the Constitution and section 3 of the DMC Act, they should be prohibited from casting votes," he said. "They have no moral right to capture and illegally control the MCD for so long. The MCD was put under the central government on the pretext of unification and delimitation. The people of Delhi have given the mandate in the MCD to the AAP and despite that, the BJP has resorted to dirty politics. They (BJP leaders) have been creating a ruckus and not allowing the mayoral election to be conducted," Bharadwaj said. Delhi BJP's working president Virendra Sachdeva accused the AAP and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of misleading the public. "Whenever they have to divert the people's attention from their mistakes, they move the court. Later, when the decision of the court does not favour them, they refuse to accept it. The AAP should also tell the court how it resorted to hooliganism in the House, who threw the microphone and which party's councillors climbed over the presiding officer's chair," Sachdeva said. He further claimed that there are photographs and videos that "prove" that the AAP councillors "deliberately obstructed" the mayoral election. Meanwhile, the Delhi Congress has accused the AAP and Kejriwal of indulging in "political stunts" by approaching the Supreme Court for the mayoral election. "Both the AAP and the BJP indulged in hooliganism in the MCD House in an utter disregard to the Delhiites who elected them to power. Without a mayor and an elected body, the civic administration has taken a severe hit. But the AAP and BJP politicians are least bothered about it," a Congress leader alleged. The first meeting of the newly-elected MCD House was also adjourned on January 6 amid a ruckus by the AAP and BJP members. The AAP won 134 of the 250 wards in the MCD polls held in December. The BJP managed to win 104 wards. New Delhi: India celebrated its 74th Republic Day today with fervor and enthusiasm. Like every year, spectacular tableaux were taken out in a grand fashion but this year it was at Kartavya path. A unique confluence of the culture and military power of different states of the country was witnessed. There were many firsts that took place on this Republic Day which made it special. In today's DNA, Zee News' Rohit Ranjan will discuss the spectacular Republic Day celebrations that took place in the national capital Delhi and the key moments from it. A total of 23 types of tableaux were taken out in today's parade. Except for the aircraft, the weapons included in it were completely indigenous which is a huge milestone. Through the tableaux of indigenous weapons, India was demonstrating its strength to the superpowers of the world. For the first time, the chief guest of the Republic Day parade was the President of Egypt, Abdel Fateh El Sisi. A contingent of the Egyptian army also took part in the parade. The Dare Devils team built the Hamoun Pyramid on motorcycles to pay special respect to Egypt. 33 daredevils on 9 motorcycles formed a pyramid formation. It was one of the most difficult feats of the daredevils. For the first time in this parade, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had a tableau. The purpose of this tableau was to advise people to stay away from drugs. This year's parade also showcased women's empowerment as many units were led by women, and some units included female officers for the first time The entire contingent of the Central Reserve Police Force consisted only of women. Surat: A massive fire broke out at a car showroom in Gujarat`s Surat on Thursday. Soon after getting information about the incident, several fire tenders rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control. So far, there have been no reports of any fatalities in the fire. The cause of the fire was not yet ascertained. Further details awaited. Haridwar: Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Thursday said Pakistan will soon be divided into four parts, its occupation of PoK will cease, and Balochistan, Punjab, and Sindh will merge with India. Baba Ramdev, who spoke to the media here, greeted people on the 74th Republic Day and urged them to take a pledge that they will work for a healthy, prosperous, and developed India. "Balochistan, PoK and Punjab in Pakistan will become separate nations. PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) will merge with India and then Balochistan will itself want to merge with India because Punjab, Sindh, they have cultural similarities with India. Very soon Pakisan will be divided into parts. Punjab Sindh province will also be merge with India. Balochistan will also merge with India and India will become a superpower. This is the demand of the coming time and this is going to happen," Baba Ramdev said in response to queries. Also Read: 'Ready to Sacrifice Political Capital': Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif as IMF seeks more details for loan Asked about the controversy pertaining to remarks of Dhirendra Shastri of Bageshwar Dham, Baba Ramdev said ill-conceived efforts are being made for character assassination and this was a conspiracy by anti-national elements. "Religious terrorism is taking place to show Sanatan Dharma in poor light. The universal values, the internal values are Sanatan dharma...allegations are being made sometimes on the pretext of our scriptures, sometimes on the character of great men, these ill-conceived efforts are being made by anti-national, international organisations and they want to show India in a poor light due to their ill-intentions and intellectual bankruptcy. The country should oppose it unitedly," he said. Dhirendra Shastri hit the headlines after his controversial remark saying "support me and I will give you a Hindu nation". Shastri said that India is such a country that even Tulsi Das had to face challenges, adding, "Any priest, cleric or person who challenges Sanatan Dharma will get the reply. But then I am saying, you support me, I will give the Hindu nation". Dhirendra Shastri was addressing a gathering organized from January 17 to January 23 at Dahihandi Maidan in Gudhiyari, in Raipur. A "divine court" was also organized by Dhirendra Shastri on January 20 and 21. Aspiring teachers in West Bengal are living a dejected life as the teacher recruitment scam exposed massive irregularities and corruption. While teaching job aspirants have been raising their voices on the issue, a Saraswati Puja pandal in the state has been themed around the recruitment scheme and has effigies of the main accused Partha Chatterjee and Arpita Mukherjee besides Goddess Saraswati. The puja pandal in Kolkata highlights Bengal Teacher Recruitment Scam. The pandal has been organised by Biswajit Sarkar. The Puja pandal is divided into three sections. The first section shows shops where an unqualified candidate can become a teacher if they pay huge money. Inside the shop, former Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee and his close aid Arpita Mukherjee can be seen standing surrounded by money and gold which were seized by the central agencies. The section also has a weighing scale with Goddess Saraswati on one side and gold/cash on the other side outweighing the goddess. On the second portion of the pandal, there are two cages--one cage has books, and the other cage has the Goddess Saraswati idol. In the final section, the makers have shown aspirants who are protesting for not getting jobs despite qualifying in the Teacher Eligibility Test and Staff Selection Commission. Meanwhile, former West Bengal Education minister Partha Chatterjee's wish to offer prayers to the goddess of learning on the occasion of Saraswati Puja has been rejected. Chatterjee, also the former Trinamool Congress secretary general, is currently serving his judicial custody at Presidency Central Correctional Home for his alleged involvement in the multi-crore teachers' recruitment scam. He had made an appeal to the prison authorities to allow him to offer his prayers on Saraswati Puja organised within the prison compound. However, state correctional services department sources said that his plea has been rejected for security reasons. Similar pleas from the former West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) Kalyanmoy Gangopadhyay and former chairman of West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) Subiresh Bhattacharya, who is also housed at the same correction home under the same charges, have also been turned down. Trinamool Congress MLA and former president of West Bengal Board of Primary Education (WBBPE) Manik Bhattacharya has also been denied offering prayers on the auspicious occasion. (With agency inputs) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for gracing the Republic Day celebrations. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said, "I am grateful to President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for gracing this year`s Republic Day celebrations with his august presence.@AlsisiOfficial".India is celebrating its 74th Republic Day with great fervour. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was the Chief Guest at the parade. On this day, 74 years back, India officially adopted its Constitution following its Independence. Earlier today, President El-Sisi attended the Republic Day parade as the chief guest. For the first time, an Egyptian leader has been invited on India`s Republic Day. El-Sisi, who is on a four-day visit to India, and accompanied by a high-level delegation will attend an `At-Home` reception by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Later, El-Sisi will be called on by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and the two sides will hold a meeting. During the Republic Day Parade, a military contingent of the Egyptian Army marched towards the saluting dias on the Kartavya Path for the first time.The Egyptian military contingent led by Colonel Mahmoud Mohamed Abdel Fattah El Kharasawy consisting of 144 soldiers represented the main branches of the Egyptian armed forces. The Egyptian forces have considered it an honour and privilege to participate in India`s Republic Day parade. The Egyptian contingent carries the legacy of one of the oldest regular armies known to humanity. Notably, the history of the Egyptian army goes back to 3200 BC when King Narmer unified Egypt. The old Kingdom was considered to be the height of Egyptian civilization. The modern Egyptian army was established during the rule of Muhammad Ali Pasha who is widely considered the founder of modern Egypt. He formed an army with soldiers mainly conscripted from modern Egypt. India and Egypt are celebrating 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations this year. India has also invited Egypt as a `guest country" during its G20 Presidency. Furthermore, the visit of El-Sisi is seen as a visit to bolster ties between India and Egypt and further deepen them. India and Egypt have "warm and friendly relations marked by civilizational, cultural and economic linkages and deep-rooted people-to-people ties", according to the statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs. Republic Day 2023: This year's Republic Day celebration will offer energy, enthusiasm, patriotic spirit, and "Jan Bhagidari," as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in honour of the 75th anniversary of India's independence, which is celebrated as "Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav." The 74th Republic Day celebrations in India will take place on January 26, 2023. To commemorate this day, the nation has numerous new events planned, ranging from the biggest drone show to the traditional march on the Kartavya path. The week-long festivities started on January 23, the anniversary of freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary. Aadi Shaurya - Parv Parakram ka, a unique military tattoo and tribal dance festival, was held in New Delhi on January 23 and 24 to commemorate the occasion. Along with the Beating the Retreat ceremony at Vijay Chowk and the PM's NCC rally, the grand parade will feature the Armed Forces and Paramilitary Forces, tableaux displayed by the States and Central Ministries/Departments, cultural performances by children, acrobatic motorcycle rides, and a fly-past. Here are some key factors and events of this year's Republic Day celebration: Chief guest Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi will be the Chief Guest at the parade. President Droupadi Murmu will lead the Nation from Kartavya Path in celebrating Republic Day and saluting all contingents. The Parade The Republic Day parade, which will commence at around 10:30 am, will be a special mix of the nation's military strength and power and cultural diversity, portraying the country's growing indigenous capabilities, Nari Shakti, and the creation of a "New India." Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the National War Memorial before the parade ceremony. He will set a wreath on behalf of the nation as a solemn tribute to the fallen soldiers and thereafter watch the parade from the saluting dais at Kartavya Path with the other dignitaries. As per custom, the National Flag will be hoisted before the National Anthem and a thunderous 21-gun salute. The 21-gun salute will be fired by 105-mm Indian Field Guns, one of many firsts. This year, Parade Commander Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and a second-generation Army officer, will lead the march. The Parade Second-in-Command will be Major General Bhavnish Kumar, Chief of Staff for the HQ Delhi Area. Tribal dance festival and military tattoo To mark the occasion, a one-of-a-kind Military Tattoo and Tribal Dance Festival 'Aadi Shaurya - Parv Parakram ka' was organised in New Delhi on 23 and 24 January. Both the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs jointly organised this event. Egyptian contingent The Egyptian Armed Forces' combined Band and Marching contingent, under the command of Colonel Mahmoud Mohamed Abdel Fattah El Kharasawy, will march down the Kartavya Path for the first time. The contingent will be consistent of 144 troops who will represent the various divisions of the Egyptian Armed Forces. R-Day drone show On this Republic Day, 3,500 domestic UAVs will illuminate the night sky over Raisina Hills in what will be India's largest drone display ever. In an effort to illustrate the nation's start-up ecosystem and the technological skill of the youth, the drones will reflect national leaders and events through precise synchronisation. E-invites E-invitations have replaced the usage of conventional invitation cards for attendees and spectators this year. For this, the website www.amantran.mod.gov.in was created. Through this portal, tickets, admit cards, invitation cards, and parking labels have all been made available for online purchase. Also Read: Happy Republic Day 2023: Patriotic Wishes, Images, Greetings, WhatsApp Messages to Share Bharat Parv celebrations The Ministry of Tourism will host "Bharat Parv" in Delhi, India, from January 2631, 2023, at Gyan Path in front of Red Fort, reflecting the "Jan Bhagidari" theme. It will feature Republic Day Tableaux, military band performances, cultural performances, food courts featuring cuisine from all over India, and a crafts bazaar. Anamorphic Projection A 3-D anamorphic projection will be set up for the "Beating the Retreat" event in a first-of-its-kind endeavour. Special 'common' invites On this year's Republic Day, ordinary citizens will be seen as special invitees. They are Shramyogis, former members of Central Vista, Kartvya Path, milk and vegetable vendors, street vendors, etc. They hail from various socio-economic backgrounds. They'll be seated at the Kartvya Path with the other invitees. Veer Gatha 2.0 Veer Gatha was one of the innovative initiatives introduced as a part of "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav" last year. It was created to educate and motivate kids about the heroic acts and sacrifices made by the armed forces. The students (from 3rd to 12th Standard) submitted their entries in the form of poems, essays, drawings, multimedia presentations, etc. The Tri-Services organised virtual and in-person interactions between school children and Gallantry Award winners. From among the more than 19 lakh entries submitted nationwide, 25 were chosen as winners. Also Read: 74th Republic Day 2023 LIVE updates: Flypast, parade, gallantry awardees and more- HERE Vande Bharatam 2.0 The Vande Bharatam dance is being presented by the Ministry of Culture as a part of RDC 2023. The dancers were chosen from previous competitions held by the seven zonal cultural centres. The jury selected 503 dancers to participate in the grand cultural show during the Republic Day parade. This event's theme is "Nari Shakti." (Disclaimer: Except for the headline, the information in this article has not been edited by Zee News and is published from a syndicated feed.) The 74th Republic Day parade was unique in many ways as it showcased not only India's cultural diversity but also the country's military might. The national capital witnessed a spectacular presentation of discipline and grit as Army contingents and other personnel marched on the Kartavya Path. Among the military equipment on display was the Akash Radar System or Akash weapon system which was deployed to counter any misadventure by the Pakistan Air Force. Indian Army's Lethality, Accuracy and Reliability witnessed a leap with the acquisition of platforms like the Akash Missile System, satellites, Modular Bridges, towed guns, utility helicopters, electronic warfare systems and the likes of surface-to-air missiles were on display at the Kartavya Path. This year, only Made-in-India weapon systems were showcased at the Republic Day parade including ammunition showcased India`s indigenization power, including 21 Gun Salute through `Made in India` 105 mm Indian Field Guns, recently inducted LCH Prachand, the K-9 Vajra howitzers, MBT Arjun, Nag anti-tank guided missiles, Akash air defence missiles, and the Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicles. The Akash weapon system of 27 Air Defence Regiment of the Amritsar airfield led by Captain Sunil Dashrathe and accompanied by Lt Chetana Sharma of 512 Light AD Missile Regiment today marched on the Kartavya Path. The weapon system is capable of keeping the Indian sky protected and safe. It was used as a potent deterrent in 2019 against Pakistan when it was deployed as a counter-measure to Pakistan's Air Force post the Balakote Air Strike. The Republic Parade 2023 kicked off with a march by a contingent of the Egyptian Armed Forces. Several contingents made their presence felt on the Kartavya Path. It included a contingent in the uniform of the 61 Cavalry, led by Capt Raizada Shaurya Bali. Raised in 1953, the 61st Cavalry is the only serving active Horsed Cavalry Regiment in the World, with the amalgamation of all the 'State Horse Units'. Mechanised Infantry Regiment, commanded by Capt Harshdeep Singh Sohi, was the next to follow after the advanced light helicopters fly past. The Mechanised Infantry, dubbed as 'Tomorrow's Regiment in Today's Army', is the youngest regiment of the Indian Army. New Delhi: India celebrated its 74th Republic Day with a spectacular presentation of unity, culture, and discipline by the Indian forces and participants as they marched at Kartavya Path in the national capital. The day began with Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying tributes to the fallen heroes at the National War Memorial. President Droupadi Murmu, along with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was escorted from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to the Kartavya Path, where they were welcomed by PM Modi. President Murmu, who was elected last year at the topmost office of the country, unfurled the Tricolour for the first time at Kartavya Path, which was followed by the National Anthem. The President was given a customary 21 Gun Salute. Notably, it was for the first time that the 21 Gun Salute was given with 105 mm Indian Field Guns. It replaced the vintage 25-pounder gun. The Gun Salute was presented by the Ceremonial Battery of the 871 Field Regiment. The Ceremonial Battery was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Vikas Kumar, SM. The Gun position officer was Naib Subedar Anoop Singh. Following the ceremonial 21 Gun Salute, it was time for the military might of India to be showcased with the beginning of the parade in which the contingents marched past the dais giving a Salute to the President who is the supreme commander of the Armed Forces. With the beginning of the parade, Kartavya Path, which was unveiled last year by PM Modi, was a witness to the rising military power of the country which is making its way to self-reliance. On this year`s Republic Day, the participants gave a push to the theme of `Atmanirbhar Bharat` by showcasing indigenously developed weapon systems. This year, only Made-in-India weapon systems were showcased at the Republic Day parade, which included ammunition showcasing India`s indigenization power such as 21 Gun Salute through `Made in India` 105 mm Indian Field Guns, recently inducted LCH Prachand, the K-9 Vajra howitzers, MBT Arjun, Nag anti-tank guided missiles, Akash air defence missiles, and the Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicles. Lt Cdr Disha Amrith led the Naval Contingent of 144 young sailors as Contingent Commander and Lt Ashwani Singh, Sub Lt Priyanka Sharma, and Sub Lt M Aditya as Platoon Commanders. It is pertinent that the marching contingent, for the very first time in history, consisted of 3 women and 6 men Agniveers. As the tableaux began to be presented at the Kartavya Path, the cultural might of the country was on display on the occasion. Women empowerment theme dominated the Kartavya Path as states including Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Tripura presented the theme. The regal Camels of the BSF under Deputy Commandant Manohar Singh Kheechee marched on the Kartavya Path. For the first time, women riders on their decorated camels followed by the `CARAVAN` participated in the Republic Day Parade 2023 showcasing the theme of empowerment of Indian women in various fields. As the tableaux ended, the Kartavya Path was a witness to some stunning motorcycle display and the sky above was a testimony of breath-taking airshows by the Indian Air Force jets. At the end of the airshow, there was the National Anthem marking the event`s conclusion. President Murmu and the Egyptian President were escorted from the dais to the cavalcade. PM Modi waved and greeted the people who came to witness the occasion. Patna: While India celebrated the 74th Republic Day on Thursday, a Pakistani flag was found hoisted in a house in Bihar`s Purnea district, police said. When the incident in Sipahi Tola village under Madhubani Top police station came to the knowledge of district administration, officials rushed to the village. The flag was hosted on a house owned by Mohammad Mubarukuddin and it is located adjacent to the local mosque. During the investigation, Rehana Parveen, a family member, informed police that a person came in the house in the morning hours and went on the rooftop. She further said that she did not know who had hosted the Pakistani flag on her house."We have immediately removed the Pakistani flag and the investigation is underway. Such an act is meant to be treason and the accused will be booked," Madhubani Top SHO Pawan Kumar Chaudhary said. Republic Day Parade Delhi: With India celebrating its 74th Republic Day on Thursday, a military contingent from Egypt marched towards the saluting dais on the Kartavya Path for the first time. The Egyptian army contingent participated in India`s 74th Republic Day parade in the presence of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Egyptian military contingent led by Colonel Mahmoud Mohamed Abdel Fattah El Kharasawy consisting of 144 soldiers represented the main branches of the Egyptian armed forces. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi attended the parade as the chief guest. It is for the first time that an Egyptian leader has been invited on India`s Republic Day. The Egyptian forces have considered it an honour and privilege to participate in India`s Republic Day parade. The Egyptian contingent carries the legacy of one of the oldest regular armies known to humanity. Notably, the history of the Egyptian army goes back to 3200 BC when King Narmer unified Egypt. The old Kingdom was considered to be the height of Egyptian civilisation. The modern Egyptian army was established during the rule of Muhammad Ali Pasha who is widely considered the founder of modern Egypt. He formed an army with soldiers mainly conscripted from modern Egypt. El-Sisi, who is on a four-day visit to India, accompanied by a high-level delegation witnessed the Republic Day Parade. After attending the Republic Day parade, the Egyptian President will attend an `At-Home` reception by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Later, El-Sisi will be called on by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and the two sides will hold a meeting. Notably, India and Egypt have enjoyed strong defence ties. There was close cooperation between the Air Forces, with efforts at jointly developing a fighter aircraft in the 1960s. IAF pilots had also trained Egyptian pilots from the 1960s until 1984. India and Egypt are celebrating 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations this year. India has also invited Egypt as a `guest country" during its G20 Presidency. Furthermore, the visit of El-Sisi is seen as a visit to bolster ties between India and Egypt and further deepen them. India and Egypt have "warm and friendly relations marked by civilizational, cultural and economic linkages and deep-rooted people-to-people ties", according to the statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs. India and Egypt, two of the world`s oldest civilizations, have enjoyed a history of close contact from ancient times. Both countries share a close political understanding based on a long history of contact and cooperation in bilateral, regional, and global issues. The commander of the Egyptian Army contingent, Colonel Mahmoud Mohamed Abdel Fattah El Kharasawy, expressed his delight at being invited to participate in India`s 74th Republic Day parade on Thursday, hoping that the gesture will go a long way towards boosting bilateral ties and friendship between India and Egypt in future. "We have the pleasure of participating in India. This is the first time we are visiting India. It is a great country with civilisation as old as ours in Egypt. We both are old civilisations. We have been here for four days and practised with our friends in the Indian Army. Our relationship is strong and we love supporting each other," Elkharasawy told ANI on Wednesday. On the bilateral ties between India and Egypt, he said, "Our countries share a strong bond and have a great relationship. I hope this friendship goes from strength to strength in future. We also hope more people from India visit Egypt." Notably, a joint exercise known as Cyclone 2023 between Indian Army and Egyptian Army`s joint is being carried out in Rajasthan`s Jaisalmer. The Additional Directorate General of Public Information in a tweet on January 23 said, "Exercise #Cyclone 2023 #SpecialForces troops of #IndianArmy and #EgyptArmy exercised Special Heliborne Operations during the ongoing joint exercise at #Jaisalmer. It is pertinent to mention that Cyclone 2023 is the first-ever exercise that is taking place between the special forces of the Indian Army and the Egyptian Army. The 14-day-long exercise which is being carried out in the deserts of Rajasthan engages both the contingents to advance special forces skills such as Sniping, Combat Free Fall, Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Designation, sharing of information on weapons, equipment, innovations, tactics, techniques and procedures. 2023 Republic Day: India is celebrating its 74th Republic Day today. President Droupadi Murmu commenced the celebrations of the 74th Republic Day, for the first time since assuming office last year, by unfurling the national flag at Kartavya Path. Keeping with tradition the unfurling of the Tricolour was followed by the national anthem and a customary 21 Gun Salute. Notably, it was for the first time that the 21 Gun Salute was given with 105 mm Indian Field Guns. It replaced the vintage 25-pounder gun. The Ceremonial Battery was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Vikas Kumar, SM. The Gun position officer was Naib Subedar Anoop Singh. The 21 Gun Salute is presented during Republic Day, Independence Day and visits of foreign Heads of State. This year's Republic Day is special as `The President's Bodyguard` marked 250 years since its raising, in 1773, at Varanasi. Who is Republic Day 2023 Parade Chief Guest? Egyptian President Mr Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is the Chief Guest at this year's parade. It is for the first time that an Egyptian leader is attending India's Republic Day parade as chief guest. El-Sisi, who is on a four-day visit to India and accompanied by a high-level delegation, witnessed the Republic Day Parade. After the parade, he is set to attend an 'At-Home' reception by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Later, El-Sisi will be called on by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and the two sides will hold a meeting. Born in 1954, Sisi grew up in the el-Gamaliya neighbourhood of Cairo. He belonged to a family of arabesque furniture artisans. He graduated from the Egyptian Military Academy in 1977 and was appointed to the post of Director of Intelligence in 2010. In August 2012, he was appointed as the Minister of Defense and the commander of the Egyptian Armed Forces where he remained until his resignation in March 2014 to run for the Presidency. El-Sisi was elected as the sixth President of Egypt in May 2014. During the Republic Day Parade, a military contingent of the Egyptian Army also took part along with other contingents. 160 Egyptian military personnel represented the country's armed forces at the Republic Day Parade. Colonel Mahmoud Mohamed Abdelfattah Elkharasawy was the commander of the Egyptian Army contingent. As India and Egypt are celebrating 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations this year, New Delhi has also invited Egypt as a 'guest country" during its G20 Presidency. Republic Day 2023: As India celebrated its 74th Republic Day today, world leaders extended their greetings to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Draupadi Murmu. Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed India's achievements in various fields saying that India was making a significant contribution in ensuring international peace and security on the global stage. Putin was quoted as saying in the statement that India's achievements in the economic, social, scientific, technological and other spheres are widely known. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "To my dear friend Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the people of India, I would like to congratulate you and offer my best wishes on India's 74th Republic Day. I am certain the already close bond between our countries will continue to grow stronger with every passing year." Extending greeting to India, French President Emmanuel Macron said, "As India celebrates Republic Day, I convey my warmest wishes to my dear friend Narendra Modi and the Indian people. I look forward to setting new ambitions together for the G20 and for our Indo-French strategic partnership as it turns 25 this year." Dr Lotay Tshering, PM of Bhutan, said that India is set to emerge on the world stage under PM Narendra Modi's leadership. "The people of Bhutan and I send our best wishes and prayers to the people of India on the 74th Republic Day. As India charts a new path ahead, I offer my good wishes for Indias progress and prosperity. Today's celebrations are set against a backdrop of immense opportunities and change. India's economy on the rise under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to emerge on the world stage," he said. Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda said, " On the occasion of the 74th Republic Day of India, I extend warm felicitations and best wishes to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the government and friendly people of India." Executive President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, said, "Greetings & best wishes to PM Shri Narendra Modi and the people of India on the occasion of the 74th Republic Day of India. May the relationship between our two nations continue to grow to mutually benefit our people so that both our nations may prosper." Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese also greeted India on the occasion. "India has made extraordinary progress across more than seven decades of independence and Australia gives thanks for the relationship between our nations. It enriches us all," said Albanese. Agartala: Bikram Bahadur Jamatia, who had played an important role in promoting an indigenous people's 'movement' against the bloody insurgency which had hit this Northeastern state is being honoured by the Padma Shri award in the social work category. Bikram Bahadur had worked to build up opinion among tribals against the second phase of insurgency in Tripura during the late 1990s. As Acra (head) of Jamatia Hoda, an apex Socio-cultural-religious body of the Jamatias, he used to visit militancy-infested tribal areas and motivate villagers to stand up against the insurgency pointing out that the fighting had brought a virtual end to development work in tribal areas. The banned outfits - National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) and other small insurgent groups had fanned out in tribal areas of Tripura, bringing terror in their wake. The Centre had to send Army to the northeastern state to tackle the insurgency and several police stations were brought under the Disturbed Area Act. Jamatia, who has been promoting indigenous faith, culture and heritage for decades, had played the role of ambassador too against alleged conversion in the state's hilly areas. "I am overwhelmed by the news that I was chosen for the Padma Shri award by the Central government for works that I have rendered to the society for many decades from now", the 86-year-old social reformer told PTI on Thursday over the telephone. Jamatia lives in his native village- Moharcherra, a village under the Teliamura subdivision of the Khowai district. "I was not aware of my nomination. It was District Magistrate (DM), Khowai, DK Chakama, who telephoned me on Wednesday night and informed me of the development. At his invitation, I joined the Republic Day programme organised by the district administration on Thursday as the chief guest", he said. "It is really a proud moment not only for me but also for the people of my state. I humbly thank the central government for the move", he said adding he will continue to work for the protection of indigenous faith, culture and tradition in the state. Jamatia has also been considered instrumental in the adoption of customary law for indigenous tribes in the northeastern state. Former Minister NC Debbarma was also chosen for the prestigious award posthumously this year for his contribution in the field of 'public affairs'. Chief Minister Manik Saha, Tribal Welfare Minister Rampada Jamatia and former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for choosing Bikram Bahadur Jamatia and NC Debbarma for the prestigious award. A long line of people appears in silhouette, walking along the flat desert in northern Niger. The strong walkers are at the front. The weakest at the rear. Every week hundreds more migrants thrown out of Algeria end up here in Assamaka, the first village on the Niger border. Hackers have disrupted the work of Iran's Fars news agency, one of the main sources of news disseminated by the state during protests over Mahsa Amini's death, the agency said. Iran has been rocked by protests since Amini's death in custody on September 16, after her arrest for an alleged breach of the country's dress code for women. Fars said its website had been disrupted late Friday by a "complex hacking and cyberattack operation". "Removing possible bugs... may cause problems for some agency services for a few days," it said in a statement posted Saturday on its Telegram channel. "Cyberattacks against Fars news agency are carried out almost daily from different countries, including the occupied territories (Israel)," it added, without elaborating. On October 21, a group called Black Reward said it had obtained documents related to Iran's nuclear program, and demanded the release of all political prisoners and people arrested during the protests. After its 24-hour ultimatum expired, the material on social media said to be released by the group included a short clip from a purported nuclear site in Iran, as well as documents. On November 23, the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran acknowledged that one of its subsidiaries had been targeted by "a specific foreign country", while downplaying the importance of the documents in question. Iran on the one side and Israel and the United States on the other have regularly accused each other of cyberattacks. Search Keywords: Short link: Spurred by provocative visits by Israels National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and other senior Israeli officials to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, dozens of Israeli extremists invaded the sanctuary on Monday, the beginning of the month of Shevat in the Hebrew calendar, storming the compound from the Al-Magharba Gate. The settlers toured the holy sites courtyards and performed Talmudic rituals, angering Muslim worshippers, a statement by the General Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem said. Incursions into Muslim holy sites have triggered outrage among Palestinians in Jerusalem and elsewhere in the occupied territories and led to calls for mobilised action to stop the assaults. Israeli occupation forces have cordoned off areas around Al-Haram Al-Sharif and tightened security throughout the Old City. Al-Aqsa Mosque has been subjected to near daily raids by Israeli fanatics bent on forcing a change on the holy sites status. Observers in Egypt, Jordan, and Palestine warn that the situation will spiral out of control if the Jewish extremists, emboldened by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus bid to weaken the Israeli judiciary, continue their attempts. All Palestinian political factions have condemned the repeated incursions, with Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) saying Israeli extremists have launched a war against Jerusalem and the Palestinian people and warning of an open confrontation with Israel. In Cairo, Major General Mohamed Ibrahim, deputy director of the Egyptian Centre for Strategic Studies and a former senior security official concerned with Israeli and Palestinian affairs, warned that the situation is extremely volatile and could erupt into a number of unpredictable scenarios, including a new war launched by Hamas and the PIJ or a fully-fledged Intifada. The incitement is mounting: it is no longer coming from Israeli extremist forces but also from officials in the Netanyahu government. On 17 January, Cairo hosted a trilateral summit between President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, King Abdullah of Jordan, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss developments in Jerusalem. The joint statement they released stresses in no uncertain terms the need to preserve the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and the importance of the Hashemite [Jordanian] crowns historically established guardianship of the Islamic and Christian holy places in the Holy City, said Ibrahim. He added that the Arab leaders had also called for an end to Palestinian factional rifts and for action to address deteriorating living standards in Gaza. The three leaders committed to intensifying consultations and coordination to formulate a plan to stimulate efforts to resume negotiations. Egypt, for its part, said that it would pursue all possible channels to contain the crisis, restore calm and compel the Israeli government to halt the provocations. Although tensions in Jerusalem have subsided since the extremists raid on Monday morning, the situation remains volatile given the nature of the new Netanyahu government, says Jack Khoury, a Haaretz journalist of Palestinian origin. Speaking to Al-Ahram Weekly by phone, he said that the status of Jerusalem is increasingly being prioritised by the new Israeli government, and Ben-Gvirs provocative visits to Al-Aqsa Mosque and Israels offensive treatment of the Jordanian and EU ambassadors signal where the situation is headed. Khoury also pointed out that work is currently in progress to demolish the Palestinian town Al-Khan Al-Ahmar and displace its inhabitants as part of a project to incorporate more Palestinian territory into Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. This, too, will trigger clashes and sharpen tensions, he said. Observers are already worried about what will happen in Ramadan, which coincides with Passover when Jewish extremists habitually increase their assaults on the Al-Aqsa compound, warning that it is necessary to prepare for the worst. Things cannot go on this way, a Jordanian source familiar with developments in Jerusalem told the Weekly. It is important not to reduce the crisis to containing the fallout from the Israeli polices assault against the Jordanian ambassador, or to the role of the Jordanian Ministry of Endowments, Islamic Affairs and Holy Places in administering the area. Attention must be given to what Israel is doing in the occupied territories and the West Bank. Khoury agrees, adding that it is essential Netanyahu and extremist ministers such as Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich are reined in. Egypt, Jordan, and other Arab states such as the UAE have already started to intervene in order to reduce tensions as a crucial first step. Some European powers have also stepped forward. And Washington, too, appears alarmed. Biden administration officials have urged Netanyahu to restrain Israels extremist trend. The subject was discussed during US National Security Adviser Jack Sullivans visit to Cairo in December, and in US Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns discussions with President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi this week. US concern over the escalating situation prompted the forthcoming visit to the region by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, with Blinkens itinerary likely to include Cairo. Netanyahu is also due to fly to Washington to meet with Biden. Though US diplomatic activity is aimed in the same direction as Arab efforts, success is contingent on the behaviour of the current Israeli government and the ability of its prime minister to restrain the impetuousness of his far-right ministers, if that is his intent. *A version of this article appears in print in the 26 January, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi emphasised on Wednesday Egypt's keenness to further develop economic and trade cooperation with Indian companies and boost joint investments to contribute to supporting the economic development process in Egypt. The president added that such cooperation aims to maximise mutual interests and optimise available opportunities. El-Sisi's remarks came during his participation in an expanded meeting of the heads of top Indian companies and Indian businessmen in New Delhi, Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said. The meeting was attended by the Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, as well as the ministers of foreign affairs, electricity and renewable energy, planning and economic development, and communications and information technology. The meeting also saw the participation of some senior Indian officials as well as representatives of India's government agencies concerned and major federations and chambers of commerce and industry. According to the Presidency, El-Sisi, currently on a three-day visit to India, praised the positive developments in Egyptian-Indian economic and trade relations over the past period. In this regard, the president pointed out various investment opportunities provided by the mega projects being implemented in Egypt, most importantly the Suez Canal Area Development Project. The project provides promising opportunities for Indian companies wishing to benefit from Egypts strategic location as a hub for the production and re-export of products to different countries of the world, many of which have free trade agreements with Egypt, especially in the Arab and African regions, El-Sisi noted. The president noted that the distinguished friendship between Egypt and India contributes to supporting efforts to develop joint cooperation in various economic fields, stressing Cairo's readiness to achieve industrial integration with Indian companies. In a press conference following his meeting with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Wednesday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that both sides decided to increase bilateral trade to $12 billion in the next five years. Earlier this week, Indias Ambassador to Cairo Ajit Gupte said bilateral trade has expanded rapidly by 75 per cent in 2021-22 to reach its highest-ever level of $7.26 billion, adding that trade between the two countries continues to grow in 2022-23. Around 50 Indian companies operating in Egypt provide direct employment to approximately 38,000 Egyptians, investing over $3.2 billion across the chemical, energy, automobile, retail, apparel, and agriculture sectors, among others. Many of these companies are planning to expand their investments by a cumulative $800 million, Gupte revealed. Meanwhile, the Indian commerce minister and businessmen said the Egypt-India business roundtable constitutes a big opportunity to promote friendship between both countries. They added that they are looking forward to maximising bilateral cooperation given the promising investment opportunities offered in Egypt, especially in the sectors of pharmaceutical industries, communications and information technology, defence industries, infrastructure, petroleum and natural gas, electricity, as well as new and renewable energy. They also confirmed that they looked forward to enhancing trade exchange between both countries in the agricultural field. The Indian figures lauded President Sisis periodic follow-up of the measures taken to facilitate procedures for the Indian companies working in Egypt, as well as the remarkable resilience shown by the Egyptian economy backed by the governments efforts to speed the pace of the development process. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi arrived on Tuesday in New Delhi at Modi's invitation to participate as chief guest in celebrations of India's Republic Day on Thursday. He received a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan the official residence of the president of India at the western end of Rajpath in New Delhi and was welcomed by President Droupadi Murmu and PM Modi. Search Keywords: Short link: Indian President Droupadi Murmu held a banquet Wednesday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan presidential Palace in New Delhi in honour of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who is currently visiting India. In her banquet Speech, President Murmu said that President El-Sisi's visit to India, which started on Tuesday, came at a very opportune moment as India and Egypt are celebrating 75 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations. She noted that Egypt had been one of the first countries which established full-fledged diplomatic relations with India just three days after Indias independence. Mahatma Gandhi and Saad Zaghloul Pasha shared common goals on the independence of their countries, said the Indian President, adding that "after Independence , Indian and Egyptian leaders helped develop bonds of affection and admiration between the people of our two countries." In her speech, Droupadi Murmu expressed her appreciation for Egypts leading role in promoting peace, prosperity and stability in the region. The Indian President said that there was tremendous talent among Indian and Egyptian young people and enormous potential to bring about prosperity and development. She expressed confidence that this visit would further deepen the engagement and cooperation between India and Egypt, inviting Egyptian industry to benefit from the Government of Indias flagship initiatives, such as Make in India, Digital India and Start-up India. According to the Egyptian Presidency, President El-Sisi expressed appreciation for the warm Indian reception, praising the solid historical Egyptian Indian friendship. He also commended the progress that India has achieved on various levels in the recent period. El-Sisi expressed Egypt's aspiration to deepen and strengthen its ties with India, especially at the level of economy and trade, and to maximise the volume of Indian investments in Egypt. El-Sisi also stressed that Indian investments currently have an excellent opportunity to be present in the Egyptian market to benefit from the modern infrastructure in Egypt and to access African markets, especially in light of the free trade agreements that bring Egypt together with various regional economic blocs. Earlier this week, Indias Ambassador to Cairo, Ajit Gupte said that bilateral trade has expanded by 75 per cent in 2021-22 , reaching its highest-ever level of $7.26 billion. He was also quoted as saying that trade between the two countries continues to grow in 2022-23. Around 50 Indian companies operating in Egypt provide direct employment to approximately 38,000 Egyptians, investing over $3.2 billion across the chemical, energy, automobile, retail, apparel, and agriculture sectors, among others. Many of these companies are planning to expand their investments by a cumulative $800 million, Gupte revealed. According to the Egyptian Presidency, the talks between the two presidents addressed a number of regional and international issues of common interest. The discussions reflected a mutual understanding between the two sides on ways to deal with all files, the Egyptian Presidency said, adding that President Murmu praised the pivotal role played by Egypt in consolidating stability in the Middle East and Africa, as well as supporting peaceful solutions to the crises in its regional environment. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi arrived on Tuesday in New Delhi at Modi's invitation to participate as chief guest in celebrations of India's Republic Day on Thursday. He received a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan the official residence of the president of India at the western end of Rajpath in New Delhi and was welcomed by President Droupadi Murmu and PM Modi. He also held a meeting with a group of Indian officials and businessmen to discuss the opportunities of investments in Egypt. Search Keywords: Short link: Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi attended on Thursday morning the public celebrations of India's 74th Republic Day along the Kartavya Path in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu. The Egyptian president is the chief guest of honour in India's celebrations of the country's 74th Republic Day. El-Sisi's three-day visit to India, which started on Tuesday, has been described by Prime Minister Modi as "historic" and a "matter of immense happiness" to the Indian people. On Wednesday, El-Sisi held two meetings with with PM Modi and President Murmu to discuss bilateral relations between Egypt and India. He also met with Indian representatives of the Indian business community to discuss prospects of economic cooperation between the two countries. A contingent representing the main branches of the Egyptian Armed Forces marched in a military parade during the event. Egypt and India celebrate this year the 75th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations. In a presser with El-Sisi yesterday, Modi said India and Egypt will develop a long-term framework for comprehensive cooperation in political, security, economic, and scientific fields under their strategic partnership. For his part, El-Sisi stated that Egypt and India agreed on fostering strategic cooperation in several domains covering agriculture, higher education, chemicals, fertilisers, medications, and IT. Egypt and India agreed on maximising cooperation on all fronts and forging more partnerships in new areas, including cooperation in new and renewable energy and green hydrogen production, El-Sisi added. The Indian premier said the two sides decided to increase bilateral trade to $12 billion in the next five years. Earlier this week, Indias Ambassador to Cairo Ajit Gupte said bilateral trade has expanded rapidly by 75 percent in 2021-22 to reach its highest-ever level of $7.26 billion, adding that trade between the two countries continues to grow in 2022-23. Around 50 Indian companies operating in Egypt provide direct employment to approximately 38,000 Egyptians, investing over $3.2 billion across the chemical, energy, automobile, retail, apparel, and agriculture sectors, among others. Many of these companies are planning to expand their investments by a cumulative $800 million, Gupte revealed. Search Keywords: Short link: French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna on Thursday arrived in Ukrainian city Odessa in a visit aimed at underscoring France's support for Ukraine against the Russian invasion. She was there "to show France's support for Ukraine's sovereignty, now as before," Colonna wrote on Twitter alongside a picture of herself in front of a city landmark. Although delayed by a new wave of Russian strikes overnight and on Thursday morning, Colonna was still set to meet her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba in the historic Black Sea port. They will discuss "the Ukrainians' immediate and urgent needs for military and civilian equipment," a diplomatic source told AFP. After decisions by the US and Germany to supply battle tanks, some observers have wondered whether France will send its Leclerc model into the fight against Moscow's forces. So far "President (Volodymyr) Zelensky hasn't said he needs Leclerc tanks", the diplomatic source said. They cited "obvious" reasons of logistics, maintenance, and low stocks of the tank, which is operated by fewer countries than the US Abrams and German Leopard 2. What's more, "for any army, having 10 different types of tanks in its forces would create an almost insoluble logistical equation," the source added. Colonna's visit also follows the Wednesday adding of Odessa to UN cultural body UNESCO's register of world heritage sites in danger. "Among targets of today's mass missile strike, Russia struck Odessa causing massive power outages," Kuleba tweeted. "This destruction is (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's response to UNESCO inscribing Odessa on its World Heritage List yesterday". Colonna is later Thursday expected to visit an electrical site destroyed in a Russian strike, as well as a centre hosting refugees from southern city Kherson. Search Keywords: Short link: The monitoring unit of Egypts leading Islamic authority Al-Azhar condemned on Thursday the deadly "terrorist attacks" against two churches in Spain the previous day, calling for increased security at places of worship to prevent a recurrence of such attacks. Related Spain shaken after deadly church attacks Al-Azhar Observer for Combating Extremism said in a statement that it "condemns this sinful terrorist attack against the two churches and their priests and the shedding of innocent blood." A man, reportedly a 25-year-old Moroccan, stormed into two churches in the southern Spanish city of Algeciras armed with a machete on Wednesday evening, killing a verger at one church and badly injuring a priest at the other. Police arrested the attacker at the scene and Spanish prosecutors immediately opened a terror probe into the incident. The mayor of Algeciras has declared a day of mourning and called residents to gather for a demonstration of condemnation at midday (11:00 GMT) in front of the church where the verger, Diego Valencia, was killed. Al-Azhar observer had warned of possible terrorist attacks in Europe by lone wolves, who are an easy choice for terrorist groups to carry out their plans to spread panic among the citizens of these countries and threaten peace, the statement said. The observer warns of the occurrence of more attacks as terrorist organisations continue to indoctrinate their lone wolves with thoughts of revenge and extremist ideologies," the statement said. The Observer stressed that Islam is innocent of every despicable terrorist act that targets innocents, especially in unsuspecting places of worship, describing the incident as an act of brutal terrorism from which all religions are innocent. The observer was created in 2015 by Al-Azhar, the worlds oldest institution of Sunni Islamic learning, to monitor and respond to erroneous and extremist interpretations of Islam. The observer also issues periodic reports to monitor and assess the attacks and movements of terror groups in various regions of the world. Search Keywords: Short link: Uzbekistan will import natural gas from Russia for the first time ever as the Central Asian country faces an energy crisis, authorities said Thursday. Despite being home to a wealth of natural resources, including gas, Uzbekistan has faced energy shortages amid historically cold temperatures. Like its neighbors Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, Uzbekistan suffers frequent power and heating cuts due to aging infrastructure. An energy ministry spokesman told AFP the gas deliveries, via an agreement with Russian energy giant Gazprom, will begin on March 1. Uzbek gas firm Uztransgaz said the country had never imported Russian gas before. The number of deliveries and the cost of the transaction have not been made public. The agreement comes as Russia has slashed exports to Europe amid tensions over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and is seeking to redirect them to Asia. European countries have also sought to reduce their reliance on Russian gas since the war broke out in February 2022. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt has denounced a raid by Israeli forces in the West Bank's Jenin refugee camp on Thursday morning that killed nine Palestinians and injured many others, calling for an immediate halt of such assaults on Palestinian cities. In a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Egypt also called for the peace-loving international parties and the United Nations to shoulder their responsibilities and put an end to recurrent assaults on the Palestinians. Egypt has called for an immediate halt of such assaults on Palestinian cities, which threaten to cause the security situation in the West Bank to spiral out of control, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed today. Egypt warned against the dangerous repercussions of such assaults on the security and stability in the occupied Palestinian areas and on the region. Egypt has also reiterated that the continuation of such assaults on Palestinian lives and property increases the state of tension and feelings of injustice among the Palestinian people, the statement said. The ministry also warned that these assaults undermine all efforts to revive the peace process, implement the vision of the two-state solution, and establish the Palestinian state on the borders of June 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital. Egypt also urged the UN and international parties to act to put an end to the recurrent attacks on the Palestinian people and ensure protections for civilians. Egypt highlighted the necessity to respect the rules of international law and international legitimacy resolutions related to the legitimate Palestinian rights and the Israeli states responsibilities as the occupying state. The Israeli raid on Jenin camp killed nine Palestinians and injured 20 others, including four who are in a critical condition, Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported. Tens of thousands of Palestinians marched in the funeral procession of the deceased, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has announced a three-day mourning period across the nation. The attack, which comes amid Israeli escalation in the West Bank, is the deadliest in the occupied territory in more than a year and brings the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces this year to 29. The New Year has seen growing Israeli violence against Palestinians, especially in the West Bank, under the new far-right government of Benjamin Netanyahu. Egypt has repeatedly called for an end to Israels assaults against Palestinians as well as provocative actions and unilateral measures, including settlement expansion, warning that they undermine the two-state solution. Egypt underlined the need for Israel to avoid measures that would change the legal status quo in Jerusalem during a quarterly open debate held by the UNSC on the Palestinian issue on 20 January. On 19 January, Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry stressed the need to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and preserve the legal and historical status quo in Jerusalem in a phone call with his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen. Cairo also hosted a trilateral summit in mid-January between Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and Jordans King Abdullah II, calling for an end to all Israeli illegitimate and unilateral actions. Meanwhile, in a phone call with Netanyahu early in January to congratulate him on his inauguration as prime minister, El-Sisi stressed the necessity of refraining from any unilateral measures that would lead to tensions and complicate the regional scene. The Egyptian president also affirmed to Netanyahu the importance of achieving a fair and comprehensive peace between the Palestinian and Israeli sides in a way that contributes to achieving security and prosperity for all peoples of the region. Search Keywords: Short link: France on Thursday called for the ``immediate release'' of seven French nationals detained in Iran, denouncing an ``unjustifiable and unacceptable'' situation. French ``hostages'' in Iran include 35-year-old Louis Arnaud, foreign ministry spokesperson Anne-Claire Legendre said. Arnaud, whose name has just been made public, was arrested on Sept. 28 as he was traveling in Iran ``for touristic reasons,'' she said. He is being detained in ``very difficult conditions'' in the Tehran prison of Evin, where France's ambassador to Iran was able to meet him on Dec. 11, she added. Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna on Wednesday discussed the issue in a phone call with her Iranian counterpart Hossein Hossein Amirabdollahian, the French foreign ministry said. ``We are especially worried about Bernard Phelan given his health condition,'' Legendre said. The foreign ministry has said that the French-Irish citizen, detained in Iran since October, needs ``appropriate medical care that is not provided'' in prison. Iran has detained a number of foreigners and dual nationals over the years, accusing them of espionage or other state security offenses and sentencing them after secretive trials in which rights groups say they are denied due process. Families and support committees of Arnaud and other French people jailed in Iran, including Fariba Adelkhah, Benjamin Briere and Cecile Kohler, have called for a gathering on Saturday in Paris. A separate event has been organized in Paris that day in support for Belgian national Olivier Vandecasteele by Doctors without Borders. The aid worker, who worked for the nongovernmental organization for many years, was arrested in Tehran in February last year. Doctors without Borders says the conditions of his detention are putting his life at risk. Search Keywords: Short link: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Eritrea on Thursday for a one-day surprise visit, the information ministry announced, as part of an African tour aimed at drumming up support for Moscow. Lavrov, on his second trip to Africa in six months, will meet President Isaias Afwerki to discuss "strengthening bilateral relations as well as regional developments of interest to the two countries", the ministry said. He and his Eritrean counterpart Osman Saleh are also expected to hold a joint press conference later Thursday, the ministry added in a statement. Eritrea, one of the most closed off countries in the world, was one of only five countries to vote against a UN resolution in March 2022 condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Lavrov's trip to Africa, which has become a renewed diplomatic battleground since the Ukraine war began, has also taken him to Angola, Eswatini and South Africa. Isaias has ruled Eritrea with an iron fist since independence from Ethiopia in 1993. Its army has been accused of numerous atrocities against the civilian population during the brutal two-year war in Ethiopia's northernmost region of Tigray. Eritrean troops however started to pull out from towns in Tigray at the end of last week, the US and Ethiopian governments say. Search Keywords: Short link: The death toll from a bomb blast that struck a group of herders in central Nigeria has risen to 40 from 27, the local government said Thursday. "We now have approximately 40 people that were killed" by the explosion on Wednesday in Rukubi, a village on the border between Nasarawa and Benue states, said Nasarawa's governor Abdullahi Sule. "The rumour earlier was that the air force carried out the bombing but right now we understand that there was no air force plane that flew (above) the area," Sule told Arise News television late Wednesday. "Instead it was a drone that flew (above) the area and dropped the bomb," Sule said, without specifying who was operating the aircraft. An umbrella group representing herders had said the bomb was dropped by a Nigerian military jet. Nigeria's air force spokesman did not respond to AFP requests for comment. Herders and farmers in central Nigeria have been clashing over grazing and water rights for decades, but the violence has worsened in recent years after some herders joined criminal gangs that raid villages. The conflict has also taken on an ethnic and religious dimension, with most herders being Muslims while farmers are largely Christians. Last Thursday, nine people were killed when suspected herders opened fire outside a camp for people displaced by earlier attacks near Makurdi, the capital of Benue state, according to local officials. Security is a major issue in Nigeria ahead of next month's elections to replace President Muhammadu Buhari, a former army general. Search Keywords: Short link: Cairo will be the first stop for US secretary of State Anthony Blinken in his Middle East tour that will kick off from 29-31 January where he will meet President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and senior Egyptian officials, the US Department of State said on Thursday. According to the US Department of State, Blinken will visit Cairo from 29-30 where he will meet with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, and senior Egyptian officials to advance the U.S.-Egypt strategic partnership and promote peace and security in the region, including through shared support for elections in Libya and the ongoing Sudanese-led political process. Blinken then will travel to Jerusalem and Ramallah from 30-31 January 30-31. According to the statement released, he will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, and other senior leaders in Israel to discuss the enduring U.S. support for Israels security, particularly against threats from Iran. They will also discuss Israels deepening integration into the region, Israeli-Palestinian relations and the importance of a two-state solution, and a range of other global and regional issues. In the West Bank, the top US diplomat will meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and senior palestinian officials to discuss Israeli-Palestinian relations and the importance of a two-state solution, political reforms, and further strengthening the U.S. relationship with the Palestinian people and leadership. The US Secretary will underscore for both the Israeli and Palestinian leaders the urgent need for the parties to take steps to de-escalate tensions to put an end to the cycle of violence that has claimed too many innocent lives according to the US Department of State. Blinken also will discuss the importance of upholding the historic status quo of Al-Aqsa Mosque in words and in actions. He will also engage with civil society throughout the trip to underscore the US commitment to human rights, and support for civil society, the statement added. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt and India agreed to elevate their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership on all levels, according to a joint statement on the occasion of the current state visit paid by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to New Delhi. According to the joint statement, Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to upgrade the relations between both countries especially political relations and relations in the fields of security, defence, energy, and economy to the level of Strategic Partnership. By doing so, the two sides seek to maximise the common interests and exchange support in a bid to overcome the difficulties caused by various consecutive crises and challenges the world is facing, the statement read. Politically, both leaders acknowledged the close cooperation between India and Egypt in various multilateral forums and affirmed their commitment to achieving comprehensive reforms of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), including by expanding both categories of membership and enhancing the representation of developing countries. Both countries agreed to cooperate when any of them is elected as a non-permanent member of the UNSC. Egypt took note of Indias candidature for a non-permanent membership of the UNSC for the term 2028-29. Bilateral trade between the two countries recorded an all time high level of $ 7.26 billion in 2021-2022, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. El-Sisi and Modi hoped that the bilateral trade target of $12 billion could be achieved within the next five years by both countries, through diversifying the trade basket and focusing on value addition. Both leaders welcomed the expansion of Indian investments in Egypt, currently estimate to be more than $ 3.15 billion. They also agreed to encourage businesses from their respective countries to explore emerging economic and investment opportunities in each others countries. The joint statement said that Egypt welcomed the flow of more Indian investments, promising to offer incentives and facilities. This includes a possible allocation of a special area of land for Indian industries in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCEZ) where the Indian side can arrange for the master plan. India, on its part, said it would encourage Indian companies that have the potential to establish overseas investments to make use of the available investment opportunities in Egypt. According to official numbers, around 50 Indian companies are operating in Egypt providing direct employment to approximately 38,000 Egyptians. These companies invest over $3.2 billion across the chemical, energy, automobile, retail, apparel, and agriculture sectors, among others. Both sides also agreed on enhancing bilateral cooperation in the fields of capacity building. They also agreed to share experiences in the developmental field in view of the success of the Egyptian experience in developing rural areas under the project Decent Life and in view of Indias experience in employing technology in fighting poverty. The statement also affirmed that Egypt and India emphasised their determination to cooperate in the trade of commodities of strategic nature and those required for food security to help both countries contain the repercussions of the global food crisis. Eighty percent of Egypt's imported wheat comes from Russia and Ukraine. With the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine, Egypt had to find new markets to import wheat. It found in India a reliable exporter of wheat. Therefore, in May 2022, a deal between Egypt and India was signed to import 61,500 tons of Indian wheat. On defence cooperation, the Indian Primer and Egyptian President El-Sisi expressed concern over the spread of terrorism across the world and condemned the use of terrorism as a foreign policy tool. They agreed on the need to hold a joint working group on Counterterrorism on regular basis to exchange information and best practices. They also agreed on enhancing interaction between their respective National Security Councils. El-Sisi and Modi also agreed to expand cooperation in the field of space by utilizing India's expertise in building and launching satellites and space technology applications. They also affirmed the need to strengthen cooperation in space research in areas such as remote sensing, satellite communication, space science, and practical applications of space technology. Recognizing the challenges posed by the COVID pandemic, particularly to the developing world, the two leaders agreed to cooperate in the health field to ensure more robust global supply chains, enhance preparedness and provide access to healthcare. They also expressed intent to strengthen cooperation in the field of healthcare, drugs and pharmaceuticals. Concerning green development and the environment, the Egyptian President expressed support for the Indian Prime Ministers Lifestyle for Environment initiative, while the Indian PM expressed support for President Sisis Go Green Initiative that aims to change behaviours, spread environmental awareness and urge citizens to protect the environment, natural resources, natural protectorates, and marine life to maintain sustainability. Both leaders expressed a desire to strengthen cooperation in renewable energy, particularly green hydrogen. With respect to education, both leaders decided to enhance bilateral partnership by exploring the possibility of further collaboration between Universities in Egypt and the Public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) of India to facilitate the procedures for establishing a branch of an Indian HEI in Egypt under the framework of the relevant regulations and laws in the two countries. Recognising the importance of culture and tourism between India and Egypt, the two leaders agreed to explore possibilities to organise joint festivals, encourage the exchange of visits among pioneering figures in various art forms, explore common cultural elements, encourage translation of literary works, support cinematic creativity, and develop film industry in the two countries. Concerning tourism, El-Sisi and Modi agreed to work on operating flights between New Delhi and Cairo, which may be followed by the operation of direct flights between other points of call in their respective countries, as per mutual agreement. At the end of the joint statement, it was mentioned that President El-Sisi extended a cordial invitation to Prime Minister Modi to visit Egypt. El-Sisi's three-day visit to India, which started on Tuesday, has been described by Prime Minister Modi as "historic" and a "matter of immense happiness" to the Indian people. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi attended Thursday morning the public celebrations of India's 74th Republic Day as chief guest of honour. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu were also present. President El-Sisi was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Electricity and Renewable Energy, Planning and Economic Development and Communications and Information Technology, as well as senior officials of the Egyptian government. Search Keywords: Short link: President Xi delivers video address at CELAC 7th summit Xinhua) 09:14, January 26, 2023 Upon the invitation of President Alberto Fernandez of Argentina, rotating president of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a video address at the seventh Summit of CELAC. The summit was held in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina, on Jan. 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) BEIJING, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- The seventh Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) was held Tuesday in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. Upon the invitation of President Alberto Fernandez of Argentina, the rotating president of CELAC, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a video address at the summit. President Xi noted that Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries are important members of the developing world. They also take an active part in global governance and make important contributions to it. CELAC has grown to be an indispensable driving force behind global South-South cooperation. CELAC has played an important role in safeguarding regional peace, promoting common development and advancing regional integration. Xi stressed that China always supports the regional integration process of Latin America and the Caribbean. "We highly value our relations with CELAC, and take CELAC as our key partner in enhancing solidarity among developing countries and furthering South-South cooperation. That is why China has been working with LAC countries to steadily strengthen the China-CELAC Forum and take the China-LAC relationship into a new era characterized by equality, mutual benefit, innovation, openness and benefits for the people," he said. Xi said more and more countries in the region have engaged in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with China, supported and participated in the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, and are working with China in building a China-LAC community with a shared future. He stressed that the world is in a new period of turbulence and transformation. "We can only tackle the challenges and tide over this trying time through greater solidarity and closer cooperation," he said. He added that China is ready to continue working with LAC countries to help each other and make progress together, and advocate "peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom" -- the common values of mankind. China is ready to join hands with LAC countries to promote world peace and development, build a community with a shared future for mankind, and open up an even brighter future for the world, Xi said. Upon the invitation of President Alberto Fernandez of Argentina, rotating president of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a video address at the seventh Summit of CELAC. The summit was held in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina, on Jan. 24, 2023. (Photo by Martin Zabala/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Hongyu) To run or not to run, that is the question for Egypt's January revolutionaries ahead of rapidly approaching anticipated parliamentary elections Youth activists who spearheaded the January 25 Revolution are getting their first taste of parliamentary politics. In recent months, many veterans of the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak last winter have joined parties and electoral umbrella groups including El-Adl (Justice) Party, the Egyptian Current, the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, the Democratic Front, the Popular Alliance, the Revolution Youth Coalition, and Al-Way (Awareness) Party. It will be a steep learning curve for activists wishing to reshape a political scene that the defunct National Democratic Party and Muslim Brotherhood dominated for decades. But financial difficulties, the unfamiliarity of the political turf, and the entrenched power of countryside clans dont seem to discourage them. El-Adl, a liberal party formed after Mubarak fell, which boasts many members of Elbaradei's campaign, plans to field no less than 50 young activists in the coming elections, Abdel Monem Imam, a party official, said. According to Imam, El-Adl plans to run January activists such as Mostafa Al-Naggar, who has become a member of the party's coordinating committee, in Madinet Nasr (Cairo); Ahmed Shokri, member of El-Adl coordinating committee, in Sherbin (Menoufiya Governorate), and Mohammad Khamis, who was wounded in the uprising against Mubarak, in the Red Sea Governorate. The party also plans to run a number of activists in cities in the densely populated industrial Delta region: Basant Al-Kahki in Mahalla City; Abdel Aziz Khattab in Kafr Al-Zayyat City; and Mostafa Eker in Tanta. The Revolution Youth Coalition, one of the first broad-based umbrellas of revolutionary activists, born in the midst of the uprising, announced in a press conference Wednesday that it will compete in the upcoming parliamentary elections. The coalition includes members of the 6 April Movement, the youth wing of Democratic Front Party, Youth for Justice and Freedom, the Campaign for Supporting Elbaradei, the Muslim Brotherhood Youth, and the Nasserist Al-Karamah (Dignity) Party. Khaled Abdel Hamid, a leading Revolution Youth Coalition member, told Ahram Online that the coalition has not yet decided whether it would run its members as such, or as part of electoral lists formed by political parties that they might be members of. In either case, however, Abdel Hamid confirmed that at least two leading Youth Coalition members will compete in a couple of critical election districts. Ziyad Al-Eleimi, a leading Revolution Youth Coalition media spokesperson during the uprising, who is also a member of the liberal Egyptian Social Demcoratic Party, will stand for parliament in Mokattam (Cairo), where he has been involved in social work for the past four years. Khaled Al-Sayyed, a veteran socialist activist and a member of the Popular Alliance Party, will run in Helwan (Cairo). Two leading activists in Revolution Youth Coalition have made it known that they intend to run in parliamentary elections as members of the Egyptian Current, an electoral front that a number of liberals and Muslim Brotherhood youths formed last spring. Asmaa Mahfouz, who made her fame by recording several short, emotional mobilising videos that aired on internet channels before and during the uprising, intends to run in Mattaria (Cairo). Abdel Rahman Faris, a Liberal-Islamist blogger/activist, a Revolution Youth Coalition member and also a spokesperson for the Egyptian Current, said he intends to stand for election in Fayoum (Upper Egypt). Faris said that he and other coalition members are leaning towards running as part of one unified coalition national list, but lurking ambiguity surrounding the shape of constituencies is delaying their decision in this regard. Many other January activists are also tempted by the thought of taking their street fight into parliament but hesitate to make solid commitments because they say they have doubts about whether government election laws and districting decisions would actually allow revolutionaries to stand a chance against old-time powerful candidates. For example, Mohammad Arafat, who wishes to stand for election in Itay Al-Barud City in Beheira (Northern Delta) told Ahram Online that, It is hard to make a decision before things become clear concerning the shape of constituencies and the way the election system is to be run. Amr Ezz, another coalition activist and a member of Democratic Front Party, says he wants to stand for office in Imbaba (Cairo), preferably as part of a united Revolution Youth Coalition list, but his decision is going to depend on the way in which election constituencies are divided. On the other hand, Israa Abdel Fattah, a one-time blogger who achieved national fame when Mubarak's secret police disappeared her after she put out a call for a general strike against the former dictator on 6 April 2008, said she is waiting to make a decision because parties and electoral coalitions themselves have not made up their minds on what to do. Abdel Fattah said that she may stand for election in Banha (Lower Delta) but shes waiting to learn more about the election plans of her Democratic Front Party. However, some January activists have already made up their minds 100 per cent to run in the elections, and also chose what party to run with. For example, Democratic Front Party members Amr Salah and Ahmad Eid will run in Alexandria and Imbaba (Cairo) respectively. Standing alone among January veterans, both the 6 April Movement and its offshoot 6 April Democratic Front said that they are not interested in running for parliament and prefer to focus on being pressure groups instead. So is Tahrir becoming a relic of the past? The jury is still out, especially that some the activists still yearn for the days when Tahrir was more vibrant. Tahrir Square remains a symbol of the revolution, but we have to give politics a chance. The public doesnt seem too interested in the symbolism of the square and want to move beyond it. Yasser Al-Hawari says. Corroborating this view, Israa Abdel Fattah says, Tahrir should remain alive as a means of pressure. But we must learn how and when to use it. Ziyad Al-Eleimi prefers a situation where the revolutionaries wouldnt need to go back to the square. He hopes that democracy would take root, and that the nation would have other means of expressing its demands and of transferring power in a peaceful way. Search Keywords: Short link: In his new historical novel titled The Egyptian Museum, Nasser Iraq tackles the looting of Ancient Egyptian antiquities by European excavators. Iraq attributes the looting to two main reasons: foreigners' abuse of Khedive Ismail's blind trust and the indifference that the majority of Egyptians showed towards those antiquities. The novel is divided into 11 chapters that employ the names of the main characters as titles. Throughout the novel Iraq employs first-person narration. The novel starts with Ramadan Al-Mohammedy, a talented carpenter who is soon revealed to be an antiquities thief and a Lothario. Ramadan's lover Mastoora whom he kills after she insists that he marries her after getting her pregnant used to steal antiquities from the house of her employer, the German Egyptologist Heinrich Henry Brugsch. Iraq then makes a smooth transition to other characters. These are Brugsch, the School of Egyptology director; Auguste Mariette Pasha, the founder of the Egyptian Department of Antiquities; Josephine Diori, the young French archeologist; and Ahmed Effendi Kamal, assistant of Mariette Pasha and Brugschs most brilliant student. Throughout the novel, Mariette Pasha and Brugsch are always engaged in a discussion about the Egyptians indifference towards the Pharaohs entire heritage. Mariette Pasha firmly believes that Muslim Egyptians are inclined by virtue of their religious faith to overlook ancient Egyptian history, viewing statues as idols. He mentions the shutting down of the School of Egyptology due to the meagre number of students as proof of Egyptians' apathy towards their ancient Egyptian heritage. Brugsch, on the other hand, cannot believe that among so many Egyptians no one is interested in studying ancient Egyptian history. He cites Ahmed Effendi as an example of Egyptians who are willing to study such a subject and expresses his hope that in time other Egyptians will follow suit. The novel, however, portrays all its main characters as involved one way or another in smuggling antiquities and selling them to foreigners abroad. Ramadan Al-Mohammedy, Mariette Pasha, Brugsch, Benjamin Jacob, even Ahmed Effendi who returns the statue he stole are all involved with stealing and smuggling antiquities. Ahmed Effendi, who is married and has two children, is portrayed as deeply in love with her. Her love drives Ahmed to steal the statue of Seti I to sell it to provide Josephine with a decent life. He has, however, a sudden pang of conscience and returns the statue just before being appointed head of an inventory commission responsible for conducting a census of the stolen statues. Ahmed Effendi is flabbergasted when Josephine leaves a farewell letter describing their relationship as withered roses. The note comes only two days after she had hugged him intimately. Jospehine, who turns out to be an emotionally disturbed woman, breaks off with Ahmed just as she had broken off with her fiancee back in France one week before her wedding. She runs after the French Consuls brother Andre whose profession as a photographer had been unknown in Egypt at the time. Mariette Pasha, another character involved in smuggling antiquities, gives Brugsch Pharaonic statues to sell them at an auction hall in London. Brugsch himself has so many statues at his house as if they were personal property. In one of the more heart-wrenching scenes, an Egyptian mummy is torn in half while Brugsch and his brother Emile carried it to the museum after discovering it and getting rid of its sarcophagus in the desert due to its heavy weight. Benjamin Jacob, the French Jew who poses as a grain merchant in public but who is an antiquities smuggler behind the scenes, scolds Ramadan when he asks him about Thutmose III. When Ramadan proves ignorant, Jacob shouts at him saying You, people of Egypt have a chronic flaw, a flaw that hinders your progress and development. A flaw that is similar to an epidemic that destroys and decimates and that is your horrible ignorance of the great heritage of your genius ancestors. You are oblivious of the fact that the dust you are treading on hides the most precious treasures and the greatest of civilizations. He concludes by saying, Anyway, thats good for the ignorance of some people is the key to wealth for others. The novel also portrays how foreigners in general viewed Egypt at that time. In a letter to her friend Marie, Josephine says that only the parts of Cairo that are inhabited by the Khedive and foreigners are radiating with light, while the rest of Cairo is surrounded by poverty and piles of garbage. She describes Egypt as a nice-looking apple on the outside that is rotten at the core. She even believes Oriental music to be poor and slow. In addition to the European Egyptologists, the novel also portrayed other famous historical figures in cameo roles. Among these characters are Ahmed Orabi, the Egyptian revolutionary, Karl Marx, the renowned German philosopher and Khedive Ismail. The double standards of Europeans are also portrayed in the novel by Iraq. Europeans generally described the Khedive as the despot of the Orient who doesnt accept any advice. When the Khedive responded positively to the Egyptian Army officers demands and dismissed the government that included a British and a French minister, a European newspaper described him as the outcast ruler who doesnt keep promises. Clearly, big powers in Europe were pushing the Ottoman Sultan to issue a firman deposing him, which exactly what happened. Despite the important projects that Khedive Ismail carried out, there was always in the backdrop of the novel his penchant for squandering money and also his trust, preference and favouring of foreigners both in posts and salaries. For instance, Ahmed Effendi felt severe injustice when he knew that Josephine, who had just arrived from Paris, earned twice his salary while he spent six years to earn his. At the same time, the Egyptian Army was boiling with anger for not receiving their salaries for months on end. Although the novel is basically historical, it is also in part a thriller in which the murderer is known from the very beginning. As for Ramadan the killer, Ahmed Effendi had been suspicious of him and consequently followed Nabawiyya, one of the Egyptian Museum cleaners and Ramamdans new lover, only to find that she gave him a wrapping and entered his home at night and didnt leave. After climbing the house wall, Ahmed, his Army officer cousin and a group of soldiers found Ramadan dead, Nabawiyya wounded and a number of statues along with Mastooras and Sabhas corpses in the house's backyard. The novel discusses a number of themes such as the self and the other, the relationship between the ruler and the ruled, and the absence of any form of overseeing of foreign officials (who smuggle antiquities so easily and who are almost never inspected by customs officials on leaving the country). There is also an underlying theme, namely the relationship between men and women. This theme can be seen in Ramadans seduction of poor girls, luring them with promises of marriage then killing some of them . It can also be seen in Brugschs relationship with his German wife, and in Ahmed Effendis relationship with both Zeinab, his Egyptian wife, and his French fiancee Josephine. In addition, throughout the novel the reader can feel that white European features are almost always contrasted with dark Egyptian ones, to the extent that Sabha, the Upper Egyptian maid and one of Ramadan's victims, couldnt believe that Ramadan, who inherited his mother's Turkish complexion, sees her beautiful. Iraq demonstrates in his 11th novel maturity in style and suppleness of prose unmatched in any of his pervious works. His characterisation is brilliant and he makes excellent use of history and historical resources and events. Search Keywords: Short link: Mohsen Al-Ghamrys third novel Our Sire is a historical novel that begins with a narrator recounting his childhood memories and his early fascination with the fate of the governor of Egypt, Abbas Helmy I, who was killed treacherously. The narrator meets his childhood friend after reaching retirement age as a diplomat and together they classify documents and manuscripts the diplomat acquired through his lifelong travels. Incidentally, they find a manuscript written by a man called Safaa Al-Din, who worked as a penman and was fluent in writing Ottoman Turkish (which was written in Arabic letters) and Arabic and knew a little bit of English. Safaa Al-Din went to Egypt hoping to find a job since he was born in the Greek port city Kavala; the same birthplace of Muhammad Ali, the ruler of Egypt. He worked as a clerk and a translator in Muhammad Alis service. Safaa Al-Din starts his manuscript with commending Muhammad Alis intelligence and his order to his wife, Emine, to come to Egypt along with their sons Ibrahim and Ahmed Tusun following the Ottoman Sultans acceptance to appoint him a ruler of Egypt. The manuscript, or rather the testimony, described Tusun Pasha as tender, kindhearted, and inclined to life of sensual pleasures and music. He fell in love with Bamba, his concubine who gave birth to Abbas Helmy in Hejaz in 1813 during the 1811 campaign. During her pregnancy, she was about to die after suffering from severe fever, but she was rescued by the clever herbalist available, who predicted that the newborn will suffer from epilepsy. From his infancy in the Arabian Peninsula, Abbas showed an extreme fascination with horses. He stopped crying whenever he heard a horse neigh and when he was seated on a horseback he laughed. Safaa Al-Din loved horses immensely and he was called the horses copyist since it was his sole means of transport between cities and villages. Thus, a common interest was formed between the two men early on. Princess Nazli, Tusun Pashas closest sister, loved him so much she was jealous from his love to Bamba. Nazli and Abbas became Nazlis sworn enemies. Tusun died at the age of 23 after being infected with the Black Death in Rosetta. Muhammad Ali wondered whether it was Heavens revenge because of the Mamluks blood he spilt in the famous Citadel Massacre. Abbas hated his grandfather from the moment his father died and felt that the entire family was responsible for his orphanhood. His grandfather devoted great care to him, and his grandmother Emine Hanim showered him with her affections and nobody in the harem could upset him. He got firsthand information of the harem life and saw how plots and counter-plots were woven. Thus, distrust and suspicion were sown in his psyche towards those surrounding him. In a mysterious decision, Muhammad Ali assigned Sheikh Ahmed Ibn Rasheed, mufti of Al-Diriyah, the Wahhabis capital, who was brought to Cairo as a war captive, to educate his beloved grandson and make him well-versed in the Islamic religion. This surprised Safaa Al-Din, because it was a well-known fact that the Wahhabis were hardliners. How wasnt Egypts ruler worried about his grandsons safety while being educated by his yesterdays sworn enemy, he wondered. The sheikh kept instilling in the young princes mind his hardline stance towards life, telling him that the infidels presence in Egypt in the form of foreign advisers, doctors, and engineers mustnt be allowed except in emergencies. The author used to interrupt the flow of Safaa Al-Dins narration every now and then in the form of a dialogue between the ex-diplomat and his friend, which sometimes felt like contrived projections. Al-Ghamry shed light on the fact that Muhammad Ali lost his eldest sons and his son-in-law for the sake of his project of founding a state with its base in Egypt. His wifes heart was broken after witnessing two of her sons die because of her husbands insatiable expansionist ambitions. Safaa Al-Din mentions that Muhammad Alis henchmen killed his teacher, the renowned Egyptian historian Abdel-Rahman Al-Jabartis son Khalil in order to stop him from stating his rules disadvantages. After the Egyptian fleets defeat in the Battle of Navarino, Muhammad Ali accepted the offer Egypts European allies made that Egypt remain neutral during the Ottoman Empires conflict with Greece and do not attack it. Abbas asked his grandfather how he let down his Muslim brethren. He repeated this question on the Syria Campaign, asking Why should we spill the blood of our Muslim brothers? Muhammad Ali appointed Abbas governor of Gharbiya and Safaa Al-Deen his clerk, and sent him reports on his administration. After a year, he removed Abbas because of his harshness attitude with peasants. He appointed him chief-of-staff of the Egyptian army in the Syria Campaign in 1832 much to the dissatisfaction of his uncle Ibrahim Pasha, who asked afterwards for his removal. Measures to remove Abbas from being heir to the throne after Ibrahim Pasha started early on by his aunt Nazli and his uncle Ibrahim, who paid bribes to the Sublime Porte to change his successor. Abbas became the ruler of Egypt following the death of Ibrahim and Muhammad Ali, who were both in frail health. He stated that his grandfather was a master among his sons and grandsons but a slave to the foreign consuls. His closest relatives asked Abbas to divide their grandfathers inheritance but he persistently refused, declaring that what they consider his own inheritance belonged to Egypts treasury. Of course, this didnt sit well with his relatives especially Nazli and his uncle Mohamed Said Pasha, who sought to tarnish his image before the Ottoman sultan. Abbas cancelled a kind of poll tax taken from every person, man, woman or child, which burdened Egyptians immensely and succeeded in expanding the agricultural land and increasing its productivity. At the same time, he disbanded the Egyptian navy and neglected the fleet in the view that Egypt didnt need one after the Convention of London of 1840 and that resources must be allocated to what was more beneficial. He was fond of building palaces and buying horses whatever their prices were. Unlike his grandfather in dealing with the European consuls, he set new rules for them. Except for the British consul, who was close to him, other consuls had to have an appointment to meet him and he didnt have to convene with them if he did not feel like it. Abbas almost expelled all foreign advisers and doctors (even Clot Bey, founder of Western medical practice in Egypt) except those who embraced Islam (such as Colonel Seve who became Soliman Pasha) and those he needed their services. In another controversial move, he closed many schools in Egypt and sent a number of Egyptian teachers to Sudan in order to save money. Abbas gave Safaa Al-Din a concubine who confessed after cornering her that she was ordered to spy on him and give verbal weekly reports to a superior. Thus, he became certain that his loyalty was questionable until proven otherwise! Although Abbas abhorred superstitions and fortunetellers, Ward, a Gypsy fortuneteller whom he met disguising as a Syrian merchant accompanied by Safaa Al-Din predicted that he will rule the country and it was confirmed by Sheikh Hassan Al-Fanageeli. An antagonistic front towards Abbas was formed by his relatives, foreign consuls, and the Ottoman sultan. A conspiracy was devised where two of his Mamluks on promise of being freed strangulated him during an epileptic seizure. Abbas ruled for almost six years, from 1848 until 1854, and died at 42. Safaa Al-Din left Egypt along with his concubine whom he freed and married and recorded his testimony in his birthplace when he was over 80 years old and handed it to his son Ismail from his late wife Yildiz. Al-Ghamry described the army headed by Tusun Pasha and sent to Hejaz in 1811 as the Egyptian Army, while Egyptians didnt enter the army except in 1823. He mentioned Al-Jabartis deep sadness for Tusun Pashas death through his relationship with Safaa Al-Din and after several pages the latter starts to speak about Al-Jabarti as if he was introducing him for the first time to the reader. This was repeated many a time with Ottoman terms. Al-Ghamry uses, via Safaa Al-Din, modern expressions, such as Machiavellian, sadistic, and strategic which in no way can come through a scribe of Egypts governor at the time. Search Keywords: Short link: Witnesses allege that several dozen civilians and fighters have been killed in the latest clashes between Oromo and Amhara ethnic groups in central Ethiopia. The fighting erupted Saturday in Jewuha town in the Amhara region. One witness, like others speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation, told The Associated Press that fighters thought to be with the rebel Oromo Liberation Army attacked a camp used by Amhara special forces and killed more than 20 of them. The witness said they helped to bury three civilians as well. Fighting has spread to other towns, the witness said. Another witness in Jewuha involved in burials said ``several dozen'' bodies had been collected. A witness in Ataye town in the Amhara region alleged that clashes between OLA and Amhara special forces were ongoing and thousands of civilians were fleeing. A doctor at Shewa Robit hospital told the AP it had received the bodies of ``several people'' since Monday as well as some victims with serious injuries. The Amhara regional government on Wednesday confirmed the clashes and said members of the federal army, federal police and Amhara regional forces were working to bring the situation under control. A federal police spokesman didn't respond to calls. An Ethiopian government spokesman, Legesse Tulu, hung up. Some Amharas and Oromos, two of Ethiopia's largest ethnic groups, are in a bitter rivalry over new and old grievances. Amharas have been targeted in several locations across the neighboring Oromia region, prompting Amhara militias to deploy. Oromos also have alleged being targeted in deadly attacks by Amharas. The Oromo Legacy Leadership and Advocacy Association in a statement this week said that ``under international law, the Ethiopian federal government has a duty to protect its citizens.'' Search Keywords: Short link: The French foreign ministry said Thursday it is recalling its ambassador to Burkina Faso for consultations, one day after Paris decided to withdraw troops from the West African country following a demand by its military rulers. A top official at the foreign ministry said the decision has been made ``in the context of the latest developments in Burkina Faso'' in order to conduct ``consultations on the state and perspectives of our bilateral cooperation'' with Ambassador Luc Hallade. The official requested anonymity in line with the French government's customary practices. Burkina Faso's military junta had asked France to recall its ambassador earlier this month. France's foreign ministry said Wednesday that French troops deployed in Burkina Faso will have left the country within a month, in line with Burkina Faso's notification of the termination of the 2018 agreement on the presence of French troops on its soil. About 400 French special forces members were based in the country as part of a broader military deployment aimed at fighting extremists in Africa's Sahel region. Anti-French sentiment has grown in Burkina Faso, a former French colony, since junta leader Ibrahim Traore seized power in September. Traore has been more overtly open to working with other countries, notably Russia. The move by Burkina Faso's regime comes five months after France completed its withdrawal from Mali after nine years fighting Islamic extremists alongside regional troops. About 3,000 French soldiers are deployed in the Sahel region, most of them based in Chad and Niger. Search Keywords: Short link: The websites of German airports, public administration bodies and financial sector organisations have been hit by cyberattacks instigated by a Russian "hacker group", authorities said Thursday. The Federal Cyber Security Authority (BSI) had "knowledge of DDoS attacks against targets in Germany", a spokesman told AFP. A distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack is designed to overwhelm the target with a flood of internet traffic, preventing the system from functioning normally. The attacks were aimed "in particular at the websites of airports", as well as some "targets in the financial sector" and "the websites of federal and state administrations", the spokesman said. The attack had been "announced by the Russian hacker group Killnet", the BSI spokesman said. The group's call to arms was in response to Chancellor Olaf Scholz's announcement Wednesday that Germany would send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine to help repel the Russian invasion, according to financial daily Handelsblatt. Attributing Thursday's attacks directly to the hacker group, however, was "particularly hard", the BSI spokesman said. "They call for action and then a lot of people take part," he said. The attacks made "some websites unavailable", the BSI said, without there being "any indication of direct impacts on (the organisations') services". Attacks on public administrations were "largely repelled with no serious impacts", the BSI said. The interior ministry for southwestern Baden-Wuerttemberg state acknowledged "nationwide" DDoS attacks since Wednesday evening against websites, including those of public administration and the regional police. Germany is on high alert for cyberattacks in the wake of Russia's war in Ukraine. The Federal Office for Information Security said in October that the threat level for hacking attacks and other cybercrime activities was higher "than ever". Search Keywords: Short link: The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group announced it is committing $10 billion over the next five years to reinforce Africas efforts to end hunger and become a primary food provider for itself and the rest of the world. President of the AfDB Group Akinwumi Adesina made the announcement during the three-day Dakar 3 Summit that kicked off on Wednesday in Diamniadio, east of the Senegalese capital of Dakar. Adesina called on more than 34 heads of state, 70 government ministers, the private sector, farmers, development partners, and corporate executives to work out compacts that would deliver food and agriculture transformation at scale across Africa. He also urged them to adopt a collective action to unlock the continents agricultural potential to become a global breadbasket. Dakar 2, co-organised by the AfDB and the Senegalese government, is being held under the theme Feed Africa: Food sovereignty and resilience. In his recorded message to the summit, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres acknowledged that Africa is currently facing the challenges of climate change and food insecurity, adding that the Russia-Ukraine war had caused the price of fertilisers to soar and made their supply difficult. Guterres pledged the UNs support to help Africa become a global food powerhouse. President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari said countries must offer more solid support for farmers, dedicate a chunk of the national budget to agriculture, and motivate youth and women to farm. Feeding Africa is imperative. We must ensure we feed ourselves today, tomorrow, and well into the future. Special agro-industrial processing zones are game-changers for the structural development of the agriculture sectors. They will help us generate wealth, develop integrated infrastructure around special agro-processing zones, and add value, Buhari added. During the summit, private sector players are anticipated to commit to national food and agriculture delivery compacts, create structural reforms, and attract private sector investment. Meanwhile, central bank governors and finance ministers are expected to develop financing arrangements to implement these compacts together with agriculture ministers, private sector players, commercial banks, financial institutions, and multilateral partners and organisations. Search Keywords: Short link: With the first anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war fast approaching, what are the choices facing the protagonists and their allies? In a few weeks, on 22 February, the Russia-Ukraine war will reach its first anniversary. It is still difficult to predict the consequences of this war, because there is no prospect of a military win for either side in the light of their declared goals. Russia wants primarily to tighten its control over the four regions of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia, but its parallel moves on the ground indicate that it is also preparing for other possible scenarios. Most notable for now is unification with Belarus, or at least the control of a broad regional platform to put pressure on Kyiv. Russia may also employ Belarusian forces in the conflict. Russian reports indicate that Minsk has asked Moscow to restore nuclear capabilities to Belarus, and last week Russia conducted manoeuvres to test the defences of its capital Moscow in preparation for a worst case scenario. Meanwhile, Ukraine is still adamant about its need to acquire German-made Leopard 2 tanks to continue the conflict. After a meeting at the US Ramstein airbase in Germany failed to approve the supply of these tanks, Ukraine said it would not abandon this strategic demand. Poland is also putting pressure on Germany to supply the tanks and has already begun training Ukrainian fighters in using the Leopard 2. However, it seems likely that Germany will dig its heels in under the pretext that delivering these strategic tanks to Kyiv would mean German involvement in the war. Germany is a member of NATO and it cannot become involved without involving the wider alliance. It cannot supply the tanks, it says, in order to avoid provoking Russia. Germany also understands that sacrificing the tanks would impact its own defence capabilities, as it develops these according to plans set out by Chancellor Olaf Scholz over the coming decade. Ukraines request of 300 tanks, around ten military battalions, is also large. How will the tanks be used and maintained? The head of the German tank manufacturing company Rheinmetall indicated that it would be difficult to deliver new tanks to the German army before one year and that maintenance requires a separate contract with the government. Ukraine has already received a substantial amount of weapons from the West. In addition to massive support from the US, including Bradley armoured vehicles, Stryker personnel carriers, and MRAP and Humvee vehicles, Britain has also provided extensive support with the provision of Challenger 2 tanks, Apache aircraft, and other weapons. A surprise has come from Bulgaria, whose President Rumen Radev has said that continuing to provide Western military support to Ukraine will mean that the war will continue without an end in view and perhaps even evolve into a world war. Overall, the most notable shift resulting from Ukraines acquisition of Western arms has been that Ukraine is gradually transforming into a Western military power, as the Soviet-made weapons that were supplied to Ukraine in the past are replaced. It is no longer possible to acquire more of them or maintain them, and Moscow says that Ukraines armament by the West is exacerbating the crisis, an allegation made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a recent visit to South Africa. Meanwhile, developments on the ground for both Russia and Ukraine have been disorienting. Russia has not yet emerged from the Battle of Bakhmut, and reports by the US information service the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) indicate inconsistencies in the management of the battle, as Russian President Vladimir Putin is once again relying on regular forces and giving commanders Valery Gerasimov and Sergei Surovkin another chance to win. Other analysis indicates that the Russian army is concerned about competition from the Russian paramilitary company the Wagner Group, which has been boasting of its role in the Battle of Soledar, a key win before Bakhmut. The Wagner Group cannot manage battles over large areas because that would require the leadership of a greater military network than it can deploy. Meanwhile, it is facing its own challenges since the US listed it as a transnational criminal organisation on 20 January, which means Washington will not go after it in Ukraine alone. Before the listing, and during a UN Security Council meeting on 11 January, the US accused the Kremlin of using the Wagner Group as a tool to intervene in the internal affairs of the African countries and increasing the likelihood that violent extremism will grow in the Sahel region, which is facing increasing attacks and deteriorating security. A few days ago, a US official advised Ukrainian fighters not to waste their energy and military capabilities in Bakhmut, but rather to redeploy to other hotspots. This could be translated politically as a belief that Russia may win the battle of Donbas, though at a great cost, and that it will be possible to negotiate the borders of the post-Bakhmut frontline. On Friday, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley said the war was very difficult and that the frontline was currently static with the exception of the fighting around Bakhmut. However, Ukrainian forces are not redeploying in preparation for Russias expansion in Kherson to the south. According to US reports, Russian forces are conducting a logistical operation in Kherson to rebuild bridges. But it is still unclear where Moscow will go next. It may head northeast and return to Kharkiv, especially since winning in Bakhmut would mean retaking the railways and the international highway, giving Moscow better opportunities for supplies and movement. At the same time, Russias moves with Belarus may lead to another scenario: moving towards a siege of Kyiv. A third scenario could be for Russia to head towards Kherson to secure the Crimea flank. Overall, Russia needs to achieve victory in the first year of the war regardless of the exorbitant cost it has incurred, and it will continue its urban or scorched-earth warfare in Ukraine to achieve this goal. On the other hand, Ukraine is adamant about its resistance and its standing up to Russia, inflicting more losses on it to sabotage any victory that Moscow may claim in the war. Between the two sides, Europe continues to mobilise and to supply the weapons to Ukraine that are allowing the war to continue. *A version of this article appears in print in the 26 January, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: The talks were intended to reduce the chances of further deterioration in the situation in occupied Palestine, especially since the rise to power of a new right-wing Israeli government which includes several key ministers known for their extremist views and rejection of any peaceful reconciliation with Palestinians. On Tuesday, 17 January in Cairo, Al-Sisi hosted the leaders of Jordan and Palestine, King Abdullah and Mahmoud Abbas, for discussions of the imminent threats facing Palestinians in the occupied territories in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. During the summit, the leaders stressed the necessity of safeguarding legitimate Palestinian rights and the continuation of their joint efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution, which provides for an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law, the relevant international legitimacy resolutions and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. Al-Sisi, Abbas and Abdullah stressed the need for the international community to provide protection for the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights and pool efforts to find a real political horizon that would re-launch serious and effective negotiations to resolve the Palestinian issue on the basis of the two-state solution, warning of the danger of the continued absence of a political horizon and its repercussions on regional security and stability. They also stressed the need to stop all illegal, unilateral Israeli measures that undermine the two-state solution and the chances of achieving a just and comprehensive peace, which include settlements, confiscation of Palestinian lands, home demolitions, the displacement of Palestinians from their homes, continual Israeli incursions into Palestinian cities, and the violation of the historical and legal status quo in occupied East Jerusalem and its holy sites. In their joint statement, the three heads of state stressed the necessity of preserving the existing historical and legal situation in Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian sanctities, in a manner that guarantees respect for the fact that the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, with its entire area, is a place of worship for Muslims, and that the Department of Endowments for Jerusalem and the Affairs of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque of the Jordanian Ministry of Endowments, Islamic Affairs and Holy Sites is the only body authorised to manage the affairs of the Al-Aqsa and regulate entry to it. Al-Sisi and Abbas also affirmed the importance of the historical Hashemite Custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy places in Jerusalem and its role in protecting these sanctities and their Arab, Islamic and Christian identity. Moreover, all three leaders stressed the need to unify Palestinian movements and end the division, which is a necessity for the Palestinian people, and the need to take serious and effective measures to alleviate the deteriorating living conditions of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Both the king of Jordan and the Palestinian president praised Egyptian efforts to maintain calm in Gaza and to rebuild the besieged, heavily populated strip, while reaffirming the responsibility of international donors in the efforts to rebuild Gaza. The following day, Al-Sisi headed to Abu Dhabi for a consultation meeting with four Gulf Arab allies: the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman, together with King Abdullah once again. The meeting, hosted by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, was held under the banner of Prosperity and Stability in the Region, and highlighted the importance of enhancing joint Arab efforts to tackle the regions political, security, and economic challenges. Considering that four out of the six Arab leaders who met in Abu Dhabi maintain diplomatic relations with Israel, it was important to send a clear message to Netanyahus new extremist government that any further normalisation with Arab countries was conditional on refraining from acts that would undermine the status of the holy Aqsa Mosque, and from annexing more Palestinian territories. Such inter-Arab contacts coincided with a visit by US National Security Adviser Jack Sullivan to Israel and Palestine, holding the first direct meeting with Netanyahu and several senior Israeli officials on Thursday. While it was important to make clear to the Israeli government that its closest ally in the world did not want to see acts that would generate a new round of tensions, and possible military escalation, Washington can certainly take immediate steps to protect what remains of the peace process. Indeed it was a positive development that the Biden administration had resumed contacts with the Palestinian Authority, severed by his predecessor Donald Trump. Yet many US promises remained unmet, including the reopening of the US Consulate in East Jerusalem, as well as the PLO mission in Washington. In his meeting with Sullivan, President Abbas appealed to the Biden administration to stop the Israeli government from pushing ahead with escalatory measures against Palestinians. He warned that the new Israeli coalitions policies are destroying all remaining chances of achieving peace and stability in the region. Abbas urged the United States to intervene before it is too late to stop these unilateral measures. He stressed that Palestinians will not accept the continuation of Israeli crimes. We will oppose them and defend our rights, our land and our holy sites. *A version of this article appears in print in the 26 January, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: Minister of Culture Nevine El-Kilani met with a delegation from South Africa's Ministry of Culture and Arts this week to discuss holding the first South African cultural season in Egypt. The delegation included Rufus Matbi, director of the International Relations Department at the South African culture ministry, Masana Chikaka, director of the ministry's Cultural Development Department, and Melissa Magaka, Assistant Director of the ministry's Events Department. ## The South African cultural season, which will be held sometime "in the next few months" will host events including book fairs, handicraft exhibitions, and joint workshops between Egyptian and South African performing arts troupes. It will also feature a business forum that will discuss the role of culture and arts within the framework of implementing the Continental Free Trade agreement, as well as a forum for painting murals. Minister El-Kilani stressed that Egypt is keen to conduct cultural activities with other African countries, noting that culture is a major focus in most of the agreements and memorandums of understanding that Egypt signs with the countries of the continent. "The first South African cultural season, to be held in the next few months, will run for 10 days, and it is a new step in building bridges of cooperation with South Africa and a good opportunity to introduce more of the unique and diverse African cultures and arts," El-Kilani said. For his part, Matbi said that the aim of the South African cultural season is to introduce the Egyptian public to South African arts and heritage through a series of activities that will be prepared in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Culture. Matbi also expressed his fascination with the greatness of Egypt's civilization, history and heritage, and the archaeological monuments and sites at which the events will take place. Eman Negm, head of the Foreign Cultural Relations Department at Egypt's culture ministry, said that the forum will blend the rich Egyptian arts with the distinguished South African arts, which will provide an opportunity to open new horizons for cultural cooperation with South Africa. Negm pointed that the events will be organized in cooperation with the various sectors of the ministry of culture, specifically the Supreme Council of Culture, the Egyptian Opera House, the General Authority for Cultural Palaces, and the Cultural Development Fund. Search Keywords: Short link: An Egyptian archaeological mission unearthed a group of rich fifth and sixth dynasty tombs from the Old Kingdom in the Saqqara necropolis. Signs indicate the site, Gisr Al-Mudir, comprised a large ancient Egyptian cemetery. The most significant tomb belonged to Khnumdjedef, an inspector of the officials, a supervisor of the nobles, and a priest in the pyramid complex of Unas, the last king of the fifth dynasty. The tomb is decorated with scenes of daily life, said renowned Egyptologist Zahi Hawass, who headed the mission. The second largest tomb belonged to Meri, keeper of the secrets and assistant of the great leader of the palace. Also discovered was a tomb for a priest comprising nine beautiful statues: one for a man and his wife; several servant statues; and others representing individuals. Unfortunately, the expedition did not find any inscriptions that might identify the owners of these statues, Hawass pointed out. However, he added, several months after the original discovery, the mission found a false door near the site where the statues were discovered. The owner of the false door was named Messi, who might have been the owner of the nine statues. The mission found another beautiful statue of a standing man, with his wife holding his right leg and his daughter on the other side holding a goose. Hawass asserted that the 15-metre-deep shaft is the most important discovery on the site because a large rectangular limestone sarcophagus was found at the bottom of the shaft. Inscriptions carved on the top of the sarcophagus revealed the name of its owner is Hekashepes. Examinations on the sarcophagus revealed that it was found to be completely sealed with mortar, just as the ancient Egyptians had left it 4,300 years ago. When the lid was opened, Hawass added, the mummy of a man was found covered with gold leaves. This mummy may be the oldest and most complete mummy found in Egypt to date, asserted Hawass. Many stone vessels were found around the sarcophagus as well. The mission also found a 10-metre-deep shaft with a group of beautiful wooden statues. In addition, three stone statues of a person named Fetek were found alongside an offering table and a stone sarcophagus that contained his mummy. The mission found at the site many amulets, stone vessels, tools for daily life, and statues of Ptah-Sokar. Mostafa Waziry, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the expedition found a group of unique stone statues dating to the Old Kingdom. Many statues were found at Saqqara over the past century, but this is the largest group discovered in recent years. Search Keywords: Short link: Labour leader Chris Hipkins was sworn in as New Zealand's prime minister in a formal ceremony on Wednesday, following the resignation of outgoing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern last week. The Labour Party elected former COVID-19 Response and Police minister Hipkins, 44, to lead the party and the country on Sunday. This comes after the surprise resignation of Ardern, 42, who said she had "no more in the tank" to lead the country. Hundreds gathered on the grounds of Parliament as Ardern left for the final time, hugging each of her members of parliament in turn, with many looking visibly emotional. She then traveled to Government House, where she tendered her resignation to King Charles' representative in New Zealand, Governor General Cindy Kiro. Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has claimed that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un believes American troops are needed in South Korea to protect him from China. The claim is among many bizarre moments in the Trump-era diplomat's incontinent memoirs titled "Never Give an Inch" and published Tuesday. Pompeo claims he told Kim that Chinese officials said American forces leaving South Korea would make Kim happy. But Kim replied that "the Chinese were liars," adding that he needed Americans for his own safety and to prevent China from treating the Korean Peninsula like Tibet and Xinjiang, which it annexed. Pompeo adds, "Expanding U.S. missile and ground capabilities on the Korean Peninsula wont bother the North Koreans at all." He visited North Korea in 2018 during a period that saw three historic summits between Kim and President Donald Trump, but they ultimately led to nothing. "The biggest challenge was the one we knew we would have to confront: South Korean president Moon Jae-in was going to demand to be part of this historic event... President Moon called me directly multiple times, and my answer to him was well-rehearsed: [Kim] prefers to meet just with [Trump]. Moon wasn't a happy camper, but we made the right call, as [Kim] had neither time nor respect for [Moon]," Pompeo writes. Much of the book is given over to score-settling with rivals in Pompeo's own party, but he also takes time out to denounce "faux outrage" over the 2018 murder by Saudi agents of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi and other colorful broadsides. The Korea Meteorological Administration urged Koreans to use mass transit to avoid snow-covered roads as a cold front from Siberia that swept through the country gave way to a relatively warmer high-pressure air mass. As they clashed, precipitation turned to snow in the Seoul metropolitan area and central parts. Snowfall began in the west early Thursday morning and is expected to spread to most parts throughout the day. Seoul and southern provinces will see between 1 to 7 cm of snowfall and some areas more than 10 cm. Temperatures will remain below zero on Thursday, causing the snow to freeze over on roads and sidewalks. Health authorities are considering annual COVID vaccinations to Koreans like flu shots. The news comes after similar proposals by the U.S.' Federal Drug Administration and some European countries with high vaccination rates like Italy. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Wednesday, the shift in the COVID vaccine policy will allow healthy adults to get their jabs once each year and high-risk groups such as the elderly and immunodepressed twice a year. Only high-risk groups will be eligible for free vaccinations on a long-term basis. Annual COVID shots will likely be given from September each year alongside annual flu shots to prepare for a surge of infections in winter. Prof. Kim Tak of Soonchunhyang University said, "Immunity from a booster shot can last from six to 12 months now a considerable number of people have already acquired immunity either through vaccination or infection." The new policy aims to boost the vaccination rate, which has stagnated. The uptake for winter boosters that began last October is a mere 12.7 percent, with only three in 10 elderly people getting a shot. High-risk groups are also complaining about vaccine fatigue now they have to get a shot every six months. Authorities believe there is little chance of a new deadly variant developing. Prof. Eom Joong-sik of Gachon University's Gil Medical said, "We'll still have to watch the situation in China, but it's unlikely that a new powerful variant like Omicron will lead to a massive COVID surge." Nine North Korean laborers in Russia fled their work site and reached South Korea last year. They reportedly told questioners here that they were afraid to be sent to fight in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Kang Dong-wan at Donga University told the Chosun Ilbo on Wednesday that the nine included two active-duty soldiers and arrived in South Korea from Russia in December. They are all men in their 20s through 50s. The North Korean regime sends soldiers to overseas work sites alongside the laborers to keep them in check and extort their salaries. The nine are now staying at Hanawon, a halfway house that helps defectors to settle in South Korea. Late last year, Radio Free Asia reported that North Korean workers in Russia were trying to flee for fear that they could be forcibly sent to Russian-occupied east Ukraine. "The North Korean workers who fled to South Korea recently became disillusioned with their reclusive country thanks to information about South Korea and the outside world that they found on the Internet," Kang said. Households across the nation have been jolted by a surge in heating costs during this winter's record cold spells. Global prices of liquefied natural gas, which accounts for a majority of heating fuel in Korea, surged 128 percent last year, forcing utility companies here to raise prices by 38 percent. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy froze gas prices in the first quarter of this year, but further hikes seem unavoidable later. Surging energy costs are the product of the Moon Jae-in administration's populism. The former administration slashed household gas prices by 11.2 percent in July 2020 and kept them unchanged for nearly two years until April 2022, just after the presidential election. As a result, state-run KOGAS suffered an W8.8 trillion operating loss last year (US$1=W1,232). KEPCO also postponed raising electricity prices during the Moon administration, which was afraid of being criticized for its harebrained nuclear phaseout policy, resulting in a W30 trillion loss in 2022. KEPCO is expected to suffer an W18 trillion loss this year. The main opposition Minjoo Party, which should take responsibility for these populist debacles, is busy blaming the incumbent president. It even wants to open the government coffers again to shower the public with W150,000 to W450,000 in cash per person. KYODO NEWS - Jan 26, 2023 - 16:30 | All, Japan Japan successfully launched Thursday a rocket carrying a government intelligence-gathering radar satellite to improve disaster response and monitor developments at North Korean military sites. The No. 46 H2A rocket, operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center at 10:50 a.m. in the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima following a one-day delay due to poor weather. The satellite entered its planned orbit, Mitsubishi Heavy said. The radar satellite can capture images on the ground at night, as well as at times when there are severe weather conditions. It can be used to relay data in the event of a natural disaster, according to the Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center, which tasked Mitsubishi Heavy with the launch. Thursday's H2A rocket launch was the 40th straight successful blast since the No. 7 H2A rocket in 2005. The latest radar satellite cost 51.2 billion yen ($396 million) to develop and 11.4 billion yen to be launched, according to the Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center. The liquid-fuel H2A rocket measures 53 meters in length and has a 4-meter diameter. On Feb. 13, Mitsubishi Heavy is scheduled to launch for the first time its new flagship H3 rocket, jointly developed with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The rocket is the successor to the H2A rocket. Related coverage: North Korea fires ballistic missile toward Sea of Japan World's 1st "wooden" satellite planned in Japan for 2023 launch Japan puts successor to aging GPS-improving satellite into orbit KYODO NEWS - Jan 25, 2023 - 23:41 | All, Japan The presumed mastermind of a spate of burglaries that occurred across Japan since last year may be in the Philippines, an investigative source said Wednesday. The person is believed to have instructed online groups to carry out the robberies, including one incident that resulted in the suspected murder of 90-year-old Kinuyo Oshio, whose body was found at her home in the suburban Tokyo city of Komae on Thursday. The figure appears to refer to themselves as "Luffy" on social media and is also believed to be responsible for recruiting people into the robbery ring, the source said. In addition to investigating those who carried out the robberies, Tokyo metropolitan police are also looking into the chain of command for the incidents, which have occurred across the Kanto region in eastern Japan, as well as in Hiroshima and Yamaguchi Prefectures in the country's west. Saturday, suspected group member Rikuto Nagata was arrested for his alleged involvement in a December robbery of a residence in Tokyo's Nakano Ward. Nagata, 21, was found to have messages on his phone pertaining to the incident in Komae from the presumed mastermind using the encrypted messaging app Telegram. Police on Friday responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle in Tokyo's Adachi Ward and found a rental car with the same license plate as one seen fleeing the vicinity of Oshio's home. Police arrested Nagata, who was near the scene, the following day. In addition to the mention of "Komae" found in messages on a smartphone inside the rental car, several Adachi Ward addresses were referenced, suggesting that group members in the area were planning other attacks. A luxury brand watch, thought to have been stolen from Oshio's home, was also found in the car. Related coverage: Robbers of east Japan homes suspected of striking other areas KYODO NEWS - Jan 26, 2023 - 20:28 | All, Japan, World The U.S. Marine Corps on Thursday formally opened its new base on the U.S. territory of Guam that will host about 4,000 troops currently stationed in Japan's Okinawa, with the personnel transfer slated to begin in 2024. U.S. and Japanese officials attended a ceremony on the Pacific island marking the formal launch of Camp Blaz, whose $8 billion construction project has been funded with close to $3 billion from the Japanese government. The officials stressed steady progress in the construction of the base at the event, held on Guam's historic Asan Beach, where U.S. Marines landed in July 1944 to reclaim the island after more than two years of Japanese occupation. "The relocation of U.S. Marine Corps units from Okinawa to Guam beginning in 2024 will be crucial to enhancing the deterrence of the alliance in the region and to mitigating impact on Okinawa," said Jiro Kimura, Japan's parliamentary vice minister of defense. The Marines' Guam transfer is based on a 2006 force realignment plan between the United States and Japan that partly seeks to reduce Okinawa's base-hosting burdens. The remote island hosts the bulk of U.S. forces in Japan and its residents have for decades bristled at crimes and pollution linked to the military presence. At Thursday's ceremony, a small group of protesters showed up with anti-U.S. base banners. Activist Monaeka Flores told Kyodo News that the military buildup would only make Guam "a target for a war that we didn't want to be part of." But Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero, who has supported the Marines' relocation, said at the ceremony that officials conducted a "comprehensive review" of the construction project to determine its benefit for the residents and for national and regional security. "The future of Guam is inseparable from the future of the broader Indo-Pacific. And the success of the Marines is inseparable from the success of Guam's people," she said. Camp Blaz is named after the late Marine Brig. Gen. Vicente "Ben" Blaz, a Guam native who also served as the territory's representative in the U.S. House of Representatives. Even though the Marines partially activated the base in October 2020, its construction is still ongoing, including the main cantonment, barracks and galley. Among the other participants from Japan at Thursday's ceremony were members of the Self-Defense Forces as well as parliamentary vice foreign minister Yuumi Yoshikawa. Related coverage: Japan begins construction of new SDF base for U.S. fighter drills U.S. Marines to set up unit in Okinawa for remote Japan island defense KYODO NEWS - Jan 26, 2023 - 22:24 | All, Japan Most major utilities have sought to raise their electricity rates by around 30 percent to over 40 percent for the next fiscal year, in a move that will likely add to the burden on households expenses. Seven of the 10 largest electricity companies have applied to the industry ministry to raise regulated electricity rates for households, which requires government approval. Of the 10 companies, nine expect a net loss for the current fiscal year to March due to increases in the price of gas and coal needed for thermal power plants. As a relief step, the government will start providing subsidies to power companies so they can lower household electricity bills for January through to the summer by about 20 percent. However, the requested price hikes could be more than the subsidies, dealing another blow to consumers, who have been hit by price increases for an increasing number of goods as a result of Russia's war in Ukraine. Hokkaido Electric Power Co. said Thursday that it has requested an average hike of 32.17 percent in June, which will increase the monthly bill for an average household by 2,838 yen ($22). Hokuriku Electric Power Co. in November last year requested the highest rate of increase at 45.84 percent, while Shikoku Electric Power Co. asked for the lowest at 28.08 percent. Among the seven utilities, five are looking to raise their rates in April when their new business year starts and two others aim to do so in June. Large utilities offer two types of household electricity rates -- a "regulated rate" and a "free rate" that the firms can set at their own discretion following the liberalization of the retail market in April 2016. The ministry will assess whether the company has taken cost-cutting measures to justify the requested rate increase. Following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, which was triggered by a powerful earthquake and tsunami, a number of nuclear power plants remain offline while they seek to meet stricter safety regulations. The government intends to speed up efforts to restart nuclear reactors that have passed the new rules in a policy shift to utilize nuclear power as much as it can. KYODO NEWS - Jan 26, 2023 - 14:59 | All, Japan Japan's internet watchdog can request instructional posts related to murder, guns and explosives be removed from March, police said Thursday, as authorities respond to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's killer using information found online to build weapons. The National Police Agency said by adding to the types of content that can be requested for removal by internet service providers, it aims to prevent crimes before they occur. To strengthen its online surveillance, the agency said it will also consider using artificial intelligence to analyze social media posts. The agency will in March update its guidelines for the Internet Hotline Center, which it tasks with monitoring online activity and requesting removal of problematic content, and also allocate it more funding. However, any request that an internet service provider remove content is not legally binding. In the July 2022 shooting of Abe, police quoted suspect Tetsuya Yamagami as telling them he used information found online to make gunpowder and firearms. The agency is also taking a tougher stance against social media exchanges related to murder and robbery amid cases, including a spate of thefts beginning last year across the country, that are believed to have been planned and carried out by groups that coordinated online. The IHC considers information on drug trafficking, child pornography and other acts as illegal content. While the IHC, founded in 2006, did initially include information related to the construction of homemade firearms among what is considered harmful content, it was eventually removed due to a paucity of relevant reports. The new guidelines will add seven more definitions of harmful content, including murder, making or the transfer of firearms, human trafficking, organ sales, creating hydrogen sulfide and stalking. Until now, only incitement to suicide had been defined as harmful content. It was added in 2018 after a series of murders came to light a year earlier in Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture, in which the perpetrator used Twitter to find and contact victims who had expressed suicidal thoughts on the platform. Content implying requests to intimidate or rob and kill could also be subject to the new guidelines. While the agency had also considered including fraud and other property-related crimes on the list of harmful content, it decided to forgo their inclusion out of consideration for protections on freedom of expression stipulated in the Constitution of Japan. The cyber patrol center, which collects information to provide to the IHC, will also receive further support through the envisaged introduction of an AI system that analyzes online posts for potential criminal activity. Related coverage: FOCUS: Ex-PM Abe shooter trial to face issue of sympathy for church "victim" FOCUS: Japanese parents urged to set boundaries on kids' internet usage KYODO NEWS - Jan 26, 2023 - 13:25 | All, Japan, Feature Following his indictment, pretrial proceedings against the shooter of Shinzo Abe are expected to throw up difficult issues, with his defense likely to attempt to offset shock over the first murder of a postwar Japanese leader by presenting him as a "victim" of a religious group that ruined his family financially. Tetsuya Yamagami was charged on Jan. 13 with murder and violating the firearms control law for killing Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, with a homemade gun during an election campaign rally in July last year. He has told investigators he held a grudge against the Unification Church, a group originally founded in South Korea, and targeted Abe because he was a grandson of former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, who helped the group set up in Japan, according to investigative sources. The church has since come under intense scrutiny for its links with a number of politicians in Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, with allegations that it supported their election campaigns. Yamagami's defense team is expected to focus on extenuating circumstances, while prosecutors will likely seek capital punishment, arguing the attack threatened the democratic process, legal experts say. They also note that given the presence of members of the public at the rally, others could have been hurt. The complicated nature of the case could prolong pretrial proceedings between prosecutors, Yamagami's defense counsel and the court, with the trial possibly not taking place until next year, some legal experts say. Yamagami was born in 1980 to a mother from a wealthy family. But his father killed himself in 1984. His mother joined the Unification Church, known for its mass weddings and aggressive donation solicitations, around 1991. His mother then donated a large sum of money to the religious group, which was established by a staunch South Korean anti-communist in 1954. She used the life insurance proceeds after her husband's death and sold off land that she inherited from her father to make large donations to the group, formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification. The mother filed for personal bankruptcy in 2002 after having donated more than 100 million yen ($784,000) in total, pushing the family into financial and emotional distress. Yamagami, 42, attended a prestigious high school in Nara Prefecture but had to give up going to university because of the family's financial situation. He joined the Maritime Self-Defense Force instead in 2002. Yamagami attempted suicide in 2005. He reportedly hoped he could have helped his older brother and younger sister with money from his life insurance policy. His brother, who had suffered from childhood cancer, underwent surgeries and became blind in one eye before taking his own life in 2015. "The defendant is also a victim," a person close to the defense team said. The claim came as the public focuses on the plight of so-called "second-generation" members of the church, who often suffer from poverty, neglect, and attempts to force them to share their parents' faith. Moved by Yamagami's childhood misfortune, a civic group demanding a lenient sentence for him organized a petition on Change.org, drawing around 13,000 signatures. "There are many people who become desperate due to their parents' religious faith," Kei Saito, the head of the organization, called The Group Calling for a Reduced Sentence for Mr. Tetsuya Yamagami, told a press conference after the indictment. The defendant has received letters, gifts and food from supporters since he was detained, according to his uncle. There have even been donations totaling more than 1 million yen. "There are circumstances that should be considered with respect to the defendant. It's true that the incident has saved other so-called second-generation religious members," a former prosecutor said. According to the indictment, Yamagami shot Abe on July 8, 2022 at close range in the western Japan city of Nara. Two bullets hit Abe's upper left arm and neck, causing him to die of blood loss. Abe was giving a campaign speech two days ahead of a House of Councillors election. As gun ownership is strictly controlled in Japan, which prides itself on being a safe society, the fatal shooting had a profound impact on society. Leaders around the world also expressed shock and outrage, condemning the attack. Despite his sympathy, the former prosecutor believes the court is unlikely to be lenient, noting a gun was fired at a public gathering, potentially endangering others. "It would be appropriate to define (the shooting) as an 'act of terror' and I assume (Yamagami's personal circumstances) will not much influence the court's decision on the degree of punishment," the former prosecutor said. Related coverage: Man indicted for fatally shooting ex-Japan PM Abe during speech Psychiatric exam of ex-Japan PM Abe shooter ends, charges to follow Japan warns Unification Church over murky child adoption practice KYODO NEWS - Jan 26, 2023 - 14:29 | All, Japan Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday struck a cautious tone about legally recognizing same-sex marriage in line with other Group of Seven countries that have already adopted the practice. "We need to be extremely careful in considering the matter as it could affect the structure of family life in Japan," Kishida said at a parliamentary session, although several lawsuits have been filed across the nation by same-sex couples. Japan has not acknowledged same-sex marriage, as many members of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party, led by Kishida, have opposed the concept, emphasizing the country's traditional values, such as the role of women in giving birth and raising children. Late last year, the issue drew fresh attention as LDP lawmaker Mio Sugita, the then parliamentary vice minister for internal affairs and communications, was forced to retract past remarks against sexual minority couples. Sugita, who was effectively sacked by Kishida in December, came under fire in 2018 for saying in a magazine article that the government should not support sexual minority couples because they cannot bear offspring and thus are not "productive." Meanwhile, left-leaning opposition parties have endorsed reforms around family issues, including recognizing same-sex weddings and allowing married couples to take separate surnames -- another controversial topic in Japan in terms of gender equality. Asked by an opposition lawmaker at the plenary session of the upper house on Thursday about a legal revision to enable married couples to use different surnames, Kishida avoided answering the question directly. "As there are a variety of views among the public, it is necessary to gain wider understanding through sufficient discussion," the premier said. While Japan's Civil Code requires a married couple to share a surname, the vast majority of couples who register their marriage in the country choose the husband's family name. Japanese conservatives, who typically cherish traditional values, are opposed to separate surnames, arguing that the move may have an impact on family unity as well as on children. But the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has recommended that Japan introduce reform to the system. Related coverage: Plaintiffs appeal Tokyo court ruling on same-sex marriage Tokyo gov't begins recognizing same-sex partnerships Japan court rejects long-stay visa for U.S. man in same-sex marriage KYODO NEWS - Jan 26, 2023 - 17:17 | All, Japan Eight men have been arrested in connection with an October robbery in the suburban Tokyo city of Inagi, police said Thursday, as officers attempt to track down the "Luffy" ringleader suspected to be behind a spate of burglaries across the country. Japan has been rocked by the robberies, which began last year and appear to be carried out by people instructed by ringleaders using the encrypted messaging app Telegram. Among the cases is the murder-robbery of 90-year-old Kinuyo Oshio in her home in the city of Komae in Tokyo on Jan. 19. In the Inagi case, the police believe the suspects colluded in forcefully entering a residence, injuring a resident and stealing gold bullion and other valuables and some 35 million yen ($271,000) in cash. One of the eight has been released pending a decision. Analysis of phones belonging to some of the arrested show they received instructions from three names -- Luffy, Kim and Mitsuhashi. The telephone number linked to Luffy suggests the person is in the Philippines, the police said. According to the police, the majority of those arrested appear to have been recruited online. One suspect has reportedly told officers that he "told them about me and my family, and I couldn't get out of it because I was afraid my family would be hurt." Some of the eight are linked to other incidents believed to have been the group's work, with three of them previously indicted for an attempted robbery in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, in November last year. Two are suspected to have been involved in an attempted murder and robbery in Hiroshima and a robbery causing injury in Tokyo's Nakano Ward, both in December. Speaking at a regular press conference on Thursday, the National Police Agency's Commissioner General Yasuhiro Tsuyuki said that "uncovering the identity of the ringleader and cracking down on them are important." He added that the agency will hold a meeting on the investigation Friday to be attended by senior officers including the head of its organized crime department. In the investigation of the robbery that led to Oshio's death, the phone of alleged group member Rikuto Nagata, 21, who was arrested Saturday on suspicion of involvement in the Nakano Ward robbery, was found with messages from the presumed mastermind pertaining to the incident. In response to reports of a suspicious vehicle in Tokyo's Adachi Ward, police on Friday found a rental car with the same license plate as one seen fleeing the vicinity of Oshio's home, and arrested Nagata the next day. A smartphone found inside the rental car not only contained correspondence related to Komae, but also several addresses in Adachi Ward, suggesting the group planned to stage further attacks. A luxury brand watch believed to have been stolen from Oshio's home was also found in the car. Related coverage: Presumed mastermind of Japan burglaries may be in Philippines: source Robbers of east Japan homes suspected of striking other areas Video snapshot taken on Jan. 20, 2023 shows Chinese tourists posing for photos with a Chinese Lunar New Year decoration outside a shopping center in Bangkok, Thailand. (Thana Nuntavoranut/Xinhua) In downtown Bangkok, the atmosphere of the Chinese Lunar New Year overspreads, with shopping malls decorated with Chinese New Year elements to attract Chinese tourists during the first "Golden Week" holiday after China optimized its COVID-19 strategy. BANGKOK, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- After a three-year lull, Thailand is welcoming back Chinese tourists to its golden beaches, striking temples and fancy shopping centers, expecting an influx of Chinese tourists to help restore its pandemic-battered tourism sector. "This is the first trip we travel abroad since the outbreak of the pandemic. We are so excited and happy. We can feel we're so welcomed in Thailand," said Liu Lingling, who came from the city of Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province and planned to spend the Chinese New Year holiday in Thailand. Chinese passengers are welcomed by Thai officials at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, Jan. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak) Liu, whose family would head south to a seaside resort after a few days in Bangkok, was among the legions of Chinese tourists who chose Thailand as the destination for their first outbound travel since China's optimized COVID-19 strategy took effect on Jan. 8. On Jan. 9, the second day after the optimization, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and other senior officials welcomed the first group of Chinese tourists at the Suvarnabhumi Airport with flowers and gifts. The high-profile event reflected the importance Thailand placed on wooing back Chinese tourists to help boost the tourism industry and economic recovery, analysts said. In downtown Bangkok, the atmosphere of the Chinese Lunar New Year overspreads, with shopping malls decorated with Chinese New Year elements in an effort to cash in on an influx of Chinese tourists during the first "Golden Week" holiday after China optimized its COVID-19 strategy. Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha attends a Chinese New Year celebration in Ratchaburi, Thailand, Jan. 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak) At Chinatown on Bangkok's Yaowarat Road, 200 meters of the road are decorated with lights and lanterns of various styles to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year that falls on Jan. 22 this year, the start of the Year of the Rabbit, which Nutthaporn believed would be a year of vitality and prosperity. "We have stockpiled food supplies for the Chinese New Year travel rush," which always attracts a lot of foreign customers, said Nutthaporn, a chef at a restaurant on Yaowarat Road. "Chinese tourists are our main driver to the economy. They are back this year, and I think our business will run as good as before the pandemic," he said. Nutthaporn is not alone in his optimism. Airlines, hotels, restaurants and other tourism operators are looking forward to seeing more Chinese tourists this year. Chinese passengers arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Samut Prakan, Thailand, Jan. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak) "The return of Chinese tourists has raised hope for the recovery of tourism industry in Thailand and other countries around the world," said Wichai Kinchong Choi, senior vice president of the leading Thai Kasikornbank. Thailand's tourism sector will exhibit a faster recovery following the return of Chinese tourists, said Piti Disyatat, secretary of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of Thailand, the country's central bank. The Thai economy will continue to gain traction with continued recovery in tourism and private consumption thanks to the return of Chinese tourists, Piti said. The Thai government is expecting 7 to 10 million Chinese tourist arrivals this year, with 300,000 coming in the first quarter. The Southeast Asian country welcomed more than 2.24 million international travelers in December alone, compared with only 428,000 for the full year of 2021, taking the total to 11.15 million in 2022, according to Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports. However, the data still lagged far behind a record of nearly 40 million international tourist arrivals registered in 2019, with Chinese tourists accounting for more than a quarter of the total arrivals. A staff member displays Thailand tourism brochures at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Samut Prakan, Thailand, Jan. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak) "The pandemic has made us realize the importance of Chinese tourists, whose high spending power helped drive our economic growth," Chanapan Kaewklachaiyawuth, vice president of the Thai Chinese Tourism Alliance Association, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview. Tourists from various countries and regions have come to Thailand, but the lack of Chinese tourists means the lack of vitality and growth momentum, Chanapan said. It may take time for a full recovery, and "we are excited to see the return of Chinese tourists," Chanapan said, expecting more Chinese tourists to come after China resumes outbound group tours next month. "We have made a lot of preparation to welcome the return of Chinese tourists, including expanding the range of tourism products, offering more high-end products as well as improving the quality of goods and services," he said. XIAMEN/NANJING, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Spring Festival, traditionally an occasion for a family reunion, was always described as happy and relaxing. But the seven-day holiday could also be a busy period for some in China who spend the time at work. Tuesday was the third day of the Chinese Lunar New Year when 26-year-old Chen Jinping was packing at a delivery station in Xiamen in east China's Fujian Province before sending the items to customers. Originally from Gansu in northwest China, about 2,000 km away, Chen has worked as a delivery man for nearly three years. "I haven't celebrated Spring Festival with my family these years," he told Xinhua. While he talked, Chen, in his uniform, didn't stop working. "During the Spring Festival, people tend to purchase more, and we would be extremely busy," he said. "So I volunteered to stay rather than go back home." His day started before 6 a.m., and he arrived at the delivery station an hour later. Each day Chen had to send more than 150 items to customers. After the last pack was delivered, it would be 9 p.m. But Chen loved his work. During the COVID-19 outbreak in Xiamen, he always received phone calls from elderly people who needed medicine. "They didn't know how to order online, so I helped them," said the bespectacled man. "It gave me a sense of achievement and responsibility." Away from home, Chen always had video chats with his parents. He is now preparing for an exam, through which hopefully he could get a bachelor's degree in human resource management. Talking about his new year wish, he said: "passing the test and good health for my parents." While Chen got up in the early morning, Li Youping in the same city had already begun collecting sea garbage. On the day of the Chinese New Year, cleaner Li and his colleagues worked from 5:30 a.m. till nearly 7 p.m. to ensure a clean environment for the firework party in the evening. On the second day, they collected more than 70 tonnes of garbage, more than three times the amount of an ordinary day. "Many of my colleagues are from outside the city who had left home for a long time," he said. "I am local and should be the one to work at this time." Li's happiest moment came when he heard visitors to Xiamen praise the city for its cleanness, which, he said, encouraged him to work harder. According to him, it was their tradition to clean the area, which they were responsible for one more time on New Year's eve. "That means to sweep away our efforts of the entire year before entering a new one." In Jiangsu of east China, a major manufacturing province, many factories didn't stop working during the Spring Festival to complete their orders. In the Xuzhou XCMG Port Machinery Co., Ltd, more than 100 people were working with roaring machines and flying sparks during the welding process. The vehicles they manufactured will be exported to Southeast Asian countries in early February. Zhou Yujie, head of the company's manufacturing management department, said that a big wish of the workers was to watch the blockbuster "The Wandering Earth II," which premiered during the Spring Festival. "Some of the vehicles in the movie were made by them," Zhou said proudly. Wang Jiong, deputy general manager of the Nanjing High Speed Gear Manufacturing Co., Ltd (also known as NGC) of Jiangsu, saw the massive market potential behind the increasing orders, as their products were exported to more than 30 countries and regions. On Thursday, one day before the end of the Spring Festival holiday, about 80 percent of the workers in NGC had returned to their posts. "Everyone wants to work hard, and live up to a good year," Wang said. People visit an exhibition during the 14th China-Latin America and the Caribbean Business Summit in southwest China's Chongqing on Nov. 16, 2021. (Xinhua/Tang Yi) MEXICO CITY, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- For decades, Argentines have dreamt of having a hydroelectric power plant on the Santa Cruz River, one of the last large free-flowing rivers in the region of Patagonia encompassing the southern end of South America, so that they could be less dependent on energy imports. But the plan to build one was on ice at one point because of the engineering challenges of adverse weather conditions like freezing temperatures and perennial gusts, as well as environmental impacts given the river's proximity to an iconic glacier. Now, thanks to Argentina's determination and Chinese expertise, Argentines are about to witness their dream coming true. Chinese engineers and technicians with CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd., together with their Argentine colleagues, inspect a train in Llavallol, some 33 km south of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 16, 2020. (Photo by Martin Zabala/Xinhua) BREEZE OF THE BELT AND ROAD On the first day of the Year of the Rabbit, when most of the Chinese people across the world were still enjoying their Spring Festival vacation, Chinese engineer Xiong Yongfeng went to work on the construction site of the Nestor Kirchner-Jorge Cepernic Hydroelectric Power Plant on Santa Cruz. Upon arrival, Xiong took out some construction blueprints, and started a heated discussion with Argentine engineers on site. Surrounding him and his Argentine colleagues were running machines and moving construction vehicles. Xiong was one of the 50 Chinese staff remaining on duty during the festival break. Together with Argentine staff, they ensured that the construction is progressing smoothly, so that ordinary Argentines could be a step closer to their "energy dream." Besides increasing energy sufficiency in Argentina, the project has improved the living conditions of many, generating jobs and building roads for the local communities. Braving numerous challenges, Chinese and Argentine engineers have also guaranteed the environmental sustainability of the project, as the plant has been designed with fish passes and ecological bottom wells. Argentina is not the only Latin American country working with China on infrastructure construction under the framework of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. The reconstruction of the Eloy Alfaro International Airport in the Ecuadorian city of Manta, which was hit hard by a powerful earthquake in 2016, has enhanced the country's trade, tourism and business ties with the rest of the world; a UHV power transmission lane stretching from north to south in Brazil, a country abundant in energy but limited by unequal distribution, has brought benefits to 22 million Brazilians, or 10 percent of the country's population. Eduardo Regalado, a researcher at the International Policy Research Center of Cuba, said the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has given a strong boost to the development of relations between China and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) countries. China has played a key role in promoting infrastructure construction in Latin America, while economic and social development in the region has injected new impetus into China-LAC relations, Regalado said. As Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a video address delivered at the seventh Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) held Tuesday in Buenos Aires, more and more countries in the region have engaged in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with China, supported and participated in the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, and are working with China in building a China-LAC community with a shared future. BILATERAL TRADE IN BLOOM Dalian Port in northeast China has opened a direct shipping route to import cherries from Chile. Earlier in the month, the ship GSL Tinos, loaded with 616 twenty-foot equivalent units of Chilean cherries, docked at the container terminal in Dalian after a 22-day trip. Of the total, 592 TEUs of cherries would be delivered directly to the wholesale markets in China. The others would be transferred to the Republic of Korea via Dalian Port. A worker weighs nectarines in a factory of Agricola Garces in Mostazal, Chile, on Jan. 19, 2018. (Xinhua/Xu Rui) Chilean cherries are increasingly favored by Chinese consumers, and the market demand continues to rise. "China has become our main market and strategic partner," said Victor Maroto, a representative of Chilean shippers. In addition to Chilean cherries, blueberries from Peru and beef from Uruguay are also among the best-selling products in China, especially during the Spring Festival. In Guangzhou in southern China, Ecuadorian roses and Colombian hydrangeas have become good choices for local people to decorate their houses. During the fifth China International Import Expo held in November 2022 in Shanghai, Latin American companies showcased such quality products as Argentine wine and Colombian chocolate, hoping to take a bigger share in the Chinese market. Meanwhile, Latin American countries have become important markets for Chinese companies. In Ecuador, Chinese vehicles lead the automobile market as consumers are increasingly drawn to their design, sticker price and innovative features. Automobiles, vans, SUVs and trucks of more than 40 Chinese brands are estimated to be sold in Ecuador. Even during the pandemic, bilateral trade has showed strong vitality. Data from China's General Administration of Customs showed that in 2022, the total trade value between China and Latin America and the Caribbean exceeded 450 billion U.S. dollars for the second consecutive year. The Angel of Independence monument is lit up in red to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Mexico in Mexico City, capital of Mexico, Feb. 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) TOGETHER TOWARD A BETTER FUTURE In Mexico, the "home of corn," China's technical cooperation with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) is making steady progress. Bram Govaerts, director general of CIMMYT, said the collaboration with China can be regarded as one of the mutually beneficial examples of working together to safeguard the world's food security. "CIMMYT and China together can be partners," said Govaerts. "CIMMYT can work with China for new wheat varieties that can fight climate change, for new maize varieties that can sustain new diseases." China and Latin America have set a good example of South-South cooperation, and they are expected to carry out more exchanges and cooperation through such multilateral platforms as the China-CELAC Forum in the future, so as to jointly benefit the world, Argentine sociologist Marcelo Rodriguez said. In Tuesday's video address, Xi said: "We highly value our relations with CELAC, and take CELAC as our key partner in enhancing solidarity among developing countries and furthering South-South cooperation. That is why China has been working with LAC countries to steadily strengthen the China-CELAC Forum and take the China-LAC relationship into a new era characterized by equality, mutual benefit, innovation, openness and benefits for the people." In fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine cooperation between China and multiple Latin American countries has helped protect people's lives and health. China-LAC cooperation in science and technology innovation has also yielded fruitful results, including China-Brazil Earth resources satellite cooperation and an astronomy research center jointly launched by China and Chile. As Xi said in the video address, China is ready to join forces with LAC countries to promote world peace and development, build a community with a shared future for mankind, and open up an even brighter future for the world. LUSAKA, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Remarks by U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen that China has been a barrier to concluding Zambia's debt negotiations is unfortunate and disturbing, Emmanuel Mwamba, a former diplomat said on Wednesday. Mwamba, who is Zambia's former Ambassador to Ethiopia and former Permanent Representative to the African Union, said it was unfortunate that the U.S. official decided to bring out the issue of China in the bilateral talks with Zambia while on a visit to the country, adding that this was against diplomatic etiquette. He said China's stance on the debt with Zambia was clear, adding that as a sovereign nation, China decided to join the creditors' committee without being induced. China, he said, has been an all-weather friend to Zambia and financed the construction of the Tanzania-Zambia railway even when it was not a wealthy country in the 1970s. According to him, the huge infrastructure projects being funded by China in Zambia such as power projects, show that China has been a generous supporter of Zambia's development. Fred Mutesa, an expert in governance, development cooperation and poverty alleviation, concurred, saying that remarks by the U.S. official were misplaced. "We hope that the U.S. will not take advantage of its renewed friendship with Zambia to score points against China. What is required is for all parties to sit down and discuss in an honest manner." He said China has been a facilitator in Zambia's debt restructuring process, adding that the U.S. government was being sensational and playing to the gallery on Zambia's external debt issue. "It appears our American friends are bent on prizing Zambia away from China. The language from both USA policymakers and their allied media is reminiscent of the Cold War." Mutesa said China has shown its goodwill by volunteering to co-chair the creditors committee. He added that it was clear that the U.S. interest was not about helping Africa or Zambia but advancing its global interest in a region or country where it feels it was losing ground. According to a report by the British non-governmental organization Debt Justice, African governments owe three times as much debt to Western private lenders as to China, and these Western lenders charge twice as much interest as China does. In a statement posted on its Facebook page on Monday, the Chinese Embassy in Zambia said China has been active in co-chairing Zambia's Official Creditors Committee under the G20 Common Framework and working hard with other parties to seek a sustainable solution in line with the principle of common actions and fair burden-sharing. "In fact, the biggest contribution that the U.S. can make to the debt issues outside the country is to act on responsible monetary policies, cope with its own debt problem, and stop sabotaging other sovereign countries' active efforts to solve their debt issues," the statement said. "China's efforts have made some positive progress. We look forward to U.S.' constructive role in the process," the statement said, adding that the U.S. domestic debt problem is now worsening the world's economic and financial stability. The United States hit its debt ceiling of 31.4 trillion U.S. dollars last week, prompting the Treasury Department to take "extraordinary measures" to continue financing the federal government. The debt ceiling is the maximum amount the U.S. government can borrow. Currently, the country can borrow up to about 31.4 trillion U.S. dollars. MOSCOW, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Panda Pavilion of the Moscow Zoo was redecorated to celebrate the Chinese New Year for the giant pandas "Ru Yi" and "Ding Ding" now living in Russia. The staff prepared a fir tree for each of the two pandas and decorated them with paper lanterns and pandas' favorite food. In addition to the Chinese New Year feast, "Ru Yi" and "Ding Ding" also received two large cardboard toys in the shape of rabbits, as 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit. The male panda "Ru Yi" was born in July 2016 in Ya'an, China's Sichuan Province. "Ding Ding" the female was born a year later in Wolong, also in Sichuan. According to the agreement signed between the China Wildlife Conservation Association and the Moscow Zoo, the two pandas arrived in Moscow in April 2019 and began a 15-year sojourn. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Traditional folk performances have created a festive atmosphere in central China's Henan as people are celebrating the Spring Festival. #GLOBALink Produced by Xinhua Global Service Upon the invitation of President Alberto Fernandez of Argentina, rotating president of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a video address at the seventh Summit of CELAC. The summit was held in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina, on Jan. 24, 2023. (Photo by Martin Zabala/Xinhua) BUENOS AIRES, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- China and Latin American and Caribbean countries have been following the spirit of cooperation and mutual trust when dealing with their relations, and that "has allowed ties to deepen to the benefit of both sides," an Argentine academic has said. In the face of multiple global challenges, cooperation and solidarity are crucial, said Gonzalo Tordini, director of the China-Argentine Strategic Program at the National Defense University in Buenos Aires. "To that end, CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) and the China-CELAC Forum play an important role," he said in an interview with Xinhua. Tordini made the comments on the sidelines of the CELAC seventh summit here on Tuesday, during which Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a video address, highlighting CELAC's significant role in regional security and development and reiterating China's will to enhance cooperation with countries in the region for a brighter future. "China has been one of the main promoters of international cooperation in recent years, with an emphasis on multilateralism, win-win and mutual benefit," the academic said. "It has always had a very clear predisposition to work cooperatively with our region." It is evident that China has made important contributions to the region through the South-South cooperation. For example, the country put forward the Belt and Road Initiative, pursuing common prosperity for developing countries, he noted. In the view of Tordini, countries in the region attach high importance to their relationships with China, and ties between the two sides are growing even closer because of the greater trust among them. "The link has a solid foundation and has been developed in an integral way, growing in many fields such as economy, finance, politics, culture, technology and education," Tordini added. A woman holding a child in her arms is seen in a drought-affected village in the town of Laisamis, Marsabit County, Kenya, Aug. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui) After five consecutive below-average rains, the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa is expanding and deepening, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has warned. ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- After five consecutive below-average rains, the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa is expanding and deepening, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has warned. Combined with insecurity and macroeconomic volatility, the impact of the drought on food and nutrition security has been devastating, the WFP said in its regional drought response plan for the Horn of Africa issued late Monday. Across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, an estimated 22 million people are now acutely food insecure because of the drought, the WFP said. A herd of cows leave after drinking water at a water point in the town of Laisamis, Marsabit County, Kenya, Aug. 27, 2022. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui) It warned over the critical malnutrition situation, in which some 5.1 million children across drought-affected areas of the three countries are acutely malnourished in 2023, with dire implications for their health, growth and survival. "Concerningly, the upcoming March-May 2023 rains are also forecast to be below average. Should these rains fail, and humanitarian assistance not be delivered at scale, food insecurity will continue to deteriorate," the WFP warned. It further emphasized that regardless of how the 2023 rains perform, extremely high humanitarian needs will persist through 2023 while a full recovery from a drought of this magnitude will take years. Women wait for food donations in Samburu County, Kenya, March 30, 2022. (Photo by Chrispinus Omar/Xinhua) In order to address the devastating drought-induced hunger and malnutrition across the region, the WFP said it is pursuing an integrated dual-track approach -- meeting immediate life-saving food and nutritional needs while simultaneously building resilience to extreme climate variability. WFP said since mid-2021, it has more than doubled relief assistance across drought-affected areas of the Horn of Africa from 4 to over 8.8 million food relief beneficiaries every month. It, however, underscored that the humanitarian needs continue to outstrip the WFP's substantial expansion. Meanwhile, the WFP appealed for an urgent 2.4 billion U.S. dollars to help avert a major humanitarian crisis in 2023 across the Horn of Africa and support 8.8 million people affected by the drought with monthly lifesaving relief. It said responding now is necessary to avert a humanitarian catastrophe, prevent suffering, protect dignity, and save lives. NEW YORK, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- While scandals over the manipulation of social media by U.S. government agencies have been swirling lately, it is worth noting that in fact, the "freedom of the press" that the American media has always boasted has long been dominated not only by the government, but also by money politics. According to a study conducted by Media Research Center Business, Hungarian-born tycoon George Soros has ties to some of the most influential people in the U.S. and foreign media. The report has exposed connections between the liberal billionaire financier and 54 prominent media figures. As documented by its authors, Joseph Vazquez and Dan Schneider, these include reporters, anchors, columnists, editors, news executives and journalists. Soros spent hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars in bribes to build his own "network of media ties" so as to manipulate public opinion, U.S. media said. According to the study, between 2016 and 2020, Soros gave at least 131 million U.S. dollars alone to influence 253 media groups such as the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the Aspen Institute, The Marshall Project and ProPublica. "This network of media ties allows Soros to hold sizable influence over the stories that the media covers, how they cover those stories, and what stories they don't cover," Vazquez and Schneider said. According to the study, the highest-profile media figures revealed to have connections to Soros, often due to them sitting on boards of organizations he funds, include the following: CNN's Christiane Amanpour sits on the board of the Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit investigative journalism group funded by Soros, that critics charge mainly targets Republican fundraisers. NBC's Lester Holt, the Washington Post's Sally Buzbee, Associated Press executive editor Julie Pace, and Reuters editor-in-chief Alessandra Galloni all sit on the board of the Committee to Protect Journalists, a Soros-funded organization that purports to defend the rights of journalists. CBS's Margaret Brennan and CNN's Fareed Zakaria serve on the board of the massively influential Council on Foreign Relations, a Soros-backed think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy. NBC's chairman Cesar Conde is on the board of the Aspen Institute, a Soros-backed think tank. In recent years, it launched a left-leaning commission to combat so-called disinformation. NPR's president and CEO John Lansing is connected by the direct funding Soros gives his publication. PolitiFact editor-in-chief Angie Dronbic Holan serves on the board of the Soros-backed International Fact-Checking Network, which has openly pressed Facebook to censor what it considers misinformation (i.e., anything that goes against the liberal narrative), and serves as the "high body" for dozens of fact-checking organizations under its umbrella. "The others encompass reporters, anchors, columnists, editors, news executives and journalists linked to organizations like ABC, CBS, NPR, Bloomberg News, Reuters, The New York Times and a host of additional outlets," said analysts Vazquez and Schneider. These links were allegedly created after Soros disbursed millions of dollars to "spread his radical left-wing agenda." "A few months ago, we learned that Soros donated more money to the Democrats than any other donor in the 2022 midterms after allocating more than 128 million U.S. dollars," said the study. NEW DELHI, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- India celebrated its 74th Republic Day here on Thursday, as visiting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi attended the event as the chief guest. President of India Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh were also present on the occasion, along with federal ministers, senior government officials, foreign diplomats and dignitaries, and thousands of other people as well. India celebrates the Republic Day every year on January 26, as the country's constitution came into force on the day in 1950. Several contingents belonging to different wings of the Indian military and other security forces marched past the "Kartavya Path", the road connecting the President's House with the historical India Gate. It was followed by a series of colorful tableaux depicting India's art and culture from different states. Students and their teacher attend a practical lesson in a tractor workshop at Yabassi Technical and Professional Agricultural High School in Yabassi, Cameroon, Jan. 12, 2023. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua) Growing up in a predominantly agrarian community in Cameroon, Junior Moudina fell in love with agriculture as a child but lacked the skills. This situation changed when China constructed a technical and professional agricultural high school in his native town of Yabassi to provide training in agriculture for students. YAOUNDE, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Growing up in a predominantly agrarian community in Cameroon, Junior Moudina fell in love with agriculture as a child but lacked the skills. This situation changed when China constructed a technical and professional agricultural high school in his native town of Yabassi to provide training in agriculture for students. When the school went operational in 2017, the 23-year-old was among the first batch of over 200 students to enroll. He had one objective. "I would like to be one of the first to modernize agriculture in Cameroon," Moudina said in a recent interview with Xinhua in the school. "The Chinese did a good job because it's thanks to them that we have this training, and it's also thanks to them that we see certain equipment that I have never seen since birth," he added. JEWEL IN THE JUNGLE For all intents and purposes, Yabassi Technical and Professional Agricultural High School is an ultra-modern infrastructure. Located in Yabassi, Nkam division of the Littoral region, the school looks like a jewel in the jungle from a distance. It is the pioneer professional agricultural high school in the central African nation. Students are seen at Yabassi Technical and Professional Agricultural High School in Yabassi, Cameroon, Jan. 11, 2023. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua) "The school has changed the physiognomy of Yabassi. When you arrive in Yabassi, what first catches your attention is the beautiful structure of the school, which is (a fruit of) cooperation between Cameroon and China," said Jean Mirabeau Eba, mayor of Yabassi Council. It is constructed over four hectares of land and boasts 78 hectares used as practicing farms. The school comprises administrative offices, classrooms, workshops, a refectory, a multimedia center, laboratories, dormitories, recreational facilities, and logistic equipment consisting of tractors, excavators, automobile engine training platforms, and incubators for chickens and boilers. It offers courses in crop and animal production, maintenance of agricultural equipment and processing and conservation of agricultural products. Overall, Yabassi Technical and Professional Agricultural High School is among the most excelling schools in the country, said Louis David Njenjock Bang, principal of the school. "Since the school was created, we always rank first in official exams of technical schools in the country." RESOUNDING IMPACT Agriculture is the mainstay of Cameroon's economy, engaging an estimated 70 percent of the economically active population and accounting for an estimated 80 percent of the primary sector's contribution to the country's GDP, according to the country's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. A student of Yabassi Technical and Professional Agricultural High School harvests pineapples at a practicing farm in Yabassi, Cameroon, Jan. 11, 2023. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua) Cameroon aims to become an emerging nation in 2035 and is counting on agriculture to provide jobs and food for the population. The school helps foster the much-needed skilled workforce, said Bang. "In almost all (agricultural) firms (in Cameroon), very few workers have been trained professionally. We train agronomists and offer them (firms) trained professionals," Bang said. Since its inception, over 500 students have graduated from the school. One of them is Timothee Le Vainqueur Dissionbi. In the Njombe locality, dozens of miles from Yabassi, Dissionbi works in a plantation company. He said the training he received in the school helped propel his integration into the company where he occupies a position of checking and confirming the quality of products. "I feel at ease in my current position," the 20-year-old said. "I wish to thank the Chinese for constructing and equipping the school." "Our graduates easily find jobs with good salaries," said Bang. GOOD CAREER PROSPECTS Moudina hopes to graduate this year and is already excited about what awaits him after graduation. "I used to think you can only get rich by working with the government. After studying here, I realized I can become my own boss, do my own things and realize my dream in agriculture." Students study in a classroom at Yabassi Technical and Professional Agricultural High School in Yabassi, Cameroon, Jan. 10, 2023. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua) Monthe Memba, on her part, has a more holistic dream. She was one of the students who were watering crops when Xinhua visited the practicing farm of the school. "Thanks to this training, we can change the world. Unemployed people can find employment in agriculture. We can create agricultural enterprises to provide jobs to young Cameroonians," said the 19-year-old. Such ambitions by the students are valid, but training needs to be intensified "for excellent results," said Bang. "It is important that our teachers who benefitted from the Chinese equipment are trained on how to use the equipment," he said. This photo taken on Jan. 16, 2023 shows chili plants in a greenhouse of the Pakistan-China red chili project in Multan, Pakistan. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal) "Local chili is highly vulnerable to diseases, and farmers are hesitant to grow it, but the Chinese varieties are robust, easy to pick, and are sold at a higher price directly to Chinese companies from the farms, without any involvement of middleman, making it highly popular among local farmers." by Misbah Saba Malik, Jiang Chao MULTAN, Pakistan, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- On a fine January morning, Muhammad Sajjad was all smiles after seeing thriving saplings of the Chinese sweet chili at a nursery in a remote farming land of Pakistan's eastern city of Multan. "These saplings are very close to my heart; in their blossom, I can see the future of Pakistan's agriculture industry, which will bloom just like my saplings when modern Chinese technology is applied to it," Sajjad spoke as the morning sun rose from the east behind him. Launched in 2013, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a corridor linking Pakistan's Gwadar Port with Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which highlights energy, transport and industrial cooperation in the first phase, while in the new phase expands to the fields of agriculture, livelihood, etc. Echoing the CPEC's cooperation in agriculture, China Machinery Engineering Corporation and Sichuan Litong Food Group have established a company and carried out a red chili contract farming project in 2021, and one of six model farms of the project is in Multan. Zhao Jianhua (R), a Chinese agronomist, guides Pakistani technician Muhammad Sajjad to examine the saplings in a greenhouse of the Pakistan-China red chili project in Multan, Pakistan, Jan. 16, 2023. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal) Sajjad's nursery is among thousands of acres of model farms where the company teamed up with locals for contract farming of Chinese chili varieties, with an aim to export the crops back to China after harvest and earn foreign exchange revenue for Pakistan. Talking to Xinhua, Muhammad Adnan, executive manager of the company, said that local farmers' interest in cultivating Chinese chili is increasing due to its better yield and strong resistance to diseases. "Local chili is highly vulnerable to diseases, and farmers are hesitant to grow it, but the Chinese varieties are robust, easy to pick, and are sold at a higher price directly to Chinese companies from the farms, without any involvement of middleman, making it highly popular among local farmers," he added. Adnan said that in the near future, primary and deep processing units for value-added services of the crop will also be established in Pakistan, adding more value and jobs for locals. The most crucial time for the crop is in January as the seedling process is underway in tunnels and the plants are easily rotten because of disease or low temperature. This aerial photo taken on Jan. 16, 2023 shows a chili nursery of the Pakistan-China red chili project in Multan, Pakistan. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal) However, local agriculture technicians at the project are handling the sowing process on the advice of Chinese experts. In a conversation with Xinhua, Zhao Jianhua, a Chinese agronomist of the company with 27 years of experience in chili cultivation, said he has trained over 20 Pakistani agricultural technicians in the past years, who can help the farms independently. "We are not only bringing cultivation technology to local farmers, but also working together with Pakistani agronomists to promote the development of the chili industry by combining technology with the advantages of both Chinese and Pakistani chili varieties," he added. Muhammad Irfan Ahmad, assistant executive manager of the company, told Xinhua that many techniques like nurturing the plants inside the tunnel, modern ways of transplantation, and providing sufficient nutrients to the crops are some of the methods that local farmers did not adopt previously, as they relied on primitive methods of farming in the past. "With the assistance of Chinese agronomists, we tell people how to plant chilies and how to take care of them in a scientific way," he added. Ahmad said that the yield time of the chili is around June usually. Still, due to early monsoon patterns in Pakistan which started in June 2022, some of the plants got affected, so by applying new techniques, they will reap the chilies in May this year to avoid the monsoon season. This aerial photo taken on Jan. 16, 2023 shows a chili nursery of the Pakistan-China red chili project in Multan, Pakistan. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal) In a conversation with Xinhua, Muhammad Ejaz, a farmer who was preparing his land, located right next to the nursery, for transplantation in the coming days, said that their hopes are high regarding the project, and they believe it will bring socio-economic prosperity in the region. "The best thing about this crop is that it takes only six months for yield, unlike local chili, which takes eight to 10 months, so by planting Chinese chili and following the experts' guidance, we can now timely harvest the chili and sow another crop following that to earn more money," Ejaz said while looking at the lush chili beds in the nursery. Local experts and farmers believe that the project has a bright future as more and more farmers are getting interested in it, and it will gradually expand to other parts of the country due to increasing demand from farmers. Passengers arrive at Beijing North Railway Station in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Xin) BEIJING, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Railway stations, highways and airports across China are bracing for a fresh travel peak as a growing number of travelers hit the road and return to work after a week-long Spring Festival holiday which will end on Friday. On Thursday, Beijing West Railway Station and Beijing South Railway Station, two major railway terminals in the Chinese capital, were estimated to receive 156,000 passenger arrivals and 142,000 passenger arrivals, respectively, according to Beijing Major Railway Station Areas Administration. Beijing West Railway Station is expected to see the travel peak on Saturday with more than 180,000 passenger arrivals. To ensure smooth traffic flow around the railway stations, Beijing will extend the operating time of subways and put more buses and taxis on roads, among others. "We call on taxi operators and online car-hailing platforms to send more cars around the railway stations during the recent travel rush, especially at night," said Mao Jun, deputy director of Beijing Major Railway Station Areas Administration. In central China's Hubei Province, State Grid Hubei Electric Power Co., Ltd. has done a comprehensive "physical check" for 824 charging piles in operation in the province's expressway service areas. It has also installed 18 mobile charging facilities in busy service zones. Hubei's transport authorities said it would release timely information on road conditions and weather through radios, social media platforms, and navigation software to help drivers and passengers choose trip routes. To meet the employment demand of enterprises, many Chinese provinces are using charter services to transport workers back to work. A charter flight carrying 186 migrant workers arrived at Fuzhou, the capital of east China's Fujian Province, on Thursday afternoon. Wang Mingrui, director of Fuzhou Municipal Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security, said these workers come from various places in southwest China's Yunnan Province and will work for 28 key enterprises in Fuzhou. Fuzhou will arrange nine charter flights and one charter train before Feb. 8 to help workers from provinces, including Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan, return to the city. More "point-to-point" direct flights and trains will be opened to ensure smooth and safe post-holiday travel flow. After the Spring Festival holiday, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region will open 10 special trains for locals who will return to work in China's economic powerhouse Guangdong Province. Spring Festival usually sees hundreds of millions of Chinese head to their hometowns to unite with families. The annual travel rush, or "Chunyun," often puts the country's transportation system to the test. Around 2.1 billion passenger trips are expected to be made during this year's Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 7 and Feb. 15, according to the Ministry of Transport. RAMALLAH, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least nine Palestinians were killed and dozens injured on Thursday during a raid by Israeli army forces in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian medics said. The raid occurred in what Palestinian health officials described as a fierce operation in the Jenin refugee camp, a militant stronghold in the region. Palestinian Health Minister Mai Al-Kaila accused Israeli soldiers of preventing ambulances and medical teams from going to the refugee camp to evacuate casualties to the hospital. "The occupation forces also stormed Jenin Hospital and fired tear gas canisters causing suffocation to dozens of children at a children's ward," Al-Kaila said. The Israeli military confirmed that an operation was ongoing in Jenin but did not provide further details. Palestinian eyewitnesses and local sources said a group of Israeli soldiers, backed by bulldozers and armored vehicles, stormed the refugee camp to arrest Palestinian activists and militants. Since early January, tension between Israel and the Palestinians has been building up, with more than 20 Palestinians killed and dozens injured by Israeli soldiers, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Palestinian officials had warned of escalated Israeli killing of Palestinians mainly after the formation of the new Israeli government headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which is the most right-wing in Israel's history. Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2023-01-26 00:05:05 GlOBALink | River Hongbao 2023 held in Singapore to celebrate Chinese New Year BEIJING, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- A group of Chinese virologists have developed a technique that helps store mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines at normal temperature for more than half a year. Most current mRNA vaccines require to be stored at minus 20 to 70 degrees Celsius due to their poor stability, thus restricting their availability. The study published in the journal Cell Discovery this week showed that a kind of freeze-dry lipid nanoparticle vaccine prepared via an optimized lyophilization technique with precise temperature control and lower residual water content can remain physiochemically stable at 25 degrees Celsius over six months while eliciting potent humoral and cellular immunity in mice, rabbits, or rhesus macaques. In the human trial, administration of lyophilized Omicron mRNA vaccine as a booster shot also engendered strong immunity, and the titers of neutralizing antibodies against multiple Omicron variants are seen to increase by at least 253-fold after a booster shot following two doses of the commercial inactivated vaccine, according to the study. The technique overcomes the instability of mRNA vaccines without affecting their bioactivity and significantly improves their accessibility, particularly in remote regions, said the researchers. UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday said that the illegal plundering of natural resources in Syria by foreign troops must stop immediately. "The illegal presence of foreign troops and their illegal military operations in Syria must end," said Dai Bing, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, adding that Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity should be fully respected. Addressing a UN Security Council briefing on Syria, Dai said the counter-terrorism situation in Syria remains complicated, urging the international community to abide by international law and Security Council resolutions, adopt unified standards, combat all terrorists in Syria with zero tolerance, and "cease condoning, shielding, or politically exploiting terrorist forces." The envoy called for greater efforts in the next six months to ensure a full implementation of Resolution 2672 adopted on Jan. 9 on cross-border aid deliveries into Syria, hoping a bigger impact could be achieved on the ground. The cross-border mechanism of humanitarian deliveries is a temporary arrangement under special circumstances, and ultimately, there should be a gradual and orderly transition to cross-line deliveries, he noted. "We welcome UN's updated plan for cross-line operations in northwest Syria, and look forward to seeing a more significant increase in the frequency of aid operations as well as the size of convoys," Dai said. "Cross-line delivery for the Rukban refugee camp in southeast Syria should be resumed as soon as possible." He noted that unilateral sanctions and the resulting over-compliance run counter to the efforts of the Security Council and the wider international community to improve humanitarian access and increase humanitarian resources in Syria. "China once again calls on relevant countries to immediately and fully lift unilateral sanctions against Syria," said Dai. Zhu Wei (L), a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctor, gives a patient acupuncture treatment at a TCM center at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Nov. 28, 2022. (Photo by Shaun Jusa/Xinhua) Tatenda Chimbunde, a Zimbabwean acupuncturist who graduated from a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Acupuncture training course, is promoting TCM treatment that's growing more popular with the locals. HARARE, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Not even slightly alarmed by the thin acupuncture needles penetrating her body, a patient remained calm as she received treatment from the age-old healing practice. Tatenda Chimbunde, the acupuncturist who was under the watchful eye of a senior physician all the time, recently graduated from a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Acupuncture personnel training course at the Zimbabwe-China TCM and Acupuncture Center at Parirenyatwa Hospital in the capital Harare. On a typical day, Chimbunde can barely catch a breath as she attends to patients who flock to the center to receive treatment free of charge. "I graduated from China Pharmaceutical University last year as a pharmacist. During my time in China, I also learned the identification of traditional Chinese plants which are used as herbal medicine," Chimbunde told Xinhua after her shift. Chimbunde has mastered the art of multitasking. She not only excels in acupuncture, but also speaks fluent Chinese and provides translation services between locals and Chinese visitors at the center. "Most of my time, I practice as a pharmacist. As I have a certificate, I also practice acupuncture alongside the Chinese doctors," said Chimbunde. A woman receives acupuncture treatment at a Traditional Chinese Medicine center at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Nov. 28, 2022. (Photo by Shaun Jusa/Xinhua) She is one of ten healthcare workers who successfully graduated from an acupuncture training course in December 2022. "During the first days (of the training), we were just overwhelmed seeing how the doctors did everything, and we were wondering if we could also be able to do that. Then, we did the theory part, where we learned the in-depth knowledge about acupuncture, its origins, how it is used in therapeutics," she said. Besides acupuncture, Chimbunde learned about cupping, a form of deep tissue massage and detoxification technique, which is another component of the TCM. "I also learned what we call moxibustion. Moxibustion is mostly used to expel cold from our bodies," she said. The Zimbabwe-China TCM and Acupuncture Center was established in 2020 as part of efforts to offer Zimbabweans affordable medical alternatives. The introduction of the acupuncture training course was meant to make the service more accessible to Zimbabweans as more people seek TCM treatment. Chimbunde's mentor is Zhu Wei, a TCM doctor and the head of the Chinese medical team in Zimbabwe. A man receives acupuncture treatment at a Traditional Chinese Medicine center at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Nov. 28, 2022. (Photo by Shaun Jusa/Xinhua) "I taught Tatenda acupuncture, moxibustion, scrapping, cupping, massage, etc. She has learned a lot. At present, she can do acupuncture for the patients," said Zhu. Chimbunde said from her experience with acupuncture, she has seen patients, suffering from migraine headaches, lower back pain, joint pains and other ailments, getting better. Besides her qualifications as a pharmacist and acupuncturist, Chimbunde has immersed herself in Chinese culture, learning the language and martial art. "I am glad to say that I managed to learn the Chinese language when I studied in China. Apart from being a pharmacist and acquiring acupuncture skills, learning the Chinese language has doubled my horizon," she said. Zimbabwe and China share a long history of cooperation in the health sector. Since 1985, China has dispatched 19 medical teams to the southern African country. In Zimbabwe, traditional knowledge systems and medicines play an important role as an affordable source of treatment. Jake Lee Pinnick practices martial arts at the Wudang Mountains in Danjiangkou, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) by Xinhua writers Wang Tianyu and Li Wei WUHAN, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Jake Lee Pinnick is busy making special purchases, hanging poetic banners and visiting friends with his family to celebrate the Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year. In 2010, the 32-year-old U.S. national traveled to the Wudang Mountains, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in central China's Hubei Province, to study martial arts. Pinnick said he was very interested in Chinese Kung Fu from a young age. When Pinnick first arrived in the Wudang Mountains, he had no prior training or martial arts experience, so he began with a five-year training program, learning the basics and all about Taoist culture. Pinnick said the first six months were the hardest, because he had to train for eight or nine hours, six days a week, no matter the temperature outside. After over a decade of hard training, he has mastered various forms of martial arts, including Tai Chi and Qigong, and become an instructor with about 200 apprentices in China. This year is the 10th Spring Festival that Pinnick has spent in China. He likes the Spring Festival and the traditions here. He also teaches his daughter Selina Lee Pinnick these traditions. "I think I've celebrated almost every year since I came to China, while in China. Most of the time I'm here for the Chinese New Year. It's a great holiday for everyone to get together," he said. As the new year begins, people are starting new chapters in their lives and making resolutions. Pinnick also has many plans and wishes -- He plans on making more efforts to learn the Chinese language this year. For a long time, I have been able to communicate in Chinese very well, he said. "But I want to improve my reading and writing comprehension." He wants to take the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK), or the Chinese Proficiency Test. In addition to learning Chinese, Pinnick will continue to learn about traditional Chinese culture and how to play Chinese musical instruments in his leisure time, and he will share his experience on social media. "He believes that learning martial arts is not enough. He wants to learn comprehensively, so he started learning about Chinese culture and musical instruments several years ago," said Cao Lingling, Pinnick's wife. "I think that the experience I've had, being a foreigner coming to China and learning the culture from outside, is unique. I hope that I can be like a bridge between cultures," he said. As a Kung Fu instructor, Pinnick's next big plan is to teach more students in person. "I hope that this year is a big year of growth for everyone." Jake Lee Pinnick writes Spring Festival couplets with his daughter at his home in Danjiangkou, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) Jake Lee Pinnick records a course at his home in Danjiangkou, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) Jake Lee Pinnick and his family select Spring Festival couplets in Danjiangkou, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) Jake Lee Pinnick plays the Xiao, a vertical end-blown flute which is generally made of bamboo, at his home in Danjiangkou, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) ANKARA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye condemned the Israeli raid on Thursday that killed at least nine Palestinians in the West Bank. Ankara "strongly condemned" raids that claimed civilian lives in the West Bank and is "deeply concerned over rising tension, loss of lives almost every day," said the Turkish Foreign Ministry in a statement. "The Israeli side said it was a counter-terrorism operation, but there was also an elderly woman among the killed," said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. The new Israeli government "has been continuing various provocations since taking office," he added, urging the Israeli government to "refrain from such attacks and provocations." The minister made the remarks at a joint press conference with visiting Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic. The violence took place in the refugee camp in the West Bank town of Jenin, a flashpoint town that has been a stronghold for militants and a target for frequent Israeli raids for almost a year. The Israeli military said in a statement that it raided the refugee camp to foil "a major attack" by militants. The Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement that at least nine people were killed and 20 others injured, four of them in critical condition. UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Attacks by the M23 Movement rebels and an explosion wounding 18 civilians leave a tense situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a UN spokesman said on Thursday. The UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, known as MONUSCO, reported a tense situation following clashes earlier this week between the M23 and the DRC army in the country's east, said Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. One clash was in the southeast of Kitchanga, in North Kivu province, while other fights, including heavy weapons, occurred in Kishishe, about 25 km northwest of Rutshuru in the same province, Dujarric said. "This follows a series of assaults two days ago by the M23 on positions of the Congolese army west of Rutshuru," he said. "This resulted in the displacement of about 4,300 households. About 450 people sought shelter in and around the UN base in Kitchanga, where they were provided with tents, food, water and first aid." The spokesman said that UN peacekeepers are carrying out regular patrols around the base and the neighboring villages to deter armed groups from causing harm to civilians. The mission reported on Wednesday that an explosion in the city of Beni in North Kivu wounded at least 18 civilians, including 13 women. Four of the women were in critical condition, Dujarric said. The UN Mine Action Service sent a specialized team to investigate, he said. RAMALLAH, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Authority (PA) announced on Thursday the end of security coordination with Israel in response to the killing of nine Palestinians in the West Bank city of Jenin. "In the light of the repeated aggression against our people and the undermining of signed agreements, we consider that security coordination with the Israeli occupation government no longer exists as of now," Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the spokesman of the Palestinian presidency, said in a press statement. The decision came after an emergency meeting of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee, the Fatah Central Committee, and the Palestinian government. The meeting was chaired by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Earlier in the day, the Israeli army force stormed the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank and killed nine Palestinians, including an elderly woman, and wounded 16, four of them in serious condition. Abu Rudeineh called on the Palestinian factions for more peaceful popular resistance "to protect the Palestinians and their capabilities in the face of settler terrorism and the Israeli occupation forces." The Palestinian leadership has decided to immediately turn to the UN Security Council for international protection for the Palestinian people under Chapter VII of the UN Charter to stop unilateral measures, he said. The Palestinian leadership will also go urgently to the International Criminal Court to add "the file of the massacre committed by Israeli forces in Jenin today to the files previously submitted to the court," the spokesman added. Security coordination between Israel and the PA was brought on by the Oslo Accords signed between Israel and the PLO in the 1990s. The establishment of the PA itself was also an outcome of the Oslo Accords. More than 170 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank in 2022, and at least 29 have been killed in January this year, according to figures from the Palestinian Health Ministry. According to a statement issued by the United Nations, 2022 was the deadliest year for Palestinians since 2006. The tensions have been further aggravated since Israel's most right-wing government, headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, took office last month. The undated photo shows cultural relics unearthed at ancient family tombs in Luxor, Egypt. An Egyptian archeological mission discovered a group of family tombs in the western bank of Luxor city that dates back to the second intermediate period of Egypt (1677 BC-1550 BC), the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a statement on Jan. 25, 2023. (Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities/Handout via Xinhua) CAIRO, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian archeological mission discovered a group of family tombs in the western bank of Luxor city that dates back to the second intermediate period of Egypt (1677-1550 BC), the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a statement on Wednesday. "The tombs are built on a 50 meter by 70 meter area that includes 30 burial wells," it said. A 10-ton pink granite coffin for a minister of king Sobekhotep II, from the 13th dynasty of the second intermediate period, was found in one of the wells. Funeral drawings that are decorated with images of another official presenting sacrifices for the same king were found in the site. The mission also unearthed a building made of mud bricks that were used for presenting sacrifices. The building housed a group of statues that carried hieroglyphic symbols, a large number of amulets, and hundreds of funeral stamps. The undated photo shows cultural relics unearthed at ancient family tombs in Luxor, Egypt. An Egyptian archeological mission discovered a group of family tombs in the western bank of Luxor city that dates back to the second intermediate period of Egypt (1677 BC-1550 BC), the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a statement on Jan. 25, 2023. (Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities/Handout via Xinhua) The undated photo shows archeological workers gathering around a mummy unearthed at an ancient family tomb in Luxor, Egypt. An Egyptian archeological mission discovered a group of family tombs in the western bank of Luxor city that dates back to the second intermediate period of Egypt (1677 BC-1550 BC), the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a statement on Jan. 25, 2023. (Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities/Handout via Xinhua) NAIROBI, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Kenya has planned to become a digital hub in the coming years, an official said on Thursday. Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication and the Digital Economy Eliud Owalo said at a meeting in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, that the plan involves expanding the fiber optic network, digitizing government services, and setting up free WiFi hotspots across the country. "Our aim is to become a paperless economy by cascading digital technology use so that we end up as Africa's digital hub," Owalo said, as he listed the specific targets involving expansion of fiber optic network, digitalization of government services, provision of free WiFi hotspots, and establishment of digital hubs in villages. As the country embraces technology, the government is developing a framework to enhance data protection and privacy to ensure the digital economy thrives, Owalo said. TUNIS, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Officials of Tunisia and the World Bank met on Wednesday to discuss an electricity interconnection project by sea between Tunisia and Europe known as the ELMED Mediterranean power interconnector project. The meeting involved Tunisian Minister of Economy and Planning Samir Saied, visiting World Bank Country Director for the Maghreb and Malta Jesko Hentschel and the WB Resident Representative in Tunisia Alexandre Arrobio. According to a ministry statement, the Tunisian minister highlighted the project's "economic, energy and ecological profitability." Bank representatives discussed financing and their interest in providing study-phase technical support. The two sides examined different stages of cooperation programs, such as urban development and local governance, education projects, and irrigation infrastructure and hydraulic groups. Saied took the opportunity to announce the start of a national strategy for improving Tunisia's business climate. Marcus Broadbent reads at the Guanghwa Bookshop in London, Britain, Jan. 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Ying) LONDON, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- In the perennially busy London Chinatown, where the ongoing Lunar New Year celebrations drew large crowds, Jack Flowers ambled into a bookshop and began browsing China-themed books. "I read things in English and in French, and China has a very different culture and history and society, and is quite appealing for that reason. Also, I like the linguistic aspect of it," Flowers, 26, a French teacher at a school in London, told Xinhua. He bought a simplified version of Journey to the West, one of the four classics of Chinese literature. His visit to the Guanghwa Bookshop on Shaftesbury Avenue came at the opportune time when the 13th Spring Festival Joint Exhibition of Chinese Books in Global Overseas Chinese Bookstores is being held in 85 physical bookstores, including Guanghwa, in 27 countries and regions. With the theme of "Reading China," the exhibition, organized by China's National Press and Publication Administration, displays more than 150 titles, including award-winning Chinese novels and works on China's governance. "We hope that through this year's book exhibition, we will deliver the latest and best publications to local readers, so that they can learn more about China in the new era," said Li Tao, manager of Guanghwa Bookshop. Marcus Broadbent, a 66-year-old retired simultaneous interpreter at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, studied Chinese in Beijing in the early 1980s and left China in 1983. For Broadbent, who plans to revisit China soon, the books provide an excellent opportunity to reconnect with the country. "I'm trying to pick it (the Chinese language) up because I want to go back," Broadbent said. He used to read Lu Xun, widely regarded as one of modern China's most prominent and influential writers. Broadbent marveled at the significant changes in China during the past four decades when he was absent. Using Google Earth, the streets near the language university in Beijing where he studied were unrecognizable. "Many skyscrapers," he said. He also recalled seeing photos of Shanghai Pudong New Area and said: "Just amazing! To me, it's just extraordinary." Flowers told Xinhua that despite the sea change in China, there's a sense of consistency as the old finds modern expression. He recalled using the taxi-hailing service app Cao Cao while visiting China several years ago. He knew the company's name was drawn from Romance of the Three Kingdoms, another of the four Chinese classics. The name was a reference to a famous Chinese saying, "speaking of Cao Cao, and he appears," ingeniously hinting at the taxis' prompt arrival. "I thought: That makes a lot of sense. But it's funny (because) that was the sort of reference to really an old piece of literature," Flowers said. Jack Flowers shows his newly bought simplified version of Journey to the West, one of the four classics of Chinese literature, at the Guanghwa Bookshop in London, Britain, Jan. 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Ying) SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- The seven farmworkers killed in the Monday mass shootings in Half Moon Bay, Northern California, have been identified, the authorities said on Wednesday. They are Jose Perez; Martinez Jimenez, 50; Qizhong Cheng, 66, of Half Moon Bay; Jingzhi Lu, 64, of Half Moon Bay; Zhishen Liu, 73, of San Francisco; Aixiang Zhang, 74, of San Francisco; and Yetao Bing, 43. Perez's age was not yet known. An eighth person injured was Pedro Romero Perez, the brother of Jose Perez. Both are Mexican nationals. The victims are primarily Mexican and Chinese immigrants, some of whom had worked at local mushroom farms for years. Authorities previously said all of them had worked at one of the two mushroom farms where the shootings took place. The suspect appeared in court for the first time on Wednesday at the Hall of Justice in Redwood City. His arraignment hearing, set for Wednesday, was pushed to Feb. 16. He will remain in jail without bail. Residents of Half Moon Bay have set up memorials to the victims around town, lighting candles and leaving flowers and notes at the two locations where they were killed. Montevideo: On Wednesday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva urged the Mercosur trade bloc in South America to swiftly complete a free trade agreement with the European Union before beginning talks with China. Lula made the remarks in Uruguay, a country that has been pursuing its own trade agreement with Beijing in defiance of Mercosur, an association of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. After 20 years of negotiations, the EU and Mercosur came to a trade agreement in 2019, but it has not yet been ratified. In Montevideo, where he met with President Luis Lacalle Pou, Lula declared that "it is urgent and extremely important for Mercosur to reach an agreement with the EU." Also Read: Doomsday Clock- 90 seconds closer to the annihilation "We will intensify our talks with the EU and sign this agreement," he continued, "so that we can then talk about a deal between China and Mercosur." The EU-Mercosur agreement has drawn a lot of criticism in Europe, especially from the agricultural and environmental communities. It was negotiated by the European Commission, but before it takes effect, each of the 27 EU member states must ratify it. Uruguay had long pushed for more flexibility within Mercosur, but its independent talks with China aroused disapproval from other participants and even rumours that the group might split up. Also Read: 14-year-old girl gave birth to baby boy, told about her experience Uruguay "is part of Mercosur, and that has not changed," insisted Lacalle Pou, despite direct negotiations with China. There are no barriers to telling Brazil and Argentina what is being discussed, according to Lacalle Pou. Also Read: Middle Collegiate Church anticipates that the historic facade will be removed by spring Without the consent of its Mercosur partners, Uruguay has also submitted an application to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trade pact encompassing nations in eastern Asia, the Pacific, and North and South America. Casablanca: Five years ago, Oumar left his home in Guinea in search of a better life in Europe; However, he now lives in Morocco in a daily purge of hunger, cold and police brutality. The 25-year-old said, "Just surviving every day is a battle. Not having enough to eat, not having a roof over your head, not feeling safe and facing racism is very exhausting. A bus station in Casablanca serves as a temporary home for hundreds of sub-Saharan Africans whose aspirations to travel to Europe have been blocked by Morocco. He spends his nights there. Also Read: In a bipartisan vote, the US House commends Iranian protesters We are chased away by the police early in the morning. Then we turn around and come back to the same place at the end of the day," Omar said. Like the other migrants interviewed in this report, Omar's name has been changed. He has tried several times to reach Spanish territory from Morocco but has so far been unsuccessful. Oumar sits in front of the Oulad Xian bus station with a few dozen, mostly Guinean migrants, at the time of the assassination. Some cook in makeshift kitchens, while others lie on the footpath. Someone has hung clothes and blankets to dry on a nearby wall. Bakri, who is also from Guinea, claimed to have lived in the country for three years. "This is our depressing reality, but nobody wants to see it," said the 18-year-old. Due to its proximity to the bus station, an important transport hub, the migrants decided to set up this temporary camp on the outskirts of the coastal "port city" with a population of 4.2 million. Today, clashes with police often occur in poor neighborhoods. Six migrants were detained this month following a brawl during a police operation to remove campers at the site of a tramway extension. Also Read: China claims that Covid deaths have decreased by almost 80% They are now back in the same place, divided into groups according to their countries of origin, and everyone is working together to survive. Malian Boubacar, 27, claimed that wherever we camp, they kick us out. We don't want to sleep on tram tracks, but there is no other option available. Most of the locals resisted talking to a reporter, but a Moroccan sweets seller claimed that the expatriates "are now part of the landscape, they don't bother anyone." Migrants can only wash their hands in station toilets. Boubaker accused the residents of the neighborhood of racism, saying, "Sometimes they let us in, sometimes they don't." Caritas, a Catholic charity, provides basic medical care and medicines to the migrants. The press in Morocco often expresses opposition to immigrants. A recent headline in the weekly newspaper Maroc Hebdo proclaimed, "End clandestine immigration!," calling it "a social, security and political problem that the state is struggling to manage." The migrants are facing "difficult conditions", according to Noureddine Riadi of AMDH, Morocco's largest human rights organisation. He urged the government to provide more assistance. "The temporary housing centers should be the most vulnerable," he said. The heavily guarded Spanish enclave of Melilla is located on Morocco's north coast. Lamine, 20, made five attempts to enter and claims he almost gave up. We are fighting to keep our faith, but my optimism is diminishing by the day." Many migrants enter Morocco through the country's desert border with Algeria, which is formally closed, and periodic steps have been taken to regularize their status. However, it is coming under increasing pressure from Europe to tighten border controls and limit migrant movement within its borders. According to the Spanish newspaper El Pais, the European Union is considering giving Rabat a grant of 500 million euros to address clandestine migration. Around 32,000 migrants were detained by Moroccan police in 2022, and 566 people were arrested on suspicion of involvement in human trafficking. Also Read: Man became 'wolf' by spending lakhs of rupees for mental peace However, migrants in Casablanca claim they are still holding on to their hopes of traveling to Europe. According to Goat, going home would be "giving up". For me, it is either Europe or I die, he declared. BANGKOK: Opium cultivation has increased by a third in the past year as eradication efforts slow and a faltering economy encourages more people to join the drug trade. According to the United Nations report released on Thursday. Opium production in Myanmar has increased significantly since the military took control of the country. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime report, Myanmar will see a 33% increase in its cultivated area to 40,100 hectares (99,090 acres) in 2022, since the military seized power from the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The first was a full growing season. Qi in 2021. Also Read: Afghan refugee sentenced to life in prison in the UK for murder "Economic, security and governance disruptions come together after the February 2021 military takeover," said Jeremy Douglas, the regional representative of the United Nations Office of the People's Liberation Army. "Farmers in remote, often conflict-prone areas in the northern Shan and border states had little choice but to turn back to opium." According to United Nations estimates, the total value of the opium industry in Myanmar ranges from $660 million to $2 billion, depending on how much was sold locally and how much raw opium was converted into heroin or other drugs. Was. According to Douglas, Myanmar remains the world's second largest opium and heroin producer after Afghanistan. "Almost all the heroin reported in East and Southeast Asia and Australia originates in Myanmar," he said. At this point, there is no comparison between the two as Afghanistan is still producing more, but the expansion in Myanmar should not be ignored and needs attention as it is directly related to the security and economic situation. is related to what we are currently seeing." In the past, opium was widely produced in the so-called Golden Triangle, where the borders of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand meet. There were also several laboratories in the area that turned opium into heroin. Myanmar's frontier regions, also known as Burma, have been largely lawless due to decades of political instability, making them attractive to drug growers and smugglers. Also Read: New Zealander who died in Ukraine assisted numerous, according to parents According to Douglas, most of Myanmar's opium exports go to China and Vietnam, while heroin is shipped to several countries in the region. For smugglers, "this is really where the value is," he declared. Really high profits. The military took over the government in 2021, but poppy cultivation had declined in recent years. In 2020 the production estimate dropped to 400 metric tons (440 tonnes). According to the report, there is a slight increase in 2021 before rising to an estimated 790 metric tons (870 tonnes) in 2022. The military's use of lethal force to maintain power since seizing control of the government has escalated the conflict with its civilian opponents to such an extent that some experts say the nation is currently in a state of civil war. . The cost has been high, with 2,810 people killed by government forces and 17,427 arrested so far, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. The government had to divert its resources due to the violence, which prevented it from conducting drug-eradication raids in some areas. As a result, eradication efforts have decreased significantly as 1,403 hectares (3,467 acres) were eradicated in 2022, about 70% less than in 2021. The UN reported that an increasing number of rural households have been forced to rely more heavily on poppy cultivation for income as the conflict is having a negative impact on Myanmar's economy. According to Douglas, the root cause of the current increase in opium production is poverty and how rural residents are responding to the economy. It has always supported me in difficult times. Those involved in the drug economy are largely unregulated, and the security situation is understandably difficult due to the frequency and intensity of conflict. Also Read: On ISS a UAE astronaut claims that fasting during Ramadan is not necessary The same factors have led to a boom in its synthetic drug industry, with seizures of methamphetamine and other narcotics reaching record highs in the region. For example, during a single raid in September in Laos, authorities seized 500 kg (1,100 lb) of crystal methamphetamine and 33 million methamphetamine tablets. New Delhi: The country is celebrating 74th Republic Day today. On this occasion, Swami Ramdev has given a big statement regarding Pakistan. Swami Ramdev said that a lot is going on in the politics of the world. If the war between Ukraine and Russia is not stopping, sometimes nefarious activities happen from the side of China and Pakistan as well. But now the era has changed. Pakistan Occupied Kashmir will soon be merged with India. Apart from this, Pakistan will be divided into pieces and 3 parts of it will be found in India. Swami Ramdev said that Pakistan Occupied Kashmir will be in India. Balochistan will become a new country. In Sindh province too, there is ethnicity to unite with India. Pakistan will be divided into four pieces. A small country will survive. The remaining 3 parts will be found in India and the dream of a united India will come true. Afghanistan is not going to be safe even from the Taliban. Pakistan is currently facing a serious economic crisis. Long queues are being formed in Pakistan to get subsidized flour. People are fighting with each other for flour. The government treasury has also become empty. Pakistan is expecting help from IMF. Requesting everyone to give loan. Significantly, demonstrations are also going on in many parts of Pakistan. Shehbaz Sharif's government seems to have failed in handling the situation. At the same time, even their own people have left Pakistan during this difficult time. China has distanced itself from Pakistan. Saudi Arabia has also said that now it will not give unconditional loans. In such a situation, the condition of Pakistan is continuously getting worse. 'BJP does not need enemies...', Why did Uma Bharti give this statement? 'Nobody favors anyone', this leader's big statement Afghan refugee sentenced to life in prison in the UK for murder UNO: The United States and Canada may lead an international armed force to help Haiti fight gangs, the U.N. special envoy for Haiti said on Wednesday, adding that they have expressed "caution" but not "a definite "no." Helen La Lime expressed optimism that the United Nations Security Council would respond favourably to the issue of the force that the Haitian government had requested. At a recent conference, she declared that the Haitian National Police would work with an international armed force "that would go against the gangs." She spoke a day after the Security Council meeting, where the U.N. and Haiti made fresh pleas for assistance to stop the escalating violence in the Western Hemisphere, but the United States and Canada showed no interest in sending their security personnel. Also Read: Afghan refugee sentenced to life in prison in the UK for murder Robert Wood, the deputy ambassador of the United States, told the council that Haiti "must address its continued insecurity challenges" and urged other nations to aid the country in its endeavours. The previous military interventions in Haiti, which failed to bring about the nation's long-term stability, the world must learn from, according to Robert Rae, Canada's ambassador to the United Nations. Future solutions, according to him, "must be led by Haitians and by Haitian institutions," he said. Ariel Henry, the prime minister of Haiti, and the Council of Ministers of the nation issued an urgent appeal on October 7 requesting "the immediate deployment of a specialised armed force, in sufficient quantity," in order to end the crisis that has been exacerbated in part by "armed gangs' criminal activities." The appeal was made by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and La Lime reiterated it on Tuesday because no nations have responded more than three months later. La Lime claimed that the Security Council was deeply concerned about the deteriorating security situation in Haiti. "Gang-related violence has reached levels not seen in years," she told the council on Tuesday. Also Read: New Zealander who died in Ukraine assisted numerous, according to parents According to her, homicides and kidnappings rose for the fourth year in a row in 2022. According to her, there were 1,359 kidnappings last year, or about four per day on average, more than double the number in 2021. Killings increased by a third to 2,183, affecting all facets of society, including the director of the National Police Academy and a former presidential candidate. La Lime claimed that sanctions imposed by the United States and Canada as well as the Security Council's unanimous adoption of a resolution in October imposing sanctions on people and organisations endangering peace and stability in Haiti, beginning with a potent gang leader, are having an effect. A "National Consensus Agreement for an Inclusive Transition and Transparent Elections," which was signed on December 21 by a wide range of political, civilian, religious, trade union, and private sector officials, was hailed as a positive development on the political front and calls for elections to take place by February 2024. But she emphasised on Wednesday that a specialised international military contingent to support the police is the essential component still lacking. Also Read: On ISS a UAE astronaut claims that fasting during Ramadan is not necessary According to La Lime, "there is a lot of concern and I think there is recognition that help is needed" within the Security Council. "The sanctions are still working, and there is an understanding that it is time to discuss this force issue. So, I'm hoping the Security Council will take that action. Italy to supply Ukraine with artillery and Israeli-sourced drones, media report says 26 January, 10:18 PM Flag of Italy (Photo:juliacasado1 / pixabay) In addition to previously-announced SAMP-T and Aspide air defense systems, the Italian government has decided to provide Ukraine with artillery and Israeli-made UAVs, Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported on Jan. 26. According to the report, the upcoming package of Italian security assistance may include a batch of Hero-30 loitering UAVs, which are assembled from Israeli-made parts. Its unclear if Israel has signed off on the transfer. The article goes on to say that Ukraines anti-air capabilities will be substantially improved with Italy and France jointly providing one SAMP-T battery a European equivalent of U.S.-made Patriot system. SAMP-T has a range of 100 kilometers, and is capable of intercepting even ballistic missiles. Video of day Besides SAMP-T and short-range Aspide SAM systems, Rome will also deliver an unspecified number of artillery systems to Ukraine. The aid package is expected to get finalized within two weeks, and signals Western partners transitioning from merely helping save Ukraine to helping it win, the newspaper writes. Italy will continue its role in supporting the Ukrainian people amid the Russian attack, the article quotes Deputy Defense Minister Matteo Perego. Apart from the training of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the national territory, Rome provides particular assistance to the Ukrainian military engaged in the field: their operations against the Russians are guided remotely thanks to intelligence information and satellite systems, Corriere della Sera outlines Italys role is NATO allies sharing battlefield intelligence with the Ukrainian military. On Jan. 24, Italys lower parliamentary chamber approved the governments plan for 2023 military aid to Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News Rheinmetall ready to supply Ukraine with lots of ammunition for donated Leopard 2 tanks 26 January, 03:22 PM Leopard tanks (Photo:REUTERS/Kacper Pempel) German automotive and arms manufacturer Rheinmetall AG wants to provide a lot of ammunition for the Leopard battle tanks which are being donated to Ukraine by Germany, German news channel Tagesschau reported on Jan. 26. The company said it has boosted its ammunition production capacity, especially for high-caliber munitions. "We have invested heavily in this and will continue to do so by building new production facilities and recruiting additional personnel, the company said. We are doing everything to support Ukraine, as well as NATO and the German government, including with the necessary ammunition." Video of day The company said that thanks to the increased capacity of munition manufacturing, it would be able to respond to the higher demand of the German Army and other countries that use Leopard tanks. On Jan. 25, Germany agreed to send 14 Leopard 2 tanks, as well as providing re-export licenses to other countries. Read also: Germany officially approves supply of 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine Leopard 2 battle tanks for Ukraine On Jan. 20, during the Ramstein format meeting of NATO members defense ministers Germany didn't approve a decision on sending Leopard tanks to Ukrainian army, even though Ukraine and its allies had been anxiously awaiting a positive decision. Nevertheless, other countries that possess these tanks went ahead with discussions about the matter at Ramstein. Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said that training of Ukrainian army tank crews on the Leopards was agreed with the countries who have such tanks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier that a number of countries (Poland, Finland, Spain, Portugal and others) were ready to supply Ukraine with their Leopard 2 tanks as soon as Germany allowed their re-export. On Jan. 11, Polish President Andrzej Duda was the first to announce that Poland would send Ukraine a squadron of 14 Leopard tanks as part of a newly created international coalition. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that Warsaw did not rule out the creation of a coalition with countries that were ready to transfer part of their Leopard 2 to Ukraine, without the participation of Germany, if Berlin did not approve their delivery. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak earlier promised to transfer 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine, making the United Kingdom the first Western country to supply heavy tanks to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News Russian missile hits Turkish vessel in the port of Kherson 26 January, 11:49 AM Fire on a ship (Photo:twitter.com/UKR_token) A fire broke out on board of a Turkish vessel named Tuzla during a Russian missile attack in the evening of Jan. 24, and there was also strong explosion on board, the Reuters news agency has reported. Maritime security company Ambrey told the agency that fire occurred on the bridge of the ship, which is moored in Kherson, while the crew wasn't onboard. Read also: Russian missile warhead found in Moldova According to Reuters, a Russian missile hit the ship. The Tuzla has been stuck in the port of Kherson since the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion in February, 2022. Video of day Reuters' source said that twelve Turkish vessels are stuck in Ukrainian ports as they are not covered by "the grain deal" that broke Russias naval blockade of Ukraine and allowed the shipment of grain from the country to resume. "There was an attack yesterday night, most probably on the port, and an explosive charge seems to have hit the ship. Turkish ships in Kherson are manned by a skeleton crew so there are no injuries or casualties," the anonymous source told Reuters. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News Home Society Prem Prasad Acharya: The man who put himself on fire after a depressing note is dead Representational image: Pixabay Kathmandu, January 25 Trader Prem Prasad Acharya, who put himself on fire after posting a depressing note on his Facebook post is dead, according to police. Seriously injured in an apparent suicide attempt, Acharya breathed his last during treatment at Nepal Cleft and Burn Centre on Wednesday morning. The trader immolated himself in front of the parliament building in Baneshwar in the capital on Tuesday afternoon and was rescued by the police and rushed to the hospital. Around one hour before that, Prem Prasad Acharya posted a long status on Facebook saying his efforts to earn money to get rid of the loans and make the family happyby trying different businesses in Nepalfailed. Suicide prevention is possible. Read here what you need to do to prevent your loved ones from killing themselves by suicide. (Updates with Colonna in Odesa) By Iryna Nazarchuk ODESA, Ukraine, Jan 26 (Reuters) - French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna arrived on Thursday in Odesa, the strategic port city on Ukraine's Black Sea coast, as part of France's efforts to boost its relationship with Ukraine and discuss its needs in the coming months. UNESCO, the U.N. cultural agency, on Wednesday designated the city's historic centre a "World Heritage in Danger" site. Colonna was in Odesa shortly after missile strikes hit crucial power infrastructure facilities in the surrounding region, causing blackouts in the city. She was due to visit one of the damaged sites. "It's been a year since Russia launched this war carrying out atrocities and crimes. What we saw this morning with strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure is not waging war, it's waging war crimes," she told TFI television in Odesa. The visit aims to send a message to Moscow amid Western fears that Russia, almost a year after invading Ukraine, may still want to launch an attack on the city to deprive Ukraine of its key maritime outlet for grain products. "If Russia's objective is really to deprive Ukraine of all access to the sea, one day it will have to go as far as Odesa, knowing that Odesa, moreover, is the gateway to destabilise even more Moldova, Romania, and the European territory as a whole," a French diplomatic source told reporters ahead of the visit. "The idea is to show that Odesa is not only a Ukrainian city, but a city designated as World Heritage," he said. As part of the trip, Colonna is due to meet her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, to discuss humanitarian and military aid. The discussion is likely to include the question of whether France is ready to supply Leclerc main battle tanks after the United States and Germany committed to send tanks, opening the door for other allies to do so. France has so far agreed to send AMX-10 RCs armoured combat vehicles, but stopped short of committing to sending the Leclercs. Paris argues that, unlike the German Leopards, which are omnipresent across Europe with as many as 2,000 available, there are only about 200 Leclercs. They are also no longer produced. Story continues French sources say the Leclerc is heavy on maintenance making it difficult to create a logistical chain in Ukraine and given Paris would only be able to provide a small number, making their value on the ground limited. The government has said it is studying the request and would make a decision soon. "I'm not saying it won't happen, but I don't think it would make a huge difference," the diplomat said, adding that Kyiv had made clear to France that its priority from Paris was air defence and radar systems as well as ammunition. "This is not a delivery competition," he said. (Writing and reporting by John Irish in Paris; Editing by Nick Macfie and Jonathan Oatis) (Adds details, background) By Daphne Psaledakis and Steve Holland WASHINGTON, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday stepped up sanctions against the Wagner Group, labeling the Russian mercenary company fighting in Ukraine as a transnational criminal organization responsible for widespread human rights abuses. Wagner has been locked in a battle to take the towns of Bakhmut and Soledar in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, where Western and Ukrainian officials have said it is using convicts as cannon fodder. The U.S. Treasury Department, as part of action targeting dozens of people and entities in an effort to degrade Russia's ability to wage the war, said it designated Wagner Group as a "significant transnational criminal organization" on Thursday. "Wagner personnel have engaged in an ongoing pattern of serious criminal activity, including mass executions, rape, child abductions, and physical abuse in the Central African Republic (CAR) and Mali," the Treasury said in a statement. It had previously designated Wagner under its Russia and Ukraine sanctions programs. Russia's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Washington also designated other entities it accused of supporting the Wagner Group's military operations, including Russia-based technology firm Joint Stock Company Terra Tech (Terra Tech), and targeted Russia's defense industrial complex. Treasury designated China-based Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute Co. LTD, known as Spacety China, accusing it of providing Wagner with radar satellite imagery over locations in Ukraine to Terra Tech. "These images were gathered in order to enable Wagner combat operations in Ukraine," Treasury said. A source told Reuters this week that the United States has determined that some Chinese companies are providing non-lethal assistance to Russia for use in Ukraine. China's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A representative for Spacety China could not immediately be reached for comment. Story continues "Todays expanded sanctions on Wagner ... will further impede (Russian President Vladimir) Putins ability to arm and equip his war machine," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in the statement. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby last week said Putin has been increasingly turning to Wagner for military support, causing some tensions in Moscow. He said the United States assesses Wagner has about 50,000 personnel deployed to Ukraine, including 40,000 convicts recruited from Russian prisons. A Reuters investigation into recent burials in Southern Russia matched the names of at least 39 prisoners who have died for Wagner in Ukraine to Russian court records. They included a contract killer, murderers, career criminals, the news agency reported on Thursday. Thursday's U.S. action is the latest raft of sanctions targeting Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, which has killed or wounded thousands and reduced cities to rubble. Separately, the U.S. State Department on Thursday also designated entities and individuals with links to Wagner and its owner Yevgeny Prigozhin. The State Department also targeted more of Vladimir Potanin's assets, tightening the screw on one of Russia's richest men, but stopping short of the jewel in his investment crown, mining giant Nornickel. Last month the White House said Wagner had taken delivery of an arms shipment from North Korea to help bolster Russian forces in Ukraine, in a sign of the group's expanding role in that conflict. North Korea's foreign ministry called the report groundless. Prigozhin denied taking delivery of arms from North Korea. (Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis, Steve Holland, Michael Martina and Doina Chiacu; editing by John Stonestreet) Alaska Air Group, Inc. ALK reported mixed fourth-quarter 2022 results, wherein earnings outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate but revenues missed the same. Quarterly earnings of 92 cents per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 90 cents. The bottom line surged more than 100% year over year. Alaska Air Group, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Alaska Air Group, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Alaska Air Group, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Alaska Air Group, Inc. Quote Operating revenues of $2,479 million missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,504.4 million. The top line jumped 31% year over year, with passenger revenues accounting for 91.3% of the top line and increasing 32% owing to continued recovery in air-travel demand. Passenger revenues totaled $2,264 million in the reported quarter. On a year-over-year basis, cargo and other revenues rose 5% to $58 million. Mileage plan other revenues grew 22% to $157 million. Total revenue per available seat mile (a key measure of unit revenues) jumped 23.4% year over year to 16.49 cents. Yield increased 15.9% to 17.61 cents. Reflecting the uptick in air-travel demand, consolidated traffic (measured in revenue passenger miles) rose 14% to 12.85 billion. To cater to this increased demand, capacity (measured in average seat miles) expanded 5.8% to 15.03 billion. Consolidated load factor (percentage of seats filled by passengers) increased 6.1 percentage points to 85.5% in the fourth quarter of 2022. In the fourth quarter, total operating expenses (on a reported basis) escalated 32% year over year to $2,456 million, with aircraft fuel expenses, including hedging gains and losses, skyrocketing 57%. Economic fuel price per gallon climbed 57.1% to $3.55. Consolidated operating costs per available seat mile (excluding fuel and special items) grew 10.1% year over year to 11.14 cents. Liquidity As of Dec 31, 2022, Alaska Air had $2.42 billion of cash and marketable securities compared with $3.15 billion at the end of September 2022. Story continues ALK exited the fourth quarter with long-term debt (net of current portion) of $1.88 billion compared with $1.89 billion at the end of September 2022. Debt-to-capitalization ratio was 49%, flat sequentially. ALK generated $9 million cash from operating activities in the fourth quarter. Outlook Alaska Air announced plans to resume share repurchases in early 2023. Repurchases are anticipated to lie between $75 million and $100 million in 2023. Currently, Alaska Air carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Performance of Other Transportation Companies United Airlines UAL fourth-quarter 2022 earnings of $2.46 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.07. In the year-ago quarter, UAL incurred a loss of $1.60 per share when air-travel demand was not as buoyant as in the current scenario. The fourth quarter of 2022 was the third consecutive profitable quarter at UAL since the onset of the pandemic. Operating revenues of $12,400 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $12,230 million. UALs revenues increased 51.37% year over year owing to upbeat air-travel demand. The optimistic air-travel demand scenario is also evident from the fact that total operating revenues increased 13.9% from fourth-quarter 2019 (pre-coronavirus) levels. Delta Air Lines DAL fourth-quarter 2022 earnings (excluding 19 cents from non-recurring items) of $1.48 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.29 per share. DAL reported earnings of 22 cents per share a year ago, dull in comparison to the current scenario, as air-travel demand was not so buoyant then. DAL reported revenues of $13,435 million, which also surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $13,030.3 million. Driven by the high air-travel demand, total revenues increased more than 41.87% on a year-over-year basis. J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.s JBHT fourth-quarter 2022 earnings of $1.92 per share missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.45 and declined 16% year over year. JBHTs total operating revenues of $3,649.62 million also lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,796.8 million. The top line jumped 4.4% year over year. Total operating revenues, excluding fuel surcharges, fell 2.9% year over year. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report United Airlines Holdings Inc (UAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Alaska Air Group, Inc. (ALK) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Stacy Brooks Whatley Joins ACA ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Counseling Association (ACA) has named Stacy Brooks Whatley as chief communications and marketing officer (CCMO) effective Feb. 13. American Counseling Association Logo (PRNewsfoto/American Counseling Association) An award-winning communications, marketing and content strategist, Brooks Whatley has more than 20 years of experience in association communications. As a member of the Executive team, Brooks Whatley will join in the ongoing work to strengthen the organization's value proposition. "I look forward to working with Stacy in building critical communications and marketing strategies to advance ACA's mission and purpose," said CEO Shawn Boynes. "Her well-rounded expertise will contribute to elevating ACA's profile as well as more effectively position professional counselors to address the global mental health crisis." "I am thrilled to join ACA at a time when the public conversation around mental health continues to gain momentum," said Brooks Whatley. "As a society, we're putting a new focus on facing our challenges uncertainty, stress, trauma, loss both collectively and as individuals. The perspective of professional counselors can inform discussions around how we confront these challenges and improve our mental health and well-being." Brooks Whatley added that she looks forward to working with ACA members and leadership to ensure that the voice of the counseling profession is present and heard, that counselors are recognized for the critical role they play as part of the health care team, and that all in need of professional counseling have access to it "without stigma and red tape." ACA's new CCMO most recently served as the director of marketing and communications for the American Physiological Society, overseeing strategic marketing, media relations, social media, website content strategy and overall communications outreach. Prior to that time, she worked for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and at Ogilvy Public Relations. Story continues She also brings to ACA her experience as the editor in chief of a member-focused magazine and helping researchers better communicate their work to the media, the public and other researchers. She currently serves as president of Associations, Media and Publishing Network's Associations Council a key membership organization for association publishers and content creators. About ACA Founded in 1952 and based in Alexandria, Virginia, the American Counseling Association is the largest member organization of counseling professionals in the world. Our 54,000 plus members work in various settings, such as private practice, schools and universities, community clinics and government agencies. Our mission is to promote the professional development of counselors, to advocate for counselors, and to ensure that ethical and culturally inclusive practices protect our members' clients and all people who seek counseling services. We work to raise awareness about the myriad benefits provided by counseling and counseling professionals, such as marriage and family counseling, career counseling, addiction counseling and support for individuals who are facing mental health struggles and the challenges posed by everyday life in our fast-paced and sometimes stressful society. We believe everyone can benefit from the power of counseling. www.counseling.org Stacy Brooks Whatley Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-counseling-association-names-new-chief-communications-and-marketing-officer-301731044.html SOURCE American Counseling Association U.S. says it 'hacked the hackers' to bring down ransomware gang, helping 300 victims By Sarah N. Lynch and Raphael Satter WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The FBI on Thursday revealed it had secretly hacked and disrupted a prolific ransomware gang called Hive, a maneuver that allowed the bureau to thwart the group from collecting more than $130 million in ransomware demands from more than 300 victims. At a news conference, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and Deputy U.S. Attorney General Lisa Monaco said government hackers broke into Hive's network and put the gang under surveillance, surreptitiously stealing the digital keys the group used to unlock victim organizations' data. They were then able to alert victims in advance so they could take steps to protect their systems before Hive demanded the payments. "Using lawful means, we hacked the hackers," Monaco told reporters. "We turned the tables on Hive." News of the takedown first leaked on Thursday morning when Hive's website was replaced with a flashing message that said: "The Federal Bureau of Investigation seized this site as part of coordinated law enforcement action taken against Hive Ransomware." Hive's servers were also seized by the German Federal Criminal Police and the Dutch National High Tech Crime Unit. "Intensive cooperation across national borders and continents, characterized by mutual trust, is the key to fighting serious cybercrime effectively," said German police commissioner Udo Vogel in a statement from police and prosecutors in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, who assisted in the probe. Reuters was not immediately able to locate contact details for Hive. It is unclear where they were geographically based. The takedown of Hive is distinct from some of the other high-profile ransomware cases the U.S. Justice Department has announced in recent years, such as a cyber attack in 2021 against the Colonial Pipeline Co. In that case, the Justice Department seized some $2.3 million in cryptocurrency ransom after the company had already paid the hackers. Story continues Here, there were no seizures because investigators intervened before Hive demanded the payments. The undercover infiltration, which started in July 2022, went undetected by the gang until now. OVER $100 MLN IN RANSOM Hive was one the most prolific among a wide range of cybercriminal groups that extort international businesses by encrypting their data and demanding massive cryptocurrency payments in return. The Justice Department said that over the years, Hive has targeted more than 1,500 victims in 80 different countries, and has collected more than $100 million in ransomware payments. Although there were no arrests announced on Wednesday, Garland said the investigation was ongoing and one department official told reporters to "stay tuned." Garland said the FBI's operation helped a wide range of victims, including a Texas school district. "The bureau provided decryption keys to the school district, saving it from making a $5 million ransom payment," he said. A Louisiana hospital, meanwhile, was spared $3 million. Hive was a ransomware-as-a-service organization (sometimes abbreviated RaaS) which means that it farmed out aspects of its hacking spree to affiliates in exchange for a cut of the proceeds. Canadian researcher Brett Callow, of cybersecurity company Emsisoft, said in an email it was "one of the most active groups around, if not the most active." International law enforcement has struggled for years to beat the hydra-like scourge of ransomware, which has periodically crippled companies, government bodies and - increasingly - critical infrastructure. Short of any arrests, Hive's hackers will likely soon "either set up shop under a different brand or get recruited into other RaaS groups," said Jim Simpson, director of threat intelligence at British firm Searchlight Cyber. Simpson still welcomed the move, saying that "either way, the operation has imposed a significant cost on Hive's activities." (Reporting by Raphael Satter, Sarah N. Lynch and Katherine Jackson; Additional reporting by Rachel More in Berlin; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Rosalba O'Brien) Argentina is running out of vaults. With annual inflation nearing 100%, as the central bank prints bills to cover the governments fiscal deficit, local banks are making space for ballooning stocks of pesos. Officials have tightened capital controls. Imports are at a standstill. The government is going through the motions with the imf to avoid its tenth sovereign default since independence in 1816. Yet on January 22nd Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazils president, and Alberto Fernandez, his Argentine counterpart, announced they would start preparations for a common currency, possibly leading to a full currency union, which would hitch South Americas biggest economy to one of its sickest. The idea has a history. First came the gaucho, a currency meant to replace Brazils cruzado and Argentinas austral until the concept was abandoned amid economic turmoil in 1988. On its heels was a proposal by members of Mercosur, a trade alliance, to adopt a common currency, and sucre, an experiment led by Venezuela, which had ambitions to reduce the continents reliance on the dollar. Since it is prone to selling foreign reserves to prop up the peso, Argentina is always short of dollars to settle loans and pay for imports. A joint currency would create alternative reserves and make neighbourly trade easier. Brazil is Argentinas largest trading partner. By supporting the idea Lula, as Mr Silva is known, gets a reputational boost from being seen to revive regional co-operation. That, at least, is the case for the idea. The case against is daunting. A full union, with a joint central bank, would surely crumble. Economists judge how well countries fit in a currency union using criteria devised by Robert Mundell, a Canadian economist, that measure economic similarities. Normally, central bankers tailor interest rates to individual economies; in a union, one rate has to do for them all. Policy rates in Argentina and Brazil are an astonishing 61 percentage points apart. Their business cycles are wildly out of sync as their main exportsagriculture and industrial commodities, respectivelyare affected by different global headwinds. Argentinas problems make its downturns deeper and booms shorter and shallower. Story continues Another condition specified by Mundell is that people and money should move smoothly across borders, acting as a means of adjustment when a shock hits one country but not the other. Whereas in Europe farm workers hop between jobs and countries, South Americas poor infrastructure makes travel a hassle, and Argentinas capital controls make getting paid across borders nearly impossible. If workers do not end up where they are most productive, artificially high wages could spark inflation in parts of the union. Moreover, as long as Brazil was committed to the joint currency, it would be forced to bail out its southern neighbour. Secure in that knowledge, Argentina would have every reason to carry on spending irresponsibly. Brazil is already getting cold feet. Officials have stressed the new currency would be an addition to the two national ones, rather than a replacement, and that it is a long-term project. Other countries are not racing to join. Lula and Mr Fernandez offered South American leaders the chance to do so at a press conference on January 25th: no one has so far taken them up. This watered-down union would still place Argentinas problems at Brazils door. There would need to be a monetary policymaker, either a currency board or full-blown central bank, to watch exchange rates. The imf, to which Argentina owes $72bn, would be less willing to prop up the peso if Argentina had another legal tender. To top it all off, Lula would have to ignore his independent central bank, which has come out in opposition to the idea. On January 23rd, barely 24 hours after the grand announcement, Fernando Haddad, Brazils finance minister, implied the idea would only get off the ground as notes of credit that were backed by Argentinian commodities. That would not be currency at all. But it would be more borrowing, which is exactly what Argentina set out to avoid. For more expert analysis of the biggest stories in economics, finance and markets, sign up to Money Talks, our weekly subscriber-only newsletter. 2023 The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2023/01/26/argentina-and-brazil-propose-a-bizarre-common-currency VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp. (TSXV: LIT) (FSE: OAY3) (OTC: PNXLF), ("Argentina Lithium" or the "Company") reports positive lithium brine values at its Rincon West Project in Salta Province, Argentina, including a 153 m interval ranging from 329 to 393 mg/l lithium from the sixth diamond drill hole. The seventh exploration hole is in final steps to completion, with two additional holes planned. Argentina Lithium & Energy Logo (CNW Group/Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp.) "The new drilling results extend the zone of concentrated lithium brines towards the west and southwest from earlier drill intersections. The remarkable interval from the sixth hole, RW-DDH-006, is our best interval to date, and it is a step-out of 960 m from the prior best intersection reported previously in the fourth hole. With RW-DDH-005, we drilled 1.7 km southwest of the sixth hole, looking for the western limit of the brine zone. These large step-outs demonstrate concentrated lithium brines extend broadly through the core of the property. The remaining three drill holes will be located to further delineate the brine aquifer." stated Miles Rideout, V.P. of Exploration. The results of the brine analyses, type of sample collected, and the respective intervals from which brine was recovered are shown in Table 1. Drill collar information is presented in Table 2. The Rincon West Project, located west and north of Rio Tinto's adjacent Rincon Project, covers 3742.8 hectares of the salar basin. Rincon West is currently permitted for up to 9 exploration drill holes. Figure 1 presents a map of the Rincon West property showing the positions of the seven initial exploration holes (see News Releases dated July 13, 2022, October 3, 2022 and October 25, 2022). The map in Figure 1 displays the drill locations overlaid on the conductive zones delineated with TEM geophysics (see May 2, 2022 News Release; Note: the easternmost property extension was acquired after the completion of the TEM survey and therefore shows no geophysics results). Story continues Table 1: Interval data and results of brines analyses for lithium, potassium, and magnesium for drill holes RW-DDH-005 and RW-DDH-006 Sample Interval (m) Sample Method Li K Mg Density From To Thickness (mg/litre) (g/ml) RW-DDH-005 143 Bailer 12 197 99 1.006 185 Bailer 155 2432 1986 1.104 194 Bailer 173 2686 2068 1.108 224 Bailer 199 3243 2058 1.12 239 Bailer 209 3423 2201 1.124 260 Bailer 168 2623 1868 1.1 290 Bailer 88 1323 943 1.052 328 Bailer 104 1552 1172 1.064 96 99.7 3.7 Double packer <10 41 54 1.000 120 123.7 3.7 Double packer <10 207 161 1.006 162 165.7 3.7 Double packer 67 1137 748 1.042 192 195.7 3.7 Double packer 44 847 512 1.032 RW-DDH-006 59 71 12 Single Packer 20 317 278 1.01 71 83 12 Single Packer 38 598 563 1.024 83 95 12 Single Packer 126 1985 1370 1.078 119 143 24 Single Packer 233 4461 2055 1.134 143 155 12 Single Packer 292 5484 2650 1.162 167 179 12 Single Packer 329 6022 2892 1.178 179 191 12 Single Packer 348 6509 3128 1.184 191 206 15 Single Packer 339 6473 3052 1.18 206 218 12 Single Packer 378 7224 3411 1.194 218 230 12 Single Packer 379 7224 3468 1.206 230 245 15 Single Packer 378 6895 3366 1.194 245 257 12 Single Packer 385 7157 3451 1.21 257 269 12 Single Packer 393 7420 3436 1.215 269 293 24 Single Packer 385 7500 3205 1.21 293 308 15 Single Packer 334 6360 2743 1.18 303 320 17 Single Packer 336 6355 2736 1.178 *Both drill holes were inclined vertically; the salar strata are believed to be flat lying resulting in reported intervals approximating true thickness. Technical Details Both holes were executed with diamond drilling (HQ-diameter), permitting the extraction of core samples of the salar basin formations, and recovery of brine samples where possible. RW-DDH-005 was drilled between September 26 and October 24, 2022, stopping at 328.4 metres depth in volcanic units. Lining the hole with 2" diameter PVC filters and tubing was completed on October 26, 2022. RW-DDH-006 was drilled between October 27 and November 26, 2022, stopping at 329.8 metres depth in a metamorphosed sedimentary unit. Final profiling and lining the hole with 2" diameter PVC filters and tubing were completed by December 3, 2022. Drilling was carried out by Salta-based AGV Falcon Drilling SRL, under the supervision of Argentina Lithium's geologists. Table 2: Collar and maximum depth information for RW-DDH-005 and RW-DDH-006 Hole ID East North Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth UTM Zone 19S (WGS84) (m) (deg.) (deg.) (m) RW-DDH-005 680426 7336767 3808 n/a 90 328.4 RW-DDH-006 681291 7338205 3764 n/a 90 329.8 LIT's preferred method for brine sampling deploys a 'single packer' sampling unit during drilling. The packer sampling method allows the recovery of brine samples at specific depths while sealing the hole at the top and bottom of the interval. For single packer sampling, an inflatable seal closes the top of the interval; the lower limit of drilling represents the bottom of the interval. In certain instances, double packer sampling is conducted following the completion of drilling. In this case, inflatable seals are employed to close both the top and bottom of the sample interval. The maximum span of double packer sampling is limited to less than 4 m by the height of the drill mast and other equipment limitations. While drilling RW-DDH-005, every attempt at brine sampling with the single packer apparatus failed to recover significant quantities of brine. Sampling was thus accomplished at intervals during drilling by employing a bailer unit to recover brines from near the bottom of the drilled interval. A limitation of bailer sampling is that the interval is not sealed above, thus mixing with solutions from upper portions of the hole is probable. The site geologists believe the lack of brine recovery during packer sampling was likely related to the depth of the phreatic water table in the hole, identified approximately 72 m below the collar. Apparently the packer airlift system was unable to lift dense brines this height above the phreatic level. In follow-up sampling, the drill crew was able to recover brines from selected intervals while employing a double packer system. Sampling with the single packer system was completed without significant difficulty at RW-DDH-006. In this case, the well collar is situated at a lower elevation with a measured phreatic level of 37.6 m. Observations regarding RW-DDH-005 RW-DDH-005 is the westernmost hole completed to date, and the collar is located at the highest elevation yet tested on this project. The hole tested gravels and volcanic clasts in a sandy matrix to 29 m depth, where ignimbrite was encountered, continuing to 41 m depth. With a short transition, the drill entered medium-to-coarse gray sandstone from approximately 42 m, continuing to 54 m, followed by a 1 m layer of medium-to-fine black sandstone. Coarse gray sandstone was observed from 55 m to 62 m, followed by coarse brown sandy units with layers of sulphates, continuing to 77 m depth. A brecciated sandstone with sandy matrix then extends to 200 m depth. This unit was intensively fractured between 176 m and 197 m depths. Ignimbrite with varying degrees of fracturing was logged between 200 m and 296.5 m depths. The geologic log demonstrates a complex sequence transitioning from ignimbrite to aphanitic volcanics between 296.5 to 306 m depth. The hole was terminated in volcanics at 328.4 m depth. Observations regarding RW-DDH-006 Breccias and conglomerates with sandy matrices were observed from near-surface to 32 m depth. A sequence of sandy and silty sedimentary units with sulphates followed, ending in a sequence of sandy clays, logged between 47 and 53 m depth. Brown coloured sandstones were observed from 53 m, extending to 86 m depth. From 86 m to 95 m, breccias with quartzite fragments in a sandy matrix were logged. Ortho-quartzite then follows, continuing to 284 m depth, with multiple zones of relative competency interspaced by zones of intensive fracturing. A lithologic change was observed at 284 m, with a silicified sedimentary unit below. As the degree of fracturing reduced with depth, this unit was interpreted as a metamorphosed sedimentary rock. The drill was stopped in this metamorphosed sedimentary unit at 329.8 m depth. All core samples recovered in drilling were retained for geologic logging. An extensive selection of samples has been sent for brine recovery testing at an independent laboratory. This analysis remains pending. Analyses and QA/QC Samples of brine were submitted for analysis to Alex Stewart International Argentina S.A. ("Alex Stewart"), the local subsidiary of Alex Stewart International, an ISO 9001:2008 certified laboratory, with ISO 17025:2005 certification for the analysis of lithium, potassium and other elements. Alex Stewart employed Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry ("ICP-OES") as the analytical technique for the primary constituents of interest, including boron, calcium, potassium, lithium, and magnesium. Measurements in the field included pH, electrical conductivity, temperature and density. The quality of sample analytical results was controlled and assessed with a protocol of blank, duplicate and reference standard samples included within the sample sequence. For the holes RW-DDH-005 and 006 reported herein, the blank (2) and duplicate (3) samples reported within the acceptable range. A single low-grade, medium-grade, and high-grade reference standard sample was included within the submitted samples for each hole. The low-grade reference standard analyses were above 3 standard deviations (SD) with less than 5% relative percent difference (RPD); the medium grade reference standard returned one result above 3 SD and one at 2 SD above the best value with 1.47 and 1.00 RPD, respectively; the high-grade reference standard returned one result less than 3 SD and one within 2 SD of the best value; with low RPD (1.73 and 0.72, respectively). Rincon West Project The following summarizes the properties held within the Rincon West Project. Villanoveno II and Demasia Villanoveno II, totaling 2491 hectares, are held under an option whereby the Company can earn a 100% interest, as described in the Company's September 28, 2021 News Release. Argentina Lithium has also purchased the 460.5 hectare Rinconcita II property, adjacent to Villanoveno II (see August 25, 2022 News Release). The Company entered into an option agreement to earn a 100% interest in four contiguous mine concessions, the "Paso de Sico" option, totalling 791.3 hectares in the northern part of the Salar de Rincon (see October 6 News Release). Qualified Person David Terry, Ph.D., P.Geo. is the Company's Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101. Dr. Terry is responsible for oversight of the Company's early-stage exploration at the Rincon West property. The disclosure in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Terry. About Argentina Lithium Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp is focused on acquiring high quality lithium projects in Argentina and advancing them toward production in order to meet the growing global demand from the battery sector. The management group has a long history of success in the resource sector of Argentina and has assembled a first-rate team of experts to acquire and advance the best lithium properties in the "Lithium Triangle". The Company is a member of the Grosso Group, a resource management group that has pioneered exploration in Argentina since 1993. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Nikolaos Cacos" _______________________________ Nikolaos Cacos, President, CEO and Director Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, statements about the Company's plans for its mineral properties; the Company's business strategy, plans and outlooks; the future financial or operating performance of the Company; and future exploration and operating plans are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements and, even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: the impact of COVID-19; risks and uncertainties related to the ability to obtain, amend, or maintain licenses, permits, or surface rights; risks associated with technical difficulties in connection with mining activities; and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Readers are encouraged to refer to the Company's public disclosure documents for a more detailed discussion of factors that may impact expected future results. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, unless required pursuant to applicable laws. We advise U.S. investors that the SEC's mining guidelines strictly prohibit information of this type in documents filed with the SEC. U.S. investors are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on our properties. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/argentina-lithium-drilling-extends-lithium-brine-zone-at-rincon-west-301731403.html SOURCE Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp. REPORTSINSIGHTS CONSULTING PVT LTD Major Human Machine Interface (HMI) Market participant are Beckhoff Automation, Rockwell Automation, Inc., Honeywell International, Inc., Beijer Electronics Group, ABB, Siemens, Schneider Electric, Eaton, Robert Bosch Gmbh (Japan), Exor International (Italy), Kontron (Germany), OMRON Corporation (Japan), Red Lion, and Others. United State, New York, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As per the research report Human Machine Interface (HMI) Market published by Reports Insights, the market was worth USD 4.3 Billion in 2022 and is estimated to reach around USD 8.1 Billion by the year 2030, registering a CAGR growth of 8.2%. Human Machine Interface Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis, By Product (Hardware (Advanced PC Based HMI, Basic HMI, Advanced Panel Based HMI), and Software (Cloud-Based and On-Premise), By Configuration (Embedded and Standalone), By Technology (Motion, Acoustic, Bionic, Tactile), By End Use (Automotive, Packaging, Oil and Gas, Food and Beverage, Pharmaceutical, Metal, and Mining) By Region and Segment, Forecast Period 2022 2030. The future Opportunities of HMIs will number of interfaces ranging from augmented reality (AR), natural language processing, virtual reality (VR), and voice-based HMI. HMI Market driven is increased demand for industrial automation equipment such as field devices, smart equipment, and others to improve productivity, quality, and connectivity with technology also fuels market growth. Get Sample Report@ https://www.reportsinsights.com/sample/673712 Human machine interfaces are well-structured combinations of software and hardware components that convert the input by users into signals and then display relevant results on programmable logical controllers (PLC). Such HMI plays a crucial role in assisting human operators to work with complex and high-end technological solution systems. This helps in the efficient tracking and monitoring of industrial tasks by expanding the capacity of performing numerous heavy-duty tasks. Thus, full control of design, configuration, and areas of application in terms of these HMIs offers several benefits within manufacturing facilities. Story continues Furthermore, the growing complexities within industrial activities facilitate the need for HMIs to send commands, monitor and configure set points and make customizable adjustments such as an interface. Moreover, the rising need for automated types of machinery in production lines results in high demand for HMIs as computers with keyboards, multi-touch-enabled control panels, advanced touchscreens, push buttons, mobile devices or tablet also propels the market growth during the forecast period. Thus, new product innovations to support consumer demand support the high usage of HMIs within manufacturing facilities for maintaining and keeping a track of each industrial component. Further, the industrial internet of things (IIoT) offers a wide scope of being integrated with 5G technology with various voice-based HMI. This would significantly open a wide range of paths for HMI market expansion during the forecast period. Human Machine Interface (HMI) Market Report Coverage:- Report Attributes Report Details Market Size By 2030 USD 8.1 Billion Forecast Period 2022-2030 CAGR (2022-2030) 8.2% Base Year 2021 Study Timeline 2016-2030 Key Players Beckhoff Automation (Germany), Rockwell Automation, Inc. (U.S.), Honeywell International, Inc. (U.S.), Beijer Electronics Group (Sweden), ABB (Switzerland), Siemens (Germany), Schneider Electric (France), Eaton. (Ireland), Robert Bosch Gmbh (Japan), Exor International (Italy), Kontron (Germany), OMRON Corporation (Japan), Red Lion (U.S.), Texas Instruments Incorporated. (U.S.), Weintek Labs., Inc. (Taiwan), Yokogawa Electric Corporation (Japan), Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Japan), Advantech Co., Ltd. (Taiwan), Emerson Electric Co. (U.S.), General Electric (U.S.) By Product Hardware (Advanced Panel Based HMI, Basic HMI, Advanced PC Based HMI), and Software (Cloud Based and On-Premise) By Configuration Embedded and Standalone By Technology Motion, Acoustic, Bionic, Tactile By End Use Automotive, Packaging, Oil and Gas, Food and Beverage, Pharmaceutical, Metal, and Mining Report Coverage Company Ranking and Market Share, Total Revenue Forecast, Growth Factors, Regional Competitive Landscape, Business Strategies, and more. By Geography Europe [Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia, Spain, Netherlands, Turkey, Switzerland] Asia-Pacific [China, Southeast Asia, India, Japan, Korea, Western Asia] North America [United States, Canada, Mexico] Middle East & Africa [GCC, North Africa, South Africa] South America [Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Chile, Peru] Immediate Delivery Available, Buy Now @ https://www.reportsinsights.com/buynow/673712 Key Market Highlights The global human machine interface market size is expected to exceed USD 8.1 billion by 2030 and grow at a CAGR of 8.2% during the forecast period (2022-2030). Globally, human machine interfaces are bifurcated based on product: Hardware (basic HMI, advanced panel-based HMI, and advanced PC-based HMI), and software (cloud-based and on-premise). Based on the configuration, the market share is segmented into two groups: embedded and standalone. The market is also categorized as per technology: motion, acoustic, bionic, and tactile. In the context of end users, the market is divided into six groups: automotive, packaging, oil and gas, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, metal, and mining The market is geographically distinguished into five regions: Europe, North America, South America, the Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. North America and Asia Pacific are expected to support industry growth during the forecast period in terms of the growing adoption of technology advancements within manufacturing facilities and the emphasis on optimized production operations. Human Machine Interface Market Segmentation Details: Based on the product, the hardware HMIs are anticipated to support the human machine interface market statistics in terms of the largest share contribution. The hardware HMIs are mainly integrated due to the easy integration within existing IT infrastructure, reduced loss of time during product servicing and testing, and flexibility with PC-based applications. Thus, a large number of institutions heavily rely on such hardware to monitor and track industrial operations due to access to alarms/warnings in case of malfunction, reliable messaging of requirements, and accurate testing with the simulation of business processes. Based on the configuration, the standalone HMI configuration segment is expected to support the market growth in terms of value. These configurations are used in a wide range of HMI screens or terminals which are fast, reliable, and pre-loaded with the required software. Thus, these configurations are mostly suitable for integrating with customized software as per manufacturing facility demand. Additionally, standalone HMIs have a scope of including alarms as a security element which is based on the permission of the plant controller. Thus, integration of a standalone configuration-based HMI within manufacturing facilities is more convenient than the embedded one due to the dedicated monitoring of each industrial component and easy maintenance in case of a compromised section of the production plant. Based on technology, the bionic segment is projected to account for an increased contribution to the human machine interface market shares during the forecast period. The existing framework of HMI technology comprises rigid electronics with limited damage reconfiguration and reduced multifunctionality. Thus, bionic technology is being used as a replacement for conventional HMIs which offer high ductility and self-preparation features to the user of the interface. Further, such bionic technology also has the capability to mimic human forms such as arms to support human-based functions carried out within manufacturing facilities. Based on end use, the automotive segment is projected to support the market growth in terms of the largest revenue share. In the context of manufacturing facilities, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) largely rely on such HMIs to control the precise integration of automobile parts such as door panels, engines, vehicle chassis, transmission systems, Bluetooth compatibility, and others. Moreover, this sector also uses HMI within the vehicle as dashboards integrated with infotainment, gesture control, and in-car buttons and touch screens. Based on region, North America is expected to contribute the largest contribution to the market growth during the forecast period. The well-established presence of industrial players in this region allows easy integration of such HMI technology. Further, the growing expenditures by large industries specifically for monitoring and tracking operations within production facilities also fuel the demand for HMIs to bring overall efficiency into product manufacturing. Browse Full Report @ https://www.reportsinsights.com/industry-forecast/global-human-machine-interface-market-statistical-analysis-673712 Recent Developments In February 2020, Rockwell Automation, introduced a renewed range of products to strengthen its market representation. They initiated the procurement of specialists in the market of IPC and HMI to improve the manufacturing capacity for superior and integrated robotization arrangements. In December 2021, a Japanese multinational firm named KYOCERA Corporation introduced its human-machine interface (HMI) technology by the name of HAPTIVITY. In August 2022, Avalanche Technology announced that the company proposes to provide a large product portfolio of Persistent SRAM (P-SRAM) products for producing industrial touchscreen applications presented by FALINUX. List of Major Human Machine Interface Market Players Further, the comprehensive analysis offered by the market research report on the HMI market helps in getting an in-depth evaluation of multiple growth insights. Various factors play a crucial role in determining the market position such as technological advancements, innovative launches, product applications, business strategies, and recent collaborations. Listed are the key market players currently functioning in the market circumstances Beckhoff Automation (Germany) Rockwell Automation, Inc. (U.S.) Honeywell International, Inc. (U.S.) Beijer Electronics Group (Sweden) ABB (Switzerland) Siemens (Germany) Schneider Electric (France) Eaton. (Ireland) Robert Bosch Gmbh (Japan) Exor International (Italy) Kontron (Germany) OMRON Corporation (Japan) Red Lion (U.S.) Texas Instruments Incorporated. (U.S.) Weintek Labs., Inc. (Taiwan) Yokogawa Electric Corporation (Japan) Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Japan) Advantech Co., Ltd. (Taiwan) Emerson Electric Co. (U.S.) General Electric (U.S.) Global Human Machine Interface Market Segmentation: By Product Hardware Basic HMI Advanced PC-Based HMI Advanced Panel Based HMI Software On-Premise Cloud-Based By Configuration Embedded Standalone By Technology Motion Acoustic Bionic Tactile By End Use Automotive Packaging Oil and Gas Food and Beverage Pharmaceutical Metal and Mining Our Others Research Reports here:- HMI Panels Market Size & Trends By Regional(Europe, North America, South America, Asia Pacific, Middle East And Africa), Industry Statistics, Growth Potential, Price Trend, Competitive Share, Market Statistics and Forecast 2021 - 2027 Human Machine Interface (HMI) Software Market Size By Types( Supervisory Level HMI, Machine Level HMI, Others), By Application( Automotive, Chemicals & Petrochemical, Mining & Metallurgy, Paper, Packaging, & Printing, Food & Beverage, Healthcare, Oil & Gas, Others), By Regional(North America, Europe, South America, Asia Pacific, Middle East And Africa), Post COVID-19 Impact Analysis, Price Trends, Competitive Shares, Market Statistics and Forecast 2022 - 2030 Human Machine Interface Training Courses Market Size By Regional (North America, Europe, South America, Asia Pacific, Middle East And Africa), COVID-19 Impact Analysis, Price Trend, Competitive Share, Market Statistics and Forecasts (2021 - 2028) Human Machine Interface Devices Market Analysis By Regions (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, Middle East And Africa), Size, Growth, Trend and Forecast with Impact Analysis of COVID-19 (2022-2028) Molecular Diagnostics Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Product (Reagents,) Test Type (Point-of-care) Technology (Isothermal Nucleic Acid Amplification Technology, Transcription Mediated Amplification) Application (Genetic Testing) End-User (Diagnostic Labs) and Region, Forecast Period 2028 CONTACT: About Reports Insights Consulting Pvt Ltd ReportsInsights Consulting Pvt Ltd. is the leading research industry that offers contextual and data-centric research services to its customers across the globe. The firm assists its clients to strategize business policies and accomplish sustainable growth in their respective market domains. The industry provides consulting services, syndicated research reports, and customized research reports. Topnotch research organizations and institutions to comprehend the regional and global commercial status use the data produced by ReportsInsights Consulting Pvt Ltd. Our reports comprise in-depth analytical and statistical analysis on various industries in foremost countries around the globe. Contact: Email: sales@reportsinsights.com USA: +1-214-272-0393 Europe: +44-20-8133-9198 Cayuga Centers The non-profit agency is increasing its board from 15 to 21 members AUBURN, N.Y., Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cayuga Centers , a non-profit human services agency, today announced the election of Faye Hylton as Chair of its Board of Trustees, as well as the addition of five new board members. The new members increase Cayuga Centers board from 15 to 21 members, a reflection of the organizations recent growth in new markets across the United States. Hylton has served on the Cayuga Centers board since 2018. A Florida resident, Hylton is the owner of Seastar Technologies , a disaster recovery and business continuity services provider, and has worked in the information technology services industry for more than 25 years. Hylton succeeds former Cayuga Centers Board Chair David Warren Connelly, who has served on the board since 1997 and as Board Chair since 2016. He will continue to serve on the Board of Trustees for Cayuga Centers as the Immediate Past Chair. I believe strongly in Cayuga Centers mission of helping children and families in need through innovative, impactful practices and I couldnt be more proud to serve as Chair of the Board of Trustees, Hylton said. I look forward to working with Edward and the entire Cayuga Centers team to support the agency during this exciting period of growth. In addition to Hylton, Cayuga Centers has elected five additional members to its Board of Trustees to better reflect Cayuga Centers growing service area. New members from recent expansion regions include Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, resident Willette Walker, Chief Human Capital Officer at Mainstay Life Services; and Miami, Florida resident Maria Justo, Executive Vice President of Commercial Credit at First Horizon Bank. Maria joins the board following Cayuga Centers recent merger with Institute for Child & Family Health (ICFH) in September 2022. Other new board members include Claudine Potvin-Giordiano, Director of Health Services at Hudson Valley Community College and resident of Albany, New York; Randy Bogar, Director of Human Resources at Masonic Care Community and resident of Utica, New York; and Joyce Akwaa, Assistant Principal of Dake Junior High School and Doctor of Education candidate and resident of Rochester, New York. Story continues The addition of these new board members is particularly exciting because we are expanding our Board to better reflect the new areas we now offer services to, including Pennsylvania and South Florida, said Cayuga Centers President and CEO Edward Myers Hayes. We look forward to using their professional expertise to continue providing care to at-risk youth and families through industry-leading services as well as their input on growth strategy. Cayuga Centers board members are elected to three-year terms and advise the non-profit on strategic growth, best practice, and other topics. To learn more about Cayuga Centers programs, visit www.cayugacenters.org . About Cayuga Centers Cayuga Centers is a nationally accredited and awarded 501(c)(3) non-profit, human services agency headquartered in Auburn, NY. Founded in 1852, the agency has delivered quality services by following the agencys core mission of helping individuals and families grow as independent, healthy, and productive citizens through quality counseling, out-of-home care, and support services. Cayuga Centers provides a continuum of support services nationally, with offices in over 10 cities. The agency specializes in providing individualized, culturally appropriate, and trauma-informed support to diverse populations. Cayuga Centers currently serves 10,000 individuals and families annually. Visit www.cayugacenters.org to learn about its services, how to become a foster parent, and employment opportunities. Media Contact: Jacalyn Lawton jlawton@lambert.com NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 25, 2023 / Cisco Systems Inc. Cisco Systems Inc., Wednesday, January 25, 2023, Press release picture This blog is written by Karen Balstrup, an Administrative Assistant at Cisco Australia. Since she joined Cisco three years ago, Karen has been involved in co-ordinating Cisco teams in community activity for a local domestic violence shelter and for gathering and repurposing food supplies for the homeless. She recently joined the ONEx Communities Global Day2Give as a Local Leader as well as joining the AppD Cares ANZ Chapter. Volunteering began in my life with the local district netball club. Led by mother's tradition of giving back to the community, our whole family assisted with the running of netball in northern Sydney, spending long nights checking scoresheets and registrations. My mother was recognised as the first Life Member of Ku-ring-gai Netball Association for her untiring services. In my first job as a junior public relations consultant, I offered to create a logo and write and produce newsletters for the prestigious organisation, VOLUNTEERING AUSTRALIA. I notice that the logo still sits proudly on their masthead some 35 years later, as they lead the country's largest volunteering activities. This group opened my eyes to how vast the movement is in our country. Thereafter in my public relations career I made it a goal to encourage my international corporate clients to support volunteering. This extended from celebrity visits to hospitals, to providing my communication services pro bono to community groups. I am a fourth-generation family member of people from Denmark and Scotland who settled here in 1864. Australia is known as "the sunburnt countrya land of droughts and flooding plains" from a famous poem "My Country" written in 1906 by Dorothea Mackellar. Our heritage as a country is to pull together during crises. Over the last four years Australia has struggled with droughts, bushfires, and floods as well as the pandemic. Joining Cisco during these crises, I helped raise awareness to raise donations for misplaced families and collect books and supplies for flood and bushfire victims. I recall driving to a pickup point with boxes of urgently needed headache medication for the firefighters. Story continues The Cisco CX Centre in Sydney won a CX "Best of We" Award for travelling to a rural high school to teach the students about robotics and the role it can play in everyday farming during droughts, etc. in managing water sprinkling systems. I wrote the submission for the award, and it was an incredibly proud moment for them to win. During the pandemic, repurposing food supplies to reach those in need became an urgent focus. Cisco teams would collect left over bread supplies from supermarkets and deliver them to a central repackaging group at a local Catholic church before distributing them to families in need the next day. Everyone in our team, including directors and engineers, spent hours packing bread products into family packs. Most recently, the AppDynamics teams have gone to several locations to cook up meals for distribution to the homeless in Sydney, the majority being women. I personally find the teamwork one of the best rewards. Seeing the enthusiasm of my co-workers to join the volunteering group is a wonderful feeling to experience. I love seeing the senior members working side by side with us all, peeling potatoes or using a bread slicing machine. In our new hybrid working era, it is great to be with each other achieving such great goals. And then to stand shoulder to shoulder with my colleagues and see the results of the freshly cooked food is the icing on the cake. Towering stacks of meals. Bags of food going to those who most need it. Food that would have ended up in landfill had it not been saved by the inspiring work of the volunteering organisations in Australia. It gives me great satisfaction to see left over vegetables being made into tasty curries. My colleagues are teaching me a lot about their traditional dishes. I know that these experiences are also creating great bonds between us all. Our collaboration will continue with these well-organised Australian charities such as Our Big Kitchen at Bondi and Gift of Bread based in Tempe in Sydney. Dignity Giving Back specialises in packing support hampers for return-to-school or other groups needing basic supplies during difficult times. Mary's House Services provides relief for domestic violence victims on the northside. The pink-themed, Australia's Biggest Morning Tea raises money for Breast Cancer care and research. St Kilda Mums in Melbourne assists their local community by providing car seats and other support for new families. There are many groups that Cisco Australia teams have assisted that focus on mental health including Movember for Men's Mental Health, R U OK and Lifeline. During work-from-home Covid-19 lockdowns, we spent many hours online providing wildlife research on Zooniverse watching video footage from cameras to log animal movement such as elephants and gorillas. In addition, we helped identify buildings and roads from aerial maps of villages in India for an organisation called Missing Maps. This provides security for young people, especially girls walking home from school as well as for emergency assistance. The greatest reward for us at Cisco, is the satisfaction and teamwork derived from volunteering. We are forging bonds that draw us together so we can support those that are less fortunate. A great tip to encourage team members is to visually communicate by posting photos in Webex Team Spaces. Joining the many Cisco groups that are passionate about giving-back also helps network the message and increase participation. I am so grateful that Cisco encourages volunteering. Many of my friends make the comment that companies like mine are what the world needs. View original content here View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cisco Systems Inc. on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Cisco Systems Inc. Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cisco-systems-inc Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Cisco Systems Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/736687/How-Cisco-Employees-in-Australia-Step-Up-To-Volunteer TORONTO, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Datolite Solutions is excited to announce the launch a new Business Intelligence consulting practice with the key hires of industry experts Niall MacMillan and Sam Elrazek, who leads the practice as Director, Business Intelligence Consulting. Datolite BI - Data Science (CNW Group/Datolite Solutions Inc.) The launch of this new practice, which supplements the ever-growing Template and billing Workflow consulting practices, has been driven by client demand for unbiased software agnostic expertise, and furthermore existing clients (and software vendors) requesting support in this area from a single collaborative team, underpinned by the excellence service delivery methodology that the Datolite team is well-known for. The key hires of Niall and Sam, collectively adds over 30 years knowledge of the successfully delivery of Business Intelligence solutions, supported by the evolving Microsoft data analytics platform, within the legal PMS eco-system and beyond. "We are delighted to have launched this new consulting practice within our organization, as we seek to support our clients with their adoption and evolution of Business Intelligence within their organizations" says Pat Langlais, Managing Partner and Co-Founder. "As a primarily services-driven organization, we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver first-class solutions, with client satisfaction at the heart of what we do. This continues to fuel our year-on-year growth, across all our KPI's. It was clear from this client base than they required an extension of our services, into data analytics and business intelligence so we are very happy to have responded to their needs." concludes Langlais. Practice Director, Sam comments "We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new BI practice, which will provide our customers with the insights and data-driven decision making they need to stay ahead in today's fast-paced business world. With our team of experts and state-of-the-art technology, we are confident that our BI solutions will give our clients a competitive edge and help them reach their goals more efficiently." Story continues "The addition of Niall and Sam to our team, and the launch of this practice immediately allows us to instantly service the growing needs of our clients and the legal industry as a whole, whilst continuing to partner with leading software providers. We've secured two industry superstars and I am very excited for this part of our growth. " added Campbell Barrett, Managing Partner and Co-Founder. About Datolite Solutions Datolite Solutions, global Leader in billing and business intelligence solutions for legal and professional services firms, are experts in template development, document and proforma automation, and business intelligence solutions. Datolite Solutions logo (CNW Group/Datolite Solutions Inc.) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/datolite-solutions-launches-business-intelligence-consulting-practice-with-key-industry-hires-fuelled-by-client-demand-301732017.html SOURCE Datolite Solutions Inc. Democratic disconfort was on display as senators kept mum on Representative Ruben Gallegos decision to run against Independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema in Arizona, despite her defection from the party last month. On the other side of the aisle, while Ms Sinema has refused to join the Republican Party, many of her GOP colleagues wish she would change her mind, given her friendliness with many of the members. Senator Mitt Romney worked closely with Ms Sinema throughout the first two years of the Biden administration. The two were lead negotiators on the bipartisan infrastructure law and the Utah Republican was part of a larger group of senators that negotiated the bipartisan gun safety bill that Ms Sinema negotiated with three other senators. That friendship means that even though Ms Sinema is part of his party, Mr Romney told The Independent that he will not support a Republican against her. I think Senator Sinema is terrific. And I would I would not be campaigning against her, he said. Senate Minority Whip John Thune, a longtime friend, wishes that she would join the GOP ranks. Well, I mean, I would prefer she come and join us. But the absent that, you know, obviously, it's about the majority, he told The Independent. His predecessor as whip, John Cornyn of Texas, who was part of the group that negotiated the gun bill with her, said Mr Gallegos decision to jump in was a testament to the direction of the party. I think theyve love their minds. They are pretty radical, he told The Independent. Senator Sinema has been a good partner to work with and doing a lot of very consructive work. At the same time, he still said hed support the GOP if a candidate ran against her. Ill always support my party. Conversely, Democrats were mostly silent about whether to support Mr Gallego, who announced on Monday that he would challenge Ms Sinema. Arizonas senior senator announced last month that she would leave the Democratic Party and serve as an independent. Story continues Hes a fine man. He has to make a decision about his own future, Senate Majoirty Whip Dick Durbin told The Independent. But Mr Durbin, who is also chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he did not want to speculate about races. Ms Sinemas office did not comment to The Independent. But on Friday, she did tacitly address her new challenger. Im not really thinking or talking about the election right now although others are Im staying focused on the work, she said. Ms Sinema frequently frustrated many Democrats when they had control of the House of Representatives and a 50-50 majority in the US Senate. She had many reservations about Build Back Better, the social spending bill Democrats hoped to pass before Senator Joe Manchin killed it. In addition, she opposes getting rid of the filibuster, the 60-vote threshold in the upper chamber, even as many Democrats hoped to get rid of it to pass a new version of the Voting Rights Act after the Supreme Court weakened the law in 2013. The Cook Political Report this week rated Arizonas Senate race as a toss-up. But Ms Sinema has not announced whether she will seek re-election and she will continue to caucus with Senate Democrats, similar to Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine, who both serve as independents. Meanwhile, Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, Ms Sinemas Democratic colleague, was non-commital on her potential reelection race, having just won his own campaign in November. Ms Sinema contributed $10,000 to Mr Kellys re-election campaign. My thoughts are, weve had a lot of Senate elections in Arizona, Mr Kelly told The Independent. Arizona has had a Senate race for every election since 2016, when John McCain won his final term. In 2018, Ms Sinema ran for an open seat as a Democrat and won, becoming the first Democrat to win a seat from the state in 30 years. In 2020, Mr Kelly won a special election to finish the end of the late Mr McCains term. In 2022, Mr Kelly beat Republican Blake Masters to win a full Senate term. And this one's more than a year and a half away, Mr Kelly said. You know, I've worked with the congressman, you know, on a number of things. But Im focused on the job and not another Senate race. Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota who is a vice chairwoman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Democratic caucuss campaign arm was also non-committal. I think we are in a good place, she told The Independent, but added there were lots of unknowns given that Ms Sinema hasnt announced whether shell seek re-election. So it's premature to know what happens next. When asked about Mr Gallego, she said, I watched his video this morning. And I thought it was strong. DALLAS, January 26, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Generational Equity, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisor for privately held businesses, is pleased to announce the sale of its client, Green Prosthetics and Orthotics, Inc. to Mobility Ideal Health Care. The acquisition closed November 2, 2022. Located in Erie, Pennsylvania, and with multiple locations in Pennsylvania and New York, Green Prosthetics and Orthotics (Green) is a custom fabricator of prosthetic and orthotic devices. The Company has been providing medical equipment to various individual patients and hospitals for over 80 years. Mobility Ideal Health Care, headquartered in Edison, New Jersey, has nine locations and believes mobility is the foundation of vibrant lives, thriving communities but most importantly progress in humanity. It is this fundamental principle that they pride themselves in as being a national leader in enhancing and empowering human mobility solutions. They focus on improving mobility, quality of life, function, and outreach one patient at a time. The Company works hard to keep people mobile at every age and at all points of life. As they strive to improve mobility and affordability, they continue their journey in making communities healthier in mind, body, and spirit everywhere they go. Mobility Ideal Health Care provides comprehensive mobility services including: Prosthetics, Orthotics & Diabetic Footcare, Physical & Occupational Therapy, Durable Medical Equipment, and PPE. Generational Equity Executive Managing Director, M&A-Technology Practice Leader, David Fergusson, Senior M&A Advisor, Faraaz Ali, with the support of Managing Director, M&A, Corey Painter successfully closed the deal. Senior Managing Director, Eric Colton established the initial relationship with Green. "This was a deal where all the stars aligned perfectly. Our client was a niche custom fabricator of prosthetic and orthotic devices that checked all of investment criteria boxes of a strategic acquisition party that was consolidating in this space," said Ali. Story continues Ali added, "Outside of the mutually beneficial structure of the deal, what brought both parties together was their mutual passion for human mobility solutions and the commitment to bettering the lives of those that have been impacted." About Generational Equity Generational Equity, Generational Capital Markets (member FINRA/SIPC), Generational Wealth Advisors, Generational Consulting Group, and DealForce are part of the Generational Group, which is headquartered in Dallas and is one of the leading M&A advisory firms in North America. With more than 350 professionals located throughout 16 offices in North America, the companies help business owners release the wealth of their business by providing growth consulting, merger, acquisition, and wealth management services. Their six-step approach features strategic and tactical growth consulting, exit planning education, business valuation, value enhancement strategies, M&A transactional services, and wealth management. The M&A Advisor named the company Investment Banking Firm of the Year three years in a row, Valuation Firm of the Year in 2020, and North American Investment Bank of the Year in 2022 as well as Consulting Firm of the Year. For more information, visit https://www.genequityco.com/ or the Generational Equity press room. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005284/en/ Contacts Carl Doerksen 972-342-0968 cdoerksen@generational.com GoLogiq Combination of GoLogiqs (OTC:GOLQ) product offering with GammaRey and Nest Egg to create a uniquely powerful mobile fintech ecosystem for global markets: High margin offerings: eWallet, microlending, and hyper-local delivery platforms can potentially add upwards of 30% gross profit margins at scale. Leverages market-proven Tech Mahindra (TECHM.IN), Comviva eWallet and YABX technology. Greater ability to empower millions of customers with new financial options and process tens of millions of transactions daily. NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GoLogiq, Inc. (OTC:GOLQ), a U.S.-based global provider of fintech and consumer data analytics, recently finalized a definitive share exchange agreement with GammaRey, a privately-held fintech ecosystem for the New World Digital Economy. Under the agreement, GoLogiq plans to issue $320 million in common stock valued at $3.00 per share in exchange for 100% of GammaReys outstanding shares. GammaRey brings to GoLogiq a profitable business with strong cash flow, along with nearly $800 million in customer financial assets. GoLogiq also recently announced a binding letter of intent to acquire Nest Egg Investments, under a similar definitive share exchange agreement that is expected to be finalized within the next week. Nest Egg brings to GoLogiq a streamlined mobile solution for discovering, planning, and automating retirement savings, with investment products and services offered by its subsidiary, BeyondTrade Securities (pending a name change to Nest Egg Securities), a FINRA licensed broker dealer. The synergies created through the combination of GammaRey and Nest Egg will enable GoLogiq to address the growing multi-billion dollar market of wealth management for Generation Z and Millennials. This new generation of wealth-builders represents the sharing economy that will be powered by digital banking solutions, such as virtual payments, lending and loyalty programall which will now be easily accessible and managed by a single, easy-to-use mobile application or embedded finance platform. Story continues Millennial and Gen Z financial wealth reportedly jumped 25% last yearhigher than for Gen Xs and Baby Boomersand their aggregate assets grew from $2.9 trillion to $3.6 trillion. Bain & Company projects the market for wealth management services to double in size and exceed $500 billion by 2030. GoLogiqs existing mobile finance offering is built upon the proven Tech Mahindra/Comviva mobiquity Pay platform that currently serves more than 130 million customers in more than 45 countries. GoLogiqs microlending app is powered by the Tech Mahindra/YABX platform that allows it to offer micro and small consumer loans, agent loans, handset loans and Airtime credits to customers in emerging markets. GoLogiqs hyper-local delivery platform was built in-house over two years. Test markets in Jakarta, Indonesia had more than 150,000 customers generating 15,000 deliveries per day. In February 2020, a pilot program was also run with SEA, Ltd (NYSE: SE) involving shared deliveries in the central business district of Jakarta. GoLogiq anticipates the straightforward integration of its eWallet and a microlending platform with Nest Eggs customer base to create a strong cash flowing business. Given recent GoLogiq initiatives in SE Asia, it anticipates adding incremental gross profit margins upwards of 30% once fully deployed. The hyper-local delivery platform will be combined with another project that will involve a new target demographic in populous urban areas. According to Brent Suen, interim CEO of GoLoqiq, stated: The strategic tie-in of GoLogiqs product offerings with GammaRey and Nest Egg will create valuable financial services offerings for Gen Z and Millennial customers in the U.S., Middle East and Australia. Were looking forward to launching the new Nest Egg offering over the next few months and integrating in our eWallet and microlending apps to address these high-growth markets. GoLogiq has begun the application process for an uplisting to a listed exchange such as the NYSE/AMEX. The application is subject to approval based on several factors, including satisfaction of minimum listing requirements. About GammaRey GammaRey is a global financial technology company that is building a financial ecosystem and platform to provide financial solutions to both government, business and consumers. It is revolutionizing the speed and fee structure of remittance technologies worldwide through blockchain technologies, evolving into a full-stack ecosystem for the digital economy. This includes a digital wallet, borderless payments, and a proprietary platform providing functionality through the buying of goods and services. To learn more, go to www.gammarey.com. About Nest Egg Nest Egg has introduced a simplified retirement investing app for discovering planning and automating retirement investment strategies. It offers investment products through its subsidiary, BeyondTrade Securities (pending its name change to Nest Egg Securities), a FINRA-licensed broker dealer. To learn more, visit www.nestegg.app. About GoLogiq GoLogiq Inc. is a US-based global provider of fintech and mobile solutions for digital transformation and consumer data analytics currently focused on Southeast Asia. Its software platforms are comprised of CreateApp, a mobile app development and publishing platform for small-to-medium sized businesses; AtozGo, a hyper-local app-based delivery platform; AtozPay, an eWallet for mobile top-up, e-commerce purchases, bill payment and microfinance; and Radix, a Big Data analytics platform. Visit the company at gologiq.com or follow on twitter: $GOLQ and @gologiq. GoLogiq Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains certain forward-looking statements and information, as defined within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is subject to the Safe Harbor created by those sections. This press release also contains forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information within the meaning of United States securities legislation that relate to GoLogiqs current expectations and views of future events. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as will likely result, are expected to, expects, will continue, is anticipated, anticipates, believes, estimated, intends, plans, forecast, projection, strategy, objective and outlook) are not historical facts and may be forwardlooking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forwardlooking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forwardlooking statements included in this press release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Forwardlooking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond GoLogiqs control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. In particular and without limitation, this press release contains forwardlooking statements regarding our products and services, the use and/or ongoing demand for our products and services, expectations regarding our revenue and the revenue generation potential of our products and services, our partnerships and strategic alliances, the impact of global pandemics (including COVID-19) on the demand for our products and services, industry trends, overall market growth rates, our growth strategies, the continued growth of the addressable markets for our products and solutions, our business plans and strategies, our ability to apply to and meet the listing standards and approvals for Nasdaq, NYSE, or other senior exchange, our ability to successfully locate and consummate any contemplated strategic transactions, our ability to successfully complete a merger or acquisition with GammaRey, Nest Egg Investments, or other entity, any approval of the merger or acquisition with Nest Egg Investments or other entity by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), any regulatory approval required of Nest Egg Investments subsidiary BeyondTrade Securities, Inc.s pending name change to Nest Egg Securities, Inc., the structure of any such transaction, timing of such transaction, and the valuation of the businesses after completion of any such transaction, if any, and other risks described in the Companys prior press releases and in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent public filings. The GammaRey and Nest Egg Investment transactions discussed herein are subject to mutual deliveries and other closing conditions, and neither transaction has closed as of the date of this press release. GoLogiq undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forwardlooking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for GoLogiq to predict all of them, or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forwardlooking statement. Any forwardlooking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. GoLogiq Contact: Brent Suen Interim CEO GoLogiq, Inc. Email Contact GoLogiq Investor Relations: Ron Both CMA Investor Relations Tel (949) 432-7566 Email contact GoLogiq Media & ESG Contact: Tim Randall CMA Media Relations Tel (949) 432-7572 Email contact The enhanced BMO Harris Business Platinum Rewards Mastercard credit card and its new 5-4-3-2-1 model re wards small business customers for their favorite business spend categories Points never expire and can be used for cash, gift cards, travel, dining and more The $0 annual fee card also includes a welcome offer of a potential 100,000 rewards points bonus CHICAGO, Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - BMO is rolling out its enhanced BMO Harris Business Platinum Rewards Mastercard designed to meet the needs of small businesses and help customers make real financial progress. In addition to being available to all new customers, all current BMO Harris Business Platinum Rewards Mastercard cardholders will receive the rich rewards accelerators on key business spend categories. Earned points never expire and cardholders can use them for gift cards, cash, travel, dining and more. BMO also provides new customers up to 100,000 points in the first year: 50,000 bonus points when a customer spends $5,000 within three months of opening an account and another 50,000 bonus points when they spend $50,000 or more within the first 12 months. "We are thrilled to offer our refreshed BMO Harris Business Platinum Rewards Mastercard to meet the unique and evolving needs of small business owners," said Jennifer Douglas, Head of North American Retail and Small Business Payments at BMO. "We heard from our customers what perks meet their needs best and we are pleased to offer a card with rich rewards and benefits." The enhanced BMO Harris Business Platinum Rewards Mastercard offers: Rewards for business spending Mobile Device Perks No Annual Fee 0% introductory Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on purchases for 9 months from the date of opening an account 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for 9 months until the standard APR applies Mastercard Small Business Cardholder Benefits: "Mastercard and BMO are committed to supporting small businesses with payment products and benefits that optimize operations, simplify daily tasks and help them run their businesses efficiently and successfully," said Bunita Sawhney, EVP of US Financial Institutions, Mastercard. "Together with the enhanced BMO Harris Business Platinum Rewards Mastercard, we are thrilled to provide small business owners with the security, innovation and unique benefits that bring value to every transaction." Story continues In addition to the new card benefits, the new BMO Harris Business Platinum Rewards Mastercard also makes it more convenient for customers to manage their accounts. Rather than visiting a branch, customers can take a photo of their ID and snap a selfie to verify their identity. Customers can also manage their card all online by making payments, viewing transactions, and managing alerts in one easy-to-use tool. To apply and view the complete list of benefits and to see important terms and conditions for the BMO Harris Business Platinum Rewards Mastercard, visit https://www.bmoharris.com/main/business-banking/credit-cards/platinumrewards/. Learn more about BMO Harris Rewards at https://bmoharrisrewards.com/. About BMO Financial Group Serving customers for 200 years and counting, BMO is a highly diversified financial services provider - the 8th largest bank, by assets, in North America. With total assets of $1.14 trillion as of October 31, 2022, and a team of diverse and highly engaged employees, BMO provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management and investment banking products and services to 12 million customers and conducts business through three operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking, BMO Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets. About Mastercard Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Its mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, its innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Its decency quotient, or DQ, drives its culture and everything it does inside and outside the company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, it is building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all. Media contact Lucas Seiler, U.S. Personal and Business Banking Lucas.seiler@bmo.com; 312-340-8576 Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/helping-small-businesses-make-real-financial-progress-with-the-enhanced-bmo-harris-business-platinum-rewards-mastercard-301731754.html SOURCE BMO Financial Group Company Logo Global Paraxylene (PX) Market Global Paraxylene (PX) Market Dublin, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Paraxylene (PX) Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global paraxylene (PX) market size reached US$ 44.1 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach US$ 62.4 Billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.96% during 2021-2027. Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, we are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic on different end use industries. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor. Paraxylene, also known as PX or P-Xylene, is an aromatic hydrocarbon compound. It is a colorless, transparent, highly flammable and toxic chemical which is chemically derived from products containing benzene. It is produced through the process of catalytic reforming of petroleum derivatives and is separated through crystallization, distillation and the reaction of ethylbenzene. It is primarily used as a raw material in the manufacturing of industrial chemicals such as purified terephthalic acid (PTA), purified dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) and others. It also finds applications in the production of packaging materials, polyester fibres, construction materials, etc. The growing demand for plastics across the globe is the key factor driving the market. Paraxylene forms the core component in the production of plastic products. As a result, it is utilized for manufacturing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles commonly used as containers for soda, water and other beverages. Paraxylene is also being used in the production of various household products such as containers for cosmetics and toiletries, and curtain fabrics, clothing and upholstery. Furthermore, the development of bio-based paraxylene is significantly contributing to the market growth. Increasing environmental awareness has encouraged consumers to seek eco-friendly options. Consequently, bioplastics, of which bio-based paraxylene is an integral component, are widely being incorporated across industries as a sustainable alternative to the conventionally used plastics. Other factors such as a thriving packaging industry are also contributing to the growth of the market. The publisher's latest report provides a deep insight into the global paraxylene (PX) market covering all its essential aspects. This ranges from macro overview of the market to micro details of the industry performance, recent trends, key market drivers and challenges, SWOT analysis, Porter's five forces analysis, value chain analysis, etc. This report is a must-read for entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, consultants, business strategists, and all those who have any kind of stake or are planning to foray into the paraxylene (PX) market in any manner. Story continues Competitive Landscape: The report has also analysed the competitive landscape of the market with some of the key players being Braskem, China National Petroleum Corporation, ENEOS Corporation, ExxonMobil Corporation, Fujian Refining & Petrochemical Company Limited, Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited), Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company Inc., National Petrochemical Company, PT Pertamina, Reliance Industries Limited, SK incheon petrochem Co. Ltd. and Toray International Inc. Key Questions Answered in This Report 1. What is the global paraxylene (PX) market growth? 2. What are the global paraxylene (PX) market drivers? 3. What are the key industry trends in the global paraxylene (PX) market? 4. What is the impact of COVID-19 on the global paraxylene (PX) market? 5. What is the global paraxylene (PX) market breakup by application? 6. What is the global paraxylene (PX) market breakup by end use industry? 7. What are the major regions in the global paraxylene (PX) market? 8. Who are the key companies/players in the global paraxylene (PX) market? Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 107 Forecast Period 2021 - 2027 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2021 $44.1 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2027 $62.4 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 5.9% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: 1 Preface 2 Scope and Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Introduction 4.1 Overview 4.2 Properties 4.3 Key Industry Trends 5 Global Paraxylene (PX) Market 5.1 Market Overview 5.2 Market Performance 5.3 Impact of COVID-19 5.4 Market Breakup by Application 5.5 Market Breakup by End Use Industry 5.6 Market Breakup by Region 5.7 Market Forecast 6 Market Breakup by Application 6.1 Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA) 6.1.1 Market Trends 6.1.2 Market Forecast 6.2 Dimethyl Terephthalate (DMT) 6.2.1 Market Trends 6.2.2 Market Forecast 6.3 Others 6.3.1 Market Trends 6.3.2 Market Forecast 7 Market Breakup by End Use Industry 7.1 Plastics 7.1.1 Market Trends 7.1.2 Market Forecast 7.2 Textile 7.2.1 Market Trends 7.2.2 Market Forecast 7.3 Others 7.3.1 Market Trends 7.3.2 Market Forecast 8 Market Breakup by Region 8.1 Asia Pacific 8.1.1 Market Trends 8.1.2 Market Forecast 8.2 North America 8.2.1 Market Trends 8.2.2 Market Forecast 8.3 Europe 8.3.1 Market Trends 8.3.2 Market Forecast 8.4 Middle East and Africa 8.4.1 Market Trends 8.4.2 Market Forecast 8.5 Latin America 8.5.1 Market Trends 8.5.2 Market Forecast 9 SWOT Analysis 10 Value Chain Analysis 11 Porters Five Forces Analysis 12 Price Analysis 13 Competitive Landscape 13.1 Market Structure 13.2 Key Players 13.3 Profiles of Key Players 13.3.1 Braskem 13.3.2 China National Petroleum Corporation 13.3.3 ENEOS Corporation 13.3.4 ExxonMobil Corporation 13.3.5 Fujian Refining & Petrochemical Company Limited 13.3.6 Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited) 13.3.7 Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company Inc. 13.3.8 National Petrochemical Company 13.3.9 PT Pertamina. 13.3.10 Reliance Industries Limited 13.3.11 SK incheon petrochem Co. Ltd. 13.3.12 Toray International Inc. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/dlp9sa-px?w=12 Attachment CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's government has sought clarification over an outage that has been affecting nine million users of Internet provider Italiaonline's webmail services since Jan. 23, it said on Wednesday. Answering a query from Reuters, Italiaonline said it had no evidence at present that its problems bore any relation to those suffered on Wednesday by millions of Microsoft users. Undersecretary Alessio Butti, who is in charge of technological innovation, said in a statement he had asked Italiaonline for details and to protect users' data while promptly finding a solution to the problem impairing popular email services Libero and Virgilio. "We expected to restore usage of Libero Mail and Virgilio Mail within the next 24/48 hours," Italiaonline said in a statement. Chief Technology Officer Diego Rizzi on Tuesday ruled out an external cyber attack and said the company had been working relentlessly to solve "an unforeseen infrastructural problem". Italiaonline, Italy's largest internet company and owned by Egypt's Sawiris family, earlier on Wednesday said the problem was linked to a bug in the operating system of newly-introduced storage technology provided by a vendor, which it did not identify. "Given it's an operating system bug it takes time to develop a technical solution, with the primary goal of protecting data integrity," Italiaonline said. Microsoft on Wednesday said it had recovered all of its cloud services after a networking outage took down its cloud platform Azure along with services such as Teams and Outlook used by millions around the globe. (Reporting by Elvira Pollina; editing by Valentina Za, Kirsten Donovan) TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan cut its view on the overall economy for the first time in 11 months in January, as China's COVID-19 infections and a slowdown in global demand for tech and semiconductors hurt exports, especially to Asia. The government expects the economy, the world's third largest, will pick up going forward but Japan needs to pay full attention to the impact from China's spreading infections after it dropped stringent pandemic curbs, the report said. The economic downgrade followed the Bank of Japan's move last week when it slashed its economic growth projections for the next two fiscal years amid worries that slowing global demand will weigh on Japan's export-reliant economy. "The economy is recovering moderately but some weakness is seen recently," according to the latest report by the Cabinet Office. The authorities slashed its assessment on exports for the first time since November 2021, while it also cut its view on imports for the first time in three months. The January report said both exports and imports are "weakening recently" compared with its previous view of "almost flat" last month. "China's coronavirus rebound could affect Japan's exports and production and such a possibility has become clearer than last month," said an official at the Cabinet Office. The government also remained cautious over downside risks from the global economic slowdown amid monetary tightening, inflation and financial market fluctuations. Meanwhile, the Cabinet Office maintained its assessment of Japan's domestic demand, saying private consumption was "picking up moderately" in the latest report. But the government said the recovery in industrial production was stalling, unchanged from its view in December. (This story has been corrected to say that the downgrade in the official view of exports was first since November 2021, not November 2011, in paragraph 5) (Reporting by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Jacqueline Wong) The logo of Suzuki Motor Corp. is pictured at the 45th Tokyo Motor Show in Tokyo By Satoshi Sugiyama TOKYO (Reuters) -Suzuki Motor Corp will invest 4.5 trillion yen ($34.8 billion) through fiscal 2030 in research, development and capital spending to make battery electric vehicles (EVs), it said on Thursday. The Japanese automaker known for making compact "kei" cars said it would invest 2 trillion yen in electrification and autonomous driving technologies, while allocating 2.5 trillion yen to build a battery EV plant and for renewable energy facilities. Of the money earmarked for electrification, 500 billion yen would be invested in batteries, it said. Suzuki's announcement comes after other Japanese automakers have rolled out similar goals to catch up with European and U.S. rivals in the fast-growing battery EV market. Mazda Motor Corp unveiled in November a $10.6 billion spending plan to electrify its vehicles. Suzuki said it would introduce its first battery EVs, including small sport-utility vehicles and micro "kei" cars, in Japan in fiscal 2023. With cost-conscious customers in mind, company president Toshihiro Suzuki said he wanted to sell vehicles for around 1 million yen. Suzuki plans to introduce battery EVs in Europe and India, and its first battery electric motorcycles globally, the following year. The company is aiming to leverage its cooperation with car giant Toyota Motor Corp to capture a bigger share of India's budding EV market, which is gaining momentum. Suzuki plans to learn from Toyota how to use EV technology to make small electric cars, Suzuki said during a visit to India this month. Still, Toshihiro Suzuki said on Thursday the automaker was not abandoning hybrid and internal combustion vehicle line-ups, pointing to a lack of charging infrastructure, high EV costs and concerns over limited battery resources. For India, Suzuki's key market, it predicted EVs would make up 15% of its vehicle line-up in fiscal 2030, while internal combustion engine cars using biofuels and ethanol as fuels would make up 60%. Story continues "We will put in vehicles for various price ranges, for various people, for various regions," Toshihiro Suzuki said. ($1 = 129.3500 yen) (Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama and Daniel Leussink; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Mark Potter) (Bloomberg) -- ODIN Intelligence markets software to law enforcement agencies, but its operations are opaque. Its official address is a mailbox inside a UPS store in Utah. LinkedIn lists about a dozen employees, and ODINs website contains only one sentence: We help communities link homeless with resources; help protect citizens from child predators, and assist in locating missing persons. Most Read from Bloomberg Last week, the company published a notice saying that a hacking group claimed to have broken into its networks and stole gigabytes of data. About the same time, hackers provided a trove of documents purportedly from ODIN Intelligence to the Distributed Denial of Secrets, a pro-transparency group. A Bloomberg review of the leaked dataset offers what appears to be a fuller picture of the small firm's products and customers, as well as a glimpse into operations by the police agencies that use its products. More than 150 local, state and federal agencies had ODIN user accounts, according to the database, which also contains thousands of records detailing police sweeps, notes about operational targets and users credentials. For instance, the database includes details of a multiagency child pornography sting in California that logged dozens of suspects with their names, addresses and dates of birth. The attack on ODIN its website defaced in the same hack with the slogan ACAB, short for All Cops Are B****rds brings renewed attention to the growing constellation of private firms that help law enforcement agencies do their jobs, selling everything from analytical software to drones and other surveillance equipment. Unlike public officials, private actors are not democratically accountable to the public, wrote Farhang Heydari, executive director of the Policing Project at NYU School of Law, in a 2021 paper. Story continues New Mexico Probe The probation office for New Mexicos federal courts is now investigating the breach, chief Ron Travers told Bloomberg this week. The leaked data shows his office had nearly a dozen users. Travers declined to elaborate on the probe or the offices use of ODINs technology. Initial details about the ODIN hack were reported earlier by Wired magazine. ODIN was founded in 2021 by Erik McCauley, a former probation officer and forensic analyst in Orange County, California. Since then, his company's user base grew to include more than 150 sheriffs offices and police departments, such as the San Bernardino police, records from the leaked database show. ODIN is slated to be an exhibitor this year at the International Association of Chiefs of Police's annual conference. In response to a list of written questions from Bloomberg, McCauley said: ODIN Intelligence is a small company that develops software to help communities link homeless people with resources, protect children from offenders and locate missing persons. We are cooperating with law enforcement agencies and working with outside experts to investigate this matter. A representative for the San Bernardino police didnt respond to a message seeking comment. A spokesperson for the FBI, which is identified as another user in the database, declined to comment when asked about the bureaus aleged use of the technology and whether it was investigating the matter. Coordinate Raids ODINs SweepWizard smartphone app lets police agencies coordinate raids. Another service, which tracks homeless people, was criticized last year after Vice News reported one of ODINs brochures said homelessness can cause "degradation of a city's culture." Bloombergs review of the leaked database found a small number of homeless individuals tagged in the system, along with their photos and other details. The leaked records also appear to offer a glimpse into how officials perceive danger. ODIN users had logged mental health problems and depression as threats to officer safety, according to the database. MH issues, Prior Navy lists one entry in the database for an apparent sex offender. Bi-POLAR, writes another. Transient is the sole safety reason in two other instances, according to the leaked data. Objectives for the operations vary, according to the leaked data. "To catch pedos," writes one officer, apparently tongue-in-cheek. Another is more direct: "Demonstrate the ease of use of Sweep Wizard for Sex Offender Sweeps." Much of the officers writings were in the context of logging details about police raids. A bulk of ODIN's clients are California police departments, according to the leaked database, which also reveals at least three federal agencies the FBI, the US Marshals Service and the federal probation office in New Mexico as registered users. The leaked data also appears to detail the cost of hiring ODIN: a yearly "Gold" license costs several thousand dollars with a discount for a three-year "Platinum" plan; some are given free trials. Private security firms, tribal agencies and a church also have logins, according to files contained in the leaked data.A representative for the Marshals Service didnt respond to an inquiry seeking comment. Decided to Hack Them Previous reporting on the ODIN data trove found that it contained source code, police files and other material. The files also exposed biometric data, personal information and descriptions of people who might be present during a raid with no criminal histories, TechCrunch reported. In a Jan. 17 letter from McCauley to the California attorney generals office, he said hackers claimed to gain access to ODINs systems and stole 16 gigabytes worth of data. The intruders then turned the companys website into their own monochrome messaging platform, claiming that all data and backups have been shredded. They justified their attack based on recent reporting about ODINs products and security vulnerabilities. And so, they wrote, we decided to hack them. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Midland Exploration Inc. Figure 1 James Bay-Main Lithium Prospects and Midland Projects Figure 2 James Bay Geology-Midland Projects Figure 3 Galinee Lithium Potential MONTREAL, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Midland Exploration Inc. (Midland) (TSX-V : MD) has completed a geological assessment of the excellent lithium potential on its Galinee project, wholly owned by Midland. Midlands Galinee project is located approximately 4 kilometres east of the promising Adina lithium new discovery held by Winsome Resources Limited (Winsome), who recently announced drill intercepts reaching 1.34% Li 2 O over 107.6 metres (see press release by Winsome dated January 6, 2023). Recent drilling results (DDH AD-22-043) by Winsome reported that spodumene bearing pegmatite were intersected about 1.6 kilometres north-east (Adina far east Zone) of the discovery showing and about 1.0 kilometres north-east of previous reported intersections. Drillhole AD-22-043 intersected 17.1 metres of spodumene bearing pegmatite (see press release by Winsome dated January 25, 2023). This Adina showing is located at the contact between amphibolites of the Trieste Formation to the south and felsic intrusives to the north. This contact is marked by a major structure that most likely controlled the emplacement of pegmatites on the Adina showing. This same highly favourable contact is present on Midlands Galinee property over more than 7 kilometres and has never been explored for lithium in the past. This strongly suggests that the Galinee project shows excellent potential for lithium exploration. The Galinee project consists of 54 claims covering a total of 28 square kilometres. Historically, this project was worked for its gold potential and has never been explored for its excellent lithium potential. Midland is currently planning an exploration program that will be launched in the coming weeks. Global demand for lithium is growing to meet the needs of the electric vehicle industry and in light of the unstable geopolitical context. The Galinee project, wholly owned by Midland, provides an opportunity to potentially help meet this growing demand. Story continues Cautionary statement : Mineralization occurring on the Adina project held by Winsome is not necessarily indicative of mineralization that may be identified on the Galinee property held by Midland. About Midland Midland targets the excellent mineral potential of Quebec to make the discovery of new world-class deposits of gold and critical metals. Midland is proud to count on reputable partners such as BHP Canada Inc., Rio Tinto Exploration Canada Inc., Wallbridge Mining Company Ltd, Probe Gold Inc., Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, Osisko Development Corp., SOQUEM Inc., Brunswick Exploration Inc., Nunavik Mineral Exploration Fund, and Abcourt Mines Inc. Midland prefers to work in partnership and intends to quickly conclude additional agreements in regard to newly acquired properties. Management is currently reviewing other opportunities and projects to build up the Corporation portfolio and generate shareholder value. This press release was prepared by Mario Masson. P.Geo., VP Exploration for Midland and Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, who also approved the technical content of this press release. For further information, please consult Midlands website or contact: Gino Roger, President and Chief Executive Officer Tel.: 450 420-5977 Fax: 450 420-5978 Email: info@midlandexploration.com Website: www.midlandexploration.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary materially from targeted results. Such risks and uncertainties include those described in Midlands periodic reports including the annual report or in the filings made by Midland from time to time with securities regulatory authorities. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9422530a-1b90-4cd0-90d3-f347a8971c39 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ba3fc8f3-4bfe-4d91-8dd4-5f3a46ec4351 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eaecc3f8-e962-446e-9031-6d2a802576ec Reflects continuing advancement in the business combination process; transaction expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2023 New York, NY, Jan. 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NorthView Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq: NVAC) (NorthView), a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company, and Profusa, Inc. (Profusa), a digital health company that is pioneering the next generation of personalized medicine, announced that NorthView filed a registration statement on Form S-4 (the Registration Statement) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on January 25, 2023. The Registration Statement contains a preliminary proxy statement/prospectus in connection with the previously announced Business Combination Agreement between NorthView and Profusa. Although the Registration Statement has not yet become effective and the information contained therein is subject to change, it provides important information about Profusa and NorthView, as well as the proposed business combination. Profusa is based in Emeryville, CA and is a digital health company that is pioneering the next generation of personalized medicine via the development of novel tissue-integrated biosensors. Profusas technology addresses the human bodys response to the presence of foreign material, enabling long-term monitoring of various biochemical parameters in real-time, with months of functionality, at a fraction of the cost of current solutions. Profusas novel approach, that has been in development for approximately nine years, is intended to be the foundational platform of bioengineered sensors supporting real time biochemical monitoring, enabling a real-time stream of data for a wide- ranging set of applications, including wound care and continuous glucose monitoring for diabetes management. Profusas technology enables continuous transmission of wireless and cloud based actionable medical-grade data for personal, professional and medical use. Story continues On November 7, 2022, NorthView entered into a business combination agreement with Profusa. Upon completion of the proposed transaction, the combined company is expected to be listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq). The closing of the proposed business combination is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2023, subject to approval by NorthViews shareholders, the Registration Statement being declared effective by the SEC, and other customary closing conditions. About Profusa Profusa, a California corporation, is a digital health company located in Emeryville, CA that is pioneering the next generation of personalized medicine as a leading developer of novel tissue integrated biosensors. About NorthView NorthView Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. NorthView was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on April 19, 2021. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including certain financial forecasts and projections. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including statements as to future results of operations and financial position, revenue and other metrics, planned products and services, business strategy and plans, objectives of management for future operations of Profusa, market size and growth opportunities, competitive position and technological and market trends, are forward-looking statements. Some of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words, including may, should, expect, intend, will, estimate, anticipate, believe, predict, plan, targets, projects, could, would, continue, forecast or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar expressions. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon estimates, forecasts and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Founder and its management, or Profusa and its management, as the case may be, are inherently uncertain and many factors may cause the actual results to differ materially from current expectations, which include, but are not limited to: 1) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement with respect to the business combination; 2) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Profusa, NorthView, the combined company or others following the announcement of the business combination and any definitive agreements with respect thereto; 3) the inability to complete the business combination due to the failure to obtain the approval of the shareholders of NorthView or Profusa, or to satisfy other conditions to the closing of the business combination; 4) changes to the proposed structure of the business combination that may be required or appropriate as a result of applicable laws or regulations or as a condition to obtaining regulatory approval of the business combination; 5) the ability to meet Nasdaqs listing standards following the consummation of the business combination; 6) the risk that the business combination disrupts current plans and operations of Profusa as a result of the announcement and consummation of the business combination; 7) the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition and the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its management and key employees; 8) costs related to the business combination; 9) changes in applicable laws or regulations; 10) the possibility that Profusa or the combined company may be adversely affected by other economic, business and/or competitive factors; 11) Profusas estimates of its financial performance; 12) the risk that the business combination may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of NorthViews securities; 13) the risk that the transaction may not be completed by NorthViews business combination deadline and the potential failure to obtain an extension of the business combination deadline if sought by Profusa; 14) the impact of the novel coronavirus disease pandemic, including any mutations or variants thereof, and its effect on business and financial conditions; 15) the inability to complete the PIPE investment in connection with the business combination; and 16) other risks and uncertainties set forth in the sections entitled Risk Factors and Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements in NorthViews registration statement on Form S-4, filed with the SEC on January 25, 2023 (the Registration Statement), and other documents filed by NorthView from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Neither NorthView nor Profusa gives any assurance that either NorthView or Profusa or the combined company will achieve its expected results. Neither NorthView nor Profusa undertakes any duty to update these forward-looking statements, except as otherwise required by law. Use of Projections This press release may contain financial forecasts of Profusa. Neither Profusas independent auditors, nor the independent registered public accounting firm of NorthView, audited, reviewed, compiled or performed any procedures with respect to the projections for the purpose of their inclusion in this press release, and accordingly, neither of them expressed an opinion or provided any other form of assurance with respect thereto for the purpose of this press release. These projections should not be relied upon as being necessarily indicative of future results. The projected financial information contained in this press release constitutes forward-looking information. The assumptions and estimates underlying such projected financial information are inherently uncertain and are subject to a wide variety of significant business, economic, competitive, and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the prospective financial information. See Forward-Looking Statements above. Actual results may differ materially from the results contemplated by the projected financial information contained in this press release, and the inclusion of such information in this press release should not be regarded as a representation by any person that the results reflected in such projections will be achieved. Additional Information and Where to Find It The proposed transactions will be submitted to NorthViews shareholders for their consideration and approval at a special meeting of shareholders. In connection with the proposed transactions, NorthView filed the Registration Statement, which included a preliminary proxy statement / consent solicitation statement / prospectus in connection with NorthViews solicitation of proxies for the vote by NorthViews shareholders in connection with the proposed transactions and other matters as described in such Registration Statement, as well as the prospectus relating to the offer of the securities to be issued to Profusas shareholders in connection with the completion of the proposed transaction. After the Registration Statement has been declared effective, NorthView will mail a definitive proxy statement / consent solicitation statement / prospectus and other relevant documents to its shareholders as of the record date established for voting on the proposed transactions. Investors and security holders of NorthView are advised to read the preliminary proxy statement and any amendments thereto, and, when available, the definitive proxy statement, in connection with NorthViews solicitation of proxies for its special meeting of shareholders to be held to approve the proposed transaction because the proxy statement / consent solicitation statement / prospectus will contain important information about the proposed transaction and the parties to the proposed transaction. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Registration Statement, the proxy statement / consent solicitation statement / prospectus and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by NorthView through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. The documents filed by NorthView with the SEC also may be obtained free of charge at NorthViews website at http://www.northviewac.com. NEITHER THE SEC NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES REGULATORY AGENCY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE TRANSACTIONS DESCRIBED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE, PASSED UPON THE MERITS OR FAIRNESS OF THE BUSINESS COMBINATION OR RELATED TRANSACTIONS OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE DISCLOSURE IN THIS PRESS RELEASE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY CONSTITUTES A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. Participants in the Solicitation NorthView and Profusa and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from NorthViews shareholders in connection with the proposed transactions. NorthViews shareholders and other interested persons may obtain, without charge, more detailed information regarding the directors and executive officers of NorthView in the Registration Statement. Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from NorthViews shareholders in connection with the proposed business combination is set forth in the Registration Statement. No Offer or Solicitation This press release is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, sell or solicit any securities or any proxy, vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be deemed to be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act. Contacts: Investor Relations Contact Profusa CORE IR: 377 Oak Street, Concourse 2, Garden City, NY 11530 Brett Shapiro: (561) 479-8566; brets@coreir.com NorthView Acquisition Corp. Contact Website: www.northviewac.com Fred Knechtel (631) 987-8921; fredknechtel@northviewac.com PANAMA CITY Local flooding was a hot topic in Tuesday's Panama City Commission meeting. Officials approved the final reading of an ordinance to create no-wake zones in flooded city streets. They also discussed an upcoming 25% discount to residents' flood insurance rates. The no-wake zone ruling was designed to prevent water damage to surrounding properties caused by wakes from fast-moving vehicles. It passed with a 5-0 vote. Panama City Commissioners approved no wakes zones in flooded streets. They also discussed an upcoming 25% discount for flood insurance rates. "This gives a mechanism and a tool to slow people down when the streets are flooded, which would create wakes and potentially cause damage to neighboring buildings," City Attorney Nevin Zimmerman said. First buyout:Panama City's voluntary buyout program for homeowners in flood-prone area sees 1st sellers Upcoming upgrades:Panama City looks to renovate outdated, unused Truesdell Park Community Center The ruling immediately went into effect following the meeting. Violators will pay a $250 fine, and vehicles with three fines will be charged $500 for additional violations. With flooding a common issue in Panama City following heavy rainfall, officials also announced residents with National Flood Insurance policies soon will pay about 25% less. This is happening because the city has improved its community rating for the NFI Program. "We really are trying to throw everything we've got at solving flooding issues across the city, and we just made it cheaper today for private owners to get flood insurance themselves," Commissioner Josh Street said. Panama City has been a part of the NFI's community rating system since 1999, and it has continued to gradually improve its rating since then. It was rated a class 8 in 1999, a class 7 in 2002 and a class 6 in 2013. Beginning Oct. 1, the city will become a class 5, and that is when residents will see the approximately 25% drop. "We're experiencing flooding in places that we've never experienced it in the 114-year history of the city, and part of that is because we lost (a lot) of our trees in (Hurricane Michael)," City Manager Mark McQueen said. "Now spaces are more prone to flooding because there's less absorption capacity, particularly when there's a heavy rain. "You don't have to be in a flood zone to go and get (flood insurance). Homes are typically one of the most valuable assets somebody has, and this would be an incredible asset to help insure your home at a relatively inexpensive rate." This article originally appeared on The News Herald: No wake zones, flood insurance discounts coming to Panama City Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) CHICAGO, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) today announced that, following rigorous review, PFC USA has once again achieved the Peer Reviewed by HFMA designation for its Self-Pay Early Out and Debt Recovery Services. Being recognized on HFMAs Short List for the 11th year in a row is an incredible honor for PFC USA. Our Peer Review designation solidifies our approach of patient-centric business practices, and our commitment to providing world-class customer service to our clients that have trusted our company for nearly 120 years. Scott Raberge, Senior Vice President HFMA's Peer Review process provides healthcare financial managers with an objective, third-party evaluation of business solutions used in the healthcare workplace. The rigorous, 11-step process includes a Peer Review panel review composed of current customers, prospects who have not made a purchase, and industry experts. The Peer Review status of the healthcare business solution and its performance claims are based on effectiveness, quality and usability, price, value, and customer and technical support. Were pleased to have PFC USA renew their HFMA Peer Reviewed designation, says HFMA President and CEO Joseph J. Fifer, FHFMA, CPA. The HFMA Peer Review process assures our members, through a rigorous evaluation, that the reviewed healthcare business solution meets an objective, third-party assessment of overall effectiveness, quality, and value." About HFMA The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) equips its more than 96,000 members nationwide to navigate a complex healthcare landscape. Finance professionals in the full range of work settings, including hospitals, health systems, physician practices and health plans, trust HFMA to provide the guidance and tools to help them lead their organizations, and the industry, forward. HFMA is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization that advances healthcare by collaborating with other key stakeholders to address industry challenges and providing guidance, education, practical tools and solutions, and thought leadership. We lead the financial management of healthcare. Story continues About PFC USA Since 1904, PFC USA has provided accounts receivable management solutions for healthcare providers and currently serves over 1,200 healthcare providers, hospitals, and healthcare systems nationally. With Omnichannel Preferred Solutions (OPS) offered through PFC, patient communication is streamlined to provide a tailored solution for patient engagement. Optimized patient engagement not only increases your bottom line by providing convenient tools to pay and interact with your facility, but also sends a clear message that you understand how unique each patient is and your commitment to delivering a superior customer experience to your community. As a Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) Peer Reviewed company for a decade, PFC helps our partners improve patient communication and increase cash flow while integrating with your facility. PFCs approach to a successful partnership begins with a focus on front-end functions and extends beyond the consumers service to convert accounts receivable into dollars received. Press inquiries should be directed to: Brad Dennison Healthcare Financial Management Association (708) 492-3385 bdennison@hfma.org Scott Raberge PFC USA (970) 347-5321 scott@pfcusa.com TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 26, 2023 / Power Nickel Inc. (the "Company" or "Power Nickel") (TSXV:PNPN)(OTCQB:CMETF)(Frankfurt:IVVI) announced today that the company has retained Karbon-X Corp (OTCQB:KARX) to retire 159 high quality Verra VCU carbon offsets, in the name of Power Nickel Inc. These 159 carbon offsets will counteract 159 tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emitted by the burning of 60,000 litres of diesel in their exploratory drilling operations and represents Power Nickel's commitment to offsetting their drilling program in the years to come. "These offsets will neutralize the Diesel fuel we will use to drill approximately 40,000 metres of drilling. It symbolizes our goal of creating the world's first carbon neutral Nickel mine at our Nisk Project in Nemaska Quebec. Karbon X and it's DrillGreen.ca initiative makes a lot of sense to us. Miners are amongst the most environmentally friendly people I know and we need to start showing the world we can and will find responsible ways to find the materials needed to power the greening of our economy. This is a modest first step for us and I would hope other miners will follow our lead" said Power Nickel CEO, Terry Lynch. "The offsetting of industrial applications is a key part of the business of Karbon-X. It will take both industrial and personal offsetting to foster environmental change. It is very encouraging to see companies like Power Nickel leading the charge in their industry. I see a very bright future for carbon offsetting of exploratory drilling in Canada and abroad." said Karbon-X CEO, Chad Clovis. One carbon offset represents the reduction, removal, or avoidance of one metric tonne of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from a certified project. Each offset is certified by a third-party verification board to ensure the projects efficacy and is identified by a unique serial number. When organizations and individuals purchase carbon offsets to reduce their carbon footprint, the offset is taken out of circulation. This process is referred to as retiring and ensures that each offset can only be claimed once. Story continues About Karbon-X Corp. Karbon-X Corp is a tech-based carbon marketing company specializing in the sale of carbon offsets to offset greenhouse gas emissions from industrial applications and also for everyday citizens that are dedicated to reducing their impact on the planet. Industrial users purchase their offset through direct sales, whereas everyday people can offset their life through a mobile APP which will be launching in February 2023. The company invests in green projects with the potential to generate carbon offsets, which will eventually be marketed through the mobile APP. Karbon-X provides an opportunity for their online social media community to support projects that are important to them and that positively impact the planet. Chad Clovis, Chief Executive Officer & Director cc@karbon-x.com +1-778-256-5730 About Power Nickel Inc. Power Nickel is a Canadian junior exploration company focusing on high-potential copper, gold, and battery metal prospects in Canada and Chile. On February 1, 2021, Power Nickel (then called Chilean Metals) completed the acquisition of its option to acquire up to 80% of the Nisk project from Critical Elements Lithium Corp. (CRE:TSXV) The NISK property comprises a large land position (20 kilometers of strike length) with numerous high-grade intercepts. Power Nickel is focused on expanding its current high-grade nickel-copper PGE mineralization Ni 43- 101 resource with a series of drill programs designed to test the initial Nisk discovery zone and to explore the land package for adjacent potential Nickel deposits. Highlights Recent assay results from the current drill program at the Nisk deposit continue to return high-grade Ni-Cu- Co sulfide and PGE mineralization. Significant results from this batch of assays include: 40.3m @ 0.88% Ni, 0.56% Cu, 0.06% Co, 1.64 ppm Pd and 0.15 ppm Pt (PN-22-009) Including: 25.86m @ 1.17% Ni, 0.80% Cu, 0.08% Co, 1.46 ppm Pd and 0.23 ppm Pt Power Nickel announced on June 8th, 2021 that an agreement has been made to complete the 100% acquisition of its Golden Ivan project in the heart of the Golden Triangle. The Golden Triangle has reported mineral resources (past production and current resources) in a total of 130 million ounces of gold, 800 million ounces of silver, and 40 billion pounds of copper.(Resource World) This property hosts two known mineral showings (Gold ore and Magee), and a portion of the past producing Silverado mine, which was reportedly exploited between 1921 and 1939. These mineral showings are described to be Polymetallic veins that contain quantities of silver, lead, zinc, plus/minus gold, and plus/minus copper. Power Nickel is also 100 percent owner of five properties comprising over 50,000 acres strategically located in the prolific iron-oxide-copper-gold belt of northern Chile. It also owns a 3-per-cent NSR royalty interest on any future production from the Copaquire copper-molybdenum deposit, which was sold to a subsidiary of Teck Resources Inc. Under the terms of the sale agreement, Teck has the right to acquire one-third of the 3-per-cent NSR for $ 3 million at any time. The Copaquire property borders Teck's producing Quebrada Blanca copper mine in Chile's first region. For further information, please contact: Mr. Terry Lynch, CEO 647-448-8044, terry@powernickel.com Power Nickel Inc. The Canadian Venture Building 82 Richmond St East, Suite 202 Toronto, ON Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "indicates", "opportunity", "possible" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to raise sufficient capital to fund its planned activities at the NISK Property and for general working capital purposes; the timing and costs of future activities on the Company's properties; maintaining its mineral tenures and concessions in good standing; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; the inherent hazards associates with mineral exploration and mining operations; future prices of metals; changes in general economic conditions; accuracy of mineral resource and reserve estimates; the potential for new discoveries; the ability of the Company to obtain the necessary permits and consents required to explore, drill and develop the projects and if obtained, to obtain such permits and consents in a timely fashion relative to the Company's plans and business objectives for the projects; the general ability of the Company to monetize its mineral resources; and changes in environmental and other laws or regulations that could have an impact on the Company's operations, compliance with environmental laws and regulations, dependence on key management personnel and general competition in the mining industry. Forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable beliefs, estimates, and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates, opinions, or other factors should change. SOURCE: Power Nickel Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/736829/Power-Nickel-Retains-Karbon-X-to-Offset-their-2023-Drill-Program-of-up-to-40000-metres-with-Voluntary-Carbon-Offsets Liberty and Friends Liberty and Friends FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla., Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Step One Automotive Group, through Healing Paws for Warriors, is sponsoring a service dog that will later be matched with a veteran in need. Through an online social media contest, the puppy was named "Liberty". In addition to the highly anticipated reveal of Liberty's name, Step One Automotive Group presented a $6,000 check to support Healing Paws for Warriors. "We are so excited to be involved in raising and training Liberty, a wonderful support dog that will one day support a veteran in need." - Maureen Bierman, Director of Marketing, Step One Automotive Group Healing Paws for Warriors Executive Director & Co-Founder Mike Arena explained the critical need for strong community partnerships, "Our program could not exist without businesses like Step One." Arena and his team support local veterans, giving them the tools they need to live after sacrificing so much. Step One will be involved with Liberty's progress until she is paired with her veteran, and a Step One team member has committed to fostering Liberty until such time. Learn more about Healing Paws for Warriors at www.healingpawsforwarriors.org. About Step One Automotive Group Step One Automotive Group is an American company based in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, built on a singular dedication to empowering lives through smarter and easier ways of accessing mobility. Step One Automotive Group owns 20 new car dealerships in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, representing 17 brands, including Chrysler, Dodge Jeep, Ram Fiat, Volkswagen, Subaru, Kia, Hyundai, Nissan, Genesis, Ford, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati. Step One Automotive Group also owns two standalone pre-owned operations, three wholesale parts operations, and one rental car operation. Out of 18,000 dealerships in the United States, Step One ranks in the top 90 dealer groups in the United States and the top 10 in Florida. Step One employs 787 team members across three states and six cities. Story continues For more information, please visit https://www.steponeautomotive.com. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steponeauto/ Instagram: @steponeautomotivegroup YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/StepOneAutomotiveGroup #foreverwarriors #westeptogether Contact Information: Shantelle Dedicke President, Frances Roy Agency shantelle@francesroy.com 307-631-7644 Related Images Image 1: Liberty and Friends This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment (Removes BW Paris, Flex Rainbow after they leave ports; shows Yari LNG, Vladimir Rusanov are docked; removes British Achiever after it changes direction; updates arrival dates for Mozah, SM Bluebird, SCF La Perouse; adds Sonangol Etosha, Alicante Knutsen) Jan 26 (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. For the Reuters LNG guide, click here: LNG TANKER CAPACITY in EXPECTED ARRIVAL FROM PORT cubic metres BRITAIN Magdala 173,000 Jan. 24 (A) Unites States Dragon Global Sealine 179,000 Jan. 27 United States South Hook BW Pavilion Aranda 171,000 Jan. 28 United States Isle of Grain SM Bluebird 170,000 Jan. 29 Peru Dragon Mozah 262,000 Jan. 29 Qatar South Hook Stena Crystal Sky 173,000 Jan. 29 United States Isle of Grain SM Bluebird 171,000 Jan. 29 Peru Dragon Ribera Duero Knutsen 173,000 Jan. 31 United States Isle of Grain Vivirt City Lng 170,000 Feb. 1 United States Milford Haven Minerva Amorgos 170,000 Feb. 3 United States South Hook Alicante Feb. 3* United Knutsen 171,000 States Milford Haven Seapeak Magellan 163,000 Feb. 4 United States South Hook Gaslog Hong Kong 174,000 Feb. 10 United States South Hook Santander Knutsen 170,000 Feb. 13 Peru Milford Haven Marvel Pelican 155,000 Feb. 14 United States Isle of Grain BELGIUM Vladimir Rusanov 169,000 Jan. 25 (A) Russia Zeebrugge Yari LNG 158,000 Jan. 25 (L) (STS) (A) N/A Zeebrugge SCF La Perouse 174,000 Jan. 26 Britain Zeebrugge Al Zubarah 138,000 Jan. 27 Qatar Zeebrugge Rudolf Samoylovich 170,000 Jan. 28 N/A Zeebrugge Adamastos 174,000 Jan. 30 United States Zeebrugge Clean Horizon 159,000 Jan. 30 Qatar Zeebrugge Nikolay Yevgenov 172,000 Jan. 31 Russia Zeebrugge Al Jassasiya 144,000 Feb. 1 Qatar Zeebrugge LNG Dubhe 174,000 Feb. 2 (L) N/A Zeebrugge Clean Planet 159,000 Feb. 9 (L) Russia Zeebrugge NETHERLANDS La Mancha Knutsen 174,000 Jan. 25 (A) United States Gate LNG Rosenrot 177,000 Jan. 27 United States Gate Sonangol Feb. 8 Angola Gate Etosha 158,000 GERMANY Cool Voyager 158,000 Jan. 29 United States Lubmin Sources: Ports, AIS Live ship tracking, Refinitiv Eikon data. (^) Partial unload (*) Arrival date estimated based on flows data (Reporting by Nora Buli) In response to growing demand, New Mexico-based Land Avion LLC expands its vacant land cash-purchase program, now available to owners of unwanted property in Texas, Florida, Alabama, and several other states. Las Cruces, New Mexico--(Newsfile Corp. - January 25, 2023) - Land Avion has announced that it is now offering cash offers for a variety of property types, including farmland, forestry use land, rural land, and parcels of land outside of its home state of New Mexico. The company explains that its program is well-suited to individuals who have inherited property, are behind on taxes and wish to avoid foreclosure or those who own land in locations with little or no demand. More details can be found at https://landavion.com. Texas Vacant Land For Cash By Land Avion LLC Offers Fast Unwanted Property Sales To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/152441_44d4684ca44c5938_001full.jpg Land Avion's recent expansion comes in response to the growing popularity of the program, which the company attributes to its transparent and efficient processes. The service is designed to provide fair and rapid cash closures to those who are otherwise having difficulty selling property. Land Avion's property purchase program offers an effective way to subsidize household finances through the sale of unused or unwanted property. The company points out that selling through a real estate agent may take a considerable amount of time and often includes fees and/or commissions. The company's cash-purchase program aims to eliminate those drawbacks. In addition, Land Avion states that it can make cash offers on parcels of land regardless of condition or legal situation. The team also offers coverage of all closing costs, allowing it to complete the process in a much shorter time frame than other options. Based in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Land Avion was established in response to the challenges faced by property owners in rural and/or undeveloped areas. The company has since grown to encompass properties of all types, including suburban and commercial. Story continues "Many of the lots we buy are in rural, or undeveloped areas, making them hard to sell through traditional methods," the company said on its website. "We will make an offer on almost any lot, helping you to get the cash you need for other investments." Interested parties can find more information by visiting https://landavion.com. Contact Info: Name: Robin Lilly Email: sales@landavion.com Organization: Land Avion, LLC Address: 2521 North Main Street #1-276, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001, United States Website: https://landavion.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/152441 Dr. David George and the Experienced Care Team Join Fast-Growing Primary Care Practice, Village Medical CHICAGO & LEBANON, Ky., January 26, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--VillageMD announced today it acquired Family and Internal Medicine Associates, PLLC, the largest independent primary care practice in central Kentucky. Dr. David George founded Family and Internal Medicine Associates to provide patients with access to high-quality, cost-effective primary care. Later this month, patients in Lebanon and the central Kentucky area can visit Dr. George and his care team which includes Dr. Kelly DeAtley, Dr. Michelle Leathers, Rachael Abell, APRN, Margaret Ballard, APRN, FNP-BC, Judy Kantlehner, APRN, Rachael Dobson, APRN, Natalie Hale, APRN, Anne Morley, APRN and MaKayla Wheatley, PA-C at Village Medical. "Dr. George and his care team have a strong connection to the central Kentucky region and are focused on providing excellent service to their patients and local community," said David Hatfield, president of Village Medical. "We are excited to welcome Family and Internal Medicine Associates to Village Medical and look forward to increasing access to trusted physicians and high-quality primary care to patients within this community." Patients can take advantage of Village Medicals high-tech, high-touch services including online and Village Medical app-based scheduling, appointments and care information. The three experienced physicians and six advanced practice providers (APPs) of Family and Internal Medicine Associates will continue to build trusting relationships with their patients. Village Medical offers a comprehensive suite of primary care services including preventative care, treatment for illness and injury, and management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and kidney disease. Central Kentucky-area patients can learn more about the services here. Story continues "Our values are at the center of our focus which is why we are proud to join Village Medical in offering comprehensive, accessible care for our patients. Sharing the benefits of Village Medical with our community will allow us to provide for our patients in a way that exceeds their expectations," said Dr. David George, who has been leading the team at Family Internal Medicine and Associates for more than 30 years. Village Medical patients have access to same-day appointments and virtual health visits with a Village Medical provider. Additionally, Village Medical patients will be able to take advantage of Village Medical at Home, which provides in-home primary care visits with experienced primary care providers. Village Medical patients also benefit from VillageMDs patent-pending docOS operating platform, which helps care teams identify and close gaps in care and helps patients be better informed about their health and care. To learn more, make an appointment or view all Village Medical locations, please visit www.villagemedical.com. About VillageMD VillageMD provides high-quality, accessible healthcare services for individuals and communities across the United States, with primary, multi-specialty, and urgent care providers serving patients in traditional clinic settings, in patients homes and online appointments. Committed to serving all patients and working with all payers, VillageMD consistently innovates value-based care, bringing integrated applications, population insights and staffing expertise to its owned and affiliate practices, ensuring high-quality care, better patient outcomes and a reduction in the total cost of care. Through Village Medical, Village Medical at Home, Summit Health, CityMD and other practices, VillageMD serves millions of patients throughout their lives, wherever and whenever they need care. Its dedicated workforce of more than 20,000 operates from 680 practice locations in 26 markets. To learn more, please visit www.villageMD.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230126005362/en/ Contacts Molly Lynch media@villagemd.com Meticulous Market Research Pvt. Ltd. Weather Monitoring Systems Market by Component (Solutions, Services), Monitoring Type (Temperature Monitoring, Humidity Monitoring, Air Quality), End-use Industry (Agriculture, Transportation), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2030 Redding, California, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a new market research report titled, Weather Monitoring Systems Market by Component (Solutions, Services), Monitoring Type (Temperature Monitoring, Humidity Monitoring, Air Quality), End-use Industry (Agriculture, Transportation), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2030, the weather monitoring systems market is expected to reach $4.49 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2023 to 2030. Download Free Report Sample Now @ https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=5417 The growth of this market is driven by the rising demand for weather forecasting services in the agriculture industry and the increased need for continuous weather monitoring to enable disaster management. In addition, the emergence of advanced technologies is expected to offer significant opportunities for the growth of this market. However, the high cost associated with weather monitoring solutions is expected to restrain the growth of this market. Impact of COVID-19 on the Weather Monitoring Systems Market The COVID-19 outbreak adversely affected various industries globally. The pandemic influenced business operations worldwide and severely impacted the global economy. The pandemic impacted various sectors, including transportation. The impacts included supply chain disruptions, issues with shipping & distribution, and restrictions on international trade. In order to control the spread of COVID-19, countries worldwide placed restrictions on domestic transit and/or closed border crossings for road freight transport services. The maritime industry has largely proved resilient to the COVID-19 outbreak. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the weather monitoring and forecasting market. The meteorological measurements from aircraft dropped by an average of 75% to 80%. Also, the transportation industry's weather monitoring accuracy was reduced as fewer flights were operated during the lockdown period. Thus, there was a decrease in demand for weather monitoring products during the pandemic. Story continues Speak to our Analysts to Understand the Impact of COVID-19 on Your Business: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/speak-to-analyst/cp_id=5417 Despite the disruptions at ports, the shipping industry has largely continued to operate worldwide, facilitating the movement of essential supplies and medicines needed to keep countries dealing with the global public health crisis. Thus, the demand for weather monitoring systems is anticipated to recover gradually and grow significantly in the long term. The weather monitoring systems market is segmented based on component (solutions and services), range type (short-range and long-range), monitoring type (temperature monitoring, humidity monitoring, air quality, pressure monitoring, and other monitoring types), end-use industry (agriculture, transportation, media & telecommunication, government, renewable energy, and other end-use industry), and geography. The study also evaluates industry competitors and analyses the market at the country level. Based on component, the weather monitoring systems market is segmented into solutions and services. In 2023, the solutions segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the weather monitoring systems market. Also, the segment is slated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of the segment is attributed to the increasing demand for sensors for monitoring weather conditions. Based on range type, the weather monitoring systems market is segmented into short-range and long-range. In 2023, the short-range segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the weather monitoring systems market. The short-range segment is slated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The segment's growth is attributed to the increasing demand for weather monitoring solutions to provide highly accurate information such as air quality, temperature, humidity, and wind speed in case of adverse weather conditions to reduce the damage. Based on monitoring type, the weather monitoring systems market is segmented into temperature monitoring, humidity monitoring, air quality, pressure monitoring, and other monitoring types. In 2023, the temperature monitoring segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the weather monitoring systems market. However, the air quality segment is slated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of the segment is attributed to the increasing need to monitor air quality to collect data on air pollution in the outdoor environment. Quick Buy Weather Monitoring Systems Market- Global Opportunity Analysis And Industry Forecast (2023-2030), Research Report: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/Checkout/30142222 Based on end-use industry, the market is segmented into agriculture, transportation, media & telecommunication, government, renewable energy, and other end-use industry. In 2023, the transportation segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the overall weather monitoring systems market. Also, the segment is slated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The segment's growth is attributed to the increasing demand for weather monitoring systems to gather weather data to enhance flight safety and increase trade traffic. Based on geography, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. In 2023, Asia-Pacific is estimated to account for the largest share of the weather monitoring systems market. Also, the region is slated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of the segment is attributed to the increasing demand for advanced weather monitoring sensors and data services for the aviation industry in the region. Also, the region is experiencing a significant shift toward renewable energy, thus increasing the adoption of weather monitoring systems. The report also includes an extensive assessment of the key growth strategies adopted by leading market participants between 2020 and 2023. The weather monitoring systems market is dominated by a few major players, namely, Vaisala (Finland), Baron Services, Inc. (U.S.), Aeron Systems Private Limited (India), Earth Networks (U.S.), Boltek Lightning Detection Systems (Canada), Trafitek Solutions Private Ltd. (India), Campbell Scientific, Inc. (U.S.), Columbia Weather Systems, Inc. (U.S.), AnythingWeather Communications, Inc. (U.S.), Hoskin Scientific (Canada), Airmar Technology Corporation (U.S.), Intermountain Environmental Inc. (U.S.), Free Spirits Green Labs Private Limited (India), MORCOM International (U.S.), and Davis Instruments (U.S.). To gain more insights into the market with a detailed table of content and figures, click here: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/weather-monitoring-systems-market-5417 Scope of the Report: Weather Monitoring Systems Market, by Component Solutions Services Weather Monitoring Systems Market, by Range Type Short-range Long-range Weather Monitoring Systems Market, by Monitoring Type Temperature Monitoring Humidity Monitoring Air Quality Pressure Monitoring Other Monitoring Types Weather Monitoring Systems Market, by End-use Industry Agriculture Transportation Aviation Marine Road Transportation Media & Telecommunication Government Renewable Energy Other End-use Industries Weather Monitoring Systems Market, by Geography North America U.S. Canada Europe U.K. Germany France Italy Spain Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific China India Japan South Korea Rest of Asia-Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa Download Free Report Sample Now @ https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=5417 Related Reports: Environmental Monitoring MarketGlobal Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast (2021-2028) https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/environmental-monitoring-market-5024 About Meticulous Research Meticulous Research was founded in 2010 and incorporated as Meticulous Market Research Pvt. Ltd. in 2013 as a private limited company under the Companies Act, 1956. Since its incorporation, the company has become the leading provider of premium market intelligence in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. The name of our company defines our services, strengths, and values. Since the inception, we have only thrived to research, analyze, and present the critical market data with great attention to details. With the meticulous primary and secondary research techniques, we have built strong capabilities in data collection, interpretation, and analysis of data including qualitative and quantitative research with the finest team of analysts. We design our meticulously analyzed intelligent and value-driven syndicate market research reports, custom studies, quick turnaround research, and consulting solutions to address business challenges of sustainable growth. Contact: Mr. Khushal Bombe Meticulous Market Research Inc. 1267 Willis St, Ste 200 Redding, California, 96001, U.S. USA: +1-646-781-8004 Europe : +44-203-868-8738 APAC: +91 744-7780008 Email- sales@meticulousresearch.com Visit Our Website: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/ Connect with us on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/company/meticulous-research Content Source: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/pressrelease/645/weather-monitoring-systems-market-2030 CONTACT: Mr. Khushal Bombe Meticulous Research Direct Lines: +1-646-781-8004 (North America) +44-203-868-8738 (Europe) +91 744-7780008 (Asia-Pacific) Email- sales@meticulousresearch.com Visit Our Website: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/ Meticulous Research Blog: https://meticulousblog.org/ Connect with us on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/company/meticulous-research (Adds colour, quotes, US sanctions, French minister) * Ukraine says all drones and most missiles shot down * Zelenskiy hails tank pledges as 'fist of freedom' * Kremlin says they add to West's 'direct involvement' By Tom Balmforth and Ivan Lyubysh-Kirdey KYIV, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Russia sent Ukrainian civilians racing for cover with a barrage of missiles and drones, killing at least 11 people according to officials, a day after Kyiv won Western pledges of dozens of battlefield tanks to try to repel Russia's invasion. Moscow reacted with fury to the German and American announcements, and has in the past responded to apparent Ukrainian successes with massed air strikes that have left millions without light, heat or water. Ukraine said it had shot down all 24 drones sent overnight by Russia, including 15 around the capital, and 47 of 55 Russian missiles - some fired from Tu-95 strategic bombers in the Russian Arctic. Air raid alarms had sounded across Ukraine as people headed to work. In the capital, crowds took cover for a time in underground metro stations. Eleven people were killed and 11 wounded in the drone and missile strikes, which spanned 11 regions and also damaged 35 buildings, a State Emergency Service spokesperson said. "I'm left without anything ... Not a single room is left intact, everything got hit," said Halyna Panosyan, 67, surveying twisted sheets of corrugated metal, crumpled masonry and a large missile crater outside her ruined house in Hlevakha near Kyiv. "At first, I heard a roar. And then there was an extremely loud strike that made me jump up. I was in the bedroom ... I was saved by the fact that the bedroom is to the other side of the house." A 70-year-old woman who gave her name only as Valentyna said she managed to survive by scrambling out of her damaged house over glass splinters. "Everything was in rubble," she said. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said electricity substations had been hit as Russia continued to target energy facilities. Story continues The Kremlin said it saw the promised delivery of Western tanks as evidence of growing "direct involvement" of the United States and Europe in the 11-month-old war, something both deny. DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy producer, said it was conducting pre-emptive emergency shutdowns in Kyiv, the surrounding region and the regions of Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk. In Odesa, the Black Sea port designated a "World Heritage in Danger" site on Wednesday by the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO, Russian missiles damaged energy facilities, authorities said, just as French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna was arriving. "What we saw today, new strikes on civilian Ukrainian infrastructure is not waging war, it's waging war crimes," she said. Colonna was due to meet her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, to discuss humanitarian and military aid and potentially whether France might join its NATO allies in supplying Ukraine with battle tanks, in this case its own Leclerc model. Both Moscow and Kyiv, which have so far relied on Soviet-era T-72 tanks, are expected to mount new ground offensives in spring. 'FIST OF FREEDOM' Ukraine has been asking for hundreds of modern tanks in the hope of using them to break Russian defensive lines and recapture occupied territory in the south and east. "The key now is speed and volumes. Speed in training our forces, speed in supplying tanks to Ukraine. The numbers in tank support," President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address on Wednesday. "We have to form such a 'tank fist', such a 'fist of freedom'." Maintaining Kyiv's drumbeat of requests, Zelenskiy said he had spoken to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and asked for long-range missiles and aircraft. Ukraine's allies have already provided billions of dollars in military aid, including sophisticated U.S. missile systems that have helped turn the tide of the war. The United States has been wary of deploying its difficult-to-maintain M1 Abrams tanks, but ultimately promised 31 to persuade Germany to pledge its more easily operated German-built Leopards. Germany will initially send 14 tanks from its inventory and approve shipments by allied European states, with the ultimate aim of equipping two battalions - in the region of 100 tanks. It said its Leopards should be operational in three to four months, and Britain said on Thursday it expected the 14 Challenger tanks it is sending to be in Ukraine in two months. Colonna said that Paris has yet to make a decision on whether to send Leclerc main battle tanks. "Their priority today is air defence systems," she said, adding that France would respond to those needs by doing more on that front. On the diplomatic front, The United States on Thursday formally designated Russian private military company the Wagner Group as a transnational criminal organization, freezing its U.S. assets for helping Russia's military in the Ukraine war. FIGHTING IN EAST UKRAINE Since invading Ukraine on Feb. 24 last year, Russia has shifted its emphasis from "denazifying" and "demilitarising" its neighbour to confronting a purportedly aggressive and expansionist U.S.-led NATO alliance. Nikolai Patrushev, close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and secretary of his Security Council, was quoted as saying that "even with the end of the 'hot phase' of the conflict in Ukraine, the Anglo-Saxon world will not stop the proxy war against Russia and its allies". Russia's invasion has killed thousands of civilians, uprooted millions and reduced cities to rubble, while spurring Sweden and Russia's neighbour Finland to apply to join NATO. Bakhmut, a town in eastern Ukraine with a pre-war population of 70,000, has seen some of the bloodiest combat of the war. The Russian-installed governor of Donetsk said on Wednesday units of Wagner militia were advancing inside Bakhmut, with fighting on the outskirts and in areas recently held by Ukraine. However, the U.S.-based non-profit Institute for the Study of War said attacks on Bakhmut appeared to have stalled as Russia directed conventional forces to the north, trying to complete the seizure of Ukraine's Luhansk province. (Reporting by Reuters bureaus; writing by Cynthia Osterman, Himani Sarkar Kevin Liffey and William Maclean; editing by Grant McCool, Robert Birsel, Timothy Heritage, Tomasz Janowski and Andrew Heavens) For Immediate Release Chicago, IL January 26, 2023 Zacks Market Edge is a podcast hosted weekly by Zacks Stock Strategist Tracey Ryniec. Every week, Tracey will be joined by guests to discuss the hottest investing topics in stocks, bonds and ETFs and how it impacts your life. To listen to the podcast, click here: https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2044328/looking-to-invest-outside-the-united-states) Looking to Invest Outside the United States? Welcome to Episode #345 of the Zacks Market Edge Podcast. (1:00) - Is The Global Re-Opening Benefiting Greece Tourism? (7:30) - Digital Nomads and Retirement Visas Impact on The Housing Market (14:20) - The Greece Brain Drain: Is The Trend Reversing? (26:05) - Greece Austerity Measures Impact On The Economy (34:45) - Advice For Investors Heading Towards Retirement 41:00) - Episode Roundup: GOOGL, MSFT, AMZN, ABNB, EXPE, BKNG Podcast@Zacks,.com Every week, host and Zacks stock strategist, Tracey Ryniec, will be joined by guests to discuss the hottest investing topics in stocks, bonds and ETFs and how it impacts your life. This week, Tracey is joined by Zacks Product Manager, Harry Kougais, who was also the guest on her very first show more than 7 years ago. Is it Time to Invest in Greece (Again)? Zacks Market Edge Podcast Episode #1, posted on Oct 13, 2015, was called "Is it Time to Invest in Greece?". Some of you might remember that Greece went through a tough round of austerity measures after the Great Recession and was still recovering in 2015. Additionally, while tourism was hitting all-time highs, the problem of over tourism was real. Tourist hot spot, Santorini, moved to limit the number of cruise ships it allowed in port as some of its towns were getting overwhelmed with day tourists. But the pandemic put a pause on tourism across Greece, and the world, for over 2 years. What will it look like going forward? Microsoft and Alphabet Make Investments In 2015, Tracey and Harry talked about the Greek Millennial "brain drain" to other job centers like Berlin and London, as that's where the jobs and opportunities were. Story continues But while there is still some of that happening in 2023, the Greek government is pushing for more digital jobs. In 2023, there are global businesses coming to Greece. In 2020, Microsoft MSFT announced plans to open a data center in Greece, and in Nov 2022, Alphabet GOOGL announced it was also investing in the country with the possibility of hiring as many as 20,000 by the end of the decade. Microsoft has over 200,000 employees worldwide while Alphabet has about 187,000. Tourism Still the Leading Industry But tourism is still the leading industry, both on mainland Greece and the islands. 1. Airbnb ABNB Airbnb is now a big business globally, especially in Greece. Harry discussed how some investors are buying up entire buildings in, and around Athens, to put them on Airbnb. Shares of Airbnb have plunged in the last year, however. They're down 33.6% during that time but they've rallied in the last month, adding 22.1%. Airbnb still isn't cheap on a forward P/E basis. It trades at 37.6x. Should you be investing in Airbnb for its international growth? 2. Expedia Group, Inc. EXPE Expedia has been around for several decades, but now that the global travel industry has reopened, the online travel company is back in the spotlight. Expedia shares are also down big in the last year, falling 33.7%. And they, too, have rallied in the last month as the airlines report strong bookings through the summer months, an indication that people are still eager to travel. Shares are up 33% during that time. But Expedia IS actually cheap on a forward P/E basis, with a P/E of just 12.6. Should Expedia be on your short list as a way to invest in global growth? 3. Booking Holdings Inc. BKNG Booking Holdings is one of the world's largest online travel companies. You can book Greek hotels on it. Over the last year, shares of Booking are actually up, but just 2.4%. In the last month, like Expedia and Airbnb, Booking shares have soared 22%. Booking is more expensive than Expedia, on a P/E basis, with a forward P/E of 20. Is Booking getting ready to break out in 2023 as global travel picks up momentum? What Else do you Need to Know About Cashing in on Greece's Growth? Listen to this week's podcast to find out. [In full disclosure, Tracey owns shares of MSFT, GOOGL and BKNG in her personal portfolio and EXPE in Zacks Value Investor portfolio.] Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks? Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +6.2 average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +46.4%, +49.5% and +55.2% per year. Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation. See Stocks Free >> Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zacksresearch Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZacksInvestmentResearch/ Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates. Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com/performance Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. 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Visit https://www.zacks.com/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Expedia Group, Inc. (EXPE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Booking Holdings Inc. (BKNG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Airbnb, Inc. (ABNB) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research In November 2022, a Zimbabwean digital services firm acquired Altrons Botswana and Altron Mozambique businesses. The company behind the acquisition is Tano Digital Solutions (TDS), until recently a largely unheard-of ICT company run by a group of tech-savvy Zimbabweans with international experience. Read more Already present in South Africa, the fully Zimbabwean-owned and managed digital solutions firm is finalizing acquisition deals in Namibia and Kenya. From five people in 2019 to current staff of 100, the tech company currently realizes an annual turnover of 600 million rands ($35 million). Now it is set for even bigger growth, with the continent as its market. We talked to Tano Digital Solutions managing director Wallen Mangere to find out more. When was Tano Digital Solutions founded, and what was the motivation behind its founding? My co-founders and I have a technological background. I ran the IBM mid-market business for Africa and the Oracle business in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). I also spent about 18 years working in the US for tech firms. On returning to Africa, my partners and I realized there was a gap in locally grown techpreneurs. So we started six years ago in South Africa after we realized it was a more mature market. But in 2019, being Zimbabweans, we thought it was an opportune time to open up a location there. Zimbabwe had an even greater gap in terms of the different aspects of tech companies from an infrastructural perspective, software development, and application or systems integration. We got into Zimbabwean right before covid-19 hit. The motive was to fill the gap in technology by introducing ourselves as a locally grown, Black-owned and managed company in the space. What funding and investment platforms did you benefit from as you were starting? We used our savings and very few financial instruments. We leveraged credit systems from our customers. But mainly to start the business, to get the infrastructure and furniture, it was basically out of pocket. Story continues What was the initial reception to TDS in the Zimbabwean market? We thought we wouldnt last in terms of our tenure in Zimbabwe. Still, our customers appreciated the option of having a new formidable service provider in the infrastructure and application space. Customer adoption and customers coming to us and using our services are what has precipitated this growth and success that we have had in Zimbabwe. Our team grew from five people in 2019 to close to 100 currently. We have expanded in all aspects. How did you acquire the Altron business in Botswana and Mozambique? We have always had expansion aspirations, and it was either going to be organic growth or through acquisitions. While we were putting our plan together, the opportunity to acquire Altron in Botswana and Mozambique came about. What motivated us more to procure Altron was that this business came with a different product set and offering. We now own the Botswana business 100%, and the purchase brought us a financial services option. All the banks in Botswana are now our customers. We provide and service 99% of the ATMs there. That part of the business also brought in the Xerox copier machine business, where we do document management systems and electronic and digital management solutions. What we are doing is increasing our product offering and increasing our footprint in the African space. For example, our Mozambique business comes with significant Oracle products, which we dont have in our product stake. We are now a formidable Oracle partner in Mozambique with the skills, and it comes in with the networking infrastructure part of the business. What are some challenges you have been facing doing business in Zimbabwe? We got a lot of resistance from existing players. They tried to play dirty tricks to get us out of business and undermine us. The current economic environment in Zimbabwe is also a challenge. For example, we import a lot of our equipment and getting foreign currency from the auction system is a challenge. Getting customers to pay you in forex is also a challenge. If you look at it up until recently, most government departments were paying in local currency at the banks local exchange rate, which is quite far away from what the street market is saying regarding exchange rates. Then, the ever-moving economic target from an exchange rate perspective, even for the local currency its a problem. If you price something today at 100 bonds (a form of legal tender, or money, in Zimbabwe, pegged to the US dollar) and it takes four months to procure that thing, by the time you deliver it, the exchange rate will probably be at 400, and the customer is committed to paying 100. You can stand to lose money. Retaining and maintaining skills is also quite a daunting task. We aim to keep our employees happy, remunerating them properly and motivating them. How have you scaled up your business with all these challenges? We ensure we put in the correct provisions in managing customer payments. The customers are also operating in the same environment, so from a payments perspective, we base our pricing on a US dollar price at the current rates. If you are paying in Zimbabwean currency, you pay us the US dollar equivalent at the current exchange rate at the time. You must do certain things to ensure you are not prejudicing yourself regarding pricing. From a solutions perspective, we are the only SAP (service provider) currently in Zimbabwe, and obviously, we have to pay SAP license and maintenance fees in US dollars. We work with our customers to ensure that they either apply to the Reserve Bank themselves or remit some of the license fees to SAP to mitigate that risk on the currency side. Weve also partnered with other companies from Zimbabwe for the Robotics Process Automation Software. We focus on more than just SAP. We do infrastructure - IBM, Lenovo, and HP from an infrastructure perspective. From an application security perspective, we partnered with companies where we do quite a bit of cybersecurity. We realized that we have to partner with guys who have been in the industry for longer or are specialists in such areas and are thriving. What are your plans for the future? We are finalizing acquisitions of two other African countries. We will be in Namibia and Kenya by the end of February or early March. Meaning we will be in six countries in Africa. For a company that started operating recently, being in six countries and turning over 600 million rands is a big accomplishment. But again, its been a deliberate acquisition and expansion idea we have had from the beginning. The original version of this article was published by bird-Africa no filter. More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. A Spotsylvania jury will begin deliberations Thursday in the case of a county man accused of killing his mother outside their home in Oak Grove subdivision in 2021. Elijah Demont Smith, 22, is charged with second-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of a felony. Prosecutors Holli Wood and Crystal MontagueHolland wrapped up their case Wednesday in Spotsylvania Circuit Court, while defense attorney John Spencer put on no evidence. According to the evidence, Smith shot 41-year-old Latoya Acree on Sept. 18, 2021, in the 6100 block of Pondoley Drive. The two were in a dispute about a woman that Acree did not want at her home. Prosecutors said Smith was in his car when he fired a shot through his rolled up car window, striking his mother in the chest. Acree was standing outside the car when she was shot. Smith left the scene after the shooting, but was arrested later that morning at a motel on U.S. 1. A loaded gun and a shell casing that were forensically tied to the bullet that killed Acree were recovered from his car. Smith offered no resistance during his arrest, but 1st Sgt. Mike Collins testified that he initially gave a false name and date of birth. Omarion Acree, Smiths younger brother, testified that he woke up that night and heard his mother arguing with his brother. He said he heard his brother say something along the lines of stop before I get mad, then heard a shot. The younger brother went outside to find his mother bleeding on the ground. Smith was driving away at that point, he said. Prosecutors played the 911 call made by Omarion, who was 16 at the time. He attempted CPR at the direction of a county dispatcher until rescue workers arrived, but his mother was declared dead at the scene. During his opening argument, Spencer acknowledged that Smith killed his mother but said prosecutors had overcharged his client. Six teenagers have been arrested in connection with an attack Monday on a Courtland High School student, police said. Sheriffs Maj. Liz Scott said an altercation began on a school bus that had just left the school that afternoon. Two girls, ages 17 and 18, were reportedly vaping on the bus when they got into a verbal altercation with the juvenile male student. The girls began assaulting the boy, and the bus driver turned the bus around and returned to the school, where school staff and a school resource officer were waiting, police said. When the male victim got off the bus, four male students attacked him, Scott said. The resource officer and others came to his aid and stopped the attack. Scott said the alleged attackers knew that school authorities were watching, but attacked the other student anyway. The victim required stitches for his injuries. Two girls, ages 17 and 18; two 17-year-old boys; and two 15-year-old boys were all charged with assault and battery. The two girls were charged with underage possession of a vape, and the boys were all charged with assault by mob. One of the older boys is also charged with malicious wounding. It was the second time in a week that multiple students have been charged in connection with an altercation on school grounds. Eight juveniles between the ages of 14 and 17 have been charged in connection with a Jan. 17 brawl at Riverbend High School that ended with one boy in the hospital. On Tuesday, multiple officers and a bomb-sniffing dog went to Massaponax High School after an 18-year-old who had been barred from all school properties in Spotsylvania entered the school and was seen wandering the hallway with other students. No one was hurt and the alleged intruder has been charged with trespassing. Scott said more charges are possible. The Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on a proposed techno campus at Tuesday nights meeting, and in the end they decided to delay a decision after concerns, primarily concerning traffic and data centers, remained. After a public hearing, during which several residents spoke against the proposal, the board voted unanimously to table the proposal for 30 days. Since the public hearing was closed, the board will vote on the matter at its second meeting in late February. SpotsyTechnoCampus LLC wants to rezone property on 314 acres between U.S. 1 and Interstate 95 in Thornburg from agricultural to industrial to build a 2.9-million-square-foot corporate technology campus. The campus would be north of the Mudd Tavern and Morris Road intersection on property that borders U.S. 1, Riverview Elementary, Thornburg Middle, Hickory Ridge Road and North Roxbury Mill Road. The proposed campus could include warehouses, data centers and light manufacturing businesses, such as electrical appliance and pharmaceutical production, according to the application. The campus also would have 300,000 square feet that could house corporate offices, government agencies, and educational institutions. County staff and some residents have pointed out concerns about the developments traffic impacts. The applicant has agreed to a range of improvements to address those issues. Local attorney Charlie Payne, who represents the applicant, gave a presentation of the project during Tuesdays meeting. He said the property would have buffers from neighboring properties and would avoid impacting wetlands. Payne added that the applicant would spend an estimated $366.5 million to develop the property, which would be built in two phases and take seven to nine years to complete. The project could create an estimated 1,315 jobs during construction and 2,855 long-term jobs. The applicant also estimates the campus could generate $4.5 million in annual tax revenue for the county. The site is in a prime location, near I95, Payne said, adding that the project could earn funding through the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. The applicant is offering $3.4 million to handle traffic impacts, with improvements on U.S. 1, the U.S. 1 and Hickory Ridge Road intersection, as well as realigning Roxbury Mill Road. The applicant also would conduct a traffic study before the second phase would start, with planned improvements on Mudd Tavern Road. The traffic impacts are dependent on the type of businesses located on the campus. If only data centers open, the traffic impacts would be minimal, but if mostly offices are built, there would be more impact on local traffic. One resident, who lives near the property and was representing the Spotsylvania Residents First group, commented on several issues. He started by recounting how the county and state cater to big businesses, while ignoring small, local businesses, by offering tax incentives and not holding those companies to account for their hollow promises. The man cited the countys approval of various recent projects he said the county catered to: the massive solar farm built in the western part of the county; Kalahari, a large water park recently approved; and Dominion Raceway, built near the I95 exit in Thornburg. He also said county officials rushed the project through the Planning Commission and fast-tracked it to the supervisors. A public hearing for the project had been on the boards agenda earlier this month, but was pushed back to Tuesday. The man said the board should require a special-use permit to limit impacts the project would have on the area. I strongly recommend that you table this request until the developer has more concrete plans, and the state presents a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding the siting of data centers in population and environmentally sensitive areas, he said. Data centers, which house systems to store and process large amounts of computer data, have grown in popularity. As of September 2022, there were 2,701 data centers in the U.S., according to Statista. Virginia is a hotbed for data centers. The state just announced an agreement with Amazon in which the company agreed to invest $35 billion in statewide data center development. There are potential downsides to data centers. Data center noise is one issue, according to a January report by Government Computer News. The GNC report also highlighted concerns that Sen. Chap Petersen, who represents Fairfax County, shares about data centers. The senator filed legislation this month asking the U.S. Department of Energy to study impacts of data centers in Virginia, including such issues as the effects of cryptocurrency mining; the consequences data centers have on air quality, wildlife and water resources; and whether the tax incentives used to attract data centers fairly produce benefits across the state. Payne acknowledged there could be issues with data centers, but told the board that the sites generate low traffic and high monetary yields. He said 1.5 million square feet of data center generates about $18 million in tax revenue for your community. So, there may be some cons, but a lot of pros, I promise you, if we can attract a data center to our site. The Dec. 23, 2022, malfunction of a carbon dioxide gas stunning room used on live chickens at Lincoln Premium Poultrys (LPP) Fremont slaughterhouse will not lead to any regulatory action from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but the incident will be logged in the companys history files. Maria Soledad Calvino, a public affairs Specialist with the Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education for the Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA in Washington, D.C., said no investigation will result from the incident, but it will be documented in the event a similar occurrence happens in the future. Apparently this was an issue with the (carbon dioxide) they use to stun and euthanize the animals. The (LPP) employee followed the chain of command and it was fixed. It was noted and addressed, and the line was back operating the next day, Calvino said. I dont know if (the inspectors report) qualifies as an official report, I know it is a (report) sent to us to explain what happened. It was sent to so us so we can make note of it, and if it happens again, we have a history of (the incident). The carbon dioxide gas stunning room is utilized on live chickens at the LPP facility to render them unconscious before the birds are then killed by slaughterhouse workers. The goal of the gassing is to leave the live chickens unconscious so the pain of death is not felt. According to an un-named USDA inspectors report from Dec. 23, there was an unknown malfunction of the gas chamber. The inspector reported to his supervisor, Dr. Robert Reeder, Jr., district manager of the FSISD/USDA Office of Field Operations in Denver, Colorado, that he interacted with LPP slaughterhouse staff about, resulting in the process being temporarily stopped and chickens being removed from production. In a Dec. 23, 2022, email to Reeder Jr., the inspector said on Dec. 22, 2022, he witnessed way above average DOAs, or dead on arrival of chickens which he attributed to the extreme cold. In a prior interview, Lincoln Premium Poultry spokesperson Jessica Kolterman said the facility did experience the death more chickens than usual, an event she called, higher than normal mortality, without verifying the number of dead birds. Kolterman said those deaths were in the hauling process, during which chickens are taken from a farm to the slaughterhouse. However, the USDA inspector also reported a malfunction in the gas room, which he believed could have caused undue suffering. The FSIS and USDA does not have jurisdiction over the hauling of livestock to slaughterhouses, only inside the facilities. I made some rounds throughout the room and made it back to line one and noticed birds appeared stiff, not the normal placid you would see after (gassing unconscious). I looked in the trays and noticed birds being on sides on top of each other, on backs, the inspector wrote. I saw (a) supervisor in the area and said they are hanging too many frozen birds. I shut down line one at 11:03 a.m. initially thinking they are hanging an excessive number of frozen chickens. The inspector then reported he was confronted by a LPP supervisor questioning his actions. (A) supervisor in picking came to me asking what was wrong. I said, they are frozen, and she said the (gassing system) machine is not operating properly. She wanted me to turn the line back on, the inspector reported of his encounter with an LPP supervisor. The USDA inspector said he told the LPP supervisor if the gassing mechanism was not functioning properly then the chickens would experience, discomfort and suffering. He then reported another LPP supervisor arrived and informed him that company officials were working to repair the gassing machine. The company eventually decided to condemn the chickens in question. Kolterman said the company had little comment on the incident. USDA has not made us aware of any regulatory actions related to our euthanasia line. Additionally, I cannot comment on a series of emails that I was not a party to, Kolterman said on Jan. 24. From our perspective the only incident that occurred was a higher than usual mortality level related to the polar vortex and the transport of birds by our contract carrier, and we have put processes in place to make sure that we prevent those types of situations in the future. Finally, we are not aware of any investigations by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture is the agency with jurisdiction over the transportation of livestock from farms to slaughterhouses in the state. The agency does not have jurisdiction inside of slaughterhouses, though. The incident was apparently discovered only after an unknown person made a tip to the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The entity made a Freedom of Information Act request with the USDA, obtaining the inspectors report and distributing it to the media nationwide. PETA Vice President Dan Paden said in an emailed statement to the Fremont Tribune that the organization is seeking actions at Lincoln Premium Poultry that include installing on-site cameras to depict activities in their slaughterhouse. This incident underscores why PETA is calling on Lincoln Premium Poultry to livestream all its live-animal operations, including from its gassing chamber, Paden stated. Because if consumers could see for themselves how birds are left flailing, gasping, and panicking in pain and terror before they lose consciousness and workers slit their throats, they might understand the misery and agony that birds endure for Costcos rotisserie chickens and they might consider opting for a vegan meal instead. Foreign leaders extend best wishes for Chinese New Year of Rabbit Xinhua) 09:20, January 26, 2023 Rabbit shaped decorations are seen at a mall to greet the coming Chinese Lunar New Year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jan. 7, 2023. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua) BEIJING, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- As the Chinese New Year of the Rabbit arrives, many foreign leaders have sent their Chinese New Year greetings to the country, the Chinese people and overseas Chinese, and expressed their hope for stronger cooperation with China towards a better future. "My dear brothers and sisters from China and all Chinese communities around the world: I wish you all a happy Lunar New Year and a prosperous Spring Festival 2023," South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement released by the Presidency. "As we enter the New Year, we are also celebrating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of South Africa and the People's Republic of China in 1998," he noted, adding that South Africa will succeed China as chair and host of the next BRICS Summit. "These occasions provide ample cause for celebration," he said. In a video message released on Saturday, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa extended his warm congratulations on behalf of the government and people of Zimbabwe, and on his own behalf, saying that "the new season offers an opportunity to solidify the strong bonds of friendship and solidarity that exist between our two countries and peoples." Wishing all the Chinese "good health, prosperity and every success (in) the new year," Mnangagwa concluded the message with the Mandarin Chinese "Chun Jie Kuai Le! (Happy Spring Festival!)" In a video message published Saturday, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe wished the people and government of China a prosperous Year of the Rabbit. Meanwhile, Dinesh Gunawardena, the country's prime minister, said in his video message that China is a "true trustworthy friend" of Sri Lanka. "Even in the present economic crisis in Sri Lanka, China has assured extraordinary special support for us to overcome economic challenges," he said, wishing the Chinese people "a very happy, joyous and prosperous new year." In his message sent Sunday to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih wished the Chinese people prosperity, progress, happiness and good health. He said he looks forward to working with China to continuously expand mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, and further enhance the already close cooperative partnership between the Maldives and China. "On behalf of our people I wish you (China and the Chinese people) good health, luck, and many new economic achievements," said Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic when attending the central celebration welcoming the Year of the Rabbit held at the Kalemegdan Fortress in Belgrade on Saturday. She pledged to further strengthen the "iron-clad friendship" between Serbia and China. In a letter extending her Chinese New Year greeting to the Chinese people in Denmark and China, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen noted that "the Rabbit symbolizes gentleness and kindness," to many people. "China and Denmark have many shared interests, not least when it comes to dealing with climate change. We are facing mounting global challenges that can only be overcome by joint efforts," she said, hoping that "this year we can further strengthen our relations in areas such as the green transition and trade." In a separate letter, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen also wished all Chinese people in Denmark and China a happy Spring Festival and Year of the Rabbit. Noting that Denmark attaches great importance to relations with China as the two sides have many shared interests, he said "I look forward to strengthening our trade relations, people-to-people ties, and cooperation on creating a safer, greener, and more sustainable world." In a recent video message, Lucie Milebou Aubusson, president of the Gabonese Senate, sent sincere wishes of health, happiness and prosperity to "the brotherly Chinese people" as the president of the Senate and on behalf of the upper house of parliament. As this year marks the 49th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, the top official said she is "delighted by our deepening ties and parliamentary diplomacy, marked by multiple visits and exchanges between our two parliaments." "May the Year of the Rabbit be the source of opportunity for our two peoples. May peace, harmony and equality be with us," she added. While celebrating the Spring Festival at the Chinese embassy in his country, Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape wished the Chinese people a happy and healthy new year, and hoped for sustained development of bilateral ties and practical cooperation in various fields. As rabbit symbolizes smartness and swiftness in the Chinese culture, Papua New Guinea hopes to swiftly grasp the opportunities brought by China in the new year and harvest more fruits in sectors such as bilateral high-level exchanges, trade and investment, and people-to-people exchanges, Marape said. Fijian Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sitiveni Rabuka also attended the celebrative activities organized Sunday by the Chinese embassy and overseas Chinese in the island country. He extended New Year greeting to the Chinese people, and said Fiji expects to set up closer and multiple cooperation with China. Enditem (Xinhua reporters Zhang Baoping in Harare, Shi Yu in Kinshasa, Che Hongliang in Colombo, Lin Jing in Copenhagen and Shi Zhongyu in Belgrade also contributed to this story.) (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Hongyu) Editors note: This story contains some graphic wording about sexual information. The youth sexual education book Sex is a Funny Word will be remaining in the Keene Memorial Library for now after library director Laura England-Biggs rejected a request from local grandmother Sandra Murray to ban the book altogether. In response to a public records request from the Fremont Tribune to the City of Fremont, the letter of determination on the request to remove the book was provided to the Tribune on Jan. 25. The decision by England-Biggs was made on Monday, Jan. 16, however she declined to reveal her determination per the advice of city attorneys. On Jan. 17, England-Biggs sent a two-page letter to Murray, the local grandmother who complained about the presence of the book at the city library during a Dec. 27 Fremont City Council meeting. Within days of those comments, Murray who owns downtown clothing store Fia + Belle filed an official complaint seeking the books total removal from Keene Memorial Library. Having looked at professional reviews and taken the time to read Sex is a Funny Word several times, it is my finding that this title is appropriate for inclusion in our collection and remain on shelves, England-Biggs wrote to Murray in the letter. As you know, this title has been relocated from the childrens nonfiction section to the adult nonfiction section. Our childrens librarian has ordered materials on abstinence as you suggested in your request. Those items should be on the new book display shelves by the end of March 2023. Aside from Sex is a Funny Word, Murray and her daughter also decried the presence of four LGBTQ+-themed books in the library, although she did not file a complaint seeking the removal of those books. In subsequent interviews, Murray said she and others have discovered a total of 86 LGBTQ+-themed books in the library that she does not believe should be available. Murray said in a telephone interview on Wednesday, Jan. 25, she is disappointed in the decision to keep Sex is a Funny Word and plans to appeal England-Biggs determination to the city library advisory board. I expected that to be the decision. I am going to appeal it. I am not censoring anyone. If anyone wants these books, they can go online or buy them somewhere else. That is an adult subject. I just dont think the library should sexualize kids, Murray said. Also, I am not trying to be hateful to the LGBTQ community. I just feel that it is an adult issue. The library wants to sexualize children, not the LGBTQ community. I do not hate the LGBTQ community, I just dont think (the books) should be in the library. In her determination, England-Biggs cited four professional literary reviews of Sex is a Funny Word from Quill & Quire, Best Book Selection 2015; a starred review from School Library Journal; another starred review from Publishers Weekly; and a review from Common Sense Media. Murray appeared at the Fremont City Council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 27, to decry the book and what she felt was inappropriate and extremely explicit sexual content that she feels in not acceptable for children. She also complained about four LGBTQIA-themed books, but she did not file any forms contesting those books place at the library. The book in question, Sex is a Funny Word, has been available at the library since 2019, England-Biggs said. The book is a frank approach to sex education and body issues focused on children ages 7 to 10 years old, according to its description on Amazon.com. It has been checked out for use either in the library or for take-home use nine different times. The book has several dozen pages of graphic and explicit cartoon drawings of both male and female genitalia, breasts and anuses. Some of the images of penises include erections, and there is a graphic section describing the clitoris and how it can also become erect. In addition to those images and wording, there are descriptions and explanations of masturbation and how children can touch their genitals, breasts and anuses to make them feel, warm and tingly. In her comments on Dec, 27, Murray showed council members a packet of photocopied pages from the book with many of the images she felt were inappropriate. Id like to address sexually explicit books that are in the Fremont Public Library. You will find graphic descriptions of explicit sex acts as well as pictures of erect adult penises and other genitalia, Murray said on Dec. 27 to council members. We have to remove these books from our public library. Following her complaints, city leaders including Mayor Joey Spellerberg, City Administrator Jody Sanders and Kenne Memorial Library Board President Linda McClain met with England-Biggs on Dec. 28 and the four came to a mutual decision to move the book, and six other common sex education tomes, from the childrens section to the adult section of the library. If Murray officially disputes the decision by England-Biggs to retain the book, she can appeal the decision to the librarys five-person advisory board. To do so, Murray is required by city and library policy to file any appeal to the board within 10 business days of receipt of the determination letter. Murray said on Jan. 25 that she intends to file her appeal within days. She also said she disagrees with the policy on contested materials that any decision by the library board on appeals is final. In the final paragraphs of her letter to Murray, England-Biggs cited the Keene Memorial Library policy regarding censorship. The Keene Memorial Library believes that censorship is an individual matter and declares that while anyone is free to reject for oneself materials which do not meet with the individuals approval, one cannot exercise this right of censorship to restrict the freedom of others, library policy states. The Keene Memorial Library supports the right of each family to decide which items are appropriate for use by its children. Responsibility for a childs use of library materials lies with his or her parent or guardian. The next meeting of the citys library advisory board is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 20. If Murray files an appeal, the library board is required to read the book in question and then would place an item about the appeal on a meeting agenda. Then, the board would discuss the appeal and vote on whether to keep the book or remove it. Any library board decision is final. In response to a public records request by the Fremont Tribune, officials at the Fremont Public Schools (FPS) on Monday, Jan. 23, released a series of emails about the use of All are Welcome at Washington Elementary School and its subsequent removal from distribution to students. The emails include messages from numerous parents to both Washington Elementary School Principal Erica Kobza and FPS Superintendent Mark Shepard, as well as between school district staff, Shepard, the three sets of parents, Kobza, Brad Dahl, the FPS associate superintendent, and Kevin Eairleywine, the districts executive director of human resources and elementary operations. All are Welcome is a 2018 illustrated book about diverse families written by New York-based author Alexandra Penfold. She also authored the books, Eat, Sleep, Poop, and We are Brothers, We are Friends, and is a New York Times best-selling childrens books author. According to a description of the book on Amazon.com, All are Welcome is intended for child readers ages 2 to 6 years old and is classified as a, childrens book on prejudice and racism. The book depicts diverse families of various racial, ethnic and religious identities as well as families with disabilities. One section features a same-sex parent unit with a child. The Fremont Tribune received an anonymous tip about the books use and subsequent removal from use at Washington Elementary School, leading to the Tribune staff making a public records request to district officials for emails regarding the book. According to emails provided in response to the public records request, parental objections to the books use began on March 14, when a parent identified in documents as Washington Student Parents No. 2 sent an email to Shepard titled meeting request. In that March 14 email, Washington Student Parents No. 2 asked Shepard if he could, discuss some things going on at Washington Elementary? The parents told Shepard their child had come home with, a book showing controversial topics that (Kobza) had come to (the students) classroom and read, then supposedly sent home with all students. Washington Student Parents No. 2 also stated to Shepard that the incident also, uncovered a number of other concerning things at the school. According the emails, Shepard arranged a meeting with that parent the following day, March 15, 2022. On March 21, 2022, another parent identified only as Washington Student Parent No. 1 emailed Kobza to express serious concern over the distribution of the book All are Welcome at Washington Elementary School, noting that the book was given to students right before spring break without any prior notification to parents. In that email, Washington Student Parent No. 1 stated to Kobza, I was not prepared for conversations that the book would bring up and want the opportunity as a parent to decide when and how to talk through each of the social topics represented by pictures in the book. Washington Student Parent No. 1 also wrote that the person agreed with the message of All are Welcome and teaching kindness in differences is a value we want to teach our children. The parents objections centered on illustrated pictures in the book which, lumped conversations about religion, disabilities, race, family structures and sexual identities all together. These conversations are big deals, Washington Student Parent No. 1 wrote, noting that their family had started those conversations, but were not prepared to have all of them be discussed. The parent then stated their desire was to have Kobza give notification before sending out future educational material not, directly related to math, science or language arts, and when those materials included topics of, health, hygiene, social constructs, family make up, gender, disabilities, social norms, religion, sexual identity and so forth. In response to the parents email, Kobza wrote back on the same day, telling the parent, I am continually striving to create a school culture where communication between school and home is safe and effective. The intent behind the book was never to bring attention to any type of social situation that may cause discomfort within a family. The intention was simply to communicate a message of inclusivity so all of our students feel that they belong, Kobza wrote to the parent. Regardless of what any students life may look like outside of our school, we want all of our students to know they are all welcome here. In the future, I will be sure to keep these types of concerns in mind. On the following day, March 22, 2022, the same parent emailed Shepard to express their concerns about the books use without prior parental notification. Under FPS district policy, parents of students are notified and allowed to review all material used in health and hygiene also known as sexual or puberty education classes in the event a parent objects to the lessons and wants to remove their child from the classes in question. In his response to Washington Student Parent No. 1, Shepard wrote that he had already been contacted by a second parent with similar concern. We strive to provide parental notification whenever appropriate and will continue to message our building leaders of the importance of this communication, Shepard wrote to the parent. As you have noted in your email to Ms. Kobza, whenever sensitive topics are being introduced/discussed, parents are typically given the opportunity to ask questions and/or opt their student out. By April 23, 2022, Washington Student Parents No. 2 contacted Shepard again about the book, telling the superintendent that during a visit to Washington Elementary School, the parent had discovered a copy of All are Welcome, on a table in the front office accompanied with a frowning emoji after the parents message. Since the book was there, I am assuming that the schools stance on this situation is that it is acceptable, Washington Student Parent No. 2 wrote on April 23. Please confirm the schools stance on this. On April 24, Shepard forwarded the emails from Washington Student Parent No. 2 to Earlywine saying, Lets talk about this before I respond. On Monday, April 25, 2022, Shepard wrote an email to Eairleywine, explaining that he had visited Washington Elementary School on April 24, to, see what the parents concern was. The book, All are Welcome, is on a table in the waiting area in the office. When I met with the parents, they were reasonable. At that time, they shared they were concerned with the way it was presented, the build-up and the way it was promoted than the actual content. They did voice a concern of the age appropriateness of the content, the word doctrination was brought up more than once in my conversation with them Shepard wrote to Eairleywine and Dahl. Can you talk with Erica (Kobza) this morning (April 25) about this and identify a plan moving forward? Reaching out to parents for a further conversation certainly needs to be a part of it. Obviously, we have a policy for reviewing books not sure how it applies when the book has been promoted and handed out to every student, Shepard continued. You and I had a conversation on Friday (April 22) where you voiced a concern about school boards and what may be limited to be taught in the future. I think the more we move outside our lane, the likelihood of that happening increases. Eairleywine replied to Shepard later on April 25, ccing Brad Dahl, the FPS associate superintendent, detailing his meeting with a third set of parents, identified as Washington Student Parents No. 3. I spoke with Erica after the meeting about the book. She took it out of the office and said it is not anywhere else in the building unless a teacher has it in their classroom, Eairleywine wrote to Shepard and Dahl. I told her to think through a plan to addressing this and other parent concerns about the book. (Kobza) suggested telling teachers the book should not be out for kids. I told her to put something together first for us to consider. According to the documents provided by district officials, the issues surrounding books use stopped until August, when on Aug. 12, Washington Student Parents No. 2, wrote an email to Eairleywine telling him that All are Welcome was on display at a back-to-school event. I wanted to mention this right away to ideally nip it in the bud, to say. The book we brought to your and Marks attention last year was on display again last night (Aug. 11) at a back-to-school night, the parents wrote. It was one of four books showcased in (their childs) classroom. I can only assume this means the direction is coming from the top down within (Washington Elementary School). The parents continued their complaints about the book, stating they wanted assurances from district administrators that district policies were uniformly applied in all schools. Specific agendas on gender identity, family make-up, etc., do not need to be pushed on our elementary students, the parents wrote. The book happens to be one thing we can specifically see and point to. It raises the overall concern of trust. Eairleywine responded to Washington Students Parents No. 2 by telling them hed contacted Kobza, and the principal was completely unaware of the book being showcased or featured in any way. (Kobza) told me that she will deal with it immediately with the teacher and will also check with all of the other classrooms, Eairleywine added. Eairleywine then forwarded the emails to Shepard with a short note, FYI. Within hours of Eairleywines correspondence with the concerned parents, Kobza sent a mass email to the entire staff of Washington Elementary School using the districts email system with a photograph of the cover of All are Welcome and a message to, please read immediately. In her email to the schools staff, Kobza ordered teachers to return all copies to her. If you have this book anywhere in your classroom, I need you to bring it to my office immediately, per (Eairleywine), she wrote to school teachers. Please and thank you. Just set it on my desk. And put a sticky note on it with your name so I know I got it. If you were here last year, you may have (the book) here unless you took it home. If you took it home, that is OK, but please keep it there. Kobza then emailed Eairleywine to tell him she believed she had all copies, a message Eairleywine then sent to Shepard on April 12. The teachers brought all their copies to my office if they had one, Kobza told Eairleywine. I believe I have all of them. Will do a sweep to be sure. According to Shepard, the book is no longer in use in any Fremont Public Schools location or school, although he said he has a copy of the book in district offices that can be reviewed by anyone who inquires about it. Shepard stressed in an email to the Fremont Tribune on Jan. 23, 2023, that the removal of the book from use or distribution was not related to its content. In both situations, the book was not removed for content, but rather for the potential of creating a disruption to the educational process, Shepard stated in a Jan. 23 email. Shepard said the book was purchased from, First Book, a 501c3 non-profit, whose mission is Building a path out of poverty through educational equity. On the non-profits website, the organization describes its mission as: Our purpose is as bold as it is urgent. To create systemic change. To ensure equal access to quality education. To empower every educator and all the children in need who they serve. Ms. Kobza has stated that her intent was to continue to create an inclusive environment at Washington and to further celebrate the diversity of the students and families present in the school, Shepard stated. A runway rehabilitation project at Fremont Municipal Airport probably wont take place until 2024. Members of the Fremont Municipal Airports advisory committee talked about the project during their recent meeting. The airports runway needs to have approximately 1,700 feet of the 5,400-foot pavement replaced. The project, which is still in the design phase, will involve tearing out concrete and replacing it. Overall cost for the project is currently estimated at $4.6 million. The FAA would pay for 90% of the project with the citys cost at 10%. Justin Zetterman, interim director of public works, estimated the project will take three to four months to complete. Another week or two will be needed for a grading project. Zetterman said he spoke with representatives from the Nebraska Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics and the design is moving forward. He said a minor issue arose involving 23rd Street/U.S. Highway 30. Zetterman told the Tribune that when the airport was expanded about 30 years ago, the streetwhich formerly ran straightwas relocated to curve toward the northwest. All the utilities were left in place and the old right-of-way was not regraded to match current FAA standards, he said. The old right-of-way runs underneath the airport property. Its following that old, straight line that the street was on, he told the Tribune. While they dont yet have elevation numbers for the gas and electrical lines, Zetterman said it looks like water and sanitary lines are buried deep enough so grading can be done along the length of the runway to meet FAA standards. That does mean a little more work with the runway rehab as well be lowering the ground, we will also lower the runway lights, he said. Zetterman said the runways elevation would remain the same, but the grading off the sides of it would change. The big issue its caused is with drainage, Zetterman said. Water is not getting away from the runway in that location and some of the studies they did on whats been causing the damage to the runway is that its kind of been saturated along the edges where that ground was. During previous meetings, board members and Jim Kjeldgaard, president of Fremont Aviation, which operates the city owned airport, have been concerned that a project involving pavement replacement could take nine months, the time it took for a past job. Not using the runway for this amount of time would seriously impact Fremont Aviation along with other businesses that use the airport, Kjeldgaard said. Board members have discussed possible alternatives, including whether former Runway 1-19 could be used. They also talked about having a grass runway for smaller planes. At the recent board meeting, Zetterman said hed spoken with department of transportation officials, who said there are no opportunities to create a temporary runway or use the parallel taxiway or use a grass runway due to safety concerns with the location of the equipment and the space that would be there. This grading, unfortunately, adds to that, because now were going to have heavy equipment where we could have placed a grass runway, if they would have allowed it, Zetterman said. The last thing they said was, we dont want to be adding more to this and risking your funding, if were pushing to do things the FAA is recommending against, when we go to try and get this discretionary funding for the rehab. Fremont City Administrator Jody Sanders added that state officials acknowledge the length of time that transpired the last time the runway was closed and are working hard to understand the impact to Fremont Aviation and others. Board members asked if the runway rehabilitation work would be done in 2023 or 2024. Zetterman said typically if the project was going to be done this year, they already would have wanted to have a contractor on board. Were still not quite in the final design yet so, we wont be bidding for a few more months still, he said. Board members considered that by the time bids were let and grant funds come in August and contracts signed, the job might not start until fall. Zetterman noted that he wouldnt want to the project to begin and then have an early winter occur this year and have project extend into next spring. I think were probably better off with a 2024 start, which also gives everybody a little more time to plan, he said. Zetterman said officials estimated that before the additional grading work, the project would take about 60 to 70 working days to complete. Weather permitting, the grading is expected to take a week or two. Board member Kirk Diers asked if any funding is available for a business thats displaced during construction. Zetterman noted that in the state of Nebraska businesses arent compensated if roadway work interferes with their business. Board member Eric Johnson added that the FAA holds the same standard that the business wouldnt be eligible to receive such funds. Johnson asked about core samples taken and alkali-silica reactivity (ASR) testing done on the runway. During a meeting last year, Bob Matlock, senior vice president of Thiele Geotech Inc., of Omaha said ASR occurs when alkali in the cement reacts with the silica in the aggregate (sand/gravel) used and forms a gel. The gel expands from within the concrete and deteriorates it. This deterioration is occurring at multiple sites in Nebraska and other states. Zetterman said he hasnt seen study specifics about deterioration causes, but some could be due to water along the edge, because of the grading and some probably was due to the mixture of cement and aggregate used. After the first round of snow and freezing thaw we had there were areas that were bubbling up and cracking into little pieces on the main runway in this area that were replacing, Zimmerman said. City workers recently patched spots in the runway. Cari Hoffart, superintendent of streets, said larger holes were able to be filled more easily. But on the note of it not draining properly, you can actually see where the moisture is holding in that concrete and if you tap out further it gets hollow, Hoffart said. There are areas and its not the extent of the runway. Hoffart elaborated on patching work. We have materials that as it gets warmer we will be really focusing on sealing as much of that as we can. The material we have is whats used in Lincoln and other airports, Hoffart said. I think in a little bit warmer climate, were going to have a little bit more success with it. It will be a stop-gap for the moment. Zetterman noted the difficulty of obtaining concrete regionally for the project. We had a bid come in yesterday for bridge repair work and the concrete prices were higher than expected. Its a cement availability issue that were going to deal with, he said. When more concerns about the projects time span arose, Zetterman indicated a contract could include penalties if work isnt completed in time. Johnson said there would be an option in the damages part of a contract to compensate Fremont Aviation if the contractor went over the amount of time allotted. We did talk with the FAA about incentives to try and speed it up, Zetterman said. Its an alternative, but the FAA wont participate in it so its something as a city well have to decide if we have the extra funds available and we want to put that out there to give that contractor the incentive to get it done early. Ive seen that be successful in projects. Board member Dave Mitchell also talked about going with the lowest, responsible bidder. The lowest bidder isnt always the best, Mitchell said. Board meetings, which are open to the public, start at 8:15 a.m., the third Friday of each month at the new airport terminal. The U.S. is poised to make COVID-19 vaccinations more like a yearly flu shot, a major shift in strategy despite a long list of questions about how to best protect against a still rapidly mutating virus. The Food and Drug Administration asked its scientific advisers Thursday to help lay the groundwork for switching to once-a-year boosters for most Americans and how and when to periodically update the shots' recipe. "This is a consequential meeting to determine if we've reached the point in the pandemic that allows for simplifying the use of current COVID-19 vaccines," said FDA's Dr. David Kaslow. The advisory panel mostly agreed with the FDA's approach. COVID-19 vaccines have saved millions of lives and booster doses continue to help the most vulnerable even as more contagious variants have popped up. But protection does wane and the shots don't fend off milder infections for long. And people are tired of getting vaccinated. While more than 80% of the U.S. population has had at least one COVID-19 shot, only 16% of those eligible for the latest boosters so-called bivalent doses updated to better match more recent virus strains have gotten one. That makes for tough decisions on how to move forward: Who really needs another shot, how often and what kind? "We're still protected against severe disease, thank goodness," even after the latest mutated omicron strains cropped up, noted FDA adviser Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The first step: The FDA advisory panel voted unanimously that people should get the same vaccine formula whether they're receiving their initial vaccinations or a booster. Today, Americans get one formula based on the original coronavirus strain that emerged in 2020 for their first two or three doses and their latest booster is a combination shot made by Pfizer or Moderna that adds omicron protection. The FDA would have to decide how to phase in that change. But "this isn't only a convenience thing" to ease confusion about different kinds of shots, said Dr. Archana Chatterjee, dean of Chicago Medical School. Since the original coronavirus strain has disappeared, "moving towards the strains that are circulating is very important." Who needs another shot and when sparked more debate. Looking ahead, the FDA said most Americans should do fine if they get a once-a-year booster targeted to the newest variants in the fall. The agency asked if some people might need two doses adults with weakened immune systems and very young children who've never been previously vaccinated. That's similar to how youngsters get their first-ever flu vaccination. But more data is needed to show exactly who might need two yearly doses such as a careful count of who still gets hospitalized with COVID-19 despite being up-to-date with today's vaccinations, Offit said. "Only then can we really best make the decision about who gets vaccinated with what and when," he said. Nor is it clear that younger, healthier people would need a COVID-19 booster every year. "It's hard to say it's going to be annual at this point," said Harvard's Dr. Eric Rubin. Fall might not even be the best time to boost, something that would depend on when infections start rising and how long a booster's protection might last, said FDA adviser Dr. Arthur Reingold of the University of California, Berkeley. Unlike flu which in the U.S. circulates mostly during late fall and winter, COVID-19 waves have occurred year-round. As for the recipe, the FDA's plan is to call its advisory panel for another meeting in late May or early June to decide if the vaccine recipe needs tweaking including which virus strain to target and whether it should be a single-strain or multi-strain shot. Pfizer and Moderna said that would give enough time to produce needed doses by fall while a third manufacturer, Novavax, urged an earlier start to any recipe change. Also Thursday, U.S. officials updated how they're tracking that the newest COVID-19 boosters are safe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spotted a possible warning signal that seniors getting Pfizer's updated booster might have a slightly higher risk of stroke. But FDA safety expert Richard Forshee said data from Medicare and multiple other health systems including in other countries found no sign of trouble, leading the government to conclude it's unlikely the red flag was real. From Washington to Berlin to Kyiv, a Western decision to send battle tanks to Ukraine was hailed enthusiastically. Moscow first shrugged it off and later launched a new barrage of attacks. The Kremlin has previously warned that such tank deliveries would be a dangerous escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, and it has strongly denounced the watershed move by Germany and the United States to send the heavy weaponry to its foe. But it insists the new armor won't stop Russia from achieving its goals in Ukraine. "The potential it gives to the Ukrainian armed forces is clearly exaggerated," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "Those tanks will burn just like any others." Moscow played down the move right after the announcement in an apparent attempt to save face as the West raised the stakes in Ukraine. Some Russian experts also emphasized that the supply of the deadly armor will be relatively limited and could take months to reach the front. On Thursday, Russia launched a new wave of missiles and self-exploding drones across Ukraine the latest in a series of strikes, many of which have targeted power plants and other key infrastructure. Russian military bloggers and commentators say that such attacks involve meticulous preparation so the latest barrage was likely planned in advance and was not necessarily linked to the tank announcement. Yohann Michel, of the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank, observed that while Western arms supplies irk Russia, it can do nothing to stop them. "It's a problem that they can't necessarily address," he said, noting that earlier decisions by the U.S. and its allies to supply air-defense weapons to Ukraine could have been even more worrying for Moscow. President Vladimir Putin, his diplomats and military leaders have repeatedly warned the West that supplying long-range weapons capable of striking deep inside Russia would mark a red line and trigger a massive retaliation. While other weapons like tanks and certain air defense systems have drawn warnings from Russian officials, the wording has been deliberately vague, perhaps to allow the Kremlin to avoid getting cornered by making specific threats. Poland, the Czech Republic and other NATO countries have already provided Ukraine with hundreds of smaller Soviet-made tanks from the Cold War era when they were part of the Soviet bloc. Ukrainian armed forces, who have used similar aging weaponry, needed no extra training to use them. They played an important role on the battlefield, helping Ukraine reclaim broad swaths of territory in 11 months of fighting. As Ukraine's armored units suffered attrition and stockpiles of the old T-72 tanks ran dry in the arsenals of its allies in Central and Eastern Europe, Kyiv has increasingly pushed for delivery of German-made Leopard 2 and U.S. M1 Abrams tanks. After weeks of hesitation, Germany said Wednesday it will provide Ukraine with 14 Leopard 2 tanks and allow other allies willing to follow suit to deliver 88 Leopards to form two tank battalions. The U.S. announced it will send 31 M1 Abrams tanks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his officials, who long have said the country needs hundreds of tanks to counter a foe with a far superior number as well as other weapons, greeted the Western decision as a major breakthrough, voicing hope that more supplies would follow. "The deliveries of Leopard 2 will take our ground forces to a qualitatively new level," Ukrainian military expert Oleh Zhdanov told The Associated Press. Even though Leopard 2s are heavier than Soviet-designed tanks, they have a strong edge in firepower and survivability. "One Leopard 2 could be equivalent to three or five Russian tanks," Zhdanov said. But he noted that the promised number of Western tanks represents only the minimum that Ukraine needs to repel a likely offensive by Moscow, adding that Russia has thousands of armored vehicles. "Kyiv is preparing for a defensive operation, and its outcome will determine the future course of the conflict," Zhdanov said. Russian military analysts were more skeptical about the Western tanks, arguing that while Abrams proved clearly superior to older models of Soviet-built tanks during the war in Iraq, newer Russian models are more closely matched. They also charged that Leopard 2 tanks used by the Turkish army against the Kurds in Syria proved vulnerable to Soviet-era anti-tank weapons. Russian observers, meanwhile, noted it could take a significant time for the Western tanks to reach Ukraine, adding that training Ukrainians to use them and properly maintain them would add to the challenge. "It likely means that the Ukrainian military will probably receive a few small batches of tanks that could be incompatible with each other," Moscow-based defense analyst Ilya Kramnik said in a commentary. Zhdanov, the Ukrainian military analyst, argued that by agreeing to provide Ukraine with tanks, the West crossed an important psychological barrier and could eventually follow up by supplying even more deadly weapons. "Handing over Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine marks a major change in the policy of Western allies, who stopped fearing escalation and are now ready to challenge Russia in the war of resources," he said. "The West is forced to more widely open the doors to its military arsenals to Ukraine." Photos: Tanks being used in the Russia-Ukraine war Russia Ukraine War Military Aid Russia Ukraine War Germany Ukraine War Germany Ukraine War Germany Ukraine War Germany Ukraine War Russia Ukraine War Tanks Impact Russia Ukraine War Tanks Impact Russia Ukraine War Tanks Impact Russia Ukraine War Tanks Impact Russia Ukraine War Tanks Impact Russia Ukraine War Tanks Impact Colorado Springs Airport saw more than a million passengers board planes in 2022, the highest amount of traffic in 22 years, the airport's annual report showed. The tally of 1,071,826 enplanements, or travelers boarding planes out of the Colorado Springs Airport, was almost 15% higher than the year prior when Southwest had joined Colorado Springs Airport in March 2021, the report showed. "This was a big year for Colorados small airport, said Greg Phillips, the airport's director of aviation. With the highest level of enplanements in over two decades, we are bullish on even more growth ahead for 2023 and beyond. The blockbuster year came even as Southwest's operations experienced a string of snafus in December, initially caused by adverse weather and exacerbated by other factors, including Southwest's point-to-point logistics model that enables the company to offer competitive fares, airport officials said. For the month, 7% of flights at the airport were canceled instead of the usual 2%. Southwest's 115 canceled flights accounted for over 80% of cancellations at the airport during the month, said Joe Nevill, the airport's air service development manager. Enplanements were down in December by 8.5% compared with December 2021. Frontier's absence from the Colorado Springs Airport since early November contributed to the lower enplanement numbers for December. Sign Up for Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Enplanements in December, however, were up 12% from December 2019, a benchmark year prior to the onset of the pandemic. For 2022, enplanements were up 27% over 2019. "Thanks to our airline and industry partners, our Pikes Peak Region customers and community colleagues and our entire Colorado Springs Airport (COS) team for an outstanding year!" Nevill wrote in a LinkedIn post. Colorado Springs also experienced increased offerings when it came to the number of seats available throughout 2022, up 4.4% from the year prior. Not only were more seats available but passengers filled them. Load factor, or the measurement of the fullness of flights, increased 6.9% compared to 2021. Colorado Springs saw more than 2.1 million people walk through its terminal last year, and officials are optimistic 2023 will be another busy year for the airport. January TSA volumes were ahead of last year's, an early indicator of a stronger performance for the month. Congressional negotiators on Tuesday dropped a provision from the annual defense bill that would have postponed any work toward moving U.S. Space Command from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama, pending completion of two investigations into the decision. Leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services committees agreed on a final version of the $768 billion National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2022 but omitted an amendment by Colorado Springs U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn before advancing the bill to a vote of the full House late Tuesday, where it passed, 363-70. The bill heads to the Senate, where it's expected to pass with bipartisan support. Lamborn, a Republican member of the House Armed Services Committee, told Colorado Politics that he is disappointed the legislation doesn't include his amendment but added that the move "is not fatal" to bipartisan efforts to prevent uprooting the command, which oversees all American military missions in orbit. Lamborn said he remains hopeful that concurrent reviews of the decision-making process by the Government Accountability Office and the Pentagon's Inspector General could lead to re-examining plans to relocate U.S. Space Command headquarters and its 1,400 troops. "It was a precaution," he said. "Were still going forward with the two investigations, which should be done in the first quarter or first half of next year. Even if they wanted to move ahead in Huntsville before that, they wouldnt be able to get very far because theyre still dong their environmental assessments." Added Lamborn: "Were waiting with great anticipation to the outcomes of the two investigations right now. As much as Id like to hurry them along, I want them to do a thorough job and leave no stone unturned. Theres not much that we can do to accelerate the process right now." Former President Donald Trump said on Jan. 13 that the command would move to Huntsville from Colorado Springs, where it was re-established in 2019 and will remain until at least 2026. Trump's announcement came under immediate fire from Colorado politicians from both parties, who suggested the choice was politically motivated a contention supported by remarks Trump made on a radio show in August when he claimed he "single-handedly" picked Alabama for the command's new home. The statement contradicted Pentagon statements that Huntsville won out in an independent process that weighed Colorado Springs and other potential headquarters sites without regard to political considerations. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. The Trump administration re-established U.S. Space Command in 2019 to confront rising threats to U.S. spacecraft from Russia and China. An earlier version of the command had been headquartered at the recently renamed Peterson Space Force Base but was shuttered in 2001 as part of post-Cold War cutbacks to military spending. Some retired generals and other experts have warned that the move could disrupt America's defense of military satellites. Lamborn said he is also disappointed that the final version of the defense bill didn't include an amendment he sponsored with U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, a Centennial Democrat, to establish a Space National Guard, but added that he believes it's only a matter of time and could be part of next year's legislation. "Its not a perfect bill," Lamborn said, calling it "unfortunate" that it includes policy provisions proposed by the Biden administration that he disagrees with. "Any time you have a Democratic administration, its going to have some problematic amendments. We fought some of them off. But standing back and looking at our nations defense, we have to pass this bill," Lamborn said. "We start to more than ever address the China threat and the Russian threat." Lamborn noted that, in addition to missile defense and nuclear modernization, the bill authorizes $300 million in security assistance and intelligence support to Ukraine, including $75 million in lethal assistance. "Hopefully, that makes the Russians think twice about invading Ukraine," he said. Lamborn also hailed inclusion of an amendment he sponsored that allows active duty troops to claim additional exemptions from COVID-19 vaccine mandates on medical, religious and philosophical grounds, as well as if they've had a previous infection and have antibodies. "I dont want people to be separated from our armed services willy-nilly when its so hard to get people in the first place," Lamborn said, noting that he's heard stories about military personnel being discharged for refusing to be vaccinated. The worst of the current respiratory illness season, which saw flu and RSV cases skyrocket alarmingly early and aggressively, may be in the rearview mirror, health officials said during the El Paso County Board of Health meeting on Wednesday. According to Dr. Bernadette Albanese, co-medical director for El Paso County Public Health, the influenza and RSV seasons peaked nearly four to six weeks early, but hospitalizations are now on the decline. She said a "modest" COVID-19 season also has left officials cautiously optimistic that the cold months will continue to see relief. It feels like we are a bit past the hump of what weve been concerned about all winter in terms of these diseases," Albanese told the board. The flu season typically stretches from October to May with a peak between January and February, Albanese said. But by mid-December, the 2022-2023 season already saw the second-highest hospitalization rates since 2016, El Paso County health spokesperson Michelle Beyrle said in an email to The Gazette last month. El Paso County recorded a peak 61 flu hospitalizations in the 50th week of the year, up from three during the same time period of the 2021-2022 season, zero in 2020-2021 and 17 in 2019-2020, according to county health data. That number sat at seven last week. The "biggest story" in the public health sphere, Albanese told the board, has been RSV. Respiratory syncytial virus, a common respiratory disease that typically causes cold-like symptoms from which most people recover within a week or two, wreaked havoc among children early and at unprecedented rates. According to an email from Children's Hospital Colorado spokesperson Leila Roche, the number of patients seeking care there in November and early December, on average, was 30% higher than the busiest of days in a typical season. Statewide, 2,433 patients have been hospitalized with RSV since Oct. 1, according to Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment data. None of these hospitalizations resulted in a pediatric death. According to Roche, the hospital is seeing a decrease in well-child visits and "routine childhood vaccines," one of several possible causes of the alarming flu and RSV numbers. "Even though our respiratory season hit early, it usually lasts through the spring, and were still seeing a lot of sickness in the community," Roche said. Its not too late to get vaccinated." Beyrle said the "overall effectiveness" of masking, social distancing, increased ventilation and other measures taken in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which are now practiced less, could have stifled the spread of other respiratory illnesses at the time. She said this could have also led to a decrease in population immunity among children. This factor might have contributed to more children getting infected, particularly among infants and toddlers, and those children experiencing RSV infection for the first time, which tends to be more severe than subsequent infections," Beyrle said. In line with statewide trends, COVID-19 cases have been significantly lower than the surges seen over the past two years in El Paso County, Albanese said. Hospitalizations are decreasing so much so, in fact, that the statewide COVID-19 hospitalization rate of 4.2 per 100,000 people over the past four weeks is nearing that of the flu, which sits at just under 3 per 100,000. Last season, the COVID-19 rate of 26 hospitalizations per 100,000 people overtook the flu rate of 0.8 by a vast margin in the same time period. Finally, after three years of this pandemic, we had a COVID winter season that may be what our norm looks like in seasons to come," Albanese said. "Its not going to go away, well likely have it next year But we sort of had a head-to-head flu and COVID season. Access to more prevention and treatment resources have kept numbers at bay, officials said, but experts are uncertain about how the newest variant to enter Colorado, XBB 1.5, could affect the public's health. Both Albanese and Beyrle said a critical factor in preventing another surge is continued community immunity, but the uptake in bivalent boosters has been "very low," Beyrle said; as of last month, approximately 95,000 doses have been administered to county residents. "The resources are only effective to the extent they are being utilized," Beyrle said. The Colorado Springs Downtown Development Authority is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the recovery of a sign from a historic downtown store, according to a Wednesday news release. The large sign above the entrance to Michelles Chocolatier, a downtown institution for more than 50 years before it closed in 2007, was reported missing in December, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department. It had been removed from its former place in front of the store to make room for a new business sign and was in the storage lot of a sign shop on the east side of the city, said spokeswoman Carrie Simison. Were looking for it so we can have it restored, Simison said. If you used to frequent Michelles as a kid, it holds a special place in your heart. So we want to fix it and place it in another location downtown, so people can see it and enjoy it. Longtime Colorado Springs residents may remember lining up outside the store at 122 N. Tejon St. for chocolate hearts or homemade ice cream, Simison said. Michelles was founded in 1952 and moved to its downtown location in 1954. In 2007, the IRS took the building in a voluntary seizure to satisfy a federal tax lien, according to previous reporting in The Gazette. The sign, which is old and in disrepair, may have been taken by someone who thought it was being discarded, Simison said. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. It could have been taken for some innocuous reason, she said. For all we know, it could be sitting in someones backyard somewhere. It had broken bulbs, and it was rusted, she said. The sign doesnt have much actual value to it, except maybe as scrap. But it does have emotional value for a lot of the community. The sign is light blue, says Michelle in an ornate script, and is decorated with multicolored light bulbs. It weighs about 1,500 pounds and should be fairly easy to spot, officials said. Anyone with information about the signs whereabouts is asked to call 719-886-0088 or email info@downtowncs.com. Officials hope to recover the sign before April 30. If we get it back and restore it, people who have years of memories at Michelles will be able to relive them in a small way, Simison said. Thats all we want. A Colorado Springs nonprofit is teaming up with high schools across the state to bring construction industry-based vocational education into classrooms. Careers in Construction Colorado, which was launched in 2015 by leading homebuilders in Colorado Springs, has partnered with nearly 50 high schools in support of a twofold purpose: To bolster the states construction workforce and to expose young Coloradans to the array of opportunities the industry offers. Students deserve choices, and the industry deserves a workforce, said operations manager Marlo Asher. A lot of people in the industry are on the verge of retiring, and there arent enough young people coming in to fill their positions. So they end up having to work longer than they want to. The program has grown exponentially since its inception, officials said. Eight years ago, CICC started with 15 students from a single high school in Colorado Springs. Now more than 2,300 students across the state are being introduced to the building trades at an early age and learning that college isnt the only route to a lucrative career. If you want to go to college, great, Asher said. Were definitely not discouraging that. But college isnt for everyone, and students need to start thinking about the next step after high school. Were helping with that. The programs growth has benefited from a shift in recent years toward Career and Technical Education and work-based learning, spokeswoman Sydney White said. More than 400 Colorado high schools currently offer CTE programs, according to Department of Education data. In just the past year, (the program has) grown by 20 schools, said school liaison Keira Conley. Nikki Carter, Widefield School District 3's CTE director, has seen her district's program increase eightfold over the past few years. We have gone from 25, to 75, to 100, to over 200 students in the construction program," Carter said. "The students are meeting professionals in the industry, and they are transitioning from high school and going right to work with the skills they learn in this program. Through the CICC program, students can acquire construction industry internships, do job shadowing, and earn up to 12 certificates that are recognized by the U.S. Labor Department, White said. A mention of the construction industry often evokes images of a heavy equipment operator, or of a worker holding a Stop/Slow sign in the middle of a street. Few people outside the industry are aware of the depth and breadth of the building trades, Conley said. 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. We go into schools and we ask the students, How many trades do you think it takes to build a house from the ground up? Conley said. Most students cant think of more than four or five. But it actually takes 85 separate trades and thats just for a residential home. The CICC program uses a curriculum provided by the Home Builders Institute. In the first year, students learn trade basics including industry materials, tool identification and construction math. The second year expands on the lessons of the first and includes exposure to plumbing, masonry, painting, carpentry, landscaping and a host of other building disciplines. Students earn a certificate on completion of each unit. At Widefield and in other area districts, third- and fourth-year students participate in a home build. They take the foundational skills they learned during the first two years, and apply them toward building a modular home on-site, and then we move it onto someones property, Carter said. CICC program leaders hope that at least 20% of enrolled students will pursue a career in the building trades, officials said. But even if they decide not to join the construction industry, students will learn skills that will benefit them in the long run. When (students) understand the basics, theyll be able to do a lot of (home maintenance and repairs) on their own, without having to hire somebody, Conley said. We also teach employability skills resume building, how to do a job interview, how to work as part of a team and those skills are transferable to any career path. Students also develop an appreciation for the vital role the construction business plays in their everyday lives, Asher said. The streets they drive on, the sidewalks they walk on even when they turn on a faucet the construction industry is involved, she said. Its not magic. Its time, talent and human hands. The plan, officials said, is to place the CICC program into 65 Colorado schools by 2025. If successful, that would translate to about 5,000 enrolled students and, ideally, about 1,000 new construction professionals. Weve got some work to do to get there, White said. But last year we had 170 kids enter the construction industry from Colorado Springs alone. So were definitely moving in the right direction. For the second time in nearly eight years, Colorado's second-highest court has agreed Masterpiece Cakeshop, Inc. violated the state's antidiscrimination law by refusing to sell a cake to an LGBTQ+ customer. A three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals concluded the store's owner, Jack Phillips, ran afoul of the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA) when he turned down a transgender woman's request for a cake because of her gender identity. Although Phillips attempted to justify his actions by referencing his religious beliefs, the panel noted that Colorado has a compelling interest in preventing discrimination in places of public accommodation, like businesses. "CADA is rationally related to a legitimate governmental interest. Accordingly, CADA may be enforced against Masterpiece and Phillips without violating their right to the free exercise of religion," wrote Judge Timothy J. Schutz in the Jan. 26 opinion. However, the conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court is poised to hand down the opposite conclusion in a separate, but similar, free speech case pending before the justices, 303 Creative v. Elenis. The case also arose from Colorado and, like Phillips, involves a Christian business owner whose religious beliefs are inimical to LGBTQ rights. Phillips and his Lakewood cake-making business attracted national attention in 2017 when the Supreme Court agreed to decide whether CADA violated Phillips' First Amendment rights by compelling him to "create expression" in the form of baking a wedding cake for a gay couple. Phillips initially refused to serve the couple, telling them, "Ill make your birthday cakes, shower cakes, sell you cookies and brownies, I just dont make cakes for same-sex weddings." The Colorado Civil Rights Commission later determined Phillips' actions violated CADA, a decision the Court of Appeals upheld in August 2015. "CADA prohibits places of public accommodations from basing their refusal to serve customers on their sexual orientation, and Masterpiece violated Colorados public accommodations law by refusing to create a wedding cake," wrote Judge Daniel M. Taubman in the appellate opinion. The court also found CADA did not infringe on Phillips' free speech and religious exercise. On appeal to the federal Supreme Court, a majority of justices reversed the state court decision, but did not resolve the larger issue of whether CADA violated Phillips' rights. Instead, they decided the Colorado Civil Rights Commission was not a neutral decision-maker in Phillips' case. The same day the Supreme Court agreed to hear the original Masterpiece Cakeshop appeal, a transgender attorney, Autumn Scardina, called the store to see if Phillips really would provide non-wedding cake services to LGBTQ+ customers as he had claimed. Scardina spoke to Phillips' wife, Debra, over the phone, asking for a blue and pink birthday cake. Debra Phillips confirmed they would make the cake, until Scardina disclosed the cake would celebrate her transition from male to female. Phillips then said she did not believe her husband could provide such a product. The Colorado Civil Rights Commission eventually dismissed the case as part of a settlement with Jack Phillips, but Scardina filed suit to allege Phillips violated CADA. After a 2021 trial, Denver District Court Judge A. Bruce Jones found in Scardina's favor. Although Phillips claimed he was willing to serve anyone, and simply objected to the "message" of Scardina's proposed cake, Jones believed Phillips' own self-expression was not implicated by Scardina's request to bake a blue and pink cake. "Here, the refusal to provide the bakery item is inextricably intertwined with the refusal to recognize Ms. Scardina as a woman," Jones wrote in June 2021. "The concept that a business can decide whether to make the requested item depending on what information the customer provides would establish the equivalent of a 'Dont Ask, Dont Tell' rule LGBT individuals would be entitled to equal service only to the extent they do not request goods that reflect their identity as LGBT individuals." 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. Phillips then appealed, and the appellate panel held oral arguments in the case last fall. "Compelling Phillips to express that message invades his individual freedom of mind," argued Jake Warner, a lawyer with the Alliance Defending Freedom, which litigates cases that challenge LGBTQ+ legal protections. "Imagine a store that sells black and white cookies and it sells them to the public. And a mixed-race couple comes in and says, 'These are fantastic. We want them for our anniversary,'" said John M. McHugh, Scardina's lawyer. "And the baker says, 'Im sorry, Im a member of the First Church of Aryan Nations. I wont sell that to you because I have a religious objection to interactional marriage.' "Under their theory," McHugh continued, referring to Phillips, "no CADA violation. Under our theory, its an obvious CADA violation." Schutz, in the panel's opinion, wrote that business owners cannot refuse to sell a "nonexpressive product" based on a customer's protected characteristics. Phillips had effectively done just that when Scardina learned she could order a blue and pink cake, only to have the product withdrawn after disclosing her gender identity. "We conclude that creating a pink cake with blue frosting is not inherently expressive and any message or symbolism it provides to an observer would not be attributed to the baker," Schutz wrote. Therefore, the First Amendment did not protect Phillips' refusal. Phillips attempted to have the Court of Appeals hold off on issuing a decision until the Supreme Court decides 303 Creative, whose ruling will come before the end of June. Although the appellate panel declined to wait, the Supreme Court's decision will likely answer whether artists can use the First Amendment to avoid serving customers based on LGBTQ+ status or other traits. That is the outcome Phillips advocated for to the Court of Appeals. A similar argument came from 16 Republican attorneys general, who filed a brief in the Court of Appeals that was supportive of Phillips. A ruling that CADA cannot compel Phillips to "speak" in the form of creating a cake for LGBTQ+ customers would not have a broad effect, they argued, because the "vast majority of transactions" in the marketplace do not involve custom speech. However, the legal associations in Colorado representing LGBTQ+, women and Hispanic attorneys also filed a brief, pointing to a study that suggested wedding businesses became less likely to serve LGBTQ+ couples following the Supreme Court's ruling in Masterpiece Cakeshop. The appellate panel also rejected Phillips' arguments that Scardina should have been barred from bringing suit and that the case should have been moot. Even though Phillips had attempted to pay the $500 fine for a CADA violation, the trial judge found and the panel agreed the money alone would not resolve the case unless Phillips admitted to violating the law. Phillips, on a website soliciting donations, alleged Scardina's lawsuit was a "setup" and that Colorado has "been on a crusade to crush Jack because of his Christian faith." Jones, the trial judge, explicitly found Scardina intended to purchase a cake, not as a ruse to set up her lawsuit. The Alliance Defending Freedom said on Thursday that it would appeal the panel's decision. The group is also litigating the 303 Creative appeal before the Supreme Court. The case is Scardina v. Masterpiece Cakeshop, Inc. et al. The District 49 school board unanimously approved a probationary one-year charter renewal application for Liberty Tree Academy on Wednesday, bucking the administrations recommendation to deny the application altogether. The board also unanimously approved five-year charter renewal applications for Grand Peak Academy, GOAL Academy and Rocky Mountain Classical Academy. The charter schools will next enter into contract negotiation with D-49 administration. Liberty Tree Academy has one year to address governance and operations concerns. The charters progress will be monitored using measurable conditions, which will be decided upon during contract negotiations. If LTA satisfies those yet-to-be-outlined conditions, its contract will automatically be extended to a full five-year term. Internal conflict between the charter schools administration and board members has plagued Liberty Tree Academy ever since its board launched an investigation into dozens of allegations last fall, including nepotism, favoritism and creation of a hostile work environment. Critics say the investigation and subsequent disciplinary actions were not handled appropriately. In the investigations fallout, Principal Shannon Wilson and Dean of Students Andy Killingsworth were terminated and school board President Michelle Morin resigned. Liberty Tree Academy operates under its own charter school board, separate from the D-49 board that governs district public schools. However, the D-49 board has the authority to approve or deny a charter schools renewal. 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. Every charter authorized by the district must undergo a renewal process after a set period, typically five years. Renewal requires two submissions of application documents and school data, interviews with key stakeholders and an observational school visit. In an initial resolution denying renewal which was later withdrawn and replaced with a resolution to approve a one-year renewal application the D-49 board stated Liberty Tree Academy failed to provide evidence that the board is capable of governing the school, failed to provide evidence the governance model is support [sic] by stakeholders, failed [sic] provide evidence that the school implements and operates a communicated grievance policy, and failed to demonstrate that the administration is effectively and consistently evaluated. The LTA school board also failed to submit the second part of its renewal application in December following a deadline extension. D-49 board President John Graham said Liberty Tree Academy must complete its application before it can proceed with contract negotiations. Board member Ivy Liu was the first to oppose the recommendation denying the renewal application, saying the administrative upheaval issues can be solved without dragging kids into the fray. The one-year contract will give LTA time to work through concerns outlined by district administrators and board members without penalizing families. The more time you give people to make decisions for their kids, the better it is for everybody, D-49 board Vice President Rick Van Wieren said. Kids know it will be fine for them next year. Parents know theyve got a place to go. Boulder police arrested a man Wednesday following a string of crimes including car theft and a stabbing. Police officers arrested 27-year-old Michael Chunn of Gunbarrel in Denver Wednesday following several incidents in Boulder County between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, according to a press release. Boulder County Sheriffs Office deputies attempted a welfare check on Chunn around 9 p.m. Tuesday after receiving calls saying Chunn was walking in and out of traffic, according to the release. Chunn declined offers for assistance. At 3:45 a.m., Wednesday, deputies checked on Chunn again when he was seen walking in traffic. Chunn again declined assistance. Between 6 and 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, Chunn allegedly stole a car that was left running. While driving the stolen car, Chunn stopped, got out, and allegedly stabbed a man in the chest who was walking his dog near the area of White Rock Circle and Indigo Court in Gunbarrel, according to the release. The man was taken to the hospital with injuries not considered to be life-threatening. Chunn allegedly attempted to assault another man walking his dog, but the man fended him off, according to police. Police said Chunn also threw himself in front of a car in Gunbarrel at some point that morning, causing minimal damage to the car, and fled on foot, according to the release. 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. Officials recovered the stolen vehicle and returned it to its owner after processing it for evidence. Damage to the vehicle points to the possibility Chunn may have been involved in a hit-and-run crash with another vehicle or person, according to the release. Chunn was booked into Boulder County Jail on the following charges: Attempted first-degree murder First-degree assault First-degree motor vehicle theft Third-degree attempted assault The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Garrett Eastman with the Boulder County Sheriffs Office at geastman@bouldercounty.org or call the tip line at 303-441-3674. Colorado Springs police arrested one person in connection with the evacuation of an apartment complex on Colorado Springs' east side Wednesday afternoon due to a strong gasoline odor in the building. Police responded to Woodbine Apartments, 2020 E. Bijou St., and contacted a man who was reportedly observed holding a gas can and a lighter. Further investigation by CSPD revealed the man holding the gas can fell, causing a small fire, which was extinguished, police said. There was reportedly minimal damage as a result. Police could not immediately confirm where the man, identified as Alden Fears, was seen with the gas can and lighter or where the fire was caused when he fell. The man was arrested on suspicion of reckless endangerment, police said. As of 2:25 p.m., CSFD said all hazards have been mitigated and residents were allowed back into their apartments. A hazardous materials team was working with CSFD on the scene. The gasoline odor was on the third floor of the apartments, CSFD said. Apartments were evacuated as a precautionary measure while the source of the odor was located. Members of Pueblo's SWAT team arrested a man following a domestic violence incident and attempted stabbing, Pueblo police said in a release. Officers responded to a home in the 300 block of West 20th Street around 9:15 p.m. Tuesday after reports of a domestic fight, police said. A person on the scene reported that a man inside the residence had physically assaulted and attempted to stab them. The victim was able to get out of the house. The suspect was identified as 32-year-old Michael Norris Jr., who was one of several people inside the residence at the time, police said. The people inside the home refused to come out as police requested, the release said. Officers could see people looking out of windows. After about an hour, people exited the residence, but Norris remained inside. 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. Norris was arrested in the house by the SWAT team at 1:45 a.m. early Wednesday after a search warrant was issued. According to court records, Norris' charges include second-degree assault with a deadly weapon, felony menacing with a real or simulated weapon, third-degree assault and domestic violence. Norris has faced misdemeanor assault charges before, court records show. He was convicted in Pueblo County District Court of third-degree assault - knowingly or recklessly causing bodily injury to another person on four occasions November 2021, December 2021, April 2017 and December 2016. Norris also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor harassment in 2015. His initial court appearance is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Jan. 30. A slow-speed pursuit ended with an arrest at a gas station in Cripple Creek on Saturday night. Deputies were originally dispatched to an in-progress burglary in Victor shortly after 8 p.m., according to a press release from the Teller County Sheriff's Office. While responding to the call, deputies passed the suspect leaving the scene of the reported burglary. Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, but a pursuit ensued, according to the release. The suspect vehicle allegedly left the road, driving through a fence on the Newmont Mine. The suspect reentered the roadway approximately 20 minutes later, where deputies had set up a perimeter and attempted to use spike strips to puncture the vehicle's tires. The suspect vehicle evaded the spike strips and led officers on a slow-speed pursuit to Cripple Creek. The vehicle stopped in the Gas N' Roll gas station parking lot on Carbonate Street where the driver exited the vehicle and deputies arrested him. The suspect has been identified as 52-year-old Ronald Jess Andert. He is being held on $50,000 cash only bond and facing the following charges: 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. - Vehicular eluding - First-degree criminal trespass - Reckless endangerment - Second-degree criminal trespass - Reckless driving The jury trial for the Colorado Springs couple accused of allowing their 15-month-old child to die of a fentanyl overdose is set to begin in less than two weeks. Joenny Manuel Astacio Ottenwalder, 36, and 29-year-old Kira Lee Davison, who was previously using the last name Villalba, are charged with child abuse causing death in the overdose of their son Cairo Astacio, who died in November 2021. At a pretrial readiness conference on Wednesday, attorneys representing Davison and Ottenwalder said they were ready for trial, now scheduled to begin Feb. 6, despite some hesitation from the attorneys. Will Cook, a defense attorney representing Ottenwalder, expressed concern over lab testing not being complete on certain evidence, including a baby bottle that was found at the scene the night Astacio died. Defense attorney Jason Tiplitz is representing Davison. 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. The trial for Ottenwalder and Davison in a separate case, in which both are accused of providing fentanyl to a 13-year-old girl who overdosed twice, has been delayed. The second jury trial was scheduled to begin Feb. 13, but because of concerns over the two trials overlapping, as well as Cook declaring not ready on behalf of Ottenwalder, the trial date was rescheduled for July 17. Both Ottenwalder and Davison face two counts of child abuse causing serious bodily injury, controlled substance distribution to a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. They are being held in the El Paso County jail. U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn will chair the House subcommittee devoted to nuclear weapons, missile defense and the militarys mission in space, the committees chairman announced Wednesday. Lamborn, the Colorado Springs Republican who represents Colorados 5th Congressional District, served as ranking member of the House Armed Services Committees Subcommittee on Strategic Forces in the last Congress and takes the gavel under the chambers GOP majority. Congressman Lamborn has fought tirelessly to improve our national security by supporting the modernization of our nuclear deterrent and advocating for programs and platforms that will protect our homeland, U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, the committees chairman and an Alabama Republican, said in a statement. Lamborn, who won reelection to a ninth term in November, said in a statement that he was honored to be entrusted with the position. As China engages in an unprecedented nuclear weapons buildup, Russia continues its unprovoked invasion attempt of Ukraine, North Korea increases missile test cadence, and Iran inches closer to a nuclear weapon, it is fundamental that the United States maintains a robust strategic deterrent, he 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. I will work tirelessly to ensure that nuclear modernization remains on track, homeland missile defense receives robust funding, advancements are made in national security space, and we achieve offensive and defensive hypersonic technology breakthroughs. Leading these efforts is a tremendous responsibility, and I look forward to the challenge. Lamborn told Colorado Politics in a recent interview that chairing the panel is an ideal fit for the district he represents, which is home to roughly 40,000 active-duty troops at five military installations, including the Air Force Academy and bases that run military satellites, control the nations missile defense and protect the continent from attack. Its an amazing opportunity, Lamborn said, adding that many of the missions based out of the Pikes Peak region bolster the subcommittees mission. I can help our national security be stronger and better funded, better equipped and cutting edge, and help the missions that are here locally make sure that theyre protected and established and successful. This subcommittee has everything to do with whats so special about El Paso County and the military presence here. Rogers, who previously chaired the subcommittee, said last month in a statement to Politico that competition with Russia and China will drive sustained investment in nuclear delivery platforms and an aging (National Nuclear Security Administration) complex, which are overseen by the subcommittee. In Rock Canyon High School, senior Bhavya Surapaneni said it is the norm to walk in on her fellow students vaping in the bathrooms, hear stories of their weekend binge drinking and occasionally watch her peers be suspended for possessing illicit drugs sent home with nothing more than a brochure on the dangers of substance abuse. Though theyve received education aimed at preventing substance use since middle school, Surapaneni said substance abuse still runs rampant among her peers, and efforts to help students who already struggle are virtually nonexistent. "Intervention is not a priority in many schools, including mine," Surapaneni said. Substance abuse is pushed to the side, dealt with as quickly and quietly as possible, without any emphasis on treatment. Now, Surapaneni is working to change that. Surapaneni and the other members of the Colorado Youth Advisory Council helped draft House Bill 1009. If passed by the state legislature, the bill would create a committee tasked with developing best practices for middle and high schools to identify students who need substance use treatment, offer intervention and refer the students to treatment resources. Colorado is the seventh most pervasive state for substance abuse in the country, according to a 2022 study. Colorado teenagers are also 37.4% more likely to have used drugs in the last month and 15.1% more likely to use alcohol than the average American teenager, according to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics. Every single young person, including myself, can point to at least one peer who struggles with substances, said Siddharth Nareddy, a student at Peak to Peak High School and another member of the Youth Advisory Council. This bill is a necessary investment in the future of Colorado. The bill would aim to combat the use of alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, prescription drugs and illicit drugs. The committee would have until Jan. 5, 2024 to submit its report to every school district and charter school in the state, as well as the Colorado Department of Education. The committee would consist of 16 people, including students, parents, school staff and medical professionals. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. The committee would start by building off of and modifying the states existing Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Program, which is already in place at some of Colorados school-based health centers and is designed to detect early substance use disorders in students and refer them for treatment. The bill would not implement any programs in schools, leaving the final decision up to the schools and school districts. The House Education Committee voted 7-4 in support of the bill Wednesday morning, advancing the bill to the House Appropriations Committee for further consideration. The vote was split along party lines, with Democrats in support and Republicans in opposition. Some Republican opponents raised issue with the bill not explicitly requiring the best practices developed by the committee to include notifying a students parents if the student is abusing substances. My concern really is that once a student has been identified by the school as having a substance abuse issue, I dont see that the parents are immediately contacted and involved in the therapy, said Rep. Mary Bradfield, R-Colorado Springs. If you could address that in the bill, I think many of us would feel better. Rep. Rose Pugliese, R-Colorado Springs, also argued that the $54,000 to fund the bill should come from the states Marijuana Tax Cash Fund instead of the General Fund which bill sponsor Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora, said she would look in to. Half a dozen organizations spoke or registered in support of the bill Wednesday: Children's Hospital Colorado, the Colorado Education Association, Colorado Psychiatric Society, Colorado Society of School Psychologists, Peer Assistance Services and Mental Health Colorado. No witnesses spoke in opposition. This is one step and this is one piece of the solution, Lindsay said. We cannot let these problems go unaddressed. Our kids are clamoring for help and support. Its best that we listen to them. MONUMENT In the Cafetorium at Lewis-Palmer Middle School, a group of students and parents watched as Carson Coryer, 13, held a sheeps brain in his gloved hands. Their faces showed fascination and revulsion in nearly equal parts as Coryer, an eighth grader, spent a few minutes pointing to different sections of the brain and explaining their functions. OK, then. Lets get started, Carson said. Then he sat the brain on a table, picked up a scalpel, and carefully sliced the brain in two. The dissection was one of a host of demonstrations held by seventh- and eighth graders on Wednesday during Lewis-Palmer Middle Schools Career and Technical Education Showcase. Assistant Principal Amy Sienkowski said the main purpose of the CTE forum was to highlight the growth and accomplishments of a group of gifted students who dont get many chances to show off. Weve always had traditional avenues like plays, art shows, and band concerts that highlight and showcase our kids talents, Sienkowski said. We dont always get the opportunity to show our CTE kids off to the community. Coryer, who hopes to be a dermatologist or cardiothoracic surgeon one day, was demonstrating some of what he learned in a forensic science course called Medical Detectives, during which students learn to measure and interpret vital signs, investigate disease outbreaks, analyze medical data and dissect sheeps brains. In addition to biomedical sciences, Lewis-Palmer offers elective courses in digital media/communications and industrial arts. Completed work from all three disciplines was on display at the Showcase, including: a vitals station taking blood pressure measurements; a Gateway to Technology exhibit with finished skateboards, birdhouses and miniature drag-racers; and a journalism display that showed episodes of the schools closed-circuit TV news program, The Patriot Update. The middle schools CTE program serves as kind of a feeder system for the high school, said CTE coordinator Jessica McAllister. Its important for kids to start to explore different potentials, McAllister said. Were not trying to lock them into a career path, especially at such a young age. But its a good time to expose them to different choices. The program is a work in progress that will continue to evolve, so that it always dovetails with student interests and community needs, McAllister said. Part of my job is to pay attention to the local economic landscape, and to build programs that tap into it, she said. For instance, it wouldnt make sense to have a farming or agricultural program here, because this isnt an agricultural community. Even if students dont end up choosing one of the career paths offered in Lewis-Palmers elective courses, McAllister said, theyre acquiring skills that will serve them well in any walk of life. What I love most about this program is that it has real-world applications, she said. Its not just about learning to use tools or work with computers. Theyre collaborating with students, working as part of a team, learning from failure. These are things they will be able to take with them, no matter what career they choose. Contact the writer: odell.isaac@gazette.com DES MOINES Two former Iowa state party chairs one Democrat and one Republican are urging Iowa Democrats to continue their fight for Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses. Former Iowa Democratic chairman and former three-term U.S. Rep. David Nagle, of Cedar Falls, joined former Republican Party of Iowa co-chair David Oman and Mike Mahaffey, the former chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa, at a news conference Wednesday at the Iowa Capitol to build an even broader base of support for the caucuses in Iowa. The Democratic National Committees is set to vote early next month on a new calendar for its presidential nominating process, which would strip Iowa of its first-in-the-nation status and move 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. Iowa is going to be at a crossroads very quickly, Nagle said. And that is to determine whether the Democratic Party is going to fight to keep Iowa first-in-the-nation or allow Washington, D.C., to tell us what we should do, when we can do it and how we can do it. Both the Democrats and Republicans of Iowa agree that this is an important function of the Democratic Party of Iowa to represent rural America, and the Republican Party to do the same in the nominating process. Oman and Mahaffey echoed his comments. The caucuses in this state have worked wonderfully for a couple of generations, and they can continue to work well, said Oman, a businessman from Des Moines, and former chief of staff for Republican former Iowa Govs. Robert Ray and Terry Branstad. Nagle said should the DNC approves the new calendar, Iowa Democrats still should go first, regardless of the likely sanctions from the national party and loss of delegates to the national convention. He said Iowa Democrats held an unsanctioned caucus in 1984. We dont need their acquiescence, their permission and we dont need to genuflect in front of them. We just stand our ground, Nagle said. The DNC, though, has said it would strip delegates and debate access from presidential candidates who campaign in unsanctioned states. Whats important from our standpoint is were here if they want to be here, Nagle said. They have to make that choice whether theyre going to run in defiance of the Biden administration or acquiesce. Our goal is to provide the opportunity for people who are not necessarily well-funded to well known to run for president. School administrative costs Iowa school districts would be limited to spending 5 percent of authorized spending on administrative costs under a proposed bill in the Iowa Senate. Senate File 12, proposed by Sen. Brad Zaun of Urbandale, would cap administrative costs and allow the state Department of Education to define administrative costs. The bill passed a Senate subcommittee. Zaun and fellow Republican Sen. Chris Cournoyer, of LeClaire, recommended passage, while Democratic Sen. Eric Giddens, of Cedar Falls, did not. Zaun said the growth in students and teachers has been far behind the growth of administrative costs in Iowa schools in recent years, and he hopes to limit administrative spending with the bill. But lobbyists said the bill would be redundant, as Iowa law already requires administrative costs to be capped at 5 percent of the schools general fund spending. Existing law defines administrative expenditures as expenditures for executive administration, rather than allowing the Department of Education to define it. Margaret Buckton, a lobbyist with the Urban Education Network and Rural Education Advocates of Iowa, said further limiting administrative costs would limit smaller districts abilities to be flexible with administration and said state-mandated programs drive up administrative costs. Zaun said hed prefer the Legislature to define administrative costs rather than the Department of Education. Worker verification requirement Senate Republicans have again advanced legislation that would add for businesses an extra step to the process of verifying a workers residence through the federal E-Verify program. Under the bill, anyone could file a complaint with the state workforce department, and if that department determines a violation has occurred, the department would be required to take court action and that action would be required to be expedited by the court. I have always believed that it is most unfair to honest, law-abiding employers who obey the law and hire people who are in the country legally its most unfair to them to have to compete with people that are hiring the people who are here illegally and will work for substandard wages, said Sen. Jason Schultz, R-Schleswig. Sen. Tony Bisignano, D-Des Moines, said business leaders say the E-Verify program can be slow and inaccurate, and noted that businesses and business groups oppose the bill. With its passage, Senate File 108 becomes eligible for debate by the full Senate. The Republican-led Senate has passed similar legislation in recent years, but the proposal has never passed both chambers of the Iowa Legislature. Flames damage Danville home; 1 sent to hospital A Tuesday evening fire damaged a Danville home and sent one person to the hospital. It was about 11:40 p.m. when the Danville Fire Department responded to 226 Central St. to find moderate smoke coming from the front door, according to a news release from Capt. Tom Collins of the Danville Fire Department. Crews pulled an attack line and quickly put out the flames firefighters were able to contained to one room. The house suffered smoke damage, the release reported. One occupant was transported to the hospital by the Danville Life Saving Crew. The release did not provide details on the injuries. The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents. The Danville Fire Marshals Office is investigating the cause. Cardno Inc. has a relatively small but continuing conflict of interest, Charles Beamon, associate general counsel for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, wrote in memorandum to two other officials with the commission. The memo, filed Tuesday on FERCs online docket, states that despite the conflict, Beamon found that it is appropriate for Cardno to continue its longstanding work. Since construction of the natural gas pipeline began in 2018, Cardno has acted as a third-party contractor for FERC, employing nine full-time inspectors to monitor the 303-mile long pipeline to ensure it complies with federal laws. In May 2020, the company submitted an annual conflict-of-interest form that contained new information: Cardno was acquired the preceding year by a larger company, Stantec, and together they had provided services for multiple projects by four of the five companies that are partners in Mountain Valley. Both Cardno and Stantec make money from the companies who want to build the Mountain Valley Pipeline, said David Sligh, conservation director of Wild Virginia, which has joined other environmental groups in fighting the pipeline. That should be enough to disqualify Cardno, because it means we cant be sure their actions as inspectors on the MVP, which should be done in the public interest, wont be influenced by their private profits, Sligh said. But in allowing Cardno to remain as FERCs inspector, Beamon noted that less than 1% of its and Stantecs total income over the last three years has been connected to the other projects by Mountain Valleys partners. Further, he wrote, Cardno has worked with FERC on the pipeline project since 2014, starting with its assistance in developing an environmental impact statement before it was approved by the commission. The company has developed institutional knowledge over that time, the memo stated. That knowledge and working relationship was cited by officials in FERCs Office of Energy Projects, who asked Beamon to authorize their decision to stay with Cardno. You state that changing contractors would increase the time and effort required to successfully complete the Mountain Valley project because a new contractor would require substantial orientation and training in order to assist staff, Beamon wrote to the officials. Cardo is, therefore, best suited to complete the work in the most expeditious timeframe. Asked for comment, a spokeswoman for FERC wrote in an email Wednesday that we dont have anything to add beyond what is in the memo. Efforts to reach Cardno online were directed to Stantec, a global firm that offers design, engineering and scientific consulting work in a variety of fields that include the environment, transportation, water, energy and community development. An email to Stantecs public relations department Tuesday and a telephone call the next day had not been returned by 6 p.m. Wednesday. Mountain Valley spokeswoman Natalie Cox provided the following statement: Cardno has been a third-party contractor for FERC and involved with the MVP project since its inception, from assisting FERC in its environmental analyses to its current compliance monitoring role. Cardno possesses a very comprehensive, historical, and in-depth knowledge of the project. Details were unavailable about the other projects the firm has been involved with that are connected to Mountain Valleys partners. We are unable to speak on behalf of Cardo or their affiliate company regarding their overall customer portfolio or project work, Cox said. Sligh said it is not uncommon to see conflicts of interest in pipeline projects, which often are funded by large companies with multiple needs that can only be met by a relatively small number of firms such as Cardno and Stantec, leading to overlaps. Its a pretty small ecosystem that they all exist in, he said. Nonetheless, he said, FERCs unwillingness to part ways with the firms illustrates what weve known all along that FERC sees its job as helping fossil companies do what they want to do, not protecting our environment and our communities. Pipeline opponents point to what they say are shortcomings in Cardos work as a third-party inspector for FERC a job that is actually funded by Mountain Valley. Every week, the company submits environmental compliance reports to FERC, the main agency that approves interstate pipelines and oversees their construction. The most recent report, for the week that ended Jan. 14, includes a tally of actions taken since work began. There have been no serious violations, the most severe finding that could bring a civil penalty or a stop-work order. Inspectors have found 47 cases of noncompliance, which covers activities that dont follow the rules, and 38 problem areas that do not constitute noncompliance but are not considered acceptable. The document lists 3,772 communication reports, which involve meetings held to address an issue needing attention, and 19,534 acceptable reports that require no further action. By contrast, inspectors with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality have found more than 350 violations of erosion and sediment control regulations. Most of the cases involve muddy runoff from construction sites in the New River and Roanoke valleys, through which the pipeline runs on its path from northern West Virginia to connect with an existing pipeline in Pittsylvania County. In 2019, Mountain Valley agreed to pay a fine of $2.15 million to settle a lawsuit brought by Virginia. There have also been enforcement actions taken by state regulators in West Virginia. Although the project is mostly completed, work is currently stalled by the court-ordered suspension of various government permits. On Tuesday, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in one of the legal challenges. The Sierra Club, Wild Virginia and eight other organizations are asking the court to revoke a water quality certification granted in late 2021 by the State Water Control Board. Approval from the board and other agencies is needed for Mountain Valley to cross about 230 streams and wetlands in Virginia, either by digging a trench through them or burrowing a tunnel below them for the buried, 42-inch diameter pipe. Pipeline opponents argued that the board failed to adequately review the water crossings, ignored scientific evidence about the problems they posed, and blindly accepted Mountain Valleys plans. The Fourth Circuit has overturned about a dozen permits issued to Mountain Valley since 2018. But unlike in the past, a three-judge panel posed few hard questions to either side during Tuesdays session. A written decision is expected later this year. The Madison County School Board recently removed 22 books from the high school library in enacting a policy last fall against sexually explicit content. The banned titles included Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye, The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood and Stephen Kings tale of Pennywise the clown, It. Board member Christopher Wingate proposed the policy, an extension of a mandate passed down the Governor Glenn Youngkin. In April, Youngkin signed a bill requiring the Virginia Department of Education to develop model policies to ensure parents are notified if students are being taught sexually explicit materials in the classroom. The bill requires local school boards to adopt the policies based on the model policies minimum requirements. The model state policy, vetted through a public comment period which ended last month, requires that parents are notified at least 30 days in advance of any instructional materials with sexually explicit content being taught in the classroom. Parents will then be able to review the materials and principals will maintain a current list of the materials on the schools website by grade and subject. The Madison County School Board unanimously approved its own policy in November and created separate rules dealing specifically with library materials, based on state law definition of sexually explicit content. Virginia Code defines it as any description of or any picture, photograph, drawing, motion picture film, digital image or similar visual representation depicting sexual bestiality, a lewd exhibition of nuditysexual excitement, sexual conductor sadomasochistic abusecoprophilia, urophilia, or fetishism. Residents may now request the school board to examine content they believe is sexually explicit. The board would then make that determination and promptly remove library materials found to have explicit content and dispose of them. The superintendent will maintain a list of the materials removed from the system and that list will be available upon request. As for the acquisition of new library materials, the titles and authors of new acquisitions will be posted to the library website for 12 months from the date of delivery. Parents can then review those materials to determine if they need to be removed. Parents have a right and responsibility to look at the books and let us know if they think there are issues, Wingate said. The board voted in December to remove specific titles from the high school library brought up during the discussion of the policy. These included: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky; Tar Baby by Toni Morrison; The Tale of the BodyThief, by Anne Rice; Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson; and Empire of Thrones, by Sarah Maas. A list of 26 books was also made available including reasons for removal requests and how often each has been checked out in the past two years. The books had been pulled from the library, save for a few already lost. Earlier this month, nearly two dozen more books were officially removed from the Madison County High School Library. They are: The Handmaids Tale, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Shatter Me, Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye, Sula and Love; Ann Rices Interview with a Vampire, Steven Kings It, Bag of Bones and 11/22/63: A Novel and Furyborn. Also on the list is Empire of Thrones. Abstaining from the vote, school board member Karen Allen said she had been researching book banning and censoring, which has become an issue throughout the nation. She said had no qualms about removing anything with sexual violence, but said some of the selections are borderline. She also said the General Assembly is looking at a bill that would allow certain books to be segregated to specific sections in the library. Im in a quandary, she said. I do agree on some, but dont agree on others. Wingate said the excerpts he had shared with school board members from some of the books in question were undoubtedly sexually explicit as defined in state law. There are other books Im not crazy about, but these meet the definition, he said. If made into a movie they would be NC-17 or R. He said high school students arent admitted into theaters to watch such movies and thus shouldnt be able to peruse the same content in their school library. Its about trying to protect children, he said. Books set in Virginia Books set in Virginia Misty Of Chincoteague She's My Dad The Shaman of Turtle Valley Bridge to Terabithia Meet Felicity: An American Girl (American Girls: Felicity, #1) Wish You Were Here (Mrs. Murphy, #1) The Fallen Snow Big Stone Gap (Big Stone Gap, #1) The Diva Runs Out of Thyme (A Domestic Diva Mystery, #1) The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks True Places Boat Girl: A Memoir of Youth, Love & Fiberglass Be Still My Soul (The Cadence of Grace, #1) Murder With Peacocks (Meg Langslow, #1) The Known World Rest in Pieces (Mrs. Murphy #2) The Winter Calf (Maple Gap #1) Gray Mountain The Kitchen House Absolute Power To Have and to Hold The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University Sea Star: Orphan of Chincoteague (Misty, #2) Something Must Be Done About Prince Edward County: A Family, a Virginia Town, a Civil Rights Battle The Dying of the Light The Killing Hour (Quincy & Rainie, #4) Postmortem (Kay Scarpetta, #1) Weird Virginia: Your Travel Guide to Virginia's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets Crazy, VA (Lil and Boris, #1) Flowers in the Attic (Dollanganger, #1) The Silence of the Lambs (Hannibal Lecter, #2) A Little Maid of Virginia The Next Accident (Quincy & Rainie, #3) Split Second (Sean King & Michelle Maxwell, #1) I, Alex Cross (Alex Cross, #16) First Lady (Wynette, Texas, #4) Dead of Night (Doc Ford Mystery, #12) Tail Spin (FBI Thriller, #12) Miss Ophelia Candle in the Darkness (Refiner's Fire, #1) In the Land of Cotton Boy in the Ivy: The Inner Child of a Buried Man Killer Sweet Tooth: A Daphne Martin Cake Mystery Jericho Heartsick Imagining Reality His Everlasting Love: 50 Loving States, Virginia The Killer Angels (The Civil War Trilogy, #2) Managed IT services: What is that? 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The first-generation managed services IT provider proactively monitors and protects entire networks before a crash or failure ever hits. This means clients have up-to-the-minute updates on their network, but theyll also be assured that there are experts constantly scanning for errors, watching the effectiveness of antivirus applications and firewalls, and even the success or failure rate of backup jobs. Essentially, we cover everything that touches the network, including computers, networks, phones and security systems, says Mark Shaw, StoredTechs president. And that isnt just while you are in the office. Say your client or their employee is halfway around the world and has some issue. StoredTech can connect remotely and help solve the problem. The global support team extends to customers all over the U.S., Canada, Taiwan, Europe and Japan, and they are constantly looking for new areas to expand. We want to have fingers in every corner of the 'pie,' and while 'world domination' is a bit too strong a word, StoredTech intends to become the go-to for global Managed Services for your business and beyond, says Shaw. So if youre ready to partner with one of the top managed services providers, reach out today. Visit StoredTechs website for more information. This content was produced by Brand Ave. Studios. The news and editorial departments had no role in its creation or display. Brand Ave. Studios connects advertisers with a targeted audience through compelling content programs, from concept to production and distribution. For more information contact sales@brandavestudios.com. GREENSBORO In what had been an old sub shop on North Greene Street, there is a laughter and loudness thats inspiring to Jennifer Ruppe and the founders of the grassroots Guilford Green Foundation & LGBTQ Center now located there. Welcome to a safe space. I see them so proud of who they are and their identities and they dont feel that they have to hide it, said Ruppe, the nonprofits executive director. Guilford Green began 25 years ago as a support system for the local gay community. Over time the organization has also raised and given away nearly $1 million in significant grants including thousands to a local filmmaker to finish a documentary on gay marriage as the issue was making its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. But Ruppe and Guilford Greens founders are keenly aware that there is pressure not to relax not that they ever would. Anti-gay sentiment. Recent controversies over drag queens. The continuing fight for equal rights. Their work on these growing challenges to the community comes together at the center, which is the heart of the organization and provides a menu of items for LGBTQ people of all ages. Making an 'impact' Jennifer Ruppe has led the Guilford Green Foundation and LBGTQ Center since 2018. While not trying to be showy, donors were very intentional about what they wanted in a center and this one has the touches of a designer and reflects the money raised for the project. It ended up being built in the shadow of downtown and near the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts. They said they wanted a first-class center because Weve been treated like second-class citizens our whole lives, recalled Ruppe of raising the money in five months. That generosity amazed her. I heard a lot about the needs of youth now, Ruppe said of the support. Almost like people are wanting to give back so the next generation doesnt have to deal with what they had to deal with. Or are still dealing with. Alone. **** Now the Triads largest LGBTQ organization, the foundation kicks off its 25th anniversary year with The Green Party on Saturday at Piedmont Hall. Theres a reason why the celebration has that moniker. Rewind to the groups roots in the early 1990s when people across the community came together wanting to do something to help provide financial support to Triad Health Project, the local AIDS/HIV service organization. So they got together and threw a party. The so-called Green Party raised over $10,000. So many of their friends had either survived the AIDS crisis or were living with HIV, Ruppe explained. A few years later, Guilford Green broadened its focus to other issues affecting the gay community. The group, which built a foundation on support from both the gay and larger community, began awarding grants to nonprofits serving LGBTQ people in Guilford County at a time in philanthropy when less than 1% of all dollars across the country went to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender projects. Just the visibility of having so many gay people come together and have an organization this strong in the late 1990s and early 2000s, it has and continues to shape peoples views of Greensboro and wanting to live here, Ruppe said. Since then, more than $900,000 raised largely through public donations has gone to addressing existing and emerging community needs in urban and rural communities throughout the Piedmont Triad. In the past, Guilford Green has helped continue the meals and services at Higher Ground, the resource and day center for people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. The Community Theatre of Greensboro, among hundreds of other recipients over the years, got $2,000 to produce My Big Gay Italian Wedding. One Guilford Green project led by ministers offered training to clergy and leaders on making their congregations more welcoming for gay people. Theyve had an impact that a lot of people in the community dont see, said the Rev. Julie Peeples of Congregational United Church of Christ. Like in 2012, right after voters approved Amendment One an amendment to the state constitution that defined marriage between one man and one woman. A number of ministers had approached me during the Amendment One battle and said they wanted to get their congregations on board in defeating the ballot, but they didnt know how to have that conversation, Peeples said. The group used a grant to design a Welcome Conversations workshop with a curriculum and resources for clergy and any lay leaders who wanted to come and learn how to help their congregations become more inclusive. I know that there are churches that really did make a lot of progress with having those conversations, so today there are more churches that are completely welcoming, Peeples said. We dont take credit for that but we helped some of those congregations begin that journey. In 2012, the Wake Forest University Film Project received $3,000 to help finish "Love in the Overlap," a documentary about Ellen Lennie Gerber and Pearl Berlin, who were community activists, longtime partners and Guilford County residents. The women married at Beth David Synagogue in 2013 once same-sex couples were allowed to do so. Their love story became the national face of the same-sex marriage debate at a time when it was illegal in most states. Not only was the financial support we received from Guilford Green instrumental in helping us complete the film, but that grant was important in a couple of other ways, too, filmmaker Mary Dalton said. It was an honor to earn the confidence of the organization and its trust that we would handle Lennie and Pearls story with respect. Guilford Green also gives out a scholarship in amounts up to $3,000 in honor of Berlin and supports continuing education for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and allied students who exhibit courage and leadership in their schools and communities. She would have loved everything except for having it named after her, said Gerber, 87, the former teachers widow, who is not involved in the selection process but hands out the awards. The nonprofit One Step Further, another grant recipient, offers a program not found in many communities that focuses on the tension that may exist between children who are coming out as gay and their caregivers. The program that we run certainly has been successful, said Yvonne Johnson, the agencys executive director and Greensboros Mayor pro-tem. North Carolina did a rating of programs a year ago and we had moved to number one, tied with Chapel Hill, with effectiveness with our programs for the LGBTQ community and I found that out from NPR. Guilford Greens support has certainly helped us in our work. **** Organizers heard from people in the gay community that they wanted a place to connect with others. Where its not a bar, Ruppe said. Where folks could come and meet new friends. Teen siblings Aviva and Sage LeWinter have strong family support but have made friends at the center. Sage, 13, who identifies as they/them, is part of a series of conversations being recorded between youth and the older generation. Its one way theyre learning more about other peoples lives and experiences, and why, for example, it is important to have the centers closet full of clothing. They can get clothing to align with their gender identity, Sage said. Its so huge for people. While some parents drop teens off at the center, Ruppe still gets calls from school social workers looking for resources for youth who came out to their families. The student turned 18 that day and the parents told them not to come home, Ruppe said of one such call. The centers security system once caught someone on camera snatching the groups Pride flag that hangs above the front door. Were always going to get phone calls or voice messages or cards in the mail that are not friendly, Ruppe said. Its hard to know what good work we are doing and then have people take their time to reach out and tell us they hate us. Luckily those have been the worst of it when we clearly see increasing violence to the LGBTQ community over the last couple of years. Ruppe was talking to a donor the other day who put it all into perspective. She said: I cant believe Im getting chocked up. When I think back to how this started and this small group of people that wanted to make Greensboro better for LGBTQ people I cant believe what we have now. Today, Tuesday, Amnesty International said that the blockade imposed by the Damascus government since August 2022 has caused an acute shortage of fuel and aid. This affects tens of thousands of civilians, including the internally displaced. The organization indicated that as a result of the blockade, medical supplies are now running low, as people burn household items and plastic in an attempt to; To keep warm in very cold temperatures. The Damascus government controls the entry of basic supplies, such as fuel, flour, and humanitarian aid, into these areas. According to the organization, the residents said that the Damascus forces intermittently restricted the entry of fuel and flour into these neighborhoods over the past year, and the latest blockade lasted for more than April 2022. Residents told Amnesty International that the start of the siege in August coincided with the start of talks to normalize relations between Turkey and Syria, both of which are hostile to the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. Lifting the blockade is a moral and legal duty It is appalling to see the Syrian authorities denying tens of thousands of people in Aleppo basic supplies due to political considerations, as civilians live in fear, deprivation and constant uncertainty, and are pushed again, said Diana Samaan, Syria Researcher at Amnesty International Beirut. The highest price in this seemingly endless conflict. "The Syrian government must take immediate action to address the terrible humanitarian crisis by allowing the entry of fuel and other essential supplies, as well as organizations providing aid to the affected areas, without restrictions," she added. Ending this crisis is not only a moral imperative, it is also a legal duty, and the Syrian government is obligated under international law to ensure that its population can obtain adequate food, medicine, and other essential supplies, and by preventing them from obtaining this, it is violating their rights. Fuel shortages exacerbate the suffering The people interviewed by the organization said that since the end of August of last year, the "Fourth Division" of the Damascus forces has restricted the entry of fuel into the affected areas; As a result, these neighborhoods receive only two hours of electricity per day, compared to seven hours before the siege. Hospitals, bakeries and other basic facilities are running out of fuel and face imminent closure if the blockade continues. A doctor in a hospital in al-Shahba district told Amnesty International: We are very worried that the hospital generator will run out of fuel. The problem is that we cannot cut off electricity to certain sections of the hospital such as the intensive care unit, operating room or emergency care centre; So we need electricity 24 hours a day. We turn off the lights, heaters and medical equipment that are not needed, but that only saves a small amount of fuel." Access to medicines and aid Residents of the affected areas told Amnesty International; They have not received food aid since the siege began, while supplies of essential medicines are dwindling in hospitals. The citizen from Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, Razan, told Amnesty International that her husband no longer has the blood pressure medications he takes, but hospitals do not have any of them, and pharmacies sell them at exorbitant prices! Mustafa, also from the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, said that a humanitarian aid organization that was planning to provide support for a medical facility in the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood had to postpone the project; Waiting for the approval of the Damascus government. He and other residents added that the Syrian Arab Red Crescent; It is a humanitarian organization affiliated with the Damascus government, which has not provided them with aid since the siege began. "I also visited the clinic run by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent here to get medicine, just painkillers, and they told me they had run out of supplies. I asked them when they expected to get more stocks and they said they didn't know," he said. A ANHA The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria AANES has sent many calls to the Damascus government to conduct a dialogue to end the Syrian crisis with a solution that the Syrians themselves can reach. Although the Damascus government did not heed these calls, many circles in Syria see the dialogue between the Damascus government and the Autonomous Administration as necessary in order to end the crisis that began in the spring of 2011. A few days ago, the co-chair of the Executive Committee of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), Jamil Bayik, called on the Damascus government not to be dragged behind the policies of the Turkish occupation state aimed at exterminating the Kurds, stressing that "Syria's interest is not in liquidating and exterminating the Kurds, but in allying with them." Statements we look at positively and appreciatively The Syrian politician and head of the Syria First Party, Salman Shabib, touched on Bayek's statements, saying: "We can only look positively at this statement, especially since it is issued by a central and influential figure in the struggle of the Kurdish people, and whose words and advice received attention and respect among wide circles of political forces." Kurdish and non-Kurdish community, including the forces forming the Autonomous Administration, and they reflect a high responsibility concern for the national interests and unity of the Syrian people and a deep understanding of the nature of the conflicts, events, conspiracies and maneuvers taking place in our homeland, against it and in the entire region, and the Turkish regime is one of the most aggressive and harmful parties to the sovereignty and unity There are many countries in it, the first of which is our country, Syria, and its policies negatively affect the interests of peoples and the concept and feelings of solidarity and brotherhood among them, including the Turkish people with all their national and religious components. Shabib added: "There is no doubt that this statement in these circumstances acquires special importance, due to the delicate and difficult stage that the Syrian issue is going through, the exacerbation of the challenges facing Syria and its people, and their reaching high levels of complexity and danger, as a result of the prolongation of the crisis, the disruption of all political tracks, and the fall of Syria to a large extent." A victim of the conflict of interests and the great international clash in Ukraine, and the absence of any horizon for serious and effective regional or international understandings, that could sponsor a near political settlement that ends the Syrian ordeal and the malicious Turkish exploitation of all these circumstances and the maneuvers that it is carrying out to blackmail some of the influential parties in the Syrian file to achieve its declared goals and ambitions in Syrian land. Dialogue is the only option that is consistent with the interests of the Syrians Regarding the need for dialogue between the Autonomous Administration and the Damascus government, Shabib said: "We really hope that Mr. Jamil Bayek's invitation to the Syrian government and the Autonomous Administration for dialogue will receive the required response, and dialogue in our opinion, which we always repeat, is the only option that is consistent with the real interests of the Syrian people with all its components." And its success certainly achieves it, and every day the importance and necessity of the agreement increases, which we hope and assume that dialogue between the two parties will reach quickly, because it will form the solid basis for facing the existential challenges facing our country and for restoring Syrias unity and its new resurrection and uniting the Syrian national efforts to liberate our occupied land and get rid of all foreign presence on it. Confronting foreign ambitions, especially Turkish ones, and accelerating reaching a political solution that achieves the aspirations of the Syrians and is in line with their interests. Shabib believed that "certainly there are regional and international forces, and even Syria, that do not want the agreement to happen and exert pressure for their own considerations to thwart it, and because they are aware of the positive change that will result in the Syrian scene, on the field, politically, economically and socially at all levels, and it will inevitably constitute a major blow to all bets and plans; to achieve Western ambitions and interests at the expense of Syria and its people and its ambitions to build a prosperous future worthy of it. He added, "We are confident that the dialogue between the government and the Autonomous Administration with the forces forming it, if it is established and built on Syrian national accounts away from narrow calculations, impossible conditions and demands, and held in an atmosphere of confidence, will succeed in resolving all existing problems and reaching an agreement, and all pressures and malicious attempts to obstruct it will fail." Disastrous consequences of failure of dialogue Regarding the negative results of the failure of the dialogue, Shabib said: "I cannot imagine the failure of the two parties to reach an agreement, because all other options will inevitably be disastrous with their results and repercussions on Syria in a fundamental way and on the region and its peoples, and the first and most dangerous of them is the specter of division that will extend to the surrounding countries and the accompanying consequences." Bloody conflicts, demographic change, displacement, and famines, and I cannot understand why? The two sides can negotiate with foreign parties and powers and reach agreements and understandings with them, but they do not succeed in that with each other, and they are all Syrians, and they are supposed to be one party in the face of others, because they are basically brothers united by a national identity. One and one interests, and they face common risks and challenges. We hope that the fraternal dialogue between the two parties will continue and succeed and an agreement will be reached as soon as possible and before it is too late. T/ Satt. ANHA Authorities are looking for a teen who reportedly ran away from his home Jan. 24. Michael Germain Jr. ran away from his home in the 4300 block of North Montana Avenue about 8:45 p.m., officials with the Lewis and Clark Sheriff's Office said Wednesday night. He attends Helena High School and is a white male with a thin build and medium-length brown hair. Deputies did an extensive area search, but were unable to locate Germain, authorities said. He was last seen wearing dark green pants and a black sweatshirt. His exact age was not included in the special bulletin. Anyone with information should contact Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office with any information at 406-447-8235. Former insurance agent Mark Anthony Biegler was sentenced Wednesday to 90 days in jail with a 10-year suspended prison sentence for pleading guilty to six felony charges of insurance fraud and theft in 1st Judicial District Court of Lewis and Clark County, state officials said. He was ordered by Judge Michael Menahan to pay $150,000 in restitution to six victims who he committed criminal insurance fraud against. Im happy the victims will receive restitution and Biegler will pay for his crimes, Troy Downing, state auditor and commissioner of securities and insurance, said in a news release. I hope Biegler reflects on the pain he caused his victims as he spends his time behind bars and the following years paying restitution. Biegler was originally charged with nine felony counts of criminal insurance fraud and theft of premium on Feb. 10, 2021. Biegler presented fake, altered insurance premium invoices to these six clients, state officials said. He collected on the premiums and kept the money without placing the insurance policy he sold them. He presented false commercial insurance certificates to businesses and committed theft of insurance premium to gain unauthorized control over premiums paid to five businesses in Helena, Fairfield, Whitehall, Kalispell and Conner to obtain insurance that was never placed, Downings office stated. Insurance agents are in a position of trust. When they breach that trust, we will hold them accountable, Downing said, adding Biegler was a con artist who took advantage of people while risking the reputation of the insurance industry. He said he appreciated that Menahan accounted for the effect Bieglers actions had on the industry in his sentencing decision. The Montana State Auditor, Commissioner of Securities and Insurance prosecuted the case. The department is a criminal justice agency that investigates and prosecutes insurance and securities fraud. Montanans can contact CSI if they believe they are being defrauded or abused by their insurance agent or company. The search for Helenas latest city manager is down to eight semifinalists, the city announced in a news release Thursday afternoon. Two city commissioners are expected to interview the candidates, winnowed down from 37 total applications, during meetings closed to the public scheduled for Jan. 31 and Feb. 2, the new release states. The new city manager will replace Rachel Harlow-Schalk, who was city manager from October 2020 until her abrupt resignation on Feb. 18, 2022. Her salary was $154,000. The city did not release the names of any of the applicants, including the semifinalists. Helena Mayor Wilmot Collins and City Commissioner Sean Logan formed a city manager relations subcommittee between the two of them late last year to expedite the process, Collins said at the time. In an interview Thursday, Logan said the pair designated the mayor pro tempore as an alternate on the subcommittee should one of its regular members be unable to attend meetings or other functions. He said Collins has a scheduling conflict and cannot help conduct the semifinalist interviews, and City Commissioner Emily Dean as mayor pro tempore will lend a hand. Interviews will be closed to the public and facilitated by Communication & Management Services, LLC., which has led recruitment efforts for the position, the news release states. Following the semifinalist interviews, the Commission plans to narrow the applicant pool to a group of finalists. An undetermined number of candidates will be selected by the commission representatives for final interviews. Finalist interviews will be conducted by the full commission during public meetings tentatively scheduled for late February. The Commission is planning opportunities for finalists to meet with representatives from the Helena Citizens Council and City leadership in public meetings, the news release states. The City began recruiting in early December and accepted applications through Jan. 23. The recruitment process garnered tremendous interest, with 37 applications from candidates across the country, the news release states. About 19% of the applicants reside within Montana, according to the news release. The public can expect more information on the finalist interview and selection process in the coming weeks, the news release states. Six people have served as city manager since Ron Alles retired in June 2018, after nearly eight years in the position. Dennis Taylor was interim city manager from June 2018 to January 2019, Ana Cortez was city manager from January 2019 until the city terminated her contract in February 2020, and Reed was interim city manager from March to October 2020, before she was elected to the Helena City Commission. Harlow-Schalk was city manager from October 2020 until her Feb. 18, 2022, resignation, former City Attorney Thomas Jodoin served as interim city manager for a month beginning in February and former City Manager Tim Burton was appointed as interim city manager on March 15. Burton, who previously worked as city manager from 2000-2009, told a local civics group he intended to apply for the full-time role. Public schools, museums and other institutions nationwide house remains and items affiliated with tribes. Sometimes the items are donated. Other times, a school or museum staff member may have bought or collected the items for archaeology or research purposes. But in the last few decades, there has been a national effort to return sacred items and remains to the tribes in which they belong. Passed in 1990, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, commonly known as NAGPRA, established a process for tribes to request the return of Native remains from institutions that have them. More than 30 years later, not all institutions are compliant. ProPublica reports that at least half of the remains of more than 210,000 Native Americans have not been returned. Aaron Brien is the NAGPRA coordinator and tribal historical preservation officer for the Crow Tribe. He said he hopes the database will show people that this is still a problem. Housing human remains is not unique, he explained. But for Native remains, the scale of it is unique. The housing of Native remains keeps us in a constant state of curiosity. We are humans and should be treated as humans. Mike Durglo Jr., who is in charge of the preservation department for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, said hes grateful for the database. Any information that helps us return these items is appreciated, he said, adding that the tribes are working to verify the data. We will continue to work with these institutions, and individuals, who would like to help us bring these items home. According to the database, institutions continue to hold at least 1,200 Native remains taken from counties of relevance to the Little Shell Tribe. Tribal Chairman Gerald Gray said returning such remains to tribes is long overdue. These are our members, and they should be treated with dignity and respect, he said. Instead, they are being kept in a box in some institutions basement. Its time to give these remains the proper burial they deserve. What does the database say about Montana? ProPublicas database lists five Montana institutions that have reported holding Native American remains, and it outlines whether those institutions have made the remains available for return to the tribes. Under NAGPRA, if an institution makes a connection between tribes and remains, the institution must publish a list of tribes eligible to make a repatriation claim. When authors of the database mention institutions that have made remains available for return to tribes, they are referring to this process. According to the site, UM reports still holding the remains of at least 25 Native Americans. To date, UM has made available for return 63% of the 67 Native remains it reported to the federal government. Specifically, UM has made 24 remains available for return to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and 18 to the Crow Tribe. Dave Kuntz, director of strategic communications at UM, said it is a top priority for UM leaders to work in partnership with regional tribes to repatriate artifacts and remains. The university hopes to hire a repatriation coordinator, whose full-time job it would be to work with tribes to return items of significance, Kuntz added. It is going to take time, he said, adding that UM will continue to identify artifacts and remains to ensure repatriation occurs. UM in August received $99,314 from the National Park Service to support documentation and repatriation of such items. Kuntz said the funding will support the new repatriation coordinator position. And earlier this month, UM was awarded $325,107 from the National Endowment for the Humanities to Indigenize heritage collections. The project aims to address challenges in determining cultural affiliation for objects with vague records. According to the database, the Montana Historical Society has made none of its reported 16 remains available for return. Eve Byron, public information officer for the historical society, said the institution has been working on returning the human remains and associated burial items for some time. She said that the historical society has deaccessioned all human remains and related funerary items, meaning the items were removed from the listed holdings of the institution. She added that the Montana Burial Preservation Board is tasked with returning remains and items to the appropriate tribe. The Montana Historical Society board of trustees voted unanimously in October to return ownership of Big Medicine, a mounted white buffalo, to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. CSKT Tribal Chairman Tom McDonald told the board after the vote the tribe was deeply appreciative. We will treat this animal with the respect it deserves, he said at the time. The Museum of the Rockies, located in Bozeman, made available for return 22% of the 18 Native American remains it reported having. The museum, according to the database, has made four remains available to the Crow Tribe. And the museum reported making none of its 97 funerary objects available for return to tribes. Representatives from the Museum of the Rockies did not respond to a request for comment. ProPublica found that Montana State Universitys Department of Sociology has made zero of 11 Native American remains available for return. It also has not made available any of the 49 funerary objects for return to tribes. Representatives from MSU did not respond to a request for comment. Carter County Museum, located in Ekalaka, has made all of the 15 Native American remains available for return. The museum made remains available for return to 20 tribes, including to the Fort Peck Tribes and Fort Belknap Indian Community. What about the tribes? The database is also searchable by tribe and reveals information on remains and funeral items affiliated with each tribal nation in Montana, listed below. Institutions have reported making 38 Native remains available to the Blackfeet Tribe. The tribe is eligible to claim 58 funerary objects. Institutions hold remains of five Native Americans taken from counties of interest to the Blackfeet. Institutions have made 43 remains available for return to the CSKT, and institutions continue to hold remains of 18 Native Americans from counties relevant to the tribes. Institutions reported making remains of more than 2,700 Native remains available to the Chippewa Cree Tribe. Institutions continue to hold remains of at least 2,200 Native Americans taken from counties of interest to the tribe. Institutions have made 51 Native remains available for return to the FBIC and continue to hold remains of at least 3,100 Native Americans taken from counties of interest to the tribe. Carter County Museum has made 14 remains available for return to the tribe. Institutions report making the remains of more than 800 Native Americans available for return to the Crow Tribe and continue to hold remains of at least 300 Native Americans taken from relevant counties. Institutions report making more than 1,400 remains available to the tribe and continue to hold at least 600 Native remains taken from counties of interest to the tribe. Institutions report making more than 300 remains available for return to the Little Shell, and institutions continue to hold at least 1,200 Native remains taken from counties of interest to the tribe. Institutions report making remains of more than 2,600 Native Americans available for return to the Fort Peck Tribes, and institutions continue to hold remains of at least 800 Natives taken from counties relevant to the tribe. To view ProPublicas database, visit projects.propublica.org/repatriation-nagpra-database. Gov. Greg Gianfortes legislation to cut Montanas top income tax rate and expand the earned income tax credit is on the verge of clearing the state Senate following a robust debate Wednesday where majority Republicans voted down multiple attempts to amend the bill. Senate Bill 121, sponsored by Sen. Becky Beard, R-Elliston, would lower the top income tax rate from 6.5% to 5.9%. It would also increase the state earned income tax credit from 3% to 10%, meaning those middle and lower income taxpayers who qualify for the federal earned income tax credit would see additional savings on their state taxes. Changes would not apply until the 2024 tax year. Supporters of the bill say those tax breaks will bring Montana closer to other states in the Rocky Mountain West, which in turn will attract more business and encourage economic growth. This reflects the governors goal to continue reducing the states top income tax rate to help make Montana a more competitive place for our economy and our standard of living, Beard said. Debate on SB 121 included multiple unsuccessful attempts to amend it. Sen. Jeremy Trebas, R-Great Falls, proposed removing the earned income tax credit, which he characterized as separating good policy from not-so-good policy. The federal credit is already fairly generous and qualifying taxpayers could receive the credit even with zero tax liability, he said. Trebas amendment was voted down with both a Republican and Democrat speaking against it on grounds of balance and fairness between higher and lower income taxpayers. A trio of amendments that followed struck at criticism of the tax plan that it overly favors wealthy taxpayers. That messaging has largely been pushed by Democrats, but the first two amendments came from Sen. Brad Molnar, R-Laurel, who has a history of speaking out against Republican-backed legislation he disagrees with. The first amendment would slash not only the top income tax bracket which most Montanans pay, but also the lower bracket for those earning up to $20,500 from 4.7% to 3.6%. The second would again cut the lower rate, but this time to 4.1%. Molnar maintained that the amendments would increase fairness in the bill by offering similar reductions across the spectrum of income tax payers. Montana is not so big that wherever you live you cant walk three blocks and drop two or three income levels, Molnar said. Walk four and find somebody and explain to them why you got a tax break but they didnt, why Gov. Gianforte got a tax break, but, they didnt. The amendments saw pushback from other Republicans. Beard echoed her earlier support of the balance she said was written into the bill while adding that Montana is moving towards simplification and a flatter tax rate. Sen. Tom McGillvray, R-Billings, said that while the amendments might feel good, they miss the mark in terms of who pays the bulk of taxes in Montana with the wealthy paying more. Lets be real here, who pays the taxes? he said. Its the people that make money. The amendments saw support from Democrats. It heads in the right direction, and quite frankly I think so many of us are really out of touch with whats really going on in Montana, said Sen. Shannon OBrien, D-Missoula. A fourth amendment came from Sen. Mary Ann Dunwell, D-East Helena, which would increase the earned income tax credit from the proposed 10% to 60%. Montana ranks lower than many other states in its percentage, she said, and the amendment would ensure all Montanans enjoy and equal and fair tax benefit. Beard again opposed the amendment, saying that multiple other tax bills were proposed for the Legislature and Dunwells amendment did not fit with the current game plan. All amendments were voted down with varying levels of Republicans joining with Democrats in the minority. As they took up the bill, the divide continued with Democrats continuing to oppose the legislation as inequitable and Republicans saying the bill provides some tax relief across the board in a fair and balanced approach. Sen. Daniel Zolnikov, R-Billings, pointed to legislation in the 2021 session that cut taxes for middle and lower incomes, and said he hoped the body would keep its eye on the ball to try to increase wages and see more upward mobility among taxpayers in the economy. Sen. Denise Hayman, D-Bozeman, said that while campaigning, she heard concerns about high costs and lack of child care, but never did anyone say we need to make sure the wealthy get even wealthier. Majority Leader Steve Fitzpatrick said in support that the bill follows the principle of lower taxes championed by Republicans, and that we hoped to see all 34 Republican Senators support it. Everybody is getting relief under this bill, he said. The bill cleared its initial vote in the Senate 34-15 along party lines, and will face a final vote on Friday. The state Senate on Wednesday voted on second reading to advance a bill that would say in state law that the Montana Constitution's right to privacy does not include guaranteeing access to an abortion. Abortion up until the point of viability of a fetus is legal in Montana, as clarified by the state Supreme Court's Armstrong decision nearly a quarter century ago that found the Montana Constitution's right to privacy included access to abortions. When the federal protections for abortion fell last summer when the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Roe v. Wade decision with its Dobbs order, Armstrong is what ensured continued access in Montana. That's made reversing the ruling a key target for those opposed to abortion. The bill is from Kalispell Republican Sen. Keith Regier, who said that he felt the court did not properly interpret the meaning of the word "individual" before the word privacy in the Constitution and said that advances in science "makes it clear that abortion is not an individual act." "It involves different DNA, it involves another set of fingerprints, it involves another individual," Regier said on the Senate floor. Regier's bill is not a constitutional referendum that would ask voters to change the state Constitution. It also would not change access to abortion, but would aim to get at the Armstrong roadblock through state law. Six Republicans joined all Democrats in opposing the bill. That included Sen. Wendy McKamey, R-Great Falls, who said while her voting record showed she was "personally adamantly pro-life," she felt that the bill would be unconstitutional if enacted. In a committee hearing earlier this month, opponents said while it was the Legislature's job to create law, the bill would overstep into the judiciary's role of interpreting laws and the Constitution when they're called into question. Sen. John Fuller, a Whitefish Republican, cited the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in supporting the bill, saying "depriving a person of their life without an adjudication" is a violation of that amendment. But Sen. Shannon O'Brien, a Democrat from Missoula, reiterated the argument that the bill is "blatantly unconstitutional and will be litigated," adding she felt it was a waste of taxpayer money. After Wednesday's 28-21 vote on a second reading, the bill faces one more vote before moving to the House. A proposal to allow counties to mirror the state's post-election audit process for local elections is headed to the Senate after easily clearing the House Wednesday. It's one of two measures that came out of an informal, bipartisan working group that met during the interim to discuss election misinformation and craft proposals to boost election security in Montana. The state currently mandates that counties that use vote-counting machines must hand-count a random selection of precincts and races after the election to check the tabulator-reported totals. Currently that process only occurs after general elections, but HB172 would allow counties to decide whether they also want to audit the results of local elections. It cleared the House with broad bipartisan support, 81-19. A bill that was heavily amended in committee and would require warrants if a child is removed from their home in some instances by child protective services passed an initial vote in the House on a 100-0 vote on Wednesday. The bill came out of nearly two years worth of work done by lawmakers and others involved in child protection services during the interim between the 2021 legislative session and this one. The bill is carried by Rep. Jennifer Carlson, R-Churchill. Rep. Casey Knudsen, the only no vote on the bill when it cleared a committee earlier this month, said he only objected to the bill because of how heavily amended it was in committee, but he said he was comfortable with it now. One amendment previously changed the bill from saying that emergency removals without a warrant could only happen if a child was at risk of sexual abuse or serious bodily injury to a threshold of sexual abuse and physical abuse. The bill was also amended to no longer require law enforcement be present for some types of removals. Carlson said Wednesday on the House floor that the amendments made the bill better because it will make it palatable to pass and that it still protects children and families. The bill is part of a slate of bills moving through the system to look at child protective services in Montana. A final vote is expected Thursday before the bill would advance to the Senate. Judicial Standards Commission appointments The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday heard from Republican Gov. Greg Gianfortes appointments to the board that hears complaints against judges. The appointments to the Judicial Standards Commission are two former Republican lawmakers: Seth Berglee formerly of Joliet and Roger Webb of Billings. The picks had the potential to stir controversy, considering the conflict waged between Republicans and the judicial branch in the 2021 session. When GOP lawmakers sought to subpoena judicial documents to investigate claims of impropriety, those efforts were shot down by the courts. Judges are subject only to discipline by the Judicial Standards Commission, several courts ruled. However, Bruce Spencer, a lobbyist for the Montana Judges Association, told the committee on Wednesday the judicial branch supported the appointments particularly because of their affiliations. I know the Legislature has questions and concerns about the judicial standards commission and now you have two members on the commission you can reach out to. I urge you to do so, Spencer told the committee. We need this system to work. We want it to work. We believe it currently is working, but if those two legislators on the commission can give you more information about the commission, Im all in favor of that. The committee will soon vote to recommend the Senate approve or reject the appointments. Democrats expressed some skepticism about the appointees' qualifications, but Republicans who hold a majority on the committee showed no sign of turning the appointments down in Wednesdays hearing. Following two years of election workers reporting threats and harassment across the country, a legislative panel on Wednesday approved a bill aiming to protect Montana election officials from being prevented from doing their jobs. The Senate State Administration Committee on Wednesday voted 7-3 to send it to the full Senate. The bill was requested by former Commissioner of Political Practices Jeff Mangan, whose term ended at the end of 2022. In a Jan. 16 hearing on the bill, Mangan said his proposal was in response to anecdotal accounts hes heard over the past two years from Montanas election workers, some of whom have felt targeted by groups alleging election malfeasance. In the past couple years, across the nation, theres been a new look at election officials, with election denial, misinformation, disinformation, election officials and workers have been under attack and thats my term, Mangan said. And its not that much different in Montana. In Montana, several election offices, particularly in larger counties, stepped up their presence of local law enforcement on Election Day last year. And over the past year county-level election officials have reported isolated threats and a deluge of duplicative inquiries from local residents, which they say have crossed the line into harassment. In a Jan. 16 hearing on the bill, some Republicans on the Senate State Administration Committee noted that most of the problems being reported by election administrators were anecdotal. Mangan hadnt been able to point to any police reports or instances of physical attacks. Sen. Mark Noland, R-Bigfork, was among the three Republican lawmakers to vote against the bill on Wednesday. I dont see a problem, so Im looking to see what is the problem, Noland said during the hearing earlier this month. Why do we need this bill if there havent been issues, are we worried about something that hasnt been happening? Regina Plettenberg had testified in support of the bill on behalf of the Montana Association of Clerk and Recorders the group representing county-level administrators of the states elections. Herself a Republican Clerk and Recorder in Ravalli County, Plettenberg told the committee that she had to call law enforcement to stop a group of poll watchers people who are allowed to monitor election processes at the polls from blocking voters who needed to cast provisional ballots. I had poll watchers stopping them, telling them, physically stopping them from going over to the table, Plettenberg said. I had to speak with them, I actually did have to send out a deputy because they couldnt be stopped. Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte on Wednesday evening delivered his second State of the State address. The speech happens during Montana legislative sessions in odd-numbered years and will be his last before hes up for reelection in 2024. This legislative session Gianforte is pushing his administration's plans to divvy up an estimated $2.4 billion surplus through a mix of investments around the state, paying down debt and issuing property tax refunds to voters. Hes also pushing through a red-tape relief proposal that includes nearly 160 bills the administration said will reduce regulations theyve deemed unnecessary or duplicative. For a full story on the speech, visit Missoulian.com or pick up a copy of Friday's paper. Montanans are blessed with some of the most expansive rights and freedoms of any U.S. state. We have these freedoms because our constitution was written by Montanans to serve Montanans. In 1972, 100 delegates from every corner of the state folks elected by their communities authored this revolutionary document. These were everyday people: ranchers, teachers, homemakers and even a beekeeper from Lewistown. They were not politicians. They were not corporate lobbyists. Sadly, some politicians and lobbyists want to dismantle our constitutional rights this legislative session. We wont let them succeed. But why are they trying to undermine our freedoms in the first place? To answer that question, we simply need to remind ourselves what Montana looked like before we expanded our constitutional rights. For much of Montanas history, most of the power was held by only a few, wealthy elites. They controlled our economy, our land and our resources. They owned and controlled our newspapers. They bribed and coerced our politicians and made secret deals far from public view. These were the Copper Kings and robber barons, routinely buying and selling public officials who fed on perks and proximity to power, aiding the barons by pouring millions into their massive fortunes. The tighter the grip these corrupt elites had on our government, the weaker we became. Out of control, toxic pollution rendered many of our communities unsafe. No matter their talent or work ethic, those without wealth and political connections had few economic opportunities. In an act embodying both courage and democratic values, Montanans rose up to demand new rights, freedoms and liberties. This is the moment we convened the 1972 Constitutional Convention that brought together those 100 delegates from every walk of life to demand a voice in our governments decisions and an end to the stranglehold of corruption. Thanks to that groundswell of democratic action, the Montana Constitution guarantees at least 17 more rights than can be found in the U.S. Constitution. This includes the right to a clean and healthful environment, helping us preserve our land and water for future generations. It includes our right to know what our government is up to, ensuring accountability and transparency. It protects our democracy by requiring nonpartisan districting measures so that legislators cant use corrupt gerrymandering tactics to handpick their voters. Our constitution ensures fair and impartial courts to ensure the vital checks and balances between our branches of government and protections for our individual rights. It also recognizes our Indigenous culture and history, preserving Native American languages and education. Montana is stronger, safer, more just and more independent because of our constitution. We have leveled the playing field so that wealthy individuals and large corporations cant co-opt our legislators behind our backs. Unfortunately, some politicians like the power and perks from the old shady and unethical way of doing things, and they want to dismantle our rights. Already this session, legislators have drafted at least 54 amendments to our constitution, almost twice as many as the document has seen in its entire history. These amendments could take away our right to a clean and healthful environment, undermine the independence of our courts and dismantle vital pillars of our democracy. But we can stop them if we stand together. Lets honor the spirit of those who worked so hard 50 years ago to gain these rights, honor our friends and neighbors using these protections right now to make contributions to communities and civic life, and honor future generations who will rely on our constitutional safeguards for protection tomorrow just as we do today. On Wednesday, Feb. 1, at noon, a broad coalition of individuals and organizations will gather for We the People: A Rally for the Montana Constitution inside Helenas Capitol Rotunda. Please join us to let legislators know how fiercely proud Montanans are of our constitution and how fiercely we will protect it. Learn more at NorthernPlains.org/WeThePeople. MATTOON Multi-media quilt enthusiast Mary Fons is scheduled to return to Mattoon early next month to give an encore presentation. "Mary Fons is going to be coming back to Mattoon for one night only in the Lone Elm Room," said Mattoon Arts Council Coordinator Julia Degler of this event at 6 p.m. Feb. 5 in the train depot, 1718 Broadway Ave. She previously held a series of well attended presentations and workshops there in 2017. The guest speaker, an Iowa native who now lives in Chicago, is a writer, editor, and live-streamer who specializes in quilt history and quilts in popular culture. Her live video magazine, "Quilt Nerd," airs three times a week on Twitch. Fons served as editor in-chief of Quiltfolk magazine from 2017-2021, and now serves as an editorial advisor to Quiltfolk publications and workshop instructor. She also was editor and creative director of Quilty magazine from 2010-2015. In addition, Fons has hosted a combined 250 episodes of instructional programming through "Fons & Porters Love of Quilting"on PBS and the Quilty website. She authored "Make & Love Quilts: Scrap Quilts for the 21st Century" and "Dear Quilty," and wrote a bi-monthly The Quilt Scout column for Quilts, Inc. Fons serves on the board of the International Quilt Museum at the University of Nebraska and lectures at universities and quilt events, such as QuiltCon. She holds a bachelor's in theater from the University of Iowa and a master's in writing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She is in pre-production for "Americas Quilt," a 10-part docuseries. Degler said only 80 seats are available for "An Evening with Mary Fons" and more than one-fourth have already been reserved. "We have had a steady stream of registration," Degler said. Tickets are $25. Reservations can be arranged by going online to www.mattoonartscouncil.org, calling the Mattoon Tourism & Arts Office at 217-258-6286, or visiting this office in the depot. Degler said Fons is also set to help with a program for Mattoon middle school and high school students on Feb. 6 as part of the Lebovitz-Lively Workshop Series. Close Friends Micheala Starwalt and Madilyn Summers, both 11 and from Mattoon, prepare to vote for their favorite quilts during the Mattoon Arts Council's quilt show on Saturday, June 12 at Lytle Park. Suzanne and Keith Rich of Bloomington view a display of mini quilts during the Mattoon Arts Council's outdoor quilt show on Saturday at Lytle Park in Mattoon. The Mattoon-based Prairie Stitchers group partnered with the Bloomington/Normal Modern Quilt Guild to hold the event. Dawn O'Brien of Charleston, at left, points out her quilt to Tanya Morton and Mary Morton, both of Mattoon, on Saturday, June 12 during the Mattoon Arts Council's quilt show at Lytle Park. Mark Strauss of Mattoon helps his grandson, Preston Gehart of Savoy, look for the quilt made by his grandmother, Tana Willaredt, during the Mattoon Arts Council's outdoor quilt show on Saturday at Lytle Park in Mattoon. Guest artist Rod Buffington of Springfield, a former Charleston resident, shows some of his artwork to Karen Edwards of Allenville during the Mattoon Arts Council's outdoor quilt show on Saturday at Lytle Park in Mattoon. Buffington is a former art education instructor at Eastern Illinois University. Mini quilts line the front of a garden shed during the Mattoon Arts Council's quilt show on Saturday in Lytle Park. Quilts are arranged around Lytle Park's yoga circle during he Mattoon Arts Council's quilt show on Saturday, June 12. PHOTOS: Mattoon Arts Council outdoor quilt show The Mattoon Arts Council held its annual quilt show outdoors for the first time on June 12, 2021 at Lytle Park. The 2022 show is scheduled for 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, June 11 at Lytle. Friends Micheala Starwalt and Madilyn Summers, both 11 and from Mattoon, prepare to vote for their favorite quilts during the Mattoon Arts Council's quilt show on Saturday, June 12 at Lytle Park. Suzanne and Keith Rich of Bloomington view a display of mini quilts during the Mattoon Arts Council's outdoor quilt show on Saturday at Lytle Park in Mattoon. The Mattoon-based Prairie Stitchers group partnered with the Bloomington/Normal Modern Quilt Guild to hold the event. Dawn O'Brien of Charleston, at left, points out her quilt to Tanya Morton and Mary Morton, both of Mattoon, on Saturday, June 12 during the Mattoon Arts Council's quilt show at Lytle Park. Mark Strauss of Mattoon helps his grandson, Preston Gehart of Savoy, look for the quilt made by his grandmother, Tana Willaredt, during the Mattoon Arts Council's outdoor quilt show on Saturday at Lytle Park in Mattoon. Guest artist Rod Buffington of Springfield, a former Charleston resident, shows some of his artwork to Karen Edwards of Allenville during the Mattoon Arts Council's outdoor quilt show on Saturday at Lytle Park in Mattoon. Buffington is a former art education instructor at Eastern Illinois University. Mini quilts line the front of a garden shed during the Mattoon Arts Council's quilt show on Saturday in Lytle Park. Quilts are arranged around Lytle Park's yoga circle during he Mattoon Arts Council's quilt show on Saturday, June 12. DECATUR The Decatur school board has heard from the public and from its student ambassadors several times about security issues at Decatur schools. Student ambassadors presented a plea to the board a year ago that the hallways of the high schools and Stephen Decatur Middle School are "chaos," as then-student ambassador Sciler Treacy termed it. At its Jan. 24 meeting, the board approved a job description for a safety and security administrator and named Valdimir Talley Jr. to the position. He begins his new job on Monday. Talley will be responsible for establishing and maintaining safety protocols district-wide such as training, drills, evacuation protocols and reunifcation sites, building relationships between students and police and assisting and acting as a deterrent to school violence. Mr. Talley brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to serve the students and staff of Decatur Public Schools, said Superintendent Rochelle Clark. We take the safety and security of our students and staff very seriously. We are pleased to have Mr. Talley join the DPS leadership team and look forward to working proactively to ensure our schools are as secure as they can possibly be. Talley has spent more than three decades in law enforcement, most recently as chief of the Maywood Police Department, from which he retired in 2021. He has more than 18 years of criminal investigative experience; graduated from the FBI National Academy program; and has served as bureau chief for the Illinois State Police, board member for the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement (NOBLE) Chicago Metropolitan Chapter, and as president-elect for the Rotary Club of Maywood-Proviso. Spannaus served on the board from 2013 to 2017 and was named as Lewis' replacement at the board's Jan. 10 meeting, but not sworn in until Jan. 24. He will serve until after the election April 4. Lewis resigned on Dec. 27, citing her family's move out of the district to be closer to her husband's job. The oath of office for a school board member is two pages long, and after Spannaus had taken the oath, board member Alana Banks joked, Who do we talk to about getting that shortened? The board also approved a contract with TinyEYE Therapy Services for the Macon-Piatt Special Education District. A shortage of speech-language pathologists has meant that students in need of those services have not been getting the help they require, and the company will provide the equivalent of one speech-language pathologist each to American Dreamer STEM Academy, Robertson Charter, Franklin Grove and Muffley Schools through virtual visits. A live speech-language pathologist will work with students through a teleportal format. Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Jeff Dase announced the annual Principal for a Day event, set for Tuesday, Feb. 28. Community members, business leaders and board members serve from 8 to 11 a.m., with a luncheon from 11:30 to 2 p.m. For information, contact Sherri Carroll at Scarroll@dps61.org. Most states have a school counselor shortage. Here's where they're needed the most Most states have a school counselor shortage. Here's where they're needed the most #51. Vermont #50. New Hampshire #49. Hawaii #48. Colorado #47. Montana #45. Maine (tie) #45. North Dakota (tie) #44. Tennessee #43. Wyoming #42. Virginia #40. Missouri (tie) #40. West Virginia (tie) #39. North Carolina #38. Maryland #37. South Carolina #36. New Jersey #35. Connecticut #34. New York #33. Pennsylvania #32. Arkansas #31. South Dakota #30. Massachusetts #29. Kentucky #28. Nebraska #27. Iowa #26. Oregon #25. Delaware #24. Wisconsin #23. Texas #22. Kansas #20. Oklahoma (tie) #20. Mississippi (tie) #19. Ohio #18. Rhode Island #17. Alabama #15. Georgia (tie) #15. Alaska (tie) #14. Florida #13. Washington #12. New Mexico #10. Louisiana (tie) #10. Nevada (tie) #9. District of Columbia #8. Indiana #7. Idaho #6. Utah #5. California #4. Minnesota #3. Michigan #2. Illinois #1. Arizona DECATUR Chloe Ribley had never personally met a pig before she took over the care of the Living Science farm pigs in the fall. Now more than 450 pounds each, the once-baby pigs are fully grown and going to market. Decatur Public Schools' Dwayne O. Andreas Ag Academy, which includes the Living Science Farm, FFA and 4H chapters at Decatur's school, will open its new FFA Agricultural Education Center in April, and members of the Illinois Agri-Food Alliance board toured the facility this week. I'm looking at ways to get kids into careers, and into farm careers, and really focus on ag business, said Kal Keitel, human resources director for Illinois Farm Business Farm Management. The board met at Archer Daniels Midland Co. during the day and toured the new ag center and the Living Science Farm afterward. The center, funded by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, will include classrooms for animal science, welding and machine technology, horticulture, a greenhouse, fields for raising crops, food science labs, and an arena for large events. ADM is partnering with the school district to provide resources such as employees who will act as mentors and and guest speakers in classes. Freshmen and sophomore students will take their ag academy classes at their respective high schools, while juniors and seniors will take classes at the ag center. I'm just amazed. It's beautiful, said Isaiah Bradford, a senior at Eisenhower High School. He and classmate Ahsaan Spence, both also FFA members, are interested in photography careers and took the tour with the board members, taking photos of everything. We did our classes ahead of time so we'll be spending the majority of our time here, Bradford added. Bradford and Buffett share an interest in photography, and Bradford has been invited to accompany Buffett on a trip to Rwanda this summer to study ways to alleviate poverty there. When the ag academy started five years ago, said Zach Shields, executive director of the Decatur Public Schools Foundation, naysayers said it would fail, that inner city kids would not be interested in ag in spite of being surrounded by ag businesses. But the ag academy has grown to 465 students this year and has outgrown the spaces at the two high schools. A core group of those students have discovered and are pursuing career paths they might never have considered or known about if not for the ag academy. Brian Byers, vice president of development at Neuhoff Media, has been banging the drum for ag education for years, Shields said. We've got all these careers in the area and these kids don't know about them, Shields said. We had an idea about the Farm Progress Show, Byers told the board members. We stood there and watched school buses come in from all over the Midwest, and District 61 wasn't there, with 9,000 kids two minutes away from ADM, and it's not a part of their world. We had a pilot program and took 600 kids from (Decatur schools) to the Farm Progress Show. Once the Buffett Foundation got involved, Shields said, the idea for an ag academy took off, and now with the new ag center nearly complete, the ag academy can take the next step forward and continue to grow. The center will also be used by area FFA chapters in nearby school districts, and the events that will be held in the arena will include them. We want to learn so that we can take this model to other parts of the state, said board member Dean Dittmar, program adviser for Facilitating Coordination in Agriculture Education, an offshoot of Illinois Agricultural Education. I represent school-based ag education from Chicago to Cairo, so we're maintaining and expanding school-based ag education across the state to provide a wider and bigger talent pool for agribusinesses across the state. Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he intends to sign a bill, passed by Illinois Democratic-controlled General Assembly, that would require employers to offer an hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked, allowing employees to accrue and bank at least five days a year. The measure would take effect Jan. 1. What reasonable argument could be constructed against this humble and humane provision? We cant think of one. The U.S. is an outlier among developed countries when it comes to mandating at least some paid time off. That means the lowliest workers, those with the least ability to bargain for better, are the most vulnerable to getting no leave at all, whether it be for vacation, illness or to care for a family member, either ailing or newly arrived. The vast majority of legally employed Illinoisans already enjoy much better leave policies, of course, as voluntarily provided. But its not true of everyone. We understand that many Illinois businesses believe that Springfield has created a whole barrage of legislation and red tape designed to increase their costs of doing business and make it harder to thrive here. So stipulated. But this particular bill doesnt fall into that category and, we believe, will actually incentivize employees to stay in their positions. If you need time off for a personal emergency, and you have no leave accrued, what is your most likely recourse? You quit. But if your employer is giving you a few paid days, say, to schedule a surgery that needs doing, then not only are you going to feel better about where you work but you are more likely to stick around to enjoy the benefit. The pandemic taught us all that a sick employee showing up for work instead of losing money can end up putting colleagues at risk, leading to entire teams falling ill, causing chaos in the workplace. And since most employers are doing better than this already, the cost of a weeks paid leave should be manageable. Thats likely why the Illinois Manufacturers Association is not opposing this bill. Earlier in the process, the bill looked set to be overambitious and excessively difficult for businesses. Given the brevity of this leave, as proposed, it makes sense to keep it simple and let employees use it to recharge their batteries, or to get well, or to look after a loved one, and to make their own choice. We think that will be good for Illinois business in the long run. Chicago Tribune My understanding is that our city council is reviewing its current neighborhood standards that were supposedly "revised" just a few years ago. If revision is forthcoming, I won't look this gift horse in the mouth. The previous "revision" was an insult to Decatur residents whose families will be forced to survive in currently collapsing ecosystems that no longer sustain insects and birds. never mind human populations, including and especially our children and grandchildren. But who cares? The previously "revised" neighborhood standard pathetically restricted environmentally conscious property-owners to allot only 20% of their backyards to original eco-sustaining Illinois groundcover of biodiverse native tallgrass prairie (grasses and flowering plants) that necessarily grow taller than the 10 inches permitted by our city in residential front and backyards. Alas, this was Decatur's humanitarian "sacrifice" to help save plane Earth from imminent eco-catastrophe. . And for this "privilege" property owners who participated in this backyard eco-repair paid a fee of $20 to the city. Surely, Decatur's ultimate insult to residents who care about our city and planet Earth's environmental future. Off the charts ironic in that our city council includes a PhD. Biology professor at Millikin University whose knowledge of life-science is available for consultation. Why not listen to him? Decatur property owners who, for obvious financial reasons, scrupulously adhere to traditional grass lawns doused with toxic "lawn-care" chemicals that maintain politically correct "curb appeal" if only to keep local politicos off their backs. Never mind that nonnative monoculture grass is more or less equivalent to asphalt pavement in destroying life-sustaining ecosystems. In other words, as long as Decatur maintains vast acres of monoculture grass "curb appeal," never mind that city residents, along with inhabitants of planet Earth, are facing an unsustainable environmental/ecological future. So it goes in a decadent and debauched America that has squandered its will to survive. Don Carmichael, Decatur DECATUR The predicted snow storm arrived on Wednesday, but didnt bring as much disturbance as meteorologists expected. However, the 3 to 4 inches Decatur received was enough for some families to enjoy a bit of winter fun. Its not that cold, so I dont mind, said Erin McDonald, who was sitting in a sled atop a hill at Nelson Park, pushing her 6-year-old son, Axl Carter. With school canceled for the day, McDonald said her son begged her all morning to go outside, so they walked to the park from their home nearby. The soggy snow made for good but wet sledding. McDonald said thankfully her son was wearing waterproof snow gear, Which Im not! she added. By mid-morning, Dan Mendenall, municipal services manager for Decatur, and his crews were pushing the slush off of the roads, since the snow had already stopped falling. Hopefully we dont get a bunch of re-freeze, he said. Mendenall was expecting temperatures to drop below freezing by the afternoon. There might still be some ice from the pavements being wet, he said. But it wont be because of slush. According to Matt Holiner, meteorologist for Lee Enterprises, light snow showers expected Wednesday night and Thursday throughout the day would add slightly to the final totals. But little to no accumulation is expected, Holiner said. Holiner explained the reasons why most snow totals were slightly less than expected. The biggest reason appears to be a layer of dry air in the atmosphere that caused rain and snow to evaporate before reaching the ground during the evening hours, he said. This caused the snow to start accumulating a little later than expected. With temperatures staying just above freezing, the snow gradually melted while the snow was falling. This has prevented the snow from piling up as quickly as usual, Holiner said. Also, the area of low pressure generating the snow moved slightly faster than expected, according to Holiner. This has caused the heavy snow to come to an end a little sooner, he said. The road crews understand the weather patterns can change quickly. Although most of the streets were cleared by Wednesday afternoon, a few road crews were scheduled to work throughout the evening. For anything that needs done, Mendenall said. In case the fire or police need anything, well be here for them. Meteorologists are closely watching the weekend's forecast. "Thursday night looks dry, but on Friday, isolated rain and snow showers are expected as a warm front lifts over Central Illinois," Holiner said. Isolated rain showers will return for Saturday, he said. "The best chance of precipitation looks like Saturday night as another cold front moves in," Holiner said. "Scattered rain showers early will change over to snow late. Isolated snow showers will continue into Sunday before coming to an end Sunday afternoon. With most of the precipitation being light and rain mixing in, additional snow is expected to be less than half an inch Friday through Sunday." Brrr! All-time snowfall records Records from the Lincoln Climate February 23, 1914 Big snow, big news January 13, 1927 December 25, 1909 November 17, 1926 March 16, 1960 April 4, 1920 October 23, 1929 A rare second photograph Traces of snow in May Looking for more? ABINGDON, Va. A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the capture of two men who walked away from the Southwest Regional Jail Authority in Abingdon at around 2:45 p.m. on Thursday. The U.S. Marshals Service has issued rewards of $5,000 each for the capture of Johnny Shane Brown, 51, of Rogersville, Tennessee, and Albert Lee Ricketson, 31, of Abingdon, Virginia. The two escaped from the jail recreation yard at about 2:45 p.m. and allegedly stole a gold SUV, according to the Washington County Sheriffs Office. Brown is a federal inmate, and Ricketson was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder in the 2020 slayings of Misty Dawn Bishop, 38, of Bristol, Virginia, and Trevor Alexander Sweat, 24, of Bristol, Tennessee. In 2022, Brown and two other men escaped from the Sullivan County Jail in Blountville. He was recaptured in Wilmington, North Carolina, the same city where two other men were found dead after being involved in a robbery in another city. Brown was originally sentenced to 11 years in jail for distribution of methamphetamine. Brown is described as 182-pound white male who is 5 feet, 11 inches tall with gray hair. Ricketson is described as a 212-pound white male who is 5 feet, 8 inches tall with brown hair. Brown and Ricketson were last seen wearing red jumpsuits, possibly wearing white t-shirts. It is believed they are traveling in a stolen gold Cadillac SUV that has visible damage on the rear of the vehicle. It has Virginia license plates of UDZ-6049. The direction of travel is unknown at this time. The sheriffs office encouraged anyone who sees either man or the vehicle to call 911 immediately and to not engage them, because they are considered armed and dangerous. BRISTOL, Tenn. Two people who were part of the Love Canal environmental disaster will be guest speakers at a public meeting tonight. Lois Gibbs and Stephen Lester will join members of HOPE for Bristol and other residents affected by the environmental issues of the Bristol Virginia landfill for a 6 p.m. program at the Slater Community Center. Love Canal was a neighborhood near Niagara Falls, N.Y., best known as the nations first toxic Superfund cleanup site. After serving as a municipal dump site, the canal was used by a chemical company to dump tons of chemical byproducts from manufacturing operations. The environmental issues displaced families and caused widespread, longstanding health problems. The Superfund cleanup there ended in 2004. Lois Gibbs founded the Love Canal Homeowners Association in 1978 and the Center for Health and Environmental Justice in 1981. She is often referred to as the mother of Superfund and is the recipient of several honorary doctorates and prestigious awards. Stephen Lester holds a masters of science in Toxicology from Harvard University and a masters in environmental health from New York University. He serves as Science Director at CHEJ and was involved at Love Canal as technical adviser to the state of New York. Our goal is to draw attention to the ongoing suffering in our community from the Bristol Virginia landfill pollution and to call for a comprehensive safety plan for our residents, according to information from the nonprofit organization. Twin City residents have been dealing with extreme odors, health concerns and other issues related to the city landfill which is currently undergoing millions of dollars worth of state-recommended work to try and address myriad issues. A press conference is planned at 4:30 p.m. Doors open to the public at 5:30 p.m. The Slater Center is located at 325 McDowell St. A bill prohibiting state agencies from contracting with some Chinese-affiliated companies passed a House of Delegates committee on a party-line vote on Monday, even though the panel never discussed the principal goal of the legislation. Instead, the House Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation talked solely about provisions of House Bill 2385 that would codify an executive order that Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed last month to prohibit TikTok, WeChat and other social media applications affiliated with the government of the Peoples Republic of China from being downloaded on state-owned telecommunications devices or networks. We have seen in the past that the Chinese government has used devices or applications, such as TikTok and WeChat, to infiltrate national security interests across the country and in other countries as well, said Del. Emily Brewer, R-Suffolk, the bills sponsor and the committees chair. It is imperative that we protect the security of the commonwealth. Brewer in her introduction of the legislation after Vice Chair James Edmunds, R-Halifax, took over control of the meeting did not mention the provisions of the bill that would prohibit state contracts with companies scrutinized by the Committee for Foreign Investment in the United States for potential national security concerns. Those provisions remained in a substitute version of the bill that the committee passed on an 11-10 vote along political party lines, but they were not discussed. China has become a dominant political target for Virginia Republicans, led by Youngkin, who banned the social media applications in state government days before he abruptly withdrew the state from competing for a $3.5 billion electric vehicle battery factory proposed by Ford Motor Co. in partnership with a Chinese company that owns the patented technology for the lithium ion batteries. Ford was considering a megasite in Pittsylvania County the largest such site in Virginia for the project, but the company said last week that it had not yet made a final decision when the governor pulled Virginia out of the running. In his speech to legislators on the first day of the General Assembly session, Youngkin defended his decision to ban TikTok and WeChat on state communications devices and networks, and warned of the ever-growing threat that the Chinese Communist Party poses to our national security, our privacy and our way of life in Virginia. Ive said before that I want Made in America to mean Made in Virginia, he said. But let me be clear, Made in Virginia cannot be a front for the Chinese Communist Party. Del. Marcus Simon, D-Fairfax, suggested that Youngkins motive in banning Chinese social media apps from state devices and networks was less about state policy than his response to similar moves by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential rival for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. This is not a good subject for legislating. This is not something that ought to go into the code, Simon said. I understand the desire to score some political points and join the big red menace that comes from China as a political movement. Youngkins executive ban on TikTok and other Chinese-owned applications drew support from a prominent Virginia DemocratU.S. Sen. Mark Warner, chairman of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. TikTok has the stamp of approval of the Chinese Communist Party and it poses a serious national security threat due to its data collection practices and its ability to reach and manipulate Americans, said Warner, a former Virginia governor. Simon and other Democrats questioned whether it was necessary or wise to put the executive ban into state code, as Brewer proposed; name specific countries; or limit the prohibition to China instead of including foreign adversaries such as Russia, Iran and Cuba. But no one discussed the bills provisions to prohibit a scrutinized company from receiving state government contracts or even bidding on them. The bill would allow civil penalties of $250,000 or twice the value of the contract for any company that submits false information in certifying that it is not a company scrutinized by the federal committee. Brewer said later in an interview that she had intended to return to the provisions, but the committee and debate went in a different direction. The flow kind of went off the road, she said. Giving a powerful hallucinogen to unwitting subjects, of course, was a dangerously irresponsible thing to do, considering that LSD can cause effects resembling psychosis what hippies in the 1960s referred to as a bad trip. "At the most basic level, the lack of informed consent and the unwitting subject's lack of information on adverse effects and potential consequences is of great concern," Joseph Troiani, Ph.D., explains via email. Troiani is an associate professor of clinical psychology and founding director of the Military Psychology Program at Adler University and retired military intelligence officer, who is familiar with MKULTRA from reading open-source material that has become available. Advertisement "Mind control experiments like these, utilizing LSD (psychoactive drug), administered to individuals unbeknownst to them to see what effect it would have on them, violate all medical standards," Troiani says. "There is a parallel between the CIA's operation and the Tuskegee experiments where African Americans were lied to about being treated for syphilis. The Tuskegee experiment patients were not treated for syphilis; instead, they were given placebo treatment and monitored to see progression of illness. These actions are unethical and criminal in nature." Operation Midnight Climax and the rest of MKULTRA ran into problems in 1963, when a staffer in the office of CIA's Inspector General John S. Earman discovered them while auditing the CIA's technical services division. The IG was alarmed by the impropriety of dosing unsuspecting people with a hallucinogen, according to the Rockefeller Commission report. Worse yet, the IG's probe discovered that some test subjects had become ill for hours or days afterward, and that at least one had to be hospitalized. "A final phase of the testing of MKULTRA products places the rights and interests of U.S. citizens in jeopardy," the IG's July 1963 report noted, adding that if the program was ever exposed it "could induce serious adverse reaction in U.S. public opinion." KANNAPOLIS Cabarrus Health Alliance (CHA) has been recognized by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) for its ability to plan for, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies. CHA is the only health department in North Carolina that has demonstrated these capabilities by again meeting the comprehensive preparedness benchmarks required by Project Public Health Ready (PPHR), a unique partnership between NACCHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CHA maintains its recognition along with a cohort of more than 520 local health departments across the country that have been distinguished for excellence in preparedness through PPHR, either individually or as part of a region. We are extremely proud of our team to have been again recognized by Project Public Health Ready for our high level of preparedness, said Erin Shoe, CHA Public Health director. We learned a lot during the pandemic and continue to work to understand what recovery looks like for our community. Its important that we continue to improve our ability to quickly and effectively respond to any public health crisis. PPHR recognition confirms that Cabarrus Health Alliance has a thorough and coordinated emergency response plan in place and that staff have the training to protect the health of the community during an emergency. Local health departments recognized by PPHR undergo a rigorous evaluation by peer review to assess their ability to meet a set of national standards for public health preparedness. These standards align with federal government requirements and other national best practices. PPHR recognition also requires health departments to collaborate with their state, local, and community partners to develop plans that account for all the constituents in their jurisdictions. Strong collaboration with local emergency management, municipal leaders, first responders, Atrium Health, Kannapolis City and Cabarrus County School, Metrolina Healthcare Preparedness Coalition, as well as entities like Charlotte Motor Speedway and Crossroads Church, ensure that we are able to properly practice and respond during a crisis. Public health preparedness planning, response, and recovery begins at the local level. Local health departments play an essential role in creating healthy, resilient communities that can respond to and recover from disasters, said Lori Tremmel Freeman, Chief Executive Officer. NACCHO commends Cabarrus Health Alliance for being a model of public health emergency preparedness. NACCHO, the voice of the nearly 3,000 local health departments across the country, provides resources to help local health department leaders develop public health policies and programs to ensure that communities have access to vital programs and services that people need to keep them protected from disease and disaster. Its mission is to be a leader, partner, catalyst, and voice for local health departments to ensure the conditions that promote health and equity, combat disease, and improve the quality and length of all lives. For more information on Project Public Health Ready, including recognized sites, project tools, and resources, visit http://www.naccho.org/PPHR. include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?> The past week saw riots in Atlanta and Boston. In Atlanta, the rioters were allegedly up in arms about the death of Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, an environmental activist who was shot and killed by police after he shot a Georgia State Trooper in the stomach. (The officer survived.) Teran and others were protesting the construction of a new police training facility, and according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, protests against that facility have been ongoing and violent for months, with property destroyed, buildings damaged by arson, windows shattered by rocks, police vehicles set on fire, and officers themselves attacked with rocks, glass bottles and other projectiles. Some of the individuals arrested after last week's riots had explosives in their possession. The unrest in Boston was triggered by the shooting death of 20-year-old Sayed Faisal last month. Faisal - who is alleged to have suffered from mental illness - ran at police wielding a short sword, and refused to stand down even after police used "sponge" rounds to try to subdue him. Both the Atlanta and Boston riots have been attributed to Antifa. Georgia congressional Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has introduced legislation that would declare Antifa actors to be "domestic terrorists." Such a designation is long overdue, against Antifa and other groups that increasingly use riots to make their points. American political history has been punctuated with plenty of violence, but the current wave seems to have begun after Donald Trump was elected president in 2016. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. On his Inauguration Day, thousands of rioters clad in black wrought havoc in Washington, D.C., spraying graffiti on buildings, breaking store windows, throwing projectiles that injured several police officers and setting public trash cans and vehicles - including a limousine - on fire. Articles at the time described the riots and destruction as "coordinated" and "organized." Similar anti-Trump protests broke out in cities across the country, with violence occurring in many of them, as well. Despite the destruction in the nation's capital, charges filed against all the Inauguration Day rioters were ultimately dropped. A July 2018 NBC News article described the government's decision as a function of being up against "an intensely coordinated grassroots political opposition network that made Washington the focus of a nationwide support campaign offering free lodging for defendants, legal coordination and other support." One rioter, Dylan Petrohilos, celebrated the defendants' victory, saying, "The solidarity we showed ... won out." Another activist, Sam Menefee-Libey, agreed, saying, "I hope that organizers and people on the left study it." Sure looks that way. Since 2017, Antifa activists have been responsible for countless violent protests. In 2018, Antifa actors showed up at "Unite the Right" political rallies in Washington, D.C., Charlottesville, Virginia and Toronto, Canada, attacking police officers, journalists and random bystanders. 2019 was worse, with Antifa violence percolated up in more locations. Journalist Andy Ngo was beaten by Antifa thugs while covering a protest in Portland, Oregon, in June. In December, Ngo warned in an opinion piece for Newsweek that "the violence that swirls around antifa and those who fall victim to its ideology may only grow in 2020." He did not know how prophetic those words would be. 2020 was the year of riots. The May 25 death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis sparked the #BlackLivesMatter movement and protests across the nation demanding changes to police policies (including the elimination of entire police departments). Public sentiment was further inflamed by the (nonlethal) shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?> In the wake of the "Twitter Files," let's revisit former President Barack Obama's warning last April about the spread of misinformation: "You just have to flood a country's public square with enough raw sewage. You just have to raise enough questions, spread enough dirt, plant enough conspiracy theorizing that citizens no longer know what to believe." Does the "raw sewage" include when Obama falsely said, "The Cambridge police acted stupidly"; that "If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon"; and that racism in America is "still part of our DNA that's passed on"? Does raw sewage include the part in Obama's speech before the United Nations when he invoked the lie of Ferguson; and when Obama embraced Black Lives Matter, a group founded upon the lie that the police engage in systemic racism against blacks? BLM, after the death of George Floyd, encouraged four months of deadly, violent protests even though the lead prosecutor, a black man, said in his opening statement that neither the police nor the Minneapolis police in general were on trial. He never argued that the officer defendant treated Floyd unlawfully due to Floyd's race, and the officer was never charged with a hate crime. Does the raw sewage include President Joe Biden, who, about Charlottesville, insists that then-President Donald Trump "said there were 'some very fine people on both sides'" of the violent and deadly clash in 2017 even though Trump was referring to the debate about Confederate monuments in the public square? Does raw sewage include Hillary Clinton and the late Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., calling Trump's presidency "illegitimate"; when Democratic House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., called Trump's "so-called election victory" a "hoax"; when Jimmy Carter said Trump "was put into office" because of Russia; and when Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Stacey Abrams, claims she lost due to "voter suppression? Yet the media never accused these Democrats of promoting "The Big Lie." SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. Does raw sewage include Clinton claiming Trump, about COVID-19, told people "to drink bleach"; when Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas insists the southern border is "secure"; and when Dems say the Supreme Court's Dobbs ruling "outlaws abortion," though it sends the issue back to the states? Does the raw sewage incude Biden's many false claims, including: that he "had the great honor of being arrested" in South Africa trying to see Nelson Mandela; that he "was raised in the black church"; that he was involved in desegregating restaurants and movie theaters; that his son Beau "died in Iraq"; that his first wife and daughter were killed by a driver "who drank his lunch"; and that the Georgia's new voting law "makes Jim Crow look like Jim Eagle" yet, Georgians voted in record numbers? Does the raw sewage include over 50 "former senior intelligence officials," who days before the 2020 election asserted that the Hunter Biden laptop story had "all the earmarks of a Russian disinformation operation"; that Trump "colluded with Russia" to win the 2016 election; and that on Jan. 6, 2021, Trump committed "insurrection"? Does the raw sewage include the claim that Trump was first to push the "racist (birther) lie" about Obama, when Hillary Clinton's 2008 campaign actually started it? Does raw sewage include Obama's claim that his administration "had no major scandals"? Never mind the Clinton basement unsecured server on which Clinton sent and received classified information in clear violation of the Espionage Act. Yet FBI head James Comey said she "lacked the intent" to break the Espionage Act, though intent is not required. Does raw sewage include the standard Democrat narrative that "the rich don't pay their fair share" in taxes, even though the top 1% of earners pay 40% of the federal income taxes? Does raw sewage include Al Gore's 2006 prediction, "Unless drastic measures to reduce greenhouse gases are taken within the next 10 years, the world will reach a point of no return"? Does the raw sewage include Attorney General Eric Holder referring to voter ID as "pernicious" racism, even though the majority of blacks support voter ID; when Biden called MAGA Republicans "semi-fascist"; and when Clinton called half of Trump supporters "deplorable" and "irredeemable"? (COMMENT, BELOW) SPRINGFIELD Just days after an Effingham County judge granted a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of the states semiautomatic weapons ban on 850 people and four firearms dealers, more gun owners are seeking a reprieve. State Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, confirmed that he and a group of gun owners and dealers are planning to file a lawsuit in Macon County Circuit Court challenging the states ban. Caulkins represents the 88th House District, which includes communities in DeWitt, Macon, McLean and Piatt counties. Like the lawsuit filed in Effingham by former Illinois attorney general candidate Tom DeVore last week, the group is seeking a restraining order that will shield them from being subject to the law. DeVore also filed a new lawsuit Monday challenging the ban in White County, this time with more than 1,600 gun owners and several dozen gun dealers listed as plaintiffs. A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday morning. Caulkins said more than 250 gun owners and about a half-dozen gun dealers have agreed to sign onto his litigation. The group has retained Decatur attorney Jerry Stocks to represent them. The ground has been broken by Tom DeVore, Caulkins said. And there are just people that are hopeful that they can get some relief. Caulkins said he and some others also plan to file a federal lawsuit in the coming days. The Illinois State Rifle Association filed its own suit in federal court last week. And the National Rifle Association said Tuesday afternoon that it had also joined with several other organizations in a lawsuit. When asked about the two-pronged approach, Caulkins said filing in state court would be more expedient in the short term. We believe that its the quickest way for people to get some relief from what many of us believe is an unconstitutional law, Caulkins said. Were filing our federal lawsuits probably tomorrow ... But those lawsuits are going to take, I think, a lot longer to get a judgment. State lawmakers passed and Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the semiautomatic weapons ban into law two weeks ago. Illinois is now the ninth state with a ban on assault-style firearms. Pritzker has defended the law as constitutional and did so again in an appearance in Decatur on Tuesday. Responding to a question about the litigation, he said: These are folks who are in the superminority among the public, superminority in terms of elected officials, people who lost elections who, now seeing that they dont like policy that they couldnt win at the ballot box on, now hope they can take to state court and win with a local judge, the governor said. The matter will play out in state and federal court in the coming months, he said. I think that theyll lose in the end. This is a constitutional law, Pritzker said. Its been in effect in eight other states. Were simply the ninth state to have passed, signed and put into law an assault weapons ban that will save lives. Those who owned such weapons prior to enactment of the ban are grandfathered in, but must register their serial numbers with the state police by Jan. 1, 2024. Several gun owners, including some state lawmakers, have said they will not comply with the new law. Dozens of sheriffs across the state, including a number in Central Illinois, have said they will refuse to enforce the ban. Long term, the legal battle is likely to be played out in federal court, where the constitutionality of gun restrictions is uncertain following the June 2022 decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, in which the court established a new process for evaluating Second Amendment cases. After three shooting attacks damaged three North Carolina utility facilities in the past two months, a bill filed Wednesday in the N.C. House aims at protecting the states electric substations from vandalism and other security threats. The proposed legislation by Republican Ben Moss of Richmond County would require utilities to operate security systems at substations 24 hours per day, but offers no specifics about the makeup of those systems. On Dec. 3, two Duke Energy stations in Moore County were damaged, leading to power outages for about 45,000 customers during a cold snap that sent temperatures below zero. In a similar incident Jan. 17, EnergyUnited crews responding to an alarm found that a transformer in Thomasville had been damaged by gunfire. There were no outages tied to that incident, EnergyUnited said. The Randolph County Sheriffs Office said investigators found more than two-dozen projectile holes in the transformer. The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force and the State Bureau of Investigation are investigating the transformer attacks. No arrests have been made or suspects identified. Q: Do you know if AARP will be offering its tax preparation service again this year? M.F. Answer: Yes, it will. The Tax Aide Program of AARP offers free tax preparation by trained and certified volunteers. Everyone is welcome regardless of age or income. Some complicated returns might be beyond the programs scope of work, but people are seldom turned away. Clients do not need to be a member of AARP to receive tax preparation help. The first step is to obtain a tax packet by printing one from www.wstaxaide.com or by picking one up at the Reynolda Branch Library, Southside Branch Library, or Clemmons Branch Library Follow the instructions in the tax packet, including scheduling an appointment by calling 336-777-6189. Both spouses must be present if filing jointly. Please take only one packet per return. Appointments will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the days listed below, at one of the following library branches: Monday and Tuesday at Reynolda Manor Branch, 2839 Fairlawn Dr., Winston-Salem Wednesday at Clemmons Branch, 6365 James St., Clemmons Thursday and Friday at Southside Branch, 3185 Buchanan St., Winston-Salem Walk-ins will be accommodated if possible. You must be at the library branch by noon at the latest. Obtain the tax packet above, follow the instructions. Bring the tax packet and all tax documents with you when you come to the library. Pet supply give away Saturday Fur-Ever Friends of NC will have its Share the Warmth event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Share the Warmth will provide free pet food and wood shavings for lower income families on a first come-first served basis. There will be two locations, Flow Subaru, 485 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem, and Central Tabernacle Church, 715 Waughtown St., Winston-Salem. Fur-Ever Friends is a 501 3 non-profit organization that is dedicated to improving the lives of animals in the Triad. Warning from the BBB Lechelle Yates, a spokeswoman for the Better Business Bureau of Central and Northwest North Carolina, said that the agency is warning area residents about an electrician who is working without a license. James Born, owner Born Electric Company out of Ramseur, states hes licensed, but according to the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors, he is not, Yates said in a press release. In addition, in 2020, the state permanently barred him from doing electrical work on his own in North Carolina until he received a license. Also, the company has earned an F rating with BBB. Yates said that the N.C. State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors would like anyone who has had electrical work done by Born since August 2020 to file a complaint at https://arls-public.ncbeec.org/Complaint/New. Greensboro and Guilford County would have the ability to directly pursue Medicaid expansion for their communities through a U.S. House Democratic bill. H.R. 31, titled Cover Outstanding Vulnerable Expansion-Eligible Residents Now (COVER Now) Act, was submitted Jan. 9 by U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas. It has 42 co-sponsors, including Rep. Kathy Manning, D-6th, and all seven of North Carolinas U.S. House Democratic representatives. However, political analysts said the odds are very low that the Republican U.S. House majority would act on the legislation even though 14 red states have expanded their Medicaid programs. North Carolina is one of 11 states along with Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming that have not expanded their Medicaid program. There are bill co-sponsors from nine of those states. H.R. 31 would allow a federal government bypass of legislative roadblocks in those states. Unlike some states that expanded through a voter referendum, that is currently not an option in North Carolina. Expansion currently must be approved through the Republican-controlled General Assembly that has been cool, if not ice cold, to most Democratic expansion bills. This landmark legislation authorizes the (federal) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to work directly with counties, cities and other political subdivisions to expand Medicaid coverage, according to a news release from Manning. It would, for the first time, allow local leaders to help their vulnerable residents in states that have declined to accept federal resources for Medicaid expansion. Several studies have shown that North Carolina could have between 450,000 and 650,000 potential Medicaid beneficiaries upon expansion. An Urban Institute report on Medicaid expansion, released in November, said it would include about 30,000 in three-county Greensboro-High Point metro: 15,000 whites, 11,000 Blacks, 2,000 Hispanics and 2,000 listed as other. By comparison, there would be 29,000 projected for the five-county Winston-Salem metro: 16,500 whites, 8,500 Blacks, 3,000 Hispanics and 1,000 listed in the other category. However, that would still leave about 54,000 residents in both metros without health insurance coverage. H.R. 31 goals Medicaid currently covers 2.71 million North Carolinians, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. States can expand Medicaid eligibility to nonelderly people with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level under the federal Affordable Care Act. Those who might be eligible under the expanded program are between the ages of 18 and 64 and earn too much to qualify for Medicaid coverage, but not enough to purchase coverage on the private insurance marketplace. Among the bills goals are: * Authorizing CMS to contract directly with counties and other political subdivisions to establish demonstration projects expanding Medicaid coverage to their residents; * Allowing participating entities to receive the same deal previously made available to states 100% federal funding for the first three years and a gradual reduction to 90% federal funding by year seven and thereafter; * Permitting entities to apply individually or jointly if they wish to establish a regional expansion project; * Keeping existing Medicaid rules and systems in place and applying them to local expansion programs; * Requiring states to cooperate and authorize access to state Medicaid systems for participating entities, with additional federal administrative Medicaid funding for cooperation and subject to federal penalties for non-cooperation; and * Ensuring that should a state expand, eligible beneficiaries enrolled in a local expansion program would be automatically enrolled into the state Medicaid program. Slim odds During the last two years, Congress enacted measures to give states extra incentives to expand Medicaid, said John Dinan, a political science professor at Wake Forest University who is a national expert on state legislatures. Congress also considered, but failed, to enact some measures that would provide direct coverage to persons who would be eligible for Medicaid expansion in states that have declined to take that step. Those bills were considered by a Congress where Democrats held majorities in the U.S. House and Senate, Dinan said. Now that Democrats have lost majority control of the House, further legislation encouraging Medicaid expansion is unlikely to move very far in Congress, Dinan said. Zagros Madjd-Sadjadi, an economics professor at Winston-Salem State University, said that with an all-Democratic sponsorship to date, I give the chances of this legislation less than a 20% chance of clearing the House and that may be generous. If it clears the House, it will likely become law, but I seriously doubt this will go forward in its current form. The Republicans in the U.S. House want to cut spending, not increase it. Stalemate The General Assembly begins its 2023 session in earnest Wednesday with Senate Republicans holding a 30-20 supermajority and House Republicans with a 71-49 majority thats one member shy of a supermajority. Senate Republicans can override a Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper veto if all 30 GOP senators vote in favor. Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, and House speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, voiced during the 2022 session their support for separate Medicaid expansion bills. However, they and other Republican legislative leaders have been unable to reach a compromise on whether to include certificate-of-need reform within expansion legislation. Manning noted the General Assemblys inaction and/or unwillingness to expand Medicaid. Blocking health care access disproportionately affects communities of color, Manning said. After years of Republican-led obstruction, Im proud to cosponsor the COVER Now Act to help North Carolinians in need get the health care coverage they deserve. Rep. Don Davis, D-1st District, and a former six-term state senator, said the General Assemblys failure to expand Medicaid ultimately prevents more than 95,000 eastern North Carolinians from accessing lifesaving health care and bringing more than 3,000 jobs. I am proud to join my colleagues from the non-expansion states to ensure all citizens across eastern North Carolina have the resources they need to access health care. Turning point? A pivotal turning point in Berger and Moore agreeing to consider Medicaid expansion was the potential for the federal pandemic relief law to provide North Carolina with $1.5 billion over two years to treat traditional Medicaid patients. That funding is contingent on the Republican-controlled legislature agreeing to not put stipulations on Medicaid enrollees. The CDC under the Biden administration has denied Medicaid expansion waivers from several states, such as Arkansas, Georgia, Michigan, New Hampshire and Texas, that would have required new enrollee to pay a monthly premium and/or meet a work requirement. Legislative fiscal research analysis staff have told legislators they did not believe North Carolina would be eligible for the relief money if House Bill 149 contains the work requirement provision and certificate-of-need reform. Even with the urging of Cooper, state Health Secretary Kody Kinsley and the N.C. Healthcare Association, loggerheads remain on whether to include Senate requested certificate-of-need reform into any expansion legislation. Berger said the plan is to pass HB149 with the work requirement included, and then well deal with whether or not we can convince the Biden administration or the courts that this is the right thing to do. Moore supports a clear Medicaid expansion bill in the revamped Senate Bill 408. We believe this bill will help address some really critical needs while being fiscally responsible to taxpayers and without incentivizing a person not to get a job, Moore said. Those federal funds would free up DHHS to re-direct General Fund dollars to other priorities; $1 billion would be used to address substance abuse and mental health. Local beneficiaries The Urban Institute estimated in a November report at least 346,000 potential beneficiaries in North Carolina if it occurred in 2023. The institutes report was commissioned by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This single policy change would have a profound effect on hundreds of thousands of people in these two states, said Katherine Hempstead, the foundations senior policy adviser. Previous research has shown health coverage saves lives, improves individuals financial security, and improves hospital finances. According to the report, without Medicaid expansion, the Winston-Salem areas uninsurance rate of 11.6% is somewhat below the state average, and it would remain below the state average with expansion at 7.6%. For Greensboro-High Point, its uninsurance rate with expansion would be the lowest in North Carolina at 7.4%. Increasing coverage through Medicaid expansion would have significant benefits for North Carolina, moving the state with the ninth highest uninsurance rate in the nation to the 24th highest, said Michael Simpson, principal research associate at the Urban Institute. In Winston-Salem, Greensboro and three rural areas of North Carolina, around one-third of people without health insurance would gain coverage. Expiring in April The report does not factor in about 589,000 North Carolinians who have gained Medicaid coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic through federal public-health relief legislation. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a national nonprofit health-care advocacy group, Congress enacted the Families First Coronavirus Response Act soon after the pandemic erupted in the U.S. in mid-March 2020. Part of the act is a requirement that Medicaid programs keep people continuously enrolled through the end of the month in which the COVID-19 public health emergency ends, in exchange for enhanced federal funding. That has been the pathway where many of the additional Medicaid beneficiaries in N.C. gained coverage during the pandemic The latest expectation is that the Biden administration will set an April 1 end date after several extensions. For nearly three years, the public health emergency has allowed millions of people to continue to receive Medicaid coverage, even if their circumstances have changed and they no longer meet the eligibility rules, said Louise Norris, health policy analyst for Healthinsurance.org. Those people identified as ineligible, as well as people who fail to respond to renewal notices, may be disenrolled from Medicaid over the coming months. "That would be a huge change for them," Norris said. "Medicaid beneficiaries need to be aware this is happening and be prepared to act if they are at risk of losing coverage or are disenrolled. States will begin sending notifications to Medicaid enrollees, either informing them that theyre no longer eligible or requesting information to help the state determine their eligibility. Everyone with Medicaid will have their eligibility re-checked during the 12-month period that starts in April, and although most enrollees will remain eligible for Medicaid, millions will not," Norris said. "We strongly urge Medicaid enrollees to understand as soon as possible whether they qualify for Medicaid going forward. "If theyre at risk of disenrollment, research about replacement coverage should start as soon as possible, and certainly as soon as they receive notice that their eligibility is being re-determined. A Winston-Salem woman was arrested Wednesday night in connection with the stabbing death of a man earlier the same day, authorities said. Crystal Lakita Spencer James, 32, of East Devonshire Street is charged with murder in the death of Archie Nash, Winston-Salem police said. James was being held Wednesday night in the Forsyth County Jail with no bond allowed, police said. James is scheduled to appear Thursday in Forsyth District Court. Nash, 63, was stabbed to death inside a home in the 800 block of North Cameron Avenue, police said. Nash was found dead by police about 5:30 a.m. in a house at 820 N. Cameron Ave. Winston-Salem police believe Nash was stabbed during a disturbance with an acquaintance. Nash's death is the city's sixth homicide so far this year, as compared to two homicides during this time in 2022, police said. Anyone with information regarding this incident can call Winston-Salem police at 336-773-7700, Crime Stoppers at 336-727-2800 or its Spanish line at 336-728-3904. Crime Stoppers of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County is on Facebook. The Text-A-Tip program at 336-276-1717 allows people to text tips, photos and videos to the police. A King woman was arrested Wednesday, accused of throwing hot soup at a young employee at a Mayflower Seafood Restaurant in Rural Hall, authorities said. Shannon Annette Adkins, 50, is charged with misdemeanor simple assault, the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office said. The incident happened about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the restaurant at 665 Montroyal Road, the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office said. Maria Hodges, the owner of the restaurant, said the customer threw the soup after her card had been declined multiple times. The customer who threw the soup left the scene before deputies arrived. She turned herself in at the sheriff's office Wednesday, and was arrested. A Forsyth County magistrate allowed Adkins to sign a written promise to appear in Forsyth District Court, the sheriff's office said. A next court date was unavailable. The four finalists for Winston-Salems next police chief stressed their experience and their plans Wednesday night to reduce local crime, especially gun violence, and to fill the vacancies among sworn officers on the police force. The finalists are William Penn Jr., Jose Manny Gomez, and Wilson S. Weaver II, all assistant chiefs with the Winston-Salem Police Department, and Chief Scott C. Booth of the Danville Police Department. The candidates discussed the police chiefs job during a public forum at the Salem Lake Marina in the citys southeastern section. More than 200 people attended. A panel of five local residents asked the candidates about their qualifications for the job, their plans if they are hired as the police chief and their strategies to reduce crime in Winston-Salem. Penn and Weaver told the audience that they are Winston-Salem natives, and they are committed to serving the citys residents and the police department. Gomez, a native of Brownsville, Texas, said he grew up in Winston-Salem. I love this agency, and I love our officers, Gomez said. I believe I can lead from the front. Penn, 48, commands the Investigative Services Bureau and has served as District 1 commander, support services commander and has worked with the foot patrol, vice and narcotics and crime prevention divisions. He has served with the police department for 25 years. Gomez, 43, leads the Criminal Intelligence Bureau, which houses the special investigations division, the firearms investigation and intelligence division and the Real Time Crime Center. He is the first Latino assistant chief in the Winston-Salem Police Department. Gomez joined the Winston-Salem Police Department in 1999. He began as a cadet while a student at Forsyth Technical Community College. Gomez has served in the Field Services Bureau and the Special Operations Division and with the street crimes unit and the SWAT Team. Weaver, 60, leads the Field Services Bureau. He specializes in the response, mitigation and resolution of high-risk incidents. Weaver has served as lead instructor for anti-terrorism/homeland defense and in special operations, professional standards and the patrol division. He has been with the department for 38 years. Booth, 51, has served as chief of police in Danville, Va., since 2018, where he has worked to reduce violent crime. Booth spent nearly 20 years with the Richmond Police Department, where he worked as both a patrol and undercover officer, and a detective in the vice/narcotics unit. Booth has also served as chief of police with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority in Washington D.C. and was the deputy federal security director for the Charlotte region of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Booth said he has served under six police chiefs during his career as a Richmond police officer. Im one outsider up here, Booth said as he sat at a table with three other candidates. Penn said he would meet with local community leaders and residents to look for ways to reduce crime in the city. The community and the police department must address factors that produce crime, such as poverty and a lack of connectivity that some people feel in Winston-Salem, Penn said. You build trust through the community, Penn said. The police department needs to implement its programs designed to reduce violence, Gomez said. Officers need to arrest alleged shooters and put them in jail, he said. The citys police department should help the community tackle problems such as food deserts in eastern Winston-Salem and persistent gun violence, Weaver said. Someone is shot nearly every day in the city, Weaver said. Booth praised the police departments real time crime center and said he would use his experience to help Winston-Salem reduce its violent crimes. Booth said he would start programs that build people up and not just arrest them. After the forum, Penn told a Journal reporter that WSPDs professional standards division and the State Bureau of Investigation investigated a previous allegation by his ex-wife that he assaulted her in 2019. The outcomes of those investigations showed that Penn had not violated any department policies or committed any crime regarding that matter, he said. Penn declined to address directly his ex-wifes allegations. During the forum, the candidates said they would work to hire more officers to fill a shortage of 141 sworn officers. They said the city needs to offer higher salaries and better benefits to potential recruits and current officers to counter offers they will get from police departments across North Carolina. After the forum, City Manager Lee Garrity said he hopes to hire the next police by early next week. The successful candidate must demonstrate they have a plan to fill the shortage of sworn officers and have an effective strategy to reduce gun violence in Winston-Salem, Garrity said. State legislators didnt take long Wednesday to reintroduce several controversial 2022 bills in particular medical marijuana and sheriff cooperation with ICE during the first official working day of the 2023 session. Bipartisan Senate Bill 3 is the latest version of the NC Compassionate Care Act with Sen. Paul Lowe, D-Forsyth, still one of three primary sponsors. Republican-sponsored House Bill 10, filed by Rep. Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, was titled Require Sheriffs to Cooperate with ICE. ICE stands for the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement division of U.S. Department of Homeland Security. On Jan. 31, Senate Bill 50 was filed containing the same language. Because Senate Republicans hold a 30-20 supermajority, it is likely the bill will clear the Senate with a veto-proof margin with Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. However, SB 50 and HB 10 would require the approval of at least one House Democrat to attain a 72-48 veto proof status at full attendance. Meanwhile, the bipartisan Hands Free NC distracted-driver bill resurfaced as Senate Bill 15. HB10 could be among the first if not the first tests of whether House Democrats are able and willing to uphold a Gov. Roy Coopers veto of a divisive Republican bill. HB10 is essentially the same legislation as SB101, which would require all sheriffs to hold suspects in certain crimes for at least 48 hours when their immigration status is unknown or they are in the country illegally. The bill has been placed by House speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, on what appears to be a similar fast track process as SB101. It is only be required to be heard in the Judiciary 2 and Rules and Operations committee before a House floor vote. Sen. Chuck Edwards, R-Henderson, and primary sponsor of SB101, said the legislation was necessary because a number of sheriffs have refused to cooperate with ICE agents. Edwards won election to the U.S. House in November. The legislation has been opposed by several urban Democratic sheriffs, including Bobby Kimbrough of Forsyth County. The start of the bill filing season comes with Republicans holding a 30-20 supermajority in the Senate and being one vote shy at 71-49 of a supermajority in the House. When Republicans had super-majorities in both chambers during the 2017-18 sessions, Cooper had 23 of 28 vetoes overridden. By comparison, during the 2019-22 sessions, Cooper vetoed 47 bills with none overridden, including SB101. After being dormant since March 2021, SB101 was fast-tracked in the final week of the regular 2022 session. Sen. Joyce Krawiec, R-Forsyth, was among the cosponsors. The controversial bill cleared the House by a 65-49 vote on June 30 and the Senate by a 25-19 vote on July 1 both along partisan lines. A Cooper veto was expected considering he vetoed a similar Republican-sponsored bill in August 2019. This law is only about scoring political points and using fear to divide North Carolinians, Cooper said. As the states former top law enforcement officer, I know that current law already allows the state to incarcerate and prosecute dangerous criminals regardless of immigration status. This bill is unconstitutional and weakens law enforcement in North Carolina by mandating that sheriffs do the job of federal agents, using local resources that could hurt their ability to protect their counties. Medical marijuana Senate Bill 3 would legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes. SB711 passed the Senate by a 37-6 vote on June 6. However, House Republican leadership shelved the bill for the session two days later. Legislative analysts caution that House Republicans tend to be more conservative on social issues, such as medical marijuana. Lowe said Wednesday that the re-filed version is essentially the same at SB711. The legislation is designed to help people who often cant help themselves, Sen. Bill Rabon, R-Brunswick, primary sponsor of the legislation, said during the 2022 Senate floor debate. Although Rabon did not use medical marijuana as part of his treatment for cancer, he said his own experience, coupled with discussions with other cancer patients, convinced him of the need for making the option available. It can help a number of people at the end of their life at a time that they need compassion what time they have left should be as comfortable and as easy as they can be, Rabon said. Theres not anyone in this room who has not had someone in their family, or a close friend, that could have benefited from this legislation. Jordan Monaghan, press secretary for Cooper, said studies have shown medical marijuana can offer many benefits to some who suffer from chronic conditions, particularly veterans. Hands Free NC The filing of Senate Bill 15 represents the third attempt at legislation that would bar people from using handheld devices of any sort while driving. Primary bill sponsor Sen. Jim Burgin, R-Johnston, has said the legislation is needed as a public-health safety measure akin to when seat belts were made mandatory. Using a wireless communication device not only affects you, but a lot of other people when you are distracted while driving, said Burgin, who describes himself as a Libertarian on most social regulatory issues. In 2019, the first bill attempt House Bill 144 cleared the House by a 92-23 vote, but was never addressed in a Senate committee. In 2022, Senate Bill 20 was not addressed in any Senate committee. Even though HB144 was approved by a wide margin in 2019, there was impassioned discussion about the effectiveness of the potential legislation, particularly whether it represented overreach or the penalties were too weak. SB15 contains fines of between $100 and $200 and between one and two insurance points for multiple offenses. The bill would prohibit driving while using a wireless communication device that is held in the drivers hand. It also prohibits using such a device if it is supported somewhere on the drivers body unless it is part of wearable technology that does not require physical support. The bill also reinforces the ban on texting and also bans driving while watching a video, movie or communication via video. There are exceptions for first-responders, law enforcement and emergency medical personnel. There is overwhelming statewide support for hands-free while driving legislation, according to the Meredith College poll released in March 2022. More than 85% of survey respondents strongly or somewhat support a hands-free state law about the same percentage of support as was found in a 2018 Meredith poll. The March poll found that 83% of respondents agreed that using a mobile phone while driving is a privilege that can have limits placed on it. You can read the full text of this article if you: Select an option Log In Buy Article Content & Permissions Access through Ovid Trends in the modernization of state laws and regulations governing physician associate/assistant (PA) practice reflect a move toward greater autonomy and less required physician supervision.1 The movement, termed optimal team practice (OTP) and endorsed by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA), aims to facilitate the removal of the legally mandated relationship between a PA and a specific physician from state-level PA statutes and regulations.2 Historically, PAs have practiced in a delegated supervisory model, which allows for early-career support with ever-increasing levels of autonomy as their experience levels and their collaborative physicians' (CPs') confidence in their abilities grow.3 Accordingly, students are socialized during PA training to practice medicine under physician supervision or in collaboration with physicians.4 Although greater practice autonomy may inspire and motivate experienced PAs, early-career PAs may consider the prospect of less mandated supervision undesirable. In their systematic review of literature examining employee self-identity at work, Atewologun and colleagues found that employees identified more strongly as followers early in their career and less so later on.5 This suggests that newer PAs may anticipate and be satisfied practicing with less autonomy, but experienced PAs may expect expanding levels of independence as their careers mature. Whether the relationship between experience level and autonomy is congruent may influence PA professional well-being. Professional well-being is defined as a job-related psychologic state that reflects one's quality of life at work and largely refers to how engaged employees are at work.6 Studies conducted among healthcare workers have demonstrated correlations between poor professional well-being and problematic outcomes for workers and their professional colleagues, employing organizations, and patients.7,8 Expanding knowledge about PA well-being at work is valuable because poor professional well-being poses risks for PAs at multiple levels of the healthcare system. Results from PA studies have demonstrated significant correlations between autonomy and well-being. Filipova conducted a multivariate analysis of satisfaction levels of rural PAs and found that as the percentage of patients not discussed with their CPs decreased, the likelihood of PAs' satisfaction with their CPs, workload, and salary increased.9 Benson and colleagues evaluated burnout among rural PAs and found statistically significant correlations between each burnout dimension (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and sense of personal accomplishment) and workload control.10 In a mixed-methods study of PAs and NPs working in rural Washington EDs, 31% of respondents listed autonomy as a work setting benefit.11 Bell and colleagues discovered that increased personal accomplishment of PAs in emergency medicine correlated with increased perceived autonomy.12 In a study of PAs in cardiology, using a tool validated only among NPs, DePalma and colleagues concluded that when compared with other job factors, those related to challenge and autonomy were most satisfying for respondents.13 Autonomy is a consistent job satisfier across PA well-being studies. PAs rely heavily on CPs for patient care coordination, professional development, and interpersonal support, and CP relationships also may influence PA well-being.14,15 Three studies have examined how the relationship with a CP affects PA job attitudes. Bell and colleagues analyzed the content of optional free-text survey comments and determined that among a sample of PAs in emergency medicine, those who were burned out were more likely to feel negative about the relationship with their CP.12 Also, decreased CP satisfaction among respondents correlated with increased emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and self-reported burnout. In a study of PAs in oncology by Tetzlaff and colleagues, respondents who selected neutral, disagree, or strongly disagree to statements about feeling valued, encouraged, and recognized as having contributed to the practice by their CPs demonstrated a 7.85 times higher risk of meeting burnout criteria.15 A study conducted among PAs and NPs in Texas demonstrated that their job satisfaction and satisfaction with how they were supervised increased as their CPs employed more transformational, rather than transactional or passive-avoidant, aspects of leadership.16 These studies justify further exploration of the effect of CP relationships on PA job attitudes. This study examined the influence of autonomy, career length, and the quality of the CP relationship on PA professional well-being. The study addresses the following research questions: Does PA autonomy , measured by the percentage of time PAs spend consulting with CPs, mediate the relationship between experience level and professional well-being ? , measured by the percentage of time PAs spend consulting with CPs, mediate the relationship between experience level and ? Is the relationship between career length, PA autonomy , and professional well-being moderated by the quality of the CP relationship? METHODOLOGY Setting, population, and sampling procedures A subset of items from a larger annual dataset gathered in 2018 by the AAPA was used to conduct a quantitative secondary analysis. The AAPA research department granted permission to use the dataset through an application process. The target population was all practicing PAs. The AAPA included data gathered from nonretired PAs residing in the United States who had valid email addresses.17 A link to the survey was posted on social media and emailed to 78,244 PAs who were either current members of the AAPA or whose email addresses were on file with the AAPA.17 Data were gathered between February 2 and March 2, 2018.17 For the subset of items used in this study, responses varied from 7,150 to 9,906, resulting in a response rate range of 9.14% to 12.66%. An a priori sample size was calculated using the GPower sample size calculator. A recommended sample size of 55 to 85 was determined using a Cohen f squared effect size of 0.15, an alpha error probability of 0.05, and a power of 0.8. A study that used data from a previous version of the AAPA's annual survey endorsed its generalizability to all practicing PAs in the United States.18 To further assess the generalizability of the current sample, the sex, race, ethnicity, and specialty of respondents were compared with data about certified PAs published by the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).19,20 The sample's sex breakdown was equivalent to that of all certified PAs. Discrepancies, although small, existed between the national population of PAs and the sample in terms of racial, ethnic, and specialty composition (Tables 1 and 2). TABLE 1. - Descriptive statistics of sample demographic variables and comparative population19 Descriptive statistics of sample demographic variables and comparative population Demographic category Sample % Sample n NCCPA 2018 % NCCPA 2018 n Sex Male 30.7 2,721 31.2 40,900 Female 69.3 6,152 68.8 90,239 Total 8,873 131,139 Race White 85.7 7,624 86.9 94,827 Black 2.5 222 3.6 3,951 Native American/Alaska Native 0.4 35 0.4 411 Asian 4.9 435 5.8 6,295 Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander 0.3 25 0.3 335 Two or more 2.2 194 - - Other 1.7 149 3 3,321 Prefer not to answer 2.4 213 - - Total 8,897 109,140 Ethnicity Hispanic or Latino 5.4 482 6.3 7,078 Not Hispanic or Latino 92.4 8,239 93.7 104,550 Two or more N/A N/A 0 299 Prefer not to answer 2.2 192 0 4,925 Total 8,913 116,852 NCCPA does not report PAs identifying as two or more races or those preferring not to answer. Percentages for race responses were rounded up to 1 decimal point. As displayed, the total percentage is 100.1%. This discrepancy is due to the large range of results, which required 3 decimal points to total 100%. TABLE 2. - Descriptive statistics of sample practice variables and comparative population19 Descriptive statistics of sample practice variables and comparative population Practice variable Sample % Sample n NCCPA 2018 % NCCPA 2018 n Setting Outpatient clinic or physician office 53.2 4,796 - - Hospital 35.1 3,166 - - Urgent care 5.5 494 - - School/college/university educator 1.6 145 - - Occupational medicine/work site 0.7 62 - - School/college/university clinic 0.6 58 - - Other setting 3.3 302 - - Specialty Primary care 24 2,161 25.8 25,487 Internal medicine subspecialty 11.8 1,058 10.5 10,463 Pediatric subspecialty 1.1 102 1.1 1,334 Surgical subspecialty 25.4 2,301 23.3 23,015 Emergency medicine 9 813 13 12,860 All other specialties 26.5 2,391 25.9 25,404 No medical specialty 2.2 201 - - Changed in the last year Employer (yes) 12.4 984 - - Specialty (yes) 6.4 511 - - NCCPA reports different settings than those used by the AAPA, so NCCPA settings are not included. NCCPA does not report PAs identifying no medical specialty or the percentage of PAs who recently changed employer or specialty, so neither of these categories were included. Instrumentation and operationalization of constructs The 16-item Professional Fulfillment Index (PFI) was used to measure professional fulfillment and burnout.21 The entire PFI and each of its three subscales, which measure professional fulfillment, work exhaustion, and interpersonal disengagement, have demonstrated moderately strong and statistically significant correlations with the Maslach Burnout InventoryHuman Services Survey (MBI-HSS), a gold standard burnout measurement tool.21 Three previous studies have established the PFI's internal reliability.21-23 Instructions for the PFI's professional fulfillment subscale read: How true do you feel the following statements are about you at work during the past 2 weeks? and a sample item is My work is satisfying to me.21 Response options include not at all, somewhat true, moderately true, very true, and completely true and are scored as 0 to 4. Instructions for the burnout subscale, which comprise the work exhaustion and interpersonal disengagement items, read: To what degree have you experienced the following? and a sample item is During the past 2 weeks I have felt emotionally exhausted at work.21 Response options for the burnout subscale are not at all, very little, moderately, a lot, and extremely and also are scored as 0 to 4. Established basis for professional fulfillment is an average item score of 3 or greater on the associated subscale and for burnout is an average item score of 1.33 or greater on the burnout subscale.21 Other study variables Other variables in the study were constructed from single items in the larger dataset. The predictor variable experience level was used as an indicator of career progression. As part of its salary survey analysis, the AAPA defines early career as PAs who have been practicing from zero to 5 years. For this study, however, experience level was not analyzed as a nominal variable categorized as early, mid-, or late-career but instead as a continuous variable to identify the linear relationship between experience level and other variables. Autonomy was measured with the item What percentage of your clinical time do you spend consulting with your CP? It was collected as a continuous variable in the form of a raw percentage. A single item was used to evaluate perceptions of the CP relationship. The item was Rate your relationship with your collaborating physician, and response options included extremely positive, somewhat positive, neither positive nor negative, somewhat negative, and extremely negative. This item was only administered to respondents who identified their primary role as clinician (S. Kolhoff, senior research analyst with the AAPA, personal communication, July 6, 2022). Sex and items inquiring into whether respondents switched jobs or specialties within the past year were used as covariates. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 25. Descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation, bivariate linear regression, and multiple linear regression with moderated mediation were conducted. Cohen standard criteria were used to determine effect sizes.24 A small effect was indicated by r = 0.1 to 0.3 or -0.1 to -0.3, a medium effect size by r = 0.3 to 0.5 or -0.3 to -0.5, and a large effect size as r = 0.5 to 1 or -0.5 to -1.24 Moderated mediation made it possible to calculate the indirect effect of a predictor variable on an outcome variable through a mediator at different values of a moderator.25 The study was approved by the Walden University institutional review board. The AAPA employed several ethical best practices during data collection and storage. Respondents gave informed consent and were notified about the possibility that their deidentified data would be released to third-party researchers under password protection. RESULTS Responses varied from 7,150 to 9,906, resulting in a response rate range of 9.14% to 12.66% for the subset of items used in the study. Table 3 includes descriptive statistics for the predictor and outcome variables. Sample respondents reported a mean career length of 11.23 years (SD = 9.632, range = 0 to 48 years). Mean percentage of time spent consulting with a CP, at times shortened to percent consult CP for ease of reporting, was 17.93% (SD = 21.20, range = 0% to 100%). Mean relationship with CP was 4.56, or between (4) somewhat positive and (5) extremely positive (SD = .75, range = 1 to 5). TABLE 3. - Descriptive statistics of predictor, mediator, moderator, and outcome variables Descriptive statistics of predictor, mediator, moderator, and outcome variables Variable type n Mean SD Range Minimum Maximum Predictor Years of experience 8,761 11.23 9.632 0 48 Potential mediator % consult CP ( autonomy ) 7,150 17.93 21.203 0 100 Potential moderator Relationship with CP 7,253 4.56 .749 1 5 Outcome PFI burnout average 7,662 1.04 .656 0 4 PFI professional fulfillment average 7,710 2.66 .874 0 4 Basis for high professional fulfillment was an average item score of 3 or greater and high burnout was an average item score of 1.33.8 Basis for high professional fulfillment was an average item score of 3 or greater and highwas an average item score of 1.33. Results for both professional fulfillment and burnout were reported as scale averages. With a mean professional fulfillment scale item average of 2.66 (SD = 0.87, range = 0 to 4) and a mean burnout scale item average of 1.04 (SD = 0.66, range 0 to 4), sample respondents demonstrated neither professional fulfillment (scale average of 3 or greater) nor burnout (scale average of 1.33 or greater). Pearson correlation analysis Pearson correlation coefficients (r) for dyad relationships between the covariates and predictor, mediator, moderator, and outcome variables are displayed in Table 4. Several statistically significant correlations emerged. Most notable were the correlations between the relationship with CP and PA well-being, which demonstrated the largest effect sizes of all variables examined. TABLE 4. - Pearson correlation of covariate, predictor, mediator, moderator, and outcome variables Pearson correlation of covariate, predictor, mediator, moderator, and outcome variables Variable Results Sex Changed employer Changed specialty Years % consult CP CP relationship Burnout average Professional fulfillment average Sex (1 = female) Pearson correlation 1 P value n 8,873 Changed employer Pearson correlation 0.027 1 P value .017 n 7,923 7,961 Changed specialty Pearson correlation 0.033 0.517 1 P value .003 0 n 7,923 7,961 7,961 Years Pearson correlation -0.155 -0.052 -0.071 1 P value 0 0 0 n 8,714 7,961 7,961 8,761 % consult CP Pearson correlation 0.072 -0.013 0.049 -0.156 1 P value 0 .258 0 0 n 7,120 7,150 7,150 7,150 7,150 Relationship with CP Pearson correlation -0.069 -0.063 -0.021 0.039 0.053 1 P value 0 0 .074 .001 0 n 7,221 7,253 7,253 7,253 7,049 7,253 Burnout average Pearson correlation 0.052 -0.011 -0.014 -0.104 -0.008 -0.279 1 P value 0 0.335 .233 0 .515 0 n 7,628 7,662 7,662 7,662 7,054 7,144 7,662 Professional fulfillment average Pearson correlation -0.083 -0.026 -0.015 0.071 -0.01 0.356 -0.584 1 P value 0 .023 .196 0 .38 0 0 n 7,676 7,710 7,710 7,710 7,065 7,164 7,652 7,710 Bivariate linear regression Bivariate linear regression was conducted to evaluate the direct effects of the predictor variable, and each potential mediator and moderator variable, on the outcome variables, controlling for covariates (Table 5). Years of experience demonstrated statistically significant direct effects on both professional fulfillment (beta = 0.059, SE = 0.001, P < .001) and burnout (beta = -0.100, SE = 0.001, P < .001). The direct effects of the percentage of clinical time that PAs spent consulting with a CP on professional fulfillment (beta = -0.005, SE = 0, P = .665) and burnout (beta = -0.011, SE = 0, P = .343) were not significant. TABLE 5. - Direct effects of independent variables on PA professional fulfillment and burnout Direct effects of independent variables onprofessional fulfillment and Variable Direct effect path Standardized coefficients beta SE t P value Predictor Years professional fulfillment 0.059 0.001 5.121 0 Years burnout -0.1 0.001 -8.61 0 Potential mediator % consult CP professional fulfillment -0.005 0 -0.433 .665 % consult CP burnout -0.011 0 -0.948 .343 Potential moderator Relationship with CP professional fulfillment 0.351 0.013 31.648 0 Relationship with CP burnout -0.276 0.01 -24.113 0 All paths controlled for sex and changed employer or specialty in the last year. Paths positive for mediation are bolded for emphasis. The quality of the relationship with a CP demonstrated direct effects on both professional well-being and burnout. As the score for the quality of the CP relationship increased by one unit, the average professional fulfillment score increased by 0.351 units and the average burnout score decreased by 0.276 units. CP relationship accounted for 13% of the variability seen in professional fulfillment (r = 0.359, r2 = 0.129, P < .001) for a medium effect and 8% of the variability seen in burnout (r = 0.280, r2 = 0.078, P < .001) for a small effect. Mediation analysis Mediation analysis as outlined by Baron and Kenny was used to evaluate relationships between years of experience and professional well-being, with the percentage of clinical time that PAs spent consulting with a CP serving as a mediator.26 Several steps must be taken to determine if a variable mediates the relationship between a predictor variable and an outcome variable (Table 6). First, there must be a statistically significant association between years of experience and professional well-being.25 Results in Table 5 demonstrate that years of experience predicted both professional fulfillment and burnout. TABLE 6. - Mediation path coefficients Mediation path coefficients Standardized coefficients beta SE t P value Years professional fulfillment 0.059 0.001 5.121 0 Years % consult CP -0.147 0.026 -12.43 0 % consult CP professional fulfillment 0.003 0 .259 .796 Years % consult CP professional fulfillment 0.058 0.001 4.766 0 Years burnout -0.1 0.001 -8.61 0 Years % consult CP (repeat) -0.147 0.026 -12.43 0 % consult CP burnout -0.026 0 -2.139 .032 Years % consult CP burnout -0.101 0.001 -8.277 0 All paths controlled for sex, and changed employer or specialty in the last year. Second, a statistically significant relationship must exist between the predictor (years of experience) and mediator variable (percent consult with CP), suggesting that the mediator variable exists between the predictor and outcome variable in time.25 Accordingly, the relationship between years of experience and the percentage of time spent consulting with a CP was statistically significant (beta = -0.147, SE = 0.026, P < .001), meeting the second mediation criterion. The third criterion to determine mediation is when the potential mediator demonstrates a statistically significant association with the outcome variable, controlling for the predictor variable. When controlling for years of experience, a statistically significant relationship was found between the percentage of time spent consulting with a CP and burnout (beta = -0.026, SE = 0, P = .032), but not professional fulfillment (beta = 0.003, SE = 0, P = .796). Therefore, the percentage of time spent consulting with a CP does not mediate the relationship between years of experience and professional fulfillment. To determine if the relationship between years of experience and burnout is mediated by the percentage of time spent consulting with a CP, we analyzed the indirect effect of years of experience on burnout variable while controlling for the direct effects of the mediation path. Mediation was confirmed if a previously statistically significant direct effect either lost significance or decreased in slope.26 The indirect effect of years of experience on burnout, controlling for the percentage of time spent consulting with a CP, not only maintained statistical significance (beta = -0.101, SE = 0.001, P < 0) but the slope slightly steepened compared with its direct effect (beta = -0.1, SE = 0.001, P < 0). Therefore, the percentage of time spent consulting with a CP did not mediate the relationship between years of experience and burnout. Moderated mediation analysis A moderated mediation analysis, using Hayes' conditional process analysis, was calculated to identify the indirect effects of years of experience on professional fulfillment and burnout through the percentage of time spent on CP consultation as a function of the relationship with a CP.25 Conditional process analysis makes it possible to consider whether a variable that may not have served as a mediator, such as percentage of clinical time spent consulting with a CP, may serve as a mediator as a function of a moderator.25 This is possible in the context of conditional process analysis because the standardized coefficient of the mediator is the sum of the standardized coefficient of the mediator alone and the standardized coefficient of the interaction of the mediator and the moderator.25 The moderated mediation analysis was conducted using model 14 of the Hayes PROCESS v3.4 macro for SPSS.25 Confidence intervals were set to 95% and bootstrapping to 5,000 samples was done for the indirect effects of the moderated mediation. Continuous variables were centered to the mean and a robust SE was set to Cribari-Neto. Cribari-Neto robust SE was used to overcome heteroscedasticity that may occur when analyzing cross-sectional data using linear regression.27 Moderated mediation path coefficients are listed in Table 7. TABLE 7. - Moderated mediation path coefficients Moderated mediation path coefficients Coefficient Robust SE t P value Years % consult CP -0.326 0.025 -12.913 0 % consult CP professional fulfillment -0.001 0 -1.706 .088 Years professional fulfillment 0.004 0.001 3.582 0 Relationship with CP professional fulfillment 0.413 0.015 27.343 0 % consult CP x relationship with CP professional fulfillment 0.003 0.001 3.746 0 Years % consult CP -0.327 0.025 -12.903 0 % consult CP burnout 0 0 -.708 .479 Years burnout -0.006 0.001 -7.563 0 Relationship with CP burnout -0.241 0.011 -21.086 0 % consult CP x relationship with CP burnout -0.001 0.001 -2.405 .016 All paths controlled for sex, and changed employer or specialty in the last year. Bootstrapped indices of each moderated mediation are listed in Table 8. Bootstrapping does not generate a P value. Instead, if the associated confidence interval does not include zero, the index is considered significant for a moderated mediation. Results were rounded to four decimal points to verify inclusion of zero in confidence intervals. TABLE 8. - Bootstrapped index of moderated mediation Bootstrapped index of moderated mediation Bootstrapped Moderated mediation Index Robust SE Lower CI Upper CI Years % consult CP x relationship with CP professional fulfillment -.0011 .0003 -.0017 -.0006 Years % consult CP x relationship with CP burnout .0005 .0002 .0001 .0009 All paths controlled for sex and changed employer or specialty in the last year. Paths with confirmed moderated mediation are bolded for emphasis. Results demonstrated a minor moderated mediation of the relationship between years of experience and professional fulfillment by the interaction of the percentage of time spent consulting with CP and CP relationship (index -0.011, CI = -0.0017 to -0.0006). For every one-unit increase in the product of percentage of consulting time with CP and CP relationship, controlling for years of experience, professional fulfillment increased by 0.003 units (beta = 0.003, SE = 0.001, P < 0). The interaction of percentage of time spent consulting with CP and CP relationship also predicted burnout. There was a minor moderated mediation of the relationship between years of experience and burnout by the interaction of percentage of time spent consulting with CP and CP relationship (index 0.0005, CI = 0.0001 to 0.0009). For every one-unit increase in the product of percentage of consulting time with CP and CP relationship, controlling for years of experience, burnout decreased by 0.001 units (beta = -0.001, SE = 0.001, P = .016). DISCUSSION The study sample was composed of experienced PAs with a mean career length of 11.23 years. A recent study examining retirement intentions of members of the PA workforce predicted that 50% of PAs would exit clinical practice after 30 years and 90% after 35 years.28 These estimates suggest that the average PA respondent in this study was entering the middle third of their career and could be considered early mid-career. The average respondent spent more than 80% of their time working independently rather than in consultation with their CP, and the percentage of time spent in consultation decreased as respondent career matured. This supports the concept that PAs may expect greater autonomy as they gain clinical experience. PA career length and the quality of their CP relationship emerged as relevant predictors of both PA professional fulfillment and burnout. Relationship between experience level and PA well-being Experience level directly predicted professional fulfillment and burnout. The longer a respondent had practiced as a PA, the more likely they were to be professional fulfilled and the less likely to be burned out. Hoff and colleagues conducted a review of PA job attitude studies and identified a gap in those addressing the influence of career length on well-being.29 This study makes a meaningful contribution to PA well-being research with its findings that career length predicts PA professional fulfillment and burnout. Relationship between autonomy and PA well-being Autonomy, as measured by the single item percentage of time spent consulting with a CP, did not directly predict professional fulfillment or burnout. This was surprising because autonomy has previously demonstrated statistically significant associations with PA well-being.9-13,30 Studies of physicians and NPs have found similar associations.31-34 Influence of CP relationship on PA well-being The quality of the CP relationship was the strongest direct predictor in the study of PA professional fulfillment and burnout. These findings align with those of several other PA well-being studies.12,15,16 This study contributes to the body of PA well-being literature by affirming the importance of the CP relationship to the well-being of PAs within a larger sample of more heterogenous PA respondents than have been evaluated in past studies. CP relationship also influenced how autonomy predicted PA well-being. When considered alone, the percentage of time spent consulting with a CP did not directly influence well-being, nor did it mediate the relationship between career length and well-being. However, when evaluated in the context of an interaction with CP relationship, the percentage of CP consulting time became a mediator of well-being as a function of career length. The collaborative nature of the PA-physician working relationship may explain the notable effects of CP relationship on PA professional fulfillment and burnout seen in this study. PAs in one population-level study rated difficult employers as a more significant stressor than physicians who rated the same factor on another study, suggesting that the collaborative nature of PA practice may mean that interpersonal relations have more of an effect on well-being than for physicians.18 A positive working relationship may be more salient for PAs who spend more clinical time in consultation with their CPs. Similarly, the strain of interacting with a CP in the context of a negative relationship may enhance the likelihood of burnout even for PAs who spend less time in consultation. LIMITATIONS Limitations of the study include sample representativeness and subscale construct validity. PAs in emergency medicine were underrepresented in the sample compared with all certified PAs who identify emergency medicine as their specialty.19 Burnout has been found to be higher among PAs in emergency medicine, and their lower representation in the study sample may have biased the results.35 Another limitation is the construct validity of the autonomy subscale. Findings related to autonomy as a direct predictor and mediating variable of PA well-being contrasted with correlations found in several previous studies, suggesting that the autonomy subscale from this study may have lacked construct validity. Though percentage of time spent consulting with a CP has been used in a previous PA workforce study, it was as an indicator of supervision, not as a measure of PA autonomy.36 Filipova found significant correlations between rural PA well-being and percentage of patient load not discussed with a physician, an item similar to the autonomy measure in this study.9 However, Filipova measured more than just patient load discussed with CP as a measure of autonomy; she also measured respondent satisfaction with the degree of responsibility and autonomy they had at work and their spectrum of permitted clinical activities, prescriptive authority, and participation in clinical decision making. The single-item measure used in this study may have been an inadequate representation of how autonomy manifests in the PA profession. It may also have been misinterpreted by some respondents, because the sample response range was 0% to 100%. It is difficult to consider that some PAs may have spent 100% of their time consulting with the CP and no time on other job tasks. Future research should evaluate PA autonomy in a broader context. Determining measurable ways that autonomy may manifest for PAs, beyond time spent in CP consultation, would be useful. The construct validity of the single-item subscale measuring CP relationship also has limitations. The item did not specify which CP a respondent should consider when responding to the question, which may be problematic if PAs have more than one. Also, the brevity of the subscale may have influenced its validity. Tetzlaff and colleagues used three items to evaluate the relationship between PAs in oncology and their CP.15 The items addressed whether PA respondents felt valued, encouraged, and recognized by their CP for their contributions to the practice, and predicted greater likelihood of burnout if respondents reported more negative perceptions of their CPs on these items.15 Though statistically significant predictions were found using the single-item CP relationship measurement in this study, more nuanced conclusions may have been possible if more domains of the relationship were reflected in the associated scale. IMPLICATIONS This study provides valuable evidence for PA employers and training programs. Judicious PA employers will apply these findings to workplace interventions, targeting more positive collaborative relationships to inspire greater professional fulfillment or mitigate burnout, especially among newer career PAs. Study findings are especially opportune in the context of current market forces prompting a loosening of PA supervision requirements at the state level.1 Finally, these findings are relevant for PA training programs. PA students are taught to anticipate practicing medicine in the context of a relationship with a single supervising physician or CP, not in the absence of one.4 PA graduates planning to work in states with larger allowances for PA autonomy should be equipped during training with the interpersonal skills to actively seek physician collaboration even when it is not legally mandated. CONCLUSION This study examined whether PA autonomy mediated the relationship between experience level and professional well-being and if the quality of the CP relationship influenced this interaction. Study findings build on what is already known about the positive influence of physician collaboration on PA well-being. Results from the study revealed that the quality of the relationship with a CP is more salient for early-career PAs, who spend more time in consultation with their CPs. As legal and regulatory trends move away from mandated single-physician agreements and toward practice-level collaboration, findings from this study suggest that newer PAs should maintain a collaboration agreement with one physician to support their professional well-being as their careers mature.37 Several states already have adopted this concept into their modernized PA practice laws by mandating a certain number of hours before a PA is able to practice with greater autonomy.38-40 Conscientious PA advocates who are working toward modernization of state practice laws may be reassured by findings from this study that the preservation of the physician-PA relationship for early-career PAs is an evidence-based approach to supporting the professional well-being of newer PAs. Another former Lincoln Police officer is leveling allegations of years of on-the-job sexual discrimination and the systematic ousting of those who report it in a lawsuit filed this week. Angela Sands had been with the Lincoln Police Department for nearly 10 years, most recently as a sergeant, before she was terminated in December 2021. She said Wednesday she continues to move forward with legal complaints, as eight of her colleagues two at Lincoln Fire and Rescue and six at LPD also have done, "because in order to affect long-term change we need to hold abusers and leadership accountable to those they serve. Our officers, and the citizens of Lincoln, deserve better. In the lawsuit, she said LPD's hostility toward her has continued, pointing to a decision on her pension application languishing and a call to 911 about a neighbor threatening to kill her and others left unanswered for nearly two hours. The city hasn't yet responded to the complaint. On Tuesday, Chief Assistant City Attorney Chris Connolly said only: "We are aware of the lawsuit but have no comment at this time." Police Chief Teresa Ewins, who faces criticism in the lawsuit for allegedly allowing it to continue and even promoting those accused of wrongdoing, issued a written statement. "The city of Lincoln and the Lincoln Police Department do not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind," Ewins said in a written statement. "We have strong anti-discrimination policies and work continuously to foster an inclusive and safe workplace for all members. We take all complaints, external or internal, seriously. We recognize and support the right of everyone to have their case judged through the court system." At a news conference in December, Ewins touted the progress LPD had made in its efforts to fulfill recommended changes made by an independent firm that surveyed employees, assessed the department and issued a report in September following a series of allegations of wrongdoing by current and former officers. In the 96-page lawsuit, Sands' attorney, Kelly Brandon, alleged LPD targeted Sands and others for termination for reporting sexual harassment and discrimination within the department. She said out of the four women who filed charges of discrimination and met with Mayor Leirion Gaylor-Baird to discuss sexism at the department in January 2021, only one remains employed at LPD. In fact, at least a half dozen officers faced discipline including internal affairs investigations, suspensions and firings after making formal complaints. Brandon said Sands and her fellow female officers at LPD were subjected to a work environment "so permeated with misogyny that any ordinary person would assume LPD was purposefully excluding women from the police force by making conditions intolerable for them." She alleged officers at every rank expressed misogyny in myriad of ways. Among them: sexual and sexist jokes; rape and other sexual assaults; discussions about sexual conquests; excluding women from particular assignments; comments expressing the belief that women dont belong or arent capable; sexual propositions; reacting to the rejection of such propositions with anger and/or violence; referring to women with sexualized gender slurs; attacking the competence and integrity of women who have reported sexual assaults, harassment or discrimination; and the refusal to provide back-up and other police protection to women who have complained. Brandon said when officers raised concerns or complaints, the complaining officer would face discipline or backlash. Tonya Peters, LPD's legal advisor, and others in the department have called reported incidents of sexual misconduct "urban legends," she said. "By consistently punishing officers who objected, while at the same time fashioning escape hatches to facilitate smooth departures for its worst offenders, LPD leadership supported, reinforced and perpetuated the rampant sexism and hostile work environment within the department," Brandon said. She said LPDs pattern of preferring assailants over victims sent a clear message to anyone who would complain: "Keep quiet and accept the status quo, or you will forfeit your career." Specifically, the complaint alleges that: * A female sergeant encouraged her not to make a formal complaint after a fellow trainee told her she had a "dusty uterus" and joked about her age. * Then-Chief Jim Peschong told Sands to see a psychologist in the aftermath of an officer-involved shooting where she and another officer were shot because she was "more emotional" than the other male officers involved. * An unnamed fellow male officer (who no longer works at LPD) groped Sands' butt and breasts at an outing to support him following a shooting incident in 2016. * Yohance Christie, then a deputy public defender, sent Sands sexually charged texts in 2017 asking her to send him nude photos of herself, despite it being against city policy for public defenders to date police personnel. In 2020, he became city attorney, the agency responsible for defending the city in lawsuits like the one Sands has filed. * A sergeant (who since has retired) in 2020 made sexually inappropriate comments about the gap between Sands' teeth, caused by the on-duty shooting in 2015 and kissed her neck without her consent while playing trivia with other officers while off-duty earlier that year. * Two male officers received only a verbal reprimand after starting a rumor that Sands provided sexual favors to get her promotion to sergeant. More generically, Brandon said throughout Sands' career she saw male officers make light of rape investigations, looking up driver's licenses of rape victims to assess whether they were sufficiently attractive to be "rape-able," or access driver's license photos or body cam footage of attractive women they had encountered on traffic stops for no legitimate reason. She alleged that LPD command staff had received "credible evidence" indicating male officers had planted drugs on confidential informants to extort them into providing the officers with sexual favors. In a statement Wednesday, Sands said she chose the career of service intentionally to contribute to the safety and wellbeing of Lincoln. "I loved being a police officer and found a lot of personal satisfaction providing support and a safe space to women in our community," she said. But she no longer feels LPD is a safe place for officers. For years, Sands said she and her peers have raised numerous concerns that largely have gone unaddressed by leadership. And it has direct consequences on public safety, she said. "If police officers, firefighters and other first responders arent safe on the job, how can our community have confidence when they seek help in emergency situations?" Sands said. U.S. sanctions hinder Iran from fulfilling humanitarian responsibilities: official Xinhua) 10:17, January 26, 2023 TEHRAN, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- The head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) said the U.S. sanctions have hindered the IRCS from fulfilling its domestic and international responsibilities and commitments, the IRIB news agency reported Wednesday. Pirhossein Kolivand made the remarks during a meeting of the heads of the national red cross and red crescent societies in the Middle East and North Africa being held in Beirut, capital of Lebanon. The negative impacts of the U.S. sanctions Kolivand listed include foreign banks' refrainment from cooperation in transfer of money to and from Iran and Iran's difficulties in importing medicine and medical equipment and rescue items. The sanctions have also hindered Iran's ability to update its rescue and relief fleet and equipment, he added. Iran has been under the U.S. sanctions for the past four decades. The sanctions intensified following the U.S. withdrawal from a 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, signed between Iran and world powers in July 2015. Although the United States claims that humanitarian items, including medicine and foodstuff, are not included in the sanctions list, its embargoes on Iran's oil exports and banking sector have in practice prevented the country from importing such goods. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Hongyu) Elina Newman, a first-generation immigrant from Azerbaijan who is a pharmacy technician and teaches psychology, is running for the City Council District 3 seat in southwest Lincoln. This is the second time Newman, a registered nonpartisan, has run for City Council. Her first time was for an at-large seat in 2021. She was the first person to officially file for the spring election and among those who applied for appointment as the interim council member to replace Jane Raybould, who was elected to the Legislature in November. Newman said being on the council would give her an opportunity to serve the community and she would bring her life experiences and a unique perspective on issues to the job. People have told me that I am the voice of common sense, someone who looks at all sides of the issue and finds a solution that satisfies all involved, she said. I do not believe in 'us' versus 'them.' Instead, I embrace having difficult conversations respectfully and finding solutions. Newman fled her native central Asian country with her family and came to the United States in 1993. She works as a pharmacy technician, teaches psychology at Southeast Community College and runs an editing business. She volunteers with resettlement efforts, including as a steering team member on the Lincoln/Lancaster County Welcome Plan for Immigrants and Refugees, and is vice president of the Salt Valley View Neighborhood Association. She has served on the Nebraska Pharmacists Association as a technician member and the Pharmacy Technician Educators Council. Among her priorities as a council member would be understanding the budget and making it available to residents in an easy-to-understand format; and making sure people are heard and their comments considered in decision-making. She said shed like to go back to having town halls in her district. Justin Carlson, a Democrat and director of development for the University of Nebraska Foundation, has also announced hes running for the District 3 seat. Michelle Suarez, who the council appointed to fill the seat vacated by Raybould, said she is not planning to run in the next election. The primary is April 4 and the general election is May 2. Top Journal Star photos for January 2023 Omaha will look to partner with Portland, Oregon, in its search for a streetcar vehicle manufacturer. An agreement approved by the Omaha Streetcar Authority on Monday puts into writing the intent of both cities to work together on their procurement of streetcar vehicles. The agreement, a memorandum of understanding, is nonbinding, but sets in motion a series of events that will need to happen over the course of 2023 to keep the streetcar on track to open in 2026. A considerable amount of cost is spent on evaluating the professional proposals and inspecting the (manufacturing) plants all the way through production, said Rick Gustafson, interim director of the authority. We can do this cooperatively to share resources and reduce our costs. Omaha estimates purchasing six vehicles. Portland expects to purchase 11. The Streetcar Authority plans to decide on vehicle specifications by March, and issue a request for proposal to potential manufacturers over the summer. If all goes as planned, the first streetcar vehicles would be delivered to Omaha in July 2025. The streetcar system would open for operation in 2026. The Streetcar Authority was created last year to oversee the design, construction and eventual operation of the streetcar. The board is made up of seven members: three appointed by the mayor and approved by the City Council, three appointed by Metro Transits CEO and one community member appointed by the Greater Omaha Chamber. The streetcars planned route runs east along Harney Street and then turns north along 10th Street up to about Cass Street near the CHI Health Center. The streetcars then would head back south on 10th to Capitol Avenue. From there, the route would run a couple of blocks east to Eighth Street near the citys riverfront before turning west onto Farnam Street. The cars then would travel to the routes western terminus at 42nd Street near the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Construction of an Omaha streetcar system is tied to Mutual of Omahas plans to build a $600 million headquarters on the former site of the W. Dale Clark library, which was demolished late last year. Mutual officials have said the streetcar system is critical to their plans to construct the companys headquarters. Mutual is scheduled to break ground on the tower Wednesday. A man from Ravenna was fatally injured Tuesday in a two-vehicle crash about half a mile east of Litchfield. The crash occurred before 10:55 a.m. An eastbound Ford F-250 pickup driven by R Roger Woolsey, 70, of Mason City collided with a Mazda B3000 pickup driven by Fred Nelson, 72, of Ravenna, on Nebraska 2. The Mazda had entered the highway from a gas station, Sherman County Sheriff Michael Jepsen said. Ansley Fire and Rescue workers took Woolsey to CHI Good Samaritan in Kearney, where he was treated for minor injuries and released. Litchfield Fire and Rescue workers took Nelson to the same hospital, where he later died. Litchfield is about 35 miles north of Kearney. Two health care professionals who treated Julie Jensen before her poisoning death in late 1998 testified in the high-profile homicide jury retrial of Mark Jensen Wednesday. The defense called both Paul DeFazio, a longtime Kenosha-based psychotherapist who provided counseling to Julie Jensen in the early 1990s after the birth of her first son, and Dr. Richard Borman, the Jensen family physician, to the stand during the third week of trial in Kenosha County Circuit Court. The defense attempted to use the witnesses to show Julie Jensens reported history of depression. Mark Jensen, now 63, was convicted in February 2008 for the murder of his wife inside their Carol Beach neighborhood home near the lakefront. He is standing trial again here after years of appeals and battles in state and federal courts. Mark Jensen, according to prosecutors, killed his 40-year-old wife in early December 1998 by poisoning her with ethylene glycol, more commonly known as antifreeze, and then suffocating her while she lay in bed dying and gasping for air in order to be with a woman he was having an affair with. They also allege he killed Julie Jensen out of deep anger over a previous affair she had with a co-worker, along with other marriage issues. Mark Jensen, a former stock broker, searched the internet for ways to make Julie Jensens death look like a suicide and terrorized her for years with strategically placed pornography, emails and phone calls, according to prosecutors. Mark Jensen, however, has maintained his innocence ever since his wifes death. His attorneys have argued Julie Jensen was deeply depressed and died by suicide after framing her husband for her death. Health professionals testify From 1990 to 1991, DeFazio said he treated Julie Jensen at his Kenosha clinic and kept notes of their sessions together beginning in the summer of 1990. He said Julie Jensen was facing adult situational reaction with mixed features, one of the least severe diagnoses. This means shes an adult reacting to a situation and having features of depression and anxiety, DeFazio said. Everyone of us at some point in time will have this diagnosis if looked at (when) something changes whether its a job or whether its moving someplace. It could be a good thing or it could be a bad thing, but were reacting with some depression with it and were reacting with some anxiety. DeFazio said he also spoke with Julie Jensen about her mother, who was reportedly an alcoholic. DeFazio also read from a questionnaire presented by the defense which contained a series of questions that were reportedly answered by Julie Jensen in the early 1990s as a child of a parent struggling with alcoholism. DeFazio said he couldnt remember if he gave the questionnaire to Julie Jensen or if she presented it to him at his clinic during therapy. The questionnaire reportedly had Julie Jensens signature on it. She filled it out, DeFazio said. One of the questions was, Do I often feel isolated and afraid of people, especially authority figures? The answer was yes on here, DeFazio said. Another question was, Do I feel overly frightened of angry people and personal criticism? Julie Jensen reportedly also answered yes to that question. She also reportedly answered yes to a question of whether she feels like a victim in personal and career relationships. The prosecution said Julie Jensen may not have been completely honest with DeFazio about all her struggles with Mark Jensen and their marriage issues, including her brief affair. Borman, the family physician, was questioned by the defense and prosecution. He cared for the family in 1998. Borman said he spoke with Julie Jensen in Sept. 21, 1998 about her family history with depression during a regular physical. He said he diagnosed Julie Jensen with mild depression and counseled her about it that day. Borman said he also saw Julie Jensen alone on Dec. 1, 1998 because it seemed like she needed to be seen. She was miserable and depressed, Borman said, adding that she specifically denied being suicidal or homicidal and denied any domestic violence. She also reportedly didnt mention anybody trying to harm her. She also said she was afraid of losing her marriage, Borman said, and spoke about a brief affair she had with a co-worker that Mark Jensen never forgave her for. Her boys meant everything to her, Borman testified. Borman also said she didnt appear drunk and acted clear and appropriate. Borman said he provided her some Paxil. He gave Mark Jensen an Ambien prescription for Julie Jensen the next day. He said he learned of her death in the newspaper Dec. 5, 1998. Prosecution rests The prosecution rested Tuesday afternoon. The prosecution called 38 witnesses over nearly two weeks including a brother of Julie Jensen, forensic pathologists, former friends and neighbors of the Jensens, former co-workers of Mark Jensen and local law enforcement officials. Some extensive interviews conducted during the first trial were played to the jury on televisions in the courtroom because the witnesses were either unable to testify in person again or had died. Late Tuesday, the defense asked Milisauskas to dismiss the case, as is common in high-profile trials. When the jury of seven women and nine men left the court for the evening, Milisauskas highlighted what each witness testified and said there was sufficient evidence provided by the witness to continue the retrial. The jury has so far remained engaged, taking notes and watching witnesses, during the lengthy trial that is expected to end in a week or two. Mark Jensen is not expected to testify. Reason for new trial The original prosecutor, Robert Jambois, a former Kenosha County District attorney, is serving as special prosecutor before Judge Anthony Milisauskas, now the third Kenosha County Circuit Court judge to preside over the matter. Mark Jensen is represented by a team of defense attorneys led by Bridget Krause. A Kenosha County judge vacated Mark Jensens his conviction in April 2021 after the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Jensen deserved a new trial. The court found that a letter his wife wrote incriminating him in the event something should happen to her could not be used by the prosecution as it was in the first trial. In early 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court helped pave the way for the new trial when it declined to hear an appeal of the Wisconsin Supreme Courts ruling. The so-called letter from the grave in which Julie Jensen wrote that if anything happens to me that her husband would be my first suspect will not be allowed into evidence during this lengthy trial. The high-profile case has sparked headlines across the nation. Mark Jensen, who is charged with first-degree intentional homicide in his wifes death, remains in custody on a $1.2 million cash bond in Kenosha County. He faces life in prison. Further Reading Week 3 of Kenosha County homicide retrial: Inmate Mark Jensen allegedly told of crimes against wife testifies Week 2 of Mark Jensen Trial: Man who had brief affair with Julie Jensen testifies Report from the day of the 2008 guilty verdict of Mark Jensen from the Kenosha News archives Week 2 of Mark Jensen Trial: Digital analyst recovers search terms, data on home computer Jury video video of Jensen home on day of Julie Jensens death Mark Jensen retrial begins with opening statements after jury sworn in UPDATED PHOTOS & VIDEO: New Week 3 images of Kenosha County homicide retrial of Mark Jensen Mark D. Jensen, of Pleasant Prairie, who was convicted in February 2008 of the murder of 40-year-old Julie Jensen inside their Carol Beach home, is standing trial again in Kenosha County Circuit Court after years of appeals and battles in state and federal courts. Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Judge Anthony Milisauskas make a ruling on what components of witness David Thompson's' background can be given to the jury during Mark Jensen Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Jeremy Perri, center, argues about witness David Thompson's criminal background during Mark Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Judge Anthony Milisauskas, right, makes ruling on witness David Thompson's background and how attorneys can question him during Mark Jensen's Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 David Thompson, who as an inmate with Mark Jensen in the County Jail in 2017, walks away from the witness stand after testifying during Jensen Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Paul Griffin, Julie Jensen's brother, talks about Julie as he testifies during Mark Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Monday, Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Paul Griffin, Julie Jensen's brother, talks about Julie as he testifies during Mark Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Monday, Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Paul Griffin, Julie Jensen's brother, talks about Julie as he testifies during Mark Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Monday. Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 David Thompson, who as an inmate with Mark Jensen in the Kenosha County Jail in 2007, testifies during Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Co Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Jeremy Perri, center right, and Bridget Krause, center left, both attorneys of Mark Jensen, speak during his trial at the Kenosha County Court Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Lynley Kapellusch, a former co-worker of Mark Jensen, testifies during Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Monday, Jan. 23, . Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Mark Jensen, left, speaks with Mackenzie Renner, one of his attorneys, during his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023. Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Mark Jensen, left, talks with his former attorney Craig Albee, center, during a break in his trail at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Monday, Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Mark Jensen, left, talks with his former attorney Craig Albee, center, during a break in his trail at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Monday, Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Aaron Dillard, left, is sworn in by Judge Anthony Milisauskas before being cross-examined during Mark Jensens trial at the Kenosha County Cou Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Mark Jensen, center, stands as the jury enters the room during his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Monday. Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Criag Albee, Mark Jensen's attorney in his 2008 trial, sits in the gallery to listen to Aaron Dillard's testimony during Jensen's trial at the Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Jeremy Perry, center, questions Aaron Dillard during Mark Jensens trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Monday. Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Criag Albee, Mark Jensen's attorney in his 2008 trial, right, sits in the gallery to listen to Aaron Dillard's testimony during Jensen's trial Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Aaron Dillard answers questions during cross-examination during Mark Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023. Mark Jensen Kenosha murder trial; police interview played in court Mark Jensen maintains he's innocent and that his wife killed herself. Prosecutors say Jensen poisoned his wife with antifreeze, drugged her an Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Dr. Mary Mainland, former Kenosha County Medical Examiner, testifies in Mark Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Tuesday, Jan. Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Dr. Mary Mainland, former Kenosha County Medical Examiner, testifies in Mark Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Tuesday, Jan. Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Dr. Mary Mainland, former Kenosha County Medical Examiner, right, goes over her notes with Special Prosecutor Robert Jambois, center, and Jere Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Special Prosecutor Robert Jambois, left, and Jeremy Perri, one of Mark Jensens attorneys, argue about how the previous trial should be referr Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Mark Jensen, center, listens as Dr. Mary Mainland, former Kenosha County Medical Examiner, testifies during the trial at the Kenosha County Co Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Dr. Mary Mainland, former Kenosha County Medical Examiner makes her way to the witness stand during Mark Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Dr. Mary Mainland, former Kenosha County Medical Examiner, points to a line on a medicine cup with her index finger as she talks about ethylen Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Lori Ranker testifies how she knew Aaron Dillard during Mark Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. Dillar Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Mark Jensen, right, smiles at Jolynn Blei as she passes after testifying in his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 20 Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Jolynn Blei, who worked at the law office of Mark Jensen's attorney in the 2008 trial, testifies in Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Court Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Special Prosecutor Robert Jamobis indicates that the state rests during Mark Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Tuesday, Jan. Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Mark Jensen, center, stands with his attorney, Mackenzie Renner, left, as the jury returns to the room during his trial at the Kenosha County Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Mark Jensen, left, waits with one of his attorneys, Mackenzie Renner, center, for the jury to return during his trial at the Kenosha County Co Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Mark Jensen listens as his defense team motions to dismiss the trial based on lack of evidence at the end of the day's proceedings at the Keno Mark Jensen Kenosha murder trial; state rests, defense begins case Prosecutors on Tuesday, Jan. 24 rested their case against a man being retried for allegedly poisoning and killing his wife more than two decades ago. Mark Jensen Kenosha murder trial; computer expert, felon testify The new homicide trial for Mark Jensen, accused of killing his wife more than two decades ago, reached its ninth day of testimony Friday, Jan. 20. Mark Jensen Kenosha murder trial: Jailhouse confession revealed Prosecutors in the Mark Jensen murder trial in Kenosha say it is a jailhouse confession. The defense said do not trust everything you're about Mark Jensen Kenosha murder trial: Defendant's computer use probed Mark Jensen says he is innocent and that his wife killed herself more than 20 years ago. Prosecutors say Jensen killed her poisoning her wit A noted emergency medical physician and board certified medical toxicologist testified about the poisoning death of Julie Jensen Thursday during the jury retrial of Mark Jensen, the Pleasant Prairie man accused of killing his wife in 1998. The expert said the manner of Julie Jensens death is undetermined. Dr. Stacey Hail, an associate professor of emergency medicine and medical toxicology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and a recognized attending physician in the Parkland Hospital Emergency Department and the North Texas Poison Center, testified during the end of the third week of trial in Kenosha County Circuit Court. Hail said the cause of Julie Jensens death was ethylene glycol poisoning and the manner of death is undetermined. Hail was called to the stand as an expert witness by Mark Jensens defense team and was peppered with questions from both the defense and prosecution well into the afternoon. Mark Jensen, now 63, was convicted in February 2008 for the murder of his wife inside their Carol Beach neighborhood home near the lakefront. He is standing trial again here after years of appeals and battles in state and federal courts. Mark Jensen, according to prosecutors, killed the 40-year-old mother of two over three days in December 1998 by poisoning her with odorless ethylene glycol, more commonly known as antifreeze, and then suffocating her while she laid in bed dying and gasping for air in order to make it easier for him to be with a woman he was having an affair with. They also allege he killed Julie Jensen out of deep anger and obsession over a previous sexual affair she had with a coworker years before, along with other marriage issues. Mark Jensen, a former stock broker, searched the internet for ways to make Julie Jensens death look like a suicide and terrorized her for years with strategically placed pornography, emails and phone calls, according to prosecutors. Mark Jensen, however, has maintained his innocence ever since his wifes death. His attorneys have argued Julie Jensen was deeply depressed and died by suicide after framing her husband for her death. Expert: Manner of death undetermined Hail used a giant poster pad and a magic marker, something she uses while teaching her medical students, to help explain the science behind how the body processes ethylene glycol to the jury of seven women and nine men Thursday morning. Hail said its uncertain if a very small second dose of ethylene glycol was in Julie Jensens system before her death, even though a small amount was found in her stomach. Hail called it a remnant of a prior dose. Ethylene glycol poisoning is not a rapid death under any stretch of the imagination, Hail added. She said it takes time for enzymes in the body to break down the alcohol and turn the toxins into acids that damage internal organs by combining with calcium in the blood and creating crystals. Such crystals often lodge themselves in the kidneys, which is what happened with Julie Jensen, and cause severe damage. Hail said people facing late-stage ethylene glycol poisoning often become sick and uncomfortable, but are still able to carry on conversations and do things. Hail said the cause of death was complications associated with ethylene glycol poisoning, and that the poison could have been administered in either an accidental, suicidal or homicidal manner, and so the manner of death is undetermined in her opinion based on the physical evidence. We know that she was very far into her poisoning, Hail said. I know three important things. Number one, her level was almost undetectable, implying later on in her stage of poisoning. Number two, there were calcium oxalate crystals present in her kidneys and possibly other places that say that she was at least in Stage 2, if not moving into Stage 3 (of ethylene glycol poisoning). And thirdly, that she died. She also said someone in such a state may be breathing heavily. The cause of death is ethylene glycol poisoning, Hail added. I would say that (the manner of death) is undetermined. The reason is that if somebody died by an overdose of pills and you found 20 pills in the stomach, that is most likely a suicide, unless of course somebody had a gun to their head and somebody was saying Here, take this pill. Here, take this pill. Here, take this pill. That would make sense. Because ethylene glycol is a liquid and because it doesnt take a lot to cause toxicity and even death, it can be administered in a suicidal fashion or it can be administered in a homicidal fashion. But there is nothing in looking at an autopsy in an ethylene glycol poisoning case that is going to tell you whether it is a suicide, or a homicide or an accident by virtue of the fact that this is a liquid. And so, just by staying strict to the science and strict to the toxicology, you cannot determine just by the science what the manner of death is. And so I would say that the manner of death is undetermined. Prosecutor Robert Jambois said Hail may be the most qualified defense expert Ive ever encountered in my career before questioning her at length. However, during his questioning Jambois and Hail at times got into very testy exchanges and became argumentative. At one point Hail said Jambois questioning felt more like a speech and at times asked for more specific questions. Jambois said Hail may not have factored in or considered strongly enough Mark Jensens alleged actions such as his affair with Kelly LaBonte, his alleged lies, his sadistic pattern of harassment and demeaning behavior against Julie Jensen for years, and his internet search history for terms such as poison when making her determination regarding the manner of Julie Jensens death. If you leave out important information that may adversely effect the reliability of the differential diagnosis, Jambois said. Still, Hail said she looked at the totality of the evidence. Jambois also highlighted positional asphyxia as a possible cause or contributing cause of Julie Jensens death because he alleged Mark Jensen forced Julie Jensens head into her pillow face-down to end her life. He highlighted apparent hemorrhages on Julie Jensens ribs that a medical examiner previously testified about. Hail, who didnt come here today to talk about asphyxia because its not her area of expertise, said asphyxia simply means that one is not getting oxygen in. Theres nothing about being on your stomach that causes asphyxia, Hail said. She also said there are plenty of studies on compression asphyxia that have shown that even putting massive amounts of weight on someones back does not cause significant changes in ventilation or oxygenation. Reason for new trial The original prosecutor, Jambois, a former Kenosha County District attorney, is serving as special prosecutor before Judge Anthony Milisauskas, now the third Kenosha County Circuit Court judge to preside over the matter. Mark Jensen is represented by a team of defense attorneys led by Bridget Krause. A Kenosha County judge vacated Mark Jensens conviction in April 2021 after the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Jensen deserved a new trial. The court found that a letter his wife wrote incriminating him in the event something should happen to her could not be used by the prosecution as it was in the first trial. In early 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court helped pave the way for this new trial when it declined to hear an appeal of the Wisconsin Supreme Courts ruling. The so-called letter from the grave in which Julie Jensen wrote that if anything happens to me that her husband would be my first suspect will not be allowed into evidence during this lengthy trial. The high-profile case has sparked headlines across the nation. Attorneys with the defense said they could rest their case next week. They also intend to call the Jensens oldest son David Jensen, who was just 8 years old at the time of his mothers death, early next week. Mark Jensen is not expected to testify. The prosecution rested earlier this week after calling 38 witnesses to the stand and playing lengthy videos of some of the men and women who testified during the first trial but were unable to testify again or had died. Among those who testified during the first two weeks of trial for the prosecution included local law enforcement officials, former coworkers of Mark Jensen, former neighbors of the Jensens, a brother of Julie Jensen, medical examiners and inmates who Mark Jensen reportedly told of his alleged actions. Mark Jensen, who is charged with first-degree intentional homicide in his wifes death, remains in custody on a $1.2 million cash bond in Kenosha County. He faces life in prison. Hail said her hourly rate for her research, knowledge and testimony is $750 an hour, totaling some $15,000 for this case including her preparation for it. Further Reading Week 3 of Mark Jensen retrial: Former local medical examiner testifies about antifreeze evidence found in Julie Jensens body Week 3 of Kenosha County homicide retrial: Inmate Mark Jensen allegedly told of crimes against wife testifies Week 2 of Mark Jensen Trial: Man who had brief affair with Julie Jensen testifies Report from the day of the 2008 guilty verdict of Mark Jensen from the Kenosha News archives Week 2 of Mark Jensen Trial: Digital analyst recovers search terms, data on home computer Jury video of Jensen home on day of Julie Jensens death Mark Jensen retrial begins with opening statements after jury sworn in UPDATED PHOTOS & VIDEO: New Week 3 images of Kenosha County homicide retrial of Mark Jensen Mark D. Jensen, of Pleasant Prairie, who was convicted in February 2008 of the murder of 40-year-old Julie Jensen inside their Carol Beach home, is standing trial again in Kenosha County Circuit Court after years of appeals and battles in state and federal courts. Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Judge Anthony Milisauskas make a ruling on what components of witness David Thompson's' background can be given to the jury during Mark Jensen Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Jeremy Perri, center, argues about witness David Thompson's criminal background during Mark Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Judge Anthony Milisauskas, right, makes ruling on witness David Thompson's background and how attorneys can question him during Mark Jensen's Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 David Thompson, who as an inmate with Mark Jensen in the County Jail in 2017, walks away from the witness stand after testifying during Jensen Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Paul Griffin, Julie Jensen's brother, talks about Julie as he testifies during Mark Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Monday, Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Paul Griffin, Julie Jensen's brother, talks about Julie as he testifies during Mark Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Monday, Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Paul Griffin, Julie Jensen's brother, talks about Julie as he testifies during Mark Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Monday. Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 David Thompson, who as an inmate with Mark Jensen in the Kenosha County Jail in 2007, testifies during Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Co Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Jeremy Perri, center right, and Bridget Krause, center left, both attorneys of Mark Jensen, speak during his trial at the Kenosha County Court Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Lynley Kapellusch, a former co-worker of Mark Jensen, testifies during Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Monday, Jan. 23, . Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Mark Jensen, left, speaks with Mackenzie Renner, one of his attorneys, during his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023. Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Mark Jensen, left, talks with his former attorney Craig Albee, center, during a break in his trail at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Monday, Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Mark Jensen, left, talks with his former attorney Craig Albee, center, during a break in his trail at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Monday, Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Aaron Dillard, left, is sworn in by Judge Anthony Milisauskas before being cross-examined during Mark Jensens trial at the Kenosha County Cou Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Mark Jensen, center, stands as the jury enters the room during his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Monday. Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Criag Albee, Mark Jensen's attorney in his 2008 trial, sits in the gallery to listen to Aaron Dillard's testimony during Jensen's trial at the Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Jeremy Perry, center, questions Aaron Dillard during Mark Jensens trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Monday. Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Criag Albee, Mark Jensen's attorney in his 2008 trial, right, sits in the gallery to listen to Aaron Dillard's testimony during Jensen's trial Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRAIL DAY 10 Aaron Dillard answers questions during cross-examination during Mark Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023. Mark Jensen Kenosha murder trial; police interview played in court Mark Jensen maintains he's innocent and that his wife killed herself. Prosecutors say Jensen poisoned his wife with antifreeze, drugged her an Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Dr. Mary Mainland, former Kenosha County Medical Examiner, testifies in Mark Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Tuesday, Jan. Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Dr. Mary Mainland, former Kenosha County Medical Examiner, testifies in Mark Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Tuesday, Jan. Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Dr. Mary Mainland, former Kenosha County Medical Examiner, right, goes over her notes with Special Prosecutor Robert Jambois, center, and Jere Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Special Prosecutor Robert Jambois, left, and Jeremy Perri, one of Mark Jensens attorneys, argue about how the previous trial should be referr Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Mark Jensen, center, listens as Dr. Mary Mainland, former Kenosha County Medical Examiner, testifies during the trial at the Kenosha County Co Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Dr. Mary Mainland, former Kenosha County Medical Examiner makes her way to the witness stand during Mark Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Dr. Mary Mainland, former Kenosha County Medical Examiner, points to a line on a medicine cup with her index finger as she talks about ethylen Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Lori Ranker testifies how she knew Aaron Dillard during Mark Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. Dillar Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Mark Jensen, right, smiles at Jolynn Blei as she passes after testifying in his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 20 Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Jolynn Blei, who worked at the law office of Mark Jensen's attorney in the 2008 trial, testifies in Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Court Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Special Prosecutor Robert Jamobis indicates that the state rests during Mark Jensen's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Tuesday, Jan. Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Mark Jensen, center, stands with his attorney, Mackenzie Renner, left, as the jury returns to the room during his trial at the Kenosha County Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Mark Jensen, left, waits with one of his attorneys, Mackenzie Renner, center, for the jury to return during his trial at the Kenosha County Co Uploaded-photos MARK JENSEN TRIAL DAY 11 Mark Jensen listens as his defense team motions to dismiss the trial based on lack of evidence at the end of the day's proceedings at the Keno Mark Jensen Kenosha murder trial; state rests, defense begins case Prosecutors on Tuesday, Jan. 24 rested their case against a man being retried for allegedly poisoning and killing his wife more than two decades ago. Mark Jensen Kenosha murder trial; computer expert, felon testify The new homicide trial for Mark Jensen, accused of killing his wife more than two decades ago, reached its ninth day of testimony Friday, Jan. 20. Mark Jensen Kenosha murder trial: Jailhouse confession revealed Prosecutors in the Mark Jensen murder trial in Kenosha say it is a jailhouse confession. The defense said do not trust everything you're about Mark Jensen Kenosha murder trial: Defendant's computer use probed Mark Jensen says he is innocent and that his wife killed herself more than 20 years ago. Prosecutors say Jensen killed her poisoning her wit RACINE Jermika Jackson believes her son is destined for greatness. From a young age, DMarion Jackson seemed wise beyond his years. He was a voracious reader who quickly finished handfuls of library books. Ive always said hes going to be someone great, Jermika said. That has so far proven accurate. DMarion was homecoming king, prom king and student government president as a high school senior. He is now a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and that was made possible by the colleges in-state tuition guarantee. DMarion is one of about 800 freshmen receiving Buckys Tuition Promise. The promise, which began in fall 2018 and is funded by private donors, is a tuition-free guarantee to Wisconsin residents accepted to Madison whose families have annual household incomes of $60,000 or less. DMarions fall 2022 tuition cost of $10,722 was fully covered by Buckys Tuition Promise. The UW System is working on a similar offering for all other UW schools, including the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, starting in fall 2023, called the Wisconsin Tuition Promise. DMarion called Buckys Tuition Promise the biggest reason why he chose to be a Badger. I felt like I didnt have to sacrifice anything, he said. I was really getting everything I wanted, and then I also didnt have to pay for it, so its amazing. DMarion said BTP and other scholarships he received allow him to focus on class, and he is proud of the work he did to make that a reality. Its easier to think about everything else when you dont have that lurking in the back of your mind, he said. Its like everything youve worked for over the past couple of years is coming to fruition. You get to reap the benefits of what you sowed. DMarion hasnt declared a major, but is interested in creative writing, psychology and social work. Jermika, who is still paying off student loans, was thrilled the tuition promise will likely ensure her son will not have much college debt. That was a weight lifted off of us, she said. Hopefully he doesnt have to worry about that, because its a lot of stress and burden. Growing up in Racine, DMarion said Jermika made sure he and his three older siblings were always taken care of. Money was never an issue, he said. She always provided for us. We never had to worry about when our next meal was going to be, which Im eternally grateful for. She was above and beyond. Jermika and DMarion are very close. He said they both are stubborn, fun and unafraid to say whats on their mind. I think I took her entire personality, DMarion said. He loves music and books, especially the works of Stephen King, and appreciates fashion design and architecture. DMarion took a creative writing class in middle school that sparked his interest in language. I like the idea that you can really create very vivid imagery just with words, he said. There are so many things you can do with writing, and I really like that creativity. DMarion attended Walden III from sixth through 12th grade, graduating last year. He enjoyed the intimate setting where differences were appreciated. All that uniqueness was embraced instead of cast aside, DMarion said of Walden. He appreciated the relationships between Walden students and teachers, saying several educators encouraged his passions and creativity. The things teachers say to you can stick with you, DMarion said. Walden English instructor Matt Landry was one of those teachers. Landry taught Jackson English for two years and was his home group teacher for four years. They saw each other every day of high school, and Landry said DMarion evolved into an adaptive, outgoing and active member of Walden. Im really impressed by how much he was willing to change over the course of his four years and try new things, Landry said. Thats probably one of the reasons why hes going to be successful in college. Hell be able to roll with the punches. Walden Spanish teacher Jennifer Bowe taught DMarion for three years. He initially seemed reserved but wasnt quiet for long, Bowe said. Teachers remembered DMarion as a funny, kind and thoughtful student. He occasionally taught Bowe dance moves between classes. After a virtual lesson during the pandemic, Bowe said DMarion asked how she was and showed her his new shoes to try to cheer her up. He basically took it upon himself to start a conversation with me to see how I was doing, Bowe said. That will always stick with me. Landry said DMarion wanted to improve himself while also helping the collective, especially as student government president. He would come in and think about what he should do, how he should go about his business, what he could best do to balance his own needs with the needs of the school, Landry said. Most kids that age arent really thinking about stuff like that. DMarion took ownership of his studies, never blaming anyone else if an issue arose. He was willing to work his way back up to where he wanted to be, Landry said. That likely comes from Jermika, who instilled in DMarion the importance of education. She prioritizes schooling because it creates better opportunities for people to fulfill their potential. Fueled by his mothers belief, Jackson is on track to graduate college with minimal debt. Yall remember the name, Jermika said. Hes going to be great. Hes going to do great things. RACINE The educational journey from kindergarten to high school impacts your childs future. The path to success can be faith-filled, safe and affordable. Siena Catholic Schools of Racine will partner with your family on this journey to help make it a reality. Cost If you dont think that you can afford Catholic education, think again. Affordability is often the first concern a family has when considering options for school. At Siena, there are a number of options to lessen the financial impact. Financial aid is available to those who qualify, including scholarships and parish assistance. Families with multiple children receive a 50% reduced rate, as do Siena employees. The average scholarship award is $1,000. Some are as much as $3,000, and several scholarships are renewable. The Siena Promise Scholarship is available to students in good standing who have attended a Siena Catholic school or participated in a Siena religious education program for at least three years. This $2,500 scholarship is renewable for all four years of high school, meaning it could total $10,000. Siena also partners with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to offer tuition assistance through the Racine Parental Choice Program. If a family qualifies, RPCP covers 100% of tuition for grades K4-12. Locations Siena is comprised of seven schools throughout greater Racine, including Caledonia and Sturtevant. These schools continue the 160-year tradition of faith-based academic excellence brought forth by the Racine Dominicans. John Paul II Academy is at 2023 Northwestern Ave. It is near High Street, across the street from the new Historic Horlick District development. Our Lady of Grace Academy is at 1435 Grove Ave. It is next to St. Edward Catholic Church on the corner of Grove and 15th Street. St. Joseph Catholic School is at 1525 Erie St. between St. Patrick Street and Kewaunee Street St. Lucy Catholic School is at 3035 Drexel Ave., right off Hwy. 11. St. Rita Catholic School is Sienas northernmost school, located in Caledonia at 4433 Douglas Ave. (Hwy. 32). St. Sebastian STEM Academy will be opening in 2023-24 for grades 3K-2, with additional grades being added annually. The school is in Sturtevant at 3030 95th St. near Hwy. 11. St. Catherines High School is in the heart of Racine at 1200 Park Ave., just blocks from Lake Michigan. Open houses Next week is Catholic Schools Week, and there are open houses Sunday through Thursday at Siena buildings. Sunday features an open house at St. Joseph from 9 to 11 a.m. and at John Paul II from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. There is an open house Tuesday at St. Rita from 5 to 7 p.m. There is an open house Wednesday at Our Lady of Grace from 5 to 7 p.m. There is an open house Thursday at St. Lucy from 5 to 7 p.m. While each school offers a unique experience, they are guided by a shared mission: to inspire students to be who God created them to be. We believe that when you give students the right foundation, they are able to grow. While our stats measure up to some of the best in the state and the country, we also value the heights our students reach on a personal, spiritual and communal level. When students are rooted in faith and tradition, theyre able to grow in mind, body and faith. Thats what we call faith forward education. We are committed to providing an exceptional college- and life-preparatory Catholic education to students regardless of a familys circumstances. Lets brighten and pave your childs path to success. 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 GRAND ISLAND Two divisions at Central Community College, Extended Learning Services and Training and Development, have combined to become Community and Workforce Education. CWE provides access to both credit and noncredit classes and workshops throughout CCCs 25-county service area at the Columbus, Grand Island and Hastings campuses; and Holdrege, Kearney and Lexington centers; and Ord Learning Center. Programming includes early college in partnership with area high schools through concurrent enrollment which provides students access to CCC courses. Working with area partners and employers, CWE will continue to develop and deliver workshops and conferences, online learning, customized training and continuing education in leadership, health, CNA and CPR, environmental health and safety, plastics production, machining technology, quality and industrial maintenance. CWE is also the source for avocational classes for personal enrichment and recreation. Community colleges must react quickly and economically to ever changing needs of the many communities we serve, said CCC President Dr. Matt Gotschall. Having a division focused on those community-based programs, including early college for high school students, is one way we can continue to meet those growing opportunities. Dr. Kelly Christensen has been tabbed as vice president of community and workforce education. He previously served as dean of training and Kearney Center administrator. Christensen began his tenure with CCC in 1998 when he was appointed director of educational support services. He then served for 14 years as associate dean for skilled and technical sciences, followed by four years as associate dean of extended learning services. Christensen earned a doctorate in educational leadership and higher education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He previously earned masters and bachelors degrees from the University of Nebraska-Kearney. Christensen is also a graduate of Leadership Nebraska, Leadership Hastings and Leadership Kearney. Im excited to work with our team and community partners to implement this change while being responsive to the needs of our learners, said Christensen. In addition to having a successful history, we continue to experience new and emerging opportunities for training and classes to support workforce and community education, health occupation classes and collaborating with area high schools. Active in the community, Christensen is a board member of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce, an advisory council member for both the UNK Center for Entrepreneurship and Rural Development and the Nebraska Safety Center Advisory Board. He is a past board member and chairperson of Kearney Works. Christensen is a Kearney resident, and he and his wife, Michelle, are the parents of two grown children and grandparents of two. KEARNEY The last words Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke to Dr. Bernard Lafayette Jr. were the next steps King wanted to take in the Civil Rights movement. LaFayette had gone to Kings room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, to get approval for a press statement. As he was turning to leave the room, King called to him. He said, The next movement is going to be to institutionalize and internationalize nonviolence, Lafayette recalled. Lafayette left Memphis for Washington, D.C., shortly after their encounter. It wasnt until he landed in the nations capital city that he learned of Kings assassination. LaFayette, a civil rights activist and organizer, reflected on his life Wednesday with a crowd of over 100 people at the University of Nebraska at Kearneys third annual MLK Day of Service in the Nebraskan Student Union. Following the keynote address, UNK students, employees and other guests were invited to participate in a service project until 5 p.m. in the Ponderosa Room. This years project included a school supply drive and letters of encouragement for elementary students in Kearney, Lexington and Grand Island. The MLK Day of Service is hosted by the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion, with funding provided by UNK Student Engagement and Loper Programming and Activities Council. LaFayette co-founded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in 1960 with his college roommate, Rep. John Lewis, and was a core leader of the civil rights movement in Nashville, Tennessee, and in Selma, Alabama, in 1965. During his speech, Nonviolence in a Time of Civil Unrest, LaFayette recalled moments from his childhood in Tampa, Florida, including a time he decided to fight his fear of ghosts by walking through the graveyard at night. He heard a noise in the trees, so he began running. He decided to go back to the graveyard and discovered the noise was from a cat. He continued to go back to the graveyard to face and conquer his fear. If it doesnt work one time, dont give up. Try it again and again. You will find out that sometimes things will work out if you dont give in. Thats how you succeed by keep trying. If you are going to live a wholesome, powerful, strong life, youve got to be able to confront fear and be nonviolent, LaFayette said. As a 20-year-old, LaFayette was one of the original Freedom Riders, groups of Black and white Americans who deliberately violated Jim Crow laws and risked their safety by traveling together on buses to protest segregated bus terminals in Southern states. The groups were confronted by arresting police officers and mob violence along their routes, but also drew international attention to the movement. Lafayette was severely beaten and imprisoned for his activism but never abandoned his commitment to nonviolence. One of his approaches to nonviolence is finding alternatives, he said. You dont have to go along with the old song. Look for alternatives, he said. He learned from workshops in Nashville from James Lawson Jr. how to negotiate, research and put plans into action. Dont try to do everything at one time. Thats why we were only focused on segregated lunch counters. ... Pick a particular place where you can make a significant difference, he said. LaFayette spoke about being appointed by King as the national program administrator for the Southern Christian Conference and national coordinator of the Poor Peoples Campaign. He went on to earn his bachelors degree from the American Baptist Theological Seminary and a masters degree and doctorate from Harvard University. When asked by an audience member about growing division in the United States, LaFayette encouraged people to educate themselves about the countrys history and to communicate to affect change. What can you leave that is going to make a difference in the lives of others? LaFayette asked. Your value is the value that you have for others. Thats your value. What can you do for others? Lets do it since we are here together now. From what Ive seen, you have a good start. Freedom Rider Lafayette speaks at MLK Day of Service at UNK Local News Dr. Bernard Lafayette Jr. speaks at UNK's MLK Day of Service Part of the third annual MLK Day of Service on campus, Lafayette spoke on the theme of Nonviolence in a Time of Civil Unrest Wednesday in th Students and community members at MLK Day of Service event Part of the third annual MLK Day of Service on campus, Dr. Bernard Lafayette Jr. spoke on the theme of Nonviolence in a Time of Civil Unrest Dr. Bernard Lafayette Jr. and Kate Lafayette Dr. Bernard Lafayette Jr. and Kate Lafayette held a book signing at Wednesday's MLK Day of Service at UNK. Luis Olivas introducing Dr. Bernard Lafayette Luis Olivas, interim director of the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion at UNK, started off Wednesdays event by thanking everyone in a Kate Lafayette Kate Lafayette was also in attendance and amongst the crowd at Wednesdays MLK Day of Service event at UNK. MLK Day of Service The University of Nebraska at Kearney celebrated the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with a keynote address by Civil Rights activist Dr. Bernard Lafayette directing an audience member Lafayette has written several books about his experiences during the Civil Rights movement, and he continues to travel internationally to prom Civil rights activist Bernard Lafayette speaking at UNK event Lafayette began his activism while enrolled at American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville, Tennessee, where he attended James Lawsons Dr. Bernad Lafayette vertical photo Part of the third annual MLK Day of Service on campus, Dr. Bernard Lafayette Jr. spoke on the theme of Nonviolence in a Time of Civil Unrest KEARNEY Kearney Police Department revealed its special commemorative badge celebrating the citys sesquicentennial anniversary this year at Tuesdays City Council meeting. The badges will be worn by KPD officers through the anniversary year. Kearney Police Chief Bryan Waugh called it a milestone moment. We knew this day was coming soon, the 150th anniversary of the city of Kearney, he said. Its a very big deal, and in law enforcement we love to memorialize big moments like this with an artifact of some kind, something we can wear with pride and to honor the great, rich history of the city. It is common for a citys police department to celebrate such milestones with a special badge, said Waugh. Waugh wore the first of these special badges Tuesday, saying he was blessed to do so. This is not a huge departure from what were wearing today, but it has a vintage look to it, he explained. Its got our state seal on it. And that banner on the bottom is a fitting symbol, from 1873 to 2023, the 150th anniversary of the founding of the city of Kearney. Waugh described himself as a fan of history and said he studied the citys history when he first arrived in Kearney. He lauded such resources as the city of Kearney website, which has a great history section, and the Trails & Rails Museum, which does a wonderful job of chronicling our history. At Tuesdays meeting, Waugh presented each of the officers present with the new badge. Asked what will happen after the anniversary year, Waugh said they are considering keeping the badges. Im also a big fan of, if our officers are happy with something, why change it? he said. We may make this an option, a uniform item to wear, in addition to the standard badge. He added, Were happy with our badge. We have a lot of pride in it. A patch version of the anniversary badge will be available for the external vest carriers worn by KPD officers. Also presented with the badge were challenge coins, designed by the same group, which boasts an image of the new badge on one side and on the other side the KPDs three most recent shoulder patches, and signifies the history of the department. A coin was given to each council member. In other business: RYDE transit Council approved Resolution 2023-21, authorizing funding for RYDE, Kearneys public transportation program, to assist with operating support for their upcoming fiscal year. The amount authorized is $44,000, to come from special sales tax funds, and will go toward vehicle maintenance, fuel, payroll and software maintenance. Many years ago, we actually provided funding for capital equipment in the form of buses and other things for RYDE in the beginning, said City Manager Michael Morgan. Some of their funding has changed in respect to requiring local matches. That helps trigger and provide the additional funding, and thats critical to them. The original request was for $50,000. RYDE has been providing transit services in Kearney since 2000. Salary ordinance Council also approved Ordinance 8619, which repeals Ordinance 8594 and amends the salary ordinance to reflect changes of certain positions. Specifically, a landfill superintendent has been added to the sanitation department. The position has a pay grade of 31, and a monthly range of $5,643 to $8,204, per the approved ordinance. National CRNA Week Mayor Stan Clouse proclaimed Jan. 23 to Jan. 29 as National CRNA (certified registered nurse anesthetists) Week. Per the declaration, Clouse honored the history of a profession that has its origins in the U.S. Civil War and has advanced from a certificate to graduate-level education. CRNAs are independent, sole anesthesia providers who vigilantly watch and protect patients every breath throughout the various surgical processes daily, said Clouse. The city of Kearney urges all citizens to recognize and appreciate and celebrate the many CRNAs practicing in Kearney, and throughout the United States, for the excellent care they provide. HOLDREGE A group in opposition to the merger of Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District and Dawson Public Power District held a public meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 25 to discuss ongoing litigation and inform people about their view of the situation. Citizens Opposed to the Merger (COTM) held the meeting at the Phelps County Ag Center in Holdrege and around 100 area water users were in attendance. Earlier this month, when it was announced, it had 75 members and had raised more than $225,000. Also, the Power Review Board has granted standing to the opposition group. That means Citizens Opposed to the Merger can officially register objections when the state review board meets on Feb. 15 in Lincoln. Merger decisionOn Oct. 24, 2022, the joint boards of CNPPID and DPPD voted to consolidate into a single entity called Platte River Public Power and Irrigation District (PRPPID). The newly formed entity will result in a 14-member board of directors by 2029. The new combined board will include all 23 members consisting of each entitys entire board of directors. Nine seats would be phased out during election years as terms in office expire The newly formed public power and irrigation district would have seven subdivisions; each subdivision would be represented by two board members. The vote to consolidate followed nearly two years of research, deliberation and opportunities for public input, according to CNPPID and DPPD. In the plan of consolidation, it was noted discussions about a possible merger began in December 2020; between that time, 23 meetings were held by both the CNPPID and DPPD boards, allowing for public comment, per CNPPID and DPPD. The chronology of outreach also details the groups own outreach and times and dates when local media ran articles discussing the merger. Prior to the vote, some CNPPID water users expressed opposition to the merger, concerned that CNPPID would sacrifice its voting power on a combined board and that delivering water to irrigations might become secondary to electrical issues. Former state Sen. Ed Schrock of Holdrege, a board member of Nebraska Public Power District, likened the Oct. 24 votes to moving the courthouse at night. Schrock said the merger may be the greatest water giveaway of the century. It was during an Oct. 12 open house in Holdrege just two weeks prior to the Oct. 24 meeting and merger vote when irrigators learned the proposed makeup of the board that would govern the merged districts. It wasnt until the final weeks before the merger vote we were given a key piece of information the board representation plan for the new district. That information made all the difference and is a key reason why many water users are against the merger, according to COTM. One of the COTM board members said, we got steamrolled, in relation to the time between the board representation announcement and the final vote. Centrals General Manager Devin Brundage and Dawsons General Manager Gwen Kautz say the merger is necessary to ensure stable electrical rates and to protect and capitalize on the regions critical water and power resources. Brundage and Kautz said they foresee a shifting landscape of contested and shrinking water resources. They also believe a 30% increase in electrical demand will occur in the future. They say that such a dramatic change could result in power grid instability. Why didnt they come sooner so we could address their concerns? We wanted to know if there were negatives so we could address them, Kautz told the Kearney Hub. Kautz and Brundage said the merger of their power and irrigation districts is a complicated topic, especially from a fiscal perspective. Both districts bring assets to the proposed merger. According to Brundage, the merged Central and Dawson districts would produce $1 billion annually in economic activity. Dawson has 24,000 customers and in 2022 logged power sales of $71 million. Dawson has $56 million in bonded debt, but it has 5,700 miles of powerlines and $247 million in plant assets. Central has a $90 million cash reserve and no debt. Among annual revenues, irrigation deliveries brought in $4 million in 2022, lot fees paid by homeowners at Centrals lakes amounted to $1.5 million and recharge agreements were $700,000. Hydroelectric generation earned Central about $10 million, but revenues from power sales vary widely depending upon the climates effect on electrical demand. COTM views Many of the water users, dont understand what is broken at CNPPID that requires the merger with DPPD, and think it is possible to continue making a positive impact on the region without the need for the merger. Under the merged entity, COTM feels that decisions about water use will be made by directors living outside of the Phelps, Kearney and Gosper County area. When it comes to water decisions, we especially believe in local control. COTM notes that the board has the authority to terminate water service agreements with 10 years notice. Water rights attached to our land without a water service agreement with Central equal no water. The group is also of the opinion that the merger would place hydropower generation before irrigation. COTM says that if this is about electricity, CNPPID could sell hydropower to DPPD through a contract instead of the need for the merger. COTM also feels irrigations may have to pay more for water in the future. We are skeptical the hydropower margin will continue to benefit the irrigation system as it has in the past. Questions During a question-and-answer period, one of the attendees asked if the board members of CNPPID and DPPD had been invited to the meeting. While it was noted the COTM was holding a public meeting, a direct invitation had not been made to all of the board members, which some felt was a mistake. The COTM board stated that the board members were aware of the meeting, but none were in attendance. Litigation COTM is suing in Phelps County District Court to halt the merger. The group holds that a consolidation agreement between CNPPID and DPPD, signed on Sept. 12, 2022, violates the Open Meetings Act. CNPPID attorney Charles Brewster of Kearney told Central Board members at their monthly meeting last week that the power and irrigation district has filed a motion to dismiss the Citizens Opposed to the Merger lawsuit. The Lincoln firm of Rembolt Ludtke LLP is representing CNPPID, and it argues that Phelps County District Court lacks jurisdiction and that the Citizens Opposed to the Mergers suit fails to state a complaint upon which relief can be granted. Blake Johnson with the Bruning Law Group of Lincoln appeared during the meeting virtually and told those assembled that the motion to dismiss is currently under advisement. Johnson noted this is a procedural issue and that even if the decision is voided the CNPPID and DPPD boards could return to the drawing table and come back with another merger proposal. COTM is also challenging the merger before the Power Review Board. CNPPID challenged the standing of COTM but the board gave the group standing and they can officially register objections. Gary Robison, a Bertrand farmer and a member of COTM said CNPPIDs questioning of the groups standing bothered him, as Central sought to deny them their ability to express their opinion. Another attendee of the meeting said CNPPID may provide the water, but it is the farmers who handle the ag production in the area. Central has forgotten who their partners are, they said. The Power Review Board will formally consider the merger on Feb. 17. Until the meeting, water users were encouraged to speak their mind to their CNPPID representatives, either directly or by attending their board meetings. The fight in Lincoln is about water, Robinson said. By Trudy Rubin Western allies are finally realizing the Ukraine war won't end until Vladimir Putin's dreams of conquest are decisively defeated on the battlefield. But that reality is forcing strategists to contemplate what might happen inside Russia if Putin can no longer hide his failures. Speculation ranges from his overthrow by associates to a Kremlin collapse to a surviving, sullen Putin. Yet one thing is certain. If there is any small chance that a Russian defeat might open the door to positive political change, Putin must be prevented from murdering the country's leading opposition politician, Alexei Navalny, whose health is sharply deteriorating as he is badly mistreated in prison. He is being denied adequate medical care, family visits, or packages, and kept mainly in harsh solitary confinement, where he is not allowed to lie down from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. even though he is in severe pain with a fever. Five hundred brave Russian doctors, nearly all of them still living inside their country, recently signed an open letter to Putin demanding that prison authorities stop "abusing" Navalny and preventing his access to vital medication. So it is important for the White House, European leaders, and human rights organizations to keep the spotlight on Navalny's plight and raise it at any meetings with Russian officials, especially Putin. They must stress that Putin will be held directly responsible should Navalny die in jail. Putin detests the charismatic, handsome 44-year-old Navalny, who stands in stark contrast to the 70-year-old, puffy-faced autocrat. Isolated from the public, the aging Kremlin leader no doubt fears Navalny's huge following across Russia, amassed even though his name is rarely if ever uttered on state-controlled TV channels. Navalny has further enraged the Kremlin boss by opposing the war in Ukraine (although he has supported a referendum in Crimea). Yet Navalny's history shows what was once possible in Russian politics and hints at what might someday be possible again. The opposition activist gained a wide following among young people with his long crusade against corruption amongst Kremlin leaders and cronies, and his use of social media, and humor, to expose them. When he ran for mayor of Moscow in 2013, using 20,000 young volunteers, he won more than 27 percent of the vote despite predictions he'd get only about 6 percent. (If it had been a fair election, his count would no doubt have been far higher.) Navalny was fascinated at how U.S. politicians brought their campaigns to the public, says Yevgenia Albats, a leading Russian scholar and independent journalist, and close friend of his. "When he ran for mayor, he watched the [HBO series] The Wire and learned from the race for Baltimore mayor how to do it," she told me. "He put chairs for old ladies at his rallies, and if it was raining he got umbrellas. People saw he showed respect." When I visited Navalny's sleek, spare office in 2018, far from Moscow's city center, he told me, "Our main tool became YouTube because it attracts more younger people, blue-collar youth, not hipsters, youth who see no future." The brilliant 2017 YouTube video put out by his Anti-Corruption Foundation on then-Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's ill-gotten mansions, yachts, and vineyard drew 27 million views and inspired tens of thousands of demonstrators in cities, towns, and villages. (A 2021 video about Putin's sprawling secret palace, complete with drone footage, garnered 92 million views and was issued even though Navalny was in jail.) In 2017, when he tried to run for president, Navalny was the only Russian politician who toured nearly every region, a unique strategy for Russian leaders, who normally give stiff formal presentations in limited locations. "He is capable of appealing to people on the street," said Albats, now in New York City. "His constituency was the 18- to 35-year-old age group, who consider Putin grandpa. That's what Putin realized." Green dye was thrown in Navalny's face after a rally, nearly blinding one eye. He was banned from running for president, his brother was imprisoned as a hostage, and he was repeatedly jailed. Yet he continued building his mass movement. When I asked him in 2018 if he feared he might be killed, he retorted, "Right now the cost is higher than they want," but added with grim humor, "Maybe they are still saving this tool." That vicious tool was finally applied in 2020, when Russian intelligence agents tried to poison Navalny with a banned nerve agent after he addressed a rally in Siberia. Miraculously, a private plane sent from Germany managed to evacuate him to Berlin, where his life was saved and he underwent months of treatment. He returned to Russia in January 2021, as soon as he was well enough to travel. He was jailed on bogus charges as soon as he reached the Moscow airport, and his supporters believe he's unlikely to be released while Putin remains in power. Why did he return? I asked Albats, who manages to exchange messages with Navalny in prison. "He knew he could not be a Russian politician who asks people to protest if he was living in the luxury of Germany," she answered quickly. "Putin is still afraid of him," she added. "He does understand, if anyone is capable of uniting people, it is him." Navalny's team continues to work from exile in Lithuania, and he manages to smuggle tweets out. He is allowed to send censored mail and receive some books. He recently wrote Albats that he was reading the memoir of imprisoned Soviet dissident Anatoly Marchenko and was "impressed at how [the Russian gulag for political prisoners] hadn't changed since 1962," except for plumbing and no more official starvation. "Everything else is at place," he wrote, "solitary confinement (shizo), punishment cell, deprivation of family reunions, hunger strikes, dishonest judges." Given the consequences of a failing war, however, Albats is worried that Putin may envision a worse fate for his enemy in jail. "Putin will try to break him," she said. As Russia's military position worsens, she fears Putin may give the orders for Navalny to conveniently "die" in his cell. Western leaders must make clear to Putin that he will be held responsible for Navalny's safety which is a top priority for them. They should also attempt to bargain Navalny out of Russia before anything worse happens. The odds against him are harsh, yet Navalny remains the best hope for Russia after the Ukraine war ends. Trudy Rubin (trubin@phillynews.com) is a columnist and editorial-board member for the Philadelphia Inquirer. This article was distributed by Tribune Content Agency. Since November, La Crosse County, in collaboration with various community partners, has been able to help 45 families experiencing homelessness secure temporary shelter for the winter. All totaled, there have been 74 children and 51 adults who were helped. In October, the County Board of Supervisors voted to reallocate approximately $168,000 for short-term hotel vouchers for families experiencing homelessness. The funds were previously dedicated to homeless prevention services. The county board resolution was designed to help children experiencing homelessness. But the work to house these families for the cold months has truly been a community effort. The Family Shelter Team is made up of individuals from the county, Couleecap, Independent Living Resources, the School District of La Crosse, YMCA, the REACH Center and La Crosse Area Family Collaborative in order to best serve the needs of the families. Through community partners and the 2-1-1 line, the Family Shelter Team spread word that for two hours on Tuesdays and Fridays, families experiencing homelessness could show up to the REACH Center for a needs assessment. The team set up shop in November and will continue providing the service through April. Isaac Hoffman, supervisor at La Crosse County Human Services, said that 69 families have come to the REACH Center since the service started. Each family goes through an intake process, then the team does a needs assessment and discusses a plan with the family. Of those 69 families, 65% were determined to need emergency winter shelter in the form of motel vouchers. Families have been staying at motels across the county. Vouchers were funded either through Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance (WERA) or county funds dedicated to short-term housing for homeless families, depending on if a family had already utilized their eligible WERA dollars. Locally, WERA is distributed through Couleecap having them present during the intake and needs assessment was critical so the team could identify what type of assistance the family qualified for. Some families have already moved out of their motel and transitioned to permanent housing, Hoffman said. The other 24 families were diverted to other resources in the community or chose to remain in their living situation. Hoffman said that sometimes homeless individuals would come to the REACH Center seeking services and would also be connected with resources. The families who got set up with a motel voucher were also paired with a case manager. Hoffman said that having a multi-organizational approach in the intake process was instrumental in helping assign case workers. Each organization could check their database to see if a family was already working with a case manager from that organization. If they did, families continued their work with the same social worker. For families who didnt have previous contact with someone, they were assigned a case manager from one of the Family Shelter Team organizations. This community really came together, collectively, and the process thats been put in place has been something to celebrate in terms of really learning some things about how to do this better, Hoffman said about the collaboration work. A small hiccup arose when the states Department of Administration announced that WERA would no longer be accepting new applications after Jan. 31. For new intakes, Hoffman said, they will likely be using the county funds for short-term housing, unless the family is already in the WERA system. IN PHOTOS: Rotary Lights 2022 Gundersen Health System is offering programs to help people living with diabetes or chronic pain maintain a healthy lifestyle. In February, the organization will begin offering Healthy Living with Chronic Pain and Healthy Living with Diabetes. Each program is a series of evidence-based workshops to educate people on ways to manage their condition and meet others going through similar situations. According to the CDC, more than 37 million Americans have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and 50 million American adults face chronic pain. Healthy Living with Diabetes will begin meeting for six weeks virtually on Feb. 8. The two-and-a-half-hour program is for anyone with prediabetes or diabetes, or who is caring for someone with diabetes. We often have spouses take that course together because its important for whoever is doing the cooking to know the nutritional side of diabetes, said Shayna Schertz, wellness education specialist at Gundersen. Healthy Living with Chronic Pain is also a six-week workshop that meets virtually once a week, beginning on Feb. 6. The program offers support and resources for those experiencing chronic pain. Schertz said the support group can be beneficial for those experiencing difficulties related to their condition. It can make you feel less alone; it can make you learn tips from others who have gone through it or are going through it, Schertz said. The programs are available to anyone in Wisconsin, and participants are not required to be a Gundersen patient. They cost to enroll in each program is $30, but scholarships are available for those in need. An in-person version of each program will be offered at the Gundersen Sparta Clinic in May. Those who are interested in enrolling in the program can call Gundersens Office of Population Health at (608) 775-6870 or send an email to wellness@gundersenhealth.org. Photos: 2018 Steppin' Out in Pink in La Crosse Steppin' Out In Pink Steppin' Out In Pink Steppin' Out In Pink Steppin' Out In Pink Steppin' Out In Pink Steppin' Out In Pink Steppin' Out In Pink Three decades had passed since their 1987 graduation from a technology high school in Argentina, but they had kept close through marriages, trips, jobs mostly as architects and children. Some had played volleyball together in school, and as grown-ups, they would meet almost every week for traditional Argentine meat barbecues, or asados. This week, they gathered in New York for a trip to mark their graduation 30 years ago a celebration shattered when a man in a rental truck mowed them down as they rode bicycles on a path on the west side of Manhattan. Five of the group of 10 died. Police called it a terrorist attack. They hailed from Rosario, Argentina, the countrys third-largest city and the hometown of international soccer star Lionel Messi and guerrilla leader Che Guevara. It hurts us to think that these are people who walked the same school halls as we did or that studied in our same classrooms, said Agustin Riccardi, a senior at the victims alma mater, the Polytechnic School of Rosario. The Argentine tour group formed the bulk of the eight deaths from Tuesdays attack, victims who reflected New Yorks status as a top tourist destination and capital of finance and technology. The others were a Belgian mother of young sons, a new college graduate working as a software engineer, and a doting son who had recently lost nearly 100 pounds and was getting a bike ride in between meetings at his World Trade Center job. Now, friends and relatives are remembering the victims and recounting the circumstances that led them to New York. This article appears in the January 27, 2023 issue of Executive Intelligence Review. ON SHIFTING THE ECONOMIC NARRATIVE What Was the Real Agenda Then? [Print version of this article] Editors Note: This article first appeared in EIR, Vol. 40, No. 50, Dec. 20, 2013. December 15, 2013 To: Greenberg, Carville & Seifert: In June 2012, you, as the authors, uttered a published piece which you titled Shifting the Economic Narrative. You had then suggested that the voters are very sophisticated. Obviously, you should now know that the voters, as such, were not sophisticated by any means. I suggest that we might come to agree on a timely change in that nominal agenda now. There was a time, when two prominent members of the World War II intelligence services were walking down a White House corridor, one, a high-ranking intelligence officer, to meet with President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the Presidents private office. A second prominent member of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), waited outside the office. As the OSS chief walked out along the corridor, he muttered softly to his companion: Its over, and a moment later as they walked, Its all over. A few decades later, I was engaged in a related kind of role in our nations intelligence services, in 1982-3, when I would experience a similar defeat of what have been identified as our nations intelligence services, this time, not as a part of the OSS, but in my prominent role in launching the SDI project. In both of the incidents, the one their leaving President Franklin Roosevelts personal office, and my own in leaving the SDI mission behind me, later, there was much more to be considered than merely a coincidence of circumstances. I doubt, from where I stand even now today, that the trio of Stan Greenberg, James Carville, and Erica Seifert, would have actually thought carefully through the two precedents, the one from the moments of the imminent death of President Franklin Roosevelt, and, the other, my own efforts on behalf of the SDI. The indicated trio could not have fully understood that connection yet; I do. That root of their own mistake, while not actually their intention, points to their lack of insight into the circumstances of their actual situation which they had identified on the June 11, 2012 occasion. Their mistake, if we would wish to define it as I know the truth of the matter before us, is that they failed to take into account the most essential features of the defeat of the mission of our United States, during those evil times when the wretched President Harry Truman had been scheduled to await the moment when his then incoming new Presidential administration would take over, and would largely destroy what had been the great mission of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a great mission like that which would be similarly destroyed by means of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. If, in the course of events of great consequence, such as those two moments which I have identified above, one plays the consenting fool in hiding unpleasant realities from oneself, one seeks, thus, to cling to consoling fictions of a sort which one wishes to hope might make everything come out conveniently, in spite of the true reality of both the current situation, and, much more significantly, its true consequences. I avoid indulging in wishful fantasies: I remember that hero, Alexander Hamilton, who actually made the successful outcome of the launching of our republic, but was not merely murdered by the British spy Aaron Burr, but that leading figures, even some later Presidents, had either connived implicitly at the British empires assassination of Hamilton, but even some Presidents of our Republic, both then, and later, had shamefully connived with the accomplices from the relatively higher ranks of republics leadership, as if to protect the fairy-tales cultivated to support the wishful fantasies of those who flagrantly condoned the criminality of Burr. That much said this far, let us unveil the actually relevant truth of this subject-matter. View full size EIRNS/Stuart Lewis Real life, is a matter of real history, not the wishful temptations of what might be esteemed to serve as the temptations of pathetically childish fantasies. The fact is, that more leading citizens are what I have often considered wishfully dreaming fools, or liars who pretend to believe in sweet intentions of murdering thieves, and the like, who even merely pretend to believe that their simpering colleagues are paragons of good intentions and good judgments. Polite hoaxes are the more likely products to be considered. How could any sane person actually believe that there was ever any truth or other expression of honest reason in what Wall Street has always represented: theft, treason, and also such as assassinations, to our republic? It were sufficient to examine the accounts of so-called practices of quantitative easing, to expose every last one of those miserable creatures, for the utter swindlers, at their very best, and, more likely, currently, murderers-in-fact they are. Wall Street has robbed us, and is now intent on also killing our people, all for the bloody Queens publicly avowed intention, to reduce the human populationrapidlyfrom seven billions persons, to less than one. That is Wall Streets practical policy in fact; and any one who is not merely a child, knows it, if they were both competently informed, and also competently educated and also effectively honest with themselves. Honesty Was Never a Mere Quantity If truth be known, truth was never merely a quantity; it was always, and only, a living species of existence. The time has come, in the present course of this specific report, to insist upon a specific quality of distinction of the human species from professed adherents of Wall Streets and similarly perverted creatures. The measure of truth is located in the character of the de facto biologically upward biological evolution, called appropriately progress, of the human individual. Monetary gains, as merely such, have no inherently moral value on that account. The convenient measure for this is locatable in the named magnitude of relative rates of increase of energy-flux density. The terms to be used, include temperature of increase of thermonuclear fusion and relative matter-anti-matter action: implicitly, thus, concepts of a type associated with the contributions by such as Nicholas of Cusa, Johannes Kepler, and so on, through, and beyond, Bernhard Riemann, Max Planck, and Albert Einstein, but in no way the like of such charlatans as Isaac Newton and Bertrand Russell, nor can human progress be measured in terms of money as such; it can only be measured (competently) in expressed increase of energy-flux density of actual gain by means of net work of increased energy-flux density, per capita of total population and the physically efficient progress of its net progress in work per-capita of total population. For example: not only is Wall Streets income net worthless, but has been, in fact, monstrously counter-productive, as in the United States since the death of President John F. Kennedy, up through the present date at an accelerating loss of net output of actual work per capita. More to the point, any society which achieved a fixed standard rate of productivity, is necessarily a decaying (i.e., degenerating, morally and otherwise) society in fact of the effect. A similar approach must be applied to the general pattern of all sets of living species. The interesting fact, on this account, is the notion of the difference between the upward evolution required by the human species, as systemically distinguished from the biological evolution of non-human processes. That is to say, that the human rate of progress is measured as if intellectually, rather than simply biologically. Hence, the general trend in human biology is that the apparent progress of animal species, does not correspond to the characteristics of the actually required progress of the human species: the mode of actual human progress is specifically noetic in the non-linear orders of magnitude of energy-flux density required to maintain a culture of the human species. For example, consider the following. The Beastliness of Wall Street The brutish characteristics of Wall Street since, most notably, the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and his brother, Robert Kennedy, had set a pattern of persisting, but uneven rates of decline of the physical economy and consumer economies of the United States (and of European nations, too), from that time to the presently, now highly accelerated rates of an actually mass murderous trend in both the U.S.A. and western and central Europe generally, up to the present moment. The overt commitment to that policy of genocide directed against Anglo-American populations, among others, is to be recognized as a reflection of a long-standing ebb and flow of intervals of the practice of oligarchical mass-assassinations of the human populations, a trend which has been nakedly asserted as the policies of such as the United States and most of Europe, among other regions, since the death of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, but, more emphatically, the intended deaths of those two brothers, deaths whose design has coincided with the so-called Green policy which was unleashed in an accelerated impulse since the latter time. That genocidal policy of such as the baldly asserted British imperial monarchy of savage green population-reduction practices, presently, is to be recognized as a very long-standing policy of genocide since the dawn of what has been identified since the genocide against Troy. So far in known recorded history, civilization in general, whatever exceptions hither and yon, has been dominated by pro-genocidal governing regimes from the mists of the most ancient cultures known to us, to the presently most recent times. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth IIs launching of her genocidal programs, is nothing different, in many ways, than what has been practiced by ruling dynasties for as far back as our knowledge of these societies. The essential difference, between that past, and now, is that the machinery of genocide has reached a degree of capability which points toward a relatively early threat of the actual extinction of the human species in total. She, that Queen, has been most specific in setting forth a policy of rapidly reducing the present human population from a recent seven billions human persons, to no more than one billion. The correlative of this horrid atrocity has been centered to a considerable degree in the Anglo-Dutch financial system of the United States and the Anglo-Dutch elements engaged in organizing and enforcing policies of genocide fit to make even an Adolf Hitler blush. The most frightening aspect of that horror itself, is the monstrously disgusting willingness of the leading nations of the Americas and Western Europe, to promote those practices. It appears, as the present trend, that only the immediate liquidation of institutions such as Wall Street, could check the immediately threatened mass-extinction of the greatest majority of the human populations of the trans-Atlantic community, and who know what more beyond. The greatest horror, is the willingness of the most influential economic and political institutions to not only condone, but promote such genocide as this which is currently in process by the implicitly virtual consent of a large segment of our own national political-party institutions. EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR THURSDAY JANUARY 26, 2023 Join the International Chorus of People Saying No to World War III: Negotiations and Economic Development Now! Jan. 25, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)Schiller Institute leader Helga Zepp-LaRouche called todays twin announcements from Germany and the United States on NATO tank battalions being provided to Ukraine, a catastrophic move which brings the world a gigantic step closer to the possibility of general thermonuclear war between NATO and the worlds most advanced nuclear power, Russia. People must wake up, join us in demanding that unconditional peace negotiations be undertaken immediately, and alert their fellow-citizens to this incredible danger to their lives which the media is deliberately blacking out so that people do not resist. Here is what happened: President Joe Biden made it official today that the United States will provide M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine and will begin training Ukrainian troops to run them ASAP. Biden shamelessly argued these top-of-the-line U.S. tanks are not offensive, but defensive armament! His announcement followed German Chancellor Olaf Scholzs formal address to the Bundestag, where he explained how Germany and other European nations will be getting right to work to put together a battalion of Leopard 2 tanks. Add in the U.K.s earlier commitment to send 14 of its Challenger tanks, and NATO has committed 89 of its top flight tanksfor starters. Scholz assured a German Bundestag member today that fighter jets and ground troops would never be sent to Ukrainejust as he had earlier assured Germans that no offensive weapons, and specifically no tanks, would ever be sent. Just the day before, on Tuesday, a Ukrainian Air Force spokesman told Ukrainian national TV that NATO had already made the decisions about what types of jets Ukraine will receive, along with the training packages to accompany them. Londons The Economist was not worried about the (relatively) small number of tanks approved for the moment. It celebrated that America and its allies have shifted from providing weapons in piecemeal fashion to training and equipping entire armored units for maneuver warfare. The aim is to help Ukraine not just repel the next Russian push, but to take back lost lands, The Economist asserted, naming the retaking of Crimea, in particular. This British imperial outlet again taunted Russia, in effect saying: Were going to do as we please, because you dont dare use nuclear weapons, do you? For the second time in a week, in the pages of the Jan. 24 Daily Mail, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson practically begged Russia to drop a nuclear bomb in Ukraine, because that, he drooled, would at last split the Global SouthAsia, Ibero-America, Africaaway from Russia. Yet as the danger becomes so clear, people around the world are beginning to mobilize. Over 210 VIPs have now signed the Schiller Institutes letter of support for Pope Franciss offer of the Vatican as a possible neutral ground for peace talkswithout any preconditionsbetween Russia and Ukraine. As of today, over 500 citizens, from 57 nations, have signed that letter because they, too, believe it is urgent to unify all such efforts into a globe-spanning movement to bring resolution to this conflict, taking into consideration the valid security interests of all parties. From Italy today, former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi called attention to the urgency of a peaceful solution which the Pope is promoting, by lamenting to Corriere della Sera that nobody but the Pope and the Holy See seems to have solutions that go towards a peaceful solution of a conflict, for which we are paying with an intolerable [number of] lives, suffering, as well as economic damage to the entire world. From Germany today, MP Sahra Wagenknecht (Die Linke), viewed as the most popular opposition figure in that country, responded to Scholzs announcement with a call for unity: Against this madness, which can end in a disaster, we need a big coalition of all forces of reason! From Mexico today, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador decried the German decision to send more armaments into Ukraine, during his early morning press conference. He held the media responsible for this decision, which he said was taken against the will of the majority of the German people: The power of the media is used by the oligarchy of the whole world to subjugate governments, such as Germanys which did not want to become much involved in the Ukraine war. And this is replicated everywhere. Zepp-LaRouche issued a call to action in her weekly webcast today, urging everyone to become involved, to sign the Schiller Institutes letter in support of the Popes offer of the Vatican as a venue for negotiations, because the more countries, and the more institutions and the more people who support the Pope, and give him backing in this idea, that ... the dying must end, the unnecessary suffering must stop, the better. The solution lies in creating a new international security and development architecture, she insisted, and creating an international mass movement to ensure that gets done will be the hot topic at the Schiller Institutes Feb. 4 international conference. We will have live actors speaking at that conference, she said. Former Presidents, former ministers, diplomats, other people who represent real life, like representatives of the clergy, the industry, the trade unions, discussing what the world actually needs. She invited everyone to participate, and get others to do so, too, in building a movement of world citizens who take responsibility for the cause of humanity. Photo: The Canadian Press The House of Commons industry and technology committee is set to hold a meeting today looking at Rogers Communications Inc.'s proposed takeover of Shaw Communications Inc. Rogers and Shaw applications are pictured on a cellphone in Ottawa on Monday, May 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Key players and close watchers of Rogers Communications Inc.'s proposed takeover of Shaw Communications Inc. shared their views on the $26-billion deal at a House of Commons committee Wednesday as Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne deliberates on its fate. Critics of the deal, including academics and competitors, used the industry and technology meeting to argue that Champagne should either block the deal entirely or impose stricter conditions on it, while also raising concerns about the enforceability of the criteria he has already set out. Proponents of the deal, including Rogers chief executive Tony Staffieri, emphasized the extensive and robust regulatory review that has found the deal meets the standards of Canada's competition laws, including through weeks of hearings at the Competition Tribunal. The tribunal's decision was further upheld by the Federal Court of Appeal on Tuesday, a decision that the Competition Bureau said it was deeply disappointed about but accepts. The committee, which previously recommended against the deal, has no power over the decision that now rests with Minister Champagne, who said Wednesday he is still looking at the Court of Appeal's ruling and other considerations and will make a decision in due course. I set a number of expectations that I would like to be met. And thats what Im going to be reflecting on, what are the expectations that I can demand that would ensure competition, that would ensure the fact that we have affordability," he said. At the committee, Staffieri looked to remind members of the numerous commitments Rogers has made already on investments, along with the benefits of selling Shaw's Freedom Mobile to Quebecor Inc.'s Videotron Ltd. as part of the deal. "These transactions have gone through a rigorous review, and will increase competition," said Staffieri. Edward Iacobucci, a professor at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Law, agreed that the deal had seen a fair and rigorous review, while Jennifer Quaid, an associate professor at the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Law, raised several concerns about how the review took place, as well as whether all of the necessary expertise was represented at the Competition Tribunal. "I think it's time to reconsider whether we have the right decision-making body," she said. Keldon Bester, co-founder of the Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project, used the forum in part to push for Champagne to add more conditions to his approval of the deal, including more aggressive pricing benchmarks, a timeline to reach them and consequences if they aren't met. He and others also emphasized the need to reconsider current competition laws, including through the public review set to launch soon. Members of Parliament also raised concerns about the enforceability of the conditions of the deal, echoing concerns raised by the Competition Bureau that the numerous benefits Rogers is offering to Videotron are not reliable, with the two companies already feuding about service agreements in Quebec. Committee members also raised concerns on how Rogers was able to choose who would be its wireless competitor in Western markets when it chose Videotron, with Globalive Inc. chairman chief Anthony Lacavera telling them that he bid close to a billion dollars higher than Videotron did for Freedom. Staffieri maintained that Rogers chose Videotron as it best met the criteria set out for a viable fourth national carrier, including a proven track record, significant scale, and a credible path to a 5G network. Rogers, which first proposed the deal in March 2021, is aiming to close it by the extended Jan. 31 deadline. Photo: The Canadian Press Tyler Shandro answers questions at a news conference in Calgary, Alta., on Sept. 3, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Todd Korol Justice Minister Tyler Shandro told a Law Society of Alberta hearing Wednesday into complaints about his conduct that he was protecting his wife and family. Shandro, who was Alberta's health minister in 2020, took the stand in his own defence at the hearing that is looking into complaints that he committed professional misconduct on three separate occasions. He told the hearing that there was an escalation of threats against him and his wife beginning in December 2019 through to March 2020. The United Conservative Party government at the time was embroiled in rocky negotiations with health-care unions and the Alberta Medical Association. Shandro said he and his wife Andrea received between 900 and 1000 threats during that time. "There were threats of physical violence, there were death threats, there were threats of sexual violence. Some of the most grotesque were voice mails that she (Andrea) had received that were quite distressing to her," Shandro said. "It culminated on March 20 of somebody actually coming to Andrea's office to physically attack her." Shandro said Calgary police were called and interviewed them. He said he was shocked when a long-time supporter sent a note to his wife's office accusing the couple of being in a conflict of interest. Janice Fraser said Shandro represented her family as a lawyer and she supported his run for office. Fraser said that changed after she sent a note to Andrea Shandro, one of the co-founders of Vital Partners, a health insurance agency. "Dear Andrea, you and your husband Tyler Shandro (who I used to have a tremendous amount of personal and professional respect for up until 2020) are considered to be in a conflict of interest by Albertans. We will not forget," reads the comment posted on the company website. Fraser said she was traumatized when she received an email from Shandro. "Janice, sending threatening notes to my wife is completely inappropriate and must stop," Shandro replied. "If you want to believe lies about her on social media that's up to you. But you can send your threatening emails to this office and this office only. Email her again and it will be referred to protective services." Fraser said Shandro should have known the threat would trigger her post-traumatic stress disorder, which is related to the matters on which he had represented her in the past, so she reached out to various media outlets as a way of protecting herself. "It was pretty scary. Protective services to me means the police and it felt extremely threatening. It petrified me," she told the panel. "I had some PTSD about all of that terrible experience with the system and trying to get justice for my kids. So I was quite shocked that he would say that because he knew my past and he should have known that this would be quite triggering to a person with a criminal injuries background." Shandro said his spouse was living in fear at the time. "She had difficulty sleeping. She was worried that she would have to change her name. She was worried she would have to move to another province, that she would have to leave the business. It was a distressing time for her," he said. Shandro said he saw the note addressed to his wife and not him as a threat. "Directly contacting your spouse is inherently threatening," he testified. "I think she knew by not going to me and going directly to Andrea would be interpreted as being threatening to our family." Shandro also addressed complaints from two Red Deer, Alta., doctors over his obtaining their private numbers and calling them at home. The two doctors had attempted to speak to Shandro at a government announcement and were angry he wouldn't stop. Shandro asked his staff to find out who they were and didn't realize they were providing him with private phone numbers. "In hindsight, Mr. Shandro, looking at all your engagement with those two individuals do you believe you did anything wrong as either a politician or a member of the law society or otherwise," asked his lawyer Grant Stapon. "No. First when you are minister, in particular, minister of health, engaging with people who want to speak with you about various issues, and second because they're demanding it and I was being chided for not engaging with them on the 26th," he said. "It was within the capacity as a politician, not as a lawyer. There was a constituency that wanted to have their voices heard when it came to public policy." The hearing is scheduled to wrap up on Thursday. A recent study suggests that the rate at which the Earths center is turning is slowing down compared to the outer parts of the planet. Earth scientists, or geologists, say that the center or core of the Earth can rotate, or turn, at a different rate than the outer areas. The latest research appeared in the scientific publication Nature Geoscience. The writers of the research are Xiaodong Song and Yi Yang of Chinas Peking University in Beijing. They used information about seismic waves from earthquakes to study the core. Earths inner core is a ball of hot iron that is a little smaller than the Moon. Because it floats in the liquid metal of the outer core, it can spin at a different speed than the rest of the planet. In the 1930s, scientists discovered the Earths core by studying changes in the speed of seismic waves as they travelled through the planet. The changes in speed showed that the core was a solid center made mostly of iron. The new research by Song and Yang studied what they called repeated seismic waves from the early 1990s. They looked for changes in the amount of time seismic waves take to travel over the same paths inside the Earth. The scientists suggest changes in the spin of Earths core can explain the changes in travel times. "We believe the inner core rotates, relative to the Earth's surface, back and forth, like a swing," they told The French news agency AFP. They added that its relative rotation changes about once every 35 years. They also said these changes correspond with very small changes in length of daythe exact amount of time it takes for Earth to rotate on its axis. Different research results In June 2022, John Vidale and Wei Wang, Earth scientists at the University of Southern California (USC), published a study in Science Advances. They reported that between 1969 and 1971 the core rotated more slowly than the outer layers. They also said that after 1971, the core rotated faster than the outer layers. In their study, Wang and Vidale used data on seismic waves from nuclear test explosions. Earth scientists say the Earths core is difficult to understand and study. They disagree about how much, and how often, the spin might change. Some scientists argue that the speed of the spin does not change at all. They say the changes in seismic waves are caused by changes on the surface of the inner core instead of differences in how fast the core is spinning. Hrvoje Tkalcic is a geophysicist at the Australian National University. He thinks scientists will disagree about the latest research. He compared seismologists, who study earthquakes and seismic waves, to doctors "who study the internal organs of patients' bodies using imperfect or limited equipment. He added: Our image of the inner Earth is still blurry." Song and Yang said scientists need years of seismic data to answer questions about Earths core. Vidale of USC said, "Something's happening and I think we're going to figure it out. But it may take a decade. Im Andrew Smith. Andrew Smith adapted this story for Learning English based on reporting from Agence France-Presse _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story core n. the very center of something spin v. to turn seismic adj. related to earthquakes swing v. to move back and forth between two positions correspond with v. (phrasal) to have a direct relationship to or with something or someone imperfect adj. having some fault or incomplete part or area blurry adj. unclear figure (something) out v. (phrasal) to understand or find something by thought decade n. a 10-year period ______________________________________________________________ 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. United States officials surprised many experts by agreeing to send M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine to fight Russian forces. For months, U.S. officials said that it would not be a good idea to send the heavy, complicated war vehicles to Ukraine. The big change came after intense negotiations between the U.S. and its allies. The talks resulted in the U.S. announcing that it would send 31 Abrams tanks and Germany announcing it would send 14 Leopard 2 tanks. Germany said it would also permit other countries to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine. At first, Germany had been reluctant to send its Leopard tanks. Germany wanted the United States to also send Abrams tanks to avoid being the only target of Russias anger at the move to arm Ukraine further. However, the U.S. had said Germanys Leopards were a better fit for Ukrainian forces. Poland wanted to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine but needed permission from Germany, which makes the tanks. Speaking of the agreement, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said: This is the result of intensive consultations, once again, with our allies and international powers. Last Friday, military officials from more than 50 countries met at Ramstein Air Base in Germany to discuss the situation in Ukraine. Tanks were a big subject. Officials from countries with Leopard tanks spoke to the German defense minister. Germanys position on the issue began to publicly soften. Recently, U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters, Germany didnt force me to change our mind. Why the U.S. avoided sending tanks U.S. officials at first did not recommend sending the Abrams tanks for several reasons. The tank is powerful and has been used in both Iraq Wars. It has a 120-millimeter gun and a high-technology targeting system. The Abrams also has a turbine engine that produces 1,500 horsepower, a very large amount of mechanical power. It can travel through snow, mud and almost any terrain. It is also heavily armored. But, because it has a jet engine, it uses huge amounts of fuel. Kevin Butler, a former Army lieutenant who led an Abrams group, said the tanks need a constant supply of fuel to move forward. U.S. officials worried that it would be very difficult for Ukraine to keep the tanks fueled in winter conditions. That is because their fuel trucks do not have the same ability the tanks have for going through difficult terrain. Colin Kahl is the undersecretary for defense policy at the U.S. Department of Defense. He told reporters last week that: The Abrams tank is a very complicated piece of equipment its hard to train on it is not the easiest system to maintain. It will require months of training for Ukrainian forces to use the complex system, to keep it running and fueled. When the Abrams tanks will arrive remains unclear. U.S. officials said the process could take many months. The Leopard tanks will arrive sooner. Doug Bush, an army supply official, said the U.S. no longer buys new Abrams tanks but repairs existing ones. It will take time to prepare the tanks for service. But he said the Ukrainians have shown they can learn new systems quickly. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said: We want to make sure that they (the tanks) fall on ready hands, and that the Ukrainians know how to use them, they know how to keep them running, and theyve got the supply chain in place for spare parts and supplies. Im Dan Friedell. Tara Copp and Lolita Baldor reported this story for the Associated Press. Mario Ritter, Jr. adapted this report for VOA Learning English. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story reluctant adj. showing doubt or being unwilling to do something consultation n. a discussion about something that needs to be decided terrain n. a form of land found in an area such as mountainous, flat, river, etc. armored adj. covered with thick metal to protect against gunfire supply chain n. a system for providing supplies spare adj. extra ______________________________________________________________ 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. The Schiaparelli Haute Couture present bowed as we speak in Paris, with a Dantes Inferno themed assortment. Fashions Irina Shayk, Shalom Harlow, and Naomi Campbell sauntered down the runway in items embellished with massive foam lion, leopard, and wolf heads. The foray already has animal activists in a tizzy. Virtually as intriguing because the items have been the friends, some who got here carrying seems to be contemporary off the runway. Kylie Jenner was one of many first to reach in a robe embellished with a big lion head: Dojacat additionally made fairly an entrance in a pink Schiaparelli costume, with make-up expertly utilized by Pat McGrath. Paris, FRANCE Doja Cat and extra attend the Schiaparelli Haute Couture Spring Summer season 2023 present as a part of Paris Vogue Week in Paris, France. Pictured: Schiaparelli Haute Couture Fashopn Present BACKGRID USA 23 JANUARY 2023 BYLINE MUST READ: Finest Picture / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / [email protected] UK: +44 208 344 2007 / [email protected] *UK Shoppers Footage Containing Kids Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication* Balmain inventive director Olivier Rousteing stopped by in an all black Schiaparelli look. Paris, FRANCE Doja Cat and extra attend the Schiaparelli Haute Couture Spring Summer season 2023 present as a part of Paris Vogue Week in Paris, France. Pictured: Olivier Rousteing BACKGRID USA 23 JANUARY 2023 BYLINE MUST READ: Finest Picture / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / [email protected] UK: +44 208 344 2007 / [email protected] *UK Shoppers Footage Containing Kids Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication* Black was a well-liked selection for the day, as spied by Promoting Sundowns Christine Quinn, who sported a noir Schiaparelli ensemble. Credit score: Backgrid Chiarra Ferragni confirmed off her stems in sheer tights. Paris, FRANCE Kylie Jenner is kind of the trendsetter as she dons a black costume with a stuffed Lion head on it whereas leaving the Schiaperelli style present in Paris, France. Pictured: Schiaparelli style present BACKGRID USA 23 JANUARY 2023 BYLINE MUST READ: Finest Picture / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / [email protected] UK: +44 208 344 2007 / [email protected] *UK Shoppers Footage Containing Kids Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication* Editor Anna Dello Russo posed with a buddy in a gold embellished Schiaparelli look. Paris, FRANCE Doja Cat and extra attend the Schiaparelli Haute Couture Spring Summer season 2023 present as a part of Paris Vogue Week in Paris, France. Pictured: Schiaparelli Haute Couture Fashopn Present BACKGRID USA 23 JANUARY 2023 BYLINE MUST READ: Finest Picture / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / [email protected] UK: +44 208 344 2007 / [email protected] *UK Shoppers Footage Containing Kids Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication* And lastly, shoe designer Amina Muaddi wore a blue velvet costume and footwear of her design. Paris, FRANCE Doja Cat and extra attend the Schiaparelli Haute Couture Spring Summer season 2023 present as a part of Paris Vogue Week in Paris, France. Pictured: Schiaparelli Haute Couture Fashopn Present BACKGRID USA 23 JANUARY 2023 BYLINE MUST READ: Finest Picture / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / [email protected] UK: +44 208 344 2007 / [email protected] *UK Shoppers Footage Containing Kids Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication* What do you consider the runway and the road model seems to be? Photographs: Backgrid/Kylie Jenners Instagram LEXINGTON A 20-year-old Lexington man has been charged with motor vehicle homicide after a pedestrian was struck and killed in September 2022. Arturo Navarrete Jr. has been charged with motor vehicle homicide, a Class 3 felony, and tampering with a witness, a Class 4 felony. Initially, Salvador Canales Dubon, 19, had been charged with motor vehicle homicide, but the charges were dropped after further investigation by the Lexington Police Department. According to court documents, at 4:54 a.m. Sept. 24, the Lexington Police Department responded to a vehicle-pedestrian accident near the intersection of Oak and Adams streets. Officers found Abdelaziz A. Suliman, 59, of Lexington, deceased on the west side of Adams and a Chevrolet pickup with heavy front-end damage parked south of the body. A witness told officers she had been driving south on Adams Street at 35 mph, the posted speed limit, or slower. She said she saw a Chevrolet pickup begin passing her on the right at the same time as she saw a man walking into the street. She said the pickup struck the man and continued southward until it turned west at the first available street. Officers reviewed surveillance camera footage from a nearby apartment complex. The video showed the witnesss vehicle traveling south on Adams and the pickup following behind. The video shows the pickup beginning to pass the witnesss vehicle, and the audio recorded the pickup accelerating, followed by a loud bang right after the acceleration. Based on the video, it appears the Chevy pickup is traveling faster than the posted speed limit and passing a vehicle. The pickup drives into the northbound lane in order to pass the witness vehicle, according to court documents. Suliman died at the scene, and an autopsy was scheduled. Officers made contact with Navarrete and Canales. Canales told them he had been driving, which was owned by Navarrete. Navarrete gave a statement that he had driven the pickup to Canales house and Canales drove the pickup after they left his home. On Sept. 26, Canales attorney contacted police, saying he wanted to arrange an interview because he had information to provide. In an interview Sept. 27, Canales said he was not the driver. He said Navarrete was driving at the time of the collision and had asked Canales to say that he was the driver. Canales said he lied to the police about who was driving because Navarrete was his friend, and because Navarrete had DUIs and had a suspended license. Canales continued to say he was the driver until he spoke with Dawson County Sheriffs Correctional Officer Dorian Hurtado. Canales said he told Hurtado he was not the driver because until that point, he hadnt realized how serious the charges were. Hurtado later provided a written statement that when Canales was being booked into the jail, he stated that he was not the driver and that Navarrete was. The investigation also looked into calls and text messages Canales made from the Dawson County Jail. In a call to his sister, Canales said Navarrete had been driving and hit the guy. However, during a second call to a family member, Canales said he was driving. But when asked about what he told his sister, he said Navarrete was driving but he was taking responsibility because he has a clean record. On Sept. 28, Navarrete went to the police department and made statements that contradicted his earlier testimony, and he offered inconsistent explanations to questioning, the Lexington Police state. On Jan. 25, an arrest warrant was issued for Navarrete and he was booked into the Dawson County Jail. Photo: The Canadian Press Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., leaves a House GOP conference meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) U.S. Rep. George Santos campaign committee told federal regulators Wednesday that it had hired a new treasurer amid lingering questions about the source of his wealth and irregularities in the committee's financial reports. The only problem? The man Santos supposedly hired said he actually turned the job down. It wasnt immediately clear whether the committee made an error listing a new treasurer on Federal Election Commission paperwork or if it was another lie by a congressman who has been caught fabricating many elements of his life story. The man who declined the job, Thomas Datwyler, said through a lawyer that there appeared to be some sort of miscommunication. On Monday we informed the Santos campaign that Mr. Datwyler would not be serving as treasurer," Datwylers lawyer, Derek Ross, said in a statement. It appears theres a disconnect between that conversation and the filings (Wednesday) which we did not authorize." Santos' House office referred questions Thursday to his campaign, Devolder Santos for Congress. Messages seeking comment were left with a campaign lawyer, Joe Murray, and the campaigns former treasurer, Nancy Marks. Under federal regulations, a campaign committee cant raise or spend money unless it has a treasurer. The treasurer collects all contributions and only the treasurer, or a person designated by the treasurer, can approve campaign expenses. Devolder Santos for Congress filed a new statement of organization on Wednesday listing Datwyler as treasurer and custodian of records, replacing Marks, who had held both positions since Santos first ran for Congress in 2020. The form included what it said was his electronic signature, along with his email and mailing addresses. Five other political fundraising committees linked to Santos filed similar paperwork with the FEC Wednesday listing Datwyler as the new treasurer. Santos campaign submitted its new statement of organization a day after it filed new campaign finance reports Tuesday that elevated confusion over the source of a personal fortune he claimed to have used to finance his campaign. The campaign provided the FEC with amended versions of reports for the last two years, including forms that gave contradictory accounts of whether some of the $705,000 he lent his campaign since 2021 came out of his own pocket. Hours before the new statement of organization listing Datwyler was filed, Santos again refused to answer questions about the source of his wealth and placed responsibility for amending his campaign finance reports on campaign staff. Lets make it very clear. I dont amend anything. I dont touch any of my FEC stuff, so dont be disingenuous and report that I did, Santos said. Every campaign hires fiduciaries, so Im not aware of that answer, but we will have an answer for the press regarding the amendments from yesterday. Datwyler, a veteran political moneyman, is treasurer for dozens of House and Senate campaigns, including that of Rep. Nick LaLota in Santos neighboring district. Marks, a longtime Long Island political operative, was treasurer for LaLotas predecessor, former Rep. Lee Zeldin, and was closely associated with Santos' rise to office. She had been treasurer for several committees supporting Santos and she and her family gave maximum contributions to his campaign. A company associated with Marks' Long Island address is listed on paperwork among the co-owners of a company he and others formed in Florida in 2021 after the collapse of Harbor City Capital, an investment firm where Santos worked that the SEC alleges was a Ponzi scheme. Marks' bookkeeping has come under scrutiny from the FEC and campaign finance experts. The commission has repeatedly flagged problems with Santos campaign finance reports, sending more than two dozen letters requesting additional information about contributions, donors and his personal loans. The Campaign Legal Center, a nonprofit watchdog organization, filed an FEC complaint against Santos and Marks this month detailing problems it found in his campaigns reports, including an outsized number of expenses just below the $200 threshold at which the campaign would be required to retain a receipt, invoice or canceled check. Santoss campaign reported 37 expenses costing exactly $199.99 including seven from an Italian restaurant in Queens, five for Uber rides and four from Delta Air Lines. The Campaign Legal Center highlighted several improbable transactions, including a $199.99 stay at a posh Miami hotel where the least expensive room that week usually goes for more than $700. The organizations director of federal reform, Saurav Ghosh, said it's rare for a campaign treasurer to be implicated for reporting violations, but when a campaign has this level of egregious reporting failures, it is ultimately the treasurer whos responsible. Emilie Heidemann picks her 5 favorite 2022 stories "The storm will abate, and the sun will rise again." That was a quote I read recently. It's was written by a renowned psychiatrist who actually practices locally. It's hard not to get caught in the throes of all the headlines and wonder what the world is coming to. Even for me an anxious and introverted pessimist-who-is-secretly-an-optimist with high hopes that, while the world may seem bleak at times, things will eventually get better. There are still pockets of joy even in the deepest pits of fire. I never envisioned that my journalism career would entail weathering an ongoing pandemic whose affects are likely to be felt for decades to come. For one story this year, I drove for miles as cars lined up outside a pharmacy waiting for a COVID-19 test amid a shortage caused by the omicron variant. Eventually, that shortage eased. And more is now known about the once mystery virus that had everyone fearing an apocalypse was imminent. Soon after, with a colleague and friend, we highlighted the problems plaguing Wisconsin's childcare industry as exacerbated by pandemic. Since then, various organizations have sought ways to better support parents and providers with more work to be done. Sometimes, it takes work to make things better. I covered the city of Madison's effort to better support businesses owned by people of color last spring. I recall one of my sources texting to tell me I had created "art" once the story published. Efforts continue. Additionally, I wrote about how a local uptick in unionization rates (that's continuing by the way) was reflective of a national trend, and how the Dane County employers were jumping on the bandwagon to support workers with children despite no federal guidelines for doing so. There are still no federal guidelines in December 2022, but the story did inspire a well-written column by the Wisconsin State Journal's editorial board. Solving some problems may have to start with new knowledge and awareness, just like storms always start with lightning, and then cracks of thunder. The clouds always pass with time. And the sun comes out again. That's my personal theme for 2022. Enjoy the below collection. Four local chefs and a baker have been recognized this year by the James Beard Foundation. Jamie Hoang, chef/owner at Ahan, was named a semifinalist in the category of emerging chef. Andrew Hutchison, head baker/owner of Madison Sourdough, was named a semifinalist in the category of outstanding pastry chef or baker. The list of semifinalists came out Wednesday with 20 semifinalists in each of those categories. Its just a recognition, you know, said Mangano, 50, who was also a semifinalist in the same category in 2016. I mean, the first recognition or acknowledgement of what we do here is seeing the customers coming in every night. We definitely didnt see them dropping us during COVID. They were here to support us. Thats always the very first thing. They were the most important thing. Peer recognition is also important, he said, and that goes along with this kind of award or nomination. So, its all very important. It all means that youre doing something right. Osteria Papavero, 128 E. Wilson St., is 17 years old, and was Downtown before there were many other restaurants near Capitol Square. Mangano said Osteria Papavero had a GoFundMe campaign when the restaurant was losing money due to the pandemic and was able to meet its $10,000 goal. At least we were able to keep going, to keep paying people. He said he had to lay off some employees in 2020 but was able to bring many back. The customers are always there. We wouldnt be here otherwise. Kroeger, who opened the fine-dining restaurant Fairchild, 2611 Monroe St., March 2, 2020, two weeks before the COVID shutdown, said the recognition means a lot. Its great. It shows people appreciate all the work weve done. Speaking from Spain, where he was touring wineries with a distributor, Kroeger said he and his partners are just happy to have the restaurant. From when we opened, it was pretty tough. So, the fact that the restaurants even open right now I think is great. I appreciate it. Nagano, who was LEtoiles chef de cuisine when it was a semifinalist in the Outstanding Restaurant category in both 2017 and 2018, said this time it feels a bit more personal. But theres a lot of teamwork that goes into our restaurant, Nagano said. I think we know what we have to do now, which is work harder and be better to the community now that were recognized a little bit. Hoang, who opened her Asian restaurant, Ahan, inside The Bur Oak, 2262 Winnebago St., in August 2020 doing takeout only because of COVID-19, said she was shocked to be named a semifinalist. I never thought that opening up this little restaurant during the pandemic that we would get here. Im obviously honored. She said the restaurant is doing well. Weve been having a consistent customer base. I think everyones been really happy. Hutchison said hes proud of the baking team at Madison Sourdough. Bakers and bakeries always have existed on the periphery of the food critical culture, he said, and it feels like its coming more towards center, or at least being part of that orbit. Award nominees will be announced March 29, and winners will be celebrated at a ceremony June 5 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The James Beard Foundations Restaurant and Chef Awards, considered by some to be the Academy Awards of the food world, were established in 1990 and first awarded in 1991. This years semifinalists are recognized across 23 categories, including a new award for outstanding bakery. The states that make up the Midwest region are Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. 36 Madison-area restaurant, bar, bakery, coffee shop openings in 2022 Taqueria Los Atlantes Golden Nest Pancakes & Cafe Hot Lunch Zippy Lube Coffee, Donuts, and Fried Chicken Tacos El Capi Good Co. at Pioneer Pointe The Bubbling Teapot Sabores Fusion Grill Nori Sushi & Grill North Shore Pizza and Subs Sookie's Veggie Burgers Turn Key La Pollera Colombiana Restaurant Eno Vino Waunakee BigSur Cantina Amara SASS Sauce + Shells The Borough Beer Company & Kitchen Taza Swagat Sun Prairie Little John's Lunchbox AzTec Taqueria Mishqui Peruvian Cuisine Dirty Dog Taphouse Ollie's Forward Craft & Coffee Jacknife The Ready Set FreshFin Poke Hilldale Mom's Bar Prost! Tucuma Northstreet La Taguara Far Breton Bakery Dagu Rice Noodle It was big news last year when Chef Dave Heide decided to close his 15-year-old upscale Cajun and Creole Lilianas Restaurant in Fitchburg in June to open two restaurants in its place. With a restaurant, after a certain amount of time, you have to either reinvent or you have to slowly die emaciated, Heide said then. Ollies, named for Heides oldest child, born Liliana, now Ollie, is the first of those two spots. It opened in mid-December with a playful menu. Heide has fun with names like The Dad Joke (Super Cheesy) pizza and the 2ABPSSLCPOOASSB burger, under which it says, Thats right ... 2 all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun, in reference to the famous McDonalds Big Mac slogan. Its an $18 burger, which seemed high for a casual place like Ollies. The best value is the pizza, which the menu strangely describes as deep dish, when its instead Detroit-style or rectangular pan-style. There are eight varieties, all one size, for $16. The menu says that they feed one or two people, when, in my view, they can comfortably serve two or three. Two of the six cheesy, thick slices should make a filling dinner for most people. Heides blend of cheeses, all from Wisconsin, has star power and creates an exceptional pizza: Hooks three year cheddar, Farmer Johns Provonello, Carr Valley Fontina, Sartori SarVecchio, Roth Butterkase and mozzarella. My daughter and I shared the excellent caprese pizza, which besides the house cheese blend, had pesto, sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, herbs and a drizzle of balsamic reduction. The crust, soft and tender on the bottom but crisp on the sides, was delicious that way. Heide said he spent a week in Detroit trying about 18 Detroit-style pizzas. Each pizza place he tried had one pie that was a shining star, he said, but at Buddys, which calls itself the original Detroit-style pizza, every pizza impressed him. A lot of the pizzas had either great crust or great sauce or great cheese, but only Buddys had all three, Heide said. He said he tried about 20 types of crust. Ollies pizzas have a slight green tint, he said, because he adds ground oregano and ground thyme. Heide said he tried flake oregano and flake thyme, but it tasted too leafy. The ground absolutely gave us the flavor we were hoping for. At Ollies, his cooks make the dough and sauce from scratch and shred their own cheese, Heide said. We really wanted to make sure that we nailed everything. But enough about the pizza. The modest chop salad ($16) was a great mix of romaine lettuce, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, Gorgonzola, the house cheese blend, and small tomatoes, with a homemade buttermilk ranch dressing. We added grilled chicken that had a little kick for $4, which made it a pricy salad for its size, even if eaten as an entree. The tomato basil bisque ($15), made with coconut cream, came from a section of the menu called cozy bowls and is normally the filling in a freshly baked bread bowl. We asked for it without the bread bowl and it came in a cast-iron dish, topped with herbs and attractively zigzagged with sour cream. My daughter liked it more than I did. I liked it even less though when we were charged the full $15 without the bread bowl. I could have said something, but Ollies menu should more clearly give customers the option of also ordering soup and chili in a regular cup or bowl. Me getting charged full price was a training error, Heide told me later, and it should have been $5 less. A more foolproof way, I learned, would be to ask for it as the gluten-free version. Dessert isnt listed on the menu, but our server said Ollies had Five for $5 ginger molasses cookies. They were somewhat soft, packaged to go, and more distinctive than the usual chocolate chip cookies. Heide said the cookies are baked by his friend, Dawn Edseth, with the profits going to Heides nonprofit, Little Johns, a community food provider with a future pay-what-you-can restaurant component. At Ollies, customers can order from a QR code on a cup that has a giant push-button light on top to beckon a server. I wasnt comfortable summoning a server that way, or ordering via QR code, for that matter. Servers will also take your order with a handheld device if you prefer. When we asked to move from a wobbly tall table to a shorter table, I asked if we could have the same waitress who brought over my reasonably good old fashioned ($9), but was told it didnt matter since the tips get pooled. Be aware that all checks have a 20% gratuity included. Heide said that goes toward paying his entire staff a living wage of $15 an hour, and is communicated on the menu, and on a sign when people walk in. Originally the credit card slips didnt have an extra tip line, but Heide said some customers complained that their server did a great job and they wanted to give them something more. The timing of this review is a little awkward given that I visited Ollies a few days before the unraveling of his nonprofit when its new temporary kitchen fell through. Heide largely reduced operations at Little Johns, which he said made about 16,000 meals a week for the Madison community, mainly for contracts with the county, schools, senior programs and nonprofits. He plans to still make 3,000 meals a week, but had to lay off about 40 employees. None of Ollies staff was affected. I believe Heide aims to do good work and Ollies is a case in point. Diner's scorecard Restaurant: Ollie's Location: 2951 Triverton Pike Drive, Fitchburg Phone: 608-442-4444 Website: olliesmadison.com Hours: 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday Prices: Appetizers $6 to $18, bowls $15, mac and cheese $12 to $20, salads $14 and $16, sandwiches and burgers $12 to $18, pizza $16 Noise level: Medium Credit cards: Accepted Accessibility: Yes Delivery: Through EatStreet Reservations: No Online ordering: Yes Drinks: Full bar Gluten-free: Many GF options Vegetarian offerings: Many, plus large vegan menu Kids menu: No, but plenty of items adults can share with children Outdoor dining: Huge patio in warmer weather Parking: Lot Service: Excellent Bottom line: Ollie's menu is full of tempting choices, but you can't go wrong with the excellent Detroit-style pizza. A Madison man was sentenced Wednesday to 11 years in federal prison for methamphetamine dealing, authorities reported. Charlie Goodwin, 34, was sentenced by Judge James D. Peterson for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a charge he pleaded guilty to on Oct. 21, 2022, U.S. Attorney Timothy OShea said in a statement. In Madison on Aug. 27, 2021, Goodwin sold a pound of meth for $3,000 to a confidential source working with the Drug Enforcement Administration communicated with Goodwin and arranged to buy one pound of methamphetamine. Goodwin arrived at the meeting location in Madison and sold the confidential source one pound of methamphetamine in exchange for $3,000, OShea said. On Sept. 10, 2021, Madison police received information that Goodwins vehicle may have been used in the robbery of a gas station. When officers attempted to pull over Goodwin, he led them on a high-speed chase through Madison that was terminated for safety reasons. Goodwin later carjacked a Chevrolet Equinox and drove back to his residence, with the victim of the carjacking suffering injuries to his neck and right arm, OShea said. Goodwin was arrested later that day at his girlfriends apartment, which was searched with officers finding $164,124 in cash, two loaded guns, and drug packing materials. There also was evidence showing Goodwin had recently flushed heroin down the toilet and the sink, OShea said. At sentencing, Peterson said Goodwin was the leader of a large-scale interstate drug trafficking organization and was involved in transporting a daunting amount of meth from California to Wisconsin. Peterson also noted that Goodwin had two prior felony convictions for drug trafficking in the Madison area and six additional criminal convictions, OShea said. The charge against Goodwin is the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Dane County Narcotics Task Force, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Madison Police Department. The investigation was conducted and funded by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, a multi-agency task force that coordinates long-term narcotics trafficking investigations. The prosecution of the case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner. The cities with the most break-ins and burglaries Cities With the Most Break-Ins / Burglaries Over the past decade burglary and larceny rates have declined Daytime break-ins of homes are most common Southern states experience the most property crime Small and midsize cities with the most burglaries 15. Dallas, TX 14. Houston, TX 13. Las Vegas, NV 12. Columbus, OH 11. Minneapolis, MN 10. Milwaukee, WI 9. Wichita, KS 8. Kansas City, MO 7. Oklahoma City, OK 6. Bakersfield, CA 5. Seattle, WA 4. Baltimore, MD 3. Detroit, MI 2. Tulsa, OK 1. Memphis, TN A woman was in critical condition Thursday and a man was in custody on a weapons charge after a shooting Wednesday night in Iowa County, the Sheriffs Office said. Just after 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, police were called to 4382 Percussion Road Road in the town of Wyoming about a shooting. A woman was taken to the hospital and remains in critical condition, the Sheriffs Office said in an update Thursday night. Timothy D. Sontic, 34, of Hillpoint, was arrested and tentatively charged with injury by negligent use of a weapon, the Sheriffs Office said. He was being held at the county jail. Sheriff Michael Peterson called the shooting an isolated incident and said the investigation was continuing. The board that regulates Wisconsins natural resources entered a new phase Wednesday, meeting for the first time with a majority of members appointed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers after months of stonewalling by a Republican who refused to step down. Evers new appointee as Department of Natural Resources secretary, Adam Payne, presided over his first meeting and declared that his top priority will be water quality. He praised Evers for proposing $100 million more to fight PFAS contamination during the State of the State address Tuesday. That money is far from locked in, however; Republican lawmakers would have to approve it first. PFAS, or short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are manmade forever chemicals used widely in consumer products and certain types of firefighting foam. The chemicals dont break down in the natural world and accumulate and linger in the human body for long periods. Exposure may lead to cancer and other health problems. A host of Wisconsin communities have discovered the chemicals in their groundwater. Payne warned that the agency wont make everyone happy but will listen to everyone. I think this is a strong board and will only be stronger as we move forward, Payne said. The governor appoints the DNRs secretary, as well as the members of the board that signs off on the agencys moves. Evers hasnt had full control of the board since he first took office in 2019, thanks to leftover Republican appointees finishing their terms. Board members serve seven-year staggered terms. His appointees were finally poised to gain a majority in May 2021 when Republican appointee Fred Prehns term expired. But Prehn refused to step down and make way for Evers appointee Sandra Naas, preserving a 4-3 Republican advantage on the board. Prehn went on to cast deciding votes to expand the wolf hunt quota and kill proposed limits on PFAS in groundwater, much to the chagrin of wildlife conservationists and environmentalists. Prehns presence visibly frustrated then-DNR Secretary Preston Cole, who stepped down in November. Prehn finally resigned this past December. Fellow Republican appointee William Bruins quit as well, giving Evers appointees a 5-2 advantage on the board. Evers tapped Payne, who was serving as the Sheboygan County administrator, to replace Cole as secretary earlier this month. Naas can now serve unless the state Senate votes to oust her. She took her place at the meeting table for the first time Wednesday. Asked by reporters if she was frustrated with Prehn, Naas said only that waiting for months to take her seat was a good opportunity to see how the board works. I learned a lot just sitting in the audience. The board elected Evers appointee Bill Smith to replace Republican appointee Greg Kazmierski as chairman. Kazmierskis term expires in May, giving Evers an opportunity to further expand his control of the board. Evers is now free to move ahead with PFAS standards and tighten restrictions on other contaminants moves that could prove costly to the business industry as well as reduce the number of wolves and other creatures hunters can kill without any internal obstacles. The only entity that can stop DNR initiatives now is the Legislatures Republican-controlled administrative rules committee. That committee has the power to block state agencies proposed regulations. Mike Mikalsen, an aide to the committees co-chair, Sen. Steve Nass, didnt respond to an email Wednesday seeking comment on the DNRs new leadership dynamics. Kazmierski warned members after the vote that they are not accountable to the states natural resources but to the public. Today there is almost a religion to the environment and this agency and this board is not accountable to that religion, he said. Were accountable to the people. Its wonderful to say we all want perfectly clean water ... but whats it going to cost the public? We have to look into all those kinds of things and find that happy balance of what we can afford to do. The daily flights will tentatively run through November, the airport said. Delta has been offering year-round service to the nations capital since 2021. The demand for nonstop flights to popular leisure and business travel destinations continues to increase, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi said in a statement. It makes sense that two of the airlines with a long history of service to (Madison) recognize the need for travelers to reach our nations capital from our states capital. Photo: The Canadian Press Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy answers questions during a press conference on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023, after five fired Memphis Police Officers were charged in the murder of Black motorist Tyre Nichols. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian via AP) Five fired Memphis police officers were charged Thursday with murder and other crimes in the killing of Tyre Nichols, a Black motorist who died three days after a confrontation with the officers during a traffic stop. Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy told a news conference that although the officers each played different roles in the killing, they are all responsible. The officers, who are all Black, each face charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression. Video of the Jan. 7 traffic stop will be released to the public sometime Friday evening, Mulroy said. Nichols family and their lawyers say the footage shows officers savagely beating the 29-year-old father and FedEx worker for three minutes. Nichols stepfather, Rodney Wells, told The Associated Press by phone that he and his wife, RowVaughn Wells, who is Nichols mother, discussed the second-degree murder charges and are fine with it. They had sought first-degree murder charges. Theres other charges, so Im all right with that, he said. Earlier this week, Wells called for any protests that happen when the video is released to remain peaceful. He also said he is ecstatic that authorities moved quickly in the case. David Rausch, director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, said during the news conference that he saw the video and found it absolutely appalling. Let me be clear: What happened here does not at all reflect proper policing. This was wrong. This was criminal, Rausch said. Court records showed that all five former officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith were in custody. The records did not list attorneys for Smith, Bean or Haley. Martin's lawyer, William Massey, confirmed that his client had turned himself in. He and Mills' lawyer, Blake Ballin, said their clients would plead not guilty. No one out there that night intended for Tyre Nichols to die, Massey said. Both lawyers said they had not seen the video. We are in the dark about many things, just like the general public is, Ballin said. Second-degree murder is punishable by 15 to 60 years in prison under Tennessee law. The attorneys for Nichols' family, Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, issued a statement saying that the charges offer hope as we continue to push for justice for Tyre." "This young man lost his life in a particularly disgusting manner that points to the desperate need for change and reform to ensure this violence stops occurring during low-threat procedures, like in this case, a traffic stop, they wrote. The Rev. Al Sharpton, who founded and runs the National Action Network and will deliver the eulogy at Nichols funeral service next week, called the charges a necessary step in delivering justice for Nichols, who was an avid skateboarder and had a 4-year-old son. There is no point to putting a body camera on a cop if you arent going to hold them accountable when the footage shows them relentlessly beating a man to death, Sharpton said. Firings are not enough. Indictments and arrests are not convictions. As weve done in the past ... we will stand by this family until justice is done. At the White House, President Joe Biden said Nichols' family and the city of Memphis deserve a swift, full and transparent investigation. Public trust is the foundation of public safety, and there are still too many places in America today where the bonds of trust are frayed or broken, Biden said in a statement. The Memphis police chief has called the officers' actions that night heinous, reckless and inhumane." This is not just a professional failing. This is a failing of basic humanity toward another individual," Memphis Police Director Cerelyn CJ Davis said in a video statement released late Wednesday on social media. Davis said the five officers found to be directly responsible for the physical abuse of Mr. Nichols," were fired last week, but other officers are still being investigated for violating department policy. In addition, she said a complete and independent review will be conducted of the departments specialized units, without providing further details. Two fire department workers were also removed from duty over the Nichols arrest. As state and federal investigations continue, Davis promised the police department's full and complete cooperation to determine what contributed to Nichols' Jan. 10 death. Mulroy told The Associated Press on Tuesday that local and state investigators wanted to complete as many interviews as possible before releasing the video. The timetable has rankled some activists who expected the video to be released after Nichols family and the family's lawyers viewed it Monday. Crump said the video showed showed that Nichols was shocked, pepper-sprayed and restrained when he was pulled over for a traffic stop near his home. He was returning home from a suburban park where he had taken photos of the sunset. Police have said Nichols was stopped for reckless driving and at some point fled from the scene. The legal team likened the beating to the infamous 1991 police beating of Los Angeles motorist Rodney King. Relatives have accused the police of causing Nichols to have a heart attack and kidney failure. Authorities have only said Nichols experienced a medical emergency. When video of the arrest is publicly released, Davis said she expects people in the community to react, but she urged them to do so peacefully. "None of this is a calling card for inciting violence or destruction on our community or against our citizens," she said. One of the officers, Haley, was accused previously of using excessive force. He was named as a defendant in a 2016 federal civil rights lawsuit while employed by the Shelby County Division of Corrections. The plaintiff, Cordarlrius Sledge, stated that he was in inmate in 2015 when Haley and another corrections officer accused him of flushing contraband. The two officers hit me in the face with punches, according to the complaint. A third officer then slammed his head to the ground, Sledge said. He lost consciousness and woke up in the facilitys medical center. The claims were ultimately dismissed after a judge ruled that Sledge had failed to file a grievance against the officers within 30 days of the incident. If you go What: The public is invited to hear and interact with the design teams as they discuss their visions for the John Nolen Drive lakefront. When: Tonight; food and music at 5:30 p.m., presentations at 6 p.m. Where: Madison Central Library, 201 W. Mifflin St., Rooms 301-302, also live streamed at Madison City Channel-Presentations (cityofmadison.com) Once again, who you love and why is under attack in Idaho. The latest salvo comes courtesy of Sen. Scott Herndon, a right-winger from Sagle (near Sandpoint, in northern Idaho) who is proposing a bill that would, essentially, set up a potential court battle to outlaw same-sex marriage in the state of Idaho. This, despite the fact the U.S. Supreme Court legalized the institution on the strength of a right-wing swing-vote (Justice Anthony Kennedy, a Reagan appointee) and the U.S. Congress passed legislation legalizing same-sex and interracial marriage with bipartisan votes that included Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson. Sadly, this is nothing new. Herndons bill which advanced on Wednesday to a full hearing before the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee would eliminate marriage licenses in Idaho and leave qualified participants with only a marriage certificate. In case youre wondering, qualified participants according to Herndons testimony Wednesday would essentially be whoever a court determines is qualified to be married in Idaho. Right now, that means a man and a woman. Whether this paperwork slight-of-hand would withstand judicial scrutiny is uncertain given prior court decisions and federal law. The real question is why scared and angry Idaho lawmakers are so hellbent on legislating love in the Gem State. Ironic, isnt it? Are we really still debating this issue? A Gallup poll last year found 71-percent of Americans support same-sex marriage. Even in Idaho, various surveys conducted over the years show a majority of us either support same-sex marriage or have no opinion on the matter. Less than 40% of Idahoans outright oppose the institution. Love is a universal concept that all of us know in our own way, so why should we cater to a vast minority of people who want to deny us that institution? Herndon has claimed he wants to protect traditional marriage in Idaho. Well, lets look at that. About half of all traditional marriages end in divorce in this country and Idaho has one of the highest divorce rates in America. Lets also remember when you commit to a traditional marriage, you make a promise not only to your spouse to stay together forever through sickness and in health til death do you part, you make that same promise to God Himself. Thats a lot of broken promises to the Almighty. For those who believe non-traditional marriage is an afront to God, where do you stand on lying to Him? As an Irish-Italian Catholic, I can tell you, He doesnt like it. I have the Our Fathers to prove it. Asking Him to deliver us from evil is a tough ask when youre not telling him the truth in the first place. Not that we should ever reduce love to economics, but Im a capitalist and an American, so Ill go there. Capitalism hates this bill. Why? Because it sends a hostile message to Idaho and Americas LGBTQ community who may not want to relocated here, or remain in the Gem State. That limits competition. Capitalism, at least on paper, hates discrimination because it limits the number of people who can compete in the marketplace. Capitalism doesnt give a hoot about who you love or why. All It cares about is whether you can make the best product/service at the best price. Its the American way. Clearly, Herndon skipped those courses in high school because his bill is anti-American, anti-capitalist, anti-prosperity and, most importantly, anti-Idaho. The (potentially) good news is the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee is loaded with legislators from southern Idaho: Sen. Kelly Anthon (R-Burley), Sen. Doug Ricks (R-Rexburg), Sen. Linda Hartgen (R-Twin Falls) and Sen. James Ruchti (D-Pocatello). When this bill comes up for a full hearing, it is my sincere hope they vet this legislation for what it appears to be: An attack on love in Idaho. America has spoken on this issue and the message is clear: Keep who we love, and why, out of politics. Substituting hate for love is just bad business. And bad for Idaho. Two separate crashes within sight of each other damaged seven vehicles, but resulted in no injuries. Shortly after 8:30 this morning, the 911 Communications Center dispatched police to the intersection of Mount Olivet Road and U.S. Route 58, where it had been reported that three vehicles were involved in a collision. Although there were no injuries, one vehicle was leaking fluid and the vehicles were impeding traffic. Before officers arrived, a second crash occurred involving a Henry County school bus and three other vehicles, including a truck with a large trailer attached. Additional law enforcement and Henry County Public Safety responded when it was learned that a second crash had occurred. One of the responders on the scene said that it appeared that an unusually bright sun prevented eastbound motorists from seeing the road and other vehicles, causing two crashes involving seven vehicles. A school official on the scene confirmed that none of the students on Bus #89 were injured and paramedics were assisting occupants in the other vehicles, but no one appeared to be injured. The Virginia State Police arrived to investigate the crashes and Henry County sheriff's deputies assisted with traffic control. The U.S. Dept. of Commerces Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced on Thursday that Henry County has been awarded $958,960 to extend local water and sewer service. The money will pay for a new pump station, sewer line and other improvements to support expansion of the Teal-Jones Group, a lumber manufacturer located on Carver Road in the Horsepasture District. I think its great news for Henry County as well as the Horsepasture District, said Debra Buchanan, who represents the district on the Henry County Board of Supervisors. This will allow us to build the sewer line down Carver Road to what used to be Pine Products. Teal-Jones, a Canadian firm, purchased Pine Products Inc. in 2019 and announced plans to invest $21 million and create 67 new jobs. The grant will allow the Public Service Authority [PSA] to extend sewer services along US-58, West to Carver Road, said Tim Pace, director of engineering and mapping for Henry County and the PSA. By doing so, the Teal-Jones Group will be able to connect to it, allowing them to optimize and grow their business. The grant will also be used to support business and job growth in the general area by extending the local water and sewer service and will be matched with $241,040 in local funds, creating an additional 36 jobs while retaining 31 existing jobs, an EDA release stated. The County and PSA are persistently exploring grant opportunities to better our community while minimizing the burden on our citizens, said Dale Wagoner, county administrator and PSA general manager. It is even more impactful when an industry is able to create new jobs and invest back into our community. This is great news for Henry County. This significant federal funding to improve the Countys water and sewer system and support local manufacturing will go a long way in creating new opportunities for jobs and economic development in the county, said US Rep. Morgan Griffith in a press release. I look forward to seeing this money positively impact the area for years to come. The Economic Development Administration is pleased to support Henry County as it works to diversify and grow the regions economy, said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo in a release. This project will provide critical infrastructure upgrades that are needed to spur business growth and job creation in Virginia. We are reinvigorating job growth and making Virginia an attractive place to do business, said Gov. Glenn Youngkin in a release. This grant which helps improve critical infrastructure will accelerate economic growth in Henry County. These new opportunities will attract more young people, families and businesses. I am thrilled that this investment for Henry County will create jobs and boost business throughout the region, said Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) in a release. It is crucial that we continue to support necessary infrastructure improvements throughout Virginia. Im glad Henry County is receiving this funding to extend local water and sewer service, said Sen. Tim Kaine in a release. These critical infrastructure upgrades are essential to create jobs, support local businesses, and help grow the regions economy. Virginia Legal Aid Society Inc. has received a three-year funding amount of $428,230 from The Harvest Foundation to expand its eviction reduction programming in Martinsville and Henry County. Virginia Legal Aid Society (VLAS) provides a critical resource for families and individuals in Martinsville-Henry County who grapple with unstable housing conditions, which often is the spark that ignites a cycle of poverty, stated India Brown, program officer at The Harvest Foundation, in a press release. The funding will primarily help staff take on legal casework, providing representation and advice to low-income residents in MHC on housing-related cases. It also supports legal education and outreach, so VLAS can help tenants and landlords resolve disputes without involving the legal system. Harvest helped to re-establish a local VLAS office with a grant announced in 2019. Since then, more than 300 housing-related cases helping 689 were closed, including 55 people facing imminent eviction. In May 2022, VLAS placed staff at general district courts in Martinsville and Henry County each week when courts heard eviction cases. Judges announce that representatives from VLAS are in attendance and willing to provide free legal services to eligible clients. With funding from the Virginia Eviction Reduction Pilot (VERP) program and support from the United Way of Henry County and Martinsville, a paralegal reviews dockets, identifies potential clients and manages case materials. According to David Neumeyer, executive director of VLAS, this change significantly increased the number of clients they could help. Three years ago, a generous grant from The Harvest Foundation enabled us to reopen an office to serve Martinsville and Henry County exclusively, Neumeyer stated in the release. Harvests new three-year grant, beginning in January 2023, will support the critical work were doing to reduce evictions in Martinsville and Henry County. Since May 2022, the number of eviction filings in the area has more than doubled, a trend that shows no signs of slackening. Virginia Legal Aid Society, thanks to Harvests support, has been able to send a team into the local district courts and make our services available to all eligible tenants facing eviction. We now expect to continue this work, along with helping low-income tenants with many other housing issues, for years to come. Founded in 1977, Virginia Legal Aid Society fulfills its mission to resolve serious legal problems for low-income individuals, promote economic and family stability, reduce poverty through effective legal assistance, and champion equal justice. It serves 26 cities and counties throughout Central, Southside and Western Tidewater in Virginia. To find out more, visit vlas.org or call 866-534-5243. Angola and Russia will hold a joint intergovernmental commission meeting in April in Luanda to strengthen and expand cooperation in the fields of telecommunications, mining, energy, space industry, and agro-industry, the head of Russian diplomacy announced Wednesday. The fields we have in prospect are energies, telecommunications, information technologies, geology and mining, space, and agro-industry. We hope that this commission meeting can be held at the end of April in Luanda, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday. Lavrov, who was speaking Wednesday in Luanda at the end of talks between the Angolan and Russian delegations, stressed the historical and friendly relations with Angola and recalled the cooperation already existing in the economic, technical, military, and humanitarian fields. He made his statement to the media but no questions were asked. The launch of the Angolan satellite Angosat 2 last October allows opening new lines of cooperation not only in the space field but in other areas of technology, said the Russian official. He also praised the development of cooperation in the humanitarian sector, especially in the field of training, noting that Russia has decided to double the scholarships it offers Angola, which should increase from 150 to 300 in 2024. According to the Russian top diplomat, who was speaking next to his Angolan counterpart, Tete Antonio, it was also agreed to accelerate cooperation and sign several bilateral instruments. The sectors of culture, atomic energy and humanitarian operations are expected to gain new impetus in the bilateral relationship. The Angolan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tete Antonio, also stressed the importance of the talks with the Russian delegation, noting that they allowed a frank and friendly dialogue, where bilateral, regional and international issues were addressed. Regarding bilateral issues, we agree that, taking into account the existing dynamics between the two countries and the international atmosphere, we will continue to deepen several aspects addressed today, through the bilateral commission, as well as through dialogue between sectors, he said. We have placed particular emphasis on our preparation in the diamond sector, taking into account the weight of this sector in the national economy and the difficulties that we are encountering today also require innovative solutions, stressed the Angolan official. Serguei Lavrov is visiting Angola part of an African tour. South Africa and the United States will form a joint unit to track financial flows generated by wildlife poaching, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced Wednesday during a visit to the African country. To protect wildlife populations from poaching and disrupt the illegal trade that results from it, we must follow the money in the same way we do other serious crimes, Yellen said during a visit to a game reserve in the north of the capital, Pretoria. This includes identifying and seizing the profits generated by illegal wildlife trafficking, she said. The unit would improve information sharing between financial intelligence agencies to better support law enforcement in both countries, she added. South Africa is home to nearly 80% of the worlds rhino population. This makes it a hotbed of poaching for this endangered animal, fueled by demand from Asia, where the pachyderms horns, mostly composed of keratin, are used in traditional medicine. According to the NGO Save the Rhino International, nearly 10,000 rhinos roamed Kruger Park, South Africas largest game reserve, in 2013, compared to just over 2,400 currently, a 75% drop in less than a decade. Poaching in South Africa also targets pangolins and elephants. Yellen is touring Africa, one of the first in a series of expected visits by senior U.S. administration officials since launching a diplomatic offensive in December on a continent that is the site of fierce economic and political competition between major powers, including China and Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov preceded her Monday in South Africa, which recently announced joint maneuvers in February with the Russian and Chinese navies off its coast. France has received Burkina Fasos request to withdraw its forces in one month and will abide by the decision, the Foreign ministry of the European country has indicated. A spokesperson at the ministry indicated that French authorities received officially Tuesday the termination by the Burkinabe government of the 2018 agreement on the status of the French forces present in that country. The termination shall take effect one month after receipt of the written notice. We will respect the terms of this agreement by complying with this request, the diplomatic source added. Earlier this week, Burkinabe local media, including National broadcaster RTB and state-run news agency, Agence dInformation du Burkina, indicated that the Government decided on Wednesday last week to end the presence of Frances military on Burkinabe soil. The government criticized the 2018 agreement that greenlights the presence of French troops in the West African country. The comment by the French foreign ministry comes after President Macron has called on Burkina Faso leader Captain Ibrahim Traore to clarify the decision relayed by media. He also slammed Russia for being behind the West African countrys decision. Ties between Burkina Faso and its former colonial power have been sour since the arrival to power of Traore in September last year. Last week, Traore indicated that his country will kindly relinquish ties with some countries to re-gain its sovereignty. There are about 400 French troop stationed in north of capital Ouagadougou. 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 red, blue and green three of the coldspots on the virus spike that are targeted by the newly discovered antibodies. Credit: IRB, Bellinzona, Switzerland The coronavirus keeps evolving, and in so doing it evades our immune defenses. But does the entire coronavirus evolve, or do some portions remain unchanged? Sieving through over 10 million coronavirus sequences, two Ph.D. students at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB, Switzerland, affiliated with the Universita della Svizzera italiana) have discovered that some portions of the virus spike (the molecule on the virus that is key to infect human cells) were remarkably conserved. The study, published today in Science Immunology, was led by scientists at IRB (Bellinzona, Switzerland). "We call these 'coldspots,'" says Virginia Crivelli, adding, "Most of the virus is rapidly changing, but we discovered 15 regions that do not." By analyzing samples from COVID-19 convalescent individuals, the researchers found that some had antibodies specific for the coldspots. The first co-authors of the study published in Science Immunology: Filippo Bianchini and Virginia Crivelli, PhD Students at IRB (Bellinzona, Switzerland) in the Lab of Professor Davide Robbiani. Credit: IRB, Bellinzona, Switzerland "These antibodies are very rare," says Filippo Bianchini, "but thanks to a new method, we were able to find them." The antibodies blocked virus infection in laboratory experiments, even to the latest variants of concern, and protected from disease in preclinical models. Will the new antibodies be effective against the next coronavirus(es)? "It is likely that new coronaviruses that infect humans will emerge," says Davide Robbiani, IRB director and senior author on the study, adding, "Our findings indicate that it may be already possible to develop countermeasures that are broadly effective against present and also future coronaviruses." More information: Human neutralizing antibodies to cold linear epitopes and subdomain 1 of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, Science Immunology (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.ade0958 Journal information: Science Immunology Provided by Istituto di Ricerca in Biomedicina The former Whole Foods store, now with a Save-A-Lot sign attached to the building's facade, at 63rd and Halsted in Chicagos Englewood neighborhood on Jan. 26, 2023. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) The former Whole Foods on 63rd Street and Halsted in Englewood, once heralded as the start of a new chapter for a neighborhood that has long struggled with access to high-quality fresh food, will now be a Save-A-Lot. The store will be operated by Yellow Banana, a grocery company owned by the Cleveland-based investment firm 127 Wall Holdings LLC. Yellow Banana operates 38 Save-A-Lot grocery stores nationally, including a handful in the Chicago area. Advertisement Yellow Bananas lease on the former Whole Foods building began Jan. 1, co-founder Michael Nance told the Tribune. Nance said the company hopes to open the store in February but has not committed to a date. On Thursday, a Save-A-Lot sign was visible on the building. Community leaders in Englewood, including Ald. Stephanie Coleman, whose 16th Ward includes the grocery store, expressed frustration that the former Whole Foods would be replaced by a grocery brand they said was known by many residents for poor quality food. Advertisement My community does not want a Save-A-Lot grocery store, Coleman said. To go from such a full-scale grocery, a high, high market if you will, to the lowest, that sends a very mixed message to our community, quite frankly, she said. We deserve quality, affordable fresh produce just as any other community in the city of Chicago. Asiaha Butler, CEO of the Resident Association of Greater Englewood, or R.A.G.E., said residents who will be most affected by a grocery operator choice had been excluded from the decision-making process. She said some residents have explicitly said they did not want a Save-A-Lot to replace Whole Foods. Its hard to accept this when people have a history of knowing what Save-A-Lot has been in Black communities, Butler said. You never hear about a Save-A-Lot in Lincoln Park, or downtown. Developer Leon Walker of DL3 Realty said Thursday that Whole Foods had selected Yellow Banana as the sublessee of the Englewood store. Whole Foods did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. Yellow Banana executives have previously acknowledged Save-A-Lots poor reputation in Chicago. At a community meeting last summer, Nance said the company had tarnished its name in the city. On Thursday, he reiterated the companys commitment to improving the quality of its Save-A-Lot stores, such as by sourcing some products from wholesalers other than Save-A-Lot. If you go into our stores now, you can see organic spinach and similar products that were really excited about, he said. In a statement, Save-A-Lot CEO Leon Bergmann said the brand was proud to offer high quality, affordable and fresh foods in neighborhoods all across the country, including high quality produce and meat cut fresh daily. Advertisement Our Retail Partners at Yellow Banana took on the Chicago stores with a vision for how the brand could better serve the community and are working to provide a refreshed and improved Save A Lot experience, including the remodel of stores and the development of new locations. Were excited to see the changes they are making to ensure neighbors can access and save money on fresh, quality foods they will feel good about feeding their families, Bergmann said. Nance has previously said that 60% of the products at Yellow Banana-owned stores will be sourced from Save-A-Lot; on Thursday, he declined to say whether that percentage would also apply to the Englewood store. The Englewood store will also have a bakery, a hot food bar and a coffee bar, Nance said. He said the company was committed to bringing in local operators for those amenities. A sign advertising work opportunities at Save-A-Lot is posted on the front door at 63rd Street and Halsted in the Englewood neighborhood on Jan. 26, 2023. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) Last summer, Yellow Banana was awarded $13.5 million in city tax increment money to reopen an Auburn Gresham Save-A-Lot shuttered in 2020 and to renovate five other Save-A-Lots it already operates on the citys South and West sides. The City Council cleared the funding in November. Advertisement Nance said Thursday the transaction for the funding had not yet closed but that renovations would begin reasonably soon after it does. Yellow Banana had initially said the Auburn Gresham store could reopen by the end of 2022; Nance said the company now hopes to reopen that store toward the end of the first quarter or beginning of the second quarter of 2023. The sale agreement between the city and developer DL3 Realty requires a full-service grocery store to operate in the Englewood Square development, where Whole Foods was the anchor tenant, until November 2027. The agreement requires a new grocery store to be up and running within 18 months of Whole Foods closure. In 2020, Save-A-Lot announced plans to sell off its corporate-owned retail stores in order to focus on wholesaling; the company owns and operates 18 out of more than 850 stores nationwide. Whole Foods 2016 opening in Englewood, supported by $10.7 million in city funding, was heralded as the start of a new chapter for a neighborhood that had long struggled with disinvestment and access to healthy food. Whole Foods announced it would close last spring at the same time it announced the closure of a store near DePaul University and the same week it opened a nearly 66,000-square-foot store in the Near North neighborhood. Sekhema Williams, of Oak Lawn, pulls her cart through the parking lot after shopping at the Whole Foods in Chicagos Englewood neighborhood on Nov. 12, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) The Englewood Whole Foods closed in November. Shoppers who cruised the aisles during the stores shutdown sale mourned its departure. It seems like every time we get something good in our neighborhood, something happens to take it away, one grocery shopper told the Tribune at the time. Advertisement Soon after the announcement of the stores closure, Mayor Lori Lightfoot blamed prices at Whole Foods for its demise. Most Chicagoans are hard-pressed to pay, for example, $15 a pound for a piece of steak, she said at the time. Weve got to make sure that were making the investments that make sense for those neighborhoods. Lightfoots office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. Though some residents agreed Whole Foods wasnt accessible to all Englewood residents, many expressed hope that a new grocery store would be a middle-of-the-road operator. Last spring, Walker told the Tribune a new grocery store should be neither a gourmet option such as Whole Foods nor a deep discounter. Were looking for an operator in the middle, he told the Tribune at the time. On Thursday, he said he was happy to see what he described as a blended concept emerge in Englewood: one that could offer value but that he said would keep the look and feel of the former Whole Foods store. Some Englewood residents are working on developing a community benefit agreement to bring to Yellow Banana, said Cecile DeMello, executive director of the nonprofit Teamwork Englewood. A community benefit agreement lays out benefits a company will provide to a community in exchange for its support. Advertisement Theres an opportunity to do very intentional work around local suppliers, local hiring and the inventory diversity, DeMello said. Nance said Thursday the company agreed to talk with the community about what a community benefit agreement might look like. 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: Autism cases are surging in the New York-New Jersey metro area, mainly fueled by the diagnosis of autistic children who don't have intellectual disabilities, a new study reports. The percentage of kids identified with autism spectrum disorder rose from about 1% in 2000 to 3% in 2016 in that region, said lead researcher Josephine Shenouda, program manager and epidemiologist with the Rutgers University Children's Research Center in New Jersey. That increase occurred mainly due to new diagnoses of autistic children with a borderline, average or above-average IQ, according to findings published Jan. 26 in the journal Pediatrics. "The driver of the increase of autism was really coming from identification of children with autism without intellectual disability," Shenouda said. "Over that period, there was a twofold increase among children with autism with intellectual disabilities, but there was a fivefold increase for the children with autism without intellectual disability," Shenouda said. The findings, along with recently revised federal statistics, refute the long-held notion that autism mainly occurs in intellectually disabled children, Shenouda said. Only about one-third of autistic children have an IQ that is below average, according to both the new study and recent autism numbers released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the past, it had been estimated that up to 75% of autistic children had accompanying intellectual disabilities, Shenouda said. "What our paper shows is that this assumption is not true," Shenouda said. Data from four New Jersey countiesEssex, Hudson, Ocean and Unionshowed that about 32% of children diagnosed with autism had an intellectual disability, while about 59% had autism but no intellectual disability, results show. Overall, documented cases of autism spectrum disorder increased threefold between 2000 and 2016, rising from 9.6 cases per 1,000 8-year-old kids to 31.8 cases per 1,000 kids, researchers said. Rates of autism with intellectual disability doubled during that period, rising from 2.9 cases to 7.3 cases per 1,000 children, researchers said. But cases of autism without intellectual disability jumped fivefold, from 3.8 to 18.9 per 1,000 children. Both the New York/New Jersey metro area and the recent CDC report reflect an uptick in autism, said Emily Hotez, a developmental psychologist and assistant professor with the University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine. About 1 in 44 children were identified with autism spectrum disorder in the United States in 2018, the most recent year for which data is available, the CDC says. That's up from 1 in 54 in 2016, and 1 in 88 in 2008, according to the CDC. "These reports, from my perspective, are incredibly important for informing our understanding of autism, getting epidemiological estimates, as well as, probably most importantly, allocating necessary support and services and making that accessible and equitable," said Hotez, co-author of an editorial accompanying the Rutgers-led study in Pediatrics. There are likely even more cases of autism out there that have gone undiagnosed due to inequities in health care, Shenouda said. For example, Black children were 30% less likely to be identified with autism without intellectual disability than white children in the New York/New Jersey area, results show. Further, children living in well-to-do areas were 80% more likely to be identified with autism without intellectual disability than children living in poorer places. "Even though identification among underserved groups is improving over time, the study shows that there are still disparities in identification of autism without intellectual disability among some groups in the population," Shenouda said. Both Shenouda and Hotez said it's still not clear whether the increase in autism diagnoses is occurring because of improvements in screening or because there are more kids developing autism. "It's a combination of both," said Wendy Fournier, president of the National Autism Association. "There is greater public awareness of early signs of autism, making parents more likely to address developmental concerns with their doctors, and actual prevalence rates are continuing to rise at alarming rates year after year." Experts are getting better at detecting autism, particularly when it isn't accompanied by an intellectual disability, Shenouda said. There's also been progress made addressing disparities that hinder diagnosis of Black and Hispanic children with autism. But there's still not enough screening being done, Shenouda said. "I do think to a large degree what's recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, which is screening at ages 18 months and 24 months, isn't really happening," Shenouda said. "If there is one thing that would be a takeaway of all of this is that universal screening of autism wouldn't just identify children early, but it's likely to improve identification among underserved communities as well." There's also not enough data available regarding how social, economic and community factors influence autism and its diagnosis, Hotez said. "Because we're missing that critical piece, we don't quite understand why exactly Hispanic children might be identified at different rates, or why underserved families might be receiving different rates of diagnoses," Hotez added. Copyright 2023 HealthDay. All rights reserved. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain About 5.1 million people in the U.S. have a history of epilepsy, which causes repeated seizures. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder. While current research has shown an increase in anxiety and depression among people with epilepsy, little is known about this population and agoraphobia, an anxiety disorder that involves the fear of being in a public place or in a situation that might cause panic or embarrassment. However, a recent study from Heidi Munger Clary, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor of neurology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, shows that phobic and agoraphobic symptoms are common and associated with poor quality of life in people with epilepsy. The study appears online in Epilepsy Research. "We know that agoraphobia can lead to delays in patient care because of a reluctance to go out in public, which includes appointments with health care providers," said Munger Clary, the study's principal investigator. "So, this is an area that needs more attention in clinical practice." In the study, researchers conducted a cross-sectional analysis of baseline clinical data from a neuropsychology registry cohort study. Researchers analyzed a diverse sample of 420 adults, ages 18 to 75, with epilepsy who underwent neuropsychological evaluation over a 14-year period at Columbia University Medical Center in New York. "More than one-third of the participants reported significant phobic/agoraphobic symptoms," Munger Clary said. "We also found that phobic/agoraphobic symptoms, along with depression symptoms, were independently associated with poor quality of life, but generalized anxiety symptoms were not." According to Munger Clary, because phobic/agoraphobic symptoms are not routinely assessed by clinicians, the findings may suggest a need for future studies to develop more comprehensive screeners for psychiatric comorbidity in epilepsy. "Symptoms of agoraphobia do not fully overlap with generalized anxiety or depression symptoms that are often screened in routine practice," Munger Clary said. "Providers might want to consider more robust symptom screening methods to identify and better assist these patients. This may be important to improve health equity, given other key study findings that show those with lower education and non-white race/ethnicity had increased odds of significant phobic/agoraphobic symptoms." More information: Heidi M. Munger Clary et al, Afraid to go out: Poor quality of life with phobic anxiety in a large cross-sectional adult epilepsy center sample, Epilepsy Research (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2023.107092 Journal information: Epilepsy Research Provided by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in March 2020, a recurring topic of debate has been whether official COVID-19 death statistics in the U.S. accurately capture the fatalities associated with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Some politicians and a few public health practitioners have argued that COVID-19 deaths are overcounted. For instance, a January 2023 opinion piece in The Washington Post claims that COVID-19 death tallies include not only those who died from COVID-19 but those who died from other causes but happened to have COVID-19. Most scientists, however, have suggested that COVID-19 death tallies represent underestimates because they fail to capture COVID-19 deaths that were misclassified to other causes of death. We are part of a team of researchers at Boston University, University of Minnesota, University of California San Francisco and other institutions who have been tracking COVID-19 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. A major goal for our team has been to assess whether the undercounting of COVID-19 deaths has occurred, and if so in which parts of the country. Examining excess deaths One way to examine the issue is to look at what population health researchers call excess mortality. It's a measure which, in this case, compares the number of deaths that occurred during the pandemic to the number of deaths that would have been expected based on pre-pandemic trends. Excess mortality captures deaths that arose from COVID-19 directly or through indirect pathways such as patients avoiding hospitals during COVID-19 surges. While determining a cause of death can be a complex process, recording whether or not someone died is more straightforward. For this reason, calculations of excess deaths are viewed as the least biased estimate of the pandemic's death toll. As a general rule of thumbwith some important caveats that we explain belowif there are more COVID-19 deaths than excess deaths, COVID-19 deaths were likely overestimated. If there are more excess deaths than COVID-19 deaths, COVID-19 deaths were likely underestimated. In a newly released study that has not yet been peer-reviewed, our team found that during the first two years of the pandemicfrom March 2020 to February 2022there were between 996,869 and 1,278,540 excess deaths in the U.S. Among these, 866,187 were recognized as COVID-19 on death certificates. This means that there were between 130,682 and 412,353 more excess deaths than COVID-19 deaths. The gap between excess deaths and COVID-19 deaths was large in both the first and second years of the pandemic. This suggests that COVID-19 deaths were undercounted even after the pandemic's chaotic early months. Major studies have also concluded that excess deaths exceeded COVID-19 deaths at the national level during the first two years of the pandemic. And preliminary analyses by our team have found that the gap between excess deaths and COVID-19 deaths has persisted into the third year of the pandemic. This suggests that COVID-19 deaths are still being undercounted. Making sense of the discrepancy Explaining the discrepancy between excess deaths and reported COVID-19 deaths is a more challenging task. But several threads of evidence support the idea that the difference largely reflects uncounted COVID-19 deaths. In a recent study, we found that excess deaths peaked immediately before spikes in reported COVID-19 deaths. This was the case even for excess deaths associated with causes like Alzheimer's disease that are unlikely to rapidly change due to patients avoiding hospitals or other changes in behavior during the pandemic. A stirring video demonstrating excess deaths from COVID-19 in the first year of the pandemic. This finding aligns with the observation that COVID-19 deaths may go unrecognizedand be misclassified to other causes of deathat the beginning of COVID-19 surges. At this time, COVID-19 testing may be less frequent in the community, among medical providers and among death investigators. If excess deaths were not caused by COVID-19, they would instead either remain relatively constant during COVID-19 surges or they would peak afterwards when hospitals were overcrowded and deaths may have resulted from health care interruptions. Excess deaths related to external causes of death such as drug overdose also increased during the pandemic. However, a preliminary study found that the scale of this increase was small relative to the overall increase in excess deaths. So deaths from external factors alone cannot explain the gap between excess and COVID-19 deaths. This evidence is worth considering in light of the prominent opinion piece in the Washington Post mentioned earlier, which suggests that the U.S.'s tally of COVID-19 deaths is a substantial overcount. The author argues that in some hospitals, widespread COVID-19 testing has led patients with COVID-19 who died of other causes to still have COVID-19 included as a cause on their death certificate. There is a fundamental misunderstanding, however, in generalizing these hospital deaths to the entire country. One reason this overgeneralization is flawed is because hospital deaths are distinct from out-of-hospital deaths. In out-of-hospital settings, COVID-19 testing is often lacking and death investigators have less training and less information about the deceased. In fact, our research suggests that COVID-19 deaths are largely undercounted in out-of-hospital settings. Investigative reporting among coroners in rural areas has also revealed significant variability in out-of-hospital cause of death assignment. Some coroners have even gone on record to state that they do not include COVID-19 on death records if it contradicts their own political beliefs or if families wish for it to be omitted. The other problem with the overgeneralization is geographic. Our preliminary study demonstrates that excess deaths exceeded COVID-19 deaths in the vast majority of counties across the U.S. In particular, counties in the South, the Rocky Mountain states and rural areas had many more excess deaths than COVID-19 deaths. This suggests that COVID-19 deaths were likely undercounted in these areas. The idea that COVID-19 deaths are sometimes overreported is, to a very limited extent, supported by our analyses. A select number of large and medium-sized metro areas in New England and the mid-Atlantic states have had more COVID-19 deaths than excess deaths. But most of the country has not followed the patterns of this small group of counties. While it is possible that some deaths assigned to COVID-19 in New England and the mid-Atlantic states were not actually caused by COVID-19, other explanations are also possible. First, COVID-19 mitigation efforts could have prevented deaths in these areas via pathways unrelated to COVID-19, reducing excess deaths. For example, some people living in wealthy, urban counties had the privilege to work from home and avoid household crowding, which may have reduced their risk of dying from flu. Flu is typically responsible for as many as 50,000 deaths each year. In fact, the 2020-2021 flu season was minimal, likely because of social distancing. Another possible explanation is that later in the first two years of the pandemic, there may have also been fewer deaths than expected in some areas because some of the least healthy people in the area had already died of COVID-19. These alternative explanations imply that, even in those New England and mid-Atlantic counties where more COVID-19 deaths were recorded than estimated excess deaths, many COVID-19 deaths may still have occurred even as other kinds of deaths decreased. Why it matters Ultimately, figuring out how many people have died as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic is a major scientific undertaking that has significant political importance. Knowing how many people died and where these deaths occurred has widespread implications for informing how current pandemic response resources are allocated and for preparing for future public health emergencies. As a result, in our view, it is critical that the scientific community carefully reviews the rigor of the science behind the counting of COVID-19 deaths. Given the intense politicization of the pandemic, claims of overcounting or undercounting need to be made cautiously. Finally, research by our team and investigative reporting conducted in partnership with our team has found that the undercounting of COVID-19 deaths is significantly more common in Black, Hispanic and Native American communities as well as low-income areas. Claims that COVID-19 deaths have been overcounted undermine efforts to reconcile the undercounts in these communities and to ensure resources are being allocated to those most affected. For example, if a person does not have COVID-19 assigned as a cause on their death certificate, their family is ineligible for pandemic social programs such as the FEMA funeral assistance program. To understand where the U.S. public health system has succeeded and fallen short during the pandemic, a full accounting of deaths caused by COVID-19 is needed. More than that, families, friends and loved ones of those who have died so far also deserve to know the true toll that COVID-19 has taken. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Viremia in plasma as measured by plaque assay. Viremia was measured in cynomolgus macaques vaccinated with ChAd3-MARV at a dose of (A) 1x1010 or 1x109 PU and challenged at 5 weeks post-vaccination; (B) 1x109, 1x108, 5x107, 1x107, 5x106and 1x106 PU and challenged at 5 weeks post-vaccination; (C) 1 x 1010 PU at 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 week(s) prechallenge, and (D) 1x1010 PU and challenged at 6 months and 12 months post-vaccination. Unvaccinated control(s) were included in each experiment. Credit: Science Translational Medicine (2022). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abq6364 An experimental vaccine for Marburg virusa deadly cousin of the infectious agent that causes Ebolacan protect large animals from severe infections for up to a year with a single shot, scientists have found in a new study. Developed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, along with collaborators at other institutions, the vaccine produces durable protection, a factor that underlines its promise for clinical translation and pandemic preparedness. So far its safety profile suggests that investigators may be on the brink of a vaccine that, in the not-too-distant future, may help control a Marburg virus outbreak. The pathogen is extraordinarily virulent, one of the most lethal in the worldan infectious agent so dangerous that it's on lists of viruses with potential to be exploited in devastating acts of bioterrorism. It causes a severe infection that once was known as Marburg hemorrhagic fever, but now is widely referred to as Marburg virus disease. The pathogen belongs to the Filovirdae family, the same viral family as Ebolavirus. Writing in the journal Science Translational Medicine, Dr. Ruth Hunegnaw, lead author of a new research paper on a series of studies testing an investigational vaccine in nonhuman primates, underscores the urgent need for measures that can prevent infection and control Marburg virus outbreaks. "Marburg virus has been identified as a category A bioterrorism agent by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a Category-A Priority Pathogen by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, needing urgent research and development of countermeasures because of the high public health risk it poses," Hunegnaw wrote in the journal. The potential for deadly Marburg virus hotspots and full-blown outbreaks remain a genuine threat, especially on the continent of Africa where rare but lethal outbreaks episodically ignite human infections. As with Ebolavirus, it's posited that the Marburg infectious agent jumped the species barrier from bats to people and nonhuman primates. While bats live without harm from the pathogen, scientists at the World Health Organization estimate human mortality at 90%. Between June 28 and September 16 of last year, Ghana's Ministry of Health was monitoring three confirmed cases of Marburg virus disease. All of the infected, two adults in their twenties and a baby, were from the same household. The 14-month old boy died within three days of hospital admission. His 26-year old father also died. The 24-year-old mother survived; however, health authorities identified a total of 198 contacts for the three family members. All contacts were monitored for 42 days. Scientists at the Vaccine Research Center of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Bethesda, Maryland have taken significant steps toward making a vaccine against Marburg virus a reality. Working with collaborators at the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories of Boston University and the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, the researchers are already analyzing data from a human clinical trial. An investigational vaccine, like the one used in the animal tests, has been administered in a newly completed Phase 1 trial. Hunegnaw, lead author of the research in nonhuman primates, reports that a single shot of the vaccine generated protective immunity within seven days of vaccination. Additionallyand perhaps more importantthe investigational vaccine protected nonhuman primates when they were challenged with exposure to the lethal Marburg virus. Hunegnaw and her colleagues note that the immunization is called ChAd3-MARV vaccine, an adenovirus-vectored shot that expresses the Marburg virus (MARV) glycoprotein. The harmless adenovirus in the vaccine is of chimpanzee origin, hence the initials "Ch" in the name of the vaccine. "The recent cases of Marburg virus in West Africa underscore the substantial outbreak potential of this virus," Hunegnaw reported in Science Translational Medicine. "The potential for cross-border spread, as had occurred during the 20142016 Ebola virus outbreak, illustrates the critical need for Marburg virus vaccines." Hunegnaw additionally reported that the animals remained protected from the pathogen when exposed to the virus a year after vaccination. The researchers also identified antigen-specific antibodies in the animals' blood, an important finding as scientists move toward regulatory approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Marburg virus was first identified in 1967 when laboratory workers in Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany came down with a virulent hemorrhagic fever. The same infection was diagnosed in a Serbian laboratory worker in Belgrade. Scientists in all three locations were working with infected tissue samples from African green monkeys, Chlorocebus aethiops and were unaware of the exceptionally lethal nature of the virus. A total of 31 people were infected and seven died. The experimental vaccine, meanwhile, which is being studied in Hunegnaw's laboratory and elsewhere in the United States, is seen as a major step toward fulfilling multiple goalsa vaccine for regions at risk of Marburg outbreaks and development of a vaccine in the event the virus is used in an act of bioterrorism. "The demonstration of protection shortly after ChAd3-MARV vaccination and durability of the protection suggests that ChAd3-MARV is suitable for deployment both to protect healthcare workers during an outbreak and in a ring-vaccination scenario," Hunegnaw concluded. More information: Ruth Hunegnaw et al, A single-shot ChAd3-MARV vaccine confers rapid and durable protection against Marburg virus in nonhuman primates, Science Translational Medicine (2022). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abq6364 Journal information: Science Translational Medicine 2023 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Distribution of the BBCS scores. Credit: BMC Geriatrics (2023). DOI: 10.1186/s12877-022-03650-y Fatigue, stress, scarcely any free time or feeling unappreciated: Those caring at home for relatives suffering from conditions such as dementia often feel overwhelmed or under great mental strain. For the first time in Germany, a team of researchers from Universitatsklinikum and FAU have now documented the positive aspects linked to caring for someone at home in a recent study. "Caring for relatives at home is not all negative, caregivers also report positive aspects that they would not have experienced if they hadn't cared for their relatives at home," according to principal investigator Dr. Anna Pendergrass at the Center for Health Service Research in the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at Universitatsklinikum Erlangen. The researchers hope that their latest study will improve the situation for caregivers in Germany. Bearing this in mind, they were keen to stress the positive aspects, or benefits, of providing care at home. 'Important values in life' In the recently published study, 61.7 percent of those questioned stated that acting as a caregiver had brought it home to them which values were most important in their lives. More than half of those taking part in the study "learned a lot," 41 percent reported that they had noticed an improvement in their time management skills. Further benefits cited by participants included other experiences: Those caring for relatives at home became more patient and more mature, felt more appreciated by other people or gained a positive approach to life. Benefits irrespective of strain The authors of the study came to another surprising conclusion. "There is no correlation between the benefits experienced and the strain or amount of time spent caring for relatives," reports Prof. Dr. Elmar Grael, one of the co-authors of the study and project manager at digiDEM Bayern, the digital dementia register for Bavaria. The benefits documented in the study can be used to develop practical measures and improve the situation for caregivers and the relatives they are caring for alike. Dr. Anna Pendergrass and Prof. Dr. Elmar Grael agree that this would be an important contribution for encouraging people to care for relatives at home in Germany. Beneficial effects Experiencing benefits may have a favorable impact on caregivers, those receiving care and the situation as a whole. The first indications of a buffer effect have already become apparent in international research on the topic. The result is that negative psychological and physiological effects of caring for someone at home, such as depression or physical ailments, can be mitigated if caregivers experience benefits at the same time. Caregivers who took part in the study are on average 61 years old, and more than two thirds of them are women (76.2 percent). The majority of caregivers are the partners and adult daughters and sons (or daughters and sons in law) of those receiving care (87.1 percent). The average age of those requiring care is 77, and 64 percent of them are women. The reasons they require care include general frailty due to their age, or conditions such as dementia, stroke and cancer. Innovative new questionnaire In order to document the benefits of caring for relatives at home in a scientifically recognized manner, the researchers are the first in the world to develop a special questionnaire aimed at those caring for their relatives at home. Thanks to the questionnaire, family caregivers become more aware of the benefits they enjoy. They also appreciate that the benefits are directly relating to them caring for their relatives. Researchers from various disciplines, experts in the field of caring for dementia patients and relatives were all involved in drawing up the questionnaire. Within the context of the current study, the researchers questioned more than 900 family caregivers in a representative pilot study supported by the Medical Service Bayern (MD, Medizinischer Dienst Bayern). "Our most important aim was to determine which favorable factors lead to most benefits," emphasized Prof. Dr. Elmar Grael, who conducts research at FAU into dementia. The study is published in the journal BMC Geriatrics, and the questionnaire "Benefits of Being a Caregiver" can be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Chair. More information: Anna Pendergrass et al, Validation of the Benefits of Being a Caregiver Scale (BBCS)further development of an independent characteristic of informal caregiving, BMC Geriatrics (2023). DOI: 10.1186/s12877-022-03650-y Questionnaire: www.psychiatrie.uk-erlangen.de f-being-a-caregiver/ 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: Putative mechanisms of toxicity. Credit: Oncotarget (2023). DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28343 A new research perspective titled "Intraventricular immunovirotherapy; a translational step forward" has been published in Oncotarget. In this new perspective, researchers from Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Alabama at Birmingham discuss oncolytic virotherapy with intratumoral engineered type-1 herpes simplex virus (HSV). Intraventricular therapy (IVT) has been proven safe with promising efficacy in recent clinical trials for treatment of both pediatric and adult high-grade glioma. The researchers write, "Oncolytic herpes simplex virus type-1 (oHSV) has shown promise in clinical trials in both pediatric and adult brain tumors." However, this approach excludes patients with tumors in surgically inaccessible and/or eloquent brain regions. Current delivery methods are also unable to access/treat those patients with metastatic disease in the spinal cord and/or leptomeningeal disease. A recent preclinical study has paved the way for clinical translation of intraventricular administration of oHSV by identifying and mitigating the toxicity associated with this route for therapeutic benefit in murine models of disseminated medulloblastoma. This work may ultimately allow for targeting of intractable disease and provides a feasible option for the repetitive dosing of clinically relevant immunovirotherapy, G207. "Overall, demonstrating the safety and efficacy of IVT with G207 is a significant step towards expanding the capabilities of oHSV, paving the way for new clinical trials, and increasing the potential of an already promising therapy," the researchers conclude. More information: Joshua D. Bernstock et al, Intraventricular immunovirotherapy; a translational step forward, Oncotarget (2023). DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28343 Journal information: Oncotarget Provided by Impact Journals 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: Researching and reporting on traumatic events can affect journalists mental health. Credit: Shutterstock It never really dawned on me how vulnerable journalists were to trauma until I took a job as an investigative reporter. I spent most of 2021 and 2022 verifying, analyzing and writing stories about murder-suicides. Every morning, I would make myself a cup of coffee in my New York City apartment, then sit down at my desk to pore over cases of murder-suicidesa total of 1,500 a year in the United States at the time. I was consumed by my work. I was going through every news story about a specific murder-suicide, checking the accuracy of facts like the spelling of names, ages of the perpetrators and their victims and details of where the events occurred and how the murder-suicides were carried out. In one case, I spent a month working out the number of children killed by their parents in various parts of the country. When relatives I hadn't seen in four years came to visit, I spent most of their trip elsewhere, interviewing with experts on gun and domestic violence. Some stories were gruesome and graphic, like the case of Jose Valdivia in California who killed his ex-wife and children the day after she filed for a restraining order before turning the weapon on himself. That was one which hit me especially hard; I was living alone, and each time I would see a child with their parent, I would try to figure out what could possibly trigger such an awful event. Trying to understand why a parent would take the life of their own child was important. But I felt as if I was trying to justify these heinous acts, and I didn't want to make them acceptable. Journalists are trained to be objective and neutral, so we're able to report on events, no matter how disturbing, without emotional involvement. But staying detached was impossible. Journalism stress Stress has detrimental effects on the body. I had frequent migraines and I couldn't sleep. I couldn't silence my thoughts and quiet the chaos in my head. I began feeling claustrophobic in unfamiliar surroundings, and jumped at sudden loud noises. I felt unsafe and anxious. My feelings made no sense to me because I had neither witnessed a crime nor reported on one directly, and yet I was deeply affected, physically and emotionally. My experience was just one example among the soaring incidence of stress among journalists. Covering wars, diseases and deaths is stressful, and this is compounded by increasingly demanding workloads and uncertain job security. Experienced trauma The Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma looked at the mental health of more than 1,200 journalists in late 2021. More than two-thirds suffered from anxiety, 46 percent reported depression, and 15 percent said they had experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) over the past four years. Anna Mortimer is an ex-journalist who founded The Mind Field, a group that provides therapy to journalists and humanitarian workers remotely around the world. "A journalist may not identify the problem as quickly and might feel more ashamed displaying it than someone who was a bystander for other reasons," Mortimer says. "I think journalists expect to be less vulnerable, less affected, but that is not the case. Just because you are a witness and not a participant, it doesn't mean you will not carry it with you forever." The health issues reported to The Mind Field therapists include insomnia, nightmares, flashbacks, general anxiety and more obviously physical symptoms like headaches or gastric problems. Many journalists also turn to coping strategies like excessive drinking or a reliance on drugs. Vicarious exposure The clinical definition of trauma has evolved, as the events that cause it have become more complex. Research shows that journalists can be "adversely affected by emotional stressors and that most journalists are exposed to potentially traumatic events at least once in their career." "If you are exposed to visually troubling images in your line of work, that's now considered sufficient stress to cause post-traumatic stress disorder", says Anthony Feinstein, professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto and a leading expert on the trauma faced by journalists. He adds: "You are not directly being threatened, but the imagery in front of you can be very disturbing. So, you still witness it vicariously." Some factors can heighten a journalist's vulnerability and increase their risk for developing PTSD. In a 2017 study, researchers working with journalists in Europe found the risk soars if a journalist is physically or verbally attacked or injured while on the job. Unexplained workplace changes, inconsistent leadership styles and conflicts with supervisors exacerbate the problem. What's more, journalists who try to shield their emotions through coping mechanisms like denial, behavioral disengagement and self-distraction have reported more severe PTSD symptoms. The problem is exacerbated by journalism's rapidly expanding boundaries. Journalists now frequently work with user-generated content, including violent images and video material transmitted to newsrooms from sources on the ground. Frequent exposure to disturbing contentlike from the war in Ukraine or political unrest in the U.S.presents new challenges for journalists, Feinstein says. "The majority of journalists will never develop PTSD or depression," he says. "However, the minority who do is quite a significant one and quite higher than what you would see in the general population. And that point is very important." Music has been my greatest comfort and something I turn to every day. Opening up to my friends and family about my mental state, even when it's uncomfortable, has helped me immensely. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain An increase in mortality among middle-aged Americanslargely attributed to "deaths of despair" from suicide, drug overdoses, and alcoholic liver diseasehas been frequently portrayed as a phenomenon affecting white communities. Under a common narrative, these deaths have often been explained by the perceived loss of status felt by many less-educated white Americans as their economic opportunities declined and their social standing diminished. However, a new analysis in The Lancet led by UCLA researchers shows that Native American people in this midlife age group (45-54 years) actually have had the biggest increases in mortality in recent decades, and are now dying at twice the rate of white people of the same age. Further, Native American communities collectively have the highest rates of mortality from each of the causes of "deaths of despair." This tragic toll has been overlooked in mainstream discussion about deaths of despair because health policy data on Native American communities are often ignored or incomplete, the researchers write in The Lancet. That includes an influential 2015 study that coined the term and sparked a national conversation about "deaths of despair," which did not consider mortality data among Native Americans. Many of the follow-up studies on the topic also did not include data on Native Americans. "Many people reading about the 'deaths of despair' in recent years could easily have thought that white individuals were the most affected by premature mortality and decreases in life expectancy, because the theory focused on the 'uniqueness' of this phenomenon for white communities," said corresponding author Joseph Friedman, Ph.D., MPH, of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. "But a careful read of the data shows that Native individuals have had the biggest increases in premature mortality, and overall Black and Native communities have been the most affected in all years of available data. It's important that these inequalities be shown and discussed, rather than hidden, so that we can mobilize resources and work to improve them." Between 1999 and 2013, the final year of data used in the 2015 study, publicly available mortality records from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that midlife mortality among white Americans increased 8.9%. During this period, mortality among midlife Native Americans increased 29.3%, or over three times greater than the observed increase among white Americans. The researchers also drilled down further to examine deaths of despair-related causes among this midlife group. In 2013, Native Americans had a 75.9% higher midlife death rate than white Americans. In 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, that gap expanded to 102.6%, meaning that Native American midlife mortality from deaths of despair-related causes was over twice the rate for white Americans. The gap may be even much wider due to known difficulties with collecting data on Native American deaths, the researchers write. The popular narrative that suggested white working-class people are at greater risk of dying from deaths of despair "was only made possible by the erasure of data describing Native American mortality," the researchers write. The COVID-19 pandemic, which has devastated Native American communities, underscored the dangerous consequences of policymakers having imprecise or incomplete data about these communities. To ensure these communities aren't overlooked, the researchers propose that data collection at the national and state levels should specifically enumerate Native American people, rather than exclude them or label them as "other." The researchers also say it is essential to include Native American leadership on efforts to collect, maintain, and share data, to help build community trust and ensure these efforts do not produce potentially incorrect or stigmatizing data. More information: Helena Hansen et al, Deaths of despair and Indigenous data genocide, The Lancet (2023). DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)02404-7 Journal information: The Lancet 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: Comparison of image quality between EID CT with standard contrast media protocol and PCD CT with low-volume contrast media protocol using a matched radiation dose. Transverse and three-dimensional cinematic rendered images from thoracoabdominal CTA in a 71-year-old woman in group 2 are shown. (AC) Images from third-generation EID CT with automated tube voltage selection of 90 kVp. (DF) Images from PCD CT with reduced contrast media volume of 52.5 mL and VMI at 50 keV. Time interval between scans was 6 months. CTA = CT angiography, EID = energy-integrating detector, PCD = photon-counting detector, VMI = virtual monoenergetic images. Credit: Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging (2023). DOI: 10.1148/ryct.220140 Photon-counting detector CT reduces the amount of contrast needed for CT angiography (CTA) while maintaining image quality, according to a new study published in Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging. The portion of the aorta that passes through the chest and abdomen is prone to aneurysms. Risk increases with age. Doctors use CTA with contrast media to examine this region of the artery. While the iodinated contrast media used in these exams is considered very safe, there is a higher risk of adverse reactions in patients with kidney disease, or nephropathy. "Many patients undergoing CTA of the aorta are elderly, and some may suffer from a certain degree of nephropathy," said senior author Hatem Alkadhi, M.D., M.P.H., from the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at University Hospital Zurich in Zurich, Switzerland. "Thus, they might be at risk for a further reduction of their kidney function due to contrast media administration." Using less contrast media is also good for the environment, as iodine breakdown products have harmful environmental effects. In addition, the supply of contrast media has suffered from shortages due to COVID-19-related disruptions in the pharmaceutical supply chain. Photon-counting detector CT is a new technology that can acquire high-quality images at lower contrast media volume than conventional CT scanners that rely on energy-integrating detectors. It also offers diagnostic quality images at lower radiation dose than those of conventional CT. Dr. Alkadhi and his University Hospital colleague Kai Higashigaito, M.D., led a study that looked at a low-volume contrast media protocol with photon-counting detector CT for CTA of the aorta in the chest and abdomen. The study included 100 people, mean age 75. Patients underwent CTA with photon-counting detector CT of the aorta in the chest and abdomen. The patients had received a previous CTA with conventional CT at equal radiation doses. Photon-counting CT had a higher contrast-to-noise ratio, a key measure of image quality, which translates to a low-volume contrast media protocol. Contrast media volume was reduced by 25%. Two independent readers rated the image quality of photon-counting CT as higher than that of conventional CT at an equal radiation dose. "We showed that the improved image quality of CTA with photon-counting detector CT systems can be used to reduce the amount of administered contrast media to the patients, without reducing the diagnostic yield of the examination," Dr. Alkadhi said. "Image quality remained at the same level as that of previous CT angiography examinations in the same patients using a conventional CT, despite the fact that we reduced the contrast media volume." Based on the positive results of the study, Dr. Alkadhi and his colleagues have changed their clinical routine. They now adjust the contrast media protocols in patients undergoing CTA of the aorta in the chest and abdomen. Besides its superior image quality and spatial resolution, photon-counting CT can provide detailed studies of tissue through its spectral imaging capability. Researchers are looking at this as a way to improve studies of the coronary arteries and the heart muscle. "Based on the initial experience with this new exciting technology, I envision that this detector type will become the standard in CT scanners in the near future," Dr. Alkadhi said. More information: Kai Higashigaito et al, CT Angiography of the Aorta Using Photon-counting Detector CT with Reduced Contrast Media Volume, Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging (2023). DOI: 10.1148/ryct.220140 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A study published today suggests the prevalence of long COVID was 36% among George Washington University students, faculty, staff and other members of the campus community who had tested positive for COVID-19 between July 2021 and March 2022. The study helps shed light and supports other research on this poorly understood condition in which even young, healthy adults can develop prolonged symptoms after infections with COVID-19. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines "long COVID" as signs, symptoms, and conditions that continue or develop four weeks or more after the initial COVID-19 infection. Public health officials currently believe that long COVID may represent a number of potentially overlapping conditions, possibly with different biological causes, risk factors and outcomes. Published in the early release section of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, the study by researchers at the George Washington University, is one of the first to identify potential risk factors for long COVID. The findings suggest that people who are fully vaccinated had a reduced risk of developing long COVID, and that those receiving a booster shot had an even lower risk. Researchers also found that development of long COVID was more likely among those with underlying medical conditions, current or former smokers, females and people who experienced more severe or greater numbers of symptoms during the initial illness. Led by Megan Landry, the project director of the George Washington University Campus COVID Support Team, the researchers examined long COVID from a sample of 1,338 COVID cases among members of the university between July 2021 and March 2022. At that time, GW had a rigorous COVID safety protocol that required regular COVID testing for all on-campus faculty, staff, students and others. In support of the campus community, Landry and her team conducted interviews with each person who tested positive for COVID-19 at the time of their initial illness. All university community members provided informed consent to participate in the GW COVID-19 surveillance program. Data used in the study was de-identified and no individual health information was published. During the study period, GW had mandated vaccines such that members of the community were required to be "fully vaccinated" by August 2021 and to have received their first booster by March 2022. Bivalent boosters were not available during this time period. The researchers followed up with all who tested positive and asked questions about symptoms of long COVID at least 30 days after the positive test result. "Our campus COVID public health testing effort included all students, faculty, staff and others on campus-a mostly young and healthy population. Yet we saw prevalence rates of long COVID symptoms that are consistent with other studies that have been published in the U.S.," Lynn R. Goldman, Dean of the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health and senior author of the study, said. "Our findings also are consistent with previous research underscoring the importance of getting the COVID vaccine and staying up to date with boosterswhich protect against a serious initial illness as well as developing long COVID." Long COVID is not well characterized, the authors point out. They say more research must be done to examine its prevalence in other populations and to find out why some people develop it weeks or months later while others recover fully from the initial illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people with long COVID may suffer from a range of symptoms that can include fatigue, fever, cough and brain fog. "Understanding long COVID among university members is imperative to support those struggling with ongoing symptoms," Landry, who is also professorial lecturer of prevention and community health at GW Milken Institute School of Public Health, said. "The findings from this study and others highlight the need to better support people with long COVID. Additionally we again see the importance of reducing chronic disease, and eliminating tobacco use. Prolonged symptoms of COVID-19 are yet another one of a series of adverse health impacts that results from high rates of chronic disease, and smoking". The study, "Post-acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 in a university," was published January 26, 2023 in Emerging Infectious Diseases. More information: Lynn R. Goldman et al, Post-acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 in a university, Emerging Infectious Diseases (2023). Journal information: Emerging Infectious Diseases The Porthole is one of the serving vessels created by Crucial Detail, a design firm that creates many of Alinea's service ware pieces. (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune) Before I was a food critic for the Chicago Tribune, I spent 15 years writing, cooking and, most importantly, eating as much as I could. To review a restaurant these days, I visit multiple times, read any books that might be helpful, and spend hours crafting a review that is both helpful and, hopefully, engaging to read. But what if I could plug a few sentences into a chatbot that would spit out reviews for me in a matter of seconds? Advertisement When OpenAI launched ChatGPT in November, it almost immediately led to discussions that were nearly unthinkable a few years before. Is this a new tool to help cheat on homework, a product that will unleash a dystopian future of mass unemployment or nothing more than a distracting toy? Wondering if I needed to quickly switch careers, I decided to see how ChatGPT would do as a Chicago Tribune food critic for the afternoon. Advertisement Artificial intelligence isnt a new concept, but in the past year, concerns have sprouted over whether its ethical for bots such as Lensa AI and Midjourney to use artists copyrighted works to generate imitations and charge users for the stolen art. There are also concerns over the accuracy of the generative AI knowledge, which cant always distinguish between fact and fiction. While Im definitely not a programmer with the ability to really explain why ChatGPT stands apart from its predecessors, heres what I could figure out: The GPT stands for generative pre-trained transformer, and the generative, reinforcement learning means the AI is supposed to improve the accuracy of its responses as it chats with humans. A ChatGPT prompt is shown on a device near a public school in New York on Jan. 5, 2023. New York City school officials started blocking the impressive but controversial writing tool that can generate paragraphs of humanlike text. (Peter Morgan / AP) Though I may not understand it, ChatGPT is a breeze to use. Simply type in a question and itll spit out an answer. All you need to do is log in and hope the system isnt too busy. (Considering how much attention the program has gotten, its down an awful lot.) So how did it do? To state the obvious, no artificial intelligence can dine out, a fact ChatGPT is honest about. When I asked if it had ever been to Alinea, a restaurant I knew would have loads written about it online, ChatGPT wrote back: As an AI, I do not have physical presence and therefore I havent been to any physical location, including Alinea. But it did go on to give some general facts about the restaurant, including that it was a three-Michelin starred restaurant in Chicago, Illinois, and is known for its avant-garde approach to modernist cuisine, which uses techniques such as molecular gastronomy and multicourse, tasting-menu format. But when I asked it to write a restaurant review of Alinea, it didnt hesitate: Alinea is a truly unique dining experience. The food is meticulously crafted and visually stunning, with an emphasis on creativity and innovation. The flavors are bold and complex, and the dishes are expertly paired with a wide selection of wines. The service is impeccable, with attentive and knowledgeable staff who are happy to explain the dishes and the techniques used to prepare them. The atmosphere is elegant and intimate, making it the perfect spot for a special occasion. Overall, Alinea is a must-visit for anyone interested in cutting-edge culinary experiences. Advertisement While basically coherent, and not too far off from some Yelp reviews, you may have noticed an almost complete lack of specifics. Replace the restaurants name and the review could apply to any number of fine-dining restaurants in Chicago. ChatGPT can get more specific, but I found it also became less accurate. When I asked it to write a detailed restaurant review of Alinea, mentioning every single course, it started spitting out names of dishes I dont think ever appeared on the restaurants menu. ChatGPT also only pulls information from a data set of texts that goes up to 2021, so at this moment, it wont help with any new restaurants. Where things get far more enjoyable is when you ask the program to write a restaurant review in the style of a famous author. Ever wondered what it would sound like if William Shakespeare wrote a review of Alinea? Ah, sweet Alinea, how doth thy flavors please Thy dishes, a symphony of taste and ease From appetizers to desserts, all artfully made Advertisement Each morsel, a feast for the eyes and the palate But alas, dear Alinea, thy prices do soar For but a select few, thy doors do open But for those who can afford, thy feast doth reward For memories, and tastes, that shall never be forgotten. Advertisement This led me down a rabbit hole of asking ChatGPT to write reviews of Alinea like other famous authors, including Jane Austen and Dante Alighieri. My favorite was this negative review in the style of Friedrich Nietzsche: Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > It is with great disappointment and disgust that I write this review of the so-called fine dining establishment known as Alinea. The pretentiousness and self-aggrandizement of this restaurant is a testament to the decline of modern society and the celebration of mediocrity. While good fun, I feel like my critic job is safe for now. But where ChatGPT might truly shake up the food writing world is with curating lists of places to eat, a topic brought up recently by Michael Gebert on Fooditor. Other publications have already given this a go, including the Houston Chronicle. When I asked ChatGPT where to find the best hot dog in Chicago, it kicked out a solid list featuring Portillos, Superdawg Drive-In, The Wieners Circle and Gene & Judes. But it certainly wasnt perfect, considering it included Hot Dougs, even if it noted in the write-up that the restaurant was now closed. It seems likely that ChatGPT will only get better at sorting through the internet to give recommendations. This leads to all sorts of ethical questions, like where ChatGPT is getting its information from, and whether OpenAI should pay for it. And what happens if restaurants are able to pay for the program to recommend them more? Advertisement All I know is that this probably wont be the last we hear about artificial intelligence in the food world. nkindelsperger@chicagotribune.com 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: Harvard sociologist Jocelyn Viterna spent nearly 10 years researching reproductive justice in El Salvador. Credit: Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer Pregnant patients in El Salvador, who, under the nation's abortion ban, had no choice but to carry fetuses with severe malformations to term, experienced high rates of maternal morbidity, according to new research by Harvard sociologist Jocelyn Viterna and two partner Salvadoran physicians. The study, which examined 239 pregnancies with one of 18 malformations typically considered fatal between 2013 and 2018, appears in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Global Reports. In explaining why they took up their research, Viterna and co-authors Carolina Mena Ugarte and Maria Virginia Rodriguez Funes, wrote that a "striking number of national and subnational governments that previously allowed legal abortion in cases of severe fetal anomaly" had passed laws to remove the allowances, but that little was known about the maternal health implications. Viterna, who has spent nearly 10 years researching reproductive justice in the small Central American country, says she sees some parallels between issues raised by the research in El Salvador and those arising in the U.S. as several states have tightened restrictions on abortion after the Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. In both countries, doctors are forced to follow a course of care that elevates the risk of health complications for pregnant patients to protect themselves from prosecution, she said. "The more time I spend working on cases in El Salvador, the more I'm convinced that we cannot legislate abortion," said Viterna, a professor of sociology. "There's no way to legally define viability. There's no way to legally define the exact moment when a woman's life is in danger or not. Pregnancy on its own is high-risk. Anytime someone is pregnant, it brings risks to the health and to the life of the pregnant person." Like many Latin American nations, El Salvador banned abortion except in three scenarios: when the life of the mother was at risk, when the fetus had an anomaly incompatible with life, or if the pregnancy was the result of rape. That changed in the 1990s, when the anti-abortion movement in the heavily Catholic nation began to press for major changes. Abortion became illegal in all circumstances in 1998. The study was sparked by conversations Viterna had with Mena, who expressed frustration over the lack of research into the effects of fatal fetal malformations on maternal health. "Her sense was that pregnant women were suffering significant health costs, both physical and psychological, by being required to carry to term nonviable pregnancies," the sociologist said. The research tested Mena's hypothesis, and found high rates of negative health outcomes across the entire study population. After examining six years of cases at the National Women's Hospital in the capital city of San Salvador, the researchers found that there was at least one serious pregnancy-related health complication in 54.9% of the cases that involved severe fetal malformations. Additionally, 47.9 required physically invasive medical proceduresincluding fetal head decompressions, decompression amniocenteses, cesarean deliveries, and a hysterectomyto manage complications. Overwhelmingly, the cases involved individuals who were low-income, poorly educated, and young. Nearly 40% were first pregnancies, and 75% were unplanned, she said. Pregnant people with financial resources in El Salvador typically do not seek health care at the public National Women's Hospital, opting instead for private providers. The researchers also discovered a range of clinical treatments within the same institution, which suggests physicians interpreted the abortion ban differently. Physicians defied the law in 10 cases, and induced labor in those patients before the pregnancy reached 37 weeks (full term). In 21 cases, doctors did not induce early and went as far as treating the fetus as viable even though it had been diagnosed with a fatal malformation. Pregnant patients in 21 cases discontinued treatment after receiving the diagnosis of fatal fetal malformation. "Forcing these women to carry these pregnancies to term not only is tremendously psychologically damaging for the woman, it's also tremendously physically damaging for the woman," Viterna added. "There's nothing about this that seems humane to me, especially considering the painful deaths that these babies frequently suffer after birth." More information: Sandra Carolina Mena Ugarte et al, Maternal morbidity under an absolute abortion ban: insights from a 6-year case series of fatal fetal malformations in El Salvador, AJOG Global Reports (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.xagr.2022.100147 Provided by Harvard Gazette This story is published courtesy of the Harvard Gazette, Harvard University's official newspaper. For additional university news, visit Harvard.edu. Heres a quick guide to some upcoming arts and cultural events happening around Missoula in the week ahead. MAM auction sold out Tickets for the Missoula Art Museums annual Benefit Art Auction on Feb. 4 in the University Center Ballroom have sold out already. However, the silent auction is live now and will close online, Feb. 4, simultaneous with the live auction, and online and proxy bidding is available. The auction exhibition is on view until Feb. 2, with works by 70-plus artists. The galleries are open till 7 p.m. most Thursdays. Go to missoulaartmuseum.org for more details. A childrens book with a symphonic score (Saturday, Jan. 28) The Missoula Symphonys annual family concert this year features visuals and text from a childrens book, set to original music by award-winning composer Caroline Shaw. The Mountain That Loved A Bird is based on a book by author Alice McLerran and artwork by illustrator Eric Carle, whose bright collages also made The Very Hungry Caterpillar a classic. Shaw won the Pulitzer Prize in 2013 at age 30 for her composition, Partita for Eight Voices. It also won a Grammy for Best Classical Music/Small Ensemble Performance with her group Roomful of Teeth. She won two more Grammys thus far: Best Contemporary Classical Composition, for Narrow Sea, and Orange. Audiences will also hear works that demonstrate the sections of the orchestra, such as Benjamin Britten's classic "Simple Symphony." The symphony is working with Missoula actor/theatermaker Rosie Seitz Ayers on this performance, which includes two actors, visuals and, naturally, narration. The concert is at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Dennison Theatre at UM. Tickets are $8. Afternoon library event: Head to the Missoula Public Library from 10 a.m.-noon for A Musical Quest. According to a news release, members of the orchestras will guide kids around the library and learn about music and musical instruments. Vocalist Lee Rizzo at the Westside Theater (Saturday, Jan. 28) Lee Rizzo, whos performed in groups around her hometown of Missoula for years including time with Mudslide Charley, released her first solo album, Moon Light Moon, last summer. The originals, which vary in style from folk to blues and jazz, showcase her range, voice and the range of her voice. For this show at the Westside Theater, shes performing with multi-instrumentalist Jordan Demander, who contributed heavily to the album. The openers are Mite Aswell and Mike A-Mar. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., show starts at 7. Tickets are $15 or $12 for students and seniors. Go to thewestsidetheater.com. Missoula Community Theatres wizard play (Through Jan. 29) Missoula Community Theatres January production is titled, Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic, a parody of an extremely popular series of books and films about a wizard. It premiered off-Broadway, and has a PG-13 take on its subject. The director is Jasmine Sherman, who co-founded an independent company, MissCast, that has produced plays at the ZACC Show Room. For tickets, go to mctinc.org. UM Opera Theaters winter gala (Wednesday, Feb. 1) The UM Opera Theater, which has won national honors for its work, is holding its annual fundraiser at the ZACC Show Room. They promise arias and romantic tunes. Tickets are $15, zootownarts.org. Dors at 6 p.m., show at 6:30. Public art unveiling at MPL (Saturday, Jan. 28) One corner of the Missoula Public Library will get more reflective this weekend after Denver-based artist Mike Lustig installs a new piece of public art. Lustig has created an installation for the Meow Wolf interactive art experience, and a massive disco ball for AEG's Mission Ballroom in Denver. His work at MPL is an "interactive piece constructed with hundreds of glass hexagons," located on the stairwell from the parking lot, according to a news release from Arts Missoula. He'll give an artist talk on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 2 p.m. with a reception and dedication. Missoula County Commissioner Dave Strohmaier, Mayor Jordan Hess and MPL's Executive Director Slaven Lee will speak as well. It's free and open to the public. The Zootown Arts Community Center announced that its longtime executive director, Kia Liszak, was stepping down on Wednesday. Building and growing the ZACC and putting it downtown was my legacy, and now someone else can come in and move it to the next level, Liszak said. The multi-million-dollar capital campaign Liszak led the ZACC through gave the nonprofit a permanent home on West Main Street with expanded capacity for all-ages programs in art forms including music, visual arts, theater and more. The ZACC, for me, is a community accomplishment and Im glad I was able to lead the way, she said. Overall, the message is that the arts are important and artists are important. Board President Jamie Herring said Liszaks leadership through the entire campaign was instrumental in us staying afloat. The ZACC moved into the new building in October 2019, mere months before the pandemic. Only recently theyve had our first chance to see what the ZACC is capable of, Herring said. Erika Peterman, board vice president, said theyre starting to realize the full potential of the building that were in, and really able to see the types of programming that we can offer, and are really excited to see what that building can offer in terms of a community space for all types of arts activities. Operations manager Heather Stockton will serve as interim executive director. They plan to work with a hiring firm to seek out applicants nationally and post a job listing in the weeks ahead. Liszaks legacy Liszak was first hired at the ZACC as a part-time office manager. The only other employee at the time was founder Hanna Hannan, who in 2008 opened the nonprofit in a 3,000-square-foot space on the ground floor of a historic building on North First Street West. Within six months, Hannan had departed and Liszak, an English and creative writing graduate, was the primary employee. They now have eight full-time employees and another eight part-time employees compared with one FTE when she started. She recalls that the place had so much potential and magic, but lacked a sense of permanency. In the years before the pandemic, she led the nonprofit through a $4.25 million capital campaign to buy its new headquarters. The historic Studebaker Building on West Main Street vastly increased its capacity at 17,000 square feet and secured them a space not long before property values in Montana rose beyond the nonprofits reach. The move was recognized locally in 2019 with a Cultural Vision Award from Arts Missoulas annual event. Nationally, in early 2022 they received a $150,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. When COVID struck, the ZACC offered live-streamed shows for people to watch at home, and found ways to continue offering programs in person with mask requirements and capacity limits. Many of the ZACCs signature events were started under Liszak. They launched the annual Mini Benefit fundraiser auction in 2013. First held in the decorated-but-unfinished basement of the Northside with deliberately small-scale artworks, its expanded in size. First, they moved to the Wilma. By 2023, they sold out the Missoula County Fairgrounds Commercial Building. During an online-only auction in April 2020, it still brought in $50,000. A camp to encourage kids to play music called Girls Rock has grown to include options for youth and adults in multiple genres. The Missoula Monster Project, an annual art show with participation from classes around the city along with contributions from hundreds of adult artists, was initiated in 2014. A former vocalist for bands herself, shes proud of the new buildings Show Room performance space for live music, theater and more. In a town thats often been resistant to cover charges, theyve advocated for a higher price of entry to support musicians. Liszak said she gave the space every program idea she had, and now is looking forward to coming back as a patron. The capital campaign alone was a huge lift, she said, followed by the pandemic. Now in a stable home 11 years later and able to afford to hire an executive director, shes proud of where its at. The ZACC is a one-of-a-kind institution. There isnt any other place like it, anywhere, she said. WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25, 2023 (American Heart Association News) -- Every morning, Luther Moxley helps his partner of 35 years, Wayne Curtis, out of bed and into his wheelchair. Curtis, who has Parkinson's disease and is partially blind, washes himself seated in the shower, but he needs Moxley to dry him and help him back into his chair. Moxley makes their meals and cuts Curtis' food into bite-sized pieces. He manages the household and does the grocery shopping. He takes Curtis to and from the doctor and anywhere else he needs to go. But in truth, they rarely go anywhere anymore. "We're pretty much isolated," said Moxley, 74, who cares for 83-year-old Curtis full time. Though Curtis has some family, there are none who will help. The couple has no children. Moxley, who has no surviving family, wonders what will happen to him should he someday need care of his own. "I guess I would have to go into some kind of assisted living," he said. Their situation is all too common among people who identify as LGBTQ, whose caretaking needs are rising as the population ages. The National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging estimates that by 2030, there will be 7 million U.S. adults 65 and older who identify as LGBTQ. The number could grow even higher when younger generations reach their senior years. A 2021 Gallup poll shows the percentage of people who identify as LGBTQ grows with each subsequent generation. Roughly 21% of Generation Z adults openly identify this way, compared to 11% of millennials, 4% of Generation X and 3% of baby boomers. And unlike their cisgender and heterosexual peers, LGBTQ people are more likely to end up as caregivers for friends, partners or family members. An estimated 1 in 5 LGBT people are caregivers, compared to 1 in 6 people in the general population, according to a 2015 caregiving report from National Alliance for Caregiving and the AARP Public Policy Institute. LGBTQ people are less likely to have children to help care for them and are more likely to live alone, said David Vincent, chief program officer for SAGE, a New York City-based national advocacy and service organization for older LGBTQ adults. They also are more likely to face discrimination and feel isolated. "Their support networks are incredibly thin." Moxley and Curtis had a strong social support network when they lived in Palm Springs, California, known for its thriving gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. But five years ago, they retired 266 miles west to Santa Maria, which is less openly gay. "We got here and just as we were starting to socialize a bit and get to know gay people in the area, COVID hit," Moxley said. By the time pandemic restrictions were lifted, Curtis' condition had deteriorated too far to allow him to enjoy nights out or for Moxley to leave him home alone. "At this point, I've accepted what my situation is," Moxley said. "I've learned to adjust." Moxley said attempts to bring in outside help were unsuccessful for a variety of reasons. It's not uncommon for LGBTQ people to be reluctant to seek help from people unknown to them, said Jason Flatt, an assistant professor in the department of social and behavioral health at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Public Health. In addition to the general discomfort of having a stranger perform intimate tasks, such as toileting, he said many LGBTQ people are concerned about receiving subpar care from people who might discriminate against them because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Zander Keig, a 56-year-old transsexual man in Orlando, Florida, said same-sex couples often feel so apprehensive about being mistreated that they "de-gay the apartment when home health comes in, because they don't want to face any prejudice or mistreatment. It's always a concern. What are they going to notice?" Keig and his wife provided care for his father when he developed dementia. That's when Keig realized how little support there was for LGBTQ caregivers, especially men. He eventually connected with someone online who shared his experience, but that person lived in another state. His struggles led him to co-found the LGBTQ Caregiver Center, an online resource directory and social support hub to address the unique needs of LGBTQ caregivers. "I wanted to create a place where people could find resources," Keig said. He now finds himself thinking about his own future. Like Moxley and Curtis, he and his wife have no children to care for them. They're searching for a life plan community where they can age in place with continuing care services that grow with them as they age. "I'm not worried about fitting in," Keig said. "No one would know I'm trans if I didn't tell them." But Keig will need testosterone shots for the rest of his life and wonders if he'd receive them if he weren't mentally competent enough to ask or if he'd run into resistance from nursing staff. According to a 2021 AARP survey, 41% of LGBTQ adults ages 45 and older were at least somewhat worried about having to hide their LGBTQ identity to access housing for older adults. Worry was most common among transgender and nonbinary adults, with 58% expressing concern. The LGBTQ Caregiver Center provides training to people who work with LGBTQ older adults and nursing home staff, so that someone who is transgender or has a same-sex partner doesn't experience discrimination, Keig said. Efforts also are underway at the Human Rights Campaign, in partnership with SAGE, to produce a Long-Term Care Equality Index that evaluates facilities based on equity and inclusion of LGBTQ residents and patients. Vincent said SAGE has provided more than 100,000 people in the elder care field with education to provide culturally competent care. They have accredited about 1,000 agencies across the country where staff have received this training. "I think we need as a society to continue to train and support health care providers and social services providers to offer culturally competent and sensitive care to LGBTQ older adults so those who need services feel safe getting the care and support they need," Vincent said. American Heart Association News covers heart and brain health. Not all views expressed in this story reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. If you have questions or comments about this story, please email editor@heart.org. By Laura Williamson, American Heart Association News The covid-19 pandemic has spurred a surge in the proportion of Californians who are dying at home rather than in a hospital or nursing home, accelerating a slow but steady rise that dates back at least two decades. The recent upsurge in at-home deaths started in 2020, the first year of the pandemic, and the rate has continued to climb, outlasting the rigid lockdowns at hospitals and nursing homes that might help explain the initial shift. Nearly 40% of deaths in California during the first 10 months of 2022 took place at home, up from about 36% for all of 2019, according to death certificate data from the California Department of Public Health. By comparison, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows that about 26% of Californians died at home in 1999, the earliest year for which data on at-home deaths is accessible in the agencys public database. The trend is amplified among California residents with serious chronic conditions. About 55% of Californians who died of cancer did so at home during the first 10 months of 2022, compared with 50% in 2019 and 44% in 1999. About 43% of Californians who died of Alzheimers disease in the first 10 months of 2022 did so at home, compared with 34% in 2019 and nearly 16% in 1999. Nationwide, the share of deaths occurring at home also jumped in 2020, to 33%, then rose to nearly 34% in 2021. Nationwide data for 2022 is not yet available. Covids early, deadly sweep across California does not in itself explain the increase in at-home death rates; the vast majority of people who have died of covid died in a hospital or nursing home. Instead, medical experts said, the surge at least initially appears to coincide with sweeping policy changes in hospitals and nursing homes as caregivers struggled to contain a virus both virulent and little understood. The sweeping bans on in-person visitation in hospitals and nursing homes, even to the bedsides of dying patients, created an agonizing situation for families. Many chose to move a loved one back home. It was devastating to have Mom in a nursing home and dying, and the only way you can see Mom is through the window, said Barbara Karnes, a registered nurse who has written extensively about end-of-life care. At the same time, fears of covid exposure led many people to avoid hospitals in the first years of the pandemic, in some cases neglecting treatment for other serious conditions. That, too, is thought to have contributed to the rise in at-home deaths. Those who specialize in end-of-life care say it is no surprise the trend has continued even as visitation policies have eased. They said more people simply want to die in a comfortable, familiar place, even if it means not fighting for every second of life with medical interventions. Whenever I ask, Where do you want to be when you breathe your last breath? Or when your heart beats its last beat? no one ever says, Oh, I want to be in the ICU, or Oh, I want to be in the hospital, or I want to be in a skilled nursing facility. They all say, I want to be at home, said John Tastad, coordinator for the advance care planning program at Sharp HealthCare in San Diego. Meanwhile, the physicians who specialize in the diseases that tend to kill Americans, such as cancer and heart disease, have become more accepting of discussing home hospice as an option if the treatment alternatives likely mean painful sacrifices in quality of life. There's been a little bit of a culture change where maybe oncologists, pulmonologists, congestive heart failure physicians are referring patients to palliative care earlier to help with symptom management, advanced care planning, said Dr. Pouria Kashkouli, associate medical director for hospice at UC Davis Health. The trends have created a booming industry. In 2021, the California Department of Health Care Access and Information listed 1,692 licensed hospice agencies in its tracking database, a leap from the 175 agencies it listed in 2002. That much growth and the money behind it has sometimes led to problems. A 2020 investigation by the Los Angeles Times found that fraud and quality-of-care issues were common in Californias hospice industry, a conclusion bolstered by a subsequent state audit. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill in 2021 that placed a temporary moratorium on most new hospice licenses and sought to rein in questionable kickbacks to doctors and agencies. When done correctly, though, home hospice can be a comfort to families and patients. Hospice typically lasts anywhere from a few days to a few months, and while services vary, many agencies provide regular visits from nurses, health aides, social workers, and spiritual advisers. Most people using hospice are insured through the federal Medicare program. The amount Medicare pays varies by region but is usually around $200 to $300 a day, said Dr. Kai Romero, chief medical officer at the nonprofit Hospice by the Bay. To find quality end-of-life care, Andrea Sankar, a professor at Wayne State University and author of Dying at Home: A Family Guide for Caregiving, recommends seeking out nonprofit providers and having a list of questions prepared: How often will nurses visit in person? In what circumstances do patients have access to a physician? What help will be available for a crisis in the middle of the night? While hospice providers offer crucial guidance and support, families need to be prepared to shoulder the bulk of the caregiving. It really takes a pretty evolved family system to be able to rally to meet all of the needs, said Tastad at Sharp HealthCare. Several end-of-life experts said they expect the proportion of Californians choosing to die at home to keep climbing, citing a variety of factors: Medical advances will make it easier for patients to receive pain management and other palliative care at home; telemedicine will make it easier for patients to consult doctors from home; and two powerful forces in American health care insurance companies and the federal government increasingly see dying at home as an affordable alternative to lengthy hospital stays. Phillip Reese is a data reporting specialist and an assistant professor of journalism at California State University-Sacramento. This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation. USE OUR CONTENT This story can be republished for free (details). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is investing $139 million in its Special Diabetes Program for Indians. Funding awards have been made to 302 tribal, urban and Indian Health Service clinics in 35 states, including 13 in Montana. The Special Diabetes Program for Indians aims to provide diabetes prevention and treatment services to Indigenous communities. Xavier Becerra, Health and Human Services secretary, said the agency is committed to eliminating health disparities in communities across the country. Native Americans face persistent health and health care disparities, which, according to a recent Health and Human Services report, are a result of centuries of structural discrimination, forced relocation, reduced economic opportunities and chronic underfunding of health care. The report found that Native Americans have a 207% greater chance of dying from diabetes compared with the overall U.S. population. Eleven organizations and tribes are being funded for the first time through this program, including the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana and Native American Development Corporation in Billings. After a decades-long fight, the Little Shell Tribe gained federal recognition status in 2019, and since then, has established its first tribal health clinic in Great Falls. Molly Wendland, Little Shell tribal health director, said the tribe plans to work with Indian Health Service to offer new services through their mobile health clinic. Its really exciting! she said. Its great. We hope to offer services to members and build on this program. Recipients in Montana include: All Nations Health Center in Missoula will receive $169,428 The Blackfeet Nation received $867,948 Butte Native Wellness Center received $242,969 The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes received $1,040,808 The Crow Indian Health Service facility in Billings received $1,224,949 The Fort Belknap Diabetes Prevention Program received $434,243 The Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes received $815,808 Helena Indian Alliance received $288,686 Indian Family Health Clinic in Great Falls received $301,028 The Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana received $148,030 Native American Development Corporation in Billings received $288,686 The Northern Cheyenne Tribe received $595,755 Rocky Boy Health Center in Box Elder received $451,191 Sen. Susan Webber, D-Browning, on Wednesday introduced a resolution she said was near and dear to my heart. Senate Joint Resolution 6 asks the Legislature to recognize, honor and support people who attended Indigenous boarding schools. The resolution asks the people of Montana to recognize the grief, pain and hardship many Native American people suffered and still endure as a result, to honor those who were lost or harmed by the schools and appreciate the resilience of survivors. The resolution also urges Congress to designate a national day of remembrance for the Native American children who died while attending a U.S. Indian boarding school. From the 1800s to the 1970s, Native children were taken from their homes and forced to attend government-funded Christian boarding schools, where they were emotionally, physically and sexually abused. The explicit mission of these schools was cultural genocide. Some children died at these schools and were buried in unmarked graves. Tribes suffered language and culture loss as a result, and historical trauma persists in Native communities today. I am a survivor of Indian boarding school, Webber said to the Senate Education and Cultural Resources Committee. Webber attended Cut Bank Boarding School just outside the Blackfeet Reservation from eighth grade through junior high school. She added that she comes from a long line of women that were institutionalized in these Indian boarding schools. Though the atrocities at these boarding schools happened in the recent past, Webber spoke of their ongoing impact. She said, for example, she relies on her husband to discipline their children. My upbringing was quick and brutal, she said, referencing her time at Cut Bank Boarding School. I didnt want to (inflict) that discipline onto my children. I was afraid of what I might do if I had to discipline them. Webber also cited the Department of the Interiors first installment of its investigation into Indigenous boarding schools. The investigation was released in May and identified at least 16 boarding schools in Montana. Several people spoke in support of Webbers resolution. Patrick Yawakie, on behalf of the Blackfeet Nation, said, We are asking for recognition of this past so we can heal as one. Lance Four Star, who spoke on behalf of Western Native Voice, said the resolution promotes healing and helps all Montanans understand the effects of boarding school trauma on Indigenous people today. He mentioned that his family is working to repatriate a relative who is buried at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania. Sharen KickingWoman, who is Aaniiih and Blackfeet and works for the ACLU of Montana, told the committee that many of the proponents wore orange to honor the grassroots efforts of residential survivors in Canada who successfully campaigned for a National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. In 2021, Canada proclaimed Sept. 30 a National Day of Truth and Reconciliation to recognize survivors and those who died in residential schools. KickingWoman said both of her paternal grandparents attended boarding schools and both died before she could meet them. She said in part because of her grandparents experiences at these schools, her father endured abuse in foster care. Its just one example of how (boarding school) impacts descendants, she said. Shawn Reagor, from the Montana Human Rights Network, urged the committee to support the resolution. We need to know about history even though it makes us uncomfortable so we can make sure its not repeated, he said. Reagors statement resonated with Sen. John Fuller, R-Kalispell, who serves on the committee. Being a historian, I concur, wholeheartedly, Fuller said after Reagor spoke. Other supporters of the resolution spoke on behalf of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Chippewa Cree Tribe, Montana Budget and Policy Center, Montana Coalition against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Montana Women Vote and the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. No one spoke in opposition of the proposed legislation. Sen. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell, asked Webber if the atrocities she mentioned are still happening at boarding schools in Montana today. Webber answered that while some of the boarding schools still exist, they do not still inflict abuse on children. Regier asked Webber if she would consider adding a line that the atrocities happened in the past, and Webber said she thought that was a friendly amendment. The committee did not take immediate executive action on the resolution. Across China: Xinjiang folk orchestra makes its name through musical fusion Xinhua) 10:22, January 26, 2023 This photo taken on Jan. 14, 2023 shows the Chinese Lunar New Year concert presented by Xinjiang Art Theater's folk orchestra in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua) URUMQI, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- On hearing the duet of the Kazakh folk song "A Lovely Rose" and Italian opera "Nessun Dorma" (None Shall Sleep), Xu Dandan was a bit surprised, then soon enchanted by the chemistry generated from the unfrequent combination, especially the accompaniment of the gijak, a traditional Uygur bowed string instrument. "The concert featured various musical instruments and music genres, and was excellently performed," said Xu after enjoying the Chinese Lunar New Year concert in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Presented by Xinjiang Art Theater's folk orchestra, the repertoires also encompass Western classics, folk music from other parts of China, and well-known tunes from Chinese movies -- all performed with Xinjiang's folk musical instruments such as rewap, dutar, satar, and gijak. The orchestra is mainly composed of musical instruments played by Xinjiang's ethnic minorities, said Xu Zhijun, conductor of the concert. He added that its music embodies the flamboyant musical style along the Silk Road, thus possessing great potential for going global. "It was wondrous and magical that (the performance) brought Xinjiang's music and Western music closer to each other both in terms of time and space," said Xu. However, the lack of performance standards and a nationwide fanbase for Xinjiang folk music hindered the orchestra's rise to fame for a long time. The endeavor to integrate Xinjiang folk music with Western music started 10 years ago, when Zhang Rui, now head of the orchestra, kicked off his career at the orchestra. "We wanted to broaden our market and shake off the stereotype of being 'rustic.' That's why we tried, for instance, works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Dmitri Shostakovich," he recalled. Thanks to the bold experiment, musical fusion has now become a name card of the orchestra, attracting more and more conductors and performers to collaborate. The orchestra has toured more than 70 countries and regions globally. Meanwhile, a growing number of young musicians are joining. For Adile Mahmut, a gijak musician, the orchestra is on the right track. "Western instruments like cello, bass, and trombone are used to fill in the bass parts that we lack, making our music more dense and luxuriant. I think we should try more (collaboration) so that more people will like our music," she said. The 28-year-old learned to play both the gijak and violin from her father at the age of eight until her father decided that she should focus on gijak. "I used to consider playing the gijak a bit 'old-fashioned,' but not anymore," she said. Characterized by its crisp, light sound, a gijak usually has two main strings and a spherical sound box. At its bottom is an extended knee rest for playing upright, rather than horizontally like a violin. "Sometimes people may confuse a gijak with a violin or erhu," Adile Mahmut told Xinhua while practicing the instrument, explaining the differences between them. "After our recent concerts, I'm more convinced that the melodies of gijak can be heard from even more distant places in the world." "These years, we're having more young musicians with us. I can see the confidence and pride in them. They're proficient and with broad horizons," Zhang said. "We're now on our way to take Xinjiang music to the whole country and the world." This photo taken on Jan. 14, 2023 shows the Chinese Lunar New Year concert presented by Xinjiang Art Theater's folk orchestra in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua) This photo taken on Jan. 14, 2023 shows the Chinese Lunar New Year concert presented by Xinjiang Art Theater's folk orchestra in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Hongyu) Camron Thompson, from left, Larsen Salah, and Autumn Bernhardt delight as their selected Mold-A-Rama statue is created on a machine at the Mold-A-Rama exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago on Jan. 20, 2023. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) The world headquarters of Mold-A-Rama Inc. is tucked inside a colorless strip of businesses in Brookfield, the kind of block so forlorn its hard to tell if anything is open or closed. Theres a small mailbox noting that Mold-A-Rama is inside, but nothing like a typical storefront sign. On a January morning, the scene is so winter beige, to even call this location a strip mall seems extravagant. Fans of Mold-A-Rama, collectors of its 60 years of colorful molded statues, show up occasionally, unannounced. They assume theyll find hundreds of employees, but nope, said Sue Jones, wife of co-owner Paul Jones. He was out at the Museum of Science and Industry, servicing their Mold-A-Rama machines, making certain visitors receive tiny plastic chicks, submarines, steam trains. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was the day before and Chicago museums were slammed, which meant Pauls durable, decades-old Mold-A-Rama machines at MSI and the Field Museum were slammed. Some of the very same machines that pushed out three-inch Lincoln busts during the Nixon administration are still operating, seven days a week. Advertisement Few things are as they were in 1971, when the Jones family took over the world of Mold-A-Rama museum and zoo souvenirs, but the Mold-A-Rama experience remains the same. At the MSI, for instance, which just opened a yearlong exhibit on the history of Mold-A-Rama, you still approach a chunky, jukebox-size machine that once looked space-age. The top is a glass bubble, beneath which sits an array of metal gauges water temperature, tank pressure and two black blocks at the end of hydraulic pistons. Advertisement The whole contraption minus its MOLD-A-RAMA banner suggests a mad scientists laboratory. Decades ago it ate quarters; now you swipe a credit card, which takes $5. But the rest is the same: The machine rumbles to life, those two blocks push together and the machine rumbles more. A moment later, the blocks separate and a molded plastic souvenir tumbles out. Lift the small metal door, fish out your prize and That smell! Ah, the sweet waft of low-density polyethylene baked at a cozy 250 degrees. If I came home and smelled this smell, I would assume there was an electrical fire, but here, with the result being a small HMS Bounty statue, it smells just like a fourth-grade field trip. Because, Sue said, smell is memory. And wisely, its a memory the Jones family has not updated much. In fact, though the Mold-A-Rama process now looks like a precursor to 21st century 3D printing (and sometimes employs 3D printing during the development of new statues), the MSI exhibit presents it as essentially vintage, stone-age technology, providing a peek into mass production. Specifically, injection molding, which is basically what a Mold-A-Rama machine does. The company still creates new statues every year, Paul explained, but searching for someone who can design and sculpt two sides of a plastic object? Its a lost art. The machine squashes together the two sides into a single object. Then hot plastic pellets are injected into a sculpted cavity inside the two blocks. Simultaneously, cold air is being blown through the blocks, to hollow out the statue. During this stage, within a few moments, a Mold-A-Rama statue plunges from 250 degrees to 95 degrees. The result is soft at first, warm and, as any Gen-Xer will vouch, seemingly indestructible. People view the Mold-A-Rama exhibit at the Science and Industry Museum on Jan. 20, 2023. The yearlong exhibit on the history of Mold-A-Rama recently opened. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) An octopus at the MSI Mold-A-Rama exhibit. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) So much so that the exhibit itself questions the ethics of buying a Mold-A-Rama. Even as it celebrates this novelty medium and its generations of stewards, the show wonders: Does it really make sense to create disposable products that we use for a few minutes but last hundreds of years? Ironically, souvenirs bought in zoos and museums dedicated to the study of nature might break down into the kind of nanoplastics that get ingested by animals, becoming harmful to nature (including people). Maybe, the wall text suggests, we can use our ingenuity to design a better way of meeting our needs. Advertisement Or hey, Debbie Downer curators, maybe you dont appreciate a plastic hippo molded before your eyes? Since 1971, the Jones familys Mold-A-Rama machines have pumped out 10 million souvenirs. These days, its a smaller operation: They own 63 machines in five states, including more than a dozen at the Brookfield Zoo. (The zoos dolphin Mold-A-Rama is the companys all-time bestseller, locally and nationally.) Their only competition is Florida-based Mold-A-Matic, which has been in the molded-plastic souvenir game even longer; they primarily serve Florida amusement parks and zoos across the South. Like other creations gathering dust in our closets, the Mold-A-Rama began as an act of homegrown ingenuity. A Quincy inventor named J.H. Tike Miller whom the exhibition describes as a serial entrepreneur was looking for a way to replace the figures in his Nativity scene. When the U.S. halted imports from Germany during World War II, he sought a way to craft new statues with injection molding. Having solved Nativity shortages, he moved on to aliens and animals. Eventually, he sold his patent for a free-standing molding machine to Automatic Retailers of America, which named the technology Mold-A-Rama. It debuted at the 1962 Worlds Fair in Seattle with a monorail statue, then cutting-edge tech. (The MSI exhibit offers new molds of this first statue.) By the early 70s, however, the ARA was ready to scrap its Mold-A-Rama division. Thats when the Jones family stepped in. William Jones, Pauls father now in his 80s, and still a co-owner with his son bought Mold-A-Rama machines and expanded. They hired freelance artists to craft what became a menagerie of miniature plastic statues: Alligators and gorillas and devils and Frankensteins and Toledo Mud Hens and Canadian maple leaves and the Sears Tower and eagles and Christmas trees and Mickey Mouse and Kewpie dolls and two types of Abraham Lincoln. Even the bus inside which Rosa Parks made history. For the Milwaukee County Zoo, they make bats, Santa Claus and sea horses. For the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan, they make a tiny Henry Ford, an adorable Wienermobile and, ghoulishly, the Lincoln in which JFK was assassinated. Youths pass by a Mold-A-Rama machine at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) The MSI show includes all these, plus a taste of the process, a brief history of molded plastic and samples of the raw materials. Mold-A-Rama uses plastic made by the conglomerate Honeywell, and since plastic is made from refined oil, Paul Jones cringes every time oil prices soar. Mold-A-Rama, he said, is meant to remain an affordable tchotchke. He doesnt see why the Mold-A-Rama cant go on. His own kids are in their 20s and their generation is not as materialistic. They are more about the experience, and this is both. You get the souvenir, and you get the experience of plastic molded in front of you. Advertisement Were on trend. I just turned 56 and I have been going to (MSI) since I was 16 and so this is a piece of my life on display there now. My dads life. Our family business. Youre proud of it in one breath, and in the next breath? Its hard to understand that popularity. One word: Plastics. cborrelli@chicagotribune.com Leaders in the effort to reshape midtown Missoula want to hear from the community Thursday at an interactive event covering the latest in the master planning process. This is midtowns moment in history where we can do a deep dive and have it driven by the community, said Melanie Brock, executive director of the Missoula Midtown Association. The workshop takes place Thursday, Jan. 26 at the Missoula County Fairgrounds Floriculture Building. Doors will open at 5 pm. Brock and her colleagues have already heard from more than a thousand people through their innovative engagement strategy, which utilized neighborhood guides going out into the community to gather direct input. From those outreach efforts, Brock and contractor ECONorthwest learned about the challenges and current conditions facing the midtown area. Key challenges they discovered included rigid zoning, missing bike and pedestrian connectivity and parking issues, among a slew of other concerns. Brock is confident that her team, using feedback from the community, can come up with some creative solutions to those challenges. ECONorthwest, she pointed out, is based in Portland and Denver. They really get the growth challenges of cities in the Northwest, Brock said. Three themes of the workshop on Thursday will be: areas to live and work, streets and trails as the heart of public spaces, and a mobility network for all. Priorities also include placemaking and creating a sense of identity, equitable development and displacement prevention. Main focus areas include Brooks and its current lack of east-west connectivity. Brock said her team is looking into making midtown more efficient and improving alternative transportation options to enable infill development. Safety, especially given the residential presence in midtown, plays another important role in the master planning process. Brock added she hopes residential development increases as a result of the plan. Ideally, as we know we are in a housing crisis, there is residential on top of everything that comes out of the ground, Brock said. Brock also celebrated the fact the Midtown Master Plan is coalescing simultaneously with the citys code reform undertaking and its exploration of rapid transit potential. This is all happening at once, said Brock. She hopes the Midtown Master Plan will be complete in May. It will serve as a guiding blueprint for the area for the next 10 years and beyond. Community members can get involved at midtownmasterplan.com If you or anyone you know flies for work or pleasure, please consider supporting the aviation industry and our local schools. The aviation industry, including commercial airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and aviation magazines are all projecting over one million job vacancies in the next 10-15 years. This includes pilots, mechanics, and air traffic controllers. Considering the current shortage in these categories combined with average annual personnel turnover, travel by air will be negatively affected. One effort to mitigate this potential problem is a program created by the Airplane Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). AOPA has created a 4-year high school aviation based STEM program and provides it free to high schools. It includes a complete syllabus and a list of materials required for each year. AOPA also provides a 3-day course for the teachers. This program currently is being used in less than 500 schools nation wide and only in one in Montana at Sentinel High in Missoula. The program is in its second year and is showing positive results in the number of kids participating, the number who want to participate (including from other Missoula high schools), and the number of females in the classes. This 4-year program, if used as designed by AOPA, will provide all the necessary information required for the students to pass the private pilots certification written exam. Unfortunately, there are three short-comings at the present time all related to funding. First, Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS) could only fund one of the four recommended sections of the program. Second, the funding being used came from a federal grant, which will expire at the end of this year. Third, interested students from other high schools in the system need transportation to and from classes. Please consider financially supporting this program on a continuing basis over the next few years to give Missoula high school students the opportunity to participate in this exciting program with the potential of a career in a great field with good working environments, pay, and benefits. If you are interested in helping Missoula high school students and the future of the U.S. aviation industry, please contact me (speedycbc@gmail.com) and I will arrange a meeting to provide more details. A jury of nine men and three women deliberated for roughly three hours Wednesday before convicting a 47-year-old Butte man of raping a 15-year-old girl in August 2020. The jury listened to two days of testimony and began deliberations around noon Wednesday before returning a guilty verdict against Jay Dee Davisson. He showed no emotion as the verdict was read and officers soon escorted him out of the courtroom in handcuffs. Prosecutor Kelli Fivey said she was pleased for the victim and that shes finally gotten justice after almost three years. She was brave and were just so proud of her, Fivey said. The Montana Standard is not naming the alleged victim to protect potential victims of sexual assault. Davisson was charged with one felony count of sexual intercourse without consent, which in this case carries a maximum sentence of four years to 100 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. He was also charged with a misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child, which carries a maximum sentence of six months in county jail and a $500 fine. On the child endangerment charge, the jury could not come to a unanimous verdict. District Judge Robert Whelan presided over the trial. Right before the jury entered the courtroom to deliver its verdict, Davisson got up to allegedly go the bathroom, but no police officers could locate him in the courthouse. He returned to the courtroom about 15 minutes later. Prosecutor Kelli Fivey said this has never happened in her almost 16 years of experience. Because Davisson returned to the courtroom, he wont face legal charges. The victim testified Monday that Davisson picked her and another teenager, who was 19 at the time, up on a Butte street on Aug. 2 at around 1 a.m. and gave her whiskey. Next thing she knew, she woke up alone at 1 p.m. in a room at the Red Lion Hotel in Rocker, where Davisson was living at the time, wearing a shirt that wasnt hers with no pants or underwear on. In order to convict Davisson of sexual intercourse without consent, the jury had to decide whether the state proved that Davisson had sex with the victim on Aug. 2 in Silver Bow County, that she was 15 at the time and that Davisson was four or more years older than her. The jury decided on that matter; the state met its burden. The jury also had to decide whether Davisson had reasonable belief that the girl was 16 years old the age of consent in Montana and whether the state proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the victim was physically helpless or incapacitated. Regarding these matters, the jury decided Davisson didnt have reasonable belief the girl was 16 or older and that she was physically helpless or incapacitated. In closing arguments Wednesday, Davissons defense attorney, Jack Morris, said that what bothered him most about this case was that his defendant got prosecuted for having sexual intercourse with a woman he thought was over the age of 16 while the victims former friend, who during testimony admitted to digitally penetrating her on the same day as Davisson, got use immunity. Use immunity means that a witness cant be prosecuted for crimes they admit to in testimony. He said the state is not dispensing justice in an even-handed way. He also pointed to the fact that even though the victim and her friends admitted to using drugs and alcohol underage, they did not get cited with minor in possession charges. Butte-Silver Bow Sgt. Josh Stearns testified Tuesday that in cases where teenagers are victims of a crime like rape and also using drugs or alcohol underage, hes never seen them cited with MIPs. Fivey said in rebuttal the prosecution will be the first to tell you that what the victims former friend did is not OK. She also said that the choice to give her use immunity in an attempt to get Davisson convicted is something we chose to do, and something that we have to live with. Morris also said in closing statements that the biggest piece of evidence in the case was the fact that a toxicology report done on the victim approximately 16 hours after she allegedly ingested the alcohol, showed no alcohol in her blood or urine. Prosecutor Ann Shea said in her closing statement that this was not a smoking gun. Morris also argued that Davisson would not have left the victim a note with his name and number on it with $30 for cab fare if he knowingly raped a 15-year-old and that he instead took care of her. The most incriminating piece of evidence against Davisson was video footage from the Red Lion, which showed him arriving at around 5:30 a.m., walking around for a few minutes, leaving, and returning about an hour later to drive around the parking lot until finding a spot to park and carry the victim into the hotel. In a still of the video presented Wednesday, the victim wore a T-shirt over her head, covering her face, midriff exposed, pants on, apparently limp, as Davisson carried her in his arms. Fivey argued that leaving a child passed out in his car half-naked for an hour is not taking care of her, and that when she woke up she was not tucked in or in the bed, but hanging off the side. Sentencing for Davisson is set for March 15. A Butte police officer initially charged with felony strangulation of a partner or family member pleaded guilty to a lesser offense Thursday and was given a one-year deferred sentence. Benjamin Rauch pleaded guilty to misdemeanor partner-family member assault, first offense, for an altercation he had with a female relative at a residence on Jan. 3, 2022. Rauch, 47, has been a Butte police officer for 16 years. Prosecutors wanted a one-year jail sentence with all but 24 hours suspended, plus counseling and other conditions, but District Judge Luke Berger said he had to treat Rauch the way I treat anyone else for such an offense. He ordered 40 hours of counseling and other supervisory conditions but gave Rauch a deferred sentence. That means if Rauch meets the supervisory terms and remains law-abiding for a year, he could get the case removed from his record. The original felony strangulation charge carried a possible five-year prison term and fine up to $50,000. Rauch had been suspended from Butte-Silver Bow police without pay for some time and that remained in effect Thursday, said Sheriff Ed Lester. He said the matter would be reviewed again given the court action before determining Rauchs status going forward. Police were called to a residence on Jan. 3, 2022, to investigate a report from a female who said she had been assaulted at a different location. Butte police did a preliminary investigation then asked the Montana Attorney Generals Office for assistance. According to charging documents, a state investigator met with the alleged victim and documented injuries to her leg, foot and neck. She said Rauch had strangled her and during the assault, she told him she couldnt breathe. Rauch told agents they were having a verbal argument until something happened and he grabbed the female and put her on a bed. He said he did not choke her. Rauch was booked after an investigation but released two hours later after posting a $50,000 bond. The plea was part of an agreement between Rauch and the AGs office but Meghann Paddock, a prosecutor with that office, wanted a suspended sentence and another 22 hours of jail time served. That would make 24 hours total and the overall sentence would provide some accountability for the assault, particularly in light of his position as a police officer, she said. The legal process has been difficult for the victim, she said. Berger gave Rauch an opportunity to speak at the hearing but his attorney, Frank Joseph, said he wasnt comfortable doing that. Joseph argued for the deferred sentence, saying Rauch took accountability for his actions and on his own sought services, including counseling, through the Yellowstone County Veterans Court. Rauch had served four years in the Army Reserves and four years in the Marine Corps besides his time as a police officer, Joseph said. Berger said his sentence would be criticized no matter what because Rauch was a police officer but said he had to treat the case like any other. He suggested that the assault occurred because Rauch, given his job and military background, was dealing with a lot of stress. Finally the stress is too much and it comes out, Berger said. He encouraged Rauch to talk to others and take other steps to deal with such issues in the future. A California company that makes modular homes plans to build an $80 million, 450,000 square-foot facility at the Montana Connections Business Development Park in Butte that could employ up to 150 employees the first year and more after that. Officials with San Diego-based Dvele (pronounced deh-VELL) told commissioners of their plans at Wednesday nights council meeting, saying they chose Butte in large part because of its connecting interstates and its people, including county officials who helped with their project. Youre wonderful to work with, said Stace McGee, vice president of development for Dvele. As we defined having challenges, you worked with us to try to overcome that challenge and understand how we can move forward. Casey Dudley, a growth specialist for Dvele, joined McGee for the announcement. "This is truly an exciting project for Butte and the Montana Connections Park," said Kristen Rosa, who oversees the business park and the tax-increment district that has paved the way for its growth. The Dvele facility will make modular homes that can be built in months and then be shipped out for placement. They can be built at 30% to 40% less cost than traditional houses, McGee said. The timeline is not definitive but McGee said they hope to start construction on the facility this summer. The factory would have between 100 to 150 employees the first year after construction and it would jump to about 300 in the second year. By the fifth year it would be almost 500 employees, McGee said. Some of the employees would come from Dvele operations elsewhere but they hope to hire a couple hundred new employees from Montana and perhaps other states. McGee said that would be a hurdle with the tight labor market. That is the big challenge because everybody in our country right now is dealing with, Where do you find people to work? he said. And so were trying some very innovative ideas and well be really getting on that here in the next couple of months. J.P. Gallagher, Butte-Silver Bows chief executive, said he ran into McGee about a year and a half ago in the courthouse rotunda and asked if he could help him. McGee told him he wanted to inquire about property at the business park. I said, I can find those people for you, Gallagher told commissioners, drawing laughter. McGee then worked with Rosa and Community Development Director Karen Byrnes, and Rosa said Thursday the board that oversees the Tax Increment Finance Industrial District was also a big part of assisting McGee and his team. Gallagher said they looked into potential workforce pools on Wednesday. We went over and met with the carpenters union and the sheet metals union today so they can start talking to them about what the impact would be on those unions, Gallagher said. So theyre doing their due diligence on what we need to do as a community and reaching out to make those connections. McGee said the modular homes built at the factory would mostly be workforce housing. That typically means they are targeted to middle-income workers, a segment that is finding it more difficult to afford home purchases. Wealthy people can obviously afford what they want but workforce housing has been something that is missing all over the United States of America and it has put us in what I believe is a crisis in housing, McGee said. We dont have housing for teachers and nurses and firemen and the people that help us in our daily life and we intend as developers to do something about it, he said. McGee said Dvele would bring in a core group of innovators and designers and many of the companys employees are so excited to move to Montana. We really hope in the future we can work with Montana Tech, we can work with Highlands College and that we can create Butte into an innovation center for modular building, he said. Rosa said she appreciated the Dvele team and the county would "continue to assist them in any way we can to ensure this project comes to fruition." I received an email from a reader wanting to know why many retail websites he visits pop up a dialog box wanting to access his location. He said he never allows it, but he wants to know why they ask. I can think of a lot of reasons. Some of the bigger companies will even tell you why they are asking. For example, I visited the Whole Foods website, and as soon as I searched for a product (salmon), I was greeted with a pop-up dialog asking my location. The dialog said: Find in-store pricing, weekly sales, and local products by selecting your store below. These are all good reasons for wanting to know my location. If I want to see the price for salmon in my neighborhood, Ill need to tell Whole Foods my location. You dont have to tell them your home address, but they do want to know what store is closest so they can show exact pricing. When I searched for salmon and didnt give them my ZIP code, they showed a variety of salmon offerings. But when I did choose a store based on my ZIP code, the number of salmon items got smaller not all were offered in my store and the prices appeared. In my younger days I worked for a grocery-store chain, and I can tell you prices are not the same in every store in the company. I changed my Whole Foods store from my Texas location to Beverly Hills, California, and the price per pound for Atlantic salmon was $1 per pound more expensive. Many retail websites can also let you know if items are in stock at a specific store. This past Christmas, I wanted to buy a sweatsuit for my niece. The style and color were not available in my closest Target store, but on the Target website, I was able to see it was available in a store just a few miles away. I had to give my ZIP code so the site could show me the closest stores and the real-time inventory. Of course, stores also want your location data so they can gather as much information as they can about you. Even if you dont give your location, websites have a pretty good idea where you are based on your devices IP address, which is your phone or computers Internet Protocol address, which is assigned by your internet provider. With location data, along with cookies and other browsing data, websites can harvest a lot of information about you. They use this information to try to sell you things. That data might even be shared with other companies. Im sure youve noticed the pop-up notifications on websites asking you to allow cookies, which are ways websites can use your browser to track your web activity. This is a much larger topic than I have room to address here. I found a nice explainer of location tracking and sharing from Mozilla, the maker of Firefox. It also includes instructions on how to turn off location sharing. You can read it at https://blog.mozilla.org/en/privacy-security/location-history. THURSDAY, Jan. 26, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- A mother-to-be's exposure to air pollution during pregnancy may have a lasting impact on her baby's brain development, new research indicates. Toddlers scored lower on assessments for thinking, motor and language skills when their mothers had more exposure to pollutants during pregnancy, according to researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder. Our findings suggest that pollution exposure, particularly during mid-to-late pregnancy, may negatively impact neurodevelopment in early life, co-author Tanya Alderete, an assistant professor of integrative physiology, said in a university news release. To study this, the researchers followed 161 healthy, Hispanic mother-infant pairs who lived in Southern California and were enrolled in the Mothers Milk Study. The moms provided information about where they had lived. This made it possible for researchers to calculate their exposure to pollutants from roadside traffic, industry, wildfire smoke and other sources using data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The researchers assessed the children of these mothers for thinking ("cognitive"), motor and language skills at age 2 years. The team found that the toddlers who were exposed prenatally to more inhalable particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5) scored significantly lower on cognitive tests. (Cognitive tests assess abilities such as problem-solving). About 16% of the children had a composite cognitive score that indicated impairment. If all participants had been exposed to as much pollution as the 75th percentile, the researchers said, the prevalence of cognitive impairment at age 2 would be 22%. When the exposures happened in mid-to-late pregnancy, these were particularly detrimental, said study co-author Zach Morgan, who earned a masters degree in integrative physiology last year. The brain develops differently at different stages of pregnancy, and when you have a disruption at a critical window, that can affect the trajectory of that development, Morgan said. During mid-to-late pregnancy, key brain circuits form to support sensory, communication and motor systems, he added. Inhaled pollutants may directly contact the fetus, according to past research. This can cause systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. Past studies in older children have found associations between prenatal exposure to pollutants and reductions in white matter, cortex thickness and blood flow in the brain. This has also been associated with lower IQ scores. About 90% of the worlds population is exposed to particulate matter levels exceeding recommended levels, Alderete said. Poor people and minorities are often subjected to greater levels of this type of pollution. Our findings highlight the importance of addressing the impact of pollution on disadvantaged communities and point to additional steps all families can take to protect their health, Alderete said. This exposure is not a guarantee that the child will have lasting cognitive deficits, she cautioned. Alderete suggested that pregnant women can limit their risks by avoiding outdoor exercise on high pollution days, investing in an air filtration system inside the home and staying away from secondhand smoke. The findings were published online Jan. 24 in the journal Environmental Health. More information The U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has more on pollution and health. SOURCE: University of Colorado Boulder, news release, Jan. 24, 2023 THURSDAY, Jan. 26, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- In a finding that suggests the updated bivalent COVID booster shots are worth getting, new government data shows they cut the chances of infection with the new XBB variant by nearly half. While those ages 49 and under saw a 48% reduction in risk, the shots were slightly less effective in older individuals -- about 40% in adults ages 50 to 64 and 43% in those 65 and up. Effectiveness was seen for both the Pfizer and Moderna boosters, the study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found. While the boosters were modified last summer to target the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5, the latest research reveals theyre also working against XBB, which is now responsible for about half of new cases in the United States. This is quite reassuring, Dr. Brendan Jackson, head of the CDCs COVID response, said during a media briefing Wednesday, NBC News reported. These updated vaccines are protecting people against the latest COVID-19 variants. To determine the latest boosters' effectiveness, the CDC researchers studied test results for more than 29,000 adults who tested with COVID symptoms at pharmacies between Dec. 1 and Jan. 13, comparing those with boosters to those without the added shots. Not many Americans have availed themselves of this extra protection: The CDC reports that only 15% of Americans have received updated boosters. "With this data, we see there is a benefit that might convince some people to sign up and get a bivalent booster," Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children's Hospital, told NBC News. The success of these boosters in protecting people is similar to that of annual flu shots, which typically reduce risk by 40% to 60%, according to the CDC. Still, the government data may not paint the full picture. It doesnt include asymptomatic people, and it doesnt include those who may have been hospitalized instead of being tested at pharmacy, NBC News reported. Those who got boosters may also be protecting themselves in other ways, such as wearing masks indoors or limiting travel, Dr. Greg Poland, director of the Mayo Clinic Vaccine Research Group, told NBC News. Hotez said he would like to see data on booster performance after five or six months and information on effectiveness against hospitalization. But soon-to-be-released CDC data shows the updated boosters reduced the risk of death from COVID by nearly thirteen-fold when compared to no vaccination, Jackson said Wednesday, and death rates for those who were boosted were twofold lower than those who died from COVID after being vaccinated but not boosted. On Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's vaccine advisory committee will meet to weigh an agency proposal to turn the bivalent COVID boosters into an annual shot, much like what is done with flu vaccines. More information Vaccines.gov has more on locating COVID-19 vaccines. SOURCE: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Jan. 25, 2023; NBC News Weve received several comments and observations about a column we recently wrote about divorce, death and joint tenancy. A grandchild wrote about how her grandparents had a difficult marriage and divorce. But even after the divorce, they kept the property in both names. Whoever died first lost the house. But there were some questions about whether the grandmother, who died in March, actually still owned the property because she and our correspondent's mother paid all of the bills. COMMENT: I enjoy reading your column on a regular basis. Your recent column about divorce, death and joint tenancy was right on point. I am a retired attorney, and many, many years ago, I had the exact case you described. The only difference was it was a much younger couple and there was a tragic ending. I represented the wife. Though I advised against it, the parties agreed to keep the house in joint tenancy but sell the home immediately after the divorce and divide the proceeds. Prior to the sale, my former client was tragically murdered. Her heirs sought her share. The case went up on appeal. The Appellate Court ruled in favor based on the transcript I developed where both parties acknowledged their intent to maintain the joint tenancy and split the proceeds upon sale. The Court relied on that transcript similar to what you suggested the parties do in your column. Good work. COMMENT: Some thoughts regarding your divorce, death and joint tenancy article. In Texas, and maybe other states, by statute a divorce severs the joint tenancy. Ownership of the property is converted and the owners become tenants in common in the absence of decree language. ILYCE AND SAM RESPOND: Thank you for your comments. The column you mentioned related to an elderly couple that divorced but decided to keep the home in both their names. They intended that the surviving person would wind up owning the home. The occupant of the home died 12 years after her ex-spouse. So, the question was whether or not the family of the final occupant could keep the home. We mentioned in that column that you should look to the divorce decree and see what that legal document specified. And, absent anything said in the divorce decree, their arrangement may hold up. With regards to the ownership of joint tenancy at the time of divorce, we believe it would be important to note the distinction between the manner in which married individuals can hold title to a home. For expediency, well just address three types: tenants in common, tenancy by the entirety and joint tenants with rights of survivorship. If they own the home as tenants in common, they could each own a 50% interest in the home (or any other combination). One spouse could own 99% of the property and the other 1%. With tenants in common, each owners share stays with them and upon their death, their heirs would get the percentage of the property that they owned. If they divorce, the divorce decree would decide how to distribute their ownership interests. When they own property as tenancy by the entirety, they own it as joint tenants with rights of survivorship. But they have certain other rights and protections afforded to married couples that use that home as their primary residence. Upon the death of one spouse, the home goes to the other. Either party can sever that ownership interest by divorce or other action to sever the tenancy. So, upon the filing of the divorce and the home ceasing being a primary residence, the home would revert to tenants in common with each spouse owning a 50% share. And, of course, the divorce decree could dictate other terms to their ownership. Finally, when people own property as joint tenants with rights of survivorship, the home need not be a primary residence, nor do the owners of the home need to be married. But upon the death of one owner, the home automatically goes to the surviving owner. In some states, like Illinois, the joint tenancy may not be broken due to the divorce. In other states, the filing of the divorce would change the ownership of the parties from joint tenants to tenants in common. We thank everyone that wrote in to have us clarify that situation. To elaborate on our column: if the property was owned by the correspondents grandfather and grandmother equally, and each had a 50% interest in the property, the heirs of the grandmother would become owners of the grandmothers share of the home. And, having said this, some states may allow the parties to keep the joint ownership of the home where they specify their agreement is to keep it that way even though they have divorced. At the end of the day, youd have to determine what the laws of the state are relating to joint ownership of a home after a divorce, what the parties intended, and what the divorce decree says. Thank you for your comments. WAPELLO As part of a pledge to help keep tobacco and other alternative nicotine and vaping products out of the hands of young people, the Louisa County Sheriffs office has announced that it will begin checking Louisa County retailers for compliance soon. According to a press release from the office, retailers can face a hefty fine if they sell nicotine products to underage persons. The sheriffs office encourages retailers to take the time to check identifications before selling tobacco products. The office is part of a movement called I-PLEDGE, which is run by the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, to educate local retailers and to enforce Iowas tobacco, alternative nicotine, and vapor product laws. Since the program began in 200, the statewide tobacco compliance rate is reported to have grown to 90 percent. By participating in the program, the Louisa County Sheriffs Office has committed to do its part to increase the compliance rate. I-PLEDGE places emphasis on retailer training. Clerks who successfully complete an online training course and then pass an exam will become I-PLEDGE certified. This allows a retail establishment to use an alternative defense against a civil penalty if the certified clerk makes an illegal sale. As part of the program, underage customers under the supervision of law enforcement will enter establishments and attempt to buy tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products. Clerks who make an illegal sale will be cited on the spot. Criminal penalties for selling tobacco products to a minor include a $125 fine for the first offense; a $325 fine for the second offense; and a $645 fine for the third and subsequent offenses. The release said giving fines is not the intent of I-PLEDGE. Photos: Law enforcement conducts full-scale maritime security and mass rescue exercise on the Mississippi River This combination of photos shows promotional art for Oscar nominees for best feature, top row from left, "All Quiet on the Western Front," "Avatar: The Way of Water," "The Banshees of Inisherin," "Elvis," "Everything Everywhere All at Once," bottom row from left, "The Fabelmans," "Tar," "Top Gun: Maverick," "Triangle of Sadness," and "Women Talking." (Uncredited/AP) Replete with spellbinding multiverses, Everything Everywhere All at Once topped the 95th Academy Awards nominations with 11 nods. Elsewhere, stories of friendship and family permeated 2022 cinema and the nominations this year, as did big-budget blockbusters. Some of the nominated films are still in theaters but many are also available online to stream now. Heres where you can find the movies: Advertisement EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE 11 nominations. Digital rental. The A24-produced indie Everything Everywhere All at Once has been a critical success and crowd-pleaser since it came out last spring. The film is nominated for best picture and Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu and Jamie Lee Curtis received nods for their performances. Yeoh, Quan and Hsu carry a mind-bending multiverse story about a Chinese American familys disconnection and how they find each other again through the existence of other versions of themselves. The film is available for streaming on Paramount+ with a Showtime add-on. Advertisement THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN Nine nominations. HBO Max. Securing a best picture nomination and nods for Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Kerry Condon, The Banshees of Inisherin tells a tale of the ebbs and flows of the friendship between Farrells Padraic and Gleesons Colm while highlighting haunting Irish landscapes. It can be streamed on HBO Max and rented on YouTube and Amazon. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT Nine nominations. Netflix. All Quiet on the Western Front, an unflinching German-language adaptation of a classic antiwar novel about life and death in the World War I trenches, is nominated for best picture and a slew of other Oscars. The film is available to stream on Netflix. ELVIS Eight nominations. HBO Max. In Elvis, Baz Luhrmanns vision transforms the relatively unknown former child actor Austin Butler into the King. The unconventional biopic tells the life of Elvis Presley from the perspective of his former manager, Colonel Tom Parker, played by Tom Hanks. Butler snagged a best actor nomination and the film received a nod for best picture and director. The film is available to stream on HBO Max. THE FABELMANS Eight nominations. Digital rental. Steven Spielbergs most personal film yet documents the joys and ultimate perils that fragment the Fabelman family forever. In a love letter to film and his family, Spielberg allows viewers to see behind his passion for film and his search for the meaning of family and life. Spielberg is nominated for best director and his film is nominated for best picture, while Michelle Williams up for best actress. The film is available to purchase on Amazon. Advertisement TAR Seven nominations. Digital rental. Cate Blanchett plays a renowned conductor, Lydia Tar. As the titular character, she is cunning, talented and on too high of a pedestal to fall but she does. Tar, which is nominated for best picture and best actress, deals with the dichotomy between power and art and takes on the culture wars dominating politics and popular discourse. It is available for rent and purchase on Amazon and iTunes and will stream exclusively on Peacock beginning Jan. 27. TOP GUN: MAVERICK Six nominations. Paramount+. Thirty-six years after the original Top Gun, Top Gun: Maverick is nominated for best picture. Tom Cruise reprises his role as Maverick, taking on a leadership and mentor role for supporting cast members Miles Teller and Glen Powell. Top Gun: Maverick is available on Paramount+ and Amazon. AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER Four nominations. Still in theaters. After a 13-year wait, Avatar: The Way of Water delves into the journey of original Avatar main character Jake Sullys family through adversity and loss. Director James Cameron builds a spiritual and visually compelling world in this sequel that stars Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana. Nominated for best picture, the film is still in theaters and is not yet available for streaming. Advertisement TRIANGLE OF SADNESS Four nominations. Digital rental. Swedish filmmaker Ruben Ostlund has created a prickly social satire examining race, wealth, social class and inequality and secured a best director nomination in the process. It stars the late Charlbi Dean and Harris Dickinson as a model/influencer couple who end up on a sponsored yacht trip with other wealthy guests. Chaos ensues when the yacht gets stuck in the middle of a storm and the guests end up on a deserted island. The film later focuses on maid-turned-ringleader Abigail, played by Dolly De Leon. The film is nominated for best picture and it is available to rent on YouTube, Apple TV and Amazon. THE WHALE Three nominations. Still in theaters. Brendan Fraser receives a best actor nod for his portrayal of Charlie, the 600-pound central character of The Whale. Charlie is a father, an English teacher and has terminal health issues that give him a life expectancy of a week. In that week, he attempts to bond with his estranged daughter. The film is based on and adapted from the off-Broadway play by Samuel D. Hunter and also earned a best supporting actress nod for Hong Chau. The film is still in theaters and is not yet available for streaming. BABYLON Three nominations. Still in theaters. From La La Land director Damien Chazelle comes a journey into 1920s Hollywood hedonism and a drug-fueled fever dream of the bygone cinematic era. The film stars Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt and newcomer Diego Calva in a three-hour story about filmmaking at a crucial time for American cinema. Earning only three below-the-line nominations, the film is still in theaters and is not yet available for streaming. Advertisement WOMEN TALKING Two nominations. Still only in limited theaters. Director Sarah Polley weaves the story of pervasive sexual assault plaguing the women in a Mennonite community. Women Talking is an adaptation of a 2018 book by Miriam Toews. It stars Claire Foy, Rooney Mara and Frances McDormand. The best picture nominee is still in limited theaters and is not yet available for streaming. BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER Best supporting actress nominee. Still in theaters. Angela Bassett has been nominated for best supporting actress in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, a superhero movie made in the wake of the death of Chadwick Boseman. She becomes the first actor nominated for a Marvel role. Director Ryan Cooglers film allows the audience to grieve the character TChalla and Boseman. The film is still in theaters but is coming to Disney+ on Feb. 1. CAUSEWAY Best supporting actor nominee. Apple TV+. Brian Tyree Henry snags a best supporting actor nod in Causeway, an Apple TV+ drama starring Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence. The film homes in on the relationship between a military engineer (Lawrence) recovering from the effects of a severe brain injury and an auto repair shop mechanic (Henry) living with the guilt and the physical aftereffects of a car accident. The film is available to stream on Apple TV+. Advertisement BLONDE Best actress nominee. Netflix. Ana de Armas receives her first nod for best actress for her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in the adaption of Joyce Carol Oates novel, Blonde. The film is not quite a biopic of the late movie stars life; it is more of a bruising narrative told from the perspective of director Andrew Dominik. The film is available to stream on Netflix. GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY Best adapted screenplay nominee. Netflix. The sequel to director Rian Johnsons Knives Out, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery features the return of Daniel Craigs southern twang-heavy detective Benoit Blanc. The twisty whodunit does what the original did best: allow problematic and murderous rich people to measure their egos and decipher which one is a killer. The film is available to stream on Netflix. AFTERSUN Best actor nominee. Digital rental. Writer-director Charlotte Wells illustrates the bond between a father/daughter duo portrayed by first-time Oscar nominee Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio. Aftersun touches on the pivotal moments in an adolescent life when the world feels so big but childlike wonder starts to fade when the reality of life peeks through the cracks. Aftersun is a dreamy, heartwrenching debut from Wells. The film is available for rent on Amazon and YouTube. Advertisement GUILLERMO DEL TOROS PINOCCHIO Best animated film nominee. Netflix. The decades-old childs tale Pinocchio gets retold through the lens of Guillermo Del Toros dark mind. This is not the Disney version of Pinocchio in Del Toros still musical version, themes of fascism are explored. The cast includes Christoph Waltz, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton and Ewan McGregor and it is nominated for best animated film. The film is available to stream on Netflix. EO Best international feature nominee. Still in limited theaters. EO is the story of a circus donkey who is taken from his owner and begins a long, spiritual journey through the modern Polish and Italian countrysides, encountering humans both kind and cruel. It is a love letter to animals, directed by Jerzy Skolimowski. EO is still in limited theaters and is not yet available for streaming. ARGENTINA, 1985 Best international feature nominee. Amazon Prime Video. Argentina, 1985 establishes the 1985 Trial of the Juntas, a historic moment for Argentina that helped launch the countrys democratic future after seven years of military dictatorship. Director Santiago Mitre shaped the classic political thriller into a story about preserving history and the years it takes to receive justice. The film is available to stream on Amazon. Advertisement ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED Best documentary feature nominee. Still only in limited theaters. American photographer Nan Goldins lifes work is told throughout All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, and its not just about photography. Directed by Laura Poitras, this documentary dives into Goldins political activism and how the sticky web of the Sackler familys philanthropic interests in the art world intersected with their pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma, which has faced a barrage of lawsuits alleging that it helped spark an opioid addiction and overdose crisis. The film is nominated for best documentary feature. It is still in limited theaters and is not yet available for streaming. MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON Best animated film nominee. Digital rental. Marcel the Shell With Shoes On, is a feature-length, stop-motion animation film based on the YouTube shorts made by Jenny Slate, who voices Marcel in a high-pitched octave, and director Dean Fleischer Camp. The experience of being small, cute and unassuming is the heart of the film about a mollusk. The film is available to rent on Amazon. TURNING RED Best animated film nominee. Disney+. Turning Red is the first Pixar movie directed solely by a woman. Helmed by Domee Shi, who also made the Oscar-winning short Bao, the animated film is a coming-of-age tale about a Chinese Canadian eighth-grader who turns into a big, fluffy red panda a walking metaphor for growing young womanhood. The film is nominated for best animated film. Turning Red is available to stream on Disney+. Advertisement RRR Best original song. Netflix. S.S. Rajamoulis three-hour maximalist action epic RRR is one of Indias most expensive and top-grossing films of all time. It pairs two of Tollywoods biggest stars, N.T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan, as revolutionaries fighting against the British colonialists in 1920. The film, nominated for best song, topped Netflixs streaming charts over the summer and is still available to watch there. MUSCATINE Last week on January 20, Muscatine resident and former Durant, Iowa, resident Randall Randy G. Geurink, died at the age of 64 at Mission Regional Medical Center in Mission, Texas. Throughout Muscatine, Geurink was able to touch many people through the businesses that he either owned or helped reopen, becoming prevalent throughout various communities in Muscatine County. This first started when he began assisting on new home construction alongside Andy Sorenson. Shortly after graduating high school in 1976, Geurink and his father began operating Geurink & Son Feed Supply. Then, in 1983, Geurink was able to reopen both The Wagon Wheel in Durant and The Broken Spoke Lounge & Dance Hall in Wilton, Iowa. Later, Geurink began working for Muscatine Memorial Park Cemetery and the Wittich-Lewis Funeral Home. Later on, he and his wife, Polly, purchased and ran Iowa Memorial Granite for several years. Although the couple later sold the business to Peter Troost Monument Company in Hillside, Illinois, they still worked until Geurinks retirement in September 2022. He was a great guy who was always willing to help out, Mary Ancell, who worked with Geurink at Iowa Memorial Granite, said. He was very outgoing. When asked what made him a good business owner, Ancell said that it was his ability to care about others and always wanting to help. He met with a lot of families, and he wanted to help everybody. Outside of his business work, Geurink also provided his Durant community with plenty of enjoyable music through his involvement with the Polka Chips Band. He was also a lifetime member of the Sons of the American Legion, which he joined in honor of his father, and frequently helped with the annual Americal Legion fish fry event. Geurink also used his skills to help with various projects at St. Pauls Episcopal Church of Durant. A visitation for Geurink and his family will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. at Bentley Funeral Home in Durant. It is requested that memorials be given to the Durant American Legion or St. Pauls Episcopal Church. Online condolences can also be left at www.bentleyfuneralhome.com. WASHINGTON Democrats responded with aggrieved fury when former President Donald Trump was found in possession of classified documents that should have been turned over to the government when he left office. Then disclosures that President Joe Biden also mishandled secret papers set loose a Republican "well, what about roar. Now, with another discovery of classified documents, this time at the home of Trump's vice president, Mike Pence, the partisan finger-pointing seems to be melting into a chorus of mortification from Democrats and Republicans. The highest U.S. secrets, it now appears, are not necessarily safe with the highest officials. Not when they're in the hands of Trump, who disdains the rules and customs of government, and not in the hands of Biden and Pence, who subscribe to them. Obviously theres a systemic problem in the executive branch," said Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, when asked about Pence. "We're talking about two successive administrations from two different parties, with officials at the top level having, in their possession, documents in places that they dont belong. The Democratic chairman of that panel, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, had tart advice for all ex-presidents and future ones regardless of party: Go check your closets. The latest disclosure came from Pence lawyer Greg Jacob, who informed the National Archives the proper place for such material that classified documents were found in Pence's Indiana home last week. Jacob said an apparently small number of papers were inadvertently boxed and transported to the home at the end of the Trump administration and came to light when Pence, prompted by the discoveries in Biden's home and pre-presidential think-tank offices, asked lawyers to see if he had some, too. Special counsels are investigating the Trump and Biden episodes. In all three matters, the significance of the classified material and whether its mishandling breaches national security is not publicly known. But it is clear that some of the documents retrieved at Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida, were top secret. Trump, a Republican, took it as an affront that the government came searching his quarters for classified material he wasn't supposed to have, even though he fought efforts to reclaim them for months, and the government was forced to issue a subpoena to get them. Aides to Biden, a Democrat, say they cooperated quickly and fully when such material was found at a former office in Washington, though they waited for months to make public what had happened. In the Republican-controlled House, Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, a contender to lead the Intelligence Committee, said he will ask for the same intelligence review and damage assessment in the Pence case as he did in earlier discoveries. It is a serious matter for any government official to mishandle classified documents, Turner said. Heedless handling of secure information by top officials became a politically charged issue during the 2016 presidential race, when Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate, was investigated for her loose email practices as secretary of state. Then-FBI chief James Comey concluded she and aides were extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information, but not willfully so, and he recommended against criminal prosecution. The sprawling, ungainly U.S. government has plenty of people who can see at least some secrets and are supposed to keep them closely held. Some 1.25 million held top-secret clearance in 2019, according to a government report. Leaks of classified information to the media aren't uncommon. But lawmakers from both parties said something is broken in the classification system when a president, an ex-president and an ex-vice president are found with papers they are not entitled to have. I dont believe there were sinister motives with regards to the handling of classified information by President Biden, President Trump, or Vice President Pence, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina tweeted. We have a classified information problem which needs to be fixed. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a senior member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he and Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., have been working for years on an overhaul of the classification system, which he called a broken-down mess. The overall system is at the point where there is so much out there it is hard to determine what ought to be classified, and then it is hard to determine what should be declassified, Wyden said. Representatives of former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, as well as of Bush Vice President Dick Cheney, said there were no instances of classified documents being found outside the custody of the archives after their time in office. But at least several times a year, former officials from all levels of government discover they have classified material and turn it over to authorities, said a person familiar with the process who spoke on the condition of anonymity. On Capitol Hill, meantime, it was becoming clear that the Pence episode had reset the blame game. No one is above the law," Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida said. I dont know how anybody ends up with classified documents. ... I mean, every classified document Ive ever seen has a big Classified on it. Timeline: Key dates in discovery of classified records tied to Biden Jan. 20, 2017 Mid-2017-2019 Jan. 20, 2021 Nov. 2-4, 2022 Nov. 8, 2022 November-December 2022 Nov. 9, 2022 Nov. 14, 2022 Dec. 20, 2022 Dec. 20, 2022: Biden's personal counsel informs Lausch that a second batch of classified documents has been discovered in the garage at Biden's Wilmington home. The FBI goes to Biden's home in Wilmington and secures the documents. Jan. 5, 2023 Jan. 9, 2023 Jan. 10-11: 2023 Jan. 12-14, 2023 Jan. 19, 2023 Jan. 20-21, 2023 Feb. 1, 2023 In a bid to crack down on distracted driving, a California lawmaker has introduced a bill to ban young people from talking on the phone while behind the wheel even if they are using a hands-free device. Assembly Bill 276, by Assemblywoman Diane Dixon, R-Newport Beach, would prohibit drivers aged 18 to 20 from using a hands-free device to talk on the phone. Doing so would be a citable offense. California law already prohibits drivers younger than 18 from doing so. In an interview with The Sacramento Bee, Dixon said the law came about because she had noticed a lot of people on their mobile devices while driving and did some research. And what jumped out at me was the under-21 age group is thats where the accidents are happening, Dixon said. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,142 people were killed in distraction-related vehicle crashes in 2020, including 186 teens aged 15 to 19 6% of all distraction-related fatalities. That same survey found that 7% of all teen motor vehicle crash fatalities in 2020 involved distracted driving. I just want to elevate this issue and bring attention to it, Dixon said. Asked how police would enforce such a prohibition, Dixon said that it would be a secondary offense; police would have to stop someone for a primary offense first, before they could cite for this prohibition. Dixon said the amount of the citation is yet to be determined. The bill was introduced this week, but has not yet been assigned to a committee for a hearing. Its important to note that many escorts in Nashville also offer outcall services, meaning they will come to your location, whether its a hotel, private residence, or any other location. This is an excellent option for those who prefer the privacy and convenience of a home or hotel setting. Many escorts in Nashville also offer additional services such as massage, and some also provide BDSM and fetish services for clients interested in exploring their kinks and desires. Its important to discuss any specific requests or interests with the escort or agency beforehand, to ensure that they can accommodate your needs. When meeting with an escort, its essential to be prepared and have all necessary arrangements, such as payment and any essential identification. 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Brazil's president in China called for abandoning the dollar Artsakh's Ombudsman expresses dissatisfaction to OSCE chairman for attitude of international community Ararat Mirzoyan will go on a working visit to Uzbekistan Police and demonstrators clash on the 12th day of demonstrations in France Anahit Manasyan had a phone conversation with the Human Rights Ombudsman of Artsakh he 12th protest against pension reform takes place in France MFA: Shushi is Artsakhs integral part in territorial, cultural, economic, historical aspects An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 occurred in southeastern Turkey Charles Michel explains his activeness in Armenia-Azerbaijan relations normalization process Armenia PM to Bujar Osmani: This visit is good opportunity to get familiarized with complicated situation South Korea bans its citizens from traveling to Armenia-Azerbaijan border region Karabakh President convenes working consultation, security challenges discussed OSCE Chairman-in-Office: I am here to find out if there is possibility to build bridges between Yerevan and Baku Armenia PM chief of staff: Azerbaijanis are already in Yerevan, we have ensured their safety Chairman-in-Office: OSCE toolkit provides mechanisms to assist peace process between Armenians and Azerbaijanis Osmani: We are ready for any efforts to achieve positive dynamics between Azerbaijan and Armenia Armenia FM: Replacing army with guards on Azerbaijan border should be part of final settlement Armenia MFA: Rumors about OSCE Minsk Group activities termination are greatly exaggerated 168.am: Who is the Azerbaijani already rendered ineffective in Armenia? What does he say in video? Armenia village youth tell how they caught Azerbaijani Armenia Investigative Committee issues statement on murder of security guard, 56, in Syunik Province Azerbaijani who crossed border into Armenia is caught by locals, found in Achanan village territory 2nd Azerbaijan soldier found, detained in Armenia Armenian health minister: Wounded soldier in critical condition due to Azerbaijan provocation has stabilized Which Armenia company is put on US sanctions list? Premier: Armenia ready for reopening of transport links, delimitation of borders Pashinyan: We are ready to withdraw troops to safe distance along Armenia-Azerbaijan 1991 border Armenia to have trade attache in Germany Azerbaijan MFA accuses France foreign ministry of smear campaign and unfair position Armenia PM: It failed to deploy border guards without escalation of tension Newly elected Armenia ombudsperson announces her priority objective in this capacity Armenia deputy PM, US Deputy Secretary of Treasury acknowledge high level of cooperation between both countries Newspaper: Karabakh soldiers who showed necessary resistance to Azerbaijan military are rewarded Armenia FM, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office tete-a-tete kicks off (PHOTOS) Armenia deputy PM, USAID official discuss opportunities for deepening cooperation Mher Grigoryan, Todd Robinson exchange views on ongoing democratic reforms in Armenia Armenia FM to Derek Hogan: Provocation near Tegh village was another manifestation of Azerbaijan aggressive policy shamshyan.com: Murder in Armenias Syunik Province, 6 gunshot wounds found on body of security guard, 57 US State Department on Armenias Tegh village incident: Use of force to resolve disputes is unacceptable MFA: France deeply concerned about violence that took place near Tegh village of Armenia Legal entity from Armenia on list of those subject to US export restrictions Russia MOD: 4 ceasefire violations recorded in Karabakh 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 FILE - Visitors file past the Van Gogh painting "Une Liseuse De Romans", also known as "The Novel Reader", during the Van Gogh in America exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts, on Jan. 11, 2023, in Detroit. A federal appeals court on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, ordered a Detroit museum to hold onto the 1888 painting by Vincent van Gogh amid a Brazilian collector's dispute with the museum over the painting. (Andy Morrison/Detroit News via AP, File) (Andy Morrison/AP) A federal appeals court has ordered a Detroit museum to hold onto an 1888 painting by Vincent van Gogh amid a Brazilian collectors dispute with the museum over the painting. Wednesdays order from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati comes days after U.S. District Judge George Caram Steeh in Detroit dismissed a lawsuit filed by collector Gustavo Soters art brokerage company, The Detroit News reported. Advertisement The suit claims Soter bought the painting of a woman with a book, titled The Novel Reader, in 2017 for $3.7 million, but that a third party took possession of the artwork and it has been missing for nearly six years. The oil-on-canvas painting, which the suit says is worth more than $5 million, was part of the Detroit Institute of Arts recent Van Gogh in America exhibition. Advertisement Steeh said in his Jan. 20 ruling that the painting could not be seized because it was protected by a federal law granting immunity to foreign artwork on display in the United States. The appeals court judges ordered the museum to retain possession of the painting, saying that an appeal filed by Soters brokerage firm, Brokerarte Capital Partners, LLC, raises issues in its motion that deserve full pleading and reasoned consideration. Brokerarte lawyer Aaron Phelps declined to comment Thursday. Detroit Institute of Arts spokesperson Megan Hawthorne said in an email that the museum will fully comply with the order from the U.S. Court of Appeals regarding the custody of The Novel Reader and will be responding on January 30 to the plaintiffs recent pleading. She said the museum would have no additional comment prior to a ruling by the court. Attorneys for Soter filed their lawsuit in early January, seeking a court order directing the museum to surrender the painting. The monthslong van Gogh exhibition ended Sunday at the Detriot Institute of Arts. Dozens of paintings by the Dutch master are on loan to the museum. The museum hasnt publicly disclosed how it obtained the painting for the show, saying only that it came from Brazil. The painting was not listed as stolen by the FBI or the international Art Loss Register, the museum said. A criminal prosecution has been launched against the deputy commander of the rear of the Armenian military unit in the case of the tragic fire in the accommodation of the platoon of this military unit. On Wednesday, the prosecutor supervising the legality of the pre-trial criminal proceedings decided to initiate a public criminal prosecution against G.A., the deputy commander of the rear of the aforesaid military unit of the Republic of Armenia (RA) Ministry of Defense and the deputy in charge of the utility operation service, pursuant to Section 3 (military official negligence, which negligently caused the death of a person) of Article 550 of the RA Criminal Code. The Prosecutor General's Office informs Armenian News-NEWS.am that as a result of investigative and other operational actions taken during the preliminary investigation of the criminal proceedings being investigated in the 5th Garrison Investigation Department of the Military Investigative General Department of the Investigative Committee, sufficient facts were obtained that the head of the rear of the aforesaid military unit, the commander's deputy in charge of the rear and utility operation service, being the commander (chief) and an official, being responsible for the organization and condition of fire protection in the military unit did not fulfill his duties, including in the direction of providing the aforementioned platoon with appropriate means of fire protection; as a result, carelessly caused the death of people. During the preliminary investigation, it was found that on January 19, after midnight, an officer of the aforesaid platoon, being the person in charge of the boarding area, in violation of the established order, lit the stove of the accommodation of this platoon with gasoline, as a result of which a fire broke out in the accommodation. Due to the lack of respective fire protection measures, it was not only not possible for the servicemen in the accommodation to put out the fire, but also, in the absence of a backup exit, to break the iron bars attached to the windows of the accommodation and get out. As a result, this platoons 15 conscript soldiers, who were resting in the accommodation, died, and the officer and four other conscripts sustained physical injuries of varying degrees. The investigation is in progress. At around 1:30am on January 19, a fire broke out in the accommodation of the engineering-sapper platoon of the military unit located in the territory of Azat village of Armenias Gegharkunik Province. Fifteen servicemen have died as a result of this fire, and seven others were injured. Four of them were discharged from the Vardenis town hospital after receiving medical treatment, whereas three others with severe burns were transported to National Center of Burns and Dermatology in the capital Yerevan. Immediately after the incident, the commander of the 2nd Army Corps and seven other high-ranking military personnel were relieved of their positions. A few hours after the incident, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the Cabinet meeting of the government that an officer had poured gasoline in the stove of the aforesaid accommodation. After which, when the fire had gotten to him, he had thrownwith a self-protective instinctthe 5-liter can of gasoline in his hand towards the accommodation, and this had caused the fire. But later, the platoon commander told reporters that there was no gasoline in the accommodation, essentially refuting the PM. The Military Prosecutor also stated that it is not yet clear whether it was gasoline or diesel fuel. Criminal proceedings have been launched into this incident. About 6,000 students of preschool institutions of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), about 19 thousand students of public education schools, about 6,800 students of universities have been deprived of one of the most vital rights of the 21st century, the right to education, because for a month the kindergartens, schools, and universities of Nagorno-Karabakh are closed and do not work. This was announced by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at Thursdays Cabinet meeting of the government of Armenia. "The last time something like this happened was during the 44-day war [in 2020]. And in the situation when the cannons were not firing, the educational institutions were closed only because of the coronavirus pandemic. The reason why educational institutions are not working this time is Azerbaijan's environmental concerns. Not content with closing the Lachin corridor [that links Artsakh to Armenia], Azerbaijan also closes the [natural] gas pipeline feeding Nagorno-Karabakh, then opens it by 10 percent, then closes it again, then opens it by 25 percent, and so on. Azerbaijan also continuously uses the tool of [natural] gas pressure, which is clearly reprehensible. The next reason for not attending kindergarten is the lack of prescribed food for children. This, in turn, is connected with the closure of the Lachin corridor. The road of life for Nagorno-Karabakh, the Lachin corridor, which was defined by the tripartite declaration of November 9, [2020] and whose uninterrupted operation was given written guarantees by Azerbaijan and Russia, is closed for 46 days now. Normal life in Nagorno-Karabakh has been disrupted for 46 days now, the humanitarian crisis is unfolding at full speed," said Pashinyan. He added that there are scheduled power outages in Artsakh now because Azerbaijan has also disrupted the work of the lines providing power to Nagorno-Karabakh, and electricity is supplied to the population only at the expense of local electric power, which is not enough. "Essential goods are supplied to the population [of Artsakh] through the coupon system. With all this, the Azerbaijani authorities pursue one goal: to break the will of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians to live in their own homeland. Moreover, according to the information we have, Baku's plan is as follows: to bring the economic, psychological pressure in Nagorno-Karabakh to a certain culmination point, after that to [re]open the [Lachin] corridor for a few days, with the expectation that Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians will leave their homes en masse. Close the corridor again and then [re]open it for a few days, and so on until the last Armenian leaves Nagorno-Karabakh. This is, of course, an obvious policy of ethnic cleansing. If until now the international community treated with skepticism our warnings about the ethnic cleansing of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. Now we already see that this perception is slowly but steadily growing stronger among the international community. I believe that the video of the intimidationby Azerbaijani masked environmental activists on January 17of the children returning to Nagorno-Karabakh accompanied by peacekeepers, which was distributed by the Azerbaijanis themselves and which was widely spread around the world, also played a role in this regard," the Armenian PM added. Internationally renowned Canadian American choreographer Aszure Barton will be Hubbard Street Dance Chicagos next artist-in-residence. The appointment follows a long vacancy after resident choreographer Alejandro Cerrudos departure in 2018. Aszure is one of the most important choreographers of the 21st century, said Hubbard Street artistic director Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell. Ive always been a fan of her work. For her to find trust and stability with us is huge. Advertisement Bartons arrangement, set to begin in the fall, is dissimilar to Cerrudos time as resident choreographer, a title he held for 10 years. Cerrudo lived in Chicago full-time and, until 2015, was also a dancer in the company. He now leads Charlotte Ballet. Bartons tenure is likely to be more transient. Shell come to Chicago for two weeks here, four weeks there, ad libitum. Advertisement Bartons residency is also less focused on output. Hubbard Street may perform existing works from her catalog. There may be new works, too. A semi-firm plan includes three or four pieces in the span of three years, but the primary goal is to afford Barton luxurious time, space and some of the countrys best dancers to hone her craft. That stands in stark contrast to the typical commissioning structure in large dance companies, in which independent choreographers traverse the country churning out completed works in the span of three to six weeks. Specifics are intentionally loose. Fisher-Harrell compares the residency to The Tharp Project, an initiative in partnership with prolific choreographer Twyla Tharp from 1990-1995. The Tharp Project took place during Fisher-Harrells brief tenure as a dancer in Hubbard Street before she joined Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. During the five-year period, Tharp staged several existing works on Hubbard Street that became a cornerstone of their aesthetic in the 90s: Nine Sinatra Songs, Fugue and Fait Accompli among them. The project culminated in a new work titled I Remember Clifford. But this is even deeper and richer, said Fisher-Harrell. Theres the opportunity to set this space and time aside for Aszure to work with these brilliant artists and see what comes out. There was no question for me, Barton said in an interview with the Tribune. I have been asked in the past if I would consider being an artist-in-residence somewhere which is exciting and wonderful. However, there was this welcoming warmth (at Hubbard Street) and real support of who I am as a human being and how that feeds the work. Sometimes you just know who you can trust. Hubbard Street Dance Chicagos incoming choreographer-in-residence Aszure Barton, right, with artistic director Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell inside the dance companys Water Tower Place studio. (Lou Foglia/for the Chicago Tribune) Bartons history with Hubbard Street stems back 20 years. At the dawn of her career, she created I for Hubbard Street 2, and in 2010 made Untouched for the main company. Chicago has had only glimpses of her work since; Bartons pick-up company performed Awaa at the now-shuttered Chicago Dancing Festival in 2016. A year later, the Cuban company Malpaso (led by Osnel Delgado, who would later collaborate with Hubbard Street) performed her Indomitable Waltz as part of an evening at the Dance Center of Columbia College. Then theres Busk. First staged in 2009, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre performed an iteration of this work in Chicago days before the pandemic shutdown. We saw Busk again a year and a half later as part of Hubbard Streets return to the stage in 2021. Barton spent a few weeks with the company restaging the piece, which has remained in regular rotation ever since. Busk became a different piece when I was here, Barton said. When youre in a space that really carries you and believes in you its that simple sometimes. Advertisement The announcement is also a symbolic show of strength for Hubbard Street. Cerrudos 2018 departure was followed by a cascade of events (some a direct result of the pandemic, some not) that include the sale of their West Loop building and change of artistic directors. Fisher-Harrell came into that role in 2021. With a new home studio at Water Tower Place, staff at near-capacity, and now a three-year financial commitment to a single choreographer, Hubbard Streets once-shaky ground appears to have solidified. Through all the ups and downs theres been a commitment to being a world-class company, said executive director David McDermott. Thats where we put our resources. If you dont invest in the art, its not going to work. McDermott declined to say what the residency will cost Hubbard Street. He noted precedents set by investing in Tharp and Cerrudo as periods in Hubbard Streets history in which public buy-in and artistic excellence catalyzed financial stability for the company. Moving back into a relationship like this with a world-class choreographer is a total no-brainer, he said. In other dance news ... The Dance Center of Columbia College named Meredith Sutton as interim director of the Dance Presenting Series, following a period of relative dormancy for that venue. Suttons appointment follows the July 2022 departure of Ellen Chenoweth, who held the position for five years. Sutton previously was program manager of the Presenting Series, arriving in Chicago in 2022 after faculty appointments at the University of Southern Mississippi, Tulane University and the University of Virginia. The Dance Presenting Series is thus showing signs of life, with appearances by Staycee Pearl Dance Project in February, FLOCK in March and a revival of Jumaane Taylors inimitable Supreme Love in April. Advertisement Lauren Warnecke is a freelance critic. There is an impression that the investigation and the government are busy concealing everything about the incident. This was announced by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at Thursday's Cabinet meeting of the government of Armeniaand referring to the tragic fire in the accommodation of a military unit on January 19. "When you read the comments of some people, you get the impression that the fire did not start because of the use of the 5-liter can of gasoline that I described, or that we described, but I don't even know what happened, something else happened," he added. In response, Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan said: "We have no intention of concealing anything. Withholding the names of individuals is only intended to ensure the possibility of excluding the escape of those persons. Argishti Kyaramyan, Chairman of the Investigative Committee, also confirmed that the testimony of all the questioned witnesses attests to the fact that the theory put forward from the beginningthat is, the burning of the stove with gasolinewas substantiated. Pashinyan, in turn, added that a witness had said that gasoline for bulldozers was used. "But then the question arose that bulldozers actually use diesel fuel, what does gasoline have to do with it? Then it turned out that gasoline is necessary to turn on [the bulldozer]. According to the data of the case, it is substantiated that the fire in the stove was out, a soldier brought wood, filled [it]. The officer said: Light [it] with something that will catch fire. And the soldier said: There is ash in it, it will catch fire by itself. The officer tried to set fire to [the stove], then asked the drivers for diesel fuel, after which, for some reason, he decided that gasoline is more convenient. The witness saw the gasoline container on fire and the officer's clothes on fire; also, the area on fire. All that is substantiated at this moment," the Armenian PM said. Earlier, Armenian News-NEWS.am reported that at around 1:30am on January 19, a fire broke out in the accommodation of the engineering-sapper platoon of the military unit located in the territory of Azat village of Armenias Gegharkunik Province. Fifteen servicemen have died as a result of this fire, and seven others were injured. Four of them were discharged from the Vardenis town hospital after receiving medical treatment, whereas three others with severe burns were transported to National Center of Burns and Dermatology in the capital Yerevan. Immediately after the incident, the commander of the 2nd Army Corps and seven other high-ranking military personnel were relieved of their positions. A few hours after the incident, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the Cabinet meeting of the government that an officer had poured gasoline in the stove of the aforesaid accommodation. After which, when the fire had gotten to him, he had thrownwith a self-protective instinctthe 5-liter can of gasoline in his hand towards the accommodation, and this had caused the fire. But later, the platoon commander told reporters that there was no gasoline in the accommodation, essentially refuting the PM. The Military Prosecutor also stated that it is not yet clear whether it was gasoline or diesel fuel. Criminal proceedings have been launched into this incident. There is no danger to the lives of the three servicemen receiving treatment after suffering burns in the fire that broke out in the accommodation of a military unit on January 19. The minister of health of Armenia, Anahit Avanesyan, told reporters about this on Thursday. "Two days ago, we had an aggravation related to the health condition of one of the servicemen. But as a result of making changes in the treatment, everyone's condition is satisfactory at the moment; there is no danger [to their health]," she said. Earlier, Armenian News-NEWS.am reported that at around 1:30am on January 19, a fire broke out in the accommodation of the engineering-sapper platoon of the military unit located in the territory of Azat village of Armenias Gegharkunik Province. Fifteen servicemen have died as a result of this fire, and seven others were injured. Four of them were discharged from the Vardenis town hospital after receiving medical treatment, whereas three others with severe burns were transported to National Center of Burns and Dermatology in the capital Yerevan. Immediately after the incident, the commander of the 2nd Army Corps and seven other high-ranking military personnel were relieved of their positions. A few hours after the incident, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the Cabinet meeting of the government that an officer had poured gasoline in the stove of the aforesaid accommodation. After which, when the fire had gotten to him, he had thrownwith a self-protective instinctthe 5-liter can of gasoline in his hand towards the accommodation, and this had caused the fire. But later, the platoon commander told reporters that there was no gasoline in the accommodation, essentially refuting the PM. The Military Prosecutor also stated that it is not yet clear whether it was gasoline or diesel fuel. Criminal proceedings have been launched into this incident. A front window is boarded up at the Planned Parenthood Health Center at 2709 Knoxville Avenue in Peoria, Ill., on Jan. 16, 2023. (Matt Dayhoff) A man accused of firebombing a Planned Parenthood clinic in Peoria, Illinois, earlier this month told investigators that he had done so after recalling an abortion a former girlfriend once had against his wishes, adding that he hoped the fire would delay others in having abortions, according to federal authorities. The man, Tyler W. Massengill, 32, was arrested and charged this week with malicious use of fire and an explosive to damage, and attempt to damage, the Planned Parenthood building, the Justice Department said in a news release Wednesday. Advertisement Massengill initially denied the charges, but later admitted that he had set fire to the building, explaining that he had been upset after being reminded of a former girlfriend who, three years earlier, had informed Massengill by phone that she was having an abortion, authorities said. Massengill was away working in Alaska at the time, while his former girlfriend was in Peoria, he told investigators. If the attack caused a little delay in a person receiving services at the clinic, he told investigators, his actions may have been all worth it. Advertisement It is unclear from the charging documents what might have reminded Massengill of the former girlfriends abortion. The attack on the Peoria Health Center, on Jan. 15, came just days after sweeping abortion protections were signed into law in Illinois. The fire caused significant damage to the clinic, which has closed its doors to patients, potentially for several months or more, according to court documents. Earlier this month, fire officials estimated the damage at more than $150,000, while Planned Parenthood said it would most likely exceed $1 million. Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > According to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, surveillance footage from that evening shows a man arriving at the clinic around 11:20 p.m., wearing a coat with a hood pulled up, and holding a laundry-detergent-sized bottle. The man lit a rag stuffed into the end of the bottle on fire, smashed one of the clinics windows open, and put the bottle inside, documents say. Investigators said the truck that appeared in surveillance footage a 1996 white Dodge Dakota with red doors matched the description given by a bystander. On Monday, investigators said, they received a tip from a woman claiming that Massengill had left his pickup truck at her home in Sparland, Illinois, about 26 miles north of the clinic, and requested that she paint the red doors white for $300. The FBI seized Massengills truck that day. On Tuesday, Massengill turned himself in to the Peoria Police Department. According to court records, Massengill was sentenced in 2008 to three years in a prison in Tazewell County, Illinois, for burglary. In March, he also pleaded guilty in a court in Peoria County, Illinois, to a charge of aggravated assault. It was not immediately clear Tuesday if Massengill had a lawyer, and efforts to reach his family members were unsuccessful. If convicted on the charge of malicious use of fire, Massengill would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, and could receive up to 40 years, according to the Justice Department. The charges also carry up to three years of supervised release and a possible fine of up to $250,000. Advertisement c.2023 The New York Times Company Armen Gevorgyan, a member of the Armenian National Assembly delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the key rapporteur on PACE Local and Regional Authorities, delivered an address during the debate of the topic, entitle The Reykjavik Summit of the Council of Europe: United around values in the face of extraordinary challenges. Today many nations are facing an uneasy choicebetween democracy and security. In such an environment one may observe lack of any expectation from the Council of Europe among our citizens. I am wondering why we have ended up here and invite you to reflect together. Part of the reason, in my assessment, is that the Council of Europe, designed to be a bastion of truly democratic values and freedoms, has become to tolerate a certain transformation of some of its Members into hybrid, oppressive regimes. In such states we are monitoring political persecution and so-called lawful political competition through elections, while democratic governance has been turned into a mere dictatorship of the majority. The Council of Europe is gradually turning itself into a platform for authoritarian regimes to legitimize their existence. By the way, a simple list of these states can be easily found in Democracy Index by Economist. We should break up with this chain of unworthy compromises and double standards. To do this we should exclude any deviation from the established rules, forget about shameful political expediency. Membership in the community of free and democratic states requires following its rules, and this has to be the conscious choice of every member. We should not ask anyone to stay, neither we should ask anyone to join. At the same time, the 43rd Congress of local and regional authorities and the 10th World Forum for Democracy have shown that the local democracy continues to serve as the foundation for democratic governance. Through that democracy the people fully appreciate and acknowledge the value and usefulness of their participation in the social and political life. This is crucial to be maintained for the future of democracy and democratic governance. That is why the topic of development and empowerment of local democracy must become one of the main priorities for the 4th Council of Europe Summit. In conclusion, let me express a genuine hope that after the Fourth Summit our organisation may regain its purpose and will be looked up to. A cooperation with a stronger, principled, and resolute partner, firm on its principles, is always more productive specifically when red lines of human rights, democracy and rule of law are more vivid and same for all, Gevorgyan noted in particular. Chicago police Superintendent David Brown looks at signs for fallen officers on Jan. 25, 2023, during a ribbon-cutting event for the new Public Safety Training Center on the West Side. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Mayor Lori Lightfoot and top officials with the Chicago Police Department and Chicago Fire Department gathered with dozens of people Wednesday morning for a ribbon-cutting event at the new $170 million joint-training facility in West Garfield Park, which has been criticized by activists since its inception. This has been a very important day for this community, Lightfoot said. Its a very important day for police and fire, but its a really important day for our city. Advertisement The Chicago Joint Public Safety Training Campus, 4433 W. Chicago Ave., is on the 30.4-acre site of a former railroad yard. The facility will be used by members of CPD, CFD and the Office of Emergency Management and Communications. The modern training campus will include community spaces, computer labs, classrooms, scenario training and an indoor shooting range, according to the Public Building Commission. The campus will also include a six-story tower with each story simulating a different environment that firefighters encounter such as apartments, hotels and office buildings as well as an elevator shaft, Lightfoot said. Advertisement There is also an indoor scenario village that includes a four-way intersection, a bar, apartment building, convenience store and office space, Lightfoot said. The facilitys lighting can be controlled to simulate different times of day and special-effect devices including a smoke machine and speakers to simulate different conditions. Police Superintendent David Brown highlighted that the department trained just under 1,000 recruits last year, which was the most the department has hired since the 2017-2018 time frame. Of those, 70% were people of color and 30% were women. All of the Police Departments members will come through the facility, including new and veteran officers who have to complete 40 hours of training on an annual basis, as required by the federal consent decree the department is now under, Brown said. A $170 million facility shows that this city supports its police officers. Spread the word, Brown said. This training facility will hopefully put COPA (the Civilian Office of Police Accountability) out of business. The facility was dedicated to MaShawn Plummer, a firefighter who died in 2022 while on duty, and police Cmdr. Paul Bauer, who was fatally shot in 2018 while trying to apprehend a suspect. The scenario village will also include several mock street signs in dedication to fallen members such as French St. for Officer Ella French who was fatally shot during a traffic stop in 2021. The project was not only the right thing to do for first responders, Lightfoot said, but it was also the right thing to do for the West Side community that has been resource-starved for so long. Advertisement Im confident this facility will strengthen our relationships with the Austin and West Humboldt Park communities, fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt said. Sharing the location with the Boys and Girls Club is truly a blessing, Nance-Holt said. The children going to club activities will have a chance to see first responders who can relate to them and hopefully spark a dream to one day serve this great city as a firefighter, paramedic or a police officer. Despite the officials excitement over the facility, which was introduced under Mayor Rahm Emanuel in 2017, many activists and notable figures, including Chance the Rapper, fought against the project. Those who opposed it wanted to see the funds allocated toward other city resources such as schools, mental health centers and job-training programs. A group of Chicago youth, members of #NoCopAcademy, held protests and attended City Council meetings to advocate against the facility. They staged a die-in in the City Hall lobby in 2018 with cardboard tombstones of the names of people killed in police shootings and names of schools and other institutions that were shut down by the city due to lack of funds. Destiny Harris, 22, an organizer with #NoCopAcademy who grew up in the Austin neighborhood, said she got involved because her old high school, Whitney M. Young, is a neighbor of the police academy on Jackson Boulevard. She remembers students could hear mock drills and gunshots without warning, and it was traumatizing, especially for students who came from neighborhoods with high levels of gun violence. Advertisement Harris said she learned the new facility was to open up next to her parents alma mater, Orr Academy High School, at 730 N. Pulaski Road, which raised concerns for her. Her group worked to push back on the narrative that more police mean a safer community, Harris said. Many people in Black and brown communities do not feel safe with more officers present. Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > If police make communities safer, then Chicago would be one of the safest places in the nation, but its not, she said. Police are a reactionary force that doesnt address the root causes of the violence. ... If we want to make communities safer, then we need to address all of the things that make communities unsafe, like, drugs and drug prevention, like the fact that like when people dont have anywhere to stay ... theyre more likely to steal or rob. Harris said she felt like it was a slap in the face that the city used the killing of Laquan McDonald as justification for building a new police academy. It also felt unfair that the Board of Education voted to close nearly 50 schools in 2013, including her grade school, Key Elementary, due to a budget deficit yet had millions to spend on the construction of a police academy. Despite the facility opening, Harris said she is proud of the work of #NoCopAcademy, and that it inspired more movements in Chicago and even nationally, such as protests currently happening in Atlanta around a proposed police training facility. Advertisement We really did shift the narrative for a lot of people around what community safety looks like, she said. Even though this is happening, its a testament to the fact that the movement is never over. That theres always still work to be done. pfry@chicagotribune.com Twitter @paigexfry Joe Biden's administration has requested Israel to transfer old American Hawk anti-aircraft missiles in its custody to Ukraine, Axios reported, citing Israeli and U.S. officials. So far, Israel has rejected most U.S. and Ukrainian requests to provide Ukraine with advanced and defensive weapons because of fears that such a move could create tensions with Russia and harm Israel's security interests in Syria. Russia has enormous influence in Syria, but allows Israel to operate freely there against Iranian activities. Israel acquired the Hawk system from the United States in the 1960s to defend against Egyptian and Syrian airstrikes. At the time, the Raytheon-developed anti-aircraft system was considered advanced technology. But in recent years, Israel has favored other systems, including the U.S. Patriot battery and its own Iron Dome and Arrow defense systems. Ten years ago, the Israeli military withdrew the Hawk system from service. A senior Israeli official told Axios that about 10 Hawk batteries and hundreds of interceptors remain in storage in Israel. Senior Israeli and U.S. officials said the Pentagon contacted the Israeli Defense Ministry two weeks ago and requested the Hawk systems in storage for transfer to Ukraine. A U.S. official said similar requests had been sent to several other countries where the system was in service or in storage. A senior Israeli official said that the Israeli Defense Ministry spokesperson had told his U.S. counterparts that Israel's policy not to transfer the weapon systems to Ukraine had not changed. According to the Israeli official, the defense official said the Israeli Hawk systems were "outdated" and could not function because they had been in storage for so long without maintenance. But Israeli officials say the answer was inaccurate. They stressed that while the launchers may be completely malfunctioning, the hundreds of Hawk interceptors that are in Israel can be repaired and used. The Israeli Defense Ministry confirmed to Axios that "the position of the Israeli security establishment [on providing military assistance to Ukraine] has not changed. Each request is considered on a case-by-case basis." Earlier this month, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin gave a speech at the AIPAC leadership conference in Washington in which he hinted at the U.S. request for Hawk missiles from Israel. But his remarks went almost unnoticed. In his remarks, Austin mentioned how Hawk systems helped Israel defend itself in the 1967 Six-Day War and the 1973 Doomsday War, also known as the October War. Now Hawk are no longer state-of-the-art technology. But they can still help a beleaguered democracy defend itself, Austin said. He added that the U.S. is working with its allies and partners to provide Hawk capabilities to Ukraine. The appearance in the border regions of Armenia of representatives of the European Union, which turned into an appendage of the US and NATO and pursues a confrontational policy in the CIS space, can only bring geopolitical confrontation and exacerbate existing contradictions, says a statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry. "On January 23rd the Council of the EU decided to establish a new EU civilian mission in Armenia for two years. The specific parameters of the EU presence will be determined in the near future. However it is already obvious that it will be more extensive than the EU monitoring mechanism that was functioning in Armenia from October till December of the last year. Russia's principled position regarding the consolidation of an extra-regional factor in the Trans-Caucasus has not changed. We do not see any "added value" from the EU "experts" watching the events near the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. If Brussels were sincerely interested in peace in Transcaucasia, it would agree with Azerbaijan on the terms of their mission. The appearance of the EU representatives in the border regions of Armenia, which turned into an appendage of the US and NATO and pursues confrontational policy in the CIS space, can only bring geopolitical confrontation to the region and exacerbate the existing contradictions. The declared civilian nature of the EU mission should not be misleading either - it is formed within the framework of the EU Common Security and Defense Policy with all the ensuing consequences. The EU's attempts to gain a foothold in Armenia at any cost and to squeeze Russia's mediation efforts can harm the fundamental interests of Armenians and Azerbaijanis in their aspirations for a return to peaceful development in the region. We are convinced that the Russian peacekeeping contingent deployed on the basis of the statement of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on November 9, 2020, as well as the Russian border guards on the Armenian borders will remain the key factor of stability and security in the region for the foreseeable future. They will respond to the behavior of the EU observers, taking into account the development of the situation "on the ground. We note that Yerevan, having failed to bring the CSTO mission to its logical conclusion, preferred to opt for the EU. If the Armenian allies remain interested in involving the potential of the CSTO, its mission can be promptly deployed to Armenia. As before, we believe that the most stable and long-term basis for the Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization and the overall improvement of the situation in the region is the strict and consistent implementation of the trilateral agreements of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia of November 9, 2020, January 11, 2021 and October 31, 2022, including the unblocking of all transport and economic links, delimitation and demarcation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, agreeing on the parameters of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, development of the three-party Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, and the signing of the agreement. The Russian Federation is ready to support this in every way," the statement says. The delegation led by the RA NA President Alen Simonyan is on a working visit in the State of Qatar. The Head of Armenia-Qatar Friendship Group Vahagn Aleksanyan, the members of the Group Hasmik Hakobyan, Taguhi Tovmasyan and Trdat Sargsyan met with the Head of the Qatari-Asian Friendship Group of Parliament of Qatar within the framework of the visit, NEWS.am was informed in the press service of the parliament. Vahagn Aleksanyan underlined that Armenia greatly highlights the development of friendly relations with Qatar anchored on the mutual respect and mutual understanding. In the context of the development of the inter-parliamentary relations, the key importance of the Parliamentary Friendship Groups and mutual visits was stressed. It was noted that Qatar-Armenia Friendship Group was created in Parliament of Qatar. A preliminary agreement was reached over the start of the preparatory work of the Memorandum of Cooperation to be signed between two Friendship Groups. Vahagn Aleksanyan assured that due to joint efforts the Armenian-Qatari inter-parliamentary relations will turn into a new phase. Noting that the opening of the RA Embassy in Qatar was an important bridge in the development and strengthening of bilateral relations, the Head of the Friendship Group highlighted the creation of the Embassy of Qatar in Yerevan. A reference was made to the problems of regional stability and peace. It was noted that after the 44-day war Azerbaijan continues the aggressive policy, violates the territorial integrity of Armenia, keeps the Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh in blockade already for a month and a half. The process of the settlement of the relations between Armenia and Turkey was also presented. The members of the delegation expressed hope that Qatar as a country of partner relations with Turkey, will support Armenia in establishing relations without preconditions with Turkey. The colleagues of Qatar raised the issue of religious intolerance. The sides also discussed issues regarding the economic relations, the implementation of infrastructural joint programmes and cooperation in a number of other spheres. The Armenian delegates gladly invited their colleagues of Qatar to Yerevan. Having secured the transfer of Western Leopard and Abrams tanks, Kyiv now wants jet fighters. According to Politico, conversations with more than half a dozen Western military officials and diplomats confirm that internal debates about supplying Ukraine with jet fighters are already underway at the initiative of Ukrainian officials with the support of hawkish Baltic states. The next natural step would be fighters, a diplomat from a northern European country said. The debate is likely to prove even more complicated than the tank supply scandal. In Europe, several officials and diplomats said their governments no longer consider the idea a failure, but fears of escalation remain high. Washington has told Kyiv that supplying aircraft is a no-go, for the moment, the diplomat quoted above said, but added: Theres a red line there but last summer we had a red line on the HIMARS [multiple rocket launchers], and that moved. Then it was battle tanks, and thats moving. A second high-ranking European official also emphasized the speed at which Western arms deliveries are increasing. Fighters are completely unconceivable today, they said, but we might have this discussion in two, three weeks. Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Wopke Hoekstra told the Dutch parliament last week that his Cabinet would look at supplying F-16 fighter jets, if Kyiv requests them. We are open-minded, there are no taboos, he said. Other senior politicians are far less fanatical. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday ruled out fighter jet deliveries, citing the need to prevent further military escalation. There will be no fighter jet deliveries to Ukraine, he said. This was made clear very early, including from [the] U.S. president. Some officials believe the discussion at Ramstein next month will focus more on developing a contingency plan in case jet fighters are urgently needed at some point in the future, rather than making a deal on deliveries in the near future. Ukraine's European allies foresee a conflict that could last another three to five years or longer, and there are fears that the West is close to the limit of what can be provided without causing a sharp reaction from Moscow. Early last year, Western allies agreed on an "unwritten policy" not to supply Ukraine with a full weapons package immediately after the invasion because of fears of the "response from Russia," said a third senior diplomat from another European government. . The thinking was that the West should provide support gradually, assessing Russia's reaction at every step. Many countries in the West think that if we were to supply Ukraine with all the hardware they asked us [for] in the first phase of the war, there would be a strong Russian reaction, including nuclear. You may call this a process of getting [Putin] accustomed, the diplomat said. The strategy has been a slow but steadily increasing trend of Western support, from Javelins anti-tank and man-portable air defense systems such as Stingers to HIMARS and, more recently, Patriot surface-to-air missiles, tanks and armored vehicles. Thus, the delivery of aircraft is "only a matter of when," the same diplomat predicted. The residential high-rise in Kenwood where an extra alarm fire occurred Wednesday morning, killing one person, has a history of code violations and building inspection failures, city records show. Its been cited for fire-related code violations at least 11 times since October 2021, according to Department of Buildings records. The Chicago Fire Department said it took 300 firefighters and over 80 pieces of equipment to put out the blaze at 4850 S. Lake Park Ave. after they had responded to reports of smoke in the high-rise shortly after 10 a.m. Flames engulfed a unit on the 15th floor of the building and spread vertically to upper floors, officials said. Advertisement [ Residents dealing with aftermath of Kenwood high-rise fire in building cited for multiple fire-related code violations ] One person died, and six other people were transported to hospitals in good condition, according to officials. Another person was taken to a hospital in serious-to-critical condition and a firefighter suffered an orthopedic injury, according to fire officials and Ald. Sophia King, in whose 4th Ward the building is located. Over 30 building residents refused treatment. A Chicago firefighter brings equipment to a building in the 4800 block of South Lake Park Avenue in Chicago that was damaged in a fire on Jan. 25, 2023. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) They did an outstanding job because that fire did not go horizontally, Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon. They did everything they could to put that fire out and they were here for a long time doing it. Advertisement According to Department of Building records, the 25-story building, which was built in 1970, was informed at least four times in 2022 to provide for an annual fire alarm/voice communication system test, after failing building inspections. Other citations referred to missing fire tags on doors and a defective fire pump. Robert Khan, the buildings attorney, said Friday he had never received any notice of code violations besides one received after the fire. It is our position that there are absolutely no code violations for this building regarding fire issues. And if this city had an issue or the fire department had an issue, they should have cited us as opposed to putting it on a website that we cant do anything about, Khan said when asked about apparent code violations listed on a city data portal. Fire department spokesperson Larry Langford said Friday the department had noted violations because the building did not submit documentation showing the fire alarm and communications system had been tested and because the fire pump was slightly below threshold pressure. The department mails violations to building managers, and documentation of the alarm test must be submitted annually, he said. [ The Failures Before the Fires: Read the Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation ] Still, Langford said Thursday, both of those systems, the communications system and the fire pump, worked well. Firefighters used the buildings communication system to alert residents to the fire. Most residents were able to remain in their units safely until the fire was put out, King said. Only 267 of the buildings 298 units were occupied at the time of the fire, Nance-Holt said. In 2022, city records show that the high-rise failed multiple inspections, including one conducted by the Fire Prevention Bureau on Dec. 1, 2022, when the building was cited for issues in its fire system. Advertisement Violations from Nov. 7, 2022 which included violations for missing interior trash door tags, for the exterior masonry and for failing to file the required high-rise exterior wall report were referred to the Department of Law, which filed an enforcement action in the Circuit Court of Cook County. The case is scheduled to be heard Feb. 2. On Oct. 27, 2021, the inspection required the building to repair and maintain the automatic sprinkler system. The Department of Buildings (DOB) takes public safety and quality of life issues very seriously, according to an emailed statement by a DOB spokesman. Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of the resident who passed away, the residents and firefighter that sustained injuries, and all those impacted by todays tragic fire at 4850 S. Lake Park Avenue. At 1 p.m. Wednesday, countless emergency vehicles lined up on South Lake Park Avenue and alarms faintly blared from the building as smoke continued to billow. Approximately 10 floors were visibly affected, and debris occasionally fell. Firefighters could be seen from below working the scene. King hugged Jauntanne Mayes as she cried after finding out the person who died in Wednesdays high-rise fire in the Kenwood neighborhood was her close family friend, a retired schoolteacher who Mayes remembered as sweet, fun-loving and very generous. Mayes said she learned of the fire from the Citizen app and went to the building to check on her family friend because she couldnt get down the stairs by herself. But she wasnt allowed to go in, so she left, only to learn from the news that an elderly woman had died from smoke inhalation on the 15th floor. At that point, shed been trying to call her family friend to no avail. Advertisement Members of the Salvation Army deliver food at the scene where an extra-alarm fire in a high-rise building left one person dead and several people injured on the 4800 block of South Lake Park Avenue in the Kenwood neighborhood on Jan. 25, 2023, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > She will be missed by a lot of people, anybody that knew her, Mayes said. Shed tell you like it is, but it was all done in love. On Wednesday afternoon, displaced residents which included residents from the east side of the building were on the second floor with the Red Cross, which was working with them to find a temporary place, King told the Tribune. The Salvation Army provided residents with hot chicken biscuit sandwich meals, as well as emotional and spiritual support. Nance-Holt said at the news conference that fire officials didnt know whether smoke detectors went off. The smoke detectors in the units are battery-operated, whereas the ones in the hallways are hardwired, she said. Langford told the Tribune the person from the building who called 911 did not get alerted by a fire alarm, but by the smoke. Nance-Holt was unable to confirm whether the sprinkler system was activated. Fire officials continue to investigate the cause of the fire. DOB inspectors were on the scene Wednesday and will work with the Fire Department in its investigation and assessment of the damage. Chicago Tribunes Richard Requena, Jake Sheridan and Deanese Williams-Harris contributed. Advertisement adperez@chicagotribune.com Turkey's largest group of opposition leaders is seeking to iron out differences and nominate a presidential candidate for the upcoming May elections, Bloomberg reported. According to polls, less than half of the country's voters are expected to vote for the AKP and Erdogan's nationalist ally, but those opposed to the status quo are split largely between a bloc of six opposition parties and the pro-Kurdish party. Bridging the gaps will be key to an effective challenge, sources said, and the bloc will meet on Thursday to coordinate strategy. Erdogan's opponents are seeking to stop what they see as a slide toward authoritarian one-man rule. The president has turned a once ceremonial office into a nexus of executive power, but the worst cost-of-living crisis in two decades is dominating the run-up to the election. This has disproportionately hit the poor, usually Erdogan's staunchest supporters. The president has indicated that he will postpone the election by more than one month, to May 14, which will reinforce the need for opponents to agree on a unified strategy and name a presidential candidate. The opposition may be more united than in any election in the past 20 years, but its failure to nominate a presidential candidate against Erdogan seems to be playing against it, giving the impression of indecision and weakness, said Tim Ashe, an emerging markets strategist at BlueBay Asset Management. A lot can still depend on the opposition and their ability to convince voters that they are a credible force and can potentially be trusted, he said. While the opposition bloc has promised to run the country by consensus if it wins the election, Erdogan has dismissed the idea as a return to political and economic instability. Instead, the president is campaigning for the need for continuity in turbulent times. Opposition leaders have generally agreed on power-sharing and will discuss the nomination of a presidential candidate in early February, sources familiar with the matter said. Kemal Klcdaroglu, leader of the alliance's largest party, has nominated himself. Another strategy could be to field multiple candidates to increase Erdogan's chances of losing his majority, triggering a second round that could be easier to win, they added. A major pro-Kurdish party that is not part of the opposition alliance decided to field its candidate in the first round and could be a deciding factor in the second round two weeks later. Sources said the opposition alliance has reached a tentative agreement to share the president's duties if he wins. According to them, some party leaders could be deputy presidents and others could be members of the presidential advisory council. Each party could get at least one cabinet post, and the remaining ministerial seats would be distributed according to their share of the national vote. Meanwhile, the alliance is working to secure parliamentary representation for the four smaller partners, they say. If successful, the opposition could potentially deprive the AKP and its nationalist ally the HDP of a parliamentary majority. Military soldiers were already dead at moment, Ani Tadevosyan, the mother of Volodya Nersisyan who died in the fire, told Armenian News-NEWS.am. She is certain that what happened was a result of its intentions. "They drugged the children with poison gas or some other way and did their evil deed. Volodya came for five days' vacation on December 17. Something was bothering him. Something illegal was going on," said Tadevosyan. Carlos Nersisyan, the brother of the deceased serviceman, saw the bodies in the morgue and realized that all the servicemen were already lying dead at the time of the fire. "Whether the guys were unconscious before lying down, or whether they had inhaled poisonous gas, or whether they had been sedated with strong sleeping pills, only forensic experts can tell," said Carlos Nersisyan, who spoke to Volodya for a few minutes the night of the fire, around 12:15. "At the time, several people were sitting at the stove, drinking coffee and not going to sleep. I deny the official version because the captain wasn't there when I spoke on the phone. It's unreasonable to think they wanted to heat the stove with gasoline. I don't rule out that there was gasoline in there, but to set the house on fire. Poison gas, sleeping pills, murder, sabotage - anything is possible. The guys died in their sleep. One had his legs crossed, another had his hand on his forehead, another under his head. No one died in agony; they were wearing clothes and shoes. It is also unclear why the door was closed. If there is any question of negligence, it comes primarily from the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense, they should have resigned first," said the brother of the deceased serviceman. Volodya's mother expressed bewilderment at the fact that the government did not declare a day of mourning. On January 19 at about 01:30 a.m. a fire broke out in the hideout of engineer-sapper company of the Nth military unit of Armenian Defense Ministry located in the territory of Azat village of Gegharkunik province. According to preliminary information, 15 servicemen died as a result of the fire. A criminal case has been initiated. The Illinois attorney generals office on Thursday filed its initial argument in an appeal of a judges ruling that a state law eliminating cash bail violates the Illinois Constitution, pushing back on assertions that the measure infringes on judicial power and other arguments made in a lawsuit filed by county prosecutors. The brief marks the first step in determining whether the state can move forward with a plan to abolish the use of cash bail after a Kankakee County judge in late December ruled the measure violated the state constitution. Judge Thomas Cunningtons decision came just days before pretrial provisions, including the elimination of cash bail, in sweeping criminal justice legislation known as the SAFE-T Act were to take effect on New Years Day. Advertisement Cunningtons ruling led to statewide confusion, with some county officials, mostly downstate, vowing to adhere to the cash bail system while Cook County officials said Cunningtons ruling was not binding, allowing them to proceed with the reforms. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul speaks after Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed HB 3653, a sweeping criminal justice and police reform bill on Feb. 22, 2021, at Chicago State University. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) The Illinois Supreme Court stepped in hours before the measures would take effect, halting implementation until the high court rules on the matter to maintain consistent pretrial procedures throughout Illinois. Advertisement In its appeal, Attorney General Kwame Raouls office argued that nothing in the state constitution prevents a defendant from being released before trial without paying money as a form of bail. The General Assembly has determined that conditioning pretrial release on payment does not accomplish the purpose of bail and so has removed it as an option, while preserving other means of ensuring a defendants appearance at trial, the AGs office wrote. Nothing in the bail clause (of the state constitution) prohibits the General Assembly from making that decision. Portions of Cunningtons ruling were flawed for multiple reasons, the AGs office argued, writing that the legislature did not exceed its authority when setting guidelines for pretrial release. The legislature has for decades played a substantial role in determining how courts exercise that authority, including by withdrawing judicial discretion to impose certain sentences for certain crimes, the brief argued. And although courts possess inherent power to detain defendants pending trial, this Court has never held that the General Assembly unduly infringes upon that power by setting terms and conditions under which it can be exercised, the brief said. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit have until Feb. 17 to file a response. Oral arguments in the case may be heard in March, according to a briefing schedule. Lawsuits were filed by dozens of Illinois states attorneys who opposed the pretrial reform measures in the SAFE-T Act, which became political flashpoints in the 2022 elections. The lawsuits, consolidated in Kankakee County, argued that the elimination of cash bail violates the separation of powers clause of the constitution by allowing the General Assembly to take away the judiciarys ability to set bail. Cunningtons ruling mostly sided with the plaintiffs, finding that the measure interferes with the duties of the judiciary. Advertisement The measure to eliminate cash bail was part of the SAFE-T Acts broader criminal justice reforms, which proponents say will address long-standing inequities in the states justice system. The provision on bail removes money as a factor when judges make decisions about whether a person charged with, but not yet convicted of, a crime should be released while awaiting trial. Judges would still be able to detain people deemed a danger to the public or a flight risk under guidelines set forth by the provision. Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > The law also outlines a new pretrial system in which defendants will appear for two hearings: an initial hearing, also known as a conditions hearing, and a detention hearing for those who prosecutors seek to detain a defendant, designed to provide a more comprehensive look at whether someone should be released or jailed pretrial. In addition to arguing theres no requirement for monetary bail, Raouls office pushed back on arguments from the plaintiffs that the pretrial provisions violate the rights of victims. The office said the SAFE-T Acts pretrial provisions protect victims rights by having judges weigh the nature and seriousness of the real and present threat to the safety of any person or persons that would be posed by the defendants release. The appeal also challenged Cunningtons assertion that the plaintiffs have the grounds to sue because the no-cash bail policy affects their rights. Instead, Roauls office argued, the clause applies to defendants who are arrested and face pretrial detention. Plaintiffs, by contrast, would have the Court read the bail clause to confer some sort of entitlement on courts or law enforcement officers, under which such actors are constitutionally entitled to set or seek monetary bail, the appeal stated. The text and structure of the bail clause demonstrate that it confers rights on criminal defendants, not on law enforcement officers or on courts. Advertisement Jeremy Gorner reported from Springfield. mabuckley@chicagotribune.com jgorner@chicagotribune.com The Emory Dance Program presents a first look at ARARAT, the beginning at the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts with performances from Jan. 26 28. The weekend also will include community workshops and post-show discussions related to the production. Choreographed by Emory dance professor George Staib, ARARAT, the beginning examines the stories, facts, implications and subsequent diaspora that followed the Armenian Genocide. The production speaks to a collective understanding that place is an ethereal notion and one that is stronger than land ownership, stronger even than political control. As such, ARARAT, the beginning is likewise a celebration of the countenance and resilience of the human spirit. ARARAT, the beginning will be performed by the Atlanta-based contemporary dance company staibdance. Collaborators Gregory Catellier, Ben Coleman, Milton Cordero, Amelia Hayes and Rosalind Staib join the production. In addition to the program performances, staibdance and ArtsATL have partnered to provide opportunities for the community to engage in curated and facilitated conversations and workshops surrounding contemporary dance and art. Performances Thursday, Jan. 26, Friday, Jan. 27, and Saturday, Jan. 28, at 7:30 p.m. Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, Dance Studio Cost: $25 ($10 for Emory students) Purchase tickets: Thursday performance; Friday performance; Saturday performance Post-show Discussions Friday, Jan. 27, and Saturday, Jan. 28 In partnership with ArtsATL, senior editor Gillian Renault and staibdance artistic director George Staib will host a post-show discussion immediately following the performances. Build the Engine Saturday, Jan. 28, at 10 a.m. Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, Dance Studio Cost: $10 All bodies are welcome to join this movement-based workshop. Register here. Embrace aspects of the creative process that brought ARARAT, the beginning to life. Move, create and encounter some of the choreographic material that anchors our work. Led by staibdance artistic director George Staib alongside company teaching artists. Move Your Story Saturday, Jan. 28, at 3 p.m. Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, Dance Studio Cost: $10 All bodies are welcome to join this movement-based workshop. Register here. Encounter the potency of finding self in the creative work of others. Through prompts that respond to the notion of beginning again, participants will take a deep dive into the creative process by developing abstract scenarios with movement and text. Led by staibdance artistic director George Staib alongside company teaching artists. ARARAT, the beginning is made possible through funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Latham Foundation, New Music USAs New Music Organizational Development Fund, the Emory University Research Committee and the Emory College Center for Creativity & Arts. The police in Pakistans Sindh, currently engaged in an armed operation against dacoits hiding in the riverine areas of the province, have summoned 10 snipers who had been trained by American snipers, as they look to step up the efforts to purge the dacoits and recover the captives, media reports said. SSP Tanvir told the media that dacoits used to honey-trap victims and lure them to the riverine areas before abducting them, Samaa TV reported. "It is a war of resources," Tanvir said, adding, "The dacoits are armed with modern and foreign weapons." He added that to even the scales, they have sought help from America trained snipers, Samaa TV reported. They will join the police operation, which has already seen the deployment of armored personnel carriers and other heavy weapons. The police official added that so far, they have managed to recover 20 captives. They believe nine more people are being held by the dacoits. The dacoits are active in the riverine area between Guddu to Sukkur Barrage. It is pertinent to note that last year in November, a deputy superintendent of police, two station house officers (SHOs), and two constables were killed while three others were injured due to an attack by at least 150 dacoits on a police camp in the riverine area of Ghotki district, Samaa TV reported. The riverine area where the incident took place was known as Raunti, where the police had set up a camp after entering the area to recover three hostages who were kidnapped on October 30. --IANS san/arm ( 270 Words) 2023-01-25-22:38:05 (IANS) Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday took a jibe at the country's Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Sikandar Sultan Raja, following the arrest of senior PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, saying that Pakistan has become a banana republic which is devoid of rule of law, media reports said. Fawad Chaudhry was arrested by the police from Lahore during the wee hours of Wednesday on charges of threatening the CEC, Samaa TV reported. The FIR was filed against him for a speech where he had allegedly said that the status of the Election Commission of Pakistan is the same as that of a "secretary" and the "Chief Election Commissioner signs documents like a clerk", the report said. The former minister was arrested shortly after he held a press conference in Lahore, where he threatened the members of the Election Commission of Pakistan and their families with repercussions if "those involved in the May 25 incident" were appointed (in the Punjab caretaker setup) or retained in their positions. He also reported to have lodged a formal complaint with the ECP against the appointment of those directly involved in the crackdown in Punjab. He strongly criticised the appointment of Mohsin Naqvi as Punjab's caretaker Chief Minister and stated that "those who are being appointed as the caretaker of [Punjab] government will be followed until they are punished". Over his arrest, Imran Khan tweeted, "Fawad's arrest on his apt description of the CEC leaves no doubt in anyone's mind that Pakistan has become a banana republic devoid of rule of law." He urged people to stand up for their fundamental rights to save Pakistan's drift toward a point of no return, Samaa TV reported. --IANS san/arm ( 294 Words) 2023-01-25-22:44:03 (IANS) Its revenues grew 27.26 per cent to Rs 67,700 crore from Rs 53,197 crore in the year-ago period. The company said its operating expenses surged 22.14 per cent to Rs 23,668 crore from Rs 19,377 crore in the year-ago period. The company said research and development expenses grew from Rs 4,159 crore to Rs 4,821 crore in the reviewed quarter. The company said it had considered the uncertainty, relating to the continuing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine in assessing the recoverability of receivables, inventories, goodwill, intangible assets, investments and other assets. "The outcome of the war is difficult to predict, and it could have an adverse impact on the macroeconomic environment," the company added. The pharma firm said the company's supply chain had been impacted primarily in Russia and Ukraine, both in terms of higher freight costs and an increase in the lead time by suppliers. However, the Company said it was able to service its customers without any significant shortages or disruptions. The company based on its judgments, estimates and assumptions including sensitivity analysis, said it expected to fully recover the carrying amounts of receivables, inventories, goodwill, intangible assets, investments and other assets. (ANI) Hindenburg Research on Thursday said it fully stands by its report on Adani Group and believes any "legal action taken against us would be meritless". "Regarding the company's threats of legal action, to be clear, we would welcome it. We fully stand by our report and believe any legal action taken against us would be meritless," said Hindenburg Research in a statement that was posted on its official Twitter handle. Earlier on Thursday, Adani Group said it was mulling legal options in the US and India against Hindenburg Research after its report accused firms owned by Gautam Adani of market manipulation and accounting fraud. Jatin Jalundhwala, Group Head - Legal, Adani Group, in a statement, said, "The maliciously mischievous, unresearched report published by Hindenburg Research on 24 January 2023 has adversely affected the Adani Group, our shareholders and investors." "We (the Group) are evaluating the relevant provisions under US and Indian laws for remedial and punitive action against Hindenburg Research," Jalundhwala said. The legal head further added the volatility in Indian stock markets created by that report is of great concern and has led to 'unwanted anguish', among Indian citizens. Hours after the Adani group legal head's statement, Hindenburg Research, in its statement, said, "If Adani is serious, it should also file suit in the U.S. where we operate. We have a long list of documents we would demand in a legal discovery process." "In the 36 hours since we released our report, Adani hasn't addressed a single substantive issue we raised. At the conclusion of our report, we asked 88 straightforward questions that we believe give the company a chance to be transparent. Thus far, Adani has answered none of these questions," the statement said, adding that the Group has instead resorted to "bluster and threats". Reportedly, the research firm, in its report on Tuesday, raised concerns about shares of Adani group companies having a possibility of declining from their current levels, owing to high valuations. It also said the Group's exposure to debt was a concern. On Wednesday, Jugeshinder Singh, the chief financial officer (CFO) of the Adani Group said the conglomerate was "shocked" by the Hindenburg Research's report and termed it a "malicious combination of selective misinformation and stale, baseless and discredited allegations that have been tested and rejected by India's highest courts". "We are shocked that Hindenburg Research has published a report on January 24, 2023, without making any attempt to contact us or verify the factual matrix. The report is a malicious combination of selective misinformation and stale, baseless and discredited allegations that have been tested and rejected by India's highest courts," the CFO on Wednesday said in a statement. The timing of the report by Hindenburg Research, the CFO, in his statement, said "clearly betrays a brazen, mala fide intention to undermine" the Adani Group's reputation with the "principal objective of damaging" the upcoming Follow-on Public Offering from Adani Enterprises, the biggest FPO ever in India. (ANI) The OTT platform Hulu has dropped Justin Roiland from animated sitcoms "Solar Opposites" and "Koala Man" after the star and a co-creator of the animated series 'Rick and Morty' faced domestic violence charges, reported Variety. "We have ended our association with Justin Roiland," 20th Television Animation and Hulu Originals told Variety in a statement. Both "Solar Opposites" and "Koala Man" will continue without Roiland's involvement, it said. Earlier, Adult Swim announced that it has cut ties with the star and a co-creator of the animated series 'Rick and Morty', Justin Roiland due to domestic violence charges. Roiland was charged in Orange County, Calif., with one felony count of domestic battery with corporal injury and one felony count of false imprisonment by menace, violence, fraud or deceit. The incident occurred on or around Jan. 19, 2020, against an unnamed Jane Doe who was dating Roiland at the time, according to the felony complaint obtained by Variety. Roiland pleaded not guilty in 2020 and appeared in court on Jan. 13, 2023, for a pre-trial hearing. A trial date has not yet been fixed, and he is due for another hearing on April 27. Roiland co-created the animated sci-fi comedy "Solar Opposites" with Mike McMahan, and Hulu released the first season in 2020. In addition to executive producing, Roiland voiced the main character, Korvo. Before the Roiland news, Season 4 had been expected to release in 2023, and the show had already been renewed for Season 5, reported by Variety. Hulu also recently released "Koala Man," an Australian American animated comedy, on Jan. 9. Roiland was the executive producer of the series and voiced a guest character in the first season. "Koala Man," "Solar Opposites" and "Rick and Morty" are all produced with Roiland's animation studio, Justin Roiland's Solo Vanity Card Productions. The video game studio Squanch Games, which Roiland co-founded, also announced on Jan. 24 that Roiland had resigned from the company as of Jan. 16. (ANI) Carlos Glover, age 9, a fourth-grader at Richneck Elementary School, is held by his mother, Joselin Glover, as they leave the school on Jan. 6, 2023 in Newport News, Virginia. A 6-year-old student was taken into custody after allegedly shooting a teacher in a classroom at the school. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot ) Six-year-old children should be learning to read, identify new words by matching letters to sounds, count to 100, and do basic addition and subtraction. But now we have a 6-year-old who allegedly shot his teacher in Newport News, Virginia. Unfortunately, school shootings are not uncommon. There have been more than 1,300 school shootings in the U.S. since 1970, according to data from the government-sponsored Homeland Security Digital Library. Since the Columbine High School shooting in 1999 in Colorado, where two teens killed 13 people, there have been well over 500 school shootings. The shooting in Uvalde, Texas, in May, where 19 children and two adults were killed, was the most recent school massacre to shock the nation. Advertisement Sadly, we are growing too accustomed to school shootings, which speaks to the need for change in our system. However, the news of a 6-year-old allegedly shooting his teacher did shock us all. Of all the shootings at schools, none of the offenders has been this young. We have a dilemma on our hands: How do we address this issue from a legal and educational standpoint? Common law recognizes the innocence of youth at this age under the doctrine known as infancy defense. It holds that children younger than 7 should not be prosecuted for a crime because they are too young to form criminal intent. Advertisement Unfortunately, no one envisioned a century ago, when common law was formed, that our youths would have this kind of exposure to the world. Social media didnt exist, and neither did the internet. The world was significantly different. More than half our youth younger than 11 own a cellphone, according to data from Common Sense Media, and therefore access to the world. Parents and other stakeholders are concerned over childrens use of technology and the impact its having on them. The rates at which our youths are using phones and other technological devices continues to grow. With this exposure, its conceivable to think that they may experience behavioral changes, as was revealed in a study of about 1,600 first graders in Japan in 2018. The study found a link between the use of smartphone technology and behavioral development. While the legal system works out the unprecedented school shooting in Virginia to determine what contributed to this horrific act, school doors across the country must continue to open daily. The problem is that its not a matter of if there will be another school shooting but when. Historically, school districts have not had to worry about young elementary students carrying out shootings but those outside the school, who are known as external threats. Now that conversation has to change, and so should the practices. One practice to consider is putting metal detectors in every school across the country or at least having each school district seriously consider it. In this era of polarization, where its more difficult than ever to get consensus on policy matters, one thing we all share is a desire to keep our kids safe. No matter our race, ethnicity or religious affiliation or whether were Democrats, Republicans or independents, we all want our children to have productive lives. Far too many of our children are being negatively affected by violence. While we focus on the 6-year-old who allegedly shot his teacher and we hope he gets counseling, what about the children who were in that classroom? What about the teacher? They have to live with this trauma for the rest of their lives. Metal detectors may be able to prevent some of these senseless acts. There are well over 13,000 public school districts and more than 30,000 private schools in the U.S., which shows how complex the situation is. School shootings can happen in any one of these districts, whether the community is rural, suburban or urban. How metal detectors will be funded may cause some communities pause. But that should be the least of our worries. The lives of our children and teachers must take precedence over politics. With the help of federal and state funding, resources can be found. Political difficulties should not prevent any attempts to make it happen. Some children are concerned about attending school because they are afraid for their safety, and far too many teachers are leaving the profession. Advertisement Students and teachers have a right to feel assured when they go to school. Parents have a right to expect that their children will not be shot at school and will return home unharmed. Metal detectors may help save lives and deter those who may desire to take part in such tragic events. Jerald McNair is a school administrator at South Holland School District 151. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. On the occasion of India's 74th Republic Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, known for celebrating the diverse culture of the country with his sartorial choices, donned a multi-coloured Rajasthani turban this year to symbolize India's diversity. Before the Republic Day parade, as PM Modi arrived at the National War Memorial, the first look at his outfit was revealed. Along with the distinctive turban he was seen wearing a white kurta with a black coat and white pants. The PM was also carrying a white stole around his neck. The Republic Day celebrations commenced with the homage ceremony at the National War Memorial where PM Modi paid floral tributes to fallen heroes by laying a wreath. Later, PM Modi and other dignitaries headed to the saluting dais at Rajpath to witness the Republic Day parade. Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings to all Indians on the occasion of the 73rd Republic Day. "Many wishes for Republic Day. This time the occasion is more special because we are celebrating it during the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. I wish we move ahead unitedly to make the dreams of the great freedom fighters of the country come true. Happy Republic Day to all fellow Indians!" PM Modi tweeted in Hindi. Last year, the PM sported a unique Uttarakhand traditional cap, which was embellished with a Brahmakamal-inspired brooch. Brahma Kamal is the state flower of Uttarakhand that the PM uses whenever he visits Kedarnath for pooja. Meanwhile, Republic Day is being celebrated across the country with great fervour. On this day, 74 years back, India officially adopted its Constitution following its Independence from British rule. (ANI) On the occasion of India's 74th Republic Day, actor Ayushmann Khurrana took a stroll down memory lane and shared how he used to celebrate the historic day in childhood. "Republic Day for me meant watching the parade on Doordarshan and giving them our own rankings and marks of all the floats from the different states. My mother used to be really excited because she is from Delhi and she has seen all these floats live as a child," Ayushmann recalled. He added, "And that excitement of course rubbed off on us and we too used to get excited. We used to watch every single program on TV - Indian Airforce, Army, Navy and all the state floats." The 'Article 15' star also opened up about his idea of patriotism. "For me India is an idea of togetherness like we see unity in diversity. Diversity is our biggest strength and it really depends on us how do we take it forward. As a citizen, as an actor, I would like to contribute to our nation by creating films that are progressive. I truly believe in the power of cinema and through my art I would like to showcase different perspectives. I have been part of two films Article 15 and Anek both with Anubhav Sinha sir - that's also about unity. It questions our society and questions discrimination so I guess these three films are really on freedom," he said. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn3iq8TItxX/?hl=en Speaking about Ayushmann's upcoming work projects, he will be seen in the sequel to his hit franchise Dream Girl 2. (ANI) The auspicious occasion of Basant Panchami holds a special significance in actor Abhishek Bachchan's life. While extending heartfelt greetings to everyone on Basant Panchami, Abhishek revealed an interesting thing. Taking to Instagram, he wrote, "May Ma Saraswati bless us all.#BasantPanchami #SaraswatiPujo. Also, on a side note.... As per the Hindu calendar, I was born on Basant Panchami. Thank you for your wishes." https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn3_qjZLriL/?hl=en Basant Panchami is celebrated on the first day of spring and falls on the fifth day of the month of Magha and also marks the beginnings of preparation for Holi, which falls forty days after the festival. The festival is dedicated to Maa Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music and art. Throughout the nation, Basant Panchami is celebrated with slightly diverse customs, and wonderful traditional foods are prepared and savoured on this day. While kite flying is popular in North India, particularly in Punjab and Haryana, it is celebrated as Saraswati Puja in the east of the country, such as West Bengal. It is known as Sri Panchami in the southern states. Flowers are exchanged as gifts in Gujarat, where bouquets and garlands are decorated with mango leaves. On this day, people worship Shiva and Parvati in the Indian states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh. On this day, the colour yellow holds a lot of significance. People dress in yellow for the festival, worship the goddess Saraswati, and consume customary foods. Yellow is a sign of both knowledge and the fields of mustard, which signal the beginning of spring. (ANI) Taking to Instagram, Yami shared the film's poster which she captioned, "The quest for justice has to continue even when the path is unknown because the #TruthIsNeverLost #LostOnZEE5, premieres 16th Feb only on @ZEE5. #Lost #ZEE5." https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn3k2zpvoVi/ Helmed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, the film is all set to release exclusively on the OTT platform Zee5 on February 16, 2023. The film had its Asian Premiere at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and at the 13th Annual Chicago South Asian Film Festival where it received an overwhelming response from the audience. The film is an emotional social thriller representing a higher quest, a search for lost values of empathy and integrity. Inspired by true events, 'Lost' is the story of a bright young crime reporter in a relentless search for the truth behind the sudden disappearance of a young theatre activist. An investigative thriller that kept the IFFI viewers on the edge of their seats, 'Lost' is written by Shyamal Sengupta and the dialogues are by Ritesh Shah. Sharing her experience, Yami earlier said, "'Lost was a special experience for me, and I have been eagerly waiting to see how the audience is going to react. I absolutely cannot wait for the release and am happy to have my first association with ZEE5 for this one!" The film is produced by Zee Studios and also stars Pankaj Kapur, Rahul Khanna, Neil Bhoopalam, Pia Bajpiee and Tushar Pandey in pivotal roles. (ANI) Stating that he has a lot of respect for Nageswara Rao, the actor-politician said he did not use any word intentionally while referring to the late actor. At the success meet of his latest release "Veera Simha Reddy", Balkrishna's comment about Nageswara Rao had triggered a row. Talking about his father, late former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and creator of the Telugu Desam Party, N.T. Rama Rao, Balakrishna had said rather dismissively: "My father had some contemporaries, Ranga Rao (S. V. Ranga Rao), Akkineni, Thokkineni, and some others." Nageswara Rao's grandsons -- Akkineni Naga Chaitanya and his brother Akhil Akkineni -- posted a statement on Twitter in reaction to Balakrishna's remark. They said: "Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao garu, Akkineni Nageswara Rao garu and S.V Ranga Rao garu's creative contributions have been the pride and pillars of Telugu Cinema. Disrespecting them is degrading ourselves." With Nageswara Rao's family reacting to the actor's comment, NBK has come out with the clarification. He claimed that Nageswara Rao used to love him more than his own children and he too used to address him as uncle. --IANS ms/vd ( 216 Words) 2023-01-26-20:26:04 (IANS) On the eve of Republic Day 2023, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh along with Union Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Dharmendra Pradhan felicitated the 25 winners of Veer Gatha 2.0 at an event organised in New Delhi on Wednesday, said a press release by Ministry of Education. Veer Gatha 2.0, the second edition of project Veer Gatha was organised in the backdrop of the overwhelming success of Veer Gatha Edition 1 last year which was jointly initiated by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Education as a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, added the press release. Rajnath Singh gave away the winners a cash prize of Rs 10,000, a medal and a certificate, in the presence of Pradhan and MoS Defence Ajay Bhatt, as per the statement. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane were also present. Over 100 NCC cadets and students from Army Public Schools & Cantonment Boards were in attendance, with students and teachers from over 500 schools joining virtually. Congratulating the young winners, Defence Minister commended their bravery, zeal and creativity, and expressed confidence that the young generation will provide a new and better direction not only for themselves but also for society and the nation. Applauding the role of Veer Gatha in inspiring values of patriotism in the young students, Singh said, such projects will play a crucial role in infusing values of morality and bravery along with education among students. Speaking on the occasion Pradhan said that it was awe-inspiring to see my young friends come up with fantastic creative entries inspired by our brave hearts. He expressed his confidence that their life stories of brave hearts will inspire the students to do good for themselves and contribute to nation-building in various ways. He further said that every civilisation and nation must honour its brave hearts. Shri Pradhan called for further expanding Project Veergatha and integrating the stories of our brave hearts in our school curriculum, in line with the National Education Policy 2020. On the occasion, Param Vir Chakra Awardee Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar narrated his real-life story of the Kargil war where he overcame all odds and played a crucial role in India's historic victory. He encouraged the children to take inspiration from the courageous soldiers who selflessly serve the motherland without caring for personal safety. (ANI) Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's comments in his book that Sushma Swaraj was not an important player in the Indian foreign policy team, and describing her as "goofball" and "heartland political hack" have drawn flak from External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Reacting to Pompeo's comments made in his book 'Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love', Jaishankar said, "I have seen a passage in Secretary Pompeo's book referring to Sushma Swaraj ji. I always held her in great esteem and had an exceptionally close and warm relationship with her. I deplore the disrespectful colloquialism used for her." Pompeo said in his book that "on the Indian side, my original counterpart was not an important player on the Indian foreign policy team. Instead, I worked much more closely with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, a close and trusted confidant of Prime Minister Narendra Modi". Instead, Pompeo is all praise for Jaishankar in the book. "My second Indian counterpart was Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. In May 2019, we welcomed 'J' as India's new foreign minister. I could not have asked for a better counterpart. I love this guy. English is one of the seven languages he speaks, and his is somewhat better than mine," he wrote in the book. Swaraj, who was External Affairs Minister during the first tenure of the NDA government, passed away in 2019. --IANS ans/arm ( 242 Words) 2023-01-25-22:58:04 (IANS) "Congratulations to those who have been conferred the Padma Awards. India cherishes their rich and varied contributions to the nation and their efforts to enhance our growth trajectory," Modi tweeted. The list of Padma awardees consists of six Padma Vibhushans awardees, nine Padma Bhushans and 91 Padma Shris from various. Late Samajwadi Party chief, former Defence Minister and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, who passed away in October last year, has been conferred with Padma Vibhushan posthumously. --IANS ans/vd ( 112 Words) 2023-01-25-23:00:02 (IANS) Delhi Police on Wednesday detained 13 students of Jamia Millia Islamia after the announcement of the screening of a controversial BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Mass Communication department of the university. According to Esha Pandey, Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast), a screening for a BBC documentary was to be organised by a group of Jamia students inside the university, which was not allowed by the varsity administration. "The university administration informed the police that some students were creating a ruckus on the streets and therefore a total of 13 students were detained around 4 p.m. to ensure peace in the area," said the DCP. Classes in the varsity were suspended and police personnel, including the Rapid Action Force (RAF), were deployed near the gate of JMI on Wednesday. The screening of the documentary was scheduled at 6 p.m. However, the varsity had said on Tuesday that the administration would not allow any unauthorised gatherings on the campus after the SFI announced the screening. The varsity, in a statement issued, said that some students belonging to a political organisation (SFI) have circulated a poster about the screening of a controversial documentary film on the university campus on Wednesday. "The university administration has earlier issued a memorandum/circular and once again reiterates that no meeting/gathering of students or screening of any film shall be allowed on the campus without the permission of the competent authority, failing which strict disciplinary action shall be taken against the organisers," it said. "The university is taking all possible measures to prevent people/organisations having vested interest to destroy the peaceful academic atmosphere of the university," the statement added. The developments came after high drama occurred on the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus late on Tuesday evening after the students alleged that they were attacked with stones while watching the controversial documentary. However, DCP (southwest), Manoj C., denied reports of stone pelting. --IANS ssh/pgh ( 333 Words) 2023-01-25-23:04:04 (IANS) The incidence of elderly people revoking the wills where they unconditionally wrote the names of their children is on a rise in Tamil Nadu, due to the children not taking care of their parents when they are in dire need. Chennai and other parts of the state are witnessing an increase in the number of such elderly people who are pointing out the provisions in the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act. The provisions in this Act make it mandatory for the children to look after their parents. If any child fails to take care of his/her parent, the Act allows the unilateral revocation of the will. Talking to IANS, Dr Ramachandra Kumar, a retired medical service practitioner living in Tambaram, Chennai, said: "I want to revoke my will which I had lovingly given to my son. Now it's difficult for me as my son and daughter-in-law are not looking after me and my wife. We don't have anything on our own. So I want to revoke this will." A senior officer with the Tamil Nadu Revenue Department told IANS that around 8,500 such petitions were received across the state in the last two years and 6,125 of them were disposed of. However, sadly most of these settlement deeds do not comply with the recent verdict of the Supreme Court, which states specifically that the settlement should be conditional and the parents should mention a condition that they were gifting their property to the children in lieu of them being taken care of. The revenue officer said that this has become a handicap as a majority of the parents have not mentioned this in the deeds that were registered earlier. With the revenue officials finding it difficult to cancel the deed due to the non-inclusion of the provision mentioned in the Supreme court verdict, the senior citizens are approaching the Special Cell in Chief Minister's office hoping for a solution to their woes. Madurai-based advocate Manonmani Govind told IANS that "most of the senior citizens prefer a settlement deed instead of a will to avoid the requirement to probate the will and most of the settlement deeds do not contain any condition precedent to retain the right putting the senior citizens in difficulties". She said that the senior citizens must approach good lawyers who are well acquainted with the latest provisions of the law. The senior lawyer also said that the legal services authority should take up an awareness programme regarding the latest provisions in the law among the senior citizens and suggested that local resident associations and NGOs could be roped in to execute the programme. V. Shivakumar of HelpAge India said that they are creating awareness among the senior citizens about the 'condition' to be included in the deed. --IANS aal/vd ( 481 Words) 2023-01-25-23:16:03 (IANS) An exhausted mother of four brought in her youngest child, not even 6 months old, to the doctors office where I was working for a barking, unending cough. The baby struggled to catch her breath and threw up her milk as she cried. Her test was positive for respiratory syncytial virus, and her mother, who was also now sick, wondered aloud about how she would be able to take time off from work. When I lived in Missouri, I worked at a pediatric clinic, and such situations were not uncommon. Parents would bring their children to the clinic for RSV testing, often after a day care outbreak, and stay home from work or rely on other family members if they were lucky to care for their sick children. My experience at the clinic taught me that access to affordable child care is more than a concern for families it is a public health issue that needs to be a bigger priority. Advertisement This winter, RSV, influenza and COVID-19 cases have plagued our hospitals in a tripledemic that only recently has started to decline. With 16% of families in Chicago having at least one child with asthma (compared with a 12% national average), the prevalence of RSV is especially concerning. RSV is a respiratory virus that most children encounter by the age of 2, but children with more severe RSV are at higher risk for developing childhood asthma as a result. Catching a serious respiratory infection can therefore have long-term ramifications on childrens health and their parents livelihoods. With day care closures and quarantine requirements, parents paychecks and productivity suffer. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 100,000 people missed work due to child care problems in October. Adding the number of people missing work due to COVID-19-related illness, especially considering the removal of risk mitigation strategies, reveals an alarming worker crisis. Advertisement Low-income families have been disproportionately affected, with a higher percentage having less access to paid leave and facing more child care disruptions compared with their higher-income counterparts. Many of them have even lost their jobs due to not being able to balance in-person work and frequent infection-related day care closures. With the three respiratory viruses spreading rapidly, day cares are requiring symptomatic children to stay at home for days, and without affordable alternatives for child care, their parents and guardians have to stay home with them. Child care is already expensive in Illinois. The average yearly cost for a young child is more than $10,000 and is nearly $14,000 for infant care. When a sick child stays home, most day cares do not offer families a refund. Without paid leave, parents lose money they cannot afford to lose, and when they get sick themselves, they often do not have an option other than to go in to work despite their ongoing illness. I have friends and relatives who are unable to take time off and have gone into work despite being sick, infecting their co-workers. The same is likely happening in day cares, where regardless of the precautions staff may take, children congregate and spread infections. We need to address this public health concern by restoring accessible child care in the United States and, in the meantime, by investing more time, money and resources to support parents and guardians. Tax credits, minimum wage policies and paid leave are initiatives that can ease the undue burden of inconsistent child care for families, according to a report released by the University of California at Berkeley in 2020, along with the more permanent solutions that can be implemented in the system itself. Illinois offers a refundable earned income tax credit for families, and a bill that would require paid time off for workers sits on the governors desk. With the help of state or federal incentives, employers are willing to provide those benefits and subsidize child care expenses, since high-quality child care helps parent well-being and efficiency, and hence, the economy. [ Editorial: A weeks paid leave? What took Illinois so long? ] Restoring federally funded child care in the U.S. or increasing the availability of lower-cost home-based child care are just two possible long-term solutions to the dilemma. Home-based child care could provide an affordable alternative to day care for lower-income families, and there are programs for sick children that should be made more accessible. President Joe Bidens Build Back Better Act and Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warrens Universal Child Care and Early Learning Act have attempted to bridge the child care gap in the recent past, but with their failure, it is clear we need more voices to elevate the discussion. New policies and investments require additional funding and resources that can be difficult to acquire, but we need to prioritize child care to help parents return to the workforce knowing that their children are being cared for. This strategy not only helps the families directly affected but also the entire workforce as a whole. In Illinois, we can start with offering parents paid leave to care for sick children at home and let our policymakers know we want long-term solutions for affordable child care. The child care system has been falling apart for years, and with this RSV-flu-COVID-19 tripledemic, we might have finally gotten the push we need to call for reform. Advertisement Lahari Vuppaladhadiam is a medical student at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and co-editor-in-chief of the Pritzker Health Policy Review. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. The accused had been identified as G Anwar Hussain (27) and he arrived at the Coimbatore airport from Sharjah. He was handed over to the Peelamedu police station. The police registered a case against him under the Foreigners Act and the Passport Act. According to police officials, he first came to Avinashi in Tiruppur as a tailor in 2018 and worked there till November 2020. He met some agents and forged a birth certificate, after which he got an Aadhaar card and a fake Indian passport made. Police sources say that Anwar Hussain was handed over to a central intelligence agency and the accused had been remanded to judicial custody in Chennai Puzlal prison. (ANI) As India celebrates its 74th Republic Day, over 11 crore rural households of the country have access to tap water connections, said a press release by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti on Wednesday. 123 districts and more than 1.53 lakh villages of India have reported 'Har Ghar Jal' which means every household has access to clean drinking water through the tap, added the press release. Despite several disruptions in previous years, States/ UTs have worked relentlessly to ensure tap water in every rural home. Jal Jeevan Mission was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2019, to provide every rural household with a tap water connection by 2024. At the time of the launch of the Mission in 2019, out of 19.35 Crore rural households, only 3.23 Crore (16.72 per cent) had access to tap water. As of date, within a short span of about three years of the life-changing mission, over 11 Crore (56.84 per cent) of rural households have a tap water supply in their homes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the achievement of 11 Crore Tap water connections under Jal Jeevan Mission. Modi also congratulated all those who have benefitted from this initiative and complimented those working on the ground to make this Mission a success. The Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, tweeting about the achievement said "The vision of our PM Sh. Narendra Modiji, the relentless pursuit of the goals set out for JalJeevanMission by the ministry and the effort of our team on ground has made this mega milestone possible". The Union Minister further said "11 crore homes are now assured of health and well-being with this elixir of life reaching their doorsteps". Regular tap water supply relieves people, especially women and young girls, from carrying heavy bucket loads of water to meet their daily household needs thereby reducing age-old drudgery. The time saved from collecting water is used for income generation activities, learning new skills and supporting children's education. In those villages where the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) has reached, adolescent girls no longer drop out of school to help their mothers walk long distances and get water to quench their thirst. It goes a long way in empowering and educating the girl child. With a focus on the health and well-being of children, in 2020 on Gandhi Jayanti, a campaign was launched to provide tap water connection to all schools, Anganwadi centres and ashramshalas (tribal residential schools) for drinking, cooking mid-day meals, hand washing and use in toilets. As of date, tap water supply has been provided in 8.84 lakh (85.79 per cent) schools and 9.14 lakh (81.75 per cent) Anganwadi centres.2 States (Goa and Kerala) and 3 UTs (A&N Islands, D&NH and D&D, Puducherry)are now providing 100% tap water connectivity in their schools and Anganwadi centres and16 States/ UTsare in the range of 90 per cent or more and moving fast to achieve saturation. Following the bottom-up approach, JJM is being implemented as a decentralized, demand-driven community-managed programme with the aim to provide all rural households with adequate quantity (55 lpcd) of water of prescribed quality in adequate pressure, on a regular and long-term basis. So far over 5.20 lakh PaniSamitis/ Village Water and Sanitation Committees(VWSC) formed under Jal Jeevan Mission to manage, operate and maintain in-village water supply infrastructure. On the front of Water Quality, more than 17 lakh women are trained for testing water samples using Field Test Kits (FTKs), which has led to the empowerment of women in rural areas. (ANI) The Congress will contest the remaining 13 seats. The two parties formed an alliance to face the ruling BJP in the state. Out of the 47 seats, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) will contest for 43 seats while other Left partners - CPI, RSP, Forward Bloc - will field one candidate each. The Left Front has fielded 24 new faces in the electoral fray. Congress is likely to announce the candidates soon. On January 23, three special observers arrived at Agartala to review the poll preparedness. The special observers included retired IAS officer Yogendra Tripathi, IPS officer Vivek Johri and retired IRS officer B Murli Kumar. They will meet with the high-level officials tomorrow at 11 am at the state guests' house. Earlier on January 18, the Election Commission announced the schedule for Assembly elections to the northeastern states of Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland to be held in February-March this year, results for which will be declared on March 2, 2023. "Voting for Assembly elections in Tripura will be held in a single phase on February 16 and in Nagaland and Meghalaya on February 27. The results will be declared on March 2," Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said during a press conference. (ANI) The All India Congress Committee on Wednesday night released a list of 55 candidates for the upcoming Meghalaya Assembly election after the party's Central Election Committee meeting, said an AICC press release. The party has fielded Shillong Lok Sabha MP Vincent Pala from the Sutnga Saipung constituency, added the press release. Last week, the lone Nationalist Congress Party MP Saleng Sangma switched over to the Congress. He has been fielded by the party as the candidate from the Gambegre constituency, as per the statement. Most of the candidates being fielded by Congress are fresh faces. On Wednesday, the Election Commission announced the schedule for Assembly elections in the northeastern Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland to be held in February-March this year. The results of all three states will be declared on March 2, 2023. "Voting for Assembly elections in Tripura will be held in a single phase on February 16 and in Nagaland and Meghalaya on February 27. The results will be declared on March 2," Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said during a press conference. The CEC had said that the terms of the poll-bound states of Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura are coming to an end on March 12, 15, and 22 respectively. "The term of Assemblies of respective states in Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura are respectively due to expire on March 12, 15, and 22. The 3 states have 60 Assembly constituencies each," the CEC had said. Detailing the number of voters in the poll-bound states, Kumar said, "There are more than 62.8 lakh electors combined in Nagaland, Meghalaya & Tripura including - 31.47 lakh female electors, 97,000 80+ voters, and 31,700 PwD voters. Over 1.76 lakh first-time voters to participate in the elections in 3 states." He also informed that there will be some polling stations managed completely by PwDs and women staff. Women will be in command in 376 PS across Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura. Noting that the three states have "terrain-related challenges", Kumar reiterated the ECI's commitment in conducting free and fair polls. "The three states have terrain-related challenges, but the Commission is committed to participating in free and fair participative accessible and ethical elections in these three states," he said. The CEC said that the officials from the Commission recently visited the three states and met the officials regarding the poll preparations and directed them to resort to "zero tolerance" for any kind of violence during the elections. "We recently visited these three states from January 11 to 15, and met all the district collectors, SPs, DGs and all the enforcement agencies. There are only 2-3 states of the entire country in which pre-poll, during the poll or post-poll violence is left. there was no violence in the last 12 elections. With the help of the district administration, we have told them very clearly that society should have zero tolerance for any kind of violence during the elections," he had said. (ANI) Former Odisha Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang on Wednesday resigned from the primary membership of the Bharatiya Janata Party alleging that he faced "humiliation" in the party. Gamang joined the BJP in June 2015 after quitting Congress. Notably, on January 13 Gamang met Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and had several rounds of discussion before quitting the BJP. Addressing a press conference, the former Odisha Chief Minister said he has sent his resignation letter to BJP national president JP Nadda. Gamang's son Sishir Gamang also quit the BJP. The father-son duo is likely to soon join Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) at Hyderabad in the presence of the Telangana Chief Minister. In his letter to Nadda, Gamang thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for clarifying in a Parliament debate his controversial vote against the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government on April 17, 1999, resulting in the fall of the government. "Hereby I submit my resignation from the Primary Membership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). As you are aware, I joined the BJP voluntarily, at my free will, without any pre-condition in 2015. I am thankful to Narendra Modi, Prime Minister and Amit Shah, Home Minister, the then President of the Party for clarifying on the floor of the Parliament on my Voting in 1999. However, I realised that I am unable to discharge my Political, Social and Moral Duty to my People in Odisha during the last several years. Hence, I tender my resignation from the Primary Membership of the BJP with immediate effect. Please accept the same," Giridhar Gamang's resignation letter reads. Speaking to ANI, Sishir Gamang said, "I quit from the primary membership of the BJP because the party is not working as it should have been. Neither it is allowing us to do it for the last few years. This is the main reason for quitting the party. My father has also resigned for the same reason. BJP did not take the benefit which they could have taken from us, instead, they used us." Talking about the meeting with KCR, Sishir said they have family ties with Telangana Chief Minister. "When he was the Labour Minister in Government of India, he also made me a member in Labour Department. When someone launches the national party they look for old friends. So he invited us and before the meeting we had discussions over the phone several times. He explained to us about the Telangana model and we saw the comparison of how much Bhubaneswar has developed and how Hyderabad is developed. Election Commission has recognized KCR's party, so it is already a national party." On joining BRS, he said, "I have just quitted, you will know soon." When asked about future plans, Sishir said, "First I will join the party then I will plan something." (ANI) The 74th Republic Day parade will display the military strength and cultural diversity from the revamped Kartavya Path in the national capital, for the first time on Thursday. India celebrates its 74th Republic Day, showcasing the nation's road to self-reliance from Kartavya Path, the revamped ceremonial boulevard from the British period once known as the 'Rajpath'. Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled Kartavya Path last year, which was earlier known as Rajpath near the India Gate in the national capital. President Droupadi Murmu will lead the Republic Day celebrations that will begin from the Kartavya Path. India's 74th Republic Day celebrations would be Murmu's first after assuming charge as the President of the country last year. The Republic Day parade, scheduled to begin at 10.30 am, will be a mix of the country's military strength and cultural diversity. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi will be the chief guest of the grand event. Building on last year's celebrations, in the 75th year of Independence, celebrated as 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav', the celebrations this year shall witness zeal, enthusiasm, patriotic fervour, and 'Jan Bhagidari', as envisioned by Prime Minister Modi. According to the Delhi Police, around 65,000 people will witness the parade on January 26, for which they can register through a QR code. Massive security arrangements have been made for the programme with the deployment of 6,000 jawans, which includes the paramilitary forces, and NSG apart from Delhi Police. The Kartavya Path will be monitored with the help of around 150 CCTV cameras, which also have high-resolution cameras. For the first time, Kartavya Path will witness the 21 Gun Salute given to President Droupadi Murmu during the parade with 105 mm Indian Field Guns replacing the British-made 25-pounder guns. Marching down the Kartavya Path for the first time will be the combined Band and Marching contingent of the Egyptian Armed Forces, led by Colonel Mahmoud Mohamed Abdel Fattah El Kharasawy. The contingent will consist of 144 soldiers, representing the main branches of the Egyptian Armed Forces. This year, only Made-in-India weapon systems will be showcased at the Republic Day parade, which included ammunition showcasing India's indigenization power such as 21 Gun Salute through 'Made in India' 105 mm Indian Field Guns, recently inducted LCH Prachand, the K-9 Vajra howitzers, MBT Arjun, Nag anti-tank guided missiles, Akash air defence missiles, and the Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicles. There will be tableaux from 17 states and Union Territories, and six from various ministries and departments depicting the nation's rich cultural heritage, economic progress, women's empowerment, and strong internal and external security will also roll down the Kartavya Path. Cultural performances will be presented by 479 artists chosen through the nationwide Vande Bharatam dance competition will add colour and groove to the Republic Day parade. The theme of the cultural extravaganza will be 'Nari Shakti' presented by 326 female dancers, ably supported by 153 male dancers, of the age group 17-30 years. Another highlight of the show will be a thrilling motorcycle display by the Corps of Signals' Dare Devils team. They will enthral the audience with an array of formations, which will also include a Yoga display. The grand finale and the most eagerly-awaited segment of the parade, the Fly Past, will witness a breathtaking air show by 45 aircraft of the Indian Air Force, one from the Indian Navy, and four helicopters of the Indian Army. This year, invites have been sent to common people from all walks of society such as Shramyogis involved in the construction of Central Vista, Kartavya Path, New Parliament Building, milk, vegetable vendors, street vendors etc. These people will be prominently seated at Kartavya Path as special invitees. The week-long celebrations began on January 23, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. To mark the occasion, a one-of-a-kind Military Tattoo, and Tribal Dance Festival 'Aadi Shaurya - Parv Parakram ka' was organised in New Delhi on 23 and 24 January. The events will culminate on January 30, which is observed as Martyrs' Day. The celebrations are marked by attractive performances from Vande Bharatam group of dancers from across the country, tales of bravery by Veer Gatha 2.0 participants, melodious performances by School Bands at the National War Memorial, the first-ever e-invitations, the largest-ever drone show, and 3-D anamorphic projection. (ANI) On the occasion of the 74th Republic Day, the Indian Air Force (IAF) presented a spectacular flypast and air display with 50 aircraft and helicopters of the three forces -- Air, Navy, and Army. This included 45 aircraft of the Air Force, one from the Navy, and four helicopters of the Army that exhibited their aerobatics and professional skills. Among the aircraft, some were: Baaz, comprising three MiG- 29 ac formations flew in the VIC echelon. Prachand, which comprised an LCH AC in lead with two Apache Helicopters and Two ALH Mk-IV ac in echelon flew in five ac Arrow Formation. After Prachand, a Tiranga formed by five Sarang (ALH) flew in the Ladder Formation and streamed the Tricolour. Comprising a Dakota ac in lead with two Dornier ac in echelon, a Tangail was formed that flew in 'vic' formation. After Tangail, the Vajraang comprising one C-130 with four Rafale flew in Abreast formation. Later, the 'Garuda' formed with IL 38 SD, and AN32 ac flew in Vic formation. Forming an Arrow while flying, the Netra comprising of 1 x AEW & C ac with four Rafale ac in echelon also flew. Bheem, comprising one C-17 ac with two Su-30 ac in echelon streamed fuel and flew past in 'Vic' formation. Amrit, comprising six Jaguar ac, flew the water channel North of Kartvya Path in the form of an Arrowhead. For the formation of Trishul, three Su-30 Mki ac at 900 kmph flew over the water channel North of Kartvya Path along with the IAF Marching Contingent. Approaching the Dais, the formation pulled ug outwards for Trishul manoeuvre. Vijay, one Rafale ac also flew in at 900 kmph behind the Trishul formation over water channel North of Kartavya Path. The aircraft pulled up for Vertical Charlie and carried several turns while approaching the Dais. Droupadi Murmu led the nation on Thursday in celebrating the 74th Republic Day from the Kartavya Path. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was the Chief Guest at the parade. Building on last year's celebrations, in the 75th year of Independence, being celebrated as 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav', the celebrations this year were marked by zeal, enthusiasm, patriotic fervour, and 'Jan Bhagidari' as envisioned by Prime Minister Modi. The week-long celebrations commenced on January 23, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. To mark the occasion, a one-of-a-kind military tattoo and tribal dance festival 'Aadi Shaurya - Parv Parakram Ka' was organised in New Delhi on January 23 and 24. The events will culminate on January 30, which is to be observed as Martyrs' Day. (ANI) The grand parade of Republic Day 2023 at Kartavya Path was special for India as the participants gave a push to the theme of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' by showcasing indigenously developed weapon systems. This year, only Made-in-India weapon systems were showcased at the Republic Day parade, which included ammunition showcasing India's indigenization power such as 21 Gun Salute through 'Made in India' 105 mm Indian Field Guns, recently inducted LCH Prachand, the K-9 Vajra howitzers, MBT Arjun, Nag anti-tank guided missiles, Akash air defence missiles, and the Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicles. Notably, the Defence Services witnessed path-breaking reforms with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the helm of affairs to transform the military into a modern, Atmanirbhar, youthful and tech-savvy force. The seamless modernization plan focused on developing 'Force Capabilities', the creation of Self Reliant Defence ecosystem with Make-in-India pursuit, and a learner and agile Army driven by technology. The doctrinal and operational studies continued on the establishment of theatre commands to enhance Op preparedness, synergy, and combat potential of the Armed forces. Many decisions on re-structuring were also satisfactorily implemented. The defence forces were further strengthened with the appointment of General Anil Chauhan as the Second Chief of Defence Staff. For the first time, the 21 Gun Salute was given to President Droupadi Murmu during the parade with 105 mm Indian Field Guns on Kartavya Path replacing the British-made 25-pounder guns. MBT Arjun The Main Battle Tank ARJUN of the 75 Armoured Regiment was led by Captain Amanjeet Singh. The motto of MBT Arjun is`Sahasam Vijayate'. The State of the art MBT ARJUN is third generation main battle tank developed indigenously by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Arjun features a 120 mm main rifled gun, a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, and a 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun. It is powered by a 1400 HP Diesel engine and can achieve a maximum speed of 70 km/h (43 mph) and a cross-country speed of 40 km/h (25 mph). The four-men crew MBT is augmented with an array of systems including a Fire Control System, Integrated Fire Detection & Suppression System, and NBC protection systems. The newly developed Kanchan armour provides all-round anti-tank warhead protection, much higher than available in comparable third-generation tanks. Nag Missile System (NAMIS) The NAG Missile System of 17 Mechanised Infantry Regiment was led by Lieutenant Siddhartha Tyagi. The System popularly called NAMIS is a tank destroyer indigenously designed by the Defence Research & Development Laboratory Hyderabad, a lab of DRDO. The motto of NAMIS is `Satrah Mech - Har Maidan Fateh. It consists of a tracked Armoured Fighting Vehicle, which has a crew-less turret capable of firing six 'Nag' Anti-Tank Guided Missiles. NAMIS has been developed for the recce and support units of the Mechanised infantry to reinforce and enhance anti-tank capability along our borders during offensive and defensive operations. The Nag missile is a Fire and Forget ATGM with an effective range of 5km. The tandem warhead with the capability to lock-on- before launch and top-attack, accurately hits the targets that are moving or trying to escape. The NAMICA has a crew of four and apart from other niche technologies, it has an integrated satellite cum inertial navigation system, NBC protection, radio sets for encrypted communication, on-board Auxiliary Power Unit for silent operations and Nag Missile Checkout Equipment for health check of ATGMs before firing. NAMIS is a game-changer and the successful development of this modern weapon system for the Indian Army has propelled India into the select club of countries which have developed their own fire-&-forget top-attack tactical ATGMs integrated on AFVs. Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicle (QRFV) The Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicle was led by Captain Naveen Dhatterwal of the 3 Ladakh Scouts Regiment with a motto of War Cry: `Ki Ki So So Lahargyalo' which means 'Victory to God. These vehicles under Atma Nirbhar Bharat Scheme are being manufactured by TATA Advance System and Bharat Forge Limited for the Indian Army and are a shining example of the Indian Army's quest for self-reliance. This 4x4 wheeled Armoured Platform has full Armour Protection with a 360 Degree Turret which mounts a 7.62mm Medium Machine Gun, can carry 10 Fully Armed Troops. The vehicle is ideally designed for troops operating in Ladakh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. The vehicle is also Mine and Bullet Proof which makes it suited as an Escort vehicle and special response for CI OPS. It has a maximum speed of 80 km/h with an OP range up to 600 kms and can negotiate a gradient up to 25 degrees. 10m Short Span Bridge The 10m Short Span Bridge of 64 Assault Engineer Regiment led by Captain Shivashish Solanki is a mechanically launched Assault Bridge designed by DRDO to help Combat Engineers in Crossing formidable obstacles like Canal or Nallahs in a matter of minutes. The motto of 10 meter Short Span Bridge System was Agrani Ajay' which means 'Always Leading and Unconquerable. These Bridges can be utilized by mechanised and armoured columns to speedily cross the obstacles and destroy the enemy. These indigenous bridges signify that no obstacles remain impediment to the Mechanised Forces of Indian Army and are a step forward to Atmanirbharta in defence. The Regiment will celebrate 50 years of glorious history on 30 Sept 2023. Mobile Microwave Node and Mobile Network Centre Mobile Microwave Node and Mobile Network Centre of Corps of Signals was led by Major Mohd Asif Ahmed of 2 AHQ Signal Regiment with a motto of `Teevra Chaukas' which means 'Swift and Secure? The column consists of two vehicles, a `Mobile Microwave Node' along with 'Mobile Network Centre Major Mahima Kataria of 2 AHQ Signal Regiment is in charge of the Mobile Network Centre. The Mobile Microwave Node of the Indian Army is capable of extending high-speed operational communications to Tactical Battle Area. The Node is mounted on a High Mobility Vehicle platform and housed in an NBC proof ruggedised shelter to provide matching mobility and sustenance to mobile mechanised operations. The vehicle can operate on optical, microwave and satellite media to provide triple play services to include voice, data and video to field formations in active hostilities. The Mobile Network Centre is a next-generation network vehicle and enabler of network-centric operations. It hosts three core functionalities of Network Operations, Security Operations and the Data Centre. It acts as a force multiplier by enhancing battlefield transparency and increasing situational awareness. The vehicle has a crew of six led by an officer and is equipped with IMS core, aggregation routers access switches, large screen displays, and high-speed processing platforms. The mobile node is developed indigenously and upholds the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Mission. Wheeled Armoured Platform - WHAP 8x8 on 70-ton trailer Wheeled Armoured Personnel Carrier, WhAP 8x8, carried on a specialist 70-ton Trailer is indigenously designed and developed by DRDO. WhAP is a modular, 8x8-wheeled combat platform. WhAP is a state-of-the-art customisable platform for roles such as Infantry Vehicle, CBRN Vehicle, ATGM carrier. The Armoured Personnel Carrier variant on display is integrated with 30mm turret, composite armour and innovative blast protection. This amphibious vehicle can cross rivers and canals and its maximum on-road speed is 100 km/h. The 70-ton trailer is equipped with state-of-the-art hydraulic suspension for better mobility, steerable axles, and a hydraulic ramp for ease of loading and unloading of heavy payloads. The trailer which is capable of negotiating sharp turns and gradients has undergone extensive trials with MBT Arjun as payload. (ANI) The Border Security Force (BSF) also offered sweets to Pakistan Rangers at the Attari-Wagah border on the occasion A few metres away from the zero line and Pakistan posts, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the BSF) unfurled the triclour and sent a loud message that the national flag of the country will remain fluttering. The BSF strictly abide by the motto 'Jeevan Paryant Kartavya', duty unto death. Talking to ANI, BSF commandant Jasbir Singh extended the Republic Day wishes to all the countrymen and said "JCP Attari has made a unique identity as the symbol of nationality, a retreat ceremony takes place every evening and thousands of people come here daily to encourage the morale of the personnel here." He further informed that they have organised a number of programmes here and also offered sweets to the Pakistan Rangers as well. Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu led the nation on Thursday celebrating the 74th Republic Day from Kartavya Path in New Delhi. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was the Chief Guest at the parade. (ANI) Officials of Bihar Police on Thursday booked 25 persons, accused of agitating in front of a cinema hall against Pathaan movie in State's Bhagalpur. "Legal action is being taken against 10 people and 15 unknown people by registering a case in Jogsar police station on the charge of protesting against the film Pathan," police said. Earlier on Tuesday, some miscreants, believed to be from Hindu organisations, burnt and tear the Pathaan movie's poster outside the Deepprabha cinema hall in Bihar's Bhagalpur, a day before the movie's release. The youth of Hindu organizations tore the posters in the cinema hall and set it on fire, raising slogans of 'Film Chalega Hall Jalega'. "The youth said that Hindutva cannot be compromised. Any element that opposes the Sanatan culture will not be tolerated in Bhagalpur including the whole of India," said the members of the Hindu organisation. The members of the organisation added that if Pathan is shown in any theatres of Bhagalpur, it will be strongly opposed. The manager Lalan Singh said that some anti-social elements have burnt the poster opposing the film. He further added that an application has been given to the local police station and SP, and the administration has assured that security will be given. Earlier on January 5, members of a Right-Wing organization created a ruckus at Alpha One Mall in Ahmedabad's Vastrapur during the promotion of the film. The organization's members during their protest tore down pictures of Shah Rukh Khan as well as his co-stars. The protesters also threatened the mall authority that if this film is released, then they will start an even fiercer protest. The protesters were captured in a video damaging property of the mall. In a video shared by the VHP, protesters could be seen shouting slogans and tearing posters and large cut-outs of 'Pathaan's star cast. The controversy started after Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra, aired his objections to one of the songs of the movie, released as 'Besharam Rang'. Mishra said, "The costumes in the song at first glance are objectionable. It is clearly visible that the song of the film 'Pathaan' has been shot with a dirty mindset." (ANI)